Wallpaper of the Week: Audi R8 4.2 Quattro

Saturday, January 12th, 2013 at 10:28 am  

Hi everybody!

We want to wish you a very good year for 2013 and a lot of fun driving your car.

We know we didn’t post during a while, but it’s because we’re working on a new project, with a lot of people for you folks.

However, today’s post is to thank you for being so present and loyal to LuxuryCarMagazine.com.

We’ve got for you an exclusive downloadable wallpaper of a gorgeous 2012 Audi R8 4.2 Quattro.

2013 Montreal Auto Show is coming next week, so we’ll certainly have new and exclusive content to post for you!

We sincerely hope you’ll enjoy the wallpaper!

 

 

Mathieu Fortin, LuxuryCarMagazine.com

Mercedes-Benz: 2013 SLS AMG GT

Saturday, November 17th, 2012 at 11:09 am  

Hello everybody,

Daimler’s branch indeed announced updates on its SLS AMG for 2013, starting with the name, that is now complemented with the GT ending.

First of all, Mercedes raised the price of about $9900 USD for both versions (coupe and roadster), which means the coupe will start at $202,000 USD and the roadster will begin at $209,000 USD. In counterpart, the option sheet has been revised so every option is now cheaper than before, up to thousands of dollars less.

On the mechanical side, the German manufacturer told us that the SLS gained 20 horsepower, passing to 583. Also, Mercedes revisited the transmission for the new SLS, and gave it a new suspension.

 

Mathieu Fortin, LuxuryCarMagazine.com

Wallpaper of the Week: Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Monday, October 8th, 2012 at 9:36 am  

Hello there!

It’s been a long time since our last post and we are sincerely sorry about that.

So, this week, we’re giving you a downloadable wallpaper of a 2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

We hope you will enjoy it!

 

Mathieu Fortin, Luxury Car Magazine

Porsche: Transfers Its Remaining Power To Volkswagen

Wednesday, August 8th, 2012 at 11:08 am  

Indeed, the transaction announced early july was successfully achieved. Porsche SE sold its 50.1 remaining percent of the company to Volkswagen, which now owns 100% of Porsche.

For an amount of €4.5 billion, Volkswagen and Porsche were planning to join since 2009. However, things were complicated because of some investors who considered themselves duped in 2008, when Porsche tried to take control of Volkswagen.

After long talks, the two automakers finally agreed for a buyback of Porsche by Volkswagen. This complete purchase will have cost €8.4 billion to VW.

Volkswagen finally added, in a press communicate: “Like the other brands of the group, Porsche will keep its entire identity and freedom on the operational plan.”

 

Mathieu Fortin, Luxury Car Magazine

Review: 2012 BMW 528i xDrive

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012 at 7:46 pm  

Hi everybody,

Today, I present you one of my favorite cars, the BMW 5-series. And in our today’s review, we will take a look at the 2012 528i xDrive, more specifically. It is in fact the four-cylinder version of the 5-series, new with the F10 generation. In this written review, we’ll go over the performance data, the interior and exterior features, as well as the pros and cons of the vehicle. We will also give our personal opinion on the general ride comfort and the way that BMW engineers brought the brand’s traditional sport driving feeling to this car.

With BMW’s three driving modes, that are Sport, Comfort and Eco Pro, you can drive the 528i in three complement different ways. If you feel for more comfort, just hit the comfort button. Then, the suspension comes smoother, as well as the steering wheel, and gears change at lower rpm, to provide less engine noise and smoother gear changes. If you feel for performances, just take the 528 in Sport mode. This way, you get the opposite of Comfort mode; hard steering wheel and suspension, and gear shifts that could blow up the asphalt, at around 6500 – 7000 rpm. And in Sport mode, I suggest you to use the manual shifting mode to get an unforgettable experience. However, be cautious, because this is a very good formula to obtain speed tickets. Finally, the 528i xDrive also comes with an Eco Pro mode, which automatically activates (if you already disabled it) the Stop/Start system, so you can save fuel.

