Ford Mustang GT350 seen and heard in motion for the first time

We just recently saw our first spy shots of the next-gen hi-po Ford Mustang slated to replace the Shelby GT500, but now we're getting our first look – and listen – of prototypes captured on video. Mustang6g.com has the video (along with some different spy shots), which show that, if nothing else, SVT knows how to tune an exhaust system. The :50 mark is a good example of this, but fast-forward to around 2:00 where the driver revs the engine and really gets on the throttle hard taking off from a stop.

There's still no definitive evidence that the next-gen SVT Mustang – said to be called GT350 – will be naturally aspirated, but it sounds just as menacing as the current Shelby GT500. While the video posted below exhibits the sort of quality that is to be expected from someone driving while trying to film someone who is attempting to elude being filmed, it's still exciting to see and hear this new Mustang in motion.
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2014 Mercedes CLA250 nets 38 mpg highway

One of key reasons that small cars are popping up in luxury automakers' lineups is to help boost fleet fuel economy numbers. For Mercedes-Benz and its new 2014 CLA-Class, mission accomplished. Although Mercedes has yet to release final numbers for its new small car set to go on sale early next year, the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov website is now listing the front-wheel-drive CLA250, the range's base model, at 26 miles per gallon in the city and a commendable 38 mpg on the highway. For the moment, there's no word yet on fuel economy for the all-wheel-drive CLA250 4Matic or the sportier CLA45 AMG.

The EPA's website also reveals that the CLA will have passenger volume of 88 cubic feet as well as 13 cubic feet of trunk space. As expected from a design driven more by form rather than function, these figures are on the small side among premium small cars. Motor Trend points out that the interior space is larger only than the Lexus CT hybrid hatchback, while the cargo volume is on par with some of the smaller trunks like that of the BMW 3 Series, a class-above sedan that is actually only fractionally longer.

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GM files patent for 7-speed DCT, is it headed for Corvette?

Although a report last year indicated that the seventh-gen Chevrolet Corvette could be getting an eight-speed automatic transmission, it looks like General Motors might have some other plans in mind. General Motors recently filed a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office for a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and CorvetteForum.com makes the obvious guess that this performance-enhancing gearbox could find its way a future version of Chevy's performance coupe.

The drawing above comes directly from the patent filing, and while the gearbox will almost certainly be used in more than just one model, it would be a welcomed replacement for the six-speed automatic currently found in the 2014 Corvette. The idea of a DCT in the already-impressive C7 Stingray definitely makes the rivalry between the Corvette and the Porsche 911 a little more intriguing.

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Driving Audi's TDI wonder from LA to NY in search of the recordbooks

There is no wrong way to cross the continental US. Many people fly, countless drive. The hardcore walk or bike. Horses, motorcycles and hot air balloons? Do what you've got to do.

But what if you don't really have to cross? What if you just want to? And you want to do it while proving a point? It's actually not that hard to drive from LA to NYC in two days, given the right mindset. In most cars, it's also not all that difficult to do it while beating the EPA fuel economy numbers. The challenge is to do both at once, and if that's your target, then you could do a lot worse than joining hypermiler Wayne Gerdes and the CleanMPG crew in three 2014 Audi TDI diesel-equipped vehicles – a Q5, an A7 and an A6 - in a record-setting 48-hour drive. We called it Truth in 48, but it turns out we didn't even need that much time.

You know how the route from work to home or school to home gets redundant after a while, how you can sort of see a particular business before you turn the corner? How you know exactly where the potholes and the streetlights are? I'm pretty sure that the entire US Interstate highway system is that familiar to Gerdes, who regularly does one of these stunt drives in a never-ending effort to bring attention to the simple fact that you can save a whole bunch of fuel simply by changing the way you drive. He owns multiple Guinness World Records. His online forum, CleanMPG, is a clearinghouse for greener driving tips and is a gathering place for people who like to squeeze every last yard out of a tank of fuel. They're also pretty fun people, which is important when you're cheek-by-jowl in a moving car with them for two days straight.

