If you thought you’d gotten a grip on BMW’s new naming strategy, or finally wrapped your head around the company’s mind-boggling   array of sedans, coupes, Sports Activity Vehicles,…

BMW to debut new X4 in New York

If you thought you'd gotten a grip on BMW's new naming strategy, or finally wrapped your head around the company's mind-boggling array of sedans, coupes, Sports Activity Vehicles, Gran Coupes, Gran Turismos, and Active Tourers, well, think again. And say "welcome" to the new X4 Sports Activity Coupe.

The fact that this particular "coupe" has four passenger doors and a large rear hatch isn't important. What is important is that it's slightly lower and longer than the X3, and with a fastback hatch it's also clearly sleeker than the X3. This, combined with the fact that it is called an X4 (and we all know that BMW's 4 Series cars are coupe versions of the 3 Series sedans), means it must be a coupe, of course. Or you could just say that it's a scaled down version of the X6.

The X4, which will debut at the New York Auto Show in April, is based on the X3 platform, but designed to present a sportier character, according to BMW. It is 38 mm lower than the X3 overall, with the Read Full Story
Lexus teased global audiences with the debut of its edgy LF-NX compact hybrid crossover concept at the 2013 Frankfurt auto 2013 Lexus LF-NX Concept (Photo: Lexus) show, and then bought the concept back…

Lexus compact NX crossover to debut production ready in Beijing

Lexus teased global audiences with the debut of its edgy LF-NX compact hybrid crossover concept at the 2013 Frankfurt auto show, and then bought the concept back for the 2013 Tokyo auto show with a new paint job and a turbocharged engine.

Now the Japanese premium brand has confirmed that a production version of the NX is just around the corner, and that the much-anticipated new premium crossover will debut at the 2014 Beijing International Automobile Exhibit in April.

"This vehicle will mark Lexus' entrance into the growing segment of premium compact crossovers," Lexus said in a press release announcing the upcoming debut. "It will be positioned below the RX in the Lexus product range."

What the company isn't revealing is just how closely the new crossover will resemble the aggressively stylish LF-NX concept, or any specifics about its powertrain. All Lexus would say is that the NX is "derived from the LF-NX concept vehicle."

The NX is expected to Read Full Story
Finally they’re listening to me! I’ve wanted to see this change for decades, having even written about just this subject a number Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press of years ago, so…

2014 BMW 428i xDrive Coupe Road Test Review

Finally they're listening to me! I've wanted to see this change for decades, having even written about just this subject a number of years ago, so let me take a moment to congratulate BMW on their new naming strategy. It makes so much sense, a logical step to simplify a confusing issue. Now all the four- and five-door models are odd numbered and all the two-door coupes and convertibles are even numbered, except for the new five-door 2 Series Active Tourer that should've certainly been dubbed 1 Series. Argh! It's obvious there are nonconformists within BMW still happily messing with the neat and orderly new system. Those that created the new 4 Series are at least following the rules.

Yes, the 428i xDrive Coupe in my possession over the past week certainly follows the majority of BMW's legendary sport coupe rules. It's long, lean, has a wide stance and is pretty good looking overall. It's quick off the line, ultimately stable at high speed and plenty of fun to drive quickly through Read Full Story
Amid all the splashy debuts at the Geneva International Motor Show, one bit of news that leaked out rather quietly was the announcement   that Jaguar intends to discontinue production of its two-door…

Jaguar to axe XK in order to make way for small sedan

Amid all the splashy debuts at the Geneva International Motor Show, one bit of news that leaked out rather quietly was the announcement that Jaguar intends to discontinue production of its two-door XK grand tourer.

The British luxury maker later confirmed the news, saying that it will stop building the XK as of the middle of 2014. The current aluminum-bodied XK, which debuted in Frankfurt in 2005 and went on sale the following year as a 2007 model, has recently had several forces working against it:

First, it has seen its sales numbers plummet following the introduction of the smaller, cheaper and faster (and dare we say better looking?) F-Type roadster. This sales decline is only likely to get worse with the coming introduction of the stunning F-Type coupe.

Second, the XK represented the "old" Jaguar, as it was the only remaining model in the Jaguar lineup from the days before the company was taken over by Tata Motors of India.

