Number 1 With A Bullet: 2014 Ford Fiesta ST

Unless you’re using a series of numbers and letters for classification, I suspect the most nebulous aspect of car design is giving it a name. Those that go the specific route give us the Quattro and ForTwo, while other succeed in being evocative of the car’s spirit: Viper. Diablo. Raptor. The rest? well ask yourself what was that particular Honda […]

All That Jazz: Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio

Our excitement for the Fiat 500 ending up on our roads was unparalleled. Some pragmatic skeptics couldn’t understand why we’d give a second look to a trumped up Fiat Panda in a period costume, but we payed no attention: the charming Cinquecento was coming to fulfill our weekend-drives-to-Portofino fantasies. The naysayers had their day in the sun when we eventually […]

Still Standing: 2014 Lexus IS Review

I walk out of the garage to the pit lane, splashing through a few puddles. I open the door. I start the engine. “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith begins to play. The car is staged at the end of pit row. Green flag. This is a good day. Making the trip to Rockingham Speedway Race Track in North Carolina doesn’t mean […]

This Is How I Roll: 2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD

I’ll be completely upfront in saying that my preconceptions of Volvo left me a little underwhelmed when I got the word that one will be dropped off at my doorstep for testing. Volvos to me are the embodiment of Sweden: I look at one and what I see is a vehicle very practical, safe, and sturdy but also cold, banal, […]