Innehållsförteckning för January 2008 från MotorTrend

@ motortrend.com ■ Car of the Year We started with 18 hunks of rolling sheetmetal. After almost a week of testing, prodding, flogging, and arguing, the editors finally crowned the 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year. Once you’ve read who took home the calipers, fire up your computer to follow the process start to finish from running the numbers to putting the candidates through their paces at the Hyundai/Kia test facility. We’ll have more than 20 videos online, including an overview of the testing process, and more photos and videos of the winner. Catch it all at motortrend.com/oftheyear. watch EVO X vs. EVO IX IS NEWER always better? Has the Evolution truly evolved? It’s not often we pit a previous-generation vehicle against its successor, but the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution…

WE ALREADY told you Honda will build a production version of its FCX hydrogen-fuel-cell car. Now Honda plans to take on Toyota’s Prius with a range of hybrid cars company president Takeo Fukui says will be cheaper and more efficient. Honda’s new hybrid range, due in 2009, will include a family sedan and a sport coupe based on the CR-Z concept unveiled at the Tokyo show. “We believe hybrid technology is most appropriate for smaller vehicles, where it offers the greatest gains in efficiency,” says Fukui. The CR-Z doesn’t need to be all-hybrid—the sedan will handle that Prius-fighting chore. By including building CR-Zs, Honda would have a high-revver, like the original CRX, and should have a car that weighs less than 2600 pounds. Like the Mini or Bug, Honda can…

CHRYSLER won’t build a second-generation Dodge Magnum wagon when the rear-drive LH cars come up for renewal, as the LY models. The Chrysler 300 will be all-new for 2010, and the next Dodge Charger likely will be a 2011 model, both following the new Challenger, which makes its debut in 2008. Killing the Magnum is an obvious move, one source notes. After a strong launch, it proved to be a fashion model and for calendar 2006, the Charger outsold it by nearly 3:1. What else is on Chrysler’s chopping block? CEO Bob Nardelli has stated the need to end duplicate models, but the company isn’t ready to concede to rumors that up to seven models will be cut. Officially, there is, as always, no comment on future product. What’s happening…

THE BRIT mags call it the French Ford Mondeo. We’ll never see it here, but it’s important for two reasons: It advances the nearly lost art of midsize-car design, and it’s another step toward returning Citroën to its rightful position as the most avant-garde of French automakers. Renault’s step back to conservatism hasn’t hurt that cause. The new Citroën C5 sedan (there’ll be no hatchback) is a good-looking, interesting car, especially next to its predecessor. Like the new Honda Accord, it’s grown in size, 6.3 inches longer and 3.5 inches taller. Unlike the Accord, it’s grown up gracefully. In fact, it shows what the new Accord could’ve been had Honda’s design team taken the sorts of chances it took with the 2006 Civic. It has a fixed-center steering wheel, and…

VOLKSWAGEN AG has its expansive Autostadt all-brand theme park in Wolfsburg, Mercedes-Benz has its sparkling new museum in Stuttgart. And now, Bavaria joins the fray with its BMW Welt (World) in Munich’s Oberwiesenfeld district. Sign up for European delivery of your new 1, 3, 5, 6, or 7 Series, and you pick up your car at BMW Welt. The center features a collection of BMW cars and motorbikes, interactive displays, exhibits from BMW’s Formula 1 and world yachting efforts, a technology and design center, youth activities, and an exhibition area presenting new products.…

WHAT DO you do when it’s time to update a modern design icon? If you’re Audi, you make it lighter, faster, and more advanced, but you don’t mess with the overall formula. Built on the VW Golf/Audi A3 platform, the 2008 TT comes as a 2+2 hardtop coupe and two-seat softtop roadster, but the last isn’t just a chop-top version of the former. Structural aluminum and steel reinforcements in the side sills, A-pillar, and rear roll hoops help make the new Roadster 300 pounds lighter and 120 percent more torsionally rigid than the original, with no reduction in trunk space versus the coupe. Base roadsters come with a manual softtop and a 200-horsepower direct-injected turbo four-cylinder mated to Audi’s slick S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox. Powered tops are available with the 250…

FOR 2008, the Focus receives all-new sheetmetal, retuned suspension, and a coupe variant. It also sheds 40 pounds and gets better gas mileage than ever. Improved creature comforts include redesigned seats, an optional Microsoft-developed voice-activated infotainment system, and a custom configurable ambient lighting system. So why was the Focus so roundly savaged by our Car of the Year judges? Take the styling, for example. While we tend not to highlight such subjective issues, the ham-handed execution drew noteworthy criticism. Cues like the chromed two-bar grille are supposed to evoke the Edge and Fusion and Ford’s new look. Problem is, both of those cars were styled in the last two years, while the Focus was penned in late 1990s. No surprise then that it all seems stuck on, rather than designed…

AND SO ONE of the great rivalries of motordom comes to the scorched desert floor of the Hyundai-Kia Proving Grounds: underdog teams Mitsubishi versus Subaru. Mitsubishi is outgunned, with a 152-horse Lancer GTS against the turbo Subaru WRX’s 224. Yet this GTS foreshadows the upcoming turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Ralliart that directly challenges the WRX and the Evolution X that’ll soon take on the STI. Mitsubishi builds an early lead before the first drive, with creased, shark-nose styling that’s as handsome as the Impreza’s is ungainly. And the Lancer easily outhandles its more powerful rival, carving up turns with moderate, controllable body roll until you push it into tire-grinding, front-drive understeer. At a touch less than $22K, our Lancer GTS, with its 18-inch wheels and optional 650-watt Rockford Fosgate Punch sound system…

