Imported from Detroit, driven in L.A. – Dr. Dre inspired Chrysler 300S [Video]

Chrysler turned a lot of heads with its powerful 200 commercial starring hip-hop star Eminem during the Super Bowl, but now the near-luxury brand is turning to the godfather of hip-hop himself, Dr. Dre, to show off the 2012 300S, complete with Dre-branded Beats audio system.

In April, Leftlane reported live from the New York Auto Show as Chrysler confirmed a partnership with Dr. Dre in an effort to bring “recording studio audio” to the automobile. Now, Chrysler has officially launched its ad campaign showing off its sleek new 300S as it rolls through the dark streets of Los Angeles, piloted by none other than Dre himself.

Chrysler used the commercial to make a bold statement, suggesting that good things come to those who work for it, not wait for it – a message obviously intended to convey the current work ethic found in Detroit.

As for the Beats audio, for the 300 this option consists of a Uconnect Touch 8.4-inch screen, a 522-watt 12-channel amplifier, a Beats proprietary equalizer algorithm, 10-speakers by Beats Audio with three 3.5-inch speakers located in the instrument panel and two 3.5-inch speakers located in the rear doors. Two 6?9-inch front-door woofers provide midbass, while two 6?9-inch speakers and a center-mounted 8-inch speaker located in the rear-shelf area provide full-range audio.

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2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In: Driven

Source: AllCarsElectric.com

When the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid goes on sale about this time next year, it will be the first mass-production vehicle from Toyota that plugs in. Yet, despite that, the Plug-In feels more like a value-added version of the Prius than a model that will be itself iconic or radically new.

It's value-added, because owners will have some of the benefits of an electric vehicle, without the worry that they won't make it back on a charge. After a relatively short three-hour charge on standard 110V household power, you can drive approximately 12 to 15 miles without the gasoline engine contributing to propulsion. After that, it's just a standard Prius and gets about the same mileage as the standard-issue model (which has an EPA-rated 51 mpg city, 48 highway).

A Prius...just one with an added charge

And it looks virtually identical to a standard Prius. The little charging door just ahead of the driver's door is about the only difference you'll see from the outside compared to a normal 2011 Prius.

To simplify a bit, the Plug-In drives much like a regular Prius—just one that's a bit heavier.

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2008 Ford Escape Review - Driven

NEW CAR PREVIEWS:  From the February, 2009 issue of Automobile MagazineA Face-Lift To Make Joan Rivers Proud.
Ann Arbor Youth triumphs in all things automotive, just as it does in the wider world. So, after a new model debuts, we've come to expect a freshening in year three, a special edition in year four, and an all-new model after five years.

Not so at Ford. The Escape, for instance, was introduced in 2001 and by all rights is due for a full overhaul. But instead, it's getting a face-lift plus. Think of it as a face-lift plus a tummy tuck and a butt-lift. Its appearance is completely revised, but much of what's underneath remains the same.

Luckily, the Escape has good bones. The 2008 Escape retains the previous model's neutral handling balance, stiff structure, and good ride, because it also retains its chassis. The revised exterior is more masculine than the first-generation design. Once you climb aboard, you'll notice the clean, modern, and quiet cabin, which has plenty of interior room even four-up.

Engines and transmissions carry over: either a 2.3-liter four or a 3.0-liter V-6 that is coarse and painfully slow off the line. The four-speed automatic's long, widely spaced ratios may help fuel economy, but we wonder whether any SUV really needs to hit 89 mph in second gear.

Speaking of fuel economy, the 2008 Escape is one of the first vehicles to reflect the new EPA test procedures. So while on paper the EPA numbers have decreased from last year, Ford assures us that the improved aerodynamics beget slightly better fuel economy in the real world.

Standard features include an auxiliary audio jack, a revised restraint system (new seatbelts, air bags, and steering column), split rear seats that fold flat, and a rollover-mitigating stability system on all but the Hybrid model. For the first time, the Escape is available with Ford's excellent touch-screen navigation system, featuring one of the industry's best Sirius satellite radio integrations.

Ford has reduced base prices by an average of about $1000, ensuring that the Escape remains a competitive small sport-utility vehicle, even if it is a little long in the tooth.Jason Cammisa

Specifications
On sale: Now Base price: $25,995 (Limited 4WD)Engine: 3.0L V-6, 200 hp, 193 lb-ftDrive: Front- or 4-wheel

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