Hasta La Ideas

When you are passionate about driving, a car is not an object; it is an experience. For the dozens or hundreds of designers and engineers responsible for bringing a single car into existence, the myriad of mechanical components, materials choices, ergonomics decisions etc. all collectively provide an experience like an orchestra delivering a symphony.

Rauno Aaltonen, who earned the nickname “The Rally Professor” while serving as a specialist driving instructor for BMW, doesn’t want for cars; MINI even released his own special edition version, seen above, earlier this year. But over dinner one night in Rovaniemi, he told us the best way I’ve ever heard of for a new car buyer to evaluate an automobile. The next morning I asked him to give us an abbreviated version on-camera, and I wish every car designer in the world would take note of this advice:

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