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First
Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA
 It's
a front-engine GT, but its MSRP means it doesn't compete with
the Ferrari 599. It's a technological tour de force nearly on
par with the Bugatti Veyron, but its 202 MPH top speed doesn't
come close to the V-max of Ferdinand Piech's quad-turbo masterpiece.
It's lithe and nimble, but lacks the directness and tactility
of the Lotus Elise. Its 3.7-second zero-to-60 time falls short
of the GT-R, and it can't come close to the Nissan's point-to-point
brutality.The LFA represents more than just a V10-powered, carbon
fiber plaything; the investment in development, technology and
manufacturing appears to be a cornerstone of ToMoCo's future products
and Toyota President Akio Toyoda's vision for the automaker.
More
information & pictures
Novitec
Rosso tweaks the Ferrari 430 Scuderia to 747hp
 The
Ferrari 430 Scuderia is already one of the hottest-performing
supercars on the market, but some people just don't know how to
leave well enough alone. Some of those people work at Ferrari,
who've worked tirelessly on the 458 Italia to supplant the 430's
already legendary performance. And some of those people work for
Novitec Rosso, who've come back yet again with another mod job
for the Italian stallion. Called the Edizione 747, the custom
Scuderia may not be as big as a jumbo jet, but it packs nearly
as much thrust. Strapping a pair of superchargers to that high-revving
4.3-liter V8, along with a few more tweaks here and there, brings
output up from an impressive 510 horses to a bonkers 747 horsepower
More
info
New-for-2010
Mitsubishi Evo MR Touring pricing announced, starts at $40,990
 Mitsubishi
finally posted pricing information on its new top-of-the-Evolution-ary-chart
MR Touring model, and it definitely isn't cheap. A bargain to
some maybe, but definitely not cheap. We had first seen this uplevel
MR at a local car gathering that seems to attract just about every
bit of new enthusiast candy, but back then, they were referring
to it as the Limited. Now, it's called the MR Touring and with
a base MSRP of $40,990, the top dog Lancer finally cracks the
40K barrier, pushing the definition of "bargain." If
you go Sharpie-mad and check every box on the order form, the
bottom line might make you think you're actually at an Audi dealer.
More
info
JB
Design tweaks Lamborghini Murcielago past the 700 horsepower mark
 JB
Design the German tuning house has released a comprehensive tuning
package for the LP-640 that leaves no stone unturned. The engine
can be upgraded to 714- or 750-horsepower specifications. The
shift paddles have been replaced with an F1-style rocker lever.
An extensive carbon fiber aerodynamic package includes front and
rear spoilers, rear diffuser, front air intake side skirts, and
front and rear hoods. The wheels have been swapped out for 20-inch
Schmidt Revolution alloys with steamroller Michelin rubber. The
interior has been refinished in custom leather, Alcantara and
carbon fiber trim. The stock exhaust has been replaced by an adjustable
system More
info
Review
: Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
 The
8C has been around long enough that you already know what matters.
It's stunning, perfectly proportioned and should only be available
in one color: Competition Red. Beneath its achingly gorgeous carbon
fiber exterior you'll find the same platform that underpins the
Maserati Gran Turismo, along with a dry-sump 4.7-liter V8 hand
assembled by Ferrari. A six-speed sequential gearbox channels
the bent eight's 450 horsepower (at 7,000 RPM) and 354 pound-feet
of torque (at 4,750 RPM) to a limited slip differential nestled
between the rear wheels, delivering a claimed 0-60 MPH sprint
of 4.2 seconds and a top speed over 180 MPH. More
information & pictures
Ferrari
458 Italia price emerges at $240,000 in alleged leaked document
 Dreaming
of getting your hands on Ferrari's upcoming 458 Italia? You'd
better know what you're getting yourself into, and this is our
first real indication. Stemming from a supposedly leaked price
sheet, the new V8 supercar will start in Europe at €162,900, before
any taxes are taken into account. At today's exchange rates, that
figures to about $240,000 – around halfway between the price of
the outgoing F430 and the 430 Scuderia. Of course, that's not
an official figure – Ferrari North America has yet to confirm
pricing for the U.S. market. More
information
First
Drive: 2010 Acura ZDX
 Acura
calls its all-new ZDX "a provocative luxury four-door sports
coupe," adding that it's a "passionate getaway"
vehicle designed for "a couple, their belongings, and more."
