A New Tradition

Posted on June 16, 2013 by

2013 Cadillac XTS AWD Premium
2013 Cadillac XTS AWD Premium Collection. All Photos by Randy Stern

A Victory & Reseda review of the 2013 Cadillac XTS

A long time ago, riding around in a big Cadillac was a huge deal.

A Cadillac would be your calling card that reminded everyone that you made it in life. These big, bold and beautiful machines made an audacious statement of your arrival – and departure. Tail fins, larger than life grilles and acres of chrome were all you need to show off your status to the world for all to see.

Even when Cadillac experimented with smaller vehicles, different design languages, roadsters, SUVs and crossovers, the symbol of the brand was always the “Big Caddy.” It may have switched the drive axle back and forth or have been tweaked with modern interpretations of classic brand design elements; there would always be a “Big Caddy” in the showroom.

The names of the “Big Caddy” evoked a response when they are called: Sixty Special, Series 62, Fleetwood Brougham, Sedan de Ville, DTS…DTS? Perhaps the Escalade would work here.

Still, a three-letter nomenclature yields no response from those pining for a piece of tailfin legend. Art&Science – the brand’s current design language – is the key to today’s Cadillac in an effort to become a truly global luxury brand.

What if there was a Cadillac that was thoroughly modern with the feel of a “Big Caddy?” What if a Cadillac could evoke the past, but laden with the latest of today’s technology and performance?

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Is it a True Sports Car?

Posted on June 12, 2013 by

2013 Scion FR-S 1
2013 Scion FR-S. All photos by Randy Stern

A Victory & Reseda review of the 2013 Scion FR-S

Remember the sports car?

It was one of the greatest sensations that came out of World War II. They were light in weight, offered minimal seating, a lower stance, and they would run like nothing else on the road. Yet, they were temperamental. Many a carburetor was torn down on the kitchen floor from suburban ranch homes to collegiate dorm rooms to ensure that precious fuel would mix well with its small engines.

All of the sudden, the sports car became reliable – and refined. Some sports cars were priced into the higher echelons, so only a few could experience “real” performance. Others remained affordable for everyday enthusiasts and people living their mid-life crisis. The latter group of sports cars is the ones we fondly remember the most.

Aside from the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, what is left for those of us felt slighted by the price tag of the modern sports car? Well, what about the Hyundai Veloster Turbo? Some might say “yes,” but there are times when it is thrown in with the hot hatch crowd. There are others we could argue, but there is a purist definition of a sports car – it must have rear wheel drive.

To bring back the purists, Toyota and Subaru joined forces to create one for us. Subaru calls their version the BRZ. In North America, Toyota’s GT86 is sold as a Scion – the FR-S.

Scion? Really? Continue reading →

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The Golden Boy Returns – In Silver

Posted on June 9, 2013 by

2014 Acura RDX
2014 Acura RDX AWD. All photos by Randy Stern

What a difference a year made for Acura.

After a generation of being a turbocharged small luxury crossover, the luxury division of American Honda reimagined the RDX for a wider audience. The turbocharged four became a V6, while its lines were given some different shapes. It made it softer, more accessible, roomier and nicer than before.

In July of last year, I was fortunate to welcome the Ohio-built RDX for review. It was riding a huge wave of success against higher priced competitors, namely the BMW X3, the Audi Q5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLK. The RDX impressed me so much; I concluded that Acura “has struck gold in this sub-segment.”

That conclusion has resonated even further. As of the end of May of 2013, the RDX has become Acura’s best selling product. From a new generation model start of over 3,000 units last June, May’s tally went up to 4,950 units. In its segment, they are indeed the leaders again – with even wider margins. The mighty X3 only mustered 2,134 units in May of 2013.

Last year, the RDX was a serious competitor in the Vehicle of The Year Award running. Though the Acura TL went through onto the Short List, the RDX simply missed the cut by a hair.

