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