Archive for the ‘Featured’ Category
2011 Saab 9-5 Turbo4: The stuff of genius
Friday, April 1st, 2011By AARON COLE
Managing Editor, MediaOne of UtahFormer Secretary of Defense and Ford chief (for about two days) Robert McNamara tells a story about the emergence of one of the most popular cars on the planet.
McNamara said he knew the Volkswagen Beetle would be a hit in the states when he saw who drove the little coupe in its early days. College professors, intellectuals — the types that wear patches on the elbows of their tweed jackets — were all early adopters of the VW bug. (more…)
2011 Buick Regal Turbo: Welcome (back) to America
Thursday, March 24th, 2011By AARON COLE
Managing Editor, MediaOne of UtahI’d like to believe that there’s a car out there for everyone.
Having said that, I’d be interested to meet the person who personifies best with a 2011 Buick Regal Turbo.
Mating cars with their owners is one of the easier games to play on long road trips. Minivan? Inhabited by two carbon-based life forms who answered nature’s call to reproduce between 3 to 5 times — most likely two years apart. (more…)
2011 Subaru Outback: At home in hostility
Thursday, March 17th, 2011By AARON COLE
Managing Editor, MediaOne of UtahSILVERADO, Calif. — The Subaru Outback feels about as comfortable here as Utah lawmakers would feel in a room full of ACLU lawyers.
You can just feel the Outback looking for the nearest snow bank to bury its head into. Or maybe that’s the Legislature. (more…)
2011 Audi Q5: The new big
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011By AARON COLE
Managing Editor, MediaOne of UtahWhat’s not to like about a small SUV in a mountain state? It takes the best parts of being an SUV — elevated ride height, all-wheel drive (sometimes) and bigger tires to throw on increasingly tackier wheels — combined with, well, that’s it.
Actually, small SUVs are about the size of SUVs from 20 years ago, and bigger SUVs are battleships now.
That’s why there is a lot to like about the 2011 Audi Q5. One could think of it as being a Q7 that’s gone to Jenny Craig, but one would be wrong. (more…)
2011 Chevrolet Cruze: The going is good
Monday, February 28th, 2011By AARON COLE
Managing Editor, MediaOne of UtahFlat tires have better timing than Salt Lake City traffic lights.
I’ve never known anyone whose tire went flat and said, “Well this couldn’t have come at a better time.” Similarly, I’ve never sat at a traffic light in Salt Lake City, alone — for five minutes — and thought to myself, “Boy, am I glad that cars coming from Wyoming have a chance to make this light today.” (more…)
Welcome to the new 2011 Tacoma T|X
Thursday, February 17th, 2011By AARON COLE
Managing Editor, MediaOne of UtahDo you drool over a socket wrench? Gape at an incline plane? Marvel at a monopod? Few understand the beauty of a simple machine, but those who do buy Toyota Tacomas.
At this point, Toyota’s brutally simple machine couldn’t be any less complicated if it were drawn on a cave wall with a rock. It’s deliciously close to near perfect that way, which is why I guess it hasn’t changed much since the Clinton administration.
But this short-boxed Neanderthal has learned a new trick. (more…)
2011 Toyota Sequoia: Taking a big risk
Thursday, February 10th, 2011
By AARON COLE
Managing Editor, MediaOne of UtahAs a member of a few automotive press associations, what I’m about to write may get me disbarred, disrobed or “disgeared,” or just flat-out thrown out.
I don’t want to “stick to the man,” or anger anyone, it’s just we have a few dirty secrets over here. I don’t mean secrets like Bill Clinton-type secrets, just a few things no auto columnist would tell you. (more…)
2011 Infiniti QX56: Sinfully good
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011By AARON COLE
Managing Editor, MediaOne of UtahI’ve read Dante’s “Divine Comedy.” I’ve been beaten over the head with enough catechism to know the technical differences between finding one’s way to Heaven or Hades, the land of the lost or the land of the saved, Purgatory or McDonald’s. But, for the life of me, I can’t determine if the 2011 Infiniti QX56 is a vice or a virtue. (more…)
2011 Lexus RX: Dream Theater
Thursday, January 27th, 2011By AARON COLE
Managing Editor, MediaOne of UtahBig pharma has nothing on Lexus. Sanofi-Aventis may have made drug-induced siestas more commonplace, but Lexus has made them wildly expensive, much more profitable and socially acceptable — especially after the whole “Ambien-Tiger Woods” thing. I dare say that the Lexus RX should replace the Sandman in nighttime stories from here on out.
Or more appropriately, because sleeping behind the wheel is phenomenally dangerous, the Lexus RX is the best muscle relaxer it should come only with a doc’s script.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, look out the window now. Or now. Or now. (more…)
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited: Oldie but goodie
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011By AARON COLE
Managing Editor, MediaOne of UtahWhat’s as old as your grandpa and just as aerodynamic?
The 2011 Jeep Wrangler, of course.
The land bruiser that looks like it was polished with 80-grit and drawn with an Etch-a-Sketch is still Jeep’s volume seller after 70 years and back for another go-round. (more…)
