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Car Reviews: New Car & Truck Comparisons
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Love, Peace, and Higher Fuel Efficiency: Viva La Hybrid Revolution.
If you were youthfully minded in the summer of 1969 you probably carried your own rolling papers in your trouser pocket, and drove a VW bus or Karmann Ghia. In the summer of 2006, you are probably now carrying an Apple iPod in your pocket, and driving or at least thinking of purchasing a hybrid vehicle.
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2005: Year of the Hybrid
Stellar Fuel Efficiency, Low Emissions, and More Power - Today's rapidly growing list of hybrid vehicles offer consumers more choices and fewer compromises than ever.
Find out more about hybrid technology and how it's changing the automotive industry.
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Hot New Cars: Best of 2004
If you thought 2003 was a great year for new cars, wait until you see what 2004 has to offer.
In our yearly article, we put the spotlight on automotive design.
The seven vehicles that won our praises this year are nothing short of brilliant.
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What's New: Eight Must-See New Cars
In a time when the automotive industry produces new designs faster than Las Vegas builds casinos, buying a car can feel like a gamble.
However, we found eight autos (six cars and two trucks) that are a sure bet in both form and function.
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Crossover Autos: Re-Defining Soccer Mom
Forget what you know about station wagons.
Today's crossover sport utility wagons are definitely not your mother's Delta 88.
If you're tired of the gas-guzzler SUV but refuse to buy a minivan, we've found wagons that haul precious cargo in style.
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Full-Size Trucks: What America Does Best
Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and GMC still lead the way in full-size truck sales, proving once again that Americans prefer American pickup trucks.
If you're looking for a work truck, stop by and see what power, style, and reliability is all about.
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Cheap Cars: New Cars For the Price of Used
If you're looking for a cheap car, we found two of the cheapest.
Sure, it's not glamorous, but the price of these cars is less than $10,000.
See how these economy autos compare!
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Hybrid Cars: Fuel Economy Goes Mainstream
With the current offerings from Honda and Toyota, consumers now have their choice of 3 reliable, inexpensive gas/electric hybrid cars.
Conserving natural resources has never been so easy!
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Sport Compacts: Fast Cars, Cheap Prices
No, you don't have to have graphics plastered all over your car or a ten-foot wing on the back to drive a sport compact.
The pocket-rocket revolution has arrived, drawing enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds.
Read more about the new offerings from Subaru, Mazda, Nissan, and Ford... You might just be converted.
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The Bear Went Over The Mountain: The 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
If you have two kids, a dog, two cats and in-laws you want to take to the summer cottage for the 4th of July weekend, the 2007 Chevy Tahoe is perfectly sized to satisfy your needs. The upscale Chevy Tahoe has won over a number of car buyers since its introduction in 1995. The re-designed 2007 Tahoe maintains its iconic position as a replacement to the family sedan. Featuring a crisp new design, greater carrying capacity, full luxurious cabin, a torque rich engine and the ability to transport eight people in high style, the new Tahoe retains its status as the anti-minivan.
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2006 BMW 5 Series - An Alternative to Your Morning Coffee
"Ein blitz trifft mehr Baume als Grashalme." Lightning strikes more trees than blades of grass. What happens when you give BMW's design chief, American-born Chris Bangle, two Samurai swords and a large chunk of German steel? The result is the bold interpretation of BMW's 5 Series sedan, first introduced to the world at the 2004 Geneva Auto Show.
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Far Out Looks Are Reined In for the 2006 Chevrolet Impala
When President John F. Kennedy spoke of a "new frontier" in his inaugural speech in 1961, he was talking about the new age of post-war America, specifically the quest for reaching the Moon. At the same time, the quest for the nation's top three automakers was to reach technical and marketing milestones to fulfill the need of an emerging youth market.
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Bio-Engineered for Style and Speed – the 2006 Chevrolet SSR
What happens when you take a muscle car and combine it with a vintage truck? The resulting genus is a retractable hard-top roadster that looks like a 1940s pickup. The 2006 Chevrolet SSR is concept car come alive; featuring pontoon-style fenders, five-spoke alloy wheels, 20 inch rear tires and 400 horsepower V8 engine. The new SSR combines modern day comfort with aesthetics of a vintage automobile.
