AutoWeek articles from July 2005

AutoWeek archives from July 2005

TWO-SEATER TANGO: Part 2 of 2; Mercedes raises the SLK's game to battle Porsche's benchmark Boxster.
July 4, 2005... * * * PORSCHE BOXSTER Base price (includes delivery): $44,565 As-tested price: $49,330 Horsepower: 240 @ 6400 rpm * * * At first glance Engine Rear-longitudinal 2.7-liter/163.96-cid dohc H6 Output: 240...

Owners say...(Auto File)(Subaru Legacy GT Spec B )
July 4, 2005... All-wheel drive for snow and forced induction at altitude combine for a winning ticket. The Legacy GT is a natural progression from my WRX. Excellent handling, larger 17-inch wheels and bigger front brakes from the Limited package add a sport...

Concorso d'eleganza Villa d'este; Impeccable style, even in the wet.(Revs)
July 4, 2005... Byline: MATT DAVIS What is known today as the Villa d'Este on Lake Como in Cernobbio, Italy, started life in 1570. The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este didn't start here until September 1929-handily, just in time for the Wall Street...

Market.(Escape Roads)(Automobile Marketing)
July 4, 2005... Byline: KEITH MARTIN Bonhams & Butterfields Los Angeles May 14 1981 DeLorean Back to the Future III car V6, automatic. Festooned with myriad wires and gadgets. Sadly, wheels nonretractable. Does have functioning...

Flash.(Porsche Club of America members to have first chance at special edition model)(Lanborghini Gallordo with V8 could be approved)(historic Studebaker plant burns in Detroit)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... What's next? Rebates? Porsche is partial to taking care of Porsche Club of America members, so it comes as no surprise PCA members only will be eligible to buy one of 50 special-edition 2006 911 Club Coupes built to commemorate the club's...

"Sorry" Doesn't Cut It.(Formula One safety)(Tires)(Column)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Kevin A. Wilson Spare us the talking through your hat about how sorry and concerned you are about us race fans, Formula One. In pointing fingers at one another, the perpetrators of the USGP debacle strive to convince us there is...

Waiting for the GT-R.(Automobile)(Column)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Richard S. Chang When Carlos Ghosn announced in 2003 the next Skyline GT-R would be built on a global platform, including a left-hand-drive version, I just about choked on my own saliva. We all did. It was like 50 Cent saying he...

Letters.(Automobile Racing )(Letter to the Editor)
July 4, 2005... USGP in retrospect As an ex-Formula One mechanic and a former racer, F1's one-spare-tire-per-race-weekend rule doesn't save money and can cause more problems than it solves. When the FIA made that tire rule it needed one more clause: If a...

NO MISTAKE ON THE LAKE; The good Paul Tracy is hard to beat.(Motorsports)
July 4, 2005... Byline: J.P. VETTRAINO For all its wide-open spaces, lack of barriers-also known as red-mist inhibitors-and potential for craziness, Cleveland's annual Champ Car fest turned into another pit-strategy race. Not that it was slow or...

STEWART SCORES IN SONOMA; Rudd and Wallace relive old times.(Motorsports)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
July 4, 2005... Byline: BILL McGUIRE Jeff Gordon had the race in the bag. Rusty Wallace had the situation in hand. Ricky Rudd appeared headed for his first Nextel Cup victory since 2002. But one by one they fell away as Tony Stewart took control of the...

CLUES BLUES; Have you seen my stolen car?(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: ANDREW LUU Having a prized car stolen is every enthusiast's worst nightmare. All you can do is call the police, file a report and cross your fingers. Not so for Californian Chris Burk, who hopes Internet publicity and a...

WAKE UP TO THIS SLEEPER; Improved Legacy takes Subaru quietly upmarket.(Sports cars )
July 4, 2005... With an emphasis on performance, smart looks, attention to detail and good ol' functionality, the Subaru Legacy GT has a German feel to it. So it's not surprising that in scanning the significant number of owner responses to our AutoFile...

One more supercar tidbit.(Product Information)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Bob Gritzinger Bob Lutz says a high-end Cadillac coupe based on the wild Sixteen concept is still on the drawing board. The car as now envisioned would be based on a large rear-drive chassis, with a non-16-cylinder engine and...

