AutoWeek articles from March 2006

AutoWeek archives from March 2006

50 Years of Formula 1 On-Board.(Revs)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Byline: JOE KOVACH 50 Years of Formula 1 On-Board, from Formula One archives, 60-minute DVD, Ardennes Productions, motorbooks.com, $34.95 We found ourselves getting a bit dizzy watching this DVD, leaning left and right while moving our...

GREEN MEANS GO; Lexus unleashes its most powerful hybrid yet.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART Toyota plans to build only 6000 Lexus GS 450h sedans for sale worldwide with just 2000 slated for the United States, so the car won't significantly add to the company's global bottom line. But the newest hybrid in the...

Going in Circles; Let's play connect-the-NASCAR-GM-dots.(Column)
March 6, 2006... Byline: Kevin A. Wilson Dot One: In the buildup to the Daytona 500, NASCAR announced plans to use unleaded gasoline in 2008. NASCAR has had an exemption from the ban on leaded gasoline for 15 years now. In only two more years, though,...

MERCEDES launches a big 'un.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: WES RAYNAL So another huge sport/utility vehicle is hitting the market. Well, that's just great. Who thought that was a good idea? Clearly Mercedes-Benz did. There are a few reasons for this. One, the company's big, bad new GL...

Market.(Escape Roads)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Byline: KEITH MARTIN RM Auctions Phoenix Jan. 20 1967 Ferrari 212E Montagna 1995-cc flat-12, five-speed. Red with aluminum rocker panels, black racing seat, gold Campagnolo wheels; right- hand drive. Undefeated in the...

PAGANI AND HIS FANGIO ROADSTER.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS Just as we were universally drawn to the roadster version of the previous Pagani Zonda S, the Zonda Roadster F at Geneva is also something to behold. Built for a customer-as with all Pagani showpieces-the roadster...

When Duty Calls.(Escape Roads)
March 6, 2006... Byline: ERIC TEGLER While first impressions suggest Gunnery Sgt. Steve Mayhue and his 1982 Honda Civic FE are a rather odd couple, the six-foot-plus Marine and the diminutive Japanese econobox are strangely in sync. The U.S. Marines are...

THE PEOPLE'S SPORTS CAR; The Corvette proves world-class performance need not be exclusive.(Auto File)
March 6, 2006... We just knew the Chevrolet Corvette had more to give, even though numerous runs down the drag strip told us a different story. After 12 attempts at a 0-to-60-mph time, not a single run came back under five seconds. You might guess our...

PORSCHE'S RACE-BRED 911 IS BACK.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE Porsche's powered-up GT3 lands in North American showrooms in August, providing buyers with a hard-core $106,000 alternative to a raft of 911 models. Making its public debut alongside the fifth-generation 911 Turbo at...

ALLROAD NOT FOR OUR ROADS.(News)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE Audi's big new Q7 sport/utility vehicle is already coming under attack-from within its own ranks in the form of the new A6 allroad revealed at Geneva. The second-generation version of the high-riding A6 is not...

Getting His Due; Matt Kenseth leads a Roush Racing sweep AT California.(Motorsports)
March 6, 2006... Byline: CURT CAVIN Matt Kenseth was the appropriate winner of Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at California Speedway. Not only is Kenseth low on the excitement barometer, like most of the stock car races on this wide and sweeping...

MURCIELAGO LP640-THE DEVIL RETURNS.(News)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE Four and a half years after the launch of the Murcielago, Lamborghini unwraps the LP640, a 6.5-liter V12-powered version of its range-topping model. LP640 is capable of blasting from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds-0.4...

WEB WATCH: AUTOWEEK.COM.(News)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... NEWS AND BLOGS FROM GENEVA We've dispatched a squad of staffers to the land of watches and chocolate, where we will bring you the latest from the Geneva motor show. Our editors will be banging away on their keyboards to record their...

