A Porsche for those that couldn't afford one ... When you mention Porsche, the 911 usually comes to mind first. It's a dream car for many gearheads, the one car that they salivate over and long to own, but ownership usually comes with a budget-busting price. But there is a very affordable alternative for those... Continue Reading →
2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe
Plug-in hybrid smooths Wrangler power, boosts mpg ... Jeeps come in all sizes these days and with multiple powerplant choices, the latest of which provided the grunt for the tested 4-door Wrangler Rubicon. Here the power comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 with plug-in hybrid system using a couple electric motors to help boost gas... Continue Reading →
James Bond’s Lotus Esprit S1
Nobody does it better than Auto World for a submarine/car ... Rare, or should I say never, that I have seen a die-cast car that was also a submarine. But now I have. If you’re hearing a James Bond soundtrack playing in your head right now then you’re ahead of me. The car/sub in question... Continue Reading →
Car Spot: 1970 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible
The last year of big horsepower I love muscle cars. There's nothing like that rumble from the duel exhausts and smoke coming from a burnout. I especially love muscle cars where the top comes down like this week's car spot. I used the headlights from our Durango in a rare night spot. Introduced in 1964,... Continue Reading →
2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid EX AWD
New hybrid is larger, more efficient, family-priced SUV ... Kia’s Sportage just keeps getting bigger and better, and now with a hybrid power system it’s more efficient and still can boast of family-friendly pricing. That’s a lot! But Kia and its twin cousin Hyundai have always been about value, generous feature content, top-notch warranties, and... Continue Reading →
Car Spot: The Smart Car
There's nothing smart about this car Known for its massive, and expensive cars, the Smart Car was something really different from Mercedes Benz. It all started in 1972 when they decided to explore what cars of the new millennium would look like. The 1973 oil crisis convinced them that they should move forward with a... Continue Reading →
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB300 4Matic
EV puts a spark in new electric EQB wagon, er, crossover ... Automakers are doing buyers no favors with their insistence on introducing nonsensical alphabet soup when “naming” their vehicles. German automakers are among the leaders in blending alphanumerics and the latest electric-powered wagon, er crossover, is a prime example, the Mercedes-Benz EQB300. Rolls right... Continue Reading →
Fun stuff: Autocrossing my 22 Jeep Compass
And I didn't embarrass myself too much What do a Subaru WRX, BMW M340 X-Drive, Audi S4, and Jeep Compass all have in common? I know, not much, but they all competed this past Saturday in the Road America Winter Autocross Series presented by David Hobbs Honda. My Jeep (left) waiting for my turn. On... Continue Reading →
Car Spot: the Buick Reatta
GM's other two-seater Did you know that with the exception of Oldsmobile, all of GM's passenger-car divisions offered two-seaters during the late 1980s and early 1990s? There was Chevrolet Corvette, Pontiac Fiero, Cadillac Allante, and this week's car spot, the Buick Reatta. I think it's a cool-looking car but America didn't. Introduced in 1988, the Buick Reatta... Continue Reading →
2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge AWD Ultimate: Bright Theme
Plug-in hybrid XC90 long on luxury, power, efficiency ... Apparently it’s time for me to adjust my thinking on where luxury SUV prices begin and end, especially end. Volvo, long the bastion of safe, solid wagons has made the transition to SUVs easily as it already knew how to make big family-haulers and so a... Continue Reading →