Cars & Motors News

[Rasputin]

2006 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster

SPECIFICATIONS
MODEL: Chrysler Crossfire Roadster
ENGINE: 3.2-liter V6
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 215 hp @ 5,700 rpm/229 lb.-ft. @ 3,000 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic
WHEELBASE: 94.5 in.
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT: 159.8 x 69.5 x 51.8 in.
TIRES: 225/40ZR18 (front)/ 255/35ZR19 (rear)
CARGO VOLUME: 6 cu. ft. (est.)
ECONOMY: 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway
PRICE: $36,730 (includes $875 destination charge)
The Chrysler Crossfire is the most exciting vehicle to come out of the Chrysler Group since the (originally) Plymouth Prowler. And there's some similarity between the designs of those two cars, with the cropped rear and long hood.
But the Crossfire is definitely its own car, even though it's built in Germany and uses underpinnings from the Mercedes-Benz SLK. And there's nothing Mercedes about this car, except a few parts taken from the M-B parts bin, like the cruise control stalk, which proved to be a problem occasionally when I hit the wrong stalk. Crossfire is unique and exciting anyway.
The first thing you notice about Crossfire is its styling. The cropped-off tail is unique, but it still houses a decent trunk that's capable of carrying a couple of suitcases. I didn't try to stuff golf bags back there, but I'm certain they wouldn't have fitted.
We tested the Roadster, and the dropped top does impinge on carrying capacity to a certain extent. In order to lower the top, you have to arrange panels in the trunk to accommodate the lowered top. Still, there's enough capacity for a long weekend trip for two if you're so inclined. The top is powered. I had trouble lowering the top on the ONE day it was possible. Once again, my having a convertible to test prompted Mother Nature to deliver a monsoon.
Front styling is also unique, although there are the corporate grille and Chrysler wings to identify the car. Along the hood are horizontal "stripes" or indents that serve primarily to strengthen the hood, but also give it an interesting character. Since most hoods are either flat or curved or have some simple shape to them, this is different, as one would expect.

[Nutcase]

sia, on page 22 u mentioned the honda civic hybrid, and compared to the few hybrid cars outthere it is really the best so far, and it will be my next car, cause i am all about saving gas and the environment, heck if it was up to me we would all be driving cars powered by vegetable oil, its possible, cleaner and cheaper, but since we don't live in a perfect world, and the oil companies are swimming in filthy money we won't have our cake and eat it like they do, but one can dream, eh?

[Rasputin]

sia, on page 22 u mentioned the honda civic hybrid, and compared to the few hybrid cars outthere it is really the best so far, and it will be my next car, cause i am all about saving gas and the environment, heck if it was up to me we would all be driving cars powered by vegetable oil, its possible, cleaner and cheaper, but since we don't live in a perfect world, and the oil companies are swimming in filthy money we won't have our cake and eat it like they do, but one can dream, eh?

I am agree with you :=)

[Rasputin]

2006 Dodge Magnum SRT

I have to make a confession-the new Dodge Magnum SRT8 is not my cup of tea. Having said that it is wonderful news that in its various guises the truly dramatic looking car enabled Chrysler to make a profit after years of languishing in a sea of red ink. Clearly something new and exciting was called for and the company surprised all of us with a really aggressive looking automobile which has been getting awards from all and sundry. Why is it not for me? Well, put it down to old age if you like but I don’t need a 6.1 liter hemi engine. Yes, I can control it, there were no spins or spills but the power did come in rather suddenly and it did call for a great deal of concentration.
I see this as a great car for young Texans blasting to a rodeo but genteel Marin County is not like that. Percentage wise there are more Priuses here than anywhere else in the country and that probably says it all. Don’t get me wrong-the Dodge is amazing value at around 40 thousand dollars. It is a bit of an International cocktail-the engine is made in Mexico, the transmission in Germany and final assembly is in Ontario, Canada.
Still, what matters is that the Dodge is very well screwed together. The instrumentation is excellent as are the seats. What I missed was the brilliant TV monitor - aiding reversing- from the Infiniti. The Magnum is a long car and the TV would be a God-send.
The Dodge has all the standard equipment one could reasonably expect from a 60 thousand dollar automobile and as I’ve said huge fun and huge value for the right person. Having said that I am not that person. I am delighted they are doing well but as we all know the other half of the company is Mercedes Benz. For me an E series 320 with 4matic is the answer to my prayers. Until and if the new S class had a 4matic option as well.
For the record the Magnum does 14 to a gallon in town and 20 on the highway, although the chances are that the sort of speeds this Dodge is capable of will tempt people to put pedal to the metal and really go for it.
It is as subtle as a Sherman tank and if that is your cup of tea you’ll have lots and lots of fun, not to mention the speeding tickets. Not your Mother-in-Law’s car, that is for sure!

