BMW 6 Series fans and enthusiasts will be pleased with the new 2008 650i Coupe and 650i Convertible, since it now comes with the new six-speed Sports Automatic Transmission as well as the six-speed manual transmission.

On the exterior, you can expect the standards like bi-xenon dual round headlights. New color options come in the metallic paint colors of Deep Sea Blue and Space Gray, and other options like the new light-alloy rims give the buyer a chance to enhance the already sporty elegance of the new BMW 6 Series to their liking. Since other car markers have been taking notice of BMW’s style and then subsequently copying it, BMW has given the rear deck lid and spoiler lip a more concave design to give the rear a more distinctive and dynamic look. In the front, the trademark kidney grill has been widened and integrated more with the lower spoiler in order to visually widen the stance of the car.

Inside, look for the new Chrome Pearl Grey Design as a nice finish on some controls and instruments. New colors for trim and upholstery like Saddle Brown will be also be optional. If you don’t like the standard aluminum trim, you can opt for trim made of trained maple wood or dark birch wood for a more elegant look. You can also go with the optional Pearl exclusive leather and add leather to the armrests, door grab handles, and the center console. Standards are the electrically adjustable seats for both driver and passenger as well as the three spots for seat position memory on the driver’s seat.

Journalists have been carping about the iDrive and BMW continues to refine it. The newest iDrive Controller (introduced in the new X5) comes with six programmable memory keys, meaning direct access to your favorite presets, phone numbers, and other features.

Under the hood is the 4.8-liter V8 engine (360hp at 6,300rpm and 360lb-ft of torque at 3,400rpm) that takes you from 0-60 MPH in 5.3 seconds in the manual Coupe and 0-60 MPH in 5.6 seconds in the Convertible. However, for all of you speed demons out there, engine management will shut you off at a top speed of 155 mph in both models. Varioserv steering assistance helps to provide efficient steering support and assistance based on the driver’s needs.

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The 6 Series Convertible also comes with the optional, at no extra charge, six-speed Sports Automatic Transmission if you don’t want the six-speed manual. With the Sports Automatic Transmission, you move the lever from drive to the left to activate the manual gearshift mode. This means you can then shift with the paddles on the steering wheel or with the gear selector level. Press the Sports button that is behind the gear selector lever, and the results will be an even faster gear shift change.

Going a little too fast into a turn? BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) can help by applying the brakes to individual wheels as needed or can intervene via the engine management system in order to counteract such instances of over- or under-steer in corners. Automatic Stability Control helps keep the car from spinning on looser or slippery ground, and the Cornering Brake Control and Brake Assist also help the DSC in steering emergencies. For less experienced manual drivers who are still a little nervous about starting on a hill, the Start-Off Assistant will help you start smoothly without the use of the handbrake. It will also keep you from rolling back.

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Driving while sleepy and not staying in your lane? The new Lane Departure Warning system will let you know by vibrating the steering wheel if you veer out of your lane. Night Vision will sense people and animals via thermal imaging up to almost 1,000 feet down the road and then show you an image on the central Control Display. These safety features plus the active headrests help insure the safety of the driver and passengers.

Overall, look for the 650i Coupe and Convertible to carry on the BMW legacy of fine Grand Touring abilities and style, while also incorporating touches of luxury.

We’re not sure what to call the Dodge Nitro, but it’s the kind of quirky, no-frills vehicle that we’re glad someone had the guts to build. It shares underpinnings and engines with Jeep’s mid-size Liberty SUV, but comes in a more street-friendly flavor.

It’s unmistakably a Dodge, with the big crosshair grille and general blockiness. One thing we absolutely loved was the front end–the Nitro’s wide fender bulges echo the trucks of yesteryear with their long, narrow engine compartments tapering down into a tall chrome grille between two broad fenders.

The longer you look at the Nitro, the more apparent its appeal becomes. It’s got true style, not the kind you put on with a brush or a chrome strip. It looks brawnier and bigger than its cousin Liberty, and has that chopped, small-windowed look of old. This could be due to the fact that its roof is one inch shorter than the Liberty’s, and its belt line might be higher as well. In contrast with the Liberty, there are hardly any curvy lines (although it looks as though the Liberty will adopt the Nitro’s boxy look for 2008). It looks like a combination of a Hummer and a Scion xB, good company for a vehicle whose success will depend largely on its curb appeal.

