2012 Kia Sorento SX

This 2012 Kia Sorento SX is strong. It looks good inside (but it could use a little color in there) and out, there's good pep from the responsive V6 along with decent mpg figures. And it's a pleasant driver. A passenger jumped in last night, looked around and said, "This is a Kia? Wow!"
All signs points to Kia being on a rapid ascent.
The Sorento rides well on the freeway, planted and secure with good steering weight. The ride is just a wee bit stiff around town but nothing off-putting. And I was happy with the six-cylinder's 276 hp. However, I would like to drive a four-cylinder version back-to-back to see how it stacks up.
Are there more engaging SUVs? Of course there are. Are there more engaging SUVs with seven seats? Probably, but this is a damn fine all-around package.

Ruf XL: A longer Porsche Panamera for the Chinese market

The Chinese love their rear-seat legroom. The workhorse of Shanghai taxi fleets is an extended-wheelbase Volkswagen called the Santana; think 1980s Quantum with longer rear doors. Audi's Chinese division designed and builds a long-wheelbase version of the last-generation A6. Rolls-Royce has made a full-court press into the Middle Kingdom with its Ghost EWB, launching the extended-wheelbase car at last year's Shanghai show.
So when Alois Ruf decided to take on China, he did it by following the path of least resistance--by creating a long-wheelbase version of the Porsche Panamera.
Famous for purchasing Porsche bodies-in-white, screwing on his own VIN plate and exacting gobsmacking levels of performance out of his erstwhile 911s, with the

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: Drive review

The new ZL1 is the ultimate factory Camaro--now and probably ever. It's certainly the most powerful, with 54 percent more horsepower than the infamous COPO-option, big-block 1969 Camaro ZL-1. Development engineers say one-third of the ZL1's parts are unique, compared with the current fifth-generation Camaro SS. All of those unique parts, save the ZL1's Alcantara dash insert, were upgraded to improve performance.
It starts under the hood with General Motors' supercharged, 6.2-liter LSA V8. Familiar from the Cadillac CTS-V, the LSA is similar but not identical to the LS9 small-block in the Corvette ZR1, and its distinctions go beyond a smaller Eaton twin-scroll supercharger. The ZL1 engine is assembled in Silao, Mexico, while the Corvette LS9 is hand-built at GM's Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., with titanium connecting rods and valves and dry-sump lubrication.

GM technology chief Tom Stephens to retire

Tom Stephens, GM's vice chairman, chief technology officer and former head of global product operations, will retire on April 1 after a 43-year career with the automaker.
His successor will be named later, GM said Sunday.
Stephens, 63, has served as GM's chief technology officer--a new position--since Feb. 1, 2011, with responsibility for the integration of advanced technology in GM cars and light trucks.
He served as vice chairman for global product development from April 2009 through February 2011. Stephens succeeded Bob Lutz as GM's top executive for global product development, a role now held by Mary Barra.
Prior to his post as GM's top product chief, Stephens was group vice president of GM's global powertrain operations from July 2001 to March 2008.

Auto-na Design Forum returns with style

Chevrolet
General Motors designer Clay Dean spoke at the Autoweek Design Forum about how his company is trying to reach younger buyers using concepts such as the Chevrolet Code 130R (shown).
Creating striking products for a new generation of consumers was a hot topic at the Autoweek Design Forum, which returned on Thursday with an A-list panel of designers from the car world and a man credited with the proliferation of the Apple iPod.
Heady company, and it resulted in interesting speeches and debates about design, technology and marketing--and making it all work together.
The annual event is held at the College for Creative Studies A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education in Detroit, a historic art deco building that once housed the General Motors design studios.
Enthusiasts traditionally flock to the event sandwiched between press days and public days of the Detroit auto show to discuss the latest in car design.

