New York Auto Show

Hyundai has lifted the veil off its all-new eighth-generation 2020 Sonata sedan in Korea and what we’ve been shown is a new and revolutionary direction for the model. Not to say the outgoing seventh-gen Sonata isn’t a striking car, but it frankly isn’t aging that well (it looks like a melted Subaru,) and this 2020 model has a completely different vibe about it both inside and out. Hyundai has improved on its design a whole lot.

The Qiantu K50 electric two-seater will make its North American debut at the New York Auto Show in just over a month’s time. The model, first introduced back in 2015 as the K50 Event! at the Shanghai Auto Show, will be sold Stateside by Mullen Technologies, the company that will actually assemble the cars as well.

The Qiantu K50 has 375 horsepower and 428 pound-foot of torque and rides on an aluminum frame with carbon fiber body panels. It features two electric motors, one connected to each axle, and, depending on the driving mode you choose, all the power can be sent to the rear wheels or can be spread across the two axles for an AWD experience. Top speed is electronically limited to 124 mph, and the sprint from 0 to 62 mph takes a claimed 4.6 seconds. The two companies say the car will be "unexpectedly affordable," as we reported back in December. Let’s see what has changed since then.

Four-door coupes are starting to flood the market, and that’s why Audi came up with the RS5 Sportback, an all-new model in the lineup and the seventh Audi Sport model, sharing a similar design with the RS7 Sportback. It got all of the typical RS cues inside and out but is powered by a 2.9-liter, Biturbo mill that is borrowed from the Porsche Panamera. It can hit 60 mph faster than a BMW 650i or Mercedes CLS500 and does so looking good in the process. Based on the RS 5 Coupe, the Sportback should command somewhere around $80,000 when it goes on sale in the second half of 2018.

Update 08/22/2018: Audi has announced pricing for the 2019 Audi RS 5 Sportback as well as a long list of standard options but leaves us in the dark when it comes to pricing for the RS 5 Coupe. Read the full scoop in our “Pricing” section below.

The Toyota Yaris (alternatively known as the Echo) first arrived in 1999, but it didn’t head stateside until 2007, with a second generation debuting for the 2012 model year. Framed as an entry-level subcompact, Toyota says the latest refreshed model seeks to combine “efficiency, fun, comfort, and safety all at a reasonable price.” Previously titled the Yaris iA, the four-door is now simply called the Yaris sedan, and it brings a charming attitude and a decent list of equipment for a reasonable price tag.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Toyota Yaris Sedan.

Jaguar introduced the F-Pace compact luxury crossover back in 2015 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, eventually bringing it stateside in May of 2016. Lauded by critics as both beautiful and opulent (and when equipped with a supercharged V-6, pretty quick too), the F-Pace is the right machine for a segment overflowing with demand. Now, Jag’s first-ever SUV gets the go-faster treatment courtesy of JLR’s performance and customization division, Special Vehicle Operations (SVO). Making its debut at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, the F-Pace SVR is framed as a combination of sports car performance and practical SUV design, adding two cylinders, loads of extra power, a fresh aesthetic, and a whole lot more over the standard model.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Jaguar F-Pace SVR.

Originally arriving in 1994, the Toyota RAV4 is one of the Japanese brand’s older nameplates, especially within the crossover segment. In the quarter century since the debut of the original RAV4, demand for crossovers has grown substantially, and sales of the compact Toyota have grown with it, eventually becoming the Japanese brand’s number-one seller in the U.S. However, the RAV4 last got a redesign in 2013, so to keep it fresh, Toyota just pulled the sheets on a new fifth-generation at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, bringing updated exterior styling, a redesigned interior, the latest safety tech, and a new architecture under the skin.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Toyota RAV4.

Introduced in 2017, the Levante is Maserati’s first-ever SUV and the company’s big bet on becoming a much more profitable brand within FCA. Stylish yet sporty, the Levante successfully blends the aggressive lines of the iconic GranTurismo and the elegant cues of the Quattroporte sedan, all with a modern twist. Available with both gasoline and diesel V-6 engines, the Levante was a big success in its first year on the market. But, something was missing from the lineup from the very beginning: a beefed-up version that would compete against high-performance SUVs from BMW M, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche. Fortunately, Maserati had it covered all along and launched the Levante Trofeo, a V-8 model with more than 500 horsepower.

