Categories On Topic Complete Directory About Us Add-site Link to Us	556 Automobiles and Automotive - Reviews Resources 100 Top Auto Sites View this week's top 100 auto sites hand picked by our editors to provide the best selection on the Internet. Open Open Tab   Provides Information 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante coupe When a garage-find Bugatti Type 57S Atalante coupe sold at Bonham's Paris auction recently for $4.4 million, the surprising thing wasn't its faded paint, rusty trim, and worn interior - it's that the car's condition likely bolstered its selling price. Open Open Tab April 29, 2009 Provides Information 1950-1954 Jaguar XK120 The 1950 advertisements said it all: "An entirely standard production Jaguar Super Sports XK120 was timed at 132.6 mph by official observation." That wasn't exactly true; the record car had a higher axle ratio, along with a single aero screen, a metal tonneau cover, and an underpan for aerodynamics. Open Open Tab September 5, 2008 Provides Information 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 4.5 - Collectible Classic Listen up, all you children of the modern era: Believe it or not, there was a time when Mercedes-Benz didn't build outwardly exciting cars. Forget the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and its 207-mph top speed. Open Open Tab August 1, 2008 Provides Information 1985 Honda CRX HF vs. 2010 Honda Insight It is the year 2009, and the planet is in a general state of higgledy-piggledy. The global economy is in the toilet, the polar ice caps are melting, and most car manufacturers are running scared. Open Open Tab June 19, 2009 Provides Information 1990-1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Collectible Classic It seems that when you do something long enough, new things become old and old things tend to feel new again. Some explanation: Twenty years ago, I was the car culture editor for a large format "lifestyle" magazine - before "lifestyle" dripped with irony - called L.A. Open Open Tab January 30, 2009 Provides Information 1999-2005 Audi A2 - By Design So Honda has a new Insight hybrid, and almost every comment I have seen says that Honda "copied the Toyota Prius" shape. Not really. Open Open Tab February 5, 2009 Provides Information 2007 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS There are very good reasons for a June vacation in Italy's Umbria region: Ancient villas and Roman ruins, fine wine, fantastic food, pungent espresso, beautiful people, spectacular churches and museums, and a heavenly golden light at sunset, to name just a few. Open Open Tab May 15, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Simon Memorial Prize Awarded to Key Members of NEC's Nano Electronics Research Lab NEC Corporation announced today that Yasunobu Nakamura and Jaw-Shen Tsai, key members of NEC's Nano Electronics Research Laboratories, have been jointly awarded with the 2008 Simon Memorial Prize for their contributions to the development of low temperature physics. Open Open Tab August 5, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Automobile of the Year: 2009 Nissan GT-R Angels don't start singing when you spot a Nissan GT-R. Inside and out, the car looks anything but heavenly. Even in the so-called Comfort mode, it rides like a New York City subway car, shuddering over bumps and clattering from station to station. Open Open Tab November 12, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Acura 2008 Acura TL (base trim) Here at the online edition to Automobile Magazine, you can find all 2008 Acura TL research you need to make an informed buying decision. Select an option below to learn more about this vehicle. Open Open Tab July 11, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Audi 2008 Audi A5 Coupe The steering is a bit overboosted at parking speeds, but it's fine once you're moving along. Open Open Tab December 2, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Audi A8 L W12 The big 2008 Audi A8 L W12 combines high luxury and surprisingly sporty performance. Its tech credentials are anchored by a stellar Bang & Olufsen audio system, and include some innovative driving tech. While quite nice to drive, a chauffeur makes a fine accessory. Open Open Tab July 24, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Audi R8 4.2 - Four Seasons Update - January 2009 Your eyes do not deceive you: We are spending one full year with our 2008 Automobile of the Year, the Audi R8. Our Four Seasons R8 has been in the Automobile Magazine fleet for seven months, and we all still pinch ourselves when we walk out to the parking structure, see it sitting there in all its sleek beauty, and realize, it's ours! Open Open Tab February 3, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Audi R8 4.2 - Four Seasons Update - February 2009 Winter is over and now it's time to take stock of the Audi R8's ability to serve as a mid-engine winter car, if you can imagine such a thing. We did, and both we and the R8 survived one of Michigan's harshest winters in years with no problems. Open Open Tab March 18, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Audi R8 4.2 - Four Seasons Update - April 2009 Spring is here, we've removed the R8's snow tires, and the twenty-somethings on our editorial staff have been hogging the car, those greedy guys. It's understandable: for new assistant editor David Zenlea and new road test coordinator Mike Ofiara, the R8 is their introduction to the world of exotic, mid-engine sports cars. Open Open Tab April 22, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Audi R8 4.2 - Four Seasons Update - May 2009 Our time with the Audi R8 is fleeting, and we're counting down the weeks until its year is up. To make the most of our last couple of months with the R8, we had a bunch of work done to keep it in tip-top running order through the very last day of our Four Seasons test. Open Open Tab May 26, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Audi R8 4.2 - Four Seasons Update - June 2009 As our year with the Audi R8 nears its end, you might think that the seen-it-all, driven-it-all bunch at 120 East Liberty would have become jaded to its exotic charms. Think again. Even after a long, harsh winter and through a pothole-choked spring, the R8 continues to enthrall the staff, and its effect on bystanders is also undiminished. Open Open Tab June 18, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Buick 2008 Buick Enclave CXL This vehicle can be described in one word: Isolation. The Enclave is one of the quietest cars I've ever been in, and that list includes heavy-hitting luminaries like the Mercedes-Benz S-class and the Bentley Arnage. Open Open Tab September 25, 2008 Provides Information 2008 BMW 2008 BMW 1-Series (base trim) I'm a big fan of this 128i, more so than our long-term 135i. I know the 135i has the explosive power everyone craves these days, but the substantial cost of that engine makes the 135i a little less attractive to me. Open Open Tab July 31, 2008 Provides Information 2008 BMW 135i - Four Seasons Update - March 2009 Our 2008 BMW 135i spent the month of February with our East Coast staffers, who were more than happy to spend some time with the little, alpine white sportster. East Coast editor Jamie Kitman and senior editor Joe Lorio managed to rack up more than a thousand miles in and around New York City. Open Open Tab April 3, 2009 Provides Information 2008 BMW 135i - Four Seasons Wrap-up Is 300 hp too much power for a compact, four-passenger sport coupe? Open Open Tab June 10, 2009 Provides Information 2008 BMW M3 M DCT The third time is the charm where two-pedal BMW M3s are concerned. A five-speed automatic transmission offered in the 1995-1999 M3 was for poseurs. Open Open Tab August 7, 2008 Provides Information 2008 BMW X3 3.0si You know a BMW is getting old when you have to insert a conventional key and turn it to start the engine. This isn't a bad thing, it just shows you how quickly BMW has added new functions to their cars. In addition, the X3's navigation system doesn't have an iDrive controller, there is a water temperature gauge, and the indictor and wiper stalks don't reset to a neutral position after each selection. Open Open Tab October 28, 2008 Provides Information 2008 BMW Z4 Coupe Forget the Porsche 911: if what you want is to be noticed, buy a 2008 BMW Z4 coupe. It got more attention around Ann Arbor than almost any other car I've driven this spring and summer. Open Open Tab August 8, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Cadillac 2008 Cadillac CTS (base trim) Here at the online edition to Automobile Magazine, you can find all 2008 Cadillac CTS research you need to make an informed buying decision. Select an option below to learn more about this vehicle. Open Open Tab July 10, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Chevrolet 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt (base trim) Making the right choice in a market of more than 200 cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs is no easy task – not without us, that is. Here at the online edition to Automobile Magazine, you can find all 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt research you need to make an informed buying decision. Select an option below to learn more about this vehicle. Open Open Tab July 8, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Chevy Corvette Coupe It's pretty amazing how far the Corvette has come in the past fifty years. The current, sixth-generation 'Vette now gives you 430 horsepower, endless torque, better steering feel, and a better chassis than any Corvette in history, and enough rock-solid durability to drive to Africa and back. Open Open Tab October 3, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Citroen 2008 Citroen GT Concept Long, slender, French. We're not talking about the booth babes at this week's Paris motor show, but of the Citroen GT - a two-seat sports car concept with an interesting design history. Open Open Tab October 10, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Dodge 2008 Dodge Avenger (base trim) It is very difficult to overcome the initial and deep sense of disappointment I felt when I unlocked the (notchy) door lock of our Avenger R/T test car. Open Open Tab July 31, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 The 2008 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 gets an electric-shift transfer case standard on 4-wheel drive SLT and Laramie models, and a tire-pressure monitoring system standard on all models with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lb. Open Open Tab July 17, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Ford 2008 Ford Econoline The 2008 Ford Econoline gets a redesigned front end this year with revised braking, suspension, and steering systems. Open Open Tab July 10, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Ford Mustang (base trim) Here at the online edition to Automobile Magazine, you can find all 2008 Ford Mustang research you need to make an informed buying decision. Select an option below to learn more about this vehicle. Open Open Tab July 11, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR But the angry sound of this Mustang's 540-hp, supercharged V-8 and its throaty, H-pipe exhaust was not to be ignored. People looked up, startled, wondering what in the world was creating such a racket on this quiet October weeknight. Open Open Tab November 3, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Honda 2008 Honda Odyssey Touring Even with a redesign, the 2008 Honda Odyssey looks like a minivan from the last century, and its cabin tech barely gets it into this one. But it offers practical and economical transportation for a lot of people. Open Open Tab July 16, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Hyundai 2008 Hyundai Sonata Limited The interior in particular is noticeably classier (note the metallic-looking gauges and the well-wrought storage bins in the center stack, for instance), and our test car's build quality puts it near the top of the class. Open Open Tab August 11, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Infiniti 2008 Infiniti EX35 AWD Journey - Four Seasons Fleet Update - June 2009 It's been a busy month for our Infiniti EX. No sooner had it gone out to New York in the care of yours truly than it was on another round trip through the midwest, this time serving as a touring van for the Ann Arbor-based (and Jamie Kitman-managed) band Tally Hall. Open Open Tab June 18, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Infiniti EX35 Journey The 2008 Infiniti EX35 Journey can be had with a host of innovative tech, including its Around View Monitor and Lane Departure Prevention. Its navigation system integrates live traffic and offers 3D views, while its Bose audio system sounds excellent. Music sources include a hard drive and iPod integration. Open Open Tab July 23, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Infiniti G35xS You just get in, buckle up, put it in gear, press the accelerator, and go; the supple chassis, communicative steering, and willing V-6 take over from there. The seating position and sightlines are pleasing, and the ergonomics, especially with the $2150 navigation package's excellent touch-screen display, are top-notch. Open Open Tab August 18, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Infiniti G37 - Four Seasons Wrap-Up After power-sliding around a Nissan test track in Arizona during our first meeting with the G37 [June 2007] and blasting down back roads all the way from Tennessee to Michigan two months later, we declared Infiniti's sexy new sport coupe to be a near-equal to its chief rival, the BMW 335i coupe. Open Open Tab February 23, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Jaguar 2008 Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas I've heard a lot of people talk about how well this Jaguar has aged over the years, so I asked Marc to book one before this generation of the car became history. The appeal is very easy to understand as soon as you slide into a soft leather seat and notice the tasteful expanses of wood and leather used in the interior. Everything feels very old school luxury. Open Open Tab November 5, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Jaguar XKR Convertible t's nice to see that Jaguar has updated a few minor details on the XK. The old-school power antenna is gone, the headliner is much nicer, and there are some other minor improvements inside. Luckily, the company didn't change the way the XK drives, as this XKR Convertible is still a wonderful car. From the linear steering to excellent ride quality, this is the best driving car in the class. Open Open Tab October 29, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Kia 2008 Kia Sedona My experience with the Sedona was rather limited - just an early morning drive from the airport during which I was more concerned with getting feeling back in my fingers than vehicle dynamics (it was -20 degrees with the wind chill). Still, I was pleasantly surprised when I got in the front seat and saw a modern, nicely turned dash staring back at me. Open Open Tab January 22, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Kia Sportage Here's a nice little SUV for those seeking basic transportation. It drives well enough for commuters, and the cargo area is pretty large when the seats are folded down. There's enough power to merge on the highway and pass people on country roads, and the ride quality isn't bad. Open Open Tab September 26, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Lamborghini 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo The 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo (guy-YARD-oh) returns as an all-wheel-drive exotic that stands as the Italian company's entry-level car. Open Open Tab July 2, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Lexus 2008 Lexus IS-F - Four Seasons Update Just what is in a name? When it comes to the Lexus IS-F, it depends on who you talk to. Some say the letter F comes from the original prototype for the Lexus LS400. When the first model for the Toyota luxury brand was being developed, the project was call F1 or circle F. Open Open Tab January 30, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Lexus IS-F - Four Seasons Update - March 2009 Although Zenlea comes away with even more respect for the IS-F, citing its "effortless acceleration and bullet-train-like high-speed stability" (which can find you at 120 mph when you thought you were doing 80), he prefers the return trip in the BMW 135i, despite its somewhat less awesome speediness. Open Open Tab March 24, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Lotus 2008 Lotus Elise (base trim) Making the right choice in a market of more than 200 cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs is no easy task – not without us, that is. Open Open Tab July 10, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Maserati 2008 Mazda Kiyora No, the Kiyora is a full-out dream car, as far from production as the long-ago Cadillac Cyclone and just as wonderful in its own way. Open Open Tab December 22, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Mercury 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD If we're all going to end up driving hybrids, the revolution should start in this class. I think the small cute-ute/crossover segment was born out of nothing but marketing departments, and these vehicles could all be replaced by hatchbacks and wagons with absolutely no ill effect. Open Open Tab September 9, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Mini Cooper 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman The Clubman poses an intriguing question for Mini. Does a brand that celebrates its smallness compromise itself by bringing out a larger model? Open Open Tab November 5, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Mitsubishi 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR This is the perfect car for "Lady Heather," the dominatrix that seems to captivate Gil Grissom on the TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Open Open Tab November 1, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo MR - Four Seasons Review When the rally-bred Evolution arrived here in 2003, it was hailed as a raw performance machine that delivered supercar thrills for family-car money. We even named it our 2004 Automobile of the Year. For 2008, there's an all-new Evo. But, as in life, with age comes additional weight, and maturity brings refinement and dampens youthful energy. Open Open Tab November 11, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR - Four Seasons Update Our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has logged 16,289 miles during its six months in the Automobile Magazine test fleet. Predictably, staffers spent some time lamenting the Evo's SST transmission and keep wishing for a six-speed manual (as we usually do when we have a test vehicle with a DSG-style transmission). Open Open Tab January 23, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR - Four Seasons Update Our Evolution has been a blast in the snow, of which we've seen a lot this winter, although there has been some griping about the limited-slip front differential. When you're playing in snow, the car has some initial understeer, and a few staffers have complained that they can feel the torque transfer through the steering wheel. Open Open Tab March 17, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR - Four Seasons Update - March 2009 April is here and it's time to remove our Mitsubishi Evo's winter rubber in favor of the original-equipment tires, the very sporty Yokohama Advan A13 (245/40R-18 on all four wheels). Unfortunately, upon retrieving the summer tires from our storage room, we discovered that they are well-worn, and two of them are pretty much shot. Open Open Tab April 3, 2009 Provides Information 2008 Nissan 2008 Nissan 350Z Roadster I'm happy that a fresh Z-car is on the way (a new one is debuting in November at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show), because this one is feeling pretty old. The car feels heavy and ponderous. Open Open Tab August 14, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Nissan 350Z Roadster With the wisdom gleaned over a full model cycle, or about five years in this case, I think it's safe to pronounce the returning Nissan Z car a winner. The original 240Z was a defining car for Nissan (then Datsun), and a beacon of sports car hope during the largely hopeless early 1970s. Open Open Tab December 4, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid The Altima's hybrid system is essentially the same as that in the Toyota Camry hybrid, although Nissan pairs it with its own 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. As in the Camry, a continuously variable automatic is the only transmission. Open Open Tab September 30, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Nissan Nuvu Concept No, this isn't the third coming of the Nissan Pivo concept. Meet the 2008 Nissan Nuvu concept, a look at a possible electric city car that may be in Nissan's distant future. Open Open Tab October 3, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Porsche 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS We love manual transmissions in this office, so it's tough to admit that there is one of the vehicles in the fleet this week that would be better off with an automatic: the Porsche Cayenne GTS. Open Open Tab August 8, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Pratt & Miller 2008 Pratt & Miller Corvette C6RS Pratt & Miller Engineering runs the highly successful Corvette factory racing team in the American Le Mans series (ALMS). Pratt & Miller also builds its own mega Corvette, the C6RS. Open Open Tab August 20, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Saab 2008 Saab 9-3 (base trim) When you scan the specifications on the Saab Turbo X SportCombi (despite the 9-3 badge on the back, Saab insists you call it just the Turbo X), you can't help but get excited. Open Open Tab July 31, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept After 25 years of building drop-tops, Saab has created a convertible concept that breaks from its traditional wedge profile. The 9-X Air BioHybrid foretells a sporty, open-air four-seater that may soon come out of Trollhattan. Open Open Tab September 18, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Smart Fortwo 2008 Smart Fortwo (base trim) Making the right choice in a market of more than 200 cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs is no easy task – not without us, that is. Here at the online edition to Automobile Magazine, you can find all 2008 Smart Fortwo research you need to make an informed buying decision. Open Open Tab July 14, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Subaru 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i If there's one conclusion the Automobile Magazine office can collectively draw about the 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i, it's this: it's no WRX. Open Open Tab August 8, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Sedan The all-beige interior of this