|
The Dukes of Hazard - General Lee
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
General Robert E. Lee was the man who led the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War, but enough about him because by far the most famous General of that surname was the modified 60s Dodge Charger driven by Bo & Luke Duke in the hit television series, The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985).
|
|
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.
|
|
2012 BMW 3 Series Sedan First Impressions
Monday, February 06, 2012
The 3 Series is BMW's most important model. Not just because it's their bestselling line by a considerable margin, but because it's the car that best represents the brand throughout its existence.
|
|
2012 Toyota Yaris Hatchback LE 5-door Review
Sunday, February 05, 2012
The Yaris Hatchback is celebrating 2012 with a comprehensive overhaul. What Toyota once thought as novel turned out to be somewhat of a misstep, especially where the cabin was concerned.
|
|
2012 BMW 3 Series Sedan: diesel is out, hybrid is in
Friday, February 03, 2012
This will probably make diesel-engine lovers cringe, but BMW will retire the 335d from its lineup in 2012. Its 425 lb-ft of torque will be missed. On the other hand, the 2012 3 Series Sedan will host much more fuel-efficient engines, negating the true need for a diesel powertrain.
|
|
2012 BMW 528i xDrive Review
Friday, February 03, 2012
New 4-cylinder powered 5-Series is the best-rounded of the popular midsize BMW's line. The $56,900 528i xDrive should be at the very top of your luxury car shopping list.
|
|
2012 Hyundai Veloster Tech Package Review
Thursday, February 02, 2012
The name "Veloster" sounds like a blend of "velocity" and "roadster." Unfortunately, the Veloster by Hyundai is neither fast nor a convertible. Despite a name that conjures up a different image in my mind, the Veloster is cool and downright unique - and that's a breath of invigoration within a market of stale air.
|
|
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.
|
|
'R' You Aware?
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Are you aware that Volkswagen is planning to bring its mighty Golf R to Canada? This unit towers above the Golf GTI in terms of raw performance, and features VW's 4MOTION all-wheel-drive capability to ensure its 256 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque aren't wasted on madly spinning front wheels.
|
|
2004-2010 Toyota Sienna Pre-Owned
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Toyota's Sienna is a minivan intended to battle the Honda Odyssey, Dodge Grand Caravan and Hyundai Entourage with an eye for reliability, high resale values and all that built-in goodness that comes with the Toyota name. The last full generation of this machine launched for the 2004 model year and carried on until 2010.
|
|
|
The Hotel Valley Ho in Arizona
Friday, January 27, 2012
Walking down the curved second-floor balcony, looking for my room, I feel as if I'd stepped out of a time machine. Surrounded by palm trees, orange trees and a retro-chic décor splashed in turquoise, burnt orange and lime green, I'm suddenly overwhelmed by goosebumps.
|
|
2012 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV Review
Monday, January 30, 2012
A few years back, I attended the launch of the latest generation Nissan Maxima. It entered the automotive world completely new for 2009, and not a lot has changed since then. I'm pleased to again have the Maxima in-hand. For 2012, the car receives a couple of subtle styling changes and some new interior trim. In reality though, it's the same vehicle as last year -- but that's not a bad thing by any stretch of tarmac.
|
|
2013 Cadillac ATS ready to poke BMW 3 Series
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
The re-birth of Cadillac has been a great success, but it has always had one gaping hole in its line-up. Where was the small and sporty entry-level Cadillac, which lined up against North America's best-selling premium vehicle, the BMW 3 Series?
|
|
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Review (video)
Sunday, January 29, 2012
There are plenty of high-dollar thrill machines out there you could buy. Driveway jewelry such as an Audi R8 5.2, an Aston Martin Rapide or a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG are very effective accessories to help you show off in front of your neighbours.
