VicariousWinter 2024的目錄

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou “For me, what makes VICARIOUS so unique is the holistic approach we take to the experience of reading a print magazine.” THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US, the new year is in sight and the air is crisp with anticipation for what lies ahead in 2025. This past year was filled with many surprises, some exhilarating, some challenging, but all pushing us forward to be better. Our contributors travelled the globe crisscrossing North America, Europe, Asia and some of the remotest parts of the Earth to drive or ride the best and brightest new vehicles in the market. We stayed and dined in some of the most exceptional locales you can imagine and came…

THERE ARE PLACES WORTH protecting. Places that make our distant past seem far closer than we imagined. A stone’s throw off the Spanish coast rests Mallorca, the largest island within the Mediterranean Sea’s Balearic Island chain. Now known as a shelter for European snowbirds, as well as a favourite among youthful partygoers from the mainland—the 1,400-square-mile island wears its history on its sleeve, where glimpses of Roman, Moorish, and Spanish rule are all laid bare for us to see. Perhaps having history on tap sparked something with our friends in the Commonwealth since the island was chosen to launch its updated 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 lineup of machines—not that the decidedly balmy weather and sunny skies weren't encouraging enough. The British brand rightfully stands as a faithful custodian concerning…

THE ROADS SNAKING THROUGH South Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains are pure sportscar heaven. Mirror smooth, perfectly cambered, and seemingly drawn by angels with petrol in their veins, I’m gnawing at these divine apexes in a 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera T. As the twin-turbo flat-six sings and the blazing fall foliage blurs, I quickly realize this near entrylevel enthusiast 911 is a love letter to the save-the-manuals campaign. The 2025 911 Carrera T is available only with a six-speed stick, and come standard with rear-wheel steering, Sports Chrono Package, torque vectoring, Sport Chrono Package, Sport Exhaust, 20-/21-inch Carrera wheels with performance tires, and bespoke PASM adaptive sport suspension that has the car riding 10 mm lower than stock. I’m also experiencing a flashback to September of 2023 when I spent two days…

"Now, if you’re going to slay a dragon, you need a weapon, right?" NOT TO PARADE THE DRAMATIC, but there are a handful of spots on our map that motorcyclists can call their own. Lesser still are there places where roads wind through greenery unendingly, and the roadside eateries are plentiful, there to nip hunger pangs in the bud or quench thirst on demand. A destination fitting those descriptions might flirt with fantasy but rest assured, they are quite real. Our neighbors down South have such gold hidden away in The Great Smoky Mountains, which weaves their way across the Tennessee-North Carolina border, serving up arguably some of the best riding—if not the best BBQ—the region has to offer. Yet, among those many riches, an uninterrupted 11-mile stretch of US…

I’M STANDING – STANDING IN AWE, really – not at the mouth of the famed St. Lawrence river in Quebec (the mouth is closer to Rimouski, QC; I’m about an hour away, just outside of L’Isle-Verte, QC) but it may as well be the mouth because from here, the distance from where I’m standing to the shore across from me looks to be 50 miles wide if it’s a mile. The light breeze and low-hanging grey cloud mixed with pockets of blue sky in this early autumn day just adds to the feeling. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves, because you know what looks great on a grey day. A brightly-coloured muscle car, and as luck would have it, we have one? The Yellow Splash Metallic is definitely bright, and…

STEP INTO THE HUMIDOR AT Avenue Cigars in Toronto and you'll find Andrew Palkovic, a cultural interpreter as much as he is a tobacconist. While other shops might overwhelm newcomers with endless rows of seemingly identical brown cylinders behind plain labels – thanks to Canadian tobacco packaging regulations – Palkovic brings an infectious enthusiasm that decodes this mysterious world for both newcomers and aficionados alike. "When I was eighteen, I had my first six-inch Cohiba and it was transformative. It was rich, it was flavourful, it was smooth, it was complimentary to everything happening around me. I happened to have it in Havana at the Tropicana Club, outside in that thick, salt air, coming off the ocean, with beautiful music, beautiful women, it was everything. It was very intoxicating." That…

