First Drive: 2011 Volvo S60 T6

[svgallery name=”2011_Volvo_S60_hirez”] Volvo tries to get its sexy back Does calling its new S60 a “sports sedan” make it so? By John LeBlanc PORTLAND, Oregon—You know the sexist stereotype. A supposedly shy, near-sighted librarian, who when given the chance, lets down the hair, doffs the glasses, and becomes the out-of-character “naughty” librarian. So by adding […]

Video: More of the “fastest M3 ever”

By John LeBlanc Just as we had the unveiling of the “fastest ever 911 ever” this week, fellow German automaker, BMW, has released the requisite Nürburgring video of its own “ultimate” ride: the M3 GTS. The Bavarian lads teased us last November. But we now know the ultimate M3 delivers 444 hp and a claimed  […]

First Drive: 2010 BMW 5 Gran Turismo

[svgallery name=”535i_GT_pics”] Story and photos by John LeBlanc LISBON–BMW’s been kicking around the idea of a “tall sedan” for some time. Industry types first labelled spy photos of the shorter-than-an-SUV, taller-than-a-wagon new Bimmer as a future V-series – “V” as in versatile. Perhaps “versatile” was too plebian for BMW’s marketing team, a bit too populist […]

Bye-Bye 2009: Best Car of the Decade

By John LeBlanc Although it might not have been the most environmentally friendly vehicle (i.e. Toyota Prius) or illustrate the global economic shift to emerging markets from the once dominant Western automakers (i.e. Tata Nano), but for me, the previous-generation BMW M5 is my favourite car from the past 10 years.

First Drive: 2011 BMW X1 xDrive28i

[svgallery name=”2011_BMW_X1_2″] Story and photos by John LeBlanc MUNICH – The reasons were piling up almost as high as the nearby Alps to loathe the X1, BMW’s newest compact utility vehicle. First, BMW already has a pair of small five-doors on sale. There’s the fine-driving 3-series Touring sports wagon. Its taut handling, silky straight-six engine, […]

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