Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2010 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: 2010 Honda Element with Dog Friendly package leaves tails wagging]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/16/2010-honda-element-with-dog-friendly-package-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/16/2010-honda-element-with-dog-friendly-package-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/16/2010-honda-element-with-dog-friendly-package-review/#comments Filed under: , , , ,


2010 Honda Element with Dog Friendly Package - Click above for high-res image gallery

How does an automaker take a model that's been largely unchanged since inception and give it a little juice seven years into its life cycle? If you're Honda, you go to the dogs. Literally. After unveiling it as a "concept" at the 2009 New York Auto Show, the Dog Friendly Honda Element accessory package has made the transition to production. The theory is that if you're a dog lover, you might consider buying an Element geared specifically toward those needs.

The Big H has plenty of experience in this department. As we showed you earlier today, in Japan there's a dedicated Honda Dog website (it's incredible, really) loaded with info about transporting pups in basically every JDM Honda offering. Naturally, there are "Travel Dog" accessories that drivers can purchase for each car as well. In fact, in Japan, there's also a dedicated model, the Vamos Travel Dog, which is specifically outfitted with dog owners in mind - much like the Stateside-market Elements kitted out with the new Dog Friendly gear. As luck would have it, I have two dogs. Hence, I, and they, will be your humble 2010 Honda Element (Dog Friendly!) evaluators. Get your paws over to the jump to read more.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Element Dog Friendly Package


Photos by Alex Núñez / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Honda Element with Dog Friendly package leaves tails wagging

Review: 2010 Honda Element with Dog Friendly package leaves tails wagging originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 20102010 honda element2010HondaElementdog friendlydog friendly honda elementDogFriendlyDogFriendlyHondaElementelementfeaturedhondahonda elementhonda element EXhonda element ex naviHondaElementHondaElementExHondaElementExNavireview Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP induces grins, wheelspin and wheelies]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/11/ducati-hypermotard-1100-evo-sp-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/11/ducati-hypermotard-1100-evo-sp-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/11/ducati-hypermotard-1100-evo-sp-review/#comments Filed under: ,

Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're going to get ahead of ourselves a little bit with our review of the new Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP. We spend lots of time riding various two- and four-wheeled vehicles, and very few - indeed, possibly none at all - garner the same kind of ear-to-ear grins as Ducati's oversized supermoto. It's totally ridiculous and absolutely wonderful.

Sure, it's fast. Yes, it's beautiful. But what is this bike's mission in life? Is it meant solely as a hooligan machine with either the front or rear wheel aloft at any given moment? Is the temptation to leave black stripes and huge plumes of white smoke in your wake from every single stop too much to overcome? We spent 10 days using the latest edition of Bologna's finest all-road rocket for everything from runs to the grocery store to riding two-up for a leisurely Sunday morning ride to an out-and-out battle with the local twisty roads strewn about with pebbles and potholes. Read on to find out what we found.


Gallery: Review: Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP


Photos by Jeremy Korzeniewski / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP induces grins, wheelspin and wheelies

Review: Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP induces grins, wheelspin and wheelies originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> ducati hypermotardDucati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SPDucatiHypermotardDucatiHypermotard1100EvoSpfeaturedhypermotard 1100 EVO SPHypermotard1100EvoSpreview Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2011 Jaguar XJ is indisputably British and not afraid of a storm]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/09/2011-jaguar-xj-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/09/2011-jaguar-xj-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/09/2011-jaguar-xj-review/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2011 Jaguar XJ - Click above for high-res image gallery

Xynthia ripped into France merely hours after our arrival. Packing gale-force fury, the ruthless wind and rain battered the coast before moving inland with its crushing blow - sadly, it was the country's deadliest storm in more than a decade. While we were spared most of its rage, the countryside outside Paris was a soggy debris-laden mess - not exactly optimal conditions to test the latest flagship sedan from Jaguar.

Soldiering forth - and more intrigued than ever with the all-new saloon - we ignored the rain and spent a long day trekking around the drenched landscape with both the short- and long-wheelbase models. What makes this new XJ so different from its predecessors? Does its performance mirror its powerplants? And, what's up with that painted C-Pillar? The answers, and more, are found after the jump.


Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Jaguar XJ


Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2011 Jaguar XJ is indisputably British and not afraid of a storm

Review: 2011 Jaguar XJ is indisputably British and not afraid of a storm originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 jaguar xj2011JaguarXjfeaturedjaguarjaguar xjJaguarXjreviewreviewsxj Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport could'a been a contenda]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/05/2010-lexus-ls460-sport-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/05/2010-lexus-ls460-sport-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/05/2010-lexus-ls460-sport-review/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

2010 Lexus LS460 Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

With Lexus having carefully cultivated a reputation for isolating drivers from all of the undignified sensations normally associated with driving, it might seem surprising to find a Sport model in the LS lineup. Sure, Lexus offers the M3-chasing IS F, as well as the outrageous LFA supercar, but an LS460 Sport? Come on... even sport-synonymous BMW doesn't offer an M version of its full-size 7 Series luxobarge.

BMW does offer, however, an Alpina B7, as well as a BMW M5. There's also the Cadillac CTS-V, Audi S6 and S8, and a whole undercard of Mercedes-Benz AMG cars out there that prove there is a market for sports-tuned large sedans like this 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport. You certainly can't begrudge Lexus for trying to steal a slice of that more stiffly-sprung, high-test pie - but is it just promoters' hype or can this LS Sport really float like a butterfly and sting like a bee?

We had a brief encounter with the 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport a couple of months ago down in San Diego and came away impressed. While we didn't immediately drop the Germans or lone American from our top contenders list, we were at least willing to add the LS to our "worth-watching" column. And so we decided to take a closer look. Could Lexus successfully move its F-Sport tuning up a weight class, and would the LS460 Sport actually contend with other heavyweights in the segment? We gave it seven days to prove its mettle.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport


Photos by Frank Filipponio / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport could'a been a contenda

Review: 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport could'a been a contenda originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 lexus ls sport2010LexusLsSportfeaturedlexuslexus lslexus ls sportLexusLsLexusLsSportlsls sportLsSportreviewreviews Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: Lexus GS450h uses electrons for fun]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/26/lexus-gs450h-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/26/lexus-gs450h-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/26/lexus-gs450h-review/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Lexus GS450h - Click above for high-res image gallery

The love affair with batteries begins as a child. By the time your fifth Christmas rolls around, the moment you unwrap an electronic gadget your mind is already processing the thought, "Santa better have brought batteries..." Not only does that relationship continue as an adult, but what was once a simple tryst - "Mom, I need batteries for my Coleco Football" - has turned into a full-on romance (with every associated frustration) of our beloved battery-powered gizmos.

Like, for instance, the Lexus GS450h. One of the sleepiest of sleeper sedans, its batteries aren't responsible for keeping it running, only for supplementing the power of its 3.5-liter V6. And while hybrids have generally left us tepid, after a week with the Lexus, we're almost ready to ask automakers for another Christmas gift: Put batteries in everything, and do it just like this.


Gallery: Review: Lexus GS450h


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

Continue reading Review: Lexus GS450h uses electrons for fun

Review: Lexus GS450h uses electrons for fun originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> featuredgsgs450hlexuslexus gs450hLexusGs450hreviewreviews Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Range Rover Sport Supercharged brings the adventure home]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/24/review-2010-range-rover-sport-supercharged-brings-the-adventure/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/24/review-2010-range-rover-sport-supercharged-brings-the-adventure/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/24/review-2010-range-rover-sport-supercharged-brings-the-adventure/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

2010 Range Rover Sport Supercharged - Click above for high-res image gallery

Despite enduring a string of financial hardships, Land Rover still enjoys one of the clearest and most robust brand identities in the automotive kingdom. The English automaker has held the same core values since the company's first off-roader was created by Maurice Wilks in 1948. Wilks reportedly designed the first Land Rover to emulate a Jeep he had driven, and the first Land Rover prototype actually utilized a chassis borrowed from that legendary American off-roader. And much like Jeep, when you think of Land Rover, the words rugged, purpose-built, and capable are sure to come to mind, but the two storied marques part company when it comes to luxury amenities. England's four-wheeling pride and joy can be found in places like Africa, the Middle East, Australia's Outback and as well as the ritziest precincts of Beverly Hills and Monte Carlo.

While the core identity of Land Rover hasn't deviated much over the years, its product lineup has grown substantially. After Ford purchased Land Rover from BMW in 2000, the brand added the supremely capable LR4 and Range Rover Sport to a struggling lineup. The Sport traces its looks and name to the top-end Range Rover model, but its underpinnings are actually based on the LR4, with an integrated bodyframe semi-monocoque construction for a combination of rough and ready off-roading and good noise isolation characteristics.

