NEW AUDI LE MANS VIDEO IS HONEST

Audi's latest 35-second clip profiling their Le Mans efforts says quite truthfully that, "You win Indy" and that, "You win Monaco",  but "You survice Le Mans". The gruelling 24 hour race has been owned by Audi in this century and you can't deny that the Volkswagen subsidiary knows what it takes: straight-up perserverance.

Check out the clip below to see Audi's terrifying humour at the end of the video.

'09 SATURN VUE RECALLED FOR BAD KNUCKLE

2,149 Saturn Vues from model year 2009 are being issued a Recall because of incorrect right and/or left front steering knuckles. This means - apparently - that "the tie rod ball stud could pull out of, or fracture, the tie rod housing. This could cause the tie rod to separate from the knuckle". Those are the Circle Y Ranch's NHTSA's words, not mine. 

Drivers might'n't notice the affect immediately because steering inputs in normal circumstances would remain relatively normal. On rougher roads or with more aggressive driving or under braking, however, one wheel could "turn out and skid". Yikes. 

The Vue was also recalled in September because of a power steering issue. 

16,667 '09 GM LAMBDA CROSSOVERS RECALLED - ENCLAVE, TRAVERSE, ACADIA, OUTLOOK

Four General Motors crossovers are being recalled, NHTSA says, for failing to measure up to requirements for safety standard #209.... the one for seat belt assemblies, don't you know? The second or third row seat belt buckle could be missing a rivet.

Model year 2009 examples of the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook - basically identical vehicles under the skin and inside the seat belt buckles, apparently - will have any deficient seat belt buckle replaced free of charge under this Recall. That could be up to 16,667 CUVs, NHTSA says. The Lambda platform could even be the foundation for the next Cadillac Escalade and/or Chevrolet Suburban if General Motors money remains..... er, tight, and if fuel economy standards make the possibility of a 20+mpg giant SUV impossible.

Lambda crossovers were also involved in a GM Recall in August relating to overheating windshield washer fluid and another recall in August for detaching windshield wiper linkage. If these General Motors vehicles are going to be in the garage continuously free of charge to customers, GM is going to want to keep the issues minor.

'07 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS RECALL FOR BAD KNUCKLE

A small number of '07 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans, the German luxury automakers largest and most luxurious four-door, are being recalled because of a supplier problem that resulted in a radial knuckle of the front strut that isn't up to snuff. As the odometer rolls, NHTSA says, the mileage accumulation and exposure to high stress on rough roads could result in a failed knuckle; making the vehicle very difficult to steer.

Only 1,515 examples of the S-Class Benz fall under the banner of this NHTSA Recall. Before the end of the year Mercedes-Benz will start issuing notice. Dealers will look at the production date to know if the vehicle's radial knuckle could be one of the struts affected and if so, replaced accordingly.

26 PICTURES OF THE MINI COOPER S CABRIO

Looking back now, do you not get the very strong impression that BMW was on to something? The Mini brand has been a roaring success. BMW stuck to a style and invested engineering strength to make on-road dynamics a vital selling point. True enough, choosing the convertible points out very clearly that you're not all about on-road dynamics, are you? The speed of this Cooper S convertible is numbed because of additional weight that adds stiffness to the structure while the suspension tuning is softened a bit to stave off shaky rearview mirrors and dashboards. Check out the new Mini Cooper S cabrio in 26 pictures below.

evo STARTS ITS CAR OF THE YEAR TESTING

Every year I realize more and more the stupidity of the premise of Motor Trend's Car of the Year competition. The exhaustive testing is great and trustworthy. I accept their opinions, too. But one car out of all the new models receives recognition? It's not directly compared with older members of its segment even though Motor Trend insists that the comparison isn't with the cars in the test. What's worse, Motor Trend pays no regard to reality and ends up naming the Nissan GT-R (we already knew it was the best car of the year, but we're real people MT) or the Ford Thunderbird or Volkswagen New Beetle. Sometimes MT gets it right, with cars like the Infiniti G35 or Honda Civic. 