It came as a surprise that the RDX came back to V&R’s care recently. Continue reading →

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Quickies: Mitsubishi’s Latest Savior

Posted on June 8, 2013 by

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander GT 2
2014 Mitsubishi Outlander GT. All photos by Randy Stern

Just when the pundits, the analysts, and the skeptics were predicting the demise of Mitsubishi Motors in North America, there are still signs of life over at the three-diamond brand.

Though volumes are at its smallest since Mitsubishi established a beach head in the USA, the promise of new product is finally showing up on dealer lots. The first of which is the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander, the replacement for its mid-sized crossover that has soldiered on since 2006 in this market. The new global crossover is designed to offer more on a lighter frame, while beefing up its capabilities.

Yes, we have heard this formula before, but will it work in the guise of rebooting Mitsubishi as a competitive brand? I was handed over two versions of the new Outlander for a brief session each to find out.

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Five Favorites for the Next Concours d’Elegance

Posted on June 8, 2013 by

P6022116
Next year…if I bring something to the gig… All photos by Randy Stern

If anything, the 10,000 Lakes Concours d’Elegance helped revisit some old knowledge I forgot about over time.

When I was younger, I used to be fascinated by American cars of the 1940s and 1950s. They were reminders of how good the industry was to this country. Alongside of that interest were other eras and automobile manufacturing countries that added context to the core of my automotive history knowledge.

Yet, knowledge alone does not make one an aficionado of the classics. It takes the experience of owning one to fully grasp their importance in today’s automotive landscape. If you talk to the owners of these classics, you will not only get the story about their vehicles, but how they are able to get it to driving shape.

In turn, these owners have to know everything about their vehicle. The history is one component, but it takes even creating a directory to find parts when things go wrong, insurance to make sure it is covered properly and connecting with clubs – locally an worldwide – to share knowledge about their classic.

What if I wanted to participate more in the classic car scene? Which vehicles would I be able to own, care for, show off and participate in its pertinent meets?

Sounds like another Five Favorites to me…

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A Concours by The Lake

Posted on June 4, 2013 by

P6022102
The Lake, some lovely cars, a perfect day… All Photos by Randy Stern

When you think of the term “Concours d’Elegance,” two names come up immediately: Pebble Beach and Amelia Island.

They both exude an air of excellence when it comes to the exhibition and competition of vintage and classic automobiles. There is an air of grandeur amongst its participants – in cars and its owners. Judging for “Best of Show” is taken to extraordinary heights where worthy competitors must be absolutely perfect.

Not every Concours events have the same air as Pebble Beach and Amelia Island. In almost every metropolitan area, you will find a Concours event that shows off the finest in automobiles; an air of luxury from its sponsors; fine food and hospitality; some judging of participants and a worthy benefactor for its proceeds. Nor are they equal to each other. Some Concours events are considered very laid back, while others try their best to be another Pebble Beach or Amelia Island.

Having never been to a Concours, I was happy to see one being organized in the Twin Cities. A booth at the Twin Cities Auto Show, tucked away at the vendor room, announced the first annual 10,000 Lakes Concours d’Elegance for June 2 in the West Metro community of Excelsior.

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Imported from Sterling Heights

Posted on June 3, 2013 by

2013 Chrysler 200 Touring S 22
2013 Chrysler 200 Touring w/S Exterior Appearance Package. All photos by Randy Stern

A Victory & Reseda review of the 2013 Chrysler 200

I have a confession to make: I am closet Moparian.

What is a Moparian? It is a social media-driven term of endearment used by Chrysler’s parts, service, accessories, motorsports and lifestyle brand – Mopar. For 75 years, the former “Motor Parts” division embodied the enthusiasm by Chrysler Group’s loyal customers regardless of the brand of their actual vehicle.

It began when I was a toddler. It would be insane to admit that I recalled my father’s 1965 Plymouth Satellite coupe – a white one with a black vinyl interior and roof – at an age when children were supposed to form sentences. For a child to recall the sound of the starter coming to life in any given Chrysler from the 1960s and 1970s would be puzzling to a any early childhood educator or child psychologist.

