When any manufacturer, but particularly an industry titan like Toyota, rolls out a new vehicle that they say is “in a new class”, well, the hairs on any journalist’s neck stand up a bit. That was certainly the case as we listened to Toyota’s executives and engineers roll out the new Venza.  But after a couple of days of driving it, talking to Toyota about it, and reviewing the data, we think they have a point. It’s a subtle point, but a point nonetheless.

You’ll notice that so far we haven’t said what the Venza “is”.  We haven’t put it in a category. Before we discuss the category the vehicle belongs in, we invite you to do the same experiment we performed with some of our colleagues at the launch.  Take a good look at the pictures of the Venza. What would you say this is?  Just for fun, make a mental note of that, so you can compare your reaction to what a group of journalists said in response to the same question.

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—Ypsilanti, Michigan

If a nonsensical vehicle like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S tickles your fancy, you may want to leave space on your bedroom wall for another drool-worthy pinup. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the BMW X5M. It has 555 horsepower, it runs a tuned version of BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, and it costs $85,400—that’s a whopping $40,900 less than the starting price of Madam Cayenne. And if you immediately think to yourself, “Well, clearly this is because the Porsche is a superior vehicle,” you’ll want to think again. The X5M is as good to drive as it is hard to comprehend.

When BMW introduced its latest M-badged creations—in both X5 and X6 guises—we weren’t sure what to think. And while we’ve now driven both of the beastly crossovers, they still don’t make a whole lot of sense to us (just like the turbocharged Cayennes). But while the Porsche is only minimally impressive, what with its somewhat disconnected driving experience, the X5M (and X6M, alike) is really honed in as a true driver’s car. The Ultimate Driving Crossover, if you will.

CLICK HERE to continue reading this review.

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The über-exotic Rapide, Aston Martin's new four-door, four-seat sports car, officially launches in the second quarter (late Spring) of 2010, retailing for a base MSRP of $199,950. Aston Martin expects to build approximately 2000 Rapides total in the first year of production.

Production will commence at the all-new Aston Martin Rapide Plant in Graz, Austria, and each car will take roughly 220 man hours to build. Naturally, these cars come stocked with the highest levels of refinement, just like the rest of the Aston Martin line (which we recently had the chance to sample), and standard features include things like a Bang & Olufsen Beosound audio system (tuned specifically for the Rapide), heated memory seats, an adaptive damping system, and dual-cast brakes.

The Rapide is now on sale via Aston Martin's American dealer network, with deliveries starting next year. (The line forms to the right.) Scroll down to read the official press release.

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Our Austin team currently has the keys to the off-roading dynamo, the Land Rover LR4. Go ahead and ask us your questions, like, “Can it drive over a log,” and “ Can it drive over a garbage can full of leftover turkey?” We’re here to satisfy your automotive curiosity, and we’ll do our best to respond to your inquiries.

See what we've got in the gallery above. Swing over to our Ask It forum to post your questions, or browse our forums for other topics.

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File this one under the "weird = cool" category. Honda's Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) concept is nothing short of futuristic, and shows what possibilities are in store for city cars moving forward. The weird angles and funky shape are the work of Honda's Los Angeles design crew.

The P-NUT concept incorporates the ideas of having maximum interior space in a small, urban package. A center-oriented driving position is set forward with the windshield serving as space for the navigation system and rear-view camera. The engine? That's in the rear, baby. And according to Honda, the P-NUT can be mated to either a standard internal-combustion, engine, as well as a hybrid-electric or battery-electric powertrain.

As with most concepts, there's about a 99.9 percent chance that a production version of the P-NUT will never see the light of day, but we like what Honda has done in terms of efficiently maximizing the space and utility of urban/city cars. Scroll down to read the official press release, and be sure to browse through our gallery to see the concept from all angles.

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While the full details on the 2011 Ford Fiesta broke out yesterday, the Blue Oval folks went ahead and debuted pricing information on the official Fiesta website. What's that mean for consumers? The sweet little B-car can be yours for just $13,320, including $675 for destination.

Hatchback lovers will have to pony up $15,120 for the base five-door, and the upmarket hatch rings in at $17,120, or $18,190 with the six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Want leather seating? Add $715 to that price.

Consumers who want to order their Fiestas before the actual on-sale date can take advantage of a special offer, too. Ford is throwing in Sync with turn-by-turn navigation, a premium sound system, and a "VIP customer experience." Online pre-orders begin, well, now.

Head over to Ford's site to see the full pricing details, and be sure to read our earlier post about all of the information about the 2011 Fiesta.

