MY2015 GLA45 AMG

Production-Spec 2015 GLA45 AMG Looking Gorgeous Without Concept Stickers

When it rains, it pours! And when it pours, rear-drive sports cars must crawl along the highway at anything above 70 or 80 mph. Sure, you can go fast in the rain in your high-power, rear-drive machine — but any wheel slip can become a serious problem. That is the key reason the new generations of AMG Mercedes-Benz models will be optimized for rear-drive hoon-ability, but standard 4Matic AWD for high-speed, all-weather confidence. The GLA45 is the perfect example of this new breed of sub-Macan-Turbo sporting models from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The X1 M Sport xDrive35i is about as …

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2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

Mea Culpa: 2014 Jeep Cherokee Not "Fug Nasty" – Looks Great in Trailhawk Trim

The Jeep Cherokee’s styling hit me like a kick from a horse when first glimpsed earlier this year.   I took to Twitter to say some less-than-encouraging things about its new appearance. Luckily, using Twitter is like throwing effort into a well – hopefully no one noticed… I’m actually very relieved to report four things about the 2014 Cherokee: – Optional 271-horsepower V6 engine with nine-speed auto and available 4WD promises a fun and powerful truck – Nose looks good on highways and in real life, LEDs visually widen car. The red trailhawk tow hooks are awesome. – The profile …

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CarRevsDaily

Transformers 4 Truck Called Hound is Oshkosh Defense M1157 A1P2

The GMC TopKick had a really good run with the Transformers franchise, surviving through the end of the third movie on the strength of Ironhide’s close friendship with our hero. But General Motors quietly exited the C4500 – C8500 truck classes altogether in 2009. Most of the larger trucks were absolutely ancient. Imagine a Frito-Lay extra-long delivery truck, and you’ve got it. The TopKick was a strong option for the films: huge, versatile with a dump-truck rear end, and looked great. Ironhide outlived the Hummer H2 BayWatch car and Jazz, the oft-mocked Pontiac Solstice character with a somewhat racist accent. …

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2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport from $19,470! Interior Updates, Galleries and Models

Mitsubishi’s biggest seller brings a number of updates for 2014 to increase refinement, style and interior technology.   2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport – New or Updated Features —  Audio system head unit (ES model) —  Engine balancer shaft (all models) —  Newly designed steering wheel with audio controls (all models) —  Improved sound insulation (all models) —  HD Radio (SE model) —  6.1-in. touchscreen display audio system with rearview camera (SE model) —  MMCS navigation system with 7-in. high definition touch panel, voice command, 3D mapping, point-of-interest information, real-time traffic and Mapcare (with SE Touring Package) —  Black leather seating …

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2013 GLK350 4MATIC

GLK250 Diesel Joins GLK350 from $37,000 – Buyers Guide to AMG Sport trims

The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 is a cool little truck. The really great thing about this package versus other crossovers is how agile and fun it is to toss around. The low proportions and general handling excellence really shame the Acura RDX and even the Range Rover Evoque. The GLK makes no apologies for its macho lines, and really looks exclusive on city streets. The GLK is rear-drive as standard, making this one of the most balanced in its segment for fast drivers. That segment is growing fast, with the GLA250 also joining the U.S. price books for 2014, and the BMW …

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Update1 – MINI Takes DAKAR Three-Peat with All4 Countryman Squad

Update 1 June 17, 2014 Okay, so this race was in January 2014. Which makes this is bit of a late update. But here is the short version: MINI dominated the 2014 Dakar Rally, winning its third title in three years. I’d be willing to wager that when the MINI crossover was born and christened a few years ago, it thought the Countryman name meant things like hiking, biking, rafting or just being near the woods. But now: Countryman has become “What Country Are We In?” via the long-range Dakar rally in South America starting January 5th, 2014. This is …

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KAMAZ 4911 ANimated GIF- CarRevsDaily

