Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[2013 Ford Flex]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/2013-ford-flex-first-drive-road-test-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/2013-ford-flex-first-drive-road-test-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/2013-ford-flex-first-drive-road-test-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Freshly Tweaked For A Second Life

2013 Ford Flex

Ford has not been long known for polarizing design. The company's styling philosophy has read more closely along the lines of "cheap and cheerful." But when it brought out the Flex in 2008 as a 2009 model, Ford started down a road of trying to be more expressive, emotional and evocative in the design of its crossovers and SUVs, not just with the Mustang.

For Ford, the Flex has been one of those hollow victories. The people who buy it love its Mini-Cooper-on-a-high-protein-diet look, especially with the available two-tone paint jobs, and the comfortable packaging and cruising ride they get without bumping up to a frumpy minivan. The trouble is that there haven't been enough of those happy buyers taking the plunge.

Ford sold just 27,000 Flex models last year, down 20 percent from the year before - not exactly one of CEO Alan Mulally's homeruns. Also, its marketing has been confused since its debut. Ford initially pitched it as a cool urban crew wagon - think Funkmaster Flex. The advertising Powerpoint presentation actually said "No dog drool." No kidding. The high-concept ads were all shot at night on city streets. It bombed. Soon after launch, we saw families and even a dog or two in ads.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Flex

2013 Ford Flex originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford flexfeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveflexfordreviewroad testFri, 23 Mar 2012 12:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20198208/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/23/2013-ford-flex-first-drive-road-test-review/20198208/article-detail.xml 20198208 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/2013-ford-flex-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/2013-ford-flex-fd.jpg <![CDATA[2012 Aston Martin Virage]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/21/2012-aston-martin-virage-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/21/2012-aston-martin-virage-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/21/2012-aston-martin-virage-review-road-test/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We Bond With Gaydon's Gorgeous Tweener

2012 Aston Martin Virage

"You need to get in touch with Steven Ewing right away," said the instant message. It was from Autoblog editor-in-chief John Neff, and since fleet manager Ewing was online, I pinged him. "Hey, are you available to grab an Aston Martin Virage for the weekend?" he asked. "There's one in New York."

Before answering, a flurry of thoughts raced through my head. Did I have plans this weekend? How much would I really get to drive the car? I don't usually go into the city on Fridays. Should I make the exception? Then I looked out my window, saw the Nissan Versa I was scheduled to drive that very same weekend and banged out a brief reply.

"Yeah, Steve. I can do that."

Continue reading 2012 Aston Martin Virage

2012 Aston Martin Virage originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 aston martin virageastonaston martinjames bond carreviewreviewsroad testviragevirage reviewWed, 21 Mar 2012 11:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20196599/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/21/2012-aston-martin-virage-review-road-test/20196599/article-detail.xml 20196599 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/2012-aston-martin-virage-review_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/2012-aston-martin-virage-review.jpg <![CDATA[2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/02/2012-mercedes-benz-slk350-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/02/2012-mercedes-benz-slk350-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/02/2012-mercedes-benz-slk350-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Sport, Compact, Light? Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350

Sportlich, Leicht, Kompakt. If your German is as spotty as ours, that stands for " Sporty, Light, Compact," and it's telling that those are the three letters used by Mercedes-Benz as an adopted moniker for the small hardtop/convertible coupe that it released all the way back in 1996. Thing is, it never really stood out as any of those things: Sporty, but certainly not powerful. Light, but, at a hair over 3,000 pounds, far from featherweight. Compact? Sure, a 94-inch wheelbase sounds about right, but the car has gotten bigger with every successive generation and has never seemed small behind the wheel the same way as, say, a Mazda MX-5 Miata.

If the Mercedes-Benz SLK350 isn't a quick and nimble little sports car, what is it? It's been a sales success for the most part, peaking in 2005 with 11,278 units sold in the United States, though those numbers have fallen in recent years. And it's also been labeled time and time again as a so-called "chick car." Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course, but those two words are a veritable death knell to the heads and hearts of driving enthusiasts the world over (though curiously the Miata has largely earned an exemption).

With keys to the latest 2012 SLK350 in hand, we pondered this latest compact roadster from Mercedes-Benz with a critical eye. Has the SLK grown into a proper sporting mount, or does it still wear the dreaded chick-car stereotype? As it turns out, the answer is a little bit of both.

