Luxury cars

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Mercedes-Benz E550, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

It isn’t often (OK, maybe never) the price of a luxury car gets reduced by several thousand dollars. But that’s what Mercedes-Benz did with 2010 models, including the E550. But Mercedes-Benz not only lowered it prices, it did so with a re-designed vehicle, not the staid offerings of yesteryear. The E550 five-passenger sedan is the prime example of how the German manufacturer is attempting to retrieve former Mercedes owners who may have opted for more trendy and less expensive luxury sedans in recent years. The Weekly Driver Test Drive In a perfect world, my weekly test drive would have been, let’s say, to drive across Germany on the Autoban. But a week of everyday driving was just fine, too. There’s

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Lexus GS 350, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review (Video)

Facts & Figures: 2010 Lexus GS 350 Specification Details Engine 6-cylinder, 3.5L Transmission Automatic (S6) Drivetrain Rear-Wheel Drive Fuel Economy 19 city / 26 hwy / 22 combined mpg Fuel Type Premium Gasoline 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 and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.

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Bugatti in spotlight for 2010 Monterey Historic Automobile Races

“The Bugatti Grand Prix that will be held at the prestigious historic races in Monterey allows our owners to share the remarkable Bugatti heritage and to show the lineage that defines who Bugatti is today,” said Alasdair Stewart, director of sales and marketing at Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. “Bugatti has stood for uncompromising performance, luxury and exclusivity, and these attributes are as true today in the Veyron as they were in what was one of the most successful race cars of all time, the Bugatti Type 35.” Bugatti was founded in Molsheim, France, as a manufacturer of high performance automobiles by Ettore Bugatti. The company is legendary for producing some of the world’s most exclusive cars — and some of the

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Audi debuts super sports car, 2010 R8

New for 2010, a refined 5.2 FSI V10 engine joins the R8 lineup. With menacing, unmistakable styling and the unshakable performance of quattro all-wheel drive, the R8 represents the very edge of what is technically possible in a sports car today. The 2010 Audi R8 is unique in the Audi portfolio and is hand-assembled at a maximum of 20 cars per day. A wide, low stance is derived directly from the Audi motorsports program and helps to provide the R8 with its world-class handling. The R8 was inspired not only by victorious Audi Le Mans race cars, it shared the same design team. Two large bladed air inlets and aggressively slanted headlamps join the signature Audi single-frame grille, while the

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BMW Z4 Coupe, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review (Video)

According to Consumer Guide, the 2007 BMW Z4 convertible and coupe are Best Buys in the premium/sporty car category. The car is racetrack able, yet also reasonably practical as a daily driver. The American-built two seaters have incline 6-cylinder engines. The base 3.0i convertible has 215 horsepower, 3.0i model has 255 horsepower and the high-performance M version has 330 horsepower. The Z4 gets a perfect 10 score from Consumer Guide in steering and handling and 9 marks in acceleration. On the contrary, the BMW gets scores of 0, 2 and 3 respectively in rear seat comfort, cargo room and ride quality. Its total score is 50. The average for the class, which includes the Honda S2000, Porsche Boxster and Porsche

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New Ferrari (Red) Super Facility Theme Park, Retail Store in Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Ferrari may have outdone itself. Not with a new car, but with a spectacular new facility in Abu Dhabi to house all things Ferrari. The Italian automotive manufacturer in collaboration with real estate developer Aldar Properties plan on rivaling Disneyland with their new Ferrari themed amusement park. Its estimated cost is $624 million. In conjunction with the announcement of the theme park, expected to open in 2010, was the opening a few days earlier of the Ferrari store in Dubai. The theme park was originally scheduled to open in time for Sunday’s Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. According to AME Info, the United Arab Emirates news agency, the facility will be approximately 250,00 square feet. According to AME:

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Lexus GS450h, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

It’s a heavy heavyweight in the premium sedan market. It features extraordinary technology, including some features other hybrids don’t offer. The GS 450h operates in gas-only or electric-only mode or a combination, for example, with little difference in performance but plenty of eco-friendly ambition. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (8) Rating of 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. In a hybrid? Impressive is an understatement. Cargo Room (7) Nicely configured and deep trunk, but where’s the light? Side pockets pull out for easy access. Front-seat cup holders a little snug. Controls (6) Elegant dials. Nothing too high-tech. Independent temperature controls “ping” when increased or decreased. Some numbers and switches and not-so-easy to reach, so there’s a learning curve. Details (7) Wood

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Scion Tops Consumer Reports 2009 Reliability List, Chrysler Falters

The Consumer Reports study is compilation of more than 1.4 million readers’ responses this spring to vehicles from previous years. The results are used to predict reliability for 2009 model. Here are top two best and worst cars (if available) from each category in the Consumer Reports’ reliability issue, available on newsstands Nov. 11. Small Car Best: Scion xD, Mini Cooper Clubman Worst: Nissan Versa (sedan), (no second pick) Family Car Best: Toyota Prius, Kia Optima Worst: Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Sebring (V-6) Sporty Car, Coupes & Convertibles Best: Lexus SC, Volvo C30 Worst: Chrysler Sebring (convertible), Saturn Sky Upscale/Luxury Car Best: Infinity M35 (rear-wheel drive), Lexus IS250 Worst: Cadillac STS (V-8), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (V-8) Wagons & Minivan Best: Toyota Matrix,

