Bengt Halvorson, Senior Editor
Articles
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The 2016 Honda Civic is officially going to bow next week; but Honda apparently couldn’t wait to sneak out in public with it.
Thank CivicX for these first undisguised photos of the 2016 Honda...
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Should Elderly Drivers Be The Autonomous Car Early Adopters?Some automakers tease concept cars with autonomous-driving modes, lounge-style interiors, and augmented-reality windshields and windows, while others tout automatic cruise control, lane-keep systems, and automated parking features as technologies that are the gateway to autonomous driving. But the...
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2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet PreviewThere’s a changing of the guard happening at the most exclusive end of the luxury market—and a ratcheting-up of expectations—yet the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is staying at the heart of it. With the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet, the esteemed nameplate adds an open-air version...
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2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC first drive reviewThe 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class will arrive later this year, as a new nameplate with a look that’s entirely different than that of its predecessor. And behind it, there seems to be an indelible backstory. Automakers don’t often point much to predecessors as they’re introducing...
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2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe first drive reviewIn all likelihood, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe is one for which lines will be drawn; it's a baffling beast to some, a sexy one to others. Take the 'coupe' badging and tall-fastback form factor in context, and try not to bring too much of your gaze upon this model's cladding and rugged...
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2015 Volkswagen GTI Vs. 2015 Subaru WRX: Head To Head VideoIf you want a little more driving excitement in your life, but you have to keep it practical and sensibly sized for urban commuting, then the Subaru WRX and Volkswagen GTI should be two possibilities near the top of your shopping list. While these two models are both completely redesigned for 2015...
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Dreaming of a long-weekend road trip with an Audi R8 Spyder, or to arrive at your high-school reunion in a loaded Audi S7?
Through a new service called Audi On Demand, it might be possible. You...
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Is 'Ubiquitous' German Luxury An Opportunity For Other Makes?Could luxury brands be overselling themselves? Sales at the German luxury automakers have skyrocketed, with BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz all selling above the 420,000-vehicle level the past two quarters, worldwide. Those three makes altogether were up nine percent just versus year-ago levels. ALSO...
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Lexus LFA Supercar's Tech ‘Halo’ Improving All Products, Says ExecThe Lexus LFA supercar was a long time coming; and when it appeared on the market in late 2010 as a performance icon for the Lexus brand—years later and far more expensive than originally intended—there was definitely a lot more to this model than chasing Ferrari and Lamborghini. The...
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Top Exec: No Plans To Recast Scion As A Premium BrandThe Scion small-car brand serves as a testing ground for Toyota in everything from how to market accessories to how to recast the role of dealerships in the sales process. While it’s been a success in that—as a ‘laboratory,’ as executives are eager to call it—a sales...
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Why Volvo Is Going Touch-Screen, But Skipping Capacitive Tech EntirelyVolvo’s new Sensus Connect Touch system in the 2016 Volvo XC90 is one of this year’s great breakthroughs in vehicle interfaces. While it borrows much of the look and feel of its menus from tablets—especially Apple’s iOS in its iPhone and iPad—it’s definitely not...
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2015 Ferrari FF first drive reviewWill actual Ferrari FF owners truly load up the back with groceries? Will they throw their hiking/climbing adventure gear in the back, or their rifle and hunting dog? Will they ever load the whole family in? Throw a ski rack on the roof and take slick highways up to the mountain? Of course they...
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At last, U.S. Land Rover dealerships are slated to get exactly what they’ve been missing.
No, we’re not talking about a revival of the iconic Defender...at least not quite yet....
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VW Golf R Concept Previews Next-Gen Interface, Gesture ControlsIf you drive a nearly new vehicle, you’re probably used to touch-screen controls, steering-wheel toggles, and even some voice commands. ALSO SEE: Jay Leno Encounter The Boys In Blue In The 2015 Corvette Z06: Video Thought it would be even easier if you could just flick your wrist or wave your...
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2016 Jaguar F-Type: Electric Power Steering Is Better, Says Chief EngineerJaguar last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show revealed that all-wheel drive is the future of V-8-powered Type R models of its F-Type sports car, while a manual transmission will be offered on the V-6 variants. Both of those pieces of news are likely to boost the appeal of Jag’s hot-selling...
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2016 Mazda 6 Inherits Mazda 3 Infotainment System, New Face: Live PhotosThe Mazda 6 is already one of the most attractive sedans on the market; but for 2016 it will be getting some significant upgrades that should boost functionality—and make the cabin a little prettier to match. The mild refresh will bring a revised instrument panel design and an improved...
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Lexus LF-C2 Concept Roadster Shows An Even Racier Side: Live Photos & VideoShould Lexus go a step more aggressive with an amped-up RC F roadster variant in the future? If the beautiful concept it showed this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show is any indication, it might be a distinct possibility. MUST SEE: 2016 Cadillac ATS-V And ATS-V Coupe: 455 HP And 0-60 MPH In 3.9...
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Bentley Raises The Roof With Flagship Grand Convertible ConceptIs there the demand for an open-air touring car, sized and priced above the Continental GTC and based on the Mulsanne? That’s essentially what Bentley is asking with the new Grand Convertible Concept that it previewed at a studio space in West Hollywood, prior to the start of the Los Angeles...
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If you thought you might have to wait some time before the storied Shelby name gets spliced back into the Mustang narrative, think again. An all-new Mustang Shelby GT350, based on the all-new... -
Tom Magliozzi 1937-2014: Made Us Laugh About Life, With CarsCar Talk, as any regular listener could attest, wasn’t so much about fixing cars as much it was about dissecting the interpersonal issues and hangups that often accompanied breakdowns, repairs, or vehicle choices. Cars were—and are—a lens toward understanding a lot of our...
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2016 Audi TT: The Wizardry That Gives It A Sports-Car SoundtrackIf you're not hearing some inspiring sounds from the driver's seat, it can feel like something is sorely missing from the entire driving experience. And that's perhaps most critical with otherwise spirited sports cars. Unfortunately it's too often the case with today's performance models. The...
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Design Chief: Nissan IDx And Z Could Be Same Future Sports CarCould a completely new production model based on the well-received IDx Freeflow and IDx NISMO concepts be the same model that's also a fully reengineered next-generation Nissan Z and successor to the current 370Z? They very well could be merged into one, conceded design chief and senior vice...
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Q80 Inspiration Concept: Live Photos, More Details For Hybrid FlagshipInfiniti did more than outline its next flagship sedan, in concept-car form, ahead of the Paris Auto Show this week. Even before the opening of the show, it revealed the car on the eve of the show’s opening to an event with select members of the press—and we were included, so we can...
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Infiniti Q80 Inspiration concept: 550-HP hybrid previews future flagshipAhead of the 2014 Paris Auto Show this week, Infiniti has revealed full details, and a full set of images, of a concept car that strongly hints at the direction of a future flagship Q80 production model—and an inspiration for all future models from the brand. Its 550-horsepower...
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