Mercedes Benz M-Class Review

The new Mercedes Benz M-Class arrived in the showrooms towards the end of last year, having undergone a minor facelift and a few additions to the standard feature list.
Most people who are thinking of buying a Mercedes Benz ML will not fail to be impressed by the sheer size of the car and array of on-board electronics, some of which take some getting used to and time spent with the handbook will be well spent.

But let's start with the Mercedes Benz M-Class' exterior changes. There is no mistaking that it is a Mercedes, with its larger new grille dominating the front end, above a re-styled front bumper with a new, simulated skid plate or under-guard. The headlight clusters now feature projection beams and at the rear, the taillights have a smoked glass appearance.

The Mercedes Benz ML 280 CDI Sport test car was in Obsidian Black, which together with the dark privacy glass from the B-pillar back, certainly made it an imposing vehicle on the road. This was further emphasised by the wide stance and huge, 20-inch wheels. These are new, as are the 18-inch on the V6 SE and 19-inch on the V8 SE models, which look good on the road but anyone venturing off-road on a regular basis, would need to invest in different tyres. That said, there is an optional Off Road Pro package that adds differential locks, ground clearance adjustment and a low-range transfer box - but no mention of tyres.

The Mercedes Benz ML's rear end also has an under-guard and along the side are running boards, in an aluminium finish with rubber studs, which I could have happily lived without. They are awkward to use as an aid to getting in or out so you end up stepping over them and that generally resulted in banging my head on the cant rail, as I like to sit high and upright, making the most of the already high seating position

The Mercedes Benz S-Class Awarded Best Luxury Car

The Mercedes Benz S-Class has been crowned Best Luxury Car at the prestigious Auto Express New Car Awards for the fourth consecutive year.
Editor in Chief, David Johns said: "Mercedes Benz redefined what we expect from the luxury car class with the S-Class, it still stands out like a beacon four years after its launch…the outstanding quality, effortless performance and superb refinement of the S-Class just couldn't be matched by its rivals, old or new."

Since the launch in 2006 the flagship model has continued to dominate sales in the luxury car segment with class leading innovative technology and the highest levels of comfort and style.

Dermot Kelly, Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars said: "It is fantastic to receive this accolade from Auto Express again this year. We are delighted that the S-Class has been awarded the Best Luxury Car title every year since we introduced the current car to the UK market, and it is going to get even better."

Later this year the new-generation Mercedes Benz S-Class will arrive in the UK, and, will of course feature even more safety and technological enhancements, along with improved performance and efficiency. The combined fuel consumption of the Mercedes Benz S 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY is now 37.2 mpg, an improvement of 9% and CO2 emissions have been reduced by 21% to just 199 g/km. Standard equipment will now include Adaptive Highbeam Assist and Attention Assist while an enhanced version of Night View Assist Plus with pedestrian recognition, Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist will all be optionally available.

The interior of the new Mercedes Benz S-Class will boast class leading technology in the form of a new SPLITVIEW screen. The screen enables the driver and front passenger to view different content on the same screen, at the same time. The driver can see the navigation information while the passenger can watch a movie. When activated the pixels facing towards the driver are used for the driver's image and the pixels oriented towards

2010 Nissan

Introduction\
art of what makes the Cube so unique is that it is a box, but at the same time incredibly round. But what really separates the Cube from the pack is its asymmetrical design. Nissan representatives won’t say for sure, but they believe the Cube is the only car in the world where the left and right sides aren’t identical.

The difference isn’t at first obvious, but it’s actually a major part of the car. Look back towards the rear and you’ll see the driver’s side rear pillar is a typical painted piece of bodywork, while on the passenger side the pillar is actually “invisible.” It’s covered by glass, giving a unique wrap-around look to the windows.

The rear of the car actually swings open to the side like a fridge, rather than opening upwards. That might not be ideal for some as the big door can be a little cumbersome. It does open in two stages though, with an initial 20-inch opening as well as the full range. Besides, the swinging door is really the only option as the car is actually too short (at just 65-inches) to clear most heads.

With practicality in mind, Nissan designed the Cube so that the door swings away from the curb. Right hand-drive models sold in Japan and the U.K. actually open the opposite way and feature a reverse desig

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T

it’s been a long wait for fans of affordable and fun-to-drive rear-wheel drive machines with Japanese build quality and style. But thanks to Korean superpower Hyundai, the wait is over in the form of the Genesis Coupe 2.0T, a machine clearly built for young (and young at heart) automotive enthusiasts with a passion for technologies commonly associated with the ‘sport compact’ segment, like turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, nimble handling, sporty styling and a sub $30,000 price tag. The 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T ticks off all those boxes and more, making it what’s likely to be an instant classic among the hardcore enthusiast and tuner crowds.

