Articles by David Goodspeed

2013 Nissan Titan Pickup is Upgraded ‘Status Quo’

Despite much of its lineup receiving significant (and much needed) makeovers recently, Nissan boasts a vehicle that is perhaps the “longest in the tooth”, as it is still basically in its first iteration in the form of the Titan fullsize pickup. The Nissan Titan first appeared at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, and later that fall as the first full half-ton pickup for the automaker. It arrived with very simple choices for the consumer in the fact it offered only one engine and one transmission on a chassis featuring king or crew cab compartments and two- or four-wheel drive. Since…


Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Finally Earns ‘Thumbs Up’ UPDATED

It has been a few years since a Ford F-150 Raptor has graced our test driveway, and in that time the model has seen a few enhancements to what is already a ‘roided-up version of Ford’s best-selling vehicle in North America. While the SVT Raptor is basically a Baja truck with NHTSA safety equipment and license plates, Ford includes its full complement of creature comforts as well. Thankfully that now allows for a SuperCrew cab variant and the beefier 411hp 6.2-liter V-8 engine mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. This tradeoff is fuel economy of course, and in 4×2 mode…


2013 BMW X1 Sport Activity Vehicle Bleeds 3-series DNA

BMW is a marque used by many automotive journalists as their “industry standard.” While I do not agree with many of my colleagues across the board on this, for me the X3 crossover from Bavaria is at the top of its game so there was much anticipation when the automaker brought its newest cute ute to the states in the form of the X1 Sport Activity Vehicle (BMW-speak for crossover utility vehicle). The 2013 BMW X1 is based on the 3-series automobile platform and offers many of the same creature comforts and attributes of the sedan and coupe models albeit with…


Ford Adds More ‘Sport’ to the 2013 Ford Explorer SUV

Ford “reinvented” its popular Explorer sport ute for the 2011 model year, shedding its frame-based roots for a unibody platform shared with the likes of Taurus and Flex. For 2013, Ford is adding the option of the twin-turbo V-6 EcoBoost engine in the midsize ute – calling the new model Explorer Sport. To add more of a sporty nature in the new Explorer Sport, engineers beefed up the platform rigidity to allow for the added power while also enhancing ride and lateral stability. A new crossmember was added underneath the transmission tunnel area and the front strut tower supports were…


2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 4WD in the Grinding Gears Garage

Toyota claims its Highlander midsize crossover utility vehicle pioneered the segment that saw traditional frame-based carry-alls attain more carlike attributes by converting to unibody architectures. Despite that, Highlander never really became a “household name.” That’s kind of a shame, as Toyota’s midsizer offers quite a few variants of its three-row CUV including choice of powertrains – four- or six-cylinder gas or hybrid engines – and front- or full-time four-wheel drive, along with choice of base, SE, Limited or new Highlander Plus trim grades. The current Highlander is the second-generation of the nameplate that received a mid-cycle refresh a few years…


Survey Says Japanese Motorcycles More Reliable Than American and German Bikes

Consumer Reports has just released its first-ever motorcycle reliability survey and – as if mimicking recent automotive surveys – Japanese motorcycles ranked better than American and German models. The survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, says about one in four Harley-Davidson owners reported a major problem in the first four years of ownership, and that BMW motorcycles had even more problems reported than that. By comparison, the study showed only one in ten Yamaha owners had issues, followed closely by Kawasaki and Honda. Despite experiencing a higher rate of problems with their motorcycles, Harley and BMW owners…


2013 Ford Escape in the Grinding Gears Garage

Compact utility vehicles are all the rage these days, and in recent weeks (and months) many have graced my test driveway. Automakers near and far are seeking ways to stand out from one another in a bid for the consumer’s attention and at Ford that is certainly no different. For 2013, Big Blue Oval has completely overhauled its popular little Escape (that is still deems a sport utility vehicle), updating not only styling but powertrains as well. Three engines are now offered in the Escape, two of them EcoBoost turbo models. Our recent tester arrived sort of “middle-of-the-road” in SE…


