February 2010 Archives

The Car Connection have published their review of the 2010 Nissan Cube. 'Unlike some vehicles that feature attention-getting exterior styling but boring interiors, the 2010 Nissan Cube carries its design theme into the cabin. Motor Trend says that it features "pronounced curvature in the front dashboard as well as more subtly arcing surfaces for rear passengers." Edmunds observes that the Nissan Cube's "basic cabin design has soft curves and shapes that are a bit different from the typical hard-edged style employed by most rivals." Most visible on the interior of the Nissan Cube is a "ripple effect" that Autoblog notes "dominates the headliner and is repeated in the bottoms of the cupholders and on the speaker grilles." In pictures, this element can seem a bit overbearing, but reviewers all reacted positively after seeing the physical manifestation of the "Jacuzzi lounge" theme.'

Gearlog have published their review of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. 'The completely redesigned 2011 Hyundai Sonata is the best midsize sedan you can buy. Every Sonata comes standard with Bluetooth, USB jack, and satellite radio. There's a full set of safety features. The styling dazzles. It's big inside. Handling is improved, it's quicker, and it gets 35 mpg on the highway. It's cheaper than the competition. The only drawbacks are the costlier package price of the navigation system for 2011, no parking sonar option, and the lack of a driver assistance system offered by one competitor. Even with that, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is the car to beat in its segment.'

A review of the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Touring has been posted over at LeftLaneNews.com. 'Ultra conservative on the outside, it would have to be one of the most understated vehicles in the marketplace today. Verging on boring, it tries hard to not offend and it generally doesn't. Perhaps that is the whole point of the conservative styling behind the T&C. It borrows styling cues from the Chrysler 300C, with headlights and grille pieces similar to that iconic four-door sedan - but that's where the style ends. Privacy glass breaks up the large expanse of side panels and helps to define the T&C's waist. Speaking of panels, the gaps between panels were uniform and well-fitted throughout. Chrysler claims best in class aero figures for the Town & Country.'

The Truth About Cars have published a review of the Mazda 6 S Grand Touring. 'The S Grand Touring trim package is the top of the Mazda 6 lineup and this one came equipped with the only available options, the technology and navigation packages. That makes it as fully kitted as a 6 can get with an MSRP right around $33,000. The car had Mazda's 3.7 liter 272 HP DOHC 24 valve V6 with variable valve timing mated to a 6 speed automatic with available tap shifting. Equipment included power and heated leather seats, dual zone automatic climate control, glass sunroof, high end Bose audio system with six-disc changer, 10 speakers, sat radio, a nav system, auto dimming mirrors, rain and snow sensing wipers, stability control, blind spot warning.'

A review of the 2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia luxury SUV has been posted over at BusinessWeek.com. 'The Transsyberia is named after a two-week, 4,000-mile-plus Russian race that traverses the rugged reaches of Mongolia and Siberia. Modified Porsche Cayennes have dominated the race in recent years, and the new model is a production version of the vehicles used in the race. What sets the Transsyberia apart is its combination of a powerful engine and off-roading gear at (for Porsche) a reasonable price. The Transsyberia is powered by the same direct-injected engine found in the sporty Cayenne GTS, a 4.8-liter, 405 horsepower V8, coupled with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic.'

CNET have published their review of the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour EX-L. 'The 2010 Crosstour is undeniably functional; the rear hatch has inserts that lets it be either a large cargo space or a traditional closed trunk. And once in the driver's seat, the car feels like a Honda Accord, until you look in the rear-view mirror. With its horizontally bisected rear glass, the view out the back looks the same as in a Prius or Insight. The Crosstour that we reviewed was in EX-L trim, with the surprising addition of all-wheel drive. As we drove it up a rocky embankment to position it for a photo shoot, it began to feel like a capable off-road vehicle, high enough from the ground not to bottom out on a ridge. With the Crosstour, Honda is stepping into Subaru's market, offering a carlike all-wheel driver with enough cabin room for weekend ski trips.'

Motor Trend have published their "test driven" review of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE . 'Step inside the new Sonata and the interior has been revamped to align with the sedan's sportier sheetmetal. Medium-quality black soft plastic is the predominant theme, with accenting silver trim that gives the interior a modern, tech-oriented feel. Our tester had Hyundai's 6.5-inch infotainment display mounted atop its center stack, offering radio, Bluetooth and navigation functionality, but oddly, no rear-view monitoring capability. Just below the display, an eye-catching chromed human figure is portrayed to change the ventilation mode. This proved to be a bit disappointing though, as the figure operates a single toggle, rather than directing airflow towards the section pressed, as most staffers originally expected.'

Popular Mechanics have published their "test driven" review of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. 'The 3200-pound Sonata is only an inch longer than the old model, yet it provides more interior volume than any midsize sedan and at 16.4 cubic feet, nearly matches the Mazda6's trunk space--the class's cargo-hauling leader. The midsize-sedan powertrain formula has traditionally been to offer a standard four-cylinder engine--which make up the majority of sales--and a V6 for the handful of buyers that want more power. Hyundai will blaze a different path. The new Sonata won't offer a V6. Instead, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, with "well north of 250 hp" according to Krafcik, will become an option this fall.'

Jalopnik have published their "First Drive" review of the Hennessey VelociRaptor 500. 'Hennessey plans to produce 100 VelociRaptors for the 2010 model year. The packages can be purchased as a mail-order kit ($10,950) or a turnkey upgrade ($14,995) installed by either Hennessey's California or Texas facility or a participating dealer. (The turnkey solution offers a one-year warranty.) Given that a Raptor starts at around $40,000, this seems like an excellent way to make an awesome truck even awesomer. Wonderfully, stupidly, awesomely ridiculous. We love it.'

Car And Driver have published their "Short Take Road Test" of the 2010 Lotus Exige S 260 supercar. 'The S 260 comes standard with all the track-focused options: a limited-slip differential, adjustable dampers, even launch control. Still, the narrowest of test drivers thought the "upgraded" carbon-fiber-framed seats were too pinchy. The ProBax seats in the stand­ard Exige keep your body in place with an unexpected amount of comfort, further encouraging a base-model purchase. And remember, all this stuff made the Exige S 260 no quicker on one of America's premier racetracks.'

A review of the 2010 Mazda CX-7 i Sport crossover SUV has been posted over at The Garage Blog. 'Rewind five years ago to see what Mazda had on offer, and you may be shocked to find no crossovers at all-just the MPV minivan and the Ford Escape based Tribute. Mazda's answer arrived in 2007 in the form of the CX-7. In typical Mazda fashion, the CX-7 was like no other CUV out there. This was no wallflower-svelte, edgy, well-equipped, but above all, sportier than any crossover had a right to be.

The USA Today have published a review of the 2010 Audi A3 TDI. 'Car companies that believe they must tune transmissions to shift somewhat unresponsively to get good fuel economy should run the A3 TDI around their test tracks, then try to develop something as good as the six-speed S Tronic -- a dual-clutch, automatically shifted manual. Those are growing in popularity because they are more fuel-efficient than most automatics or even conventional manuals. The only tiny wrinkle might be a moment's hesitation when floored from a standstill. So, gold medal for the drivetrain.'

Auto Express have published thier "test driven" review of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS supercar. 'At 1,370kg, the RS is around 25kg lighter than the regular GT3, even though its wider body is heavier to start with. The most obvious weight-saving measures include the fitting of a composite engine lid, plastic rear windscreen, carbon wing and light wheels. But the RS also makes do without cup-holders or sound-deadening in the roof. What's more, it features fabric pulls instead of interior door handles to shave off a few more grams. Climb into the bucket seat - trimmed in race-style, flame-resistant Nomex - and you're faced by a minimalist dash with no sound system or air-con. These are available only as optional extras. Adding to the drama is the fact that all you can see through the rear view mirror is the roll cage.'

