The Crank: Why Audi shouldn’t build its Paris Quattro concept

By John LeBlanc Of all the groundbreaking cars at this year’s Parisian shindig, personally, Audi’s Quattro Concept was my out-and-out fave. I’d been hearing that Audi had been working on a revival of its original—or Ur—Quattro coupe (left)—in celebration of 30 years of Quattro, for a couple of years now. If you’re the right age, […]

Paris 2010: Is it the end of the car, as we know it?

Story and photos by John LeBlanc PARIS — Woe be the modern automaker. With a lingering economic recession, ever-tightening fuel economy and emissions regulations and a younger population that is more interested in their next cell phone than their next set of four wheels, the global auto industry is seemingly under attack from all sides.

First Drive: 2011 Volvo S60 T6

[svgallery name=”2011_Volvo_S60_hirez”] Volvo tries to get its sexy back Does calling its new S60 a “sports sedan” make it so? By John LeBlanc PORTLAND, Oregon—You know the sexist stereotype. A supposedly shy, near-sighted librarian, who when given the chance, lets down the hair, doffs the glasses, and becomes the out-of-character “naughty” librarian. So by adding […]

Paris 2010: Smart

By John LeBlanc PARIS – Already selling the smallest car you can buy in Canada, it seems unfathomable that Mercedes-Benz’s Smart brand would launch two new concepts at this year’s Paris show smaller than its existing ForTwo micro car.

Paris 2010: Station Wagons

By John LeBlanc PARIS – Ford is making a big stink here at the show. And it’s not their Euro-only diesel models. Paris is the first official event where the new family of Focus compact vehicles have been seen together in one place. That includes a four-door sedan, five-door hatch, station wagon, and sporty ST.

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