Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy. Two Spocks of different eras brought together for a battle of speed and wits in Audi’s new commercial for the 420 horsepower S7 sedan . Quinto, our new Spock, returns for his second film in the upcoming “Star Trek: Into Darkness”, while Nimoy is a veteran of seven motion pictures and will forever be our #1 Spock. And while Quinto adds a wonderfully youthful flair to the character, let’s just say that there’s no replacement for tried and true experience.

Source: Youtube.com

PRO’s: Outstanding performance, extreme all-weather versatility, spacious enough for a family of 5.

CON’s: Peculiar styling, high price tag.

FINAL THOUGHT: An amazing SUV/crossover that may well be one of the fastest and most versatile vehicles that BMW has ever produced.

If you’re not sure whether the 2013 BMW X6 M is a car, truck or crossover, don’t feel bad because you’re not alone. You see this things got an identity crises, a bad one, and because of that consumers have been perplex by the X6 since its debut in 2008. I just spent a week with BMW’s X6 M and I can tell you this, I still have no idea what the hell it is, but I fell in love with it, and hot damn if it isn’t a riot of a performance vehicle.

Right off the bat you’ll notice the X6 M is different. It looks like nothing else on the road, runs a massive wheel and tire combo (front 275/40/20 rear 315/35/20), has enough grunt to flat-out embarrass most performance cars and is equipped with huge 15.6-inch front brake rotors that would stop a 747 that’s coming in for a landing. It’s also got more technology than the space shuttle, does an equally good job of defying gravity, yet, is just as home at a track day as it is hauling groceries home from the market.

When I took possession of the X6 M the first thing I did was look at the monroney (window sticker). The price, as optioned, was a whopping $100,895.00. That’s a big number, but one that, after romping on this thing, is really not that crazy. Think about it like this.

Here’s a vehicle that packs a 4.4-liter Twin-Turbo V-8 under the hood that makes 550 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. It runs to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, is electronically limited to 155 mph and has a personality that’s part Vegas stripper and part housewife.

The Vegas stripper part will obviously excite and entertain you, while the housewife portion will let one lead a proper upstanding life. For instance, there’s comfortable seating for 5 adults (the front seats are OUTSTANDING), plenty of room for luggage, it’s all-weather capable thanks to BMW’s all-wheel drive system and with every safety feature known to man, is probably the best place to be if something were to go wrong. Now granted fuel economy sucks at 12 city/17 hwy, but thanks to a large 22.4 gallon fuel tank, you’re still able to run around 300 miles between fill-ups.

Here’s some additional food for thought. Last year I ran a BMW X5 M in the One Lap of America. A vehicle that from a mechanical standpoint, is essentially identical. The race itself is a 3500 mile run around the United States that includes running on 8 racetracks in 7 days. It’s without a doubt the most grueling rally style event held in the U.S., and if you and your car make it, then be proud, very proud.

I drove that thing as hard as I would any performance car, and not only did it do well, but it exceeded my wildest expectations. I ran 152 mph down the back straight at Road America, was lifting two wheels off the ground at Hallet Raceway and hauling luggage for four adults over the 400-600 mile transit legs. In short, I was astonished at how good it was.

That experience also helped me justify the $100k price tag, the same one that’s on this X6 M. And while the majority of owners will never partake in an event like One Lap with their X6 M, the fact you can in a vehicle like this is mind-boggling.

I still can’t help but wonder though – why did BMW produce this thing when they already had such a great SUV with the X5 M? It just doesn’t make much sense to me. However, they do say that variety is the spice of life, and if that’s truly the case than rest assured that this 2013 BMW X6 M is hot enough to satisfy every one of your automotive needs.

They’re a favorite amongst the California Cougar, amazing off-road and come with one helluva’ substantial price tag. Since 1970 Range Rovers have been giving the public a taste of their high-class ruggedness and have been doing so with a shape that has been recognizable for over 40-years. However now they’re bringing us the Evoque, a medium-sized SUV that’s been scaled back on performance, but thrust full-speed ahead on style. Hell, Victoria Beckham was a design consultant on the project. Matt Farah of The Smoking Tire recently got his hands on the Evoque to see if it was still worthy of the Range Rover name, or if it was simply all flash.

