Variance

Spied: New Mini Cooper S Yes, the current MINI will get a successor. No, it won’t be much different from today’s car. All the old model on first sight, the MINI Mk. II will go on sale in early 2007. A second sight, however, reveals the modifications, partly necessary from the safety point of view, partly to ensure its success for another decade or so. Editor's Note: Mr. Bean, your new car has arrived. Read "Spy Photos: More New Mini Cooper S" @ World Car Fans

TCC Reviews the 2007 Avalanche If I were in the market for a full-sized truck today, the Chevy Avalanche would be a top contender. It is the newest and best-looking truck in the North American market and like the first-generation, is a great fusion of pickup and SUV. So how much better has the original SUT become with the new generation? Read the 2007 Chevy Avalanche review @ The Car Connection

I do believe the Santa Fe came out before the Enclave, however (if not at the same time). Not before the FX, though.

TCC Takes on the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe At some point in time the fundamental ordinariness of Hyundai products will become unremarkable. That point is coming, but it isn't here yet. Because the most the most fascinating thing about the new second-generation Hyundai Santa Fe sorta-SUV is what a competent and thoroughly conventional machine it is. There are no glaring flaws in its design, it seems well made, and operates dang near imperceptibly. It's just one more well-conceived Hyundai. Read TCC's Review of the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe

R. Kelly - "Trapped in the Cupboard (Bitch I Need My Cheerios)":

Looks pretty good but is anyone else wondering why the tach and speedometer needles are angled like they are?

Update: The estate version... Read "Spy Photos: More 2008 Mercedes C-Class" @ World Car Fans

Spied: BMW M3 (full frontal) The powerful M-version of BMW’s 3-Series is scheduled for launch next year only. The 3-Series M will be available initially as coupe, and later as convertible and four-door. For the first time power will come from a V8 powerplant, derived from the M5 and M6. It is a 4.0 litre engine delivering 415 HP. Transmission is a seven-speed SMG gearbox. A traditional six speed manual transmission will be offered as an option. Editor's Note: The Mizzle to the Thrizzle now has more sizzle, for shizzle my my dizzles. (Yes, I won't do that again for a while.) Read "Spy Photos: BMW M3 Coupe Uncovered" @ World Car Fans

Ferman? Ferman? It's racist. It's a racist name. Ferman? What is he, a fuhrer? Ferman? German? Herman? German? Sound a little familiar to you? I'm sorry, sir but he probably says "n***er" a lot with a name like that.

Am I alone in seeing more than a little Lacrosse in that concept? Or maybe a last-gen Rivera in sedan form.

SRT RIP: The End of the V10 Ram At the end of the 2006 model year, the Ram with the heart and soul of a Viper will be no more, leaving the full-size sport truck arena to the Silverado SS. Read "Dodge to end production of V-10 Ram pickup" @ Driving.ca

"722 Edition" Mercedes-McLaren SLR (Oh, sorry; got it backwards...) A continuing tradition: the new model variant SLR "722 Edition" is a homage by Mercedes-Benz to the unforgettable victory won by the British racing legend Stirling Moss and his co-driver Denis Jenkinson in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR with the starting number 722 (indicating a start time of 7.22 a.m.) at the Mille Miglia in 1955. With an output of 478 kW/650 hp and a corresponding performance, the new super sports car, which goes on sale on July 11, will not only make the hearts of car enthusiasts beat faster. Read "New Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 Edition Revealed" @ World Car Fans

Update: Read "Spy Photos: More Mercedes CL 63 AMG" @ World Car Fans

Give me snow over heat and humidity anyday.

See the Murano GT-C The Nissan Murano GT-C is a grand tourer for the twenty-first century driver. Powerful, agile, sumptuously-appointed and head-turningly handsome, the Murano GT-C is designed to undertake any journey – be it a relaxed pan-European cruise, an adrenaline-fuelled cross-country chase or a gruelling rush-hour commute – with consummate ease. Editior's Note: GT-si! Read "Nissan GT-C Concept Revealed" @ World Car Fans

Done (although at this point they aren't "new" no matter how you look at it...).

Lexus GS450h: Hybrid Racer Toyota Motor has announced that it has entered a race-prepped version of its Lexus GS450h hybrid sedan in Japan's Tokachi 24-hour endurance race. The car (shown above in preliminary livery) will be raced by Sigma Automotive Racing Division (SARD), a group that races Toyotas in the Japanese Super GT series. Editor's Note: Save the planet one lap at a time. Read "Toyota fields Lexus GS450 hybrid racecar" @ Autoblog

Still on the Yukon GT prowl?

Who saw it? I did. Visually, not as appealing as X3 or Batman Begins. Plotwise, not as good as Batman but on-par with (or slightly better than) X3's. Acting, about asgood as the other two. I think it may have been a bit too long as well. Overall, I'd give it a B+. It would find a place in my DVD collection.

I can't stand the Black-Eyed Peas now. I liked "Let's Get It Started" but ever since then it was a downhill spiral for me. I basically hate any songs/artists/bands where a male lead singer sounds like a whiny girl. Now "Trapped in the Cupboard"...that's the $h!. :AH-HA_wink:

That front end is horrid. Not Cayenne "I-want-to-sue-Porsche-for-making-my-eyes-bleed-and-giving-me-nightmares" horrid but still horrid.

July update (these will now be coming either bi-weekly or monthly, TBD): Nissan Vikon: Concept? Toyota Swoop Cut/Sweep Cut: Obviously not a car name (at least I hope to God it isn't because it would be the worst one ever). Probably for a design element. Honda Destination Wellness: Probably has nothing whatsoever to do with cars but thought I'd post it anyway. The description states it has to do with promoting healthy behavior. GM LSX: An engine name. Can't determine whether it's read "LS[ecks]" or "LS[ten]". It's more likely the latter. Pure speculation: "Blue Devil" Corvette engine? I fuel good: Likely for further flex-fuel marketing. Kind of corny, IMO. (No pun intended.) Fiero: The return of Pontiac's mid-engined roadster in the cards? Ford Warriors in Pink: Something to piss off the AFA further? Boss 302/351: Now the description specifically says the trademarks are for insignias but why have the insignias if the cars that go with them aren't coming? This shouldn't come as a shock anyway; we know how Ford loves to milk the pony. DCX Edition 10: I'm going to take a stab and assume this is for Chrysler. ML300/550: New engines for the ML on the way? Attention Assist: Radar/laser guidance system for Chyrsler Group products? Latitude/Liberty Latitude: I would assume that this is a special edition of the Liberty but the fact that the "Latitude" name is also listed separately leads me to believe that this is a somewhat different model or at least a spinoff. Great River Road: The description states they are for badges. I have no idea what it is or means, though. Ram 1500/2500 Thunderroad: WTF?

Nope. Closer to the southwest.

I just started a summer job this week doing office work for a law firm. It's literally a 9-to-5 job. It has it's ups and downs but the days go by pretty quickly. I don't have the capability or time to access C&G while at work, so I'll start trying to catch up on the news better when I get home.

2007 Nissan 350Z GT-S Concept A small team of Nissan development engineers working in their spare time have transformed a 350Z into a highly tuned 'Saturday Special.' Called the GT-S, the supercharged super coupé is a performance-focused version of Nissan's acclaimed 'Z-'car' and is designed to appeal to enthusiastic 350Z owners who simply want more. Editor's note: Read "2007 Nissan 350Z GT-S Concept revealed: production possible" @ Leftlane News