Car and Driver Blog

Spied: 2010 / 2011 BMW 5-Series takes cues from the 2009 7-Series

2008-07-03T18:54:00.003-04:00

Now that the Seven’s out of the bag, spies turn their eyes to the Fives.

BY STEVE SILER

Just as BMW releases official photos and talking points of the all-new 2009 BMW 7-series, we capture these spy shots of the sixth-generation 5-series, caught testing here in the U.S.

The timing couldn’t be better—now that we know exactly what the new Seven looks like, we know a lot more about where BMW will be taking the Five. And the similarities are numerous.

Indeed, wrapped front to rear in the skin of a current-generation 7-series, trunklid and all, is an all-new 5-series body that is several inches longer in wheelbase and at least an inch or two longer overall.

Based on what we see around the door handles, we can tell that the bodysides will feature the same waistline pinch and bright door handles that both help to break up the Seven’s massive flanks. Also like the Seven, the nose appears lower, with a wide, low twin-kidney grille. The rear doors look much longer, suggesting newfound rear-seat space (which the current car could certainly use).

Keep Reading: 2010 / 2011 BMW 528i / 540i / 550i / 535d / 5-Series - Spied

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Long-Term Road Test Update

2008-07-03T13:47:00.002-04:00

July 2008, 9104 miles

BY DAVE VANDERWERP

Current Mileage/Months in Fleet: 9104 miles/3.5 monthsAverage Fuel Economy/Range: 20 mpg/338 milesService: $108Normal Wear: $0Repair: $0

In its nearly four months with us, the STI hasn’t ventured too far from the home office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, making it as far as, uh, Ohio, along with Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Part of that reason is simply the unfortunate reality of cargo- and people-space needs; our long-term Mazda CX-9 gets much more road-trip attention.

Not that the STI is totally impractical, with comments from our staff such as, “Love the look and utility of the hatchback,” although the plastic shoulder-belt guide on the easy-to-fold rear can hit the front passenger seat if you don’t first slide it forward.

Still Having Fun

But that’s not to say we’re not enjoying driving the STI. At least one editor thought we made the wrong call in the Mitsubishi Evo versus STI and VW R32 comparison test, saying that “the STI is far more refined than the Evo GSR” and also that it has “better seats, shifter, driving position, and interior styling, while the exterior looks are a wash.” The seats are certainly up to the long-haul task, too, as the lone staffer who’s driven serious miles reported: “Great seats, even with 20-plus hours logged behind the wheel during a 1200-mile road trip.”

Keep Reading: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Long-Term Road Test Update

2009 BMW 750i / 750Li / 7-Series: First Pictures of BMW’s Sexier New Seven

2008-07-03T13:20:00.002-04:00

Bye-bye, Bangle butt! BMW brings sexy back to the seven.

BY STEVE SILER

There is no question that the 2002–2008 BMW 7-series, in all of its iterations, was a supremely capable luxury sedan with a pretty spectacular list of capabilities. Superlative as it was, however, it was a lightning rod for criticism involving everything from its bloated styling to its complex iDrive interface. Furthermore, the competition has since matched—if not surpassed—the Seven in many dynamic respects.

Well, we just got our paws on the first official photos and info about the all-new, fifth-generation BMW 7-series. And while it probably won’t be the game-changer the last one was, it’s got quite a serve.

The Sexiest Seven Ever?

For starters, it’s vastly better looking. At 199.7 inches, it is now 1.3 inches longer than before and just as wide; height is down a half-inch. The subtle redesign does wonders to mask the new Seven’s enormity—something the previous model, with its slab sides and blunt fascias, never did. Rather, with its lower nose and tidier tush, the ’09 model’s overall appearance is more lithe, less like a land whale, and more befitting a BMW flagship.

Keep Reading: 2009 BMW 750i / 750Li / 7-Series – Official Photos and Information - Car News

2010 Toyota Prius - Car News

2008-07-03T12:18:00.002-04:00

The Greenmobile boosts fuel economy in time for $5 gasoline.

