When I first had the chance to drive the new BMW X1, I was impressed with the looks and performance, and the diminutive size of the new smaller brother of the X5 and X3 SUVs from BMW’s ever-expanding stable. It is more compact than most crossover SUVs, but most people don’t need the enormous size of the heftiest vehicles that brought the U.S. auto industry to near the point of …
AUSTIN, TEXAS — The names are still emblazoned above the individual garages on the inside of the pit road — Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and the rest — and standing there you can visualize what it was like last November when the best race drivers christened the Circuit of the Americas with the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix. On this mid-February morning, however, the vehicles lined up in …
Not long ago, Nissan’s Pathfinder was a sport-utility truck that was set up for off-roading and hauling gear. Today, that tough truck has gotten a little softer and is tailored more for comfort. Oh, it can haul and is available with all-wheel-drive, but you are not going to take this vehicle off road. With its remodel for 2013, Pathfinder is pure crossover, leaning toward minivan. That’s because it rides on …
See the full gallery of John Gilbert’s shots from the Detroit Auto Show at the bottom of this post. DETROIT, MICH. — Domestic automakers should have a big home-field advantage at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show, and they certainly did, kicking off the press preview days of the show, which runs through January 27, by sweeping the Car of the Year and Truck/Utility of the Year awards, after claiming …
2013 North American Car of the Year Nominees: The 2013 North American Car of the Year award has come down to three high-style sedans, while the companion non-car finalists are scattered all over the newly redefined extremities of the North American Truck/Utility of the Year. Ford’s Fusion and the Cadillac ATS give the traditionally top two domestic companies each a finalist in the car competition, while Honda’s redesigned Honda Accord …
2013 Land Rover Driving School Review: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The message was simple, really: treat the terrain gently and keep the shiny side of the vehicle up. “We teach ‘expedition’ driving,” said Ben Wootten, Land Rover driving instructor. “The car is a tool to get you from point A to point B and back to point A. If you don’t want to have to walk back, drive in a way …
2013 Buick Encore Review: ATLANTA, GA. — Traditional Buick owners might look at the new Encore as being too small, too light. Cynics might point out the styling absurdity of putting more portholes in the hood than there are cylinders. All of those points are acknowledged, but the Buick Encore is the ideal vehicle to help Buick continue its trend of breaking from its own tradition, in quest of more …
2013 Ford Escape Titanium Review: Let’s start with the shocking part, the price. The Ford Escape is listed at $34,735. Granted this was the top-of-the-line 2013 Escape Titanium 4WD, but that price is near premium small-SUV territory, one where you expect a luxury nameplate. By adding the Titanium moniker it means you get a load of tech features and the powerful 2.0-liter GTDI I4 EcoBoost engine that cranks an impressive …