The sportiest of Range Rovers has been a solid entry in the luxury mountain climbing segment for a half-decade, but the folks at Land Rover have given the Sport a very thorough update for 2010 to help it live up to fast and flashy new competitors like the Porsche Cayenne and BMW's X5/X6 M twins. We were able to get our hands on a new 2010 Range Rover Sport with the company's new Jaguar-derived supercharged 5.0-liter V8 to see if it's as accomplished on paved streets as it is off-road. Hit the jump to see if it's still our cup of tea.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Range Rover Sport Supercharged


Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Range Rover Sport Supercharged brings the adventure home

Review: 2010 Range Rover Sport Supercharged brings the adventure home originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 Land Rover2010 Range Rover Sport2010LandRover2010RangeRoverSportfeaturedLand Roverland rover reviewlandieLandRoverLandRoverReviewrange roverrange rover reviewrange rover sportRangeRoverRangeRoverReviewRangeRoverSportreviewreviewsroverrover sportRoverSportsupercharged Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST <![CDATA[Living with the Tesla Roadster Sport: One week in an electric light orchestra]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/23/2010-tesla-roadster-sport-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/23/2010-tesla-roadster-sport-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/23/2010-tesla-roadster-sport-review/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,


2010 Tesla Roadster Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

After finally getting myself situated in the back of the Boeing, I notice the lady to my left wearing a Tesla fleece. As fate, the alignment of the stars and unbridled dumb luck would have it, I was seated next to Rachel Konrad, Tesla's Senior Manager of Communications... for the next 10 hours.

After exchanging pleasantries, discussing each other's plans for the Frankfurt Motor Show and getting acquainted, the topic of conversation naturally turned to cars, and the Tesla Roadster, in particular.

"It's not just about performance," an overly animated Konrad told me. "What journalists don't understand is how functional it is. Owners forget to clean their windshield because they never have to go to the gas station!"

Okay, sure. But if you're selling a vehicle that starts at $109,000, you're interested in more than avoiding dirty hands at the pump. You want the full sports car monty. Power, poise, engagement, the lot. And a bit of green cred to boot surely doesn't hurt.

So after several hours of discussion, I finally say, "Hand it over to us for a week. We'll give it a proper review on its day-to-day livability. No track tests. No slalom speeds. No smoky burnouts. Just a comprehensive assessment of functionality."

A handful of phone calls and dozens of emails later, I arrive at Tesla's flagship dealership in Menlo Park, CA to pick up a full-kitted 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport. After a tutorial on the charging procedure, the internal computer and signing my life away, I was off. The Roadster was mine for the next five days, so I promptly pulled off into a bus stop, set a destination for the coast, disabled the traction control and laid a set of elevens down the street from the dealership.

Ladies and gentlemen, it pays to fly coach.

 Follow the jump to keep reading...


Gallery: Review: 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport


Photos by Brad Wood / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Living with the Tesla Roadster Sport: One week in an electric light orchestra

Living with the Tesla Roadster Sport: One week in an electric light orchestra originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 20102010 tesla roadster sport2010 tesla roadster sport review2010 tesla roadster sport test2010 tesla roadster sport test drive2010TeslaRoadsterSport2010TeslaRoadsterSportReview2010TeslaRoadsterSportTest2010TeslaRoadsterSportTestDrivefeaturedreviewreviewsroadsterroadster sportRoadsterSportsportteslatesla roadstertesla roadster sporttesla sportTeslaRoadsterTeslaRoadsterSportTeslaSport Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged is the Goldilocks of Q-ships]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/17/2010-jaguar-xf-supercharged-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/17/2010-jaguar-xf-supercharged-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/17/2010-jaguar-xf-supercharged-review/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged - Click above for high-res image gallery

There have been very few cars like the 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged, and that's a shame. Yet it's difficult to explain why this car is so special, so let's just start by describing what it is. You can order Jaguar's S-Type replacement in four flavors (more if you live in a diesel-friendly part of the world). The first and least expensive comes with Jag's tried-and-true 4.2-liter V8 for $52,000, although we're told that the 4.2-liter is now out of production, so get 'em while they're hot. For $5,000 more, you can get the company's new direct-injected 5.0-liter V8 with 385 horsepower, which is most assuredly worth every penny.

Skipping ahead one, the fourth and final flavor is the top cat XFR, equipped with a 510-hp supercharged and monsterized version of the 5.0-liter V8 for $80,000. Put another way, that's $23,000 for an extra 125 horsepower. Worth the stretch? Honestly, when are we not going to tell you to buy a 510-hp vehicle? However, there is a third flavor and it's called the XF Supercharged. Starting at $68,000, the XF Supercharged comes with the same 5.0-liter supercharged V8 as the XFR, albeit "detuned" down to 470 hp and 424 lb-ft of torque.

