March 2010 Archives

A review of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner has been posted over at Search Chicago. 'If you're familiar with the FJ Cruiser and Land Cruiser, the new 4Runner looks like a member of Toyota's SUV family. But unlike those SUVs, the 4Runner's styling doesn't stand out as being cool, quirky or iconic. I'm not a fan of the blocky styling, but that doesn't mean that some people won't find it attractive. Regardless of what I think of the design aesthetic, the body's fit and finish was top flight. The body of my SR5 test vehicle rode high on its four-wheel-drive chassis. Rolling on big 17-inch aluminum wheels and 265/70R17 tires, the SUV provides an impressive 9.6 inches of running ground clearance.'

Jalopnik have published a "First drive" review of the 2010 Porsche 911 Carrera S. 'Is the 911 a sports car or a grand tourer? With a backseat big enough for small luggage and a seventh gear that keeps revs low (70 mph works out to roughly 2000 rpm), it was as comfortable to drive as my Volvo 240 wagon and far more responsive. The suspension is firm and the ride becomes slightly choppy on rougher roads, but check out the shots my wife took through the window at speed. Smooth enough.'

Auto Express have published thier "fastest first drive ever" of the Bentley Continental Supersports. 'Bentley says the two-seater will accelerate to a top speed of exactly 204mph, while 0-60mph should take only 3.8 seconds. To help it deliver, the Supersports is equipped with uprated brakes and suspension. It also features a new Quickshift automatic gearbox, as well as a revised four-wheel-drive system that sends more of the car's power to the rear wheels. These changes are subtle, but really important, as they promise to improve acceleration and make the car feel more responsive.'

The Independent have published a review of the McLaren MP4-12C supercar. 'It is a two-seater, mid-engined, closed-roof sports car designed to compete with a Ferrari 458, a Lamborghini Gallardo, or a high-end Porsche 911. It will cost around £150,000, production begins next year, McLaren plans to make 1,000 in the first year and expects the project to be profitable within four years. Fine. But why wouldn't you just buy a Ferrari? Because the McLaren is an excitingly fresh take on the whole supercar idea and a fabulously hi-tech, obsessively engineered creation.'

Inside Line have published their "First drive" review of the 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera supercar. 'Just look at the car. There is an enormous carbon-fiber rear wing, with the option of an even larger one. There are 19-inch Otto Fuchs forged-aluminum wheels that each reduce unsprung weight by about 7 pounds over the standard wheels, and they carry Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires with mere slivers of sidewalls, 235/35ZR19s in front and 295/30ZR19s in the rear. There is a visually loud streak up both flanks, while the nose has been cranked with Reventon-esque air intakes that double as front wings.'

The Truth About Cars have published a review of the 2006 Kia Optima. 'The Optima marks the point in Kia's history where interior feel had evolved from Tonka to Tupperware. Everything looks and feels rubbery. But it works... in a purely Walmart goes to China sense. I can easily imagine a Turkish bazaar atmosphere within Hyundai's headquarters as they tried to drive down cost with Kia's suppliers while increasing the quality of this Optima to a Chrysler like level. Did I say Chrysler? Yep. Kia had more or less become the Korean Chrysler at this point with owner reviews that were far worse than anything short of a Dodge Intrepid with a 2.7L engine. But then again there was some non-linearity with that.'

MotorTrend have published a "test driven" review of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse CX I-4. 'The 2010 Buick LaCrosse has helped revitalize the Buick nameplate, and the well-received sedan recently took down the Lexus ES 350 in an MT shootout. We've obviously found a lot to like about the new LaCrosse -- especially the car powered by a version of GM's 3.6-liter V-6 with 280 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. But a LaCrosse fitted with GM's direct-injected Ecotec 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 182 horsepower providing the motivation for a car that's a tick over 4000 pounds? That's another matter. Or is it?

The USA Today have published their review of the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe crossover SUV. 'Steering was above average, allowing straight-line tracking without tiring steering-wheel tweaking and jiggling too common today. Driving enthusiasts would prefer more feel, but the steering couldn't be described as sloppy or overboosted. You could win every time betting that "freshened" means a new grille, rump and lights. So it is with the Santa Fe. Won't take your breath away, but neither will you gag. A kind of soft look that shouldn't flame the ire of your truck- and SUV-hating acquaintances, nor will it earn you applause from real truck folks.'

