MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS

Starting price: $94,400

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is one of the top German cars sold in America. The auto is the embodiment of what Americans think of when it comes to German engineering and luxury. The starting price for the car is not for those looking to save money; however, consumers who can afford the auto have a choice between the 4.7 liter twin-turbo eight cylinder engine rated at 449 horsepower, or the 6.0 liter twin-turbo V-12 rated at 523 horsepower. Both options come with a seven-speed automatic transmission and a choice between either all-wheel or rear-wheel drive. The car can go from zero to 60 MPH in 4.5 seconds, and it has a top overall speed of 130 MPH. The S-Class gets average-to-below-average fuel economy at 16 MPG (city) and 24 MPG (highway).

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VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

In 1979, German manufacturer Volkswagen produced another great family car: Jetta. It was made to replace the Golf sedan.  As of 2005, almost 7 million cars have been sold worldwide, over one-third of sales have been in the United States. Since the original version in 1980, the car has continued to improve with better safety features and making use of new technology. In 2011, nearly 10 million have been produced and sold all over the world. As of April 2014, over 14 million have been sold, which made this model Europe’s and Volkswagen’s top-selling model.

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Lamborghini’s lighter, RWD Huracán LP 580-2 will please purists, financial advisors

To say that the Huracán LP 610-4 has been a success for Lamborghini would be a massive understatement. Compared to the debut of the Gallardo – a car that Lamborghini has sold more of than all other models in the company’s history combined – Lamborghini has sold nearly twice as many LP 610-4 models in the first 16 months it has been on sale (3,169 Huracáns versus 1,751 Gallardos).

Considering this, it would be understandable for the Italian supercar maker to not want to mess with a good thing. But Lamborghini isn’t a company that likes to rest on its laurels, and as such, they’ve just unveiled a new variant of the Huracán: The LP 580-2, a model which promises even more thrilling driving dynamics while also cutting a sizable chunk out of the price tag in the process.

What’s New

One of the practices of modern Lamborghini that’s been particularly admirable is the way they go about naming their models. The alphabet soup associated with most vehicles on sale today typically has nothing to do with the actual particulars of the car (Mercedes-AMG and BMW, we’re looking your way), but that’s not the case here. As such, the LP 580-2 designates that this new Huracán model generates 580 (or 571 in American measurement) horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque from its naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10. Astute readers may notice this number is down about 30 horsepower from the LP 610-4, but there’s a good reason for that: The “2” in its name denotes that power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels in this new model, making this something of a purists’ special.

“The Lamborghini Huracán LP 580-2 continues the Lamborghini tradition of pure, visionary and technology-driven models,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “The rear-wheel drive model fits perfectly into our Huracán family, appealing to those wanting an even more intense driving experience, or who currently drive other rear-wheel drive marques and aspire to driving a Lamborghini. This is the purest expression of a Lamborghini to date, with class-leading technological refinements. It is a serious car for serious drivers: it is maximum driving fun.”

Without the extra mechanical bits and pieces required to send the power to all four corners, the LP 580-2 drops some weight compared to its all-wheel drive brethren. Dry weight now stands at a paltry 3,062 pounds, down some 73 pounds from the AWD coupe. Weight distribution shifts further back in the car, and now sports a 40 percent front and 60 percent rear weight bias. Dropping weight up front also benefits handling by reducing inertia on the front axle, which in turn should make this model less prone to understeer and far happier to dish out the tail happy shenanigans that are typical of high horsepower, rear wheel drive sports cars.

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Mercedes begins selling like-new classic cars through its official museum

Mercedes-Benz’s official museum has launched a lucrative new business called All-Time Stars that specializes in selling high-quality classic cars.

All-Time Stars’ inventory is divided into three distinct categories called Premium Edition, Collectors Edition, and Drivers Edition, respectively. Premium Edition cars are all-original machines with low miles that have been fully restored in-house by the experts at Mercedes-Benz Classic. Cars that fall in the Collectors Edition category are in excellent condition inside, outside, and under the hood, but they wear more patina than Premium Edition cars because they haven’t been fully restored.

Finally, Mercedes explains cars in the last group are aimed either at buyers who are looking for a vintage daily driver — instead of a better-than-new, concours-ready vehicle — or a small restoration project. Nice enough is as rough as it gets in Stuttgart, and All-Time Stars doesn’t dabble in ran when parked-style rust buckets, full-on projects or parts cars.