economy sedan has all the aesthetic appeal of a hospital room. Jeez, Subaru, couldn't you figure out SOMETHING in here that could be colored or finished in such a way as to give the eye a break from the endless monotony of beige plastic? Open Open Tab August 19, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Suzuki 2008 Suzuki SX4t Transforming the SX4 from an econobox to a brazen road racer wasn't much of a stretch for Suzuki. Open Open Tab August 7, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Toyota 2008 Toyota Prius The 2008 Toyota Prius has an iconic shape that will only be confused with other Priuses. Gas mileage and the emissions rating are extraordinarily good for a car of this size. Open Open Tab December 15, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Toyota Yaris The Toyota Yaris has suddenly become a hot seller thanks to its excellent fuel economy and solid Toyota build quality. Open Open Tab August 20, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Volkswagen 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S I only drove the Rabbit briefly, but my overwhelming impression is that it oozes quality and refinement for an $18,000 car. There is nothing about it that feels cheap, from the nicely damped exterior door handles to the typically well-crafted VW interior, with its great seats, to the smooth and refined 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. Open Open Tab October 7, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI Scirocco? Isn't that some Car my Father Drove? Open Open Tab October 30, 2008 Provides Information 2008 Volkswagen Touareg Poor sight lines, a relatively space-inefficient interior, and a lackluster powertrain compound the problem. The engine lacks torque down low - it's not helped by the Touareg's substantial heft - but frustatingly, the six-speed automatic downshifts as if its innards were mired in molasses. Open Open Tab November 4, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Acura 2009 Acura RDX The Acura RDX launched in 2007 with Acura's first production turbocharged gasoline engine. In place of the six-cylinder units normally found in compact premium SUVs (like the BMW X3) the Acura's turbocharged sixteen-valve four-cylinder whistles while it works. Open Open Tab August 4, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Acura RL AWD Wow, this Acura RL is a respectable car, but $54,860? Really? And I don't even get a six-speed automatic for that price? Open Open Tab February 25, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Acura TL The TL is at the heart of Acura's sedan lineup, sitting above the entry-level TSX and below the range-topping RL. The outgoing TL has enjoyed a lot of success, despite what some would see as the handicap of a front-wheel-drive layout in a field that is increasingly moving to rear-wheel drive. Open Open Tab August 13, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Acura TL SH-AWD The 2009 Acura TL SH-AWD tries to strike a balance between comfortable commuter car and weekend sport driver, but leans towards the former. Cutting edge cabin tech increases the comfort level and gives it a practical edge. Open Open Tab December 8, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Acura TL SH-AWD I drove 270 miles in the TL. Trip computer indicated 25.5 mpg. I was using the cruise control most of the time, with speeds between 70-75 mph. Open Open Tab December 23, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Acura ZDX Concept No longer can we call the BMW X6 unique. Acura's ZDX concept, shown at the 2009 New York auto show, also mixes sports coupe DNA with that of a sports-utility. Open Open Tab April 8, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Alfa Romeo 2009 Alfa Romeo MiTo The MiTo is a brand-new, two-door hatchback minicar (only 4.06 meters, or 13.3 feet, long) that Alfa Romeo is aiming at young people in an attempt to reconnect the brand to a new generation of buyers. Alfa hopes that the MiTo's evocative Italian styling, its full range of electronic equipment, and its economical but sporty powertrains will set the car apart from the crowded minicar field in Europe and other major world markets where Alfa Romeos are sold. Open Open Tab July 10, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Aston Martin 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Coupe It almost feels like a sin to take delivery of a shiny new Aston Martin DB9 in the midst of one of the worst economic disasters in the history of the country, but it seems even more ludicrous to turn down time behind the wheel of one of the most gorgeous cars on the road, so we spent a weekend cruising around Los Angeles in a titanium silver DB9 coupe. Open Open Tab April 6, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante If the $199,200 base price doesn't give it away, let me be the first to say this is quite a special car. There are faster cars, there are more practical cars, and there are more luxurious cars, but the Aston Martin DB9 is unique in the market. Open Open Tab June 19, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Aston Martin DBS As this is written, the latest James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace, is exploding across movie screens, and once again Daniel Craig's Agent 007 is at the wheel of an Aston Martin DBS. Open Open Tab February 9, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Aston Martin Lagonda Concept Ever since its purchase by Aston Martin in 1947, the Lagonda brand has played second fiddle to the firm's sports cars. That may well change, as Aston Martin's announced it intends to revive the brand, offering this - the 2009 Lagonda concept - as proof of its intent. Open Open Tab March 4, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Audi 2009 Audi A4: A Car Designed To Fit The Driver Every once in a while over the years you get a test car that just fits right. When you first crawl into it, you have the feeling that this car was made for you. Open Open Tab October 25, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Audi A6 and S6 Lighting and engines: two things Audi does well and with high technology. The revised 2009 A6 sedan and wagon will get new items from both categories. Open Open Tab August 11, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Audi A6 3.0T When I first got into the Audi A6 3.0T, I thought that something had gone wrong with the MMI, because when I pressed the nav button, the system told me navigation wasn't installed. Open Open Tab May 12, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Audi Q5 Automobile Magazine has just driven the all-new, 2009 Audi Q5, a vehicle that made its world debut this past April at the Beijing auto show and which is Audi's answer to the BMW X3. Open Open Tab July 23, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Audi Q5 3.2 Shame on me for not playing with the fancy new Audi drive-select system while I had possession of the Q5. Joe DeMatio mentioned the system's ability to improve steering feel in his review of the Audi Q5 last summer, and the steering weight and feel were among my biggest disappointments in this Q5. Open Open Tab June 24, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Quattro You know what some journalists do when we get behind the wheel of a test vehicle... we hammer the throttle, shift at redline, late-apex every corner, and hope the manufacturer doesn't measure tire-tread depth after the car is returned. Different behavior wouldn't be in-line with The Official Journalist Creed. Open Open Tab November 17, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Audi Q7 V12 TDI Autobahn A8 runs between Munich and Stuttgart. The white Audi Q7 is headed for Augsburg. On a flat, straight stretch of autobahn, the tachometer is redlined at a leisurely 4200 rpm, yet the digital speedometer readout climbs to 287 kph - nearly 180 mph. That's what the world's only production twelve-cylinder diesel engine can do in a nearly three-ton SUV. Open Open Tab January 21, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Audi S4 If you've been wondering what Audi will bring to the 2008 Paris motor show, the suspense is over. Meet the 2009 Audi S4, the performance-tuned variant of the revamped 2009 A4. Open Open Tab September 22, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Audi S5 The S5 is another Audi product-in addition to the A5 and the R8-that one feels compelled to caress, if only visually. Open Open Tab March 13, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Audi S8 The 2009 Audi S8 is a very powerful big sedan with some excellent handling features, but it doesn't offer all of the latest in-dash gizmos and you trade a luxury ride for performance. Open Open Tab February 6, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Audi TT Coupe 2.0 Quattro Perhaps the TTS coupe and roadster that graced our fleet before this regular TT coupe have altered my expectations of the TT and its DSG transmission, but I was disappointed in this car. I found the power to be a bit lower than I remembered, and the DSG seemed to be sluggish on downshifts as well as unrefined when leaving a stop. Is the TTS that much better than the TT, or is this not a typical example of the base TT? Open Open Tab April 17, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Audi TT RS At the moment, the new, 265-hp Audi TTS is the hottest TT ever built, but maybe you think it's not quite hot enough. If so, you'll be happy to hear that the 2009 Audi TT RS - an even more powerful version of Audi's shapely TT - will debut at the 2009 Geneva motor show. Open Open Tab February 20, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Audi TTS Coupe I drove the car once things thawed, but I didn't enjoy the TTS coupe anywhere as much as I did the roadster we previously sampled. Open Open Tab March 20, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Audi TTS Roadster The logical side of my brain is telling me that not only is $57,125 a good chunk of change, it's also enough to get me into the more dynamic Porsche Boxster S. Open Open Tab March 18, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Bentley 2009 Bentley Arnage Final Series You read that right. Final. Lest Bentley pull a trick akin to an Eagles "farewell" tour, the 2009 Bentley Arnage Final Series will celebrate the end for the stately Arnage. Open Open Tab September 24, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur The all-wheel-drive 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur line expands to include a high-performance Speed model. The Flying Spur shares its basic design with the company's Continental GT coupe and GTC convertible, all built on a platform introduced for 2004. Open Open Tab July 11, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed Life has been one continuous champagne toast since Volkswagen took over the Bentley brand and P. Diddy featured one of these British/German bolides in a rap video. Busta Rhymes bought in. Paris Hilton and Mike Tyson have both come and gone from the owner roster. Open Open Tab September 15, 2008 Provides Information 2009 BMW 2009 BMW 3-Series The 2008 Paris motor show is still three months away, but we've already got the skinny on the 2009 BMW 3-series, slated to debut en France. Open Open Tab July 11, 2008 Provides Information 2009 BMW 5-Series and 3-Series Gran Turismo - Gran Turismo x 2 The new BMW 5-series Gran Turismo is (almost) here - displayed as a thinly veiled concept in Geneva. Open Open Tab April 14, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW 128i Convertible Wow, what a great little convertible. I was amazed by how quiet this BMW 128i was with the top down at speeds up to 80 mph. It handled the wind noise much better than the new BMW Z4 roadster we recently sampled. Although the Z4 featured BMW's twin-turbo I-6, I had a lot more fun in the 128i. Open Open Tab June 15, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW 750Li This 2009 BMW 750Li is virtually identical to our long-term test car, except for the addition of nineteen-inch wheels and high-performance tires. Open Open Tab June 1, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW 135i - Four Seasons Update - January 2009 It's January, and Michigan is enjoying one of its snowiest winters on record. The BMW 135i, unfortunately, isn't much of a snowmobile. Open Open Tab February 24, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW 328i Our test BMW 328i sedan was equipped with performance rubber, which made it pretty much worthless in the snow. We ran our Four Seasons BMW 330i sedan with Dunlop Winter Sport M3 winter tires and the car performed flawlessly in the white stuff. Open Open Tab February 4, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW 335d The familiar sedan you see here is the most fuel-efficient BMW sold in the United States since the 13-hp Isetta of the late 1950s. And before you look at the specs, where you might expect to see some yawn-inducing straight-line performance numbers, we should point out that the 335d will whup the first- and second-generation M3s in a stoplight drag race. Open Open Tab December 23, 2008 Provides Information 2009 BMW 335d The first thing I noticed when climbing into this updated 3-series was the new iDrive interface. Wow, is it ever impressive. It is very intuitive and has very impressive graphics. I instantly felt at home juggling through the various menus. Well done, BMW. Open Open Tab January 28, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW 650i Convertible Although the 2009 BMW 650i Convertible makes for a good luxury cruiser and sport driver, with practical cabin tech, we would wait for the next model update, which promises a better design and new navigation system. Open Open Tab April 30, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW 7-Series The fifth-generation 7-series will come to the U.S. first as the V-8-powered 750i and its long-wheelbase counterpart, the 750Li. Open Open Tab July 3, 2008 Provides Information 2009 BMW 7-Series The 2009 BMW 7-Series is redesigned, gaining freshened styling, more size, more power, a new version of BMW's iDrive control system, and an 8-speed automatic transmission. Open Open Tab July 10, 2008 Provides Information 2009 BMW 7-series BMW insists that the current 7-series is the most successful 7 ever, but we're not sure we believe it. With awkward styling (and that's being very nice) and a dreadful user interface that was inscrutable to twenty-year-old IT geniuses, much less the sixty-year-olds the 7-series was supposed to appeal to, the current 7-series had some big problems. Open Open Tab July 30, 2008 Provides Information 2009 BMW 750Li - Four Seasons Update - April 2009 Our 2009 BMW 750Li has only been in the Automobile Magazine Four Seasons fleet for two months, but it's already been driven the entire breadth of the continental United States. Open Open Tab April 22, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW 750Li - The Subtle Seven What a hard act to follow. The last all-new 7-series, the 2002 745Li, was welcomed into the automotive world with about as much warmth and adoration as a 41-pound newborn baby girl with sixteen middle fingers and a full beard. Open Open Tab December 17, 2008 Provides Information 2009 BMW M3, 2009 Infiniti M45x, 2009 GMC Yukon - Gas Guzzler to Fuel Sipper Smackdown Driving usually isn't much of a challenge, but sometimes we make it one: Attempting to beat our best time for a trip. Open Open Tab May 14, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d The presence of the old iDrive interface makes it hard to recommend this generation of the BMW X5 xDrive35d, and the diesel engine makes it more suitable for open-road conditions than congested city traffic. Open Open Tab April 7, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW Z4 I have long defended Chris Bangle and BMW design, believing it necessary to break the classic mold that had prevailed for too long, an opinion validated by ever-increasing BMW sales. But the fact that I approved that stylistic rupture with the too-comfortable past didn't mean I actually liked the disruptive designs. Open Open Tab March 10, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW Z4 BMW has redesigned its roadster for 2009, and the change amounts to comprehensive maturation, if not quite the obvious transformation from newborn Z3 to adolescent Z4. Open Open Tab June 1, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster (First Drive) BMW has redesigned its roadster for 2009, and the change amounts to comprehensive maturation if not quite the obvious transformation from newborn Z3 to adolescent Z4. Open Open Tab March 20, 2009 Provides Information 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i I drove the Z4 sDrive35i (what a stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid name; there's even a ridiculous badge with this horrible combination of letters and numbers) around Ann Arbor and environs over the Memorial Day weekend and came away impressed. Open Open Tab June 18, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Cadillac 2009 Cadillac Converj, 2009 Volkswagen Concept BlueSport, 2010 Fisker Karma - Sexier Sippers Despite the sudden drop in gas prices, the long-term trend toward green cars appears solidly in place. But if green machines are the new reality, when are they going to look like something other than dull or dorky little nerd-mobiles? Open Open Tab March 3, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Cadillac CTS-V Cadillac was fixing to let a passel of journalists hammer its new CTS-V-the Standard of the World's redesigned pinnacle of performance and, drumroll please, the fastest production Cadillac ever-on this freshly paved but as yet unfinished track. Open Open Tab November 11, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Cadillac CTS-V As a high-performance, luxury sedan, the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V sets a benchmark. It's blisteringly fast and handles extraordinarily well, and offers an excellent set of cabin gadgets. Open Open Tab February 25, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Cadillac Escalade 4WD Hybrid I'm amazed at what seems to be a considerable amount of variance between the two-mode hybrid system in this Escalade, and the one fitted to the GMC Sierra Hybrid that was also in our press car fleet. Open Open Tab April 13, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid The 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid combines ostentatious luxury with an overt green theme, while offering seating for seven, cargo room, and fuel economy worthy of a V-6. Open Open Tab February 20, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid The Escalade comes by its reputation honestly, because a 2009 edition with the 403-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 sucks petrol at the criminal rate of 12 mpg city, and either 18 or 19 mpg highway, depending on whether you're powering one axle or two. Open Open Tab March 4, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 5-door Hatchback This Aveo is an interesting vehicle. Unfortunately, the XFE Cobalt starts at $16,330 (plus destination) and returns better fuel economy on the highway (25 city/37 highway and a combined 30 mpg) and gives you a little more power. Since I drive mostly highway miles, I'd much rather fork over the extra cash and get a Cobalt. Open Open Tab December 31, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt: Overview The 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt gets more standard horsepower and a few new features. Chevy's compact car comes as a 2-door coupe or 4-door sedan in LS, LT, and high-performance SS trims. The SS sedan is new for 2009. LS and LT have a 155-hp 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine, an increase of 7 hp from 2008. Open Open Tab April 20, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet Colorado Finding it tough to curb your craving for V-8 power and prestige? General Motors knows your pain. To man up the lame Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon for 2009, the General blessed the engine roster with a new 300-hp V-8. The result is a mini muscle truck available in two body styles, each with a sticker price of well below $30,000. Open Open Tab March 26, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet Colorado 4WD Crew Cab 1LT As technical editor Don Sherman implied when he reviewed these updated trucks, the Colorado/Canyon twins should have been launched like this--with a small-block V-8 under the hood instead of the weakling four-cylinder or the not-much-better in-line five. Open Open Tab May 21, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 The ZR1 is a high-water mark for Corvette performance that - given the macro trends in oil prices, the U.S. economy, and the fortunes of General Motors - almost certainly will never be achieved again. Open Open Tab November 11, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 - Blue Devil Run Corvette ZR1 rage is spreading with viral intensity. Montana collector Dave Ressler bid a million bucks at a charity auction to own the first production ZR1. Open Open Tab December 2, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 - Blown Away Corvette engineers, who orchestrated the ZR1 to entertain a driver, a passenger, and neighboring counties with the big-block, side-pipe sounds of the 1960s, describe the usual reaction to any indulgence of this car's throttle as "shock and awe. Open Open Tab August 20, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet Equinox The 2009 Chevrolet Equinox is largely unchanged. This midsize crossover SUV seats five and shares its basic design with the Pontiac Torrent and Suzuki XL7. Equinox comes in four trim levels: LS, LT, luxury-themed LTZ, and high-performance Sport. All are available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Open Open Tab July 25, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet HHR Panel LT The blanked-off sides provide a great place to advertise your rock band, plumbing business, or geek service. With some lacy curtains for the back door windows, prying eyes will never penetrate your cargo hold. Open Open Tab April 27, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid If only General Motors chairman Rick Wagoner had driven a Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid to Washington last November instead of flying via company jet. Open Open Tab June 8, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet Suburban This report covers the half-ton Suburban 1500 and three-quarter-ton Suburban 2500. Suburban, a 2008 Consumer Guide Best Buy large SUV, shares its basic designs with the GMC Yukon XL. Compared to Chevy's Tahoe, Suburban is about 14 inches longer in wheelbase, 20 inches longer overall, and has nearly 30 cu ft more cargo volume. Open Open Tab July 10, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer The 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer loses one of its available engines but is otherwise unchanged. This five-passenger midsize SUV has a traditional truck-type design that's shared with the GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7X. LT and sporty SS trims are offered. Standard on LT is a 285-hp 4.2-liter inline 6-cylinder engine. Open Open Tab July 23, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Chevy Silverado Hybrid A single-mode hybrid system is sufficient for small high-mileage cars but, when you're dealing with husky, fuel-slurping trucks, you need more. What we now know as GM's two-mode hybrid system was originally developed for urban buses that began service in 2003. Open Open Tab March 11, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Chrysler 2009 Chrysler 300C SRT8 Hours after Chrysler's bankruptcy became official, I was pulling out of the parking garage in a 2009 Chrysler 300C SRT8. Open Open Tab June 9, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Dodge 2009 Dodge Caliber SRT4 I just can't get past the price of this car. There's a decent amount of power, but it's going to the wrong wheels, and the result is tons of violent torque steer. Open Open Tab June 3, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Dodge Challenger (base trim) Making the right choice in a market of more than 200 cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs is no easy task – not without us, that is. Here at the online edition to Automobile Magazine, you can find all 2009 Dodge Challenger research you need to make an informed buying decision. Open Open Tab July 14, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Dodge Challenger RT I *heart* this thing! Yeah, it's huge and heavy, but it sounds great, looks great, and goes like stink. The steering is inexcusably numb and slow. The clutch will break your left knee, and it transmits driveline vibes to the pedal - audibly - through the throw-out-bearing. Open Open Tab December 29, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Dodge Challenger RT Over the five-plus years we have been writing the column, there has not been a car that we have had such a hard time coming to grips with.     