If you know Nissan, you’ll know they have a reputation of building cars as clean as their engines – engines that have won prestigious “engine of the year” awards in their classes. Apart from sensible family sedans, organization saloons and hot sports cars, Nissan also have a rather outstanding minivan – the 2011 Nissan mission LE – top of the line trim, with seating for more people today to get pleasure from all that it has to offer!

Exterior
The first thing you notice is that distinct chrome outlay just above the front grille. You would be excused for thinking it’s a saloon, and not a 200 inch long people today carrier! It is beautiful, and no less practical correct from the start, with automatic xenon headlamps, power sliding doors – not the power slides like other Nissan cars mind you, roof rails, 18 inch alloy tyres and even a moon roof, which is part of an optional package.

Interior
The equipment list on the 2011 Nissan mission LE stretches even more on the inside, in tune with the three rows of seats. There’s an 8-way power driver’s seat, flat folding second row captain seats, and a 60:40 split-folding third row. You have tri-zone automatic climate handle, a 120V AC power Supply depot, mood lighting, an in-cabin air microfilter, Bluetooth connectivity with streaming audio, a hard drive Navigation program and HomeLink transceiver as standard. Also standard is the great Bose audio program with 13 speakers, DVD entertainment program complete with wireless headphones and a 7″ in-dash monitor.

Safety
The 2011 Nissan mission LE, being the top-of-the-line Variant spares no frills offering the full complement of safety features. Nissan’s advanced airbag program features dual-stage front airbags with seat-belt sensors, side airbags for all three rows, and front seats with active head rests and pre-tensioner and load limiter equipped seat belts. Traction handle and car Dynamic handle are also present, as are four-tyre vented disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking program and digital Brakeforce Distribution. The power steering is speed-sensitive as well. The LE is also equipped as standard with the Blind Spot Warning program, which is very useful if you’re wanting to do some highway miles.

Performance
Handling propulsion duty is a clean 3.5L V6 – one of Nissan’s finest engines. With 260 horsepower and 240 lb/ft of torque, it has a good amount of push to make this mission quite potent. It features Nissan’s CVTCS and is fitted as standard with iridium spark plugs. With independent suspension front and rear, featuring front stabilizer bars for added good measure, a light digital power steering program and with the digital aids, handling this big mission is a breeze.

Overall, the 2011 Nissan mission LE checks all the correct bins. It’s comfortable, practical, spacious, safe, frugal yet has good power on tap, and more importantly, it’s fun and reliable at the same time.

Overview – 2011 Nissan Quest LE
Model: Nissan Quest
Trim: LE
Price: From $41,350
Body Style: Minivan
Engine: 3.5L V6 24V DOHC with Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System
Power: 260 hp / 6000 rpm
Torque: 240 lb/ft / 4400 rpm
Transmission: Xtronix CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) Front Wheel Drive
Curb Weight: 4,568 lbs.
Wheels & Tires: 18 x 7.0 aluminum alloy with 235/55 TR18 all-season tires
Vehicle Warranty: 3 year / 36,000 miles limited coverage
Powertrain Warranty: 5 year / 60,000 miles limited coverage
Fuel economy EPA MPG: 19 city / 24 highway

With the latest XK type release, Jaguar faces some stiff competition from other European brands and will have to see off high high quality competitors from both Mercedes Benz and BMW if it’s to make a real impression. It’s tuned cousin the XK-R has currently won the sports activities car of the year award but how does the base product fare?

From first glance, the new shape XK is a beautiful machine but it doesn’t truly look that “Jaguar” anymore, it seems more like a copycat Aston Martin, which isn’t the worst thing in the planet but what about staying original? The curves lengthwise are remarkable and the look is good from a 45 degree angle however from the direct front, the Jaguar takes on the appearance of a basking shark with that low centered mouth-like front grill. It’s a matter of personal taste of course but many folk favor the look of the older products it would seem.

However we all know that the outside styling is only a small part of what makes a car a success or failure and I’m happy to report that the interior has been done in typical smooth Jaguar style. There is plastic, of course, but the a healthy amount of chrome and the expertise of the jaguars ergonomic team has created a real sense of style. The seats hug you nicely but aren’t overbearing like in some of the higher range BMW products for example.

