The best thing about Dream Cars is – everybody has one. Paradoxically, the worst thing about Dream Cars is – nobody has one.
Forza Motorsport 3, the latest video game racing epic from the gearhead developers at Turn 10, makes it possible for everyone to experience the exhilaration of owning and driving the world’s most exquisite road machines. Put it this way: if you dream about it, you can drive it.
So, just what does 1001hp and 922 lb-ft of torque feel like at takeoff? Absolutely nothing can prepare the mind, body and soul for such an otherworldly experience, and unless your name happens to be Alan Shepherd, Joe Engle, Joe Walker, Neil Armstrong or any of the twelve brave souls who manned the experimental X-15 back in NASA’s glory days, only time behind the wheel of Bugatti’s soul-stirring Veyron 16.4 can relate the g-force inducing sensation.
The Aston Martin DBS Volante I recently put through its paces is the latest in a long line of highly desirable sports cars from this fabled British automaker that goes way back to the earlier part of the last century.
Ford is banking on its newest subcompact to pull entry-level buyers into its showrooms come next summer, and after a day’s drive through just about every type of condition this side of arid desert heat at one extreme and snow on the other, it’s a clear winner.
It’s always interesting to evaluate the latest version of an import vehicle on familiar roads, but it’s better still to give one a thorough shakedown in the land of its creation. That’s what I did recently when I spent two and a half weeks touring England and Wales in a Land Rover LR2.
Lotus is either one of the smallest mainstream exotic automotive manufacturers or the largest boutique automaker in existence, but either way it’s really coming of age lately. Not only do its Elise and Exige models sell well in their various guises, but its specialized track model, the 2-Eleven, and all new four-seat Evora are causing as much embarrassment in publishing circles as they normally do on the track, by winning two segments of an annual awards program put on by prestigious British buff mag EVO.
BMW is a performance brand, but before it decided only to include six-cylinder engines in its North American lineup it offered four-cylinder engines at the lower end. Even the first M3 was powered by a four-cylinder, and the collectible 2002tii models that preceded it, so there’s a history of four-cylinder performance machines that allows BMW to consider bring them back in order to meet more stringent fuel economy and emissions regulations.
In the supercar realm, conversations about who holds the throne usually start and finish with the legendary “Prancing Horse” marque from Italy — Ferrari. After all, Ferrari has produced some pretty awesome machinery over decades of existence. Indeed, aside from independent supercar makers like McLaren, Saleen, Spyker and the like, most exotic machinery can be attributed to the Italians – Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini.
For almost a dozen years, since the S80 was introduced for the 1999 model year, Volvo styling has been more evolutionary than revolutionary. The design language was initially well received and still offers fresh appeal, for the most part, but even good things must come to an end sooner or later.
With General Motors still licking its wounds and Toyota losing money for the first time in 76 years and having shut down its plants in February, the new rising star is Volkswagen which surged ahead last month to take over the number one carmaker spot, globally.
You’ve got to ask yourself, if Saab faithful had a problem with their sport-oriented near-luxury brand producing cars in Germany (9-3), Japan (9-2x) or the USA (9-7x), how will they feel about a 9-5 built in China?
With today’s announcement that General Motors Co. will not be selling its European Opel and Vauxhall brands to Canada’s Magna International after all, but rather maintaining them as part of its global strategy, it makes a person question what that global strategy might become now that the Detroit-based automaker is seemingly on the mend.
Let’s get one thing completely straight: the next time I hear somebody criticize the Dodge Journey for not delivering premium levels of interior materials quality I’m gonna flick him on a side of his ear with my middle finger for not thinking before he speaks.
A number of online publications have been speculating on an impending partnership between Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corporation and Germany’s Volkswagen AG, although the former automaker has been strongly denying the validity of such a tie-up.
In news that might be shocking outside of VW fan club circles, Volkswagen has finally ended production of the original Golf (aka Rabbit) Mk1, the now legendary front-drive hatchback that not only replaced the legendary Beetle back in 1974, but initiated a two-box hatchback body configuration that is still the global compact car mainstay today.
