First Drives | autoinsane

2011 Chevrolet Cruze is the game changer the compact segment has needed for years

Published August 2, 2010 by Zane Merva

Up until recently, the US consumer really couldn’t expect much from the compact car segment. Did it have four wheels, a cheap price, and get decent fuel economy? If so, then that was all you could really ask for. Special features like USB ports, heated seats, or a decent comfortable interior were, at most, a pipe dream. Small cars were only for folks who couldn’t afford a larger one. The 2011 Chevy Cruze changes all that.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze First Drive photo gallery

Published July 28, 2010 by Zane Merva

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Although we’re under embargo for our driving impressions of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, we are allowed to share with you all the photos we took on our drive of the new compact competitor yesterday.

First Drive: 2011 Buick Regal delivers smooth style & solid European handling

Published June 3, 2010 by Zane Merva

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Last week I had the chance to sample the completely new 2011 Buick Regal on the roads and highways of Southern California. We’ve been foaming at the mouth at a chance to get behind the wheel of the Regal ever since it was introduced in LA last year. Could the car that was almost a Saturn really deliver as a Buick? Lets find out.

First Drive: 2010 GMC Terrain

Published September 18, 2009 by Zane Merva

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Think of it as the bold alternative to the Chevy Equinox- We’re behind the wheel of the new (and surprisingly great) 2010 GMC Terrain.

First Drive: 2010 Buick LaCrosse

Published July 28, 2009 by Zane Merva

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Buick hit a home-run when they introduced the Enclave in 2008 begging the question, “What’s next?” The 2010 LaCrosse is the answer. Can GM revive the Buick name with the same success as they did with Cadillac? We drive the totally new LaCrosse and find out.

First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Published June 23, 2009 by Zane Merva

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Take one part reinvented family sedan and mix vigourously with two parts turbo-charger. What do you get? A Ford Taurus with 102 more horsepower and one hell of a ride.

2010 Ford Taurus: Meet the new benchmark

Published June 22, 2009 by Zane Merva

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As an idea, reinventing the Taurus and pushing it as the new flagship of Ford Motor Company is on par with an 90’s one hit wonder reuniting for another try at Billboard top 25. It’s risky, a classic disaster in the making unless you can actually pull it off. Ford took that gamble and competitors beware, they’ve got a brand new hit.

First Drive Photo Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

Published March 26, 2009 by Zane Merva

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Toyota’s third generation Prius is on the road and we’ve got a full photo gallery of our first drive with the hybrid standard of the world.

First Drive: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Published March 20, 2009 by Zane Merva

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Ford’s new 2010 Fusion Hybrid is the latest introduction to the word of hybrid electric cars and we’ve had a chance to jump behind the wheel. How does it drive? Is it evolutionary or revolutionary? Does the SmartGauge system really work or is it just a gimmick? Here’s the details and our impressions of the 2010 Fusion Hybrid. You don’t want to miss this.

We’ll be driving the new 2010 Toyota Prius- what do you want to know?

Published March 2, 2009 by Zane Merva

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The plane ticket has just been booked and we’re scheduled to take Toyota’s new 2010 Prius for a first drive later this month. So we want to know- what do you want to know?