2013 Chevrolet Corvette offers 427 convertible collector's-edition model

The C6 Chevrolet Corvette is going out in style--and with plenty of performance.
Chevrolet confirmed on Thursday that the 2013 Corvette will be the final year for the sixth generation of its iconic sports car, which it will send off with a 427 convertible collector's edition and a 60th-anniversary package.
The cars will be shown in the flesh on Jan. 21 at the Barrett-Jackson auction ahead of their launch this summer. The first 427 convertible will be auctioned at the Las Vegas sale with the proceeds going to the Drive to End Hunger relief program.
As the name implies, the 427 edition has a 427-cubic-inch LS7 engine borrowed from the Z06, and it's rated at 505 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Chevy says this is the most powerful production convertible in Corvette's history. This model will be offered only with a six-speed manual.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Hatchback

I had the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ for a long weekend which included shopping, trips to see the family and hauling around leftovers.
From what I can see, it's a good little car that can do everything but haul a giant plasma screen television home, and that's only because it's not tall enough and the TV needs to stand up. Otherwise, the Sonic fit all of my gifts from shopping, extra clothes I ditched during the unseasonably warm day in Michigan and bag of extra stuff for a houseguest.
I wouldn't call the engine strong but it does a completely acceptable job of moving the five-door hatch around. I had no problem getting up to and maintaining expressway speeds, but I did have to downshift once or twice to get back up to cruising velocity after slowing down. The 1.4-liter turbo makes a nice racket when you're really pushing it but cruises quietly. Road noise and wind noise make more sound than the small four-banger.

BMW spends $900 million on South Carolina plant to build the X4 SUV

BMW is expanding its lineup with the X4 and growing its manufacturing base with a $900 million investment in its Spartanburg, S.C., assembly plant.
"This is in response to rising global demand for the BMW X family to include the BMW X4," BMW board member Frank-Peter Arndt said.
BMW says the investment will create 300 new jobs at the plant. The automaker spent $750 million on plant expansion during production of the BMW X3 from 2008 to 2010.
The X4 will share the same floorpan, drivelines and chassis as the X3, but with individual styling to give it a more sporting image. BMW plans to position the new car above the current X3.

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

This is one of the first tests of the much-anticipated Lamborghini Aventador on public roads. For our test at speed on the track, check out our earlier Aventador review here.
Lamborghini's flagship gets an extensive overhaul that includes a 691-hp V12, a proprietary seven-speed, single-clutch sequential gearbox and a carbon-fiber monocoque that weighs only 325 pounds. Virtually every aspect of the outgoing Murciélago has been reimagined--from the new inboard, pushrod-actuated suspension system to the network of computer ECUs, which is managed by a central unit capable of performing up to half a billion computations per second.
Lighter, quicker, faster and better-handling than the wedge-shaped supercar it replaces, the Lamborghini Aventador retains the usual bits that make it the alpha dog Lambo: a 12-cylinder lump mounted amidships, upward-swinging scissor doors and styling that appears to have more in common with fighter jets than four-wheeled transportation.

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

Ralph Gilles, SRT brand president and CEO, calls the Dodge Charger SRT8 the extrovert of the 2012 SRT8 class--and with good reason. The aggressive SRT exterior treatment includes a gloss black grille, sculpted hood with black air exhauster, rear spoiler and dual four-inch exhaust tips make the car look menacing.
But with any SRT vehicles, it begins with the engine. A new 6.4-liter Hemi V8 powers the menacing sedan, replacing the previous 6.1-liter Hemi V8. With a total of 470-hp and 470 lb-ft of torque on tap, it provides and additional 45 hp and 50 lb-ft of torque over the old powerplant. Power is up, but fuel efficiency also improves with a new active valve exhaust system (as found all 2012 SRT8 models) to allow the Hemi to operate in four-cylinder mode over a wider rpm range. Bolted to the V8 is the tried and true five-speed automatic with manual shift function.
On the suspension front, 2012 marks the additional of a new adaptive damping suspension offering two modes: auto and sport.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

