The 2014 Scion FR-S is a real sports car. Just consider the attributes listed in the Wikipedia entry for “sports car”: small (check: the 2014 Scion FR-S is certainly not a large vehicle) usually two-seater (check: the FR-S is a 2+2, but the rear seats are tiny) two-door (check) “designed for spirited performance and nimble handling” (check: this is a purpose-built […]

This little monster is among the last of Mercedes-Benz models to receive a naturally-aspirated AMG V8. New, turbocharged motors power everything from CLA-class to S-class AMG models, and a new 4.0-liter twin-turbo makes up to 503 horsepower in the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car. The broad switch to turbocharged engines for the AMG lineup just makes this 2014 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG […]

Precision. That’s the word that kept coming to mind as a drove the 2014 Porsche Cayman S. This is a sports car that delivers precise performance in every aspect, from the fit of the well-bolstered seats to the crisp gear changes and glorious mid-mounted six. A colleague said the Cayman S may be “the best sports car at any price,” […]

Robert Farris of Speedwell Engineering, LTD invited me on a tour last Saturday of an inclusive collection of interesting automobiles. Spread over two locations, the private collection totals about fifty vehicles from the brass era to the modern era. Race cars, elegant pre-war classics, muscle cars, European GTs and exotic supercars are on display side-by-side, most in show-quality condition. The […]

Mercedes-Benz provided us a glimpse of its Black Series enhancements applied to the already incredible SLS AMG gullwing coupe. This is the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series. With a 563-horsepower dry-sump V8, the original, “stock” SLS AMG offers just about everything one could want in an exotic sports car. It’s beautiful, extremely fast and packed with technology you’d expect […]

Here’s a first look at the latest Ride of the Week, the 2013 Scion FR-S. Jointly developed by Subaru and Toyota, Scion’s parent company, the FR-S is a small, 2+2 sports car that arrived this year as an all-new 2013 model. Except for some styling details, it’s identical to the Subaru BRZ. The name “FR-S” stands for “Front-engine, Rear-drive Sport.” […]

The September meeting of the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association featured a presentation of the all-new 2013 Honda Accord at The St. Regis Atlanta. Along with her colleagues from Honda, southeastern public relations representative Sara Pines provided details on the completely redesigned ninth-generation version of the popular midsize sedan and coupe, with an in-depth look at everything from the Accord’s […]

Here’s a first look at the latest Ride of the Week, the 2012 Nissan 370Z. Rejoice! For the it is a sports car and, even better, one with a six-speed manual transmission! How many proper rear-wheel drive sports cars are available these days, especially in the low $30,000 range? They certainly number few. And Nissan has been in the sports […]

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 […]

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. […]