[Rasputin]

2006 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 1500

SPECIFICATIONS
MODEL: GMC Sierra Crew Cab 1500 4WD SLE1
ENGINE: 6.0-liter V8
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 345 hp @ 5200 rpm/380 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 4-speed automatic
WHEELBASE: 143.5 in.
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT: 227.5 x 78.5 x 72.6 in.
TIRES: P265/70R17
MAXIMUM PAYLOAD: 1,913 lbs.
ECONOMY: 14 mpg city/17 mpg highway/14.8 mpg test
PRICE: $39,515 (includes $875 destination charge)
To say the GMC Sierra Crew Cab is large is somewhat of an understatement. Sure, the Sierra Extended Cab version (similar, but with an 8-foot bed instead of a 6-foot bed) is longer, but when you're nearly 20 feet in length, the difference is minimal.
To its credit, the Sierra drives like a shorter truck. It's only when you're parking, or trying to squeeze into a small space among a bunch of Christmas shoppers, that the length makes a real big difference.
It could have been worse. The original schedule called for me to drive the diesel-engine version of the Sierra. I had driven this truck in shorter runs at the GM introduction earlier this year, and, while it's interesting, it isn't the kind of vehicle I prefer. One feature the diesel had that the gasoline-engine version didn't was a manual shift mode to the automatic. Here, the "shifter" is a toggle switch near the end of the massive shift lever. You flip it one direction to upshift and the other to downshift. This is a definite asset for a diesel, where you often have to play with the rpm range to extract maximum performance. The problem is that the toggle is hidden by the steering wheel, so you have to learn where it is quickly.

[Rasputin]

2007 Honda Accord EX-L

SPECIFICATIONS
2006/7 Honda Accord EX V6 6-speed Base Price $ 29,400 (07 w/nav system)
Price As Tested $ 29,995
Engine Type aluminum alloy single overhead cam
24-valve V6
Engine Size 3.0 liters / 180 cu. in.
Horsepower 244 @ 6250 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 211 @ 5000 rpm
Transmission 6-speed manual
Wheelbase / Length 105.1 in. / 187.8 in.
Curb Weight 3303 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 13.5
Fuel Capacity 17.1 gal.
Fuel Requirement 87 octane unleaded regular gasoline
Tires P215/50 VR17 Michelin XSE
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc, ABS standard
Suspension, front/rear independent double wishbone / independent multilink
Drivetrain transverse front engine, front-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed 21 / 30 / 23
0 to 60 mph est 6.5 sec
OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Destination $ 595

[Rasputin]

2006 Hyundai Azera SE

Model: Hyundai Azera SE
Engine: 3.8-liter DOHC V6
Horsepower/Torque: 263 hp @ 6000 rpm/255 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic with Shiftronic
Wheelbase: 109.4 in.
Length x Width x Height: 192.7 x 72.8 x 58.7 in.
Tires: 225/60HR16
Cargo volume: 16.6 cu. ft.
Economy: 19 mpg city/ 28 mpg highway/18.7 mpg test
Price: $24,420 (includes $0 inland freight and handling charge)

From its BMW 5-Series-styled trunk lid to its cozy, spacious interior, the Hyundai Azera has a lot to offer. This is a very nice car at an extremely attractive price.
A neighbor noted that Hyundai has done its homework with the Azera, which replaces the XG350 as the flagship sedan of the Hyundai line this year. Azera qualifies as a midsize car and thus competes with the Camry, Accord and Ford Fusion, among others in a crowded field. While the field may be crowded, the interior of the Azera isn't. It's spacious and offers great comfort. Passengers sit in cloth-covered seats (in the SE; the Limited offers leather-faced seats), with excellent leg, head and shoulder room. Even rear seat passengers have excellent legroom. In fact, only the Chevy Malibu and discontinued Ford Taurus offer more rear legroom. Rear passengers also have separate HVAC controls.