VOLVO’S EARLY 1970s 1800ES was one of the first and coolest sport wagons of that decade. It appealed to expressive, nontraditional customers. Looking to expand its current model range in the under-$30K category, those crafty Swedes went back to the same well, putting a decidedly modern design spin on an old favorite. The C30 shares most of its underthings with the current S40 and V50, splashed in sexy new duds. The company has never claimed the C30 as a lethal hot hatch, and it isn’t. While a dazzler, it’s not nearly as fun to drive as a VW GTI, Mini Cooper S, or even the Mazdaspeed3, with which it also shares chassis architecture. The steering is numb, the shifter sloppy. The car rides well enough, but pays a penalty in…

WHEN THE prosaic, previous-gen Malibu came to market in 2002, GM told us this would be the one that could take on Camry and Accord. Yeah, well it didn’t quite work out that way: All it really took on was America’s airport rental fleets. So we were skeptical when similar mantras were bandied about regarding Chevy’s new-for-2008 midsize sedan. But wait a minute, this thing looks great. Clean lines. Tight body panel gaps. Nice detailing. And how about that interior? Maybe they’ve got something here. Indeed, they do. “First impressions having just jumped out of the Accord is that this has a far nicer interior,” notes one staffer. “Cool that Chevy finally put a modern, DOHC V-6 in the car,” opines another. The previous-gen Malibu was one of the first…

WITH EVERY fresh generation of the C-Class, there’s speculation and promise that it’s finally caught up to the 3 Series; yet, it always feels a step or two behind. Case in point: The all-new, fourth-generation C. It’s bigger and bolder and loaded with such advanced technology as standard Bluetooth and SmartKey, but it nonetheless lacks the athleticism and tactile feel of the stalwart BMW. That’s not to say the new baby Benz is unpleasant in any way. When the C-Class president, as was our C350 Sport tester, sprints from 0 to 60 in under six seconds, surpasses 96 mph in the quarter mile, and screeches to a halt from 60 in 117 feet, the C indeed has promise. The range now consists of the aforementioned C350, available only in Sport…

“STRONG GRAVITATIONAL PULL WHEN IT COMES TO CHARM AND DRIVING INVOLVEMENT.” “OBLITERATES THE ‘OLD MAN’ IMAGE OF CADILLAC.” “A RELENTLESS VISUAL ENTERTAINER.” NEWS FLASH TO automakers in Japan and Germany: The eagle has landed. Again. If you were one of those who wrote off General Motors as a dying dinosaur—after all, it’s been a decade since any GM car took home the Golden Calipers (the Chevrolet Corvette won back in 1998)—prepare to rewrite everything you think you know about what’s in the General’s store. With this bold, savvy, uncompromising showpiece of a sedan—the all-new Cadillac CTS—GM has leapt straight from the rabble’s side of the velvet rope into that coveted, highly selective inner sanctum marked “World’s Finest Cars.” For that remarkable achievement, and for making us grin like lottery winners…

IF YOU’RE skeptical that nostalgia is an effective marketing tool for selling automobiles, perhaps you’ve forgotten about the success of such neoclassics as the Volkswagen New Beetle and the Mini Cooper. Take a look at this month’s first test of Ford’s new Mustang Bullitt, a handsome reincarnation of the 1968 original and a ponycar that pulls at Hollywood heartstrings. BMW is banking on similar sentiments when it introduces the all-new 135i and 128i coupes to the U.S. this spring. A so-called “contemporary rendition of the 2002,” the 1 Series does a stellar job of incorporating the hallmarks of the 2002 Series—rear drive, powerful engine, and space for four—into a modern, attractive package. While not a movie icon like the 1968 Bullitt, BMW’s 02, which graced U.S. shores in the late…

• 1 HID headlights optional for 2008 • 2 Bullitt-specific springs; ride height lowered by 6 mm • 3 New mufflers include baffled, 3.5-inch stainless-steel exhaust tips • 4 Carbon metallic front brake pads • 5 Shocks and struts retuned for bounding down San Francisco’s Taylor Street • 6 Highland Green remains the proper color, but black also available • 7 Stouter 3.73:1 axle ratio means harder launches, easier passing • 8 18-inch wheels are same as optional GT’s, but pebble-finished in dark gray with machined outer flange • 9 Dark-gray-painted brake calipers • 10 No GT or Ford Blue Oval badges…

RENO-FERNLEY FACE-OFF To give both cars a thorough workout, we selected a particularly long and challenging configuration of Reno-Fernley Raceway that includes everything from high-speed esses to slow-speed and highly technical corners. It also features enormous elevation changes. For more about the track, visit reno-fernleyraceway.com or type 39° 32’23.52” N and 119° 14’38.63” W into Google Earth. RESULT: EVO IX GSR: 2 min 34.56 sec EVO X GSR: 2 min 36.05 sec SPEED TRACE From our acceleration testing, we already knew the Evo X was suffering from a high-rpm misfire. This (and the car’s greater weight) help to account for its slower speeds at points 2, 3, and 4. However, it also was slower approaching the medium-speed transition at point 1 as well as the approach to the high-speed esses…