The oldest car currently offered for sale by the museum is a 1929 Type 630 Kompressor (pictured) listed at €850,000, a lofty sum that converts to about $912,000. The newest model is a 1999 SL 55 AMG Mille Miglia Edition, a 350-horsepower roadster of which only 10 examples were ever built. Other highlights include a 1979 450 SEL 6.9 with low miles, an ultra-rare 1967 230 S Universal station wagon, and a like-new 1993 280 TE wagon.

All cars regardless of how old they are and what category they slot into are given a thorough, 160-point inspection by an experienced Mercedes mechanic to ensure they’re described as accurately as possible to potential buyers. The inspector also notes what parts are original, what parts aren’t, and what components have been changed over the car’s life cycle.

All-Time Stars’ full inventory can be viewed online, but prospecitve buyers are encouraged to check out the cars in person by visiting the vast Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart, Germany.

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Hyundai Santa Cruz

A Hyundai pickup truck doesn’t sound very appealing right off the bat, but the Santa Cruz is a surprisingly cool concept.

The Santa Cruz isn’t a traditional pickup, but rather a cross between a pickup and a car. Hyundai sought to create the best of both worlds by offering truck-like utility and styling, with car-like comfort and fuel economy.

Unveiled at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, the Santa Cruz features a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine with 190 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, paired with Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system.

The Santa Cruz hasn’t been confirmed for production yet, but if it ever gets built, it will further blur the line between cars and trucks.

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Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6

It’s not often that Bentley makes a major change to the types of cars it builds. The current Continental series dates back to 2003, after all, and the company will still brag about 24 Hours of Le Mans wins from the 1920s.

That makes the EXP 10 Speed 6 truly radical. While still a bona fide luxury car, it’s much smaller and closer to a traditional sports car than just about anything Bentley has ever made.

Propulsion for the sleek coupe comes courtesy of a hybrid powertrain, with enough grunt to get the EXP 10 Speed 6 up to 200 mph. Other up-to-the moment touches include 3D-printed components and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

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Subaru BRZ STI Performance Concept

A one-off show car with two purposes, the Subaru STI Performance Concept bowed in New York. It draws its inspiration and components from the hot Subaru BRZ GT300 competing in Japan's Super GT Series. Like that racer, this showpiece was created by Subaru Tecnica International, the automaker's official performance/performance parts division known as STI. In addition to serving as an exercise in future models, it heralds a new and significantly expanded role for STI in the American market. 

STI-spec cars on the way

While Subaru has yet to offer specific details on how STI fits into U.S. sales, it has confirmed that STI-tuned models will extend beyond the WRX STI. In the home market, STI currently produces versions of the BRZ and Forester as well as the iconic WRX and also has a large catalog of street/racing parts. Subaru says that upcoming STI-spec models for America could incorporate more extensive modifications from the factory, including suspension, performance, braking, chassis and aerodynamic upgrades. 

"At STI we know from our racing that to win, it is important not only to have high power, but also that all aspects of performance are balanced over the whole car," said Yoshio Hirakawa, president of Subaru Tecnica International. "When we achieve this balance, the driver feels that the car is easy to handle and reliable, and he can use it fully to the limits of its performance. Our plan is to produce cars and accessories that drivers can really enjoy."

While Subaru provided few specifics on the STI parts found on the Performance Concept, it did confirm this scintillating coupe is powered by the same 2.0-liter/350-horsepower turbocharged/intercooled boxer four found in the Subaru BRZ GT300 racer and ships that force to the rear wheels via a 6-speed sequential gearbox. In addition to its full STI body kit with a carbon fiber-enhanced front splitter, side sills, rear diffuser and fixed deck wing, the Performance Concept features upgraded STI brakes and lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels, a custom interior treatment with a bespoke instrumentation and an on-board performance data recorder.

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Revealed: Bugatti’s new super-sports car will decimate all other super-sports cars

When do we get it: Some time in 2016.

What we say: “That Bugatti is readying a Son Of Veyron comes as no surprise. That it’ll attempt to outgun its hypercar predecessor in every regard is rather punchier. After all, it had been considered the Chiron – if that is indeed its name – might sacrifice ultimate v-max aspirations in favour of more accessible day-to-day performance.

