AWD

2015 Volvo V60 T5 Sport Pack -- Video Walkaround and 30 All-New Photos 22

2015 Volvo V60 T5 Sport Pack — Video Walkaround and 30 All-New Photos

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The 2015 V60 has landed in America — with fresh looks and excellent merits as a BMW or Infiniti alternative. Is this the first V60 in America? Nope, Volvo of Charleston got their first last week — and sold it in two days. That is a good sign for Volvo’s improving market performance. It carries an all-new and very chic style, along with all the latest high-tech features and base pricing from about $36,000. As tested, this T5 Sport trim comes in at $43,570 with a few desirable tech, safety and styling upgrades. Overall: a fantastic new Volvo and one …

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KOENIGSEGG One1 markup

Koenigsegg One:1 Still Vmax King, But Under Threat by Huayra, Venom GT, McLaren P1 and LaFerrari

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When it comes to hypercars, buyers have a variety of distinct priorities for their new baby. Subjective appeal is the name of the game– even while the power and performance stats from all the big-league hypercars are far into the stratosphere. But are there any universal qualities a hypercar must embody? Yes, I’m glad you asked. A handful of these are below: — extremely violent speed and track pace — exclusivity and image — curb appeal — sex appeal — daily drive-ability via street-legal emissions and safety — performance kudos and/or racing pedigree The Koenigsegg Agera s and Agera R …

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2015 Subaru Legacy Sedan -- More Lux and Tech in Cabin -- Finally Some Exterior Style -- Even 36MPG Highway 12

2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i and 3.6R Sedans — Much Quieter — Far More Tech Inside — Finally Some Exterior Style — Even 36MPG Highway!

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The all-new 2015 Legacy launched today in Chicago, with great news all around for Subaru fans. And even enough unique features to entice those curious about the cult-like following of these AWD cars. Subaru’s are fantastic and very rewarding to drive — with handling balance and sure-footed-ness no Camry can ever match. 2015 Legacy Summary points: — This is the Legacy Sedan only, in 2.5i and 3.6R flavors (equipment lists detailed below). — A future Outback is a sure thing, but is not part of today’s big Legacy launch. — A future Legacy GT may join the fun eventually, but …

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Concept Volkswagen Taigun Debuts in Delhi – But Set to Battle Nissan Rogue (*or Juke) and Mitsu Outlander Sport in U.S. From 2015

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The Taigun and the Tiguan. Not a good combination for dyslexics – but VW’s mini SUV concept does show great progress in refining the brand’s chiseled future SUV look. It is also hugely important because of its size. Typically, VW has not imported its smallest cars to America because they would all price themselves out of consideration for most shoppers. The Euro-only Up! is just adorable and would sell like ice-cold water bottles at Burning Man — but importing this Euro-made mini-car ould push prices past $20,000. Not a good set of options, then, to increase sales volume for VW …

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Buyers Guide to the 2014 Toyota Highlander with Specs, Pricing and 88 Photos

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[Orig Published on: Dec 29, 2013 @ 15:30] The 2014 Highlander is finally looking like a classy option versus its sibling, the wildly-popular Lexus RX crossover. But while the RX has always made its rich appearance a selling point, the previous Highlander was best described as “forgettable.” No more. This new series really cleans up the styling, while keeping the same fundamental proportions and $29,000 base pricing. On that side of the three-engine range, the Highlander runs a front-drive 2.7-liter four-cylinder producing 170 horsepower and 24 MPG on the highway. Buyers who need AWD can choose between the V6 gasoline …

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Best-of- Awards---2014-Ford-Taurus-and-Taurus-SHO---Biggest-Trunk-and-EcoBoost-Turbo-Innovator-77

Best of Awards – 2014 Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO – Biggest Trunk and EcoBoost Turbo Innovator

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EcoBoost is coming on-line in a big way! The popularity and roll-out of turbo Ford engines owes a big thanks to this SHO — the first intercooled twin-turbo Ford in decades. With the announcement of the F-150 this month, Ford confirmed that a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 will join the truck line-up. The 6.0-liter V8 is replaced by a 5.0-liter delivering similar power, but no turbo V8’s yet. That is when the SHO will get really, really exciting! For now, this is a huge and comfortable car that also has big passing power and sprint pace on demand.   As a …

