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2012 Volkswagen Beetle Sportline Review
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Gone is the dash-mounted flower vase in the latest version of Volkswagen's Bug. Gone too is much of its cutesiness, replaced by a notable degree of sportiness intended to broaden the Beetle's target market by attracting male attention.
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2012 Audi TT RS Review
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Porsche Carrera 4 has some serious German competition, for about $30K less. Audi's TT RS apportions 360 horsepower to all four corners while the Carrera 4 shares 345 horsepower among its four. Advantage: Audi.
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Subcompact car sales are improving, finally
Thursday, May 17, 2012
So far in 2012, we've witnessed a 22% rise in sales within the subcompact and minicar categories. Several models were redesigned in the last year, and consumers seem to be digging them.
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2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Preview
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The musclecar wars has made a comeback. While this genre of automobiles started out in the 1960s, due to rising fuel prices and ever tighter emissions regulations, the musclecar almost vanished in the 1980s and 90s.
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2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport 5-door Review
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Most cars can get through the harsh Canadian winter with a good set of snow tires. On the other hand, few cars enjoy winter as much as a Subaru and its competent all-wheel drivetrain.
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2012 Lexus IS 350 AWD Review
Monday, May 14, 2012
When Lexus launched the first IS in 2001, they thought they were stepping up to the plate for a sacrifice bunt. The bases were loaded with the LS, ES and RX and instead of only one run coming in, the IS hit a grand slam, for the company's image.
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2012 Volkswagen Golf 2.5L Sportline 5-Door Review
Sunday, May 13, 2012
The Volkswagen Golf has long been a favourite among frugal buyers with Euro-car tastes. In its five-door format, this German-engineered compact provides those enthusiasts with the driving dynamics they covet and the versatility they need.
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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 First Impressions
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Far below us, the Bay of Fundy tidewaters had retreated, leaving fishing boats huddled together in the muddy sand and piers standing tiptoe on tall, exposed pilings.
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Chrysler and Fiat put in solid team effort on 2013 Dodge Dart platform
Friday, May 11, 2012
The platform of Alfa Romeo Giulietta was utilized for the 2013 Dodge Dart. At first blush, the differences between the vehicles seem considerable. The Dart is a much larger four-door sedan, while the Alfa Romeo is a smaller, slimmer, upscale hatchback, specifically designed for European markets.
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2012 Audi A8L 4.2 FSI Premium Review
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
The Audi A8 is the quattro-driven, V8-powered flagship of one of Germany's most celebrated brands. It's priced in real-estate territory, designed for maximum high-tech comfort and speed, and has more cutting-edge gadgets than your favorite electronics store.
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2013 Subaru BRZ First Impressions (video)
Monday, May 07, 2012
"Subaru introduces its first ever RWD sporty coupe: The BRZ!" What does Subaru know about rear-drive coupes? Are they not all about AWD and safety and fuel economy? This may be true but they were already on this path before Toyota (which owns 16% of Subaru) slipped into the picture.
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2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Review
Sunday, May 06, 2012
The Porsche 911 Carrera 4 is the Porsche for Canada. Why? Traction at all four compass points - that's why. Before exploring this week's tester, I want to emphasize the "grip and rip" benefit derived from the distribution of power to all four wheels.
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2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Preview
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Bold innovations, extra horsepower, top of the line equipment and better fuel economy are the terms Mike O'Brien, VP Product and Corporate Planning at Hyundai coins talking about the new turbocharged Veloster, which is starting to make a name for itself.
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2005-2011 Cadillac STS Pre-Owned
Saturday, May 05, 2012
As Cadillac's luxury and performance flagship sedan, the handsome STS was available in its last generation from 2005 to 2011 inclusive. Bringing some all-American hospitality to the luxury sedan scene occupied heavily by German and Japanese forces like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus, it was available with 6- or 8-cylinder power and two- or all-wheel drive.
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TDI for me
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
I like hybrids. Hybrids work. They're good on gas and satisfy my occasional urges to reduce the atmospheric contamination caused by my driving.
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2012 MINI Cooper Roadster First Impressions
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Wouldn't you know it? After a month of unseasonably warm weather, Mother Nature had the last laugh - subjecting us to a surprise lashing of stinging snow the very day we were to spend top-down cruising in the new 2012 MINI Cooper Roadster.
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Project Big Bird - Brake job! (video)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I'm beginning to see a trend developing here... Fast wheels, Falken tires and now, Ferodo brakes. I guess I need to effin' love my car.
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2013 Dodge Dart First Impressions
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Roughly 350,000 compact vehicles were sold in Canada last year. Less than 5,000 wore Dodge badges... But by early summer, Dodge should get its compact car groove back, with the arrival of the much anticipated 2013 Dodge Dart, the first Chrysler Group vehicle built on Fiat Group architecture.
