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VW consumer site finally gets configurator tool back

The traditional vehicle configurator is back on the Volkswagen US consumer website, and it works very well. The company now lets visitors create a virtual model to their own specs and then search for a match among dealer inventories, as is the norm from most automakers. Last summer, Volkswagen tried to break the mold with its thoroughly redesigned consumer website in the US. It sported a slick design but made the highly controversial change of removing the configurator. Instead, visitors were narrowing their selection from a searchable database of models already at dealers. While the streamlined approach immediately told users if their desired car was available, the system also largely hid the prices for options and packages. The newly tweaked design retains the previous tablet-oriented layout, but after clicking a model, the site immediately offers "Build Yours." From there, visitors select a trim, and then the vehicle pops up with options to choose things like colors and packages. The whole layout is clean, features large buttons and works quickly. At the summary page, there's still the opportunity to search for the user's choice in dealer inventories. This is definitely a major improvement.

Did Lexus make a BMW? Or did BMW make a Lexus? This and other 2017 surprises

It's that time of year again. The calendar is about to reach its end, Star Trek Cats 2018 is about to take its place, and I'm reflecting about all the cars that graced my driveway this year or summoned me to exotic places. You know, like Stuttgart or Phoenix. In 2017, I drove at least 57, and as I perused the list of them, I started to notice a common refrain: "This car surprised me." Most were pleasant surprises, but there were a few head scratchers and facepalms for good measure. In both cases, it was generally the result of car companies seemingly trying to break out of an existing mold. Nowhere was that more apparent than the pair of Lexuses slathered in Infrared paint: The LS 500 that left me this week and the LC 500 that was my favorite car of 2017. Though Lexus has been trying to shake its crusty, gold-packaged reputation for some time now, its efforts always seemed like an old man choosing Hollister to redo his wardrobe after realizing it hasn't been updated since 1987. I fell in love with the LC, genuinely floored by its near-perfect take on the GT. It's characterful in sound, appearance and tactility. It was at home in the city, in the mountain and on the open road. It was both comfortable and thrilling, and after driving the mechanically related LS 500, I can report that the LC's talents aren't an outlier. The LS 500's turbo V6 may make different noises than the LC's naturally aspirated V8, but it nevertheless invigorates the cabin when the car is placed in Sport+ mode. The steering is truly communicative, body motions are kept in miraculous check, and I absolutely forgot I was in an enormous luxury limo ... and a Lexus one at that. It was everything that the BMW 530e was not. I drove that on the exact same roads and was utterly bored the entire time. Generally doughy, lifeless steering, more distant than Planet 9. And no, the plug-in hybrid powertrain had nothing to do with that. At least it shouldn't. The Porsche Panamera S e-Hybrid I also drove this year proves that, as do the Hyundai Ioniqs, which are surprisingly adept and fun little cars regardless of what powers their wheels (Hyundai + hybrid = fun really blew me away). I would drive that Lexus LS F Sport over the BMW 5 Series any day of the week, which seems like a shocking thing to say in relation to either car. While Lexus is seemingly breaking out of its old crusty mold, BMW seems to be climbing into one.

Volkswagen Beetle Special Edition Concepts consider some colorful possibilities

Volkswagen is using the 2015 New York Auto Show as an opportunity to check consumer reactions to possible special editions of the Beetle. The company's concepts are each aimed at different market niches, and they play up the idea of the car as a fashion accessory as much as a mode of transportation. VW does the most work to the Beetle R-Line concept for performance-minded buyers. Covered in Oryx White Pearl, the model is 0.6-inches wider than stock and wears a more aggressive front bumper with larger intakes. There's even a vent at the tip of the hood sort of like a Porsche 911 GT3. The pearlescent paint really pops thanks to some gloss black trim that covers a rear diffuser and the edges of the spoiler. For the other three concepts, VW tests out some new colors and trim for the Beetle. For example, the company thinks there's demand in the US and China for pink to be added to the palette, and the Pink Color Edition tries that out with a metallic shade. The Convertible Wave is painted in Habanero Orange Metallic but also has retro touches like chrome mirror caps, houndstooth fabric for the seats and a wood dashboard. Finally, the Convertible Denim takes inspiration from a pair of jeans. For a closer look at the colorful members of this quartet check out the gallery from the floor of the New York show. Featured Gallery Volkswagen Beetle Special Edition Concepts: New York 2015 View 15 Photos Related Gallery Volkswagen Beetle Concepts View 12 Photos Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2015 Drew Phillips / AOL Design/Style New York Auto Show Volkswagen Convertible Hatchback Concept Cars Videos 2015 ny auto show