[Rasputin]

2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4x4

SPECIFICATIONS
MODEL: Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4X4
ENGINE: 4.6-liter V8
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 292 hp @ 5750 rpm/300 lb.-ft. @ 3950 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic
WHEELBASE: 113.7 in.
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT: 193.4 x 73.7 x 72.8 in.
TIRES: P235/65R18
CARGO VOLUME: 85.8 cu. ft.
ECONOMY: 14 mpg city/20 mpg highway
PRICE: $39,955 (includes $645 destination and delivery charge)

The Ford Explorer mid-size sport utility not only defined the market when it was introduced (okay, the Jeep Grand Cherokee was first, but the Explorer so dominates the market that the GC became an also-ran quickly), but it has been the best-selling mid-size SUV ever since. It is capable, has 53 more horses from the V8 than were available last year, and offers a decent ride for a truck-based vehicle.
Our tester was the top-of-the-line Eddie Bauer edition with almost $6,000 in options added to the $33,625 base price. A two-door V6-powered XLS trim Explorer has a retail price of $26,530, and the Limited version starts at $35,940, so you can spend just about as much as you want (or can afford) on an Explorer.
With the new power from the V8 engine (292 horses), Explorer now has 7300 pounds towing capacity. There’s also enough power for normal on-highway driving that will allow easy entry onto Interstates and effortless cruising at almost any legal speed. In addition, we averaged around 15 mpg during our test, which wasn’t great but it also wasn’t bad for a vehicle that weighs more than 4,600 pounds. Since most Explorer owners will probably tend to load up the rear with camping gear or outdoors equipment, besides wanting to tow something along, economy is decent for what it delivers.

[Rasputin]

2006 Infiniti M35x

We were just back from a substantial road trip in the Nissan Maxima (see our Tennessee road trip report) - a car we liked very much. I was just finishing my notes on the Maxima when the good folks from Nissan brought us a new Infiniti M35x to replace it and to provide fodder for this week’s review.
Sitting side by side in the driveway during the swap I’m struck by how different these cousins look. Infiniti, of course, is Nissan’s luxury division and these two full-size automobiles share some of the same platform elements, but they are about $12,000 apart in price. The Infiniti appears to be a tad taller, perhaps a smidge larger and considerably more conservatively styled. Our California-built Infiniti M35x is the all-wheel-drive, performance version of this rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan.
Sliding smoothly into the beautiful leather driver’s seat, with the Infiniti name and logo stitched into it, I’m first struck by the rosewood trim on the dash, center stack and doors. While the wood trim in most automobiles appears glazed and over-polished, this rich, fine-grained rosewood appears to have been finished only with a bit of oil, like a fine new piece of furniture. Unlike the Maxima’s incongruous variety of interior materials the M35x has no extraneous elements whatsoever making for more aesthetic appeal. Perhaps because of the darker or thicker materials the Infinity seems a bit less roomy or open inside. It feels more cozy and pampering. The lovely analog clock gives it just the right touch of elegance.
We have a bit of a delay in starting it at first. The M35x comes with an Intelligent Key system, which we do not have to remove from our pocket. It communicates with the car to let it know we’re OK and authorized to unlock the doors and trunk and start the car with the button on the dash. Well, I push the button again and again but the Infinity is not starting. The Start/Stop button is flashing through its “accessory” and “on” cycles but it’s not starting the car. Fortunately the little instruction card in the glove box gives me a clue. Just put my foot on the brake – then it will start. Duh! A redundant, superfluous system, I guess. The car is not going anywhere in “Park” anyway.
The next feature that jumps out at me is the view across the hood and front fenders. So many cars today have just a smooth hood sloping away in all directions it’s refreshing to see a visual distinction between hood and fenders stylistically suggesting they are two separate pieces of the car. Bravo. I’m beginning to rethink my initial impression of the exterior styling as too conservative. For one thing the maroon color on our test car does nothing to contribute to an aura of style. This color is particularly bland. Close inspection reveals a good paint job with just a hint of orange peel.

[Rasputin]

Nissan Qashqai Crossover Vehicle Looks for a Niche in Europe

PARIS — Nissan's latest foray into the hearts and minds of Europeans is the new Qashqai subcompact SUV, unveiled by Nissan/Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn.

It is based on the same platform as the North American Sentra but will not be offered in North America. It will be exclusively made at Nissan's factory in Sunderland, England, voted many times as the most efficient automobile plant on the continent. The Qashqai will be exported to Japan, the Middle East and other markets.

Nissan needs to reinvents itself in Europe, where an aging lineup and changes in customer tastes have led to a 15.9-percent drop in sales between January and July. In the all-important C segment, where the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Corolla and others jostle for space, Nissan realized the need to come up with something radically different.

The result is the Qashqai, the production version of the 2004 concept car of the same name. The unusual moniker refers to a nomadic people living in Iran. The 169.3-inch long and 70.1-inch tall crossover will come with four engine options, two gasoline and two diesel, all of which are four-cylinder units. In transmission choices, five- and six-speed manual, six-speed auto and a continuously variable transmission are on the menu.

