We love Janis Joplin for her indelible audacity. She remains a rock n’ roll icon, who rejected strict notions of gender and instead turned toward fantastical style to present her guttural material in her short lived life and career. Her famous customized Porsche represents her longstanding statement and memorable blend of the heady 60s aesthetic, in which life and song intermingled in contradictory terms. She penned the acapella hit song “Mercedes Benz” three days before her death, in which she sang. “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz/My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.” The song was released posthumously on the 1971 album “Pearl.” The song was recorded in one take and intended as a statement about consumerism. Mercedes-Benz and BMW have both licensed the song for past commercials.

Joplin had already owned a Porsche for two years when she penned that ballad. She paid about $3500 for a 1965 Porsche 356c Cabriolet when she bought it from Beverly Hills auto dealer Estes-Zipper in September 1968, according to the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. The used car was originally oyster white, a perfect canvas for what it would become. She asked her roadie David Richards to paint it. She was often seen in that car on the California streets. The car changed hands a number of times after her death in 1970, but was eventually returned to her family who later had it fully restored. Several copies of the car have been been replicated over the years, including one that was exhibited over a decade ago at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art exhibition “Far Out: Bay Area Design, 1967-1973.” The original car was recently on display at the Grammy Museum, on loan from the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, and belongs to the Joplin family collection.

Joplin was inducted to the hall of fame in 1995.HBO airs The 2013 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday night. The original Joplin car will be on exhibit this fall at the North Carolina Museum of Art for “Porsche By Design: Seducing Speed” curated by Ken Gross.

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The most popular number this spring goes to number 42. 42 in the minds of movie goers is baseball, progress, equality, and the man who wore it — Jackie Robinson. (Bill Clinton Was another famous 42.) But there’s another number that’s buzzing around the car blog headlines this season — number 33. That’s tally on the miles per gallon on highway for the new Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 Blutech. Blue stands for diesel, the fuel source that has been embraced in Europe and still suffers from a bad rep stateside. But diesel and Benz’s baby SUV mix well. The result is a nimble, wee SUV that combines austerity and comfort in a roomy package. A technical concoction of diesel exhaust fluid helps keeps emissions low in the 200-hp, 2.1-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine.

While the 250 Blutech is slight compared to bigger Benz products, it still has class in a package that feels refined, despite it’s modest proportions. The inside on my test car is flush with brushed aluminum, dark wood inserts, leather seats and a wrapped steering wheel. The tech system received a reboot in the latest platform MBrace2.The ride, much like the brawnier GLK 350 Bluetec, is quiet and confident on urban highways.

I liked being inside the new Mercedes-Benz GLK 250. The smile in every photo is a dead giveaway. I drove the car in mid-day Manhattan up the West side. Sure, the GLK is cute from the outside. It’s not a boss in a G Wagon sense of the word, but it’s got sleek slopes. The GLK250 Bluetech is also modest in another category. The starting price is $39,495.

What Mercedes earns with the U.S. launch of this diesel-powered SUV is first-in-line with a logical progression in fuel saving technology. Audi and BMW are next in line.

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The Car: 2013 Cadillac XTS AWD Premium Collection

Where I drove it: Motor City

First Impressions: Cadillac has transformed itself into a bit of a hard body. The sharp angles on every exterior of the XTS are testament to the new form language of Cadillac: Triangles have replace trapezoids. The era of the squishy Devilles that my father used to describe in a disdainful tone as “tuna boats” has come and gone with the last gangsta mobile, the DTS. Depending on your angle, the design departure is amazing (or wistful) as Cadillac has toned up its core. What I like best about the XTS is that it’s distinctive.  Finally, we have an American sedan that’s no softy.

Second date: Michigan in February is not a bone-dry affair. On the contrary, snow covers the landscape and any car worth its winter driving tires is put to the test on slick highways that move at high speeds. That’s how I grew up thinking about cars – as winter warriors. The XTS is offered as both front-wheel drive or as an all-wheel-drive sedan. (My test car was AWD.) The all-wheel drive on my test model came in handy to keep up with the speedy traffic flow that persists despite the possibility of black ice patches in February. It seems to sail above the crop as a formidable boss, a new-aged gangsta, if you will.  Gone is the big steering sensation as handling is more precise and poignant. I was grateful for its more sturdy qualities on long and wide freeway drives. On the dark winter nights, the LED lights beckoned from afar, embedded in the door handles, headlights and taillights.

