Unique Cars for today and Beyond

The all-new 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet replaces last year’s A4 as Audi’s
four-seat convertible in residence. Even so, the convertible A5 shares many of
its mechanical bits with the A4 sedan and wagon, including its 211 horsepower
2-liter turbocharged engine. Shared styling with the A5 Coupe makes the Cabrio a
real looker whether the soft top is up or down -- but is it as good to live with
as it is to look at? Read on.

One of the best known auto-tuners from Japan, Tommy Kaira, who has modified
cars such as Nissans Skyline, has unveiled their newest package for the Nissan
GT-R. Tommy Kaira cars have appeared in numerous racing video games including
the Gran Turismo series. Their latest project for the Nissan GT-R is called the
Silver Wolf. Now whats different about the Silver Wolf compared to almost
every other Tommy Kaira tune kit is that the engine is not touched. It was
released by officials at Nissan when the GT-R was first released that the engine
performace could not be improved anymore, any modifications would only reduce
its supercar ability. What the Silver Wolf does include is a new carbon fiber
widebody kit, and a custom interior with Tommy Kaira logos, along with new
wheels, exhaust, brakes and suspension. Although no changes to the engine
are going to be made, it is expected that the new suspension and a new exhaust
will add a few horsepower to the 480 horsepower engine, as almost every Tommy
Kaira packages brings out that extra little performacne that any speed junky
would be looking for. If you are interested in getting the full Tommy Kaira
Silver Wolf edition, just remember the body kit alone will run you $18,000, plus
the GT-R’s $80,000 price tag. However, if you want to see Godzilla breathe fire,
the Silver Wolf is what you are looking for.

Is it me, or do all of Nissan’s recent introductions look like scaled down
versions of the Murano? First came the Nissan Rogue, a three-quarter scale
version of the Murano crossover. Now, we await the launch of the Juke, which at
first glance appears to be the Murano, rendered in one-half scale.
Like
Audi’s A1, the Juke will be offered worldwide with a turbo diesel motor option,
but we won’t get that on this side of the pond. We will, however, get a gasoline
powered 1.6 liter turbo motor said to be good for 190 horsepower. Watch for
future updates on the Juke’s launch.

Here’s a pretty picture to start your day off right. The 2011 Jaguar XKR is
heart-stoppingly gorgeous and it’ll hit 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds and
reach 174 mph in a straight line, thanks to upgraded transmission and engine
programming. Motive force is provided by Jaguar’s venerable 5.0-liter
supercharged V8, good for 510 horsepower. And with a base price of only $96,000,
even your run-of-the-mill plastic surgeon can afford one.

Jaguar has redesigned its flagship sedan, the XJ, for the 2010 model year,
giving it exterior and interior design in the style of the XF sedan, along with
the new engines introduced for the 2010 XF. The XJ competes in the full-size
luxury class along with the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS 460 and
Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

If any sports car on the market truly deserves the designation “supercar,” it’s the Italian-built Lamborghini Diablo. Known in its current form as the Diablo 6.0, the startling-looking two-seat coupe adopted a new 6.0-liter V-12 engine in 2000, as well as a number of other improvements: a new air conditioning system, wider front and rear track dimensions, a redesigned exhaust system, a new front bumper, new lightweight magnesium alloy wheels, and wider front and rear fenders. The driver’s seat was moved toward the center for a better driving position, and gauges were redesigned.

The high-performance Lamborghini Gallardo represents the essence of exotic
ultra-luxury. Unlike other Lamborghinis, the Gallardo is intended to perform
well as an everyday driver as well as a racing machine. After extensive exterior
and mechanical upgrades for 2009, the Gallardo adds a new limited-edition
Valentino Balboni version for 2010.

The HUMMER H2 SUV

Hummer H2 got a new interior last year, and this year it gains the
option of captain's chairs in the second row. It's available as both the H2 SUV
and H2 SUT, which is an H2 with a pickup bed instead of an enclosed SUV cargo
area. Extremely capable off road, the H2 competes with the Land Rover LR3, Jeep
Grand Cherokee and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.

