Car Throttle

The Chicago auto show is upon is, which means... well, some facelifts, some new models, but not huge news like Detroit or Geneva.  Still, new stuff!   Inside: Two new Acuras, perhaps the world's most powerful 4-seat production convertible, minor facelifts for a Datsun, a big ol' GMC, and a sweet new Kia they need to make pronto.  Oh, and some bad news on Fisker. Acura officially debuted two new production cars - the ILX (pictured above) and the new RDX.  The ILX takes over for both the Canadian-market CSX sedan (Civic based), and will replace the US-market TSX sedan (Euro Accord-based) as Acura's entry-level model.  Why don't they call it the Integra?  Dunno.  Power comes from three sources.  The base model has a 2.0L I4

Before a certain Mr. LFA was born, a typical Lexus owner would have been pushing 50 years old. A fact probably unsurprising given that all Lexus built a short while back were three saloons; small, medium, large and a convertible to top it off. All were quiet, comfortable, peaceful and they weren't in your face. To then improve their product range, the folks in Toyota City decided to add the same hybrid technology as Toyota's Prius into their cars to make one of the first 4x4 hybrids on the market. However just talking about the not-so-distant past of Lexus induces yawning from your good author. The future, on the other hand, looks very exciting indeed. 2009 saw the first IS-F, a 5.0L V8

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance show in Monterey, California is starting tomorrow, and the GS will be unveiled in public for the first time at the show. Press materials have appeared online in advance of this event. The GS comes at a pivotal point in Lexus history, when public relations issues have plagued the company (unintended acceleration), as well as a Japanese tsunami and earthquake. On top of that, Lexus models have failed to connect with consumers who are increasingly looking for more engaging offerings. That has all culminated to the point of Lexus losing top billing in the United States luxury manufacturer sales race. That race will be lost by a large margin. It is against this backdrop that Lexus is introducing the new

We've been hearing a lot about the new Lexus GS. That intense focus shows its importance to the Lexus brand, which is experiencing flagging sales. The media have already done their reviews of the car, and now the general public is going to get to weigh in with its thoughts. The previous generation, even during the height of Lexus sales, never was a big seller and it fared poorly in comparison tests. The launch is scheduled for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance happening in Monterey, California this weekend. Thanks to some spy photographers, we get a look at the production GS a bit before then though. The GS caught testing without camouflage in China. It isn't as if we didn't have any idea as to

Despite some impressive, but largely isolated exceptions, being the IS-F and LFA supercar, Lexus has not paid attention to the performance sector. Given its long-running sales success, why should it have thought any otherwise? The truth is though, those looking for more fun in their vehicles include a lot of younger buyers, buyers Lexus needs to capture if it hopes to have a future. With a new generation of cars, Lexus is promising a change in approach. The GS mid-size sedan is our first look at a more engaging driving experience as well as a more defining styling language. We don't have to wait too long for it either. After some rumors, Lexus has officially confirmed the launch of the new GS 350 sedan

Toyota's Lexus brand has enjoyed an enormous amount of success throughout it's short life. While most Lexus products are mutually exclusive with enthusiast drivers (exceptions like the SC300/IS300 5-speed, IS-F, etc not withstanding), they've done some remarkable things.  They took on Mercedes and BMW at their own game in the early 90's with the LS400, producing a better product with a lower price tag.  They invented the whole "luxury crossover SUV" segment with the original RX300 back in the 90's.  But they've never had much success with the bread-and-butter of the luxury market, the mid-sized luxury sedan (think A6, E-class, and 5-series.)  The Lexus GS is a nice car, don't get me wrong - but it hasn't ever really been a strong seller.

Big shoes to fill.  Very big ones.  Big, black menacing shoes to fill.  They look like this... Because any time Buick makes a high-performance car with the "Regal" nameplate attached, it has that to live up to.  It's an unfortunate comparison for Buick's new Opel Regal, but it's not necessarily a valid one.  The whole automotive world knows the Grand National was awesome - a turbocharged, tire-smoking musclecar that liked a steady diet of Corvettes and 5.0 Mustangs.  The new hot-rod Regal GS is not the drag-racing Darth Vader-mobile some of us might wish it was.  But it is a high-tech, thoroughly modern turbocharged sports sedan - it just happens to have a Buick badge. It is pretty.  The Regal is a carbon-copy of

Cadillac and Infiniti have been increasingly aiming for their German competition as of late. The CTS and M, as mid-size models, are both crucial to each of their respective manufacturers in achieving that goal. Safety is a highly important aspect for customers when purchasing a new vehicle, and all luxury manufacturers aim to score well (and usually do). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced that the Cadillac CTS and Infiniti M are Top Picks for 2010. This in particular is a pretty impressive new entry for Infiniti, showing the brand has really advanced in the area of safety. The CTS has been picked for this award before, showing continued excellence. The Top Pick status comes after passing new, more stringent roof testing standards. The CTS

Since the restructuring of General Motors, all the existing brands have started to transform. With only half the brands they once had for the US market, GM needs each of it's divisions to cover more of the market.  And if ever there was a sign that GM is not afraid of change, and the future in general, it's gotta be this: the Buick Regal GS "concept." You've probably already had an earful on the new Regal by this point.  If you haven't, here's the cliff notes:  Take one Opel Insignia, mix with Buick grille and badges, and bam - instant Regal!  This isn't the first time GM has slung Adam Opel's wares as Buicks in the US (Remember the old Buick-Opels?  Buick-Opel-Isuzus?), but it's probably going to

Editor's Note: this is a new series I'm starting, called "You're Doing It Wrong."  It's focused around cars that look good on paper, but in the real world it just doesn't add up.  Let me know what you think. To most domestic enthusiasts, the moniker "SS" carries some weight with it. Chevrolet has been using the SS (Super Sport) designation for it's hot-rod versions of standard models since the dawn of eternity.  Or at least the 60's.  SS has always stood for large amounts of horsepower, some blinged-up trim, nice wheels and tires, and some more horsepower. Classic SS Chevy's like the Camaro SS396, Chevelle SS454, and Nova SS's demand unusually large values for what are essentially overmuscled underdeveloped cars.  People these days are nostalgic for cars built