AutoWeek articles from June 2006

AutoWeek archives from June 2006

PORTABLE POCKET ROCKETS.(Revs)
June 5, 2006... If you have Sony's PlayStation Portable gaming system and have been craving some top-notch racing game action to go with it, help has arrived in the form of FIA World Rally Championship and Race Driver 2006. Namco Bandai's World Rally...

DESIGN TIME.(Atari Games Corp.'s promotion of new game)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Ever thought you could design a car? Well now you have that chance through the "Test Drive Unlimited-Be a Car Designer'' contest, a promotion for Atari's upcoming Test Drive Unlimited game. The lucky winner will have his or her car included in...

Correction.
June 5, 2006... Our Indy 500 odds chart (May 29) should have listed Tony Kanaan as driving for Andretti Green Racing.

DESTINY'S CHILD: Part 2 of 2; Sam Hornish Jr. wins an Indy thriller.
June 5, 2006... Byline: CURT CAVIN The race will be remembered for the way Hornish zoomed past 19-year-old Marco Andretti on the final straightaway, but it was won when Penske called Hornish back to the pits for more fuel during an earlier 13-lap caution...

A RETURN TO ELEGANCE?(superior automobile design key to attract customers)
June 5, 2006... Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON Design, it is often said around Detroit, is the road to recovery for the domestic industry. An automaker with a solid base of loyal customers might get away with a dull design that sells on brand-name reputation...

Purpose Defeats Passion.(automobile passions)
June 5, 2006... Byline: Kevin A. Wilson People used to fish and hunt to eat but now get groceries at the corner, and these pursuits are more enjoyable as a hobby. City folk rode horses to get around, but now pursue riding as a luxury. Similarly, I find...

GT3 RS online.(News)
June 5, 2006... Porsche's hardcore 911 GT3 RS is back! Following closely on the heels of the standard GT3, the new "Renn Sport'' (Racing Sport) version of the 911 continues a long tradition of track-inspired models stretching all the way back to the iconic...

Different Strokes; Two takes on moving people and stuff.(News)
June 5, 2006... Quite a few folks around here questioned the idea of pitting a Mazda 5 against a Chevrolet HHR. These vehicles have little to nothing in common, they argued, and no one would ever cross-shop the two. Thing is, while we understand it's fairly...

EXCLUSIVITY TIMES 12.(News)
June 5, 2006... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER Maybe the $1.8 million Ferrari FXX-the track-use-only version of the Enzo available only to the super rich with driving skills-isn't exclusive enough for you. Or maybe you just want a Maserati supreme. Whatever...

BUZZ BUGGIES; Blue Book survey rates the Sky high.(News)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON The Saturn Sky and Toyota FJ Cruiser top the list of vehicles with the most "buzz'' heard by new-car shoppers surveyed at the Kelley Blue Book website, kbb.com. Working with Harris Interactive, kbb.com asked...

GOING DIRECT; GM embraces high-tech injection.(News)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON "Based on where we spend our money, yes, fuel economy is our No. 1 priority,'' said General Motors Powertrain group vice president Tom Stephens. To that end, the company is rolling out its new hybrids for the 2007...

Drivers Log.(Pontiac G6 GTP convertible )(Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab 4x4 )(Lexus GX 470 )
June 5, 2006... 2006 Pontiac G6 GTP Convertible Date in fleet: April 24-May 1 As-tested price: $31,740 Powertrain: 3.9-liter V6; fwd, four-speed automatic Output: 240 hp @ 6000 rpm, 240 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm Curb weight: 3428 lbs Fuel Economy (EPA combined/AW...

A MINI LEAP; 2008 BMW Mini Traveller.(News)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER Look for a slight evolution in Mini styling when the second generation of BMW's little car debuts this fall. The larger Mini leap comes in fall 2007 with the introduction of the Mini Traveller. Essentially a...

Edouard Michelin, 1963-2006.(Obituary)
June 5, 2006... Edouard Michelin, co-managing director of French tire maker Michelin, died May 25 in a boating mishap off the coast of France. He was 42. The great-grandson of the company founder, Michelin joined the company in 1985 and took over leadership...

AN ELEGANT HOME, INDEED; Mercedes-Benz erects a museum befitting its vast collection.(News)
June 5, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART Mercedes-Benz has long had one of the greatest collections of historic cars on the planet, with hundreds of vehicles from its rich 120-year history. With the opening last month of the Mercedes-Benz Museum, the company...

