By David Menzies for MSN Autos

At the stroke of midnight, it will be 2013. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: two-thousand-and-freaking-thirteen! Aren’t we all supposed to be getting around town via flying cars by now a la The Jetsons? (Then again, given the daily automotive lunacy on terra firma, do we really want these people to be flying their own conveyances?)

In any event, here’s what I’d like to see the auto industry deliver sometime in Lucky ’13:

A Return to Paradise by the Dashboard Light: Which is to say, enough with those annoying and unnecessary complicated “driver interfaces” that are so frequently found occupying the centre console of luxury automobiles. BMW was first out of the gate with iDrive more than a decade ago, and my enduring memory of the first generation iDrive interface was driving more than 50 km before finally figuring out how to access the bloody AM radio. No, I’m not joking. The point is, I know of no driving enthusiast or automotive journalist who does not despise iDrive and the various iDrive-like wannabes found in Mercedes, Audi, etc. Call me old school, but I want nice big simplistic knobs to operate controls ranging from the stereo to the heater, not a glorified computer mouse that is dangerously distracting. Can we kindly return to the engineering days of less-is-more? Pretty please?

Less electric, more diesel: Despite advances in battery technology, the price-points of electric vehicles continue to generate sticker shock... which is ultimately why e-cars are selling about as well as itching powder at nudist resorts. So how about the various automakers start giving mileage-conscious North Americans the same sort of diesel cars our European cousins can readily purchase? Diesel means superior fuel economy and more torque, all wrapped up in an affordable package using tried and true technology. What’s not to love? Yes, there are signs of hope out there (for example, one can now finally buy the diesel version of the Porsche Cayenne here.) But there’s so many other diesel variants out there – let’s hope more show up in these parts in the months ahead.

By David Menzies for MSN Autos

Struggling to come up with a New Year’s resolution in the three days remaining until Lucky ’13 kicks in? Well, if you happen to fall into one of these automotive archetype categories, by all means please consider this free advice:

Timid highway mergers (typically drivers of Buick sedans and grey/silver Toyota Corollas): Please make it a point to put pedal to the metal in 2013 – and I’m talking Sammy Hagar-I-Can’t-Drive-55-style pedal-to-the-metal. It might seem counterintuitive, but the slower you go on that merge ramp the more dangerous it is for everyone. Think about it. And then stop thinking about it and just floor it!

Loutish loogans driving tricked-up Honda Civics through quiet residential areas in a manner reminiscent of Mario Andretti vying for pole position at the Indy 500: SLOW DOWN ALREADY! If you want to prove the pedigree of that over-modified monstrosity you deem to be a quasi-race car, take part in a track day.

Able-bodied drivers who occupy handicapped parking spots: Do your waistline (and moral fortitude) a favour by parking an extra 10 or 20 metres away in a legit spot. You might think you’re scoring the most primo parking patch in the lot when you snag that blue-hued piece of asphalt reserved for those with bona fide disabilities, but in the eyes of your fellow motorists, you’re nothing more than pond scum.

Hans Greimel, AutoWeek

Lexus' 552-hp V10 halo car, the LFA sports coupe, drives into the sunset at an awkward time for the luxury brand.

During the LFA's two-year production run, which ended Dec. 14, it was positioned as the ultimate expression of Lexus quality and performance — and carried a US$375,000 sticker to match. The limited edition of 500 hand-built units sold out even before production began in December 2010.

But as Lexus struggles to reinvent itself as an emotional, pulse-pumping brand, the lineup loses the head-turning speed demon that spurred the image makeover in the first place.

Lexus executives concede they need a new halo.

"If we want to build a more emotional brand, then we need a halo car," Lexus Executive Vice President Kazuo Ohara said in a Dec. 17 interview. "We would like to have that sort of car."

But don't expect another rarefied supercar — at least not with the same stratospheric price point. In the post-LFA era, Lexus has different ideas for generating youthful excitement from the traditionally staid premium marque.

And a big part of that means winning oohs and aahs from nonhalo cars that are within the reach of mere mortals — cars that can actually be spotted on city streets, not simply preserved in climate-controlled garages by uberrich collectors.

By David Menzies for MSN Autos

First, let it be said that you haven’t enjoyed Grade-A pork until you’ve had a world-famous Big Hog sandwich from Carousel Bakery at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market. Food critics from as far as Italy, Argentina, and Japan have raved about this takeout eatery in general and its peameal bacon sandwich in particular. (Not to worry; this is still an automotive blog entry and the Big Hog plays a significant role.)

My buddy Alex and I visit Carousel at least once a week to pick up a Big Hog to go. After buying a couple of Big Hog Upon sandwiches earlier this month, I pulled over to pick up a coffee at The Friendliest McDonald’s in the World on Front Street. We were en route to the office a mere seven minutes away.
When I returned to my Ford Adrenaline with my McJava in hand, I audibly gasped upon opening the driver’s side door: there was Alex chomping into the Big Hog in a fashion that resembled how a rabid wolverine would descend upon a wounded rodent.

Which is to say, it wasn’t pretty. Various liquefied condiments atop the peameal bacon were dribbling over the sandwich bun, eventually plummeting to my formerly pristine floor mats. Big Hog indeed.

“What’s up?” Alex asked, his mouth full of pork.

“Wha... wha... what do you think you’re doing?” I stammered incredulously.

Then I let Alex have it: how could he: A. Eat in my truck; B. Eat in my truck without first asking for permission; C. Continue eating in my truck after witnessing my shock.

