With only two different models — and a bunch of custom variants — Pagani has made a name for itself in the flashy world of million-dollar performance cars with jaw-dropping design, incredible attention to detail, and a level of customization that’s only limited by the size of your bank account.

During this grand opening event, roughly $30 million worth of cars gathered from around the world, including the not-made-for-America Zonda Cinque Roadster, three Huayra BCs, and the brand-new Huayra Roadster.

My friend and photographer-extraordinaire, Leonard Mayorquin, was on site at the Pagani Newport Beach grand opening to capture these marvels of engineering in all their bespoke glory. It was colored carbon fiber and titanium as far as the eye could see.

The last time this many Paganis were on the west coast was in 2015 during the Pagani Raduno, an annual cross-country rally for Pagani owners that features a rotation of driving routes from all over the world.

After an epic drive up the coast, this large group of ultra-rare supercars has finally arrived in Monterey, California, so keep a look out for them on the roads and on social media. You can also follow Pagani Newport Beach’s official Instagram page for real-time updates.

The finish line a great close to the Pagani Raduno to Monterey, CA. Now to begin Car Week. Thank you to the clients and Pagani staff for making this a very memorable and unforgettable trip! . . . . . . #paganinb #paganinewportbeach #huayra #paganihuayra #hypercars #hypercar #carbonfiber #newportbeach #supercar #paganiraduno #montereycarweek #carweek2017

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Check out a selection of photos below from last week’s soirée, courtesy Leonard Mayorquin. To see even more photos from the event, visit CNCPics.com.

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But when it comes to a gathering of exotics and ultra-rare sports cars, no one does it better than Lamborghini Newport Beach and its monthly Supercar Show!

On the first Saturday of every month, millions of dollars worth of cars gather in the dealership’s parking lot for a morning of fun and friends.

Sure, there are many supercar gatherings all over Los Angeles, but because these meets happen so early in the morning and are often quite far away from my home, it’s a commitment to get out there as a spectator. So when I do wake up at the crack of dawn and make the hour+ drive, I want a guarantee that there will be awesome cars to pore over — and Lamborghini Newport Beach always delivers!

If you ever hear about a new and exclusive car being delivered in L.A., like the Lamborghini Centenario or McLaren 720S, you’ll usually see it at the very next Supercar Show. It’s an awesome way to hear and experience the glory of these cars in person, as well as chat with the owners about their first impressions.

Sometimes, you might even run into a very special member of the automotive community — I once saw Christian von Koenigsegg!

To get more details, directions, and parking info for the monthly Supercar Show, visit Lamborghini Newport Beach’s official website.

Check out this month’s highlights below:

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Why did this eagerly-awaited mid-size luxury SUV make its west coast debut at a watch store? Because Land Rover and Zenith have collaborated on a beautiful timepiece called the Chronomaster El Primero Range Rover Velar Special Edition, and it’s only fitting to showcase the car alongside its namesake jewelry.

VIP guests of Land Rover, Zenith, and Westime were offered an intimate opportunity to experience the luxury, convenience, and design of the new Velar ahead of its arrival at dealerships this September.

On the outside, this First Edition Velar features an immaculate paint finish accented with bronze detailing on the front fascia, hood, and character line — these accents are one of my favorite design elements of the vehicle.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer, said that “the Range Rover Velar brings a new dimension of modernity, elegance and a touch of glamour to the Range Rover family.” And based on the reactions of those in attendance, I’d have to say that everyone agrees with that statement.

When you slide into the posh interior, the first thing to catch your eye is the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system. This dual touchscreen system is part of a new generation of in-car technologies from Land Rover, and offers users the ability to monitor and control multiple features simultaneously for the ultimate in flexibility and accessibility. Gone are the days when you have to flip through one menu screen at a time.

I’m looking forward to having some quality time behind the wheel of the new Range Rover Velar so I can experience its adaptive dynamics, electronic air suspension, terrain response, and other performance features as part of an in-depth review.

In the meantime, check out a gallery of photos from the west coast debut of the Range Rover Velar First Edition.

To learn more about the Range Rover Velar, visit Land Rover’s official website.

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Check out some excellent use of drone footage in this video from our friends at eGarage.com:

Aerial photography/videography used to be only reserved for professionals or elite hobbyists, but as cameras and technologies advance exponentially every year, these Hollywood-style techniques are well within reach, even for the casual enthusiast.

Arguably one of the best values in terms of video drones is DJI’s Mavic Pro. It’s been around for a bit now, and lots of professional filmmakers use it. You can usually find one discounted to around $900 if you know where to look.

