(Credit:
Spantax)
Certain cars feature such atrocious designs that they become automotive legends. Think cars such as the AMC Pacer and Pontiac Aztek. In the last year, we've seen quirky designs that may reach such legendary status from the vaunted brands BMW, Acura, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin. Some of these designs are attempts at entering the crossover segment, building an SUV with the fuel economy and ride quality of a car. Others attempt to expand model lineups dominated by sports cars, giving the prospective buyer who wants to add a baby seat an option. Take a look at these photos to see the results of these design efforts.
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Corinne Schulze/CNET)
We spend a lot of time evaluating the electronics in new cars, digging through navigation system menus, hooking up phones and iPods, and listening to audio systems. But occasionally we get to put these very same cars on the track, to find out how their performance technologies work under stress.
This year, we drove a wide variety of cars on the track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. There was the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe and Chevrolet Camaro. We had familiar rides such as the BMW M3 and Acura TL SH-AWD. Then there were the race-bred cars, the Audi R8 and Lotus Elise SC. We even had a Kia Soul out there.
Check out our gallery for performance commentary and stunning track photos.
Can't decide between an SUV and a sports car? Acura lets you remain on the fence with is ZDX, a car designed to satisfy both impulses. BMW tried a similar idea last year with the X6, although the ZDX is more car-like than that entrant. Although it might break new ground on the surface, the cabin of the ZDX is filled with the same cutting-edge car tech we liked so much in the TL.
Acura teases a car that will be unveiled at the New York auto show.
(Credit: Acura)
The series of photos released by Acura Friday to tease its New York auto show debut on April 8 show a four-door car with a fastback design. It looks like a sports car, but could also be more of a crossover, as it is difficult to tell the height from the pictures. Rear headroom looks severely compromised from the sloping roof, especially if it is a sedan. We would expect it to get power from Acura's existing 2.4-liter four cylinder or 3.5-liter V-6 engine.
More automakers are offering iPod integration in their models, sometimes as a standard feature. With this type of integration, you can bring your iPod into the car, leave it in the glovebox or console, and access all of your music through the car's stereo interface, listening to your tunes through a full audio system. You can select your music by artist, album, genre, and playlist just as you would on your iPod. And the number of automakers offering this integration varies widely.
Of course there are BMW and Infiniti, but would you believe Ford and Hyundai, too? Take a look at these six specific models we've chosen that work with your iPod.
Acura shows off the 2009 TL to automotive journalists.
(Credit: CNET)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
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Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)
Because of its solid and comfortable everyday driver demeanor, buyers of the new 2009 Acura TSX will probably opt for the five-speed automatic transmission, for ease of driving in traffic and urban settings. And that's unfortunate, because to appreciate Honda's capability to build truly efficient engines that deliver both economy and power, you just need to get the six-speed manual transmission.
Our TSX came with the manual transmission, and it made driving the car a joyful experience. Of course, the many cabin electronics didn't hurt either, if we discount the mass of buttons on the instrument panel and steering wheel. Acura evolves its excellent navigation system further by adding weather reports and better integration with live traffic. We also had a pleasant surprise in audio sources, finding the TSX not only adds a USB port, but Bluetooth streaming as well.
No longer a pocket rocket, the Acura TSX gets more size and more technology.
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Having been given a preview test drive and a chance to play with the cabin gadgetry of the 2009 Acura TSX last month, we had to wait until the model's official unveiling at this week's New York auto show before we could share our first impressions. Now that the embargo has lifted, we can give you the full skinny on Acura's tech-heavy second-generation sports sedan. Check out our photos of the 2009 Acura TSX.
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CNET Networks/Corrine Schulze)
We zipped around the city and flogged the 2008 Acura RDX through the hills, and in all areas found it an enjoyable ride. Its compact SUV-style body offers practical interior space while giving it carlike maneuverability. With the tech package, Acura throws in just about every cabin gadget imaginable, from an excellent-sounding stereo to its full-featured navigation system. However, while the RDX maneuvers like a car, it drinks gas like a large SUV. We also eagerly await the day that Acura redesigns its dashboard and reduces the ridiculous number of buttons.