SILENT SAVINGS; Vue hybrid eschews fanfare en route to fuel economy.(News)
June 5, 2006... Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON Those who believe driving a hybrid is all about "green'' bragging rights might overlook the inconspicuous Saturn Vue Green Line, but if saving money and reducing fuel consumption are your primary aims, that would be...

WEB WATCH: AUTOWEEK.COM.(News)
June 5, 2006... Giving away Cars Okay, not real cars, but stuff from the movie Cars. We've got lots of cool Cars items to give away. Click on the Cars link on our home page or go here: autoweek.com/carsthemovie Mini caught Travelling Mini's...

UNEXTREME MAKEOVER; Midlife changes to E-class are subtle, to say the least.(News)
June 5, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE, ROGER HART You're looking at the facelifted Mercedes-Benz E-Class that will roll into U.S. showrooms in July. Don't worry if you're struggling to spot the changes-we did, too. Mercedes officials told us 2000 parts...

NHRA WEIRDNESS CONTINUES AT TOPEKA.(A1 GP going public)(less tech, say Todt and Briatore)(Busch driver killed in road accident)
June 5, 2006... At the NHRA event at Heartland Park Topeka, anyone who didn't believe in jinxes would have been tempted to change their opinion when the No.1 qualifiers in both Top Fuel and Funny Car failed to go the distance for the ninth time in nine races...

Bling, Bling, Baby; The Imperial makes you feel like a king.(News)
June 5, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN If the Chrysler 300C looks like a Bentley, then the Chrysler Imperial most closely resembles a Rolls-Royce Phantom up close. But it would be a Rolls-Royce Phantom that stickered for somewhere in the $50,000 range. ...

The Creeping Crawl of the Crossover; RDX enters one of America's fastest-growing segments in awd.(News)
June 5, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Like crossovers? You're in luck, the planet will soon be crawling with them. As the number increases, so do the categories into which they are slotted. Hence, let us introduce the "entry premium SUV'' sliver of the...

TV: June 9-11.(calendar)(Brief article)(Calendar)
June 5, 2006... Friday, June 9 Formula One practice from Great Britain, 9 a.m., Speed (L) Barrett-Jackson 2006: The Auctions, 10 a.m., Speed USAR Pro Cup from Lakeland, Fla., noon, Speed NASCAR Beyond the Wheel, 2 p.m., Speed NASCAR Live,...

LEADER OF THE PACK.(Motorsports)
June 5, 2006... Byline: DUTCH MANDEL Sunday I led the field for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500. Out front of Sam and Helio, Chip's team, an army of Andrettis and the lady with the gentlemen. I crossed the yard of bricks before them all....

RACE REPORT.(Motorsports)
June 5, 2006... If you find a good nag, ride that thing until it breaks down. That plan has carried Kasey Kahne to three NASCAR wins this year, all in the same No. 9 Dodge Charger on mile-and-a-half, double-dogleg speedways owned by Bruton Smith. The streak...

OH, FOR THE GOOD OLD DAYS; Robert Yates Racing is broken and needs fixing.(Motorsports)
June 5, 2006... Byline: AL PEARCE Robert Yates used to walk through his race shop and admire the victory lane photos. He always saw smiling faces, energy, excitement, commitment, teamwork and supreme confidence. For his Ford-based NASCAR organization,...

DESTINY'S CHILD: Part 1 of 2; Sam Hornish Jr. wins an Indy thriller.(News)(Biography)
June 5, 2006... Byline: CURT CAVIN The Indianapolis 500 is as much about history as it is speed. This year's race was the 90th for open-wheel cars at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and to understand what it meant to winner Sam Hornish Jr., a look back is in...

OutRun your opponents, impress your girlfriend.(racing video game from Sega)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... You've probably seen them at the arcades, those neatly aligned rows of racing games where a group of competitors can engage in some high-octane action. Most of those games are the work of Sega, the outfit behind the OutRun series, among...

Market.(1947 Bentley Mk VI convertible )(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Byline: KEITH MARTIN Barrett-Jackson Auction Palm Beach, Fla. April 1 1947 Bentley Mk VI convertible Franay bodywork. 4.5-liter six-cylinder, four-speed, right-hand drive. Black with red leather. Winner of dozens of...