Continue reading 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 [w/video]

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 mercedes-benz slk350featuredmercedes-benzreviewreviewsroad testslkslk-classslk-klasseslk350Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20162399/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/02/2012-mercedes-benz-slk350-review/20162399/article-detail.xml 20162399 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2012-mercedes-benz-slk350-review_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2012-mercedes-benz-slk350-review.jpg <![CDATA[2012 Honda Civic EX Sedan]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/13/2012-honda-civic-ex-sedan-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/13/2012-honda-civic-ex-sedan-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/13/2012-honda-civic-ex-sedan-review-road-test/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Industry Staple Grows Up, Forgets How To Have Fun

2012 Honda Civic EX Sedan
Have you ever stood around, nervously checking your wristwatch as a friend or significant other cycled through their entire wardrobe trying to find the perfect outfit? If your experience were anything like ours, they probably started with a perfectly acceptable look and finished with an ensemble almost exactly the same as the first one, albeit painstakingly composed of entirely different pieces of clothing. Most people would never notice the difference without the subtle changes being pointed out to them. The 2012 Honda Civic sedan's new duds are kind of like that.

Honda stylists have taken great pains to tug and pull at virtually every bit of clothing their new Civic is wearing. In spite of this, the car looks largely the same as its eighth-generation predecessor, a model that first bowed in 2005. This, despite the fact that the wheelbase has been cropped from 106.3 inches to 105.1 (you'd be hard-pressed to notice unless you had a tape measure handy), a change that helps make it the shortest car in its class.

Continue reading 2012 Honda Civic EX Sedan

2012 Honda Civic EX Sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 honda civic2012 honda civic exciviccivic exfeaturedhondareviewreviewsroad testWed, 13 Jul 2011 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19987256/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/13/2012-honda-civic-ex-sedan-review-road-test/19987256/article-detail.xml 19987256 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/2012-honda-civic-ex-sedan_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/2012-honda-civic-ex-sedan.jpg <![CDATA[First Drive: 2011 Kia Sportage SX]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/07/2011-kia-sportage-sx-first-drive-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/07/2011-kia-sportage-sx-first-drive-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/07/2011-kia-sportage-sx-first-drive-review/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Turbocharging Adds Welcome Spice To This Handsome Soft-Roader

2011 Kia Sportage SX - front three-quarter
2011 Kia Sportage SX - Click above for high-res image gallery

There's no replacement for displacement. Ask any man or woman who dined on the muscle cars that Detroit was serving in the '50s and '60s, and they'll tell you to always order the largest engine offered if you want to have any fun. Thing is, that tired old axiom just isn't accurate in the modern era. Downsizing is what's for dinner these days.

Before anyone older than 60 has a heart attack, know that the ever-escalating horsepower wars are alive and well. As it turns out, there is a replacement for displacement: technology. Take one part modern computers and the hundreds of sensors that feed them, add the classic trick of turbocharging and sprinkle on the relatively newfangled mechanical magic of direct injection, and you've got yourself one tasty recipe for performance. And you don't need a cup that measures power in cubic inches to get it.

Look no farther for proof than Kia. The Korean automaker is working hard to change its hard-earned image of offering low-cost, basic transportation to something more like the sportier side of a dual-headed Korean conglomerate that also includes Hyundai. Its SX trim level is part of that plan, and the latest two vehicles to bear those letters only have a less-is-more strategy of power production on the menu. We've already sampled the turbocharged, direct-injected Optima SX and were left wanting seconds; now it's time to taste Kia's well-received and attractive compact crossover, the Sportage, in turbo flavor.

Continue reading Review: 2011 Kia Sportage SX...


Gallery: 2011 Kia Sportage SX: First Drive

2011 Kia Sportage SX2011 Kia Sportage SX2011 Kia Sportage SX2011 Kia Sportage SX2011 Kia Sportage SX

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Kia Sportage SX

First Drive: 2011 Kia Sportage SX originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 kia sportage sxfeaturedfirst driveFirstDrivekiaroad testsportagesportage sxsportage turbosxThu, 07 Apr 2011 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19905420/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/07/2011-kia-sportage-sx-first-drive-review/19905420/article-detail.xml 19905420 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2011-kia-sportage-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2011-kia-sportage-fd.jpg <![CDATA[Review: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/01/2011-subaru-impreza-wrx-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/01/2011-subaru-impreza-wrx-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/01/2011-subaru-impreza-wrx-review-road-test/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Measuring The Difference In Inches

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX
2011 Subaru Impreza WRX - Click above for high-res image gallery

One point three inches. How much difference can it make? That depends on what you're measuring. If you're comparing the 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX to the 2011, that small measurement makes all the difference in the world.

If you're a Subie fan, you've already read our First Drive. The headline news for the 2010-to-2011 changeover is that the WRX gained the STI model's widebody fenders and 1.3-inch wider track. Wanting to know whether the growth in girth made any difference to the affable and relatively affordable WRX, we decided to spend some quality time in the example you see here.

We learned plenty. Many things work well for the practical enthusiast. Others, not so much.

Continue reading...


