Variance

The Solstice Arrives in "Rush City" The Pontiac Solstice has a starring role in "Rush City" by DC Comics. "Master of action Chuck Dixon puts the pedal to the metal as a new hero burns rubber down the mean streets of New York City," explains DC. Anybody think this'll be a collectible? I should pick up a copy. Read "Pontiac Solstice stars in new DC comic" @ Leftlane News

Isuzu's Death Throes This article can be summarized in one sentence: After the 2007 model year, Isuzu gon' die (their passenger car market in N. America at least). Read " Isuzu's 2007 Line May Be Final Year in U.S." @ Edmunds

The Lienerts Go Off On a Raider The Mitsubishi Raider is pretty much a Dodge Dakota that's been prettied up a tad. As we all know, Mitsu isn't in the best shape right now. There is a very real possibility that they may leave the North American market. I don't think this is helping matters any. And neither will what Paul & Anita have to say about it. Read "Mitsubishi Raider fails to offer more truck than its rivals" @ The Detroit News

I think this guy is trying to write Jeremy Clarkson-style... Anyway, I'll just pick a random paragraph to comment on: Insurance? That can vary from person to person. I don't see it being anymore of an issue than it would be with the Mustang. Ford already taking buyers in the market? There are people that won't touch Fords or that don't like the Mustang's styling, you know. And some of those current Mustang owners can always jump ship. Gas? First off, why are you saying "15 MPG V8" when we don't know what mileage the Camaro's V8(s) will get? I don't see it being that low, anyway. Plus, I'd like to think buyers of the Camaros, Mustangs and the like don't give a damn about fuel consumption. But for those who do, there's always the V6 Camaro. :AH-HA_wink:

Right. That's why you need a new altenator that can handle those conditions.

The Camry Hybrid does get it's advertised mileage (and it isn't the first test where it has, either). In the city, they averaged 38.4; it's rated for 40. On the highway, they got 42.4; it's rated for 38. The combined number isn't to bad, either. I don't think they we're treating it softly as you claim. Most people do make moderate starts at traffic lights. Do you mash the pedal at every green light? And not 45 miles per isn't usual for city streets, either. Many have 25-30 limits. As for the highway, around here anyway, 60 isn't that slow; it's above the limit in fact. If you drive at reasonable highway speeds, I don't see how you can't reach those figures. Guys, the Camry Hybrid lives up to the claims.

Voluntary Recall for SLR Supercar Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC will conduct a voluntary recall campaign on certain model year 2005 - 2006 SLR McLaren vehicles with regard to the alternator. The company has determined that under hard operating conditions, the engine compartment temperatures can increase to a level which exceeds the design parameters for the alternator and creates the potential for an engine compartment fire. Read "Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Voluntary Recall" @ World Car Fans

New photos. I don't think it's anything we haven't seen already, though. Read "New Cadillac CTS Spy Photos" @ World Car Fans

Verdict on Challenger to be Decided by Fall The Chrysler group may decide whether to make the Challenger muscle car as early as the end of the third quarter, CEO Tom LaSorda says. LaSorda on Friday said Chrysler has been flooded with positive responses to the Challenger concept, shown at the Detroit auto show in January. If Dodge has any sense, they'll build it. Unless of course, they want the new Camaro to go unchallenged (no pun intended). Read "Chrysler to decide whether to build Challenger by fall" @ Autoweek

Nope, anyone can post here. Ocn posted the above in another thread first, so I guess Fly saw fit to put it in the "Drives" section also.

2006 Strategic Vision Total Quality Awards Today Strategic Vision announced the winners of their 2006 Total Quality Awards. The Total Quality Index™ is the premier measure of new vehicle owner satisfaction. It asks buyers to rate all aspects of the ownership experience, from buying and owning to driving. This is how buyers gauge quality, including attributes and the emotional response to vehicle. So guess who won the most categories? Read "The 2006 Total Quality Awards" @ Strategic Vision

That's why it's good to have a panic button for your alarm. Press it and they'd probably get away from you car mighty quick.

BMW M6 Convertible Unveiled Leaked images have been posted of BMW's srop-top version of the M6 Coupe. Other than the foldable roof, not much is different from the coupe version. Oh, except for the price -- expect that to go up. Read "Revealed: 2007 BMW M6 Cabriolet" @ Leftlane News

Spied: Smart fortwo These latest photos show both the Fortwo Cabriolet and the hard-topped City Coupe out testing, wearing less disguising to hide their detailing. Under the remaining black tape, there are new headlamps and taillights, a new front grille and flush-fitted door handles, plus new, more aerodynamic door mirrors. Read "Spy Shot: Smart fortwo (June 2006)" @ Channel 4

I voted Grand Prix. -It looks the best, in my opinion. -No piddly plain four-banger (Malibu). People complain about rear-seat room in the GP, though. Is it really that bad?

They could take a page from Nissan's playbook and base the next midsizers on the fullsizers' platform.

Tell that to the Pathfinder and Pilot. Their sales are both up over last year's.

Hyundai Looking to be the Safety King It would seem that way anyway. Hyundai recently announced that they expect to sell 350,000 vehicles with standard electronic stability control for the 2007 model year. That would be more than Lexus, Audi, Infiniti and any other luxury brand. Though that is commendable, it isn't particularly impressive. You're comparing sales of a volume brand to sales of traditionally lower-volume brands; I'd expect the volume brand to sell more. Kudos to Hyundai for making ESC standard, though. Read "Hyundai Puts More Vehicles With Standard Electronic Stability..." @ PR Newswire

From the first gen to the second? Not from the outside. But the Mountaineer is the best (worst) example. Quick, is this the new one or old one?:

Good move I guess for those who auto-x their ISes and such. Maybe I'm slow to pick up on this but how do you make a blacker black? Isn't a lighter black a dark grey?

That's their problem. Everyone thinks it's no more than a minor refresh when in fact it's been pretty heavily revised. At least that's the theory.

So they're going to let the current SUVs stagnate and get murdered by the much fresher competition? Terrific.

Gee, thanks.

Ok, so I've recently uploaded a new avatar but it keeps being stretched out to 90x90 even though I made the actual file 80x40-something. Any way this can be fixed?

Caught sight of a new ES350 in a not-too-appealing blue. I also saw my first Solstice ever a while back.