Family Cars

Road Test Review - 2015 Nissan Pathfinder SV 4WD 117

Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan Pathfinder SV 4WD

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2015 Nissan Pathfinder SV 4WD Review INTRO The funny thing about most crossovers and SUVs these days is that comfort is generally a very relative term. Sure, you might have every bell and whistle imaginable in the new Escalade, and searing performance in the new BMW X5 M. And while those crossovers might be extreme examples, others in the price bracket also qualify. Vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Dodge Durango, for example, are prime competition for the massive, three-row Nissan Pathfinder. What is one thing that none of the above machines can actually deliver in a luxurious way? Road …

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2016 Toyota Avensis Sedan and Estate Coming to Geneva; Showing New Prius Nose?

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  Toyota’s latest Avensis is coming to the Geneva auto show next month, with a nose that wears a striking new split-arrow LED emerging from the slim upper grille. This nose is the product of the ED2 design studio in France, and may influence the upcoming 2016 Toyota Prius sold globally.   2016 Toyota Avensis Sedan and Estate Posted on 15 February 2015 TOYOTA TO REVEAL NEW AVENSIS AT THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW Toyota will reveal the new Avensis at the Geneva motor show (3 – 15 March), the latest development of its contender in the European mid-size (D-segment) car …

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Winter Drift Gallery – 2015 Buick Regal GS AWD Slides Sideways Across Canadian Border

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The big news on the very-cool Buick Regal GS this year is the addition of AWD as an option on the automatic transmission, plus a stick-shift choice for the Hy-Per-Strut front-driver. Eager to get sideways, the new Regal GS is at home in the snow like no Buick sports-sedan in decades. Enjoy this photo blast…. just try not to get snow in your eyes! 2015 Buick Regal GS AWD    

Mitsubishi Evolander

Concept Flashback – 2006 Mitsubishi EvoLander

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Proof that the Lancer Evolution component set is pure gold where-ever it lives? The 2006 EvoLander concept from Mitsubishi for the 2006 SEMA show. You might think it would be simple or low-budget to complete an upgrade like this. Swap the engine, driveline, brakes, wheels and tires – then slap on some fender extensions and lower the ride height 4 inches. Not the Mitsubishi way. This EvoLander actually runs a turbocharged V6 MIVEC engine and a custom widebody kit with no seams or stick-on mounting points. These are all-new, one-off panels all around — and are extra stunning as a …

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2015 Mitsubishi GC-PHEV – 40 Photos and 4 Reasons This Concept Previews USA-Bound 2017 Montero Full-Size SUV

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  Okay, okay. We can certainly echo your initial thoughts on this design. First reaction at this desk was a blasphemous exclamation. “Sweet Jesus.” Second reaction after thinking we might see a production-spec Montero reborn. But ended up with this? “Holy Mary, mother of God…. what is this evil monstrosity?” But step back a minute. Appreciate its creamy and sily surfaces atop this unapologetically blocky shape. Functional, futuristic, and certainly eye-catching. The nose and tail are absolutely ghastly, but then, the 2016 Outlander shows how cool and chic production-spec nose like could look. With some tweaks, the overall scale of …

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Update2 – 2016 Honda Pilot Is All-New With 9-Speed Automatic, New AWD and Vastly Superior Cabin

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The new 2016 Honda Pilot is here! With a striking new design that moves away from the blocky look of the current model, this eight-seater promises improvements in almost every single way. The biggest news for drivers is an all-new nine-speed automatic transmission for top trims, plus a redesigned AWD system that can move more torque to either axle than before. Inside, a total redesign makes things far smoother, quiter and safer than before. Upgraded entertainment and touch-screen nav and climate controls are welcome, as are the advanced safety systems to be offered on the 2016. In this family-dominated segment, …

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2015 KIA Trail’Ster Concept Previews Upcoming Soul Refresh + All-New Interior

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The Kia Soul is easily our favorite model in the Kia range – with actual sportiness in the handling and impressive power, there is no other car on the market with such a flexible crossover package. Best of all? The Soul is priced like an economy car, and has almost double the power of the Scion xD and xB. But how to make it a real SUV instead of just a fun and light-hearted crossover? For that, you need all-wheel-drive. KIA has gone theRX450h route here — powering the rear axle with hybrid electric motors. Efficient, compact, and lacking any …

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2015 Toyota Camry SE Hybrid Review 16

MEGA Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Camry SE Hybrid

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2015 Toyota Camry SE Hybrid Review At the new Camry’s launch event in Florida last Fall, we were very surprised to hear the best-seller’s recent powertrain sales mix. With such a gem of a 3.5-liter V6 available and pushing sprint times to the low 6’s, that would be our choice Monday through Sunday. And such a smooth and effortless hybrid available too, with almost no downsides except a very-slightly smaller trunk? These two premium powertrains have recently each pulled just 10-percent of overall sales each, with the base four-cylinder hoovering up 80-percent of the overall mix. Surprising to us as …

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2016 Mazda CX-5 8

Update1 – 2016 Mazda CX-5 Goes From Good To Great

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The Mazda CX-5 just went from one of the best crossovers available to perhaps the single best under $30,000. The changes for 2016 include a freshened exterior via a more premium dark-grey grille in a smaller shape, dark-accented wheels and more body-colored accents. Stylish new LED lighting in a cool and expressive design are standard front and rear, plus LED main beam headlamps for the first time. These Adaptive LED Headlights are part of a suite of new safety tech for the CX-5 and a redesigned cabin infotainment setup. Mazda MZD, this new tech package has a larger screen and …

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2015 Lexus NX300h 35 - Copy

First Drive Review – 2015 Lexus NX300h Is Swanky, Ultra-Smooth, 35MPG+ SUV!?

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2015 Lexus NX300h Review Is the Lexus NX the most impressive new luxury crossover with a base price under $40,000? After a week with the plucky and quick NX200t F Sport, we whole-heartedly say YES!! But even quick spin in the NX300h shows that the incredible (seriously otherworldly) smoothness and efficiency of the NX300h is not to be dismissed out of hand. With effiiency figures that are up about 10 on the turbo on city and highway to the mid-30s overall, the NX300h is seriously desirable as well. With 200-pounds of battery under the back seat, the NX300h handles with …

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2016 Fiat 500X Pricing, Colors and Real-Life Photos 30 - Copy

2016 Fiat 500X Pricing, Colors and Real-Life Photos!

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Can you imagine a more perfect follow-up to the Fiat 500 in the brand’s return to the US? A compact four-door crossover that is sporty, chic, right-sized and right-priced. The 500X is so good, it is likely to be the best-seller of the Fiat range almost overnight. Along with the jumbo 500L MPV, the 500X is the best news for Fiat shoppers since the brand’s return itself. Why all this steep praise? The 2016 500X just feels like a huge hit. Standard with an automatic nine-speed and turbo-charged four-cylinder, the 500X’s main powertrain option is AWD for a kinda-steep $1,900 …

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2015 Chrysler 300C – Houston Auto Show Gallery – Space, Grace and Pace To Chomp A Jag

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The new 300C is now the luxury flagship of the Chrysler brand – both objectively as the largest and most powerful, and subjectively as a conscious luxury crusier. The entry of the 300S makes room for the 300C to focus on rear-drive American luxury at its finest: roomy, zoomy and full of …… you-my? Overall, the new 300C makes the existing package 3X as good, especially in the base V6 version. Yes, the AWD models still ride pretty high off the ground, and the leathers are cheap. Yes, the new LED styles up front look the same at first, but …

