Road Test: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG

Story and photos by John LeBlanc Monte Carlo–What does it take for amaudit Anglais to get arrested in this two-bit Mediterranean town? Good question. Especially after squealing the rear Pirelli P-Zeros of my 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG Roadster within an arm’s length of one of the stoic gendarmes who patrol the narrow streets here […]

Feature: When a BMW M car isn’t enough

Story and photos by John LeBlanc Alpina has been working with BMW on road rockets, like the 2009 B7, for more than 47 years. Unlike other BMW tuner companies like AC Schnitzer, Hartge, Racing Dynamics, Hamann Motorsport and Dinan, Alpina is a stand-alone car manufacturer that BMW treats as a partner.

Road Test: 2008 Alpina B7

Story and photos by John LeBlanc In any Hollywood heist movie, the getaway car plays a vitally important role in the mind of any aspiring criminal. Especially those whose goal is not to end up in a cell. Not that the bad guys in classic films like Vanishing Point, Bullitt or Ronin all get away […]

First Drive: 2009 Aston Martin DBS

Story and photos by John LeBlanc DALLAS–Unlike other exotic brands like Ferrari or Porsche that have been consistently in the sports car spotlight for decades, Aston Martin’s long history of fading in and out of insolvency has sometimes meant lapses between new cars. But since the British automaker’s amicable divorce from 20-year steward Ford last […]

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