VW now has a hardtop convertible. Top up equals no cowl shake, better security than a soft top, less road noise. Top down means keeping the sunscreen handy and the wind in your hair (if you have any).

Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of Support for K-12 Math and Science Education

December 20, 2007 – New York - The Toyota USA Foundation today announced that it has more than doubled the size of its endowment, from $42 million to $100 million. In 2007, the Foundation gave over $4 million to enhance K-12 math and science teaching throughout the United States. Read the rest of this entry »

By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings

• Unique Styling
• More powerful engine
• Long list of standard features
• Longer list of aftermarket options

Dings

• Unique Styling
• Still fuel efficient, but not like xA
• Snowplow understeer
• Lifeless Toyota handling

Ruling: Regardless of what ridiculous appearance analogy you can muster, the xD offers incredible value and personality for the money.

For automotive journalists, it seems the most exciting part of reviewing a Scion is coming up with an assemblage of knee-slapping analogies as to the car’s appearance. The selection ranges anywhere from Whirlpool on wheels, rollerskate, and UPS truck crossed with a garden shed to a rolling doorstop, midget bullet train, melted stack of pancakes and petrified excrement. Read the rest of this entry »

by Twain Mein

Introduction

This is the upgrade to the very popular mid/full-sized SUV, the Acura MDX. This SUV slots between the Toyota Highlander and Chevrolet Tahoe in size and offers 3^rd row seating. Equipped with lots of features, 300 horsepower, and bold new styling, its no mystery why the MDX is already Acura’s best selling model.

Pros:

• An SUV that handles well
• Every electronic gadget you could imagine
• Luxurious interior
• Real 3^rd row seating

Cons:

• Modest acceleration
• Mediocre gas mileage
• Electronics overload

Read the rest of this entry »

December 20, 2007 – Torrance, CA - Lexus introduces the all-new, more powerful, more capable and more luxurious 2008 LX 570 premium luxury utility vehicle. With a host of technological advancements and a new high-strength chassis, the third-generation LX offers significantly increased performance and new safety features over the LX 470 model it replaces. The all-new roomier eight-passenger LX 570 casts about the same footprint as its award-winning predecessor.Lexus established the paradigm for full-size, full-capability luxury utility vehicles when it debuted the original LX in January 1996. Since that time, the LX has won a multitude of awards for quality and value. For the third generation LX, Lexus retained the basic formula of the previous model, amplifying and enhancing its core attributes. The new LX 570 offers perhaps the most compelling combination of luxury, safety, on-road smoothness and off-road performance of any vehicle in its segment. Read the rest of this entry »

By Kurt Gensheimer

Genius in theory. In reality? We might know by 2010.

For decades, American automakers, Washington politicos, oil companies and consumers alike have been caught up in the lure of cheap gasoline. It’s led to fuel inefficient vehicles, lax legislation, and even more lax energy innovation. But in the end, the root of all these behaviors comes back to the American consumer. The American consumer has always wanted and purchased gasoline-powered products, so that’s what the market delivers. But like repeatedly putting one’s hand on a burning stove, at what point do American consumers conclude the financial pain at the pump has gotten too great? And when do their automobile choices start changing the behavior of automakers, politicians and oil companies? Read the rest of this entry »

On a wet and windy winter morning in California we get a close up view of the Chevrolet Volt. Kurt interviews Clay O. of GM and picks up a few details of the upcoming Chevy Volt and the new E-Flex system.

More details and photos of the Chevrolet Volt can be found in our full article: First Look - Chevrolet Volt Concept Car

GM-VOLT: Chevy Volt Concept Site - Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt.

Clean Scandanavian design, strong V8 motor by Yamaha, and lots of important safety devices are integrated into the 2008 Volvo S80. The king of the hill trim level, the S80 V8 AWD, makes big waves with its 311-hp, 4.4-liter V-8 engine. Sit back in comfort with luxurious leather seats and enjoy the Dynaudio sound system if you seek an alternative to the V-8 melody.

Volvo S80 Photo Gallery	Volvo S80 Specs
Official website for Volvo automobiles in the U.S. - www.volvocars.com/us/

New for 2008
After debuting for the 2008 model year, the 2008 Lincoln MKX receives a number of standard features including heated and cooled front seats, power lumbar driver and front passenger seats, easy entry driver’s seat, memory driver’s seat and side mirrors, auto-dimming driver’s side mirror, a Reverse Sensing System, Sync communications and entertainment system, THX II-certified audio system and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. A new Limited Edition is available that features a variety of colors, interior accents, chrome exterior door handles, unique badging and 20-inch chrome-clad wheels. The 20-inch wheels are also optional for the regular MKX.

The MKX is the luxury edition of the Ford Edge. Is the MKX ‘bling’ worth the extra cha-ching over the Edge? Tune in to find out the answer as Kurt reviews the Lincoln MKX

2009 Corvette ZR1 Powered By The Most Powerful Production Engine Ever From GM: The Supercharged LS9 Small-Block V-8

PONTIAC, Mich. – When it arrives next summer, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will be the most powerful and fastest production car ever produced by General Motors, with performance enabled by a new, supercharged 6.2L LS9 small-block V-8 engine.

Incorporating the engineering experience already found in the Corvette Z06’a LS7 engine and the new-for-2008 6.2L LS3 of the Corvette, GM Powertain is targeting 100 horsepower per liter for the LS9, or 620 horsepower (462 kW), and approximately 595 lb.-ft. of torque (807 Nm); final SAE-certified power levels will be available in early March 2008.

It is, indeed, the ultimate small-block engine for the ultimate Corvette. Read the rest of this entry »

The new Mazdaspeed3 landed in the U.S. in mid-September and its sensational. Employing the same 2.3-liter turbo four as the Mazdaspeed 6, but with retuned intake and exhaust systems, and a modified ECU that reduces torque levels in 1st through 3rd gears, this super-Mazda generates 264 hp at 5,500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. That translates into a rather quick 0-60-mph time of 6.1 seconds and more fun than a Slippery-Slide on a hot mid-summer day.

Watch the video review as Kurt sums up the character of this fun hatch and cranks up the boost along the way.

For the full review of the Mazdaspeed3, click HERE

By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings

• Soul of a sports car
• Gutsy turbocharged four cylinder
• Inspired design inside and out
• Safe

Dings

• Thirst of a sports car
• Low rear visibility
• No illumination on manumatic shifter indicator

Ruling: A stylish, practical family vehicle that appeals to the driving enthusiast.

Read the rest of this entry »

With new additions to the family, many times the sports car has to be traded in for something a lot more practical and sedate. All that is changing with the new class of vehicles such as the Mazda CX-7, Acura RDX, and Land Rover LR2. Being practical doesn’t mean boring any more.

The Nissan FORUM, an exploratory design concept developed by Nissan Design America, Inc. (NDA), represents the next revolution in family transportation.

Answering the challenge of making family passenger vehicles more appealing to both drivers and passengers, FORUM offers a wide array of innovative ideas – from its trackless sliding side doors and elimination of traditional B-pillars, to an interior featuring a multi-position swiveling 2^nd row seat to next-generation entertainment and family communications technology. Read the rest of this entry »

by Alex Kramer

Pros:

• Truly inspired handling
• Bold interior and exterior styling
• Smooth, refined drivetrain
• Awesome DVD based multi-channel audio/video system

Cons:

• Acceleration could use a little more “oomph”
• Operation of navigation system could be made easier
• 3^rd row seats are for kids only
• Cartoonish front grill

Read the rest of this entry »