I regret, then, that evo magazine's COTY works on a similar premise and is somehow unforgettable and amazing. The difference? evo is rarely in touch with reality and we don't expect them to be. Track cars, rare run-out models of French hatchbacks, insane supercars.... anything goes. Well, anything that has already pleased the evo editors. The British magazine places no emphasis on price - and we know that starting the first page of the feature. Rather, evo wants to find the car that best fulfills their motto, "The Thrill of Driving". It doesn't matter if that car is embarrassingly inexpensive or prohibitively expensive. Part 1 of evo's COTY competition is in video preview below. Watch it.

FORD FOCUS RS WILL TOP 164 MPH, 264 KMH

As if the Ford Focus ST wasn't impressing Europeans enough, Ford's upping of the ante with the Focus RS is manifesting more evidence than ever that the RS will be a high-flyer. 0-60mph will come up in just under six seconds, Ford says. It'll likely be less than 5.5 if traction isn't an issue, The Good Car Guy believes. Also possibleis that on your next trip down the autobahn, a green Focus RS will cruise past at 164 mph, about 264 kmh. This is a Ford Focus, folks. Wow.

Read more about the Focus RS here and check out a full picture gallery

296 horsepower through the front wheels could be considered a problem. Ford hopes that it won't be because of its RevoKnuckle technology that Ford thinks will rule out torque steer. Remember the last Focus RS with substantially less power (in the 212 range) struggled mightily putting the power down. Of course, that must be put in context with the current Focus ST which has over 220 horsepower and negates the effects of large throttle openings and steering wheel motions.

Whether or not the Focus RS handles take-off well, cruising altitude will shove all the restricted 155mph German coupes and sedans down a rung.

evo BOSS TRADES ZONDA FOR CATERHAM WITH EDITOR

Henry Catchpole decides to convince his boss at evo magazine, Harry Metcalfe, that every great garage needs a Caterham. Well, lookie there: Henry has a Caterham long-termer that Harry Metcalfe can try. The side-effect for Catchpole? He gets to drive Metcalfe's Pagani Zonda for the first time. The video from evo is below. Catchpole's facial expressions would make the video worth watching if the driving footage wasn't even as good as it is.

FORD STOPS BUILDING TRUCKS IN WAYNE - PREPS TO BUILD SMALL CARS

Though still smarting from what wasn't the most successful arguing on their behalf at Congress last week, Ford Motor Company had already decided to "do things differently" before senators and congressmen kept asking them to do so. Yesterday the Wayne, Michigan plant that had been partly responsible for the hundreds of thousands of F-150s, Expeditions, and their offspring stopped building vehicles to ready it for small car production.

51 years ago the Wayne plant began building large vehicles for Ford and has gone through the F-Series, Broncos, Expeditions, and Navigators. Another plant that switched from trucks to small cars is the Cuautitlan, Mexico facility that will be building the Ford Fiesta (Scottish car of the year, yippee) by 2010. Ford will invest $75,000,000 in the Wayne plant just for a spectacular body shop. That cost is over and above the cost of basic re-tooling and reorganizing.

KIA SOUL EXTERIOR LOOKS BIGGER - KIA SOUL EXTERIOR IS SMALL

With a wheelbase of 100.4 inches, the height of a 5ft-3inch human, width similar to that of The Good Car Guy's height, and length of The Good Car Guy plus Yao Ming, the new Kia Soul sounds large. Put another way, the new Kia Soul has a wheelbase just 2.4 inches longer than that of the new Honda Fit. The Soul and the Fit are equally lengthy but the Soul is 3.4 inches taller and more than 3.6 inches wider. 

Thus, the new Kia Soul should be about as easy to park as Honda's small hatchback, a constant GoodCarBadCar.net favourite. More importantly, with a little extra height and a little extra width, the Soul should be able to find more space for people and their stuff inside. 

Why is this important? Well, the Kia Soul will offer more horsepower than the Honda Fit (probably not a direct or terribly indirect competitor, either) in both standard and optional trim but will more than likely weigh more than the Honda, too. Korean cars are typically a smidge heavier than their dimensions would lead us to believe while Hondas are usually a little lighter than their dimensions suggest. With excellent down-the-road dynamics, Honda's hatchback has made a name for itself as the enthusiast's choice in a segment auto enthusiasts avoid with passion. The Kia Soul has ignited some excitement from all parts of the consumer audience with attractive styling and a potentially awesome cargo/fuel economy ratio. 