First of all, every car enthusiast knows that BMW normally builds sport cars, and this 2012 528i doesn’t make an exception to the rule. Making 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, this car is a real pleasure to drive. We can find a twin turbo 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine in the 528, that delivers 245 hp @ 5,000rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,250 – 4,800 rpm. Our tested BMW was equipped with the brand’s specific all-wheel-drive system, which is xDrive, and had an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The fuel consumption of this vehicle is of 25.6 mpg in city and 41.3 mpg on the highway, which is very good, especially for a car of this size, with this power. It also has an autonomy of 473 miles.

If we are looking at the interior, we can observe that BMW did a really nice job in terms of assembly quality. However, some materials feel cheap to the touch, which, in my opinion, is unacceptable for an over $50,000 car. Indeed, there were a couple of regions in the vehicle that were covered with some hard touch plastics and I did not enjoy it. Now, every BMW owners know that the BMW Professional sound system that we usually found into most of the brand’s cars wasn’t good at all. But this time, BMW did very well by replacing it with the new iDrive system. Indeed, the sound system quality really surprised me, and I’m a huge fan of music, so that’s an important point for me. For the global features like navigation and vocal command, I don’t have anything to say wrong about that. iDrive just handles these features so well that it is actually more pleasant and easy to press the vocal command button and ask what you want while keeping your eyes on the road than manually change the radio station, as an example. This brings me to mention that standard equipment is miserable. What I mean by this is the fact that our tested model (with options) was worth $69,000 and head-up display, ventilated seats, satellite radio and a bunch of things that we would expect to find in a $69,000 car were not equipped in it. I think that BMW has a lot of progress to make on this side.

For the general commands disposition, it is excellent, even on the steering wheel, like in every BMW. There is also a lot of storage room in the 528i. Plus, the trunk is quite big, so you can easily store every passengers luggages for short travels. Speaking of passengers, front seats are very comfortable and you could easily make long journeys in those. What I love about these seats is the fact that when you are sitting in them, you don’t feel like you’re sitting on them, but in them. For the rear seats, well, the two and a half seats (because of the huge transmission tunnel) are quite comfortable, too. For a sedan, the rear is also quite roomy, and the legroom and headroom are good. However, the rear accessibility is not that good, you need to be in good physical condition to enter the rear of the 528.

  • Sound system
  • Vocal command system (iDrive, in general)
  • Sport driving feeling
  • Great insulation
  • Standard equipment
  • No ventilated seats available for our tested model

General comfort in the 2012 BMW 528i xDrive is excellent. You could easily leave for long trips in this car and never have a comfort problem. For a family, this car is also ideal, because it is a little bit more roomy than a BMW 3-series, so everybody can enjoy the ride. Plus, the great insulation makes the vehicle almost perfectly sound proofed, a fact that provides extra comfort. And with the different driving modes, you can choose the one that fits you for a customized ride.

Overall, the 5-series is a great car, but too expensive. However, if the cost doesn’t matter for you, I think it could be a very good vehicle for you. Maintenance is entirely covered by BMW for the first 4 years, so you shouldn’t spend a penny on this 528 to maintain it. The MSRP of the 528i xDrive is $56,900 and our tested model, with a bunch of options was $69,000.

Our global appreciation is: 8.5/10

 

Luxury Car Magazine

What to Check When Buying a Used Car

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 at 11:33 am  

Hello everybody,

Today, I’m proud to announce that LuxuryCarMagazine.com offers finally its first product. Indeed, I present you our report on what you should check when you are purchasing a used vehicle.

In this  easy-to-read report, you will find practical tips and advices to make you save hundreds and maybe thousands of dollars  in your next car purchase. Wrote with the assistance of a professional mechanic that has over 35 years of experience in the automotive field, this small report will certainly be helpful for everyone who reads it.

“What to Check When Buying a Used Car” Is Now Available!

 

 

Now, below is a small trailer to introduce our report.

 

For more information on “What to Check When Buying a Used Car“, click here.

 

If you have any comments on suggestions for us, please use the Contact page.

