Jaguar v Germany Dust-up: XF v BMW 550i v MB E550 v Audi A6
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=126107?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..3.*
We regret to inform you that the era of the V8-powered midsize luxury sport sedan could be over. Gas prices aren't the problem; instead, it's the impending federal fuel-economy standards that could spell the end of these luxurious street sleepers.
So this meeting of the 2008 Audi A6 4.2, 2008 BMW 550i, 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged and 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 might represent the end of an era.
Under the new rules, shoving big V8s into midsize sedans will become a questionable prospect even for luxury brands. Without massive price increases, only the most expensive flagship models will be able to offer thirsty eight-cylinder engines, leaving the smaller sedans to get by with six cylinders or worse.
With that prospect looming, we figured a comparison of the current crop of V8 midsize European luxury sedans was in order. They may not have much of a future, but they offer some of the best combinations of luxury, prestige and completely unnecessary horsepower you can get — for now.
Can Jag Beat BMW? Jaguar XF vs BMW 550i @ the Track
MORE TRACK INFO @ INSIDELINE.COM:
http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2009/05/il-track-tested-2009-bmw-550i-vs-2010-jaguar-xf.html?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..2.*
Last May, the newly introduced Jaguar XF surprised us. It went head to head with the best midsize luxury sedans from Germany and came out on top. It was fast, comfortable and surprisingly competent through turns, but of course, that was the top-of-the-line supercharged model.
For 2010, the Jaguar XF gets a pair of all-new 5.0-liter V8s: one normally aspirated in the XF Premium, the other supercharged in the new XFR. We'll test an XFR soon, but today Inside Line is the first to take the new non-supercharged 5.0-liter-powered 2010 Jaguar XF Premium to the test track. Rated at 385 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque it's not quite as powerful as the former 4.2-liter supercharged V8, but it's close.
To see just how close, we brought back a 2009 BMW 550i to see how the new Jag stacks up when it's not getting help from a Supercharger. Given that the BMW is giving up 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque, we expected a close contest - and got one.
The New Jaguar: 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged by Inside Line
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=125955?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..3.*
Bruised and bloodied, Jaguar's fate now rests in the hands of Indian automaker Tata. The only certainty of its future is that it is uncertain.
Now forget about all that. Turn your attention to the product, which is ultimately the most critical aspect of an automaker's success. Here we have the 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged, purportedly ready to do battle with the big German sedans like the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, cars that know the luxury sedan game.
Only time will tell the story of Jaguar as it enters the next phase of its existence, but we can peek a few pages forward simply by testing the fruits of its labor.
Euro-Clash: Mercedes E550 Sport vs. BMW 550i Sport vs. Jaguar XF Premium
2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 Sport vs. 2009 BMW 550i Sport vs. 2010 Jaguar XF Premium @ INSIDELINE.COM:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=149766?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1.*
Building an ideal executive-style luxury sedan is not an easy task for a carmaker. If the car turns out too soft and isolated, you lose enthusiasts who aren't quite ready to retire in a Lexus. Too complex or high-strung and you risk alienating your technology-challenged, soft-in-the-middle buyers who expect a measure of mindless comfort. Get the balance just right, and your five-passenger $60,000 midsize sedan will both impress with remarkable dynamics and indulge with palpable comfort.
We've gathered three such vehicles for this comparison: the 2009 BMW 550i, 2010 Jaguar XF Premium and 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 Sport.
The 2009 BMW 550i is widely regarded as the benchmark among sporting luxury sedans with its imposing modern design, 360-horsepower 4.8-liter V8 and legendary sporting dynamics. For a car that's been around for five years, its reputation remains consistently impressive.
All-new in '09, the Jaguar XF now is available in a midlevel model, and this Jaguar XF Premium includes not only a new 385-hp direct-injection 5.0-liter V8 but also more standard features. Riding a 1st-place finish from the last time we collected four similar cars in 2008, the Brit car should be taken seriously.
The new-generation 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 Sport stands a very good chance of improving on its previous 3rd-place finish. Sure, the 382-hp 5.5-liter V8 is a carryover item from the outgoing E-Class, yet Mercedes-Benz has spent a considerable sum to refine this ninth-generation E-Class into a car meant to define this segment of sedans.
2011 BMW 5 Series Prototypes Caught Testing in Europe
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE NEW 5 SERIES:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId=127846?tid=edmunds.il.futurelanding.latestnews..3.*
We've seen test mules of the 2011 BMW 5 Series before, first on the streets of Germany and then in the snow of the Arctic Circle. Our latest spy video shows the next-generation 5 Series in the mountains of Austria and on the Nürburgring test track in Germany.
Like the prototypes seen earlier, these latest 5 Series mules are covered in heavy camouflage. It doesn't matter much, as this evolution isn't expected to change drastically from the current model. The overall size of this prototype doesn't appear substantially different, so we don't expect any major changes in terms of passenger room, either.
