Category Car News

While most of the luxury cars are still using 6/7/8-speed transmissions, and Mercedes-Benz may still consider their latest 9-speed 9G-tronic to be state-of-the-art, how about the idea of 10-speed transmissioni?

Well, Toyota not only get this idea, but it has also turned this into reality now. They are working on a production version of the 10-speed unit (to be accurate, it is Aisin that working on it – Aisin is a subcompany of the Toyota group), and it will be debuted in the 2017 Lexus LS flagship sedan and the new SC coupe (yes, Lexus does not give up the SC nameplate). This will be the world’s first production 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Lexus LS is always Toyo...

We got some latest news for the next generation of Mercedes-Benz’s serious off-road SUV: the G class. Below are what we know at this moment:

– Weights around 825 lbs lighter than the current G class;
– Modernized interior styles, higher quality materials and more advanced infotainment system;
– G550 will have a 4.0L twin-turbo V8n engine, outputs around 460hp (compared to the current G550’s 5.5L naturally aspirated V8 rated at 382hp);
– G63AMG will come with the 5.5L twin-turbo V8 which can be also found in other AMG models. Output is at around 570hp;
– Other markets will have more powertrain choices

To those who are not familiar with the “SVX” name in Subaru history, here are some background information.

23 years ago, Subaru created the SVX model which is sold in the US during the 1992 – 1997 model years. The SVX is Subaru’s first try in the luxury car market, it carries an approx. 33% higher MSRP than other Subaru cars when it went for sale in 1992.

The original Subaru SVX comes with a 3.3L 230hp flat-six engine, mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. US market customer can choose between an AWD system and the FWD option...

Just like the E550 will be removed from Mercedes-Benz’s 2015 catalog, the same fate falls on the ML550 too.

The current ML550 is equipped with a twin-turbo V8 engine, good for 402hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. For the 2015 model year, only the ML63AMG will retain a V8 engine, the rest of the ML-class lineup will be equipped with several solely V6 engines.

The one on the ML400 (which replaces the ML550) will have the same engine in the 2015 C400, which is a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 with 329hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. Talking about power output, obviously this is a step down from the ML550; but the upside is better fuel efficiency and higher mpg.

Other changes will be the removal o...

The redesigned W205 Mercedes-Benz C Class has not be on sale in US at this moment (the expected date will be around end of August), so there is no US crash protection ratings at this moment.

However European test program Euro NCAP has fully tested the new C Class recently. Unlike IIHS, Euro NCAP does not provide detailed measure data to the car frame, it only provides a rating and points system to the public, so besides the similar result between the new W205 and older W204 generation, we can only judge their performance from the video.

Below are two comparisons between the new and old C class, one is the 64 kph (40 mph) frontal crash test; and another is the 29 kph (18 ...