Gallery: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX: Review

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX2011 Subaru Impreza WRX2011 Subaru Impreza WRX2011 Subaru Impreza WRX2011 Subaru Impreza WRX

Photos copyright (C)2010 Rex Roy / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX

Review: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 subaru impreza wrxfeaturedimprezaimpreza wrximpreza wrx reviewreviewreviewsroad testsubaruwrxWed, 01 Dec 2010 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19735731/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/01/2011-subaru-impreza-wrx-review-road-test/19735731/article-detail.xml 19735731 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/lead1-2011-subaru-wrx-review_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/lead1-2011-subaru-wrx-review.jpg <![CDATA[Review: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES promises the democratization of fun]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/05/2011-ford-fiesta-ses-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/05/2011-ford-fiesta-ses-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/05/2011-ford-fiesta-ses-review-road-test/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Ford Fiesta SES shown
2011 Ford Fiesta SES - Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember when economy cars offered few concessions beyond roll-your-own windows, rear window defrosters and AM radios? It was only a handful of years ago that features on our 2011 Ford Fiesta SES tester would've qualified it for premium car status - if indeed items like Bluetooth, SYNC, a capless fuel fill and knee airbags were even available.

There's no denying the steady trickledown of luxury goods into workaday iron, and the Fiesta is rolling proof.
As you might also recall, back about 10 years ago, Ford executives and those charged with its British outpost, Jaguar, worked themselves into a froth over the possibilities offered by 'The Democratization of Luxury' - boldly and conveniently overlooking that when a premium feature becomes affordable to everyone, it ceases to be a luxury at all. And while this sort of marketing doublespeak was the undoing of the ill-conceived Jaguar X-Type - and perhaps the undoing of Ford's ownership of Coventry's favorite feline altogether - there's no denying the steady trickledown of luxury goods into workaday iron, and the Fiesta is rolling proof.

Of course, any automaker can lash a bunch of features onto a car and call it a day, but it's not a real value unless all of those baubles and braze-ons are bungeed to a platform and drivetrain whose creators have that whole engineering 'special sauce' thing figured out. In other words, the democratization of luxury is one thing - but does the Fiesta deliver the democratization of fun? Click through to the jump to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES


Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES promises the democratization of fun

Review: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES promises the democratization of fun originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 Ford Fiesta reviewBlue Ovaldemocratization of luxuryfeaturedFiestafiesta hatchfiesta hatchbackfiesta SESFordFord Fiestaford fiesta reviewford fiesta road testford fiesta SESreviewreviewsroad testThu, 05 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19581492/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/08/05/2011-ford-fiesta-ses-review-road-test/19581492/article-detail.xml 19581492 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/lead1fiestasesreview2011_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/lead1fiestasesreview2011.jpg <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Toyota Tacoma 4x2 PreRunner is a troubled fish in a shrinking pond]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/04/2010-toyota-tacoma-4x2-prerunner-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/04/2010-toyota-tacoma-4x2-prerunner-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/04/2010-toyota-tacoma-4x2-prerunner-review-road-test/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2010 Toyota Tacoma 4x2 PreRunner - Click above for high-res image gallery

There was a time when pickup trucks came in three sensible sizes; small, medium and large. That's changed in recent years, as most pint-sized trucks have grown substantially to maintain distance compared to the similarly inflating half-ton pickup truck segment. The Toyota Tacoma is no different, as the second generation of the popular pickup is eight inches wider and over a foot longer than the 1995 Taco. And don't even try comparing the latest Tacoma to Marty McFly's stellar 1985 Toyota Pickup in the Back to the Future films, which could almost fit in the bed of a modern heavy-duty.

But while the Tacoma has adjusted to fit the growing whims of U.S. truck buyers, sales have dropped anyway. Over the past three years, nameplate sales have plunged by over 60 percent, and 2010 isn't looking any better. Has the Tacoma - last redesigned way back in 2005 - become long-in-the-tooth, or are car buyers simply turning away from the mid-size truck? We spent a week reacquainting ourselves with a TR5 PreRunner Double Cab to find out.

Follow the jump to continue...


Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Tacoma 4x2 PreRunner


Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Shunk / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2010 Toyota Tacoma 4x2 PreRunner is a troubled fish in a shrinking pond

Review: 2010 Toyota Tacoma 4x2 PreRunner is a troubled fish in a shrinking pond originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 tacoma2010 toyota tacoma2010Tacoma2010ToyotaTacomafeaturedmid-size pickupMid-sizePickupmidsize pickupMidsizePickuppick-uppickupreviewreviewsroad testRoadTesttacoTacomatacoma pickuptacoma reviewtacoma road testTacomaPickupTacomaReviewTacomaRoadTesttoyotatoyota pickuptoyota tacotoyota tacomatoyota truckToyotaPickupToyotaTacoToyotaTacomaToyotaTruckWed, 04 Aug 2010 11:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19579892/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/08/04/2010-toyota-tacoma-4x2-prerunner-review-road-test/19579892/article-detail.xml 19579892 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/lead1atacoma4x2review2010_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/lead1atacoma4x2review2010.jpg <![CDATA[First Drive: 2011 Nissan Leaf doesn't change the game, just the players]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/2011-nissan-leaf-first-drive-road-test-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/2011-nissan-leaf-first-drive-road-test-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/2011-nissan-leaf-first-drive-road-test-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've met the Nissan Leaf before. First at its coming-out party in Japan, followed by an all-too-brief stint behind the wheel of a Versa-based prototype late last year. Now we've had a chance to sample Nissan's first foray into the world of electric vehicles in production form and the automaker picked one of its most important markets - the heart of Silicon Valley - to give us some seat time.

If there's any area ripe for early-EV adoption, it's San Jose, CA. And during a quick test loop through the tight confines of Santana Row and a run through the city's suburban surrounds, it's obvious that the first mass-produced EV is officially ready for prime-time.

Follow the jump to continue.


Gallery: 2011 Nissan Leaf: First Drive


Photos copyright (C)2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Nissan Leaf doesn't change the game, just the players

First Drive: 2011 Nissan Leaf doesn't change the game, just the players originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 leaf2011 nissan leaf2011Leaf2011NissanLeafelectric leafElectricLeafEVfeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveleafnissannissan leafnissan leaf first drivenissan leaf reviewnissan leaf road testNissanLeafNissanLeafFirstDriveNissanLeafReviewNissanLeafRoadTestroad testRoadTestTue, 27 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19569539/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/27/2011-nissan-leaf-first-drive-road-test-review/19569539/article-detail.xml 19569539 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/lead1nissanleaf2011fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/lead1nissanleaf2011fd.jpg <![CDATA[Quick Spin: 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic is proof that money really can buy happiness]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/22/2010-porsche-911-sport-classic-quick-spin-road-test-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/22/2010-porsche-911-sport-classic-quick-spin-road-test-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/22/2010-porsche-911-sport-classic-quick-spin-road-test-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Porsche 911 Sport Classic, introduced late last year, never made it into North American showrooms. The Feds wanted it certified, and with a production run of just a couple hundred units, the German automaker couldn't accomplish the task in a financially feasible manner. That's a cryin' shame, as the gray 911 sporting retro-styled Fuchs wheels and a ducktail is likely one of the best street vehicles to ever come out of Stuttgart.

As good fortune would have it, we crossed paths with a 911 Sport Classic factory prototype in France at the 2010 Le Mans Classic earlier this month. Not only were we able to spend three days with the ultra-limited-edition Porsche, but we had the opportunity to take her out for several hot laps of the complete Le Mans circuit. What differentiates the Sport Classic from the Carrera S, and what's the story behind those retro-styled touches? How does the Sport Classic drive, and can it be compared to a track-ready GT3? Lastly, what's the justification for such a high sticker price? Find these answers, and more, after the jump.


Gallery: 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic: Quick Spin


Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

Continue reading Quick Spin: 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic is proof that money really can buy happiness

Quick Spin: 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic is proof that money really can buy happiness originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>911911 sport classic911 sport classic road test911SportClassic911SportClassicRoadTestCarerraCarreraCircuit de la sartheCircuitDeLaSartheduck tailducktailfeaturedfirst driveFirstDrivefuchsle mansle mans classicLeMansLeMansClassiclimited-edition 911Limited-edition911PCCBPorscheporsche 911 sport classicporsche sport classicPorsche911SportClassicPorscheSportClassicquick spinQuickSpinroad testRoadTestsport classicSportClassicSportDesignThu, 22 Jul 2010 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19563952/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/22/2010-porsche-911-sport-classic-quick-spin-road-test-review/19563952/article-detail.xml 19563952 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/lead1911sportclassicfd-1279778623_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/lead1911sportclassicfd-1279778623.jpg <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Ural Patrol T takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/20/ural-patrol-t-review-road-test-sidecar-motorcycle/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/20/ural-patrol-t-review-road-test-sidecar-motorcycle/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/20/ural-patrol-t-review-road-test-sidecar-motorcycle/#commentsFiled under: ,


2010 Ural Patrol T - click above for high-res image gallery

I was still moving at a fairly good clip when I slammed into the fallen tree. I'd be more than happy to share the exact velocity that I was moving, but I can't. You see, I was kinda busy at that exact moment trying my darnedest not to plummet 50 feet down the side of a cliff in the mountains northeast of Seattle, Washington.

