Frank Markus

3 days ago | motortrend.com | Frank Markus

It’s tricky for Americans to appreciate the magnitude of the technology gap that has formed and continues growing between new Chinese cars and those being produced elsewhere in the developed world. That’s because our market has effectively been walled off, at least from China’s homegrown brands and global nameplate electric cars.

1 week ago | motortrend.com | Frank Markus

Comparison tests don’t get more Pure Michigan than this one. These luxury SUVs were all primarily designed and developed in southeast Michigan by the Detroit Three. The bosses overseeing development had particularly keen interest in how each turned out, because these are the rigs they use to haul their broods and tow their boats up north—it’s a Michigan thing, if you didn’t know—to their lake retreats.

1 week ago | flipboard.com | Frank Markus

2 days agoRetirement changes how a car fits into daily life. It’s no longer about beating rush hour traffic or racking up miles on work commutes. For those stepping back this summer, a reliable, comfortable and low-maintenance vehicle is the smarter play — something to enjoy without headaches. Trending Now: 5 …

1 week ago | motortrend.com | Frank Markus

John and Jane Public aren’t warming to electric cars at the rate many in the automotive industry thought they would, and that’s mostly because EVs still can’t match the cost and convenience of gasoline-powered alternatives. The steady march of progress is chipping away at EVs’ cost, boosting the distance they can drive on a single charge, and hastening their charging speeds (1-megawatt or better is almost here). But maybe there’s a holistically better idea.

1 week ago | motortrend.com | Frank Markus

[This story first appeared in the premier issue of MotorTrend Classic in 2005] If H.G. Wells Enterprises Inc. advertised time-machine test-drives tomorrow, it'd be tempting to hop in and twist the dial back 35 years to the end of the golden age of horsepower. In 1970, the trend lines charting engine power, torque, and cubic-inch displacement were reaching their zenith. Gas prices were still down in the 30¢ range, and the first Earth Day wouldn't be held until April 22 of that year.