USA Today: New Ford Escape gets curvier, more fuel stingy

Nov 16, 2011
New Ford Escape gets curvier, more fuel stingy

The 2013 Ford Escape sport utility vehicle brings technologies and features
By Ford, Wieck

The 2013 Ford Escape was just unveiled and it shows a dramatic styling change. Gone is the boxy, utilitarian SUV look and the new Escape becomes more curvy and Hyundai-like. Ford is also touting its fuel economy and technology.

Fortune: Lexus: The Plain Jane of luxury cars

MOTORWORLD BY ALEX TAYLOR III
Lexus: The Plain Jane of luxury cars
By Alex Taylor III, senior-editor-at-large @FortuneMagazine October 31, 2011: 12:55 PM ET

The LFA: Lexus's exception to the rule

FORTUNE -- They may not rank with "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you," or "The check is in the mail," or "I'll respect you in the morning," but promises over the years from Lexus that it will make its mechanically impeccable vehicles more daring and emotional in their design are beginning to have an empty ring about them.

USA Today: Mystery Car 109: a forlorn '34 Sunbeam Talbot Saloon

Oct 26, 2011
Mystery Car 109: a forlorn '34 Sunbeam Talbot Saloon

This car was quite something in its day, but it has spent a lot of time sitting in a field ever since
By Darin Schnabel/RM Auctions

Wow. We're bowled over by the teamwork that went into figuring out the identity of that forlorn old sedan sitting out in a farmer's field somewhere, otherwise known as Mystery Car 109 out on Drive On's Forum. Smashing job, all!

Bloomberg: Dreamliner Travelers Enjoy Humid Cabin, Whispering Engines on First Flight

Dreamliner Travelers Enjoy Humid Cabin, Whispering Engines on First Flight
By Chris Cooper - 2011.10.26 05:33 PM

A Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliner airplane for All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA) takes off at Narita Airport in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg

he cabin of the 787 is 75 centimeters (30 inches) wider than a Boeing 767 and it has bigger luggage compartments and energy-saving light-emitting diode lights, according to ANA.

Kiyoko Furusho kept her moisturizer in her bag while flying on the first commercial Boeing Co. (BA) 787 service.

Toyota 2000 SR

Shelby GT Convertible

Shelby GT Convertible

Shelby GT500KR

Shelby 85th Commemorative GT40

Toyota Urban Cruiser

America's best-loved cars: Subcompact car

America's best-loved cars
Subcompact car

Ford Fiesta

1st place: Ford Fiesta
2nd place: Mazda2
3rd place: Honda Fit

The new Ford Fiesta subcompact ranked highest in its category. The Mazda2 and Fit had the second- and third-highest scores. Differences in scores may not always be statistically significant, J.D. Power said.

America's best-loved cars

America's best-loved cars
These cars ranked highest in the latest J.D. Power survey measuring how much owners like their new cars.

The competition

One of the benefits of a competitive market is that things should keep getting better.

RR Phantom Coupe

RR Phantom Coupe

RR Phantom Coupe

J.D. Power: Best new cars 001

J.D. Power: Best new cars
Large SUV or crossover

These vehicles ranked at the top of their respective classes according to the 2011 J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey.

10 safest fuel-efficient cars: Chevrolet Cruze ECO

10 safest fuel-efficient cars
Chevrolet Cruze ECO

Base price: $18,425
Mileage: 28 City / 42 Hwy

Nissan Leaf: 2011 World Car of The Year

Nissan Leaf: 2011 World Car of The Year

The Leaf,
Nissan's zero emission electric car,
is the 2011 World Car of the Year.

By Octavio Blanco, online editorApril 21, 2011: 1:17 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The all-electric Nissan Leaf was named the 2011 World Car of The Year at the New York Auto Show on Thursday.

Luxury, Electric Cars in Auto Show's Spotlight

Luxury, Electric Cars in Auto Show's Spotlight

De Zir

Auto makers are using a major Shanghai trade fair to tout their environmentally clean vehicles of the future, as well as the luxury vehicles they say will power sales in China.

Shanghai 2011: new Volkswagen Beetle

Shanghai 2011: new Volkswagen Beetle
Third generation of VW’s long-running bug makes world debut. Now ‘sportier’…
Posted by: Vijay Pattni, 18 April 2011

This is the new Volkswagen Beetle, unveiled today at the Shanghai motor show. Yes, new.

Autos: 2011 winners and losers: Winner: Ford Motor

Autos: 2011 winners and losers (so far)
Winner: Ford Motor

Ford Focus Electric

USA Today: Subaru: New Impreza all-wheel mpg champ with 36

Apr 07, 2011
Subaru: New Impreza all-wheel mpg champ with 36
By Fred Meier, USA TODAY

Here's news for you in the bad-winter belt who love all-wheel drive, but hate the penalty at the gas pump: Subaru announced today that its coming, redesigned 2012 Impreza will deliver 36 miles per gallon on the highway.