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2015 Volkswagen Touareg TDI 29

Road Test Review – 2015 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Feels Light, Quick and Lux

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 Video First Drive Review: 2015 VW Touareg TDI Clean Diesel INTRO Few people have been more scathing in their assessment of the new Touareg’s extremely light exterior refresh than us. But think about it: when a person gets a facelift, they do not want to be some shocking cat-lady whose new face is shocking from 100 yards away. You want it to be exceptionally subtle. You want to look 2X as fresh and young and modern, but without causing too much attention or interest in exactly how you achieved this fountain of youth. So goes the new Touareg’s refresh for …

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2016 Nissan Maxima #WithDad Commercial – Creative Strategy Analysis

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  This 90-second Nissan ad is a huge, huge overall branding push – with a (negotiated) price of about $10-million just for the media, it needs to connect a lot of dots and hit the right notes to earn its worth. It is admittedly pretty touching, and themes such as bonding with a distant father are highly universal. The scenes are also uniquely Nissan. You could not switch out the brand or product easily, which is a sign of good creative. The same cannot be said for Kia Motors Pierce Brosnan ad, or even the touching Jeep Renegade spot. When …

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2016 Renault Kadjar 8

2016 Renault Kadjar Is New Mid-Size Crossover With High Style and Available AWD

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 This is the all-new Renault Kadjar! Revealed ahead of its public launch in Geneva next month, the Kadjar is the freshest entry into Renault’s rapidly-growing crossover arsenal. After owning family car transport for the last decade or more with the Espace and Picasso minivans, Renault is changing with the times. Ultra-functional vans are no longer the must-have family accessory. The new must-have for carpools and primary-school dropoffs? Mid-size crossovers. This new Kadjar takes aim squarely at the Honda CR-V and a three dozen other alternatives. The Kadjar promises to be more luxurious and stylish than the Nissan Qashqai, which comes …

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4.0s, 567HP 2015 BMW X6 M In 140 New Photos From Austin COTA

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The X6M is harder, lower, wider and wilder than the new X5M — really cementing its status as one of the quickest SUVs of all time. The design showcases a new rear fender strike and even more chopped-roof design feeling — and sets the right for its massive new power and pace from all sides. The most powerful BMWs ever made have just shattered the glass ceiling of SUV performance. With 567-horsepower through standard xDrive AWD, the new X5 and X6 M have sprint times of just 4.0-seconds along with a devilish M styling overhaul. The grille and front fascia …

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Houston Auto Show – 2015 Dodge Charger R/T vs Charger SXT

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The 2015 Dodge Charger is really growing on me. After scoffing at its pretty basic exterior facelift when revealed last spring, we now really admire its slinky LED signature up front and unmistakeable ‘racetrack’ of LEDs in back. The real achievement in design of the new Charger is that all trim levels look good. As anyone knows, a BMW M3 is going to look nearly 10X as cool as a base 320i. The base-effect applies for nearly all cars and SUV types. The coolest models, of course, are at the top of the price chart. At times, you would not …

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2016 Land Rover Discover Sport HSE 11

2016 Land Rover Discover Sport HSE – Full Design Analysis + Letter Grade Scores

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INTRO: ICELAND IN JANUARY The new Land Rover Discovery Sport just enjoyed its big coming-out party over the weekend in Iceland, with many auto writers enjoying a 1000-mile adventure trying out the new baby Landie across heaps and dales and ice bales. But from our impression back at home, the vast majority of the travel time was not by car, but by plane. Iceland is farrrrr from everywhere in the United States. Far. (Sidebar, would we have gone if invited? YES!) And a general rule of thumb? The more exotic the launch location of a hum-drum car, the worse the …

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2015 Volvo V60 Cross Country 16

2015 Volvo V60 Cross Country – Updated With 20 New, Real-Life Photos from Houston

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First details today on the newest Volvo – a US-bound V60 Cross Country! The new V60 XC is a tough and rugged version of the V60 sportwagen, and will ship to the US with standard AWD and the 250-horsepower T5 engine. Some have asked if the V60 Cross Country is necessary, considering the presence of the XC60 SUV in the lineup. There is certainly some overlap, but the V60 XC will appeal to a sportier customer and have pricing a few thousand less than the taller XC60 SUV. More models are a good thing for Volvo in the US – …

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2015 Chrysler 300S 1

Houston Auto Show – 2015 Chrysler 300S Reveal + LED Detail Shots Front and Rear

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The new Chrysler 300S is the real pick of the range. With V6 and Hemi V8 power offered, the 300S is sporty in all ways: suspension tuning and handling feel, but also exterior style and cabin ambiance. The most impressive part of the 300S is plain to see: stunning gloss-black details and a full de-chrome of the exterior. The 2015 Chrysler 300 feels familiar, but updated and very nicely refined in all ways. We love the cool technical detailing of the 300S grilles up front, the flush-mounted exhaust finishers in back, and the subtle but convincing rear end with pert …

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2016 Ford Explorer Sport 6

2016 Ford Explorer Sport Inside and Out in 28 New Photos from Houston

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  Thrilled to see the 2016 Explorer is progressing and evolving into an even better seven-seat SUV: new engines, new luxury and tech inside, and new style outside are all very promising. Even more exciting for shoppers than the new Platinum trim level at the top of the ladder? All new colors for every trim level – even the base Explorer 2.3-liter EcoBoost from $31,000. We’ve prepared this animated colors visualizer with half an eye toward file sizes. Previous Mustang and 2015 Edge color articles have nearly broken the poor interwebs under the weight of 400-plus images. =]     …

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MINI Countryman DAKAR 2015 19

MINI Countryman Team Looks Set for Dakar Four-Peat

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MINI has been dominating the Paris-Dakar rally in Chile for the last four years running — and that dominance looks set to continue this year. The MINI squad is up about 30 minutes ahead of the next-quickest team as we enter day 12 of the race. The major competition in the form of the very-cool Peugeot 2008 DKR is still in the game, but with only one truck left. One of the DKR Pugs crashed out early in the competition. So will MINI sweep the competition again!? Watch this space. But when it comes to amazing action shots from the …

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4.9s, 362HP 2015 Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4Matic Sportier, Faster than C400

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The new C450 AMG Mercedes revealed at Detroit this week will be the sixth in the new C-Class range in the USA, and is perhaps the sweet spot of them all: the C63, C63 S-Model, C400, C350 Hybrid and C300 4Matic. With 362-horsepower, the 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 in the C450 makes room for itself in the line as a second line of AMG sports models. With standard 4Matic AWD that is not offered on the V8 C63, the new C450 will also be the go-to choice among people in snowy climates. A sportier setup for the Airmatic suspension, sports exhaust, …

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2016 Volvo XC90 R-Design Is Damn Sexy Swede

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When the Volvo XC90 debuted earlier this year in Stockholm, we were floored by its super luxurious cabin and extremely smart PHEV powertrains that actually deliver huge horsepower — and mileage. The 400-horsepower T8 is far ahead of any other seven-seat hybrid SUV, and is the world’s first plug-in seven-seater. But to be honest, the style of the normal two XC90’s — one body-colored and one with off-road pieces unpainted — seemed extremely frumpy and dull. The XC90 R-Design helped a great deal in those stakes, but it is always hard to get a sense of a car from renderings, …

