Accelerate Mpls

You know what they say…,..40 is the new 30. Well it is sure is when it comes to miles per gallon these days. With gasoline well over $4 per gallon in many cities, consumers are starting to look to fuel efficient cars, and 40 mpg is quickly becoming the new standard.

Back when I reviewed the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, I deemed it the most competitive compact car on the market. Thing is, quite a few competitors have launched new compact cars since then, with more on the way. I spent a week with the Eco model of the Chevrolet Cruze to see if it is still top of the compact class, and to determine if that 42 mpg highway rating really realistic. Read More…

You know, I read an article once about a group of Volkswagen Touareg owners that got together to go off-roading a few times a year. These owners were proud to have a Volkswagen SUV that could truly go off-road, competing with the best that Jeep and others had to offer. Sadly, this group was the minority when it comes to Touareg owners.

Most people want a SUV/CUV that has the ability to tow and maybe go off-road, but mostly they just want to get little Suzy to school through the snow and make it to Costco before it closes. Volkswagen gets this reality and when it came time for the second generation Touareg, it kept little Suzy and her parents in mind. Lets see how it turned out. Read More…

A little over a year ago I reviewed a 2010 Chevrolet Traverse and deemed it to be a highly competitive entry into a cut-throat segment. While some things have changed in the auto industry over the past year, the Traverse has not. I recently spent some time in a 2011 Traverse AWD LTZ to see if, after a year, the big CUV is still as competitive today as it was a year ago. Read More…

I’ve had quite a few press cars over the past year, but never have I gotten chills by merely backing into my garage. This was different. Here is is a car that many prayed would see production before General Motors even announced its existence.

So aside from the fact that for many auto enthusiasts, the CTS-V Wagon is nothing short of a dream, is the finished product everything we hoped it would be? Is it perfect? I spent a week with the CTS-V Wagon seeking answers to all my questions. I also tried to find the meaning of life. Lets see what I learned. Read More…

If you’ve read my review of the 2011 Buick Regal CXL, you’ll note that there were two things I was not terribly happy with. The first was mainly the user interface for the infotainment system. The second was the powertrain. I really harped on that point, as Buick is marketing the Regal as a sport injected vehicle.

So when I was handed the keys to a 2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo, the main question going through my head was simple: did a turbo really fix my qualms with the powertrain? Is the Buick Regal CXL Turbo the sport injected Buick that we are being promised in the new marketing? After a week with the car, I have found my answer. Read More…

While I have already posted my review, I wanted to share my quick video overview of the 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum.

Full Disclosure- The review vehicle was provided by General Motors

When you have a vehicle that sells well, a redesign can keep product planners up at night. The Ford Edge is just such a vehicle. So is the second generation a sharpened Edge, or did Ford mess with a good thing?

I recently spent a week with the second generation Ford Edge SEL to see if it is even better than the first generation.
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While I have already posted my review, I wanted to share my quick video overview of the 2011 Mitsubishi Evolution MR.

Full Disclosure – The review vehicle was provided by Mitsubishi

If I asked you what the last generation Kia Optima looked like, you would probably have no idea. You would also probably not be able to tell me one thing about it. In fact, if you were looking at a group of de-badged cars, you probably couldn’t pick one out. That’s a problem. Though, once you see the new Kia Optima, you will have none of these issues. Read More…

In my short time on this earth, the Buick Regal has never been a car that seemed like it was sport injected. Yet for some years that was the marketing that went along with the nameplate. Sure, from 1997 to 2004 you could get a supercharged V-6 in a Regal. But did that really make it sporty?

Now we have a new Regal, and yes, it is sport injected. At least that is what the marketing tells us. I recently spent a week with the new Regal to see if the marketing really translates to the pavement. Read More…