Top 10s: New Hot Hatches

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By John LeBlanc

Driving enthusiasts are well aware of the Hot Hatch Formula. Made popular during the first Oil Crisis in the early 1970s, which saw the neutering of the American muscle car and the near-extinction of the V8 engine, the idea of adding a bit of performance to a run-of-the-mill, errand-hopping hatchback made a lot of sense to a lot of people. Read more

The Crank: Will Honda ever grow some, again?

By John LeBlanc

Inevitably these days, when I’m on the road at media events, the dinner talk turns to Honda. And it’s not about the company’s latest and greatest car either. No siree. Read more

Preview: Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Concept

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Along came an electric Spyder

On the road to production, Porsche previews its hybrid super sports

By John LeBlanc

CARMEL VALLEY, CALIF.—The idea of an electric-gasoline hybrid with supercar performance is the automobile industry’s version of man’s goal to reach the moon in the 1960s. Over the past year, Audi, Ferrari, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have unveiled electric-powered sports car concepts. And like the original Space Race that saw the U.S. and U.S.S.R. go toe-to-toe for off-planet supremacy, Porsche has opened the equally hard-fought hybrid sports car competition with the first salvo. Read more

Road Test: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

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Along came a Spyder

The last iteration of this generation of Boxster ends up being the best handling Porsche you can buy

By John LeBlanc

You’ll have a hard time convincing Porsche 911 diehards, but the German automaker’s entry-level sports cars – the convertible Boxster and its hardtop Cayman variant – are the outright better handlers. Physics can’t lie. Within their short overhangs, wide tracks, and mid-chassis engines, the two-seat Boxster/Cayman pair compresses the majority of their (lesser) masses into the middle of their respective chassis. Now compare that with the conflicted physics of the 2+2 Carrera’s engine, that has always hung aft of the rear wheels like a tennis ball in a tube sock. Read more

The Crank: Are Saab’s new caretakers at Spyker in trouble? Again?

By John LeBlanc

As we wait to hear about the supposed 20-or-so Canadian dealers who are ready, willing, and able to start selling and servicing Saabs again, it looks like the Swedish automaker’s new parents at Dutch super car maker Spyker are continuing right where former owner Government Motors left off: losing money. Read more

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