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Last Chance for Canceled Models

The automotive world has turned upside down. Your last chance to buy some wonderful vehicles models is fast approaching. Since the Internet is forever, by the time you’re reading this, these opportunities may have long passed...

The 5 Least Expensive 2009 Sedans

To many, it feels like 1930. (In a recession, your neighbor loses his job. In a depression you lose yours.) Here are five peppy, capable, low-cost, four-door sedans that will allow you to survive the current unpleasant times. Auto enthusiasts shouldn’t feel too penalized: All have more than 100 horsepower, which was once a prerequisite for a sports sedan. The legendary BMW 2002 from the 1970s barely cleared that mark. Here are the five least expensive, new, four-door sedans available in the U.S. Prices include destination and handling...

Buying a Used Hybrid

Because hybrids are a comparatively recent phenomenon, not too many have reached the used-car market. Those that have tend to be costly. This was especially true in mid-2008, when gasoline prices hit the roof and customers clamored for fuel-efficient models. There's a logical reason why secondhand hybrids are in short supply: relatively few have been sold new. Hybrids garner a lot of publicity, but modest sales. Around a million have gone to U.S. customers since 2000...

Fiat 500: On Its Way

Early one morning at the New York Auto Show, in April 2009, two rows of neatly positioned automobiles stood in darkened corridors at the side of the auditorium. Several would soon receive World Car of the Year awards in specific categories. One patient contender for the Design prize, a mini-sized blue car with a curiously compelling profile, seemed caught between bashful reticence and youthful enthusiasm...

Scion xB, Nissan cube, Kia Soul Comparison

Not many new models create a separate category. Yet, that's what happened when Scion—Toyota's youth division—launched its boxy little first-generation xB for 2004. Squared-off vehicles had hit the market before, but few ever took off like this Scion. Four years later, Scion had a bigger, less boxy, second-generation xB at dealerships, keeping the market to itself a while longer. In spring 2009, though, a pair of competitors reached the youth-market scene, supplied by Kia and Nissan...

2009 New York Auto Show

Any analysts looking for evidence of distress in the wake of depleted auto sales got a different picture at the New York Auto Show, held in mid-April. Even when the financial crisis was mentioned during automaker news conferences, it failed to cast much of a shadow on the presentation of new and redesigned models...

Getting an Auto Loan Today

Not so long ago, buying a car on credit was stress-free. Hardly anyone had to go without wheels. Through the 1990s and into the 21st century, dealers were selling cars for little (or even nothing) down, and lengthening loan terms to six and seven years, to keep monthly payments low...

Top 10 Production-Likely Concept Cars

Show cars have played a growing and pivotal role in automobile development over the past half-century. Rather than make an educated guess about the likelihood that a proposed model will enjoy public acceptance, manufacturers can unveil that new vehicle first in concept form. Millions of people might have an opportunity to see it and comment upon it, helping developers to gauge the likely response to a production decision...

2009 Detroit Auto Show

DETROIT—Even before the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) was scheduled to open to journalists, industry shrinkage was evident. In the past, news conferences were scheduled for two full days and part of a third. This year, nearly everything would be over by mid-afternoon on the second day...

2008 LA Auto Show Highlights

As the first major American auto show of the new model year, the Los Angeles event invariably signals what can be expected for the coming season. Like the Paris Motor Show in early October, Los Angeles saw performance and luxury share the spotlight with "green" themes...

Paris Motor Show Goes Green

Paris—Every other year, auto journalists and industry leaders trot off to Paris for that city’s flamboyant automobile show. Paris alternates with Frankfurt (Germany) to present what most observers consider the paramount automobile exhibition in Europe. As before, this year’s Mondial de l’Automobile opened at the sprawling exposition center at Porte de Versailles, in the southern portion of Paris. Nine separate halls were filled to capacity with cars, light trucks, and related exhibits...

