Auto News & New car review

Isuzu Ascender 2008 Review.

markis — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:47:41 +0000

In the past few years, a lack of new product and marketing investment has left Isuzu struggling on the fringes of the light truck market. In fact, the end of the road is now in sight: 2008 will be the company’s last year for its i-Series pickup and Ascender sport-utility vehicle, with plans to leave the U.S. consumer market altogether in early 2009. Given the company’s negligible sales last year, we don’t think many consumers are likely to notice. (more…)

Triumph Thunderbird 2010 review.

markis — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:23:49 +0000

We’ve seen plenty of spy photos circulating the web of Triumph’s long-expected parallel twin cruiser, so the introduction of the new 2010 Thunderbird is anything but shocking. We are a bit surprised, though, by how plain-looking the bike is, appearing very much like a modern Bonneville injected with ~~steroids~~ performance enhancing drugs. With its blacked-out liquid cooled parallel engine, the bike bares a passing resemblance to Kawasaki’s rather ancient Vulcan 500 model… (more…)

BMW M1 Hommage review

markis — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:21:11 +0000

BMW’s supercar icon, the M1, blew out the candles at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este this weekend. In honor of the car’s thirtieth birthday, BMW rolled out the new BMW M1 Hommage, a concept/design study that pays tribute to the original M1 and shows what could be possible if BMW were to produce a new mid-engined sports car. Follow the jump for the breakdown. (more…)

Mercedes-Benz S550 2008 review.

markis — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:12:31 +0000

When a car costs as much as a house, as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class does, it makes you take a step back. Can a car this expensive really be worth it? After spending a week with an S550, I can tell you that if any ultraluxury car can justify its gold-plated price tag, it’s this one. Mercedes’ flagship offers a level of power, luxury, technology and prestige found in only a select few full-size luxury sedans. (more…)

Infiniti M35 2008 review.

markis — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:08:07 +0000

A car that’s two years into its current design is usually beginning to show its age, especially when it has as many serious competitors as Infiniti’s M sedan does. The M outpaces that trend: The 2006 original took the field by storm, and today’s car is nine-tenths as terrific. In a segment whose players’ strengths vary across many fronts — performance, technology, quality, reliability — the M emerges a competent choice across the board. (more…)

Mercedes AMG S65 review.

markis — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:56:11 +0000

America has the hots for hybrids. On the flip side of high gas prices, the value of any vehicle with fuel economy below 20 mpg has collapsed. Brand new “gas guzzlers” sit on dealer lots collecting incentives, rebates, finance deals and dust. The price of used fuel-suckers has dropped by 25 percent in the last four months, and THEN the rest. This is the perfect time to shop for a twin-turbo twelve-cylinder behemoth. (more…)

Kia Carnival EX 2.7 review.

markis — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:38:00 +0000

KIA Automotive Australia will hold on to the value-for-money Carnival people-mover despite the arrival of the bigger, newer, more powerful and more expensive Grand Carnival V6 model.
The now-outdated Carnival 2.5-litre V6 will continue to be part of the Kia line-up beyond March 1, when Ateco Automotive hands over Australian distribution for Kia vehicles to a factory-backed operation. (more…)

Subaru Justy 1.0 R review.

markis — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:33:40 +0000

When you’re growing up, everyone asks you what you want to be when you’re older – and I never had any desire to be a fireman or train driver. My ambition was to become an animator.I loved ‘anime’ (the popular Japanese art form), and quickly found myself taking an interest in Eastern imagery and culture. This dream came to an end at the age of about 15, when I discovered skateboards, football and all the other things that occupy a teenage boy’s time. (more…)

Honda OSM review.

markis — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:18:32 +0000

Honda says that the OSM roadster on display at the 2008 British Motor Show is merely a design study, but given that “design study” is frequently a euphemism for “future design language,” we wonder if we’re seeing the next iteration of Honda car styling. Frankly, we hope so, because this is worlds better than what we’ve seen from the automaker of late, from the Accord right on up to the bland and bloated Pilot. The OSM, short for (more…)

Isuzu Rodeo LE Sport 2008 review.

markis — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:11:59 +0000

Isuzu has pulled out all the performance stops with the launch of the Rodeo LE Sport at the British International Motor Show.Inside the specially soundproofed double cab of this limited-edition model lies the ultimate in In-Car-Entertainment: a Pioneer-developed and supplied audio/navigation and rear passenger DVD system - all engineered specifically for the Rodeo LE Sport. (more…)