Flash.(Making the COT )(Rent the wind)(Rush hour)
June 5, 2006... Still talking Unification talks between Tony George (IRL) and Kevin Kalkhoven (Champ Car) continued through Memorial Day weekend, with Kalkhoven the guest of George at the Indy 500-but no word on what was discussed in the series of planned...

Events.(Calendar)(Brief article)(Calendar)
June 5, 2006... July 29 Buckley Fire Department Car Show Buckley, Ill. For more information on this classic car show visit buckleycarshow.org or call (217) 394-2076. July 31-Aug. 2 Solid Axle Corvette Club Convention Truckee, Calif....

BACKWARD PROGRESS; Michael Schumacher hands victory to Fernando Alonso.(Motorsports)
June 5, 2006... Byline: NIGEL ROEBUCK The race was tense and close, but almost incidental to the Monaco weekend. Of greater importance was an incident in the dying seconds of qualifying, an incident that called into question once again Michael...

From Birdcages to Iceboxes to Cars.(Escape Roads)
June 5, 2006... Byline: BOB TOMAINE Pierce-Arrow moved in an enviable circle. Being linked in the public eye with Packard and Peerless as one of the Three Ps placed the company high in the automotive hierarchy; not a bad accomplishment for a car whose...

EXPLAINING THE EXPLANATION.(Competition)
June 5, 2006... Letters and e-mails continue to arrive about our explanation regarding flames shooting from only one side of Cruz Pedregon's Funny Car (Letters, May 29; Competition, May 15). What may have confused some readers was our use of the word...

Flash.(Briefs)
June 5, 2006... Rapide Delivery Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez confirms the company's well-received Rapide concept will go into production. In an interview with the German newspaper Automobilwoche, Bez said executives at parent company Ford have signed off...

One extra pony per year; Anniversary VW Golf Edition 30 concept.(News)
June 5, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE Volkswagen has dropped the biggest hint yet at a powered-up version of the fifth-generation GTI with this 30th-anniversary-edition concept. Unveiled in the German city of Gelsenkirchen, the Golf Edition 30 concept...

AMG experience.(News)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Byline: Roger Hart While the new 5.5-liter V8 in the E550 is hot, the baddest of all Es is the E63 AMG, powered by the new 6.3-liter V8 ("Der Neuer 6.3,'' May 8). The nomenclature is technically not correct-at 6208 cubic centimeters,...

But Wait, There's More...(solo show called American Muscle)(AutoVantage car club survey)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... WHAT NEXT, LEE IACOCCA: THE MUSICAL? MIT graduate and trained actor Richard Thompkins conceived a solo show called American Muscle, which makes its U.S. debut in August at the New York International Fringe Festival. It follows the saga of...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
June 5, 2006... Views on newest Ferrari I'm impressed with the Ferrari 599's capabilities ("The Beast Within,'' May 22). However, a significant part of the legendary Ferrari allure is that, beyond performance, Ferraris have a visual presence unlike...

Events.(Calendar)
June 12, 2006... Aug. 10-13 35th Annual Pepsi Nightfire Nationals Eagle, Idaho To find out more about Idaho's biggest drag racing event call (208) 938-8986 or visit www.firebirdonline.com. Aug. 11-13 25th Annual National Corvette...

DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR; Life as Porsche non-owners.(News)
June 12, 2006... Byline: MAC MORRISON No substitute, eh? Porsche's long-standing slogan took up permanent residence in your author's then-nine-year-old brain back in the mid-'80s, courtesy of Risky Business. First, Tom Cruise (impossible to believe now)...

Market.(Dodge Challenger)(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... Byline: KEITH MARTIN Carlisle Auctions Carlisle, Pa. April 21 1971 Dodge Challenger convertible 383-cid four-barrel V8, automatic. Well optioned in triple black, with power top, steering, brakes and windows, a/c, rally...

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW; Ford and Shelby celebrate an almost 50-year union with a new baby.(News)
June 12, 2006... Byline: NATALIE NEFF Marriage is rarely an uncomplicated affair. Dalliances with outside parties have felled even the mightiest of unions, but the bond between Ford Motor Co. and Carroll Shelby has endured despite its share of acrimony and...

