reviews
Audi’s new A8 combines luxury, technology :
The 2011 Audi A8 is a technological juggernaut, and through its use of lightweight materials, more efficient engines and a bevy of electronic features, it sets the tone for future offerings from the luxury automaker.
Read moreThe 2010 Ram 3500 Laramie Crew Cab, an AW Drivers Log:
SENIOR EDITOR FOR NEWS BOB GRITZINGER: Except for the extra-wide dual-wheel rear-end, this truck drives more like a lighter-duty Ram than one might expect.
Read more2009 Dodge Ram 1500 – Four Seasons Update – February 2010
Uncharacteristically, the Ram hasn’t accrued many miles in the last four weeks.
Months in Fleet: Eleven
Mileage to Date: 35,904inline_mediumwraptextright26880263/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1002_2009_dodge_ram_1500_february_update1002_02_z+2009_dodge_ram_1500+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue
Photo Gallery: 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 – February 2010 Four Seasons Update – Automobile Magazine
First Look: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible
Evolution of the Species
With a car like the Bentley Continental GT, it’s not difficult to predict the evolution of the species. White hot expensive coupe starts proliferating in Beverly Hills until seemingly everyone in town has one. Naturally a convertible comes next (GTC), and then go fast versions of each body style (GT Speed, GTC Speed). Finally, there’s the super duper exclusive variant (Supersports), with the latest in evolutionary line being the 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible seen here.
Photo Gallery: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible – 2010 Geneva Auto Show Coverage, New Car Reviews, Concept Cars – Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible – 2010 Geneva Auto Show Coverage, New Car Reviews, Concept Cars – Automobile Magazine
2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, an AW Drivers Log:
MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: I’m not much of a and#8220;truck guy,and#8221; but even with that disclaimer in mind, this vehicle just makes me laugh. And maybe that’s the beauty of it.
Read more2010 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI
The Jetta makes a superb highway commuter and is an ideal car for someone who has a long daily drive to work.
Driving a TDI Volkswagen is always refreshing. Despite the fact that the suspension is more about comfort than sport and the powertrain is optimized for fuel economy instead of performance, an enthusiast will walk away relatively happy. Complaints about the soft brake pedal and less-than-perfect steering are minor when you consider the cargo capacity and fuel economy benefits of a wagon like this.inline_mediumwraptextright32298462/green/reviews/2010_Volkswagen_Jetta_Sportwagen_TDI1002_06_z+2010_volkswagen_jetta_sportwagen_tDI+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue
Photo Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI – VW Midsize Sports Wagon Review – Automobile Magazine
2010 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited – Four Seasons Update – February 2010
After spending a few weeks in New York, our Four Seasons Subaru Outback 3.6R is now back home in Michigan.
Months in fleet: Four
Miles to date: 7188 milesinline_mediumwraptextright26874407/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1002_2010_subaru_outback_36r_limited_february_update1002_02_z+2010_subaru_outback_limited+rear_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue
Photo Gallery: 2010 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited – February 2010 Four Seasons Update – Automobile Magazine
Specter Werkes Corvette GTR vs SLP Camaro ZL575 – Bow Tie Bullets
The Specter Werkes Corvette GTR and the SLP Camaro ZL575 are proof that pushrods are no impediment to the high (speed) life.
General Motors’ small-block V-8s are the Rolling Stones of engines. Over the last six decades, nearly 100 million of them have been built to power cars and trucks sold by eight American GM brands plus a slew of race cars, hot rods, boats, and a few homebuilt aircraft. To keep a thumb on the small-block’s pulse, we gave a pair of them a run through our rigorous test regimen.inline_mediumwraptextright27925492/reviews/driven/1003_specter_werkes_corvette_gtr_vs_slp_camaro_zl5751003_01_z+2010_chevrolet_SLP_camaro_zL575+front_view.jpgTrue
Photo Gallery: Specter Werkes Corvette GTR vs SLP Camaro ZL575 – Sport Coupe Comparison – Automobile Magazine
The 2010 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium, an AW Drivers Log:
SENIOR EDITOR FOR NEWS BOB GRITZINGER: Other than paying $1,000 for this four-speed automatic transmission over a base five-speed manual, I see nothing amiss in this and#8220;Premiumand#8221; Forester.
Read more2010 Volkswagen Touareg TDI
A new Touareg is coming for the 2011 model year, but this 2010 Touareg TDI is still worth considering.
VW used to offer a 5.0-liter turbodiesel V-10 with 553 lb-ft of torque in the Touareg, but it was expensive (about $70K) and, not surprisingly, found few buyers. No one need mourn its loss, though, because the 2010 Touareg TDI still offers a boatload of torque from its 3.0-liter V-6 diesel. Put it in sport mode, hit the accelerator, and the tach swings immediately to the redline at 4500 rpm and then waves back and forth between 3200 and 4500 rpm as it advances quickly and smoothly through the gears. You get a nice, muted induction sound during hard acceleration, and very little diesel clatter at idle. The upshifts are very smooth. At 50 mph in sixth gear, you’re at a lazy 1500 rpm.inline_mediumwraptextright26792540/green/reviews/1002_2010_volkswagen_touareg_tdi1003_02_z+2010_volkswagen_touareg_tDI+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue
Photo Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Touareg TDI – Volkswagen Midsize Diesel SUV Review – Automobile Magazine
The 2010 Volkswagen GTI Four-Door, an AW Drivers Log:
EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: The GTI was the first of the hot hatches back in the day, and this new version brings back some life to the front-driver. The turbo motor is certainly smooth and plenty potent.
Read more2011 Aston Martin Rapide: Aston’s beautiful new ride has numbers you’ll like:
The new Aston Martin Rapide sedan is every bit as smooth and sinuous to drive as it looks on a show stand or in the pages of a magazine. That’s as it should be.
Read more2010 Kia Forte EX, an AW Drivers Log:
SENIOR EDITOR FOR NEWS BOB GRITZINGER: Some years ago I was surprised by the level of refinement in the Kia Optima, and the Forte does it again.
Read moreHyundai’s Evolution Continues With The i-Flow
An all-new concept car is set to catch the ‘i’ of visitors to the Geneva Motor Show next month. Hyundai has chosen the event to reveal the i-flow, a stylish saloon that previews the look of its new D-segment contender.
Read more2010 BMW X6 M, an AW Drivers Log:
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JONATHAN WONG: The first question that pops into my head after looking at a spec sheet for the X6 M is: Who was asking for something like this? I was asking that question when the regular X6 came out, but the M version is…
Read more2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited
If you absolutely need a car that seats more than five and want to be green, the Highlander Hybrid is a good option.
The Highlander Hybrid handles pretty much the way you’d expect a midsize crossover/SUV to handle, meaning it is tuned more for comfort and utility than performance. The hybrid powertrain is pretty transparent in use – other than the silence that greets you when you press the start button, there are few clues when you’re under way that you’re driving a hybrid vehicle. Acceleration, while not blazingly fast, is very good for a vehicle of this size and weight, and the power is delivered very smoothly thanks to the CVT transmission.inline_mediumwraptextright26793140/green/reviews/1002_2010_toyota_highlander_hybrid_ltd1002_14_z+2010_toyota_highlander_hybrid_lTD+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue
Photo Gallery: 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited – Toyota Hybrid SUV Review – Automobile Magazine