''Automobile'' was an American

automobile A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with Wheel, wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, pe ...

magazine A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...

published by the

Motor Trend Group Motor Trend Group, LLC, formerly known as Source Interlink Media and TEN: The Enthusiast Network, is a media company that specializes in enthusiast brands, such as ''Motor Trend'', ''Hot Rod'', and ''Roadkill''. Headquartered in New York City, i ...

. A group of former employees of ''

Car and Driver ''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was fou ...

'' led by

David E. Davis David Evan Davis Jr. (November 7, 1930 – March 27, 2011) was an American automotive journalist and magazine publisher widely known as a contributing writer, editor and publisher at ''Car and Driver'' magazine and as the founder of ''Automobile ...

founded ''Automobile'' in 1986 with support from Rupert Murdoch's

News Corporation News Corporation (abbreviated News Corp.), also variously known as News Corporation Limited, was an American multinational mass media corporation controlled by media mogul Rupert Murdoch and headquartered at 1211 Avenue of the Americas in Ne ...

, using the credo ''No Boring Cars.'' ''Automobile'' distinguished itself as more of a

lifestyle magazine Lifestyle journalism is the field of journalism that provides news and opinion, often in an entertaining tone, regarding goods and services used by consumers in their everyday life. Lifestyle journalism covers travel, fashion, fitness, leisure, fo ...

than the other automotive publications, an editorial theme that Davis greatly expanded upon from his tenure as the editor of ''Car and Driver'', though it was a sister publication to ''

Motor Trend ''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949. Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 19 ...

''. Unlike other automobile magazines, ''Automobile'' didn't often conduct instrumented tests of cars or provide much technical data. Instead, the reviews of vehicles were subjective experiential reports with the cars in their naturally intended, real world environment. Additionally, ''Automobile'' reserved a good portion of each issue for covering vehicles no longer in production, but still relevant to collectors or automotive history as a whole. For example, the magazine included features such as "Collectible Classic," an in-depth review of a particular older car, and reports from recent classic and

antique car An antique car is an automobile that is an antique. Narrower definitions vary based on how old a car must be to qualify. The Antique Automobile Club of America defines an antique car as over 25 years of age. However, the legal definitions for the ...

auctions. ''Automobile'' also had a regular column by former General Motors designer

Robert Cumberford Robert Wayne Cumberford (born August 4, 1935) is a former automotive designer for General Motors, author and design critic – widely known as Automotive Design Editor and outspoken columnist for ''Automobile'' magazine. Examples of ...

, who analyzed styling elements of current production models and show cars, often linking their design to those of older cars. In December 2019,

subsidiary TEN Publishing announced that it would discontinue publication of ''Automobile''. Its final issue was dated February 2020.

Publishers

* 1986–1991:

* 1991–2007:

Primedia Primedia is a South African media group, headquartered in Sandton, Johannesburg. History Primedia was established in 1994 and its listing on the JSE Securities Exchange was completed in April 1995. Primedia remained listed on the JSE until 1 ...

* 2007–2014:

Source Interlink Media Motor Trend Group, LLC, formerly known as Source Interlink Media and TEN: The Enthusiast Network, is a media company that specializes in enthusiast brands, such as ''Motor Trend'', '' Hot Rod'', and ''Roadkill''. Headquartered in New York City, ...

* 2014–2017: TEN: The Enthusiast Network * 2017–2020:

Awards

Automobile of the Year

From 1990 to 2014, ''Automobile'' awarded their "Automobile of the Year" to one car annually. *1990:

Mazda MX-5 Miata The Mazda MX-5 is a lightweight two-passenger roadster sports car manufactured and marketed by Mazda with a front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. The convertible is marketed as the or in Japan, and as the Mazda Miata () in the United Sta ...

*1991:

Acura NSX NSX may refer to: Stock exchanges * Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) * National Stock Exchange (Jersey City, New Jersey), US (NSX) * National Stock Exchange of Australia (NSX) Other uses * Neon Swing X-perience (NSX), a US musical group * Honda NSX ( ...

*1992: Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan *1993:

Chrysler Concorde The Chrysler Concorde is a full-size, front wheel drive four-door sedan that was produced by Chrysler from 1992 to 2004. It assumed the C-body Chrysler New Yorker Salon's position as the entry-level full-size sedan in the Chrysler brand lin ...

Dodge Intrepid The Dodge Intrepid is a full sized front-wheel drive four-door sedan that was produced by Dodge for model years 1993 to 2004. It is related to the Chrysler 300M, Chrysler Concorde, Chrysler LHS, Chrysler New Yorker, and Eagle Vision which we ...