By David Menzies for MSN Autos

I was cringing the other day. An acquaintance of mine who owns a high-performance, six-figure ride was bragging about the el-cheapo oil change he just scored down at the local quickie-lube. Amazingly, despite his ride’s pedigree, he goes for value-priced conventional oil over synthetic. This is, as they say in Bonnie Scotland, “Penny-wise and pound foolish.”

Granted, the synthetic product is more than double the cost of conventional oil. Guess what? You get what you pay for.

Oil is the lifeblood of any vehicle. It winds its way through all the moving parts of the internal combustion engine, lubricating those parts in the process. Oil cleans the engine and cools the engine (thanks to transferring heat away from moving parts.) Oil improves sealing while inhibiting corrosion. No other fluid is as vitally important for a vehicle as those precious few litres of Texas Tea.

And make no mistake: no oil performs as well as the synthetic variety.

Essentially, synthetic oil is a lubricant consisting of chemical compounds which are artificially synthesized using chemically-modified petroleum components rather than whole crude oil. As such, synthetic oil is better formulated to withstand rigorous and lengthy engine operation without suffering from viscosity breakdown.

So the question arises: how is it that a consumer who doesn’t bat an eyelash when it comes to spending $5 for a daily dose of designer java will gasp with incredulity when told that a synthetic oil change is going to set him back $90?

Synthetic oil is costly in the short term. But just consider the long-term benefits:

By Steve Mertl for MSN Autos

There’s always a little schadenfreude east of the Coast Mountains whenever a skiff of snow creates Mel Lastman-esque levels of panic in Metro Vancouver.

It happened again this week, creating the predictable chaos among us chronically unprepared West Coasters: Power outages, ice-rink roads, snarled transit.

And something new. Ice bombs.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

With only a few days left until Christmas, now's the perfect time to wish you and yours a very happy holidays, and a safe New Year. 

My gift to you? One of the more clever holiday wishes from a car manufacturer, in this case, Mercedes-Benz' AMG performance crew.

By David Menzies for MSN Autos

I always look forward to the men’s magazine Sharp this time of year. It features gifts galore for the man who has everything (or nothing); indeed, it’s quite reminiscent of when I was a kid and the humungous Eaton’s Christmas catalogue would land upon the porch with a considerable thud. I’d immediately home in on the toy section.

Ah, pages and pages of toys, wondrous toys! Some of which I stood a chance of actually acquiring (Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots) while others, well… dream on (that bona fide pinball machine.)

Sharp’s list of 43 gifts for men makes for a similar experience – a $15 deck of playing cards is doable; an $11,000 coffeemaker not so much. And in the department of getting from Point A to Point B, two conveyances caught my eye… and made my heart flutter:

Land Rover Defender 90/110 from Twisted Performance
When it comes to this rabid wolverine, it might be scientifically impossible to drive something more macho... other than perhaps the fantastic Ford Raptor. This gorgeously retro Land Rover is not some RAV4 grocery-getter best suited for the suburban shopping mall rather than the Jeep Jamboree. Rather, this kickass off-roader with torque to spare screams “don’t mess with me” thanks in part to an ominous black exterior along with a vibrant orange interior. (The downside: it is $120,000). Still, pity the poor Prius owner who spots the grille of this Defender in his rearview mirror. I fear he might soil himself…

Snolo Sleds Stealth-X Carbon Fibre Toboggan

OK, it’s not a car. But a toboggan can be a lot of fun nevertheless – especially one made out of carbon fibre.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

Ever had one of those heart-stopping moments that so quickly resets your thinking about something? That moment happened to me just yesterday in the most innocent circumstances.

I was taking my three-year-old daughter to a dentist appointment and she was in the back seat, her car seat installed directly behind mine. We weren't more than a couple minutes into the journey when all of a sudden, I heard some wind whistling. Reflexively, I figured that she'd opened the rear window, but after pulling the switches and the noise not abating, I absolutely knew what she'd done.

She'd opened the door.

Now, to preface this, she's ridden in just about every press vehicle that's rolled through here in her short three years, and while she has occasionally and accidentally tugged at the handle before, the other vehicles - for whatever reason - withstood her prodding.

Now, the car we're driving now, the really quite excellent Volkswagen Golf R, was pretty innocent in this whole thing. My daughter is getting older and bolder, and really, it's my fault for not activating the simple child locks equipped in every car sold today. That alone would have saved my embarrassment for being so ignorant of just how quickly she's growing into a fully-functioning adult!

Thankfully, the story ended safely. It took me about 10 seconds to find an appropriate place to pull over, lock the door, admonish my daughter and myself, then get back into the car and leave. One of the easy life lessons that experienced parents love to laugh about... So now my wife and I are going to laugh - but I'm also locking the rear doors, just in case.

Tell us about your experiences either growing up or with your children in the comments below!

By David Menzies for MSN Autos

Is Subaru the new Volvo? At least it seems so in terms of wannabe social justice crusaders, who long to change the world... one bumper-sticker slogan at a time.

Anecdotal evidence (i.e., your correspondent driving around, not minding his own business) would suggest this is indeed the case. I’ve noticed when it comes to various social/political activism issues espoused by a bumper sticker, often that vehicle is sporting a Subaru badge.

Just this month, I spotted three activism bumper stickers; all three were affixed to Subarus.

As the saying goes: “One is an anomaly; two is a coincidence; three is a trend.”

Up first: a red Subaru Impreza with a somewhat cryptic sticker proclaiming, “Jumbo Grizzlies not Gondolas.”

I had no idea what that meant, until I consulted with the Wise and All-Knowing Great Wizard of Oz (er, would you believe the Wondrous Search Engine Bing?)