BMW has taken a two-edged sword to its beloved 3 Series, separating the meat (coupe and convertible) from the bone (sedan and wagon) to create two distinct model lines for 2014. The sedan and wagon remain with the iconic 3 Series model line while the coupe and convertible are now … Read more
Placing smaller engines in larger cars is a common trend among manufacturers today. BMW, in its 5 Series, takes the same route by offering a turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder gasoline engine with its base 528i model ($49,500). For some, 240 horsepower and 260 foot-pounds of torque is sufficient to move … Read more
It isn’t too often that the same model shows up in my driveway within three or four months, but when one does there is usually a different engine or drivetrain layout that sets these vehicles apart. In the case of the Buick Encore, it was a model year change that … Read more
There is nothing ordinary about the Nissan Juke NISMO. Take one part SUV and another part rally car and what you have are the makings of a highly unusual vehicle. About as unusual as the Nissan Cube, but one that provides a far superior driving experience than its quadrate platform … Read more
Partnerships, recalls, financial problems, and scandals…oh my! I wrote this article several days before leaving on a business trip, so please forgive me if the Mitsubishi narrative has changed drastically over the past few days. That a change would occur is understandable — after Nissan exposed Mitsubishi for exaggerating the … Read more
Plastic has long been used in automotive manufacturing. These days, an assortment of composites are helping to reduce weight, save fuel, and decrease the number of parts used, including in the all-new Ford F-150. Vehicle lightweighting is one of the more commonly aired terms used to describe how car manufacturers … Read more
One look at the Sentra and can you say, “Altima?” The compact vehicle market is competitive, one where every car manufacturer has at least one model present. The Nissan Sentra is one of the best known and longest running model names in this segment, introduced in 1982 just as Datsun … Read more
Do you leave your car keys in the ignition? If so, why? How easy is it to steal a car? Very easy — that is, if you leave the keys in the ignition. Common sense tells us that leaving keys where thieves can find them is an invitation to the … Read more
Traditional luxury get a fresh look. Three decades ago Toyota began considering how it might best serve premium customers, in a bid to go head-to-head against Lincoln and Cadillac. It was determined that a new brand was necessary, thus Lexus was born. Today, Lexus is one of the top selling … Read more
“Three is a charm,” was one thought that came to mind when a Venetian Red Pearl Subaru Outback showed up as my weekly driver recently. Just a few weeks earlier I spent some time with the Subaru Legacy and over the summer a Subaru Forester arrived unbidden. No Subaru model … Read more