KIA'S GOT SOUL

Familiar with Sunny Kim? No? I wasn't either, until two minutes ago. Apparently she's a Korean jazz musician and in all likelihood... Sunny's got soul.

And apparently that's a very Korean trait. Kia also has Soul. And they'll give you an opportunity to have Soul, as well. The production Soul will look remarkably similar to this SEMA-shown Kia, but the suicide doors will be conventional openers when it comes time for production.

2 VEHICLES - 1 good, 1 bad

Though the title of this site is worded strongly, proclaiming a vehicle "bad" is rare. The Good Car Guy would rather focus on the good anyway. Good cars provide plenty more fun. The Hummer H3 pickup will be seen at dealers - for consumer purchase - late in 2008. Expect the five-cylinder and the V8 to be available in crew cab format. If you want a pickup, spend your money on a new Silverado or F150. (Read The Good Car Guy's review of the H2 here.) If you need a Hummer, take the relatively lightweight H3 or, better yet, buy a practical and usable vehicle. Don't buy the H3 pickup.


Is there any potential of the Five Axis Yaris Club being built? It's unlikely, to say the least. But it would certainly bring some spice to your local Toyota showroom, something GoodCarBadCar just posted as a Toyota necessity today. Five Axis supercharged the small four-cylinder and chopped off anything that sat above the waistline; chopping a bit too much, perhaps. Toyota is about the last automaker you could ever expect to build something like this aftermarket-chopped Yaris.



It would take a pseudo-Renault or Citroenish mindset to pull this off. Toyota did say, however, that this Yaris Club pays homage to "Toyota's racing heritage harkening back to the late '60s when Toyota challenged for the Group 7 category of Can-Am racing with the Toyota 7."

THE NEW JAGUAR XF?

Actually, this camoflauged Jaguar isn't the next XF, but it is a car which Jaguar should have done differently from the beginning. By 2007, years before that really, the S-Type drove pleasantly and had engines capable of stirring the performance pot. But the retro looks were not favoured by enough buyers.

These pictures prove that to be the case. Although this is just an office prank, it is nevertheless very interesting the vehicle which was chosen to be covered up by post-it notes. The email I received titled it thus: "Somewhere there's a very unhappy office manager with nothing left in the annual supplies budget."

ALPHA MALE SUBURBAN

Goodness. Gracious, even. It ain't pretty or subtle but it is tough and full of sense. In this week where GoodCarBadCar and much of the auto press - mainstream or not - will pay attention to Toyota (read about GCBC's week of honouring Toyota here), many will pay too much attention to the overstated appearance of environmentalism.

Toyota can play the 'green' card and play it well, but they also make some fine sport-utility vehicles. With those Toyota and Lexus sport utes General Motors must compete. In the case of the Chevrolet Suburban 2500HD Z71 diesel (the name takes up half the article), GM has one-upped all competitors, including Toyota.

This SEMA debut showcases a new 4.5L diesel. Details on that powerplant are yet to be fully discovered and ironed out. The traditionally handsome brute has been marred somewhat by over-the-top fender flares and side-steps that are in direct conflict with a vehicle built to be capable off-road. However, this Suburban certainly grabs the attention of passers-by, onlookers, and The Good Car Guy. You can read The Good Car Guy's review of the Tahoe Hybrid that was showcased at a blogger's event at GM's Milford Proving Grounds, and while reading it you'll probably be able to hear the groans as the GCBC Nation wishes that Tahoe Hybrid was this Suburban diesel.


Chevrolet talks about a two-way remote start, trailer hitch close-out, concept-only roof rack, fuel filler door and wheels, as well as the heavy-dutiness of the vehicle. The 'burban's front end assembly and rear axle are built tougher. But most people are interested in the engine, what it can do; what it could save; and which vehicles might see fitment of the 4.5L.

AUDI A6 VARITIES

Variety is the spice of life. Personally, I'll add oregano to everything; basil is great, too. Dill weed is surprisingly all-around worthy.

Apologies for a horrible digression. Audi has positioned itself as a style icon, and the challenging front grille we see slapped on the front of each Audi has only enhanced consumers' opinion of the brand. Audi is on a roll and it doesn't appear that the brand famous for Quattro and four intersecting rings is slowing down any time soon.