I was able to get my hands on one for a few weeks, and had a blast filming along the coast. Remember when I told you car photography is all about the angles? Well, with the Mavic Pro, you can get really high angles!

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Just another Sunday in the #SouthBay. #Audi #RS7 #drone #djimavicpro

A post shared by Andrew Chen (@lagraffiti) on Jun 4, 2017 at 11:37pm PDT

The Mavic Pro’s gimble does a great job of keeping the camera steady while you’re flying, and it doesn’t take a lot of skill to get up a running. If you have just a little bit of experience playing basic video games, you’ll find the flight controls to be very intuitive.

DJI’s accompanying app turns your smartphone into the main control hub as well as a video monitor. There’s even a basic video editor in the app so you can quickly cut and share your videos on the go.

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Cruisin' with the top down.

A post shared by Andrew Chen (@lagraffiti) on Jul 8, 2017 at 8:10pm PDT

One of my challenges with car photography is rolling shots. Ideally, I’d need two additional people to help me — one to drive the main car, and one to drive a camera car while I hang out of the window. But with the Mavic Pro, it can automatically track and follow a subject, meaning I can launch the aircraft and have it film me as I drive the car. Talk about being a one-man team…

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Just dronin' around at #SaturdayShift! #Lamborghini #Ferrari #Porsche #carsandcoffee #dji #mavicpro

A post shared by Andrew Chen (@lagraffiti) on May 20, 2017 at 11:06am PDT

If you’re looking to step up your automotive content game, I’d highly recommend upgrading your gear set with a drone. There are many options already out there, and more are coming every day.

Mavic Pro photos courtesy Slickdeals.net

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This popular convention features three days of panels filled with exclusive content and celebrity sightings, and of course, awesome displays and props showcases.

What caught my eye this year was a larger presence of movie cars, not just from the recently released film “Cars 3,” but from some of Disney’s other shows like “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”

Check out some vehicle highlights from this year’s D23 Expo courtesy my friend and Disney aficionado, @coheteboy (Twitter, Instagram).

Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder escaped the deserts of Tatooine for a weekend in sunny Southern California.

“Don’t touch Lola.” This pristine C1 Chevrolet Corvette convertible belongs to Agent Phil Coulson (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and features firepower and flight capabilities courtesy inventor-extraordinaire, Howard Stark of Stark Industries. A piece of Disney trivia: LOLA stands for Levitating Over Land Automobile.

At first glance, this might look like Dominic Toretto’s 1969 Dodge Charger from the Fast and the Furious, but it’s actually the “Hell Charger,” a fiery extension of Robbie Reyes, AKA Ghost Rider (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.). Flaming burnouts are infinitely cooler in this devilish muscle car.

It’s the cars of Cars 3! From background to foreground: Lightning McQueen, Cruz Ramirez, and Jackson Storm. Behind-the-scenes trivia: my girlfriend’s niece’s fiancé helped build Cruz Ramirez, which is a driveable parade vehicle!

Mater! He’s got a few loose screws and some missing parts, but his heart is always in the right place.

Cinderella’s coach — the ultimate princess ride. If you have your wedding at a Disney resort, you can arrive in style with this horse-drawn carriage!

This counts as a vehicle, right? It’s got one moosepower.

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The F-Type SVR comes from Jaguar’s in-house Special Vehicle Operations division where they’ve tuned their impressive 5.0-liter supercharged V8 to produce 575 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque — this engine is capable of launching the F-Type from 0 – 60 mph in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 200 mph!

Since it’s Summer in Southern California, and I have access to some of the most picturesque roads in the world, the convertible version of the F-Type SVR wins my favor over the coupe configuration.

Cruisin’ with the top down.

A post shared by Andrew Chen (@lagraffiti) on Jul 8, 2017 at 8:10pm PDT

Jaguar’s SVO engineers didn’t stop at just adding more horsepower though — weight savings and aerodynamics were also large areas of focus in their quest for ultimate performance. Exotic materials have been used to reduce unsprung weight in the wheels, exhaust system, suspension architecture, and braking system, for example.

Redesigned bodywork along with an active aerodynamic carbon fiber rear spoiler lower the drag and lift coefficient to keep the F-Type SVR planted firmly on the ground at high speeds.

Gettin’ tail happy! #SVR

A post shared by Andrew Chen (@lagraffiti) on Jul 8, 2017 at 4:48pm PDT

Of course, since it’s a Jaguar, the interior is loaded with luxury amenities and premium materials. The bucket seats look amazing with blue piping and contrast stitching, and are also very supportive in all the right places.

