May 18, 2013
- The Ford Mustang is a known quantity. For Americans who care about cars or those who don't, it's likely the Mustang conjures up memories and associations. And like other muscle-car reincarnations like the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger, it takes some of the look, and the sound, of the old pony cars, yet it lives in the present. The...
May 17, 2013
- While Cadillac sells more models every month than Lincoln, Ford’s premium brand offers more SUVs. Where Cadillac showrooms feature the Escalade and SRX, Lincoln offers the Navigator, MKT, and MKX, while development continues on the Ford Escape-based MKC crossover. We’re revisiting a thread originally started last year, in which Motor Trend forum member PR32A asked [...]
- Pros and Cons* Pros Offering a wide choice of engines and ergonomic controls, the 2013 Volkswagen Golf 5-door is comfortable and handles the road smoothly, yet with agility. Cons However, the back seats are tight for room and the heavy fuel consumption and high prices of a few of its premium models may deter some buyers. Photo: Volkswagen Price The basic model starts at $21,475. For $23,025, you get heated seats and...
- I was more than a year removed from my last experience with the Mustang GT and its delicious 5.0 V8 when this new 2014 example rolled up to my driveway recently. Good weather and a planned road trip across the state meant that I would get plenty of seat time in this conservatively specified example, too. In total, I logged about 400 miles in a week of driving - not a lot for some of you super commuters out there, but quite a lot for this work-from-home journalist. The basic formula of the 5.0...
- This week's McLaren-Honda announcement is likely to have consequences way beyond the racetrack The news that Honda is coming back to Formula 1 in 2015 is interesting in that it confirms that the new Formula 1 rules are attractive to the automobile industry — as was intended.It means while the unambitious Formula 1 teams will be trying to do deals with the existing manufacturers and Honda, the more imaginative will be chasing around the world banging on the doors of the motor companies that have...
- Pros and Cons* Pros Offering a wide choice of engines and ergonomic controls, the 2013 Volkswagen Golf 5-door is comfortable and handles the road smoothly, yet with agility. Cons However, the back seats are tight for room and the heavy fuel consumption and high prices of a few of its premium models may deter some buyers. Photo: Volkswagen Price The basic model starts at $21,475. For $23,025, you get heated seats and...
May 16, 2013
- Pros and Cons* Pros Luxurious interior, numerous standard features, ideal 50/50 front to rear weight distribution, precise steering and smooth ride are all good arguments in the 2013 Chrysler 300's favour. Cons Its excess weight, unsupportive seats and primitive all-wheel drive system disappoint. Price The base Touring model starts at $34,245. The rear-wheel drive S starts at $38,245 and comes with optional all-wheel drive, which raises the...
- Pros and Cons* Pros Crisp, comfortable ride, stylish instrument panel, and numerous standard features are just a few of the many attributes of the 2013 Ford Focus. Cons Limited trunk space in the sedan version, complex controls, lack of a 6th speed for the manual transmission and an option list that makes the final invoice disappointingly high. Its excess weight has a negative effect on the fuel consumption. Photo: Ford...
- Pros and Cons* Pros Its long list of standard features and alluring design are very impressive. Available options are way beyond what one would expect from a vehicle in this category. The dynamic ride and generous trunk opening are among the multitude of features and advantages that are standard in the 2013 Kia Rio sedan. Cons The engine is easily overburdened (especially in ECO mode) and the interior sound level is high. An options list that can quickly get out of hand and inflate the final...
May 15, 2013
- Runtime: 7:22 General Motors takes aim at Ford with a rebadged version of Nissan’s NV200. Acura announces it will build its supercar at a new Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio. The American Civil Liberties Union files a lawsuit against LA’s two major police departments over data collecting scanners. All that and more, plus the Autoextremist, [...]
- Pros and Cons* Pros The comfort level and quiet interior are the epitome of American luxury vehicle know-how. The sophisticated all-wheel drive system and numerous standard features make it a very attractive proposition. Cons Complex system controls and a striking physical resemblance to its Ford stablemates in design and name do nothing to help MKX sales. Price The MKX, which starts at $47,850, is available in all-wheel drive only. The 100A...
- For the last half a decade, the full-sized truck market has been the arena for a brutal game of one-upsmanship between Ford and Ram. One year, Ford breaks out a new tow hitch innovation on the F-150, and the next year, the Ram sees that doo-dad and raises a suite of comfy new interior features. [...]
- Ford’s venerable F-150 pickup is under attack. Taking fresh hits from the Ram 1500 and its swank interior and new powertrains — including a diesel engine — the F-150 is about to feel another round of shelling from the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, both of which debut this summer.
- 25 years ago on this very day, a living God graced us with his feline presence: Howie Makem. The quality cat. World famous ambassador to all things GM is celebrating his birthday today. Back in the good old days of the 1980′s, GM needed inspiration for their pursuit of quality. At Ford, quality was job one. [...]
- Pros and Cons* Pros Offering a wide choice of engines and ergonomic controls, the 2013 Volkswagen Golf 5-door is comfortable and handles the road smoothly, yet with agility. Cons However, the back seats are tight for room and the heavy fuel consumption and high prices of a few of its premium models may deter some buyers. (Photo: Volkswagen) Price The basic model starts at $21,475. For $23,025, you get heated seats...