In the Face of Danger; Know how cops learn their moves? Like this...(Revs)
March 6, 2006... Byline: Andrew Luu We were piloting a fourth-gen Mazda 626 with a Dodge Aries K wagon hot on our tail, ramming our bumper. We weaved to block when the Aries' engine screamed, giving away the intention to try and accelerate alongside. We...

RAGGED EDGE; Mercedes-Benz rewrites ragtop rules with CLK-DTM Cabriolet.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE World's fastest four-seat open top! That's the claim Mercedes-Benz applies to its new CLK-DTM Cabriolet. Sister model to the CLK-DTM Coupe produced throughout 2005, Mercedes plans to build just 100 convertibles-none of...

OPEL GT WORLD PREMIER.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: Greg Kable The nameplate that adorned one of Opel's most admired models returns after 30 years. The General Motors division will sell a European version of the Saturn Sky, badged the GT, though this new car, unlike the coupe...

Flash.(Briefs)
March 6, 2006... Audi will do four Audi Sport confirmed it will field a four-car factory team in the DTM touring car series. The drivers will be Mattias Ekstrom, Tom Kristensen, Martin Tomczyk and probably Heinz-Harald Frentzen. The other Audi teams will...

NHRA shakeup in Phoenix.(Competition)
March 6, 2006... The first two national events of the NHRA season have been a banquet for the supporting players from last year's championship races and a veritable famine for most of the biggest hitters in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock. For instance,...

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE... Much is new to Formula One, but the usual suspects will lead the way.(Motorsports)
March 6, 2006... Byline: NIGEL ROEBUCK A lot will be different in Formula One this year. By and large the significant drivers remain with the same teams, but there are rule changes, both technological and sporting, and folks are holding their breath-not...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
March 6, 2006... Craving Dodge's Mini fighter DCX needs to think seriously about small cars. I saw the new Dodge Caliber at the Chicago show. It's nice, but too big to replace my VW R32. Then I saw the Dodge Hornet in your Feb. 20 issue. Wow! DCX could use...

Formula One's Must-See Races.(Motorsports)
March 6, 2006... Spanish Grand Prix, May 14, Barcelona, Spain In a recent survey Barcelona was identified as the most popular tourist destination in Europe, and there is no question it is a super-cool city. In a New York sort of way, the locals do not...

2006 AUDI A3 2.0T: More Like A-Plus; Audi's A3 scores well in its first term.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: NATALIE NEFF Never has this small an all-purpose car warranted such a hefty price tag. Perhaps that sounds like blatant overstatement, but we don't care because we love our little Audi. It has delighted us in every way while...

Drivers Log.(News)
March 6, 2006... 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi Date in fleet: Jan. 30-Feb. 13 As-tested price: $34,720 Powertrain: 2.8-liter turbocharged V6; fwd, six-speed manual Output: 250 hp @ 5500 rpm, 258 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm Curb weight: 3175 lbs Fuel Economy (EPA...

KARTING'S GOLDEN SUMMER; Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Modern Auto Racing's Cornerstone.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: PETE LYONS One August day in 1956 a creative soul named Art Ingels, nominally employed by Frank Kurtis to build Indianapolis Roadsters in Glendale, California, found himself with too little to do and a little lawnmower motor that...

Norway's Taxing Behavior.(Column)
March 6, 2006... Byline: Matt Davis Norway and Iceland are the only two deliberate holdouts in the "United States of Europe'' vision for the European Union. Both northern republics, with their extremely healthy economies (Icelandic fish; Norwegian...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)
March 6, 2006... Press Releases We Didn't Finish Study Finds Dashboard Dining Can Affect Vehicle Resale Value: Kelley Blue Book and Taco Bell Survey Examines "Drive-Thru Effect...'' Piaggio Group America Places Full-Page Ad in the New York Times: Open...

TWO-DOOR ROLLER.(product development)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE Rolls-Royce calls the 101EX a concept, but it is more than that: The plush four-seater is a thinly disguised look at the production coupe due in 2008. Sister to Rolls-Royce's coming Corniche convertible shown in...

