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Review: 2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo, Ultimate Riding Machine

2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo – Click above for high-res image gallery

Last year's introduction of the BMW 5 series Gran Turismo marked the entrance into yet another mark segment for the Munich based automaker. It was immediately apparent that this machine was quite unlike anything ever to carry the blue and white roundel before and most observers were not immediately impressed when they first laid eyes on it.

However like Porsche's Panamera, this machines shape was driven more by function than style. While BMW's tag-line since the mid-1970s has been "The Ultimate Driving Machine" the new Gran Turismo is more like the ultimate driven machine. This is a car shaped more for the passengers than the person sitting behind the wheel. It's also a machine with no shortage of technology throughout. With this change in emphasis, is it now less of a driving machine?

Gallery: Review: 2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo

Tags: 2010, 2010 bmw, 2010 bmw 5 series gran turismo, 2010 bmw 5 series gt, bmw 5 series gran turismo, bmw 5 series gt, bmw 550i gran turismo, BMW 550i GT, bwm, featured, features, luxist reviews, review

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Review: 2010 Cadillac CTS-V, King of the Super-sedans

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

_{2010 Cadillac CTS-V – Click above for high-res image gallery}

BMW launched the era of the modern high-performance luxury sedan a quarter century ago with the M5. Blending the twin-cam 3.5-liter inline-six from the defunct M1 supercar with the mid-size 5 series body shell created a whole new segment. Since then numerous other automakers have joined the fray with the likes of the Jaguar XFR, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and Audi RS6.

When Cadillac introduced the original CTS it was meant to directly take on the likes of the E-Class and 5 series. In order to be taken completely seriously it was decided to create a similar high performance variant which was dubbed the CTS-V. The first generation CTS-V featured a 400 horsepower small-block V8 from the Corvette. This car was quick but still not as sophisticated as its European counterparts. This is a market segment that doesn't stand still and the European incumbents were approaching 500 hp and beyond with their entries. For its second generation, Cadillac intended to place the CTS-V firmly at the top of the super-sedan heap. Read on to find out if they succeeded.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Cadillac CTS-V

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Review: 2010 Audi S5 Quattro Coupe

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2010 Audi S5 Quattro Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Thirty years ago at the Geneva Motor Show Audi launched itself in a new direction when unveiled a new coupe based on its then current 80/4000 mid-size model. The Quattro coupe took its name from the innovative new all-wheel-drive system that propelled it. Up until the Quattro vehicles that spun all four wheels were typically about off-road traction not performance enhancement. Audi created a system that sent power to all the wheels, all the time without having the kind of jacked up appearance of Jeep. Three decades of winning rally stages and road races have proven conclusively that Quattro works.

In 2007 Audi launched the closest thing there is to a direct successor to the Ur-Quattro as the lead vehicle for its B8 mid-size platform. The coupe is now known as the A5 and like most other cars wearing the four-ring badge, it is available in both front wheel drive and all-wheel-drive Quattro forms. We recently got to spend several days with the hottest currently available version of Audi's coupe, the V8 powered S5 Quattro in the vicinity of LaJolla, California. Read on after the jump to learn if the S5 lives up to the heritage of the original Quattro.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi S5 Quattro 6MT

Tags: 2010, 2010 Audi, 2010 audi s5, 2010 audi s5 coupe, 2010Audi, 2010AudiS5, 2010AudiS5Coupe, audi s5 coupe, AudiS5Coupe, feature, featured, features, quatro, review

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Review: 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged, A Worthy Leaping Cat

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Jaguar launched the new XF in 2008, it marked the first significant change to the brand's overall design direction since the 1960s (except for the mid-70s XJ-S which never inspired anything else). Elements of the new design language began appearing in concepts like the RD6 earlier in the decade, but it truly took the XF to break the stranglehold of retro design in Coventry. The XF set in motion a movement that continued with the introduction of the all-new XJ and will likely inspire additional models in the future.

At its launch, the XF was powered by engines that were largely carried over from its predecessor the S-Type which were by no means bad, but they were starting to fall behind the German competition. Two years into its life-cycle, the XF (along with the rest of the Jaguar and Land Rover lineup) has received a heart transplant to go along with its still fresh looking duds. We recently got to spend a week living with a 2010 XF Supercharged and you can read all about it after the jump.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged

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Review: 2010 Audi S4 sedan, Fast and Practical

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2010 Audi S4 - click above for high res image gallery

Among the big 3 German premium carmakers, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz each has its own in-house department dedicated solely to creating faster, better handling versions of their parent's mainstream cars. Of course none of those three automakers would actually want their everyday products referred to as mainstream since that would neutralize the cache that allows them to charge a premium tariff. That however is a story for another day.

BMW has its M Division, Mercedes-Benz has AMG and Audi has Quattro GmbH. Quattro of course draws its name from the all-wheel-drive system that has been a staple of Audis since the early 1980s. The Quattro group based in Neckarsulm, Germany creates two levels improved Audis which are distinguished by the model names, these being S and RS. The pinnacle of Audi performance is defined by models like the RS6, TT-RS and of course the mighty R8. Many of these models are not offered here in the US market. However, we do get all of the S models such as the TT-S that we drove recently, the S5 coupe and the latest addition, the S4 sedan. Follow the jump to read about our time with the latest S4.

Gallery: 2010 Audi S4 sedan

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Review: 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum Edition

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum Edition - click above for a high res image gallery

Since General Motors debuted its two mode hybrid system two years ago on the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon it has gradually been expanding availability to other examples of its GMT900 full size truck family. One of the newest examples is also by far the most luxurious and most expensive version yet. In fact the Cadillac Escalade hybrid Platinum Edition is the second priciest hybrid available today after the Lexus LS600h.

