Range Rover Sport HSE is now even more stylish, purposeful and smart with a new Premium Dark Finish grille finish, a new gloss black fender vent surround and new body-colored door handles. For even greater levels of comfort and technology, the Range Rover Sport HSE specification includes seats in luxury leather and the driver’s seat features Electric Lumbar Support and three memory settings; also included are electrically adjustable, heated powerfold exterior mirrors. The Parking Aid has been extended to include the front of the vehicle, while a Rear View Camera helps reversing by displaying a wide-angled image on the Touch-screen. For extra style, there are striking 19 inch 15-spoke alloy wheels.
The Range Rover Sport HSE start at  $60,895.

by David Cohen
There is nothing quite like the Jaguar XK Coupe that can fire up like a torpedo to make you feel like the king of the road. With distinctive design and superb performance, this is the Jag that will ensure you have the best ride of your life. The Jaguar XK Base includes a 5.0L V-8 385HP engine, 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), navigation system, side seat mounted airbags, driver and passenger side airbag head extensions, airbag occupancy sensor, automatic air conditioning, 19" aluminum wheels, cruise control, and an ABS and drive-line traction control. Prices start at $120,850.

by David Cohen

The Volvo XC60 continues to captivate a new generation of Volvo buyers, while continuing to attract those who are loyal to the brand.

The XC60 is all about performance and value. The new dynamic package, available for the T6 AWD, includes Volvo's four-c active chassis, speed sensitive power steering and dual xenon gas discharge headlights with active bending light.

For those who seeking value in the XC60, you will engine provides 240 horsepower with ULEV II emissions rating or 230 horsepower with PZEV (partial zero emissions vehicle) rating. Front-wheel drive is standard while AWD is optional. Every XC60 features a standard 6-speed gear automatic transmission.

The premier level trim has much to offer. From two laminated glass panels, power sunshade, dark tint rear windows, silver roof rails, side window trim, aluminum inlays for the steering wheel, and a power passenger seat.

The trim can be enhanced with a power tailgate that has programmable memory setting, keyless drive with personal car communicator (PCC), two-way car communication, and more.

Continuing Volvo's quest as a pioneer and leader in vehicle safety systems, the XC60 introduces the world's first city safety driver support system. This unique system is aimed at preventing or mitigating the likelihood of a collision by employing a closing velocity sensor. Depending on the closing speed, city safety will either pre-charge the brakes or automatically brake the XC60 to help avoid a rear-end collision or lessen the impact.

To address other safety concerns, Volvo has developed efficient features to help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of accidents caused by distraction and driver fatigue. The tech safety package includes adaptive cruise control with queue assist, collision warning with full auto brake, pedestrian detection with full auto brake, distance alert, driver alert control and lane departure warning.

For more information go to www.volvocars.com/XC60

by David Cohen

Starting at $13,600, the sporty 2012 Kia Rio with 5-Door is very stylish but economical vehicle that offers up to 40 mpg on the highway. I was impressed by the level of standard features this model has to offer.  As a basic compact car, the Rio might very well compete with the Chevy Sonic, Ford Fiesta or Honda Fit.

Some of the features included in the Rio are an audio system with three free months of satellite radio, an auxiliary audio input jack, a USB port for connecting MP3 players, full iPod and MP3 control via the audio head unit, and a CD player and a steering wheel-mounted controls. An optional Power Package is available that includes automatic transmission, power windows, power door locks, and remote keyless entry.

Another impressive feature is the optional Idle-Stop and Go (ISG) technology. This money-saving feature turns the engine off when the vehicle is stationary, for example  at a stop light or in traffic, and automatically restarts the engine when the driver releases the brake pedal. This feature can be found in most hybrid vehicles, and for the first non-hybrid vehicle Kia says that it will earn you an extra mile per gallon both the city and on the highway.