It was because of this excitement that The Good Car Guy thought it necessary to bring to your attention that the Soul isn't a large vehicle - and that's a very good thing. Kia appears to have hit the proverbial sweet spot in North America right now. Automobile owners still want space but are fearful that gas prices will strike them in their gut again, right where their Ford F-150 resides. If people can have their space with fuel efficiency while looking cool, they'll be excited. 

That's not to say that the Honda Fit doesn't cut muster anymore. After all, The Good Car Guy likes the second-generation even better than the first, and the first generation was one of twelve cars labelled by GoodCarBadCar.net as the cars The Good Car Nation should drive in 2008. Kia seems to have taken the Fit's game up a notch, however. Expect fuel economy to come down slightly from the Fit's impressive 27/33mpg, but not so far as to wish you were back in your lumbering SUV.

THE GOOD 12 WILL BE SUPERSIZED STARTING DECEMBER 20TH

One day after the regular Good 12 finishes, The Good 12 Supersize will introduce the twelve trucks, SUVs, and vans The Good Car Guy believes you should be driving in 2009. Check this space on December 20th, or for The Good 12 v2.0, be here December 8th.

FULL PORSCHE PANAMERA GALLERY HAS JUST 9 PHOTOS

We're all wishing the interior of the Porsche Panamera will make up for the offensive exterior design that Porsche somehow managed to sign off on. Perhaps Porsche knows that its brand name, mixed with sublime driving dynamics and all-weather ability, will sell cars; regardless of exterior design. After all, the Porsche Cayenne has been a roaring success. The Good Car Guy has already laid out the case against the Panamera's exterior (which you can read about here and here), but below are nine pictures in one place.

TOYOTA IQ VIDEO EXPLAINS FOUR SEATS IN SMALL CAR

Visual learners unite. Toyota has released a video (seen below) to help explain how the iQ is able to squeeze four seats inside a car that's less than three metres in length. The Good Car Guy already made most of Toyota's points clear, but for those of you who listen better than you read or need diagrams to make up for your lack of imagination, the video should help.

TOYOTA SHOWS FOUR ADULTS INSIDE THE IQ

Toyota set out on a mission to build a four-passenger car with an exterior length of less than three metres. The result, as we know, is the iQ. Now Toyota is going to let us see through the roof into the cabin in order to better understand the space arrangement.

The fact is, Toyota isn't positioning this as a competitor to the Camry or even the tiny sedans American and Chinese consumers are beginning to swoop up. However, the iQ does something the smart fortwo can't - and that is simply offering a rear passenger compartment.

For more on the iQ click here

How did they do it? A new differential helped create a smaller engine bay and cut out extra space between the front bumper and the accelerator. A flat fuel tank under the floor was a huge difference maker. The asymmetrical dashboard is possible because of a tiny but apparently no-less efficient A/C unit. The front seats are super-thin, carving out an extra 40mm of space for rear passengers compared with normal seats.

NEW MAZDA 3 5-DOOR REVEALED

Like the Mazda 3 sedan that we've already seen, the new Mazda 3 hatchback has an unsettling front end that is so happy one wonders what it's been smoking. Unlike the sedan, the hatchback features a sleek and appealing rear end that nearly makes up for all the offenses of the front.

Europe will be the first to spot the 3 at the Bologna Motor Show. Because of this, it is the 182-horsepower 2.2L diesel that will take centre stage. Read about the sedan here.

PORSCHE SHOWS THE NEW PANAMERA IN MOTION

Porsche says that they're proud to present new photos of their first four-door sedan, the Panamera. I believe they're not telling us the truth. In all likelihood, the Panamera rank as the most capable sedan on the planet. It'll also rank as one of the ugliest. Although it'll sound better than just about any other four-door. But it'll still be ugly.

Porsche must be absolutely embarrassed to release photos of their first four-door sedan, a car they attempted to give a 911 flavour. The 911 is a rear-engined two-door sports car. The Panamera is a four-door front-engined sedan, no matter what Porsche tries to label it as. The design themes aren't going to carry forward well. Anyway, The Good Car Guy has already spent one post blasting Porsche for the look of the new Panamera. The purpose of this post is to show you the Panamera in motion. Watch it below.

