Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry. <![CDATA[Review: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d delivers obsolescence to gasoline-powered sibling]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/17/review-2009-bmw-x5-xdrive35d-delivers-obsolesce-to-gasoline-pow/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/17/review-2009-bmw-x5-xdrive35d-delivers-obsolesce-to-gasoline-pow/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/17/review-2009-bmw-x5-xdrive35d-delivers-obsolesce-to-gasoline-pow/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d - Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW heralds its X5 sport utility vehicle as a "Sport Activity Vehicle." The tactic is designed to focus attention on the vehicle's on-road handling and driving dynamics, but it's also an attempt to eliminate any need for the automaker to apologize for the X5's limited cargo space and restricted off-road capabilities. Regardless, consumers don't seem to mind, as they've been snatching up the SAV since its introduction in 1999.

BMW delivers the goods with three capable gasoline-fed engines, including a new 555-hp twin-turbocharged X5M, that keeps the ute's fun-to-drive factor higher than nearly every SUV on the road. So with on-road performance such a high priority, why has BMW decided to fit the 335d's 3.0-liter turbodiesel into its biggest SUV? More to the point, how does the fuel-efficient oil-burner fit into the mix and does it affect drivability and performance in the process? All that and more after the jump.


Gallery: Review: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d


Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d delivers obsolescence to gasoline-powered sibling

Review: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d delivers obsolescence to gasoline-powered sibling originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2009 bmw x5 35d2009 BMW X5 diesel2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d2009BmwX535d2009BmwX5Diesel2009BmwX5Xdrive35dbmwBMW 35dbmw x5BMW xDrive35dBmw35dBmwX5BmwXdrive35dfeaturedReviewTestedx5xDrive35d Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport is a lot of car for a lot of coin]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/14/2010-nissan-maxima-sv-sport-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/14/2010-nissan-maxima-sv-sport-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/14/2010-nissan-maxima-sv-sport-review/#comments Filed under: , ,

2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

Front-wheel drive is a funny thing. When originally introduced during the Thirties in the Cord 810 (then later in the awesome supercharged 812) and the Citroën Traction Avant, FWD was hailed as a major breakthrough, a wondrous technological innovation that allowed for lower ride height and greatly increased passenger space. Postwar consumers got a taste of the wonders of FWD with the iconic Citroën DS. At the top of its game in the Sixties, General Motors reintroduced FWD to American consumers with two remarkable luxury coupes: the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado and the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado. Come the Seventies, Citroën produced what is arguably the greatest GT coupe of that decade, the impeccable (and FWD) SM.

It's not that RWD is always better than FWD. Only in this case, it is.
Roll the clock forward to the Eighties and suddenly everything was being tugged around by its front wheels. Honda, Toyota, Nissan, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all jumped head first onto the FWD bandwagon and, for the most part, they haven't looked back. Granted, Cadillac has rethought which wheels get driven, but with the exception of a dinosaur livery-mobile, there isn't a single rear-wheel-drive Lincoln to be found. Even Volkswagen got in on the transversely-mounted engine madness. This left only the Germans - namely Mercedes-Benz and BMW - to seriously carry the rear-wheel drive passenger car torch for nearly a decade. Sure, Lexus and Infiniti brought out some heavy hitting RWD sedans along with a raft of FWD offerings (M30 I30, G20 anyone?), but Acura never bothered.

The average gearhead hates FWD for all the right reasons (weight distribution, steering feel, the front tires being asked to both propel and turn, etc.), and during a recent discussion we had with a half-in-the-bag PR guy, [NAME REDACTED] exclaimed, "Front-wheel drive sucks!" So, how can a technology go from the penthouse to the doghouse like that? One answer (of many) comes from the Minnesotan economist/social philosopher Thorstein Veblen and his book The Theory of the Leisure Class. Here's a quick, ten-cent Cliff Note version: When electric lighting first appeared, only the rich could afford electric lights. As such, electrically lit dinners were considered romantic and desirable. However, once electrification trickled down to the unwashed masses, only the rich could afford both bulbs and candles. Hence, candlelit dinners became en vogue. Which - believe it or not - leads us very nicely to the 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport and its $38,384 asking price.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV Sport


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport is a lot of car for a lot of coin

Review: 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport is a lot of car for a lot of coin originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport2010NissanMaximaSvSportfeaturedmaximamaxima sv sportMaximaSvSportnissannissan maximanissan maxima sv sportNissanMaximaNissanMaximaSvSportreviewreviews Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS is up for the Challenge]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/2010-suzuki-kizashi-gts-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/2010-suzuki-kizashi-gts-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/2010-suzuki-kizashi-gts-review/#comments Filed under: , ,

2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2010 Kizashi will change the way you look at Suzuki. To put it bluntly, the Kizashi is the strongest evidence yet that Suzuki's automotive division is no longer operating on autopilot in the States. And what's more, the brand is showing serious confidence. Consider the vehicles against which the automaker wants you to cross shop its Kizashi: the Acura TSX and Audi A4.

