Michael Goetz has been writing about cars and editing automotive publications for more than 20 years.

Canada’s BIOX explores diesel’s fatty frontier

February 08, 2012

Not many Canadians know about bio-diesel producer, BIOX, let alone that it uses stuff like chicken and pork fat to create eco-friendly fuel.

Vehicle happiness possible every day

January 25, 2012

Some motoring circumstances will always give you a smile. Going flat out at the Nuburgring in a Porsche 911 GT3?

Prius-c looks to expand hybrid love

January 25, 2012

Hybrid sales are steadily increasing.

Young buyers freak out automakers

January 18, 2012

How do you sell cars to people who are only mildly interested in cars? I thought maybe with mild cars, mild advertising and mild salespeople. But apparently that’s incorrect.

Showing off in Detroit

January 11, 2012

After a couple of relatively sombre years, the buzz seems to be back at the Detroit auto show.

Car journeys part of the holiday experience

December 21, 2011

It’s perfectly fine that the vehicle’s main role during the holidays is helping us get to where we want to be, like with our families, or extremely far away from our families where there is also a good beach.

Cars as coaches? I say yea, and nay

December 21, 2011

On-board coaching devices first started showing up on the dashboards of hybrid and electric vehicles as a way to help drivers understand and leverage the new electrified powertrains.

Mazda takes a rotary break

December 14, 2011

Mazda didn’t invent the rotary engine. Felix Wankel did that in Germany in 1957.

Kicking off Canada’s motorcycle show season

December 07, 2011

What can you do if you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, but the weather’s colder and bleaker than the heart of a Wall Street CEO? Head to a motorcycle show.

Don’t let administration fees surprise you

November 30, 2011

There's one sure thing about admin fees — buyers hate them.

Compact SUV title fight to take intriguing turn

November 23, 2011

A major auto show like last week’s clam bake at Los Angeles will always bring out the crowd-pulling attractions, like fantastical concepts, rocket-launcher sport machines, and uber-luxury land yachts.

Still kicking: Stick shift not dead yet

November 15, 2011

“Stick shift” vehicles have been in steady decline. Currently they represent only about five to seven per cent of the North American new-vehicle market.

Tesla goes big … not prepared to go home

November 01, 2011

Regardless of your personal prognostications about whether electric vehicles will or will not rule the roads in the near or far future, you have to admire the considerable conviction of Tesla’s co-founder and CEO, Elon Musk.

Korean and German brands dominate AJAC’s 2012 competition

November 01, 2011

The AJAC’s TestFest 2012 just wrapped up last week and you’ll notice that Korean and German brands dominate.

Poke and prod your used vehicle candidate

October 26, 2011

When shopping for a used vehicle, you can complete a lot of the homework and due diligence via your laptop.

Chevy turns 100, unveils its fastest ever convertible

October 19, 2011

Chevrolet turned 100 years old in 2011. If it were a human being, it would be plum worn out, and wearing its pants too high.

Fuel efficiency faces intriguing paradox

October 12, 2011

We instinctively equate fuel efficiency with fuel conservation, but they are completely different concepts.

Finding the right mechanic takes time

October 05, 2011

Do you know a good mechanic? That’s a question I get all the time.

We always hurt the ones we love

September 27, 2011

We got word this week that when Prince William borrowed his father’s Aston Martin DB6 Mark II to drive his new wife away from Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, he may have driven the sports car somewhat imperfectly.

Volkswagen pushes for no. 1 status

September 20, 2011

All the big cheeses at big automotive companies are male. I think that’s why we always hear talk about who is – or who is gunning to be – the world’s No. 1 automaker.

Car wash options have varying green ramifications

September 13, 2011

Getting your car washed is good. But unfortunately it’s not an all-encompassing good.

There are garages, and there are Garage Mahals

September 06, 2011

When the wheel was invented, a bunch of guys huddled around it. Eventually, one guy mumbled “good.” The others nodded.

Canadian impresses at Toyota

August 30, 2011

Sergio Marchionne is the high-flying and much-quoted president of Fiat and Chrysler. But he isn’t the only Canadian making an impact on the global automotive stage.

Grand open-air concept points to Cadillac’s future

August 23, 2011

Cadillacs of yesteryear were big, imposing expressions of American affluence and confidence.

Shop until you drop ­– your insurance premiums

August 17, 2011

Shopping for shoes or power tools is fun. Shopping for car insurance is not.

No need to negotiate, with comparison-shopping site

August 09, 2011

At unhaggle.com, you can get the car you want and never have to negotiate the price you want.

New Chevrolet Caprice off limits for civilians

August 02, 2011

Drive it like you stole it. Just once I’d like to do that. But I’m a law-abiding citizen, with a clear understanding that I would not thrive well in a prison setting.

GM taps Silicon Valley tech, and culture

July 26, 2011

A more-lush version of a typical industrial mall. A-type “types” bicycling madly during their lunch hours, on a network of bicycle lanes, their racing helmets barely containing their immense heads, which were actually glowing with activity.

Backing up harder than breaking up

July 12, 2011

There are more break-up songs than back-up songs, which is strange, because more people get hurt backing up.

Leasing and the Deathly Hallows, Part II

July 12, 2011

A few years back certain automakers were really big into leasing. Then they dropped it like a hot potato salad. Yes, very messy.