2011 Acura TSX Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

Sedans don't have to be boring, and the 2011 Acura TSX proves it with its sleek looks and powerful engine. I enjoyed the youthful feeling the TSX gave me when behind the wheel, but admittedly, that was only when it was just my daughter and I tooling around Los Angeles. When we added my husband into the mix, it became obvious that the TSX can be a tight fit for some families. It was an unpleasant surprise that the TSX couldn't comfortably fit my family. It is a sedan after all, but with the TSX's sportiness comes tightness in both the front and back seats; it's kind of like a sweater that shrunk a little in the dryer. To accommodate those rear-facing safety seats for the little ones, things in the front get pretty, ahem squishy. Any space...

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Posted in: ACURA,AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

It can take time to explain to shoppers what a car's best attributes are and why it's better or worse than its competition. Starting MSRP $22,805–$39,775 Take one look at the Camaro convertible, though, and it is apparent that it's a straightforward American pony car with looks that will turn heads. It could have a tin can under its hood and the roof could rattle like a barn during a tornado, and people would still buy it. Luckily, the droptop Camaro loses little of the coupe's performance fun. In some ways, it's even more alluring. Performance The convertible Camaro comes with either a V-6 or V-8 engine, identical to the two we detailed in full in earlier reviews of the coupe. My test car had the 312-horsepower V-6 with a six-speed automatic...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,CHEVROLET,SPORTS CAR

2011 Ford Mustang Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

For 2011, Ford issued a mechanical overhaul of its popular Mustang: new engines, quieter interiors, better gas mileage. The lineup's granddaddy, the Shelby GT500, sees smaller improvements by comparison. Starting MSRP $22,145–$37,845 The Shelby GT500 is still a straight-line juggernaut, but the V-8 Mustang GT is catching up as a performance car and away from the drag strip, the Shelby's handling dynamics leave something to be desired. Officially called the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, the car caps a Mustang lineup that includes new V-6 and 5.0-liter V-8 drivetrains. Though the GT500's supercharged V-8 has the same displacementas the 2010 GT500 did, a new aluminum block makes it 100 pounds lighter. Combined with better aerodynamics and new...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,FORD,LUXURY

2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Specs, Prices and Reviews

Hyundai's Genesis coupe R-Spec is a stripper and not the kind you'll find in a gentleman's club. Starting MSRP $22,250–$30,750 The R-Spec's goal is performance for the dollar, which means features that don't make the car faster are stripped to keep costs low, while high-performance parts from the coupe's Track model are added. The 2011 Genesis coupe 2.0T R-Spec is on the right track with its low price ($24,500), but it falls short in the "bang" department with a poky turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and unrefined handling. The V-6-powered Genesis coupe 3.8 also comes in R-Spec garb, but we have yet to test that version. See our 2010 Genesis coupe review here for a more thorough look at the coupe as a whole. The R-Spec's suspension...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,HYUNDAI

2011 Land Rover LR4 Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

Compared with its predecessor, the LR4 luxury SUV is much more appealing for shoppers who'd like to conquer rugged off-road trails and go for a night on the town all in the same SUV. Land Rover's improvements also make the LR4 a legitimate competitor to SUVs like the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz M-Class. It's better because it features a dapper cabin something that was sorely missing from the previous version, the LR3 and a new V-8 engine that makes 75 more horsepower than the LR3's V-8, but with the same EPA estimated gas mileage: a still-thirsty 12/17 mpg city/highway. Land Rover's top-of-the-line Range Rover has excelled at being a multifaceted SUV for years, thanks to its on- and off-road performance, and the LR4 promises most of that versatility...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,LAND ROVER

2011 Scion xB Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

Like many aging trendsetters Madonna comes to mind the Scion xB has had a few tweaks for 2011 and arrives on the market with a restyled exterior and some new features on the inside. Since much of the xB's competition didn't exist when it first entered the market, it was able to rely on its hip-to-be-square looks almost exclusively. Now, the xB competes against the Kia Soul and those rapping hamsters and the Nissan Cube with its quirky/cool raccoon face. The 2011 model delivers with changes that are subtle yet edgy on the outside and a few new features that add to the interior's comfort and cool factor. The xB's exterior gets new taillights and headlights, restyled front and rear bumpers, and a new grille. New features like a center console...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,SCION

