We recently had the opportunity to drive the all-new 2008 Infiniti EX35 through Malibu’s mountains and along its coastline. The EX35, competing against the likes of the Acura RDX and the BMW X3, is a coupe-inspired crossover with an AWD or RWD platform option. Under the hood, the EX35 sports the 3.5 L V6 engine (297 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 253 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm) that debuted in last year’s G-Sedan.

With neat features like the lane departure prevention system, integrated coat hangers on the back of the front headrests, automatic rear folding seats, scratch shield paint in the clear coat, and the around view monitoring parking assist, the Infiniti EX35 inspires driving confidence while also delivering in the creature-comfort category. For now, pricing is still up in the air but we do know that the EX35 will hit showroom floors by late December.

Watch out 2008 Infiniti EX35 Car Review Video and let us know if you would pre-order Infiniti’s newest vehicle.

You can also watch the 2008 Infiniti EX35 Video on YouTube.

Change is afoot on the highways of the United States, and drivers across the country may soon have to adapt the connection between their eyes and their right feet to a new silhouette.

The Dodge Charger is mounting a challenge to Ford’s Crown Victoria for the title of supreme police cruiser, and it’s a mighty strong challenge at that. Dodge delivered a police-package Charger to Roadfly this summer, with everything but a working siren. We learned two things. First, driving a police car is not as fun as you think it is. Secondly, Ford needs to watch its back.

Ever since the demise of the Chevy Caprice, Ford’s Crown Victoria has held a firm stranglehold on the budgets of police departments for the last decade, with no logical competitors in sight. Cops across the country prefer big, body-on-frame American sedans with rear-wheel-drive and V8 engines. That’s the same reason taxi drivers prefer them: they are tough, and can take abuse in far greater doses than front-wheel-drive counterparts, eliminating cars like the Ford Taurus, the deceased Dodge Intrepid, and the Chevy Impala from everything but University policing duties. No other American companies have seen fit to make rear-wheel-drive anything save trucks, SUVs, and the occasional sports car, so the Crown Vic’s dominance has gone unchallenged.

This created a pretty big opening for the Dodge Charger, a truly American muscle sedan done in the old style. Our test car was equipped with the Chrysler 5.7L 340-hp HEMI V8, which fires it to sixty mph in six seconds flat, more than two seconds quicker than the police-spec Crown Vic.

You can also watch the 2007 Dodge Charger Police Package on YouTube.

That figure seemed totally within reach as soon as we slid into the low-slung Charger. Apparently this Charger has a 148-mph top speed (which we did not test), and can get around a racetrack (or a public road) a good bit faster than a Crown Vic in law enforcement trim. Due to a curb weight of over two tons, the police-spec Charger sometimes feels sluggish when taking off from low speeds. However, the HEMI quickly makes its presence known, and really howls as it easily pushes the Charger towards triple digits.

The Charger is a newer car than the Crown Vic, and it looks the part inside and out. Our test car was decked out in heavy-duty cloth seats up front, with a vinyl bench in back. You have doubtless seen a few Chargers by now, so you’ll know that the angry furrowed brow and gun-sight grille is a much more intimidating prospect than the Crown Vic’s conservative, senior-citizen front end. Trust us, it looks even more bone-chilling when it’s decked out in black and white, adorned with a heavy-duty bar, and filling your rear-view mirror.

The Charger Police Package starts as a 3.5-liter V6-equipped model. Our tester added a $3,500 “Customer Preferred Package 29A” that included many of the bare essentials needed for police work, such as heavy-duty cooling, heavy-duty brakes, a different floor console to replace the stock one (chucked in favor of a big metal slab to mount laptops and such), and no-frills 18 x 7.5” steel wheels.

This package also equips the Charger with “Performance steering and suspension,” which actually made a huge difference. The Charger’s steering won high praise in the Roadfly office for its directness, yet the effort needed for major inputs was remarkably low.

The HEMI engine is a $2,230 upgrade. Our test car had a few more fleet-specific tweaks like an 8-way power driver’s seat for $380, spot lamps for $200 each, and a full-size wheel/tire combo in the trunk ($160).

