Sporty cars are typically very expensive, but there remains a breed of entry-level models to satisfy budget-minded consumers. The Toyota GR86 and its Subaru BRZ sibling are two of them and along with the Mazda MX-5 Miata, prove that driving fun is attainable. The GR86 marks its 10th anniversary this … Read more
In an age where electrified vehicles enjoy enormous recognition, it’s refreshing when manufacturers remember traditional enthusiasts. The Toyota GR Supra is a modern sports car from the world’s leader in hybrid technology, a proper reminder that the internal combustion engine remains important. That Toyota pragmatically partnered with BMW to revive … Read more
A half-century has passed since the first Z-Series model arrived. The original Datsun 240Z was in direct response to the Toyota 2000GT and other performance models of that day. Over the years, the model changed, and the nameplate is now Nissan. For 2023, a new Nissan Z model arrives, a … Read more
Following a prolonged hiatus, the Nissan Z Series is nearing its return, and the pricing details are now known. This summer, the first of the 2023 Z models roll out, launching a new generation with two trims: Z Coupe Sport ($39,990) and Z Coupe Performance ($49,990). Add $1,025 for the … Read more
The Cadillac nameplate represents luxury, but it also includes performance, particularly with its three V-Series models. Indeed, the CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing sedans along with the Escalade-V SUV accentuate this brand’s muscle. We know Cadillac and all GM brands are beginning the long pivot to electrification. This week, Cadillac opens … Read more
We’re many months away from the 2023 calendar year, but that’s not stopping Chevrolet from touting a very important milestone. Namely, the 70th anniversary of its Corvette sports car. Released for the 1953 model year, the Chevrolet Corvette brought sports car goodness to the U.S. from a domestic manufacturer, an … Read more
The Z06 launches chapter 2 of the most powerful Corvette yet. We have been waiting for a follow-up to the 2020 Corvette Stingray. And after what seemed like an eternity (thanks, COVID-19!), the next chapter in Corvette prowess will soon arrive. Well, *soon* is a relative term, in this case … Read more
The Nissan Z Series made its debut yesterday in New York, launching the seventh generation for this iconic sports car. The all-new model builds on its heritage looks with an explosive 400-horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine and cutting-edge technology. Although a 2023 model, we will see the new Z arrive … Read more
A hybrid stop as Lamborghini goes electric. Eventually. If you are an automaker, the operative word today is “electrification.” At this point, nearly every automaker has announced its plans or is already in transition. The movement to an all-electric fleet will not happen in a matter of years. Instead, it … Read more
Drop-top fun comes to Lexus’ range-topping sport coupe. We’ve been anticipating a convertible variant for the breathless LC 500 line and now it’s here. Lexus’ range-topping sport-touring coupe that debuted in 2018 along with a hybrid version, now claims a drop-top version to round out the model line. Notably, it’s … Read more
Year two for the current-generation Supra brings important performance changes with it. Toyota resurrected its GR Supra sportscar in 2020 and has already made some important changes for the new model’s second year. Not only does the six-cylinder turbocharged engine produce more power, but it’s joined by a turbocharged four-cylinder … Read more
The Porsche GT2 RS, just like its sports car cousins, is a car anyone would love to take for a spin. It is the most powerful 911 version ever produced, benefitting from an enhanced flat-six engine and a track-focused, rear-drive chassis. It’s a winning combination, one that guarantees efficient performance. … Read more
We love Porsche, arguably the best brand of vehicles in the world. In the early part of this century, the company expanded beyond its sports car roots by introducing the Cayenne SUV in 2003. Seven years later it followed with its first sedan, the Panamera. Today, we see a fleet … Read more
Fifty years after NASA launched its first moonshot, GM follows with one of its own. An all-new Chevrolet Corvette was unveiled last night, the first mid-engine version of this super Chevy. An old military aircraft hangar in Tustin, California, served as the venue for the eighth-generation (C8) Corvette’s debut, with … Read more
