We recently got the chance to test out two versions of the latest hot sport sedan from Buick. The Regal name has been revived in an effort to continue to try and bring the Buick brand into the sights of a younger buyer and steal some customers away from brands like Acura, Lexus and BMW. GM has decided to use it’s European branded Opel Insignia as a base for the Regal here in the states and they have merely changed the fascias slightly and put American power plants in place to market the car to the current luxury buyer. Click through for more and to see how the Regal fared when put to the test.
Buick Discovery Tour Event: Giving A Taste of Something Different
After the excursions there was a final experience, a very special wine tasting hosted by the famous Michael Green and a special cooking demonstration by renowned chef, Michael Psilakis. In this very special demonstration Michael shared a special recipe as well as some great stories about his past and his various inspirations. It was truly a unique experience to be in the presence of such great creativity and talent. Buick and Michael even went so far as to give everyone a signed copy of Micheal’s new book, “How to Roast a Lamb”. Overall I think Buick accomplished what they set out to prove… If we open our minds and try to break the preconceived ideas of what we think we know,You can be pleasantly surprised.
2011 Los Angeles Auto Show
We visited the LA Auto Show and were there to give you the best coverage of all the concepts and debuts from
the show floor. Check out the pics in the slideshow above or click on the “More” link below to view the gallery of all the photos we captured.
All photos courtesy of Jim Donnelly Photo
Road Test: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V vs. Audi A8L "Jekyll, Meet Hyde"
Life is full of polar opposites. For every man in a corner office endlessly gazing over spreadsheets there is a man who prides himself in the amount of light bulbs he can eat in one sitting. As much as the one looks down on the other, there is an unspoken acknowledgment that the one begat the other. And so we have come to a crossroads where two monsters of the luxury market meet. The Audi A8L is a car for the highfalutin, practical, and overall respectable drivers of the world. The Cadillac CTS-V is more of a car for those who exude adrenaline, take life as it comes, and for those who may have a slight tendency to keep their right foot planted to the floor. Both of the vehicles will require a check north of $70k and both offer the prestige and notoriety that you expect from brands like Cadillac and Audi. We have decided to dive deeper into both of these adversarial vehicles and present the information so that you may answer the metaphorical question for yourself… will it be the blue pill or the red pill? Continue Reading →
Quick Look: 2012 Audi A7

Vehicle:
2012 Audi A7 S-Line
Exterior Color:
Interior Color:
Engine: 3.0 TFSI V6 Quattro
310 hp/325 lb-ft Torque
Transmission: Eight-Speed Tiptronic Automatic
MSRP: $59,250
As Tested: $68,630
Exterior Styling: 10/10
The A7 is stunning to look at…with its masculine lines, wide stance, and swooping rear end. The car is perfect from every angle. The S-Line kit really gives it the sporty look it deserves, from the S-Line bumpers down to the 20″ ten-parallel-spoke wheels.
Comparison: BMW E60 vs F10
VS.
So as we finally start to see a large amount of the BMW F10 5-series driving around Los Angeles lately, I wanted to stop and make an observation that this may be one of the more drastic improvements on a car model line in some years. The Chris Bangle years for BMW have now come and gone and there is no more “flame surfacing” to be seen on many of the current lineup. The new F10 5 Series is now a strong and sporty sedan that I would not be ashamed to be seen in. The E60 always seemed too bulky and out of place in the BMW lineup; I would also say the same about the 6 series of the Bangle era. Would love to get some other opinions on notable changes to a car model that drastically improved from the outgoing model? Sent your tweets to @theignitionblog and let us know what you think.
Road Test: 2011 Tesla Roadster Sport "It's Electric"
In the current automotive market there are a very limited number of brands competing for customers and you don’t often hear of all new brands entering in trying to compete with the major established brands. I can actually count on my hand the number of companies that have started up producing cars in the last decade and there are far less that anyone would consider having been an actual success. Yet back in 2003 Elon Musk and a group of others decided they could make an all electric sports car to compete with the likes of Porsche and Lotus to prove their electric technology was feasible in a production car. They believed this technology would eventually be used in sedans and compacts to replace gasoline and move their company into the mainstream market. As we take the keys to this Tesla Roadster Sport the company has announced the last batch of cars will roll off the assembly line in the coming year to end production. Having produced and sold around 1,600 Roadsters worldwide, the company believes it is ready to move forward to its expansion into more affordable mainstream vehicles. We push the button on the center console to start up the motor and quietly head out to the streets of Santa Monica to see if this is the future of the American automotive scene or just another start up that will only live on in our memories.
Top Ten: "Ten Best Cars Under $20,000"
Many readers and friends of mine have been asking me what is the best deal out there for affordable and reliable small cars that are good on gas and fun to drive to work, school, etc. I decided to share a list of vehicle I believe are great to start your search and help you not get stuck into a Chevy Aveo or a Kia Rio by a man in suspenders at the local dealer. Each of these vehicles would be a great choice and the best one for you may just involve different preferences and needs. Shop around but stay informed and know what else is out there.























































































































































Recent Comments