February 20, 2020

My Thoughts Exactly: 2020 Ford Escape SE Sport Hybrid

Ford may not have been the first to occupy the compact SUV
segment, but they have sold more than enough of them to keep it within our
conscious.

Since its debut twenty years ago, Ford sold 4.27 million
Escapes in the USA alone. You may find many of those still on the road.

February 18, 2020

Commentary: Sunset Across The Pacific

To summarize, General Motors announce that they will "cease Holden sales, design, and engineering operations by 2021" and end Chevrolet brand sales in Thailand by the end of 2020. Furthermore, Great Wall Motors will most likely buy the production facility in Thailand from GM.

February 17, 2020

My Thoughts Exactly: 2020 Jeep Compass Trailhawk

Jeep is no exception. They have almost 80 years of experience of off-roading and winning wars. Their reputation for making rugged vehicles that can do anything you want is why it is the most valuable brand among several at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

February 16, 2020

Historiography: All Bull

Supercars are an interesting thing to discuss here. I bore witness to the not-so-rare Lamborghini on the streets of the San Fernando Valley, Beverly Hills and everywhere else in the Los Angeles basin. Hot Wheels and Matchbox sold plenty of Miuras to the fascination of many car-loving children. Heads snap upon sight of a Silhouette, Jarama, or an Urraco. The rarity of early Lamborghinis adds the mystique of the cars that wear the badge sporting the iconic bull.

February 12, 2020

My Thoughts Exactly: 2020 Subaru Legacy

It affirms Subaru's reputation of creating vehicles based on a standard horizontally-opposed engine and an all-wheel-drive platform for most (except for the BRZ) of their vehicles to be driven on. It also affirms how Subaru has leveraged the massive popularity of the Outback wagon (OK, crossover) as a cornerstone of everything they do – sort of.

February 11, 2020

V&R Stories: Fantasy Car Shopping on My Birthday

First off, "fantasy shopping" can be a terrible idea. You go to an automotive retailer – preferably one with high-end vehicles – take a look at their inventory and dream in broad daylight over it. You're doing this knowing damn well that you may ever afford to buy that vehicle.

February 10, 2020

My Thoughts Exactly: 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

For the past decade or so, we have been inundated with full-sized half-ton pickup trucks that have been heart of the North American automotive industry. While there is nothing wrong with that observation, we often forget that there are other classes of pickups – both larger and smaller than the run-of-the-mill, profit-making beasts we're completely used to.

February 9, 2020

Chicago 2020: All In A Day's Work

This was supposed to be the premier Tier I auto show for the winter, thanks to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit moving to June. All hopes were on Chicago delivering the impact Detroit vacated at this time of year, as it once did some 15 years or so ago.

February 5, 2020

V&R Stories: The Driver's License Experience

Hopefully, one of them is to take their first driving test from their local licensing authority. When they turn 16 years old (or whichever is the legal age to drive in your state, province, or country), they would have fulfilled all of the prerequisites to do so. Every class, booklet, simulator, behind-the-wheel training, and the official written test – all in the bag before they present themselves to become a licensed driver.