November 15, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Dodge Charger SRT8 I remember all the Charger purists who, back in 2005, argued that the new Charger wasn't a proper "muscle car." In their defense, they hadn't seen one with a 6.1-liter Hemi V-8 underhood, and I do believe the Charger is at its hairiest (and, arguably, its best) when decked out in full SRT8 trim. Adding another 57 hp transforms the sedan into a veritable hammer of the gods. Open Open Tab January 7, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT 3.8 With the exception of the Volkswagen Routan, it seems I've driven virtually all the various styles of minivans Chrysler builds. That said, I think I liked this SXT the best - no, it's not as ornately equipped as our last SXT or our Four Seasons Town & Country, but I still found plenty to like. Open Open Tab January 30, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT 4.0 During the three days I drove the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids along the coast of Maine, I distinctly remember asking one marketing executive what the exact differences were between the two SUVs. "Nothing," he candidly replied. "Some folks prefer the Chrysler name or fascia, while others are partial to the Dodge" - and hence the two coexist in what most woul Open Open Tab January 26, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Despite sky-is-falling reports on slow truck sales and rising fuel costs, the 2009 Dodge Ram is, by far, the most important product launch for Chrysler this year. These trucks are more than just some of the most profitable vehicles for Auburn Hills - the Ram is also the best-selling vehicle in the Chrysler portfolio. Open Open Tab August 25, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Dodge Ram - By Design Back in 1986, Chrysler-designer-turned-Dodge-car-marketing-manager Bob Marcks had the idea that a tough "big rig" look could transform Dodge pickup sales Open Open Tab December 1, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Ferrari 2009 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Ferrari's oldest current model, the 612 Scaglietti, is also its least desirable, if marketplace demand is any measure. While the F430 and the 599GTB Fiorano enjoy lengthy waiting lists, Ferrari's flagship can occasionally be bought right off the showroom floor. Open Open Tab September 12, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Ferrari California - First Drive Ferrari has recently shown environment-friendly concepts such as the Millechili (the 1000 kilo Ferrari) and the F430 E85 (with flexfuel capability), but the new Ferrari California is about as the green as the summit of Montblanc in winter. Open Open Tab October 22, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Ferrari California - So Swell, California One of the worst-kept secrets in the auto industry - Ferrari's new baby grand tourer - has been the subject of intense speculation throughout its gestation, even as Maranello steadfastly denied its existence. Open Open Tab August 1, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Fiat 2009 Fiat 500C Convertible Following the sales success of the retro-styled Fiat 500 in Europe, the company is quickly following up with a drop top variant- the 2009 Fiat 500C. Open Open Tab March 2, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford 2009 Ford Edge SEL FWD It goes down the road fine with no real standout flaws but isn't truly inspiring either. It's your typical five-passenger crossover. I found the integrated blind spot mirrors an interesting touch, and SYNC is a pretty handy feature as well. Open Open Tab March 4, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford Edge Sport AWD I haven't driven a Ford Edge in a long time--so long, in fact, that I forgot just how nice a vehicle it is. One quick glance at our test unit and you can't help but notice the optional 22-inch chrome wheels, which are a $1,000 option. Open Open Tab June 4, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid: Delightful Runabout For All Your Errands For many, the idea of having what seems like 6,000 errands to do is perfectly feasible. For doing them, direct your eyes toward the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid -- a delightful little runabout that will make those errand days more enjoyable.     January 31, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford Escape XLS FWD This stripped-down Ford Escape is so far from the average Escape/Mariner/Tribute you see on the roads, it's almost funny. I'd love to know what the take rate for this manual transmission is. The shifts aren't particularly rewarding, since the throws are pretty vague. Open Open Tab January 14, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford Expedition EXP Limited EL 4x4 Other than the fact that I don't own a trailer to tow behind this big Ford, I used the Expedition to its full extent this past weekend. I loaded up two car seats and three adults for runs to Trader Joe's, Ikea, Target, and Whole Foods. I never ran out of space for the shopping and no one complained about not having enough room. Open Open Tab January 16, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford F150 The Ford F-series is one of the most important nameplates in the automotive universe, and we all know why: for most of the past three decades, the F-series has been in the number-one spot on the U.S. sales charts. Open Open Tab December 18, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Ford F150 When you sell as many variations of a vehicle as Ford does with the F-150, there are bound to be a couple of stinkers in the mix. This extended-cab truck with a 6.5-foot bed just isn't the best example of the 2009 F-150. Open Open Tab February 5, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum Lariat 4x4 There are nearly seven different trim levels offered on the 2009 F-150, but this new Platinum is about as swanky as they come. While the marketing folks might not admit it, this decked-out crew-cab truck is essentially a replacement for the late Lincoln Mark LT in all but name (unless you're shopping in Mexico, where it's sold with an awkward bow-wave grille tacked on the front). Open Open Tab June 26, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford F-250 Cabela's Edition 4x4 Crewcab This truck is nothing short of incredible. Too bad nobody had time to do anything awesome with it during the time it spent in our fleet. The last time I drove a diesel F-250 I towed another diesel F-250 to South Carolina. That's a good use of this truck and one of the only ways to really appreciate the capability of the platform. Open Open Tab May 18, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford F-250 Cabela's Edition 4x4 Crewcab Ford's strongest brand is the F-series. Big pickup trucks continue to sit at the top of the sales charts and fetch large profits. Cabela's is a giant in the outdoor goods retail business and trucks play a large role in outdoor recreation, so it doesn't take a genius to realize that Ford cherishes its role as the official truck of Cabela's. Open Open Tab June 16, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford Focus SES The Focus used to be much more sporting. We had this discussion in the kitchen yesterday, agreeing that the second-generation Focus was the "one." And then Ford got deadly serious and made it to big and bland. Open Open Tab March 17, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford Flex Limited AWD I really, really like the Flex, mostly because I am absolutely taken with the design: the shape, the proportions, and yes, the squareness. This is the American people mover boiled down to its pure, classic element. It is the utter antithesis of every jacked-up, pseudo-macho SUV and every bloated, trying-to-be-swoopy crossover. Open Open Tab December 11, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Ford Flex Limited: An Element On Steroids? When you first look at the Ford Flex and then sit behind the wheel you may think: "Man alive, is this thing big." Turn to the charts, however, and you'll discover that this new box on wheels is, in fact, not that big.     December 13, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Ford Flex LTD AWD With its unique looks, excellent cabin tech, and spacious interior, the 2009 Ford Flex makes for a family vacation cruiser that you can be proud of. Open Open Tab November 20, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Ford Focus RS We're jealous enough that Europeans have their excellent version of the Ford Focus compact car, but the 2009 Ford Focus RS - a high-performance hot-hatch - truly has us green with envy. Open Open Tab July 7, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Ford Mustang GT It was perfect. The first song the satellite radio boomed out in our Mustang GT with the 4.6-liter, 300-horsepower V8 was the Eagles' "Life in the Fast Lane."     November 15, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Ford Mustang GT Coupe At first glance, I thought that our red test car priced out at $29,520, and I said to myself, "Yeah, that's about right for this V-8 pony car." But then I looked farther down the spec sheet and realized that the as-tested price is actually $36,210! Open Open Tab January 8, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Ford Mustang GT Coupe Premium I like the Mustang. It's rude and crude but huge fun to drive. I love the sound, the purity of the car. I don't think I would buy one over a VW GTI or a BMW 128i, but I'd be tempted. Open Open Tab September 10, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Ford Transit Connect Family One Concept Enough with the cargo haulers - Ford's new Transit Connect is just as well suited to being a people mover, and the Family One Concept, unveiled at this week's New York Auto Show, proves it. Open Open Tab April 3, 2009 Provides Information 2009 GMC 2009 GMC Sierra 4WD Hybrid Crew Cab The Automobile Magazine fleet has been inundated with hybrids lately, and this GMC Sierra Hybrid is certainly the largest of the lot. I had many doubts about hybrid pickups before I first drove a Silverado Hybrid last summer, but the truck proved to be quite capable and very refined. Open Open Tab April 24, 2009 Provides Information 2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid A single-mode hybrid system is sufficient for small high-mileage cars but, when you're dealing with husky, fuel-slurping trucks, you need more. What we now know as GM's two-mode hybrid system was originally developed for urban buses that began service in 2003. Open Open Tab March 10, 2009 Provides Information 2009 GMC Yukon The 2009 GMC Yukon lineup gains a new 6-speed automatic transmission, while the high-end Denali models gain power and new features. Open Open Tab August 15, 2008 Provides Information 2009 GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid In what just seems to be a move to bolster its hybrid portfolio, GM is unveiling the 2009 GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid at the 2009 New York auto show. Open Open Tab April 8, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Honda 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 was pretty good for the Honda Civic Hybrid. As the original Insight was but a distant memory and the Accord Hybrid faded into obscurity, the Civic was the lone hybrid in Honda's portfolio. Open Open Tab March 31, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Honda Civic LX-S Sedan The 2009 Honda Civic LX-S represents a good mix of efficiency and value with just a touch of fun, but those looking for tech options beyond the most basic level will want to look at the Civic EX and EX-L models. Open Open Tab November 25, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Honda FCX Clarity and 2009 Volkswagen Passat Fuel Cell The phone rings, and it's Todd Mittleman, Director of Environmental PR for Honda, and he wants to meet me so I can drive the hydrogen-powered, zero-emissions FCX Clarity. Open Open Tab June 2, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Honda Fit That's because the Fit wasn't exactly brand-new when it arrived here in April 2006-it had already been out for five years in Japan. Impressive fuel efficiency and creative packaging pushed the old Fit to the front of the pack, but the new version will attempt to maintain that position with greater refinement, better dynamics, and premium features. Open Open Tab August 19, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Honda Fit Now, more than ever, the Honda Fit seems appropriate. It's one of the few efficient small cars without excuses, without compromises, and without apologies - it behaves like a real automobile, it's at least a little entertaining to drive, and it doesn't feel as cheap as it is. Open Open Tab September 30, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Honda Fit Two years ago, this story would not appear here, in its lead-article, three-page glory. No, driving a bargain-price, 1.5-liter fuel-sipper would have warranted a miserly, quarter-page nugget tucked into a corner and paying deference to the likes of a Ferrari, a large rear-wheel-drive V-8 sedan, or some hot-rod version of a full-size SUV. Open Open Tab October 28, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Honda Fit Sport - Four Seasons Update - February 2009 We're not strangers to the holiday shopping rush, but we were a bit surprised to see adults lining up for one particular toy - the Honda Fit. Demand for the subcompact five-door peaked along with gas prices last summer, but even as 2008 drew to a close, dealers across the country had only a nineteen-day supply of the all-new 2009 model. Open Open Tab February 24, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Honda Fit Sport - Four Seasons Update - March 2009 After two months and 4318 miles, has our fondness for Automobile Magazine's Four Seasons Honda Fit dwindled? Not a chance. "I finally had a chance to get into our Fit," said copy editor Rusty Blackwell, "and its 2009 All-Star selection has been reaffirmed in my mind." Open Open Tab March 18, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Honda Fit Sport - Four Seasons Update - April 2009 Is it possible to get safety, utility, value, fuel economy, and perfect driving dynamics in one package? No - although our Four Seasons Honda Fit comes close. Open Open Tab April 21, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Honda Fit Sport - Four Seasons Update - May 2009 Our Four Seasons Honda Fit may be a well-sorted city car, but it seems we've been using it as a moving van lately. Open Open Tab May 22, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Honda Odyssey Touring With all the talk of fuel economy these days, you might be fooled into thinking that 25 mpg on the EPA's highway test is impressive for a mid-size car. I don't think it is. 25 mpg is, however, an impressive result for a 4700-lb vehicle that can carry eight passengers in quiet comfort. Open Open Tab December 3, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Honda Ridgeline RTL Despite my indifference at the time of its launch, I'm actually impressed with the Ridgeline. In no way do I think it will draw people away from full-size trucks on refinement alone (perhaps the new coil-sprung Ram will do that), but I do think it'll attract crossover owners who hanker for a cargo bed. Open Open Tab October 30, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Hummer 2009 Hummer H3T Alpha vs 2009 Nissan GTR - Over The Hill The idea sprung, as so many great ones do, from the Dukes of Hazzard. How many times have the Duke boys evaded Rosco or made it back to the farm just in time to beat the foreclosure guy? Open Open Tab December 15, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Hyundai 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring If you're looking for a practical, inexpensive wagon with European driving dynamics, you might want to visit your local Hyundai dealer. Open Open Tab May 11, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring The family in the apartment above mine squabbles quite frequently, but as I arrived home with the Elantra Touring, it turns out they were arguing as to who manufactured this slick wagon. Open Open Tab June 11, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Hyundai Genesis The markets were tanking again. Wall Street was the lead story on the nightly TV news and the hourly network radio newscasts. Open Open Tab October 18, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 The 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 is an excellent car for cruising around and listening to music, but it doesn't offer all the latest cabin tech, and some of its veneer of luxury wears thin when exposed to close scrutiny. Open Open Tab January 22, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 - Four Seasons Update - February 2009 The 2009 Hyundai Genesis is one of the most anticipated Four Seasons cars to arrive at the Automobile Magazine offices in recent memory. Yes, you read that right. Open Open Tab March 18, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 - Four Seasons Update - April 2009 As the roomiest and most luxurious vehicle in our Four Seasons fleet - titles recently ceded to our heavily optioned, $100,000-plus BMW 750Li - the Genesis has become a vehicle of choice for long trips. With families in tow, our two youngest staffers logged more than 3000 miles in the last month alone. Open Open Tab April 28, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 - Four Seasons Update - June 2009 The Genesis has been in our fleet for five months and, despite repeated gripes about the harsh ride and generic exterior, it continues to garner praise from the Automobile Magazine staff on everything from the nicely-weighted steering and smooth V-8 to the well-wrought, feature-laden interior. Open Open Tab June 12, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6: Luxury Car Comparison - Bull's-Eye, Baby Once upon a time, a japanese giant pulled a bit of a sneaky move on the established German luxury-car market. Known best for its inexpensive, reliable economy cars, Toyota launched the 1990 Lexus LS400 - a big, rear-wheel-drive, V-8-powered luxury car. Open Open Tab October 7, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6: The Power Of Tau "Gee, it is real quiet in here," was my thought as I first tooled down the interstate in Genesis.     