Source: TheSmokingTire.com

Thumbs Up: Better than the last Beetle Convertible in every way

Thumbs Down: Cloth seats not available, not much rear passenger room

Buy This Car If: You were there in the 1970s and long for your first Beetle convertible

It’s probably safe to say that few cars ever sold in North America achieved quite as large a cult following as the original Volkswagen Beetle. Countless numbers of us learned to drive behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Beetle, and those of us in snow-belt states soon learned the advantage of skinny tires and a rear-mounted engine in winter. We also learned about things like snap oversteer on black ice, ejecting windshield wiper blades and a heating system that varied between “primitive” and “nonexistent.”

Though we can look back fondly on our memories of the VW Beetle, that doesn’t mean we’d want to make the concessions necessary to park an original in our garage. The “New Beetle,” launched in 1998, wasn’t exactly a step in the right direction, either. Essentially just a re-bodied Golf, the New Beetle’s three-arch design and cramped proportions did not age well, yet Volkswagen kept the car in production for some 13 years. Early models quickly earned a reputation for questionable reliability, especially on the used market, giving VW something of a bad name among potential buyers.

That’s all in the distant past now, and Volkswagen has recently launched a third generation of Beetle, with more emphasis on the original’s design and less focus on the “cute factor.” That’s not to say the new car is overly-retro, since it sports a design fresh enough to appeal to those unfamiliar with the original, while still speaking to first-generation owners. If that’s not crossing demographics, we don’t know what is.

The Beetle Convertible followed the Beetle to market at the end of 2012, and the new car is longer, lower and wider than the previous generation ragtop Beetle. Increasing the car’s proportions do a lot to up the car’s attitude, and it’s no secret that Volkswagen has gone to great lengths to pitch its latest Beetle, in coupe and convertible forms, to male buyers.

Though no other current Volkswagen model shares the Beetle’s rounded profile, there’s enough family resemblance to other VW models to keep things familiar. The front bumper, for example, gets the same angular styling as the current Golf, Jetta and Passat, while the rear lower fascia will look familiar to current VW fans as well. We give the German automaker credit for not pulling from the leftover parts bin when it comes to wheels; while the Beetle is available with stylish alloy wheels, it can also be configured with retro-styled alloys sporting chrome wheel covers.

Inside, the first thing you’ll notice is the outside (color, that is). Like the previous Beetle, the latest version uses body-colored dash and door trim in homage to the original. If you like the outside color of your car (or if you owned an original Beetle), you’ll probably love this nod to the past. Thankfully, the rest of the dash area is trimmed in black plastic and equipped with simple controls. To be honest, the infotainment system display is a bit small by contemporary standards, but we had no trouble with its operation and functionality.

Instruments are housed in an arched binnacle, centered in the driver’s field of view. The display is dominated by an oversize speedometer, flanked by a tachometer and the largest fuel gauge we’ve ever seen in an automobile. It’s a bit odd, if you ask us, and we wonder why VW didn’t opt to use a smaller fuel readout combined with, say, a temperature gauge. If you’re curious, coolant temperature can be seen in the driver information display (located at the bottom of the speedometer), which can also give the driver readouts on things like range, current fuel economy, average fuel economy, elapsed time and average speed.

Front seats are wrapped in what Volkswagen calls “V-Tex” synthetic leather. While it looks good enough (especially with the faux-carbon-fiber-patterned trim) and we’re sure it will stand up to years of abuse, it’s not the most comfortable of materials to sit on. It doesn’t breathe particularly well, and its tacky surface makes getting in or out in shorts an unpleasant experience. The front seats are otherwise excellent, but we simply couldn’t live with the V-Tex material in Florida’s summer heat. Please, Volkswagen (and other automakers), go back to offering cloth seats as an alternative to cow-from-a-test-tube.

Like the front seats, the rears are covered in V-Tex and trimmed with carbon-fiber-look vinyl. Head room isn’t bad with the top in place, but leg room is sub-optimal, even with the front seats pulled forward. Unless your friends are all short of leg, few will voluntarily sign up to spend long periods of time in the second row.

