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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

News Service, Sedans

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

Automotive Reviews, Sedans

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

Sedans

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

Sedans

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

Sedans

Toyota Camry, 2012: More spacious, more powerful

Toyota has launched the seventh-generation Camry, the perennially best-selling sedan. The Japanese manufacturer hopes it will again fare well in the competitive car segment that includes top rivals Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata and Chevrolet Malibu. If history repeats itself, the Camry will sell well. More than 15 million Camry models have sold worldwide since the car debuted in 1983. The 2012 Camry features increased interior room and will offer improved driving and a quieter driver, according to the manufacturer. "The all-new 2012 Camry blends an evolution of the car's values — such as comfort, efficiency, reliability and safety — with a more appealing design and engaging driving experience," said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general

Automotive Reviews, Sedans

Infiniti G37, 2011 car review

Want something different from the usual sports/luxury sedans? Try the often-overlooked Infiniti G. It’s from Nissan‘s upscale division and compares favorably with other sports/luxury cars. The 2011 G sedan comes as the G37 with a 3.7-liter V-6 that produces 328 horsepower or as the new G25, which has a 2.5-liter V-6 with 218 horsepower. That engine is from Nissan’s Japanese-market Skyline model. The G25 has the same exterior, interior and chassis as the G37, which means it has the same slick body but low front end that can be damaged by high curbs if a driver isn’t careful. The G25 does 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds. That’s hardly crawling, but is nearly two seconds slower to 60 than the thundering

Sedans

Honda Accord, 2012: Better gas mileage, more models

The 2012 Honda Accord, perennially among the best-selling cars in the United States but facing increased sedan competition, will include a new trim, better fuel economy and minor technology improvements. The Accord sedan has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s highest score of 5 stars. The car scored a 5 for overall frontal crash safety, overall side-crash safety and rollover resistance. Sedans for 2012 are the 4-cylinder Accord LX, LX-P (Premium), SE, EX and EX-L, and the 6-cylinder Accord EX V6 and EX-L V6. Coupes are the 4-cylinder Accord LX-S, EX, EX-L, and the 6-cylinder Accord EX V6 and EX-L V6. The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System is available on all Accord EX-L models. There are 4 and 6-cylinder engines

Sedans

Honda recall: 2.26 million Accords, CR-Vs have shifting woes

Honda has announced the recall of more than 2 million vehicles in the U.S. and China, including popular Accord, CR-V and Element models because of automatic transmission software issue. The recall in the United States affects 1.5 million Accords and from model years 2005 through 2010, the CR-V (2007-2010) the Element (2005-2008). According to the automaker, shifting between the reverse, neutral and drive positions can damage a bearing in the automatic transmission system. The problem could cause the engine to stall or make the parking gear difficult to engage. Honda will also recall 760,515 Accords, Odysseys and Spirior cars in China, according to a statement on its Chinese website, as well as a smaller amount of vehicles in the Middle

Sedans

Honda Civic again gets poor rating from Consumer Reports

The 2012 Honda Civic, redesigned for it ninth edition, has drawn extensive criticism from Consumer Reports, the independent review publication that as recently as 2007 gave the perennially top-ranked small sedan its top score. The publication’s biggest complaint was the Civic LX’s cheap plastic interior, numb steering, weak stopping power, road noise and flighty handling. A lack of Bluetooth and outside temperature display in the $19,405 LX sedan dropped its score from a “very good” 78 to a “mediocre” 61. Consumer Reports also didn’t list the Honda Civic among its recommended vehicles last year, but its score wasn’t as low. The 2012 Honda Civic’s score was the second-lowest among a test of 12 small sedans, with redesigned Volkswagen Jetta scoring

Sedans

Hyundai Azera 2012: Redesigned sedan set for LA debut

The redesigned 2012 Hyundai Azera, the poorest-selling of the hot-selling manufacturer’s models which will be available early next year, will be unveiled in November at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. “We’re in the final stages of ride/handling tuning for the 2012 Azera, and it’s dialing in nicely,” said John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, on the company’s Twitter account. Hyundai Azera Specs Not Available Hyundai has not released details of the new design, but a company spokesperson to the automotive site Inside Line that the Azera will get get the “fluidic design language of the Hyundai Sonata, Elantra and Accent.” Some automotive websites have reported the Azera may get a new 3.3-liter direct-injection V6 producing around 300 horsepower.

