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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , Sedans/Saloons , Sports/GTs , Pontiac Click above for high-res image gallery of the Pontiac G8 GXP There's a Looney Tunes cartoon where Bugs Bunny is in charge of Yosemite Sam's inheritance, and every time Yosemite Sam loses his temper at something Bugs has done, the rabbit subtracts money. By the time Yosemite gets his act together... he's out of money. Substitute GM for Yosemite Sam and the buying public for Bugs Bunny, throw in a little credit crisis, and all we can say is that it would be a shame if the Pontiac G8 GXP fell victim to this scenario: GM running out of money just when it gets its act together. Because we're here to tell you - and you can quote us on this - the Pontiac G8 GXP is @#$%&*! Awesome. Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP Live photos copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP originally...
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , Sedans/Saloons , Mercedes-Benz Click above for high-res gallery of the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG What a difference 20 inches and 1,000 lbs makes. The latest occupant of the Autoblog Garage is the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG. You might recall that a few months ago we tried out one of the big dogs from the Benz lineup, the S63 AMG and came away somewhat awed by the technology but distressed by the driving experience. This time around we got the baby brother of the family and found what may well be the best driver's car in the current Daimler lineup. Ever since the C-class was born as the 190E back in the '80s, Mercedes and BMW have had a back and forth rivalry in the high performance compact sport sedan/coupe segment. As the M3 has grown and evolved over the past two decades, so to has the Stuttgart challenger. Just like the original M3, the lineage started with the four-cylinder 16-valve 190E-2.3-16 and has grown through a succession of V6 and V8 engines...
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , Sedans/Saloons , Hyundai Click on the image above for our high-res 2009 Genesis sedan gallery The all-new 2009 Hyundai Genesis sedan has been capturing more than its share of the spotlight this year. The luxury-oriented four-door sedan was launched with much ballyhoo over the summer. With a long list of standard features, a choice of six- or eight-cylinder power, and its sights pointed directly at some heavy-hitting established competition, the sedan rolled into showrooms with high expectations. After a few short introductory drives, Hyundai put both models in the Autoblog Garage so we could spend some time getting a bit more intimate with its new players. How solid is the chassis, engine and powertrain? How does the sedan hold up to the daily grind? How does the late-arrival fare against its status-laden competition? Find out after the jump. Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Hyundai Genesis Photos Copyright (C)2008 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc...
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , Economy , Sedans/Saloons , Suzuki Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Suzuki SX4 Sport with TRIP For the 2009 model year, Suzuki will begin offering navigation as standard equipment on all SX4 Sport models. Starting at a buck under 16K, the new 'Zook is the cheapest car in America so equipped, and that news was very well received by the media and car shoppers alike. In fact, so positive was the response, the decision was made to begin offering the GPS navigation about six months early as part of the TRIP package . We were intrigued by the idea of a low-cost commuter car coming standard with such a desirable feature, so we decided to procure one such TRIP-equipped 2008.5 SX4 Sport for testing. Is the navigation nothing more than a gimmick to get you into a sub-standard car, or does the SX4 have more going for it than just being well equipped? Read on to find out. Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Suzuki SX4 Sport with TRIP Photos Copyright...
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Filed under: Coupes , Sedans/Saloons , Infiniti , First Drive Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Infiniti G37x Coupe Infiniti recently invited us to Napa, California to show off its 2009 model lineup, and while they didn't bring the all-new G37 Convertible (we'll be at the Los Angeles Auto Show to report on that one), they did hand us the keys to the new all-wheel drive G37x coupe and the more-powerful 2009 G37 S sedan. Does all-wheel drive make a slot car out of the coupe? Does a larger engine transform the sedan? Read on for our full impressions after the jump. Gallery: 2009 Infiniti G37x Coupe Gallery: 2009 Infiniti G37S Sedan Photos Copyright (C)2008 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Infiniti G37x Coupe and G37S Sedan Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Economy , Hybrids/Alternative , Sedans/Saloons , Green , Volkswagen , First Drive 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI click above for high-res gallery The state of California has the toughest vehicle emissions regulations in the world in its LEV II (and the corresponding national Tier 2 Bin 5) standards. Those rules treat all engine types the same regardless of what fuel they use. It doesn't matter if the engine runs on gasoline, diesel or cow dung, the emissions standards are the same. These rules are so tight that no manufacturer has been able to sell light-duty passenger vehicles powered by diesel engines in California and four other states for the last several years. That's all about to change beginning with last month's sales launch of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The Jetta TDI is the first new diesel-powered car to meet the tough T2B5 standards, and it's fitting that VW invited us out to the birthplace of these emissions regulations to drive it. We spent a day...
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , Sedans/Saloons , Toyota Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Toyota Camry XLE A recent night of excitement: driving the Camry XLE to the Super Wal-Mart. So lame, but that's not the car's fault. Like Wal-Mart, the Camry has been excoriated as a work of Satan, antithetical to all that is American, never mind where it's built. Despite the gleeful way everyone always lobs shots at Toyota's midsizer, there's a lot of virtue here. After all, there has to be some kind of hook to this car attaining such vaunted status, besides the bounce-lending automotive cult of personality. Since nobody actually reviews the Camry - we just complain about it as it outsells everything else - we rustled up an XLE powered by Toyota's 2.4-liter four cylinder and tried it out. Gallery: In The Autoblog Garage: 2009 Toyota Camry XLE Photos Copyright (C)2008 Dan Roth / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In The Autoblog Garage: 2009 Toyota Camry XLE Permalink...
