Category: Cars (Page 13 of 69)

Car Review: 2014 Lexus LX570

October 6, 2014 / Bullz-Eye Staff

Lexus has been upfront with the innovations and capabilities of the 2014 Lexus LX570, and for very good reason. The Lexus LX was the first premium, full-capability prestige three-row luxury utility vehicle, and the latest edition wears the bold, brand signature spindle grille front design. We had a full week to test this hulking SUV to find out exactly what you can get for close to 90K these days!

EXTERIOR

You will notice the 2014 Lexus LX570 immediately once you see this beast on the road, and with the sleek designs of Lexus brand vehicles these days, this SUV goes in a different direction. There is a true off-road look to the LX 570, which is fine, but you kind of get the feeling that this huge SUV might have came out of the 90s. There are also some very good looking exterior features on the Lexus LX570, such as a very aggressive-looking front fascia and a high-end side view. The 20-inch, 5-spoke wheels with liquid graphite finish really pop on this SUV. At night, you can see the LX570 from afar with the high intensity discharge headlamps (HID) and integrated fog lamps with LED daytime running lights and LED tail lamps. We also liked the illuminated running boards with tow hitch and ball mount.

INTERIOR

There is as much leather as a Texas boot shop in the cabin of the 2014 Lexus LX570! The Luxury package delivered semi-aniline leather trimmed interior with contrast stitching, driver and passenger heated and ventilated seats with second row heated seats, center console mounted cool box, smart access card key and wood-trimmed door switch plates. When full 8-passenger seating is not needed, the Lexus LX 570 can open up a large, useful cargo area. With the 50/50 split power-retractable third row seat folded into the floor, the LX 570 provides 41 cu. ft. of carrying space, and this expands to 83.1 cu. ft. with the 40/20/40 split middle row folded. The clamshell-design tailgate, which features a power upper section, is much more versatile than a typical one-piece hatch. Cutting-edge multimedia abounds in the Lexus LX 570, providing something for everyone onboard. Lexus Enform can make a compatible Bluetooth smartphone even smarter. The available Enform service, with Destination Assist, eDestination and App Suite, comes with the Navigation System/Mark Levinson Audio Package. Lexus Enform provides access to the subscription-free App Suite. These voice-enabled apps let you search the Internet through Bing, make restaurant reservations through OpenTable, get movie tickets via MovieTickets.com, listen to Internet radio including Pandora and iHeartRadio, search business reviews on Yelp, and check in on Facebook Places.

Lexus Enform with Safety Connect is available by subscription. Complimentary one-year trial subscriptions are available on all purchases of new Lexus vehicles equipped with these features. Safety Connect is standard on all vehicles, while Lexus Enform with Safety Connect is on all vehicles equipped with the optional Navigation system. The Lexus Enform and the Safety Connect response centers operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. Lexus Enform vehicles are factory ready for subscriptions to a variety of innovative SiriusXM services, including NavTraffic, NavWeather, Sports, Stocks and Fuel Prices. SiriusXM services offer complimentary one-year trial data subscription.

Car Reviews, Cars

Lexus Lexus LX570 Lexus SUV luxury SUV

Future car technologies to watch

October 3, 2014 / Bullz-Eye Staff

While cars with GPS, satellite radio, sunroofs, automatic gear transmission, cruise control, automatic climate control and other novelties are the norm these days, there’s a ton of innovation and new gadgets and technologies coming soon. If you’ve been thinking that airbags qualify as innovation, wait till you hear from the future makers of the automobile industry. Many have the potential to change the way we drive and are practical enough to see the light of the day outside the laboratory.

Cars

Car Review: 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited

October 1, 2014 / Bullz-Eye Staff

Kia continues to roll out new models, and since the debut of the all-new 2014 Kia Cadenza sedan, this offering from Kia has garnered praise for its premium feel and long list of amenities. We drove the new Cadenza for a week and had the opportunity to find out if Kia is still churning out winners!

