2009

  • 2009 Audi Q5

    Until the Lincoln Navigator plowed into existence in the late 1990s, the idea of a luxury sport-utility vehicle was largely limited to the Range Rover. Hideously expensive off-roaders were a perplexing thought: who’d want to wrinkle all that pricey sheetmetal, and get those lambswool carpets filthy with mud? Now, of course, everyone’s in on the act. There are so many luxury SUVs, in fact, a whole new class of compact luxury SUVs has emerged. Starting with the BMW X3 and Lexus RX, luxury brands have filtered the big brute-utes down to a more manageable size and to a more affordable...

  • HKS GT600 Nissan GT-R
    HKS releases more powerful GT600 upgrade for Nissan’s GT-R

    HKS was one of the first major tuning houses to work on Nissan’s legendary GT-R supercar, developing performance kits and accessories as early as the 1989 R32 model right up to the latest R35 model. While many rival Japanese tuning firms specialise in simple off-the-shelf mods, the...

  • Hennessey Nissan GTR 700
    Video: Hennessey previews the "world's most powerful" R35 Nissan GT-R

    After a high initial hurdle in cracking the GT-R's ECU, many tuners have taken their shot at improving on Nissan's latest interpretation of the GT-R, but now Hennessey is going for the title of "World's most powerful" R35 Nissan GT-R. They've already laid claim to the title of "World's fastest...

  • wald black bison mercedes c class estate 008
    Mercedes C-Class Estate gets the Black Bison treatment

    The Black Bison line of appearance packages from Wald has won notoriety for its treatment of everything from the Nissan GT-R to the Lexus IS-F and even Toyota's Land Cruiser. This time out, they've taken on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate, and come up with yet another extreme creation. If there's...

  • ferrari 599 gtb hgte fiorano schumacher 002
    Michael Schumacher laps the Ferrari 599 GTB HGTE at Fiorano

    Most people are satisfied with the performance and handling of a stock Ferrari. It is, after all, a Ferrari. But for those with even higher standards, Ferrari has created the Handling GT Evoluzione (HGTE) package, revealed in March at the Geneva Motor Show. This week, seven-time F1 champ Michael...

  • 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10
    Dodge Viper business turned over to Fiat

    Chrysler has been trying to sell its Dodge Viper sports car business since late last year but according to the struggling automaker, the once prominent brand couldn’t even muster up offers of $10 million. In fact, Chrysler insisted that it had received only one bid of $5.5 million from Devon...

  • Mercedes Benz ESF 2009 S400 Hybrid

    Airbag brakes, inflatable metal and seats that push the passengers around? It sounds like a car straight out of a transformers movie, but Mercedes-Benz has let loose the full details of its ESF 2009 S400 Hybrid experimental Safety Vehicle that has all that and more - even though it won't be officially unveiled until later this month. The car is the first such experimental model from Mercedes since the early 1970s. Fitted with 13 of Mercedes-Benz's most advanced technologies, from the S400 Hybrid powertrain to the Pre-Safe crash-detection system, center seat airbags and inflatable metal...

  • Audi’s latest ute makes quick work of freeways and country lanes alike, with four people in to
    Audi Q5 Hybrid coming in 2011

    Hybrid-electric and other green propulsion systems are as much a theme of the current climate as is the restructuring and 'right-sizing' of the industry - even more so, at ground-level. Audi is doing its part to contribute to the swell of green vehicles and announcements by revealing its plans to...

  • Bentley chassis 141
    Pebble Beach to host former Bentley Boys cars in addition to Arnage unveiling

    For those not familiar with the Bentley Boys, they were a group of hard-driving, wealthy and dedicated works team racers that helped push Bentley to its racing success in the 1920s. This year, a few of the cars they drove over 80 years ago will be re-convened at the Pebble Beach Concours...

  • 2009 Toyota Camry Solara Convertible
    End of the road for Camry Solara Convertible

    While production of the Camry Solara Coupe has already bowed out, we can confirm today that the more expensive Solara Convertible won’t be produced anymore either due to flagging sales in the midsize convertible market. However, existing stockpiles will see the car in showrooms for at least...

  • Ferrari at the 2009 Monaco GP
    ACEA calls for new FIA constitution, Ferrari rejects 2010 F1 entry

    Today the FIA published the 2010 Formula 1 entry list to a cold reception from Ferrari and the Red Bull/Scuderia Toro Rosso teams as all three were included when they'd submitted written notice to be left off the list. As a result, the European Automobile Manufacturer's Association (ACEA) has...

  • 2009 Audi Q5
    Audi Q5 takes top marks in both IIHS and NHTSA safety tests

    Safety is no joke, especially to families on the go, and the arms race to get top ratings from the key safety evaluators - the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - is a never-ending battle to include the biggest standard...

