Luxury Cars
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Volvo’s new owner Geely is keen to reposition the Swedish automaker as a ‘Tier 1’ luxury brand able to compete with the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz, though such a task is much easier said than done. Acura is one such company that’s often stated reaching Tier 1 status as its primary goal but has still failed to deliver. Volvo’s ambitions aren’t quiet as clear, as we’ve had both confirmations and denials of such plans, but perhaps the strongest hint comes from the unveiling of the new Concept Universe at this week’s 2011 Shanghai Auto Show...
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Audi A3 Sedan e-tron Concept: 2011 Shanghai Auto ShowAudi has already given us a preview of its next-generation 2013 A3, as well as a future electrified e-tron variant using the shell of the current model. Now the automaker has combined these two elements, forming the latest A3 Sedan e-tron Concept, which has made its world debut today at the 2011...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase: 2011 Shanghai Auto ShowWhen it comes to a Rolls-Royce, the seat of choice is not the one behind the steering wheel but rather the one behind that. Rolls-Royces are designed to be driven in, not driven, so of course you would want the maximum amount of legroom for yourself and other passengers. Not surprisingly then, even...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class: 2011 Shanghai Auto ShowThe latest Concept A-Class from Mercedes-Benz is the clearest indication yet as to what the automaker’s next-generation A-Class will look like, and the good news is that the production version of this one is likely to hit U.S. shores. Revealed today at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show, and again...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
BMW ActiveE Leases Start This Fall At $499/Mo. With $2,250 DownIf you're looking to jump on the latest advanced powertrain bandwagon, it won't be all that expensive: the BMW ActiveE is going on lease this fall for $499 per month on a 24 month contract with $2,250 due at signing. Only 700 will be available, so competition for the cars will be fierce. The...
Nelson Ireson -
Infiniti IPL G Convertible Concept: 2011 New York Auto ShowIt's official: we're into the hot and heavy part of the New York Auto Show pregame. The latest entrant: Infiniti's IPL G Convertible concept. Joining the IPL G Coupe revealed last year at Pebble Beach, the Convertible adds the fun and flair of top-down cruising to the Infiniti Performance Line...
Nelson Ireson -
We’ve seen plenty of pace cars in the past, including a Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG serving for duty. However, we’ve never seen a car this expensive doing the rounds before. We’re talking, of course, about the 2012 Lexus LFA supercar, a V-10 race car built for the road that retails for $375,000. The Lexus flagship was picked as the official pace car of the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and these are the first images of it. If you’re unfamiliar with the Californian event, it is an open-wheel race held annually on a street circuit in Long Beach. The 2008 race was the...
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Top Gear’s Richard Hammond Buys Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder, Wife Gets Fiat 500It’s always interesting to see what cars the people who get to drive virtually everything buys for their own personal collections. And the hosts of Top Gear--Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond--have probably driven the most varied assortment of autos: Everything from high-end...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2012 Cadillac CTS 3.6-Liter Range Dropping Six-Speed Manual: ReportFans and enthusiasts of the conventional manual gearbox have likely lost another round in the battle being waged by automakers to phase out the clutch pedal in more and more cars. The latest casualty is the 2012 Cadillac CTS, which in 3.6-liter V-6 guise is said to be no longer offering a six-speed...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2012 BMW 6-Series M Sports Package LeakedWhile it isn’t the high-performance M6 we’re all waiting for, the latest M Sports Package for the recently revealed 2012 BMW 6-Series Coupe does give the dynamic luxury two-door an even sportier look thanks to some distinct M styling cues. Though we’ve only seen spy shots of...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
F1 Champ Sebastian Vettel Takes Pair Of Infinitis Around A TrackInfiniti is making the most of its sponsorship deal with Formula 1 team Red Bull Racing and its star driver Sebastian Vettel, having the current champ take a pair of its luxury models out for some race track antics ahead of this weekend’s 2011 Chinese GP in Shanghai. Fresh from his dominant...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Aston Martin Launches New ‘Experience’ App For iPhoneFollowing on from the success of its previous ‘Explore’ app released for the Apple iPhone back in December, Aston Martin has now launched a new and updated version dubbed ‘Experience’ that comes with a few new touches. Unlike the Explore app, which was offered for free, the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Many doubted Hyundai's ability to transition to a legitimate player in the luxury car arena when the Genesis Sedan was first announced. Some of them changed their minds when they say and drove the car. More minds will be chagning with the Equus, perhps all the moreso with an IIHS Top Safety Pick rating under its belt. Nestled in amongst other "large luxury car" contenders by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Equus sits on par with the 2011 BMW 5-Series, 2011 Cadillac CTS, 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, 2011 Volvo S80, 2011 Lincoln MKS, and 2011 Infiniti M sedan, all of which also...
