By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 31, 2017) Let’s get the important stuff out of the way first. The Mercedes X-Class pickup will launch in Europe this November, in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand in early 2018, and Argentina and Brazil in 2019. There are no current plans to bring this vehicle — which starts at the equivalent of $35,368 in Europe and is built off the Nissan Frontier/Renault Alaskan — to the U.S.

By Christopher Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 29, 2017) Big news of the week? It’s that the 2018 Ford Mustang GT will do 0-60 mph in less than four seconds in Drag Strip mode, when powered by the revised 5.0-liter V8 mated to a $1,595 optional 10-speed automatic transmission and fitted with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires that come with the available $3,995 Performance Pack.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 17, 2017) Jaguar’s E-Pace small SUV, says the company, features an exterior design inspired by the F-Type sports car, and “is the sports car of its class.”  All of which means it’s aimed at Porsche’ Macan small SUV, and carries styling cues from the F-Type. But perhaps the most interesting fact about the E-Pace is that it will not be built in the UK initially.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 10, 2017) It’s not that VW hasn’t been in the SUV market. It’s that it hasn’t been there with the right product. For years it has relied on the pricey (nearly $50,000) but capable Touareg to take care of those who were in the market for a largish family carrier, and the diminutive Tiguan to take care of everyone else.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 9, 2017) The folks at the Lister Motor Company are at it again. This time, a customer wanted a Knobbly race car to be made street legal; not an easy thing to do to an original specification continuation sports racer.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(June 26, 2017) Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, formerly known as Porsche Exclusive, has created the most powerful 911 Turbo S ever. The 2018 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series Coupe has 607 horsepower, an increase of 27 over the standard model, is limited to 500 copies worldwide, and is available with an optional matching Porsche Design chronograph that can be configured to match the car.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(June 24, 2017) The oddly proportioned, segment-straddling 5 Series Gran Turismo sport hatchback is no more. Which is not to say that BMW has seen the light and killed this strange creation. Rather, it has aligned the vehicle with its revised naming convention that places coupes and specialty models in the even-numbered column, and smoothed the bulky styling of the original into a more pleasing exterior shape.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(June 18, 2017) I was certain someone had made a mistake. Just under two years ago a very similar Volkswagen SportWagen was dropped off at the office. It had the same Silk Blue Metallic paint and beige cloth interior. The only difference was that this car had an automatic transmission and a slightly different wheel design.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(June 4, 2017) This one was a very disappointing experience. Not the 2017 Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring, the experience. Apparently, the car had seen abuse at the hands of previous members of the press. (Cue Major Renault from the movie Casablanca as he says, “I’m shocked, shocked to find gambling is going on in here!,” while being handed his winnings by a croupier.)

By Christoper A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(May 30, 2017) The polar opposite of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, the U.S. version of the 2017 smart fortwo ditches its gasoline powerplant for electric drive. Available in coupe and cabrio form, the electric smart hits U.S. smart dealers this summer, and costs $1,200 less than the previous generation electric smart.