New models

2009 Nissan Z Coupe revealed in official photos

The 2009 Nissan Z has finally been revealed and we've got the official photos to prove it. But how much can you tell by looking at a photo? As it turns out, a lot actually.

The most obvious changes are the new boomerang-shaped headlamps, which match the design language established with the 2009 Nissan Maxima. The Z takes the concept a step further by mirroring the design with boomerang shaped taillights, as well. I didn't think that I'd like it, based on the spy shots, but they look pretty good in the official shots.

Other more subtle … Read more

90: The electric Mini is here. Sort of.

GM and Chrysler talks get intense, electric Mini's are on the way, Toyota will bring a new tiny car to the U.S., and we hit the road in the 2009 Acura RL. Listen now: Download today's podcast SHOW NOTES

• Electric RUF Porsche 911

• Wacky Fiat eco: Drive

• Toyota iQ headed our way

• Audi to go standard with HD Radio

• Dodge Durango Hemi Hybrid review

Review: Cabin tech drives 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid

A new tech barge in old SUV clothing, the Dodge Durango Hybrid features an impressive array of cabin tech and one of the most advanced power trains in a production vehicle. This truck is big, with seating for seven, plus cargo space, all riding high in classic SUV fashion. But environmentalists could learn to love it as it turns in fuel economy equivalent to a V-6 sedan. We take a close look at this behemoth, maximizing our city mileage and testing out the cabin tech.

Read the review of the 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid.

Review: 2009 Honda Fit Sport

We test out the 2009 version of the Honda Fit Sport, updated significantly for the new model year. And with some fine driving, the Fit returns over 40 mpg while maintaining freeway speeds. It's the little engine that can. Cabin tech is less impressive. Navigation is an option, impressive on a very sub-20k car, but Bluetooth is no where to be found. iPod integration is standard, a very useful feature, but the audio system isn't wonderful, so you might start looking at where you can fit an aftermarket subwoofer and speakers.

Read the review.

Tiny Toyota may come to U.S.

TOKYO--Toyota expects to sell the small, four-seat iQ in the United States after it improves the car's safety equipment.

The Japanese version starts at 1.4 million yen ($13,860). The car goes on sale in Japan on November 20 and in Europe in early 2009. Toyota is targeting monthly sales of 2,500 units in Japan and 6,000 in Europe. Last week, chief engineer Hiroki Nakajima said he expects a U.S. launch in the "midterm," before the first model update. The company needs to develop different airbags and improve bumper strength to help the … Read more

Porsche Panamera fully exposed in San Francisco?

Well, if Porsche were a stripper, it wouldn't be a very good one. The company has left virtually nothing to the imagination when it comes to the new Panamera four-door coupe. The world unveiling is set for Geneva in March 2009, but one is being driven around San Francisco with barely a rubber nose and glasses to disguise it.

A reader of World Car Fans snagged a slew of really good, clear photos. You'll notice a feeble attempt to mask the car's lines with a little tape and some bogus cladding around its ungainly rump, but this … Read more

2008 BMW M3 vs. 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

Throughout the year, we've seen some pretty amazing cars at CNET Car Tech, but two stood out for our sports car-oriented gear heads. We reviewed two versions of the BMW M3, the first a coupe with a manual transmission, the second a convertible with an automated dual-clutch transmission. Given the model history, we expected these cars to be good, and they were. Between these reviews, we had the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, which proved a more than pleasant surprise. Similar in size and price to the M3, the C63 is Mercedes-Benz's idea of a small high-end sports car, … Read more

Review: 2009 Acura RL

The 2009 Acura RL is an evolved version of the generation of Acura's flagship that first entered the market in 2005. The main changes to the car's exterior styling are bolder chrome flashes across the revised fascia and rear decklid, as well as the usual nips, tucks, and lens reshaping. Under the hood, a larger V-6 delivers the oomph the previous RL lacked.

Inside, things are mostly familiar, with some nice trim upgrades and a subtler palette than in our previous test cars. The much-lauded voice-control system has expanded its vocabulary to 700 commands, joining a few other … Read more

Mini E pure electric car revealed

Mini just revealed the Mini E on Friday, scheduled to be revealed at the 2008 LA Auto Show. The E stands for electric, as the major difference between this and the standard Mini is the all-electric drivetrain. The Mini E will be produced in a limited quantity of 500-1000 units and leased to customers in a few major cities.

The Mini E's 204 horsepower electric motor also puts out 162 pound-feet of torque with juice being supplied by advanced lithium ion battery tech. Charge time is expected to be about 8 hours with a range of about 150 miles … Read more

2010 Toyota Prius leaked, confirmed

The 2010 Toyota Prius is scheduled to be revealed at the 2008 LA Auto Show, but there's just one small problem. We've already seen it!

Images of the new Prius leaked all over the Web earlier this week and, on Thursday, Toyota confirmed that the leaked images were--in fact--authentic.

Taking a look at the next-gen Prius, we can see that the nose gets a fairly aggressive update. I'm not a fan of the boomerang headlamps trend, but apparently we'll be seeing a lot more of it in the coming years. The new Prius' lower grill and … Read more