My favorite feature of the interior though has to be the switch for Dynamic mode. Pull back towards the checkered flag and you awaken the beast within the F-Type SVR — the rear wing deploys, the suspension stiffens, and the exhaust opens up to belt out one of the most satisfying roars I’ve ever heard.

While the F-Type SVR excels at high speeds, you don’t have to take it there to have a full experience. The supercharger provides plenty of low-end torque, and the exhaust delivers a ton of drama at around 3,000 RPM both on-throttle and off-throttle with its after-fire pops and burbles. There’s no recording or video that can properly convey the excitement coming from these Inconel Titanium tips. You have to experience it in person.

Ultra-high performance sports car, luxury grand-tourer, comfortable daily-driver — the 2017 Jaguar F-Type SVR convertible is all of these things and more. If people don’t see you coming first, they’ll definitely hear you as you leave them in the dust.

Visit JaguarUSA.com to learn more about the 2017/18 F-Type lineup.

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With today’s global economy, it’s impossible to find a vehicle that is 100% made and sourced in America, but we can reference the Kogod School of Business’s Made in America Auto Index to see which vehicles contribute the most to the U.S. economy, including aspects beyond just manufacturing, like where the profits go, research and development location, point of assembly, and more.

Tying for first place as the most American-made vehicle for the 2017 model year are the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, and GMC Acadia. The Ford F150 is a very close second, while the Chevrolet Corvette sits pretty in third.

Most of the vehicles in the top 10 come as no surprise — Jeep’s Wrangler, Ford’s Expedition and Taurus, and Cadillac’s ATS Sedan and CT6 round out the middle of the leaders.

But what may be eye-opening to many is that Honda, Acura, Kia, and Toyota all have vehicles that tie for the 9th position in the 2017 Made in America Auto Index; quite an achievement when you consider there are 419 total entries in the index.

The Honda Pilot, Acura RDX, Kia Optima, and Toyota Camry all rank higher than popular vehicles like the Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Malibu, and Dodge Durango. Don’t get me wrong, the Explorer, Malibu, and Durango are still very much made-in-America vehicles, sitting about a point behind the Camry in the Auto Index rating.

I’m in no way trying to bash the Big Three; I’m simply highlighting the efforts and achievements of the Japanese and Korean manufacturers who have invested so much to build large manufacturing facilities in the U.S. which positively affect our labor force and economy. For certain cars, the notion of it being an import is really a thing of the past.

Browsing through the rest of the Auto Index, you might be taken aback by the fact that some European brands — Fiat, BMW, and Volkswagen — are considered more made-in-America than some volume selling cars like the Ford Focus or Chevrolet Spark.

Trying to support U.S. manufacturing by “buying American” isn’t a clear-cut path like it was back in the day when you could look to any of the three Michigan-based car makers. But I think that’s a good thing because there are so many awesome cars out there from global manufacturers, and they all have an opportunity to positively influence the American economic landscape.

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Our weapon of choice was a 2017 Jeep Renegade Deserthawk 4×4.

With an Anvil exterior paint color and Deserthawk decals, the Renegade not only looks the part, it’s also a Trailhawk, meaning it carries Jeep’s highest capability and trail rating.

The Renegade is a popular vehicle among those who want a compact and versatile form-factor along with Jeep’s DNA and personality. To remind you of the company’s off-road heritage, there are also plenty of easter eggs throughout the vehicle, like fuel can “X” markings, the Sarge grille, a silhouette of a man hiking on the back windshield, and more.

On the inside, there’s plenty of comfort and convenience features to make long journeys more enjoyable. An available 6.5-inch Uconnect navigation and entertainment hub provides all the latest in smartphone connectivity and apps, and even comes with its own WiFi service (subscription required).

Our test model came standard with leather bucket seats that featured cloth inserts with a topographical map — a fun touch of style to accompany the champagne-colored accents found throughout the cabin.

Jeep purists will argue that the Renegade isn’t a “real” Jeep, but having driven one on some challenging off-road trails, I’d beg to differ.

If you’re talking about pure survivability in a post-apocalyptic setting, sure, the Wrangle might fare better, but the Renegade Deserthawk comes with everything you’d need for a rigorous adventure — roll mitigation, hill descent control, and on-demand 4×4 traction for a variety of surfaces courtesy Jeep’s Selec-Terrain System. It also comes outfitted with skid plates for the transmission, transfer face, fuel tank, and front suspension so you can tackle really rough terrain with confidence.