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Lincoln MKT, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review (Video)

The 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost ia unique car. It’s as luxurious as a . . . well, as a Lincoln. And it’s as fast as a Mustang — if a Mustang came with all-wheel drive. The MKT is equipped with about every modern convenience, including adaptive headlamps and cruise control, self parking, blind spot indicator, and duel sunroofs, to name a few. The Lincoln also comes with a 255 HP V-6 twin turbo that produces 0-60 mph in about 6 seconds. That’s as fast as the 385 HP Jaguar I recently drove. So does all of this luxury work in harmony with the hidden hot rod persona? 2010  Lincoln MKT AWD Price as Tested: $55,885.00; Engine, Transmission: 3.5.L V-6  EcoBoost

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Porsche to Audi, Lexus to BMW: Best (used) luxury cars under $30,000

For the past few years, I’ve become a regular reader of the AOL Autos. Its writers and editors seemingly have a never-ending stream of top-10 lists while approaching the automotive industry with the consumer in mind. The latest AOL Auto offering, written by Kevin Ransom, is the “baker’s dozen” list of best luxury cars for under $30,000. It’s a diverse selection, Porsche to Lincoln, Audi to Lexus. Says Ransom in his introduction: “For some buyers, the used-luxury market is a way of getting into that Lexus, Lincoln, Infiniti or Porsche you always wanted, without laying out $70,000 or $80,000 for something you’re not actually going to live in.” In conjunction with a recent Consumer Reports study, AOL has published its

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Jaguar XF, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review (Video)

Facts & Figures: 2010 Jaguar XF Specification Details Engine 8-cylinder, 4.2L Transmission Automatic (S6) Drivetrain Rear-Wheel Drive Fuel Economy 16 city / 25 hwy / 19 combined mpg Fuel Type Premium Gasoline 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 and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.

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Ferrari 430: An iconic sports car nearing its final production (with video)

Its replacement, the Ferrari 458 Italia was unveiled on the 28th July 2009, and is expected to go on sale in Spring 2010. The F430’s all-aluminum chassis was produced in partnership with Alcoa and is virtually identical to that of the previous model, the Ferrari 360. In the F430 it has been slightly re-worked and improved with extra stiffening beams around the floor pan. The car shares parts with the 360, including the roof, doors, front windshield, and passenger compartment-to-engine glass. Internally, both cars are referred to with the same model number (F131), although the F430 has the Evoluzione tag attached to show that it features some major changes. Internally, the car is simply known as the “Evo.” The MSRP

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The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering still planned for 2010 despite hotel closure

For 2010, a few of the celebrated marks will be: Featured Milestone Cars of 1934, 45 Years of the Shelby Mustang and Alfa Romeo Special Coachbuilders. As in past years, the event will also feature the tradition of The Great Ferraris along with Pre and Post-War Sport, Pre and Post-War Racing, Sport and Racing Motorcycles and Super Cars. “We are proud to be recognized as one of the most sought after events during Monterey’s Classic Cars Week,” said Sarah Cruse, General Manager of Quail Lodge. “Our team has excelled in creating an exclusive day-long celebration where automotive collectors and connoisseurs have an unmatched opportunity to compare the aesthetics and engineering of the world’s most extraordinary driving machines in a picturesque

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Ferrari Red will also be "Green" says company president

Ferrari, according to company president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, is also developing hybrid vehicles. Ferrari is currently developing a vehicle that will use alternative energy sources and which will be based on its Formula 1 vehicle. In Formula 1, Ferrari uses a Kinetic Energy Recycling System (KERS), designed to draw extra power from the brakes. Ferrari said its hybrid will be available to the general public in 2015. Montezemolo said he believes the public will embrace a hybrid or electric Ferrari since “It’s the best sports car in the world and it will still fundamentally be a Ferrari.” James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly

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New Ferrari sports car ready for debut in Frankfurt Motor Show

In its promotional material, Ferrari touts the new car’s mission: “The 458 Italia is designed for owners for whom the priority is uncompromising on-road performance with occasional track day capability, but who still demand a car that is usable in day-to-day driving like all Ferrari’s recent models.” In his description, Yost writes in part: “That mission will be accomplished with a new, direct-injection V-8 engine that produces 570 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 87 horsepower and 55 pound-feet over the Ferrari F430, which it will replace. “That translates to a 0-60 mph time of less than 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 202 miles per hour. All of that power will be delivered though a

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Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, 2009: Roman Mica's Rambling Review

Thirty some years later and somethings are still the same. Just like that Eldorado that my dad bought in 1978, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid has that almost magic American quality of being bigger on the outside than on the inside. After driving the Escalade for a week, I finally get why my dad bought that Eldorado. Just like the Eldorado, the Escalade is big shouldered, brash and very American (or is it Texan) in-your-face-sort of a ride. For instance, I could drive a Prius from Denver to Nebraska tailgating “that” car doing 55 mph in the fast lane and it would never budge an inch. On short trip down the local highway, the Escalade parted the slow-moving traffic in

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