Season Recap: Car We Want in Our Driveway

Now that we’ve tackled the best economy cars, hybrids, SUVs and concept cars, it’s time to decide which car we want in our own driveways. This post is kind of like asking us what we’d do if we won the lottery, but considering we’re a fickle bunch when it comes to cars, there’s a bit more to consider than pure fantasy.

Kelsey Mays: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
Energy independence notwithstanding, I’d gladly shell out $4 a gallon for a CTS-V. The regular CTS is one of Lutz & Co.’s finest achievements yet, and the thought of 550 hp underfoot is stupefying enough to make me crave one. Reality bites, but this Caddy bites back: It still has a full backseat, commute-friendly amenities and a trunk that can fit a weekend’s baggage. Naturally, if I had one, most of my weekends would be spent at the track.

Season Recap: Concept We'd Like To See in Production

We’ve already recapped our favorite economy cars, hybrids and SUVs. Now it’s time for the concept cars to take center stage. This auto-show season carmakers were remarkably frugal in debuting new concepts. A stagnant economy and rocky financial situations for many of the major players might have had something to do wtih that, but we don’t like excuses. Those that brought the goods get our praise. Here are the concepts we’d most like to see go into production. 

David Thomas: Land Rover LRX
While I’d really like to see more interesting hybrids on the market, like the Toyota A-BAT, Honda CR-Z and GMC Denali XT, the only concept that floored me with how cool it and had a possible segment to conquer was the diminutive Land Rover. If Land Rover could come out with a miniature all-wheel-drive hatchback before Mini, I think it could bring in a lot of folks looking to downsize while retaining functionality and capability in their car.

Season Recap: The Best SUVs

We’ve already recapped our favorite efficient cars and hybrids, but what about the SUVs? Even with sky-high gas prices, new SUVs of all sizes are coming to market. This year brought some of the best interiors and fuel efficiency yet in this segment, but what glorified station wagon took our staff’s hearts?

Joe Wiesenfelder: 2009 Volvo XC60
Put simply, there were some impressive redesigns this year, but I have to go with an all-new entry — especially when it's a smaller alternative to an existing SUV: The XC60 is a handsome vehicle with a high-quality interior and all the safety features you could possibly want. It isn't too small in practical terms compared to the XC90, but it is smaller. These days, smaller is better.

Season Recap: Efficient Cars

As the last major show of the season wraps up in New York City this weekend, it’s time to choose the best of the best. After trips to Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago and New York, the Cars.com staff reflects on which vehicles we think will make the biggest impact this year and beyond. We’ll start the review with each of our picks for the Best Fuel-Efficient Car from the four shows.

Best Fuel-Efficient Car

David Thomas: 2009 Ford Fiesta
This wasn’t so tough: It came down to the new Honda Fit or the Ford Fiesta. I picked the Fiesta — in spite of the fact that it didn’t show up at any of the stateside shows as a finished production car — because I think it will be a game-changer for Ford. It’s good-looking, has a wild interior and will hopefully bring an affordable entry-level car to a domestic automaker that needs it.

Video: Suburban Dad vs. Chief Mom

KickingTires collides with Mother Proof at the Chicago Auto Show, as Chief Mom Kristin Varela takes on Suburban Dad Patrick Olsen in a test of wits, cunning and parenting skill. The contest pits the two parenting heavyweights in an epic race to quickly and safely load a Hyundai Veracruz with a kid and a day’s worth of shopping. Sure, Kristin’s children are closer to the “loading” age, but Patrick has years of seniority and experience on her. Who takes the top prize in this battle of Goliath vs. Goliath? Check out today’s video to find out.

Boutique Sports Cars Offer New Choices for High-End Car Buyers

Porsche and Ferrari are household names even if the cars they build don’t sit in many U.S. garages. The world of exclusive, high-end sports cars is poised to gain some less-familiar brand names, though, as Fisker, Yes! and Tesla plan new models for the U.S.

Because these cars are so unusual, they should appeal to a number of customers, but competition in the exotic sports car segment is already fierce and challengers face additional hurdles, like establishing a dealer network and building a brand reputation.

It's also far from a foregone conclusion that all three of these sports cars will make it to a road near you, as any number of factors could force their makers to abandon previously announced plans.

