Hybrid Supercar to Change Perceptions about Environmental Stewardship
Automotive Metrics
It’s finally official. Porsche has decided to proceed with its gorgeous 918 Spyder, the spiritual successor to the revered Carrera GT.
All that was needed were 1,000 solid buyers is for Porsche to create a business case for building the supercar, and as of late April it had reportedly achieved 900 of those stated Bloomberg.
“I’m confident that we will soon reach the threshold of 1,000,” stated Wolfgang Duerheimer, development chief for Porsche, in an April 24 interview with the news agency. “We need 1,000 seriously interested people to make a sound business case.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Porsche “Green” Lights 918 Spyder for Production
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Inspired Driving
Alexandra Straub, Automotive Metrics
*featured make=’BMW’ model=’550i’
*relatedNew make=’Mercedes-Benz’ model=’E-Class’
*relatedNew make=’Audi’ model=’A6′
*relatedUsed make=’Infiniti’ model=’M’
*relatedUsed make=’Cadillac’ model=’STS’
Grace. Elegance. Performance. Three adjectives I find synonymous with the 2011 BMW 550i sedan. Introduced as an all-new model in 2010, the new 5 Series’ road presence not only demands respect but also exudes excellence; qualities that have been eminent from the German auto manufacturer since day one.
Without an unflattering angle, the trim and toned sixth generation 5 Series sedan turns heads and breeds envy from its rivals. The combination of a long hood, short overhangs and coupe-like roofline work symbiotically to create an exterior that is graceful and elegant. Furthermore, with the signature kidney grille inclined slightly forward and visually stimulating curves, I much prefer this generation of 5 Series in comparison to the last.
It also appeared as though I was not the only fan of the new 5 Series’ styling. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2011 BMW 550i Sedan Road Test Review
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Rakish Liftback Adds Sport and Functionality
Automotive Metrics
Call it a sleek sedan or the new term for cars in this burgeoning segment, a four-door coupe. Call it whatever you want. Just don’t call it ugly. The new 2011 Audi A7 is a beautiful car, without question.
This can be said for most four-door coupes on the market. As much as some critics pooh-pooh the idea, it really makes sense. Most luxury car buyers would rather have a sporty coupe than a sedan, but choose the four-door for practical reasons. The option of a four-door coupe lets them have their proverbial cake and eat it too.
Recent additions to the genre include Porsche’s fabulous new Panamera, Aston’s otherworldly Rapide, while Mercedes-Benz’s stunning CLS, the forerunning in this segment, will soon be updated. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Audi Debuts 2011 A7 Sportback in Munich
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An All-New Unibody Explorer More In-Tune with Times
Automotive Metrics
*featured make=’Ford’ model=’Explorer’
*relatedNew make=’Land Rover’ model=’LR2′
*relatedNew make=’Chevrolet’ model=’TrailBlazer’
*relatedUsed make=’Hummer’ model=’H3′
*relatedUsed make=’Jeep’ model=’Grand Cherokee’
One of the most anticipated reveals in some time is finally upon us, and by all appearances Ford has another hit on its hands.
The Explorer was once the darling of sport utilities. It was the SUV sales leader for years notching up more than six million sold with more than four million still on the road, and therefore the name is almost as well known as Mustang. Ford CEO Alan Mulally has pushed household names since he took the helm at Dearborn, most notably resurrecting the Taurus nameplate and showing that a good car can change marketplace perceptions about a tarnished name almost immediately.
The Explorer had a few run-ins with the press, but overall it was a well-built SUV that served its owners well. The only image problem it faces is its association with a dying breed, the traditional truck-based sport utility itself. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: New 2011 Ford Explorer Revealed!
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By Nauman Farooq
One of the most popular luxury sedans on Canadian roads is the Infiniti G Sedan. Since the introduction of the G35 Sedan in the North American market in 2003, it has been the highest volume seller for the automaker.
For 2010, the G Sedan has some significant enhancements. Most notable to the eye is its refreshed styling. Up front, it has a new grille and new headlights which now feature standard High Intensity Discharge (HID) bi-functional xenon lamps. To further help illuminating the road, the new fog lights have been repositioned from the headlight cluster to the lower bumper, which would not only improve visibility but also gives the new G Sedan a more aggressive look. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Infiniti G37 sedan
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On and Off-Road Prowess plus Rarified Luxury
Trevor Hofmann, Automotive Metrics
*featured make=’Lexus’ model=’GX 460′
*relatedNew make=’Mercedes-Benz’ model=’M-Class’
*relatedNew make=’Cadillac’ model=’Escalade’
*relatedUsed make=’Land Rover’ model=’LR4′
*relatedUsed make=’Audi’ model=’Q7′
What does Lexus offer that only one premium-branded rival competes against? A seven-passenger, 4×4, midsize luxury SUV. Only Land Rover’s LR4 falls into this category, making these two a rare breed indeed.