1930 NEW YORK AUTO SALON REVISITED?(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS One of the great ironies of automotive lore is that the 1929 Wall Street collapse came just as coachbuilders were getting into a wildly elegant groove. Italian house Isotta-Fraschini and coachbuilder Castagna were right...

TOYOTA ATTACKS URBAN JUNGLE.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS Toyota doesn't usually make a big splash at Geneva, its most significant show car to date being the 2004 Italdesign-Giugiaro Toyota Alessandro Volta. Toyota holds true to this under-the-radar pattern with the tiny Urban...

Events.(calendar)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
March 6, 2006... May 5-7 Pomona Nitro Nationals Pomona, Calif. For details on this drag, show and swap meet call (925) 838-9876 or visit good-guys.com. May 6 Britfest 2006 Succasunna, N.J. Morgan is featured marque. Call (201)...

F1 MORPHS AGAIN.(Motorsports)
March 6, 2006... Engine The 3.0-liter V10 engines are gone, replaced by 2.4-liter V8s that should surpass 20,000 rpm. The idea is to reduce costs (though many Formula One engineers say it has had the opposite effect), cut speeds and increase safety. ...

TV: March 10-12.(calendar)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
March 6, 2006... Friday, March 10 Formula One practice from Bahrain, 6 a.m., Speed (L) Barrett-Jackson 2006: The Auctions, 10 a.m., Speed Inside Grand Prix: Bahrain, 5:30 p.m., Speed NASCAR Live, 6 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Nextel Cup...

X-ACTLY; Saab concept reverts to the company's aircraft roots.
March 6, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART GM hopes to steal the spotlight at the Geneva motor show with the Saab Aero-X concept that, well, doesn't really look like it comes from Saab. At least not in this century. In an attempt to create some buzz for its...

ARACHNOPHOBIA CURED! New Mitsu Spyder has our Spydey sense a tingling.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: MARK VAUGHN We don't have a whole lot of information on the encounter, outside of the six lines of 400-year-old poetry, but we know Little Miss Muffet was frightened away when "along came a spider.'' We can't fault her for that,...

GTO A GO; Plans for Pontiac muscle car, Chevy Camaro, at full tilt.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: GREG KABLE The Pontiac GTO lives! It will be replaced in late 2008 by a new model underpinned by General Motors' latest rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform, with a strong likelihood of it being built on the same production line as the...

GM'S RAY OF SUNSHINE; New big ute is better and cheaper.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: CARRIE ROCA No doubt lots of things are broken at General Motors these days, but GMC isn't one of them. GMC enjoys a cachet mostly missing from other General Motors divisions, with its largest sales not in the Midwest as you...

GOOD READS.(Revs)
March 13, 2006... Byline: JOE KOVACH 1 Challenger & 'Cuda, Mopar's E-Body Muscle Cars, by Robert Genat, hardbound, 192 pages, Motorbooks, motorbooks.com, $31.46 A history and coffee-table book. "The story of the 1970 E-Body [Chrysler's pony car...

WEB WATCH: AUTOWEEK.COM.(News)
March 13, 2006... * Geneva mission accomplished We've got the Geneva show covered like an Alpine snowstorm. You can cruise through stories and photos of more than 50 vehicles. And read Geneva blogs (autoweek.com/blogs) from AutoWeek editor Dutch Mandel and...

2006 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS, BOB GRITZINGER, ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL 1. Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon Having just driven this smaller D-segment beauty, suffice to say this is a gorgeous piece of purely Italian genius that really does...

Market.(Maserati 300S goes on auction)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: KEITH MARTIN RM Auctions Phoenix Jan. 20 1955 Maserati 300S 2991-cc dohc six; five-speed. One of 30 built. Red with red tonneau, aluminum interior, black racing seat. Chrome Borrani wire wheels, side exhaust,...

Pitchmen on the High Banks.(Column)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Rich Ceppos America's two biggest sports staged their super bowls in the month of February, and we have a winner. NASCAR vs. the NFL. The Daytona 500 vs. the pigskin classic. But not the game. Not the race. The ads. Everyone...