|
|
2012 Kia Rio Sedan First Impressions
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Every time I drive a new subcompact, I'm impressed at the quick pace of their evolution. The recent additions to the segment, such as the Ford Fiesta, the Chevrolet Sonic, the Hyundai Accent and this new-for-2012 Kia Rio, offer the refinement, drivability and feature content we expect in larger cars.
|
|
Pillow Talk
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
It sure sounds like grist for the rumour mill. But how I came to share a pillow case with a well-known auto-writer and on-air personality is a story that started out innocently enough.
|
|
2012 Ford Focus Electric fast on the draw
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Top speed is OK ... if you're a racecar. If you're an electric car, the speed that's more important is charging time. In this regard, the new 2012 Ford Focus Electric has some bragging rights.
|
|
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Premiere+ Review
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
That's basically the simplest way to sum up the new New, newest, uh, latest Volkswagen Beetle. It actually sparked my intrigue at one point when I asked around about girlie cars and came up with a few stats. Essentially, the Beetle was the "girliest" amongst chick cars.
|
|
What is MPGe?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
This month Ford proudly revealed that the new 2012 Ford Focus Electric will be the first all-electric five-seat vehicle to achieve a fuel efficiency rating of 100 MPGe. This sneaks it just ahead of Nissan LEAF, with a 99 MPGe rating, but a fair shot below the four-seat Mitsubishi i-MiEV, with its 112 MPGe rating.
|
|
VIDEO: 2012 MINI John Cooper Works Roadster at Detroit Auto Show
Monday, January 23, 2012
The MINI Cooper Coupé has generated mixed reviews. As you may have guessed, they had nothing to do with the drive; the styling was and continues to be the culprit. MINI has "fixed" this issue with the introduction of the Roadster.
|
|
2013 Volkswagen CC First Impressions
Monday, January 23, 2012
Volkswagen has positioned the CC as a four-door Euro coupe, so what better place than Nice, France, to launch the 2013 version, which projects revised front and rear styling along with engines that have gained further efficiency.
|
|
2013 Subaru BRZ Preview (video)
Monday, January 23, 2012
Uncleanliness can be described as many things, but in the automotive world, we can consider unnecessary weight, an overabundance of power and heavy fuel consumption as unclean. Many vehicles engrossed with these sins are nonetheless enjoyable, desirable and acclaimed, but if you have a soft spot for sports cars, it's always preferable to own one that is pure.
|
|
VIDEO: 2012 Bentley Continental GT V8 at Detroit Auto Show
Friday, January 20, 2012
The move towards more fuel-efficient powertrains is affecting everyone. Luxurious high-end brands are feeling the same crunch and Bentley has decided to do its part by offering a V8 engine in its very popular Continental for the first time.
|
|
VIDEO: 2013 BMW M5 at Detroit Auto Show
Friday, January 20, 2012
Whenever BMW launches a new M-car, the automotive media and enthusiasts stand up and take notice. When it's a 560 hp M5, the world anxiously awaits pictures and specs. The new BMW M5 is a visual masterpiece and is a thrill to drive.
|
|
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.
|
|
2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 Coupe Review
Friday, January 20, 2012
Luxury cars are all the rage right now. Even if you're not in the market for a "luxury car" you still want luxurious features and amenities to appear in your econobox purchase. Manufacturers recognize this, from the bottom of the bunch right up to the top. They all recognize the consumer's need for overall quality in assembly and materials used.
|
|
VIDEO: 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class in Detroit
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Iconic cars such as the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class must evolve in such a way as to not alienate its own roots. Given that Mercedes-Benz has such a storied past, redesigning this car is a very difficult and delicate task.
|
|
2012 Detroit Auto Show hits and misses
Friday, January 20, 2012
As any large and international auto show, Detroit 2012 featured a virtual smorgasbord of new production and concept vehicles to ponder.