IT’S NOT commonly known, but jet lag is cured by high-speed injections of German autobahn, a volksremedium we discovered long ago, at 180 mph in a Porsche 928 S4. And it still works. Better than melatonin, mile-high liaisons, or other familiar folk remedies, there’s no surer cure for jet lag than redlining a Porsche on an unrestricted autobahn—as we’re about to reaffirm in the 2008 911 GT2, the best Porsche ever unleashed on an undeserving everyman. (Don’t even think about owning one if you can’t handle full opposite lock or payments on an MSRP of $191,700.) Driving the 530-horsepower two-seater at 180 mph doesn’t cure our jet lag as much as expel it violently from the car, but heavy rain means reaching the GT2’s top speed of 205 mph is…

“JAMES BOND.” It seems you can’t mention Aston’s new DBS, star car of “Casino Royale,” without also making reference to Her Majesty’s secret servant. So there; obligatory 007 allusion done. Because we’ve previously revealed the particulars on the DBS (July 2007), the most potent Aston Martin production car ever, let’s move right to the juicy stuff. Imagine, if you will, a La Perla negligee that goes 191 mph. Sex revealed in aluminum and carbon fiber. That’s the DBS in a nutshell. The big V-12 does its best work with all the subtlety of a U2 concert. Squeeze the throttle and the exhaust note detonates, a bi-valve front airbox cracks wide, cams whine; before you can say “hang on” you’re into the rev limiter. The engine is 510-stallions strong but light-switch…

AFTER a decade of pretending to be a pint-size, box-shaped bushwhacker, Honda’s 2008 CR-V has finally given up the ruse. It’s a baby crossover. There, Honda, you’ve admitted it. Isn’t it a relief to drop the pretense that the CR-V is some sort of pseudo Land Rover LR0.5? With crossovers of any scale being the rage these days, this latest CR-V is going to be a topical addition to our long-term ranks. And, as with all new arrivals to our garage party, it’s introduction time. So tell us about yourself, CR-V. CR-V: Well, for starters, I’m not bigger-in-everyway than my predecessor. That surprises you, doesn’t it? Defying Moore’s lesser-known Law of Next-Model Growth, I’m actually slightly shorter. It helps that my spare tire is stashed underneath my, um, stern, you…

THE LAST time we reported on the G35 S, we complained of the overly sensitive throttle that, we learned from the folks at Infiniti, has been desensitized for the 2008 model year. Curious to see if this was indeed the case, we had an Infiniti technician pay a visit to reflash the G’s electronics. Senior editor Kiino took the newly programmed G for a spin and observes: “The Infiniti’s throttle finally feels right. Accelerating away from a light—even when just breathing on the gas—no longer induces head-snaps in passengers.” In addition to fixing the throttle since our last update, the G’s 15,000-mile service was completed. For $285.74, Infiniti of Santa Monica changed the oil, rotated the tires, and performed a multipoint inspection. ■ Months/miles in service 10/17,426 ■ Avg econ/CO2…

AFTER accumulating 5700 miles, the RDX alerted us via its Maintenance Minder system that it required minor servicing. We took it to Santa Monica Acura, which, for $116.42, replaced five quarts of Mobil 1, rotated the Michelins, and inspected the four-wheel disc brakes. The RDX then took associate editor Allyson Harwood on a weekend of running errands, carrying gear, and dealing with traffic in the rain. “I love the size of this vehicle—it helps keep it agile and easy to park, but provides plenty of cargo room and a decent-size two-row cabin. The brakes are firm and responsive, something that instills confidence when dealing with sudden stops (getting cut off) in L.A. traffic.” That said, Harwood isn’t fond of “the turbo lag that makes the RDX unnerving to drive in…

HONDA also plans a V-6 version of its new super-clean diesel for its U.S.-market trucks and SUVs. “Diesel is more affordable and a better solution than a hybrid for light trucks in the U.S.,” says Fukui. It’s developed a 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel that uses a revolutionary NOx catalytic converter to meet the top EPA Tier II Bin 5 emissions regs. It’s clean enough for California without using the complex urea aftertreatment system Mercedes-Benz, VW, and Audi plan to use. “We want to use the new four-cylinder diesel for the U.S. market,” says Fukui, “but that doesn’t provide enough power for light trucks, so we are working on a V-6 as well.”…

ANDRÉ IDZIKOWSKI, road-test editor at Car and Driver, passed away on October 11 after a decades-long battle with leukemia. He was 47. André was a colleague and a good friend. I’d known him since 1984, when I filled in as C/D’s “road warrior” while André underwent the first of several radical treatments that prolonged his life for another quarter century. We were close ever since. If attending the same press trip, André and I always shared a car—most memorably, the 2005 launch of the Ferrari Superamerica in France. We drove like thieves through the hills above Vence, then celebrated in the Casino de Monte Carlo, where we spent the evening smoking Montecristos, drinking whisky, and admiring the bejeweled ladies at the baccarat tables. Not once did André mention his worsening…

WHILE some automakers are experimenting with large “motorcycles” as potential fuel-efficient commuter cars, motorbike builders are considering a different option. Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM plans to introduce the X-BOW in 2008. It’s a street-legal racer with an Audi TFSI engine making a whopping 240 horsepower. The carbon-fiber-bodied X-BOW weighs about 1550 pounds, so that’s good for a 3.9-second 0-62-mph time. Transmission choices will be a six-speed manual or Audi’s DSG. Sad to say, no plans, thus far, for U.S. importation.…