Like the last Beetle, the current version gets a front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive. Volkswagen serves up three solid engine choices, including a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine (borrowed from the GTI) and a turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel engine (pulled from the Golf/Jetta/Passat TDI). Our Volkswagen-supplied tester came with the base 2.5-liter five cylinder, which cranks out 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Ours came mated to the six-speed automatic transmission (a single-clutch unit, not VW’s superb DSG), which is the only choice available with the base engine. Opt for either of the turbocharged engines, however, and you can choose between the DSG gearbox and a six-speed manual.

With the 2.5-liter five cylinder, expect the run from 0-60 mph to take in the neighborhood of nine seconds, while the EPA rates fuel economy at 23 mpg combined (21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway). We saw an indicated 25.5 mpg in an even mix of city and highway driving (including heavy use of the transmission’s Sport mode), so it’s likely that the EPA numbers are on the conservative side.

The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible is one of those cars that drives better than the sum of its parts. Though not particularly fast with the base engine, opting for the transmission’s Sport mode does give the car more willingness to run, and its brakes deliver the best feel we’ve seen in a modern Volkswagen. Even the steering feel rises above what you’d expect, making the Beetle Convertible fun to toss around on a winding road in good weather. At highway speeds, cockpit turbulence isn’t bad and Volkswagen offers up an optional wind blocker for those desiring more open-air serenity. Dropping or raising the top is as simple as pressing or pulling a switch, and the lined-fabric top can be deployed or retracted at speeds up to 31 mph (a very handy feature should you mis-time the changing of a traffic light).

If you owned an original Beetle Convertible (or even an original Beetle), chances are the latest version speaks to you in some subliminal way. Unlike most modern automobiles, the new Beetle manages to pull off a distinct personality, heavy on the retro charm. If you’ve got fond childhood memories tied to the Beetle, we suspect that a single test drive is all it will take to convince you that the newest variant deserves a place in your garage.

Volkswagen supplied the 2013 Beetle Convertible with Sound and Navigation for the purpose of this review. Total sticker price on our car was $29,290.

For comparative purposes, a similarly-equipped MINI Cooper Convertible would list for $30,850, while a comparable Chrysler 200 LX Convertible would sticker at $29,875.

PRO’s: Outstanding luxury, wonderful performance and loads of useful technology.

CON’s: Big price, hesitant acceleration in comfort mode.

FINAL THOUGHT: One of the best high-end luxury sedans on the market today, regardless of price or pedigree.

For most of us, traveling first class is something that dreams are made of. We wait in line, baggage in hand until our group is called, and then, like lemmings jumping to our deaths, get corralled onto our planes or trains, only to find that we’re seated next to the crying baby or the large man with the glandular disorder. It’s an awful experience for all who are involved and it makes us yearn for the better things in life. Every now and then though, fate smiles upon us and presents us with a gift that not only boosts our morale, but brightens our day. This happened to me last week when a new 2013 BMW 750Li press car appeared in my driveway.

Covered in Alpine white paint and sporting just about every option available, this BMW 750Li is one of the few cars that actually made me feel like I was on the upscale side of life for once. This is a car that is over 17-feet in length, can run to 60 mph in under 5-seconds, top out at 155 mph (limited) and all the while, carry four adults in first class comfort while never once blinking an eye. It will also sit at the stoplight with all of its 445 twin-turbocharged horses running in complete silence, until that is, it’s time to unleash them.

*By far, one of nicest cabins in all of motoring…

Realizing that my in-laws would be in town the week I had the 750Li, it was decided that the best course of action would be to load everyone up and head straight to wine country. The beautiful thing about Northern California, aside from the vineyards, weather, shops, beaches and never ending majestic scenery, is that it truly is the best place to see what people think of high-end automobiles.

As mentioned the BMW 750Li is a BIG car with a big price tag ($115,245.00 as tested), and as such it has a large presence about it – something we found regardless of the parking lot we entered. Pull up in this thing and trust me, people stop and take notice. Remember, this is not some little 1-series, but BMW’s flagship sedan.

From a visual standpoint I wouldn’t say this car has any truly striking features. Moreover, it’s lines are smooth and possess a soft aggression that gives off a more masculine sense of being. This is a mans car, a modern-day muscle-cruiser from Germany if you will, and whether you’re driving passengers to and from the airport, or out for a spirited Sunday jaunt through the vineyards, this car will not disappoint.

