2010 Detroit: New Focus finally goes global

By John LeBlanc DETROIT – It only took a decade, but Ford has finally delivered a world-class compact car to Canada. Instead of a dumbed-down, decontented North American version, the all-new 2012 Focus is virtually the same car on both shores of the Atlantic—in fact, around the world. And based on the ways it looks, […]

Top 2010 Utility Rides between $35 and $60k

Story and photos by John LeBlanc AUDI Q5 The Q5 is a hot-selling product in the hot-selling luxury compact crossover segment – and with good reason. Based on the Audi A4 sedan, it offers the slightly taller ride height and five-door utility customers are looking for today, but with few driving compromises.

2009 LA Show Highlights

[svgallery name=”2010_LA_Show”] Story and photos by John LeBlanc LOS ANGELES–You can’t ignore the math at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. With the auto industry in full contraction – fewer brands, fewer all-new models, fewer pie-in-the-sky concepts and fewer media – these types of events have become pared- down affairs compared to the gratuitous auto […]

Top 10: Dumbest Halo Cars

[svgallery name=”Top_10_Dumbest_Halo_Cars”] Story by John LeBlanc By definition, a “halo” car in the auto industry is supposed to beam a positive light, or image, about its maker. Or, for more pragmatic reasons, simply get people into empty showrooms filled with less exciting vehicles. Historically, the Dodge Viper is considered the most successful halo car of […]

the straight-GOODS/Sports Coupes

2010 BMW 135i Coupé Base Price: $42,900 Driver Must Haves: “NOT A CHICK CAR” bumper sticker. Let’s pretend the secretary special 128i doesn’t exist, OK? And if BMW makes a convertible 1 Series, I’m drawing a blank. That leaves the 135i Coupe for car zealots, stuffed to its firewall with the same twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight-six […]

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