We know we shouldn't be shocked, but come on. We are living in seriously miraculous times if 470 hp and 424 lb-ft of torque is the detuned version of anything. That's quite nearly Nissan GT-R power, and Godzilla is a supercar killer. Oddly, Jaguar has decided not to make a big deal out of the release of this car (i.e. no launch) and that's a shame, because as you've probably surmised by now, the engine alone makes the XF Supercharged pretty special. Keep reading to learn why this is the Goldilocks of the XF range. In other words, just right.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged is the Goldilocks of Q-ships

Review: 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged is the Goldilocks of Q-ships originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 jaguar xf supercharged2010JaguarXfSuperchargedfeaturedjaguarjaguar xfjaguar xf superchargedJaguarXfJaguarXfSuperchargedreviewreviewsxfxf superchargedXfSupercharged Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Kia Forte Koup SX a beauty queen that can't hide its roots]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/16/2010-kia-forte-koup-sx-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/16/2010-kia-forte-koup-sx-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/16/2010-kia-forte-koup-sx-review/#comments Filed under: , , ,

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

It's time to stop being surprised that Koreans can make good cars. Kia and its sister-brand Hyundai have been doing it for years now, with each successive model being better than the last. Hyundai has been selling vehicles in the U.S. for 24 years, Kia for 16, and they don't deserve bonus points anymore for exceeding expectations. Want proof? Along with Subaru, they were the only three brands to increase sales last year during the Great Recession. The bar has been raised and it's time we take off the kid gloves.

With that in mind, we turn our attention to the 2010 Kia Forte Koup. A brand new model, the Koup joins the Forte sedan in displacing the Spectra, Kia's former best-selling model in the U.S. So the stakes are high for this four-door and accompanying Koup (blech, we mean coupe). We've already sampled the Forte sedan and called it "a stylish, comfortable, frisky automotive companion for surprisingly short dollars." Along with losing two doors, the Koup also gains more aggressive bodywork that suggests the potential for higher performance than the sedan. Does it fulfill that promise or come across as a parts-bin twin with two fewer doors? Let's follow the jump to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Kia Forte Koup


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Kia Forte Koup SX a beauty queen that can't hide its roots

Review: 2010 Kia Forte Koup SX a beauty queen that can't hide its roots originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 kia forte koup sx2010KiaForteKoupSxfeaturedforteforte kouforte koup sxForteKouForteKoupSxkiakia forte koup sxKiaForteKoupSxkoupkoup sxKoupSxreviewreviews Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT is a mouthful, not a handful]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/2010-acura-tl-sh-awd-6mt-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/2010-acura-tl-sh-awd-6mt-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/2010-acura-tl-sh-awd-6mt-review/#comments Filed under: , , ,


2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT - Click above for high-res image gallery

When the redesigned Acura TL debuted in late 2008, it represented a substantial transformation over previous iterations. The third-generation model retained the transverse V6 of its two predecessors, but for the first time included an all-wheel-drive option. But while the torque-vectoring Super Handling-All Wheel Drive is an appreciated addition when you're putting out over 300 horsepower, performance oriented drivers were appropriately miffed that both the TL Type-S and a manual transmission were no longer available.

Thankfully, shortly after the 2009 TL went on sale, Acura announced plans to add a manual gearbox back to the lineup. Unfortunately, it would take an entire year before it hit the market. Now it's here, and we're ready to find out if the Acura TL SH-AWD six-speed can fill the Type-S-sized hole in our hearts.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT


Photos Copyright (C)2010 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT is a mouthful, not a handful

Review: 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT is a mouthful, not a handful originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 20102010 Acura TL2010 Acura TL SH-AWD2010AcuraTl2010AcuraTl6mtSh-awd2010AcuraTlSh-awdacuraAcura TLacura tl 6-speed manualAcuraTlAcuraTl6-speedManualfeaturefeaturedfeaturesreviewreviewsroad testRoadTestSH-AWDsuper handling all-wheel driveSuperHandlingAll-wheelDrivetl Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[­­Review: 2010 Honda CR-V defends the CUV crown]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/09/review-2010-honda-cr-v-defends-the-cuv-crown/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/09/review-2010-honda-cr-v-defends-the-cuv-crown/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/09/review-2010-honda-cr-v-defends-the-cuv-crown/#comments Filed under: , ,

2010 Honda CR-V - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Honda CR-V charged into the breach back in 1996, showing traditional SUV buyers that a rapier could work as well as a broadsword. When gas prices turned the body-on-frame market topsy-turvy, might didn't necessarily equal right. The meek crossover inherited the Earth, or at least a lot of conquest sales from former SUV buyers. The CR-V lead this charge against traditional SUVs and following a complete makeover in 2007 it surged to the top of the sales charts. This supposedly weak little softroader stole the SUV sales crown from atop the Ford Explorer's head where it had sat untouched for 15 years from 1991 through 2006.