Suzuki has launched a promotion called the Kizashi Test Drive Challenge that will pay $100 to anyone who test drives a Kizashi and still decides to buy the more expensive TSX or A4. After spending some quality time with the model, we don't envy those potential Acura and Audi customers who are unprepared for how difficult their decision is going to be.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS


Photos copyright (C)2009 John Neff / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS is up for the Challenge

Review: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS is up for the Challenge originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 Suzuki Kizashi2010 suzuki kizashi cts2010SuzukiKizashi2010SuzukiKizashiCtsfeaturedkizashikizashi gtsKizashiGtsreviewreviewssuzukisuzuki kizashisuzuki kizashi gtsSuzukiKizashiSuzukiKizashiGts Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: Google Maps turn-by-turn navigation on Android 2.0]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/01/review-google-maps-turn-by-turn-navigation-on-android-2-0/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/01/review-google-maps-turn-by-turn-navigation-on-android-2-0/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/01/review-google-maps-turn-by-turn-navigation-on-android-2-0/#comments Filed under: ,

Google maps turn by turn navigation - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's no secret that we've been openly critical of the prices charged by automakers for built-in GPS navigation systems. Frankly, paying $2,000 or more for an in-dash system when you can buy stand-alone navigation units for as little as $100 is ridiculous. Even the newer, larger seven-inch screen units are now down to as little as $250, and even though they aren't tied in to a vehicles' wheel sensors, they tend to be plenty accurate. Now, however, there is a new option that is even cheaper - as in (sort of) free.

It's only "sort of" free because the Google maps turn-by-turn navigation app is built into the new Motorola Droid smartphone (see sister-site Engadget's full review of the Droid here) that recently became available from Verizon Wireless. In this case, you have to sign up for two years of mobile phone service, which includes a data plan. I've been a Verizon customer for a decade and just happened to be up for a biennial discounted phone upgrade. When the Droid appeared a few weeks ago, the plan to wait until the new year for a Palm Pre was discarded. We've now had the chance to play with the Droid and its new navigation software, so follow the jump to find out if it lives up to expectations.


Gallery: Motorola Droid Google Navigation

Continue reading Review: Google Maps turn-by-turn navigation on Android 2.0

Review: Google Maps turn-by-turn navigation on Android 2.0 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> androidandroid 1.6android 2.0android navigationAndroid1.6Android2.0AndroidNavigationdroiddroid navigationDroidNavigationfeaturefeaturedfeaturesgooglegoogle mapsgoogle maps turn by turn navigationGoogleMapsGoogleMapsTurnByTurnNavigationMotorolamotorola droidMotorolaDroidnavigation systemnavigation systemsNavigationSystemNavigationSystemsNavigationUnitreviewturn by turnturn by turn directionsturn by turn navigationTurnByTurnTurnByTurnDirectionsTurnByTurnNavigation Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2009 Audi A8L - requiem for a heavyweight]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/review-2009-audi-a8l-a-requiem-for-a-heavyweight/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/review-2009-audi-a8l-a-requiem-for-a-heavyweight/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/review-2009-audi-a8l-a-requiem-for-a-heavyweight/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2009 Audi A8L - Click above for high-res gallery

We come not to bury the A8L, but to praise it. Next week the newest generation of Audi's aluminum spaceframe panzer will greet the world in Miami, and we expect it to be a leap through a wormhole compared to today's car. After a week with the current model at the end of its six-year run, we walked away from a saloon that still has us smitten. What we didn't expect was that, even though we didn't come to bury the thing, we would end up throwing quite a bit of dirt on it.

