AutoWeek articles from January 2006

AutoWeek archives from January 2006

Correction.(Correction Notice)
January 2, 2006... A Dec. 19 item should have said the Mazda CX-7 is built on its own Mazda-developed chassis and shares no components with Ford Edge and Lincoln Aviator CUVs.

ALONSO SIGNS WITH MCLAREN.(Competition)
January 2, 2006... The 2005 Formula One world champion, Fernando Alonso, announced he will leave Renault and switch to McLaren in 2007. The deal came days after McLaren announced a new sponsorship deal with mobile telephone network supplier Vodafone for 2007. ...

CLICK AUTOWEEK.COM- WIN A FERRARI FANTASY.(News)
January 2, 2006... One lucky visitor to autoweek.com between now and Jan. 12, 2006, will win a trip for two to Ferrari headquarters in Italy, compliments of Ferrari. Go to our website and click on the Ferrari New Concepts of the Myth logo for all the details.

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
January 2, 2006... License to uglify I question how a Solstice will look outfitted with a front license plate as required by some states, including mine. If the plate is centered below the twin honeycomb grilles, it will kill this car's looks. And the plate...

AW goings-on.(News)
January 2, 2006... * Online: Check out the new, improved autoweek.com * On the town: AutoWeek editors hit the Los Angeles and Detroit auto shows * On deck: Detroit surprises

Market.(Kensington Motor Group's market research)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2006... Byline: KEITH MARTIN Kensington Motor Group Uncasville, Conn. Nov. 5, 2005 1958 Austin-Healey 100/6 Florida green and ivory, with beige vinyl top, beige and green leather interior. Fair panel fit, good older paint with...

Not Just the People's Champion.
January 2, 2006... Byline: Richard S. Chang If you're a sucker for a good underdog story like I am, then it doesn't get any better than Matt Neal winning the 2005 British Touring Car Championship. A decade earlier Neal was more comic relief than...

Flash.(Briefs)
January 2, 2006... Mitsu out of WRC Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's on-again off-again World Rally Championship program is... off again. The company announced it will suspend participation in the WRC for at least two years. MMC hopes to return in 2008. ...

IRONMAN; After 788 straight NASCAR starts, Ricky Rudd calls it a career-sort of.
January 2, 2006... Byline: AL PEARCE Ricky Rudd needed only three minutes to get out of his car, change clothes and become a civilian after NASCAR's recent season finale at Homestead. The 49-year-old Virginian ended his career-this portion of it,...

IS THERE AN ECHO IN HERE? Toyota unveils its latest economy car.(News)
January 2, 2006... Byline: MAC MORRISON Toyota's Echo econocan never lived up to expectations. Toyota hoped it would help crack the American youth market, to the tune of 50,000 per year, but Echo came close to that number only once. Worse, it wasn't Gen Y...

Events.(Calendar)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
January 2, 2006... Feb. 22-26 Cincinnati Auto Expo Cincinnati Visit hartproductions.com or call (877) 281-0022 for more show information. Feb. 23-26 Kruse Atlantic City Auction Atlantic City, N.J. Event features nearly 600 cars...

Flash.(Briefs)
January 2, 2006... More Power The much-anticipated, high-performance variant of the Pontiac Solstice roadster will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show, packing turbo power as we predicted six months ago (News, July 11, 2005). A 2.0-liter, turbocharged...

MERCEDES MUSCLES IN.(News)
January 2, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE Mercedes-Benz will flex its considerable muscle at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit when it unveils a rapid new S65 AMG. Due to reach North American showrooms in July, the luxury performance...

AutoWeek Download: Barry Newman.(Interview)
January 2, 2006... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER In the 1971 counterculture cult film Vanishing Point, actor Barry Newman played Kowalski, sharing top billing with a 1970 Dodge Challenger. With a new Challenger in the offing (Cover Story, page 14), Newman shared...

ICONIC TRUCK REBORN; Toyota ready to roll out its retro cruiser.(News)
January 2, 2006... Byline: NATALIE NEFF By the looks of it, the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser could pass for a 72:1 scale Matchbox toy. But don't be fooled: Toyota calls the cartoon-looking creation the real deal and insists the funky throwback is "the most capable...

