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Road tripping to Detroit in a Volkswagen Routan (video)
Monday, February 06, 2012
When our photography and video crew cover an auto show, they've got a lot of gear to haul. Cargo space is a priority, but when you're hitting the road for an 11-hour trek from Montreal to Detroit with people on board, you also need room to stretch out and chillax.
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2004-2011 Mazda RX-8 Pre-Owned
Saturday, February 04, 2012
A four-door coupe with room for the kids? That was the Mazda RX-8's premise. And on top of its rare suicide doors and striking looks, the RX-8 also featured a unique rotary engine that delivered plenty of revs. Sharp-as-a-tack handling, track-ready steering and plenty of performance were part of the package.
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2006-2011 Hyundai Accent Pre-Owned
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Hyundai's entry-level model, the Accent, has recently been updated and redesigned for the 2012 model year--leaving the previous generation (2006 to 2011) officially behind in the used car marketplace.
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Heels And Wheels new vehicle reviews
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
We are in the midst of the ramping up process of our new website for women, by women. As we get closer to the launch date, we will continue to bring you interesting stories and reviews on a weekly basis.
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2012 Montreal Auto Show: Mitsubishi i-MiEV + Global Small Car concept
Friday, January 13, 2012
Mitsubishi is banking on the small, technologically advanced and very green. Their novel all-electric i-Miev has already drawn much attention from the media and consumers alike. Proving to be quite popular, the Mitsubishi i-Miev may be the most urban-friendly 4-seater in North America.
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2006-2011 Cadillac DTS Pre-Owned
Saturday, January 14, 2012
"Big," "soft," "comfortable" and "yacht-like" are all good descriptors for the Cadillac DTS. The largest sedan in the brand's product lineup, the stately DTS takes a place above the CTS and STS in Cadillac's portfolio.
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2011 Volkswagen Golf R First Impressions
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Because it's being hailed as the most powerful small car ever offered by the company, I was delighted to see the new Golf R available to drive at this year's IMPA Test Days. In fact, for a moment I thought I might have to arm-wrestle my Auto123.com colleague Matt St Pierre for the keys -- that is, until he spied the new Beetle Turbo!
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2011 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Review
Sunday, January 01, 2012
If car reviews were still written on Olivetti Underwoods, the floor of my office would be littered with crumpled paper balls. Try as I might, I just couldn't seem to write this story without having it sound like automotive porn.
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2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupé Review (video)
Monday, December 26, 2011
Certain cars evoke certain emotions and driving styles. It doesn't happen often (at least not for me), but when it does, it takes over my senses completely. I have no choice but to behave the way the car makes me. And I swear that's what I'd planned to tell the police officer when he would eventually pull me over.
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2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR Review (video)
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Are you a cold-blooded Canadian that gets excited at the thought of low-traction driving conditions? Do you have a pulse, testosterone in your veins, and love excitement? Would you rather rip donuts in the shopping mall parking lot after hours than actually shop there?
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2006-2011 Buick Lucerne Pre-Owned
Saturday, December 24, 2011
The Lucerne topped the Buick model range as an affordable luxury sedan that offered a whisper-quiet ride, front-wheel drive confidence and available V8 power. In the used market, the Lucerne amounts to a cost-effective way to access the taste of the motoring high life - American style.
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2011 Ford Flex Titanium AWD Review
Monday, January 02, 2012
When I first saw the Ford Flex in 2008, I have to say I was a bit bummed out. The design of the Flex is not about smooth lines and flowing curves, it's more of a suitcase on wheels. I've heard some compare it to the Mini Traveller (obviously, in a much, much bigger form), but at least the Mini was cute and bite-size. The Flex is big, boxy and brutish. It was then, and it is now.
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2005-2011 Dodge Dakota / Ram Dakota Pre-Owned
Saturday, December 17, 2011
The Dodge Dakota was built to compete with the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger and Nissan Frontier with a focus on aggressive styling and performance. With the only V8 engine in its segment, Dakota could be had in various body, powertrain and drivetrain configurations. Dodge is canning this machine after the 2011 model year to focus on other products. But it had a pretty good run.
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2011 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4x4 Review
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
It's no secret that pickup trucks have evolved over time to become behemoths of luxury and opulence. Ford is credited as the ignition source of this highly competitive trend thanks to a huge leap in quality and refinement that graced the F-150 a decade or so ago, raising customer expectations throughout the light-duty truck market. In my view, the latest rig to further heighten the bar enters the ring from Chrysler's corner, wearing a Ram badge.