As a daily-driver, the 2017 Renegade Deserthawk is confident and effortless to drive. The 2.4-liter I4 MultiAir engine produces 180 horsepower while the 9-speed automatic transmission helps the Renegade achieve almost 30 mpg on the highway.

Competition in the compact crossover segment is very tough, but the 2017 Jeep Renegade Deserthawk stands out with its blend of usable off-road performance, comfort, and versatility — you can go from work to camping in the wilderness without missing a beat.

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Presented by the Rodeo Drive Committee in conjunction with the city of Beverly Hills, this annual car show welcomes thousands of automotive enthusiasts, young and old, to experience the best of the best on four wheels. It’s a great way to spend some time with good ol’ pops and take in some beautiful works of art, as well as cultivate a passion for the automobile in the younger generation. I love seeing children, their parents, and their grandparents sharing and enjoying a mutual love of cars.

And because this event is so prestigious and well-produced, many manufacturers have debuted products here in the past — Jaguar launched the all-new XJ model here in 2010, and in 2013, private jet manufacturer Learjet showed off their latest Learjet 85 model to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

This year’s highlights include a McLaren P1 in a custom purple and orange spec from the British automaker’s in-house MSO (McLaren Special Operations) design team, a 1960’s Jaguar E-Type Series 1, a Porsche 919 Hybrid LeMans race car, and the brand-spanking-new McLaren 720S, to name a few.

I wasn’t able to attend this year because I was at a wedding in the desert (more on that in next week’s column!), but a lot of my car enthusiast friends went, and thankfully have a ton of photos to show for it.

Check out some of the immaculate and very expensive cars that were on display at the 24th annual Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance.

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The story and inspiration for NfS: Payback seems to be lifted straight from the Fast and the Furious movies, with a diverse crew set out to get even with whoever wronged them in the past by running daring heists and smashing cars along the way.

It’s not the most original idea, but is definitely a breath of fresh air as the previous Need for Speed games were mostly focused on racing to boost one’s ego and reputation in a world inhabited by over-stimulated high schoolers with low self-esteem and an undying need to show off.

From what I can tell, the action in Need for Speed Payback is intense and very cinematic, and hopefully, the writing will be good enough to keep me invested in the cast of characters. Car/racing games have historically struggled with story-telling as most titles prioritize simulation or gameplay over a meaningful single-player campaign.

And as cheesy as the scenarios are in the Fast and Furious movies — jumping between moving vehicles, crashing other cars with seemingly little damage to your own car — I’ve always thought it’d be fun to be in control of the action myself.

Need for Speed Payback is set for a November 10th release date, and I’ll be getting a closer look at the game itself during this week’s E3 Expo.

Learn more about EA’s Need for Speed Payback by visiting the official website.

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Car enthusiasts typically rally behind the manual transmission, with subjective reasons as to why it’s better, like “it’s more fun to drive” or “you feel more connected to the car.”

And even though I physically row through the gears on a daily basis, I tend to disappear into the bushes a la Homer Simpson whenever this “debate” arises because a battle of opinions and preferences always ends with the same result: nobody changes their mind. (Mostly because there’s no one from the other side of the argument present. Ha!)

Trying to argue that a manual transmission is better to a person who’s never used one or doesn’t care to use one is like speaking English slowly and loudly to a non-English speaker — they’re still not going to understand. I don’t think anyone has ever converted a casual or even non-car enthusiast into a fan of the manual transmission. What would be the selling points? More effort required when driving? Adding even more stress when crawling through stop-and-go traffic?

While I feel that daily-driving with a manual transmission (especially in a congested city like Los Angeles) should only be reserved for those that absolutely love the art of driving, I still think it’s a good idea for everyone to know how to operate a manual transmission and do so consistently for a month or so. It’s the same reason that I think everyone should work in the restaurant or retail industry at least once in their life — you’ll learn so much about yourself and others, and the experience will help you appreciate everything that much more.

Operating a manual transmission also makes you a safer driver because you’re forced to pay attention more often (you need to know when to shift!) and both hands are occupied so there’s no opportunity to text, surf the web, or take a selfie with your phone. And for the rest of you who have automatic transmissions: put your phone down! You’re piloting a 3,000 lb machine that’s capable of doling out death to you and everyone around you!

Having driven my 6-speed manual Nissan 350Z for over 10 years, I can really appreciate how much automatic transmissions have changed. They’re fast and smooth, and most feature seven or eight gears for better fuel economy. If you’re talking about all-out performance, there’s no way I can manually change gears faster than I can click a paddle-shifter.