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Visions of Speed and Glory Encompass the 2006 Chrysler 300
In 1955, Walter P. Chrysler, sensing an emergence of a new optimism in the nation, hired Virgil Exner to radically redesign the entire Chrysler lineup. Commencing with the Chrysler 300, Virgil created the first "forward look." His designs were simple but strong; without much chrome on the sides the lines created the illusion of fast-forward movement in a perfectly motionless car.
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Super-Hero Strength is Evident in the 2006 Dodge Charger
The hero's life of non-stop action didn't begin or end with the mighty Hercules, Superman, the Incredible Hulk or Xena the Warrior Princess. It continues in the trials and tribulations we face at our jobs and in our lives everyday. For a brave moment, it is possible to transcend the norm, to attain invincibility; especially if you find yourself behind the wheel of the 2006 Dodge Charger.
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Holding High Ground: the 2006 Ford Explorer
Just as the Ford Model T put an earlier generation of Americans behind the wheel, the introduction of the Ford Explorer in 1990 satisfied the car buyer’s unconscious desire for safety by raising the contemporary riding height by a yardstick. After selling more than 5.5 million SUVs in its 16-year history, the Ford Explorer gets a complete makeover for 2006.
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Riders On The Storm: Iconic 2006 Ford Mustang
In 1961, automotive pioneer Lee Iacocca wanted to build a mid-engine, two seat convertible at an affordable price for the booming youth generation. The four seat design that emerged was penned by David Ash and Joseph Oros at Ford’s Lincoln Mercury design studio. Rolling off the assembly line in Dearborn, Michigan on March 9, 1964, the handsome car was powered by a 105 horsepower inline six mated to a three-speed manual transmission. The MSRP of $2,368 combined with public introduction at the New York World’s Fair and visibility on all three TV networks resulted in the most successful launch in automotive history.
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Class Refinement: Honda Keeps The Promise With 2006 Accord
If you stepped inside a time machine and went back to 1976, you would witness the celebration of our country’s bicentennial, Jimmy Carter would be the president elect, “Rocky” the box office champ, and oh – Honda would have just introduced the first Accord hatchback.
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If The Weather Calls For Rain, Consider The 2006 Honda CR-V
As a smaller, more compact SUV, the new CR-V excels in a field of mini-SUVs due to its witty design, nimble handling and spacious cabin. The 2006 CR-V is well suited for outdoorsy types who crave a better handling SUV with a reliable reputation.
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Taking the Road Less Traveled with the 2006 Honda Pilot
The 2006 Honda Pilot is an amalgamation of the family car, a long distance cruiser, and a vacation vehicle in one mid-sized SUV. Introduced in 2003, the Pilot was engineered to be more versatile than any other SUV. At the time, it was also the only SUV that did not have a truck chassis. For 2006, the Pilot continues with tradition having received a complete nip and tuck in the process. It now features sharpened body creases, a redesigned front grill, hood, fenders, wheels, bumpers, headlights and taillights. Additionally, the engine can switch from 6 to 3 cylinders for better mileage and the Pilot’s carrying capacity has jumped to 90.3 cubic feet of space - not bad if you need to haul hockey equipment or up to 8 humans. The 2006 Pilot shows Honda’s commitment to building competent and versatile SUVs.
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A Kinder, Gentler Hummer: The 2006 H3
Critics who slam the Hummer for being big and ostentatious miss the point. That’s exactly what a truck is supposed to be. The Hummer H3, however, is a baby Hummer when compared to the H1 and H2. At a price point of $28,935, it doesn’t compromise the brash look or off-road prowess of its higher price stable mates.
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Reborn Asian Tiger Is The 2006 Hyundai Sonata
In previous years, Korean auto manufacturers were never able to directly compete with the Honda Accord or the Toyota Camry. They might have danced around the edges, but haven’t been able to establish a solid foothold in the mainstream USA sedan market, not until now.
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Seven Seat Comfort: The 2006 Jeep Commander
Historically, the 2006 Jeep Commander can trace its lineage to the late 1930s when the US military was looking for a lightweight, four-wheel drive, general purpose vehicle. “GP” was the abbreviation for “general purpose,” but pronounced “Jeep,” hence the name. The military gave the contract to Willys-Overland Company and the GP that resulted proved to be rugged, dependable and well-liked during the war. By the time the soldiers returned home, the Jeep had gathered a jovial reputation for simplicity and durability with the troops.
