New Vehicle Reviews (Page 59)

TorqueNews asked a random Nissan Leaf driver to write about his experience. Brian Keez's story is very interesting as he writes how he obtained his orphaned Leaf and how his father also bought one, spending only 12 dollars a month on charging his EV.

Until this year, my admiration for the New Beetle had to kept largely silent because no self-respecting automotive journalist could like this chick car. All that has changed with the 2012 VW Beetle because men can like it, too.

The fourth generation of the Lexus GS Hybrid is an exercise in balancing opposing concepts, something it manages to do very well. First and foremost, it manages to strike equilibrium between the primary attributes premium automobiles embody to one degree or another, namely luxury and performance.

The compact and fuel efficient 2012 Fiesta is light on your pocketbook, and light on the environment. It is part of Ford's Power of Choice tour which came to San Francisco yesterday.

An electric version of the popular Transit Connect, 80 mile range, excellent speed and handling, and offers savings to fleet owners. It was shown today in the San Francisco leg of Ford's Power of Choice tour demo'ing the carmaker's line of eco-friendly vehicles.

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 packs a supercharged V8 engine first offered in the Cadillac V-Series models along with a high tech suspension system that has made its rounds in General Motors’ Corvette ZR1 and Z06 supercars. These are two features of many that help make the 2012 Camaro ZL1 one of the most amazing performance cars of all time but is the new super Camaro one of the best muscle cars of all time - or is it the best muscle car there will ever be?

The 2012 Porsche Boxster S is a great looking car with a surprising amount of passenger and cargo space but the most exciting part of the Boxster S is driving it...as whether blasting down the highway or cutting along a twisty country road - the 2012 Boxster S provides an incredible rush.

The Porsche name is well known for being among the most well respected performance/luxury brands in the world and while the 2012 Boxster S is Stuttgart’s "entry model" – this car is a beautiful example of what Porsche can offer to those who are looking for a European sports car sans the six figure budget.

We have talked about the new Ford Explorer quite a bit this year, from the impressive fuel economy of the initial models to the high tech MyFord Touch infotainment system to the introduction of a 4-cylinder EcoBoost but beyond all of that, can the new unibody-based Explorer live up to the rugged sport utes of the past?

The Japanese car maker has achieved its objective with the 2012 Toyota Prius, but it had to give up something to reach its goal.

It's easy to underestimate a vehicle's capabilities – to take it for granted. Such was the case with the 2011 Toyota Highlander. It was a crossover utility vehicle that seemed to have been passed by other more worthy competitors.

The Toyota Venza made a good impression on us when we first checked it out back in 2009. It was a nice size and shape, with oversized wheels and a roomy interior, but at that time we didn’t get to drive it very far. Recently we had the opportunity to take the 2011 Toyota Venza on an extended road trip, finding it even more likable than we at first imagined.

Maybe you've heard the old cliché that good things come in small packages? Unfortunately, in the case of the 2012 Fiat 500c cabriolet that's not the case. It's a small package, but it's underpowered and overpriced, which just don't cut it no matter how cute you are.

Since it was announced that the Chevrolet Volt would be making it to production, I have eagerly awaited my chance to review the first electric vehicle from an American automaker. Having spent a week cruising the streets of Detroit in the Volt, I was amazed both at the incredible fuel economy levels but also the fact that this electric vehicle can very easily serve as a long-distance daily driver.

Some have called the 2012 Audi A7 3.0T a sedan, others have called it a coupe. Our review concludes that it’s just a great looking beautiful car with many goodies.

We recently had a chance to spend a few hours cruising around Southwestern Michigan in the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, the innovative new hatchback that offers a sporty feel and easy access to the rear seats with the “extra” passenger’s side door.

The hot spot in the automotive world right now is the B class or sub-compact segment as most folks know it. Sweet in that hot spot is Kia with the 2012 Rio five-door hatchback currently in dealers and the four-door sedan that rolls out by year’s end. The base 2012 model has the same price as the 2011 model but much more value.

The previous generation Infiniti M56 was always a likable luxury performance sedan. It had a sense of oomph to it while providing a luxurious, comfortable ride. The one thing it lacked was a real sense of design but not so with the 2012 Infiniti M56. Gone is the bland exterior that was not in keeping with the rest of Infiniti's sharp looks.

Having known owners who are avid evangelists for the top of the line Jeep, we decided to give the 2011 Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 a thorough test in its true element – the Rocky Mountains at altitudes over 8,000 ft. Those who dwell at such altitudes and those who regularly commute between businesses or homes in the city and mountains have long considered the Grand Cherokee the reliable standard of mountain life and mobility.

While the Hemi powered Challenger R/T and SRT8 392 might get the lion’s share of attention, the new 3.6L Pentastar V6 adds some much needed power to the entry level 2011 Dodge Challenger and the Rallye package allows it to look a great deal like the more powerful counterparts packing V8 engines.