Land Rover Discovery 3 - best 4x4 on the planet

The Land Rover Discovery 3 has been voted the best 4x4 of 2007 by Planet 4x4 magazine. Fighting off competition from 36 other vehicles, the Discovery 3 proved unbeatable on practicality, packaging, off road ability and all-round dynamics, scoring 819.4 out of a possible 1000.

In fact, Land Rover swept the board with the Range Rover voted overall runner up – just 4.1% behind the Discovery 3, and Range Rover Sport and Freelander 2 both scooping class wins.

"With the top three overall places in 2006 and a clean sweep of class awards this year, Land Rover is getting it right at just about every level. One tester after another was wowed by the Range Rover’s class, the Sport’s style and the Discovery’s practicality," said Alan Kidd, editor of Planet 4x4 magazine.

"But what I think Land Rover can be particularly proud of is that this result comes in a competition where scores for off-roading meant almost nothing – and value for money counted towards almost a quarter of the total mark. It would be easy to write this off as a series of victories for the most expensive machines... but in reality, it shows that with Land Rover, you really do get what you pay for."

Mattias Ekström Won the "Race Of Champions"

DTM champion beats Michael Schumacher in finale Audi factory driver’s second consecutive win Audi A4 DTM and Audi R10 TDI thrill 50,000 fans Mattias Ekström has made one of his biggest dreams come true: In the final round of the "Race of Champions" the Audi driver defeated the seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, triumphing for the second time in a row at the motorsport spectacle that was staged in front of over 50,000 spectators at London’s Wembley Stadium for the first time this year. Also part of the action were stars like David Coulthard, Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel, Heikki Kovalainen, Sébastien Bourdais, Marcus Grönholm and Petter Solberg.



"For me, Michael Schumacher is one of the world’s greatest drivers. To beat him in the same equipment is an incredible experience I won’t forget for a long time," said the elated 29-year-old Swede after the nail-biting finale. After Ekström and Schumacher had each won a round, the third heat had to produce the decision. As at the DTM finale two months earlier, Ekström kept his cool in front of the impressive backdrop of the stadium and did not give his role model Michael Schumacher the slightest chance. Before that, he had eliminated – among others – Britain’s World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx.

2008 Infiniti EX now on sale

Infiniti announced that the all-new 2008 EX35 personal luxury crossover SUV is on sale at Infiniti retailers nationwide beginning today. The new Infiniti EX offers an exceptional combination of seductive design, elegant interior and advanced technology – including available Around View Monitor (AVM) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems and standard “Scratch Shield” paint.

The 2008 EX is offered in four models – EX35 RWD (rear-wheel drive), EX35 RWD Journey, EX35 AWD (all-wheel drive) and EX35 AWD Journey. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starts at $31,300 for the EX RWD and $34,850 for the EX RWD Journey. The EX35 AWD with ATTESA E-TS intelligent all-wheel drive system is priced at $32,700 and $36,250 for the EX35 AWD Journey model.


“We’re pleased to be making the new Infiniti EX35 available just in time for that last-minute holiday shopping,” said Mark Igo, vice president and general manager, Infiniti. “With its long list of advanced technology features, EX is a perfect companion for all the other high-tech items on car enthusiasts’ shopping lists. And, with its available intelligent all-wheel drive, EX is also the perfect vehicle for holiday getaways, no matter what the weather may bring.”

2008 Infiniti EX35



EX35’s sculpted elegance expresses a timeless appeal, with sleek lines that portray speed, grace and finesse. Its layout combines the look and feel of a luxury coupe and an SUV’s interior flexibility. EX35 is also conceived to offer a reinvigorating and engaging interior environment, with a long list of features including leather-appointed seating, power-folding 2nd row seat and available advanced audio and navigation systems.


Available industry-leading EX35 technology features include the Around View Monitor (AVM) system, which utilizes four small cameras to give the driver a “top-down view” of the outside of the vehicle while parking and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system, which uses the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system to help assist the driver in maintaining lane position if the vehicle inadvertently starts to drift out of the intended lane. The new EX also features standard “Scratch Shield” paint, a special “self-healing” clear coat designed to maintain its gloss level over time and keep the EX looking new.