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mkx

2016 Lincoln MKX – Will Mini-Bentley Design Appeal to US and Chinese Luxury Crossover Buyers?

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Updated 1.13.2015 Mini-Bentley!? Yes, that is the sense we have when viewing the MKX in some of its profile shots. It is actually a really well-resolved and premium appearance, with great proportions that say Luxury and Big Back Seat loud and clear. This is important, because the MKX is aimed squarely at two markets that value those two things very highly: the USA and China. Lincoln is launching in China with the MKX as one of its star cars. The luxury crossover segment is one of the few segments that is still red-hot in Chinese sales, and Lincoln is well-positioned …

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chevy bolt

2015 Chevrolet BOLT Concept Previews All-New EV 5-Door Arriving Within a Year

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We are big bears on EV adoption overall, and love seeing Elon Musk squirm. In that regard, the Bolt is a fun new entry to the rapidly-irrelevant EV model niche. The Bolt is a relatively exciting surprise from Chevrolet: the new five-door EV concept that is a lightly-veiled production model arriving within a year to Chevy showrooms. The new Bolt EV concept shows the potential of a utility and family-friendly package with EV underpinnings. No pricing has been quoted, but expect this package to sticker from about $35,000 before tax incentives bring its costs to about $30,000. It is most …

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2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Coupé S-Model Storms The D With 585HP

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The new GLE63 Coupe is official!  It is the flagship model above the AMG GLE450 Coupe, and packs a huge wallop from its twin-turbo V8: from 557HP in the normal truck to the 585HP in the S-Model. Stunning performance is a sure thing: we could be looking here at the quickest-sprinting SUV of all time via pace of 4.0-seconds to 60-mph.   2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Coupe   The new Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 Coupé 4MATIC: Driving performance reinterpreted Affalterbach/Detroit Jan 12, 2015   Affalterbach/Detroit.  With the new GLE 63 Coupé, Mercedes-AMG is in highly dynamic mood as it enters the 2015 …

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2015 Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE

Update2 – 360HP Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE Is Sporty PHEV Crossover Concept

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The Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE has arrived today with sporty looks and a five-passenger cabin that is about the size of the BMW X6 inside and out. The concept runs a 3.6-liter V6 plus a large hybrid power unit with EV-driving ability. Its style is an important preview of the production CrossBlue, a Passat-based seven-seater set for assembly in Tennessee beside its sedan cousin. We are likely to see this style replicated near-exactly on the large CrossBlue, but in a larger and blockier roofline layout. This design is production-ready in almost all ways, with the actual Cross Coupe a possibility …

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mkx

2016 Lincoln MKX in 30 Photos – 2.7L EcoBoost, Open-Pore Wood, 19-Speaker Audio

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The 2016 Lincoln MKX has broken cover, and it is a very impressive next step for the resugent American luxury brand. A step up in size from the MKC, the MKX is larger and more posh, of course, but also a bit more evolved. The MKX images here show sexy new detailing inside and out, with a heavy emphasis on advanced luxury not offered on any Ford at any price. These details include the new twin LED DRL accents in front, a multi-lens HID low and highbeam design, and a full-width LED lightbar in back. The MKX with these modern …

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Bugatti SUV Design Concept by Ondrej Jirec

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In the original article toward the bottom of this page, we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti Veyron-style SUV, plus created our own janky lift of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti. But neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its EB logos attached. College of Art Center of Design student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for a Bugatti SUV. Grand style, grand pace, and the name? The Grand Colombier. A nod to the explorer Cristobol Colon — who we Americans know as Christopher Columbus — …

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2014 SEAT Leon Cupra Now Offered in Very Cool ST Wagon

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Updated 1.10.2015 The sexy Leon ST wagon is now available in the Cupra trim! This cool dynamic and style upgrade includes the availability of the postent Cupra 280 pack and its huge-boost turbo gasoline engine. Six styling packs are also available on the Leon Cupras — with the Dynamic Grey shown in the press shots an ST Cupra exclusive that is not offered on Leon ST’s with lesser engines. We also anticipate the Sub8 performance packs to be offered on the ST wagon – these trims commemorate that the Leon Cupra is the quickest front-drive car of all time around …

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2015 Subaru Legacy B4 BLITZEN Concept Debuts at Tokyo Auto Salon

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As a current Legacy GT owner, you can bet we were floored to see how sweet this sixth-gen Legacy B4 Blitzen concept looks!  It is a luxury sports styling concept – with the standard 175-horsepower boxer engine. But the all-new front and rear fascias are very convincing, as are the carbon-fiber accents in the sills, wheels and rear spoiler. Favorite details are the gloss-glack mesh grille and the integrated LED styling accents in the outer bumpers. 2015 Subaru Legacy B4 BLITZEN Concept   In third-generation and fourth generation Legacy, has been planned and developed as a special specification car ‘BLITZEN’  …

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s60 xc

Volvo S60 XC Marks Return of the SUS!

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The SUS lives! Sport Utility Sedans are a rare breed indeed. Only a few hundred of the original Subaru Outback Sedan were made and sold in core Subie markets like Vermont and Colorado in the late 1990s. Volvo’s new S60 XC entry will head to Detroit and then nationwide as a fun niche model for the brand. The Cross Country style actually looks amazing on the S60 sedan shell – and we’re eager to spot the rare and elusive SUS Volvo in the wild later in 2015…! Volvo S60 XC Volvo takes Cross Country brand into sedan territory Volvo Cars …

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highlander hybrid

Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited AWD – By Ken Glassman

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  2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review   By Ken Glassman Last year the Toyota Highlander underwent its third major makeover, and not much has changed for this year. While the Highlander is technically a crossover vehicle, based upon a car platform, it looks and feels very much more truck-like, and seems more akin to the Toyota 4Runner than a Camry. It is a large vehicle, which seats 7 or 8 depending upon the interior choices, and has more cargo space than the last generation. It is also better looking, with a bold front end and brawny, bulging fenders. The base …

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2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited Review

Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited – By Ken Glassman

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2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited Review By Ken Glassman The first Hyundai Sonata appeared on the scene way back in 1988. It was a small, homely looking sedan, but a capable, economical car with a lot of content found only on cars costing a few thousand dollars more. And it may be best remembered for having a five year bumper to bumper warranty, and 10 years on the powertrain. Hyundai in those years were trying to impress the buying public that their cars were ready for prime time, and they were willing to back them up with the best warranty in …

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e63 wagon

HD Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model

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Updated 1.5.2015 With 63 New Photos   When it comes to the rarest of Mercedes-Benz AMG cars and trucks, the S-Models are the absolute top of the pops. And the E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Estate? The ultimate in rare supercars – the S-Model Estate is certainly up there with the most-exclusive cars available. By our estimates, fewer than 200 total S-Model E63 AMGs will come to the United States per year, but even one is a huge blessing.   The E63 Estate is just one click slower to 60-mph than the S-Model sedan. That makes this the 3.6-second wagon king. …

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2012 Chrysler 700C Concept Looking Like True Preview of 2016 Town & Country

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When the 2012 700C arrived on the scene for Detroit 2012, it seemed extremely far-fetched. But viewed in the context of the new Chrysler 200, the 700C not only looks possible — it looks extremely likely. The cabin of the 700C in particular shares much of the functional and style moves seen first in the 200, including the rotary-shifter and numerous contrast color elements like the steering wheel. A reveal of the next-gen minivans may take center stage for Chrysler and Dodge next week in Detroit. 2012 Chrysler 700C Concept  

