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Los Angeles Times
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
Opinion: Chasing the rush, facing the wreckage
Julian, 17, pulled out of a Ralphs parking lot on Devonshire Street in Granada Hills at 10:00 PM on April 14, 2025, in a BMW M5 CS. In the passenger's seat was David, also 17. Leaving the car meet-up attended by young professionals and car enthusiasts, however, they didn't know that it would be the last time either of them would ever see cars the same way. The same two boys who once lived and breathed all things cars, obsessed with their curves and speed, are now facing a very different future. Right before the collision, David screamed from inside the vehicle, 'F- – -! Is this really happening?!' before ordering Julian to 'cross [his] arms across [his] chest' to prevent them from breaking during impact. Today, Julian, who is no longer insurable, resorts to lifts from his family members or Ubers to go anywhere in the city. If it hadn't been for Life360, an app that triggers instantaneous notifications upon impact or detection of a crash, there's no saying if both boys would have made it to the ER in time. The life-saving app that tracks real-time speed and location pinpointed with precision where their crash occurred. The aftermath of Julian's BMW M5 CS colliding into a guardrail off Devonshire Street in Granada Hills. In the U.S. alone, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens. About 1 out of every 8 fatal crashes involves a young driver . Every day, 8 teens die due to car crashes , leaving hundreds more injured, and California has the second highest number of crashes in the country involving young drivers. These occurrences are preventable, and a closer examination of their causes can help drivers and families understand why they're likely to happen in the first place. The rise of influencers on TikTok and Instagram doing 'donuts,' 'drifts,' and driving as if they're on a racetrack isn't helping matters. Teens, who are easily influenced, seek out the adrenaline rush from attempting the same maneuvers on an empty road. Long-time Brentwood resident Angella Bina, 52, whose own brother totaled his car after crashing into a light pole off Sepulveda Boulevard, is adamant about safe driving when it comes to her own children. 'If something ever happens to you, my world and life will come to an end,' she tells her son each time he takes the car out late. The Center for Disease Control reports that teenagers make critical errors that can lead to serious crashes and engage in risky driving behaviors, especially when a male teenage passenger is present. They're more likely than older drivers to not recognize dangerous situations. Insurance companies keen on this even offer 'Good Student Discount' options for student drivers with better academic performance in school. The assumption here is that young drivers who are responsible when it comes to their studies are more likely to be responsible drivers . But some adolescents will disagree. Other influences, such as marijuana, illicit drugs, alcohol, and prescription medication, which can be abused by students of all academic performance levels, naturally impair driving. 'None of my friends have driven drunk, but high? Teah,' said one Milken Community School senior. One recent high school grad, Liam, had just left a dinner party in Malibu. His dad had let him take out his treasured Audi RS7 for the occasion, reminding him to 'be smart.' The ocean air blew through the cabin as Liam headed north up a near-empty PCH, the twin-turbo V8 purring under his feet. As the city lights faded behind him and the curves of the highway opened up, Liam pushed on the gas. 70 MPH became 90, then 110. The Audi gripped the asphalt like it was built for it, but just as it was passing Zuma Beach, a sharp bend snuck up quicker than expected. The car flipped, once, then twice, before landing upside down, just off the side of the road. Miraculously, Liam walked away with minor injuries, but the car was destroyed. Liam's debacle is a reminder of not just the caveats to driving, but of how fast everything can go wrong. 'Seeing my family's faces after making it out alive showed me that they truly cared,' Liam said. 'I've learned not to take life for granted, and that a few seconds of adrenaline rush isn't worth my life.' Devin Maghen, however, wasn't as fortunate. 