Kia launched the new GT concept at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show. The transformation at Kia has led to the company's strong sales growth in recent times and the creative design is apparent in the new offerings as well.

The Kia GT concept is the company's first ever rear-wheel drive sedan. Kia though about putting out a high-performance front-engine rear-drive car in 2010 and in 10 months it rolled out the GT concept, which says a lot about the company's commitment towards the project.

Unique Design

At first look, the GT concept makes you feel that it belongs to some marquee European sports brand. The aggressive design of the GT concept suggests that the car is roaring with energy and is poised to take-off. The design theme for GT concept revolves around aeronautics.

The elongated bonnet, potent rear shoulders and the truncated rear, exudes seminal strength and energy which was never seen before from Kia. Kia's Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer has been instrumental in turning around the way Kia vehicles look and is giving Kia cars an identity of its own. GT concept does reflect how some of the future Kia models would be styled.

Engine Performance

The GT concept is powered by a 3.3 liter V6 engine that churns out 395hp of power and 394 lb/ft of torque. The engine has been mated to an eight speed automatic transmission. This is the most powerful engine ever produced by Kia and it has surprised the industry with its specs. While the performance specs are not yet known, but the combination of powerful engine and aerodynamic design would surely churn out some staggering numbers.

Kia has shown its intent to take the GT concept to the production stage by 2013. The company is contemplating a comprehensive line-up of GT concept variants, which would include a sedan, a two door couple and even a station wagon.

Specifications

The 2011 Mastretta MXT, the first high performance, two-seat sports car created by Mastretta out of Toluca, Mexico has been engineered to deliver outstanding performance at all levels.

Regardless of whether you're an average road user or a performance driver, this car has everything that makes driving an absolute pleasure.

Exterior & Interior Features

The Mastretta MXT comes from a new automotive manufacturer that hopes to make a name for itself by producing lightweight sports cars. The MXT itself is an extremely compact car that has outstanding driving dynamics, a sleek design, high efficiency, a spacious interior and also comes equipped with several of the latest gadgets (GPS, DVD player, Bluetooth/iPod connectivity) - more than enough to help Mastretta make a good name for itself in the sports car market!

The Mastretta MXT sits low on the road, like most high performance sports cars, and features a typical mid engine configuration which allows drivers to experience optimum stability and a good handling response.

The MXT has relatively small dimensions and weighs in at only 930 kg make it an ultra-light two seater coupe. Despite the small dimensions of the car and the light weight, it handles surprisingly well in a range of environments and comfortably seats two adults.

Performance

The powerful 2.0 turbocharged engine has 250 horsepower and allows drivers to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100km) in approximately 4.9 seconds. Along with the remarkable power and performance of this new car, you also get a surprisingly high level of practicality.

The car is well suited to city driving, long distance journeys and performance driving. The spacious interior and carbon fiber seats covered in premium leather strike a good balance between comfort and performance.

The seats were developed in order to provide the maximum amount of support to drivers while accelerating, braking or cornering and also provide maximum comfort on long journeys. The balance between the elegant design, comfort and performance mean that this vehicle is perfect for almost any type of driving!

Specifications

A. Kahn Design begins 2012 with the launch of a new customization program for the Ferrari 458 Italia. The British tuner is known for its luxurious upgrades and their attention to detail and the upgrade packages for Ferrari 458 Italia.

An A Kahn Design upgrade package for 458 Italia includes either Rossa Corsa Red or Triple Pearl White exterior paint options, with different combinations of exterior and interior components.

Exterior

In Rossa Corsa Red, the Ferrari 458 Italia is accompanied by a matte pearl grey finish for the roof, front and rear bumpers and side skirts. The Triple Pearl White comes with a more uniform color scheme for exteriors and is well complemented by wheels and bumpers with matte pearl grey finish.

The Kahn Design 458 Italia comes with a modified suspension system, making it slightly low set and stiffer for better handling at high speeds. The vehicle also comes with a custom diffuser and painted brake calipers - red for Triple white Ferrari and yellow for Rosso Corsa Red Ferrari. A Kahn has put custom wheels in these cars, measuring 21-inches for the front and 22-inches for the rear, and they come with matte pearl grey finish.

Interior

The Rosso Corsa Red Kahn Design 458 Italia is finished with leather interiors. Some of the main features include Leather central tunnel, Leather headlining and stitching and carpets in Bordeaux, yellow rev counter, Cream Daytona lights, Electro chromatic exterior and interior mirrors.

Triple white Kahn Design 458 Italia include features like Nero leather electric seats, Leather central tunnel, yellow rev counter, leather headlining, carpets in black and stitching in white, Electro chromatic exterior and interior mirrors.

This A Kahn Design Ferrari Italia is a perfect option for those who want to distinguish themselves from the crowd with these attractive customization packages. The luxurious features and attention to detail, these customizations are a class apart.

Specifications

The 2012 ASMA Porsche Cayenne Turbo "The Giant" body kit, by Erturul ASMA, is the latest offering to come out of the controversial tuning house in Germany, ASMA design.

Erturul ASMA is naturally claiming this design is perfection, but with no power upgrades made available with this Porsche Cayenne body kit, what makes the kit stand out?

Exterior Makeover

The visual impact of the Turbo 'The Giant' body kit is something that you really can’t miss - the wide body kit increases the Porsche Cayenne's width to over 2 meters wide! Nicknamed 'The Giant' for obvious reasons, this body kit would definitely get you noticed when you're on the road.