It's interesting to look back - to the present - at Audi's ability to design. The A6 is Audi's middle sedan. Large enough; but smaller than the A8. Small enough; but larger than the A4. If Audi were Honda, the A6 would be the Accord. Although Audi has always offered plenty of engine options (V6, V8, V10 available to North America now - twin turbo V10 coming) and has always managed to keep the A6 handsome and even beautiful, you could forget the distinction that Audi is able to provide each model-within-a-model. (Europe sees plenty of diesels and four-cylinders too.)

Directly below you have the upcoming 572bhp RS6 Avant. Yowza. Above and to the right you'll see a regular A6 sedan. Except that it wasn't "regular" or run-of-the-mill. It's the Le Mans edition, 'inspired' by Audi's dominance at the French 24 hour race.



Again, below you'll see an Avant, but this time it's the A6 Allroad. With its adjustable suspension and tough bodykit, the Allroad plays the same field as Volvo's XC70/Cross Country and is an incredibly different car than the RS6. You could easily see the two parked side-by-side and be ignorant of their identical origins.



The Chinese are able to buy the A6L, which might sound familiar until you realize the L is affixed to the A8 in your country. An A6 is stretched 10 centimetres between the wheels, benefiting rear-seat passengers immensely and offering a smidgen of higher-status that China's New Money craves.


Finally, the S6 is one step below the RS6. Featuring just a simple V10 - no turbos here, folks - the S6 must propel itself with a measly 435 horsepower. Styling distinction remains, as always. One could argue that the S6 has class where the RS6 is all rippling muscles; that the S6 is understated underneath the shadow of a barking-mad RS6. Audi prices the S6 about £30,000 higher than the least expensive A6 in the UK product range. Expect the RS6 to stretch the difference.

INSANE FUEL ECONOMY - by smart

Perhaps the timing is ripening for a GCBC Lowdown on the smart fortwo. Perhaps this post would be aptly named a rundown - a simple mathematical view of the new smart fortwo. Canada sees a somewhat different fortwo than that which is available to the Americans.


Canada fills their Mercedes-Benz designed smart fortwo's with diesel; Americans use gasoline. Canada will be seeing the second generation of smart's, and so will the USA. But this is the first smart to clear American customs.

Canadian smart buyers see an entry price $3,400 higher and $4,660 higher on passion cabriolets. Horsepower numbers are significantly different. There's one major reason for the disparity. The core design of the Canadian smart enables it to run on diesel and is also 0.2L smaller than the gas-powered three-cylinder in the American-market smart fortwo. Although power and torque are up in the new 800cc turbodiesel engine, the gas engine is still 26 horses stronger.

Fuel efficiency, however, is the smart's calling card. Maneuverability and safety may be major selling points, but a potential 71mpg (3.3L/100km) in the smart fortwo cdi is... just ... plain... incredible. smart USA believes their fortwo will average 40mpg under "normal driving conditions and current standards". The previous, less-efficient diesel smart fortwo produced Canadian government ratings that equated to 51 US mpg in the city. Even considering that smaller differential in the fuel mileage of the two cars, the diesel smart travels an extra 87 miles (139km) on each tank.

Put it this way: Today in New York City, filling your gas-fired smart fortwo would cost $24.79 USD. Filling a diesel smart in NYC would cost $28.63. The driver of the regular gas smart fortwo could buy himself another gallon of fuel with the savings, and that gallon would make up 40 of the 70 mpg advantage the diesel smart normally holds. (In my neck of the woods diesel/gas are equivalently priced.)

An American smart fortwo wouldn't even drink a whole tank of fuel if you drive from Detroit to Indianapolis. Had you been driving the diesel smart, you would have continued through Indy and all the way to Nashville, at which point you're likely able to roll into a Shell station with a whiff of fumes remaining.

More smart fortwo math? You can cram an extra 60 litres of junk in the back of a smart fortwo that you wouldn't have found space for in the first fortwo. It's 12 total cubic feet is equal to that of a Honda Civic sedan.

HAVE YOU COUNTED THE COST?

