Brett Berk

In this episode of The Smoking Tire Podcast, host Matt Farah welcomes Brett Burke, veteran automotive journalist and writer for Vanity Fair and Esquire, for a deep dive into the world of high-end cars, luxury lifestyles, and the evolving automotive industry. Burke shares his recent six-week whirlwind of driving some of the most exclusive and exotic vehicles—ranging from the Mercedes E53 AMG wagon and McLaren Artura Spider to the Lamborghini Temerario and Bentley Continental GT Convertible Azure—while reflecting on the absurdity and exclusivity of modern supercar culture. He critiques the industry’s pivot toward serving a tiny global elite, arguing that income inequality is reshaping car manufacturing, with automakers like Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Rolls-Royce increasingly focusing on bespoke, ultra-luxury models for billionaires. The conversation also touches on personal anecdotes, from his decision to abandon social media to his love of vintage pens and the surreal experience of driving a 70s Rolls-Royce golf cart in Venice. Burke also discusses the future of automotive technology, the ethics of surveillance in self-driving cars, and the growing trend of analog luxury in a digital world. The episode closes with a playful exchange about car-related experiences, from the Lane Motor Museum to the Woodward Dream Cruise, and a final tease of a Manx drive before Burke’s departure.