By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(December 15, 2014) Just when you thought it was safe to go into the Fiat showroom, another variant of the 500 appears. This time, its a crossover that shares its underpinnings with the Jeep Renegade, but clothes them in a skin than isn’t as over the top.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(December 8, 2014) Asked about the reasoning behind the launch of the Chevy Trax, chief engineer Al Manzour answered with refreshing honesty: “Originally, the Trax was scheduled to launch in 2012 just behind the Buick Encore, but it was delayed to see if the sales we thought were in this segment actually were there.”

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(December 1, 2014) You can almost hear the joy in his voice: “This car sounds wicked and screams like it's ripping holes in the air. I love it,” says Andy Pilgrim, Cadillac Racing driver. “We have paddle gear shifters for the first time, and I'm enjoying the new tools. The engine torque is remarkable, as always, pulling strongly out of the corners.”

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(November 9, 2014) Rumors swirling around Dearborn claim Lincoln is the recipient of a five-year, $5 billion infusion. The Reuters news service quotes four insiders who say a significant portion of the money will be used to create a modular architecture known as D6 that will spawn a number of new Lincolns and a few Fords. Undoubtedly the next generation Mustang will use the rear-drive architecture, and share a mix of materials that will lean heavily on aluminum. However, the story also claims D6 will be used for front- and all-wheel drive Lincolns and Fords as well.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(November 7, 2014) By now you have heard that Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda agrees with those who feel his company’s products are dull, boring and predictable. He wants his company’s products to reflect passion and soul, to be objects of automotive desire, not impeccably built appliances. This edict extends to Lexus, which until recently has told the world that its mission was “The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection” and built cars where every seam and stitch lined up perfectly, but nothing stirred your soul.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(November 2, 2014) There is no doubt that the largest failing of Hyundai vehicles has been ride and handling. Say what you will about the bang you get for your buck in terms of styling, features, etc., the fact is that most Hyundais ride and handle like cheap knockoffs.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(October 19, 2014) In the year that has elapsed since we last had a Kia Soul in or test fleet, many things have happened to Kia’s funkiest vehicle. The most important of which is that the second generation Soul launched not long after we tested the 2013 model. Despite having similar styling and being about the same size, the latest Soul is a big step up in terms of fit and finish, materials, equipment and driving dynamics.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(October 14, 2014) Almost two years ago I wrote a story about an item that had appeared in one of the monthly magazines about a 5.5-liter V8 with stop/start technology that would be used in an entry-level version of the C7 Corvette. I didn’t buy it, but the rumor jogged a memory of my time at Automotive Industries magazine where the late Gerry Kobe educated me on the occasional need to create three stories from no story.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(October 6, 2014) Full year sales for the Toyota Tundra in 2013 were 112,732. To date, Tundra sales sit at 80,133, an increase of 10.7% over 2013 year-to-date. Even at that rate, Toyota’s full-size pickup won’t come close to reaching 200,000 units.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(September 29, 2014) “I’m a mechanical engineer by first degree,” says, Zenos Cars CEO Ansar Ali “and a pretty bad one at that. So, like any engineer who realizes he’s not going to be a good one, I went and got an MBA." What happened next set him on his present course.