March 14, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Hyundai Sonata SE V6 Gone is the heinously dead steering, the cut-rate interior, and the sluggish, slam-bang transmission of the previous Sonata, and while it's no sport sedan, the current Sonata is at least marginally entertaining to drive. Torque steer has been cut to a minimum, the 3.3-liter V-6 is remarkably strong, and the interior is both quiet and comfortable. Open Open Tab September 24, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Jaguar 2009 Jaguar XF Jaguar's new XF coupe looks nothing like Jags of old, and yet there are touches of Aston Martin and other brands in its styling. Others see Lexus clues here and there. Open Open Tab October 11, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged Just a beautiful, composed, powerful, lush car - the proverbial velvet fist. Power delivery is immediate as are the brakes, which are very nicely modulated. Open Open Tab December 15, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged - Four Seasons Update For its $64,475 starting price, the big cat comes loaded to the whiskers, riding on twenty-inch wheels and featuring a 440-watt Bowers & Wilkins stereo that has drawn early praise. We added adaptive cruise control-the only available option aside from special paint-to bring the total to $66,675. Open Open Tab January 7, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged - Four Seasons Fleet Update - February 2009 We've now passed the six-month mark with our 420-hp Four Seasons Jaguar XF Superchaged, and its dual personality continues to vex us: lovely styling and first-rate vehicle dynamics made this car a 2009 All-Star, but a seemingly endless list of quality problems has seriously marred the ownership experience. Open Open Tab February 27, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged - Four Seasons Fleet Update - May 2009 If you've been reading our regular updates on our Four Seasons Jaguar XF Supercharged, you'll know that it's been beset by a series of problems--most of them minor, but some a little more troubling--that have managed to detract from its very fine driving dynamics. Open Open Tab May 19, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Jeep 2009 Jeep Compass Sport 4x4 The 2009 Jeep Compass is available with a cabin tech package that we've come to love: Chrysler's UConnect system. With hard drive-based navigation and media storage, there's a lot to like about the UConnect suite. Open Open Tab April 9, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Infiniti 2009 Infiniti Essence Programming guru Sir Charles Antony Richard Hoare talked about a different kind of design, but his comments accurately summed up the Infiniti Essence concept car long before it was conceived: "There are two ways of constructing a [software] design. Open Open Tab May 11, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Infiniti Essence Concept The Infiniti brand launched in Europe during the Geneva motor show last year. This year Infiniti brought its Essence to the show. The Infiniti Essence concept is supposed to look back on the 20 years of Infiniti's existence and also hint at the future of the brand. Some of Infiniti's key traits are technology, design, and performance - and the Essence embodies all three qualities. Open Open Tab March 3, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Infiniti EX35 - Four Seasons Update - March 2009 Crossovers aren't anything new - take a look at a 1997 Subaru Forester if you don't believe us. These days, nearly every brand has a crossover or two in its lineup. Open Open Tab February 25, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Infiniti FX50S The 2009 Infiniti FX50S will surprise you with its level of performance, the luxury of its cabin, and its very advanced cabin and safety tech. What you shouldn't be surprised by is the big SUV fuel economy. Open Open Tab December 1, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Infiniti G37 Infiniti has replaced the G35, its BMW 3-series-fighting sedan, with the G37. As you'd imagine, the G37 uses the 3.7-liter V-6 from the sexy G37 coupe; in the sedan, it produces 2 hp less due to different exhaust routing. Still, at 328 hp, the new G37 four-door makes 22 hp more than did the G35's V-6, and its power output beats both the BMW 328i and the twin-turbo 335i. Open Open Tab November 20, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible Chopping the top off a car isn't as easy as it sounds, especially when the fixed roof is replaced with a folding one of the steel variety - the panels and system of motors and hinges add significant weight. Open Open Tab March 27, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible Chopping the top off a car isn't as easy as it sounds, especially when the fixed roof is replaced with a folding one of the steel variety - the panels and system of motors and hinges add significant weight. Open Open Tab May 12, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible, Coupe, and Sedan It wasn't exactly a well-kept secret, but we now have confirmation that Infiniti will build a convertible version of the G37 coupe. The rest of the G lineup will see updates as well. Open Open Tab August 6, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan 6MT I got into the Infiniti G37S sedan expecting the vague, unnatural clutch-to-throttle relationship we'd complained about in our Four Seasons G37S coupe, but I was shocked to find no such issue. Clutch take-up felt much lower and had a much clearer engagement point than I remember from the coupe. Open Open Tab February 2, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Infiniti M Infiniti's mid-size sedan, the M, has been around for quite some time, but it's still one of our favorite luxury sport sedans. We lived with an M45 for a full year, and not once did it require repairs. Even those in the office who didn't initially understand the M45's place in the automotive world came away from the test in awe of how good this Japanese BMW-fighter really is. Open Open Tab October 31, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Kia 2009 Kia Borrego FCEV Fuel Cell Vehicle Although it's presently available in both V-6 and V-8 forms, a different type of powertrain will be installed in the 2009 Kia Borrego FCEV: a hydrogen fuel cell. Open Open Tab November 18, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Kia Soul Based on the entry-level Rio, Kia's brand-new 2010 Soul fits this mold well, its heavy revisions allowing it to compete with the squarish likes of the Scion xB and the Nissan Cube, not to mention the less funky progenitor of the modern box cars, the Honda Element. Open Open Tab March 18, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Lamborghini 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo (base trim) With fuel prices what they are, let me get straight to the most important fact about the 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4: it gets eighteen percent better fuel economy. Eighteen percent better than what, you ask? Open Open Tab August 1, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 and 2009 Ferrari F430 Spider - Express Delivery To that end, I got a job at Domino's Pizza. If the kings of the supercars - the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 and the Ferrari F430 - can be used to deliver pizzas, they can surely survive your daily commute. Open Open Tab March 19, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder LP560-4 What's good for the coupe is good for the Spyder. That's evidently the thinking at Lamborghini. Earlier this year, Lamboghini introduced an even more potent version of its five-year-old Gallardo. Open Open Tab November 19, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Land Rover 2009 Land Rover LR2 HSE Land Rover is a funny brand. Its flagship Range Rover doesn't sell in astounding numbers, but the company surely rakes in a healthy profit each time a Master of the Manor purchases one, and its customers are incredibly loyal. The LR3 is a very nice SUV, and the Range Rover Sport might be the coolest-looking sporty SUV around. Open Open Tab January 5, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Land Rover Range Rover HSE Now this is what a luxury SUV should be. The Range Rover is fast - especially between 40 and 80 mph - its power delivery is velvety smooth, and its suspension tuning is nearly perfect. It's amazing how well the Range Rover smooths out rough surfaces and even potholes while still being able to tackle the most extreme off-road tasks. Open Open Tab May 21, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged I'm not the biggest Range Rover guy, but I really enjoyed my time with this SUV. Although I know the ute is still a capable off-roader (so too are most Land Rovers), I was able to play with this toy only on the street - the environment that most, if not all, Range Rover Sport models are destined for. Open Open Tab December 3, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Lexus 2009 Lexus IS 350 Putting tuner components on the 2009 Lexus IS 350 gives it a more sporting character, with only a minimum sacrifice of luxury. However, outdated cabin electronics suggest waiting for the next model update. Open Open Tab May 20, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Lexus IS-F - Four Seasons Update - February 2009 We've crossed the 20,000-mile mark in the Lexus IS-F so it's time to make a list of what has broken on the Japanese sports sedan in eight-months of service. Open Open Tab February 24, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Lincoln 2009 Lincoln C Concept Lincoln surprised the media at the 2009 Detroit auto show with a concept car, the C, an ultramodern, small four-door that's based on the platform of the next-generation Ford Focus. Open Open Tab January 12, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Lincoln MKS AWD The steering offers little feel, and the engine doesn't sound very impressive. Additionally, the interior doesn't feel that well screwed together. There were multiple rattles in our low-mileage test vehicle, and the center console and shifter both feel pretty low rent. Open Open Tab September 18, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Lincoln MKS AWD Given the response we got driving the streets of the nation's capitol, Ford may be hoping that the new MKS turns into the urban favorite that the Cadillac Escalade did. People smiled and gave us a thumbs-up as we waited for red lights to turn green. But it's not clear that the MKS has really gained street cred. Open Open Tab November 8, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Lincoln MKX Although not what we would consider fun to drive, the entertainment system in the 2009 Lincoln MKX delights while information services can keep you out of bad traffic and help you find the cheapest gas. Open Open Tab December 18, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Lincoln MKX AWD I don't mind the styling of the Lincoln MKX and its corporate cousin, the Ford Edge, but the MKX doesn't really look like I expect a Lincoln to look. Open Open Tab February 6, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Lincoln Navigator This 2009 Lincoln Navigator feels a little old already. The non-telescoping wheel made it difficult to find a truly comfortable driving position. Open Open Tab March 5, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Maserati 2009 Maserati GranTurismo S Trundling along the narrow cobblestone streets, our Maserati GranTurismo S - the brand-new, hooligans-rejoice version of Maserati's sexy coupe - clatters raucously on overrun and shakes the picturesque rafters of the medieval buildings with barely muffled blasts of V-8 pandemonium. Open Open Tab October 8, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic Maserati's new model is for those who like the sportiness of the GranTurismo S, but didn't like the feel of the electrically-actuated gearbox. Open Open Tab March 2, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Maserati GT It sat there in the afternoon light like a beautiful Italian actress, and I could hardly wait for the introductions to begin.     November 22, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S When it comes to winning marques at the Indianapolis 500, Miller and Marmon come to mind - but Maserati? Open Open Tab January 9, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Let's get the negatives out of the way first. The steering on the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S is slightly numb on center, the brakes have an eerie dead spot before they bite, the ride quality is brittle on broken pavement, and the shift paddles feel cheap. Open Open Tab April 27, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Maserati is on a roll. 2008 was the company's best year ever, with a rather impressive 8586 sales worldwide. North America sucked up 2666 of those deliveries, a 1.1% increase compared to 2007. Open Open Tab February 19, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mazda 2009 Mazda 6: Bigger And Better Flash forward to 2009 and here it is! It now sports a more fashionable body, with hints of Mazda's rotary sports car in the front fenders, and the currently hot sweep of the headlights back into the fenders. See slide show.     December 27, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mazda (base trim) Here at the online edition to Automobile Magazine, you can find all 2009 Mazda MAZDA6 research you need to make an informed buying decision. Select an option below to learn more about this vehicle. Open Open Tab July 15, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mazda CX-9, a More Manageable Crossover What to do? Say you now have a full-sized SUV and want to trade down to something more manageable and more maneuverable. A degree or three of handling would be nice to make driving a bit more fun.     December 6, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata The Miata turns twenty this year, and from the looks of its cartoonish face, it's never been happier. Open Open Tab April 13, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mazda RX-8 You can't help but wonder how much longer the rotary-powered Mazda RX-8 will survive. The unique engine burns through far too much fuel (and, historically, oil) for its small, 1.3-liter displacement. Open Open Tab August 8, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mazda RX-8: Overview The 2009 Mazda RX-8 receives freshened interior and exterior styling and a new R3 model. This four-passenger sporty coupe is unique for using a rotary engine, which replaces pistons pumping in cylinders with triangular rotors spinning in oval chambers. It also has rear access doors that don't open independently of the fronts. Open Open Tab April 20, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mazda Mazda6 i Grand Touring For 2009, the Mazda Mazda6 i Grand Touring has grown into a formidable competitor in the midsize sedan market, though its impressive array of cabin tech is marred by a few glaring omissions. Open Open Tab January 30, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes Benz 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 The Mercedes-Benz C300 packs an amazing amount of luxury and technology into a remarkably clean package, inside and out. Open Open Tab May 28, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 4Matic I first drove the newest Mercedes-Benz C-class in Europe in the summer of 2007. I was impressed. The steering was a big step up from the old car's yet the baby Benz still felt like a proper Benz. Open Open Tab December 19, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes Benz CLS550 As I drove home in the CLS last night, I couldn't stop thinking about Jaguar's XF. The Mercedes has a dramatic presence that the XF is missing. Open Open Tab October 31, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes Benz CL550 4Matic This CL550 is very old-school Mercedes. It is large, feels heavy, and is extremely cosseting. I'm generally not a big fan of large coupes as they always seem to lack interior space for their substantial exterior dimensions but at least the CL can hold adults in the back if needed. That feature sets the Benz apart from the much less spacious BMW 6-series. Open Open Tab January 12, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes Benz CL63 AMG The CL coupe stands out as something unique in the automotive firmament. No other manufacturer builds a coupe off its top-line luxury sedan; BMW's 6-series comes closest, but it's not really close at all. The CL is more a kindred spirit to a Bentley Continental GT or even a Brooklands. Open Open Tab December 5, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG The CLS is a much better match for the 6.2-liter AMG V-8 than the S-class. I was expecting the CLS to feel a bit awkward with this engine since it seems to be nearly as large as an S-class, but I was pleasantly surprised. Open Open Tab October 6, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes Benz G550 This is, by far, the coolest vehicle I've ever driven. On the outside it doesn't look very special, but inside it's very modern and luxurious. The V-8 provides tons of power, and it sounds awesome. Open Open Tab April 22, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes Benz E250 Bluetec Concept Considering North America's bittersweet relationship with diesel-powered vehicles, it's a bit unusual to develop a diesel sedan exclusively for the New World. Still, that's exactly what Mercedes-Benz did with its E250 Bluetec concept. Open Open Tab April 8, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTec After driving the BMW 335d the other day, I noted that if I hadn't known better, I would have thought I was sitting behind an ordinary gasoline engine. Listening to the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec, it's hard to discern whether there's any engine. Open Open Tab February 3, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes Benz ML320 BlueTEC The recently face-lifted M-class has enough sparkle and presence, what with its redesigned front bumper, flashy new headlamps, and shiny nineteen-inch wheels, to satisfy all who yearn for the three-pointed star. Open Open Tab January 29, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes Benz ML550 4Matic The ML no longer makes sense to me. I drove the GLK this summer and I'd quickly recommend the smaller ute to those who don't need three rows of seating, and the GL (with a diesel) makes a lot of sense if you're hauling more people or a trailer. So where does the ML fit? Open Open Tab January 20, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes-Benz R320 Bluetec Unfortunately, history has shown that neither diesels nor the Mercedes-Benz R-Class are popular in North America. So why, then, would Mercedes drop its brand-new BlueTec diesel engine into the 2009 Mercedes-Benz R320 Bluetec and sell it here? Open Open Tab November 12, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI This diesel R-class makes a lot of sense, but the EPA numbers seem very low. I had to go to fueleconomy.gov to verify that they were correct. I easily saw 30+ mpg indicated on my commute home and an average of 24 mpg after a lot of spirited driving and running around town. The new EPA ratings seem to be giving diesel vehicles the short end of the stick. Open Open Tab December 30, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG AMG's normally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 is as delightful as ever, and there is a very pleasant, refined exhaust tone when you boot it. Since the S63 was still wearing summer rubber and temperatures hovered around freezing with a decent amount of rain and snow in the mix, I didn't get much spirited driving time, and that's a shame. Open Open Tab January 15, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes Benz S550 If I ever come into a huge pile of cash, I'll go straight to a Benz dealer and pick up an S-class. Open Open Tab June 17, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes Benz S550 4Matic Much like the BMW 7-series, the S550 is not a car one can digest in one night. There's just so much going on, so much that it can do, that one barely scratches the surface by relating how it feels and how it drives. Open Open Tab June 5, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (base trim) Here at the online edition to Automobile Magazine, you can find all 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class research you need to make an informed buying decision. Select an option below to learn more about this vehicle. Open Open Tab July 11, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 This particular SLK350 test car features a strange wind blocker that looks like someone stretched pantyhose between the rollhoops. Wind management doesn't seem to be improved enough to warrant the weird aesthetic treatment. Open Open Tab September 12, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss There may be no better way to pay tribute to the end of the modern SLR - as well as its racing forbears - than with the new 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss. Open Open Tab December 19, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mini Cooper 2009 Mini Cooper Convertible The 2009 Mini Cooper Convertible's design hasn't worn thin, even after almost a decade. The handling is excellent while fuel economy is high. Mini makes some good cabin tech available, such as Bluetooth and iPod integration. Open Open Tab June 18, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Convertible Just months after the world debut of the 2009 Mini Cooper Convertible, we've learned of an even hotter version: the 2009 Mini John Cooper Works Convertible. Open Open Tab March 1, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible The principal appeal of convertibles has always been the prospect of swanning along the seaside with the top down to catch the sun - and the eye of bystanders. Open Open Tab March 9, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible I went to the media introduction of the first-generation Mini Cooper convertible back in May 2004, and I had three lasting impressions. Open Open Tab June 25, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mini E 2009 Electric Vehicle Though a number of high-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive programs have been shelved as a result of the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy mandates, the electric-powered 2009 Mini E may be the first vehicle developed as a result of the draconian fuel economy standards. Open Open Tab October 18, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mitsubishi 2009 Mitsubishi i MiEV Prototype Mitsubishi's innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) range is growing. We've already seen the Mitsubishi I MiEV Sport at the 2007 Tokyo motor show, driven a prototype of the I MiEV hatchback at last year's New York auto show, and now there's a prototype for a European-market I MiEV at the 2009 Geneva motor show. Open Open Tab March 3, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Air We've already seen the Mitsubishi I MiEV Sport at the 2007 Tokyo motor show, driven a prototype of the I MiEV hatchback at last year's New York auto show, and now there's a version of the Sport with a large, removable translucent panel in the roof at the 2009 Geneva motor show. Open Open Tab March 3, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer (base trim) Making the right choice in a market of more than 200 cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs is no easy task -- not without us, that is. Here at the online edition to Automobile Magazine, you can find all 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer research you need to make an informed buying decision. Select an option below to learn more about this vehicle. Open Open Tab July 16, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Even given its low price, the Ralliart is impressive. You do tend to miss the Evo's wickedly good steering (the power-assisted rack is both slower and less communicative than that of the Evo), its fantastic brake feel (no Brembos here, unlike the Evo), and its razor-sharp body control and limit balance (suspension tuning errs on the side of understeer and comfort, unlike the oversteering, teeth-jarring Evo), but these are all pretty minor issues, especially given the Ralliart's price point. Open Open Tab October 23, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander GT Prototype Taking center stage at Mitsubishi's display at the 2009 New York auto show is the Outlander GT Prototype, a sportier version of the company's crossover. Open Open Tab April 9, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Mitusbishi Outlander XLS While the 2009 Mistubishi Outlander's tech package is still at the head of its class and it still gives great performance at a great price point, the rough ride and cheap interior hold it back from greatness. Open Open Tab March 13, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Nissan 2009 Nissan 370Z Seven years after the debut of the 350Z, the Z-car is thoroughly re-worked both inside and out for 2009. Open Open Tab October 31, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Nissan 370Z The financial bear has taken a deep bite out of every sports car's hide. During October, entry-level roadster sales plummeted by more than fifty percent versus a year ago. Honda S2000 and Pontiac Solstice sales were down by two-thirds. Open Open Tab December 1, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Nissan 370Z Nissan knows as well as anyone the dangers in redesigning a popular car. Through the 1990s, it "improved" its Z-car until the bloated 300ZX carried virtually none of the charm (not to mention the sales volume) of the original 240Z. Open Open Tab November 24, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Nissan 