Jaguar F-Type R Coupe Keeps Tail Hanging Out in New Review

With the promise of much improved overall body stiffness over the convertible, the new Jaguar F-Type Coupe is so far shaping up to be a much more incisive track machine. Engineers say it’s 80 percent stiffer, and all the impressions we’ve heard of it so far do seem to confirm that this has had the desired effect on the car’s character and handling. 

Volvo V60 Labeled as a Lifestyle Wagon by Consumer Reports

The Volvo V60 Wagon looks very different from traditional boxy Volvo wagons, and Consumer Reports’ Tom Mutchler believes that’s a good thing from a styling point of view. However, when it comes to practicality, the V60 doesn’t live up to its predecessors. That’s why Consumer Reports see the V60 more as a lifestyle wagon.

Which is More Fun on the Track: Toyota GT86 or Ferrari F12Berlinetta?

This should be a no-brainer; which is more fun to drive, the 730hp V12-powered Ferrari F12Berlinetta or the 197hp 4-cylinder Toyota GT86? Although both are front engined, rear-wheel drive sports cars, they couldn’t be more different. One is a very expensive, extreme Italian exotic and the other is an affordable, highly controllable sports coupe.

While in terms of performance the Toyota doesn’t stand a chance in front of the Ferrari, when the fun factor is taken into account, the GT86 can bring a big smile on the driver’s face. It’s a tail-happy machine thanks to its skinny tires, which make it very enjoyable on the track.

But can it compare with the Ferrari? Autocar magazine tested both cars on the Snetterton circuit to find out.

For one thing, the F12Berlinetta is definitely more challenging to drive than the GT86. The Toyota is playful all the time, while the Ferrari is frisky, just as long as the driver remembers the immense power produced by the 6.3-liter V12 and respects it. It’s the sort of car that keeps drivers on their toes all the time and does not like giving second chances.

For the full review, watch the video below.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO

AE Drives All-New i10, Says it's Hyundai's Best Car Ever

The all-new Hyundai i10 city car is a model that the Koreans are very optimistic about, as it is the first of 22 new models that will be rolled out in Europe by 2017.

Redesigned from the ground up, the new entry-level Hyundai is bigger than its predecessor, features higher quality materials and a more attractive design both inside and out – especially the top-spec model UK magazine AutoExpress tested in this video review.

But what is the new Hyundai i10 like to drive? The reviewer found the car to be a lot more refined than the outgoing model, quieter inside and fun to sit inside. The ride is described as comfortable and very similar to what a bigger car feels like.

The reviewer also noted the car’s generous equipment and the higher quality materials used in the cabin - especially those that the driver touches the most often. However, everything else is made from hard plastic.

He fails to mention anything about the engine (an 86hp (87PS) 1.2-liter four-cylinder petrol unit), though, so I assume there wasn’t much worth talking about..

Scroll down to watch the video for yourself.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO

Consumer Reports' First Impressions of the 2014 Nissan Rogue Are Really Positive

Consumer Reports got hold of the all-new 2014 Nissan Rogue (called the X-Trail in Europe and other markets) and shared its first impressions of the SUV in a new video. As Nissan’s second best-selling nameplate, the Rogue has a reputation to uphold and the all-new model must do exactly that.

Design-wise, the new model is undoubtedly a step forward, but things look good inside as well. Consumer Reports’ Tom Mutchler appreciated the improved interior, which on the range-topping SL model features leather upholstery. The new car has practical advantages as well, such as the improvement in rear visibility and the rear camera offered as standard.

The 2014 Rogue also brings an optional third row of seats and is the only compact SUV to offer one besides the Mitsubishi Outlander - which in Consumer Reports’ view doesn’t count as a serious competitor. However, the third row of seats is not available on the range-topping SL model, as Nissan worries it could get into Pathfinder territory. I don’t know about you, but I find it rather strange to limit the sales potential of a model just because it might steal customers from a larger, more expensive vehicle.

Check out the publication's first impressions of the all-new Rogue in the video posted below.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO

Chris Harris Slithers About on Wet Track in Jaguar XKR-S GT

The Jaguar XKR-S GT does not have a single horsepower over the regular XKR-S. Its straight line performance figures are better, though, as are its cornering characteristics, so Chris Harris has had a go in one to tell us how usefully the extra cash you’re forced to shell out has been spent, and if the upgrades work.

Not that it really matters, frankly, because only 30 will be made for the US and Canada, while an additional 10 right-hand drive examples will be delivered to UK buyers – that’s all!

Harris’ first impression of the car around a very slippery wet track is that its steering is much more precise, benefitting from the use of an F-Type-sourced steering rack.  After the conditions turn drier, he has another go at the wheel of the GT, this time really pushing it much harder, and relishing in the experience.

He ends up calling it “a complete weapon” in the dry! Check out the video after the virtual jump, below, to see why exactly it was that he ended up thinking that.

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

Consumer Reports Says 2014 Toyota Tundra Can Still Cut it, But it’s Showing its Age

The Toyota Tundra that you can go out and buy today is basically the same underneath as the 2007 model, albeit with a series of technical and aesthetic improvements done to it over the years to keep up with the pack.

Consumer Reports has had a go in the very latest version, equipped with the popular 5.7-liter V8 engine, and while they did appreciate it for its undeniable qualities, they did concede that it is lagging behind the times, especially in the refinement department, where the Ram 1500 and GM rivals have no trouble being better.

Speaking of qualities, it’s still touted as being the most reliable vehicle in its size class. There’s also the new interior to mention, though while it looks more modern than before, it’s still not as visually appealing as that of the Chevy Silverado, for instance.

So, if you can live with the below-standards refinement and excessive use of chrome on the exterior and want to do zero to sixty in 6.7 seconds with the largest V8 equipped, and have a lot of stuff to haul, then the Tundra is for you. Scroll down and check out the video posted after the virtual jump.

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO