First Drive: 2011 Ford Explorer

Exploring new worlds In the search for fuel economy, Ford’s iconic Explorer evolves from SUV to crossover By John LeBlanc SAN DIEGO, Calif. – You would be forgiven if you thought Ford’s decision to move its Explorer to a car-like unibody chassis after riding for a quarter-century on a body-on-frame truck-style chassis is late. After […]

First Drive: 2011 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive

[svgallery name=”2011_Smart_Electric_NYC_pics”] An EV for two How smart is it to go electric in ‘Benz’s ForTwo city car? By John LeBlanc BROOKLYN, New York – Driving in a large metropolis like New York City creates all kinds of anxieties when behind the wheel—maniacal cabbies, aggressive bike couriers, and wayward pedestrians, to name a few. But […]

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 […]

First Drive: 2011 Mitsubishi RVR GT AWD

A cuter ute Mitsubishi jumps into the mini-crossover ring By John LeBlanc LUNENBURG, Nova Scotia – My late father was a two-door kind of guy. So despite needing to jam my younger brother, myself, our hockey gear, and maybe even an occasional friend three or four times a week to a local rink or the […]

First Drive: 2011 Kia Forte5

[svgallery name=”2011_Kia_Forte5_hirez”] Fun with 5 Kia adds all-important five-door hatch to its Forte lineup By John LeBlanc Ann Arbor, Mich. – After several years of rolling out one all-new product after another, it would have been easy for Kia to relax and pull its corporate foot off the gas. The launch of the well-received compact […]

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