Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger SRT8

They might be considered dinosaurs or throwbacks to some, but these two big sedans ooze pure American attitude from every pore. Yes, yes, I know they have some German genealogy, but who among us can say we’re “pure blooded” Americans, other than if you’re Native American? The fact that they can pack as much performance, comfort, and style into one (admittedly large) package for about $50k, is awesome.

Porsche Panamera GTS

For me, anything that crests the six-figure mark is automatically in the “probably not going to happen” arena. Whether we’re talking $100,000, 200,000 or more, the difference is all academic at that price stratum. Porsche rolled out its middleweight Panamera GTS, which offers a 30-horse bump over the “standard” S model, but still comes short of the Turbo S’s mighty 550 horsepower. That said, I wouldn’t turn one down if someone gave it to me. I’ve come a long way from my original opinion of the Panamera, which at the time, I thought was yet another unnecessary addition to the Porsche line. Although the original “unnecessary” addition, the Cayenne, has filled the company’s coffers to overflowing, and given us such tasty goodies as the 911 GT3, Cayman in its various guises, and countless other variations too numerous to name here. Not only that, any big sedan that can hustle to 60 mph in well under four seconds and get more than 20 mpg on the highway is an epic feat of engineering, no matter how you slice it. For me, it’s go big or go home. I like the GTS, but if I had to pick, it’d be the Turbo S.

2011 LA: A Few of My Favorite Cars

I almost didn’t write this blog. After all, what hasn’t already been written about ad nauseum by dozens of other auto journalists, many more seasoned and influential than I, about their picks and pans of the show? I thought, “Does anyone really care about what I think?” But I figured posting this blog doesn’t kill any trees in the Brazilian rainforest, and whatever energy was expended by uploading it to the server is likely offset by the convoy of Prii I saw in the carpool lane this morning on the way in. Or something like that…
For what it’s worth, here are my picks of the show. Granted, some of them are well beyond my immediate reach (notwithstanding the fact third-year resale values on luxury models typically drop off a cliff, from astronomical, to merely outrageous) but I tend to generally get more excited about models that I might have some chance of actually owning someday. So without further ado, here is my personal favorites list.

New for 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet receive new powertrains: The E350 is powered by a new 3.5-liter direct-injection V6 engine generating 302 horsepower; and the E550 gets a bi-turbo direct-injection 4.6-liter V8 producing 402 horsepower. The 2012 E-Class line also features a new transmission with a more advanced torque converter lock-up clutch that provides better fuel mileage, more responsive driving, quieter operation and increased durability.

2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

For the 2012 model year, Mercedes-Benz adds the S350 BlueTEC to its S-Class lineup. The S350 BlueTEC features a 3.0-liter 240-horsepower V6 turbodiesel and standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive. In addition, the S550 receives a new 4.6-liter twin-turbo direct-injection 429-horsepower V8, producing more power and better fuel economy. The S63 AMG also gets a new engine, a 5.5-liter 536-horsepower biturbo V8 that features twin turbochargers. Most 2012 S-Class versions are equipped with a new, more fuel efficient 7-speed automatic transmission.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan is updated and a new C-Class coupe is added. Exterior changes for the sedan include new headlights, grille, bumpers, LED daytime running lights and LED taillights. The new two-door couple features AMG styling, standard panorama sunroof, steering wheel shift paddles, split-folding rear seats, front seats with integrated head restraints and a 7-speed automatic transmission. Sedan and coupe versions of the C250 are powered by a new 201-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. The C300 4MATIC sedan is powered by a 228-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 with standard all-wheel-drive. The C350 sedan and coupe are powered by a new direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 producing 302 horsepower. Both body styles offer a C63 AMG version powered by a 451-horsepower naturally-aspirated 6.3-liter V8 combined with a 7-speed Multi-Clutch Transmission. The most powerful C-Class ever produced is the C63 AMG Coupe Black Series, powered by a 510-horsepower 6.3-liter V8 engine combined with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed transmission.

Mazda MX5 Auto - From idea to production Part 1

In 1976, Bob Hall, a journalist at Motor Trend magazine who was an expert in Japanese cars and fluent in the language, met Kenichi Yamamoto and Gai Arai head of Research and Development at Mazda.
In 1981, Bob Hall moved to a product planning position with Mazda US and again met Kenichi Yamamoto, now chairman of Mazda Motors, who remembered their conversation about a roadster and gave Hall the go-ahead to research the idea further. At this time Bob Hall hired designer Mark Jordan to join the newly formed Mazda design studio in Southern California. There, He and Bob collaborated on the parameters of the initial image, proportion and visualization of the "light-weight sports" concept. In 1983, the idea turned concept was approved under the "Offline 55" program, an internal Mazda initiative that sought to change the way new models were developed. Thus, under head of project Masakatsu, the concept development was turned into a competition between the Mazda design teams in Tokyo and California.