Spring Preview - 2005 Ford Mustang
This year, manufacturers strengthen the passenger car.
By Russ Heaps

With spring comes a bevy of new or redesigned cars, trucks and SUVs. If this spring’s and summer’s debuts signal a trend or two, it’s that many manufacturers continue to strengthen their passenger car lineup. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler in particular are shoring up their once-neglected passenger car lines with new product. This emphasis on cars, however, isn’t at the expense of trucks. Truck and SUV segments are maintaining their growth in product, sales and market share despite rising costs. Overall, the good news is, there will be a little something for everyone launched during the first three quarters of this year and here’s a sampling.

Arguably the most anticipated passenger car of 2005, the redesigned Ford Mustang, has not disappointed. Its retro good looks, performance-oriented engines and spot-on handling are an unstoppable combination. This spring you can add open-air fun to the Mustang’s resume when the convertible arrives in showrooms. Engineered alongside the coupe, the convertible has had loads of structural rigidity built in from the get-go. This should make for less noise and vibration. When the power top is lowered, the rake of the windshield and certain interior design cues are said to keep wind buffeting to a minimum. It is offered in both V6 and V8 versions. Base prices begin at $24,495 for the V6 and $29,995 for the V8.

Audi and Mercedes-Benz each will introduce a premium compact hatchback/wagon early this year. A3 is Audi’s entry. Audi would like us to think of the A3 as a TT with four doors. With a 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine delivering 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque through a 6-speed manual or optional Direct Shift Gearbox automatic transmission, getting a TT-like rush should be no problem. A 250-horsepower V6 will also be available. The base sticker price should be in the neighborhood of $25,000.

If you like the Chrysler 300, you will love the 2006 Dodge Charger. Filling the slot in Dodge’s lineup vacated by Intrepid, Charger is built on the same platform as the Magnum and 300, though it shares no sheet metal with them. The good news is that it does share their 3.5-liter V6 and 6.1-liter Hemi V8. Look for the V6 version to be priced in the $23,000 to $25,000 range.

Similarly priced when it arrives in late spring, the Mercedes B-Class is an Americanized interpretation of Europe’s A-Class. It’s really more of a crossover than a wagon. It is larger than the A-Class with a more versatile interior. Powering its front wheels falls to an engine lineup similar to the current C-Class; although a 140-horsepower diesel with a Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT) is also available.

Scheduled to hit Volkswagen showrooms during the month of March, the redesigned Jetta is somewhat larger than the previous generation. The base engine is now a 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder, replacing the old 2-liter 4-cylinder. Horsepower is increased, too, from 115 to 150. A 6-speed driver-shiftable automatic transmission is available as an option. Pricing should start near $18,000.

Mitsubishi is reinventing its sporty Eclipse coupe for 2006. With some throwback styling to the popular second generation Eclipse, the 2006 is available with either a 162-horsepower inline four or a 260-horsepower 3.8-liter V6. A 6-speed manual gearbox is standard with the V6. In addition to its two trim levels, the new Eclipse has a grocery list of options to really jazz it up, including a Sport Package with 18-inch wheels, leather seating and upscale audio packages. When it goes on sale in early summer, look for pricing to get started at around $19,000.

Honda dips its toe in the pickup truck water with the 2006 Ridgeline. More of a lifestyle vehicle than a pickup truck, Ridgeline features seating for five and a five-foot cargo bed. The pizzazz is in the details with equipment such as a power sliding rear cabin window and a large cargo trunk for secured storage under the bed. Providing power is a 255-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. Pricing should begin in the low to mid-twenties.

Based on the Chevrolet Colorado platform, the 2006 Hummer H3 is nearly 17 inches shorter in length and six inches shorter in height than the H2. Its engine is a 220-horsepower 3.5-liter inline 5-cylinder. It can be mated to either a manual or automatic transmission. Fuel economy is said to be as good as 20 mpg. Its off-road prowess is the result of an electronically-controlled four-wheel-drive system. Expect pricing to begin in the thirties.

Saab gets its first SUV in the form of the all-wheel-drive 9-7X. Sharing a platform and some mechanicals with GM’s mid-size SUVs, the 9-7X derives its thrust from either a 275-horsepower inline six or a 300-horsepower V8. It has 18-inch wheels and standard antilock brakes. Safety features include head curtain airbags and a rollover sensing system. Inside leather, wood accents and an automatic climate control system are standard. Based on the cost of GM’s top-end mid-size SUVs, pricing for the 9-7X should begin in the low forties.

After its disastrous experience with the Blackwood, Lincoln reenters the luxury pickup segment with its version of the Ford F-150 called the Mark LT. Dripping with chrome, it redefines bling-bling. The engine is a 300-horsepower 5.4-liter, three-valve Triton V8. The cabin sports natural ebony wood accents and Nudo leather in one of two color combinations. Pricing will probably exceed $50,000.
Subaru enters what is for it uncharted waters with the introduction of the all-wheel-drive B9 Tribeca crossover. Seating seven, this is the largest Subaru ever. It is equipped with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and is powered by a 250-horsepower flat V6. The interior has a twin-cockpit design with a seven-inch navigation/vehicle information screen anchoring the center stack. The second row seats slide eight inches fore and aft and both the second and third row seats fold flat for more cargo space. A DVD-based entertainment system is available. The base sticker will be about $31,000 with a fully loaded version with navigation and DVD entertainment systems pricing out at roughly $40,000.