Autoblog First Drives

Autoblog First Drives http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog First Drives http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/favicon-v5.png Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff RossThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry. <![CDATA[2014 Fiat 500L]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/19/2014-fiat-500l-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/19/2014-fiat-500l-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/19/2014-fiat-500l-review-first-drive/#comments Filed under: Wagon, Hatchback, First Drives, Fiat

Unexpectedly, This Opposite Attracts

2014 Fiat 500L

Back in 2007 when the Fiat 500 was launched, I was unrepentantly nuts about the thing. From the first time my eyes clapped on the Nuevo Cinquecento at the Geneva Motor Show that year, I wanted one. Since there were no plans for a North American model at the time, I had to settle for purchasing a 1/18th-scale diecast at the expo. When Fiat finally returned to the US and the Cinquecento went on sale in 2011, I was no less excited.

And then I drove one, and the bloom was off my little Italian rose. Oh, I still appreciated its size and high style, but I found it wholly unsatisfying to drive, something that wouldn't be rectified until the Abarth arrived. It wasn't that the standard 500 was slow - I expected that - it was that its wonky driving position, lackluster transmissions and ropey steering all stood in the way of appreciating its other virtues. The Abarth's characterful powertrain would eventually come along to alleviate most of those pains, but not all of them.

Now with the advent of the 500L for 2014, it appears I'm living the same scenario, albeit in reverse. My first encounter with this new, larger Fiat was also at the Geneva show, only this time, when the sheet was yanked off its flanks in 2012, I didn't like what I saw. The Italian marque hadn't just name-checked the Cinquecento with this larger five-door, it attempted to appropriate its amusing and iconic design by repeating key styling elements like its circular light fixtures and simple chrome bar grille (collectively known as the "whiskers and logo face"), along with rounded interior forms painted in body colors. To my eyes, the design just didn't work, yet I was still intrigued about the promise of a larger 500 and more polished driving experience.

Continue reading 2014 Fiat 500L

2014 Fiat 500L originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20626570 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2014-fiat-500l-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2014-fiat-500l-fd.jpg <![CDATA[2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/18/2014-mercedes-benz-cla45-amg-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/18/2014-mercedes-benz-cla45-amg-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/18/2014-mercedes-benz-cla45-amg-review-first-drive/#comments Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, First Drives, Luxury

A Really Hot Little GT Plants The Seed For A Better AMG

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG

Mercedes-Benz has AMG on an impressive growth curve these days, the official name of the effort being Performance 50. By the 50th anniversary of AMG in 2017, the Mercedes performance division will produce 30,000-plus units per year, up from today's 20,000 or so. In addition, AMG will boast a catalog of 30-plus models, and a greater dedication to making AMG cars truly nimble performers in every sense will be a priority. Within that very full agenda, this new CLA45 AMG is certain to be an important contributor on all accounts.

The thrill monitors at AMG have a long-established reputation for creating large, open-road rockets that err on the side of brute force and everyday comfort over zippy, tight-feeling sports car finesse and balance. The strategy has worked wonders for the company's sales ledger and created handsome levels of profit per unit, but entire developing sectors of the premium hot-car market have been knowingly left out of the AMG equation. While there are exceptions, AMG has never been considered a maker of truly agile machinery that's easily tossed around.

The very first thing that we notice while driving the CLA45 AMG - on schedule for North American deliveries beginning in November with a reported starting price of $47,450 - is exactly how lively its new 4Matic chassis can be. It's an entirely new feeling for an AMG, and it's entirely welcome by us. Some will complain about the price being asked for this super CLA-Class, but this little sedan is a true AMG of the new genre, and as such, it might just be something of a bargain.

Continue reading 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20625067 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2014-mercedes-benz-cla45-amg-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2014-mercedes-benz-cla45-amg-fd.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 SUV]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/13/2013-hennessey-velociraptor-600-suv-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/13/2013-hennessey-velociraptor-600-suv-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/13/2013-hennessey-velociraptor-600-suv-review-first-drive/#comments Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, SUV, Ford, First Drives, Off-Road

Raptor, Excursion, Texas And Hennessey

2013 Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 SUV

Each of those words are synonyms for big and bold - combine all four and you've got one of the largest, most powerful and robust street-going sport utility vehicles in the world.