BY AARON ROBINSON

In uncertain times, the multitudes need a hero. In a year when the spot price of light, sweet crude is an hourly news event, the Toyota Prius seems a likely candidate. A new Prius hybrid arrives in 2009 to fight the forces of OPEC and the evil oil empire. If the price of gasoline hits $5 at the pump, buyers are sure to give it a very bigHowdy Doody welcome.

Toyota, a ship so buttoned down it makes the recently departed William F. Buckley Jr. look like Huey Newton, has no plans for radical upheaval. The current Prius is a sellout in all its five-door jelly-bean frumpiness, so the car scheduled to be revealed at the 2009 Detroit auto show will be tweaked mainly to answer minor customer beefs with the current jelly bean. It will be slightly larger, a bit more spacious inside, and trimmed with more luxury options. The engine will grow and become a tad snappier in its sprint while returning even better fuel economy. A plug-in model should arrive in 2010.

Keep Reading: 2010 Toyota Prius - Car News

2008 Volkswagen Passat Lux: Selling $37,000 Four-Cylinders is No Way To Reach the Million-Sales Mark in the U.S.

2008-07-03T09:28:00.008-04:00

You almost couldn't make this up.

A perfectly nice, front-drive Passat 2.0T arrives at the office. "What's that thing cost," I ask.

"$37K."

"Can't be," I reply. "It doesn't have the 280-hp V-6 or all-wheel drive;" two things to surely avoid when trying to locate a reasonably priced Passat.

So I go to www.vw.com and nearly start laughing out loud as I read the following banner across the Passat's main page.

"The people want German luxury sedans without the German luxury price tag."

Off to the left it says "Starts at $23,990*" but if you find the note that asterisk points you to, it reads, "Model shown $38,015." What?! Does the $24K model look so cheap that it's not even suitable for photos?

Exactly which German luxury sedans is VW trying to undercut, the BMW 5-series and Mercedes E-Class?

Anyway, as we've said before, the cheaper the Passat the better. The 200-hp 2.0-liter turbo has plently of power--enough to overwhelm the front tires, in fact--gets to 60 mph in about seven seconds, and is a smooth and comfortable ride.

The Lux trim adds a bunch of electronic niceties--and ours had the $3500 "Hi-Def" body kit as well--but sticks with tiny looking 17-inch wheels. To get 18s, you have to step up to the V-6 model. The leather seats look rather upscale, but offer very little lateral support.

It's a fine car, just not terribly fun. And defintely not worth it as the sticker closes in on $40K.

2007 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T Wagon - Short Take

2006 Volkswagen Passat 3.6 - Road Test

Chevy Corvette Z06 vs. Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 GT2

2008-07-02T21:18:00.005-04:00

Extremists: It’s man against motherboard in this four-way flog of max-horsepower machines.

BY AARON ROBINSON

Behold four machines sitting on the pointy end of a horsepower skyrocket that lifted off sometime in the 1980s and hasn’t hit the chutes yet.

For now, anyone can buy these vehicles by flashing a valid driver’s license and a healthy checkbook. But this may be it. The last act. The apogee right before reentry, when post-peak oil prices and carbon-emissions limits and general economic malaise threaten to make memories out of 500-horsepower cars. Maybe someday you’ll bore grandchildren with tales of Porsche GT2s practically falling out of trees for just $198,875. Is it 1971 all over again? Who knows? Maybe you’ll be telling them from the back seat of their parents’ 700-hp minivan.

These days, the only certainties are that factories still make fast cars, magazines still review them, and the public still buys them. Determined not to shirk our duty, we gathered these sharp darts for some track work and desert road running. They have little in common except being the heaviest ordnance currently sold by their respective brands. We didn’t say our duty was particularly tough.