A review of the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Premium Collection has been posted over at LeftLane. 'Instead, CTS Sport Wagon is a genuine passenger and cargo hauler based on the brilliant-performing, razor sharp-styled CTS sedan. Intended in part to usher Cadillac's strongest effort yet in Europe (which wouldn't take much), the CTS Sport Wagon isn't likely to make major inroads in North America. Enthusiasts have vociferously clamored for five-doors, but consumers have stayed away in droves. Sorry, car guys: It ain't working. The wagon market in North America is nearly extinct, but at least GM recognizes that the CTS Sport Wagon will be a small volume player here and an image builder abroad.'

Car And Driver have published their "Short Take Road Test" of the 010 Volkswagen GTI 3-Door DSG. 'Our Tornado Red GTI sped from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds and hit 100 mph exactly 10 seconds later; the quarter-mile was covered in 14.7 seconds at 96 mph. A five-door, six-speed-manual 2010 GTI, the only other '10 we've tested thus far, accomplished the same tasks in 6.3 seconds, 16.2 seconds, and 14.9 seconds at 96 mph while weighing a whole nine pounds more. Chalk up the negligible differences to a less-green engine in the three-door--it had 4000 more miles--as well as the DSG's quicker shifts and launch-control function.'

A review of the Volvo V50 2.0 has been posted over at PaulTan. 'The V50 appears compact, and studying the dimensions reveal that it's shorter than a Honda Civic. The Volvo is about the length of a 3-Series Touring, although the Swede's 2,640 mm wheelbase is a good 120 mm shorter than the BMW's. That doesn't sound promising, since the current E90 isn't exactly what one would call spacious at the back; in practice, legroom is far from generous but not constricting either, and there's room under the front seats for you to tuck your feet into. Typical of Volvo, seats are comfy and the rear bench features built-in child booster seats that pop up.'

CNET have published their review of the 2010 Jaguar XFR sedan. 'The Jaguar's powerful engine and tight transmission make up only part of the R model equation. Like the new XKR, the XFR gets high-tech suspension gear that significantly aids the driver when cornering. What Jaguar calls Adaptive Dynamics and Active Differential Control come into play when you push the checkered flag button on the console. In fact, the XFR is boring until you press that button, so we recommend just leaving the suspension in dynamic mode.'

TheCarConnection have published a review of the 2010 Dodge Charger. 'The Dodge Charger is offered with a wide range of engines and trim levels, and it appeals to a very wide audience. The base engine in this four-door sedan is a 2.7-liter, 178-horsepower V-6 that moves the SE model, while a 3.5-liter, 250-horsepower V-6 is optional for the SE and standard on the SXT. For those who are a little more performance minded, the Dodge Charger R/T comes with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 that pumps out 368 horsepower and can rocket the car from 0-60 mph in just six seconds.'

The Indendent have published their "test driven" review of the Jaguar XJ saloon. 'Seen in its natural habitat, the XJ is truly dramatic. It looks assertive, confident and quite unlike any rival, especially a sober-suited German one. The drama continues inside, helped by the light from the glass roof and the sort of sumptuous materials you would find in a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley. Now see the instruments, high-resolution images on a screen rather than the chrome-and-glass dials they appear to be. Then there's the central screen with its two layers of differently-oriented pixels, so the driver can see the usual information while the front passenger simultaneously watches TV or a DVD.'

A review of the BMW 650i Sport roadster has been posted over at Car Advice. 'The 650i Sport Convertible is a highly specced car, but the centrepiece must be the 8.8-inch wide screen display with high definition TV as part of the latest version of BMW's much publicised iDrive system. With a 80GB hard drive on tap (say goodbye to the old school navigation DVD), this is probably the most intuitive user interface of any car today. Of special note, is the satellite navigation, which I would bill as class leading for useability and general accuracy.'

Search Chicago have published a review of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. 'I drove two versions of the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro: the Camaro 2LT and the 2SS. The 2LT model is powered by a 304-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 engine mated to a six-speed matic transmission. Even more impressive, and more powerful, was the Camaro 2SS, which featured a 426-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 engine mated to the more racelike six-speed manual gearbox. The Red Jewel Tincoat on my Camaro 2LT tester was pretty, but the mono-color scheme presented a silhouette that doesn't do much for me, especially when it came to the rear-end styling.'

CNET have published their review of the 2010 Acura MDX. 'Facing us in the center of the dashboard was the usual Acura controller, a large knob that works as a joystick and dial, surrounded by buttons with an LCD above. We weren't thrilled to see the same old maps on the navigation system, strictly 2D with somewhat jaggy resolution showing on street names. Given that Acura uses an in-dash hard drive for the navigation system, we can't imagine these older generation maps take up a whole lot of space. Twisting the big knob around to delve into the navigation system's menus, we found the latest Zagat listings for restaurants and one of our favorite features, a database of scenic drives, listed by state.'

