AutoWeek articles from January 2009

AutoWeek archives from January 2009

SPECS.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... SPECS ON SALE: Spring BASE PRICE: $19,995 DRIVETRAIN: 2.5-liter, 175-hp, 172-lb-ft I4; FWD, six-speed manual CURB WEIGHT: 3,285 lb 0-60 MPH: 9.5 sec FUEL ECONOMY: N/A

Frugally Fashionable; FORD'S READY FOR TOUGH TIMES WITH A GOOD CAR.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: MARK VAUGHN REMEMBER THE Taurus? It was a good car at the right time, and it made Ford a bunch of money until it was turned into a jelly bean and Ford started concentrating too much on trucks. Well, when the history of this...

TV Jan. 16-25.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... FRIDAY, JAN. 16 Porsche Super Cup, noon and 12:30 p.m., Speed Formula Drift Series from Monroe, Wash., 1 p.m., Speed Barrett-Jackson Auction, 2 p.m., Speed (L) SATURDAY, JAN. 17 Summer Shootout, noon, Speed ...

SPECS.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... ON SALE: February BASE PRICE: $38,775 (est) DRIVETRAIN: 3.5-liter, 275-hp, 257-lb-ft V6; FWD, six-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT: 4,340 lb 0-62 MPH: 7.4 sec (mfr) FUEL ECONOMY: 21 mpg (mfr est)

THE STRONG GET STRONGER.(NEWS)(Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. Lexus Div.)
January 12, 2009... Byline: DUTCH MANDEL If you've loved the Lexus RX for the past decade, you won't be able to keep your hands off the new one. This third-gen soft-ute does everything for which it has been celebratedproviding a stylish, nontruck experience,...

BY ANY OTHER NAME; Aptera's swoopy EV aims for sweet success- just don't call it a car.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: MARK VAUGHN THERE WE WERE, STANDING on top of the high-tech, ultraefficient, composite-body Aptera 2e electric commuter vehicle of the future, with a sledgehammer, beating the crap out of it. Bang! Not your typical new-car...

ON THE BLOCK; WILL ECONOMIC WOES CHILL THE MARKET FOR COLLECTOR CARS?(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: DAVE KINNEY THE JANUARY ARIZONA CAR auctions are seen as a test of the health of the classic-car marketplace. Amid concern that things could be different from recent years when sales records were routinely broken, 2009 is an open...

To See & Do.(NEWS)(Apache Trail)
January 12, 2009... DRIVE ARIZONA > Apache Trail Historic Road There is an abundance of scenic drives surrounding Phoenix. The most well known is the Apache Trail, located east of Phoenix. Along the 40-mile route, originally built to transport construction...

SPECS.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... ON SALE: September BASE PRICE: $50,000 (est) DRIVETRAIN: 3.0-liter, 333-hp, 325-lb-ft supercharged V6; AWD, six-speed manual transmission CURB WEIGHT: 3,640 lb 0-62 MPH: 5.1 sec (mfr) FUEL ECONOMY: 20 mpg (mfr est)

INSIDE INDY; Wilson Could Be Penske's Answer.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: CURT CAVIN Graham Rahal, 20, is one of the youngest drivers in Indy-car history and is the sport's youngest winner. But age notwithstanding, Bobby Rahal's son generally has a fair perspective, and he's right on this point: Justin...

But Wait, There's More.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... As the new year dawns, enjoy this selection of the best holiday cards we received in 2008. Happy holidays from everyone at AutoWeek. 1. Carroll Shelby 2. Ferrari 3. Tim and Becky Lombardi 4. Mazda 5. Panoz Motor Sports Group 6....

ON THE LIMIT; REALITY HITS FORMULA ONE.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: NIGEL ROEBUCK When Max Mosley addressed the Motorsport Business Forum in Monaco on Dec. 10, his tone was grave: Formula One faced a crisis, the FIA president said, and while he expected it would survive, nothing was certain. ...

MINUS TWO, PLUS PLENTY; AUDI'S NEXT-GEN S4 SEDAN ADDS MILEAGE, A BELT FOR ITS SUPERCHARGERBY J. P. VETTRAINO.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: J. P. Vettraino The all-new Audi S4 dumps one long-standing tradition for an even older one. When it reaches U.S. showrooms next fall, the 2010 S4 ("Audi S4, AW, Sept. 29, 2008) will trade the previous model's normally...