Ford Technology Lets Workers, Bosses Keep Track

If you're a contractor, there’s likely nothing more annoying than arriving at a job without a tool you need. If you're a boss, there’s likely nothing more annoying than not knowing where your employees are. To help remedy that, Ford is rolling out new technologies, called Ford Work Solutions, that are designed for business owners who use their trucks or vans as important tools in their own right. Work Solutions will be available in fall 2008 on the 2009 F-150, F-Series Super Duty trucks and E-series vans. We recently got a hands-on demonstration of the new offerings at the Chicago Auto Show (see video), and also talked with a local construction company to see whether these features would work in the real world.

Video: A Car Geek Loose at the Auto Show

Auto shows are great for car shoppers and people who want to get into as many cars as possible to make an important buying decision. For the car geek, however, they're our opportunity to drool over the hot rods, muscle cars and sports cars we’ve been obsessing about since the first jumbo-size images were posted on our computer desktops. With camera crew in hand, I took a brief look at the show-stoppers — some new, some old — at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show.

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Related
Muscle Cars Mount Comeback, Can Market Sustain Them? 

Video: Mega Trucks on Display

With 1.3 million square feet of floor space, the Chicago Auto Show is a massive exhibition of cars and trucks. It seems fitting, then, that the show plays host to a number of mega-sized trucks, including a new semi from International: the Lonestar. Check out this video to see these behemoths up close and you can share the video via YouTube.

New Cars Showcase Clean Diesel Options

The diesels are coming! The diesels are coming!

The first auto shows of the year offered hints of the diesel invasion to come. Among the green technologies announced at Detroit were almost 10 diesel engine options, most of them in models going on sale this year. Concept cars highlighted five more. What's exceptional, apart from the number, is that all the vehicles listed below are either cars or SUVs, not heavy-duty pickup trucks, which is where diesels have been offered all along and will continue to be, in growing numbers. Some are sports cars, which illustrates that diesels can be quick, too.

Video: 2009 Hyundai Sonata

While some of us were checking out exotics like the Yes! Roadster at the Chicago Auto Show, Kelsey Mays dove head-first into the value-minded 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The sedate sedan may not look much different on the outside, but Kelsey gives a full roundup of the upgrades for 2009. Share this video via YouTube.

Levers to Lumbar Perfection: How Many Ways Does That Seat Go?

When it comes to seats, one size fits few. To ensure the family car accommodates both mom and pop, cars have offered adjustable front seats since the early days. These days, even the cheapest econoboxes have seats that employ cranks and levers to allow a surprising number of movements, while luxury cars have veritable command centers that ensure total support for your every muscle.

Now there are more controls than ever. Case in point: A $24,000 Volkswagen Passat comes standard with a 12-way power seat, which begs the question: How the heck can a seat move 12 different ways? Armed with a camera and the sort of posture only a 13-hour work day can produce, we set out at the Chicago Auto Show to find out.

We checked dozens of cars, with prices ranging from $13,000 to more than $100,000. Our goal: Document all the ways a seat can be adjusted and see if there’s a point at which it does too many things.

Here’s what we found.

2008 Chicago Auto Show: Best in Show

There’s absolutely no question that the Chicago Auto Show’s press days were overpowered by one car and one car alone — the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder aptly summed up why it won the nod as best in show: “Among all the downsizing and fuel-efficiency news of the day — necessary as it may be — it's nice to have something at the show to get the blood boiling.”

Amen. If you’ve already hit the Chicago Auto Show, let us know what impressed you most.

Related
Video: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8
2008 Chicago Auto Show: Winners and Losers
Through Ian's Lens: 2008 Chicago Auto Show Muscle Cars

2008 Chicago Auto Show Video: Yes! Roadster

One car I found astounding at the Chicago Auto Show was the German-built Yes! Roadster 3.2 and 3.2 Turbo. The company was gracious enough to let me climb all over the little orange Turbo during the media days and here’s the video proof. One correction, horsepower for the 3.2 Turbo is 355 hp not 381 hp. It’s still sub-4 second 0-60 mph fast though. Share this video via YouTube.

2008 Chicago Auto Show Video: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Unquestionably the biggest star of this year’s Chicago Auto Show was the Dodge Challenger SRT8. The muscle car begins its limited run later this year, but senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder spends some up-close time with the coupe in the first video to the left.

In the second video, Joe explains what makes the Challenger worthy of its SRT8 designation. Here’s a little hint: 425-hp, 6.1-liter V-8 that hits 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. Yeah, fast. And if you get it in black, it looks realllly mean. Oh, and did we mention there are burnouts in the video? Don't forget, you can share both Video 1 and Video 2 via YouTube.