 

Luxury Car Magazine

Review: 2013 Infiniti JX35

Saturday, July 7th, 2012 at 1:34 pm  

Hello everybody,

Today, I’m proud to present you LuxuryCarMagazine.com‘s review of the all new 2013 Infiniti JX 5. This seven seats vehicle is in the same range than the Volvo XC 90, the Mercedes-Benz GL-class or the Audi Q7, more specifically. However, the JX is way less expensive than a Q7, and in my opinion, is also more attractive for many reasons. In this written review, you’ll learn why I would rather choose the Infiniti JX to the Audi Q7. We’re going to take an in depth look at the vehicle’s features, show you the performance data, and give you our global appreciation of the vehicle itself. So, let’s begin.

First of all, the JX we testes had four driving modes, which adjust throttle response, gear shifting, suspension and steering wheel rigidity depending on the mode you select. As an example, when you select Sport mode, the exhaust note becomes louder, due to the fact that more fuel goes into the combustion room, the suspension and the steering wheel become harder and the transmission shifts later, to give you more feeling and performances. That’s a thing that I really appreciate is a luxury vehicle, for the simple reason that it gives you the exact kind of ride that you want. The 4 modes available in the JX were Sport, Eco (which increases fuel efficiency), Normal and Snow (for a better control on snow). This vehicle is an All-Wheel-Drive, making it ideal for winter.

If we’re looking at the performance sheet, we observe that the JX35 is equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, not turbocharged. This engine produces 265hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. With the Eco mode on, the JX35 makes 11.5L/100km in city and 8.5L/100km on road (20.5 mpg and 27.7 mpg, respectively), and has a fuel autonomy of 643km (401.9 miles). In my opinion, those numbers are good, considering that the vehicle is quite big. The JX makes 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in 7.9 seconds. Gear shiftings are also very smooth, so it gives a very comfortable ride.

For the interior comfort, the 2013 Infiniti JX doesn’t go unnoticed. Indeed, for the two first rows’ passengers, comfort is very good. With heated and cooled seats for driver and passenger, dual zone climate control and an excellent quality of assembly all over the vehicle, Infiniti scored very well. In addition to that, the driver has a footrest on the left, which is not in every luxury vehicle even if it should. In the second row of seats, passengers are also comfortable, with heated, sliding and reclining seats.

Also, the accessibility to these seats is very good (which is quite impressing for that kind of vehicle) and legroom is excellent when seats are completely back. However, headroom is decent, but there could have been a little more. Still, the third row of seats should only be used only when absolutely necessary, because first, the access is almost impossible, and second, because legroom is awful back there. But, be reassured, it is the case in every vehicle of that kind.

When the last row of seats is fold down, trunk space is incredibly great, and under the floor panel of the trunk, you have a Bose subwoofer and extra room. That said, there is a lot of storage room in the Infiniti JX, enough for a big family with a lot of luggages for a long trip. The Bose sound system is also amazing, giving an audio experience of the most unforgettable.

The car’s insulation is excellent, as well as the comfort for long journeys. Plus, when you put the crossover in reverse, the back up camera turns on, as well as the surround view cameras. Both exterior mirrors also bow down to allow better vision. Those features are really helpful for parking. Another fact that is to the advantage of the JX is its cost, which is MSRP $44,900. It is $14,000 less than a MSRP Audi Q7! And in my opinion, every single buck invested in the JX is worth it. Notice that maintenance is included in Infiniti’s warranty plan, so you won’t spend a penny on it for the first couple of years, which is the complete opposite of a Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, as an example.

To risk of repeating myself, everything in this car feels great to the touch and to the look, materials used to build this car are premium and the quality of assembly is perfect.

  • Excellent quality/price ratio
  • Rear seats (2nd row) accessibility and comfort
  • Quality of assembly
  • Bose® Surround sound system
  • Rear seats (3rd row) accessibility and comfort

Overall, ride comfort when you’re sitting in the Infiniti JX is very good, I have nothing to say about that. Quality/price ratio is also excellent, compared to other models in the same category. You could easily travel with your family in a total comfort with this vehicle. It is a great mix of technology, style and luxury. Honestly, It is one of the best vehicles that I’ve tested until now.