In the end, it all comes down to personal preference and the type of driving experience you’d like to have — no one transmission technology is absolutely better than the other, especially when most of the cars we’re talking about will never see a race track.

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It makes me wish I was a wealthy family man so that I can 1.) afford the $67,600 starting price, and 2.) fill it with people to take places.

On the outside, the A6 stays in familiar Audi territory with classic lines and proportions, while the 3.0T competition trim and standard S line styling add sporty details like black side mirror housings, 20-inch titanium matte finish wheels, and red brake calipers.

The new-for-2017 A6 3.0T competition model packs a 3.0-liter V6 engine that produces 340 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, and it’s put to good use through the quattro all-wheel drive system, which features a rear differential for improved driving characteristics. The 8-speed Tiptronic transmission seamlessly handles gear changes, most of which you’ll never notice because of how quickly they occur.

Everything about the 2017 A6 sedan is as you would expect, when you would expect it — when you ask for something, it immediately delivers, which is actually a very real safety feature as well. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve avoided sticky situations in my personal car simply because I had the horsepower and agility to get out of the way.

Of course, the interior is loaded with luxury amenities and advanced technology, but everyone’s first comment is always how nice the diamond contrast stitching looks against the black leather seats.

And because my daily commute involves a couple of the world’s most congested freeways, my favorite feature is Audi’s adaptive cruise control with stop & go capability. Once a desired speed is set, the A6 automatically maintains its distance, and stays active at single-digit speeds or at a complete stop. It makes managing stop-and-go traffic so much easier.

It’s funny how I used to pine for maximum performance elements, but as I got more mature, I realized that the opportunities for all-out speed were far and few between, so it made more sense to focus on comfort and convenience features for everyday scenarios.

If I had to choose one area of improvement for the A6, it would be the engine auto start/stop programming — currently, the engine shuts off just a moment too soon as I come to a complete stop, which makes the last bit of my very smooth deceleration a bit abrupt. Maybe I’m too gentle with my brake pedal operation. It’s a simple fix though as the auto start/stop can be manually deactivated, and it doesn’t operate when you’re using the sportier S driving mode.

There’s so much to love about the 2017 Audi A6 3.0T competition quattro. Even with it’s more subdued exterior design, I still got plenty of looks and thumbs-up from motoring enthusiasts.

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Sure, your exotics always look good in photos because they have cool details and plenty of vents and sharp angles, but a metal body with four wheels really isn’t that interesting.

Enter the photographer (that’s you!). One of the best techniques to make a car look better in photos is using exaggerated angles — shoot from really high or really low.

You’d never use this perspective for shooting people, but for cars, the extreme angle adds drama to what is normally a rather mundane subject.

Here are some examples of shooting from a high angle:

You can play with framing the entire car or just a portion of it, but the high angle adds flavor since you typically don’t get to see a car from up above. The one thing to be careful of is reflections — make sure your own reflection isn’t seen in the glossy paint when you’re up close and high.

Here are some shots from a low angle:

In these shots, the camera is almost set on the floor, and it gives the subject a larger-than-life feeling, which can be enhanced with varying degrees of zoom or depth of field.

And if you’ve got the means, go really high with a drone! This was filmed with a DJI Mavic Pro and edited with the DJI app on a mobile phone.

A post shared by Andrew Chen (@lagraffiti) on May 20, 2017 at 11:06am PDT

Thanks to digital photography, there’s no longer a concern of being wasteful, so keep practicing and experimenting with different angles, and you’ll start to notice a difference in the final results.

Share your photos with me on Twitter: @lagraffiti.

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But after I started driving convertibles as a journalist, I couldn’t get enough of them, especially because Los Angeles is the perfect place to cruise with an open top. Having perfect weather almost year-round and epic routes like Pacific Coast Highway, it’s no wonder there are so many drop-tops on the road.

I also learned that my concerns of performance deficiencies were irrelevant to a normal driver because modern vehicle engineering and material improvements have come a long way in closing the gap between rag-top and coupe. Only the best drivers who can reach the limits of performance will be able to notice any difference, and I’m pretty sure no one is doing that on public streets.

As Summer approaches, I always start scheduling convertible press cars to review. (It’s a rough life, I know.) Here are a few of the my favorites from recent years:

Aston Martin Vanquish Volante

This British supercar really doesn’t need an introduction. A 568-horsepower 6.0-liter V12, handcrafted interior, and stunning looks make this the ultimate convertible.