AW goings-on.(News)
July 4, 2005... * Online: America's Best blowout * On deck: Porsche 911 Carrera 4/4S first drive, midseason motorsports reports

FLAGPOLL.(poll of most popular vehicles)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Every year we set off Fourth of July fireworks by celebrating what is right about this country, automotively speaking. You, the car-smart AutoWeek readership, tell us what cars you deem America's Best in several categories, and we hand out the...

Ford GT.(car of the year)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A new category this year, Best Exotic looks above and beyond the more run-of-the-mill Corvettes and Vipers. We're talking the likes of a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and F430, Bentley Continental GT and the Lamborghini Murcielago-not a cheap car in...

CALL IT THE BMW SAUBER.(Competition)(BMW to acquire share in Sauber Formula One team)(Indianapolis Motor Speedway negotiates with USGP)(Indy Racing League to move to single-engine series)
July 4, 2005... BMW WILL ACQUIRE a majority holding in the Swiss-based Sauber Formula One team, and will rename it for the 2006 season. The German manufacturer purchased most of the stock held by team founder Peter Sauber and will obtain the remaining 62.35...

Flash.(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing disciplines Shane Hmiel)(Champ Car may end deal with Trans-Am )(possible raceway in Bremerton Washington)
July 4, 2005... Suspended NASCAR has barred driver Shane Hmiel from competition until at least 2007. Hmiel, son of veteran crew chief Steve Hmiel, originally received an indefinite suspension June 3 after failing a substance abuse test. It was his second...

TWO-SEATER TANGO: Part 1 of 2; Mercedes raises the SLK's game to battle Porsche's benchmark Boxster.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 4, 2005... We never considered the old Mercedes-Benz SLK a true challenger to the Porsche Boxster in either performance or style. At least that was the case when both cars went on sale in 1997. One drive was enough to reveal the mid-engined Boxster as the...

THE BRASS RULES.(Escape Roads)(E.R. Thomas Motor Co's Model K Flyabout)
July 4, 2005... Byline: BROOKS BRIERLEY 1909 was poised to be a great year for E.R. Thomas Motor Co. of Buffalo, New York. The firm's interest in racing competitions culminated in winning the 1908 New York-to-Paris endurance run, making Thomas the most...

Chevrolet Corvette.(car of the year)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Since America's Best started, this category has usually been a tug of war, a back-and-forth battle between Chevrolet's mighty Corvette and Porsche's legendary 911. For 2005 the sixth-generation Corvette takes the top spot, a result with which...

Audi A8.(car of the year)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... This was hotly contested. When all the votes were in, Audi's award-winning A8 sedan again came out on top as America's Best Luxury Car. And why shouldn't it? The A8 is superbly built with world-class fit-and-finish both inside and out, it...

BMW 3 Series.(car of the year)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... That didn't last long. Last year the new-kid-on-the-block Chrysler 300 knocked off the BMW 3 Series to claim Best Sedan laurels. This year a newly introduced 3 Series is back on top, by the narrowest of margins. With the new 3, BMW...

SPECS & DATA.(Auto File)(Subaru of America)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... MANUFACTURER INFO Subaru of America Subaru Plaza P.O. Box 6000 Cherry Hill NJ 08034 Customer assistance: (800) 782-2783 Internet address: subaru.com Country of origin: United States Number of dealers: 582...

Events.(Calendar)(Calendar)
July 4, 2005... Aug. 26-28 Gunnison Car Show Gunnison, Colo. Call (970) 641-2249 or check out gunnisoncarclub.com to find out more about this 18th annual event. Aug. 26-28 NSRA Richmond Nationals Clovis, N.M. Call (505)...

Ford Mustang.(car of the year)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... The Ford Mustang didn't even finish in the top three last year. This year shows just what an all-new car can do: The Mustang trounced the BMW 6 Series and the Infiniti G35 coupe (last year's winner). When Ford re-created the Mustang, it...

Honda Odyssey.(car of the year)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Honda Odyssey People movers can be minivans, small cars, station wagons, full-size vans... There are bunches of choices-67 in all. Through this clutter the Honda Odyssey emerges victorious for the fourth straight year. That's no small...

Porsche Cayenne.(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Porsche Cayenne Last year Porsche's SUV finished third behind the Volkswagen Touareg (with which it shares a platform) and Land Rover's Range Rover. This year Cayenne edges out Touareg. But it was close, folks, really close. The...

