2006 Car Reviews

This is a story about two cars that have so little-yet so much-in common. It's the latest chapter in a long-running tale that dates to the premiere issue of this magazine in April 1986, when we audaciously compared the then-new Toyota MR2 coupe with the contem more

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA- The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the latest vehicle to get a high-performance makeover from Chrysler's SRT department, and just like the other ten limited-production SRT models, the idea here is "go big, or go home." The Grand Cherokee SRT8 ge more

New York- Seeking to expand its buyer profile beyond livery drivers (Town Car) and rhinestone cowboys (Mark LT pickup), Lincoln is pitching its new Zephyr-and the next Aviator, a crossover-as hip combinations of luxury and value. Yes, Lincoln really thinks it more

STOCKHOLM- From Abba's uncomplicated pop music to Ikea's follow-the-arrow shopping, Swedish exports are famous for simplicity. Simple, though, the 9-5 lineup was not, so the refreshed 2006 edition of Saab's flagship is offered in just one trim (2.3T) and two b more

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA The prelaunch buzz about the 2006 Toyota RAV4 was that the original cute-ute was growing into a bigger brute-ute. Sure enough, the all-new sport-utility vehicle is more than fourteen inches longer and 400 pounds heavier than the SUV more

It seems like such a good idea. We wonder why no one thought to lop the roof off a Ford GT before Kip Ewing, engineering supervisor for package and advanced concepts at Ford's SVT division, made it happen. more

Ann Arbor- Push the starter button to the right of the Cadillac STS-V's steering wheel, and the supercharged V-8 leaps to life while the driver-information LED display briefly illuminates the greeting, "Ready for STS-V?" After spending a week with the most pow more

How can a single designer and one technical person design, develop, and certify a car in so little time? The answer is simple: they can't, and they didn't. more

It's been a very long time since BMW came up with a show car that caused any of us to gasp with pleasure, to make us say, "Gotta have it!" X Coupe? Nah. CS1? Not really. xActivity? Thanks, but no thanks. This year at the Frankfurt show, however, almost out of more

Aiming for Lexus, hitting Cadillac. more

Despite hiccups, the diesel revolution continues, at least on the other side of the pond. more

Grease-covered hot-rodders in the 1950s did it. Gearheads of the '60s and '70s did it. And, more recently, the tuner culture did it. But the days of the do-it-yourself upgrade now may be behind those of us burdened by the crush of everyday responsibility. Folk more

Hunger for more power and torque is insatiable, despite ever-increasing traffic densities and speed restrictions around the world. At least, that's the message relayed by the German auto industry, which continues to up the ante at a breathtaking pace. Just loo more

Performance of a 5-series, space of an SUV. more

You might not bash it over rocks as readily as you would the last generation Grand Vitara, but that's only because you want to treat it better. more