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Review: 2011 Infiniti M37

Filed under: Sedan, Infiniti, Reviews, Luxury

Can Luxury, Technology and Style Win Your Soul?

2011 Infiniti M37

2011 Infiniti M37 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Not too long ago, the Infiniti M was the lesser sibling to the flagship Q. It was the middle child. During the 2006 model year, when the Q was less than a year from being dropped from the lineup, Infiniti gave the M a strong shove in the back in the form of a 4.5-liter V8 and quietly told it to climb up on the soon-to-be-vacant throne. With the Q gone and unlikely to return anytime soon, the Infiniti M is now tasked with being the automaker’s flagship sedan.

Completely redesigned for the 2011 model year, the Infiniti M is bigger and better than its predecessors ever were, but it still can’t fill the Q’s empty shoes. Shorted the substance and stature to battle the Lexus LS, the newest Japanese luxury sedan is relegated to fighting wars with the aged Lexus GS and Acura RL. But those two are the easy enemies. BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac are the ones fielding today’s worthy adversaries.

We spent a week with the “entry level” Infiniti M37. While it isn’t the range-topping M56, it does boast a proven 330-horsepower V6 and a luxuriously appointed cabin. Did we miss the eight-cylinder power? Should the Sports Package be a required purchase? What unique features does the gizmo-laden four-door offer? Most importantly, how well will it fare in this lion’s den of a segment? Hit the jump to find out.

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Review: 2011 Infiniti M37 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Kia Sportage

Filed under: Budget, Crossover, Kia, Reviews

Another Korean Competitor That Beats Expectations

2011 Kia Sportage

2011 Kia Sportage – Click above for high-res image gallery

Kia likes to say it has the Power to Surprise. Back in the day (oh, five or so years ago…), the Korean automaker’s customers were supposed to be pleasantly surprised that their new car, crossover or SUV was a better vehicle than expected. Perhaps you’ve heard the drill: “I bought it because it was cheap… and you know, it’s really not that bad.”

These days, though, being less mediocre than expected simply isn’t good enough. See not-so-(inter)stellar brands Saturn and Mercury for proof thereof.

In other words, each new Kia has to be completely on-target and every bit as good as its competitors from America and Japan – and judging by the ambitions of its corporate partner, Hyundai, you might even be inclined to include Germany on that list.

And we’ve come to expect exactly that from Kia. If the company’s first Sportage was a passable entry with a cut-rate price to make the masses take notice, and the second go-round was, you know… “not that bad…” then this crossover, the third-generation Kia Sportage, had better be good.

So, were we pleasantly unsurprised by the 2011 Kia Sportage?

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2011 Kia Sportage

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Review: 2011 Kia Sportage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG w/P31 Development Package

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Reviews, Luxury

As Subtle As Dropping A TV Set From A Hotel Balcony

2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG w/P31 Development Package – Click above for high-res image gallery

Roger Daltrey has gone on record as saying that in the Who’s early days, they were paid ₤75 to ₤150 a show, yet they would bust-up around ₤250-300 worth of gear every time they took to the stage. That’s bad math. Similarly, Mercedes-Benz asks those willing to pay $57,350 for its least expensive AMG model – the C63 AMG – to pony up a further $5,950 for the new-for-2010 P31 AMG Development Package that adds 30 horsepower, uprated brakes and a passel of miscellaneous hi-po gear.

From the perspective of a rational consumer, this too, fails to add up, as the standard-issue C63 is already a hooligan’s hooligan, a car from which no sane individual would walk away wishing for bigger stones. But as with Daltrey’s Who, the C63 is a fantastically overachieving beast of rather pedestrian roots, and when it comes down to it, adding the Dev Pack promises to be like dropping off Pete Townshend in the brand-new lobby of a mid-’60s Holiday Inn. With a set of Marshall stacks. Drunk and fresh off a painful breakup. In other words, it might not make a whole lot of sense or be a particularly wise financial decision, but it’s also a brave call with the glorious potential for unbridled mayhem.

