Nik J Miles

 Volvo C30  R-Design

By Barbara & Bill Schaffer

Of the three Polestar modified cars, the C30 feels the most dramatic on the road and much of that is due to its smaller size.  Already one of our favorites for its sporty handling and the styling, which resembles a contemporary version of the P1800ES from the early 1970s.  Powered by a 227-hp, 236-lb.ft. of torque turbocharged five-cylinder engine, the 3,200-pound vehicle accelerates from 0 to 60 in 6.8-seconds and has a track top speed electronically limited to 149 mph.

Shifting is handled by a six-speed manual transmission or the five-speed Geartronic with the manual shifting “auto stick.”   Read the rest of this entry »

Volvo XC60 R-Design

By Barbara & Bill Schaffer

Now in its third year the Volvo XC60 is one of our favorite premium compact crossovers.  From the dramatic styling to the world-class safety systems to the strong performance, the XC60 stands out in the crowded category.

For 2012, major changes include a new R-Design engine, new trim level and more features.  Adding more bite to the latest model, the 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine gets the Polestar software treatment, and like the S60 version, horsepower and torque receive a nice bump to 325-hp and 354-lb.ft. of torque.  Essentially the same drivetrain as the S60 and about 400 pounds heavier, the XC60 can produce a 6.9-second 0 to 60 mph time and the same top speed electronically limited to 130 mph. The weight and less aerodynamic body drops the fuel economy numbers to 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Read the rest of this entry »

Volvo S60 R-Design AWD

By Barbara and Bill Schaffer

One year after the introduction of the S60 T6, which could best be called the brand’s performance leader, the sport sedan gets a boost from the Polestar treatment.  Boasting 25 more horsepower and 29-lb.ft. of torque, the new R-Design version drops the 0 to 60 mph acceleration time to 5.3 seconds while the top speed is electronically limited to 130.

As the best performing Volvo ever, the S60 R-Design is a product of software tuning where the alterations are made electronically in a method similar to the chips used by some aftermarket tuners.  Software modifications are an easy way to improve performance without modifying hardware, so the original warranty is still in affect and the fuel economy is the same as the T6 version – 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.  Read the rest of this entry »

By Barbara & Bill Schaffer

After more than 20 years of reviewing new cars, we know we can always count on a new Volvo to have several distinctive characteristics.

• It will be one of the safest cars on the road
• The seats will be the most comfortable
• The styling will be unique

Along with these givens, various models have other characteristics that may set them apart from the maddening crowd.  Nevertheless, with a few exceptions, Volvos have not been cars we would consider as high performance. Read the rest of this entry »

By Barbara & Bill Schaffer

As small cars start to gain acceptance from American drivers, Scion has entered the market with a new one that ranks high on intelligence – the iQ.  As the name implies, this little car has some smart features and is much more than simply small and economical.

To put the size in prospective, the iQ is120.1 incheslong – ten feet.  That can make a small garage seem much larger, and you might have trouble finding it if you have a large cluttered garage.  In relation to the competitors, the new Fiat 500 and Mini Cooper are both larger at 140 and147 inchesrespectively and the Smart is shorter at 106 inches, but the Smart only holds two people. Read the rest of this entry »

“All-New 2013 Ford Escape: A Smarter SUV”

Saves Fuel, Money while providing new technologies 

The Blue Oval team has come up with a better way to Escape – in the 2013 Escape. There will no longer be an Escape Hybrid, but the Escape stable will continue to offer three other fuel conscious models: an updated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, as well as a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder and finally, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-banger.

Read the rest of this entry »

“Infiniti’s JX adds classy player to its utility team for 2013”

Infiniti just introduced the 2013 JX to their vehicle lineup. The JX is an all-new luxury crossover that was created to deliver inspired style, performance, roominess and innovative features, challenging the status quo in the segment. JX is a 7 passenger crossover with third row seating, an abundance of luxury, versatility and state-of-the-art advancements in technology.

Read the rest of this entry »

“Acura’s ILX Entry Sedan comes three ways”

Acura dealers felt the need for an entry level vehicle to be offered as part of their premium inventory. Honda’s luxury division Acura team has answered the call with the all-new 2013 ILX sedan lineup – or have they? Some members of the automotive press and consumers may not agree.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Barbara & Bill Schaffer

Once the icon of the SUV movement in the 1990s and early 2000s, the Ford Explorer dropped off the new car-buying map.  A casualty of high fuel prices, the economic downturn and the environmental movement, Explorer was sent back to the drawing board.

Totally reinvented, the 2012 Ford Explorer has again moved to the forefront in the new age of SUVs – more economical, eco-responsible and better suited for today’s consumers.

“The all-new Explorer delivers exactly what today’s SUV buyers are looking for, combining the capability, convenience, performance and technologies they want with the fuel economy these times require,” said Bill Gubing, Ford chief program engineer. “Explorer adds refinement to redefine what a modern SUV can be.” Read the rest of this entry »

“Mazda’s 2011 MX-5 Roadster: If it ain’t broke…”

The Mazda MX-5 Miata, after more than 20 years, continues to, provide sports car enthusiasts with a pure and simple, fun-focused roadster at an affordable price. The experts at the Guiness Book of World Records, proclaim the MX-5 to be the most popular two-seat convertible sports car in the world, with more than 900,000 produced. Is Miata by any other designation still a Miata? Definitely! The latest generation of the popular roadster now referred to as the MX-5, literally revived open-air motoring on our shores, and now happens to be better than ever. Did it make sense to drop the Miata name reference that has built such positive brand equity? Probably not, but in the final analysis, true aficionados will still revert to using the Miata name when talking about the MX-5 anyway.

Read the rest of this entry »