Mid-Size Luxury Sedans

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2017 Lexus IS Preview – New Noses, Wilder F-Sport Upgrades and Quicker Sprint Pace

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The new IS is half-way here!  The revised model just bowed in Beijing with fresh bumpers, lighting, transmissions and infotainment. Why half-way?  We have only seen a partial look so far at the new US-market IS based on this debut.  The IS shown here in F Sport guise is wearing China-exclusive LEDs that are not the design we’ll see stateside.  The other show vehicle in China shows the base IS face, with new arrowhead LEDs, a slice of LED inside the lamp itself, and projector-beam main lights.  All good stuff — especially as these new lights have auto highbeams — …

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2016 Lexus GS200t – By Ben Lewis

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    If you read our recent preview, or saw Tom’s video of the new Lexus GS-F, you know that Lexus is going after the German ‘Bahnstormers in a big way. How big?  A 5.0-liter V8 that pumps out 467 hp at a zinging 7,100 rpm, backed up by a chassis that could easily handle a good amount more. It’s an amazing machine. But allow me to play the devil’s advocate here. If you want the most German of the GS models, go for the entry level GS200t.  Yep, the one with the turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder. Allow me to explain. …

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Kiawah 2016 Highlights – 1974 DeTomaso Longchamp

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Here is a seriously rare exotic that influenced virtually every American car in the 1980s: the DeTomaso Longchamp.  But here’s the key detail: this car is a 1974. The 80s Ford Mustang and even Chevy Caprice likely thought their inspiration was a secret thanks to the Longchamp’s non-imported status. But what about the Volvo 960 and even the Maserati Quattroporte of the 1980s?!  Shameless copies, and now we know the origin of the epoch-defining block styling. DeTomaso’s widebody, rear-drive GT coupe proportions fender details are still stunning in 2016.  As is the massive cabin width and great luxury throughout. Thankyou to …

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Road Test Review - 2016 BMW 340i xDrive - By Tim Esterdahl 9

Road Test Review – 2016 BMW 340i xDrive – By Tim Esterdahl

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Review: 2016 BMW 340i xDrive – Exhilarating Driving Performance For years, BMW has boasted that it builds the “Ultimate Driving Machines” and while critics and competitors have increasing sought to counter that claim, a recent weeklong drive in a 2016 BMW 340i only confirmed that claim. If driving, real fun, spirited driving is at the top of your buying list, the 340i has to be a top choice. Delivered to me in a Melbourne Red Metallic, the iconic looking 340i certainly had all the distinctive character and desirable appearance attributes reminiscent of BMW models over the years. While I’ve watched …

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2016 Lexus GS-F Caviar Black 9

Speed Fleet Intro! 2016 Lexus GS-F – First 70 Photos in Caviar Black

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One of the hottest new super-sedans just arrived out front! Then something magical happened.  They tossed me the keys … and said bon voyage.   We’re barely an hour into this week-long tryst, and I can tell it is going to get pretty steamy.  467HP, active intake and exhaust, standard torque-vectoring-differential in back.  And perhaps even four-wheel-steering in Sport + drive mode??! Only a few cautious prods of the GS-F’s throttle so far, and less than a block of driving.  200 photos later, and we can’t wait to share this stunning M5 rival with you.  Rushing this a bit, as you might …

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2018 TESLA Model 3 – Design Analysis, 50 Images and Flyarounds Inside and Out

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This is not going to be a boozy lovesong about Tesla changing the world. As you have probably seen from the deluge of media coverage, the Tesla Model 3 arrived just after dark in SoCal last night, to much fanfare and fanboy eagerness. Initial reaction: horror. Horror and revulsion. Why, oh why, Tesla, if you can change the world and make the best EVs of all time… can you not realize how ugly the new Tesla models have become?  It is in the details like the formless faces, the bloated rooflines and the generic detailing of the Model X, the very-tired-looking Model …

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2016 GENESIS New York Concept – Design Analysis, Live Photos + Flyaround Video

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The standalone launch of the GENESIS brand is in full swing: unique showrooms, unique models of course, and a unique mission to snag high-margin sales from Lexus and BMW. The offshoot is one that has mixed history: Acura is a constant drain on Honda with little upside, as is Infiniti on its Nissan parent. Mazda’s mooted entry with the Amati luxury brand was killed before its launch model, the Millenia, even broke cover. Why? The costs are astronomical and the returns are — as proven — less than a sure thing. Hyundai’s rise from punchline to top-five global automaker in …

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Official: 2017 Kia Cadenza Makes NY Debut

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A heavy redesign of the new Cadenza just bowed in NY — and is set to take on the ES350 and perhaps 528i with its all-new cabin, exterior and powertrains. 2017 Kia Cadenza ALL-NEW 2017 KIA CADENZA TAKES THE STAGE AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW 23/03/16 Second-Generation Cadenza Boasts Luxury Refinements with Expressive Styling, Advanced Technology, and Refined Powertrain New body structure is stronger, yet lighter and more rigid for a more enjoyable driving experience All-new Cadenza takes its sophistication to greater heights with beautifully crafted interior Kia’s first FWD eight-speed automatic transmission improves driving dynamics and efficiency …

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5.9s 2017 BMW 330e iPerformance – PHEV with 74-mph MAX eDrive

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A survey came out this morning letting Americans know that Germany prefers PHEVs to hybrids or full electric cars. GKN certainly found the insight! Everyone would prefer PHEVs if given the choice! In that vane, the new 330e from BMW is the most evolved form of super-efficient, fast cruising with plug-in battery tech.  Married to a twin-power turbo four, the car produces extremely respectable pace: 5.9-seconds to 60-mph from its combined 248HP and 310 pound-feet of torque.   Effective, everyday MPG will be at least the 50s in normal use. A slightly smaller gas tank (and trunk) is the main compromise. …

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Update2 – Road Test Review – 2016 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription

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Update1 – Additional info from Volvo Cars US in Performance article section.  Update2 – Clarifies that S60 Inscription is the new LWB model, and the only one imported from China.   Solid experience in any business can make you a bit cocky.  You know your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats intimately. A brilliant skillset for any field. One that helps you achieve results faster and better than others. In the car reviews business, that often means you think you know a car pretty well… without even driving it.  From other models in the brand’s lineup, from previous generations and from reviews you have read.. …

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2016 Cadillac ATS and CTS Score Much-Needed BLACK PACKS!

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So, so thrilled to see this easy and effective design change for the Cadillac CTS and ATS.  We have griped tirelessly about their tacky chrome, ugly wheels and “boring, old-man style.”   And it looks like Cadillac was listening!  (See CT6 Black Pack and ATS Coupe Black Pack renders…) The new Black Chrome Packages for the ATS and CTS are fairly comprehensive, too. Wheels, trims, grille finishes, window surrounds…. all take a bath in this stylish new dark pewter finish. The third reason we love the Black Pack announcement? ACTUAL PHOTOS! Shock! Cadillac has succumbed to major GM think in …

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401HP 2017 Mercedes-AMG E43 – New 4Matic Hammer!

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Nailing the fundamentals has always been a Hammer specialty! This new 401-pony AMG E-Class delivers quite a thwack. The E43’s twin-turbo V6 brings 4Matic traction with a 69-percent rear bias, a nine-speed automatic and adjustable AMG air springs.  Sprint pace is mid-4’s for pricing much friendlier than the $85k E63, which has yet to be seen for this next-gen Mercedes-AMG. A menacing black-out for the exterior trims is nicely set off with standard privacy glass and black-spoked alloys.  The polished lip at speed is a nice accent — matching the black-satin effect of the center star. Fairly subtle side intakes for these …

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2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 – Road Test Mega Gallery

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Extension of the glowing review just published:  all these stunning photos (and crazy-fun launch videos!) all by themselves. The photos below are still a gallery lightbox on click, but using a single column layout to give you a close look without any clicking.  Cheers. Thanks Dodge.  May I please have some more? =] Drive Video 1       Drive Video 2 2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 – Road Test Mega Gallery http://www.dodge.com/en/  

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HD Road Test Review – 2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 – Balls Deep in the 4.2s ThunderCat!

