12 Articles
Redesigned Hyundai Sonata goes Accord and Camry hunting

Packing  a fresh 3.3 liter V6 as an option, the 2006 Hyundai Sonata should be able to challenge the Accord and Camry in the power department, although it is unclear just how much the Sonata's six will create. The base engine will remain at 2.4 liters, but it is likewise an all-new design developed by a Hyundai, Mitsubishi and DaimlerChrysler triumvirate. A Hyundai spokesman said that the Sonata also used the cabin size and interior quality as targets for the Sonata, which already loo

Holy cow Autoblog! Full decryption of car alphanumerics

If you've ever wondered what the xi stands for behind the 330 on a BMW or even why BMWs use numbers instead of names like Bonneville check out this fairly detailed piece on MSNBC. I knew all about the BMW nomenclatures equaling liter size but never made the connection with Lexus and its designations. Some interesting stuff on a number of different brands including Saab and Cadillac.

Nissan releases pricing details on tarted up Altima SE-R

The R-ed out Altima, which will be purchasable later this month for 29,200 American dollars, has been upgraded nicely over its regular mild-mannered persona: the 3.5 liter V6 will make 260-hp, a comprehensive performance suspension system has been added, and visual cues include some nifty 18-inch wheels and tires, spoilers that aren't sickeningly obtrusive, lights built for fog, and larger exhaust "finishers," which I assume increase engine breathing nonefold. Inside you can find yourself

GM combines Holden and Saab in Australia

But don't expect any Haalden Monaro Viggen any time soon, since it's really only the business sides of the companies being fused. The goal is to save some bread by melding back office systems of finance, information and fleet management. Holden will get a new HQ in Port Melbourne, and the merger will attempt to grow the Saab brand on the island continent. Day-to-day happenings will remain distinct as GM's goal is to avoid creating a single ripple within customer sales, service and warrant

New highway signs memorialize accident victims

Sometimes we come across stories that inject real-life into our car fanatic fantasy world here at Autoblog. Since we usually try and make posts lively and energetic, a story like this one about new signs that ask people to drive safely along with the name of someone killed at that location doesn't really fit into our mold. But it is an interesting bit of dramatic realism in today's world. Even though auto fatalities are falling there is still a lot of death on America's roads. In Evergree

EPA asks Toyota and Honda to lower fuel economy estimates for hybrids

It's simple, really: the Toyota Prius, rated at 55 miles per gallon for combined city and highway situations, can't hit those inflated numbers in real world driving. Most owners, including Environmental Protection Agency officials, are reporting that something in 40s is much more accurate. The Honda Civic Hybrid comes closer to its claimed 47 mpg average, although this hasn't stopped the EPA from asking both companies to voluntarily lower their figures, so as not to hoodwink unsuspecting,

Mercedes ices free maintenance program

Beginning with the 2005 model year, Mercedes-Benz is doing away with their free maintenance program, which consists of footing the bills for scheduled service checkups, parts and labor. The scheme now will be either one, get customers to pay for the services individually along the way, or two, have them buy service packages up front, so that it all seems free later when the services occurs. Tricky stuff. Mercedes' former program wasn't totally free anyway (not unlike those "total

New Vauxhall Astra debuts windshield that thinks it's a roof

Or is it the roof that thinks it's a windshield? Quite the paradox. Regardless of the multiple personality crises suggested by the design, the so-called Panoramic option available on three-door Astras is pretty damn cool. The windshield basically extends up into the roof line, all the way to the B-pillar, creating a fighter jet-style cockpit environment. The glass gets extra reinforcement to compensate for the misplaced crossmembers and sheet metal. A Vauxhall spokesman said, "This makes

Punch, consider yourself beaten to: Edmunds drives new BMW M5

You are probably not unfamiliar with the 2006 E60 M5, at least where raw data is concerned. You probably know all about the machine's brutal V10 and 8,250-rpm redline, its seven-speed SMG transmission and sub 4,000 pound curb weight, a not inconsiderable feat for a long, huge-engined sedan. You may even be aware of the warp speed button that raises the engine's startup output from 400-hp to the full 507. But you probably don't know how this data translates to experience, which is where Ed

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