2001 Dodge Super8 HEMI

Concept Flashback – 2001 Dodge Super8 HEMI

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Chrysler has been a prolific concept-car machine since the late 1980s. Many of these star show cars led to hit production models, but this Super8 was a bit far-fetched even for a clean-sleet large sedan. It was meant to recall the glory days of American rear-drive luxury cars: with a bench seat, inverted A-pillars and wrap-around windshield glass and that giant cross-hair grille. 2001 Dodge Super8 HEMI    

ez miev

Concept Flashback – 2006 Mitsubishi EZ MiEV

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  If the Concept D5 Mitsubishi van represents a hard and blocky view of the future, this EZ MiEV is a much softer look into next-gen van style and tech.With its ultra-rounded and white pearlescent exterior features, the resemblence of this concept to the iPod from Apple is intentional. But things in this bubble van are just getting started with the exterior design and wrap-around glass. With a flat-battery platform an in-wheel electric motors, the EZ MiEV takes cabin versatility to a whole new level. The seats fold to form a full eight-foot bed with room for two adults. The …

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mitsubishi concept d5

Concept to Reality – 2006 Mitsubishi D5 to 5th-Gen Delica

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When we think of cars from the future, the aesthetic is generally minimalist and slightly brutal with its form language. This can be typical normal shapes like hatchbacks and pickups and mid-size sedans — but all designed with a lean and crisp look that eschews frivolous bulging and chrome in favor of minimalism. Will this be what cars in the future actually look like? Probably not. Just like we do not dress in spandex StarTrek outfits or one-piece tracksuits in 2015. But those are still the most popular uniform for most hyper-futuristic hollywood movie. Cars that would fit in that …

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mansory g-couture

MANSORY G-Couture and G63 Soft Upgrades Add Fresh LED Headlight Strakes

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The Mansory G-Couture is an absolutely brutal upgrade of the already-militant G-Class — with a huge new bumper and lower body upgrade that is wider, stronger and meaner than ever. The G63 “Soft” kit is a bit more comfort and style-oriented, and is where the latest Bentley-style LEDs debut their new embedded light elements. Beside these new round lamps are three horizontal white LED strakes behind a new glass shroud. It’s a nice update for the Galendewagen’s well-known style — and matches the lower bumper LEDs and roof LEDs very nicely! The upgrades lists are very, very extensive. See the …

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2015 Cadillac Escalade ChopTop Renderings

Fantasy ChopTop Renders – 2015 Cadillac Escalade Feeling Lowww!

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Big drama in development work on the site today. The only respite for this author – to stay busy and resist panicking as all images went down? Making more custom images, oddly enough. A chop-top conversion is one of the hardest to handle with OEM quality. A widebody is almost exclusively an exterior upgrade, but a chopped roofline requires some serious changes. Roll cages, electronics, cabin trims, doors, doorframes and glass all need to be redone. Not exactly something you can eyeball along the way, or carbon-fiber your way out of CAD-CAM studies in advance. But for visual impact, a …

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1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Shooting Brake

RM Arizona 2015 Preview – 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Shooting Brake

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There is something sublimely humble and useful about a Rolls-Royce Shooting Brake woody. The proportions are all about decadent luxury, with a huge dash of usefulness in the giant trunk making this a true grand tourer — in a family-plus-dogs-plus-luggage sense! So why a woody Rolls? The wood cabin and wagon shape meant it was possible to make just a few examples – and skip the huge metal stamping investments that a steel cabin would require. The low and lean style of this ultra-long Phantom II Shooting Brake defined elegant family travel for many decades to come. 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom …

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explorer colors header

2016 Ford Explorer Colors and Pricing – Animated Turntables in Every Color!

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  Thrilled to see the 2016 Explorer is progressing and evolving into an even better seven-seat SUV: new engines, new luxury and tech inside, and new style outside are all very promising. Even more exciting for shoppers than the new Platinum trim level at the top of the ladder? All new colors for every trim level – even the base Explorer 2.3-liter EcoBoost from $31,000. We’ve prepared this animated colors visualizer with half an eye toward file sizes. Previous Mustang and 2015 Edge color articles have nearly broken the poor interwebs under the weight of 400-plus images. =] BASE PRICING …

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2015 Subaru Outback 1

Updated With 100 New Photos – 2015 Subaru Outback COLOR Visualizer

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Updated 12.10.14 With 100 Real-Life Photos Third Update: We reversed Lapis Blue and Twilight Blue Metallic. We mixed them up. Lapis blue is the darker color. The new Legacy and Outback are vastly improved over their predecessors in every important way: exterior style is cooler, interiors are more luxurious and refined, and the cabin safety and infotainment take a huge flying leap into the future. To help you pick which Outback color suits your tastes, we’ve prepared a full animated colors guide to all nine options. Many of these colors are premium and new for this year – with the …

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GLE450 AMG

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe Revealed! Production Form Ahead of Fall 2015 USA Deliveries

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Here is a twin-turbocharged burst of huge news for this Tuesday! The new Mercedes GLE-Class is official: the red model is the GLE450 AMG 4Matic and is set for its public unveiling at Detroit in just a month’s time. The GLE-Class will slide in beside the ML-Class replacing-GLE as a sportier X6 rival. The GLE-Class proper then is likely to be more practical and family-friendly, with a taller roofline and a third row of seats for the first time. This GLE-Class Coupe is therefore targeted at the coolest and most-stylish clients in the luxury SUV business. This GLE450 AMG is …

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sienna xle 2015

Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Sienna XLE Brings All-New Infotainment and Fresh Comfort Upgrades

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On the way to test out the 2015 Sienna, we traveled by Sienna! Our chariot of 2014 Sienna SE offered a great basis point to evaluate the 2015 model’s improvements. Let’s dive in with the usual format of Exterior, Interior, Performance and Summary. We have split each segment into Sienna XLE and Sienna SE portions, in hopes of offering a good idea of what both offer families – highlighting relevant differences between the two. EXTERIOR Sienna XLE There are subtle style changes outside around front and back. The SE and Limited Sienna’s benefit from some classy LED accents in the …

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Concept to Reality – 2010 Mazda Shinari to 2013 Mazda6

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Now here is a company with some genius ideas, and the brilliance to bring them to a street near you. The Shinari is gorgeous, and the Mazda6 is too. Well done.     Concept to Reality – 2010 Mazda Shinari to 2013 Mazda6 2016 Mazda6   2013 Mazda6           2010 Mazda SHINARI Concept  

2015 chevy ss

4.7s 2015 Chevrolet SS Upgraded With Magnetic Suspension and New Six-Speed Manual

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The Chevrolet SS is what happens when a Camaro SS meets the full-size Impala. It has the performance chops to drift with the best muscle-cars, but also to blend smoothly into fastlane traffic anonymously. Perhaps a bit too well? The SS is handicapped only a year after its launch by looks that fail to excite and vaguely recall the previous-generation Impala, to some eyes. These facts make its amazing performance and 415-horsepower V8 the car’s main selling points. The new magnetic ride control and no-cost six-speed manual will definitely help the SS appeal to its core buyer segments — and …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Toyota Sienna SE Is The Ultimate High-Speed Q-Ship