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We couldn’t imagine how a cop car could get much better without being a Corvette, but there was one chink in the Charger’s armor. Because the stock car’s shifter is ‘on the floor’ and not ‘on the tree,’ it needed to be relocated to the column to make room for the police-specific center console. The transplant was only a mild success, and during our research we discovered that cops testing the Charger had complained about the difficulty of getting into ‘drive’ quickly from reverse. For our part, we had some trouble getting the car into the proper gear without some practice. It is equipped with Chrysler’s AutoStick function, however, to give the driver more control over upshifts and downshifts.

The Crown Vic still beats the Charger in one crucial area, and that is price. Our V8 Charger cruiser carried a sticker of around $30,000, about four grand more than a Crown Vic. However, the V6 Charger costs around the same as the Ford (a V8 is standard on the Crown Vic), and offers the same level of performance. More competition is better for the consumer, and we’d like to see Ford come out with an updated rear-drive sedan with a V8 to challenge this Charger. If they don’t, the future looks substantially bleaker for the darling of America’s police forces.

In June we brought you news of the BMW 1 Series Coupe and shortly after, in September, we brought the news of the 1 Series Convertible. Now we are proud to bring you BMW’s new motorsport design, the Concept 1 Series tii. The BMW 1 Series Coupe tii will be a youthful take on BMW’s classic brand values.

The 1 Series tii concept just debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in features that represent the color trinity of BMW’s signature logo. The body is an Alpine White while the dark carbon structure of the carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFP) elements and blue highlights provide a sporty, accentuated contrast. The inlays on the side air intakes in the front air dam, the gurney flap on the rear lid, and the inlay in the rear bumper are all made of CFP, which minimizes weight and axle load. To optimize aerodynamics, special gurney flaps (that are larger on the tii than the regular 1 Series) generate an additional downforce on the rear axle for great driving stability. The air dam is also different from the regular production model’s air dam. With the tii, the front air dam comes on both sides with so-called air splitters and the inside of the side air intakes are coated in CFP.

Styling on the newest BMW Concept supports the contrasting, BMW-heritage color themes, starting with decal stripes that extend from the front headlights all the way to the airflow lip on the rear lid. The bright blue is displayed on the brake calipers, on one of the five wheel bolts on each rim, and on the towing fixture in the front air dam. The blue also highlights the interior with blue seat seams, a blue driver’s seat belt, and a blue decal ring at the bottom of the gearshift. The rest of the interior is finished in alcantara, including the instrument panel, door linings, gear-shift knob, steering wheel, and seats.

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New designs to the Concept 1 Series tii are the CFP components, which include the front air dam, the side-sills, rear bumper, rear lid, and the arrangement of the fins on the engine compartment lid. But, most drastic to the standard BMW design is the omission of the standard kidney grille bars that are replaced by a wide honeycomb grid. The rims are 18” light-alloy rims with a five-spoke design in a dark chrome color scheme. However, when looking at any member of the 1 Series family, it will be hard to overlook the features that made the 2002 from the ‘60s and ‘70s so popular.

The BMW Concept 1 Series tii will prove to be a great vehicle to take to the track, thanks to its agility, aerodynamic design, sportiness, and of course, BMW motorsport heritage.

You can discuss the new tii in the 1 Series Forum.

The all-new 2008 Infiniti EX35 crossover also comes with some all-new technology. Infiniti’s Around View Monitor parking assist system uses four cameras, located in the front, rear, and on the side view mirrors, to help the driver successfully parallel park. With one touch of the CAMERA button on the navigation system, the parking system is initiated. You can then choose various views as you maneuver your car in tight parallel parking systems.

Watch our video of the Infiniti Around View Monitor system and let us know if you would find this feature helpful.

You can also watch the 2008 Infiniti EX35 Around View Monitor Video on YouTube.

Though the 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid is only available in the eight states that have accepted the California Emissions standards, the Altima Hybrid is desirable to those who just want to save money on ever-rising gas prices. If getting 43 city/36 highway isn’t enough of a bargain, the $2,350 tax credit on the 2007 Altima Hybrid is an extra great incentive. The styling on the Altima Hybrid is just like the regular Altima with the same interior and exterior options are available on the hybrid version; the only obvious difference (besides the impressive fuel economy) is the subtle badging. The Altima Hybrid still has the 2.5L gas engine (once you hit 43 mph, full gas power cuts on), but it also has electric power. The batteries are stored in the trunk, but are unobtrusive, leaving you plenty of trunk space.