Is a recent move to luxury sport wagons merely a trend or something with staying power? Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have been building five-door liftback versions of their sport sedans for decades (we’re trying to forget about the Canadian-specific Jaguar X-Type Wagon which was upstaged the same week we tested it by a Mazda6 Sportwagon that used the same powertrain and undercarriage, so don’t mention it), as have slightly less upscale brands Saab, Volvo and VW, but Japanese and American luxury brands haven’t caught onto the European anomaly until recently, with the introduction of the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon and recent announcement of a Acura TSX Sport Wagon.
Suzuki has no subcompact model in the US, and relies on the Korean-built GM Daewoo (Chevy Aveo5) for its Swift+ in Canada, so news of the much-lauded global-market Swift meeting North American regulations will be positive for Suzuki fans and dealers.
So why do Toyota, with its Camry Hybrid, Nissan, with its Altima Hybrid, Chevrolet, with its Malibu Hybrid, and Ford, with its Fusion Hybrid, offer midsize HEVs and Honda, the one that started it all with the initial Insight (the first production hybrid sold into North America), not have anything to offer hybrid buyers in the mid- to full-size segment?
Fortunately we don’t have to think way back to the ‘70s to remember the Power Wagon anymore. That truck was considered one of the industry’s best off-road offerings, a heavy duty hauler that enjoyed a history dating back to 1946 when the first Power Wagon was sold, that model based on the WWII 3/4-ton military truck, and even before that to Dodge’s military-spec 1 1/2-ton Cargo and Personnel truck of 1934 that is now legendary for being the first four-wheel drive vehicle shiftable into and out of 4×4 mode from within the cab. Bowing out in 1980 before the ‘81 Power Ram was introduced, and then reappearing as a special off-road optioned Ram 2500 in 2005, the Power Wagon once again becomes part of the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty lineup.
To many Canadian car shoppers, news of Scion’s availability in Canada, first announced in October of 2008, was both positive and laced with the question, what took Toyota so long? After all, in a land that predominantly purchases smaller car than the US, the only market that Toyota has sold its Scion brand into thus far, it only makes sense that Scion be made available.
When talking about compact sedans, it seems that brands like Honda, Mazda and Toyota are usually the first ones to pop into peoples’ minds. Why? Well, they’re almost everywhere. Suzuki doesn’t always come to mind, however, at least not here in North America. Why? Because we don’t see Suzuki cars as frequently. In a way, it’s a shame because the SX4, an underdog of sorts, has a lot to offer its driver, even if its bark isn’t that loud.
Nissan’s flagship Maxima sedan was completely revised last year, and if it wasn’t already reviewed by two of our writers I would have covered it as well. You see, I was totally impressed with the 2009 model I drove at that time, and now once again thoroughly satisfied with the 2010.
Hey, what’s going on? Whose idea was it to toss out the Jetta Wagon and replace it with this Golf Wagon? I suppose we’ll never know if it was product planning, marketing or a command from on high, or more likely a collective decision from all of the above. What is is, and now if you want a Jetta Wagon you’re going to have to “step down” to a Golf Wagon. But then again, the 2010 Golf Wagon will only have you stepping down in price, not quality, comfort or performance.
After all it’s been through, just emerging from bankruptcy and now on life support supplied by the North American taxpayer and the very unions filled with members that work for the company, news that General Motors has just invested $412 million USD into a South Korean subsidiary might get some peoples’ backs out of shape.
If you like VW’s slightly smaller than midsize Passat sedan you may not be too happy to find out that Volkswagen will drop the European-designed and -built four-door (and its wagon variant) for a US-designed and –built model in the spring of 2011, a model that will be quite a bit larger in keeping with other “midsize” models currently on offer.
The last Mustang I got my hands on was the new 2010 Shelby GT500. I road tested it first, followed by a number of intensely satisfying laps around Laguna Seca Raceway, so I was somewhat prepared to be less than overwhelmed with the comparatively off-the-shelf mainstream Mustang GT. Wow, was I wrong.
