Porsche Cayenne is SUV of the year; Consumer Reports picks and driverless vans

(Porsche)

Porsche Cayenne nabs SUV of the year
Motor Trend has named the Porsche Cayenne its 2011 Sport/Utility of the Year. The magazine uses six criteria to evaluate its contenders: advancement in design, engineering excellence, efficiency, safety, value and performance of intended function. Editors praised the Cayenne (shown at right) for its handling, number of engine choices, interior, resale value and price (starting at just under $48,000). A hybrid Cayenne will be available this month.

--NWautos staff

(Subaru)

Consumer Reports names quality picks
Consumer Reports last week released predicted quality rankings for 2011 vehicles based on past performance. Here are the winners in each vehicle segment:
Small cars: Toyota Yaris; Family cars: Ford Fusion Hybrid; Coupes/convertibles: Volvo C70; Upscale cars: Acura TL; Luxury cars: Acura RL; Two-seat sports cars: Porsche Boxster; Sporty cars: Ford Mustang; Small SUVs: Honda CR-V; Upscale compact SUVs: Acura RDX; Midsize SUVs: Toyota FJ Cruiser; Large SUVs: Ford Flex (EcoBoost); Luxury SUVs: Lexus LX; Wagons: Subaru Outback (shown at right); Minivans: Toyota Sienna; Compact pickups: Honda Ridgeline; Full-size pickups: Toyota Tundra (V6 engine).

--The Associated Press

Two driverless vehicles travel into Shanghai, China, last week. (The Associated Press)

Driverless vans make it from Italy to China
Four driverless electric vans successfully ended an 8,000-mile test drive from Italy to China with their arrival at the Shanghai Expo last week. The vehicles, equipped with four solar-powered laser scanners and seven video cameras that work together to detect and avoid obstacles, are part of an experiment aimed at improving road safety and advancing automotive technology. Though the vans were driverless and mapless, they did carry researchers as passengers just in case of emergencies. The experimenters did have to intervene a few times -- when the vehicles got snarled in a Moscow traffic jam and to handle toll stations. For more on the drive, see our previous story.

--The Associated Press