Sedans

Wednesday Walkaround: 2008 Audi S8

This week we look at the 2008 Audi S8 luxury sport sedan in the backyard. Here is the full review: Audi S8 swimming in luxury, performance To best understand the Audi S8 luxury performance sedan, think Olympian Michael Phelps in a tuxedo. And despite the corporate logo having one fewer ring than the current quadrennial activities in Beijing, Audi is as fierce a German competitor as that female freestyle swimmer who took Dara Torres’ gold medal. S8 is the sport version of Audi’s flagship A8 luxury liner, a vehicle that offers the maximum performance and refinement in a large European…

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

2009 Mazda6 is Zoom-zoom evolved

Despite building a very good midsize sedan, Mazda knew it needed to undertake a significant model makeover in order to keep up with the “Joneses” of the CD-segment, namely Accord and Camry. With the new 2009 Mazda6 it has done that and more. Their mantra? Zoom-zoom evolution. From the beginning Mazda knew it had three key areas to improve on before it would be ready to release a new model: Quality, power and size. These were areas where midsize buyers had been rejecting the current Mazda6 in favor of the competition. And Mazda is so proud of its accomplishments in…

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

When we first got our hands on a new 2008 Chevy Malibu for review, this is some of what I wrote: “I had been so skeptical about the new Malibu since seeing the earliest concepts and artists’ renditions that once I finally got to drive it, I spent most of my week behind the wheel trying to find fault with the car instead of focusing on the positives.” My conclusions? Those import models that have been cannibalizing midsize sedan sales over the past couple of decades had better be worried.