It’s a wonder how the Ford Escape has been running for the better part of the decade now and yet there hasn’t been a whole lot to talk about as far as dramatic changes on the SUV are concerned.

Download 2011 Ford Escape

Volvo has entered the Los Angeles Design Challenge with the Air Motion design concept, except it’s only a scale model that will probably never see the light of production’s day.

Download 2010 Volvo Air Motion

A BMW executive takes a large lump of money and a small lump of hallucinogens and hands both to a group of engineers with the following instruction: "Go nuts." Sometime later -- after the passing of key statutes of limitations -- the BMW X6 M appears.

Download First Test: 2011 BMW X6 M

Yes, folks, there's a new sheriff in town. Sure, he looks...different. He's got a funny name and he's fresh off the boat from the old country, but he means business. He's also looking for an outlaw by the name of CTS-V who claims to be the fastest production sedan...in the world. Commence semantic quibbling over what the Porsche Panamera is. It's a sedan...wait, no, it's a hatchback. A wagon? Who knows. It doesn't matter, really. It's fast; faster than any Cadillac CTS-V you can throw at it.
But wait, the CTS-V is a damn fast car, ain't it? You bet it is. The sedan will blast 60 mph in 4 seconds flat. The Coupe? 4.1 seconds. The Wagon? 4.2. Few sedans can tangle with this Caddy and win. The Panamera is one of them. Oh, did we mention the Panamera gets better gas mileage, too...

Download First Test: 2011 Porsche Panamera Turbo

Soon after the highly revised 2009 Subaru Forester arrived in 2008, it took top honors in our Frugal Five comparison. A few months later, we crowned it our 2009 Sport/Utility of the Year.

Download First Drive: 2011 Subaru Forester 2.5x Touring

"Please, slow down," Peter says calmly as we cut through the curvaceous Pacific Coast Highway. The central screen on the high-definition LCD instrument cluster of the Audi quattro Concept shows 48 kmh, or just over 29 mph.
Is he serious?!
"Okay, sounds good," I reply.
A quick downshift into second gear and a dab of the touchy 15-inch carbon ceramics turns our slow pace into a near crawl. The wrist slap lasts only seconds, though. A short uphill straight resides ahead, and my urge to go faster can't be ignored.


Download First Drive: Audi quattro Concept

Aznom may not be a first-name tuning company in the eyes of many, but you can’t deny the fact that these guys are making a lot of headlines these days. Fresh off their works on the Audi A1 and the Abarth 500C, the aftermarket company has released their latest project: the Range Rover Spirito Divino.

Download 2011 Range Rover Spirito DiVino by Anzom

The Subaru Impreza WRX: The one that started it all. Before Evo, there was WRX. Most people drop the "Impreza" and sometimes the "Subaru" part of the car's name and go simply with "WRX." That's model awareness.

Download Follow-Up Test: 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX TR

Somebody from Mercedes-Benz must have seen Tom Cruise couch-jumping on Oprah. Everyone figured the G500 would die the instant this new 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 hit dealers. It sounded logical. The G500 began its life as a military vehicle four decades ago. No one in their right mind would choose it over the state-of-the-art GL450.

Download Full Test: 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450

The new models presented by Mercedes-Benz at the first major European motor show of the automobile’s 125 anniversary year all have one thing in common – their sportiness. The C-Class Coupe, which is celebrating its world premiere, is just as remarkable as the new-generation C-Class sedan and station wagon for its driving fun and outstanding efficiency. In keeping with their sporty character, the new C-Class models were introduced by players from the women’s German national soccer team. A further highlight of this year’s “Geneva Salon” is the third iteration of the SLK, which redefines the roadster experience while consuming up to 25 percent less fuel than its predecessor. Making its debut on the eve of the show was the new top-of-the-range version of Mercedes’ bestselling model range – the C 63 AMG, which generates up to 358 kW (487 hp) and consumes around ten percent less fuel. The inventor of the automobile is also presenting the SLS AMG E-CELL, which makes its European motor show debut in Geneva.

Download Mercedes-Benz Features Four New Vehicles in Geneva

The new 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG was just released, potentially leaving owners of the prior style with a bit of design envy. And while it would be easy to sit around and covet the new hotness, the truth is, you’ve got another option: adding a new widebody kit and interior upgrade to the prior, outgoing style.

Download Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Wide Body Kit by Tecnocraft

If you asked us to name the one thing that made the Chrysler 300 an overnight success, we wouldn't point you to its rear-wheel drive, its retro styling or its Mercedes-Benz mechanicals. No, it's the fact that Chrysler took a risk: The company bet real money that real people would spend their real money to buy this stylish, agile and unconventional sedan, and it paid off.

Download First Drive: 2007 Chrysler Sebring

New European Honda Civic will feature improved handling made for Europe's varied roads

Download Honda previews euro-spec Civic ahead of Frankfurt

The best of both worlds

Volvo has taken the wraps off the V60 Plug-in Hybrid, ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Download 2012 Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid details revealed

Bruno set a time of 1:34.270 on the final lap of single-lap qualifying, this is his eighth DTM pole and his second at Hockenheim

Download Bruno Spengler Secures First Pole Position of the New DTM Season

Though not direct competitors, they're both truck-based 4x4s with monster motors. Chevrolet will finally offer a hot truck (the Silverado SS isn't it) with its long-anticipated TrailBlazer SS (lead image). GM Performance Division stuffed an LS2 6.0-liter V-8 under the hood and lowered the suspension and then tuned and tested it at the Nurburgring. The 6.0-liter small-block makes 390 horses and 405 pound-feet in the SSR. Chevy estimates a sub-six-second 0-to-60-mph time for the TB SS, which will be offered with rear- or four-wheel drive.

Download Horsepower War Heats Up For Trucks - Performance - Motor Trend