Christopher Smith
Senior Editor
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172articles
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157News
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8Features
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1Guides
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6Reviews
About Christopher Smith
Chris joined CarBuzz in June 2025. He's held positions at Ford and Motor1, and contributed to Autoblog, Car Throttle, Auto Trader, and many other motoring outlets during his 28-year career. Chris holds a BA in English from Western Michigan University and an AA in Journalism.
Growing up in the 1980s in the shadow of Detroit, Chris didn't realize he was witnessing a turning point in automotive history. He just thought digital dashes and pop-up headlights were cool, and no car could ever be as awesome as KITT from Knight Rider. He also came from a car-crazy family, so when he graduated from college with English and Journalism degrees, he applied his communication talents to the wild world of cars.
Chris worked as a mechanic and auto detailer through college, and he was knee-deep in the car club scene when the first Fast and Furious film hit the big screen. Early comms jobs at Ford put him in the hot seat of high-horsepower Mustangs, but being a fan of all cars, he started writing on the side as an auto journalist.
Author Details
Chris's professional automotive career started in 1997 at a used car dealership while finishing up a BA in English from Western Michigan University. Smith has straddled the worlds of marketing, public relations, and journalism ever since, doing everything from communications for Ford Racing to NASCAR sponsorships as the marketing manager for Bandit Industries.
Smith’s first foray into automotive journalism began in 2007, writing occasional articles for Winding Road magazine. His byline has also appeared at Autoblog, Car Throttle, Autotrader, and for nine years, he hammered away at the news desk for Motor1 as a contributing writer and US News Editor. He’s owned 35 cars in the last 20 years, including a 1995 Ford Taurus SHO which, for some bizarre reason, he's desperately trying to restore.
Industry Focus
The daily news beat is where Chris has lived for nearly a decade. Automaker reps are tired of answering his calls and emails seeking more information or comments on current situations. He's always seeking more information while striving to avoid hyperbole and unsubstantiated rumors that so often fill news feeds these days. Being based in Michigan, he tracks the latest on Detroit automakers but anything pertaining to automotive life in the US is on his radar. In between the new-vehicle debuts and breaking news, Chris reviews new cars, trucks, and SUVs with a simple writing style that considers each vehicle in context for its use. In other words, a Honda Pilot isn't terrible because it's slow.
Favorite Car
This is the impossible question to answer, but Chris manages to come back with four very eclectic choices for his garage. It starts with a 1936 Auburn 852 SC Boattail Speedster, the epitome of classic styling. The Ferrari 365 Daytona (either hard top or spider) is just beautiful, paired with a V12 and a gated manual for the epitome of driver engagement. Sticking with the 1970s, Chris yearns for a 1974 Ford Falcon XB GT to have "the last of the V8 interceptors." And in the modern realm, there's the Ram 1500 RHO, arguably the best half-ton pickup truck on the market today in terms of comfort, capability, design, fun factor, and price.
Latest
China Is Gunning For Porsche Nurburgring Records With A Teal Blue Hatchback
This isn't the first time we've seen the Denza Z9GT in action at Germany's famous Nurburgring, but we've never seen one like this.
Official: Top Gear Is Coming Back
The epic motoring show made famous by Clarkson, Hammond, and May has been off the air for years, but a reboot is now confirmed.
Dumb Vandals Just Trashed The First Koenigsegg Gemera Production Car
The new owner recently took delivery of the ultra-exclusive hypercar, and now it's headed back to Koenigsegg for repairs.
The New Genesis G90 Has An Old-School Cheat Code To One-Up BMW And Mercedes
The next-generation flagship sedan from Korea will have something most every other automaker has ditched. And it's glorious.
Aston Martin Is Hellbent On Making The 911 GT3 S/C Look Soft
A very hot Vantage is in development, and it will be the coolest car for drivers – literally and figuratively.
Range Rover's Biggest Gamble In Decades Has To Prove Its Worth Against The BMW iX3
The car-like Range Rover GT has arrived at the Nurburgring for testing, and it brought German SUVs to use for a benchmark.
Kia Sportage Costs A Little More For 2027, Except One Trim That Jumps $1,700
Kia's best-selling SUV is still thousands less than rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, but you'll pay more to get more on one popular trim.
This Secret Lexus Morizo Prototype SUV Could Demolish The BMW X5 M
Rumors of a Lexus RX performance model are true, and this is our first look at what could be a 600-hp monster SUV.
Hyundai's Massive Plan For 100 New/Updated Models Could Leave Toyota In The Dust
The Korean brand dropped big news during its 2026 Investor Day presentation, including one of the most ambitious product blitzes we've ever seen.
The Latest Jeep Wrangler Special Edition Is Ready To Smoke The Bronco
This Wrangler Willys gets a blackout package that pays homage to America's Great Smoky Mountains.
Land Rover Is Building A Bonkers Defender That Should Absolutely Destroy Ford Bronco Raptor
Announced at The Quail during Monterey Car Week, a road-going version of the Dakar-winning Defender D7X-R is planned for production.
Aston Martin Just Punched Ferrari In The Face With An 838-HP Super-GT Nobody Saw Coming
The Valen joins an expanding line of few-off Aston Martin grand tourers with a V12 in front turning wheels at the back.
Lanzante Storms Into Monterey With Its McLaren F1 Homage Making More Downforce Than Ever
The 95-59 makes its US debut in production form, and it just keeps getting better.
Chrysler's Hot New Pacifica Concept Begs For A Hellcat Engine
The VANkulture and Pacifica S concepts have minor tweaks, but they give the minivan a major performance vibe that we absolutely love.
The Kinder, Gentler Mercedes-AMG GT 53 4-Door Coupe Still Puts Porsche On Notice
With two electric motors beneath its sleek shell, this new entry-level model still rips to 60 mph in under four seconds.
Chevy Could Make An Even Bigger Mistake With Camaro Than Ford Did With Mach-E
A report claims the Camaro will return, but it won't be the sporty Bumblebee pony car you fell in love with.
Ford Gives Every F-150 A V8 Option To Fight Ram's Hemi Resurgence
2027 order guides for the F-150 reveal some engine changes across several trim levels, bringing more power for some and more cylinders for others.
New Tiguan R Could Humble The RAV4, If VW Has The Guts To Sell It In America
The hottest Tiguan yet could have upwards of 330 horsepower in a sporty package, and new spy photos suggest a debut is right around the corner.
Pilot's Incredible Emergency Landing On Highway Looks Like A Stunt Straight From Hollywood
Dashcam footage shows this pilot dodging a catastrophe by mere inches to make a safe landing on a Florida highway.
'Personality Matters, And This Car Doesn't Have One' - 2026 BMW M5 Touring Review
It's incredibly fast, and it bends the laws of physics at every corner. Is that enough to make up for a complete lack of personality?