But the battlefield has changed and the 2010 Honda CR-V is facing formidable challengers on all sides. Most offer a V6 engine, having grown in size and power to resemble those mid-size SUVs they once displaced. Rather than bulk up the CR-V with an optional V6, Honda did what Honda does best and just made its four-cylinder better. The 2010 model is armed with 14 more horsepower and a long list of standard and optional equipment. So... is the CR-V this segment's once and future king or is time to crown another? Read on to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda CR-V


Photos by Frank Filipponio / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading ­­Review: 2010 Honda CR-V defends the CUV crown

­­Review: 2010 Honda CR-V defends the CUV crown originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 cr-v2010 Honda2010 honda cr-v2010Cr-v2010Honda2010HondaCr-vChevrolet EquinoxChevroletEquinoxCR-Vcr-v 2010Cr-v2010equinoxfeaturedhondahonda cr-vHondaCr-vHyundai TucsonHyundaiTucsonreviewToyota Rav 4toyota rav-4toyota rav4ToyotaRav-4ToyotaRav4 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Lexus IS 350C F-Sport is a mixed, expensive bag]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/03/review-2010-lexus-is-350c-f-sport-is-a-mixed-expensive-bag/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/03/review-2010-lexus-is-350c-f-sport-is-a-mixed-expensive-bag/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/03/review-2010-lexus-is-350c-f-sport-is-a-mixed-expensive-bag/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

2010 Lexus IS 350C F-Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Toyota launched Lexus in 1989, it had one goal in mind: Beat the Germans at the luxury game. And for a while, at least, they did exactly that. The LS400 didn't change everything, but it manifested a shift in the luxury paradigm. However, the LS400 was at the top of the heap, competing against the mighty S-Class from Mercedes-Benz and the 7 Series from BMW (Audi and Cadillac were both in their basket case phases and not really competing with anyone). Towards the bottom of the luxury pile sat the Lexus ES 250. Despite being the nicest Camry ever built, it was most definitely Glass Joe to the BMW 3 Series' Mike Tyson in the entry level luxury/performance punch out.

After more than a decade, Lexus eventually realized that no matter how refined it made the front-wheel-drive, Camry-based ES lineup, it simply couldn't compete with the sportiness inherent to the rear-wheel-driven 3 Series. As such, it introduced the sporty IS 300 in 2001. While the IS featured some killer features - chronograph style gauges, pop-up navigation screen, manual transmission, a wagon body style and sporty dynamics - its rear seat was so tiny it got classified as a subcompact. Despite some fans, it just wasn't in the same league as the 3 Series, and as you might expect, sales remained lackluster in the U.S.

Finally, in 2006 Lexus launched the current generation IS. Available with a 2.5-liter (IS 250) or 3.5-liter (IS 350) V6, the second-generation IS became the first Lexus product that could credibly compete with BMW's dominant 3 Series, as well as the surging Infiniti G35. Then came the hopped-up IS-F, with a 5.0-liter V8 that cranked out 416 horsepower, two ponies more than the 414-hp V8 motor in the M3. Lexus need not make any excuses for the brute IS-F. While Lexus continues to shy away from the full-fledged 3 Series battle royal by not bringing out a two-door or a wagon, it has released a hardtop convertible variant called the IS 350C. We got our hands on a nearly murdered-out variant, the IS 350C F-Sport. Our thoughts and impressions are available after the jump.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Lexus IS 350C F-Sport


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Lexus IS 350C F-Sport is a mixed, expensive bag

Review: 2010 Lexus IS 350C F-Sport is a mixed, expensive bag originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 IS 350C F-Sport2010 Lexus IS 350C F-Sport2010Is350cF-sport2010LexusIs350cF-sportF-SportfeaturedISIS 350CIS 350C F-SportIS 350C F-Sport ReviewIs350cIs350cF-sportIs350cF-sportReviewLexusLexus IS 350C F-SportLexusIs350cF-sportReviewreviews Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is sitting on the bubble]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/02/review-2010-mazdaspeed3-is-sitting-on-the-bubble/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/02/review-2010-mazdaspeed3-is-sitting-on-the-bubble/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/02/review-2010-mazdaspeed3-is-sitting-on-the-bubble/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