Ford F-150.(Product Information)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Will the F-150 ever lose as your choice for Best Truck? Not this year anyway, as Ford's-and America's-bestseller takes its eighth straight America's Best Truck win, this time over the Dodge Ram and Nissan Titan (those two positions were...

Mazda 3.(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Sometimes as a driver you don't need to be spoiled. Sometimes air vents with little, powered covers aren't necessary. There are times when cloth seats will suffice, and pushing one button actually changes the radio station. That's what...

BACK ON TRACK; Helio Castroneves holds off Dario Franchitti to win at Richmond.(Motorsports)(Column)
July 4, 2005... Byline: CURT CAVIN Sometimes a race victory is just meant to be. Helio Castroneves had one of those wins last weekend at Richmond International Raceway when he held off Dario Franchitti in a last-lap shootout. But that last lap was the...

LOEB, AGAIN; Citroen driver wins his fifth straight WRC event.(Motorsports)(Column)
July 4, 2005... Byline: ANTHONY PEACOCK The victory machine that is Sebastien Loeb continues its unstoppable progress: The Citroen driver's fifth consecutive rally win equals a record set by Didier Auriol back in 1992. Loeb won the notoriously tough...

BLUE DEVIL LIVES!! When the vice chairman speaks, we listen.(News)(Column)
July 4, 2005... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz won't confirm this car exists, but he is not saying it doesn't. We first wrote about Chevrolet's ultra-performance Corvette-dubbed Blue Devil, most likely to catch the attention...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)
July 4, 2005... WE'LL SAY THIS FOR GM'S GLOBAL PRODUCT MAVEN BOB LUTZ: HE'S HONEST. SOME CHOICE QUOTES FROM A RECENT VISIT WITH THE AUTOWEEK STAFF: "I don't think we have a lot of over-capacity. What we have is under-demand.'' "Today's [Cadillac] CTS...

Fast Poll.(News)(Letter to the Editor)
July 4, 2005... Ferrari's Superamerica captivates most respondents with its styling and innovative roof, while others see it as an unobtainable letdown. Ferrari's Superamerica looks great with the exception of the hunchback rear. The car's folding glass...

Drivers Log.(News)
July 4, 2005... 2005 Ford Mustang GT convertible Date in fleet: May 10-24 As-tested price: $33,175 Powertrain: 4.6-liter V8; rwd, five-speed automatic Output: 300 hp @ 5750 rpm, 320 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm Curb weight: 3658 lbs Fuel mileage (EPA combined/AW...

TV: July 8-10.(News)(Calendar)
July 4, 2005... Friday, July 8 Formula One practice from Britain, 8 a.m., Speed (L) USAR Pro Cup Series from Myrtle Beach, S.C., noon, Speed NASCAR Live from Joliet, Ill., 3:30 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Nextel Cup qualifying from Joliet, Ill., 4...

Market.(Escape Roads)(1958 Plymouth Fury Christine)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: KEITH MARTIN Bonhams & Butterfields Los Angeles May 14 1958 Plymouth Fury Christine V8, automatic. Built by George Barris. Excellent paint, full aftermarket tinted glass. Most chrome excellent, some with light...

AW goings-on.(News)
July 11, 2005... * Online: Massive all-new Porsche photo galleries * On deck: Radical Mercedes-Benz R-Class; how to best buy a certified pre-owned vehicle

Flash.(Briefs)
July 11, 2005... Honda eyes sports cars Honda is investigating whether it wants to participate in the American Le Mans Series next year with a new sports car. News of Honda's interest comes when its future in the IRL is unclear (see "Then there's the IRL''...

IS IT A COMPROMISE? A cop-out?(Competition)(Michelin Formula One teams)
July 11, 2005... The FIA World Motor Sport Council last week found the seven Michelin Formula One teams that chose not to run the U.S. Grand Prix due to safety issues guilty of two counts against them after the Indianapolis debacle in which just six cars raced....

Pass (on) the Chalupa.(multitasking while driving)(Column)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Dutch Mandel What's wrong with monotasking? As a veteran of this activity, let me say that to soldier on in dogged pursuit of one thing-and one thing only-is a joy. Is it sexy? No, but it is effective. I do not multitask well....

What Non Might Mean.(European Union Constitution)(automotive paint colors)(Column)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Steve Thompson The recent Dutch and French "no'' votes on accepting the proposed European Union Constitution surprised a lot of political pundits on both sides of the Atlantic. Whatever these votes might mean politically, I...

