First Drive: 2009 Porsche Cayman S/PDK

Story, video and photos by John LeBlanc JEREZ, SPAIN–As most of its middle-aged fans will appreciate, today’s Porsche 911 is not the flyweight sports car it started out as 44 years ago. A little heavier, a little larger around the middle – definitely less agile – Porsche has slowly moved its halo vehicle from pure […]

First Drive: 2010 Volvo XC60

Story and photos by John LeBlanc SAUSALITO, Calif.–There’s no guarantee that eating high-fibre foods or taking the stairs instead of the elevator will lead to a long, healthy life. Similarly, buying a new vehicle based on its outstanding safety credentials in no way guarantees accident-free driving. But try explaining that logic to the well-intentioned folks […]

First Drive: 2009 Audi A4

Story and photos by John LeBlanc Bowmanville, Ont. – With one-in-two Audis sold in Canada an A4, one doesn’t have to have a degree in economics to understand how important the premium compact sports sedan and wagon are to the German automaker here. Since the first A4 debuted in Europe in 1972 (then known as […]

First Drive: 2010 Mini E

Story and photos by John LeBlanc Los Angeles–Imagine your next car not only emits zero tailpipe emissions but also never asks to be filled up at a gas station. Ever. Now imagine that it doesn’t look like a golf cart or a rejected prop from a failed sci-fi movie. It meets all of today’s stringent […]

First Drive: 2009 Toyota Venza

Story and photos by John LeBlanc PITTSBURGH–According to Toyota, its new Venza is not a car, station wagon, or SUV. Instead, the company says its latest unibody utility vehicle has “no direct competitors in the market … It is a new kind of vehicle … a segment buster.” So while the Venza looks, smells and […]

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