Audi A5 Coupe a rare breed ... Coupes used to be a more plentiful subset of cars, but as cars become a smaller subset of vehicles the coupe appears closer and closer to extinction. But Audi, for one, is committed to the segment and its A5 Coupe is a good example of how much pleasure... Continue Reading →
2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Alfa Romeo's Giulia makes us giggle it's so much fun ... Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rare is the sports sedan, or any car, that makes you giggle when you tromp on its gas pedal. Rare too is a car that makes your friends envious. Corvettes have become too common, Jaguars too mainstream, BMWs too numerous. No, for something... Continue Reading →
2017 New Jeep Compass Latitude 4×4
New Jeep Compass leapfrogs its predecessor ... Jeep has remade its Compass and moved it from near the bottom of the small crossover sport-utility list to much nearer the top. The former Compass didn’t impress in any way, while the new Compass starts by looking like a miniature Jeep Grand Cherokee with a handsome 7-bar grille... Continue Reading →
2017 MINI Cooper S Countryman All4
MINI's Countryman is bigger, not necessarily better ... The new MINI Cooper Countryman goes too far, but maybe that’s what U.S. buyers want. It’s the biggest MINI yet. I know that sounds contradictory for the small British-born make now made by BMW. But it’s true. This is MINI’s version of a crossover or small sport-ute with a... Continue Reading →
2017 Fiat 500 Abarth
Fiat 500 Abarth pumps up the low-cost fun ... Few cars are pure joy to drive, yet cost less than $30,000. I’d put the Mazda Miata at the top of those, and a few models of the Mini Cooper would slot into this price range. But Fiat’s 500 Abarth is a relative newcomer and blows... Continue Reading →
2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack TSI SE
New VW Golf Alltrack brings fun to wagons ... Volkswagen brings a little fun to the small wagon market, which is a niche of a niche these days, but certainly compares well with small crossovers. But instead of a tall boxy AWD vehicle, the Golf Alltrack is a decidedly leaner machine that looks downright sporty compared... Continue Reading →
2018 Subaru WRX
Subaru's WRX makes you faster, more interesting ... Mention the Subaru WRX in front of young adult males and you’re likely to become the most interesting man, or woman, in the world. Subaru devotees are a, well, devoted lot and WRX fans are darn near rabid. Face it, some folks, especially young males, love speed... Continue Reading →
Mark and Paul’s fun at Road America
A Dream Day for driving As members of the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) Mark and I make the trip to Road America where we get to drive new cars from the manufacturers. This year, we drove the Ford Focus ST, BMW M40i, Dodge Challenger Hellcat, and GT, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, Lexus RC F,... Continue Reading →
2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Ltd. Platinum
Highlander Hybrid excels at moving people, things ... A road trip to Louisville with a couple buddies, and plenty of cargo, proved Toyota’s Highlander Hybrid to be a perfect transport choice. Ours was a medium metallic brown, what Toyota calls Toasted Walnut Pearl. Probably should have been pecan since we were headed to the South. But,... Continue Reading →
2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited
Hyundai Elantra, perceptions change a bit ... Perceptions can shift and auto writers often perceive differences in similar models they drive. This happened on a couple fronts with my latest drive of Hyundai’s attractive Elantra Limited, its near top-level compact. I still like the car, its looks, its features, its gas mileage, its value. But compared... Continue Reading →