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2015 WRX STI Even Quicker and More Playful – Buyers Guide, Trims, Specs

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Quicker and more playful!? Yes sir – the new STI also looks far better equipped than ever before. The 2015 WRX STI debuted yesterday in Detroit – wearing a cool new style and packing benefits under every body panel. The key highlights are listed below from Subaru, but really come down to three items: — All-new engine with more eager power delivery, 305 HP, and more SI-Drive modes — ‘Remastered’ suspension tuning, 41-percent-stiffer chassis, and a much quicker steering rack — Interior worthy of $35,000 performance car – with luxury features and tech that are all new to the STI …

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Acura TLX Prototype Is Actually Quite Handsome + New 8-Speed and 9-Speed Transmissions

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The 2015 TLX concepts from the Detroit show are packing huge advancements under that newly-stylish profile. In fact, this front or AWD sedan is on the bleeding edge of technology across all Honda and Acura models. How? —  New eight-speed twin-clutch automatic for the 2.4-liter —  New nine-speed torque converter auto for the 3.6-liter V6 Certainly raised my eyebrows, in a good way! As does the styling. Despite sharing many family traits with terminal RLX sedan, the TLX prototype is really quite handsome. The once-controversial grille has even evolved into a much more cohesive and attractive shape. Organic flow replaces …

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Volvo XC Coupe Concept Looking Ready for Summit County, Colorado 3

Volvo XC Coupe Concept Looking Ready for Summit County, Colorado!

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There are a few must-have items when traveling up from Denver to the main ski resorts of Colorado: – 4wd or lockable AWD – ground clearance encouraged – huge surplus of power for high-grade passing needs – great road-holding and high-speed stability — especially on the descent. The XC Coupe looks ready for all that and more. Time for afternoon cookies at Beaver Creek! The XC will look right at home in the resort’s famous enclosed valet parking… snow or shine. Live Reveal Official Images Galleries      

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Cadillac ATS 2.0T Looks Beautiful in Latest Night Photos in Bonn, Germany

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There is news rumbling about the future of the Cadillac ATS – and all signs point to huge, twin-turbo power and perhaps even a coupe shell. The name so far is as expected: ATS Coupe. Other rumors? New Caddy crest emblem – without the wreath. This will be one seriously fast machine with 400-plus horsepower. Rear-drive and manual transmission seem like the initial configuration preference for the V series Cadillac, but AWD and a snappy new auto could be in the cards as well. Worth noting is that the ATS is a bit smaller and nimbler than the new RC …

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2014 Q60 IPL Convertible

2014 Infiniti Q60 IPL Coupe and Cabrio – Specs, Pricing and Trim Details

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The hotshot executive sport coupe market is always fun: the Lexus RC F and BMW M4 are already stars of the Detroit show – months and months ahead of their arrival to buyers. The Lexus RC F in production form this week in Detroit ups the ante quite a bit. So what’s missing?   Well, the Cadillac ATS Coupe – which is coming tomorrow – has room under than hood for some huge power, as well as a rear-drive platform that is already very performance-focused.   What else? The Infiniti Q60 IPL is absolutely worth considering when in the $40,000-plus …

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Audi RS5 Taming U.S. Racetracks with New Colors and Black Ops from $70k

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The Audi RS5 is a truly astounding car. With so much atmospheric power from this racing V8 and the Audi’s class-best dynamics in the wet: the RS5 even seems like a supercoupe that could be driven hard in bad weather. Not something most summer-tired supercars would attempt. Dan Neil noted some traction issues when reviewing the twin-turbo RS7 last month in his Wall Street Journal column – which might be related to RS7’s big-boost layout versus the RS5’s naturally-aspirated engine. For the time being, the Lexus RC F and BMW M4 appear to keep their rear-drive layouts. But AWD is …

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Tahoe Police concept

140MPH+ Chevy Tahoe PPV Coming as 2015 Model With Optional 4×4 and Far Better Cabin