Dodge delivered us a Nitro SLT, with two-wheel-drive rather than four-wheel-drive. We initially lamented this choice, but it gave us a chance to examine the Nitro as a street car, and we’re guessing that’s how it will be used for the most part.

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The SLT is the mid-level Nitro, and came nicely equipped with few shortcomings. The powertrain is a 3.7L V6 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, the same combination found in the Liberty. The 3.7 delivers 210 horsepower at 5,200 rpm, and 235 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. Although this is the midpack setup (the Nitro R/T has a five-speed and a 260-hp 4-liter V6), it accelerated nicely with an engine note that was much meaner than we expected. Shifts are smooth and precise, more so than most of the street-focused SUVs Roadfly has tested recently. Government fuel economy figures are pretty standard for this class, at 18 city and 24 highway.

Despite having a solid (or “live”) rear axle, the Nitro exhibited no untoward behavior in everyday driving. Roadfly is located in an office park on a very busy street in Northern Virginia that provides access to one of the country’s largest shopping malls. In short, opportunities to turn left are scarce and short, and need to be seized upon. The Nitro impressed, handling full-throttle exits from our parking lot–while the wheel was turned–with aplomb. One correspondent actually came back from an errand full of praise for the car’s non-existent all-wheel-drive system.

The Nitro was full of surprises. Trucks and SUVs are long on utility and macho appeal, but often short on dynamics and refinement. That wasn’t the case with our Nitro, and the interior was another example of this. Chrysler products have received mixed reviews over the years for their styling, but the Nitro’s cabin is a sure-fire winner.

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You can also view the video for the 2007 Dodge Nitro on YouTube.[/div]

The little things really do make all the difference, and one thing we loved was the set of control knobs for the Nitro’s climate control. They are large, and are grooved for easy gripping and twisting. What’s more, they are easy to see, with illuminated indicators to eliminate guesswork at night. The functions are intuitive, and we were constantly able to keep ourselves comfortable without drawing our attention from the road. We’ve seen this style of knobs before, but usually on high-dollar import rides. Well done, Dodge.

The Nitro design team deserves a lot of credit, because the little touches on this car are thoughtful and well-executed. From the pistol-grip handle for the parking brake to the barrel-shaped shift knob with indentations for better grip, this car grows on you and never makes you say, “What the heck were they thinking?”

The center console is simple and handsome, with a three-tiered design finished in brushed silver, and looks like something out of a custom hot rod. The head unit for the stereo is similarly functional and pleasing to the eye, as are the circular door handles with the same silver finish.

In keeping with the Nitro’s rugged personality, our SLT featured upholstery that Dodge claims will resist stains, static, odor, and fading as the Nitro ages. Due to the etiquette constraints of our business, we didn’t confirm this first-hand, but we’re eagerly awaiting the internet buzz on how well said upholstery holds up.

Storage options are numerous and flexible, befitting the car’s mission. The center armrest is deep and wide, with a separate tray on top and numerous dividers for keeping your stuff organized. There’s also a small compartment to the left of the steering column, akin to what Honda and Toyota have been doing for years, but bigger. In contrast to those Japanese change purses, the Liberty’s can fit a digital camera, PDA, Each row of seating gets two cup holders, and the Nitro’s cargo area is home to one of the most innovative features on the market today.

Dodge calls it “Load N’ Go,” but we called it magic. The Nitro’s load floor extends up to 18 inches over the rear bumper, which makes loading large or heavy items less of a strain. The sliding panel, which can support up to 400 lbs. fully extended, features two beefy grab handles and six cargo tie-downs. There’s also a shallow hidden compartment underneath it. Combined with the rear seats and front passenger seat, both of which fold totally flat, Load N’ Go transforms the Nitro into one of the most capable haulers offered in the US today. It was a standard item on our SLT, and in our opinion, remains the defining feature of this car.

