A Grocery Getter With Attitude
Yes, we realize that this space just a short while ago was graced by none other than Mazda’s icon sports car, the RX-8, and that following such a hot item with a standard run-of-the-mill soccer wagon could be considered a crime against humanity in some regards. However, that is how the cards fell for us, and we couldn’t possibly deprive our reader faithful from any of the emotions yours truly and the rest of the AT staff felt. So here it is in titanium gray, the story of a minivan, just looking for love. Read more…
The Spanish were an ambitious bunch, at least in the 16th century.
That’s when King Phillip II ordered 30,000 people onto 130 warships to create what he called an “invincible armada,” the most powerful naval fleet in the world. It set sail in 1588 to invade and conquer England.
Read more…
In a move that imitates expensive German sports sedans, Infiniti added an all-wheel drive model to its G35 lineup for 2004.
At first glance, it seems odd to add the weight of an AWD system to a performance-oriented sports sedan like the G35, but the system has a couple of major advantages. First, it helps in low-traction situations, like on icy or wet roads. Second, it offers very neutral, predictable handling in corners, something all Andretti wannabes should love.
Read more…
Automotive perfection is hard to define. Is it the latest technological wizardry, a smooth ride and a quiet cabin? Is it breathtaking performance? Is it a style that makes your friends and neighbors envious every time they see you drive by?
Or, as Audi contends, is it the synthesis of all these things?
Read more…
Hear that nervous clattering noise coming from the North? That’s the sound of Detroit shaking in its old, worn-out boots.
After watching the Japanese steal sales year after year in the small, midsize, and luxury car markets, the folks in northern Michigan are surely biting their fingernails at the thought of Japan swooping in for another conquest. This time, though, the fight will be over the mainstay of all-American transportation — the full-size truck.
Read more…
After dominating the North American market for family sedans only to see Japan steal it like a masked bandit, General Motors is trying to recover from lackluster sales in America thanks to a string of bland products.
I know, I know. You’ve heard it before — probably more times than you care to count — but it looks like an American company finally found the right formula for beating the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It’s just the new Chevrolet Malibu, but listen up. This could be a sign of big things to come. Read more…
If this were 1994, the Saturn Ion would be praised as a fabulous new car with an advanced suspension, innovative styling, and refined interior. Too bad it’s 2004.
While it’s far from awful, the latest Ion seems to lack the quality, refinement, and precision found in its Japanese rivals — and even a few Korean ones. Sure, it has some one-of-a-kind features and a dent-resistant plastic body, but it still feels like a cheap rental car. Read more…
If Cadillac’s mammoth Escalade isn’t big enough for you, take a look at this brute.
It’s the giant Escalade ESV, one of the most overindulgent vehicles available today in terms of size, power, and electronic gadgets. It has the same fabulous engine and luxurious amenities as the regular Escalade, but those three magic letters — ESV — make a world of difference in roominess.
Read more…
At a time when SUVs are becoming more like cars with each passing year, it’s refreshing to drive one that hasn’t lost touch with its off-road roots.
Driving the 2004 Jeep Wrangler feels like piloting a mountain goat — a capable, noisy, bumpy, unrefined beast that’s more at home in the wilderness than in the city. It stands in stark contrast to the cushy, modern SUVs that seem like sissies with their quiet cabins and spongy rides.
Read more…
Let’s face it. Minivans have gotten a bad rap.
Despite their undeniable practicality and family-friendly features, it’s just not chic to drive one because they’re seen as mind numbingly boring. And ugly. And slow. And soccer-momish.
Read more…