The proclamation is a twist on a pitch we've heard before, yet
with an even narrower segment focus. While the marketplace has
come to accept the stylishly squashed Mercedes-Benz CLS, Volkswagen
CC and Jaguar XF into the non-sedan segment, this new niche –
pioneered by the BMW X6 and accepted by consumers if only because
the Bavarian delivers the goods – is still a substantial risk
that could require a hard sell with pithy prose. More
information & pictures
Review:
2010 Ford Taurus SEL
 Ford
created one of the most influential vehicles of the late 20th
century: the Taurus. Radically styled and intelligently packaged,
the Taurus won the hearts and minds of millions of car buyers,
and for over a decade, it was a dominant force in the retail car
market. Eventually, competition from the Toyota Camry and Honda
Accord proved too much for Ford to handle, and the Blue Oval hung
its game-changing sedan out to dry. Product development dollars
were funneled to trucks and SUVs, and the Zodiac's bull died a
pauper's death in 2007 after an achingly long stint as a tattered
fleet Queen. More
information & pictures
Review:
2009 Audi Q5 3.2 Quattro
 2009
Audi Q5. $50,000 will put your rump in vast automotive acreage,
but for the same coin, the Q5's dimensions are tidy. Combating
the "quantity equals quality" mindset, Audi has made
the Q5 a standout. It's filled with luxury and comfort items,
and put together with typical German fastidiousness. And out on
the road, the Q5 chats you up with feedback that's – dare we say
– sports-like. So has Audi managed to finally put the "sport"
in Sport Utility? Styling-wise, the Q5 is unmistakably Audi. Without
carefully looking, it could be mistaken for its larger Q7 brother,
if only ran through a clothes dryer. Initial inspection led your
humble narrator to believe that the Q5 shares its underpinnings
with Volkswagen's similarly-sized Tiguan More
information & pictures
Land
Rover confirms two-door LRX for production
 Land
Rover has confirmed what we've long expected – the popular LRX
Concept from the 2008 edition of the Detroit Auto Show is headed
for production. The British-born automaker doesn't actually say
the new 'ute will be called the LRX when it hits the market in
2011, but it will definitely be wearing a Range Rover badge and
therefore likely be marketed as a premium vehicle. No details
are given about the coupe-like SUV's powertrain, but Land Rover
does say the it "will be the smallest, lightest and most
efficient vehicle the company has ever produced." More
information
First
Drive: BMW 535i Gran Turismo
 Although
the 4.4-liter V8-powered 550i model wasn't available for sampling
at the launch event (it's the only engine that will be available
Stateside when the model launches in December), we can't see why
we wouldn't save some ducats and go with less expensive 3.0-liter
twin-scroll turbo inline-six of the 535i, as it's substantially
lighter, offers plenty of power, and promises to be more economical
to purchase and operate. With 304 horsepower (@ 5,800 rpm) and
295 pound-feet of torque available from just 1,200 rpm, it's also
no slouch. Sixty mph arrives in an estimated 6.3 seconds and the
party doesn't stop until 155 mph. More
information & pictures
Review:
2009 Lotus Exige S 260
 Over
its 61-year history, Lotus Cars has spent a considerable amount
of time clawing its way back from the brink of insolvency. The
company's most recent bout with financial disrepair came in the
early Nineties after the front-wheel-drive Elan proved a commercial
failure (surprise!) and the Esprit toiled away in the shadows
of newer, more powerful supercars. As hope for the historic marque's
triumphant return began to fade, a group of Lotus engineers pooled
their collective will to create an all-new, back-to-basics model
that would revive Colin Chapman's company and give hardened enthusiasts
the purist's driving tool they raved. More
information & pictures
Officially
Official: Fiat confirms Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari"
for Frankfurt debut
 Still
waiting for that baby Ferrari to come along? This may be as close
as you'll get. Confirming earlier reports, Fiat's Abarth and Ferrari
subsidiaries have gotten together to collaborate on a special
500 to honor Maranello. We first heard about a special Ferrari
edition 500 last year when we were in Italy test driving the new
Alfa MiTo. But while the previous 500 created for Ferrari was
used solely as a courtesy car for Ferrari owners bringing in their
cars for service, this new Frankfurt-bound special edition will
actually be available for purchase by the general public. More
information
McLaren
MP4-12C Details
 After
ambitiously launching its own separate automotive division to
follow in the footsteps of arch-rival Ferrari, the British race
engineering firm has finally released its long-anticipated new
supercar. Called the MP4-12C, it's been developed entirely in-house,
and features the latest advances in automotive technology derived
from the Formula 1 circuit. The MP4-12C is built around an extremely
light and rigid carbon fiber tub. But rather than the heavier
multi-piece tubs used by its competitors and predecessors, the
MP4's is made from a single piece, weighing a spritely 176 pounds).
