Lower fuel prices are making it difficult for consumers to justify investing in a hybrid electric vehicle. The hybrid market is taking a beating as gas prices continue to fall, dropping well below $2 per gallon in most areas. Fickle consumers that we are, our eyes are now on the … Read more
Jaguar is on the prowl. This marque’s midsize XF is simply a star. More than once I’ve been asked by car fans for the precise year when Jaguar began its momentous renaissance. I immediately direct them to the midsize XF sedan, a model introduced in 2007 (2009 in North America) … Read more
Heritage on wheels. That’s my take on the Ford Mustang. You cannot escape the evidential truth that Ford’s pony car has a great deal of history behind it, while it adroitly advances that legacy with each new model built. A Once-Threatened Species More than a half-century has passed since the … Read more
Are diesels better than gasoline engines? A significant segment of the consumer market thinks so, especially in Europe, where such engines compose nearly half the vehicles purchased. The Allure of Diesel Engines In the US, diesels have had difficulty gaining acceptance, with heavy-duty pickup trucks and German luxury cars among … Read more
The smallest Lincoln model is the most original one yet. The Ford Motor Company’s Lincoln marque has fallen far since 1998, the last year it was the top-selling luxury automotive brand in the United States. These days, the segment is dominated by BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz with Audi, Cadillac, Acura, and … Read more
An updated Audi A6 arrives on the market, but its two diesel engines are not currently available. That said, what’s left is a compelling choice in the competitive midsize luxury sedan segment. When the Volkswagen diesel scandal erupted last September, the fallout was destined to reach well beyond the eponymous … Read more
Her name is “Miata” and she isn’t just another pretty face. There are few cars that this driver eagerly awaits as he knows sooner or later he’ll get to drive each and every one sent his way. But the Mazda MX-5 Miata is something else — a long-admired, but often … Read more
A final look at the outgoing Hyundai Genesis. The Hyundai Genesis is marketed as a “premium luxury sedan” and is the first upscale model sold by this Korean manufacturer in North America. Introduced in 2009, it was soon joined by the unrelated Genesis Coupe and the still larger Hyundai Equus. … Read more
Ford Performance, Focus ST style. Tangerine Scream was the perfect name for the tri-coat finish smothering the body of a delicious 2015 Ford Focus ST five-door hatchback tasked with teasing and pleasing me recently. Indeed, the ST’s bright finish served as an exclamation point on a model with more attitude … Read more
The Civic and Accord are among the best-known model names in the entire auto industry. The Honda Accord was introduced in 1976, three years after the Honda Civic went on sale in the United States. Initially a compact car, the Accord has grown through the years and is now categorized … Read more