2011 Infiniti M56x Review – Your personal Learjet for the streets

Pros:

• Prodigious power
• Impeccable materials and craftsmanship
• Game-changing luxury and technology

Cons:

• Computer-controlled powerplant
• No V-8 growl, just a exhaust note that sounds manufactured

Infiniti’s new M-series luxury sports sedan has the brains and the brawn to compete with Bavarian and German luxury car manufacturers. Under the spotlight Infiniti has used its M56x as a showcase to illustrate how technology should be put to use in everyday life; abundant and ever-present, but imperceptible and noninvasive. The M56x offers power, luxury, and technology in ways that you didn’t know you needed, but once you experience them, you won’t want to live without them.

Driving Impressions
I’ll jump at the chance to drive anything with big horsepower. In this case, it was a 420 hp luxury sedan. I had envisioned being rewarded with wheel spin upon mashing the gas pedal, yet gritting my teeth under braking and cornering. Upon taking delivery of the test car and seeing its size and heft first-hand, I was sure my initial impression was justified as I thought to myself, “all-aboard the USS X56m!” At about 4,200 pounds, I figured the acceleration would be brisk, but it would drive like a boat. I was so wrong.

Paris Motor Show News: Lotus Reveals Elite Hybrid

Lotus has just released the full images and details of the 2014 Lotus Elite – their latest supercar which will be unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

Meant to redefine modern classic, the 2+2 is a stunning piece of engineering and design. Despite being relatively compact (4.60m long, 1.90m wide, and 1.32m tall), Lotus has managed to give the car dramatic styling and a retractable hard top.

As for the new – and aggressive – design of the car, the man behind it, designer Donato Coco, left no stones unturned in giving the Elite a more aggressive approach by adding some depth to the car’s front fascia. As somebody who noted the two-dimensional looks of prior Lotus vehicles, Coco’s design of the Elite is about as good as it can get for a brand looking to be edgier and more upscale that what its previous reputation suggests.

The Lotus Elite propels itself into supercar territory with a high level of power and performance. Under the hood of the Elite lies a monster 5.0 liter V8 engine developing 612 hp (456 kW / 620 PS) and 531 lb-ft (720 Nm) of torque. The rev limiter of the Lotus Elite is set at 8,500 rpm! While official data is still pending, Lotus expects the 3,638 pound car will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 to 3.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 196 mph.

More importantly, the Elite will also be offered as a hybrid. Details are slim, but the company says the car will have a hybrid gearbox (with integrated electric motors) and a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). Thanks to the eco-friendly technology, the Elite hybrid will offer emissions as low as 215 g/km. As a comparison, a 2010 Prius emits 89 g/km of CO₂.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta Review – More car and more affordable

Likes:

• Interior space (especially back seat)
• Highly intuitive touchscreen interface for stereo/satellite radio/navigation
• Rear end looks more luxurious than flat rear of previous generation
• Ergonomic positioning of driver controls (signals, cruise, sound, etc)

Dislikes:

• Lack of power at lower rpm’s
• Center arm rest is too far back and angled downward to be functional/comfortable
• Phone connectivity non-intuitive and non-functional (in my case)
• Noisy fan at highest setting

The People’s Car
Volkswagen has been in the United States since the 1950’s, and has grown to be one of the largest manufacturers in the world. With the sixth-generation Jetta that is now less expensive, lighter and larger (almost 3” in length) than the previous version, VW is targeting buyers of the Civic and Corolla with the base price of the Jetta S at $16,755. Incidentally, the base is almost $1k less than the 2010 Jetta S. The model I drove was the Jetta SEL which starts at just over $22,000. With the in-laws in town, I was eager to test out the new Jetta over a few days.

2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid Review

Pros:

• Elegant and stylish
• Loaded with every possible luxury amenity
• Spacious and comfortable cabin
• Superior driving experience for highway cruising

Cons:

• Very complex to operate
• Underpowered and heavy

Mercedes-Benz is one of the best known automotive brands in the world and can claim to be the oldest automotive brand that is still active. In the US, owning a Mercedes has long been a mark of success, showing that you have arrived in the world. A few years ago, however, the shine on the distinctive three-prong star has been a bit tarnished by some manufacturing quality issues and a user control interface for the onboard computer that has was panned in the automotive press. Mercedes is known for their strong engineering strengths and historically sound quality, so I expected the cars to bounce back to their former glory. With a chance to review the S400 Hybrid, I looked forward to see how they had recovered from those mishaps as well as see how they had embraced the new environmentally green movement with a hybrid luxury car.

Paris Motor Show News: Ferrari 599 Roadster Goes Topless

The Ferrari SA Aperta will be unveiled formally at the 2010 Paris Motor Show on September 30, where the full spec will be announced.

During the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California earlier last month, Ferrari held a very private event for customers to show them the 599 Roadster.

Ferrari’s North American head Marco Mattiachi hand-picked potential buyers to come down and check out the new model and made them sign non-disclosure agreements. Those who were invited had to leave their cell phones and digital camera at the door before they could be in the presence of the Ferrari 599 Roadster.

Ferrari decided to do 80 cars to celebrate Pininfarina’s 80th anniversary, while the SA Aperta pays homage to Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina, whose company has done some of the more outstanding Ferraris over the years. Aperta means “open” in Italian, signifying the soup can opener has been deployed in Modena.

Power for the Ferrari 599 Roadster will come from the same 661-hp 6.0L V12 used in the 599 GTO. Sales are expected to start next summer and only 80 exclusive examples will be produced — all of which are sold.

In case you need a reminder: power for the Ferrari 599 GTO comes from a 6.0L V12 engine making 661-hp with a maximum torque of 457 lb-ft. mated to a F1 6–speed gearbox, the Ferrari 599 GTO goes from 0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of more than 208 mph. Ferrari says that the 599 GTO set a record lap at Fiorano in 1 minute and 24 seconds.

waao.....