Luxury cars are expensive and come in all shapes: sedan, coupe or convertible. They offer all the comfort, luxury and performance but you will have to pay premium price. German cars like BMW or Mercedes are the first brand that come to our mind but nowadays nearly all car makers offer nice and comfortable models that enter in the luxury car category.
The TSX is one of Acura’s sportiest models with European suspension tunes keeping the front-drive sedan interesting to drive. It competes with low-spec Lexus IS models, base Audi A4s, the new Mercedes-Benz CLA250, as well as numerous mid-size cars, like the Hyundai Sonata Turbo.
The big news for the model is that last year’s Special Edition model continues into 2013 packing a deeper front bumper, some tasteful side skirts and a new rear bumper that emphasizes the TSX’s dual exhaust pipes. The SE is one of the cheapest trims and is offered on the four-cylinder models only. Coming with either a six-speed manual or no-cost automatic transmission, the Special Edition also dresses up the interior with unique lighting, red stitching and some great-looking aluminum pedals.
The TSX has been Acura’s cheapest model since its 2003 introduction, but the bottom rung is now occupied by the Civic-based ILX sedan. The TSX is not much larger inside than the ILX but packs more refined driving manners, better handling, and an optional V-6 that dramatically improves performance, but it comes with some drawbacks versus the high-revving four that powers most TSX’s.
Refreshed in 2011, the TSX is looking very familiar and tired in standard trims, making the Special Edition more desirable than ever. The TSX’s primarily German competitors have all moved up a size and price class in the 10 years since the TSX debuted, soon to be replaced by future compact sedans from Audi and BMW.
Click past the jump for the full review of the Acura TSX Special Edition.
Jaguars are cool. Jaguars are awesome. Jaguars are the best.
Anytime you attach those three descriptions to the British automaker, chances are, you’re going to have a lot of people agreeing with you. That includes German tuner, Loder1899, who not only loves Jaguars, but loves them enough to give one of the brand’s models - the XF V6 Diesel - a comprehensive aerodynamic and performance upgrade.
The trick to appreciating Loder1899’s program is to look at the details. The things you’ll notice are the new components, including the front apron, the boot lid spoiler and the carbon-fiber diffuser. Looks great, right?
But once you really take a closer look at the car, you’ll also notice that a lot of its components have been blacked-out, particularly the grille, the headlights, the hood vents, front intakes, side mirrors, side vents, the taillights and even the Jaguar badges. What all this blacked-out goodness does is turn the XF into a wicked saloon that oozes of attitude. Rounding out the exterior modifications is a new set of 21-inch wheels wrapped in 255 tires.
Under its hood, the XF V6 Diesel also gets the benefit of having a remapped ECU unit that increases its output from the standard 275 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque to an impressive 310 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque, good enough to allow the car to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.2 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the standard model with a top speed of 155 mph.
Click past the jump to read about the Jaguar XF Diesel
Acura has revamped the TL just in time for the summer sales rush with a Special Edition, which packs more tech for less money. The most noticeable exterior changes to the Special Edition are the handsome 18-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels and a subtle boot-lid spoiler.
The Special Edition dresses up the mid-range TL line nicely, giving the front-wheel-drive model some of the stance and aggression of the SH-AWD model that packs a larger engine and adaptive, torque-vectoring AWD.
The current TL shape has been around since 2009 when a redesign took the crisp, chiseled looks and replaced them with some of the most unusual styling elements imaginable: the shield grille and the pinched tail being the key examples. It’s perplexing as to why this is the look that then populated the rest of the Acura line.
Basically: the TL grew up, got ugly and changed its priorities. No longer the slightest bit cool, the TL decided that refinement was the way to go.
Half the team did not get the memo, however. The SH-AWD model offers body control and traction the previous TL would’ve loved, and finally a six-speed manual was offered with that top trim level. Paired with the refinement and isolation inside the new TL, however, the sporty credentials just don’t stick.
The Cadillac CTS was not the best-received model that the luxury automaker released when it debuted back in 2008. Despite its lukewarm reception, it has grown on buyers and has really blossomed into quite the staple in Caddy’s lineup. Now, at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, Cadillac has unveiled the third-generation CTS Sedan, but no coupe model yet.
Unfortunately for Cadillac, the images had leaked several days before the model actually debuted, so we already knew what it would look like. However, there are still plenty of details left unknown. For example, we have no clue what model will receive that sexy, sexy twin-turbocharged V-6 engine. We also have no clue what features the new CTS will include.
Well, all of the mysteries can be laid to rest today, as Cadillac has officially released all of the information on the upcoming CTS.
Updated 06/13/2013: Cadillac announced today prices for the 2014 CTS sedan that will arrive in dealerships this fall. Click past the jump to find out how much you have to pay for the new CTS.
Click past the jump to read all of the information on the 2014 Cadillac CTS Sedan
The 2015 Porsche Cayenne was caught testing for the first time back in April and now, Porsche engineers took it out for another testing session. This time around, our photographers caught it on public roads in Germany.