Check out our 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid Video and let us know how it stacks up to its competitors, like the Prius or the Civic Hybrid.

You can also watch the 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid Video on YouTube.

The redesigned 2008 Cadillac CTS is an impressive addition to the entry-level luxury market. Craftsmanship and class are the key elements in the ’08 CTS. The interior (the instrument panel, center console, and door trim), is wrapped in hand-cut and hand-sewn materials. On the exterior, the belt-line is polished stainless trim, unlike many competitors’ chrome styling and the addition of the double-sized sunroof makes the roof 70% glass. The attention to detail rounds out the CTS, including the Cadillac V accents throughout the vehicle.

Our tester came with the 3.6L V6 (304 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm), which started at $34,345 but with the $2,000 AWD option and $8,000 luxury option, topped out at $46,000 (still a decent price for a luxury sedan with leather interior, a sunroof, a BOSE sound system, a 6-speed automatic tranny, and OnStar). Overall, the Cadillac CTS is a great balance between ride, handling and style.

Watch the 2008 Cadillac CTS-4 Video Pocono Raceway

You can also watch the 2008 Cadillac CTS Video on YouTube.

US drivers have been enjoying the BMW M3 since 1988. Now, BMW has once again raised the performance benchmark by introducing the all-new 2008 M3 Sedan. The first M3 (1988-1991) had a 2.3L four-cylinder engine that produced 192 horsepower which was soon trumped by the second generation in 1995 that came with a 3.0L (which got moved up to 3.2L) 240 hp inline-six. Then in 1997, the first M3 Sedan was introduced and the M3 Convertible shortly thereafter. The 2001-2006 generation increased the horsepower to 333 from the 3.2L inline-six engine. Now, the 2008 BMW M3 Sedan is even more powerful, upgrading to a 414 hp V8.

The ’08 M3 Sedan will share the M3 Coupe’s 414-horsepower V8 and balanced chassis. The new light-alloy V8 engine with 414 hp at 8,300 rpm and 295 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 rpm (with 85% of the maximum torque available consistently through 6,500 rpm) is a 15% increase over the 6-cylinder from the last generation of M3. The V8 unit in the engine compartment features BMW’s variable double-VANOS camshaft management. This offers extremely responsive and quick valve timing and reduces charge cycle losses, improving the output, torque, and response of the engine. Compression ratio is dialed in to 12:0:1 and redline is set at 8,400 rpm.

The aluminum chassis is all-new, designed specifically for this ’08 M3 Sedan model with the components placed to create a 50/50 front/rear weight balance. Almost all of the front-end components are aluminum, including the front struts, swivel bearings, central subframe, and an additional thrust panel below the engine that maximizes lateral stiffness of the entire front section. Virtually every detail on the five-arm rear axle that is aluminum is the new for this model.

The M3 rear-wheel drive power comes from the closed-ratio six-speed manual gearbox. Enhancement to the M3 Sedan is the hydraulic Servotronic power assistance controlling steering forces as a function of road speed. There are also two different control maps (normal or sports mode) that you can choose to activate via a console-mounted button. Sport mode provides direct and instantaneous response with a relatively high steering effort whereas in the normal mode, power assistance is comfort-oriented with less steering effort.

New to the electronic Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is the Dry Braking feature that removes water film from the brake discs in wet conditions to reduce the chance of water interfering with the braking process. DSC now also builds up pressure in the hydraulic brake circuit and pre-loads the brake pads to ensure an immediate response whenever the driver seems likely to slam on the brakes within the seconds. The brake discs are internally-vented, cross-drilled cast iron measuring 14.2 inches in diameter in the front and 13.8 inches in the rear. They are connected to a floating aluminum hub by cast-in stainless steel pins because that configuration reduces the thermal loads on the discs, therefore increasing their performance and life service. However, you don’t need to be constantly worrying about your brakes because the ongoing wear indicator will allow you to monitor the condition of the brake linings on the dash display.