The real unknowns lie in the choices BMW will make when it comes time to put an engine under the new sheet metal. Given the somewhat higher sales volume of the 5 Series compared to the more expensive 7 Series, fuel economy will play a slightly more important role. The twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 that's expected to power the 7 Series might prove too thirsty, so BMW could opt for a more efficient V8 to keep overall fuel consumption down. Meanwhile, expect to see the continued use of BMW's inline-6s for base and midrange models.
On the tech side, this 5 Series will be the third car in the BMW lineup to use FlexRay for the vehicle's internal control systems. The electronic technology system is designed to allow much faster communications among all the various vehicle systems.
BMW first introduced FlexRay for the new-generation X5, although only the vehicle's electronic damping control system exploits the system's faster processing speed. The upcoming 2009 BMW 7 Series is expected to use FlexRay technology for at least a dozen systems, so the 5 Series will most likely go even further. Expect to see even more driver adjustability built into the car as well as additional integration among systems like Active Steering Control, Electronic Differential Control and the usual traction and stability control systems.
You can expect to see the official debut of the 2011 BMW 5 Series at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, with U.S. sales beginning a year or so after.
2011 BMW 550i vs. Jeep SRT8 (You'll be surprised)
The 550i is bone stock and with about 200 miles.
The Jeep has Diablo Predator Tune, Borla S-type Exhaust, B Woody intake, and oil catch can.
Video was shot impromptu with a T-Mobile G1.
Update December 4th: 100,000 views and counting... Thanks for the hilarious comments that come to my inbox - Really makes my day!
Rear Wheel and 4MATIC Winter Driving -- Mercedes-Benz
Whether it has rear-wheel drive or advanced 4MATIC all-wheel drive, a Mercedes-Benz can handle winter weather. But depending on which drivetrain your Mercedes-Benz has, the driving experience can feel very different. Catch a glimpse of what this looks like... on a frozen lake.
Learn more about the world's most advanced automobiles at http://www.mbusa.com
Join the conversation: http://www.facebook.com/mercedesbenzusa
2012 Audi A8 L versus Jaguar XF Mashup Drag Race Review
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 Audi A8L and the 2012 Jaguar XF are two of the best luxury cars that you can purchase today. They both have powerful V8 engines that put out about the same amount of power. but which of these premium luxury cars is the fastest in a straight line. It is the German flagship Audi or the British newcomer Jag. Watch this TFLcar mashup drag race review to find out which car wins the drag race.
2012 Audi A6 versus BMW 535i review: And the best luxury sedan is...
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The new BMW 535i has almost always been the benchmark for all other mid-sized luxury sedans. But for 2012 the all new Audi A6 is taking direct aim at the BMW buyer as well as the 535i. The Audi brings to the table a 310 HP supercharged powerplant, an 8 speed automatic transmission and of course Quattro all-wheel-drive. But to not to be outdone the BMW has all of the same stuff but instead of a supercharged engine it comes with a turbo. So which one is the better car?
2013 Lexus GS350 vs Jaguar XF Mashup Review: And the best sport luxury sedan is...?
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2013 Lexus GS350 is all new and completely redesigned from the ground up. Gone is the stodgy car of old replaced by a much more passionate and sporty Lexus. The 2012 Jaguar XF has gotten a minor facelift but the heart of the car remains the same with a 385 HP V8 under the hood. Both of these cars drive for that perfect balance of sport performance and opulent luxury so which one is better? Check out another unique TFLcar mashup review as we compare the two luxury sedans to see which one deserves to be called the best sport luxury sedan.
Audi A6 3.0 TDI vs BMW 530 d vs Mercedes E 320 CDI
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Audi A6 3.0 TDI vs BMW 530 d vs Mercedes E 320 CDI BMW has released a 40 second teaser video for the Concept X1 compact sport activity vehicle (SAV), which makes its debut later this week in Paris. Produced with elements of skateboarding, graffiti and hip hop beats, BMW is clearly trying to reach young urban individuals. No longer considered rebellious or anti-establishment, these sub-cultures have a firm hold on mainstream and pop-culture around the world. Sure, these types of trendy marketing tactics always make us cringe, but BMW seems to have identified the once wielding skateboarders from the turn of the millennium as potential clients. With consideration to their new position in the workforce and potential disposable income, we tend to see BMW's angle.
Back in early August we showed first spy photos of an SLR McLaren Roadster 722 prototype just outside of AMG premises in Germany, and now Mercedes has announced its world debut in Paris this week. Based on the SLR Roadster with a 722 Edition upgrade, the fabric soft top super car is limited to 150 units, and will be built in the same facilities, McLaren's Formula 1 workshops in Woking, England, as all previous
2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged Start Up, Exhaust, and In Depth Tour
In this video I give a full in depth tour of the 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged. I take viewers on a close look through the interior and exterior of this car while showing details, over viewing of features, and noting unique styling cues to the vehicle itself. I also show the engine and the details of it, start it up and see how it sounds under acceleration. A thorough tour/review of this car designed to give others a greater overall appreciation of the vehicle.