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2011 Acura ZDX SH-AWD TECH Review
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
History tells us that some car designs were great on paper, but turned out to be total flops once launched. There are many, many examples of bad ideas gone worse, and I've had the pleasure (or is that displeasure?) of driving a few in my short career. One such vehicle was the Pontiac Aztek, famous for being hideous. It was functional, but only the vision-impaired could fully appreciate its design.
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2011 Mitsubishi Lancer SE Review
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Living in a small town, I'll occasionally run into one of those lost characters of my youth; stuck-in-a-time-warp examples of arrested development in stone-washed denim and high top kicks. A black Soundgarden tee, edgy and youthful on a still-hip 27-year-old, looks faded and delusional two decades later.
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2011 Volkswagen Routan Highline Review (video)
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Yes, there must be a good reason for Volkswagen to have embarked on this adventure with Chrysler. From the onset, this deal seemed rotten, or sketchy at best. Why was, and is, a car manufacturer famous for its people-movers (aka hotboxes such as the Type II Bus) striking a deal with the maker of the best-known and bestselling minivan? To get its logo on one?
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2011 Acura MDX SH-AWD Elite Review
Monday, December 12, 2011
For anyone who follows my reviews and articles (which, of course, you all do), you'll know I'm not a fan of bigger vehicles. SUVs, pickups, even some CUVs are usually lost on me. I like sedans, compacts and subcompacts: the more a manufacturer can cram into a small package, the better it is for me. Perhaps it's my lifestyle: I have no need for such a vehicle - at least, that used to be the case.
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2011 Kia Optima Hybrid Premium Review
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Perhaps it's delusions of grandeur, but I see a hint of the Jaguar XF in the roofline and tail of the 2011 Kia Optima. This week's Optima Hybrid tester doesn't perform like the British cat, but it does use less fuel and can be acquired for less a small fortune.
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2011 Toyota Prius Review
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Prius from Toyota has set the bar when it comes to hybrid cars. Prius was the first model introduced exclusively as an electric, hybrid-assist vehicle. The idea behind an electric-assist vehicle is to have the electric motor help out the gasoline engine under heavy load conditions, which in turn improves fuel economy.
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2011 Mazda CX-7 GT AWD Review
Friday, December 09, 2011
The crossover category is in full effect. The 2011 and 2012 model years have seen numerous new additions and many existing players have been given the once-over. It's no secret: this is the segment of today and, more likely than not, the future.
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2011 MINI John Cooper Works Review
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Canada has a population of 34 million hockey fans, of which 4 million are deemed to be car enthusiasts. China, which sustains 1.3 billion humanoids, counts amongst its ranks 5 million car nuts. Given this ratio, it is clear that Canada loves cars.
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2011 Dodge Durango Citadel Review
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
The 2011 Durango is a somewhat jumbo midsize SUV in Dodge's vastly improved lineup of late. The Durango is completely new for 2011, and highly impressive. In Canada, all Durangos are configured with all-wheel drive, while in the US, rear-wheel-drive is available.
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2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Review
Sunday, December 04, 2011
A gentleman stopped and asked me about
the 911 Carrera 4 I was driving. He
enquired how long I'd been driving it,
what it cost, and what my
husband/boyfriend did for work to afford
a car like that. I was a bit turned off
by this question. However, after some
discussion, he explained that this was a
car that a female just wouldn't buy.
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2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Review
Friday, December 02, 2011
Like any certifiable car-nut, I'm always the first in line to drive the odd car, the one that doesn't fit the mold. Last summer, I hung out at a local tuner/car enthusiast watering hole called Julep and was far more fascinated by the old, seemingly rundown cars than the newer, heavily modified ones. In fact, by the end of the night, I had taken a MKI Rabbit 1.9L TDI for a drive. I could not have been more elated.
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2011 Lexus CT 200h Review
Thursday, December 01, 2011
There was a time when "hybrid" and "sustainable energy" (is anybody else as sick of that buzzword as I am?) would send a shiver of distaste through most enthusiast's souls. But as Dylan said, the "times, they are a-changing'". Even the deep-pocketed are feeling the pinch of soaring fuel costs, and devoted fans of big horsepower are realizing we've got to do something to lessen our impact on the planet.
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2011 BMW ALPINA B7 Review (video)
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Car fanatics may wish to tuck an absorbent towel into the front of their shirt collar before reading further. The following text deals with the BMW ALPINA B7: a custom-built flagship from a German aftermarket specialist that's been tweaking BMWs for decades.