I feel that although the Rio’s 1.6-liter engine does well, but it could use more power. However, for my personal taste, this is true of many other cars. The Rio offers balanced steering and is very roomy and comfortable. The Rio’s sophisticated style and generous features are two of the main reasons the younger buyers will find this model appealing. However, without a doubt the Rio is a good buy for everyone, especially those on a budget. No other car can compete with its price.

As many people in the automobile industry say, “good things always come in small packages.”

For more information go to www.kia.com/Rio.

by David Cohen

The Mitsubishi Lancer SE appears to be one of the best compact sedans that Mitsubishi has on the market.  Powered by a 148-horse-power engine with a 2.4 litter turbo-charged, and all-wheel drive control (AWD), this sedan is ready to perform.

The Lancer has a fuel efficient MIVEC engine, seven standard airbags, fuse hands-free link system, and tuned suspensions that will be responding to the way you drive.

All the Lancer models come with a standard five-speed manual transmission, and Mitsubishi’s first continuously variable transmission (CVT) is optional, except on the Ralliart, which comes with a quick-witted automated-clutch manual transmission.

In terms of safety, Mitsubishi’s Lancer received the highest rating for front and rear-impact safety The Lancer also offers increased rigidity, crumple zones for collision safety, a seven-airbag  safety system and anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution to help ensure that drivers stay in control.

The Lancer offers some high-tech features that enhance its style. The keyless ignition, automatic climate control, a touchscreen navigation system, hard-drive music storage, and bluetooth connectivity are among the features that make this sedan so luxurious.

With all that said, there are two important issues with this vehicle. First, the materials used for the interior lacks quality, and second, the driver-side front seat isn’t roomy enough to accommodate tall people.

Overall, I don’t feel this car is anything great or anything to rave about  except for the powerful Ralliart that makes driving a solid and fun experience.

Starting at $23,285.00, the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer is only good for shoppers who don’t mind paying top dollar for adequate performance.  Stick with the competition to get a lot more for your money.

2011 Buick Regal CXL Sedan
Friday, December 10. 2010

Starting off as a muscle-y sport coupe in the 1970s and later dabbling in the mid-sized sedan market in the late ‘90s, the 2011 Buick Regal may have finally found its niche as a luxury sports sedan. Its modern aerodynamic lines, signature tail lamps, 18” painted alloy wheels and integral rear spoiler instill the car with a sporty character while still possessing a roomy, comfortable four-door interior lacking in most sport coupes. By adding all the standard interior bells and whistles—such as leather upholstery, lumbar seat adjustments, power everything, a fully-equipped electronic console ergonomically designed for the driver’s easy and efficient use—the Regal lives up to its luxury sports-sedan status in every way, save for the its four-cylinder engine (Drivers looking for a little more oomph may opt for the available manual transmission).
However, four cylinders is a small concession considering the standard MSRP of this modern-day luxury vehicle runs in the low $26,000s. Throw in the “Comfort & Convenience Package,” a power sunroof, a few extra safety features and a premium nine-speaker system and the price tops off at $31,030—still several thousand dollars less than many comparable cars in the same class.

Starting off as a muscle-y sport coupe in the 1970s and later dabbling in the mid-sized sedan market in the late ‘90s, the 2011 Buick Regal may have finally found its niche as a luxury sports sedan. Its modern aerodynamic lines, signature tail lamps, 18” painted alloy wheels and integral rear spoiler instill the car with a sporty character while still possessing a roomy, comfortable four-door interior lacking in most sport coupes. By adding all the standard interior bells and whistles—such as leather upholstery, lumbar seat adjustments, power everything, a fully-equipped electronic console ergonomically designed for the driver’s easy and efficient use—the Regal lives up to its luxury sports-sedan status in every way, save for the its four-cylinder engine (Drivers looking for a little more oomph may opt for the available manual transmission).
However, four cylinders is a small concession considering the standard MSRP of this modern-day luxury vehicle runs in the low $26,000s. Throw in the “Comfort & Convenience Package,” a power sunroof, a few extra safety features and a premium nine-speaker system and the price tops off at $31,030—still several thousand dollars less than many comparable cars in the same class.