2010 Mazdaspeed3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Last summer, our man Damon Lavrinc drove the then-brand-new 2010 Mazdaspeed3 around California's legendary Laguna Seca Raceway and then Caramel Valley's world-class back roads. And he loved it. I mention this because we're sure that under similar, near-ideal conditions, I would have been nearly as smitten. But reality has a funny way of tossing monkey wrenches at even the most lovely picnics. To wit: I had the Speed3 in Los Angeles during the recent torrential downpour/tornado warnings, then drove to Phoenix through a monsoon the same day/night that Russo and Steele got their tents blown across a freeway. Ideal? Hardly. Informative? Keep reading and decide for yourself.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Mazdaspeed3


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is sitting on the bubble

Review: 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is sitting on the bubble originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 Mazdaspeed32010 Mazdaspeed3 Review2010Mazdaspeed32010Mazdaspeed3ReviewfeaturedMazdaMazda3Mazdaspeed3Mazdaspeed3 ReviewMazdaspeed3ReviewreviewreviewsSpeed3Speed3 ReviewSpeed3Review Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:56:00 EST <![CDATA[First Drive: Bentley Continental Supersports is a <s>whiter</s> lighter shade of <s>pale</s> awesome]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/27/first-drive-bentley-continental-supersports-is-a-whiter/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/27/first-drive-bentley-continental-supersports-is-a-whiter/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/27/first-drive-bentley-continental-supersports-is-a-whiter/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports - Click above for high-res image gallery

In the superluxe world, we're used to this maneuver: add a few horsepower, shave a tenth or two, sew in a few extra threads, name your exclusive new interior color something like "Algerian Beet" and voilà, a 50-percent price premium for three-percent more car. On the surface, the Bentley Continental Supersports is a GTC Speed that has gone on The Biggest Loser, Extreme Makeover, and Alter Eco. But you know what they say about the proof and the pudding, so the question is whether the Supersports is a nameplate special or a genuinely higher evolution of the baller's favorite steed. We spent a day in the wilds of New Jersey and upstate New York, along with a few hours at Monticello Raceway to find out. Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce you to the first Continental you can feel.


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports


Photos by Jonathon Ramsey / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: Bentley Continental Supersports is a whiter lighter shade of pale awesome

First Drive: Bentley Continental Supersports is a whiter lighter shade of pale awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 Bentley2010 bentley continental gt2010 bentley continental supersports2010 continental gt2010 continental gtc2010Bentley2010BentleyContinentalGt2010BentleyContinentalSupersports2010ContinentalGt2010ContinentalGtcbentleybentley continental gtbentley continental supersportsBentleyContinentalGtBentleyContinentalSupersportscontinental gtContinental SupersportsContinentalGtContinentalSupersportsfeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveSupersportsConvertible Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost AWD has a good personality and great moves]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/21/2010-lincoln-mkt-ecoboost-awd-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/21/2010-lincoln-mkt-ecoboost-awd-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/21/2010-lincoln-mkt-ecoboost-awd-review/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost AWD - Click above for high-res image gallery

Approaching the 2010 Lincoln MKT for the first time is like meeting a blind date. You've been told by friends she has a good personality, which immediately has you wondering what she looks like. From a distance you see your fears confirmed: She's a big girl with a toothy grin and a weird hump. If super models are your thing, you'll be disappointed by this three-row crossover sitting alone in the corner with a red carnation in her hair. But if you meet her with an open mind, you'll find that a good personality goes a long way.

It's our job to go on blind dates with vehicles before you do, and despite the MKT's controversial design, we're glad we sat down and got to know her. Now, if you can't get over seeing a beached whale in your driveway every morning, stop reading; no twin-turbo direct-inject V6 engine, advanced infotainment features or luxurious appointments will change your mind. We'll agree to disagree and you'll probably pass judgment on the MKT from afar, not even giving it the courtesy of a test drive before shacking up with that German model. Will you regret not getting to know the MKT like we did? Read on to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost AWD


Photos by John Neff / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost AWD has a good personality and great moves

Review: 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost AWD has a good personality and great moves originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 lincoln mkt2010 lincoln mkt ecoboost2010LincolnMkt2010LincolnMktEcoboostfeaturedlincolnlincoln mktLincolnMktmktmkt ecoboostMktEcoboostreviewreviews Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:55:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic weathers the storm with aplomb]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/20/2010-mercedes-benz-e350-4matic-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/20/2010-mercedes-benz-e350-4matic-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/20/2010-mercedes-benz-e350-4matic-review/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Sedan - Click above for high-res image gallery

A November Nor'Easter had chewed its way up to New England, delivering a cataclysmic combination of rain and wind as we headed out on a late-night errand. Normally, such a prospect requires a potent blend of Italian roast and Krank20 to stay hyper alert. Instead, behind the helm of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic, the going was serene and confident. In a word: Wow.

