BY RAY HUTTON

A Fiesta worth its name: For once, a European Ford will make it to the U.S. market without compromise.

Over the past couple of decades we’ve reviewed several impressive European Ford models that are not available to American buyers. Now, at last, here is one that will be coming to the U.S., the first product of CEO Alan Mulally’s “One Ford” global car policy: the new Fiesta.

Launched in Europe this fall, it will be built in Mexico and sold in the U.S. in 2010. Although the emphasis in the U.S. will be on the sedan version, Ford plans to offer the five-door hatchback as well, currently the most popular version of the car in Europe. (more…)

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BY CSABA CSERE

Traction that finally matches the power and balanced handling.

As engine outputs have risen over the past 25 years, front-drive cars have migrated towards four-wheel-drive to give their over-burdened front tires a break. Even Saab has finally capitulated with this 9-3 Turbo X.

A Haldex 4.0 center coupling shifts as much as 90 percent of the engine’s 280-hp output to the rear wheels via electronically controlled wet clutches. Its little digital brain anticipates when power is needed in back even before the tires slip. An electronically controlled clutch pack in the rear diff prevents side-to-side slip, while the traction control takes care of the front wheels. (more…)

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BY ALISA PRIDDLE

This concept is a runner and could be built, if GM decides the design is right.

That Hummer plans to continue to downsize and create a Jeep Wrangler“sized H4 has been one of the worst-kept secrets in the industry. Each new Hummer entry has been smaller than the one before it.

But for three new designers at General Motors, the timing couldn’t have been better. The recent graduates of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit were hired by GM a couple years ago, about the time the automaker decided it wanted a concept in a new segment to augment the mid-size H3 and the full-size H2 SUVs. (more…)

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BY MARK GILLIES

In case the F430 wasn’t fast (or good) enough.

The great thing about the 430 Scuderia”a faster, lighter, and even more compelling version of the F430”is that Ferrari didn’t have to make it. Automakers create new versions of their existing models to stimulate sales, but with North American waiting lists at two years for the F430, Ferrari didn’t need to drum up showroom traffic.

Ferrari people say the primary reason for building the Scuderia is that it showcases the company’s racing technology in a street car. Another reason is that, historically, Ferrari has built more extreme versions of its entry-level sports car, going back to the F355 Challenge in 1995. And Lamborghini, its northern-Italian rival, has just introduced the Gallardo Superleggera, while Porsche, its perennial competitor, is continually making go-faster versions of the 911. (more…)

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BY ALISA PRIDDLE

Front-drive Malibu was to be followed by rear-drive Impala, but those plans still are in limbo.

Dealers should start receiving the new 2008 Malibu, available in four trim levels including a hybrid version, in November.

The Malibu is the last General Motors vehicle to come from the outgoing Epsilon platform that is being replaced by the new Global Midsize Vehicle Architecture. Cars from the next-generation architecture start rolling out next year with a new European-market Opel Vectra, with a steady stream to follow. (more…)

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BY STEVE SILER


What’s the Mercury version gonna be called?

Perhaps it’s a sign that Ford plans to throw Mercury off a cliff. We’re talking about the Ford brand’s having usurped one of Mercury’s most storied monikers”albeit slightly altered with a British accent”for its upcoming mini-ute, the Kuga. Yup, Kuga. Koo-gah. Seriously, say it aloud. Someone at Mercury has to be pissed. (more…)

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BY STEVE SILER

Sweet Swedish style. Zero to 60 in the sixes. So why don’t we love it?

The Volvo C30 wears the freshest design to come from Sweden in years. And that says a lot, given that Sweden is known for cool design. Okay, that and stunning six-foot-tall women (which, we suppose, could also be examples of cool design). (more…)

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BY NICK KURCZEWSKI

Chinese cars are now on sale in Europe, so we go for broke and try one at top speed on a German autobahn.

Yes, Chinese cars are coming to the U.S. The catch is that no one, not even the Chinese car manufacturers themselves, can provide a clear answer as to when and how. But we wanted to see how a Chinese car fares on real roads”and we wanted to know right now. (more…)

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BY ERIK JOHNSON

Scion’s smallest gets a bit chilly.

When you think Scion, you think cool, right? (Okay, maybe you think something along the lines of brain-dead teenagers driving ridiculous-looking cars, but just play along.) Cool easily explains the funky-chic, breadbox-shaped xB’s sales success, as thousands and thousands of people rampaged through Scion dealership kiosks to put one of the trendy cubes in their driveway”some 60,000 last year, in fact. (more…)

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BY ERIK JOHNSON

Munich’s poorly kept 1-series secret is out.

It’s officially official! BMW will be selling the 1-series coupe in the U.S.! Okay, so we realize it wasn’t the best-kept secret, but now that the company has issued a press release and we figure there’s no taking it back, we’re really beginning to get excited. (more…)

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