2014 Audi A5 Review, Specs, Price, Pictures

2014 Audi A5 Review, Specs, Price, Pictures

2014 Audi A5 Release date, Price, Interior, Exterior, Engine. - The 2014 Audi A5 ranks 12 out of 23 Upscale Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of published reviews and test drives of the Audi A5, as well as reliability and safety data.

The 2014 Audi A5 gets a slight bump up in horsepower. New standard features like Bluetooth have been added and keyless ignition/entry is now standard on the Premium Plus trim. Also, an optional Black Optic appearance package debuts.

Now, the 2014 Audi A5 comes with a turbocharged four cylinder engine that some reviewers wish had stronger acceleration. The A5 Coupe comes with a six-speed manual transmission, while the A5 Cabriolet comes with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that test drivers say isn’t as responsive as they would like. However, an eight-speed automatic transmission is optional, and critics write that it shifts quickly and smoothly. The EPA reports that the base A5 Coupe gets 22/32 mpg city/highway, which is good for the class. Reviewers say the A5 has a comfortable ride and decent cornering ability, as well as accurate steering and strong brakes.

The 2014 Audi A5 seats four and is available in Coupe and Cabriolet body styles. The 2014 A5 is available in several trims, ranging from the base A5 Premium Coupe, with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine, all wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission, to the top of the-line Audi RS5 Cabriolet, with a 4.2 liter V8 engine, all wheel drive and a seven-speed automated manual transmission. Although it has received updates over the years, the Audi A5 has not been fully redesigned since its debut for the 2008 model year. As a result, this overview uses applicable research and reviews from the 2008 through 2014 model years.

The 2014 Audi A5 is in many ways an ideal luxury coupe, and it has the goods to please a wide range of buyers in this segment. With competition like the BMW 4 Series, Infiniti Q60 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, this Audi isn't exactly going up against lightweights. Still, it stands out even among this distinguished lineup by offering a thoughtfully calibrated blend of luxury and athleticism.

Price

2014 Audi A5 Starting MSRP : $39,000 - $77,900

Specs

The base A5 Premium trim level comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof (coupe), automatic lights and wipers, tri-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, eight-way power front seats with four-way driver lumbar support, split-folding rear seats, a dash-mounted MMI electronics interface controller, a 6.5-inch display, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and an iPod interface. The Cabriolet adds a power-operated convertible top and a wind deflector. To this you can add the Lighting package, which includes xenon headlights and LED running lights and taillights.

Opting for the Premium Plus package gets you all the Premium trim's standard equipment and the features in the Lighting package, along with keyless ignition/entry, auto-dimming and heated mirrors, heated front seats and driver-seat memory functions. To that, you can add the optional MMI Navigation Plus package, which includes front and rear parking sensors; a navigation system; Bluetooth audio connectivity; an upgraded, console-mounted MMI interface; a slightly larger 7-inch display; a rearview camera; HD radio and Audi Connect (enhanced Web-based navigation, information and WiFi hot spot).

Those who choose the 2014 Audi A5 convertible will certainly appreciate the expediency of the power operated soft top's operation: It requires only about 15 seconds to raise or lower. With the tight-fitting, multilayer top in place, the interior is so well insulated from noise and weather that you may forget you're driving a convertible. Even better, the al fresco driving experience doesn't come at the expense of trunk space. Thanks to the use of a fabric top instead of a more elaborate hardtop, the trunk can still accommodate 10.2 cubic feet of cargo when the top is folded down, only 2 cubes less than the coupe. Both body styles feature folding rear seats for added convenience.

Performance

Powering the 2014 Audi A5 is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder engine that produces 220 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque. Coupe models come standard with a six-speed manual transmission and all wheel drive. A5 Cabriolets come standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. All wheel drive is available as an option on the Cabriolet and it comes paired with an eight speed automatic transmission, which is also offered for all heel drive coupes.

Truth be told, we'd really pass the A5 entirely for the S5 coupe and cabriolet, their 333-hp supercharged V-6, and their choice of manual six-speed or seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions. A sport suspension, better brakes and bigger wheels and tires give it tauter handling with less understeer than the basic A5; Drive Select and Dynamic Steering are on the menu as well. The champion of the lineup is undoubtedly the RS 5, available this year either as a coupe or as a cabriolet. Its 4.2-liter V-8 has 450 ripe-sounding horsepower, its dual-clutch transmission is effortlessly quick to shift, and its available sport differential turns it into a rival for the likes of the C63 AMG, M3, and CTS-V.