Like every Infiniti model, the 2008 EX35 also emphasizes exhilarating driving performance, combining a 297-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission with Manual Shift Mode and Drive Sport Mode (DSM), assisted by Downshift Rev Matching (DRM) and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC), and available intelligent all-wheel drive.

Additional available technology features include RearView Monitor, Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) and Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC). For audiophiles, EX offers an available 11-speaker Bose® Premium Audio System with Burr-Brown 24-bit DAC, two subwoofers, 6CD in-dash changer and iPod® connectivity. Also offered is an available advanced voice-activated, touch-screen Infiniti Navigation System featuring available XM® NavTraffic™ with real-time traffic information (requires active XM® subscription, sold separately), which includes a 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for digital music storage and playback.

All 2008 EX models offer a long list of standard equipment, including Infiniti Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition and XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately), 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, aluminum interior trim, 7-inch color monitor display, 8-way power driver’s seat, “Scratch Shield” paint and more.


EX35 Journey models add power slide/tilt moonroof with one-touch activation, front and rear leather-appointed seating surfaces, power-folding 2nd row seat, auto-dimming inside mirror with electronic compass, HomeLink® Universal Transceiver, front and rear sonar system and auto on/off headlights.

2008 EX35 equipment packages include the Premium Package; Luxe Elite Package; Navigation Package; Technology Package; and Luxe Style Package. Also offered are roof rails and maple wood trim

Hottest Sports Cars of 2008

Forbes Auto made a list with top 13 (wonder why 13?) hottest cars of 2008. Most powerful, expensive and beautiful car made into that list, and although in my opinion the order would have been a little bit different, I really like that they chose.



Speed and style are still the operative words for sports cars, but they’re getting plusher and more luxurious, thanks in part to an aging consumer base. Sales of sports cars in 2007 show that the rich are getting richer, and as the average age of sports-car buyers steadily creeps up, more models with added luxury and amenities are rolling into showrooms.



Among new models for 2008 in the exotic segment are the Maserati GranTurismo, an elegant and civilized near-exotic coupe, and the stunning Audi R8, which is that company’s first foray into the realm of uber-sports cars.



Hottest Cars of 2008

Aston Martin DBS
Audi R8
Audi TT
Bentley Continental GT Speed
Chevrolet Corvette
Dodge Viper SRT10
Ferrari 430 Scuderia
Lamborghini Reventon
Lotus Elise/Exige
Maserati GranTurismo
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster
Nissan GT-R
Porsche 911 GT2

2008 Top Cars

U.S. News & World Report announced its 2008 Car Rankings. The 2008 rankings cover the best and worst cars, trucks and SUVs based on an analysis of consensus opinions from America’s top automotive experts.

New Car Hits
GM shows the greatest improvement from the 2007 to 2008 car rankings with several new or redesigned vehicles ranking near the top of their classes. The redesigned Chevy Malibu, all-new Buick Enclave, and redesigned Cadillac CTS (winner of Motor Trend Car of the Year) fare well in the rankings.

Experts laud the Malibu (ranked #6 out of 25 midsize cars) for its driving dynamics, exterior styling and affordability. The new CTS (ranked #4 out of 14 upscale cars) is praised as an American car that can finally compete with the BMW and Lexus nameplates. Finally, experts generally agree that Buick hit a home-run with its all-new Enclave (ranked #3 out of 23 midsize SUVs) based on classy styling and a superb ride. Joining the highly ranked Chevy Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Silverado 1500, these new entrants help GM to achieve a good overall showing in the 2008 rankings.

The all-new Infiniti G37 and Mazda CX-9 also debut high in the rankings, as do the newly remodeled Honda Accord, BMW 5-Series, and Chrysler’s minivan siblings the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan.


New Car Misses
Some new cars miss the mark. In the same class as the Accord, the all-new Dodge Avenger places last out of 25 cars. The all-new Nissan Rogue is also a less-than-stellar performer, placing in the bottom half of the compact SUV rankings. Surprisingly, the newly redesigned Toyota Highlander is a merely decent performer among midsize SUVs. The 2007 Highlander was
ranked #1 in its class.


