Porsche 911 GT3 2010 First Test

 Click to view GalleryThis isn't meant for L.A. It's too rough, too noisy, too harsh, and too low. Its clutch engagement is stupendously stiff (after 10 minutes of crawling along I-405 North, your left leg burns with lactic acid buildup) and its gigantic six-piston front brakes hurl you at the windshield with every slight pedal tap. Let's not forget about that 3.8-liter flat-six. The entire car

Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce China Limited Edition

At the Beijing auto show, Lamborghini is joining Bentley among top-rung luxury manufacturers unveiling “China Edition” cars. Bentley introduced two China editions, one of its Flying Spur Speed and one of the Continental GT. Seen here is Lamborghini’s Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce China Limited Edition. And we thought Texas was the biggest country to get its own special-edition vehicles. (Yes, we

Hyundai Santa Fe 2010

It's human nature: Everyone wants to feel like a smart shopper -- like they've discovered a little-known product that delivers big-time bang for the buck. Perhaps something along the lines of the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe, for example. While this affordable midsize crossover has struggled to achieve household-name status, a growing number of savvy buyers in recent years have found that the Santa Fe

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 2011

There is no doubt that the all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata is a hugely important vehicle to the Korean automaker. Combining a swoopy new exterior with performance that rivals the best the midsize sedan segment has to offer, the all-new Sonata is out to increase market share in one of the hottest-contested classes in the U.S. Now, at the 2010 New York Auto Show, Hyundai has unveiled the requisite

Hyundai Equus 2011 - Hyundais New Luxury Flagship Checks All the Right Boxes, But Is It Enough?

One year ago, Hyundai placed its Korean-market Equus flagship luxury sedan on its show stand at New York "to test reaction," though validating the decision to bring it here was more the case. Now, with the 2011 Hyundai Equus bound for the U.S. on display at this year's New York show, Hyundai appears to be setting out to accomplish what Lexus did 20 years ago, only this time around, Lexus finds

BMW X5 2011 - A New Face and 400-hp Twin-Turbo Motivation

While BMW spent last year adding upgraded engines to its lineup, the X5 sat untouched, forced to enjoy only the 3.0-liter diesel found in the xDrive35d. A potent mill, yes, but the other Bimmers received a more efficient, single turbo inline-six; if they didn't, more power came to their twin-turbo setup. A 400-horsepower twin-turbo V-8 headlined the X6, while the M versions of the X6 and the X5

Mercedes-Benz F800 Style Concept - Auto Shows

By the time we head to the Geneva auto show in a few days, there won’t be many surprises left to report—which is fine by us, as we’ll be busy arguing with French-speaking cabbies about accepting euros instead of Swiss francs.Now Mercedes has prematurely announced the F800 Style concept, which seems to be a pretty faithful look at the upcoming 2011 CLS. If accurate, it looks like the next CLS will

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR - Long-Term Road Test

When our long-term Mi­tsubishi Lancer Evolution MR arrived in July 2008, we were hit by a wave of sticker shock. At an as-delivered price of $41,515, the Evo exceeded the starting price of a BMW 335i.The Mitsubishi comes with a 291-hp turbocharged engine, a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, and one of the most sophisticated all-wheel-drive systems on the market. But a great swath of hard

Jaguar XF Supercharged 2010 - Short Take Road Test

Just a single model year after the new Jaguar XF hit the streets, considerable powertrain improvements have found their way under its shapely hood. The previous 4.2-liter V-8 has disappeared from all but the base XF Luxury model, while the main mill has grown to 5.0 liters, gaining both horsepower and torque in its supercharged and naturally aspirated applications. Beyond uprating the engines,

Toyota Avalon 2011 - Auto Shows

In between deflecting questions about runaway Camrys and Priuses that don’t stop, Toyota found time at the Chicago auto show to unveil the 2011 Avalon, which goes on sale this spring. In truth, there's a lot of old Avalon here; the sheetmetal and interior are new, but the running gear and platform are the same. The new car features the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine that makes 268 hp, mated to a

Porsche Cayenne 2011 - Prototype Drive

Porsche purists may have hated the Cayenne from the moment of its inception, but the success of the truck has allowed the continued production of cars that enthusiasts yearn for. In fact, in one of the supreme ironies of the auto industry recently, the profitability of the VW Touareg–based SUV was a reason that Porsche was able to attempt a hostile takeover of  Volkswagen last year. Even though

Ford Edge and Edge Sport 2011 - Auto Shows

When it was introduced for the 2007 model year, the Edge was like a contemporary Mariah Carey—great to look at, but struggling with a weight problem and the resultant effects on performance. At the Chicago auto show, Ford shows off a freshening that enhances the Edge’s appearance, overhauls the interior, and, although not directly addressing the issue of mass, will increase performance. Like most

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid - Auto Shows

Porsche’s plans for hybrid road vehicles are nothing new—the company plans to introduce a hybrid Cayenne SUV in the truck’s next generation, as well as a hybrid version of its Panamera sedan—but at the Geneva auto show, the German sports-car king will introduce a hybrid race car based on its 911 GT3 R. It’s no mere concept, either. Following its debut, the car will head to the Nürburgring, where