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World Class FAST! The 2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 is a life-changing machine. Normal drives become the highlight of your day.  The remote start is a thunderous event in itself!  Waking the 6.4-liter, 485-horsepower HEMI V8 happens with pure raging fury. Hence, our loving ThunderCat nickname! The 2016 Charger is an instant Best-of Award winner.  A week in this car is enough to make anyone feel like a man’s man.  Women included.  It puts hair on your chest and a baritone in your throat. Full review here with standard headings of Exterior, Interior, Performance, Pricing and Summary.  Two HD drive videos …

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2016 BMW Vision Next 100 – Nightmare Blob Shows Why BMW Sales Are Tanking

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Ready for 5000 German words you cannot possibly care about!? Let’s dive in to the BMW Next 100 Years press conference and new-concept debut, while stripping out 95-percent of the unintelligible corporate babble below. First things first: BMW Group and BMW pressclub have new websites.  Yay! But they do not work as easily as the previous ones. Boo.  At least the zip files do not create unmoveable, undeletable 3GB desktop bombs like BMW USA PressClub’s.   The renderings do turn from brown to pink when saved on a PC tho.  Bonus — some fails live on!   Dear BMW.  Flatten …

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HD Road Test Review – 2016 Nissan Maxima SR – Bonneville GT-R is Ace

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We had a pet name for the Maxima SR during its awesome week in the speed fleet. But like some nicknames are, it is hauntingly accurate and also slightly insulting… Resisting it in this review created major writer’s block.  How to clear the logjam? Tell you our nickname for the 2016 Maxima SR, and then explain why it is actually a loving salute to the car’s awesome, Dodge Charger-rivalling handling and machismo on the road. So what is it? We referred to the Maxima SR as… The Bonneville GT-R. Now, that might not sound too bad.  But among car enthusiasts, any mention of …

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~3.8s 2017 BMW M3/M4 Competition Pack – Gloss Black Trims, +20HP and Standard Sport Exhaust

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Competition Pack from BMW M certainly implies track battles and knife-edged races against the stopwatch.  Every advantage that can be fed down from the top 500HP M4 GTS will be precious seconds closer to the top of any laptime board. But Competition Pack has a second meaning to us: the M3 and M4 are feeling major heat from all sides, in a segment they once owned wholeheartedly. The Lexus RC, C63 and even Cadillac ATS-V are all very valid, and oftentimes preferred, rivals to the BMW twins.  Therefore, the Competition Pack helps address some of the odd standard M3/M4 style …

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2016 Acura ILX Review 5

Road Test Review – 2016 Acura ILX Tech Plus – Hawkeye Drives!

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  2016 Acura ILX Tech Plus Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman Acura describes the ILX as a “Gateway” product that allows a customer to enter the world of Acura at a lower price point, in the hopes that more expensive move-up models will be in their future.  Perhaps that will prove true, but there is a lot of competition in the “Near Luxury” segment, loosely defined by sticker prices in the low to mid $30,000 range, and cars like the Buick Verano, or Audi A3 might be better choices, among others. The 2016 ILX is a mid-cycle updated vehicle, with …

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HD Road Test Review – 2016 Audi A6 2.0T Quattro – 5.8s, 550-Mile Time-Traveler

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No scoffing at my 2.0T badge! It only takes a block of driving to know: this Audi is a time machine. It takes us into a future of downsized, forced-induction engines that hold their own beside V8s.   And cruise onward while others take the exit ramp to refuel. Power, speed, efficiency and value come standard on the 2016 A6 2.0T.  There are a few option boxes omitted on the test car that we think you will enjoy, however. And one bombshell performance secret to why the 32-MPG A6 quattro is a *must* over the 35-MPG A6 2.0T in its $46k, front-drive guise. The …

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2016 Lexus IS200t F Sport Review Glassman 6

Road Test Review – 2016 Lexus IS200t F Sport

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2016 Lexus IS200t F Sport Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman The Lexus IS series gets a new engine for 2016, a 2-liter, twin-scroll turbocharged inline 4 cylinder that makes 241-hp @ 5800 rpm, and 258 ft.-lbs. of torque @ 1650 rpm.  It replaces last year’s entry level, small 2.5 liter V-6, that made a meager 204 horsepower and a weak 185 ft.-lbs.  of torque.  This new engine is rated for 22 City and 33 Highway mileage figures. If the 200t moniker sounds familiar, it’s because it the same engine designation from the Lexus NX 200t, their small Sport Ute crossover …

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HD Road Test Review – 2016 Hyundai GENESIS Ultimate V6 RWD

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Our love affair with the “impossibly good” Hyundai Genesis just got stronger for 2016! Testing out a rear-drive version of the 2016 V6 is a nice counter-point to the V6 AWD we fell so hard for a few months ago as a 2015 model. The 2016 Genesis has a few very notable updates to the V6 model lineup: standard HID headlights and available LED foglamps for the V6 — lamps that were previously a V8 exclusive. And even better, the Genesis now runs its gorgeous — and standard — LED headlamp accents as the main DRLs for normal driving.  This …

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Road Test Review – 2016 Buick REGAL GS

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  We want to love the Regal GS. Its looks are crisply European, as is its dashing corner grip and unflappable high-speed poise.  But remember the old Pirelli slogan “Power is nothing without Control” ? Well, the Regal GS inspires a flip in that phrase: Control is nothing without powerrrrr. Since writing up our first test impressions of the 2015 Regal GS with “Deeply Disappointing” in the headline, we have had more than ample chances to change our tune. An invite to a Buick Regal GS track day appeared out of thin air, and then a fresh 2016 model for …

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4.4s, 174MPH BRABUS C450 AMG Bumps Power to 410HP Via Now-Warrantied ECU Reflash

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BRABUS is waist-deep in new C-Class upgrades!  This makes great sense: many of the mods fit not just the sedan but also the upcoming C-Class Coupe and the Euro wagons.  So there is clearly a big group of owners who can benefit from big power and style mods. From the C600 at the top of the flight list, we now have the C450 AMG sliding in above the Brabus C300 and C400 Sport. The C450 AMG is the lightly-sportified production model below the C63.  As such, it is already seriously rapid. But it does lack that last bit of exterior menace, and …

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Best of NAIAS – 2017 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL – No-Apologies Flagship = Limo Heaven!

