Vicariousの Summer 2024 の目次

I HAVE A TRUE CONFESSION: I’m one of the very few car reviewers out there who came away unimpressed by the McLaren 720S. My one and only experience piloting the British brand’s highest-performing supercar back in 2018 was, for sure, not net positive. Here are the details. The test of the 720S happened during the Pure McLaren Performance Academy Track Advanced program at the Thermal Club, a country club racetrack 45 minutes outside Palm Springs, California. This was not a launch event. Rather, it was an even more rare opportunity to spend a full day behind the wheel of a supercar, unencumbered by speed limits. In fact, we were encouraged to go faster and faster by driving coaches riding shotgun. The atmosphere at the Thermal Club is fantastic. The facility…

EPOCH BAR & KITCHEN TERRACE serves produce-forward cuisine guided by the seasonal offerings of our local purveyors. We nod to the food and beverage trends of the past and reimagine them. We are inspired by the gastropub movement that shook the culinary world in the 90s. Our concept redefines pub culture and pays homage to innovative international dining. Our cocktails respect a notable past full of tradition, but with modern interpretations. We are also inspired by the storytelling around us – from the vibrant film industry to the ultimate storyteller, Mother Nature. We tell these tales through creative mixology. ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON, TORONTO In downtown Toronto, a hotel that embodies luxury with five-star amenities, attentive service and access to top attractions. The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto embraces the cosmopolitan edge of the…

IN SOME CIRCLES, THE MINT 400 is bigger than the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl and the Lower Oakland Roller Derby Finals rolled into one. So goes one of many well-known and oft-repeated lines from “Gonzo” journalist Hunter S. Thompson’s 1972 opus, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream. Amidst all the rampant partying, zaniness and hallucinogens, it’s easy to forget that he was actually on assignment during that time. His brief? Writing a selection of photo captions for Sports Illustrated, all about this unique off-road race. The connection with Thompson and the counter-culture movement is felt to this day around the four days and change the Mint runs; the race actually used to start just off of Freemont Street and…

OUR FIRST ALWAYS LEAVES a lasting impression. It’s all so new at the beginning when our emotions are running in the redline, cementing those memories for a lifetime. Every waking moment is spent thinking about our infatuation, to the point that the conversation always steers in their direction. What a time it is for puppy love, with the 2024 Aprilia RS 457 joining the lightweight sportbike ranks, rekindling those feelings we all had with our first flings—though none were as good as this. The Noale-based brand’s hot-blooded Italian machine is bold with its pickup lines, quickly piquing our interest at the tight and technical Autodromo di Modena, where our first encounter was scheduled. The aggressive styling caught my eye in the paddock, but its all-new and decidedly fiery 457cc liquid-cooled…

When your driving instructor says, “Ok, enjoy the flight,” and you’re at the wheel of a pickup truck, you know something special is about to happen. When that truck is a Ford Ranger Raptor, that something is a taste of big air, followed by a remarkably soft landing. Buyers of the newly launched 2024 Raptor will have a chance to do this and a lot more when they sign up for a free day of off-road instruction. The Ranger Raptor Assault School is a new experience designed specifically for the Ranger Raptor. All buyers have to do is sign up at RangerRaptorAssault.com, and get themselves to the gorgeous Tooele Valley in Utah, just outside of Salt Lake City. The school uses Ford’s own trucks, so you don’t have to drive…

MERCEDES-BENZ HAS A long history of selling four-seat convertibles, and I’m coursing the winding roads of Tenerife in its latest offering, the 2024 CLE Cabriolet. This soft-top version of the fresh CLE Coupe nestles in between the C-Class and E-Class and replaces the convertible versions of both those cars going forward. The CLE Cab’s tidy size and nimble moves make it a fine ally on the smooth and tight roads that have me wending my way from the banana plantations of this Spanish island’s coast, up through pine forests to the breathtaking Teide National Park – the latter a black lava-strewn moonscape dominated by the 3,718-meter Mount Teide volcano. Although still classified as active, Teide hasn’t erupted since 1909. While other markets see a six-cylinder version, Canadian CLE Cabriolets will…