FAST FACTS
1. As the name suggests, the Genesis Coupe 2.0T is powered by a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cyl with 210 hp and 223 ft-lbs of torque.

2. All Genesis Coupe models are rear-wheel drive and come standard with a six-speed close-ratio manual transmission.GO-FAST APPEAL

The fact that Hyundai has provided a selection of press photos that include images of the car drifting or power sliding and the fact that the company’s corporate website shows the car being thrashed on a race track should tell you a lot about who their target market is with the Genesis Coupe 2.0T. Think 18 to 35 year old males who follow the FormulaDRIFT racing series and want to have a little drifting or track day fun of their own.

Similarly, by equipping the Genesis coupe with a 2-liter turbocharged and intercooled inline-4 cylinder engine (sharing the same GEMA World Engine architecture as the engine found in the 291 horsepower Mitsubishi Evolution X), Hyundai is clearly trying to appeal to the ‘tuner’ crowd made up of hands-on owners who like to find ways of turning up the boost pressure for a little extra power.

Further indicating the Genesis Coupe 2.0T’s hardcore performance orientation is the availability of a Track model that’s equipped with a Torsen limited slip differential, big Brembo brakes front and rear, and suspension tuning including stiffer front and rear spring rates, larger diameter front and rear anti-sway bars and more aggressive shock valving.

3. Pricing is just $22,000 to start.

4. A Track model gets Brembo brakes, a stiffer suspension and a limited slip differential.

5. Can also be had in a 3.8-liter 306 horsepower V6 version.
GO-FAST APPEAL

2010 Kia Forte: First Drive

A FRESH NEW CAR WITH A FRESH NEW DESIGN

By all accounts the Forte has a clean European design to it, with a side profile that barely has any lines all – just nice smooth sheet metal coated in a surprisingly high quality paint. My tester came with a metallic brown (which Kia calls bronze) coating. I know what you’re thinking. “Brown? Yuck!” But it’s actually very nice – especially in the sun.

I won’t be the first, or the last, to accuse Kia of lifting the design of the Forte’s headlights directly from the Honda/Acura parts bin. In a way it’s a compliment. The rest of the front end looks great too with Kia’s new corporate grille adding just the right amount of chrome around a gaping black grille. Below there’s a three part intake setup that adds to the car’s sporty flare.
MOST POWERFUL STANDARD ENGINE IN ITS CLASS

Those TV spots for the Forte do give you one piece of info about the car – the price. Base LX models start at $13,695 ($15,695 CDN), but you’re much more likely to find yourself in an EX for $15,795 ($17,995 CDN). Those who want a little extra performance can also opt for the SX model. But we’ll get to that later.

The price on the base LX model sounds great, but without any power options or even AC it’s not a very attractive package. The EX, however, comes well-equipped and when you add an auto tranny and the optional Premium Package that includes a sunroof as well as 16-inch wheels and tires, the damage is an acceptable $17,595.

2009 Audi A8 Review

Introduction
The Audi A8 is a big luxury sedan designed to challenge the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. In beats them in some areas and in others it offers an individualistic alternative. It many respects, the Audi A8 raised the bar for performance.

Three versions are available. The standard A8 boasts instant throttle response from its powerful 4.2-liter V8 and six-speed automatic transmission, while quattro all-wheel drive and an adaptable air suspension provide an excellent balance between handling and ride quality. The A8 offers a supreme sense of control with Gibraltar-like stability, benefits of its lightweight, Aluminum Space Frame that bonds the car into one cohesive unit.

The cabin is elegant and comfortable, and tops the class in finish quality. Audi's Multi-Media Interface, or MMI, integrates controls for various features and electronic systems into a big knob. It's a little easier to learn than BMW's iDrive, but it isn't easy. There is a learning curve and sometimes we find ourselves having to work harder to perform simple functions and wonder whether this is progress or burdensome technology.The A8 L rides on a stretched wheelbase that provides more room and comfort for rear-seat passengers and uses the same engine as the A8.

The A8 L W12 upgrades to a 12-cylinder engine and a whopping 450 horsepower. It's the only 12-cylinder sedan from Germany's big three luxury brands with all-wheel drive.

The Audi S8 is powered by a 5.2-liter V10 and comes with a firmer suspension, faster steering, and bigger brakes. The S8 is distinguished by special trim and equipment inside and out. The S8 is perfect for triple digit speeds on wide-open highways and would be an excellent choice for a cross-country race. It's also a good selection for getting away from enemy agents, for those in that line of work, particularly in bad weather. For driving through the neighborhood or in stop-and-go traffic, however, we found it suffers from an overly sensitive throttle that makes smooth takeoffs a bit too challengin