taylor
Jeff Taylor
Jeff has spent more than 25 years maintaining, modifying and writing about automobiles. He became the first automotive writer for Pioneer Press 1992 and he has been reviewing vehicles and reporting on the automotive industry ever since. Jeff has been covering the Chicago Auto Show …Read More
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Corvette ZR1 will lead the pack during Indy 500
Since the inception of the Indianapolis 500 in 1911, the speedway has employed the use of a pace car, first to warm up the race cars and later to bunch up the field during caution periods. Over the span of 96 races, the Indianapolis 500 has used some memorable and not-so-memorable pace cars. Take a look at a few of the cars that have paced “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
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Jaguar’s XKR-S blasts off the line
Halo cars quicken the pulse, cause the eyes to dance over sleek sheet metal and draw the masses into dealerships. Jaguar’s new 2012 XKR-S convertible and coupe are halo-plus vehicles. Consider a car capable of 170 mph and then add 11 more mph. That’s precisely …Read More
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Luxurious interior distinguishes Ram Laramie Longhorn
One of the gauges of vehicle success is how well it fits its owners, or in this case, the target market’s demographics. Dodge, and now Ram, has made steady gains with its pickups and it now plays on a level field with Ford and Chevrolet, …Read More
More Columns
Chevrolet Traverse delivers in a big way
The midsize Chevrolet Traverse is part of a strong group of unibody SUVs that has remade the sport utility segment. Traverse is not a traditional body-on-frame 4x4 sport utility, and it is available as a front- or all-wheel-drive model. The Traverse has been on the …
Camry and Regal duke it out in midsize category
The midsize 2012 Toyota Camry XLE and Buick Regal Premium II both offer comfort, seating for five and a touch of luxury amenities, but who does it better? In terms of size, the Regal and Camry offer wheelbases of 107.80 and 109.30 inches. Overall length …
Porsche Cayenne Hybrid is not a typical green machine
The highest volume model at Porsche is the Cayenne, a performance SUV that offers a hybrid model. Certainly the Cayenne is the vehicle that’s furthest from the company’s roots. The Cayenne causes waves among the Porsche faithful because it is seen as the mainstreaming of …
Maintenance misses that may cost you
When I first started to drive, I wanted to know everything about how a car worked. I changed oil, light bulbs, antifreeze and progressively worked up to bolting on exhaust components and rebuilding an engine. The cars I was able to afford did not include …
2012 Dodge Durango offers utility in stylish package
The Dodge Durango has made its return to dealer’s lots and TV commercials. This new-generation 2012 Durango provides a family-size SUV that can tow against stout competitors such as Ford Explorer, Toyota 4Runner and Chevrolet Traverse. Durango and cousin Jeep Grand Cherokee share many parts, …
2012 Audi S4 offers premium performance
Audi is known for its luxury sedans packed with technology and crisp interiors surrounded by attractive exteriors. Audi’s performance image always has been secondary, even with the fantastic quattro all-wheel-drive systems, rally car history and Le Mans-winning race cars. The beautiful R8 coupe tops the …
Audi’s A7 hatchback is a styling success
In the layers of sedan styling each manufacturer seems to have a car that is just one shade different from the competition. Yes, there are a few notable exceptions, but it’s really refreshing when a manufacturer takes a styling chance and it works. Such is …
Sierra, Silverado 2500 are the real urban cowboys
I’m probably the best/worst example for owning a full-size pickup. As a single father I can make great use of either a 2012 GMC Sierra 2500HD or Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Crew Cab pickup. The “crew” part is great for the kids, as they have two …
Sporty styling gives Mitsubishi Lancer a leg up
The current 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer SE is part of a group of capable compact sedans that are often overlooked by consumers. One reason for the Lancer’s ambiguity is finding its signature. Or maybe better said — finding what makes it a good buy. The Lancer …
All-wheel-drive Acura TL impresses
The 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD is the automaker’s entry in the performance luxury sedan segment. That description of the segment is where the TL gets a bit foggy. In some purist’s eyes, a true performance sedan has to be rear-wheel drive. Jaguar tried a front-wheel-drive-based …
2013 Chevy Malibu comes to Chicago
I had to travel to take the Chevrolet Malibu for a preview drive; readers can see the 2013 version during the Chicago Auto Show, Feb. 10 to 19 at McCormick Place. Worth the trip to this year’s Chicago Auto Show, the Malibu will be the …
Dodge charges forward with 2012 Charger SRT8
When Dodge reintroduced the Charger in 2006, there were loud groans because the car was only available as a sedan. Unlike General Motors and Ford, which offered sedan versions (even wagons) of iconic intermediates like the Chevelle, Cutlass, LeMans, Torino and Montego, Dodge didn’t offer …
Refinements enhance 2012 Honda CR-V’s appeal
The Honda CR-V has been a segment leader since, well, forever. Sales reached record highs this year, and Honda could have gone into 2012 with an unaltered CR-V and done quite nicely. So, rather than standing pat or undergoing a radical change, Honda took an …
2012 Nissan Altima remains competitive
The 2012 Nissan Altima is in a holding pattern in the high-profile and highly coveted midsize sedan market. Consider that both Kia and Hyundai have fresher midsize offerings, Toyota spruced up the Camry and Chevrolet just introduced the 2013 Malibu. Ford recently unveiled the all-new …
Chrysler 300 SRT8: A gentleman’s hot rod
Where the previous generation Chrysler 300 was big, chunky and bold, the latest version introduced for this year is refined and elegant. The 300 definitely looks the part of a large luxury cruiser, until you add the SRT8 gingerbread and performance enhancements to it. Then …
Nissan NV van inspires competitor envy
Is nothing sacred in the vehicle segment anymore? For eons if you needed a pickup, SUV or full-size van, you went to one of the Big 3 automakers. Then Toyota loosened the Big 3’s stranglehold on full-size pickups and SUVs; Nissan followed closely behind. This …
Hyundai puts Accent on looks, economy
Are Americans looking for feature-laden, sporty, inexpensive small cars or do they want low prices, fuel economy and interior space? Hyundai chose the latter with the all-new 2012 Hyundai Accent. The 2012 Accent line comes in sedan and five-door hatchback models in three different trims …
Spunky 2012 Kizashi earns respect
Wanted: a budget-conscious car buyer looking for an economical midsize four-door sedan with design flair, good build construction and handling chops. All I can say is just imagine what Suzuki could do if the automaker had a bigger advertising budget. Most buyers hear Suzuki and …
Volkswagen CC brings sensibility to compact segment
Our definition of a perfect compact sedan is one that seats just four people. What’s the point of squeezing a fifth person in a “compact” car anyway? That’s what we like about the Volkswagen CC – it’s a truly comfortable, compact four-door sedan. Imagine yourself …
Tires go high tech for improved handling
For a majority of drivers, tires are just the “black rubber doughnuts” upon which the car rolls. Tires are actually one of the most important components on a vehicle from a comfort, safety and performance standpoint. While attending a “Classroom Behind the Wheel” drive event …
