While some race cars require extensive stretches of salt to get the job done, there are petrol heads that are eager to run flat out on just about any surface, even ice

Download 2009 Dacia Duster Trophée Andros Edition

Visitors to the youth-oriented GMC Granite concept’s new website will undoubtedly notice a black-and-white square positioned above the black-and-white square that is the GMC Granite concept. It’s called a QR code, and GM hopes it will revolutionize the way they advertise automobiles.

Download GMC Granite Stars On the Small, Small Screen

After being teased a few weeks ago, the Impreza WRX STI tS and A-Line tS (based off the AT model) have been officially unveiled. Of course, it doesn’t really make a difference to us because the folks in the Japanese market will be the only ones strolling around in these sports cars. Nevertheless, the WRX STI tS and A-Line tS will be made available starting January 25th, 2011.

Download 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI tS and A-Line tS

"Oh my god, is that for real? It's like a grown-up Big Wheel." "It's a Mini monster truck." The Mini Countryman elicits all sorts of responses from bystanders. So far, they're only positive, but at the same time you get the feeling no one takes the pint-sized crossover seriously. Other companies might cringe at the thought of their products being compared to toys, but Mini revels in it. A vehicle like the Countryman was never meant to be just another car; it's all fun all the time.

Download First Test: 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman ALL4

Reading through the notes on "Big Blue," our 2009 Challenger, you almost begin to wonder how many people actually drove the car. Every entry is almost formulaic, hitting the same highs and lows and reaching the same conclusion:
"I loved the look of the car and the big V-8 engine. The pistol-grip shifter is awesome and the soft springs make it a great cruiser. On the other hand, the car's too big, it gets lousy fuel economy, and the nav/stereo system is awful. But despite its flaws, I just love this car."

Download Verdict: 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T

"Stop living in the past," say countless advice purveyors across a broad spectrum of media. It's good advice if you're trying to get over an ex-girlfriend, but you pretty much have to live in the past to drop almost $90,000 on a body-on-frame luxury SUV like the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum. That's $88,295 to be precise, making this the second-most-expensive Caddy available. (First place by a slight margin goes to the Escalade Hybrid.)

Download First Drive: 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum AWD

Whenever we hear about a new Jeep Wrangler, there's always a concern that the changes will makes the iconic vehicle less capable. Will it be converted to independent front and rear suspension from its current live axle setup? Is it going to share platforms with some crossover? Thankfully, for 2011 the answer to both of these questions is no.


Download First Drive: 2011 Jeep Wrangler

We like the 2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe. We really do, but we just don't love it the way we want to — or the way we used to.

Download 2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe Full Test and Video

When we set out to photograph the 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T we had several hip urban locations in mind. Our first choice was the Disney Concert Hall, a strikingly modern structure worthy of serving as a backdrop to the newly redesigned sedan, but we were chased away by a film crew already setting up shop at the Downtown L.A. landmark. Welcome to Tinsel Town.

Download Full Test: 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T

Push the start button on the 2006 BMW M5 and there's a slight delay before the engine fires as if to hint at the complexity you're about to set in motion with your finger. And when all 10 cylinders burble to life they give new meaning to the words "performance sedan."

Download Full Test: 2006 BMW M5

So here's the latest fantasy the marketing wonks would have you believe: Mountain-Dew-guzzling adrenaline junkies buy vehicles like the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier, to suit their (over)active lifestyles. Seriously. That's what they want you to think. Get one of these trucks and in no time you'll be winning triathlons, paddling down Class V rapids and mountain biking over volcanoes.

Download Full Test: 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

If a Jeep fails in the city, does anyone care?

The long-term test of the 2007 Jeep Compass Limited has come to an end at Edmunds Inside Line. Even after a 16-month stay with us — four months longer than our customary long-term test — the junior Jeep barely cracked 13,000 miles.

Download Long-Term Test: 2007 Jeep Compass Limited 4x4

Gordon Murray, chief design engineer behind the McLaren F1 and several championship-winning Formula 1 cars, has revealed his microcar. The T25 is a demonstration for a new-car construction method. He says his new method can take 25 percent out of a car's weight, whether applied to a sedan, sports car, or minivan of any given seating capacity, without compromising safety.

Download Another Gordon Murray Microcar

Mini will showcase two new vehicles on its display at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California this week. First up is the Mini Inspired by Goodwood we previewed back in April. The second is the new Mini Coupe – and its first U.S. public showing.

Download New Mini Coupe, Goodwood On Display at Pebble Beach

Priced from €304,500

Porsche will unveil the next-generation 911 (991) at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but that doesn't mean the current model (997) is going away anytime soon. Case in point, the company has just announced a series of upgrades for the 2012 911 GT3 R.

First and foremost, the model gains a revised 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine with an optimized intake system. This enables it to produce 500 PS (368 kW / 493 hp) - an increase of 20 PS (15 kW / 20 hp).



Download 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 R gets a power boost

Dodge is serious about taking on the European market. Its new C-segment Caliber five-door is designed for the Old and New Worlds, and now it has unveiled the Mini Cooperesque B-segment 2006 Dodge Hornet concept at Geneva. Strip away the concept-car excess, and you can figure a production version of the Hornet would be similar in execution to the just-launched Caliber. Aimed at Europe's hottest market segment, it's designed to go wheel-to-wheel with the Ford Fiesta, GM Corsa, and {{{Toyota Yaris}}} as well as the VW Polo, Renault Clio, and the new Peugeot 207.

Download Dodge Hornet Concept