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The funny thing about the Chevy Tahoe police cruiser’s tenure on the market is that it only recently started to offer four-wheel-drive to these LEO customers. Fuel economy and high-speed pace were the initial reasons – with even the 2012 5.3-liter Tahoe PPVs able to hit 139 mph. Four-wheel-drive is a mandatory feature this time of year in many places. Example? My hometown typically runs Tahoe PPV models and Crown Victoria Fords – but during the recent blizzard, switched to their personal 4×4’s to keep the peace. And keep the grip on snow and ice. Rear-drive Tahoe’s are very stable, …

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Lincoln Black Label: Modern Heritage

2014 Lincoln MKZ 3.7 AWD Shows Very Handsome Kamm Tail

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This is less of an article as a galleries post. You can take in the latest Lincoln MKZ images for yourself. I enjoy its looks, especially versus any other Lincoln. The single LED bar is really good in real life – but looks bad in these photos. The tail spoiler is appealing. But the nose is not pleasant. Exterior Gallery – 2014 Lincoln MKZ Black Label and MKZ Hybrid Interior Gallery – 2014 Lincoln MKZ Black Label and MKZ Hybrid The car shares steering wheel and dash with Fords; making the MKZ less than enticing, despite new-looking seats.  

2013 GLK350 4MATIC

GLK250 Diesel Joins GLK350 from $37,000 – Buyers Guide to AMG Sport trims

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The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 is a cool little truck. The really great thing about this package versus other crossovers is how agile and fun it is to toss around. The low proportions and general handling excellence really shame the Acura RDX and even the Range Rover Evoque. The GLK makes no apologies for its macho lines, and really looks exclusive on city streets. The GLK is rear-drive as standard, making this one of the most balanced in its segment for fast drivers. That segment is growing fast, with the GLA250 also joining the U.S. price books for 2014, and the BMW …

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2014 Infiniti Q50S

2014 Infiniti Q50S Fantastic in Real Life + Very Fast: 4.9s to 60mph for RWD or AWD Hybrids

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Perhaps it was just me: but the Infiniti Q50’s design was not a real favorite since it debuted earlier this year. There seemed to be too much light swirling and photo magic to even see what the car really looked like. I am thrilled to report that this Q50’s style really works in the real world: a low nose and that cat’s-eye of LED lighting in the corner of the lamps is quite fresh, looks expensive, and shows class. Other elements of the Q50 Sport Hybrid’s breauty really come to light in the latest real-life photos of the car, taken …

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Best of 2013 Awards: Turbo Sports Car, Under $25,000 – Nissan Juke NISMO

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The Juke NISMO as the turbo sports car of the year? In this budget range: you bet your alcantara headlining and carbon-fiber diffusers! The NISMO Juke makes no apologies for being different from the norm. After spending a week with the Juke NISMO earlier this fall, I discovered a fun-to-drive car that is nimble and toss-able in all situations. It also turned heads like a GT-R on roads filled with boring tan sedans. The unusual headlamp setup of the Juke is brought to life with the GT-R’s white LED accents in the lower bumper area. With the LEDs blazing white, …

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Hot New Wagons 2014 Volvo V60 13

Hot New Wagons: 2014 Volvo V60 Coming to U.S. with R-Design and Polestar Trims

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The Volvo V60 is an exciting new entrant for the Swedish luxury brand. This core Volvo model was initially left off the American price sheets in favor of the much larger V70 and XC70 Cross Country, but Volvo has now come to its senses! What the V60 offers is the mid-size package from the S60 sedan, including all the latest styling updates and tech enhancements inside. The R-Design’s new T6 engine promises about 304 horsepower and a ~5.7-second sprint to 60 mph, while the Polestar could bring up to 375 horsepower for a sub-5-second sprint time. Polestars come with AWD …

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Bestof2013-Awards-BMW-640i-GranCoupe-Coolest-4-Door-49