How and why did I end up in this harrowing predicament? For starters, I should explain that I was out in the beautiful Pacific Northwest testing out Ural's latest sidecar motorcycle, the Patrol T. Similar in concept to the standard T model that we rode not too long ago, the Patrol model differs from its sibling by featuring two-wheel drive and a deep, woodsy green paint job in place of matte black.

Having two driven wheels on a sidecar bike such as the Ural Patrol T offers a rather unique set of capabilities not seen anywhere else in the motorcycling world. We wanted to know just what the Patrol T was made of, and so sought out the most difficult terrain we could find. And we brought along two expert sidecar riders, including one that is arguably the single best Ural mechanic in the United States.

Now, getting back to nearly launching myself off the side of a cliff in the middle of nowhere...


Gallery: 2010 Ural Patrol T: Review


Photos by Jeremy Korzeniewski / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Ural Patrol T takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'

Review: 2010 Ural Patrol T takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bikefeaturedflying the chairFlyingTheChairmotorcyclePatrol TPatrolTreviewreviewsroad testRoadTestrussian motorbikeRussian motorcycleRussianMotorbikeRussianMotorcyclesidecarsidecar motorcyclesidecar motorcycle reviewSidecarMotorcycleSidecarMotorcycleReviewtwo-wheel drive motorcycleTwo-wheelDriveMotorcycleUralural patrolural patrol reviewUral Patrol tural patrol t reviewural patrol t sidecarural reviewUral sidecarural sidecar motorcycleural sidecar reviewUralPatrolUralPatrolReviewUralPatrolTUralPatrolTReviewUralPatrolTSidecarUralReviewUralSidecarUralSidecarMotorcycleUralSidecarReviewTue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19558074/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/20/ural-patrol-t-review-road-test-sidecar-motorcycle/19558074/article-detail.xml 19558074 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/lead1uralpatroltreview2010_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/lead1uralpatroltreview2010.jpg <![CDATA[First Drive: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX fills out with big bro's wide body]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/19/2011-subaru-impreza-wrx-widebody-first-drive-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/19/2011-subaru-impreza-wrx-widebody-first-drive-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/19/2011-subaru-impreza-wrx-widebody-first-drive-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Subaru WRX - Click above for high-res image gallery

My, how the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX has grown. The plucky little sedan has gone off to summer camp and returned as a full-figured looker. Now donning its bigger sister's widebody dress and uprated wheels at all four corners, there are few tells this thing isn't fully capable of stopping at a moment's notice. And all we can say is: It's about time.

Even though the WRX has always had plenty of pep and other worldly grip, its outer shell never quite managed to hint at the go-fast fun lurking underneath its sizable hood scoop. No more.


Gallery: 2011 Subaru WRX: First Drive


Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX fills out with big bro's wide body

First Drive: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX fills out with big bro's wide body originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 subaru wrx2011 Subaru WRX review2011 wrx2011SubaruWrx2011SubaruWrxReview2011Wrxfeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveroad testRoadTestscoobysubarusubaru rexsubaru wrxSubaruRexSubaruWrxsubiewrxMon, 19 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19559016/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/19/2011-subaru-impreza-wrx-widebody-first-drive-review/19559016/article-detail.xml 19559016 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/widebodywrx---03opt-1279517066_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/widebodywrx---03opt-1279517066.jpg <![CDATA[First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T brings turbo power to Main Street America]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/first-drive-2011-hyundai-sonata-2-0t-brings-turbo-to-main-stree/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/first-drive-2011-hyundai-sonata-2-0t-brings-turbo-to-main-stree/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/first-drive-2011-hyundai-sonata-2-0t-brings-turbo-to-main-stree/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've watched with a sense of awe as Hyundai has gone from a discount also-ran brand into a genuine industry powerhouse in startlingly short order. But we've also long suspected that its vehicles have gained so much ground by being among the best values in their respective segments - not because they've necessarily been the best vehicles to drive. The addition of the Genesis Coupe may have served notice that Hyundai isn't content to just be the industry's value leader (see Battle of the Sixes), but the keystone draw of most of the brand's offerings has remained their affordability. Which is not to suggest this is a bad thing - Hyundai's steroidal growth speaks to the inherent soundness of its strategy. But as enthusiasts, we've been waiting for the company to not only out-value, but to categorically outsmart and outplay its rivals. With introduction of the 2011 Sonata, Hyundai appears to have done exactly that.

