Innehållsförteckning för December 2006 från MotorTrend

DETROIT STRIKES BACK! Word is Toyota was forced to delay the launch of its new Tundra pickups when it realized GM’s new GMT 900 pickups would be available with the same classy interior as the SUV versions. Toyota hurriedly reworked the Tundra interior to give it a more upscale feel, but suppliers have been struggling to meet the deadlines…Hard to believe, but the rear-drive Pontiac Grand Prix on our October cover isn’t a done deal. It faces some resistance among GM brass. So here’s a note to the nonbelievers: The age of front-drive V-8 sedans is over. Just ask Cadillac. You have too many cars too similar in size and purpose: Chevy Malibu and Impala, Pontiac G6 and Grand Prix, Buick LaCrosse and Lucerne. You can make them more distinct…

WITH STRONG sales and a sterling quality rep in the bank, Acura is looking for street cred by infusing its mainstream products with more heart, soul, and verve. So the old minivan-based MDX has been revamped in the image of BMW’s X5—for better and for worse. First the good news: Acura’s new 3.7-liter, 300-horse V-6 delivers a better weight-to-power ratio than does BMW’s entryV-8 at a price that undercuts the six-cylinder Bimmer. By overdriving the outside rear wheel when powering out of corners, the Super Handling AWD system mimics rear drive darned convincingly. Magneto-rheological fluid allows the shocks to vary damping rates widely within milliseconds to check untoward body motions when driving briskly. And longer, wider bodywork capped by a more swooping roof line backs up this athletic hardware with…

THE FlRST generation Escalade was a quick response to the unanticipated success of the Lincoln Navigator. It was little more than a leather-wrapped, rebadged Tahoe. The max Caddy has since become a pop-culture hit in its own right, and with each successive redesign, it’s been further differentiated from its GM cousins. Besides an interior that goes way upscale compared with its predecessors, the biggest of all Caddies gets its own engine, a 6.2-liter, all-aluminum version of GM’s latest small-block V-8; the others can't be had with this 403-horsepower variant. Also in the “it’s about time” category is a new six-speed automatic transmission, although its manual mode, up- and down-shift buttons located on the column take some getting used to. While its face is large and its chrome content high, this…

CHRYSLER’S NEW Aspen is a living tribute to the time it takes automakers to bring a product to market. Clearly this one wasn't conceived during the recent gas crunch and the SUV-market constriction it’s triggered. Even as Aspen production is ramping up to fill the dealer pipeline, the Delaware assembly plant that builds it and its twin, the Dodge Durango, is eliminating its second shift. Now Chrysler is arriving at this party in time to step over the passed-out revelers and smell the spilled beer, which augurs poorly for its score in the “significance” column in this contest. That said, there are still plenty of Americans who are making payments on a big boat or camper and want a posh vehicle to tow it. For them, the Aspen offers most…

BY EVERY indication, you'd think the folks at Ford would be kicking themselves. First, fuel prices begin to climb; next, the introduction of the new GMT900 Chevy Tahoe gets a ton of media attention; then the bottom falls out of the full-size SUV market. But if Ford is upset, it’s not showing it. The fourth-generation Ford Expedition receives significant interior, power-train, and chassis upgrades. And if that’s not enough, a longer-wheelbase version called the Expedition EL, replaces the love-to-hate, two-years-dead behemoth Ford Excursion. The extra-large Expedition gets the same frame stiffening and rear-suspension upgrades as the standard version, but has 12 extra inches of wheelbase and 22 more cubic feet of cargo capacity over the standard Expedition. This new Expedition receives an outer-skin redesign, a strong, stiffer hydroformed frame, amore…

ONCE, BEING the new Korean automaker on the block meant nobody took you seriously and you didn’t get much respect. That should change in the near future. In fact, with the last few products we've seen—actually the last few “of the Year"’ competitions—we're impressed by how far Hyundai has come. Case in point: the Santa Fe. When the first Santa Fe came out, it was a quirky-looking new kid with an off-putting interior. With the compact and midsize segments more competitive than ever, the new Santa Fe has upped the ante. Based off the car platform of last year’s new Sonata (a car we liked), the Santa Fe offers a soft and cushy ride, bordering on luxury soft. Several judges enjoyed the compliant ride, while a few others found it…

AT FIRST glance, the 2007 Lincoln Navigator looks like a clever exercise in “regifting''—same old fruitcake with a new bow But a closer look exposes some solid changes. Lincoln reshaped the face of the new Navigator, which benefits from all the current upgrades to the new Ford Expedition, to be more expressive and distinctive. Unfortunately, the front end is more like a “Chrome-Gone-Wild” video, with a fencelike grille and a chrome unibrow between two flattened HID headlights. Several judges couldn't help thinking of the cleaner lines and more muscular front end of its direct competitor. Inside, however, shows a much clearer vision of what Lincoln luxury is all about. Rave reviews went to the retro-rectangular gauge cluster, waterfall-smooth center stack, and butter-soft leather seats. In addition, more shouts for the…