370Z Many of us grew up believing the American cultural imperative that "bigger is better." Even in the age of nanotechnology, as physical dimensions of electronic devices shrink, we are exhorted to be impressed because quantitative descriptives are bigger, thus better. Open Open Tab April 13, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Nissan Altima Coupe Based on this coupe's voluptuous looks, you expect it to drive like a bargain-basement Infiniti G37. In fact, it's much more similar to the Pontiac G6 coupe and the Toyota Camry Solara. That makes sense given that the Altima is, like those cars, a variant of a front-wheel-drive sedan, and not a de-contented hot rod built on Nissan's venerable FM platform. Open Open Tab January 21, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid Although not the most modern rig for cabin comforts, the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid is economical and fun to drive. Open Open Tab February 19, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid Although Nissan has promised to offer battery/electric vehicles by next year, it's still found time to occasionally tinker with gasoline/electric hybrids. That's a good thing, as the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid is one of the most enjoyable hybrid sedans on the market. Open Open Tab March 18, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Nissan Armada LE 4x4 The Armada makes some sense if you need an SUV that can tow a large amount or go off-road, but for most buyers who are looking for extra space, a three-row crossover is a better option. Additionally, the similarly priced Ford Expedition and Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon both drive better than the Armada while serving the same basic needs. Open Open Tab September 11, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Nissan Cube (First Drive) After a long wait, America is finally getting the Nissan Cube. The first version launched in Japan in 1998 and stayed around until 2002. It lacked the unique design of the second-generation Cube that was sold from 2002 through 2008. Open Open Tab February 27, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Nissan GTR vs 2009 Porsche 911 GT2 - At the 'Ring It went thus. August Achleitner, the demure chief of the Porsche 911 range, was speaking to an Australian Web site when he was questioned about Nissan's claimed 7-minute, 29-second lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a new GT-R. His response was pure nitroglycerin. Open Open Tab February 2, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Nissan Maxima (base trim) Nissan Maximas were not always boring cars; long ago, they were marketed as "four-door sports cars." They never were sports cars, of course. It's all but impossible to make a front-wheel-drive sedan handle like a sports car, but Maximas were quick enough daily drivers with their excellent V-6 engines. Open Open Tab August 5, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Nissan Maxima (base trim) One of the pioneers of the near-luxury segment (dating from before that segment was so identified), the Nissan Maxima was once a real standout in both looks and performance. Open Open Tab August 6, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Nissan Maxima SV Nissan gives the 2009 Maxima a serious performance treatment, making the car fun to drive while offering practical cabin technology in this comfortable sedan. Open Open Tab March 23, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4x4 Gee, I remember when the Nissan Pathfinder was, like, a super-desirable, chic import SUV. Now it's just one competent SUV in a huge class of them. Open Open Tab December 25, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Nissan Qazana Concept The Nissan Qazana concept is officially a look at what the future of smallish five-seat crossovers could look like, but Nissan has already announced a baby Qashqai is scheduled for European markets and the Qazana is likely a thinly-veiled preview of the production car. Open Open Tab March 4, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec. V With its tuned-up engine, the 2009 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V should appeal to younger drivers, but its lack of cabin tech makes it an unattractive option. Open Open Tab June 26, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Pontiac 2009 Pontiac G6 The 2009 Pontiac G6 is largely unchanged, though 4-cylinder models are now available with a new 6-speed automatic transmission. Open Open Tab July 29, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Pontiac G8 GT The G8 really does resonate as a half price BMW 5-series. The 361-hp V-8 provides strong low-end acceleration. It rides beautifully. Steering and stability are very good and on center. Open Open Tab December 12, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP If you were looking for thrills of the large-sedan variety, the Parisienne was your ride. Stuffed with an asthmatic, 150-hp V-8, it wheezed to 60 mph in, oh, about thirteen seconds. Cornering? Not so much. The lumbering Parisienne was brimming with excitement all right. About as much excitement as an intestinal virus on prom night. Open Open Tab January 5, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe I'm willing to bet no Pontiac since the iconic 1959 Bonneville, the first of the wide-track, split-grill cars, has garnered so much attention and curiosity based on its appearance. People were literally circling the coupe in the supermarket lot trying to take it all in, and our parking attending was full of questions about what it was. Open Open Tab March 24, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Pontiac Vibe GT On that note, sporty isn't a word I'd use to describe the GT package itself. Although it's equipped with Toyota's larger 2.4-liter I-4 (a 1.8-liter is standard on the base car), this thing doesn't feel swift. The 158-hp engine is sufficient to move the car around, but it doesn't have the visceral sound or thrust one gets in a true hot hatch. Open Open Tab January 13, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Porsche 2009 Porsche 911 Its looks haven't changed much over forty years, but it's the subtle improvements that make each new 911 so great. Open Open Tab September 17, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Porsche 911 (base trim) The recently refreshed 997-series Porsche 911 family has just grown by two models. You can now add the glass-roof Targas to the roster. Open Open Tab July 27, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Climbing into a Porsche 911 is always good for one's spirits. The story with this car is the PDK (Porsche's dual-clutch automatic) transmission, and I have a few thoughts on that: First, Porsche got the hardest part right, which is to say they tuned the initial clutch engagement for a smooth step-off. If you think that'd be easy, try driving a Lamboghini e-Gear or a Nissan GT-R sometime. Second, the shifts seem really, really quick to me. I don't know how many milliseconds they quote, but it feels as fast as a Ferrari sequential-manual box. Open Open Tab November 10, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Porsche Boxster S Symptoms of a split personality usually call for a visit to the shrink. But at Porsche, vacillating between mid-engine and rear-engine convictions has proven healthy for the soul. Open Open Tab January 29, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Porsche Boxster S The Porsche brand has come to be synonymous with precision, power and best-in-class handling, making it a key benchmark for performance cars. While that's great for Porsche owners, it also means every manufacturer with an eye toward building a quick machine starts to compare itself to the iconic brand from Stuttgart. Open Open Tab March 4, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Porsche Boxster S Like many Porsche drivers, I've long loved 911s but felt a bit snobbish about the Boxster. Raw power was not in evidence, the original Boxsters sporting only 201 hp. Open Open Tab April 21, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Porsche Cayenne Diesel So it's come to this. A diesel-engine Porsche. If the Cayenne SUV made the purists scream, the new diesel entry will probably make them sick. It surely wouldn't help matters to point out that the diesel version of Cayenne will be the slowest of the bunch, with a 0-to-62 mph time of 8.3 seconds and a top speed of 133 mph. Open Open Tab March 4, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Renault 2009 Renault Megane R26.R The R26.R moniker sounds like the formula for a new superdrug, and that's exactly what this hot French hatch is. Open Open Tab June 15, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Renault Megane Trophy If there's one French recipe we love, it's this: take a mundane Renault economy car, fit it with wild bodywork, and shoehorn a powerful motor in lieu of a rear seat. Open Open Tab October 3, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Rolls-Royce 2009 Rolls-Royce 200EX Concept ROLLS-ROYCE is calling the 200EX a concept, but in all but name this is the platinum-plated brand's much-talked-about upcoming new sedan. Rolls hopes that this smaller, less expensive model will attract twice as many buyers as the regal Phantom. Open Open Tab February 20, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Saturn 2009 Saturn Aura The 2009 Saturn Aura lineup shuffles some trim levels and model names and adds some new features. This midsize sedan shares its basic design with the Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6, and Saab 9-3. Aura offers base XE, uplevel XR, and gas/electric Hybrid (formerly Green Line) models Open Open Tab July 10, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Saturn Sky Like Solstice, Sky has rear-wheel drive, 4-cylinder engines, and a manual-folding soft top with a heated glass rear window. The top folds into the trunk. Open Open Tab July 1, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Scion 2009 Scion iQ Concept The Scion iQ concept that debuted at the 2009 New York Auto Show wears high-zoot bodywork from Five Axis, a car customizer from Huntington Beach, California, but if an iQ comes to your Scion dealership, it likely won't look quite as crazy as this. Open Open Tab April 8, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Scion tC Release Series 5.0 Scion's "United by Individuality" ad campaign along with all the custom accessories available for the 2009 tC can be a bit daunting to a buyer. Open Open Tab February 10, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Scion xB The success of the original Scion xB was, quite frankly, a bit surprising. Looking back to 2004, there wasn't a huge demand for small cars in the U.S., let alone funky, rolling boxes honed for Japanese tastes. To most corporate boards, the idea of bringing such a vehicle to the U.S. would have had all the appeal of a Dioxin sundae. Open Open Tab March 4, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Subaru 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X Here's a vehicle that really lost its appeal with a redesign. The last-generation Forester was pretty funky, but it was unique and stood out in the crossover/tall wagon world. Open Open Tab August 27, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX Changes in the automotive world tend to happen at a snail's pace. It often takes years for manufacturers to recognize and correct the problems that cause would-be customers to walk out of the dealership empty-handed. Not so at Subaru, which pulled the handbrake on its new-for-2008 Impreza WRX, flicked the steering wheel, and executed the quickest one-eighty this side of a rally stage. Open Open Tab October 27, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Subaru Tribeca Limited Add the Tribeca to the list of vehicles I completely forget about, but actually like once I'm behind the wheel. This has to be Subaru's nicest interior, and the 3.6-liter boxer-six provides plenty of power. I'd complain that the looks of the Tribeca are just as bland as the rest of Subaru's current lineup, but bland is much better than the Tribeca's previous design, which was universally chastised. Open Open Tab January 27, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Saturn 2009 Saturn Astra The 2009 Saturn Astra receives no major changes following its introduction for the 2008 model year. This compact car comes as a hatchback with 2 or 4 doors. It shares its basic design with the Opel Astra built by GM's European subsidiary. Open Open Tab July 1, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Suzuki 2009 Suzuki Equator Suzuki has an avid following of customers plus one major problem: loyal constituents thrilled with Suzuki outboard, ATV, and motorcycle products don't give a hoot about Suzuki cars and crossovers. Open Open Tab September 25, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Suzuki SX4 Sport For 2009, the Suzuki SX4 Sport features standard navigation with traffic reporting, MSN Direct, Bluetooth hands-free, and MP3 playback from an SD card. The SX4 has good, predictable handling and precise steering. The upright stance creates a huge cabin with plenty of visibility and headroom. Open Open Tab December 3, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Suzuki XL7 AWD The XL7 is a perfectly adequate crossover in the same way an Equator is a perfectly adequate truck. The XL7 isn't a very luxurious vehicle, but it does everything most families will need and the price can be quite reasonable. Open Open Tab January 9, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Toyota 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid To understand the Camry Hybrid's position in its segment, you need only realize that both the Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima's powertains are based on Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive (Nissan actually licenses the technology, Ford's setup is independently developed but essentially identical). Open Open Tab March 16, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid The Camry is roomy, well-equipped, and has a very straightforward hybrid monitoring system for the driver. You can look at a needle swinging through a large MPG gauge, which also alerts you to EV mode. Open Open Tab March 23, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Toyota Highlander A 187-horsepower four-cylinder lugging around a two-ton SUV? Why not? The four-cylinder Highlander may not be overly powerful, but it was perfectly adequate for my daily commute. Open Open Tab December 17, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Toyota RAV4 4x4 Sometimes, even when you work at Automobile Magazine, you don't care if a car is fast or good looking, if it's refined or luxurious, or if its seats have the right amount of bolstering. You just want it to get you home. Open Open Tab June 16, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Toyota Venza The Venza is a (mostly) carlike, (not too) small (high-utility) passenger vehicle. It's based on the Camry platform, with which it shares some specifications, and has a high level of standard equipment. Open Open Tab November 3, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Toyota Venza The 2009 Toyota Venza has some lovely styling elements (like the character line that forms its broad rear shoulders) and some not-so-lovely elements (like the entire front end). Open Open Tab March 23, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Toyota Venza AWD If anyone spots a Venza in my driveway - one actually owned by me, not borrowed - please shoot me. Open Open Tab May 29, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Toyota Venza AWD V6 My first thought as I sat behind the wheel of the Toyota Venza and looked around was something along the lines of, "Where did all this cheap plastic come from?" There's a surprising amount of hard plastic within reach of the driver, and yet the top of the dashboard is soft. Open Open Tab April 8, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen 2009 Volkswagen CC Luxury VR6 4Motion Wow, the base MSRP for a front-wheel-drive CC 2.0T is $2000 LESS than a similarly equipped Passat? It seems that the Passat range has been reduced only to front-wheel-drive models equipped with the 2.0T turbocharged four-cylinder engine; all-wheel-drive 4Motion and VR6 models have been nixed, yet reappear in the CC range. Open Open Tab January 6, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 Sport The 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 Sport is a really good-looking sedan with a luxurious interior. Its engine delivers power and good fuel economy, and the driving experience is smooth. The navigation system shows live traffic and the audio system is very clear. Open Open Tab December 4, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen CC, 2009 Nissan Maxima, 2009 Mazda 6 - Midsize Sedan Comparison Once inside the Maxima, headroom is barely adequate for six-footers and knee clearance is good, but there is no foot room under the front seats. The Maxima's bench has seatbelts for three but is deeply sculpted for two; its fold-down center armrest includes optional audio and climate controls. Open Open Tab December 5, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen GTI It turns out the 2008 Paris motor show will grant us our first official look at the 2009 Volkswagen GTI - though VW managed to slip some information out in advance. Open Open Tab September 25, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Jetta (base trim) Making the right choice in a market of more than 200 cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs is no easy task – not without us, that is. Open Open Tab July 7, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen 2.0T The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen combines practicality and quick performance with some good cabin tech options, although the lack of a phone system might be a deal breaker. Open Open Tab June 1, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI This Jetta SportWagen TDI is exactly what we should have in our long-term fleet. The DSG transmission is much nicer than our six-speed manual for daily driving, and it's only a 1-mpg penalty at the pump. Open Open Tab April 15, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI With the economy on the verge of melting down, fuel prices at outrageous levels, and global warming threatening to torch your prized rhododendrons, it might be wise to look for a more economical car when the lease on your current Volkswagen Jetta ends. Open Open Tab November 26, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI The 2009 Jetta TDI's engine represents a great balance of driver-friendliness and eco-friendliness. We just wish the rest of the vehicle lived up to its prestige. Open Open Tab February 27, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - Four Seasons Update As of March 25, 2009, we've had our Four Seasons Jetta TDI for six months, but it's hard to get a clear idea of where this car has actually traveled; its fuel range is so sizable (about 500 miles) that the Jetta's hand-written fill-ups occupy less than a page and a half of the car's paper logbook. Open Open Tab April 13, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - Four Seasons Update - February 2009 The odometer of our Four Seasons Volkswagen Jetta TDI passed the 10,000-mile mark several weeks ago, but the car continues to plug away trouble-free, which is particularly notable given VW's deserved reputation for questionable reliability. Open Open Tab February 26, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - Four Seasons Update - April 2009 The Jetta TDI has traveled only about 1000 miles since its last update, but we've still been enjoying the company of this innocuous torque-monster. Open Open Tab May 11, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - Four Seasons Update - June 2009 Our Four Seasons Volkswagen Jetta TDI has turned the corner in its year with us, but it continues to rack up long-legged miles and evoke few complaints. Open Open Tab June 15, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Routan At first glance, the very idea of a Chryswagen (Volksler?) seems a little odd, but if you examine the people involved, it starts to add up. The Routan concept was largely the brainchild of cost-cutting former VW chairman Wolfgang Bernhard, and it's no coincidence that Bernhard served time as Chrysler's chief operating officer from 2000 to 2004 before jumping ship to Volkswagen. Open Open Tab October 23, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Routan S As a long time VW fan, I was hoping the Routan wasn't going to be what logic tells you it is; a warmed over Chrysler minivan. I'm sorry to say that all my fears were accurate. Sure, the seats are more comfortable and offer more support. Open Open Tab February 27, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Routan SEL I got the keys to the Routan after spending a weekend in our Four Seasons VW Jetta TDI. It is utterly amazing that these two vehicles are even vaguely related. Beyond being an excellent value, incredibly efficient, and reasonably fun to drive, the TDI basically smacks you over the head with its thoughtful design and engineering. Open Open Tab June 29, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco Nearly thirty-four years after the debut of the original, a brand-new Volkswagen Scirocco is set to revive the slumbering compact coupe segment. The project was initiated by former brand chief Wolfgang Bernhard, who was so good at cutting costs that the Scirocco isn't significantly more expensive than the corresponding Golf/Rabbit. Open Open Tab September 5, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Vokswagen Tiguan You may have a dictionary that is so big and heavy it has to sit on its own stand. Well don't go rushing to it trying to find out what a Tiguan is. It won't be in there. Open Open Tab October 4, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan (base trim) What a place to relish a panoramic sunset: with the old harbor acting as a sublime sandstone stage for two time travelers and their raven black chariot, this easternmost Italian seaport blends the perfectly preserved Austro-Hungarian grandezza with a slight layer of decadence that lingers wherever new capitalist and old communist Europe meet. Open Open Tab August 4, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Volkswagen is continuing its diesel story in the United States with the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg TDI. VW sold its first diesel vehicle in the U.S. way back in 1997 and introduced the turbo-diesel engine to the States in 1992. The latest chapter in this story is the 2009 Touareg with the 3.0-liter V-6, which will be available in the spring of 2009. Open Open Tab December 31, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Volvo 2009 Volvo S60 Concept Sleek and sexy are words that are rarely associated with Volvos. Rather, the name Volvo generally conjures up adjectives such as