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If you feel like you've already seen the 2010 Tucson already, you aren't that far off. Hyundai's popular Euro-market ix35 crossover lends a lot of its styling and shape to the American-spec Tucson -- but that's not a bad thing. The previous-generation Tucson, while trusty and capable, looked rather odd and never really separated itself from the more popular Kia Sportage that it shared (everything) with. This all changes for 2010, though. The new Tucson is more powerful, more economical, and much more appealing on the eyes. Sure, the Chai Bronze might not be the most striking color in photos, but trust us when we say that it looks worlds better in person.

Like the last Tucson, both front- and all-wheel-drive versions will be available, but this time around, no six-cylinder engine will be offered. On top of that, the mid-grade SE trim has been ditched, leaving only GLS and Limited models. All Tucsons are powered by a 2.4-liter inline-four, good for 176 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque. Limited models come standard with a six-speed automatic transmission, while GLS models are outfitted with a six-gear manual box (the auto is optional).

Curiously, Hyundai is not offering its new 2.4-liter direct-injection four in the Tucson, but we wouldn't be surprised if that mill makes its way under the Tucson's hood in future years. Hyundai has, however, confirmed that a "Blue" Tucson will come out later next year, using a 2.0-liter engine trumpeting high fuel-efficiency. Even so, the standard 2.4 allows the Tucson to achieve up to 31 miles per gallon on the highway (23 in the city), which bests the numbers of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape (non-hybrid). We're willing to bet that the Tucson will be quite fun to drive, mostly thanks to its Euro-influenced suspension geometry. Eighteen-inch wheels and a longer, wider body will surely give it a more planted feeling on the road, as well.

As for the cabin, there's a lot of good stuff in here. Much like the 2011 Sonata, high-quality materials and a very sleek design are present inside the Tucson, as are new features like a premium sunroof, navigation with XM data packages, a rear-view camera, and optional heated, leather seats.

The 2010 Tucson will hit U.S. showrooms near the end of 2009, and we'd expect pricing to be around the $18,000 mark, just like the outgoing model. Scroll down to read the full press release and specifications.

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Mitsubishi has announced that it will begin production of a new small crossover, dubbed RVR, which will go on sale next spring in Japan. And while we're very accustomed to the idea of Mitsubishi releasing JDM-only products, the three-diamond folks have confirmed that this little cutie will be coming to North America at some point next year.

The RVR will be powered by an all-new, 1.8-liter four. Mitsubishi says that this vehicle will be very lightweight and compact, and the automaker is expecting impressive fuel economy numbers.

We expect the RVR to do battle with the likes of Suzuki's SX4 crossover when it arrives in North America next year. And yes, we're keeping our eyes peeled for a potential Ralliart iteration. Scroll down to read the official press release.

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Our spy photographer has sent us some shots of some forbidden fruit from the wintry north of Sweden. The new Mercedes-Benz B-Class, dressed up to keep prying eyes from seeing too much metal, is in cold-weather testing.

No longer sharing a platform with the A-Class, the front-drive B-Class is roomier and cheaper to build. We’ll be sure to post any future pictures we get as it sheds camouflage.

Check it out in the gallery, or see the photographer’s comments below.

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If you feel like you've already seen the Mazda2 today, it's because you have, by way of the 2011 Ford Fiesta. No matter, though -- we're sure that like other Ford/Mazda collaborations, the 2 will be unique enough to set it apart from the festive Ford on the road.

We don't have any details at this time about the new Mazda2 (those will come at a later date), but it really doesn't shock us that Mazda has decided to bring its new B-segment car to American shores. Stay tuned for more information, but be sure and browse through our gallery of images about the adorable little hatch.

And for the record, we at Winding Road would like demand a Mazdaspeed2 in the not-so-distant future.

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Today, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen unveiled its very fuel-efficient Up! Lite Concept.

The tiny, four-seater hybrid is based on previous Up concepts we have seen over the years, achieves a claimed 70 miles-per-gallon. The hybrid drive concept consists of a turbocharged diesel engine mated to an electric motor and DSG transmission, and is capable of running in electric-only mode for short distances. It also features a start-stop function, which allows it to save fuel when it would otherwise be idling.

The Up! Lite has a three-door, aerodynamic body with a drag coefficient of 0.237, and weighs a mere 1532 pounds, no doubt significant in helping it achieve those impressive fuel economy numbers.

Volkswagen envisions the Up! Lite, which has a top speed of 100 miles per hour, as a useful commuter vehicle across the globe.

See it in the photo gallery, or scroll down for more information in the press release.

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When we think of competitors for the BMW 5-Series, things like the Mercedes E-Class, Jaguar XF, and Audi A6 come to mind immediately, and sadly, the Infiniti M is casually overlooked in most cases. This was mostly due, in part, to an anemic V-8 mill, out-of-date interior materials and technology, and old styling. This all changes, though, as Infiniti has just debuted the sexy new M -- in both M37 and M56 flavors -- at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

As the names suggest, the M will be available with Infiniti's trusty 3.7-liter V-6 engine that we've fawned over in the G, as well as a new 5.6-liter, direct-injection V-8. The six is good for 330 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, while the larger engine increases those numbers to 420 and 417, respectively. All M models come standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is optional. Additionally, an upgraded sport package adds four-wheel active steer, a sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, and twenty-inch wheels. This package is only available on rear-drive Ms, though.