However it’s when you turn the key that the beast comes alive, all of the XK’s come with a 5.0 liter V8 engine in three grades of tuning. The base product coupe produces 385 BHP and 380 Lb of Torque for a 0-60 time of 5.3 Seconds. undoubtedly no slouch on the tarmac! The two supercharged products give stats from another planet, with 510 and 580 BHP respectively. The distinctive throaty Jaguar roar is also still current and as much of a enjoyment to digest as ever. The fuel consumption is actually somewhat good for a 5 liter engine standing at 22 MPG form the XK convertible whilst on the Highway and the midrange acceleration is a unique feature of the engine set up. The tank capacity of 16.6 gallons or 72 liters need to keep all 1700 Kilo’s of Jag on the road for a while. The handling, as with most European products, is outstanding and although I’ve never been a fan of the paddle shit style automatic gearboxes the XK’s is almost always spot on in terms of delivering energy in smooth concentrated bursts. There is a little understeer on the non supercharged product though, to be honest this only comes into play on the track on tight corners so I doubt this will be of any issue for the road. One could maybe upgrade the tires, the 2,752mm wheelbase is easily catered for.

The safety record of the Jaguar is good and the product comes not only with influence protection bars but the latest in airbag and safety features. GPS tracking is standard and as always with Jaguar the common sense practical aspects have been smoothly rolled into a grand touring package deal.

Overall, the XK is a perfectly formed item of engineering and other than a few styling selections on the front grill and the slight propensity for understeer whilst under extreme stress, is the market leader in its class. A good option for the $90,500 starting price of the convertible.

The BMW M3 is one of the finest driver’s cars ever made, and I was finally lucky enough to spend a week with one.

The heart of the M3 is an exquisite 4.0L V8, making 414hp at a wild 8300rpm. Peak torque is 295 lb-ft, but that entire figure is available at just 3900rpm, a stunning mark of tractability in such a high-revving screamer.

2011 BMW M3

Our test car was equipped with a 7-speed DCT (BMW’s name for the fancy dual-clutch gearbox), and the transmission—like other vehicle characteristics like throttle response and suspension—can be adjusted from ‘nice and easy’ to ‘neckbreaking.’

2011 M3s equipped with this transmission have gone as low as 3.9 sec to 60mph, and 12.5 sec in the 1/4-mile. Yet due to the engine’s powerband, it’s remarkably civilized around town.

Gearing is perfect; even in 7th gear, the car is never caught flat-footed. In fact, at 2000rpm in 7th the car will be going just 50mph! That is great for acceleration, bad for fuel economy: the M3 manages just 14 mpg city and 20 highway and gets slapped with the gaz-guzzler tax.

That’s really the only chink in the car’s armor, and the M3 instantly became the car by which I measure all sports cars by.

Download the window sticker and see additional photos of the M3 at http://roadflytv.com

Vehicle: 2011 M3 Coupe

Base Price: $58,400

Price as tested: $69,925

Engine: 4.0L 32V V8
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual (DCT)
Horsepower: 414 @ 8300 rpm
Torque: 295 lb.-ft. @ 3900 rpm
0-60 MPH: 3.9-4.5 sec.
Warranty: 4 years, 50,000 miles w/free maintenance
Fuel Economy: 14 city / 20 highway MPG

More pictures:

BMW Forum Link: BMW Forum

M3 Forum Link: BMW M3 Forum

YouTube Link: 2011 BMW M3 Road Test & Review Video

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.

Introduction

Boasting a lot of bang for your buck, the Mazda2 is a quick and peppy ride with amazing gas mileage and an extremely agreeable pricetag, all-in-all exemplifying the old Mazda maxim, “Zoom zoom.”

Exterior Styling

Taking design cues from its sporty cousin, the Mazda3, the Mazda2 retains much of the signature hatchback sleekness that the 3 is known for. Its smooth lines give it an aerodynamic aesthetic, and the wide headlights and unique honeycomb front grill make for a fun-looking ride.

2011 MAZDA2 Touring

Interior Styling

Surprisingly, in a car of Mazda2′s size, there’s a good amount of headroom. Being 6’3″, I found plenty of space between my giant head and the car’s ceiling and found that there was plenty of comfortable space for my legs and arms as well. The backseats looked and felt a little restrictive, but on the plus side they come with a 60/40 split fold-down so you can greatly increase the car’s cargo capacity, since the regular trunk space is rather paltry.

