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Viper. 20 years and back for more!

After the financial crash and automotive bailouts of 2008, the outlook of Chrysler was bleak. Contingency plans to fire sale anything worth a penny were armed and ready. They even considered selling their corporate headquarters to turn it into a shopping mall! Even with the government bailouts, one thing was certain, the Dodge Viper must [...]

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Mitsubish’s Spyder: A convertible with power

If you are looking for a convertible, one of the best buys on the market is the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. It comes in three models: • GS Sport Convertible • SE Convertible • GT Convertible The GS and SE sport 2.4L, 162hp engines, while the GT packs 40 percent more power with a 3.8L, [...]

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Nissan Cube features wrap-around back window

Nissan had customization in mind when it manufactured its 2012 Cube. That is more than obvious with more than 40 accessories to help buyers customize their Cubes. Yet it may be the Cube’s unique “wrap-around” rear window that turns most heads, and which enhances safety. Nissan also had affordability in mind. The three Cube models [...]

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Buick Encore A Luxury Crossover

With crossover utility vehicles quickly taking over sports utility vehicles, Buick is wasting no time in providing a luxury alternative. Crossovers often feature elements from cars, SUVs and hatchbacks. With the 2013 Encore, Buick offers a crossover that works just as well for bringing home something from the hardware store, taking a drive or taking [...]

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Quick Take: Chevrolet Code 130R Concept

Chevrolet unveiled the Chevrolet Code 130R Concept this week in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show. A compact front engine, rear wheel drive sports coupe. Sounds promising, but looking at it… I’m not so sure. The concept is aimed to compete with the upcoming Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ sport coupes, but its [...]

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Quick Take: 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Genesis is defined in the dictionary as an origin, creation, or a beginning. A fitting term as the 2010 release of the Hyundai Genesis Sedan and Coupe marked a new beginning for Hyundai. Out with the decades of poor build quality, poor performance, and a far from synchronous design language. In with new quality products [...]

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Quick Take: Toyota GT-86 / Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ

When you look under the hood of most new cars on the market today, you wouldn’t know what you’re looking at. Half the time you’re just looking at a big plastic cover that discourages you from ever wrenching on it yourself. Cars today are full of technology, sensors and computers for every possible need. The [...]

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Quick Take: 2013 Ford Fusion

With a snappy new design and the addition of some pizzazz, Ford’s 2013 Fusion this week won Autoweek’s “Best in Show” at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. If you would like to read more about the award, Autoweek announced it today. Ford is growing more confident in its competition with what it [...]

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Quick Take: 2013 Dodge Dart

What do you get when you combine an Italian and American automaker? An updated Dodge Dart. Say, what? “The All-new 2013 Dodge Dart blends Alfa Romeo DNA with Dodge’s passion for performance and style, resulting in a groundbreaking compact sedan,” is how Dodge’s public-relations department sizes it up. Yes, the Dodge Dart will return to [...]

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Quick Take: 2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet

There is nothing like a turbocharged breeze, and the 2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet one sleek model that will bring its owner countless hours of enjoyment. Unlike other convertibles in this price class, the A5 offers a standard soft-top, and while that slightly lessens its security, it means more trunk room than a fold-up hardtop and [...]

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Quick Take: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

The Hyundai Veloster has only been on US soil for a matter of months and it has already proven to be a strong contender in the entry level sporty compact segment. The quirky and oddly attractive hatchback has outsold the Honda CR-Z and the redesigned Scion tC all while being on the market about half [...]

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Quick Take: 2012 Chrysler 200 Convertible

The yummy aroma of freshly baked sourdough and crab in San Francisco’s Fishermen’s Wharf; the moist fragrance of an ancient redwood forest on a warm fall day after a recent rain on Avenue of The Giants in the remote North Coast county of Humboldt in California; the strong scent of juniper, pinion and sagebrush along [...]

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Quick Take: 2012 Jaguar XKR-S

With the smooth beauty of the 2012 Jaguar XRS-S, customers have a choice between coupe and convertible. If it’s comfort, power and accessories you want, then the Jaguar XKR-S will deliver all of that and more. It’s the “more” factor that may tempt its owner to push this Jaguar to its top performance 186 mph [...]

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Quick Take: 2012 Mazda3 SkyActiv

Sometimes walking through the exhibit halls of an auto show is much like a high school science fair. There’s always the volcanoes and the solar system displays just dressed up a little different than what someone else did last year. But there’s always the kid in class that dreams to be different. Mazda’s four decade [...]

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2012 Toyota Camry: Improving the Best Seller

Although many will argue the Toyota Camry isn’t the epitome of automotive enthusiasm, it’s impossible to argue against its tremendous sales in the U.S. In fact, it’s been a best seller in America for 13 of the past 14 years, and Toyota has built 6.5 million of them in its Georgetown, Kentucky facility. But for [...]

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