2013 Lexus GS350 Photos and Info

Thanks to an unveil in Pebble Beach we finally have our first good look at the 2013 Lexus GS350 we previously drove heavily camo’d prototypes and, with it, the future look and styling direction of the Lexus brand. The company also let drop that it would unveil the inevitable hybrid version at September’s Frankfurt auto show. About a month after that, the company will show the F-Sport version at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. The new GS350, the fourth generation of the company’s mid-range sedan, will be the standard-bearer of Lexus’s new, more “passionate” approach to the premium-car market. Our first driving experience in camouflaged examples of the car, in both standard and F-Sport versions, bear out that oft-repeated passion claim. The...

Read more »

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

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S Pics and Reviews

The Porsche 911 became an icon almost the instant it arrived nearly 50 years ago, so when it comes up for a redesign, relatively small steps have usually won the day. Bowing at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show, the seventh-generation 911 Carrera and Carrera S may look to follow that pattern at first blush, but there are some radical changes albeit not as large as the shift from air- to water-cooled engines underneath the largely familiar shape. Iconic Details, Bigger Package Indeed, as we’ve seen from a preponderance of spy shots, Porsche designers made sure the new 991 generation looks the part. Its iconic fender shapes, ovoid headlamps, and fast tail remain, but it looks fresher and sleeker. The nose has a more aggressive lower fascia, although...

Read more »

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

2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

The new Volkswagen Jetta has been a bit of a disappointment for many of us. On the surface, the car seems to have taken a step backward, adopting an ancient engine in base trim while getting heavier, cheaper, and bigger. But Americans wanted a bigger Jetta especially in the back seat that was more competitive on pricing, and that’s what we got. But we also got a less-enjoyable driving experience, much to the chagrin of VW loyalists not to mention those of us here at Car and Driver. Despite this, VW has been selling the new Jetta in droves. Thankfully for enthusiasts, the Jetta GLI has arrived to redeem the Jetta. For starters, the GLI is not just a Jetta with more motor. It dumps the standard car’s torsion-beam rear axle for a more-capable...

Read more »

Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,VOLKSWAGEN

2011 Volkswagen GTI Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

Never the fastest or most outlandish-looking car in its class, the Volkswagen GTI has long been the civilized sport compact like a grunge guitarist with a haircut and a Men's Wearhouse suit. Redesigned for 2010, this still holds true. The GTI looks rakish but not rowdy; it prefers balance to sheer power. The kids will prefer a Mazdaspeed3 or Subaru WRX, but the GTI will keep its fans — and were it not for Volkswagen's dual-clutch gearbox, which our test car had, I'd be among them. A performance-oriented compact that's related to the Golf — formerly the Rabbit — the 2010 GTI comes in two- and four-door versions, which you can compare with the Golf, Rabbit and 2009 GTI here. Last year's drivetrains remain: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder...

Read more »

Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,VOLKSWAGEN

2012 BMW 650 Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

One of the greatest leaps in automotive progress this past decade has been the taming of the convertible. Starting MSRP $90,500 Once requiring a tradeoff — open-air enjoyment versus performance and year-round comfort — today's convertibles are increasingly civilized beasts, making the body style more practical than ever. Despite its considerable handling and power, however, the gorgeously redesigned 2012 BMW 650i has missed out on all that progress. It remains a convertible at heart, with an incredibly loud ride and a gigantic blind spot with the top up. When the top's down, though, drivers will enjoy a pleasant open-air experience as a terrific-sounding exhaust powers them down sun-kissed roads. New Looks The redesigned 650i is striking....

Read more »

Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,BMW,CAR,LUXURY

2011 Nissan Cube Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

For 2010, Nissan has added another trim level to the boxy Cube, the Krom (with a long O, pronounced "chrome"). The Cube is otherwise unchanged for 2010 (see them compared), and Kelsey Mays' 2009 Cube review details the lineup well. I'll concentrate on the new Krom. In short, the Krom turns the affordable Cube into a more distinctive and definitively less affordable Cube, whose higher price I suspect will turn off many, many buyers. It also has a dorky name. Chrome with a K? It's no better than the Kia Forte Koup (coupe). Why do automakers do this? At $20,440, the Krom adds a whopping $6,450 over the suggested retail price of the base Cube 1.8. Perhaps more relevant, it's $2,990 more expensive than the closest trim level, the 1.8 SL. ...

Read more »

Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,NISSAN

2011 Subaru Legacy Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

The Subaru Legacy has been redesigned for 2010 and now boasts a bigger backseat and improved gas mileage, with the same nimble steering the 2009 model had. Starting MSRP $19,995–$31,395 Snowbelt drivers will appreciate its standard all-wheel drive, which few competitors offer. Among midsize family sedans, the Legacy is a jack of all trades. In trying to do everything, though, it doesn't master very much. The Legacy doesn't feel as high-rent as some of its competitors — particularly the suburb-infesting Honda Accord. Nor will its polarizing styling work for everyone. The 2010 Legacy — you can compare it with the '09 model here — comes in base, Premium and Limited trim levels, with a four- or six-cylinder engine. The related Outback wagon,...

Read more »

Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,SUBARU

2011 Kia Soul Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

For a guy in his 20s, I am terminally unhip. I checked out this week's Billboard chart toppers, and I remain skeptical that Flo Rida is anything but a Sun Belt state. Starting MSRP $13,300–$18,495 It's safe to say I am not one of the trendsetters Kia pegged to drive its 2010 Soul, a new hatchback that goes the way of the Scion xB and Nissan Cube. These cars are supposed to be cool. Is the Soul? Perhaps, but as it turns out, the question is irrelevant. Whatever you think of its styling, it's hard to debate that the car packs a lot of value for the money, even for a value-oriented econohatch. That should appeal to plenty of buyers, hip or not. Trim levels include the base Soul, Soul+ ("Soul Plus"), Soul! ("Soul Exclaim") and Soul Sport....

Read more »

Posted in: AUTOMOTIVE INFO,CAR,KIA