2011 Ford F-150 Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

The 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor quickly rose to the top of factory performance trucks with its unique long-travel suspension system and an appearance reminiscent of a Baja trophy truck. Starting MSRP $22,790–$51,770 It met the untapped demand of off-road enthusiasts looking for a turn-key prerunner. But there was even more demand for a Raptor with extra cabin space from wheelers with families and racers looking for a support vehic...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,FORD

2012 Honda CR-V Spy Photos - Future Cars

Honda continues its trend of gentle evolution with the next-gen CR-V. A fearless Car and Driver reader in Washington, D.C., snapped a picture of the next-generationHonda CR-V crossover, which will debut this fall. Wearing less camo than in the spy-snapper photos also published here, the vehicle looks ready for production, wearing its own sheetmetal (rather than the modified body of an existing Honda model) with the badge buried in tape on the tailga...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,HONDA

2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

Call it trickledown turbonomics. Last year, Mercedes-Benz replaced the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 found in the S63 AMG and CL63 AMGwith a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-8. Now the 2012 E-class AMG, which goes on sale this fall, receives the downsizing treatment (as does theCLS63 AMG). And, yes, that means the misleading and inaccurate “63” nomenclature is now more inaccurate. With its widespread adoption of turbocharged engines, Mercedes-Benz is abandoning displacement-linked model designations altogeth...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,LUXURY,MERCEDES-BENZ

2012 Volkswagen Beetle Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

Throughout its 73-year history, the VW Beetle has embodied VW’s “people’s car” philosophy, the original Type 1 becoming more than 21 million people’s car before production finally ceased in Mexico in 2003. It was only during the 12-year term of the New Beetle introduced in 1998 and discontinued after the final 2010 models that those people became, by and large, female. In its peak year, the New Beetle sold more than 80,000 copies in the U.S., roughly 75 percent of them to women, based on our observation....

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,VOLKSWAGEN

2011 Toyota Avalon Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

The 2011 Toyota Avalon isn't a head-turner; some might even describe this full-size sedan as vanilla, but that shouldn't be a bad thing. The Avalon is the equivalent of an exotic vanilla that's a little richer than the others. Starting MSRP $33,195–$36,435 While it's missing the wow factor, the 2011 Avalon is comfortable, roomy and uncomplicated, a plus for some paren...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,TOYOTA

2011 Toyota 4Runner Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

The Toyota 4Runner is one of the stalwarts of the SUV community. While many have traded in some of their sport-utility-ness for greater refinement in urban and family environs, the 4Runner has stayed true to its roots. Starting MSRP $30,305–$40,435The 2011 Toyota 4Runner is an SUV that knows what it is and what it's best at off-road driving. The 4Runner's rugged confidence is not without some creature comforts, thoug...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,TOYOTA

2012 Nissan Versa Specs, Prices and Reviews

The 2012 Nissan Versa sedan is about as compelling as an old dishwasher, but its fuel efficiency, roominess and unrivaled value will get a lot of shoppers to overlook that. Economy cars boast sharper looks and more features than ever, but they're inching up in price — frustrating anyone who wants cheapwheels above all else.&nb...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,NISSAN

2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is the forgotten hybrid, and it probably ought to stay that way. Like the regular Camry, the hybrid is a perfectly pleasant midsize sedan equipped similarly to the top, XLE Camry trim level. The problem is its mileage: an EPA-estimated 31/35 mpg city/highway. Starting MSRP $27,050A similarly refined hybrid sedan, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, outpaced it in 2009 (as an early 2010 model) with 41/36 mpg, as do new hybrid versions of the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima (35/40 mpg), for considerably less money. If high mileage is your main goal, the Toyota Prius delivers 51/48 mpg for thousands less in midsize hatchback for...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,TOYOTA

2011 Lexus CT 200h Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

Americans love hybrid hatchbacks, but mostly for the hybrid part; overall, we're still lukewarm on traditional hatchbacks. Lexus added a third ingredient budget luxury to create the CT 200h. Starting MSRP $29,120–$30,900 With a starting price just over $29,000, it's the least expensive Lexus in nearly two decades, and it shows. The 2011 CT 200h feels at times like a cut-rate Lexus, but its combination of fuel efficiency and handling should win the brand some much-needed younger buyer...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,LEXUS

