hi-fi

The executive sedan ranks are populated by the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-class, Audi A8, and the Lexus LS 460. Amongst these nameplates you would not expect to find Hyundai, but the Korean automaker has assumed the role of upstart crow, doing a lot of things that, given its brand history in the U.S., it should not be capable of doing.

Its latest foray into upsetting the status quo comes in the form of the 2011 Equus, a luxury sedan designed for the moneyed classes. But in typical Hyundai style, it will probably undercut its competition in price, without sacrificing features. Hyundai let us spend a day driving the Equus before it goes on sale in early November. Pricing had not been announced at the time of our drive.

Chauffeur not included

The Equus looks imposing, a big, meaty sedan where a chauffeur would not be out of place. Its grille and front end share design with the Hyundai Genesis sedan, Hyundai's next largest car. Hyundai's design language, Fluidic Sculpture, seen prominently on the new Sonata, also makes itself known on the exterior of the Equus, albeit in a subtle manner. Witness the slight arches over the rear wheels that disappear in the rear doors, or the contours on either side of the hood that drift down towards the bumper. … Read more

Audi has been busy this decade giving its cars new levels of luxury and performance, giving even BMW a run for its money. The new A8 can be seen as the culmination of this work, a big luxury sedan with all the latest electronics in the cabin combined with thrilling performance. But Audi takes it a step further, using a new transmission and its direct injection technology to eke 27 mpg of highway fuel economy from this beast. The new A8 is quite an achievement, earning our Editors' Choice.

Check out our 2011 Audi A8 review.

With better power and handling than the standard Impreza, but not as hard-core as the STI, the WRX occupies a comfortable middle ground, being a car suitable for driving to work on a daily basis and ripping around dirt roads on weekends. Its all-wheel-drive handling also makes it a good ski weekend vehicle.

But Subaru had ignored the techie side of the WRX's youthful demographics, until now. This new WRX, while not exactly on the cutting edge of cabin tech, offers useful features, such as navigation and Bluetooth phone support. And the new, wider track gives the 2011 model … Read more

Despite its GT trim level and big, jet fighter grille, the 2010 Outlander GT is not some hyper-performance SUV. Its engine is adequate, without being overpowered, and its transmission is a typical automatic. Its one secret weapon is Mitsubishi's all-wheel-drive, a system developed for the rally circuit. In the Outlander GT, that means it has excellent stability while gunning it on slippery roads.

Mitsubishi also keeps up with the cabin tech, not only using a hard drive-based navigation system with traffic avoidance, but also being one of only three companies offering voice command over an iPod.

Check out our … Read more

Mazda can be thanked for reviving the two-seater drop-top, making, in 1989, the bold decision to produce the Miata. From its inception, this car was supposed to revive the classic British roadster, and it has been a great success story for Mazda. The latest version of the Miata has a 2-liter engine and a retractable hard top, this latter piece giving it a bit of clever practicality.

We love the driving experience we had with this car; its tight steering making for precise turns, and the six-speed shifter pops neatly into each gear. But we are not so crazy about … Read more

Hi-fi salesmen are some of my favorite people. The job is nonstop audio, and they turn their customers onto the best stuff. I know from where I speak; I sold high-end audio for 16 years in New York City. I played more combinations of speakers, amplifiers, turntables, and CD players than any audio reviewer ever has. I knew the gear inside out.

The best sales people are successful because they're all good listeners, and listening is important because you have to first understand what the customer is looking for before you can provide solutions. The best salesmen have lots of satisfied customers, and those customers turn their friends and relatives on to the salesman. The bulk of my sales worked that way.

I dropped by a Long Island, NY, hi-fi shop, Audio Breakthroughs, for the first time last Wednesday. I was immediately stopped in my tracks by the hi-fi store "smell." Nothing bad, just that old familiar slightly sweet scent of new electronics, mixed with a delicate blend of plastic vapors, furniture polish, and packing materials wafting through the air. It's an intoxicating aroma; I love the smell of new hi-fis in the morning!

I know some folks don't trust salesmen, but when I was on the floor I sometimes found it difficult to gauge the intent of a new customer. I'd greet them, exchange a few pleasantries, and try to be of help. Please understand, my store sold speakers priced from $200 a pair to over $100,000. I'd need some sort of ballpark number to get things going, but that wasn't always easy.

The worst part of the job was dealing with people who felt they had a right to hear any combination of gear, at their whim, at any time. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Now sure, if they just wanted to hear some good stuff that was already set up, and the store wasn't busy I'd play a tune or two. For some that wasn't enough, and they'd become indignant when I tried, graciously, to change the subject. Sometimes they would claim they would have bought something from me, if I had only treated them better. I can't say I was right every time, but over the years I heard from other salesmen in other stores that they never really bought anything. I got out of the business 15 years ago, long before the Internet started chipping away at brick-and-mortar sales.

My favorite customers were the ones who came in with a clear agenda, and could tell me what they wanted, how much they wanted to spend, etc. The demonstration of gear might stretch out over days or weeks, which was fine with me, as long as I felt the customer wasn't wasting my time. Buying a serious hi-fi or home theater system involves a lot of decisions, and having a knowledgeable salesman can be a big help. If you think you're smarter than the sales guy, that's cool, just tell him what you want. … Read more

Lexus made its name building luxury cars that compare well with offerings from high-end European brands, usually at a significantly lower price. The ES 350, even though at the lower end of the Lexus lineup, keeps that luxury trait alive. The sole purpose of the car is to pamper its passengers.

To that end, its automatic features, including adaptive cruise control, take care of the simpler tasks. Navigation and the Bluetooth phone system make for practical cabin tech features, and the Mark Levinson audio system treats the car's occupants to excellent sound quality.

Check out our 2010 Lexus ES 350 review. … Read more

People characterize BMW models by their unique handling feel that's comprised of neutral steering and a playful capability to kick the back out. Drive trains aside, the handling engineering is the essence of what BMW fans adore. And the new BMW 335is embodies that essence more than any other car in the model line-up.

To make the 335is, BMW kept the twin turbocharged engine from its outgoing 2010 335i, which was by a twin scroll turbo in the 2011 335i, did some reprogramming, and tuned the suspension for sport. To further differentiate it from the 335i, BMW included a … Read more

Acura tends to design its cars with an eye toward practical midluxury transportation, with nothing too ostentatious or extreme, except one car. In our opinion, the TL SH-AWD is the best car that Acura currently makes.

This hotted up version of the TL sedan gets a 3.7-liter V-6 engine, a sport suspension, and a performance-oriented all-wheel-drive system. It is as comfortable in day-to-day driving as it is capable for high speed cornering. With its six-speed-manual transmission, we could not get enough of it.

Although we like its cabin electronics, the TL SH-AWD doesn't break any new ground, covering … Read more