The Nitro is one of the best products to come out of the Chrysler Group since the 300 sedan. It knows that its target customer is an urban or suburban twentysomething that wants generous helpings of style and utility, and it serves that customer without compromise. To top it all off, the Nitro is a bargain. Our tester SLT came with a long list of standard equipment, including a keyless-entry and security system and a tire-pressure monitor. Our brilliant blue paint added $225, the sunroof added $850, and audio options totaled a little over a grand. That still only pushed our sticker to $25,465. Adding four-wheel-drive would cost more, for sure, but you get what you pay for. This mid-size SUV is honest, rugged, and well-rounded. These virtues, coupled with an attractive price tag, should make the Nitro a very hot seller.

Any observer of the automotive industry has to be astonished at the strides made by Korean automakers like Kia. They have more positive momentum than any other automakers, and continue to be great buys for consumers driven principally by value considerations. However, times are changing, and the all-new Kia Sorento offers potential buyers a lot more than just a low price tag.

The Sorento is technically a mid-size SUV, which pits it against everything from a Mazda CX-7 to Mercedes’ M-class. This is one of the most crowded fields in the automotive world, so Kia has a pretty tough hill to climb.

The Sorento is interesting for a few reasons. First, it’s truck-based, rather than being a uni-body crossover like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4. That means it’s a little more rugged than you might expect, and has better off-road capability.

To that end, the Sorento has something a lot of SUVs don’t – a real, live four-wheel-drive system. Instead of all-wheel-drive, which is used by SUVs from the Ford Edge to the Cadillac Escalade, this Sorento has no-nonsense four-wheel-drive with a bona fide low-range setting.

That four-wheel-drive makes the Sorento a lot tougher than most of the new SUV interpretations on the road today, and the rugged theme is continued under the hood. For 2007, the Sorento gets a 3.8-liter V-6 that makes 262hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. Those are pretty stout numbers, and this Kia V-6 exceeds the power output of the V8 in the Toyota 4-Runner.

It’s also got a 5-speed automatic with a manual-shift function, which means you can row through the gears on your own. Towing capacity for the Sorento is 5,000 lbs., and that applies to both two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive models. As far as the powertrain goes, we give the Sorento pretty high marks. It’s actually a bit fun to drive with this manual shift function, and capable too. Fuel mileage is about what we expected, with a government rating of city/ highway.

The interior is well-appointed and mistake-free, with simple controls and design. It’s not dazzling, but it’s also not offensive. Our tester had leather and a sunroof, which is pretty much your starting point for SUV luxury.

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Kia, like most Korean manufacturers, still markets its vehicles from a value standpoint. And, true to form, our Sorento delivered. Initially, it seemed a little pricey at $30K, but it did have the trifecta of leather, 4WD, and the bigger motor. For this amount of money in any other brand, you have to pick just two. We’d say that given its emphasis on towing and off-road use, this little Kia is more of a competitor to the American machines, for example the Ford Escape or Jeep Liberty, than the Japanese RAV4 and CR-V. However, it’s got more than enough luxury to take a bite out of the Japanese compacts as well. If you’re looking for a tough little value SUV without the budget feel, look no further.

You may be wondering why Nissan is bothering to launch a new car (the Altima coupe) into the auto market when they are already doing so well. The warranty claim rate on Nissan vehicles has dropped 60% in the past two years. The company hopes to launch a 3-liter, Nissan-original hybrid that gets 100 km (or 78 mpg) by 2010 as part of the Nissan Green Program. A purely electric car is also expected within the next decade, and a Maxima diesel engine by 2020. So the question remains, with all of the great news coming out of Nissan, “The Altima coupe: Why now?”

I first saw the Altima coupe at a 2006 LA Auto Show event, did a double take, wondering, “What Nissan vehicle IS that?! and “When does this hit the market?”, seeing that I would soon be interested in purchasing a new car. However, as time progressed, I became a bit skeptical about the coupe, since the car was, and is, being marketing to my demographic, the “younger males and females in their late 20s, up-and-coming professionals.” However, after getting some seat time in the Altima Coupe, I was pleasantly surprised.