Events.(Calendar)
March 13, 2006... May 7 Dixie Antique Car Show & Flea Market Mount Vernon, Ohio Featuring motorcycles, tractors, trucks and stationary engines. Call (740) 392-7758 for details. May 10-19 Columbus Auto Show Columbus, Ohio Find out...

Most Fun: Ferrari 599 GTB.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS, BOB GRITZINGER, ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL A classic mid-front V12 Ferrari two-seater good for close to 210 mph: What could be more fun? This 575M Maranello replacement looks new in Ferrari styling terms even...

Honda Civic Type-R Concept.(from Honda Motor Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS, BOB GRITZINGER, ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL Honda brought out a big gun-Formula One driver Jenson Button-to lend track creds to its reveal of the Civic Type-R. Like most Honda concepts, this three-door...

Volkswagen Concept A.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS, BOB GRITZINGER, ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL VW is getting adventurous. The Concept A was conceived to herald a new compact four-wheel-drive SUV that is planned to launch in the United States in 2008. Billed as...

2006 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS, BOB GRITZINGER, ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL 1. Opel GT Third in the sausage series of cars off the same platform, the only way you will notice the difference between the Saturn Sky and Opel GT is if you...

Hyundai Genus Concept.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL We've seen our share of these coupe-wagon crossovers this auto show season, but none with this many cool features in such a practical, sporty package. Designed at the Korean carmaker's European...

BMW Z4 Coupe/Z4 M Coupe.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL BMW made good on the promise of the Z4 Coupe concept it showed last fall at Frankfurt by delivering the production models at Geneva. The base Z4 Coupe comes with a 3.0-liter, 265-hp inline-six,...

Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet.(from Ford Motor Co.)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL As he climbed down from the stage after the reveal of the Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet, all Ford North America man Jim Padilla could tell us is we aren't getting this one anytime soon, if ever....

Volvo S80.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL Here's a big message for North America regarding the bigger, second-generation S80: The new car is Volvo's first sedan to offer the compact 4.4-liter, 315-hp V8. The base inline-six grows to 3.2...

Tata Cliffrider Concept.(from Tata Motors Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL Last year Tata unveiled its Crossover concept in Geneva; this year the Indian automaker shows the Cliffrider that is derived from the Crossover. Call it a smaller version of the Honda Ridgeline....

Suzuki SX4.(coming in 2010 A.D.)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL Suzuki has high hopes for its sharp new entry in the five-door small sport crossover sweepstakes. This is critical to the Japanese company's business plan that sees worldwide annual sales leaping...

Morgan Roadster Four-Seater.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL British firm Morgan has been around for 97 years, having made its name mostly with two-seat roadsters. But the small, family-owned firm decided it needed to expand the lineup with a four-seater,...

Spyker Peking-to-Paris.(Spyker Automobilien launches sport utility vehicle)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL Dutch company Spyker claims to have invented a new category of vehicle with its Peking-to-Paris car, er, super sport/utility vehicle. Spyker has 90 orders for Peking-to-Paris, which won't be...

Mazda 3 MPS.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL After four short years Mazda's best-selling model globally gets redesigned. With a 2.3-liter intercooled turbocharger that pumps out 250 hp at 5500 rpm, the 3 hits 60 mph from a stop in just more...

Skoda Roomster.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL At the last Geneva show Skoda showed off a concept of this Roomster that was interesting and (in its own way) attractive. This year, to mark the company's 100th anniversary, comes this production...

Mitsubishi Colt CZC.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL Though it shared space with the Ferrari 599, the Alfa Romeo Spider and the Volvo V70 Cabrio on the Pininfarina stand, Mitsubishi's CZC Cabrio leaves something to be desired. Absolutely cute in...

Renault Altica Concept.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL This latest master stroke from Renault chief of design Patrick le Quement is a futuristic 2+2 wagon with vertical doors, fold-flat rear seats and fluid styling that incorporates a mechanical...