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When you think of minivans, the sportiest one available might seem like a dumb question. I mean, what is the point of having huge power on demand when you are likely to have a car full of kids? After a week rocking the 2014 Sienna SE to Ponte Vedra, Florida and back for the Camry rollout, we became seriously attached to the Sienna’s easy highway manners and friendly city maneuverability. Without a variety of kids and 1000-pounds of toys in the eight-passenger Sienna SE, we can tell you that this is the sportiest van of them all. Standard format of …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Buick LaCrosse V6 Premium Is Deceptively Sporty and Extremely Luxurious

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Quick: name the best large sedan on the market for less than $50,000? Requirements for consideration are a huge back seat, width to never touch elbows with front passengers and all-day cruising comfort. Because you are a keen driver and love a great curving road, let’s add mountain road poise to the list. We are not considering luxury cars like the BMW 5 series, Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz C or E-Classes — they are too small in the back seat. The immediate group of competitors with these prerequisites are: the Hyundai Azera, Lincoln MKS, Toyota Avalon, Kia Cadenza and perhaps …

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2015 Kia Sedona SXL Snapped in 65 Real-Life Photos

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Updated 12.1.14 with 65 Real-Life photos in SXL range-topping trim. We are really impressed by the complete transformation of the Sedona SXL for 2015. The new van wears a unique and fresh style that shares many design themes with the also-fresh 2016 Sorento. The result is not quite a full crossover conversion for the Sedona, but certainly moving toward the freshest style in the minivan segment. The coolest part of the new design for these eyes is the nose. The hood is slightly taller and the grille far more upright than most minivans, with the resulting style quite evident from …

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Update1 – 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Z71 6.6L DuraMax Diesel

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Updated 12.1.14 With 35 Real-Life Photos Nothing too revolutionary here – the new 2015 Silverado HD has been on the roads since mid-summer. But even so, took the chance to snap this flagship of sorts in Florida. A flagship truck? Yes, when it is the top Z71 LTZ 4WD with the stump-pulling DuraMaz diesel option! This truck might not be as flashy as the lighter-weight 1500 models, but is a major force of nature on any work site. The sticker price proves how far trucks have come in the ranges of General Motors: this $71,000 Silverado HD is one of …

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2015 Chevrolet Trax Arriving in January With Base Price of $21,000

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Updated 12.1.14 The Chevy Trax is arriving to Chevy dealers very, very soon! As these latest photos and top 20 features below show, Chevy is eager to make Trax in the compact crossover market sales charts! We were pretty far below the Trax’s actual prices in our ballpark below of $19k to $25k — the Trax will actually start from $21,000 as a front-drive and $22,500 with AWD. Simple trim levels at least mean the LTZ AWD will not be much of a jump up the price ladder – with our new estimate being $27,000 with every available option. Fuel …

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Sneak Peak! 2016 GLE550 Coupe and C400 Coupe in Mercedes-Benz Detroit Teasers

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Updated 11.27.14 Mercedes-AMG has revealed a teaser for the Detroit auto show in January: some sweet new AMG Sport and AMG Performance trims for the C-Class Coupe and GLE Coupe. The AMG Sport is a returning trim level for the C-Class, while AMG Performance is a new feature that has C63-style lower detailing that is dark-colored and very convincing. The new GLE will wear a full revised from bumper design — but this sneak peak indicates a full redesign may be a year or more into the future. Actually, after taking a look at the roofline of this preview more …

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2015 Subaru Outback COLORS Guide – All 9 Shades From Every Angle

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The new Legacy and Outback are vastly improved over their predecessors in every important way: exterior style is cooler, interiors are more luxurious and refined, and the cabin safety and infotainment take a huge flying leap into the future. To help you pick which Outback color suits your tastes, we’ve prepared a full animated colors guide to all nine options. Many of these colors are premium and new for this year – with the new Crystal White Pearl looking especially nice. The 2015 Outback is priced from $25,000. http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/outback/index.html 2015 Subaru Outback COLORS 2015 Subaru Outback Crystal Black Silica 2015 …

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Refreshed 2015 Toyota Prius V Pricing, Release Date and Upgrades Detailed

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Are we noticing a theme in 2015 updates? This is the year of revised infotainment, enhanced ride comfort/quietness, and new LED lighting everywhere you look. All the cool cars are getting these tweaks to their existing packages, and the 2015 Prius V 5 trim goes one further with LED low and high-beams along with a dapper LED DRL line across the top of the new lamp design. It is fresh and clean, with tweaks in the grille designs and bumpers rounding out the changes to the style outside. Pricing is very similar to the 2014, with base price of about …

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2016 Kia Sorento SXL Adds Quad-LED Fogs for LA Debut

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Updated 11.25.14   The updated Sorento is likely to arrive in the US market some time in the spring of calendar 2015 as a 2016 model. The 2015 Sorento is already available at dealers, which is why we speculate about the 2016 model year. Kia calls this the third-gen Sorento, as Europe is less concerned with model years than we are in the USA. Overall, the styling update is a big success. It is paired with a new refinement on the road, an all-new cabin, and a much larger third row of seats than before. The design upgrade really helps …

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2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Shooting Brake Revealed – Only for Euro Markets?

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Just for Euro markets? We do not know that for sure at this point – and we give the CLA250 Shooting Brake a 50/50 chance of being sold here in the US as well. The fifth member of the new Mercedes compact range, after the GLA-Class, A-Class, CLA-Class and B-Class, the new Shooting Brake promises a huge leap in rear-seat headroom, plus all the versatility of a wagon’s fold-down seats. There is no doubting how amazing the car looks – with the surfboard scallop shape in the door panels mirrored very nicely by the low and arcing roofline. It is …

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2015 BMW X6 M Sport vs xLine in 350 New Photos

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Okay, we admit defeat! Usually, the main gripe when new cars launch is that there are far too few photos of the vehicle. Or they are not photos at all: but digital renderings that often do not show the car in real-world detail. But with the latest BMW X6 photo batch, we raise the white flag. 350 photos is too many for any editor to process. But in the name of completeness, we have faithfully included them all here. The car looks most amazing in M Sport trims versus the xLine, which has a somewhat busier lower nose, more chrome …

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2015 Nissan Murano Pricing + COLORS and 60 New Photos

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  Nissan just announced the pricing for the 2015 Murano, plus released a nice batch of photos in the car’s signature Pacific Sunset color. We have not see the wheels or detailing of anything but the top-flight $41k Murano Platinum, but are pleased to see the base pricing slide in below $30,000 overall. The new Murano is on sale from December 5th. Deep below are all the Murano colors, the 60 new orange photos from Nissan, and finally: 100-plus real-life photos of the stylish new Murano in Magnetic Black from an Atlanta preview the other week.     2015 Murano …

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2014 Scion iM Concept Heading for US Showrooms in 2015 to Battle GTI and Focus ST

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Scion is looking to expand its model range in calendar 2015 with two new models: one based on the Mazda2 sedan, and the other being this remarkably cool 5-door hatch shown in LA as the iM concept. You might be asking yourself if the production iM, set to be revealed in NY in April 2015, overlaps with the xB and xD. We certainly were. But we believe the answer is that the iM production car will be more advanced in the chassis department and more powerful than Scion’s box-car twins. This means a more-modern automatic transmission than the four-speeds in …

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2015 Nissan Murano COLORS Guide With Animated Spinners and Tallpaper Collages