29 years old today, Maghen's life spun out of control the day his car made an unintentional sharp left turn into oncoming traffic while driving south on Sepulveda Boulevard on an ordinary day. He has been suffering from brain trauma ever since the accident 13 years ago. What's left of Maghen's 2012 Infiniti G Coupe from the head-on collision on Sepulveda Blvd. To this day, Maghen has no memory of what exactly caused the crash, but the collision put him into a coma that lasted three months. When he finally woke up, he had to relearn everything: how to walk, talk, eat, and lie down. Today, he is legally blind. In a recent exchange between Maghen and Julian, Maghen made a point to say, 'My friends were there for me when I got in my accident, but they started to move on, and I was stuck in the hospital alone. I don't blame them.' Maghen's story isn't unique to him. Today, Maghen is a music instructor at Parsi Music & Art Center. However, many high-achieving teens, even those taking honors and AP courses, accomplished and talented in sports, music, or the arts, have seen their lives take a sharp turn in the blink of an eye. The allure of a driver's license or the attraction of the roads that make experiencing freedom at this age appear exhilarating is not all it appears to be. Driving is serious. A car is not just transportation. It is a two-ton piece of metal that can change lives instantaneously—and a powerful reminder of life's fragility. It is a wake-up call to take the responsibility of driving seriously. Check out AAA's Teen Driver Safety bulletin that provides not only essential, common-sense tips for every young driver, and also this useful guide for both parents and youth. Download the free Life360 App on your phone today. Related
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
The 10 fastest BMWs that MotorTrend has ever tested
MotorTrend has performed instrumented testing of more than 300 BMWs over the years, and from that group, we've rounded up the 10 fastest BMW models we've tested to date. Out of those 10 vehicles, the most powerful from a pure horsepower perspective is the all-new BMW M5 at 717 hp, of which we've tested the wagon version, an M5 Touring, thus far. More fun facts: the bottom three were all-electric powered, two packed twin-turbo I-6 engines, and five were powered by BMW's longstanding twin-turbo V-8, and with one of those being a plug-in hybrid. Interestingly, only one was rear-wheel drive; one was the wagon, one an SUV — and all of them were from the 2018 model year or later. We ranked these 10 fastest BMWs by their quarter-mile times, and to break the ties, we used the higher trap speed to determine the finishing order. Read on to see which one of your favorites made the list of the top 10 fastest BMWs we've tested. 1. 2022 BMW M5 CS - 10.7 seconds at 129.7 mph For now at least, the special-edition 2022 BMW M5 CS is the fastest BMW car we've ever tested, the top dog (or German Shepherd, if you will), thanks in large part to its wicked 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 with 627 horsepower and 8-speed automatic combo, which helped propel the carbon-fiber lightened machine to a wildly impressive 10.7-second quarter mile time at 129.7 mph, one of the best of all time, BMW or otherwise. Its 0-to-60 mph time is a blistering 2.6 seconds, also among the quickest times we've ever recorded. Here's what we had to say about how the F90 (sixth generation) M5 CS performed in our first test: 'In our acceleration testing, the 2022 BMW M5 CS produced its best launches via its launch-control mode. This produced consistent, clean and smooth yet explosive launches, and we noted how well the car put the power down without drama. Indeed, it exhibited zero, or almost zero, wheelslip; the AWD just dug in and blasted the car down the track. Our best 0-to-60-mph time came in at a double-take — or, triple-take — inducing 2.6 seconds. The BMW's performance through the quarter mile was no less stunning.' Read the first test of the 2022 BMW M5 CS 2. 2023 BMW M4 CSL - 11.1 seconds at 128.8 mph After sleeping on the CSL moniker for two decades, BMW woke up and chose violence — and in doing so produced the second-place finisher on our list of the 10 fastest BMWs we've ever tested. The lightweight CSL, with its 543-horsepower, twin-turbo I-6, is the fastest and quickest M3 or M4 model we've ever strapped our gear onto. It's also the only rear-drive model on this list. The need for speed: 10 of the cheapest Ferraris you can buy Here's what we had to say about the M4 CSL's capabilities in our first test: 'Race cars are loud, uncomfortable, violent machines, so the fact that the 2023 BMW M4 CSL is also loud, uncomfortable and violent should arguably be scored in the pros column of this review. It's proof that this limited-edition M4 isn't a lame paint-and-badging nostalgia job. Instead, the CSL represents a rare instance of truth in advertising — it is the race car for the road that BMW claims it is. Stripped of basic comforts and boosted with an extra 40 horsepower, the CSL is the quickest BMW M3 or M4 MotorTrend has ever tested. Its track tires and hardened chassis help it steer with alacrity and deliver the tactile feedback that's missing from so many modern BMWs.' Read the first test of the 2023 BMW M4 CSL 3. 