“Not so, says Durheimer. The next Bugatti will be Veyron, only more so.

“’The new car delivers everything much better than the previous one,’ says Durheimer. ‘It will be the best super-sports car on the planet.’”

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Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition 2015

Ready to take center stage next month in Paris, the 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Black and Carbon White special editions offer a unique visual signature in both Vanquish Coupe and Volante Convertible models

Whether finished in Carbon Black or Stratus White, all Vanquish Carbon Editions feature a clear-coated carbon fiber front splitter, rear diffuser, side strakes, mirror caps and mounting pylons along with black window surrounds and 10-spoke/20-inch gloss-black alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero rubber. Coupes also have a carbon fiber roof, and either can be fitted with a new machined carbon fiber "wings" badge. The only bits of contrasting color come from the calipers for the standard carbon ceramic brakes, which can be had in red, yellow or gray in addition to the standard black

Inside, these Carbon-spec Vanquish models have seats covered in Obsidian Black leather with contrast stitching, herringbone-design carbon fiber dash/console facings, black shifter paddles with leather tips, and machined carbon fiber sill plates with Carbon Black or Carbon White logos

Like all other Vanquish models, the Carbon Editions rely on the same naturally aspirated 5.9-liter V12 that makes 568 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque which gets shipped to rear wheels via a drives the rear wheels via an 8-speed Touchtonic III automatic transmission. The Coupe holds a slight edge in the 0-60 mph sprint, needing only 3.6 seconds to hit that benchmark pack compared to 3.8 ticks for the Volante. Opting for the drop-top Vanquish also trims top speed from 201 to 197 mph

Final pricing for the 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition models is expected to be released in Paris with the cars hitting U.S. showrooms sometime late this year

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Nissan Versa Note SR 2015

Expanding the scope of its lineup at both ends of the spectrum, Nissan introduced a pair of new models for the subcompact Versa Note 5-door hatch in Chicago. Boasting a higher visual profile, the 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR caters to younger enthusiasts. The automaker also announced the new Versa Note SL, that adds more sophistication with standard features not often seen in cars of its size

The Versa Note SR's cosmetic changes are evident up front, where a unique fascia and grill treatment is set off by dark headlamp surrounds and standard fog lights with black and chrome accents. The package also uses body-color side spoilers and revised side-view mirrors with integrated directional signals while the rear is topped by a spoiler. The Versa Note SR rides on 195/55 all-season tires on 16-inch high-contrast alloy wheels

Inside, the Versa Note SR has a Euro-inspired motif that includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel, seats covered in faux suede with orange accents, a new tri-dial Fine Vision instrument cluster with trip computer and a Piano Black center dash with bright trim. Opting for the SR Convenience Package adds Nissan's trick Divide-N-Hide Adjustable Floor, the NissanConnect system with a 5.0-inch color display, RearView Monitor, Bluetooth Streaming Audio, Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant, USB connection port, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and NissanConnect Apps with smartphone integration for Facebook, Twitter, Pandora as  well as iHeartRadio and TuneIn Radio

Using the same 16-inch wheels, the Versa Note SL passes on exterior changes to focus on improving the cabin. It comes standard with all of the SR Convenience Package content as well as variable intermittent front wipers, heated front seats, Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition and the Easy-Fill Tire Alert. Like all 2015 Versa Note variants, it also features a multifunction steering wheel that incorporates a new Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System

The 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR and Versa Note SL will arrive in dealers this spring along with the existing Versa Note S MT, S Plus CVT and SV CVT models. Pricing for all will be announced closer to the on-sale date

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Volkswagen Sport Coupe Concept GTE - an exercise in future think

Getting its grand global unveiling at Geneva

A step up in class on every level

While we're still inclined to believe a good deal of this new visual language will filter its way into Volkswagen's next-gen CC model that's expected to go into production late next year, the automaker is quick to point out that the Sport Coupe Concept GTE is one size-segment larger. Wider, longer and even lower than the Euro-spec Passat, this striking 5-door with a roofline that recalls an Audi A7 also boasts 9.0-inches of additional wheelbase. Besides adding a new sense of drama to the car's overall proportions, that strategic stretch greatly increases the amount of legroom for its two rear-seat passengers. Spun from VW's modular transverse matrix (MQB) platform, the Sport Coupe Concept GTE features full LED lighting that adds high-tech drama to the bold visual signatures of the car's front and rear fascia treatments. It dynamic profile is capped with a panoramic glass panel and further enhanced by crisp character lines and aggressive 21-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 265/30 tires

