The Lexus IS 500 is a sports sedan that injects a much-needed dose of excitement into the brand's lineup. It ditches the turbocharged engines of its siblings in favor of a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8, harkening back to a golden age of Lexus performance. But is the IS 500 all about brute force, or does it offer a refined driving experience worthy of the Lexus badge?

The Porsche Macan is a great SUV for those who want a luxurious and sporty vehicle with a high level of performance. It is also a practical choice for those who need a spacious interior and a lot of cargo space. However, it is one of the more expensive SUVs on the market, so it may not be the best choice for budget-minded buyers.

Back in in the late 80’s I bought a well used Ford Bronco XLT as my first truck. This truck needed a bit of TLC but, with a little elbow grease, I proudly made it my own. I was hit by a wave of nostalgia when the newly designed Bronco hit the market. So in this month’s Weekend Test Drive column, let’s take the Bronco out on the road.

While the older models were strictly two door models, similar to the Jeep Wrangler, today’s Bronco comes in both a two door and a four door model. In fact, the Bronco in many ways compares to the Jeep Wrangler. I’m sure that is by design as Ford works to unseat the many die hard Jeep Wrangler customers out there.

It’s hard to argue with the styling of the M4i. It’s an instant classic. If I were ordering this car, I would certainly include the Dynamic Handling package, which adds larger M Sport brakes, M Sport differential and some cool badging. Forward-collision warning and daytime pedestrian detection with city braking are standard, as is BMW's lane-departure warning system. I really enjoy the adaptive cruise control offered by BMW, particularly on long highway drives.

“Holy Muscle Car!” is all I have to say about the Camaro ZL1. With its 650 horsepower supercharged V8 which was adapted from the Corvette, this is all you could hope for in true American grit! The handling is tight and the ride is comfortable - at least in the front seat. I don’t think I’d enjoy riding in the back seat too much as it looked cramped enough even for my 5 foot 8 inch frame.

This Audi R8 is a 2 seat rocket ship designed for weekend fun! While the R8 comes equipped with either a 4.2 Liter V8 or a 5.2 Liter V10 power plant, the V8 coupled with the 7 speed S-Tronic transmission is absolutely more than enough power. The mid-engine placement, Quattro all wheel drive system, double wishbone front suspension and hydraulic assisted, speed sensing steering grip the road and corner like it wants to be pushed far harder than is legally allowed. Where braking is concerned, the disc brakes do their job well - and that’s a necessity in this beast.