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News flash: The cost of luxury continues to rise. Toyota Motor Sales has announced updated pricing for a variety of Lexus branded vehicles to take place starting mid May. The revisions see incremental increases in all cases, though the price bumps only impact the models listed below. Base retail prices do not include destination charges. 2008 Lexus IS 250 - $30,855, increases by $300, or 0.9 percent. 2008 Lexus IS 250 AWD - $34,485, increases by $300, or 0.9 percent. 2008 Lexus IS 350 - $36,305, increases by $300, or 0.9 percent. 2008 Lexus ES 350 - $34,120, increases by $300, or 0.9 percent. 2008 Lexus GS 350 - $44,550, increases by $400, or 0.9 percent. 2008 Lexus GS 460 - $46,500, increases by $400, or 0.9 percent. 2008 Lexus GS 450h - $55,800, increases by $900, or 1.6 percent. 2008 Lexus GX 470 - $47,315, increases by $500, or 1.1 percent. 2008 Lexus LS 460 - $62,900, increases by $900, or 1.4 percent. 2008 Lexus LS 460L - $72,900, increases by $900, or 1.4 percent. 2008 Lexus LS 600h L hybrid - $104,900, increases by $900, or 0.9 percent. 2008 Lexus LX 570 - $74,700, increases by $900, or 1.2 percent. 2008 Lexus SC 430 - $66,355, increases by $900, or 1.4 percent. 2008 Lexus RX...
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Toyota Motor Sales has announced updated pricing for a variety of Toyota branded vehicles to take place starting mid May. The revisions see incremental increases in all cases, though the price bumps only impact the models listed below. Base retail prices do not include destination charges. 2008 Toyota Avalon - $27,325 , increases by $250, or 0.8 percent. 2009 Toyota Camry - $18,920 , increases by $200 or 0.9 percent. 2009 Toyota Camry hybrid - $25,650 , increases by $300 or 1.1 percent. 2008 Toyota Camry Solara coupe - $20,180 , increases by $250 or 0.9 percent. 2008 Toyota Camry Solara convertible - $27,440 , increases by $250 or 0.9 percent. 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser - $23,045 , increases by $500, or 2.1 percent. 2008 Toyota Highlander - $27,500 , increases by $200, or 0.7 percent. 2008 Toyota Highlander hybrid - $34,200 , increases by $500, or 1.3 percent. 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser - $64,100 , increases by $900, or 1.4 percent. 2008 Toyota Prius - $21,500 , increases by $400, or 1.8 percent. 2008 Toyota RAV4 - $21,500 , increases by $250, or 1.1 percent. 2008 Toyota Sienna - $24,440 , increases by $100, or 0.4 percent. 2008 Toyota Tundra - $22,390 , increases by $100, or 0.3 percent...
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This spring, the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ sedan will be available with a new four-cylinder drivetrain that promises good performance and fuel efficiency. A 2.4-liter, 169-horsepower Ecotec engine is partnered with a six-speed 6T40 automatic transmission. The result is an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The new Malibu LTZ model has a MSRP of $26,545 (including a $650 destination charge). It joins an already diverse lineup of Malibu models, ranging from the value-driven LS to V-6 LT and LTZ models, as well as the unique, fuel-saving Malibu Hybrid. The Malibu LTZ with this powertrain is distinguished with unique, 17-inch Chrometec wheels and a single, chrome exhaust outlet. Inside is the same uplevel interior as V-6-powered LTZ models. Research the Chevrolet Malibu sedan and hybrid in the buyer’s guide, complete with pricing, specifications, and photo galleries.
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Suzuki will pack its 2009 SX4 sport sedan and SX4 Crossover hatchback with a standard, integrated navigation system, making it the only new vehicle under $16,000 to include navigation as a standard feature. Navigation systems are increasingly common as options on an expanding range of vehicle, although the cost typically associated with them is in $1500-$2000 territory. This GPS system is sourced from segment leader Garmin, and it will offer premium services through Microsoft Network, including real-time traffic, weather forecasts, local event listings, and a gas station finder capable of locating the lowest priced fuel in town. Distinguishing its points of interest (POI) functionality, the SX4 system will feature a number of lifestyle-oriented, Suzuki-recommended destinations and landmarks, such as hip music venues, popular surf spots, interesting road trip attractions, and other activity-focused destinations. Referred to as the Suzuki T.R.I.P. (Travel, Real-time traffic, Information and Play), the navigation system has a flip-up 4.3-inch touch screen display and Bluetooth hands-free calling technology that can receive and audibly play text messages. This system should add high-tech...
