Vehicles & Gear


2014 Lexus LX 570 Delivers Capability Comfortably

There is a wolf in sheep’s clothing over in the Lexus stable and it comes in the form of the flagship 2014 Lexus LX 570 full-size luxury SUV. Be it atop the Continental Divide or the swankiest new spot in South Beach, occupants arrive in opulent style for any occasion in any location in this capable three-row luxury utility vehicle.


Ford Debuts EcoBoosted 2015 Expedition

Last month we saw Lincoln take the wraps off its newest flagship SUV – the 2015 Navigator – and with it waved goodbye to the last V-8 engine (for now at least) from that storied automaker. This week Ford is debuting the next Expedition full-size SUV that also sheds the V-8 for the powerful, economical twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6.


2014 Acura MDX is All New from the Ground Up

I know what you did last summer, Acura. You brought to market the all-new 2014 MDX luxury crossover, your best-selling vehicle for all of last year. You made the new model more comfortable and more fuel-efficient while giving it better performance and yet you managed to keep it one of the best values in the segment.


2014 Dodge Avenger – Blacktop is the new Black Tie

Despite hitting a setback in sales volume due to winter weather recently, the midsize sedan market is a hot segment. Consider the competition: Accord, Camry, Fusion, Malibu and Avenger. In an attempt to make its car more populous in driveways than rental fleet lots, Dodge offers special edition Avengers such as this 2014 Dodge Avenger Blacktop.



Kia Announces an All-Electric Kia Soul

Earlier this week, we reviewed the 2014 Kia Soul; if you looked at that car and thought “it needs to be electric”, then you’re in luck! Kia has announced an all-electric Soul, with a range of 80-100 miles between charges. This is in line with other electric vehicles, but the Soul makes being an EV look good.



Stern Debuts New Ford Mustang Pinball Games

The first Ford Mustang-themed pinball game was introduced in 1964 and this week, honoring 50 years of the Pony car, Stern Pinball debuts three new Mustang-themed pinball games at the Chicago Auto Show. The new games will pay homage to such icons as Boss 302, Boss 351, Boss 429, the original 1965 Mustang and the upcoming all-new 2015 Pony car.



2014 Toyota Highlander Proves ‘Third Time’s the Charm’

What is that sleek, sophisticated and dynamic new sport ute you just saw? According to Toyota it is the all-new third-generation 2014 Highlander. While previous models were very good in their own right, the new Highlander may just be the epitome of the saying ‘Third time’s the charm’ by delivering more style, more comfort and more utility and capability.



2015 Lincoln Navigator Unveiled – All New and Powered by EcoBoost

As the buzz from the North American International Auto Show begins to wane, Lincoln (that other car company from Ford) has unveiled to the world its next Navigator full-size SUV. Arriving this fall, the 2015 Lincoln Navigator (the Lincoln that does NOT use the “MK” nomenclature in its name) is all-new inside and out and will be powered by EcoBoost.


2014 Mazda6 is the New Midsize Sedan Champ

It has been about five years since we last saw an “all-new” Mazda6, and that was about five years after Mazda first introduced the new midsize sedan to the world as a replacement for the 626. In that time it’s made valiant attempts at grabbing marketshare from key competitors Accord and Camry, but efforts always fell short – until now.


Escort SmartCord Live! Brings Smarts to My Passport Max

Escort’s Passport Max is the best radar detector I have ever used. It looks great, sounds good, and works extremely well — signaling only if there’s a real issue. (Read my review, and keep an eye out for Judie’s “second look” post!) I was, however, missing the active real-time connection with traffic information. The Escort SmartCord Live! fixes that.


Win This 2014 #NAIAS Corvette Press Kit!

If you love the Chevy Corvette, then we’ve got an amazing giveaway just for you. While attending NAIAS 2014, we received this Corvette Press Kit. It includes a USB Drive full of info, three cool pins, and a special collector’s box. We even got a model of the car in hot red. Here’s how you can win it!


2014 Fiat 500L – Tell Me How You Really Feel About It

Usually when I show up in the review vehicle of the week, friends and family freely express their opinions on the new model and I find these to mostly be favorable but sometimes polarized with love it/hate it reactions. Not so with the new 500L from Fiat where nearly everyone told me it was just flat out ugly.


More Debuts in Detroit at NAIAS

As media days for the 2014 North American International Auto Show come to a close, Detroit prepares for the onslaught of visitors to the show that is boasting some 50 concept and new model debuts from automakers. Before the doors open to the public in Motor City Jan. 18-26 we bring you a photographic look at the rest of what was debuted this year.




Nissan Shows Future of Design with Sport Sedan Concept At NAIAS

Nissan is celebrating its 80th anniversary as it releases the Sport Sedan Concept at the North American International Auto Show, calling it a design study with a real emphasis on next-generation design and sporty style, embodying Nissan’s next-generation design signatures. The Sport Sedan Concept shares some common traits of recent concept vehicles and now brings them to a four-door design.