''Automobile'' was an American

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

magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

published from 1986 to 2020. It was founded in 1986 by a group of former ''

Car and Driver ''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine first published in 1955. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased it from its prior owner Hachette Fi ...

'' employees, led by David E. Davis with support from Rupert Murdoch's

News Corporation The original incarnation of News Corporation (abbreviated News Corp. and also variously known as News Corporation Limited) was an American Multinational corporation, multinational mass media corporation founded and controlled by media mogul Ru ...

, using the credo ''No Boring Cars.'' ''Automobile'' positioned itself more broadly than the other automotive publications, an editorial theme expanded by editor David E. Davis: the magazine de-emphasized instrumented tests and elaborate technical data, instead offering subjective, experiential reports; providing in-depth review of older cars with its ''Collectible Classics'' series; and offering styling analysis with its column by former General Motors designer Robert Cumberford. In 1991 the magazine was bought by K-III Communications (later Primedia). In 2007, the publication was acquired by Source Interlink (later TEN: The Enthusiast Network). In 2017, it became part of

Discovery Communications Discovery, Inc. was an American multinational mass media factual television conglomerate based in New York City. Established in 1982, the company operated a group of factual and lifestyle television brands, such as the namesake Discovery Cha ...

. In December 2019, Discovery's subsidiary TEN Publishing announced the discontinuation of ''Automobile''. Its final issue was dated February 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 *1991: Acura NSX *1992: Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan *1993: Chrysler Concorde / Dodge Intrepid / Eagle Vision *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 mod ...

*1996:

Honda Civic The is a series of automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1972. , the Civic is positioned between the Honda Fit/Honda City, City and Honda Accord in Honda's global passenger car line-up. The first-generation Civic was introduced in July 1972 ...

*1997:

Toyota RAV4 The is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. It is known for starting the wave of compact crossovers. The RAV4 is one of the best-selling SUVs of all time. By February 2020, a total of 10 million RAV4 ...

*1998: Porsche Boxster *1999: Volkswagen New Beetle *2000: Ford Focus *2001: Chevrolet Corvette Z06 *2002: Subaru Impreza WRX *2003: Nissan 350Z *2004: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution *2005: Chrysler 300C *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 BMW 02 Series, 02 series and has been produced in seven generations. The first generation of the 3 Series ...

*2007: Volkswagen GTI *2008: Audi R8 *2009:

Nissan GT-R The Nissan GT-R (''Gran Turismo–Racing''; model code: R35; Japanese: 日産・GT-R; ''Nissan GT-R'') is a series of cars built by Japanese marque Nissan from 2007 to 2025. It has a 2+2 (car body style), 2+2 seating layout and is considered b ...

*2010: Volkswagen GTI *2011:

Chevrolet Volt The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle car that was manufactured by General Motors, and 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 ...

*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 The Alfa Romeo 4C (Type 960) is a mid-engined sports car that was produced by Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show#2013, 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the 4C was initially only available as a coupé, with a spider body ...

, BMW i8, BMW 2-Series, Chevrolet Camaro Z/28,

Ford Mustang The Ford Mustang is a series of American Car, automobiles manufactured by Ford Motor Company, Ford. In continuous production since 1964, the Mustang is currently the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Currently in its Ford Mustang (seventh ...

Honda Fit The Honda Fit ( Japanese: ホンダ・フィット, Hepburn: ''Honda Fitto'') or Honda Jazz is a small car manufactured and marketed by Honda since 2001 over four generations. It has a five-door hatchback body style and is considered a super ...

, Lamborghini Huracán, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Subaru WRX / WRX STI, Volkswagen Golf GTI *2016: Ferrari 488 GTB, Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, Mazda MX-5 Miata, McLaren 570S, Porsche Cayman GT4, Volkswagen Golf R, Volvo XC90 *2017: Acura NSX, BMW M2, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Honda Civic Hatchback Sport, Porsche 718 Cayman S, Volvo S90 *2018:

Ford GT The Ford GT is a Mid-engine design, mid-engine two-seater sports car manufactured and marketed by American automobile manufacturer Ford Motor Company, Ford for the 2005 model year in conjunction with the company's 2003 centenary. The second gene ...