Understand that for as good as this car is, there are still some areas that can be improved upon. The 750Li is powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 445 hp and 480 lb.ft. of torque. When the go-pedal was depressed however, I found that there always seemed to be a hint of hesitation. This is something that occurred from a dead stop, or while attempting a pass a fellow motorist on the interstate. Putting the car in Sport mode seemed to cure this, but I was curious as to why this was happening in the first place. Another gripe was that damn Start/Stop feature whereby the engine shuts down when the car comes to a complete stop, then starts up again when you’re ready to carry on.

*Start/Stop kill switch under the starter… I recommend pushing it.

I understand that this is supposed to save fuel and improve economy, however it was by far the most annoying feature of this car. Thankfully there is a switch to disable it and it’s located right underneath the starter button – don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Once underway drivers will be hard pressed to find a better full-sized sedan anywhere, as the 2013 BMW 750Li is an absolute dream to drive. This is thanks in part to such features as the ultra-smooth 8-speed automatic transmission, a wonderful heads-up display, outstanding navigation unit and an active suspension system that incorporates four-wheel steering. This means that while you’re hustling this 4,660 lb. machine through the curves, that not only will you have any and all information available to you, but you’ll never have to avert your eyes from the road to find it.

*This is limo-plush ladies and gentlemen…

The seats, both front and rear provide outstanding lateral and lumbar support and come with no-less than 20-way power functionality in the front, and four-way power functionality in the rear. A good thing too, as even though the 750Li does a great job of masking its weight, it is still noticeable when pushed hard.

What’s really amazing is how much fun this big machine was to drive. Seriously, this thing is a hoot in the corners when driven properly, which is something that can’t be said of other cars in this class.

*Note the raised center channel for the Bang & Olufsen stereo and front view fender integrated cameras.

One thing that needs mentioning is how vastly improved BMW’s iDRIVE system has become. Driver and rear passenger interface (if so equipped) is a snap, and no longer are we being transported into the technological void of the Gen 1 systems. From the navigation unit, to the Bluetooth functions for your smartphone, everything on the updated unit not only worked flawlessly, but was very intuitive to boot.

As you’ll notice, this car was indeed equipped with rear monitors and its own separate iDRIVE console for the rear occupants. Watching my rear passengers enjoy the system actually gave me hope that these systems may in fact, have some merit going forward.

A bit large for daily use, I would list the BMW 750Li as more of an executive sedan that provides its occupants with everything they’ll ever need from the technology end, and it’s driver with the excitement of driving a BMW. Mileage is EPA rated at 16 city / 24 hwy, numbers that I found to be quite accurate. During my stint with the 750Li, I averaged about 19 mpg in combined driving. A decent number for such a large vehicle.

Now, before you go out and plunk down $115k for BMW’s uber-tech sedan, you need to understand that it also comes in the standard wheelbase version, something that I think will appeal to all those 7-series drivers who don’t have to chauffeur people around. However if you’re looking for a premium luxury sedan, that packs just as much technology and interior room as it does horsepower, then you’d be hard pressed to do any better than the 2013 BMW 750Li.

PRO’s: Outstanding build quality, wonderful performance, supermodel sexy.

CON’s: Big sticker price, doesn’t feel as fast as it actually is, a bit tight for taller drivers.

FINAL THOUGHTS: A kick-ass sports coupe that has no problem taking on the worlds best.

If you’re reading this then you’re probably wondering if the 2013 Audi S5 Coupe S tronic is worth the $67,370 price tag that comes on the sticker. I just spent the better part of a week with this thing and I can tell you that after about 500 miles on some of Northern California’s best roads, that the answer is just not as simple as YES or No. This is a jack-of-all-trades performance coupe. It produces great numbers, is all-weather capable and has some of the best styling in the business. However, does that justify this whopper of a price tag?

The first thing you notice about the S5 is of course, the styling. Handsome and elegant at the same time, the S5 projects an aura of success. There are no bulging hood scoops or rear mounted spoilers trying to project that this car is a bruiser to the general public. Instead there is simply a beautiful quad-exhaust that sings to the common-folk every time you push down on the throttle. Speaking of throttle, let’s talk engine.