The body kit that makes up this Porsche Cayenne Turbo comes from genuine carbon fiber and does more than just increase the width of the Cayenne. It also redesigns the rear, adds a modified front bumper that comes with LED daytime lights, includes a new hood, wheel arch extensions, side skirts, tailgates, and low front/rear spoilers.

The rear bumper has been changed so that it now features two center fitted tailpipes and the front end has also been modified so that it contains a larger, more aggressive looking grill/air intake vents.

Also worthy of note are the added 22 inch black alloy wheels, which some say are the only worthy part of the body kit. Since the ASMA Porsche Cayenne Turbo kit has done nothing to the power output/performance aspect of the vehicle, we're left to decide whether the extremely wide, aerodynamic, body kit by itself is enough to impress.

Performance

The Porsche Cayenne is capable of 550HP with no modifications made by ASMA design, and the aggressively styled, sharp and wide, body kit certainly makes the Porsche Cayenne a formidable looking force on the road.

In the new age of customization, ASMA design has certainly produced something that looks impressive, despite the fact that they failed to make any upgrades to performance. But let's be honest, does the Porsche Cayenne really need it?

Specifications

The 2012 Toyota 4Runner is the latest iteration of the popular model being sold around the world from the mid 1980s.

As a vehicle, the Toyota 4Runner is a joy when it comes to off-road driving and excellent in terms of safety and other features, however, it does get left behind as a family SUV as one can find better choices on offer from the competition.

Specifications

Performance

The Toyota 4Runner is an excellent choice for the off-road trails and by nature that's where its magic lies. In terms of SUVs it is one of the best available for anyone looking for adventure on the high roads or even where there are no roads. It is loaded with features and gadgets that make off-road adventures a lot of fun and difficult trails easy to conquer.

Exterior

It gets its styling from the Toyota FJ Cruiser and continues with the boxy and rugged appearance it has had over the years.

Interior

It is extremely spacious and highly functional being packed with features. Seating is comfortable in the first 2 rows but somewhat cramped in the 3rd row for adults. Cargo space is spacious and large for off the road and trail duties but is average when compared to mid-sized SUVs and crossovers.

It has lots of space in the interior that lets you carry all the luggage and gear that you desire and it comes with an optional suspension that lets you drive on tracks and trails that are simply off the norm.

Unfortunately, the features that make the Toyota 4Runner an excellent off-road companion make it somewhat of a cumbersome drive on the road and in the city especially when stacked against some of the competition.

It is somewhat cramped in the 3rd row especially for the adults and also when the 3rd row is used to seat passengers it reduces the cargo space. Also, the suspension makes the drive somewhat uncomfortable when driving through the city though it is a winner off the road.

Safety & Reliability

It is extremely safe and has received good ratings for safety in the event of frontal, rear or side crashes. In terms of a roof accident it has been rated acceptably safe. It comes with 8 airbags, rear sensors for parking and assisted driving for going uphill or downhill.

Other safety features are comparable to similar SUVs and industry standards. In terms of reliability, the Toyota 4Runner comes with a 3-year warranty that covers 36,000 miles which is comparable to other similarly priced SUVs and current industry standards.

Ideal

The Toyota 4Runner is an excellent choice for hitting the trail and for driving off the road. This SUV is primarily for adventure seekers who prefer to drive off the road and visit remote locations. When compared to other brands of SUVs it is particularly better rated and the preferred choice for off the road driving.

However, it is not ideally suited for city driving and hence your decision on purchasing the Toyota 4Runner will depend a lot on its intended usage. For camping trails and adventure driving the Toyota 4Runner is the preferred choice but it comes second to a crossover for daily driving within the city limits.

The Toyota 4Runner is perfectly suited for the trail without roads or even pavements and especially remote and difficult terrain. It is however not an ideal choice for going to the office, dropping the kids off, going to the supermarket for shopping, or even highway long distance driving.

Competition

SUVs that can be compared to the 4Runner include the Nissan Pathfinder (MSRP $29,765; 15 city / 22 hwy), Ford Explorer (MSRP $32,920; 18 city / 25 hwy), and the Jeep Grand Cherokee (MSRP $31,510; 17 city / 23 hwy). Each of these vehicles are exceptional, it is just a matter of personal preference and what you’re looking for in an SUV.

Overall Rating
76 out of 100

What others say:

“Cargo space isn't all that impressive, but the 2012 Toyota 4Runner has good passenger space and a high-quality cabin.”Car Connection

“Handling is disappointing, even for a vehicle of this stripe. Body lean is prevalent, even in modest corners. The steering feels sloppy, and nosedive is pronounced, even when braking normally.”Consumer Guide

“The 4Runner is good for towing and off-roading, but is not the best family vehicle. The rough-sounding 4.0-liter V6 is powerful and relatively fuel-efficient. The ride is unsettled and handling is mediocre at best. A 'Trail' version is meant for serious off-road use. The 4WD system is a rudimentary part-time system, unless you upgrade to the Limited trim.”MSN Auto-ConsumerReports

“Outstanding off-road capability; pleasant on-road demeanor; strong V6 engine; ample cargo capacity; available third-row seat.”Edmunds

“If you are looking for an SUV that serves dual purposes – family commuter during the week and an off-road-capable hauling vehicle on the weekend – then add the 2012 Toyota 4Runner to your short list.”KBB