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BMW recalls over 76k 2012-2014 models over brake failure

Bimmerfest is reporting that BMW has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of its intention to voluntarily recall more than 75,000 3 Series, 5 Series, X1, X3 and Z4 models due to a possible loss of power brake assist that could result in the vehicles failing to stop. The recall affects 2012-2014 models equipped with either the N20 or N26 engine produced from May 2012 to August 2013. Until recall repairs have been performed, BMW dealers will discontinue selling or delivering any affected vehicles in their inventories.

The problem has been traced to restricted oil supply from the intake camshaft to the brake vacuum pump, which may cause the brake vacuum pump to fail, resulting in a loss of power brake assist. While the hydraulic brakes will still function, the driver must much apply greater pedal pressure and the distance required to stop the vehicle will increase.

BMW has reported three minor accidents with no confirmed injuries. According to Bimmerfest, drivers who encounter a braking problem should "pull the emergency brake and apply as much brake pedal pressure as possible. If your BMW has an electronic parking brake pull up and hold the switch to engage the brake." Drivers should then park in a safe location and contact BMW Roadside Assistance.

While a repair is not yet available and we have yet to see any official notice from NHTSA, BMW will begin notifying owners of the recall in November. Repairs will be performed free of charge.

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DoJ fines Japanese parts firms $740M in massive automotive price-fixing scandal

Nine Japanese suppliers have pleaded guilty in US court over charges of price fixing in the automotive parts industry, resulting in the Department of Justice doling out a total of $740 million of fines, according to a report from Bloomberg. The scandal, which has resulted in General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Chrysler spending up to $5 billion on inflated parts and driving up prices on 25 million vehicles has sent the DoJ hustling into investigations. "The conduct this investigation uncovered involved more than a dozen separate conspiracies aimed at the U.S. economy," Attorney General Eric Holder (pictured above) said during yesterday's press conference.

As the investigation stands, the DoJ has issued $1.6 billion in fines against 20 companies and 21 individual executives, with 17 of the execs headed to prison. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Scott Hammond said, "The breadth of the conspiracies brought to light today are as egregious as they are pervasive. They involve more than a dozen separate conspiracies operating independently but all sharing in common that they targeted US automotive manufacturers."

Big-name suppliers indicted in the investigation include Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi Automotive and Mitsuba Corporation. A list of fines and other corporations named in the investigation is available at Bloomberg.

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Corvette-powered '64 Citroën ID19 restomod

Take a look at the fastest Citroën ID19 (read: DS) you'll probably ever see: a 1964 model with a Chevrolet LS1 V8 swap that produces over 400 horsepower - a most unusual eBay find of the day. What's more is that this particular hot rod Citroën has been driven by rockstar Alice Cooper, who will apparently provide an autographed guitar and tour photo to the auction winner, along with two tickets to his Christmas Pudding show and the opportunity to play a round of golf with him in Arizona.

As far as we can tell from the eBay Motors ad, the Citroën doesn't actually belong to Alice Cooper, but who cares when it has a custom rear-wheel-drive chassis by Art Morrison and more than enough grunt to break the rear wheels loose on command? Finally, that beautifully sleek, aerodynamic shape can be put to use at over 100 miles per hour. But it wasn't always so, which is part of the charm of this custom build.

The Citroën DS was many things - ahead of its time, innovative, comfortable, complex - yet a hot rod it was not. It was known more for its power steering and plush ride quality courtesy of its self-leveling, height-adjustable suspension than for being able to take a corner at high speeds. It had front disc brakes, but more importantly, they were the first power-assisted disc brakes on a production car. The DS even was designed to house an air-cooled flat six more than a decade before Porsche 911 started production, but in the end, Citroën had to use its antiquated four-cylinder mill instead.