DESPITE THE (BEST?) EFFORTS OF motorcycle OEMs, the reality that riders face is that we still need a proper perch for our mobile phones. Whether it’s for navigational guidance, control over media or being able to respond when someone reaches out during a ride, having your phone secured at fingertip’s reach remains essential. Chances are most of you have already found a solution in a system from either QuadLock, Ram Mount or something you found on TEMU – I know I had. But there is a better solution. My first exposure to Peak Design was over a decade ago when they launched their first product, a camera clip dubbed Capture. The concept was equal parts simple and effective; an easy-to-use clip that could be attached to any number of things…

“I WAS BARELY FIFTEEN AND A SILLY Hemet High School sophomore when Rod and I ran into each other at a local roller rink,” Donna Hall said, whose maiden name is Bennett. “I had gone to a skating party with a couple of girlfriends, he was there with his date. He was 19 and she was the Miss Hemet pageant winner. While trying to impress her by doing a typical Rod Hall thing (skating backwards), he ran into me, knocking me down and ripping my tight capri pants.” Rod insisted on driving her home to change and then took her to a movie—forgetting about the beauty queen. “We were a couple from that time on, a period of 60 years.” Some moments are indelibly seared into your memory, forging paths…

“The Fairmont Pacific Rim is located on the shores of Coal Harbour and just steps away from all of the action.” Vancouver is unique in so many ways to the rest of Canada. A large port city that offers easy access to the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, requiring only a slight detour around Vancouver Island, it highlights a coastal ambiance that is worldren owned for its west coast splendour and ethnic diversity. Everything is set against the western edge of the majestic North Shore Mountains and it’s no wonder this is considered one of North America’s premier cities to explore. The Fairmont Pacific Rim is located on the shores of Coal Harbour and just steps away from all of the action. Gastown and English Bay Beach are within easy…

RAIN. IT CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND when things are dry and in desperate need of water. It can also be your worst enemy when plans for a day of sunny adventures are swept away by a torrent of unexpected showers. For most of us, it’s a win or lose scenario. But what if the downpour happens while you are test driving the newest Audi Sportback on the hilly roads northwest of Nice, France? Well, then it has a chance to be magical and make the drive in the Côte d'Azur even more epic than expected. The 2025 Audi A5 and S5 sedans have been completely reborn for the new year and are available exclusively in Sportback form for Canada. Like most car companies at this time in history, the…

THE CHEVROLET COLORADO ZR2 Bison pickup is the General’s attempt at taking on the likes of the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ranger Raptor siblings, as well as more off-road focused vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon or Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. Thanks to a punchy turbocharged engine and trick Multimatic spool-valve dampers – not to mention some of the biggest rubber you’ll ever see on a stock pickup truck–it should walk the line between fast desert runner and slower rock-crawler surprisingly well. To see just how well it can tackle the numerous environments its chassis and engine bona fides suggest it can, we took to the Area 27 Motorsports Park just outside of Oliver, British Columbia. Chevrolet was kind enough to extend an invite to myself as well as my…

THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF adventure bike events in Canada; the growth and popularity of the ADV segment demands it. This season, I dusted off the riding gear, saddled up and headed far and wide to explore the hinterland of this great country of ours by way of three of the best ADV events on offer. La Classique: Quebec’s Finest Roads And Scenery. The idea of spring brings flora, fauna and motorcycles out in full force. In mid-May, the Quebec-based organization Ride Adventure, headed up by Marc Chartrand, stages ‘La Classique’ headquartered out of the fairgrounds in La Chute. La Classique is smack dab in the Ottawa River Valley on the edge of the spectacular Laurentians. Over 700 riders participated in La Classique, making it the most well-attended ADV event in…

FULL DISCLOSURE: THIS HUMBLE scribe has owned more than a few Volkswagen GTIs in his lifetime, and currently runs a 2001 GTI GLS (1.8T) in Matchstick Red. So, when the offer to attend the 2024 GTI FanFest in Wolfsburg came across my desk, I hastily packed my best GTI T-shirts, socks, and boxers in anticipation of three days of GTI-Nerdvana. For decades, GTI enthusiasts have congregated at the annual Treffen meet in Austria, but this year Volkswagen hosted FanFest in Wolfsburg, Germany, adjacent to the gigantic factory where the original GTI was born, and where most are still produced. As Imelda Labbé, Member of the Board of Management for Sales, Marketing and After Sales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars, explains: “The GTI isn’t the only icon – the GTI Meeting has…

