Take a look at my world. At Mark Elias Photo, we are curious about the world around us and always look at the details. They may include a recently completed job, a tune we can’t get out of our head, a new guitar, a great gadget or a new destination. We will capture it in words, images and more here at Mark Elias Media Services.
2018 Cadillac CTS-V RWD
Let’s call it a 20-footer. From 20 feet away the Cadillac CTS-V RWD sedan looks like the unassuming young executive’s Cadillac CTS. You know, the one with possibly the 2.0-Liter turbocharged four-cylinder or even the 3.6-liter V6. But then you would come closer to notice the carbon fiber spoilers, inserts and side skirts, not to mention the hood that has been “pimpled-up” (not pimped, but Pimpled) to offer clearance for the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine.
The BMW 3-Series is already a legend for obvious reasons including packaging, handling and all around sportiness. With the 2018 BMW 330e, is it a case of too much of a good thing, or is it another option for fanboys of “the Ultimate Driving Machine?” Read More….
The 2018 Toyota C-HR coulda, woulda, shoulda. They say shortly before it appeared in dealerships as a Porsche, the 924 was set to arrive in Volkswagen dealer showrooms. The 2018 Toyota C-HR XLE Premium follows that same path, in that it was to be introduced as a Scion instead. Read More…
2018 Kia Stinger GT2
Back in the day, when General Motors was King, Chevrolet was their bread and butter brand while Pontiac was “where the action was.” At the Hyundai Group, we think it’s appropriate to consider Hyundai Motors in the Chevrolet role while Kia is “where the action is,” as seen with their new 2018 Kia Stinger GT2. Why, the action is so here that even Steven Tyler and Emerson Fittipaldi are interested! Read more….
2018 LexusLC 500h
Do you like being watched and looked at? Being in the 2018 Lexus LC 500h is kinda like being inside the cage at the zoo. People look and point at you along the way. It was a similar feeling to what we experienced driving around our HQ in West Palm Beach, FL.
But, honestly, we didn’t mind. Read on for more…
2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD
We won’t go out a limb to say the SUV is dead. But we will take a gamble and say that the station wagon, er, shooting-brake, like our 2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD, is making a comeback. And for us fans of sports wagons, this rebirth hasn’t come a moment too soon….Read More
Honey, I shrunk the Audi S7.
The 2018 Audi S5 Sportback is the latest vehicle of interest from Ingolstadt, Germany. It’s also one of those cars that continues to blur the distinction between a coupe and a sedan, seemingly defying naming convention as we have acknowledged it up to this point. Read more….
2018 Alfa-Romeo Stelvio Sport CUV
It’s a CUV that is combination grocery getter, kid kaddy, and pet picker upper. And everything it does is performed in a manner that screams “Pronto!” It’s the 2018 Alfa-Romeo Stelvio Sport CUV. And it’s Italian. That could go both ways, by the way…Read More
2018 Jaguar E-Pace AWD First Drive
The concept of Jaguar producing an SUV/CUV is already a foregone conclusion that has been met with great success thanks to its F-Pace. So now it’s the perfect time to broaden the segment with the introduction of the 2018 Jaguar E-Pace. Jaguar-Land Rover flew us to the French island of Corsica, in the Mediterranean, which itself is a combination of Franco-Italian style and culture, to sample this exotic combination of utility and performance. Read more….
Hauling the mail is an antique slang expression not so much in vogue anymore. Used to imply that an object, or even a person was capable of moving at a high rate of speed, it is a perfectly appropriate expression for the 2018 BMW X3 M40i Sport Activity Vehicle. Now into its third generation, this cargo-toting hot-rod manages to incorporate legendary BMW M technology and the ability to carry five passengers all day. Read More…..
2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic Cabriolet
There’s nothing quite like moving down a major thoroughfare flipping your folding roof, all while moving under 30 mph. Yes, you’re cruising like a boss, driving the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic Cabriolet. But how about when it’s nearly 40-degrees outside. That’s just pure genius! Read more…
2018 Kia Niro PHEV First Drive
We look for any excuse to travel the world, so when Kelley Blue Book contacted us about driving the new 2018 Kia Niro PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), on a road trip from Kia headquarters in Irvine to the Golden Gate city of San Francisco, we jumped at the chance. Along the way, we found out what life behind the wheel of a Plug-in Hybrid was really like and were able to do some good for those, who through circumstances beyond their control, found themselves homeless through the forest fires in Ventura California. The New Niro PHEV offered the best of the Gas and Hybrid worlds with plug-in battery power that would carry it approximately 26-miles, and then a gas powered four-cylinder that would help to regenerate more energy to those same cells. Read more about it….
