BMW 535i: An AW Flash Drive
What is it? BMW's new 5-series--the F10, as it is known internally--has the job of emulating the sales success of the old E60 5-series, which despite its controversial appearance became the most successful model in the car's 38-year history. The car goes on sale this summer.Expectations are high.... Published 01/22/10, 10:12 am et
2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, an AW Drivers Log
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: A very nice wagon. It's a little expensive but very nice. Good looking inside and out, with a comfortable interior that will hold lots of junk, and a terrific-looking exterior. It's about the only wagon I can think of that looks better than its sedan counterpart.The V6 drones a... Published 01/22/10, 10:34 am et
The 2010 Ford Expedition Limited EL, an AW Drivers Log
SENIOR EDITOR FOR NEWS BOB GRITZINGER: Like its multitool Chevrolet Suburban brethren, sometimes you just need a good old three-row SUV with cargo room for a big job. In my case, the job was a multistate haul with six people aboard.Fact is, there’s not much better for this kind of work,... Published 01/21/10, 11:49 am et
The 2010 Hyundai Tucson, an AW Flash Drive
What is it? The 2010 Hyundai Tucson is the Korean company's newest foray into the highly competitive small-SUV segment. It's wrapped in stylish sheetmetal and draws power from a proficient 2.4-liter four-cylinder rated at 176 hp. That's the only engine choice, and we sampled both the six-speed... Published 01/21/10, 10:34 am et
An amicable split after a year with the Honda Fit
When we greeted the 2009 Honda Fit as it arrived in our long-term fleet in October 2008, it had all of the elements required for a serious, long-lasting relationship.There was the voluminous interior (it swallowed a 32-inch TV without needing to drop the rear seats), a slick-shifting five-speed... Published 01/20/10, 9:10 am et
The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox 2LT, an AW Drivers Log
SENIOR WEB REPORTER GREG MIGLIORE: The Equinox is everything the new General Motors should strive to be. It’s practical, affordable, looks good and gets strong gas mileage. Thirty-two mpg on the highway from a crossover this size? That’s outstanding in my opinion. This is not some... Published 01/20/10, 10:25 am et
The 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG, an AW Drivers Log
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JONATHAN WONG: The CLS is one of the cars that I consider to be a rolling sculpture. From the side, it’s an elegant shape with lines that flow perfectly with the coupelike inspiration at the rear. However, I think Mercedes needs to throw the notion of a four-door coupe out ... Published 01/18/10, 11:35 am et
The 2009 Lexus GS450h, an AW Drivers Log
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I never liked the GS much; I always thought of it sort of as the runt in the Lexus litter. And the last few GS hybrids I’ve driven have had squeaks and rattles and been beaten all to hell. I remember when I drove one a while back, I turned on the wipers, and they got stuck... Published 01/18/10, 4:01 pm et
The 2009 Audi A4 2.0T, an AW Drivers Log
SENIOR EDITOR FOR NEWS BOB GRITZINGER: Audi is producing a lot of joy-inducing machines these days, and an A4 turbo with a six-speed stick is a perfect example of the company's attention to detail. Yes, a near-$50,000 sticker for a small Audi sedan may seem a little high, but compare it with the... Published 01/14/10, 2:01 pm et
Long-termer wrap-up: An amicable split after a year with the 2009 Honda Fit
When we greeted the 2009 Honda Fit as it arrived in our long-term fleet in October 2008, it had all of the elements required for a serious, long-lasting relationship.There was the voluminous interior (it swallowed a 32-inch TV without needing to drop the rear seats), a slick-shifting five-speed... Published 01/14/10, 10:05 am et
The 2010 Acura TSX V6, an AW Drivers Log
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I was really impressed with this car's interior. There's plenty of room, all the materials look and feel great, it's well laid out (except for, perhaps, the abundance of buttons on the center console), and the seats are comfortable and supportive.The six-cylinder is smooth,... Published 01/13/10, 2:28 pm et
The 2009 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, an AW Drivers Log
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Ah, yes, the 3-series and those lovely run-flats. The tires are garbage, and for me they ruin an otherwise mostly pleasant driving experience.Look, I like this car. It has all the attributes of the sporty 3-series sedan and thus there's a lot to like here. It responds eagerly and ... Published 01/07/10, 11:29 am et
The 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible, an AW Drivers Log
SENIOR WEB REPORTER GREG MIGLIORE: This is a lavish car with plenty of get-up. What impressed me most was how well the transmission shifted gears quickly and proficiently low in the band. The result is that you can rocket away from any light and get yourself out of almost any situation on the... Published 01/05/10, 10:39 am et
Underground Racing's twin-turbo Lamborghini Gallardo tempts with 1,000 hp
The only way to get rid of temptation, Oscar Wilde wrote, is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing.Just ask Izod IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal, age 21, who was sick during the second week of December--less than 12 hours before we met in Charlotte, N.C., to drive... Published 01/07/10, 10:49 pm et
2009 Audi R8 V10, an AW Drivers Log
EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: The extra 100 hp is exactly what this car needs to make it really terrific. With this much horsepower on hand, the R8 finally lives up to its sleek, race-car-like design.In sport mode, the R-tronic transmission snaps off gear changes pretty quickly, and under full... Published 01/04/10, 10:12 am et
2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S, an AW Drivers Log
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Simply a joy to drive. I've said this 58,490,358,903,458,390 times, but it remains true: No other car gives the tactile sensations, the driving pureness, that a Porsche does, and a 911 is perhaps the best example of that. The steering is on the money--if you like instantaneous... Published 01/05/10, 11:13 am et
It's hip to be Cube: Kicking off a year with Nissan's funky box
Square cars are nothing new to the United States, with the Scion xB and the Honda Element being available for a number of years. We even lived with an Element in our long-term fleet back in 2003, but we haven't had the urge to get another such vehicle since. That is, until the very weird Nissan... Published 12/30/09, 1:58 pm et
2010 Lincoln MKZ, an AW Drivers Log
SENIOR WEB REPORTER GREG MIGLIORE: My initial impression is that this car fits in with the MKS and even the MKX in drive character, and establishing a behind-the-wheel identity is a good thing for Lincoln. The suspension is comfortable, cushioning the road better than most cars I've tested. I went... Published 12/29/09, 2:33 pm et
The 2010 Mazda 3 S Sport 5-Door, an AW Drivers Log
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JONATHAN WONG: Without taking into account the Mazdaspeed, Si and GTI models of the class, the Mazda 3 is hands-down my favorite player in the compact-car field. The previous car struck a great balance between practicality and driving enjoyment that no other normal-trim-version... Published 12/28/09, 4:07 pm et
The 2010 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 Convertible, an AW Drivers Log
MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: I’d put this car on about the same plane as the Corvette in terms of some of the best bang for your buck available to enthusiasts of high horsepower, high-performance sports cars. Want to save some money and actually look cooler at the same time? Then buy the... Published 12/28/09, 3:17 pm et