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Feels More European Then Some Europeans is the 2006 Mazda3
When Mazda’s development team was asked to reinvent the popular Protégé in 2003, the brief stated four things: build a car the owner could proudly show off, give the car an emotive/evocative shape, make the car safer, and design the car with an ageless-timeless appeal. The 2006 Mazda3 is a competent sports compact that builds on this legacy. The new Mazda3 is nimble, yet powerful. It’s modern, yet inviting. It’s safe, yet seductive.
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Fire and Ice: The 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse Reloaded
The TV commercial for the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse titled “Drums,” depicts the car as a sporty performer with a carnival theme. The spot opens on three female Hawaiian drummers playing out the cadence under a tropical sky. Quick camera shots bring us up close and personal with the metallic orange Eclipse GT as it prepares to burst through the screen.
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Extreme Power Even When the Engine Is Off: The 2006 Nissan Altima
In 1993, when the first Altima was introduced, it was available in two trims mated to a 2.4-liter 150 horsepower engine. The sportier, third-generation Altima (that was redesigned in 2005) has a harder-edge appearance; a spacious interior; a powerful engine; and is only 70lbs. heavier than its predecessor. The new car has been vastly improved, available in six trims, with a choice of four engines including the hybrid (available in October 2006.) The new Nissan Altima has made giant leaps in terms of size, style, handling and acceleration; significantly challenging what is expected from the four-door sedan.
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Curvy, Driving Sensation: The 2006 Pontiac Solstice
Driving the 2006 Pontiac Solstice is a head turning experience. Don’t be surprised if gawky onlookers ask silly questions, “Is it a Ferrari?” or “Can I take a picture?” The curvy shape is reminiscent of the 1967 Ferrari Dino with supple curves and lithe lines. The body and chassis rails are made of hydro-formed steel, a process that allows for more robust shapes and angles that are impossible to achieve using traditional stamping. The resulting car shape appears to lack straight lines. The sensual, curvy look highlights Solstice’s curb appeal. The car we test drove was red in color further accentuating the Italian, sporty feel. The round front grill, however, carries an unlikely logo: GM.
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Luxury At An Inexpensive Price: The 2006 Toyota Camry
When Sakichi Toyoda sold the patent rights for his innovative loom machine to Platt Brothers UK in 1937, the seed money paved the way for Toyota Motor Company to develop their first automobile. In the decades that followed, innovative engineering and quality craftsmanship became the hallmark of Toyota Motor Company. The spirit of Sakichi Toyoda’s discipline today is exemplified in the 2006 Toyota Camry, the best selling midsize car in the nation. The stylish, comfortable, spacious new Camry is extremely well-engineered and handles in a predictably secure manner. If Sakichi were alive today, he would be proud of the numerous innovations integral to the 2006 Camry family sedan.
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Dahling, Won’t You Please Give Me A Kiss: Sexy 2006 Corolla
If you were meeting someone for a blind date, would you judge them by the car they drove? What if the car in question was the handsomely crafted 2006 Toyota Corolla? Would the spunky Corolla, with its adventurous exterior and well-appointed, roomy interior spur you on to fall in love with a dashing, handsome and resourceful stranger?
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2005 Ford Escape Hybrid: First of the hybrid SUVs
Introduced in dealerships in the Fall of 2004, the Ford Escape Hybrid has been hailed as the first full-hybrid SUV – capable of operating without its internal combustion gas engine at 25 mph without burning any fuel. Boasting fuel economy of 36 mpg city and 31 mpg highway, the Escape Hybrid can take you 400-500 miles between fill-ups.
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2005 Ford Mustang: Here at last
Since late in 2003, Mustang enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting the showroom debut of the newly redesigned 2005 Mustang. Now that the new ‘Stang is finally hitting the streets, the InvoiceDealers team was compelled to review one of the most striking new models of 2005.
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2005 Honda Accord Hybrid: The Most Popular Car Becomes One of the Most Efficient
With the debut of the 2005 Accord Hybrid in dealerships nationwide on December 3, 2004, the misconception that hybrids are weak on performance will officially become nil. With 255 horsepower, the 2005 Accord Hybrid will prove to be irresistible to almost everybody, from serious Honda fans to sports car enthusiasts to the socially conscious.
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2005 Honda Civic Hybrid
If you're looking for great fuel economy in a plain brown wrapper, the new Civic Hybrid should be at the top of your list.
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2005 Toyota Prius: Hot hybrid.
