The Kansas City, Kan., resident picked up those trick driving skills during a five-day trip to a remote winter driving facility run by Jaguar, just weeks after buying one of the car maker’s luxury SUVs. Once the sole domain of car critics and engineering teams, driving programs that test the limits of premium vehicles are becoming de rigueur for auto makers’ best-heeled customers. Executives at these auto makers say destination driving programs are as popular with travel buffs as they are with gear heads. Mixing destination tourism with driving schools also allows brands to showcase their vehicles in exotic, real-world settings. In addition to their ice courses in Sweden, BMW and Mercedes-AMG destination drives include trips along the coast of Italy.

Source: Wall Street Journal April 01, 2017 11:00 UTC