The Crank: Japan’s automakers are in catch-up mode

By John LeBlanc The big stink south of the border last week was the launch of the new 2012 Toyota Camry family sedan (above left). A “big stink” because like Honda’s compact Civic sedan (above right) up here in the Great White North, the midsize Camry has been the perennially best-selling non-pickup new car for something like 13 […]

First Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG

E-Q-ship Mercedes goes the turbocharging route for its updated midsize stealth machine By John LeBlanc LE CASTELLET, FRANCE — Showing little of the restraint of its rivals, Mercedes-Benz offers high-performance iterations of almost every model throughout its extensive lineup — from its compact C-class sedan to its SLS Gullwing supercar. Yet if you know the […]

First Drive: 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S

Super Sedan Adding an “S” to Porsche’s toprung Panamera Turbo creates the world’s highest-performing four-door By John LeBlanc MUNICH, GERMANY — Porsche doesn’t have a skunk works performance group, like BMW’s M division or Mercedes-Benz’s AMG group. Porschephiles know, though, whether it’s a Boxster roadster or a Cayenne sports-utility-vehicle, that the addition of a capital letter […]

First Drive: 2012 Hyundai Genesis

Genesis Next The second chapter in Hyundai’s book of Genesis is all about refinement By John LeBlanc LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — It’s difficult to label as “significant” a car that will only sell about 1,000 copies in Canada this year. Especially from a brand that moved more than 120,000 in this country last year and […]

The Crank: Are today’s “subcompacts” yesterday’s “compacts”?

By John LeBlanc LAS VEGAS, Nevada – You can’t judge a book by its cover. And you can’t judge a car by its segment name. At least not anymore. That’s the conclusion I’ve come to after spending a day driving Hyundai’s new 2012 Accent,  a so-called “subcompact” that, for all intents and purposes, offers the […]

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