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2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited Review
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The fourth and current-generation Outback debuted for model year 2010. It still uses the same "wagon with cheese" recipe it originally debuted with back in 1995, when it famously showed the world just how useful could be a wagon, if you simply gave it all-wheel drive and some decent ground clearance.
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2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost Review
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
I don't know anybody who, in their wildest dreams, would imagine buying a Rolls-Royce. You know, that money-no-object desire for a car? Pick a car - any car, no matter how much it costs - and it's yours: Would you instantly fantasize about owning a Rolls-Royce?
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2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet 3.0 TFSI quattro Premium Review
Sunday, November 27, 2011
I just spent last week in the Audi S5 Coupe and fell in love. The only thing that could make the car better, in my opinion, is to have a topless option. My dreams have almost come true this week; I say almost because even though the basic shape, styling and badging are similar, Audi did more than just make the coupe a convertible.
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2011 Mercedes-Benz R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC Review
Friday, November 25, 2011
Most people think of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class as a minivan, but not Mercedes-Benz. The automaker calls it an SUV, but one that "defies the rigid definition of its category."
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2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR Review
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
I felt like a traitor all week. As my Java Black Pearl '04 Subaru WRX sat sadly in my driveway and I pulled away in the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO GSR tester that was mine for the week, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt.
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2011 Chrysler 200 Limited Convertible Review
Sunday, November 20, 2011
We are in the midst of resurgence. The uprising I refer to has nothing to do with occupying financial districts as a form of democratic expression or the increasing popularity of everything 1960s. No, the revival I refer to is that of the hardtop convertible car with seating for four.
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2011 Jaguar XJ Supercharged Review
Friday, November 18, 2011
Ask anyone what they think about the Jaguar brand and you're most likely to get one of two answers: The first will resound with prestige, power, presence, and opulence. The other may be more along the lines of "beater, breakdown, bullocks, and unreliable."
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2011 Nissan LEAF SL Review
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Hype is a dangerous thing. Whenever a manufacturer of any product begins its marketing campaign on its latest release, they are taking a seriously large risk. Although the item may have passed all the in-house tests, the real world often serves up the maker a serious dose of reality when it gets into consumer's hands.
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2011 Ford Taurus SHO Review
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The show ain't over. The Ford Taurus SHO is one of the best known Q-Ships in North America. A Q-Ship is a term that comes from the First World War where a typical-looking merchant ship, well armed, would lure U-Boats to the surface and attempt to sink the submarine with its concealed weapons.
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2011 Chrysler 300C AWD Review
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Chrysler 300 caused quite a stir when it was reintroduced for the 2005 model year. Wearing jaw-dropping sheet metal, the 300 pretty much carried the Chrysler division on its shoulders as the most interesting product in their lineup.
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Next week on Auto123.com: Nissan LEAF road test
Friday, November 11, 2011
No doubt, the first electric vehicles will challenge our perception of the automobile being a symbol of freedom and escape. However, the satisfaction of driving past gas stations while rolling down the window and shouting, "So long, suckers!" is bliss.
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2011 Chevrolet Equinox 2LT Review
Saturday, November 12, 2011
A year ago I was less than kind to the likes of the Equinox. I'm not going to lie, I didn't like it. Anyone who knows me, knows the story. Maybe it was circumstance, maybe I was just having a bad week, or maybe Chevy really did have an unsatisfactory product. Whatever the case, I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth while the rest of the automotive community sang the crossover's praises. I just couldn't bring myself to agree.
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A BMW legend in the flesh
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Last week I was in the presence of a real automotive legend. No, it wasn't a multiple-race champion; it wasn't a legendary Formula 1 winning car from the 1950s; it wasn't a modern marvel of technological advancement or even a leader in the automotive world. What it was, however, was a one-of-a-kind BMW M1; and not just any M1 (even though they're special enough as is), this one was painted by pop artist and icon Andy Warhol.
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2011 Ford F-150 Platinum SuperCrew 4x4 EcoBoost Review
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The current F-150 in showrooms isn't entirely new at a glance, though Ford has recently put an exciting new engine onto the popular truck's options list. Answering the call of shoppers after high-efficiency performance, the rampaging automaker has now made their F-150 available with a sophisticated new EcoBoost V6 engine as an alternative to a thirstier V8.