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Lincoln Motor Company is still best known for its long-running Town Car — that darling of the global limo business for decades. The Town Car on its rear-drive, Falcon-based frame has been out of production since 2012 — with the time since spent working doubly hard to prove that the MKC and MKZ are viable global luxury cars. Sporty, modern and elegant have been the core tenets of the new Lincoln recently, but a moment of genius has now swept through the brand’s strategy. The insight?  Being modern and stylish is possible … even while embracing the legacy of the brand. …

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Worst of NAIAS - 2016 Acura Precision Concept 3

Update1 – 2016 Acura Precision Concept – Design Reboot Ruined By Another Fugly Nose

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Updated with real-life photos. Good to see more angles of the Acura Precision Concept, a car whose design is really expressive and deep in real-life photos versus the initial renders.  The beak is still rough, but there is promise here. Acura is still having trouble rebuilding its sales since a brief peak in the early 2000s with the TL and MDX. More recently, the sales velocity for the brand is in terminal decline. A big part of the problem has been the dogged persistence with the ‘shield’ grille since at least 2007.  This is a look that no one really likes, …

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2017 Audi A4 Allroad – $50k Ski Wagon Set for Fall 2016 USA Arrival – Blah Exterior, but Hoorah Interior

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  The A4 Allroad has carved a nice little niche for itself in the US market, where it replaced the standard A4 Avant among most shoppers seeking a low and sporty wagon.  The current Allroad will gain all the new tech and style of the A4 sedan, but wears a more butch stance all around.  A very macho nose redesign brings vertical grille slats, some rough-rough fender flares and even a brushed-alloy chin spoiler in the nose. We are trying to get on-board with this next-gen A4 appearance.  Really trying. And the Allroad has generally been a great showcase of …

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Road Test Review – 2016 Hyundai Genesis AWD 3.8

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2016 Hyundai Genesis AWD 3.8 Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman   With a major makeover in 2015, the second generation Hyundai Genesis continued it ascension in the ranks of luxury cars.  While there are few changes to the 2016 model year, the Genesis continues to amaze with its price, content, and quality. The sedan is quickly distancing itself from luxury models coming out of Japan and Germany, which it rightly rivals, in the “bang for the buck” category. Simply put, you can’t find another car in the marketplace that has the features and performance of the Genesis and not have …

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2017 BMW i6 Is Hiding in Plain Sight: 2009 BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Teased LWB i8

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Here is an interesting one, simply because it shows an upcoming machine hiding in plain sight. What car is that? The BMW i6, we predict. This exceptionally advanced concept seemed extremely unfeasible when it was revealed under the EfficientDynamics moniker in 2009. Look at those skinny tires! And Clear doors with a carbon-fiber chassis?  Silly! But they the BMW i8 concepts started appearing, with a 2+2 PHEV supercar BMW announced for production just a year after this first concept.  That car would materialize for 2014 as the i8 and i3 we know now as the real thing. Where the eventual …

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217MPH, 756HP 2014 VÄTH CLK63 AMG Black Series Is Still Devastatingly Rapid

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    To bump the twin-turbo V6 of the new C63-S up to its max output of 680HP so far, the outlay for buyers is about $10k.  A jump of at least 170 horsepower via only a half-dozen mechanical upgrades, an ECU reflash and big brake kit?  The 2016 makes it look so easy. But the previous-generation CLK63 AMG Black Series?  That machine was already cranked up to race-baiting for its 517 horsepower. Adding a giant supercharger takes the CLK63 Black by VATH up to 756 ponies and a scary-fast Vmax of 217-mph.  Also a scary-spice price of about $70k …

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680HP, 199MPH 2016 VÄTH Mercedes-AMG C63-RS Delivers Massive Performance Gains for Minimal Cash

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VAETH is quickly becoming a favorite among the German customs scene.  Why?  The umlaut dots, of course in the name!  VÄTH = VATH = VAETH, by the way.  All the same powermad crew. For the new C63 AMG sedan and coupe, Vaeth has a $5k stage one mod focused on the engine programming and oil system tweaks. THe result is a bump from the 4.0-liter V6TT’s stock outputs of 477HP and 510HP (for the C63-S) up to a very potent 609 ponies. All to the back wheels via the latest sportshift automatic and active vectoring differential, this will make sideways …

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All-New V6TT 2016 INFINITI Q50 Red Sport 400 Tops New Four-Engine Range!

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HUGE news on the Infiniti front today: An all-new pair of twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6s join the new 2.0-liter turbo four and 360HP hybrid. Dubbed the VR-series engines, the top output is the headline 400HP and 350-pound-feet of torque unit. This stump-puller will be offered in rear or AWD, with its torque starting a long plateau from just 1600-rpm. Kicking things off right is a limited-run model with giant alloys and sport cabin under the guise of Red Sport 400. This badge steps in for Eau Rouge nicely! No word on sprint pace, but the time should be comfortably in the …

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The All-New E-Class

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Striptease Begins! Cabin Tech and Design Are Mighty Impressive

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The new E-Class from Mercedes-Benz is pretty huge news for all luxury car shoppers. Despite our obsession with the E63 and E550 range-topping models, and their delicious LEDs and black-chrome trims all around, the latest E-Class is not selling well. Its current iteration is a heavy facelift of the car first seen in the mid-2000s, and really needs this deep revamp to take on the 535i in USA sales. A big part of the E-Class’s issues stem from its current cabin. This is generally loveable and very liveable, but the tech is confusing and the overall experience is dark and …

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2017 Lincoln MKZ – 400HP V6TT, New TVD AWD + Drivers Pack

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Check out the new Lincoln MKZ! This extensive facelift and refresh is one of the most extensive in recent memory, especially versus the exceptionally light touches on the 2016 Focus or Explorer and 2017 Escape. The entire nose of the MKZ is all-new and all-different. Its controversial dual waterfall grille design and pointy face is swapped for a posh, flowing and organic new flow. A large oval grille lives in the center of the nose, wearing a fresh interlocking mesh look. All-new headlights are absolutely mesmerizing!  Love them. Single beams line up horizontally for the low and high-beams, while LED …

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Hottest LA Debuts - 2016 Alfa Romeo GIULIA Quadrifoglio 3

2016 Alfa Romeo GIULIA – LA Debut + Realistic Analysis: Model May Fail at US Relaunch Mission

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The new Alfa Romeo Giulia debuted in North America this week — wowing LA showgoers with its extreme, high-performance exterior and interior. Still a bit light on actual details in terms of USA arrivals, or whether sales will be handled via Maserati showrooms, as on the exotic 8C Competizione from a few years ago. Below we discuss the new model’s stout performance in the original Euro debut article. But even all these months later, the GIULIA still faces an uphill climb in the US market. Reasons for this: — huge expectations for base Giulia models based on this ultra-high-performance Quadrifoglio …

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2017 INFINITI QX30 Official Debut – Stylish Crossover Hits Showrooms in June

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Official reveal today of the crossover Infiniti Q30 — the QX30! Infiniti has been teasing these twins via a series of concepts for what feels like years. The finish, production product shows why it took so long — with concept-like detailing, fabulous surface tension in the body shape, and a high-quality interior. Infiniti is product that the cabin of the QX30 shares virtually nothing touchable or visible with its Mercedes GLA platform-mate. In fact, the QX30 runs a bit more rugged and tough look inside overall than even its Q30 street sibling. Performance and power should match buyer needs in …

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2016 Lexus GS350 Facelift Brings GSF and RC-Inspired Nose +4WS and Active Intake

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The revised Lexus 2016 GS350 is offically sexy in this ultra white paintwork and fresh detailing all around. Regardless, we love the results of new-shape LED headlights, LED arrowhead DRLs flush-mounted within the painted bumper, and all-new lower bumper and grille look. This is the GS350 RWD, but an AWD model continues with a $2k bump in price from the $49k base for the GS lineup. We also expect a revised F Sport trim style for both the GS350 and the GS450h for 2016, as well as for the GS200t discussed below. The fresh GS450h was recently seen at the …

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2016 Renault TALISMAN – Pricing and Trims from €27,900

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Updated 11.1.15 with French prices and new photos.         Welcome to the top of the Renault range: the new Talisman sedan. This fresh D-segment saloon is a larger and more plush big brother to the Laguna — promising world-class comfort, design, luxury and technology. All with a completely fresh design and dimensions to compete with the BMW 5 series. A total length of 4.85-metres is fairly gigantic for a front-drive luxury sedan in France. As the segment’s built-in government and livery driver pool looks to Germany for their fleets, the large car market in France is fairly …

