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. Read more

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 with it. But a great getaway – in a great getaway car – makes for better movie watching than seeing some villainous computer hack type the “escape” key. Read more

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 year, four new production models have been produced and a fifth, the four-door Rapide, is scheduled for its production debut later next year. Read more

Road Test: 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

A few years ago, an American Baptist minister, Reverend Jim Ball, queried that, if Jesus created the universe, anything that harms his creation also harms Christ Himself.

With a dubious eye toward sacrilegious gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles, combined with an expected leap of faith from his audience, the environmentally conscious Reverend Ball asked the question, “What would Jesus drive today?” Read more

Top 10 Most Significant AWD rides

Not many years ago, the only drivers who had all-wheel drive at their disposal were farmers or forest workers.

These days, many Canadian drivers take traction at all four wheels for granted as a way to get through the worst winter driving.

And the same technology that allows you to plow through knee-high snowdrifts also gives driving enthusiasts better grip on a twisty back road or race track. In fact, almost every automaker has at least one AWD vehicle in its lineup.

Here are some of the most significant all-wheel-drive vehicles through the years.
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