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      Let’s say you are curiously smitten with the 2015 Murano – arriving in Nissan dealers in December with an all-new style, extremely luxurious cabin and all the latest safety and infotainment tech. You will be thrilled with the Murano’s eye-catching LED lighting, flowing and expressive sheetmetal, and the 20-inch machined-surfaced alloy rims on the Platinum trim level. With such a stylish mission statement for all Murano’s, the exterior color is going to be a serious choice. The magnetic black of the mega photo gallery below shows a lovely rich and deep ebony that makes the artful chrome …

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Top 10 Midsize Sedans – 2016 Mazda6 Is Best, Subaru Legacy Second

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The Mazda6 is the best-looking, best-handling and most refined mid-size sedan available even before these updates. But two areas kept the car from being a world-beater: the cabin design and a slightly unexciting exterior in the lower and cheaper trim levels. Yes, the Grand Touring had big wheels and LED accents, making the most of the absolutely gorgeous core design. The Mazda6 in every trim now looks like it should costs $50,000, versus only the GT giving that impression before. Both issues are resolved for 2015 with a sweeping enhancement to the design and content of a long-time favorite family …

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Best of Awards – 2016 Mazda CX-5 Goes From Good To Great

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The Mazda CX-5 just went from one of the best crossovers available to perhaps the single best under $30,000. The changes for 2016 include a freshened exterior via a more premium dark-grey grille in a smaller shape, dark-accented wheels and more body-colored accents. Stylish new LED lighting in a cool and expressive design are standard front and rear, plus LED main beam headlamps for the first time. These Adaptive LED Headlights are part of a suite of new safety tech for the CX-5 and a redesigned cabin infotainment setup. Mazda MZD, this new tech package has a larger screen and …

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2016 Honda HR-V LA Debut With 50 New US-Spec Photos Inside and Out

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 Updated 11.21.14   As cool as the new Honda HR-V looks outside, a bit of really surprising news lives in the cabin of this Civic-based crossover. It is simply far more premium, stylish and modern than anything currently in the Honda stable. The floating console and fabric or leather-wrapped dash elements create a real sense of maturity lacking in the current Civic. The touchscreen tech solutions for HondaLink also appear to be very mature in the 2016 HR-V — meaning they are fast-reacting, easy to learn, and easy to use in day-to-day driving. The new HR-V is arriving into a …

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2016 Kia Sorento X-Men Custom For Wolverine at Australian Open!

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Kia’s new X-car Sorento for the X-men will bring out the inner comic book nerd in all of us. Set to attend the Australian Open in Jabuary, the Sorento X-Men model ties in with the blu-ray release of the latest film in Australia. The 2016 Sorento just made its US debut in LA – stay tuned for details in a different article. Pretty cool – but not sure if it would pass pedestrian safety regulatory approval with those adamantium blades on each side of the nose… =] 2016 Kia Sorento X-Men ‘X-Men’ inspired Kia Sorento to debut at the Australian …

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2015 Chrysler 300C and 300S Bring Stylish and Functional Improvements (120 Photos!)

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  How to refine an icon? Porsche has struggled with this for more than 50 years of 911’s at this point – and Chrysler is learning the fine art with its bold and butch 300 sedan. As a real touchstone vehicle for Chrysler since its reveal in 2005, the rear-drive, 120-inch-wheelbase of the Chrysler 300 has languished a bit in recent years while the auto world has rapidly progressed around it. This changes for 2015 – with updates to the cabin and powertrain that bring the 300C and 300S bang up-to-date with the latest from Cadillac in the CTS, Hyundai …

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2016 Ford Explorer Revealed With New Engines, Fresh Styling and Platinum Range-Topper

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  Ford’s rapid product rollout this winter continues today with the reveal of the 2016 Explorer in Los Angeles. Packing freshness outside, inside and under the hood — the Explorer is even sporting a new badge for 2016. Improvements center of style with LED lighting front and rear, a new grille design and completely fresh bumpers and fascias, along with standard LED low-beams for the first time. LED accent lighting and LED foglamps are also in the mix up front, where the Explorer is now much crisper and more modern via a chiseled and sharp lighting design. In profile, the …

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2016 Mazda CX-3 – Gorgeous World Debut in 90 Photos + Specs and USA Arrival Details

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The all-new Mazda CX-3 is easily one of the best-looking small crossovers on the planet. And it is not a concept. This is the real-deal CX-3 coming to take on the Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade. Where the CX-3 is unique versus the three min-trucks above? It is one that men and women alike would love to own for its sporty style, amazingly wide and low stance, and cutting-edge LED lighting. The above vehicles are fairly emasculating and hard to imagine loving as a testosterone-making gentleman. What the CX-3 represents is another amazing vehicle from Mazda — after …

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2016 Fiat 500X Lounge Is Right-Sized City Softroader with 4 Doors!

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Updated 11.17.14 The 500X Cross looks just about *perfect* to answer to wishes of all Fiat dealerships across the US — compact, city-friendly but now a four-door and arguably a bit more handsome than even the original 500. Included below is a mega photo pack of the 500X Cross — which is the off-road guise with chunkier bumpers and gravel-proof plastic sills. Also below are the wheels and trim personalization options, interior photos and UK pricing. No word yet on US pricing or arrival time-frames, but we’d predict around a June 2015 arrival to the US as a 2016 model. …

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2016 Fiat 500X Cross AWD Trim Looking Svelt and Handsome in 75 New Photos

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Updated 11.17.14 The 500X Cross looks just about *perfect* to answer to wishes of all Fiat dealerships across the US — compact, city-friendly but now a four-door and arguably a bit more handsome than even the original 500. Included below is a mega photo pack of the 500X Cross — which is the off-road guise with chunkier bumpers and gravel-proof plastic sills. Also below are the wheels and trim personalization options, interior photos and UK pricing. No word yet on US pricing or arrival time-frames, but we’d predict around a June 2015 arrival to the US as a 2016 model. …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus RX350 AWD

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2015 Lexus RX350 AWD Review By Ken Glassman   Let’s set our way-back machine to 1999, when Lexus created the mid-size luxury SUV market with the RX 300. It was an immediate success, and sent the rest of the industry scrambling to catch up. Within a few years, all the major luxury brands were turning out competitor vehicles, and they all got better and better. Today, the competition is fierce with Acura, BMW, Audi, Lincoln, Cadillac, and Infinity all vying for a share of the pie. But the RX has remained one of the most successful models of all time. …

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2014 Scion iM Concept Car Takes Shape as WRX-ified 5-Door Hatch!?