JAPANESE BRANDS are tossing a lot of product into the SUV and crossover market for 2007. This year’s contest contained entries from Toyota, Honda, Acura, Mitsubishi, and Mazda as well as this Suzuki. So the sea is rough and the winds are high. The new XL7 stems from the same underpinnings as the Chevy Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, and Saturn Vue. And it’s got at least two attributes the other brands would probably love to get their product-developmental hands on: optional three-row seating and GM’s 3.6-liter DOHC V-6 powerplant. The XL7 is offered in three levels of trim, with standard front or optional all-wheel drive. Front and side curtain airbags, ABS, and a stability-control system are standard. A third-row seat, even a smallish, occasional one, seems to be of increasing importance…

DAIMLERCHRYSLER’S newly Euro-friendly division, Dodge (it’s establishing a dealer network there), unveiled the midsize-sedan replacement for the Stratus at the Paris auto show. But while the Avenger (shown a sa lightly disguised concept) was once expected to be a two-box wagon/hatchback, the division has instead gone with a regular sedan. That’s because Dodge dealers in the U.S. didn’t want the division to be pigeonholed as a wagon/hatchback brand. Unlike the Sebring, which is a So fresi cuesunrelated to the successful 300, the Avenger has a clear family resemblance to its rear-drive big brother—check that Charger-style C-pillar and rear-quarter haunch. Dodge unveiled the Avenger with 19-inch wheels and chrome dual exhausts, details that make this a concept. It has a 2.0-liter turbodiesel meant for non-North American markets. Here in the U.S.,…

PILOTING THE acura rx is like driving a hatchback/sport sedan that’s 10 inches too tall. You'll wonder why you're not driving a real sport sedan. With the RDX, Acura hopes to do what Hyundai does to Honda: Provide a more affordable alternative to the BMW X3, just as big brother MDX targets X5. The catch is that the X3 never won our calipers, either. Perhaps it’s just too hard to jack up a 3 Series and maintain its superb ride-and-handling balance, but both the RDX and X3 are too harsh. The good news is that its turbo four has much less lag than the Mazda CX-7’s turbo four. And like its big sibling MDX, the RDX was aggressive on our test course, with flat cornering and quick turn-in. The RDX…

IF WE OFFERED a sub-trophy for ‘‘most improved,’ the Suburban might not be going home empty-handed. Inside, outside, and underneath, this vehicle is utterly transformed. Best of all, none of the aesthetic and performance improvements has compromised the utility of this workhorse. Outside, the big box has been smoothed, its mirrors resculpted, its windshield raked, and its chin-spoiler lowered, reducing aerodynamic drag by almost 12 percent. The look is slimming and classy. Inside, the fit and finish of the dash and cockpit materials exceeds expectations in this class and wouldn't draw much criticism wearing a Euro brand name. We preferred this Chevy’s fake wood over the fancier GMC Yukon Denali's. The segment-first electric-folding middle-row seats are a welcome and thoughtful touch. And the Suburban still boasts class-leading people and cargo…

THE TERM “platform sharing” is becoming a dirty word, and maybe it’s justified. There are too many examples today of badge engineering gone wrong, with two or three (or even four) different brand badges slapped on a “‘new” vehicle. But the 2007 Dodge Nitro isn't one of these. Based off the Jeep Liberty, the Nitro adds four more inches of wheelbase, shares not a single piece of sheetmetal, moves the spare tire underneath the rear-cargo area, and gets a bigger engine. Likewise, the suspension is uniquely tuned and sports a wider track. Unlike the Jeep, the Dodge offers no low-range 4x4 gearing. Instead it offers two different all-wheel-drive options: one invisible, the other electronically selectable (with 2WD and AWD modes). All top-level R/T Nitros will get the full-time AWD system,…

EVERY VEHICLE inceneral Motors’s full-size corral benefits from a new platform and a thorough redesign for 2007. GMC’s Yukon/Denali and Yukon XL/Denali, however, may prove to offer the best performance and perhaps the best value for the money. With the availability of a detuned version of the Escalade’s 6.2-literV-8 (the only other non-Cadillac to get that engine), smart shoppers can put together a vehicle with nearly everything an Escalade has to offer for a fraction of the price. Thanks to a lower curb weight, the Yukon Denali was a comparable performer at the track. Despite the Escalade'’s 23-horsepower advantage, the 6.2-liter GMC was 0.1 second faster to 60 mph and nipped at the Escalade’s heels in the quarter mile at only 0.8 mph lower speed (both finished the stretch in…

