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 Toward the end of ‘No Country For Old Men’ Anton Chigurh (the cold-hearted assassin) has his arm broken in a car crash. He should have been driving the 2009 Nissan Murano. That’s because the new Murano has recently won an award of its own. In this instance, from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The IIHS took nine mid-size SUVs and crash-tested them, using data taken from front, side and rear impacts. Being the best overall performer (comfortably out-ranking a Hummer), the Murano earned the institute’s Top Safety Pick. It was also one of only two in this group of crossover vehicles to earn a good rating for protection against whiplash injury in rear-end crashes, one of the most common impacts. To see how the other eight fared, click onto the IIHS website .
The entry-level Murano (the front-wheel-drive S) has an MSRP of $26,330 and is available now. There’s still no protection from films with weird endings, but maybe that’s a good thing.
-- Colin Ryan
 It’s only been in existence for a year, but from now on, the Maserati GranTurismo will show a harder edge. This gentleman’s express, penned by Pininfarina (the styling house responsible for most Ferrari designs), sports some discreet exterior modifications to complement a hike in performance.
Whereas the standard GranTurismo coupe has a 4.2-liter V-8 good for 405 horsepower, the S model gets a 4.4-liter beneath its sleek hood. This engine develops 440 hp and allows a zero-to-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds. That’s two-tenths faster than its more relaxed sibling.
The original is equipped with a conventional automatic transmission, while the S has a six-speed electro-actuated gearbox that can execute changes in one-hundredth of a second. Which is pretty darn quick. Luckily, Maserati’s social conscience has led the company to upgrade the car’s braking system, using an iron/aluminum dual-cast technology.
Inside is the usual top-notch leather, but this time it adorns more figure-hugging seats -- all the better for taking those corners. The grand touring version costs $114,650, so expect this Gran Turismo S to be around $10,000 north of that and in the showrooms later in the year.
-- Colin Ryan
 For 2008, the Audi A6 gets the company’s "S" line exterior treatment as standard equipment. This package includes a trapezoidal grille with the S line badge, S line front and rear bumpers and 18-inch five-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. Those equipped with Quattro all-wheel drive have the option of seven-spoke 19-inch wheels (that’ll be $1,200, please).
The 4.2-liter Quattro sedan has a 350-horsepower V-8, a close relative to the 420-hp engine found in the R8 supercar. And it’s just about as state-of-the-art as a V-8 can currently get. With 325 pounds-feet of torque on tap, the car has equal parts power, composure, comfort and excitement. The Sports suspension (a $500 dollar option) is still not that stiff. People might even look around in vain for a button that scrolls through different damping settings; it’s best described as wallow-free rather than sports-car–stiff. Zero-to-60 mph comes up in just under 5.8 seconds (top speed is limited electronically to 130 mph).
The smooth-acting six-speed automatic transmission is so well geared that the engine is barely turning 2000rpm at 65 mph. Couple that to an aerodynamically efficient shape and fuel consumption on the freeway can be as impressive as 26 mpg. Audi gives claimed city/highway fuel consumption figures of 16 and 23 mpg respectively.
The 4.2 model (base price $56,300) features a high level of standard equipment within its undoubtedly classy cabin, including leather upholstery, heated front seats and a cool Bose audio system, though voice-activated navigation is a further $1,600. With the Mercedes-Benz E-Class due for replacement and the BMW 5 Series not being everyone’s cup of stylistic tea, the A6 is the pick of premium mid-sized German sedans right now.
-- Colin Ryan
 Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Coupe and soft-top Eclipse Spyder get a revamp for the 2009 model year. The company’s mission was to make them ‘more visible and audible.’ The visual brief extends to restyled front and rear bumpers, while the GT model also gets high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps.
The aural dimension is serviced with a new dual exhaust system for the GT that performs a double whammy of heralding the car’s presence much sooner and juicing horsepower of its 3.8-liter V-6 up from 263 to 265 and torque up from 260 to 262 pounds-feet. A modest rise, but welcome all the same.
