If you thought Volkswagen's iconic Bug couldn't get any cuter, just wait. The automaker unveiled the Beetle GSR at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.
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Inspired by the Beetle GSR from the 1970s, the limited-edition 2014 version of the coupe wears yellow and black, inside and out. Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays gives us a closer look of it and the R-Line version of the Beetle Convertible in the video below.
SRT versions of the Dodge Challenger just got a little more accessible. Chrysler's high-performance brand unveiled the 2013 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Core model at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show; it's a lower-priced version of the traditional Challenger SRT8.
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Power is unchanged: The new Core version uses the same 470-horsepower, 6.4-liter Hemi V-8. Exterior features include a black grille rear spoiler, unique decals, 20-inch aluminum wheels with black pockets and black Brembo brake calipers. The biggest story is price: The Core version starts at $39,990, including the $995 destination fee. The regular Challenger SRT8 starts at $44,770, including destination.
Check out the photo gallery of the Challenger SRT8 in Plum Crazy Pearl Coat below.
There's no doubt Toyota has done much to engender the 2014 Tundra's intimidating demeanor. From the larger, more chiseled grille to the character lines that define its body, it's clear that this full-size pickup truck has been infused with a bad attitude (in a good way). Even more impressive, says PickupTrucks.com Editor Mark Williams, are extensive interior improvements that eschew some of the old Tundra's less-impressive features.
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Despite all the "drama" on the surface, though, Williams says we'll have to take it on faith that the automaker intends to expand the Tundra overhaul to its structural elements. Will this first step be enough for the Tundra to compete in an increasingly heated segment? Watch the video below and decide for yourself.
Dodge's and Chrysler's high-performance SRT8 models receive a substantial price drop courtesy of a new breed of high-performance trim levels called the Core models. Challenger SRT8 and 300 SRT8 Core models strip convenience features like leather, moonroof, high-power stereo and fog lights in search of a lower price discounted as much as $4,780 than their full-featured regular models.
The trend started with Dodge's special edition Charger SRT8 Super Bee that — compared to the regular SRT8 — used the less-expensive radio, standard hood, cloth interior instead of leather and ditched the adaptive adjustable suspension in favor of a fixed firmness suspension.
Although Kia's new sedan bowed at the 2013 Detroit auto show in January, we were able to get a closer look at the Cadenza this week at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.
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The automaker hasn't had a full-size sedan in the U.S. since the Amanti's departure a couple years ago, but this is no Amanti. The Cadenza may be around the same size, but it's more luxurious, with elegant exterior styling and premium interior materials. The front-wheel-drive sedan comes standard with a 293-horsepower, 3.3-liter V-6 and should be at dealerships this spring. Check out the gallery below.
With sleek styling rivaling Cadillac's own CTS coupe and luxury flourishes you might not find in comparable plug-ins, the 2014 Cadillac ELR aims for the best of both worlds. Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays explains that the new ELR uses an electric motor and a small turbocharged four-cylinder engine; the combination is good for 35 miles of electric-only range and 300 miles of total range.
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Inside, Mays says an abundance of high-quality materials — lots of leather, carbon fiber and stitching details — helps perpetuate its premium rep. Still, things such as un-Caddie-like trunk space and awkwardly positioned door handles annoy. Mays says we’ll have to wait and see if the yet-to-be-announced price will be worth it. Watch the video below.
The 2014 Kia Cadenza's premium aspirations are clearly evident from its design. Indeed, it draws heavily from the BMW 5 Series despite being dimensionally closer to the larger 7 Series.
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The similarities start up front. The triangular headlight surrounds are topped with white-ish eyebrows, just like the 5 Series, and the hood has the same kind of flowing creases as the BMW. The Cadenza's grille also looks like BMW's familiar twin-kidney design — if the two ports had merged together.
The new Forte 5-Door's sweeping headlights, 18-inch wheels and muscular body make it one of the best-looking cars in Kia's portfolio, says Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays.
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The uplevel SX version borrows the Hyundai Veloster's turbocharged four-cylinder, which is good for 201 horsepower. Standard features across the lineup — a backup camera, leather-wrapped steering wheel and Bluetooth connectivity — mean it's well-equipped. Its roomy backseat and cargo area should also appeal to car shoppers. Check out the video below.
The Superman-inspired Kia Optima Hybrid, revealed today at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, might have been the Man of Steel's sweet-16 present from daddy Jor-El if only Krypton hadn't been destroyed. The Supes-style sedan is instantly recognizable, adorned in the hero's signature blue with red accents on the grille, wheels, rear bumper and elsewhere, with glowing red undercar lighting and "heat vision" headlights.
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To further guard against mistaken identity, the Last Son of Krypton's signature S shield is displayed in multiple places, most prominently on the hood and seats, and a shadowy black image of him is incorporated into the rear windshield. Despite all their similarities, Superman gets his power from Earth's sun while the Kia Optima Hybrid runs on gas and electric — and cannot fly. The car is the sixth in a planned eight-car Justice League series born of a partnership between Kia and DC Entertainment. Check out the gallery below.
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