New Ferrari sports car ready for debut in Frankfurt Motor Show

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In its promotional material, Ferrari touts the new car’s mission: “The 458 Italia is designed for owners for whom the priority is uncompromising on-road performance with occasional track day capability, but who still demand a car that is usable in day-to-day driving like all Ferrari’s recent models.” In his description, Yost writes in part: “That mission will be accomplished with a new, direct-injection V-8 engine that produces 570 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 87 horsepower and 55 pound-feet over the Ferrari F430, which it will replace. “That translates to a 0-60 mph time of less than

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Press Release: Air Alerts improve safety, save fuel

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The Air Alert is an ingenious device that alerts drivers when their tires are getting low. When tire pressure dropped 4 psi from the original pressure, the small alert valve cap immediately flashes to improve safety and fuel efficiency. Air Alert replaces the standard tire valve cap and immediately flashes brightly, visible to the driver from any angle approaching the vehicle. More accurate and immediate than other tire pressure warning systems, and at a fraction of the cost of other systems, Air Alert is the best and most cost-effective tire pressure monitoring device available. Air Alert retails for $34.95 ($39.95 w/

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Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2009: Belew's Car Buzz

The V6 builds speed gradual, has decent reserve power for passing and offers a firm ride. Gauges are large and clear. Audio and climate controls are mounted high and were within easy reach with large knobs and clearly marked buttons. The car was equipped with keyless access and starting, but can also be started with a key, which I preferred. The cabin is sharp with a blend of hard plastic surfaces and padded panels. The car felt and looked classy for a compact SUV. The leather upholstery gave it a particularly rich-feeling. Headroom was sufficient, even for a more than

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Nissan Versa, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

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It ain’t true. With a base price of $10,000 and change, the Versa base model has a lot to offer — whether it’s in the U.S. and Canada, or in Mexico, Japan, China and several other countries where it’s called the Tiida. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (5) It’s easy to forget the car has only 107 horsepower. Because it’s lightweight and nimble, it gives the impression it’s quicker than it really is. That’s not a bad thing. Rather the “illusion” makes the Versa all the more fun to drive. Braking/Steering/Handling (5) A few experiences when the brakes seemed “soft.”

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Hybrids Rule: 2008 's Top Five (Part 2)

Honda Civic — Base Price, 24,350; Safety Features, Dual front, front side and side curtain airbags; Fuel Mileage estimates, 49-51 mpg; Warranty, Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 10 years/100,000 miles, Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles. Economy to design, functionality to comfort, the country’s second most popular hybrid has as much to offer as any car on the road and at any price. The 2008 edition (the Civic’s 36th year) is the third year of the second generation of the hybrid and is part of the ever-expanding array of one the most enduring enduring vehicles on the road today. Long

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Mitsubishi debuts expensive electric vehicle, i-MiEV

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Still, Mitsubishi, Japan’s fourth-largest auto manufacturer, believe the i-MiEV will increasingly intensify global competition in the electric vehicle market. The i-MiEV is powered solely by electricity, and can be recharged from a regular home socket. The four-seater vehicle can run up to 100 miles after charging seven hours at 200 volts. Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV costs $47,560, which the manufacturer said “is a major hurdle to encouraging people to buy the car.” Its names stands Mitsubishi innovative electric vehicle. In Japan, where the vehicle will debut to consumer in April, 2010,  i-MiEV buyers can receive hefty subsidies and pay no tax under

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Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, 2009: Roman Mica's Rambling Review

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Thirty some years later and somethings are still the same. Just like that Eldorado that my dad bought in 1978, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid has that almost magic American quality of being bigger on the outside than on the inside. After driving the Escalade for a week, I finally get why my dad bought that Eldorado. Just like the Eldorado, the Escalade is big shouldered, brash and very American (or is it Texan) in-your-face-sort of a ride. For instance, I could drive a Prius from Denver to Nebraska tailgating “that” car doing 55 mph in the fast lane and

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Monterey Auto Week: Best of show: Concours on the Avenue in Carmel

But since its debut in 2007, Concours on the Avenue in Carmel was the best thing about Monterey Auto Week. Compared to other activities, all with great appeal, the Concours on the Avenue had the most appeal, at least for me, because of its collective calm and coolness factors. How much better does it get than  attainable vintage cars, presented on Ocean Ave., and accompanying side streets in Carmel, jazz playing the background and at an extraordinarily fair price — free. Last year, Porsche and Ferrari were featured Monday, and the other marquees were exhibited Tuesday. This year, the one-day

