Join RoadflyTV host Ross Rapoport as he reviews the beautiful all-new 2011 Audi A8 sedan.  The A8 goes up against the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class and holds its own.

Watch the 2011 Audi A8 Car Review Video on our YouTube Channel.

While looking more compact than its predecessor, the A8 is touting the longest and widest standard wheelbase in its class and even with the quattro, Audi was able to keep the weight down with an aluminum body.  Powering the A8 is a powerful 4.2L V8 engine that produces 372 horsepower paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission (with sport mode and shift knob).  With this pairing, while less horsepower than the competitors, the A8 manages to do more with less, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds (in the ballpark of competition).  Drivers will also be pleased with this engine/transmission pairing as the 8-speed transmission allows for low RPMs at high speeds, keeping this luxury sport sedan’s mileage reasonable at 17 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.

In true Audi style, the A8′s interior is gorgeous and futuristic.  High quality leather, wooden accents, and suede compliment the ever-evolving technology features in the vehicle.  The most notable feature is probably the MMI (Multimedia Interface) system.  The MMI has a neat new feature for those who have grown tired of the rotary dial or have yet to master it:  the touch pad.  The touch pad recognizes writing with the finger tip (though knob is still available) for easy navigation through the entertainment system. Tied for second is probably the impressive stereo system option ($6,300) with tweeters that pop out of the dash and the 22-way power adjustable driver’s seat.

Even with the classy, appealing design, sporty drive, and luxury features, the Audi A8 still starts lower than the likes of the 7 Series and S-Class with a base MSRP of $78,050 and an as-tested price of $93,525  (compared to the starting prices for the 7 Series $82,500 and S-Class’ $91,000) so if you’re in the market for a luxury sedan, the A8 is definitely worth a test drive.

Practically unrecognizable from its progenitor (the standard Suzuki SX4) and all new for 2010, the SX4 Sportback is a sleek, sporty hatchback that’s designed to offer more fun and energy to an otherwise economical driving experience. Roadfly TV and host Jessi Lang took a look at the Sportback, and here are their findings:

The Sportback’s engine is a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine that musters 150 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. Although it’s not the fastest car in the world, the Sportback we tested came in a manual transmission and shifting was seamless and responsive, and we were able to change lanes in city traffic effortlessly. The Sportback’s reliability in traffic conditions exceeds expectations. The transmission also only comes in front-wheel drive; if you want all-wheel drive version of this car, you’ll have to check out the SX4 Crossover.

The interior is a touch on the simplistic side, perhaps even a little plain. You won’t find any bleeding-edge electronics or luxurious amenities in the SX4, but you won’t be disappointed either. Fortunately, everything is user-friendly and comfortable, nothing is overwhelming and all your gauges, buttons and controls are exactly where you’d want to find them. In addition, the navigation screen is well-implemented, popping out of the dashboard on command. Topping everything off, seating and legroom is ample, as well as unrestricted visibility throughout most of the windows.

From an economical standpoint, the Suzuki can’t be beat. Shouldered with an industry-leading warranty (100,000 miles or 7 years, and transferrable to a new owner), and an as-tested price of $18,383 ($17,949 MSRP), the Sportback is a nice little hot hatch for a great price, fun to drive in the city or in the country, and won’t kill you at the gas pump either. In fact, the gas mileage is impressive: you’ll be getting 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Suzuki’s come a long way over the past few years, and the Sportback is a great example of Suzuki’s dedication to producing efficient and cost-effective vehicles that can still offer a quality driving experience.

For 2011, Chrysler has completely redesigned the Jeep Grand Cherokee from the ground up, bringing it to its 4th generation. Its chassis has been given a remarkable facelift, with many structural improvements to improve sturdiness, vibration, and road noise, making one of the staples of the SUV industry an even more durable and rugged piece of work. Host Ross Rapoport and Roadfly TV spent a week test-driving this new Jeep and discovering its capabilities. Here’s their review:

The engine is on the receiving end of a major overhaul as well–new for 2011 the Grand Cherokee gets a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that garners an impressive 290 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, giving you all the power you’ll need to overcome any obstacles in rough or smooth conditions or even tow up to 7200 pounds. Fuel economy, unfortunately, hasn’t changed much–you’ll be getting 16 mpg city and 22 mpg on the highway. And for those who aren’t worried about gas mileage and want a little extra power, there’s a V8 package that will get you an additional 70 horses.

As far as the Grand Cherokee’s offroad capabilities–this is where it excels. It features a terrain-select system that will adaptively alter in real-time your transmission, engine, braking system, traction control and more, depending on the current weather and road circumstances. The Grand Cherokee also clears the ground at a serviceable 8.6 inches, but an incredible feature on Grand Cherokee allows the ground clearance to be raised an almost 3 inches further, bringing it to an astounding 11.1 inches. Great for conquering any craggy terrain in your near future.

The Grand Cherokee’s interior is also very sumptuous and impressive, far better than predecessors. Once inside, the cabin is tailored from helm to stern in a smart choice of wood, leather, and chrome. All the seats, and even the steering wheel, are heated, and the sunroof is one of the biggest and convenient you’ll find on any vehicle in the industry. And all the electronics are well placed, easy-to-use, and accommodating.

