AutoWeek articles from November 2005

AutoWeek archives from November 2005

Treasure Found.(Escape Roads)
November 7, 2005... Byline: ERIC TEGLER Every once in a while we're reminded why Escape Roads is such an apropos part of AutoWeek. Sure, the cars are interesting, but far more important are the associations they evoke. It's like that for Chris Fumagalli,...

GERMANS GET SERIOUS ABOUT SEMA; VW searches for its soul in Las Vegas.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Is Volkswagen still cool? It certainly used to be. The GTI was the first cool import car-with power, handling and a cachet different enough that the youth of America could own it and not feel like they were...

WHEN BETTER BUICKS Are Built... Canadians are building them.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON Ever since the Toyota Avalon arrived in 1994, car writers have called the big sedan "the best Buick money can buy,'' playing around with variations on the old ad campaign that proclaimed "When better Buicks are...

CIVIC SHOWPIECE; Honda will use the Civic Si to highlight its Manufacturer of the Show status at SEMA.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: \MARK VAUGHN After having abandoned the tuner market for a while, or at least after having "focused its energy in other directions that did not include the tuner market'' for a while, Honda is back in a big way, a huge way, with...

Events.(Calendar)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 7, 2005... Dec. 26-Jan. 1, 2006 Indianapolis Auto Show Indianapolis Call (317) 266-8455 or visit adai-inc.org for details on this Indiana Convention Center event. Dec. 30-Jan. 2, 2006 Hangover Nationals Palmdale, Calif. ...

Market.(Escape Roads)(Morris Minor)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Byline: KEITH MARTIN RM Auctions Novi, Mich. Sept. 23 1956 Morris Minor Traveller Custom Red with wood sides, cream and white leather interior. 350-cid V8, three-speed auto with overdrive. Mounted on custom tube frame....

PRIUS RELEASE ME; Our long-term Toyota lets us go-and lets us down.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: NATALIE NEFF For most of us, the end couldn't come quickly enough. 16,056 miles and 12 months proved a bit too much and a little too long with the Toyota Prius. We don't hate the little hybrid, mind you. But as we've said time...

AMERICA'S WORLD CHAMP; California flier Mike Mangold wins Red Bull Air Race World Series above San Francisco Bay.(Competition)
November 7, 2005... Byline: PETE LYONS Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz means to make an American racer a world champion. We don't want the Austrian energy drink tycoon to quit now, but in fact he already has his man. Mike Mangold is America's new champ,...

SIX GOES INTO ONE; The hottest 1 Series yet is seriously good.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: MATT DAVIS BMW's 130i has more power and is faster than the 330i, 530i or 630i. The car is a prime candidate for "best handling, best equipped'' compact premium passenger car worldwide, thanks largely to its long wheelbase, solid...

DOWN TO THREE; Realistically, the Chase is between Stewart, Johnson and Biffle.(Motorsports)
November 7, 2005... Byline: AL PEARCE Tony Stewart is wrong. Dead wrong, for that matter. In fact, ol' Smoke could not be more wrong if he sat down and tried to be more wrong. Stewart thinks we're all smart enough to see that everybody is still alive and...

Flash.(Briefs)
November 7, 2005... Silly season heats up NASCAR's ongoing silly season took another turn when Bill Davis Racing said Scott Wimmer would not return for a third year. Dave Blaney, being released by Richard Childress in favor of Busch Series star Clint Bowyer,...

PORSCHE JUICES THE 911; Rapid new Turbo set for Geneva debut.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: GREG KABLE No one can accuse Porsche of failing to make the most of the 911. Though the latest iteration of the iconic German supercar, the 997 as it is known internally, has been with us only a year, already there are eight...

WILL WHELDON LEAVE ANDRETTI GREEN?(Competition)
November 7, 2005... Forgive us if the secret is out of the bag by now, but we entered the week with Dan Wheldon's future hanging in the balance. The Brit, who staged a remarkable 2005 by winning both the Indianapolis 500 and the Indy Racing League...

TELEVISION: Nov. 11-13.(News)(Calendar)
November 7, 2005... Friday, Nov. 11 NASCAR Beyond the Wheel, 1 a.m., Speed The Chase Is On, 2 a.m., Speed Car Crazy, 2:30 a.m., Speed Barrett-Jackson Automobile Auction from Palm Beach, Fla., 3 a.m., Speed Legends of Motorsport: Brands Hatch...

