What is a Terrain? It’s a compact crossover, the GMC version of the Chevrolet Equinox (Carmudgeon, July 8, 2009) and the new Cadillac SRX.
The following is a quote from General Motors regarding the new GMC Terrain.
“At the core of the reinvention of General Motors is a promise to deliver customers greater value with strong new products. For the new 2010 GMC Terrain, that means taking the brand’s 100 year-plus tradition of engineering and capability and presenting it in a smaller, more fuel-efficient package for today’s buyers. (more…)
Parked along the curb in the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe, the 2009 Lexus 450h 4-door sedan looks like it belongs. Stylish, with a sweeping roof-line, a high belt line and a short rear deck, it’s easy to visualize this Lexus hybrid as an upscale commuter, grocery getter, mom mobile and weekend country clubber. The one I’m piloting is obsidian and can’t you hear some labored breathing in the background when you focus your attention on those Darth Vader-like HID head lights that feature auto leveling and integrated fog lamps?
Open any of the four doors. Now close it. That nice ca-chunk tells me this is a solid, well-built, high-quality automobile. I slip behind the wheel into a comfy, supportive multi-adjustable seat with cooling and heating. The steering wheel offers power tilt and telescoping. (more…)
Mazda designers and engineers faced a serious dilemma as they gathered to create the next Mazda6. The current model didn’t have the broad appeal of its direct family sedan Asian competitors—Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata—because it was smaller on the outside and on the inside. It also trailed these competitors in quality and power. (more…)
I knew I was in trouble two seconds after I finished organizing all the material I had been gathering on Chrysler’s fifth-generation minivan: The stack of paper was about two inches high, and that didn’t include electronic data stored on my computer. But I guess that should be expected when you’re dealing with an automotive transportation legend. (more…)
If you’ve ever lusted after a convertible, but shied away from this fun-in-the-sun body style because of environmental issues such as snow, ice and rain (think New England) or theft and break-ins (Eat your hearts out, New Yorkers.) have I got two words for you: retractable hardtop. Visualize a convertible but with a folding rood of steel or plastic instead of canvas. The quietness and security of a fixed roof combined with convertible cool. RHTs are growing in popularity and numbers daily and the VW Eos sis one of the best. (more…)
Since it’s introduction in 1981 the Maxima has been the flagship of Nissan’s sedan fleet. With a strong emphasis on sportiness, it’s no surprise that the Maxima has been referred to as Nissan’s 4-door sports car.
The sixth-generation 2007 Maxima, available in sporty SE ($28,050 plus $605 destination charge) and luxury SL ($30,300) versions, expands upon that fun-to-drive tradition with extensive revisions to the Maxima’s classic coupe-like silhouette and distinctive C-pillar design. Inside, the 2007 Maxima features a revised instrument panel and easier-to-read gauges, along with materials and fit and finish that create a richer, higher-quality look and feel. (more…)
I’m hustling down Route 15, on my way Down East to Stonington. It’s a road I know like the back of my hand: narrow, rough, potholed, twisty, roller-coaster-like over Caterpillar Hill. A road that taxes any vehicle’s suspension system to the limit. My wife and teenage son are conversing in normal tones about the National League pennant race. It’s at that point that I glance down at the speedometer, note that I am, ahem, pushing slightly beyond the speed limit and no one is complaining about my driving. (more…)
Nobody asked me, but . . .
