Honda City 2009

The Japanese B-segment market is indeed a hot one and is dominated by the H and T badges, despite honest efforts by other manufacturers such as Suzuki to make an impact with cars such as the SX4 sedan. The City and the Vios remain the champions of the under RM80k non-national sedan market and are the target of many people who long to break out of what they feel is the curse of Proton ownership, so naturally the launch of the new Honda City this year was very eagerly awaited. The new City is blessed with good looks and now that the launch and fanfare are over, it’s time to take a good look at the car and see if it is indeed as good as it looks.

Read my full driving impressions after the jump.

While the design of the City is not perfect, it’s way better looking than the odd hatchback with a boot slapped previous generation City. It’s also got a more classic sedan look to it with none of that A-pillar triangular window stuff. A sports sedan to be exact. I still like the shape as much as I did when I first saw it on the spyshots on the internet, especially the white one transported in China. It’s just too bad Honda isn’t offering the car in white here, in fact there are no white Hondas on sale except for the Type R, but I was told white is being added to the CKD paint process soon.

The top of the line model gets foglamps but I kind of prefer the bumper without the foglamps as somehow it helps make the car look wider and shorter. Chrome for the door handles are a nice touch, while the fuel lid opens up with just a touch much like more pricey European cars.

With the new City, you no longer get that airy feeling that was present in the old City. This is the result of the seating position being much more car-like rather than mini-MPV-like, thanks to Honda distancing the City from its boot-less Jazz sibling. While the Ultra Seats are gone, things like using the bottom of the rear seats to store an umbrella is a great idea. Never again do you have to place it in some random area on the floor of your car and get your whole carpet/mats soaked more than necessary.

New 2009 Chrysler Sebring

If you’re looking for the practicality of a sedan or the open-air thrill of a convertible, the 2009 Chrysler Sebring offers a variety of luxury and multimedia options, potent engine choices, and an optional retractable hard top.

Both the four-door sedan and stylish four-seat convertible are available in three trim levels: base, touring, and limited. Consequently, there are three engine choices that correspond to each trim level. Base models are equipped with a 2.4-liter, 173-horsepower DOHC 4-cylinder engine generating 166 pounds-feet of torque. Touring models carry the proven 2.7-liter, 189-horsepower DOHC V-6 engine with 191 pounds-feet of torque. Limited models tout a powerful 3.5-liter, 235-horsepower DOHC V-6 engine with 232 pounds-feet of torque.

The Sebring receives 16-21 mpg in the city and 26-30 mpg on the highway and competes with the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion sedans and Pontiac G6, Volkswagen Eos and Toyota Camry Solara convertibles.

The highlight of the new Sebring Convertible is the optional retractable hard top on Limited models. Lowered or raised with the touch of a button on the instrument panel or key fob, the top is ready for action in 30 seconds. Plus, with the top down, there’s adequate room for two sets of golf clubs. An available windscreen reduces noise and turbulence for front-seat passengers.

Adding to the elegant design, Sebring models boast a multitude of luxury and entertainment features. The Sebring boasts the incredibly versatile UConnect® system that can fulfill your digital dreams through a 6.5-inch touch screen. Turn your car into a Wi-Fi hotspot and connect laptops, phones, PSPs, PDAs and play online games, surf the internet and download music. The 30 GB hard drive lets you upload and store up to 6,700 songs, tons of photos and play your iPod/MP3 player through the sound system. Include Sirius Satellite Radio, turn-by-turn navigation and Bluetooth connectivity and you’ve just turned your car into the ultimate entertainment center.

The sedan and convertible are also loaded with advanced safety features. The available Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with traction control helps maintain vehicle directional stability and minimize wheel spin during acceleration. The Sebring Convertible features advanced multistage driver and front passenger airbags and seat-mounted side airbags, while the Sebring Sedan adds supplemental side-impact inflatable curtain air bags for the first and second row. A standard antilock braking system (ABS) and tire pressure monitoring system round out an impressive safety package.

Whether the top is down or you opt for a sedan, the 2009 Chrysler Sebring embodies the joy of driving like few other cars can.

New 2009 Chrysler

As one of the most stylish and sought-after entry-level luxury sedans, the 2009 Chrysler 300 combines excellent performance and a wealth of amenities, besting many higher-priced competitors.

The 300 is available in 3 trim levels – the LX, Touring, and Limited. Rear-wheel drive is standard across the board, with optional all-wheel drive delivering superior handling in Touring and Limited models. A 2.7-liter, 178-horsepower V-6 engine with a four-speed automatic transmission powers the LX, delivering adequate power. A more powerful 3.5- liter, 250-horsepower V-6 engine steps up the performance in Touring and Limited models, offering substantial acceleration when paired to the available AutoStick® five-speed automatic with manual shifting capability. The 300 receives 17-18 mpg in the city and 23-26 mpg on the highway and competes with the Ford Taurus and Chevrolet Impala. If you like the 300, but need more speed, behold the Hemi V-8-powered Chrysler 300C.