2018 BMW M5 - 11.1 seconds at 126.7 mph The first time we got our hands on the F90 generation BMW M5 for testing, it didn't disappoint, almost breaking into the 10s in the quarter mile — a number that still stands tied for the second fastest time we've ever recorded in a BMW, tie-breaking trap speeds notwithstanding. The oldest car from a model year perspective on this list, its 3.0-second 0-to-60 mph time isn't any slouch, either. Interestingly, both its quarter mile and 60 mph times are 0.4 second shy of the newer, lighter and more powerful M5 CS. Here's a piece of what we had to say about the M5 during our First Test back in 2018: 'Zero to 60 mph happens in 3.0 seconds. Yes, 3 seconds flat to 60 mph. McLaren 675LT? Zero to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds. Acura NSX? 3.1 seconds. More importantly, the 603-hp Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4Matic+ takes 3.2 seconds to hit 60 mph, the 605-hp Audi RS7 does 3.3 seconds, and the 640-hp Cadillac CTS-V needs 3.8. If you want to get to 60 mph quicker in a four-door vehicle, call Tesla, as the instant-torque Model S P100D Ludicrous Plus is our all-time champ at 2.3 seconds. The M5 is real quick.' Read the first test of the 2018 BMW M5 4. 2022 BMW M3 Competition - 11.1 seconds at 124.7 mph Call it fugly if you want — you'll probably only see the taillights of the fourth-fastest BMW we've ever tested and tied for second overall in pure quarter-mile time: the 2022 BMW M3 Competition. It's a meaner version of the M3, with BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system that helps aid wicked-quick launches. Here's what we had to say about how the M3 Comp felt in our first test: 'BMW says the engine produces 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. But man, it seems like there's no way this I-6 punches below 600 hp. Equipped with BMW's available xDrive all-wheel drive, the M3 Competition we tested shoots to 60 mph in three seconds flat. The quarter mile is dispatched in 11.1 seconds at 124.7 mph. That's Porsche and performance-electric-vehicle territory.' Read the first test of the 2022 BMW M3 Competition (xDrive) 5. 2025 BMW M5 Touring - 11.2 seconds at 126.1 mph The long-roof M5, part of the new, seventh-generation G90 M5 family, marks the first time the wagon version of the M5 has been offered here in the U.S. Launched as a response to the success of Audi's RS6 Avant, the Touring, like its M5 sedan sibling, is a plug-in hybrid, with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 assisted by an electric motor integrated into the transmission. Together, they deliver peaks of 717 hp and 738 lb-ft to all four wheels, making it the most powerful BMW on this list by far. But it isn't the fastest BMW, with part of that reason being weight, and a lot of it. Here's a snippet of what we had to say about the M5 Touring as part of our first test: 'The M5 Touring's 3.2-second 0–60 run is an impressive number for a gasoline-fueled car, as is its quarter-mile time of 11.2 seconds at 126.1 mph — or at least it is until Old Man Perspective pops his head into frame and we compare the new M5 to the previous-generation car. The 2022 M5 sedan has 627 hp, 553 lb-ft, no hybrid assistance, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and it was quicker to 60 by six-tenth of a second, and faster through the quarter mile by half a second and 3.6 mph.' Read the first test of the 2025 BMW M5 Touring 6. 2020 M8 Competition Coupe - 11.4 seconds at 124.6 mph This 617-hp GT is ready for the drift competition, and it snagged sixth place in our lineup of the top 10 fastest BMWs MotorTrend has tested. We had loads of fun working the big M's rear tires around our figure eight test circuit, where one of our test team reported 'the tread in the center of the right-rear tire melted and peeled off.' More from MotorTrend: The best V-10s ever made; 10 cars with 10 cylinders Another test editor said this about the big, V-8-powered Bimmer: 'How well this car handles depends entirely on how judicious you are with your right foot. Take it to a racetrack for anything other than a drift competition, and your lap time will depend on how precisely you can control the throttle. It has the mechanical ability to carry some serious speed through the corners, but it's entirely up to you to exploit it, and you'll spend a lot of time looking for the razor's edge between maximum performance and smoke show. If you are going to track it, go ahead and drop 3-4 psi out of all four tires before you go out, because they heat up quick, and pressures spike as soon as they get a little heat in them.' Read the first test of the 2020 BMW M8 Competition Coupe 7. 