An optional Rockford-Fosgate 650-watt audio system should also make itself heard pretty easily. The current tin-top Eclipse starts at $19,999 as a GS model with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, and the current soft-top Eclipse Spyder starts at $25,699 (also in 2.4-liter GS trim). The new models shouldn’t deviate too much from there and they’ll be available some time this summer.
-- Colin Ryan
 Ahh the Oscars- an event renown as the 'apex of art' in film-making. With a reputation for liberal mindedness and the world stage, why not show your "green" when it comes to the car you ride in?
General Motors decided to take full advantage of the green scene at this year's 80th Annual Academy Awards. The company will feature 75 "fuel friendly" vehicles in a staging area near the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.
Although nothing's yet confirmed, stars such as George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Johnny Depp, Laura Linney, and Daniel Day-Lewis may end up stepping out of one of these vehicles on their way to the red carpet.
This, of course, is only a small piece of a larger vision GM has launched to spread the word about their fleet of environmentally conscious cars, trucks and SUV's in Hollywood. They did the same at the Grammy awards -- see the photo above of Cyndi Lauper on the Chevrolet Volt concept.
Chevy also joined Disney with "Chevy Rocks the Future." The program has been using a website and sweepstakes to entertain, engage, and educate the "generation neXt" of students and Hollywood personalities by introducing them to GM's environmental solutions and technologies as well as Chevy's gas-friendly to gas-free vehicles. The highlight of the program was an event on Tuesday, February 19, featuring a live performance by the Jonas Brothers, the teen sensations from the Disney Channel series "Hannah Montana," with fellow Disney star Jordan Pruitt opening the concert.
The challenge to GM is to now actually build the "Concept Chevy Volt," their much publicized green vehicle which can be configured to run on electricity, gasoline, E85 or biodiesel. That would putting their money where their marketing mouth is.
-Josh Hancock
 Eos, the goddess of dawn from Greek mythology, was apparently quite the wanton type, eager to discard her top at the drop of a hat. So perhaps it’s appropriate that Volkswagen named its current coupe/cabriolet after her. The folding roof is not only a feat of sheet-metal oragami that includes a sunroof, it gives year-round insulation when required and exposure to the elements whenever possible. It’s a twofer car.
The top-of-the-range version has VW’s highly respected 3.2-liter V-6 engine, developing 250 horsepower and 236 pounds-feet of torque. The culmination is a zero to 60 mph time of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph. Not only that, it sounds great when revved hard. On the move, the engine’s weight makes itself felt, lending a nose-heavy attitude to the car, but the attendant performance is welcome.
Especially when VW’s DSG gearbox is in the mix. This six-speeder selects cogs sequentially. It can be put in D and left to its own ingenious devices, or the driver may like to indulge in a little paddle shifting for a bit more involvement.
VW cars aren’t renowned for their razor-sharp handling and piquant driving thrills, but they do the basics well. The combination of stalwart suspension hardware and 235/45/17 tires means a comfortable yet fairly grippy ride -- quite fun on fast, sweeping corners. The interior is suitable for anyone from Zeus down, with plenty of high-class plastics, although a little divine intervention would help with tall adults forced to sit in the back.
The 2008 VW Eos 3.2L starts at $36,970 and claimed fuel consumption figures are 22/26 mpg, city/highway. Yes, there is a little body flex -- the consequence of not having a fixed roof -- and, once freeway speeds are reached, a faint whistle coming from somewhere. But an Eos lover would probably accept those things as part of the deal. No one’s perfect, not even a Greek goddess.
-- Colin Ryan
 According to its makers, the new Volvo XC60 will be the safest Volvo ever. That’s because it has a plethora of intelligent safety systems, including something called City Safety as standard equipment. This feature helps reduce low-speed impacts by determining whether the car is about to hit the vehicle in front of it. If the driver doesn’t react in time, City Safety will apply the brakes (see illustrations below).
Volvo says the car is “packed with our accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision.” It looks pretty nice too.