|
|
2012 Hyundai Accent GLS Hatchback Review
Thursday, January 19, 2012
I've always had a fondness for good used hatchbacks -- in one form or another there's been one in my driveway for the past two decades. They're what I call "honest cars" - in contrast to the wallet-emptying, headache-inducing drama of my project cars, my daily-driver hatchbacks must fulfill a few key criteria: they must be fuel-sippingly frugal, have easily obtainable parts, and above all, be unfailingly reliable, never failing to turn over at 40 below, even when left for weeks on end in some godforsaken industrial lot while I drive that manufacturer's press cars.
|
|
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.
|
|
2012 Chevrolet Volt Review
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
My first indication that all was not as it should be came in the form of a knock at my door, shortly before midnight. Peering up at me on my front porch, nightgown clutched around her, was my elderly neighbour. "Lesley, there's something weird going on in your backyard." Reassuring her that it was merely a new hybrid car tucked in behind the house where it could safely re-charge, I apologized and turned back towards the warm comfort of my interrupted dreams.
|
|
2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi Preview
Thursday, January 19, 2012
In the lead up to the 2012 show in Detroit, Ford released a few more specifications for the upcoming Ford C-MAX Hybrid and its plug-in variant, the Ford C-MAX Energi.
|
|
VIDEO: 2013 Subaru BRZ at Detroit Auto Show
Monday, January 16, 2012
The Subaru BRZ has quickly become a legend in the automotive world despite the fact that only a handful of people have driven it. The ramp-up to the official launch of the car at this past year's Tokyo Auto Show has made it the most anticipated performance car of 2012.
|
|
2013 Ford Fusion Preview
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The new-generation 2013 Ford Fusion unwrapped at the 2012 Detroit auto show
looks killer, and says a lot about how Ford will address a market not quite clear about which powertrain option to embrace in the near future.
|
|
VIDEO: 2013 Cadillac ATS at Detroit Auto Show
Monday, January 16, 2012
No foolin', Cadillac wants to be at the top of your luxury-car shopping list. Aimed squarely at the BMW 3-Series, the ATS will be offered with a choice of 3 powertrains including a 270 hp 2.0L 4-pot and a top-of-the-line 318 hp 3.6L V6.
|
|
|
Hand-Crank Windows and Skidding Tires
Monday, January 16, 2012
I had a startling reminder of just how far economy cars have come in the last several years. I was saddled with a 2009 bare-bones Ford Focus as a temporary ride while my car was being repaired. I jumped into the loaner, which had been delivered to my office, and headed for the parking gate. As I rolled up to the card-reader, my hand fumbled for the power window switch: mistake No. 1.
|
|
VIDEO: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic at the Detroit Auto Show
Friday, January 13, 2012
The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is GM's new entry in the growing subcompact car segment. Built in America, the Sonic is available in sedan and five-door hatchback body styles as well as several trim levels.
|
|
2012 Montreal Auto Show: 2013 Chevrolet Spark
Friday, January 13, 2012
The General's new sub-compact car is meant to spark (pun intended) the segment. Funky like nobody's business, the 2013 Chevrolet Spark is sure to be a hit with urbanites and the environmentally-conscious as well.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
VIDEO: 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid at Detroit Auto Show
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Fusion has been a huge hit for Ford since its arrival in 2006 in Canada. In the US, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are more often considered by the buying public. It would seem as though this will all change now.
|
|
2012 Toyota Prius v Review
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Most of us are concerned about fuel economy, but I don't think we're obsessed by it. Paying for gasoline isn't as enjoyable as paying for, say, dinner in a fine restaurant or a good movie. Fortunately, for those who can't stand giving money to the oil companies, there's the Toyota Prius family of vehicles.
|
|
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Turbo Review
Thursday, January 12, 2012
If I'm totally honest, Chevrolet has never turned my crank in the subcompact market. The Aveo to me was simply a car you bought only if you were looking for a small car and had a bank account to match. Yes, I know they sold quite well, but so did Chia Pets, and I never saw much in those either!