Declining Cadillac sales in the 1990s forced General Motors to take a hard look at its luxury division and that marque’s model offerings. New models were soon conceived including an Evoq concept, a two-door roadster that made its debut at a 1999 Detroit auto show. Five years later the Cadillac … Read more
Car models come and go, although there are a few with staying power. The Chevrolet Suburban, Toyota Corolla, and the Ford F Series are among those models that have been around for a half century or more. The Audi TT launched nearly 20 years ago, a 2+2 sport coupe … Read more
The Saturn brand is no more, officially shut down in 2010m ending its 25-year history. Originally a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors, the company was later absorbed by GM and managed with its other car brands. Several models defined Saturn including the original S-Series compact line and its VUE crossover. … Read more
The Ford Mustang recently celebrated its 55th anniversary, a strong tribute to this model’s enduring appeal. America’s pony car is also the world’s muscle car, a sport coupe or convertible with robust performance aspirations. 2019 Ford Mustang GT Fastback Review The 2019 Ford Mustang returns with trim and package … Read more
Heavy pollen and spring rains are in abundance in my area at this time of the year, which makes it difficult, if not downright challenging to evaluate any drop-top model. But the Mazda MX-5 Miata is one vehicle I do not see all that often, therefore when an opportunity to … Read more
The chief domestic manufacturers may be turning their backs on most car models, but left untouched are the muscle cars we love. These models include the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Charger, and the Ford Mustang, each of which delivers aggressive styling, potent engines, and timeless value. The segment hasn’t … Read more
The Supra is coming! The Supra is coming! If you’re part of the Toyota Supra fandom, you’ve heard this exclamation for the better part of a decade, perhaps longer. More than two decades have passed since the last Supra was sold in North America, although it soldiered on in Japan … Read more
Select performance parts take the Mustang GT to greater heights. I’ve driven nearly every Ford Performance enhanced product, with the exotic Ford GT supercar the lone exception. The overarching task of Ford’s performance division is to take ordinary or already sporty models and convert them into something extraordinary. Models like … Read more
Flat-plane crank V8 engine and all that. When is a Ford Mustang not a Mustang? Answer: when it is a Shelby GT350 (or GT350R). Well, the Shelby is a Mustang, a special version bearing the name of the late Carroll Shelby, a racing driver and automotive designer of renown. Shelby’s … Read more
Lexus’s six-figure sports car. Lexus says it doesn’t offer a sports car, but don’t for the moment believe it. Marketed as a “luxury sport coupe,” the all-new Lexus LC500 is simply a sports car in 2+2 guise. I became acquainted with this exotic beauty and its hybrid variant at a … Read more
When it comes to the F-TYPE, the SVR tops them all. Ever since the F-TYPE leaped upon the world stage in 2014, Jaguar’s sports car has turned heads and invited comparisons to other potent machines, including the BMW Z4, Porsche 911, and the Mercedes-Benz SLK Class, to name a few. … Read more
Lexus’ all-new sports car tops 100K, fully loaded. I’m on location today in Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island of Hawai’i for the national press reveal of the 2018 Lexus LC 500 and LC 500h sports cars. It seems like a long time coming for the official reveal of this halo … Read more
Godzilla Premium is the first of four trim levels. The refreshed Nissan GT-R is on its way. The latest model receives a nip/tuck, gaining a larger grille, a new hood, and a refreshed interior. The standard-bearer model is the GT-R Premium, outfitted with a Titanium exhaust system and is also … Read more
Four years is a long time to go from concept car to production vehicle. Typically, a car manufacturer teases a concept it intends to build and approves it for production within the year. For example, in the case of the Chevrolet Bolt introduced at the Detroit auto show (NAIAS) last … Read more
Review anything about the Corvette and you’re bound to offend someone for omitting an important point. Such is the strength of this iconic model — nay, brand — that has no lack of followers or at least enthusiasts who immediately become giddy when you offer them a ride. I’ve had … Read more
Some say I am lucky to be able to do what I do. I won’t dispute that point — how could I? After all, when you take delivery of one or two new vehicles for testing purposes each week, you have access to a strong selection of motorized conveyances ranging … Read more