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2014 Honda Insight Review, Specs, Price, Pictures

2014 Honda Insight Review, Specs, Price, Pictures

2014 Honda Insight Release date, Price, Interior, Exterior, Engine. - The 2014 Honda Insight is a hatchback hybrid that can get up to 42 mpg in combined city/highway driving. The 2014 Honda Insight is very similar to the 2013 model.  You can learn more about the 2013 Honda Insight by reading our 2013 Honda Insight review. As more information on the 2014 Honda Insight becomes available, we'll post it here, so please check back soon. The 2014 Honda Insight is on sale now.

The 2014 Insight is carried over unchanged. It was revamped for 2012 with a new battery pack, very minor styling updates, and revisions to the interior materials and instrument displays.

The Honda Insight shares the high-tail hatchback shape of the Toyota Prius, simply because it's aerodynamically most efficient. The windshield is raked at a steep angle, and the tailgate has a small second vertical window as well as the long, almost-horizontal main glass, improving visibility. Space inside is good in front, although taller drivers may find the lower cushion of the front seat too short. But the sloping roofline makes rear-seat headroom very tight indeed, despite a reshaped headliner in 2012 that added half an inch. It's strictly a two-adult seat, though three smaller kids will fit in emergencies.

Price

2014 Honda Insight MSRP : $18,725 - $22,190

Specs

The 2014 Honda Insight is rated at 42 mpg combined, against the 50 mpg of the Prius C and even the 44 mpg rating of the admittedly much more expensive Honda Civic Hybrid sedan that uses the same powertrain. With hybrid buyers being more affluent than general car buyers, the Civic Hybrid's more spacious, more luxurious cabin may seem worth its $5,000 higher cost.

The base model of Honda Insight costs less than $19,000. While it includes remote entry, power windows, automatic climate control, and an audio system with two speakers, it's still fairly spartan. Most buyers will want to move up to the mid-level LX models, which adds niceties like an armrest console, map lights, a security system, and floor mats as well as a four-speaker audio system with USB interface and steering-wheel controls.

The Insight is powered by Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system, which is a combination of a 1.3-liter gas engine and a 13-hp electric motor, all attached to a continuously variable transmission. The engine and motor combined generate 98-hp and 123-lb.ft of torque, and provide 40-plus mpg fuel economy. The base trim offers six airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability and traction control, automatic climate control, power windows, locks and mirrors, keyless entry and a two-speaker CD audio system with an auxiliary input. The LX trim adds floor mats, cruise control with steering wheel controls, a security system and a four-speaker CD audio system with USB interface. The EX trim adds alloy wheels, a six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth for hands-free cell phone use, heated exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. A voice activated navigation system with FM traffic and a rearview camera is available on the EX trim.

Engine

That engine is a 1.3-liter four-cylinder unit, with a 10-kilowatt (14-horsepower) motor sandwiched between the engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The combined overall output is 98 hp; torque is 123 lb-ft. The motor can't move the car on its own; instead, it supplements engine output with added torque, restarts the engine after a stop, and acts as a generator to recharge the car's lithium-ion battery pack. That pack is sited under the load floor, meaning a shallow cargo bay in contrast to the Prius C, which managed to shoehorn its battery under the rear seat next to the gas tank, providing a full-depth load bay behind the rear seat.

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2015 Subaru WRX Review, Specs, Price, Pictures

2015 Subaru WRX Review, Specs, Price, Pictures

2015 Subaru WRX Release date, Price, Interior, Exterior, Engine. - The 2015 Subaru WRX is more than just a hotted-up econocar it's the standard bearer for a whole cadre of enthusiasts who put down Mustangs and show no love for Camaros. It's a whizzy, turbocharged, all wheel driven blast and it's new for 2015.

Every time I drive a Subaru WRX, I wish one of my parents had taken some weird, top-secret spy job that would have forced us to relocate to Finland when I was a kid. I could have learned the art of rally-style car control as a young lad, and in my adult life, sought out a dangerous/rewarding/awesome career as a professional WRC driver.

