Automotive Reviews

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Lexus GS 450h, 2013: Faster, greener, better mpg

Lexus, which now has five vehicles in its hybrid lineup, has debuted the 2013 GS 450h. It’s the first premium performance sedan equipped with a V6 Atkinson cycle gas engine and two-motor hybrid system in a front engine, rear-wheel drive vehicle. The hybrid version of the 2013 GS 450 incorporates improvements to its hybrid powertrain and is equipped with a second generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system. With a total system power output of 338 hp, the GS 450h will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Conversely, fuel consumption is expected to be improved by more than 30 percent. The GS 450h is targeting certification as a Super-Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle II (SULEV II). The new GS hybrid also features

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2012 Porsche 911 Carrera ready for North American debut

The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera, the redesigned seventh-generation sports car icon, will make its North American debut October 14 at Rennsport Reunion IV at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The new 911 will be shown alongside the world’s most noteworthy Porsche race cars for three days. The three-day occasion will be highlighted by on-track competition featuring hundreds of treasured vintage and current Porsche race cars. Every chapter of Porsche’s motorsports history will take to the track, from the nimble 550 Spyder of the mid-50s through the legendary 917 and 956/962 of the 70s and 80s to the GT3 RSR of the last decade. To additional celebrate the unveiling of the new Porsche 911 Carrera, a special tribute will

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2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited: Best Jeep Ever?

Try a Coke. Better yet, try out the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Few things are more American than a bottle of Coca-Cola or a Jeep. Jeep wisely decided to expand its line with the addition of its larger, more comfortable four-door Wrangler Unlimited in 2007. The two-door Wrangler model continued, but the Unlimited soon became — and is — the only Jeep for serious sustained road travel. The Unlimited also became the first four-door convertible with a soft or removable hard top. It retained Jeep’s traditional features, which include a seven-slot grille and round headlights. The Unlimited doesn’t look as sporty as the two-door Wrangler, but its 116-inch wheelbase does wonders to give it more room and to smooth out

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2012 Toyota Prius v: Car of the Year front runner

The recently debuted Toyota Prius v is touted by the manufacturer as having attributes that will “meet the needs of growing families with active lifestyles.” After driving the Prius v at the Green Drive Expo, a media launch in Richmond, Calif., and speaking with Wayne Gerdes, owner of the site, www.cleanmpg.com, and my test drive colleague, I had four quick reactions: 1. The Prius v, like Gerdes espoused several times, is the most fairly priced model in Toyota‘s green fleet; 2. The Prius v logically should prove so popular, Toyota may find it has two Prius models competing against each other for top hybrid honors; 3. The Prius v, is being promoted by Toyota as having the highest fuel efficiency

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Toyota Prius, 2012: Plug-in hybrid debuts, 87 MPGe

Toyota has introduced the Prius Plug-in hybrid, joining the third-generation Prius Liftback and the new Prius v and Prius c models, the latter of which is set to debut in 2012. The Prius Plug-in combines the benefits of the standard Prius model’s hybrid vehicle operation with extended electric vehicle (EV) driving. Marketed as seating five, the 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid is expected to achieve a manufacturer-estimated 87 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) in combined driving and 49 MPG in hybrid mode. The recent introduction of the larger Prius v and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid gives Toyota four eco-focused vehicles, including the Prius c, which will debut in 2012. The 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybridwill allow EV operation and performance for up

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Audi A6, 2012 gets top safety award selection

The 2012 Audi A6 has been selected as a large luxury sedan Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) after a good performance in all four of the IIHS’s safety evaluations (front, side, rollover and rear crash tests). In the IIHS evaluation of roof strength, the A6 withstood a force equal to 4.9 times the car’s weight. The roof strength test evaluates how well the occupant compartment holds up in a rollover crash. Vehicles that have a strength-to-weight ratio of 4 or higher earn a “good” rating. Electronic stability control (ESC), previously a requirement to earn Top Safety Pick status, is standard equipment on the A6. ESC is required by federal regulation to be standard equipment

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Honda Pilot recalled for seatbelt quality issue

Honda is recalling 310,773 Pilot SUVs from the years 2009-2011 because driver and passenger seat belts whose anchor webbing may not have been properly completed and could detach. Honda said the first claim occurred in May 2010 of a seat belt anchor detaching and a second claim was made in July, prompting an investigation and recall. Honda will notify owners starting next month and dealers will replace the seat belts if necessary. No injuries or deaths have been reported, but the latest recall adds to Honda's woes. Last week, Honda announced a global recall of about 800,00 vehicles, including about 100,000 in the United States. The recall included about 80,000 CR-V sport utility vehicles from the 2006 model year in

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Toyota Camry 2012 set for early dealer debut

Two weeks earlier than expected, the Toyota Camry 2012 is expected to arrive at dealerships in mid-September, according to the manufacturer. The Japanese manufacturer with a new plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, said the advance sales of the top-selling Camry is feasible because the "sell-down of the 2011 Camry is going extremely well." In its monthly sales meeting, Toyota reported selling 30,185 2011 Camry models in August compared with 30,764 in August 2010, a drop of 5.7 percent. Jeff Bracken, vice president of sales for Toyota's U.S. division, said North American production of Toyota models will return to normal levels in September, for the first time since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. With most of Toyota's North American