While many consumers are placing stock in hybrid and crossover vehicles, SUVs of the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s caliber are a dying breed. However, with its brilliant offroad capabilities, remarkably handsome aesthetic and emboldened engine, this new 2011 Grand Cherokee is something of a revelation, a spark of life in a slowly stagnating sector of the automotive industry. This is the best iteration of the Cherokee Jeep has ever offered thus far, but it doesn’t come cheap. Our Grand Cherokee Overland came with an as-tested price of $43,845, roughly 2 grand more than its base price of $41,120.

If you want don’t want to drive a gas-guzzling mammoth and still crave a vehicle with a sporty look/feel despite having to trade in your beloved sport compact for a crossover SUV, the 2011 Nissan Juke may be the perfect choice.  Recently released, Nissan has found themselves with quite the hot item as dealers scramble to keep the Juke on the lot.

Part of the Juke’s appeal is the sporty look, both inside and out.  Wanting to evoke as many motorsports images as possible, the Juke’s interior and exterior channels lines similar to that of a motorcycle/motorcycle helmet and a 1970s rally car’s headlights.  Built on a subcompact platform shared by the Versa, Cube, and Leaf, the Juke proves to be nimble and as efficient as a subcompact but also utilitarian when needed with the AWD.

Host Ross Rappoport accurately describes the Juke’s 1.6L turbocharged engine as “the little engine that could”.  The Juke is powered by a direct injected inline four-cylinder engine that produces 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque.   While the Juke is offered with a six-speed manual transmission or CVT, the AWD is only available with CVT.   However, even with the AWD, you still get good fuel economy, averaging 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.  For your driving preferences you can also choose between three modes:  eco, normal, and sport, with the throttle and transmission responses varying based on your selection.  With the new torque-vectoring AWD system, the Juke’s handling and breaking is impressive in sticky situations as the Juke transfers power to the outside as needed.

Even with its styling and performance appeal, the Juke continues to surprise with luxury items you expect to pay a premium on.  However, as our Juke test vehicle with AWD, backup camera, and traffic nav proves, you can have your cake and eat it too for a low price of $24,550.

For 2011, Mercedes has retooled their E-Class to increase acceleration, steering dynamics, and comfortability in order to give their stellar convertible a more fun, playful feel than its predecessors. Roadfly TV and host Jessi Lang recently spent some time with the E550 trim, having a blast with its super-quick V8 engine and its gorgeous droptop stylings.

The E550′s engine packs a punch (and a beautiful engine roar)–a 382-horsepower 5.5-liter V8 with 391 pound-feet of torque, nearly 120 horses more than its less expensive trim, the E350. 0-60 times were clocking at around 4.6 seconds, and a top speed restricted to 130 mph. Coupled with a 7-speed “Touchshift” automatic transmission, the E550 gives the driver enthusiast something to really sink their teeth into.

The cabriolet’s soft-top lowers or raises in about 20 seconds, giving you the open air excitement that complements the E550′s quickness. With the soft-top up, cabin noise is much quieter than you would expect, much thanks to the many layers of fabric found woven into the top. With the soft-top down, Mercedes’ new creation, the AirCap–an automatic wind deflector–you’ll hardly get any wind in your face. And Thankfully, trunk-space isn’t hindered like you would expect in a convertible–you’ll be getting just as much room as you would find in any other standard E-Class vehicle.

The interior of the E550 features two highly adjustable driver and passenger seats with lumbar support. This center stack design is identical to those found in the rest of the E-Class lineup; a thunderous Harman-Kardon audio system, a highly responsive and adaptive climate control system, and atypical navigation/infotainment screens. Aside from the comfortable and driver-oriented seats, the thumping audio system and awesome climate control, really the only gripe here is that the rest of the interior amenities are on the plain side.

Altogether, Mercedes might just have what they were hoping for when they designed this for 2011–a new classic. The E550 Cabriolet is fast, luxurious, and a hell of a lot of fun to drive, with or without the top down.

Mustang enthusiasts rejoice: the iconic 5.0 is back and better than ever. New for 2011 (and for the first time since 1995), Ford has brought back both the 5.0 engine, giving its muscle car rivals such as the Camaro and Challenger a good reason to run for their money. Our host Jessi Lang spent a week in a gorgeous sky-blue GT and was thrilled beyond expectation.

Exterior-wise, little has changed in the Mustang GT’s look since the 2010 model, most obvious perhaps being the hotly desired 5.0 badging. But the beauty of this Mustang GT leaves little room for improvement; the aggressive lines and classic pony-car dimensions are expertly tailored to a look we’ve come to know and drool over.

Under the hood is where the GT shines. The 5.0 engine is back–a 5-liter V8 that produces 412 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. This monster of an engine has been easily putting out 0-60 times in the mid-4 second range. The engine screams with power and acceleration, and luckily won’t kill your gas budget. The 5.0 engine gets a fairly impressive 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, which is amazing for such a monstrous and power-hungry V8.

Inside, the Mustang maintains a simple, clean look. There’s nothing inside, in terms of amenities and dashboard/console design, that could be considered modern or revolutionary. But then, not many people buy Mustang GTs for their luxury features. However, our host Jessi recommends getting the stereo upgrade package, as the standard stereo system leaves a lot to be desired.

With the 5.0 engine back and (hopefully) here to stay, the Mustang GT just might be the clear frontrunner for King of the Muscle Cars. Although its closest competitor, the Camaro SS, has 24 more horsepower, the Mustang GT weighs in at 300 pounds lighter than the SS. And with a base price of $32,845 (our test car came in at $38,760), this just could be 2011′s most powerful production car on the market for under 40 grand.