2012 Jaguar XF 2.2D Premium Luxury

It might be the entry-level powertrain in the Jaguar XF range, but the 2.2D turbo-diesel under that tasty long bonnet has all the right numbers.

Outputs of 140kW and 450Nm put it ahead of all its German competitors. Better still, the new XF embodies nearly all of the good things that the Jaguar badge traditionally signified: sporting style, gracious lines, and a sublime ride.

But there’s more to the premium luxury market than power stats and style: mechanical refinement, switchgear, and the smallest details of fit and finish are paramount, and the XF 2.2D isn’t quite so satisfying in those departments.

2013 Porsche 911 Turbo Spied

The all-new 991 Porsche 911 is currently a month away from its local launch, however the range-topping Turbo variant won't arrive until 2013.

Development on the iconic 911 Turbo is well into its final stages though; a pre-production prototype of the German supercar has been spotted during shakedown testing in Europe.

Kia K9 Rear-wheel-drive Sedan

ust days after TMR published spy photos of Kia's upcoming K9 rear-wheel-drive flagship, new artwork has been released that offers a first look at the new car.

Looking like the lovechild of a Quattroporte and the new 5 Series (a strong pairing by any measure), Kia's chief designer Peter Schreyer has delivered a tried-and-true luxury style for the brand's top-shelf model.

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Next-Generation Mercedes-Benz GLK

The GLK, Mercedes-Benz's answer to the BMW X3, is currently unavailable in Australia thanks to its left-hand-drive only design.

That is all set to change in 2015 with the arrival of the second-generation GLK-Class, and development mules of the all-new Mercedes softroader have been snapped while undergoing trials.

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2012 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV

I kind of forgot Nissan even still makes the Maxima; all of the attention lately has been paid to the Altima. This 2012 Nissan Maxima's $40,000 sticker makes me laugh but for a price, say, in the lower $30,000s, this car would be a temptation. That is if it didn't have the droning CVT, which I hate. It reminds me of my snowmobiling days.








Nissan touts this car as the four-door sports sedan, but I don't know if I'd go that far. Aren't they supposed to be rear-drive for the most part? The front-drive Maxima felt good on the road though nothing I would consider really sporty. I thought the Maxima had a nice relaxed ride/handling balance and a wieldy fluid chassis. Nissan's own Infiniti G lineup is far sportier and, in my opinion, a better sports value.

Porsche celebrates 2 million Facebook fans

Porsche hit 2 million friends on Facebook this week, and to celebrate, the company dedicated a car to all of them.

The new Porsche Cayman S got a coat of white paint before each friend's profile picture was digitally added to the surface. They're all tinted in red, giving the car a candy-coated look, and the front-plate area reads "100% Porsche, 100% you."

2014 Chevrolet Corvette spied with C7 body

Corvette's future is crystallizing as the temperature drops. The C7 was captured by spy shooters in cold-weather testing in the Great White North, and the profile indicates a wedge-like silhouette, curvy, slightly flared fenders and a potentially longer wheelbase.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette spied

2014 Chevrolet Corvette spied

Production of the next-generation 2014 Chevrolet Corvette will begin next year. These shots advance previous knowledge of the C7, which now appears to have been photographed in an actual body shell. Older pictures indicated the longer wheelbase but were C6-bodied.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette spied