800-horsepower Mustang on the way

800-horsepower Mustang on the way

The 2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake will be available with an upgrade kit enabling it to produce 800 horsepower.

by Peter Valdes-Dapena, senior writer April 7, 2011: 4:36 PM ET
Follow Peter on Twitter: @PeterDrives

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- An 800-horsepower version of the Ford Mustang will be unveiled at the New York Auto Show later this month.

WSJ: Putting on the Brakes: Mankind Nears the End of the Age of Speed

THE A-HED|APRIL 7, 2011
Putting on the Brakes: Mankind Nears the End of the Age of Speed
As Space Shuttle Nears Retirement, Flyboys Pause to Reflect on a Slowdown

By DANIEL MICHAELS

The last commercial flight of British Airways' Concorde took off
from JFK airport in New York, Oct. 24, 2003.

The human race is slowing down.

WSJ: A Ferrari for Dhoni?

APRIL 5, 2011, 5:36 PM IST
A Ferrari for Dhoni?

By Margherita Stancati

Ferrari SpA recently announced it will step into the Indian market in a matter of weeks. It also said it would take up to a year before an Indian buyer can finally get his or her hands on the steering wheel of one of its supercars.

A Ferrari could be the red hot icing on the cake for Dhoni.

Seoul Motor Show 2010

Seoul Motor Show: Sonata Hybrid

Sonata Hybrid in Seoul Motor Show

Red

Seoul Motor Show: KND-6

KND-6 in Seoul Motor Show

Audi (White)

Seoul Motor Show: K5 Hybrid

K5 Hybrid in Seoul Motor Show

Seoul Motor Show: HND-6

NYT: Rare 1967 Toyota 2000GT Hits eBay for $650,000

March 31, 2011, 6:00 AM
Rare 1967 Toyota 2000GT Hits eBay for $650,000
By RORY CARROLL

The 1967 Toyota 2000GT coupe for sale on eBay.

Finding a Toyota 2000GT while combing the assembled coterie of Camrys and Corollas that inhabit the Toyota section of eBay Motors is equivalent to finding King Tut’s sarcophagus at the Container Store. Sure, the sarcophagus is technically a container, and the Toyota 2000GT a used car, but both stand out slightly when placed among their more pedestrian brethren.

NYT: Porsche Panamera Turbo S Breaks Cover Ahead of New York Show

March 30, 2011, 1:46 PM
Porsche Panamera Turbo S Breaks Cover Ahead of New York Show
By PAUL STENQUIST

2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S

In what is becoming common practice, especially among German automakers, Porsche introduced its Panamera Turbo S four-door luxury sedan on the Web on Wednesday, three weeks ahead of its formal debut scheduled for April 20 at the New York auto show.

America's Best Cars 10 Pick-Up - Chevrolet Avalanche

America's Best Cars
Pick-Up - Chevrolet Avalanche

Price: $36,110 - $49,310
Mileage: 15 City / 21 Hwy

Part SUV and part pick-up, the flexible Avalanche was one of only two American vehicles -- along with the Mustang -- to earn a Consumer Reports' Top Pick.

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From http://money.cnn.com/

America's Best Cars 09 Family Hauler - Ford Flex Ltd

America's Best Cars
Family Hauler - Ford Flex Ltd (with EcoBoost)

Price: $29,200 - $45,310
Mileage: 17 City / 24 Hwy

The Flex scored very well in this category, said Consumer Reports' Jake Fisher.

America's Best Cars 08 Sports Sedan - Buick Regal

America's Best Cars
Sports Sedan - Buick Regal

Price: $26,245 - $28,745
Mileage: 19 City / 30 Hwy

The Regal finished about mid-pack in this category, said Consumer Reports' Jake Fisher. If that doesn't impress you, this might: It outscored a BMW 328.

America's Best Cars 07 Family SUV - Chevrolet Equinox

America's Best Cars
Family SUV - Chevrolet Equinox

Price: $22,745 - $30,070
Mileage: 22 City / 32 Hwy

The category of "Family SUVs" includes vehicles that barely bigger than something like the Ford Escape.

America's Best Cars 06 Small SUV - Ford Escape

America's Best Cars
Small SUV - Ford Escape

Price: $21,215 - $27,685
Mileage: 23 City / 28 Hwy

Small SUVs are another tough category full of new entries. The Escape -- which hasn't had a major redesign in many years -- was not among the top overall scorers, said Consumer Reports' Jake Fisher.

Engines are a particular issue. The Escape's four-cylinder engine is noisy, Fisher said, and the V6 is thirstier than its competitors.

The Escape does win points though, for its overall functionality and high crash-test scores. The Hybrid also scored higher.

