Cute, youthful Kia Soul impresses on all fronts We all could use a little more Soul, and Kia is certainly doing all it can to encourage it. Kia’s Soul is one of the cutest crossovers out there and among the most economical too, both on the pricing and fuel economy fronts. I never ceased to be... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: AutoArt Mustang GT show car
Small scale Mustang GT ponies up the value, detail Ford’s Mustang turns 50 this year and you’d likely have to be dead not to know that by now. A new 2015 model is being previewed at all the major car shows now and the mainstream media has been agog over 50 years of Mustang since at... Continue Reading →
2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible
Muscular Stingray convertible opens up more ways to have fun I had to laugh at the timing. After a beautiful spring week, a “velocity yellow” Corvette Stingray convertible showed up for a test drive as snow was flying and the temperature had dropped to the mid-30s, ah Spring in Wisconsin. But by the weekend, the... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Spark 1:43 1966 Indy 500 Winner
Graham Hill’s Indy winning Lola a small gem I was sitting in the packed main grandstand just shy of the pit exit for the flying start of the 1966 Indianapolis 500 when tires and suspension pieces and racer nosecones started exploding in the air. It was eerily similar to two years earlier, but without the... Continue Reading →
2014 Toyota Venza XLE V6 AWD
Venza XLE delivers power, good looks and AWD Five years have passed since I last drove Toyota’s Venza, a crossover based on its popular Camry sedan. Not much has changed though, it’s still an attractive, competent crossover. In fact, Venza may be one of the best looking crossovers, simply because it blends the Camry’s sophisticated styling with... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart 1:18 McLaren MP4-12C
Autoart nails its McLaren MP4-12C supercar Supercars are exciting because they embody the auto world’s future technology, they are, to some degree, like the old auto show concept cars, the Futurama vehicles. Today we immediately think of brands such as Lamborghini, Pagani and McLaren, swoopy cars with scissor or gullwing doors that ooze speed and... Continue Reading →
2014 Jaguar XJL AWD
Jaguar XJL extends the legend with AWD Jaguar’s image has been polished, tarnished and polished several times, but its history of racing success, generous power and spirited road manners, along with an expectation of gentlemanly comfort, endures. The restyled XJL does nothing to dispel the legend, with its muscular but trim lines, big chrome grille... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart MGB roadster
Tiny MGB roadster a throwback to early sports cars England’s MG was one of the early two-seat sports cars that assumed almost epic popularity among enthusiasts in the United States after World War II. Returning GIs who had seen the small, sporty, fun to drive MGs while stationed in England during the war desired the... Continue Reading →
2014 Lexus GX460 Luxury
Robust GX460 boasts V8, 4-wheel-drive, luxurious interior SUVs have become as commonplace as spring potholes, and large luxury SUVs, at least by appearance, fill a sizeable spot in this pricey segment. This week’s Lexus “tungsten pearl,” silver, GX460 Luxury, certainly fits the bill. This is the top-level luxury version of Toyota’s 4Runner, not the biggest,... Continue Reading →
2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Outlander Sport SE AWC = smooth looks, ride Maybe I’m becoming more tolerant as I age, but I liked the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport better than I had the first time I drove it three years ago. What I liked was its looks, a smooth sophisticated body, and its smooth well controlled ride, something one comes to appreciate... Continue Reading →