2009 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

The Toyota Tacoma has been – like most Toyotas – a steady, reliable vehicle that has built a cult following over the years.  But, given all the attention showered on Toyota’s full-size Tundra pickup, and the loudmouthed, showy nature of that segment in general, the Tacoma has labored quietly, at times anonymously.

But given the current [...]

2009 Nissan 370Z Test Drive Video

Join us as we test the 2009 Nissan 370Z on the roads of Red Rock Canyon and at Spring Mountain Motorsport Park. The design of the 370Z is a throwback to its smaller 240Z roots and its sibling, the GT-R, coming in 4 inches shorter than the outgoing 350Z and one inch wider on [...]

Exotic Motoring: The Maybach 57 S – Status Exemplified

When the call came from Maybach parent company Mercedes-Benz that my several year long wait to drive a Maybach would come to an end, my mind swirled with thoughts. After all, the Maybach brand launched in 2003 with great fanfare, and was the car the rich and famous wanted to be seen in. [...]

2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed: Raising the Performance Bar

The names from the stable created by Bentley founder Walter Owen Bentley are legendary: MkVI, R-Type & T-Type, Continental S1&S2, Mulsanne, and Arnage. Fine coach-built chariots for those desiring speed, luxury and exclusivity. Since 1919, and through several changes in ownership, Bentley Motors has prevailed.
The latest offerings from the factory on [...]

2008 Lexus GS 460 Powers into the Luxury Sport Segment

In the 18 years since the Lexus brand was introduced in the U.S., it has shown that luxury, performance, and reliability are not mutually exclusive. Although the top-of-the-line LS model is no slouch when it comes to performance, for the enthusiast, there is no substitute for the GS. For 2008, Lexus has introduced the [...]

2008 Mercedes-Benz GL550 Video

Mercedes-Benz just added a new member to the GL-Class for 2008, the full-size GL550. The GL550, joining the GL450 and the diesel-powered GL320 CDI, is designed to represent the best the GL line can offer; nearly all previous options are now standard equipment on the new GL550. On the outside, the styling is [...]

2008 Toyota Highlander LTD Video

The Toyota Highlander has been upgraded for 2008 model year, growing taller, wider and longer by offering 95.4 cubic feet of total cargo capacity, an increase from the predecessor’s 81.6 cubic feet. The Highlander has really packed on the pounds with the added cargo space and some of the new features, making the ‘08 [...]

2008 Jaguar XJ Super V8: The Cat’s Meow

Jaguar’s XJ line is the epitome of tradition. The basic shape, with its classic long hood and deck, hasn’t changed much in the last few decades. The four circular headlights, the double-kidney grille, and the leaping cat are as recognizable as any set of automotive features on the road.
So when I clambered behind [...]

2008 Subaru Tribeca: Toeing the Line

For 2008, Subaru has significantly re-vamped its full-size Tribeca crossover SUV. The original Tribeca, released in 2005, was puzzlingly called the “B9 Tribeca” and featured what looked like an upside-down Alfa Romeo grille. For those of us with a sympathetic eye toward daring design, the car was fine the way it was. [...]

2008 Nissan Titan PRO-4X

In 2004, the brand-new Nissan Titan was the biggest, brawniest full-size truck from Japan. A 305-horsepower V8 and freight-train styling raised the game, and alerted Detroit to an attack on one of the last segments the American Big Three still dominated. It didn’t offer as much variety as the established lines from Ford, [...]

2007 Lexus GS450h Video

The 2007 Lexus GS450h represents a new era in the hybrid car category: a hybrid with a luxury sport sedan’s performance. However, it’s going to cost you: the price of the Lexus GS450h starts at $54,900 but if you add features like the touch-screen navigation system and Mark Levinson audio system, [...]

2008 Subaru Outback 2.5 XT Limited – A Wolf in Billy Goat’s Clothing

Starting this article is tough. There is no way to properly set my reader up for the surprise I experienced lately without sounding contrived or hucksterish. This experience came behind the wheel of Subaru’s Outback wagon, specifically the 243-hp 2.5 XT variant with the 2.5-liter turbocharged ‘boxer’ four and all-wheel-drive.

When I heard that [...]