HOW TO BUY A CAR AT AUCTION.(Special Report)
January 2, 2006... Byline: BILL McGUIRE Who says men hate shopping? Guys love to shop, it just depends on what we are buying. Just cruise past Cabela's or the local pro shop: full of guys, all shopping. Or check out the action at the ultimate shopping...

GIVE 'EM AN INCH; With Challenger and Imperial concepts, Chrysler shows versatility of rear-drive 300C chassis.(News)
January 2, 2006... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER Get out your ruler and mark off seven inches. Technically, that's the total distance, measured in wheelbase, separating the beefy muscle car image of the Dodge Challenger concept from the highbrow extravagance of...

CAYENNE MAN.(News)
January 2, 2006... Whether you love or hate the sports car of sport/utility vehicles, it's hard to argue with the impact the Porsche Cayenne has had on the automotive landscape. The designer behind Porsche's controversial move into SUVs is British native...

TV: Jan. 6-8.(News)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
January 2, 2006... Friday, Jan. 6 NOPI Tunervision, 1:30 a.m., Speed Australian V8 Supercars from Australia, 3 a.m., Speed Australian V8 Supercars from Australia, 4 a.m., Speed Legends of Motorsport: Spitfires at Le Mans, 7 a.m., Speed Car...

GOT AN URGE?(News)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2006... Riding a wave of strong vehicle introductions, Nissan unveils at Detroit a semi-frivolous three-seater dubbed Urge. This bare-bones car has a "motorcycle-inspired'' design and scissors-style doors with cutaway panels. It remains to be seen...

Sealed Deals.
January 2, 2006... Byline: Kevin A. Wilson Four old nonfunctional televisions are stacked in a corner of my basement. They were hidden under Christmas decorations and revealed when we took those upstairs. Yeah, and what has that to do with cars? Only this:...

AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS.(Special Report)
January 2, 2006... Byline: Larry Edsall Barrett-Jackson If you're wondering how big the giant auction can grow, consider this year's sale-the 35th anniversary event-will be conducted under what Barrett-Jackson proclaims to be merely the "world's largest...

Arizona Auction Action.(Special Report)
January 2, 2006... Jan. 14-22 Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. 35th Annual Classic Car Auction WestWorld of Scottsdale barrett-jackson.com Jan. 19-22 Russo and Steele Sixth Annual Scottsdale Collector Automobile Auction Scottsdale...

What else to do in the Valley of the Sun.
January 2, 2006... See Roger's racers Eighteen of Roger Penske's race cars-including 11 Indy 500 winners, the Penske F1 car and some stock cars-are at the Penske Racing Museum (left) in the United Auto Group's North Scottsdale complex, an 11-franchise...

Recommended without Reservation; Though you might need one.
January 2, 2006... Vincent's on Camelback French cuisine meets Southwestern spice under the hand of Vincent Guerithault, voted best chef in the Valley by readers of Phoenix Magazine. Located near the Biltmore and RM Auction, the atmosphere at Vincent's is...

COLLECTORS FRENZY IN ARIZONA; What To Know Before You Go.
January 2, 2006... Byline: LARRY EDSALL Visit the Phoenix area and Scottsdale in any January and you'll soon find yourself wondering: Is the collector car hobby approaching critical mass? Is it even still a hobby? As evidenced by a plethora of cable...

You Think You Know It All?
January 2, 2006... Byline: DONALD DAVIDSON It's time for you to once again prove how much you really know about racing by answering the following questions correctly. Get 'em right and you'll win our respect and admiration... but if you correctly identify...

The Racing Volkswagen.(Escape Roads)
January 2, 2006... Byline: JAN TEGLER Scirocco may not be a name that springs to mind when reviewing the annals of racing history. But racing is exactly what was on Volkswagen's mind in 1977 when it promoted its sports coupe as "The Racing Volkswagen.'' ...

