2008-2009 BMW M3

BMW has revealed the production version of the 2008/2009 M3 coupe. The unveiling comes only weeks after the automaker revealed the M3 Concept at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland. Like the concept, the production car features a high-revving V8 powerplant, tuned suspension, a six-speed manual transmission, a carbon fiber roof, and all the exterior modifications typical of an "M" car.
Due to go on sale in North American in mid-2008 as a 2009 model, the M3 will target the Lexus IS-F, Audi RS5, and Mercedes CLK63 AMG. Convertible and sedan variants are expected to follow later in 2008.
The M3's V8 powerplant has two more cylinders than its predecessor, delivering 420 hp from 4.0 litters and maximum torque of 295 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm. In keeping with BMW's high-revving "M" tradition, maximum engine speed is 8,300 rpm. The engine is the lightest V8 in the world, weighing less than the previous M3's inline-six.
Reminiscent of the carbon fiber roof panel used on the M6 coupe, the M3's CFRP roof cuts unnecessary weight, and lowers the car's center of gravity. It also lets the roof edge appear flatter and thus lowers the perceived body height.
The production M3 is pictured with 18-inch wheels, though BMW is also expected to offer 19-inch alloys similar to the Y-spoke ones featured on the M3 concept.

Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima sport sedan has been on sale for almost 15 years and has now settled into the rare role of a practical five-passenger family sedan with handling and performance that appeals to the enthusiast.
There have been four generations of Altima, with the newest one recently introduced and on sale now. The sedan has been aimed at serious competitors such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord and over time it has matured in terms of features, finesse and power.
The third- and fourth-generation Nissan Altimas are the most desirable. They're most likely to appeal to people who need a midsize sedan but put a premium on responsive handling and an entertaining driving experience.
Current Nissan Altima
The current Nissan Altima has been fully redesigned for 2007 and provides the kind of style and performance one would have expected years ago from its big brother, the Maxima sedan.
In recent years, strong styling has been one of Nissan's characteristics and that continues. The Altima's overall length has been reduced about 2 inches as compared to the previous model, which means a loss of almost 2 inches of front and rear legroom. But there is still enough room for four 6-foot adults to be carried in reasonable comfort, at least for a short distance.
The Altima is available with a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 or a 175-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder. Transmission choices are a six-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Starting with the least expensive model, the four-cylinder Altima models are the 2.5, 2.5S and 2.5SL. The V6 comes in the 3.5 SE and 3.5 SL trims. The "SL" trim level indicates an inclination toward luxury, while the "SE" version is for the serious enthusiast as it provides a more firmly tuned sport suspension.
In reviews of the fourth-generation Nissan Altima, we've mostly praised the performance and handling of both the four-cylinder and V6 models, although the ride on the sporty SE can be a little stiff on a rough surface. Edmunds.com testers have found that the CVT allows the V6 Altima to move from zero to 60 mph in only 6.6 seconds, a fine performance for a family sedan. Meanwhile, the base car with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder performs well enough that it will probably make some consumers think twice about whether a V6 is necessary.
One thing to consider is the pricing. While the least expensive Altima starts at just under $19,000, a desire for V6 power and a self-indulgent hand with the options means an Altima could quickly reach $30,000 or more. At that price point, one could also start considering some sport sedans from more prestigious luxury automakers.
Past Nissan Altima Models
It took awhile for the Nissan Altima family sedan, introduced in 1993, to find its place in the marketplace and the hearts of enthusiasts.
The first two generations, powered by a strong, 150-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder, weren't flops but neither were they the kind of midsize sedan blockbuster Nissan wanted. We found the second-generation Altima, which was sold for the 1998-2001 model years, to be a decent handler but too bland in its overall design.
A big upgrade came with the third generation. The redesigned 2002 Altima was about 6 inches longer and had a new suspension and stronger body. At the time, it was one of the most powerful family sedans available, as it came with either a 240-hp 3.5-liter V6 or a 175-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. All models were offered with a manual or automatic transmission.
The interior was widely criticized for looking cheap but the Altima had a particularly lively feel for a front-wheel-drive family sedan. Reviewers including Edmunds.com declared that the Nissan Altima had gone from the status of wallflower to a desirable sedan.
For the serious driving enthusiast, the most fun was to be had from the 2005-'06 Altima SE-R. This specialized model came with a firmer suspension, a bit more power and an exclusive six-speed manual transmission.