But Wait, There's More...(automobiles)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... TRASH THE RENTAL! * A BWTM reader provided us with these photos. Seems he was loaned a Hummer H3 while his Mercedes G500 was in the shop. His only request: "I would like to remain anonymous. I purchased the insurance, but I am sure there...

Drivers Log.(News)
March 13, 2006... 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara Luxury Package Date in fleet: Feb. 13-27 As-tested price: $24,994 Powertrain: 2.7-liter V6; 4wd, five-speed automatic Output: 185 hp @ 6000 rpm, 184 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm Curb weight: 3505 lbs Fuel economy (EPA...

Bye-Bye Bimmer; Bidding auf Wiedersehen to our long-term 5 Series.(vehicle from BMW AG)(Product/service evaluation)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Natalie Neff How quickly a year passes from behind the wheel of a 325-horse V8-powered BMW 545i. And how pleasurably. A scan of the logbook reveals nary a complaint regarding the BMW's performance, from a power, ride and...

LOEB WINS RALLY MEXICO.(Sebastien Loeb )
March 13, 2006... Citron's reigning champion Sebastien Loeb took his first World Rally Championship win of the year in Mexico, moving into the series lead with a five-point advantage over Ford driver Marcus Gronholm. Subaru's Petter Solberg was Loeb's...

A Pinnacle of Sleeve-Valve Power.(Escape Roads)
March 13, 2006... Byline: JOHN F. KATZ One hundred was a lot of horsepower in 1914, even for an 8.0-liter engine in a low-production luxury car. Yet 100 was the figure claimed for the remarkable Stearns-Knight Six, of which at least 350 were assembled from...

Flash.(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc.'s official Hall of Fame)(Guenther Steiner joining Red Bull's new NASCAR team )(automobile racing)
March 13, 2006... Charlotte gets Hall The uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, area will be home to NASCAR's official Hall of Fame. The facility will be near the intersection of Brevard and Stonewall streets. Charlotte, Daytona Beach and Atlanta were among...

Mercedes' Big Guns; Geneva premiere for two AMG models.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART Mercedes-Benz used the Geneva show to unveil two refreshed AMG models that come to the United States later this year. The CLK63 AMG Cabriolet (below) is powered by a hand-built 6.3-liter V8 that makes 481 hp and 465...

TELEVISION: March 17-19.(automobile races on television)
March 13, 2006... Friday, March 17 Formula One practice from Malaysia, 1 a.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Beyond the Wheel, 8 a.m., Speed American Chopper, 9 a.m., Discovery Car Crazy, 9:30 a.m., Speed Barrett-Jackson 2006: The Auctions, 10 a.m.,...

Meet Me at the Derby.(automobile races)(Column)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Richard S. Chang A few weeks ago I went to my nephew's Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. Ouch, did that bring back some bad memories. I remember building my first car-the instructions spread in front of me, making my first cut with the...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
March 13, 2006... Additions to the track-car list Your Feb. 20 "Track Day'' section was well timed for the coming spring. It made me look at the kit cars you highlighted as options. But in the track-car segment, you didn't mention my daily driver, a Subaru...

2006 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL 1. Kia Carnival Kia gives its unthrilling short-wheelbase global MPV an edgier makeover to help it compete. The Carnival's rear side doors now both slide open, and these and the tailgate...

Best in Show: SAAB AERO-X.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS, BOB GRITZINGER, ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL We told you all about this Saab in last week's cover story ("X-Actly,'' March 6), and while we had an inkling it could end up a show winner, we had to see the show...

STAR MAP; Car counts aren't a concern in Mazda's Pro Series, while 2006 marks MX-5 Cup's inaugural season.(Mazda Motor of America Inc.)
March 13, 2006... Byline: STEVEN COLE SMITH Open-wheel racing is in trouble? Try telling that to the competitors in the IMSA-sanctioned Star Mazda Championship series, which averaged 38 cars per race in 2005. The stepping-stone series-which has helped...