Related
2008 Chicago Auto Show Coverage (Cars.com)
Dodge Challenger News (KickingTires)

Video: VW Routan vs. Chrysler Town & Country

Volkswagen's minibus is perhaps the most iconic van of all time. Now the automaker is getting back into the van game, but with a model — the Routan — that is completely different from its old minibus; it’s based on Chrysler's minivans. In this video, we compare the new Routan with a Chrysler Town & Country to see where they're the same and where they differ. You can share this video via YouTube.

2008 Chicago Auto Show: Winners and Losers

The doors are opening to the public at the Chicago Auto Show, and we would hate for you to head to the show without first learning which new production and concept cars won our hearts and minds. Chicago wasn't as impressive as Detroit in either the number of debuts or their importance, but for economy-car buyers, muscle-car fans and families, there's plenty to see. Cars.com's David Thomas, Joe Wiesenfelder and Mike Hanley weigh in on each of them.

GMC Denali XT Concept Hybrid Pickup

David Thomas: Winner
This was really the only concept car shown in Chicago, but it could have stood out even among the cornucopia of concepts in Detroit. I loved the proportions of this “thing.” In person, it appears much more like a car in terms of size and height. And even if this specific hybrid V-8 powertrain isn't for real yet, GM could put the splendid V-6 from the Cadillac CTS in it and have a gem of a "thing."

Joe Wiesenfelder: Winner
I think it's cool-looking, too, but I appreciate it mainly because it's a smallish car-based pickup at a time when pickups are largish and truck-based. The notable exception is the Honda Ridgeline, which I like a lot but hasn't been the success Honda had hoped it would be. The difference in the Denali XT is the midgate, which I think is the key missing ingredient in the Ridgeline.

Mike Hanley: Winner
GMC found a way to make a crew cab pickup truck sporty with the Denali XT, which rides low to the ground like a car but retains the rugged looks of a pickup. With its claimed increase in gas mileage, a production version of the Denali XT would give truck enthusiasts the look they want without the penalty at the pump.

Through Ian's Lens: 2008 Chicago Auto Show Muscle Cars

So I started off this year's Chicago Auto Show with one goal in mind for this feature: Photograph the 2008 Dodge Challenger. That goal? It was achieved with smashing success. Dodge even put three different-colored models on the floor for us to crawl around in. After fighting off crowds of onlookers and pushing my way to the front of the pack of gawkers, I decided it was time to give the domestic car companies their due by producing a Through Ian's Lens post that highlights my three favorite modern muscle cars. So without boring you with more jibber jabber about design lines and aesthetic mumbo jumbo, here are the 2008 Dodge Challenger, the 2008 Ford Mustang GT500 KR, and the Chevrolet Camaro "Bumble Bee" concept. A full set of photos is below.

Up Close: 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse

The 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse demonstrates how one small change can have a dramatic impact on the appearance of a car. Here, that change is a new front grille, which takes on the trapezoidal design of the grille on the automaker's Lancer Evolution sport sedan. The new grille gives the Eclipse a much more menacing shape, and it's a look that seems likely to appeal to sports car enthusiasts.

Up Close: Hyundai's New Navigation System

Hyundai is clearly late to the navigation game. As recently as 2007, top-of-the-line models like the Veracruz and Azera didn't have any system, while competitors offered it all the way down to their compact cars. That's changed: The Veracruz, Santa Fe and Azera offer navigation for 2008, the all new Genesis sedan has a different high-end system entirely while the restyled 2009 Sonata debuting at the Chicago Auto Show features Hyundai's all-new proprietary system.

The Sonata's navigation system is the real deal. I spent some quality with a fully operative unit and here's what I learned.

Up Close: 2008 Mazda5

The restyled Mazda5 wasn't an official debut at the Chicago auto show, but that was our first opportunity to check out the changes Mazda has made to its small van for the 2008 model year.

The van features subtle styling changes in front, including a more V-shaped grille, restyled headlights and a larger opening in the center of the bumper. The result is a clean, sporty look, but the changes are so minor that it helps to have an image of the previous van to compare it to so you can see what's new. New taillights take the clear-lens styling theme to extremes.

