Monthly Archives July 2014

Review Index:
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450 – Part 1 (Exterior)
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450 – Part 2 (Interior)
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450 – Part 3 (Chassis and Suspension)
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450 – Part 4 (Powertrain)

Test Car Information:

2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450
4.6L turbocharged V8, 362 hp @ 5000-6000 RPM, 406 lb-ft @ 1,500-4,000 rpm
7-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive
Options: Premium 1 Package
MSRP as tested: $69,155 (including $925 S&H charge)

For those who have the needs to carry more than 5 persons, but do not want to drive a minivan, they will typically buy a CUV/SUV with 3 rows of seats...

The Buick Envision is a SUV with two rows of seats, which is still under testing currently and is expected to be revealed later this year. GM has positioned the Envision between the lower Encore and the upper Enclave, and it is only planned to be sold in the Chinese market at this moment.

However we believe this new model will make its way to the states if its sales performance did well in China. Today we got two new spy shots about the interior of the Envision, and it is the first time we can take a look inside the car.

Transmission shifter and center console...

Today Ford announced the engine and weight specifications about its newly redesigned 2015 Mustang. Below are some highlights:

– 3.7L V6: 300 hp, 280 lb-ft of torque (down 5 hp compared to the current model); 3,526 lbs (MT) and 3,530 lbs (AT); MSRP starts at $24,425
– 2.3L EcoBoost turbo I4: 310 hp, 320 lb-ft of torque; 3,532 lbs (MT) and 3,524 lbs (AT)
– GT 5.0L V8: 435 hp, 400 lb-ft of torque; 3,705 lbs (MT) and 3,729 lbs (AT)

There is also a Performance Pack option available for both the EcoBoost and 5.0 V8 trim. The option pack includes:

– retuned suspension with revised springs, bushings and mono-tube rear shocks
– thicker rear sway bar
– K-brace (that connects the s...

Today Dodge released the pricing of the 2015 Challenger, of course the focus is on the 707hp SRT Hellcat.

From the below photo taken live at the scene, the engine output of 707 hp is a big selling point for Dodge.

I bet GM would not be happy to see this photo, because Dodge also highlighted the Corvette Z06 on that slides. Looks familiar to something you have seen before? Right, what hurts GM more is that, the slide shown by Dodge here, is directly borrowed from the one when Chevrolet  announced the new Corvette Stingray Z06, see below:

OK let’s back to our topic, below is the pricing of different trims:

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat – starting U.S. MSRP $59,995
Dodge C...

Following the news that BMW will manufacture 3 more models in China, BMW also announced they are setting up a research and development center in Shengyang, China.

BMW’s Shenyang R&D center is focusing on new energy source vehicles and its new brand: Zinoro, which is dedicated to the Chinese market.

I bet you have never heard the name of “Zinoro”. Here is some background information: Zinoro is a brand that BMW created solely for the China market. It is dedicated to electric vehicles at this moment, and it has already released their first product: the Zinoro 1E.

You see it right, it looks like the BMW X1 – because it is actually the X1, but with electric motor and battery ...