Jeep's pavement-pounding Grand Cherokee SRT8 returns to the fold for the 2012 model year packing a new engine, improved ride quality and towing capabilities. A 6.4-liter Hemi V8 sets up shop under the sculpted hood with dual vents to produce 470 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque for an improvement of 50 hp and 45 lb-ft of torque over the previous 6.1-liter mill. Efficiency is also up thanks to an active valve exhaust system, which allows the big Hemi to operate in four-cylinder mode across a wider rpm range. The result, according to Jeep, is a 13-percent increase of fuel economy on the highway and a range of up to 450 miles on one tank of fuel.
The only transmission offered is a five-speed automatic with manual-shift mode via the steering-wheel-mounted paddles or center console shifter.
Ride and handling improvements come courtesy of the body's 146-percent increase in torsional stiffness and a standard adaptive damping suspension, which is controlled by the SRT8's new Selec-Track system. With five different settings (auto, sport, tow, track and snow), the system adjusts stability control, damping, transmission shifts, torque proportioning, throttle response and electronic limited-slip differential for optimal performance according to conditions.

2012 Buick Regal GS

The 2012 Regal GS is the turbocharged, high-output performance sedan enthusiasts have been waiting for from Buick. It boasts the best specific output ever in General Motors' storied history: 270 hp from a direct-injection, 2.0-liter Ecotec, which is better than the original estimate of 255 hp. The final rating breaks down to a heady 135 hp per liter, and torque is 295 lb-ft.
The Regal GS puts down max twist at 2,400 rpm and is estimated to sprint to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds.
Engineers worked on the chassis, adding Brembo brakes and springs that are 20 percent stiffer for a sportier drive. Ride height is lowered about 0.4 inch.
The cabin gets satin finishings and an athletic, flat-bottom steering wheel. In back, the standard exhaust pipes are swapped for quads, and there's a different spoiler and fascia in the rear. The car rolls on 19-inch wheels, with 20-inch wheels an option.

2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring SE

This Touring edition of the Elantra just doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the stylish Hyundai lineup. The curves and the aesthetics of the Sonata and Elantra sedans are stunning, and that language isn't quite here. Of course, that's because this Touring is based off the previous-generation Elantra. The bubblelike, almost teardrop silhouette seems a bit awkward. That being said, these headlights--with blue highlights in the middle--are stunning, and same with the wheels. I've seen luxury vehicles with far less.
The five-speed manual is kind of fun in a joystick sort of manner. The throws are long but true, and the clutch is smooth and easy. The manual allows the driver to wring the most out of this car, which, at 138 hp, isn't much. Still, it was enough to get the Elantra Touring moving at a respectable pace.

2012 Volvo S60 T6 AWD R-Design

Volvo's S60 R-Design is the company's most powerful production vehicle, with output boosted an additional 25 hp from the normal S60 T6's 300-hp output, thanks to development undertaken by Volvo's racing and performance parts partner, Polestar.

By increasing turbo pressure and recalibrating the engine-management system, Polestar found the extra power (along with a 9 percent torque improvement, peaking at 354 lb-ft), without hurting the car's fuel-consumption ratings. Appropriately, the increase in engine performance is accompanied by various suspension tweaks.
All of the springs were shortened by 15 millimeters and are 15 percent stiffer, and monotube rear shocks replace twin-tube equivalents for faster response. The rear bushings are 20 percent harder, and the front antiroll bar has 20 percent more resistance. Up front, a strut brace ties the front towers together. This stiffer new chassis rides on 18-inch Ixion alloy wheels shod with high-performance summer tires.
The R-Design model is distinguished by exterior styling additions that include a front facia, a piano-black grille and a new rear diffuser. Inside, the car gets unique seats with extra cushion bolstering and an embossed R-Design logo across the front-seat backrests. The interior also has a sport steering wheel with R-Design logo, gear selector, sports pedals, floormats and a blue watch-dial instrument cluster.
What is it like to drive?

