Chevrolet Monte Carlo Ends its Run in June

Rumors on GMInsideNews this morning stated that the aging Monte Carlo coupe would cease production and leave the Chevy lineup this June. We just received confirmation from General Motors that this is indeed true; the Monte Carlo will be no more.

We can’t say we’ll miss the Monte Carlo. It was a woefully outdated design and didn’t fit into the “new” GM, where performance will come from new rear-wheel-drive cars like the Pontiac G8 (next year) and Chevy Camaro (in 2009). It also allows Chevy to clear showroom floors for the all-new Malibu, which comes out this fall.

For those Monte Carlo fans in mourning, you can post your epitaphs below.

Tell Off That Road Hog: On Board Message System Here

We’ll just throw out the fact that this thing is a major driving distraction and focus on the pure joy of getting to program five custom messages that scroll across the digital screen of this mountable device. The Roadmaster Rear Deck Scrolling Digital Message System — doesn’t that say it all? — can be had for $60. Besides your own messages, it comes preloaded with 86 phrases, like “My other car is a Porsche” and “I brake for no apparent reason.” There’s also the standard “Baby on board” and “Zebra x’ing ahead.” Yeah, um…zebra crossing. Sure. Anyway, give us your top picks for what you would program into this joyous little rear deck display, but keep it clean please.

[Roadmaster, via Jalopnik]

Crash Tests Work: Safer Cars Equal Fewer Fatalities

According to a new study, cars with better safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are involved in fewer traffic fatalities.

Two professors took a look at 20 years of fatal crashes and compared, over time, models with low crash-test ratings in the past with their improved counterparts. Using NHTSA data, a car rated with one star had an 18% higher death rate than the same model once it achieved five stars. Two-star cars did even worse, with a 36% higher death rate than their five-star equivalents.

The more stringent IIHS ratings — which Cars.com prefers — saw cars that got the lowest score, Poor, with a 43% higher death rate than the improved models that received the highest award, Good.

Strangely enough, when the same study was applied to SUVs, there was no noticeable improvement in death rates.

From this study, it looks to us like anyone arguing that crash-test scores are meaningless might have to rethink their argument. Plus, we’re always reminded of the old saying, “better safe than sorry.”

[Do Five-Star Ratings Really Mean a Safer Ride?, Yahoo Finance Via Autoblog]

Cars.com Reviews the 2007 Infiniti FX45 and BMW 328i

The latest reviews have just come in. Check out our take on the 2007 Infiniti FX45. Can it stand up to heavy competition four years after it debuted?

Sure, you’ve read a lot about the BMW 335i and its awesome twin-turbo engine, but what about the bread-and-butter 328i? The 3 Series for the masses finally gets the full review treatment it rightfully deserves.

2007 Infiniti FX45 Review
2007 BMW 328i Review

BMW's New 507-hp Wagon: M5 Touring Debuts

The Geneva Motor Show is fast approaching, and BMW just unveiled a lineup including the all-new M5 Touring, or station wagon to you and me. Both the regular 5 Series sedan and wagon have been slightly updated this year, but the M5 Touring is a first. It mirrors the M5 sedan — which costs a pretty $82,500 — in horsepower, with 507, with the same V-10 engine under the hood. But the M5 Touring also has station wagon utility and an available panoramic roof, so the kids can watch clouds whiz by as you hit 62 mph in 4.8 seconds.

There’s no word if the M5 Touring will come to the U.S. or how much it will cost, but we’re not overly optimistic. BMW only sold 72 of its 530xi wagons in January, compared to 527 530xi sedans. Mercedes-Benz does sell its 507-hp E63 wagon in the U.S., and perhaps the need to compete will lure this new M5 across the pond. Check out the photo gallery below and tell us if you want to see the M5 Touring running errands in suburbia.