Of course, it would be a mistake to label them a breed at all as this pair is about as opposite in appearance as a Jaguar XJ is from an LS 460. Both Brits are so uniquely penned that they could be seen as rolling modern art, brilliantly beautiful to some but their polarizing designs are way too over the top for others. The two Japanese models, mind you, offer a more conservative approach to design yet they lose nothing when it comes to luxury.
Step inside the GX 460, an all-new model for 2010 and replacement for the outgoing GX 470, and there’s no confusing it for a mainstream SUV. There are very few hard plastic surfaces while soft leather covers almost everything that burled walnut or metal doesn’t touch. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Lexus GX 460 Road Test Review
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Super Six Cylinder
Brian Armstead, Automotive Metrics
*featured make=’Porsche’ model=’Panamera’
*relatedNew make=’Lexus’ model=’LS’
*relatedNew make=’Jaguar’ model=’XJL’
*relatedUsed make=’Mercedes-Benz’ model=’S-Class’
*relatedUsed make=’BMW’ model=’7-Series’
Take the already stellar Panamera S or 4S V8, lop off two cylinders but retain the V8’s 90 degree configuration, and lower the price significantly, while still maintaining a very high level of standard performance and luxury attributes.
It’s a formula that Porsche is banking on with the 2011 Panamera and Panamera 4, six-cylinder versions of the super performance sedan that’s given notice to Maserati Quattroporte, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8, Lexus LS 460 and BMW 7 Series that the Porsche Crest on the hood of this luxury sports sedan means there’s a new sheriff in town.
Perhaps the best thing about the two new models is that they retain V8 Panamera styling. What used to be a love it/hate it affair is now pretty much a lovefest. This is a car that looks infinitely better in person than it does in photos or on television. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2011 Porsche Panamera 4 Road Test Review
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Audi Bullish about hitting 3 Million at Faster Rate
Automotive Metrics
Audi nearly went out of business in North America after their early ‘80s unintended acceleration debacle, and that’s despite being exonerated like Toyota recently was, with the cause cited as driver error.
To look back at these times must seem like a previous life for Audi’s longtime staff, now with the automaker past the two million mark in unit sales for the US market.
“The story of Audi in the U.S. is really a story written by the hundreds of thousands of people who’ve invited our brand into their lives,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “We’re grateful for those opportunities. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Audi Hits Two Million Mark in US
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Feature Packed Jetta Puts Safety First
Automotive Metrics
Volkswagen’s Jetta gets a lot of respect. Some even go so far to say that the only thing separating it from the premium class is its badge. Therefore most don’t complain when asked to pay significantly more for it than any other entry-level brand’s C-segment model – the outgoing 2010 Jetta starts at $22,175.
With the new Jetta, VW is making one thing very clear. Its old way of doing business is over. At a shockingly low entry price of $15,875, the 2011 Jetta will clearly deliver value when it arrives this fall.
“The new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta with its highly competitive price starting at $15,875 becomes the entry model to the Volkswagen Brand in Canada,” said John White, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Priced Under $16K
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Style and Substance
Dave Van Sickle, Automotive Metrics
*featured make=’Hyundai’ model=’Sonata 2.0T’
*relatedNew make=’Chevrolet’ model=’Malibu’
*relatedNew make=’Honda’ model=’Accord’
*relatedUsed make=’Dodge’ model=’Avenger’
*relatedUsed make=’Nissan’ model=’Altima’
When Hyundai announced that their 2011 Sonata would no longer be offered with a V6, there was some doubt about the wisdom of such a move. It takes real leadership, the right products (and guts) to change the mindset of the buying public.
Clearly, the 2011 Sonata is a big hit. Sales of this freshly designed family sedan have more than doubled those of its predecessors. Now, the risk of eliminating the V6 in future Hyundai models looks more like clever marketing at a time when rising fuel economy standards are the norm.
Even though the base Sonata’s four-cylinder is a good performer, and there is still a significant market segment that wants the performance of a V6, Hyundai has chosen to replace the V6 using turbocharging and direct injection to get V6-like power with four-cylinder economy. Thus, the Hyundai Sonata 2.0T. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T Road Test Review
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