2014 BMW M235i Coupe Review

    The new BMW 2-series was released about a month ago, created as a replacement for the 1-series. The 1-series did not follow the BMW rule that even-series cars will be coupes and convertibles, and odd-series cars will be sedans. So far, the 2-series comes in two models: the 228i coupe, and the M235i coupe. I am expecting more variants and maybe even a convertible in the near future, but don't get your hopes up. The M235i has a twin-turbocharged, 3.0 liter inline-six that produces 320 horsepower. 0-60 takes 4.5 seconds, which is quite fast for something this small. The interior follows all of BMW's design features, such as the familiar iDrive control system and the curved dashboard. I love the 2-series, and I hope BMW doesn't kill it off after a couple of years, just like the 1-series.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 Review

    The highly anticipated 2014 Corvette is finally here, and it meets all of my expectations. First of all, it has a naturally-aspirated 6.2 liter V8 that Chevy calls the LT1. It produces 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 takes a very quick 4.0 seconds, which is faster than a Bentley Continental GT, which does it in 4.4 seconds. The interior is modern and functional, yet still includes bits and pieces that remind me of older Corvettes. Some of the main competitors for the new Corvette are the Porsche 911 and Cayman S, the upcoming BMW M4, the Dodge Viper, and the Ford Shelby GT500. In the past, I haven't loved the Corvette, but I am having a hard time disliking the new one. Great job, Chevy.

Comparison: 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG vs. 2014 BMW M5

    These two Autobahn kings recently received facelifts for 2014 and they look amazing. The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class got the best mid-sized luxury sedan interior rating and the BMW 5 Series: best 0-60 time. But which company has done a better job making it faster? That's what we're going to find out.

2. Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

    The E63 AMG has been in the AMG pool for a while now and is now one of the fastest cars on the planet, thanks to its hand-built, AMG 5.5 liter twin-turbo V8 that makes an astonishing 550 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Those incredible numbers kick the car to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, which I find mind-blowing. The interior is very upscale, with stitched Designo leather and carbon-fiber replacing the standard E-Class piano black veneer, and the okay COMAND navigation system. But the M5 is a little more interesting and refined, so it wins this comparison. 

1. BMW M5

    The BMW M5 is one of the biggest fast cars on the face of the Earth but is still very understated, thanks to its minimal exterior badging (compared to the E63) and some amazing numbers. 560 hp comes from the hand-built ///M twin-turbo 4.4 liter V8 that forces this big, heavy cruiser to 60 in 3.8 seconds, only a tenth slower than the E63. The interior is more curvy than the E63's and is more simple, thanks to black leather and aluminum trim alongside BMW's revolutionary iDrive control system. The driving dynamics, as the motto suggests, are very, very good.

2014 Audi RS7 Review

    The Audi A7 arrived half-way through the birth of the four-door coupe segment, right after the Mercedes-Benz CLS and alongside the Porsche Panemera. But now, the maniacs at Quattro GMBH have tuned it like crazy, and the result is the amazingly fast and powerful RS7. It does 0-60 in an astounding 3.9 seconds, which is Corvette territory. the engine is a wonderful 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 560 hp and 516 lb-feet of torque. The interior is very functional, but is still very nice and upscale, thanks to the quilted leather upholstery and carbon-fiber trim. The car has standard Quattro all-wheel-drive, which is one of the best AWD systems in the world. I love the RS7, I just wish Audi sold the RS6 Avant in the U.S.

2014 Jeep Cherokee Review

    The new Jeep Cherokee was released late last year as the "Trailhawk" concept car and is now in production, under the highly cherished Cherokee name and rivals the king-of-the-hill Japanese crossovers, such as the Mazda CX-5 or the Toyota RAV4. It has 2 engine choice: a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder that produces 184 hp or a 271 hp 3.2 liter V6. It is respectable off-road and has an optional off-road 4WD that includes a rear locking differential, which is pretty hardcore. My teacher just got one a couple of months ago and according to him, it is a great car to drive, be in, and just to own. I would probably get a Mazda CX-5, but this would be second on my list.

