Chevrolet HHR SS, Part 1

Chevrolet is pretty serious about their new HHR SS, so they schlepped out the biggest gun in their arsenal to introduce the fast wagon to us; Maximum Bob Lutz. While he did admit that SS is "an unfortunate badge" in Europe, Lutz's talk was your standard corporate hyperbole. Chevrolet has...

Nov 15, 2024

Chevrolet HHR SS, Part 2

Very impressive performance, especially for the price. We love the 260 hp by 260 ft-lb Ecotec mill, as it's as lag free as the BMW twin-turbo I-6. Mated to a 3,280 car, that's enough power to make the HHR SS fast. Compare its 0-60 of 6.3 seconds with a manual...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Ford Taurus X, Day One

I had high hopes for the 2008 Ford Taurus X. My earliest memories of a car take place in the way back of a 1982 Caprice Classic station wagon. I would sit in the rear-facing seat, waving enthusiastically at whomever happened to be held up by my mom's slow-as-syrup driving....

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Ford Taurus X, Day Two

Yesterday, — which is in Jalopnik's garage for a week — telling you it made us look like dads. Today the big Taurus gets a chance to shine, hauling unwanted doors from Ray's pied-à-terre to his glamorous storage facility in Jersey. At first glance, the Taurus X's interior looks like...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Ford Taurus X, Day Three

The Taurus X has an identity problem. By trying to be part station wagon, part SUV and part luxury car. It aims to draw from the best qualities of each, but so far, I'm afraid it might be doing the exact opposite. Take the economy for instance. Ideally, the Taurus...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Ford Taurus X, Day Four

The Taurus X made us hope for a true alternative to an SUV or a minivan. Something that delivered their functionality without the image problems both other classes of vehicle suffer. Instead, it compromises on ability while carrying over too much height from an SUV and the family-man image of...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Smart Fortwo: First U.S. Drive

The 2008 Smart Fortwo is burdened with preconceived notions like no car before it. It's not safe. You can't drive it on the highway. It's too small for super sized Americans. It's Green. It's gay. The car was launched in Europe in 1998, so Americans have had a decade to...

Nov 15, 2024

Chrysler MyGig Infotainment Center Review, Part 1

Now that we've finished putting the Microsoft Sync system , it's time to take a look at the system featured in a variety of Chrysler vehicles. To simplify, MyGig is a pretty standard infotainment center, but with a "ruggedized" hard drive slapped behind it. Check out the video preview of...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Jaguar XKR, Part One

The 2008 Jaguar XKR is good at pushing buttons. I had looked forward to driving it, having grown progressively bored with a succession of SUVs, economy rides and lackluster sports cars during these past few months. I was in sore need of something lithe and European. On that, the XKR...

Nov 15, 2024

Chrysler MyGig Infotainment Center Review, Part 2

Last week, I gave you a to the Chrysler MyGig system in a 2008 300c Heritage Edition, and now I'm here to show how all of this hard drive mumbo-jumbo works. All in all, it's a really, really easy system to use. So easy I would be comfortable letting my...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Jaguar XKR, Part Two

The 2008 Jaguar XKR is a fast car. With the added 'R,' the hood louvers inscribed with "Supercharged" and the aggressive body work, however, that probably goes without saying. Those visual cues hint at the added performance. Power is up from 300bhp in the non-R version to 420. It makes...

Nov 15, 2024

Chrysler MyGig Infotainment Center Review, Part 3

So you've seen the to Chrysler's MyGig entertainment center and you've watched me setting it all up, so what's the final verdict? Well, watch the talking head above and see. I am very happy to bear witness to Chrysler taking another step towards the future of car entertainment and infotainment...

Nov 15, 2024

Behold the Power of Diesel

In the wake of the diesel tide that was the Detroit Auto Show, we decided to hoodwink talk our friends at Honeywell into providing us with some of the most forbidden fruits of the Euro-spec diesel world. As a result we've been living and commuting with the not-for-the-USA 2007 Honda...

Nov 15, 2024

2007 Audi Q7 4.2 TDI

326 horsepower, 550 lb.ft. or torque, 0-62 mph in 6.4 seconds, top speed of 146 mph, acres of leather, panoramic sunroof, auto-manual six speed, multi-setting air suspension, power everything, parking assist... the 4.2 TDI practically bribes its occupants into loving it. It's hard to provide an objective review of a...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Jaguar XKR, Part Three

The 2008 Jaguar XKR is a beautiful car. The best angle is probably from the rear. The fenders flare out like a woman's hips to cover the wide rear track and flow into a pinched trunk equipped with the most complementary spoiler ever conceived. It evokes muscular visions of British...

Nov 15, 2024