2011 Buick Enclave CXL-2 FWD
Saturday, November 20th, 2010

Officially branded by Buick as a “luxury crossover,” an informed car buyers’ first encounter with the Enclave may lead them to wonder if General Motors had classed the car incorrectly. With its roomy, fully-equipped, seven-seating interior and ample rear storage volume equating to an exterior mass of cargo van-like proportion, then fixed atop Enclave’s standard 19-inch wheels, this “crossover” rides higher than most SUVs on the road. However, the 2011 model was built up from a sedan-framed auto platform nonetheless, its broad, wide and raised stature notwithstanding.


Undeniable however, is the validity of the Enclave’s luxury. A power lift-gate, wood accents, leather seating, tri-zone climate control, ultrasonic parking assist and a rear-view camera system are among the comprehensively long list of standard features. The console is completely tech-ed out too, equipped with a six-month OnStar package and XM radio along with  every plug, port and Bluetooth to accommodate practically every portable/mobile device currently on the market. And from the outside, the big and bold exterior fascia design is molded with strong lines across the side panels, jutted points in the grille and rounded corners wrapping around the tailgate. The overall evocation possesses a standout contemporary nouveau distinction without cheapening the upscale facade expected of luxury vehicles.

That aside, the Enclave may not be the best-suited for city driving. While the pick-up is efficiently swift, braking isn’t hard or stammered and the overall ride is level and smooth, the model’s design appears to lend itself to making wide turns. This renders the driver to awkwardly attempt to cut into the turn tighter which the steering seems to resist. Its ground clearance combined the narrow and curved back windows would make parallel parking impossible if not for the parking assist systems. And the FWD doesn’t always compensate for hauling the car’s large mass, as the front tires are apt to spin if making a hard advance from a stopped position.

Yet it may stand to reason that the Enclave wasn’t designed for city travel anyway. Affording complete comfort, class and personal accommodation to every passenger seat, the Enclave may have been intended for wide, open country roads where both the driver and the driven can just stretch out, relax and take it slow.

~$39-42,000 base; ~$49,000 fully equipped.

Range Rover/iPhone a Go-Go
Friday, October 22nd, 2010


LONDON, October 22, 2010 – Land Rover today announced the launch of ‘Pulse of the City’, an iPhone app that anticipates the launch of the new Range Rover Evoque—Range Rover’s upcoming new small(er) and more-eco-friendly model. The ‘Pulse of the City’ app lets users create a unique and stunning data visualisation of their journeys across ten cities worldwide.

In a world first, the ‘Pulse of the City’ app, launches on iPhone (android available from mid November) and uses GPS tracking to record the collective movements of people within the ten cities. Users will be sent a graphical representation of their journey which they can display on the helloevoque.com website.

Users will be invited to download the app for free. City Shapers will be able to add comments about their favorite places, hot spots and journeys, creating a real time, evolving pulse of each city.

As the ‘Pulse of the City’ grows, Range Rover will be asking its ‘City Shapers’ and users of the app about their connection to their city.   Questions including ‘What inspires you about your city?’ and ‘What are people talking about in your city today? will be posed each month, with the information from each city gathered to build a portrait of each urban landscape.

The ‘Pulse of the City’ app uses the new IOS4+ operating system’s ability to run background applications, thereby allowing users to start the app and leave it running whilst using the phone to take calls or browse the web. It uses the enhanced GPS capabilities of the new OS to track each journey more accurately, making the final visualisation a true reflection of a user’s movement.  The app will let users come back to saved journeys, pause the journey they are viewing and then share their journey via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail.

The app, launched in conjunction with the website www.helloevoque.com, is inspired by the new Range Rover Evoque and the cities that in turn inspired its design.

source: press release by way of Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC