Luxury cars

Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG, 2012: Fast, luxurious, expensive

Despite a lazy economy, you can still buy posh Mercedes-Benz models that accelerate like locomotives at full steam. And one glance at the revised 2012 Mercedes CLS63 AMG should tell you this is one very fast, luxurious car. It looks expensive and is expensive at $94,900 — without desirable options. With the destination charge, they pushed the price of my new test CLS63 AMG to $112,585. This four-door sedan has coupe-like styling, pioneered by Mercedes in 2006 with the original CLS and has been copied by other automakers. Some may feel the revised styling of the 2012 CLS63 AMG is overly aggressive, compared to the 2011 model’s "softer" styling. But, what the heck, this thing is designed for aggressive driving.

Read more

Audi A7, 2012: Stylish luxury sedan collecting praise (video)

The 2012 Audi A7 has received nearly universal praise for its slick exterior design, handsome, well-dsigned interior and superior performance. The upscale sedan or sporting utility vehicle was selected as 2011 Car of the Year by Esquire Magazine and it's likely a front runner for similar honors in 2012 by niche automobile publications and car websites. Here's what a few car reviewers are commenting about the 2012 Audi A7: "Delightful — that sums up the A7 in a word. It has a cabin that’s the epitome of sophisticated comfort and the sort of ride demanded of a large, luxurious car. However, head out of town, ramp up the tone of the drive and look out — it carves a corner

Read more
,

Audi A7, 2012: Return to the future with style and speed

Launched at the 2010 Paris Auto Show and then to the United States market in April at the New York Auto Show, the 2012 Audi A7 marks the manufacturer's return to the luxury hatchback segment. The three-door Audi 100 (1970) and the five-door Avant (1977) were Audi's previous upscale hatchbacks — and a lot has changed in 37 years. The Weekly Driver Test Drive A friend says the 2012 Audi A7 is at the forefront of a new car segment — or at least a new segment en vogue for the first time in 40 years. He calls the new sedan a Luxury Utility Vehicle or a Sporty Utility Vehicle. After a week with the A7, I think my friend

Read more
,

BMW X3, 2011: Larger, longer, quicker, lighter

The redesigned second-generation BMW X3 is larger and roomier, providing fast acceleration and nearly sports-sedan handling and good utility. There are only minor trim changes for 2012. This 2011 model is larger and looks much like a “baby” BMW X5. It’s 3.4 inches longer, 1.1 inch wider and half an inch taller than its predecessor. It also has a slightly longer wheelbase and a little more ground clearance. Yet it weighs less than its predecessor. The $36,750 four-door X3 xDrive 28i model, which I tested, comes with a 3-liter, six-cylinder engine generating 240 horsepower. Although down from the 2010 version’s 260 horsepower, it provides strong acceleration with high revs and should satisfy most X3 buyers. There’s also a new intercooled

Read more
,

Infiniti M, 2012: Luxury hybrid sedan no longer oxymoron

The 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid may be the first hybrid that simultaneously features some of most advanced technology in the "green" industry while also eliminating many of the cumbersome traits of the expanding automotive segment. Infiniti, of course, is a luxury brand and the new hybrid M with its plush interior, stylish wood trim and sculpted interior and exterior designs only adds to the manufacturer's reputation. Speed was rarely mentioned in hybrids a few years ago, but now it seems important. And that's another big plus for the Infiniti Hybrid M. With its 360 horsepower engine, the four-door season now holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s fastest accelerating full hybrid. It covers the standing quarter mile in 13.9031

Read more

Lexus announces 2012 limited special edition models

Lexus has announced the details of option packages offered and pricing for its Special Edition models of the the 2012 LS 460, ES 350 and CT 200h The MSRPs for the respective new models: LS 460 Sport Special Edition ($77,000), ES 350 Touring Edition ($40,475) and 2012 CT 200h F Sport Special Edition ($37,995). The CT 200h Special Edition will arrive at dealerships in October and the LS and ES Special Editions will arrive in November. Production of the Special Edition models will be limited to 250 units of the LS Sport Special Edition, 2,000 units of the ES 350 Touring Edition and 900 units of the CT 200h F Sport Special Edition. To receive The Weekly Driver newsletter via

Read more
,

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

Read more

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

Read more
,

Cadillac unveils Ciel concept luxury convertible

Cadillac has debuted its Ciel concept car, a convertible luxury and king-sized sedan reminiscent of the manufacturer’s previous iconic convertibles, the Eldorado and DeVille. General Motors said the Ciel will provide direct competitor to the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes Benz S Class and Audi A8 — the three German stalwarts. The new Cadillac will have a 3.6-liter turbo-charged V6 engine, but it’s also a hybrid that partially runs via rear-mounted  lithium ion-powered battery in the rear. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury

