Premiere 2012

The separate attention is deserved by the handle of the check point issued in Old Russian epic style and beating fettered iron палицу athlete Ilya Muromtsa. This «палица» well matched to a steering wheel, rough forms and which materials at all don't speak about cheapness of the car. A steering wheel — an essence a car fundamental principle, the main element of its management.

And designers new Lada, refused use of command keys by a radio tape recorder on a wheel, once again underline simple true — road not a place for games! Here all is serious, work of the driver is severe and da ... Read more »

Bright, moderately utilitarian and moderately the conservative. Hasn't disappointed also an interior. It seems that, application of revolutionary technology «assemblages sober» has allowed тольяттинцам to reduce backlashes between plastic elements of the panel of devices with 1.5-2 to 0.5-1 see And there is more to come. The central console "is completely processed" — henceforth it is covered black рояльным by a varnish, and in the top part there was a technological aperture under 2-DIN the device. Certainly, numerous admirers Lada will lose now so attractive possibility to paint the panel of ... Read more »

Knowingly Chris Bengl, chief-designer BMWGroup, having seen Lada 2116, wakes up now at night in cold sweat, and designers of Lexus quickly send the modern concept of design Lfinesse on a garbage heap of history. To All of them is to that to learn at designers the Autovase.

Rublenye forms of a cowl 2116 distinctly associate with the Soviet torpedo boats of times of the Second World War and unambiguously remind the western motor-car manufacturers: «Nobody is forgotten, nothing is forgotten!» . Developing subjects of strengthening of military power of Russia, a lateral part of a body ... Read more »

2012 will become history not only as year in which Russia has shown to the whole world staunch persistence, once again, having risen from knees and having won at first an UEFA cup, then the World championship on hockey, and then also taking the first place in the Eurovision. Especially scrupulous one billion roubles spent by the Moscow authorities on restoration of roads after parade, the day of the Victory spent to honor will be remembered also. But as early as many years we, and then our children and grandsons, will remember 2008, as year in which Russia hasn't simply let out the competitive ... Read more »

Heads of BMW more than once said that are going to expand a ruler of crossovers. Now the company lets out such three cars: X3, X5 and Х8. A year or two from now should appear small X1, and then BMW H4 time will come.

According to Automotive News, this model can be presented in quality концепта next year, and, it will be outwardly similar not to BMW X3 or X5, and on off-road BMW X6 compartment. Most likely BMW X4 will be based on base X3, and to let out this model begin both with full, and with a back drive.

Besides, the Bavarian company has constrained the promise and ... Read more »

BMW X7 became a legend still before was born. Hearings that BMW concern prepares for the admirers something such, have appeared for a long time already, however the car exit is planned for the transport markets only in three years. As a matter of fact BMW X7 is a present riddle because the company didn't spend its any official press release though the intentions to create an off-road car of absolutely new type declared time.

According to preliminary data BMW X7 becomes the present bomb which will blow up the automobile market. The nearest competitors of a novelty become Range Rove ... Read more »

Letting out the off-road cars possessing character of cars, throughout ten years BMW autoconcern has understood profitableness of carrying out of a similar policy and logicality of its continuation.
Various hearings about occurrence of a new off-road car went for a long time already, since 2009. New model CUV from autoconcern should correspond to the sizes and Land Rover Range Rover dimensions.

However, considering that BMW has lowered rates of works on designing of new model, their basic competitors from autoconcern Mersedes have let out for admirers of a class «the big of ... Read more »

Letting out the off-road cars possessing character of cars, throughout ten years BMW autoconcern has understood profitableness of carrying out of a similar policy and logicality of its continuation.
Various hearings about occurrence of a new off-road car went for a long time already, since 2009. New model CUV from autoconcern should correspond to the sizes and Land Rover Range Rover dimensions.

However, considering that BMW has lowered rates of works on designing of new model, their basic competitors from autoconcern Mersedes have let out for admirers of a class «the big of ... Read more »

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: I had the 2011 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson SuperCrew for the long weekend, and while it was a big hit at the lumber yard, I spent more time answering questions about the truck and letting people crawl over it than the time it took to load up a new door.

While I like the F-150 a lot, and the 6.2 liter V8 is terrific, I couldn't decide whether owning a truck with the Harley package and not owning a Harley makes you a major-league tool.