John Hennessey is a Texas-based tuner known for creating some of the fastest and most capable cars on the planet. Over the past two decades, machines like the Viper Venom 550, Ford GT 1000 Twin Turbo, HPE 700 LS9 Camaro and the almighty Venom GT have emerged from the Hennessey Performance garage. And those are just the celebrated flagships; the company has modified thousands of other street cars including those from Audi, Bentley, Cadillac, Ferrari, Ford, Porsche and Toyota, to name a few.

Now, after tuning countless Ford F-150 SVT Raptor pickups and fielding multiple requests, the company has created something unique to fill a void in the performance-oriented sport utility segment. It is called the Hennessey VelociRaptor SUV, and Autoblog was recently handed the keys to the very first example to hit the pavement.

Continue reading 2013 Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 SUV

2013 Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 SUV originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is the Best GMC Truck Ever Made Good Enough?

2014 GMC Sierra

We've got a bright aluminum Airstream camper hitched to our rear bumper as we head up Southern California's coast because GMC says that 60 percent of all full-size pickup owners will use their trucks for towing.

Rather than forcing us to absorb its capabilities in a long-winded PowerPoint presentation, the automaker brought us to Los Angeles and handed us the keys to its all-new 2014 GMC Sierra 1500. After jumping behind the wheel of a 5.3-liter V8 model, we drove up the foggy Malibu coast (locals call the soggy early-summer weather "June Gloom") and made our way to the Camarillo Airport for a towing refresher. Once completed, a brand-new 23-foot Airstream was hitched to our aft end and we were pointed towards a campground just west of Santa Barbara.

The luxury RV would serve as our "glamping" base for the next couple of days and the Sierra would be our transportation as we explored the surrounding coastline. It was a unique look at the automaker's truck, and it offered us plenty of fresh insight for our first drive of the newest GMC.

Continue reading 2014 GMC Sierra

2014 GMC Sierra originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20617961 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2014-gmc-sierra-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2014-gmc-sierra-fd.jpg <![CDATA[2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/04/2014-mercedes-benz-sprinter-review-first-drive-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/04/2014-mercedes-benz-sprinter-review-first-drive-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/04/2014-mercedes-benz-sprinter-review-first-drive-video/#comments Filed under: Minivan/Van, Work, Mercedes-Benz, First Drives, Diesel

Ready To Battle Others Of Its Own Kind

2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

To the casual van observer, there are likely three seminal categories of big-box hauler. 1) The white Ford Econoline. 2) The decades-old conversion vans made by various manufacturers, with a porthole, an angel and a unicorn floating in an airbrushed rendition of the cosmos. 3) The European van, up until recently embodied solely in the form of the Mercedes-Benz (or Dodge or Freightliner) Sprinter.

It's the latter we flew to Germany to drive, the 2014 model year adding a new standard engine and transmission, new safety tech and a finespun redesign. The fresh elements aren't just to give buyers a reason to go brand-new, though. With the Nissan "Proboscis Monkey" NV200 having already arrived, Ford about to import its larger Transit cargo hauler and the Fiat Ducato ready to become the Ram ProMaster, the European van that started it all needs to prepare for new competition that actually aligns with its feature set.

If anyone has issues with the 2014 Sprinter, they shouldn't have anything to do with its performance...

Continue reading 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter [w/video]

2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20597636 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2014-mercedes-benz-sprinter-1370312578_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2014-mercedes-benz-sprinter-1370312578.jpg <![CDATA[2014 Acura MDX [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/2014-acura-mdx-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/2014-acura-mdx-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/2014-acura-mdx-w-video/#comments Filed under: Crossover, Acura, First Drives, Luxury

Refinement Rather Than Revolution

2014 Acura MDX

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of the 2014 Acura MDX, let's pause for just a moment and talk about the current, still-sitting-at-dealerships 2013 model. It's a pretty good machine. Perhaps guilty only of falling to the backburners of our minds in recent years because, well, the old girl's not gotten any younger. But every time we drove this second-generation MDX, our thoughts were the same - good to drive, pleasant to sit in and a pretty decent value.