2007 Mazda CX-9

Introduction
The 2007 Mazda CX-9 is all new and the largest Mazda ever, aimed at people who don't need a rugged, truck-based sport-utility vehicle but stylistically can't bring themselves to drive a minivan.
How big is the biggest Mazda? With an overall length of almost 200 inches it is at least a foot longer than the Nissan Murano and Toyota Highlander or even the new five-passenger Ford Edge, with which it shares some components.
With a standard three rows of seats it can carry seven adults (think 6-footers) thanks to a third row designed with adults in mind.
The surroundings are handsome and while it was easy for a 5-foot 6-inch woman to climb into the CX-9, the seating position is high enough that one looks over at, not up to, drivers of SUVs.
The CX-9 is available in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, providing a nice option for those who worry about snowy travel in hilly areas.
In addition, Mazda gets credit equipping even the least-expensive model with important safety equipment. This includes electronic stability control which help the driver maintain control, and air curtains, which provide head protection in a side-impact crash.
Power comes from a refined, new 263-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 designed by Ford and built in Ohio before being shipped to Japan where the CX-9 is assembled. It works with an impressive six-speed, Japanese-made automatic transmission that can be shifted manually if the driver is interested in some frisky motoring.
The CX-9 responds quickly to the driver's requests, feeling surprisingly enthusiastic about travel on a serpentine two-lane. But the price is a stiff ride on a rough surface.
So, if the CX-9 isn't an SUV and it is not a minivan, what is it? It is another example of what industry insiders often refer to as a "crossover" vehicle. This is one of the fastest growing segments in the industry because crossovers can provide better fuel economy, ride and handling than truck-based SUVs.
Mazda officials also stress that the CX-9 is not just a longer version of the CX-7, the two-row, five passenger crossover introduced last year. The mechanical underpinnings are different and the structures of the two are not related.
Who might like the CX-9? Anybody who needs the people-carrying capacity of a mid-size SUV or a minivan but wants something with a sporty look and the road manners to back it up. That description fits a lot of us.

2007 Acura RL

Introduction
The Acura RL is sporty and fun to drive, combining a free-revving, 290-horsepower V6 engine with all-wheel drive, and a nicely balanced suspension for great grip, responsive handling and superior stability. Yet it rides smoothly. The throttle and brakes are smooth and easy to modulate, making the RL a comfortable car in stop-and-go traffic.
Acura's innovative all-wheel-drive system makes the RL easy to drive and helps keep its driver out of trouble. Called Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive, the system overdrives the outside rear wheel when motoring around corners, improving the handling balance and enhancing stability. Indeed, the RL is very stable in corners. We found it smoothes over minor driver errors, making us look and feel skillful. With this setup, the RL handles adverse weather exceptionally well, making it an excellent choice in Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Boston, or anywhere else that gets rain and snow. And while the 24-valve VTEC V6 provides plenty of punch, it's relatively efficient, netting an EPA-estimated 26 mpg Highway.
The RL offers the latest in navigation, communications, and collision-avoidance technology. Acura's navigation system is the best in the business. But the RL also offers AcuraLink traffic information in real time for 44 major cities: Clogged freeways are highlighted in red, flying freeways in green. This system works impressively well. We've put it to good use in avoiding traffic jams in Los Angeles.
The Acura RL can help drivers avoid pile-ups. The optional Collision Mitigation Braking System works with the Adaptive Cruise Control. Using radar, the system will alert the driver, pretension the seatbelts, and slam on the brakes when it senses an imminent impact. We tested this system in a controlled exercise and were very impressed with its ability to warn the driver and help avoid an accident or, in the worst case, reduce the severity of the impact.
For 2007, some of the features that used to be standard have been made optional to reduce the base price. Acura's satellite navigation system and Active Front Lighting, which aims the headlights into turns, are no longer standard.

2007 Acura RDX

Introduction
A new term seems to have settled for vehicles like this: CUV. Crossover Utility Vehicle, not simply "crossover vehicle," which has been used for a while. Meaning, basically, an SUV with unibody construction, like a car: the chassis, floorpan and body are all one piece, which adds rigidity to the structure, saves weight and rides softer, but isn't as rugged as a body-on-frame vehicle, like a pickup truck or an SUV built on a pickup truck platform. Fine. But who can tell?
Acura calls the all-new 2007 RDX a CUV. Here's the irony: it earns the name because it's sportier than a Sport Utility Vehicle. Sporty driving is what this CUV-formerly-known-as-SUV is all about. The RDX most resembles the BMW X3, which BMW separates from the SUV crowd by calling an SAV: Sport Activity Vehicle. Got it?
What makes the RDX different is that it uses a turbocharged four-cylinder engine to make its hearty 240 horsepower, rather than Honda's smooth V6. Because the RDX is built on the small Honda CR-V platform, there wasn't room under its hood for the V6. This is the first turbocharged engine that Acura has produced. It's 2.3 liters, and comes out of the Acura TSX, with many changes making a completely different powerband.
Proving its commitment to sport, the RDX uses a sequential five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, a firm independent suspension made for cornering, and Acura's patented SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system, which delivers a higher proportion of power to the outside rear wheel under hard cornering, thus keeping the car on line.
But also proving a commitment to luxury, the RDX offers only leather, no cloth interior, and other standard luxury touches, such as a power moonroof and dual-zone climate control. That narrows the intended buyer down, to someone who doesn't want to compromise the cornering for a comfortable ride (the firm suspension), but isn't willing to sit on cloth seats. Also someone who doesn't care about dramatic or distinctive styling, because the RDX closely resembles the Honda CR-V. Women, who normally go for the Acura approach toward silky style with performance, will want to think twice about the niftiness of the RDX.