Enlightening; not pointless. Strategic; not stupid. Educational rather than envy-driven. That's what The Good Car Guy says about this $$$ article. The fact that a BMW 3-series or Infiniti G35 can be had for a speck more money than Honda's latest special edition vehicle, the Civic Mugen Si, and that Acura's TSX or a Subaru Impreza WRX are less expensive than the Mugen (as seen on GoodCarBadCar this week) told me the world needs to see comparative pricing.

That's not to say the 1000 people who buy Mugen Si's aren't smart. They're getting a great car, a vehicle which sought out handling fun and disregarded any expense; caring not about luxury or straight-line speed. Nevertheless, it is sometimes shocking to see what other items are available for the price you paid.

In some cases - many cases, actually - very sporting vehicles are available for the same price as your new minivan, and it's hard to remember that you needed seven seats. "Counting the Cost" ignores that fact and looks at five USD price points ($20, 30, 45, 80, & 170K) to find out what unique rides are available. Don't get stuck in the rut of considering some of these cars "good deals" and others "bad deals". Different buyers need different vehicles.

$20,000

• Chevrolet Malibu (169bhp 4 cylinder)
• Ford Mustang (210 bhp V6 coupe)
• Mini Cooper (118 bhp 4 cylinder)
• Honda CR-V (fwd, 166bhp 4 cylinder)
• smart fortwo cabriolet (71 bhp 3 cylinder)

$30,000

• Toyota Avalon (Touring, 268bhp V6)
• Toyota Highlander (awd, 270bhp V6)
• Subaru Legacy GT (sedan, 243bhp turbo 4 cylinder)
• Mazda CX-7 (awd, Grand Touring, 244bhp turbo 4 cylinder)
• GMC Sierra 1500 (SLE2, 315bhp V8)

$45,000

• Audi A6 (awd, 255bhp V6)
• Audi TT (awd, convertible, 250bhp V6)
• Lincoln Mark LT (4x4, 300bhp V8)
• Dodge Ram 3500 (4-door, 4x4, 350bhp diesel 6-cylinder, dualie)
• BMW X5 (260bhp 6 cylinder)

$80,000

• BMW 750Li (360bhp V8, long wheelbase)
• Land Rover Range Rover (305bhp V8)
• Land Rover Range Rover Sport (390bhp supercharged V8)
• Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (505bhp V8)
• Volkswagen Touareg (310bhp diesel V10)

$170,000

• Bentley Continental GT (552bhp twin turbo W12)
• Aston Martin DB9 Volante (convertible, 450bhp V12)
• Mercedes-Benz S600 (510 bhp twin-turbo V12)
• 1 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1 awd 4-door BMW 335i, and 1 Cadillac Escalade
• 8 Mini Cooper S
• 1 Honda Civic Mugen Si, 1 BMW 328i, 1 Acura TSX, 1 Infiniti G35, 1 Subaru Impreza WRX

YOUTH & MATURITY - Different Cars

Go back in GoodCarBadCar time to the day Car&Driver revealed the best cars for retirees. All of the cars suited seniors well; some of them managed to be suitable for young-er-ish people as well.

The Power Information Network, a subsidiary of J.D. Power, tracks the average age of buyers for each car. This is very different to C/D's suggestions - PIN's information is based on market studies. Once again, however, The Good Car Guy offers opinion, using the facts as a simple foundation. We'll expand the truth; or try to.

For the first group of cars, PIN has given us the average age and GCBC will tell you the maximum age permitted. You see some older people driving vehicles they simply don't belong in. I don't mean to discriminate or become a regulatory body, but seeing women my mother's age driving Scion tC's is akin to watching old men wear basketball shorts, a sleeveless shirt, and loud sneakers to mow the lawn. It's just wrong.

Switch it up in the second half - The Good Car Guy will set the minimum age for driver's of specific vehicles. Don't get in the driver's seat if you're any younger lest you wear shorts with brown socks in dress shoes.

Curious facts? Depending on your definition of hatchback, 8 of the 11 'youngest' cars can or must be had with a rear cargo door. 10 of the 11 'oldest' cars are American-badged; the other is a Toyota built in America. #9 on the oldest list has suffered through a 33% plummet in sales this year. Toyota has watched sales of its old car fall 19% this year.