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With the countdown on to its late-summer release, Mazda has released a preview of it’s redesigned Mazda6 sedan. Though few details are available, it promises to be a sporting alternative in one of the most competitive automotive segments, vying with the impressive Honda Accord , Hyundai Sonata , Nissan Altima , and Toyota Camry . The Mazda6 will be powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and the same 3.7-liter V-6 as used in the 2008 CX-9 , putting horsepower at about 273. Transmission choices will include a six-speed manual or five-speed Sport AT automatic with manual-shift mode (2.5-liter engine) or a six-speed Sport AT automatic with manual-shift mode (3.7-liter V6). The suspension will be all-independent, with four-wheel disc brakes and standard ABS and dynamic stability control. This time around, the Mazda6 will be available only as a four-door sedan, and there are three trim levels: Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. All North American Mazda6s will continue to be built at AutoAlliance International, in Flat Rock, Michigan. Mazda promises more information will be available closer to the on-sale date. Research the Mazda6 sedan and hatchback in the buyer’s guide, complete with...
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A sign of its commitment in China, Buick chose the 2008 Beijing Auto Show to unveil its Invicta concept car. This mid-sized sedan reveals the design direction for Buick’s next-generation vehicles for the United States and China, and the Invicta is expected to replace the LaCrosse later this year. The Invicta styling evolved from the well-received 2004 Velite convertible and 2007 Riviera coupe concepts, and it was designed collaboratively by GM centers in Warren, Michigan, and Shanghai, China. The name harks back to 1959, when it was first introduced in North America on a production vehicle. Invicta is Latin for “invincible.” The sleek exterior has a coupe-like profile in vogue with premium models, like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, accented with crisp lines and chrome highlights. The sheetmetal wraps tautly around the wheel arches stuffed with 20-inch wheels giving it a muscular, modern appearance. This is heightened by short overhangs and a sense of motion evoked by the wrap-around headlamps and aggressively raked windshield. The reborn Buick-signature portholes are placed on the hood, rather than on the fenders. Beneath the relatively flat hood is a turbocharged 250-horsepower four-cylinder...
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Fresh from its split from Daimler, and subsequent purchase by investment group Cerberus, Chrysler formed a partnership with an international automaker Nissan. Back in January, Nissan agreed to supply Chrysler with a new car based on the Nissan Versa sedan for limited distribution in South America. This week, the companies have announced that the partnership has deepened, with each automaker committing to produce vehicles for the other. Nissan will manufacture an all-new small car based on a unique Chrysler concept and design for North America, Europe, and other global markets in 2010. Chrysler will manufacture a full-size pickup for Nissan. Based on a Nissan design, this truck will be manufactured at Chrysler’s Saltillo, Mexico, factory. In order to accommodate this product, Chrysler will shift volume from Mexico to its U.S.-based assembly plants that produce pickup trucks. Sales of the pickup in North America will start in 2011. This alliance promises to bring efficiencies to both companies, helping them to better capitalize on core competencies to aid the other. Further, it marks a strong showing for Cerberus’s business acumen. Research Chrysler and Nissan in the buyer’s guide, complete...
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The 2009 Buick Lucerne sedan joins the growing list of General Motors' flex-fuel vehicles that can run on either ordinary gasoline or E85, or any combination of the two. The Lucerne, the first flex-fuel capable Buick passenger car, will be among more than 15 GM models with flex-fuel capability in 2009, up from 11 offerings this year. "We continue to believe that ethanol used in high blends like E85 offers the best near-term solution to offset increased oil demand," said GM Vice President of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy Beth Lowery at the Department of Energy's Biomass Conference. "There are more than 7 million vehicles today that can use E85. The key is to increase the number of stations that offer the fuel." E85 ethanol (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline), is a cleaner-burning alternative fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 23 percent compared with gasoline. However, vehicles are less-fuel efficient when running on E85 than gasoline. Learn about alternative fuels . Research Buick in the buyer’s guide, complete with pricing, specifications, and photo galleries.
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All seven family and luxury sedans in the latest crash test group evaluated by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ( IIHS ) earned a Good rating for occupant protection in frontal crashes. Only one fell short of the top rating in the side crash test, the Kia Optima. However, results for the rear crash test were quite mixed. In all, this group’s performance shows that indeed cars are getting better with each generation, through structural improvements and increased standard safety equipment. All seven of these vehicles included side and side-curtain airbags. “The side impact results represent a huge change from just four years ago,” says Institute Senior Vice President David Zuby. “In 2004 we tested 10 mid-sized moderately priced cars, and all 10 were rated Poor in their standard configurations without side airbags.” In the 2004 tests, only the previous generations of the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Chevrolet Malibu earned Good ratings when tested with side airbags, which then were optional equipment. “A major change is that side airbags are standard in every one of the seven mid-sized cars we tested this time around. Auto manufacturers have been moving quickly to make side airbags...
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The Toyota Prius has been the poster car for the hybrid movement, though the Chevrolet Volt hybrid is fast becoming the high-voltage icon for the next automotive revolution. Since it has made the auto show circuit, General Motors has been unusually forthright in communicating with media and consumers regarding the Volt’s full-throttle race to production in approximately 2010. Here’s the latest update on the Volt: Batteries Developing the right battery technology for the Volt that can go the distance in the wide-array of abusive consumer use was always expected to be the most daunting challenge. Chevrolet is focused on advanced lithium-ion battery technology, and Volt engineers have just developed a new computer algorithm to accelerate battery durability testing. This advanced computer program duplicates real-life vehicle speed and cargo-carrying conditions, and compresses 10 years of comprehensive battery testing into the Volt’s brisk development schedule. The key is around-the-clock testing in both Michigan and Germany. Vehicle engineering With the battery technology determined, the structural engineers are working through fitting a six-foot long battery pack that weighs almost 400...