The Sonata has proven to be far more than just a styling stunt.
We admit that we weren't sure whether the Sonata's outré styling would play in that most milquetoast of markets: the family sedan segment. When the sheet was pulled on the 2011 model, it was as if Hyundai had strolled into a Sunday morning prayer breakfast with Kathy Griffin on its arm - we didn't know exactly what was going to come of it, but we knew it was going to be fun to watch. Thankfully, the Sonata has proven to be far more than just a styling stunt. Packing big space, a rock-solid chassis, accomplished handling and unmatched power and fuel economy from its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the Sonata has gained widespread acceptance and acclaim in a historically conservative slice of the market.

But while the normally aspirated sedan got our attention, the promised 2.0-liter turbocharged model had our enthusiast hearts bound up in anticipation. The specifications revealed at this spring's New York Auto Show were enough to have visions of a proper cut-rate sport sedan dancing in our heads: 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque plunked into a chassis that's among the very lightest in its class. So when Hyundai invited us to hop a plane to Seoul to sample their new force-fed family schlepper, we had our bag packed and were at the airport before you could say "pass the Kimchi."


Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T brings turbo power to Main Street America

First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T brings turbo power to Main Street America originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0T2011 Sonata2011Sonatadirect-injectionfamily sedanfamily sedansFamilySedanFamilySedansfeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveGDIhyundaihyundai sonatahyundai turboHyundaiSonataHyundaiTurboroad testRoadTestSonatasonata 2.0tsonata reviewsonata road testsonata turbosonata turbo first drivesonata turbo reviewsonata turbo road testSonata2.0tSonataReviewSonataRoadTestSonataTurboSonataTurboFirstDriveSonataTurboReviewSonataTurboRoadTesttest driveTestDriveYFYF sonataYfSonataMon, 12 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19549767/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/12/first-drive-2011-hyundai-sonata-2-0t-brings-turbo-to-main-stree/19549767/article-detail.xml 19549767 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/sonatakorea0801opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/sonatakorea0801opt.jpg <![CDATA[First Drive: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible delivers the goods]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/30/2011-bentley-continental-supersports-convertible-first-drive-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/30/2011-bentley-continental-supersports-convertible-first-drive-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/30/2011-bentley-continental-supersports-convertible-first-drive-review-road-test/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible - click above for high-res image gallery

As we see it, there's one major problem with the 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. No, not the $280,000 asking price, or even the give-us-a-break curb weight of 5,269 pounds. We also aren't talking about the fact that this basic chassis has been around since 2003. Nor are we concerned that there exist very few places on earth where you can even maybe-kinda-sorta properly experience the thrust of the Supersport's twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12's profligate output. Get this: 621 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 590 pound-feet of torque available between 2,000-4,500 rpm. Did we mention this one's a convertible?

Furthermore, the topless Supersports' problem does not involve the fact that there are very, very few people in its target demographic. You know, the guy that wants to take three members of his family for a ride at 197 mph with the top down (Bentley would like us to point out that with the top up, the Supersports Convertible will hit 202 mph). Thing is, out of the earth's 6.7 billion inhabitants, there will surely be around 400 folks that fit the bill, coincidentally about the same number of these topless Supersports Bentley intends to build. No, the problem with the Bentley Supersports Convertible is that the preposterously humongous carbon-ceramic brakes feel a bit squishy coming down from 165 mph. Mind you, at 130 mph, the stoppers work like anchors.


Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible delivers the goods

First Drive: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible delivers the goods originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 BMW X5 M - Click above for high-res image gallery


No one ever said that evolution is pretty. Take the best-of-breed BMW M Division product: the E30 M3. Little more than a homologated race car, the first generation M3 was potent, nimble, and with its small displacement 2.3-liter inline-four fed by a retweaked M1 intake, it was light, too. Long story short, the OG M3 remains an ideal performance car.

Today, we have the X5 M. Looking at the bright blue truckish thing parked in the driveway, it's difficult - if not impossible - to see any sort of relation to BMW's vaunted and aforementioned M3 beyond its badges. You can't imagine what the missing link between the two might be. However, perhaps even mentioning the E30 M3 is being too puritanical. After all, very few vehicles could compare - let alone compete - with the street version of history's most winning road-race car. And you can bet your Roundel subscription that BMW will never competitively race an X5 M.

What then? It's not a newsflash, but the 2010 BMW X5 M doesn't remind you of sporty BMW products of yore. Of course, going back almost 25 years and looking at the first M3 through 1986-eyes, you would notice the hopped-up street car bears basically no resemblance whatsoever to BMW's hottie 1961 product, the Isetta 600. For those of you not up-to-date on your bubble car history, the Isetta 600 was a stretched, four-seat version of the 297cc, one-cylinder Iso-derived Isetta 300. The 600 featured a two-cylinder 0.6-liter moto engine and semi-trailing arm rear independent suspension. Actually come to think of it, the Isetta 600 and the E30 M3 at least shared a rear-suspension design. The X5 M then, in terms of BMW's history, is truly an alien from another world. A world where family haulers thrash muscle cars for pinks. But does any of that matter? Are companies not free to reinvent themselves, especially here in America, where the X5 M is built? Perhaps most importantly, is the X5 M any good, let alone worthy of the vaunted M badge? Make the jump to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2010 BMW X5 M