GERMANY’S greatest contribution to the automotive industry might be its decision to scrape off the white paint of prewar Mercedes Grand Prix cars, leaving the cars bare-metal silver. Silver has been Germany’s national racing color ever since and was the most popular car color worldwide, again, for the 2007 model year, says paint guru PPG Industries. It went on 31.5 percent of 2007 models worldwide and 22 percent of cars and light trucks sold in North America. CAN’T WE GET A HUE, HERE? We can, according to the color trends PPG predicts for model years 2010 and 2011. Its Global Design and Color Marketing Team are hoping these paint jobs sell: ■ COLD STARE, a tinted silver with steel-blue highlight. ■ DOUBLE VISION, a medium green with red hue-shifting highlight.…

where do you read motor trend? E-mail digital photo(s) of you and Motor Trend to: motortrend@gmail.com or mail them to: Motor Trend, c/o Mail, Readers on Location, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048 VOLCANIC ACTIVITY—in reference to the raging cars featured in Glenn Bunston’s favorite magazine, not necessarily the molten explosions that created the island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea. WHERE THE HECK IS UMAN? In the Ukraine, of course. But you knew that. Here’s Donny Fein of New York on location with one of those sporty European hot rods that are seldom imported to the U.S.…

SIGNIFICANCE. It’s one of the three key criteria against which the contenders for Motor Trend’s Car of the Year are judged. And as the competition assembled at the giant Hyundai-Kia California Proving Ground, 100 miles north of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert, it was clear this year’s 18-car field was laden with truly significant vehicles. The Honda Accord and Chrysler/Dodge minivan twins represented all-new interpretations of high-volume, benchmark vehicles that virtually defined their respective categories. We had reworked icons, too—the second-generation Audi TT, Mini Cooper, Subaru Impreza WRX, and Scion xB. We had new cars with old nameplates that carried the collective hopes of an entire company—Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Taurus, and Mitsubishi Lancer. We had an all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, packed with technology and Teutonic swagger, and we had an…

ALTHOUGH THE Dodge and Chrysler minivan models share 98 percent of their parts and features, the Chrysler Town & Country does offer a few unique differences. Only offered in front drive, the T&C comes in three trim levels (LX, Touring, and Limited): Each line comes with a different engine—LX gets the entry 175-horse, 3.3-liter V-6; the Touring gets the 197-horse, 3.8-liter V-6, and the top-level Limited gets the 251-horse, 4.0-liter V-6. As you might expect, the topline Limited gets slightly softer shock valving and smoother steering feel. With a relatively stable number of sales (just over a million), competition is fierce. With Stow-n-Go getting a lot of attention during the last remodel, the New Chrysler is hoping to recreate some of that magic with its new Swivel-n-Go seating, where the…

PREVIOUSLY CALLED the Ford Five Hundred, the new Ford Taurus has over 500 changes, but there are really only three important ones. First, Ford replaced the anemic 3.0-liter V-6 in this full-size sedan with a much stronger (can you say 30 percent and 60 horsepower stronger?) DOHC 3.5-liter V-6. Additionally, gone is Ford’s mad-revving CVT and in its place is a conventional six-speed automatic transmission that allows the car to get up and running with surprising agility. Finally, the front and rear suspension has been significantly retuned, vastly improving the control and handling. Some of that improvement is because the new transmission is now connected to the chassis with hydraulic mounts instead of to the subframe. The overall result is more rigidity and stability when cornering, prompting a few of…

LET’S FACE IT, the xA didn’t exactly set the world on fire like the boxy xB did. (Nearly twice as many xBs were sold in the same amount of time.) A change was in order, so Scion replaced the xA with an all-new model—a small, boxy five-passenger hatch. Yes, the xB also qualifies as a small, boxy five-passenger hatch, but it and the xD are quite different. The 2008 xB is now a full foot longer, has a bigger engine, and much more interior room than the first-gen. The xD may be an attempt to appease those who don’t necessarily want the xB’s larger size. The upgrade from wedge to box brings a slightly larger engine, putting out 25 more horses and 24 pound-feet more in a vehicle with overall…

WE’VE FOUND how well these cars work at their limits. Now we’re going to find out how well they work in everyday driving conditions. So for phase two of the judging process, we move away from the controlled environment of the Hyundai-Kia proving ground and out onto real-world roads, courtesy of a 28.5-mile road loop based out of Tehachapi, which straddles the 4064-foot pass in the Tehachapi Mountains between Bakersfield to the west and Edwards Air Force Base to the east. Each judge drives each contender over the route, which includes stop-start city driving, two-lane blacktop, canyon roads, and freeway stretches. The focus here is on the detail stuff: smoothness and refinement of powertrains, transmissions and controls at low and medium speeds, how well the interior ergonomics work, tire noise…

IT ISN’T EASY being a domestic minivan these days. So far, the big squeeze from the Asian competition and a shrinking minivan market segment has given two of Detroit’s minivan makers the Big Sleep. Ford’s Freestar is dead and buried, and GM has conveniently reincarnated its various lamentresistant minivans into “crossovers.” Chrysler’s perseverance amid all this white-flag-raising is fairly striking then. Maybe having originated the minivan segment (at least in its U.S. sense) stiffens your backbone in these situations. Dodge’s Grand Caravan (and counterpart, Chrysler Town & Country) isn’t only nearly two inches longer, but its flank’s tumblehome is darn near shipping-container vertical. Its shape has an almost commercial-duty air: Bob’s Plumbing seems to ghostly appear on its side and then fades away. Adding to its practicality, it rolls only…