At the unveiling ceremony, Ghosn mentioned that the company expects to sell more than 100,000 units a year, following the car's launch in early 2007.

What this means to you: Quirky name, quirky car, but the weird-name crown still belongs to the Mitsubishi Mirage XYZYX concept.

[Rasputin]

2006 Kia Sedona EX

SPECIFICATIONS
MODEL: Kia Sedona EX
ENGINE: 3.8-liter V6
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 240 hp @ 6000 rpm/250 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic
WHEELBASE: 118.9 in.
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT: 202.0 x 78.3 x 69.3 in.
TIRES: P235/60R17 all-season
CARGO VOLUME: 141.5 cu. ft.
ECONOMY: 18mpg city/25 mpg highway/17.2 mpg test
PRICE: $31,365 (includes $670 inland freight and handling charge)

One thing you notice about the Kia Sedona minivan is that it is incredibly loaded with features - almost overloaded.
With a sticker price of just over $31,000, the Sedona has leather seats, heated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control to keep passengers in all three rows as comfortable as possible, a backup warning system that's invaluable when rear vision is limited, power sliding doors and a power liftgate.
There's more, but you'll have to wait.
With a 240 horsepower V6 engine under the hood, the Sedona isn't hurting for power. I remember my old full-size van that (I believe) wasn't that powerful yet was larger and heavier. The engine's power reached the front wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission with a column shifter. That's important, because a floor-mounted shifter, while "cooler" would clutter up the space between the front seats.
As it is, that space is used up by a tray that's convenient for holding a pair of cupholders and assorted smaller objects like cell phones, MP3 players, etc. But, that tray folds out of the way into the side of the passenger seat if it's not needed and you would prefer a clear passageway to the rear seats to attend to misbehaving kids, for example.

[Rasputin]

2006 Volvo XC90

When the XC90 was introduced at the North American International Auto Show a few years ago it was named the North American Truck of the Year, . . . or was that North American Car of the Year. If there had been a category called North American Cross-Over of the Year, that would have been most appropriate. With a high muscular stance, four-wheel-drive and the legendary Swedish crashworthiness on a car platform, it was a hit right out of the box.
Having not spent much time with Volvos in recent years, I was unsure what to expect. I was wondering if Volvo’s personality has been changed by being in the Ford family. My last mechanical mistress was a 1965 P1800S. Like other Volvos of that era it had a special, unique feel and ambiance unlike anything else. Of course, cars of that era were less homogenous than cars today so we could expect them to have more character. Volvos had a sort of purposeful eloquence that was unusual even for its time.
The XC90 is thoroughly modern, in technology and concept. Volvo calls it a “Special Purpose Vehicle.” Base MSRP on this one is $45,840. Metallic paint costs $475 extra and a Climate Package (heated seats and headlamp washers) is $675. The $1,795 Touring Package includes 18-inch alloy wheels, premium sound system, wood accents, and leather shift knob. And the rear seat entertainment system costs $1,995. These along with a $695 destination charge add up to $51,475 according to our sticker. Seems a bit pricy to me.
The XC90 is powered by a slick, spirited, compact 4.4-liter dual-overhead-cam V8 – the first V8 ever for Volvo - with variable valve timing making 311 horsepower and 325 lb.ft. of torque. The California Air Resources Board has certified this transversely mounted, Yamaha built engine as ULEV II, or Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle – the only V8 engine with that coveted designation. Yamaha, you may recall, built that wonderful, bullet-proof V8 that powered the Taurus SHO, one of which this reporter drove to nearly 180,000 miles. Power gets to all four wheels by way of Volvo’s Geartronic 6-speed automatic with Adaptive Shift Logic and Winter Mode.
The fuel tank holds 21.1 gallons and EPA mileage numbers are 15-city/21-highway. The XC90 V8 AWD weighs in at 4,825 pounds. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds. That’s the same as the Honda Ridgeline pickup we had this past week. You can tow a pretty good sized boat with that capacity.