Update1 – KAMAZ 4911 Dominates 2014 DAKAR Rally For 12th Truck Class Win

So you like the Ford Raptor and that feeling of being unstoppable on any terrain? Try the Kamaz-4911 on for size: – 17.2-liter, mid-mounted TD V8 engine – 730 horsepower @ 2500 rpm – 1991 pound-feet of torque @ 1300 rpm – Maximum Speed – 102.5 MPH Trust me, I had to check those numbers thrice myself. A 17-liter V8 is cool, but only the start of the fun for this multi-purpose truck platform. Initially designed with six and eight-wheel options and variants, the Kamaz 4911 basically runs the engine from a tank, but in a (relatively) lightweight racing chassis. …

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Toyota Venza Animated GIF1

2014 Toyota Venza Limited Is Like An Allroad Avalon Limousine

For shoppers with back-seat room and all-weather traction top-of-mind, the Toyota Venza is a compelling luxury sedan alternative. With dimensions that make this much like an ‘all-road’ Avalon, the Venza is able to maintain a truly hushed cabin for five. Roominess in back is even better than the Avalon, courtesy of extra recline angle in the back seat and a higher seat base. Overall access is far easier in a car like the Venza, which is unique in delivering an ultra-low floor and step-in height versus many other crossovers. The huge doors make ingress much easier than even the longer …

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CarRevsDaily Best Wheels - A Kahn Design - Cosworth Wheels 47

Best of Awards – Luxury Wheels – Kahn Design RS600, RS and Cosworth Alloys

Wheels are the only aftermarket upgrade that can improve a car’s style, handling, and resale value in one fell swoop.   The reasons for upgrading are therefore clear: a much cooler and more unique appearance for any car, at any price. New wheels will almost always look amazing, especially in a +1 or +2 jump in diameter. Here are a few quick facts to consider about new wheels: — OEM wheels are significantly stronger than most aftermarket products – in terms of long-term pothole resistance as well as the paint finish, etc. — Much slimmer tire sizes, especially on luxury …

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GSC - G-Class 33

G-Class Widebody Options by GSC Look Ready For Terminator 5

As if the G-Class needed any more curb appeal. This is an amazing truck – capable of far more than its most-photographed duties: grocery shopping in Brentwood. German Special Customs agrees – and has a variety of wide-body conversions of the G-Class in their fleet. Yes, taste is subjective —  but all are sure to scare just about anyone out of the fast lane in front of you. Gold – Mercedes-Benz G-Class by GSC Silver – Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG by GSC Red – Mercedes-Benz G-Class by GSC  

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2014 Audi Q7 TDI S-line Plus – Buyers Guide with Galleries, Specs and Pricing

The 2014 Q7 TDI is a very compelling option versus the other supercharged V6 gasoline engine options available on this luxury seven-seater in American Audi dealers. There basically are no downsides – only benefits – to choosing this Clean Diesel engine. – Huge torque advantage, 406 pound-feet from from just 1750 rpm. – Big efficiency advantages on paper and in real life. – Just as quick as 3.0T models at 7.7-seconds to 60-mph. —- (But down 1.0 seconds versus the 3.0TFSI S-Line with 333 horsepower versus 280 for 3.0T) – Optional air suspension a TDI and TFSI exclusive option, not …

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2014 4Runner Offers Third Row and Very Cool SR5 and Limited Styles 45

2014 4Runner Offers Third Row + Very Cool SR5 and Limited Styles

The 2014 4Runner is all-new from Toyota, bringing a comprehensive restyle outside and a tech overhaul inside. The best parts of the 4Runner package remain: hardy suspension and locking diff options, off-road prowess that goes beyond electronic settings, and of course that roll-down back glass. In place of the old tailgate bench is a new slide-out parcel floor that can hold serious weight. Most critically: a third row of seating is a $1,400 option – and money well spent. It folds out of the way when not needed, but will come in handy eventually. The crimson Trail Premium 4Runner’s photos …

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2014 4Runner Offers Third Row and Very Cool SR5 and Limited Styles 45

2014 4Runner Offers Third Row + Very Cool SR5 and Limited Styles

The 2014 4Runner is all-new from Toyota, bringing a comprehensive restyle outside and a tech overhaul inside. The best parts of the 4Runner package remain: hardy suspension and locking diff options, off-road prowess that goes beyond electronic settings, and of course that roll-down back glass. In place of the old tailgate bench is a new slide-out parcel floor that can hold serious weight. Most critically: a third row of seating is a $1,400 option – and money well spent. It folds out of the way when not needed, but will come in handy eventually. The crimson Trail Premium 4Runner’s photos …

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New Kia Soul LED Coolness Hookah Bar  32

New Kia Soul Scores on LED Coolness – A Hookah Bar on Wheels!

