2013 Audi RS5 Cabriolet review

All in all, the RS5 Cabrio is for RS-line enthusiasts; we love it, but there are smarter buys out there

I'm surprised to find I have mixed feelings about this 2013 Audi RS5 Cabriolet, as I've always admired both the A5 and especially the S5. The coupe version's muscular exterior is one of my favorites compared to other sports coupes and sedans, and the S5 in particular is notably fun to drive.

Step up to the RS tuned by Audi's in-house Quattro GmbH performance freaks and, not having driven an S5 in quite some time, the 4.2-liter normally aspirated V8 engine stands out immediately as the star of this show. It cranks out 117 additional horsepower compared to the S model, though torque drops by 8 lb-ft.

2014 Mazda3 drive review

The 2014 Mazda3 goes on sale in September of this year.

What is it?

You'll have to forgive Mazda for tooting its own horn, but the company claims it “revitalized” the compact car segment back in 2003 when the first Mazda3 was introduced, a shark amongst beige Civic and Corolla minnows. We personally think the Ford Focus revitalized the segment earlier, and the Shelby Omni GLHS before that, but that's another story for another time. Nevertheless, Mazda's great lil' 3 has always been a darling of the C-Segment class, since it's at least somewhat involving to drive. (See our Mazdaspeed 3 review notes for a torrid example of the model.)

2014 Porsche 911 GT3 drive review

For the first time, Porsche is offering rear-wheel steering.

What is it?

Geneva auto show, Switzerland, March 4, 2013: Latest-generation Porsche 911 GT3 world premiere. “The performance figures will really surprise you,” says Porsche's development boss Wolfgang Hatz, beaming with pride after whipping the covers off the new car. “But it is not the performance figures that make it so memorable. It is the emotional appeal. It gets under your skin.”

It isn't every day a German engineer suggests driving his latest car will be emotional. But Hatz, credited with engineering the original BMW M3 engine and laying the groundwork for Formula One's switch to turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 engines in 2014, is passionate about performance. As tradition dictates, the new 911 GT3 has plenty. Loads, in fact.

2013 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive review

We all could agree that the B7 is a rocket

The latest 7-Series is really special. Decent chassis and a great lineup of engines make the 7 a blast to hustle and a joy to cruise the freeway in. With the Alpina B7, you just turn that up a notch or two.

The interior is a little showier, the exterior styling is a touch more flamboyant and -- at least in our case -- you get purple-ish paint. That's hilarious, because with 540-hp and almost as many torques, this thing will generate enough forward momentum to force slower traffic into the right lane as if by magnetic force -- and then you've got this massive purple thing just screaming by people, at the state-mandated maximum speed, of course. For other drivers, it must be like suddenly catching sight of a purple train (see what I did there?) rolling up in the left lane.

BMW i3 drive review

We were surprised and impressed with the i3's pure agility thanks to its low weight

First previewed as a concept in 2011, the advanced electric-powered BMW i3 is the BMW i brand's first model. The contemporary four-seat hatch has progressed to the pre-production stage with North American sales set for March 2014.

2013 Chrysler Town & Country Limited review

The T&C offers an upscale alternative to those in the minivan market

When the current Chrysler minivan came out five years ago, it was packed with innovative features. There were the Stow 'N' Go, Swivel 'N' Go seats, tailgate rear bench, a table that popped up in the middle, handy kid-monitor rear view mirror, rear seat entertainment galore and a host of other features. It was the ultimate family van. Five years later, as the competition has evolved around it, it is still up there with the best of the class.

2013 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged review

The new Land Rover tips the scales at 700 lbs less than the outgoing model, weighing 5,701 lbs

I love this 2013 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged. Not going deny it. I drove it in rainy and muddy Morocco on the preview. From that experience I wrote things like “we weren't impressed that the truck handled it all [I was referring to the nasty Moroccan roads made worse from all the rain]. Of course it did -- we expected nothing less. What did impress us was the ease and smoothness with which it took everything we could throw at it on road and off. It drives like the best luxury cars…”

2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD drive review

A diesel among diesels.

“Pozdamer Platz,” mused your author's companion. "You wanna yell it, like, 'POTZDAMER PLATZ!'” For about 20 minutes, we did just that. We did it in the most grating, Sgt. Schultzian manner possible. Your author on the shy side of 40; his companion a few years over the line, both acting like the metallic teenage chuckleheads we'd been back when Berlin was still two cities. We really should've been blaring Accept to complete the tableau. Upon seeing a sign for Spandau: “Vee are going to Spandau! Vee vant to see the ballet!” If you grew up during the Cold War, this city impacted you in ways you won't even realize until you're actually faced with the place.

2014 Ford Mustang GT coupe review

We loved the Mustang's styling as well, a classic shape but not over the top

What a fantastic car. I'll be sad to see this generation of Mustang go. Want a road trip-capable commuter that'll beat up on high-dollar sports cars with a couple of cheap bolt-ons come track day? Here it sits. Sure, the interior's a little cheap for 2013 and the very good Recaros sit way too high, but that's about the extent of my griping. Besides, as I've said before: if you're in this car and obsessing about the interior, you are horrible. You've got a naturally aspirated V8 turning gas into 420-hp and awesome noise under the hood. If you want, it'll turn your tires into melted rubber. It'll turn your red light into a staging light and your work parking lot into one of those gymkhana videos. It looks great. Mustangs are a little common, but they can be optioned and accessorized into statement-makers. For true enthusiasts with a bit more than $30k to spend, there isn't a better value proposition on the market.

2013 Honda Pilot Touring review

A 3.5-liter V6 making 250 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque propels the Pilot

When Honda rolled out the second-generation Pilot, they made it a point to make it look more like a truck. Hence its squared-off appearance that's reminiscent of the full-frame midsize SUVs of old. Personally, I have a soft spot for things like the Toyota 4Runner and previous Nissan Pathfinder, so I think Honda's decision to make the Pilot a little manlier was cool. It will be interesting to see what Honda does with the next Pilot, which I expect to land in the next year or so. Will they follow Nissan and soften it and make it more crossover-ish like the latest Pathfinder? Or will they stay boxy? I'm guessing the former as that will appeal to a wider range of people