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HD Track Drive Review – 2016 Cadillac CTS-V is BOSS – PDR + Exhaust Note Videos

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Speechless. Muttering “ermahgerd” over and over as the 2016 CTS-V whipped into the pits of Autobahn Country Club following a five-pack of fast lead-follow laps. Smile plastered on, hands tingling and throttle foot twitching involuntary for more. This is a super-sedan of the absolute first order. M5, E63 and CTS-V are now as closely matched as any three assassins in history. 640HP from the CTS-V comes on strong, of course, but it is how clean and balanced the Cadillac is on power that really sticks with you. The CTS-V’s massive engine upgrade to a supercharged V8 has done nothing to …

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2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe – V. Cool, V. FAST! HD Track Drive + 120-Photo Flyaround

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This is one of those cars that absolutely craves abuse!  Absolutely savage is the best way to describe the 464-horsepower V6TT in the new ATS-V coupe. The test car wore a very-subtle Phantom Grey and standard painted alloys — but those Q-car looks hide a beast of an upgrade. The most enticing and perhaps ideal Cadillac V-Series powertrain, optional eight-speed auto, plus the choice of four doors or two!? That hotness shines through even the Armani-style relaxed color outside. Firing the ATS-V around the first few corners is like getting past third base for the first time. It is a …

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Subaru Tokyo 2015 – All-New VIZIV Future Concept and Impreza 5-Door Concept

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Subaru has a new flagship design concept for the Tokyo Auto Show in early November. And despite its familiar VIZIV name, this masculine and high-tech design theme is very fresh. This third VIZIV Concept Future is an interesting preview of a future LWB Outback with seven seats. The powertrain and seating layout are much more Forester size for this sporty concept car, but the intention is a three-row variant of the large Outback platform, versus the smaller Impreza/Forester footprint.  Or perhaps just a super-lux future Forester. The cabin is shockingly advanced, as is the powertrain. A next-generation hybrid is paired …

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Cadillac Creates 99-unit Exclusive – V-Series Crystal White Frost Editions of ATS-V and CTS-V

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Very sexy launch rollout for the all-new CTS-V and ATS-V! Crystal White Frost Editions are headed to dealerships by the end of October, aka this week and next. 39 of the ATS-V Coupes are made in this special satin paintwork. Just 31 of the satin matte white ATS-V sedans will be made, matched by even-more-limited 29 units of the CTS-V in white frost. Loaded configurations accompany this special color for both, with pricing from $71k for the ATS and $95k for the CTS-V. Why so few numbers of these hot bodies? The paint is exceptionally expensive — at around a …

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All-new BMW X1 and 340i launch drive in Chihuahua, MX

USA-Spec 2016 BMW 340i Stretches Turbo Legs in Copper Canyon

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Copper Canyon, Mexico is exceptionally beautiful — a perfect place for the launch drives of the new X1 and the new 340i M Sport xDrive. Located in northern Mexico’s Chihuahua state but far from the Gulf of California, the mountainous region is a cool 500-miles from the salty blue water and gorgeous beaches that typically draw tourists south of the border. So what is the draw? A thousand-year-old mining trail and original indigenous trade route — one running up from central America and up through similar places in Colorado. Not just copper from these hills, but something much brighter.  Gold! …

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Track Drive Review – 2016 Buick Regal GS – Flypaper Handling Is Now $3k Cheaper!

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Autobahn Country Club might be my “Happy Place.” Recalling this track’s frisky bends, howling tires and full-throttle straightaways brings a smile instantly. Buick invited us to flog their performance flagship, the 2016 Regal GS, around the Illinois track and autocross to show off the machine’s latest updates: new colors and a price that is much more approachable. How approachable!?  A cool $3,300 off the base price for the GS takes the entry level to $35k versus near $38k before.  Three drivetrains continue for 2016: FWD auto, FWD manual and AWD automatic. The GS AWD we tested out still comes in …

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2016 Mercedes-AMG C63-S by WIMMER RST 12

2016 Mercedes-AMG C63-S Estate Up to 640HP Via WIMMER RennSportTechnik

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640 horsepower to the back wheels of the all-new C63 AMG!? Yes, yes and more yes. The estate car models the Wimmer RST upgrades, but of course this powerkit will also do wonders for the sedan and upcoming coupe. An ECU module and free-flow downpipe, cat and exhaust are the ingredients Wimmer blends into this delicious tonic — available to order now as a Plug ‘n Play electronics upgrade (DIY-able and ships worldwide) or the full exhaust mechanical tweaks for those who will have them installed in-house at Wimmer or at their local carshop. 2016 Mercedes-AMG C63-S WIMMER Recent AMG …

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Best of Frankfurt – 2017 Alfa Romeo GIULIA Quadrifoglio

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It is rare that press release hyperbole is actually a good barometer of a car’s merit. But when Alfa says the star of the Frankfurt show will be the new GIULIA, they spoke the truth. This ultra-high-performance sedan is the halo launch model for Alfa’s new BMW-fighter. With size between the M3 and M5, the Giulia Quadrifolio packs 510 horsepower and a sprint to 60-mph of just 3.8-seconds. With that ultra exclusive variant leading the range, the prices are almost as high as the performance benchmarks. Available to reserve now, the order books in Europe open in late December with …

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2015 Porsche Mission E – See Under Its Pajun-Previewing Panels Via 88 New Images and Animations

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Updated 9.16.15 We absolutely crave this machine. Ultra low, wide and expressive — the design is absolutely breathtaking. The engineering and tech down below is arguably even more impressive, however. The flat battery pack below the entire floorplan offers a suite of challenges versus a normal monocoque, but also presents some fascinating new opportunities. And Porsche is clearly relishing the new-found freedom of not finding room for an big engine at either end, or in the middle. The compact drive system allows most of the rulebook on safety, production feasibility and passenger comfort to be torn up. Rewritten for a …

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Audi at the 2015 IAA

2017 Audi S4 Will Rock 354HP Turbo In Quest to Beat BMW 340i and C400 Sport

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The new Audi S4 made its glittering debut at the top of the Audi showcar stand last night in Frankfurt. Along with the new E-Tron Quattro EV SUV previewing a future Q6, the 2017 S4 was joined on stage by a “G-Tron” A4 Avant designed to run on CNG. Smart stuff. The S4 is clearly the closest to buy hands, however, with sales promised “in 2016.” This is likely to mean a March 2016 USA arrival at the earliest, and July probable for first orders. The S4 is Audi’s big engine upgrade from launch. The A4 TFSI power output is …

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2016 INFINITI Q30 Makes Global Debut Ahead of January Arrival to USA Showrooms

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This is a big year for Infiniti. A bevy of new products hope to invigorate the range in its core US market, but also establish a foothold in the premium compact markets of Europe and China. To that end, the new Q30 is a big next chapter for the firm. It joins the new 2.0-liter turbo engine option on the 2016 Q50 and a production-spec Q60 (coupe) coming in January. The Q30 comes in two flavors stateside: the base, Premium and Sport. The Q30S wears a unique nose clip with beautiful swirls around its lower grille/jawline. Special wheels, boxed twin …

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3.5s 2015 Porsche Mission E – 600HP Concept Is 4-Door Battery Boxster!?

