Articles by Jonathan Spira
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Review and Report
In the U.S., the Passat has had a bit of an identity crisis. First introduced as the Passat in Germany in 1973
and developed from the Audi 80/Fox platform (VW had acquired Audi in 1964), the …
Infiniti M Hybrid (M35h) Review and Road Test
Hybrids are boring, lackluster automobiles that simply cannot deliver great performance and fuel economy – at least that’s the typical perception your average new car buyer might have. Enter Infiniti with the M Hybrid, a …
BMW, Mercedes to Offer Diesels in Japan
X5 xDrive35d and E350 BlueTec On Display at Tokyo Motor Show
Jonathan Spira reports live from the Tokyo Motor Show
While diesels may rule the Autobahn, automakers have faced an uphill battle in gaining acceptance for oilburners …
2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 BlueTec 4Matic Review and Test Drive
The Mercedes-Benz R350 BlueTec is a true puzzle and, in many respects, defies categorization. It’s a crossover, but a very large one. It’s a minivan – at least it’s large enough to be one. It’s …
2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Nine Month Review and Report
While we only picked up our long-term 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI back in February of this year, our relationship with the new built-for-America Jetta started in the summer of 2010, when The Diesel Driver was …
Vote for the 2012 Diesel Car of the Year
Voting for the 2012 Diesel Car of the Year has started. Four companies, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, currently offer diesel passenger cars in the U.S.
This year’s stellar field of nominees includes seven passenger cars; …
2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec Diesel Three Month Review and Report
Last November, I drove the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec sedan from New York to Boston and back and promptly fell in love. The trip of 331 km (206 miles) took three hours and my fuel consumption …
Shipping the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec to the U.S.
The inevitable epilogue of every European Delivery trip is referred to as “drop-off,” the point at which the owner hands over his car to the shipper for ocean transport to the United States.
We dropped off …
Jaguar’s New Hybrid Sports Car: The C-X16 Production Concept
The Jaguar C-X16 sports car is a hybrid albeit a rather unusual one. The high-performance hybrid system is activated via a red button on the steering wheel, adding 70 kW (95 hp) and 235 Nm …
Jaguar Land Rover to Offer Diesel Engines in the U.S.
Jaguar Land Rover will offer U.S. customers the option of a diesel-powered Land Rover in the next few years, although the timeframe has yet to be determined and it is likely not to be imminent.
The …
2011 BMW X5 xDrive35d Review and First Drive
The BMW X5, which first appeared in 1999 as a 2000 model, was completely redesigned for the 2007 model year. In 2009, BMW of North America introduced the diesel-powered X5 xDrive35d alongside the BMW 335d. …
Mercedes-Benz European Delivery – The Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec Diesel Sedan
Out of the five automakers that offer European Delivery programs in the United States – Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volvo – only two, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, currently offer diesels via their program.
Mercedes-Benz offers customers …