Our global appreciation is: 9/10

 

Luxury Car Magazine

Review: 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 BlueTEC 4Matic

Monday, June 25th, 2012 at 3:15 pm  

Hello everyone,

As you observed by reading the title of this post, we tested today the new generation Mercedes-Benz M-class. Our tested model was the 2012 ML 350 BlueTEC 4Matic, which is powered by a diesel engine. And in the following text, we’ll go through the everyday-use facilities, the performance data, we’ll take an overall look at the general features of the ML 350, and at its new design. So, that further do, let’s begin the review.

Well, I don’t like to begin a review with a negative point, but it’s today’s case. However, I want to mention that the following fact touches every Mercedes (at least in Canada, I don’t know if it applies in other countries), and not only the ML. The fact is that the maintenance fees are astronomical, it doesn’t even make sense. I mean, a simple routine check (oil change, etc.) that you get when your car is around 15,000 km costs like 625 bucks! And that’s for the “A” check, because I heard that the “B” one is around 1100 dollars! I’m not making a bad publicity for Mercedes-Benz, but that would be enough for me to buy another car of another brand, considering that BMW and Audi offer the maintenance in their warranty plans.

That said, I don’t think there are much more problems in the new generation M-Class. Indeed, when you’re sitting in the vehicle, you feel like you’re in a living room. The cockpit is really quiet, and the insulation is very good, even with the sun roof. Also, the seats are very comfortable, which means you can have long journeys and be still comfortable. Of course, comfort is Mercedes’ signature, but, I’m six feet tall and the headrest position in the front seats made me mad a little, because I had to keep it as low as possible to be comfortable, and I don’t think that’s very safe if you have an accident. However, there’s a footrest for the driver, and that’s an important thing, because not every luxury cars have one even if they should.

In the back, there are plenty of headroom and legroom, and the access to the back is easy, as expected for a SUV. A major comfort point that I’d like to mention here is the fact that the rear seat backrest tilts (60/40), so the rear occupants can be almost as comfortable as the front passengers. In my opinion, this fact is a big plus for the M-class, in its category. For an everyday use, Mercedes’ ML 350 is ideal for a lot of reasons, including the fact that there are plenty of storage pockets and compartments in the vehicle, so much that you could possibly lose things.

Honestly, I was very surprised by the diesel-powered engine. It is much more performant than what I thought. This 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged engine delivers 240 hp and a 0 to 100 km/h (0-60 mph) acceleration in about 8.3 seconds. Plus it has 455 lb-ft of torque @ 1600 – 2400 r/min. This is particularly what makes the ML 350 BlueTEC accelerate this fast, considering the size of the vehicle and the 240 hp engine. For the 7G-Tronic gearbox, I think Mercedes needs to upgrade it to 8 speeds. The 7-speed does work well, but BMW is actually taking more market with its 8-speed gearbox.

To come back to the engine, the accelerations are great when you start from 0. But, when you’re at let’s say 60 km/h and you accelerate, it takes more time, simply because diesel engines are made of the sort. And the BlueTEC technology is so advanced in terms of efficiency that if we didn’t tell our passengers that a diesel engine was under the hood, they wouldn’t have notice it. BlueTEC is quiet, and fuel efficient, so why to spend extra money on gasoline? Indeed, we were able to roll about 750-850 km with a full tank (and we weren’t driving too soft, which means we pushed the car to its limits).

On the driving side, the electric steering wheel is very well calibrated, giving more feeling to the driver. It is very sharp in tight turns and the variable assistance makes the steering wheel more rigid at high speed. However, the brake pedal is quite soft, and I didn’t feel secure about it, even tough the brakes were very good and the car did brake very well.

Also, the Harman/Kardon Logic 7 stereo sound system that figured in our M-class was simply amazing, it sounded just like a recording studio. So, if you’re a music lover, you would be entirely satisfied on this point with the ML. For commodity, the ML 350 did very well on a point, which is versatility. Indeed, when you lift the tailgate, there’s a small button that will lock the tailgate in your chosen position, so if you’re very small or very tall, you can set the tailgate to stop opening lower or higher.