That might make the Audi A8 the Megan Fox of automobiles.
A funny thing happened on the way to reviewing the 2009 Audi A8L: we discovered ourselves writing compromising things about the four-ringed flagship. This is a sedan that we adore mightily, and having thought it over, we might even say unreasonably. It became the girl you're dating that you first describe as "She's great!" just before divulging a list of mildly unseemly behaviors that you'd never considered all at once, ending with, "Wow... I really do like her, but come to think of it... she's a little kooky." That might make the Audi A8 the Megan Fox of automobiles.

We drove the A8L W12 a couple of years ago, and it was possessed of so much battleship-gray girth we wanted to call it the Bismarck and park it in a Norwegian fjord for safety. Yet and still, it was glorious: an exterior awash in pulchritude, an interior so beautiful we wish we had gotten its autograph, and it gulped miles, and gas, like cognac. Since we didn't write about it, we didn't give it the philosopher's thought, and we walked away from it with only roses, no thorns. But now...


Gallery: Review: 2009 Audi A8 L


Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 Audi A8L - requiem for a heavyweight

Review: 2009 Audi A8L - requiem for a heavyweight originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 20092009 audi a82009 audi a8l2009AudiA82009AudiA8la8a8laudifeaturedlreviewreview 2009 audi a8lReview2009AudiA8lreviews Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2009 Infiniti G37X Sport makes no excuses]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/2009-infiniti-g37x-sport-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/2009-infiniti-g37x-sport-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/2009-infiniti-g37x-sport-review/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

2009 Infiniti G37X Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

"Being close" matters with horseshoes, hand grenades and misguided arithmetic. In past years, the Infiniti G sedan has been close, but compared to the Kaiser of the Klasse, BMW's 3 Series, the G35 was near the stake, but not a ringer. "Almost as good," we'd all nod, "but its biggest strength is that it's a bargain."

When the G37 arrived, our initial thought was it was simply an amplified G35, a car that's delighted our socks off in the past. But same car, bigger engine isn't the whole of the story. Just as gourmet chefs tinker with recipes, Infiniti has made adjustments. Embracing the spirit of Kaizen, Infiniti refuses to leave well enough alone, and the G37XS doesn't need to trade as heavily on its value proposition anymore. The G line has always driven well, but there's always been compromise, too. Cheap interiors, choppy ride - a history of "not quite." Has the G improved to the point of full greatness? And what happens when you add all-wheel drive to the mix? We hit the road to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2009 Infiniti G37x S Sedan


Photos copyright (C)2009 Dan Roth / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 Infiniti G37X Sport makes no excuses

Review: 2009 Infiniti G37X Sport makes no excuses originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2009 infiniti g37 sedan2009InfinitiG37SedanfeaturedG37G37 Sedang37 xG37Sedang37xInfinitiinfiniti g37infiniti g37 sedaninfiniti reviewInfinitiG37InfinitiG37SedanInfinitiReviewreviewreviews Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 six-speed reveals its true character]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/16/review-2009-dodge-challenger-srt8-six-speed-reveals-its-true-ch/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/16/review-2009-dodge-challenger-srt8-six-speed-reveals-its-true-ch/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/16/review-2009-dodge-challenger-srt8-six-speed-reveals-its-true-ch/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 6-Speed - Click above for high-res image gallery

This isn't our first sampling of the reborn Dodge Challenger. We've driven the SE, R/T and SRT8 variants before. However, this time it's different. We've secured a Challenger SRT-8 with a six-speed manual transmission - and it's a whole different breed of bull.

The six-speed-equipped Dodge Challenger SRT8 drives exactly as it looks. Unlike the countless poseurs promising handling with oversize tires, performance with monstrous exhaust pipes, or luxury with overstuffed cabins, the Challenger SRT8 delivers only what its exterior suggests - a mountain of machismo-infused muscle-car entertainment.

We had a week with Dodge's tribute to testosterone, and it's one we won't soon forget. Contrary to its automatic-equipped siblings, the manual gearbox transforms the SRT8 from merely entertaining to positively supernatural. Make the jump to find out why this husky red coupe had us shaving twice daily.