Market Madness Hits Used Cars

New-car shoppers, turning away from big SUVs in favor of fuel-efficient models, aren't the only ones affected by the escalating cost of gasoline. Zooming fuel prices in early 2008 also turned the used-car market topsy-turvy. Vehicles that were formerly good values began turning into pariahs. Previously unpopular models, seldom seen on shopping lists, abruptly sounded a lot more appealing...

Best Mileage Models for Your New-Car Money

As consumers turn toward fuel-efficient vehicles, it pays to know which ones are thriftiest—and which aren't as economical as they might appear.

Top 10 Best Values in Used Vehicles

You needn’t be a member of Mensa to know that the best deals in used cars will be vehicles that get poor fuel mileage. Also, pawnshop display areas are full of vehicles that can best be described as toys: Harleys, jacked-up SUVs, modified Camaros, sports cars with aftermarket turbochargers, and more...

Convertible Comparison

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy open top fun. And there are few automotive experiences as gratifying as a top-down cruise on a twisty road in a well-sorted roadster...

Fuel Economy Now Selling

Back in the late 1950s and 1960s, a small-car boom occurred in the U.S. Dozens of foreign makes hit the market, built in Europe and, to a lesser extent, Asia...

Top 10 Tips for Used Car Buying

Looking for a new ride? You can save a lot of money by smart-shopping the used car market. You will skirt the biggest, hidden cost in a new car—depreciation. Once that new car leaves the lot, its value immediately plummets. According to Consumer Reports, a Pontiac Vibe ‘03 or ‘04 or Scion Xb ‘04 or ’05 can be purchased for between $8,000 to $10,000. The new models of these vehicles cost $15,650 for the Xb and $15,310 for the base model Vibe. The average life of a passenger car is 20 years or 126,665 miles while light trucks have a lifespan of 25 years or 153,698 miles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. So that ’03 to ’05 model has a lot of life left...

In Search of the Perfect Pickup

The original 57 varieties of Heinz products should be very worried. Because at last count, Chevrolet and GMC were closing fast with a combined—are you ready for this?—48 varieties of pickup trucks. From an economical two-passenger Canyon or Colorado to a three-passenger 1500 series, a five-passenger 2500 series and a six-passenger 3500 turbodiesel crew-cab dually, the two GM divisions build a pickup for almost everyone. Which makes it all that much harder to choose just one. We decided to try anyway, putting two “midlevel” trucks, the Silverado 2500 HD and Sierra Denali 1500, to test...

Top 10 Future American Collector Cars

It's human nature. You're in front of the TV, you flip past a car auction, and your jaw drops. The prices that some collector cars are bringing at places like Barrett-Jackson are mind blowing. A classic example is the Plymouth Road Runner Superbird. Here is a car so monumentally homely and impractical on the street that dealers were still trying to sell 1970 leftovers well into 1971. But, the droop snoot and tall tail were about function, not fashion. Race versions of the winged Mopars were so fast that NASCAR promptly outlawed them from the circuit. Couple that racing pedigree with the off-the-charts sums being paid for any original, Hemi or 440 engine cars these days, and in Superbird (and its sibling the Dodge Daytona), you've got rolling money machines. Want one? At a big-time auction, be prepared to spend more than you did for your first house, and maybe your second...

2008 New York Auto Show

As the last American auto show of the season, New York's annual event occupies a unique role in the industry. Nearly all the vehicles that have emerged at prior shows appear in New York, along with a selection of new and redesigned models that have not been seen before—or appeared only at shows outside North America...

2008 Full-Size Truck Comparison

Perhaps more than any other vehicle category, pickup trucks attract loyal audiences. Full-size pickups, in particular, tend to be bought by shoppers, mostly men, who have owned the same make and model before. Until the past few years, nearly all of those big-pickup sales have gone to domestic models: the long-lived and top-selling Ford F-150, the Dodge Ram, and Chevrolet Silverado (or its GMC Sierra counterpart)...

2008 Chicago Auto Show

In 1901, Chicago saw its first official auto show. Except for the period during and after World War II, an auto show took place each year in the Windy City...

2008 Detroit Auto Show Highlights

Packs of avid journalists crowded the aisles of Detroit's Cobo Hall for two full days in mid-January, to gaze and hear about the latest vehicle models. Performance once again captured plenty of attention, led by the new Corvette ZR1 with its 620-horsepower V-8 engine...

2008 Premium Crossover Comparison

Even though they're sometimes considered SUVs, the smallest utility models from Acura, BMW, and Land Rover qualify as crossover vehicles. Their structures more closely resemble those of passenger cars rather than trucks. Despite relatively tall profiles and higher ground clearances than sedans or station wagons, these premium-level crossovers promise driving characteristics and ride quality that emulate passenger cars. Fuel economy, though not exactly frugal, scores noticeably better than truck-type SUVs...

Do-It-Yourself Test Drive

Car writers have it easy. When they want to do a comparison test, they phone the car manufacturers and—POOF—a quarter million dollars worth of vehicles magically shows up. You may not realize it, but you have almost as much clout...

2004-2005 Midsize SUV Comparison

Deciding which new vehicle to buy is seldom easy. After researching the likely prospects and narrowing down the choices to a handful of models, picking out one of them can be the toughest task of all...

2006 California Auto Show

In its goal to establish itself as a major force among auto shows, the 2006 California International Auto Show ironically relied on introductions from the domestic "Big 3" as the major anchors to its five-day event. The fact that virtually all Asian imports were essentially silent, save for relatively large exhibits, was underscored by the fact that the domestic manufacturers' combined market share in Southern California has continued to drop, making it imperative they make a big play wherever they can...

2006 Chicago Auto Show

CHICAGO—Evidence of any trend toward smaller, less fuel-thirsty cars was hard to find at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show, held February 10-19. Nearly all of the new and redesigned models were bigger and/or more powerful. Except for GM and Ford, which promoted flex-fuel (ethanol/gasoline) vehicles, fuel-efficiency sat on the back burner...

2006 New-Model News

With gasoline prices rising rapidly and fuel shortages possible, logic would suggest that economy cars might rule the 2006 model lineup. Instead, though, the new and redesigned models run the full gamut, ranging from a gargantuan Dodge pickup down to redesigned minicars from South Korean automakers...

2006 North American International Auto Show

We love these big international auto shows. We really do. But one frustrating thing about them—especially this January's Motor City soirée of sculpted metal and glass—is that the newest and juiciest goodies are always just out of reach. They're up there on revolving platforms, rotating tantalizingly so that every nuance of color and surface taunts and tempts in the most flattering of light. But can we settle into their soft leather seats, turn a key, feel an engine come to life, engage a gear, press a pedal, turn a wheel?..

2007 Crossover Guide

Since the Toyota RAV4 popularized the car-based SUV concept in the mid-1990s, crossover vehicles have grown exponentially, both in total sales and models. Unlike many fads, the spiking crossover popularity has its roots in common sense. Americans have voted with their wallets for years, with a large percentage wanting a commanding view of the road, all-weather traction, light-duty tow capability, flexible interior space, and tough-looking styling. Recent interest has been furthered by escalated fuel prices encouraging consumers to right-size their daily drivers. While some manufacturers had timidly approached this emerging market segment in the past, nearly all automakers are shifting their focus on crossovers in 2007 and beyond. Translation: this trend is still gaining momentum...

2007 Detroit Auto Show

The first show of the New Year always begins with the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), otherwise known as the Detroit Auto Show, the biggest and oldest auto show in the United States. This year the Motor City celebrates its 100th anniversary and will unveil over 45 new models to the press and public...

2007 Minivan Marketplace

They're practical, sensible, versatile—and generally economical to drive. Why, then, do many folks still scoff at minivans and their owners? Should you ignore the "image police" and go for a minivan, despite anyone's taunts?..