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  A fascinating look inside the future Porsche lineup today via Frankfurt’s IAA. The just-revealed Mission E is absolutely breathtaking. Reviewing the images, my mouth was wide open in giddy shock and delight. Imagine the smooth and flowing bathtub Porsche silhouette, with curves like a 550 Spyder and stance like a super Cayman. The put in a beautifully minimal overhang at either end and four doors under an ultra low and lean roof. The look has every bit of the original Boxster concept’s star power. Running an all-new battery electric powertrain, the vehicle promises great things for future supercoupe buyers. …

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2017 Audi A4 Arrives to USA in March – Updated With 150 New Images

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Updated 9.7.15 With 150 New Images We’ve been scouring the web for a closer look at some real-life photos of the next A4. The initial renderings left much to be desired, both in terms of style and believeability. This next batch is a mixture of photos, new official renders, and stills from the launch video. Overall, there is definitely a fresh stance to the new model — especially so thanks to the new double check of LED DRLS in front, plus low/light LED pipes in back. The lamps then are pretty sexy. But what about the rest? Nothing great to …

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JAGUAR 2016 Model-Year: Big Price Cuts + $35k Base for New XE25t Rear-Drive Sedan

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Jaguar’s transition to aluminum has been a godsend for playful and fun handling. Even the big XJ can be thrown around with verve. The flipside of the lightweight alloy? Price, of course. Luckily, Jaguar is adjusting its 2016 USA lineup’s pricing. Big chops in list prices are not really in the calculus — the max cut is around $3k — but better standard equipment will take much of the sting out of the options list. Aluminum is currently at six-year price lows as the global commodities slump takes hold — so this is not pure altruism on Jaguar’s part. Jaguar …

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3.7s BRABUS C600 Rockets to 186MPH Via ECU Module + New Active Exhaust

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Imagine getting a UPS package about the size of a textbook arriving on your doorstep. Head to the garage, and within a half hour, your new machine could be making an extra 100 horsepower! That is the idea with the first set of power modules from BRABUS for the new C63-S. Power is the Geneva show-car spec is up to 591-horsepower from the stock 510 thanks to the BRABUS ECU re-flash but also a new exhaust system. Extra downpipe and muffler capacity is a must to max out a turbo engine tune, so all this works together. The new exhaust …

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2016 BMW 340i M Sport and 330d xDrive in 150 New Photos

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A big round of updates for the BMW 3 series range! The changes bring new LED lighting front and rear, a PHEV model called 330e, and the new 340i badge to replace the 335i. This update reflects an all-new turbo engine up front. The 3.0-liter inline-six is now dubbed B58 versus the previous N55. The new engine has a just of 20 horsepower up to 320, with a torque mountain of 330-pound-feet coming on from just 1350 RPM. That is one eager motor! The US range includes a 320, 328i or 328d and new 330e featuring plug-in hybrid technology. A …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus IS250 Nails Apex-Carver Fundamentals

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  The 2015 Lexus IS250 nails the sport-sedan fundamentals so hard, you forget all about mainstream mid-size cars after a block in the driver’s seat. That is a fact. A pure-cornering, rev-loving fact. Drive position in the Daytona GTB/4-style tan seats is instantly flawless, as are the major pedal anc control inputs. Crank up the SXM, rotate to sport mode…. and never look back. 4K Drive Video – 2015 Lexus IS250 Review INTRO The 2015 IS250 is such a fantastic sports sedan that we wanted to drive a 320i right afterward to confirm the RWD love for this Lexus was …

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2016 JAGUAR XE USA Launch Details: XE35t Making 340HP or XE20d Ingenium Diesel

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  The XE is looking very sharp in the latest photos from Spain. But when is it coming to America, and which will we get? Jaguar USA has the details for us down toward the bottom of this massive configurator demo post…. But here is the skinny: US launch cars will arrive in Spring 2016 as the XE 20d or the XE 35t with the 340HP V6 from the F-Type. The other engine is set to be a diesel! Fantastic news. We we’re sure if JLR would bring it over in a Jag as well as the new Land Rovers …

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2016 Lexus GS Refresh Adds GS200t Turbo, More GS350 HP and 4WS on F Sport!

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The 2016 Lexus GS made a glamorous oceanfront debut tonight at Pebble Beach! A GS-F-inspired refresh outside includes standard bi-LED lighting and a fresh face for all six variants of the 5-series-fighter. New styling outside is only a part of the equation, though. The GS450h, GS350 and GS350 AWD are joined by a new engine choice: the GS200t with the 241-pony turbo four from the NX200t. Eight-speed automatics all around make the most of the power: even the entry-level turbo sprints to 60-mph in just 7.2 seconds. The GS350 does the benchmark launch in just 5.5 seconds for 2016, thanks …

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Update1 – 2016 INFINITI Q70 Premium Select Bows At Pebble Beach With Black Chrome Details

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Despite the name ‘Premium Select’ sounding like a chicken fingers value meal at McDonalds… the new Q70 Premium Select Edition is actually a very cool style option for the 2016 full-size sports sedan. 20-inch dark alloys and dark brightwork complete the makeover outside… with some unique touches to update the cabin as well. It is just enough to create some buzz about the very handsome Q70 sedan flagship.    2016 INFINITI Q70 Premium Select 2016 INFINITI Q70 PREMIUM SELECT EDITION DEBUTS AT PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE 12/08/15   PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Infiniti today announced that the new 2016 Infiniti …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Buick Regal GS AWD

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Hot Buicks are some of the most adored American cars of all time. So when Buick decided to bring over the European Opel/Vauxhall Insignia to the US market for the first time, the excitement over receiving their OPC/VXR performance variant was palpable. Confirmation that the big brushed-alloy fangs would make it across the pond to US buyers for the first time brought many GNX rumbles to the surface. Would this hot Buick be able to inherit the Banker’s Hotrod legacy? A turbo engine and all the autobahn-ready handling seemed like a perfect statement of intent for Buick at the time. …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus ES350 with Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

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2015 Lexus ES350 Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman Lexus has been making fine luxury cars for decades now. It’s what they are known for, and why the brand has been remarkably successful. They put high quality materials in their car’s interiors, and a long list of optional amenities to add to cabin comfort and entertainment. They provide smooth, quiet, soft, comfortable ride qualities, and smooth engines and transmissions. The big car magazine and web site journalists think they were Formula 1 drivers in a past life, so while they give Lexus props for those qualities, they always seem to temper …

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2015 Dodge Challenger SRT HELLCAT 19

2016 HELLCAT Production Scaling Up to Get 707HP In Your Driveway ASAP!

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With an output of 707-horsepower and a soundtrack to melt your icy heart, the 2015 SRT Charger and Challenger Hellcats have been a MASSIVE hit for Dodge and SRT. Base pricing in the $60k range has done little to diminish demand, and calendar 2015 has been a cut-throat battle to get one in your driveway. The Charger Hellcat is especially rare so far — but that looks set to change thanks to near-doubling of production capacity for all Hellcats in 2016. The scarcity of the Hellcats has been dramatic on all levels; particularly with dealerships. Efforts to keep price gouging …

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Turbo 2016 Lexus IS200t and IS300 AWD Join Refreshed Range with F Sport Packs

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Two new Lexus IS powertrains are joining the rear-drive executive sedan ranks for 2016: the turbocharged IS200t and the AWD IS300. The 2.0-liter turbo puts out 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque from just 1650 RPM — ensuring it will have the fun drive manners of the NX200t. This is a really quick-boosting turbo with great character in its power delivery. Always charging ahead like a puppy. The IS200t replaces the IS250 to become the base model of the IS line — but also one of the friskiest. The turbo is rear-drive only and offered with or without the …

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2016 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan

2016 Cadillac CTS-V in 50 New Pics + Colors, Wheels, Options and Pricing

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Updated 7.20.15 With 40 New Photos + Option Details Cadillac’s new performance superhero is very close to buyer hands!  The firm just released a beautiful new image set from Milwaukee Art Museum and Road America racetrack in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. We also have a full look at the configurator and options for this 3.7-second M5-fighter. A base price of $84,000 can bump up to $102k with the big option packs like the carbon fiber upgrades for $5k, Recaro race seats and PDR recorder for a few thousand each. We’re surprised by the six total colors available, but happy to report …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Dodge Charger R/T 392 Scat Pack with Ken Glassman