, Honda Accord Sport 2.0T,

Honda Civic Type R The is a series of hot hatchback and sports sedan models based on the Honda Civic, Civic, developed and produced by Honda since September 1997. The first Civic Type R was the third model to receive Honda's Honda Type R, Type R badge (after the ...

Lexus LC 500 The is a grand tourer manufactured by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota. 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 201 ...

, McLaren 720S, Mercedes-AMG GT R, Porsche 911 Carrera GTS, Volvo V90 T6 AWD *2019: BMW M2 Competition,

Ferrari 812 Superfast The Ferrari 812 Superfast (Type F152M) is a front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive grand tourer produced by the Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari that made its debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. The 812 Superfast is the successor to the ...

, Hyundai Veloster N, McLaren 600LT, Mercedes-Benz G550, Nissan Altima SR 2.0T, Porsche 911 GT2 RS *2020: Bentley Continental GT V8, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Ferrari F8 Tributo, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500,

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 Kia Sorento, Sorento, the Telluride was previewed as a concept car in 2016, with the production model d ...

, Mazda3 Hatchback, Porsche 911 Carrera S, Toyota GR Supra

Design of the Year

*1990:

Nissan 300ZX The Nissan 300ZX is a sports car that was produced across two different generations. As with all other versions of the Z, the 300ZX was sold within the Japanese domestic market under the name Fairlady Z. It was sold in Japan from 1983 to 2000 a ...

*1991: Acura NSX *1992: Honda Civic VX Hatchback *1993:

Mazda RX-7 The Mazda RX-7 is a front mid engine, Rear-wheel drive, rear-wheel-drive, rotary engine-powered sports car, manufactured and marketed by Mazda from 1978 through 2002 across three generations, all of which incorporated the use of a compact, light ...

*1994: Saab 900 *1995: Ferrari 456 *1996:

Ford Taurus The Ford Taurus is an automobile that was manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company in the United States from 1985 to 2019. From 1985 to 2009, Ford marketed the Taurus alongside its rebadged variant, the Mercury Sable. Four generati ...

*1997: GM EV1 *1998: Chrysler Concorde *1999: BMW M Coupe *2000: Audi TT *2001: Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon *2002:

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (marketed as Mercedes-AMG SL-Class (R232), Mercedes-AMG SL since 2022) is a grand touring sports car manufactured by Mercedes-Benz since 1954. The designation "''SL"'' derives from the German language, German term "''Sp ...

*2003: BMW Z4 *2004:

Toyota Prius The is a Compact car, compact/small family car, small family liftback (supermini/subcompact sedan (car), sedan until 2003) produced by Toyota. The Prius has a Hybrid vehicle drivetrain, hybrid drivetrain, combined with an internal combustion ...

*2005: BMW 6-Series *2006:

Pontiac Solstice The Pontiac Solstice is a convertible sports car that was produced by Pontiac (automobile), Pontiac from 2005 to 2010. Introduced at the North American International Auto Show#2004, 2004 North American International Auto Show, the Solstice roads ...

*2007: Aston Martin V8 Vantage *2008: Audi R8 *2009: Audi A5 *2010: Nissan Cube *2011: Jaguar XJ *2012:

Fisker Karma The Fisker Karma is a luxury vehicle, luxury plug-in Range extender (vehicle), range-extended electric sports sedan produced by Fisker Automotive between 2011 and 2012. The cars were manufactured at Valmet Automotive in Finland. The United St ...

*2013: Porsche Boxster *2014: BMW i8 *2015: Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe *2016:

*2017: Volvo S90 *2018:

Tesla Model 3 The Tesla Model 3 is a Battery electric vehicle, battery electric powered Mid-size car, mid-size sedan with a fastback body style built by Tesla, Inc., introduced in 2017. The vehicle is marketed as being more affordable to more people than pr ...

*2019: BMW 8-Series *2020: Porsche Taycan

References

External links

Automobile by MotorTrend
{{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