Acura's customers felt the same way, and so when it came time to design and engineer the third-generation MDX, the vehicle's formula wasn't shaken up at all. Despite the fact that it uses a brand-new platform and offers a host of upgrades, the key points addressed by the company's engineers were the specific requests of customers and shoppers in the segment - changes that amounted to nothing radical. After all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Succeeding at being evolutionary is often far better than trying to be revolutionary. That in mind, we traveled to Portland, OR to see if that formula works for this fully redesigned Acura MDX.

Continue reading 2014 Acura MDX [w/video]

2014 Acura MDX [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2014 acura mdxacuraacura mdxfeaturedfirst driveFirstDrive Fri, 31 May 2013 11:57:00 EST

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20589424 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2014-acura-mdx-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2014-acura-mdx-fd.jpg <![CDATA[2014 Mercedes E-Class Coupe]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/29/2014-mercedes-e-class-coupe-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/29/2014-mercedes-e-class-coupe-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/29/2014-mercedes-e-class-coupe-review-first-drive/#comments Filed under: Coupe, Mercedes-Benz, First Drives, Luxury

In With The (Slightly) Old And The (Sort Of) New

Though the S-Class is the profit-per-unit world champion, Mercedes' stalwart E-Class is still the company's most reliable producer of profits. The latter tends to represent the model that most humans on Earth think of when they think of Mercedes-Benz. The taxi version of the E-Class sedan used in Europe and elsewhere is the usual reason given for this familiarity we all have with the E, but c'mon, it also happens to be a pretty stunning piece of work in its market segment.

Today we're trying the upgraded and massaged fourth-generation Mercedes E-Class Coupe (known internally as C207). Specifically we're driving the 329-horsepower E400 coupe that arrives in the US next summer (2014) to eventually replace - in all body variants - the current V8-powered E550. Starting price for a base E350 coupe should scare up $51,500 when it arrives a little later this year, while this E400 two-door will hit US soil at around $56,000 as a futuristic-sounding 2015 model.

Continue reading 2014 Mercedes E-Class Coupe

2014 Mercedes E-Class Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20586155 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/01-2014-mercedes-benz-e-class-coupe-fd-opt_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/01-2014-mercedes-benz-e-class-coupe-fd-opt.png <![CDATA[Gibbs Quadski [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/gibbs-quadski-review-first-drive-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/gibbs-quadski-review-first-drive-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/gibbs-quadski-review-first-drive-video/#comments Filed under: First Drives, Specialty, MISC

The Ultimate Crossover

Having grown up in Michigan, I spent the entirety of my early adult life riding whatever powersport machine I could get my hands on, be it snowmobile, dirt bike, four-wheeler or personal watercraft. Pretty much, if it has an engine, I've ridden it. On Memorial Day weekends - the unofficial start of summer - I would usually split my time between tearing up two-tracks on dirt bikes and jumping waves on a jet ski. Now, Michigan-based Gibbs Sports has come up with an innovative amphibious vehicle that my 18-year-old self is glad never existed. It's called the Gibbs Quadski. Unlike those odd, six-wheeled amphibious machines that are built more for practicality than excitement, the Quadski was designed with enthusiasts in mind to create an enjoyable riding experience on both land and water.

The idea for the Quadski actually began with the Aquada, a street-legal amphibious concept car that gained the company a lot of publicity. But Gibbs learned the hard way that getting such a vehicle built was a difficult task when dealing with federal regulations pertaining to both street-legal cars and marine vessels. So the company has taken some of the technologies it developed for the Aquada and applied them to the Quadski, creating what is essentially part all-terrain vehicle, part personal watercraft and even part motorcycle.

Introduced late last year, the Gibbs Quadski is on sale now at a handful of dealers across the country (okay, mostly in Florida) with a staggering price of around $40,000. These days, your top-of-the-line ATVs and PWCs can easily top the $10,000 mark, so with this asking price, the Quadski is indeed being targeted at well-to-do early adopters and government agencies. At the moment, I'm neither, but Gibbs invited me to its custom-built test course in South Florida to put the Quadski through its paces on both land and sea.