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2015 Dodge Charger R/T 392 Scat Pack By Ken Glassman As soon as the bright blue Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack was delivered to my driveway, my heart began to race. Paperwork was quickly signed, and returning phone calls went to the bottom of my “to-do” list. I immediately jumped in the super-sport sedan, and gazed out onto that long hood with its mean looking dual air scoops.  Usually, I’ll spend 20 minutes acclimating myself to the switches, seats, mirrors, and setting preferences, and radio stations – but not this time. When you’ve got 485 Scat Pack horsepower from the …

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2016 Lexus ES350 and ES300h Revealed In US-Spec With Fresh Nose, Tail + Updated Wheels, Paints and Cabins

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Updated 7.15.15 With Latest 41 US-Spec ES Photos The 2016 Lexus ES refresh is exceedingly safe and conservative — keeping the steady march of progress intact on a tentpole model in the Lexus model range. The new ES is instantly recognizable but tweaked and updated to match the new design ethos on some of Lexus’s more adventurous models. Changes include a new nose and grille design, fresh headlights and a relocation of the LED foglamps into a new, more stylized and higher-mounted bumper shroud. The ES has big chassis upgrades under the metal, with additional welds enhancing vehicle rigidity and …

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2015 Hyundai GENESIS 3

Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai GENESIS 3.8 AWD Is Impossibly Good

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2015 Hyundai GENESIS Review   The 2015 Hyundai Genesis sets a skyhigh bar for luxury sedan excellence. This V6 AWD version is the best-driving and most joyful four-door we’ve driven in years. Why? The Genesis feels inherently right behind the wheel, diving into and out of corners, and singing up to its redline. There is a terrific analog feel to the Genesis at speed — you instantly trust the car implicitly and fall head over heels. We’d even wager most performance sedan owners would prefer the Genesis to the new 535i or E350. Versus the A6 or Cadillac CTS?! No …

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2016 Renault TALISMAN Is All-New French Flagship Saloon

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Welcome to the top of the Renault range: the new Talisman sedan. This fresh D-segment saloon is a larger and more plush big brother to the awkward Laguna — promising world-class comfort, design, luxury and technology. All with a completely fresh design and dimensions to compete with the BMW 5 series. A total length of 4.85-metres is fairly gigantic for a front-drive luxury sedan in France. As the segment’s built-in government and livery driver pool looks to Germany for their fleets, the large car market in France is fairly depressed and likely to continue deteriorating. As the Citroen C6 and …

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2016 Cadillac CT6 Black Pack Renderings + Animated COLORS Visualizer

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Updated 6.30.15 With Color Visualizer and Rendered Black Pack Cadillac is keeping the CT6 momentum building ahead of the car’s arrival near the end of 2015 as a 2016 model-year. The brand just revealed the color choices buyers will have outside, and the two inside. These interior renders are preliminary, with additional woods and leathers likely to complement the tan and black shown so far. The nine colors are all Hamptons-ready classic shades — with a subdued and wealthy palette right out of the Brooks Brothers swatch book. Our favorite by far? The new green! Dubbed Dark Emerald Metallic, this …

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2016 Audi A4 Redesign Majors on Engines, Efficiency and Cabin Tech

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This, ladies and gentleman, is the long-anticipated 2016 Audi A4. You are forgiven for the totally understandable surprise/horror at the lack of a new design. We have been muttering the same thing to ourselves prepping this article’s images. THIS!? Is It? Apparently. A hyper-subtle exterior makeover is all we will receive, despite the new A4 being all-new in every way. An all-new multi-material platform is lighter, the 2.0T engine is all-new, while the cabin is finally up to date on tech. The new A4’s design outside does have scientific merit, if not sex appeal. How? Just a 0.23 drag coefficient …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai AZERA Limited Vastly Outhandles and Outcomforts Avalon, LaCrosse + 300

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Few automotive market segments have such a tightly defined target market as full-size sedans. And unlike minivans, SUVs and even musclecars, the real-life buyer profile of large cars is almost always this core set of consumers. The full-size sedan buyer is in their mid-50s, seeks limo-large back-seat space, and wants the latest premium tech. All with a price cap of $40,000. For their cash, full-size sedans typically deliver a huge bump in roominess versus their mid-size siblings, but sometimes with unintended consequences. After all, it is extremely tough for even the best carmakers to pack S-Class tech into a half-price …

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Update1 – 3.9s, 510HP 2016 Alfa Romeo GIULIA Quadrifoglio Sounds Sublime On Track!

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Update1 – Rendered Color TestWOW! First look at the new Alfa Giulia today leaves us floored! On-Stage Debut Romeo & Juliet appear to be in fine form these days — running sideways around 90-mph corners at the fantasy Verona racetrack! The numbers and initial details for this production-spec GIULIA (proniunced ‘Julia’) Qaudrifoglio are mouth-watering. 510 horsepower via a twin-turbocharged V6. Rear or AWD. Torque vectoring and active aero. Style to make you weak in the knees from up front. Fresh LED designs and a wide V have a sporty feel that vaguely recalls the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept, but …

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2016 Maxima SR Midnight

2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Midnight Is Official! Revealed At BET Experience Festival

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Updated 6.26.15 The 2015 Maxima black pack is official! The entire upgrade detailed below can now be ordered as the Maxima SR Midnight edition. Launched at the BET Experience, the key difference between the Maxima SR Midnight and a DIY black pack via Nissan accessories is that the Midnight comes exclusively in Super Black exterior paintwork. However you get to these 19-inch black alloys and sport bodywork upgrades, the results speak for themselves! 2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Midnight The 2016 Maxima is finally arriving!  The new 4DSC is one of Nissan’s biggest launches for 2015 — and the company is …

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2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Black Pack Details, Track Test Video and 99 New Photos

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The 2016 Maxima is finally arriving!  The new 4DSC is one of Nissan’s biggest launches for 2015 — and the company is going all-out to rev up excitement among loyalists. Nissan just revealed its sport styling parts, and they are right up our alley. Gloss-black 19-inch wheels with matching black diffuser and trunk spoiler are deeply cool. The side sills are a contrast metallic grey and really help deliver some concept-car stance to the sportiest Maximas. Pricing from $32k to around $39k is detailed in the animated configurator mid-way down the page, along with colors and tech specs.   2016 …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Chrysler 200C V6 Is Quickest Mid-Size Sedan!

