Jim Bray, CFP Automotive Editor

Mazda6 V6 Ups the “Zoom-Zoom” Ante

Mazda's largest sedan continues to be a compelling drive as it reaches about the middle of its life span. The Mazda6, like the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata and about a thousand other models, actually occupies the "mid-size" rather than the "full-size" niche – and is, in my never humble opinion, one of the most attractive sedans on the market these days. It's not only easy on the eyes, though, it also performs its function as a practical four door family car very well.

Mitsubishi RVR, Nissan Juke - A Tale of Two CVT Crossovers

One has a schnoz like Darth Vader's mask, the other looks like a legless frog on a skateboard, and the makers of both vehicles think they represent compelling solutions to customers' need for a small and capable crossover/wagon. Do they? It depends upon what you're looking for in a vehicle, of course.

NaturallySpeaking 11 Promises More Natural Speaking

Not all Dragons are fierce creatures, mythical flying beasts of legend. Nuance's Dragon, in fact, is an excellent tool for taking your – or someone else's – spoken words and turning them into printed words or actual deeds. And with version 11 of its Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice recognition software, Dragon-maker Nuance have given us what's easily the best I've tried.

Utility Meets Political Correctness

Mercedes-Benz' "entry level" SUV offers a lot of benefits for the luxury-minded consumer, while Toyota's third generation Prius is a rolling political statement that's definitely not aimed at the automotive enthusiast. Let's talk about the Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 4MATIC first. I got my test sample just as we received a bunch of snow, and it proved to be a wonderful time to test such a vehicle – except that it forced me to actually leave the house on some very, very chilly days.

Warner, Fox Movies Come to Smart Phones

If you've ever wanted to watch a movie on a tiny screen, Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox want to help you achieve that goal. Warners is launching what it says are "groundbreaking App Editions" of the Christopher Nolan films "The Dark Knight" and "Inception", which I have to admit is a pretty good place to start the collection.

Blu-rays offer Something Old, Something New, Something Furry, Someone Blue

Two recent Blu-ray releases show that just because a movie's old doesn't mean it has to look that way – and that just because a movie is new and state-of-the-art doesn't mean it'll automatically look great.

New Explorer Covers New Territory for Ford

Quebec, Canada – It bristles with high tech new features, and Ford is hoping its new Explorer will be discovered by armies of consumers searching for just the right big SUV. 
Ford introduced the all-new 2011 Explorer to a group of media folk at a "Winter Adventure" in the ultra-frosty climes of Quebec City and environs, an event that also proved the value of a good heating system for that time of year, when the temperature drops to near Absolute Zero.

Lexus IS and GS 350 AWD – a Fine Pair Gets All Wheel Drive

Lexus has been an incredible success story for Toyota since its introduction more than 20 years ago, when the outstanding LS400 luxury sedan not only dared to challenge the European luxury models, it kicked sand in their grilles in the process. Since then there has been a succession of great and somewhat great vehicles from Lexus as the brand expanded to fill new luxury niches. That evolution added the IS and GS rear drive sedans to the mix (so far), the SC coupe, a series of SUV's – and the front drive ES and HS hybrid.

Samsung Galaxy S Captivates Android Market

Samsung's Galaxy S phone is an excellent example of the smart phone genre. It – actually, they – is not only a good phone, but thanks to all the apps you can get, the Galaxy is also an excellent productivity tool. As hinted at above, Samsung doesn't only offer one Galaxy phone but, rather, some variations on the theme. I happen to own a Galaxy S Vibrant, and recently spent a couple of weeks playing with the Galaxy S Captivate, a phone I don't like as much overall as my S Vibrant so far as usability is concerned, though I prefer the way you get at its battery.

ToddyGear Wipes Away Screen Woes

It works wirelessly, hand in hand with your smart phone, portable computer or even your flat panel TV. Yet it doesn't require batteries – or electricity of any kind except, perhaps static. Not only that but, unlike most of the hand held stuff I write about, if you get it wet it won't give up the ghost in a mighty puff of steam and sparks.

