With dynamic design and quick, agile performance, the Sky roadster delivers a bold message about the next generation of vehicles from Saturn. The Sky is the first Saturn to feature the brand’s new design language, which will carry forward to future products. Read the rest of this entry »
Marking his championship tenure with Corvette Racing’s GT1-class domination in the ALMS, Corvette racing living legend Ron Fellows is celebrated with a specially prepared 2007 Corvette Z06 production model. All are distinguished by Arctic White paint (including the door handles) that is accented with a racing-style fender stripe and Ron Fellows’ autograph. Read the rest of this entry »
QUICK SPECS:
• PRICE AS TESTED: $31,039
• ENGINE: 3.5L V-6 DOHC 24V
• HORSEPOWER: 268 hp @ 6,200 rpm / 248 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm
• DRIVETRAIN: Front-wheel drive, six speed automatic
• WEIGHT: 3,516 lbs.
• FUEL ECONOMY: 22/31 mpg
By Dave Chess
It didn’t take Toyota long to rev things up. In its third year of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition Toyota, with its Tundra pickup truck, won both driver (Todd Bodine) and manufacturer’s championships.
That was 2006.
This year look out!
Things are really going to change. Toyota speeds into the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series with its Camry sedan and a stable of well-known NASCAR good old boys. Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip, Bill Davis Racing and Red Bull Racing will field a total of seven Toyota Camrys in NASCAR’s top division.
What is there about a Toyota Camry that makes it the number one selling car in the United States and has brought the brand to NASCAR?
There is a perception that Toyota produces cars that are higher quality and provide more value for the dollar than other brands.
And after spending a week with a 2007 Toyota Camry XLE, I can tell you it had enough features to be comparable to a $40,000 Cadillac CTS. Sure the Camry only had one setting for the heated seats instead of Cadillac’s high and low. And so what if the mirrors didn’t tilt down when the car was put in reverse. At $31,000 the price is $9000 less than a similar equipped Cadillac CTS.
QUICK SPECS:
• PRICE AS TESTED: $77,090
• ENGINE: Supercharged 4.4L V-8 SC
• HORSEPOWER: 469 hp @ 6,400 rpm / 439 lb-ft at 3,800 rpm
• DRIVETRAIN: Rear-Wheel drive, six speed automatic
• WEIGHT: 4,295 lbs.
• FUEL ECONOMY: 14/20 mpg
By: Dave Chess
469 supercharged horses. Yep, the STS-V is another high performance sports sedan from Cadillac. In addition to the STS-V, Cadillac offers the 400 horsepower CTS-V and the truly classic 469 horsepower supercharged XLR-V hard-top convertible.
The STS-V’s 4.4L supercharged, dual overhead cam Northstar engine also powers the XLR-V, producing its 469 horsepower at 5,400 rpmwith 439 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,800 rpm. Ninety percent of its peak torque is delivered between 2200 and 6,000 rpm.
The Cadillac STS-V can go 0-60 in under 5-seconds in classic Cadillac luxury. The Northstar V-8 SC is mated to Cadillac’s new Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission – the first use of GM’s six-speed automatic.
QUICK SPECS:
• PRICE AS TESTED: $51,395
• ENGINE: LS2 6.3L V8
• HORSEPOWER: 400 hp @ 6,000 rpm / 395 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm
• DRIVETRAIN: Rear-Wheel drive, six speed manual
• WEIGHT: 3,850 lbs.
• FUEL ECONOMY: 16/25 mpg
By: Dave Chess
Andy Pilgrim, driving a race prepared Cadillac CTS-V, finished third in the 2006 SCCA Speed GT championship. Cadillac finished third, two points behind Porsche and one point behind Dodge in the series’ manufacturers’ championship.
In fact Cadillac’s success in the Speed GT Series and its three-car “V” model lineup has boosted the brand’s stodgy old image of a luxury car to one of competition, speed, acceleration and true sports sedan.
In addition to the CTS-V, Cadillac offers the Supercharged STS-V and the truly classic supercharged XLR-V hard-top convertible.
The 2006 Cadillac CTS-V production model is not your father’s Cadillac.
QUICK SPECS:
• PRICE AS TESTED: $89,640
• ENGINE: 8.3-Liter V10 SRT
• HORSEPOWER: 510 hp @ 5,600 rpm / 535 lb-ft at 4,200 rpm
• DRIVETRAIN: Rear-Wheel drive, six speed manual
• WEIGHT: 3,450 lbs.
• FUEL ECONOMY: 12/20 mpg
By: Dave Chess
Dodge’s Charger SRT8 is bad. But Dodge’s Viper SRT10 is bad to the bone.
No other snake within reach is safe. Hear that Cobra! Be prepared when you see a Viper headed your way, venom spewing out its exhausts, ready to bite.
510 horsepower – enough said.
2006 Dodge Viper SRT 10 Convertible was made for one thing - and one thing only – to go fast!
It’s a race car in street clothing.
QUICK SPECS:
By: Dave Chess
ELKHART LAKE, WI - RIS - 443 supercharged horses at the tips of your toes…sweet.
Driving Cadillac’s 2006 XLR-V convertible on the back roads surrounding Road America racetrack in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin was an awesome experience.
(Photo Credit: John Motal)
QUICK SPECS:
By: Dave Chess
Wow!
It’s big and it’s bad!
It’s Godzilla meets four-door sedan.
It’s….Dodge’s muscle car for the 21st century.
Daimler Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology group has created the quickest sedan in the Dodge lineup.
The 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 accelerates from 0-60 mph in around 5 seconds. Quarter-mile time is in the 13-second range. Power explodes from a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 producing 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque.
It is also a ticket machine. Which means you better be quick on the brakes.
If not, practice this line just in case:
“Honest Officer, the reason I accelerated so fast was because I just had a violent sneeze that took control of my foot.”
QUICK SPECS:
By Dave Chess
CHICAGO - RIS - What better way to spend a hot, sunny, summer afternoon on Chicago’s lakefront than putting a Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged through its paces on an autocross?
I’ll tell you one.
Piloting a Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged outfitted with General Motors’ blistering Stage Two performance kit that boosts stock horsepower from 205 up to 241.
That’s how!
Yeah Baby!
QUICK SPECS:
By: Dave Chess
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL - RIS - Sliding down into the cockpit of the 2006 Pontiac Solstice took a little extra time. First of all I’m six-feet tall and weigh a little north of 240 pounds. Second, I’m over 50 and for those of you over 50, you’ll know what I mean.
Finally, I came to rest on the supple leather seats and let my eyes feast on the instrumentation and light tan interior of this truly impressive two-seat rear-wheel drive sports car.