Automotive Reviews

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Cadillac ATS, 2013: Agile, lightweight, hi-tech, luxurious (video)

Hoping to compete in the increasingly popular trend of small luxury cars, the 2013 Cadillac ATS, a compact sports sedan and the smallest vehicle in the 107-year-old carmaker's history, has debuted at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The Cadillac ATS, which will be available in dealerships nationwide in the summer of 2012, is being marketed as the most agile and lightweight Cadillac. It weights less than 3,400 pounds. The ATS will be available in two four-cylinder engines and as a V-6. They new sedan will range from 200 to about 320 horsepower, and will be available in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive and with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Cadillac hopes it can challenge segment

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Hyundai Elantra 2012 takes another honor — North American Car of the Year

Another day, another award for Hyundai. And this time, it's among the most prestigious honors. The Hyundai Elantra defeated the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Focus and was selected as 2012 North American Car of the Year. A jury of 50 independent North American automotive journalists evaluated each of the new cars introduced last year and chose the 2012 Hyundai Elantra at a news conference at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The honor marks Hyundai’s second win. The Hyundai Genesis was named North American Car of the Year in 2009. “Elantra speaks to the success of our recipe of bold design and great fuel economy,” said John Krafcik, president and chief executive officer, Hyundai Motor America. “In

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Rolls-Royce still rolling strong, sets all-time sales record in 2011

Rolls-Royce, the ultraluxury centenarian automaker, sold more cars in 2011 than it has in any year in its 107-year history, its owner BMW AG has announced. While breaking a sales record that stood for 33 years, Rolls0-Royce sold 3,538 cars last year, most notably via the Ghost Extended Wheelbase model, which debuted in April 2011. The new sales figures marked a 31 percent increase from Rolls Royce sales in 2010. Rolls-Royce‘s previous annual sales record dates to 1978, when it sold 3,347 cars. “We had an outstanding year,” Rolls-Royce brand chief Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes said in a statement. “We’re expanding our dealership network, entering new markets such as South America and expanding our production facility in Goodwood to meet rising demand

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BMW 3-Series, 2012: Sixth generation sedan will match sibings' technology

Now 37 years old, the BMW 3 series in its sixth generation will debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and for the first time will include the technology currently available in its 5 and 7 series siblings. That technology currently includes lane-departure warning system, night vision, a system to prevent the driver from falling asleep, and radar-based adaptive cruise control with collision-mitigating automatic braking. The 2012 3 Series is expected to be powered by a new family of aluminum four-cylinder petrol engines ranging from 135 to 245 horsepower. These will include new technologies such as variable intake and exhaust-valve timing, sequential turbochargers, and direct fuel injection. The 245 hp (183 kW; 248 PS) four-cylinder may be

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GM debuting smallest, lightest Cadillac in history at Detroit Auto Show

General Motors will unveil the 2013 Cadillac ATS, the smallest and lightest car in the the storied brand's history, when the North American International Auto Show begins Janauary 9 in Detroit. The yet-to-be-priced sedan will go into production in a few months at the General Motors factory in Lansing, Mich. The ATS will be available in two four-cylinder engines and as a V-6. They new sedan will range from 200 to about 320 horsepower, and will be available in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive and with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. With an expected beginning price between $33-$35,000, the ATS will weigh about 3,400 pounds, which is approximately 600 pounds less than the Cadillac CTS. It's also is 8.5

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Audi A7, 2012: New luxury sports sedan tops best 2012 car list

Since its debut in the United States 10 months ago, the 2012 Audi A7 has received wide acclaim. It's been named Car of the Year by at least one publication (Playboy), and it's also on numerous top-10 lists. The Weekly Driver reviewed the Audi A7 a few months ago, but it's also now featured again as the first in the alphabetical listing of the general consensus choicea of 2012 Cars of the Year among several automotive web sites and print publications. The A7 marked Audi's return to the executive hatchback market since the 1970 three-door Audi 100 Coupe of 1970 and the 1977 five-door 100 Avant. The A7 was preceded by a concept car, the Audi Sportback, first shown at

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Range Rover Evoque, 2012: Radical, sleek new SUV from Land Rover

The new 2012 Range Rover Evoque compact sport-utility from England’s Land Rover is a good combination of styling, comfort, practicality and off-road prowess. It represents a radical change from other Land Rover vehicles. Among primary selling features of this smaller, more fuel-efficient, all-wheel-drive Range Rover are racy styling, prestige and off-road prowess — although few owners likely will drive off-road. Main rivals include the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK. Ah, but they lack the prestigious Range Rover name The full-time all-wheel-drive Evoque likely will attract more younger customers to the Land Rover brand. It comes as a $43,145 four-door hatchback or as a $44,145 hatchback coupe, not including an $850 freight charge. It comes in “Pure,” “Prestige’ and

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Toyota Land Cruiser: Iconic SUV now age 60 with facelifts for 2013

Now well into middle age, the 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser will receive exterior and interior styling enhancements as well as safety and convenience improvements as standard equipment. Among the many popular features that were formerly available as options, but are now standard, are rear-seat DVD entertainment system, color-keyed rear spoiler, rain-sensing windshield wipers, center-console cooler box, headlamp cleaners, leather-trimmed steering wheel, multi-information display, voice and Bluetooth® hands-free controls, leather-trimmed shift lever and heated second row seats. Toyota’s Premium Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Navigation with Entune multi-media system and JBL® audio is also standard. Exterior Design The 2013 Land Cruiser receives refreshed exterior styling that includes an updated front grille and headlamps with HID low-beams. Additional new features include LED Daytime

