In Brief: Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

by Mark Ewing on January 20, 2012 · 0 comments

in Analysis,Audio,Automotive,Humor,Link,Mark Ewing,News,Opinion,Technology,Twitter

Validation for the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT walked up next to me on the sleepy Main Street of an old Orange Coast beach town. Lady Lawyer and I met the senior partner of the firm for breakfast, 7:45. The café would not open till 8 am. I parked the SRT across the street from the [...]

Tagged as: Infiniti FX50, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand CHerokee SRT8, Porsche Cayenne S, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Range Rover Sport, SRT

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In Brief: KIA Optima Hybrid

by Mark Ewing on January 11, 2012 · 0 comments

in Analysis,Audio,Link,Mark Ewing,News,Opinion,Technology,Twitter

Due to Thanksgiving travel, we had limited time with the KIA Optima Hybrid. Oddly enough, that doesn’t really impact a review. Though this will not be a nuanced and detailed account, it’s easy to sum up the Optima Hybrid after only a couple of drives along an empty PCH and a few quick freeway interchanges, [...]

Tagged as: 2012 KIA Optima Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, KIA Sephia, Kia Sportage, Lotus Engineering, Nissan Altima, Porsche Engineering, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Toyota Prius

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In Brief: Fiat 500

by Mark Ewing January 4, 2012

Can a car the approximate size and shape of a gnocchi pasta dumpling succeed on American roads filled with SUVs, CUVs and massive German luxury cars? The answer was clear after a week in the neighborhood and a 65-mile round trip to a Christmas party in Brentwood. Antipasti: Design Nuova 500 has a greater sense [...]

Tagged as: Cars In Context, Fiat 500, In Brief, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Mazda2, MINI Coupe, Scion iQ, smart fortwo, Toyota Yaris

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In The Crosshairs: Volt Subsidies

by Mark Ewing December 21, 2011

A lawyer friend sent the link below, and it simply validates our criticisms of the Volt as a lab experiment that was rushed too quickly into market. It also validates our personal views about the actions of the government, particularly under Obama. Both the Volt and the GM “bankruptcy” are shameful wastes of taxpayer money. [...]

Tagged as: Chevrolet Volt, Michigan Capitol Confidential

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In Brief: Volkswagen Neu Beetle Turbo

by Mark Ewing December 17, 2011

Over a decade ago, VW New Beetle brought a sudden end to the boring, bar-of-soap exterior design of the Eighties and much of the Nineties. Suddenly, cars could be fun again, cars could have…shape. Long in tooth, New Beetle is replaced this year by what we call Neu Beetle, combining an aggressive exterior design with [...]

Tagged as: 2012 Volkswagen Neu Beetle Turbo, Fiat 500, MINI Cooper S Coupe, MINI Cooper S Hardtop, VW Beetle

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In Focus: Car Ads In Vogue

by Mark Ewing December 15, 2011

About 18 months ago we posted a piece concerning poorly designed car ads in Vogue magazine, as critiqued by a group of young, successful professional ladies. We revisit the topic. The guys at Chevy’s agency came in for a beating last time, with a hackneyed and downright stupid ad for the Chevy Equinox. Come late [...]

Tagged as: Cadillac CTS Coupe, Chevrolet, Fiat 500 Gucci, Pre-Raphaelites, Vogue

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In Briefest Terms: GT-R

by Mark Ewing December 8, 2011

More than one said, “Why such a long story? This is the Internet, where attention spans are short.” So, a top-level list about Nissan GT-R follows, in our “Damning with Faint Praise” format. I’m happy to do it because driving the car was a fantastic experience. Praise Stunning acceleration. You can blow off pretty much [...]

Tagged as: Cars In Context, Daming with faint Praise, Nissan GT-R

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In Motion: 2012 Nissan GT-R

by Mark Ewing December 5, 2011

Descending through woolly rainclouds, rough air heaving the plane, anticipation grows. No matter how lucky your automotive life, a road trip in a supremely fast and well-engineered car is better than Christmas morning, age five. If ever an argument in favor of a 21st Century Gran Turismo could be delivered, jetBlue and Southwest Airlines managed, [...]

Tagged as: Gran Turismo, Nissan GT-R, Sony Playstation

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