THE MOMENT the initial images of the xB flashed through the blogosphere, naysayers marshaled into two groups. One was miffed at the very idea of a follow-up xB, recalling that the whole Scion premise was to never repeat itself. The other faction accused Scion of reading from that tired old script of adding length, width, and height and then announcing—ta da!—it’s new and improved! Well, not according to “Sciontists.” The fragile trust between Scion, the brand that pretends not to be a contrived rebel outfit dreamed up by one of the world’s largest car makers and its eager-to-believe owners was shaken. We happen to have liked the first xB and think this second one’s even better. XB version 1.0 was a happy little buzz bomb, feathery enough for even its…

VISITED BY an early morning rain shower and now hosting a lingering mist, the Circuito di Balocco—a sprawling proving grounds among the quiet rice fields midway between Turin and Milan, Italy—lies damp and puddled, a coiled gray serpent hungry to devour any trespasser foolish enough to pester its oily skin. Yet the attack comes anyway: the livid snarl of a high-strung, four-cam V-8 running off the leash, a flash of impudent red curves mocking the tenebrous sky, quad exhaust tubes spitting and hissing like a cornered leopard as the driver paddles two whipcrack downshifts, the trespasser’s tail swinging wide as it scrabbles for grip through a narrow kink, stability electronics machine-gunning the throttle, the scarlet bolide now straightening again and shrieking away in an upraised middle finger of spray, the…

convertible OUT THIS spring, the 1 convertible uses a cost-saving softtop, which can be lowered in 22 seconds. Price will grow by about $3000 compared with the coupe, while trunk space with the top stowed shrinks to 8.5 cubic feet. Weight increases by around 200 pounds. tii SHOWN AT last year’s Tokyo motor show, the racy, lightweight tii concept sports myriad carbon-fiber pieces—hood, mirrors, front air intakes, rear spoiler, and rear bumper insert—and an Alcantara interior. Expect a production version within two years.…

MORE THAN MUSTANGS STEVE MCQUEEN owned dozens of great cars and more than 200 motorcycles in his life. He worked automobiles and bikes into his films and enjoyed a more than respectable racing career. Here are a few nuggets from McQueen’s metaphorical garage. • 1 THIS PORSCHE 908 Spyder is the only car McQueen owned and raced, and that figured into one of his films. Purchased by his Solar Productions company, he ran the 908 at Sebring in 1970, nearly pulling a Cinderella win against faster, factory efforts. It was later converted to a camera car for the filming of “Le Mans.” • 2 THIS ISN’T the car that character Michael Delaney drove in “Le Mans,” but clearly inspired it. McQueen purchased this 1969 911S new in late 1968 and…

OUR LONG-TERM Evo IX MR, propelled by the same 286-horsepower engine as the IX GSR but with a six-speed manual and a Bilstein suspension, managed to record the quickest lap time of the day, a 2:34.363. A hair quicker than the IX GSR and nearly 1.7 ticks faster than the X, the IX MR established its blistering pace via “a nimbler chassis and phenomenal suspension,” according to Nagl, that delivered “crisper turn-in, quicker reaction, and better rotation than the IX GSR.” This bodes well for the X MR, which receives similar upgrades as the IX, but also the ultra-quick dual-clutch manual. In fact, Mitsubishi claims the new MR is quicker around a road course than the old version. We’ll see.…

THERE’S NO denying Audi’s smallest sedan is growing up. Stretched nearly five inches overall, more than two inches wider, and on a six-inch-longer wheelbase than the previous gen’s, the 2009 A4 is sneaking up on A6 dimensions (the A4’s wheelbase is only 1.3 inches shorter). This also makes it the largest in its class, nearly three inches longer than the all-new C-Class and seven longer than the 3 Series sedan. With that increase in length and width and a minor height reduction, this model has a planted, sportier stance and holds the road with an inspired sense of confidence. Its new underpinnings are shared with the S5 and A5 coupes, and like that two-door duo, this A4 has sculpted lines, a more aggressive front end, and a row of LED…

IF YOU’RE looking to graduate from your Scion xD or xB, look no further than Toyota’s second-gen Matrix. Self-described as a “sport/utility with coupelike design,” Europeans would call this Corolla variation a hatchback (except it’s not sold there). With its fierce-toaster nose, the Pontiac Vibe’s brother aims itself at 25- to 30-year-old men. Build variations are complicated: There are base, S, and XRS front drive, with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, rear torsion beam on base and S; control-arm independent-rear on the XRS. And there’s S all-wheel drive, with four-speed automatic only, and the IRS. The Scion xD’s 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter engine is standard, and the xB’s 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter is optional, except that it’s standard in the AWD S. Only Toyota (or GM in the old days) could pull off such…

ON A DRIVE home from the office, Truck Trend editor Mark Williams noticed the GL, with a little over 24,000 miles on its odometer, was emitting a noisy driveline whine that made it almost impossible to cruise with the windows down. Online editor Michael Floyd agreed, querying, “When did we get the GL450 Kompressor? It almost sounds like someone snuck under the hood and bolted on an IHI supercharger.” Despite belting out its own karaoke imitation of Axl Rose when the tach needle went north of 2500 rpm, the GL managed to deliver trouble-free performance until we could get it in to the local dealer just shy of 26,000. At the Benz dealer in Beverly Hills, the GL’s whine was diagnosed and the second scheduled tuneup performed. For $571.04, the…

AFTER racking up 30,000 miles, we drove the Sedona to Glendale Kia for its final service stop. The big 30K job included an air-filter replacement, an oil change, a tire rotation, and a full inspection, the last of which uncovered a torn left CV boot (replaced under warranty). The dealer then charged us a staggering $504.71 for the tuneup. We also had the technicians inspect the brakes, which seemed to be causing an obnoxious vibration when on the binders, and were informed that the front brake pads were worn out and the front brake rotors slightly warped. For another $191.99, the dealer installed new pads and resurfaced the rotors. ■ Months/miles in service 16/32,135 ■ Avg econ/CO2 17.9 mpg/1.05 lb/mi ■ Unresolved problems None ■ Maintenance cost $811.76 (wiper blades,…