With most of the new 911 family out and official, the Boxster and Cayman fresh out of the box, and the Macan still under development, there is only one model left to work on: the Cayenne.
The second-generation Cayenne was unveiled back in 2010 and it still looks relatively fresh and young, but now Porsche has started to prepare a facelift to keep it fresh for the next couple of years.
The prototype caught testing today wears camouflage only in the parts that are going to be updated: bumper and lights up front, plus new slimmer-looking taillights and a changed rear bumper. The wheels will also receive a new design, and rumors suggest that there are some new engines in the works too.
Expect to see the revised Cayenne sometime in late 2014.
At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Audi unveiled the A3 Concept sedan, but the unveiling of the production version took longer than we expected. After we brought you a series of spy shots of the A3 prototypes, today the new A3 sedan made its world debut at the 2013 New York Auto Show.
The new A3 sedan retains much of the design elements we have seen in the concept version and adds numerous innovative features on the A-segment: signature Singleframe grille and available full-LED headlights.
The new Audi A3 sedan will go on sale on the U.S. market showrooms in the first quarter of 2014. European customers will be able to enjoy it starting this summer. In there the new A3 sedan will start at €25,000 - about $32,000 at the current exchange rates.
Updated 03/27/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.
Updated 06/12/2013: Audi unveiled a new video presenting the new A3 sedan in action on some public roads. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to read more about the new Audi A3 Sedan.
The current-generation Volkswagen Touareg was unveiled in 2010 and after only three years, the company is already preparing a mild refresh for the SUV. The first prototype was out testing in the heights of the European Alps, which peak at 15,774 feet in the west and 13,284 feet on the east, and as you can see, it’s wearing camouflage only at the front and the rear. This carefully placed camo means that just these parts will be updated.
We expect to see updated front and rear bumpers and a revised grille to help keep it up with the competition. Also, when launched in 2010, the Touareg offered a first in automotive headlight technology: the "glare-free high beam." This feature will be kept in the future, but it looks like the light graphic will change when the revised Touareg hits the market.
Engine lineup will also be updated to deliver more power and improved fuel consumption, while the interior will get updated infotainment systems.
Click past the jump to read more about Volkswagen Touareg.
Jaguar UK announced that for the 2014 model year, the XF lineup will be expanded with the addition of a new four-cylinder engine. Also, new for 2014 the XF will receive an extended navigation system offering a more focused and intuitive mapping, a smart keyboard and one-way road visualization.
The new, four-cylinder, 2.2-liter diesel engine delivers a total of 163 horsepower and will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The new four-cylinder engine features a larger exhaust gas recirculation valves and a revised cooling assembly, which contributes to its astronomical 57.7 mpg and 129 g/km CO2 ratings.
The new engine is combined with Jaguar’s Stop-Start system, which features a twin-solenoid starter system that shuts down the engine when the car comes to a halt and restarts it fast enough for the driver to shoot into traffic seamlessly. When this system shuts down the engine, the instrument panel shows an illuminated ’ECO’ symbol. The 2014 XF is equipped with two batteries: one for the engine re-starting and one for all the other ancillaries.
If for some reason, the driver would like to deactivate the Start-Stop system, he can do so manually. However, the system reactivates on the following key cycle.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard Jaguar XF.
Vorsteiner unveiled its first tuning kit for the Bentley Continental GT back in 2012 when it pleased us with a sweet “BR-10” package. The tuner is now on its second upgrade kit for the Continental GT with this new package that improves the car’s look, while also maintaining the car’s heritage and contemporary style.
As usual, Vorsteiner upgraded the look of the Bentley coupe with the addition of a new aerodynamic kit made in pre-preg carbon fiber. The kit includes a new front bumper, new side skirts and a new rear bumper to help add some extra aggressiveness to the Continental without going overboard.
Lastly, Vorsteiner also offers a deck lid spoiler, made in carbon fiber and a new set of forged monoblock wheels. Customers can choose between three different size wheels: 20, 21, or 22 inches.
Click past the jump to read more about the Bentley Continental GT by Vorsteiner.
At the end of 2011, BMW unveiled the new generation 3 Series in sedan version, but left the station wagon out in the cold after that. Now, after we capturing the car during its testing a few times, BMW has finally dropped the official details on the new 3 Series Sports Wagon.
As expected, the station wagon version will feature the same design language as the sedan model, albeit with an extended rear for better cargo room.
Unfortunately, BMW wasn’t so generous in offering models for the Sports Wagon. In fact, there is only one model available – 328i xDrive – but there are plenty of optional packages to spruce it up a bit. BMW will offer Sport Line, Luxury Line, and Modern Line equipment packages, as well as an optional M Sport package which will be available at launch.
UPDATE 05/10/2013: This review has been updated with all of the 2014 model year details.
Hit the jump to read more about the new 3 Series Sports Wagon.