Inside Line have published their "First drive" review of the 2010 Maserati GranTurismo convertible. 'Unlike most convertible versions of modern coupes, the 2010 Maserati GranTurismo drophead was not engineered in parallel with the closed edition. Instead, Maserati says it wanted to concentrate on getting the coupe right before thinking about the convertible. Although this is undeniably a convertible version of the GranTurismo coupe rather than an entirely new model, it has been extensively reengineered and restyled to suit its al fresco role. Maserati has certainly taken the task seriously, producing what it claims to be the stiffest body shell in the class despite a long, 115.9-inch wheelbase.'

A review of the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour EX-L AWD sedan has been posted over at CNET. 'The 2010 Crosstour is undeniably functional; the rear hatch has inserts that lets it be either a large cargo space or a traditional closed trunk. And once in the driver's seat, the car feels like a Honda Accord, until you look in the rear-view mirror. With its horizontally bisected rear glass, the view out the back looks the same as in a Prius or Insight. The Crosstour that we reviewed was in EX-L trim, with the surprising addition of all-wheel drive. As we drove it up a rocky embankment to position it for a photo shoot, it began to feel like a capable off-road vehicle, high enough from the ground not to bottom out on a ridge. With the Crosstour, Honda is stepping into Subaru's market, offering a carlike all-wheel driver with enough cabin room for weekend ski trips.'

The Independent have published a review of the Citroën DS3. 'So, meet Citroën's new DS. This time it's a range, a sub-brand, a new concept in Citroënism rather than just one car. It arrives as Citroën re-embraces its past, but this is not retro-flavoured in the mould of a Mini or a Beetle. It is instead a more luxurious, more indulgent, more heart-warming alternative to mainstream Citroëns. There will be DS4 and DS5 models, but first, please meet the DS3. Based on the recently-launched C3 super-mini, and vying for buyers tempted also by a Mini or an Alfa Mito, it's a pert-looking, three-door hatchback whose blade-like roof apes the Mini's but whose "shark's fin" centre pillar - which seemingly leaves fresh air between the fin and the roof - is entirely its own.'

The Truth About Cars have published their review of the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T. 'Like the Genesis sedan, the Genesis Coupe has an attractive but derivative exterior. Where the sedan cribs from Lexus (which in turn cribbed from the Germans), the coupe cribs from Infiniti. In both cases, the Hyundai has a premium appearance and is arguably more attractive than the cars that inspired it. The problem: with one exception the coupe's design is not itself an original. Even people who don't know cars can identify a Camaro, Mustang, or Z on sight. The Genesis Coupe's styling provides no such basis for a clear, unique visual identity.'

A review of the 2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum has been posted over at Left Lane News. 'Like the all-new Cowboys Stadium that stands nearly spitting distance from the Arlington Assembly plant, the Escalade ESV Platinum is reserved only for the fortunate few. For 2010, Cadillac added the Platinum treatment to its Suburban-sized Escalade ESV - think sumptuous aniline leather, real inlaid wood trim, unique LED headlamps, five LCD screens, a CTS-inspired front fascia and a $10,000 premium. Cadillac says that it wants either a sporty V version or a Platinum edition for each of its models. Clearly, the luxe-lined Platinum makes more sense here than a lowered 'Slade with a supercharger and a six-speed stick, although our demented automotive enthusiast minds sort of want to see that bizarre Escalade-V come to fruition just for the absurdity.

The Garage have published a review of the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe. 'Nice to look at yes, but the Genesis was mostly easy to use too, leaving you to enjoy the driving. While the gauges were clear and easy to read (a dark blue ring surround lent a nice touch), the blue digital odometer, trip computer and idiot lights are illegible if any sunlight comes near them. The center stack controls are uncluttered for such a well-equipped car. The auto climate control was "set and forget" and never required any fiddling to stay comfortable, unlike other similarly equipped cars. The 10-speaker Infinity stereo had a good, clean sound quality whose bass didn't beat you over the head. For a low lying sports coupe, the Genesis offers an airy cabin with excellent visibility.'