VOLVO FLAGSHIP SPIED!(News)
January 2, 2006... Images of the all-new Volvo S80 luxury liner were captured on location in South Africa as it was prepped for a commercial. This elegantly styled S80, which carries the flowing rear lines of its S60 sister, has front- and all-wheel-drive...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)
January 2, 2006... From everyone at AutoWeek, have a wonderful holiday season and a safe, Happy New Year. As you do so, enjoy these holiday cards we received from our friends in the car community. CAPTION(S): From Lacks Enterprises Advanced Technology...

Fast Poll.(News)(Letter to the Editor)
January 2, 2006... Readers don't dispute the Lotus Exige's on-track prowess, but some find the car's pocket-rocket dimensions a cause for concern. The Exige has the right power-to-weight ratio, Toyota engine reliability and the right price, but it is...

Drivers Log.
January 2, 2006... 2006 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Date in fleet: Sept. 28-Oct. 11 As-tested price: $28,355 Powertrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4; fwd, six-speed manual Output: 200 hp @ 5500-6000 rpm, 207 lb-ft @ 1800-4700 rpm Curb weight: 3308 lbs Fuel economy...

READING.(Revs)
January 2, 2006... Reading If Santa failed to fill your stocking with anything good to read this Christmas, let us suggest a few titles to snuggle up with to help take the chill out of winter. Wanderlust: Airstream at 75, by Russ Banham, hardbound, 192 pages,...

ASK, AND YE' SHALL RECEIVE.(Competition)
January 9, 2006... Byline: RUSS BRANDENBURG, AS TOLD TO DONALD DAVIDSON One of the first Americans to work for Team Lotus at Indianapolis recalls how it all came about Indianapolis 500 historian Donald Davidson has more than an encyclopedia's worth of...

REPRISING BEAUTY; Lamborghini Miura design concept marks original's 40th anniversary.
January 9, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS Experts agree: The best thing ever produced by Automobili Lamborghini in both styling and image-if not on the road-was the Miura between May 1966 and December 1972. For those counting, the Miura's 40th anniversary...

TAHOE TEETERS ON TOP; NEW SUV SHOWS THE GENERAL MAY YET REMAIN THE KING OF THE FULL-SIZE SUV MOUNTAIN.(News)
January 9, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Among the many attributes that Chevy listed for its 2007 Tahoe full-size SUV was "Tasteful Styling.'' As if that might not have been important before. What were previous Tahoes? Tacky? Tartars? Tasteless? With its...

TV: Jan. 13-15.(Calendar)
January 9, 2006... Friday, Jan. 13 Australian V8 Supercars from Australia, 3 a.m., Speed Car Crazy, 8:30 a.m., Speed NBS 24/7, 9 a.m., Speed NASCAR Beyond the Wheel, 9:30 a.m., Speed American Chopper, 10 a.m., Discovery Dakar Rally, 4...

THE TAO OF STEVE; McQueen exhibit is as cool as its honoree.(Revs)
January 9, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN In the movie, The Tao of Steve, the idea is that guys named Steve impart a confidence so supreme that you can't resist it, citing such famous Steves as McQueen, McGarrett (from TV's Hawaii Five-O) and Austin (The Six...

Market.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... Byline: KEITH MARTIN Kensington Motor Group Uncasville, Conn. Nov. 5, 2005 1986 Jaguar XJS British Racing Green with beige leather. 10,669 miles, claimed original. V12 with automatic. Very good original paint, with some...

Events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
January 9, 2006... March 4-5 FFW Spring Break Shootout Orlando, Fla. For details on this all-Ford racing event, log onto funfordevents.com or call (225) 664-0996. March 5 Pomona Swap Meet & Car Show Pomona, Calif. Call (714)...

SUPERIOR ATTITUDE; And why not?
January 9, 2006... Byline: WES RAYNAL Our favorite long-term test car, the Basalt Black Porsche 911 that arrived in May, screamed through the second quarter with little drama. Here's the bad news: The clutch pedal squeaks intermittently, and the fan...

AutoWeek Design Forum.(News)
January 9, 2006... Iconic design Jan. 11, Detroit Speakers include Giorgetto Giugiaro, Italdesign Peter Horbury, Ford Stephen Murkett, Porsche Joel Piaskowski, Hyundai Dicky Riegel, Thor Industries Bob Wheeler, Airstream...