Trusted Reviews have published a "test driven" review of the new Jaguar XJ. 'The new XJ will be available with three engine variants, but there's little doubt the the 3.0-litre V6 diesel will be the biggest seller in the UK. This is the same engine that was in the Jaguar XF that I reviewed last year and it's an absolute gem. Despite only pumping out 184g/km CO2, the diesel lump pumps out 271bhp and 442lb/ft of torque. That makes the diesel powered XJ good for a 0-60mph sprint of six seconds, which is no mean feat for a car this size.'

A review of the 2011 Honda CR-Z roadster has been posted over at Inside Line. 'The car measures 160.6 inches from end to end, 68.5 inches wide and only 54.9 inches to the tip of its antenna. The wheelbase is 95.8 inches, some 4.6 inches shorter than the Insight, and the CR-Z retains the suspension of the Insight platform with front MacPherson struts and a rear torsion-beam setup. The bad news is, Honda claims only a 97-pound reduction in weight from the Insight sedan. Once you pull open the somewhat heavy door, a novel interior design awaits, a kind of cost-conscious, Honda-type attempt to deliver the arty style of a Mini or Fiat 500. The low-set driving position is just what you want in a performance car, and the pedals and shift lever feel perfectly placed.'

Motor Trend have published their first "test driven" review of the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu LT. 'Chrome-clad wheels are now standard on the 2LT package ($2460, which our car has), and power lumbar control is standard on all models. Relative to our last 2.4-liter Malibu test car, a top-shelf LTZ model, this LT wears less aggressive Firestone tires that are probably geared a bit more toward fuel economy, and its final-drive ratio is taller, which helps coax out three more precious highway miles per gallon (now 33, though our test mileage matched the LTZ's respectable 22.5 mpg).

The Truth About Cars have published a review of the 2011 Kia Sorento. 'The Kia is a little wider than the Equinox, and longer as well when compared to the RAV4. And Kia offers the smaller Sportage for people seeking a truly compact SUV. So perhaps Kia is hoping people will cross-shop it with intermediate SUVs like Toyota's Highlander and Honda's Pilot. The price difference in this case--about $4,000--is much more attractive. But the Sorento is closer to the compacts than the intermediates in size.'

The Motor Report have published a "test driven" review of the 2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI DSG. 'The MKVI Golf GTI is available in both three-door and five-door configurations, and with the choice of a six-speed manual or VW's quick-shifting six-speed DSG twin-clutch automatic. We chose to sample the five-door fitted with the DSG. 'Our' test car also ticked the box for the optional Adaptive Chassis Control suspension package. Painted silver and rolling on a set of the optional 18-inch 'Detroit' alloys, the tester certainly looked sharp - there is a rakish bristling menace to the new model's on-road stance.'

A review of the Toyota Corolla Conquest Hatch has been posted over at Drive.com.au. 'The Corolla's cabin picks up fresh trims, better sound systems, a snazzy square-bottomed steering wheel (leather-shod in the Conquest) and some new soft-touch surfaces on the instrument binnacle and glovebox. Only tacky silver plastic trim, which was already scratched on our 4000km-old test car, strikes a flat note. In practical terms, the Corolla is a mixed bag. It's roomy up front, has loads of handy storage, has excellent foot and leg space in the back and, unlike many small cars, you get a full-sized spare wheel.'

The Independent have published a review of the Hyundai iX35 SUV. 'The iX35 - designed and engineered in Germany, incidentally - is slightly shorter than a new Vauxhall Astra (but then the Astra is corpulent for a "compact" hatchback). A well-equipped iX35 - they start at £17,995, rising to £20,745 - costs less than a basic Ford Focus (but the Focus has become overpriced). Running costs, servicing costs, and CO2-based taxation are all lower than various notional MPV and hatchback rivals, plus you get a very impressive five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.'

The USA Today have published their review of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. 'Sonata has a 2.4-liter four-banger with direct injection. That's a premium technology that boosts power and fuel economy by precisely metering gasoline into the cylinder at exactly the proper time. It replaces the previous method of injecting the fuel behind an intake valve, where it waits momentarily for the valve to open and allow it into the cylinder to mix with oxygen. Direct injection keeps the fuel cooler, and times its spray so that the fuel burns neither too soon nor too slowly. Sonata's engine is rated 198 or 200 hp (depending on model) in a field of rival fours typically sporting 170 to 190 hp.'