These moments of vehicular astonishment have thinned out in the last two decades. Just look around at the automotive landscape. Even more modest conveyances are kitted out like luxury cars of yore, packing tons of tech and safety features that were once the exclusive purview of the world's well-to-do. Can anything be impressive anymore? As a matter of fact, yes. The E350, as it strafed along the pavement, solid as granite and ready for anything, made us feel like true kaisers of the strasse. Horsepower-addicted auto reviewers have complained that the 3.5-liter V6 needs more spinach. Fine. You want speed, spring for the AMG E63 and shut up. But for the above-average family man, the E350 manages to transcend its asthmatic lungs, soft-spoken tiller and supple feet to foment serious respect, if not outright desire.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Sedan


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic weathers the storm with aplomb

Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic weathers the storm with aplomb originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 mercedes benz e-class2010 mercedes benz e3502010 mercedes e3502010 mercedes-benz e class2010 mercedes-benz e-class2010 mercedes-benz e3502010Mercedes-benzE-class2010Mercedes-benzE3502010Mercedes-benzEClass2010MercedesBenzE-class2010MercedesBenzE3502010MercedesE350e classE-ClassE350EClassfeaturedmercedesMercedes Benzmercedes e classmercedes e-classmercedes-benzmercedes-benz e-classMercedes-benzE-classMercedesBenzMercedesE-classMercedesEClassreviewreviews Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: Icon CJ3B more than the sum of its impressive parts]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/19/review-icon-cj3b-more-than-the-sum-of-its-impressive-parts/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/19/review-icon-cj3b-more-than-the-sum-of-its-impressive-parts/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/19/review-icon-cj3b-more-than-the-sum-of-its-impressive-parts/#comments Filed under: , ,

Icon CJ3B - Click above for high-res image gallery

"We're not going to challenge the traditional big players with our volume," says Icon's owner and head designer Jonathan Ward as we're admiring one of his company's Toyota FJ recreations. "But we hope to challenge what they put into their products." Depending on how highly you value quality, Mr. Ward might have just made the understatement of the year. In part, Icon's mission is to "Revisit vehicles from our collective past in a modern context." But as we discovered, going along with old-meets-new is a firm, unwavering, near-perplexing and possibly suicidal refusal to compromise any aspect of their vehicles in any way.

Take Icon's latest model, the all new CJ3B. Based off the 1953 Willys CJ3B (Icon amazingly holds the rights to the name), Ward explains that the design ethos of the old Willys Jeeps was longevity, simplicity and utility. Not only does Ward appreciate these qualities, but he finds them "Sorely lacking from the current automotive industry." You'll get little argument here. However, doesn't a modern Jeep Wrangler embody those three priorities, as well as providing near-goofy levels of straight off the showroom floor off-roadability? Not only that, but a Wrangler costs $21,460 with the (much) more capable Rubicon edition raising the Wrangler's price to $29,565. Not cheap, but the Icon CJ3B will set you back a cool $79,000, prix fixe.

At this point we normally pose a question - something like, "Is the Icon CJ3B worth $50,000 more than a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon?" But here's the thing, after a few hours of exposure to the CJ3B, it's unquestionably worth the money. That's right, we're just going to start the review with the conclusion, then explain exactly why this little Icon is so darn special. And believe us, the CJ3B is exceptionally special.


Gallery: Review: ICON CJ3B


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: Icon CJ3B more than the sum of its impressive parts

Review: Icon CJ3B more than the sum of its impressive parts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> cj3bfeaturediconicon cj3bIconCj3breviewreviews Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R is a tall order]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/18/review-2010-nissan-sentra-se-r-is-a-tall-order/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/18/review-2010-nissan-sentra-se-r-is-a-tall-order/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/18/review-2010-nissan-sentra-se-r-is-a-tall-order/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R - Click above for high-res image galleries

The Nissan Sentra has long been the bridesmaid of America's C-segment. Few consider it to be best-in-class, yet it would be a stretch to call Nissan's second-smallest sedan the category's cellar dweller. In the past, the Sentra hasn't been the fastest, it hasn't been the prettiest and it certainly hasn't offered the best interior, but the affordable sedan has quietly continued to sell well enough to keep Nissan in the picture.

