Automotive Trends

      Editors Gernand and Muxlow take a little road trip to get a gauge for just how fuel efficient the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI can be. Tune in to the Automotive Trends Garage Episode 2 for final details on how the Touareg fared.

      Executive Editor Brandon Dye reviews the 2011 Audi Q5 whilst driving through the frozen Thumb of Michigan.

      Back in the 1970’s Renault decided to import its smallest car offering in the United States, the Renault 5. To put some modern perspective, that car was within tenths of an inch of the length of the US-spec 2012 FIAT 500. Some marketing folks must have recognized that very few cars in America were sold without actual names, so rather than dub the car ‘5’, Renault decided to give the subcompact car half a name: LeCar.
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      Well, we’ve done it again: we’ve been ambitious! Join us as we bring you the best of our witty automotive dialogue in Episode 1 of the Automotive Trends Garage. Today we review the 2011 Audi Q5, discuss the long-in-the-tooth 2011 Audi A3, debate some of the more newsworthy debuts at this year’s Geneva Auto Show and put our design editor on the spot. Click through to watch! (And we promise to make some audio improvements for Episode 2!) Read more…

Just a Flash in the Pan

      Since our weeklong foray with the Cadillac SRX 2.8 Turbo, GM has decided that Cadillac dealers no longer require the services of this “premium” offering of their midsize crossover and have decided to cancel the 2.8 Turbo engine offering after one year. Without tipping my hand too far here, I have to say we are inclined to call this a smart move. But let’s delve into the details a bit before we bury the hatchet on Cadillac’s troubled turbo crossover. Read more…

Disappointments Tarnish an Attractive Package

     The Venza had a lot going for it heading into this review. My colleagues and I had already determined that its bold grille, modern crossover proportions and over-the-top 20” wheels made it the best looking Toyota among the current crop. Not exactly a hard fought victory, we realize, but bonus points nonetheless. Plus we knew our particular model would be powered by the optional V6 that has been praised in everything from the RAV4 to the Camry, so we expected that to help seal the deal. Add in the fact that this particular crossover isn’t even tall enough to adversely affect handling  all that much and we were fully expecting to write a review praising Toyota’s family hauler. And then over the course of a week we found ourselves distracted by some glaring faults and by the end we were left questioning, of all things, Toyota’s hard-earned and long-held reputation for unbeatable interior execution. Read more…

       We won’t even pretend that we’re serious football fans, but we are serious car fans. And if a major event like the Super Bowl will incite the world’s automakers to create great footage of their latest metal then sign us up! Chevrolet decided they needed to whet our appetite for this Sunday with a brief spot featuring none other than that lovable Camaro known as Bumblebee. Have a watch as our favorite vehicular hero puts the dealership mascot in his place! 

      We’d be lying if we said there’s never an amusing moment behind the scenes of Automotive Trends, and even more so during an auto show. So we figured we would shed a bit of light on what happens during our coverage of the NAIAS Press Days. Click through for more video and a gallery of the moments you’re not supposed to see.  Read more…

      The cars are all packed up and the displays have been torn down and shipped to the Windy City, but the memories from this year’s Detroit Auto Show extravaganza still dance in our dreams like sugar plum fairies. Ok, actually something far cooler than that, but the bottom line is we don’t want it to be over. So we thought we would rekindle a wee bit of the flame that was the 2011 NAIAS and put to work a few more of the 4,000-plus shots our highly-caffeinated photog snagged. Click through to have a look at some bonus galleries from this year’s show.  Read more…