At first glance the new BMW 320i looks as appealing as any other new 3 Series model. It incorporates the same shapely twin-kidney Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press grille that each 3 has been…

2014 BMW 320i xDrive Road Test Review

At first glance the new BMW 320i looks as appealing as any other new 3 Series model. It incorporates the same shapely twin-kidney grille that each 3 has been endowed with since being redesigned last year, features the same stylish headlamps butting up against that grille, which have since also shown up on the all-new X5, identical sloping front fenders and four-door greenhouse, plus the same attractive rear end styling including a set of very nicely sculpted taillights. To my eyes at least, it's the most attractive 3 Series in a very long time, a design I found immediately likeable. The 320i is simply the entry point of 3 Series ownership, and to that end is on a distinctly different mission than the other models in BMW's highly revered compact sport-luxury offering.

To say that the 3 Series is legendary in sport sedan circles is an understatement. It's been the benchmark for the sport portion of that equation for as long as it's been in existence, endowed with a particularly Read Full Story
Back in mid-December Volvo leaked out a couple of teaser images of its Concept XC Coupe, together with a few tidbits of information.   Now with the North American International Auto Show underway…

Volvo shows new Concept XC Coupe in Detroit

Back in mid-December Volvo leaked out a couple of teaser images of its Concept XC Coupe, together with a few tidbits of information. Now with the North American International Auto Show underway in Detroit the curtain has been lifted on the sporty-looking crossover, but Volvo isn't spilling the beans about whether the Concept might ever see production or what sort of powertrain it might use.

Given that Volvo, which is owned by Chinese automaker Geely, has said that it will be shifting in the next few years to strictly electric power and four-cylinder engines, it's easy to imagine the Concept XC Coupe getting a turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant, allowing it to go head-to-head with the similarly-equipped Range Rover Evoque Coupe.

What is known is that the Concept XC Coupe is based on Volvo's new Scalable Product Architecture (a flexible new platform that will be used for the maker's mid-range and larger models such as the next-gen XC90) and that Volvo designed it to Read Full Story
I must say that I like what Hyundai has done with the Tucson. New for 2014, the South Korean brand’s smallest SUV has undergone Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press a mid-cycle upgrade that…

2014 Hyundai Tucson GLS AWD Road Test Review

I must say that I like what Hyundai has done with the Tucson. New for 2014, the South Korean brand's smallest SUV has undergone a mid-cycle upgrade that includes a slightly bolder hexagonal grille with chrome edges, LED-enhanced headlights, revised taillights that include LEDs in top trims, and some new detailing all around for a stronger overall appearance.

Inside, it boasts some unusually upscale surface treatments for the compact crossover class like soft-touch door uppers front and back (which extend halfway down the doors), a padded centre storage box lid/armrest (leather-covered on top-line trim), leatherette door inserts in higher trims, lots of tastefully applied metallic surfaces, high-quality switchgear, excellent fit and finish, plus an overall look and feel that's way above many of its rivals. The dash top is harder plastic, although it's impossible to tell that it's any different from the nicely textured door uppers just by looking at it. All in all this is one classy Read Full Story
Honda’s Fit may be small, but the Japanese automaker was determined not to let the all-new 2015 Fit get lost in the crowd of   flashy concept cars and hulking aluminum-bodied pickup trucks…

Honda debuts 2015 Fit at Detroit auto show

Honda's Fit may be small, but the Japanese automaker was determined not to let the all-new 2015 Fit get lost in the crowd of flashy concept cars and hulking aluminum-bodied pickup trucks at Detroit's North American International Auto Show.

So for the North American debut of this versatile subcompact, Honda pulled out all the stops with a lively, dynamic introduction featuring beachgoers carrying surfboards, young parents with strollers, bohemian musicians carrying guitars, and all sorts of other representatives of the Fit's target market.