Suburban Dad vs. Urban DINK: Acura MDX

The new Acura MDX arrived in the Cars.com fleet last week just in time for some bad weather and some extreme scrutiny from our resident Urban DINK and Suburban Dad. First up, the Urban DINK took the MDX for a few days of commuting and errand-running before handing the keys to the suburb-dwelling parent.

UD: After enjoying a week with the Acura RDX because of its city-friendly size, I was expecting the MDX to be too big for real urban driving. Surprisingly, when I parked it in the spot where our Jeep Grand Cherokee usually sits, it fit just fine, although it was harder to see over the hood. Parallel parking wasn’t bad, but the tight steering was a bit of a pain.

I’m really perplexed by the size of this thing. The third row doesn’t help at all in our daily lives, and an MDX with two rows would have a ton of cargo room, like the Jeep, without being obnoxiously large on the street. Instead, the standard third row takes up a lot of cargo space without offering much benefit; it does fold almost perfectly flat, though not perfectly enough for me.

SD: The folding third row was one of the things my family and I liked best about the MDX. Having a third row means the kids don’t have to sit on top of each other, which means fewer arguments. The fact that it can fold meant I could load bags back there that wouldn’t fit in the tiny cargo space that’s there when the third row is in use. The one-hand lever that lowers and raises the third row was a hit with me as well.

My wife and I were comfortable in the front, and I fit in the second row easily. Getting into the third row was a little dicey for the kids, but they found their way when they had to.

More on Sirius/XM Merger: Prices, Channels, Hardware, TV

USA Today has a Q&A with Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin about the proposed merger. We say proposed because there is concern that federal agencies could shoot down the deal over monopoly issues. Here are some highlights:

• Karmazin suggests that subscription prices will stay close to current levels, and may even drop.
• There is a dual tuner radio in the works, and current radios will still work with existing content.
• Both brands will still exist.
• Live TV for the car is in the works.

Read the full Q&A here.

Two Chrysler Recalls: 50,000 New Cars, 86,000 Dodge Rams

AutoWeek is reporting that Chrysler Group is recalling more than 50,000 2007 cars and SUVs due to faulty anti-lock brake software. Included in the recall are: 2007 Jeep Wrangler, Compass, Patriot, Commander, Liberty and Grand Cherokee; 2007 Dodge Nitro, Magnum, Charger and Caliber, 2007 Chrysler 300 and Sebring.

The specific vehicles were built in late 2006, so not every 2007 model needs to be serviced. The problem “could result in a loss of vehicle control and cause a crash without warning” according to a company warning.

This follows a recall last week of more than 86,000 2006 Dodge Ram pickups for faulty front-wheel bearings. The problem would present itself with noise and vibration and, if ignored, could cause the wheel to simply fall off, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control and a crash.

You can call Chrysler at (800) 853-1403 regarding either recall.

Reader Review of the Week

There are a few trends we notice around the office about car shoppers and the folks who write in to us or who we meet on the street. One of those repeated comments we hear comes from Hyundai owners about how great their cars are; it’s almost gushing. This week’s top reader review comes from such a person. Don from Providence, Rhode Island, echoes many of the comments we get in his review of the 2007 Hyundai Sonata and, therefore, he gets the nod this week even if he is a little too positive. You can submit a car review of your own here.

VW Recalls 790,000 Jettas, Golfs, GTIs and Beetles

Volkswagen today announced a recall involving a defect in the brake light switch; the switch could either not function, or remain on at all times. In either case, that could send the wrong signal, literally, to other drivers. The recall involves more than 790,000  1999 – 2006 Golfs and GTIs, 2001 – 2005 Jettas, 2001 – 2007 New Beetles and 2004 R32s.

This recall comes after the same problem was discovered on other Jettas and New Beetles last year. That recall involved 362,000 vehicles. The sheer number – 1,150,000 – of cars involved in the two recalls is immense.

VW will begin the recall in April; owners can contact VW at (800) 822-8987.

[Volkswagen Recalls 790,000 Cars to Fix Brake Light Switch, The Detroit News]