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 BMW X5 M is illogically sound

Review: 2010 BMW X5 M is illogically sound originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BimmerBMWBMW MBMW M DivisionBMW X5BMW X5 MBmwMBmwMDivisionBmwX5BmwX5MfeaturediDriveM divisionMDivisionreviewreviewsroad testRoadTestX5X5 MX5 M reviewX5 M road testX5MX5MReviewX5MRoadTestMon, 28 Jun 2010 11:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19533033/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/28/2010-bmw-x5-m-review/19533033/article-detail.xml 19533033 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lead1bmwx5mreview2010_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lead1bmwx5mreview2010.jpg <![CDATA[First Drive: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee redefines the Tipping Point]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/20/2011-jeep-grand-cherokee-first-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/20/2011-jeep-grand-cherokee-first-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/20/2011-jeep-grand-cherokee-first-drive/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee - click above for high-res image gallery

In the span of three years, Chrysler has been bought and sold more times than Duke Cunningham. Its warped "merger of equals" with Daimler ended in 2007 and the disastrous reign of incompetence extended into its relationship with Cerberus Capital Management - now a "bad word" within the hallowed halls of Chrysler, according to one exec.

After filing for bankruptcy in April of 2009, the reformed Chrysler Group partnered with the Italian automaking juggernauts at Fiat and have since rolled out a five-year business plan that's nothing if not ambitious.

But you didn't come here for an abbreviated history lesson on Chrysler and its failed suitors. You want to find out how your $6.6 billion in federal funding is being spent and if the company's products are finally up to snuff. Well, here's the short version: The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the first Chrysler product since the 300 that deserves your attention. Follow the jump to find out why.


Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee


Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee redefines the Tipping Point

First Drive: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee redefines the Tipping Point originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep2011GrandCherokee2011Jeepcherokeefeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveGCgrand cherokeegrand cherokee road testGrandCherokeeGrandCherokeeRoadTestjeepJeep GCjeep grand cherokeejeep grand cherokee first drivejeep grand cherokee reviewjeep grand cherokee road testjeep reviewjeep SUVJeep WK2JeepGcJeepGrandCherokeeJeepGrandCherokeeFirstDriveJeepGrandCherokeeReviewJeepGrandCherokeeRoadTestJeepReviewJeepSuvJeepWk2laredooff-roaderoverlandquadra-liftroad testRoadTestselec-terrainSUVWK2Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19522645/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/20/2011-jeep-grand-cherokee-first-drive/19522645/article-detail.xml 19522645 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lead1jeepgrandcherokeefd2011_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lead1jeepgrandcherokeefd2011.jpg <![CDATA[First Drive: 2010 Saab 9-5 proves being born from chaos builds character]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/08/2010-saab-9-5-first-drive-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/08/2010-saab-9-5-first-drive-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/08/2010-saab-9-5-first-drive-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2010 Saab 9-5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

A funny thing happened on the way to bankruptcy court for General Motors. As part of a bid to have its red-stained slate wiped clean, it moved to divest itself of a number of brands in its bloated portfolio, with Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer and Saab all earmarked for sale or closure. However, only one brand inspired sufficient passion among both owners and those with the financial wherewithal to rescue it from GM's 'wind-down' apple polishers. Oddly enough, it was the tiny Swede that successfully swam out to the life raft. Saab, the marque with the smallest and oldest product lineup, lowest volume, and the poorest brand recognition among American consumers somehow found a way to survive.

How, exactly, did this come to pass? For starters, unlike any other of GM's death-row divisions, owners and fans rallied in dozens of countries, urging anyone who listened to "Save Saab." Now, we're not naïve enough to think that a band of loyalists were all it took to change the course of automotive history, but it's telling that there were no pitchforks and torches - or even a handful of picket signs - produced over the axing of the other brands. Saab remains a seldom understood, much loved brand, and we know that the displays of unity from Saab's scorned faithful stoked the fire of unlikely suitor Victor Muller, CEO and owner of Spyker Cars, as his team waded through a stomach-churning series of negotiations. After watching from the sidelines while bids by other small automakers and investment groups fizzled, the Dutch businessman and his team eventually pried the battered brand away from GM - but not before Saab had been partially liquidated.

While Muller clearly has an affinity for the Swedish marque, he insists it wasn't boyhood sentiment that drove the purchase - it was the company's robust Trollhättan operations and a raft of promising, almost-here product that pushed his team to persevere. That stream of shiny new tin begins with the car you see before you: The 2010 9-5. Click through to the jump to see if Muller and Company have good reason to be optimistic.