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2011 Scion tC Review
Friday, November 11, 2011
Webster's Dictionary defines "Scion" as a "descendant (of a notable family), a son or a daughter. It seems a strangely traditionalist moniker for a brand aimed directly at a young and hip demographic, but given that Scion is a new branch off the patriarchal giant Toyota, perhaps it's fitting.
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2011 Lincoln MKX AWD Review
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
The MKX's job is to bring Lincoln's brand of American luxury and technology into the same premium crossover SUV segment that's occupied by Mercedes, BMW and Acura. And Lexus. Oh, and Infiniti and Cadillac and Audi. And Buick. And Porsche, and Volkswagen and GMC. Oh and uh, Volvo, too. Oh yea, and Jeep, of course.
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2011 Mercedes-Benz GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC Review
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Large, luxury SUVs are so good at radiating wealth and consuming petroleum, we sometime forget about their other attributes. Take the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class for example. With its imposing looks and size, three rows of seating and the Mercedes-Benz star on the hood, you wouldn't expect it to cost less than 70 grand -- and it doesn't.
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SEMA 2011: Mazda unveils explosive Turbo2
Thursday, November 03, 2011
The 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas provides a wonderful opportunity to admire existing vehicles from a different angle. Exhibit A: The harmless, fuel-efficient Mazda2 morphed into a pavement-searing little monster called the Mazda Turbo2.
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2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe Review
Sunday, November 06, 2011
The Infiniti 'G' range is expanding into a proper premium product portfolio. A convertible model recently joined existing G37 coupe and sedan models, as did a G25 sedan with a smaller and more fuel-efficient engine. Intended for shoppers more concerned more with fuel mileage than all-out firepower, the G25's smaller V6 develops 218 horsepower to the bigger unit's 330.
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2011 Dodge Charger R/T AWD Review (video)
Saturday, November 05, 2011
It seems that as of late I've been behind the wheels of some pretty manly vehicles. From the Porsche Boxster S Black Edition to the Chevy Camaro 2SS Convertible, the cars gracing my driveway have been testosterone packed. There's something about driving a vehicle that's perceived as masculine that makes a car that much more appealing (in my opinion). To some, it might spell "intimidation."
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2011 Jaguar XKR Review
Friday, November 04, 2011
Ask any auto journalist and they'll admit to having a vehicular crush. No matter what, we all have our favourites. Of course, we're all told to be as unbiased as possible, but as human beings it's impossible for us not to feel more for one car over another - or one car over all the rest.
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2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupé Review (video)
Thursday, November 03, 2011
A no-fluff review for a no-fluff car? Sounds good, no? The BMW 1 Series M Coupé (let's call it the 1M) is so simple, focused and free of needless add-ons that it's made this writer want do something similar for his review.
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2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Review (video)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Porsche has more 911 Carrera variants than one could shake a stick at, and their latest, the 911 Carrera GTS, intends to cap the range as the sportiest model yet. Without going into the Turbo series or the outrageous GT3 factory race car lineup, the 911 GTS is as athletic as the 911 Carrera gets.
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2011 Mazda MX-5 GS Review
Saturday, October 29, 2011
A lot has been written about the latest-generation Mazda MX-5. It's one of the few pure sports cars that remain affordable today, one that's not based on any other car and one that's been designed as a sports car from scratch.
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2011 BMW ALPINA B7 Review (video)
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Should you ever want to prove how big a car-nut you are, all you'd have to do is correctly identify the car in the picture gallery as an ALPINA. If your goal is to firmly impress your entourage with your vehicular knowledge, you could add that ALPINA began as a company building typewriters in southern Germany before it moved on to become a BMW tuner.
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2011 Lexus ES 350 Review
Sunday, October 23, 2011
More and more carmakers feel the necessity to combine sportiness with luxury. BMW does it. Infiniti does it. Mercedes-Benz does it. Hell, even Hyundai does it with their 2012 Genesis sedan. And Lexus does it - at least with its IS and GS sedans.
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2011 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 Review (video)
Friday, October 21, 2011
It's been a popular status symbol with actors, sports stars and other species of financially-gifted folks for decades, but the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 has more going for it than bragging rights and rank in the office car-park.
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2011 Acura TSX V6 Tech Review
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The TSX is a mid-size sports sedan from Acura that debuted in 2003. Until recently, it was only available with a moderately powerful 4-cylinder engine. In 2010, however, Acura wedged a potent V6 into the engine bay of the cut and chiseled 4-door, and it's this expressive mill that powers my tester. But as the saying goes, "beauty before brawn," so let's talk style and design.