2007 New Model Preview

As the 2007 model year rolls out though, the roster of new and redesigned vehicles contains quite a few large vehicles, some of which are selling well. "Crossover" models continue to attract attention, even though many Americans aren't yet willing to slim down their vehicle demands. Performance reaches new heights, too, as engines grow larger and more powerful, with some promising improved gas mileage and lower emissions...

2008 Compact Crossover Comparison

Crossover vehicles, especially those that are compact in size, have become hot items lately—yet not everyone agrees on the definition. Crossovers are car-based, rather than built on a truck-type platform. Though squarish in profile and higher off the ground than a regular passenger car, crossovers display driving characteristics—especially ride comfort and handling qualities—that mimic those of a compact sedan. Fuel economy beats that of conventional sport-utility vehicles. Still, many of these vehicles are considered crossovers in some quarters, but dubbed compact SUVs by others...

2008 New Models: Early View

Not long after each New Year begins, automakers start trotting out a few new models for the coming season. Officially, a 2008 model could be placed on sale as early as January 2007. Not many arrive at dealerships quite that early. But as spring rolls toward summer, the early trickle of new and redesigned models—plus a few that haven't changed all that much—turns into a steadily flowing stream...

2WD Vs. 4WD

If the world of off-roading calls-out to you, and you're ruing the limitations of your two-wheel-drive light truck, then read on. While 4x4s are the kings of rock crawling, mud bogging and all other sorts of non-paved adventures, you don't have to scrap your reliable 4x2 in order to join in the fun. By simply adding a few upgrades, you and your 2WD may be able to respond to that call of the wild...

5 Top Convertibles to Consider

Times are good for convertible buyers. The market offers everything from the small and sporty to the large and luxurious. The possibilities are many and the fun is in the deciding, but for those who want a head start, here's a cross section of choices to consider...

A New Way to New-Car Shop

Mazda is rolling out a "Retail Revolution," which John Mendel, Executive Vice President and COO of Mazda North America characterizes as "all about falling in love with cars." The auto industry, in the past, Mendel points out, has used the showroom to control the customer. "The deal has gotten in the way of falling in love with the vehicle," he said...

Automobile Insurance Fraud

As gas prices continue to soar, the economy barely gets rolling, and all of those great deals we saw over the past few years for buying new cars begin to dwindle, Americans are calculating and refinancing, budgeting and saving wherever and whenever possible. And yet, there are some costs that just can't be avoided: rents or mortgages, health care, gasoline—and car insurance. It seems there is little to nothing the average consumer can do, beyond some basic comparison-shopping, to substantially reduce the cost of their car insurance...

Automotive Anomalies

Sport Activity Vehicle. SportCross. Five-door hatchback. Crossover. Sportwagon. Sportback. Outback. What happened to the "good old station wagon—" Gone the way of the dinosaur, my friend. Gone the way of Vanilla Ice. Out of favor, out of touch...

Automotive Exclusivity

Tired of seeing near-duplicates of your automobile cruising down the road at every turn? There's a solution to that dilemma—provided you're willing to pay for the privilege. More than a dozen automakers turn out vehicles in such small numbers that the chance of your encountering another one on a given trip is about as likely as winning the lottery...

Budget Trucks: Value and Versatility

More buyers are turning to trucks as they search for versatile vehicles that can handle the daily commute on the highway as well as the extracurricular activities of the weekend. In recent years, however, the face and tone of trucks has moved decidedly upscale, taking on family-sedan features and luxury-car characteristics. The result of this evolution is a swell in pickup truck sales, as well as pricing. But don't let that discourage you—there are still plenty of pickup truck choices in the "under $20,000" price category...

Car Lease - Does it make sense?

Not so long ago, leasing was the hot item in the automotive marketplace. Commercials touted lease deals that sounded impossible to refuse. Who could resist, say, a Mazda Miata roadster for $99 a month?..

Car Ownership - Weighing the Cost?