So when this example's owner claims to have spent over $300,000 on upgrades, we think the money was spent in the right places. The suspension is still adjustable, but it's been totally overhauled and tuned to handle the V8's power. A four-wheel disc-brake setup by Wilwood provides much-needed stopping power. A custom interior with air conditioning and a roll cage make sure occupants are both comfortable and protected. What more could you want – besides a lower price?

The Buy It Now price is set at $115,000, and a previous auction saw spirited big-dollar bidding that failed to hit the reserve. At time of this writing, however, there are zero bids, with a minimum starting bid of $50,000 and five days left before the auction closes. Happy bidding!
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2014 Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series to start at $275k*, C63 Edition 507 priced from $70k*

The 2014 model year is shaping up to be quite an exciting one for fans of Mercedes-Benz and its AMG cars. Two of the newest additions to the AMG family go on sale over the next couple months, and Mercedes has revealed pricing for the ultimate SLS AMG GT and its most powerful and exclusiveC63 AMG variant. The 2014 C63 AMG Edition 507 goes on sale this month with a price starting at $70,000 (*not including $925 for destination) and the 2014 SLS AMG GT Black Serieshits dealers in August – in "extremely limited" numbers – starting at $275,000 (*plus $1,800 for destination).

As for the Edition 507, this car will be offered in sedan form starting at $70,000 and as a coupe for $72,500, which are both price hikes of just over $10,000 over the standard C63 AMG models; unfortunately, the wagon model we recently drove will not be offered in the US. Edition 507 cars will receive a hefty bump in horsepower to 507 ponies, and it will get plenty of styling cues to set it apart as well. Some of the options on the for the Edition 507 will include matte exterior paint, a locking differential and carbon fiber trim.

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LWB 2014 Range Rover spied in XXL camo

If, for some reason, the 2013 Range Rover isn't big and luxurious enough for you, it looks like help is on the way. Spy photographers have caught a long-wheelbase version of the Range Rover testing with light camouflage and seemingly in production-ready trim, which means we could see this lengthened model sooner rather than later.

According to our sources on the ground, the Range Rover's wheelbase has been extended by almost six inches, which seems about right when comparing the panoramic roof of the standard version with where it lines up in these spy shots. The extra inches added between the B- and C-pillars will maximize rear-passenger comfort. This stretched Range Rover is almost certainly destined for the LWB-friendly Chinese market and we're pretty sure Land Rover will bring it to the US, as well, adding yet another model to the ever-expanding Range Rover family. Go ahead and have a closer look at the beefed up Landie in our gallery of spy shots, here.

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2014 Camaro Concept is new Bumblebee, Transformers 4 onslaught continues

Considering that A) we've already seen quite a number of Transformers 4 cars debuted on Michael Bay's website, and B) we were all really just waiting for the next Bumblebee, it seems fair to say that our gallery of T4 vehicles may now be complete.

Finishing strong, this latest addition is a car Bay is called Bumblebee 2014 Camaro Concept, and it shows a modern counterpoint for the throwback Bumblebee we've already gotten a look at.

The 2014 Camaro has been seriously reimagined for its upcoming film role, but we wouldn't put too much stock in this showing the way forward for a production car at this point. The renderings you see here have some pretty imaginative details, like a fuel filler just in front of the B-pillar (like a mid-engined car), but we sense more fantasy than premonition. Still, the black and yellow Chevrolet should look great wrought large on the silver screen.

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First new Datsun in decade sketched, set for Indian reveal

Nissan's Datsun nameplate revival will begin with two models bound for the Indian market. Nissan has released sketches of a five-door hatchback based on the Micra (codenamed K2) and a top-down view of a hood that could potentially be from a sedan.

The company's press release says all will be revealed on July 15 in New Delhi, India. The Datsun lineup will be first offered in 2014 to that country's ride-deprived residents as well as Indonesia and Russia. Later in 2014, South Africa will join the list.

We've heard Nissan plans for Datsuns to share platforms with company-owned Lada. In January, we heard the projected price tag could be around $3,000 USD to compete with Chinese imports. The official press release (which can be read in full below) says nothing about either of these reports, however.