OFFICIAL PHOTOS REVEAL THE UGLY PORSCHE PANAMERA

Porsche has announced that its Panamera sedan will have power outputs ranging from 300 to 500 horsepower. Power will be sent to all four wheels at the top of the range as standard equipment but will be optional elsewhere. Six-speed manual transmissions or the PDK dual-clutch gearbox will harness the engines' prodigous power. According to the German sports car and SUV maker, the Panamera four-door is wider and lower than comparable models. Information regarding a Panamera hybrid will be released in the spring of '09. Porsche dealers will receive their first Panameras next summer. 

Them are 'da facts. Now for the fiction. The phrases below are direct from Porsche.

"The unmistakable, sleek GT silhouette...." No, it was a big mistake and it isn't GTesque. Take a look at the Aston Martin Rapide for a GT silhouette.

"Through its design language alone, the Panamera will establish a new segment versus the competition." Actually, this is true. The new segment will be for ugly competitors in the four-door coupe arena.

"... the unique interpretation of the classical saloon body..." GoodCarBadCar.net's verdict on this is misleading. The Panamera is a unique interpretation, but we're not sure what the Porsche is interpreting. It's certainly not a 'classical saloon body'.

"The striking, muscular shoulders over the rear wheels, the dynamic sweep of the coupé-like roof-line, and the visible tailpipes again signpost the DNA so typical of a thoroughbred Porsche." This is an outright lie. A typical thoroughbred Porsche looks good. Typical as in Cayman, Boxster, and 911 GT3. Oh, unless Porsche thinks that their typical thoroughbred is the Cayenne. Ewww.

"The elegant roof arch extends stylishly over the generous interior, begging the beholder to get inside." This isn't a lie, it's simply an error. Porsche has been misled by the focus groups. The only thing begging this beholder to get inside is that I know it is a Porsche and will drive amazingly well. Elegant roof? Funny joke, Porsche. Extending stylishly? Okay, that's not even funny.

The Good Car Guy is showing Porsche's two best Panamera angles and the two worst. Decide for yourself which photos belong in which category. It must be pointed out that "two best" really means "two not-as-wickedly-ugly-as-the-others".

THE BAD 8 FOR 2009 IS RETURNING

Beginning New Year's Day, tune in to GoodCarBadCar.net to find out which eight cars you should avoid in 2009. Click here for last year's The Bad 8.

MINNESOTA CAR DEALERSHIPS CLOSE OVERNIGHT FRIDAY

Denny Hecker's car dealerships formed part of a 30-year old business that appears to be going down the tubes. Some of the Minnesota-area stores went under Friday night... overnight. In other words, business as usual appeared to be the theme of the day Friday - Saturday the doors were closed. Forest Lake Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Mitsubishi has been shutdown along with the following dealersips: Blaine Bargain Lot, Monticelle Dodge/Ford, Mercury Suzuki/Kia, Rosedale Hyundai, Shakopee Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge and Stillwater Ford/Lincoln/Mercury. Invergrove Heights Hyundai and Invergrove Heights Volkswagen were sold in addition to Peninsula Dodge in California.

Thorough website changes appear to be in waiting. DennyHecker.com shows the group as sellers of Toyota, Scion, Hyundai, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC along with an exotic rentals business now. Watch the CNN/KARE video below for more, or check this link from the Minnesota Star Tribune.

GoodCarBadCar.net brings this story to your attention for one reason: approximately one-third of Denny Hecker's workforce is now laid off. This will become a common theme across America in the very near future, and you might as well be ready.

A PORSCHE CAYENNE TAXI IN THE MIDDLE OF A BAD MOSCOW ECONOMY?

CNN's Matthew Chance takes a spin in one of Moscow's "garish reminders", as he calls them in the video below. A bright orange Porsche Cayenne kitted out for taxi duty in the city from which communism went forth; the city where real estate values are tumbling and garish was, but may no longer be, quite cool.

The fur-wearing Anna Petrova, founder of the Cayenne-running VIP Taxi company, explains how business continues as usual.

THE DETROIT THREE HAS A PROBLEM? SO DOES ARGENTINA

Argentina builds 600,000 cars each year. 270,000 of those cars are exported to Brazil, much of the remainder goes to Argentina's second-largest export market, Mexico. Mexico and Brazil form the largest economies south of the Rio Grande in the western hemisphere. Economies, both large and small, are apparently suffering right now. Perhaps you've heard.

