Initially, you might not think of the Ford Escape as a luxury vehicle. But, one glance at the newly redesigned crossover, and you might reconsider.

Fans of The Amazing Race should remember the Escape, with its MyFord Touch voice recognition system, and hands-free liftgate that opens with the swipe of a foot. This was the vehicle that lovable Chippendale dancers James and Jaymes were awarded for winning a crucial leg of the race, and that James (or was it Jaymes?) was elated to have won for his mom.

Whether you’re a racer, a Chippendale, a mom or just your average, busy Arizonan seeking a stylish, powerful, versatile vehicle, the Escape should make your test drive list. Escape is already the best-selling SUV in the country, and with eleven new, exclusive technology features, it is sure to appeal to the 60 percent of car buyers looking for either a mid-sized sedan or small SUV this year.

Luxury buyers will want to look to the Titanium edition of the Escape for the ultimate in comfort and convenience. It comes equipped with the aforementioned features, plus leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-trimmed seats, premium sound system, heated front seats, and a bevy of advanced safety systems (including rear parking sensors, intelligent access with keyless push-button start, and remote start, for a base price below $35,000. Even when you add additional technologies, such as the HD/Sirius Satellite Radio/Navigation package ($795) and the Parking Technology Package ($995), the sticker still stays below $35k.

What is the Parking Technology Package, you ask. One feature is Active Park Assist, and here’s how it works. So, you’re out shopping at, let’s say, Scottsdale Quarter or Kierland Commons, and are fortunate enough to find a prime parking on the street. Pros: Great parking spots. Cons: Will the vehicle fit in the space; parallel parking can be nerve-wracking. In the Escape, you simply slow down, activate park assist, and the sensors measure the distance to the curb and between parked cars. Once the system detects a big enough space, it will signal you to stop and accept assistance. You control the braking and accelerating, but the system guides the car smoothly into place.

On the road, this package includes cross-traffic alert and blind spot monitoring system. Four-wheel drive is also available, and the Escape combines class-exclusive technology to automatically slow the vehicle when it’s cornering too fast (Curve Control) or help accelerate through a turn (Torque Vectoring Control).

The voice-recognition system with MyFord Touch is stellar, in my opinion. My complaint with other systems, including Siri on my iPhone, has been that, in order to be understood, I have to speak very slowly, pausing between words. And even then, it only works about 50 percent of the time. Not so with MyFord Touch. It seamlessly understood and executed commands better than most people I know.

Diverging from the boxy appearance of its predecessor, the new Escape has a striking new look, with angular head and taillamps, a sloping roofline, an aggressive stance and split front grille. With soft-touch materials and pleasant ambient lighting, the interior rivals that of any luxury SUV, as do the standard amenities. Powered by a 240-horsepower I-4 engine with EcoBoost, it is powerful and efficient as well.

Good looking, smart, efficient and powerful – Escape is desirable in many ways, and is the epitome of affordable luxury.

Vital stats:

Pricing and trim levels: S ($22,470) – 2.5L iVCT I-4 engine, 6-speed SelectShift Automatic^® transmission, 17-inch steel wheels with painted wheel covers; SE ($25,070) – 1.6L EcoBoost^® I-4 engine, dual chrome exhaust tips, fog lamps; SEL ($28,170) – Heated exterior mirrors; 18-inch painted alloy wheels, SYNC^® with MyFord^® Touch (dual USB ports, RCA inputs and SD card reader); Titanium ($30,370) – Hands-free power liftgate, 19-inch Luster Nickel painted alloy wheels, Intelligent Access with push-button start

Engine: 2.0L EcoBoost^® I-4 engine; 240 horsepower (Titanium trim level)

Fuel Economy (city/highway): 22/30

Safety Ratings: Second highest 4-star overall ranking from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

See the USA in a Chevrolet by Dave Newman

The license plate game, road-trip bingo, choruses of “Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall” and “Are we there yet?” – all are hallmarks of the great American road trip. Love ’em or hate ’em, road trips have been a staple of summer vacation since the dawn of the automobile era.

Prescott artist Dave Newman has an affinity for nostalgia, and his mixed media collages are heavily influenced by the road and the automobile. License plates, road signs, hood ornaments, old gas pumps, advertisements – he scours junkyards, yard sales, swap meets and antique stores for these objects that evoke the fun and whimsical aspects of life and travel.

