By Tim Harris, Blair Smith & Shinoo Mapleton · February 26, 2026

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Hi, {{First Name|fellow gearheads}}! 👋

Here’s a controversial thought:

Modern performance cars may be better than ever.

And driving may be worse than ever.

Not slower.

Not less impressive.

Just… less alive.

Somewhere along the way, cars stopped being machines we operate — and started becoming systems that manage the experience for us.

Drive-by-wire.
Brake-by-wire.
Electronic steering.
Software shaping torque, sound, and even sensation itself.

The question isn’t whether technology has improved performance.

It has.

The real question is:

That’s the conversation behind this week’s FullThrottleTalk episode — and it might be one of our most important yet.

This episode also marks something new for the show.

We’re introducing Blair Smith to the FullThrottleTalk community as our newest host.

Blair brings a perspective we believe every great enthusiast conversation needs:

Curiosity about modern performance combined with a deep appreciation for what makes cars feel right — not just look impressive on paper.

FullThrottleTalk has always been about more than specs and lap times.

It’s about understanding why certain cars stay with you long after the drive is over.

Blair joins us at exactly the right moment — as we dive deeper into the question of what makes a car truly engaging.

Joining the conversation is Shinoo Mapleton, whose work revolves around a philosophy that feels almost rebellious in today’s automotive landscape:

👉 Add lightness.
👉 Preserve feedback.
👉 Remove unnecessary mediation between driver and machine.

Through his engineering approach — particularly around Lotus platforms and the 111RS — Shinoo focuses not on adding more power, but on refining connection.

Because sometimes the fastest way forward… is stripping things back.

“Analog” has become one of the most overused words in the car world.

But what does it really mean?

Is it simply fewer electronics?

Or is it about something deeper:

Unfiltered communication between driver and machine.

We’re diving into questions like:

And maybe most importantly:

Was there a turning point?

Was it increasing weight?

Electronic steering?

Safety regulations?

Or was it the slow accumulation of small refinements that quietly filtered out the raw communication enthusiasts crave?

Because modern cars are objectively incredible.

But are they emotionally better?

That’s where the debate begins.

We’re also putting lightweight engineering under the microscope.

Not as nostalgia.

As rebellion.

Are these the last true expressions of analog driving — or simply extremes?

Are these cars preserving a dying philosophy — or quietly shaping the future?

Because sometimes innovation happens when manufacturers ignore the rules.

At the center of the discussion sits a deeper engineering question:

What happens when refinement isn’t about adding more — but about removing everything that gets in the way?

The 111RS represents an idea that feels increasingly rare:

Performance through clarity.

Not complexity.

As automation and software-defined vehicles reshape the industry, enthusiast driving faces a crossroads.

Are we building better drivers’ cars?

Or better driving simulations?

Will lightweight analog machines become the vinyl records of the automotive world — niche, intentional, and deeply loved?

Or will technology ultimately rediscover how to enhance engagement rather than replace it?

Every episode comes back to a few core ideas:

👉 What makes a car truly alive?
👉 When did machines become systems?
👉 And if you could choose one lightweight car everyone should drive before they die… what would it be?

This week’s conversation might change how you think about all three.

If you love cars not just for what they do — but for how they make you feel — this is one you won’t want to miss.

– Tim, Blair & Shinoo

🏁 The Full Throttle Talk Team
Full Throttle Talk drops weekly. Strong opinions, real experience, zero hype.

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