2013 Lexus GS 350

The new Lexus GS range is the fourth generation of the company's luxury sport sedan that competes against cars such as the BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz's E-class. In this iteration, the GS previews new design language that eventually will carry over to the rest of the Lexus range. Reactions to the new look have diverged, but it's clearly not bland.
The model will be available with available premium, luxury and F-Sport packages, powered by a revised version of the 3.5-liter V6 that now combines direct and port fuel injection. The V6 produces 306 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, three more of each than before, while also improving fuel consumption to 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
All-wheel-drive versions of the GS 350 are available, as is the standard rear-drive format. While the GS loses a V8 variant for 2013, it gains an F-Sport model, which is equipped with firmer springs, a three-level variable-damping suspension, thicker antiroll bars, variable-speed steering and a rear-wheel-steer mechanism for optimal handling characteristics.

2013 Subaru BRZ

The Subaru BRZ represents nothing less than the return of inexpensive, fun, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports cars. Sure, there have always been fun, front-engined, rear-drive sports cars, but they weren't cheap. Now, for an anticipated sticker price of less than $25,000, you can get a 200-hp flat four stuffed low and back on the front end of a smooth coupe body. You can have a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, too, the latter with paddle-shifted manual mode. And you get a Torsen limited-slip rear differential that keeps both back tires spinning as long as you want them to spin.
Subaru engineers got those 200 horses out of two naturally aspirated liters using a variety of methods, but the coolest is the presence of two separate fuel-injection systems.

2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC

The MC version of Maserati's GranTurismo coupe is an upgraded derivative of the company's 4.7-liter auto model, which is also carried over into 2012. The base 4.2-liter car is now discontinued in the U.S. market.
Basking in the reflected glory of the company's MC appellation (for Maserati Corse, the company's racing affiliate) the new GT MC has 11 hp more than the normal 4.7-liter engine (mostly due to friction reduction in the valvetrain and new, less restrictive rear exhaust mufflers). It now boasts 444 hp at 7,000 rpm and 376 lb-ft at 4,750 rpm.
The ZF six-speed automatic transmission has also been massaged, and it now shifts in half the time (around 200 milliseconds) when in sport mode. Downshifts are also accompanied by rev-matching throttle blips, a function the Italians call “doppietta.” In manual mode, the transmission will neither kick down nor shift up, even at the rev limiter.
Coil springs, some eight-percent stiffer, drop in over the shock bodies, and the front anti-roll bar diameter is increased to just under an inch. Maserati's so-called Skyhook adaptive suspension system is offered now only as an option.

2012 Ferrari 458 Spider

The Ferrari 458 Spider is a hardtop convertible version of the company's superlative 458 Italia, completing the model lineup of mid-engine V8 sports cars. The new roof design was executed in-house by Ferrari engineers, using a two-dimensional concept to reduce the size, weight and stowage volume of the power-operated, articulated aluminum top.
Thus, the coupe's roof was excised at the windshield headers and above the B-pillars, and the two-piece top hinges about two-thirds of the way back during a relatively quick 14-second stowage process. The conversion adds only 100 pounds over the coupe and takes just 3.5 cubic feet of space, leaving quite a usable storage ledge behind the seats.
When the roof is up, the car looks like a fastback coupe with a bit of an Enzo-like cab-forward silhouette, and when it's down, the car has its own exclusive spider profile with the dual buttresses adding volume to visually shorten the rear deck.

2012 Porsche Cayman R

 As I steered the Cayman R out of Autoweek's parking lot on a sunny Friday evening, I thought, "Why am I sweating?" I knew this much: It was not because of the prospect of running hard for the first time in the most performance-oriented, factory-built Cayman to date. It's a quick car but far from a frightening one.
The air was blowing full-bore inside the RS-like, Alcantara-trimmed cockpit, but still, with one and a half eyes on the road, my right index finger hunted around desperately trying to locate a button that would provide relief.
It came up empty as I pulled to the side of the street, hoping the thought that had popped into my head was wrong. But I knew it wasn't, and the window sticker I fished from the glovebox confirmed my thought, in black and white on the car's list of options: "Delete air conditioning . . . $0."
 Oh, and gee, thanks, Porsche, for being so kind as to not charge for the privilege.