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

If we made a list of unforgettable cars of the previous decade, the first-generation Chrysler 300 SRT8 and Dodge Charger SRT8 would be on it. They were nutso full-sizers with 425-hp, 6.1-liter Hemis; aggressive looks; and chest-thumping exhausts. Those qualities earned them a pass for their shortcomings—which included occasionally crashy suspensions, plasticky interiors, turret-like outward vision, and a five-speed automatic transmission that could have used an additional ratio (or thre...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,CHRYSLER

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

Brand-New Heavy: Jeep's second-gen Grand Cherokee SRT8 is tanned, rested, and ready to put the hammer down with newfound decorum. Four is the new three, as in $4 and 40 highway miles per gallon. But come hell or high gas prices, there will always be hot cars, mighty trucks, and a privileged few who don’t sweat $100 fill-ups as long as the passing lane remains open for busine...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,JEEP

2011 Audi Q7 TDI Quattro Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

Just four months ago, our Audi Q7 TDI had fewer than 16,000 miles on the clock. We’re now at more than 32K, numeric proof of the big brown crossover’s popularity. The esteem and the miles spring from the Q7’s prowess for long-haul road trips and its aptitude for towing, talents staffers often exploit at the same tim...

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Posted in: AUDI,AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR

Spyker C8 Aileron Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

Whatever its credentials as a sports car and they seem to be impressive the Spyker C8Aileron is an attention getting device of pretty intense wattage. It even draws stares from the pilots of Ferraris, Lambos, and other exotics. We know this from an early-morning blast down California’s spectacular Highway 1, south of Carmel, where the Spyker loped confidently at naughty speeds in straight places, and Lamberrari drivers, engaged in the same kind of dawn frolic, acknowledged the C8 with headlight flashes and the occasional wav...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,LUXURY,SPORTS CAR,SPYKER

2012 BMW M3 CRT Lightweight Sedan Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

We first told you about BMW’s upcoming lightweight M3 sedan when it debuted as a concept car in April, following that up with a series of spy photos in May. Well, June is nearing its end, and we’d feel just horrible if we missed a monthly installment, so today we’re on to the thrilling conclusion in this three-part series. (At least until the surprise follow-up, when we drive the thing...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,BMW,CAR,LUXURY,SPORTS CAR

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

Having accidentally leaked a look at its 2012 Tiguan, Volkswagen is making the face lift official with this batch of photos. The little ute is scheduled to be physically unveiled in Geneva in March, but European dealers are already accepting pre-orders for the new Tiguan, as the current model has sold ou...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,VOLKSWAGEN

2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

Renault and Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn is credited with one of the most quotable statements to come from an auto executive in recent years: “There is no car company problem that can’t be solved by great product.” Ghosn is also cited as the driving force behind the Murano CrossCabriolet, an oddly shaped, oddly conceived convertible SU...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,NISSAN

2011 Kia Optima SX Turbo Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

The turbocharged top-spec version of the handsome new Kia Optima, which shares its powertrain lineup and architecture with the10Best-winning Hyundai Sonata. The SX comes pretty well stocked, including the direct-injected 2.0-liter turbo four, 18-inch wheels with black-painted pockets, HID headlamps, LED taillights, dual-zone auto climate control, Bluetooth, an LCD in the instrument panel, leather upholstery, and racy body bit...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,KIA,SPORTS CAR

2011 Kia Sportage SX Turbo AWD Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

That Kia continues to assemble ever-better-performing, more-competitive, more-attractive products should be news to no one. That a small crossover is the Korean brand’s quickest vehicle might take you by surprise. It did us. But it’s true: Since the 1994 Sephia landed stateside, no Kia has hit 60 mph in fewer ticks of the second hand than this new turbocharged Sportag...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,KIA,SPORTS CAR

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

The rocks and desert surrounding Moab, Utah, have seen a lot of things. Dinosaurs hatching, dying, and turning into tar. Mormons fleeing persecution, flourishing, and inspiring a hit HBO show. And Jeeps. Lots and lots and lots of Jeeps. But this is Moab’s first look at the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ours, too, at least from behind the whee...

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,JEEP

Chevrolet Equinox Specs, Pics, Prices and Reviews

Say what you will about legacy costs, screwball UAW agreements, and brand hyperproliferation, General Motors has undeniably talented designers and engineers. These folks have in recent years created stellar products, such as the current Cadillac CTS, the new Chevrolet Malibu, and a quartet of well-executed full-size crossovers....

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Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,CHEVROLET