the front of the pack is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're finally beginning to get a glimpse of exactly what Chrysler has been up to since snagging a whopping $6.6 billion in federal funding during the automotive implosion of 2009. While General Motors has been busily chugging along like nothing happened, the Pentastar hasn't exactly rolled out a wave of new and refreshed models. There's been an obvious hitch in the Chrysler giddy up, and those loyal to the company's three brands have been forced to settle for little more than slightly reworked option packages... until now. As 2010 comes to a close, the company is pulling the covers off a range of new models, each as important to its future success as the last.

In a world populated by bubble crossovers, the Grand Cherokee clearly stands apart.

At the front of the pack is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a vehicle that's become synonymous with Chrysler's righting of itself in the public eye thanks to some of the most well-crafted advertisements in the industry. If you don't know what we're on about, we highly suggest pointing your browser toward YouTube and spending a few minutes watching the company's "The Things We Make, Make Us" spot. Be prepared for an overwhelming sense of patriotic duty, as well as a burning desire to pick up a hammer and bang some nails.

You've been warned.

Even before Chrysler's run-in with Chapter 11, there were flickers of hope within the company's fleet. The Dodge Ram packed one of the best interiors in the segment, and the previous-generation Grand Cherokee wasn't a horrible place to spend a few hours. The 2011 Grand Cherokee picks up those cues and runs with them in all directions, resulting in a vehicle that's as capable off road as it is jousting with mid-town traffic. If this is the new face of Chrysler, we like what we see.

Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback New hatchback Lancer

When Mitsubishi redesigned its Lancer for 2008, the compact sedan took a substantial leap forward in style and roadability. While the 2002-07 Lancer endured a reputation as an econobox, the new Lancer drew praise for virtues beyond its dollar value.


For 2009, the GTS edition of the Lancer gained a more potent 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, deflecting any criticism that the basic Lancer lacked power. Rather than the regular engine's 152 horsepower, as installed in DE and ES models, the larger GTS version develops 168 horsepower. Mitsubishi also introduced a Ralliart edition, with design touches and turbocharged performance to echo that of the renowned Evolution series.Styling

In Europe, hatchback body styles and sporty behavior tend to go hand in hand. That used to be true in the U.S. market as well, but hatchbacks have had a hard time keeping up the sales pace in recent years. Nevertheless, Mitsubishi has added a Sportback (hatchback) edition of the Lancer for 2010, in the hope of stimulating even greater interest.


Lancer Sportbacks come in two trim levels: sporty front-drive GTS with the 168-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, or high-performance all-wheel-drive Ralliart with a turbocharged/intercooled 2.0-liter. Adapted from the engine that drives Mitsubishi's Evolution, the Ralliart's four-cylinder generates 237 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque.


Either a manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) may be installed in the GTS. The Ralliart comes only with a Twin Clutch Sportronic transmission, borrowed from the Evolution MR. Mitsubishi's Evolution, which descends from a series of all-out racing machines, unleashes a 291-horsepower turbocharged engine to its all-wheel-drive system.


With five-speed manual shift and the 2.4-liter engine, a Lancer GTS Sportback earns a fuel-economy estimate from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of 20 mpg in city driving and 27 mpg on the highway. Mitsubishi's CVT boosts the city figure to 21 mpg. In Ralliart trim, the Sportback's estimate drops to 17/25 mpg (city/highway). Gas-mileage proponents may instead turn to a regular Lancer sedan with the milder 152-horsepower engine, which gets EPA figures of 22/31 mpg with manual shift (23/30 with CVT).

Performance and Safety

Frontal crash-testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Lancer a 5-star rating for the driver and 4-star for the front passenger. Side-impact testing has not yet been done.


The Ralliart's transmission has Normal and Sport shifting modes. Drivers can manually shift using the console shifter or magnesium-alloy paddles; or choose fully automatic mode. Numerically-lower upper gear ratios help boost Ralliart fuel economy. Ralliart also has an Active Center Differential, with a selector for Tarmac, Gravel, or Snow.

New Cars Maybach's Face-lifted Offerings

Maybach, Daimler's Bentley/Roller division, is debuting the face-lifted versions of its 57 and 62 models in Beijing (now "with added sparkle"!). What can we expect from the little mega-luxury brand that couldn't?

First off, the body gets a few pinches here and there: a redesigned front bumper gets some extra trim, the new arrow-shaped hood gets snazzy edges and bigger, aerodynamic mirrors improve merging and now reduce driving noise.

Outside, the newish models will also feature more bling in the form of "a large new chrome radiator grille", LED daytime running lights, "high-quality dark red taillights", and "stylish wheels".

The grilles are unique to the two model lines (standard and "S"). Regular models will have 20 thin bars and S models get 12 thicker ones; the good news is, S grilles get a "shadow strut" to "flag up the vehicle's tremendous power." That's really what they wrote in the press release...

Inside, buyers will have access to wireless internet and a few new options including a perfume atomizer brought down from the Zeppelin model. What will they think of next?

For the short-wheelbase model, buyers can now request a reclining rear seat behind the front passenger. They can also order Swarovski crystal elements on the seat piping and some sterling silver "Maybach" compensation badges on the seats. You know, in case their old S-Class just isn't shiny enough.

Ballers going for the long-wheelbase 62 can also request a 19-inch screen to be installed in compartment partition, should they be riding in a chauffeured model.

Lastly, output increases to 630 horsepower in the S models (up 18; standard models' output remains the same), and emissions drop to 368 g/km (350 g/km in non-S guise).

Fuel economy should be right around 15.8 liters/100km (14.9 mpg) in the S, while people not needing a sporty limousine can expect 15.0 liters/100km (15.7 mpg) in standard form.

With these new models, Daimler is simply drawing out the agonizing death of a brand that is the Joan Rivers of luxury cars: it just won't die and face lifts can only do so much. Time to pull the plug and let it go, guys.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing Official F1 Safety Car

The first race of the 2010 Formula-1 season in Bahrain on March 12 will mark the debut of the most powerful official F1 safety car of all time, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing, which replaces the firm's SL 63 AMG roadster that was used in the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Being a supercar and all, there was no need for Mercedes to fiddle around with the mechanical recipe so the new F1 safety car features the same 571HP V8 engine, 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, suspension and brake system as the standard-production SLS AMG but gets an all-new rear silencer, that is said to allow the naturally aspirated V8 to breathe more easily and offer improved acoustics.

On the outside, the "Gullwing" safety car is distinguishable by its F1 logos, carbon-fibre exterior mirrors and the characteristic roof light bar with integrated TV camera plus a special number plate at the rear, with "Safety Car" lettering and 700 LEDs.

Moving into the cockpit, aside from bucket seats with the six-point seat belts, the "Gullwing" has been fitted with two central screens to monitor the progress of the race and a radio system to communicate with the organizers.

The SLS AMG also gets a "Marshalling System" that is integrated in the central display on the instrument cluster allowing the driver and co-driver to see the same exact signals as the Formula-1 drivers in their cockpits.

As in the last two years, Mercedes-Benz will also provide a C 63 AMG Estate to be used as the Official F1 Medical Car for the coming season.