Continue reading Gibbs Quadski [w/video]

Gibbs Quadski [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20582198 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/25-gibbs-quadski-fd-opt_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/25-gibbs-quadski-fd-opt.png <![CDATA[2014 Kia Cadenza]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/2014-kia-cadenza-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/2014-kia-cadenza-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/2014-kia-cadenza-review-first-drive/#comments Filed under: Sedan, Kia, First Drives, Luxury

Kia's Second Effort At Luxury Finds More Love Than The Amanti

2014 Kia Cadenza

The same recent global economic crises that have led luxury automakers to invade the small car market are also somewhat responsible for the influx of near-luxury sedans from mainstream automakers. As the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Audi are reaching down for new customers, automakers like Hyundai, Chevrolet and Toyota are reaching up to bridge the gap and fill in the white space between the industry's typical high-volume large sedans and established luxury sedans. Joining this emerging market, the 2014 Kia Cadenza is the latest sedan to blur the line between value and luxury. One of Kia's core focuses has been offering value to customers, and even with a starting price of $35,100, the Cadenza still represents plenty of that kind of thinking.

Despite what might first come to mind, the Cadenza is not named after a piece of furniture. Instead, Kia notes the name for its new front-wheel-drive flagship comes from the Italian musical term that translates as 'cadence'. The name thus fits in nicely with the brand's other musically inspired model name, Forte. Much like the Hyundai Genesis, the Cadenza will serve as a test of sorts to see how much customers are willing to pay for a Kia, and despite recent reports indicating that Kia has confirmed the Quoris for next year, the reality is that the availability of the bigger rear-wheel-drive flagship will be determined in part by how well the Cadenza strikes a chord with buyers.

This isn't Kia's first crack at mid-level luxury. That distinction goes to the bug-eyed, Amanti, which was killed off in 2009. The same basic recipe is still in place - V6 power, roomy interior and a lengthy list of standard features, yet this car seems altogether better outfitted to appeal to modern consumers than the baroque Amanti. We headed out to the great weather and even better roads near San Diego to test the 2014 Kia Cadenza to see for ourselves if it has the inner harmony and cadence to keep step with full-size luxury sedans or if it's just here to make a bunch of noise.

Continue reading 2014 Kia Cadenza

2014 Kia Cadenza originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tow It All

2013 Ram 3500 HD

There are no shiftier sands than those that underlie the heavy duty truck market. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been locked in the same interminable sniping match for years, each delighting in picking their competitors off with new, more powerful drivelines and ever loftier tow ratings. Right now, Ram sits at the top of the heap with its 2013 3500 HD. With the optional Max Tow package, the truck is rated to pull an astonishing 30,000 pounds. That's ludicrous weight - the kind of heft typically left to the semi world.

In fact, most states require you to have a commercial driver's license just to pull that much ballast around behind you, and for good reason: All that tonnage comes to bear on every aspect of a vehicle's driving dynamics. Every maneuver takes longer, requires more forethought and exacts a larger toll on the vehicle's hardware. Of course, as is often the case, there can be a gulf between what it says on a machine's label and what the rig can actually muster in terms of performance. We hitched a full 30,000 lbs behind the 2013 Ram 3500 HD to find out exactly how well the truck lives up to its reputation.

Continue reading 2013 Ram 3500 HD

2013 Ram 3500 HD originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20578571 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2013-ram-3500-hd-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2013-ram-3500-hd-fd.jpg <![CDATA[2014 Bentley Flying Spur]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/2014-bentley-flying-spur-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/2014-bentley-flying-spur-review-first-drive/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/2014-bentley-flying-spur-review-first-drive/#comments Filed under: Sedan, Bentley, First Drives, Luxury

Redefining Super Luxury On A Shrinking Planet

2014 Bentley Flying Spur - front three-quarter view

Anyone on Earth with access to the Internet, a television or radio for the last 20 years knows that China is no longer the poor stronghold for strict Communist ideals that it was for much of the 20th Century. (Well, at least not in some places.) Traveling to China twice in less than a month - first to Shanghai for a very international auto show and now to Beijing to drive and review the 2014 Bentley Flying Spur - I've learned that there's no lack of personal wealth, at least in two of the world's largest cities.

