CMC’s Ferrari detail excels, including first working trunk latch There are few, if any, models in the die-cast world as finely made as those produced by CMC. And while pricey, they are well worth the cost for serious, selective collectors. Consider that the new 1:18 Ferrari 250 California is hand-assembled from 1,634 individual parts including wire-spoked... Continue Reading →
2013 Ford Escape Titanium 4WD
Titanium edition pricy as a near premium small ute Let’s start with the shocking part, the price. The tested Ford Escape listed at $34,735. Granted this IS the top-of-the-line 2013 Escape Titanium 4WD, but that price is near premium small-ute territory, one where you expect a luxury nameplate. By adding the Titanium moniker it means... Continue Reading →
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV
Refined family sedan with superb CVT deserves its due As in the political world where the frontrunners get all the hype and some worthy candidates get brushed to the sidelines or back pages, Nissan’s Altima doesn’t always get its due. That may be about to change. The 2013 Altima has been revamped to be slightly wider and... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500
Shelby Mustang gorgeous in red, well priced There may be something sweeter and more nostalgic than a 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500, but I can’t think just what. Autoart outdoes itself with this gorgeous red 1:18 diecast with broad white LeMans stripes nose to tail and at a relatively low MSRP of 164.90. Let’s face it,... Continue Reading →
2012 MINI JCW Cooper Coupe
Two-seater delivers attitude, power, performance - at a high cost Perfect timing! I had just driven the raciest version of Fiat’s tiny 500, the Abarth, when an even racier MINI Cooper Coupe, the John Cooper Works, or JCW, edition slotted into the test garage. The Coupe is MINI’s new model, with no back seat and... Continue Reading →
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
Sporty, useful, practical, some hatchbacks have it all Hatchbacks are fantastic and Hyundai’s latest entry the Elantra GT proves the point. Sporty, useful, practical and bordering on fun to drive a hatchback often gives you more for your money than any other car design on the market. Think of crossovers as hatchbacks on steroids and... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
SL epitomizes elegant roadsters of 1950s, '60s Mazda’s Miata wasn’t the first small drop-top to gain popularity in the U.S. market. Way back in the 1950s and early ’60s Mercedes-Benz created an iconic roadster, the 190 SL. This wasn’t the first famous roadster either, but it was a big hit for Mercedes, and set the... Continue Reading →
2013 Acura RDX AWD Tech
RDX soothes this Savage beast Flying into Washington D.C.’s Dulles Airport for a family wedding, I was frazzled from a day of flight delays, noise and airport confusion. But there in the parking lot was my soul soother, my nerve mender, a new 2013 Acura RDX. This RDX is more spacious, more luxurious feeling and a better... Continue Reading →
2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara
Suzuki finally earning some respect as quality improves For years Suzuki’s cars and small utes didn’t garner much respect, but you have to earn respect, and NOW Suzuki is getting some. That’s after its fine Kizashi sedan and SX4 small crossover raised awareness in the brand by being well designed and executed, with quality more... Continue Reading →
Lexus GS 350 AWD
Let the coddling begin! Luxury cars make you feel special; they coddle you. After a week in a gorgeous “mercury metallic (dark sparkling metallic blue)” 2013 Lexus GS350 I consider myself sufficiently coddled. The redesigned full-size GS comes as both a rear-drive and all-wheel-drive model, this being the latter. All come with a strong 3.5-liter... Continue Reading →