A review of the Porsche 911 Carrera supercar has been posted over at Car Advice. 'The new Carrera 911 also sports some exterior changes to its still-iconic shape: a revised front bumper, larger air intakes, larger side mirrors, daytime LED running lights and a vastly different LED brake light treatment. Other revisions include larger standard disc brakes, wider rear tires, a revised suspension system, optional sports suspension with the Porsche Active Suspension Management adaptive damping technology, a touch screen-operated navigation system, a dedicated iPod interface and ventilated seats.'

CNET have published a review of the 2010 Nissan Xterra S 4x4. 'Only one engine is offered with the Nissan Xterra, a 4-liter V-6 engine that outputs 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. This puts it on par with the likes of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner in displacement and power. However, the large displacement V-6 doesn't feel beefy, hiding most of its power when cruising around town. This is mostly the fault of the single-option five-speed automatic transmission's hesitance to downshift on demand, a trait that probably helps the Xterra reach its EPA estimated 15-city/20-highway mpg rating, but doesn't do any favors for the acceleration. Nudging the accelerator for a highway merge resulted in no noticeable acceleration.'

Car And Driver have published their "Long-Term Road Test Intro" to the 2010 Honda Insight hybrid. 'The Insight's window-sticker numbers are now 40 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway, reflecting the new car's higher weight (about 850 pounds more than its featherweight predecessor, though a still-modest 2730 pounds), its larger engine, and the changes to the EPA test procedure. Thus far we're seeing about 37 mpg on average, which, while not the advertised mileage, probably reflects typical Car and Driver driving patterns. With even the thirstiest fill-ups of the 10.6-gallon fuel tank usually being no more than nine gallons, fuel stops are NASCAR-quick, and 400-mile transits of California's nether regions seem to go by at an agreeably rapid rate. It's a good idea to carry an empty bottle in the car if you're really trying to make time, for the Insight usually needs a fill-up less often than you need a draining.;

Auto Express have published their "test driven" review of the Audi R8 Spyder. 'From behind the wheel, the experience is intoxicating. You sit so close to the front of the car, it almost feels as though you are positioned over the front axle, while a glance in the rear view mirror reveals the flat expanse of the back end. Things get even better when the engine starts. The noise from the twin exhausts is muted, but menacing at idle - and climbs to a wail as the revs head for the 8,000rpm red line. Our car was fitted with a manual gearbox mated to the quattro four-wheel-drive system. This gave us high hopes for the driving experience, particularly given the appeal of the standard coupé.'

A review of the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty has been posted over at LeftLaneNews.com. 'The new Super Duty trucks feature an all-new series of powerplants starting with that Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbocharged diesel engine. Designed and built in-house, it features a class-leading 390-horsepower and 735 lb-ft. of torque. For those keeping track, that's a net gain of 40-ponies, and 85 lb-ft. of twist, but those aren't the only important numbers. With new-for-2010 federal emission standards for diesels, Ford has chosen to use Diesel Emissions Fluid (DEF), basically a urea-based agent, which is user-serviceable by a filler nozzle located next to the fuel receptacle. The end result is best-in-class fuel economy and biodiesel compatibility up to B20 (20-percent bio-diesel). The system, in theory, isn't much different than what ze Germans have been offering on luxury sedans and SUVs.'

Motor Trend have published their "First drive" review of the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid. 'Beneath the hood of the Touareg Hybrid lies a 333-horsepower, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine shared with Audi that produces 324 pound-feet of torque. Mated to the gasoline engine via an automatic dry clutch is a 47-horsepower, 34-kilowatt electric motor that produces 99 pound-feet of torque, bringing the system total to 375 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful drivetrain offered in the new Touareg. This also means the Touareg Hybrid shares the same 7700-pound towing capacity as its gasoline-only and diesel counterparts.'

A review of the 2010 Volkswagen GTI has been posted over at SearchChicago. 'For 2010 VW has given the GTI a more aggressive front end and a more streamlined profile. I especially like the standard 17-inch wheels. If you like 18-inch wheels, they are also offered. If GTI's exterior doesn't draw you in, the cabin is sure to do the trick. Accommodations are impressive and highly refined, especially when compared to the rest of the field. I loved the look and feel of the standard three-spoke, black, perforated leatherwrapped steering wheel that sported some awesome red stitching.'