Car Advice have published their "test driven" review of the Chevrolet Camaro SS. 'Chevrolet released the Camaro in 1966 and while sales of 235,147 cars still trailed that of the Ford Mustang, the Camaro was easily the popular choice for the motoring enthusiast. Re-birthed as 'Bumblebee' in the 2009 blockbuster movie 'Transformers', the new Camaro SS with its 6.2-litre all- aluminium V8 donk, is still very much positioned within the muscle car category.'

CNET have published their review of the 2010 Mazda CX-9 Touring. 'The CX-9 comes in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trims; however, all trims get the same 3.7-liter V-6 and six-speed-automatic transmission. The car can also be had in front- or all-wheel-drive formats. Our car, in Crystal White Pearl Mica, came with the Touring trim that adds niceties such as leather power adjustable seats. All trims get a hands-free Bluetooth phone system. Rather than the big, squared-off style of SUVs, the CX-9 mostly looks like a jumbo-size wagon. The 2010 model shows a little of Mazda's new Nagare design language in the front end, but it hasn't gone through as complete a transformation as the upcoming Mazda5 has.'

Motor Trend have published their "First Drive" review of the 2011 Aston Martin Rapide. 'Unlike the Panamera, every curve of this British hatchback makes sense, from the crisp hood creases to the cleanly backswept greenhouse and flared fenders. The look is aggressive, yet sophisticated, and invokes jet-set imagery and flights of fancy. Opening the doors completes this visual metaphor. Aston Martin calls them swan-wing doors, given the 12-degree upward arc of their opening sweep, and asserts they have a practical benefit beyond curb avoidance.'

A review of the 2010 Volkswagen Golf Wagon has been posted over at The Motor Report. 'All new, but featuring Volkswagen's 'family' face, the 2010 Golf Wagon is instantly recognisable as a variant of the familiar Golf hatch that debuted last year. As with the hatch, it follows Volkswagen's current design DNA with a horizontally-styled grille and sleeker headlights than the previous-gen Golf. Naturally, it's from the B-pillar back that the differences between the Wagon and the hatch are most pronounced. In the metal, the addition of that wide-opening cargo space makes the Golf Wagon look and feel a size larger than its 'little brother'.'

The Car Connection have published a "test driven" review of the Tesla Roadster. 'Occasionally on full stomp from a stop, the traction control light would flicker. But as we headed west of Palo Alto, up Sand Hill Roads twisties and switchbacks, the wet and TC allowed me to explore what the car felt like when it began to move around. To do that on a dry day, I'd have to be entering and executing those tight, blind bends a LOT faster - somehow not wise in someone else's $129,000 roadster. (Go ahead, say it. Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy.) What the blast up and down the hill did uncover was an incredibly balanced car. On occasion, while entering or accelerating through a corner, the traction control light would catch my eye just as Id feel a hint of squirm from the front end (never from the rear).'

Car And Driver have published their "test driven" review of the 2011 Audi A8. 'The 2011 A8 goes on sale this fall at a starting price of around $90,000. The A8 will be available here with just one engine when it launches: the long-lived, direct-injection 4.2-liter DOHC V-8. As installed in this third-generation A8, the V-8 gains 22 hp and 4 lb-ft of torque over its previous iteration, with output now totaling 372 hp and 328 lb-ft. The horsepower figure is just enough to make it the least powerful in the segment, ceding eight ponies to the Lexus LS460 and 10 to the S550. Audi says the A8 returns 13-percent-better fuel economy than does its predecessor, which translates roughly to 18 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway for the new car.'

