Arnold Schwarzenegger takes his classic Mercedes Excalibur

2009 Audi A4

The 2009 Audi A4 lineup includes 4-door sedans, 4-door wagons called Avants and 2-door convertibles called Cabriolets. The sedans and wagons are redesigned for 2009, while the convertible carries over with the 2008 body style. The Avant is offered as one model called 2.0T, while the sedan comes as the 2.0T or the 3.2. The Cabriolet is offered as the 2.0T, the 3.2 or the S4 with a 4.2-liter V8 engine. This review covers the redesigned sedan and wagon.

Standard equipment on 2.0T trims includes leather upholstery, automatic climate control, a tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, cruise control, the usual power accessories, an 8-way power front seat, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, a sunroof, an 180-watt AM/FM/stereo with 10 speakers, an auxiliary input jack, Sirius Satellite Radio, fog lights and P225/50R17 tires on alloy wheels. Wagons also have roof rails for a rack or other cargo carrier.

Upon introduction, the 2.0 T Sedan FrontTrak Multitronic is equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I4, 211-horsepower, turbo engine. A variable speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The 3.2 Cabriolet quattro Tiptronic is equipped with a standard 3.2-liter, V6, 255-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.

Jeep Patriot To Be EV

The Jeep Patriot EV comes with front-wheel drive and a 150 kW (equivalent to 200 horsepower) electric motor with an integrated power-control module and a lithium-ion battery pack. According to Jeep, the Patriot EV will be able to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in eight seconds. The company also says the batteries, motor and power-control module will not interfere with interior space.

An extended-range electric vehicle always runs on electric power, relying on a gasoline engine to recharge the battery. Chevrolet announced plans for the first extended-range electric vehicle, the Volt, at the 2007 Detroit show. Chrysler says all of its extended-range EVs will be able to drive on an electric charge for 40 miles. After that, a small, possibly 1.0-liter 3- or 4-cylinder gasoline engine will charge the battery and extend the driving range to as many as 400 miles, depending on the size of the auxiliary gas tank. The company says the extended-range EVs will produce no emissions in the first 40 miles and only half the emissions of comparable vehicles thereafter.

Regenerative braking will help recharge the batteries in all Chrysler EVs. Owners will be able to fully recharge the batteries in eight hours by plugging into a standard 110-volt power outlet or in four hours using a 220-volt household appliance power outlet. Chrysler reports that the current average cost of electricity is the equivalent of about 75 cents per gallon.

2009 Auto Show Calendar

January 2009

Through January 25
North American International Auto Show
Cobo Conference and Exhibition Center, Detroit, Mich.

January 16 — January 18
South Carolina International Auto Show
Palmetto Expo Center, Greenville, S.C.

January 16 — January 19
Utah International Auto Expo
South Towne Exposition Center, Sandy, Utah

January 16 — January 25
Montreal International Auto Show
Montreal, Ontario, Canada

January 22 — January 25
Midlands International Auto and Truck Show
QWEST Center, Omaha, Neb.

January 22 — January 25
New Jersey Auto Show
Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, N.J.

January 22 — January 25
Greater Toledo Auto Show
SeaGate Convention Center, Toledo, Ohio

January 23 — January 25
West Virginia International Auto Show
Charleston Civic Center, Charleston, W.Va.

January 23 — January 25
Mississippi International Auto Show
Jackson Convention Complex, Jackson, Miss.

January 24 — February 1
Houston Auto Show
Reliant Center, Houston, Texas

January 28 — February 1
Pennsylvania Auto and Boat Show
Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, Pa.

January 28 — February 1
St. Louis Auto Show
America's Center & Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Mo.

January 31 — February 8
Philadelphia International Auto Show
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

February 2009

February 4 — February 8
Washington Auto Show
Washington, District of Columbia

February 4 — February 8
101st Annual Syracuse Auto Expo
OnCenter and War Memorial, Syracuse, N.Y.

February 4 — February 8
Buffalo International Auto Show
Buffalo, N.Y.