RISK LEVELS have been on red alert for the redesigned Wrangler, which is the Jeep brand’s central icon. Fortunately, nobody knows this better than the Jeep engineers. The two-door model has a new frame, but retains the traditional coil-spring/live-axle front and rear suspension. Although riding on a 2.5-inch-longer wheelbase and a five-inch-longer track, the Wrangler’s notable improvements are to the previously Spartan interior comforts. The biggest news (literally), however, is the addition of the new four-door version named the Wrangler Unlimited. Offering the same trim levels as the two door (X, Sahara, and Rubicon), the Unlimited comes in either two- or four-wheel drive (two-door models are offered only in 4x4 now) with 10 extra inches of wheelbase, most of which translates to six more inches of rear-seat legroom. Likewise, all…

TRADITIONAL sport/utilities usually have (at least) two things in common: blocky styling and a torquey, low-revving powerplant. Mazda’s first crossover has none of the above, combining a dynamic, brand-specific look with a performance-minded turbocharged engine. The CX-7’s premise is that you shouldn't have to give up design and driving fun in the name of practicality. Although bits of its chassis architecture can be traced to various Mazda models, it is for all intent and purposes a stand-alone platform. It’s a two-row SUV (the larger CX-9, which comes to market later this year, covers those with the need for a third row of seating) and can be had in front-drive form or with Mazda’s Active Torque Split all-wheel-drive system. The only engine offered is a 244-horse, 2.3-liter turbo four that shares…

HAD THE FJ Cruiser squeezed into last year’s contest, it just might've walked away with top honors. After all, it beat our 2006 Sport/Utility of the Year, the Nissan Xterra, in acomparison test, bettering it off-road while offering a superior on-road ride and nearly identical test numbers. But, as the saying goes, timing is everything. In this year’s field, the FJ certainly stood out—how can you overlook that flashy, retro styling?—its reasonable price and proficient combination of on- and off-road competence consistently placing it in the top three on most voters’ ballots. But surrounded by this year’s more compelling contestants, it failed to convince a single editor that it deserved the number one position, a spot that all but two voters reserved for our winner. Yet its strong showing proves…

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, the world’s most dangerous road is a 40-mile-long gravel ledge hacked into a Bolivian mountainside in the 1930s by Paraguayan POWs. It descends 10,000 feet from La Paz down to Coroico in the Amazon basin. Each year, roughly 150 people and a couple dozen vehicles topple off this 10-foot-wide path, plunging some 1600 feet totheir doom. Almost immediately upon our arrival inLa Paz, photographer Brian Vance and I head out to preview the Camino de la Muerte in a Toyota Town Ace van. We don't want any surprises when we set off for Lima, Peru, in a few days on our 1000-mile leg of Ferrari’s Panamerican 20,000—an epic PR. stunt in which two 599 GTB Fioranos will spend three months driving from Brazil to NewYork City, via Canada.…

TACITLY acknowledging that The Way Forward introduced in January isn’t working for its board or the critics, Ford Motor Company unveiled a sped-up version just after William Clay Ford Jr. stepped down as chief executive officer of the company. His replacement is Alan Mulally, who’s not a car guy but comes to FoMoCo at age 61 after a career at Boeing’s commercial aircraft division. He’s considered a “turnaround expert” who fought back European rival Airbus and led development of the 777 and 787 airliners. After the Ford board met to discuss the revamped plan, president of the Americas Mark Fields announced that the automaker is speeding up development of cars and trucks in the pipeline. “Development is now underway on five new vehicles that previously didn’t exist and that'll be…

BMW has launched a liquid hydrogen-powered V-12 7 Series, which will be available to about 25 wealthy people in the U.S. and 100 worldwide. Called the 7 Series Hydrogen 7, itfeatures a conventional gas tank as backup for when you run out of hydrogen and can’t find a refueling station. Running on hydrogen, the V-12 is rated only 260 horsepower and propels the 7 Series from 0 to 62 mphina new-world-orderly 9.5 seconds. Top speed is artificially limited to 143 mph. Not to be outdone, General Motors announced its new hydrogen program a week after BMW did. This one’s even more gee-whiz: a hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered Chevrolet Equinox. GM says the crossover is fully functional, engineered for 50,000 miles of life, and able to start in subfreezing temperatures. In its “Project Driveway,”…

