By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(September 21, 2015) Every time a new Porsche 911 is introduced, it’s like those visual puzzles where you have two similar drawings, and you have to point out all of the differences. So, how do you tell the facelifted 2016 Porsche 911 Carrera from its immediate predecessor? It’s simple.

Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(September 12, 2015) There are some interesting barn finds in Britain, but this one literally is something special. Behold the Sotheby Special, one of only three such cars, the first two of which were commissioned by the W.D. & H.O. Wills tobacco company to promote Sotheby’s Special Reserve cigarettes. (The name came from a short-lived licensing agreement with the famous auction house.)

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(September 2, 2015) Hoping to get ahead of the media scrum to come out of the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the 2017 C-Class Coupe. The new car is 2.4 inches longer than its predecessor between the firewall and front axle alone, which has the advantage of moving engine weight rearward while increasing interior room.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 23, 2015) I had one of the original BMW Mini Coopers, which I bought in 2003. It was Indi Blue Metallic with a white roof wheels and mirror caps, and had the panoramic moonroof, Sport suspension, and a few other goodies. It cost less than $17,000, and replaced an Acura 2.2 CL.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 18, 2015) What is the Vision G Coupe Hyundai unveiled at Monterey last week? Is it just a concept, or is it  meant to indicate Hyundai’s goals in the expanding luxury market? Will it replace the current pony car-like Genesis Coupe with a vehicle more in line with the Genesis badge? Or is it an indication that it is adding a new model to the Genesis line as it taps leading consultants about what it takes to build true high-performance cars?

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 8, 2015) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The drive from the stately TVD office tower and garden center to Grand Rapids covered 138 miles, and left plenty of time to reflect on the state of Scion. What had begun as a division designed to bring young buyers into the fold has morphed into something much less avant-garde.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 28, 2015) I hadn’t driven a Nissan Rogue since our own Al Vinikour and I were paired up for a Nissan drive event in mid-2007. The most memorable thing about that day was the fact that we both liked the base model more than the higher trim line versions.

It was an honest vehicle, and — because it didn’t have a sunroof — we had more than enough headroom. Unfortunately, compared to the competition it was neither a stand out nor offensive; an accountant to mustard’s biker persona.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 20, 2015) Though it looks a bit like one of the designs that did not make the cut for VW’s  new-generation Euro Passat sedan, this is a Renault. Called the Talisman, it’s built off the largest version of the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s Common Module Family, the CMF-C/D. Launched in 2013 with the Nissan Rogue and X-Trial, the CMF-C/D platform also underpins the Nissan Qashqai, Renault Kadjar crossover and the latest Renault Espace MPV.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 17, 2015) At the very last minute I had to run home and take a clipping off one of the arbor vitae in the backyard, and bring it to the garden center. Ravaged by two winter’s of bone-chilling cold and snow, the shrubs were looking dreadful. Putting the clipping into the cupholder, I buckled up and got ready for the return run.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 13, 2015) Are autonomous vehicles the Holy Grail of automotive safety? Both the media and Wall Street have focused on the autonomous future, suggesting driverless cars are not only just around the corner, they will dramatically reduce, if not eliminate, vehicle crashes and force wide-spread global adoption of this technology.