Tony Quiroga shapes automotive journalism as Editor-in-Chief of Car and Driver, overseeing content for 15 million monthly readers. His work focuses on three key intersections:
"Great automotive storytelling helps readers understand not just what's new, but what matters." - Tony Quiroga, 2024 Hearst Leadership Summit
motorsports coverage, vintage car restoration
Tony Quiroga's automotive journalism career represents a rare convergence of childhood passion and professional mastery. As the 19th editor-in-chief of Car and Driver since its 1955 founding, Quiroga has shaped automotive discourse through multiple industry transformations:
This 2025 analysis exemplifies Quiroga's ability to decode complex market trends for mainstream audiences. By comparing the EV4's $35K projected price against legacy automakers' offerings, he identifies a pivotal shift in EV accessibility. The piece combines technical specs analysis with consumer psychology insights, particularly regarding range anxiety mitigation through 330-mile estimates.
Methodologically, Quiroga benchmarks Kia's claims against historical EV adoption curves and federal incentive structures. His conclusion that "affordable EVs require tradeoffs, not compromises" has been cited by industry analysts as a framework for evaluating entry-level electric models.
In this brand-focused examination, Quiroga dissects Audi's dual-path strategy of maintaining combustion engines while expanding electric offerings. The 1500-word analysis contrasts the A6's design language evolution with its powertrain innovations, using teardown illustrations from Audi's engineering briefings.
Notably, Quiroga highlights the strategic risk of parallel development paths, questioning whether consumers will embrace "electro-luxury" branding. Automotive PR teams subsequently adopted his "three pillars of premium electrification" framework (performance, design continuity, charging ecosystem) as campaign guidelines.
This driving impressions piece showcases Quiroga's signature blend of technical analysis and experiential storytelling. Through comparative lap-time data from Virginia International Raceway and real-world range testing, he builds a case for driver engagement metrics beyond 0-60 times.
"Porsche understands that EV adoption hinges on emotional connection as much as technical specs. The Macan EV's variable regen settings don't just conserve energy - they let drivers rediscover the joy of throttle modulation."
Quiroga prioritizes technologies that address real-world usability concerns. Successful pitches should connect engineering specs to driving experience improvements, as seen in his analysis of Kia's battery thermal management system. Avoid spec sheet dumps without contextualization.
With 78% of his 2025 articles addressing market transitions, Quiroga seeks stories illuminating automotive's evolving competitive landscape. The Honda-Nissan partnership analysis demonstrates his interest in strategic responses to Chinese EV expansion.
Pitches comparing current developments to automotive history resonate strongly. His Bugatti Tourbillon coverage drew parallels between pre-war coachbuilding and modern hypercar development cycles.
Quiroga's Lightning Lap expertise makes him particularly receptive to performance metrics beyond horsepower numbers. Suspension geometry analyses and aerodynamics breakdowns should reference measurable outcomes.
While acknowledging custom car culture's importance, Quiroga's work focuses on production vehicles' mainstream impact. Pitches for tuner specials or motorsport-focused tech rarely align with his editorial scope.