Watch CNN's video below to see how Argentina's auto sector is coping with the problem. Where's Eva Peron when you need her?

VOLVO S60 CONCEPT PREVIEW IMAGE

In late October, The Good Car Guy expressed excitement over Volvo's S60 concept interior. Nobody was in any doubt that, for production, the crystal theme would have to go. But the shape was enough to excite. Volvo has now released preliminary images of the S60 concept exterior, and it bodes well for the production S60. 

"The concept car's exterior gives a clear indication of what customers can expect of the all-new Volvo S60. On the inside we've been even more daring - there the focus has been on creating a vision of the future in the slightly longer perspective," design director Steve Mattin said. He speaks the truth: the interior is absolutely wild, the outside is handsome, classy, and pleasantly curvaceous.

BOAT RACER GOES END-OVER-END IN ARIZONA

At 100 mph, beginning a barrel roll would be absolutely terrifying. Adjectives and superlatives aren't available for describing a 240 mph barrel roll..... on water. CNN.com has footage from KNXV. Watch it below.

THE GOOD 12 IS ALMOST BACK FOR v2.0

12.08.08 - 12.19.08

Last year's The Good 12 can be seen here

VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO POLICE CAR, RATHER; POLIZEI

Historically, one of the most actively read posts at GoodCarBadCar.net revolves around police cars. Strange as it may seem for a site full of auto enthusiast reading material for people who probably prefer to avoid police cars, the cars The Good Car Guy recommended to police departments seem to attract attention. 

Check out numerous police links from GoodCarBadCar.net and enjoy the pictures of this Volkswagen Scirocco Polizei, a vehicle that was put together for the Essen Motor Show and the TUNE IT! SAFE! program.

2009'S THE GOOD 12 IS LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAY

Which cars will repeat? Which will go down to defeat? Find out beginning December 8th. Click here for The Good 12 v1.0

LISTEN TO THE MINI E WHIR AND HUM OVER HILL AND DALE IN MOTION

As a pedestrian, few experiences are as strange as watching out of the corner of your eye as a car rolls toward you (or speeds toward you) without making sounds. You may hear a whir or a bit of tire roar, but the sounds aren't processed correctly.

Curious to understand my full meaning? Mini's new electric version of the Cooper makes some noise; but not much. Read more about the Mini E here, watch the clip below.

THE GOOD 12 IS COMING.... v2.0

12.08.08

Last year's The Good 12 can be seen here.

2009 MAZDA 3 IN MOTION

Pictures of the new Mazda 3 don't treat its exterior well. That shouldn't be taken to mean that a car competing with the Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla, two not-so-gorgeous compacts, can't continue to be successful. In an early review Car&Driver wrote that "aside from the drone of road noise, the 3 rolls down the road with a refinement and solidity that escapes most of the cars in the compact class." Read their full review here, and watch the eight minute video of the new 3 below for a better idea of how Mazda's compact will look on the road.

CAR AND DRIVER ANNOUNCES 10BEST FOR 2009

From the time he was knee high to a grasshopper - whatever that means - The Good Car Guy has been a faithful believer in Car & Driver's 10Best. That's part of the reason why GoodCarBadCar.net's The Good 12 is modeled after C/D's 10 Best; with realistic cars (under $71K this year) that can be recommended year-after-year if they remain better than the opposition. Don't believe that GoodCarBadCar.net will always be in firm agreement with C/D's editors.

This year Car & Driver named two domestics to its 10Best list. Added to that were four from Europe and four from Japan. The list is below with a sentence from Car&Driver and an additional thought from The Good Car Guy. Keep in mind, The Good 12 v2.0 begins revealing itself on the eighth of December.

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BMW 3-Series: "Is this perfection? History has shown that there’s always room for improvement. But even so, in our view, no current family of cars comes closer to that elusive target." 

TGCG: No argument here.

Cadillac CTS & CTS-V: "Cadillac has created many memorable cars. This one is unforgettable." 

TGCG: Stretching only slightly less, I'd say that the CTS is memorable, the V version unforgettable.

Chevrolet Corvette: "... the standard Corvette coupe and convertible continue to deliver a level of performance and style that’s unbeatable for the money." 

