Toyota Camry adds style, substance and spark 2015

Intent on keeping its popular midsize sedan at the head of its competitive class against prime rivals like the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima, Toyota treated the 2015 Camry to a major mid-cycle redesign that was unveiled in New York. While the far-reaching exterior changes are obvious at a glance, the Camry recasting team also upgraded its cabin appointments and performed some focused engineering tweaks that promise to improve overall vehicle dynamics as well as refinement. For 2015, the existing LE, XLE, SE and Hybrid models also adds two new entries to the lineup: the luxury/sport-spec XSE and eco-enthusiast SE Hybrid

Tired of being pilloried for the Camry's perpetual lack of visual verve, Toyota went all in on the comprehensive 2015 reskin. Save for a carryover roof stamping, every body panel has been redesigned to give the car a more aggressive and athletic character. The Camry's redrawn front-end is particularly notable, with an edgier fascia framing a more prominent trapezoidal lower grille and sleeker lighting elements - which now include optional full LED high/low main lamps with auto-static leveling. More dramatic body side contours including a rising shoulder line help impart a sense of motion to the Camry's profile view while slimmer wraparound rear lamps that neatly integrate into the Camry's stylishly contoured rear fenders are inked by a decorative garnish that adds even more interest to its redrawn tail

Although the Camry's interior remake isn't nearly as extensive, there's plenty there to laud as well. Upscale materials and the greater presence of soft-touch surfaces impart a richer overall ambiance whether the primary trimout is premium cloth or a mix of supple leather and Ultrasuede. Improved door and window sealing plus sleeker side mirrors and additional under-carpet insulation also promise to make this the quietest Camry in history. All but the base XE model gain a new programmable 4.2-inch TFT driver information screen to complement the 3D Optitron main instrument cluster. On the convenience front, the center console tray has grown larger and added a power point while the covered stow bin ahead of the shift lever features 12V and USB outlets and can be fitted with an optional wireless charging system for select smartphones

The Camry's new dose of goodness goes all the way to its core, where focused reinforcement adds structural rigidity and changes to the electric power steering (EPS) and hydraulic brakes booster improve the feel and response of these two key items. The more robust platform also facilitates better model-specific suspension tuning, which is most evident in the new performance-oriented XSE and Hybrid SE trims. Although the Camry's carryover powertrains won't endow either with any extra muscle, their respective chassis changes should pay quite tangible benefits when the going gets twisty. The SE Hybrid's tauter underpinnings add a front stabilizer bar, revised shock valving, stiffer control-arm bushings and a revamped stability control system while the range-topping Camry XSE moves beyond baseline SE spec with firmer springs/shocks/bushings, unique EPS programming and bespoke 18-inch alloy wheels

All 2015 Toyota Camrys sold in the U.S. will be built at the company's assembly plant in Georgetown, Kentucky. They'll start arriving at dealers this fall and pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date

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Subaru Outback gets a major makeover 2015

Ready to start a new chapter in its illustrious history, the fully redesigned 2015 Subaru Outback made its debut at the New York Auto Show boasting more of everything that matters. Still available in 2.5i/2.5i Premium/2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited variants, the fifth generation of Subie's versatile compact all-wheel-drive crossover SUV matches a bolder appearance with enhanced on/off-road capabilities, greater efficiency, new tech touches and a more refined overall character

Marginally longer, lower and wider than the vehicle it replaces, the 2015 Outback has a sleeker and more stylish profile abetted by a redrawn greenhouse that brings a more steeply raked windshield and back glass. The new front-end shares grille and lighting cues with the also new-for-2015 Legacy Sedan while upsized wheel/tire fitments impart an even greater sense of purpose. Ground clearance on the 2015 remains a generous 8.7 inches, but boonie bounders will be happy to hear the recasting process also increased both the approach and departure angles

Inside, the 2015 Outback takes a step up in look and feel thanks to additional soft-touch surfaces, new trim, better sound isolation and enhanced standard features highlighted by a new gauge cluster plus a selection of model-specific upgraded infotainment systems that have a 6.2-inch touchscreeen display and full smartphone/Bluetooth/iPod integration. Modest gains in hip and shoulder room enhance passenger comfort while  cargo space rises from 34.3 to 35.5 cu ft with the Outback's rear seatback up and 71.3 to 73.3 cubic feet with it folded. In addition to new easy-release/fold-flat backs, accessing the rear bay is now more convenient thanks to a lower liftover height and an optional power rear hatch

Motivation for the 2015 Outback comes from an enhanced and slightly more potent --- 175-hp vs 173-hp - version of the 2.5-liter flat-four and a carryover 256-horsepower/3.6-liter boxer-6 but both are now backed by a standard Lineartronic CVT that offers six virtual gears that can be selected using shift paddles on the steering wheel. That transmission change plus Active Grille Shutters on the 2.5 and new electric power-assist steering on both helps improve EPA numbers across the board, adding 2 mpg to the combined ratings. The 2015 Outback's mechanical remake bolsters the existing suite of vehicle dynamics systems with an extensively retuned suspension, upgraded brakes and enhanced Symmetrical AWD with Active Torque Split power vectoring for improved stability plus Subaru's driver-selectable X-Mode system that further optimizes engine and CVT mapping on all terrains

