Above: Jim Gorde reviews the evocative 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Si4.

By Feature Writer Jim Gorde



The new year is upon us and so are a fleet of new automobiles from all corners of the globe. almost every manufacturer has something new or improved up for offer, but there are just a few of these offering that truly stand out of the crowd. One of the most prominent of these is the brand new baby Range Rover - the Evoque.

Above: Daring design statement in a luxury-ute, the Evoque Si4 is a head-turner.

Exterior

For those who remember, Land Rover had displayed the concept vehicle a few years ago and the design was almost too futuristic back then. Fast forward to the present, and that very design has made it through the years, from concept to reality with barely any changes from the original. What that means, is that it is just as stunning even today! Although the proportions might not be massive, it's stance is certainly very unique. From the aggressive and muscular face with the adaptive xenon headlamps, the flared front wheel arches and those high shoulder lines truly evoke the senses as they flow higher and end in a tight rear. The rear skid plate and dual exhausts contribute further to the brute appearance. The sloping roof line means that rear head room is limited, but by no means compromised. And of course, there is that massive glass roof that gives the cabin a…

Above: April Spencer values her family time on road trips in their Dodge Durango, even if rising gas prices means giving up little things like—insulin.

By April Spencer



Even though the gas prices are way out of range for my budget, I cannot stifle my passion for the road. There is nothing more exciting to me than hearing the engine of our automobile roar as I take twists and turns around the mountainside.

For a while the gas prices had been fairly decent. So My husband and I began driving a lot. We would ride back and forth to Richmond Kentucky to see my mother and other times we would drive just for the road appeal. I needed to feel that burst of wind in my hair. I wanted to feel like I was flying and the only way to get that feeling was to hit the open road.

The Need for the Open Road

Whether it be winter, summer, spring or autumn, I still needed to feel the road beneath me. There is nothing like that independence of driving. There is nothing like feeling the freedom of having passion for the road.

Gas prices shot up once more. Our road trips stopped and I fell into a great depression. we could not afford to even have an enjoyable trip to see my mother. The driver's car in our family is the Dodge Durango and I cannot begin to explain to you the passion we have for driving this vehicle.

Above: April's favorite place to be,…

Feature Writer Jim Gorde



The new year has begun and while some people believe it will be the last year we see, automobile companies are choosing to think greener and and out of the box. While there are several new models being launched by almost every automobile manufacturer, most are downsizing either engine capacity, or dropping cylinders altogether in lieu of turbochargers. SO, what does the future have in store for us? Let's take a look ahead at some of the key 2012 models from leading automotive manufacturers.

Above: Shown is the 2012 prototype tester for journalists. The actual 2013 Prius Hybrid may look different.

Toyota

Toyota have a keen eye on the future with more than a few green plans. Apart from introducing the 3rd generation Prius, Toyota have brought in the plug-in hybrid, which allows you to recharge your Prius at your convenience. It allows you to run up to 15 miles on a single charge at 62 mph and has a quick charge time of 3 hours, if you use a standard 120V AC socket. Of course, if you run out of electricity, it will seamlessly switch to hybrid mode. Besides the Prius, Toyota have the new 2012 Camry as well, which gets sharper styling details and some sleek new lines on the outside, while at the same time, incorporating a host of new features for in-cabin communication and entertainment.…

By Jim Gorde



There are cars you like, and then there are cars you would like to have. And there is one automobile manufacturer that aims for the latter - Jaguar. After their takeover by the Indian conglomerate the Tata group, the iconic British luxury sportcar brand has been sort of freed of their confines, so to speak, unleashing bold new designs like the XF and the XJ and also looking at a wider range of models at the same time showing brilliant new concepts like the C-X16 and sportier C-X75.

When the XF sedan was introduced as the production car to the C-XF concept, it retained much of it's concept language and was quite the looker in it's segment, which then comprised the Mercedes W211 E-class, the Audi C6 A6 and the BMW E60 5-series, all of which soon were replaced by the newer W212, C7 and F10 versions respectively. While these automobiles raised the bar in terms of performance and refinement, the Jaguar XF still had the edge of novelty over all of them! And now, Jaguar has added quite a few of the elements many thought went missing in the journey from concept to production. This then, is the 2012 Jaguar XF!



Exterior

The most obvious change on the outside is the addition of the "J-blade" signature LED daytime lights to the adaptive bi-xenon headlamp cluster. There's also a leaner, meaner grille inspired from the larger and bolder XJ, which complements the revised bulging hood and redesigned front front fenders. The sleek lines along the side and the sloping roof remain and look just as great as they did then, as they run smoothly into…

At Road Passion, we are all car mad, road addicted and in love with the drive. For three years, thousands of you visited our old site for the latest road tests and automotive news. Now, we've moved, and a lot has changed!

A Social Community of Roadies

We are now also a social community of roadies. (No, not band roadies—the real roadies, the one's who love the open road.)

To our thousands of visitors and subscribers, thank you for following us to our new combined online magazine and social community—a place for people who are roadies—people who love the smell of a little burnt rubber, a hot tar road on a summer's day, the feel of the wind in hair in a top-down car, the lurch of a dropped clutch, the thrill of a power slide!  And pretty well anything with rubber on rims.



To new visitors, welcome! Buckle up for some serious lateral g's.

The New Road Passion

At the new Road Passion, our correspondents will continue to contribute excellent road tests and features. Our passion for the automobile is undiminished by high gas prices and spiralling insurance rates!…