Originally from Anaheim, Calif., Dave’s original car art was the vehicles themselves. He customized cars, then took them cruising down the popular boulevards, and showed them at car shows. As for how he got into the collage work that is the staple of his work today, Newman says, “I have always been a collector, even as a kid. But I had no idea it would ever turn out to be what I’m doing now.”

Desert Outskirts by Dave Newman

There is a strong connection between cars and art. Witness the wild popularity of Scottsdale’s annual auction season each January. People collect cars like they collect art pieces, often because of the nostalgic feeling they get when owning a piece of automotive history. When you look at Newman’s work, pieces  like “See the USA in a Chevrolet,” “Power Fuel,” “Desert Outskirts,” and “Ride, The Open Road,” they inspire that same feeling. Newman explains phenomenon by saying, “I think my work speaks to people because of the memories they have of road trips and their childhoods. And because everything made from the ’40s to the ’60s – from cars to toasters – was just plain cool.”

A self-proclaimed “car guy,” Dave has a 1955 Ford Fairlane, and owned a 1977 Chevy pickup truck that he collaged and painted. His first car was a 1963 Ford Falcon that he purchased when he was 15 years old. “It was parked on the street, and didn’t even have a ‘For Sale’ sign on it. I went to the door to ask if they would consider selling it, and $35 later, it was mine,” he recalls. “I couldn’t even drive it home. Although, I did sneak it out once in awhile before I turned 16.”

To own a snapshot of Newman’s brand of nostalgia, you can visit the Newman Gallery in Prescott during your own family road trip to escape the heat this summer. In Scottsdale, he is represented by Xanadu Gallery in Old Town.

Power Fuel by Dave Newman

For more information:

Newman Gallery
106-A S. Montezuma St., Prescott
928-442-9167; azrtist.com
Located on Prescott’s historic Whiskey Row, the gallery features Dave Newman’s work as well as cutting edge sterling silver jewelry by Kit Carson, Richard Schmidt, J. Forks Designs, Cindy Huff, Beverly Cole, Margaret Thede, Liz Jonas, Golden Fleece and many others. You’ll also find ceramics, Trapp Candles and Day of the Dead items and pieces from a number of local artists.

For more information about Dave Newman, and to preview his art, visit his website.

The Adventurous Mom

If trekking along the road less traveled is mom’s idea of the perfect family outing, she’ll need a vehicle that’s up for the task. With a new design unveiled at the New York Auto Show, the 2014 Range Rover Sport (from $61,490) is more nimble, better looking, and at home on the trails and on the road. It’s got room for seven and luxury features to boot. For less than half the cash, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (from $25,795) has been named Four Wheeler of the Year for three straight years and the Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year in the Best Value Off-Road category.

The Sporty Mom

Up for a little mild adventure? The Audi allroad ($39,600) has the versatility and room of a wagon, style that is all Audi, and all-wheel drive capability to handle snowy mountain roads en route to the ski lodge. Also named Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year, this one in the Luxury On-Road category, the allroad is a solid choice. As an alternative, Subaru XV Crosstrek (from $21,995) is a great looking all-wheel drive vehicle with a less-than-luxury price tag.

The Classic Mom

Who can forget the carefree days of rolling around in the “way back” of mom’s station wagon, unrestrained, singing “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” and looking for out-of-state-plates on a long road trip? Today’s wagons, like the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon (from $64,515), have shed the wood-paneled siding for classy sheet metal, luxury accoutrements, and supercharged V-8 engines with 550-plus horsepower. For a little less power and a lot less dough, the VW Jetta SportWagen (from $20,595) has all of the nostalgia of wagons of old, with none of the safety concerns, earning Top Safety Pick honors from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Green Mom

Able to carry kids and all their gear, while still achieving better than 30 mpg, Lexus RX 450h (from $46,310) has it all for the environmentally conscious. For those who are budget-conscious as well, Toyota Prius V (from $26,650) is the wagon version of the best-selling hybrid, with more cargo room than the original.

The Soccer (Baseball, Hockey, Basketball) Mom

Motor Trend’s SUV of the Year is one of the most complete vehicles we’ve driven. The Mercedes-Benz GL (from $62,400), has style, versatility, power, safety features and room for every kid in the carpool. And it’s also the Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year winner in the Family category. And if you’re looking for innovative features in your SUV at a reasonable price, Ford Escape Titanium (from $30,370) is a surprisingly cool choice. It doesn’t seat seven like the GL, but the hands-free liftgate — operated by a sweep of the foot — and the wonderful My Ford Touch system make it a winner.