Unlike some of its more popular competitors, the Sentra is offered exclusively as a sedan, while other automakers offer coupes or hatchbacks. Nissan makes up for this deficiency in part by offering six different variants of the Sentra, ranging from a base 2.0 model to the 200-horsepower SE-R Spec V. We had the chance to spend a week in the mildly refreshed 2010 SE-R model that slots in just below the Spec V, and with 177 horsepower on tap and quite a few high-end options, we wanted to find out if this upper-middle child could hold its own in what has fast become one of the most interesting and competitive segments in the market.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R


Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R is a tall order

Review: 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R is a tall order originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 Nissan Sentra2010NissanSentracvt transmissionCvtTransmissionfeaturednissannissan cvtNissan Sentra autoblog garageNissan Sentra reviewNissan Sentra SE-rDNissanCvtNissanSentraAutoblogGarageNissanSentraReviewNissanSentraSe-rdreviewreviewssentrasentra se-rSentraSe-r Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe is a worthy companion]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/07/review-2010-mercedes-benz-e350-coupe-is-a-worthy-companion/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/07/review-2010-mercedes-benz-e350-coupe-is-a-worthy-companion/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/07/review-2010-mercedes-benz-e350-coupe-is-a-worthy-companion/#comments Filed under: , , , ,


2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Marketing does funny things. Recently the word "coupe" has been rendered null and void of meaning by crafty marketing types behind cars like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, BMW X6 and Volkswagen CC, while the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo has sucked every last ounce of truth, honesty and passion from the term "Gran Turismo." It's now just advertising flim-flam. The BMW 8 Series was a grand tourer. The 535i Gran Turismo? We hear it's very practical...

We mention co-opting of the terms "coupe" and "Gran Turismo" because marketers pulled a similar stunt back in the early '70s with the phrase "Personal Luxury Car." Some cars did fit the definition well (roughly, a luxury coupe exists where practicality and efficiency are traded in favor of style, plush and image), others did not. For example, in the U.S. where we like our luxury by the yard, a 1971 Buick Riviera is a perfect example of a personal luxury car. An AMC Matador Brougham complete with Oleg Cassini interior isn't. Regardless of reality, by 1973 every car with two doors and faux-vinyl seats got tagged with the PLC label. As such, the phrase "personal luxury car" became meaningless.

Apropos of all that, Mercedes-Benz was kind enough to let us test its two-door version of its new W212 E-Class, the 2010 E350 Coupe. The new model marks the first time in three generations that Mercedes has offered a coupe version of what's generally considered to be its sauerbraten und spätzle. You'd have to go back to Bill Clinton's first term (that's pre-Lewinsky) to find the two-door W124 E-Class. Obviously, the B-pillarless two-door qualifies as a coupe, but a personal luxury car? Or, dare we say it, a GT?


Gallery: Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe is a worthy companion

Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe is a worthy companion originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2010 Coupe2010 E3502010 E350 Coupe2010 Mercedes-Benz Coupe2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe2010Coupe2010E3502010E350Coupe2010Mercedes-benzCoupe2010Mercedes-benzE350Coupee-class coupeE-classCoupeE350E350 CoupeE350CoupefeaturedGran TurismoGrand TourerGrandTourerGranTurismoGTMercedesMercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz E350Mercedes-Benz E350 CoupeMercedes-benzE350Mercedes-benzE350CoupePersonal Luxury CarPersonalLuxuryCarPLCReviewreviews Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:59:00 EST <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Lexus RX450h is the pinnacle of autonomous fuel-sippers]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/05/2010-lexus-rx450h-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/05/2010-lexus-rx450h-review/ http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/05/2010-lexus-rx450h-review/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2010 Lexus RX 450h - Click above for high-res image gallery

With a slew of sensors and CPUs, the 2010 Lexus RX450h can pretty much drive itself. Want to go somewhere? Sit down in the driver's seat, use the Remote Touch device (a.k.a. "mouse") to tell the crossover where you want to go, and follow the easy-as-store-bought-pie instructions to your destination. Whether or not this is a good thing depends on how badly you want to feel like you're in control of your commute. For those concerned about fuel economy and comfort, the almost-autonomous nature of the RX450h is nice, but certainly doesn't offer a tremendous amount of ability to control how much fuel you burn moving down the street. As it turns out, this is a feature, not a bug. Find out why after the jump.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Lexus RX 450h


Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Lexus RX450h is the pinnacle of autonomous fuel-sippers

Review: 2010 Lexus RX450h is the pinnacle of autonomous fuel-sippers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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