The controls are very well displayed in the 2012 M-class, and also well balanced. After a couple of minutes only, you can easily understand all the commands in the car, and learn how to use them. However, in a car of this price range, I expected to find blind spots detectors. Our vehicle was equipped with Command, Mercedes’ multimedia interface and it was pretty easy to use.

Fr the general look of the car, to be honest, when I first saw it at its release, I said to myself: Daimler got to be joking, did they really replace the almost perfect last generation ML for this? But after main reflections and observations, I finally think that the new M-Class is pretty good looking. And I have to admit that the outgoing ML needed some changes. I loved the last ML-class, and I now love the new M-class.

  • Controls disposition
  • Good visibility
  • Fast 0-100 km/h accelerations
  • Great insulation
  • High maintenance fees
  • Soft brake pedal

You can purchase a 2012 ML 350 BlueTEC 4Matic for $59,000 (MSRP). It is quite high, in my opinion, but overall, the ML BlueTEC is a very good car, mixing with taste luxury, style, performance and efficiency. The ride comfort of this particular vehicle is good, because of the insulation, but the suspension is rigid like a normal SUV, so it may be nasty when your rolling in city.

Our global appreciation is: 7.5/10

 

Luxury Car Magazine

All Makes: Apple Planning To Invade The Automotive Industry

Thursday, June 14th, 2012 at 2:33 pm  

A couple of years ago, when Microsoft and Ford became associates to develop and sell Sync, the multimedia interface that we actually find in almost every Ford and Lincoln vehicles (including our reviewed 2013 Lincoln MKX AWD), who would have thought that Apple was already planning to respond to that? Indeed, Apple announced this week that there’s already about ten contracts signed with different automakers, including Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Toyota, GM and Chrysler.

Personally, I don’t know how Microsoft will deal with this new entry, but one thing is sure, it’s a serious blow to the computer giant, considering that Apple has already 10 associates in the automotive industry.

Basically, the system Apple wants to introduce in the vehicles mentioned earlier is Siri, renamed “Eyes Free”. It will allow the driver to command things to the system with his voice, while keeping his eyes on the road. This way, the driver will be able to ask questions or manage his settings with the help of Siri, without leaving his eye contact with the road.

With “Eyes Free” the driver will be able to read and send text messages, to command music, to make phone calls, to get traffic information, and so on. Apparently, an Apple button will be displayed on the steering wheel of the concerned cars, so the driver can easily use the new system.

Siri, which was first known with the iPhone 4S, is a system that answers almost every questions you ask to it. And speaking of which, you can sometimes feel a certain sense of humor is these answers.

 

Luxury Car Magazine

Review: 2013 Lincoln MKX AWD

Monday, June 4th, 2012 at 4:19 pm  

Hello everyone,

Today, we tested the 2013 Lincoln MKX AWD. The new MKX is definitely a car that deserves to be in the big league. And for some of you who might think that we’re always enjoying every car that we test, you’re not right. Of course we appreciate a lot of cars that we test, but let’s think about that for a while: those are luxury cars. And luxury cars are made to make their drivers happy. They were created for this specific purpose, so, that’s the main reason why our global appreciations are very often close to perfection.

And so, in the following text, we’re going to go over the performance data of the 2013 Lincoln MKX AWD, we’ll take a look at the everyday-use aspects, the different features of the interior, as well as the particular design and functionalities of the exterior. That said, let’s begin!

First of all, we want to say a very special thank you to Val Estrie Ford – Lincoln, who generously loaned us the vehicle for this review.