The new BMW M3 Sedan will feature the driver-adjustable settings for crucial dynamic controls including steering, damping, and stability, with the option to get the steering-wheel-mounted “MDrive” button to store those settings. Also new to the M3, is a Variable M Differential Lock that can generate up to 100% locking action with fully variable action whenever required, giving you optimum traction on all road surfaces. The optional Electronic Damper Control (EDC) also lets you choose your chassis preference from three modes, Sport, Normal, and Comfort with a push of the Mdrive button on the steering wheel.

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Styling on the BMW M3 Sedan boasts an athletic, sporty stance. Of course there is the trademark double-kidney shaped grill and flat headlight unites with standard Xenon headlamps but the face of the new M3 Sedan includes a power dome in the middle of the hood. The “gills” on the two front side panels incorporate the tri-color M3 logo. The usual four metallic paints (Melbourne Red, Jerez Black, Interlagos Blue, and Silverstone) specifically for the M Cars complement the M3 Sedan but the vehicle is also available in Apline White, Jet Black, or Sparkling Graphite Metallic. Standard M-style light-alloy spoke wheels are 18 x 8.5 inches with 245/40 low-profile tires in the front and 18 x 9.5 with 265/40 tires at the rear, though 19” versions are available.

Though it is a sports car, the M3 Sedan’s body structure is built with safety in mind. Defined deformation zones and high-strength steel provide optimum absorption of loads action on the car if collision occurs. In the front of the car, driver and passenger are protected by front and side airbags that are housed in the seat backrests. Curtain head airbags also protects the front and outer rear seats. BMW of course threw in lots of other goodies like BMW Ultimate Service (that includes BMW Maintenance Program, BMW Roadside Assistance, BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty, BMW Assist), options like SIRIUS satellite radio, HD radio, Navigation/iDrive, and an USB-enabled port for iPod/iPhone control.

Look for the ’08 M3 Sedan and M3 Coupe, both with the first V8 in a series-production M3, to hit showroom floors sometime in the spring.

You can discuss the upcoming M3 Sedan in the BMW M3 Forums.

The 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4×4 is still one of the best off-road vehicles, even with its upgrade to four doors. Our tester came with the optional 4-speed automatic transmission and skid plate (only an $845 upgrade), perfect for the off-road enthusiast. The engine is a 3.8L V6 with 202 horsepower at 5,200rpm and 237 lb-ft of torque at 4,000rpm, and gets 16mpg city/19mpg highway.

The Wrangler Rubicon also comes with a ton of standard equipment like the 4:1 Rock-Trac(R) part-time 4WD system, Tru-Loc Electronic locking front and rear differentials, fuel tank skid plate shield, a Next Generation Dana 44 Heavy Duty rear axle, two front tow hooks, one rear tow hook, electronic front sway bar disconnect, electronic roll mitigation, and a full spare tire. Thankfully, once the Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is fully-loaded, the cost is still reasonable, (thanks to Jeep making so many features standard), and tops out at an affordable $34,870.

Watch the 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4×4 in the Pocono mountains and let us know if you’d want to take this bad-boy off-roading.

You can also watch the 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4×4 Video on YouTube.

$102,500 for a car may seem a bit pricey but the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG showed that it was worth the price. The AMG 6.3L V8 engine performance was incredible, powering out 507 horsepower at 6,800rpm and 465 ft-lb torque @ 5,200 rpm, although you do get more than just performance from the E63 AMG (base price starting at $84,600). Even with the possible gas-guzzling engine, you still get 14 city/20 highway. Styling and comfort are also executed perfectly like the sport exhaust dual twin chrome tailpipes, 5-spoke polished alloy wheels with titanium gray painted spokes, aerodynamic bodywork, rear spoiler, Nappa leather upholstery, sunroof, a built-in lap timer, and a harman/kardon LOGIC7 digital surround sound system.

To see how the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG handles on the track, watch our video from Pocono Raceway:

You can also watch our 2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Video on YouTube.

