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Astute readers will notice that whenever we refer to Nissan's new Z, we specify 370Z Coupe. What about the convertible variant of Nissan's Z car? How do Nissan's recent announcements and unveilings affect the Z Roadster?

Well, for now at least, they don't. The Z Roadster will continue as a 350Z model, with the legacy styling and the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine under the hood producing the same 306 horsepower. In fact, the only update for 2009 is a new Moonlight White exterior color, which replaces Pikes Peak White. In other words, there's no (… Read more

Mercedes-Benz revealed three vehicles during its presentation at the end of day one of the 2008 LA Auto Show, with the most notable being the SL65 AMG Black Edition.

Like the SLK 55 AMG Black Series and the CLK 63 AMG Black Series before it, the SL65 AMG Black Series is ultrahigh performance and ultraexclusive. Only 175 examples will be sold in the United States.

Between the wildly exaggerated front fenders lies the most powerful Mercedes-Benz AMG engine ever produced. The SL65 Black features a 6-liter V-12 biturbo engine, outputting an electronically limited 670 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. … Read more

We were just commenting yesterday, as we piloted our 2009 Lexus RX 400h down California's HWY 5, that the crossover SUV was getting a bit long in the tooth. Starting February 2009, that will no longer be the case because the new 2010 RX 350 will be available, followed shortly by the RX 450h hybrid.

Lexus unveiled the updated RXs at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. The new vehicles feature updated powertrains, new designs, and a much needed cabin tech refresh.

At the center of the cabin tech experience is the hard-drive-based navigation system with a new "… Read more

After many leaks and private unveilings, Nissan officially unveiled its all-new 370Z Coupe.

Amid a maelstrom of flashing lights and the loudest, most bass-heavy music we've ever heard, Nissan rolled the Z onto the stage. We have to say that it looks even better in person than in any of the photos we've seen up to this point. Although the silhouette is similar to the 350Z Coupe and the essence of the Z-car is still there, the 370Z Coupe is a full redesign, with a shortened wheel base, revised proportions featuring a more rakish roofline, and a new … Read more

In its efforts to put electric cars on the road by 2010, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced a partnership with the state of Oregon during his keynote at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. The Oregon Department of Transportation and Portland General Electric will develop an infrastructure of charging stations, and Nissan will supply a fleet of electric cars to the state. Ghosn also said that Oregon will offer a tax credit to buyers of electric vehicles. The charging infrastructure will not only make it possible for people to recharge their electric vehicles at various locations throughout the state, but … Read more

We can't wait for the unveil of the Nissan 370Z at the 2008 LA Auto Show. Apparently, Nissan couldn't wait either, because they unveiled not one, but three examples of the next Z Coupe at an invite only enthusiast's event.

Check out the video below, which also features some tastefully (and some not-so-tastefully) modded examples of the 350Z near the beginning for comparison's sake.

Nissan 370Z Reveal before LA Auto Show

See all coverage of the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Los Angeles Auto Show starts Wednesday, and we are blasting down I-5 at 80 mph in a Lexus RX400h, taking a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles. We just passed the Los Banos exit, so we are well on our way. The nav system reports that we've got 264 miles to go. It also says we'll get to our hotel in 4 hours and 47 minutes, but I think we can do better than that, barring bad L.A. traffic.

Fortunately, we have three people in the car--editors Wayne Cunningham and Antuan Goodwin, and Corinne … Read more

With Dodge and Chevrolet's entrants into the modern pony-car wars revealed, Ford's almost-4-year-old Mustang is starting to look a bit dated and a bit short on power. But that could all change with the unveiling of the 2010 Mustang update at the 2008 LA Auto Show.

Ford has been leaking teaser shots all over the Internet leading up to the unveiling at the 2008 LA Auto Show. Let's have a look and see what changes we can discern.

We don't expect to see a drastic change in the Mustang formula, but it looks like we'll … Read more

Five finalists were announced for the 2008 LA Auto Show's Green Car of the Year award. Only one of them can be crowned king, but which will it be?

There are a broad range of green technologies represented in this year's field: clean diesels, gasoline-electric hybrids, and a tiny, thrifty gasoline engine.

Will the winner be the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, which we've heard so much about over the past few months? Perhaps it will be the newly announced BMW 335d, with its 50-state-compliant clean diesel? Representing gas-electric hybrids are the Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid and the … Read more