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BMW, X5, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The Weekly Driver Ratings Acceleration (6) Steady as it goes. It’s not the fastest SUV, but the 3.0-liter, 24-valve, 260-horsepower doesn’t waste any time, either. There’s also a 4.8-liter, 350-horsepower, V8. It wasn’t test, but it likely gets the job done with a quicker acceleration and obviously heavier duty power. Braking/Steering/Handling (6) Three of BMW‘s finer traits. The X5 exudes confidence on the open road. But it’s a good thing a friend’s wife drives an X5. When I mentioned the stiffness of the car’s steering, he mentioned the dealership where his wife’s car was purchased offered steering adjustments at the

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Ferrari prepares for two new car debuts, automaker's new London retail location opens

Which is particularly good for Ferrari lovers right now. The luxury Italian automobile and its Prancing Horse logo are represented in three new ways — two new cars and a new upscale retail store selling Ferrari paraphernalia. The new Ferrari offerings include the Scuderia Spider 16M and the Ferrari California. The Scuderia Spider 16M will be elusive and the fastest convertible Ferrari has ever offered. Only 499 will be built and its price has not been announced. But it will cost more the Scuderia Spider coupe priced at $277,000. The Ferrari California will debut as the automaker’s attempt to make

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Chrysler Town & Country, 2009: Roman Mica’s Rambling Review

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“How the heck do I turn on the heater on this bloody car?” I almost screamed at my 11-year-old son while seriously editing my language and shivering while driving him to school in a 2009 Chrysler Town & Country. 49 — That’s how many buttons, knobs and dual-function controls the Chrysler’s center stack has, and that’s not counting the dozen or more touch screen functions associated with the multimedia entertainment screen. 7 — That’s how many functions you’ll find on the key for the minivan, including a remote start button. 3 — That’s how many video screens, kids television stations,

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Ferrari expands brand popularity with new retail store in London, more Prancing Horse outlets planned

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Set in two stories of a columned, stone building in the heart of London, the 5,705-square-foot store will have all the usual Ferrari goods, including spaces devoted to car and F1 products, such as clothing and model cars. Räikkönen, the team’s most recent world champion in 2007, also signed the counter, the now-traditional way Ferrari breaks in its new outlets. The store will be managed by the Percassi Group, an Italian retailer which also owns the Ferrari store in Milan. There are other Ferrari stores in Rome, Venice, Barcelona, San Francisco, Miami, Abu Dhabi and Macao (China). Ferrari plans to

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Subaru Forester, 2009: Roman Mica's Rambling Review

When the elements cooled and the steam drifted away, the Forester stood tallish and proud in the vanguard of the new crossover craze. Others would follow in its tracks, but it was the Forester that showed them the way. It will come as no surprise that for 2009 the Forester has gotten bigger, taller, and even fatter than the very first model that rolled out of the Subaru‘s primordial soup. Is it a giant station wagon, or a small SUV, and does it really matter to most new car buyers? I suspect what matters to Subaru is that the Forester

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The Weekly Driver On The Road: (Tour de) Georgia On My Mind

And since 1986, five years after I started reporting on the sport, I’ve covered at least one stage race every year — the Coors Classic, the Ore-Ida Women’s Challenge, the Tour DuPont, the Tour de Trump, Tour of California, Tour of Missouri and the Tour de France. Many of the races are now a blur. But as I’ve said for the past several years, the travel component of cycling is still appealing. It’s driving through small towns, meeting people and seeing familiar faces in pressrooms that make the races worth it. In the past several years, I’ve also had the

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Toyota Yaris, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

And it’s one of many reasons the Yaris is firmly positioned among several economical vehicles ideal for tight budgets but that don’t scrimp on safety or workmanship. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (4) Cars in the sub-compact segment can’t be expected to be sports cars.  The Yaris is a 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder vehicle with 106 horsepower. As such, it gets the job done steadily. But don’t expect much more. Braking/Steering/Handling (5) The Honda Fit is the segment leader in many areas, including these three categories. But the Yaris is no slouch. It has a small turning radius and ABS is standard

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General Motors set to end Pontiac, famous muscle car GTO

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Pontiac, introduced in 1926, wasn’t listed as a core brand with the automaker’s leading brands, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. Saturn, Saab and Hummer are expected to be sold or “killed off.” But Pontiac was expected to remain as a “niche brand” with a focus on selected models. Pontiac was the third-best selling GM brand in 2008 behind Chevrolet and GMC. In 2005, vice-chairman Bob Lutz referred to Buick and Pontiac as “damaged brands” during a conference at the New York Auto Show. Speculation soon began than Buick or Pontiac would eventually be dumped. With a focus on affordable luxury,

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