Essence of the Machine.(Column)(sports cars)(Column)
November 7, 2005... Byline: Kevin A. Wilson Nissan's GT-R Proto concept ("The Talk of Tokyo,'' Oct. 31) and the tuner-oriented news out of SEMA triggered a memory that came streaming back as if it were yesterday. It was my first encounter with a Nissan...

LUXURY Liner; This thinly disguised Lexus LS sedan flagship should worry the competition.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: DUTCH MANDEL It would not be a hardship to take a long, close look at this latest Lexus show car for all the same reasons it would not be a hardship to gaze upon a lithe supermodel. The LF-sh is gorgeous. For a company whose...

GR8SRT8; There's nothing vain about Chrysler's throwback hot rod.(Auto File)
November 7, 2005... For those who need to be noticed, the Chrysler 300C SRT8 ain't the car for you. Better stick with something flashier, like a Lamborghini, or inyerface, like the car-crushing Gravedigger. Most SRT8 owners have noted the car's sleeper qualities...

Drivers Log.(News)
November 7, 2005... 2006 Ford Explorer Limited Date in fleet: Sept. 16-30 As-tested price: $45,125 Powertrain: 4.6-liter V8; 4wd, six-speed automatic Output: 292 hp @ 5750 rpm, 300 lb-ft @ 3950 rpm Curb weight: 4777 lbs Fuel mileage (EPA combined/AW...

NEWS YOU CAN USE.(Revs)
November 7, 2005... Q: Why do manufacturers of run-flat tires suggest you not patch tires that get holes in them, like when you run over a screw? Matt Edmonds, vp for The Tire Rack, explains: A: Most manufacturers allow repair of up to a one-quarter-inch...

SPECS & DATA.(Auto File)(DaimlerChrysler)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 7, 2005... MANUFACTURER INFO DaimlerChrysler Corp. 1000 Chrysler Drive Auburn Hills MI 48326-2776 Customer assistance: (800) 992-1997 Internet address: chrysler.com Country of origin: Canada Number of dealers: 2900 (est.)...

Owners say...(Auto File)
November 7, 2005... This car exceeds my expectations. The combination of AMG-type performance and 300C looks on a Chrysler budget makes it an attractive buy. The SRT8 stops and goes with big-league performance, though at the expense of fuel economy and excessive...

CROSSOVER CRAZE.(News)
November 7, 2005... A month after showing its all-new full-size sport/utility vehicles, General Motors announced it will launch several new car-based crossover vehicles over the next four years. Bob Lutz, vice chairman of product development, said crossovers...

Letters.
November 7, 2005... Letters vs. letters Dalton M. Jones' Oct. 24 letter making fun of Hummers is nonsensical, implying that people laugh at 1977 Trans Ams. The opposite is true, as second-generation F-bodies are considered classics. My daily driver is a '78...

Fast Poll.(News)(Letter to the Editor)
November 7, 2005... Readers approve of the Mitsubishi Concept-X and hope it reveals much of the future Evolution; they see the new car as a strong candidate to lead the company's resurgence. Mitsubishi nailed the Concept-X's design, which looks great from all...

NO DEALS ON DIESEL; Even as gas prices slip, oil burners continue to pay.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: ROGER HART Hurricanes Katrina and Rita dealt a double blow to Gulf oil production and consumers slammed hard in the wallet in the days and weeks following the storms. While gasoline prices have retreated somewhat, diesel prices...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)(cars)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME In South Carolina a would-be carjacking victim foiled his attacker by slamming his door into the carjacker's legs and throwing a cup of hot coffee at his face. The driver wrested the gun from the suspect and pointed...

Peace, Love and Rickety Vans.(Column)(Column)
November 7, 2005... Byline: Cory Farley I was never one of those people who thought the Volkswagen Bus was the solution to the world's transportation problem. I'm of the right vintage, and my memories of the '60s are fond. I had the hair, wore the tie-dye...

AutoWeek Design Forum.(News)
November 7, 2005... Lead by Design Jan. 11, 2006 Detroit Speakers include Giorgetto Giugiaro, Italdesign (photo) Peter Horbury, Ford Joel Piaskowski, Hyundai Dicky Riegel, Thor Industries Bob Wheeler, Airstream Encore...

