Blog Posts by: Matthew Askari  

There's a window, and common sense just took a nosedive out of it with the announcement of the 1,200-horsepower Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse. And for the record, we're thankful. For all of the supposed exotic sports cars, supercars, and the like out there, none can really lay claim on Bugatti's territory ...    Read more

Automakers have long piggybacked on the publicity of new films, and though it doesn't always work, the new Mazda CX-5 and The Lorax seem natural bedfellows. The 2013 Mazda CX-5 is not your traditional crossover. It’s a little cheeky, features Mazda's playful, oddball design, and it's offered with a six-speed manual, ...    Read more

What It Is/Who It's For The freshly restyled 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is meant for the enthusiast crowd and working professionals looking for some kick. Best Thing Hyundai backs up the Genesis Coupe's bold styling and athletic appearance with ample performance to please all, and a gratifying exhaust note. Worst Thing While ...    Read more

European Audi fans have cause to celebrate: The Audi TT RS Plus is on the way, and with more power than ever, to further separate the Audi roadster and convertible from the competition. American fans might be wondering why we don't have a "Plus" version, but the answer is simple: ...    Read more

If BMW or Infiniti made the Genesis Coupe, would it be more appealing? The Hyundai Equus, Hyundai Genesis, and Hyundai Genesis Coupe are extremely good cars, but does the Hyundai name deter premium-car buyers? Are label-conscious buyers opting for mechanically similar cars with more cachet? This is the dilemma the ...    Read more

Intellichoice has released its annual list of cars it considers a Best Value of the Year. Analyzing every new car for the 2012 model year, Intellichoice applies cost analysis to determine cars that have low total ownership  costs as well as lower than expected costs over time. Looking beyond the initial ...    Read more

In an effort to build a little publicity, Jeep considerately gave away two 2012 SRT8 SUVs, decked out in Ferrari Red, to Formula One drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa at the Fiorano circuit in Maranello, Italy. The two drivers were outfitted in their racing best and posed for the cameras ...    Read more

Audi's most exclusive car, the 2012 R8 GT Spyder, is all set to come to the U.S., and it comes complete with supercar pricing. Audi says only 333 of these will be produced, and we earlier speculated that under 100 would make the journey across the Atlantic. We ...    Read more

Motor Trend has lauched its all new YouTube channel, and if you're wondering what's got enthusiasts the world over buzzing, you can check out our roundup, complete with teasers and first episodes, below: Epic Drives Motor Trend takes the coolest cars out onto the most desirable roads, and a crew is there to film ...    Read more

With all the recent economic forecasts and jobs reports, you'd think it was doom and gloom out there, (and it may be), but you'll only get a half-hearted nod of sympathy from our German friends. These are good times in the auto industry, one that's recovering ahead of the general ...    Read more

It shouldn't come as any surprise, but somehow, we're surprised anyway. China produces over half of the world's manufactured goods, but in recent years, with increased wealth and production capabilities, manufacturers have gotten a little cheeky. In a country where international copyright law seems to be misconstrued as "right-to-copy" law, ...    Read more

Less than a year after we first saw Ford's Fiesta-like B-Max Concept debut in Geneva, we're given a peek at a production ready model, a month before its official debut. Ford's B-Max shares much with the Fiesta, though the most glaring difference is the absence of the central B-pillar, and ...    Read more

Cadillac Master Coachbuilder, Caddy's unit responsible for livery vehicles, limos, and even funeral coaches, will build a leggy XTS available later this fall. The American luxury automaker plans to offer extended and limousine versions of its new Sedan. The 2013 Cadillac XTS will be available this spring with a 3.6-liter V-6 ...    Read more

At the CES show in Las Vegas earlier this month, Audi teased us with an A3 interior, sans the body and wheels and that kind of important stuff. We also didn't have any information on the potential engines. But thanks to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, we're getting a sense ...    Read more

There are few things most men would admit to being worse at than women, and parking is no exception. But apparently guys, you're wrong. In a new study out of Britain, women scored higher in several facets of parking analysis, and had an overall score of 13.4 out of 20, versus ...    Read more

A tumultuous year that ushered in sweeping change, 1959 saw the U.S. recognize the Castro government, the Soviet Union launch the Luna 1 spacecraft, Alaska became a state, and Charles de Gaulle was a president— not yet an airport. Amid all of this, a sprightly little car, the Mini, was ...    Read more

Michigan-based Hagerty Insurance specializes in providing classic car coverage, but the company also does something we especially like— every year it releases a "hot list" of new models that it believe will be future classics. Hagerty asks its team of "valuation experts" to pick ten cars among the countless that ...    Read more

Mazda today has announced a recall on 2001 and 2002 Tribute SUVs for a brake issue. The affected vehicles were manufactured between April 20, 2000 and July 19, 2002. The issue involves brake fluid that can leak from the brake master cylinder reservoir cap onto the antilock brake system (ABS) wiring ...    Read more

In the United States, hybrids are generally thought of as the most fuel efficient option available. But in the case of the Audi Q5, the European diesel engine gets better fuel economy than the hybrid. So how do you market the Q5 Hybrid's fuel-sipping benefits here in America? By making ...    Read more

Today's video of the day comes from the fairway, where a Hyundai Veloster Rally Car subs in for a traditional golf cart, and ace driver Rhys Millen does some expected drifting (shocker), and even a doughnut or two. But the payday comes at the end of the short video. Set to ...    Read more

We're only three months away from the New York Auto Show, site of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe debut, but as you well know, the inter-webs don't much like that waiting stuff. Thanks to the enthusiastic folks at the Hyundai Blog, we've got a sneak peek at Hyundai's redesigned crossover. One ...    Read more

They're the soberest demographic, the most likely to be buckled-in while driving, and...the deadliest. It turns out grandma and grandpa—who are likely not checking their status feeds and replying to texts, who have five decades of experience not five months—may soon be the biggest threat on the road. According to a ...    Read more

The little Korean automaker that could, Kia, is delaying stop/start technology in its 2012 Kia Rio after several unfavorable media reviews. The stop/start function—which Kia calls ISG for Idle, Stop and Go—will remain idle until engineers can "tweak" the system. Several members of the media who reviewed the 2012 Kia Rio ...    Read more

When I was all of 15 years and three months old, I made a call to the Department of Motor Vehicles, my voice still evolving in that awkward post-pubescent not-yet-a-man-but-I-ain't-no-kid voice, to proudly make an appointment for 8:00 am the day of my 16th birthday. And I wasn't alone. Apparently, ...    Read more

Harsh winters take a toll on cars, and electric and plug-in vehicles are no exception. As EVs and plug-in vehicles become more common, automakers are being tasked with creating cars that can function in and withstand varying environments. Cold temperatures are one of the toughest, because the chill can affect battery ...    Read more