Jaguar F-Type R Convertible

The best part of having the top down in the F-Type R is being able to hear the awesome crackle and pops from the specially-tuned exhaust. Jaguar’s engineers have also done a fantastic job of keeping heat from the air conditioning inside the cabin when you go roofless, meaning moonlit cruises are always an option.

Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

America’s iconic sports car only gets better when it goes topless — this is the way our roads were meant to be experienced!

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The Viper has a reputation for being an unwieldy beast that can only be tamed by the most skilled drivers, and while that was true of the first generation cars from the early ’90s — the original Viper RT/10 had almost zero modern safety features like anti-lock brakes, traction control, or air bags — the latest-generation is much more accessible and refined.

Last year, I was able to live with a Viper GTC for about a week, and loved it not just for its performance, but also because of its unique personality. It almost felt alive as the massive 8.4-liter V10 engine gave off an unevenly-timed rumble at idle, just like a heartbeat: “braaa-da-ba-bump… braaa-da-ba-bump…”

And while I had 645 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque at the ready, the Viper always felt composed and steady — the result of numerous safety and stability technologies jumping in at just the right moment so you can have fun without losing control.

The original Viper made such an impact in the industry with its performance-only attitude that Dodge has had a hard time shaking off the vehicle’s reputation of being poorly-mannered, even after all these years. Only loyal fans have bothered to get to know the new Viper, and I’m pretty sure that’s what hurt sales numbers and led to the car’s final curtain call.

It’s a shame the Viper wasn’t more popular because it truly is a one-of-a-kind car both literally and figuratively. Through the GTC program, anyone could customize the Viper with a plethora of color, aerodynamic, and interior options, and Dodge would make sure that no one else could configure the exact same spec within the model year. Having the freedom to configure your idea of perfection — you can go full racing spec and still have leather seats and air conditioning — is something that’s uniquely American. Try asking for that spec on special edition cars from European manufacturers; pretty sure they’re just going to laugh.

The entire production run of 2017 Vipers has been spoken for, meaning you can’t configure one for the assembly line, but you can find new models from top dealers around the country. This isn’t the first time the Viper has seen a gap in production years, and I’m hoping history will repeat itself with the unveiling of a new generation of unapologetic sports cars bearing the snake emblem in the next few years.

I’m still trying to figure out how I can own one of these highly-collectible supercars. If you have any ideas or would like to make a donation, hit me up on Twitter: @lagraffiti

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If your car requires premium fuel — there’s usually a sticker inside the fuel door that says “Premium Unleaded Only” — then by all means, use only 91 octane or higher because anything less could harm your engine. But for those with non-performance-oriented, volume-selling cars like a Honda Civic or Ford Focus, filling up with Premium gasoline won’t improve performance or fuel economy — you’re simply paying more for something you car can’t take advantage of.

Without getting too technical, let’s take a quick look at why octane ratings exist, and what it means for your car’s engine. And no, I didn’t just go to Wikipedia — I’m drawing from my years of experience as a chemical engineer working for an oil refinery.

Octane defines the maximum amount of compression a fuel can take before pre-igniting (exploding when it’s not supposed to) and causing a phenomenon called knocking or pinging. This is the sound you hear when pre-ignition pushes against a piston in the wrong direction. Think of it like someone pushing a door closed at the same time you’re trying to push it open — it’s a lot of wasted energy.

Pre-ignition can damage engine components, and most high-performance cars (or small turbocharged engines with lots of horsepower) have high-compression engines, which is why they require premium or high-octane fuel. But your base model Honda Civic is going to do just fine with regular (87 octane) fuel. It can’t sense that you’ve filled up with premium and dial up compression for more horsepower.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard people say they’re “treating” their car with premium fuel. The only treat the car is getting is the additives found in premium fuels from suppliers like Shell. But going to a 76 or Chevron gas station will net the same results because they offer additives in all of their fuel grades, not just premium. You can save a bit of money and still get the benefits of additional detergents by switching brands instead.

To be honest, fuels today are much cleaner and leave less engine deposits because of ever-increasing environmental regulations, so as long as you fill up with top tier gasoline, your car will be just fine. (Pro-tip: Costco fuel is top tier and is usually the least expensive on the market!)

Stick with your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended fuel grade and save money on each fill-up. It adds up over time!

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You could always go to a race track, but it’s rather cost and time prohibitive, which makes it difficult to attend more than a few times a year.

Enter video games and virtual reality (VR). With recent advancements in game graphics and the falling prices of VR equipment, achieving total immersion has never been easier.

Getting a sneak peek of #ProjectCars2 at CXC Simulations’ #VR Racing Night!

