Automotive photographer Dave May and I are working on a new format for bringing visitors into the driver’s seat of the vehicles that fascinate us. That format is video, and we think it has promising potential for sharing our experiences.

Everyone knows I’ve always been a diesel fan. I’ve recently sampled VW’s 2-liter turbodiesel in two new Jettas, a sedan and a Sportwagen. This motor delivers nice power, excellent economy and clean, quiet operation. Too bad it’s one of the few oil-burners available stateside while Europe has a huge selection of quick and efficient diesel automobiles. That selection is about […]

There’s something about an unbroken model line spanning decades. When an automaker continues a model’s evolution without losing or corrupting the original intent, extraordinary automobiles often result. I recently reported on the arrival of the new, eighth-generation Mercedes-Benz SL. It’s just such a car, preceded by and building upon a half-century of improvements to cars like the 1957 300SL Roadster […]

I’m covering a list of automakers at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, which starts next week. In fact, with manufacturers already giving us sneak peeks at their latest creations, our coverage at AutoTrader.com has already started. Here are some of the vehicles I’ve previewed ahead of the show: Jeep ConceptsMini Clubvan Concept BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe Aston Martin V12 Zagato […]

There probably aren’t too many Cigarette Racing boat owners driving around in Camrys and Odysseys. High-performance off-shore powerboats aren’t for regular folks. No, they’re the toys of wealthy adrenaline junkies, people that buy cars like the 510-horsepower Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series. That’s the special Black Series version of the already-special AMG version of the C-Class coupe. At $105,000, the […]

Porsche has named its upcoming compact SUV, and it isn’t Cajun, though it is a tiger. It’s called Macan, derived from the Indonesian word for tiger. Porsche says the Macan will begin rolling off the production line in Leipzig in 2013.

J.D. Power’s annual Dependability Survey results show Toyota brands on top in eight of the fourteen categories. The Blue Oval is a big winner too, with vehicles from Ford brands taking three slots. The survey looks at 3-year-old vehicles, so these 2012 rankings reflect 2009 models. Here are the winners by category: Sub-compact Car: Toyota Yaris Compact Car: Toyota Prius […]

I provided coverage of several brands for the 2012 Chicago Auto Show for Autotrader.com. While the Windy City’s show is not the biggest in terms of debuts, it still brings plenty of exciting concepts and production introductions. My favorites include the Kia Track’ster, a high-performance concept based on the Soul, as well as the newest creation by Ford’s SVT crew, […]

The new Mercedes-Benz SL arrives next spring with all-aluminum construction, weighing at least 250 pounds less than its predecessor. Plus, its 4.7-liter direct-injection twin-turbo V8 makes 429 horsepower to the old car’s 382. Torque? The current SL 550’s normally aspirated 5.5-liter is good for “only” 391 lb-ft while the new car churns up 516 lb-ft.

It has become fashionable to assign the “coupe” label to sleek, four-door cars and even SUVs. Now BMW has added a four-door coupe to the 6-series lineup that was formerly reserved for 2-door, 2+2 GTs. BMW calls seating in the 6-Series Gran Coupe 4+1, meaning the car seats four in comfort and can squeeze a passenger in the rear center […]