The XC60 joins the ranks of premium crossover vehicles such as the BMW X3 and the new Infiniti EX35. It goes on sale in North America early next year. Power will most likely come from a 285-horsepower six-cylinder engine, although there could well be a diesel option by then.
-- Colin Ryan
 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but behold... the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, a soft-top version of the Ferrari V-8–powered 8C Competizione coupe. Alfa is poised to make a comeback into the U.S. market and the tin-top is the ‘halo’ car, the one that grabs the attention and makes the rest of the range that little bit sexier.
However, since only 500 will be made (with around 99 earmarked for the States, at $200,000 apiece) and each one is already spoken for, there’s not much glory left over for other Alfa cars. Hence the 8C Spider, with the same 450-horsepower engine and race-style paddle-shifting transmission. And this one makes even more sense in sunny Southern California.
The thing is, this too will be a 500-unit limited run (and one thing it won’t be is cheaper than the coupe). So anyone with the desire and the dough should act fast. And please, drive it around. A lot. Just so the rest of us can get to behold one every now and then.
-- Colin Ryan
 Could this be the next star car of ‘Entourage’? It’s the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe and it debuts at the Geneva auto show on March 4. This two-door version has been tuned to provide a more exciting drive, yet still offer all the luxury expected of a Rolls-Royce.
By the numbers: Its 6.75-liter V-12 engine produces 453 horsepower and 531 pounds-feet of torque, whooshing this 5,798-pound package of selected wood veneers, 21-inch aluminum wheels and fine hand-tooled leather to 60 mph in a deceptively quick and effortless 5.6 seconds. Even at 100 mph, the engine is only using 10% of its muscle. Fuel capacity has been upped by 25% for a longer driving range.
Like its soft-top Drophead sibling, the Coupe’s doors are rear-hinged for a more elegant entry and exit -- and note the rakish slant of the radiator grille that signals a driving experience with a little more drama. The steering has been tuned to provide more feel, the chassis honed to provide a touch more poise. But R-R still claims the car to be virtually silent. Production of the Phantom Coupe begins this summer. And let’s not talk about anything as tacky as money. If one has to ask, one can’t afford it.
-- Colin Ryan
 Where are Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis when you need them? The Great Race of 1908 was the inspiration behind their 1965 film of the same name. One hundred years on from that groundbreaking event (the race, not the film), the Great Race will be running again. And a little more ground breaking will be going on.
This time around, the field will consist of a motley mix of vintage and new cars, including a 1904 Thomas Flyer and a 1941 Willys Jeep. They will rub fenders, metaphorically speaking, with various vehicles running alternative fuels -- in an attempt to prove these new technologies by forging them in the crucible of a high-endurance test. Think Range Rovers on biodiesel, a multi-fuel-capable Aston Martin DB6 and a 2007 Buell Ulysses motorbike on E85 ethanol.
The latter of which should bring a whole new dimension to the meaning of saddle sore. That's because the route takes in 12,500 miles on land (plus a 9,700-mile flight). It starts in New York City on May 30, snakes up to Canada, turns west and hits an airport in Vancouver. From there, the participants are jumbo-jetted to Shanghai. From China, it's Kazakhstan, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland, finishing 65 days later (August 2) at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
There are more than 25 teams from nine countries, but other entries will take part in more ‘local’ stretches, like New York to Vancouver, or Shanghai to Urumqi (pronounced oo-room-chee), capital of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the most ‘inland’ city on Earth. Some photos from the press conference in New York announcing the show are featured below.
And a little piece of Southern California will go where few men have driven before. Orange County resident, Scott Gulley -- racer, gearhead and all-round Jeep nut -- is taking part. “I’ve raced and rallied Jeep vehicles for decades,” says Gulley. “This is the perfect culmination to my career... the adventure of a lifetime.”
We wish him (and all the other teams) well. Anyone wanting to follow the race, can click onto www.greatrace.com for more information and updates.
-- Colin Ryan
Ray Fowler stands in front of a Mercedes Benz at a news conference announcing the Great Race 2008 on February 12, 2008 in New York.