Road Racing Renaissance; Strong fields make all the series worth watching again.(News)
July 11, 2005... Byline: BILL McGUIRE Blessed be: Road racing in America appears to be on the rebound. After existing in a persistent vegetative state for too many years, the Grand American Rolex Series, American Le Mans and the Speed World Challenge are...

Drivers Log.(News)(automobile engines)
July 11, 2005... 2005 Volvo V50 Date in fleet: May 20-June 3 As-tested price: $32,590 Powertrain: 2.5-liter turbocharged I5; fwd, six-speed manual Output: 218 hp @ 5000 rpm, 236 lb-ft @ 1500-4800 rpm Curb weight: 3269 lbs Fuel mileage (EPA combined): 25.0...

But Wait, There's More...(NASCAR report)(radio DJ Tim Shaw social life)(Sprayonmud a spray cleaner)
July 11, 2005... SIGN THE AUTOMOTIVE APOCALYPSE IS NIGH Sprayonmud (sprayonmud.com) is a specially formulated spray-on product for anyone who wants to give friends, neighbors, colleagues or just anyone at all the impression they have been off-road or, at...

PARITY ON PARADE; Any given Sunday, you never know who will win.(News)(Champ Car automobile race)
July 11, 2005... Byline: BILL McGUIRE Five races into the 14-event Champ Car schedule, there are four different race winners. Call the changes hokey or contrived, but measures by series management to improve competition-including option tires, deregulated...

National Brass; Simple, practical brass-era cars are a throwback.(Revs)(Horseless Carriage Club of America)
July 11, 2005... Byline: BOB TOMAINE Brass cars might be the most misunderstood members of the automotive world. They also might be among the best at making friends for themselves. With brass radiator shells, lamps and other brass parts, these cars...

F1 TURNED UPSIDE DOWN; Until Indy, things were going great.(News)
July 11, 2005... Byline: NIGEL ROEBUCK Prior to Indianapolis, the 2005 Formula One season had been going better than any season in a long time. It wasn't just that Michael Schumacher and Ferrari were suddenly not winning anymore; Grand Prix racing appeared...

SAAB FINDS A DIFFERENT ROAD; The SUV bandwagon marches on.(News)(sport utility vehicle)
July 11, 2005... Byline: CARRIE ROCA Saab drivers are powerfully drawn to their own road. That they instinctively reach to the console to fire up the engine is an important ritual in their travels, an affirmation the road is right. And while for many,...

TWO-TEAM PRESS; Drivers from Hendrick, Roush dominate the early going.(News)
July 11, 2005... Byline: AL PEARCE By the middle of its 36-race season-actually, 16 races into it-the marketing empire known as NASCAR is virtually a two-team show. It looked for a while like Roush Racing and Hendrick Motorsports might just run the table...

NEW AT NETHERCUTT.(Revs)(Nethercutt Collection)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Despite his meticulous plans for the future of his car collection and museum, when founder J.B. Nethercutt passed away last year, some wondered just what would become of one of the greatest car collections. Well,...

BIGSTICK; The Carrera 4 and 4S quietly deliver gobs of grip.(Porsche 911)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 11, 2005... Byline: NATALIE NEFF The stretch of road snaking through Col de Turini near the tiny principality of Monaco winds far too tightly up the mountainside for us to seriously stretch the legs of Porsche's latest 911, the Carrera 4. Every...

Flash.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Miata money Mazda's next-generation MX-5 Miata (AW, March 28) doesn't go on sale until fall, but the company is already priming the market by announcing a base price of $20,435 for the 2006 roadster equipped with a five-speed manual...

BY A NOSE; Tony Kanaan wins a Kansas thriller.(Motorsports)(Indy Racing League)
July 11, 2005... Byline: CURT CAVIN Seems like we've seen this before: teammates heading side by side to the final lap of an IRL race at Kansas Speedway. Only one can win, and both have to watch out for the third-place car. Well, that's what happened...

FRENCH CONNECTION; Renault and Fernando Alonso win convincingly at Magny-Cours.(Motorsports)
July 11, 2005... Byline: NIGEL ROEBUCK So which is the best Formula One car of the moment, the Renault or the McLaren-Mercedes? "Very difficult to say,'' said Kimi Raikkonen. "It depends so much on the circuit. Silverstone should suit the McLaren better...

