2014

2014 Buick Regal AWD

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INDIANAPOLIS — It’s been snowing and icing all over.  Like, a lot.  Some cities are handling it better than others, which will likely cause some mayors to have longer tenures than others.  A European-engineered sport sedan with all-wheel-drive would be perfect for the nasty precipitation, making dust of city streets while still a blast when pavement clears. 

Volkswagen Jetta — Debuting a 1.8L turbo

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By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The Volkswagen Jetta has been powered by a couple of noteworthy engines and a couple that weren’t so noteworthy over the last half dozen years. Our favorites have been the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 200 horsepower, and the fuel efficient 2.0-liter turbo diesel. Unfortunately, the turbocharged 2.0-liter was not carried over to the newest generation Jetta in 2011.For 2014 the award-winning diesel is still available, as is an all-new 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that offers a winning combination of excellent gas mileage and noteworthy performance.

2014 Porsche Boxster S

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — At $50,400, you can hardly tout the Boxster as an every-man's Porsche, but it's about as close as you are going to come. Porsche took advantage of Boxster's total makeover last year to not only tweak the performance elements, but to sharpen the styling and upgrade the cabin. In other words, Boxster is still the entry-level Porsche; but you will be hard pressed to find anyone, who has driven the new Boxster, call it that.

Honda Accord Hybrid — The new segment leader

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By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Honda has risen to the top of the mid-sized hybrid sedan ranks with its 2014 Accord Hybrid that promises an unprecedented 50 miles to the gallon in city driving, 45mpg highway and 47 combined while offering a non-hybrid-like driving experience.

Jaguar F-Type — A recipe for fun

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By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The first thing we did was press the "dynamic mode" button on the center console turning the gorgeous 2014 Jaguar F-Type into a snarling, crackling, growling beast designed to send shivers up your spine. What an intoxicating experience every time we cranked up the little convertible's 495-horsepower supercharged V-8.

2014 Cadillac CTS

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INDIANAPOLIS — The fact that the 2014 Cadillac CTS won Motor Trend Magazine’s Car of the Year is not astonishing; the last-generation CTS did the same thing in 2008.  But this year, it won against redesigned Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5-Series sedans — a frontal attack on the German Bismarcks.  It also beat the Corvette Stingray, Mercedes S-Class, Infiniti Q50, Mazda3, Mazda6, and Kia Cadenza. Take a breath.

Fiat 500L — Cute becomes practical

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By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We've spent time with two mini 2-door Fiat 500 models over the past two years and both times the 500 "won" us and others over; even those whose previous knowledge of Fiat was limited. We remember one person was so taken by the 500 that she proclaimed she'd buy one if they were just a little bigger. "If it just had more room," she lamented.

2014 Toyota Highlander

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CARMEL, Calif. — Like the current Camry, the latest Highlander is a major re-do of the current platform. It’s also a vehicle where U.S. thinking is taking more of a lead as engineering and product development control for the model shifts away from Japan. That’s because Toyota is expecting U.S. sales to increase to 140,000 units.

Kia Cadenza — Sedan excellence

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By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Before we climbed into the all-new full-sized luxury offering from Kia, we knew we would like it because we were enamored of its platform mate, the Hyundai Azera, after a 1,500-mile trek last year. What we weren't expecting was how much more we liked the all-new mid-sized Cadenza sedan.

Rolls-Royce Ghost — Ultimate luxury in a smaller package

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By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Entry level takes on a new connotation when discussing the Rolls-Royce Ghost. In most automobile brands the entry level car is the one with the lowest price, the smallest engine, and lacking in amenities and creature comforts reserved for the more popular, but more expensive higher trim levels. To say the Ghost, which hit the market in 2010 wearing an historic name going back more than 100 years into Rolls-Royce motor car history, is an entry level car is accurate to a degree.

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