ON A TRIP to Lake Arrowhead for a final reconnaissance run for our 2008 Sport/Utility of the Year program, executive editor Stone signed out the Q7 and came away “impressed at how it handles the mountain passes and how it manages to fly by vehicles half its size.” Further, the many high-speed sweepers leading up the mountain only highlighted the Q’s qualities. The Audi’s six-speed Tiptronic transmission, which can be set to Drive, Sport Drive, or Manual, is “a delight,” per Stone, who also notes that at 6000-feet elevation the “4.2-liter V-8 really hangs in there when the air gets thin.” The only con during his 200-mile drive was the giant dual sunroof, which “on a hot day lets in too much sun and heat, asking the air-conditioning to work…

WHILE THE BUZZ at Tokyo this year was all about the Nissan GT-R, Mazda is apparently already working on a sports car of its own that may eventually generate as much heat as the GT-R. Word from the show floor is that the automaker will unveil a “true sports car” concept at the next Tokyo motor show in 2009, followed by the production version in 2011. Yes, four years away, but that’s only an eye-blink in the auto industry. Details are scarce, but it’s confirmed that the car will be rear drive and true to Mazda’s history of sports cars. Does that mean rotary? It’s tempting to make that connection, given the larger-capacity rotary engine Mazda displayed in its booth this year. This year is also the 40th anniversary of…

THE NORTH American market Mazda6 will grow a half size over the European 6/Japanese Atenza (pictured), aiming to fill the shoes of the Millenia and becoming the first midsize Mazda not shared with other markets. It goes on sale no earlier than late summer 2008. The design theme will be similar to the new global model’s, which comes in five-door, sedan, and sport wagon. To be built in Flat Rock, Michigan, in a factory shared with the rear-drive Ford Mustang, the American version is longer and wider, with a longer wheelbase. The basic floorpan is the same, and it’s a development of the current car’s underpinnings. Because the newly introduced global version has already had a two-inch wheelbase stretch over the Mk1, this points to the new U.S. car being…

NISSAN’S Murano was arguably the most stylish crossover SUV when it hit the streets in the 2003 model year. Its second iteration, which made its debut at the Los Angeles auto show and will reach the market this spring, is distinguished by Coke-bottle-like flared-fender side surfacing. It looks as if Subaru designed the grille, though. Perhaps criticism that Nissan’s newer models (Altima and Infiniti G35/37) look too much like their predecessors stung its designers, and they tried too hard. Nissan boasts a “redesigned premium interior” for the 2009 Murano and improved performance and ride comfort. Techno advances will include a hard-drive navigation system with real-time traffic, backup camera, and intelligent key system. It’ll come with some version of Nissan’s venerable 3.5-liter V-6 (240 horsepower in the outgoing model) coupled to…

BMW CHIEF Norbert Reithofer launched a few zingers in an otherwise dry speech about the automaker’s new strategy. Reithofer says BMW plans to cut costs and maintain employment levels while increasing worldwide sales to two million units by 2020. He effectively ruled out buying Volvo, but said BMW needs a fourth brand. One possibility? BMW owns the name “Sprite,” which could become a Mini-like boutique brand. Meanwhile, Mini will present a small crossover SUV in 2012 with most of Mini’s design cues: the hexagonal grille, clamshell hood, rounded fenders, “island” greenhouse, and black fender protection. It’ll be based on the new rear-drive BMW X1 SUV platform. BMW has canceled the “space-functional concept,” a Mercedes R-Class-fighter, because the R-Class is selling too poorly to fight. In its place, BMW is working…

OUR INTREPID super-secret spy shooter (so secret, we’re not even sure of his real name) caught this Land Rover Ranger Rover with an extra set of exhaust pipes. Our Deep Throat says it has a new supercharged 4997cc V-8 that’ll also see the inside of new Jaguar XF-Rs and XK-Rs. The current blown Jag 4.2-liter engine makes 420 horsepower, so 500 horses is a reasonable expectation for this Landie’s new engine. Stay tuned.…

unavailable for consumption Perhaps some buyers perceive their Prius purchase as a public statement, but the majority are more concerned with stopping and spending less at the pumps (“Big Picture,” October). Certainly, the Prius isn’t the silver-bullet solution to our energy or environmental problems, but consider this: Prius owners I know haven’t shelved their fuel-efficient economy cars for a hybrid. Rather, they’ve replaced their large station wagons and full-size sedans with a Prius. There may be 30 cars available in Europe that can match the Prius’s efficiency, but, unfortunately, that’s just it—they’re in Europe. Barre FongSan Francisco, CaliforniaP.S. No, I don’t own a Prius. noise maker What’s all this talk about NVH in the new Caddy engine (“Trend”)? No further explanation of what form of NVH. Not even an explanation…

HERE’S WHERE we start the judging process. Each contender is put through the complete series of Motor Trend performance tests to give the judges baseline data to work from. Then each judge drives each contender around a 13.5-mile loop that takes in the high-speed track, the freeway-surfaces road, the demanding winding road, and finally the special-surfaces roads. The judges also conduct detailed static reviews of each contender, looking at design, build quality, engineering innovations, and features. Daily meetings in the office adjacent to the skidpad look at every contender’s strengths and weaknesses in detail. The aim of this first phase isn’t to pick the Car of the Year, but to eliminate those vehicles that don’t measure up against the key criteria: superiority, significance, and value. As always, some vehicles fell…