Where Do We Go from Here?NHRA FEELING THE PAIN; RUNNING IN CIRCLES.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: AL PEARCE This has been the winter of NASCAR's discontent. So far, more than 750 crewmen lost jobs as a result of the poor economy. After being in the sport for 60 years, Petty Enterprises is expected to merge with Gillett...

5 Steps to Cycle Safety.(NEWS)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... DISCOVER TODAY'S MOTORCYCLING, AN OUTREACH PROGRAM FUNDED BY SEVERAL MAJOR MOTORCYCLE MAKERS, DEFINES THE RIGHT APPROACH: 1. Take a class; get officially licensed. 2. Wear a helmet and appropriate apparel. 3. Never drink and ride....

Drivers Log.(NEWS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 12, 2009... 2008 Toyota Sequoia SR5 IN FLEET: Dec. 9-17 AS-TESTED PRICE: $47,495 DRIVETRAIN: 5.7-liter V8; 4WD, six-speed automatic OUTPUT: 381 hp @ 5,600 rpm, 401 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm CURB WEIGHT: 5,985 lb FUEL ECONOMY (EPA/AW):...

Last of the Little "Burbans; 1965 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 4WD.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: JOHN F. KATZ SINCE 1935, THE Chevrolet Suburban has defined the full-size utility wagon. But a long wheelbase, a V8 engine and four-wheel drive weren't always part of that definition. Initially, the Suburban had few...

Change Agent; IS HENRIK FISKER a living bridge between traditional car-business thought and new-age technology? He's betting on it.(NEWS)(Company overview)
January 12, 2009... Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON IN AN UNDERUSED OFFICE park about 30 miles north of where Detroit's North American International Auto Show takes place, a few dozen engineerslaptops and BlackBerry phones plinking and pinginggather around a table in...

KARMA DOGMA; Fisker's plug-in-hybrid luxury sports sedan.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... The Fisker Karma concept car wowed the North American International Auto Show in 2008, and it reappears this year in production form. Assembly of the $87,900 luxury sports sedan doesn't begin until late this year, but the car at the "09 Detroit...

AS THE TWIG IS BENT; Henrik Fisker has always been inclined toward car design.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... WHILE RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT OF his father's Saab 95 (the homely station-wagon version of the 1960s-era 93) near his home about 15 miles outside Copen-hagen, the child Henrik Fisker had a life-twisting experience. "This spaceship shot...

Champion's Legacy; Lewis Hamilton opens up about his F1 career and his idol, Ayrton Senna.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: NIGEL ROEBUCK IN MONACO ON DEC. 12, 2008, LEWIS Hamilton received the Formula One world champion's trophy, and as he examined the inscribed names of previous winners, he skipped over those of legends until he found the one that...

BETTER THAN SKIN.(NEWS)(Dainese,motorcycle gear maker)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... > When motorcycle-gear maker Dainese learned that we were doing motorcycle stories, they sent over a full set of leathers. And oh, man, were they ever better than the garage-sale stuff we'd cobbled together to wear before. If you ride a...

Market.(NEWS)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... Byline: DAVE KINNEY 1971 CHEVROLET CHEYENNE SUPER 10 PICKUP Kruse, Hershey, Pa. Oct. 9-11, 2008 V8, 350-cid; automatic transmission. Dark olive green, white inserts with green vinyl and cloth. Short bed. Recent restoration to...

WORLD DEBUTS.(NEWS)(Audi introduced its sports car)(Bentley Continental introduced new GTC Speed model )(BMW's 2009 Z4 )
January 12, 2009... Production 2010 Audi R8 V10 You will hear no complaints about the Audi R8 sports car (top)-it's a mid-engine, all-wheel-drive supercar for everyday driving and is a current favorite for good reason. Audi goes one-actually, two-better...

Detroit Breakdown; MOTOR CITY RISES ABOVE WORLD ECONOMIC GLOOM TO CLAIM INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE SPOTLIGHT.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... SO, HERE WE ARE. AT Detroit, the birthplace of big-displacement internal-combustion engines and the home of almighty horsepower, automakers will show a Wal-Mart warehouse's worth of hybrid, electric and alternative-fuel vehicles. But not all...

Extra.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... AND THE WINNERS ARE . . . The 2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year will be announced Jan. 11 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Go to autoweek.com for an immediate report. Finalists for the car honors...

LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... New is always enticing, but we also know that a lot of you have formed long-term relationships with cars, keeping them in fine fettle for 300,000 miles or more. We'd like to hear from you for an upcoming story in AutoWeek. If you have owned a...

THE TEAM Here's a look at President-elect Barack Obama's key automotive-related appointments.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... ENERGY SECRETARY NOMINEE: Steven Chu CURRENT JOB: Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. WHAT'S GOOD: This Nobel Prize-winning physicist will bring a scientific agenda to the White House that focuses on reducing global...

OBAMA MOTORS; President-elect's appointments signal change for the car world.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER When President-elect Barack Obama sets up shop in Washington, D.C., his appoint-ments to key posts governing energy and transportation will signal a substantial change in the automotive landscape. Take Steven...

WANNA BUY AMERICAN? GOOD LUCK.(NEWS)(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)(Ford Motor Co. Ford Div.)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... So you want to drive a true-blue American car? That may be a bit harder to find than you think. There are actually no cars on the market today that are classified as 100 percent American. The best a consumer with patriotic intentions can...

Contact Sport.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... As technology in racing advances and budgets balloon to keep pace, it could be easy to forget the human element essential to the sport. In a new coffee-table book, veteran photographer Jeff Zwart shows how some of the world's greatest drivers...

Buddy, We Can Spare Some Change.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: Dutch Mandel WITH THIS ISSUE, AUTOWEEK takes its next evolutionary step in a long journey we've made together. As the past six weeks confirm, our car world is nothing if not interesting. For 50 years, we've chronicled these and...

Shelby Day Care; ENTHUSIASM IS A FAMILY AFFAIR.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: PHIL BERG Jeff Gregg's father's latent car enthusiasm exploded one Saturday in 1984. "I heard this brappa brappa brap outside and pulled up the window shade, he recalls. His father drove up the driveway of the Illinois family...

LEAP OF FAITH.(NEWS)(Robbie Maddison ,freestyle rider )(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... Motorcycle freestyle rider Robbie Maddison leaps more than 100 feet into the air to land atop the Las Vegas Arc de Triomphe at the Paris Hotel. Why? Because it was there, and it was part of the Red Bull New Year's Eve No Limits...

SPECS.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... ON SALE: Now BASE PRICE: $109,000 DRIVETRAIN: Three-phase, four-pole electric motor, 280 lb-ft; one-speed transmission CURB WEIGHT: 2,690 lb 0-60 MPH: 3.9 sec (mfr) RANGE: 244 mi

ONLY AT AUTOWEEK.COM.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... PUT A BUG IN YOUR EAR If you're headed to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Jan. 17-25 (or to the Charity Preview on Jan. 16), be sure to take AutoWeek along on your iPod or MP3 player. A complete audio show tour,...

HUMMING ALONG; While the Tesla company struggles, its roadster rules Electric Avenue.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... Byline: MARK VAUGHN YOU COULD WRITE A PRETTY good soap opera about Tesla and its troubles. It would be the first daytime drama that would appeal to business students and engineers more than domestically incarcerated stay-at-home spouses....

2009 KAWASAKI ZX-6R NINJA.(NEWS)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... Byline: BARRY WINFIELD BASE PRICE: $9,799 ON SALE: Now Kawasaki's 2009 Ninja 600 boasts improved power throughout its range, now peaking at 130 hp at 13,500 rpm. It's lighter by 20 pounds and gets an Ohlins steering damper, a...

MISSING MAN; PAUL TRACY HAS YET TO FIND HIS WAY BACK TO OPEN-WHEEL RACING.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: CURT CAVIN Vitor Meira said that open-wheel racing's unification has gone so smoothly over the past year that he seldom thinks about it. But then, he has a ride in the IndyCar Series. Other veteran drivers still do not, and...

Dash of Panache; NEW HYBRIDS GET MORE INSTRUMENTS TO HELP DRIVERS SAVE FUEL.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: GREG MIGLIORE it's a cold Decem-ber morning in suburban Detroit, the temperature hovering at about 20 degrees. But as we cruise the streets near Ford Motor Co. world headquarters, green leaves sprout and grow lush. Winter...

Le Mans Goes Hollywood -For Real; Audi's film Truth in 24 beats the McQueen classic.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: PETE LYONS Why is it so hard to make a good movie about racing? Because most who attempt it make movies about everything except the racing. That's clear now, thanks to Audi's Truth in 24, a new feature-length documentary about...