Visually, the new M is a bit larger than the model it replaces, and features a sloping roofline and high rear end, giving it an almost coupe-like shape. (We've seen this trend before, no?) Moving inside, upgraded leather for the seat is on hand, as well as a boat-load of technological features to make the M more competitive within the mid/full-size luxury segment.

We'll have pricing information closer to the 2011 M's on-sale date, but in the meantime, scroll down to read the full press release with all of the details.

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Destined to leave behind its historic and hated spot as the poser’s car of choice, Ford has pulled the wrapper off of its 2011 Mustang V-6 to reveal a truly competitive modern muscle car.

From the moment Ford showed off it’s facelifted 2010 Mustang line—with the grim knowledge that Chevrolet’s Camaro had far superior V-6 and V-8 power numbers—most enthusiasts new a better Stang was not far out. Now the entry level pony car has got a mill that it can be proud of; and all new Duratec 3.7-liter V-6, making 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. For those of you keeping score, that’s 95 more horsepower and 70 pound-feet more power than the current, 4.0-liter V-6. More importantly, the Duratec six just pips the 304-horsepower, 273-pound-foot Chevy mill.

Better news still is that of the addition of a Performance Package for the new Mustang. Adding upgraded front struts, rear shocks and springs, thicker anti-roll bars, and 19-inch wheels; the Performance enhanced cars should offer a much more sporting ride than the rather mushy V-6 cars past.

Now that Ford has beefed up the V-6 car, we don’t imagine it’ll be too long before a more powerful V-8 is gracing the Mustang GT’s engine bay. 2011 is shaping up like a pretty solid model year for Ford, already.

Scroll down to read the full Ford press release, or check out the new Mustang in our attached gallery.

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Hyundai is really on a roll. The Genesis, in both sedan and coupe flavors, have been big hits in the past year, and the automaker is really setting itself up to become one of the leaders in refinement, economy, and value in many segments. We've seen a lot of attention drawn to the mid-size sedan segment in the past years, especially with the major refresh of the Ford Fusion, which is poised to become the segment leader. Hyundai's Sonata has always been a fair player in this area of the automotive marketplace, but for 2011, the Sonata enters a whole new world of technology, design, and overall refinement.

Most importantly, the Sonata will be the first Hyundai vehicle equipped with direct-injection technology. At the car's launch, a 2.4-liter DI four-cylinder engine will be offered, producing 198 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. (Sport-trim SE models up those numbers to 200 and 186, respectively.) A six-speed manual transmission will be available with the base GLS trim, while Limited and SE Sonatas will use six-speed automatics, meaning fuel economy should stand to be quite impressive (23 city, 35 highway miles per gallon). After the Sonata's initial launch, a 2.0-liter, turbocharged DI engine will be available, as will Hyundai's first gas/electric hybrid powertrain.

We recently had the chance to get up-close and personal with the new Sonata, able to see Hyundai's new "Fluidic Sculpture" design language in the flesh. The Sonata uses an almost four-door coupe-like shape, and it's a very sleek and slippery design. Gone are the bland-ish Sonatas of yore -- this new car might just be the best-looking mid-sizer around. Moving inside, the interior is awash in high-quality materials, especially in the up-bucks Limited trim. The fit-and-finish is solid, and there's tons of room for both front- and rear-seat passengers.

Naturally, the Sonata will be equipped with a ton of standard features, like XM radio with NavTraffic and other data services, Bluetooth, etc. The Sonata will also be the first mid-size sedan to offer digital HD radio as optional equipment, as well as navigation, and other fun goodies.

No official pricing details have been released at this time, but we'd expect the starting price to come in well below the $20K mark. Scroll down to read all of the full details and specifications, and be sure to click through our gallery to see the new Sonata from all angles.

Ze German luxury sedan wars are in full swing, with the latest Audi A8 being unveiled on Monday, BMW's new-for-2009 7-Series doing very well, and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class getting some substantial updates for 2010.

All three cars offer the same overall experience, but they go about it in different ways. The Audi has unique headlights and Quattro all-wheel drive, the BMW stands proud with its twin-turbocharged V-8, and the Merc is the only one currently available as a hybrid. (BMW's ActiveHybrid 7 is coming early next year, with Audi's to follow shortly thereafter.)

So, we want to know which of these big luxury boats you, our readers, would have in your personal garages? Head over to our forum thread and sound off.