Keep Reading: Chevy Corvette Z06 vs. Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 GT2

Next-Gen Nissan Titan to Get Most Dodge Ram Attributes - Car News

2008-07-02T15:54:00.002-04:00

Most powertrains and cab configurations are on the table; Ramboxes are not.

BY ALISA PRIDDLE

No matter how you slice it, Nissan Titan buyers will have more options under an agreement with Chrysler to build the next-generation full-size pickup from the Dodge Ram architecture for sale in 2011.

Nissan will still design the next-generation Titan—the name may change—but its underpinnings will be all Ram for ease of assembly at Chrysler’s Saltillo, Mexico, plant. Nissan will stop building the current Titan in 2010.

And while the two automakers are reluctant to divulge too many specifics before an agreement is signed—likely this fall—officials from both companies confirm most aspects of the Ram are subject to negotiation.

Where Nissan really looks to gain is in more available powertrain options and cab configurations.

Currently, the Titan only has one powertrain: the 317-hp, 5.6-liter V-8. The partnership opens the door to a full pantry of potential Chrysler gasoline and Cummins diesel engines. The Ram is available with a 215-hp, 3.7-liter V-6; a 310-hp, 4.7-liter V-8; a 390-hp, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8; and there is a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel in the heavy-duties.

Keep Reading: Next-Gen Nissan Titan to Get Most Dodge Ram Attributes - Car News

Proud to be American? Buy “Foreign”

2008-07-02T11:54:00.002-04:00

Americans by birthright: Five unexpected ways to buy what your neighbor builds.

BY STEVE SILER

1, 4, or 5.

One of these digits is found at the beginning of the vehicle identification number (VIN) of each and every car or truck built in the United States.

But contrary to widely held beliefs, not all cars built in America wear American brand names. Indeed, like hamburgers, pizza, and “Freedom Fries,” some of the most savory American automotive treats originated in other countries but are now made right here in the U. S. of A.—a foreign badge doesn’t mean foreign workers built the car.

Keep Reading: Proud to be American? Buy “Foreign”

2009 Kia Borrego EX - Short Take Road Test

2008-07-01T10:39:00.002-04:00

Hesiod would be tut-tutting.

BY AARON ROBINSON

“Observe due measure,” opined the Greek poet Hesiod about 2700 years ago, “for right timing is in all things the most important factor.”

Hesiod may not translate well into Korean, perhaps why Kia chooses now to bring us the Borrego, an old fashioned ladder- framed, rough-riding sport-ute with three rows of seats. The well-appointed and modestly priced Borrego would have murdered the Ford Explorer around 10 B.C., as in “Before Crossovers.” Today, it feels just sofive minutes ago.

Named for the windy Anza-Borrego Desert in southeast California, Kia’s big buckaroo arrives this fall on a stretched and strengthened version of the Kia Sorrento frame. It is everything people search for in heavy SUV iron: three rows of seats on a tall platform, high ground clearance with available four-wheel drive, and an optional 337-hp, 4.6-liter V-8 and six-speed automatic supplying a 7500-pound tow rating.

Keep Reading: 2009 Kia Borrego EX - Short Take Road Test

2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe - First Drive Review

2008-06-30T16:32:00.004-04:00

Sportiness on a grand scale.

BY TONY SWAN

You’ve heard the old maxim about not being able to afford something if you have to ask its price, but the fact is some people do ask that question about Rolls-Royce cars, including the new Phantom coupe. The difference between those people and mere mortals who pale at the notion of a $405,000 automobile is that they’re asking because they’re ready to write a check.

That scenario is more likely in the U.S., according to Rolls marketing types. Although part of the Rolls allure is being able to personalize the car in excruciating detail—44,000 possible colors, for example—it’s not uncommon for U.S. buyers to walk in and pop for whatever happens to be on the showroom floor—no waiting, drive it home.What they’ll be driving home in this case is the newest and sportiest Phantom, and 400 large is what Rolls projects as the base price when it’s available here in November.