2014 BMW 760Li Review

    The BMW 7 series has remained one of the biggest, baddest, and most commanding vehicles on the road since 1977 and has really shaped the luxury barge segment, having inspired Lexus, Kia, Hyundai, and Audi to make equally large luxury sedans. It has 4 engine choices: a twin-turbo V6, a hybrid V6, a twin-turbo V8, and an extremely powerful twin-turbo V12 that produces 535 hp and 550 lb-feet of torque. That engine is the top-of-the-line in the 7 series and aids the car do 60 in 4.5 seconds. The interior has good styling, good ergonomics, and is very comfortable, thanks to the fully powered seats in the back and a reclining massage feature. You can also opt for the rear-seat entertainment system, which consists of two flat-screens on the seat-backs and a second iDrive controller, which allows you to access navigation, Bluetooth, and AV and DVD inputs.

Comparison: 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs. 2014 Porsche Cayenne

    These two go-anywhere SUVs are pretty much the king of the mom-car fleet. They also have price tags around $55,000 and are extremely good off-road. But which multi-purpose SUV is better?

2. Porsche Cayenne

    Porsche's Cayenne was released about 11 years ago and has definitely grown since then. Then, it was kind of a tractor with a Porsche suspension, chasse, and powertrain. Now, it is much more advanced and efficient. It has many engine choices, including a 3.6 liter V6, a 3.6 liter hybrid, and a 4.8 liter V8. That engine propels the car to 60 in 4.3 seconds, which is slightly faster than the supercharged Range Rover Sport, which does it in 4.7 seconds. The interior is more complicated, more sporty, and more button-laden. The driving dynamics are closer to a 911 than the Range Rover is to an F-Type. But, the car's options add up quickly, and you are not getting much practicality for $60,000, so it loses this comparison.

1. Land Rover Range Rover Sport

    Revealed in 2006, the RR Sport has been around for 8 years now and grown so much. Then, it was sort of a caveman-like thing and was not very refined or luxurious. But new for the 2014 model year, it has been completely redesigned (based on the Evoque's styling) and is very powerful, luxurious, and good off-road. It has two engine choices: a 3.0 liter supercharged V6, and a 5.0 liter supercharged V8 that helps the car do 60 in 4.7 seconds. Like the new Range Rover lineup, it features Land Rover's brilliant Terrain Response 2, which features different off-road modes and a sensor that works out the road ahead of you. The interior is much better than the old one's and is so modern and simple, yet still being one of the best interiors on the road.

2014 Kia K900 Review

    A couple of years ago, Hyundai released its attempt to make a luxury sedan that competes with cars like the Mercedes-Benz S Class and the BMW 7 Series. That was the Equus, and it has done great in the past 3 years. Now, Kia, Hyundai's corporate cousin, has released the K900, which has the exact ambitions. It has a 5.0 liter, 420 hp V8 that is very similar to the engine in the Equus. The interior very closely resembles the one in the Lexus LS or the BMW 7 Series. I like it a lot, but I think Kia should have been more original with the interior, as well as the exterior. But, I like it when car manufacturers do something completely different that what they usually do, because it shows if they can handle a challenge or not. I think Kia and Hyundai have both done great jobs with their luxury sedans and I encourage car manufacturers to do more things like that.

 

2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT Review

    The Jaguar XK has been around for a couple of years now and is one of my favorite Jaguars of all time. I just love the big hood intakes and the ferocious personality of the car. The XKR-S GT in particular, is the most powerful XK and rivals cars like the Aston Martin Vantage V12 S. It has a tuned version of Jaguar's wonderful 5.0 liter supercharged V8 that now produces 550 hp and 502 pound-feet of torque. This monster of an engine shoots the car to 60 in 3.9 seconds, which is very,very fast for something that weighs a lot, even though Jaguar has given this XK a very large diet. The interior is pretty much the same as the base XK but has carbon-fiber trim and R style sport buckets. Some of the main competitors for this mad Jag are the Porsche 911 Turbo/Turbo S, Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, and the Maserati Granturismo MC coupe. I love the XK and I hope Jaguar will not discontinue it for a while.

2014 Bentley Flying Spur V8 Review

    When Bentley released the Flying Spur in late 2013, it was a big step away from the Continental family, mainly because it used to be a four-door Continental GT, where it clearly did not belong. But now, Bentley has released a V8 version, which uses the same 4.0 liter V8 in the Continental GT V8. It is Audi-derived, and produces 500 hp and 487 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 takes 4.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 183 mph. The interior is pretty much the same as the W12 Flying Spur and that is a good thing, considering the enormous list of leather and veneer choices. It has a lot of options as well, for example the rear-seat fridge and the touch-screen remote control that can control the navigation head unit and allows you to view the vehicle's current speed. I think even though Bentley removed the Flying Spur from the Continental family, it is still very similar.