But if a small, super-low-cost Datsun sounds good, you'll be disappointed to hear that North America will most likely never see the brand sold here again.

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Audi promises next A8 on sale by year's end, LED Matrix lamps to be available

Audi has just released details about its new Matrix LED headlamps, but just as illuminating as the new lighting technology is confirmation that the next A8 will appear "on the market at the end of 2013." While Audi is calling the model new, expectations – and the spy shots above – suggest more of a traditional mid-cycle refresh.

Audi says that its new A8 Matrix lights are comprised of 25 high-beam LEDs, clustered in groups of five paired with reflectors. Unlike traditional automatic high-beam setups, the Matrix array is so precise that it "blanks out light that would shine directly onto oncoming and preceding vehicles" while continuing to use full high-beam power on other sections of the road and shoulder not occupied by other vehicles. Further, the camera- and electronic brain-governed system can dim or extinguish LEDs as necessary to deal with traffic. The active system also differs from today's adaptive headlamps by not requiring servo motors to direct light, yet they can still function as cornering headlamps – ones that can predict a road's trajectory because they are linked with the car's GPS system. Interestingly, the system also works with Audi's optional night vision system. When the latter detects a pedestrian in the dark, it automatically flashes a batch of LEDs to put both the driver and pedestrian on notice about each others' presence.

Only one problem in all of this trick lighting business: they aren't legal here in the US, at least not yet. Audi and other automakers are currently petitioning the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, trying to sell the government agency on the technology's safety benefits. For the moment, Matrix headlamps are likely to remain forbidden fruit, but you can check them out and see what you might be missing in the video below. As for the 2015 A8, we're guessing it'll surface at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

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C7 Corvette production to kick off with Premiere Edition

The much-lauded team behind the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette is kicking off production of the new C7 generation in predictable fashion, with a limited edition version of the car announced this afternoon. Chevy is throwing a launch party at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, at which the wrapper is being pulled of this 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe Premiere Edition.

Just 500 examples of the Premiere Edition C7 will be built in total, with all being top-spec 3LT models and all wearing this Laguna Blue Tintcoat paint over Brownstone suede interiors. Other appearance upgrades for the Premiere Edition include suede and carbon fiber interior trims, a visible carbon fiber roof, hood stripe, "Stingray" kickplates and wheel caps and, wait for it... a matching set of Stingray luggage from Thule. It's every dude's dream: a Corvette with matching luggage.

Functionally, the Premiere Edition will be blessed with the Z51 performance package, as well as Chevy's trick Magnetic Selective Ride Control. Those, along with the car's impressive 6.2-liter, 450-horsepower LT1 V8, should make this special edition as formidable as it will be collectable. Continue reading below for Chevy's brief press release, and be sure to get a close look at all that luggage in our attached gallery.

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2014 BMW 4 Series convertible spotted

We've seen a few spy shot packages featuring the upcoming BMW 4 Series Convertible already, but never with the car quite so naked as in this latest batch. Nabbed just outside the BMW Nürburgring workshop in Germany, this Melbourne Red 4 Series also shows the M Sport package for the first time.

With all of the cladding removed, we can see that the convertible shares the 4 Series coupe's great-looking nose and front end, though the resolution of that folding hard top into the rear bodywork remains a bit harsh.

With the 4 Series coupe now completely official, we have a pretty good idea of what the powertrain lineup for the 'vert will be. We'll be pretty surprised if a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo aren't the go-to engines at launch. Production of the droptop is likely to begin at the end of the year, so start bugging your local BMW dealer.

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Live pics of 2014 Mazda3 from NYC, sedan on its way

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, straight from the memory cards of our own cameras. As you can see, the only version of the 2014 Mazda3 that the automaker is showing off at the moment is the hatchback, but we've gotten confirmation from Mazda that the sedan version will be shown sometime within the next five weeks.