Read more

GM recalls 16,000 Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Impalas

General Motors (GM) announced it;s recalling around 16,000 Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Impalas across the United States and Canada because of related to the power steering as well as sensor issues The manufacturer has not reported any injuries and crashes related to the two recalls. The company will recall the Impala and inspect its power-steering hose. GM said that if the hose was misrouted then it will probably spray hot fluid on hot engine parts and it could lead to a possible fire. The American automaker discovered the problem in its production plant in Ontario, Canada. The company is expected to resolved the problem with a protective abrasion protection. The LaCrosse has a sensor problem that affects the car’s speed

Read more

Fifty Ferrari owners set for SF to LA charity great escape

It’s not often 50 Ferraris, new models to rare vintage offerings, are available for viewing in one location. But having same collection advance across the Golden Gate Bridge and caravan to Los Angeles is even more rare. But that’s exactly what the Ferrari Owner’s Group (FOG) has organized for charity. In conjunction with CarWoo.com., 50 iconic Ferrari models — the new 458 Italia, a F430 Scuderia, 599 GTB Fiorano, 512TR, 328 GTS and a classic 250 GT California Spider — among others, will depart Sept. 22 from Ferrari of San Francisco. The Ferrari group will progress along Highway 1 and arrive in Los Angeles for a Sept. 24 for a charity auction and banquet. All proceeds from the rally and its

Read more

Hyundai Equus gets 2011 top large premium car honors

Another day, another honor for Hyundai. Competing against the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series and Lexus LS, the perennial leaders, the Hyundai Equus luxury sedan has for the first time earned the top spot on J.D. Power and Associate’s APEAL (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) Study for large premium cars. It marks the first time since the survey’s inception in 1996 that a car other than a Mercedes, BMW or Lexus has claimed the large premium category. The base starting price for the Equus is  $58,900. Hyundai, which began selling cars in the United States in 1986, had its overall biggest jump in the ranking, improving from 28th in 2010 to 15th in 2011. The study, now in its 16th year,

Read more

Lexus reveals $73,000 price for flagship LS460 sedan

The 2011 Lexus LS 460 Touring Edition, the flagship sedan of the luxury division of Toyota, will be priced at $73,000 (rear wheel drive) and will be available at dealerships in late June or early July, the manufacturer announced. “The Touring Edition adds excitement to our flagship sedan,” said Mark Templin, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager. “The package on this car enhances styling and comfort, allowing us to attract younger buyers to the LS line-up.” The 2011 LS 460 Touring Edition will be available on both the LS 460 Rear Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive models. It will be distinguished from other LS models by a Smoky Granite Mica exterior, and following equipment: 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels

Read more

Audi A7, 2012 car review

The early 2012 Audi A7 3.0 TFSI quattro is a generally outstanding four-door hatchback sedan that looks much like a rakish coupe. But the $59,250 A7 is expensive with desirable options, such as its Sport Package with items like 20-inch wheels and a sport suspension (vs. standard 18-inch) wheels. The bottom-line price of the A7 I tested was $86,220, including that package and a bunch of high-tech items such as a navigation system and rearview camera. The A7 is loaded with comfort, convenience and safety equipment, including  power sunroof, so one need not add a thing—except perhaps the $1,500 Sport Package my test A7 had for sharper moves, with 20-inch (vs. standard 18-inch) tires and a sport suspension. You can

Read more

Legendary rare Hollywood Ferrari set for Monterey auction

RM Auctions, the collector car auction house, will return Aug. 19-12 to  Monterey, California, for its annual sale held during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance weekend. This year’s sale will feature a vast selection of vehicles, including the matching-numbers, race-winning 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Scaglietti Spider, s/n 0492M. It had a starring role in the film On the Beach, featuring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner and Fred Astaire. The 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Scaglietti Spider, s/n 0492M will be among 20 Ferraris auctioned. The eighth of 35 built, 0492M began its career on the Ferrari stand at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1955. One of the first cars with the improved coil spring front suspension, it was delivered to importer

Read more

Mercedes-Benz 2011 (CL550) car review

The Mercedes-Benz 2011 four-passenger CL550 coupe I tested from the automaker’s CL-Class line is a throwback to the grand Mercedes coupes of decades ago. That was when Mercedes engineers were given a pretty free hand to design the automaker’s large sedan and coupe models, complete with thick double-pane side glass. Those big powerful cars thus were superlative and majestic. Although heavy, they were fast and had no serious competition in America, where they were overqualified for most U.S. driving — and for most U.S. drivers, who were accustomed to soft U.S. luxury cars. The new CL550 coupe is the entry model in Mercedes’ CL-Class coupe line. It’s a two-door version of the sumptuous Mercedes S-Class sedan and thus has all

Read more
Previous Next