Eagle Vision The Eagle Vision is a full-sized, front-wheel drive four-door sports sedan produced from 1992 until 1997. It was marketed by Eagle, replacing the AMC/Renault-designed Eagle Premier (from which the Vision was derived). The Eagle Vision was bad ...

*1994: Dodge / Plymouth Neon *1995:

BMW M3 The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, developed by BMW's in-house motorsport division, BMW M GmbH. M3 models have been produced for every generation of 3 Series since the E30 M3 was introduced in 1986. The initial model ...

*1996:

Honda Civic The is a series of automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1972. Since 2000, the Civic has been categorized as a compact car, while previously it occupied the subcompact class. , the Civic is positioned between the Honda Fit/City and Honda Acc ...

*1997:

Toyota RAV4 The is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. Considered the first ever compact crossover SUV, it made its debut in Japan and Europe in 1994, and in North America in 1995, being launched in January 19 ...

*1998:

Porsche Boxster The Porsche Boxster and Cayman are Mid-engine design, mid-engine two-seater sports cars manufactured and marketed by German automobile manufacturer Porsche across four generations—as a two-door, two-seater Roadster (automobile), roadster (Boxst ...

*1999:

Volkswagen New Beetle The Volkswagen New Beetle is a compact car, introduced by Volkswagen in 1997, drawing heavy inspiration from the exterior design of the original Beetle. Unlike the original Beetle, the New Beetle has its engine in the front, driving the fron ...

*2000:

Ford Focus The Ford Focus is a compact car (C-segment in Europe) manufactured by Ford Motor Company since 1998. It was created under Alexander Trotman's Ford 2000 plan, which aimed to globalize model development and sell one compact vehicle worldwide. The ...

*2001:

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 refers to different models of the Chevrolet Corvette: * Chevrolet Corvette (C2)#Z06, Chevrolet Corvette C2 Z06 (1963) * Chevrolet Corvette (C5)#Z06, Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 (2001-2004) * Chevrolet Corvette (C6)#Z06, Chevrole ...

*2002:

Subaru Impreza WRX The is a compact car that has been manufactured by the Japanese automaker Subaru since 1992. It was introduced as a replacement for the Leone, with the predecessor's EA series engines replaced by the new EJ series. It is now in its sixth gene ...

*2003:

Nissan 350Z : The Nissan 350Z (known as Nissan Fairlady Z (Z33) in Japan) is a two-door, two-seater sports car that was manufactured by Nissan Motor Corporation from 2002 until 2009 and marks the fifth generation of Nissan's Z-car line. The 350Z entered prod ...

*2004:

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, popularly referred to as the 'Evo', is a sports sedan and rally car based on the Lancer that was manufactured by Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors from 1992 until 2016. There have been ten official versio ...

*2005:

Chrysler 300C The Chrysler Corporation Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of t ...

*2006:

BMW 3-Series The BMW 3 Series is a line of compact executive cars manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. It is the successor to the 02 Series and has been produced in seven generations. The first generation of the 3 Series was only avail ...

*2007:

Volkswagen GTI The Volkswagen GTI models may refer to: * Volkswagen Gol GTI, a performance-oriented B-segment/supermini/subcompact hatchback produced between 1989 and 1994 * Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit GTI, a performance-oriented C-segment/small family car/compact hat ...

*2008:

Audi R8 The Audi R8 is a mid-engine, 2-seater sports car, which uses Audi's trademark quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. It was introduced by the German car manufacturer Audi AG in 2006. The car is exclusively designed, developed, and manufactu ...

*2009:

Nissan GT-R The Nissan GT-R (Japanese: 日産・GT-R, ''Nissan GT-R''), is a high-performance sports car and grand tourer produced by Nissan, unveiled in 2007. It is the successor to the Skyline GT-R, a high performance variant of the Nissan Skyline. Alth ...

*2010:

*2011:

Chevrolet Volt The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid manufactured by General Motors, also marketed in rebadged variants as the Holden Volt in Australia and New Zealand and the Buick Velite 5 in China, and with a different fascia as the Vauxhall Ampera in t ...

*2012: Audi A7 *2013: Tesla Model S *2014: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

''Automobile'' All-Stars

In 2015, ''Automobile'' replaced their "Automobile of the Year" award with the "''Automobile'' All-Stars", naming multiple cars on the list annually. *2015: Alfa Romeo 4C, BMW i8, BMW 2-Series, Chevrolet Camaro Z/28,

Ford Mustang The Ford Mustang is a series of American automobiles manufactured by Ford. In continuous production since 1964, the Mustang is currently the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Currently in its sixth generation, it is the fifth-best selli ...

, Honda Fit, Lamborghini Huracán, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Subaru WRX / WRX STI, Volkswagen Golf GTI *2016:

Ferrari 488 GTB The Ferrari 488 (Type F142M) is a mid-engine sports car produced by the Italian automobile manufacturer Ferrari. The car replaced the 458, being the first mid-engine Ferrari to use a turbocharged V8 since the F40. It was succeeded by the Ferrar ...

, Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, Mazda MX-5 Miata,

McLaren 570S The McLaren 570S is a sports car designed and manufactured by British car manufacturer McLaren Automotive. It was unveiled at the 2015 New York International Auto Show. Design and specifications The car is powered by a new iteration of the 3 ...

Porsche Cayman GT4 The Porsche Boxster and Cayman are Mid-engine design, mid-engine two-seater sports cars manufactured and marketed by German automobile manufacturer Porsche across four generations—as a two-door, two-seater Roadster (automobile), roadster (Boxst ...

Volkswagen Golf R The Volkswagen Golf (Mk7) is a small family car (C-segment) produced by German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen, as the seventh generation of the Golf and the successor to the Golf Mk6. It was introduced in Berlin on 4 September 2012, before a ...

, Volvo XC90 *2017: Acura NSX, BMW M2,

Chevrolet Bolt EV Chevrolet ( ), colloquially referred to as Chevy and formally the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors Company, is an American automobile division of the American manufacturer General Motors (GM). Louis Chevrolet (1878–1941) and oust ...

, Honda Civic Hatchback Sport, Porsche 718 Cayman S, Volvo S90 *2018: Ford GT, Honda Accord Sport 2.0T, Honda Civic Type R,

Lexus LC 500 The is a grand tourer manufactured by Lexus, Toyota's luxury division. Based on the 2012 LF-LC Concept, it was revealed at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It replaced the SC, which was produced from 1991 to 2010. I ...

, McLaren 720S,

Mercedes-AMG GT R The Mercedes-AMG GT (C190 / R190) is a grand tourer produced in coupé and Roadster (automobile), roadster bodystyles by German automobile manufacturer Mercedes-AMG. The car was introduced on and was officially unveiled to the public in Octobe ...

, Porsche 911 Carrera GTS, Volvo V90 T6 AWD *2019: BMW M2 Competition, Ferrari 812 Superfast, Hyundai Veloster N, McLaren 600LT, Mercedes-Benz G550, Nissan Altima SR 2.0T,

Porsche 911 GT2 RS The Porsche 911 GT2 is a high-performance, track-focused sports car built by the German automobile manufacturer Porsche from 1993 to 2009, and then since 2010 as the GT2 RS. It is based on the 911 Turbo, and uses a similar twin-turbocharged engin ...

*2020: Bentley Continental GT V8, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray,

Ferrari F8 Tributo The Ferrari F8 (Type F142MFL) is a mid-engine sports car produced by the Italian automobile manufacturer Ferrari. The car is the replacement to the Ferrari 488, with exterior and performance changes. It was unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show ...

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

Kia Telluride The Kia Telluride is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating manufactured and marketed by Kia since 2019. Positioned above the smaller Sorento, the Telluride was previewed as a concept car in 2016, with the production model debuting in the ...

, Mazda3 Hatchback,

Porsche 911 Carrera S The Porsche 911 (pronounced ''Nine Eleven'' or in german: Neunelfer) is a two-door 2+2 high performance rear-engined sports car introduced in September 1964 by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a rear-mounted flat-six engine and origi ...

, Toyota GR Supra

Design of the Year

*1990: Nissan 300ZX *1991: Acura NSX *1992: Honda Civic VX Hatchback *1993: Mazda RX-7 *1994: Saab 900 *1995:

Ferrari 456 The Ferrari 456 and 456M (Type F116) are front-engine grand tourers which were produced by Ferrari from 1992 to 2003. The 456 was a replacement for the front-engine 412 as the company's V12-powered four seater. The updated 456M, which was the la ...

*1996: Ford Taurus *1997: GM EV1 *1998:

*1999: BMW M Coupe *2000: Audi TT *2001: Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon *2002: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class *2003: BMW Z4 *2004: Toyota Prius *2005: BMW 6-Series *2006: Pontiac Solstice *2007: Aston Martin V8 Vantage *2008:

*2009: Audi A5 *2010: Nissan Cube *2011: Jaguar XJ *2012: Fisker Karma *2013: Porsche Boxster *2014: BMW i8 *2015: Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe *2016: Ford GT *2017: Volvo S90 *2018: Tesla Model 3 *2019: BMW 8-Series *2020: Porsche Taycan

References

External links

* {{Source Interlink Motor Trend Group 1986 establishments in Michigan 2020 disestablishments in California Automobile magazines published in the United States Defunct magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1986 Magazines disestablished in 2020 Magazines published in Los Angeles Magazines published in Michigan Mass media in Ann Arbor, Michigan Monthly magazines published in the United States