It appears Toyota has a decision to make. Label the production version of the new FT-86 concept a Toyota or Scion, resurrecting the Celica nameplate for the former or creating a new tC with respect to the latter.
It was only a matter of time that Subaru would glean some green benefits from its relationship with Toyota. We know that a hybrid Legacy is on the way, a good move for Subaru, but it appears the four-door midsize model is just the beginning.
Suzuki updated the Grand Vitara last year, with a freshened exterior design, featuring a larger front grille and revised bumpers, and a reworked interior boasting a much better looking centre stack, a new vehicle info display, chrome-plated interior door handles, a sliding centre armrest and extendable sun visors, as well as newer, better audio systems, so except for some trim level changes and a new higher base price to reflect an increase in standard features the 2010 model is pretty well a duplicate. This said, it’s certainly worthy of another write-up, because it is the most impressive little sport utility I’ve driven in quite some time.
Just to look at it is breathtaking. To drive the new 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet at speed will suck that last gasp of air out of you so quickly that you’ll be left clinging to the steering wheel panting heavily, heart racing, eyes pinned open with pupils dilated and skin bristling with excitement.
The year is 1983, and Volkswagen is about the shake up the economy car world. For in that year, VW took a solid but pedestrian car, the Rabbit, and juiced it up with a higher horsepower engine, larger wheels and tires, and suspension and trim enhancements and called it the Rabbit GTI.
When Lexus refers to its HS 250h as the first dedicated luxury hybrid ever, they’re correct. At least, it’s the first dedicated Lexus hybrid and the first of its kind sold by a luxury brand. But the automaker’s ability to call it a completely dedicated hybrid, like the Prius is for Toyota, has just lost a little ground with the introduction of the 2010 Toyota Sai Hybrid.
With fierce competition in the subcompact segment coming from the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris and others, the Aveo5 is ready to face that challenge. With its updated exterior design carrying over from the 2009 model year, this American-badged subcompact is still very much in the game. With a cool-looking and pretty sleek front end, the Aveo’s facelift is a great improvement over the last generation. But it’s not just the front end that has some styling upgrades. The tail end receives a new bumper and updated taillights. Match that with a set of 185/60R14 all-season tires around 14” steel wheels with decent looking covers and it’s not a bad looking ride.
The Lexus SC430 coupe/convertible has been on the market since 2002, making it a near dowager in vehicular terms. Still, this rear-wheel drive luxury car hasn’t lost much of its luster over the last seven years, providing the type of coddling, comfort and capability important to Lexus owners.
Not all is bad in the auto business these days, at least not in San Antonio, Texas. Where Fremont, California’s NUMMI facility is closing with the demise of the Pontiac brand and specifically the Vibe, Toyota is adding 850 permanent and temporary workers to its Texan assembly plant due to the relocation of Tacoma pickup truck production.
Now that Lancia CEO Olivier Francois has been appointed to the position of Chrysler boss, it’s only a matter of time before we see the two challenged brands come together to form one product offering, still under two names of course.
When I think of the word “Rogue,” whether it is being used as a noun or an adjective, unpleasant meanings come to mind. For example, I would not want to be described as “rogue” as it means I would be a dishonest or corrupt individual. So it makes me wonder why Nissan would call their fun-loving crossover SUV something of that nature. Then again, I probably shouldn’t look too deeply into it (even thought I am an English Lit major and that’s what I’ve been trained to do), considering there’s a car out there with an even more scandalous name: Diablo! But definitions aside, I think the name Rogue is quite befitting for this cute Ute since it just sounds good. End scene.
If you’ve never driven a Lotus Elise or Exige S, you’ve really been missing out on two of the most exhilarating sports cars ever created. The latter is the sportier version of the ultimate street legal go-kart, if that can be conceived, and now with a revised 2010 model being released Lotus will soon unveil a special edition model designed to pull eyeballs and hopefully Yen from Tokyo Motor Show goers.