Inside Line have published their "test driven" review of the 2011 Aston Martin Rapide. 'The Rapide chassis is based on Aston Martin's customary VH architecture of extruded bonded aluminum, but it is all-new from the bulkhead rearward according to Minards. "It's not simply a stretched DB9," he says. A new rear subframe houses a new fuel tank and is the foundation for the folding rear seats and relatively roomy storage area of 10.6 cubic feet behind them.'

A review of the 2010 Ford Mustang Convertible has been posted over at CNET. 'The 2010 Mustang gets Ford's Sync technology, not available on prior versions, so we packed a Zune MP3 player loaded with more than 50 gigabytes of music, along with an iPhone to pair with the car. Our test model Mustang lacked the excellent navigation system that Ford has been including in its cars of late, suggesting we stick to more familiar roads. With its Sunset Gold Metallic paint job, the Mustang stood out, the body lines for the 2010 update cutting a striking figure. Few four-seater convertibles look good with the top down, but the Mustang maintained its retro styling with the black canvas up or down. The bulky nose of the car with its bulging hood drew most of the visual focus.'

The Garage have published their review of the 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. 'Apart from two and four door, the Wrangler comes in three flavors-base Sport, user-friendly Sahara, and off-road master Rubicon. Goodies unique to the Rubicon include Rock-Trac part-time 4WD, Tru-Lok electronic differentials, front and rear Next Generation Dana heavy duty axles, rock rails, detachable sway bars and the aforementioned off-road tires. Our Surf Blue tester, with the Media Center and optional three-piece Freedom Top stickered at $35,975USD-a lot of coin. The money in the Rubi is in the hardware, and software. If leaving the pavement behind is a big part of your intentions in a Wrangler, go for it.'

SearchChicago have published their review of the 2010 Nissan King Cab Pro-4X pick-up. 'The King Cab is offered with either a 6.5- or 8-foot bed. Pro-4X decals tout the high-end package while halogen fog lights and body-colored grille and bumpers give it a great-looking go-anywhere attitude. Nissan's Pro-4X is extremely capable and it will meet the needs of serious pickup drivers. Base priced at $33,800, my tester was packed with options for work or fun, capability and convenience. Giving the full-size Titan some credentials is a standard 5.6-liter Endurance V-8, delivering 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque.'

A review of the new Rolls Royce Ghost has been posted over at The Independent. 'The most remarkable thing about the Ghost, though, is this. Two-and-a-half tons of car it may be, but it's an unfeasibly enjoyable driving machine. The 6.6-litre, twin-turbocharged, 570bhp has much to do with this (it's actually significantly more powerful than the Phantom's engine), but it's also the way such a large car feels so agile. It steers precisely, with a credible heft to the action, it never floats or wallows, yet it soaks up bumps as if remaking the road as it goes. Only the worst ice-ravaged pothole generates a distant shudder somewhere below.'

The USA Today have published their review of the 2010 MazdaSpeed3 compact sedan. 'The Speed3 is based on the latest remake of the basic Mazda3, a compact sedan that's been grown from the same seeds that bloomed into the well-regarded European-market Ford Focus, a U.S.-market version of which isn't due until next year. And when Focus arrives, it won't have a high-performance version like this, at least not for a while. Ford's a bit fuzzy on that. The Speed3 is here now, and it is the best high-performance bargain out there.'

CNET have published their review of the 2010 Acura TSX V-6 sedan. 'The 2010 model only goes 18 city miles and 27 highway miles on the same amount of fuel, but in doing so it generates 79 more horsepower and 82 more pound-feet of twisting torque. Would we take a 16 percent hit to our combined fuel economy for a 40 percent increase in power? Sure! With its newfound power, the TSX accelerates away from traffic lights like nobody's business. Need to merge into freeway traffic? No problem, just give it a little gas and the sedan gains speed in a linear and drama-free manner. There's no more waiting until 7,000rpm for full power, simply press the pedal and go.'