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Updated 11.16.14   Something about the fat rear tires and floating wide-body fenders of this Scion iM concept just screams WRX, does it not? In all likelihood, this is just a sportified version of a future Scion xD — reborn from the bones of the Toyota Matrix. But how sweet would a Scion WRX hatchback be…..! We thought it was a tC previously… so why not go for being wrong twice =]   2014 Scion iM Concept PREVIOUS First look this morning at the very promising Scion iM concept car for Los Angeles! The ‘iM’ name of this hot new …

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Updated 2016 Audi A7 and S7 Will Debut in LA + New Black Optics Package

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The Audi A7 and S7 are clear winners – they are so attractive and so fast that they make a strong case for themselves versus everything from the BMW 5 and 6 series all the way to the S-Class and even the Audi A8. The biggest competition for the glamorous Audi A7, S7 and RS7 really comes from the Porsche Panamera, in my opinion. So the keep the trendiest and most fashionable clients in the business happy, the A7 and S7 gain new LED lighting solutions front and rear for 2015. These images show the UK spec cars, with no …

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Updated With 70 New Photos – 2016 Audi A6 USA Debut in LA

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The Audi A6 and A7 are fresh this Spring with enhanced trims, newly-available engines and upgraded LED lighting all around. Here is a first-look at the USA trim levels, plus the previously-announced European models in a few extra images toward the bottom. The changes to the A7 are not too drastic outside of those sexy new headlamps — with more power for the supercharged V6 engine and a new turbo four-cylinder to lower the cost of entry. Despite the Avant and A6 Allroad shown below, those variants will not be coming stateside for 2016.   PREVIOUS The Audi A6 is …

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2015 Fiat 500 Ribelle and Fiat 500L Urbana Trekking Revealed at Miami Auto Show

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Cool style upgrades joining the Fiat 500 and 500L range! FIAT BRAND TO INTRODUCE TWO SPECIAL EDITION VEHICLES AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW 07/11/14 Two new special editions expand the appeal of the Fiat 500 and the Fiat 500L with unique exterior and interior features  Fiat 500 Ribelle highlights the rebellious side of the Fiat 500, with Rosso (red) and Nero Puro (Gloss Black) exterior accents  Fiat 500L Urbana Trekking features unique Matte Nero (black) accents and six exterior paint colors November 7, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – The FIAT brand continues to showcase the multiple personalities of the FIAT …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Chrysler 200 Limited Is ThisClose To Being Great

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What keeps the Chrysler 200 Limited from really seeming like a good car – one to crack the top five of the best mid-size sedan ranks? When we picked up this rented 200 from Enterprise in Chicago last month, the initial impressions were very good indeed. There is almost nothing carry-over inside — which is a huge relief after years of every Chrysler product reminding this author of his family’s 1996 Town & Country. We know the 200 looks very good – but you just expect it to be the same heap of garbage on the road as every Chrysler …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD

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   2014 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD Review     By Ken Glassman Way back in 1996, Toyota introduced the RAV4 as a small sport utility vehicle that was something different than a stodgy station wagon. It provided the cargo carrying capacity of a wagon, comfort for 4 adults (and a fifth in a pinch), and was fuel efficient and high quality. It was a boxy and homely, but it quickly became the formula for other manufacturers to emulate. It wasn’t an exciting vehicle to drive, but its utilitarian function won over a generation of drivers. Today the 2014 RAV4 is …

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2016 Mercedes-Benz Metris Mid-Size Commercial Vans Coming to USA In Fall 2015

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 Mercedes arrived in Vegas with a surprising four-pack of minivans this year — confusing spectators and commentators alike! Though the vans they brought are all customized in various flavors, they clearly share much with the new V-Class sold in Europe and elsewhere. Our USA-bound versions will be called the Metris and are not the luxury V-Class – Mercedes clarifies — despite the new Metris being offered in passenger and cargo versions. What does this mean? When is a V-Class not a V-Class? It comes down to distribution channels and luxury content. The Metris will be sold alongside Spinter vans in …

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2015 Toyota Camry Colors and Trims – Visual Buyers Guide

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  For perhaps the first time ever, there is a huge amount of style variety in the best-selling Toyota Camry lineup. After writing up full XSE and XLE reviews, we realize that a trims and colors guide would be really helpful for many prospective owners. To achieve that, we spend a while on Toyota.com getting eerily familiar with the seven trim designs  — screen-shotting it all along the way! (There are nine price levels, but seven distinct flavors thanks to the V6 option for the XLE and XSE)   Below please find the visual trim comparison, XSE color guide and …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Camry LE and XLE V6 Bring Lexus-Infused Style and Comfort

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INTRO “Is that a Lexus?” This question came from two families passing by the new Camry XLE as we snapped photos on a rare stormy afternoon in Florida the other week.  The next thing they both said? “A Camry? Really?” For 2015, the Camry XLE V6 is almost unrecognizably-stylish and premium. The XLE version here with its dark-grey horizontal bars grille is fresh and very distinct from the SE and XSE cars’ gloss-black nose treatment. So does it just look like a Lexus, or is it a fairly convincing upgrade to Lexus levels of comfort, quality and refinement on the road? …

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Update1 – 2015 GLA45 AMG Bases At $49,000 in USA + Giant Spoiler Available!

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Updated 11.8.14 There are a few varieties of really cool styling upgrades for the new GLA45 AMG — from the Midnight pack with dark sills and a dark lower splitter in front, to the Carbon sports package or the stand-alone rear spoiler from $850. All pair well with the $850 dark wheel styles! Check out our builder options below, and cruise over to the configurator to explore your ideal setup. The new GLA45 stickers from $48,300 in the USA before delivery charges, and is available now.       2015 GLA45 Build Summary MSRP $48,300*   Exterior color: South Seas …

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AC Schnitzer BMW X4 Revealed Today In Zurich With Exterior and Engine Mods For All Trims

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The X4 only seems silly until you fire up the engine and go for a drive. In the 5.3-second xDrive35i trim, this crossover is sportier and more fun to drive than you would ever believe. So how to make the exterior match the rapid and playful dynamics? How about a few of these all-new goodies from AC Schnitzer, and a power bump up to 360-horsepower via a 30-minute ECU reflash you can perform in your driveway? A medium UPS box from AC Schnitzer Germany might be your favorite Christmas present this year. Yep. Your X4 is no longer a crossover …

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Volvo V60 XC Coming to USA In February With AWD and T5 Turbo; Pricing From $38,000

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First details today on the newest Volvo – a US-bound V60 Cross Country! The new V60 XC is a tough and rugged version of the V60 sportwagen, and will ship to the US with standard AWD and the 250-horsepower T5 engine. Some have asked if the V60 Cross Country is necessary, considering the presence of the XC60 SUV in the lineup. There is certainly some overlap, but the V60 XC will appeal to a sportier customer and have pricing a few thousand less than the taller XC60 SUV. More models are a good thing for Volvo in the US – …

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Best of SEMA 2014 – Honda Fit in 7 Race-Ready Customs!

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Which is the right Fit for you? Have fun with one, or collect them all for special Fitness dominance! Just kidding. Honda brought a mad fleet of custom 2015 Fits to SEMA this year, winning awards and shocking crowds with amazing stances, sweet LED headlights on the Tkin, roll-cages galore and even a front-bumper-mounted exhaust outlet on the Kontrabrands Fit!! Great details on an easy-to-love 2015 Fit, and for some, a roadmap to Stage 3 Cross/Fit! Speaking of, CrossFit would have been a good name for the awkwardly-badged HR-V…..? But for now, the Fit is star of the show. We …

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SEMA Jaw-Dropper! 850HP Toyota Camry Dragster is Sleeper King

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Not a sleeper king for catching your ZZzzz’s, but one for catching other drivers napping! This is so cool. Great job Toyota. In the driver’s seat of this amazing Camry Dragster, the new Toyota tagline might need to be… ‘Let’s Show O-faces!’   2015 Toyota Camry Dragster Toyota Surprises SEMA with 850-Horsepower Camry Dragster Sleeper Camry Set to Shock Racing Fans Nationwide  November 04, 2014 TORRANCE, Calif. Nov. 4, 2014 — In drag racing terms, a “sleeper” is a car that   looks as innocuous as possible, but has the means to blow the doors off the competition. The attendees at …

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Mercedes-Benz G-Code Concept Is China-Penned GLB Design Study

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  At the opening of its new Beijing R&D Center today, Mercedes revealed a very tasty new concept car to the world: the G-Code SUV concept. G-Code? Mercedes calls this hot new concept an SUC — which seems like an acronym too far! Let’s just say it is a very sporty crossover coupe. A Super-Sport Utility Vehicle? Regardless, the themes shown here are very interesting and fresh versus previous Mercedes SUV ideas and concepts. The flowing and ultra-sensual forms of the body are an extreme interpretation of Mercedes’ latest California-originating design themes — with the sheetmetal appearing like a taught …

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5 New SEMA Ford Transit Vans Are Seriously Cool: From Drifters To Limo-Buses To Off-Roaders!