Finally, the production Read Full Story
Given the new naming strategy that Infiniti introduced for 2014, you could be forgiven for thinking the QX60 Hybrid is an all-new Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press model. The truth is more complicated:…

2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid Road Test Review

Given the new naming strategy that Infiniti introduced for 2014, you could be forgiven for thinking the QX60 Hybrid is an all-new model. The truth is more complicated: The regular QX60, which was introduced for 2013, is in fact the same as the JX35 in everything but the name, so it's not actually a new model. But the QX60 Hybrid is indeed new for 2014, so it is an all-new model, in a way. Is that clear?

Okay, perhaps that's not the best explanation … let's try again: For 2014, Infiniti has introduced a new model to its seven-passenger QX60 SUV lineup, which was formerly known as the JX35. The new model is the QX60 Hybrid, which replaces the regular QX60's powertrain (a 265-horsepower 3.5-litre V6 hooked up to a CVT automatic) with a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 2.5-litre supercharged four-cylinder engine paired to a 15kW electric drive motor to produce a system total of 250 horsepower sent to the drive wheels via a CVT transmission. And while the standard QX60 comes Read Full Story
As auto manufacturers increasingly move towards flexible, scalable platforms it’s becoming easier and easier to introduce models   for every niche. So although Volkswagen already has a pair…

Volkswagen surprises Geneva show-goers with T-Roc Concept

As auto manufacturers increasingly move towards flexible, scalable platforms it's becoming easier and easier to introduce models for every niche. So although Volkswagen already has a pair of sensible-shoes five-door SUVs in its lineup thanks to the Tiguan and the Touareg, don't be surprised to see something very similar to the smaller, lifestyle-oriented three-door T-Roc Concept actually go into production.

Debuting at the Geneva International Motor Show, the T-Roc Concept is based on the same new MQB (modular transverse matrix) platform as the current Golf. Mechanically it's fitted with familiar, ready-to-roll components from Volkswagen's parts bin, with a 2.0-litre TDi diesel engine hooked up to a seven-speed DSG gearbox and driving all four wheels through the company's Haldex-based 4Motion permanent all-wheel drive system. To provide capable performance in varying conditions the system has three driving modes: "Street", "Offroad", and Snow".

Stylistically, Volkswagen Read Full Story
Wow. All I can say is wow. The new Tundra is one big, bold, badass truck. This might be the largest grille in the half-ton class, Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press with the widest hood scoop…

2014 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Platinum Road Test Review

Wow. All I can say is wow. The new Tundra is one big, bold, badass truck. This might be the largest grille in the half-ton class, with the widest hood scoop too, spanning right across the top of the grille. What's more, in top-tier Platinum trim the entire rig looks customized, like it's pulled right off an aftermarket truck show floor. The only chrome bits are the grille slats, door handles, mirror caps and badges, the rest of my test truck a gorgeous glowing Barcelona Red Metallic so nicely finished you'd think it was custom sprayed as well.

Everything about this truck is big. Those chrome door handles are massive and open up to a gorgeous interior. Sure the dash plastic and the edges of the door uppers are still hard, Toyota fans obviously not into that soft-touch stuff that two of the Big 3 are now including in their top trims, but the rest of the door uppers and inserts on this Platinum model are made from a classy tufted leather, as is the passenger-side dash pad and the Read Full Story
Unlike some cars that seem to appeal to the mass market, the Crosstour has had a smaller more loyal fan base since being introduced Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press in 2009 as a 2010 model.…

2014 Honda Crosstour EX-L Road Test Review

Unlike some cars that seem to appeal to the mass market, the Crosstour has had a smaller more loyal fan base since being introduced in 2009 as a 2010 model. The Honda Accord that this specialized model is based on is the latter, a car that could only offend you if you're the type of person who's offended by extreme goodness. The Crosstour, on the other hand, pushes the outer reaches of the styling envelope as it tries to create a unique market niche all on its own. The result is a polar reaction from passersby, some raving about it and others ranting.

To reduce the latter, Honda revised the Crosstour's exterior design for 2013, with bolder frontal styling including a larger grille, plus a redesigned lower valance with SUV-like contrasting dark grey aerodynamic add-ons that wrap around the rest of the body, highlighted by attractive aluminum cladding and finished off with LED-enhanced fog lamps and much more rugged looking alloy wheels. They've certainly beefed it up, and I must Read Full Story