EXTERIOR

With the Cadenza, you first notice the broad shoulders, contoured hood, large wheels and wide stance that give it a strong, grounded appearance. The striking design has a distinctive sport-sedan form that you normally find on much more expensive models. The signature grille and front fascia make Cadenza instantly recognizable as a Kia. Flanking the grille are quad headlights that nestle deeply behind crystalline lenses. The lower fascia is wide, lending to the Cadenza’s imposing stance, and chrome trim accents around the fog lights and grille add to the vehicle’s premium presence. LED positioning lights and projection beam headlights provide additional European sophistication. The vertical nose is imposing and the long hood is sensuously sculpted to meet the swept-back windshield. The greenhouse curves gracefully to the C-pillar and is surrounded by a tasteful chrome bezel that flares upward at the rear door, effectively creating a beautiful glass droplet. Beginning just aft of the front-door cutline is a chiseled indentation that sweeps upward, seamlessly transitioning into the tail lights. Classic chrome accents adorn the lower portions of the doors and the treatment continues into the rear fascia. The 19-inch alloy wheels offered in the Technology Package resemble a jet turbine and add to the Cadenza’s athletic stature.

Moving to the rear, the standard LED taillights sit high on the deck and are designed to cut across a large portion of the vehicle, lending to the Cadenza’s broad stance. The twin oval tail pipes accentuate the Cadenza’s sporty and elegant design. What universally garnered plenty of attention were the sleek 19-inch chrome alloy wheels that give this new Kia some street cred.

INTERIOR

The interior of the Cadenza envelops its occupants in a premium environment complete with soft leather upholstery and tasteful accents of wood and chrome. Ambient lighting and a horizontally positioned switch gear communicate an uncluttered and sophisticated aesthetic. An elegant analog clock positioned between the automatic climate controls lends a classic feel. The center console is angled slightly toward the driver for optimized control, and an available large 7-inch high-resolution TFT LCD screen in the gauge cluster showcases a wide range of vehicle information, including turn-by-turn navigation and infotainment. Elegant chrome bezels surround the HVAC and audio controls, air vents and the standard push-button start. Standard Bluetooth, wood-trim door inserts, one-touch automatic up/down power front windows and power-folding heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators all enhance the Cadenza’s premium image.

Car Reviews, Cars

kia Kia Cadenza

First Drive: 2015 Acura TLX

September 28, 2014 / Frank Washington

It has been a long time, more than a decade, since you could put “Acura” and “fun to drive” in the same sentence. But the Japanese automaker unleashed its engineers and let them create a car that is indeed a watershed.

The 2015 Acura TLX replaces the Acura TSX and TL. Neither midsize sedan could be called a rousing success. Worse, the TL grew to be almost as big as Acura’s flagship RL sedan, throwing the automaker’s lineup out of whack.

The premium and luxury car markets used to be mannerly, almost sedate, but not anymore. Though it was the first Asian luxury brand in the U.S. market, Acura got left at the gate by Infiniti and Lexus. Now, Mercedes-Benz and BMW have risen to their challenge, and from Acura’s standpoint, there is a resurgent Audi and a rejuvenated Cadillac too compete with as well.

In short, you’ve got to have a great product to even call yourself a premium or luxury brand these days. It seems that Acura’s head honchos have gotten that message and allowed some of the best engineers around to develop the all new TLX. The midsize luxury sedan’s overall length has been shortened from the old TL, but the wheelbase length remained. That means the back seats of the TLX are spacious, comfortable and can carry two full-sized adults with no problem. But the real story here is under the TLX’s hood.

First, there’s a 2015 Acura TLX with a 2.4-liter four cylinder engine with an eight-speed dual clutch transmission and P-AWS. This engine makes 206 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque. There’s also a TLX with a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to a nine-speed automatic. The model comes with either P-AWS or Acura’s SH-AWD.

Car Reviews, Cars

Acura

4 High-Tech Car Integrations You Would Love

September 26, 2014 / Bullz-Eye Staff

Most of you log several hours in your cars every day, chauffeuring children, commuting to work, running errands, and more.
To make things a little more convenient, the high-tech industry is here to help, making all kinds of technology that you can integrate in your drive to take advantage of interactive features while you’re on the move.

Some inventions take your breath away. But not all technology is exciting or even utilitarian. In fact, some creations might make you say “what on earth were they thinking?”

Cars

car technology