Gallery: Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 6-Speed


Photos copyright (C)2009 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 six-speed reveals its true character

Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 six-speed reveals its true character originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2009 Dodge2009 Dodge Challenger2009 Dodge Challenger SRT82009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 6-speed2009Dodge2009DodgeChallenger2009DodgeChallengerSrt82009DodgeChallengerSrt86-speedBrembochallengerChallenger 6-speedChallenger SRT8Challenger6-speedChallengerSrt8dodgeDodge Challengerdodge challenger srt8Dodge SRT8DodgeChallengerDodgeChallengerSrt8DodgeSrt8featuredHEMIManual transmissionManualTransmissionreviewreviewsSRT8srt8 6-speedSrt86-speedTorRedtremecTremec6Tremec6060 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante makes getting away with it <s>half</s> <i>all</i> the fun]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/review-2009-aston-martin-db9-volante-makes-getting-away-with-it/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/review-2009-aston-martin-db9-volante-makes-getting-away-with-it/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/review-2009-aston-martin-db9-volante-makes-getting-away-with-it/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante - Click above for high-res image gallery

Let's say a clandestine organization asked you, for your country, to "take care of" an enemy of the state at tonight's performance of Tosca at The Met. And let's say this organization gave you the choice of any Aston Martin in which to conduct the evening. Which Aston would you choose? If you said the DBS, we hope you've arranged bail. You're getting caught. Quickly.

Despite its impressiveness, the DBS is just a little over the top. Driving it says to the world, "I'm rich (or I have rich backers), I'm sociopathic (or at least self-centered), and I kill people (or I've had them killed)." There's no denying this. Attempt to pull off your mission at the opera and you'll be fingered before the body hits the ground. "It was the guy in the suit and the DBS," the rattled, blood-spattered socialites will tell the authorities just before you're whisked off to a damp, underground bunker in a country created by the breakup of the USSR.

The better choice? The 2009 Aston Martin DB9 - even the Volante. It's got just enough gentleman to remove you from suspicion, but the faintest hint of evil to make fearsome things happen when needed. We had it for a weekend, yet despite the urge and a twitchy trigger finger we never got the chance to test out our "cleaning" abilities.


Gallery: Review: 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante makes getting away with it half all the fun

Review: 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante makes getting away with it half all the fun originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2009 aston martin2009 aston martin db9 volante2009 db92009 db9 volante2009AstonMartin2009AstonMartinDb9Volante2009Db92009Db9Volanteaston martinaston martin db9aston martin db9 volanteAstonMartinAstonMartinDb9AstonMartinDb9Volanteconvertibledb9db9 volanteDb9Volantefeaturedreviewreviewsvolante Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Kia Forte continues string of hits from South Korea]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/30/2010-kia-forte-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/30/2010-kia-forte-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/30/2010-kia-forte-review/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2010 Kia Forte SX - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's not that there was much wrong with the Forte's predecessor. In fact, the last time we drove a Kia Spectra, we walked away wondering if anything more might be overkill. The Spectra was good but tended to blend in with a crowd, and Kia's not into playing the role of wallflower anymore. In contrast, the Forte boldly saunters into the middle of the dance floor, comfortable in the hot glow of the pin spot, with the confidence of Tony Manero after a trip to the tailor.

Clearly, the Kia Forte looks remarkably better than the econobox it replaces and attracts the right kind of attention to the brand. Everywhere it goes, the Forte is a surprising conversation piece, though many aren't sure exactly what it is. With Kia's value pricing, you also get a lot for your dollar. So does it have the hat trick of style, value and performance? When the key to this black Forte SX tester was pressed into the palm of our hand, we were ready to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Kia Forte SX


Photos copyright (C)2009 Dan Roth / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Kia Forte continues string of hits from South Korea

Review: 2010 Kia Forte continues string of hits from South Korea originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 kia forte sx2010KiaForteSxfeaturedforteforte sxForteSxkiakia fortekia forte sxKiaForteKiaForteSxreviewreviews Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 is a bike with multiple personalities]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/review-aprilia-dorsoduro-750-is-a-bike-with-multiple-personalit/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/review-aprilia-dorsoduro-750-is-a-bike-with-multiple-personalit/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/review-aprilia-dorsoduro-750-is-a-bike-with-multiple-personalit/#comments Filed under: ,

Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We were more than a little excited to throw a leg over the new Aprilia Dorsoduro right after unloading it from the back of our trailer. After all, the last time we rode a supermoto bike from the Italian motorcycle manufacturer (SXV 550) we had a blast backing the bike into corners and lofting the front wheel at will. Plus, the Dorsoduro certainly has plenty of streetfighter attitude when painted up in our tester's all-black color scheme.

