Top 10: Most underrated new cars

By John LeBlanc Between now and the end of 2010, you’ll be inundated with a plethora of This- or That-Car-of-the-Year awards. Some, more credible than others. Unfortunately, though, most of these types of trophies go to “all-new” cars coming into the market. And with more than 300 new models available today, some cars — inevitably […]

First Drive: 2010 Acura ZDX

[svgallery name=”10_Acura_ZDX_hirez”] FTD SUV Acura’s so-called coupé SUV offers more form than function By John LeBlanc PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – You probably don’t “need” the new 2010 Acura ZDX, an SUV that’s had most of its utility removed because of its coupé (Acura’s word, not mine) styling. Like its chief rival, BMW’s X6 Sports Activity […]

The Crank: Toyota officially confirms its the luddite of the auto industry

By John LeBlanc I bet Toyota can’t wait for 2010 to end. It started with the ongoing unintended acceleration meltdown that saw over 12 million Toyotas recalled, a crisis that brought back down to Earth the Japanese automaker’s perceived superior reliability and quality image.

2010’s Top SUVs/CUVs under $50k

By John LeBlanc Every year, the Toronto Star’s Wheels section asks its contributors to scratch together a shortlist of what they think are the top new cars—as in what’s available in showrooms, not just “new” for 2011—in various segments. Here are my picks for the Top SUVs/CUVs under $50k:

The Crank: Is Infiniti der neu BMW?

[svgallery name=”2011_Infiniti_M37_Sport”] By John LeBlanc For Crank readers with any kind of automotive historical context, you probably already know that when Nissan’s Infiniti premium brand launched in the late 1980s, it’s original Q45 sports luxury sedan was seen as a direct shot at Germany’s Ultimate Driving Machine brand, while Toyota’s also-then-new Lexus was left to […]

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