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 1:08.41 seconds as your work your way back for another go around should you happen to match the current lap record set by Indy Car’s Alex Palou during the 2023 Firestone Grand Prix. 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…

Welcome The Wanderer WELCOMING A NEW YEAR ALWAYS brings a sense of excitement. It is a time to reflect on the past and embrace the possibilities ahead—whether it’s sticking to resolutions, planning adventures, or finding moments to recharge. For many of us, the winter season presents the perfect backdrop to reset, dream, and wander. Is travel calling your name this winter? Maybe you are yearning to escape the chill for a sunny beachside retreat, or perhaps you’re drawn to snow-covered mountains and the allure of winter sports. The scale tips back and forth for me; one moment I’m imagining warm sands underfoot, and the next, the crunch of snow beneath boots on a remote mountain trail. The beauty of winter is that it offers something for every type of traveller—a…

LOOK, I’M SORRY TO SAY THIS BUT it’s spectacular. It’s even better than you imagine. It’s like driving a bolt of golden light thrown by Zeus himself across the surface of the Earth. For us mere mortals it’s a sublime experience. It’s pure and beautiful, and I know that’s not what you wanted to hear. It’s not what I wanted to write. These stories are more fun when the cars are crap. Please know that I take no pleasure in telling you a $554,439 Italian coupe that only a handful of people will ever get to enjoy is, actually, quite good. But it is. That the 2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri might never have existed, or that it might be the last of its kind, only makes it that much sweeter. Like the…

“Exploring Porto is never a concern, thanks to the hotel’s prime location.” As you step through the nondescript door on the bustling Rua do Almada, you’re immediately greeted by style and design that is uniquely Porto – modern, yet laid-back. The bright atrium stretches vertically, alternating between city and garden rooms on each floor. For families and larger groups, inquire about the Villa Almada with two bedrooms and its own private pool. For our stay, we experienced the City Room. The hotel’s city view connects you to the vibrant life of Porto and the room was a perfect blend of traditional comfort and high-tech amenities (Alexa, what’s the weather in Porto today?), not to mention the spacious layout. Waiting for you in your room is your first taste of Porto:…

GOLF ISN’T JUST A GAME. Nor is it solely a sport. It’s a lifestyle. It’s an obsession. It’s a way of life. From its earliest roots in Scotland to today’s technology-backed iterations, golf represents something unique to each person who has ever picked up a club. Golf can offer a much-needed reprieve from the modern-day rat race. It can provide valuable quality time among family and friends. It can scratch a competitive itch, especially for former athletes. It can be a never-ending quest for perfection. Ultimately, golf is the great equalizer. Whether your annual salary is $3 million or $30,000, you’re a famous actor or Kindergarten teacher, or are from Toronto or Timbuktu, golf doesn’t discriminate. Golf is man vs. nature. Nothing more. Nothing less. I first started playing in…

SOME MEMORIES STICK WITH US. Parked on the floral-patterned rug in the living room, my youth wasn't unlike that of many a latch-key-kid raised in the glow of a CRT TV. Walking home from school meant hitting the power button and catching whatever reruns Speedvision was running from the World Rally Championship, Formula 1, or maybe 24 Hours of Le Mans highlights, if the timing was right. Watching grainy cockpit cams of countless drivers put us in the driver’s seat, delivering an uncompromising and claustrophobic view from behind a helmet’s visor. We heard what they heard: the whine of superchargers, the roar of a bellowing exhaust, and tires fighting on the edge of traction. I knew, then, that I wanted to experience that. Sports cars are supposed to refine those…

