Hybrid Accord feels familiar, consistently good ... Honda’s Accord hybrid is consistent, consistently good, just like the internal combustion version. I suppose if you refined most products, constantly improved them, for 40+ years you’d end up with a diamond of sorts. Honda deserves a lot of credit though. This week I slipped behind the wheel... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Auto World 1968 Nickey Chevy Chevelle
A Nickey-pimped Chevelle was, and is, a thing of beauty ... Many 1960s car lovers believe the second generation Chevelle and its related GM cousins were the epitome of automotive styling and beauty. It’s hard to argue the point, at least that the Chevelle displayed beautiful lines and proportions, in addition to being highly affordable.... Continue Reading →
2021 Lexus NX 300h F Sport Black Line
Luxury NX 300h modest in size, price ... Luxury comes at a price. That’s not new. On its face, the Lexus NX 300h F Sport Black Line, this week’s drive, is modest in size and price on the ever-expanding luxury scale. This edgy small crossover rides on but a 104.7-inch wheelbase, compact like the Acura... Continue Reading →
Round2 acquisition confirmed
Auto World, Johnny Lightning owner partners with investment firm to expand product lines ... By Mark Savage Round 2, one of die-cast car collecting and plastic car modeling's big dogs, made it official today. It has partnered with an investment group that should help it to expand its product lines. The announcement from Round2's headquarters... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Auto World 1977 Dodge Warlock
Blingy Warlock pickup stirred our love of custom trucks ... I have to admit that when I heard Auto World was releasing the 1977 Dodge Warlock I was confused. I’d never heard of it, and I pride myself in being a pretty heady car guy. Of course, it’s a truck. Still, in 1977 I was... Continue Reading →
2021 Volkswagen Atlas SEL
New VW Atlas is a 3-row Easy Rider ... Some vehicles stand out by not standing out. They are what I call Easy Riders, or maybe more appropriately Easy Drivers. Such is Volkswagen’s restyled Atlas, the German firm’s mid-size crossover and one of its best-selling models in the U.S. market. VW restyled its nose and... Continue Reading →
2021 Kia K5 EX
New Kia K5 a sedan with looks, performance, value ... I’m not sure what else a buyer could want from a stylish family sedan beyond what Kia’s K5 offers, unless they wanted to pay much more. I know, I know, mention value in a car review and the reader yawns and wants to click on... Continue Reading →
2020 Land Rover Defender 110 First Edition
Rover Defender goes mostly back to its off-road roots ... My introduction to Land Rover was as a kid when Matchbox created a sharp dark green boxy version with brown plastic luggage atop its roof. Then there was Daktari, the TV show about a wild animal veterinarian running the African savanna in a Rover. I... Continue Reading →
2021 Subaru Crosstrek Ltd.
Crosstrek merges hatchback styling, crossover utility ... Mix a love of hatchbacks with a need for AWD and you have the recipe Subaru has nearly perfected in its 2021 Crosstrek. I’ve loved hatches for years and really, if you think on it, isn’t that what all crossovers are? But crossovers aren’t very slick looking as... Continue Reading →
2021 RAM TRX Crew Cab 4×4
Devilish T-RX ready to crush Ford Raptor sales ... Tell someone you’re driving a 702-horsepower pickup and they look at you like you’ve grown horns from your noggin and said 29-cent gas is back. But it’s true, the Ram 1500 TRX Crew Cab packs a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8, the same used in both the... Continue Reading →