2011 Lexus LX 570

 Good grief--$87,000 for this 2011 Lexus LX 570? Seriously? Not a chance, not for me anyway.
I get that it's essentially the iconic Toyota Land Cruiser, birthed in the 1950s and a global best seller and blah-de-blah. I'm just not in love with the way it drives which is, you know, kind of important. The ride is rough, thumping over road imperfections that our long-term Jeep Grand Cherokee takes for granted. There's an overall too-heavy feel to the way the truck drives. It's wallowy and has a lot of body roll in corners. Steering that feels vague, overboosted and unconnected doesn't help at all.
The powertrain is as smooth as there is in the biz, I'll give it that. The truck probably kicks butt off-road, too. The interior is all leather and wood, and the build quality is up with the best.
Overall though, for this kind of money, I'd look elsewhere.
 As soon as I saw this truck, it reminded me of our long-term Infiniti QX56. And after getting in and driving home, I wished I had been driving the QX.

Riding in the Porsche 911 cabriolet

Autonews has sampled the increased refinement offered by the latest Porsche 911 cabriolet's fabric and composite plastic roof on a final validation test drive of the new car from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
Riding shotgun with the car's development boss, Michael Schaetzle, we were impressed by the ability of the new structure to not only filter noise when the roof is raised, but also the way it builds on the inherent calmness evident in other aspects of the new rear-engine open-top.
At typical motorway cruising speeds, there is a palpable improvement in overall refinement when the roof is raised, the result of bettered aerodynamic properties and the enhanced sound-deadening properties of the composite panel concentrated within the upper and rear sections of the two-piece structure.
As Schaetzle explains, “It's become a lot quieter, both in terms of wind and mechanical noise, on constant throttle loads. The roof structure, with its composite-plastic design, is much more stable and insulating than before.”

Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid recalled over possible battery-cooling system defect

Fisker Automotive is recalling 239 Karma hybrid cars to fix a defect in the vehicle's high-voltage battery.
The recall notice, posted today on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site, says the campaign targets all 2012 Fisker Karma models manufactured between July 1 and Nov. 3 of this year. A123 Systems supplies Fisker with the lithium-ion batteries used in the Karma.
A123 previously sent a notice to customers and investors letting them know of a possible safety problem with the battery's cooling system.
Fisker hasn't received any complaints, warranty claims or any other reports related to the defect. On Dec. 21, Fisker notified federal regulators that the company had identified a defective battery part. The agency believes that less than 40 of the 239 affected cars by the battery problem have been delivered to customers.
The fix targets hose clamps improperly positioned during assembly. The misalignment could cause coolant to leak from the cooling hoses, potentially causing a fire, the agency said.

Notes from the floor of the Detroit auto show

Mark Reuss's first car was a 1960s Chevrolet Chevelle, and General Motors' North American chief has never been anything but an unabashed lover of performance. But he's the first to acknowledge that reaching a new generation of buyers--just now approaching their 30s—is a difficult task that requires more than just raw horsepower.
Enter the sports-car concepts revealed on Monday at the Detroit auto show, the Code 130R and the Tru 140S. Not exactly the catchiest of names, but they're striking and symbolic of a new breed of performance for Chevrolet.
Both cars theoretically would be priced at just more than $20,000 and run four-cylinder engines rated at about 150 hp. They would be relatively lightweight and get an estimated 40 mpg. Practical, sporty and responsible. At least that's the idea, since these concepts don't even have interiors and are strictly design studies at this point.

2013 Hyundai Genesis coupe gets a fresh attitude

The Hyundai Genesis coupe launched in 2009 to much enthusiast fanfare, and it quickly gained a following among tuners and premium customers with sporty inclinations.
Fast-forward three years, and Hyundai appears to be gaining confidence and truly coming into its own in the athletic two-door segment, cranking up the power, adding a number of appearance-enhancing styling cues and improving the interior.
The 2013 Genesis coupe was revealed on Monday at the Detroit auto show and arrives on the market later this year. It competes against the Infiniti G37, the Nissan 370Z and, to a lesser extent, the V6 Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. The Scion FR-S also will join the segment as a competitor.