TWO IN A ROW; Tony Stewart dominates Daytona.(Motorsports)
July 11, 2005... Byline: AL PEARCE Tony Stewart wants you to think he didn't have any idea his car would dominate the Pepsi 400. He plays the humble winner like a knighted actor plays Hamlet. Golly gee, folks, I didn't know my little ol' race car was that...

NONSTOP ACTION; Some of it has even been on the track.(News)(National Hot Rod Association)
July 11, 2005... Byline: BILL STEPHENS When the ninth Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals wrapped up at Gateway International Raceway on June 26, it represented the midway point of one of the most eventful seasons in NHRA history. What made the first 12 races...

DANICA MANIA; The phenomenal rookie is one reason the IRL is riding the crest of a new popularity wave.(News)
July 11, 2005... Byline: CURT CAVIN As the Indy Racing League reaches its midpoint for 2005, spotting the winners from losers is easy. Let's evaluate. Winners: 1. Dan Wheldon. Okay, he hasn't won every IRL race this season, but he has won four of...

FORMULA FUN.(Formula One, automobile racing)
July 11, 2005... Byline: JOHN F. KATZ Renaults have triumphed in five of nine Formula One races in 2005 (not counting this week's French Grand Prix). It has been a heartening comeback for the marque that won the first French Grand Prix at Le Mans 99 years...

Television: July 15-17.(News)
July 11, 2005... Friday, July 15 Legends of Motorsport: 1960 Le Mans, 7 a.m., Speed Car Crazy, 8:30 a.m., Speed NASCAR Nation, 9 a.m., Speed NASCAR Beyond the Wheel, 9:30 a.m., Speed USAR Pro Cup Series from Xenia, Ohio, noon, Speed ...

BLOWER BLOWOUT! Turbo models turn up the pressure.(News)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER With Carrera 4/4S versions of the Porsche 997 arriving this November (page 16), can the next-generation 911 Turbo be far behind? Our spies say Porsche engineers are hard at work testing the coming 2006 Turbo, which...

Events.(Calendar)(Calendar)
July 11, 2005... Sept. 3-4 Roamer Cruise Night and Car Show Streator, Ill. Visit streator.org or call (815) 672-0793 for details on the largest cruise in downstate Illinois. Sept. 3-5 Great Labor Day Cruise Costa Mesa, Calif. ...

Fast Poll.(News)(Letter to the Editor)
July 11, 2005... Most readers say buyers will be turned on by hybrid versions of more cars and trucks, while a few skeptics wait to see about future maintenance problems and costs. Companies need to offer hybrid power in more cars. If more popular lines...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
July 11, 2005... Graphyte and other fuel alternatives When I saw the GM Graphyte concept in your June 27 issue, I thought, "Killer!'' (I liked it.) When I read the But Wait, There's More blurb about the GM exec who said it looked silly, I realized why GM...

WRECKAGE LESSONS; Twisted sheetmetal speaks to State Farm researchers.(News)(Column)
July 11, 2005... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER As the story goes, the 2004 Subaru WRX STi was northbound on Interstate 55 near Springfield, Illinois, when the driver took an exit, tried to stop on wet pavement, and hammered the white-winged rally car into a light...

CPO facts & figures.(certified pre-owned automobiles)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... The two Most Important Tips about CPO Vehicles: one. Everything is negotiable. This includes no-haggle stickers, finance charges, trade-ins, leases, a free lunch and a tank of fuel. two. Do your homework. Informed consumers, as everyone...

AW goings-on.(News)
July 18, 2005... Online: Pictures galore of the Honda Civic Si and Mercedes-Benz R-Class On deck: Mazda Miata first drive; Porsche Cayman and Goodwood Festival of Speed

But Wait, There's More...(automobile industry)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Help a Good Cause, Drive Off in a 1967 Corvette Chevy built just 16 examples of the 1967 L89 Corvette, and now comes your chance to own a roadster valued at $125,000, courtesy of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Valley...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 18, 2005... The June 20 "Horsepower Nation'' story on the Chevy small-block's 50th birthday should have said it was one of the first American engines to achieve one horsepower per cubic inch, and would be used by every GM car and truck division.

