BY STEVE SILER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE VALENTE
A new car and a new naming system, neither of which we’ll see here.
Hyundai’s fetching new C-segment hatchback, the i30, is yet another cool hatchback that we won’t be getting here. But that’s okay, we pretty much already have it in sedan form as the Elantra. (more…)
BY LARRY WEBSTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY G. RUSSELL
A six that runs like an eight.
With its revamped V-6 engine now making 302 horsepower, Cadillac seems to be making the case that the optional V-8 is no longer necessary. (more…)
BY ERIK JOHNSON
The littlest U.S.-market Mercedes becomes one big bad-ass.
The Mercedes-Benz people must be wondering, is ze big deal about ze 2008 BMW M3 and its fee-eight? Our C-class AMG has had ein fee-eight for many years! (more…)
BY ALISA PRIDDLE
Studios duked it out in the design of the key car for Cadillac.
Much ado was made of the fact General Motors Corporation had two design studios competing on the design of the Chevy Camaro. Ed Welburn, GM’s vice president of global design, was so pleased with the results of the exercise that he applied the same practice, and then some, to the development of the 2008 Cadillac CTS. (more…)
2007 Maserati Quattroporte Summary
The 2007 Quattroporte is a 4-door, 5-passenger luxury sedan, available in 3 trims, ranging from the Sedan to the Executive GT. (more…)
BY DAVE VANDERWERP, PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON KILEY
Connoisseurs wanted: BMW blesses Alpina’s super 7-series for the U.S.
In the company’s words, Alpina builds fine automobiles for the connoisseur. These are big-torque BMWs with automatic transmissions, more of a luxury bent than BMW’s own high-performance M cars.
The first thing one of these connoisseurs might notice on the Alpina B7”it amounts to a hot-rodded 7-series”are the mammoth, concept-car-worthy 21-inch, 20-spoke BBS wheels. That’s because they are simply spectacular to behold. And that’s before they start moving; then the spokes blend together in an envy-inducing blur. Splendid. (more…)
BY JARED GALL
We sample the new 535i as well as the other flavors of the slightly revised 5 available for 2008.
BMW has made small improvements throughout the 5-series, but the real news is not the relocated window switches. It’s the revised six-cylinder engines. That’s why we were summoned to Las Vegas to take our turn behind the wheel of each new model (528i and 535i), as well as the mechanically unchanged 550i and M5. To read more about the mini-Gumball-like rally. (more…)
The 2007 Jaguar X-Type is a 4-door, 5-passenger luxury sedan, or luxury wagon, available in two trims, the 3.0 and the Sportwagon.
Upon introduction, both trims are equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, V6, 227-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 24-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.
Prices = $34,330-$39,330
The 2007 Ford Crown Victoria is a 4-door, 6-passenger family sedan, available in two trims, the Standard and the LX.
Upon introduction, both trims are equipped with a standard 4.6-liter, V8, 224-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.
Prices = $24,620-$27,615
by J.P. Vettraino, NewCarTestDrive.com
The next-generation Cadillac CTS promises more horsepower, optional all-wheel-drive, an impressively finished benchmark interior and one large dose of style.
The 2008 Cadillac CTS was introduced at the January 2007 North American International Auto Show at Detroit where it generated as much buzz among the thousands of attending journalists and industry execs as any of the dozens of concept and production cars revealed. By all indications, Cadillac’s next small sedan is a better, more engaging automobile than the 2007 CTS. It’s certainly a looker. (more…)