And yet, even I think the scene before me is a little bit ridiculous. Here I am, slowly climbing up a hillside to reach a fortification at something called Zhuanduo Pass, where roughly a dozen pristine examples of Western decadence sit idling their hand-built 12-cylinder engines in the shadow of China's revered and awesome Great Wall. Not five kilometers south of here, I'd passed an old man in traditional all-black garb, literally carrying a bundle of sticks on his back from one side of a village to the other. Now as I look through the snug-fitting and silent side glass of my $200,000+ palace on wheels, I'm more apt to see fat German tourists crisping in the hot Chinese sun while blowing the equivalent of an average Chinese monthly paycheck on lunch and a few Great Wall souvenirs.

Of course, it's nothing like the average Chinese person that Bentley is targeting with this new Flying Spur. There is a rapidly ballooning class of rich and super rich in the People's Republic these days; China can now lay claim to around 100 billionaires (in US dollars), as well as some 60,000+ individuals worth more than $16 million and, famously, now more than 1 million millionaires. Considering that Bentley had a booming year in 2012 by selling 8,510 vehicles, the importance of what is quickly becoming the world's biggest luxury car market is easy to see.

And that's why, despite the cost of hauling me from Ann Arbor to Beijing and back, and despite the cognitive dissonance of driving a $200,000+ car through villages whose buildings are probably worth less in total, Bentley jumped through a whole lot of hoops to pull off what it says is the first-ever global vehicle launch in China. I've got to tell you, if this is what being a trailblazer feels like, I could get used to it.

Continue reading 2014 Bentley Flying Spur

2014 Bentley Flying Spur originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

Look at the 2013 Nissan Leaf - even one parked next to a 2012 model - and you'll be hard-pressed to spot the differences. Changes and updates have been made, but you have to know the details to tell. It's sort of like listening to a hipster tell you why Interpol and The National have completely different sounds.

Nissan says it didn't reinvent the Leaf because what the company has created is working. Over 25,000 Leafs have been sold in the US - 62,000 around the world - since the car went on sale in late 2010. That may not sound like a lot, but it's heads and shoulders above any other all-electric car available anywhere. The car has its detractors - boy, does it ever - but Nissan knows it's hard to argue with real-world success.

We recently spent a few hours driving the new Leaf - an SL-trim version, optioned out to $36,910 - around the hills of central Tennessee after a visit to Nissan's new 475,000 square-foot battery plant. What we learned there provided a lot of hints about the company's electric future. Nissan may be leading today, but company head Carlos Ghosn has made huge, multi-billion-dollar bets on zero-emission technology and the rest of the world has been very slow to prove him right.

Continue reading 2013 Nissan Leaf [w/video]

2013 Nissan Leaf [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coming Soon To Our Shores With Two More Doors And A Trunk

The Audi S3 is not exactly a sales juggernaut, despite it being a bit of a legend for passionate fans of the small German premium genre. In most markets outside of Europe, people may consider such setups as the S3 three-door tested here, look at the price, and then think maybe they should just get a nice A4 sedan with greater practicality for similar cash. That certainly has been one reason Audi has never officially brought the S3 hatchback to the United States. And the 335-horsepower RS3 Sportback? Forget about it nearly everywhere but in Germanic regions, Switzerland and the UK.

All of which automatically turns the new S3 hatchback into an unattainable object of desire for many fans of the four-ringed brand. The good news, of course, for many markets not on the three-door S3's dance card is that most of us will get a shot at buying the new S3 sedan that will be powered by the same drivetrain tested here. We reported heavily on the sedan version from the recent New York Auto Show and are convinced that there is much for North American shoppers to like.

Continue reading 2013 Audi S3

2013 Audi S3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The First Maserati To Run Full-Time On All Fours

2014 Maserati Quattroporte S Q4

About six months ago we tested the all-new 2014 Maserati Quattroporte GTS and its 523-horsepower 3.8-liter bi-turbo V8 engine, the latter being built in Maranello, Italy, by Ferrari. There were comments on both sides, mostly positive though, and we came away impressed by the sixth-generation Maserati sedan. This despite the fact that both we and you couldn't seem to get past the questionable aesthetics of the 20-inch Crono alloy wheels slapped on all of the test cars. Awkward looking they are, or is "distinctive" the word we're seeking?

