Issue Date: October 24, 2004

In this article: Car and Driver survival tips Also this week: FunkMaster Flex's customizing do's and don'ts

AUTOMOTIVE

Red, white & zoom

Detroit's new crop of vehicles just might change your mind about buying domestic.

By Robert Farago

Surprise! Many of the hottest '05s are American.

Forget those misty-eyed romantics reminiscing about muscle cars and prewar roadsters. And while you're at it, forget those finned Caddies, the ones that glided down avenues like a half-inflated hovercraft, no more able to corner than a La-Z-Boy recliner. It's time to focus on the road ahead. If you haven't been paying attention to the signs, this is the golden age of motoring.

There are more powerful and practical vehicles on showroom floors right now than ever. By the end of the year, automakers will have unveiled an estimated 60 new, redesigned or refreshed models. And here's a surprise: Many of the hottest '05s are American.

This news marks a bit of a U-turn for Detroit. Rampant plant closures and job cuts over the years have banged up American carmakers' share of the U.S. car market, now at an all-time low of 60% (down from 86% in 1974). But the Big Three -- GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler -- are bouncing back. In the South, new factories are popping up.

We're not here to debate the state of the industry. For most buyers, all that matters is the quality of the product, and that's never looked better.

In fact, we may be on the cusp of an automotive renaissance, a flowering of design and engineering excellence not seen in this country since the '50s. Cars like the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Cadillac SRX and Dodge Ram SRT-10 show a confident swagger, a renewed faith in American ingenuity.

So buckle up for our preview of the most exciting new vehicles.

SEDANS
The "poster child" of Detroit's revival is the Chrysler 300C. The $32,870 car hit dealer floors in spring, and man, is it baaaad. A cowcatcher grille and massive wheel arches add to its curb appeal. This ride's got more gangsta chic than 50 Cent.

"The 300C is an unashamedly American car," says Ralph Gilles, 34, the vehicle's chief designer. Gilles, an African American, wanted to combine black street culture with hot rod traditions. The result has won converts ranging from lead-footed sports celebs to members of the white-belt-and-shoes brigade.

Hip-hop culture has had a huge impact on Detroit. Cadillac, a former proponent of the "living room on wheels" school of motoring, was recently transformed by urban trendsetters' love for the Escalade, which has starred in music videos by Ludacris and Big Tymers.

Caddy now has its sights set on big, luxurious, Beemer-beating sedans, with optional bling. Case in point: the Cadillac STS. Although its design is less "edgy" than that of its smaller sibling (the CTS), the new car boasts plenty of the frills that will endear it to the brand's new audience -- "heads-up" display, optional 18-inch wheels, Bose 5.1 surround-sound stereo, remote start. There is a downside: The STS' transmission hump makes rear seating for three unpleasant. Check enough option boxes on the order form and the sticker price climbs from $40,300 to more than $60,000. But it's still Caddy's best car so far.

On the smaller side, Ford's new-for-2005 Mustang recalls the model's splashy debut in 1964. The new 'Stang borrows from the famed roadster's many incarnations to create an utterly modern shape. And the $24,370 Mustang GT hits the price/ performance sweet spot with a 300-horsepower V8 engine, the best bang for your buck in its class. You can bet this new Pony will be popular with gearheads.

SPORTS CARS
Massive horsepower and low-slung sex appeal are what Detroit engineers had in mind when faced with the daunting task of updating the sports car.

In Lane 1, the Chevrolet Corvette. It doesn't take an engineering degree to appreciate its new look -- smaller, lower, meaner and with all the youthful va-va-voom of a Hollywood starlet. Code-named the C6, this new 'Vette, like those before it, is about raw power and handling. Priced at $43,445, the C6 packs a 6-liter small-block V8 good for a staggering 400 hp. And just think, you can now take corners without scaring the pants off your grandmother.