2014 Audi R8 Spyder ($128,400 to $173,800) – It’s the vehicle of choice for Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) and Christian Grey. This sexy drop top burns up the road with a 430-horsepower V-8 engine or a 525-horsepower V-10 that flies from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds. With looks that will make your heart melt and performance that will make it pound, R8 is Iron Man and Fifty Shades all rolled into one.

2013 Mercedes Benz SL Class Roadster ($105,500 to $212,240) – A truly transcendental driving experience. With a minimum of 429 horsepower and every comfort and convenience feature imaginable (and some you never knew you desired until now), the SL is the cream of the convertible crop. Exquisite good looks? Check. Breathtaking performance? Check. The only thing not standard  is the restraint you’ll need to stay within the bounds of the speed limit.

2014 Jaguar F-Type ($69,000 to $92,000) – So, Jaguar doesn’t have the best reputation for dependability. But as with anything this good looking, we’re willing to overlook its faults, just to be seen with it. Always a guilty pleasure, it asks, “How fast do you want to go?” with models that range from 340 to 495 horsepower. Not to be outshined by the lookers in this category, F-Type was awarded 2013 World Car Design of the Year at the New York International Auto Show.

2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible ($56,995) – Designed from the beginning as an open-top car, meticulous attention was paid to making this generation Corvette live up to the venerable Stingray moniker. With a V-8 that produces 450-horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, it shares all of the performance capabilities of the coupe – but with a top that retracts remotely using the key fob or at speeds up to 30 mph.

2013 Porsche Boxster ($50,400) – A classic that was completely redesigned for 2013, the Boxster belongs on almost any list of luxury sports cars. It has a revamped chassis and a more lightweight body design, improving upon its already stellar driving dynamics. Hot looks and hot performance for top-down pleasure on a hot day.

2013 Lexus IS C F Sport ($42,610 to $46,890) – A hardtop hot rod available with either 204 or 306 horsepower, the Lexus IS C is refined, yet exhilarating to drive. The advantages of the fixed lie mostly in top-up driving, when the driving experience quiet, with none of the shake and wind noise common with cloth-top counterparts. The IS C has all of the luxury you’d expect from Lexus, and the F Sport package makes it a performance machine.

The 2014 IS has more aggressive front styling than its predecessor (pictured on the left), including a larger execution of the signature spindle grille.

The IS 250 and 350 will come standard rear-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive optional.

F-Sport models still feature the spindle grille, but with a full mesh pattern to give it a sportier appearance. Inside, the F-Sport borrows heavily from the features of the LFA supercar.

Put through the paces versus competitors like the BMW 3 series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4, the Lexus IS more than held its own, even outpacing some of the German brands. With this third generation model, Lexus is aiming to capture that abstract “fun-to-drive” factor, which they define as a car that immediately and precisely responds to the driver.

The 2014 IS 250 comes with a six-speed automatic transmission, 204-horsepower and a starting price of $35,950. The IS 350 features an eight-speed automatic, 306 horsepower and a $39,465 price tag. The 2014 Lexus IS arrives in dealerships this summer.

The all-new Maserati Ghibli debuted in Shanghai this week as the first ever mid-sized four-door luxury sedan in the company’s history. But that’s not the only first for the Ghibli. For the first time ever, Maserati will offer a diesel option, in this case a 3.0-liter V-6 turbo-diesel. The rear-wheel-drive Ghibli aims to move Maserati closer toward its goal of selling 50,000 vehicles in a year by 2015. While pricing has not been officially announced, it is expected to start at around $91,000, competing with the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class for a share of the luxury sedan market. A 410-horsepower 3-liter gasoline V-6 and all-wheel drive will also be available when the Maserati Ghibli reaches the North American market as a 2014 model in late summer or early fall. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Lexus is the title sponsor of Arizona Foothills Best of Our Valley Finale Party on April 25. The fourth-annual Best Of Our Valley contest highlights the creme de la creme and names a victor in hundreds of categories. Click here to purchase tickets.

Anyone growing up in Arizona knows about our state’s five Cs: copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, and climate. Climate. That’s the one that makes us so fond of another “c” – the convertible.