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  Okay, enough of my bad jokes about SEMA… These are all pretty cool and could feasibly find buyers in various big-van segments: everything from limo-bus to mountain rafting companies would all love to get their hands on these new Transit custom concepts for SEMA. Glad to see the Transit Skyliner made it over from the Paris show!         SEMA Ford Transit Vans         VANDEMONIUM: YOU WON’T BELIEVE HOW FIVE AFTERMARKET SHOPS DESIGNED THE FIRST FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM VANS FOR SEMA 30/10/14  Custom-built project vehicles from five coachbuilders will showcase different expressions of Ford …

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SCION Thrills With Concept FR-S TARGA TURBO + xB Camper Conversion

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  Great ideas from Scion for SEMA! In a huge Vegas pavilion filled with unreal concepts and one-offs that you might (or might not…) even want to own, here comes Scion. The Cartel Customs Targa FR-S is brilliant and seems feasible both for current owners to pursue as well as for the company itself. The convertible FT86 Open concept looks to have been shelved for now, so why not the next best way to get wind in your hair? The xB conversion camper is also deeply charming throughout. Check out the cabin details and those plush leather seats!  Reminds us …

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2015 BMW X6 M Is New Podium Race SUV From $103k

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PART TWO: The X6 M The X6M is just a bit harder, a bit wider and even wilder than the new X5M — with the rear fender strike and chopped roof design feeling right for its massive new power and pace. PREVIOUS The most powerful BMWs ever made have just shattered the glass ceiling of SUV performance. WIth 567-horsepower through standard xDrive AWD, the new X5 and X6 M have sprint times of just 4.0-seconds along with a devilish M styling overhaul. The grille and front fascia are all-new designs for the X twins, with twin-chrome vertical accents inside each …

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2015 BMW X5 M Revealed! Cayenne-Beating 4.0s, 567HP Muscle Truck Arriving Spring 2015

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  The most powerful BMWs ever made have just shattered the glass ceiling of SUV performance. WIth 567-horsepower through standard xDrive AWD, the new X5 and X6 M have sprint times of just 4.0-seconds along with a devilish M styling overhaul. The grille and front fascia are all-new designs for the X twins, with twin-chrome vertical accents inside each kidney recalling the M3 and M5. Down below, a new trapezoidal shape forms a spiked area of the bumper, creating an all-new look not seen even from the aftermarket so far. Very menacing and mean styles here, with incredible side-view mirrors …

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AC Schnitzer BMW X5 Upgrades Are Gorgeous and Functional!

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Two things come to mind with the new X5 from BMW: the lack of an X5 M (so far…) and an overall bumper treatment that can be very busy and awkward. Where is the clean M-car styling we love so much? AC Schnitzer’s latest upgrades catalog addresses this nicely – with huge wheels, lowering springs and a tasteful bodykit to wrap the front and rear in high-speed style. The exhaust and ECU changes also free up about 50-horsepower for all of the engines, as well as sounding absolutely outstanding!  AC Schnitzer BMW X5 – Exhaust Notes Check out the parts …

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2014 Nissan Kicks Concept Is New Sao Paolo Off-Road Crossover

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  In the ‘cars we want from other markets’ category, here is the latest Nissan crossover – the KICKS for Sao Paolo’s auto show this week and next. As far as what the KICKS concept may preview, we would not bet on anything directly coming to the US market in this off-road-able mid-size crossover segment, where the Kicks appears to share much of its mechanical footprint with the Rogue. But the style and design themes shown here are a strong hint at the next-gen Patrol and xTerra SUVs for the global market. 2014 Nissan Kicks Concept Nissan debuts Kicks Concept …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited Is Nipping Camry and Mazda6 Heels

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Rave review first-drive here on the new Subaru Legacy! Along with three dozen all-new photos of this newly-competitive mid-size car. It looks like the drive video we shot did not survive its GoPro upload to the computer, so we will write this one up the old-fashioned way! EXTERIOR The new Legacy’s design is shown in its best light with the 2.5i Limited, which wears the latest LED accents and projector-beam lighting from the 3.6R top-line model. As equipped, this 2.5i is actually very handsome and premium. Why the surprise? Well, let’s face it: the base Legacy has been seriously nerdy …

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RM Hershey Highlights – 1905 FIAT 60HP Five-Passenger Tourer by Quinby & Co.

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A top earner at the Hershey, Pennsylvania event from RM Auctions earlier this month? This 1905 Fiat Tourer with a whopping 60-horsepower. 60HP is double what anything else offered in 1905 — with huge power like this making it the Rolls-Royce and Bentley of its era. The Fiat packs triple the 20-hp that the Ford Model T’s “L-head” four-cylinder delivered from from 1910 to 1930. A wheel and triple-pedal setup on the floor also predates nearly any other car with this now-standard control layout. This very car was originally owned by August Anheuser Busch Senior — to give a sense …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Camry XSE Is FAST and QUIET!

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  Fast and Quiet? Yep. A variation on Fast ‘n’ Loud is what most sedan shoppers actually prefer in their daily drivers, and the Camry XSE nails these benchmarks better than any other mid-size sedan. INTRO Can you imagine how tough the Camry is on competing cars like the Accord and Fusion? As far as we see it, the Camry gets better and better every year — without one slot in the armor of this best-seller to sneak an arrow through? The only area where the previous Camry let its competition get some ideas was with the overall exterior design, …

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Best of Awards – 2015 BMW X4 xDrive35i M Sport in HD Drive Video + 50 Gorgeous Photos

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The BMW X4 and X4 crossover coupes are easy to write off as silly fashion cars. But in the flesh, they are undeniably sexy and far cooler than a normal SUV. The X435i is simply the best SUV we have ever driven. It is a car that would fit hip commuters and track junkies alike — with room in the trunk for pups and in the back seat for pals. Love it. And in a dark color, the X4 is even sexier than this too-popular red. In fact, the X4 is so good — we recommend everyone at Cadillac spend …

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50 New Photos! 2015 Lexus NX300h and NX300h F Sport Are Best-Looking SUVs of the Year

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Updated 10.24.14 with 50 New Photos These latest photos from the UK show the hybrid NX Lexus in an absolutely beautiful light. The complex and emotional creasing of the surfaces is endlessly entertaining to the eye, while the practicality of this mid-size crossover pair belies their base price in the mid-$30,000 ballpark. It is surprising and welcome to have an F Sport version of the Hybrid. This is definitely a car to worry both the BMW X3 and X5. The Lexus NX will be in dealerships in just a few months, with a December arrival projected nationwide. 2015 Lexus NX300h …

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