So far, Mazda isn't commenting on whether or not we can expect a higher-performance Mazdaspeed3version of the car, but we've got our fingers crossed. In any case, we're quite drawn to the appearance of this new hatchback from Mazda, with its flowing lines and character creases setting it apart from the rest of the compact segment in which it competes.

We also appreciate the sound engineering that went into the new 3. Despite boasting a wheelbase that's longer than the car it replaces, we're pleased to see that Mazda has kept its exterior size in check – it's actually shorter overall than the last-gen model – while also reducing weight by about 200 pounds. That's bound to be good for the new 3's dynamic properties.

Have a good look at our live image gallery above, click here to read about the car's new specs, and let us know what you think of Mazda's latest compact hatchback in the Comments.

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2014 Maserati Ghibli

In its 99-year history, Maserati has arguably never made a vehicle as important as this all-new Ghibli.
Of course, there have been countless styling breakthroughs, mechanical advances and technical innovations, but no single passenger car has been required to bear the weight of the Italian company like its brand-new sport sedan. If the Ghibli succeeds, Maserati will welcome tens of thousands of new customers and, most importantly, celebrate a rekindled relationship with demanding North American buyers. If the Ghibli fails - well, the truth is, nobody has written an option for failure.

Maserati officially introduced the Ghibli at the Shanghai Motor Show earlier this year, promising a driver-focused sedan that was smaller and more agile than its redone Quattroporte flagship, one capable of battling BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz in quality, performance and most importantly, price.

After months of staring at the pictures and poring over the specifications, it's finally time to drive it. To end the speculation, I boarded a new 747-8 and flew one-third of the way around the world to land in beautiful Tuscany. My task? Put the all-new sport sedan with a heart built by Ferrari through its paces on Europe's demanding asphalt.

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Next Mercedes C-Class sedan shows its face

Although our recent spy shots of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class revealed a mostly uncovered look at the sedan's profile, these latest images give us our best look yet at its front end. Caught performing some hot-weather tests, this sedan is devoid of any major camouflage obscuring the fascia, grille and headlights, showing off what is clearly an E-Class-inspired face.

With its two-bar grille and massive lower intakes – similar to what we've already seen on the 2014 E-Classwith Sport Styling Package – we wonder if Mercedes is planning to offer the new C-Class with two distinct visual packages. As a refresher, expect to see the redesigned C-Class sedan make its debut at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, followed shortly thereafter by wagon, coupe and convertible variants.

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2014 BMW X5 priced from $53,725*

A month after the official curtain was dropped, BMW has seen fit to release pricing information on its new2014 X5 crossover. The X5 sDrive35i, which is the first rear-wheel-drive version of the X5, will begin at $53,725 (*including $925 for destination and handling) while the traditional all-wheel-drive X5 xDrive35i will begin at $56,025. Both feature BMW's well-regarded 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo N55 engine with 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque.

The 2014 BMW X5 xDrive35d (Have these convoluted names confused you yet?) is priced at $57,525 with its 3.0-liter diesel engine (255 hp and 413 lb-ft), and, finally, the TwinPower Turbo V8-powered X5 xDrive50i (445 hp and 480 lb-ft) will start at $69,125. Buyers looking to customize their X5 experience can choose from the Luxury Line, xLine or M Sport packages, plus Ivory White and Mocha Interior Design Packages. Regardless of which engine is chosen, the X5 will come equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

For comparison, the 2013 X5 xDrive35i started at $48,425. That means the price has increased by over $5,000 despite not including standard all-wheel drive or by $7,600 when comparing apples to apples with similar six-cylinder engines and power to all four wheels. The V8 model increased by $4,000 and the diesel, interestingly enough, dropped by $100.

The gas-powered models are set to debut in the fourth quarter of this year, while the diesel model is slated for an introduction early in 2014. For all the details on the available packages, options and improvements for 2014.