Vehicle Overview
BMW's small 1 Series debuted in the U.S. for 2008 as a coupe and a
convertible. The up-level 135i is powered by a 300-horsepower, twin-turbo
inline-six-cylinder engine that drives the rear wheels. A less expensive 128i
covered separately in the Cars.com Research section is also offered. The 135i
competes with performance cars like the Nissan 370Z and Audi TT.

New for 2010The only changes of note are that HD radio becomes standard and
automatic high-beam headlights are a new stand-alone option.

Exterior
Compared to the 3 Series coupe, the 135i features a more upright grille and
a C-pillar that's not as sleekly styled. A pronounced sheet metal crease runs
the length of the coupe's sides, which are otherwise relatively smooth.

Adaptive xenon headlights follow the direction of the steering wheel
New available automatic high-beam headlights
135i adds an aero kit that BMW says provides greater downforce and improved brake cooling
18-inch wheels standard on coupe, available on convertible
Heated side mirrors and heated windshield washer jets
Rain-sensing wipers
Convertible features power-operated soft-top that BMW says can open or close in 22 seconds.

Interior

Front occupants sit on bucket seats and there's room for two in the backseat.

Simulated leather seating surfaces; real leather is optional.
Auxiliary jack for connecting an MP3 player.
60/40-split folding rear seat can expand the coupe's trunk.
Optional Sport Package includes sport seats with more aggressive bolstering.
Convertible's leather seats have BMW's Sun Reflective Technology, which is designed to lower the temperature of seats exposed to sunlight.
Optional navigation system equips the 1 Series with BMW's iDrive control system
Standard HD radio.

Under the Hood

The 135i uses twin turbochargers and direct fuel injection to make 300 horsepower. and 300 pounds-feet of torque. 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine.
Rear-wheel drive.
Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
Optional paddle shifters for automatic transmission.
Optional Active Steering system can adjust how much the car turns for a given turn of the steering wheel.
Compared to the 128i, the 135i has a stiffer sport suspension and performance brakes.

Safety features include:
Side-impact airbags for the front seats.
Side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants.
Electronic stability system.
Antilock brakes.
Convertible loses the side curtain airbags but keeps the side-impact airbags and features pop-up roll bars.

Vehicle Overview

Acura's entry-level TSX sport sedan was redesigned for
2009. Its competitors include the Audi A4, BMW 328i and Lexus IS 250. New for
2010

There is a new V-6 engine.

Exterior

The TSX kept its muscular exterior in the 2009 redesign. The wheels are accented by large fender flares, and the front of the car is defined by a grille that features a silver-colored upper bar. The TSX is 185.6 inches long and 72.4 inches wide, making it both longer and wider than its competition. A cross-braced roof improves rigidity, and the TSX has dual-mode dampers that vary their response based on driving conditions.

Xenon low-beam and halogen high-beam headlights with integrated fog lamps.
Wide trunk opening helps with loading large or awkward objects.
17-inch silver alloy wheels standard on four-cylinder models.
18-inch silver alloy wheels standard on V-6 models.

Interior

The TSX's interior has a high-quality
appearance and room for up to five people. Heated leather seats are standard.
Additional standard features include a seven-speaker CD stereo with a USB port
that allows you to control your MP3 player though the audio system.
Bluetooth-based cell phone connectivity is also standard.
Mobile phones with audio players can sync with TSX's audio system using Bluetooth.
Available navigation system with traffic and weather updates.
Available CD/DVD-Audio disc compatible surround-sound system with 10 speakers.

Under the Hood

The new V-6 engine gives the TSX lineup a higher-performance option. Gas mileage with the manual is 20/28 mpg city/highway, while the five-speed automatic achieves an estimated 21/30 mpg. The V-6 is estimated to get 18/27 mpg. The automatic includes shift paddles on the steering wheel that let the driver control gear changes.

201-horsepower, 2.4 liter four-cylinder with 170 (automatic) or 172
(manual) pounds-feet of torque
New 280-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 with 254
pounds-feet of torque Safety

Safety features include:
Antilock brakes
Side-impact airbags for the front seats
Side curtain airbags for both
rows of seats
Electronic stability system
Active head restraints for
front seats