AUDI IS one of the last automakers to jump into the sport/utility pool, but it did so with a splash. And it’s thrown water on many onlookers in the process. The judges’ notebooks were filled with superlatives for this one. ‘Wow! A completely different mode of surface transportation,’ according to Markus."‘A marvel of over engineering and technology,” says Lassa. Chirico summarizes: “Dynamically, the best of this year’s field. Function and sport, dressed in an attractive European suit.” The Q7 shares its basic platform architecture with the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne, but is stretched to allow room for the ever more important third-row seat. Not everyone loves the exterior styling, but the interior is a typical Audi combination ofhigh-quality materials, handsome design, a class-competitive safety package, and high creature-feature content.…

LUXURY SUV Yes: GM hasn't done much decontenting to differentiate its big Chevy from its big GMC or Caddy. Chevrolet claims to sell more $35K-plus vehicles in the U.S. than anybody, thanks mostly to this, the Suburban, and the Corvette. But there’s no Denali equivalent and nothing bigger than the 5.3-literV-8 under the hood, and that’s largely why the GMC Yukon edges out the Tahoe in our competition. Our tester’s LTZ package provides some of the Denali’s flashiness with a chromed grille mesh, chrome door handles and side mirrors, and a cover for the center console. Most editors prefer the Chevy’s clean lines with its modern, yet classic Bow-Tie grille, put the 320-horse 5.3-liter V-8 isn't the 6.2. It’s efficient, registering 2] mpg on the EPA’s highway loop, thanks to…

THE EDGE made our first-round cut based on significance alone. It was expected to go far toward helping save Ford. It looks right; it’s not a stunning beauty, but a clean, nonretro design that could hit middle America’s buttons. After driving it, we're not optimistic about Ford’s future. Hyundai’s Santa Fe easily bests it for refinement and interior quality. The Edge comes only with two rows of seats while the Santa Fe offers three rows, as does future competition from Saturn and Chevy Lambda-based crossovers. The Ford’s rear-seat cushion is hard and low, providing headroom at the expense of comfort. Test stats tell part of the sad story. The Edge is supposed to be a new-age crossover, with carlike performance and handling and SUV-like utility and versatility. With its optional…

IF THERE weren't a single badge in the CR-V’s cabin, you'd still know who makes this SUV. The five-passenger layout has been completely redesigned for the 2007 model year, but the interior is inherently Honda: cool, modern design, tight gaps and seams, excellent build quality, simple, elegant layout. For the first time, this sport/utility (mow much closer to the crossover side of the spectrum) also comes with an optional navigation system. Despite the exterior’s extreme visual makeover, mechanical changes are conservative. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine gained 10 horsepower and one pound-foot of torque and is now backed solely by a five-speed automatic—so long, manual transmission. Real-Time 4-Wheel Drive, essentially an all-wheel-drive system, provides all-season traction. Emissions and fuel economy have improved:The LEV II ULEV Honda is rated at 22-23 mpg…

THE MOST anticipated duo of the group was the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX. The drapes were taken off both, revealing good-looking crossovers—a breath of fresh air from Ford. And at first glance, the MKX had all the right elements. It’s powered by a capable 265-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, an engine we hadn't yet seen in a Ford product. Backing that six is a six-speed automatic transmission and a four-link independent suspension. But the execution wasn't what we'd hoped. This is not a performance vehicle. Zero to 60 came in 7.9 seconds, and the MKX completed the quarter mile in 16.1 at 85.6 mph, both midpack numbers. It became evident that Advance Trac with Roll Stability Control was a force to be reckoned with. It couldn't be shut off, and the…

SAVIORS NEVER have it easy. Case in point: The all-new Outlander, a small sport/utility from Mitsubishi that, like it or not, is burdened with the lead role in-a campaign to save a brand that sells roughly as many vehicles in one month as Toyota sells Camrys in 10 days. Suffice it to say the Outlander and its upcoming stablemates are faced with a tough road ahead. Now in its second generation, the Outlander is based upon Mitsubishi’s new C-segment platform, which also will underpin the next-generation Lancer as well as the rally-tough Lancer Evolution X. While some editors found the new platform robust enough, others felt it paled to a few in its class, e.g., the RAV4 and CR-V. Ditto for the powertrain—a 3.0-liter, 220-horseV-6 and a six-speed automatic—which most…

IT SHOULD come as no surprise Toyota has made a vehicle that would be great for 90 percent of sport/utility buyers. The automaker is one of the best at using criticism to make improvements and has done it again with the all-new RAV4. The previous RAV took lumps for being too small, too slow, and too cute. It has grown, with a wheelbase that’s 6.7 inches longer, overall length that’s increased by 14.5 inches, and width and height that have been upped by three inches. Cargo and interior volumes have gone way up, too, and with the bigger package size comes something brand-new for this model: an optional third row. Replacing the single four-cylinder is a choice of two powerplants: an efficient 166-horsepower four-cylinder with VVT-i (and more power than…