Up Close: Yes! Roadster

I had a chance to poke around the Yes! Roadster 3.2 Turbo at the Chicago Auto Show yesterday. First up: Get the headlights and taillights in black. One of the two display cars had them in black, but the other had them in silver. Up close, the silver ones’ molded backings look unfinished and almost tacky. Either way, the whole car seems very busy — almost chaotic — with no shortage of creases, louvers and portals. The same could be said of the Lotus Elise, though, so that look might be your sort of thing.

2008 Dodge Challenger Not Sold Out, Yet

He who hesitates may have to wait a few years to get a 2008 Dodge Challenger, the hands-down hit of the Chicago Auto Show.

Fran Klegon, vice president of product development for Chrysler, said 4,300 Dodge Challengers have been sold and dealers have placed orders for 10,000 more.

That for a car of which only 6,400 will be produced the first year.

"Production is sold out, but sales aren't sold out," Klegon said. "While every one we can build is spoken for, not every one of those has a customer name on the order. Many of those 10,000 ordered by dealers are for display, so I don't want to discourage anyone from buying one. It's not a sales sell-out yet."

Up Close: 2009 Mitsubishi Galant

The 2009 Galant gets front and rear styling tweaks, but the general shape of the sedan remains the same. Inside, the center control panel is busy-looking; the plastic trim pieces on the dash have various types of graining, which brings to mind a Chrysler product. That's not a good thing.

Cayenne Hybrid Could Get 30% Better Mileage

Porsche announced today that its engineering target for the upcoming Cayenne Hybrid is a 30% reduction in fuel consumption. Spokesman Bernd Harling confirmed those figures are relative to the V-6 Cayenne, which gets 16 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That means a Cayenne Hybrid could get as much as 21 mpg combined, which is somewhat competitive with 4WD luxury SUVs like the forthcoming Cadillac Escalade Hybrid (estimated 20 mpg combined) and Lexus RX 400h (25 mpg combined).

There is still no word as to when the Cayenne Hybrid will arrive or how much it will cost. Porsche says it will employ a full hybrid system capable of running on gasoline, electric power or a combination of the two; that means city mileage should see a major bump, with comparatively smaller gains on the highway. We're a bit dubious as to whether a hybrid fits the brand's sporting image, but Porsche USA president Peter Schwarzenbauer told reporters the hybrid will "retain the typical Porsche performance characteristics." 

2008 Chicago Auto Show: 2009 Chevy Traverse Video

Cars.com's managing editor and our own resident Suburban Dad, Patrick Olsen, has taken on one of the most significant family vehicles to debut at the Chicago Auto Show this year. The 2009 Chevy Traverse is similar to corporate cousins like the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave, but Patrick manages to find some of the real differences in the Traverse. Share this video via YouTube.

More info and photos on the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse

2008 Cayenne GTS starts at $69,300

At the Chicago Auto Show this morning, Porsche announced the sport-tuned Cayenne GTS will start at $69,300. It wasn't immediately clear if that price includes Porsche's $895 destination charge.

The price represents a premium of some $11,000 over the Cayenne S, but the GTS comes standard with 21-inch wheels, Porsche's high-tech PASM suspension and the requisite bumper and side sill extensions. Add those options to the Cayenne S, and its price comes within spitting distance of the GTS.

Porsche marketing head David Pryor called the GTS "the best-handling SUV in the world" — a bold claim, but the SUV's 405-hp V-8, derived from the engine in the Cayenne S, will move it from zero to 60 mph in less than six seconds. And Porsche says it's the first V-8 SUV in America to be offered with a six-speed manual transmission — something even the mighty Cayenne Turbo doesn't do. (All the same, we suspect most GTS buyers will get the optional six-speed Tiptronic auto.)

The Cayenne GTS hits dealerships as you read this. Considering the SUV makes up a third of Porsche's North American sales, it shouldn't be too hard to find one.

Up Close: 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring

Hyundai's new Elantra Touring may not have the visual appeal of a Mazda3 hatchback, but it is reasonably sporty looking thanks to wraparound headlights and a large opening in the front bumper. Tall, thin taillights finish off the rear end.

Yes! Roadster Starts at $77,995

German carmaker Yes! released pricing on its all-new roadster yesterday. The 255-hp, naturally aspirated version starts at $77,995, while the 355-hp turbo roadster will set you back $97,995.

