Jim Bray, CFP Automotive Editor

Escort’s Redline helps you fight back against Big Brother’s cash grabs

There's a new weapon in consumers' battle to keep more of their hard-earned after tax income from cash-grabbing governments.

Titan and Tacoma: A tale of two tough trucks

Big or small, there's a Japanese truck for nearly all.

War Horse on Blu-ray

Steven Spielberg once again proves he can play his audience like a violin with War Horse, a kind of "Forrest Gump for horses" crossed with a little bit of "Ben-Hur for horses," in that the movie follows Joey the horse, and Joey goes through all kinds of adventures and trials.

Introducing the FitDesk, and an iHome Mini-speaker that offers pretty good sound, portability

Bluetooth speakers such as iHome's iDM11 are getting more common all the time, and on the whole they're a great idea because they can offer incredible flexibility and freedom for their users.

Porsche Cayman R – Grrrrrrreat fun!

Introducing the sports car whose name may have been inspired by Talk like a Pirate Day: the Porsche Cayman ARRRRRR!

VW crafts a hot hatch with no hatch

You could call it the hot Jetta. And you'd be right. The VW Jetta GLI is basically a GTI with buttocks, in that it isn't a hatchback like the Golf-based GTI, but rather is a sedan – like, er, the Jetta. It's the most entertaining Jetta you can buy off the shelf. And needless to say, it's a blast.

Epson LCD projector a fine home theater experience

If you want the best home theater experience, and you have the room for it, nothing can beat a front projection system. And if you're looking for value, Epson has a line of three LCD projectors that offer excellent performance for the dollar.

Porsche Carrera 4: Saying goodbye to an old friend

It's been loved and lusted after, but now it's like the wizened old guy on new year's eve, the old who's rung out to make way for the bouncing baby new year that's rung in.

Zagg’s FLEX-ible Bluetooth keyboard, Epson’s flexible label maker, and Eagle Vision flexes its rock

Apple's iDevices have certainly spawned a cottage industry of companies making stuff to enhance the iExperience, including Bluetooth keyboards that can arguably let you type more naturally than you can on the iDevices' built in virtual keyboard.

Entry level Lexus offers luxury, hybrid performance – but not a lot of “Go!”

The "littlest Lexus" returns for 2012 in much the same form as in its 2011 debut, but with some minor upgrades and packages that could make it more compelling for those who like a little "joy" with their luxury.

Losing weight through technology – and some apps to help your PC run better

How does a writer with a sedentary lifestyle lose 25 pounds if he doesn't want to do physical stuff like join a gym? And how does such a person keep his PC from drowning in virtual fat considering all the applications he's constantly adding and deleting?

Volkswagen’s new Passat a big, smooth ride

You can get it as a diesel or in gas-powered five and six cylinder models, but however you configure your power train you may just discover that the 2012 Volkswagen Passat is a top car in the mainstream midsize class.

DXG camcorder gives 1080p 3D on a budget

Whether or not 3D is going to be the next greatest thing or – as I think it will be – just a flash in the pan fad is not yet plain. Despite that, however, 3D is here and 3D-compliant devices continue to proliferate, with prices getting downright entry level.

“Teaching” guitar helps you learn without fretting excessively about it

Have you ever wanted to learn the guitar but couldn't afford the lessons? Has the inability to read music stymied you? Do guitar tablatures cause your eyes to glaze like a fresh donut?

New, New Beetle a step forward for the car, a step backward for the cuteness

It's a Beetle you probably won't want to stomp on, unless you're only referring to what your foot does to the accelerator pedal.

Bavaria Takes on the Cute Ute Market

BMW's entry into the small sport utility market is the new X1, a vehicle recognizable instantly as a BMW, which should come as a relief to BMW fans around the world. It's all BMW, too, but smaller and more affordable than the company's established X3 and X5 SUV's.

Silent classic, Sci-Fi classic, and Godly message come to Blu-ray

Three Blu-rays that have debuted over the past couple of weeks deserve mention, but for three very different reasons. One looks back, one looks ahead, and the third looks up for heavenly guidance.

Bose Bluetooth Speaker - Sounds Good to Me!

Bose's SoundLink wireless mobile speaker is a nice, portable way to get your favorite tunes from your smart phone or tablet to your ears. It offers very good sound in a package small enough to pack in your carry-on luggage so you can take it on the road with you.

Mazda3 Promises Earth-Friendly Zoom-Zoom

You might think Mazda using a word like "SKYACTIV" to describe its products might mean it has come up with a practical flying car. You'd be wrong, of course – not that Mazdas can't fly along the road in their own right. They do, after all, offer "Zoom-Zoom."

Trio of Contenders Help Heat up Tablet Market

Apple's iPad created a market seemingly out of nowhere, and now everyone and his dog is trying to get a piece of the market it spawned.