2012 Jaguar XF Supercharged [w/video]

Posted on by Michael Harley
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Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Jaguar, New Car Reviews, Luxury

This Midsize Cat Discreetly Blows Away its Competitors



The spotlight always shines on the superstars. These are the cars with the most powerful engines, largest wheels and most radical bodywork. In the midsize luxury sedan market, the brightest illumination falls on the flagships such as the BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, Cadillac CTS-V, Jaguar XFR and Audi S6. These four-doors not only frequently secure the cover shots and garner the lion's share of publicity, they also carry hefty window stickers.

But take a look past the flared wheel arches, side skirts and rear decklid spoilers and drop down a big notch in price. There you will find the unexpected sleepers - vehicles that appear much like their standard siblings yet pack serious firepower under the hood and all the proper go-fast equipment to tame it.

While not everyone in the midsize luxury sedan segment offers a contender in this niche (Audi and Cadillac only muster six-cylinder power), the BMW 550i, Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic and this Jaguar XF Supercharged we recently spent a week with are prime examples of four-doors ripe for the discreet enthusiast.

Continue reading 2012 Jaguar XF Supercharged [w/video]

2012 Jaguar XF Supercharged [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Student Car Insurance

Posted on by CARBLog
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Passing a driving test is always an exciting prospect for younger drivers. Most cannot wait to turn 17 so that they can obtain a provisional driving license and start taking lessons with an approved instructor. Whether drivers take 70 or just 20 lessons, there is nothing quite like that feeling of taking to the open road by yourself for the first time. It gives a sense of independence never before experienced and it is one of the first steps to becoming properly grown up.

Buying a first car is the next important factor to consider once the test is out the way. Parents frequently purchase cars for their children as birthday presents or young people buy for themselves. If you are considering buying, there are often other costs such as road tax and insurance which can add up. MoneySupermarket insurance for young drivers is great since it allows you to make price comparisons, also offering some tips for ways to make savings. Remember that having a cool car to take away to university should not be your only priority!

For students in particular this is an expensive time, you will probably be contemplating the price of renting accommodation, food, those party nights with new friends not to mention tuition fees and taking out student loans.

In order to save some money on your car insurance you should definitely select the vehicle carefully – insurers band cars into 50 categories depending upon factors such as engine size and modifications. Another option to consider is taking a course such as the Driving Standards Agency’s Pass Plus course, enabling you to become more confident about driving on motorways, in the city or night driving, all considered risky by providers of insurance. If you have an old banger, the legal minimum requirement for insurance could be enough.

Make sure you shop around for several quotes before making a final decision.Similar Posts: Mr. T-Wannabe Halves Car with Angle-Grinder to Hack Off Police Audi to enter the used car business 2009 World Car of the Year finalists Russian car posters Old soviet car crash test

2013 Lexus LX 570 price increased

Posted on by CARBLog
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A new Lexus LX 570 price increased to $82k. The Lexus LX 570, a luxury version of the Toyota Land Cruiser, gets spindle grille and it has revised front and rear fascias among the other upgrades that Lexus says justify its 1.9-percent price increase.

The Lexus LX 570 also got an updated Crawl Control mode and terrain-select for the all-wheel-drive system, a new multimedia system with the next-generation Lexus Enform system. There’s also a $1,510 luxury package that adds some higher grade trim and features, and a backseat entertainment system for $2,005.

Toyota only sold 3,167 units of the Lexus LX last year, down by about 20 percent.

Full Press Release

Lexus Announces Pricing for 2013 LX 570

Lexus today announced the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2013 LX 570 luxury utility vehicle, which will arrive at dealerships in early February with bold new styling, interior enhancements, cutting-edge technology and remarkable off-road capabilities. The LX will carry an MSRP of $80,930, an increase of 1.9 percent or $1,475. The MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $875.

“With all of the enhanced features, the LX 570 offers perhaps the most exciting combination of luxury, on-road smoothness and off-road performance of any vehicle in its segment,” said Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager, Lexus Division.

The 2013 LX 570 gets a new look at both the front and rear. The fresh look is highlighted by the Lexus spindle grille. New LED daytime running lights complement an updated headlamp design with new larger fog lamp bezels. Taillamps are also updated, while the rear license plate surround gets a revised look and the tow hitch cover is more integrated. Both front and rear bumpers are refreshed, with the rear bumper protector enhanced by a chrome accent. Turn signals have been integrated into the side mirrors, and wider bodyside moldings sport a new appearance.

The LX 570 is powered by an advanced 5.7-liter V8, four cams, and four valves per cylinder engine with dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i). At 383 horsepower and 403 lb.-ft. of torque it is built to handle demanding tasks with remarkable smoothness.

The LX receives an updated Crawl Control feature which provides optimum throttle and brake modulation when maneuvering over rough, uneven or difficult surfaces. The new Turn Assist feature tightens turning circles by adding more brake force to the inside rear wheel. The new Multi-terrain Select also allows the driver to optimize performance by choosing from five types of terrain settings.