Acura NSX returns at Detroit auto show

The Acura NSX took on an aura of immortality the moment it died in 2005. Its legend only grew when a potential replacement was killed in 2008 amid the global financial crisis, dashing the hopes of enthusiasts everywhere. Finally, the return of the NSX was confirmed last year, and it will become production reality sometime in the next three years.
The Detroit auto show marks the coming-out party for the NSX, which was revealed in concept form with a number of many true-to-life features—some of which stand in stark contrast its forerunner. Namely, the concept is all-wheel drive, unlike the iconic rear-wheel original. This employs Acura's latest technology, using a two-motor electric-drive unit that can vary torque to the front wheels during cornering. There's also a dual-clutch transmission with a built-in electric motor that's said to aid acceleration.

2011 Hyundai Sonata SE

Nine months into our yearlong tour in the 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE 2.0T, our praise couldn't be higher. Every time another staffer takes our long-termer for a drive, the same notes of satisfaction come back. It's as though we're all singing from the same hymnal.
"Underrated" was the Hemingway-esque report from one staffer.
And that's as our South Korean wunder-sedan rolled past 20,000 miles on the clock (we stacked up another 7,582 miles in the third quarter), with everything from the ride to the powertrain seemingly improving with age and miles. Even our fuel-economy numbers are getting better. We averaged more than 29 mpg in the third quarter, up from a mere 25.6 mpg early on in the Sonata's stay. Overall, the car is posting 27 mpg over nine months, topping its EPA combined estimate of 26 mpg. That's significant, especially considering that it's a turbocharged engine with a paddle-shifter tranny in the hands of editors who aren't heralded for their hypermiling skills.

Nissan to build Mercedes engines in Tenn. plant

Nissan Motor Co. and Daimler AG said they have agreed to produce four-cylinder Mercedes-Benz gasoline engines at Nissan's Decherd, Tenn., engine factory from 2014 to be fitted on Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti models.
Nissan and its alliance partner Renault SA have a wide-ranging agreement with Daimler to share vehicle and powertrain technologies. The automakers launched the joint effort in April 2010.
"This is the newest milestone in our pragmatic collaboration and our most significant project outside of Europe so far," Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said in a statement Sunday. "Localized capacity reduces exposure to foreign exchange rates while rapidly enabling a good business development in North America--a win-win for the Alliance and Daimler."
Daimler touted the plan as a way to provide a direct supply of engines for the Mercedes C-class vehicles produced at Daimler's plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Limited

The third quarter for our long- term 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI started with a full physical in the form of a 15,000-mile service visit. In addition to the normal oil change and tire rotation, the dealership checked the electrical and cooling systems, tuned the engine and added fuel-injector cleaner and an air filter. It also checked on the Brembo brakes, which still had 90 percent of material remaining after nine months.
"Either these Brembo brakes hold up extremely well, or we're just not driving it hard enough," one editor said.
The summer softened up the interior plastics, which made less noise than in the winter months, when they tended to squeak a lot more. Their silence did leave more room for tire and wind noise to work its way into the cabin.
As refined as this car is compared with previous generations, it still ranks low on driving serenity. "The STI remains very raw," one editor noted. "There were times it sounded as if debris was falling off, and the racket this thing makes simply moving down the road is rather intrusive to passengers."
But that's not what most drivers care about with the 305-hp WRX STI. Enthusiasts like us want a snorting muffler, a gaudy wing and the lightning throttle response that the WRX STI provides. It burbles at idle with a solid bass note before working up to a high-pitched metallic wail near redline.