For both the crucial United States market and the rest of the world, the most important version of the latest Quattroporte is bound to be the less powerful (and less expensive) bi-turbo V6 model we have just driven here in northern Italy; both rear-wheel-drive and Q4 all-wheel-drive versions. We spent nearly all day in the 404-hp 2014 Maserati Quattroporte S Q4, and found a lot that we prefer in the six-cylinder powertrain versus the champing aggression and $140,000 price tag of the GTS bi-turbo V8 model. These long and lanky executive-style statements traditionally thrive on the V8 mantra, so it will be interesting to watch how Maserati's need to use stronger and more efficient V6 engines is received by its six-figure customers.

It's a cynical thing to discuss so matter of factly, but descending into five-figure pricing for these rides actually damages their sales potential. It's bizarre, but keeping every trim of the Maserati Quattroporte north of $100,000 was crucial. So, is the 2014 Maserati Quattrporte S Q4 at a projected $108,000 base price worth it? To this stratum of clientele, apparently it is. Even the rear-wheel-drive S with this bi-turbo V6 will come in around $102,000 when it arrives in North America in mid-2014. (Or mid-2015, as yet to be decided.)

Continue reading 2014 Maserati Quattroporte S Q4 [w/video]

2014 Maserati Quattroporte S Q4 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Fullsize Pickup, Refined

No one's underestimating the importance of the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado. While General Motors continues to shovel the current generation off dealer lots at an impressive pace, it would be too kind to simply say the old mule has started to show its age. The GMT900 platform that's rolling along under the 2013 model has been underpinning fullsize GM trucks since 2007, and while the Silverado has stayed competitive through most of the intervening six years, the past two haven't been kind to the machine.

Ford just won't quit sharpening its F-150 in one way or another, throwing interior and driveline updates at the stalwart pickup with the fevered pace of a company possessed. Like the Silverado, the F-150 is no fresh piece of hardware, but fuel-efficient and powerful engine options and a well-sorted interior put the truck consistently ahead of the now aged Chevrolet. And then there's the Ram 1500. Chrysler let loose with both barrels with the 2013 update, tearing into the fullsize market with a beautiful cabin, excellent tech and plenty of clever engineering.

Chevy engineers stood back and watched this happen, biting their tongues and whittling away all the while on the next-generation 2014 Silverado. There are only a handful of carryover parts from old machine to new, and the result is a pickup that offers more power, efficiency and refinement than the previous generation while holding the pricing line. This is, without a doubt, the best Silverado ever built, but does that make it the best pickup?

Continue reading 2014 Chevrolet Silverado

2014 Chevrolet Silverado originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is This A Great Idea For An M Model?

2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe

The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is already an issue of large debate. The essential business case for the car is that it's more distinctive than a straight 5 or 6 Series, and has much of the sense of space and luxury of a 7 Series. It has the wheelbase of a 5 Series, the relative width of a 6 Series, and an exterior length close to the standard wheelbase 7 Series. And, as we reported in our drive of the 640i Gran Coupe in May 2012, the 6 Series Gran Coupe costs pretty much the same as the 7 Series, engine trim for engine trim. The sedan (coupe?) is therefore a proposal clearly meant for an extremely particular clientele. There's no news yet on how well exactly the 6 Series Gran Coupe is selling in its chief markets, but we are curious. The Germans frequently tend not to break out their sales figures that way, mixing sales of the Gran Coupe in with the two-door 6 Series.

And, so, we have now arrived at the inevitable point where the M version must be introduced. Say howdy to the $113,000 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe (actually $115,195 for starters with all of the taxes added). That's $4,650 more than the also highly priced M6 coupe. Let the vehement debates begin. The upcoming 2014 Audi RS7 should be priced right at this level as well, and the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG (perhaps with an S iteration in the next allotment we get Stateside) should go for roughly the same.

