Review Index

2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 1 (Exterior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 2 (Interior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 3 (Interior – Electronic Features)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 4 (Powertrain)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 5 Chassis and Suspension)

The latest Corolla has independent MacPherson strut front suspension, and its rear suspension is the torsion beam type. The MacPherson suspension is familiar to many people; and the torsion beam is not something that we can brag about. You can see the Corolla’s torsion beam in the rear suspension from the below photo.

The torsion beam is not a fully independent suspension, its advantage is simple cons...

You may challenge the rule that, a “true” luxury brand need to have a full-size sedan to prove the brand’s position; but at least most of the luxury brands in the world are doing this. Even for some brand that did not have in the past, are planning to do this – for example the Volvo S100 we reported a while ago.

For Cadillac, it does have a full-size sedan now (the XTS), but that it is based on the front-wheel-drive platform. In most people’s mind, FWD contradicts with “true luxury sedan”. For example you will not see a FWD Rolls-Royce Phantom, or a FWD Bentley Mulsanne...

Currently Toyota does not sell any rear-wheel-drive sedan in the US market that bearing the Toyota badge; but this is not the case for other markets in the world.

For example, Toyota is selling a full-size luxury sedan in some Asian market, including Japan itself. One example is the Toyota Crown Majesta, now at its 6th-generation (S210). The Toyota Crown Majesta has some relationship with the Lexus GS, but with a longer wheelbase of 115.2in.

For different markets, although the mechanical part is almost the same, the exterior styling of the new Crown Majesta differs...

Today Dodge released the fuel economy number for the 707hp 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat. Results are:

– Challenger SRT Hellcat with 8-speed automatic transmission: 22/13/16mpg (hwy/city/combined)
– Challenger SRT Hellcat with 7-speed manual transmission: 21/13/16mpg (hwy/city/combined)

Next, a bad news for those who want to buy this muscle car: because of the low combined fuel efficiency rating, the Challenger Hellcat will trigger the Federal Gas Guzzler Tax. Based on the 16mpg combined rating (falls in the “>= 15.5mpg, <16.5mpg” bracket), the gas guzzler tax will be $3,700 for the 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat...

For those who wanted to but missed the chance to order the 1927-unit limited production of the 2015 XC90 First Edition, here is a news that may probably make you feel better: Volvo has announced the R-Design trim for the 2015 XC90, which includes features that the limited-production First Edition won’t have.

New features for the XC90 R-Design trims include exclusive upgrades to both of the exterior and interior materials and styling. The R-Design trims are available for all powertrain selection (from T5 to T8 models).

For the exterior, R-Design trims has a redesigned grille, lower front spoiler, window in silk metal, R-­Design dual tailpipe surround, integrated bright ro...