On the inside: The Cadillac User Experience was born on the XTS and the most noticeable attribute on the interior with the mood of ambient lighting. CUE is devilishly polarizing.  It’s got all the technology to frustrate drivers that lack patience and enough gadgetry to keep early adapters busy with the option for multiple screen action. The XTS started to make the rounds last spring, where I first encountered it in New York City. In New York, the XTS felt stately in quiet in the city surroundings, as if it was removed from the action.  In Michigan, the XTS blended in with the bigger streets. It came with a Bose audio system, Sirius XM, power seats adjuster and leather seating surfaces. What makes XTS the ultimate surbanite option is the big trunk space that translates well for car cultures like LA or Atlanta, where suitcases, golf clubs and strollers must fit.

MPG: 17 miles per gallon city and 28 miles per gallon highway.

Under the Hood: The 3.6 liter V-6 engine produce 304 horsepower, 264 pound feet of torque.

Extras: Drivers assist package, crystal red tint coat, 20 inch aluminum wheels.

Five Days Later: GM may be its own worse enemy. The new-over achiever on the block has also produced the attractive Buick Lacrosse that has some likeness to the XTS, but a markedly lower sticker price. It comes down to the consumer’s taste for a bejeweled appearance and exceptionalism. What the XTS reminds with it’s polished good looks and well-thought out structure is that at the end of the day a Cadillac is a Cadillac. And that’s exactly where Cadillac needs to be.

What people are saying: “I can pinpoint the moment it happened: In April of 1968, David E. Davis wrote an article in Car and Driver effusively praising the new 1968 BMW 2002 as above and beyond its American competitors. Ever since then, any sedan that doesn’t feature European styling and handling is dissed as not road worthy. Sadly, such unnecessary snobbery has been the bane of one beautiful car: the Cadillac XTS. It’s the forgotten Cadillac, adrift amongst a sea of competitors from Europe, Japan, and Korea. But this is a Cadillac that oozes American-style class, with a ride quality that rewards a real world driving experience.” —  Boston

“The Lincoln Town Car is no more. The Cadillac DTS is dead. Luxury, as defined by big, floating cars designed to isolate six occupants from reality, is extinct. The world has moved on, and there’s no stronger evidence than the replacement for the DTS, this new XTS.” — Car and Driver.

TOTAL: $60,620 (full vehicle pricing)

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The New York International Automobile Show was first held in 1900. As the oldest American automobile exhibition, it’s also the modern day show that draws the highest number of visitors. This week, the general public comes to the auto show to car-gaze at the practical and impractical manifestations of the contemporary vehicle. Design is paramount at the auto show, as a sign of what’s coming to market in 2014. The artist Richard Phillips dropped by the Javits Center during press days. Phillips, who is a motor sports enthusiast, captured highlights of his visit on an iphone in these exclusive photographs.

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The Range Rover Sport made a spashly debut off Broadway when Daniel Craig drove through the city. A short film by acclaimed Hollywood director Jonathan P. B. Taylor showed off the Sport’s  aluminum body and more refined assets.  Land Rover is donating a vehicle to S.A.F.E., a charity that Mr. Craig supports.

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The 2013 FX37 AWD does it all with room to grow on. It’s a big body, bulbous presence on the road that’s loaded with standar technology, a formidable cockpit and grounded performance. If you’re riding with five adults, the leg room leaves something to be desired, but here is a capable contender for the lifestyle that’s leaner and meaner and more fast lane than grocery getter. The long list of standard features is testament to its super computer claim including around view monitor with motion detection, voice recognition, and streaming blue tooth. The 3.7 liter V6 engine with VVEL produces 325 hp and 267 lb ft of torque offering solid performance and a fresh take on the mini ute category that includes the BMW X3 and Acura MDX. What’s most intriguing about the FX are it’s unique looks that stands out on the streets. The refresh broke in 2012 and has held up on the exterior. We asked artist Lee Quinones to make some obversation on the FX37 interior as tested in New York City this winter.

I really like the attention to detail that was given to the instrument and control panel layout. The recessed cavity where the reverse camera GPS and audio read out screen was well placed and simplistic.