Let’s face it. While Kia’s Amanti is a very well made, fully featured luxury car for its paltry price tag, it’s not exactly a modern styling statement. In fact, dressed in black it’s got airport limo written all over it. Rather than revise the dated Amanti again, Kia is taking a bold move forward in introducing an all new luxury flagship that appears destined to rewrite the Korean automaker’s full-size fortunes.
Volvo’s group of SUV/crossover vehicles has an addition in the 2010 XC60 crossover, a mid-size five-door hatch that is very good looking, that works very well in real world situations and has a realistic entry fee.
It has been more than six years since the Regal name adorned a Buick, and to some older than 25 the memories won’t exactly be associated with top-tier luxury. Nevertheless there’s something to be said for name recognition, a lesson Ford CEO Alan Mulally has been trying to drive home in Dearborn with the Taurus and Mercury Sable.
Arguably Cadillac is General Motors’ strongest brand, with best, most highly respected products and most clearly defined roll in the marketplace. With a lineup that nevertheless falls short of most of its European and Japanese competitors as far as filling the gaps in each segment, a new ATS rear-drive compact series of cars is on the way and ZTS large car, and to celebrate the upcoming full model line Cadillac has released an updated badge.
So, you like the Camaro but there’s too much roof overhead? You’re not alone. A Camaro convertible is a common request among potential buyers, and it appears there has always been one in the works. But with the Camaro coupe being such a success and the plant running overtime to fill demand, does it make sense to bring out a convertible now, or wait for a couple of years and give Camaro fans another reason to trade up when demand for the hardtop slips?
If you’re looking for a Chevrolet bowtie badged Pontiac G8 it appears that there will be a chance to get your hands on one, but likely only after a few years have passed and the police start auctioning off old cop cars.
I’ve been a Tundra fan for years. Actually, the first-generation Tundra was the first press vehicle I ever borrowed, way back in 2000, and I took it up to my father’s acreage, a five-hour drive, and loved every minute of it. My dad was so impressed that he bought one.
It doesn’t happen all that often that someone yells across the road that they like my car as I’m climbing inside. They might stare if it’s an exotic, too intimidated to get very close, or they might nod as I sidle up to them on the highway, but it’s a rare thing to have someone I’ve never even see before actually engage verbally.
Subaru’s new 2010 Legacy is a superb car with strong straight-line performance and agile handling, but the rally-bred Japanese brand knows that certain customers, especially those honed on its wonderful WRX series of cars but needing to move up a segment size to accommodate their growing families, want a little more performance to go along with that requirement for practicality.
The weather made me want to spend my week in the new G37 Convertible that I was about to drive at my annual Western Auto Journalist’s (WAJ) media days event, rather than the Coupe that Infiniti provided. Then again, well into the 30s I’d probably drive around with the retractable hardtop up and the automatic climate control set to chill anyway, so I might as well be happy with my lot and enjoy my two-door fastback as much as possible.
Nissan’s Micra used to be a subcompact staple in North America, and dilapidated examples are still roaming the streets now, but the question remains whether or not Nissan will bring a true subcompact back to North America.
After a few years of maintaining the same sporty look other than a revised roof duct, the brilliantly fun Exige S goes under the knife for 2010. The changes are subtle, including a modernized front fascia and a revised rear wing.
Mercedes’ B-Class is one of those vehicles that is really, really good at what it does, even if its mission isn’t the most exciting one in the industry. Of all the compact luxury models, the B would have to be relegated as merely cute as a bug, rather than drop-dead sexy like BMW’s 1-Series coupe and cabriolet, Audi’s ultra-hot A3 or even Volvo’s slick little C30. Just the same, only the A3 comes close to the B as far as practicality goes, and in this segment, where fuel economy and people hauling rule, it’s king of the road.
At the end of the year Pontiac will cease to exist. Whether you view this as a sad day, or long overdue, one thing is for certain; Pontiac has made some of the most memorable vehicles over the past 52 years.