safe and secure. Yet, the 2009 Volvo S60 concept seeks to change that notion and instead prove that a Volvo can be both safe and sexy. Open Open Tab January 9, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volvo XC60 In March, the all new Volvo XC60 will go on sale in the United States. Launched this fall in Europe, the XC60 is Volvo's entry in the "small premium utility segment," where it will take on the likes of the BMW X5, the Acura RDX, the Audi Q5, and the Infiniti EX35. Open Open Tab November 10, 2008 Provides Information 2009 Volvo XC60 - Noise Vibration & Harshness I wish I liked the idea of crossover vehicles more. Then I'd have only nice things to say about the new Volvo XC60, which I'm thinking is probably the best of the not-so-big, not-so-small, near-luxury crossovers. It's an important segment in today's depressed market in that it's not dying outright, although sometimes I wish it would. Open Open Tab March 11, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volvo XC70 The sleek Scandinavian interior with brushed aluminum. Open Open Tab February 26, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Volvo XC90 AWD Boy is this vehicle getting old. From the antiquated dash design to the squeaks and rattles around town, I think it's time for Volvo to start thinking about launching a new 3-row SUV. Open Open Tab March 6, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Acura 2010 Acura TSX V-6 We never found Acura's TSX wanting for power, but in order to fill the gap between its entry-level model and the larger TL, the company's added a V-6-powered TSX model for 2010. Open Open Tab February 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Aston 2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante (First Look) Want a convertible that leaves you both shaken and stirred? Look no further than the 2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante, which makes its world debut at the 2009 Geneva motor show. Open Open Tab February 25, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Audi 2010 Audi A3 2.0 TDI Diesel: A Personal Favorite Goes Frugal Audi has popped a clean-burning, 2.0 liter, turbocharged diesel under the hood of the A3, good for 140-horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. How clean is it? Scheduled to go on sale here in the U.S. in the first quarter of next year, the A3 TDI meets the pollution standards in all 50 states. Open Open Tab April 18, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Audi A4 Allroad Quattro For those who hanker for an off-road crossover but don't want a Q5, Audi offers this: the 2010 A4 Allroad Quattro. Open Open Tab March 2, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolet How do you improve the 2009 Automobile Magazine Design of the Year? It's simple: chop the top right off it, and voila - the 2010 Audi A5 and S5 cabriolets. Open Open Tab December 2, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Audi Q7 Although media focus has shifted to its smaller Q5 crossover, Audi hasn't forgotten about the larger Q7. The 2010 model, debuting at this week's 2009 Shanghai motor show, sports a few small repairs, helping it fit in with Audi's heavily-revised portfolio. Open Open Tab April 15, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro There's no disputing that the current Audi R8 is already an exceptional sports car. The combination of its stunning appearance, outstanding performance and general livability are plenty to be proud of, but the folks in Ingolstadt weren't quite satisfied. As a result, they've produced the 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI - or simply put, a ten-cylinder R8. Open Open Tab December 8, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Audi R8 Roadster Spied It's hard to go unnoticed in Audi's R8, something that has become abundantly clear to us in the short time a Mugello blue coupe has been in our Four Seasons fleet. Open Open Tab August 19, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Audi S4 At a glance, it would seem that a high-powered German sedan is the wrong car for the times. The new Audi S4 arrives in the midst of a global economic slump. Open Open Tab October 24, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Audi S4 Right car, wrong timing? At a glance, it would seem that way. The new Audi S4 arrives in the midst of a global economic slump. It was unveiled in October at the Paris show, where hybrids and electric vehicles stole the limelight, and it unashamedly advertises the motto Vorsprung durch Technik (Advancement through Technology) when everybody is talking low emissions and high mileage. Open Open Tab December 24, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet The four-seat premium convertible segment has become stagnant, but that's about to change. BMW fired a new 3-series convertible at its competition for the 2008 model year, and two years later, shots are finally ringing back. Open Open Tab April 20, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Bentley 2010 Bentley Continental GTC Speed Those of you who read our magazine religiously might recall the time columnist Ezra Dyer raced - and beat - a FedEx truck from New York City to Miami. In a Bentley Continental GTC. It was, he concluded, "a car that fell out of the awesome tree and hit every branch on the way down." It appears the awesome tree has since grown a few more branches: meet the Bentley Continental GTC Speed. Open Open Tab January 8, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Bentley Continental GTC Speed For some people, global economic hardship doesn't amount to a hill of beans. When the stock market nosedives, these folks simply chopper onto a yacht and bob around the Caribbean for a few years to wait it out. The 600-hp Bentley Continental GTC Speed is their kind of car. Open Open Tab May 19, 2009 Provides Information 2010 BMW 2010 BMW X1 Spied These spy shots give us our first clear look at the 2010 BMW X1, which will try to mine yet another crossover niche. Open Open Tab September 11, 2008 Provides Information 2010 BMW X5M and X6M The arrival of the controversial X5M and X6M might be confirmation that BMW has dumped every engineering principle that made its M cars so distinctive and consistently good for the last thirty years. Open Open Tab May 15, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Buick 2010 Buick LaCrosse We hadn't much hope for Buick's reinvention, seeing as most concept cars from the stodgy division were either pie-in-the-sky convertibles or coupes with gullwing doors. That changed last year, when the General unveiled a concept at the 2008 Shanghai auto show. Open Open Tab January 8, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Buick LaCrosse Now that Buick has fewer internal competitors, its first truly new sedan in more than a decade might garner some attention. Open Open Tab May 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Cadillac 2010 Cadillac SRX Enthusiasts across the land depressed by the ever increasing curb weight and dimensions of new vehicles can breathe easy today. The 2010 Cadillac SRX is actually a little smaller than the car it replaces, and it boasts some impressive new technology under the hood. Open Open Tab January 5, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Cadillac SRX When the president of Government Motors cracks the change whip, Cadillac executives need only cite the new SRX crossover to acknowledge that the message has been received. Open Open Tab June 2, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Chevrolet 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS (First Drive) The day of reckoning has arrived: Chevy's new Camaro has left the assembly line keen to butt heads with the Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and other pretenders to the pony car throne. We tested two SS V-8s to find if the long wait has been worthwhile. Open Open Tab March 20, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Chevrolet Camaro V-6 You know how it goes: On one hand, you can't even fathom buying a pony car - or a sports car, or even a minivan, for that matter - with the smallest engine on offer. Open Open Tab August 25, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Chevrolet Traverse The 2010 Chevrolet Traverse should see no major changes following its introduction in the 2009 model year. Traverse seats up to eight and shares its basic design with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook. Open Open Tab July 11, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Chevy Camaro SS As a dyed-in-the-wool Camaro guy (my dad owned four F-bodies when I was growing up), I was initially concerned that this new car would be too different from the bruisers I remembered. Now, I'm not sure if it's different enough. Open Open Tab June 22, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Chrysler 2010 Chrysler Town & Country EV Of the three electric-powered prototypes unveiled by Chrysler earlier this year, pundits buzzed the most about the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country EV. We understand their logic - though nowhere as sexy as the Lotus-based Dodge coupe (which was revamped for the 2009 Detroit auto show), it's the most practical application of Chrysler's hybrid technology we've seen to date. Open Open Tab January 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Dodge 2010 Dodge Circuit EV If you recall Chrysler's PR coup from this past summer, you'll likely remember the Dodge EV - a two-seat electric sports car that was reportedly a demonstration of Chrysler's forthcoming electric technology. You'll then realize the 2010 Dodge Circuit, unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, is essentially the same car. Open Open Tab January 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Dodge Ram We've seen the innovative features and levels of refinement Dodge is bringing to the 2009 Ram 1500, but company executives have said little about the brand's other pickup offerings - until now. Open Open Tab July 3, 2008 Provides Information 2010 GMC 2010 GMC Terrain Although Pontiac is due to lose the Torrent as it becomes a "niche brand," GMC will gain a small crossover in the form of the 2010 Terrain. Based off the Theta platform that underpins the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and 2010 Cadillac SRX, the Terrain serves as the smallest offering within GMC's portfolio. Open Open Tab April 8, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford 2010 Ford F-150 Raptor It's not often that lifted trucks designed for off-roading are described as nimble, but that's exactly the word that comes to mind while riding shotgun in the 2010 Ford F-150 Raptor as it blasts through the desert outside of Borrego Springs, California. Open Open Tab April 2, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Lightning may have struck twice, but when the folks at Ford's Special Vehicle Team decided to trick out another F-150, the result - the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - was a completely different kind of truck. Open Open Tab November 5, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Ford Fiesta - The Cars We Need Now! The tectonic plates have shifted. The U.S. Automotive Order, little changed for the last two decades, has suddenly been upended. No longer insulated from the high fuel prices that afflict so much of the world, America needs a drastically different national motor pool, and we need it now. Open Open Tab November 3, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Ford Fiesta: Is America Ready For This Small-car Option? The Ford Fiesta fell one vote shy of being named Europe's Car of the Year. If it is that successful in the U.S. next year, Ford's future will indeed be a Fiesta. Open Open Tab March 28, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Fusion Soon after catching its Mercury sibling out in the wild, the first photo of the 2010 Ford Fusion made its way to the internet, along with details on the revised powertrain offerings. Open Open Tab October 31, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid The Fusion Hybrid uses an evolution of the powertrain in the Escape Hybrid, and it promises to be the most fuel-efficient mid-size hybrid sedan, besting the hybrid versions of the Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura, Nissan Altima, and Toyota Camry, while falling short of smaller fuel-sippers like the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius. Open Open Tab December 16, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid EV mode is very useful and it comes on often. Open Open Tab March 25, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid first look After seeing the Fusion Hybrid at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show, we've wanted to find out how it drives. This week we finally got the chance, and found it one of the best cars coming out this year. In fact, we find it far better than the 2010 Honda Insight or 2010 Toyota Prius. Although it might come up a little short for fuel economy, the driving experience is so much better, while the cabin technology is unparalleled. Open Open Tab April 23, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 Lest you thought seven trim levels were too few for the F-150, here's another for the portfolio: The 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150. Open Open Tab February 10, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Mustang - Toned Pony When the 2010 Mustang gallops into Ford showrooms in the spring, it will face more competition than it has seen in decades. The Dodge Challenger, which arrived in SRT8 form last year, now has a three-model lineup, and the hotly anticipated new Chevrolet Camaro starts production in February. Open Open Tab November 17, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Ford Mustang Appears at Road America We'd think an enthusiast event would be the last place to bring a top-secret prototype, but a 2010 Ford Mustang took to the Road America course this past weekend as a pace car at the Kohler International Challenge races. Open Open Tab July 21, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Ford Mustang GT Decades of pony car dominance (in the showroom, if not always at the track) have endowed the Ford Mustang with the type of confidence that renders garish demonstrations of machismo unnecessary. Open Open Tab December 13, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Ford Mustang GT The best thing about this car is the heavy-metal exhaust note when you floor it. The round, billet-aluminum gearshift knob is pretty sweet, and its short throws are a big improvement over the last Mustang GT's shifter. Open Open Tab May 27, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Amid launches of cars more crucial to Ford's future success such as the 2010 Taurus and Fusion, the automaker will introduce the 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, a car more crucial to the brand's performance reputation than its bottom line. Open Open Tab January 1, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 On the modern muscle car battleground, no blow goes unanswered. Mere moments after the new Chevy Camaro SS was offered for testing, Ford parried with a 2010 Shelby GT500 armed with added firepower, a fortified chassis, and freshened interior and exterior appearance. Open Open Tab April 6, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 We were more than ready to test the new 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 earlier this month, but Mother Nature wasn't. While at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, technical editor Don Sherman encountered a gusty headwind that reduced the car's straight-line acceleration and top speed performance. Open Open Tab April 22, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Carroll Shelby and the Ford Mustang are knocking on immortality, and with age comes the wisdom to invent new variations of the classic pony car theme. Open Open Tab June 5, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Taurus SHO If Ford resuscitated the Taurus nameplate for consumer appeal, then the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO's rebirth is strictly for the enthusiasts. Open Open Tab February 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Taurus Once a family favorite, the American full-size four-door sedan napped while the storm of imports, crossovers, and SUVs blew in. Open Open Tab June 22, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Taurus SHO Rooted in legend, steeped in technology, and dressed to thrill, the Ford Taurus SHO is finally here to save the day for Ford if not the entire beleaguered domestic auto industry. Open Open Tab June 17, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Transit Connect Does the 2010 Ford Transit Connect look familiar? It should. Aside from a few cosmetic details, the production-intent cargo van is virtually identical to prototypes shown at last year's Chicago auto show. Open Open Tab February 9, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Ford Transit Connect The U.S. auto market may be fast-moving and competitive, but one subset, commercial vans, is neither. Looking much the same as it did during the Nixon administration, it has seen few innovations and fewer new entries. Open Open Tab June 1, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Honda 2010 Honda Insight EX While the 2010 Honda Insight EX with navigation may not be as hyper-miler friendly as the Prius, it represents a much better value and is more fun to drive. Open Open Tab February 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Honda Insight EX Navi This Honda Insight lists for about $5000 more than our similarly equipped Four Seasons Fit. Open Open Tab May 26, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Hyundai 2010 Hyundai Genesis Hyundai's largest car offers two engines: a 290-hp 3.8-liter V6 for the 3.8; and a 375-hp 4.6-liter V8 for the 4.6. Open Open Tab July 8, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe It's all about derivatives these days. If they're not decimating your 401(k), they're invading your neighborhood car dealership. Although its similarity doesn't come across as well in photographs, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis coupe is a dead ringer for the Infiniti G37 coupe. Open Open Tab February 26, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe by HKS - SEMA Preview Two down, one to go. Hyundai has announced its second of three SEMA Genesis coupes (not to be confused with the Sega Genesis game console). This one is a cooperation between the Korean manufacturer and Japanese performance accessory maker HKS. Open Open Tab September 3, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec One of the few bright spots in what has been a bleak, anxious period for the auto industry has been Hyundai. Last year, the Korean automaker made a clean break from its econocar roots with the Genesis, an honest-to-goodness luxury sedan that took home North American Car of the Year honors. Open Open Tab February 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Infiniti 2010 Infiniti G37 Convertible Hey, it's spring, so even though it was cloudy and only 53 degrees this morning, I lowered the G37's fully automatic hard top and drove the six miles to work al fresco. It takes about 20 or 25 seconds to put down the top and about the same to bring it back up, using a well-marked button on the center console. Open Open Tab May 14, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Jaguar 2010 Jaguar XFR It's no secret that we like the Jaguar XF at Automobile Magazine. The keys to our XF Supercharged Four-Seasons test car are rarely sitting around and we keep piling on the miles. We even named the newest Jaguar sedan a 2009 All-Star. Open Open Tab January 9, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Jaguar XKR Sharing the show floor in Detroit with the new Jaguar XFR is the updated XKR. Available as either a coupe or a convertible, the new 510-hp all-aluminum Jaguar rips from 0-60 mph in an impressive 4.6-seconds (manufacture supplied data for the coupe). The engine in the updated XKR is the same direct-injection, supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 seen in the XFR. Open Open Tab January 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Jaguar XKR What's better than an all-new, supercharged V-8 engine that makes 90 hp and 48 lb-ft of torque more than its predecessor while improving the Jaguar XKR's 0-to-60-mph time from a claimed 4.9 to 4.6 seconds? An all-new, supercharged V-8 that does all that without a concomitant increase in fuel consumption, that's what. Open Open Tab April 14, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Jaguar XFR (First Drive) Mike O'Driscoll, Jaguar's longtime managing director, is a happy man these days. Sure, Jaguar is just as susceptible to the worldwide economic slowdown as any other purveyor of luxury goods, but O'Driscoll's eyes light up when he explains that the company's lineup is undergoing a wholesale metamorphosis in the twenty-four-month period that began in January 2008 and ends this December. Open Open Tab February 26, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Jaguar XKR Coupe and Convertible It's difficult to dispute the notion that in winemaking, handcrafted artisanal production tends to yield a finer, more complex wine. Similarly, when one gets behind the wheel of the 2010 Jaguar XKR, the craftsmanship and care are more than apparent. Open Open Tab April 24, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Jeep 2010 Jeep Patriot EV While three ENVI concepts were originally revealed last summer, Chrysler's saved this - the Jeep Patriot EV - for the 2009 Detroit auto show. Open Open Tab January 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV Although it isn't the world's first electric Jeep (DJ-5e, anyone?), the 2010 Jeep Wrangler EV, given a new coat of paint for the 2009 Detroit auto show, is a bit more advanced. Open Open Tab January 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Kia 2010 Kia Forte Hot on the heels of its launch of the squarish Soul, Kia has unveiled the 2010 Forte sedan at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. The Forte, which will effectively replace the Spectra (in both size and price), is due to go on sale in North America in the second quarter of 2009. Open Open Tab February 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Kia Soul Back in the summer of 2003, after polarizing Japan for three years as the Toyota bB, the defiantly quadrilateral Scion xB polarized America. Those who got it, loved it; those who didn't, definitely didn't. Like it or not, though, the xB birthed a new brand and stoked its youthful target demographic. Open Open Tab December 30, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Kia Soul I took the Kia Soul for a 10-mile blast around Ann Arbor. First things first, the car looks great. It's obvious that Kia is trying to imitate Scion with the Soul's styling, but who cares? It's cool. Our test car's red interior is a bit much, but it works. It's great to see a