Hello fellow petrolheads, and welcome back to AllWaysDrive. As with Keanu Reeves every other month, rumours of our death have been greatly exaggerated. Unlike Keanu Reeves, the last few months have been pretty eventful for your author, and the automotive obsession was forced to take a back seat to professional obligations (read: must pay the bills).

There’s been a lot of action in the past three months, so I thought a quick-hit style wrap-up was in order before we get back in to more regularly scheduled programming in the coming weeks. While you may not see a post every day, I hope to get one or two on the site every week and begin telling some of the stories of the joys of motoring around which this site was founded. As always, if you know a good story or have one to tell, drop me a line. In the meantime, here’s a breakdown of what we’ve missed.

Volkswagen Diesel Scandal

Probably the biggest news in the automotive world in the past year or so is the incredible scandal Volkswagen has gotten themselves into over cheating diesel software. A U.S. judge has approved a $14.7 billion settlement in the case, which is one of the largest in corporate history. This comes after a $2.7B fine for excess pollution, a $603M fine distributed to 44 U.S. states and a promise to invest $2bn in green vehicle technology. California has also settled for $86M in fines against the company, yet consumers still aren’t happy.

The truth is, no dollar amount is going to fix the untold horrors the emissions from VW diesel cars caused on the environment, and no settlement will rebuild the trust consumers had in “clean diesel” vehicles or Volkswagen itself. Even if they end up paying the whole amount – their ability to do so is in dispute – VW could be in the doghouse for a long time, and we’ll need more than Tesla, BMW, Nissan and Chevy to launch EVs to prevent worsening damage to our already-eroding ozone.

Nissan Gobbles Up Mitsubishi

Another company mired in scandal, Mitsubishi has sold a controlling share of the company to Nissan. Nissan president Carlos Ghosn, penned a fantastic, thoughtful reasonable and also emotional rationale in Autonews about the company’s rationale for the decision and the similarities present when Renault stepped in and saved Nissan with a technical alliance in 1999. It’s an insightful look into the back room discussions that spawn mergers, and offers a glimpse at the human side of decision making.

The implications for petrolheads are many: Nissan and Mitsubishi have made some of the more iconic Japanese enthusiast vehicles of the past three decades, and reduced costs, increased synergies and development partnerships may mean niche vehicles like the 3000GT, Eclipse or the 180SX might again find themselves on showroom floors. While sports car sales may be flagging, they could still be possible when the cost to develop is low enough.

Ford Sending Jobs to Mexico

Regardless of your political preferences, one candidate has certainly been drawing a lot of attention to Ford and its decision to move small car manufacturing to Mexico. While this has been widely touted as a reduction in American jobs, Ford has been forced to be vocal that the U.S. factories are being retooled for a new Bronco and Ranger, both of which will have Ford fanboys salivating if they resemble anything like concepts that have been splashed around the web in the past few years. We’ll see if they pan out to be as great as we’re hoping, while hoping that future Fiestas and Foci ship with a free bag of corn chips and salsa.

German ICE Ban by 2030

Germany, land of what are arguably the best driving highways in the world, have introduced legislation hoping to ban internal combustion engines by 2030. While a great idea for the environment, such a move is woefully impractical and demonstrates the shortsightedness of politicians who, it seems, are as dumb in Europe as they are here. Yes, we need to reduce dependence on oil, and yes it will do the air a whole lot of good when vehicles aren’t polluting it, but passenger vehicles are such a small percentage of global emissions, it really seems like they’re barking up the wrong tree. Start with semi trucks, or build the needed infrastructure to make it possible to use an entirely electric vehicle on a long trip, rather than just around town. Measures like this don’t apply pressure on car companies, they apply faulty logic and end up a hollow gesture.

Sales Down, Incentives Up

Economists more qualified than I am can probably point to move valid reasons why this multi-month downward sales trend had persisted, but I have a couple of theories. They are:

Cars are more dependable these days and last longer, requiring less frequent replacement
Urbanization means that many young people no longer need to buy a car to get around
Mountains of student debt are crushing millennials, who can’t afford new cars while they’re paying $500 a month for their bachelor and master’s degrees.

