Next to Mercedes-Benz’ classic G-Class, Volvo’s XC90 might be the oldest SUV in the industry. Not for long, however, as the once-popular luxury crossover will get a complete overhaul for 2016, which…

Entirely new 2016 Volvo XC90 crossover revealed

Rarely has a new model introduction been more important for any automaker than this 2016 XC90 is for Volvo.

Volvo has recently been undergoing a metamorphosis with an all-new S60 sport sedan and V60 sport wagon plus relatively strong sales from its XC60 compact crossover, but its once top-selling XC90 has been languishing on the sales charts thanks to 12 years without a major overhaul. Production of the original began in August of 2002, which is a little more than twice as long as most luxury crossover SUVs go without a redesign. Those wondering when the next-generation of Volvo's mid-size seven-passenger ute would arrive and then what it would look like can finally see for themselves as the Swedish luxury brand has now released photos along with a fairly detailed press release of what we can expect under the skin.

Before delving into the details, a bit of a backgrounder is due as to why it's taken so long to get the new XC90 off the drawing board and onto the street. Read Full Story
Although there are a lot of hybrid electric vehicles now available, few have been on the market as long as Ford’s Fusion. Read Trevor Hofmann’s review of the latest Fusion Hybrid to see if it’s…

2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid SE Road Test Review

What a difference a stylish new design can make to the sales success of any car. Such is the case with Ford's popular new Fusion, completely redesigned in 2012 for the 2013 model year, and physically identical for the 2014 model year.

Pulling inspiration from the beautiful and extremely expensive Aston Martin Rapide four-door super coupe, the Fusion's long, lean, elegant lines allow Joe and Jane average a little dignified air. And why not? After all, Ford once owned Aston and paid dearly for it in the form of annual and overall losses, therefore recouping some of the Fusion's development costs by lowering its design budget is only reasonable.

After initially reviewing a 2013 Fusion SE with its 1.6-litre Ecoboost four-cylinder last year, I had the pleasure of testing two 2014 iterations, the first also an SE model with the brand's 2.0-litre Ti-VCT GTDI Ecoboost four-cylinder, and the second the subject of this review, a regular non-plug-in Fusion Hybrid, boasting a 2.0-litre Read Full Story
Lincoln isn’t most luxury buyers’ first choice when it comes to premium brand auto shopping, but with the shapely new MKZ the domestic brand is putting forth a good argument to raise its pecking order.…

2014 Lincoln MKZ AWD Road Test Review

Every time I see a new Lincoln MKZ drive by I turn my head. It's not the brand's new signature split-wing grille that captivates me, although there's nothing wrong with it stylistically, it's the car's gracefully sweptback rear proportions capped off with its elegant taillight treatment. From the rear, the MKZ is really something unique and special in a mid-size luxury sedan segment that's become all too safe and predictable over the years.

I suppose that's what I like best about Lincoln. In its quest to once again make a strong styling statement of its own and simultaneously gain greater relevance as a luxury brand, its design department hasn't merely been pushing boundaries but rather removing some of them altogether, boundaries that other carmakers don't even seem willing to nudge up against. The end result hasn't always proved palatable to enough premium buyers to reach critical mass in the luxury market (MKT comes to mind), but the new MKZ truly stands out in a very pleasing Read Full Story
BMW has been producing the X3 for more than 10 years, and according to auto journalist Trevor Hofmann the German automaker has finally got it completely right. From styling to interior refinement it has…

2015 BMW X3 xDrive28d Road Test Review

If there's a vehicle in BMW's lineup that's shown the most consistently steady improvement since inception it's the X3. I was on the original model's press trip in Spain way back in the fall of 2003, and while I was impressed with its performance, the ride was a tad on the firm side and interior quality wasn't quite what I had hoped for. With each new generation BMW has refined its compact crossover, so that now with this entirely new 2015 model it comes so close to the quality of its larger X5 brother that the only reason to move up to the larger model is size and optional V8 performance.