Sedans

Saab 9-5, 2011 car review

The redone 2011 Saab 9-5 Saab can hold its own with top European sports/luxury sedans. The Swedish automaker once had a reputation for being a capable but offbeat (by U.S. standards) outfit with a distinguished aircraft design background. I once roared across Sweden in a new Saab turbocharged model on a media trip and toured the plant where Saab built jet fighter airplanes. General Motors bought part of Saab years ago, then purchased the entire outfit —leaving it pretty much alone during most of its ownership. That allowed Saab to continue making cars considered out of the mainstream by many Americans. But Saab was marginally promoted and thus wasn’t on shopping lists of many sports/luxury foreign car buyers. Nevertheless, its

Sedans

Acura TL, 2012 car review

The aggressive, blunt styling of the Acura TL has given way for 2012 to a smoother, more mainstream look. The nicely built car’s controversial front “beak” is gone, replaced by a reshaped fascia with a smaller grille. The rear also has been revised, with new bumpers, reshaped taillights and a thinner trunk edge. The car’s front overhang has been reduced, which helps give the car a lower, wider appearance. Adding to a sporty look are prominent dual exhaust outlet tips and body color door handles. The TL is a sleek four-door sedan offered with front-wheel drive or Acura’s advanced “Super Handling” all-wheel drive (SH-AWD) system. That system prevents torque steer and helps stability. It comes only with the larger 3.7-liter,

Sedans, Automotive Reviews

Hyundai, Honda lead new decree: 40 mpg the new 30 mpg

If 40 mpg is the new 30 mpg in the automotive world, then more manufacturers — Hyundai to Volkswagen, Honda to Toyota — have reached the new milestone as car buyers seek more economical options. Hyundai is at the forefront of the influx of 40 mpg with newly designed 2011 Hyundai Elantra. With its base price of $14,830 and fuel economy of 29 in city driving and 40 mpg on the the highway, it costs an estimated $51 for a tank of gas (at $4 per gallon) and will travel an estimated 538 miles per tank. The 2011 Hyundia Sonata (hybrid) is also listed at 40 mpg in highway driving. Here are several other 2011 models averaging at least 40

News Service, Sedans

Mazda recalls half-million Mazda3 models for faulty wipers

Mazda is recalling nearly a half-million Mazda3 (the Mazda Axela in some countries) globally to fix an electronic malfunction that could prevent the windshield wipers from working properly. Mazda said no accidents were reported, but 29 failure complaints were received by the manufacturer. The recall covers cars and knock-down parts for the Mazda3 that were shipped between Jan. 2008 and Jul. 2010. It affects 157,700 units in North America, 91,600 in Europe, 84,000 in China and about 20,000 in Japan. The Mazda3 was introduced in 2004 and the second generation was announced for the 2010 model year. The same problem plagues the Mazda3 and Mazda3 MPS models produced between January 7, 2008 and December 22, 2008. According to the company

Sedans

Hyundai Sonata, 2012: Better mpg, more standard features

Hyundai, the hottest-selling manufacturer in the United States, has further intensified the midsize sedan segment by increasing gas mileage and including Blue Link as a standard feature on the 2012 Sonata. Blue Link® from Hyundai provides up-to-the-minute traffic and weather information and is a lifeline to emergency services and roadside assistance. Synched to a smart phone, Blue Link will let the owner know where their Sonata is in a crowded baseball stadium parking lot or shopping center. In addition to Blue Link, the 2012 Sonata will feature more safety, technology and convenience offerings including, HD Radio Technology and new seven-inch touch-screen navigation. Source: hyundaiusa.com. Facts & Figures: 2012 Hyundai Sonata Specification Details Engine 2.0L Turbo 4-cylinder Transmission Automatic 6-spd Drivetrain

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