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BUENA VIDA
Drivers Seat
2009 Preview
A slowing economy and historically high fuel prices have turned the automotive industry
on its ear. Although a few manufacturers are posting increases, industry-wide 2008 sales
will be the lowest in recent memory , slowing down new aunches and redesigns. What
follows are a few of the bright spots for an industry that is down, but far from out.
By Russ Heaps
CHEVY CAMARO
 FEW LAUNCHES HAVE SPARKED THE EXCITEMENT GENERATED BY THE REVIVAL OF CHEVROLET’S CAMARO. EXPECTED IN
SHOWROOMS IN EARLY SPRING, CHEVY’S NEW PONY CAR IS A CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION OF THE 1969 EDITION. NEARLY UNCHANGED FROM 2006, ITS STYLING SEEMS SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR, YET FRESH. A 300-HORSEPOWER V6 AND TWO V8S WILL BE OFFERED, AS WELL AS SIX-SPEED MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS TO USHER POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS. BASE PRICE FOR THE V6 SHOULD BE IN THE $25,000 RANGE.
REAR OPTIONS::
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
and Remote Start are offered
as options.
SPINNERS:
Alloy wheels come in 18-,
19- and 20-inch sizes and hide
ventilated disc brakes with antilock on all four corners.
UPGRADES:
Two 6.2-liter V8s are the
engine upgrades–one
producing 400 horsepower
and the other 420.
SUSPENSION:
The four-wheel independent suspension features
MacPherson struts in
front and a multi-link
setup in the rear. Stability control is standard.
STEERING:
The sporty three-spoke
steering wheel contains redundant audio
controls.
OBSERVE:
Within the retro-looking
four-gauge cluster on the
center console is a torque
monitor.
BMW 7 SERIES
 THOUGH UNWILLING TO ADMIT THE CURRENT 7 SERIES HAS A FLAW OR TWO, BMW SET TO WORK TO FIX THEM
ANYWAY. LONGER AND LOWER, THE FIFTH GENERATION 7 SERIES BOASTS MORE COHESIVE, LESS RADICAL STYLING. IT’S STILL A TECHNOLOGICAL SHOWCASE, BUT THE MUCH MALIGNED IDRIVE CONTROL INTERFACE IS REVISED
AND MORE USER FRIENDLY. IT’LL STILL BE OFFERED IN REGULAR AND LONG-WHEELBASE VERSIONS; BUT ONLY ONE
ENGINE PROVIDES THE POWER. EXPECT PRICING ON PAR WITH CURRENT MODELS.
POWERHOUSE:
Power comes from the
400-horsepower 4.4-liter
twin-turbo V8 first intro
duced in the X6.
BODY:
Extensive use of
aluminum in the doors,
hood, trunk lid and
roof reduce weight.
BACK SPINNERS:
Optional Integral Active
Steering includes speed-
sensitive rear-wheel
steering.
FRONT SPINNERS:
The active cruise control
now brings the sedan to
a complete stop, giving
it application in stop-
and-go traffic.
LCD:
A 10.2-inch high-def display
replaces the previous generation’s 8.8-inch screen.
VISION:
Safety features include
night vision, head-up
display, blind spot detection, and side-view and
reversing cameras.
CENTRAL COMMAND:
A center console-mounted
joy stick is connected to the
six-speed driver-shiftable
automatic transmission.
CADILLAC CTS-V
 WHEN THE PERFORMANCE-TWEAKED V EDITION OF THE CTS ARRIVES IN DEALERSHIPS, IT WILL BE THE MOST
POWERFUL AMERICAN SEDAN EVER BUILT. THE STANDARD TRANSMISSION IS A SIX-SPEED MANUAL, BUT A SIX-SPEED AUTOMATIC WILL ALSO BE OFFERED. A COUPE VERSION IS EXPECTED NEXT YEAR. PRICING IS UNCERTAIN AS OF THIS WRITING, BUT THE BASE STICKER COULD BE AS LOW AS $55,000 TO $60,000.
FINISH:
V styling cues include the
satin-finish mesh grille and
bulged hood.
SPEEDY V:
A 500-horsepower super-
charged and intercooled
6.2-liter V8 will launch the
CTS-V from 0-60 in less
than four seconds.
SEATS:
Available 14-way power
adjustable Recaro sport seats
set the tone in the cabin.
POWER:
The exclusive two-mode Magnetic Ride
Control reads road surfaces at 1000 times a second and changes suspension
stiffness independently at all corners of
the car.
BACK PEDALS:
Built by Brembo, the anti-lock
grabbers are six-piston calipers
in front and four-piston in the
rear. The V is shod in 19-inch
alloy wheels and rubber.
EXTRAS:
A suede and leather steering wheel
is optional. CTS-Vs with the automatic transmission will have steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
LEISURE CENTER:
Shared with the CTS,
the CTS-V has a 40-gig
hard-drive entertainment system with Bose
surround-sound audio
and a pop-up navigation
system.
TOYOTA VENZA
 NO ONE HAS DETERMINED HOW SEGMENTED THE CROSSOVER MARKET CAN BECOME AND STILL SELL PRODUCT, BUT
TOYOTA SEEMS INTENT ON ESTABLISHING THAT LIMIT. ITS THIRD CROSSOVER, THE VENZA IS MORE CAR-LIKE IN STYLING.
DESIGNED AND BUILT IN NORTH AMERICA, IT WILL BE EXCLUSIVELY SOLD HERE. SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH IN NOVEMBER,
ITS BASE ENGINE WILL BE AN ALL-NEW 2.7-LITER FOUR THAT IS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY AT THIS WRITING, AS ARE PRICES.
ENGINE UPGRADE:
The 3.5-liter V6 delivers
268 horsepower to the
front wheels via a six-speed
automatic transmission.
ROOFING:
Offered for the first time on any
Toyota is the optional panoramic roof
stretching from front to rear seat.
SAFE DRIVE:
Standard alloy
wheels for the
V6 are 20
inches and 19
inches with
anti-lock brakes,
stability control
and traction
control.
DRIVE TALL:
8.1 inches of ground clearance will
be appreciated by those opting for
the available all-wheel drive.
FORD F-150
 THOUGH BOASTING THE TOP-SELLING PICKUP, FORD FINDS ITSELF LAUNCHING A REDESIGNED F-150 IN A SHRINKING
MARKET. FULL-SIZE PICKUPS ARE STILL NECESSARY FOR SOME, BUT THE DAYS OF PICKUPS BEING WIDELY PURCHASED MAY
BE OVER. COMMITTED TO THE F-150, FORD PULLS NO PUNCHES IN ITS REDESIGN.
STORAGE:
Cargo boxes come in
5.5-, 6.5- and 8-foot
lengths.
STABILITY:
A fold-down step
on the end of the
tailgate provides
easy access.
TRANSMISSION:
Three V8s with
horsepower ranging from 250 to
320 are offered.
Transmission duty
falls to either a
four- or six-speed
automatic.
PLUSES:
Seven trim levels, from the entry-level XL to the
luxurious Platinum, allow buyers to tailor the amenities.
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