Never was that more clear than on the launch program for the new 2015 WRX, where Subaru pointed us down a long, somewhat treacherous stretch of road in the tree-lined mountains of northern California. Quick elevation changes were met with blind turns and washed-out shoulders, not to mention rogue bits of snow, ice and gravel that lined the apexes of nearly every turn. Here, I couldn't stop grinning, my co-driver and I switching between second and third gears, with precise steering inputs and judicious braking keeping us safely on the road and not plummeting nose-first into the trees. And the WRX simply devoured each inch of pavement with a ferocious poise that made me remember why I have loved this car so darn much.

The WRX has never been a particularly pretty thing, and the new model does nothing to break that trend, despite its decidedly hot concept car roots. Then again, you don't have to look at the sheet metal while you're driving (I've used this same logic with prior versions of the car), and even Subaru's executives know that people aren't buying this thing for its glamor.

Specs

Make it big, and make it boxy; that's the ethos of the new WRX's styling, at least at the front end where the air intakes have never looked quite so massive, or the fenders quite so pronounced. Subaru says the deep front air dam and grille aren't the only pieces swapped out to make it so: the WRX has its own hood, fenders, bumpers, and lighting to distinguish it from the Impreza. Key details include the more deeply set (and functional) hood scoop, LED low beam headlights on upgraded models, and new 17-inch wheels, standard. Somehow, with all that in place, it all still reads dully not nearly as compelling as the extravagant mechanicals that lie beneath the skin.

Subaru says it's done a lot to further differentiate the new WRX from its Impreza roots (including removing "Impreza" from its name), and while there's proof in the pudding, that doesn't come through at first glance. The WRX is a touch larger than a stock Impreza 0.2 inches have been added to the wheelbase, 0.6 to overall length, 0.4 to height and, most importantly, 2.2 to width. Nearly all of the sheetmetal has been changed in creating the car, with only the glass, roof and decklid carrying over from the Impreza. Given the amount of money and effort expended, it's fair to say we're disappointed that there isn't more visual separation between the Rex and its pedestrian Impreza cousins.

Other 2015 model year updates include newly designed, dark-finished 17-inch wheels, now with a five-lug pattern that matches the rollers of the current STI. (This was something owners had been clamoring for, apparently. Also, where are the WRC-spec gold wheels). Elsewhere, Subaru has incorporated LED headlamps (on top-trim models) and LED taillamps. Still, the end result is a car that looks. like a hot Impreza. That said, nobody will mistake it for anything but a WRX on the road especially in its signature WR Blue.

A vast majority of the WRX's driving excitement comes down to the new 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine, which is, essentially, a reworked version of what's found in the 2014 Forester XT. Here in the WRX, it produces 268 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque between 2,000 and 5,200 rpm – gains of only 3 hp and 14 lb-ft versus its predecessor. That engine is tasked with carrying an additional 59 pounds of heft compared to the 2014 model, with the base curb weight for the manual transmission model I tested coming in at 3,267 pounds. Because of this, Subaru estimates a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds with the six-speed – a few ticks slower than the outgoing model. That said, Subaru fully admits that the 5.4-second time is extremely conservative, and my seat-of-the-pants observation agrees.

Performance

A vast majority of the WRX's driving excitement comes down to the new 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine, which is, essentially, a reworked version of what's found in the 2014 Forester XT. Here in the WRX, it produces 268 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque between 2,000 and 5,200 rpm gains of only 3 hp and 14 lb-ft versus its predecessor. That engine is tasked with carrying an additional 59 pounds of heft compared to the 2014 model, with the base curb weight for the manual transmission model I tested coming in at 3,267 pounds. Because of this, Subaru estimates a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds with the six speed a few ticks slower than the outgoing model. That said, Subaru fully admits that the 5.4 second time is extremely conservative, and my seat of the-pants observation agrees.

The CVT helps with fuel economy, too, though that won't be outwardly apparent. Official EPA numbers are forthcoming, but Subaru expects the CVT model to be rated at 19/25/21 miles per gallon (city/highway/combined). That's not great, but here's why: That's the car as tested in Sport mode, which Subaru expects the WRX will be driven in the majority of the time. The company states that in Intelligent mode, those numbers rise to 23/30/25, but since the car won't likely achieve that most of the time, they decided they had better go with the more attainable numbers. The 6MT car will net 21/28/24 mpg, which is respectable, considering how much fun it is.

