PHOENIX — The notion of purchasing a new vehicle costing upwards of a quarter million dollars is clearly out of reach for middle-class bourgeois like myself. However, if you’re among the global one-tenth of one-percent who can easily write that check, you need pay attention to this: The long black luxury sedan is so yesterday as the choice of livery servitude, pushed aside by chrome ablaze, boxy, giant ultra-luxury SUVs in all their glorious swaddled seduction and refinement.

PHOENIX — The notion of purchasing a new vehicle costing upwards of a quarter million dollars is clearly out of reach for middle-class bourgeois like myself. However, if you’re among the global one-tenth of one-percent who can easily write that check, you need pay attention to this: The long black luxury sedan is so yesterday as the choice of livery servitude, pushed aside by chrome ablaze, boxy, giant ultra-luxury SUVs in all their glorious swaddled seduction and refinement.

SAN DIEGO — There’s a pretty good chance that if you’re not wearing reading glasses to read this review, don’t read newspapers or have the slightest clue what the letters AARP stand for, then you probably have no idea what a Toyota Avalon is — let alone have exciting thoughts about trading your current ride for one. That’s because average age of a current Toyota Avalon buyer starts with the number six. But that isn’t stopping the folks at Toyota who aim to knock a decade or so off the median age of the owner by introducing the fifth-generation 2019 Avalon sedan.

INDIANAPOLIS — In the fastest-growing automotive segment, Ford only had one entry.  Compact crossovers have become the new mid-size sedan as sub-compact crossovers supplant sub-compact cars.  Ford has the Escape crossover, but needed something a little smaller — a vehicle to compete with the Honda HR-V, Chevy Trax, and Subaru Crosstrek.  Fortunately, there was the little EcoSport being built in India and it arrives stateside for 2018.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Pickup trucks are more popular than ever and the market for them is about to get even hotter and more competitive for the 2019 model year. Ford raised the stakes this year with a refresh of the industry’s top-selling F-150. Chevrolet has already previewed an all-new Silverado, and GMC has an all-new Sierra. Further, Ram has just introduced its totally redesigned 15th generation Ram 1500.

KONA, Hawaii — Rolling into dealer showrooms across the U.S. now, the Hyundai Kona, a little late to the small crossover-utility market, is going up against some of the most solid and serious performers in its class: Subaru Crosstrek, Mazda CX-3, Jeep Renegade and others. Still, we think it’s one of the best.

PHOENIX — Honda has introduced an entirely new model line of vehicles called Clarity. It encompasses different fuel powertrains including a hydrogen-powered electric car, a fully electric vehicle, and a plug-in hybrid.  For now, the hydrogen-powered electric car is only available in California, and only as a leased vehicle. The all-electric model is only available in California and Oregon, while the plug-in is for sale nationwide.

INDIANAPOLIS — One of my favorite cars is the green 1970 Buick Estate wagon, woodgrain and all, that co-starred in the movie, The Way Way Back.  It’s a classic America family car so familiar to Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers.  But, in a world of crossovers, wagons have taken a third-row seat to SUVs of all types.  The Subaru Outback, built in Lafayette, Ind., is now the nation’s best-selling wagon.  Somewhere between the Outback and The Way Way Back is a new-generation Buick wagon — The 2018 Regal TourX.

INDIANAPOLIS — BMWs conjure many images for many types of people — a luxurious four-door sedan with a power plug probably isn’t one of them. But, it is a reality with the 530e, a mid-size BMW with power and posh to spare…and fuel efficiency never before experienced. If it wasn’t for the “eDrive” logos on the C-pillars, and an extra door on the driver side front fender, you may never know there’s anything special about the 530e. 

PHOENIX — AMG, the high-performance speed shop for Mercedes, has been hammering out a steady stream of unrestrained, tire-shredding, asphalt-ripping street machines for more than 30 years. The GT R is its latest sports car. If you’re familiar with Germany’s Nurburgring (nickname Green Hell), it’s worth knowing that the GT R got around the track in a record 7 minutes and 10 seconds, which Mercedes claims is a record for rear-wheel-drive cars.