Chrysler’s four-door, four-passenger concept embodies a visually compact appearance, while possessing SUV-like interior space thanks to a silhouette recalling old English shooting brake design (Editor’s note: a traditional “shooting brake” design is a two-door wagon; this is Chrysler’s PR-speak calling it a shooting brake). Interior design draw inspiration from contemporary computers, cell phones and music players to provide familiarly between everyday electronics and vehicle controls in order to appeal specifically to younger generations. Nassau is powered by a 6.1-liter HEMI and runs to 60 mph in five seconds. Continue reading Nifty Nassau Chrysler concept blends wagon style, modern design
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About a year ago, Toyota asked its designers and engineers a simple question: “What would be a suitable and appropriate Toyota sports car for the 21st century?†The result is the car you see on these pages, the FT-HS concept. FT-HS is a hybrid sports car designed at Toyota’s Calty design center in Newport Beach. The idea was to find out if it is feasible to combine ecology and emotion in a sports car; to make an eco-friendly car that is fun to drive. Why bother? Because Toyota thinks drivers of the future will be eco-conscious but won’t want to give up performance cars. 
Dodge dealers love the new Nitro SUV’s looks and price. But many complain about the edgy Nitro ads created by the agency BBDO. One TV ad shows a Nitro jump-starting another car. The Nitro driver guns his engine, and the other car blows sky-high. Another ad shows a Nitro falling through the center of the earth and through hell to emerge on a street in an Asian country. Arresting as they are, the ads don’t say anything about the Nitro’s features. Therein lies the dealers’ beef. 
With the MKR concept, Lincoln revisits a proud heritage, hints at its design future and kicks off what could be a final effort to survive in the increasingly tough luxury market. Ford Motor Co. is counting on North American styling chief Peter Horbury to right Lincoln’s sinking ship with a new design theme. And the MKR, which debuts next week at the Detroit auto show, showcases that new direction. Some touches, such as the glass roof, aren’t practical and seek to generate excitement for a brand in desperate need of a makeover. But many key decisions — such as the platform, suspension and engine — were made with a business case in mind, a sign Ford Motor knows it needs to move fast. 
Can’t bring the E class in for service? Beck Imports will bring the service to you. The Mercedes-Benz dealership in Charlotte, N.C., now offers mobile maintenance and repair. Two Sprinter vans, each carrying $30,000 worth of service equipment, meet customers at their homes or offices — or, in one recent instance, the golf course. Other dealerships across the country offer mobile service. But Richard Mikels, Beck Import’s general manager, said the service his store rolled out in November is the state of the art. 
Breaking a long-held advertising taboo, Volvo is bringing to the United States a campaign that dares to show consumers disrespecting its brand. The push asks consumers whether they love or hate the all-new Volvo C30 — and goes so far as to show a theater audience booing and throwing tomatoes at a woman onstage unveiling the car. 
The magnificent R GTI is easily the nimblest and most fun-to-drive Volkswagen ever built. Volkswagen’s Design Center California and APR of Auburn, Alabama, lightened it up and added huge twists of horsepower and torque. The weight loss came from a carbon fiber hood, front fenders, rear hatch and everything else except the roof, doors and rear quarter-panels. Lighter forged wheels and lighter suspension components combine with the carbon fiber to shave 150 pounds off the curb weight. 
We know God loves us. How else can one explain the existence of GeigerCars? Whether it’s a 700-horsepower police H2, an audacious Gulf-liveried HUMMER GT, or any number of the various customer cars the company has prepared, no one knows how to hook up a HUMMER like Geiger. Modders who think they’ve accomplished something by throwing on donks, a killer stereo and calling it a day are simply not in the same ballpark. 
It means Australia’s own has won the only truly national newspaper Car of the Year contest. Motoring editors and key writers from News Limited newspapers throughout Australia have extensively researched, tested and judged all cars released this year to determine the proud winner. The extensive list was culled to 10 finalists. These were recently tested on all manner of road conditions, including Goulburn’s Wakefield Park raceway, to determine their final finishing order. 
While everyone was lining up in orderly rows to watch the official unveiling of the Sentra SE-R and Altima coupe at Nissan’s LA press conference, we snapped a few pics of a pre-production model of the 2007 350Z. Although the exterior has gotten a few subtle tweaks that only those of us in the Z-car enthusiast camp would notice, they deserve a brief mention. While the headlamps and taillights have been revised with new housings, the most striking change was the addition of a power dome that eschews the two creases that formerly flanked both sides hood. 
Car companies and electronic manufacturers are always conspiring to come up with new high-tech gimmicks for our cars. Almost invariably, they either distract the driver from driving or else help him keep his eyes on the road. Champions of road safety (and cool flashing lights) that we are, of course we prefer the latter. With more cars on the road each passing day – and average driver skill not improving one bit – staying on the road is enough of a challenge without toying with an unintelligible driver interface (iDrive, we’re looking at you), being distracted by in-dash DVD players or looking for directions from a sat-nav screen.