Search results for: evs
Blog: Three Stories With The Chevy Volt
Chevrolet is touring the country with the Volt, inviting journalists to drive the car in an autocross environment (something about it “not being good for prototypes to be seen on real roads”). Naturally, when the tour came to Austin, I went over to a local mall to pilot the Volt and ponder its future.
Throw Down: Mazda RX-8 R3 Stands All
We were recently lucky enough to have Mazda’s RX-8 R3 in the Winding Road office for a week. Truly touched by the car’s utter brilliance for a relatively small sum of money, Editorial Director Tom Martin declared that he could justify the Mazda’s abilities versus any sporting car on sale today.
Quick Drive: 2010 Lexus GS450h
Lexus’ GS is starting to get a bit long in the tooth, especially when looking at the new BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and the recently refreshed Audi A6. As well as models like the upcoming Saab 9-5, new Volvo S60, or the Cadillac CTS. Despite the age gap, the GS remains a pleasant sedan for the busy mid-level executive. It is also the only vehicle in its class to be offered as a hybrid, which is exactly what we have.
Driven: 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
The Cadillac CTS line has been exceeding both customer and critical expectation since it first arrived on the scene for the 2003 model year. Reenergizing the rear wheel-drive DNA for the Cadillac brand, we’ve always found the CTS to be completely competent, if not always as decidedly inspired as its (mostly European) competition.
Driven: 2011 Honda CR-Z
For about a year now, we’ve been trying our best to rationalize the intersection of cars that are both environmentally responsible (insofar as they consume fewer resources over their life spans) and genuinely fun to drive. We call this intersection Greenformance, and you’ve probably read at least one or two of Tom Martin’s columns on the concept’s finer points here in the pages of Winding Road, too. With the auto industry just now starting to produce some of the vehicles that were first conceived of in the sweaty-palmed days of $145-per-barrel oil and $4-plus gasoline, there are more chances than ever before for cars that can hit the Greenformance sweet spot.
Secondhand Gems: Thinking Inside The Box
There are few automotive genres that polarize the motoring masses more than the one we’re about to discuss. Perhaps the word genre isn’t entirely accurate here, because the three vehicles featured in this comparison have, at one point or another, been labeled the following: crossover, sport-utility vehicle, compact, subcompact, five-door hatchback, station wagon, and our personal favorite, foxy boxy. (It’s possible we made that last category up.) What matters here is that these three cars are pretty much all of the above, making them a bit hard to pigeonhole. And therein lies the appeal for these, um, vehicles. They’re not status quo, they’re not cookie cutter, and while their love-it-or-hate-it styling isn’t for everyone, there’s no denying the sense of individuality these vehicles bestow upon their owners. So go ahead and label these non-conformist rides goofy, or hideous, or ugly, but don’t forget to include quirky, cool, and the most important descriptor of all, successful—especially in the youth market where individuality is everything.
Third Look: 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR
In spirit, this Altima stuck me as a rather “American” car. Sure, the final assembly point is Smyrna, Tennessee, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I mean that the overall Gestalt of the car struck me as consistent with what the former Big Three have done well over the years.
Driven: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec
We were excited when Hyundai dropped the Genesis Coupe on the public. The brand has been shaking things up in the automotive world, and the thought of a Korean, rear-drive sports coupe sounded particularly sweet. After driving the Coupe, we quickly came to really appreciate it, and when Hyundai finally released the Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec, we couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel, and we were sure there were oodles of tuners and budget racers that shared the sentiment.
Flip This Car: 1989 Ford Taurus SHO — Part Three
I may have mentioned before that this rusty, red 1989 Taurus isn’t my first SHO. It may be a sport sedan with a spiffy engine, but I’ve been made aware (from a Toyota Avalon no less) that it’s no longer the rolling four-door superhero it once was. And to that end, I can only say that I really, really don’t care.
Tesla, Toyota Join Forces For EV Tech, Tesla Purchases NUMMI Plant
Tesla and Toyota have just made an agreement that will see the electric vehicle manufacturer and the world’s largest hybrid producer join forces on everything from EV parts and manufacture, to production systems and engineering support. The agreement will involve Toyota purchasing $50 million worth of Tesla’s common stock when an initial public offer is made.