Photo Premiere 2012< ... Read more »

This is a reworked version of the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG packing upgraded features and a completely new engine--with added performance.

Out goes the familiar, naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine that has powered the E63 AMG since 2009. In comes the same twin-turbocharged, 5.5-liter V8 mill found in the CLS63, the S63 and the CL63 AMG.

Photo Premiere 2012

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: I came out of our long-term Infiniti QX56 into the 2011 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged, and the first thing that struck me was how (relatively) small the Range Rover Sport was. Granted, the Infiniti is a house, but interior packaging isn't the Rover's strong suit.

The rear seats and cargo area, for instance, don't seem to be much larger than that found on a Ford Escape or a Chevrolet Equinox. Elegance, on the other hand, is ample. From the matte-finish wood trim and brushed aluminum accents to the smell of leather pervading the cabin, this SU ... Read more »

Editor's Note: This is one of the first tests of the much-anticipated Lamborghini Aventador on public roads. For our test at speed on the track, check out our earlier Aventador review here

Lamborghini's flagship gets an extensive overhaul that includes a 691-hp V12, a proprietary seven-speed, single-clutch sequential gearbox and a carbon-fiber monocoque that weighs only 325 pounds. Virtually every aspect of the outgoing Murciélago has been reimagined--from the new inboard, pushrod-actuated suspension system to the network of computer ECUs, which is managed by a central unit capabl ... Read more »

Winter isn't the ideal time to pick up a new performance car--that is, unless it's a rally-bred all-wheel-drive terror. Our long-term 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI sedan arrived just before the first big storm hit Detroit. To prepare for what turned out to be one of the worst Michigan winters in recent memory, our friends at Michelin provided a set of Pilot Alpin PA3 winter tires for our STI.

This was important, as our stock Dunlop SP Sport 600 summer tires would have left us helpless. The Michelins proved their worth and made slicing through large accumulations a laugh-out-loud aff ... Read more »

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco has a lot riding on it, which makes the car that much more frustrating to me. It's good--surprisingly good, since I was not expecting to like the Chevy Cruze as much as the sportier (looking, anyway) Ford Focus. And this was a Cruze Eco which brought back memories of the Chevette Scooter and the Geo Metro XFi.

In short, the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine is a gem, and the six-speed manual to which it's mated is geared to take full advantage of what output is available. The only time I felt myself wanting more was when lugging ... Read more »

This is the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, as first revealed in simultaneous presentations at the New York and Shanghai motor shows in April. It goes on sale in September in the U.S. market. Pricing is yet to be announced, but expect a moderate increase to accompany increased levels of standard equipment.

Gone is the New Beetle name. Now it's just the Beetle--as it probably should have been when Volkswagen finally got around to replacing the original after a production run of 21.5 million back in 1997. Gone, too, is the traditional flower vase perched atop the dashboard--a victim ... Read more »

EXECUTIVE EDITOR "Look at the size of that trunk--wow, that's really nice." When the cargo hold alone inspires that kind of comment, the car that goes with it must be quite special. The 2012 Audi A7 falls into that category, defying even the "coupelike sedan" description by deftly grafting a liftback onto the svelte and stylish four-door body. All in all, it works, but without being over the top or garish in any way.

Photo Premiere 2012

In bold 28-point Akzidenz Grotesk type, the headline boomed: "Best Minivan Ever?" Just asking the question gave our 2008 Chrysler Town & Country (or the "Norge," as we affectionately dubbed the big white box-on-wheels) major credentials.

Somewhere at the crossroads of its comfortable ride, its family-friendly amenities and its flexible interior space, we did find a sort of driving nirvana with the T&C--not the type that satisfies the inner Parnelli Jones, perhaps, but a perfection nonetheless.

It silenced the quality skeptics, too. In the 33,000 miles we'd racked up o ... Read more »

INTERACTIVE ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I love these little Mazda RX-8s--perfect size for a small guy like me. There's good power from the rotary, and add a few extra horses with the manual transmission, and all is well.

It is a little small inside because of the power seats. Mac said he couldn't even fit in it, and my head was perilously close to the roof, even in the lowest position. That said, the seats are comfortable and well bolstered. The few cloverleaf interchanges I took had me feeling tightly planted in the seat and on the road.