CLICK AUTOWEEK.COM-WIN A FERRARI FANTASY.(News)
January 9, 2006... One lucky visitor to autoweek.com between now and Jan. 12 will win a trip for two to Ferrari headquarters in Italy, compliments of Ferrari. Go to our website and click on the Ferrari New Concepts of the Myth logo for all the details.

THE AVALON OF HYUNDAIS; New entry in the near-luxury market costs less and offers just as much.(News)
January 9, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Watch out, Toyota, Hyundai has built a better Buick than even you. And watch out Buick, too, while we're at it. While the enveloping Avalon wheels out of showroom doors somewhere between $27,000 to more than...

EXCLUSIVE REVEAL: Aston Martin Rapide; New four-door flagship wags a (middle) finger at Porsche Panamera.(News)
January 9, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE By now, you may start to hear the first murmurs of the stunning Aston Martin Rapide concept, a svelte sedan destined to join a strong lineup of three contemporary Aston coupes. Set to make its world premiere at the...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
January 9, 2006... A 24-hour race is no sweat The ACO will require air conditioned cockpits (Competition, Dec. 19) running at 75 degrees during races? Tres French! How about: cool-suit, hydration, ventilation, training? What about drivers who can tolerate...

AN EVENING WITH MR. 500; Andy Granatelli tells all at the Petersen.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Even people who don't know much about racing seem to know Andy Granatelli, and people who do know about racing worship the man. So for the latter group, the evening of Nov. 10, 2005, at the Petersen Automotive Museum's...

SPICIER CAYENNE SIZZLES; The world's fastest SUV has gotten faster-and much more powerful, too!(News)
January 9, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE Under pressure from Mercedes-Benz's 6.3-liter 510-hp V8-powered ML63 AMG revealed at last September's Frankfurt motor show, Porsche unleashed a new range-topping Cayenne Turbo S version the company claims out-accelerates...

Going Green; Saturn debuts GM's newest hybrid.(News)
January 9, 2006... Byline: LARRY EDSALL Red Light/Green Light might be a children's game, but Red Line/Green Line is an automotive product and marketing strategy that GM's Saturn division hopes will become serious automotive business. Red Line is the...

TOP OF THE LINE; Volkswagen's GTI trumps GLI and Audi A3 as the enthusiast's choice.(News)
January 9, 2006... Byline: MAC MORRISON Volkswagen's two-door 2006 GTI finally arrives here in February, and the first taste of U.S.-spec cars confirms the hot hatch is the top driver's weapon in VW Group's turbo-powered, small-car lineup. Why the long...

LOADED FOR BEAR; Audi isn't the first to try a diesel on the racetrack.(Competition)
January 9, 2006... Byline: DONALD DAVIDSON Audi's plan to field a diesel-powered car in this year's Le Mans 24 Hour is causing word to spread that this will be the world's first diesel-powered race car. Not exactly. Besides the diesels that race...

Teutonic Charm.(Escape Roads)
January 9, 2006... Byline: JAN TEGLER A measure of the esteem in which American cars were once held is the degree to which Detroit's designs were copied. The debut of the Chevrolet Corvair in 1960 caused quite the stir among European carmakers, particularly...

Circles in the Sand.(Column)
January 9, 2006... Byline: Rich Ceppos It's not often that you can reach back through the decades to make contact with someone who changed the course of your life, though neither of you knew it at the time. Bruce Meyers and I never met, but his life...

The Alpha A3; Audi intros a 3.2 V6 in the A3 Sportback quattro.(News)
January 9, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS It is appropriate to be piloting this Audi A3 Sportback S-line quattro fitted with a 3.2-liter, 250-hp VR6, six-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission and optional Toucan yellow paint along these sunny, autumn roads. It's...

NUMBERS GAME.(Competition)
January 9, 2006... There will be 22 cars on the Grand Prix grid in 2006. The new Super Aguri team will enter Formula One after all, having secured the unanimous agreement of the existing 10 teams. Honda-backed Super Aguri failed to lodge its $48 million bond with...

Flash.(Briefs)
January 9, 2006... Williams signs Wurz Austrian driver Alexander Wurz inked a deal to become the Williams F1 team's test and reserve driver. Wurz, 31, has been a McLaren tester for the last five seasons. He also drove for Benetton from 1997 to 2000. Details...