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2011 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Performance Pack

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Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG w/P31 Development Package originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 BMW 550i

Filed under: Sedan, BMW, Reviews, Luxury

The Redesigned 5 Series Becomes A Baby 7 Series

2011 BMW 550i

2011 BMW 550i – Click above for high-res image gallery

More than one mile above sea level, located in the heart of Sequoia National Park, is the General Sherman tree. This nearly three-hundred foot tall Giant Sequoia is considered the largest tree in the world, as based on total volume. More impressive than its mass is its age – scientists believe it is between 2,300 and 2,700 years old. Giant Sequoias have prospered over centuries, while countless lesser trees have come and gone, because they posses very unique qualities. Their foot-thick bark allows them to resist fire, and their shallow roots take advantage of rain showers during periods of drought. And, in an interesting twist of natural survival, their tall canopies effectively block the sun, preventing competitors from taking hold and surviving in the darkened shadows at their base.

The BMW 5 Series is in a similar position. The long-established benchmark mid-size sport sedan finds itself in a constant battle with competitors trying to push it aside in an effort to capture its territory. Instead of resting on its laurels, BMW re-engineers the four-door once every eight years to conform to a changing and ever crowding segment.

Introduced earlier this year, the all-new 2011 BMW 5 Series breaks new ground. Now sharing platforms with the 7 Series, the sedan seems to have changed its tune from sport to luxury. We spent a week with the range-topping 550i, fitted with the automaker’s twin-turbo 400-horsepower V8, to put our fingers on its new mission.

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2011 BMW 550i

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Review: 2011 BMW 550i originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE

Filed under: Truck, Work, GMC, Reviews

Looks The Same Yet Is Anything But

2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE

2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE – Click above for high-res image gallery

2010 has been a banner year for heavy-duty pickup truck fans, with revamped entries from all three U.S. automakers making their debut this year. Of those, the HD pickups from both Chevrolet and GMC received the most subtle exterior updates, but virtually everything under their skins is new, including a heavily revamped version of the company’s 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8.

When it comes to full-size pickup trucks, the old Burger King tag-line of “Have It Your Way” still rings true. Regardless of where your brand loyalty lies, these types of trucks are available with either gas or diesel engines; as regular, extended or crew-cab and with regular or long beds. All you have to do is figure out what you need the truck for and then check the appropriate boxes on the dealer’s order sheet. Somewhere in the middle of this cacophony of choice lies the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD.

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2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE

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Review: 2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Hyundai Azera Limited

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Reviews

Refresh Fails To Meet Brand’s Own High Bar

2011 Hyundai Azera Limited

2011 Hyundai Azera Limited – Click above for high-res image gallery

Even five years ago, Hyundai was widely considered to be a bargain-basement marque. After all, anyone interested in checking out the brand’s lineup could visit a rental company within five miles of any major airport. But why dwell on the past when the Korean automaker is kicking butt and taking names in the here and now? Hyundai has been on a roll these past few years, with hits like the Genesis, Genesis Coupe and 2011 Sonata. With those successful entries, Hyundai has clearly established itself as a prime player in the U.S. market, but the company’s improved standing has also substantially raised the public’s levels of expectation. Where qualifiers like “for a Hyundai” were once the norm, we’re now measuring each and every new entry donning the italic H against the best from Toyota, Ford, General Motors and Honda.

Hyundai’s most recently refreshed product is the 2011 Azera. When the Azera first arrived on U.S. shores as a 2006 model, it came came close to nixing the “for a Hyundai” stigma with an impressive level of standard equipment and a lower price tag than its competition. But even with a strong value equation and plethora of amenities, that original Azera still wasn’t as refined as the current crop of winners coming out of South Korea. Can the freshly redesigned 2011 Azera, with an improved powertrain and increased level of luxury equipment, truly succeed like its all-star siblings?