As such, we wasted little time firing up the V-twin engine, getting ourselves familiar with the controls and layout and setting out for a quick ride through the 'hood. Unfortunately, our excitement quickly turned into disbelief. The Dorsoduro literally tried to leap out from under us at every opportunity, and the throttle - seemingly little more than an on/off switch - was impossibly twitchy and difficult to modulate, almost as if we mistakenly filled the tank with Red Bull instead of 91-octane. In other words, first impressions weren't particularly positive. Fortunately, we had a couple of weeks to get it all sorted out, and our opinion of the machine slowly changed. How so? Click past the break to find out.


Gallery: Review: Aprilia Dorsoduro 750


Photos copyright (C)2009 Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 is a bike with multiple personalities

Review: Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 is a bike with multiple personalities originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> apriliaaprilia dorsoduro 750ApriliaDorsoduro750dorsodurodorsoduro 750Dorsoduro750featuredreview Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXL aims upmarket and almost hits target]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/2010-buick-lacrosse-cxl-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/2010-buick-lacrosse-cxl-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/2010-buick-lacrosse-cxl-review/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2010 Buick LaCrosse CXL - Click above for high-res image gallery

With great fanfare, General Motors has introduced the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, a vehicle with which the automaker hopes to jump-start a sweeping brand transformation for the tired Tri-Shield. For Buick to be a success in GM's post-bailout, post-bankruptcy era, the brand must dump its well-deserved reputation as the preferred marque of last-time buyers. (Average age of previous-model LaCrosse buyer: Around 70.) For better or worse, as it scrambles to get more - and younger - drivers behind the wheel, Buick has elected to position itself as America's Lexus in a bid to give itself some premium cachet.

Frankly, that's a pretty tall order, but if first impressions mean anything, the Buick LaCrosse might be crowned GM's savior on appearances alone, because it's that attractive, especially compared to the fish-faced namesake it replaces. The 2009-and-prior LaCrosse looks like the unfortunate love child of a third-generation Ford Taurus and a Mitsuoka Orochi. Or, put plainly, it looks like some ugly Chinese car. By comparison, the 2010 LaCrosse is classy and stylish. Therein lies the delicious irony: the 2010 Buick LaCrosse's glitzy looks were, in fact, jointly developed with GM China's design team. Go figure, and be thankful. In the metal, this ride draws plenty appreciative stares.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Buick LaCrosse


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXL aims upmarket and almost hits target

Review: 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXL aims upmarket and almost hits target originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 buick lacrosse2010 buick lacrosse cxl2010BuickLacrosse2010BuickLacrosseCxlbuickbuick lacrossebuick lacrosse cxlBuickLacrosseBuickLacrosseCxlcxlfeaturedlacrosselacrosse cxlLacrosseCxlreviewreviews Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: Ducati Sport 1000 lives up to its heritage]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/review-ducati-sport-1000-lives-up-to-its-heritage/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/review-ducati-sport-1000-lives-up-to-its-heritage/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/review-ducati-sport-1000-lives-up-to-its-heritage/#comments Filed under: ,

Ducati Sport 1000 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ducati. It's a name full of racing heritage and tradition, but it hasn't always been that way. The company's roots are much more humble, first by selling radio equipment before moving into the world of two wheels with a quaint motorized bicycle dubbed the Cucciolo - meaning "puppy" in Italiano - because of its cuddly exhaust note. Needless to say, there was no way of knowing in the early 1950s that the brand would go on to become one of the most successful grand prix racing companies in the world. But we're sure glad it did.

Racing success came early and often in the '70s for the Italian motorcycle manufacturer, and in 1972 Ducati won the Imola 200 with an air-cooled 750cc L-twin engine wrapped in a cradle-type frame. These are the bikes that Ducati sought to replicate with the SportClassic range that first debuted in concept form at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show and finally went into production in 2006. Living up to a legend is never an easy task, so when we managed to get our greasy mitts on a brand-new 2009 Sport 1000 for a couple of weeks, we wasted no time getting familiar with this sleek black machine. Follow the jump to see what we thought.