There are two model options, the V6 and the 4-cylinder, (both with standard dual exhaust), and I was lucky enough to get to drive both. The V6 and 4-cylinder Altima Coupe are available with a 6-speed manual transmission or a Xtronix CVTs (Continuously Variable Transmission). Available models are the 2.5 S 6-speed manual tranny, the 2.5 S CVT, the 3.5 SE 6 speed, and the 3.5 SE CVT. The V6 Coupes come with 17” aluminum-alloy wheels with 215/55R17 tires and the 4-cylinder Coupes come with 16” wheels and tires. The Altima Coupe also comes with standard traction control systems. Oh, and by the way, just like some of the high-end luxury vehicles out there, the Altima Coupe comes with a push button ignition.

This front wheel drive coupe, built on the all-new rigid Nissan “D” platform, comes with a 20-gallon fuel tank, which could be problematic if you are interested in the V6 3.5 SE because premium gas is recommended. The 3.5-liter, for its 270hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, gets 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway in the manual and automatic. The 4-cylindar 2.5S luckily takes regular gas, and its mileage is at 23 mpg city/32 mpg highway in the manual and 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway in the automatic. The Altima Coupe proved to be quick to the punch when accelerating and you felt confident with its sport-tuned suspension and rigid chassis. It also handled turns at speed decently, but we found that we had to oversteer to push through the corners.

Interior perks include the kangaroo pouch on the front sear cushion, good for squirreling away loose odds and ends, almost absurdly large vanity mirrors, and a 60/40 split and flat fold down rear seat. More notably, the Altima coupe comes with extra touches of class with the I-Key (again, the Push Button Ignition), and a variety of other choices in the Comprehensive Option Package: touch-screen navi RearView Monitor (a 6.5” color monitor), a 9-speaker Bose-development audio system, a power-sliding glass moonroof, and Bluetooth hands-free phone system. Sport bucket seats, numerous cubbies, and dual climate control bring the coupe’s sportiness and functionality together.

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The Altima Coupe is a great choice for someone who wants the G35 coupe but can’t afford it or someone is looking at the 350Z but needs a backseat and a less sportiness. Price is affordable: $20,450 base and around $31,000 (V6 engine) for fully loaded. For all of those that think the Altima Coupe is just the Altima Sedan minus two doors, they are quite wrong. Length-wise, it is 7.1 inches less than the sedan and height-wise it is 4.0 shorter than the sedan. The only major body panel they share is the hood. The Altima Coupe also comes in two colors that the Altima Sedan does not: Code Red and Metallic Blue.

Overall, I would have to agree with the Nissan folks and say that this coupe is the perfect car for the young professional who is loving life, always on the move and free of constraints like kids. The Altima Coupe is speedy, stylish, sporty and powerful enough to break the boredom of point A to point B driving. The variety of transmission options also means that there will be a fit for ever driver, from the manual transmission lover to those that like to just put it in drive and go.

Today, June 1st, 2007, means that I can finally talk about the new crossover SUV known as the Subaru Tribeca. “Wait, are we talking about the same Tribeca?” you might ask, a bit confused after seeing the 2008 version, understandably so, since the face of the 2008 model year (MY) has completely changed and Subaru dropped the prenom of B9. The only things that stayed the same were the front and passenger doors; everything else was revamped from the engine (up from 3.0-liter to 3.6-liter) to the newly designed wider and taller front grille. The Tribeca runs on the aforementioned 3.6 liter engine and is connected to the 5-speed automatic transmission with that produces 256hp. It is an AWD vehicle that comes standard with Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) and Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) and four-wheel traction control system (TCS). For those that don’t know, a crossover, in Layman’s terms refers to a SUV built on a car platform rather than a truck.

I had the opportunity to take a first drive in the mountains of Palm Springs, California with the new Tribeca (keep in mind, this was around the time that the Tribeca went into production at the Lafayette plant) but couldn’t spread the good news until now, the day that the Tribeca hits the showroom floors and becomes available to one and all! This crossover was surprisingly quiet to the point that my driving partner and I didn’t even realize the engine was on when we first started it up. The quietness of the engine is also probably why we could hear Dave Sullivan, our Subaru expert from the backseat without a problem.