Best of 2013 Awards: Coolest 4-Door – BMW 640i GranCoupe

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Until the new M4 arrives, the BMW 6-series Gran Coupe is by far my favorite current BMW. While all brands like to tout their new cars as longer, lower and wider than before: usually the changes are fractions of an inch (or some other meaningless millimeter measurements!). The 640i GC is a full three inches lower than the 5-series, rocks almost a 117-inch wheelbase, and looks wider than a Hummer H1 on the highway. The whole car is designed to emphasize width, power and stance from all angles. The glasshouse is far more inward of the car’s shoulder-line than any …

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2015 Nissan GT-R Debut - Animated GIF

2014 GT-R + 2015 GT-R NISMO Now Far More Beautiful, Luxurious… and EVEN FASTER!

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The next GT-R just debuted in Tokyo, and boy is it magnificent. A beautiful vision in anthracite grey. Hugely redesigned surfaces appear all over the exterior, with the nose and grille graphic perhaps the most improved versus the current car. All-new LED lighting is featured throughout, finally bringing the GT-R’s styling up to the same caliber as its world-beating performance. The evolution of the 2015 GT-R brings much of the revised technical solutions from the brand-new 2014 Nissan GT-R NISMO — but wraps the enhancements in that far prettier exterior and now, even a lavish interior. The Infiniti ‘leathers and …

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2015 Subaru WRX - Exterior Gallery GIF9999999999999

2015 Subaru WRX Nears 270 Horsepower, Looks Hot!

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2015 Subaru WRX – Exterior Gallery        2015 Subaru WRX – Interior Gallery               2015 SUBARU WRX® MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW New platform offers a stiffer, more agile chassis for Subaru global performance icon New torque-vectoring system reduces understeer New 268-hp 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo BOXER engine New standard 6-speed manual transmission New Sport Lineartronic® CVT with manual modes Los Angeles –  Subaru of America, Inc. today introduced the 2015 WRX, a more powerful and better handling version of the brand’s iconic high-performance model, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. …

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2014 Buick LaCrosse Animated GIF

2014 Buick LaCrosse Trumps Jaguar XJL AWD In Almost Every Way

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2014 Buick LaCrosse – Animated GIF of 80 High-Res Photos This new LaCrosse is a real sweetheart. I closely compare it with the Jaguar XJ – which I also got to sample recently in its new AWD V-6 setup at the low end of the price range. Despite the Jag’s panache, it did not look happy with its extra L length and a perceptible increase in rear ride height versus the ultra-sporty XJR. The Jag and its tall rump.   Both fabulous, comfortable limousines. The Buick impressed me quite a bit with its incredible NVH isolation, honestly decent steering and …

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Lexus-IS-F-Sport-Exterior-UltraWhite-18-inchSplit-Five-SpokeAlloy

2014 Lexus IS350 AWD F Sport – First-Drive Photos

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2014 Lexus IS350 AWD F Sport – First-Drive Photos   2014 Lexus IS350 AWD F Sport – Interior Gallery 2014 Lexus IS350 AWD F Sport – Under the Hood 2014 Lexus IS350 AWD F Sport – Exterior Gallery The Lexus is also available in a more-efficient 250 engine spec, as well as a variety of tastey shades.   Here is a gif of these 32 images with a subtle delay, and no audio. The Lexus IS felt great, with a far lower seat than I recall from the previous IS350. Check it out this weekend with or without F Sport …

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Driven Car Review - 2014 Buick LaCrosse Is Huge, Smooth and Silent19

Driven Car Review – 2014 Buick LaCrosse Is Huge, Smooth and Silent

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The Buick LaCrosse is fresh for 2014 with a variety of improvements in almost every area, but with pricing that holds the base line at $34,000. The outside is sharper than before with LED and bi-xenon lighting up front, while new LED styles for the brake lights come in out back. Inside, everything takes a step toward classier finishes and surfaces, while tech integration for the touchscreen infotainment and active safety is now one of the best from any luxury brand. Larger wheels all around are a LaCrosse feature for 2014 as well, but the most notable improvements to this …

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2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos

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2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos The Juke Nismo is incredible value at just below $25,000 all in, with a choice between a manual transmission and front-drive or a NISMO-tuned CVT auto and AWD with a “V” mode for extra shenanigans.   Sunny Day Gallery     Rainy Day Gallery