For the majority of the year, Arizona is perfect for top-down driving. The downside is, when that summer sun beats down on a cloth top, no amount of insulation can fully prevent the heat from seeping into the cabin. Thankfully, Lexus has the perfect solution. A hardtop coupe based on the four-door IS platform, available with either 204 or 306 horsepower, the rear-wheel drive Lexus IS C is refined, yet exhilarating to drive. The optional F Sport package gives you a firmer suspension, and some sportier design cues.

Top up, it’s as quiet as any luxury sedan. In the span of 20 seconds, the steel top retracts and folds neatly into the trunk, transforming the sleek and sophisticated coupe into a stylish convertible. The cabin is comfortable and appealing in its well-thought out, simple, yet upscale design, replete with all the amenities and luxury features you expect from Lexus, including the optional Enform app suite that enables you to buy tickets at MovieTickets.com, make dinner reservations through Open Table, and create your own soundtrack with iHeartRadio, all while letting your friends know where you are and how you enjoyed your meal with Facebook Places and Yelp.

For all of its luxury and sophistication, the IS C is still the fun-loving, slightly irresponsible sibling of the Lexus clan. Cruising down wide open desert roads, nothing but blue sky above, you’ll be easily convinced that, even at more than $50k with all of the option boxes checked, the IS C is well worth it.

Vital stats:

Pricing and trim levels:
IS 250C ($42,610) – 2.5-liter V-6 engine with 204 horsepower
IS 350 C ($46,890) – 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 306 horsepower

Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined): 22/27/19

Safety Ratings: Not yet rated

Lexus is the title sponsor of Arizona Foothills Best of Our Valley Finale Party on April 25. The fourth-annual Best Of Our Valley contest highlights the creme de la creme and names a victor in hundreds of categories. Click here to purchase tickets.

Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Rolls Royce, Maserati, Allard, Bentley, Corvette, Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Shelby, Bizzerrini, Facel Vega, Lancia, Morgan — do vintage vehicles with these exotic names evoke a sense of historic nostalgia, or are they drivable works of art? Decide for yourself at the 7^th Annual Field of Dreams, kicking off the Bell Lexus Copperstate 1000 this weekend at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

The 90 rare and beautiful automobiles participating in the Bell Lexus Copperstate 1000 will hit the open road for a scenic, four-day journey across Arizona on Sunday, April 7. Before setting out, the cars will meet for a public viewing and European-style send off from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

In keeping with the spirit of a vintage car rally, the eligibility model year requirement is 1973 and older and includes selected sports, racing and Grand Touring cars. But, in addition to the Copperstate vehicles, there will be a free Cruise-In open to all makes and models, with the parking lot opening at 8 a.m. and festivities continuing until 12 noon.

On the stadium’s mezzanine, a Classic Car Showcase presented by the Classic Car Club of Arizona will feature more than 20 classics built between 1925 and 1948.

For a day filled with the roar of 500-plus horsepower engines, the smell of high-octane racing fuel, the glare of chrome and patina that will delight the senses of any auto enthusiast, the 7^th Annual Field of Dreams is a must.

Event details

When:            Sunday, April 7, 8 a.m. to noon
Where:          Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2200 W. Alameda Dr., Tempe
Cost:               Free
Info:               www.copperstate1000.com

The annual Bell Lexus Copperstate 1000 is sponsored by the Phoenix Art Museum’s Men’s Arts Council, and is one of the musuem’s most unique and successful fundraising events.

Just unveiled at the New York Auto Show, the new Flying Spur has more power than any Bentley four-door in history. It is powered by the carmaker’s renowned 6.0-litre, twin turbo W12 engine, coupled to a ZF eight-speed transmission, and will produce 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque.
It’s look is classic Bentley, with contemporary details like LED daytime running lights, sharp feature lines and muscular rear haunches.

The interior features modern amenities like touch-screen infotainment system, mobile connectivity including Wi-Fi, a rear-seat entertainment suite and a new bespoke hand-held Touch Screen Remote which allows rear-cabin occupants to control an extensive range of features from the comfort of their seat. An eight-channel, eight-speaker audio system with Balanced Mode Radiators provide high quality sound clarity, with the 1100W Naim® for Bentley premium system available as an option.

In 2012, Bentley sold 2,315 vehicles in the United States, a 23 percent increase over the previous year, making the U.S. Bentley’s number one market worldwide. The new Flying Spur starts at $200,500, and joins the enhanced Mulsanne, and all-new Continental GT Speed Convertible in the 2013 lineup.

For a list of all-new luxury debuts at the New York International Auto Show, visit their online gallery.