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INTRO – 2015 Chrysler 200C V6 Review This is likely not the first Chrysler 200 review you have read. And in fact, it is not the first we have written. But keep reading, because this 200C is a completely transformed machine with the optional 3.6-liter V6. The top trim level with the top engine, the 200C we tested lacked only the dual-pane moonroof and AWD from the options list. Besides those two elements, this 200C is a match for the Maserati Ghibli feature-for-feature. The Maserati comparison rings true many more times during a week of driving and a road trip …

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VAETH V50RS Makes MB E-Class V8 into Hidden Hammer

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  There are plenty of tuners willing to go completely bonkers on any Mercedes model. Brabus comes to mind with its ultra-fast model range that wears its aggression for all to see. There are more subtle ways to up the performance of an E-Class, however. VAETH tuning of Germany has a new kit called the V50RS based on the E500/E550 that is intensely focused under the metal. Power jumps from 408PS to 550PS via new ECU programming, a new intercooler and fresh exhaust system (behind the back axle.) A big brake kit, giant wheels and a new AirMatic module drop …

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Refreshed 2015 BMW 6 Series – USA Pricing for All 16 Models + 150 New Photos

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The new BMW 6 series is official! The full range is now priced and build-able for USA shoppers — who can choose among 13 unique models of coupes, cabrios and Gran Coupes. Up that total to 16 if you include the M6 in each bodystyle. Overall, the M Sport package is the must-have choice, but there is a Black Pack for the regular trimlines this year. This flips the chrome C-shapes in the bumpers and on other trims to gloss black, as shown in the below UK image of red cabrio nose. As before, the four-doors are the sweet spot …

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ALPINA X3 – Gorgeous M Sport Styling and Performance Tweaks

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PART FOUR of FOUR The Alpina X3 My favorite Alpina upgrade of this four-pack? Easily this aggressive X3 makeover. Versus the stock X3, the Alpina is virtually unrecognizable. Granted, comparing the Alpina X3 to the base model is not a fair comparo. This Alpina truck started as the X3 M Sport, which is already a little-known way to make the humdrum design really pop with some M style.   The fact that there is no X version of the X3 (yet) helps to make this Alpina SUV ultra unique and exclusive. 2015 BMW X3 xLine 2015 BMW X3 M Sport …

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2015 ALPINA B3 – Digital Wheel Colorizer and USA 3 series Upgrade Showcase

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PART THREE of FOUR The Alpina 3 series Now on to the ever-popular 3 series: a sedan so incredibly fun to drive, you are shocked when people buy anything else! The 3 series is arguably the most improved by the ALPINA style. Even outside the core design tweaks and green/blue paint colors, the Alpina 3 series is *thisclose* to its M3 and M5 siblings on overall stance, traction and visual aggressiveness. ORIGINAL: The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new …

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BMW ALPINA B4 BITURBO

ALPINA B4 Mods Available for USA BMW 4 series Owners

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PART TWO of FOUR The Alpina 4 series The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe. These ALPINA specials are a fantastic M car alternative, with more engines, xDrive and even diesel engines able to Alpina-fied. But the great thing about the ALPINA upgrade catalog is that all the parts that make these complete models are also available indivudally. There is a slight benefit to this for current BMW owners: you can target specific upgrades and …

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ALPINA B5 Mods Available for USA BMW 5 series Owners

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PART ONE of FOUR The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe. These ALPINA specials are a fantastic M car alternative, with more engines, xDrive and even diesel engines able to Alpina-fied. But the great thing about the ALPINA upgrade catalog is that all the parts that make these complete models are also available indivudally. There is a slight benefit to this for current BMW owners: you can target specific upgrades and install them over time. …

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Fast Drive Video Review – 2016 Acura ILX Is Shockingly Fun and Fast With New 8-Sp DCT

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2016 Acura ILX Review HD Drive Video We’d wager that no auto writer has been harder on Acura over the years than Car-Revs-Daily.com. A headline for some TLX renders last year wondered aloud: “How Much More Wood Can Acura Woodchuck Chuck.” That is seriously harsh. But as the TLX was revealed with the same much-hated shield grille… we could not help but vent some frustration. Fast forward to driving the TLX and its new ILX kid brother. We have to correct the record. Acura is on a mission, folks. Its two latest cars introduce exceptional new drivetrain tech and the …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E With Ken Glassman

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2015 Volvo S60 T6 Review By Ken Glassman A Hooligan Volvo Sedan? Yes, but . . . Ever since the 1960’s Volvo’s built their reputation by being a boxy (homely?) vehicle that was reliable, fuel efficient, roomy, and most of all . . . a very safe vehicle. It sold safety, when American cars were selling big engines and style, and Japan was selling cheap cost. College professors, wearing tweed sport coats with patches on the elbows, and young conservative families interested in safety seemed like the average buyers. But in the last 20 years or so, all car companies …

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4.6s 2016 BMW 340i xDrive and new Plug-in 330e Lead Refreshed Range

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A big round of updates for the BMW 3 series range! The changes bring new LED lighting front and rear, a PHEV model called 330e, and the new 340i badge to replace the 335i. This update reflects an all-new turbo engine up front. The 3.0-liter inline-six is now dubbed B58 versus the previous N55. The new engine has a just of 20 horsepower up to 320, with a torque mountain of 330-pound-feet coming on from just 1350 RPM. That is one eager motor! The US range includes a 320, 328i or 328d and new 330e featuring plug-in hybrid technology. A …

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Tesla Model S by LARTE Design – Gorgeous Exterior Makeover in 60 Photos!

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When you drive a $100,000 car, you have dozens of fantastic options — supercars, limo’s, SUVs, you name it. But once you are hooked on the spooky-fast Tesla Model S, it is hard to go back to a regular 911 or AMG. But how to update the Model S details to match the coolness of other cars that can hit 60-mph in under four seconds? The Model S just needs a few tweaks to dramatically up its style and road stance. Larte Design’s new bodykit elements create a fairly stunning transformation via just a dozen pieces. The front bumper is …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Chrysler 300 Limited – Great Box, So-So Rack

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The Chrysler 300 is fresh for 2015 with more than half of its parts either all-new or redesigned. The upgrade list is massive — and even includes the American full-size icon’s exterior. But the changes outside are far more subtle than those under the skin and in the cabin. Chrysler is keeping the original 300 style alive for 2015 — hoping to ignite the same huge swell of passion that surrounded the original 2005 model. What a launch that was. Makes you smile to recall the full-size American car reclaiming its former glory as gigantic, affordable wheels. This segment of …

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2015 Audi Prologue Avant Concept 31

Real-life Photos Show Sexier 2015 Audi Prologue Allroad Than Preview Renders

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Okay, this is just getting ridiculous now. After the Prologue in LA and La Vegas, plus Prologue Avant in Detroit, we thoroughly get the point of this concept car. The second frustrating thing about the Prologue concept series is that the Audi A4 needs to be replaced. Urgently. Where is it? This latest Prologue Allroad is as expected – a high-riding version of the Avant, but this time powered by a giant V8 hybrid as with the first Prologue Coupe. The Avant was a diesel-electric hybrid if we are not mistaken. So where the F is the new A4? After …

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2015 INFINITI Q70L Bespoke Edition Is Ultra-Posh Flagship Limo – Bested By Taurus on Tech?

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  LIMOUSINES FOR ALL? The chase for Chinese limo buyers is almost becoming a caricature. Based on all the attention lavished on this tiny segment of China’s 10-million-unit auto market, you might think that everyone’s first car there is a LWB limo with individual thrones in back and a chauffeur up front. That is emphatically not the case. Most Chinese car sales are humdrum little sedans made of sawdust and hope, powered by smog and costing a pretty penny for the privilege. LIMOUSINES FOR SOME! But there is a logic in snagging limo buyers. First off, the profit margins are …

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2016 Lexus ES Makes Shanghai Debut With Fresh Details + RX200t F Sport

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The 2016 Lexus ES refresh is exceedingly safe and conservative — keeping the steady march of progress intact on a tentpole model in the Lexus model range. The new ES is instantly recognizable but tweaked and updated to match the new design ethos on some of Lexus’s more adventurous models. Changes include a new nose and grille design, fresh headlights and a relocation of the LED foglamps into a new, more stylized and higher-mounted bumper shroud. The ES has big chassis upgrades under the metal, with additional welds enhancing vehicle rigidity and therefore handling and NVH smoothness. A pair of …

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2015 Peugeot GT Line Is Glossy Black/White Style Upgrade for 7 Models

