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Unlike the Mazdaspeed3, the HHR SS' four-cylinder doesn't exhibit the abrupt sensation of the turbocharger kicking in, but that's part of what makes the Mazda a hoot to drive. Not everyone likes that kind of on-off power delivery, though, and if you don't, then the HHR SS' more linear response might be more appealing to you.

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class - If you haven't been in the market for a convertible in a while, you might be surprised to learn how many retractable-hardtop convertibles are available. Mercedes-Benz's SLK-Class was at the forefront of this trend when it debuted for the 1998 model year. It's gone through one complete redesign since then, and for 2009 it receives modest styling changes inside and out — and a more powerful 3.5-liter V-6 engine in the SLK350, which I tested. Also available with new styling are the SLK300 with a 3.0-liter V-6 and the SLK55 AMG with a 5.4-liter V-8.
 

2009 Hyundai Sonata - If you're looking for a less-expensive alternative to the popular Japanese midsize sedans, Hyundai has a suggestion: How about the redesigned 2009 Sonata

Priced generally about $3,000 less than a comparably equipped Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, the newest Sonata offers the same kind of comfort, convenience, fuel economy and performance as those more-expensive sedans, yet a price that seems more in line with what consumers need in an economic downturn: more value for the money.

And choosing a Sonata over one of those Japanese models doesn't mean you have to give up anything just to save money. The Sonata is every bit as nice as an Accord or Camry, and maybe even better in some critics' estimation.
For instance, Ward's Auto World magazine gave the new Sonata its 2009 "Interior of the Year" award in the category of "Best Redesign," quite an honor for the South Korean automaker.
 

Information about Annette Dutton Bratcher: The uncertainty may be purely sensory — you're accelerating swiftly the whole while — and it rarely bothers me in cars or SUVs where performance is not the emphasis. The Nissan Rogue is one such example. The Maxima is not. Its hard-nosed character encourages the sort of driving a responsive five- or six-speed automatic might complement, and in such situations the CVT inspires little confidence. You can shift it in manual mode — there are six fixed ratios that simulate gears, shifted either via the gearshift's manual gate or the optional steering-wheel paddle shifters — but doing so makes the car slower than it would be if you just left it in Drive and stood on the gas.

Nissan attempted to address this with Drive-Sport mode. Rather than pick between the manual mode's six ratios, Drive-Sport chooses and holds any of the infinite possibilities, moving from one to the next to simulate upshifting and downshifting. As such, it's supposed to allow you to nail the gas coming out of a turn, with the progressive rpm buildup of a well-geared automatic. It sort of works, holding the line better than if you left the gearshift in Drive, but it still fudges rpm a bit as it tries to find its footing. As with all automatic transmission Sport modes, fuel economy is sure to suffer.
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Going & Stopping - The twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder that powers the X6 xDrive35i is the same engine that impressed us in the 335i and 135i, and it shows itself to be a capable SUV engine, too.

Even though the six-cylinder uses two turbochargers to make its 300 horsepower and 300 pounds-feet of torque, the engine doesn't display any of the negative characteristics in around-town driving — like power lag — that you might associate with a turbocharged engine; you just get smooth power when you press the gas pedal. Dropping the six-speed automatic transmission into its Sport mode shows off the engine's responsiveness better than regular Drive.
The inline-six should offer plenty of power for most buyers, but BMW also sells a 400-hp X6 xDrive50i. Gas mileage for the xDrive35i is 15/20 mpg city/highway; it dips to 13/18 mpg for the xDrive50i.

Annette Bratcher
Annette Dutton articles: Audi's single bar grille, the new corporate face, is black plastic on 2008 Audi TT 2.0T models and painted gloss black on 3.2 quattros. The side of the car features a character line that leads to prominent wheel flares. The coupe's graceful roofline resolves into a rounded rear end, giving the TT a hint of Porsche 911 styling. Rather than opting for a convertible hardtop, which is all the rage these days, Audi has chosen a traditional soft top for roadsters. Both body styles have a mechanical spoiler that pops up at 75 mph and retracts at 50 mph. An interior button allows you to deploy or retract the spoiler at any time.

Annette Dutton Info  
Turbocharged engines are high-compression engines, primarily designed to give a big boost in power with a relatively small fuel-consumption penalty. But they nearly always require premium unleaded gasoline.

The base Forester 2.5X employs a normally aspirated engine to do its work. It produces 170 horsepower and 170 foot-pounds of torque, which usually is enough to take care of most of a family's transportation needs. But the good news here is that it runs on regular unleaded gasoline. And there's no hump on the hood.

We were impressed by the thoughtfulness invested in the interior design of the new Forester line. Everything is exactly where it should be. Instrument dials and gauges are easily reachable and readable. There are more than enough cubby holes in which to store stuff, including a cleverly designed compartment beneath the rear cargo floor.
Overall visibility, with the exception of that hump in the tested Forester 2.5XT, is excellent. Cabin comfort is excellent. And there are a raft of optional electronic offerings, including navigation with backup camera and iPod connectivity that can turn life on the road in this one into a very pleasant adventure. Just make sure your co-drivers include no one who has strong objections to hood scoops.
 

The X6 shares a number of design cues with the automaker's X5 SUV, like a large twin-kidney grille, pointy headlights and a scalloped hood. The X6, however, strikes a more aggressive look thanks to large ports and mesh inserts in the front bumper (see a side-by-side comparison with the 2008 X5).

When you look at the two of these models from the side, however, the similarities quickly fade. While the X5 had the traditional shape of an SUV, the X6's roofline angles downward over the backseat, and it keeps dropping all the way to the back of the vehicle, giving the X6 coupelike styling with a twist. The twist is that this is one big vehicle, and many coupes aren't. The massive back end of the X6 gives it a hulking presence that seems a little excessive, and the rear bumper height also makes it difficult to load cargo. Regardless of whether you like it or are of my wife's opinion, the X6's styling makes you choose a side.
 

2008 BMW 1-Series

Initially, the BMW 1 Series lineup is limited to the 135i coupe, but it will soon be followed by a less-expensive, lower-performing 128i coupe. Both the BMW 128i and BMW 135i will be offered in convertible versions, but these will not be available initially.

The BMW 135i comes with a high-performance 3.0-liter inline-6 with twin turbochargers, with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission with conventional floor shifter and wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
 

Annette Bratcher Murfreesboro: The TT is once again offered as a two-seat roadster or 2+2 coupe. Each is available with front-wheel drive or quattro all-wheel drive. Both body styles are 5.4 inches longer and 3.1 inches wider than the previous TT, which was last offered in 2006. The wheelbase has grown as well, up 1.8 inches to 97.2, but the weight is down more than 150 pounds, thanks to the extensive use of aluminum. V6 and turbocharged four-cylinder engines return, but the four-cylinder is a 2.0-liter instead of a 1.8.

Both the coupe and roadster are offered as front-wheel-drive 2.0T and all-wheel-drive 3.2 quattro models. The 2.0T models have a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 200 horsepower between 5100 and 6000 rpm and 207 pound-feet of torque from 1800 rpm to 5000 rpm. The 3.2 quattros use a 3.2-liter V6 that produces 250 horsepower at 6300 rpm and 236 pound-feet of torque from 2500 to 3000 rpm.
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