Braking performance has also improved for 2015, with the WRX now using 12.4 inch ventilated front rotors with dual-piston calipers, up from the 11.6 inch diameter units of its predecessor. The 11.3 inch solid rear rotors with single-piston calipers carry over from the old WRX. In street use, I was never left wanting for more brake performance, but improved pedal feel would have been appreciated. There's a disappointingly sizable moment of vagueness when you hit the stop pedal, and you have to dig your toes deeper into the footwell to get the sort of stopping performance required during spirited runs. As for fade, none was apparent, even after hours of caning the Subie around some of the best roads northern California has to offer.

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2015 Chevrolet Tahoe Review, Specs, Price, Pictures

2015 Chevrolet Tahoe Review, Specs, Price, Pictures

2015 Chevrolet Tahoe Release date, Price, Interior, Exterior, Engine. - For 2015, Chevrolet fully redesigned the Tahoe. The big SUV will still ride on a traditional body on frame architecture, based around the structure of the new Chevrolet Silverado. The Tahoe also lifts Silverado styling cues, including a new grille, full width bumper and sculpted sides and fenders for a more modern, even aerodynamic look.

Full-size SUVs aren't as common as they were just a decade ago, but the big names are still towing, hauling, and carrying in ways no crossover can. For the 2015 model year, the Chevy Tahoe signs up for more of that hard work, with a revamped powertrain, a crisp new look, and more comfort and safety conveniences.

It's a derivative of GM's big pickup truck and SUV family of vehicles, so the Tahoe's look is familiar. The front end's close to that of the 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 pickup truck, but Chevy says the two vehicles don't share any sheetmetal. Elsewhere, the Tahoe's very crisply folded wagon body has much more in common with the 2015 Chevy Suburban its long wheelbase companion and with the 2015 GMC Yukon.

Specs

More importantly, Chevrolet will endow the Tahoe with a new 5.3-liter V8 featuring direct injection and cylinder deactivation for better power and efficiency. The new V8 produces 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque and sends it through a six-speed automatic transmission equipped with a tow/haul mode and automatic grade braking function. The Tahoe is rated to tow up to 8,500 pounds.

A diet of extensive aluminum and high-strength steel helped shed around 250 pounds from the new Silverado pickup, but the Tahoe's weight loss is more modest. An aluminum hood and liftgate panels help trim some flab, although new features and technologies negate some of the losses. Among them: a standard center airbag between the driver and passenger, active cruise control, blind-spot warning, forward collision alert, lane departure warning and adaptive suspension on LTZ models.

Aerodynamically, the new Tahoe improves on the outgoing model, despite sheetmetal that's lost almost all the softness introduced with the last-generation Tahoe, back in 2007. The cabin is the relief from all the hard, straight edges that define the new Tahoe: the cockpit, if you can call it that on an eight-passenger vehicle, is soothingly smooth and curved, with an 8.0 inch LCD touchscreen centerpiece and more overt car influences than ever.

Other available features include keyless entry; pushbutton start; an 8.0 inch LCD touchscreen radio with Chevy MyLink connectivity; a head-up display; a power tailgate; a cargo-management system; and up to six USB ports and six power outlets. A Blu-Ray DVD entertainment system will also be an option on the Tahoe, as will wheels sized up to 22 inches.

Engine

Last year the Tahoe dropped its hybrid edition. For the major model change, it fits just a single drivetrain, GM's latest 5.3-liter V-8 coupled to a six speed automatic transmission. It's rated at 355 horsepower and 383 pound feet of torque, in both rear-drive and four wheel drive form. GM hasn't published performance estimates or gas mileage predictions, but it does boast the Tahoe will be best in its class largely due to direct injection and cylinder deactivation.

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2014 Nissan Leaf Release Date, Specs, Price, Pictures

2014 Nissan Leaf Release Date, Specs, Price, Pictures

2014 Nissan Leaf Review, Price, Interior, Exterior, Engine. - The silhouette of the world's most popular pure electric vehicle hasn't changed, but as production starts in Europe the multi-award winning Nissan LEAF has undergone a number of significant engineering enhancements.

