Tim Stevens
@timstevens.bsky.social
Freelance journo for great places like TechCrunch, The Verge, MotorTrend, Road&Track, Car and Driver, and more. Former EiC at Engadget and CNET's Roadshow. Fiction in Analog SF and elsewhere. Fortune once called me the Nicest Guy in Tech.
Whew, what a year. In 2025 I flew over 200,000 miles and wrote nearly 280,000 words worth of assignments, chasing stories and reviews all over the world. It's hard to pick favorites, but here’s what stands out.
timstevens.substack.com/p/my-favorit...
timstevens.substack.com/p/my-favorit...
My Favorite Cars, Things, Trips, and Toys from 2025
A little look back as we move ahead.
timstevens.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Whew, what a year. In 2025 I flew over 200,000 miles and wrote nearly 280,000 words worth of assignments, chasing stories and reviews all over the world. It's hard to pick favorites, but here’s what stands out.
timstevens.substack.com/p/my-favorit...
timstevens.substack.com/p/my-favorit...
Finally cracking into my hardest fought souvenir from Japan, the 4K remaster of Macross: Do You Remember Love? Took me forever to find a copy in Tokyo.
Been decades since I last saw this. Let's see if I still dislike Minmei after all these years...
Been decades since I last saw this. Let's see if I still dislike Minmei after all these years...
December 26, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Finally cracking into my hardest fought souvenir from Japan, the 4K remaster of Macross: Do You Remember Love? Took me forever to find a copy in Tokyo.
Been decades since I last saw this. Let's see if I still dislike Minmei after all these years...
Been decades since I last saw this. Let's see if I still dislike Minmei after all these years...
Merry Christmas from the Stevens household, where I'm trying to teach Koopa to help me bring in wood for the fire. Half the time he runs off with the piece I give him, but we'll get there.
December 25, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Merry Christmas from the Stevens household, where I'm trying to teach Koopa to help me bring in wood for the fire. Half the time he runs off with the piece I give him, but we'll get there.
Mostly offline to focus on the family this week, but wanted to quickly share my first byline for The Washington Post, in which I delve into how automotive design studios are mixing old tech and new. Very proud to be a contributor to this storied outlet.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
How to design a new car in 2026
Sulfurous clay was the tool every car designer used, until virtual reality arrived.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Mostly offline to focus on the family this week, but wanted to quickly share my first byline for The Washington Post, in which I delve into how automotive design studios are mixing old tech and new. Very proud to be a contributor to this storied outlet.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Lots of folks seemed to enjoy my first round of travel tips, so I’m back with more. May they make your journeys a little less stressful.
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
Simple tips to survive terrible trips: Part 2
More humble advice a weary wanderer.
open.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Lots of folks seemed to enjoy my first round of travel tips, so I’m back with more. May they make your journeys a little less stressful.
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
Gawd, Koopa's ego is probably never going to come back down to earth after this.
Anyhow, we has a blast putting some eco-friendly dog toys and treats to the test for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
Anyhow, we has a blast putting some eco-friendly dog toys and treats to the test for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us/2025/dec/07/best-gifts-ideas-for-dogs
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Gawd, Koopa's ego is probably never going to come back down to earth after this.
Anyhow, we has a blast putting some eco-friendly dog toys and treats to the test for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
Anyhow, we has a blast putting some eco-friendly dog toys and treats to the test for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
project. Replaced a few transistors which fixed most of the issues, only to restore power to a shorted coil that then... blew one of the fresh new transistors. Back to the soldering bench.
December 7, 2025 at 6:40 PM
project. Replaced a few transistors which fixed most of the issues, only to restore power to a shorted coil that then... blew one of the fresh new transistors. Back to the soldering bench.
Reposted by Tim Stevens
The new ix3 sounds agressively weird. @timstevens.bsky.social has the review.
alloymag.com/bmw-ix3-driv...
alloymag.com/bmw-ix3-driv...
New Class - Alloy
BMW's ix3 marks a new era for BMW. Is the new SUV any good?
alloymag.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The new ix3 sounds agressively weird. @timstevens.bsky.social has the review.
alloymag.com/bmw-ix3-driv...
alloymag.com/bmw-ix3-driv...
To those excited about kei cars in the US, please know that there are many superminis in various international markets that could have been sold in the US under current regulations.
By and large, manufacturers don't because nobody here buys them. Changing legality sadly does not create a market.
By and large, manufacturers don't because nobody here buys them. Changing legality sadly does not create a market.
December 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
To those excited about kei cars in the US, please know that there are many superminis in various international markets that could have been sold in the US under current regulations.
By and large, manufacturers don't because nobody here buys them. Changing legality sadly does not create a market.
By and large, manufacturers don't because nobody here buys them. Changing legality sadly does not create a market.
Reposted by Tim Stevens
@timstevens.bsky.social nailed this like Ted Lasso's last dart throw
December 1, 2025 at 6:45 PM
@timstevens.bsky.social nailed this like Ted Lasso's last dart throw
Look what just showed up from Japan. It's the newest issue of Car Graphic Neo Classic featuring lil ol' me and the story of my imported STI. Amazing to see my car featured like this in such a beautiful magazine. Many thanks to Mike Cutler for the great pics.
