by Brian Armstead | Mar 22, 2016
I’ve long been a fan of the Toyota Prius. Now in its fourth generation, the popular hybrid vehicle is offered in several trim levels, all with the mission of getting you around comfortably and safely with great fuel economy. But in what was typical for some Toyota...
by Brian Armstead | Mar 4, 2016
When you live in Maryland, USA in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. you get four true seasons each year. Note to Mother Nature: You can have winter back. This year’s treacherous winter was epitomized by “Snowmageddon” a Nor’easter fired storm that dropped 36 inches...
by Brian Armstead | Nov 16, 2015
I’ve long been a fan of Volkswagen products. For many decades, they’ve been big on safety and reliability, and fun to drive. Think Rabbit, Golf, GTI, CC and R32. But they also offer a good value when it comes to affordable sedan performance. Think Jetta and...
by Brian Armstead | Sep 4, 2014
I never believed it would happen. Me, Mr. Mercedes and Audi, in love with a BMW. It’s not that I don’t like Bimmers, I think my aversion to them started when yuppies discovered the brand and started calling the Bimmer a “Beamer.” The reality of it all is that BMW has...
by Brian Armstead | Aug 11, 2014
It’s rare that I absolutely gush over an automobile. After all, as an automotive journalist I drive about 80 new vehicles every year. And yes, we’re talking Porsches, BMWs and Benzes, Bentleys and Bugattis. So when the press folks at Cadillac offered up the all-new...
by Brian Armstead | Jun 14, 2013
I’ve driven some really great cars in my lifetime. Ferraris, Bentleys, Porsches, Mercedes – you name it, and chances are I’ve driven it. That’s the life of an automotive journalist. But my head is still spinning and my heart is still pounding from a recent drive in...
by Brian Armstead | Feb 19, 2013
The Auto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded during the Great Depression. The company eventually evolved into present day Audi, and the four rings that adorn the grilles of the brand’s modern offerings represent the four original...
by Brian Armstead | Jan 3, 2013
It was a scene I did not expect, but should have given the prodigious performance of the 2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed. Not satisfied with the mere 198 mph top speed of the “base” Continental GT, Bentley’s team of engineers, led by the effervescent Brian Gush,...
by Brian Armstead | Jul 12, 2012
When Mercedes-Benz launched the then new GLK in 2009, the auto industry was still in a bad way. Sales were down in every segment, and some questioned the sanity of the German maker for launching a premium, small, SUV into the worst recession the industry had seen in...
by Brian Armstead | Dec 9, 2011
Let me get this out of the way: I’ve been a fan of Mercedes-Benz products for decades. I remember my freshman year in college, when everyone still drove American cars, and my buddy Joe had a mint condition 230 sedan. Yes, it was slow, but it still was a Benz, and I...