The new third-generation Fit already debuted in Japan back several months ago and went on sale in the Japanese domestic market starting in September 2013, so the Fit's North American appearance wasn't exactly the most highly anticipated event at the Detroit show. It was, however, an important event for Honda, which hopes to capture greater market share with the new car, which has been tweaked specifically for North American consumption Read Full Story
Today’s midsize sport utility vehicle comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, some sleek and sporty and others tall, boxy and utilitarian. Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press There was a…

2014 Honda Pilot Touring Road Test Review

Today's midsize sport utility vehicle comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, some sleek and sporty and others tall, boxy and utilitarian. There was a time that all SUVs were the latter, back when every single one was based on a body-on-frame truck-type chassis and designed to perform well off-road. Not anymore.

The Honda Pilot might look like a traditional sport utility vehicle, but its tall, boxy styling is just that, styling. Under the sheet metal it rides on a modified version of Honda's midsize car and minivan platform architecture, a unibody that's strong and tough enough to live up to 99 percent of SUV buyers' expectations, which include hauling family and life's gear over paved roads that are sometimes covered with snow, trekking across the occasional dirt road during summer vacation at which time a small trailer may be in tow, and doing it all in relative comfort without breaking the bank when it comes time to fill up the tank.

To this last end the Pilot gets Read Full Story
First, Toyota launched the sporty rear-drive 86, which is marketed in North America as the Scion FR-S. Then it teamed up with   BMW to develop high-end performance coupes. Now the Japanese automaker…

Toyota stuns Detroit with FT-1 sports concept

First, Toyota launched the sporty rear-drive 86, which is marketed in North America as the Scion FR-S. Then it teamed up with BMW to develop high-end performance coupes. Now the Japanese automaker has debuted a pulse-quickening sports car concept at Detroit's North American International Auto Show. Clearly Toyota is serious about shaking its staid image as a builder of "bland cars that your parents drive."

The unveiling was one of the few real surprises of the show, as Toyota had kept it under a tight veil of secrecy, with no teasers or leaks leading up to the big reveal. The concept, which was designed by Toyota's North American Calty Design Research group, hints at the possible direction a new Supra might take.

The front-engine, rear-wheel drive concept is named the FT-1 (for "Future Toyota 1"), and is the result of a two-year development project described as a dream assignment and a labour of love for the designers. "Our team was heavily influenced by Toyota's sports Read Full Story
Concept cars may grab all the attention at car shows, but the big news is the introduction of new bread-and-butter models. There’s   perhaps no segment that’s as fundamental – and…

Chrysler introduces new 200 midsize sedan at Detroit auto show

Concept cars may grab all the attention at car shows, but the big news is the introduction of new bread-and-butter models. There's perhaps no segment that's as fundamental - and as hard-fought - as the mid-size family sedan market, and at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Chrysler officially unveiled its new mid-size 2015 Chrysler 200.

Following in the footsteps of the smaller Doge Dart, and capitalizing on Chrysler's marriage to Fiat, the new 200 is built on the Compact U.S. Wide (CUS) platform, which is based on the well-received Alfa Romeo Compact Wide platform. This move frees the 200 from its old Chrysler Sebring roots and promises to deliver what Chrysler calls "sporty European handling dynamics and steering precision, with ride and comfort characteristics tuned for North American roads."

Power will come from either a 2.4-litre Tigershark four-cylinder delivering 184 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque, or a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 delivering Read Full Story
Mini has achieved great success spawning a wide variety of offspring from its original retro hatchback, including updated versions 2014 Volkswagen Beetle Dune Concept set to debut this week in Detroit.…

VW to show Beetle Dune Concept this week in Detroit

Mini has achieved great success spawning a wide variety of offspring from its original retro hatchback, including updated versions of the classic Mini station wagon (the Clubman) and panel van (the Clubvan), and even a four-wheel drive version (the Countryman). Now it looks like Volkswagen might be thinking of tearing a page from the Mini playbook, with an updated version of the once-popular aftermarket-built "dune buggy" set to debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Volkswagen accompanied its announcement of the Beetle Dune concept with a single teaser image and a smattering of technical detail.

The Dune Concept is based on the R-Line Beetle, with its body raised by five centimetres and oversized wheels fitted to provide increased ground clearance. Up front there's a beefy-looking bumper underguard, with matching underguards at the rocker panels.

Under the hood the Beetle Dune concept retains the R-Line's 210-horsepower turbocharged Read Full Story