PONIES UP; Your steeds await.(News)
June 12, 2006... Is there a more American automotive form than the pony car? A combination of expressive design, sporty performance and relative affordability devised to suit our lifestyles-the way we use cars as personal transportation, most for one person or...

THE BEST FOR DEAR OL' DAD; Some gift suggestions for your automotive enthusiast dad.(Revs)
June 12, 2006... Childress Vineyards Wine NASCAR team owner/vintner Richard Childress has produced a limited-edition bottling that will appeal to both the wine connoisseur and race fan. Each Richard Childress Racing car number-2, 21, 29 and 31-is...

WAITING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT; Camaro Concept is ready to go.(product evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)
June 12, 2006... Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON Make it go. It's easy: Clutch in, slip the stick shift into first gear and push the button. It's like a rocker switch mounted sideways on the dashboard to the right of the steering column. Just a touch of the...

One Trick Vet.(evaluation of Studebaker M-29)(Product/service evaluation)
June 12, 2006... Byline: BOB TOMAINE The ability to self-destruct has never been a very popular option. Bob Rubino says his 1944 Studebaker M-29 has space over the bellhousing to hold eight pounds of TNT and will accept a detonator and wiring to...

Don't Let Yourself Get Spoiled.(fact about human condition)(Column)
June 12, 2006... Byline: Cory Farley A truth of the human condition is that we don't fully enjoy things to which we have easy access. When I was a kid, Walt Disney built his dream park a 15-minute walk from my house. For a while it was Christmas every...

SUNNY CAB; 20 years on, Saab convertible is still effervescent.(Saab-Scania of America Inc to develop Saab 9-3)
June 12, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN The Saab convertible didn't start out so much as a Swedish car as it did an American invention. In the early 1980s Bob Sinclair, then-president of Saab-Scania of America, was busy trying to take the Saab brand...

YOU SPY 'EM, WE SHARE 'EM.(News)(Dodge Company Inc.)(BMW AG)
June 12, 2006... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER AutoWeek reader/shutterbugs have been busy in recent weeks, spotting some of the latest hardware coming from Dodge and BMW. Reader Dave Thompson was driving the infamous Dragon's Tail (318 curves in 11.1 miles)...

Flash.(Briefs)
June 12, 2006... Hornet's nest On paper, DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi have gone their separate ways, but that doesn't mean an end to all future sharing. We hear DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen will likely team up to engineer the small-car...

Letters.
June 12, 2006... Cars coverage: love and disgust I've been a subscriber for many years, and the May 29 issue on Cars has to be one of the best. How much fun can one group of people have? Those at Pixar must have their share and then some. This issue is...

Get a Life, Get a Truck.(Column)
June 12, 2006... Byline: Rich Ceppos The vehicle-reviewing business is awfully good these days. With about 1600 different models on sale, there is a mother lode of new-and- improved to keep up with. It's a hard job, but we do it for the public good. ...

A NEW VANISHING POINT; Did the muscle car era really disappear in 1973?(News)
June 12, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Remember Vanishing Point, the 1971 cult movie classic? Barry Newman played the hero/antihero Kowalski who piloted a white 1970 Dodge Challenger from Denver to San Francisco in an epic car-chase masterpiece. It's on DVD...

Drivers Log.(News)
June 12, 2006... 2007 Dodge Caliber SXT Date in fleet: May 24-June 7 As-tested price: $18,230 Powertrain: 2.0-liter I4; fwd, CVT Output: 158 hp @ 6400 rpm, 141 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm Curb weight: 3039 lbs Fuel Economy (EPA combined/AW observed): 28.3/25.2 mpg...

POWER OF THE BUTTON; Subaru brings Sport mode to the masses.(News)
June 12, 2006... Byline: ANDREW LUU Why should people who can afford Porsches and M-badged BMWs be the only ones to enjoy advanced performance technology? We're talking here about those trick sport modes that sharpen throttle response and kick the engine...

TELEVISION: June 16-18.(News)
June 12, 2006... Friday, June 16 NASCAR Beyond the Wheel, 8 a.m., Speed 7 Days, 8:30 a.m., Speed American Muscle Car, 9 a.m., Speed Car Crazy, 9:30 a.m., Speed Barrett-Jackson 2006: The Auctions, 10 a.m., Speed USAR Pro Cup from...

