Here’s a first look at the latest Ride of the Week, the 2012 Nissan Murano. This five-passenger crossover is powered exclusively by a 260-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 sending power through a continuously variable transmission (CVT.) Front-wheel drive is standard on the Murano, while all-wheel drive is offered for a $1600 premium on each of four trim levels: S, SV, SL and […]

You can’t be too careful. Especially if you’re a billionaire and/or you live in or travel to dangerous places. That’s why Conquest Vehicles in Toronto builds the Knight XV. The 13,000-lb, 8-foot tall and 20-foot long truck, built on a Ford F-550 Super Duty chassis, seats six in bulletproof luxury.

Here’s a first look at the latest Ride of the Week, the 2012 GMC Terrain. With a completely redesigned 2013 Terrain arriving soon, the 2012 model represents the last of the first generation for the five-passenger crossover. The base model is powered by a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing to achieve segment-best highway fuel […]

This week, Hemmings Classic Wheels features my article on the race-bred, limited-production 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, a car that was purpose built to beat the fastest Fords on the track, but was also for sale to regular customers in Dodge showrooms. Although the Daytona topped 200 mph and won at the first-ever NASCAR race at Talladega, retail sales were a […]

My first video review for Living Vroom looks at the 2012 Hyundai Equus. Those shopping for a top-tier luxury sedan should definitely add the Equus to their short list, especially if seating for a fifth person is not a requirement. The four-seat Equus Ultimate is positively indulgent, and it’s a great value, too.

Combined fuel economy for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid is 45 mpg according to VW’s estimate. The automaker expects their first compact hybrid model to be the performance leader in the segment, thanks to a turbocharged engine and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that VW calls DSG. That estimate reflects a significant 32% improvement over the next most efficient Jetta, the […]

I traveled to Charlotte to meet up with Mini Takes The States, the 3,900-mile cross-country rally that brings together thousands of Mini owners, drivers and enthusiasts. We partied in Charlotte, drove on Charlotte Motor Speedway, slayed The Dragon at Deal’s Gap and autocrossed in Nashville. Then the rally went west, I headed back home to Atlanta. Last weekend the group […]

Here’s a first look at the latest Ride of the Week, the 2012 Hyundai Equus. The flagship of Hyundai’s lineup, the Equus is, without a doubt, a premium luxury sedan. For 2012 Equus is now powered by a new, larger-displacement direct-injection V8 coupled with a 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s positively packed with high-tech equipment for comfort and convenience, features like […]

My wife, sister-in-law and I used to play a fun game on the road. It goes like this: pick two cars, and ask, “which would you rather drive?” Those answering have to pick one. It started out with crappy-looking cars – a beat-up CRX with a rear bumper made of pressure-treated lumber versus a slightly newer but equally beat-up Altima […]

The 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1 was one of the best–and last–true muscle cars. Automotive heavy metal was on its way out by then, the victim of a variety of factors from rising insurance premiums to tightening federal environmental and safety regulations. Automotive journalists still loved muscle cars, but buyers were not biting the way they did in the Sixties. […]