A post shared by Andrew Chen (@lagraffiti) on Apr 6, 2017 at 9:45pm PDT

CXC Simulations, a leading manufacturer of racing simulators, recently hosted a night of VR racing at their headquarters in El Segundo, California where guests strapped into a motion-based simulator to get a sneak peek at the upcoming game Project Cars 2.

Utilizing an Oculus Rift and CXC’s Motion Pro II simulator, I was transported to the Streets of Long Beach, the race course that’s currently set up just 45 minutes away for the weekend’s Long Beach Grand Prix. This legendary track was laser- and drone-scanned by the team at Project Cars 2, and the accuracy and level of detail is amazing.

When the green flag dropped, I was thrown back into my seat as the virtual Honda-powered INDYCAR rocketed off the line. The Motion Pro II system simulates quick g-force changes with force-feedback components and a unique tension-based design that lets you experience the excitement of acceleration, gear changes, and fast corners.

Of course, this is an example of the ultimate setup, and with a starting price of $49,000, it’s not for everyone. But if you have already have a next-gen gaming console or a gaming PC, adding virtual reality capabilities will run you between $500 to $800 depending on your brand of choice — that’s a whole lot cheaper than replacing your brakes and tires after a weekend at the track.

Many professional drivers currently use video games to train throughout the year or to learn new tracks — the gap between casual video game and professional simulator is quickly closing thanks to the amazing work put into products like Project Cars 2, Gran Turismo, and Forza.

If you’ve never experienced racing in VR, I highly recommend trying it out. A simple headset can transport you inside of your favorite car and to a race track anywhere in the world.

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I’ve been going to the Grand Prix of Long Beach for many years, but 2016 marked the first time that I attended as a journalist/photographer. I walked away from the race with some amazing photos thanks to the additional access granted by a photographer’s vest.

There are a few racing series that compete on the streets of Long Beach over the weekend, with INDYCAR being the main event that takes place on Sunday. Funny thing is, I usually only attend on Saturday to watch the IMSA race because it features production-based cars that I can identify with. This is where you’ll find race-prepped Corvettes, Ferraris, Fords, BMWs, etc. — all the best versions of road cars you wish you could build!

Here’s a bit of locals-only trivia: since the circuit takes place on the public roads of downtown Long Beach, you’re able to drive on the “track” in the weeks prior to the race as the events crew is setting up barriers and grandstands — you can cross the actual start/finish line and feel like a professional driver! After the race weekend, when all the barriers and fencing have been removed, you’ll still see the red and white corner paint and tons of tire marks on the road.

Check out some of my favorite photos from the 2016 race weekend, and get your tickets for the 43rd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach here.

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At the moment, my favorite heritage-inspired muscle cars are Dodge’s 2017 Charger Daytona 392 and 2017 Challenger T/A 392. I was recently able to experience both of these performance vehicles as part of the events surrounding the 12th annual Spring Festival of LX, the nation’s largest gathering of Dodge, Chrysler, and MOPAR enthusiasts.

In 1969, the Dodge Charger Daytona was created with only one goal: win NASCAR races. It featured extensive body modifications to make it more aerodynamic — the most recognizable mods were the “nose cone” and tall rear wing — and was the first car in the sport to go faster than 200 mph.

Dodge retired from NASCAR in 2013, and the cars in the sport today can hardly be called “stock,” but the 2017 Charger Daytona is here to remind us of its racing heritage — the deck-lid graphic gives a nod to the ‘69 Charger’s enormous rear wing while wider tires and bigger brakes help deliver increased performance.

The Challenger T/A has a similar story, originally only produced in 1970 to satisfy homologation requirements (your race car had to be based on a production vehicle) of the SCCA Trans-Am Series — hence the model name “T/A.”

Setting itself apart from the standard Challenger, the ‘70 T/A race car featured a black vinyl top (for weight savings) with special graphics and scripts, and the 2017 Challenger T/A brings the same flavor along with other performance upgrades to a new generation of enthusiasts

The 2017 Daytona and T/A weren’t produced for homologation requirements, but that doesn’t mean they’re all show and no go — the 392 designation indicates that a 485-horsepower 6.4-liter HEMI V8 lies under the hood, waiting to unleash its signature roar. Both cars are really fun to drive and push you back into your seat with tons of low-end torque.

There’s a particular “beefiness” to each vehicle, which makes me feel significant when I’m behind the wheel. It’s a characteristic that’s uniquely American and uniquely Dodge.