[Rasputin]

2007 Jaguar XK

Driving the latest 300 horsepower Jaguar XK in Baja, Mexico was no picnic. Before you say “oh, poor man, tough job but someone has to do it” how would you like to drive someone else’s 75 thousand dollar brand new sports coupe at relatively high speeds while avoiding 5 cows and 15 goats?! No, not in a week, not in a year but within a few hours? Add to that one rabid dog which very nearly jumped into our convertible and you get the picture. From all this you’ll gather two things. Firstly that I live to tell the tale and secondly that the Jag’s brakes and steering are pretty amazing. Have you ever had occasion to swerve round a big black cow on a narrow, two-way road with a massive Freightliner rapidly approaching from the other direction? Trust me, boring it isn’t.
It is an open secret that Jaguar desperately need a success. The X type didn’t fulfill expectations and the S class is selling all right, rather than brilliantly. There is a brand new replacement on the horizon but not in the near future.
The XK is not just a new car, it is also an image builder. You may have seen the controversial “gorgeous” campaign featuring some beautiful girls with a few macho men thrown in for good measure. Shot in a French chateau and on a beach just outside Saint Tropez it features people in situations one would normally associate with Ferraris or Lambos. A brave move for a car costing one third of the 430. Love it or hate it, you will certainly remember it. The company is desperately and understandably trying to get away from the brand’s “old man’s car image”.
If anything will do it, it is the XK. First of all it does look great, particularly in British Racing Green.
It is also a very easy car to drive. There is no fiddling for knobs or buttons a la BMW 7 series, you just jump in, press the red start button , pop it into “D” and you are off. There are some perfectly placed paddles under the steering wheel for those-like me- who like to drive as opposed to just get from A to B. These work magnificently, certainly as well as in the Ferrari 430.

[Rasputin]

2007 Toyota Yaris

SPECIFICATIONS
MODEL: 2007 Toyota Yaris 4-door sedan
ENGINE: 1.5-liter I-4
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 106 hp @ 6000 rpm/103 lb.-ft. @ 4200 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 4-speed automatic
WHEELBASE: 100.4 in.
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT: 169.3 x 66.5 x 56.7 in.
TIRES: P175/65R14
CARGO VOLUME: 12.9 cu. ft.
ECONOMY: 34 mpg city/39 mpg highway/39.1 mpg test
PRICE: $16,840 (includes $580 delivery, processing and handling fee)

Toyota has shown a remarkable ability to re-invent some of its products. When they wanted to come out with a more luxurious Toyota, they created Lexus. When they wanted to appeal to a younger demographic, they created Scion. And when certain models aren’t racing out the door, they push the “re-invent” button and see what comes out.
When Echo wasn’t selling as well as Toyota had hoped, the car was redesigned and remarketed as the Yaris, which may be classified loosely as a Toyota-branded Scion. Echo was a ho-hum compact sedan, but Yaris has a lot more panache that makes it more appealing.
During our test, we drove Yaris over our normal set of suburban and urban streets. We also took it on a 350-plus-miles road trip that delivered excellent fuel economy. The Yaris is rated at 34 mpg city/39 mpg highway. In a combination of city and highway (mostly highway, I’ll admit) we averaged 39.1 mpg. In today’s climate of overpriced gasoline, that’s outstanding. It’s also the best fuel economy we’ve attained in a non-hybrid.
Sure, the Yaris isn’t the fastest car on the highway, but it can keep up with anything else that’s driving legally out there, and with a couple who may be stretching the speed limit a bit. Where Yaris hurts is in acceleration. We didn’t exactly zip away from traffic lights and stop signs, and entering Interstates when the traffic’s at the speed limit can be a challenge. But we survived.

[Rasputin]

2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser

2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4x4 Automatic

Base Price $ 23,300
Price As Tested $ 29,837
Engine Type aluminum alloy dual overhead cam
24-valve V6
with VVT-i variable valve timing
Engine Size 4.0 liters / 241 cu. in.
Horsepower 239 @ 5200 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 278 @ 3700 rpm
Transmission 5-speed automatic
Wheelbase / Length 105.9 in. / 183.9 in.
Curb Weight 4295 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 18.0
Fuel Capacity 19 gal.
Fuel Requirement 91-octane unleaded gasoline
Tires P265/70 SR17 Bridgestone Dueler
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / vented disc,
ABS standard
Suspension, front/rear independent double wishbone /
live axle with coil springs
and 4-link location
Ground clearance 9.6 inches
Drivetrain front engine, on-demand dual-range
four-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 17 / 21 / 17
0 to 60 mph 7.3 sec
Towing capacity 5,000 lbs.

OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Convenience Package - includes:
remote keyless entry, cruise control, power outside mirrors
with image lights, rear sonar, privacy glass, rear wiper,
daytime running lights $ 1,840
Curtain shield airbags with front seat side
bolster airbags $ 650
Upgrade Package #2 - includes:
A-TRAC, rear differential lock, multi-info display,
alloy wheels, upgraded audio, 400-watt AC inverter,
leather steering wheel with audio and cruise controls,
interior trim upgrade, rear subwoofer $ 2,620
Carpet floormats & cargo mat $ 199
RS3200 security system $ 479
Spare tire cover $ 169
Destination charge $ 580