Flash.(Briefs)
January 9, 2006... Corvette delays In a memo to dealers, General Motors says it has "experienced significant disruption'' in its wheel supply for Corvette, possibly delaying production of certain models. The wheel supply situation has caused the company to...

LAMBO'S ORIGINAL MIURA: A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.(News)
January 9, 2006... Byline: Pete Lyons They mean to reprise the Miura? One tall order. The Slinky Siren of Sant'Agata: Even after 40 years, her mark on us is indelible. We'd seen nothing like her. Not even on racetracks. Was she a racer? No, but her...

Drivers Log.(News)
January 9, 2006... 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe Date in fleet: Dec. 14-21 As-tested price: $101,095 Powertrain: 3.8-liter H6; awd, six-speed manual Output: 355 hp @ 6600 rpm, 295 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm Curb weight: 3252 lbs Fuel Mileage (EPA combined/AW...

Driver Training, Continued.(Column)
January 9, 2006... Byline: Steve Thompson Previously, I asked AutoWeek readers for their ideas about how to improve driver training. I've included some highlights from the responses in earlier columns, but more than a few readers challenged me to put my own...

PROMESSE GRAND; Pontiac's GXP shows potential.(Auto File)
January 9, 2006... Few cars passing through our test fleet have produced as much mixed reaction as the Pontiac Grand Prix GXP. On the one hand, most of us generally look forward to playing with the amount of power put out by an engine like the GXP's meaty...

Moving ahead.(Competition)
January 9, 2006... A while back Katherine Legge was lurking around Cosworth Racing headquarters in England hoping to get an audience with Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven ("A Lot To Learn,'' Aug. 22, 2005). Now, after convincing Kalkhoven of her potential and...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)
January 9, 2006... Society Notes The Associated Press reports police stopped a van after a hit-and-run crash on Kentucky's Mountain Parkway. They found a seven-year-old boy sitting on his father's lap, steering while his "semiconscious'' dad worked the...

Web Watch; autoweek.com.(News)
January 9, 2006... We've been tinkering under the hood at autoweek.com, and we hope you will like what you see when you point your browser to our improved website. We believe we've made it easier to navigate the site to find our news, reviews, motorsports and...

Market.(Escape Roads)
January 16, 2006... Byline: KEITH MARTIN Kensington Motor Group Uncasville, Conn. Nov. 5, 2005 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS LS5 454-cid, 360-hp V8; four-speed manual. Power steering and brakes. Variable panel fit, color mismatch between hood...

TV: Jan. 20-22.(News)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2006... Friday, Jan. 20 Australian V8 Supercars from Australia, 3 a.m., Speed Australian V8 Supercars from Australia, 4 a.m., Speed Legends of Motorsport: 1962 Alpine Rally, 7 a.m., Speed Car Crazy, 8:30 a.m., Speed American...

The First Crossover.(Escape Roads)
January 16, 2006... Byline: LEIGH DORRINGTON Porsche's RSK Spyder dominated under-2.0-liter sports car racing in the late 1950s and early 1960s, taking third and fourth at Le Mans in 1958, a win at the Targa Florio in 1959 and overall victory at Sebring in...

Drivers Log.(News)
January 16, 2006... 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid Date in fleet: Dec. 15-Jan. 3 as-tested price: $33,635 Powertrain: 2.3-liter I4; 4wd, CVT Output: 133 hp @ 6000 rpm, 124 lb-ft @ 4250 rpm Curb weight: 3787 lbs Fuel Economy (EPA combined/AW observed): 31.1...

Flash.(Briefs)
January 16, 2006... German GP shake-up? Germany is likely to lose one of its two Formula One races in the near future. Circuit operators at the Hockenheimring and the Nurburgring, which are both operating at a loss, confirmed they are discussing the...

Season of Change.(Motorsports)
January 16, 2006... If you don't like endless repeats by the same old winners in racing season after season, 2005 was your year. Fernando Alonso knocked Michael Schumacher off the F1 pedestal, Tony Stewart unseated Kurt Busch in NASCAR, and Dan Wheldon took...

