Whether you see it as beautiful or butt-ugly, the attention-getting style of the 2009 Acura TL is bestowed on a vehicle some $1,270 dearer than last year's model. The near-luxury, front-wheel-drive performance sedan goes on sale September 24 at a base price of just under $35,000.

In addition to the thorough restyle outside, replete with all the eyebrows, arches, HIDs, and LEDs required to play in this class, the new TL's interior coddles with the expected comprehensive equipment list that even base-model Acuras have become known for. Included are a power moonroof, dual-zone adaptive climate control, 10-way adjustable driver seat, 8-way adjustable power front passenger seat, and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. As far as cabin entertainment, standard items include an 8-speaker 276-watt audio system with 6-disc CD changer, AM/FM radio, XM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth audio, USB port, and auxiliary jack connectivity, and HandsFreeLink wireless telephone interface.

A choice of two different VTEC engines for the first time marks the main mechanical news for the '09 TL. The base engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 and comes in the front-wheel-drive model. Moving up to Acura's SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) brings a 3.7-liter V-6 and an increase in MSRP to $38,505. Prices can quickly creep into the $40,000 range when the SH-AWD model is optioned with the Technology Package and high-performance summer tire package.--Colin Mathews

We recently brought you some up-information and driving impressions on Cadillac’s world-class, 556-horsepower CTS-V sport sedan. But it’s worth another better look inside the V Series.

It borrows heavily from the standard CTS’s stunning interior, and that’s great; it already felt a class above thanks to stitched materials, very attractive surfaces, and a sweeping, aggressive look that breaks away from the sport-sedan status quo. Along with subtle badging and trim differences, more standard equipment, and an electric parking brake, here are some noteworthy points after spending a day inside the car, fiddling, fussing, oohing, and aahing:



The CTS-V’s instrument panel, like that in the CTS, is a stunner, with a visually unified design, classy trim and materials, and a standout tapered center console design. The only thing that still leaves us wishing is the bank of gray buttons in the middle, and climate control temperature controls and displays that require too much of a glance downward and get obscured by the right knee for tall drivers.



Hooded, deep-dish gauges with chrome rings feel a bit overdone, styling-wise, but they don’t have a hint of glare. The tachometer includes an arc of red lights that follows the needle and flashes quickly when approaching redline.



The top of the navigation screen functions as a sound-system display when the nav functions aren’t in use; controls are somewhat cluttered elsewhere, but this is a feature we love.



The navigation-system screen itself is one of the best offered in any vehicle, with excellent brightness and contrast, even with the moonroof’s sunshade completely opened; what’s more the system has simple menus and clear, easy-to-use touch-screen controls.



The hand-stitched door panels, well-matched trim pieces, and fine wood veneers that we loved in the CTS are also here in the CTS-V.



The CTS-V has plenty of smartly designed cubbies throughout, including these felt-lined center-console compartments that include a place to put the fob for the EZ Key keyless entry system.



The standard leather sport seats in the CTS-V feature grippy yet breathable suedelike inserts.



You might as well keep this backseat armrest folded down, as the middle seating position isn’t nearly as comfortable as the outboard ones. The backseat doesn’t fold forward in the CTS-V but it does include a ski pass-through, accessed here.

The 2009 Lexus LS 460 gets the same all-wheel-drive option found in the hybrid LS 600h L sedan, the Toyota luxury brand confirmed today.

Both the long- and short-wheelbase LS sedans will receive the option, which makes the LS the fourth Lexus sedan to offer all-wheel drive. Both versions also are powered by the 357-horsepower V-8 that powers current rear-drive versions. With it and the standard eight-speed automatic transmission, Lexus predicts a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds.

The all-wheel-drive system in the LS sedans, as in the hybrids, uses a Torsen limited-slip differential to distribute torque to the front and rear wheels. It's set at a 40:60 power split, but can vary from 30:70 to 50:50 depending on traction needs.

Air suspension, variable steering, and an adaptive suspension will be standard on AWD models. They'll also come with 18-inch wheels, a leather-and-wood steering wheel that's also heated, and a power rear sunshade. The on-sale date is October.

The 2010 Porsche Panamera has finally dropped some of its disguise, giving us a better look at some of the true styling nuances destined for the radical new Porsche.

For the first time we can see the proper hood sculpting and an almost completely clean look at the character development on the Panamera's side panels--including the fender vent just aft of the front wheel. A little cladding still remains on the front bumper, on the rear flanks below the taillights, and on the taillights themselves. Some minor tape effects also remain, but do nothing to obscure the car's shape. Other than that, this Panamera prototype looks to be running around naked, finally embracing its birthday suit.

The Panamera will have a choice of three front-mounted engines when it finally bows. The entry-level powerplant will be a VW six-cylinder with more than 300 hp. Porsche's own V-8s with 350 hp and 560 hp are expected, the latter with twin turbos.

There will also be a hybrid version, which will share its gas-electric running gear with the Cayenne Hybrid, which was introduced at the 2007 Los Angeles auto show. Porsche promises a 30 percent boost in fuel economy with the hybrid technology. To achieve better weight balance, the Panamera Hybrid will stow its battery under the cargo floor, and the clutch and electric motor will live between the engine and transmission. And to keep efficiency high, the hybrid will be able to run in gas-only, electric-only, or in combined gas-electric mode.

When it hits the road in 2009, Porsche plans to sell 20,000 Panameras annually, which could push it over the company-wide number of 100,000 cars per year.

We expect the Panamera to make its world debut at the 2009 Geneva motor show.

Lexus is sporting twins at this year's Pebble Beach Concours festivities--special editions of the SC convertible and LS sedan.

The 2009 Lexus SC Pebble Beach Edition gets a "Mercury Metallic" exterior color, with an ecru and black interior with black-stained maple trim. Badges and floor mats are the only other changes to the otherwise stock SC convertible, which doubles as a coupe when its retractable hardtop is raised.

The other vehicle on display this weekend is the 2009 Lexus LS Hybrid Pebble Beach edition, painted in a shade dubbed Truffle Mica (or is that a drag nom de plume?). The LS (shown in stock trim above) also wears a white-and-black interior with dark grey maple trim, new badging and floor mats.