Automotive Reviews

Ferrari Sees (More) Red In ’07 — And It’s All Good

It would be a disastrous year for almost any other auto manufacturer. But selling 6,400 cars in a year is huge — at least for Ferrari. The Italian manufacturer announced this week that its sales total for 2007 represented a 14 percent increase from 2006. According to ANSA, the Italian News Agency, the company’s greatest success of the year came with the car maker’s announcement of its new prototype, the F430 Spider. Ferrari currently has  more than 1,850 orders for its Scuderia model, including 500 orders in the United States. The manufacturer also currently has orders for 430 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano models. The sales of the luxury car maker in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East jumped by

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Ford Escape, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Ford debuted a smaller, less expensive alternative to The Explorer, its vastly popular sports utility vehicle, in 2001. In North America, it was called The Escape and in Europe it was called The Maverick. The new compact SUV was developed in conjunction with Mazda, which in turn is owned in principle by Ford. Thus, the Escape, the Mazda Tribute and Ford’s Mercury division SUV, the Mariner, are not surprisingly quite similar. A hybrid version of the Escape was introduced in 2004 and this year with the 2008 model, the Escape and its SUV siblings have all been redesigned. Why? The SUV market has expanded so dramatically in recent years, even industry leaders have had to adjust to retain their share

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California Fuel Cell Partnership: Worthy Of A Good Look Or Visit

The Sacramento Auto Show was largely underwhelming this year. Electrical difficulties prompted the shut down of two display building at Cal Expo. And manufacturers’ presentations were uninspired – like the reps were going through the motions of presenting new vehicles for the umpteenth time — which they were. There were a few exceptions, including the display and energy of the presentation at the California Fuel Cell Partnership booth. The California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) is a collaboration of 34 organizations that believe fuel cell vehicles powered by hydrogen have the potential to change the future of transportation. The CaFCP web site, www.cafcp.orfg, provides information about the progress that CaFCP’s automotive, energy, fuel cell technology, government and associate members are making

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Mazda RX-8, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Sports cars are rarely known for comfort or convenience. But Mazda does a good job of overcoming the stigma with the RX-8. It’s a coupe with four doors (sort of) and it’s about as comfortable as sports cars get. Mazda further differentiates itself in the sports car class via its signature rotary engine. It’s the system that replaces pistons pumping in cylinders with triangular rotors spinning in oval chambers. My weekly driver was the 2008 Grand Touring model, the most expensive of the three options, including the Sport and Touring. Each has a 1.3-liter, 232-horsepower engine with a six-speed manual transmission or a 1.3-liter, 212-horsepower engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. (The automatic allows manual shifting via floor lever or

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Cadillac CTS, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

After its debut at the North American International Auto Show, success arrived quickly for the CTS after its public debut last August. Motor Trend magazine selected the CTS as its 2008 car of the year. After five years of the first generation CTS, it was redesigned for 2008, and it’s easy to see and feel why the car has generated glowing reviews. The base model features a 3.6-liter variable valve timing V6 with 258 hp. My weekly drive was the more powerful option, a 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 VVT engine with 304 horsepower. It has a six-speed automatic transmission, which is standard on all models. On-demand, all-wheel drive is also offered with both engines when equipped with an automatic transmission. The

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Volkswagen Convertible, 2007: Weidel on Wheels

Even though the Beetle is still loved by women, the luster has worn off over the past decade even for the fairer sex. The Beetle has become commonplace and there is no big fuss or heads turning when the little “bug” is cruising down the road. When Volkswagen came back with the Beetle after a near 20-year departure in 1997, no hype was required for the unveiling. It seemed like every woman I knew was enamored with the endearing little Beetle, which became part of a successful retro campaign that drifted through the auto industry. Even my then 7-year-old daughter made it clear this was the car she wanted. Yet when I was driving the VW convertible last month, my

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Saturn Vue, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Instead, Saturn wanted more success in the compact SUV segment and redesigned the Vue. The 2008 edition, nearly identical to its global counterpart, the Opel Antara, further establishes the Vue’s reputation. It offers a smooth, steady ride and superior handling and steering. The new Vue also has a new Euro-style look with sleek exterior curves and improved cabin quality. But in its early versions, the Vue was a lot cooler. It had a retro look with white background on instrumentation dials, for instance, and unique netting on map and accessory side door bins. Nonetheless, with the 2008 edition, the Vue is likely to turn a few more heads and it’s a more comfortable vehicle than its predecessor. My weekly test

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Honda Element, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

More important, Honda doesn’t make a car without a plan. The Element was introduced as an urban utilitarian vehicle with hopes it would appeal to younger drivers seeking pickup truck cargo space in an enclosed area. The vehicle has attracted a young crowd to some degree, but the average buyer’s age is surprising. After its first year on the road, the average purchaser’s age was 43, according to J.D. Power & Associates. Regardless of age, Element owners are largely those who seek a vehicle with easy access to cargo areas for sporting equipment, groceries, luggage and work supplies. In the first extended trek in my weekly test drive four years ago, I drove the four-wheel drive EX model. It had