The 2014 Kia Soul is hugely revised for 2014, with helpful updates throughout to enhance comfort and style. Many people do not understand these boxy compacts. Allow me to illustrate the ideal target market: teens whose nights out might include much more “cruising around” than actual destinations. For these aimless but high-mile young drivers: an upright seating position, thumping audio, and fresh style are the key buying metrics. Pace? Not really mandatory. A multi-hose hookah pipe might be a popular option, if offered, however… or would have been with my pals back in the day. With pricing from just $15,000, …

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Rogue 2014 de Nissan

Best of Awards: 2014 Nissan Rogue Seats 7, Looks Cool, Gets There First

The all-new Rogue is a huge hit so far: with seven seats and pricing from about $24,000 — this compact crossover nails a huge swath of buyer priorities. Its new LED lighting up front sets the tone, while the Nissan V-bar grille is just foreshadowing. Enjoy this early reveal of the Nissan Rogue in “Full-Throttle Action.” My favorite part? Seeing our pilot’s high-heel shoe mash the throttle to the floor before she uses an on-ramp to jump onto a train’s roof. All in a day’s work for the on-trend and stylish Rogue. This Nissan commercial seems to channel Sri Lankan …

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2014 Fiat 500L

Phew! Latest Real-Life Photos Show a Much Cuter 2014 Fiat 500L

The all-new 2014 Fiat 500L is exploring its new home in America! A cute couple guides us on this scenic photo shoot through seaport towns, cities, and the countryside. It is a relief to see the 500L looking cute – because that is a critical part of its selling proposition. Hip moms, cool dads, and bright colors are all in the 500L playbook. But even parents have a sense of style! And the first few sets of digital renderings really made the 500L look strange. Yes, it is still the same design – but now it is an adorable odd …

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Best of Awards – Coolest SUV Stance – Dodge Durango Rallye and Blacktop

The new Durango is a completely different machine from the first two generations of large SUVs from Dodge. Where those rigs really drove like trucks, with graunchy diffs and a stiff ride, the new Durango feels just as butch – but now far more nimble and polite in town. There is no harshness whatsoever from the RWD or optional AWD setups, and this is still one of the only rear-drive-based, seven seat crossovers on the market. Yes, there is the Tahoe, but that really moves the trucks up a size (and garage) class too far, for some. Tow ratings and …

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2014 X5 with and without M Performance Parts

2014 BMW X5 – Before and After M Performance Upgrades

The BMW X5 is hotter than ever before. In December 3rd’s WSJ, BMW even cites huge international X5 demand as one of the reasons BMW may lose the number one U.S. luxury sales rank to Mercedes-Benz for 2013. Fun fact: the BMW Spartanburg plant is the largest exporter of American-made cars. In the whole country. Beating all the U.S. brands!  (These are official BMW cargo ships, by the way, not grey-market exports.) It seems this America-focused truck is far hotter than BMW ever expected in even its most traditional markets. The draw of seven seats and the latest BMW  style …

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2014 Ford Transit Connect – Hot Wheels Concept Shows Widebody Style, Cool New Nose

The SEMA show is not my favorite. In a bit of an rough mood this morning, and not holding back much. Imagine walking around a normal auto show, like Chicago or Detroit, but instead of perhaps 70 brand displays, there are 70,000. Such is SEMA. You might like a car, never know what it was or where it came from, and never see it again. So many tuners and OEMs descend on the Vegas strip every November — it can be hard to keep track, let alone care. But then there is that one… The 2014 Ford Transit Connect is …

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2014 Volvo XC60 Buyer's Guide 56