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Cadillac prices 410-hp XTS Vsport from $63,020*

Cadillac has officially released pricing for the 2014 XTS Vsport. Buyers can expect to pay $63,020 for the fleet four-door, including destination and handling fees. That kind of coin will snag you a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 good for 410 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. As you likely already know, engineers have done a lot more than simply bolt a pair of turbos onto the company's tried and true naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6. The engine uses an all-new block, strengthened connecting rods and domed aluminum pistons and is fed through a revised direct-injection fuel system. Combined, the tweaks allow the V6 to suck down 12 psi of boost.

The price tag puts the 2014 Cadillac XTS Vsport well under potential (if ambitious) competitors like the Audi S6 at $71,900, plus destination fees. A base BMW 550i will set you back $62,700, excluding destination charges, but throwing options at the German sedan will quickly see that number climb higher.

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2013 Infiniti QX56

Some things appear much smaller in pictures than they do in person. The Eiffel Tower, Space Shuttle orbiters and the statue of Abraham Lincoln in the National Mall come immediately to mind. The 2013 Infiniti QX56, however, isn't one of those things.

The Infiniti flagship sport utility looks massive in pictures, and it grows to simply colossal when you are standing next to it.

Even at an arm's distance, the QX56 has the physical presence of a Clydesdale horse – its styling cues project power and strength, says the automaker, and the designers apparently made no attempt to downplay the full-size SUV's massive V8 engine and cavernous eight-passenger cabin. There are other passenger vehicles on the road that are physically larger, but none visually cast their mass as well as Infiniti's traditional body-on-frame QX.

We recently spent a week with the heavyweight in an effort to determine whether three tons of substance is overkill or handy to have around. In a nutshell, does bigger always equate to better?

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Mercedes releases spy shots of its sub-SLS AMG sports car

Mercedes has handed out "spy shots" of its sub-SLS AMG sports car prototype, which tells us that this on-again/off-again product is most definitely on again. Looking smaller than the company's SLS AMG in these first shots of a running prototype, it nevertheless appears to retain the same basic shape as the larger halo car with a long hood and the cabin located far back on the chassis. Despite the similarities in shape, it does not have gullwing doors and appears to have barely enough room for 2+2 seating like the Porsche 911.

Moving into the realm of speculation and hearsay, the sub-SLS should have a good fighting weight thanks to a new all-aluminum spaceframe, and be powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 producing in the neighborhood of 485 horsepower. Of course, being a Merc, we can expect a 500+hp S variant and a bonkers Black Series model with something approaching 600 hp, the latter of which would be spoiling for a fight with the 911 Turbo. As for the car's name, we're told internally its codename is C190, but the production model could go by GT,SLC or even revive the SLR moniker.

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2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG

Mercedes-Benz has AMG on an impressive growth curve these days, the official name of the effort being Performance 50. By the 50th anniversary of AMG in 2017, the Mercedes performance division will produce 30,000-plus units per year, up from today's 20,000 or so. In addition, AMG will boast a catalog of 30-plus models, and a greater dedication to making AMG cars truly nimble performers in every sense will be a priority. Within that very full agenda, this new CLA45 AMG is certain to be an important contributor on all accounts.

The thrill monitors at AMG have a long-established reputation for creating large, open-road rockets that err on the side of brute force and everyday comfort over zippy, tight-feeling sports car finesse and balance. The strategy has worked wonders for the company's sales ledger and created handsome levels of profit per unit, but entire developing sectors of the premium hot-car market have been knowingly left out of the AMG equation. While there are exceptions, AMG has never been considered a maker of truly agile machinery that's easily tossed around.

The very first thing that we notice while driving the CLA45 AMG – on schedule for North American deliveries beginning in November with a reported starting price of $47,450 – is exactly how lively its new 4Matic chassis can be. It's an entirely new feeling for an AMG, and it's entirely welcome by us. Some will complain about the price being asked for this super CLA-Class, but this little sedan is a true AMG of the new genre, and as such, it might just be something of a bargain.

