Car Trends Magazine

An Answer to a Question We Don’t Remember AskingHeretofore, Sport-y Fusions have been so mostly in appearance; the previous Sport package could be applied to front-drive SE or SEL trims and included a gaudy interior upgrade, a rear lip spoiler, a stiffer suspension, 18-inch wheels, and not much else. For 2010, however, the Sport becomes an independent model—with either front- or all-wheel drive—that retains the stiffer suspension, “special” interior trim, and 18-inch wheels of the 2009 trim level,...

This is the latest in a long convoy of Harley-branded trucks and the sole version of the 2010 F-150 that Ford says not to take off-road. Offered in Tuxedo Black or, like ours, Lava Metallic (it looks a lot like dirt-speckled black), this year’s Harley truck is only available in four-door SuperCrew configuration with a 5.5-foot bed. All Harley F-150s ride on massive 22-inch wheels—the trucks also wear 22 Harley logos—wrapped in all-season rubber and have a unique “sport-tuned” suspension. The interior...

Americans will finally see a rational application of BMW’s Euro-centric EfficientDynamics mantra when BMW unveils six-cylinder versions of its 7-series at the Detroit auto show in January. The 740i will occupy the lowest rung on the company’s executive-sedan ladder, below the plenty-powerful 750i, the extreme 760i, and the slightly ridiculous ActiveHybrid 7. Power comes from BMW’s twin-turbo inline-six, which in this application makes 315 hp at 5800 rpm and 330 lb-ft of torque at a low 1600 rpm....

The Mercedes-Benz SL-class is a perpetual favorite among the wealthy and glamorous, and with the current model, the Germans got the formula right again. In production since 2001, the R230 SL has already gone through two face lifts. The soft, outdated look of the original design has been sharpened, albeit at the expense of the overall stylistic balance of the car. It's time for Mercedes to get busy putting the next generation into production.And so the last update done for 2009 will likely be the...

When James Dean set out to a race in Salinas, California, on that fateful morning of September 30, 1955, he and his beloved Porsche 550 Spyder were already viewed by many as icons. Of course, in years to come, iconic status would be cemented for both Dean and Porsche, with the German company becoming known as the quintessential sports-car manufacturer. So on our maiden voyage with Porsche’s newest, lightweight 2011 Boxster Spyder—said to be a successor to the 550 Spyder, as if there really could...

When James Dean set out to a race in Salinas, California, on that fateful morning of September 30, 1955, he and his beloved Porsche 550 Spyder were already viewed by many as icons. Of course, in years to come, iconic status would be cemented for both Dean and Porsche, with the German company becoming known as the quintessential sports-car manufacturer. So on our maiden voyage with Porsche’s newest, lightweight 2011 Boxster Spyder—said to be a successor to the 550 Spyder, as if there really could...

Vehicle Tested: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Pros: Handsome styling, sharp handling, generous cargo capacity. Cons: Stiff ride with optional Performance package, rear seats uncomfortable for taller adults, not as engaging to drive as some rivals. When it comes to wagons, those made stateside have historically tended to be looked down upon, while those made in Europe are held in high regard. That may have something to do with the stereotype commonly held regarding domestic wagons:...

If there was a prize for “most improved truck following a refresh,” the 2010 Land Rover LR4—the vehicle formerly known as the LR3—would take the prize. The outgoing vehicle was great off road and had one of the best third-row packages on the market, but it was woefully under-powered for its 5700-pound heft. Aligning Power with WeightThe LR4, which went on sale earlier this year, got a heavier facelift than Mickey Rourke—although we’d say the LR4’s was somewhat more successful. First up, Land Rover...

Although Porsche won't be a fully integrated member of the Volkswagen group before mid-2011, the sports car maker can even at this early point in the merger no longer make independent strategic decisions. After all, Martin Winterkorn has effectively been appointed head of the Porsche SE Holding which in turn employs the Porsche AG chairman Michael Macht.With a takeover as costly and complicated to fund as this one – all in all, VW will have to fork out a staggering €16 billion to absorb the latest...

This is the new Cadillac CTS Coupe, a sleek two-door Caddy that will join the CTS line-up alongside the saloon and Sport Wagon estate when US sales start in spring 2010, and take on BMW's 3-series, Audi's A5 and Infiniti's G37 Coupe. This production Cadillac CTS Coupe looks very much like the concept car… It does indeed look like the concept, right down to the twin central exhausts and hidden touch-pad door handles. Yes, there have been some minor tweaks to the front and rear lights and bumpers...

The BMW 5-series saloon – it’s finally here. Internally dubbed F10, it's the sixth-generation BMW 5-series and will be unveiled at the Geneva motor show in spring 2010, with UK sales starting on 20 March 2010. A 5-series Touring version (F11) will follow next September. So what’s new for the sixth-generation BMW 5-series? Let’s start with the tech: BMW claims the new 5-series is the first car in its class to feature start-stop tech, an eight-speed automatic transmission and double wishbone front...

It’s almost 60 years old, five million have been sold throughout the world and, with this all-new model – cue drumroll – the UK will add, well, around 1200 units to that tally annually. You’re unlikely to see one over here, then, so take a good look at the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser while you can. It looks familiar… Evolution’s certainly the name of the game here, the new car looking much like the one that’s been around since 2003. Headline changes for spotters include a bigger front bumper with...

CAR's Mazda MX-5 roadster is such a joy to drive, even in the creeping clutch of winter. It feels so alert, so tail-up and feisty – an engaging effervescence that makes every mile something to be enjoyed, no matter what the road or the weather.Still fresh and still relevant 20 years after the launch of the original, the MX-5 has adhered tenaciously to its straightforward but hugely effective dynamic recipe of mixing rear wheel-drive, low weight and modest power mantra. Our extended tenure of our...

Mercedes-Benz is on a roll. After the excellent new C-class and E-class saloons – proper Benzes, as opposed to BMW wannabes – now comes the most eagerly waited new sports car since… well, since last week’s launch of the Ferrari 458 Italia, and the previous month’s unveiling of the McLaren MP4-12C, and the previous month’s brilliant new Porsche 911 Turbo. So much for the prophets of gloom, foretelling the death of the supercar! This Mercedes SLS AMG is most famous for its doors, which is a little...

Mitsubishi has made no bones about the fact its Concept-CX mini-SUV will reach production, but so far we've only seen the original 2007 show car, and a single sketch showing how the production version might look. But these new images – taken straight from the design patents filed for the new car – reveal almost every detail of the final production SUV. So this is Mitsubishi's new mini-SUV? Yes, but while the front end remains quite faithful to the original concept, with just slightly less hooded...

Revealing new spy photos of the next BMW 3-series have landed in our inbox today. Despite only recently being facelifted, work is well underway in Munich to develop the next 3-series, due in a motorway fast lane near you in three years' time.We weren't expecting to see a new BMW 3-series for a while yet, why now? The new 3-series family – internally codenamed F30 – has been moved forward because of a slump in sales of the current model. CAR understands sales nosedived by 40% in the first six months...

C’mon, really? Hyundai? No pedigree. No racing history. No factory museum filled with dusty glory machines. Yet here’s what Hyundai dares—dares!—to call the phosphorescent-Slurpee spill of paint on our Genesis coupe: Lime Rock Green.Puh-leeze! Weren’t these jokers riding around on donkeys when Bob Sharp was running 240Zs at Lime Rock? There’s also Nordschleife Gray and Interlagos Yellow. On a Hyundai? They can’t be serious! Uh, they’re serious. On sale since March, the Genesis coupe is a revelation,...