Keep Reading: 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe - First Drive Review

2009 Hyundai Sonata SE V6 - Short Take Road Test

2008-06-30T16:11:00.002-04:00

Hyundai’s mid-sizer gains ever so slightly in the fancy footwork department.

BY ERIK JOHNSON

For 2009, Hyundai took its satisfying Sonata mid-size sedan—already a more-than-credible alternative to the segment’s entrenched big dogs—and endowed it with more power and refreshed styling inside and out. As enthusiasts, however, we were most interested in what they’d done to improve the “sporty” SE trim, namely whether or not it’s actually sporty.

It’s No Hyundai Quattroporte, But It’s Better than Before

The SE is obviously no sports car, but it does now boast a bit more enthusiasm in its footwork. Previously more of an appearance package than anything else, the 2009 SE rides on all-season rubber (Kumho Solus KH16 tires) but gets a unique state of tune for the control-arm front and multilink rear suspension.

Keep Reading: 2009 Hyundai Sonata SE V6 - Short Take Road Test

Ford Planning Five Special Edition Mustangs in 2009? Possibly, but Not These

2008-06-30T15:36:00.003-04:00

Planned additions include a compact, one for the greater good, and one with some big-time horse power.

BY ERIK JOHNSON

Forty-four years have passed since the Mustang first galloped into enthusiasts’ barnyards, and in the intervening time Ford has dished out, like a Baskin Robbins manager on speed, more flavors of Mustang than we can possibly count. Most have been iconic: GT350, GT500, Cobra, Cobra R, Mach I. Some have not: High Country Special, Cobra II, 1979 Indy Pace Car Edition, Twister.

Keep Reading: Five Future Mustangs We’d Like to See

2008 Pontiac G8 GT: Great Performance for the Money, but You Pay at the Pump

2008-06-30T13:23:00.003-04:00

When we compared The Pontiac G8 GT with the Dodge Charger R/T, the G8 GT ran 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. That’s blisteringly fast for a family sedan, and lots of low-end torque means it feels powerful on the road. The G8 also has tons of space and rides and handles well. For less than $32k as equipped, this is an amazing package. If the above describes your primary considerations in a new vehicle, look no further.
My favorite thing about the G8 is the superb tuning of its traction and stability control system. It allows burning rubber and throttle steering before it cuts in, and when it does cut in, it does so gently. Unlike, say, a Dodge Charger R/T, the G8 never feels like the engine has cut out when the system detects wheelspin.
In mixed city/highway testing for both our Pontiac G8 Road Test and the aforementioned comparo, we got 16 mpg, but around town, I only got 10 mpg. The big motor loafs along nearly at idle on the highway and returns over 20 mpg, but if you actually use all the power in town, it consumes gas like a Chevy Suburban.
The Pontiac G8’s Australian heritage comes through in some odd ways. The GT’s Blaupunkt stereo is easily the worst sounding setup in any competitive vehicle. Muffled bass and muddy midrange combine with undefined highs to yield an experience that could be bettered by many a clock radio. Luckily, the bizarre interface is so hard to use that you likely won’t be able to get music to play anyhow.
The G8 suffers from an overabundance of hard black plastic inside. It’s a huge step up from the old Pontiac Grand Prix, but anyone who has ever been in a Honda Accord will find it cheesy. The oddest thing about the interior is the gigantic pair of gauges atop the center of the dashboard, one each for voltage and oil pressure. They look like the L.E.D readout from a 1976 Quasar watch, and most people (like me) will wonder why they are there. Pontiac heard the complaints, and they will disappear on the 2009 G8.

Audi 3.0 TFSI V-6 Could Power 2009 A6, 2010 S4 - Car News

2008-06-27T16:06:00.003-04:00

290-horsepower six could see use in many more vehicles.

BY JAKE HOLMES

Audi announced a new supercharged V-6 engine, called, somewhat ironically, the 3.0 TFSI, that will power upcoming A6 and S4 models.