YOUNGEST BUYERS

1 - Scion tC - Average age of buyer is 35. GCBC Max: 45 years old
2 - VW GTI - Average age of buyer is 38. GCBC Max: 52 years old
3 - Mazda 3 - Average age of of buyer is 38. GCBC Max: 90 (sedan), 55 (hatchback)
4 - Mitsubishi Lancer - Average age of buyer is 39. GCBC Max: 60
5 - VW Rabbit - Average age of buyer is 39. GCBC Max: 65
6 - Nissan Armada - Average age of buyer is 40. GCBC Max: 60
7 - VW Jetta - Average age of buyer is 40. GCBC Max: 60
8 - Nissan Titan - Average age of buyer is 40. GCBC Max: 60
9 - Nissan Xterra - Average age of buyer is 40. GCBC Max: 45
10 - Mazda 6 - Average age of buyer is 40. GCBC Max: 55
11 - Toyota Yaris - Average age of buyer is 40. GCBC Max: 45

OLDEST BUYERS

1 - Ford Taurus - Average, 60. GCBC Minimum: 60
2 - Lincoln MKZ - Average, 60. GCBC Minimum: 55
3 - Toyota Avalon - Average, 60. GCBC Minimum: 59
4 - Mercury Montego - Average, 63. GCBC Minimum: 65
5 - Mercury Sable (same car) - Average, 65. GCBC Minimum: 65
6 - Ford Crown Victoria - Average, 66. GCBC Minimum: 70
7 - Cadillac DTS (must read) - Average, 68. GCBC Minimum: 70
8 - Buick Lucerne - Average, 68. GCBC Minimum: 73
9 - Buick LaCrosse/Allure - Average, 68. GCBC Minimum: 60
10- Mercury Grand Marquis - Average, 68. GCBC Minimum: 90
11 - Lincoln Town Car - Average, 69. GCBC Minimum: 117

BECOME AN AUTO ENGINEER

Answer fifty questions at Ford Doctors Diesel Technicians society to discover your engineering aptitude. I found this link at www.AutoBlog.com and decided that my poor mechanical ability would be showcased on this 50 question test.

www.forddoctorsdts.com's test is intimidating, plus the passing score is 80%. I hate to break it to ya, but The Good Car Guy didn't pass. According to the schools I went to for the majority of my life, 50% was passing, and I did indeed break that barrier. (My Texas school required 70%, unnecessarily frightening me to death my first day of grade 6.)

If you think you're automotive or mechanically-inclined, take the test. If you know any know-it-alls, have them take the test to find out how much you should trust them with your prized driveway possession. By the way, you can leave as many comments on this piece as you want. You can bombard goodcarbadcar@gmail.com with information inquiries; but you ain't gonna hear my score.

YOU NEED A CAR? WIN IT

You're a hybrid lover but acknowledge that the added expense in most cases won't be covered by your fuel savings. What to do, what to do? Wells Fargo is going to give somebody a Honda Civic Hybrid and an iPod so it might as well be you, so long as you're an American resident not living in Rhode Island, Florida, or New York. Follow the link.

It seems that a car isn't a grand enough prize in and of itself. Civic Hybrid + an iPod, GMC Acadia & a Garmin StreePilot navigation system. American Airlines must figure there's a fair number of 8-member families who can't afford flights, so AA's giving an Acadia (and directions) to somebody. It might as well be you. Follow the link, Americans.

Prefer a larger hybrid? Win a Toyota Highlander here. Enjoy your efficiency in more natural ways? A Mini Cooper S from Samsung would fit the bill.

Canadians outside of Quebec could win a Nissan Versa from Much Music. The Dairy Farmers of Canada are offering a free Toyota Yaris, and Dodge is going to give away a Ram.

VOLKSWAGEN UPS THE up!

There was a flock that gathered around the photos of Volkswagen's up! concept, not just here on GoodCarBadCar, but at every automotive publication, I assume. As The Good Car Guy worded it back in September, "The up! concept is an attempt by Volkswagen to return itself to a time when Volkswagen meant Volkswagen - People's Car....Volkswagen wants the up! to mobilize the world.... the up! is pure VW. And a return to pure Volkswagen roots is the best thing Volkswagen could do right now."

Read the whole first GoodCarBadCar reation to the up!

