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 http://www.caranddriver.com

Adding a manual transmission makes the robotic TL more human.

When designing the manual transmission for the 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD, engineers actually measured the shift stroke of its competitive cars. Obviously—why else would Acura tell us this?—the TL has the shortest throw in its class at 3.5 inches. Engineers also measured clutch pedal engagement and disengagement effort. We’re fans of short-throw shifters and smooth clutch pedals, but going so far as to quantify those normally subjective qualities is something we don’t see very often. We’re not about to complain, though, given Honda/Acura’s reputation for slick-shifting manuals. Take a test drive of an Acura TSX or a Honda Civic Si or S2000 if you doubt us. (more…)

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BY DAVE VANDERWERP

The forward-thinking flagship is now less controversial and—surprise—more user-friendly.

While the new fifth-generation 7-series continues to be BMW’s technological pacesetter—it gets even more high-tech features such as variable suspension damping, rear-wheel steering, night vision with pedestrian detection, and side-view cameras—the real buzz at its introduction was BMW’s backpedaling away from some of the previous big car’s, uh, “breakthroughs.” (more…)

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BY TONY SWAN, PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM FRENAK

So here it is, the third and final entry in the 21st-century pony-car-revival derby. Get your bets down early because we don’t expect to see any more resurrections of famous makes from the galloping go-go Sixties—Barracuda, Firebird, Javelin, et al.—and even gloomier, we think it likely that, given fuel prices and other concerns, this revival is likely to lack the fervor and duration of the original movement. (more…)

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BY AARON ROBINSON, PHOTOGRAPHY BY MORGAN SEGAL

Quicker than a Subaru WRX, this new Lancer model offers fun on the run.

Mitsubishi knows the name Ralliart isn’t spoken with much reverence among American gasoline punks. That should change. Mitsubishi has watched Subaru ring up healthy sales with the mid-grade WRX, which neatly slots between the 87-octane Impreza and the high-test STI. (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 MARK GILLIES

Wrong Name, Right Car: As Usual, Europe gets a quality car that won’t be seen on these shores.

As car names go, Cee’d is about as off the mark as they get, giving Merkur a run for its ill-advised money. Kia says it was named for good reason. Since the car was designed and is built in Europe, Kia took the initials for the European Economic Community”CEE in some countries”and added ED for European Design. Okay, maybe that’s not such a good reason, but Ceeed would make even less sense, hence the extraction of an e and the addition of an apostrophe. (more…)

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BY MARK GILLIES, PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON KILEY

Hard to believe it’s a Porsche, Hard to believe it’s a sport-ute.

The Cayenne has always seemed an anomaly. On one hand, it has generated the cash that allows Porsche to continue building the sports cars we love, which is a good thing. On the other, a 5625-pound vehicle is antithetical to the creed of light weight and efficiency that Porsche has historically followed. (more…)

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BY RAY HUTTON

The emperor’s new clothes.

This isn’t the first time Volvo has produced an all-new car that looks just like its predecessor. Clearly, the Swedish purveyor of sensible sedans and wagons is afraid of alienating its clientele. (more…)

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BY STEVE SILER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID DEWHURST AND THE MANUFACTURER

Toyota sharpens its dull knife.

The all-new 2008 Toyota Highlander is boring.

Seriously, we haven’t been this bored driving an all-new car since, well, the original Highlander was introduced for the 2001 model year. Yes, with its new version, Toyota has addressed customer complaints regarding the previous model’s lack of style, space, and horsepower. But somehow, in spite of those improvements, the 08 Highlander exhibits no more charisma than Al Gore hosting a paint-mixing seminar. (more…)

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