Audi e Tron

We were gliding down a short section of Pacific Coast Highway -- temporarily closed for us by the Highway Patrol, no less -- in Audi's wild, battery-electric e-tron show car, when its German engineer sitting next to me leaned over and asked the pay-dirt question: "So what do you think?"

I nailed the accelerator again to judge its acceleration (officially quoted as 4.8 seconds to 62 mph). Felt the brake pedal once more for any wobbliness in its transition from regen to friction braking (none that I could detect). And considered its other key EV attribute -- a range of 154 miles per charge -- and replied "I'm impressed. This is a beautiful automobile. Gorgeous in fact. But...you know, I just got out of a production Tesla Roadster Sport that hits 60-mph a full second quicker and easily travels 200 miles on a full battery." The long look I gave him punctuated my point.



Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/112_0912_audi_e_tron_concept_drive/index.html#ixzz0dlXymCXr

2011 MBZ E Class

Bet you didn't know the origin of the word "cabriolet." In the horse-and-buggy era, the word was applied to lightweight open carriages pulled by two horses and used primarily for pleasure rides in fair weather. The word was pinched from the French verb "cabrioler," meaning "to cavort" -- move about carelessly, playfully or boisterously -- or "to cut a caper." The next installment in Mercedes-Benz's long line of "cavorters" isn't exactly lightweight, but it promises to extend pleasure driving well beyond the traditional fair-weather season, thanks to a new innovation dubbed Aircap.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/convertibles/112_0912_2011_mercedes_e_class_cabriolet_look/index.html#ixzz0dlXSttaD

2011 Mini Cooper

After more than a year of concept teases and name guessing games, the long-awaited Mini Cooper Countryman -- the first four-door Mini of the modern era -- has finally come out into the light and is headed to U.S. Mini showrooms in early 2011 after a world debut at the upcoming Geneva motor show

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_1001_2012_mini_countryman_first_look/index.html#ixzz0dlWzpyW3

2010 Audi R8

Practical for a supercar and beautiful to behold, the R8 is a true-blue supercar that will thrill the driver and passersby alike. The V-8 version offers enough for some, but for about $30K more, the new V-10 offers a Ferrari- and Lamborghini-grade driving experience and soundtrack.