TV; Jan. 30-Feb.1, Feb. 6-8.(NEWS)(Brief article)(List)
January 26, 2009... FRIDAY, JAN. 30 Lucas Oil On the Edge, 4:30 p.m., Speed NASCAR Preseason Thunder, 7 and 11 p.m., Speed SCCA Runoffs marathon, midnight, Speed SATURDAY, JAN. 31 Lucas Oil On the Edge, 7 p.m., Speed SUNDAY, FEB. 1...

SPECS.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... ON SALE: March BASE PRICE: $61,150 DRIVETRAIN: 3.4-liter, 320-hp, 273-lb-ft H6; RWD, six-speed manual CURB WEIGHT: 3,031 lb 0-60 MPH: 4.9 sec (mfr) FUEL ECONOMY (EPA): 24 mpg (est)

ALL EYES ON . . .(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... With IndyCar star Danica Patrick and NASCAR driver Casey Mears behind the wheel, many eyes will be on the new Childress-Howard Motorsports Crawford-Pontiac entry. Sports-car veteran Andy Wallace and Rob Finlay will join the star duo for a team...

GAINSCO/BOB STALLINGS RACING.(NEWS)(Brief article)
January 26, 2009... The Gainsco team finished second in last year's race and qualified on the Day-tona pole in 2007, and team owner Bob Stallings says this is its year. Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, the 2007 series cochampions, will at least have help from the...

CLASH OF THE TITANS; PENSKE RAMPS UP EFFORT TO THWART GANASSI FOUR-PEAT.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: TRAVIS BRAUN THE MOTORSPORTS BATtle between Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi is familiar and intense. But while most fights between the racing giants occur in the stock-car and open-wheel ranks, the front lines have moved to...

OVER THE RIVERS AND THROUGH THE WOODS; GET READY FOR THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: ANTHONY PEACOCK The 2009 World Rally Championship season kicks off Jan. 30-Feb. 1, not with the traditional Monte Carlo Rally but with Rally Ireland, the new season opener under the new rotation system. Events now share slots on...

COMPETITION INDYCAR.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... START YOUR VWS: Ulrich Baretzky, Audi Sport's head of engine technology, told Racecar Engineering that Volkswagen could join Honda as an IndyCar engine manufacturer beginning in 2011. FORCED INDUCTION: Signs indicate that the series will...

SPORTS-CAR LOWDOWN; Paradox in the ALMS.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: GARY WATKINS Any sports-car championship would kill to have a lineup of Porsche, Ferrari, BMW and Chevroleta lineup the American Le Mans Series boasts. Yet many predict that the series faces a rocky road. Welcome to the paradox...

Closing a gap; Porsche Cayman moves closer to 911-for less money.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: J. P. VETTRAINO HOW'S THIS FOR AN AD SLOGAN? "Porsche 911 Carrera: A $15,400 back seat for really small people. \ Indeed, the new mid-engine Porsche Cayman S coupe is so good it makes the rear-engine 911 Carrera 2 almost...

Just a Car but Worth Saving.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: Kevin A. Wilson Any collector can tell you that the most treasured cars are valued because they're not ordinary. The focus is on Hemi "Cuda convertibles or Studebaker Avantis, not the standard go-to-market cars of their make or...

GO, GO, GO; F1 TEAMS UNVEIL 2009 CARS.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... After the global economic crisis dominated headlines during the first months of the off-season, Formula One racing shook off its winter blues as leading teams unveiled new cars and prepared to go head-to-head in testing the week of Jan. 19. ...

RUNNING IN CIRCLES; No Magic Number in "09.(NEWS)(Brief article)
January 26, 2009... Byline: AL PEARCE Go ahead and run the numbers. Check and double-check. Have a ball. Knock yourself out. Take your time. But no matter how hard you try, you won't find 43 healthy, fully funded, halfway-competitive cars ready to run the...

INSIDE INDY; Penske Covers Its Bases.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: CURT CAVIN Team Penske's Jan. 13 news conference at which it was announced that Will Power potentially could replace Helio Castroneves sparked more questions than answers, as it is too early to know what lies ahead for the No. 3...