Volvo XC60 Buyer's Guide Info, Galleries and Videos

It is just a Volvo kind of morning here in Chicago. Snow has been falling for two days, and the temps are extremely frigid. My Subaru had major struggles getting up and out of the steep driveway, thanks to my amazing decision not to shovel. My poor Subaru Legacy GT. What a hard, battered life it leads. Most of the damage sustained by the car has been off the pavement. Something about huge, huge turbo power and AWD has led me — time and time again — to take the low-slung LGT off-roading. Much as I love the Q-car appeal …

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New Volvo XC Coupe Concept Previews Stunning 2015 XC904

New Volvo XC Coupe Concept Previews Stunning 2015 XC90

Volvo is heating up! Literally – warming themselves in the cold winters up north with visions of how pretty the 2015 XC90 needs to be. The Swedish team has developed some scientific assessments of car styling that use heat maps to identify viewer emotions. As the viewer’s eye circles the car, tracking software is able to learn and highlight the areas of the car design they like best. Sounds completely absurd, like something from science fiction? Nope. The Swedes know many things about cold versus hot temperatures. As shown in the below graphics, the Best of 2013 Award-winning Concept Coupe’s …

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Mega Galleries: Big and Tough 2014 Toyota Tundra Outside and In – from SR5 to Platinum and 1794

With all this love and attention lavished upon the GMC Sierra at Spaceport America, the seven available styles of 22-inch rims for the Silverado High Country, and some Super Duty love — it is time for the Toyota Tundra in all its glory. This is only a truck that can be jabbed at from afar. Up close, the width and height of this machine immediately shuts your mouth. Enjoy these mega galleries, with particular attention to my favorite: the Tundra Limited with the dark wheels! 2014 Toyota Tundra – Exterior Galleries 2014 Toyota Tundra – Interior Galleries  

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Best of 2013 Awards: Turbo Sports Car, Under $25,000 – Nissan Juke NISMO

The Juke NISMO as the turbo sports car of the year? In this budget range: you bet your alcantara headlining and carbon-fiber diffusers! The NISMO Juke makes no apologies for being different from the norm. After spending a week with the Juke NISMO earlier this fall, I discovered a fun-to-drive car that is nimble and toss-able in all situations. It also turned heads like a GT-R on roads filled with boring tan sedans. The unusual headlamp setup of the Juke is brought to life with the GT-R’s white LED accents in the lower bumper area. With the LEDs blazing white, …

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Hot New Wagons 2014 Volvo V60 13

Hot New Wagons: 2014 Volvo V60 Coming to U.S. with R-Design and Polestar Trims

The Volvo V60 is an exciting new entrant for the Swedish luxury brand. This core Volvo model was initially left off the American price sheets in favor of the much larger V70 and XC70 Cross Country, but Volvo has now come to its senses! What the V60 offers is the mid-size package from the S60 sedan, including all the latest styling updates and tech enhancements inside. The R-Design’s new T6 engine promises about 304 horsepower and a ~5.7-second sprint to 60 mph, while the Polestar could bring up to 375 horsepower for a sub-5-second sprint time. Polestars come with AWD …

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Concept to Reality, Honda Shows Good Design Momentum

Concept to Reality: Honda Shows Good Design Momentum with Vezel and FCEV

Honda Design. Not two words that make sense together, but that seems to be changing. The latest concepts show great direction, and movement to a new brand style. This is great news for the new, production-ready Honda Vezel crossover, which carries much of the panache of the Urban SUV Concept. But it is even better news for the forthcoming NSX. Whether an Acura or Honda, the bold vision is a relief versus some – private – concerns about the prototype’s appearance. 2013 Honda FCEV Concept 2013 Honda Urban SUV Concept Honda Vezel Hybrid   Honda Vezel Hybrid Official FCEV Release …

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2015 Porsche Macan - Latest Images - CarRevsDaily

2015 Porsche Macan S from $49,900 – Is This Your Next Car?

My next car? I write about cars all day, every day. But rarely am I so overcome with desire. I want to own, drive, bash, coddle, wash, wax and detail the Macan. I want this Porsche in my garage. So, I ask myself… Is my next car? Is this Your next car? Perhaps in 2020 the Macan will be within reach, financially, for thisguy. Sigh. If your fortunes are better, be careful with this next part. WARNING: These Huge Macan S and Macan Turbo Porsche Wallpapers Are Gorgeous ****May Cause Customizations and Involuntary Pre-Orders**** 2015 Porsche Macan Turbo – Exterior …

