New TLX a blend of two Acura winners Acura basically blends two of its fine sedans, the TL and TSX into one, now the mid-size TLX. Beyond the alphabet scrambling, the tested dark blue TLX 3.5L SH-AWD Tech is a solid luxury sedan that will seat four in comfort, five if needed. This version comes too... Continue Reading →
Slot Car: Ninco Formula 1 (Jordan)
Ninco, now being distributed exclusively by Professor Motor in the U.S., is reintroducing a series of five somewhat generic Formula 1 cars to its lineup, a good product for clubs or groups that enjoy racing identical cars. These racers resemble the former SCX F1 cars in that the front suspension looks real, with A-arms and... Continue Reading →
2015 Dodge Challenger SXT
Chubby Challenger falls short in muscle car wars Funny, muscle cars came and went in the 1960s and early 1970s as gas prices soared and insurance prices became an issue for many buyers. Yet muscle cars made a strong comeback in the last decade, despite high gas prices and a shift toward “green” eco-friendly vehicles.... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart Maserati MC12
Maserati MC12 a winner on track, or on display For a century Maserati has been churning out distinctive, sporty and often championship winning cars. Maserati’s place in the U.S. market has never been huge, but their cars’ reputations for speed and style have been legend. They are considered rare gems in the U.S. Autoart knows... Continue Reading →
2015 Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT S-AWC
Outlander remains a middler in SUV market Mitsubishi’s new Outlander is a handsome SUV, but remains a middler. Its performance falls in the middle of the crowded small to mid-sized sport-utility market. Little stands out. The tested “rally red” ute was the 3.0 GT S-AWC model, meaning it’s loaded with Mitsubishi’s more desirable V6 engine... Continue Reading →
2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T
Sonata loses styling pizazz as it attempts to blend into mid-size market Looks aren’t everything and price isn’t either, but on both, the new 2015 Hyundai Sonata falls short of its predecessor. The previous Sonata, the South Korean car maker’s mid-size sedan, featured chiseled good looks with a side accent line that gave it a... Continue Reading →
2015 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited
Subaru upgrades Legacy to take on Camry, Accord, Fusion Subaru strengthens its position in the mid-size market with an even more appealing Legacy sedan, but it retains a major advantage, all-wheel drive. While past Legacy models (see the reveal at the Chicago Auto Show) may have felt a little bargain basement in their interiors, the... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Automodello 1966 Fitch Sprint
Automodello creates John Fitch's souped up Corvair John Fitch is NOT a household name. But he was an incredible person. Fitch not only was a leading American sports car racer in the 1950s, racing at LeMans six times and finishing third once, winning big name events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 1955 Mille Miglia... Continue Reading →
2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI S 4-Door
New VW Golf looks old, feels new There’s a saying about everything old being new again, and the reworked 2015 Volkswagen Golf is a sterling example. The Golf and Rabbit hatchbacks have been sold by VW since 1974, this latest iteration being the seventh generation. Toyota’s Corolla is one of the few competitors to be... Continue Reading →
Die-Cast: Automodello 1:43 1963 Studebaker Avanti
Automodello’s Avanti offers sharp detail in resin Eyeballed my first Studebaker Avanti at my first Indianapolis 500 in 1962. The car was just about to be produced and was the “ceremonial” pace car for that year’s race, won by Roger Ward. A Studebaker Lark convertible was the “official” pace car. This car looked futuristic, and... Continue Reading →