The cooler-than-Scion Mitsubishi i.(News)(Mitsubishi Motors Corp.)
June 12, 2006... Byline: DINO DALLE CARBONARE We've been marveling at this piece of automotive mechanical packaging since we first saw a concept version at last fall's Toyko motor show ("Epic Story,'' Oct. 31, 2005). As soon as the production car arrived...

FOUR FOR FOUR; Sebastien Bourdais is perfect this year in Champ Car.(Motorsports)
June 12, 2006... Byline: STEVEN COLE SMITH The smart thinking was that if the Sebastien Bourdais juggernaut was ever to be derailed, it would be at the Milwaukee Mile. This is where Bourdais' Newman-Haas Racing team hasn't sat on the pole since 1985. This...

RACE REPORT.(Motorsports)(Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race)(Scott Dixon)
June 12, 2006... Scott Dixon won the Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix for the second straight year Sunday. The story was the losers. With cool temperatures chilling a small crowd and rain spitting throughout a shortened race, several drivers left Watkins Glen...

OH SAY, CAN THEY C? Mitsubishi hangs recovery on new C-segment entries.(News)
June 12, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Sales like this would put a GM division out of business, but Mitsubishi sees only opportunity. After peaking at 345,111 sales in the United States in 2002, Mitsubishi sold only 123,995 last year. "We believe this is...

BIG WIN FOR GRONHOLM.(Competition)
June 12, 2006... Ford driver Marcus Gronholm dominated the grueling Acropolis Rally from start to finish, comfortably outpacing his rivals from Citroen and Subaru. "The stages here were rougher than those in Africa, but the car was fantastic,'' said...

KILLER SNAKE; Is McLaren-tuned Viper headed for production?(News)
June 12, 2006... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER A hidden gem tucked away in the basement at January's Detroit auto show was the Diamondback Viper coupe, an American Specialty Cars concept featuring a 615-hp V10 tuned by McLaren Performance Technologies. ASC...

But Wait, There's More...(awards for the race winners)(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... Sorry, Dad, this one's for Mom Though we're honoring Dad June 18, Harveys, maker of seatbelt bags, passed along one for us to give away. The "Boys & Berries'' bag features raspberry pink and blue seatbelt weaving, with a flower-print...

WEB WATCH: AUTOWEEK.COM.(News)
June 12, 2006... Pony Car Pics You've read our take on the next Pony Car War, now head online for more photos and desktop wallpapers of the Camaro, Challenger and Shelby GT500. autoweek.com/latestphotos E-mails! Get your e-mails! Sometimes, once a...

AMERICA'S NEXT F1 STAR? Grandpa Mario thinks Marco Andretti has the right stuff.(Motorsports)
June 12, 2006... Byline: CURT CAVIN Had Marco Andretti been so inclined, he could have been finishing his freshman year at some East Coast college this spring. Instead, he is learning on a stage that seems increasingly international. Just where...

LUCKY OR GOOD? Either way, Matt Kenseth ignored the boss and took Dover.(Motorsports)(Matt Kenseth )(Robbie Reiser )(Dover Nextel Cup race)
June 12, 2006... Byline: AL PEARCE It's almost a shame Matt Kenseth won the Dover Nextel Cup race. If he hadn't, NASCAR Nation might have been treated to a Kenseth vs. Robbie Reiser smack-down in the garage. Their fight likely would have progressed to the...

Flash.(Briefs)(Scott Pruett)(David Stremme)(Scott Dixon)
June 12, 2006... More Camrys Germain Racing and Wyler Racing are considering fielding Camrys in a handful of Nextel Cup races next year. If it happens, it won't be part of Toyota Racing Development's three-team, six-car "factory'' stable of Bill Davis...

UNBEATABLE? All-conquering Audi is bringing its new diesel to Le Mans for the first time.(News)
June 19, 2006... Byline: GARY WATKINS Can anyone beat the new Audi R10? That's the question on everyone's mind leading up to the 2006 Le Mans 24 Hour. The revolutionary new turbodiesel racer proved it had the speed and reliability to win big sports car...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
June 19, 2006... Indy rejuvenated Thanks for an insightful piece on Sam Hornish Jr., his family and his ride to victory at the Indy 500 (Cover Story, June 5). As a CART fan who lost a lot of interest in the 500 after the IRL split, I was pulling for an...