I think the devil-may-care attitude of modern muscle cars is what I find so attractive. During a time when many people’s tastes are shifting to smaller or electric vehicles, cars like the Charger and Challenger aren’t afraid to go big — big engines, big sounds, and big performance.

Long live the muscle car!

Images courtesy Andrew Chen, Nolan Browning, and Dodge.

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But learning about a car through someone else’s experiences might lead you astray, especially because your baseline exposure and what you value may differ greatly from that of your car-enthusiast friend (or online journalist).

Whenever I’m asked, “What’s the best car for me to buy?”, I always think of an episode of “Adam Ruins Everything” where Adam Conover explores gift giving and how it makes no economic sense.

Just like choosing a gift for someone, the only way for me to pick a “best car” for you is to take a guess based on what I think you may want, or go with my personal preferences and tastes. And unless we’ve been roommates for many years or you’re exactly like me, I’m probably not going to pick a winner on the first few tries.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t go to your friends for recommendations — the key to getting the most out of the exchange is to ask specific questions based on your own frame of reference.

If you have an active and adventurous lifestyle, you could ask for a list of vehicles with the best cargo room or off-road capability. Maybe you have a long daily commute in traffic — try asking which cars have adaptive cruise control with full-stop so you don’t have to keep standing on the brake pedal.

These types of questions will help you narrow down the candidates for your personal “best car” award, and once you’ve picked a winner, you can approach a purchasing decision with much more confidence.

I love helping friends choose cars, and it often involves everyone learning a lot about one another, because it’s an exercise in finding out what the real motivating factor is. I once helped a friend sift through a bunch of different cars, only to find out he’s always wanted a BMW (I wish he led with that important fact!). When he finally came to terms with his inexplicable yearning for the German brand, things got a lot easier. And it’s totally OK to want a car for seemingly irrational reasons — it’s your car after all, and if you can afford it, who’s to say you shouldn’t have it?

The most important thing to remember is that if the car you’ve chosen makes you smile every time you get in it, then you’ve found the “perfect car,” and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. The best car for you is the one that you choose because no one knows you better than you.

So, what kind of car should you buy? Ask me on Twitter or check out my car shopping guide.

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There was nothing “advanced” about the Nova — it had a carbureted inline-6 engine and lacked any sort of electronic features or driver-assistance except for power-steering and a 3-speed automatic transmission. If I wanted to adjust the side mirror, I’d have to crank down the window and reach out to reposition it.

When my parents’ 1992 Ford Taurus came into the picture, I thought it was the coolest thing because it had remote locking functionality and a keypad on the door. This meant that I could purposefully lock my keys in the car so I wouldn’t have to worry about them while participating in sports or outdoor activities. Of course, this was during a time when the hottest mobile device was a pager, so it didn’t take much to impress me.

Fast forward to 2017, and I get peeved whenever I have to take car keys out of my pocket to do anything. Passive vehicle entry (touch the door and it unlocks) and a push-button ignition have become standard in so many vehicles that I’ve come to expect it. The same can be said of other advanced features, like Bluetooth connectivity, touch-sensitive controls, and a back-up camera, all thanks to the rapid integration of new technologies in recent years.

While I missed the best years of muscle cars and had to sit through a painfully slow roll-out of new car features during the early 2000s, I’d like to think that we’re all currently witnessing the golden age of automotive technology with huge advancements in the areas of safety, powertrain efficiency, and in-car amenities. Our cars are smarter, more convenient, and more connected than ever. It used to be that only the most luxurious cars would have these advanced features, differentiating them from the volume-sellers, but with technology in other areas of our lives growing exponentially and leaving car tech behind, automakers had no choice but to keep up with our changing tastes or risk losing our dollars.

One way that car manufacturers are staying in the game is by partnering up with leaders in the tech industry, bringing never-before-seen capabilities into our on-road experience. For example, Audi joined forces with NVIDIA — the creators of graphics processors typically found in gaming computers — to realize Audi’s virtual cockpit, a completely digital and customizable instrument cluster.

Jaguar Land Rover is also helping to push boundaries with its Tech Incubator program where automotive-related start-up companies are hosted for a 6-month period and placed on an accelerated path for development and growth. (They’re currently accepting submissions for the 2017 program year. Go Here to apply.)

I’m excited to see where the future of automotive technology will take us. The Tesla Model S is already marketed as a self-driving car, and certain models from manufacturers like Audi, Jeep, and Subaru, to name a few, can practically drive themselves when you consider their active safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and self-parking. It’s only a matter of time until the act of driving a car will be similar to playing a video game.

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