Korean company having some fun with its designs. Open Open Tab December 24, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Lamborghini 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder At 12,198 feet, Mount Teide might be the highest point in all of the territories that comprise Spain and one of the main tourist sites in the Canary Islands. Open Open Tab May 5, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce Imagine, if you will, placing Lamborghini's million-dollar Reventon into a blender with a brand-new Murcielago LP 640-4, and pushing the button marked "blend." Although we wouldn't perform such a sadistic act on our own accord, we've no doubt that the result would look something like the 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce. Open Open Tab March 2, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce It costs about $450,000 and delivers a monstrous 670 hp, but the meanest Lamborghini since the legendary Miura SV must do without such modern conveniences as direct injection, a dual-clutch transmission, bixenon adaptive headlights, active differentials, a starter button, a radio, and stability control. Open Open Tab June 11, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Land Rover 2010 Land Rover LR4 For 2010, the Land Rover LR3 becomes the LR4 (by Land Rover's count it's the fourth generation of the Discovery, as the vehicle is known in other markets). The difference between the LR3 and the LR4 might not be immediately apparent to the casual onlooker. There's a new grille, a new front bumper, and new LED headlamps. Open Open Tab April 7, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Land Rover Range Rover The current-generation Range Rover has already had one minor refresh, and for 2010 it gets another one. This update is pretty minor on the outside--with LEDs in the headlamps and the taillamps and a slightly restyled bumper--but it's more substantial under the skin. Open Open Tab April 7, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport The Range Rover Sport, which was introduced in 2005, gets its first significant refresh for the 2010 model year. A new front-end design features a lower grille, new headlamps with LED lights arranged in a Gatling-gun style, a new front bumper, and new front fenders with restyled side vents (the styling clich of the moment). Open Open Tab April 7, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Lexus 2010 Lexus HS250h One look at the frumpy 2010 Lexus HS250h confirms what we've suspected all along of Prius drivers: the hybrid's smug visual statement is as important to the purchaser as its fuel economy. Open Open Tab May 26, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Lexus IS 350C/250C Ten years after the first Lexus IS rolled into dealer showrooms, Lexus is finally following its competitors and offering an IS convertible, and it's a hardtop, just like the ones from BMW, Volvo, and Infiniti. Open Open Tab June 15, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Lexus RX 450h Those in the market for a hybrid SUV have yet another option with the 2010 Lexus RX450h, which was unveiled at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show. Open Open Tab November 20, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Lexus RX 450h Roughly one in five Lexus RX crossover SUVs sold is a hybrid, and with the debut of the third-generation RX - the second-generation RX hybrid - company officials expect that percentage to remain about the same. Open Open Tab January 7, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Lincoln 2010 Lincoln MKT "The MKT is fully differentiated from the Flex," claims chief engineer Ron Heiser. That's a bit of hyperbole, since they share the same platform (one which Heiser points out has superb crash performance) and basic chassis tuning. Open Open Tab January 12, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Lincoln MKT Automobile Magazine has just driven the new, 2010 Lincoln MKT crossover, and although it's not the first Ford vehicle we've driven with the new EcoBoost powertrain, it's the first one we can tell you about (check back here on July 22 for our take on the new Ford Taurus SHO with EcoBoost). Open Open Tab May 14, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Lincoln MKT Spy Shots Well, that didn't take long. Just a few days after Ford officials confirmed production of the 2010 Lincoln MKT crossover, our spies captured several clear images of a development vehicle. Judging by the interior shot, this crossover looks to be very close to production-ready. Open Open Tab August 18, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Lincoln MKZ Though its Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan cousins are treated to substantial makeovers for 2010, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ sedan, revealed today at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show, receives simply a mild nip/tuck. Open Open Tab November 19, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Lincoln MKZ The attention that Lincoln paid to refining the aging Lincoln MKZ (née Zephyr) platform was immediately evident when I wheeled our silver test car out of the parking structure. Open Open Tab June 8, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Lotus 2010 Lotus Evora Company founder Colin Chapman's apocryphal credo - "simplicate and add lightness" - may have to be amended in honor of Lotus' new 2+2, the Evora. Of course, "complicate and add relaxation" doesn't sound as good, but that's what the new car does, with excellent, possibly even brilliant results that will tempt not just the Lotus faithful, but more than a few Porsche 911 intenders. Open Open Tab May 6, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Lotus Evora - Lotus Lives Larger The Lotus Elise and fixed-roof Exige define sports car purity, but with the recently unveiled new Evora, due here late this year, Lotus will live a bit larger. The Evora retains the brand's trademark aluminum tub structure and mid-engine layout, but the former is stretched to squeeze in an (optional) pair of kid-sized rear seats while the latter switches from four- to six-cylinder Toyota power. Open Open Tab January 5, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Maserati 2010 Maserati Gran Turismo S Automatic Maserati's latest progeny is a Gran Turismo coupe combining the hotter 433-hp 4.7-liter V-8 engine introduced last year for the Gran Turismo S with a contemporary 6-speed ZF automatic. Open Open Tab May 13, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mazda 2010 Mazda 3 One in three cars Mazda sells wears a badge that displays the number three. Coincidence? Perhaps. But maybe the compact 3's name has something to do with its popularity. A quick Web search netted the following enlightening information about the number three: the numeral raises the spirits of others, spreads optimism and cheerfulness wherever it travels, and possesses the ability to sell itself. Open Open Tab January 26, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mazda 3 5-Door Grand Touring Wow, what a great little hatch. This 2.5-liter I-4 pulls very well from idle to fuel cut, and the six-speed manual transmission is superb. I can't think of a better example of a small car that feels just as solid and rewarding as a "real" car. Open Open Tab June 12, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mazda 3 Sedan The current Mazda 3 is among our favorite small cars, and with more than 1.8 million units sold to date, one of Mazda's most important models. Rather than mess with a good thing, the Zoom Zoom company isn't changing much for the new, second-generation compact sedan. Open Open Tab November 19, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 We've had our first glimpse (and drive) of the 2010 Mazda 3 courtesy of the Los Angeles auto show, but the upcoming 2009 Geneva motor show will allow us a look at the performance-oriented model: the 2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3. Open Open Tab February 27, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes-Benz 2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS Five years ago, the term four-door coupe was an oxymoron. But in 2004, Mercedes-Benz used it to describe the new CLS, and logic was trampled by star-struck customers waving their checkbooks. Rival manufacturers were equally enthralled. Witness the Jaguar XF and the Volkswagen Passat CC. Open Open Tab September 11, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes Benz E-class There was a time when the sedate, broad shouldered shape of a Mercedes-Benz sedan was synonymous with quality, durability and superior engineering. Nowadays, customers are more likely to associate reliability with the shape of a Toyota Camry, while Mercedes has pursued ever sleeker and more swooping body forms. Until now. Open Open Tab January 10, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes Benz E-class Coupe Mercedes Benz is marching onward in its future styling directing with the introduction of the 2010 E-class Coupe. The company has made the sensible decision to call the CLK-class what we all thought of it as: a coupe version of the E-class sedan. Open Open Tab February 17, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class Coupe Back in the 1980s, Mercedes sold its midsize E-class in both four-door and two-door form, the latter with either a fixed steel roof or a convertible cloth top. Open Open Tab May 4, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class Spied We caught this lightly masked 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class driving around not-so-sunny southern California. Even in the smoggy light, we can see most of the car's revised shape. Open Open Tab September 19, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class Wagon We've seen the latest E-class coupe and sedan, but Mercedes-Benz hasn't revealed the latest iteration of its E-class wagon. No matter -- thanks to our fast-acting West Coast editor and his Blackberry, we have some photos of the latest Benz wagon. Open Open Tab April 24, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes-Benz E220 CDI Diesel For years, Mercedes-Benz has fed its U.S. customers a diet of ever-more-powerful engines in its E-class sedan. It's been decades since the forebearer to today's E-class had a four-cylinder engine behind its signature radiator grille - at least in America. Open Open Tab March 12, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK - By Design I have a hard time with SUVs. I can understand drivers who appreciate a high seating position, although it gives no advantage when everyone else drives tall vehicles, too. Open Open Tab January 5, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 first appeared as a concept at the 2008 North American International Auto Show before debuting as a production vehicle at Auto China in Beijing. Open Open Tab July 27, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic We've just finished two weeks with Mercedes-Benz's brand-new GLK350, which goes on sale January 5, 2009, as a 2010 model. Prices have already been announced, and they are quite competitive: $34,775 for a rear-wheel-drive model and $36,775 for the GLK350 4Matic with all-wheel drive. Open Open Tab December 4, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes Benz ML450 Hybrid Mercedes has a strong showing at this year's New York auto show, and half the debuts are aimed at reducing the automaker's emissions and increasing fuel economy. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid will be the second hybrid in Mercedes' lineup once it goes on sale in December (the S400 BlueHybrid will beat the ML450 Hybrid to market by three months). Open Open Tab April 8, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid Spied Though supplier issues threaten to delay the official launch, Mercedes-Benz continues to develop and test the 2010 ML450 Hybrid - its first SUV with hybrid powertrain. Open Open Tab September 11, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes Benz S-Class Mercedes Benz has revealed the slightly tweaked styling of its flagship model. However, the real improvements are in the bits you cannot see. Open Open Tab April 13, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Unlike BMW's M division, which put itself on the map by creating drivers' cars out of normal BMWs, AMG's cars - often the product of applying ludicrous power to regular Mercedes cars - make the ultimate I-outrank-you statements. And when your neighbors have an AMG in the driveway, there's only one way to beat them - an AMG Black Series. Open Open Tab November 11, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Apologies to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, but the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SL65 Black Series has just trumped it as the most powerful Mercedes-Benz ever made. This rare and menacing SL is the third Mercedes to earn Black Series status, and while the third time is usually the charm, in this case it's a cruise missile. Open Open Tab January 28, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Hits the Dyno It costs $100,000 more than a regular SL65 AMG, so buyers of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series had better get a little somethin' for their money. And they do-with carbon-fiber body panels, a fixed roof, and styling that makes the Black Series look as though it's an escapee from a DTM race. Open Open Tab December 24, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Mercury 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid Spied While the wraps on the 2010 Mercury Milan (along with its Ford and Lincoln cousins) won't come off until November's Los Angeles auto show, we caught the refreshed midsize sedan testing in the cold, dark Michigan night. Open Open Tab October 29, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Mitsubishi 2010 Mitsubishi i MiEV - The Cars We Need Now! America is ready for an electric city car, and Mitsubishi, not Toyota, might just be the company to give it to us. Our brief drive of the i MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) during last spring's New York auto show convinced us that this four-door Martian-mobile could play in Philadelphia, if not Peoria. Open Open Tab November 28, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Nissan 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster If you enjoyed everything about the 2009 Nissan 370Z except for its fixed roof, the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster may tickle your fancy. Open Open Tab April 7, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Nissan GT-R Premium Who says Friday the 13th is an unlucky day? Not at Automobile Magazine, where we just took delivery of a brand-new 2010 Nissan GT-R for a one-year test. Open Open Tab March 20, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Nissan GT-R Premium - Four Seasons Update - April 2009 One of the first things we asked our new road test coordinator, Mike Ofiara, to do after he started at Automobile Magazine was to take our Nissan GT-R to Dick Scott Nissan in Canton, Michigan, for its 1000-mile checkup, which went fine. Not a bad way to start a new job, huh? Open Open Tab April 29, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Nissan Maxima Two trim levels are available: 3.5 S and 3.5 SV. 3.5 SVs can further be equipped with a Sport or Premium package that features upgraded equipment such as 19-inch wheels, woodgrain or faux carbon fiber interior trim, heated leather seats and steering wheel, and power rear sunshades. Open Open Tab July 3, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Nissan Nismo 370Z Nissan's new 370Z may be quite nimble, but those hankering for a track-ready package should consider stepping up to the new 2010 Nismo 370Z, which debuts at the 2009 New York auto show. Open Open Tab April 7, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Porsche 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Though we rarely meet a Porsche we don't like, the 911 GT3 - a hardcore, track-tuned version of the legendary sports car - has always occupied a soft spot in our hearts. That likely won't change, as the 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 has grown in all the right places. Open Open Tab January 29, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Halfway around the world, crowds gather at the Shanghai auto show to examine the curiously shaped Porsche Panamera. The first sedan in Porsche's sixty-one-year history looks like a big, stretched, hand-blown 911 - and decidedly unlike anything else on the road. Open Open Tab April 30, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Spy Shots If you were holding out for a next-gen 911 GT3 that was radically different than its predecessor, you may be out of luck. We've just received photos of the new 2010 Porsche 911 GT3, and from what we can glean, it's certainly evolutionary. Open Open Tab September 8, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Porsche Boxster Trickle down can be a wonderful thing whether you're talking wealth, wisdom, power, or Porsches. Less than a year after the 911 received a major mechanical pick-me-up, Porsche engineers passed the lessons learned to the junior members of their sports car family. Open Open Tab November 19, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia - Mongol Horde A rally-racing Cayenne? Porsche factory driver Carles Celma is making a convincing argument for it, a twenty-foot rooster tail of shredded earth spewing from the rear tires as he power-slides down a straightaway. Open Open Tab December 22, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Saab 2010 Saab 9-3x Volvo is no longer the only Swede to offer a jacked-up all-road wagon. The 2010 Saab 9-3x, making its debut at the 2009 Geneva motor show, is essentially an outdoorsy form of its 9-3 Sportcombi. Open Open Tab February 27, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Subaru 2010 Subaru Legacy These words aren't paired together very often, but they perfectly summarize the 2010 Subaru Legacy sedan. The Legacy has grown longer, taller, and wider with a modest weight gain of 49-65 pounds, depending on the trim and equipment level. Open Open Tab June 29, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Subaru Legacy Sedan You don't need a degree in marketing to realize that the fringes of the family-sedan segment are not the most profitable place to be. Open Open Tab April 1, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Subaru Outback In addition to its all-new, 2010 Legacy sedan, Subaru unveiled the Legacy's butched-up sibling, the Outback wagon, at the 2009 New York auto show. Like the Legacy, the new Outback goes on sale in late summer. Open Open Tab April 9, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Tata Nano 2010 Tata Nano - What's the Big Idea? There is a chance - just a chance - that this odd-looking little bubble of a car, with its dime-size wheels and tiny tailpipe and weird two-cylinder whir, might turn out to be the Ford Model T of the twenty-first century. True, there's plenty that might prevent the new Tata Nano from causing the seismic shock that some predict it will inflict on the global car industry. Open Open Tab February 12, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Toyota 2010 Toyota Prius It has long been fashionable in auto-enthusiast and auto-journalist circles to dismiss the Toyota Prius as a precious affectation of misguided Al Gore devotees, people who find automobiles something to endure - for the sake of pure transportation - rather than enjoy. Open Open Tab March 25, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Volkswagen 2010 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit Golf V, we hardly knew ye. After only five years (two in the U.S.), the fifth-generation hatchback departs, leaving us with this: the 2010 Volkswagen Golf, which we'll continue to see badged as a Rabbit. Open Open Tab August 6, 2008 Provides Information 2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI Recent developments at Volkswagen have sent some enthusiasts praying for their beloved brand. A sacrilegious VW badge on a Chrysler minivan and plans for watered-down, cost-cut, U.S.