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2012 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T Review
Friday, May 04, 2012
The Dodge Caravan launched the minivan
craze back in 1983, and now remains as
the Grand Caravan. SUVs and crossovers
have gutted the market for minivans but
the reality is, there's no better or more
efficient use of space than the minivan.
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2013 Cadillac XTS Preview
Sunday, April 29, 2012
With larger dimensions than the CTS, the 2013 Cadillac XTS is an all-new sedan GM is touting as the most technologically advanced production car in the marque's history.
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2006-2009 Hyundai Azera Pre-Owned
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Intended as a budget-minded luxury sedan to compete with the Toyota Avalon, Lincoln MKZ and Chrysler 300, Hyundai's Azera was available in Canada in its last generation, from model years 2006 to 2009 inclusive.
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2012 Nissan Versa 1.6 SV Sedan Review
Monday, April 30, 2012
Nissan's plan was simple: develop and produce a spacious subcompact sedan using mechanicals shared within its joint alliance with Renault, nail down the essential stuff and affix the lowest MSRP to it. Inexpensive to build, inexpensive to buy, inexpensive to maintain. That's an easy yet effective plan.
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2013 Tesla Model S Preview (video)
Friday, April 27, 2012
When people think of the electric car, they still see that small, comical, short-ranged automobile that we all fear we'll be stuck with when the world's runs out of petrol. But for years' already, California-based Tesla has been offering the Roadster - a cool-looking two-seater that goes the distance.
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Knight Rider - Pontiac Trans Am
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Now own up; haven't you always dreamt of owning a car you could converse with? Yes, I know a lot of car guys talk fondly and sometimes not-so-fondly with their vehicles, but wouldn't it be cool if they could actually reply? Even better, what if they could step in and help out in times of trouble?
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Subaru Canada's all-new sports coupe starts at $27,295
Friday, April 20, 2012
Subaru Canada, Inc. (SCI) today announced pricing for its long-awaited 2013 Subaru BRZ rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. The well-equipped entry model with six-speed manual transmission starts at $27,295, and $28,495 for the six-speed automatic version, as Subaru's tradition of outstanding value is evident in the entry model's long list of standard amenities.
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2012 Chevrolet Volt Review
Monday, April 23, 2012
I love the business I'm in and would not trade it for the world. I've been waxing on about the times we are in and how exciting they are as we are currently making history. In fifty years from now, the onset of the 21st Century will be considered a pivotal point in automotive history where the internal-combustion engine's supremacy was challenged for the first time in nearly 100 years.
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2004-2010 BMW 6-Series Pre-Owned
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Giving BMW fans a touring 2+2 that was equal parts luxury and performance, the BMW 6-Series was available in both coupe and convertible variations.
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2013 Chevrolet Spark Preview
Monday, April 23, 2012
"Safe, affordable, versatile and stingy at the pump"... The 2013 Chevrolet Spark, with the original multifunction touch-screen system, is expected in Canada by mid-2012. Already winning several safety awards in Europe and Asia, this tiny Chevy - just 3.7 metres (144.7 inches) long - will compete here with the likes of the Fiat 500, smart fortwo and Scion iQ.
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Winter in the Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
The rear-drive performance sedan isn't a favorite mode of transportation with most cold-blooded Canadians travelling in the winter. Often considered 'slippery', 'scary' or 'unstable', many shoppers dealing with snowy roads avoid rear-drive cars in favor of front or all-wheel-driven models.
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2013 Acura ILX First Impressions
Friday, April 20, 2012
Acura is in the process of rebuilding itself. At this event, they introduced to the gathered members of the automotive media two core products with which they hope to reset not only the brand's slipping sales but also their image.
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Taking it to the repair shop
Thursday, April 19, 2012
As an auto journo, and a good one I might add (no false modesty here...), I'm expected to know quite a lot about cars. I do (continued modesty). In fact, I'm a trained automotive technician.
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Gutter to Glory - Pygmalion at the Track
Monday, April 16, 2012
It's 2,000 metres of concrete that twists and turns like a boa constrictor suffocating its prey. The road course at Mission International Raceway is known as an intensive, challenging track that doesn't suffer fools or their machines. Feathering a hair trigger, the utmost in concentration is needed to prevent an accidental shot with calamitous results.
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2012 BMW 528i xDrive Review
Sunday, April 15, 2012
A new 4-cylinder engine has booted BMW's naturally aspirated straight-six from the powertrain roster -- and it's caused a bit of an uproar in the community.
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2012 Lexus IS F Preview
Friday, April 20, 2012
At Lexus, they call it 'The Beast'. Elsewhere, it's known as the 2012 IS F... where the 'F' stands for Fuji Speedway, the world-class Japanese circuit. Just another clue why this variant of the luxury Lexus sedan is aimed squarely at racing enthusiasts - a market share also sought after by the BMW M3, the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG and the Cadillac CTS-V.