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Review

    The Mercedes-Benz CLA has only been out for a small amount of time and it already has an AMG sibling, the CLA45. It has the most powerful four-cylinder engine production engine in the world, which produces an amazing 178 hp per liter. It measures 2.0 liters in displacement and is twin-turbocharged. 0-60 takes 4.4 seconds because of its 355 horsepower, which is incredible from such a small engine. The interior is mainly standard CLA, except for the sport seats with the special AMG upholstery. The CLA45 is very fun to drive and at $48,000, I think it is a great alternative to a $65,000 C63 AMG.

2015 Maserati Levante Review

    Next year, Maserati will be releasing part two of its plan to attract lower-end clients who don't want to pay $150K for a Quattroporte. In late 2013, Maserati released the Ghibli, which is a $70K sedan that competes with the Audi A7, the BMW 6 series Gran Coupe, and the Mercedes-Benz CLS. But, next year, they will release the Levante, a midsized crossover that competes with cars like the BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz ML. There will be a range of engine choces from their Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans, starting with a 3.0 liter V6 that makes 404 hp and a 3.8 liter V8 that makes 523 hp. It will be available with Maserati's Q4 all-wheel drive and it will probably be pretty good off-road, mainly because it need to compete with the Range Rover Sport.

Comparison: 2014 Bentley Continental GT vs. 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith

     Both of these two-door behemoths have a price tag of over $175,000, have big V12 powerplants, and are extremely luxurious. But one is $100,000 more than the other, so is it worth it?

2. Rolls-Royce Wraith

    Rolls-Royce's Wraith coupe was released in late 2013 and is one of the largest coupes on the market. I mean, it is longer than a Chrysler Town&Country and has about 3 times the power. The 6.6 liter V12 produces 624 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 takes a somewhat disappointing 4.4 seconds. The interior is incredibly finished, with hand-crafted veneers and leather that came from only the finest cows. Everything is put together by hand and that pays off, resulting in one of the best-looking Rolls-Royce interiors ever. But, I find the Wraith disappointing in areas like acceleration, gas mileage, and most of all, the price tag. Only a mere $300,000. Only. 

1. Bentley Continental GT

    The Continental GT has been around since 2003, and has had many variants since, such as GT Speed, GTC, and Supersports. All of these have been favorites of mine and always will be. One of the best aspects of the car is the powertrain. Measuring 6.0 liters in displacement, it is a Volkswagen-sourced W12 that makes 616 hp and 590 lb-feet of torque. 0-60 takes 4.0 seconds, which is insane for a car that weighs this much. The total weight is a staggering 5,115 lbs, which I don't find surprizing somehow. I find the interior a little more plasticky than the Wraith's but I like it more.

2014 Ferrari FF Review

    Ferrari's FF hatchback kind of confused me when it was first released, but now I understand how great of a car it is. It is a two-door hatchback that has four seats, and best of all, a 6.3 liter V12 that produces 651 horsepower and 504 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 takes a very short 3.7 seconds to a top speed of 208 mph. The interior is simple, mainly because the Ferrari is meant to be fast on a track, not a chauffeur-driven car that smells like an English mansion. It does have a second row but it is somewhat cramped and has only two seats. Rear-seat entertainment is optional, as well as a somewhat ridiculously overpriced baby seat that is branded with the Ferrari logo.

2014 Bentley Mulsanne Review

    Bentley's Mulsanne sedan has been around since 2011, to replace the aging Arnage. It rivals sedans such as the Rolls-Royce Phantom, and has a base price of $298,000. The monster of an engine is a twin-turbo 6.75 liter V8 that produces 505 horsepower and an incredible 752 lb-feet of torque. 0-60 takes a respectable 5.0 seconds and has a top speed of 184 mph. The interior is arguably the best part of the car, thanks to the diamond-quilted leather and the enormous list of color, leather, veneer, and options. One of the most interesting parts of the car is the $33,000 iPad picnic tables option, which can be ordered with a Wi-Fi hotspot, dual DVD headrest players, and a champagne fridge that includes 3 hand-crafted flutes for your choice of beverage. You can also opt for a set of luggage that fits perfectly in the trunk and mimics the interior scheme.

2014 Mini Cooper S vs. 2014 Fiat 500 Abarth

    These two tiny city cars are very cute, practical, and get good gas mileage. But one is Italian and one is British. So, two different personalities in a very similar package. But which is better?

