• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

As if the too-hot Roush 427R wasn't enough, the much-loved tuning company has now put another spin on the 2010 Mustang. As for appearance, this one is much more tame and subtle than some of the cleft-chinned 'Stangs we've driven, but don't let its looks fool you. The supercharger under this Mustang's hood bumps up power to a GT500-matching 540 ponies, and with suspension tweaking on hand, this latest Roush will surely be a hit for muscle car enthusiasts.

Scoot on over to our Ask It forum post and let us know what burning questions you have about the newest Roush creation. We'll be on hand to respond, as well as post driving impressions throughout the week.

+ NextAutos Forums: Ask It: 2010 Roush 540RH

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

— Atlanta, Georgia

To say that Kia has made a lot of changes to the Sorento for the 2011 model year doesn’t quite capture the spirit of it. It’s roomier, lighter, more efficient, offers different powertrain options, and is built in the U.S. to boot. While it is by all means a crossover, Kia has tried to keep the new Sorento from falling in with the rest of the herd, and has created what promises to be a formidable competitor in the otherwise dreary and uninspired segment of affordable CUVs.

CLICK HERE to continue reading this article.

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

—South Lyon, Michigan

Let’s face it—the latest trend of sleek-lined crossovers is here to stay, and we can look forward to more and more manufacturers creating new vehicles based on this larger design ethos. (See what you’ve done, BMW X6?) So Honda, known for game-changing products, was certain to remind us that the brand new Accord Crosstour had been in the works for many years. “We had been planning this one since before anyone even saw the X6,” we were assured by one executive. When we asked if the Crosstour was in any way developed alongside the recently released Acura ZDX, we were told that the two vehicles have nothing in common with one another. In fact, Honda pointed out that while the ZDX was designed and engineered in America, the Crosstour is, for the most part, the fruit of Japanese labor.

But is it unique? Aside from the styling, there isn’t a whole lot of newness to this car. As the vehicle’s name suggests, the Crosstour is based on the trusty Accord sedan, and instead of dropping the Accord name, Honda left it in place to build better familiarity within its consumer base. Truth be told, about 60 percent of the Crosstour is made up of standard Accord parts, and Honda won’t shy away from telling anyone and everyone that the Crosstour is an extension of the Accord lineup. The automaker wants consumers to view this vehicle as a more premium version of the Accord, but one that offers the space and functionality of a crossover. While this all makes a whole lot of sense in concept, the final product is a bit of an odd duck.

CLICK HERE to continue reading this review.

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

We currently have the 2010 Toyota Prius in our Austin fleet, and we know you have questions about it. Is it nearly as good as it is popular? Ask us, and find out.

See it in the gallery above, then head over to the Ask It page in our forums, and we’ll answer all your questions to the best of our abilities.

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

As part of a larger hot hatch comparison test (stay tuned), we have the all-new 2010 Volkswagen GTI in the Ypsilanti test fleet this week. Ours is the five-door with the six-speed manual and it's loaded to the brim, but regardless of what tech options this car has, there's no doubt that our biggest love is with the 2.0-liter turbo four under the hood.

Since we'll surely be putting a lot of miles on the GTI this week, we thought we'd offer it up for a round of Ask It in our forums. We're ready for your questions.

+ NextAutos Forums: Ask It: 2010 Volkswagen GTI

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Opening the office door onto the parking lot, we shivered just a bit. It may have been the fall weather descending upon us, but the face of the Acura TL SH-AWD, it’s imposing, angular slabs of sheet metal glaring at us from under the slanted headlights and diminutive badge, probably contributed to our brief shudder. Having already seen, addressed, and come to terms with the TL’s appearance, we armed ourselves with the keys and got in.

Starting up the car, the feeling of the clutch is the first tactile sensation to grab us. The uptake is so smooth, it’s difficult to feel when the clutch is engaging. As we lift our foot, we feel for that telltale tension in the pedal that tells us something is happening. Instead, we feel nothing, and we have to listen very carefully to the engine, and feel from our seat, to know how quickly to release the clutch. Granted, all this happens in a matter of moments, but these are moments we are used to experiencing mostly through our foot. Not so with the TL.

CLICK HERE to continue reading this article.

Last time we had a first drive in a new Porsche 911 Turbo was back in 2006 with the sixth-generation car on some relatively interesting Spanish roads, though the true limits were never explored. This time with the seventh generation, however, Porsche more than made up for it.

CLICK HERE to continue reading our first drive of the Porsche 911 Turbo in Winding Road 51

We love Porsche 911s, and the Turbo is one of our favorites. We like it so much, in fact, that the new car has made its way onto the cover of our latest issue of Winding Road. But this issue isn't just about the 911 Turbo. Here's a look at what else is inside:

- 2010 Acura ZDX
- 2009 MTM Audi S3
- 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
- 2009 Winding Road Greenformance Awards
- Luxury At $35,000: Mercedes-Benz vs. Audi vs. Buick vs. Acura
- 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i vs. 2009 Porsche Boxster S

Of course, there's much, much more to be found in our latest issue, so be sure to give it a read in one of our two formats.

CLICK HERE to read this issue in our online viewer.
CLICK HERE to download an ad-free PDF from NextNewsStand.

And don't forget, you can buy a full subscription to Winding Road by clicking here. One year of ad-free, downloadable PDFs can be yours for the low, low price of only $4.99.

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

—Ann Arbor, Michigan

One of the most crucial things that American automakers—namely Ford and GM—are currently doing is working on building better individual brand identity within their larger portfolios. In years past, the Lincoln brand suffered by being written off as the grandfather-oriented luxury brand, offering soft vehicles with only a few more luxurious touches than similar products with Ford or Mercury badges. But recently, we’ve seen some really attractive things come from Lincoln, and Ford’s marketing representatives have a clear objective to bring new products to dealer lots that don’t plainly resemble the Ford vehicles that they’re based off of. Sure, you can look at a Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS side by side and see some similarities, but non-automotive media consumers won’t necessarily spot the similarities.

Enter for 2010, the seven-passenger Lincoln MKT crossover. It may be based on the trusty Ford Flex platform, but Lincoln engineers reiterated that not a single body panel or interior amenity has been carried over, unchanged, from the Flex. Its exterior appearance alone is a very polarizing opposite from the boxy Ford crossover, and while the debate still continues about if we find the MKT to be a “pretty car” or not, one thing’s clear—you won’t mistake it for a Flex. Or anything else, for that matter.

CLICK HERE to continue reading this review.

Winding Road presents its second Special Edition, the BMW Issue. Full to the brim with Munich’s finest, this issue includes our best coverage of the Ultimate Driving Machine, along with buyer’s guides and previews of some Bimmers yet to come.

This special issue is available only in downloadable PDF format from NextNewsStand. It’s yours for the super low price of $3.99.

CLICK HERE to download this issue.