The Crank: Are car enthusiasts ready for sportier Kias?

By John LeBlanc Fresh from its debut at this month’s Geneva show, Kia officials are already hinting that a hot hatch version of the Korean automaker’s new 2012 Rio subcompact, seen left, is being seriously considered.

The Crank: Will upcoming 2012 Honda Civic retain its sales crown?

[svgallery name=”2012_Honda_Civic_PR”] By John LeBlanc Without a doubt, the compact Civic sedan is the most important model in Honda Canada’s lineup. Despite a drop in sales of 8.2 per cent in 2010 compared to 2009, and an extension of its usual four-year model changeover to an extra-long six years, the Civic was still the best […]

First Drive: 2012 Nissan GT-R Black Edition

[svgallery name=”2012_Nissan_GTR_hirez”] Godzilla Gentrified Nissan’s rowdy supercar gets all refined like By John LeBlanc BUTTONWILLOW, Calif. — Just as fans of Japan’s Godzilla monster movies have a hard time picking a favourite flick from a series of films dating back to 1954, followers of the automotive Godzilla — Nissan’s series of high-performance supercars dating back […]

First Drive: 2012 Ford Focus

Fab Ford Ford’s new Focus flies to the top of the compact class By John LeBlanc MALIBU, California – As a follow up to its return to the subcompact market with the Fiesta, Ford is getting ready to release a second sampling from its European Greatest Hits album. Like the Fiesta, the all-new 2012 Focus […]

The Crank: Fiat needs more than the 500 to make it in Canada

By John LeBlanc BMW Canada sold about 4,500 Minis last year; the new 2012 Fiat 500’s closest true rival. And although the Mini has a nine-year head start, the 500’s mainstream pricing—and novelty—should have the 60-odd Canadian Fiat dealers left with no problem selling the same amount (if not more) annually. Despite the 500’s tight […]

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