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2011 Mazda6 GT-V6 Review
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Usually, carmakers get it right when it comes time to redesign their products. They'll make them bigger, more powerful, more fuel efficient, and competitive with current rivals.
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2011 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost AWD Review
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
What used to be flaunted as Ford's most luxurious brand, Lincoln now seems to have lost its way ever since the American company went berserk and purchased Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Aston Martin over a decade ago. However, now that Ford has unloaded all those brands from their portfolio, Lincoln has once again become the company's crown jewel.
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2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid Review
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
In the world of popular mid-size sedans, the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid claims to be the current fuel-efficiency champ. Whether that claim is sustained or not (and it won't, when the 2012 Camry Hybrid will arrive), the Fusion Hybrid is tremendously pleasing to drive and remarkably quiet, yet it's up against some pretty fierce competition such as the Toyota Camry, Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata to name but a few.
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2011 Mazda CX-7 GT Review
Monday, October 31, 2011
I've talked previously about the importance of first impressions and how significantly they influence whether the chequebook is pulled or the potential purchase is pulled. By "first impressions", I'm not talking about a salesman's penchant for polyester but rather what the vehicle in question communicates at first sight, followed by first drive.
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Have We Reached Infotainment Saturation?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Yesterday, I drove the family, including in-laws, to Thanksgiving dinner. The vehicle of choice was this week's tester, the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid equipped with an optional Premium Technology Package, which interfaced through a 7-inch touch-screen in addition to voice-activated navigation. But this was not the only LCD screen onboard.
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2006-2011 Honda Civic Pre-Owned
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Honda's elemental Civic is now in its latest generation, having undergone a restyle and re-engineering for the 2012 model year. The previous generation, which spanned from 2006 to 2011 inclusively, has now moved completely into used car territory.
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2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review
Thursday, October 13, 2011
he hybrid family sedan market is a challenging, low-volume segment that's seen the demise of hybridized cars like the Honda Accord Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid after just a few model years. After 2011, the Nissan Altima Hybrid is joining the great big hybrid car highway in the sky, too.
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Rallying: Much more than just a sport
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Beyond the cars, the environmental factors, the fuel economy, the final standings, and beyond victory and defeat, competing in an event like the Rallye international vert de Montréal is a unique opportunity, and maybe not for the reasons you'd imagine.
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Porsche Cayenne Hybrid vs. Green Rally: A fox in the henhouse?
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
If we asked you to make a list of green vehicles, we're pretty sure very few of you would dare slip an SUV in there. After all, the brutes are generally perceived as the devil incarnate, having carved out an unenviable reputation for themselves over the years.
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2011 Honda Accord EX-L V6 NAVI Coupe Review (video)
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
With great Honda sports cars like the Prelude, NSX, S2000 and CRX all retired to that great big sports-car graveyard in the sky, it's now the sedan-based Honda Accord V6 Coupe that stands as the brand's ultimate performance offering.
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Mustang's new heart
Monday, October 03, 2011
So, I've just finished a 2,000-kilometre test drive of the 2011 Ford Mustang GT Convertible. A review video, story and photo gallery are in the works for the coming weeks, but I wanted to pass on some information ahead of that about the Mustang GT's new powerplant.
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2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara JLX-L Review
Sunday, October 02, 2011
After spending a week behind the wheel of Toyota's RAV4 just a few short weeks prior to driving the 2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara JLX-L, I was pleasantly surprised at how different the Suzuki actually was from the Toyota, despite my initial thought that I was going to get behind the wheel of the RAV4's twin.
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2011 Kia Soul 4u Luxury Review
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Introduced in the summer of '09 as a 2010 model, the compact Soul cute-'ute seems to have struck a chord in the hearts of people looking for an affordable truck. Truthfully, there are about zero truck parts that make up the Soul, but it does offer a high riding position, a jacked-up stance and cheery good looks to complement the package.
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Drive it like you stole it
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Some cars are just meant to be driven. There's no two ways about it, they just need to be driven, and driven hard. Not to push them would be blasphemous, sacrilege, criminal even. The BMW 1M is one such car.
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News & Events Multimedia
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The Murano is Nissan's mid-size SUV/crossover. It's too small for third-row seating but is otherwise spacious. In Canada, this polished performer is available only in an all-wheel-drive (AWD) format, which utilizes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to connect smooth V6-produced power to all four wheels.
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