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2014 BMW 428i and 435i Make Beautiful, Practical Convertibles

BMW’s long, low and wide new 4-series is hitting its stride. Of course, the 4 drop-top replaces the previous 3-series convertible line as BMW links its sportiest models with even number badges. Overall convertible sales have fallen off a cliff in the American market in the last few years. Even so, it is not immediately clear if this is a structural change in buyer preferences, a short-term economic side-effect, or if there simply were not the same volume of cheap and dreadful Chrysler Sebrings to prop up the sales numbers. Even “the hot girls” like Jillayne from my high school …

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2013 BMW X4 Concept Gallery

New BMW X4 Teaser Shows LEDetails of 2015 Macan-fighter

The Concept X4 just had a glitzy dinner, and is en route to a velvet-roped club entrance…   BMW recently released a night-time city teaser of the Concept X4, which is a high-gloss way of imagining what this blue-raspberry performance car will look like ‘out on the town.’ The concept seems dripping with light and far more purity and flow to the surfaces than the X3, and also, far more roof chop than the bigger X6.     2013 BMW X4 Concept – Animated GIF 2013 BMW X4 Concept – Nighttime Teaser Screenshots 2013 BMW X4 Concept Gallery

2014 E250 BlueTEC

2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Style Reset Leaves BMW 528Xi Out Cold

A hard reboot? The “Microsoft recommended solution” – aka ripping the plug from the wall? Factory settings reset? The new E-Class is so hot. It is as if a paper-clip poked the Mercedes design reset brain for ten seconds consecutively,  triggering a full reboot from core system files. Of course, the most noticeable and memorable part of a pretty car is the nose. This new soft graphic is now looking beautiful from its thrummy E250 base configurations, through the rich E350 sedans, wagons and coupes, on to the E400 Hybrid and E550 4MATIC.   All the way up to the …

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2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited

Hot New Trucks: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo from $29,000

We all know the new Jeep Grand Cherokee is the best truck ever to don the seven-slat grille. Watching the SRT GC’s launch control starts are intoxicating, and the latest LED style of a pinched horseshoe in the headlight graphic is very appealing. The top-spec Summit trim even brings some heavenly new open-pore woods and fine leathers to the cabin – but at a price. The top Grand Cherokee’s become quite expensive in the higher trim levels – even kissing $50,000 for the diesel engine in some trims. What about a GC for the rest of us? The 2014 Laredo …

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2014 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum Inside and Out83

2014 Nissan Pathfinder – Reviewed in Video and 78 High-Res Photos

The Pathfinder is a real charmer. With lockable four-wheel-drive and seven seats, it checks many boxes right in the first block. The vastly improved CVT automatic is no longer a sore point, with polite but perceptible downshifts and great cruising refinement and economy.   Powertrain and Towing Highlights   A Hybrid model joins the ranks for 2014, but this press loaner was the loaded Platinum model, which focuses dollars more on luxury and technology in the cabin. Interior Amenities Highlights 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum – Exterior Sunny Day Animation 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum – Exterior Gallery 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum …

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2014 Unimog U5023 Now Packing Scary Style and Tech

2014 Unimog U5023 Now Packing Scary Style and Tech The legendary Mercedes-Benz Unimog all-terrain trucks are refreshed for 2013 with a comprehensive makeover inside the cabin, underneath that boxed ladder chassis and outside with a menacing new grille and LED lighting. The top of the new Unimog lineup in terms of off-road ability is the new U5023 model, which replaces the previous U5000 nameplates. Sharing the nose layout with its shorter sibling, the U4023, these models are the freshest outside with a dramatic new single-wing grille to house the dinner-plate-sized Mercedes star emblem. This is a unique touch for the …

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2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos

2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos The Juke Nismo is incredible value at just below $25,000 all in, with a choice between a manual transmission and front-drive or a NISMO-tuned CVT auto and AWD with a “V” mode for extra shenanigans.   Sunny Day Gallery     Rainy Day Gallery