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In
the automotive world,
a transition from
one model year to
the next brings a
variety of shiny new
sheetmetal shapes
and designs, defining
a new class of vehicles.
As 2008 rolls around,
it is time again to
take a look at the
best cars, trucks
and SUVs from some
of the most popular
automakers.
It's
time to shop a new
crop of cars -
curvy coupes, luxurious
sedans, breezy pop-top
convertibles and sturdy
pickup trucks. On
the list again this
year are family-packing
minivans and go-anywhere
sport-utility wagons.
In
the world of automobiles,
2008 has arrived as
car dealers in showrooms
across the continent
proclaim the advent
of the 'Class of 2008'
with its shiny new
chrome and steel encasing
the latest in comfort,
style and safety.
Automakers
around the globe are
producing new collections
of cars with promises
of more powerful engines,
stylish sheetmetal,
sophisticated equipment
and safety features.
To
describe the Car Class
of 2008 as futuristic
might be an understatement.
However, the typical
new vehicle in this
class is a computerized
mechanical marvel
that's not only smart,
but also savvy and
quite stylish.
This
year also brings even
more choices and options
for vehicles. The
fact is, vehicles
no longer fit neatly
into a few simple
categories like sedans,
coupes, convertibles,
pickup trucks or wagons.
While these configurations
still remain, new
vehicles also
encompass diverse
new categories due
to the emergence of
the so-called crossover
vehicles, which blend
one type of vehicle
with another to create
something entirely
different.
Crossover
utility vehicle (or
CUV) is the top buzz-word
for the 2008 Vehicle
Model Year. Some highly
popular examples include
the Acura RDX, BMW
X3, Buick Enclave,
Ford Edge, Honda CR-V,
Nissan Rogue and Volvo
XC70.
What's
another trend for
2008? It's the HEV,
or hybrid electric
vehicle. These vehicles
score significantly
high fuel economy
marks because they
pack not one, but
two or more motors.
The typical HEV for
2008 carries both
a conventional gasoline
engine plus a battery-powered
electric motor. They
can run on the gasoline
engine or on the electric
motor, or in a mode
with both plants contributing
power simultaneously.
HEV
examples for 2008
include the Chevrolet
Tahoe Hybrid, Ford
Escape Hybrid, Lexus
GS Hybrid, Saturn
Vue Green Line Hybrid
and the Toyota Camry
Hybrid. But Lexus
demonstrates that
a hybrid vehicle can
be more than simply
a fuel-conserving
set of wheels.
The
2008 Lexus LS 600h
L is the first super-luxury
sedan that's also
a HEV and is equipped
with a gas-electric
powertrain. It has
to be the most complex
and sophisticated
automotive machine
ever devised, and
the most powerful
HEV —
with the sum of its
engine and motors
producing a peak combined
output rating of 438
horsepower.
This year
manufacturers also
seek other means to
improve fuel economy.
The latest trick is
for a large engine
to automatically cut
back on the number
of cylinders firing
for combustion. So when
you need a big power
play all the cylinders
are there, but when
you're just cruising
the boulevards a lesser
number of cylinders
work to save fuel.
Also,
flex-fuel versions
of engines emerge
burning gasoline or
E85 ethanol, or some
combination of the
two fuels. Clean-burning
diesel engines also
pop up in 2008 vehicles
including the Chevrolet
Silverado 2500, Dodge
Ram 2500, Ford F-250
Super Duty and Jeep
Grand Cherokee.
However, monsterous
horsepower still rules.
For instance, Chevrolet
Corvette's fabled
Z06 packs a 7.0-liter
LS7 V8 to make 505
horsepower through
a six-speed manual
Tremec gearbox. And the
awesome Dodge Viper
SRT10 gets a 90-horsepower
boost to its 8.4-liter
V10, pushing the power
curve to 600 horsepower.
At Mercedes-Benz,
the scissor-door supercar
SLR McLaren carries
a supercharged aluminum
5.4-liter V8 engine
hand-built by the
performance gurus
at AMG to peak at
617 horsepower.
With
these developments
and more, we've assembled
a comprehensive new
model guide to illustrate
what's new in 2008 |