Spectators view one of the vintage cars at a news conference announcing the Great Race 2008 February 12, 2008 in New York.
A solar car arrives at a news conference announcing the Great Race 2008 on February 12, 2008 in New York.
Photos by Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images
 The 2008 Suzuki SX4 sedan with the Convenience package costs $16,370. Quite a good price for quite a good car. Included in that price is automatic air conditioning, an audio system that can accommodate an MP3 player and 17-inch alloy wheels. Plus a 100,000-mile warranty and a year’s roadside assistance
Although the materials in the interior couldn’t be described as class leading in terms of quality, they’re better than anything found in Suzuki cars up to now. The four-speed auto transmission seems a bit old-school these days, but it works well enough. Its 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine drives the front wheels and develops 143 horsepower and 136 pounds-feet of torque, which is fine for most day-to-day situations: home to work to shops to home. It gets to 60 mph eventually (Suzuki doesn’t bother giving performance data, so there’s a sign) and claimed fuel consumption figures are 23 and 31 mpg, city and highway.
It has perfectly adequate rear head- and legroom and a decent-sized trunk. General visibility and the seating position is fine; the switchgear feels fairly substantial. It probably won’t impress any potential life partners (unless they’re kinky about parsimony) and experienced drivers will find it short on road-going thrills. But the 2008 Suzuki SX4 sedan with the Convenience package costs $16,370.
-- Colin Ryan
 If it can make it there, the 2009 Acura TSX can make it anywhere. The ‘there’ in question is, of course, the upcoming New York Auto Show, open to the public from March 21 (to March 30) and venue for the new car’s debut.
This is the second generation of Acura’s entry-level sedan and displays where the company in general is going -- from a design point of view, that is. And if anyone thinks: ‘Much like before, only a little sharper and chunkier’ they probably wouldn’t find too many people disagreeing with them.
Still, the TSX is rightfully popular and looks set to continue in that vein. It goes on sale this spring. Acura hasn’t announced any prices yet, but the current model’s starting price of $28,190 should be some kind of benchmark.
-- Colin Ryan
 As good as hardcore can be, sometimes it’s a little too much. So this 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart is a somewhat toned-down version of the enthusiast-only Lancer Evolution X. It gets the same turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, only it produces 235 horsepower and 253 pounds-feet of torque. Which can be perfectly adequate for most people.
It will also have an all-wheel drive system which can be set for tarmac, gravel or snow (a nod to the Lancer’s rallying heritage) and Mitsubishi’s acclaimed six-speed, twin-clutch sequential transmission. But on the other hand, the optional 30GB hard drive and high-end audio system should be able to store a few brow-soothing tunes.
The Lancer Ralliart will go on sale this summer, with prices to be announced nearer the time. But expect something in the mid-$20k area.
-- Colin Ryan
 The greater LA county isn’t known for its preponderance of good ol’ boys, but that hasn’t stopped the Petersen Automotive Museum from launching an exhibit called: ‘NASCAR: 60 Years’ featuring a collection of NASCAR machines from the time when ‘proper’ American tracks were shaped like the President’s office.
In a spot of dodgy math, one car on show will be the 1940 Mercury once driven by Sam Packard. Other rides from over the years include those of Bobby Unser and Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR fans should find it a good way of seeing how the machines have evolved.
The event starts on Friday, February 15. On that following Sunday (the 17th), the museum is hosting a Fan Fest. It’s a Daytona 500 viewing party with racing simulators, a huge TV screen, music, interactive displays and more. This is all meant to whip up excitement in time for the West Coast premiere of NASCAR, when the Auto Club 500 will be held at the California Speedway in Fontana on February 24.
And just to show that the Petersen doesn’t take NASCAR too seriously, it will be showing ‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby’ on Wednesday, February 20, plus a meet ’n’ greet with the 2008 Daytona 500 winner. Tickets for this will be given away at the Fan Fest, or hopefuls can try their luck on www.myfoxla.com.
