The patron saint of gearheads must be smiling upon us. Hot on the heels of the announcement that we’ll be able to buy the Fiat 500 by the end of the year comes word that Alfa Romeo is planning a return to these shores.

Download Alfa Romeo Returning to the U.S.

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

Anybody that has a self-professed affinity for supercars will attest that a Lamborghini is right up there in the annals of exotic royalty. With a design language that screams pure unadulterated aggression, Lamborghini’s have always been close to the hearts of exotic lovers from all corners of the world.

Download Lamborghini PML-F

Back in 2008, Mercedes was looking to expand its market to include the younger population and they decided that the best way to do that was to offer a C-Class Coupe alternative.

Download 2013 Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe

Say what you want about the year Gemballa has had, but you can’t deny that when these guys buckle down and bring their lunch pails to work, they’re one of the best in the business when it comes to tuning high-powered sports cars.

Download 2011 Gemballa Mirage GT Matte Blue Edition

Long before taking the keys to our Azurite Blue Pearl 2010 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited (our 2010 Sport/Utility Vehicle of the Year, by the way), we decided to forgo ordering its 3.6R flat-six sibling packing 256 ponies and a traditional five-speed auto. At first, it was a move that had some staffers wishing for more Boxer might.
Once we received the Outback, doubters quickly changed their opinions. Entries praising the crossover's 2.5-liter flat-four and its smooth Lineartronic continuously variable transmission poured into our logbook after only a few days in the fleet. "The four-banger has plenty of grunt," wrote associate online editor Kirill Ougarov. With steering-wheel-mounted paddles allowing drivers to select predetermined gear "ratios," digging for extra highway speed or engine braking rpm was as simple as a quick tug on the left paddle.

Download Verdict: 2010 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited

A mere $1305 is all that separates the five-passenger 2011 Volkswagen Touareg from the seven-passenger Audi Q7. So who is really going to purchase a Volkswagen over a similarly priced Audi?

Download First Drive: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg U.S. Spec

"800 crank horsepower with 550 pound-feet of torque on a 93 octane tune..." the e-mail reads. It's from Martin Musial, founder and president of Chicago-based AMS Performance, one of the country's premier aftermarket race and street car builders.

Download First Test: 2009 AMS Performance Nissan GT-R Alpha 9

May 2011 has been a very big month for Americans. Not only is it "National Military Appreciation Month," but our military even succeeded in killing one of the most hated men in America - Osama Bin Laden - as a bonus. Now, in honor of all of the soldiers that have protected us for all of these years, General Motors is expanding their $500-$4,000 discounts off of selected Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC vehicles to include military spouses and retirees. Vehicles purchased by these families will get an “Honor” badge and donations of $100 will be made to Cell Phones for Soldiers for each eligible vehicle sold with a military discount.

Download 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS Honor and Valor

After teasing it for a while, Peugeot has released today the official details on the EX1 electric concept that will make its world debut at the Paris Auto Show. The concept was created as a celebration of the Marque’s 200th anniversary.

Download 2011 Peugeot EX1

Let's not extend the suspense any longer. The 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is a fantastically compelling machine. It is fast — faster in real-world terms than the M3 on most roads. It has a truly brawny engine that sounds great at wide-open throttle, handles with all the precision expected of a car wearing the evocative M badge, and is super practical given its performance brief.

Download 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe First Drive

This was one of the comments we received in response to our full test of the 2011 Kia Optima Turbo:

"jaggery: So Edmunds can we get a Long-Term test of this vehicle, and you guys just change the tires since that was the main thing you complained about??? I'd love to see how you guys like the vehicle over a longer period, and the gas mileage as well."

Download Long-Term Test: 2011 Kia Optima SX Turbo

Sitting at an intersection in the new 2006 BMW 750i, we're hardly surprised when another new BMW 7 Series pulls up alongside us. We're in Pacific Palisades after all, home of the eight-figure house and the six-figure personal chef. In this area, a pair of $70,000 sedans at an intersection looks as natural as a nose job.

Download Full Test: 2006 BMW 750i

Daimler has today confirmed its plans to form a partnership with Robert Bosch GmbH to develop electric motors for a new generation of electric vehicles. If all goes well, production of the electric motors will begin production in early 2012. The motors will initially be used in Mercedes-Benz and smart electric cars starting in the later part of 2012.

Download Plans for Electric Vehicles Confirmed by Mercedes-Benz

The jury for the Mobile Excellence Awards evaluated the submitted innovations using five main criteria: strategic initiative, impact of technology used, creativity, ease of use and reach and execution and market success. ” This year’s entries were extremely impressive,” said Executive Director of the Mobile Excellence Awards and CEO of the ITV Alliance, Allison Dollar. “They demonstrate a range of innovation and depth of creativity that prove just how fast and how far mobile has come”.

Download smart Drive App for iPhone wins Mobile Excellence Award

One of the fastest times ever posted

It looks like we were right when we said Akira Iida was taking it easy when he lapped the Nordschleife in 7:22.85 with the Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition as an exhibition run.

According to a tweet by EVO's Chris Harris, the Gazoo Racing driver has managed to beat his previous record by setting a new time of 7:14.XX. If this turns out to be correct, the LFA would become one of the fastest production vehicles to ever complete the 20.8 km (12.9 mile) long course.



Download Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition laps Nordschleife in 7:14 - report