|
|
2012 Honda Civic EX sedan Review
Friday, January 13, 2012
I've just returned from taking this week's tester on a good highway run, and I'm more impressed than I expected to be. Sure, everyone knows the Honda Civic is a highly popular, no-nonsense compact economy car, but that doesn't mean they know how refined and efficient this plebe has become.
|
|
VIDEO: Falcon Motors F7 at the Detroit Auto Show
Thursday, January 12, 2012
It's mean, it's extremely powerful and it's made in America. The Falcon Motors F7 is a mid-engine supercar that boasts a carbon fibre body built on an aluminum and carbon fibre monocoque chassis.
|
|
VIDEO: 2013 Dodge Dart at Detroit Auto Show
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Chrysler Group has a brand-new compact car that brings back a classic nameplate from the '70s. The 2013 Dodge Dart is the first Chrysler product based on Fiat architecture, but boasts Dodge styling cues.
|
|
VIDEO: Tesla Model S at Detroit Auto Show
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
One of the first 100% electric luxury cars on the market, the Tesla Model S blends environmentally-friendly driving with a high level of quality and technology.
|
|
|
Loss of Police Interceptor Poses Challenges
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Now that Ford has discontinued the venerable Crown Victoria, police departments throughout North America are scrambling to adapt their sedan needs to more modern replacements. The Ford Taurus, Dodge Charger and Chevy Caprice are in a three-way race to be the prodigious cruiser.
|
|
Bumblebee from the Transformers
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
What started life as an animated series became an animated feature film in 1986, but Transformers truly hit the big time with the release of the 2007 movie version that combined computer animation and real live action.
|
|
Ford Focus Electric jumps onto Michigan assembly line
Thursday, January 12, 2012
In an era less concerned about fossil fuel consumption, this vast factory was known as the Michigan Truck plant. It built Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators, while further back in its history, in the fifties and sixties, it built Ford's yacht-like station wagons.
|
|
Chrysler extends roots in Detroit
Friday, January 06, 2012
Chrysler is adding a third crew and 1,100
new jobs at its Jefferson North Assembly
Plant and reaffirming plans to reopen its
Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, both in
Detroit. The former will produce the new
diesel version of the 2013 Jeep Grand
Cherokee for North America.
|
|
2012 MINI Cooper S Coupé Review
Monday, January 09, 2012
The most recent iteration of the MINI Cooper is also the most visually distinctive example of the retro-themed European.Think of the MINI Coupé as the Audi TT of the MINI lineup but with significantly more headroom than the TT. While not looking as purpose-built, the MINI Coupé possesses many of the same attributes.
|
|
2012 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 S Review
Sunday, January 08, 2012
A lot of people used to buy midsize coupes, but not anymore. Back in the '80s, virtually every manufacturer had at least one such coupe in their product lineup; today, only a handful are left, and a market segment that was once dominated by the domestic brands has been turned over to the Japanese and Korean manufacturers.
|
|
|
Would you trade in for the same car?
Thursday, January 05, 2012
My ride for this week is a 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer sedan, a car that has been virtually unchanged since its redesign in 2007. Back then, I summed up my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer ES review by praising its aggressive looks and solid feel.
|
|
The Italian Job - Mini Cooper
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Now call me biased if you like, but even if I weren't a Brit, the original 1969 The Italian Job would still be one of my all-time favourite movies. If you've never seen the film, you owe it to yourselves to track it down because it's not only immense fun, but perfectly demonstrates all that is Mini Cooper.
|
|
2012 Infiniti M35h Review (video)
Thursday, January 05, 2012
To sell a luxury hybrid, it's preferable to offer one that doesn't force the customer to make sacrifices. After all, that's why people buy luxury cars, right? It's safe to say that very few people buy luxury hybrids for their sheer greenness; in my humble opinion, they'll buy them if there's added performance, added features and less stops at the dirty gas station.
|
|
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!