Powered by the same Ferrari-built engine that motivates the Quattroporte GTS, but with revised internals and significantly more oomph, the Trofeo is Italy’s answer to the BMW X5 M, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, and the Mercedes-AMG GLE63. The Lamborghini Urus doesn’t count here since it’s awfully expensive by comparison. The new engine is backed by a more aggressive exterior with unique features, as well as a bespoke interior with added luxury and carbon-fiber trim. The Levante Trofeo is indeed ready to hit the track, as its name suggests, and it seems that the Germans have yet another reason to worry about.

Continue reading to learn more about the Maserati Levante Trofeo.

There’s no denying that Hyundai has made huge steps in the way of shedding its econobox past and when turned the Genesis name into a standalone brand, it was finally able to compete with the big boys. Now, Genesis is looking even further into the future with the Essentia Concept and boy does it put some of the vision concepts we’ve seen from other big brands to shame. It’s got the right proportions, all the luxury you would need, and there are even butterfly doors in the mix. Genesis hasn’t disclosed much in the way of performance specs, but it does promise a 60-mph sprint of just 3.0-seconds, putting it deep into supercar territory. Even more interesting is the fact that Genesis Boss, Manfred Fitzgerald, is pushing for this thing to go into production. What a time to be alive, huh?

First hitting the scene in 1997, the Subaru Forester has seen a total of four generations come and go over the years. Now, there’s a new fifth generation for the compact crossover SUV making its big debut at the 2018 New York International Auto Show. Framed as the “roomiest, most capable and most versatile Forester ever made,” this latest five-door brings all the right stuff for those weekend getaways, not to mention fresh styling, loads and loads of space, a bit more power, and a fresh suite of safety tech to boot.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Subaru Forester.

The Giulia and Stelvio represent two of Alfa Romeo’s most prominent models. The automaker also happens to sell both models here in the U.S. That made it easy for Alfa Romeo to bring a pair of special edition models to the 2018 New York Auto Show, dressing up its sedan and SUV in black trim, slapping “Nero Edizione” badges on both of them, and then offering them as special edition models. And so, here they are, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Nero Edizione and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Nero Edizione.

When Mazda introduced the CX-3 for the 2016 model year, it was received quite well on the market thanks to its striking design, attractive interior, and fairly powerful drivetrain. There were a few gripes to be had, though, and that’s why Mazda decided to usher in a mild update just three years into its lifecycle. These updates include new exterior lights, redesigned wheels, updated center console, a new electronic emergency brake, and even new armrests. Mazda even tweaked the CX-3’s SkyActiv engine to squeeze out just a little more power. We’re not sure if the CX-3 will get an official mid-cycle update in the next year or two as previously prescribed but if it doesn’t the update for 2019 should be enough to keep it standing tall until the next-gen model comes into play.

A few years ago, Cadillac finally admitted that it’s way behind its competitors in the premium market and hired Johan de Nysschen, who devised a new strategy for America’s iconic luxury brand. The new plans includes a host of new models, of which the range-topping CT6 sedan and the XT5 crossover have already been launched. Come 2018 and Cadillac launched the XT4, an even smaller crossover that competes against the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Spotted testing on public roads since early 2017, the XT4 made its public debut at the 2018 New York Auto Show.

Cadillac’s smallest crossover to date, the XT4 rides on a new platform and uses a brand-new, small-displacement engine. While the larger XT5 is a replacement for the dated SRX and aims at the midsize luxury crossover market, the XT4 is actually a brand-new entry. And it’s not surprising that Cadillac wants a piece of the compact market, as this is where a lot of car makers are making huge profits. Having missed out on sales for so many years, Caddy is finally trying to catch up. The question is, will the XT4 be good enough to give the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 a run for their money? Let’s find out in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Cadillac XT4.