The base Escalade hybrid is built on the same platform and powertrain bits as its more pedestrian siblings. However, Cadillac has outfitted its version with appearance and equipment that customers of the "wreath and crest" brand expect. For the new Platinum, Cadillac has taken the Escalade several steps beyond that. We were able to spend a week with the big platinum on the South Carolina coast recently and you can find out if it lives up to expectations after the jump.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum Edition

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Review: 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2009 MINI Cooper Convertible - click above for a high res image gallery

In these troubling economic times, the 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible could be viewed in a couple of different ways. Loaded up with lots of goodies, it could be seen as an entry point into the world of luxury open-top motoring. Alternatively, when times are tough it could be seen as a way to be more financially responsible without giving up all of the amenities you might have come to expect. Either way, the MINI is designed to put a smile on the face of those who drive one.

If your brand is going to be called MINI, you would certainly expect the products to have diminutive dimensions. BMW's British outpost is dedicated to building cars sized commensurate with the brand's name. This August marks the 50th anniversary of the debut of iconic original and while MINIs today are much larger than the originals, they are still among the smallest cars on the road. The second generation of the modern MINI convertible debuted in January at the Detroit Auto Show and went on sale in the spring. We had the opportunity to spend a week in a trimmed out MINI. Read on to find out if it inspires smiles or frowns.

Gallery: Review: 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible

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Review: 2010 Lincoln MKS with EcoBoost, Who Needs a V8?

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost - click above for a high res image gallery

For nearly a century Cadillac and Lincoln have lived an interesting parallel existence as the two of the premier American luxury automotive brands. Since their founding in 1902 and 1918respectively the two brands have outlived many other brands such as Duesenberg , Cord and Packard. While the two brands have been a part of General Motors and Ford Motor Co. for most of their respective existence, they have common roots in that both companies were founded by Henry Leland. In recent decades both companies have slipped from the pinnacle that they once occupied to be supplanted by German brands like Audi, Mercedes and BMW as well as Lexus, Infiniti and Acura from Japan.

Over the past decade both brands have attempted to claw their way back up the ladder with a variety of new and different products. Cadillac got the head start earlier this decade with a new design language expressed in cars like the CTS, XLR and STS. Lincoln on the other hand took a little longer to find its design footing but is rapidly moving to implement across its lineup. The MKS sedan which debuted in 2008 was first production application of the new style and for 2009 it becomes the first car to get Ford's new EcoBoost V6 engine. We recently spent a week with Lincoln's new flagship and you can read all about it after the jump.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

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First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS Convertible

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2010 Lexus IS350 Convertible - click above for a high res image gallery

February in Chicago would hardly seem like the appropriate backdrop for the debuting a new convertible but that's exactly where Lexus unveiled the new IS. Fortunately the conditions for the IS-C's on-sale date and first drives are somewhat more amenable to top down motoring. We recently had a chance to spend some time with the new IS convertible in both IS250 and IS350 forms.

Like the existing Lexus SC460, chief rival the Infiniti G37, and of course the BMW 3-series, the new IS C has a retractable hard-top that folds into the trunk. The IS is the second best selling model in the Lexus lineup and in the segment it competes in having a convertible seems a natural fit. Come along for the ride and find out if the IS convertible is for you.

Gallery: 2010 Lexus IS Convertible

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Top Ten Reasons Why It's Never A Bad Time To Purchase A Rolls Royce

by Dan Roth (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Rolls Royce recently came to town with its Drive of Distinction event for customers and media alike. It's not every day you get to sample every variant in the Phantom lineup, and we spent plenty of time peppering Rolls Royce's representative with all manner of question about the cars he'd brought up for us to try out. While trying out the standard Phantom, Phantom Coupe, Drophead Coupe, and Extended Wheelbase, we got to thinking that even in a poor economy, there really isn't a bad time to purchase a Rolls Royce.

A luxury purchase through-and-through, it's also one of the finest products you'll find to buy. The cars certainly require means to acquire, but the allure is obvious, and if you're going to buy an investment-grade car of any stripe, there's a lot of sense to an expensive, handcrafted automobile that can see everyday use. Vehicles weren't meant to sit in museums, and while some historical autos belong in that setting, most beg for the road - old or new. So, you could be totally selfish and drop $1 million on purchasing and restoring a Lamborghini Miura, or you and the family can take a relaxing trip across the continent and enjoy what life has to offer.

Also check out more images from the event:

Gallery: Rolls Royce Drive of Distinction event

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Quick Drive Review: 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

click above for a high res gallery of the 2009 BMW Z4

Ever since BMW unveiled the new 2009 Z4 at the Detroit Auto Show last January, the automaker has been scrupulous about not referring to it as a sports car. Instead the Z4 is the latest generation BMW Roadster. BMW's roadster heritage dates back to the 1930s but this is the third generation of the modern drop top two seaters that began with the Z3 in the early 90s. Like the last transition that saw the Z3 become the Z4, this one has grown and become more sophisticated than its predecessor.

That means it is both more feature rich and heavier than before. The most significant change is the adoption of a retractable hard top for the first replacing the soft top of previous models. The Z4 is the second BMW following the 3-series to go down this path and as with most other examples the two-seater is far more visually appealing. The new Z4 is also more aesthetically pleasing in other ways was well. To learn more about the Z4 including whether it lives up to its tag-line "an expression of joy" continue reading after the jump.

Gallery: Quick Drive: 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i