BITCHIN' BOW TIE; Chevy relaunches its fabled Camaro.
January 16, 2006... Byline: NATALIE NEFF Chevrolet withstood a lot of grief, suffering the slings and arrows of the Camaro faithful when it torpedoed the 35-year-old pony car in 2002. After years of keeping the Camaro afloat despite foundering sales, Chevy...

And in This Corner, a New Contender...(Column)
January 16, 2006... We love fights. Not unfair fights, but mano-a-mano slugfests. It's part of the American Way and is at the core of our founding. Sports are full of this. Take hockey, please: What reason is there other than to watch grown men pulp each...

Flash.(Briefs)
January 16, 2006... VW van a go Volkswagen will indeed offer a minivan-not a microbus-by late 2007, part of a joint development project with Chrysler, according to reports quoting VW chief Wolfgang Bernhard. A Chrysler powertrain will be used in both the...

2006 North American International Auto Show; Detroit concepts: Must-see three.(News)
January 16, 2006... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER Of the dozens of production and concept-car world premieres at the 2006 North American International Auto Show-many of which we've already revealed on these pages and at autoweek.com-we'd be remiss if we didn't draw...

WHAT'S HOT.(News)
January 16, 2006... Top 20 most web-researched vehicles of 2005 Honda Accord Honda Civic Toyota Camry Toyota Corolla Ford Mustang Toyota Highlander Nissan Altima Honda Odyssey Honda Pilot Honda CR-V Acura TL ...

Pretty Appliance; A right-brain car for left-brain buyers.(News)
January 16, 2006... Byline: NATALIE NEFF Few hold Toyota's design portfolio in high esteem. Not that Toyotas look bad: They simply look uninspired. The suits at HQ hope to change that perception with the 2007 Camry, the sixth generation of the...

HAWG HEAVEN; TWO TAKES ON A SIMPLE IDEA: A HARLEY-POWERED CAR.(News)
January 16, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN While the rumbling hot rod waits at a stoplight in Santa Monica, California, a few passersby give a smile. Nice car, they're thinking. Then they hear the engine. Hey, that ain't no small-block; that sounds like, what...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
January 16, 2006... Evaluating Dodge/Chrysler newborns The Challenger concept in your Jan. 2 cover story is fabulous and looks production-ready. On the other hand, the Chrysler Imperial concept is out of proportion. It looks like the love child of a 300C and...

Presenting Interesting, Diverse Rides; There's plenty of news and even another show this year.(News)
January 16, 2006... You have already read, in these very pages, about many of the big debuts that rolled onto show stands at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show: Toyota Yaris sedan, Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, Pontiac Solstice GXP and even the little Chevy Aveo. But...

The Ultimate Sailing Machine; BMW Dives into America's Cup.(Revs)
January 16, 2006... Byline: JAN TEGLER Here's a riddle. What is a German auto manufacturer doing helping an American sail team challenge the Swiss defender of sailboat racing's biggest prize? Two words-structural optimization. The BMW you...

LUXURY IN WARP DRIVE; Maybach 57 S is one serious, go-faster, elegant ride.(News)
January 16, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART Answering a question few have asked, Mercedes-Benz has unleashed an even more potent Maybach driver's car, the 57 S. When M-B introduced its ultraluxury brand in 2003, the company described its two offerings as one...

SWEEP! Honda snags both 2006 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards with re-energized Civic and Ridgeline.(News)
January 16, 2006... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER For the first time in the 13-year history of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards, one automaker claimed top honors in both categories. Honda's new Civic and first-ever pickup truck, Ridgeline,...

Coming soon.(Competition)
January 16, 2006... Toyota's recent withdrawal from the Indy Racing League probably signals its intent to use its technology, personnel and money to go Nextel Cup racing in 2007. The manufacturer has been a strong, free-spending presence in NASCAR's...

Cruise Missile; Audi ups the A8 ante.(News)
January 16, 2006... Byline: WES RAYNAL The Audi A8 is about to get better. Great news, since there isn't a whole lot wrong with Ingolstadt's current flagship. You evidently agree, twice voting it Best Luxury Car in AutoWeek's America's Best survey. Later this...