Quick Spin: 2012 Lexus IS 350 AWD

By John LeBlanc What is it? The compact, five-passenger IS is Lexus’ stab at the entry-level sports sedan segment, a class invented by the BMW 3 Series in the yuppie-era 1980s. Until the $30,950 front-wheel-drive CT 200h hybrid hatchback arrived for 2011, the $32,900 rear-wheel-drive IS 250 sedan was the least expensive Lexus you could […]

First Drive: 2013 Lexus ES

By John LeBlanc NEWBERG, Oregon – Stop me if you’ve heard this story before: A once dominant Japanese luxury brand falls on hard times. Primarily due to decidedly conservative product development and a loyal-but-aging customer base. Said brand retrenches. Then comes back with a new, more aggressive design language (illustrated via a halo concept car), […]

First Drive & Video: 2013 Acura ILX

By John LeBlanc SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – Honda’s premium Acura brand is in the midst of one of its largest product makeovers ever. And one of Acura’s most important new vehicles for the Canadian market is the new 2013 Acura ILX compact sedan, the brand’s latest entry in a segment it virtually created almost two decades […]

First Drive: 2013 Volkswagen CC

If you’re disappointed in the Americanization of VW’s Passat, you’ll want to read my take on the updated 2013 CC for Toronto Star Wheels. Full article after the jump.

From the Fleet: 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI

FROM THE FLEET are brief synopses of manufacturer-supplied rides that happen to end up in my laneway – John LeBlanc Myself and the der nue 2012 Volkswagen Passat didn’t quite hit it off during our first meeting at its debut at last January’s Detroit auto show. As per the new-generation VW Jetta, the “Americanization of […]

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