Comparo: Aston Martin Vantage, Audi R8, Porsche 911 Carrera S

Story and photos by John LeBlanc Some find the Audi R8’s victory as the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s 2008 Car of the Year a bit hollow. Like winning a Formula One race because Ferrari, McLaren and BMW got lost on the way to the race circuit, with the R8’s real competitors not participating in […]

First Drive: 2009 Lamborghini LP-560 4 Coupé

Story, video, and  photos by John LeBlanc LAS VEGAS–It’s challenging enough for Lamborghini’s Gallardo to keep up with recently updated super sports car rivals, such as the Ferrari F430 Scuderia and Porsche 911 GT2. But now that its corporate kid brother, Audi’s R8 – a newer vehicle that doesn’t exist without the four-year-older Gallardo’s space […]

First Drive: 2009 Lexus IS-F

Story, video and photo by John LeBlanc Calabogie, Ont.–Despite unquestionable success catering to the luxury classes, Lexus has never ventured into the factory hot rod part of the market, a segment autobahn-bred German makes have ruled for decades. But Toyota’s luxury brand says its new $64,400 IS F super sports sedan, its first “truly authentic” […]

First Drive: 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster

Story and photo by John LeBlanc DALLAS–As stereotypes go, Texans are about as big as the Lone Star state they live in, so a drive in search of the “real Texas” should have been easy pickings. Especially when the locale is the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolis, which, in my mind, should have been about as “Texan” […]

First Drive: JDM Nissan Cube

Story, video and photo by John LeBlanc DETROIT–Affordable transportation in the not-so-distant future will need to be smaller, lighter and have minimal horsepower – it’s as inevitable as death and taxes. Instead of speed and power, strong functional design will be the new emotional draw for new-car buyers. For those hooked on burning rubber or […]

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