Flashback Fridays: 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe

Story by John LeBlanc

PASADENA, Calif. – Since my very first ride as a passenger in the then- novel Dodge Viper Roadster back in 1992 — when a local dealer/friend oversteered a pre-sold car into a cornfield — I’ve always held a well-earned level of respect for Dodge’s snake that could easily bite back. Read more

Comparo: 2014 Fiat 500L versus Mini Cooper Countryman

Story by John LeBlanc

Between the birth of our country and today, the percentage of people living in rural instead of urban settings has reversed, with now more than 80% of Canadians being city dwellers. So if you’re in the majority of Canadian families living in a city, it only makes sense to consider a city friendly-family vehicle. Read more

2014 Detroit: How Toyota’s designers took the virtual FT-1 to reality

Story by John LeBlanc

DETROIT – Toyota is sticking to its guns that its FT-1 concept, arguably the “hit” of the 2014 Detroit auto show, is just that — a concept. Sporting design echoes from former Toyota sports cars from the 1960s’ 2000GT to the Supra of the 1990s to today’s Scion FR-S, it’s hard not to think that the FT-1 (which officially stands for “Future Toyota”) won’t eventually influence the joint sports car that the Japanese automaker is developing with Germany’s BMW. Read more

Road Test: 2014 Kia Cadenza Premium

Story and photos by John LeBlanc

The all-new 2014 Cadenza is a great example of the difference between a brand’s reality and its perception. For most new car buyers, the Kia badge on the Cadenza screams mainstream — as in Chevrolet or Toyota. But in truth — and based on its styling, performance, level of technology and Kia’s stated upmarket ambitions — the large luxury sedan is a direct rival to more established models like the Acura TL and Lexus ES 350. So, after a week behind the big Korean four-door, what’s the truth? Read more

Flashback Fridays: 2006 BMW M Roadster

Story by John LeBlanc

If you think selling umbrellas in Vancouver or bottled water in the Sahara are easy business decisions, think about the BMW product planner who came up with the idea for the new M Roadster: “Let’s see now. How about we take all the juiciest parts from our highly regarded M3 Coupe (that would be the engine and the suspension, OK?) and stuff them into our sexy yet underpowered Z4 Roadster. Waddaya think?” Read more

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