First Drive: 2011 Nissan Leaf doesn’t change the game, just the players

Filed under: Hatchback, Nissan, First Drive, Electric

We’ve met the Nissan Leaf before. First at its coming-out party in Japan, followed by an all-too-brief stint behind the wheel of a Versa-based prototype late last year. Now we’ve had a chance…

Video: Volvo crowns Paris ‘naughtiest’ city in Europe as part of experiments tied to bizarre S60 launch

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Volvo, Luxury

Some habits die hard. Swedish manufacturer Volvo has always been one for extensive research. The company’s reputation for safety is based largely on its…

Report: Toyota secures trademark for Supra name

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Toyota

What’s in a name? Well now, that’d depend on the name, wouldn’t it? For instance, while both are sporty cars from Ford, there’s a big difference to Blue Oval fans when discussing the merits of the Ford

Volvo sale to Geely to close next week?

Filed under: China, Europe, Volvo, Earnings/Financials, Luxury

Volvo may finally part ways with Ford by the end of next week. The Detroit Free Press reports that the Blue Oval is aiming to close its $1.8 billion sale of the Swedish automaker to Geely in as little as 10…

Volkswagen reconfirms EVs for 2013, next-generation vehicles to reduce weight

Filed under: Hatchback, Volkswagen, Electric

Speaking outside its Electronics Research Lab in Palo Alto, California, Volkswagen chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn reconfirmed the automaker’s commitment to bring electric vehicles to market in 2013, beginning with the eGolf compact and eUp! city car.

Drawing a faint parallel to the original Beetle, Winterkorn told…

Report: Toyota already set to cancel four-cylinder 4Runner

Filed under: SUV, Toyota

Cars and trucks here in the U.S. are being invaded by more efficient four-cylinder engines. Both the 2011 Buick Regal and Hyundai Sonata, for example, feature four-pot-only lineups. Even the 4,800-pound Toyota 4Runner has an entry-level 2.7-liter four. Well, at least…

Subaru releases 2011 rally cars at X-Games

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Budget, Performance, Hatchback, Subaru

Subaru has pulled back the sheets on the company’s newest breed of rally heathens. Built by Vermont SportsCar, the all-wheel drive bruisers will be piloted by the likes of Travis Pastrana and Sverre Isachsen at this year’s X Games. The…

Subaru releases 2011 rally cars at X-Games

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Budget, Performance, Hatchback, Subaru

Subaru has pulled back the sheets on the company’s newest breed of rally heathens. Built by Vermont SportsCar, the all-wheel drive bruisers will be piloted by the likes of Travis Pastrana and Sverre Isachsen at this year’s X Games. The…

Almost as Quick as the Car: Porsche builds 25,000th Panamera

Filed under: Sedan, Porsche

When the Porsche Panamera was introduced in 2009, skeptics panned the sedan as oddly proportioned and thoroughly unattractive. Later, as the media began to test and review the all-new Porsche, skepticism gave way to fanaticism as the Panamera’s…

Nissan refreshes Rogue crossover for 2011

Filed under: Crossover, Nissan

The 2011 Nissan Rogue is a getting a slight efresh when it goes on sale in mid-August. The most obvious external changes are a nose job that brings with it an eggcrate grille shaped more like the one on its bigger…