As the world's leading culture of consumers, perhaps our preoccupation with sale price is perfectly understandable. But when it comes to cars, the bottom line really isn't the end of the story. Unlike vacations, TVs, cell phones and other consumer goods, cars are almost never single-owner, maintenance-free devices. Financially speaking, cars are more like a piece of property. The real measure of automotive value is the use you get out of the vehicle while you own it vs. the true total cost to you. Typically, cars, trucks and SUVs are financed, maintained, insured, fueled and eventually sold or traded in. With so many variables, it's definitely tunnel vision to lock in on just one aspect of the total ownership process. Let's take a look at the key costs of ownership, and see if we can save you some money in the long run...

Car Window Sticker Basics

Every car shopper knows to look at the window sticker for a vehicle's price. But that's just the beginning of what the sticker can tell you. For the savvy shopper who knows what to look for, the window sticker contains a wealth of information that, at a glance, can give you a quick profile of the entire car...

Certification Eases Used Car Buying

The number of certified "pre-owned" vehicles continues to grow as a market force, tempting shoppers who worry about potential problems with their used-car purchase. Used cars are a gamble. Certification programs, operated by automakers and their dealers, can provide a welcome—if somewhat costly—"safety net" to reduce that risk...

Convertible Style

Top-down driving used to be the ultimate form of motoring pleasure. Teens looking for their first car gazed longingly at convertibles, hoping Mom and Dad wouldn't guide them toward a mild-mannered sedan instead...

Do Not Be a Payment Shopper

Anyone who has sold cars for a living will tell you that most buyers are payment shoppers. More than comparing vehicles, or looking for the best vehicle for their particular needs, they shop monthly payments, which is one of the absolute worst ways to buy a car...

Drivetrains Explained

Just about every vehicular drive system imaginable is currently in production—each touted by its manufacturer as the obviously superior choice for you. With conflicting claims and confusing terminology, it's hard to know what's what, and what's best for you. The optimum drive-system choice for a given vehicle depends on many factors. If you're realistic about the type of driving you do, you can narrow down the possibilities—and probably save a lot of money in the process...

Driving for Sales

Selling cars, trucks, SUVs, just about everything, has taken a different approach these days. Very different...

Extended Warranties

Buying a new car involves making several decisions, some of which can be expensive. But just when you think you've picked the right make, model, color, and options and researched pricing, a prominent decision still remains: whether to buy an extended warranty or not. (Chrysler helped make the decision for its customers, unveiling a new 7-Year/70,000-Mile Limited Powertrain Warranty to motivate buyers to its dealerships.)..

Horsepower - How much do you need?

Ask an enthusiast about preferences in a new vehicle, and the answer is likely to be two words: "more power." Like the power-crazed character played by Tim Allen on the old "Home Improvement" TV show, they're seldom satisfied...

How to Buy Car Insurance

They make it sound so easy, with advice just a phone call away—or available with a quick visit to a storefront agent. Even so, insurance shopping can seem like wandering into a maze. Why? Because unlike prices for other commodities, auto insurance rates aren't clearly stated. There's no simple price list...

How to Speak Car Specs

There's practically no way to avoid 'em—statistics, dimensions, measures and techno-hype. Carmakers and car reviewers bombard the hapless car shopper with highly technical information. In the case of road tests and reviews by reputable sources, it can be useful and enlightening. As spouted by amped-up marketing machines, it can be nothing more than pure artifice...

Hurricanes, Floods and Used-Car Sales

After every flood disaster, media and consumer groups start waving the fraud red flag. Beware, they caution, of con men that slap a quick cosmetic job on a moldy vehicle totaled and sold for scrap in the aftermath. Every time, some unsuspecting consumers drive a vehicle home that will begin to mold, mildew and revert to the disaster it was before the cosmetic job. This time around, though, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is calling for legislation to develop a national database that would, at the click of a mouse, provide vehicle history and title information anywhere in the 50 states...