NO TONY? NO WAY.(NEWS)(Tony Stewart)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc.)(Brief article)
January 26, 2009... IN WHAT COULD BE CALLED THE Tony Stewart rule, NASCAR expanded the field for its Feb. 7 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. Originally, entry into the Saturday-night exhibition was limited to each manufacturer's six...

MCLAREN-MERCEDES MP4-24.(NEWS)(Brief article)
January 26, 2009... DRIVERS: Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen NEED TO KNOW: Despite the imbalance between front and rear wings that the rules impose on everyone, the McLaren is certainly among the more attractive new models, its beautiful silver finish flattering...

FERRARI F60.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... DRIVERS: Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen NEED TO KNOW: Ferrari is sure to be in the championship fight, but the package of rules changes could derail the 2008 constructors' champions, as much previous data and knowledge is now irrelevant. The team...

WILLIAMS FW31.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... DRIVERS: Kazuki Nakajima, Nico Rosberg NEED TO KNOW: The old-school independent team is struggling to stay alive, and this is a crunch season. Rules may give its strong engineering teampioneers so often in the pasta chance to flourish. It has...

TOYOTA TF109.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... DRIVERS: Timo Glock, Jarno Trulli NEED TO KNOW: Bosses of what is now Japan's only F1 operation say they are committed for the long term but will be under pressure from Tokyo to score significant results. Toyota has a lot of resources but may...

RENAULT R29.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... DRIVERS: Fernando Alonso, Nelson Piquet Jr. NEED TO KNOW: Renault has floundered for a couple of years but had momentum and renewed confidence by the end of last season, though the new car entailed a fresh start. It has engineering strength in...

PRESS RELEASE \\.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... From the Super-Duper, Double-Whammy, Mega-Spectacular, Galactically Excellent, You-can-pay-for-the-entire-seat-but-you'll-only-need-the-edge, Use-all-adjectives-at-all-costs Department: "Knight XVThe world's most secure, ultra-luxurious,...

CRAIGSLIST POSTING OF THE WEEK \; MUSTANG WHEELS.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... I have a set of FR500 for a fox body mustang and I'm not sure what they go for? So I guess I'll take $200.00 I also have what I was told are ponys $100.00 I need this stuff out of my bedroom, I kicked out my boyfriend after he got me...

AW TRUTH & BEAUTY; MAKING A SPLASH.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... The Volkswagen racing duo of Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz braved more than this river during their flog of the revised Dakar Rally. The two, who were part of a four-car VW team effort, won the event. American teammate Mark Miller...

TOKYO SHOW TREMORS.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... The Detroit Three and Ford-owned Swedish automaker Volvo are pulling out of this fall's Tokyo motor show, citing costs and global economic conditions. The move saves considerable cashGeneral Motors alone spent $2 million to be there in...

A Box from Japan; Nissan packages its Cube for U.S. delivery.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: DINO DALLE CARBONARE NISSAN'S QUIRKILY STYLED CUBE has just been released in Japan and will be coming stateside this year. We drove the all-new model and came away impressed with the improvement Nissan made for its U.S....

MARKET.(NEWS)(Chevrolet Motor Co.)(Brief article)
January 26, 2009... Byline: DAVE KINNEY 1965 Chevrolet El Camino Pickup Silver Auctions, Las Vegas Oct. 10-11, 2008 V8, 327 cid, automatic transmission. Red with red vinyl and cloth. Medium-quality repaint; a few weak areas and scrapes found...

SPECS.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... ON SALE: Early 2009 in U.S. BASE PRICE: $18,800 (est) DRIVETRAIN: 1.5-liter, 106-hp, 109-lb-ft, I4; FWD, CVT CURB WEIGHT: 2,596 lb 0-60 MPH: 10 sec (mfr) FUEL ECONOMY: N/A

SPECS.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... ON SALE: Spring BASE PRICE: $22,000 (est) DRIVETRAIN: 2.5-liter, 167-hp, 168-lb-ft I4; FWD, six-speed manual CURB WEIGHT: 2,963 lb 0-60 MPH: 7.0 sec (est) FUEL ECONOMY (EPA): 25 mpg (est)

2009 Nissan Pathfinder LE.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... IN FLEET: Dec. 23-Jan. 8 AS-TESTED PRICE: $41,260 DRIVETRAIN: 4.0-liter V6; 4WD, five-speed automatic OUTPUT: 266 hp @ 5,600 rpm, 288 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm CURB WEIGHT: 4,934 lb FUEL ECONOMY (EPA/AW): 16/15.8 mpg

2008 SALES; Mini's up, Hummer's thumped.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: GREG MIGLIORE Small was big for car sales in 2008, and nowhere was that better illustrated than in the divergent paths of Mini and Hummer. With its fleet of diminutive, fun-to-drive machines, Mini recorded a handsome gain of 29...

SPECS.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... ON SALE: April BASE PRICE: $18,700 (est) DRIVETRAIN: 1.3-liter, 98-hp, 123-lb-ft I4 hybrid; FWD, CVT CURB WEIGHT: 2,733 lb 0-60 MPH: 10 sec (est) FUEL ECONOMY (EPA): 41 mpg

SPOT ASSIST.(NEWS)(Brief article)
January 26, 2009... Roadside-assistance programs won't cover you in the Northwest Territories, the Sahara or the Australian Outback (and we don't mean the steakhouse). SPOT Assist uses satellites to pinpoint your location and summon helpfrom a tow truck or from...

ONE COOL INTERIOR.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Johnson Controls almost snagged our Best Concept award (see page 17) from the Detroit auto show with its RE3 city car. The little RE3 plug-in hybrid seats five, has world-class storage space and uses renewable materials. The interior is...

Fair Weather Fiends.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Defying the cold, snow and clouds outside the Detroit exhibit hall, carmakers revealed several models designed for sun worshippers. The Volkswagen BlueSport mid-engine roadster concept is ready to build as-is, but it's at least three years...

BEST OF TIMES, WORST OF TIMES.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... 2008 sales plummeted for previous marketplace monster Hummer, while the little Mini zoomed to the top of the charts.

Best Seller, Vol. 2; New Mazda 3 is a compelling sequel.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER Mazda's best-selling vehicle worldwide, the Mazda 3, gets new powertrains, reshaped sheetmetal and revised interior for 2010along with a few surprises. The second-generation compact sedan and five-door hatchback...

THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE...(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... 2009 NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR 2009 HYUNDAI GENESIS The V8-powered, rear-drive, near-luxury sedan was the first Korean entry to make the final cutand it won the prize. 2009 NORTH AMERICAN TRUCK OF THE YEAR 2009 FORD F-150...

ELECTRONICS JUGGERNAUT! YOU'RE FINALLY GOING TO HAVE TO DITCH THAT ROTARY PHONE.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Just as it's almost impossible to find a new car with crank windows, it will be increasingly difficult to find a new car that's not loaded down with helpful devices that improve the efficiency and comfort of your daily...

THE BEST OF CES; Our favorite gadgets and gizmos from the show.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Road Mice (Editors' Favorite Plaything) Now you can drive your Mustang, Charger, Corvette or Camaro all day long even while sitting in your cubicle. Road Mice are wireless computer mice shaped like muscle cars....

NEWS IN NAVS; Devices continue loading more features.(NEWS)(briefs)(MSN Direct)(Magellan GPS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Folding paper maps are so last century. Aftermarket nav devices continue to gain features. At CES and two other shows held in Vegas before and after CES's opening day, we got an idea of what's new in navs. These days,...

BEST OF THE REST; 2 MILLION SQUARE FEET HOLDS LOTS OF STUFF. HERE'S SOME MORE FROM THE CES FLOOR.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: MARK VAUGHN 1 Leggett & Platt Chargers Charging any kind of mobile device used to require a specific wired charger that plugged into a wall outlet. That meant a lot of specific wired chargers. Last year, Visteon showed an...

Votes for Mulally; Ford CEO gets lots of love with his keynote at CES.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: MARK VAUGHN At several points during a keynote address on the opening day of the Consumer Electronics Show, the crowd burst into applause. Whether this was prompted by PR people planted in the audience to jump-start the...

LOST IN TIME; Rare Bugatti Type 57S Atalante on the block in Paris.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: JULIAN RENDELL Auctioning a $4-million-plus Bugatti barn find in the middle of the worst recession since World War II might not seem like a great idea. But when the car is as well preserved and has as terrific a provenance as the...

Insight in sight; Honda's affordable hybrid bids for a broader audience.(NEWS)
January 26, 2009... Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON TO HEAR HONDA TELL IT, the 2010 Insight coming to market this April is all about making hybrid technology available to Generation Y. That's because it's smaller and less expensive (less than $20,000) than the...