The personality of the Scion xB has been considerably altered in its second iteration now in showrooms.
While the original xB’s quirky persona made it a hit the new Scion xB, for better or worse, looks and acts more like a Toyota, less like a Scion.
For one thing, the 2008 edition is much larger than the original. It also has a great deal more horsepower and torque then its predecessor. That may be both good and bad.
The driver’s seat in the 2008 Saab 9-3 is a wonderful place to spend time. It’s as comfortable as your favorite recliner, and the cockpit’s design is friendly, attractive and contemporary.
When Porsche announced around the turn of the century that it was going to jump on the SUV bandwagon and build a sport utility vehicle a collective groan could be heard from the automotive press and Porsche lovers all over the planet. (Please, somebody fetch cold compresses. Headaches are imminent).
The sports car company of the world was going to prostrate itself on the alter of SUV-dom. Truth is they just didn’t want the space next to the 911 to be anything but a Porsche.
Pontiac is struggling. Total sales in 2006 fell to just over 400,000 dropping from 444,000 in 2005. The free-fall continued in 2007 with 12-month sales struggling to hit 350,000.
The all-new Camaro, expected to start reaching showrooms this fall as a 2009 model is based on General Motors’ global Zeta platform. It will have the same underpinnings as found in the all-new Australian-based Holden division produced Pontiac G8 sedan that entered the market this spring as a 2008 model.
We think Nissan has aimed the 2008 Sentra SE-R in the wrong direction, namely at the wrong audience. And we think many of our automotive writer colleagues have as well.
The higher-horsepower version of the standard bread-and-butter compact Sentra sedan has been compared more or less head-to-head with the Mazdaspeed3, the Volkswagen GTI, the Honda Civic Si, the Subaru WRX and the Chevrolet Cobalt SS.