Making the biometric connection 

Inside, the Sport Coupe Concept GTE displays similarly advanced character cues. Taking a page from sister-company Audi, this VW-to-be features the prototype of the firm's new Active Info Display with a 12.3-inch screen and free-form mode-configurable instrument cluster as well as a new 10.1-inch center infotainment screen flanked by touch-sensitive slider controls for its 4-zone heating/air conditioning system. Beyond a full array of navigation/connectivity touches, the Sport Coupe Concept GTE also introduces a new interactive element that can monitor a driver's biometric data via a smartwatch or armband and then make custom-tailored routing suggestions to deliver the maximum amount of "driving enjoyment." The system bases its recommendations on a number of other inputs, including real-time data from other cars using any proposed route

Trimmed in leather set off with aluminum, piano black, and faux wood, the spacious cabin of this engaging one-off also features a full-length console complete with its own 12.3-inch display that allows rear-seat passengers to access/operate a number of features and functions. These include perusing the on-board media library and setting climate controls as well view programming on individual 10.1-inch video screens embedded into the back of each front seat

Hybrid power with a GTE twist

The Sport Coupe Concept GTE is fitted with an advanced gasoline/electric AWD plug-in hybrid powertrain that matches a 3.0-liter turbocharged TSI V6 developing 295 horsepower with a pair of electric motors - a 54-horse unit integrated into the 6-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission and a 114-horse rear-mounted motor that provides all of the drive to the aft axle. Collectively, the setup makes 374 horsepower, sufficient to send the Sport Coupe Concept GTE from 0-62 mph in 5.0 seconds and let it reach an electronically limited 155 mph top end. As one would expect, the VW system allows for a host of driver-selectable operating modes, including gasoline-powered FWD, as an on-demand AWD Hybrid, or as a pure EV. When running in its greenest form, a 10.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack located in the car's center tunnel can supply enough charge for 32 miles of zero emission travel. Additionally, this trick VW has a "GTE" button that, when engaged, adds an extra measure of sportiness to the throttle, transmission and steering

We look forward to seeing just how much VW's Sport Coupe Concept GTE does end up influencing the look and technology of the upcoming CC remake. Or whether the production vehicle it previews will simply turn out to be an upsized/upscaled replacement for the CC in the automaker's lineup

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Pininfarina Ferrari Sergio production model bows

The first of six custom-built Pininfarina Ferrari Sergio models made its debut at Geneva, kicking off a year-long celebration of the legendary Italian design house's 85th birthday. This special, introduced as a concept two years ago at Geneva to honor of Sergio Pininfarina, son of company founder Batista "Pinin" Farina, is based on the Ferrari 458

Originally shown as an open barchetta without a windscreen, the production Sergio has a conventional windshield while having an open roof design and yellow paint scheme that recall the original Ferrari Dino Berlinetta. Each of the six limited production models will be painted a different color and have unique interiors. The Sergio, with its open top, is meant primarily for track use

Emphasis custom coachbuilding

The launch of the car emphasizes Pininfarina's heritage of building limited run cars, a tradition extending back to the company's earliest days. The latest limited run cars produced by Pininfarina include the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti K, the Ferrari P4/5, the Rolls-Royce Hyperion and the New Stratos

In taking the wraps off its latest model, Chairman Paolo Pininfarina said "I am proud to celebrate the milestone of 85 years presenting the Ferrari Sergio. It's an exclusive car that embodies the excellence of Pininfarina in designing and manufacturing high quality cars and it's a further exercise on the Ferrari brand, to which we are related by a history that has helped define the most beautiful cars of all time

All six of the cars are spoken for and besides the bold exterior looks, the buyers will get the same running gear as a standard Ferrari 458, which features a 562-horsepower mid-mounted V8 engine driving the rear wheels through a 7-speed sequential shift dual-clutch transmission.  Weighing just over 2,800 pounds, the Ferrari Sergio is said to accelerate to 62 mph in less than 3.4 seconds and have a top speed of nearly 200 mph

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