2007 Toyota Prius Touring Edition

In addition, the 2007 Prius gains standard driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags, which were previously optional. The new 2007 Prius Touring Edition provides more spirited driving responses due to its European-tuned suspension and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Prius Touring Edition is distinguished externally by the new wheels, a larger rear spoiler, High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and integrated fog lamps. Toyota Prius is the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan in America, delivering on the promise of exceptional fuel efficiency without compromising performance, comfort or safety. For 2007, a new Camry Hybrid joins the Prius and Highlander Hybrid SUV in the Toyota lineup. Last year, Toyota boosted Prius production to keep up with demand for this innovative hybrid model."Prius was already the most successful hybrid car in the market, and the rising gasoline prices seen in 2006 have only added to its appeal," said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. executive vice president. "Toyota is the market leader in hybrid vehicles, and we are committed to expanding this technology."Prius provides the best fuel efficiency ratings of any midsize car sold in America, with estimated EPA ratings of 60 mpg in city driving, 51 mpg on the highway and 55 mpg in combined driving. The seemingly "reversed" city/highway figures reflect the unique powertrain that is optimized for maximum efficiency in the kind of slow-and-go driving that urban commuters experience.Prius achieves its remarkable fuel efficiency while providing the kind of performance customers expect from a four-cylinder, automatic transmission midsize car, with zero-to-60 mph acceleration in about 10 seconds.

Hybrid Synergy Drive:

The current Prius was the first Toyota product to employ Hybrid Synergy Drive, the company's third-generation gas-electric hybrid powertrain technology. Hybrid Synergy Drive is defined as a "full hybrid system," which means it is capable of operating in gas or electric modes, as well as a mode that combines the power of the gas engine and electric motor.In the Prius, Hybrid Synergy Drive combines a 1.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson Cycle gasoline engine and an electric drive motor. The gasoline engine produces 76 horsepower and 82 lb.-ft. of torque. As on all other Toyota passenger car engines, Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) helps to optimize power delivery across the engine speed range.The permanent-magnet electric drive motor produces its maximum power of 50 kW (67 horsepower) from 1,200-1,540 RPM, and peak torque of 295 lb.-ft. from 0-1,200 RPM. The Prius produces 110 combined horsepower with its gas engine and electric motor.The electronically controlled planetary gear-type continuously variable transmission does not have fixed gear ratios, but rather provides infinitely variable ratios in response to driving conditions. A regenerative braking system further boosts system efficiency: when the Prius is coasting or the brakes are applied, the electric motor functions as a generator, capturing kinetic energy that would normally be lost as heat through the brakes and transforming it into useable electricity to recharge the batteries.

Camry Hybrid

Following the roaring success of the Prius, Toyota has a lot to live up to with the release of its next hybrid car, and the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid doesn't disappoint. With the same Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) technology found in its egg-shaped little brother, the Camry powers driver and passengers around using propulsion from its 105kW battery and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. You could write a thesis on all the technology under the hood, and it wouldn't have been surprising if Toyota had cut back on cabin electronics, if only to save on solenoids.
However, the 2007 Camry Hybrid comes loaded with cabin features, most of which are standard factory installs. These include a JBL stereo system with MP3 playback (both CDs and portable devices via an auxiliary input), Bluetooth-enabled hands-free calling, and the unique Plasmacluster ionizer (more in Comfort). Also standard on the Camry Hybrid are voice-activated GPS navigation and XM Satellite Radio. Toyota equips the Camry with a well-appointed interior from which to control this array of tech; our test model had heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, and a snazzy, digital instrument panel.
Toyota loads the Camry Hybrid with all the above tech and appointments and offers it at the single price of $25,900, plus a delivery charge of $580. Buyers can even choose leather seats over cloth at no additional charge. This pricing scheme differs from that of the standard-engine Camry, which ranges from $19,320 for a four-cylinder base model to more than $30,000 for a fully loaded V-6 version.