Automotive Trends

Nearly Puuurfect

    Forgive the corny subtitle but it accurately sums up our feelings for the completely redesigned and sexy-as-ever XK Coupe. In fact, Coventry’s latest cat melted our cold, cold hearts so much if we picked a Car of the Year there’s no doubt the XK would be a strong contender. Sure its annual production is about one zillionth of Camry sales, but no Toyota looks like this or sounds so glorious. Read more…

     When I first drove the Infiniti M sedan late last year, I got the brutal M45 with a big, brawny V8 under the hood.
     That car was a monster. It felt almost like an American muscle car, with a heavy, deliberate driving feel and a relatively soft suspension that made it seem like you were riding on bowls of Cream of Wheat. It was a great car, but it was more of a grand tourer than a true sports sedan. Read more…

Slow and Stylish Wins The Race

    Can’t you just imagine a Thanksgiving dinner, perhaps three or four years ago, where all the car companies gathered together for the annual tradition to give thanks for their blessings.
     “I’m most thankful for my luxury SUV,” Cadillac said. “It’s keeping the lights on in Detroit.”
     “I second that,” Porsche said. “Who knew there were so many people willing to pay crazy money for a 5,000-pound brick—and an ugly one at that!”
     Of course, it would be about this time that Audi realized it had seriously missed the boat on the whole giant-SUV craze.
     “I’m thankful for Grandma’s health,” Audi blurted, trying to change the subject. Read more…

Anti-Sticker Shock

    Either way you slice it, the Sky is drop dead gorgeous. Those are just about the last words I ever expected to utter about a Saturn. But then again, the Sky isn’t exactly my girlfriend’s Saturn. Though I wouldn’t mind if it was.
     I had my doubts when GM announced that it was going to develop this bargain priced roadster platform dubbed Kappa. I believe stunning was one of the words used to describe the concept, but we all had our doubts. Especially when they announced that Saturn would be getting a version of said platform. And while they tried to prepare us our stubbornness held until the moment that cover came off and our jaws hit the pavement. How do you change the image of a dwindling unexciting car company? One fantastic car at a time! Read more…

The Bigger They Are…

   The more petroleum they burn. But GM is working hard to change that, just as they have been hard at work preparing the new GMT900 full-size utilities for primetime. And determined to get feedback on their handiwork, GM hooked us up with back-to-back samplings of the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Here’s how they fared. Read more…

What Is The Technical Term For Quirky?

    Someone once describe Saab engineering to me like this: When the Germans do it, it is an engineering wonder, but when the Swedes do it, it is just plain quirky. After spending a couple of days behind the wheel of a Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible I must say that the Swedish engineers are clever, but a few of their ideas left me scratching my head. Read more…

The Almost Audi?

    This is not your run-of-the-mill Volkswagen Rabbit. This is the so-called friend of Fast VW GTI. No cute face here. Like the racy Volkswagen Jetta GLI that we spent some time in last fall, the face is familiar but the demeanor is polar opposite. The question is does the Rabbit-based GTI produce the smile-per-mile quotient that the GLI did? Read more…

The Dodge Viper coupe at the 2005 NAIAS.

A Little Bit 1949

    Ever wonder what a 1949 Chevrolet Suburban would look like had it been designed in 2006. Well someone at GM did and the proof sits my driveway. Well, a cute bite-sized, economical representation anyways (I think in candy bar speak the term is “fun” size). Read more…

A Strawberry Shake at a Vanilla Price

    This is the ultimate compromise vehicle. It’s to be expected then that auto giant General Motors finds a way for you to have your cake and eat it too. It is the car for when you want something, she wants another. You want the wind in your hair, she just did her hair. You say ta-mato, I say to-moto. Read more…