It’s been a long time since Honda sold a sports coupe, unless you consider the previous-generation Insight sporty. The late-great Prelude has now become a collector’s item and the once vaunted CRX remains popular amongst tuners and weekend racers, so the upcoming CR-Z is highly anticipated.
For over forty five years Ford has produced the Mustang. Keeping a model alive for 45 years alone is an impressive feat. However, the Mustang has sold very well over the decades making it the 25th all time most sold model around the world. Not an easy feat for a vehicle only sold in North America.
Take a large dose of practicality, add some efficiency and reliability, and a dash of fun. Mix well. What do you get? The 2010 Toyota RAV4.
The RAV4 is one of the original compact SUVs, and has been a strong seller since it was introduced in North America in 1995. “RAV4” stand for Recreational Activity Vehicle with 4-wheel drive, although in Canada, 4-wheel drive is optional on most versions.
The heart of any supercar is usually a high strung engine. Superchargers, wild cams, and turbochargers can add marked performance gains, but also add complexity, and can make reliability go in to the proverbial tank.
Yeah, we all know the 2009 Ford Focus SES coupe isn’t the model the Euro-trash drive, but it’s what we’ve got here on the North American continent and it’s not such a bad car that we should, um, trash it.
You’ve read the reviews. You’ve seen the TV shows. You might have even peered through the window of an Evo X MR parked by the side of the road, attempting to get a glimpse of its race-ready Alcantara-covered performance seats and magnesium paddle-shifters. It’s a purpose-built sight to behold, but really, despite being endowed with enticing external visuals that make it look like it’s on a charge while at idle, the Evo X doesn’t even come alive until speed enters the equation.
I think I speak for thousands of car enthusiasts that are grateful British sports car maker Lotus hasn’t changed the Exige S all that much since its introduction two years ago. I was there for that launch program, in Las Vegas, zipping around the tight twists and turns of a popular ancillary track next to the city’s massive speedway, prior to running it across some beautifully picturesque and very entertaining desert highways.
Sometimes a retro design is so well executed that it simply must be built. BMW introduced the first modern-day Mini concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1997, and every British car enthusiast had to have one. The most recent retrospective subcompact is Fiat’s 500, which has taken Europe by storm and is due on our shores in just a little over a year. So why doesn’t Japan get in on the mix?
The current 4Runner is one of the nicest vehicles Toyota builds, with one of the highest-grade premium-like interiors in the lineup as well as great styling all-round. It’s also one of the best, if not the best in the midsize SUV class, combining superb off-road capability with impressive on-pavement dynamics, but all good things come to an end. Then again, in the car business they’re usually replaced with something even better.
Like with all automakers these days, even the Big 3 domestics, there’s no shortage of international flavour. GM has long offered cars influenced by its European arm Opel, with some even built there, and others from its Korean division GMDAT (previously Daewoo), while Ford has its blue oval badged European cars too, the Focus being the best known global product on our shores, while the Fiesta and Kuga are on the way. What about Chrysler?
Chrysler is under new management and by the looks of things it should be under better guidance. After overcoming its own near-death-experience, the recovery assisted by a couple of billion from GM’s put option a number of years back, mind you, Fiat is now one of the most successful car companies globally, so it knows a thing or two about negotiating tight curves while keeping everything shiny side up. One of the curves it has to overcome is a replacement for Chrysler’s Sebring, a model that previously was a bread-and-butter income earner for the brand and now isn’t pulling its weight, whereas the Dodge Avenger, the better looking platform cousin, is doing slightly better.
It appears that Pontiac won’t be the only brand casualty that comes as a result of General Motors’ bankruptcy and restructuring, with expected suitor Penske Automotive Group (PAG) no longer in the running to take over the Saturn brand.
