Resource For Car Research Information

Buyers who believe that functional luxury and state-of-the-art safety systems outweigh the inherent status appeal of a traditional prestige nameplate can expect to find their transportation and aspirational needs well met by any member of the S80 lineup. Mitsubishi designed this Raider to be the alternative to SUVs for what the company calls the "fun-seeking adventurer." Though it's not a Lancer Evo, the rock star of the Mitsubishi lineup, the Raider has crisp, muscular lines and a "second look" appeal. The price is also pleasing, starting around $20,000.

Mitsubishi designed this Raider to be the alternative to SUVs for what the company calls the "fun-seeking adventurer." Though it's not a Lancer Evo, the rock star of the Mitsubishi lineup, the Raider has crisp, muscular lines and a "second look" appeal. The price is also pleasing, starting around $20,000. If your personal priorities in an SUV skew towards a stylish, comfortable, featured-packed interior and you need the power to tow serious payloads, the QX56 would be well worth considering.

You'll like the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS if you want a quick, competent coupe that's free of the flamboyant styling often found in sporty small cars. Also, those concerned about fuel economy will appreciate the Cobalt SS's 30-mile-per-gallon EPA highway fuel economy rating. If you think smaller and lighter cars tend to be the most fun, we think you'll like the 2008 BMW 1 Series. MINI Cooper fans looking to move up to a slightly larger, more serious car will also feel at home in the 1 Series.

If you think smaller and lighter cars tend to be the most fun, we think you'll like the 2008 BMW 1 Series Convertible. It features a quiet, well insulated top and excellent top-down air-flow management, freeing it from the vices that commonly plague convertibles. If you think smaller and lighter cars tend to be the most fun, we think you'll like the 2008 BMW 1 Series. MINI Cooper fans looking to move up to a slightly larger, more serious car will also feel at home in the 1 Series.

Toyota New Japan Car Plant

A Toyota subsidiary is set to announce a new car assembly plant in Japan, company officials said Tuesday after Japanese media reported an announcement could come later in the day. Kyodo News said Tuesday that Central Motor Co., a Toyota Motor Corp. subsidiary, has decided to build a new car plant in Sendai Prefecture in northern Japan. Officials familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision isn't yet official, said an announcement was expected soon.

Orlando Bloom in minor car crash

Orlando Bloom was involved in a minor car crash on a Hollywood street early Friday morning, police said. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star told police he was being chased by paparazzi as he left a nightclub around 2:15 a.m. in his 2003 Toyota Matrix. Bloom, 30, said a paparazzo in a silver or white sport utility vehicle made a sudden lane change and cut him off, said Officer Ana Aguirre. Though Bloom was not injured in the accident, two passengers in his car were. Police said a 30-year-old woman in the front seat got cuts and bruises on her face, while a 35-year-old woman in the back seat fractured her neck. Both were treated at a local hospital. They were not identified.

Tesla delays its electric sports car

Tesla Motors is pushing out production of its sports car again, but the car goes farther on a battery charge than previously expected. The company said late Monday night said that it will deliver 50 Tesla Roadsters, its $98,000 all-electric sports car, in the first quarter of 2008 and 650 in total in 2008. The delays will allow the company to conduct further durability and reliability tests, which can cost millions of dollars and take several months. Testing is one of the reasons that you don't see a lot of successful car start-ups, according to some car executives and investors.

Racing Car of Tomorrow May Be Equalizer

Starting from the pole at Watkins Glen International usually is a good omen in Nextel Cup. But racing Car of Tomorrow for the first time on the high-speed road course without much practice promised a few surprises for Sunday's Centurion Boats at The Glen. Although the race winner has started from the pole eight times in the previous 21 Cup races, there's a feeling that hardened road racers, such as Canada's Ron Fellows and crowd favorite Boris Said, might have their best chance yet of securing that elusive victory.

Nissan concept car gets testy drunk drivers

A new concept car with breathalyser-like detection systems may provide even greater traction for Japanese efforts to keep impaired drivers off the road. Nissan's alcohol-detection sensors check odor, sweat and driver awareness, issuing a voice alert from the navigation system and locking up the ignition if necessary. Odor sensors on the driver and passenger seats read alcohol levels, while a detector in the gear-shift knob measures the perspiration of the driver's palm when starting the car.

Man gets citation for HOV lane violation

The State Patrol reports a trooper working HOV enforcement stopped a 44-year-old man from Black Diamond driving on State route 167 near the Auburn City limits yesterday at 8 a.m. because the driver's car looked as white as a gost car ad. The State Patrol says the driver was agitated and profane as he argued that the trooper had no reason to stop him. The State Patrol says the trooper re-educated the driver in the definition of two or more occupants. The driver was cited for an HOV lane violation and not having auto insurance.

How to get the best rental car price

How do you get the best rate on a rental cars? Generally speaking, the answer is to never stop looking. With most car rental agencies, you pay nothing when you reserve a car. That means if you find a better deal a week later, you don't have to pay a penalty to cancel your old reservation. I've done this more than a few times and I've always saved money in the process. Here are my best tips for getting a good deal on a single-day, weekend, or airport rental. If your rental is last-minute, be sure to check each agency's online last-minute specials. This can be a great way to snag an economy car for under $30. The following major agencies offer last-minute deals: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, and Thrifty. Another part of snagging the best deal is being a well-informed consumer. For example, did you know that many people overpay for rental insurance or are unsure of their coverage? Or maybe you thought all was lost because you're considered too young or too old by rental car companies? (It's not.) Then there's the issue of rising fuel costs; you don't have to let the price at the pump bankrupt you.

Visitors will be able to drive race car

A surprise provided by Toyota company at "Car Week of Siberia" exhibition in "Siberia" expocenter will be an opportunity to drive a real race car. Toyota race car is equipped with a simulator, and every visitor will be able to drive the car in a cyber way and feel an F1 racer. Visitors will have their pictures taken by Toyota company's representatives. New models Toyota Corolla and Toyota Auris will be presented at the company's stand in "Siberia" expocenter, Krepost, Toyota's official dealer in Krasnoyarsk, reported. As Newslab reported earlier, "Car Week of Siberia 2007" exhibition will be held in "Siberia" expocenter and will cover all the spheres of car business. Visitors will be shown novelties of automaking industry and exclusive car models, service and garage equipment, car spare parts, new products in auto tuning, auto sound and auto chemistry. A few tens companies from Moscow, Novosibirsk, the Irkutsk Region, Yaroslavl, Veliki Novgorod will be among entrants of the exhibition.

Scottsdale mayor will talk with Barrett-Jackson Collector

Talks over keeping Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction at WestWorld in north Scottsdale will take a new turn today. Owner Craig Jackson plans to hold a one-on-one session with Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross this morning to drive talks about a long-term city contract. The meeting replaces negotiations previously announced for today after Jackson said he would launch a collector-car auction in Las Vegas, his third venue after Scottsdale's WestWorld and Palm Beach, Fla. Jackson said the Vegas auction would grow in stature and Scottsdale's would wane without a long-term agreement with Scottsdale. Parking, construction of a permanent WestWorld building and the sale of city-owned land to Barrett-Jackson remain the issues. The car show, which started in Scottsdale in 1971, has grown into one of the city's signature events. This year's auction contributed an estimated $94 million to the city's economy as 1,271 cars sold for a total of more that $112 million.