It was not the 1965 Satellite that cemented my Moparian status. It was the second Plymouth dad bought – a 1970 Barracuda. It was not one of the high performance models – just a regular old metallic blue model with a blue vinyl interior and a white roof. Yet, it was something truly special. Of the vehicles that were part of my childhood – that was my favorite one.

Just like my Bear identity (with a slight dip in the chub/chaser pool from time-to-time), being a Moparian embodies a sense of pride. There are no parades to attend (except a NHRA drag race or several…or, the Woodward Dream Cruise), flags to fly (though Mopar has some cool swag and clothing available through their website, as well other Chrysler and Fiat brands) or political groups to support (unless Sergio Marchionne gets summoned to Congress for some hearing, then we rally to educate the Members of Congress about “Halftime in America”). Moparians are loyal to the core. We love our freedom as much as you do.

Sadly, I do not own a Chrysler product. There are some in my field that believe I should. Rather, if I did, my objectivity would fall by the wayside when presented with other non-Mopar products to review for you. Still, when something is in your blood, you can never deny what it is in your lifetime. A lesson for all of us, I believe.

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#VnRChat – The Agenda for the June 2013 Chat

Posted on May 31, 2013 by

2012 Ford F-150 Raptor
We could be talking about this… Photo by Randy Stern

Did you miss V&R Chat?

It missed you, too. Took a month off due to scheduling issues, but V&R Chat (#VnRChat on Twitter) is back and kicking off the month of June with a huge chat show. It is on Sunday, June 2 at 8:00PM Eastern Time (7:00PM Central) on Twitter. Please use the hashtag #VnRChat to follow and participate on Twitter. It is suggested to use a website or program – such as TweetChat – to get the full effect of the chat itself.

The agenda is as follows:

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How to Make a Better CX-5

Posted on May 29, 2013 by

2014 Mazda CX-5 2.5 Grand Touring 5
2014 Mazda CX-5 2.5 Grand Touring AWD. All photos by Randy Stern

A Victory & Reseda review of the 2014 Mazda CX-5

There was that feeling of deja vu.

Back in October, I attended the Midwest Automotive Media Association Fall Rally outside of Chicago. As my return vehicle from the event, I drove back to the Twin Cities in the new 2013 Mazda CX-5. It was one of the vehicles I had my eye on when it was introduced and it not bad at all. I concluded my review by stating that the Skyactiv 2.0litre version of the CX-5 was “a smooth riding, easy to use and distinctive little buddy for commuting to work and back and anything else that needs to be done afterwards.”

Good praise is earned, but given with the utmost care. Yet, what kept the CX-5 from being absolutely great was that Skyactiv 2.0litre engine. It is a competent motor, but the CX-5′s relative weight called for more capability. We got the idea that fuel efficiency was the key driver to creating the CX-5 in its introductory state, but this market demands a lot more than efficiency.

Move forward to May and the MAMA Spring Rally in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Again, I was presented with a vehicle to drive back home in. It turned to be another Mazda CX-5. It was the same trim level – the Grand Touring with all-wheel drive. This meant I was very familiar with the equipment level, the TomTom navigation system and so forth. Strangely enough, it was the same exterior color – Solar Red.

You might think that they kept the 2.0litre version around for me to drive again. It was a bit different. This version I drove home in is the 2014 model with the new Skyactiv 2.5litre engine. This is where things got interesting…a new engine to test out from Mazda!

Obviously, the question is whether Mazda made the right move by adding the 2.5litre Skyactiv engine to its small crossover offering.

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Living the Dream at Road America – Final Thoughts

Posted on May 26, 2013 by

Welcome to Road America
Photo by Randy Stern

I am not done talking about this very important event in this automotive writer’s life.

In the past few pieces, I took you through the psychosis of getting through a day-and-a-half of new experiences, new venues, new contacts and colleagues – along with reconnecting with others. There were plenty of firsts to recount – some worth ticking off the bucket list.

If there was one thing I walked away from the Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally this past week was a renewed vigor for this work.

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