The up! is to the original Beetle what the Space up! is to the Type 2/Kombi/Transporter. This bigger vehicle is up! based, powered by up! and simply provides a more spacious version of a very inexpensive car. (Doesn't it sound like we're discussing a bad energy drink?)

Volkswagen has big plans to mobilize the planet, especially the massively populated places like China and India but other emerging markets, too. Forget not North America; tis all we ask.

NO NEW ENGINES - F1

Ten years may pass before Formula 1's engine technology moves forward. Changes could be made after five years but only if all teams agree two years before changes would take effect.

At present, F1's engines are 2.4 litre V8's and are branded by such heady names as Ferrari, Honda, BMW, Toyota, and Mercedes, and Renault. Before the 2.4L V8, Formula 1 racers utilized 3.0L V10's, turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder powerplants, 1.5L V12's, V6's and a variety of other formats. The current V8's can easily rev to 19,000 rpm, more than twice that of Ferrari's own F430 road car's screaming V8.

In other F1 news, McLaren is appealing the decision to leave BMW Sauber and Williams unpunished in light of fuel temperature irregularities. McLaren says they broke the rules, and the potential disqualification of Nico Rosberg, Robert Kubica, and Nick Heidfeld would have vaulted Lewis Hamilton to fourth place. Had he laid hold of the points available from a fourth place finish, he'd have won the driver's championship instead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

Read The Good Car Guy's instant analysis immediately following Sunday's race

Noble fella that Lewis is, he voiced his awkward feelings about possibly winning the title weeks after the Interlagos race. "For me, I want to win it on the track. You want to do it in style, you want to win the race, you want to win battling it out for the lead or something in the race. Being promoted after some people have been thrown out is not the way I want to do it," Lewis said.

"It would feel weird after Kimi did such a fantastic job in the last two races. He won and to have it taken away is a bit cruel and probably not good for the sport."

2008's F1 race schedule includes a night race in Singapore in late September, ends in Brazil just like it did this year, and forsakes American soil. Here's the schedule in detail.

• March 16 - Melbourne, Australia
• March 23 - Sepang, Malaysia
• April 6 - Sakhir, Bahrain
• April 27 - Barcelona, Spain
• May 11 - Istanbul, Turkey
• May 25 - Monaco
• June 8 - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Canada
• June 22 - Magny-Cours, France
• July 6 - Silverstone, Britain (see right)
  
• July 20 - Hockenheim, Germany
• August 3 - Hungaroring, Hungary
• August 24 - Valencia, Spain
• September 7 - Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
• September 14 - Monza, Italy
• September 28 - Singapore
• October 12 - Fuji, Japan
• October 19 - Shanghai, China
• November 2 - Interlagos, Brazil
  

OTHER CADDY SPOTS - Not So Hot

General Motors, more specifically Cadillac, somehow landed the enigmatic Bob Dylan. Check out his Cadillac/XM commercial from earlier on in this seemingly all-video-day at GoodCarBadCar. That advertisement really seemed to hit the spot.

Just one month ago, however, I had a conversation with a GM Communications exec (read about the post-Milford dinner here) and made a point about sending unbelievable messages. Unbelievable, in terms of an inability to believe. Not unbelievable in terms of amazing or incredible. Just plain not-going-to-ever-believe.

One such message appears in the TV spot you can see below. Four young-ish guys, appearing to be relatively cool, have a golf-related argument while inside a DTS. At the country club, other older men settle the scoring debate. The older men are preparing for their round at the trunk of their DTS. I made it pretty clear that an unbelievable message (that four cool young guys would drive a DTS?) does more harm than good. We, potential future Cadillac buyers, see the brand de-valued when the advertising attempts to push a message that can not be trusted.




Then you have another DTS television ad, where these four young fellas are "welcomed to the world of gentlemen" by four older DTS-driving men outside a diner. The negative messages are flying; and it hurts Cadillac tremendously. Firstly, Cadillac is admitting that, traditionally, DTS/Deville buyers were older men - usually Floridian retirees. Second; it's unusual for young men to be seen driving a DTS. Thirdly, aren't they wealthy enough to be found outside a fine dining establishment? We all love a good breakfast, but at least Cora's looks appetizing. Finally, the main selling-point, at least the point mentioned, is spaciousness. That's terrific, but I think I'll stick with the CTS and its performance. Remember, I am young.




