In a year when record-high gas prices and a sluggish economy caused new vehicle sales in 2008, a few anomalies emerged in regards to two German automakers.



Download BMW M Cars Post Record Sales

General Motors unveils today details on the new 2011 Sierra Denali HD pick-up powered by a new 6.6L

Download 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD

Top Speed had the pleasure of trying out a greener option for that other necessary item in any weekend racers garage,

Download 2010 GMC Sierra Hybrid

Terra4’s unconventional package - a totally integrated design and closed body, with a short, deep cargo area - permits greater functionality and utility than a pickup truck.

Download 2002 GMC Terra4

The GMC Graphyte concept vehicle is a refined SUV with all the capability expected in a four-wheel-drive truck, but with 25 percent improved fuel economy enabled by GM’s latest two-model full hybrid propulsion system.

Download 2005 GMC Graphyte

From the ’Better Late Than Never’ file, Hummer unveiled today a version of the H2 that runs on E85 ethanol fuel. The car brand known for being a fuel hog is getting greener. The H2 can actually run solely on E85 ethanol, gasoline or any combination of the two fuels. Other GM flex-fuel vehicles currently on the road are only able to run up to 85 percent ethanol (E85).

Download 2008 Hummer H2 E85

Ahead of its public debut at the Bangkok Auto Show, General Motors has taken the wraps off of the preview version of its next-generation midsize pickup, which has been (not so) imaginatively dubbed the Chevrolet Colorado Show Truck.


Download First Look: Chevrolet Colorado Show Truck

Senior editor Matt Stone took the Crosstour on a 750-mile road trip. "It ain't pretty, but it sure works. I folded the seats down and filled the back with stuff. It was an easy road cruiser with impressive range, too. This isn't a vehicle that's about driving excitement, and it will be interesting to see if the market really takes to the new generation of hatchback sedans or not."

Download Long Term Update 4: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

Like most of the world's top automakers, Mercedes-Benz has been increasingly feeling the heat from ever stricter emissions and fuel economy standards, which have been forcing the folks in Stuttgart to replace larger, naturally aspirated engines with smaller, more efficient forced induction versions. Fans of the C63 AMG were sure the super-sedan would suffer that fate in the name of saving the polar bears. Despite the pressure, disciples of the big piston can rejoice: Benz kept the 451-horsepower 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V-8 in the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, and it's more ice-cap friendly to boot.

Download First Look: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

Given the variety of shapes and sizes in Audi's portfolio, from the petite A1 to the bulky Q7, you'd think the German automaker already had a vehicle for every niche. There are a few more to be filled, though, such as the compact luxury crossover segment, where the all-new 2012 Audi Q3 will do battle against BMW's recently launched X1. Audi first showcased the future Q3 with its Cross Coupe Quattro concept during the 2007 Shanghai auto show, and its production descendant is coming back to this year's Shanghai show for its reveal.

Download First Look: 2012 Audi Q3

BMW has just released some new information about the long awaited 1-Series M Coupe, including engine information, release dates, and the toys it will carry.


Download 2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe

Hennessey isn’t just about creating uber-sexy vehicles like the Venom GT. In fact, a lot of their projects entail tuning up existing models and then slapping on an HPE title coupled with the appropriate horsepower number. The latest vehicle to be blessed with the alphanumeric title is the 2009-2011 Dodge Ram and its new HPE500 designation.

Download 2009 - 2011 Dodge Ram HPE500 by Hennessey

It's not often that one gets to drive an example of every generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL. And if road testing all five decades of Stuttgart's SL-Class in one day is uncommon, partaking of such motoring merriment on the Spanish island of Mallorca could rightfully be described as a singular experience.

Download First Drive: 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL550, SL600 and SL55 AMG

Sexiness, safety and evolution are the axis of the 2007 Volvo S80 sedan.

At first glance the all-new Volvo S80 looks identical to the model it replaces. The overall length stays the same, but the wheelbase is a bit longer, the track a bit wider, and it is a little more than 1 inch taller. The subtle changes in dimensions and in sheet metal give Volvo's 2007 S80 a much more aggressive stance. Coupled with new and more potent engines, Volvo continues to roll sex appeal into its models.

Download First Drive: 2007 Volvo S80

The depressing reality of the new car biz? Most buyers aren't that interested in driving. For every one of us who savors the sheer joy of running a fast car through the gears, there are 10,000 others who couldn't care less. To most people, driving is a chore. They'd much rather be guzzling a soda, snarfing a burger, texting their buddies, and watching TV -- preferably all at once -- instead of enjoying the interaction with a finely tuned piece of machinery while getting from A to B.

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