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Saab 9-5


Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Saab 9-5 proves being born from chaos builds character

First Drive: 2010 Saab 9-5 proves being born from chaos builds character originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 9-52010 saab20109-52010Saab2011 9-52011 saab20119-52011Saab9-595DriveSensefeaturedfirst drivefirst drive saab 9-5FirstDriveFirstDriveSaab9-5goteborggothenburgHiPer StrutHiperStrutroad testRoadTestsaabsaab 9-5saab 9-5 reviewsaab 9-5 road testSaab9-5Saab9-5ReviewSaab9-5RoadTesttrollhattenturbovictor mullerVictorMullerTue, 08 Jun 2010 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19506968/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/08/2010-saab-9-5-first-drive-review/19506968/article-detail.xml 19506968 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lead1saab95fd2010_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lead1saab95fd2010.jpg <![CDATA[Review: 2010 Volkswagen GTI - It's got its mojo workin' again]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/26/review-2010-volkswagen-gti-its-got-its-mojo-finally-workin/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/26/review-2010-volkswagen-gti-its-got-its-mojo-finally-workin/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/26/review-2010-volkswagen-gti-its-got-its-mojo-finally-workin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2010 Volkswagen GTI - click above for high-res image gallery

In 1983, Run-DMC was fresh (which meant dope), Volvo 760 Turbos weighed 3,300 pounds and the 2,200-pound Volkswagen GTI made its U.S. debut. In 2010, the Rabbit-turned-Golf entered its sixth generation and attempted to draw a clear line to the first-generation car. The historical link has been made especially clear in the 2010 Volkswagen GTI, though it's gone through the typical changes you face when you hit your 30s. The GTI is now 1,000 pounds porkier, but it's still as slick as a greased pig when it comes to handling.

Inside, there's plaid seat upholstery and higher-quality materials. Just like it was back in '83, the underhood motivation is only available from a four-cylinder, a change from recent generations that could be stuffed with Volkswagen's VR6. At a glance, the 2010 model promises to be more visceral than its direct predecessors, but does it come anywhere near the primal magic of the original, or is it just playing dress-up? Click through to the jump to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Volkswagen GTI


Photos by John Neff / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Volkswagen GTI - It's got its mojo workin' again

Review: 2010 Volkswagen GTI - It's got its mojo workin' again originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 May 2010 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI - click above for high-res image gallery

It's time for American consumers to stop being scared of small diesel cars. Currently, we can't think of a single automaker that isn't shelling out bags of money to research and develop new hybrid powertrains - cars that are efficient first and fun-to-drive second (or third, or fourth). Diesel vehicles, on the other hand, offer a different sort of solution. Gobs of torque delivered at low revs and impressive fuel economy work together without sacrificing too much in the way of driving pleasure. Besides, does anyone really want to live in "One Nation Under Prius?"

Volkswagen introduced us to its new Jetta TDI a little over a year ago, proving that clean diesel technology offers a way forward for anyone who gives a hoot about driver involvement. Now, the automaker has fitted its well-received 2.0-liter diesel engine in the all-new sixth-generation Golf. Can this hatch prove to America that it's possible to fuse efficiency and enthusiasm together in a high-quality package? Can you really have your cake and eat it, too? Hit the jump to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI delivers potent one-two punch of efficiency and entertainment

Review: 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI delivers potent one-two punch of efficiency and entertainment originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet - Click above for high-res image gallery

Taking a great looking performance car and chopping off its roof is risky business - compromises are inevitable. That's especially true in this modern age of unibody structures. Removing a big chunk of a vehicle's architecture without adequately reinforcing what's left can yield a chassis incapable of managing the position of the wheels, let alone result in a vehicle that loses its level of driver engagement and enthusiasm. On the other hand, reinforcements add mass - often lots of it. It's a treacherous path, as both flaccid body control and weight are the mortal enemy of performance.

You can understand our trepidation, then, upon learning that Audi was planning on introducing its S5 Cabriolet at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. By our reckoning, the German debutante's rollout was cause for both consternation and celebration. When the A5 and S5 coupes arrived in 2007, they were hailed as being among the best looking cars ever to wear the brand's Four Rings. The new Cabriolet models would bring with them the euphoria of open-air motoring, but we had to wonder - would Audi's rakish new hardtop be turned into a floppy flier just by giving it a roofectomy? Equally as important, would the model's newly downsized engine drop the performance? There was only one thing to do: Put the range-topping S5 Cabriolet through a week-long test.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet


Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Max Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet speaks too softly, but carries a big stick

Review: 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet speaks too softly, but carries a big stick originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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