The C30, an all new vehicle from Volvo, proves that safety and sexy can co-exsist. The 2008 Volvo C30 we tested featured a 2.5 L 5-cylinder turbocharged engine that put out 227hp (a manual transmission is available but our tester was an automatic). Nothing was lost on the C30 from the styling to the safety; even the fuel economy was great at 19 city/27 highway. Pricing on the Volvo C30 is affordable, starting at $22,700, which makes Volvo’s newest member a rivial to the MAZDASPEED3 and the Honda Civic Si.

Check out how the 2008 Volvo C30 handles at Pocono Raceway:

You can also watch the 2008 Volvo C30 Video on YouTube.

With the help of John Matras from CarBuzzard.com, we got footage of the 2008 Audi R8 at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. You may recognize the R8 as the Audi Le Mans Quattro concept car or the RSQ Concept (think I, Robot), but the R8 is not longer just a concept. The R8, which comes with the same 4.2 L V8 that is in the RS4, will be available summer 2008. For the 6-speed manual, pricing will start at $109,000 but for the R-Tronic version (like our tester), pricing will start at $118,000. The R8′s V8 puts out 420hp at 7,800rpm and 317 lb-ft of torque at 4,500rpm, blowing through a quarter mile in 12.5 seconds.

Want to see more of Audi’s supercar? Watch our video and let us know if this two-seater is worth the price.

You can also watch the 2008 R8 Video on YouTube.

The first Honda Accord debuted in 1976 as a hatchback known for being fun to drive and reliable. The first Accord sedan bowed in 1979, and Honda has never looked back. The name Accord was derived from Honda’s effort to achieve “accord” between people, society and the automobile through advanced technology. Indeed, the first Accords had an advanced CVCC “Stratified Charge” engine designed to meet emissions requirements without expensive catalytic converters or premium fuel. So Honda was “green” decades before other makes.

More than 1.9 million sales later, the eighth generation Accord is better than ever. Compared to the first Accord, the new model is nearly nine inches wider and almost three feet longer. Honda’s goal of presenting advanced technology is now the hallmark of the brand. Give Honda a positive mark for steadily improving the safety of the Accord and of all Hondas over the years as well through their “Safety for Everyone” program.

Now recognized as one of the safest brands on the road, Honda incorporates its Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure into the new Accord. ACE enhances frontal collision compatibility with vehicles of different sizes and bumper heights (like a big SUV or Pickup). Additional safety equipment standard on all Accord trim levels includes electronic stability control; front, side and side curtain airbags; active head restraints; a tire pressure monitoring system; and anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution. And structures in the front of the Accord are designed to be pedestrian friendly in the unfortunate event of a car-pedestrian collision. The Accord’s hood is designed to deform if contact is made with a pedestrian, and other deformable parts of the front end are also designed to minimize pedestrian injuries while offering maximum crash protection.

The Accord comes in Sedan and Coupe body styles with several engine choices: 177 or 190 horsepower fours or a 268 horsepower V6. During a press preview, I had the chance to drive sedans and a Coupe with all three engines, and all perform well. The Accord Coupe V6 is especially nice, with a free revving spirit when tied to the standard six-speed manual transmission. The V6 also features Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology. The VCM system operates in six-cylinder mode for power and in four and three cylinder modes for efficiency. MPG numbers are a respectable 22 mpg city/31 highway for four cylinder models and 19 city/29 highway for V6 models. On the road, the new Accord is quiet, handles well, and features a stylish cabin.

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Honda describes the new Accord’s interior as “premium quality with a simple, modern and spacious design.” The interior is functional and well laid out. The dashboard features a stepped design to enhance the feel of spaciousness. Slender “A” pillars increase outward vision for the driver. A variety of sound systems (including an available 270 watt premium sound system); silver or wood tome trim; cloth or leather upholstery; and Bluetooth connectivity, XM Satellite Radio, and Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation with Voice Recognition are among standard items depending on trim level.

Styling is evolutionary, and for the first time, the Accord is classified as a “Large Sedan” by the Environmental Protection Agency. V6 Accords feature chrome door handles, with fours getting painted handles. The Accord Coupe features tail lamps unique to that model, and flush mounted headlamps with clear covers. Wheel sizes range from 16 to 18 inches depending on model and trim level.

Accord prices range from $20,360 for the LX Sedan to $30,510 for the EX-L V6 Coupe. Power, style and reliability all come together in this terrific offering from Honda.