... Read more »

Road Test Editor Natalie Neff and Executive Editor Roger Hart take the 2012 Nissan GT-R for a spin. It's got 530 hp and is outfitted in premium trim. The supercar has received a light facelift for the new model year and gets a slightly edgier look. Our editors were impressed with the price and the power. Want to know more? Ride along!

Photo Premiere 2012

ART DIRECTOR TARA KLEIN: This 2011 Acura RDX is considered a premium vehicle? Wow, could have fooled me. While the Acura RDX does feature a few niceties, it needs an overhaul to get it up to par.

The exterior design is . . . eh. I get a bit confused as I take it all in, moving from the back to the front. The halves seem a bit disjointed, with the extreme angles on the nose not really matching up with the look of the rest of the vehicle.

Photo Premiere 2012

What Is It? No, it is not the all-landau-bodied GS. That is camouflage to keep prying eyes away from discovering the truth about Lexus' attempt to get some sales out of its flagging GS line. A total of about 7,000 sales a year is not acceptable to the luxury division, and Lexus hopes that changes to the GS will improve those figures.

Photo Premiere 2012

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: A 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible is a terrific car to have over the July 4th weekend in order to celebrate independence and horsepower. This car drew a ton of attention, as I spent the entire weekend with the top down. People flocked to the Camaro, with almost everyone saying the same thing: “I haven't seen many convertible Camaros.” And for good reason: Though sales of Camaro are strong--8,500 in June alone--the mix of convertibles is right around 20 percent, according to Chevrolet.

... Read more »

When the final RS 4.0 rolls off the production line, the Porsche 997 era will finally end. There have been innumerable variants of the car, including the mad turbo GT2 RS, but the car that topped virtually all comparisons was the less powerful but more communicative GT3 RS. Now, after a year with that penultimate car, a look back is on order.

The second-generation GT3 RS received heavily revised aerodynamics with a redesigned front end, larger rear wing, wider track and dynamic engine mounts, all of which were intended to differentiate it from the base GT3 and its predecessor. It ... Read more »

ART DIRECTOR CHERYL L. BLAHNIK: This 2011 Nissan Cube is one of the few vehicles that can pull off the Caribbean blue paint color because of its fun nature and simplicity. Looking at this Cube brought back fond memories of our now-gone long-term Cube. Everything from the seats, the water-drop interior accents and shag-carpet dash topper was familiar and fun.

This particular Krom model does get some slick options, such as 16-inch wheels, upgraded audio system and specific exterior touches like the sporty fascia and spoiler. Of course, all of that comes at a price. A base Cube start ... Read more »

MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: For about a $1,500 premium (comparing base prices) over the V6-powered E350, you can drive this diesel-powered 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 Bluetec that--according to its EPA rating--returns mileage of 22 city/33 highway with a turbocharged V6 that makes 210 hp and 400-lb-ft of torque. For comparison, the normally aspirated, gasoline-burning six-cylinder makes 268 hp and 258 lb-ft--and is rated at 17/24 mpg.

With gasoline prices at today's level, the E350 Bluetec is a solid option, and depending on how many miles you cover per year, you could pay yourse ... Read more »

Acceleration was pretty quick, too, for such a heavy beast. We launched only the front-wheel-drive version, which is supposed to be the quicker of the two drivetrains, and hit 60 mph in just 7.6 seconds with the traction button switched off, a hefty brake torque and a good amount of wheelspin. The Cadillac SRX is supposed to be quicker with TC on, where the system allows 10 percent slip. However, with TC on we got a 7.7-second time to 60 mph.

Without a load in it, the 2012 SRX was more responsive on twisty roads, but it still felt a little top heavy and tall. A BMW X3 handles bett ... Read more »

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This 2011 BMW 750Li ActiveHybrid is a weird car. Well, the drivetrain is weird at least. The herky-jerkiness of the hybrid system is disconcerting. Like the Lexus LS hybrid, applying the brake seems to make the car actually pick up speed for a second before the car starts to slow down--the brakes are inconsistent at best. Then, press the gas after sitting at a light, and there's a definite hesitation.

This car is hard to drive smoothly in stop-and-go traffic. It's not as bad as the big Lexus, but somewhat disconcerting nonetheless.

Once under way it ... Read more »