Launched on the market in 2008, the A5 Coupe received its first facelift for the 2012 model year. For 2014, Audi decided to improve the A5 even further by boosting the engine’s output level by 9 horsepower.
Additional updates for the 2014 model year will include the availability of the Premium Plus packages as a standalone option, while the S-Line exterior package will be offered for all the A5 Prestige models. The S line competition package will continue to be offered on Premium Plus and Prestige A5 coupe, while a Black Optic package and new 19-inch Titanium Rotor wheels will be offered as an option.
Everything else will remain unchanged on the model, including the new front fascia, bumper and headlamp design revealed on the 2013 model year.
The 2014 Audi A5 will be offered in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige, with prices ranging from $39,000 to $49,400.
Click past the jump to read more about the Audi A5 Coupe.
Mercedes unveiled the SLS AMG Roadster at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and just one year later, Mercedes offered an improved GT variant. This GT included an additional 20 horsepower under the hood, a revised 7-speed sports transmission and a revised AMG Adaptive Performance Suspension. The strange thing is that the GT updates are offered to both the coupe and roadster versions, so the spy shots we received today had us a little confused.
The spy shots make it pretty clear that Mercedes is set to reveal a small facelift for the SLS AMG Roadster, but we are stuck wondering why?
The prototype caught testing wears minor camouflage on the front section, meaning that this will actually be just a minor nose jot, not a full facelift. We are not 100 percent sure on this, but we expect to see some updates on the interior, likely on the safety and infotainment systems.
Expect the revised Mercedes SLS AMG GT Roadster to arrive in time for the 2014 model year.
Click past the jump to read more about the Mercedes SLS AMG GT Roadster.
The Aston Martin DBS has had a pretty long lifespan after first being introduced in 1967. The current generation, though, didn’t hit the market until 2008, which in itself is already long for the industry.
But despite its age, the DBS remains one of Aston Martin’s meal tickets, a car that has come to define the British automaker’s quest to build the ultimate expression of its engineering and technical know-how.
It’s not a coincidence that the DBS has lasted this long and even though, it’s ripe for a facelift, it’s still got the combination of style and power that even newer models like the Audi R8 V10 and the Bentley Continental GT have to take serious note of.
The 2012 Aston Martin DBS is personifies everything that’s right with Aston Martin, carrying with it the history and technology that has come to define this model in all the years that it’s been around.
Click past the jump to read about the Aston Martin DBS
Audi’s rugged allroad wagon is back in America with some major changes, following a hiatus of the previous A6-based models. The new allroad is based on the latest A4, but shares a family appearance with the A6 allroad that will not be coming across the pond in its latest generation.
The realignment of the allroad brand also includes dropping the A4/A6 badges from the official lower-case names. It is a tedious distinction but one also shared by the deliberately-lower-case quattro GMBH tuning division of the luxury automaker. The latest allroad replaces the standard A4 Avant in U.S. price lists.
Naming tweaks aside, the new model is quite handsome and packs a torque-rich turbo four-pot engine in place of the previous model’s 2.7-liter twin-turbo V-6 option. The latest allroad also loses a few features from the original model, namely the adjustable-height suspension that really increased the older model’s versatility but easily adds $5,000 to the build cost.
When lowered, the old allroad had a more aggressive appearance than even the RS6 Avant due to its huge fender flares and flashy aluminum graphics front and rear. The only fly in the ointment was the two-tone bodywork that used unpainted grey plastic for the fenders and sills.
The new Audi allroad goes a long way toward refining the style of the allroad. It offers a large, luxurious interior and some of the most sought-after tech solutions of any car on the market.
The allroad was always a wagon for people who didn’t like following the normal SUV route. This continues with the latest model as it competes for consumer attention with Audi Q5 small SUV. Other thorns in its side include the GLK350 Mercedes-Benz and the BMW X3->BMW X3.
What the allroad delivers is a far more car-like experience paired with light off-road capability. Is this butch wagon enough to lure drivers away from boxy small SUVs?
Click past the jump for the full review of the 2013 Audi allroad including details on ordering a fully painted model with no grey plastic cladding.
Every time Aston Martin unveils a new model, the Volante version is sure to be waiting right around the corner and the new Vanquish is no exception. The model was unveiled today at Aston Martin’s global HQ in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England as a celebration of the company’s centenary.
The upcoming Volante will borrow every detail from its coupe version, except, of course, for its lightweight fabric top that takes just 14 seconds to fold. It will feature the completely different lower front lip and small rectangular mouth than the new-generation Vanquish, as well as larger air ducts, revised headlight assemblies and nostril-style heat extractors on the hood. The rear of the vehicle features the new generation’s significantly larger and more aggressive spoiler, but the overall shape and design of the taillights is the same as on the 2012 model.