The Truth About Cars have published a review of the 2011 Fiat Bravo 1.4 T-Jet. 'The interior is a revelation, speaking in Fiat terms. This is undoubtedly one of the best interiors the Italian company has ever produced to date, and we weren't even bothered by the fake carbon-fiber panels which felt fairly good to the touch. Most controls are logically arranged and there's orange ambient lighting all around. But wait, there's more: the door and trunk close with a reassuring thump that's been long missing from Fiat's midsize offerings.

A review of the 2012 Lexus LFA Prototype has been published over at LeftLaneNews.com. 'Equipped with a single choice of Formula 1-inspired V10 power, the LFA utilizes the Lexus Type 1LRGUE engine. It's a 4.8-liter powerplant, developed from experience with Toyota's F1 team that shares no parts with any other Lexus automobile, save for the paper oil filters. By design, it is lower, shorter and narrower than the 3.5-liter V6 engine utilized in many other Lexus models in the lineup. In the process, though, it produces 552 horsepower peaking at 8,700 rpm (you read that right), and 354 lb-ft. of torque at 6,800 rpm. Constructed by sub-contractor Yamaha, the engines will be hand-built and finished with a plaque signed by the engine builder, a de rigueur move for high-end performance cars these days. Cylinder heads and intakes are designed using normal practices, but Yamaha's musical instrument division has jumped into the fray to enhance the engine sound by tuning the intakes to bring different harmonics to the car.'

Auto Express have published their "test driven"review of the Audi A8 4.2 TDI saloon. 'Jump inside and you can't fail to be impressed by the ambience and the space on offer. In comes a wraparound dashboard complete with a gear selector that looks like it's come from a multi-million pound yacht and some gorgeous ambient lighting. Legroom and bootspace are vast while innovation is everywhere too, from the updated MMI system - complete with a touchpad that allows the driver to 'write' his destination into the satnav and boasts a Google search function - to the infrared nightvision system that can spot pedestrians in the dark and help to avoid collisions.'

A review of the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has been posted over at PickupTrucks.com. 'The Raptor was impossible to hide in Los Angeles. Its color, width (6.6-inches more than a standard F-150) and height were immediately noticeable. That helped in traffic because most drivers gave it a respectable cushion of space, but parking it could be almost as challenging as running the Raptor over a technical trail. Both required some recon and planning before executing, but we weren't going to tear the roof off the Raptor in the desert like we might maneuvering it in a garage. If we thought driving a clean Raptor was embarrassing, we imagined it would be infinitely more humiliating to air down the tires to squeeze out from under a support beam.'

Paul Tan have published their review of the Ford Mondeo saloon. 'The Ford Mondeo is the best example of Europe's answer to the D-segment saloon, a class dominated by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in our part of the world, so naturally, these are the reference points we'll use to compare the Ford with. Fully imported from Belgium, the highly specified 2.3-litre Mondeo is priced within the ballpark of the Thai-made Camry and the Melaka assembled Accord, which makes one wonder about the profit margins of both Japanese companies.'

Car And Driver have published their "Short Take Road Test" of the 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports. 'The Supersports name sounds quintes­sentially British, what we expect from the chuffed ironmongers at Bentley. From bonnet to boot it's heavy but down about 170 pounds from the GT Speed. The front seats are deep, stiff, manually adjusted carbon-fiber cocoons lined with leather and diamond-quilted Alcantara. They wear well for a few hours, before back fatigue begins to set in. The rear seats are gone. A glossy carbon-fiber pole stretches across the empty chasm. It could serve as a shoulder-harness mount but is probably there for liability, so gits don't sit where there are no seatbelts.'

A review of the 2010 Volkswagen Golf has been posted over at the WSJ.com 'The Golf's design has been evolving since its ancestor, the Rabbit, arrived in the U.S in the mid 1970s. As a result, it looks and feels more developed than many other small cars. Its ride and handling have the solid, stable feel of a larger car, yet it remains nimble and fun to drive on winding country roads. Its small size -- about 13.5 feet long -- and sharp steering make even urban driving a relative pleasure: Maneuvering in traffic and parking is a cinch.'