To tell you the truth, I was a little surprised by the HS 250h. Not at the reality of Lexus’ first dedicated hybrid, which was bound to happen sooner or later due to the overwhelming success of its parent brand’s Prius, but I was expecting something more dramatic, maybe something along the lines of Tom Cruise’s ride in the Steven Spielberg film Minority Report, the Lexus 2054 Concept. Instead, the HS 250h looks like a… Lex
BMW’s 3-Series Coupe is already a very competent two-door hardtop, one of, if not the best in its segment when it comes to its combination of straight-line performance and handling. That’s why I was near flabbergasted when the German automaker announced a V8 would replace the old inline-six, and a V8 that was even more powerful than the old M5’s powerplant and lighter than the outgoing M3’s inline-six.
How wonderful. A perfectly sunny day at Northern California’s Laguna Seca racecourse, and a fun-loving Mini beckoning me into the driver’s seat. And not just any Mini, I might add, but rather a specially-tuned John Cooper Works edition, or JCW as it’s fondly referred to, complete with upgraded 17-inch alloy rims in 205/45R17 run-flat performance tires, sport suspension, aerodynamic body kit, and hyped 208hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
When I found out that I would be getting behind the wheel of the all-new 2010 Lexus IS 250 C, I did a little happy dance. I know it sounds lame, but the Lexus IS family of cars has been amongst my favourites over the years and now that it has gone topless, this elegant sport/luxury model just got a lot more exciting.
It’s a no-brainer for Mazda, which is why we’ll be seeing the Japanese automaker’s 2 in North America within a year’s time.
Currently the Mazda3 is the smallest, least expensive product Mazda sells, and while it does very well and enjoys a strong following of performance- and style-oriented compact buyers, it can’t compete directly with Toyota’s Yaris, Honda’s Fit and a bevy of other subcompact models that don’t cost as much and therefore appeal to a segment of the entry-level market Mazda simply misses out on time and time again.
The Sorento has long been an extremely popular model for Kia, one of the first real game changers that showed consumers the kind of high quality the Korean brand is capable of producing.
In Europe, premium automakers have been selling compact models for years, and now it appears the downsizing trend is taking root in North America where Buick is showing renderings of a smaller, more fuel efficient concept.
When I first saw the previous generation Z4, I was aghast by its rear end styling. But like many of Chris Bangle’s flamed surface designs, it grew on me until finally I was enamored with it. And while I miss the outgoing car’s beautiful mid-section “X” with its raised BMW badge-cum-side-marker light, the new Z4’s undeniable beauty pulled at my heartstrings immediately, and now that I’ve had it in my clutches out on the open road, I’m in love.
I’m trying to decide… what’s the best Porsche? Carrera GT and special series 911s aside, like the GT2, GT3, GT3 RS (I wanna) and I suppose the Turbo, for me it’s a toss up between the 911 S and the recently updated Cayman S. Obviously if Porsche offered the choice of either for a long term test I’d opt for the more expensive, more prestigious and more powerful 911 S, but if my own money was on the line I’d think long and hard about the Cayman S.
Honda has something new up its sleeve, and we’re not quite sure where to categorize it. Part five-door hatchback, part crossover, the new Accord Crosstour looks ready to do business in the midsize class… but where exactly?
Any gearhead or car nut has dreamt of being a race car driver at some point in their life. The problem is, very few can afford to support their own racing endeavours and even fewer make it professionally.
The VW Rabbit has been around for quite some time, since 1974 to be exact. And through the years, it has experienced facelifts, body changes and a name change too. Yet over the decades, this three or five door vehicle has maintained its popularity and longevity by proving to be a nice-looking and fun-to-drive vehicle. Now as the 2009 VW Rabbit heads back to the rabbit hole, it makes way for a newer and more exciting vehicle.
If you could bottle up some liquid fun, and then pour it into the shape of a car, it would look a lot like the 2009 Mazda MX-5. Mazda brought back the convertible sports car with the launch of the first Miata in 1989. Twenty years and over 800,000 Miatas later (although for some strange reason Mazda Canada doesn’t call it Miata anymore like the brand’s US division does), it is now the most popular two-seat convertible ever brought to market and has become an icon amongst sports car enthusiasts on the road and on the track. So where did Mazda dream it up in the first place?