The good news is that, if you happen to be flush with money, you can get a great deal on some cars right now, plus gas is cheap!

Top Gear Dead, Lives Again, Again

It seems no more perfect way to leave my site for a couple of months than with the deposed frontman of a popular TV show as the headline banner. What better way to demonstrate relevance, right? It was bound to happen, after such vitriol following the first episode, but Chris Evans is no longer with Top Gear, which, despite his status as bonafide petrolhead, is probably better for everyone in the long run. I do feel bad for the guy who really poured his heart into trying to make the show the best he could possibly make it, but it simply wasn’t a good fit.

Some of the best segments of the most recent series, however, featured people who are staying around, including Chris Harris, Rory Reid and Matt LeBlanc. Say what you will about Joey, but he is charming, funny and authentically knows his stuff. Moving forward, I hope they reduce the scripted banter and go for a more organic, conversational style that allows the cast to improvise. The less stiff they look, the more relatable the presenters will be, and I think that was a key to why the old guard was so beloved.

OMG THE GRAND TOUR IS COMING

Speaking of, we’re just a few short weeks away from the new show starring the automotive world’s favourite muppets, and the hype machine is in full swing. The trailer seems to indicate the crew are up to their old shenanigans in a slightly modified format. One of my favourite segments from Top Gear was when each presenter would pick a cheap car and they’d compete for points (cheap Porsches is some of the best TV in my memory), and it looks like that’s set to carry over, for which I’m very excited. I suspect most of you are as well.

Mercedes Grants an Unwished Wish

There were a few new cars revealed or launched while I’ve been away, the most recent being a pair of Mercedes-Benz pick-up concepts, the X-Classes. Besides sounding like special training at the Charles Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, the truck is being portrayed as a “lifestyle vehicle,” which is to say it’s not meant for use as a pickup, but to convey that the driver is so macho that he could possibly be one day bothered to pick something up.

Whereas the Ford F-150 and Chevy/GM trucks have been moving upmarket with premium trims, this is not quite the same thing, though the specs seem to indicate the X-Class is plenty capable. This is the continuation of a long trend which has prominently featured another Merc, the Galendewagen. The use of a specific type of car as a status symbol is long celebrated in America, as the unscathed “Trail Rated” badges on Grand Cherokees, Liberties, Patriots and new Cherokees will certainly support. What seems ridiculous is how transparent this effort is, or perhaps how little Mercedes cares. They know they’re not going to convert F-150 drivers, but for the Texan whose E-Class is just a bit too limp-wristed, they know provide an insanely niche vehicle. Good for them, I suppose, but I will take a bite out of my hat when I see an X-Class with something remotely tradesman-like in the bed.

Bentley Goes American, Provides Freedom of Choice

Bentley is playing it safer than Mercedes, traveling a path well worn by the Porsche Cayenne and providing people with way too much money and an inferiority complex with a new choice in uber-luxury sport utility vehicles. Given how popular the Cayenne has been, I suspect Bentley will also see success, which means all our eyeballs will suffer as these start appearing in outlet mall parking lots near us.

Infiniti + Department Store = More Sales

Speaking of ridiculous, the Q60, which is a beautiful car I’ve finally seen in the flesh, is available in a limited edition Nieman Marcus trim level. As an unabashed Infiniti fanboy, even I have trouble denying how silly and ostentatious a brand alliance with a high-end department store is for a Japanese luxury car company. I’m not sure why following in the footsteps of LL Bean Subarus or Eddie Bauer Ford Explorers seemed like a good idea to the bigwigs at fancy Nissan, but I will deny I ever doubted them if I can land one coming off lease in three years.

Next Stop: SEMA

So far, the reveals ahead of SEMA this year have not caught the world on fire. Chevy’s Malibu and Cruz concepts, although too insane for some (I suspect sarcastically), had better only be the tip of the iceberg. I go several days without seeing modded vehicles, and I worry that the whole scene is dying off, but SEMA is the annual injection of optimism for those who love to personalize and customize cars. I can only hope it’s not losing its edge.

And there we are, all caught up. Did I miss anything? Tell me in the comments and I’ll be sure to apologize profusely. Thanks for reading!