As far as interior amenities are concerned, the Mazda2 are rather lacking. Air conditioning, power windows and locks are all standard but you won’t find any navigation screens or state-of-the-art computing here. The most appealing feature I found here is an auxiliary input for your iPod and a pretty decent 4-speaker stereo system. But for someone like me, that’s really all I need, so I can’t complain.

Safety

The Mazda2 features six standard airbags, great visibility, and a confident braking system that makes you feel safe while driving such a compact car.

Powertrain & Performance

The Mazda2 has a 1.5 liter four-cylinder engine that cranks out 100 horsepower and 98 lb.-ft. of torque. This may seem weak, but with the great power-to-weight ratio, the Mazda2 accelerates faster than you’d guess.

Driving Impressions

I got to drive the Mazda2 for a solid week and was impressed. I would have loved to try out the 5-speed manual while I was cruising along curvy country roads, but my as-tested 4-speed automatic was more than diligent, and the handling was responsive and assertive. I had no problem hugging the curves in this car along the backroads or avoiding the common pitfalls of Washington DC traffic. And, as a side note, this the easiest car you will ever parallel park.

Conclusion

With gas mileage that is practically comparable to hybrids (27 city, 33 highway! and even better if you take the 5-speed manual), the Mazda2 is a fun little ride that you’ll enjoy whether you commute in the city or the country, and it won’t break your bank either. With an as-tested price of $17,185, the Mazda2 seems to outclass its competitors such as the Honda Fit or the Toyota Venza with its confident and sporty attitude.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

12►

Set to go on sale in July 2010 as a 2011 model, the next generation Infiniti QX is all new.  Its new high-stiffness frame structure enhances ride comfort through the use of Infiniti’s Hydraulic Body-Motion Control system.  The new 5.6-liter V8 engine combines the responsive acceleration of Infiniti’s VVEL (Variable Valve Event & Lift) technology with the efficiency of a Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) engine mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission.  With 400 horsepower and 413 lbs-ft of torque, the QX can tow up to 8,500 lbs. Fuel consumption has improved by 14% in the new QX56 for 2011.

YouTube Link: 2011 Infiniti QX56 Road Test Video

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

• 2012 Range Rover Evoque (2/14/2012)
• 2012 MINI Cooper Coupe (2/7/2012)
• 2012 BMW 3 Series Sedan (1/30/2012)
• 2012 Hyundai Veloster (1/20/2012)
• 2012 Mazda3 SkyActive (11/1/2011)
• 2012 Honda Civic Si (10/1/2011)
• 2012 Hyundai Accent (9/25/2011)
• 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 (8/10/2011)
• 2011 Chevrolet Cruze (7/20/2011)
• 2012 Audi A7 (6/10/2011)
• 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet (6/2/2011)
• 2011 Kia Optima Turbo (5/26/2011)
• 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R Spec (3/15/2011)
• 2011 VW Touareg VR6 Sport (3/15/2011)
• 2011 BMW 535i Sedan (2/8/2011)
• 2011 Nissan Juke SL AWD (12/14/2010)
• 2011 Nissan LEAF (12/13/2010)
• 2011 Lexus RX350 (11/23/2010)
• 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet (11/15/10)l
• 2011 Ford Mustang GT (11/1/10)
• 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder (8/20/10)
• 2011 Hyundai Sonata (9/15/2010)
• 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS (6/10/10)
• 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
• 2010 Mazdaspeed3
• 2010 Toyota Highlander (01/15/10)
• 2010 BMW 335d
• 2010 Subaru Legacy GT
• 2011 Infiniti M56
• 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster (5/6/09)
• 2009 Cadillac CTS (2/23/09)
• 2009 Subaru Impreza
• Chevrolet Traverse (2/15/09)
• Infiniti M45
• Toyota Corolla
• Jaguar XF
• Jaguar XK
• 2008 Focus Coupe SES (10/17/2008)
• Honda Civic SI
• Toyota Prius
• Toyota Rav4
• Infiniti G35 Sedan
• Infiniti G37 Coupe
• BMW 135
• BMW 335
• Audi R8
• Audi S5
• 2008 Ford Focus Coupe SES
• Nissan GT-R
• Nissan Murano
• Suzuki SX4
• Hyundai Entourage