From the Fleet: 2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe

FROM THE FLEET are brief synopses of manufacturer-supplied rides that happen to end up in my laneway – John LeBlanc Like in the fashion industry, if the seasons have changed, it must be time for a new Mini model to hit the runway. Last spring saw the new arrival of the VW Golf-sized Countryman—the largest […]

First Drive: 2012 Toyota Yaris

Old School Toyota goes the tried-n-true route with its new Yaris By John LeBlanc QUEBEC CITY, Que. — If you’ve been shopping for a new subcompact, chances are, you’ve likely discovered small cars aren’t so small anymore. What use to be considered bottom-feeder econoboxes are now available with “big car” features with luxuries like heated […]

First Drive: 2012 Kia Rio5

Luxury lite Kia’s new Rio brings upscale experience to the bottom-feeder class By John LeBlanc FALL CITY, WA.—Small cars aren’t so “small” anymore. Witness the third-generation 2012 Kia Rio5, where along with being longer and wider than its predecessor, you’ll find a heated steering wheel on its options list — a feature usually reserved for […]

First Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

Clipped wings Does removing its doors take any of the magic away from AMG’s supercar? By John LeBlanc MONTE CARLO —When is a Gullwing not a Gullwing? When it’s the new SLS AMG Roadster, the convertible version of the SLS AMG Gullwing hardtop coupe that replaced the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren as the German automaker’s top-line […]

From the Fleet: 2012 Porsche Cayman R

FROM THE FLEET are brief synopses of manufacturer-supplied rides that happen to end up in my laneway – Jon LeBlanc One look at its sales figures and you’d be forgiven if you thought Porsche was trying to get out of the sports car business. Of the German automaker’s sales of 1,771 units to the end […]

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