2010 Detroit: Not-so-mini Mini materializes

By John LeBlanc DETROIT – According to Ian Robertson, BMW Sales and Marketing board member, the Mini Beachcomber concept is “a Mini that’s tough, fearless and ready for any open air adventure. Maybe.

2010 Detroit: Is Honda’s new CR-Z a new-age CR-X?

By John LeBlanc DETROIT – No far out concepts like the P-Nut from last month’s LA show. But fans of fun and frugal should be excited about the production debut of the 2011 Honda CR-Z two-seat hybrid. Over the past few months, information about the CR-Z has been leaking like a sieve. Here’s what Honda […]

Bye-Bye 2009: Best New Car of the Year

Story and photo by John LeBlanc With only 500 samples slated for its two-year production, the Lexus LF-A super car was the most exclusive car I had the good fortune to drive in 2009. The most outrageous? The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder. The Nissan 370Z was the most fun. And the Cadillac CTS Sport […]

Bye-Bye 2009: Best Driving Experience of the Year

Story and photo by John LeBlanc My best driving experience during 2009 had nothing to do with one of those fancy-pants press junkets that we auto writers are spoiled with on a regular basis (Mrs. Automotive Journalist’s words, not mine). Nope. Instead it was some personal driving time in and around the Italian Chianti region, […]

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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