Strange isn’t it. We take the time to tie down our heavy cargo so that it won’t jar loose if we have to hit the brakes in order to avoid an accident, but a lot of pet owners don’t do the same with Max or Maggie, or for that matter Oliver and Chloe of the feline persuasion. According to Bark Buckle UP, an organization dedicated to pet and owner safety, an unrestrained pet can be extremely hazardous.
For many, Aston Martin’s first foray into four-door territory is sacrilege, despite the Rapide’s four-door coupe profile and obvious homage to its two-door brethren. To Aston Martin, however, its most practical new model could result in very strong sales, attracting a new type of clientele that its coupes and convertibles don’t appeal to.
When you think Mercedes-Benz, you probably don’t think track car unless Lewis Hamilton comes to mind? No, most people, in North America at least, where F1 and DTM (German touring car) are not so popular, don’t associate the two. But to discount the driving prowess of the German automaker’s cars would be unwise, because along with top-tier luxury and unquestionable style, three pointed star cars were meant to be driven. This is especially true of the new C-Class, and earlier this year at Monterey, California’s Laguna Seca Raceway and surrounding area, it became crystal clear to me how truly capable this little luxury car is.
The accolades for Audi continue to pour in. Over the past several years, Audis have received awards for safety, engine design, style and performance. And the lineup of cars offered has been equally impressive – from large luxury to entry luxury to premium SUVs to convertibles, Audi’s got all the bases covered.
Volkswagen’s feeling pretty bullish about its future, especially in the small car segment where it plans to bring the “Beetle of the 21st Century” to market by 2013. That’s right. After leaving this segment to its Seat and Skoda brands in Europe, and Asian brands in North America, it appears VW is starting to get serious about building a global entry-level model to rival the iconic Beetle.
Not much of lineage, only one Bugatti four-door was ever built, the 1927 through 1933 Type 41, best known as the Royale, although the luxury brand’s new owner, VW AG, will probably want to put together a sales model that sees higher numbers of this four-door model move through its Molsheim, France assembly facility than the six examples Ettore saw leave the factory in his day.
Throughout the proceedings that forced two of the Big 3 into bankruptcy, a lot of questions were raised as to how the domestic automakers went about their business. Many questions revolved around the vehicles that General Motors, Chrysler and Ford were attempting to sell to the North American public, and why many of these seemed substandard and out of touch with the times compared to those offered in Europe by the same manufacturers.
BMW has built some brilliant sports cars over the years. From its popular Z3/Z4 models to the excruciatingly beautiful Z8, modeled after the classic 507, there have been some notable cars, some even bordering on exotic. The new Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, if built, would push the Bavarian automaker into exotic territory without question.
As posted a few weeks ago, the American Le Mans series was at Mosport International Raceway August 27th-30th. Although it was the weekend’s marquee series and race, there was more going on then just the ALMS. As side for concerts and vendors, several other series are run that same weekend. These other races are referred to as support series
If you’ve seen the ad campaign for the all-new 2010 Kia Forte, you’ll like it or hate it, but it will stick in your mind because it’s just that catchy. If you’ve driven the all-new 2010 Kia Forte you’ll probably like it more than you hate it, and it will stick in your mind because it’s just that good of a car.
Contrary to popular mythology, arrival can be just as satisfying, even ego gratifying, as the journey. That second element of satisfaction is often accomplished in isolation, but the arrival at one’s favorite destination often includes spectators. As they turn to see what you’ve driven to the party, and meet you with broad smiles, the journey vanishes from memory. The 2010 Aston Martin DB9 can have that effect.