+ NextAutos Forums: Audi A8 vs. BMW 7-Series vs. Mercedes-Benz S-Class  

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One of the most hyped-up, anticipated new vehicles being introduced at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show is the U.S.-spec 2011 Ford Fiesta. Not only has Ford been talking about this car for months, the automaker went ahead and put a fleet of Euro-spec Fiestas on the road in 2009 as part of the Fiesta Movement, a way to ramp up awareness of the vehicle and get some free press from drivers all around the country. In fact, Ford says that the Fiesta name already has a 60 percent awareness rating in America, which is pretty impressive for a vehicle that isn't even on sale yet.

The Fiesta has been a success story in Europe for many, many years, and it seems like America's biggest concern is how the Fiesta's design would change once the car was brought to our shores. Well, as you can see by the photos, it's slightly different, but in a way looks like a natural evolution of the Fiesta. Consider it a mid-cycle refresh, if you will. The other big change for the U.S. market is the introduction of the Fiesta sedan, which uses Ford's signature three-bar grille and gives consumers an alternative option from the five-door hatch. Visual changes on both cars come in the way of a slightly tweaked front fascia, where the Euro car's foglamps have been ditched in favor of vertical LED bars, similar to those on the new Taurus. We think it looks great.

Under the hood is a 1.6-liter four-pot mill good for 119 horsepower and 109 pound-feet of torque. The standard transmission offering is a five-speed manual, though consumers can option up to a six-speed, Powershift dual-clutch automatic. Don't be fooled, though -- there's no way to manually change your way through the automatic's gears. And when it comes to fuel economy, the Fiesta will surely put smiles on people's faces, offering up to 40 miles per gallon on the highway.

Inside, the Fiesta's cabin has not been changed much from the European car, save the addition of American-friendly amenities like extra cup holders and a center armrest. We had a chance to sit in the new Fiesta at Ford's product development center recently, and find the materials used to be much better than on the current Focus small car, and the whole design is really good-looking. Both the sedan and hatchback offer a 60/40 split folding rear seat, though curiously, the hatch's seats do not fold flat and the headrests need to be removed to put the seats all the way down. Seems like an odd omission in this segment, but Ford says that in its research, consumers didn't seem to mind this. However, the Fiesta will offer a ton of segment-exclusive features like push-button start, automatic climate control, and (of course) SYNC.

No official word on pricing has been released as of this writing, but we'll keep you posted as the car's on-sale date nears. We'd expect it to be pretty comparable to the Focus, and priced to compete within its class. Scroll down to read Ford's official press release, and be sure to click through our gallery to see a raft of Fiesta shots.

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Caption:

Saab 9-3 Viggen

Produced: 1999-2002

Engine: 2.3-liter turbocharged I-4

Notable: Saab’s high-performance 9-3 may have struggled with torque steer issues, but it also carved a place as probably the most endearing version of the model range. Both coupe and convertible versions are much hunted by collectors.

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The future of Saab has never been less clear than it is right now. With the bailout induced walk-away by recent parent company General Motors, the falling out of the purchase by supercar builder Koenigsegg, and reluctance on the part of the Swedish government to take things over; the griffin badge could be in dire straights indeed. New rumors have various U.S. and Chinese business concerns interested in the struggling automaker though, so all may not yet be lost.

And why, you may ask, all the fuss about a money losing carmaker? We felt like that question was the perfect springboard for us to create a list of some of our favorite Saabs of all time. A sort of greatest hits list that proves there is indeed a spiritual Saab center that is worth saving.

Above, and in no particular order, you’ll find ten of our favorite Saabs through the years. It’s a list that, no doubt, leaves off some worthy cars. Let us know what you liked and what you think we missed, in the comments section below.

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Our spy photographer caught this Lotus prototype out testing. Could it be a mule for a V-8 engine for the new Lotus Esprit? And if so, will the engine come from Toyota? BMW?

At this point, we can only guess, but we definitely get excited when we look at these photos. Any new developments from Lotus are a sign of good things to come.

Click through the gallery above to see the mysterious Lotus, or scroll down for the shooter’s postulations. And, of course, we’ll keep you up-to-date as more information comes out about this car.

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Along with photos of the Mini Cooper S Diesel , as we are tentatively calling it, we received these photos over the holiday of the Mini Clubman with the more powerful diesel engine. We’re estimating an output of between 140 and 150 horsepower from this grease mill.

See it in the gallery above, and make sure to click here for Cooper S Diesel photos, and more information, including the photographer’s comments.

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Our spy shooter sent us photos of the more powerful diesel versions of the Mini Cooper and the Mini Clubman.

These photos show the Mini Cooper S Diesel, as we’re tentatively calling it, which is expected to deliver something close to 150 horsepower.

It looks as though it will be getting an updated front bumper to differentiate it from the rest of the pack. The jury is still out on whether or not the hood scoop will be included.

Check it out in the gallery above, or click over to the photos of the Clubman S Diesel. The photographer’s notes follow.