Interior amenities are plentiful across the board. The 300 boasts the incredibly versatile UConnect® system that can fulfill your digital dreams through a 6.5-inch touch screen. Turn your car into a Wi-Fi hotspot and connect laptops, phones, PSPs, PDAs and play online games, surf the internet and download music. The 30 GB hard drive lets you upload and store up to 6,700 songs, tons of photos and play your iPod/MP3 player through the sound system. Include Sirius Satellite Radio, turn-by-turn navigation and Bluetooth connectivity and you’ve just turned your car into the ultimate entertainment center. An available Boston Acoustics® sound system provides a whopping 368 watts of power and crystal clear sound quality. An available rear-seat DVD video entertainment system has a 7-inch display and two wireless headsets to please backseat passengers. Available leather-trimmed heated seats take the chill out of winter, and a 60/40 split folding rear seat expands the cargo area dramatically.

Safety and security features include four-wheel anti-lock brakes, all-speed traction control, and an Electronic Stability Control Program, which helps the driver maintain directional stability during evasive maneuvers. Advanced multistage front airbags are standard on all models, and front/rear side-curtain airbags provide side impact protection for front and rear occupants. A tire pressure monitoring system continuously checks each tire for the proper inflation levels. The ParkSense® rear park assist system uses sound waves to detect nearby obstacles to help you maneuver into tight parking spaces.

With a smooth ride, ample power, 21st century connectivity and cutting-edge technology, the 2009 Chrysler 300 is an affordable luxury sedan that turns heads wherever it goes.

New 2009 Chrysler

As one of the most stylish and sought-after entry-level luxury sedans, the 2009 Chrysler 300C combines breathtaking performance and a wealth of amenities, besting many higher-priced competitors.

Rear-wheel drive comes standard; while the optional all-wheel drive has an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect to automatically disengage the front axle from the drivetrain when all-wheel drive is not needed. A next-generation 5.7-liter, 360-horsepower Hemi V-8 engine with a five-speed automatic transmission boasts 398 pounds-feet of torque for lightning-quick acceleration. A more powerful 6.1- liter, 425-horsepower SRT Hemi V-8 engine with 420 pounds-feet of torque steps up the performance. The 300C receives 13-16 mpg in the city and 19-25 mpg on the highway and competes with the Cadillac CTS, Ford Taurus and Chevrolet Impala.

Interior amenities are plentiful across the board. The 300C boasts the incredibly versatile UConnect® system that can fulfill your digital dreams through a 6.5-inch touch screen. Turn your car into a Wi-Fi hotspot and connect laptops, phones, PSPs, PDAs and play online games, surf the internet and download music. The 30 GB hard drive lets you upload and store up to 6,700 songs, tons of photos and play your iPod/MP3 player through the sound system. Include Sirius Satellite Radio, turn-by-turn navigation and Bluetooth connectivity and you’ve just turned your car into the ultimate entertainment center. An available Boston Acoustics® sound system provides a whopping 368 watts of power and crystal clear sound quality. An available rear-seat DVD video entertainment system has a 7-inch display and two wireless headsets to please backseat passengers. Available leather-trimmed heated seats take the chill out of winter, and a 60/40 split folding rear seat expands the cargo area dramatically.

Safety and security features include four-wheel anti-lock brakes, all-speed traction control, and an Electronic Stability Control Program, which helps the driver maintain directional stability during evasive maneuvers. Advanced multistage front airbags are standard on all models, and front/rear side-curtain airbags provide side impact protection for front and rear occupants. A tire pressure monitoring system continuously checks each tire for the proper inflation levels. The ParkSense® rear park assist system uses sound waves to detect nearby obstacles to help you maneuver into tight parking spaces.

With a smooth ride, jaw-dropping power, 21st century connectivity and cutting-edge technology, the 2009 Chrysler 300C is an affordable luxury sedan that turns heads wherever it goes.

New 2010 Lexus

Good just got better in the SUV/crossover segment with the redesigned 2010 Lexus RX 350. Enhancements to the interior, exterior and engine give luxury crossover enthusiasts and Lexus fans a reason to be excited.

The freshly redesigned RX 350 is like an upscale Toyota Venza and competes with the Acura MDX and Lincoln MKX. Buyers get a choice of two trims: all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. A robust 3.5-liter, 275-horsepower V-6 engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The RX 350 can tow up to 3,500 pounds and receives 18 mpg in the city and 24-25 mpg on the highway.

The RX 350 is wider and longer giving it a wagon-like stance and more of a carlike look. On the inside, the RX 350 seats five and the backseat folds in a 40/20/40 split that reclines and adjusts forward and backward. The impressive Voice-Recognition Technology offers a much higher recognition rate and controls Bluetooth, navigation, climate and audio controls by using normal, everyday speech. Another Lexus gem is the Heads-up Display system that projects navigation directions, audio information and vehicle speed on the windshield in the front of you. One of the coolest features you’ll find in any car is Lexus’ Remote Touch system, which uses a knob to navigate menus with a mouse-like arrow cursor on the dashboard display screen. And not to be forgotten, a 15-speaker Mark Levinson® Premium Surround Sound Audio System uses 7.1-channel architecture and 330 watts that will immerse you in a crystal clear wall of sound.