The Truth About Cars have published a review of the 2011 Mazda2 (European Spec). 'On paper, the Mazda2's 102 hp 1.5 liter MZR and 4-speed automatic aren't very impressive. The Fit has 15 ponies and one gear more. But from a roll, you'd be hard pressed to see a difference. The Mazda's willing motor and short gears make it much more responsive than the figures suggest, especially at highway speeds. It suffers more deflection in crosswinds, but trumps the Honda in terms of high speed stability over heaves. The steering also firms up much more at speeds, giving you more confidence in dealing with road conditions. While the engine struggles to pull past 100 mph, the Mazda's small footprint makes it easy to thread through traffic to conserve what precious little momentum you can build up in such a light car.'

The Pioneer AVIC-X910BT 5.8-Inch In-Dash Navigation A/V Receiver with DVD Playback and Bluetooth has been reduced from $1,200.00 to $549.99 over at Amazon Marketplace. 'Pioneer's AVIC-X910BT is an in-dash navigation receiver with DVD Player and Bluetooth. Get fast, easy-to-use in-dash navigation, talk hands-free with built-in Bluetooth, and control your iPod or iPhone directly. Voice control allows you to play music from your iPod and make hands-free Bluetooth phone calls just using your voice.'

The Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT 7-Inch Flagship In-Dash Navigation A/V Receiver with DVD Playback and Bluetooth has been reduced from $1,800.00 to $897.51 over at Amazon.com. 'The AVIC-Z110BT is Pioneer's flagship in-dash navigation system, and comes with the works. Simultaneously access mapping and route guidance information; enjoy various forms of audio and video entertainment; control an Apple iPod/iPhone and a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone with natural voice commands; and receive updated traffic, weather and local event information via an optional MSN Direct tuner. The AVIC-Z110BT navigation system features a large motorized 7-inch touch panel display, CD/DVD Video playback, built-in Bluetooth and a customizable touch screen interface for quick access to frequently used features.'

The PYLE PLCM22IR Flush Mount Rear View Camera with 0 Lux Night Vision has been reduced from $57.99 to $27.62 over at Amazon Marketplace. 'CMOS Water Proof 1.25-Inch Flush Mount Housing 17 Foot Male to Male RCA Video Cable Drill Cutout Tool Included Image Snesor: OV7910 Color CMOS Total Pixels: 510 x 492 Resolution: 380 TV Lines Night Vision Low Lighting Capable 10 IR LED Lights Min Illumination:0.5 LUX Auto Image Adjustment Video Output:1.0V pp-75 Ohm Power Supply: DC 12V 200 mA Dimensions: 1,25-Inch(W) x 1.25-Inch(H) x 1.77-Inch(L).'

Popular Mechanics have published their "test driven" review of the 2011 Infiniti M37 and M56 sedans. 'Under the hood of the $46,250 M37 is the familiar 3.7-liter VQ-series V6, now rated at 330 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. But the biggest news, for those who relish the thrust from V8 power, is the motor in the $57,550 M56. The new 5.6-liter V8 is rated at 420 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired to a seven-speed automatic and all-wheel drive is optional. M37s are rated to deliver 18 mpg city and 26 highway, while the V8 M56 model's performance dips slightly to 16 mpg city and 25 highway. Like nearly every other car in Infiniti's lineup--with the exception of the hulking QX56 SUV--the new M sedans ride on an updated version of the company's FM platform. This architecture is so flexible it can underpin cars as varied in size and mission as the Nissan 370Z and the Infiniti FX crossovers.'

A review of the 2010 Buick Enclave has been posted over at The Garage Blog. 'One look at the Enclave, and the first impression is the sheer size of her-at 201.8″ long, it is a whisker short of a Chevy Tahoe. Despite its size, the Enclave carries its heft fairly well, with nothing appearing out of proportion or outrageously huge. In fact, it is difficult to imagine a better looking, evenly proportioned vehicle at such a size. The designers had their work cut out for them, and they did a commendable job. Our test car came in White Diamond Tricoat, a $795 option, which looked OK when clean (but not as elegant as Audi's Pearl White), no easy feat when it is February in Connecticut. The 19″ chrome wheels managed to look a tad small, but 20″ wheels are available. Unfortunately, on our CXL-2, chrome wheels are your only choice-the choice of painted alloys would have been nice.'