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe - 11.4 seconds at 123.0 mph The Alpina-developed version of the BMW M8 Gran Coupe boasts the most torque of the purely gas-powered machines on this list, and we found the AWD battleship's 99-foot braking distance, rear-steer, and launch control to be wildly impressive for a luxury-leaning super sports sedan that's this big. And it's not just good in a straight line, either. Here's what we had to say about pushing the 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe around our MotorTrend figure-eight course: "This thing is an absolute thrill ride. The all-wheel-drive system works beautifully. It's clearly rear biased, so you can step the rear end out a few inches and rotate it all the way around the skid pad (steering with the throttle) and then stab the throttle on the exit. It wags its tail just a wee bit, and you shoot across the middle. The steering is well weighted and very precise." Read the first test of the 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe 8. 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive - 11.5 seconds at 124 mph Driving an i5 is generally a comfortable experience in a vault of a machine, and we found the 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive to deliver in those categories. Does adding a second drive motor and extra horses give this German what it needs to keep up with the pack? Well, it did make its way onto this list. Here's some of what we had to say about the super i5 in our first test: 'What really makes the i5 M60 xDrive special is its straight-line speed. It's fast as hell, and the launch control lays the theatrics on thick: The entire car vibrates leading up to an awesome display of electrified, head-tossing propulsion. But you can't really appreciate it in day-to-day commuting, and you have to really ask yourself: Is the potential of the M60 worth it over an i5 eDrive40 or xDrive? " Read the first test of the 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive 9. 2024 i7 M70 - 11.5 seconds at 122.4 mph Once you get past its polarizing looks, you can welcome the 2024 BMW i7 M70 into the stable of the 10 fastest BMW cars ever tested. The plus-sized all-electric BMW sedan tips the scales at over three tons and yet still completes the zero-to-sixty sprint in just over three seconds. In addition to its remarkable speed, this monster boasted a hefty ($194,645 as-tested) price, surprising handling and performance, and a fold-down widescreen TV for back seat passengers, among other upscale amenities befitting a version of BMW's flagship sedan. Here's a take from our first test of the i7 M70: 'BMW claims a 0-60-mph time of 3.5 seconds, but our test team recorded a 3.2-second blast. Many EVs are crazy quick — 3.2 is the same as we've seen from a Rivian R1T pickup truck on off-road tires — but even still, that's a ridiculous time for a huge luxury car with reclining, massaging rear seats and a fold-down 34-inch rear entertainment screen.' Read the first test of the 2024 BMW i7 M70 10. 2023 BMW iX M60 - 11.5 seconds at 121.6 mph Behold, the only SUV to grace the list of the 10 fastest BMWs MotorTrend has ever tested, and it's an EV to boot. This electric people-mover didn't amaze us aesthetically, but it really threw down on the test track, establishing its place near the top of the heap among the heavy-yet-exciting electric SUVs. Here's what we had to say about the iX M60's capabilities in our first test of the fastest BMW SUV we've strapped our test gear onto: "Our test figures, while not exceptional, don't really dispute our prior conclusion: that it is a surprisingly fun electric SUV to drive. It also lacks any major compromises in pursuit of Ultimate Driving Machinations. The ride is comfortable, even in the Sport and Sport Plus drive modes, and the iX is very spacious and deathly quiet.' Read the FIRST TEST of the 2023 BMW iX M60 *610 hp with temporary Sport Boost; 811 lb-ft with Launch Control What's the fastest BMW SUV MotorTrend has ever tested? The answer is already on the list — it's the 2023 iX M60. The big SUV beats out the even bigger M-Division developed 2024 XM Label, which covered the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds at 122.6 mph, and the 2020 X6M Competition (11.6 seconds in the quarter mile at 119.5 mph). The fastest SUV ever tested at MotorTrend is the 2025 Rivian R1S Quad Max Ascend with an insane 10.5-second quarter mile at 128.2 mph. The fastest BMWs MotorTrend has ever tested 1. 2022 BMW M5 CS - 10.7 seconds at 129.7 mph 2. 2023 BMW M4 CSL - 11.1 seconds at 128.8 mph 3. 2018 BMW M5 - 11.1 seconds at 126.7 mph 4. 2022 BMW M3 Competition (xDrive) - 11.1 seconds at 124.7 mph 5. 2025 BMW M5 Touring - 11.2 seconds at 126.1 mph 6. 2020 BMW M8 Competition Coupe - 11.4 seconds at 124.6 mph 7. 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe - 11.4 seconds at 123.0 mph 8. 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive - 11.5 seconds at 124 mph 9. 2024 BMW i7 M70 - 11.5 seconds at 122.4 mph 10. 2023 BMW iX M60 - 11.5 seconds at 121.6 mph Photos by MotorTrend staff, manufacturer, Alan Muir
