Distinctive Look in the Crossover Class
The Lexus RX did to premium midsize crossovers what the Toyota Camry did to mainstream midsize sedans. In defining the segment, the RX inevitably succumbed to the compromises of having widespread appeal. The inside was exceptionally quiet, but the handling was numb; the inside was roomy, but the body design was eggish; it was always nice but never exceptional. The polished features straddled luxury and mainstream very well until every...
Drone Racing Could Become the Next Big Sport
Imagine careening through the forest chasing Stormtroopers on speeder bikes as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia did in a famous scene from Star Wars, flying around trees and ducking under branches. A group of drone operators created that sensation for Internet viewers when they recently raced their camera-equipped robotic quadcopters through a forest. The video went viral. It is that virtual reality experience of sitting inside the...
Hang On, for a Trip Back in Time
The 2016 Nissan 370Z will not go quietly. But then again, it is not a quiet vehicle. Nothing about it slips silently into the night, for this is the iconic Asian muscle car, benefitting from more than four decades of development. Yet for all of its sophistication, its character is not unlike that of a college grad who spent his entire career enjoying the fruits of frat life. You can’t help but notice its classic lines, with a sinuous...
Wheels: Performance Hype Aside, Lexus IS 350 F-Sport Is a Good Luxury Value
Cornwall, N.Y. — There is a lot of hubris in global automotive marketing — lots of bragging about racetrack testing, about a car’s ability to hug curves and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in six seconds or less. The companies are so earnest and they spend so much money, talent and production time on these messages, you’d think that all of us drive on racetracks, or carefully monitor stopwatches as we move from “stop” to “go,” or...
Nuts and Bolts: Lexus IS 350 F Sports
Bottom line: If you are shopping entry-level luxury and looking for an alternative to BMW and Audi, the Lexus IS Series — models 250 or 350, available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive — is a good place to start. The Lexus series offers good styling, comfort, safety and performance. Ride, acceleration and handling: The Lexus IS 350 F Sport all-wheel-drive sedan gets good marks in all three categories. Head-turning quotient: It has a...