A Fond (and Fun) Farewell for the 2013 Volvo C30

Hot Hatches – boy, how I love ‘em, whether it’s the celebrated green chile pepper from New Mexico or a cool baby wagon from an automaker such as Audi, Mazda or Volvo. Unfortunately we have to bid farewell to one of them, the Volvo C30. C30 is the baby in the Volvo lineup here in the States. It was launched in 2006 to give Germany a run for its money in the premium sport hatch segment. It’s my guess that during development Volvo engineers nicknamed the C30 “Jack,” as in “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick.” It certainly is. But…


2013 new New Beetle Convertible in the Grinding Gears Garage

Little did I know when I received the keys to the 2013 New Beetle Convertible recently that I would spend most of my week testing it having to defend my manhood. Apparently that is a side effect of driving the fun little droptop, especially when it arrives in the “mellow yellow” that mine did. The 2013 New Beetle Convertible was intended to “man up” Beetle’s image a bit by giving it a bit more masculine design while also removing the “no nukes/save the whales” flower vase from the dashboard. I guess they still have a ways to go as several times during…


2013 Mazda3 in the Grinding Gears Garage

Grinning from ear to ear like the Cheshire Cat, the 2013 Mazda3 embodies that all familiar “zoom-zoom” marketing philosophy of Mazda’s while offering value, quality and a truly nice driving experience for the segment. And whether you love or hate the styling, Mazda says the bold design was intentionally polarizing and was achieved through its design philosophy of “Nagare,” or flow. Since going to the single digit moniker for its vehicle designations, Mazda proves it is capable of delivering automobiles worthy of the consumer dollar. On a grand scale, Mazda3, in both four-door sedan and five-door hatchback versions, delivers. I am…


2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible and LaFerrari Dream Cars Unveiled at Geneva Motor Show

Two world debuts thrilling the automotive world this week at the 83rd International Motor Show in Geneva are the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible and the Ferrari Enzo successor dubbed LaFerrari. Chevrolet said it chose the Geneva show to introduce the new Corvette convertible as it will offer the sports car in global markets beginning in late 2013, all of them in left-hand-drive fashion. As with the coupe that was debuted in Detroit earlier this year, the convertible features the all-new aluminum frame structure that is some 57 percent stiffer (and 99 lbs. lighter) than the steel grid it replaces. All…


US Postal Service Delivers Muscle Cars Forever

The US Postal Service recently announced the release of a new set of commemorative Forever stamps celebrating five iconic muscle cars from America’s motoring past. The five vehicles being honored – 1966 Pontiac GTO, 1967 Shelby GT-500, 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda, and 1970 Chevelle SS – all represent America’s adventurous spirit of the muscle car era as these vehicles rumbled and roared their way into the hearts and minds of driving enthusiasts. Artwork for the stamps was created by Tom Fritz, who said he based his work on photographs of the iconic cars, using bright-colored oil…


2013 Toyota RAV4 Is Going Places

In a little over a decade, the compact crossover/sport utility segment has more than doubled in the number of competitors and they come from all corners of the globe. Automakers have seen sales figures of these vehicles account for nearly 13 percent of all light vehicle sales and they all want a piece of that pie. Toyota introduced its first small SUV, known as the RAV4, in 1994 globally and here in the U.S. the following year. For 2013 the automaker brings an all-new Gen-4 RAV4 that will be sold in more than 150 markets around the world. Since 1995…


2013 Honda Accord Touring in the Grinding Gears Garage

The Honda Accord is one of the longest running nameplates from a Japanese automaker on the roads of America today. Model year 2013 marks the start of the ninth-generation of the popular midsize sedan, and it offers not only coupe and sedan variants but a new plugin hybrid version as well. Honda is celebrating 30 years of Accord production in the United States with this newest Accord that has been given a complete makeover. The new car is described as crisper and will redefine sophistication, efficiency, and driving joy in the midsize class. While interior space remains the same in…


