* Ford is rumored to be working on a direct injection, turbocharged version of its new 3.5-liter Duratec V6. The 300bhp engine could wind up in the Ford Edge Crossover and in a high-performance, all-wheel-drive version of the Mazda6-based Fusion sedan. That may well be the SVT Fusion.
Fahrenheit, GesundheitIf you're old enough to remember cars like the first VW Rabbit and old Beetle Wolfsburg Editions, then you're probably not reading this magazine. But VW has been ginning up its sales with special editions of various models for decades. And the new Fahrenheit GTI and Fahrenheit Jetta GLI are the newest products of that august tradition.
Built in numbered runs of 1200 examples each, the Fahrenheit packages are mostly cosmetic patinas applied to the already attractive GTI and GLI. The GTI gets special Fahrenheit Orange paint, 18-inch Charleston wheels, some orange interior trim, with orange stitching on the emergency brake boot, shifter boot, and steering wheel. The price is $27,665. Meanwhile, the GLI gets basically all the same stuff in yellow and its price starts at $27,880.
If these aren't enough to raise temperatures, VW has also announced a Wolfsburg Edition Jetta and a Triple White version of the New Beetle convertible for 2007.
Hype Version 4.0The Scion xB Release Series 4.0 is just the sort of product that begs the question: does the company sell more vehicles as regular production items or as limited-run machinery?
Since last November, the Release Series 4.0 has earned its name by being the fourth limited edition Scion built and sold during 2006; a total of 2500, with Torched Penny polarized, color-shifting paint-from the famous JDM paint company, Maziora-and fitted with color-keyed taillights, rear spoiler and Modellista grille. Add multicolor under-dash lighting, a cupholder kit, special wheel covers and numerous Release Series badges. Manual transmission versions also have a Razo shift knob. There's nothing to make the car faster or handle better. Prices start at $16,010.
No one can deny Toyota's junior sub-subdivision has been wildly successful, but when everything is a special edition, nothing is really special, is it?
Ten Favorite Moments FromThe Fast & The Furious: Tokyo DriftWith the release of The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift on DVD this past September, we had an opportunity to go back and review all that we love and despise about this third chapter in the go-ahead-exploit-us Fast & Furious series of summer movies. Clearly, there's no way for us to convey the awful woodenness of the acting or the utter lameness of the dialog. But there was, just as clearly, a lot of great driving in ... Tokyo Drift and this film will continue to define the sport compact culture for years to come-like it or not.
Aussie AurionTo underline our earlier point: in Australia, Toyota has replaced the Avalon with the equivalent, Australian-made Aurion, running the same 2GR-FE 3.5-liter, VVT-i, 24-valve V6 that powers the current Avalon in America. Both cars are Camry-based and the major difference between the two (that we can figure out) is that the Australian car is better looking. Better still when dressed up as the Aurion Sports Concept displayed at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney this past October.