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2013 Nissan Altima Preview
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
When it comes time to create a new-generation model, automakers have to first decide if a clean sheet reinvention is necessary, or if they can build on what's already there. In the case of the new 2013 Nissan Altima, it was clearly an example of the latter.
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2013 Lincoln MKZ Preview
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Frank Gehry's stunning "tower of light", headquarters of Internet giant IAC in Manhattan's trendy Chelsea district, was a fitting backdrop for the unveiling of Lincoln's new MKZ - the cornerstone of the brand's new direction which blends technology with style.
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Driving Buick Regal's eAssist System
Monday, April 09, 2012
Après avoir fait l'essai de la Buick Regal CXL l'automne dernier, votre humble serviteur s'est trouvé fort impressionné par différents aspects, notamment celui de l'économie mesurée en carburant.
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2012 Volvo S60 T6 AWD R-Design Review
Sunday, April 08, 2012
I'm on again about halo cars. I made reference to them in my 2012 Volkswagen Golf R review and have made comments on cars such as the Acura NSX Concept recently, all of them pointing to the fact that they are very important to brands.
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2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L Comfortline Review
Thursday, April 05, 2012
It's so popular that Volkswagen recently announced it will add 800 jobs at its Tennessee plant to increase production of the new Passat, the largest Passat ever, to 170,000 units annually by 2013. The increase is expected to expand the plant's workforce to 3,500 by year end.
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Saturday in the Carrera Classroom
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
I spent Saturday learning under the tutelage of Tony Morris Sr. The classroom was a 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S, and I was the only student. The school was the Mission International Raceway in Mission BC. The course was speed, and plenty of it.
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2013 Nissan GT-R Preview (video)
Thursday, April 05, 2012
The Nissan GT-R has taken another step towards legendary status. In 2012, the Japanese automaker presented a fresh new look and a revamped mill whose power skyrocketed from 485 to 530 hp. We admired the new LED taillights, redesigned fascia with dual "rectifier fins" and increased downforce via a reduced drag coefficient.
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Big Bird gets rubber
Monday, April 02, 2012
"Got my wheels lined up, grab a stick of juicy fruit, now I'm lookin' for some rubba!" I came up with that all on my own...
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2012 Fiat 500 Lounge Review
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Like most Nonnas, mine is Italian. And when the Fiat 500 started making me proud of my Italian side with its stylishness and fun-to-drive attitude, I gave her a call and asked her what Italians would call the little Italian car, in Italy.
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2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI vs 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
Friday, March 30, 2012
This comparison test pits two cars that, between the pair of them, have garnered more awards and nominations than Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep combined. These are good cars in the best sense of the word.
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2013 Porsche Boxster Preview (video)
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The new third-generation 2013 Porsche Boxster features a completely new, lighter body and revamped chassis, longer wheelbase, wider track, and larger wheels, for just a taste of what's to come. And on trend, the new Boxster boasts significantly better fuel economy. Competitors include the Nissan 370Z, BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SLK 350.
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2012 Toyota Prius Liftback First Impressions
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The Toyota Prius is the number one selling hybrid in the world, and the poster child for the hybrid movement, but suddenly finds itself at a curious crossroad.
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Magic Vision Control from Mercedes-Benz
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Johnny Nash sang it, as did Jimmy Cliff and even Bob Marley, but the lyrics I can see clearly now the rain has gone don't necessarily work when you're behind the wheel of a car! In the real world, especially here in Canada, what's left is a mixture of road film and the dreaded crystallized salt during winter, which is why car manufacturers need to install a decent wash/wipe system on their vehicles.
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Herbie the Love Bug - Volkswagen Beetle
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Could they have made the Love Bug movies using any other vehicle? The answer to that question is quite simply no, and anyone who has ever owned/driven one will back me up!
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2012 Toyota Prius c First Impressions
Monday, March 26, 2012
SEATTLE, Washington - The first thing you should know about the 2012 Toyota Prius c is that it is the most fuel-efficient vehicle you can buy in Canada, that does not plug into the electrical grid.
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Fiat's MultiAir replaces intake camshaft
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Fiat's 1.4L family of engines utilizes "MultiAir" technology. Dave Schmidt is chief engineer for Chrysler's North American 1.4L engine program, and here's how he described MultiAir to this writer, and now to you...
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2012 Lexus IS Preview
Monday, April 02, 2012
Lexus offers Canadian consumers quite a few versions of the IS. There's the rear-wheel-drive IS 250 and IS 350, the all-wheel-drive IS 250 and IS 350 and, finally, the IS 250 C and IS 350 C with a power-retractable hardtop.
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Buick Verano and QuietTuning
Friday, March 23, 2012
When a manufacturer flaunts some sort of engineering technique, gives it a name and pushes this name as a branding, I rarely pay attention.