Ford Focus Electric Quick Drive

It’s been nearly a year since Ford announced official class-leading EPA certification for the Focus Electric, and last month while visiting the automaker I found myself getting a few moments behind the wheel of the EV at the Dearborn, Michigan test facility. Zipping around the track on a frozen morning just outside Detroit, I found the Focus Electric to exhibit surprisingly good acceleration with driving characteristics remaining close to my impressions in a comparable gas model a while back. Acceleration is instant thanks to the qualities of the electric motors, while braking takes a little getting used to as the…


2013 Audi S4 Speaks with a German Accent on Fun

When we hear about premium sport sedans from Europe the names BMW and Mercedes are always certain to pop up. But there is a third German marque that bears our attention and it is the from the luxury division of the “People’s car.” It’s called Audi and, in this case specifically, the Audi S4. The S4 is a member of the A4 sedan family that has been around for the past four decades. For 2013, Audi has released the eighth-generation of the 4-series and recently we spent time in a gorgeous S4 quattro. What’s the difference between an A4 and…


PowerCup Car Charger Handles Your Devices on the Road

As our mobile environments are becoming more and more connected these days we struggle to accommodate the plethora of devices some of us carry with us and even use while on the road or stuck in traffic. Enter the PowerCup Car Charger and Tablet holder from USBFever.com. Here is a device that anchors in a center console cupholder and expands power functionality inside the vehicle by offering two cigarette lighter-style sockets and two 5V USB ports for charging mobile devices. A short flexible stalk leads to an expandable holder for your Apple iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab. Of course, neither…


GM Trio of Large CUVs are ‘Family Truckster Avant Garde’

Several years back, General Motors decided to begin offering consumers an alternative to large, frame-based SUVs that while still being family-friendly they were geared more towards actual usage by their owners and delivered better fuel economy along, improved ride and handling, and ease of use. This new family of large Crossover Utility Vehicles has proved popular with consumers and for 2013 GM has updated the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia models. The trio share common architecture with each brand giving unique styling cues to the individual vehicles. They are all powered by 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 engines generating 288hp…


First Chevrolet Corvette Debuted 60 Years Ago Today, First C7 Hits Auction Block Saturday

Happy Anniversary Corvette! Sixty years ago today the first Corvette debuted at the Motorama in New York City. The rest – as they say – is history. Commemorating the event Chevrolet is returning to the Big Apple with the new C7 Corvette Stingray that was debuted in Detroit earlier this week. “The all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray is the most advanced and engaging Corvette in the long, prestigious legacy of this uniquely American success story,” said Chris Perry vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “It is a car woven into the fabric of American culture and it got its start right here…


NAIAS Gallery, Day Two

Day Two at the North American International Auto Show did not have as full a schedule as Day One, but it was filled with much ballyhooed introductions that for some (yours truly included) were the most exciting of the show. In addition to foreign and domestic automakers bringing their wares to the Detroit Show, there are many third-party companies demonstrating their contributions to the automotive industry that are present as well such as DENSO, ZF Group, Johnson Controls, Panasonic Automotive, PPG, etc. The day two lineup of automakers included Nissan, Ford, Lexus, Cadillac, Acura, Kia, Tesla, Shelby American, and Guangzhou…


Cadillac Struts its EREV Stuff in New ELR

Cadillac has taken the wraps off its new ELR extended range electric vehicle that is based on the Chevy Volt architecture today. ELR is the production version of the Converj Concept that made the rounds a few years back. “ELR is an unprecedented combination of luxury, advanced engineering and progressive design in a coupe that is both sporty and environmentally friendly,” said Bob Ferguson, Cadillac global vice president. “This is a pivotal moment in Cadillac’s history, as we continue our product-driven expansion.” Cadillac says the ELR will deliver at least 300 miles of total range from its battery pack/gasoline generator…