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2011 Hyundai Azera Limited

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Review: 2011 Hyundai Azera Limited originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Ford Mustang GT Coupe and Convertible

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Ford, Reviews

Forty-six Years Of Refinement Make It The Pony Car To Beat

2011 Ford Mustang GT Convertible

2011 Ford Mustang GT Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

Potentially ruinous. All that work on an impressive new 5.0-liter V8 engine, chassis tweaks and other piecemeal refinements for the 2011 Ford Mustang GT are almost all for naught because of a single glaring issue. What could erase all the gains the Mustang has made for 2011? The answer is nestled between the front seats, and it goes by the name 6R80.

Despite the promise that a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission carries, not to mention the associated fuel economy, the auto ‘box blunts the Mustang’s edge severely. Can the new 5.0-liter V8 and wind in your hair make up for the dulling effect of the Mustang GT Convertible’s transmission? Follow the jump to find out.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Mustang GT Convertible

2011 Ford Mustang GT Convertible

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2011 Ford Mustang GT Premium

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Review: 2011 Ford Mustang GT Coupe and Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2010 Chevrolet Malibu 1LT

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Reviews

Can This Aging Sedan Hold Out Until Help Arrives?

2010 Chevrolet Malibu

2010 Chevrolet Malibu – Click above for high-res image gallery

The year was 2007. The top-selling mid-size sedan, the Toyota Camry, was garnering a lot of praise from its most recent refresh, and automakers were furiously scribbling on notepads trying to get their next round of competitive vehicles out the door. General Motors had been going through a long string of bad press due to lackluster quality on the vast majority of its vehicles, and a big change needed to take place.

Enter the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. When it launched, GM was proud not only of its design and engineering, but of the improved quality and higher-grade craftsmanship that had been put into its new mid-sizer. The new Malibu made a big splash – so much so that it was named the 2008 North American Car of the Year, and the well-to-do sedan started selling in droves.

But now it’s 2010, and since the Malibu’s launch we’ve seen new versions of the Mazda6, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata and Subaru Legacy, not to mention first-time entries into the segment like the Suzuki Kizashi. The initial praise that the Camry enjoyed in 2007 is now fading fast, and the Malibu has two more years left until an all-new model arrives. So with all the stiff new competition on the block, does the Malibu still lead the pack, simply keep up or something worse?

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Review: 2010 Chevrolet Malibu 1LT originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Porsche, Reviews, Luxury, Racing

A playful companion with razor-sharp claws

2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder – Click above for high-res image gallery

“More for Less.” It’s the call to prayer of every car salesman to ever don a plaid jacket. Guys with sturdy names like Wally and Chuck would stop dead in their tracks and tell Porsche “Pal, this Boxster Spyder thing, you’re all upside-down.” You see, with the 2011 Boxster Spyder, Porsche has inverted the polarity on “more for less.” You pay more but get less.

The Boxster Spyder has a high-performance mission: It’s a race car that doesn’t need a trailer. Porsche undertook a lightening program that started with a Boxster S and stripped a slew of equipment, lowered the suspension 3/4 of an inch and substituted aluminum for steel where possible in the body. One-hundred seventy-six pounds later, you’ve got a Boxster Spyder; lighter, lower, sharper. Has it worked for Porsche to go the Lotus route of obsessive weight reduction? Find out after the jump.

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Review: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Ford F-450 Lariat

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, Reviews, Diesel

Industry Giant Still Working Hard to Stay Ahead

2011 Ford F-450 Lariat – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ask any economics professor – competition is a good thing. Exhibit A? The large pickup truck market. Ford F-Series trucks have been the number-one selling vehicle line in the United States for more than three decades, but the automaker has never grown complacent. Each new iteration has been bigger, badder and more capable than its predecessor, and that goes twofold for Dearborn’s heavy-duty models.

Despite the fact that Toyota and Nissan never followed up their light-duty trucks with three-quarter or one-ton models, just the threat of such entries spurred Ford, General Motors and Dodge to significantly up their games. In the first half of 2010, the Detroit Three have introduced revamped heavy-duty pickups to feed a segment that, while shrinking, remains large and highly profitable. With that in mind, we saddled up to the Big Daddy of the F-Series range, the F-450, to see if the behemoth could play the dual roles of load-lugger and daily ride. Click through the jump to see how we fared.

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Review: 2011 Ford F-450 Lariat originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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