The world already understands that big Cadillac's are driven by old men, that young people don't drive DTS's, and that a DTS is huge. Don't spread the embarrasing news.

NUMERICALLY SPEAKING - #3

1 - Independent Mercury dealer in the USA.

600+ - Horsepower available from the supercharged V8 to be seen (and heard) in the top-level Chevrolet Corvette - a 'Vette above the Z06.

430 - Horsepower in the current base Corvette.

40 - Openings during the next five years of Ferrari retail outlets, not the stores where you buy cars; the stores where you buy t-shirts.

11/01/07 - Date on which Bentley begins selling its first Autumn & Winter collection. No cars, but a Team Bentley playsuit for kids, cashmere purses, and handkerchiefs are available.

28 - General Motors vehicles on the stand at SEMA, an industry-only aftermarket show in Las Vegas.

245 - dollar increase for the V8 model of Lexus' GS, with its extra 52 horsepower.

31 - percentage of the Volkswagen group owned by Porsche.

20 - likely percentage increase in Porsche's stake of Volkswagen group to be seen soon, since the VW Law has been struck down in a court of law.

51 - the previous two figures combined, giving Porsche control of Volkswagen, thus Audi, Skoda, Seat, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini, too.

2 - previous occasions where the Numbers headlined GoodCarBadCar.

BOB DYLAN'S ESCALADE AD

Iconic musician Bob Dylan surprises us all and markets, both himself and Cadillac, in an XM/GM commercial. It's available for viewing below. The most uncool part of this advertisement has to be the fine print that pops up in the bottom left: "Optional equipment shown". So tacky.

Tiger Woods, Kelly Ripa, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeff Gordon - and now Bob Dylan. It's hard to convince anyone that Cadillac Escalade's are a necessary part of life. But there's no denying the built-in cool factor, a strong dose of panache, a heavy-duty dollop of gross excess. Bob Dylan enhances these things. You can read The Good Car Guy's favourable review of Cadillac's CTS, but the CTS just wouldn't have looked right in these ads. Not with Bob Dylan. It needed to be the 'Slade.

WATCH THE 135i IN MOTION

Tired of photos and text and hype? BMW's smallest own-badged car isn't far from becoming a huge North American hit in coupe form. Much of the world has been buying up 1-series 3-and-5-door hatchbacks for a few years. So clearly a BMW, the rear-wheel drive 1-series slots below the 7,5, and 3 series to provide a semi-affordable route into BMW drivership bliss. Can't buy a car until you see its presence down the road? Then watch it now on GoodCarBadCar.

AUDI METROPROJECT QUATTRO

Audi decided to hide a very enviro/green/futuristic powertrain beneath the body of a car which should become the A1. Designed to compete against Mini, a company owned by Audi's cross-country rival BMW, the Metroproject Quattro features a 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine which sends its 150 bhp to the front wheels.

Power sent to the rear wheels is provided by a 41 horsepower electric motor. This Audi can be plugged in to an electrical outlet at your house, just like the future Chevrolet Volt. The lithium-ion battery is presumed capable of 100km without firing the 1.4L gasoline-fed engine.


All the mechanical stuff is out of sight, of course. On the exterior side of things, Mini Cooperesque cuteness is thrown to the wayside in favour of Audi's aggressive grille, wide tires on 18" wheels, and a high-class chrome treatment on the window surround. It's all very Audi; which is to say modern, unique, and sporting.

Watch a video of a slow Volt, or read about GM's plans for the Volt

Copying the Mini would have spelled disaster. Downsizing the A3 would have spelled bland. Whether you like it or not; whether you wish to plug your car into your garage or not - you must admit Audi styled a striking small car with a trick card up its sleeve. An environmentally-friendly solution in what must surely be a lightweight and 'clean' car to begin with scores big points in 2007. I doubt that fact will change by 2009 when A1's arrive in European showrooms.

2009 HONDA FIT - You like?

Keep it simple, stupid. Honda's next Fit will have more rounded corners, yet it will manage to provide more space. Honda has suggested the space will be similar to that of its midsize sedans. Impressive, if it proves true.