Flash.(Briefs)(Ford Mustang redesign; Dave Hill retires from Chevrolet Corvette)
November 7, 2005... Foose on the loose California-based designer Chip Foose is not content to rest on the hardtop laurels of his limited-edition 2006 Stallion coupe revealed at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit last August ("Foose Fighter,'' Aug. 22):...

In the Heart of Germany, a Cache of Italian Cars Shines.(Revs)
November 7, 2005... Byline: JOHN LeBLANC If you want to see one of the world's most eclectic collections of Italian autos, don't go to Italy. Instead, point your compass a bit more north, specifically, to the city of Aschaffenburg in Germany, halfway between...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
November 14, 2005... Our Nov. 7 story on the 2006 Buick Lucerne should have said the car is built at General Motors' Hamtramck, Michigan, plant, ranked third best in North America (the Oshawa, Ontario, plant ranks third worldwide under the same J.D. Power...

NO ECLIPSE OF THE FUN.(News)(Mitsubishi)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Mac Morrison Mitsubishi presented some tricked-out treats at SEMA, but more relevant to performance junkies was the rollout of the Diamond Star's in-house Ralliart parts and accessories program (ralliartusa.com). Ralliart,...

Confluence of Car Crud.(Column)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Dutch Mandel Someone said that to make money in the stock market requires knowledge, insight and the ability to see trends and capitalize on their convergence. I hope I did not witness the redistribution of guns and butter. ...

FUSING SIX; Ford looks to SEMA to add spice to its new family flag bearer.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Andrew Luu You can always count on car manufacturers to turn up at the SEMA show to try to convince drivers their latest cars hold a lot more potential than meets the eye. Consider the Ford Fusion. One can't be faulted for...

AUTOWEEK'S FAST FIVE: ADRIAN HALLMARK.(News)(Brief Article)(Interview)
November 14, 2005... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Volkswagen's new North American boss had been on the job about 11 minutes when we sat down with him at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show. Behind him on VW's first-ever stand at the Las Vegas show were the...

MEET THE NEW BOSS; Gary Scelzi unseats John Force to claim the NHRA Funny Car crown.(Motorsports)
November 14, 2005... Byline: ROGER HART Gary Scelzi entered the NHRA Finals at Pomona as the only Funny Car driver in the title hunt-the closest race in the category's history-who could control his own destiny. After qualifying No. 1, he led teammate Ron Capps...

Events.(Calendar)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 14, 2005... Jan. 6-15, 2006 L.A. Auto Show Los Angeles Go to laautoshow.com or call (310) 444-1850 to find out more about this Los Angeles Convention Center event. Jan. 7, 2006 Fiddler/Bluegrass Jamboree and Car Show Casa Grande,...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
November 14, 2005... Hybrid sparks attention I enjoyed the Honda Accord Hybrid AutoFile (Oct. 31). Nice car, but I just drove my 2000 Buick LeSabre 3000 miles to Texas and back, cruising serenely at speeds up to 75 mph, averaging close to the EPA's highway...

Flash.(Briefs)(Champ Car Racing)
November 14, 2005... Champ Car keeps Toronto Champ Car's Toronto event has a new owner-operator. A new company called Grand Prix Association of Toronto, wholly owned by Champ Car, takes over from Molson Canada. The brewer continues as title sponsor of the...

RECORD ATTEMPT IS ON.(Competition)(Formula One speed records)
November 14, 2005... BAR-Honda still intends to set a 250-mph Formula One speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats, even though the surface remains too wet. On Nov. 4 the team ran its adapted (but F1-legal) V10 race car for the first time on the 10,000-foot...

ORANGE CRUSH; Stunning TT treatment drives as good as it looks.(News)(Audi TT)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Matt Davis FOR WHATEVER REASON Audi has never received the kind of attention from the aftermarket tuners that VW, Mercedes, BMW and Porsche get. PPI aims to change that with its RS TT. The first thing you notice, aside from the...