When it comes to safety, the RX 350 is as innovative as ever. Passengers are virtually wrapped in the 10 airbags of every shape, size, and technological deployment option. A four-sensor, four-channel Anti-Lock Braking System with Brake Assist provides excellent control and supplemental braking power. Vehicle Stability Control measures wheel speed, steering angle and yaw rate to detect a loss of wheel traction. A direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System helps you keep the tires properly inflated, activating a light on the instrument panel when pressure is critically low. A backup camera and Pre-Collision System are important in avoiding accidents in the first place.

With plenty of utility, safety features and a plethora of cutting-edge technology, the newly redesigned 2010 Lexus RX 350 rests at the pinnacle of the luxury crossover class.

New 2009 Lexus

Vehicle Overview
Lexus revamped its midsize ES sedan for 2007 with a larger engine and a new look. In keeping with Lexus' naming conventions, the numeric portion of the ES name reflects the size of the engine: 350 stands for a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. The ES 350 competes with the Acura TL and Lincoln MKZ.

New for 2009
The ES 350 remains relatively unchanged for 2009 other than the addition of a new exterior color.

Exterior
Even after its 2007 redesign, the ES 350's basic teardrop shape was still familiar to the brand's faithful. The sedan is about the same size as its predecessor, although the car gained 2 inches in wheelbase and more than an inch of track. Standard features include: moonroof, 17-inch alloy wheels and dual exhaust tips. The ES 350 is available in a new paint color: Matador Red Mica and a panoramic glass roof is optional.

Interior
The ES 350 has 42.2 inches of front legroom and 35.9 inches of rear legroom. Hip room is 52.8 inches in back and 55.9 inches in front. Push-button start, dual-zone automatic climate control and 10-way power-adjustable front seats come standard, while a 14-speaker, 300-watt Mark Levinson audio system and navigation system with rearview backup camera are optional.

Under the Hood
The ES 350's 3.5-liter V-6 drives the front wheels through an automatic transmission. A 3.5-liter V-6 making 272-horsepower and 254 pounds-feet of torque engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with clutchless-manual mode is quite impressive.

Safety
An available Adaptive Front Lighting System allows the headlights to swivel when rounding curves. Standard options include: all-disc antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability system, driver and front-passenger knee airbags, side curtain airbags, side-impact airbags for the front seats, available rear side-impact airbags, while Lexus' Pre-Collision System is optional.

New 2009 Lexus GS

Vehicle Overview
The hybrid Lexus GS 450h emphasizes performance over fuel efficiency, with its gasoline engine and hybrid motors combining to make 340 horsepower, which about matches the 342-hp GS 460. The GS 450h has no hybrid competitors. The hybrid is a smidge faster than the GS 460. Lexus says the GS 450h can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, while the GS 460 takes 5.4 seconds. The GS 450h's combined city/highway gas mileage is 23 mpg. That means it sips gas on par with the V-6-powered GS 350. There's a more compelling case when it's compared with the V-8-equipped GS 460, which has a lower combined city/highway estimate of around 20 mpg.

New for 2009
The GS 450h receives no significant changes for 2009.

Exterior
Virtually identical to the GS 350 and GS 460 sedans, the GS 450h sports Lexus' familiar face with its steeply raked headlights and thick C-pillars. An adaptive suspension continually senses road conditions to modify damping appropriately. A Sport mode incorporates tighter damping, and an optional active stabilizer system mitigates body roll even more. Several features that are optional on other GS sedans are standard on the GS 450h, including: moonroof, high-intensity-discharge headlights, rear park assist, rain-sensing windshield wipers and 18-inch wheels.

Interior
An electric-power meter replaces the tachometer in the leftmost instrument pod, while a dashboard information screen displays energy consumption statistics and an animation of real-time power routing. Otherwise, the GS 450h's interior is identical to other GS models. Because of intrusion from the hybrid system's two battery packs, trunk volume shrinks from 12.7 cubic feet in non-hybrid GS models to 7.5 cubic feet in the GS 450h. Standard interior features include: heated leather seats, ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and 10-speaker audio system. Available features include: electric rear sunshade and navigation system with 14-speaker audio system.

Under the Hood
The GS 450h's direct-injection, 3.5-liter V-6 engine is shared with Lexus' smaller IS 350 sedan. The 3.5-liter V-6 makes 292-horsepower, not including the electric motors. The V-6 teams with two electric motors — one providing power during startup, the other boosting acceleration — for a combined 339-horsepower. Energy is created by regenerative braking to charge the batteries for electric motors and the engine shuts off when car is at a standstill.

Safety
A full complement of electronic safety features centers around Lexus' Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system, which is standard. Other standard safety features include: an electronic stability system, antilock brakes, electronic steering, electronic brakes, and an adaptive front lighting system swivels the headlights several degrees during turns to better illuminate corners. Front knee, side-impact and side curtain airbags come standard, while an available adaptive cruise control can sense impending collisions and alert the driver.