Auto News 5

At a press conference at its ultra-modern facility in Woking, England, McLaren Automotive took the wraps off its MP4-12C supercar -- actually, it was Vodafone/Mercedes/McLaren F1 team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button who did the honors. The two have already test-driven prototypes , and put in orders for their personal cars. Being an F1 driver has its perks.

The Automobile Magazine test fleet has been blessed with a variety of diesel vehicles lately. From the mighty Ram 2500 with a Cummins down to a mere Jetta TDI wagon, we've sampled the vast majority of vehicles currently on sale in the U.S. with diesel engines since January. Although the GL is at the top of the list in terms of price, it comes in mid-pack in terms of the overall experience.inline_mediumwraptextright28331698/green/reviews/1003_2010_mercedes_benz_gl350_bluetec1003_02_z+2010_mercedes_benz_gL350_bluetec+driver_side_view.JPG.jpgTrue

Cadillac's SRX has grown beyond its sporty wagon pretensions and is now targeting the heart of the luxury crossover market. The strategy seems to be working, as it's already selling much better than the outgoing model (which, we should note, won a few Automobile Magazine All-Star awards in its time), and yet, it seems Cadillac isn't quite ready to give up on having some high-roof fun. To that end, the premium model featured here has ditched the wheezy base 3.0-liter V-6 and standard front-wheel-drive configuration in favor of a turbocharged, 2.8-liter V-6 producing 300 hp and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive - the same setup found in the Saab 9-3 Aero and Opel Insignia OPC. Given these macho specs, we thought it was time to measure the SRX against the best in its class, which, in our estimation, means the Audi Q5. The Q5 won our three-way crossover shootout last year and has since become a well-regarded member of our Four Seasons fleet for its sporting demeanor, handsome exterior, and, yes, Audi-like interior. Does it have what it takes to fend off the brasher and more powerful Cadillac? Read on for our impressions.

For the past decade the commercial van segment has been idle with the same stale vehicles: Ford E-series, Chevrolet Express, and Mercedes-Benz (formerly Dodge) Sprinter. So the addition of another player to the game with a whole new model is big news.inline_mediumwraptextright28357939/features/news/1003_2011_nissan_nv1003_01_z+2011_nissan_nV+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

The Black Baron is back. After stupefying us at last year's Frankfurt show by stuffing an insanely powerful V-12 into a Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan (and dressing it like the Batmobile), German tuner Brabus announced they're offering the same prescription for the new E-class Coupe.inline_mediumwraptextright28279093/features/news/1003_2010_mercedes_benz_brabus_e_v12_coupe1003_02_z+2010_mercedes_benz_brabus_e_v12_coupe+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue