Lexus wants a piece of the younger market pie just as much as the next full size sedan automaker. However, it seems as if the Japanese luxury automaker doesn’t have much in the way of successful options, so they’re left with attaching the words "Touring Edition" to their bland LS 460. The special, limited edition LS 460 Touring Edition will be available on the US market and will be offered in both Rear Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive versions. Sales will begin in late June/early July with prices starting at $73,000.
Not much changes for the LS 460 Touring Edition, which falls in nicely with the fact that the standard LS hasn’t changed much with time anyway. What the special edition does get is a Smoky Granite Mica exterior, a sport kit and grille, and 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels. The interior gets a touch more luxurious with black and tan leather-trimmed sports seats, a wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, matte brown wood trim, and premium floor mats. For a new sport trim, these changes aren’t all that exciting.
Mark Templin, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager said: "The Touring Edition adds excitement to our flagship sedan. The package on this car enhances styling and comfort, allowing us to attract younger buyers to the LS line-up. The LS 460 Touring Edition is a unique package of sporty exterior styling and comfort. With limited units available nationwide they’ll sell out fast to customers who want an all-inclusive luxury package."
The Chevrolet Corvette – GM’s little performance savior. This car has meant everything to Chevrolet for one simple reason; because it used to be the only car with some style. It was the only model that made anyone feel emotional about driving a Chevrolet and its history is second to none. The American sports car market has been utterly dominated by the Corvette from the Airbox models to the legendary Stingray.
The Z06 was originally introduced to push the envelope in terms of performance for the Corvette lineup. Recently Chevrolet decided that the Corvette needed to incorporate the largest and most powerful engine thus creating the ZR1. The ZR1 model has become the poster child of American supercar fame taking on the challengers from across the pond and, with the hiatus of the Dodge Viper, it is likely to keep its crown for some time.
Even with the invention of the ZR1, the Z06 model has not been neglected. Several different levels of Z06 trim exist, each coming with different types of option packages delivering varied results depending on what type of driving the car will most likely encounter.
Hit the jump for more details on the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
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With electric vehicles becoming the rage these days, it could very well signal a turning of the guard in the auto industry with EVs taking the forefront in an industry that’s putting a premium on fuel efficient vehicles.
We’ve already seen models like the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf out on the market with some more automakers set to follow suit. But while those designs have placed importance on new school technology and cutting edge design, a little automaker from Japan wants to prove that we can still have the new benefits of electricity while also paying homage to the design elements of yesteryear.
By all accounts, the Takayanai Miluira – yeah, we’ve never heard of ‘em before either – is a nice open-top that plays itself to the role as a little hobby car. You’re not silly enough to bring this car out on the highway, but as far as the local blocks are concerned, the Miluira is an ideal choice for those town joyrides a lot of people, including us, seem to enjoy.
Details after the jump.
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BMW had just opened its phone lines for the new Frozen Gray M3 and, like a salesperson’s dream, the U.S only car sold out. All 30 examples were gone in the blink of an eye.
Larry Koch, M brand manager for BMW of North America said, “The Frozen Gray M3 is a striking work of sculpture, speed, and style, and perfectly marks the 25th birthday of the M3 model. I’m personally thrilled to see that our customers are as excited about it as we are. We filled the thirty reservation slots within twelve minutes and took the names of at least fifty alternates in the first hour.”
The U.S only Frozen Gray M3 carried a $10,000 premium for the paint job, other mandatory upgrades, and other options that aren’t found on the base M3. The Frozen Gray M3 had a price tag of $77,600 and was covered in a Space Gray base coat and then in a BMW ColorSystem silk matte clear coat. This paint job is what sets the car apart from all other M3s.
Inside, the limited-run M3 will get a Fox Red and black bi-colored Novillo leather interior.
BMW says that the Frozen Gray M3 will get the same motor as the base M3, a 414 horsepower 4.0-liter V8 and the M double clutch transmission. Thankfully, a manual is an option.
Along with the fancy paint, the new M3 gets 19-inch wheels, Dynamic Stability Control with performance-modified mapping, Electronic Damping Control, and a 10mm lowered suspension.
So owners of this limited-run M3, BMW says that you will get a one-day enrollment at the BMW Performance Driving School in South Carolina.
When Honda announced that they would stop making the S2000 the world was made a little bit worse. That was always one of the best sports cars on the market, if not the best.
The digital instrument panel looked like something out of a starship and the interior was so wacky that it was hard not to love it. The noise was amazing and the handling was sensational. It was fast, cheap, and looked good, not to mention the insanely high red line.
With the S2000 gone, what are we going to do? There is nothing quite like it on the market today. Today’s cars are getting softer not harder. Toyota pushed the date back on their FT-86 and Mazda will be getting rid of the RX-8 soon. The American car companies make muscle cars that are too heavy and terrible at handling, apart from the Ford Mustang. Really, if you want a fast, crazy, two-seat sports car there is little to choose from in today’s market.
