First Drive: 2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid

[svgallery name=”2011_Honda_CRZ_hirez”] Hybrid hottee Is Honda’s new “sporty” hybrid more resurrected CR-X, or Insight coupe? By John LeBlanc MAPLE, Ont.-In today’s hyper-competitive new-car market, it’s a rare occurrence when a newly-introduced vehicle can be called truly “unique” or a “one-of-a-kind.” Yet as a two-seat sports coupe powered by a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain, the lineup of […]

Top 10s: Most Anticipated Test Drives for 2011

By John LeBlanc Two-thousand-and-ten was a very good year for yours truly. Of my Most Anticipated Drives from last year, I got the chance to test-drive the first ever four-door Aston Martin (Rapide) and Mini (Countryman), evaluate new sports sedans from former staid makers Buick (Regal) and Volvo (S60), and really see if Honda could […]

The Crank: Why Honda’s hybrids are the right cars, but at the wrong time

[svgallery name=”2011_Honda_CRZ_hirez”] By John LeBlanc Here’s one thing you need to know about the car industry: nothing happens too quickly.Unlike a Nike or Apple, car companies can’t whip off all-new designs and products almost seasonally. It takes years to research, develop, and build new cars. So its natural that sometimes a vehicle is released that […]

My Most Anticipated Test Drives for 2010

[svgallery name=”2010_Most_Anticipated_Test_Drives”] By John LeBlanc Some of the cars I test-drove last year were more surprising than others. Who would have guessed Honda’s Insight would have been such a flop? Or that in the same year it dropped out of Formula One racing, Toyota would launch its US$375,000 552 hp V10 LF-A supercar? But 2009? […]

Top 10s: New cars for hipsters

By John LeBlanc If you were born sometime during the mid ‘80s and mid ‘90s, live in a city, come from a middle-class upbringing, jeer at Coldplay fans, and have a wardrobe that consists mainly of plaid shirts, skinny jeans, and fedoras, you very well may be considered a hipster. Automakers are struggling to connect with […]

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