The body panels are all carbon fiber and composites, making the
new McLaren more expensive to build than its competitors and resulting
in an expected £160,000 ($265k) price tag More
information
2010
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
 Despite
an achingly long roll-out, the first cracks in the 2010 Mercedes-Benz
SLS AMG dam have begun to appear, courtesy of CarPoint. Due to
be revealed at next week's Frankfurt Motor Show, the 300SL-inspired
"Gullwing" is packing a front/mid-mounted version of
the venerable 6.3-liter V8 fitted to the majority of AMG's offerings,
mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox channeling 563 hp and
480 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Weight is pegged at around
3,500 pounds, allowing the SLS to run from a rest to 60 in 3.7
seconds. Top speed is 197 mph and optional carbon ceramic discs
should bring the party to a halt with supreme authority. More
information
Officially
Official: 2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost details released
 Rolls-Royce
has officially dropped dozens of images and plenty of details
on its new "baby" saloon, the Ghost. The new Roller
won't be seen publicly for another week, when it'll formally bow
in Frankfurt, but we now know that its 6.6-liter V12 generates
an impressive 575 lb-ft of torque at 1,500 rpm, along with 563
horsepower in U.S. trim. The 212.6-inch body stretches over a
129.7 inch long wheelbase, and the whole car weighs in at 5,445
pounds unloaded. There are no surprises in the styling, which
is unchanged from the 200EX concept displayed in Geneva last March.
More
information
Review:
2010 Cadillac CTS Sportwagon
 At
first glance, the CTS Sportwagon is a real eye-catcher. It's bold,
form-over-function sheetmetal catches the eye, then details like
three-foot-long tail lights and 19-inch wheels help keep onlookers
fixed on the prize. Cadillac has astutely dialed back its chrome
quotient over the past couple years, and the CTS Sportwagon manages
to stand out without mimicking a pimp's dental work. What makes
the CTS Sportwagon really look special is its raked roofline,
which gives it an athletic appearance. Cadillac will tell you
that the 58-cubic-feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded
flat are within one foot of the much taller SRX More
information & pictures
Review:
2010 Audi R8 V10
 With
the exception of the intake, exhaust and ECU, the engine is the
identical unit fitted to its Italian brother from the same mothership
and carries over unchanged from the R8 LMS currently being campaigned
by Audi Sport and a handful of privateers. Even though the 5.2-liter
FSI V10 is rated at 525 horsepower (down some 35 ponies from the
Gallardo), there's no perceivable trade-off in aural satisfaction.
The exhaust note swaps the Lambo's raucous, playful intonation
for a more focused – even, restrained – tone, particularly below
4,000 RPM before an extra baffle in the exhaust evolves the sound
from a mumble to a wail. Think Hendrix playing at eight rather
than eleven – the sound is no less sweet. More
information & pictures
Hyundai
Genesis Sedan - The most awarded car of 2009
 Hyundai
says that the Genesis Sedan's considerable trophy case makes it
the most awarded car of 2009 – and since we have no methodology
by which to cross-checking such a high-falutin' claim (scientific
or otherwise) we're going to give the Korean automaker the benefit
of the doubt. The Hyundai Genesis Sedan began 2009 as the North
American Car Of The Year and the well-heeled sedan has continued
to build momentum with an impressive 21 awards. Among the Genesis
Sedan's many honors are nods from Motor Trend (America's Top 40
New Cars), Cars.com, J.D. Power, NADAGuides, and AutoPacific.
More
information
Ferrari
458 Italia: Maranello releases more details
 The
Frankfurt Motor Show is fast approaching, but rather than hit
the brakes as they would for an approaching corner, Ferrari is
pulling out all the stops. In gearing up to unveil their new 458
Italia at the show next month, Ferrari is giving us a little more
each week. We've already seen the first batch of shots, downloaded
the ringtone and heard the company's brand and technical directors
talk about the car; now Maranello has released an additional video
of Paolo Pininfarina of the eponymous design studio talk about
the car's styling, and with it released a new batch of interior,
motion and studio shots. Ferrari has further centralized the controls
onto the Italia's steering wheel. More
information & pictures
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