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Audi Working On Halo Q7, R8 Models For Russia, Middle EastIf a $285,000 Audi Q7 V-12 TDI doesn't quite make sense to you, you're not a Russian billionaire. Or at least that's the math when it comes to Audi's latest idea for exploiting the questionable tastes of the rich. Russia isn't the only market being targeted with the halo car concept. If you're in...
Nelson Ireson -
BMW Reveals Downsized 3 Cylinder Engine, U.S-Bound?Home of the Ultimate Driving Machine and bringer of Joy to drivers, BMW has revealed its latest powerplant and to the casual observer or diehard enthusiast neither corporate phrase sits very easily with the new engine. The reason? It's a 3-cylinder, and it's low capacity. Buyers in Europe are used...
Antony Ingram -
2012 Audi Q3 Still Under Consideration For U.S.Audi’s new baby, the recently revealed Q3 compact crossover, is still unconfirmed for sale in the U.S. despite the popularity of crossover models in this market as well as growing demand for more fuel efficient vehicles. You may recall last month Audi board member for sales and marketing...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2012 Audi A6 Avant: Spy ShotsAll the details and images for the new 2012 Audi A6 have been out for a while now but there are still several variants apart from the regular sedan still in the works, though not all have been confirmed for sale in the U.S. These include the high-performance S6 and RS6 models, A6 Hybrid and...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Swedish Beach Cruiser Concept Features 1950s Chevy Design With A Maritime SpinThey certainly are a creative lot over in Sweden. Not only have we enjoyed some oddball yet innovative designs from the likes of Volvo and Saab over the past several decades, but in more recent times we’ve also seen some whacky creations from some of the country’s smaller design firms...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
There's nothing wrong with a completely stock Land Rover Range Rover Sport. It's one of the most luxurious, capable on- and off-road performance SUVs available, and in supercharged trim it’s able to give some sports cars a run for their money. However, the fact that it’s so good in stock form just means a platform for craziness for the tuners at Project Kahn. The British tuner has now announced a new package, the Project Kahn RS300, which the firm claims is one of the fastest Range Rovers in the world. As its name suggests, the RS300 Range Rover Sport produces a peak output of 300...
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Infiniti Launches Free Roadside Assistance AppIf you own a new or certified pre-owned Infiniti, the automaker now has a new app designed for the Apple iPhone that will help get you out of trouble should you have engine problems, get a flat tire or run out of gas. Infiniti has collaborated with Cross Country Automotive Services (Cross Country)...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
MINI Inspired By Goodwood Preview: 2011 Shanghai Auto ShowOn the surface, the respective MINI and Rolls-Royce brands appear to be worlds apart; one sells small, relatively affordable hatchbacks targeted at hip youngsters, while the other is steeped in tradition, costs a fortune to own and is all about big, brazen sedans oozing luxury. Delve a little...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Mercedes-Benz Partners With Bosch For Full Scale Production Of Electric Drivetrains In 2012The parent company of Mercedes-Benz, Daimler, has signed a deal with automotive parts supplier Bosch to expand their long-standing partnership and cooperate in the development and production of electric drivetrains that will eventually feature in a number of new production models. The two industry...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2012 Audi Q3 Preview: 2011 Shanghai Auto ShowSketches, spy shots, and speculative factoids have swirled around the 2012 Audi Q3 for years now. Today, we have the official info ahead of its official debut at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. Straight to the oily bits: the 3,307-pound Q3 is powered by a trio of four-cylinder engines at launch. The...
Nelson Ireson -
2012 Cadillac SRX Gets 300-HP 3.6-Liter V-6Back in February, reports started circling that Cadillac would be doing away with the previous 3.0-liter V-6 and replacing it with the 3.6-liter V-6 in the 2012 SRX, and today, it's official: the 300-horsepower LFX engine will be available. The larger V-6 adds 35 horsepower and 37 pound feet of...
Nelson Ireson