“Straight roads do not make skillful drivers.”– Paulo Coelho DID I GET ON THE GAS too soon? Did I over-correct? It was probably a little from column A and a little from column B – coupled with a missed apex and complicated by my slow-moving ham-fists. These are the thoughts running through my mind as I squint out of the mud-spatted greenhouse of the 2024 Subaru BRZ tS I’ve just spun into the quagmire that’s developed on the infield of Turn 15 at Shannonville Motorsport Park in Ontario, Canada. The car is fine. Other than being dirty. And the same can be said for my co-driver and me. At least physically. If I were in my twenties or even thirties, I’m pretty sure the whole event would have mentally evaporated…

MIAMI IS MORE THAN just a sun-soaked paradise and if you’re a car enthusiast, it is an ultimate destination to visit. This vibrant city, with its unique blend of luxury, history, and nightlife, offers an exhilarating array of activities for those who live life in the fast lane. Miami offers an unmatched combination of thrilling races, luxurious accommodations, and a buzzing social scene, making it the perfect place for anyone looking to dive into exploring the city and enjoy the sophisticated leisure. The heart of Miami races with the adrenaline of Formula 1. Each year, the city hosts the Miami Grand Prix, a thrilling spectacle that transforms the streets into a high-speed playground. The sound of roaring engines and the sight of sleek, high-performance race cars flying past at full speed…

TO ANYONE WHO APPRECIATES the finer points of taking corners at speed on a race track, the word ‘Corkscrew’ means only one thing; turns 7, 8 and 8a at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. It’s iconic. Get it right and you will be smiling for a least the next 1:25.44 seconds as your work your way back for another go around should you happen to be driving a Czinger 21C Hypercar, the current record holder. Of course, there is an equally compelling use of the word corkscrew that evokes a sense of surprise and delight as you anticipate the simple joy found in a fine glass of wine or spirits. While it may be a different pleasure than deftly making it through the famous set of turns located just east of…

FEW CARS I’VE DRIVEN OF LATE have garnered as much attention as this 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster Style Edition, and all those waves, smiles and thumbs up can be attributed mainly to its Ruby Star Neo paint. Sure, the Style Edition’s white hood stripes and Porsche script blazoned on its flanks catch the eye too, but it’s that fuscia hue that seduces. Porsche nerds will know Ruby Star Neo is a nod to the limited 1990s 964 Carrera RS that came in Rubystone Red. The young lady who yelled “I LOVE your car!” only knows it’s super cool and fun. The 718 Boxster launched in 2017 with (gasp!) four-cylinder turbo power, replacing the sonorous naturally aspirated flat-sixes. This didn’t go down well with the Porsche folk, and I’ll admit to…

WHEN BMW UNVEILED ITS colour changing cars, the iX Flow and i Vision Dee, they seemed to have sprung from the farthest frontiers of imagination. But in reality, it came from the genius mind of engineer Stella Clarke and her team of researchers, who figured out how to make the exterior surface of a vehicle change colour. Clarke, whose title is Research Engineer Open Innovations, is from Australia, and has been working for BMW in Germany since 2007, starting just after she earned her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. In 2016 she started working in BMW’s concepts and prototyping division, where her work on colour-changing began. We chatted with her about the importance of this kind of tech development. The car maker is working with a company called E Ink to…

IF YOU TRAVELLED BACK along Kawasaki’s timeline, you’d realize how rooted this brand has been in North American culture. Tom Cruise rides a Ninja in both Top Gun and Maverick, and legendary WWE wrestler ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin is an ambassador for their side-by-sides. They currently import motorcycles, jet skis, utility vehicles, and ATVs. Long after many Japanese brands began dwindling production and distribution of ATVs, Kawasaki continues to serve that very niche demographic. This mean-green monster has a legacy in World Superbike, Motocross, and Supercross that stretches across the lifespan of those sports. And while they have become a household name for outdoorsmen and farmers alike, their trusty “workhorses” have since evolved into thoroughbreds, climbing their way into the spotlight one race at a time. No, they’re not always…

