Review: 2011 Jaguar XJL
There's a sect of motoring nihilists out there who would have us all believe there isn't a single thing in the automotive universe that hasn't been done before. It's the "Simpsons did it" meme on methamphetamines, though instead of a yellow animated family, our cast is populated by the likes of Plymouth, Cord, Studebaker, Hudson and any number of other equally innovative yet forgotten brands. Think adaptive headlights are a trick piece of tech? Think again – Willys-Knight employed a third directional headlight as early as 1928 on its 70A, and Citroën made use of similar methodology on cars like ...
2012 Saab 9-4X confirmed for LA debut in November
We've been expecting this announcement to come sooner or later, though we didn't exactly count on it coming from the LA Auto Show's own Twitter page. But there it is anyway, straight from the horse's mouth: "Saab has confirmed that the 9-4X Crossover will make its world debut at the LA Auto Show this Nov." We're also expecting some sort of official word that the new crossover 'ute, which will share its Theta Premium underpinnings with the Cadillac SRX, should hit the market sometime in the spring of 2011... perhaps around April. While we're on the subject of expectations, we'd also imagine ...
Review: 2010 Lexus HS 250h
Lexus likes to say that it pursues perfection. Toyota's luxury brand has been playing the hybrid game for a while now with converted gas-powered models like the LS, GS and RX hybrids, and few would argue that these models represent the zenith of what a luxury hybrid can be. For that, Lexus finally decided to build a dedicated hybrid model from the ground up, and the result is the HS 250h. Being that the brand's parent company builds the Prius, the industry benchmark for hybrids in terms of both fuel efficiency and popularity, Lexus has, on the one hand, a much ...
2011 Infiniti G25 arrives Stateside, priced at $30,950
The Infiniti line-up is set to expand this September with the introduction of the G25, a new entry-level sedan packing all the amenities of its bigger brother, but with less power and a budget-minded price tag. By all outward appearances, the G25 is your standard G sedan with a new badge, but under the hood lies the same 2.5-liter V6 that's been available in Japan since 2008. For an MSRP of $30,950, the G25 packs 218 horsepower and 187 pound-feet of torque channeled through a standard seven-speed automatic gearbox and – depending on the trim – can be had in either ...
Land Rover to launch production in India
Tata Motors CEO Carl-Peter Forster has announced Land Rover production would begin in India in 2011 and Jaguar is looking for a partner to produce cars within China. Although Forster didn't announce which model would be built in the sub-continent, the T5 platform used for the current LR4 and Range Rover Sport seems a likely candidate. That same platform is expected to be used for a replacement model for the classic Defender which is expected to debut in 2012. Because foreign automakers are required to work with local companies in China, Jaguar is in negotiations for a production deal in the ...
Spyker has its sights set firmly on the blooming Chinese auto market, and according to a report from the China Car Times, the company plans to produce and market a road-legal version of its GT2 racer just for the People’s Republic. Supposedly the car will be both longer and wider, and will feature...
You remember the Vantage N400? Aston Martin released the special-edition sportscar back in 2007 to commemorate the success of its Vantage N24 racer at the Nürburgring. It packed 400 horsepower, a series of suspension tweaks and some special cosmetic touches. Unfortunately, Aston only produced 240 examples...
Quite a few automakers have had success with certified pre-owned used car programs, and now Mazda is jumping on board by offering a CPO plan of its own. After all, used vehicles that have passed a rigorous inspection are more attractive to potential buyers, even though certified cars commonly carry...
Mercedes-Benz released the initial photos and information on the 2011 CL-Class earlier today, showing off its updated luxury coupe. We were at the unveiling at the Mercedes-Benz World across from the historic Brooklands racetrack, and now have some live photos to bring you. The big news for the 2011...
The crossover is the high-fructose corn syrup of the automotive world. Think about it: Rather than using real sugar, Pepsi opts for a cheaper, highly refined and processed sweetener. Which, according to lots of studies, is pretty bad for us. Why would they do that? Higher profits, pure and simple. Likewise,...
During a live video webchat this afternoon, Tony DiSalle, marketing director for the Chevrolet Volt, announced the production volumes for the first two years. General Motors plans to build 10,000 Volts by the end of the 2011 calendar year, with another 30,000 units coming in 2012. There will be a relatively...
Subaru sees a demand for 1.3- and 1.5-liter cars in Japan at the same time as it sees a void in its lineup of vehicles with that displacement. To plug that hole, Subaru is turning to Toyota for a supply of its Ractis subcompact, a five-door, five-seater that offers both of the relevant engine sizes...