Equipped with a 3.0-liter supercharged V6, the S5 will get to 60 miles per hour in under 5-seconds and onto a top speed of 155 mph. Power is rated at 333 hp/325 lb.ft. of torque and is transferred to all four wheels through a slick 7-speed S tronic transmission that can be shifted manually via paddles, or left in automatic mode if you’re not feeling sporty.

What’s amazing about the cars performance is that this is no lightweight automobile. In fact with a curb weight of over 3,800 lbs, some would consider the S5 to be a bit of a chubb-chubb. Audi, thanks to some glorious engineering, has done a remarkable job of masking the cars weight. Side to side transitions are seamless and thanks to the cars invisible Quattro all-wheel drive system, traction is never an issue. I pushed the S5 relatively hard through some very tight canyon roads and never once did it get out of shape. Quite the opposite actually as the harder I pushed the S5, the more composed it seemed to be.

As a driver you have the option of choosing between a host of different settings ranging from Comfort to Dynamic mode. These either soften or stiffen up the suspension depending on what the terrain is like and can be adjusted through a small dial that lies just below the center stack. That same dial also controls the S5′s center mounted display screen giving you access to everything from climate and audio controls to the cars interior and navigation settings. It takes a moment, but is actually one of the more intuitive units I’ve used as of late.

Everything about the S5 exudes quality and confidence, very important aspects when you’re trying to sell a performance based automobile. The interior is fitted with top notch materials that include a combination of carbon fiber, leather and aluminum and they’re put together in such a way that no synergy is lost throughout the cabin. The seats are high-back, fully adjustable leather buckets that offer great support with heat settings and lumbar support.

Technically the S5 seats four, but unless you’re less than 5-feet tall, I wouldn’t even attempt to get back there. One thing that taller folks should note is the lack of headroom in the S5. I’m 6’4″ and even with the seat fully lowered, I still only had about an inch of clearance to the roof. Thankfully though it wasn’t terrible and I was able to find a comfortable position thanks in part to the manually tilting and telescoping flat-bottomed steering wheel.

Time and time again I found this car to be a very deceiving automobile. Not in a bad way mind you, but in such a way that triple digits come up very rapidly. Now normally I would never mind this, however with the S5 a sense of speed is rarely conveyed to the driver unless you’re looking down at the speedometer. The other thing is that this car just doesn’t feel fast, even though it goes like stink when you push it.

It’s got some amazing sound insulation, a smooth as silk 7-speed transmission, and when the booming Bang and Olufsen sound system is jamming, hell, you might as well just write yourself a ticket and go directly to jail.

This is a good car, a really good car. It’s got an interior that’s one the best in any class of automobile, and engine that pulls hard, true all-weather capabilities and supermodel good looks. However it’s expensive and that’s my one fault with this machine.

Now granted, if you were to price it out, a base model S5 would set you back around $51,000, a price that is totally 100% acceptable for this car. However if you go that route you lose things like the Prestige Package, a $6,600 option that gives you everything from that kickin’ Bang and Olufsen stereo to your navigation. You’d then also have to ditch the $3,250 Driver Assist Package that gives you adaptive cruise control, drive select controls and Audi’s dynamic steering. Then to top it off, you need to dump the $1,250 Fine Nappa leather interior.

My advice, DO IT. Meaning ditch all the comfy and foofy stuff and get this car in a base model because at under $55k, you’ll be getting a car that’s not only elegant and stylish, but one that offers you wonderful performance and road manners, for thousands less than its rivals.

Or… you can tell me to go to hell, get all the options and still have a KICK-ASS German sports coupe. The choice is yours.

At first glance the Singer 911 looks like a standard old Porsche 911 with some subtle body tweaks. Look a little harder though and you’ll begin to see that not only are there huge differences, but that there’s zero in the way of classic 911 left in this car. Chris Harris recently spent the day touring Singer’s facility and then, took one of their cars out for a canyon/road course blast. To say he came away impressed would be an understatement.

Source: Youtube.com/DRIVE

With 450 bhp on tap, Audi’s new RS5 should be one helluva sports car. All the correct DNA is present and accounted for, but how will it stand up to a Southern California canyon flogging by Matt Farah and The Smoking Tire crew. Click through to find out.

Source: TheSmokingTire.com