TGCG: Indeed, it is the ZR1 and Z06 that show what tremendous value the regular 'Vette represents, even Chevrolet can't make its own car look overpriced.

Honda Accord: "It’s equally clear that the Accord has evolved steadily to maintain its position as a mainstream pacesetter."

TGCG: Contrary for the sake of being contrary, the thought that at some point Honda may need to revolutionize the Accord rather than simply evolve their midsize car can't help making a nest in my brain; not because Honda will need to but because I want them to. The Accord was a Good 12-winner last year.

Honda Fit: "If there’s a better combination of thrift, practicality, and fun-to-drive, we haven’t seen it yet."

TGCG: In last year's Good 12, regarding the old Fit, " The Fit possesses sharp steering, a snickety-snick gearshift or even a 5-speed automatic, and remarkable economy."

Infiniti G37: "We're not immune to the appeal of more power, of course, but there's more to the G's story than increased muscle."

TGCG: The G was a winner at GCBC last year, too. Competition has stiffened, however, even as the G improved.

Jaguar XF: "As pleasant as it is to behold, the XF’s most compelling attribute is outstanding dynamics."

TGCG: Only the letdown from the C-XF concept that led up to the XF keeps it from attaining glory at GoodCarBadCar.net.

Mazda MX-5 Miata: "... the steering provides that rare sense of connection that makes the car an extension of the driver's will."

TGCG: Yet, not as much of an extension as it once was. It is not the Miata's downfall - no not at all -  just a small discouraging factor that makes me wonder why C/D infuses such exaggeration. 

Porsche Boxster/Cayman: "Neither of these mechanically identical mid-engined cousins can be called inexpensive."

TGCG: A problem, is it not? The Boxster is so deserving, the Cayman incredible but undeserving. So much more money for slightly better handling and the loss of drop-top ability?

Volkswagen GTI: "As an added bonus, GTI ownership includes an exceptionally high practicality factor."

TGCG: The GTI isn't special because its fun... for a hatchback. It is fun first and foremost; its hatchbackness secondary.

9 MINUTES OF VIDEO OF THE NEW NISSAN 370Z

Nissan's 370Z replaces the 350Z that has been in place since 2003. It will  be quicker; it is better looking; and everyone has high expectations for the Z's handling.

Nissan has put together an extensive video for the new 370Z that you can watch below. For pictures and some recent Z talk, click here, or here, or here.

NEED MORE THAN PICTURES? VIDEO OF THE NEW FORD MUSTANG

Perhaps your excitement regarding a new Ford Mustang is so overwhelming that pictures just aren't enough. You want to see it drive by your office; sitting in the dealer window.... sending forth the smell of burnt rubber. 

Too bad. You can't do that yet. But you can watch the 2010 Ford Mustang in motion below. For pictures and a bit of commentary, check this post out.

MORE PICTURES OF THE NEXT MAZDA 3

As pictures of the next Mazda 3 slowly trickle out from Japan, disappointed looks are streaked across the faces of everyone who wanted a revitalized competitor for the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

With either 148 or 167 horsepower (fuel economy in the city from 25 down to 21 and 33 down to 29 on the highway), more standard features and a wonderful interior, the 3 will be competitive, to say the least. But it won't look good as it rises in the ranks.

Or should we say, it'll look decent.... but we expected more. When the first 3 was introduced, The Good Car Guy wasn't an auto blogger at GoodCarBadCar.net and thus wasn't sharing his opinion, but a brief look revealed the little Mazda to be a good looker and a good drive. Mazda stepped up the plate for generation two and hit a ground-rule double when we had all hoped for another home run. So while the 3 is "fine", it manages to be disappointing anyway.

2010 LEXUS RX350 AND RX450h - 42 PICTURES

'Space-age' was one term applied to the first generation Lexus RX. Indeed, the concept that many believed led up to the RX350 and RX450h you see below was space-age, as well. However, the RX has progressively grown more awkward. That's too bad, because in all honesty, the first luxury crossover is probably one of the best entry-luxury family vehicles available to North American buyers. It just happens to look a little dorky now. Lexus believes the stance of the RX has been improved along with a more powerful body. I'd suggest that they're wrong on both counts.

