Car Review & Test Drive

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I’ve gone on record dozens of times saying how much I love this chassis and engine combination in the 2011 Audi A3. I do think it’s a little pricey, but this is a nice little car if you’re willing to part with the extra dough to move up from a Volkswagen to what an Audi will cost you.

The build quality is among the best in the biz (the back seat is a little tight), it’s the right size and it’s plenty fast enough. It drives like a little sportster around town. Jump on the gas from a light and there is a little bit of turbo lag at the lower revs, but boost builds quickly and the engine has good response above 3,000 rpm. It drives like a bigger car on the freeway. It’s clearly tuned for autobahn speeds. Composed is the word that comes to mind. (more…)

Finally, somebody did tech right in an under-$20,000 car: Hyundai. The just-out Hyundai Veloster sports coupe comes standard with the sort of auto tech that you hope for but seldom get: a color LCD, Bluetooth, USB jack, Pandora, voice recognition, and integrated Blue Link telematics crash notification and travel assistance. That’s all in the $18,060 base model, along with a 40 mpg highway rating. One downside: In the interests of simplifying dealer inventory, Hyundai makes its navigation system part of a $4,000 options group that rolls in more fragile rims, a sunroof, and chrome grille surround.

The Veloster is a three-door sports coupe with one door on the left and two on the right, meant to compete with Mini Cooper, Volkswagen Beetle, Scion tC, and Honda CR-Z Hybrid. What sets apart the Veloster is the inclusion of all the tech features that come standard and work well. This is what you’ll see on all cars once automakers stop believing CDs are the core of the entertainment experience. Right now this much standard tech is Veloster-exclusive.

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What is it?

Since its debut in 2007, Audi’s A5 and S5 models have received a warm reception in the marketplace, being generally well-regarded by critics and selling in respectable numbers. Now, for the 2013 model year in the United States, the car has undergone a tidy facelift and profited from various technical upgrades, including a change in the engine lineup.

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DALLAS, September 20, 2011 — Knowing which car personality fits your personality can help narrow the filed when it comes time to decide which car is your next car.

Which vehicle fits my personality? The Jeep Wrangler. I own an older Wrangler and after driving the 2011 Jeep Wrangler Sahara last week, my faith was renewed again.

This is just one vehicle that gets it.

Many folks appreciate the Wrangler, proven by the many compliments received last week while driving it.

I’m not surprised though, considering the Jeep Wrangler is the ultimate off-road vehicle and when sitting at the wheel, well, I just felt power. Going back more than 50 years, the original “jeep” was used in the military. From there it was sold to the public as the CJ and about 30 years ago the Wrangler version was born.

Over the years the Jeep Wrangler has also morphed into something new. What was once down and dirty is now being offered in a four-door version. Inside, the interior is snazzy, just like it should be, strong on the outside but adding comfort on the inside.

There are three Jeep Wrangler trims and all come with a 3.8-liter V6 engine with 202 horsepower and 237 pound-feet of torque. Since it is a Jeep, the four-wheel drive is important no matter the trim.

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The $140,000 Maserati GT Convertible has been a big seller. With gorgeous styling, a 433-horsepower engine, and brand exclusivity, it's easy to see why.

The 2012 Maserati Gran Turismo Convertible is a potent mix of raw power and elegant styling
The Good: Beautiful exterior and sumptuous cabin, the sweetest engine sound around

The Bad: Tiny trunk, cramped rear seat, a bit creaky on bumpy roads; costlier than competition

The Bottom Line: A gorgeous cabriolet, but check out the new BMW 650i before buying

Make: Maserati

Model: Gran Turismo convertible

Model Year: 2012

Body_Type: Two-door, four-passenger

Price_Class: Maserati Gran Turismo Convertible

Up Front

When it comes to making cars that are things of beauty, hardly any people do it better than the Italians. The 2012 Maserati Gran Turismo convertible is a case in point, with distinctive Pinifarina exterior styling and a sumptuous, drop-dead-gorgeous interior that can be trimmed in a variety of soft leathers and exotic hardwoods.
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How much?     56,665 £
On sale in the UK:     Now
Engine:     6208cc 32 V8, 451bhp @ 6800rpm, 442lb ft @ 5000rpm
Transmission:     Seven-speed MCT automatic, rear-wheel drive
Performance:     4.5sec 0-62mph, 155mph, 23.5mpg, 280g/km CO2
How heavy / made of     1730kg/steel

First, some history. AMG has been updating and upgrading mid-size two-door Mercs for much longer thank you might think. The go-faster business began in the late 1970s with the W123 range – it came in three different AMG tuning stages, from the humble 2.3-litre four, past a 2.8-litre six, to the mighty 5.0-litre V8.
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PRICE: $46,660 (estimated); $46,660 as tested
EPA-ESTIMATED FUEL ECONOMY: 14 miles per gallon city, 23 mpg highway
POWERTRAIN: fuel-injected, DOHC, 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, two valves per cylinder with cylinder deactivation, five-speed automatic; 470 horsepower at 6,000 rpm; 470 pound-feet of
torque at 4,300 rpm
ACCELERATION: 0 to 60 in the high 4’s
FINAL THOUGHT: Steakhouse on four wheels

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Car Review & Test Drive - Range Rover Evoque 2011-2012

According to motoring legend, the very first Land Rover was conceived on Anglesey island as a drawing in the sand. So it’s fitting that this is where we first get to drive the company’s latest car, the Range Rover Evoque. The car may have begun life as a Land Rover model – the LRX concept, first seen at the 2008 Detroit motor show – but since then, other than shifting badges to Land Rover’s more luxurious brand, very little has changed.
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‘BREAKING THROUGH YOUR EVERDAY HYBRID’

With V8 power and 4-cylinder fuel economy, the new Infiniti M35h hybrid challenges drivers to rethink everything they know about luxury sedan hybrids, including the word ‘compromise’. What makes what was previously thought impossible is now possible with the Infiniti M Hybrid’s unprecedented balance of three attributes: Power-the innovative one-motor, two-clutch parallel hybrid system in the Infiniti M35h delivers thrilling performance and is capable of driving in pure electric mode at speeds up to 62mph; Luxury-maintaining the Infiniti M sedan’s engaging driving feel and extensive array of standard comfort, luxury and convenience features; Efficiency-utilizing the Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid system, with a powerful yet compact Lithium-ion battery pack, advanced 3.5 liter V6 engine, 50kW electric motor, connected to an electronic 7-speed automatic/sequential shifting transmission helps achieve an estimated fuel economy of 32mpg/highway and 27mpg/city with a net horsepower rating of 360.

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