Renault previews facelifted Koleos in India
That the Renault/Dacia Duster has reached the Indian market may be news for the Indian automotive scene, but is hardly of consequence to American readers, or really to anyone outside of India. What is of more international importance, however, is what was previewed at the Duster's unveiling in New Dehli. While local journos were admiring the budget crossover, Renault gave a sneak peek at the upcoming facelifted Koleos. The original Koleos – also known as the QM5 – was designed by Renault, engineered by Nissan and produced by Renault Samsung in South Korea. The new model features ...
First Drive: 2012 Jaguar XKR-S
While Jaguar readies a slate of new vehicles to broaden its product portfolio, it's doing a Bentley-esque job of making the most of the vehicles it currently has. If there's any surprise in the XK getting more new outfits than a Ken doll, it's that we didn't realize there was so much that could be done with it. Donning its latest new costume, the XK is transformed – via the XKR – into the XKR-S. The fastest and most powerful U.S. legal road car Jaguar has ever made, the brief was to create a coupe that could be ...
First Drive: 2012 Audi R8 GT
Regardless of the frequency, our pulse still races every time we fire up a ten-cylinder engine. It's not just the unique sound or the warbled vibration that gets the blood flowing – it's the anticipation. Whether the badge says Gallardo, Viper or M5, a V10 under the hood promises intoxicating power and frenzied excitement. The new Audi R8 GT packs just such an engine – a 5.2-liter V10. Mid-mounted in an aluminum and magnesium monocoque chassis, the powerplant is rated at 560 horsepower. With all-wheel drive and a sequential gearbox, the coupe rockets to 60 ...
First Drive: 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec
Hyundai isn't interested in knocking shields with the likes of the BMW M guard, the Audi S line or even the Mercedes-Benz AMG legion with its 2012 Genesis 5.0 R-Spec. Instead, the newest addition to the Genesis line is out to offer buyers an extra helping of power and slightly sharper dynamics without all the motorsports pretense of its haughty German rivals. With 23 straight months of sales increases and 29,122 units sold last year, there doesn't seem to be much of an argument for varying the luxury sedan's recipe. Even so, Hyundai has been quick ...
Official: 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe gets up close and personal
Mini is a brand that's all about having fun. The people that drive them tend to prize motoring enjoyment and the company's cheeky styling, and now they'll have a new model that might just twist their fun dial to 11. We present to you the 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe, which is the automaker's first production two-passenger automobile and also the fastest box-stock Mini ever. The exterior of the Coupe is undeniably Mini, yet very new at the same time. This is the first Mini to be built with a "three-box" design concept, which means the body, ...
Nobody remembers the 2010 Kia Optima, but just like that, the 2011 model may be the mainstream sedan to beat. While some consumers – the uninformed and brand-bigoted – might remain skeptical, the 2011 Kia Optima is the new benchmark. How could the Optima go from warmed-over also-ran to the segment’s...
It used to be that Aston Martin race cars were staggered: the GT1 and GT3 cars were based on the DB9, while the GT2 and GT4 machines were based on the Vantage. But that was before the V12 Vantage came into the production lineup, and before the company veered into top-tier LMP1 racing. And while the...
The Jaguar XF only arrived in 2008, but in just three years, it has reset the course for a brand that was hobbled by the transgression of the X-Type and a beloved but aging XJ. In 2010, it received a new set of engines that delivered performance on par with the promise of the concept car, and now, for...
To commemorate its social media milestone of surpassing one million fans on Facebook (its fan page is currently at 1,502,860 members), Porsche has created this special edition of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid complete with the signatures of over 27,000 Porsche fans. The car makes its North American debut this...
xtra spoilers and lower side skirts can look cool, but if the car doesn’t have any sort of augmented performance, it all seems pointless. Still, for those who want to give the appearance of being quick, Chevrolet will offer a line of Z-Spec dealer-installed accessories for its upcoming 2012 Sonic. Chevrolet...