The popular hybrid version is now the RX450h, as you read above. This doesn't actually mean the engine is larger, but with more power (up 27-bhp) than before, Lexus has decided to bump its model nomenclature up a notch.

February should mark availability of the regular RX with the hybrid going on sale sometime in the spring. Buyers will be greeted by a few new features, one of which Lexus describes as a "Hard Disk Drive (HDD) navigation system has an all-new 'Remote Touch' controller that is both intuitive and ergonomic". New suspension design has opened up 5% more cargo space. For more reasons than just those two, owners can expect to enjoy their RX; even with its soft handling and its status as an obvious choice. 

Separate galleries for the RX350 and RX450h are embedded below.

BMW RECALLS BRAND NEW M3 WITH DOUBLE-CLUTCH GEARBOX

Fitment of BMW's first double-clutch gearbox (like Volkswagen's DSG, Nissan's GT-R tranny, and the SST in Mitsubishi's Evo X) went slightly wrong for at least 2,500 M3s, NHTSA concludes. "In a situation of rapid vehicle deceleration, the transmission software may perform a multistage downshift." Unanticipated stalling may occur; and that's dangerous.

(Check out all other recent Recalls here)

Updated software is the answer, unsurprisingly. BMW dealers will reprogram the engine and transmission control units. The M3s involved are from the 2008 and 2009 model year, and you surely know if you've not been rowing your own gears lately. Been having problems with downshifts, oh ye M3 owners? Your problem will soon be solved. 

2009 INFINITI G37 CONVERTIBLE - 16 PICTURES

Think way back to the fifth month of this year and remember the rendering "drawn" up by The Good Car Girl of the future Infiniti G37 convertible. Okay, the picture isn't that clear in your mind, so take a look right here.

Infiniti released an official image in July; but now a full gallery of 16 photos is available below. Nissan's luxury division says that from the A-pillar back, the design is distinct from the G37 coupe. As we've come to expect from the 21st century Infiniti, power is plentiful and looks are good. In fact, as far as hardtop convertibles go (sometimes awkward), the G37 ranks right up there with its greatest foe, the BMW 3-Series cabrio, in terms of topless good looks.

A FEW THOUSAND OLDER HONDA ACCORDS AND CIVICS RECALLED FOR AIR BAG ISSUE

Specific models of the '01 Honda Accord and '01 Honda Civic are being recalled, NHTSA says, for a problem related to the inflator module for the driver side front air bag.

3,940 Hondas have a modulator which could produce excessive internal pressure. Were the inflator to rupture, there'd be a.... umm, shrapnel 'problem' as metal flies through the air bag cushion material. Honda dealers will replace the air bag inflator when the Recall begins sometime in late December. There were hundreds of thousands of '01 Civics and Accords, so contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 if you think they won't contact you, the owner of an '01 Civic and Accord.

CARS WE CARE ABOUT #4 - LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP560-4 SPYDER

Modern structures from Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani are so rock-solid that dynamically, the convertibles lose next to nothing. Pagani proved that with the roadster. Ferrari recently expressed great confidence in their 430 Spider by giving it the full Scuderia 16M treatment. Now Lamborghini shows us the high-octane LP560-4 in Spyder trim.

Compared with run-of-the-mill Gallardos, the LP560-4 drops weight and adds power. Indeed, horsepower is two north of 550. Lamborghini's recent fascination with white is interesting, but the class of the Gallardo's design mixes well with the pure colour as Ferrari design grows relatively ostentatious. The LP560-4 droptop is the third of three cars we care about today. Check out the electric Mini and the 2010 Nissan Cube, too. Don't ignore today's full gallery of the new 370Z.

CARS WE CARE ABOUT #3 - 27 PICTURES OF THE NISSAN 370Z

Every single angle of the new and improved Nissan Z has been improved, at least according to the glasses-wearing eyes of The Good Car Guy. Perhaps with some reservation, it should be pointed out that the rear end is still overly buxom, but that's not always a problem.

The blue and yellow paint colours used in most of the pictures you'll see below aren't favourites of GoodCarBadCar.net either. However, recently pointed out contrasts with Mazda's RX-8 show that paint colours aren't chief amongst the 370Z's worries. Three other cars worth caring about were fully gallerized today: here, and here, and here.