Lightweight Audi A5 2.0T Concept - Prototype Drive

Taking weight out of a modern car can be tricky: Crash regulations have necessitated heavier structures, emissions laws have forced additional complexity into vehicles, and amenities have added dozens of electronic control units and untold miles of cable. Many automakers, however, are now experimenting with shedding pounds as a means to maintain performance despite the current trend toward engine

BMW 335is Coupe 2011 - First Drive Review

To fill the gap in the 3-series lineup between the 300-hp 335i and 414-hp M3, BMW is introducing the 2011 335is coupe and convertible. We were unaware that said gap needed to be filled, but we’re told that the 335i is seen in the U.S. as just an ordinary 3-series, and as such, there’s room for something more exotic than a 335i but less outlandish than an M3. Now that we’ve been given the chance

Mazda RX-8 R3 2009 - Short Take Road Test

New sports coupes arrive like summer lightning and depart like uneaten guacamole: ignored, slowly fading to brown, awaiting the inevitable flush. The six-year-old Mazda RX-8 languishes through 2008 with sales the Hubble telescope wouldn’t register: just 2591 units through the end of August. Mazda isn’t giving up, however. The Hiroshima headquarters considers rotary engines integral to its

Mazda Five 2011

The bulk of the Mazda lineup has recently been updated, and the Japanese carmaker will bring its Mazda 5 small minivan in line when it unveils the new 2011 model at the Geneva auto show in early March. The update represents the model’s first major freshening in a while, and the first since going on sale in the U.S. in 2005. The 5, which is known as the Premacy in Japan, takes on styling cues from

Ford Edge Sport 2011 - Spied

The big reveal of the refreshed 2011 Ford Edge will take place in about two weeks at the 2010 Chicago auto show, but why wait—these spy snaps give us a pretty clear idea of what form it will take. Not only that, but this prototype also previews the Sport trim, which should continue to be the sharpest-looking Edge in the drawer. As with its twin, the Lincoln MKX, the angular Edge undergoes a

Lincoln MKS With EcoBoost 2010 - First Out of the Gate

The arrival of the MKS sedan last year spurred hopes that it might revitalize Ford’s historically uncompetitive luxury brand, helping Lincoln to better compete with Cadillac, Lexus, and other aspirational marques. Most of the hype stemmed from the stunning MKR concept that debuted at the 2007 Detroit auto show; it floated the idea that future Lincolns wouldn’t be dowdy, livery-service specials

Lamborghini Gallardo 2010

Vehicle Highlights The 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo (guy-YARD-oh) should not see many major changes. This all-wheel-drive exotic should remain the Italian company's entry-level car. The car should come in LP560-4 hardtop and LP560-4 Spyder convertible versions. The Spyder convertible has a power-folding soft top. Lamborghini's Ad Personam program, new last year, should remain available. This

Lincoln MKX - Auto Shows 2011

Mid-cycle vehicle updates usually mean new headlights, a reworked bumper, and a fresh set of wheels, but Ford’s been taking the mid-cycle thing a bit further lately. Indeed, while its cars aren’t using all-new platforms or mechanicals, the company’s most recent mid-cycle changes are thorough enough to convince most people that the vehicles are all-new. The 2010 iterations of the Fusion and

Audi RS6 Avant - First Drive Review 2010

Please make sure all passengers have their seatbelts securely fastened and their carry-on baggage stowed before taxiing to the nearest motorway. Cross-check all instruments, and make sure the road ahead is clear. Then say, “All call,” like you know what it means. Roll onto the entrance ramp, and squeeze the throttle gently—but with determination—until the pedal is planted firmly to the floor.

Chevrolet Aveo RS Concept - Auto Shows

The new Chevrolet Aveo RS concept debuting at the Detroit auto show reveals that GM has something smart and small in the works ready to meet Ford’s much-ballyhooed new Fiestasubcompact.Larger than the current Aveo and donning what Chevy calls a “European hot-hatch look,” the five-door “Borocay Blue” RS show car is intended to appeal to the youth market—or any market, really. It previews the

BMW M3 2008- Baubles and Bolt-Ons

A car has got to be pretty spectacular to win over the curmudgeons here at 1585 Eisenhower Place, especially when familiarity sets in over the course of 40,000 miles. But our Sparkling Graphite Metallic M3 did indeed win us over. For less than $70,000, the M3 bolts from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and turns the quarter-mile in 12.7 seconds at 113 mph. It pulls an exceptional 0.96 g on

Ford Mustang GT 2011 - Auto Shows

Few automobiles have had the sort of longstanding street cred given to Ford’s Mustang GT. But the deference it has enjoyed for much of its four-plus decades has been called into question recently now that recently introduced muscle-machines from Chevy and Dodge have come along with larger, high-tech V-8s. With its comparatively small 4.6-liter V-8 under the hood, the Mustang has had a lot to