The LX interior receives a new multimedia system (with available next-generation Lexus Enform), a color TFT multi-information display, improved front seat cooling, easy access for the driver’s seat, a power outlet for the middle row and unique trims and accents.

With the standard navigation system, LX owners can enjoy a high-resolution multi-media display. The high-resolution screen supports an enhanced map display, with audio, climate and other vehicle information. The navigation system will also have access to the next-generation Lexus Enform Application Suite, the system that leverages the customers’ mobile phone technology to provide a new level of connectivity and information management. Users can conduct local searches through Bing, utilize voice-enabled apps to make restaurant reservations through OpenTable, purchase movie tickets via MovieTickets.com or tap into internet radio services, including Pandora or iHeartRadio.

Lexus Enform also gives LX owners the ability to check-in on Facebook, and search for various restaurant and business reviews on Yelp. SiriusXM data services offer information on stocks, traffic, weather, sports and fuel prices. Enform is supported on iPhone, Android and Blackberry.

The LX offers an optional Luxury Package priced at $1,510 that includes a cool box for beverages, semi-aniline leather-trimmed upholstery with new contrast stitching, a heated steering wheel, new mahogany wood-trimmed door switch plates, a rear-center armrest cover, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats (outboard position only) and Smart Access card key.

In addition to the Luxury Package, the new LX 570 features an available dual screen rear-seat entertainment system with wireless headphones and three-prong electrical outlet, priced at $2,005. This system allows two video sources to be viewed at the same time – for instance, one can be used as a DVD player while the other as a game console or audio player.
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Used Cars in Kent

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People living in Kent want access to the best possible used vehicles to meet their needs. Motors.co.uk has made it possible to search for specific makes and models within a specified geographic location. On their home page is a tool called “Looking for a used car in Kent?” To use this tool you must first enter your postcode. This will help determine which used car dealers are closest to where you live. Next, you can specify the distance you are willing to travel from your current location to get a used vehicle. The bottom part of the tool allows you to set a price range for possible vehicle choices.

When perusing the listings at Motors.co.uk, you will notice certain icons on some pages. For instance a green icon with a checkmark and a car means that Motors has checked the vehicles for certain fraudulent conditions, including theft, scrapped, imported or exported and written off. A red icon also with a vehicle but this time a checkmark means that Motors was unable to verify the car’s history. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy the car, just make sure you look the car over thoroughly.

Of all the used cars in Kent, the ones at Motors show that silver is the most popular car for purchasing a used vehicle. The average age of used cars found through Motors is three years. The average price for a vehicle is

2012 Ford Mustang V6

Posted on by Chris Shunk
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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ford, New Car Reviews

Cylinder-Envy No More



My first car was a used 1981 Ford Mustang. It was a complete piece of garbage, but it was the best I could do with $900 worth of hard-earned busboy tips. It only had one side mirror, the power steering fluid had to be filled every two weeks and there was a nail in the dashboard. I would have removed that last bit of nonstandard hardware, but whenever the Brown Bomber didn't want to turn over, touching the nail for luck seemed to work. But compared to my friends' cars, mine at least looked the fastest. Looks don't win at the stoplight, though, and my rust-colored 'Stang featured the double whammy of a 109-horsepower 2.8-liter V6 and an automatic transmission.

To say that my Mustang's powertrain was a disappointment could be the understatement of the century, but I wasn't the only V6-powered Mustang owner suffering from horsepower humiliation. It would be another 30 years before Ford would offer a V6-powered Mustang with anything more than mule muscle, but that's where we are today. The 2012 Mustang boasts a legit 305 horsepower, or more punch than the 4.6-liter V8 under the hood of the 2009 Mustang GT. I have no doubt that the 2012 Mustang is vastly superior to my 1981 shame machine, but does that 305 horsepower and a vastly improved rear-wheel-drive chassis make this Mustang one of America's great performance bargains? Hit the jump to find out.

Continue reading 2012 Ford Mustang V6

2012 Ford Mustang V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG [w/video]

Posted on by Michael Harley
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Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, New Car Reviews, Luxury

The Ultimate Passenger Vessel For Travel To Infinity And Beyond

2012 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG

Sometime before the end of this century, humans will travel to Mars. The longest manned journey ever attempted will take the explorers at least 34 million miles over the course of many months, at best. The vehicle necessary to support such an odyssey will need to be spacious, comfortable, technically advanced, incredibly safe and very powerful.

Before plotting the future spacecraft's design, we suggest the engineers take a close look at the 2012 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG for ideas.

Of course, we don't think the S63 is fit for interplanetary travel - micrometeorites and ultraviolet radiation would likely wreak havoc on its expensive and vogue matte finish Magno Platinum paint - but we do feel it is one of the most spacious and luxurious rocket ships that someone outside of a space agency can put in their personal hangar.

