New models

After spending time with the top-of-the-line 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring, we found much that we liked; however, we also found almost every positive thing we had to say about the SUV came with a caveat.

Inside, the CX-9's leather seats and ambient lighting give the appearance of luxury, but the materials feel cheap compared with a true luxury vehicle. The spec sheet touts an impressive amount of cabin tech, but the components don't work well together, creating a confusing experience. Overall, we formed a positive impression of the CX-9, but the vehicle lacks the final bit of … Read more

Chevrolet released official images and details about its upcoming Cruze sedan, ahead of the official reveal at October's Paris Motor Show. The Cruze, slotted to replace Chevy's outgoing Cobalt model, looks very much like a baby Malibu, albeit a very angry one that's been hanging out with the riffraff of GM's Australian Holden division.

GM also claims that the interior is inspired by the two cockpit design of the Corvette, but between the 'Vette's cheap plastic interior and Chevrolet's history of even cheaper compact cars, we don't know if that's a good … Read more

Audi got us all excited Thursday morning with a press release titled "Audi announces first automotive OEM iPhone application." We were thinking Audi cars would integrate with the iPhone in ways we never thought possible. Maybe you could display your iPhone screen on the car's LCD, viewing Web pages and e-mail. Maybe the iPhone would work with the navigation system, giving you Google address searches in place of the car's standard points-of-interest database. Audi already has good iPod integration and Bluetooth cell phone support, two things of which the iPhone can take advantage.

But then we … Read more

When owners of Bugatti's freshly revealed uber-car, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, want to get some sunshine, they have to leave the removable polycarbonate hard top at home. But what happens in the event of sudden rain? Surely, Bugatti's engineers don't expect the world's motoring elite to futz around in the rain with a fabric top? As it turns out they do, but with a clever solution fitting a removable soft top has never been easier.

Stowed in the trunk (which, on the mid-engine Veyron, is located up front), the soft top opens and functions … Read more

As in other current M models from BMW, the 2008 BMW M6 is afflicted with a dual personality. It masquerades as a big luxury coupe around town, but when the roads open up, the M6 can transform into a superhero. At a push of the M button on the steering wheel, the suspension tightens and the throttle response becomes more acute. Where a superhero might where a cape, the M6 gets a carbon fiber roof, lowering its center of gravity. But while the big, long coupe shows a lot of brawn in its styling, the high trunk lid makes it … Read more

Honda unveiled its 2009 Civic lineup this Tuesday. As should be expected, the new model receives some incremental styling changes in the form of a tweaked grille and headlamp combo, clear turn signals in the rear, and a new, more aggressive three opening front bumper cover. Power output remains unchanged for the gasoline, natural gas, and hybrid variants. Honda has, however, made vehicle stability control standard for top-tier trim packages.

Inside the cabin, Honda is still offering the same optional DVD-based satellite navigation system that we saw on the 2007 Civic Hybrid model, but has added Bluetooth hands-free capabilities to … Read more

The Pebble Beach Concours D'elegance is best known for meticulously preserved or restored classic cars, but more automakers are seeing the event as a launchpad for new models and special editions that cater to the opulence and exclusive nature of the event.

This year was no different with special editions from Lexus and Volkswagen, a new model from Bugatti and a one-off showcase from coachbuilders Pininfarina.

View 2008 Pebble Beach special editions slide show.

For the introduction of Acura's updated 2009 TL model, the company invited a number of automotive journalists to drive the car over some excellent roads in Marin, just north of San Francisco. Actually, we would be driving two very different cars, as Acura split the TL between a standard and performance version. The latter isn't the TL-S from past model years, but an all-wheel-drive version that Acura felt it had to develop because of bias against front-wheel-drive cars amongst enthusiasts, which all previous TLs had been. This performance-oriented TL is called the TL SH-AWD, and along with Acura's all-wheel-drive system gets a bigger engine than the standard TL. We got to drive both cars on some of our favorite roads, going up the coast on Highway 1, then coming back down on a series of winding country roads.… Read more

Mercedes-Benz's smallest U.S. sedan, the C-class, continues to impress us, this time with the sport-tuned 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG version. We previously reviewed the C300, and found that its updated electronics put to shame the tech in more expensive models from Mercedes-Benz. With the AMG version we have a car that competes with the BMW M3, not only in cabin tech, but in sheer performance and the exhilarating drive it offers.

The cabin electronics in the C63 are the same as in the C300, with the latest version of Mercedes-Benz's navigation and phone system. The sound produced … Read more