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Kirk Bell

Contributor

Cars have been an important part of his life since Kirk learned to identify them by their headlights as a toddler. He grew up helping pit crew for his dad’s highly unsuccessful drag racing escapades, and he turned his knowledge of the car culture into a career when he became an editor at Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine starting in college. Kirk has been writing about full-scale cars for more than 20 years and was named to the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury in 2014. He was most recently senior editor at Motor Authority, where he specialized in luxury and performance cars. Kirk also authored and edited several car books, including the award-winning Hot Rod & Custom Chronicle and NASCAR Chronicle when was managing editor at Consumer Guide Automotive. Kirk enjoys nothing more than a track day, but he’s also a Wisconsin sport fan and he enjoys spirited drives in his 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S.

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Car News

Cadillac calls the new electric Vistiq a "baby Escalade." It might look the part, but it's the crossover's Lyriq-based roots that really give this SUV an advantage.

By Kirk Bell

2026 Cadillac Vistiq First Drive: Lyriq Roots, Escalade Ambitions

Car News

To celebrate the model's 25th anniversary, BMW gives its X5 SUV something it's never really had before: off-road appeal.

By Kirk Bell

2025 BMW X5 Silver Anniversary Edition First Drive: Seeking Adventure