-specific models (see the NMS and Jetta on page 78) are an effort to attain VW's ludicrously optimistic U.S. sales target of 800,000 cars per year. Open Open Tab April 2, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI Recent developments at Volkswagen have sent some enthusiasts praying for their beloved brand. Open Open Tab May 28, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid Here are four sneak peeks in one: the Volkswagen Touareg in these pictures hides a new hybrid system that will be offered not only in a brand-new Touareg to be launched at the Frankfurt auto show in September, but also in the new Porsche Panamera and Cayenne and - mated to a smaller gasoline engine - in the Audi Q5. Open Open Tab June 1, 2009 Provides Information 2010 Volvo 2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD I drove the XC60 only briefly, but it's a handsome little crossover, certainly better looking than the Mercedes-Benz GLK350, if not quite as sexy as the Audi Q5. The interior is a letdown. Open Open Tab June 2, 2009 Provides Information 2011 Audi 2011 Audi R8 V10 Attention, Porsche 911 Turbo, Lamborghini LP560-4, Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG: Here comes your nemesis. Open Open Tab February 3, 2009 Provides Information 2011 Audi R8 V-10 What's the difference in the V-10 engines that power the top Audi and Lamborghini's crown prince? As it turns out, not much. Both share the same basic components and architecture: a 90-degree V-angle, DOHC 4-valves per cylinder top end, mostly aluminum construction. The forged-steel crankshaft and connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons providing a 12.5:1 compression ratio are also shared by both sports cars. Open Open Tab February 11, 2009 Provides Information 2011 Chevrolet 2011 Chevrolet Spark: The Nitty-Gritty Is it possible to launch a car without launching a car? GM did just that at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, revealing the first image of the 2011 Chevrolet Spark minicar while rolling out onto the show stand the similar 2007 Beat concept. The production hatchback will appear live and in the sheetmetal at the 2009 Geneva motor show, but we sat down with sources close to the program to learn a little bit more. Open Open Tab January 22, 2009 Provides Information 2011 Chevrolet Volt Prototype I'm driving through General Motors' Warren Technical Center at about 30 mph, and see some Canadian geese in the distance. Open Open Tab May 19, 2009 Provides Information 2011 Chevy Volt - From Show Car to Showroom The 2007 Chevrolet Volt concept dazzled, even more than General Motors expected. For 2010 production, however, it has to use existing component sets, which naturally make the Volt more mainstream and cheaper to build. Open Open Tab March 5, 2009 Provides Information 2011 Ford 2011 Ford Kuga - The Cars We Need Now! Launched this past June, the Kuga is a compact, five-seat crossover designed by Englishman Martin Smith, who left General Motors to join Ford in early 2004. Open Open Tab November 7, 2008 Provides Information 2011 Mercedes 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG The marriage between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren has been something of a disappointment. Their co-created product, the SLR McLaren, has never met sales expectations, and its marketers have resorted to increasingly gimmicky special models in order to reach their contractually obligated goal of 4000 total units. Open Open Tab March 3, 2009 Provides Information 2011 Suzuki 2011 Suzuki Swift - The Cars We Need Now! No one is better than Americans at blurring the lines between wants and needs, and the sudden upheaval in the car market is proof of that. In the past few months of this year, small-car sales have shot up, while sales of large SUVs and pickups have dropped sharply. Open Open Tab November 25, 2008 Provides Information 2011 Volkswagen 2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid VW will follow up the concept with a production model. When it enters production in 2010, it will be the world's first hybrid SUV to have 3.5 metric ton (about 7,700lbs) towing capacity. Open Open Tab March 2, 2009 Provides Information 2012 BMW 2012 BMW X1 Malicious tongues claim that the X1's psychedelic-swirl paint job marks the ultimate expression of Chris Bangle's flame- surface design philosophy, but this is not the case. Open Open Tab May 15, 2009 Provides Information 2012 Lamborghini 2012 Lamborghini Estoque - A Four-Door Bull After years of casting around for a third model, Lamborghini has settled on what Manfred Fitzgerald, head of brand and design, rather presumptively calls "the world's first supersedan." Open Open Tab December 1, 2008 Provides Information 2012 Opel 2012 Opel Corsa - The Cars We Need Now! The visionary who slipped an Opel Corsa onto General Motors' stand at last January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit is the individual currently strutting corporate halls with the "I told you so!" look on his face. Open Open Tab November 25, 2008 Provides Information A A Speed Shop for Hybrids? Often stereotyped as extreme environmentalists, hybrid drivers actually come in a variety of flavors. Some do drive the cars as a personal statement of their love and commitment to the Earth, but others are actually car geeks who appreciate technology for technology's sake. Open Open Tab April 15, 2009 Provides Information All-New 2009 Nissan Z Makes Its World Debut in EA's Need for Speed Undercover Get behind the wheel of the all-new 2009 Nissan 370Z eight weeks before the car hits dealerships. Open Open Tab October 29, 2008 Provides Information Aptera 2e - Electric Three Wheeler New Yorkers would have been impressed if we'd told them that the makers of the Aptera 2e, the two-seat, three-wheeled oddity we were driving around Soho, promised the equivalent of more than 200 mpg and a 100-mile range between charges of its battery pack. Open Open Tab June 1, 2009 Provides Information Audi Invited to Join VW's New Small Family In 2007, Volkswagen previewed its New Small Family (NSF) of eco-cars with three concepts, a two-door hatchback, a four-door hatchback, and a microvan. Originally intended for VW, Seat, and Škoda only, NSF is being expanded to include an Audi version, the E1. Open Open Tab February 25, 2009 Provides Information Audi R15 Sport Prototype Audi did it again. The company that set the racing world on its ear by launching a successful diesel racing program in 2006 just introduced its second-generation race car - the R15 - at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and won it all. Open Open Tab March 23, 2009 Provides Information B Bentley Continental Flying Spur - The Deep Dive A new Arnage will appear this fall, but work has also begun on the next generation of Bentley's volume family, the Continentals. The redesign will see them lose weight, add a diesel, and share more Audi A8 components under the skin. Open Open Tab March 10, 2009 Provides Information Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed, Jaguar XFR, Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S - Supersedans Sport sedans operate in a gray area where practicality gives way to emotion. A thoroughly rational shopping list of the world's best examples would include the Audi S6, the BMW M5, the Cadillac CTS-V, the Lexus IS-F, and the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Open Open Tab June 23, 2009 Provides Information Bertone B.A.T. 11 Makes North American Debut at 2008 Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance Unless you were one of the elite few who managed to ascertain where in Geneva the car was being displayed, there's a good chance you've not seen the Bertone B.A.T. 11 concept in person. Lucky for you, there's now a chance to see it in person - and without leaving the continental U.S. Open Open Tab July 2, 2008 Provides Information Blazing Bentley Continental Supersports Revealed For 24 months a small group of engineers and designers worked on a special project to reduce the weight and increase the power of the Continental GT. What you see before you is the result. The Continental Supersports - the name comes from the original 3-liter model introduced in 1925 - will be the fastest road-going car in the company's 90 year history. Open Open Tab February 26, 2009 Provides Information BMW Gina Light Visionary Model - By Design Sure, it looks familiar. It should; this brilliant design exercise was done seven years ago, and traces of its lines and vestiges of its surfaces have turned up on numerous BMW concept and production models since. lines that were superb on the 2006 Mille Miglia concept car or that seemed not to make any sense in the grotesque (but very important) X Coupé were established by this concept, which BMW has finally made public. Open Open Tab November 4, 2008 Provides Information Box Car Comparison: 2009 Scion xB, 2009 Kia Soul, 2009 Nissan Cube It all started out innocently enough back in 2004, when Toyota brought over its Japanese-market bB and called it the Scion xB. To everyone's surprise (including Toyota), it caught on like wildfire, outselling the more conventional xA by a margin of nearly two-to-one. Open Open Tab April 15, 2009 Provides Information Bugatti Type 35 Speed is relative. Today many small European sedans are capable of 200 kph (124 mph), which was just about the limit for a Bugatti Type 35B, and quite a few supercars exceed 300 kph (186 mph). Open Open Tab September 5, 2008 Provides Information C Cadillac unveils new SRX before Detroit show Crossover to compete with Lexus RX, Acura MDX, and BMW X3 and X5 Open Open Tab January 4, 2009 Provides Information Canceled Production Cars - BMW, Ford, GM, Honda, Mercedes Benz, Toyota The global economic crisis has severely curtailed future product plans for the world's automakers. Here are some of the casualties - so far. Open Open Tab May 28, 2009 Provides Information Caterham Superlight R400 I've always been a huge fan of the Lotus 7 replicas, and it's great to finally have one of the best examples in the office. Caterhams have a huge cult following and a blast in this R400 shows why. Open Open Tab December 18, 2008 Provides Information Chrysler and Fiat Merger - Noise, Vibration & Harshness It seems only yesterday they were the masters of the universe. Yet just yesterday, literally, my friends at Citibank fired an e-mail my way, inviting me to take advantage of exclusive "access to great concerts, dining, sporting events, and more." Open Open Tab April 14, 2009 Provides Information Coda unveils 'practical' all-electric sedan You could call electric car company Coda Automotive the anti-Tesla. Open Open Tab June 3, 2009 Provides Information Collectible Classic: 1991-1997 BMW 850i The 1991 BMW 850i was blasted by the automotive media and ardent Bimmer-philes as an enormous letdown - a passionless cruiser from the self-proclaimed makers of the Ultimate Driving Machine. Open Open Tab April 22, 2009 Provides Information D Detroit 2009: Five Cars For The Enthusiast The 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit is lighter on new-car debuts than it has been in the past. That could have proven to be a disappointment to the most devout car enthusiasts. Open Open Tab January 15, 2009 Provides Information Detroit 2009: Five Most Significant Green Cars The first hybrid to achieve commercial success showed up with a redesigned, more efficient Hybrid Synergy Drive System, as well as a fresh face and interior Open Open Tab January 14, 2009 Provides Information Driving Nissan's Electric Cube This may look like a run-of-the-mill Nissan Cube, but in order to grasp its importance, you need to think outside - or underneath, rather - the box. You're looking at an early prototype for Nissan's forthcoming electric vehicle, due late next year. Open Open Tab April 28, 2009 Provides Information E Eco Driver's Ed: the 2010 Honda Insight Aggressive driving -- lead-footed acceleration, speeding, excessive braking -- can slash highway mileage by 33 percent, according to government estimates. Open Open Tab February 10, 2009 Provides Information Edmunds.com Car Reviews Open Open Tab   Provides Information Electric partnerships bloom at Geneva Motor Show RUF Automobile and Siemens Corporate Technology, the research arm of Siemens, debuted their all electric car concept at the Geneva Motor Show this week. Open Open Tab March 4, 2009 Provides Information F Fast Times at Lamborghini By 1980, Lamborghini was considered finished." This is not the sort of statement you'd expect to read in a car company's official account of its history. Open Open Tab August 4, 2008 Provides Information Ferrari Enzo Replacement Spied Codenamed FX70, the new super Ferrari will have to be the best prancing horse yet. It should benefit from lessons learned in Ferrari's factory-backed, Enzo-based FXX and FXX Evoluzione programs. Open Open Tab September 4, 2008 Provides Information First Drive: 2009 Chevy Colorado and 2009 GMC Canyon Chevy's Colorado and GMC's Canyon are the Rodney Dangerfields of the mid-size pickup category. During their first five years of existence, they earned all the respect they deserved: nada. Open Open Tab February 5, 2009 Provides Information First Drive: 2009 Nissan Cube "I'm a little surprised that you want this car in America," said Nissan's bemused senior vice president and chief creative officer, Shiro Nakamura. The worldly Nakamura made an international splash when he arrived from Isuzu in 1999, with vehicles like the artful Murano, the revived 350Z, and the FX45. Open Open Tab February 6, 2009 Provides Information First Photos of 2008 Mazda Kazamai Concept We thought we'd have to wait until August 26th for photos of Mazda's new show car, but the company leaked a few shots of its Kazamai concept before its unveiling at the 2008 Moscow motor show. Open Open Tab July 15, 2008 Provides Information Ford is bullish on revamped version of Taurus Automaker debuts 2010 version of stalwart at Detroit auto show. Open Open Tab January 11, 2009 Provides Information Four Fuel Sippers: 2009 Honda Fit Sport, 2010 Ford Fiesta, 2010 Honda Insight, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI We know. Gas is $2.50 a gallon, which means you're not interested in fuel economy. But you will be. As our job market recovers, it's almost a given that oil prices will too. Perhaps more importantly, the newly boosted CAFE requirements virtually guarantee that automakers will be trying to sell you smaller, more efficient cars. Open Open Tab June 12, 2009 Provides Information Four Seasons Introduction: 2009 BMW 750Li Automobile Magazine has just taken delivery of a stunning cashmere silver metallic 2009 BMW 750Li as the newest addition to our Four Seasons test fleet. Open Open Tab February 18, 2009 Provides Information G General Motors Striving to Bring HCCI Engines to Mass-Market Vehicles If you think that companies like General Motors only think about fuel economy when new CAFE standards are making news, you'd be wrong. GM and other manufacturers are always looking for new technologies to more efficiently power the next generation of transportation. Open Open Tab May 26, 2009 Provides Information GM Reveals Future Product Plans for 2009 and Beyond Although much of today's announcement focused on its financial woes, GM did manage to reveal some interesting tidbits surrounding its future product plans. Open Open Tab July 15, 2008 Provides Information H Honda FC Sport Concept We never wondered what a cross between the Honda CRX and FCX Clarity would look like, but we're betting it'd resemble the Honda FC Sport concept, which was unveiled this morning at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show. Open Open Tab November 19, 2008 Provides Information How you can downsize without compromise Ten of the safest cars on the market for the economically conscious. Open Open Tab August 29, 2008 Provides Information Hyundai Genesis Appeal - Noise, Vibration & Harshness They say timing is everything, but in the automotive world these days, the timing for everything seems bad. Except when it seems terrible. Open Open Tab February 6, 2009 Provides Information Hyundai Nuvis Concept It seems Mazda's designers aren't the only ones studying fluid dynamics. When it came time to craft the Hyundai Nuvis concept, debuting at this week's New York auto show, designers studied the way water flows around the sides of a boat. Open Open Tab April 9, 2009 Provides Information I InternetAutoGuide.com Research new cars, or browse used cars for sale and auto sales. Open Open Tab   Provides Products It's a PITI -- Why Obama's Mortgage Plan Doesn't Work The ambitious mortgage rescue plan offered by the Obama Administration appears to miss a couple of critical elements which could -- unless corrected as details emerge -- leave the plan dead on arrival, and that would be a pity. Open Open Tab February 20, 2009 Provides Information L Land Rover G4 Challenge in Mongolia No one isn't surprised when you tell them you're going to Mongolia. You may as well have said the moon. This huge country, landlocked between Russia and China, is one of those places, like Bora Bora or Timbuktu, that for most Americans is the very definition of faraway. Open Open Tab November 21, 2008 Provides Information LP-Powered 2008 Roush Ford F150 Our subject F-150 features fuel-system modifications developed by Roush Industries, the same folks who build all manner of high-performance Mustangs and contributed engineering expertise to the Ford GT supercar. Open Open Tab October 14, 2008 Provides Information Luxury Sedan Comparison: 2010 Mercedes Benz E350, 2009 Audi A6, 2009 BMW 528i In the past, the traditional German rivals in the mid-size sedan segment - the Audi A6, the BMW 5-series, and the Mercedes-Benz E-class - played specific roles and carved out their own places in the market. Open Open Tab April 10, 2009 Provides Information M Mazda takes RX-8 for a spin on 'hydrogen highway' Mazda - a company once more famous for its lightbulbs than its cars - has taken its hydrogen-powered RX-8 for a zip around Norway's roads, the revolutionary - literally - vehicle's first trip outside Japan. Open Open Tab October 15, 2008 Provides Information N Nissan Maxima, Toyota Avalon, Hyundai Genesis, Pontiac G8 V-6 Comparison - Big Six Sedans Much has been written about the new Hyundai Genesis and the Pontiac G8, but most reports have concentrated on the eight-cylinder versions. Open Open Tab August 29, 2008 Provides Information Nissan shows test models of electric car, hybrid A battery developed that delivers more power than type common today. Open Open Tab August 6, 2008 Provides Information Nurburgring Nordschleife Racetrack Lap Times - 'Ring Masters As the phrase "tuned at the legendary Nürburgring" has found its way into ad copy for more and more performance cars, lap times at the Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack have become the newest measure of performance, taking their place alongside top speed, quarter-mile, and 0-to-60-mph times. Open Open Tab November 4, 2008 Provides Information P Porsche 911 GT2 Meets the Dodge Viper ACR and Mazda MX-5 Cup - Beauty and the Beasts One hundred and ninety-three grand. That's what a 530-hp Porsche 911 GT2 costs. Even if you were born on top of a pile of diamond-encrusted Krugerrands and wore solid-gold booties to your baptism, this is not an insignificant amount of money. Open Open Tab September 4, 2008 Provides Information Porsche Panamera Revealed Porsche has released the first official pictures of its upcoming Panamera four-door GT, ahead of its debut next spring (likely at the Geneva motor show). Mechanical details are scant, but the company did reveal a few basics. Open Open Tab November 24, 2008 Provides Information Prodrive Builds 2008 Alfa Romeo Brera S for British Roads How would you modify an Alfa Romeo Brera? If you're British racing and tuning firm Prodrive, you tune the sleek Italian coupe for the twisties - and it did just that with the new 2008 Alfa Romeo Brera S. Open Open Tab May 2008 Provides Information Q Q&A: Cheryl Pilcher, Chevrolet Camaro product manager A muscle car fan that developed the fourth-generation F-body, Chevrolet product manager Cheryl Pilcher has been working for General Motors (and with Camaros) since 1986. Open Open Tab July 21, 2008 Provides Information R Roush Unveils Propane-Powered Ford E-250 Vans Airport shuttle services, rejoice! Today, Roush Performance unveiled the propane-powered Ford E-250 full-size van, which is set to become available in mid-2010 and will accompany Roush's similarly fueled Ford pickups, the F-150 (already on sale) and the 2010 F-250 shown today for the first time and scheduled for sale later this year. Open Open Tab February 19, 2009 Provides Information Rusty Blackwell on the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid This is the first new Malibu I've driven, and it's pretty darn impressive. That's not surprising, though, since my colleagues chose this car as one of our ten 2008 All-Stars (I didn't vote, because the All-Stars drive occurred at the same time that I was laboriously driving my '67 MGB/GT home from California last fall). Open Open Tab May 8, 2008 Provides Information Rusty Blackwell on the 2009 Jaguar XF My colleagues have already written extensively on the new XF, so I'll try to be brief. That's difficult, though, because the car is just so damned impressive. My high hopes for the XF were definitely upheld. Open Open Tab May 22, 2008 Provides Information S Sizing up the Dodge Ram and Ford F-150 Closer look at two of latest entrants in pickup truck muscle fest. Open Open Tab February 23, 2009 Provides Information Sneak Preview 2009 Sneak Preview: 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce In the latest iteration of the aging Murciélago, the 6.5-liter V-12's output rises from 632 hp to 661 hp while the weight drops by some 220 pounds, resulting in a car that Lambo says will vault to 62 mph in a mere 3.2 seconds. Open Open Tab May 29, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Sneak Preview: 2010 Land Rover Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, LR4 A comprehensive upgrade sees the Land Rover LR3 tick up one notch to LR4 for 2010 (by Land Rover's count, it's the fourth generation of the Discovery, as the vehicle is known in other markets). Open Open Tab May 29, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Sneak Preview: 2010 Lotus Evora With the Evora, Lotus expands from track-day toys like the Elise and the Exige into the realm of the high-performance GT. Open Open Tab May 29, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Sneak Preview: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ironically, it's only years after the big divorce that the Jeep brand finally benefits from the DaimlerChrysler marriage. Open Open Tab May 29, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Sneak Preview: New and Future Acura Cars Just like you, we always want to know what's coming next from Detroit, Tokyo, Stuttgart, Munich, Los Angeles, and all the other places where automotive engineers and designers dream and scheme on our behalf. Open Open Tab May 26, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Sneak Preview: New and Future Aston Martin Cars Just like you, we always want to know what's coming next from Detroit, Tokyo, Stuttgart, Munich, Los Angeles, and all the other places where automotive engineers and designers dream and scheme on our behalf. Open Open Tab May 26, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Sneak Preview: New and Future Audi Cars Just like you, we always want to know what's coming next from Detroit, Tokyo, Stuttgart, Munich, Los Angeles, and all the other places where automotive engineers and designers dream and scheme on our behalf. Open Open Tab May 26, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Sneak Preview: New and Future Kia Cars Just like you, we always want to know what's coming next from Detroit, Tokyo, Stuttgart, Munich, Los Angeles, and all the other places where automotive engineers and designers dream and scheme on our behalf Open Open Tab May 29, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Sneak Preview: New and Future Mazda Cars Just like you, we always want to know what's coming next from Detroit, Tokyo, Stuttgart, Munich, Los Angeles, and all the other places where automotive engineers and designers dream and scheme on our behalf. Open Open Tab May 29, 2009 Provides Information 2009 Sneak Preview: New and Future Porsche Cars Just like you, we always want to know what's coming next from Detroit, Tokyo, Stuttgart, Munich, Los Angeles, and all the other places where automotive engineers and designers dream and scheme on our behalf. Open Open Tab May 29, 2009 Provides Information T The Fusion Hybrid Is Ford's Escape Route The Big Three were late to the hybrid party, but they're finally getting into the swing of things with cars like the 38-mpg Ford Fusion Hybrid, a car that should make Toyota nervous and might just help Ford escape the apocalypse in Detroit. Open Open Tab December 4, 2008 Provides Information The Greening of Racing - Talking Points To Gain Eco Friends Car enthusiasts too easily become punching bags for environmentalists. As the racing season cranks back up along with back yard BBQs, here are some talking points that you can use when an eco-weenie blasts you with, "How can you like such a pointless activity that's killing the planet?" Open Open Tab April 1, 2009 Provides Information The World's Sexiest Car Is Even Hotter Topless The Bugatti Veyron is among the most exclusive cars in the world, a 1,000-horsepower super exotic owned by fewer than 150 people. Open Open Tab August 1, 2008 Provides Information V VW, Audi Mull Low-Cost, Mid-Engine Sports Cars At the Los Angeles auto show in November, Volkswagen will unwrap a new mid-engine sports car concept. This marks the third iteration of a theme that started in 2003 with the Concept R and continued in 2005 with the EcoRacer. Open Open Tab October 9, 2008 Provides Information
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