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2014 Aston Martin Vanquish

As far as unexpected encounters with wild animals go, squirrels don't normally rate. The furry little nut-smugglers are omnipresent fixtures in my neck of the woods – literally – so normally a chance meeting doesn't warrant caution the way a bear or even an ornery raccoon might. But one's list of priorities can't help but change a bit at 175 miles per hour. That was exactly the case when I drove this Aston Martin's predecessor, the DBS, a few years ago.

I was hammering around a closed course – Ford's Romeo proving grounds – on the company's high-banked track, 25 mph shy of the double ton, when a little red dot appeared on the surface of the track, far up the straight. It was a squirrel, which, lacking the good sense not to be on the track at that particular moment, was at least smart enough to flatten itself into a pancake (perhaps it heard the Aston's mighty V12 closing in). I prayed it wouldn't dart from its adjacent lane into mine, because at my closing speed, I figured I wouldn't have time to retaliate. Naturally, the kamikaze rodent skittered on its stomach directly into my trajectory at the last minute, leaving me no choice but to issue a critical hair's breadth correction at the wheel. Roadkill manufacturing is normally a momentary wince-inducing affair – a grimace, a quick appeal for the universe's forgiveness – and then on with one's day. Yet in a car as low as an Aston Martin, at the velocity I was traveling, a bit of fur flying and battered karma would've been the least of my concerns.

2014 BMW 4 Series Coupe officially debuts, priced from $41,425*

Well, that didn't take long. Less than two hours after the first images of the 2014 BMW 4 Series Coupeleaked onto the Internet, we've been given the go-ahead to publish the whole kit and caboodle. And while we won't say we told you so, it looks as though the car's official details are standing true to our earlier predictions.

In other words, BMW will offer the 4 Series in 428i and 435i models, both of which can be had with xDrive all-wheel drive. Just like in the 3 Series, the 428i is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, good for 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, and the 435i gets BMW's turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six making 300 hp and 300 lb-ft. In three of the four models, both a six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmission are available; the 428i xDrive can only be had with the auto 'box. The 428i (with rear-wheel drive, we assume) can hit 60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds (though BMW doesn't specify with which transmission), and the 435i will do that same sprint in 5.3 seconds with the manual and five seconds flat with the eight-speed auto.

We've already dissected the 4 Series' visuals, but the numbers show just how different it is from the 3 Series sedan. The 4 Coupe is one-tenth of an inch longer overall, while riding on the same 110.6-inch wheelbase, is 0.6 inches wider, and has a roofline that's a full 2.7 inches closer to the ground. It looks sleek, incorporating BMW's new design language from the 3 Series with an overall profile that's similar to the larger 6 Seriescoupe.

BMW will offer the 4 Series Coupe in three different trim lines – Luxury, Sport and M Sport. Much like the 3 Series range, the Luxury line focuses more on overall amenities and upscale appearance, while the Sport and M Sport models are meant to offer the most driver-focused set of equipment with slightly more aggression outside. 18- and 19-inch wheels are available on all models, and M Sport models get a whole raft of equipment including better suspension tuning and upgraded brakes to make the whole package more exciting on the road. The cabin doesn't look all that different from the 3 Series, incorporating the same suite of technological goodies and creature comforts, and is offered in a variety of hues.

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2014 Cadillac CTS starts $7k higher than last model at $46,025*

The redesigned 2014 Cadillac CTS will be more powerful, stylish and luxurious than its predecessor, but it will also be much more expensive. With a new starting price of $46,025 (*including $925 for destination), the 2014 CTS represents a price increase of more than $7,000 compared to the 2013 model, but it should be more appropriately sized and equipped to take on rivals like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which start at $47,800 and $51,900, respectively.

Available trim levels – referred to as Collections – include Luxury, Performance and Premium, offering either a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder or a 3.6-liter V6 and the choice of either rear- or all-wheel-drive configurations. For more performance, the all-new CTS Vsport model will have an asking price of $59,995. This 420-horsepower model is more powerful than both the BMW 550i and Mercedes E550 and about $2,000 less expensive than both.

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