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John Stein
John Stein grew up in an extended family that valued the art of going fast. Spending plenty of weekends at U.S. 30 Drag Strip and Sante Fe Speedway, he fondly remembers the screaming machines and the flying mud that made those long-gone racing havens such …Read More
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Hyundai proves its staying power with 2012 Genesis
When you show up to play in the full-sized mid-luxury sedan class, there is only one thing you must do — act like you belong. Hyundai launched Genesis in the 2009 model year and it immediately had to justify its participation while hanging in a …Read More
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2012 Civic takes an athletic stance
The all-new 2012 Honda Civic could easily make a bid for most valuable player honors when it comes to its seat at the Honda table. Not unlike Aaron Rodgers’ importance to the Green Bay Packers, Honda wouldn’t be anywhere close to its lofty perch in …Read More
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Audi A6 weaves tech, power into luxurious sedan
The 2012 Audi A6 delivers the driving characteristics that enthusiasts embrace while wowing most everyone else who enters the cabin and encounters the latest technology from the German automaker. There are lots of reasons to love the Audi A6, the least of which is that …Read More
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2012 Cadillac SRX delivers the goods
The 2012 Cadillac SRX welcomes the new year with an impressive combination of performance, luxury and technology. This Cadillac is the American luxury crossover equivalent to many European models in its class. Having experienced outstanding sales volume the last two years for SRX, Cadillac sales …
VW Eos lets drivers have fun all year long
The 2012 Eos is a convertible that melds the high-quality materials of a Volkswagen cabin with an open-air driving experience that is spirited and fun. Eos shows off the same narrow grille seen on the popular remake of the 2012 Jetta, but that is really …
2012 Ford Focus lights fire under competition
If you are like me, the small car segment always has meant “small car price.” However, what is implied and what is delivered can be two different things; the new Ford Focus manages to deliver the goods. While the new Focus comes to market as …
Infiniti M56 finds right mix of high-tech luxury, safety
The 2012 Infiniti M56 is an impressive mix of luxury and sportiness with the predictable dash of high-tech safety and convenience gadgets the Japanese manufacturer is known for delivering. With the M sedan, there is no shortage of big impressions, not to mention a memorable …
Roomy 2012 VW Passat offers diesel efficiency
The 2012 Passat is the largest Passat Volkswagen has ever built, which makes it especially appealing to the American consumer – who not only enjoys larger spaces but also appreciates the technology of a German-engineered vehicle. With premium features throughout the cabin and under the …
Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid goes green with power
I know what you’re thinking: a Porsche hybrid, isn’t that a bit like ordering a hot fudge sundae with a Diet Coke? Where is the sense in that decision? You want sense? For starters, the 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid accelerates from 0 to 60 mph …
Jeep celebrates 70th anniversary with special editions
The roots of the Jeep are tied to its creation in World War II and this year marks the 70th anniversary of the undisputed off-road icon. For 2011 Jeep is offering a special 70th anniversary package for every vehicle in its lineup. I recently tested …
Dodge Durango Citadel recaptures heart and soul of SUV
The 2011 Dodge Durango has been completely redesigned from scratch. That’s good news for Dodge because the previous model was dated and sales had slipped. After driving the new Dodge Durango Citadel for a week I can tell you the redesign is even better news …
Audi A7 raises the luxury bar for 2012
When conversation turns to luxury sedans, where the success of melding comfort, technology and performance means everything to the most fickle consumer group, it is hard not to mention Audi in the first breath. Like its Deutsch competitors BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Audi has created a …
AWD keeps Forester at the SUV safety forefront
For those in the know, it should come as no surprise that the Subaru Forester has been a top pick in the small SUV segment for many years. The Forester began its life as a raised wagon with all the utility and space of an …
Kia Forte offers stylish compact value
The 2011 Kia Forte five-door hatchback delivers compact car economy with a surprising level of flexibility and an impressive list of standard comfort features. Kia has been experiencing an era of growth the last few years that would be impressive to any economist, car enthusiast …
Ford Explorer makes switch to crossover
Beginning in the 1990s and pushing strong for more than a decade, there was no SUV that more defined the category – or that could hold a candle to the sales numbers – than the Ford Explorer. As times changed and fuel prices climbed higher, …
Scion tC matures but maintains its youthful profile
What was so revolutionary about Scion when it launched in 2003 was its out-of-the-box design approach and its marketing appeal to the younger audience it targeted. Success was fast and maintained for years. The new Scion tC manages to maintain all the core initiatives Scion …
Mitsubishi Outlander GT makes right adjustments
The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander gets an upgrade on its interior that adds significantly to the aggressive 2010 upgraded exterior design cues. The Outlander is offered as either a five- or seven-passenger crossover layout and, with the optional GT trim package, there is little doubt this …
Lexus RX 350 remains a solid crossover choice
While the Lexus RX is acknowledged as having started the crossover SUV trend that has boomed during the last decade, through several incarnations it has maintained the refinement that made it especially attractive to the luxury buyer. On the outside, the 2011 Lexus RX is …
Lincoln’s MKZ Hybrid lives up to claims
The green machines invading the auto market make many claims, from 40-plus miles per gallon to battery-only speeds of more than 40 mph. Hybrid sedans have come a long way in the last few years and the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is at the forefront …
Acura tones down TL’s looks for 2012
Engineers for Acura TL knew that the pronounced angular nose that so definitively defined the sport sedan on the outside also had a polarizing effect on potential customers who might have otherwise loved the car. Off with the beak was possibly the cry heard around …
Small changes pay big dividends for Dodge Journey
The Dodge Journey has been a success for its relatively short three-year lifespan. The crossover delivers nice room and carlike handling for a competitive price. Rental fleets love it. So what’s the really big news for Journey? By all accounts, Chrysler’s really big story this …
2011 Edge delivers new design, powertrains
A success from the beginning and always a glass half full, the Ford Edge has received an extensive rework in its exterior design, added improved interior materials and provided new powertrains to deliver a glass brimming and ready to overflow for 2011. Having been a …
Evolution MR brings sophistication to 2011 Lancer
A car that comes in Octane Blue had better drive like a car draped in anything remotely as combustible as the word Octane invokes. The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (Evo) makes a direct statement and after driving it for a week I think it might …