Jalopnik have published their "First Drive" review of the Hennessey MaxBoost 435 Lincoln MKS. 'The Lincoln MKS is Ford's latest luxury flagship, outfitted with a comfortable interior and designed for easy and refined power from its not-really-optional 355 HP twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. It's already a lot of power for the LBJ-sized Lincoln. Hennessey takes it one step further, squeezing out 435 HP and 405 lb-ft of torque by helping the turbos breathe better and some basic tuning. Other than CORSA stainless steel catback exhaust out back, the polished intercooler piping and giant cold air intake there's not much to differentiate this from the stock MKS. Actually, the best visual upgrade is ditching the big Lincoln's awful plastic engine cover.'

Inside Line have published their "First Drive" review of the 2011 Jaguar XJ 5.0L V8 Portfolio. 'It's obvious that this new XJ is different from the moment you see it, because the 2011 Jaguar XJ is the first XJ to not resemble the landmark Series 1 XJ of 1968. From its thrusting latticed grille to the tapering rake of its coupelike rear windshield, this Jaguar looks sleekly, futuristically and arrestingly different. Your eyes might be momentarily drawn to the oddly upright grille, or maybe the long, shallow greenhouse that lends this car a massively different visual character compared to a traditional sedan, or perhaps the gloss-black rearmost pillar of the roof or the rakish rear taillights, but whatever it is, you won't be confusing this car with the previous-generation XJ that came to us in 2003.'

A review of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera has been posted over at Car Advice. 'While power is only slightly up on its predecessor, the latest Supeleggera is considerably more efficient with fuel consumption down by 3.5 litres/100km. That's due to the "intiezione Diretta Stratificata" or direct petrol injection, the process of which allows for a very high compression ratio of 12.5:1. It doesn't matter whether you like your six-speeds on the floor or not. Once you get a taste of Lamborghini's super fast E-Gear transmission, there's no going back to old favourites. You simply cannot compete with the speed at which this gearbox shifts ratios and that includes Michael Schumacher and Jensen Button.'

Car And Driver have published their "First Drive" review of the 2011 Jaguar XJ. 'The XJ is a cab-rearward design and is incredibly riveting to stare at as it sits back on its haunches with as much cool as James Bond lighting a Chesterfield. In black, with the big-dish 20-inch wheels, the car is sinister enough to warrant its own RICO investigation. Jaguar Cars managing director Mike O'Driscoll, who's peddled more than his share of schlock over a 35-year career with the company, is smiling more lately. He says the mission was to recapture the uniqueness of the original 1968 XJ but in a modern form. They looked at the class stalwarts--the Mercedes-Benz S-class, the BMW 7-series, and Audi A8--and the more driver-oriented oddballs, including the Maserati Quattroporte and Porsche Panamera, and decided to shoot for a middle ground. Passion--but with typically British reserve.'

A review of the Kia Forte 1.6 has been posted over at Paultan.org. 'Clean it may be, but the Forte is anything but plain. The front wears a distinctve "mask-like" design that reminds us of the European Honda Civic hatchback, while the scuplted bonnet and the signature crease that sprouts from beneath the A-pillar to form the shoulder line is neat. This, and the spoiler style boot edge distracts from the fact that the Forte has tall sides and a high rump. Of course, for the full effect, you've got to opt for the 1.6 SX, which comes with cool 17-inch wheels and low profile rubber. Still, this Kia is the looker of the C-segment - something unthinkable few years ago. Try as we may, photos don't do it justice, so get down to a dealership and have a good look for yourself.'

Search Chicago have published a review of the 2010 Challenger SE. 'Under the Challenger SE's formidable hood is not the rompin', stompin' Hemi V-8 so many enthusiasts love to love. A mildmannered 3.5-liter V-6 with a five-speed automatic transmission powers the SE. This makes practical sense. The V-6 Challenger is relatively easy on gas, achieving Environmental Protection Agency mileage ratings of 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. With just 250 horsepower, however, this V-6 won't win many drag races, especially against V-6 Camaros (with 304 horsepower) and the new 2011 Mustang V-6 (305 horsepower). Lest we slip into the enthusiast's trap of valuing power over efficiency, we must also note that the newer competitive models deliver better mileage, too.'

Auto Express have published their "test driven" review of the Bugatti Veyron supercar. 'Accelerating from 0-124mph and back to a standstill again 10 times exerts the necessary strain on the ceramic brakes, engine and seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox. To confirm the performance is suitably impressive, the drivers regularly hit in excess of 190mph before running out of runway. Incredibly, the only faults found were some noises from the roof trim and a slightly offset steering wheel in the red-and-white car - both easily curable. Back at the factory, the Veyrons are stripped of the test wheels. Incredibly, each set costs around £45,000, and can only be used for three or four sessions. The Bugattis are then fitted with new alloys and tyres.'