2018 smart fortwo electric drive cabrio
Too much fun? That’s what we were asking after driving the 2018 smart fortwo electric drive cabriolet in San Diego . We had been here before…Read More
2018 Nissan Leaf EV First Drive
The 2018 Nissan Leaf is the latest edition of the brand’s all-electric mobility solution. Improved in almost every way, it has turned the corner, away from the awkward looks of its predecessor, to a style resembling other vehicles in the Nissan lineup. Along the way, it receives a lot more content for a lot less money. Read More…
2017 Mazda CX5 Grand Touring AWD
We have been a fan of the brand for many years, even to the point that we have a 2016 Mazda6 as our personal vehicle of choice. We jumped, naturally, at the chance to test out the 2017 Mazda CX5 Grand Touring AWD for a week. Read More….
2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD
Missile-like in its appearance, the 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD is quietly showing that there’s still a lot of game in Gothenburg (Göteborg), Sweden. Now the proverbial last man standing in Swedish auto manufacturers, they continue apace with solid and actually surprising new vehicles. Read More….
Vehicles With Salvage Titles: Following a Natural Disaster, Are They Worth It?
A rash of Salvage Titles may show up in the auto marketplace soon. Following the one-two-three punch of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, there will likely be an uptick in the purchase of new cars throughout the South and the Caribbean. That will also likely lead to the appearance of some too-good-to-be-true bargains on used cars across the country. Read More…
We were all set. I was even contemplating an appointment with a chiropractor to follow my week in the 2017 Ford F150 Raptor. The Raptor is essentially an ultra high-performance version of the Ford F150 pickup truck that is nearly race-ready, minus a few necessary safety features. The fascinating thing is that I don’t really believe in the benefits of Chiropractic. More….
What to do following a Natural Disaster.
What to do following a Natural Disaster? This article turned out to be especially timely following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. After my daughter experienced her own natural disaster, I had the idea to write about it in a story for Autotrader.com. Their process is like this: I pitch a story idea, and it goes to my editors there, who will either say yea or nay as to whether it gets published. This particular idea was submitted right after Ariel’s water event in early August….Read More…
Hot hatches have always been our favorite type of vehicle, followed closely by what some call a Shooting Brake, but we call a Station Wagon. Yet it seems that the great unwashed prefer Crossovers and SUVs instead. But that hasn’t deterred Hyundai from introducing the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Sport. Read more…
With its predecessor already an award-winning vehicle, what does Ford do for an encore? The 2018 Ford F150 holds tough with a new, bolder grille, bringing it closer in line with its bigger Super Duty brethren. But is that enough to keep this aluminum wonder relevant into the new model year?
Already well-received, Ford revisits engine configurations and choices, adds more design cues, more safety features, more payload, more, uh, more. Are pickup trucks still sexy? Read More…
2018 Hyundai Sonata First Drive.
Charleston, South Carolina is what we would call a seasoned city in the sense that it has been around for a while but is (hopefully) constantly undergoing a change for the better. The same can be said for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata. Hyundai flew us to the Low Country for a look-see at the refreshed new Sonata, Read more…
2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV: Batteries Are Included.
The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is nearly the life-size representation of a childhood dream: to have what is essentially a full-size slot car that we can drive around on the street. Except that in this case we are not 3 inches tall, and there is no slot for the guide shoe. Oh, and it’s not as sleek as the slot cars of our youth. Read More
2017 Jaguar F-Type R Convertible
New ownership at Jaguar is not that new anymore. Tata (makers of Eight-O-Clock Coffee and others) came in and dropped the brand on its proverbial head and in the process, shook things up quite nicely, we’d say. One of their grandest achievements is the latest iteration of their flagship 2017 Jaguar F-Type R Convertible AWD. The ability to go topless has never been more appealing than in this personal two-seat neo-spectacular near-supercar. Sure it’s a mouthful, (with a few hyphens) but please work with us here. Read More…
Punching above its weight class is always a way to be noticed. Think of the slight schoolyard kid who packs a wallop when confronted by the playground bully. That’s a perfect analogy to the 2018 Genesis G80 Sport.