The Layout: The FX is equipped with buttons, knobs, and again, buttons, yes yes, yes. No touch tone this and that, which is just a headache down the road. I like a tangible button. The slope of the dashboard breaks up the bland flat surfaces found on most rides. The heated 8 and 10-way front seats made for some comfy sitting on those freeze-dried nights in New York City. The knobs were respectfully within reach, right there in the center console layout. The interior sequential light group for both rear and forward passenger activity gave a sense of a uptown swanky lounge. I especially loved the roll and pleaded inner door panel sections complimenting the latches and door controls — a good mixture of old school and fresh.

Color: The black lacquer trim along the console gave a nice contrast with the matte Graphite Black leather appointed seating. A plus also was the upper stone grey headliner and pillar panels.

Touch: The leather seating material was some of the softest and yet firm supporting material I have ever felt. The front seating was especially snug and well behaved with its occupant memory system. I hate systems that have their own agenda even after you program it to be other than.

Use of space: Very spacious. Nothing short of great. The rear power lift gate opened to a cavity where most large objects could be comfortably placed with out introducing scratches to the interior.  The overall interior spacing looked to be optically cramped, but seating is believing and it was very different once you strapped in.

Comfort climate: The dual zone temperature control gave a sense of individualism to the front occupants. After a while, it seemed that the whole passenger compartment had an even climate to sooth all talking heads. The only off beat note here is that whenever trying to maneuver quickly with the steering wheel, some how some of the flip switches next to the outer brim of the wheel would be activated by my hands. Now if only there could be a passenger ejector seat button there.

What it reminds me of: The layout of a new hipster boutique hotel lounge.

What people are saying: “The 2013 Infiniti FX sport-luxury crossover SUV is designed for those who value style, performance and technology over cargo capacity, rear seat space or a cushy ride. Built using the same architecture as the Infiniti G37 sport sedan, the FX offers a level of carlike performance rivaled by few crossovers or SUVs.” – Edmunds

“The 2013 Infiniti FX37 is a crossover SUV that provides a sporty ride and a long list of standard features. With all the high-tech gadgets, it might require something of a learning curve, but in the end, the FX37 performs extremely well and provides extremely impressive luxury on the interior. - Automobile

TOTAL: 53,700

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The Car: 2013 Volvo XC60

Where I drove it: New York

First Impressions: One of my greatest friends is a Swedish immigrant, and when the cold hits, no one is better prepared than she, dressed in the proper layers of chunky wool from head to toe. Not that all Swedes think alike (though I differ to this animated film about the iconic meatball that extends this metaphor in cinematic genius), but I couldn’t help think of her wardrobe selection when I was outfitted in the XC60 in mid-January.  The Swedes have learned to adapt to the elements to make them ultimately the climate more livable. Perhaps that’s what gives Volvo its groove in the small SUV category with its bestselling XC60, a vehcicle that is both mellow and ethereal, more plush than pluck, infused with soft touches to take the edge off.

Second date: The welcome surprise in the XC60 is an engine that it does have a little meatball on its bones. (See specs below.) Power translates into a polished performance in the hard-wired architecture. Steering has a sloping sensation as the gears move in understated melody.  There’s even a sport mode on my T6 edition.

On the inside: Volvo has cleaned up its interior opting for minimalist but handsome leather. All this looks much more spacious with the layout of the panoramic sunroof. The techy systems are not as forward minded as former owner Ford’s more newfangled Sync gadgetry, but the HMI consul does the control center job with competence. A discussion about Volvo must always touch safety. City Safety and Volvo Whiplash Protection with the cool acronym WHIPS are two examples of Volvo’s attention to mindfulness.

MPG: 20

Under the Hood: This is the top dog 3.0 liter turbo-charged 6 cylinder producing 300 hp.

Extras: The platinum package includes rear park assist and the ultimate suburban accent, a grocery holder. My car had silver-painted roof rails, tinted rear windows, keyless ignition/entry, leather upholstery and an eight-way power passenger seat.

Five Days Later: I know what you’re thinking: Volvo is not all that Swedish. The Chinese company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group purchased Volvo from Ford a couple years back, yet the bulk of the work is done in Sweden and the company headquarters are based in Gothenburg. In fact, Geely has moved it’s r & d center to Gothenburg, according to this article.

