Auto News 5

I've always been a fan of this generation S-class. The car looks elegant and has simple lines. There are luxury features most people haven't even dreamt of and, generally speaking, they're all easy to understand and use.inline_mediumwraptextright26810498/reviews/editors_notebook/1002_2010_mercedes_benz_s550_4matic1002_03_z+2010_mercedes_benz_s550_4Matic+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

There aren't many visual reminders that the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD trucks are virtually all new beneath the sheetmetal. If we were talking about a midsize sedan that might be a problem, but truck owners will be happy all the development money went into a new Duramax engine, an all-new frame, and significant upgrades to payload and towing capacities instead of new body panels.

Ford's Edge has proven to be rather successful for the company, but as deputy editor Joe DeMatio wrote upon its launch, the model did "little to advance the art of the segment in which it competes." That may have been "business as usual" for the Ford Motor Company of yesteryear, but it isn't the case now. Ford thoroughly re-worked the Edge for the 2011 model year, and the technology, powertrain, and handling improvements packed into the new model could be enough to push the Edge to the head of its class.inline_mediumwraptextright32275269/features/news/1002_2011_ford_edge1002_01_z+2011_ford_edge+side_view.jpgTrue

Four decades ago, a little Datsun with a long hood and a bullet-proof straight six showed us that sports cars didn't have to be big and they didn't have to come from Detroit or Germany. To celebrate 40 years of the Z cars, Nissan is bringing a special edition model known as the 2010 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition to the U.S.inline_mediumwraptextright28062304/features/news/1002_2010_nissan_370z_40th_anniversary_edition2010-nissan-370z-40th-anniversary-side-view.jpgTrue

As the environmentally-friendly car wars continue to heat up, Kia has been quietly working up its own assault dubbed "EcoDynamics." With a fuel cell vehicle, a natural gas-powered model and a hybrid under its belt already, Kia's fuel efficiency division is stepping up its game with a plug-in parallel hybrid concept vehicle called "Ray" which is making its debut at the 2010 Chicago auto show.inline_mediumwraptextright32239407/green/news/1002_kia_ray_conceptkia-ray-concept-front-three-quarter.jpgTrue

Toyota wants people to think about traveling in "Avalon Class" when shopping for a large front-wheel drive premium sedan. The changes to Toyota's big sedan are fairly minor, but Toyota promises it will be enough to give the Avalon better positioning.inline_mediumwraptextright32269125/features/news/1002_2011_toyota_avalon2011-toyota-avalon-front-three-quarters-view.jpgTrue

Ambivalent about minivans? If so, Honda is gunning for your business. In addition to those who love and hate the family-friendly haulers, the automaker says there's a third, distinct segment of consumers who appreciate the utility of a van, but loathe their stodgy image.inline_mediumwraptextright32269329/features/news/1002_2011_honda_odyssey_concept1002_02_z+2011_honda_odyssey_concept+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

The F01/F02 BMW 7 Series-based Alpina B7, which is making its North American debut at the 2010 Chicago show, is the latest offering from the Bavarian factory-supported BMW tuner (Alpinas are sold at BMW dealers and covered by BMW warranties) and is only the second B7 to be offered in the U.S.inline_mediumwraptextright28064965/features/news/1002_2011_bmw_alpina_b71002_03_z+2011_bMW_alpina_b7+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Although it's been eclipsed by the Genesis sedan and the forthcoming Equus, there's still room in Hyundai's lineup for a smaller, front-wheel-drive luxury sedan. To counter the likes of the Buick LaCrosse, Lexus ES350, and Toyota Avalon, Hyundai's gifted the Azera range with some modest updates for 2011.inline_mediumwraptextright32266788/features/news/1002_2011_hyundai_azera2011-hyundai-azera-front-motion.jpgTrue

With the 2010 Chicago auto show press preview just hours away, Scion has announced its tC Release Series. A 6-speed manual RS 6.0 starts at $19,290 including $670 in destination fees; an automatic adds $800 to the sticker price.inline_mediumwraptextright32252724/features/news/1002_2010_scion_tc_rs_6_02010-scion-tc-rs-6-0-front-three-quarters-driver.jpgTrue

If you’ve ever owned a toy Tonka truck and had even the slightest amount of fun with it, driving a big diesel pickup is incredibly fun. Unfortunately I didn’t have a chance to pull any trailers or really do anything to make this Ram break a sweat during the few nights I had it.inline_mediumwraptextright32217045/reviews/editors_notebook/1002_2010_dodge_ram_2500_heavy_duty1002_04_z+2010_dodge_ram_2500_heavy_duty+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Ford has already pledged a Focus EV for our market in 2013, but the first step on the Blue Oval's road to electrification is this: the 2011 Ford Transit Connect Electricinline_mediumwraptextright28024870/green/news/1002_2011_ford_transit_connect_electric_vehicle2011-ford-transit-connect-electric-front-three-quarters-passenger.jpgTrue

Cabbies, rejoice: Ford has a replacement for your aging Crown Victorias, although it may not look anything like the bulbous body-on-frame sedan you've come to adore.inline_mediumwraptextright28024375/green/news/1002_2010_ford_transit_cng_taxi2011-ford-transit-connect-taxi-front-three-quarters-static.jpgTrue

Nissan hasn't really marketed it as such (and I commend them for that), but the EX35 could easily be considered part of the "premium four-door crossover coupe" crowd, along with the likes of the BMW X6 and the Acura ZDX. Of course, the attractive first-generation Infiniti FX35/45 could also be lumped into that group, if not for the fact that adults can actually fit in the FX's back seats.inline_mediumwraptextright32218137/reviews/editors_notebook/1002_2010_infiniti_ex35_journey_awd1002_08_z+2010_infiniti_eX35_journey_aWD+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

The parade of updated 2011 Ford Mustangs will march on at the Chicago auto show with the Shelby GT500 receiving a handful of revisions highlighted by a new aluminum block for the 5.4-liter engine. By switching from iron to aluminum, Ford engineers have shaved an impressive 102 pounds from the engine's weight. There's also an upsized intercooler that lowers intake temperatures and a new exhaust that delivers a heartier growl. Those two changes allow output to rise 10 hp to 550 hp while torque remains unchanged at 510 lb-ft. A six-speed manual is still the only transmission.inline_mediumwraptextright32275311/features/news/1002_2011_ford_shelby_gt5001002_01_z+2011_ford_shelby_gT500+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Months in Fleet: Eleven
Miles to Date: 37,876inline_mediumwraptextright15849116/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1002_2009_bmw_750li_february_update0904_01_z+2009_bMW_750Li+profile_view.jpgTrue