SUV

Beefy Lagonda concept is flayed--but noticed

GENEVA--Aston Martin's Lagonda SUV was easily the top attention-getter at the auto show here. Few were neutral. Many were outraged.

But Aston design director Marek Reichman says that's what he expected when the concept surprised journalists on the final media day.

Reaction was reminiscent of, say, the debut of the Bangle-butt BMW 7 series at the 2001 Frankfurt show.

"Abomination," blogged Dutch Mandel, editor of AutoWeek. "Please, dear God, you aren't serious!"

Others were more accepting of the massive, jarring vehicle that was crammed onto a tight corner of the Aston stand.

"… Read more

Ford's 100,000th hybrid SUV rolls off line at Kansas City plant

When Ford launched the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids five years ago, the company hoped the SUVs would be a hit. Now, the vehicles remain the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the market. Yesterday, workers at Ford's Kansas City assembly plant celebrated a milestone as its 100,000th hybrid SUV rolled off the line.

The Ford Escape Hybrid SUV and Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV deliver 34 mpg city driving, 31 mpg highway. The newest entries to Ford's hybrid lineup, the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid deliver 41 mpg city driving, 36 mpg highway, the most fuel-efficient midsize sedans … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 840: A box of evil

Hey, this sounds like a good idea! Create an artificial intelligence that's the incarnation of pure evil and immorality. You know, just to "study" it. It'll never get out. (Ugh.) So, that's happening today, along with Microsoft's announcement of its cloud OS, Azure; Chevy determines that hybrid SUVs won't make money no matter how you build them, and Wired tries to say the DMCA has been a good thing. Oh, and in addition to Oprah, Molly likes Martha.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

EPISODE 840

Microsoft's Azure cloud platform: A guide … Read more

Review: 2009 Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD with Nav

The external aesthetic of the 2009 Honda CR-V mixes the Honda Civic's space-age design with the face and bulk of a bulldog. Although you may never catch us calling the CR-V attractive, its looks aren't offensive. More importantly, spend some time behind the wheel and you'll see that the CR-V manages to combine the sporty ride and handling of a small sedan with the utility of a small SUV while making few, if any, compromises.

In its EX-L with Nav trim level, the CR-V has an extra trick up its sleeve in the form of a DVD-based … Read more

Review: 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S

One of the first things we noted about the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S is its similarity to Volkswagen's hot hatch, the GTI MkV. Both vehicles have 200 horsepower 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Both have about the same amount of passenger space and a similar wheelbase and track width. Aside from the Tiguan's taller stance, you'd be hard pressed to note any difference between the two vehicles when driven with a degree of civility.

However, when driven aggressively, the differences become more apparent.

Read the full 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S review.

Review: 2009 Honda Pilot EX-L

Let's face it: the Honda Pilot has always looked like a brick on wheels. The new-for-2009 Pilot, with its CR-V-inspired grille, looks even worse. It doesn't get much better on the inside, with a dash dominated by cheap plastics and questionable material choices. As much as we dislike the Pilot's aesthetics, we can say that the SUV feels solid, as though it were machined out of a solid piece of metal. The ride is supple without being floaty, and the cabin is among the quietest in its class.

Read the full 2009 Honda Pilot EX-L review.

Kia launches Borrego just as SUVs lose favor

CLE ELUM, Wash.--Is this an opportunity or a case of bad timing?

Kia is launching its midsized 2009 Borrego as the market for SUVs is collapsing.

"There is some migration from full-sized to midsized (SUVs), which we think plays well for the Kia brand," Tom Loveless, Kia Motors America's vice president of sales, said at a media event. "For us, it is an opportunity to enter a segment where we have never been, and it is also an opportunity to go after a consumer that we really haven't had access to."

Translation: The Borrego is Kia's most expensive vehicle, aimed at consumers who spend $27,000 to more than $40,000 for such SUVs as the Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota 4Runner, Ford Explorer, or Jeep Grand Cherokee.

… Read more

Review: 2009 Nissan Murano SL AWD

"SUV" once meant large, truck-like gas-guzzler that, despite never being taken off-road, seemed better suited to the actual jungle than the urban jungle. Enter the Nissan Murano. Ignoring the SUV's truck roots, Nissan created a vehicle that cast off all rugged pretenses and brought style to the boxy world of the SUV.

The 2009 Nissan Murano has received a styling evolution that is still distinctly "Murano," which is a good thing since the original model was quite a looker. The new model features new body lines that are more pronounced and muscular. The most obvious … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 742: iPhone hangover day

In the great cycle of technology, today is the day-after-Jobs-keynote when we are bummed about the morsels that were dished out the day before. Witness: iPhone activation, lockdown, and data plan woes. Also, ISPs take one big step down the slippery slope, the SUV takes a nosedive, and Stewart and Colbert hit Hulu. Rejoice!

Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 742

Apple may soon be free from AT&T http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-9964695-17.html

iPhone 3G: AT&T memo to retail managers shows iPhone 3G policy http://gizmodo.com/5014909/att-memo-to-retail-managers-shows-iphone-3g-policy http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/06/09/3g_iphone_to_be_in_store_activated_free_upgrade_for_recent_buyers.html … Read more