First Tests

“Korean design.” That phrase wouldn’t have conjured much of a mental picture in Americans a few years ago, but between the architecture and home aesthetics on display in the Oscar-winning movie Parasite and the great automotive design work Peter Schreyer has been overseeing at Hyundai Motor Group, awareness is up and Korean design is officially becoming a thing—and an interesting thing at that. Study the design of the 2021 Genesis G80, for example, and you’re unlikely to find many cues lifted from establishment competitors like the Audi A6/A7, BMW 5 Series, or Mercedes-Benz E-Class. And it’s not just the ginormous face-mask grille and ear-strap headlights. Inside, there’s a world-first 3-D instrument cluster display, a novel rotary-swipe knob infota...

GMC is making the bold claim that the upcoming Hummer EV will be the world’s first “super truck.” I hate to break it to them, but whenever the GMC Hummer EV hits the streets, it’ll be the second-ever super truck. Why? Because your favorite performance enhancing drug, Stellantis (née FCA) has GMC beat with the lightning-quick, supercharged 2021 Ram 1500 TRX. I know you’re dying to know, so let’s not drag it out any further. The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is the quickest pickup truck we’ve ever tested. It accelerates from zero to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds and races on through the quarter-mile in 12.7 seconds at 106.3 mph. That performance not only beats the Ram TRX’s predecessor, the Viper-powered 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10 (0-60 mph in 4.9 and a 13.2-...

Mt. Baldy road is hardly more than an hour’s drive from downtown Los Angeles, yet it evokes European alpine passes—those that lead from metropolises to epic vistas and crisp mountain air. Breaking off from the freeway, it crosses a quiet suburb before opening into long sweepers weaving up the hillside. In the final climb, it crinkles into tight switchbacks before terminating at a tiny rural ski resort. It’s the type of road cars like the BMW M440i xDrive were made for. No longer is the 4 Series simply a two-door 3 Series. As that iconic sedan preserves its dynamic focus, the 4 Series evolves and now offers a blend of luxury and performance once reserved for BMW’s highest-end models. It’s a balance that’ll leave some drivers in bliss and others wanting more. Is...

Finally! Finally, Cadillac has been allowed to deliver what we’ve always believed it’s capable of. For well over a decade now, the brand has brought us incredible bones, incredible performance, and incredible handling, but faltered on the luxury, on the details. The 2021 Cadillac Escalade sets things right, and not a moment too soon. We’ve known since the early days of “Art and Science” that Cadillac can build a fantastic chassis, not that the Escalade ever got one. We’ve known from the early days of General Motors that the parent company can develop incredible technology, when it wants to. We’ve known for over a decade now Cadillac can do jaw-dropping design built from world-class materials, at least when it comes to concept cars. We’ve alwa...

As do most enthusiasts, we love small, nimble cars. Given we currently have a BMW 228i Gran Coupe in our long-term fleet, we wanted to spend quality time with its spicier 2 Series sibling, the M235i, to see if the more powerful model was worth its additional $8,000 ask, a not inconsequential amount of money. Both have all-wheel drive as standard, but the M235i gets additional power, a limited-slip differential, a louder exhaust, stickier tires, and a standard M Sport suspension in pursuit of a zestier driving experience. Among the styling cues that distinguish the M235i from the 228i: a different grille pattern, dual trapezoidal exhaust tips, a more aggressive body kit, unique 18-inch wheels, and silver mirror caps. It’s pretty obvious you’re looking at the hotted-up 2 Series—e...

Appreciate the 2021 Acura TLX for its many strengths, but don’t dwell too much on the numbers. Because after spending some time with Acura’s sporty-looking new premium sedan, we see its value, even if not much of it shows up on the track. The TLX makes a good first impression—it’s priced closer to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but its wheelbase and length put it much closer to the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. That makes it a bit of a tweener in our book. Does it deliver on its message? Some of our test team found the TLX’s handling splendid, but others felt the racy sheet metal was writing checks that its chassis couldn’t cash. Cars competing in the compact luxury sport sedan price category are asked to meet a near-impossible challenge: del...

This should’ve been it. The American luxury/performance flagship sedan to finally stand up to V-8-powered German sedans like the Mercedes-AMG E 63 and S 63, BMW M5, M6 Gran Coupe, and 750i, and Audi RS 7 and S8 cars (and maybe even the Lexus GS F) that have dominated the continent-crossing swift-sedan market forever. But before we even got a chance to properly test a 2020 Cadillac CT6 4.2-liter twin-turbo Platinum powered by the mighty Blackwing V-8 introduced in 2018—let alone compare it against its competitors—the car was cancelled. Production ended in January. Powertrain Fitness It’s a crying shame, really (and probably a fire-able offense for the decision makers involved) to have designed and developed this high-tech engine from scratch, only to sell fewer than 1,400 exampl...

Three-row SUVs are known for their ample space, superb packaging, and settled rides. With space for seven or eight passengers, they’ve become the new minivans and are popular attendees at the stereotypical soccer practice or school pick-up/drop-off lines. Although some of these SUVs can be fun to drive, high performance and excellent driving dynamics are not their top priorities. The 2020 Audi SQ7, however, is trying to change that perception. With its 500-hp V-8 engine and ability to do 0-60 mph in about 4.0 seconds, moms and dads will rejoice. Based on the fantastic MLB platform, which is also shared among other VW Group stars such as the Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus, the SQ7 delivers the power, handling, and emotion that parents want while also meeting th...

The automotive establishment’s answer to Tesla’s mainstream-budget electric-vehicle offerings, the Model 3 and Model Y, is about to hit the market in the form of the 2021 Polestar 2. For those of you who wouldn’t know a Polestar from a pole vault, the 2 is an all-electric vehicle from an upstart division of the Sino-Scandinavian conglomerate Geely Auto Holdings—better known as Volvo’s parent company. The Polestar 2 is sized and configured to strike between Tesla’s compact sedan and SUV with a tall hatchback body and dual-motor all-wheel-drive performance that aims to land somewhere between the base and performance variants of the popular Teslas. Should Elon Musk be worried? Is the Polestar 2 Faster Than the Tesla? See all 73 photos Tesla made its bones by show...

Thanks to low gas prices and a growing demand for SUVs, midsize hybrid sedans aren’t the most popular vehicles on the market right now. Still, these cars deserve a second look because they boast spacious interiors and excellent fuel economy. The 2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE is no exception, offering buyers an alternative to the ubiquitous Prius. But is it worth the money? Find out our thoughts below. Is It Efficient? In a word, yes. The Camry Hybrid is much more efficient than the regular Camry, which is rated at 29/41/34 mpg. On the base LE trim, the Camry Hybrid tops out at 51/53/52 mpg. If you opt for the SE or XLE, those numbers drop slightly to 44/47/46 mpg (the gasser XLE gets 27/38/31). See all 27 photos Is It Fun to Drive? If you’re looking for a sporty sedan, the Camry...

As far as luxury body-on-frame family SUVs go, the Lexus LX 570 sits toward the top of the lineup in terms of capability. In terms of technology and design? Not so much. Just when you thought the enormous grille couldn’t get any bigger, it grew. And because the current generation debuted in 2007 (the year I graduated from high school), the technology and packaging are pretty old. Still, the 2020 Lexus LX 570 can go where most SUVs can’t. And that’s a big deal. For the 2020 model year, Lexus launched a new Sport package, the contents of which are difficult to spot. Available only for the three-row model, the package adds a slightly different grille and front fascia, while the side-view mirrors have body color and chrome accents. Inside, a new black headliner dresses up the...