Kia's Super Bowl Spot Introduces The K900 Luxury Sedan

Kia's 60-second third quarter Super Bowl spot, "The Truth" for the all-new K900 rear-drive luxury sedan revives Laurence Fishburne's role of Morpheus from The Matrix movie trilogy with the exploration of perception versus reality, specifically the Kia brand, by showing a side of luxury never seen before. Morpheus accompanies a couple on a ride filled with imagery as he sings “Nessun dorma,” an aria from Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot.

VW Super Bowl Ad "Wings" - Does It Fly?

Volkswagen “Wings” 60-second spot, developed by ARGONAUT, a San Francisco-based creative agency, centers around VW’s 100,000 mile claim that the brand has the most vehicles on the road with over 100,000 miles. The commercial airs in the second quarter of the Big Game this Sunday.

2014 BMW 740Ld xDrive Diesel Arrives This Spring For $83,425

The 2014 BMW 740Ld xDrive Sedan with a 255 horsepower 3.0 liter TwinPower Turbo diesel engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission in the long-wheelbase 7 Series body that will include xDrive, BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive system will have a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $83,425 (including $925 destination and handling) when it arrives in US showrooms this Spring.

Hyundai's Super Bowls Ads To Feature Genesis and Elantra

“Dad’s Sixth Sense”, a 30-second spot, will open Hyundai's Super Bowl advertising during the first quarter dramatizing the near-misses and saves of everyday parenting by giving a demonstration of the all-new Genesis and its Automatic Emergency Braking capabilities, one of the Genesis’ safety services, the Sensory Surround Safety System.

“Nice” a 30-second spot running in the fourth quarter features the Elantra by following a young comedic talent in an escalating game of compliments between two identical Elantras showcasing the performance, style and technology of the compact sedan. Creative was developed by Hyundai’s agency of record, INNOCEAN USA.

Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe To Be Featured In Super Bowl TV Ad

British actors Sir Ben Kingsley, Tom Hiddleston and Mark Strong will star in Jaguar's 60-second "Rendezvous" TV spot on the February 2nd Fox Super Bowl telecast, filmed by Oscar-winning British director Tom Hooper to launch the campaign for the F-TYPE Coupe. The original score for "Rendezvous" was composed and conducted by Alexandre Desplat, who worked with Tom Hooper on The King's Speech and recorded by The London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road studios. SPARK44 was responsible for the creative positioning and strategy behind the campaign, while Mindshare managed the communications planning and buying.

Check out the 30-second preview of "Rendezvous".

Mazda Delays North American Launch of SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel Engine

Mazda has delayed the North America launch of its 2.2 liter SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine, from its intended debut this Spring, saying SKYACTIV-D can meet emission regulation requirements without the use of a NOx after-treatment system, but it was decided that further development is required to deliver the right balance between fuel economy and Mazda-appropriate driving performance.

I was looking forward to this introduction, especially after seeing that Sam's Club sells diesel fuel for about 16 percent more than regular unleaded gas which makes the cost saving - fuel efficiency equation make sense. Mazda showed off it's clean diesel at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show where Mazda North America President Jim O'Sullivan discussed diesel in a SaxtonOnCars interview.

2015 Audi A3 Sedan - All-New Starts at $29,900

The 2015 A3 sedan, with leather seating, a panorama glass sunroof and bi-xenon headlights as standard, with the 1.8 TFSI® engine will start at $29,900 and with the 2.0 TFSI® powertrain will start at $32,900, both mated to the standard 6-speed S tronic® transmission. The premium plus package for an additional $2,900 will include exclusive 18" 10-spoke-design Audi wheels, an aluminum interior package, and keyless entry while the prestige package, for an additional $8,800, will include everything that is offered in premium plus, as well as a sportier S Line® exterior kit, Driver Assistance, a Bang & Olufsen Sound System, Audi MMI navigation plus, Audi Connect, Convenience package and full LED headlights for $8,800.

The A3 sedan will be joined later this year by the Audi A3 Cabriolet, A3 TDI clean diesel, high-performance S3 sedan and in early 2015, the A3 Sportback e-tron® gasoline electric hybrid (PHEV).

