Auto News 5

Just what would an all-new Land Rover Defender look like? According to the automaker, perhaps something like this new DC100 concept, which is destined for an official debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Thanks to a number of leaked photos and a slew of spy shots, we saw this coming. However, that doesn't make the official release of details on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class any less important. The new compact makes its debut next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show boasting an all-new look, powertrain, and platform.

Is this the future of commuting? Volkswagen thinks so. The tiny, single-seat Volkswagen Nils concept will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. It is supposed to offer sports car-like performance with zero emissions and silent propulsion.

We knew Hyundai was bringing the new i30 hatchback to the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, but until now, we hadn't seen photos of the completed thing. Now that we have, we're left wondering if we'll soon see this car arrive in the U.S. market, albeit with Elantra Touring badges.

It's funny, over the years Toyota has aimed its Avalon at traditional Buick buyers even while Buick has gone after Lexus, Toyota's luxury division. From the moment you slide behind the steering wheel of the Avalon, it's obvious that this is a traditional car chasing traditional-sedan buyers. You know, the people who usually buy Buicks. The big Toyota is definitely geared toward older people, and there's nothing wrong with that, since there's a huge population of aging baby boomers and for many of them the Avalon is the ideal car. All of the controls are simply laid out and easy to decipher. The steering wheel rake is adjusted with a ratcheting device that reminds me of the ones in scores of GM sedans in the past. The digital displays for driver- and passenger-side interior temperature settings have digits that must be 24 points tall, for easy visibility. All of the display fonts are pretty big, actually. Hey, I'm only 45 years old but I already wear bifocals, so I am the last person to complain about big type fonts! The cowl is low, so you can see the hood sloping down in front of you. There's good visibility in all directions. Our tester had cooled seats, a welcome touch in the July heat. The front seats are flat and wide and easy to slide into but not particularly supportive.