New Nissan LEAF is more agile than before thanks to a comprehensive raft of chassis changes while it will go further on a single charge. The NEDC range has increased from 175 kms to 199 kms thanks to a series of engineering improvements.

And a new optionally available on-board fast charger halves the time needed for a complete battery recharge. Some of the changes have been made to improve its efficiency, some to enhance its practicality, some to enrich the ownership experience but together they make an even more compelling case for electric vehicle ownership.

"The comprehensive changes we have made to this pioneering car reinforce its unique character: unexpected, smart, accessible and progressive. We have listened to our customers and we have been working on making the European-produced version of our multi-award winning car better for their particular needs" said Paul Willcox, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan Europe.

Release Date

2014 Nissan Leaf will arrive in showrooms in December 2013.

Price

Base price for 2014 Leaf S model will cost $ 29,650.

Interior and Exterior

Basic features of the exterior and interior of Nissan’s model, Leaf 2014 have not changed. Two trim levels, Charge Package (LED Headlights and Quick Charge Port) and Premium Package, for the time being impoverished in terms of offers Rear View Monitor, which is now part of the standard equipment of all level trims. Within the facilities, equipment and systems for easier and more convenient manage 2014 Nissan Leaf vehicles involved: 16? aluminum alloy wheels, hybrid heater system, EV-IT functionality with voice commanded navigation system and sms read out, EV touch with 7-inch color LCD screen display, digital display with Eco indicator and speedometer, lower liquid crystal meter display, power meter, battery temperature gauge, capacity level gauge, Pandora audio system with 6 speakers, Pandora link for iPhone. New CARWINGS System includes remote charge system, climate control system, hill start assist, POIs powered by Google and Quick Charge Port (allows charging to 80% capacity in 30 minutes).

New Nissan LEAF is built on a bespoke EV platform with a 2700 mm wheelbase. It is 4445 mm long, 1770 mm wide and 1550 mm tall. Its distinctive shape is highly aerodynamic: subtle changes to the grille - virtually the only visual change between original and New LEAF - and a new 17-inch wheel design have reduced the Cd figure to a best of just 0.28.

As before the front of the car is framed by the slim, almost vertical, headlights, with LED lighting on top models. The lights also direct airflow away from the door mirrors to help aerodynamics and reduce wind noise.

The body was designed using Nissan's 'smart fluidity' principle with the kicked-up roofline blending into a large spoiler while the wind cheating shape is further helped by the flat, smooth underfloor. The rear view is dominated by thin, gently curved, vertical taillights and is, of course, notable by the total absence of an exhaust pipe.

Engine

2014 Nissan Leaf use 80 kW AC synchronous motor that is paired with a 24 kWh lithium ion battery with 48 compact 4-cell modules, the new Leaf, provides the power of 107 hp with 187 lb-ft of torque. Range is also increased, and the EPA standards, of 73 miles, now increased to 75 miles per 90% charge. With 100% battery charge , 2014 Nissan Leaf can exceed even 84 miles. One of the novelties, 2014 MY, just so, 6.6kW on board charger, which reduces 220V charging time in half, and so far, fully charge takes four hours.

As before, the motor is powered by a Nissan-designed 48-module compact lithium-ion battery mounted in a single pack under the cabin area to keep the car's centre of gravity as low as possible. The battery pack is housed in a strong metal case giving extra protection in a side impact and is now assembled alongside Nissan LEAF in a new facility at Nissan's European production base in the UK.

Performance against the clock hasn changed slightly with a top speed of 144 km/h (down by 1 km/h) and 0-100 km/h taking 11.5 sec (0.4 seconds quicker than before and improvements to the car's aerodynamics, a weight loss programme and other technical changes mean the official NEDC range has risen from 175 km to 199 km.

Greater practicality is also promised by the option of an on board 6.6kW charger which allows the use of 32 amp public or home chargers.

A 32 amp post will recharge a depleted battery in half the time of a typical domestic 16 amp EV socket - four hours instead of eight - but more importantly it can give a meaningful boost to a partially used battery even during a short stopover.

With 600 CHAdeMO standard quick chargers now installed across Europe, even quicker charging is available for EV drivers. A quick charger delivers 50 kW of high voltage direct current straight to the battery mean even quicker charging - it takes just 15 minutes to boost a battery from 30 to 80 per cent capacity.

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