The latter goes from zero to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, which is two tenths of a second quicker than the most powerful Lotus Exige. Opt for an additional turbo power upgrade on that car, and it spits out 415 hp and storms to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds. That sort of acceleration leaves a number of supercars in the dust — and considering the upgrade costs $7,995, we’d pass up options like the navigation system ($4,995) and full leather interior ($4,995) to get the extra power.

Up Close: 2009 Hyundai Sonata

While Hyundai's exterior revisions to its 2009 Sonata sedan could go unnoticed by many, the interior update is a nice, easily recognizable improvement. The dash design vaguely resembles the Lexus RX's, and material quality and panel fit is good overall. The only thing that really drags the cabin down is a cheapo parking brake handle.

Up Close: 2009 Suzuki Equator

The Suzuki Equator midsize pickup trucks on display at the Chicago Auto Show are customized trucks, not the production versions that will arrive at Suzuki dealerships late this year. They do, however, exhibit the general shape of the truck, and it's a reasonably nice looking pickup — even if it does look a lot like the Toyota Tacoma.

2008 Chicago Auto Show: What You Missed on Day 1

This being the first weekend after Super Bowl Sunday, it's only natural to feel like you're in a funk — like the world has lost a bit of its color, like you don't quite know what to do with yourself. Lucky for you, KickingTires is at the Chicago Auto Show bringing you the latest reports and videos from the floor. Here's what we had to say on Day 1, along with new photos. Stay tuned the rest of this week for more coverage, pictures and videos.

Day 1 Production Cars
2009 Acura RL
2009 Chevrolet Traverse
2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8
2009 Ford Transit Connect
2009 Hummer H3T
2009 Hyundai Sonata
2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse
2009 Mitsubishi Galant
2009 Suzuki Equator
2009 Volkswagen Routan
Yes!Roadster

Day 1 Concept Cars
GMC Denali XT Concept
Toyota 1/X Concept

MotorWeek Names Scion xB Best of the Year

Cars.com partner MotorWeek named the Scion xB its 2008 Driver’s Choice “Best of the Year” today at the Chicago Auto Show. The xB topped a list of serious contenders, and also bested those in the small-car category. If for some reason you haven’t watched an episode of MotorWeek before, it airs nationally on PBS and the Speed Network. You can also view their video reviews right on Cars.com. For a list of the rest of MotorWeek’s picks in different categories, read below. It’s easy to agree with a lot of them, and also makes us realize just how many great new cars are on the market.

Up Close: 2009 Volkswagen Routan

I didn't understand this car when I first heard about it, and now that I've seen it I still don't understand it. Espousing the brand's newfound access to a "high-volume market segment" — perhaps the horde of minivan buyers heading for the exits? — Volkswagen CEO Stefan Jacoby introduced the Routan (ROO-tan) to journalists. It's no secret that this is a rebadged version of the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, so I set out to find exactly how the Routan bucks those routines.

Hyundai Genesis Goes Naked on the Grille

The wait is over: The new Hyundai Genesis will debut in the U.S. without the Flying H company logo on the grille.

You may remember that back at the Detroit auto show Hyundai asked journalists and consumers visiting the show to offer up their two cents on which grille they should use. Our choice? We argued that Hyundai has no reason to be ashamed of its logo, not with all the vast improvements it's made to its cars over the past decade, but that the logo-free grille was an instant classic that would serve the Genesis well.

Then Hyundai muddied the waters even more by running Super Bowl ads with a third version, from the Korean model.

Well, Hyundai seems to have embraced our point of view, though it tells us it was a point of view shared with a good many people. The automaker announced this afternoon here at the Chicago Auto Show that the logo-less grille will adorn the Genesis, a model we think has a lot of potential for Hyundai.

2008 Chicago Auto Show: 2009 Suzuki Equator

• Competes with: Toyota Tacoma, Dodge Dakota
• Looks like: A rebadged Nissan Frontier
• Drivetrain: 152-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder or 261-hp, 4.0-liter V-6 with five-speed manual or five-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Late 2008

Suzuki's got a new pickup — its only pickup, in fact — and hopes that the automaker's diehard motorcycle fans will help it sell enough of the Equator to make it worth its while.

Since there are plenty of motorcross enthusiasts who ride Suzukis, the company is trying to position the Equator as the perfect truck to help those enthusiasts get their rides to their favorite destinations. If that destination means going over sand, rocks or a mountainside, the Equator has the latitude to get that done.

