BMW's M4 is an open-air thrill ride

CNET - A retractable hard top may not seem like a great idea for a BMW M performance car. It not only adds weight, but that weight shifts the balance of the car, depending on whether the top is up or stowed in the trunk. Most drivers, however, will likely forget those concerns as they pilot the 2015 M4 Convertible down a twisty road and feel the wind and sun.

The open top will let the bark of the 425-horsepower, turbocharged 3-liter inline six-cylinder engine resonate in their passengers' ears -- the note changing dramatically at each shift of the six-speed manual or optional seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Yes, the M4 Convertible should satisfy thrill-seekers as it includes the full range of performance gear available to the standard M4. An available adaptive suspension should help with any weight imbalance from the moveable top and performance settings change the steering response. Throttle and gear-shift response is also programmable by the driver, as is the traction control.   Read More

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe Debuts at the Detroit Auto Show

 

2014 Corvette Stingray debuts with rev-matching 7-speed

Lighter, more powerful, and featuring higher tech, Chevrolet's newest 'Vette may just be the best ever.

CNET - DETROIT--Chevrolet has pulled the covers back on what is easily the most hotly anticipated (and worst-kept secret) of the 2013 Detroit auto show: the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

Only three Corvette models have ever borne the name Stingray: the mid-'60s second-generation model, the third-generation car produced through the '70s and into the '80s (arguably the most iconic), and now the seventh-generation (C7) 2014 model. Chevrolet states that it's reviving the name for the 2014 model year because it is the best 'Vette ever. Well, it's not like Chevy would claim anything less of its newest halo car, but the automaker does seem to have the numbers to back it up.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray debuts in Detroit (photos)

 

The new 6.2-liter, direct-injected V-8 will make an estimated 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The automaker is estimating a 0-60 time under 4 seconds and over 1G of cornering grip. 

Making use of cylinder deactivation technology, Chevrolet is also claiming better fuel economy than any generation of Corvette before it.

 

Power flows through a seven-speed manual transmission that uses an Active Rev Matching technology similar to that of the Nissan 370Z's. As the driver moves the shift lever into a gear, the 'Vette's computer blips the throttle to match the wheel speed for a smooth ratio change when the clutch pedal is released.

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2013 Ford Mustang GT Premium Review

 

CNET Editors' Rating

3.5 stars -  Very good

 

$34,300.00

 

The good: The 2013 Ford Mustang GT produces massive power while getting reasonable fuel economy. Sync is, as in other Ford models, an excellent means of integrating phones and music players, and offers very advanced app connectivity.

The bad: The radio interface is clunky for browsing a connected device's music library. Paddles would have made manual shifting easier with the automatic transmission.

The bottom line: The 2013 Ford Mustang GT looks very cool and churns out tons of power, yet its reasonable fuel economy, easy driving manners, and useful cabin tech make it a fun daily driver.

Read the Full Review