Expect a very small power increase and, potentially, a continuously variable transmission beyond the regular 5-speed manual. If you think a new Fit is debuting a tad early, do remember that the rest of the world saw the Fit/Jazz a few years before those of us in North America.

Read The Good Car Guy's review of the original Fit

Sky Roof will surely become a mainstay in Fit advertising. This panoramic window in the roof lets in tons of light making the already decently sized interior feel even larger. Good thinking, Honda. Unique features in foundationally good cars make those good cars best-sellers.

GENERAL MOTORS OVERTAKES TOYOTA

For what seemed like years, constant headlines voiced the queries of many an analyst: when will Toyota take the crown from General Motors?

Then along came the first quarter of 2007, and Toyota really did sell more cars than GM. GM, however, has sold about 100,000 more vehicles than Toyota through the first nine months of year. Their growth can be mainly accounted for in Asia Pacific where GM vehicles sold at a rate 16% higher than last year. Toyota's worldwide sales figures are still 7% higher than they were thru the first 3/4 of 2006.

Despite the attention of automotive publications such as GoodCarBadCar, there's one comment worth hearing. A GM spokesman named John McDonald spoke thus: "But while it's a real interesting story to the media, I don't know a single customer who uses that criteria when making the decision on where to buy a vehicle."

HAMILTON LOSES IT; KIMI TAKES THE CROWN

After the first race of the 2007 Formula 1 calendar, Kimi Raikkonen led the standings, aided by his Ferrari's winning performance in Australia. After the last round of the 2007 F1 season, Finland's Kimi Raikkonen stole first place right out from underneath rookie sensation Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton broke and set all sorts of records this year, including most podium finishes to begin a career. There was trouble in the McLaren fold, however, as was revealed by a massive industrial espionage scandal that broke in September. Hamilton's elder teammate was the reigning 2-time champion. Fernando Alonso raced for Renault during their '05 and '06 constructor's champion teams when he out-raced the great Michael Schumacher.

Read about the McLaren's cheating scandal here

The hype surrounding Britain's latest and greatest young hope was overwhelming, with even Bernie Ecclestone suggesting that Lewis deserved to win. Kimi, the Ice Man, raced impressively today, however, and managed to show an ounce of emotion on the podium to boot. And is just now smiling in the press room.


To realize that McLaren lost its entitlement to the Constructor's championship when they were caught stealing Ferrari secrets and also lost what seemed by times to be a sure Driver's title is devestating for Britain.

It can't help McLaren that it was a driver they developed who managed to control the race and take the title. Losing all around then, McLaren did. Cheating ended their team's chances. Hamilton's bad start and Fernando's inability to gain pace lost them their driver's title hopes. All of that was rubbed in their faces by a former great hope, Kimi Raikkonen.

Italy celebrates - Finland joins in. Kimi becomes the small Scandinavian nation's third world champion driver.

NEW CITROEN C5 - A Dud No Longer

In 2006, the Citroen C4 was named the World Car Design of the Year. Meanwhile, in other corners of the showroom, (hopefully tucked well away) was the larger C5. The C5 appeared a few years before the C4 and appeared more deserving of a Buick badge circa 1995. Dull and inoffensive to the degree that it was offensive.

Then along came the C6, Citroen's take on the larger executive car market. The C6, with its concave rear window and odd curves, is bound to offend some. For those tired of the typical German and Japanese luxomobiles, the Citroen makes a great choice. It was, and still is, a striking machine.

Yet tucked away in the back corner was one of Citroen's more mainstream competitors, the C5. Dull and inoffensive to the degree that it was, indeed, offensive. Slow, too.

There's a new C5 coming, and it's nearly as striking as the C6; perhaps equally so. It's curious to think that Citroen's PSA partner, Peugeot, designed the disturbing 407 and its Dodge Ram-worthy grille. Behold and believe. T

The new C5 can be seen below (wagon above), with the older version making what we hope is its last GoodCarBadCar appearance below the new. Oh, there'll be new engines and some great tech, including Citroen's Hydractive self-leveling suspension. At this point I care not one whit. Citroen's rarely rank high on the thrill-o-meter and besides, they're not available on this side of the Atlantic. But for those of you in France, give my congratulations to Citroen for putting the chic back in the C5.