The 2008 Winners
A complete listing of all the car, truck and SUV rankings and meta-reviews are available at: RankingsAndReviews.com. As of December 13, 2007, the #1 ranked automobiles in the most popular categories are:


Economy Cars: Honda Fit
Midsize Cars: Honda Accord
Upscale Small Cars: Volkswagen GTI
Upscale Midsize Cars: BMW 3-Series
Luxury Cars: BMW 5-Series
Compact SUVs: Honda CR-V
Midsize SUVs: Honda Pilot
Large SUVs: Chevrolet Tahoe
Luxury Midsize SUVs: Lexus RX 350
Full Size Pickups: Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Affordable Sports Cars: Mazda MX-5, Honda S2000, Mazda Speed3 (tied)

As with the 2007 rankings, Honda occupies more #1 ranking spots (7 in total) than any other nameplate. Honda’s Fit, Civic, and Civic Hybrid take the top three spots on the Economy Cars list.

BMW retains the #1 ranking spot in the popular upscale and luxury car categories. Among the very competitive upscale midsize cars, the BMW 3-Series remains the benchmark, but now has strong competition from the Lexus ES and all-new Infiniti G37, each tied for the #2 ranking spot.


Japanese Hybrids Outrank New American Hybrids
For 2008 there are several new entries from GM and Ford in the rapidly expanding Hybrid segment. The challengers (the new Saturn Aura and VUE hybrids, Chevy Tahoe hybrid, and siblings Ford Escape / Mercury Mariner hybrids) underperform the more established Toyota and Honda models. Experts agree that these newcomers do not yet offer the combination of fuel economy and driving performance exhibited by the likes of Toyota’s Prius and Camry hy

New Mazda3 to be unveiled in 2009

When Mazda will unveil the new Mazda3 in 2009 it will debut with a new smart new face and sleek body that should turn heads. It will come as an answer to the Honda Civic and the new Ford Focus. It will be inspired by the new Mazda6, but it will also integrate design elements from the 2018 design concept.

At the front, sleek headlights are mixed with deep air intakes and a low splitter. In profile, there’s the trademark angled C-pillar, but it’s joined by a waistline that kicks up over the back door. Together with a chunky rear bumper and a steeply angled tailgate, this creates an aggressive look. Inside, the Mazda has new, improved materials and a dashboard that copies its counterpart in the 6, complete with steering wheel-mounted controls for the stereo and ventilation systems.

Under the bonnet there will be the same engine line-up as in the current model. In 2010 Mazda will add a range-topping 250bhp MPS, with a new 2.5-liter petrol taken from the 6.

Porsche Cayenne vs.BMW X5 vs. Mercedes-Benz ML vs.Volkswagen Touareg 2

1. 2008 Porsche Cayenne


Base Price: $43,400
Base Engine: 3.6 Liter V6
Horsepower: 290 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 273 ft-lbs. @ 3000 rpm
0-60: 7.5 Seconds
Standard Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Gas Mileage: 14/20
Driven Wheels: AWD
Weight: 4762 lbs.
Turning Circle: 38.4 ft.







2. 2008 BMW X5 3.0si



Base Price: $45,900
Base Engine: 3.0 Liter I6
Horsepower: 260 hp @ 6600 rpm
Torque: 225 ft-lbs. @ 2750 rpm
0-60: 7.8 Seconds
Standard Transmission: 6 Speed Shiftable Automatic
Gas Mileage: 15/21
Driven Wheels: AWD
Weight: 4982 lbs.
Turning Circle: 42 ft.







3. 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML350




Base Price: $43,650
Base Engine: 3.5 Liter V6
Horsepower: 268 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 258 ft-lbs. @ 2400 rpm
0-60: 7.9 Seconds
Standard Transmission: 7 Speed Shiftable Automatic
Gas Mileage: 15/20
Driven Wheels: AWD
Weight: 4705 lbs.
Turning Circle: 37.9 ft.







4. 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 VR6 FSI




Base Price: $39,320
Base Engine: 3.6 Liter V6
Horsepower: 280 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 265 ft-lbs. @ 2500 rpm
0-60: 8.3 Seconds
Standard Transmission: 7 Speed Shiftable Automatic
Gas Mileage: 14/19
Driven Wheels: AWD
Weight: 5086 lbs.
Turning Circle: 38.1 ft.