2015 Lexus RC F Goes On Sale This Fall

The 2015 Lexus RC F is powered by a 5.0-liter 32-valve V8 engine with more than 450 horsepower and more than 383 pound feet of torque and mated to an eight-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission with paddle shifters. The RC F uses a Torque Vectoring Differential, a first in a Lexus, to increase driving performance. The RC F was inspired by the Lexus LFA but will hopefully cost less, a lot less.

Aircraft cockpit-like instruments include a large centrally mounted tachometer that alters according to drive mode, digital and analog speedometer, differential torque vectoring monitor, G-Force meter, oil and water temperature gauges, mileage information and a stopwatch. The RC F goes on sale this Fall.

The all-new 2015 Lexus RC Coupe, available with a 2.5 liter hybrid or 3.5 liter V6, also goes on sale this Fall. 

Volkswagen Beetle Dune Concept With 210 Horsepower

The Volkswagen Beetle Dune concept, in “Arizona”, a yellow-orange metallic paint and based on the R-Line model, shows the potential for a new production version of what VW calls "the sportiest Beetle ever". Powered by a 210 horsepower turbocharged and direct-injection TSI® 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Beetle Dune has a manufacturer estimated fuel economy rating of 23 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The wheel wells widen the body by 1.1 inches per side to give a total width of 73.4 inches, an increase of 2.2 inches over a stock Beetle. The Dune's overall length has increased by 0.5 inches to 168.9 inches and the car is both 2.0 inches higher off the ground and 0.8 inches taller than the R-line.

2015 Mercedes‑Benz S600 Coming This Spring

The Mercedes‑Benz S600 with a 523 horsepower 6.0L V12 biturbo engine delivering 612 lb-ft of torque is available with a long wheelbase and a luxurious equipment package. The S600 now for the first time features the ECO start/stop function as standard along with the MAGIC BODY CONTROL suspension with ROAD SURFACE SCAN, the Driving Assistance Package with Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist, DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering ASsist, PRE-SAFE® Brake with Pedestrian Recognition and PRE-SAFE® PLUS, head-up display, and COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS in addition to the adaptive Brake Assist system.

Mercedes‑Benz S600 will be launched in this Spring.

2015 BMW M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe - All-New Early This Summer

The all-new 2015 BMW M3 Sedan (above), the fifth generation of the M3, and 2015 BMW M4 Coupe (below) are powered by an all-new 425 horsepower 3.0-liter inline-6 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology delivering peak torque of 406 lb-ft and mated to either the standard 6-speed manual transmission or the optional 7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission. The standard sprint from zero to 60 mph takes the new BMW M3 Sedan and new BMW M4 Coupe 4.1 seconds and equipped with the 7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission, 3.9 seconds. Top speed is 155 mph and fuel consumption has improved nearly 25 percent over the previous model.

The CFRP (carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic) roof, which was only on the outgoing M3 Coupe version, is a standard feature on both the new BMW M3 Sedan and the new BMW M4 Coupe. Both the new BMW M3 and new BMW M4 are equipped as standard with BMW M compound brakes or available optional lighter BMW M carbon ceramic brakes, which come with gold-painted calipers.

The all-new 2015 BMW M3 Sedan and 2015 BMW M4 Coupe models will go on sale early this Summer.

Audi allroad shooting brake Crossover concept car

The Audi allroad shooting brake Crossover concept car achieves 408 horsepower from a 288 horsepower 2.0 TFSI transverse mounted two-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine and e-tron-quattro technology that produces 300 kW of power from plug-in hybrid drive with two electric motors connected to a six-speed e-S tronic dual clutch transmission. The car is 163.8 inches long and at 123.8 mpg has a total driving range of more than 509 miles.

There is the EV mode for all-electric driving where the rear axle electric motor can accelerate the two-door car to a top speed of 80.78 mph. In Hybrid mode,  the electric motor in front acts as a generator driven by the engine, charging the battery to extend the car’s effective electric driving range. In Sport mode, the electric motor at the rear axle works together with the 2.0 TFSI in a boost mode.