Gallery: Review: Ducati Sport 1000


Photos copyright (C)2009 Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: Ducati Sport 1000 lives up to its heritage

Review: Ducati Sport 1000 lives up to its heritage originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> ducatiducati sport 1000DucatiSport1000featuredmotorcyclemotorcyclesreviewreviewssport 1000Sport1000 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 1967 Classic Recreations Eleanor Mustang is the real movie deal]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/19/eleanor-1967-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/19/eleanor-1967-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/19/eleanor-1967-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500-review/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

1967 "Eleanor" Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 - Click above for high-res image gallery

H. B. Halicki was a used car salesman who wanted to make a movie. With a little money, one big idea, and a 1971 Mustang Mach 1, he made Gone in 60 Seconds. And in that particular way that movies, especially '70s movies, can be, it wasn't all that good, but it was awesome. Fast forward to Michael Bay's remake in 2000, and the Mach 1 was replaced by a 1967 Shelby GT500. When we got a call offering us the actual car from that movie for the weekend, we felt obliged to say yes... and then drive it like we stole it. The verdict: Eleanor is the hottest piece of car we've spent a weekend with in quite some time.


Gallery: Review: 1967 Classic Recreations Eleanor Mustang


Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 1967 Classic Recreations Eleanor Mustang is the real movie deal

Review: 1967 Classic Recreations Eleanor Mustang is the real movie deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Classic RecreationsClassic Recreations EleanorClassic Recreations Eleanor MustangClassicRecreationsClassicRecreationsEleanorClassicRecreationsEleanorMustangeleanoreleanor mustangEleanorMustangfeaturedfordford mustangford mustang shelby gt500FordMustangFordMustangShelbyGt500gone in 60 secondsGoneIn60Secondsh.b. halickiH.b.Halickihalickimustangreviewreviews Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:56:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox sets the tone for New GM]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/14/review-2010-chevrolet-equinox-sets-the-tone-for-new-gm/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/14/review-2010-chevrolet-equinox-sets-the-tone-for-new-gm/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/14/review-2010-chevrolet-equinox-sets-the-tone-for-new-gm/#comments Filed under: , ,

2010 Chevrolet Equinox - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's fitting that General Motors has a vehicle named after an astronomical phenomenon that marks the seasons. The first Equinox came from the "old" GM during the autumn of its long slide. Since then, the General has emerged from a government-funded chrysalis, and the Equinox has followed suit with a redesign. Hopefully, the freshening signifies a springtime in GM's fortunes; a future desperately in need of a green infusion of the cash variety. Its products need to not only compete - but exceed - what's available from the competition. That figures to be a tall order, because the opposition is in rare form.

Just across town, Ford isn't sitting around - the Escape gets tweaks and updates seemingly every year. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 also crowd the top of the family CUV class, with the Mazda CX-7 and Hyundai Santa Fe playing supporting roles. Into this company of A-students wades the Equinox, fresh from reform school. Have the model's rough edges and troublesome behavior been smoothed out enough by remedial study? Follow the jump to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox


Photos copyright (C)2009 John Neff / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox sets the tone for New GM

Review: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox sets the tone for New GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 chevrolet equinox2010 equinox2010ChevroletEquinox2010Equinoxchevroletchevrolet crossoverchevrolet equinoxChevroletCrossoverChevroletEquinoxchevychevy equinoxChevyEquinoxCrossoverCUVequinoxfeaturedreviewreviews Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost turns it up to 11]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/2010-ford-flex-ecoboost-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/2010-ford-flex-ecoboost-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/2010-ford-flex-ecoboost-review/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost - Click above for high-res image gallery

We were headed on a road trip, because that's what you do when the summer draws to a close and something as gigantic as the Ford Flex rolls into your driveway. Destination: Brooklyn. Five miles into the journey, the Sony audio system belts out the Beastie Boys' "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," and the two sub-five-year-olds in tow agree. But we had an ace up our sleeve: our Flex SEL tester was packing a six-shooter augmented by Ford's EcoBoost turbo system, good for another 100 horsepower over the standard model. If the trip was going to be hellish, at least it would be short.

There's newfound muscle to... flex.
There's a price premium to pay for the heavy breathing, but even at $40,000 as-tested, the kitted out Flex stickered for less than expected, and mitigating drawbacks seems to be a running theme with the EcoBoosted Flex. Its EPA estimated fuel economy in all-wheel drive trim of 17/24 16/22 mpg city/highway, is exactly the same as the unboosted Duratec 3.5-liter, but there's newfound muscle to... flex. A turbocharged engine immediately makes thoughts of premium fuel dance through your head, but nope, the direct-injected V6 is happy to perform tricks on regular, though Ford recommends you run higher octane for maximum performance.

