By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(May 8, 2015) It came as something of a surprise that Denise McCluggage passed away Wednesday, March 6, at the age of 88. Not because she was immortal or even ever-present; like McArthur’s old soldier she had faded away over the past decade, and was not present on many new car launches. It was, in fact, her absence that caused each of us in this business to file her away in our memories only to dredge them up when someone would mention that they had seen or talked to her.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(April 28, 2015) There are many nice things to say about the 2015 F-150, and one exasperating thing. Let’s get the exasperating thing out of the way first. This is not a vehicle for bank robbers, getaway drivers, the easily exasperated, those prone to road rage or folks suffering from ADHD.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(April 23, 2015) It’s no secret to anyone who reads The Virtual Driver that I like the Lexus IS F Sport and, with reservations, the NX 200t F Sport. However, if you look back a little farther, you will see that this affection does not extend to the GS F Sport.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(April 16, 2015) It looks like VW, Renault and Volvo aren’t the only companies chasing after modular vehicle architectures. Now Toyota has entered the fray with  the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA). This integrated powertrain and platform strategy development program includes tactical component sharing, and should reduce the pull on its resources by 20 percent.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(April 11, 2015) With the CT6, Cadillac kicks off a $12 billion decade-long drive to gain acceptance and relevance in the upper luxury segment. According to Johan de Nysschen, president of Cadillac: “The CT6 is nothing less than an entirely new approach to premium luxury — and an approach only Cadillac can offer. It is a bold endeavor with unmatched dynamism that reignites a passion for driving in large luxury vehicles. In short, it is prestige luxury reimagined.”

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(April 8, 2015) Ford has introduced a technology that automatically adjusts vehicle speed to the prevailing limit. Called Intelligent Speed Limiter (ISL) by Ford, it’s already available on the European Mondeo (Fusion) and Kuga (Escape), and will be added to the new S-Max people carrier.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(March 29, 2015) For some folks, if a little is good, a lot is better, and too much is just right. Thus, if they have need of a pickup, a run-of-the-mill light-duty 4x4 is good, but a heavy-duty model is better. And, if you’re going to go for a heavy-duty model, why not go for the heaviest duty pickup you can afford that doesn’t make you look like an idiot to the neighbors?

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(March 23, 2015) Chrysler minivans running around with sensors cluttering the roof have started a stampede of analysts predicting when Apple will get into the business of designing and building automobiles. With in excess of $120 billion in the bank, the Cupertino, Calif., computer maker has more than enough money on hand to build an self-driving electric vehicle of its own, and put that upstart Elon Musk in his place.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(March 16, 2015) The NX 200t is much better looking in person than in photographs, and the F-Sport version is better looking still. Perhaps the small size of the NX, like that of the IS sedan, is better suited to the spindle grille and exuberant detailing than Lexus’s larger offerings. The new styling language seems particularly suited to the IS, and NX takes these same lines and forms and drapes them over a small crossover shape. It works.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(March 9, 2015) Perhaps the reason VW doesn’t bring the Touran MPV to the U.S. is that it is afraid the Golf-based people carrier would steal sales from the just-introduced Golf Sportwagon. For whatever reason, Americans prefer vans to wagons, despite the fact that the latter are sportier, better looking and almost as roomy.