2. Mini Cooper S

    The Mini Cooper has been around since the 60's and got a major facelift in 2000 and has received some minor changes since. The engine you get in the S trim level is a 184-hp turbocharged 2.0 liter 4-cylinder that propels the car from 0-60 in 6.4 seconds. So I guess it doesn't really "propel" the car, more like "moderately roll it in a laid-back fashion." But other than the slow acceleration, the car is extremely fun to drive. It isn't especially good on the track, but the experience on-road is one of the most fun to drive cars that aren't among Lamborghini and Ferrari supercars, which are very fun as well. But its performance is not as good as it should be, so it loses this comparison.

1. Fiat 500 Abarth

    The Fiat 500 has earned a place in my heart for being one of the most hip and stylish cars of the last 2 years, as well as being one of the cheapest good cars. The Abarth-spec 500 has a turbocharged 1.4 liter inline-4 that produces around 160 horsepower and 170 lb-feet of torque. A little less powerful than the Mini, but better performance. And anyways, who cares if it has 20 horsepower less than the Mini if it is more fun to drive and faster? 0-60 takes around 6.2 seconds and gets a very good EPA rating of 28/32 mpg. I think it is a better car than the Mini because it has most of Fiat's attention, where as with the Mini, their attention is spread out to many cars, like the Countryman and the Paceman.

Pick Your Favorite: Muscle Cars

    Here are four muscle cars that have been around for quite a while: the Dodge Charger, the Pontiac GTO, the Chevrolet Camaro, and the Ford Mustang. My personal favorite is the Mustang, especially the Shelby GT500, which is the trim level that adds the incredibly powerful 5.8 liter supercharged V8 that produces 662 horsepower. But which is your favorite? Say in the comments below, and the one that gets the most votes I will get an article.

Ford Mustang

 Chevrolet Camaro

Dodge Charger

Pontiac GTO

2014 Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase Review

    When Rolls-Royce introduced the Phantom Family Series II in 2012, they kept all four members of the Phantom family. Those four include the Phantom, the Phantom Extended Wheelbase, the Phantom Coupe, and the Phantom Drophead Coupe. My personal favorite is the Phantom EWB mainly because of its presence and size. It is longer than a Chevy Suburban and has an equally large power plant. The engine is a 6.75 liter naturally-aspirated V12 that produces 453hp and 531 lb-feet of torque. I think the engine should be slightly more powerful, mainly because there are much smaller cars that make much more power, so a car this large should be extremely powerful. The interior is completely made by hand. For example, all of the wood veneers are hand-carved and polished. The leather is only from the best-raised cows and is hand-stiched.

2014 Koenigsegg Agera Review

    The Koenigsegg Agera is one of the fastest street-legal cars in the world, as well a one of the most exquisite. It has a base price of around $1 million, which makes it one of the most expensive cars in the world. It has a 5.0 liter V8 that makes 1,340hp and guess what? It only weighs 1340kg so there is 1hp for each kg. Wow. 0-60 takes 2.8 seconds to a top speed of over 200mph. I think it is more interesting than a Bugatti Veyron, but I still think Koenigsegg needs more publicity.

2014 Hyundai Equus vs. 2014 Lexus LS460L

    The Hyundai Equus surprised the world when Hyundai released it in 2011. It was the first luxury car to ever be produced in the U.S. by a non-luxury manufacturer. The LS, on the other hand, pretty much created the large luxury sedan segment, when it was launched in 1990. But both cars start around $60,000 to $70,000 and are very luxurious. But which is better? We will find out soon!

2. Lexus LS460L

    It was very hard for me to pick a winner because I love both of these cars, but the LS lost not because it is too expensive, but because the Equus is even cheaper. The LS is still a very good car, with a base price of $78,440, it is considerably cheaper than a BMW 7-Series or a Mercedes-Benz S550. The interior is very plush and well-detailed, with available bamboo trim and an executive package that adds a center console that houses full seat controls and a cool-box in the back. 0-60 comes in 5.4 seconds from the 4.6 liter V8 that makes 386 horsepower.

1. Hyundai Equus

    The Hyundai Equus is probably one of the most strange cars on the market today because it is a full-size luxury sedan made by a non-luxury manufacturer. Kia just released the K900, another luxury sedan made by a normal car manufacturer. The interior has some little bits and pieces that very closely resemble a Mercedes-Benz or a BMW, such as the gauges or the seat controls. The backseat is not as comfortable as the Lexus but is more comfortable than most cars you will see on the road. The engine is a 5.0 liter V8 that makes 429 horsepower and 376 lb-feet of torque. 0-60 takes around 5.5 seconds.