Continue reading 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe

2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scratching All The Right Itches

2013 Nissan Juke Nismo

Say what you will about the unconventional aesthetics that Nissan employed on the company's Juke. I love the thing. The universe has no shortage of ambiguously styled CUVs, and while I can't exactly say I would have turned to the amphibian world for design inspiration had it been me with the charcoal in my hand, I can certainly appreciate the fact that the Juke isn't just another box-on-box design.

And then there's that engine. The turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder under the hood is one of the best powerplants in the company's toy box, offering plenty of low-range torque and comical levels of thrust. Hell, it even makes the optional continuously variable transmission tolerable. Praise be to the deities of forced induction. But something has always been missing from the mix. From the first moment I got my hands on the Juke, I couldn't help but think how much better the machine would be if Nissan ditched an inch or two of ground clearance and sharpened up its suspension. Think more "hot hatch" and less "Kermit goes to Kroger."

I wasn't the only one with that notion. The minds at Nismo were keen to turn their attentions to the Juke, and while the resulting 2013 Juke Nismo isn't the hardcore machine I'd seen in my dreams, it may very well be the best trim available for the runabout.

Continue reading 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo

2013 Nissan Juke Nismo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canada's Prehistoric Predator Gets Longer Arms

2013 Campagna T-Rex 16S

Without a doubt, the three-wheel Campagna T-Rex 16S is one of the most fascinating vehicles I have ever driven.

"Drive it like a car, but act like you are on a motorcycle," were the words of wisdom bestowed upon me before the keys were handed over, and the advice couldn't have been more accurate. During the next four days, I zipped blissfully around town with the wind blowing through my hair as I watched the front wheels articulate over the pavement. I could smell the ocean as I drove down Pacific Coast Highway, and taste the dry brush of the Santa Monica Mountains as I toured the canyons.

I also took a bumble bee in the cheek, was nearly squashed by an inattentive driver in a Toyota Camry, cut off by a Ford F-150 and I was stared down by the law at every opportunity.

Apparently, that's the price of having the wind blow through your hair as you mount a low-slung, agile steed with a very unique three-wheel configuration.

Continue reading 2013 Campagna T-Rex 16S [w/video]

2013 Campagna T-Rex 16S [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Other Brother

The handler strapped into the carbon fiber race bucket next to me is the only other person outside of yours truly who looks like he thinks this is a bad idea. I've just finished situating myself in the cabin of the very first Nissan Juke-R ever constructed. There are literally thousands of man hours in this single prototype and only four examples of the car total in the entire world. Each one carries a price tag of around $656,400 at current conversion rates, making this both the rarest and most expensive piece of machinery anyone has ever let me get close enough to sniff, let alone drive.

And that's exactly what I mean to do.

I'm not puttering around some parking lot, either. Nissan has seen fit to let me hammer this thing around a road course set up on the infield of the now defunct Nashville Superspeedway for as long as my passenger will let me, and I'm keen to oblige. I send out the familiar and threadbare "Please don't let me crash this car" one last time, and with the engine already running, I click the shifter into gear and let the Juke-R grumble its way to the pit exit.

Continue reading Nissan Juke-R [w/video]

Nissan Juke-R [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 May 2013 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When 30 Grand For Two Wheels Isn't Too Much

Surviving long-term motorcycle riding requires a healthy dose of fear and the heightened awareness that accompanies it. Nothing suffers fools quite as ruthlessly as two-wheeled transport, an axiom that has been relentlessly reinforced by YouTube. The exposure of riding is bound to catch up with thrill-seekers hungry for speed, knee dragging, and all the potential disaster that comes with tapping into a sportbike's vast reserves of performance.

That said, few things trigger as many life-preserving neurochemicals for a red-blooded rider as a fleet of 2014 Ducati 1199 Panigale R motorcycles idling in pit lane at the newly minted Circuit of the Americas track in Austin, TX. Something about the blood-red bodywork, the guttural idle from two huge combustion chambers and electric tire-warmers (with their implicit suggestion to strike while the rubber is hot), warns the reptile brain to take it easy and not make today the day to chase imaginary trophies and champagne sprays.

Continue reading 2014 Ducati 1199 Panigale R

2014 Ducati 1199 Panigale R originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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