Market.(Escape Roads)(Cadillac DeVille)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... Byline: KEITH MARTIN RM Auctions Novi, Mich. Sept. 23 1990 Cadillac DeVille stretch limousine Silver with red pinstripe, black leather interior. 71,715 miles showing, probably original. Decent respray. Typical period GM...

A Thanksgiving Ritual.(Column)(Evil Rock, Massachusetts)(Column)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Richard S. Chang Evil Rock is the name we gave a landmark in my hometown, Lexington, Massachusetts. The block of granite juts out of an embankment on a narrow winding road that connects Lexington to Bedford. It has sharp Cubist...

TRAGEDY MARS GOODGUYS' FINALE.(Revs)(car racing)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... Five major incidents, including the death of a participant, marred the culmination of the 2005 Goodguys/Vintage Racing Association's season Oct. 29-30 in Bakersfield, California. Roy Moore, 76, of Santa Paula, California, died after...

HOT ROD LENO; Talk show host teams with GM to build high-powered Bowtie Deuce.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER Jay Leno's Big Dog Garage in Burbank, California, is stuffed with nearly 200 cars and motorcycles, but unless you count the oversized two-seat roadster powered by a tank engine that The Tonight Show host calls his...

CELEBRATING DEUCE'S 75th.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Bob Gritzinger Come 2007, when the 75th anniversary of America's original '32 Ford rolls around, Craig Knight wants to be ready to celebrate. And he is teaming up with each of the Big Three to make sure that whether your tastes run...

A ROUSH RACING RUNAWAY; But Stewart and Johnson stay 1-2 in the Chase.(Motorsports)
November 14, 2005... Byline: AL PEARCE For much of the day a scrawled postscript beneath the professional sign was right on: The top read, "Dickies 500: Biggest Purse in the Chase, Biggest Crowd in the Chase, Biggest Market in the Chase.'' Below, on white...

Race Report.(Motorsports)(Champ Car race, Mexico)
November 14, 2005... Justin Wilson led 65 of 70 laps to win the final Champ Car event of the season in Mexico City. But that doesn't begin to describe the crazy race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez: This race featured as much action as you would normally find in a...

RESTLESS; Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais seeks his next challenge.(Motorsports)(Interview)
November 14, 2005... Byline: BILL McGUIRE Seldom does a driver strike so hard and so fast. In his first Champ Car start Sebastien Bourdais qualified on the pole, and in his fourth start he scored his first win-one of three in 2003 that earned him the...

AutoWeek design forum; North American International Auto Show.(News)
November 14, 2005... Lead by Design Jan. 11, 2006 Detroit Speakers include Giorgetto Giugiaro, Italdesign Peter Horbury, Ford Joel Piaskowski, Hyundai Dicky Riegel, Thor Industries Bob Wheeler, Airstream Encore presentation...

Flash.(Briefs)
November 14, 2005... The glory of dust From the 1920s through the 1960s, track roadsters roared around dirt tracks across the country. The best drivers reached the Indy 500, which produced 19 winners from the dirt ranks, including Pat Flaherty, Jim Rathmann,...

The Peak Before the Plunge.(Escape Roads)(Lincoln Convertible Roadster)
November 14, 2005... Byline: JOHN F. KATZ Edsel Ford convinced his father to buy technically advanced but financially troubled Lincoln in 1922, but the first substantially new Lincoln after that, the longer, lower, sleeker Model K, did not appear until 1931....

AND WHELDON?(Competition)
November 14, 2005... We went to press this week not knowing what Indy Racing League champion Dan Wheldon is going to do with his career. The Brit, who won the Indianapolis 500, appears to have offers from Ganassi Racing's IRL team and BMW's new F1 operation,...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)(cars)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... And the AW Chamois of Chame goes to... BAR-Honda Formula One driver Jenson Button, who told men's magazine FHM: "I can't see [women competing in F1] due to the g force in fast corners. And one week of the month you wouldn't want to be on...

LS JR. Lincoln gets a Fusion of its very own.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: WES RAYNAL Trivia question: When was the last time Ford's Lincoln division introduced a new passenger car? How about five years ago? Seriously? Yes, seriously: That's when the Lincoln LS was introduced-2001. Five years! That's an...