Looking into 2005

Now that the annual auto-show season has ended, it's time to consider what the 2005 model year will bring. New products span such a wide range of sizes, classes, and body styles that trends are elusive...

New Car Research

The car-buying decision is a multifaceted process, which requires consideration of a lot of separate pieces of information. The best way to make sure that you buy the right car at the right price is to do your homework. Fortunately, in this age of electronic information, getting the facts is now easier than ever...

Odometer Fraud

"The car belonged to a little old lady, and she hardly drove it"—music to the ears of a used car buyer. But, before snapping up the little old lady's vintage Ford Mustang, make sure there isn't a wolf behind the wheel. Worn, high-mileage clunkers can morph into low-mileage sweet deals with a little fraudulent finesse of the odometer...

Paris Motor Show 2006

It's 8:00 a.m. when the gates open at the Parc des Expositions in Paris's south end. Thousands of frenzied journalists all enter the massive convention center as it plays host to the Mondial de L'Automobile, toting cameras, briefcases and notepads. Every other year the automotive manufacturers converge into the City of Romance for one of the largest European motor shows, providing an opportunity to showcase their latest concepts and unveil the newest models. There were close to 70 new models unveiled in Paris this year, including 13 European premieres and 21 French premieres...

Rear-Wheel-Drive Revival?

DETROIT—DaimlerChrysler is leading the way toward what could become a revival of rear-drive family cars. After a decade and a half of offering nothing but front-drive passenger cars, including a trio of full-size sedans, the 2005 model year brings a pair of rear-drive full-size automobiles. On sale this spring, the 2005 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum can even have V-8 power—a sharp contrast to the V-6 engines that powered their predecessors...

Residual Values

Whether you're seeking a new automobile or a secondhand model, awareness of residual values is crucial for selecting the best prospects. Used mainly by the leasing industry, residual values are predictors of what a new car or truck will be worth, compared to its initial price, when it's two, three, or four years old. Resale value, in contrast, specifies what the vehicle actually will sell for, once it's reached the used car marketplace...

Selecting the Right Tow Vehicle

Tow vehicles and trailers are like marriages—if they're not well-matched you can expect trouble. What constitutes a good match between your rig and what you're towing? Proper weight is a primary factor...

Smart Car

What's small and cute, unique and economical? Hint: It's as much fun to look at as to drive. Naturally, it's the European-built Smart car...

Stars on Cars to Spotlight Safety

Safety sells cars—and when an automaker achieves a five stars rating on the government crash test, that achievement is spotlighted in their advertising. But what about the cars that don't have high ratings? Where does the consumer, especially the internet-challenged consumer, find that information? Sen. Mike DeWine wants that safety information to be on the window sticker of every new vehicle. To make that happen he attached an amendment to the massive highway bill that recently passed both the House and Senate. The catchy title for the bill is "Stars on Cars," but the senator is serious about putting safety information in the face of every new car buyer...

State of the Auto Industry Today

DETROIT—For decades, it's been called the "Motor City." Detroit also has been a troubled city. Not that it matters directly to Michigan's automakers, because most of their factories lie in surrounding towns. Still, Detroit's decline is a resounding sign of the distress among domestic automakers...

Subcompact Comparo: Aveo, Fit, Yaris, SX4

The specter of $4.00 per gallon gasoline is enough to make you consider cheaper modes of transportation. Several automakers have recognized this trend in recent years and responded with low-cost economy car offerings...

Top 10 at the L.A. Auto Show 2006

While still small in comparison to such automotive juggernauts as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the L.A. Auto show in Los Angeles seems to have hit a quick step of its own in 2006. Although known as the "City of Angels," any angels visiting this city, sort of by the sea, would likely have two or three cars, and perhaps an SUV, instead of the usual wings. The automobile is literally an integral part of the landscape here, and the city has long been at the forefront of emerging automotive trends. To that end, the annual L.A. Auto Show changed its dates for 2006. While the show typically occurs after the NAIAS, as of this year, it took place before the show in Detroit, in order to ramp up its efforts to become the season opener of automobile shows. Everything from hydrogen-powered sedans to concept crossovers inspired by backpacks was on display for the motor going public...