BY FAR the coolest feature in the Avenger is the new MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment system with navigation. This package gives you a 6.5-inch touch-screen display, voice-command, satellite GPS with real-time traffic, DVD playback, integrated USB 2.0 port, and a 20-gig hard drive that can hold up to 1600 songs. The best part is, the whole package costs just $1200, but spend the extra $495 and get the Boston Acoustic speaker upgrade. Our tester was the R/T version of the Avenger, sporting the 3.5-liter, 235-horse V-6 with the six-speed transmission. This combo works well together: First through third gears come quick, giving you nice acceleration, but there’s a big gap between third and fourth. The SE and SXT versions come standard with a 2.4-liter, 173-horse I-4 coupled to a four-speed automatic,…

WE HAVE the first generation to thank for a complete resurgence (and domination) of the hot-hatch market, which now includes the spectacular GTI and the stylish C30. New Cooper and Cooper S models are currently available, but you can’t get a convertible based on the new body (with the new engine) until late 2008. Also coming is the Mini Clubman, a five-passenger variant that’s 9.5 inches longer and has side access and rear-split cargo doors. Power for the Cooper line comes from a common-rail, direct-injection inline-four designed as a project between BMW and Peugeot-Citroën. The naturally aspirated 1.6-liter puts out 118 horsepower; the S adds a twin-scroll turbocharger and 54 horses. Styling changes may be subtle, but changes to the Mini’s driving dynamics are immediately noticeable. The steering is light…

SO FAR, SO GOOD for the new adult version of the WRX. Curb weights are down 45 to 110 pounds across the range, thanks to a five-door hatchback that shrinks 2.0 inches in length (despite a sedan that’s 4.5 inches longer). The wheelbase has spread by 3.7, and, together with a revised front-strut suspension and a new rear-control-arm setup, the Impreza boasts a cushier ride and more cargo volume (0.3 cubic foot in the sedan). Not so good, however, is the new styling: Some of our judges find the lines of the WRX five-door sporty and muscular, while some view them as drab and uninspiring. Everyone concurs, though, on the Subaru’s higher-quality and more refined interior. Pass on the WRX and you’re treated to even less pizzazz, as the naturally…

WE’RE A disciplined lot when it comes to selecting the Car of the Year. If we weren’t, this gorgeous red coupe would be rocketing off into the sunset with the golden calipers. Our S5 test car, equipped with a V-8 and six-speed manual tranny is the debut variant of Audi’s new grand-touring coupe. S5 automatics and V-6-powered A5s arrive in the spring. Sporting the only V-8 in this year’s field, the S5 was far and away the most enjoyable car to drive. With the biggest engine, the best weight-to-power ratio, and quattro all-wheel-drive routing all that juice to the ground via fat and sticky tires, the S5 easily trumped all contenders in every objective performance test. It also managed to press all the right subjective buttons on the various hilly…

HOW DID this stunning new Honda land here amongst the wannabes and not in the lavish winner’s spread? C’mon, it nails the three criteria: On superiority, it provides more of everything families want: a longer, taller, wider body with a vast interior; a bigger V-6 engine with more passing and hauling power; and fuel-saving technology like variable-cylinder management that allows the V-6 to run on three or four cylinders. On significance, it consistently racks up 350,000-400,000 annual sales by offering a choice of two body styles, manual or automatic transmissions, and four-cylinder engines or a V-6. And in terms of value, you can’t beat the Accord’s opening price—just $20,995—and even the dolled-up $30,000 models enjoy incredible resale values of around 50 percent after three years. Clearly “the fix” is in.…

FROM INSIDE, you can’t tell it’s not encrusted with fake woodgrain panels. So for some, it’s the perfect ride down memory lane. Its elegance goes far beyond your parents’ wagon’s interior, however, with supple leather, modern, logical instruments and switchgear, and an unusual postmodern grain to the sumptuous leatherette dashboard cover. This package more likely recalls the Swedish-modern furniture from your old living room rather than what was in the driveway. Country Squires didn’t come with built-in two-position child safety seats, either. This $495 option is fitted to the outboard rear seats and makes those seats a bit too firm when in the fold-down, adult position. And they negate the heated rear seats included with the $875 climate package, but come in handy if you regularly alternate between kids and…

SINCE SELLING its last car in the United States in 1995, Alfa Romeo’s worldwide auto lineup has been composed entirely of front- or all-wheel-drive models based mostly on shared platforms. What should we expect from Alfa Romeo v2.0, an enterprise still largely in the planning stages? Company execs are keenly aware that the recipe for selling a planned 20,000-30,000 cars annually in the United States demands strong flavor. After all, it was Alfa that built Fangio’s 1951 world championship-winning 159, the classic GTA, Dustin Hoffman’s “Mrs. Robinson” Duetto roadster. The new, rear-drive 8C Competizione, a loving homage to the famed 8C racing and road models of the 1930s, proves Alfa can play in the supercar leagues. But about a year after the 8C’s debut, by mid-2009 or so, Alfa will…