In search of some kind of glaring downfall, we kept the Flex EcoBoost for a while, trying to suss out what penalties you might ultimately pay for the added brawn. Follow the jump to see how the big Ford fared.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost


Photos copyright (C)2009 Dan Roth / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost turns it up to 11

Review: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost turns it up to 11 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 ford flex2010 ford flex ecoboost2010FordFlex2010FordFlexEcoboostecoboostecoboost flexEcoboostFlexfeaturedflexflex ecoboostFlexEcoboostfordford ecoboostford flexFordEcoboostFordFlexin the autoblog garageInTheAutoblogGaragereviewreviewedreviews Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:56:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2009 Lexus LX570 is three tons of luxury with a dollop of off-road mastery]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/2009-lexus-lx570-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/2009-lexus-lx570-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/2009-lexus-lx570-review/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2009 Lexus LX570 - Click above for high-res image gallery

While the Lexus LX570 is the flagship SUV in the automaker's lineup, its glory is often overshadowed by the best-selling RX. With proven Land Cruiser bloodlines, and the Tundra's V8 muscle under its hood, the seven-passenger LX competes in the rarefied full-size luxury SUV segment occupied by the Land Rover Range Rover and Cadillac Escalade. What does the Japanese entrant hold over its British and American counterparts? And more importantly, what makes the LX unique in this segment? Find out after the jump...


Gallery: Review: 2009 Lexus LX570


Photos copyright (C)2009 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 Lexus LX570 is three tons of luxury with a dollop of off-road mastery

Review: 2009 Lexus LX570 is three tons of luxury with a dollop of off-road mastery originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 20092009 Lexus2009 Lexus LX5702009Lexus2009LexusLx57020102010 Lexus2010 Lexus LX5702010Lexus2010LexusLx570featuredlexuslexus lx 470Lexus LX SeriesLexus LX450lexus lx570Lexus SUVLexusLx450LexusLx470LexusLx570LexusLxSeriesLexusSuvlx 570lx570reviewreviews Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Road Trip Review: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with Navigation [w/VIDEO]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/02/road-trip-review-2010-hyundai-genesis-coupe-with-navigation-w/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/02/road-trip-review-2010-hyundai-genesis-coupe-with-navigation-w/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/02/road-trip-review-2010-hyundai-genesis-coupe-with-navigation-w/#comments Filed under: , , , ,


2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe w/Nav - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been less than a year since the Hyundai Genesis Coupe hit the streets, but the Korean automaker isn't sitting on its hands. Just as it's done in the past, Hyundai is launching a steady stream of refreshed and redesigned models, and even new models - like the Genesis - are benefiting from the updates. At the top of Hyundai's list of early cycle improvements is fitting the Genesis Coupe with a satellite navigation system, something that's been missing since it's launch earlier this year. So after getting an exclusive glimpse of a prototype system in May, Hyundai invited us back to sample the production version in a few Coupes and one Sedan. How's it work? We hit the road to find out.


Gallery: Road Trip Review: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with Navigation


Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Road Trip Review: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with Navigation [w/VIDEO]

Road Trip Review: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with Navigation [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 hyundai2010 hyundai genesis coupe2010 hyundai genesis coupe navigation2010Hyundai2010HyundaiGenesisCoupe2010HyundaiGenesisCoupeNavigationfalsefeaturedgenesis coupeGenesisCoupehyundaihyundai genesishyundai genesis coupeHyundaiGenesisHyundaiGenesisCoupenavigationnavigation systemNavigationSystemnavigationsystemsreviewreviewsroad triproad trip reviewroad tripsRoadTripRoadTripReviewRoadTrips Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata is still the drive of our childhood dreams]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/02/review-2009-mazda-mx-5-miata-is-still-the-drive-of-our-childhoo/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/02/review-2009-mazda-mx-5-miata-is-still-the-drive-of-our-childhoo/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/02/review-2009-mazda-mx-5-miata-is-still-the-drive-of-our-childhoo/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember back when you were a diapered enthusiast-to-be and you weren't allowed to venture beyond the end of your family's tree lawn? The sum total of your 'driving' experience was probably a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe. If you were like us, your toddler self was all big dreams, bustling feet and arms akimbo, twirling around those front caster wheels, savoring your first taste of automotive freedom.