2009 VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO; A strong wind blows a hot coupe into production.(News)
June 19, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE After months of internal struggles and arguments over its design, Volkswagen officials have finally given the low-slung Scirocco coupe the green light. Arguments over the car were heated: On one side were the...

'07 CIVIC TYPE-R; Is this Honda rocket headed stateside?(News)
June 19, 2006... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER With Acura out of the way ("Acura To Drop RSX,'' May 15), we hope that part of the goal was to clear market space at the top end of the Honda Civic lineup for U.S. sales of the Type-R. After the 2006 model year...

FUTURE VWs.(News)
June 19, 2006... Byline: Greg Kable Our moles not only gave up the goods on the new Scirocco, they also dug up what else Volkswagen is doing to fill out its future lineup. After Rabbit and Eos later this year, here's what's coming from Wolfsburg: 2006...

Max Fun in a Most Minimal Minivan.(Escape Roads)
June 19, 2006... Byline: JOHN F. KATZ The Stow 'n Go seats that fold neatly flat into the floors of 2005-06 Chrysler minivans have been hailed as one of the most clever innovations in the annals of transportation. And rightly so-except Chrysler didn't...

AUDI TT, TAKE II; A fresh look and a smooth V6 make the new TT a car to cherish.(News)
June 19, 2006... Byline: Greg Kable "Style over substance'' could describe the first-generation Audi TT. Despite its jaw-dropping, Bauhaus-inspired looks, it was not a truly great drive. Memorable-yes-if only for all the attention that rounded coupe...

Flash.(Briefs)
June 19, 2006... Chip's Challenger Designer extraordinaire Chip Foose and Texas-based Unique Performance will build a limited run of cars based on the 1970 Plymouth Challenger. Production begins in July to transform 1970 and 1971 Challengers into modern...

The Euro Set's Favorite Concours; Quality trumps quantity at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.(Revs)
June 19, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS Idyllic weather at a major concours shows off any classic car-and its old-time toxic flat paint-in the proper light. The 49 polished vintage rides vying for awards at this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este never...

CRUISE CONTROL; Fernando Alonso continues his F1 domination.(Motorsports)
June 19, 2006... Byline: NIGEL ROEBUCK No question about it, Fernando Alonso has this Formula One thing worked out. At Silverstone the world champion scored his fifth win of the season, his third in a row. Pole position, 10 points, fastest lap-the full...

WE 007 THE '07 SILVERADO.(News)
June 19, 2006... Our spies caught this camera-ready 2007 Chevrolet Silverado as it sprinted out of a car carrier and ran through a carwash in preparation for a television commercial shoot. Shown here in Crew Cab configuration with the Z71 off-road package and...

Web Watch: Autoweek.com.(News)
June 19, 2006... Cool Bavarian Coupes BMW and Audi have awesome coupes creeping into showrooms, with BMW's M Coupe hitting the streets and Audi's next-gen TT right behind it, and we've got more photos of each online. Which one is your fave?...

Flash.(Briefs)
June 19, 2006... Hornish not jumping Roger Penske said Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr., 26, isn't headed to NASCAR anytime soon, even though the driver harbors some stock car aspirations. Penske said Hornish's contract of undisclosed length calls...

NHRA PRODUCES RECORD SPEEDS IN JOLIET.(Competition)
June 19, 2006... Got horsepower? Every drag racer must answer that question in the affirmative before setting a wheel on the ridiculously fast racing surface at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. The track bears the nickname "Record Setting Drag...

Drivers Log.(News)
June 19, 2006... 2007 Saturn Sky Date in fleet: May 17-24 As-tested price: $26,205 Powertrain: 2.4-liter I4; rwd, five-speed automatic Output: 177 hp @ 6600 rpm, 166 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm Curb weight: 2860 lbs Fuel Economy (EPA combined): 23.6 mpg RAYNAL:...

KUSTOM KAR KULTURE KASHES IN; Art and artifacts top $3 million at RM auction.(Revs)
June 19, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN There was a time when you could drive your car into Von Dutch's shop in Venice, California, and have him pinstripe it for $25. Usually it was more than that, but there were a couple of jobs done for next to nothing back...

But Wait, There's More...(automobile racing)(Brief article)
June 19, 2006... Boolah-Boolah-Boolah We Want Mini Moolah Mini has created a "customizable'' Visa credit card that allows holders to design their own card's image. Not only might you have your Mini getting eaten by an orange-painted beagle, but the card...