Powertrains in mind, another consideration that bodes well for the 2015 X3 is its powerful, fuel-efficient clean diesel, previously only available with the X5 in BMW's sport activity vehicle offerings. Switch the console-mounted driver select mode toggle forward to the Sport position and the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder's 280 lb-ft of ready and willing torque reacts to throttle input Read Full Story
Are you the Lexus RX 350? If you’re looking for a luxury crossover, chances are this one’s got your name on it. Read Trevor Hofmann’s review of the updated 2015 model to find out why so many premium…

2015 Lexus RX 350 SportDesign Road Test Review

Let me ask you a quick question. If you were to buy a mid-size luxury crossover SUV today, what would you buy? Almost every luxury brand makes one, but chances are, just based on statistics alone, a Lexus RX 350 would end up in your driveway.

The Lexus RX is the best selling luxury SUV in North America, period. Others are doing their best to catch up, but the originator of the entire luxury crossover segment is still number one after 16 years, and deservedly so. It does exactly what people who buy luxury crossovers want them to do, provide comfortable, accommodating, feature-filled transportation in a good looking richly appointed cabin, while delivering good fuel economy and exceptional reliability.

What most don't realize, however, is that the RX 350 is also a very enjoyable vehicle to drive. Comfort might be objective one, and to that end its ride quality is second to none, but plant your right foot on the accelerator from standstill or while passing slower moving Read Full Story
In today’s world of restricting fuel economy standards, every possible way an automaker can eke out efficiencies needs to be explored, and when proven technologies deliver significant results yet don’t…

Silverado and Sierra 1500 pickups to get optional 8-speed automatic for 2015

In the light-duty pickup truck arena, the big three can't be seen as behind the times. Leave such mundanities as normally aspirated V8 power conjoined with six-speed automatic transmissions to Toyota and Nissan, which don't compete as fiercely for top dog as Ford, GM or Ram. It's ok to have one of the above, but you'd better include some innovative tech under the hood and elsewhere if you want to be taken seriously or your loyal truck owners will start feel inadequate.

Ford F-150 owners should be feeling particularly virile these days, with the brand's EcoBoost turbocharged V6 giving them powertrain leadership bragging rights and now an all-new lightweight aluminum body shell seemingly more supercar than super-duty, while Ram owners will be feeling pretty smug about the new 1500's ultra-efficient and powerful EcoDiesel V6, eight-speed automatic gearbox and air suspension. How about Chevy and GMC light truck owners? The Silverado and Sierra are excellent pickup trucks with superb Read Full Story
If you bought a new luxury model would you choose all-wheel drive? Audi has proven that its Quattro AWD system is now more popular than ever before, achieving the most recent million units of the 6,000,000…

Audi hits six million Quattro AWD landmark with new SQ5

Today, think of Audi and most who know the brand will also think of its Quattro all-wheel drive system. These fans may or may not know that Audi was the first to offer a modern-day permanent all-wheel drive system in a passenger car 34 years ago, a technology that's been seen as such an immense benefit to road cars in cold weather climates that most models sold in Canada by such rear-drive stalwarts as BMW and Mercedes-Benz are now all-wheel drive too, while Porsche offers optional all-wheel drive in every vehicle it produces except for its Boxster and Cayman.

Tally up the number of all-wheel drive models these rivals have individually produced over the last three and a half decades and it won't sum up to six million, however, the number of Quattro systems built by Audi since it introduced the drivetrain on its sporty Quattro Coupe way back in 1980.

"Dynamism and sportiness, the utmost technical precision and safety – that's what Audi's quattro technology stands Read Full Story
There’s still plenty of sunshine left for al fresco touring, and BMW has just the right car to do it in. BMW’s beautiful Z4 roadster is a visual dream on wheels, and auto journalist Trevor Hofmann…

2015 BMW Z4 sDrive35i Road Test Review

Look long and hard to find a better-looking two-seat roadster than BMW's Z4. It's difficult to do.

Styling is always a personal thing, of course, as is human beauty. But just as experts in the field of the fine arts or for that matter the modeling profession will tell you there are certain physical features that most people find more aesthetically pleasing than others, there are also classic sports car design cues that cause grown men to go weak in the knees and people who don't even pay attention to cars to sit up and take notice. BMW combined the classic long hood and short rear deck to design perfection with its graciously beautiful Z8 in 1999, the Grace Kelly of sports cars and possibly the four most memorable days I've ever spent in a road car. As much as I love this ode to the perfectly proportioned '56 507, it's my personal opinion that they one-upped the brilliant Henrik Fisker design when they introduced this second-generation E89 Z4 in 2009.

It's also stood Read Full Story