SPIRITED SPEEDSTER; It lets you race even when it's in park.(News)(sports cars)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 14, 2005... Byline: MARK VAUGHN If the actual speed of the 5 Axis Scion xA Speedster is not all that great-it's just about stock-the speed you feel like you are driving can be tremendous. From the driver's seat of the xA Speedster you can find...

SCALP JOB; Ford chops the top and conceives its GT roadster.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: ANDREW LUU Ask us to list what we don't like about the Ford GT, and you will catch us scratching our heads. Supercar performance and timeless beauty at $150,000 is hard to knock. But press us hard enough, and we would probably...

METAL-TOP MX-5; Mazda plans folding hardtop model for 2006.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: JULIAN RENDELL Mazda will launch a metal folding hardtop version of the MX-5 in September 2006, featuring a three-piece folding roof grafted onto the bodywork of Mazda's two-seat roadster. Developed in-house by Mazda rather...

Fast Poll.(News)(Letter to the Editor)
November 14, 2005... Details on Nissan's upcoming GT-R have respondents heralding the car's undeniable performance capabilities but disagreeing over the way it looks. This GT-R concept nails it. The Bangle-like slice at the rear of the front fender is a...

Television: Nov. 18-20.(News)
November 14, 2005... Friday, Nov. 18 * Porsche Supercup from Germany and Hungary, 4 a.m., Speed * Porsche Supercup from Italy and Belgium, 4:30 a.m., Speed * Legends of Motorsport: Bonneville 1956, 7 a.m., Speed * Car Crazy, 8:30 a.m., Speed *...

SCREAMING BIMMER STATION WAGON; We spy BMW's hotted-up M5 hauler.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: GREG KABLE It's not due in North American showrooms for at least 12 months, but we've caught the new BMW M5 Sports Wagon testing in minimal disguise at Germany's Nurburgring track. Aimed squarely at the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG...

Flash.(Briefs)
November 14, 2005... Sky's not the limit Raging demand for the Pontiac Solstice roadster, along with anticipated clamor for its General Motors sibling Saturn Sky due in mid-2006, means more work for GM's Wilmington, Delaware, plant. The plant will add a third...

Drivers Log.(News)
November 14, 2005... 2006 Honda Civic Si Date In Fleet: Oct. 5-12 As-Tested Price: $20,550 (est.) Powertrain: 2.0-liter I4; fwd, six-speed manual Output: 197 hp @ 7800 rpm, 139 lb-ft @ 6200 rpm Curb Weight: 2877 lbs Fuel Mileage (EPA Combined/AW Observed):...

BARE ESSENTIALS; Subaru goes Scrooge on this WRX.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Andrew Luu The first thing we noticed about the new Subaru Impreza WRX TR is the stingy-looking stereo. So basic is its operation and visual appeal that using the system brought flashbacks of loading five-inch floppies into a...

Grabowski El Fordo bed truck.
November 21, 2005... Norm Grabowski is best known for his TV and movie cars, most notably the car Kookie drove on 77 Sunset Strip and the My Mother the Car ride. Grabowski is also credited with inventing the T-Bucket roadster. So we weren't all that surprised,...

Corrections.(Correction)
November 21, 2005... Our Nov. 7 BMW 130i M Sport story should have said, "The power-unit weight drops by 22 pounds.'' Also, the curb weight should have been listed at about 3200 pounds. Our Oct. 10 Truck Buyers Guide should have mentioned there are new trim...

Flash.(Briefs)
November 21, 2005... Ferrari working on V10 Word out of Maranello suggests a new V10 engine may power the successor to Ferrari's F430, amid concern over the marketing advantage enjoyed by archrival Lamborghini's 5.0-liter V10-powered Gallardo (see related item...

DESIGN MAESTRO.(News)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... Say the name Giorgetto Giugiaro and anyone who is anyone in the car design world will usually snap to attention. An automotive hall of fame inductee on both sides of the Atlantic, Giugiaro's name is associated with more than 200 cars, including...

Drivers Log.(News)
November 21, 2005... 2006 Pontiac Solstice Date In Fleet: Nov. 11-18 As-Tested Price: $22,700 Powertrain: 2.4-liter I4; rwd, five-speed manual Output: 177 hp @ 6600 rpm,166 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm Curb weight: 2860 lbs Fuel mileage (AW observed): 22.9 mpg Raynal:...