  • 2009 volkswagen cc 002

    Advanced vehicle systems like stability control, ABS and traction control have become so common that we often gloss over them in a car's spec sheet, but they are important innovations for safety. Volkswagen's CC has taken that to heart, outfitting a core complement of technologies that have helped it secure the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award. The basics - ESP, ABS, brake assist and traction control - are all accounted for on all 2009 Volkswagen CCs. The entire VW lineup for 2009 features ESP as standard, but bringing all of these systems together gives the CC...

  • ABT Sportsline Audi A3 AS3
    ABT Sportsline focuses on four-cylinder performance with A3-based AS3

    German tuner ABT Sportsline is known for its tuning work with a number of automakers, most notably those from the VW Group's portfolio such as Volkswagen and Audi models. The most recent project in the firm’s line of modified Audis is a new upgrade for the compact yet premium A3 hatchback...

  • Subaru Impreza WRX STI
    Subaru celebrates 20 years of STI division with new museum

    For over 20 years Subaru's motorsports division STI (Subaru Tecnica International) has been churning out championship-winning rally cars and incredible road-going versions that have impressed scores of motor journalists and customers alike. Now, to commemorate its work with Subaru models, the STI...

  • 2009 Mercedes Benz C-Class CGI BlueEFFICIENCY
    Mercedes Benz C-Class gets three new direct injection engines in Europe

    Mercedes Benz first added its CGI BlueEFFICIENCY technology (Mercedes speak for direct-fuel-injection) to the C-Class range last October with the launch of the C350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY model, and today the automaker has expanded the range of fuel-efficient engines with three new variants. While the...

  • Hamann Rolls-Royce Phantom
    Hamann tunes the Rolls-Royce Phantom for more power, less class

    German tuner Hamann is known for its work with a number of brands, including Porsche, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Fiat, but now the company has turned its attention to an unlikely candidate for tuning work - the Rolls-Royce Phantom. The company is offering a number of upgrades for both the Phantom and...

  • 2009 Air Force Vapor Dodge Challenger
    U.S. Air Force shows off high-tech supercar duo

    In what could be one of the most bizarre ways to spend our tax dollars, the U.S. Air Force has commissioned the design and construction of two highly-customized cars using Air Force technology. Before you start questioning why the Air Force would need a pair of custom cars, they were developed as...

  • 2009 Audi A3

    In the U.S. the 2009 Audi A3 is only offered with a pair of petrol engines ranging in displacement from 2.0L up to 3.2L, but in the rest of the world Audi offers a full range of engine options including both petrol and TDI diesel units. Overseas the A3 engine family has now been expanded with the addition of two new 1.6L TDI engines offering 90hp (66kW) and 105hp (77kW), respectively. With fuel economy of 57.37mpg (4.1L/100km) , the A3 1.6 TDI with an output of 105hp (77kW), emits a mere 109g of CO2/km. These figures are made possible by efficient technologies such as the car’s engine...

  • RAD Porsche Cayenne Coupe
    Russian Automotive Design working on Porsche Cayenne Coupe for 2010

    It's not often that the works of Russian automotive designers grace our screens, and when it does the designs tend to be a little more 'unique' than we are normally used to. In this vein, the latest design to come out of Moscow design studio 'Russian Automotive Design' takes the Porsche Cayenne...

  • BMW M3 G-Power Tornado
    BMW M3 passes 200mph with G-Power supercharger

    When it comes to BMW tuning, there is one company that stands head and shoulders above the rest in cranking out the ultimate driving machines. The company we are referring to German outfit G-Power, which has been in the business of creating the world's fastest BMWs for a quarter of a century...

  • 2009 Nissan 370Z
    Nissan launches 370Z Nurburgring Edition in Europe

    In Japan and the U.S. the Nissan 370Z is available in a high-performance Nismo trim but for European fans the specially tuned coupe is strictly off limits. As some solace, Nissan is offering its European customers a special edition model named after Germany’s renowned Nurburgring circuit. The...

  • Hummer H2 SUT
    Report: GM may announce Hummer sale tomorrow

    General Motors confirmed the sale of its Hummer brand last August and followed up the announcement with the release of an official document for potential buyers just one month later. Poor sales, growing public concern for the environment and the recession have all added up to weaken Hummer's sales...

  • 1963 Harley Earl Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
    Harley Earl's personal 1963 Corvette for sale by Mecum Auctions

    Harley Earl, the father of the Corvette and so many other seminal General Motors classics, was a pioneer in the field of automotive design. His personal 1963 Corvette reflects that spirit, and now that it's up for auction, Corvette collectors around the world are paying attention. Built...

Follow Us on Instagram @motorauthority

News First Drives Auto Shows Photos Videos Spy Shots