February 5 — February 8
Michigan International Auto Show
De Vos Place, Grand Rapids, Mich.

February 5 — February 8
Portland International Auto Show
Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Ore.

February 6 — February 9
Iowa-Illinois Regional Auto Show
RiverCenter Convention Center, Davenport, Iowa

February 12 — February 15
Baltimore — Motor Trend International Auto Show
Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Md.

February 12 — February 15
North Carolina International Auto Expo
Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, N.C.

February 12 — February 15
Pittsburgh Auto Show
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.

February 13 — February 15
Jacksonville International Car and Truck Show
Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, Jacksonville, Fla

February 13 — February 15
Spokane International Auto Show
Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds, Spokane, Wash.

February 13 — February 21
Chicago Auto Show
McCormick Place South, Chicago, Ill.

February 13 — February 22
Canadian International Auto Show
Metro Toronto Convention Centre & Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario

February 18 — February 22
Dallas Auto Show
Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas

February 19 — February 22
Cincinnati Auto Expo
Cincinnati Convention Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

February 20 — February 22
Louisville New Car Show
Kentucky Fair and Expo Center, Louisville, Ky.

February 21 — March 1
Greater Milwaukee Auto Show
Midwest Airlines Center, Milwaukee, Wis.

February 25 — March 1
Rochester International Auto Show
Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, N.Y.

February 26 — March 1
Edmonton Motor Show
Edmonton, Alberta

February 27 — March 9
Melbourne International Motor Show
Melbourne, Australia

February 28 — March 8
Cleveland Auto Show
International Exposition (I-X) Center, Cleveland, Ohio

March 2009

March 5 — March 8
Oklahoma City International Auto Show
Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, Okla.

March 5 — March 15
Geneva Motor Show
Geneva, Switzerland

March 11 — March 15
Calgary International Auto & Truck Show
Calgary Roundup Centre & Corral, Calgary, Alberta

March 11 — March 15
Greater Kansas City International Auto Show
Bartle Hall, Kansas City, Mo.

March 13 — March 15
Virginia Motor Trend International Auto Show
Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, Va.

March 14 — March 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution International Auto Show
Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga.

March 19 — March 22
Columbus International Auto Show
Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio

March 20 — March 22
New Orleans International Auto Show
Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, La.

March 21 — March 29
Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul International Auto Show
Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minn.

March 26 — March 29
First Hawaiian International Auto Show
Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu, Hawaii

April 2009

April 1 — April 5
Denver Auto Show
Colorado Convention Center Denver, Colo.

April 2 — April 12
Seoul Motor Show
KINTEX, Seoul, Korea

April 3 — April 5
Albany Auto Show
The Times Union Center, Albany, N.Y.

April 10 — April 19
New York International Auto Show
Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York, N.Y.

April 17 — April 19
StatesmanCars Auto Show
Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas

April 17 — April 19
New Mexico International Auto Show
Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, N.M.

April 20 — April 28
Auto Shanghai
Shanghai New International Expo Center

April 21 — April 25
Comtrans 2009
Crocus Exhibition Centre, Moscow, Russia

September 2009

September 17 — September 27
Frankfurt International Motor Show
Frankfurt, Germany

September 18 — September 20
Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles
Glenmoor Country Club, Canton, Ohio

Texas State Fair Auto Show
Dallas, Texas

October 2009

October 2 — October 4
Delaware Auto Show
Wilmington, Del.

Tokyo Motor Show

San Antonio International Auto and Truck Show
San Antonio, Texas

Central California Auto Show
Fresno, Calif.

Auto Expo Long Island
Long Island, N.Y.

November 2009

November 12 — November 15
Sacramento International Auto Show
Cal Expo Sacramento, Calif.

November 19 — November 22
Charlotte International Auto Show
Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, N.C.

Seattle International Auto Show
Qwest Field Event Center, Seattle, Wash.

Alabama International Auto Show
Birmingham, Ala.

Memphis International Auto Show
Memphis, Tenn.

South Florida Auto Show
Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, Fla.

Nashville International Auto Show
Nashville Convention Center, Nashville, Tenn.

Connecticut International Auto Show
Connecticut Expo Center, Hartford,

Central Florida International Auto Show
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla.

Arizona International Auto Show
Civic Plaza, Phoenix, Ariz.

Puerto Rico Auto Show
San Juan, Puerto Rico

December 2009

New England International Auto Show
Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, Mass.

Tampa Bay International Auto Show
Convention Center, Tampa, Fla.

Indianapolis Auto Show
Indianapolis, Ind.

San Diego International Auto Show
San Diego, Calif.

2010 Volvo XC60

The 2010 Volvo XC60 is an all-new model and arrives in the U.S. as the T6 AWD powered by Volvo’s 281-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine combined with a 6-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Standard equipment for the XC60 T6 AWD includes Dynamic Stability Traction Control, Hill Descent Control, Automatic Climate Control, High-Performance Audio System with Sirius Satellite Radio and HD radio, leather seats, alloy interior trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, Roll Stability Control (RSC) rollover sensor, power adjustable front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels and power liftgate.

2009 Toyota Venza

The Toyota Highlander makes a lot of sense as a car-based urban crossover sport ute. It blends excellent everyday practicality and Camry reliability in a vehicle that's roomy but not so large as to be ponderous around town or be a big-time fuel guzzler. Problem is, it's boring. A smart purchase, for sure, but not one you'll brag about to your pals at work. Indeed, it's the Camry of crossovers.

Enter the new Toyota Venza. Yes, it's based on the Highlander's platform, but somehow this new Kentucky-built Venza exudes much more personality, which we chalk up to the elegantly aggressive styling penned at Toyota's CALTY Design Research Center in Newport Beach, California. The Venza is a fastback 5-door that defies categorization; it's not an SUV, it's not a coupe, it's not a sedan. Perhaps it's best described as a tall 5-seat wagon with the step-in height of a car and the elevated seating position of an SUV, all blended into an attractively styled package. And we all know that in today's world of increasingly competent vehicles, styling plays a more significant role than ever.

Available in front- or all-wheel-drive configurations, the new Venza is powered by a 183-bhp 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine or a 3.5-liter V-6 with 268 bhp. We had a chance to drive both, and came away impressed. The all-new dohc 4-cylinder, which will soon find a home in other Toyotas, is remarkably smooth for its large displacement, thanks in part to some large engine mounts clearly designed to quell some of the inherent shake. This aluminum-block engine, which has dual balance shafts, gets the job done reasonably well, mated exclusively to a 6-speed automatic transmission. EPA fuel economy with the 4-cylinder is 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway.

The V-6, which mounts to the same seamless-shifting 6-speed automatic, is a model of smoothness, generating its 268 bhp at 6200 rpm and 246 lb-ft. of torque at 4700 rpm. Even with a full load of five folks in the V-6 Venza (three adults fit pretty well across the wide, split-folding rear bench), power is more than sufficient. On the other hand, EPA fuel economy with the V-6 isn't quite as good as with the four — 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway. The V-6 Venza is differentiated by dual exhausts and 20-in. wheels shod with 245/50 tires; they look just right in this application, whereas the 19s on the 4-cylinder models almost look too small.

Limited edition Edo Lamborghini LP 710 Audigier

Lamborghini presented new car model which is the fastest of all time. The limited edition Edo Lamborghini LP 710 Audigier, of which only five will be created, is a car engineered to the highest standards, combined with Christian Audigier’s unusual themes and unparalleled sense of color. The base car, a Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640, is totally disassembled. The adaptations to the engine, aerodynamics, wheels, tires, exhaust system and interior are made to measure at edo competition within a three month time frame. The name says all and it is really a limited edition. All of them should acquire a highest speed up to 360 km/h. The Limited Edition Edo Lamborghini LP 710 Audigier to date comes for a cool €495,000 (US $692,500).