THE STEREOTYPE OF a cigar-chomping, order-barking businessman couldn't be further from the truth today. As a longtime enthusiast, the cigar has opened more doors than I can count. In this column, we're going to peel back the leaf to introduce you to the world of cigars – a world rich in ritual, connection, and opportunities to cultivate a new pursuit. We live in an age driven by more, faster, better, and countless distractions, and I’ve found that cigars are the perfect antidote to this modern frenzy. Enjoying one properly requires participation in a ritual that begins with contemplation and preparation. It’s a conscious decision to slow down and lean into the experience. Sometimes, it means sharing the experience with friends, building camaraderie over the shared ritual of lighting, smoking, and…

IT IS ALWAYS A JOY returning to Germany to test drive a new vehicle. There is such a difference between what we assume to be good roads here in Canada, versus what good roads really should be and are in Deutschland (or Italy. Or Spain. Or Portugal. Or…). Mix in the opportunity to engage my inner racer and pull in the distant horizon at speeds that would get your car impounded here in Canada (as it should) while driving on stretches of the Autobahn, and the feeling is heaven on four wheels. My first opportunity to get back into the swing of driving as it was meant to be comes from the behind the wheel of the new 2025 Audi S3. Available as a four-door sedan in Canada (Europeans also…

CHANCES ARE, YOU’VE VISITED various “cradles” before; cradles of civilization, cradles of industry, cradles of gastronomy, pro baseball, rock n’ roll, beer – we could go on. As far as “cradles of automotive” go, though, it doesn’t come much more steeped in tradition than a little city in the north central region of Italy, about an hour’s drive West of Bologna in the country’s Modena province: Maranello. Indeed, you’re reminded of the city’s significance as soon as you arrive and see the sign – finished in reflective material, of course – welcoming you to “Maranello, città dei motori” which loosely translates to “Maranello, city of engines.” Oh my, yes. Ferrari is everywhere here; the factory is just down the road from the museum, and across from that is the Ristorante…

SAYING THERE’S AN ABUNDANCE of maritime influence in the eastern part of our country is like asserting that bacon is only marginally tasty. A large percentage of every living soul down east resides within an hour’s drive of the ocean, delicacies like lobster are prized but traded amongst locals at down-to-earth prices, and the opening strains of any Great Big Sea song reliably gets toes tapping. What better place to sample a luxury SUV called the Nautilus, then? Wholly revamped for the 2024 model year, this machine competes in the murderously competitive midsize luxury crossover segment, going toe-to-toe with titans like the Lexus RX – a vehicle which arguably invented the craft. Sitting still is a great way to get run over in this market, explaining why Lincoln endowed the…

AN AUDACIOUS ADVENTURE just had, and it was done in a vehicle many have never heard of: a 2024 INEOS Grenadier Trialmaster 4x4. My husband, Andy Lilienthal, and I recently competed in the 2024 Alcan 5000 Rally, a time speed-distance (TSD) rally that started and ended in the U.S. but took place throughout western Canada. This extreme endurance competition was held in late February 2023, and lasted 10 days. We partnered with U.K.-based INEOS Automotive to test their new SUV. Andy was the driver; I was the navigator. This rally spanned over 8,000 kilometres (approximately 5,000 miles). It’s an event based on precise routes and times and is held on public roads. Thirty six teams entered this year, comprising five classes. We ran the 2 SOP class, the largest segment,…

FEW TYPES OF CARS ARE held in as high esteem around here as the fast wagon. Their combination of actual sport and utility with minimal compromise has always earned them a spot in the enthusiasts’ heart. Volvo has long been synonymous with the station wagon and, since the 240 Turbo came about, have always offered a longroof with performance ambitions. Volvo’s latest version, the 2024 V60 T8 Recharge, dips its toes not only in the performance ring – delivering a 4.3 second run to 101 km/h – but, as a plug-in hybrid, can also commute silently and efficiently without burning a drop of fuel for up to 60 km. Add to that comfy seating for five, an impeccable audio system and over 1,700 litres of cargo space and you have…