News By Topic: Editorials and Commentary

2012 Mazda3 i Skyactiv Sedan Ride and Review By Larry Nutson

Apr 9, 2012

MAZDA3 i Grand Touring 4-Door, 2012 Mazda3 i Skyactiv - “No Buttons” by Larry Nutson Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau The Auto Channel Yes, no buttons! What, you ask. No buttons is a good way to define Mazda’s approach to vehicle design. There is no button to push for the ECO-mode. No dial to rotate for the ... Continue reading

2012 Buick Verano Review By Steve Purdy

Apr 9, 2012

2012 BUICK VERANO FWD 1SL By Steve Purdy TheAutoChannel.com Michigan Bureau “That was then and this is now,” I can almost hear the Buick team say while distancing themselves from the dismal compact Buick Skyhawks built in the 1980s and 1990s. The earlier Buick Specials and Skylarks of the 1960s and 70s, somet ... Continue reading

2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited Review by Carey Russ

Apr 9, 2012

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Do you live where winter means snow and ice? Or travel to such places for recreation? Maybe you like outdoors activities in better weather, and need a vehicle that can deal with dirt or gravel forest roads that might not be as "improved" as the map says. If the answer to any of the ... Continue reading

2012 and 2013 Volkswagens Preview by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Apr 9, 2012

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS What's new at Volkswagen? Plenty -- and to demonstrate, VW recently hosted members of the automotive press in Half Moon Bay, CA, just south of San Francisco and conveniently close to the company's engineering research center in Belmont. Highlighted were the 2013 CC four-door coupe ... Continue reading

Heels on Wheels - 2012 Honda Fit Review

Apr 8, 2012

HEELS ON WHEELS By Katrina Ramser San Francisco Bureau The Auto Channel INTRO TO THE FIT VEHICLE The 2012 Honda Fit has quite the sporty personality with far more room than expected for a five-passenger subcompact hatchback. This vehicle is a solid pick for women on a budget without a need for four-wheel drive, but who ... Continue reading

Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (April 1- April 7 ) Automotive News In Case You Were Sleeping

Apr 8, 2012

* We always love the automotive headlines that appear on April 1st. How about a future 4-door Ford Mustang courtesy of Road & Track or from MINI itself, the Cooper Yachtsman with its amphibious capability? And then there is the Minibago motor home, a MINI-based camper courtesy of Consumer Guide Automotive. And from NAS ... Continue reading

2013 Infiniti JX Review By Steve Purdy

Apr 4, 2012

2013 INFINITI JX Filling a gap in the Infiniti lineup By Steve Purdy The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau I’m wondering if we really need another 3-row, 7-passenger CUV when there are many great products in that category already like the Audi Q7, Lincoln MK-T, Acura MDX, all the GM entries and a few I missed. Well, In ... Continue reading

New Car Review: 2013 Lexus GS By Marty Bernstein

Apr 2, 2012

LEXUS LOOKS FORWARD WITH GREAT NEW RIDE by Marty Bernstein Senior Editor-at-Large The Auto Channel Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota had a terrible 2011. Japan’s disastrous earthquake, resultant tsunami, then a nuclear meltdown, followed by floods in Thailand that crippled production and sales of America’s ... Continue reading

Heels On Wheels: 2012 Scion tC Review

Apr 1, 2012

HEELS ON WHEELS By Katrina Ramser San Francisco Bureau The Auto Channel INTRO TO THE tC VEHICLE The Scion tC – standing for touring coupe – is a compact three-door liftback with a sporty and fresh appearance, plus a racy cabin design that includes bolstered seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. Geared for ... Continue reading

Heels On Wheels : 2012 Kia Soul Review

Apr 1, 2012

HEELS ON WHEELS By Katrina Ramser San Francisco Bureau The Auto Channel INTRO TO THE SOUL VEHICLE The Kia Soul is proof fun things do come in small – and square – packages. This five-passenger mobile device offers unique urban styling and peppy performance at incredible prices. Numerous improvements have shar ... Continue reading

Sensible Sentra, Scintillating SRT8, Sexy 650i and So-So Acura In This Month's Letter from Europe

Apr 1, 2012

by Andrew Frankl European Bureau Chief The Auto Channel I cannot pretend that the Nissan Sentra is the greatest automobile in the World. It isn’t. But, having said that it is a willing work horse millions would be happy to own. First and foremost it is priced well under 20 thousand dollars and you do get a pretty ... Continue reading

Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (March 26-31, 2012 ) Automotive News In Case You Were Sleeping

Apr 1, 2012

* Fisker Automotive will replace potentially defective batteries in its Karma plug-in hybrid due to a manufacturing problem discovered by supplier A123. The battery problem arose a few weeks ago when a Fisker Karma being tested by Consumer Reports quit and wouldn't start. The recall of potentially defective lithium-ion ... Continue reading

2012 Nissan Maxima SV Sport Review by Carey Russ

Apr 1, 2012

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Sometimes a back-to-the-roots approach is just what's needed. Case in point: the Nissan Maxima. Originating in the 1980s, complete with fully-independent suspension, rear-wheel drive, and the engine from the original 240Z (in a slightly different state of tune), the Maxima was not ... Continue reading

2012 Buick Verano with Leather Group - Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Apr 1, 2012

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS In common with most luxury car manufacturers, Buick has had to deal with generational shifts in customer tastes and preferences. Compounding that challenge, Buick's position as the entry-luxury brand in the General Motors portfolio means that it needs to adapt to customers younger ... Continue reading

2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO Review By Steve Purdy

Mar 30, 2012

2113 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO By Steve Purdy TheAutoChannel.com Michigan Bureau From last week’s 23 mpg Chevy Equinox compact CUV to this week’s 33 mpg Malibu Eco mild hybrid sedan we learned much about Chevrolet’s new cachet. Since the current product cycle began just a few years ago with the Saturn Aura an ... Continue reading