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Ford pickups reign again as country's best-selling vehicles in 2011

Pick-up trucks continue to rule the automotive industry with the Ford F-Series and Chevy Silverado again claiming the top and runner-up places among the top-10 best-selling vehicles of 2011. The Ford F-Series (F-150 and F-250) now in their 12th generation and perennially the country's best-sellers, combined as the only vehicles in the United States with more than 500,000 units sold in 2011. The F-150 F-250 combined had a 10.7 percent sales increase in 2011 from 2010. The Chevy Silverado had a 12.2 percent increase in the past year. The Toyota Camry remained the best-selling car in the country in 2011, the rest of the top four sellers from 2010 — Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, respectively — tumbled

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Toyota, Lexus sales slump in 2011 as Japan disaster recovery lingers

Toyota Motor Sales, which included Toyota, Lexus and Scion, reported annual sales of 1,644,661 vehicles in the United States in 2011, down 7.0 percent from t2010 as inventory continued to recover from shortages due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Toyota Division recorded year-end sales of 1,446,109 vehicles, a decrease of 6.1 percent from 2010. Lexus reported sales of 198,552 units in 2011, down 13.7 percent from the previous 2010. Scion was the surprising segment. reported sales of 49,271 units for the year, up 7.5 percent over 2010. "We are encouraged by the strong close of 2011 as December was our best volume month of the year. We successfully launched several new vehicles, including the all-new Camry, which retained

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Mercedes-Benz set to debut two hybrid sedans at Detroit Auto Show

Mercedes-Benz will debut two hybrid E-Class sedans at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), the E 400 Hybrid and the E 300 Bluetec Hybrid, according to several automotive sites, most notably Autoweek.com. The E 400, which is expected to be available in the United States later in 2012 as a 2013 model, will feature a single electric motor between a 302-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine and a modified version of the company's standard seven-speed automatic transmission. The company's first diesel-electric vehicle, the E 300 Bluetec Hybrid, was previewed as long ago as the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010. It features a 201-hp, 2.1-liter turbodiesel engine that produces 369 pound-feet of torque and is fitted to the same 20-kw electric

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Honda Civic Hybrid owner sues carmaker for low gas mileage

If you don't get the gas mileage the manufacturer of your car has promoted, sue the carmaker. That's the approach Heather Peters, a former attorney, is taking against Honda in a small claims court suit. She claims her 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid has achieved about 60 percent of the gas mileage she expected. Peters says her Honda Civic Hybrid never approached its marketed 50 mpg estimates. And as the car's battery deteriorated, Peter said it only achieved 30 mpg. Peters wants Honda to pay $10,000 for her trouble and the extra money she spent on gas. The trial is set for Tuesday afternoon in Torrance, California, where American Honda Motor Co. has its West Coast headquarters. Peters opted out of

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CODA joins electric car fraternity, debuts in San Diego dealership

CODA, the Los Angeles-based electric car company founded in 2009, has announced neighboring San Diego as the location of its debut dealership location and with public availability of the long-awaited sedan set for February. CODA’s first vehicle, the CODA, is a four-door, five passenger offering featuring a battery pack that will deliver a range of 150 miles per charge, according to the manufactuer. CODA. The word CODA is a musical term that denotes the concluding passage of a piece of music, from the Italian word coda (tail). CODA Automotive reportedly chose the name because its electric vehicle technology represents an end for combustion engine vehicles and the start of the electric vehicle era. The Coda sedan, priced at $39,900, was

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Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2012: Baby Bentley Goes Pimpin'

First a disclaimer: I have always been a big fan of the baby Bentley Chrysler 300 styling from 2005. And I am still a fan with this second-generation 300 design. Ralph Gilles and team have taken an evolutionary approach to the new design, largely retaining the baby Bentley proportions and shape while adding to the aggressive stance of the original. The updated grille is tasteful and adds panache missing from the previous generation, and the headlight units with integrated LED daytime running lights add sophistication. The annoying gap at the intersection of the hood, grille and headlight on the previous generation is thankfully gone The result is a nicely updated version, although the car is slightly longer than the original

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Dodge Challenger SRT8, 2012: Refined, handsome muscle car

The 2012 rear-drive Dodge Challenger SRT8 coupe is a refined, modern version of the classic early 1970s rear-drive Challenger, which had a mighty “Hemi” V-8. The 1970s Challenger Hemi (for hemispherical combustion chambers) 425-cubic-inch V-8 had 425 horsepower. But the new Challenger SRT8’s 392-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) Hemi provides 470 horsepower and a pavement-shattering 470 pound-feet of torque. As with the old Challenger coupe, the Challenger SRT8 is a rival mainly to the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. It’s essentially a shortened version of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. That improves refinement and ride, but turns the SRT8 into more of a strong muscle car than a nimble sports coupe. It has a 116-inch-wheelbase and weighs a hefty 4,160 pounds. The

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Jaguar XKR-S, 2012: Powerful speedster named Playboy's Car of the Year

The 2012 Jaguar XKR-S, the 550-horspower speedster with a top speed of 182 mph, was selected from a stellar finalists' field that included Audi to Range Rover and Hyundai to Mercedes-Benz as Playboy Magazine's 2012 Car of the Year. The magazine's choices were selected by Ken Gross, the veteran automotive journalist, author and former auto museum executive director. The Jaguar XKR-S, with a starting price of $132,000 for the coupe and $138,000 for the convertible, is the most-powerful production car Jaguar has built. It has a 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 and accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds and 0-100 mph in 8.6 seconds. Here's Playboy's 2012 other Car of the Year selections: Fiat 500 Winner of Playboy’s “Coolest Throwback” award,

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