-- Colin Ryan
 SYNC, the Ford/Microsoft on-board cleverness system, is now even smarter. As well as being able to link up to iPods and Bluetooth-bearing cell phones, and then obey spoken commands, SYNC’s latest upgrade includes one more bell. Or is it a whistle?
In conjunction with Sirius satellite radio, this is a new take on GPS-based navigation, known as Travel Link. It provides real-time traffic information (including speed and flow), five-day weather forecasts as well as current conditions (taking in hurricane and tropical storm tracking, and conditions at ski resorts), and information from 120,000 gas stations, so users can choose by price, distance or brand. The system can then calculate a route to the chosen forecourt.
This improved SYNC system will be introduced on the all-new 2009 Lincoln MKS luxury sedan, available this summer. A six-month introductory subscription to Sirius Travel Link will be included. After that, Ford plans to phase the system in so that many new Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles will be SYNC-equipped by the end of the year.
And it‘s not just wall-to-wall drivers’ stuff. From a database of 4,500 theaters, there are movie listings, times, ratings, running lengths and addresses, plus up-to-the-minute sports scores (with the ability to customize for one’s preferred team). Which is a bit of a shame. It’s quite nice when the streets empty out a little on Superbowl Sunday.
-- Colin Ryan
With Tower Records on Sunset going silent and CD sales in general heading for the dumpster, it seems that musicians have had to find a new business paradigm. Take Pete Droge, whose beautifully simple, wistful song ‘Going Whichever Way The Wind Blows’ is featured on a TV ad for the new Toyota Sequoia SUV. Jingles are soooo last century.
And if this pleasant tune sounds familiar, that’s because it also got an airing in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Men In Trees’ (if anyone watches that). This is how writers who aren’t household names can make a living, by licensing their material to advertising campaigns, films and TV shows.
Back in the day, the problem used to be how to get tracks played on the radio with the chance of them becoming hits. Now it’s how to bring them to the attention of ad agencies and music supervisors. Sometimes it can be surprising who benefits from the corporate machine.
-- Colin Ryan
 Is the Challenger photo "shopped" or is it really flying? The hoopla around the Chicago Auto Show launch of the Dodge Challenger production model includes some press photos of the new Dodge Challenger in its orange glory taking flight over a small hill on a country road. This was too much to believe for journo's at Jalopnik, Gawker's auto enthusiast-flavored blog (their photo above).
Jalopnik's Matt Hartigree posted a challenge to the auto blogosphere: Find the seven most obvious errors on the photo that reveals the Chrysler-supplied photo is a fake. Guesses range from bad shadow shape to blacked-out window reflections. Chrysler is standing behind the photo's authenticity and even promising a video for proof.
What do you think? Real or "shopped?" See below for the original photo and more...
Follow up: Chrysler says, Yes, it's true. The photo was shot by John Coughlin and it took four takes to get it right. Stay tuned... video to follow. jg
--Joni Gray
 The perfectly practical and Teutonically tough 2008 VW Jetta SportWagen has broken cover. Most normal people would just call it a wagon, but let’s indulge Volkswagen on this one. When it hits the showrooms this spring, it will have a 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine (making 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque), running on gasoline and returning 21/29 miles per gallon, city/highway. There will be a 2.0-liter diesel-powered model, but that won’t arrive until some time in the fall.
Starting at just below $20,000, standard equipment includes a five-speed manual transmission (a six-speed Tiptronic auto is also available), an eight-speaker audio system, two roof rails (having just one would suck), three power outlets and six airbags. And for a wagon, it has quite a nice rear end, doesn’t it?
-- Colin Ryan
 The special-edition 2008 Scion tC Release Series 4.0 goes on sale from March. The production run will number only 2,300 units and each will be painted in Galactic Gray Mica, while sporting an interior with gray and black Alcantara upholstery (‘tC RS 4.0’ is embroidered into the seats).
The coupe also gets a DAMD (big in the Japanese aftermarket scene) body kit, a black leather and dark wood Razo (ditto) shift knob, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. A small, numbered plaque is also part of the package. The only enhancements are cosmetic -- the 161-horsepower, 2.4-liter engine, and the front-driven MacPherson strut (front) and double wishbone (rear) chassis remain untouched.