Top 10 Cars Under $16,000 - 2005

If you're in the market for a new car but either can't or don't want to spend a lot of money, you still have several choices. Automotive manufacturers have a slew of vehicles available in 2005 in the sub-$16,000 range, and they are more reliable and safe than ever...

Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles for 2007

We got our first wakeup call back in the 1970s with the oil embargo, long lines at the gas pumps and prices that rose to a level that seemed atrocious then. The Greens have been pushing for more efficient use of natural resources forever, but since 9/11 they've been joined by those who see every dime we spend at the gas station as a threat to national security and self-sufficiency...

Tricks to Buying a Used Car, Part 1

Everyone has something they hate, and for some it's buying a car. Me, I enjoy it, because I get to have something new to learn, take apart and break. I'm a gearhead, though, so forgive me those idiosyncrasies and instead take from me the experience. I'm going to tell you about buying a used car. As someone who has bought and sold a few (at least two dozen in the past 15 years), I've probably figured out a few things that can help you buy one yourself. An introduction, then, to what went through my mind as I shopped. (Author's note: Writing to you in the first person isn't something I like. It's elitist and arrogant in a way that doesn't jive with real journalism. Arrogance can be fun, but not when it's the one-sided, manufactured omnipotence some writers adopt to preach to readers they know can't respond. It's easy to be the smartest guy in the room when you're alone in the basement.)..

Tricks to Buying a Used Car, Part 2

It would prove harder to find a CR-V than a Rav4. Hondas, with their high resale values, usually cost more than matching Toyotas. I'd have to look harder. I wound up on San Diego's Craig's List for a sump of first-generation CR-Vs and Rav4s. Front-wheel drives and all-wheel drive, stick and slushbox, clean and beaten like an 18p nail...

What is a Crossover?

Crossover vehicles have been available in the United States for the past decade or so, gaining market traction with all-wheel drive tenacity with year after year. Only recently, however, has the word "crossover" become part of the American lexicon. As the term implies, crossover vehicles are intended to satisfy a market segment nexus that sees consumers transitioning from sedans, wagons, SUVs, and even minivans, toward vehicles that offer balances of versatility, ride height, comfort, and often traction. Fuel economy concerns have further driven sales recently, with shoppers willing to sacrifice seldom-used truck-toughness from traditional SUVs, to purchase more car-like vehicles with similar packaging...

Why Buy a Convertible?

1. They're Not Just Convertibles Anymore..

Women, Driving, and Cars

The editor's assignment was "what influence have women had on automotive design and performance?" Being a woman, that sounded pretty cool—I think. Certainly I'm not the only female who relishes that seat-of-the-pants feel of unleashing torque on a freeway on-ramp, or of flexing through twisting turns on country lanes. Well, I didn't exactly find my speed-thirsty tribe; instead, the research turned up a picture of women's influence on a male-dominated industry as complex as women themselves...

World Car of the Year Winners

The jury has voted; the results are in: The Lexus LS 460 was named 2007 World Car of the Year by a 44-member jury of top automotive journalists from 22 countries at an April 5, 2007 press conference at the New York International Auto Show. At the same time, the Audi RS 4 was honored as World Performance Car of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec diesel sedan as World Green Car of the Year and the Audi TT as World Car Design of the Year...

XM vs. Sirius

A new battle has emerged among companies trying to gain a foothold for consumer entertainment dollars. It smacks of the old VCR wars where two formats, VHS and Betamax, fought for the placement of the ultimate content provider. Betamax lost and went the way of the dinosaur. This time the two hardware systems, again each totally incompatible with the other, stream signals featuring a multiplicity of programming—music, talk, sports, traffic and weather to your car or home—and are known as satellite radio under the names XM and Sirius. And, to borrow a reference from the latter, both are serious indeed...