TV: July 22-24.(automobile racing)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Friday, July 22 Formula One practice from Hockenheim, Germany, 8 a.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Live from Long Pond, Pa., 3 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Live from Long Pond, Pa., 5:30 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Busch Series qualifying from...

QUIET WIN; Montoya gets a much-needed first since joining McLaren.(Juan Pablo Montoya)
July 18, 2005... Byline: NIGEL ROEBUCK Not surprisingly it was a somber podium at Silverstone on Sunday. No anthems. Instead the drivers, like the spectators, stood in silence for a minute, in memory of those who had died in London three days before. The...

TWO TIRES, PLEASE; Earnhardt Jr. seizes the day.(Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins a race in Nextel Cup at Chicagoland Speedway)
July 18, 2005... Byline: BILL McGUIRE To win an auto race, someone once said, three key elements are required: preparation, opportunity and luck, with luck being a simple matter of preparation meeting opportunity. Both Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt...

A New Angle on Bangle.(Chris Bangle)
July 18, 2005... Byline: Rich Ceppos Maybe Chris Bangle was right. Bangle, the brilliant and controversial head of BMW design, changed course abruptly in 2002. Starting with the 7 Series, he substituted slashing, angular body lines, angry countenances on...

Market.(automobile auctions)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Byline: KEITH MARTIN Mecum Auctions Rockford, Ill. May 26 1960 Triumph TR3A convertible British Racing Green with black top and black leather interior. Chrome wires. New paint of average quality. Scratches and chips on...

Flash.(automobile industry)(Industry Trend or Event)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Spyker approved After two years, Spyker's C8 sports car is finally street-legal for the States. Spyker got approval from the EPA last March for the short-wheelbase C8 and has now received the waivers it requested from NHTSA, completing...

SUPER POWER; AMG V8 proves there's no replacing displacement.(Mercedes-Benz )(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Byline: Dutch Mandel, Greg Kable In what Mercedes-Benz claims to be the most powerful, naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engine extant, the firm's performance arm has developed a powerplant that will make it into virtually all its...

Drivers Log.(2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6, 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Limited, 2005 Nissan 350Z 35th Anniversary Edition, )(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 18, 2005... 2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 Date in fleet: June 30-July 14 As-tested price: $51,295 Powertrain: 3.2-liter supercharged V6; rwd, five-speed automatic Output: 330 hp @ 6100 rpm, 310 lb-ft @ 3500-4800 rpm Curb weight: 3328 lbs Fuel mileage...

R IS FOR RECALIBRATE; Mercedes-Benz expects its R-Class to change the way well-heeled consumers think about luxury cars.
July 18, 2005... Byline: J.P. VETTRAINO They didn't look like a late-forming affluent family. Affluent, probably, but not necessarily late-forming. The gentleman owned a Nissan dealership in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was driving a brand-new Titan pickup...

CASEY VS. THE TORNADO; Storm chaser builds an armored Ford F-450 to drive into tornados.(Sean Casey)
July 18, 2005... Byline: PHIL BERG Earlier this year near Paducah, Texas, cinematographer Sean Casey got the scary part of his wish. "The holy grail of all footage is to get a tornado coming right at you-filming with a wide-angle lens, and having the...

Events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
July 18, 2005... Sept. 15-18 Route 66 Rendezvous San Bernardino, Calif. Call (800) 867-8366 or visit route-66.org for details. Sept. 16-18 Mustang World Finals Ennis, Texas Visit funfordevents.com or call (225) 664-0996 for more...

Owners say...(Jeep Grand Cherokee)
July 18, 2005... The Grand Cherokee's overall styling is what attracted me to the Jeep. The interior is quiet with firm leather seats that fend off fatigue during long drives; I wish, however, Jeep had gone with a better grade of leather. And the interior has...

COOL CUBE.(Nissan Cube, automobile)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Byline: DINO DALLE CARBONARE In the '80s it was hip to be square, and in the 21st century it's cool to be Cube. Nissan's Cube and Cube Cubic are popular in Japan, but once the next-generation model arrives, Nissan may test the Cube's...

The Comfort Factor: Certified Pre-Owned Used Vehicles; Own more, worry less. But watch out for certified land mines.(Special Report)
July 18, 2005... Byline: WILLIAM JEANES We're here to discuss used cars. Good used cars. Used cars that new-car dealers have poked, prodded and puttered with until they qualify as what the industry calls CPO-Certified Pre-Owned vehicles. As most of you...