Gleaming like an emerald, the vivid green Evora GT backs out of the showroom and into the sharp morning sunshine. Its creased and sculpted lines are festooned with carbon-fiber scoops, gaping grills and vented panels. The Lotus looks angular, aggressive, and—in this bright color—made to snap necks at high speed. It’s over the top, and… Continue reading Test Drive: 2021 Lotus Evora GT Defies Expectations
As I scrutinize the Maserati Ghibli’s spec sheet, I wonder about its competition. By its dimensions, it is a midsize sedan, the Italian equivalent of a Mercedes E-Class or BMW 5 series. But its interior space—and especially its tight rear seats—is better matched to the compact Cadillac CTS or BMW 3 series. Not that dimensions… Continue reading Test Drive: 2017 Maserati Ghibli is the Armani Charger
“Got anything fun?” I ask, not expecting an affirmative. I’ve only spotted base-level sedans and SUVs in my half-dozen visits to the Mercedes dealer. “Actually, I do,” comes the reply across the loaner desk, “would you like a GLA 35?” Hell yes! I’d love to try a baby AMG! Ten years ago, a four-cylinder AWD… Continue reading Review: 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 is a Stay Puft Hot Hatch
It's an open secret that I see my service center's courtesy vehicles as my press fleet. Each repair is a chance for me to check off a chore and have a new driving experience. That is why I was very excited to do a transmission fluid change on my AMG GT S (nevermind the cost). … Continue reading Review: 2022 Mercedes GLB 250 4Matic is My Favorite Squeeze
It takes just a second in my brother’s new car to remind me that I’m a BMW guy. A myriad of clues spark the reminder, including the chunky grip of the M Sport steering wheel, the granite-solid doors, and the stepped twirl of the iDrive controller. Thanks to my six years in the BMW fold,… Continue reading Review: 2017 BMW 540i xDrive is Stealth Wealth
I am bleary-eyed and emotionally edgy after a crack-of-dawn flight to Dulles. Dragging two young kids across the country has a way of doing that to me. As I scan the long aisles of the rental lot, I pray that spot 179—my spot—is filled with something interesting. I booked a full-size sedan, so my bar… Continue reading Review: 2019 Lexus NX 300 is Solid but Sparkless
BMW would like to sell you a shark on wheels. They call it the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe, and it is a beastly machine meant for dusting Dacias and pulverizing Peugeots on the autobahn. If you have petrol in your veins, I think you’ll like it. Be warned, though, in the age of performance EVs… Continue reading Test Drive: 2023 BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe is a Prehistoric Pleasure
Well, this is a surprise. My family from the heart of conservative trucks-and-guns Pennsylvania just took delivery of an EV. A 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E, to be precise. Now I’m wondering, is this a harbinger of red America going green? Not that selling EVs in the heartland should be hard. EVs pair the torque of… Continue reading Review: 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E (vs. Tesla Model 3)
As gas-burning cars become increasingly unwelcome in a warming world, BMW is furiously investing in electric vehicles. After a rocky start with the i3, BMW is back on stride and rolling out its iX, i4 and i7 EVs. To me, the most interesting is the iX, as it’s electric-only; it can’t be bought with a… Continue reading Test Drive: 2023 BMW iX M60 is a Rocket in Pig’s Clothing
Let’s talk numbers, okay? Name this BMW: ~$70k MSRP, over 500 hp, four drive wheels, and a neck-snapping 3.7s to 60 mph. Oh, and it seats four passengers (five in a pinch) behind one horrendously-oversized kidney grill. Sounds like the G80 M3, right? Wrong. Because this five-door BMW has just one gear, a gob-stopping 586… Continue reading Test Drive: 2022 BMW i4 M50 is the Almost M
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