Flashback Friday: Bike EXIF’s Top 10 BMW Motorcycles of 2021

There is a distinct, mechanical poetry in the way a Boxer engine hangs in a custom chassis, the massive cylinders jutting out like a pair of clenched, aluminum fists. In 2021, that physical presence was the canvas for some of the most radical, boundary-pushing custom motorcycles the world had ever s...

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Volkswagen Brings Back the ID. Buzz with a New Camper-Focused Tourer Trim for 2027

Volkswagen pulled the ID. Buzz from the American market after the 2025 model year, and the electric van skipped MY2026 entirely. Now the German brand plans a return. Sales for the 2027 lineup restart later this year, and the range grows with a camper-oriented version aimed at overnight travel.

The Tourer also receives Overnight Mode software designed around campsite use. Interior and exterior systems adapt for sleeping conditions and evening stays. A retractable tow hitch joins the equipment list, alongside captain’s chairs and an electrochromic panoramic roof. Small touches matter here. The whole concept leans toward convenience rather than rugged overlanding.

2027 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Tourer

Buyers in the US liked the concept from the start. Reality looked different once pricing and driving range entered the conversation. Volkswagen moved slightly above 6,000 units during 2025, numbers tied in part to high sticker prices and range figures many shoppers viewed as disappointing. Even so, the company never treated the pause as permanent.

For MY2027, the ID. Buzz family expands to four trims. The lineup includes Pro S RWD, Pro S 4Motion, Tourer 4Motion, and Pro S Plus 4Motion. Two newcomers join the range. One sits at the center of attention.

Volkswagen based the new Tourer model on the European “Good Night Package,” reshaping the van into an electric camper without forcing owners into aftermarket conversions. The setup adds a fold-out mattress and platform, along with window blinds, front window ventilation panels, an exterior table, and chairs. No fridge appears inside. No stove either. Still, the package targets short camping trips rather than full off-grid living.

2027 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Tourer

Inside, Volkswagen updates the infotainment hardware and software package with the latest ID.S 6 system built on Android Automotive OS. Drivers gain access to more applications through a new App Store, while the navigation home screen receives a redesigned layout for faster interaction. Vehicle settings move into a revised interface intended to simplify access to cabin functions.

2027 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Tourer

Each 2027 ID. Buzz includes a one-year In-Vehicle Premium subscription. Volkswagen bundles connected services such as Premium Navigation with What3Words support, Premium Speech with ChatGPT, Premium Radio, and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality under the new name. myQ Connected Garage enters the package too. So does Travel Assist with assisted lane changing. AirConsole also joins the system, turning the infotainment display into a gaming screen when parked.

Volkswagen adds an NACS adapter for the 2027 model year, though the van still lacks a native NACS charging port. One-pedal driving enters the mix as well. Buyers looking for visual nostalgia receive only two-tone paint options, including a Candy White over Cherry Red combination inspired by the classic Type 2 Microbus.

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US Lawmakers Push New Ban on Chinese Connected Cars Ahead of Trump-Xi Talks

A new bill moving through Congress targets Chinese connected vehicles with broader restrictions than before. Lawmakers acted while President Donald Trump visited China, where discussions with President Xi raised concerns in Washington about a softer stance toward Chinese automakers entering the American market.

Introduced on May 11, the proposal expands existing limits tied to China-made vehicles and related technology. The measure focuses on software and connectivity systems developed in China. Under the bill, passenger vehicles containing those systems would no longer qualify for sale in the United States. Production location would not matter. Even vehicles assembled on American soil through partnerships with US companies would still fall under the restriction.

BYD Shark

The legislation carries bipartisan backing. Michigan Republican John Moolenaar joined Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell in co-signing the Connected Vehicle Security Act. Supporters framed the proposal as protection for “American manufacturing, workers, and national security.” Earlier restrictions introduced through an executive order in early 2025 would become permanent law under the new measure. The bill also lays out enforcement procedures and adds fresh limits.

Modern vehicles collect huge amounts of information through sensors, software, and cameras. Backers of the proposal argue such data creates a security problem if Chinese firms, or Beijing itself, gain access. A similar effort already appeared in the Senate last month through Senators Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan.

BYD Shark

Pressure from the auto industry also shaped the discussion. Support for blocking Chinese vehicles from the US market appears widespread among domestic manufacturers. Meanwhile, Chinese brands continue expanding across Europe, South America, and parts of Asia. Some companies, including BYD, plan vehicle production in Mexico. In Washington, many view Mexican assembly plants as a possible route around existing tariffs.

And then there is the diplomatic angle. Trump’s Beijing visit raised fears among some lawmakers that negotiations with Xi might reduce barriers for Chinese automobiles entering the United States. For now, no agreement has emerged. Nobody knows where the summit discussions will lead. Still, the timing behind the congressional move looked deliberate.

BYD Shark

China already pushed back. The Chinese embassy in Washington criticized the proposal and urged the United States to “stop overstretching the concept of national security.” Those comments landed quickly. Industry executives also paid attention after Trump stated in January at the Detroit Economic Club that Chinese automakers building factories in America would be “great.”

Those remarks unsettled parts of the automotive sector. The latest trip to Beijing now adds another layer to an already tense debate over connected cars, manufacturing, and trade policy.

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Throwback Thursday—Extreme Green: A Kawasaki ZRX1200R by deBolex

After a while, a lot of custom designs tend to blend into a homogenous soup: variations on a standard recipe, slightly tweaked by the individual chefs.A handful of top builders specialize in less mainstream flavors though. One of them is Calum Pryce-Tidd of the south London workshop deBolex Engineer...

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Desmoto: Futuri Motion Tech's 141kg Ducati Multistrada Supermoto

In the industrial landscape of Tilburg, the Netherlands, Mark van Veggel is quietly redefining what a garage build actually means. A mechanical polymath with a background in electronic design and fabrication, Mark grew up in the slipstream of his father and grandfather. These two men taught him that...

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Single-Cylinder Serenity: Roninsu’s Yamaha SR400 Chopper

When I close my eyes and envision a chopper, the mental reel usually defaults to a specific brand of Americana. I see the Harley-Davidson Panhead, a Shovelhead, or even a Sportster. To some, the metric Chopper world is a secondary thought, even with the long-standing popularity of Triumph Pre-Units,...

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American Muscle, Reimagined: Our Favorite Indian Scout Customs

When the Indian Scout first rolled out in 1920, it didn't just move people—it started a revolution. Designed by Charles B. Franklin, the original Scout was a marvel of low-slung agility and reliability. Fast forward nearly a century, and under the stewardship of Polaris, the modern Scout has returne...

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