Quick Drive: 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S

400hp? Yep. Rear-wheel-drive? Yep. Back country roads and perfect driving weather? Oh yes. This is the wider, lower, longer, and damn fast 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S.

Every Tuesday night during the summer time, I get the chance to help run a local car show. We’ve had varieties of muscle cars, exotics, and hot rods show up to dazzle all of us car fanatics. This past week, a good friend of mine brought out a brand new 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S, and I got to take it on a quick drive throughout some of Wisconsin’s best rural back roads.

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Used Car Reviews – Getting to Know the Citroën BX

My adventures in the world of French cars continue. Citroëns in particular occupy a certain section of my brain that seems to be on a very special diet of bloodflow; despite their possible shortcomings and idiosyncracies, a Citroën will always catch my eye and tempt me closer. In a way, this article is a song to the siren. The rest of my brain says no, no no and suggests I should be tied to the helm of the good ship Sapporo – and that one glob of brain matter keeps on pulsating and guiding me towards the angular, utilitarian Cit.

So, when there’s a very reasonably priced and reasonably maintained example quite close by, why not take a closer look?

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Review: 2012 Buick Verano

It’s no secret that Buick is looking to capture the affections (and dollars) of a younger demographic. The automaker has been hard at work refining its existing lineup, while also bringing new models into the fold. As it stands, Buick offers up the requisite blend of premium choices that range from a bulky but quite comfortable crossover and full-size sedan down to a somewhat sporty mid-size. Now, the automaker is also offering up a compact sedan, and we just so happen to have the keys to an example wearing White Diamond Tricoat paint.

 The 2012 Buick Verano could be easily dismissed as a Chevrolet Cruze that’s traded it’s GAP t-shirt for a button-down from Banana Republic. After spending a week with the premium machine, however, we’ve found that there’s a whole lot more to like about the Verano than it’s stylish exterior duds. … Continue Reading

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Pictorial Review: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit

As far off road as most grand cherokees will go

By now we’ve all seen the current generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Last November I briefly drove this very Jeep and came away very impressed. Now, however, I’ve spent a long weekend with it and… remained equally impressed, except for one thing (keep reading). This time, in lieu of writing just another review, I chose to focus on the little details that are often omitted from general vehicle reviews.

There are no bad cars today. Pick any one, because all of them are good. They’re all safe, reliable, long lasting, and perform their functions well. It is the execution of these everyday functions; the ergonomics and the easy of entry and use for instance, which separate the good vehicles from the great vehicles. Here is a look at some of those details, good and bad, on the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

And that one thing that I didn’t like.

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Hooniverse Wagon Wednesday – 2011 Ford Focus Wagon

Due to having a truck reverse into her Mazda5, my girlfriend’s mom has to make do with a 2011 Ford Focus wagon for a while. This also handily meant I got to have a go in the Focus, as it sat there dirty and with a half tank of fuel. A manual, 1.6-litre TI-VCT base model in silver, it’s a common car here.

The longrooffocus is one of the cars that isn’t available in the States, despite this generation being otherwise for sale. You skipped the rather good actual second generation Focus and had to do with the over-extended lifespan of the first-gen one, which had become a caricature of suburban coffee stain beigeness; and for that I’m truly sorry. The second-generation Euro Focus was a step towards a mature, well-thought-out car; there are certain aspects of the current car that I find overwrought in comparison. But make a jump and I’ll tell you.

By the way, that lake in the background is a field.

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Review: Senna by Asif Kapadia

I was in seat 10E. An aisle seat on a Delta airplane that was traveling from Atlanta to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. I had just finished driving the 2013 Infiniti JX35, and I was ready to settle in for the long haul as the twin CFM International engines prepared to do battle with the winds from the west. Typically, I have trouble sleeping on any flight but this flight I planned on staying up anyway. In my hands was my iPad, in my ears were my Shure SE315 headphones, and on my screen was an icon that was simply titled Senna.

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Review: 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport

To write a story about the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport, I have to find the proper place to allow the vehicle a small chance to stretch its capable legs. I have to go to a place where the road is made of mud or dirt, not asphalt. A place where traction is earned not given. The problem is that I live in a beach town in Southern California, and the most treacherous part of my commute is caused by light rain on the 405 or a dangerously uncaffeinated crowd attempting to maneuver around the lot in front my local Starbucks. I need to venture inland.

Still, simply driving away from the siren-song provided by the crashing waves of the beach might not be enough to satiate the needs of the Wrangler, nor my desire to push the vehicle. Regardless, it was time to find out.

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First Drive: 2013 Infiniti JX35

The concept of a brand is a funny thing. There’s a starting point, where a new brand begins to find its way. From there, it evolves and morphs into a position that is appreciated by a certain group or audience. Over time, the people behind the brand will work hard to maintain its position with the core audience that’s grown to love whatever it is the brand stands for, but there still needs to be a continual evolution to reach new buyers or fans.

There’s no doubt that it’s tricky work pushing a brand to grow. Sometimes it can turn out exciting new products, while other times it might lead to a divergence from the core values. This concept is easily seen in the world of automakers and their wares.

The 2013 Infiniti JX35 is the latest product from Nissan’s luxury arm, and it has to hit a few major points if the automaker wants to make sure fans of the brand will recognize it as a true part of the family they’ve come to love. Quite simply, the JX35 needs to be a stand-out in the style department, provide a level of luxury and tech features that make sure the Germans are paying attention, and offer up an engaging experience for the driver that puts key fob in the pocket of their upper-class-income jeans.

Will two out of three cut it? Keep reading to learn more…

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Quick Drive: Turner Motorsport 2012 BMW ActiveE

In June of 2009, BMW’s MINI division introduced the MINI E. This machine was a field trial of electric vehicles opened up to the public for the term of a lease. A total of 450 cars were let loose in the New York City and Los Angles areas. The goal was to obtain real world data on electric vehicles and feedback from the operators.

The 2012 1-series based BMW ActiveE is continuation of the field trial started by the MINI E. When I contacted BMW about the ActiveE, I did not get a response. Hooniverse isn’t exactly high on the automaker’s radar. We have good friends though, and the car shown here is leased by Will Turner, owner of Turner Motorsport, a well known BMW racing team and tuner. We’ll have more on Turner Motorsport in the near future. For now, let’s take a look at the ActiveE.

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Review: 2012 Range Rover HSE

This here is a $90,000 vehicle that was introduced a decade ago. It was designed by BMW in the 1990s. Its parent company, Land Rover, was then sold to Ford. Eight years later Ford sold it to Tata, where is merged again with Jaguar. Over that time the vehicle was powered by at least half dozen different engines and received updates both substantial and minor. This would typically be a recipe for disaster, yet this here Range Rover is enjoying some its best sales. More so, after spending a weekend with this HSE LUX version of the big-boy Range Rover I must admit that I really want one of my own, consequences be damned.

It is, to me, impossible to put in writing why I love this vehicle so much. It’s a big square box on wheels, it’s expensive, it’s inefficient, and in the days of record high gasoline prices and animated animosity toward the people who can afford one, it makes no sense at all. Add to that the fact that no one will actually use it off-pavement and the fact that SUVs with similar abilities can be had for half the price, Jeep Grand Cherokee being one, why would anyone buy this?

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