To score a tC RS 4.0, add $2,770 to the car’s basic MSRP. A normal tC with a five-speed manual transmission starts at $17,000. One with a four-speed automatic starts at $17,800. For an extra $285 (plus installation), there’s an optional color-coded rear spoiler.
-- Colin Ryan
 After years of producing some pretty cool motorcycles, Suzuki seems to be getting its four-wheeled act together. The company also appears to be sincere in its flattery of the Toyota Tundra pickup truck, as the model pictured here is Suzuki’s first-ever attempt in this sector. It’s called the Equator, debuts at the Chicago auto show on February 6 and goes on sale toward the end of the year.
There is another mainstream Japanese connection. The Equator is based on the Nissan Frontier platform and will be built at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee. Under the hood will be a choice of a four-cylinder engine or a V-6. No prices have been announced yet, but Suzuki has historically aimed at the budget end of the car market. The cheapest Frontier comes in at $21,000, so the Equator might equate to something south of that.
-- Colin Ryan
 This spring, the facelifted 2009 version comes onstream, with a new look and new features, including the AIRSCARF, a neck-level heating system, and a more versatile chassis that can deliver both comfort and a degree of sportiness. The SL550 gets a seven-speed automatic as standard, while the V-12-powered SL600 utilizes a five-speed slushbox.
And since it’s the 21st century, one option will be something called the Universal Consumer Interface (UCI) that links up to iPods, USB sticks and other external audio devices. There will also be the ubiquitous Bluetooth connectivity. No prices have been announced yet, but a current SL550 starts at $95,300. Perhaps being a gigolo or an oil baron isn’t so cheesy after all.
-- Colin Ryan
 If this weekend finds you shopping for a car, truck, minivan or SUV, take a quick look below at the list of top cash rebates in the greater L.A. area, dominated by Asian brands Toyota and Kia. On the U.S. side, only the staple $3,000 rebate on Chrysler's PT Cruiser joins the list at the top. This snapshot in time flies in the face of the popular notion that only American brands place heavy cash rebates on their cars, granted we're somewhat between sales seasons right now.
In most cases, you can take advantage of a low APR finance rate instead of the rebate, but as they say, “Cash is king.” Many buyers use the rebates to add beef to their down-payment and others just like to get the best possible bottom-line price.
Southern California’s top cash rebates through 2-4-08*:
2007 Toyota Sequoia SUV; Cash back: $4,000 -- Best MPG: 15 city/18 hwy.
2007 Toyota Tundra Truck; Cash back: $4,000 -- Best MPG: 17 city/20 hwy.
2007 Toyota 4Runner SUV; Cash back: $3,000 -- Best MPG: 18 city/22 hwy.
2007 Kia Sorento SUV; Cash back: $3,000 -- Best MPG: 18 city/24 hwy.
2007 Kia Sedona Minivan; Cash back: $3,000 -- Best MPG: 18 city/25 hwy.
2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser; Cash back: $3,000 -- Best MPG: 22 city/29 hwy.
2007 Kia Spectra Sedan Cash back: $2,500 -- Best MPG: 27 city/35 hwy.
Although Toyota tops the list, they never heavily discount without justification. Note that all the 2007 models are at the end of their design cycles -- the 4Runner is up for a redesign in its 2009 model year and the Tundra/Sequoia are completely new for 2008.
And, of course, no surprise that many of these vehicles are larger and less fuel efficient. So, if you are a price shopper, not daunted by the rising cost of petrol, and if you don’t mind the 2007 year on your registration, consider one of these deeply discounted vehicles. Happy shopping!
-- Joni Gray
*Edmunds.com
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Toward the end of ‘No Country For Old Men’ Anton Chigurh (the cold-hearted assassin) has his arm broken in a car crash. He should have been driving the 2009 Nissan Murano. That’s because the new Murano has recently won an award of its own. In this instance, from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