During our week with the AMG-tuned S-Class, its four wheels never left the surface of planet Earth, but we did load it up and make a long weekend trek to Palm Springs. How did this twin-turbocharged sedan handle the long outing and subsequent run into the mountains? Does it drive ponderously, or is the big Benz agile and athletic? Most importantly, what's not to like with this two-and-one-half ton almighty giant?

Continue reading 2012 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG [w/video]

2012 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Nissan Versa Sedan [w/video]

Posted on by Chris Shunk
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Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Nissan, New Car Reviews

What Are You Willing To Sacrifice For A Low Price?

2012 Nissan Versa Sedan

The compact car market is white-hot. The new Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze and Hyundai Elantra have lifted the segment to new levels of refinement while at the same time improving fuel economy to 40 miles per gallon on the highway and beyond. Instead of turning their attention back to trucks and SUVs, manufacturers are going even smaller. Automakers have begun pouring vast resources into the smaller subcompact segment, and the result has been a wealth of all-new models. The Chevrolet Sonic, Hyundai Accent and Ford Fiesta are all-new or updated and vastly superior to prior subcompacts that still linger in our memories like an unpleasant aftertaste.

Nissan has put its subcompact under the knife, too, as the 2012 Versa features all-new sheetmetal, revised powertrains and a fresh interior. The previous Versa was known for being larger and less expensive than its competition, and its sales reflected that - it's been the most popular model in its segment. But we've been curious to learn if this latest redesign may help or hurt the Versa's standing, so we borrowed the keys to a top trim 2012 Nissan Versa SL Sedan for a week to find out.

Continue reading 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan [w/video]

2012 Nissan Versa Sedan [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L SEL Premium

Posted on by Dan Roth
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Filed under: Sedan, Volkswagen, New Car Reviews

Ich bin ein Mainstreamer

2012 Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen tried building cars in the U.S. once before, and it didn't end well for the Rabbits assembled in Westmoreland, PA. "In Vietnam, 'Westmoreland' was a synonym for boundless optimisim in the face of raw facts. The same principle applies here," said my friend Mike, explaining why his Rabbits at the time were imported from Das Vaterland. The real problem with American-made VWs wasn't Pennsylvania or a self-deluding General, Mike continued, but "mushbucket suspensions, chintzy build quality, frou-frou styling compromises," all resulting in a sub-par experience that's got Volks-folks with long memories wondering if we're doomed to repeat the past.

Volkswagen wants its new 2012 Passat to disprove that trope about repeating history, and the Passat has racked up awards like the Motor Trend Car of the Year and was a North American Car of the Year finalist, lending credence to VW's efforts. We contemplated if the United States earning its own version of the Passat makes us elite or uncultured swine in the wake of our First Drive, and so we signed out a Passat SEL with a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine to see what the Mainstream American Sedan Songbook sounds like when delivered with a German lilt.

Continue reading 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L SEL Premium

2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L SEL Premium originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 A6 Allroad

Posted on by CARBLog
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Here are first official photos and specs of the brand new 2013 Audi A6 Allroad. The new A6 Allroad is 4.94 meters long, 1.90 meters wide and 1.47 meters tall. The body of the new Allroad sits 60mm higher than that of the regular A6 Avant.

The 2013 Allroad gets new bumpers with the massive front grille with the chromed vertical slats, more widely flared fenders, stainless steel covers and chunkier roof bars.

The total vehicle weight on the Allroad has been reduced by as much as 70 kg compared with the previous model. In Europe, there are four available powerplants including one TFSI gasoline engine and three TDI diesel units.

The 3.0-liter V6 TFSI is rated at 310HP and accelerates the Allroad to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. It consumes 8.9 liters of fuel per 100km. All three diesel engines are based on Audi’s 3.0-liter V6 TDI producing 204HP, 245HP and 313HP. The most powerful diesel, which is linked to an 8-speed auto, allows for 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.6 seconds. The TSI and the two less potent diesel engines are paired to Audi’s 7-speed dual clutch transmission.

No word about plans to bring the A6 Allroad to U.S., but in Europe, it goes on sale this spring the base 204HP TDI model starting from US$70,000.


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2013 Buick Encore

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Look at the all-new 2013 MY Buick Encore, that was missing fell into place today at the Detroit Auto Show. Based on a modified version of GM’s Gamma II platform that underpins the Chevrolet Spark / Sonic and the next Opel Corsa, the Encore measures 168.5 inches in length, 69.9 inches in width and 64.8 inches in height.

Even though it’s roughly the same size as the Nissan Juke, Buick prefers to position it against two more luxurious crossovers that are not sold in the U.S., the BMW X1 and Audi Q3.

Buick’s new small crossover Encore is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 140HP. It is available with a six-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive.

Depending on the trim model, the 2013 Buick Encore will be offered with 10 airbags, electronic stability control, USB smartphone connection, a seven-inch LCD display, remote engine start, automatic wipers, heated, leather-covered and power front seats and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Sales of Buick’s new small crossover will start in the first quarter of 2013 year, while Opel will also offer its own version of the Encore named Mokka.


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