Challenging BMW
Most people think of Lexus as a builder of luxury cars, but the automaker also produces a line of sport sedans as well—the IS250, the IS350 and the IS F. These cars are designed to compete with the 3-Series sedans from BMW. The IS250 matches up with the 328i. The IS350 competes with the [...]
Looking For Respect
The Acura RL has been the Rodney Dangerfield of the Mid-Premium Luxury segment—it’s gotten no respect. Competitors, like the Lexus GS350 and the Infiniti M35, have sold three times as well. There are several possible explanations for this—some say the styling was too bland—others criticized the lack of a V-8 option. Whatever the [...]
An Overlooked Gem
The Infiniti M35 and M45 may be the best mid-size luxury cars that get overlooked by new-car shoppers. Competitors, like the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes E-Class, top the wish list for most buyers. Yet, the Infiniti M is a perennial favorite of Consumer Reports, and a car that garners high marks from [...]
The Volkswagen CC Is About Style.
The new Volkswagen CC is a real head-turner. Taking a page out of the Mercedes playbook, Volkswagen has introduced a slinky version of it its top-of-the-line sedan. The 2009 CC, which stands for Comfort Coupe, is nor really a coupe at all, but a Passat four-door with a coupe-like [...]
Audi Takes On the BMW X3
The new Audi Q5 faces some fierce competition in the luxury-car marketplace. Established compact crossovers, like the BMW X3 have dominated this segment for years. But I had a chance to put on 600 miles on Q5 over a long weekend, and I think this car is up to the [...]
As Sporty As Ever
Although the 2009 BMW 3-Series is not brand new, it looks as sharp as it did when it was redesigned three years ago. The styling of my test car shouted, “sports sedan,” and both young and old told me how much they liked it. BMW did make some subtle changes this year [...]
Watch Out Lexus And Mercedes
Twenty years ago Toyota shocked the automotive world when it introduced its luxury brand, Lexus. The car they debuted, the LS400, was every bit as good, or even better, than a Mercedes S-Class, and was priced over $10,000 less than its German rival. LS400 sales took off right away, and Lexus [...]
A6 Gets Supercharged
Audi redesigned and enlarged its compact A4 sedan for 2009, which brought it closer in size and appearance to its midsize sibling, the Audi A6. But one significant difference between the two has remained, their power plants. Although they both share the 3.2-liter V-6, the midsize A6 also has an optional V-8, and [...]
Jaguar Hits A Home Run
The new Jaguar XF might be just the vehicle to jump start Jaguar sales. It is an attractive car that has garnered almost universal praise from the automotive press. In fact, two prominent publications gave it special honors. Automobile magazine named it one of its “All-Stars,” and Car and Driver placed [...]
A Hybrid With Performance
Lexus took a different approach to hybrid technology, when they designed the GS450h. Instead of just developing this car exclusively for better fuel economy, they gave it a boost in performance. The GS delivers the gas mileage of a large four-cylinder, but takes on the muscle of a V-8.
The GS hybrid uses [...]
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