Details are scarce, but we expect to see the 3.0 TFSI as an optional engine in the 2009 A6, most likely coupled to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic. It’s unclear whether the engine could also be an uplevel option in the Audi A4.

As we had previously speculated, the 2010 Audi S4 will also use this supercharged engine, albeit in a higher-performance tune. As yet it’s unknown whether the S4 will employ a dual-clutch S tronic transmission in the U.S.

Audi says the 3.0 TFSI is a versatile engine that could see use in a variety of models, in the same way the popular 2.0T has been used in everything from the Volkswagen GTI to the A4. The new engine has been in development for at least four years.

Keep Reading: Audi 3.0 TFSI V-6 Could Power 2009 A6, 2010 S4 - Car News

2009 Nissan GT-R Arriving in U.S. Showrooms - Car News

2008-06-27T14:30:00.002-04:00

Pricing starts at $70,850.

BY ALISA PRIDDLE

If you’re waiting for a 2009 Nissan GT-R to officially get your motor running for summer, Nissan says U.S. deliveries begin July 7.

But if you don’t already have your name on one, you may be disappointed. More than 1700 of the 2400 expected to be allocated to the U.S. have been spoken for.

Keep Reading: 2009 Nissan GT-R Arriving in U.S. Showrooms - Car News

2009 Chevrolet Traverse First Drive: Arguably Best of GM’s Crossover Quartet

2008-06-27T12:14:00.002-04:00

Ace of Spades? Chevrolet Traverse becomes the fourth—and perhaps best—card in GM’s game-winning hand in the crossover game.

BY STEVE SILER

Saving the best for last may not have been GM’s intention when it finally introduced the fourth and final version of its acclaimed Lambda full-size crossovers, which also include the Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, and GMC Acadia, but after our short first drive of the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, that seems to be the case.

The New Malibu Maxx

The Traverse we first saw at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show was clean and classy, and the production version enters virtually unchanged, save for an ever-so-slight reshape of the headlamp lenses so as to claim a segment-best coefficient of drag of 0.33. Not accidentally, the Traverse’s fascia bears a resemblance to that of the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, which is great looking itself. Other nice details include an upswept rear window, flush-mounted roof rails, and mirrors with LED turn signals on LT and LTZ models.

Likewise, Malibu influence can be found throughout the Traverse’s interior. The center stack cascades down toward the shifter, and is tastefully decorated with silver trim. Illumination patterns also follow those of the Malibu.

Keep Reading: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse - First Drive Review

2008 Volkswagen Jetta SE: Nice car, appalling iPod integration.

2008-06-27T11:12:00.002-04:00

For $20k, The VW Jetta SE is a fun little car. It’s tighter and livelier than Japanese and American competitors, although it is a few thousand dollars costlier. The engine makes 170 hp this year, which is sufficient when paired with the stick shift, as was our example.

Do not order the iPod adapter for the Jetta. It functions like the original BMW system from 4 years ago: you pick CD changer on the head unit and the first 5 playlists can be selected by clicking the buttons for CDs 1-5. All tracks are available by selecting CD 6. The head unit, which was designed for CDs and not an iPod, can only go up to track 99. It’s a moot point anyhow, as there’s no textual display of any kind, so unless you remember the track number of every song on your iPod, you’ll never be able to find what you want. To add insult to injury, my Nano popped off the iPod connector every time I went over a bump. If VW wants to be known for good engineering, it should offer iPod integration as found in all other German cars (including BMW). They let you select music by artist or playlist.

2009 Porsche Boxster and Cayman - Car News

2008-06-27T10:18:00.002-04:00

Future Cars: 2009 and Beyond

BY RAY HUTTON, TONY QUIROGA, AND JUERGEN ZOELLTER

What it is: Like its rear-engined brother, the 911, the mid-engined Porsche Boxster and Cayman get direct fuel injection for 2009. A few subtle styling mods accompany the powertrain enhancements.