SPEED DEMONS.(Motorsports)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Steven Cole Smith With the Trans-Am series in limbo, expect road racing fans to focus on the SCCA Speed World Challenge GT and Touring Car series even more this year. The World Challenge is one of the healthiest road racing series...

Most Significant: Ford S-Max.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS, BOB GRITZINGER, ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL Urgent memo to Dearborn: We like what we see in the Focus-based S-Max so much, we wonder why such a significant car can't make its way here? S-Max, a five- or...

Best Concept: Dodge Hornet Concept.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS, BOB GRITZINGER, ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL Dodge made a splash with its B-class Hornet aimed at the likes of the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris, not to mention the class king, the Mini Cooper. The...

CLICK FOR VINTAGE RACING PHOTOS.(Revs)
March 13, 2006... Vintage photos of famous Fords (the cars, not the people) are just a mouse click away now that Ford Motor Co. has made portions of its vast photo archive available through ArteHouse, a Santa Barbara, California art publisher. If you've ever...

EXTRA SPICY; Porsche gives the red-hot Cayenne Turbo S even more fire.
March 13, 2006... Byline: NATALIE NEFF Just a few short years ago the notion of a Porsche-engineered and -branded sport/ute challenged the sensibilities of even the most cynical car enthusiasts. The vaunted sports car maker-sire of such gloriously pure...

Flash.(new vehicle from General Motors Corp.)(Otis Chandler passes away)(Obituary)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... More Saturn Opels? While General Motors' European Opel brand showed its version of the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky at Geneva in the form of an Opel GT, GM officials say the product flow will soon be moving in the opposite direction....

BATTLE ROYAL; Spectacular Racing Is On Tap In The ALMS.(Motorsports)
March 13, 2006... Byline: GARY WATKINS Audi, Porsche, Chevrolet, BMW, Ferrari, Aston Martin: Some of the world's top sports car manufacturers will be on the grid in this year's American Le Mans Series. Factor in Panoz and Lexus, not to mention specialist...

ALMS's Must-See Races.(automobile races)
March 13, 2006... Sebring 12 Hour, March 18, Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Florida Every motorsports fan should attend the Sebring 12 Hour at least once. It is a North American sports car fixture-Daytona's 24-hour race can't approach it as an...

SWISS SPOTLIGHT; Few concepts shine at Geneva show.(Geneva Auto Show)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: MATT DAVIS, BOB GRITZINGER, ROGER HART, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL Maybe it was the heavy gray skies that finally gave way to two days of snow that put us in a bit of a funk during press preview days for the Geneva motor show. Or...

Drivers Log.(News)
March 20, 2006... 2006 Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas Date in fleet: Feb. 22-March 8 As-tested price: $79,795 Powertrain: 4.2-liter V8; rwd, six-speed automatic Output: 300 hp @ 6000 rpm, 310 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm Curb weight: 3819 lbs Fuel Economy (EPA combined/AW...

TELEVISION: March 24-26.(television programmes reports)
March 20, 2006... Friday, March 24 American Chopper, 9 a.m., Discovery American Muscle Car, 9 a.m., Speed Car Crazy, 9:30 a.m., Speed Barrett-Jackson 2006: The Auctions, 10 a.m., Speed Barrett-Jackson 2006: The Auctions, 1 p.m., Speed ...

Events.(Calendar)(Calendar)
March 20, 2006... May 13 Shelby Employee Reunion Rosamond, Calif. Come talk cars with former Shelby drivers, mechanics and engineers. Call (714) 962-2772 or visit willowspringsraceway.com for more information. May 13 ToyotaFest Long...

2006 IRL SCHEDULE.(Motorsports)
March 20, 2006... March 26 Homestead, Fla., 3:30 p.m., ABC April 2 St. Petersburg, Fla., 3:30 p.m., ESPN April 22 Motegi, Japan, noon, ESPN May 28 Indianapolis, 1 p.m., ABC June 4 Watkins Glen, N.Y., 3:30 p.m., ABC June 10 Fort Worth,...