In its third year of production, the Toyota Prius is really hitting its stride. Though facing mounting competition in the Hybrid category, the veteran Prius remains at the head of the pack.
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2004 Acura TL: All this and a VTEC, too.
The 2004 Acura TL is the kind of high-performance luxury sedan that made Acura famous. Facing mounting pressure from Infiniti and Lexus, the redesigned TL offers a smooth blend of style, refinement, and performance.
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2004 Ford F-150: Ford trucks just got tougher.
The newest edition of the incredibly popular Ford F-150 is a beautiful example of form following function. This year's highly anticipated redesign brought us one of the toughest F-150s ever. The beautiful bodywork and refined interior was just icing on the cake. In our review, we look at what's new and improved on the '04 F-150.
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2004 Volkswagen Phaeton: A New Kind of Luxury Sedan
How much would you pay for a Volkswagen? Last year, the answer to that question would have been very different. The introduction of the Phaeton, Volkswagen's new premier luxury sedan may change the way we think of them forever. Before you scoff, take a look at the new face in German luxury automobiles.
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2003 Chevy Silverado 1500: Rock on.
Sure, it's like a rock. Like a very agile rock. Chevy's innovative new Quadrasteer 4-wheel steering system makes the new Silverado a standout in its class. And with luxury options like leather bucket seats, dual-zone heating, and Bose audio, we're starting to think that trucks like these are the real Sport Utility Vehicles.
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2003 Chevy Tahoe: SUV experience.
After 34 years of building Tahoes, Chevrolet continues to show that experience counts for a lot. The 2003 Tahoe hasn't changed much from last year, but given some of the Sport Utility Vehicle designs we've seen lately we're inclined to believe that it's a good thing. Why change the best-selling formula now?
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2003 Ford Explorer: What a selection!
The newest addition to the already expansive Explorer line promises to be a real midsize SUV. It's called the NBX, and it's bucking the trend of building strictly on-road Sport Utes.
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2003 Ford Mustang: SVT, baby!
Oh, we're excited. While the Camaro now rests in peace, the last of the great bad-boy muscle cars prowls the streets with a vengeance. The Mustang is king of the hill again, and with the SVT Cobras pushing out almost 400 horsepower, they're looking to charge another. Corvette, beware!
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2003 Honda Accord: Still the best.
After three decades, the Accord still reigns as one of the top-selling autos of all time. With market domination like this, you'd think that Honda wouldn't change the formula. But every year marks an improvement for this veteran of the new car showrooms. Find out everything that's new for 2003 in the kingdom of Accord.
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2003 Honda Civic: Civic pride.
Continuing its domination of the small car market, the Civic returns for 2003 with just a little more polish. A Hybrid version offering 51 MPG joins the ranks of the already ULEV rated Civics.
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2003 Infiniti G35: Grace with fire.
Emerging as one of the most popular Infinitis ever, the G35 offers a lot of car for the money. Think an Infiniti is out of your price range? Think again. MSRP starts at $27,800 for the 4-door sedan, and gets you a 3.5 liter 260 hp engine. Before you shell out over 30 grand for a 350Z, stop by and experience sport luxury.
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2003 Mercedes S55 AMG: Über-Benz.
Ranking head and shoulders above all other luxury cars, the Mercedes S55 is the epitome of German automotive engineering.
New for 2003 on the S55 AMG is a 493 horsepower supercharged V8 - second only to the Dodge Viper's 500 hp V10.
Quite simply, Mercedes-Benz offers the most powerful luxury cars in the world.
Listing between $72,600 and $120,540, the S55 is at the head of its very prestigious class.
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2003 Nissan Altima: Editor's pick.
Ever since last year's redesign, the Altima has earned high praises from car critics and buyers alike. Everyone loves the new Altima, and for good reason. It's a flawless combination of brawn and elegance in a reasonably priced 4-door package.
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2003 Toyota Camry: Taking on the Accord.
In 2002, the Camry got a much-needed facelift. It returns for 2003 with only minor improvements, but that hasn't deterred our car buyers from making it a top contender on the popularity charts. Take a look for yourself in our Camry review.
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2003 Volvo XC90: The Volvo of SUVs
No other Sport Utility before it has ever lived up to Volvo's high standards of safety. With airbag curtains and seat belt pretensioners for all seven passengers, the XC90 is the safest SUV in the world. Read more about the only SUV worthy of being called a Volvo.
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