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Nearly 40 years after the Corolla was introduced to American drivers, a redesigned, 10th-generation 2009 Corolla hits the road with numerous improvements and a Good overall crash-test rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ( IIHS ). In a recent test, IIHS rated the Corolla Good for structure, restraints, and most injury measurements on its crash dummies. Head/neck got an Acceptable rating, the lowest mark for this sedan. Performance was undoubtedly aided by side- and side-curtain air bags—welcomed features in any vehicle, especially a small car. The ’09 Corolla also includes anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist for emergencies, and neck-protective active front headrests. While it may have matured, the new Corolla remains true to the brand's role as a subcompact sedan, with dimensions similar to the model it replaces. But it offers an all-new body with a lean, muscular shape, and it delivers increased interior and luggage room, more power, more economical engines and an all-new chassis and suspension. Read our road test of the 2009 Toyota Corolla , in which we wrote: “For someone moving out of an older Corolla or almost...
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Lexus has released pricing on its Pebble Beach Collection RX 350 and ES 350 special edition packages, marking the first time that these models have received the Pebble Beach treatment. Production of the Pebble Beach Collection RX and ES is limited to 6,000 vehicles each. The MSRP for the RX 350 Pebble Beach package is $3,880, while the ES 350 package carries an MSRP of $4,170. Lexus has produced an SC 430 Pebble Beach edition every year since 2003. So, what do you get besides exclusivity and sand? Both the RX and ES Pebble Beach models will feature signature colors, unique wheels, popular options, and unique badging. Additionally, Pebble Beach Edition owners will have the opportunity to customize their ownership experience by selecting from one of three distinctive merchandise packages: Callaway Golf Experience, travel, or Epicurean Encounter. Research Lexus in the buyer’s guide. Read our last ES 350 and RX 350 reviews.
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Looking for a bigger piece of the small-car pie, Ford recently introduced its small-in-size four-cylinder Verve concept car with the hopes of replicating stateside what it has achieved in sales as a leading seller of small cars in Europe. Ford projects consumer small car purchases in the U.S. to increase by over 60% during the period between 2002 and 2012. Based on this trend of increased sales of lesser sized vehicles, it’s clear that people no longer subscribe to the belief that small cars are just for small people. What with growing global environmental concerns, skyrocketing gas prices , and roadside parking becoming, well, more of a chore than anything since the turn-of-the-century SUV boom, more and more car shoppers are considering factors of practicality over flash and machismo when making their new car commitments. With a virtual rainbow of offerings available from competing import manufacturers, like the Fit from Honda or the new-to-the-U.S. smart fortwo , Ford is making a bold move with its entrance in to America's growing small-car world. With the Verve concept, Ford is trying to emphasize its understanding that small car benefits and lifestyle car features can indeed...
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Special-editions abound (Read: 2008 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Z06 ), with Volkswagen of America announcing a Wolfsburg Edition Jetta 2.0T. Wolfsburg packages have been used for years to give VW models a touch of distinction and hopefully a sales boost. This latest example follows last year’s successful Wolfsburg Edition Jetta 2.5 L and will be available on about 12,500 Jettas. This value-priced model adds 17-inch alloy wheels and leatherette seats. It is available in the following color schemes: Reflex Silver, Black, Salsa Red, and Platinum Gray. The finishing touch is obligatory “Wolfsburg Edition” badging on both front quarter panels. The Wolfsburg Edition Jetta 2.0T is value priced at $20,875 with a six-speed manual transmission, and $21,950 with an optional six-speed DSG automatic transmission. Research the Jetta . Read our Volkswagen Jetta review .
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Acura will follow up the Chicago reveal of the RL luxury sedan by unveiling the completely redesigned 2009 Acura TSX sedan at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. The new TSX is larger, more powerful, and more agile than the model it replaces. The first-generation TSX , based on the European-market Honda Accord, is a touch on the small side. It established itself as a luxury-appointed, fuel-efficient model for professionals on the move. The new TSX builds on this premise with a traditional “bigger is better” approach, growing in scale though remaining dedicated to the car’s core values. The tale of the tape shows the 2009 model has grown 2.4 inches in length and rides on a 1.3-inch longer wheelbase. The sedan has expanded three inches in width, likely providing a bit more elbow room. Underhood is a 2.4-liter, 201-horsepower in-line four-cylinder with a broader power band and more torque than the previous engine. Buyers will have a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or five-speed automatic with Sequential SportShift. There will be no additional charge for the automatic, whose appeal is bolstered by steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters. Estimated fuel mileage is 20/28 mpg...
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