Another Unintended Acceleration Bugaboo Bites the Dust

Now that the Obama regime has admitted there were no electronic problems behind Toyota's supposed unintentional acceleration incidents over the past couple of years, do you think Congress will apologize to Mr. Toyoda? I, for one, am not going to hold my breath.

Honda Civic Still Offers Good Transportation; Si-Tech Wipers Make a Clean Sweep

The 2011 Honda Civic is proof that even a pretty basic car can still offer a decent driving experience. Meanwhile, PIAA's Si-Tech silicone windshield wipers are a nifty item for helping keep a driver's visibility optimal when the weather gets wild. The Civic, whose 2012 replacement was just introduced at the North American International Auto Show, has been going strong in North America since the mid-1970s. I had a 1976 hatchback for three years and, though it was more like today's Honda Fit than today's Civic, it was a fine car that served us very well. Okay, it rusted out to beat the band, but all Japanese cars did back then – they've come a long way since those days.

Abundant Apps Accelerate Android’s Assault on Apple

The Smartphone may be one of the greatest adaptations of computer technology known to Mankind so far for the way it – and the media to which it's attached wirelessly – is putting the world in the palms of our hands. Most familiar through Apple's iPhone, and now the iPad – though the latter is more a tool than a phone while the former is a like the Swiss Army Knife of telephony – smart phones are becoming necessary tools for today's busy and connected citizen.

VW Touareg Ups Its Own Ante for ‘11

It's bigger, more graceful and more efficient than the previous generation and you can get it in a hybrid if that's important to you. It's also comfortable and luxurious, kind of a "less well-heeled man's" Porsche Cayenne. The difficult to spell Touareg is Volkswagen's full-sized SUV and it's a fine one. And for 2011 the Touareg, promoted as the second generation of the vehicle, there are substantial changes from the original model.

Soap Dispenser Brings High Tech Cleanliness to the Loo

Here's one for the paranoid among us: simplehuman has brought to market a sleek and high tech-looking hand soap dispenser whose motion-controlled design helps keep you from contracting cooties. It's the simplehuman "sensor pump", a device the simplehumans who thought it up say dispenses just the right amount of soap "Quick, easy and touch-free – to help prevent the spread of harmful germs."

Next Gen Minivan a Honda You Odyssey

Minivans are the Rodney Dangerfield of the automotive industry: they get no, or little at least, respect. They're not particularly attractive, they're not the most lithe of vehicles nor are they the most subtle. Look no farther than my own life. For years, my wife thought it would be nice to have a minivan and I always found a way to steer our vehicle purchases in different directions. It wasn't hard, since we tend to keep our vehicles until they fall apart and therefore don't sally forth to the local auto mall very much other than to ogle or "goal set".

Gran Turismo 5 – More Than Just a Game

Nearly two years after Gran Turismo 5 Prologue activated the salivary glands of driving game fans worldwide, the full version has finally premiered. Was it worth the wait? You bet. Polyphony Digital's GT5, available for PlayStation 3, is more of a racing simulator than a mere driving game. Or so it seems; I haven't discovered any guns, rocket launchers or the like with which to take out other drivers, though I wouldn't mind finding such stuff! There are no "power ups" either.

Scion xB, tC – One Box, One Sport

There's thinking outside the box, and there's thinking about being inside the box. And whether you're looking to be boxed up or want something a little more fun, Scion thinks it has your number in one of its little numbers. The Scion xB is, indeed, quite boxy, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, while it inspired me to imagine what it must be like to drive a chest freezer on wheels, when all is said and done the xB is a pretty nice car, well built, efficient and even pretty decent to drive.

Samsung Showcases Flexible Screen Solutions at CES 2011

I have seen the future of television and it is flexible. By that, I don't mean that it offers a wide variety of choices, as in the many "smart" and/or Internet-enabled TV's on display at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, though of course that's true. What I mean by flexible is "bendable," as in you can twist the screen or even roll it up like a window blind as was demonstrated by Samsung Mobile Display Company at a suite high up in the Encore Hotel on the Strip.

The 2010 TechnoFile Awards for Interesting Automotive Achievement

It's time for the annual TechnoFile Automotive Awards, where I wrap up the year with a few words about what I thought were the most interesting vehicles of the year.