First Drive: 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

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Lincoln’s Zed-car goes green

Ford premium brand’s shows Toyota’s premium brand how to do a “luxury hybrid”

By John LeBlanc

Washington, D.C. – Along with a variety of sins that would make ancient Rome’s ruling classes look like kindergarteners, feel free to blame Hollywood celebrities for the idea of the luxury hybrid. If it wasn’t for the Ed Begley Jrs and Leonardo DiCaprios of the world adopting the Toyota Prius as a fashion statement, we probably wouldn’t have cars like the new 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. Read more

The Crank: Lincoln’s naming strategy missing its Mark

By John LeBlanc

I recently got a chance to drive the new 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sedan and updated 2011 MKX midsize crossover (preview article coming forthwith). All in all, both are pretty solid pieces of kit. Not only is the MKZ Lincoln’s first hybrid, because its based on the excellent bones of the Ford Fusion Hybrid (but with some extra goodies for those with the means), the Lincoln hybrid ends up being the “most fuel efficient luxury hybrid” you can buy. Roomy, quiet, refined, it’s the type of car the smaller, louder, and thirstier (yet similarly priced) Lexus HS250 h hybrid should have been. Read more

Feature: AMG Performance Tour

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By John LeBlanc

PAHRUMP, Nev. – Over the past four decades, Germany’s AMG has grown from a couple of guys hot-rodding Mercedes-Benz in a barn, to a full-on subsidiary of the automaker that now employs over 900 employees. Read more

The Crank: Mazda quickly ditching Nagare

By John LeBlanc

Well that didn’t take too long. As soon as former Mazda design director Laurens van den Acker left last year to take over as head pen of France’s Renault, it seems the Japanese automaker can’t move fast enough away from its still-born Nagare design language, a look that was created by van den Acker (left), but only seen in production form in the next Mazda5 mini-minivan (right), of all things. Read more

Road Test: 2010 Volkswagen GTI 3-door DSG

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Mr. Automatic

Does adding a slushbox diminish a hot hatch fave?

By John LeBlanc

No doubt you’ve heard of Volkswagen’s GTI. Like Chevrolet’s Corvette or Porsche’s 911, it’s one of those instantly recognizable enthusiast car badges that, in spite of the occasional oil crises or economic downturn, has kept its flame burning for decades. Read more

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