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Infiniti M, 2012 car review

Want something different than, say, a BMW, Mercedes or Cadillac sports sedan? Check out the 20121 Infiniti M. The Infiniti flagship sedan is comparable to handsome, upscale sports sedans from any country. The “M” never sold as well as Nissan’s upscale Infiniti division felt it should have. So the 2011 model was blessed with superior styling, more-powerful engines, advanced safety equipment and a more attractive interior. Sales quickly improved. Changes were so major for 2011 there are few enhancements for 2012. They include a new 18-inch wheel package, combining the previous M56 Sport and Sport Touring packages into a single Sport package — and availability of the Graphite Interior for models with the Deluxe Touring package. The M comes with

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MINI Countryman, 2011 car review

With the debut in 2011 of the Countryman, MINI tried to address the major drawback since the manufacturer's arrival in 1959. But is a four-door MINI, which arrives 11 years after new owner BMW rebranded Mini as MINI, an oxymoron? Or can the MINI ilegitimately be considered a family car? The new offering is one foot longer and six inches wider than the standard MINI. The Countryman (Mini actually had a coupe called the Countryman in the 1960s) also has an all-wheel drive option — another manufacturer's first. Likewise, the Countryman has 41.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, the most of any MINI in the current fleet. The Weekly Driver Test Drive With its Sky

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Volkswagen set to debut electric Nils at Frankfurt Show

The Volkswagen Nils, an all-electric, single-seat urban concept car not much bigger than a larger motorcycle, will make its debut in October at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. Less than 10 feet in length, four-and-a-half feet wide and shorter than a Porsche 911, the Volkswagen Nils has 17-inch alloy wheels positioned outside of the main body. Volkswagen claim the Nils has a range of about 40 miles and a top speed of 80 mph. The Nils weighs about 1,014 pounds has laser-controlled cruise control, hazard avoidance systems and a full safety cell. More details on the new futuristic-looking Volkswagen are available on the website, www.greencarreports.com. To receive The Weekly Driver newsletter via email, visit: Free Newsletter James RaiaA sports, travel

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Toyota Tacoma: Restyled, more features for 2012

The Toyota Tacoma, the best-selling compact pickup truck in the United States, offers a restyled exterior and a redesigned, upgraded interior in all models for 2012. The new Tacoma has a redesigned hood, grille, headlamps and front bumper, among other changes. Inside, there’s a new center-instrument panel design with a revised gauge cluster and a new steering wheel. A redesigned center stack adds new air conditioner/heater controls and power point locations. The 2012 Tacoma interior also gets a new look with a black high-contrast center console, switch plate covers, dash and upper door trim, while the SR5 grade features a new seat fabric design. The new Tacoma also offers new heavy-duty all-weather flooring in the 2012 Tacoma Access and Double

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James Bond and his cars: Aston Martin to Turbo Espirit

Paul Newman and Steve McQueen have plenty of inspiring car movie scenes. But neither has anything on the actors who played James Bond the cars the characters drove — Aston Martin to the Lotus Turbo Espirit. In one website description, the TurboEsprit is described: “As it took every single teenage and pre-pubescent boy’s inspiration and gave it a good shake. It spawned school-ground talk, made young men believe underwater driving was possible and let a new generation discover just how good the Bond films were.” But it was Sean Connery, the original James Bond in film, who started the coolness — weaponry, inventions, smoothness with women — and he drove a 1964 Aston Martin D85 One auto web site wrote

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Rare Presidential limousine offered for auction

A 1955 Cadillac Series 75 Presidential Limousine from the Eisenhower White House, unused for more than two decades, will go on auction Sept. 1 at Auctions America in Auburn, Ind. Custom built by Hess & Eisenhardt for the Eisenhower White House, the special order limousine, chassis 557555865, is one of approximately 1,200 collector cars on offer at the auction. The multi-day sale in Auburn, Indiana, will also present a select range of vintage motorcycles to cater for collectors of classic two wheelers. Commissioned in 1955 for the First Lady, Mrs. Eisenhower’s use, as well as to serve as a formal and parade vehicle when needed, the parade car was delivered from the factory in March 1955 to Hess & Eisenhardt,

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Chevrolet Camaro, 2011 car review

Chevrolet finally has come up with a convertible model for its sporty Camaro, which is a car that certainly deserves a convertible version. That is, unless you don’t mind a rear seat suitable just for kids and a rather small trunk with a high opening that gets even smaller when the top is lowered. Convertibles long have been more expensive than coupes, too, and the base Camaro convertible starts at $29,150 with a V-6 and goes to $39,650 for the top-line 2SS V-8 version, which I tested with a manual transmission. My 2SS V-8 model cost $42,145. In contrast, a base Camaro V-6 coupe lists at $22,680 and the top-line V-8 coupe is $34,395, without options. The convertible actually looks

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Acura TSX, 2011: Chasing the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

The 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon may be the perfect car for a cross-state trip chasing a professional bike race. As contributing editor and videographer Roman Mice details, that’s exactly how The Weekly Driver is reporting on the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. The inaugural event, Aug. 22-28, featuring 17 teams and the top-three finishers in this year’s Tour de France, covers 518 mile in seven days. Driving throughout Colorado, including well-known cities, Aspen to Vail to Denver, the Acura TSX advanced throughout the mountains as comfortable wagon. It appears it likes the challenge of chasing the riders of the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge. To receive The Weekly Driver newsletter via email, visit FREE NEWSLETTER Facts & Figures: 2011 Acura

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