Noteworthy technology: Engine displacement remains unchanged at 2.7 and 3.4 liters for the flat-six engine. Horsepower for the 2.7-liter engine rises to 260 (from 245), and the 3.4-liter moves from 295 to 310 horsepower.

Keep Reading: 2009 Porsche Boxster and Cayman - Car News

2008 Lotus Elise SC - Short Take Road Test

2008-06-26T17:38:00.002-04:00

Not a torqued-out transformation, but a little more power makes our favorite day-to-day race car even better.

BY TONY QUIROGA

We dreamed, perhaps unrealistically, that the addition of a supercharger to the Elise’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder would be akin to dropping a small-block V-8 into the 2043-pound roadster. If you’re expecting that sort of torqued-out transformation, you’ll be a bit disappointed. But let’s say you’d just like an Elise that is less peaky and a little quicker than the naturally aspirated version, a car whose power curve looks like Piet Mondrian drew it.

For those unfamiliar with the standard Elise, its power delivery at 6500 rpm is akin to getting an injection of adrenaline to the heart; at that rpm the cam phasing changes, and the Elise hurtles forward violently. Supercharging the Elise smoothes out the engine’s bipolar behavior like a good dose of lithium. The Elise becomes a more docile and tractable car, a better citizen and certainly easier to live with. Boost from the supercharger totals only 5 psi, low enough that Lotus doesn’t even alter the 11.5:1 compression ratio or add an intercooler. Even at low rpm the Elise SC feels satisfyingly strong; power builds progressively, and the cam change is virtually undetectable. All 218 horsepower (a scant 19 more) arrive at 8000 rpm with max torque (156 pound-feet, 23 more than before) coming 1800 rpm sooner, at 5000 rpm.

Keep Reading: 2008 Lotus Elise SC - Short Take Road Test

2009 Infiniti FX35 - Short Take Road Test

2008-06-26T16:13:00.002-04:00

Plenty fast for an SUV, but it’s still a gas-guzzler.

BY MARK GILLIES

The new rip-roaring Infiniti FX50 is a fine sporty crossover SUV, but with 390 horsepower, it’s a bit over the top. For starters, who really needs one of these tall wagons to run 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds, as the FX50 does? Second, it rides so stiff-leggedly that it threatens to shake loose the fillings in your teeth. And finally, EPA projections of 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway are disheartening at a time when gas just blew past $4 a gallon.

For those who think that less is suddenly a good idea, the 3.5-liter V-6–engined FX35 makes a case for that. Its looks are every bit as wicked as the FX50’s, even on its standard 18-inch wheels and tires. (The FX50 comes with 20-inchers as standard.) It can be outfitted with most of the techno toys from its larger, V-8–powered stablemate. With 303 horses (up from 275 in the previous FX35), performance is hardly shabby, with the 0-to-60 blast taking just 6.1 seconds. Although our observed fuel consumption of 14 mpg raised eyebrows—it was the same as the stronger FX50’s—the number was skewed by a preponderance of city driving: The EPA numbers are 16 mpg city and 21 highway, not the improvement one might expect over the V-8.

Keep Reading: 2009 Infiniti FX35 - Short Take Road Test

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe - First Ride – It’s Alive!

2008-06-26T11:38:00.004-04:00

We get a preview spin in Hyundai’s upcoming rear-drive sports car.

BY ERIK JOHNSON

We love surprises. So we were pretty delighted when, while attending the press launch for the Genesis sedan, Hyundai Motor America VP and product planning guru John Krafcik pulled up in a blue Genesis coupe and invited a few journos to hop on in. Four of us took him up on the offer, filling the attractive little car to the gills—and then some, since the rear is only intended to hold two folks.

