Jim Bray, CFP Automotive Editor

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.

TechnoFile’s 2010 Awards for Interesting Technological Achievement

The bearded old man's ready to ring out the old, but before he does that let's take a look at some of the most intriguing technological toys to have crossed our virtual threshold in 2010.

Jeep’s Grand New Cherokee

While it might have been a government-bailed out basket case only a year or so ago, if the new Jeep Grand Cherokee is any indication of Chrysler's direction there may be hope for the company after all.

Looking for Avatar in 3D? Look to Panasonic

The biggest blockbuster in history is already available on Blu-ray in two versions, but if you're looking for the supposed "ultimate" version of James Cameron's "Avatar" you'll have to visit your local Panasonic dealer to find it.

What’s New: Toyota Camry LE and Honda CR-Z

One's a new design and one's a respected mainstream car. And while both offer decidedly different driving experiences, they have in common the fact that they both acquit their makers' mandates well.

Disney Docs Look Inside The Magic Kingdom

Three new documentaries from Disney offer fascinating peeks at a trio of very different, but very interesting, facets of the Walt Disney Studios. Unfortunately, they're only available on DVD right now, not Blu-ray, though that could change in the future.

Ford Mustang V6 Convertible – Ponying Up Topless Fun

When it comes to having fun in a Mustang, you don't absolutely need a V8 engine. Okay, an "eight banger" does up the oomph ante substantially, but with today's six cylinder engines now putting out power that was once reserved for eight or more cylinders, it's amazing to see just how quickly you can go from zero to "Oops, sorry Officer" in a V6.

Bose Lifestyle System – Great Sound, Easy to Use

Leave it to Bose to come up with a home theater in a box that not only sounds good, but which is child's play to set up. Home theaters in a box are nothing new, but they're generally lower end systems that focus on price. Bose has upped that ante with the Lifestyle V35 Home Entertainment System, which not only gives you a great-sounding 5.1 channel audio system into which you can hook your other audio and video sources, but which has also been designed to be so easy to unpack and connect that a chimpanzee can do it.

Fall Festival of Blu-rays Floods Stores for Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, if the increasing shower of big new Blu-ray titles on store shelves is any indicator. After a fairly quiet autumn, the studios have pulled out all the stops with releases timed to coincide with, if not actually to reflect, the Christmas giving and/or receiving season.

Ford Fiesta Meets Scion xD

One's a Canadian Car of the Year contender, the other's a boxy hauler. But which one's a better car? Well, if you believe the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada members, it would have to be the Ford Fiesta, the company's new-to-North-America entry level car that scored top marks in its class at the recent Canadian Car of the Year TestFest. Fiesta bested the Scion xD compared here, as well as three other entrants for the title of Best Small Car under $21,000 (Canadian dollars).

Bowers and Wilkins Computer Speakers Rock

Computer speakers aren't the sexiest things in the world of audio, but they can sure increase your enjoyment of games, streaming media, computer-based music files, and the like.

Porsche’s Iconic Sports Car a Wolf in Any Clothing

Driving a Porsche 911 is like having nary a "Carrera" in the world. Or something like that.

2011 Mercedes Put Author At “E’s”

Mercedes-Benz' E Class vehicles offer some compelling choices for drivers looking for a car that's state-of-the-art innovative, comfortable and classy.

Axiom’s Home Theater Axioms Help Boost Enjoyment

Buying and setting up a home theater can be a real adventure in frustration. Living with it shouldn't be, though.

Acura RL Offers Comfort, Technology

Acura's freshened flagship may not be all new, but it's still a great tool for the right audience.

Panasonic Betting Big Time on 3D TV

Is 3D the next "New Coke" or the greatest innovation since sliced bread?