The 2013 MKX comes with only one engine, which is very appropriate, because even if it’s a 3.7-liter Ti-VCT V6, it feels like a V8, and it can provide the power of a V8 engine, especially when it’s time to tow a trailer, because the MKX has a 3500 lbs towing capacity. About that, we talked with a 2013 MKX owner who has a caravan in the USA, and the man told us that even when he was towing his 2000 lbs caravan, he didn’t feel anything, like if he was driving normally. That’s a big plus for a crossover of this size, considering that most potential buyers for this type of vehicle have, in fact, a camper or other type of trailer. Also, who says smaller engine also says better fuel efficiency. And the fuel consumption for the model we tested wasn’t so bad, with an average of 14.4 L/100 km (around 16.33 MPG). The official releases about MPG from Lincoln are lower than this, but we weren’t in EcoFuel mode,  and we did not pay much attention to fuel consumption, in all honesty. But if you’re the kind of driver that is really careful about fuel efficiency, you could easily reach Lincoln’s numbers. The V6 engine equipped in the MKX generates 305 hp and a torque of 280 lb-ft. Also, our model had an all-wheel-drive powertrain, so it was handling very well. And at last but not least, our MKX made 0-100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in 8.1 seconds.

For the interior and the everyday-use aspects, the MKX is a must. Our tested model was equipped with all the options (except the rear infotainment package), so it provided a very interesting experience. I don’t know where to start due to the fact that this vehicle was full of positive points! Well, let’s start about security. The blind spots detectors are simply amazingly calibrated, providing extra security for the occupants of the vehicle. I don’t know if there’s even half of a second before the indicator lights up, when a vehicle arrives in your blind spot. In addition to that, the visibility is very well, for three reasons: there’s a back-up camera, the vehicle is quite high, and the windows are wide enough, so you see all around the car.

Let’s continue with the comfort aspect, which is a very important point when we talk about luxury cars, because people who buy these types of vehicles want to be comfortable in their car. So, the 2013 Lincoln MKX is equipped with a very good stereo sound system, and with Sirius satellite radio. Everything in the car can be controlled from the touch-screen central console, and this particular is extremely well designed. Almost all the controls in the car are touch-sensitive. The front zone offers electric lumbar adjustments as well as standard electric settings, cooled and heated seats. However, when you get to the back, windows are not automatic, why? Over this detail, the rear seats are comfortable enough for long trips, and they are also heated and cooled. Access to the rear is easy, and the MKX is, in our opinion, a very good vehicle for a family, due to the fact that there’s plenty of legroom and headroom in the back. In general, the quality of assembly is amazing, and we don’t have anything negative to say about that. Gear changes are very smooth, and again it provides extra comfort, depending on your driving style, because the MKX can easily be a very comfortable vehicle, or a sports crossover, with its paddle-shifters and its rigid suspension.

I told you that there was a lot of positive points in this car! And I’m not even finished, because our Lincoln MKX had the electrically powered tailgate. There was also a lot of storage in this vehicle, and I think that’s important, because families often have a lot of luggages, so they will be satisfied with the MKX. The panoramic roof gave us a very good experience, even if it was raining outside, providing extra light in the car. Also, when you close the roof (and the sunshade), the car becomes a tank in terms of insulation. You can almost forget that you’re on the highway. Finally, there’s only one other negative point that we’d like to mention for the interior. It concerns the steering wheel. It’s not about the sharpness of the electric steering wheel, but about the riving position. Personally, I like to drive with a low steering wheel, but the electric adjustments of this one didn’t allow me to lower it enough, so my arms were like in the windshield.

At last, let’s talk a little bit about the exterior and the general look of the MKX. Personally, I think that the car looks great, but others might dislike it. I like it because of this aggressive and by the same time elegant front grille and lights. The global look of the car is in my  opinion aggressive and elegant, conserving a Lincoln style at the same time, and I like it. I can affirm that when you’re sitting in an MKX and you’re stopped at an intersection, people turn their head around to look at the classy look of your car.

  • Easy rear access
  • Central console and controls disposition
  • Security
  • Quality of assembly
  • Storage room
  • Not automatic rear windows
  • Too high steering wheel

Overall, the 2013 Lincoln MKX AWD is a very good crossover, ideal for a family and to tow a camper. The MSRP is around $47,750, and in our opinion, it is really worth it. The ride comfort is excellent for long journeys, and for every occupants.

Our global appreciation is: 8/10

 

Luxury Car Magazine

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