Kia Cadenza

Kia Cadenza

What is it? Kia is moving to get into the premium sedan business with the new Cadenza, which the carmaker says will be its most technologically advanced, luxurious, and largest vehicle available to U.S. buyers to date.
If a lot of that sounds familiar, that’s because the Cadenza is pretty much a Hyundai Azera underneath that stylish Kia skin.
Powered by a 293-hp, 3.3-liter six-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, the Cadenza also comes with standard navigation and Kias's Uvo telematics system displayed an eight-inch center screen.
Predictably loaded up with a full compliment of techno stuff, the Cadenza gets a backup camera and reversing warning system standard. Buyers who want to step up to the Technology package can also get a distance-sensing cruise control system, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning.
Dual-zone climate control, leather seat trim, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and keyless entry & start are all standard features.
What is new or notable? Everybody is trying to get into the upscale sedan market that, for decades, has been the stomping ground of Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz. It’ll be interesting to see if bringing more tech to the table for less money will make Kia a competitor. 
CR's take: Despite objections that they are two different companies, it’s clear Kia and Hyundai are pretty much joined at the hip. Like its sister carmaker, Kia continues to bring a lot of value to the table, which helps increase market share for the Dynamic Korean Duo. 

Is the carbon-fiber BMW i3 the car of the future?

By Consumer Reports News | ConsumerReports.org

ConsumerReports.org - Is the carbon-fiber BMW i3 the car of the future?

Expect to hear a lot about the BMW i3 in the coming months. A four-seater about the size of a Nissan Juke, BMW's first electric car for sale will combine several cutting-edge technologies, potentially making it one of the most advanced vehicles on the road.
BMW calls the i3 an all-electric car, but it is more than that. It has several tricks up its sleeves.

For starters, the i3 will be the first production car for the masses to use a carbon-fiber body to save weight. Electric car engineers say this is key since it allows the car to travel farther on a smaller, lighter, and cheaper battery. At just 2,630 pounds, the i3 weighs less than many subcompact cars. (The car is about 151-inches long, 79-inches wide, and five-feet tall, with a 101-inch wheelbase.) BMW claims a range of 80-100 miles, similar to other electric cars, from the i3's 22-kWh lithium-ion battery.

However, that's not the end of the story. BMW will also offer an optional gasoline engine as a "range extender"--a 34-hp, 650-cc motorcycle-type two-cylinder engine. This engine will generate electricity for another 60 miles of travel before its 2.4-gallon tank needs a refilling. Sounds familiar? It's the same idea behind the Chevrolet Volt.

This fulfills another promise of plug-in hybrids: dramatically downsizing the gas tank and engine to offset the size, weight, and cost of the battery. (Other plug-in hybrids today use four-cylinder engines ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 liters.) As a plug-in hybrid, the i3 may have twice the electric range of the Volt.

BMW will sell the i3 along with a suite of services called 360 Electric, including a home charger, free access to a network of public chargers, and car sharing through the DriveNow network, providing access to other BMW models for longer-trips. (That is a good concept, because, really, who wants to refill a tiny gas tank every hour?)

In earlier trials with the Mini-E and the BMW Active-E, the company found that in 12.5 million miles of driving, 1,000 EV drivers averaged about 30 miles a day. With its big battery, range-extending engine, and available assortment of replacement loaners, the i3 should be more than capable of meeting these needs. And when it debuts next year, the company also promises that the i3 will drive like a BMW to boot.

—Eric Evarts

2011 Quest Minivan from Nissan

2011 Quest Minivan from Nissan

Nissan Quest is a new product line of Nissan cars. This new version is designed minivan with stylish exterior and interior trim. The Nissan Quest had made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2010 which took place in November. This car will be sold in 2011 to United States market principles. As the pictures below, the exterior design of the Quest minivan 2011 is characterized by a sculpture of two uplines design identity.

The darkness outside makes this 2011 Quest minivan has become a modern and elegant. The interior design is also presented in the elegant presentation with elegance and a comfortable seat. In the cockpit, a display device of the GPS system is close to the speed measuring device. The cabin is equipped with a digital entertainment system that allows a more comfortable driving experience and different. For more details, check out the gallery below.