|
|
2012 Acura TL SH-AWD Elite Review
Monday, January 02, 2012
Acura's midsize sport sedan, the TL is an amalgam of performance and luxury, with a bias toward driving exhilaration over decadent comfort. This is evident in the vehicle's firm ride characteristics and its insatiable appetite for corners.
|
|
2012 Dodge Charger R/T Review
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Sometimes we overlook or accept certain things because we want to. If I'm over at a friend's place and his cat's all over the dining room table, I'd think how unsavoury the situation is; however, should you ever come over to my house, you'll find both my hairballs on the table, one licking itself, the other one frantically scratching an itch. I love my putty tats and I don't care what they do.
|
|
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.
|
|
2004-2008 Toyota Solara Pre-owned
Saturday, December 31, 2011
As an attempt to inject some fun and excitement into the Camry lineup, Toyota turned its reliable and well-loved sedan into the two-door coupe or convertible Camry Solara, widely called simply "Toyota Solara." Intended for shoppers after a more personal motoring experience, the second-generation Solara debuted as a 2004 model, and has now transitioned into used-car territory.
|
|
2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 Edition 1 Review
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The baby Benz roadster has undergone a complete revision for 2012 that finds it looking far more like the exotic SLS from the front. This new-generation 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is also better performing than the previous version and more fuel-efficient too.
|
|
2012 Volkswagen Eos Comfortline Review
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
She was a Greek goddess. Her brother, Helios, was the sun. So that Helios could shine brightly every day, Eos made sure the heavens opened up at dawn. If you lived in ancient Greece and believed in the Titan gods, you'd believed she was the reason each day arrived.
|
|
2012 Porsche Cayman R Review (video)
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Nissan GT-R, Genesis R-Spec, Volvo R-Design, Jaguar XKR, Integra Type R, Mercedes SLR, Golf R, Audi TT RS; the list goes on and on. Why is "R" so rad? Because race car. All kidding aside, "R" is equal to yesterday's GT and SS. In fact and in some cases, it's more because GT is emphasized by an "R". So was SS but that's not a good example...
|
|
James Bond's Aston Martin DB5
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Just about any James Bond car is worthy of a place on my list of famous TV & film automobiles: the Mach 1 Mustang from Diamonds Are Forever, the Bentley Mk IV used in From Russia With Love, or even the submersible Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me. However, one car stands head and shoulders above all others, his silver Aston Martin DB5.
|
|
Ford Gran Torino
Thursday, December 29, 2011
As a 16-year-old kid growing up in the UK, I just loved the red & white Torino with the jacked-up rear end which Paul Michael Glaser drove in the hit 70's TV show Starsky & Hutch, but apparently he didn't view the vehicle with quite the same admiration. In fact, the show's creator originally chose one of his personal favourites, the Chevy Camaro Convertible, but was overruled by production due to the tie-in they enjoyed at the time with the Ford Motor Company.
|
|
News & Events Multimedia
|
|
If it's February in Chicago, it's time for one thing - sports cars. Bringing a taste of hot performance to the Windy City winter, Nissan today debuted the revised 2013 Nissan 370Z on the floor of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The new Z, which is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide next June, features a number of enhancements designed to keep the legendary sports car fresh and exciting. For 2013, the Nissan 370Z will once again be available in Coupe, and Roadster configurations.
|
Auto123.com LIVE!
yesterday:
[Auto123] Thank you all for the RT's/mentions! @Management3AAM @HPalafoll @AspenCDNN @bpicanada @BeCarChic @StopTheHose @TheXSivDon
yesterday:
[Auto123] Thanks for the RT's! @gt500kr90 @AlpineConcours @mer1inwizard @test_myid @SVJR617 @MorreyAutoGroup @autoshowcanada @RichportFord @txGarage
yesterday:
[Auto123] @RichportFord At least he did not try to put out the engine fire with the chips! (or oil, for that matter) :-)
yesterday:
[Auto123] @CarGuyNick Thanks, we will have a look at it!
Car Reviews
Consumer Car Ratings
|