2015 Acura TLX Prototype Goes Into Production For Mid-Year Delivery

The 2015 Acura TLX Prototype is 3.8 inches shorter in overall length (190.2 inches) than the current TL, and rides on the same 109.3 inch wheelbase as the TL between the smaller ILX and larger RLX sedans. Coming in two-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, the TLX has two engine choices. An all-new 2.4-liter 16-valve inline 4-cylinder engine employs direct-injection and Acura's i-VTEC® valvetrain, and is significantly lighter than previous Acura engines of similar configuration and displacement and is mated to an all-new 8-speed dual clutch transmission with torque converter. Another choice is a 3.5-liter SOHC V-6 that also employs direct injection and VTEC variable valve control and cam timing along with fuel-saving Variable Cylinder Management™ cylinder deactivation technology and is mated to a new 9-speed automatic transmission. The all-new 2015 TLX performance-luxury sedan is launching mid-year at Acura dealerships nationwide. 

2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe Coming This Summer

The all-new 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe rides on the same 109.3-inch wheelbase as the sedan offering the choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, powered by a 272 horsepower 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a 321 horsepower 3.6L six-cylinder engine featuring direct injection and dual overhead camshafts with continuously variable valve timing, and matched with the Hydra-Matic 6L45 six-speed automatic transmission with tap-shift control. A six-speed manual is also available with the 2.0L Turbo. The 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe goes on sale this summer.

2015 Subaru WRX STI - All-New 305 Horsepower Flagship

The all-new 2015 Subaru WRX STI powered by a 305-horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged BOXER engine has a stiffer chassis, firmer springs and faster steering along with Active Torque Vectoring, Multi-Mode Driver Controlled Center Differential Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Multi-Mode Vehicle Dynamics Control, and a Brembo® Performance Brake System with Super Sport ABS. A new multi-information central display with 4.3-in. LCD screen provides a multitude of vehicle system functions, including a standard rear camera display, a boost gauge display, audio (on non-navigation models), Bluetooth and climate control settings, and a VDC screen showing traction control operation. Subaru will offer a WRX STI Launch Edition, limited to 1,000 units and exclusively featuring WR Blue paint and gold BBS® forged alloy wheels and unique interior trim.

2015 Audi Q3 Coming this Fall

The new 2015 Audi Q3, coming this Fall in a front wheel drive or optional Audi quattro® permanent all-wheel drive, is powered by a 200 horsepower 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder engine as standard and mated to a six-speed Tiptronic® transmission.

Nissan Sport Sedan Concept Makes Debut

Nissan Sport Sedan Concept is a front-wheel drive Sport Sedan Concept powered by a 300-plus horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine backed by a sport-tuned Xtronic CVT® and features a suspension layout with performance dampers.

2015 Honda Fit Is All-New With More Horsepower This Spring

The all-new 2015 Honda Fit, completely redesigned from the ground up, is slightly shorter (-1.6 in.) and wider (+0.3 in.) with a longer wheelbase (+1.2 in.) with an increase in passenger volume (+4.9 cu ft) and rear legroom (+4.8 in.) compared to the previous model. The 2015 Fit is equipped with an all-new 130 horsepower direct-injected 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine, 13 horsepower more than the outgoing engine, and paired to two new transmissions, a 6-speed manual or a Continuously Variable Transmission with available paddle shifters. The EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings are 33 city/41 highway/36 combined for the CVT-equipped models. The 2015 Fit will be in production next month and go on sale in the U.S. this Spring.

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 With 625 Horsepower Coming Next Year

The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 with at least 625 horsepower from an all-new LT4 6.2L supercharged V-8 engine, and an all-new, high-performance eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters for manual control. The new Corvette Z06 will be available in early 2015. 

2015 Hyundai Genesis Is All-New With AWD Model Coming This Spring

The all-new 2015 Hyundai Genesis has a redesigned advanced high-strength steel platform making it stiffer to accommodate its new available HTRAC® AWD system, using no shared components with its previous generation. The 2015 Hyundai Genesis is offered with a choice of rear-wheel-drive or new HTRAC® All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) configurations.

The Genesis 3.8-liter direct-injected Lambda engine has also been further optimized to deliver a flatter overall torque curve at low rpm for enhanced driveability producing 311 horsepower and 293 lb.-ft. of torque. The Genesis 5.0 has the 420 horsepower Tau 5.0-liter V8 engine and is also mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The new Genesis will be built at Hyundai’s Ulsan, Korea plant, with U.S. sales beginning in the Spring.