1,089 Articles by Michael
First Drive
2015 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT First Drive

Analog Warmth And Stunning Looks For Under $100k

Only one thing is going through my mind as I blast down the Autobahn at 170 miles per hour: If someone were to give me $100,000 today, I'd go buy a new Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT tomorrow.

First Drive
2015 Hyundai Sonata First Drive

Charting A Premium Course In A Crowded Segment

Completely redesigning a vehicle competing in a fiercely contested segment requires delicately balancing styling, performance, safety, efficiency, innovation, passenger comfort and pricing, while simultaneously not alienating model loyalists. In other words, it's no simple task.

Review
2014 Jaguar XJL AWD 3.0

Traditional Chariot Of Grandeur Gets A Few Upgrades

A bit of British nobility floods the senses when piloting the 2014 Jaguar XJ. It's an emotional rush, a perception based on physical surroundings that influence the mind in much the same manner that a stein of pilsner tastes best when consumed in a German beer garden and no sand is softer than that found on a warm Caribbean beach. Jaguar has been assembling cars for nearly 100 years, and few automake

Quick Spin
2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell

A Crossover That Sips Hydrogen And Drips Water

Hyundai leased its first Tucson Fuel Cell crossover last week, which the automaker claims makes it the first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle (FCV) that has been offered to the public (Honda may have something to say a

Official
Hyundai delivers its first Tucson Fuel Cell to a California customer

With expected pomp and circumstance, but short of a marching band, Hyundai delivered its first Tucson Fuel Cell crossover to the Bush family in Southern California on Tuesday. Dave Zuchowski, president and chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor America, was on hand to officiate along with an array of other government officials, inclu

Followup
2015 Ford Mustang's curb weight appears to be anyone's guess

Ford Mustang enthusiasts rejoiced when they first learned that the all-new sixth-generation model would feature a fully independent rear suspension (IRS) and the option of a turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder in addition to its naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8 offerings. Yet some of that excitement has been suppressed with a growing concern about the upcoming coupe's curb weight - Michael Harley

Quick Spin
2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid

More Complexity And Cost, Yet Less Charm

Infiniti launched its seven-passenger JX crossover for the 2013 model year with the automaker's familiar 3.5-liter V6 as standard equipment. For 2014, the model was renamed the QX60, and a new variant packing a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain joined the lineup. (For those interested in the family lineage, the new arrival is a mechanical tw

Review
2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Review

Shot Through The Heart By A Rosso Corsa Italian Cupid

I wasted my last hour with the 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale pacing the polished concrete floor of Home Depot. My quest was to find an industrial-strength adhesive that would permanently bond me to the bright-red Italian's carbon-fiber racing seat. At that moment, I was determined to spend the rest of my life with this Ferrari – glued behind its F1-inspired steering wheel – selfis

First Drive
2015 BMW M3 Sedan First Drive

The No-Compromise Four-Door M

BMW's all-new M3 Sedan is dynamically nearly identical to its two-door M4 Coupe sibling: a stopwatch reveals that both are sub-four-second cars to 60 miles per hour, a racetrack proves that the mechanical twins are equally as adept on a road course and a full afternoon of driving on public roads demonstrates that each possesses talented everyday adaptability.

First Ride
2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost

Welcoming Back A Turbo Four After Almost 30 Years

Earlier this week, Ford invited us to Charlotte, NC, to ride in an all-new 2015 Mustang fitted with its turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. It's the first forced-induction, four-cylinder ponycar for the Blue Oval since the sun set on the 1986 Mustang SVO. We jumped at the opportunity, as only a

First Drive
2015 BMW M4 Coupe First Drive

Rising To The Next Rung Up The Ladder

Launched out of the seat by a huge, unexpected dip in the road, yet still held largely in place by the smooth webbing of my safety belt, I clench my teeth waiting to come back to earth. A tenth of a second later, the M4 Coupe touches down and my body is slammed into the leather seat cushion. All of the air is forced out of my lungs upon landing, but the BMW's chassis, suspension and steering appear unfazed. Pleasantly surprised, I mash the accelerat

Report
Krafcik lands new role as president of TrueCar

John Krafcik, who stepped down at the beginning of this year from his role as president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, has just been announced as the new president of online car shopping website TrueCar. The news comes on the heels of an announcement, less than a month ago, that Michael Harley

Review
2014 BMW 328i xDrive Gran Turismo

Grand Stature Yes, Ultimate Driving Machine No

"The Ultimate Driving Machine" has been BMW's tagline for nearly 40 years. Launched in the 1970s, the marketing campaign was a stroke of genius by ad firm Ammirati & Puris, as the phrase helped differentiate the imported Bavarian cars from their fellow European rivals by subtly pointing out that Mercedes-Benz and Audi were offering luxury models, while BM

Official
Hennessy wastes no time in supercharging the 2015 Cadillac Escalade

The ink is still drying on the all-new 2015 Cadillac Escalade sales brochures, but that hasn't stopped Texas-based Hennessey Performance (HPE) from leaping out of the gate with its own high-performance variant. In stock form, the big fourth-generation Cadillac flagship arrives with a new small block naturally aspirated 6.2-liter Ecotec3

Review
2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

Exceptional, Yet Missing One Important Piece Of The Puzzle

It may be impossible to spend a day in Chevrolet's new C7 Corvette without someone asking what you think about the iconic sports car – magnetism is an understatement. I was approached by strangers in a grocery store parking lot, parents waiting for their children after school and enthusiasts on a canyon road after I had pulled to the side to take in the view.

New York
2015 Audi RS7 Dynamic Edition is a pretty car for a pretty penny

Making its world debut at the New York Auto Show, and commanding a $40,250 premium over the base RS7, is Audi's new 2015 RS7 Dynamic Edition that arrives with an MSRP of $146,045 (including destination and delivery). The range-topping hatchback is designed to showcase Audi's exclusive program, which allows customers to choose choose from the automak

New York
2015 Ford Mustang 50 Year Limited Edition pays homage to 1964

The Ford Mustang was first shown to the public at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. Five decades later – almost to the day – Ford has rolled out its 2015 Mustang 50 Year Limited Edition at the New York Auto Show. Limited to just 1,964 examples, the rear-wheel drive coupes (no convertible has been announced) are based on the

First Drive
2014 Porsche 911 Targa First Drive

Feeling That 1960s Vibe All Over Again

I've watched the electro-hydraulic roof panel open and close about 73 times in the past hour, but its fascinatingly complicated operation still has me mesmerized. I've concluded that only a German automaker – Porsche, to be more specific – would go through the trouble of engineering a roof system that essentially lifts the entire green

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