Tesla Model X crossover to be unveiled on Feb. 9

Rocketship impresario Elon Musk had previously promised the premiere of the Tesla Model X crossover last month. It's now come out that the electric crossover will be unveiled on Feb. 9 at the company's design studio in Hawthorne, Calif.
One may recall that Santa Monica--the oceanfront town's airport, to be exact--was the site of the Tesla Roadster's big unveiling back in 2006, featuring what seemingly was every green and automotive pundit in the Los Angeles Basin, not to mention an appearance by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Then came revisions, corporate infighting and delays as the company ran smack-dab into the realities of being, you know, an actualcar company.
With Roadster production finished and the Model S sedan nearly ready for market, the company's now turning its attention to readying a crossover variant of the same platform.

2012 Cadillac SRX Performance Collection

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: This 2012 Cadillac SRX is one of my favorite crossovers. It's comfortable and extremely competent in what it is trying to be--a luxury crossover, giving drivers the benefit of driving a car with most of the capabilities of a small sport-ute. And while I like this a lot, especially some of the little details such as the jeweled lens that lights up with the turn-signal indicator, part of a nicely styled and comfortable interior, I'm not sure I'd take this over, say, a Jeep Grand Cherokee. And while I know they are two completely different vehicles, the useable interior space is about the same, and the Jeep is, well, it's Jeep with all of its capabilities.
But for people not needing serious off-road capabilities who still want to haul stuff (and people) in luxurious comfort, the SRX is a terrific option. As a daily driver, one could do much, much worse.

2012 Jaguar XJL Supersport

EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: That firm push in the back isn't just the built-in seat massager--that's what 510 hp and 461 lb-ft will do for you. It's enough to give you a wonderful, warm feeling--oh, wait, that's the seat heat. Whatever.
Here's the thing: If you want or need a big luxury liner with all the extras, right down to the fold-down tray tables for your back-seat passengers, and serious power and performance, this wild 2012 Jaguar XJL Supersport kitty is a strong contender. Pricey, but then it's a supercharged, maximum-performance Jaguar sedan. If you want to save some green, there's the house-trained XJ at only $82,000 in the Portfolio trim, with the standard 385-hp naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 under the hood. So tame.
Though I've said in the past I'm a pushover for Jags of old, including the box-on-box XJs, this styling is starting to really grow on me. It's sleek yet strong, edgy yet elegant, all from the same flowing sheetmetal. Maybe it's the design stretched over a longer wheelbase that helps--that's a question for Ian Callum next time we see him.

Lexus lights up the LF-LC sports car for Detroit auto show

Fresh photos of the stunning Lexus LF-LC sports car were released on Wednesday ahead of the live debut next week at the Detroit auto show.
Clad in a blazing shade of blood red, the LF-LC suggests a future sports car for the luxury brand. The concept has a 2+2 configuration and a hybrid powertrain. It was designed at the company’s Calty studio in Newport Beach, Calif.
The shots show an angled, angry grille evidenced on the LF-GH concept at the 2011 New York auto show, which closely previewed the 2013 GS sedan.
The LF-LC concept also has blinged-out wheels, futuristic three-bulb headlights and curvy fenders. More details will be revealed on Monday.
The Detroit auto show promises to be a sports-car shootout, as Acura has confirmed that the NSX will bow there and Chevrolet is bringing two athletic design concepts.

The Gallery kicks off Detroit auto show events

Featuring an eclectic array of supercars from Ferrari to Falcon, with Lamborghini, Cadillac and Bentley blended in for good measure, the Gallery kick-started official festivities for the Detroit auto show on Sunday at the MGM Grand Casino in the city's downtown.
The Gallery opened in the afternoon with a showing of about 30 supercars on display in a ballroom. After a press preview, a crowd of well-heeled potential customers was expected to attend in the evening. Tickets cost $500, and celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck was to prepare the menu.
The Gallery is one of the peripheral events surrounding the Detroit auto show. It features small displays from many of the main luxury- and exotic-car builders and a cadre of executives.