Driven: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 Coupe
The last time we got behind he wheel of the 2010 E-Class Coupe, the car in question was the V-6-powered E350. Tom Martin found that iteration of the car to be great-looking but too soft, underpowered, and pretty isolated. Not exactly the pick of the driver’s car litter then. So, when the opportunity arose to try out the higher-power E550, that of the 5.5-liter, 382-horsepower, and 391-pound-feet of torque V-8, we were excited to see if the result was any more sporting.
Flip This Car: 1989 Ford Taurus SHO – Part Two
Buying a cheap used car for daily duty—especially a sub-$1000 performance ride—is almost always a roll of the dice, but that’s exactly what I did in part 1 of this series. For some reason, the masochistic side of my personality loves the risk. Chalk it up to adrenaline or the thrill of the challenge, but it’s definitely part of what makes cheap car challenges so much fun. There are always surprises to be had. And, as with any new relationship, it takes time to uncover all those little mysteries and secrets. The Old ’89 is no exception, though I’m pleased to offer a positive report after nearly a month behind the wheel.
Driven: 2010 Cadillac CTS-V
The cabin of the 2010 Cadillac CTS-V spoke to the nature of the car. The gear selector and steering wheel were clad in suede, begging to be held. The instrument panel shone brightly, with the small boost gauge in particular catching our eye with a promise of some supercharged fun. Prominent contrasting stitching on the dash looked classy and bold. The Recaro seats, though totally adjustable, held us firmly in a position of attention, the bolsters prodding us into alertness. The V-badged Caddy reminded us a bit of the Concorde jet—sleek, luxurious, supremely fast, yet odd to behold. There is no question, even before firing up the CTS-V, that this is a driver’s car.
Third Look: Toyota FJ Cruiser—She’s Got A Great Personality
Flash back in time a few months, before Recall Hell descended upon the whole of the Toyota Empire, and the biggest criticisms levied against the Japanese automaker’s products revolved mainly around a lack of character. Corolla, Sequoia, and, obviously, Camry, were heavily criticized as being far too like appliances to charm, despite obliging reliability and resale scores.
Driven: 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera
More torture for us. We are now being forced to do nearly thirty laps all-out on a gorgeous circuit in southern Spain in Lamborghini’s latest hot performer, the 2011 Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera. You may recall the previous generation Gallardo limited-run Superleggera that we tried in early 2007 and that was a goodie, but it didn’t honestly get the full-on treatment and those shortfalls just slightly flawed the drive experience.
Driven: 2009 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Convertible
Anyone that has driven, ridden in, read about, or even paid a little bit of attention to the universe of Mini cars over the last few years, probably can understand that having the letters “JCW” attached to one’s Mini can mean magical things in terms of urgency and athletic handling. So, when the arrival of this John Cooper Works convertible happened to coincide with the first really beautiful week of spring weather we’ve had so far this year in southeast Michigan, we were understandably stoked.
First Look: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4
Another major auto show, another new Lamborghini variation. The Superleggera name returns, this time attached to the new LP 570-4 version of the much loved Gallardo.
Winding Road Issue 55 Is Now Available!
In this issue of Winding Road, we travel to Lisbon, Portugal to find out if the newest BMW 5-Series has what it takes to be the leader of the pack. Plus winter driving, the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, and much more.
First Look: 2011 Lotus Elise Gets Refreshed For Geneva
Lotus has revealed the 2011 Elise ahead of its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show. With a new look, and some new technology, the refreshed Elise is more efficient and aerodynamic than before.
Secondhand Gems: $17K Front-Drive Heroes
Front-wheel drive gets a bad rap. Not every performance machine on the planet needs a buffet of horsepower and torque driving the rear wheels. And yeah, torque steer can sometimes be a handful, but then again, reining in a Corvette ZR1 on an aggressive launch isn’t exactly a simple case of point and shoot. Like it or not, plenty of really great cars tend to be overlooked just because they’re labeled as wrong-wheel drive, and folks, that’s just a shame.
Driven: 2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8T
With no V-8 engine option for the all-new, 2010 model year Cadillac SRX, the top-of-the line powertrain becomes the turbocharged, 2.8-liter, 300-horsepower V-6 engine. That in and of itself is a relatively significant sign of the times for General Motors’ flagship division, as performance-tuned V-8s have usually held down the fort for speedy Cadillacs up to this point.
