Description
Contents: Road Tests – Mercedes-Benz E350 Sport (The E-class trades in its Lederhosen for a snazzy sorts coat, firmer suspension and a strong-running V-6); Ruf RK Coupe (Just-so Italian style meets German engineering in the progeny of Alois Ruf and Studiotorino – the supercharged RF coupe); Update: Porsche 911 Turbo Tiptronic S, Saturn Sky Red Line & Lexus ES 350 (To Tip or not to Tip: That is the 911 Turbo question. Plus: Numbers on Saturn’s turbocharged 2-seater; and stats on the newly empowered front-drive Lexus) First Drives – Porsche Cayman (Smaller engine and wheels, big savings (10 large). But is its very Cayman-ness compromised by the other changes?); Suzuki SX4 (A practical and tidy-handling crossover, this 5-door Suzuki is the least expensive all-wheel-drive vehicle in the U.S.); Mazda CX-9 (The Hiroshima-based manufacturer moves into the big leagues, quite literally, with a stylish 7-passenger, V-6-powered ute); Acura TL & Type S (More power, styling tweaks and an optional 5-speed automatic from the RL, freshen this front driver) Features – Chariots With Fire (A collective 15 1/4 tons of rolling thunder, these six vehicles rewrite the book on high-performance sport utilities); Top End, Down Under (Get along, little billabong. Driving 911 Turbos fast in a land where the wallaby is more than a leather shoe from the ’70s); Long-Term Test: Cadillac CTS-V (Mixed feelings from the staff as we bid goodbye to this Caddy that really zigged, with help from the Vette’s 6.0-liter V-8) Competition – Racing At The 24-Hours Of Nurburgring (Wanna race at the legendary Nordschiefe? In an unfamiliar car? At night? With 220 of your closest friends? Sign me up!) Technical – Fueling Your Mobility (Top up your tank…but from which pump? A long, hard, revealing look at potential future fuels, their benefits and pitfalls) Columns – On The Road Hurry, Hurry – It’s Holiday Shopping Time (With the Christmanuka season just around the corner, here are seven great automotive books to delight any enthusiast); Side Glances The Things We Do For Cars (It’s come to this, our Editor-at-Large foraging through dumpsters. One man’s trash is another man’s treasures, for sure); Tech Tidbits My Icelandic Saga (Incredibly, the good Doctor Simanaitis avoids any mention of Bjork, but provides plenty of info on hydrogen and diesels); Sport Extreme Rallying (The original big-air motorsport, rallying was extreme when Gen-X’ers were still in Garanimals. But now it’s an official X Games event); Pole Position (After The New(s) Wears Off (Note to Mario, A.J., Danica, Juan Pablo and all other pro drivers. The media are a fickle lot, so embrace your 15 minutes of fame) Departments – Your Turn; People, Places & Things; Road Test Summary; Tech Correspondence; Reviews; Time & Place; Finish Line; PS
Issue: November 2006
Condition: Very Good