Hummer Announces 2008 H2 Prices

The 2008 Hummer H2 may look the same on the outside, but it receives a radically updated interior that brings it up to speed with the rest of GM’s large SUV platform. It also gets a new 393-hp V-8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission that GM says is more efficient than the 2007, although we haven’t seen mileage numbers quite yet.

Prices have gone up roughly $1,400 for both SUV and SUT models. The H2 SUV will start at $55,510 and the SUT will start at $55,555. The H2 goes on sale late this summer. Neither price includes $900 in destination charges. A Luxury Series will be available for $6,410 for the SUV and $4,000 for the SUT. An Adventure Package for off-roading will be available at $1,555 for both models. We’re waiting on word on what exactly the Luxury and Adventure packages will include.

Related
Hummer Hummer News (KickingTires)

This Week in Ask.Cars.com

Have you ever wondered what some of those goofy automotive acronyms mean? This week in Ask.Cars.com, we tackled the CAFE standard, and also recommended a way for car shoppers to filter through hundreds of cars to find one with the right features, using one of Cars.com’s tools. Have a similar question? Drop by Ask.Cars.com and leave us one.

• What's the better compact SUV, Outlander or Santa Fe?
• How do I fold my Jeep's soft-top?
• When does the Lexus LS 600h go on sale?
• What is CAFE?
• What's a good car for first-time drivers?
• How do I find the right car for me?
• Is the Chevrolet Volt family-friendly?

The Week in Mother Proof

Ever balked at the stereotype of the minivan-driving soccer mom, or wondered why a car ostensibly designed for women is so cavernous inside? Well, not only do the moms at Mother Proof have those same thoughts, they’ve come up with a dad-centric solution. You can find it at motherproof.com, along with their thoughts on a Mini Cooper and GMC Acadia, as well as a tutorial on making the most of that navigation system taking up space in your center console.

• The Rise of Man Vans: Quintessential Mom-Mobile Better Suited to Men
• 2007 Mini Cooper: Polly/Barbie Car Just Right for This Mom
• 2007 GMC Acadia: Crossover Shines in Spite of Mess
• Hidden Secrets of Navigation Systems: Helpful Features Abound, if You Can Find Them

No Car Adapter for New iPhone

The world at large has pretty much taken the day off to go absolutely insane over the new iPhone. We love new gadgets too, so we were interested to see what kind of accessories would be available for the iPhone. As of now, Apple has the most accessories available for its new baby, but missing from the list of add-ons is a standard old car adapter. 

Now, we don’t know if maybe they just didn’t put it on the site, but with so many people plunking down $599 and up, you think they’d want as many accessories as possible available now rather than later.

You may now resume your iPhone-induced work coma.

Friday Fleet Notes: 6.29.07

We have a varied sampling this week, with a hybrid SUV, an aging retro cruiser and a somewhat-rare look at a full range of trim levels for two new sedans.

2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

I like the Mariner and Ford Escape Hybrids because they use hybridized four-cylinders instead of V-6 engines like the Toyota and Lexus hybrid SUVs. As for the Saturn Vue Green Line, it may be a four-cylinder, but the transmission is conventional and the engine doesn’t use the Atkinson cycle like the Fords do, so its mileage gains aren’t as great.

VW Tiguan SUV Officially Unveiled

It will debut to the public this September at the Frankfurt auto show, but American shoppers won’t be able to get their hands on Volkswagen’s new compact SUV until closer to 2008. It looks pretty complete in the photo above and those in the gallery below, but VW has a knack for making us wait for new models.

The Tiguan will have a number of diesel and gasoline engine choices available in Europe, but we’ll most likely get just the top-of-the-line 2-liter turbo engine — used in a variety of VW and Audi engines — that produces 200 hp at launch. However, VW owners do buy more diesels than the national average, and VW has said we will get a diesel option, we're just not sure which of the three European diesel engines we might get.

Specs and prices haven’t been released, but the Tiguan looks like a solid, if a bit conservative, competitor to the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. 

Volkswagen Tiguan Photo Gallery

Related
VW Tiguan Coming to Market in Fall 2007
2006 L.A. Auto Show: VW Tiguan Concept

Weekend Athlete: 2007 PT Cruiser

I've rented the 2007 PT Cruiser several times to take me to races, so I know it well. I like the visibility from the driver's seat, and the seats fold down with a press of a button. A huge plus is the fact that its hatch opens high enough I can easily stand under it without hitting my head. (The last thing you want to have to do after a race is bend or twist to avoid a hatch built to accommodate a pipsqueak.)

Insurance Companies Demand Car Immobilizers

We always thought Canadians were friendly, good-hearted people, but trouble is brewing in Winnipeg.

Manitoba Public Insurance, a government-run insurance company for residents of that province, is demanding that motorists who drive any of the roughly 120 most-popular cars in the province get an immobilizer — a device that keeps thieves from driving off with your car — or risk losing their car insurance. About 47,000 drivers have failed to comply, the Winnipeg Sun says, but on the plus side, the insurance company will pay the $15 million or so to add the devices. It’s free for drivers of the most-popular cars.

The company says it’s been warning drivers about this for some time, and now it’s decided to drop the hammer. Of course, there are those who criticize the plan, including one Sun writer who claims that many drivers believe the devices are causing problems for their cars’ electrical systems. There’s a shock. Check out the Sun’s extensive coverage below. It may be their equivalent of the Paris Hilton jailing.

Ultimatum for At-Risk Vehicle Owners (Winnipeg Sun)
There's No Shortage of Installers, Says MPI (Winnipeg Sun)
Immobilizer Havoc (Winnipeg Sun)

New Mercedes-Benz C-Class Priced under $32,000

Mercedes-Benz has radically redesigned its entry-level sedan for 2008. The new C-Class is upgraded in almost every way, besides its initial engine choices. The better news is that the 2008 C-Class’ pricing starts below last year’s equivalent models — to the tune of $2,200 less — but you’ll only enjoy those great savings if you want a manual transmission. The previously standard automatic will run $1,440 in the base model; it’s standard in the higher trim levels. Factoring that in, you’re still around $700 less for the ’08 model. With either transmission, the new C-Class is now priced below the BMW 3 Series, Lexus ES350 and Acura TL.

The C-Class has two models: the 228-hp C300 starts at $31,200, and the 268-hp C350 starts at $36,500. There is an additional $775 destination charge.

Standard equipment in the C300 includes a power sunroof, eight-way power front seats with lumbar support, two-zone automatic climate control, 17-inch wheels, Bluetooth and an LCD display screen.

The new C-Class goes on sale August 7, with all-wheel-drive models following in September. For full pricing and option package information, keep reading.

Does APEAL Matter?

We give little weight to subjective studies like J.D. Power’s annual list of vehicles with the best APEAL — Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout — which was just released. It would be hard to find many car owners who don’t rank their well-thought-out purchase as a good one. However, when you scroll through the list of winners in each segment — like BusinessWeek allows in a handy slideshow — it’s hard to argue with many of the winners.

Out of the 19 segments, we only take extreme issue with the Toyota Yaris tying the Honda Fit for top subcompact car. The Nissan Armada topping the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban also makes little sense. The fact that no Chrysler products make the list isn’t a big shocker, though. What do you think? Do studies like this matter?

Most Gratifying Vehicles of 2007 (BusinessWeek)