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , Sedans/Saloons , Volkswagen Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Volkswagen CC Is "four-door coupe" an oxymoron or a clever twist on automotive design rules? That was a popular question among the 50 or so journalists invited to drive Volkswagen's new CC from Atlanta to Nashville last week. The seemingly contradictory term was apparently first used to describe the Rover P5 Mark II in 1962, but was revived more recently when Mercedes introduced its CLS in 2004. In both cases the cars' low rooflines defied conventional saloon styling and needed a unique descriptor for marketing pizazz. When rumors of the VW CC began to leak out, some speculated the CLS would be its main target. But Volkswagen learned from the disappointing U.S. acceptance of the Phaeton: Luxury buyers pay for brand cache as much as they do for supple leather and high-tech gadgets. This time around, says Brett Scott, VW's product planning manager, they expect...
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , Sedans/Saloons , Mitsubishi Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR Here's a revelation: being stuck in traffic sucks. And it's even more infuriating behind the wheel of an Evo. Despite what some scribes might lead you to believe, the Evos of yore (VIII and IX) weren't deplorable daily drivers. Granted, Mitsu's engineers erred on the stiff side with the Evo's ride, and it didn't help that the tiller provided more feedback than a Metallica sound check. But the real reason jaded journos harped on the old Evo's workaday unfriendliness was because nothing is more frustrating than piloting concentrated adrenaline in a sea of buzzkill. With the 2008 Evolution X, Mitsubishi attempted to rectify some of the Evo's (perceived) shortcomings by equipping the range-topping MR with more amenities, more sound-deadening material, a more compliant ride and a new twin-clutch transmission to balance back...
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , Sedans/Saloons , Sports/GTs , Jaguar Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged Ford Motor Company sent Jaguar packing this year when it sold the storied English automaker, along with Land Rover, to Indian mega corp. Tata. On its way out the door, Jaguar took something special: the XF sedan. Its entire development process having been carried out under the stewardship of Ford, the XF is easily the most tasty fruit born of the cross pollination between the Blue Oval and Leaping Cat since they were first joined back in 1989. Read on to find out how the 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharge fared in the Autoblog Garage. Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged All photos Copyright (C)2008 John Neff / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Cadillac , First Drive Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V After decades of decay, Cadillac began a transformation in the waning years of the last century that would allow the brand to compete against modern luxury brands. Decrepit beasts like the late Eldorado and Seville were euthanized and, while the decision to switch mostly to alpha-numeric naming was dubious, Cadillac finally started creating cars that could compete directly with the best from Europe and Japan, and the first generation CTS was one of them. In spite of this progress, the Germans still had something Cadillac lacked, namely AMG, M and RS models. So Cadillac devised the V-Series, the first of which was the 2004 CTS-V. Just as BMW does with the M3 and M5, Audi with the RS4 and RS6 and Mercedes with innumerable AMGs, the CTS-V had a bigger, more powerful engine; beefier brakes and tires; a suspension to match and an upgraded interior. This, however, is an arms race...
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Acura , First Drive Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Acura TL Beginning in February at the Chicago Auto Show, Acura began rolling out redesigned versions of its three sedans in the span of six months. Beginning with the RL in Chicago , Acura has rolled out its new design ethos intended to make these cars stand out in the increasingly crowded entry luxury segment. When we first showed you the RL, it got what would charitably be described as a negative reception. The new shield grille design was almost universally reviled both in the media and amongst you readers. By the time the entry-level TSX arrived a month later, reactions softened somewhat as people became accustomed to the look. In its first few months on the street, sales of the new TSX have jumped more than 20 percent compared to the old model. The last to arrive and arguably the best looking of the three is the mid-level TL, which arrives this September to replace the best selling sedan...
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , Sedans/Saloons , Tech , Videos , Mercedes-Benz , AMG Click above for high-res gallery of the AMG S63 There was a time when what we might call super-sedans were largely the province of a dedicated cadre of aftermarket tuners. Companies like Brabus, Alpina and, of course, AMG would generally start with mid-sized German sedans and transform them into something truly special. AMG in particular came to the forefront in 1987 after two decades of building special Mercs when they unleashed the Hammer. They had been building cars for two decades already, but the Hammer took things to a new level by installing a 5.6L V8 from the 560SEC coupe modified with twin-cam four valve heads into the mid-size 300E sedan. With that car, AMG set off an arms race that continues to this day. The tuners are still out there but AMG was eventually brought in from the cold when it was bought by Mercedes-Benz. Today AMG produces high performance versions of almost all Mercedes models...
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Euro , Maserati , First Drive Click above for high-res gallery of the Maserati Quattropore S Let's be honest: cars can be a mode of transportation, but you're not reading Walkoblog or Cycleblog, now are you? At the heart of matters, what we're really pursuing here is that unbridled enthusiasm we had for cars as children. With every comparison of engine output and Nurburgring lap times, we're reaching back to the schoolyard, childishly debating the superiority of one sportscar over another. And all these galleries of high resolution images we bring you are just our updated version of hanging posters of Ferraris and Lamborghinis on the walls of our childhood bedrooms. How disappointed our younger selves would be, however, at what we end up driving when we finally have the means: ho-hum family sedans, bloated SUVs and wobly mini-vans. If only someone made an exotic sedan - not a compromise between the two, but a genuine exotic with four doors....
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Mazda , First Drive Click on the image above for our high-res gallery of the 2009 Mazda6 The 2009 Mazda6 is an all-new midsize sedan from Mazda that was designed, engineered, developed, and will be manufactured completely on U.S. soil. While the Japanese and European markets have been enjoying the new 6 (Atenza) since late last year, the North American market finally gets to bask in the sleek new bodywork, along with a bigger engine under the hood. Follow the jump to see if the latest product from team "Zoom-Zoom" can compete head-to-head with the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Nissan Altima. Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Mazda6 All photos copyright Michael Harley / Weblogs Inc. Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Mazda6 Permalink | Email this | Comments
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