Thank goodness we have Lotus. The Elise is a wonderful car if you live on a track, but it’s very hard on the road. The new Evora on the other hand, is a perfect mixture of track handling and a road precision.
Hit the jump for the full review.
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Porsche has just announced that it’s going to launch the new 2011 Panamera with a V6 engine in the United States. Currently, the Panamera only comes with a V8 engine.
The new direct-injection V6 is a 3.6-liter with around 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Helping keep the car on the road will be an all-wheel drive system available on the Panamera 4, or rear-wheel drive on the base model. The base sedan will hit 60 miles per hour in 6.0 seconds, while the all-wheel drive version will do it in 5.8 seconds. Speed freaks can shave that time by 0.2 seconds by adding the Sport Chrono Package Plus option, which will be a lot of money.
The V6 Panamera will be able to get 18 miles per gallon city and 27 on the highway. Not bad for a big fast German sedan.
Prices will start at $74,400 for the base model and the Panamera 4 will be $78,900.
The super sedan that upset a lot of Porsche purists has sold over 4,000 units since its launch last October and we suspect that the V6 option will only help those sales numbers.
The 2011 Porsche Panamera goes on sale this month in the U.S.
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In 2008, Lexus unveiled the third-generation LX, which was a luxury-based version of the Toyota Land Cruiser SUV. The 2008 LX came with a new body, a new frame and a new engine. Two years later, Lexus is bumping up the 2010 LX 570 with new technological enhancements.
The Lexus LX 570 is powered by a 5.7-liter V8 that delivers a total of 383 hp at 5,600 rpm and peak torque of 403 lb.-ft at 3,600 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a clocked 0 to 60 mph time of 7.4 seconds and a top speed that is electronically-limited to 137 mph.
The LX 570 is equipped with 10 standard airbags, including driver- and front-passenger knee airbags, front and second-row seat-mounted side airbags, Active Front Headrests, dual-swivel Adaptive Front lighting System and Pre-Collision System with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
Press release after the jump.
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The lightweight English sports car maker Lotus has just announced pricing for the U.S. market version of their latest creation, the 2010 Evora, a mid engine, V6 powered, 2+2 that is set to go on sale sometime in the first quarter of 2010. New Lotus Evoras will start at $73,500 for the four seater Lotus. The piston pumper is a 3.5 Liter unit sourced from Toyota that makes an adequate 276 HP and 258 lb-ft of thrust. Aside from the brand new lines, owners will enjoy going from 0 to 60 MPH in 4.9 seconds and hitting a top speed of 162 MPH while getting a very green 30+ miles per gallon while doing it. Judging from what we saw at the Miami Auto Show they will also look very good while doing it.
Equipment list and prices after the jump.
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After being unveiled in London back in July, the 2010 Jaguar XJ is scheduled to make its official North American debut at the 59th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance this Sunday on the 18th green of the Monterey golf course. The all new XJ will go on sale with an asking price starting at around $72,500 and will go all the way up to $115,000 for the top of the line supercharged XJ Supersport that makes 510 HP.
The new XJ will be available in the US with a choice of three available engines. The first is a 5.0 Liter naturally aspirated V8 that makes 385 HP and 380 lb-ft of torque, a 5.0 Liter supercharged V8 pumping out 470 HP and 424 lb-ft of torque while the top of the line 5.0 liter supercharged mill we mentioned earlier generates an axle snapping 461 lb-ft of twist.
Aside from the introduction of a few new gas burning power plants, the 2010 XJ benefits from a dramatic restyling that brings it more in line with the current Jaguar family.
Press release after the jump.
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Land Rovers are amazing vehicles; they have made a name for themselves traversing large bodies of uninhabitable land be it in desserts of Russia or the jungles of Belize. Sixty years ago Land Rovers were rugged machines, built to stand up to the greatest challenges. These days the level of luxury and sophistication has caught up with the off road machines capabilities. Unlike the classic Defender, modern Land Rovers are filled with high tech items like electronically locking differentials and adjustable ride height air suspension. With one of these vehicles you can cruise down the highway at 90 MPH, pull off onto the shoulder, turn a knob and the truck will automatically prepare itself to go rock crawling. The versatility of these vehicles is outstanding.
The now Indian Luxury automaker Land Rover has just announced prices for the upcoming 2010 Range Rover. The HSE is being priced at $79,275 and Tata is asking $95,125 for the supercharged version. The 2010 Range Rover is powered by either a naturally aspirated 5.0 Liter V8 that produces 375 HP and 375 lb-ft of torque wile the pressurized version boosts output to 510 HP and 461 lb-ft of torque.
For 2010 the Range Rover will be available in two different trim levels. First is the Autobiography Package for the supercharged Range that will set you back an additional $14,500 and the Luxury Interior Package for $4,950 available on the HSE model.
Press release after the jump.
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