Matthew Skwarczek started blogging in 2015 and focuses his writing on motorcycles and engineering science. A graduate of Northwestern University, where he earned his Master’s in Chemical Engineering, Matthew served as an applications engineer for BASF before joining MotorBiscuit in 2019.
In Matthew’s words, the visceral nature of riding requires you to be in the moment. Combined with his fascination in the analytics surrounding the building and designing of cars and bikes, both modern and classic, you’ll find his voice blends functionality and phenomena. He rides motorcycles and bicycles often, photographing them as well.
Matthew has contributed to Oppositelock and is now an alumnus. He plays Dungeons & Dragons and reads sci-fi and fantasy in his spare time, and appreciates the works of Peter Egan, Sam Smith, Brandon Sanderson, and Alex Goy.
Ford’s been rolling out updates to much of its lineup. Even as the Mustang GT500 was winning over reviewers, a new Mustang was being leaked. There’s also the new Mustang Mach E electric crossover, a new Escape and Edge, and the upcoming ‘baby Bronco’, aka ‘Maverick.’ Even the GT supercar got a recent update. But …
Speed and handling are no longer the sole domain of luxury SUVs. Not everyone can afford a Range Rover SVR, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne Turbo S hybrid, or G-Wagon. But more affordable options, like the Ford Explorer ST and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, have joined the market. Soon the Dodge Durango Hellcat will join, too. …
Special editions can be hit-or-miss. Sometimes, you get something worth the upcharge, like the Jeep Gladiator Maximus or GMC Syclone Marlboro. More often, though, limited-editions are merely cosmetic. You can recreate the F-150 and Silverado Harley-Davidson editions, for example, at a cheaper rate than the manufacturers charge. So far, the Trail and 1794 Editions that …
There are quite a few variations of the Jeep Gladiator pickup. Some are modified, taking inspiration from past Jeeps or tuning the engine to produce 1000+ hp. But the regular Gladiator lineup has quite a lot to offer on its own. There’s the more on-road comfortable Overland, the Miami-themed Three O Five, and there’ll soon …
With Jeep set to reintroduce the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer in 2021, vintage Jeeps have been on the rise. Jeep itself has already made Moab concepts that call back to the brand’s history, and there’s no shortage of companies that can restomod a classic SUV into a luxurious driver. But sometimes, these restorations can go …
Overall, vehicles have gotten better over time. Sure, they’ve also gotten larger and heavier. But in terms of technology and safety, new cars trump classic ones. However, not every vehicle improved over the years. In chasing refinement, some risk losing their way, and their reputations along the way. And there’s one car, in particular, that …
Even legends have weak spots. Famously reliable vehicles like the Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser have their good years and their bad years. No car or SUV is immune; not the Mitsubishi Montero, not the Porsche 911. Not even the Nissan Skyline GTR. Even though it comes from a particularly strong time in Nissan’s history, …
Toyota 4Runners make for some reliable and capable off-road SUVs. Even older models can keep up with more-expensive Land Cruisers and Jeep Wranglers off-road. However, used 4Runners can still be somewhat expensive, especially if they’ve been modified by previous owners. Luckily, there is an alternative: the Montero/Pajero. This Mitsubishi SUV has a decorated off-road history …
Nissan’s current situation is more tragic when you remember some of its past vehicles. The Z sports car and Patrol SUV are icons in their own right. But when you think of JDM performance, there’s another car that springs to mind: the Nissan Skyline GTR. It’s perhaps the quintessential ‘forbidden fruit’, and its place in …
Buying an off-road vehicle is often a balancing act. Newer vehicles tend to be safer, with more technology to simplify the experience. However, there’s a reason many overlanders tend to go old-school: less technology means fewer things to go wrong. Older off-roaders, such as the Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma, also offer similar performance as their …
Dirt bikes can be a great introduction to motorcycling. They’re easy to repair, and not quick enough to really get you into trouble (apart from the racing versions). But, they’re generally not street-legal, which means you’ll have to haul them to a trail or course. Some touring bikes can go off-road, but they’re really more …
Even off-roaders with a reputation for reliability have their faults. The Toyota 4Runner and Mitsubishi Montero, for example, are both rugged SUVs. Both, however, have had model years prone to engine issues, as well as other problems. Luxury off-roaders aren’t immune, either. And neither are alternative off-roaders like Japanese vans. The Mitsubishi Delica is a …
Advanced driver-assistance system features such as blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking can be helpful. However, repairing and replacing these features when they break gets expensive fast. And not just because of the parts, but because of the labor involved.
Motorcycles are ridden every from dirt trails to paved roads. For the latter, standards and cruisers tend to be popular choices. Cruisers in particular offer an attractive combination of relaxed riding with casual speed. Quite a few cruisers can actually out-accelerate some high-end sports cars. However, over long stretches of road, touring bikes are the …
Slowly but surely, Dodge has been Hellcat-in all the things. The Challenger and Charger, now available in Widebody form, have been juiced for years. The supercharged 6.2-liter V8 then went to the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk; subsequently, Hennessey gave it 1000 horsepower. The Ram Rebel TRX was seemingly next on the list. However, in an …
The latest Fast and Furious movie is, as expected, shaping up to feature a smorgasbord of sweet rides. Of course, Dom’s Dodge Charger will make an appearance, joined by its latest descendant, the Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody. It’s just one of the Hellcat-engined vehicles FCA makes; soon, even the Ram Rebel will get it. However, …
Ahead of this year’s Super Bowl car commercials, the trailer for Fast and Furious 9 finally dropped. Up until now, the only thing we’ve really known about the film is a few of the cars that will appear in it. The trailer, though, has already revealed quite a few things about FF9’s contents. However, something that …
You need only look at the burst in Pontiac Aztek interest to see how overlanding has taken off. A desire to go off-road, or at least look like you can, explains SUVs’ strong sales, especially ones like the Toyota 4Runner. But just like in day-to-day scenarios, an SUV isn’t always the best choice. Volkswagen wouldn’t …
There’s a running joke that the US never gets the cool stuff. Overseas, consumers got rides like the Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota Mega Cruiser, Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, and the last of the Celica GT4s. But before US customers can enjoy old-school Japanese vans or Hiluxes, they have to wait 25 years. And these waiting periods …
Kia has been a bit of roll recently. The Telluride has won Motor Trend’s SUV of the Year, and dealers are struggling to keep up with demand. And that’s not the only Kia SUV that’s been well-received. The updated Sportage has managed to redeem the failures of past models, and the Soul (which some consider …