It comes with an offroad traction system, including a four-wheel limited slip, electronic-locking rear differential, stability control, hill descent control and hill start assist. The Equator also has an all-steel double-wishbone front suspension and solid axle rear suspension. It has a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

Up Close: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

The Challenger SRT8 looks terrific in person — I might even go so far as to say breathtaking in the metal-flake black paint, one of three colors offered. Each color brings out different elements of the car's exterior. For example, in the orange and silver models, the black rocker panels and bumper extensions make the car appear to ride higher than it does, recalling the classic Challenger. The black one looks lower and sleeker. If Dodge had only three colors to offer, I think it chose the right ones. From the panel gaps to the way the rectangular tailpipes fit into the bumper cutouts, it looks like Dodge has cut few, if any, corners.

2008 Chicago Auto Show: 2009 Volkswagen Routan

• Competes with: Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Town & Country
• Looks like: Volkswagen missed the “minivans are out” memo
• Drivetrain: 197-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 with six-speed automatic, or 251-hp, 4.0-liter V-6 with six-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2008

Volkswagen famously got into a game it didn’t know how to play a few years ago when it debuted the Phaeton luxury sedan with a big price tag, putting it into a segment it didn’t have a place in. Minivans are actually a VW trademark, with the iconic Microbus and even the Eurovan in the 21st century. The Routan hopes to reclaim the minivan mantle for the company, but it looks to be not much more than a Chrysler underneath the skin.

Now, that’s not to say the new Dodge and Chrysler minivans aren’t good. They have a lot of value, but it looks like VW skimped on revamping the Routan interior with its trademark high-quality materials. The company says the Routan will start under $25,000, though, which might sway someone looking at a similarly equipped Town & Country or Dodge Caravan, which start at $27,895 and $27,000, respectively, when equipped with the same 3.8-liter engine.

Stability control and power sliding doors will also come standard.

How much of a Chrysler is the minivan? Both engines are from Chrysler, as is the optional touch-screen navigation unit with hard drive, which Chrysler calls MyGig. Not borrowed is the popular Stow N’ Go seating feature or the new Swivel N’ Go setup; that could be a deal-breaker for buyers. The Routan will be built in the same assembly plant as the Dodge and Chrysler products, too. More photos are below. Let us know if you think the price is right for this VW version of the minivan.

Up Close: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse

Chevrolet insists its version of GM's three-row crossovers — the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave — is more than just a new badge. Vehicle line executive Anna Kretz characterized the Traverse's ride as the sportiest of the group, with a direct-injection V-6 that makes incrementally more power than the others.

Indeed, the crossover's two-tier grille lends a taller visage than the Outlook's, and the beady, high-mounted taillights reinforce the stance. I found the LTZ show car's abundant chrome accents a bit distracting, especially against its silver paint. Get one in red or black; I suspect that will look better.

Up Close: 2009 Acura RL

The Acura RL receives a host of changes for the 2009 model year, but the most recognizable one is its new front end, which takes on the shield theme the automaker uses on its MDX luxury SUV. It's a distinctive look for sure, but I'm not convinced it'll resonate with luxury sedan buyers.

One of the more interesting updates the sedan receives is available real-time weather updates from XM Satellite Radio. With the service, weather information can be presented in both textual and graphical formats, the latter as an overlay over the navigation system map. You can also zoom in to your current location to get local weather conditions.

GM Crossovers to Get Improved Mileage, More Power

At the Chicago Auto Show today, GM officials said to expect the automaker's three-row crossovers to receive similar engineering improvements as the just-introduced Chevrolet Traverse. That means slight gains in power and gas mileage for the Saturn Outlook, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia.

The improvements come thanks to GM's direct-injection V-6, a potent engine we've driven in the new Cadillac CTS. In the Traverse, the engine makes an estimated 286 hp, slightly more than in the other crossovers. Vehicle line executive Anna Kretz said she expects it to migrate to the Outlook, Enclave and Acadia, though she didn't specify a timetable. We imagine it will happen for the 2009 or 2010 model year.

Gas mileage should also improve, though GM has yet to release exact figures.

"Any time you do a direction injection [engine], you're going to improve your efficiency," Kretz said, adding that she expects the mileage gain to be "certainly one that is noticeable."

With front-wheel drive, the Outlook, Enclave and Acadia get 16/24 mpg city/highway. In the CTS, gas mileage is slightly lower for the direct