Description
Contents: Mustang Stampede! (From the petting zoo V-6 convertible to the ornery GT-R Concept, a 2005 Mustang is a thing to behold…and drive. We test six variants, including Shelby’s blast from the past, the G.T.500E. * Mustang V-6 Convertible * Mustang GT Coupe * Saleen S281 3-Valve * Steeda Q * Mustang GT-R Concept * Shelby G.T.500E “Eleanor”) Road Tests – Audi A6 3.2 Quattro (If you can get past the deep abyss that is the new A6’s grille, you’ll find there is a lot to like about Ingolstadt’s latest, including a noticeably roomier interior and substantially stronger V-6); Zamboni 500 (Hockey players the world over, flash a gap-toothed smile and salute the humble Zamboni, iec-resurfacer extraordinaire. It’s as much a part of the game as a hearty high-stick to the face) First Drives – BMW 3 Series (BMW’s major breadwinner outdoes its former self (no mean feat) with crisp styling that avoids the excesses of the 7 Series and Z4, sublime handling and potent new inline-6 engines); Volkswagen Jetta (Shedding its “Golf-with-a-trunk” persona once and for all, the new Jetta is larger, more luxuriously appointed and has an unusual base powertrain – ain inline-5 mated to a 6-speed auto) Features – From The Ralph Lauren Collection (Like choosing between Van Gogh and Renoir: Famous drivers and celebrities weigh in on their favorite car from Lauren’s “Speed, Style And Beauty” exhibit at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts); Long-Term Test: Cadillac CTS-V (Imagine a ’57 Eldorado hustled through teh Nurburgring’s Karussell. Don’t see it? Yet Cadillac’s Corvette-engined CTS-V has seen thousands of laps there, and the development shows) Competition – Rookie Stripes (School is in session, and the final exam is taking an IRL car flat-out around Homestead’s 1.5-mile oval. The telemetry tells no lies, and Derek Hill passes with high marks (i.e., throttle pinned)) Technical – Seeing The Light (Where will out automotive photons come from in five or 10 years? Well, the clock is ticking on the incandescent bulb. The safe bet? High-intensity-discharge (HID) or LED light sources) Columns – On The Road: Miscellaneous Ramblings (Our editorial package this month is our usual whirlwind of diversity – our Mustang cover story, prime examples of Ralph Lauren’s incredible car collection, and Sam Posey’s insightful driver rankings); Ampersand: The Next Big Thing (Jag’s Advanced Lightweight Coupe protends the next XK8; captains of industry weigh in on trends at Detroit and Los Angeles; and a Saleen S7 variant that could huff, puff and blow your doors off); Side Glances: Our Old Pal, The Prince Of Darkness (After all these years, shouldn’t Lucas be crowned King of Darkness? Not necessarily, claims our Wisconsinite Editor-at-Large, who finds the silver lining in the simplicity and repairability of said components); Tech Tidbits: No Wonder They Call It “Grand Touring” (TIme spent behind the amply-sized wheel of a 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K proves memorable; classes in automotive restoration prove educational. Plus, buffering – it’s not just for aspirin anymore); Sport: Formula 1’s Top 10 Drivers (Sam Posey picks on Formula 1’s standouts in 2004. Okay, the No. 1 spot is a gimme (hint: M. Sch_m_ch_r) but the suspense mounts as Posey descends through the talent-packed field); Pole Position: Youth Must Be Served (As if pre-programmed from the womb, drivers are reaching greater heights of success at an increasingly early age. Cases in point: The current crop of F1 up-and-comers and Team 16 (as in “years old”) at Daytona) Departments – People, Places & Things; Your Turn; Reviews; Time & Place; Technical Correspondence; Road Test Summary; Finish Line; PS
Issue: April 2005
Condition: Very Good