DUCATI RECENTLY LAUNCHED the 2025 Multistrada V4S in the town of Gubbio, Italy. The mountains surrounding this ancient city provided the ideal backdrop to ride Ducati’s most tech-laden adventure tourer since its introduction. The Ducati Multistrada is an adventure bike, but in typical Italian fashion, it’s big on power, and is more likely to be found carving canyon roads than exploring the deep Canadian woods. However, with its upright riding position, effective wind protection and long-travel suspension capable of handling rough roads, it has proven to be a versatile long-distance traveler. Its promise of being capable of exploring “many roads” (a loose translation of Multistrada) has also introduced it to a multitude of non-Ducatisti. In 2020, Ducati introduced the V4 Granturismo engine into the Multistrada. The Panigale-derived engine displaces 1,158…

AFTER TWO DOUBLE-DIGIT-LONG drive days, my husband, Andy Lilienthal, and I were starting to understand the Baltic Sea Circle Rally (BSCR) and how it worked as we crossed off three of nine countries on this 16-day, 8,000-kilometre-plus backroads rally that contained little structure and a lot of adventure. Once we figured that out, our always-on-time minds relaxed a bit. This competition wasn’t about precision as time-speed-distance rallies are, but more about the fun and experiences along the way as we raised money for our charity of choice, The Jessi Combs Foundation. We were the only all-electric team this year, as well as the first non-European EV team to compete in the BSCR. We piloted a 2024 early-generation German-market Volkswagen ID. Buzz EV for this competition and camped within it nearly every…

SEVEN MILE BEACH ON Grand Cayman Island is steam-bathy hot. Sprawled and spent on a beach recliner whose tented hood shades you like a cabriolet; you default to regularly “resting your eyes” and sinking to Never Never Land. A half hour later, you wake to another dream: surreally beautiful beachscape (we’re talking Captain Picard’s Holodeck artifice) and seven miles of white, velvety sand. A lazy splat into the spa-warm sea doesn’t change the scene. Pinch yourself. 400ish km from Cuba in one direction and Jamaica in another, Grand Cayman is pure Caribbean. The population numbers 70k-ish, many of whom weren’t born here. So, it’s small but thriving. At least that’s the impression you get between bouts of sedation. For beach lovers, that’s all you need to know. Bring on the rum…

Winter is upon us. But that shouldn’t diminish our desire to hit the road on the next great adventure. Here are some must have accessories to keep you entertained or working, as needed, during the most wonderful time of the year. Victus Gaming Laptop 16 If you’re in the market for a laptop that can handle your work and play, the Victus Gaming Laptop 16 from Hewlett Packard has you covered. Armed with an Intel Core i7, 16GB of DDR5 RAM and an NVIDIA 4060 8GB GPU and featuring a beautiful 16.1” FHD 144Hz IPS display, it delivers the perfect balance of portability and power. Thanks to a full RGB backlit keyboard, you’ll have no problem working or playing into the early hours of the morning. With a full complement…

TIME TO BEAT: SIX HOURS, 40 MINUTES AND 39 SECONDS SIX HOURS, 40 MINUTES AND 39 SECONDS. That’s how long it took me to build Lego set 42171. Over the course of four nights at the kitchen table, the 1,642 mostly black Technic pieces came together to form a ridiculously complex Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance Formula 1 car. At 25 inches long, 10 inches wide and five inches high, the $290 CDN set requires patience, a steady hand (for its two pages of decals), and a significant amount of shelf real estate. Like many, Lego has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and as a young teenager I had the privilege of visiting the original Legoland theme park in the brand’s home country of…

The adventure continues! We put you in the front seat of the newest high-performance cars, trucks and SUVs driven in locales around the globe that are sure to stir your emotions. Our experts are also riding the newest motorcycles hitting the market and their insight is essential. Looking for an inspiring place to spend your next vacation, or that perfect wine and spirits tip to set a memorable table during the holidays, we have you covered. Of course, no issue of VICARIOUS would be complete without great stories of driving on unforgettable roads, where to tee-off next plus the latest tech, watches, cigar tips and so much more. The road is calling and we will see you there! www.vicariousmag.com/product/vicarious-print-magazine/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PRINT OR DIGITAL MAGAZINES AND NEVER MISS AN…