First off, this new member of the Subaru family could run with the big dogs like the Lexus RX350, Acura MDX, and Toyota Highlander, not failing to mention that Ford is also using this vehicle as a bench marker. The newly, redesigned 2008 Subaru Tribeca proved to be quite the luxury machine without having to pay the luxury prices (it is rumored to start at $29,950 like the 2007 Model Year (MY)). The interior of this car was fantastic, from the leather seating, the seat warmers and dual climate controls, satellite radio, the numerous seat settings (lumbar controls included) and the optional touch screen navigational system. However, I would not recommend the car for you speed demons out there, because I quickly realized how deceiving the speed was because of the smooth drive. At one point, when passing a Coke truck on the empty highway, I looked down and realized we were pushing eighty. This was after my passengers and I had discussed how slow we felt going the 60 mph of speed limit. Have no fears about burning through gas, because this model, unlike it’s predecessor (which ran on premium) runs on regular fuel and gets an EPA-estimate 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway.

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You can also view the video for the 2007 Subaru Tribeca on YouTube.[/div]

Subaru, in addition to thinking luxury with the 2008 Tribeca also remembered to think logically and realistically. For the family that is constantly in motion, Subaru made sure to include the now, almost commonplace, entertainment system. The Tribeca options offers the buyer a nine-inch LCD screen with remote inputs for video cameras and games with two wireless headsets and a remote control. They built cup holders into the doors that were easily cleanable, which is a must for the family on the move. The passenger seating also comes with a five or seven-passenger option. The third row aspect is enhanced by the safety catch that prevents those in the second row from unintentionally smashing anyone’s legs or feet in the row behind them. Another aspect where the Tribeca might have a leg up on its competitors is at the low center of gravity which allows to smooth cornering similar to that of a regular sedan, not as unstable as the usually SUV turn.

There were a few complaints with this new vehicle, and most of those are being worked out, according to inside sources. First, there was an issue with the lack of Bluetooth capabilities, which is an option offered by other competitors, though it could very well be on the way since Subaru just now got the high tech navigation system. The back hatch was also a bit heavy to pull down if someone (around my fighting weight of 100 pounds) was trying to juggle kids and groceries but don’t worry, the Subaru folks are looking for ways to put a push button system in that would allow the user to close the hatch with a simple motion, much like that found in the Audi Q7 crossover.

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But, after all is said and done, the Subaru Tribeca can say something that is a key selling point, almost a trump card, something along the lines of “We have some of the highest safety ratings in our class.” The 2007 MY B9 Tribeca can boast that it received a four-star rating from the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the tests for rollover resistance (though no SUV to date has received a five-star rating in that test), which was the inspiration for the safety components of the 2008 MY Tribeca. The same goes for the front and side-impact crash tests. The Tribeca received five-stars for the passenger and driver seating positions from the NHTSA with the predecessor to the 2008 MY Tribeca. Subaru was also thinking safety when they designed the touch-screen nav system to notice if the commands were too distracting to do while driving. To ensure safety, if an address needs to be typed into the system, the computer will not allow the driver to tinker unless they are not in motion.

Overall, the 2008 Subaru Tribeca will offer the buyer similar amenities as its competitors while also succeeding in aspects like safety and drive-ability that are sometimes overlooked for the more cosmetic features.

Likes:
*The new design
*The quietness inside the car; being able to hear passengers from the backseats
*The seating options, both the 5 or 7 passengers AS WELL AS driver seating positions
*XM radio with the navigation system or Sirius radio without the nav system
*High safety ratings
*LCD screens/video entertainment for the backseat passengers
*The built-in-catch to keep third row passengers from getting their toes/feet run down by the second row passengers trying to scoot back
*Stylish looks but still keeps functionality in mind, like the built-in cup holders that were easily cleanable
*AWD
*The 2008 runs on regular gas over premium and has a larger tank, which makes fill-ups less frequent
*Touch-screen navigation
*Affordable with many amenities

Dislikes: (though there is talk to remedy all of these)
*the back hatch needs to become a little more user-friendly for petite users
*lack of Bluetooth capabilities