The car we rode in was a base V-6–powered model, so there were no Brembo brakes or 19-inch wheels or firmed-up suspension, all of which will characterize the top-spec SE trim level when the car is released early next year. Even stuffed full of well-fed scribes, the car felt quick—310 horsepower can do that for you, and Hyundai predicts 0–60 gallops of under six seconds—and the exhaust note has just the right mix of aggression and refinement. The ride was relatively supple, considering we were riding on the bumpstops, and the car garnered a lot of attention as we cruised the streets of Santa Barbara. (Even from the ladies, who were, uh, amused to find five dudes in one tiny little sports coupe.)

Keep Reading: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe - First Ride - Car News

2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe - Car News

2008-06-26T10:13:00.002-04:00

Future Cars: 2009 and Beyond

BY RAY HUTTON, TONY QUIROGA, AND JUERGEN ZOELLTER

What it is: A production version of the CTS coupe concept shown at the ’08 Detroit auto show. Like the CTS-V sedan, aV-series coupe will put out the most power in the segment, 550 horses. Non-V-series will get the direct-injection 304-hp V-6 from the CTS sedan; the 258-hp V-6 doesn’t make it into the coupe.

Keep Reading: 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe - Car News

2009 BMW 7-Series Equipped With New Night Vision and Speed-Limit Recognition Technology - Car News

2008-06-25T17:21:00.002-04:00

The new 750i and 750Li will help drivers see objects in the dark and track traffic-sign information.

BY JENS MEINERS

BMW will start building the next-generation 2009 7-series this fall and the automaker aims, once again, to set it apart from the competition by equipping it with the latest technology.

The technology on the current 7-series includes a column-mounted, by-wire gear selector—which will be dropped—and the big knob of confusion known as iDrive, which is expected to stick around.

Besides styling corrections and powertrain upgrades, practical innovations are the focus of the 2009 7-series. The technology advances include a new night-vision system and speed-limit recognition technology. We drove two mules equipped with these advances.

As a rule, we are critical of driver-assistance technology. Anyone should be capable of observing road conditions and adjusting speed accordingly. The business of driving doesn't mix with typing messages into your cell phone while sipping on a latte macchiato. We can read signs, and we don't need assistance, but thanks anyway.

Keep Reading: 2009 BMW 7-Series Equipped With New Night Vision and Speed-Limit Recognition Technology - Car News

2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S, Coupe and Cabriolet, Gain Electronically Controlled AWD

2008-06-25T16:33:00.002-04:00

The Carrera scores an AWD system from the 911 Turbo.

BY JAKE HOLMES

Following the recent refresh of the rear-wheel-drive Porsche Carrera and Carrera S, Porsche has announced a refresh for both the coupe and Cabriolet models of the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S, as well.

Most importantly, the refreshed Carrera 4 and 4S lose the old multi-plate, viscous all-wheel-drive system in favor of the electronically controlled system from the 911 Turbo. The old system could send between 5 and 40 percent of engine torque to the front wheels once it had detected wheelspin. The new electronic system can anticipate traction losses and shift up to 100 percent of engine torque fore or aft.

Keep Reading: 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 / Carrera 4S / Carrera 4 Cabriolet / Carrera 4S Cabriolet - Car News

Road-Trippers: Staring Down the Barrel of the Thousand-Mile Day

2008-06-25T13:45:00.004-04:00

Five choice road warriors to ease your cross-country slog.

BY JARED HOLSTEIN

A road trip is as close to a spiritual journey as many people exact from the harried modern world. Some stretches of highway beg to be eclipsed, distances swallowed in great gulps of combustion. Other routes encourage dawdling, if by comely vistas or avid speed enforcement. All require a worthy chariot.

There is a skill set required for road-tripping that falls outside the normal criteria used to rate cars. Twenty thousand satisfying and comfortable miles commuting in a Nissan 350Z, for example, did not intimate that halfway across the United States yours truly would be lying flat at a rest stop, back in full spasm after 14 hours in seats as free of lumbar support as an ironing board. Otherwise forgettable cars like the Buick Lucerne, however, are damn fine choices for going straight.

Keep Reading: Road-Trippers