THE CHASE SCENE from the 1968 Steve McQueen flick, “Bullitt,” was, is, and remains the most iconic ever filmed. There’ve been some valiant challengers: the late John Frankenheimer’s heart-pounding work through the streets of Paris in “Ronin”; making Minis fly in “The Italian Job” (the original and the remake); some intense, authentic action in the recent Bourne movies. But when the lists are made and the bets are laid down, “Bullitt” comes out on top. Every time. Ford’s global V.P. of design, J Mays, knows how to mine a car company’s past in search of future product. Mays was involved when VW recast the old Beetle into the New Beetle. And it’s due to him, along with other like-minded designers, that the current Mustang exhibits so many styling cues from…

THE BACKLASH among Evo enthusiasts was instantaneous. Once word came down that the 10th iteration of the Lancer Evolution (known as Evo X in Japan) was heavier than the outgoing 2006 model (Evo IX) yet possessed about the same level of power, rabid Mitsu fans began posturing that it wasn’t only slower but, due to a beefier structure, more sound deadening, and new electronic aids like Active Yaw Control (AYC), also (gasp!) duller than the raw, scalpel-like IX. Heir apparent? If you paid attention to the bloggers who’d been speculating about the performance of the X even before the Concept X bowed at the 2005 Tokyo motor show, it was more like “error apparent.” To dispel (or confirm) these rumors, we grabbed an Evo X at the first opportunity and,…

THE PORSCHES don’t want to play. Over 1000 hard-charging miles in two days across Germany, Austria, and Italy, and not one appears in the Cadillac’s sights. Which is a pity, because our wedgy, quad-piped XLR-V is locked and loaded for 911s. WHOA! Back up a minute! Did I just say we went chasing Porsches…in a Cadillac? In Germany? Um, yeah. Because that’s exactly what we did. And while the 911s proved elusive, no one-apart from a lunatic in a black BMW 645i convertible who kept the hammer down in a speed-limited construction zone—passed our XLR-V on the autobahnen. Not the silver-haired guy in the big, black Audi S8 with Wuppertal plates. Nor the guy in the E46 M3 who tried to run with us near Nuremberg. Nor even the guy…

WELCOME TO the next stop on Subaru’s drip-drip water-torture release of information on the iconic WRX STI. First we had photos, then tech-specs of the Japanese domestic market STI, and now we’ve driven that car. Next month we’ll have the full skinny on the North American version. It’s a serious trial of the enthusiast’s patience. What are the differences? The biggie is under the hood, where the JDM car stays true to the rally regs with a 2.0-liter boxer engine boosted to 14.7 psi by a twin-scroll Mitsubishi turbocharger to produce 295 SAE horsepower and 299 pound-feet of torque (Note: earlier output figures were generated using Japanese Industry Standard testing procedures). We’ll continue to get the 2.5-liter engine boosted by a single-scroll Mitsubishi turbo to produce slightly more horsepower (a…

TOYOTA launched a credible Tundra when the housing slump hit the big pickup market and now has launched a credible Chevy Tahoe-fighter off the new Tundra, just as buyers are flocking to V-6 crossovers. Like the Tundra, the Sequoia is vastly improved and should grab a larger share of its shrinking segment. The Tundra’s aluminum 5.7-liter V-8 is optional on SR5 and Limited and standard on the new Lexus-like Platinum. The old 4.7 iron block remains the base engine until a new smaller V-8 derivative of the 5.7 is ready. The Tundra’s cheesy familiar dash makes it into the Sequoia, but the SUV gets an independent rear suspension for third-row seating (with optional electric fold-down) good enough for average-size adults on short trips. There’s a false floor under the flat-folding…

BURDENED with a 160-mile round trip commute to and from L.A., managing editor Rusty Kurtz had the opportunity to become intimate with the Cooper S and its long-haul affability. “I found the Mini to be great for scooting in and out of those tiny spots in rush-hour traffic and perfectly suited for compact spaces at my local mega parking lot.” Armed with a healthy, six-foot build, Kurtz was a bit skeptical that the Mini interior would comfortably accommodate his maxi physique, but looks can be deceiving. “The seats were comfortable for my large frame.” Kurtz came to like the cool blue lighting above the windshield, on the door posts, and behind the armrests, but did find “the speedometer a bit difficult to read, since the needle is so small and…

“TOOK the little Nissan on a couple of quick romps to and from work,” says Floyd, “and like the Sentra-based Rogue we flogged during Sport/Utility of the Year, the SE-R delivers solid bang for the buck.” Our Web guru opines further: “Pop it into manual mode, and the car’s character changes—the CVT’s never-ending waaaaaaaahhhhhhh to redline in auto mode suddenly becomes endearing when in manual mode, ‘shifting’ through the ratios.” While it’s ironic that the sporty SE-R sedan gets an archaic solid rear axle and the more rugged Rogue SUV receives an independent rear suspension, the results are not. Says Floyd: “Being lighter than the Rogue, the SE-R is definitely quicker, but it also feels less confidence-inspiring in handling and suspension.” ■ Months/miles in service 4/5923 ■ Avg econ/CO2 23.3…

“I’VE GOT a guy on the phone with a Camry Hybrid who needs a 25,000 mile service,” the manager at the local Toyota dealer yelled to Jesse, a colleague apparently within earshot. Jesse may or may not have been all that excited. Hard to tell. “Sure bet, bring it on in,” he replied. “That’s the most miles we’ve seen on one of those. Any problems?” Answer: None. Zippo. Nada. Well, maybe one. But we’ll never know what the Camry’s one-and-only check-engine light ever meant because our technical editor, who’s a little too handy with an OBD2 scan tool, turned off the singular appearance of the orange-glowing distress signal. “People were fretting about the light so much I just deleted it,” he says. That’s not the same thing as investigating the…