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Big Peugeot day today =] An all-new style and desirability push for the brand is now coming to fruition with better designs outside and in. To drive the point home, a new GT Line offers damn sexy and very on-trend trim choices for almost a dozen Peugeot models. The GT Line is a top-flight equipment and design upgrade and can be specced with a variety of engine and transmission choices for the RCZ, 208, 308 and the new 508 models.  Consisting of glacier white exterior paints with gloss-black detailing, the GT Line really looks fantastic. Dark wheels and dark headlight …

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2016 Cadillac ATS-V 18

2016 Cadillac ATS-V Twins Make Dynamic Debut at COTA in 33 New Photos

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Updated 4.16.2015 with 33 New Photos from Austin, Texas The 2016 ATS-V Coupe and Sedan just made a wild, tail-out dynamic debut at the Circuit of the Americas racetrack! The performance of the new ATS-V twins are nothing short of astounding — 464 twin-turbocharged horsepower delivers sprint times to 60-mph of just 3.8-seconds. For a rear-drive machine, anything below 4.0-seconds proves that a car is a true beast. This is because lost time on the rollout must be made up later in the sprint. The ATS-V definetly has power to spare, and will even be offered with a manual transmission or …

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2015 Audi Prologue AllRoad Makes High-Riding Shanghai Debut

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Okay, this is just getting ridiculous now. After the Prologue in LA and La Vegas, plus Prologue Avant in Detroit, we thoroughly get the point of this concept car. The second frustrating thing about the Prologue concept series is that the Audi A4 needs to be replaced. Urgently. Where is it? This latest Prologue Allroad is as expected – a high-riding version of the Avant, but this time powered by a giant V8 hybrid as with the first Prologue Coupe. The Avant was a diesel-electric hybrid if we are not mistaken. So where the F is the new A4? After …

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2015 Bentley Mulsanne Speed BLUE TRAIN By Mulliner

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Bentley just rolled out a new Mulliner Limited Edition — the Mulsanne Speed ‘Blue Train.’ Honoring one of the most famous Bentleys of all time, a 1930 Speed Six that beat the high-speed Calais-Mediterranée Express train  to its destination — something most thought could not be done by any car. Featuring a one-off chop-top coupe style, the Blue Train is such a legend that a few reproductions have even been created — including the RM Amelia Island car below.  The 2015 Mulsanne Speed Blue Train is debuting today at the Techno Classica auto show in Germany. The car features a few …

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1969 Lamborghini 400GT Islero S by Marazzi 1

RM Monterey 2015 – 1969 Lamborghini 400GT Islero S by Marazzi

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If there is one car that truly defies what we call the “Lambo GT curse,” it would be this stunning 400GT Islero S. Somehow escaping the frumpy style decisions of the earlier 350GT and too-large 1970s GT cars, the 400GT is a fantastic coupe style statement with V12 power up front and a leather-wrapped 2+2 cabin with real trunk out back. You can tell that the 400GT Islero S is a real timeless classic because its style almost directly previews the designs of 1980s sports coupes from around the world. The Ferrari 400i and 412i from the early 1980s would …

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Kia SPORTSPACE Concept-64243

2015 Kia SPORTSPACE Concept In Detailed, Real-Life Photos!

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Updated 2.27.14 With 20 New Photos In addition to the pics, Kia confirms that the powertrain is a 250-horsepower turbo four with the firm’s new DCT driving the front wheels. In that regard, the SPORTSPACE’s name is clearly SportSpace… not SportsPace. 2015 Kia SPORTSPACE Concept – Latest Photos Darnit! Right when we had almost completely written Kia off as poorly-driving, and poorly-marketed cars aimed at idiots — here comes this stunning SPORTSPACE estate concept for Geneva 2015. Hitting my fast-wagon passion right in the jugular, the bleeding passion down my neck is almost as red as this SPORTSPACE. Long, low …

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4DSC Returns! 2016 Nissan MAXIMA Bringing Hot Style, Tech and Paddle-Shifted 300HP From $32k!

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  The all-new Nissan Maxima made its global debut this morning at the NY auto show with a standard 300-horsepower V6, premium cabin design and details, and a special offer for first adopters! Almost as important — it looks phenomenal inside and out!  From the pure nose and tail views, the Maxima just shot to the top of the full-size sedan desirability charts with its low, wide stance and memorable details. How does the nose look so cool? Let’s look at the DRL’s at night and as an X-ray, via some photoshop. What do you get out of that? We …

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2016 Jaguar XF 20

2016 Jaguar XF Thinks It Is a Porsche 911; We Break The Bad News To Bad Mr. Kitty

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Updated 4.1.15 With 99 New Images We stand corrected – the 2016 XF is actually an all-new design, with no panels carrying over from the existing car. The chassis improvements are fairly dramatic as the XF shifts from its steel structure toward the aluminum of the XJ and F-Type. But why oh why must the styling be so dry? This trend of carmakers ever-so-lightly refreshing models makes no sense at all to me – especially if the panels are, in fact, all new. What is the point?! Chrysler 300, Kia Optima, Audi A6, Bentley Continental…. and now Jaguar XF. Every …

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2016 Cadillac CT6 – $75k Flagship World Premiere 60 Images From Brooklyn

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  The new Cadillac CT6 is official! As the top-flight limo in the newly invigorated Cadillac range, the CT6 has some huge shoes to fill. The hype and fish-eye lense videos proclaim to Dare Greatly, so how does the car live up to all this scene-setting? To convince BMW and Mercedes drivers to consider Cadillac, the CT6 needs to be far, far more than a stretched CTS. Far more than a modern STS. Based on the initial information provided by Cadillac, we are highly skeptical. Granted, the car does feel significantly wider and longer than any Caddy in years — …

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2015 Rolls-Royce WRAITH Inspired by Film Special Edition 4-tile

2015 Rolls-Royce WRAITH Inspired by Film Edition Celebrates Frozen Moment BFI Inductee

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    When a 2-minute launch movie for a car is inducted into the British Film Institute National Archive, you know it must be something special. Both the car and those magical two minutes of cinema are indeed quite special, breathtaking and goose-bump-inducing. The premise of the film ‘And the World Stood Still’ is a man piloting his Wraith through an enchanted, steaming forest when he comes across the living incarnation of the Spirit of Ecstasy badge. For one fleeting, frozen moment, the two have an ethereal bond that is at once serene, lust-filled and slightly fraught with danger. Thematically, the film shows …

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First Drive Review - 2015 Mercedes-AMG GLA45 80

First Drive Review – 2015 Mercedes-AMG GLA45 Is Tiny, Fugly and Massively Overpriced

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Lots of excellent cars driven and reviewed lately. Even if they are not a match for my personal budget or priorities, they almost all have true redeeming qualities for their intended target markets. The happy train really stops on this GLA45 AMG. This is very unusual. We have been huge Merc fans since their latest brand renaissance starting from around 2012. The cars are incredibly sexy, comfortable, fast and cool. If any machine should epitomize the new young-and-fun Mercedes appeal, it should be this GLA45 AMG. After all, this is the brand’s smallest and most-affordable new platform, paired with an …

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1965 Maserati Sebring Red 19

Gooding Amelia 2015 – 1965 Maserati Sebring in Red Brings $300k

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Can’t get enough of the very-rare and very chic Maserati Sebring? How about another in bright red? This Gooding & Co. auction car brought upwards of $300,000 – making it a well-priced entry into the club of 1960s Italian exotica.   ORIGINAL Tastemaker? With headlamps that look straight off of the Chevrolet Corvette C1 facelift in 1960? Not so much, guy! But look past the twin chrome-rimmed circles on light on this Maserati Sebring and you have the basis for some seriously futuristic sports coupes. The long hood and sunken grille and delicious, while the flat surfacing and boxy glasshouse …

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