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2012 Mitsubishi Lancer SE AWC Review
Sunday, March 25, 2012
For those who don't yet know it, the Mitsubishi Lancer's nemesis is the Subaru Impreza. The rally-bred Lancer Ralliart and Impreza WRX are constantly compared to each other, as are the Evolution and the STI.
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2012 Toyota Yaris Sedan Preview
Monday, March 26, 2012
For 2012, Toyota's fuel-efficient little model, the Yaris, returns to us in its sedan guise boasting fresh lines, halogen headlamps and a little European flair. Toyota's compact runabout will set you back $14,400 for the base version fitted with a 5-speed manual transmission. The optional 4-speed autobox is $1,000 extra.
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2013 Bentley Continental GT V8 Preview
Thursday, March 22, 2012
In 2008, Bentley set itself the ambitious task of designing, in second, parallel version of the 567 hp Continental GT that would be 40% more fuel-efficient. The result is the 2013 Continetal GT V8, which meets the Aston Martin DB9, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Audi R8 5.2 head on.
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2013 Ford Taurus SHO First Impressions
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Let us avoid using the term "all new" when talking about the Taurus for 2013; let's instead concentrate on "redeveloped". My reasoning is that Ford has taken the concept of a five-passenger family car and added a few ideas of its own. The 2013 Ford Taurus will be available in SE, SEL and Limited trim levels as well as the high-performance SHO.
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Abarth: A History of Making Small Go Fast
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Serious tuning companies tend to specialize on one brand, because engineering performance systems is not cheap. Consider Alpina with BMW, BRABUS with Mercedes-Benz, Mugen with Honda, and RUF with Porsche, to name a few.
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2013 Ford Mustang First Impressions
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Ford has opted for subtle changes to the Mustang for 2013. HID headlamps are now standard on every model, while changes to grille opening and the splitter move air in a more efficient and controllable manner through the radiator. Trim changes to the side graphics and body cladding (where used) leave the silhouette of the car unchanged.
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Is the Civic vs. Elantra battle on again?
Monday, March 19, 2012
During 2011, Hyundai's Elantra came close to knocking the Honda Civic off its perch. Canada's bestselling car had a tough year, getting through a redesign, production halts and bad press, while the Elantra was on fire, ending the 2011 calendar year with a 57% hike in sales compared to 2010.
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2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Preview (video)
Monday, March 19, 2012
The finely honed, sober lines of the Aston Martin family, its unique finish and handcrafted cabins, those are the stuff of automotive dreams. For a car that'll set you back at least $140,000, you wouldn't expect anything less from the celebrated British manufacturer and its seductive V8 Vantage.
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2012 Dodge Charger R/T Review
Sunday, March 18, 2012
When I was a kid, machines like the Dodge Charger R/T where how people got around, 365 days a year. My parents didn't need an SUV crossover or four-wheel drive monster truck to get me to my childhood activities. Yours probably didn't either.
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2012 Mercedes-Benz C 350 Coupe 4MATIC First Impressions
Friday, March 16, 2012
Introduced at the Geneva Auto show in the spring of 2011, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe came to Canada in the fall of 2011 as a 2012 model. Canadians get to choose between two powerplants; first on the list is the 2.0L inline-four that produces 201 horsepower. For those who believe that "if some is good, more is better," a 3.5L direct-injected V6 with a power output of 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque is also available.
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2012 Toyota Camry SE Review
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
My outlook towards Toyota has been quite negative over the last few years. Their products and their attitude have been a constant irritant, but it is clear that one of these elements is on the mend. The other will come, I'm certain, once the residual dark clouds move on.
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2012 Volvo XC70 T6 AWD Platinum First Impressions
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The XC70 is Volvo's original crossover vehicle, which more closely resembles an all-wheel-drive wagon than a crossover. Many prefer the wagon profile of the XC70 over that of a taller, somewhat more awkward SUV/crossover.
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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 First mpressions
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Janis Joplin said it all when she sang the words, Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz! Now I'm sure most of you have heard those famous lyrics, but how many of you have actually sat down and contemplated precisely which Mercedes model Janis was yearning after? Well I have. In fact, without directly contacting the lady herself to confirm this, which would be rather difficult as Janis sadly passed away back in 1970, I can almost guarantee that she was referring to the famous SL convertible.
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Range Anxiety, the return
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Last fall, I test drove and reviewed a 2011 Nissan LEAF. As luck would have it, I was faced with a minor crisis on only the second day of my week-long test and with it, I learned first-hand the meaning of range anxiety (RA).
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News & Events Multimedia
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Gone is the dash-mounted flower vase in the latest version of Volkswagen's Bug. Gone too is much of its cutesiness, replaced by a notable degree of sportiness intended to broaden the Beetle's target market by attracting male attention.
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Car Reviews
Consumer Car Ratings
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