America's Best Cars 05 Family Sedan - Ford Fusion

America's Best Cars
Family Sedan - Ford Fusion

Price: $19,820 - $28,745
Mileage: 22 City / 29 Hwy

The Fusion is a really good car in a really tough market segment, notes Jake Fisher of Consumer Reports.

"It's a high-scoring vehicle," he said of the Fusion, which he called "a very enjoyable car to drive."

However, Fisher says that fuel economy is an issue. The Fusion lags its main Japanese competitors by a couple miles per gallon.

America's Best Cars 04 Small Car - Chevrolet Cruze

America's Best Cars
Small Car - Chevrolet Cruze

Price: $16,275 - $21,975
Mileage: 24 City / 36 Hwy

Despite the existence of the Cruze Eco model that gets 42 mpg on the highway, Jake Fisher of Consumer Reports says the Cruze is generally rather porky compared to its competitors. For most Cruze models, fuel economy is lower than other cars in its category.

America's Best Cars 03 Budget Car - Ford Fiesta

America's Best Cars
Budget Car - Ford Fiesta

Price: $13,320 - $17,120
Mileage: 28 City / 37 Hwy

The Fiesta came close to taking the overall Top Pick in this category, according to Consumer Reports' Jake Fisher. It's fun to drive and easy on gas. But it lost out to the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa -- the only two cars to score better -- because of its cramped back seat.

America's Best Cars 02 Sporty Car - Ford Mustang

America's Best Cars
Sporty Car - Ford Mustang

Price: $22,145 - $37,845
Mileage: 19 City / 29 Hwy (V6)

The Ford Mustang won the overall Top Pick rating in this category -- domestic or import -- from Consumer Reports magazine.

America's Best Cars 01 Green Car - Ford Fusion Hybrid

America's Best Cars

Car testers at Consumer Reports magazine rate these Detroit-brand cars, SUVs and trucks as America's Best for multiple reasons.

Green Car - Ford Fusion Hybrid

Price: $28,340
Mileage: 41 City / 36 Hwy

The Toyota Prius was Consumer Reports' Top Pick in this category, but the Fusion Hybrid actually outscored it in the magazine's testing.

Cars: Consumer Reports' Top Picks: Family Hauler - Toyota Sienna

Cars: Consumer Reports' Top Picks
Family Hauler - Toyota Sienna

Price: $24,560 - $40,070
EPA mileage: 19 City / 24 Hwy

The redesigned 2011 Sienna minivan isn't as good as the model it replaces, Consumer Reports says, but it still gets high marks for its comfort, versatility and performance. The Honda Odyssey, also redesigned for 2011, actually outscored the Sienna in performance tests, but the magazine has yet to collect sufficient dependability data on the Honda and can't recommend it.

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From http://money.cnn.com/

Cars: Consumer Reports' Top Picks: Sports sedan - Infiniti G37

Cars: Consumer Reports' Top Picks
Sports sedan - Infiniti G37

Price: $35,400 - $57,250
EPA mileage: 19 City / 27 Hwy

The G37 offers good handling and quick acceleration, Consumer Reports says. While it's comfortable to ride in, it's also fun to take through a twisty road. Plus, it has a nicely designed luxury interior.

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From http://money.cnn.com/

Geneva Motor Show 2010

Geneva Motor Show Babes 2010

Cars: Consumer Reports' Top Picks: Family SUV - Kia Sorento

Cars: Consumer Reports' Top Picks
Family SUV - Kia Sorento

Price: $20,995 - $33,895
EPA mileage: 20 City / 27 Hwy

Redesigned for the 2011 model year, the Kia Sorento has emerged as a top contender in its class. An optional third row allows the Sorento to carry up to seven people, while Consumer Reports credits its smooth V6 engine with providing good performance and fuel economy.

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From http://money.cnn.com/

Hot cars from the Geneva Motor Show: Ferrari FF

Hot cars from the Geneva Motor Show
Ferrari FF

The FF is a new four-wheel-drive shooting brake from Ferrari. A shooting brake is like a wagon, more or less. This car will replace the outgoing Ferrari 612.

Cars: Consumer Reports' Top Picks: Green car - Toyota Prius

Cars: Consumer Reports' Top Picks
Green car - Toyota Prius

Price: $21,650 - $28,320
EPA mileage: 51 City / 48 Hwy

The Prius has topped this category for eight straight years thanks, of course, to great fuel economy but also to the car's comfortable and roomy interior and outstanding crash test results.

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From http://money.cnn.com/

Cars: Consumer Reports' Top Picks: Small SUV - Toyota Rav4

Cars: Consumer Reports' Top Picks
Small SUV - Toyota Rav4

Price: $22,025 - $28,335
EPA mileage: 22 City / 28 Hwy

The Rav4 has won in this category four times in the past five years. Consumer Reports credits the small crossover SUV's agilie handling, good fuel economy and roomy interior.