Safety also figures prominently into the 2015 Outback's recasting process, with all models getting new front seat-cushion airbags, rollover sensors and rearview cameras while Limited-spec vehicles add a Rear Vehicle Detection System (optional on the 2.5i Premium) that includes Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert

The 2015 Subaru Outback will arrive in dealers this summer. Pricing will be announced closer to its on-sale date

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Porsche Macan 2015

The 2015 Porsche Macan SUV is so much Porsche, but not so much SUV. Porsche Style VP Michael Mauer told us not to think of the Macan as so much a baby brother to the Cayenne SUV, but as a "big brother to the 911." Immutable truth, that

Spirited by Porsche off of the Audi Q5 SUV, which it in no way resembles, the Macan comes off more as a luxury 5-door super-hatchback with all-wheel drive. It arrives in the U.S. this May, in two forms: the $50,895 Macan S and the $73,295 Macan Turbo. Those names can be a bit misleading because both Macan variations are powered by twin-turbocharged V6 engines

Twin-turbo Engines, Double-clutch Gearboxes

We'll lead with those two engines because if you're talking Porsche, you're a knucklehead if you don't start with the engines. Macan S models employ a 3.0-liter V6 rolling out 340 horsepower and Kansas-flat line of 339 lb-ft of torque from 1,450 rpm all the way up to 5,000. The real performance, however, comes from the Macan Turbo's 400-horsepower 3.6-liter. That twin-turbo V6 has an answer for everything. From 406 lb-ft of low-end thrust that starts at 1,350 rpm and pretty much keeps the heat on right up to its 6,700-rpm redline

Standard on both Macan models, Porsche's 7-speed PDK double-clutch automatic transmission turns in a hall-of-fame performance of near-instant, seamless up and down shifting. The transmission has to work a little harder to keep the 3.0-liter Macan S in full fly mode, while closer to an ideal setup with the PDK, the 3.6-liter needs no help and wastes no time in getting the Macan Turbo from zero to 60 mph in well under five seconds. The PDK also includes a "Sport" button on the center console that ups both the redline and the shift points, adds more snap to the shifts, and even puts more growl into the Macan's exhaust note. U.S. fuel-economy numbers are yet to be determined

A Track Natural

Fitted with electronically controlled all-wheel drive and 19-inch wheels, the Macan takes to the track like a natural, although a natural heavyweight: well over 4,000 pounds. The all-wheel-drive starts out heavily rear-biased, but can send torque instantly and as needed to the front or rear wheels to help ensure control and grip. Despite the Macan's tendency to drift a bit, there are very few cars -- are far fewer SUVs -- that can waltz so cleanly into high-speed corners without even a hint of unpredictability

On the open road, the Macan keeps luxury-car quiet. The standard suspension setup is sporty without getting in the way, while the Porsche Active Suspension Management system (PASM) -- standard on the Macan Turbo, optional on the S -- lets you further tighten up both the suspension and the already-responsive electric steering for even sharper handling. Optional on both Macan models is an air suspension that ups the comfort and sport levels even further, and can push the SUV's 7.8-inch ground clearance to over nine inches

No Macadam Needed for Macan

Pressing the "Off-Road" button -- also on the center console, also standard on every Macan -- sets the vehicle up for work beyond the pavement. In Off-Road mode, the Macan's drive-system elements like the transmission shift points, the all-wheel-drive torque distribution, and the throttle response are all geared to find and maintain optimal traction. While it doesn't wade as deep or scramble as high as the Cayenne, the Macan is still capable of venturing beyond the city lights

Every Porsche Macan interior, from the Turbo's leather-and-brushed-aluminum down to the base S's piano black trim and suede-ish Alcantara seat inserts, pays attention to you. The front seats greedily engulf you. Big Porsche gauges let you know the scores. And the multifunction sport steering wheel -- a nod to Porsche's new 918 Spyder supercar -- feels sports-car ready. Technically a 4-seater, I'd hate to be occupants #3 and #4 -- headroom is endless, but the Macan's second row is legroom stingy

The Great Indoors

From the front seats, the view out the windshield is IMAX 3D wide, and it's very easy to see what's happening in traffic beside and behind you. The space under the rear hatch is good, but what's really impressive is the gaping mouth of the rear hatch opening. Beneath that hatch, the flat, 17.7-cubic-foot cargo floor can be expanded to 53 cubic feet by dropping the 40/20/40 split/folding 2nd-row seat. That cargo space, by the way, is not impressive compared to Porsche's stated SUV competitors like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK

If you need a Porsche SUV, the Cayenne is still you best bet. But if you crave a sportier Porsche personality, but sometimes need to haul volumes on surfaces not suited to a 911 or a Cayman, put your money on a 2015 Porsche Macan

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Nissan Murano: Boldly Beautiful 2015

 unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, the dramatically recast 2015 Nissan Murano made a scintillating debut in the Big Apple. In addition to bringing show car looks to the showroom, the third generation of Nissan's mid-size crossover SUV has a new cabin to match the bold exterior design

 Inspired by what Nissan calls "a new age of future flight," the exterior of the 2015 Murano embodies the automaker's latest design thinking. Slightly lower, wider and longer than the current model but with the same 111.2-inch wheelbase, the new Murano sports dramatically contoured bodywork, a bold "V-Motion" front fascia, boomerang-style LED-infused front/rear lights and a jet-inspired "floating roof" with a unique D-pillar treatment. Matching form with function, the 2015 Murano also features loads of aero-enhancing details from articulated grille shutters to a tasteful decklid spoiler, tweaks that help improve overall aerodynamics by more than 16 percent. While the standard wheel/tire fitment wraps 235/655 rubber around 18-inch alloy wheels, the new also Murano offers 20-inch rims shod with 235/55 rubber

Futuristic interior

The cabin in this new-age Murano parallels the forward thinking evident in its exterior, eschewing convention in favor of a more open, lounge-like realm. Nissan's NASA-inspired "zero-gravity" seats in all outboard positions ensure that second-row passengers enjoy a first-class travel experience. The revamped interior offers an extra four cubic feet of cargo space. Other key features include a 7.0-inch reconfigurable Advanced Drive-Assist main instrument display, NissanConnect with Mobile Apps, full Bluetooth smartphone/streaming-audio integration and dual-zone climate control. Murano options include leather upholstery, climate-controlled front buckets, Bose audio, NissanConnect with Navigation/SiriusXM, an 8.0-inch touchscreen and an expansive single-pane panoramic glass roof

Available in S, SV, SL or Platinum trim and front- or all-wheel drive, every 2015 Murano variant will share Nissan's well-proven 260-horsepower/3.5-liter V6 engine backed by the automaker's Xtronic CVT automatic transmission. Although EPA numbers haven't been released, the Murano's sleeker shape and 130-pound weight reduction coupled with minor drivetrain tweaks and low rolling resistance tires are expected to net about a 20-percent gain in combined fuel economy

The 2015 Nissan Murano will be produced at the automaker's Canton, Mississippi, assembly plant and arrive in arrive in dealers in late 2014. Pricing will be announced closer to its actual on-sale date

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Mini Hardtop 4-door 2015

On a mission to attract new buyers, the 2015 Mini Cooper Hardtop 4-door and its Cooper S sibling will go on sale in January

At 157.4 inches (158.0 for the Cooper S) the Mini Hardtop 4-door is 6.3 inches longer than its 2-portal counterpart and has 2.9 inches of additional wheelbase. While no wider, the 4-door also is 0.4-inch taller. Although much of its exterior styling has been directly lifted from the Cooper/Cooper S 2-door, the 4-door does sport a more pronounced "tail" treatment in addition to it elevated roof. The Hardtop designation is a bit of a misnomer in the traditional sense since it is not a B-pillarless design. Dedicated styling flourishes on the Cooper Hardtop 4-door include a White Aluminum finish on its grille ribs and tailgate handle, gloss black front bumper trim and chrome exhaust tips with the Cooper S boasts more the requisite bolder front/rear fascia treatments and wheel/tire upgrades as well as its share of red "S" badges

Room for five

Inside, the new Cooper and Cooper S Hardtop 4-door models reprise the upgraded look and feel of their 2-door counterparts but feature a 60/40 folding rear seat with belts for three instead of two. In addition to providing back benchers with an additional 1.5 inches of legroom, headroom in the aft quarters is up by 0.6 inch and shoulder room grows by 1.8 inches in all locations. Cargo space in the Hardtop 4-door also gets a boost, rising from 8.7 to 9.2 cu ft, which, like its upgraded head and leg room --  Mini claims are best-in-class stats

Like the current front-drive Mini Hardtop, the new 4-door will offer two engines and two transmissions at launch. The Cooper Hardtop 4-door will come with the BMW-designed 1.5-liter/134-horsepower TwinPower Turbo 3-cylinder while the Cooper S variant will pack the familiar 2.0-liter/189-horse turbocharged 4-cylinder. Both engines can be backed by either a standard 6-speed manual transmission or optional 6-speed Steptronic automatic. Dynamic Damper Control also will be available on the new Hardtop 4-door as will the full array of driver assist, creature comfort and personalization touches currently offered on the 2-door

While official pricing has yet to be released, Mini expects the new 4-door models to start at $1,000 above their 2-door counterparts. Barring any last-minute surprises, that should see a 2015 Mini Cooper Hardtop 4-door base price of $22,300 and the 2015 Cooper S Hardtop 4-door starting near $25,385

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