The same cannot be said for the new Ford GT, which is in a league with high-end European supercars. There's nothing wrong with its handling; the rear-wheel-drive 550-hp GT is blessed with a perfectly controllable chassis. It's just so fast that anyone who hasn't clocked laps at a speedway will go into shock the moment the driver punches it. The V8-engine "re-creation" of the Le Mans-winning GT40 is monstrously, violently quick.

Unlike higher-priced supercars (which is, by the way, all of them), the $139,995 Ford GT ambles about town as easily as a Taurus. And talk about an attention grabber: The GT may be one of the sexiest cars on the planet.

TRUCKS/SUVs
If there's anything Americans love more than speed, it's size. SUVs and pickup trucks are our most popular vehicles. Judging from this year's sales total, American pickups still rule the roost. That said, new Japanese entries like the Nissan Titan and Toyota Tacoma are nipping at their tailpipes.

The boys at Dodge weigh in with the Dakota, an all-new model that ups the ante for midsize pickups. The Dakota is the only truck in its class offering (optional) V8 power, at $19,345. It also leads the trend toward transforming rough-riding pickups into civilized everyday vehicles. Rack-and-pinion steering make it maneuverable; independent rear suspension helps stave off the chiropractor.

GMC also breaks new ground with the $37,335 Sierra Hybrid. OK, it's not a "real" hybrid; the full-sized pickup has a battery-powered sub-system that kicks in only when the Sierra is stationary. Still, the 13% extra economy delivered by the electronic stop-start system is a step in the right direction. And check this out: You can plug your power tools or TV straight into the Sierra's AC sockets. How cool is that?

Even cooler is the new Ford Escape Hybrid. An electric motor powers the world's first hybrid SUV to 25 mph, when its fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine kicks in.

Bottom line? In front-wheel-drive guise, the $26,380 Escape Hybrid should be good for 36 miles per gallon city/31 mpg highway. The four-wheel-drive version sacrifices some miles-per-gallon for traction, but you're still looking at one PC SUV.

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CAR & DRIVER SURVIVAL TIPS

USA WEEKEND teams up with the auto authority to help you find the vehicle that has your name on it.

By Tony Swan

So you're thinking "new car," and the thinking rolls along familiar paths: monthly payments, styling, safety features. But are you neglecting the FTD factor?

At "Car and Driver" magazine, a key element in evaluating any new vehicle is its "Fun-to-Drive" index: how it handles curves, how quickly it changes direction, how well it stops. There's more to this than mere mobile gratification.

The traits that make a vehicle fun to drive also enhance what we at "Car and Driver" call its "active safety index." This refers to attributes that help you avoid accidents before they happen. Much better than setting off the air bags.

The vehicle should transport the spirit as well as the body. When you have that, ownership is a better deal. Speaking of dealing, haggling with car sales reps isn't exactly the fun part. But the Web makes it easier than ever.

Some fundamentals:

Reality check. What's right for you? Balance needs vs. wants. Don't be someone who buys a Ford Mustang and then complains about its cramped rear seat, or a Hummer H2 owner with gas pains.

Research. Essential and painless, thanks to the virtually limitless info on the Net. Caranddriver.com (of course) has road tests, comparison tests, and links to a database covering 1,200 makes and models, with J.D. Power quality ratings, EPA fuel economy ratings and more. Also excellent for pricing and buying strategy is the Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com). All automakers maintain Web sites; so do dealers.

The price. In this age of sales incentives, window stickers are almost irrelevant. Begin with the dealer invoice, which tells you the dealer's cost for the vehicle. Check Kelley Blue Book for this info. And don't neglect cost of ownership: registration, insurance, maintenance, fuel economy.

The test drive. To many, this is an afterthought. Wrong! Don't limit yourself to an around-the-block quickie. Include a variety of roads, some quick maneuvers and a brake check. En route, ask yourself the key question: Are we having fun yet? Above all, drive more than one car. At worst, you'll confirm your choice; at best, you'll find a new favorite.

Tony Swan is the executive editor of "Car and Driver."

Cover photo illustration of 2005 vehicles by Saundra Giering/Eyeland