Updated 06/19/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.
Read more about the Vanquish Volante after the jump
The Sonic RS is the new performance flagship for Chevrolet’s mini-car line. Unlike the lower-range Sonics that come in sedan or hatchback bodies, the new Sonic RS is available only with five doors and comes loaded with special equipment that makes the car stand out among the crowd.
Is it any quicker than a Sonic LTZ Turbo? No, it is not. The RS upgrade is more focused on style and driving enjoyment than outright speed, via noticeable exterior, interior and mechanical changes aimed at making this the ideal Sonic for car enthusiasts. Special gear ratios launch the car slightly more rapidly but aren’t enough to move the stats into the low 7’s for 0-to-60 MPH sprints.
Style-wise, things get a lot better with an RS-specific nose, a deeper air dam, chrome-trimmed fog lamp shrouds, sill extensions and a re-profiled rear end with larger spoiler and a big exhaust tip.
The exterior changes dramatically increase the RS model’s road presence versus lesser Sonics. Unfortunately, the bump in price means new competitors materialize that are even more fun and much quicker. The Mini Cooper S and Fiat 500 Abarth both sprint to 60 mph more than a second quicker than the Sonic RS.
The Chevrolet Sonic RS brings a few other tricks to the party and finds a sweet spot in the market by undercutting the more-powerful Fiesta ST and Kia Forte5 Turbo on price.
Click past the jump for the full review of the Chevrolet Sonic RS.
Since 2007, the old faithful Chevy Silverado has remain unchanged, as those around it continued to morph and remake themselves. Chevy has had enough with watching all of the other truck manufacturers make changes to their bodies and drivetrains, and decided that 2014 was the model year when things will change.
Chevrolet is testing the all new Silverado for quite some time now, and today - as previously announced - the company decided to drop full details on the pickup truck. All the updates made to the car’s exterior, interior and under the hood have transformed it into the "strongest, smartest, and most capable Silverado ever."
Just like with the 2014 GMC Sierra, the 2014 Silverado 1500 will be offered with a choice of three new engines: one V-6 and two V-8s. All three engine deliver more power and improved fuel economy and the 6.2-liter V-8 engine has been engineered to be the most capable engine in any light-duty pickup.
UPDATE 04/02/2013: Chevrolet announced today prices for the 2014 Silverado set to go into production this summer. Also announced were additional details on the 5.3-liter engine.
UPDATE 06/19/2013: Chevrolet has announced additional information on the base-level 4.3-liter V-6 engine and they are pretty awesome. You can see the specs after the jump.
On the U.S. market, a standard Ferrari 458 Spider is priced at $257,000. So, why is this version priced at $459,900? The answer is simple: because it is the only Verde-Kers-Lucido 458 Spider in the U.S. and one of two in the world built up to this point.
What’s so special about this paint? To be honest with you nothing much, it is just the same green paint job applied to the Hy-Kers 599 hybrid test car unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
This particular model has only 967 miles on its ticker and comes with lots of carbon-fiber insertions on the interior. The model sits on 20-inch forged dark-painted rims wrapped in Michelin tires and features Scuderia Ferrari shields. Other standard equipment includes: a front wing in carbon fiber, rear molding also in carbon fiber and diamond stitching in Nero.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard Ferrari 458 Spider.
The Chevy Sonic gets so little coverage from car magazines that it is easy to forget it even exists. Even the Chevrolet team does not seem too excited about the subcompact’s prospects with American buyers. Maybe that is why most of the official images are just renderings of the car inserted into picturesque backdrops via Photoshop…
If Chevrolet can’t be bothered to actually take its mini car to the desert for a photo shoot, why should buyers care?
There are a few reasons that the Chevrolet Sonic is storming up the sales charts recently to become the top-selling supermini in the U.S. for the last few months. Offered in five-door hatchback or four-door sedan body styles, the Sonic line is well-positioned in style, price and interior tech to overcome rivals, like the Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio and Ford Fiesta.
A new-for-2013 RS trim added lower gear ratios to help improve acceleration in the top 1.4-liter turbo engine guise. While relatively exciting versus the bread-and-butter LS, LT and LTZ trims, the 2014 RS deserves a review of its own – published in the near future so check back for more details.
The focus here is on the volume model sedan and hatchback Chevrolet Sonics with highlights of the new-for-2014 features and options.
Click past the jump for the full review of the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic.