Mazda created a timeless masterwork upon minting the very first MX-5 Miata back in 1989.
Small wonder, then, that Little Tikes' now 30-year-old bauble of rotation-molded plastic was last year's best-selling car - it's timeless. Combine classic styling, unburstable robustness, an inexpensive sticker price and the fact that it remains just quick enough for its target audience, and you've got a recipe for lasting success. The CC's whimsical, animated face; rounded, friendly styling; unfussed interior; nimble handling and general affordability has meant that despite a decidedly casual model update schedule, the folks at Little Tikes still have the whole fun-to-drive thing knocked. Sound like anyone else we know?

Oh, it may have taken them a decade longer to cotton on to the idea, but Mazda's designers eventually stumbled upon the same secret sauce as those wondrous toymakers from Hudson, Ohio. Perhaps inadvertently, they, too, created a timeless masterwork upon minting the very first MX-5 Miata back in 1989. All these years later, just like the Cozy Coupe, you can't help but smile a little when you see one. Just like the Cozy Coupe, you have to adopt the same mildly vulnerable, elbows-out-the-window driving position because of the cabin's pronounced narrowness. Just like the Cozy Coupe, both cars have more than their fair share of plastic in their interior. Just like the Cozy Coupe, road imperfections are transmitted directly through the modestly sized wheels into the driver's hands and back pocket - and in both cases, it's part of the fun. Most importantly, just like that Cozy Coupe of your youth, Mazda's minimalist masterwork will help you rediscover your inner enthusiast's childlike heart.


Gallery: Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata


Photos copyright (C)2009 Chris Paukert / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata is still the drive of our childhood dreams

Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata is still the drive of our childhood dreams originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 Mazda MX-52010MazdaMx-5FeaturedmazdaMazda MiataMazda MX-5MazdaMiataMazdaMx-5MiataMX-5MX5reviewReviewedreviewsroadstersports carSportsCar Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:55:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS demands to be loved]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/01/review-2010-chevrolet-camaro-ss-demands-to-be-loved/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/01/review-2010-chevrolet-camaro-ss-demands-to-be-loved/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/01/review-2010-chevrolet-camaro-ss-demands-to-be-loved/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro has taken so long to get to here we wouldn't be surprised if Caravaggio did the original sketches. We wanted the car when we first saw it back in 6 B.C. We drove prototypes sometime around the Norman Conquest. And now it's finally on the streets. It seems like a mighty long time, but a Camaro SS finally found its way into our hands and it was like being delivered a mail-order bride we'd been corresponding with for ages, begging, "Please, just get here." But how long would our honeymoon last? Or would there be one at all? We hit the road to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS demands to be loved

Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS demands to be loved originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 camaro2010 chevrolet2010 chevrolet camaro2010 chevy2010 chevy camaro2010Camaro2010Chevrolet2010ChevroletCamaro2010Chevy2010ChevyCamarocamarochevroletchevrolet camaroChevroletCamarochevychevy camaroChevyCamarocoupefeaturedperformancereviewreviews Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: Moto Guzzi V7 Classic is an Italian beauty you can live with]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/review-moto-guzzi-v7-classic-is-an-italian-beauty-you-can-live/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/review-moto-guzzi-v7-classic-is-an-italian-beauty-you-can-live/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/review-moto-guzzi-v7-classic-is-an-italian-beauty-you-can-live/#comments Filed under: ,


Moto Guzzi V7 Classic - Click above for high-res image gallery

Every once in a while, you can tell exactly how a motorcycle will ride based solely on the initial walkaround. When the seminal Yamaha VMax hit the scene way back in 1985, one look at its muscular stance, massive V-four and spindly suspenders told you everything you needed to know about its intentions. At the other end of the spectrum, it takes just a quick glance at any modern Vespa to know if its rider is destined to be a mod or a rocker.

This odd ability to instantaneously assess a bike's virtues came again when the Moto Guzzi V7 Classic arrived on our doorstep. As you'd expect, we dove right into the nitty-gritty details as quickly as we could type its name into Google. We dissected the manual and gazed at the pictures. Then we went outside with the key clutched firmly in hand, approached the machine and promptly forgot everything we'd just spent the last few hours reading. With a bike like this, the spec sheet seems largely irrelevant and mundane; things like horsepower and torque figures really don't seem to matter. How can that be? Click past the break to find out.


Gallery: Review: Moto Guzzi V7 Classic


Photos copyright (C)2009 Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: Moto Guzzi V7 Classic is an Italian beauty you can live with

Review: Moto Guzzi V7 Classic is an Italian beauty you can live with originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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