Ford Pushes for Powertrain Edge.(News)
November 21, 2005... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER When the 2007 Ford Edge (shown in these spy photos) and Lincoln Aviator crossover utility vehicles debut at the Detroit auto show in January, be sure to look past the sheetmetal for the underlying powertrain story....

Troy Lee Range Rover.
November 21, 2005... 1. Troy Lee Range Rover Not sure of the question, but evidently the answer is this Range Rover Sport Supercharged by Troy Lee Designs. Known for painting race drivers' helmets, Lee took a stock RR Sport and spent 250 hours...

Emperor Barris Prius.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... The Toyota Prius is built for efficiency, therefore all parts must make it go farther on less gas and keep people safely in their practical seating confines. This car's exterior is sculpted with that same goal in mind. Thus, even George...

Chevy HHR.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... It seems like there was an HHR in every SEMA booth. But Chevy's own HHR Concept is a knockout. The production HHR's four doors are replaced by two and stretched six inches. The windshield header is dropped four inches; there is just the...

Baldwin-Motion Camaro Super Coupe.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... Joel Rosen is back with Baldwin-Motion's first limited-edition Chevy in more than 30 years. Combining muscle car heritage and modern tuner styling, this 1969 Camaro Super Coupe is powered by a custom 540-cid Merlin/Motion big-block V8...

Caresto T6 Roadster.
November 21, 2005... 1. Caresto T6 Roadster Who put the Prowler in the Ford booth? Volvo, that's who! The Caresto T6 Roadster is a two-seater that started life as an S80 before Swedish hot rod maker Caresto got its hands on it. The car uses the S80's...

Concept USA Honda 600.
November 21, 2005... Concept USA makes some very powerful audio equipment-loud enough that technical adviser Leonard Foster would wave people away when he was about to fire up the 12,000-watt system in Concept's purple 1970 Honda 600 "sound pressure'' test car. ...

Killer Paint 357 Magnum.(cars)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... Killer Paint 357 Magnum Airbrush virtuoso Mike Lavallee, owner of Killer Paint, adds a twist to this Hemi-powered Dodge Magnum panel conversion. Though it looks like a standard panel, the right-rear door remains intact-mostly. Lavallee...

Ford-powered Motor Trike.
November 21, 2005... This is the latest creation of Motor Trike of Troup, Texas, which has converted more than 8000 Harley-Davidson and Honda cruiser motorcycles into three-wheelers. Powered by a 2.3-liter Ford four-cylinder, the vehicle features six cubic...

Desired Customs Cobalt SS.(custom built cars)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... 1. Desired Customs Cobalt SS By the time Keith Losier finished this right-hand-drive, two-seat (front right, center rear) Chevy Cobalt SS, the builder/tuner from Niagara Falls, Ontario, barely had time to get the car to SEMA. Two...

Pontiac Solstice Weekend Racer Concept.
November 21, 2005... Make no mistake-this bronze beauty with a removable one-piece carbon fiber hardtop will make production in some form. That's because Pontiac wants an entry in club racing, and the Solstice figures to be the car to take it there. The...

Boston Acoustics Edition Charger R/T.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... 1. Boston Acoustics Edition Charger R/T Performance West worked this 5.7-liter Hemi with a MagnaFlow cat-back exhaust, Kenne Bell management system, K&N intake and a Hurst dual-gate shifter. Inside is a Katzkin custom leather interior....

AW goings-on.(News)
November 21, 2005... * Online: We take the wraps off Ford Edge, Lincoln Aviator; more Mini GP * On deck: Dynamic DoubleTake: New Mazda MX-5 takes on roadster newcomer Pontiac Solstice

Kirkham Motorsports 40 GT.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... One of the most beautiful cars on the show floor was the 40 GT built by Kirkham Motorsports. Remember Kirkham, the Provo, Utah-based Cobra makers AutoWeek profiled in June 1996? Well, Kirkham wowed SEMA goers with this copper-bodied hot...

Lexani Million-Dollar Wheel Set.
November 21, 2005... Want to make a splash at SEMA? Offer a set of four wheels studded with 12,000 diamonds and 800 sapphires. Crafted by Icelink Jewelers in Los Angeles, the wheel set runs $1 million. But buy the wheels, and Lexani throws in a Bentley...