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Ford Debuts Mustang (Again) To Honor Steve McQueen's Driving Legend

Approaching three decades since his death, Steve McQueen remains the “King of Cool,” most notably when it involves cars, motorcycles and high speeds. The latest homage to McQueen will occur Nov. 16-25 when Ford Motor Company introduces  a special edition Mustang to honor the 1968 vehicle McQueen drove in the movie Bullitt. The new vehicle will be available in black and in dark highland green, similar to the color of the Mustang used in the movie. Seven years ago, Ford manufactured its first McQueen commemorative Mustang. In the film, McQueen played Lt. Frank Bullitt and he often drove around the hilly streets of San Francisco in the Mustang and at excessive speeds. The climactic chase scene in the film is

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Mercury Mariner, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

So in a category that includes more than 25 choices, how does the Mariner find its share of the market? During the recent inaugural Tour of Missouri bicycle race, I drove the 2008 Mariner Premier with all-wheel drive nearly 1,000 miles in eight days. While crossing the state West to East on primarily high-speed highways, the Mariner performed well under nearly ideal late summer conditions. The highway speed limit varies in Missouri, but I often used the cruise control (inset switches at the nine p.m. location of the steering wheel) and set it at the flow of traffic about 5 mph above the maximum. It worked with ease and was one of the smoother cruise control systems I’ve tested. The

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Skoda Extends Tour de France Official Car Deal Through 2011

But the Tour de France is nothing if not a moveable money machine, which is why one of its most important sponsorships is the race’s official vehicle. The manufacturer will serve it that capacity was announced on the eve of the 2008 race route when Skoda agreed with race organizers to extend its current sponsorship through 2011. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars Professional cycling’s image is not as its best, but that didn’t deter the Czech manufacturer from agreeing to keep its brand in the race’s spotlight. Skoda’s vehicles are not available in the United States, but the brand is distributed in nearly 40 countries —

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Auto World Museum: Fulton, Missouri

Upon my arrival and two hours into my drive from St. Louis to Kansas City, I stopped for the night near Fulton, Mo. And as I pulled into the parking lot of my motel, I noticed another connection to transportation and travel — a dimly lit road sign for the Auto World Museum. Since it was nearly 10 p.m. I waited until the next morning to explore. The following day, I had about a 2 1/2-hour drive to Kansas City, so I figured a brief stop at the museum would be a beneficial way to start the day as well as the pending long week of driving throughout the 600-mile race. The Auto World Museum, 200 Peacock Drive, Fulton, Mo.,

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Nissan Altima, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The two-door features unique body panels that share only the hood. Additionally, the wheelbase and overall length has been shortened and it the coupe has an upgraded suspension. The result is a Euro-styled machine that garners further attention from passersby and deserves even more consideration after its driven. The 2008 Altima sedan will be available in four trims, but only the coupe is currently available in the new year’s model, and it has two options. My test vehicle was the 2.5 liter, 4-cylinder with 175 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission. There’s also a 3.5-liter V6 option with 270 horsepower. A hybrid model will debut after the new year. The V6, 3.5-liter Altima must be exceedingly quick, because my test

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Ford Explorer, 2007: Weidel on Wheels

Consumer’s loved the look of the Explorer, enjoyed its solid cargo space, its versatility and considered it a wonderful family vehicle. However, the bubble burst on Ford’s most esteemed vehicle when the Explorer was experiencing rollover issues in 2001. For the past several years, no one was walking on a Ford lot looking to drive away in an Explorer. Sadly for this American auto manufacturer, the Explorer has never fully recovered. With that said, the Explorer has made a comeback by offering buyer incentives and positive word of mouth.  The rollover issue, which Ford explained was largely due to over-inflated tires, has gradually eroded. Yet with its reputation now heading upward again, the Explorer has seen the competition grow in

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Volvo S80, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The adaptive cruise control, one of several new safety features for Volvo, determined the driver of the vehicle now perhaps 50 yards in front of me had changed lanes without the proper minimum distance. As such, my cruise control automatically disengaged. It’s an alarming feeling at first, but it’s one more reason why Volvo owners think they’re getting among the safest cars on the road. The Swedish manufacturer offers some of the more popular vehicles in areas where inclement weather rules, like Sweden. But for drivers in non-mountainous areas or when the weather’s often ideal, the new Volvo safety features only further complement the already hard-to-rattle Volvo reputation. Further, the S80 4-door sedan is offered at a competitive price as

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BMW X3, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

I’ve driven the eastbound and westbound road more than 100 times en route to or departing the Monterey Peninsula. Maybe it’s the tight cement restraining barriers or what feels like an odd road camber. It’s just a winding downhill (or uphill) highway section that drives more difficultly than it should. Of course, that makes it a perfect place to test drive a vehicle. And that’s exactly what I did recently in both directions in a BMW X3. The 2007 version of the compact sport utility vehicle was restyled and its six-cylinder 3.0-liter engine features an updated transmission, increased horsepower and all-wheel drive. As stated in the car review publication, Consumer Guide, the BMW ’07 offering has been “rebadged.” It’s now

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