December 2, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Look what just showed up from Japan. It's the newest issue of Car Graphic Neo Classic featuring lil ol' me and the story of my imported STI. Amazing to see my car featured like this in such a beautiful magazine. Many thanks to Mike Cutler for the great pics.
I've been a massive fan of the World Rally Championship since the mid '90s, and I'm more amped for this week's season finale than any other round I can remember. Click on through to my latest piece over at Alloy and join me in getting hyped.
alloymag.com/world-rally-...
alloymag.com/world-rally-...
World Rally Championship's Epic Finale Approaches - Alloy
This week's final round of the 2025 World Rally Championship is shaping up to be the best in decades. Here's why you can't miss it, and how to watch it.
alloymag.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I've been a massive fan of the World Rally Championship since the mid '90s, and I'm more amped for this week's season finale than any other round I can remember. Click on through to my latest piece over at Alloy and join me in getting hyped.
alloymag.com/world-rally-...
alloymag.com/world-rally-...
Kudos to one of my local VFDs for battling disinformation on a post regarding a recent vehicle fire that everyone in comments just up and assumed was an EV. (It was a Genesis G70, FYI.)
www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cw4...
www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cw4...
November 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Kudos to one of my local VFDs for battling disinformation on a post regarding a recent vehicle fire that everyone in comments just up and assumed was an EV. (It was a Genesis G70, FYI.)
www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cw4...
www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cw4...
This week's newsletter is full of variety. open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
November 23, 2025 at 1:34 PM
This week's newsletter is full of variety. open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
I own all of Analogue's restomod consoles. They are truly the Singer of vintage gaming, and I was lucky to get an early taste of the company's eagerly anticipated remained Nintendo 64. Unfortunately for the Analogue 3D, it's the games that let the experience down.
www.engadget.com/gaming/analo...
www.engadget.com/gaming/analo...
Analogue 3D review: Modern processing can't fix vintage flaws
Your Nintendo 64 games never looked so good, but Analogue's greatest system yet can't fix some of the N64's inherent flaws.
www.engadget.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I own all of Analogue's restomod consoles. They are truly the Singer of vintage gaming, and I was lucky to get an early taste of the company's eagerly anticipated remained Nintendo 64. Unfortunately for the Analogue 3D, it's the games that let the experience down.
www.engadget.com/gaming/analo...
www.engadget.com/gaming/analo...
My latest piece over at The Guardian. This was a fun one, I got to team up with my better half to run through the best jigsaw puzzles on the market in the most popular categories, including wooden, a segment that's been exploding of late.
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
The six best US jigsaw puzzles for adults and kids to soothe your screen-addled brain
Not all puzzles are created equal. We found the top options for adults and kids ideal for gifts or to pass the winter months
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:25 PM
My latest piece over at The Guardian. This was a fun one, I got to team up with my better half to run through the best jigsaw puzzles on the market in the most popular categories, including wooden, a segment that's been exploding of late.
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
It's a little more nerve wracking these days looking out the plane window at night and seeing all the other aircraft blinking in your airspace.
November 9, 2025 at 11:51 PM
It's a little more nerve wracking these days looking out the plane window at night and seeing all the other aircraft blinking in your airspace.
Newsletter is back with the latest from yours truly, including a drive of a prototype Honda, a few pieces published in lovely new outlet, impressions from behind the wheel of Porsche's new 911 Turbo S, and what it's like to wheel the 1,250 hp Czinger 21C!
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
Driving the Halo Car for the Military-Industrial Complex
No, I'm not talking about Porsche's new 911 Turbo S, though I have impressions of that for you, too.
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Newsletter is back with the latest from yours truly, including a drive of a prototype Honda, a few pieces published in lovely new outlet, impressions from behind the wheel of Porsche's new 911 Turbo S, and what it's like to wheel the 1,250 hp Czinger 21C!
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
Reposted by Tim Stevens
One of two pieces on the current state of things for Honda from @timstevens.bsky.social. This one will be of interest for anyone who is waiting for a more Honda EVs in the US.
November 5, 2025 at 5:40 PM
One of two pieces on the current state of things for Honda from @timstevens.bsky.social. This one will be of interest for anyone who is waiting for a more Honda EVs in the US.
Parting shot from Japan. Epic sunset over the wing of this A350 on my flight home. Hope to see you again next year, Fuji-san!
November 3, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Parting shot from Japan. Epic sunset over the wing of this A350 on my flight home. Hope to see you again next year, Fuji-san!
A vehicle engineer from a certain major manufacturer here in Japan just came up and said he enjoys my monthly column in Car Graphic. Might have made my day a little bit.
November 1, 2025 at 3:22 AM
A vehicle engineer from a certain major manufacturer here in Japan just came up and said he enjoys my monthly column in Car Graphic. Might have made my day a little bit.
Toyota’s got a new RAV4 for and in it, a big new software update. But, unlike GM, Toyota made the pro-consumer choice by not only continuing support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but making the integration of those projection services even better.
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
Toyota radically improved the RAV4 software experience, without killing CarPlay
General Motors: Please take notes.
open.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Toyota’s got a new RAV4 for and in it, a big new software update. But, unlike GM, Toyota made the pro-consumer choice by not only continuing support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but making the integration of those projection services even better.
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...