Now in its second year of production, you may have remembered a previous version known as the Hyundai Genesis. At the time, it was part of a high-zoot tag team partnership with the Hyundai Equus. Both were good, Read more…
The Jeep Switchback Concept is the more accessible relative of the Jeep Safari Concept, in that many of the parts are currently available in the MOPAR parts catalog at any Fiat Chrysler Automobiles dealership. Available with many bolt-on parts from the Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) line, the Switchback is a raised, and redesigned look at FCA’s venerable off-road badboy Video and More…
It’s a car beloved and loathed at the same time. Long Toyota’s bread and butter sedan there is no denying the Camry is a best seller, despite the fact it exists in a market awash with Sport- and Crossover Utility Vehicles. But recently, others have been stealing market share. That’s why the company that Goes Places really went places with their 2018 Toyota Camry. Read More…
Clarion is no stranger to alternative marketing. Or iconic builds. With the Clarion Builds BMW 850Ci, they return with the fifth chapter in a story that began with the rebuilding of an iconic 1974 BMW 2002. From there, they continued with a 1991 Acura (Honda) NSX, a 2004 Subaru WRX, and 2003 Nissan 350Z. This latest chapter features a 1993 BMW 850Ci. Starting with an E31 chassis that was thoroughly ragged out by its previous owner, it was the perfect READ MORE…
2017 Lincoln Continental AWD Reserve
Ford’s Lincoln division as of late has undergone a Phoenix-like rise from the ashes. First attempts with the MKS, and MKT felt like the brand had two broken wings. Follow up efforts with the MKZ and MKC resulted in more widespread acceptance, but the brand still lacked a flagship. That was until the appearance of the 2017 Lincoln Continental. Read more…
Founded in 1967 by Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in the German town of Affalterbach, Mercedes-AMG celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2017. The Performance division of Mercedes-Benz, it was an independent tuner of Mercedes Cars until Daimler, tired of losing to the upstarts, scooped them up in 2005. If you can’t beat them, buy them. Read More…
Chances are that if you’re reading these pages on the web, you are already a collector of diecast collectible models. South Florida retailer Awesome Diecast models supplies collectors and corporations with the latest in metal and resin miniatures to over 60 countries globally. Read More…
2017 Genesis G90 5.0 RWD Ultimate.
Even though the 2017 Genesis G90 5.0 Ultimate is a totally new vehicle- and Genesis is now a stand-alone brand, parent company Hyundai has had a few years to get it right. As far as luxury goes, the South Korean company introduced the Equus, in 1999. We didn’t see it until its second-generation sibling appeared in North America, which was an okay first effort for these shores. Still, it suffered from some cost-cutting measures that rendered that horse a little lame from the start. Read more…
2017 Nissan Rogue Sport – First Drive
NissanUSA’s headquarter city of Nashville is one of the fastest growing cities in America. Official estimates state that around 85 and as many as 100 new residents move to the city each day. Many of them will become urban dwellers, and Nissan thinks they are the perfect customers for the 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport. Read More...
Nissan’s Nashville Skyline Revisited
Nissan, USA invited me and a bunch of my journalist colleagues to one of the most exciting cities in America, Nashville, Tennessee, to test-drive the 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport. That Nashville is the home of Country music is not lost on me, there was no way I was going to miss this excursion. Read More….
Being the halo car means nothing is spared. Or, at least that’s the way it’s supposed to be. With the 2017 BMW M760i xDrive, the company has pulled from all disciplines and departments to provide a top line offering that can go head to head with all the other halos in the business. Read More
2018 Lexus LC 500 First Drive.
Getting behind the wheel of a sporty Lexus has been a spotty affair since the brand was founded back in 1989. While the brand has had a great success with their sedans, there have been a few sporty hits, but mostly misses, on the path to establish the company as a full-line Japanese luxury brand. That was until recent years where Akio Toyoda decided enough was enough. That was until the Lexus LC 500 and LC 500h. Read More…
Porsche parade: We traveled to North Florida, scene of the 22nd edition of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. While there, we stumbled across some legendary Porsche racecars, including the 1969 John Wyer Gulf Porsche 917K, that was both a movie- and racing star. It was driven by some guy named Steve McQueen.
Here at Mark Elias Photo, you can read New Car Reviews featuring the latest in automobiles from around the world. We revisit Classic Cars, taking a look back so we may look ahead. News and Miscellaneous Ramblings tell about visits with cool seens and scenes. Photographic Services show what we have done for Fortune 500 Companies and Yours.
Latest works.
We scour the world so you won’t have to! Check back for the latest in Mark Elias Photo works, News and Reviews and other interesting scribblings.
Who we are
Mark Elias Photo and Mark Elias Media Services, LLC, based in West Palm Beach, FL., offers photography and editorial services to clients worldwide. With over twenty five years experience capturing the image, both as a staff photographer with the Associated Press, an Automotive Journalist and Corporate photographer for Fortune 500-ranking clients, Mark Elias has seen it all, and done it twice! Call or email today, to find out how we can enhance you, and your company’s corporate image.
Check out my reviews at https://markeliasphoto.com
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: All images on this site are © Mark Elias Photography. We will vigorously prosecute unauthorized usage.
Let’s get in touch and stay in touch.
Contact us at 305.775.7976 or melias.media@gmail.com