What people are saying:

Edmund finds the XC60 perfect for families: “Chief reasons include a comfortable cabin, unique family-friendly features and top-notch crash scores. If these descriptors sound pulled from a Reagan-era review of a Volvo wagon, it’s no mere coincidence. Although the crossover (car platform-based) SUV has essentially replaced the station wagon as the go-to family vehicle, the basic requirements haven’t changed. With its handsome, sleek styling, the Volvo XC60 certainly won’t be confused with your aunt’s trusty old 740 wagon, but it really plays the same role in family life.” – Edmunds

Warren Brown thinks the Chinese have upped the ante: “It has been two years since the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group of Hangzhou, China, bought Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Co. for the bargain price of $1.8 billion. But the evidence, based on a week-long drive of a Geely-sponsored 2013 Volvo wagon, is that Geely is doing a much better job of handling Volvo than Ford did during its ownership of the Swedish car company.”— Warren Brown.

TOTAL: Base price is $40,450. My test vehicle was priced at $48,145.

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LaFerrari: The car that matters most to gearheads at the Geneva Motor Show.  We like the drama of the name that’s driving everyone else crazy.  LaFerrari is electrified and produces 963 hp in a single punch.

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The Car:  2013 Audi Allroad 2.0T quattro tiptronic

Where I drove it: New York City

First Impressions: If a car is supposed to say something about the driver’s mindset and persuasions, what’s a Saab buyer to do? Well if the Subaru Outback wagon just doesn’t have the interior design acumen to cut the mustard, and the Volvo XC70 has gone too SUV, perhaps the Audi Allroad station wagon is more appropriate inheritance to those who thirst for northern Euro mindset. It’s outdoorsy in a friendly way and it’s got a tough form, but the Allroad is inviting. It’s powerful, but more earthy than say, an Audi S7.  It’s a tad wagon nostalgic, yet it retains enough modernistic cues that it’s contemporary, down to the singleframe grille and slitted-headlights. The Allroad seems like a reasonable choice until you look at the Audi A4 avant that’s now only sold in Europe, where all the best station wagons live. So just don’t look. (Stop. I see you on Google.)You’ll start to get jealous.

Second date: I warmed up to the Audi Allroad in,like five seconds. Standard features such as the panoramic sunroof, Halogen headlights and heated mirrors account for the luxury clout afforded to the Allroad’s base model (and it’s substantial price tag.) The circular exhaust pipes add a sporty inflection to the rear.  The optional moonlight blue sheen on my test created bit of unexpected pizazz to the exterior.

On the inside: Audi understands how to execute a well-balanced black interior. Technology such as Audi connect is integrated into the scheme in a way that’s, dare I say, intuitive. If I were springing for this plus-forty thousand dollar Audi, I would upgrade to the Bang & Olufsen sound system. Parents with kids in the back have the extra safety insurance of Audi side assist for their blind spots.

MPG: 23

Under the Hood: 2.0 liter turbocharged I-4 engine producing 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It’s equipped with an 8-speed tiptronic transmission that does just fine on your average thoroughfare — though I wouldn’t call it a trail-rated monster.

Five Days Later: While the Allroad can be heavy-handed at time, the turbo-powered I4 gives it solid performance and the looks and ergonomic comforts made the Allroad grow on me. (and yes, I always had a soft spot for Saabs.)

Extras: On my test cars additional features included the moonlight blue metallic paint, allroad Premium Plus Model with auto-dimming interior mirror with compass, auto-dimming power-folding, heated exterior mirrors, Audi music interface with iPod cable, Bluetooth, driver information system, heated front seats with driver memory, HomeLink garage door opener, Audi xenon pulse lighting with LED DRL, three-zone climate control and power tailgate.

TOTAL: $44,270 (full vehicle pricing)

What people are saying:

The expansive pricing makes the decision to replace the A4 Avant in the U.S. seem even more condescending—You Americans just don’t get it, so have this fake SUV! And it costs more!—or would if the decision didn’t spring from hard truth, and if we hadn’t seen it happen before (Legacy wagon scrapped for Outback, 5-series wagon killed for 5-series GT, and so on). Regular wagons, ones with sleek profiles and athletic handling, don’t sell here, but cars that advertise lifestyles do. That’s a damn shame. Because although the Allroad is good—and better than no wagon at all—there wasn’t much wrong with the A4 Avant.” — Erik Johnson for Car and Driver.

“This is a version of the company’s deft and efficient compact wagon, the A4 Avant, tarted up to look more outdoorsy, more alpine, more nymph-slattern of the North Woods. It’s very big in Colorado, apparently,” Dan Neil reports in the Wall Street Journal.

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