One of the perks of being an automotive journalist is the access to some of the finest cars in the world. I get excited when my schedule shows a Bentley or Mercedes-Benz available for review. It’s because certain manufacturers take the extra steps to ensure a pleasurable and memorable driving experience. Now to be fair, the price of this week’s tester, the 2010 Bentley Azure T, is $334,990 US base and $396,766 US as tested. For nearly 400 grand, you should be able to produce a car that is memorable and pleasant. But the experience driving a Bentley is different. Yes, it is luxurious. And yes, it is a solid road car. But after driving the Azure T, I imagined what it was like for Bentley founder W.O. Bentley during the formative years of the company.
General Motors is starting to make some better moves these days, both when it comes to product and now marketing. When the Buick Allure was launched in Canada in 2004, we liked the car but were mystified at the name confusion. There wasn’t anything particularly wrong with “Allure”, in fact it was probably a better name than LaCrosse (the US moniker for the car), but due to concerns about the a French Canadian colloquialism for “self love” used by teens, GM’s Canadian division decided to go its own naming route.
Let’s face it. If a premium brand isn’t in the compact segment, it’s not only missing out on potentially big sales but also the all-important brand acquisition phase of a consumer’s automotive purchasing process. Get ‘em while their young, and keep ‘em for a lifetime, or at least that’s the way carmakers have done it for years.
So how exactly does the GTS fit into Porsche’s Cayenne lineup? Think of it as the sportier sibling in a rough and tumble off-road family. Where the base V6-powered Cayenne, V8-powered Cayenne S and even the top-line Turbo and Turbo S models can play in the back forty as capably as any Land Rover, the GTS doffs such suburban activity for intensified on-road handling. Oh, don’t get me wrong. It can still rock crawl better than most in this class, but its ground clearance, even when jacked up on the air suspension, isn’t quite as high as the other Cayennes.
What do you get when you cross a tiny British roadster with a Ford 427 cubic-inch big block? You get a Gorilla in a boxing ring that refuses to get out until at least somebody takes a beating. The 2009 Shelby S/C Cobra is brutal, aggressive, unforgiving, and uncompromising. There are not many vehicles that could stand up to a Cobra in its top form. With approximately 535 horsepower (750 with a supercharger) waiting on tap behind a mere 1,116 kilos (2,460 pounds) of steel, fiberglass and/or aluminum, the S/C is really nothing more than a glorified adult go-kart.
Bad news for Canadian Saturn fans, or for that matter Renault enthusiasts looking to get their hands on one of the French automaker’s cars via a remade Saturn brand. According to Radio-Canada (RDI), new owner-in-waiting Roger Penske will kill the General Motors’ import-fighting brand in Canada. Why? Did Penske give us a hint?
Is this Volkswagen’s era to shine? VW AG is already the third largest automaker in the world, behind Toyota and General Motors, and with GM shrinking its global output at a dramatic rate and Toyota now talking about cutting its total volume by a million units, the German enterprise could very well move up in rank.
The Tucson raised the crossover bar when introduced to North America in 2004 as a 2005 model, and continues to measure up to thoroughly revised competitors quite well. Five years of service, however, means that a new Tucson will become available shortly, and thanks to a domestic market that regularly gets the first-fruits of Hyundai’s bountiful harvest, we get a sneak peak at the upcoming 2011 Tucson.
The American Le Mans Series race took place at Mosport this past weekend. Despite the less then favourable weather conditions, fans turned out in the thousands.
So, which Chinese automaker will likely be first to North American soil? Despite a lot of show from Chery and Geely over the last decade, the first Chinese brand to arrive will likely be BYD.
The Dodge Viper is crude, rude, loud, unsophisticated, unsafe, inconvenient, impractical, ridiculous, and I have to say one of the most enjoyable vehicles I have ever driven. With today’s technological brand of supercar, it is not often that one gets to drive a new vehicle without the intervention of a computer, where all that’s standing between you and the road are your feet, hands, brain, and 600-horsepower plus 560 lb-ft of torque.
Subaru has done nearly everything possible to make the new Outback the vehicle you’ll want to put your hard earned pennies towards. It is bigger and better in every way conceivable, and the Japanese automaker will be selling it for $2,000 less than the outgoing 2009 model. Sales increase? I think so.
