First Drives

First Drives2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: Behold the Beast4.5/5
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – I was sent for a ride of the ZR1 on a road circuit right beside the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. And when I got into the car, Tony Kanaan, winner of the 2013 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar driver for A.J. Foyt’s team, greeted me with the …
First Drives2018 Hyundai Kona: Among the Best4.5/5
This year, Hyundai is introducing the 2018 Kona, a vehicle that will become the smallest—and most affordable—SUV in Hyundai’s Canadian lineup. Positioned under the Tucson, the Hyundai subcompact SUV has one mission: to go after the category’s top models, like the Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V, Nissan Qashqai and Subaru Crosstrek.
First Drives2019 Ram 1500: Where Truck Meets Luxury4.5/5
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – The Ram pickup is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' cash cow, accounting for 37% of its total sales for 2017. Since it became its own brand after separating from Dodge in 2009, Ram has seen its total volume increase by almost 70,000 units; a massive achievement without any major …
First Drives2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS: The Rear-wheel-drive R84.5/5
MADRID, Spain – Wow! The R8’s naturally aspirated 5.2L V10 is still as impressive. It howls as revs climb smoothly all the way up to 8700 rpm in what is an instant response to our foot mashing the accelerator. The experience can only be described as nirvana. Except that in …
First Drives2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS: Returning to its Roots4.5/5
BARCELONA, Spain – They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It wasn’t long after the Vision CLS concept broke cover some 15 years ago that another carmaker introduced its own vision of a four-door luxury coupé. Although the niche segment now features a little more than a …
First Drives2019 Infiniti QX50: Innovative Engine, Conventional SUV4.0/5
LOS ANGELES, California – Call it a sign of the times: Infiniti has chosen an SUV in which to inaugurate its innovative variable valve timing drivetrain. It promises to combine the performance of a turbocharged engine with the sobriety of a diesel. Introduced as the world’s first variable compression ratio …
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