2013 Dodge Dart gets early reveal on the Internet

Dodge's big reveal for the Detroit auto show--the 2013 Dodge Dart--has been spoiled a bit as some photos have reached the Internet earlier than what the automaker had planned.
Still, what we see here means that Monday's big debut will be a must-see event.
We've known some details of the Dart for a few weeks:
-- It rides on a widened version of the platform used for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Chrysler calls this platform CUSW, and it plans to use it for several cars and crossovers in the next several years.
-- The Dart will be available with a choice of three four-cylinder engines, some of them branded Tigershark. Two engines will use Fiat's MultiAir variable valve technology for better fuel economy.

BMW beats Mercedes-Benz to claim first U.S. luxury sales crown

BMW fended off a late-year surge by rival Mercedes-Benz to win its first title as best-selling luxury brand in the United States.
BMW said Thursday that U.S. sales rose 15 percent to 26,834 in December, for an annual total of 247,907. Mercedes said its sales last month climbed 28 percent to 25,701, pushing its tally for the year to 245,192.
The results officially end Lexus' 11-year reign atop the U.S. luxury rankings. The Toyota Motor Corp. brand reeled after the March earthquake in Japan disrupted production, finishing the year down 13 percent at 198,552. Mercedes won the title once, in 1999, before ceding the U.S. crown to Lexus.
Thursday's announcements also capped an unusual end to the reporting of annual auto sales. BMW of North America and Mercedes-Benz USA were the only companies that failed to release U.S. totals along with the rest of the industry on Wednesday, drawing more attention to the luxury race.

Kia, Chrysler, VW set pace as December sales advance 9 percent

Kia, Chrysler and Volkswagen posted some of the strongest sales gains for December as the industry closed out 2011 on a high note.
Automotive News estimates December volume was up 9 percent to 1.24 million from a year earlier--in line with analysts' forecasts. Total industry sales were projected at 12.78 million for the year, up from 2010's total of 11.6 million and the 27-year low of 10.4 million in 2009.
Autodata Corp. estimated December's seasonally adjusted annual sales rate at 13.56 million--the year's second highest mark behind November's 13.63 million.
The industry totals were projected because Daimler AG and BMW Group still hadn't reported their December results as of 8:30 p.m. ET Wednesday. The German automakers' Mercedes and BMW brands were battling to become the best-selling luxury marque in the United States.
"The year finished on a high note, with industry sales momentum strengthening as the year came to a close," Ken Czubay, head of U.S. marketing, sales and service for Ford Motor Co., said in a statement.

Diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee coming in 2013

Chrysler Group will offer a diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee in North America in 2013, and add a third shift at a Detroit SUV plant next year.
The diesel Grand Cherokee will return to the North America market for the first time since 2008, spokesman Todd Goyer said.
Jeep has continued to sell diesel versions of its SUV lineup elsewhere.
Chrysler said it would add 1,100 workers as part of the plan to add a third shift at the Jefferson North assembly plant in Detroit next year.
The factory now assembles the Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango and is expected to build portions of the upcoming Maserati Kubang, an SUV scheduled to make its North American debut next week at the Detroit auto show.
Maserati is a unit of Fiat S.p.A., which controls Chrysler.
Grand Cherokee sales climbed 51 percent in the United States during 2011 to 127,744 units, while Durango sales hit 51,697 units in its first full year back on the market.
Off-road enthusiasts have long pleaded for diesel engine options across the Jeep lineup because of the diesel's torque and fuel efficiency.

New Ford Mondeo revealed

The new Ford Mondeo has been revealed at the Detroit Motor Show

The fight for the future of the family car starts here. Ford boss Alan Mulally has pulled the wraps from the stunning new FordMondeo, which will go on sale in the UK in March 2013.
Mulally described the launch of the newcomer as a key moment in Ford's strategy for 2012 - a year in which the US firm will launch more cars that ever before.
Promising that 10 new models will be based on the chassis that underpins the new Mondeo he outlined an ambitious plan that sees the car maker selling 1 million versions of the new Mondeo every year by 2014.
Like theFiesta, Focus andKuga, the newcomer is a world car that will be sold unchanged across the globe. It will be called Fusion in the US, but will continue to be known as Mondeo in the UK and Europe.