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Sunday, May 18, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
first auto movies
Car Power
We count down the 10 greatest auto-centric movies
Speed Racer
Angelina Jolie's lips? Johnny Depp's cheekbones? Sure, sure, they're gorgeous movie stars and we love to look at them on the big screen. But listen: there are those of us who, if forced to choose, would turn away from Brad Pitt's blond beauty to watch a bad-ass 1977 Pontiac Trans Am go up against a yellow Mercedes in a parking structure. Preferably with 1970s era Ryan O'Neal in the driver's seat.
Yes, the car in cinema. Assembled, sometimes, like the ultimate dream machine of perfection. Uber speed and sex appeal, a lovely car can be a more aesthetically beautiful creation than ... Catherine Zeta-Jones. Ask any gear-head. Not only can they discuss the repair and restoration of the four or five cars piled in their front yard, they can also tell you the all specs of Mad Max's Interceptor without missing a beat. And yep, not surprisingly, they'd rather watch "Mad Max" over "Love Actually." Hell, they'd rather watch "Mad Max" over "The Fast and the Furious" -- the re-make -- which is where this list pulls into the, uh, driveway.
In anticipation of the release of Speed Racer, we're revving our engines with a look at the 10 greatest examples of car cinema, proving that autos can make not only a genre, but compelling characters as well. For these films, it's not star, but car, power.
10. "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" (1974)OK, so the film itself leaves something to be desired in the deep-meaning department. And the director dips into the cheap-thrills cookie jar one too many times. But "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" is lots of fun -- especially when involving automobiles. Peter Fonda is (crazy) Larry, a would-be NASCAR driver who, with his mechanic Deke (Adam Roarke), pulls off a heist and runs for a new country. But they also take Mary (Susan George), a nutty wild child (who's really the "crazy" one here, anyway?), who makes the getaway a little more, well, interesting. Filled with all kinds of terrific chase sequences starring lust-worthy hotrod "characters" such as a Dodge Charger, a Chevrolet Impala and a Dodge Polara. This one's muscle-ri-fic.
9. "Duel" (1971) Before he struck fear in the heart of every beach-loving, ocean-swimming New Englander, Steven Spielberg crafted one of his supreme films with "Duel," a movie that struck fear in the heart of every traveling salesman just trying to get down a California highway. Dennis Weaver is the nebbish, Joe-Blow salesman whose life becomes a vehicular nightmare when a mysterious, ominous truck will not stop following him. But why? Well, we assume the truck wants to kill him (or just completely mess with his head) in some kind of sanity test the poor schlub did not need that morning. Or maybe the truck really hates his car -- a Plymouth Valiant. Whatever the case, the deranged semi vs. Plymouth makes for a superbly tense 90-minute chase film that's a lot more disturbing and "bad to the bone" than "Christine."
8. "The Vanishing Point" (1971)Can you get from Denver to San Francisco in one night? Check out "The Vanishing Point," in which Barry Newman's mysterious speedster, Kowalski attempts just that. Hired to deliver the white Dodge 440 Challenger in less than 15 hours, he's in the exceptional predicament of being pursued by cops, while a blind DJ named "Super Soul" (Cleavon Little) helps him along his way. Informing the driver of his progress via radio show, Super Soul also makes Kowalski something of a folk hero ("the last American to whom speed means freedom of the soul"). Taut, enigmatic and chock full of pursuits (a memorable one involves a Jaguar), the film skids and scoots and speeds to a kind of infinity. Who really wants to get out of their car?
7. "Gone in 60 Seconds" (1974) You gotta love a movie in which the car is such a major character, she's given a name ("Eleanor"). You also gotta love a movie in which the writer, director and stunt driver also stars (H.B. Halicki), mostly because he's such a die-hard gear-head that he surely couldn't imagine anyone else leading the proceedings. Car thieves must steal 48 cars in a short period of time, including a 1973 Mustang Mach 1 code-named Eleanor. When Halicki (as the amusingly named Maindrian Pace) gets his hands on Eleanor, the film kicks into epic high gear, with a 40-minute chase scene that passes through five California cities and leaves nearly 100 cars totaled. The movie was re-made (badly) in 2000, proving you don't need big stars (Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie) or extra extreme effects when you already had the real deal in the first place. And Halicki was the real deal; he died in a stunt accident while making this film's sequel.
6. "The Driver" (1978) Walter Hill proved that he knew his way around a car by writing the screenplay for Sam Peckinpah's "The Getaway" and directing the auto-centric "The Driver." An unyielding, enigmatic thriller, the film stars Ryan O'Neal, known simply as The Driver, a man constantly chased by, yep, The Detective (a fantastically creepy Bruce Dern) in a seemingly endless game of cat and mouse. The entire film involves obsessed pursuit; the viewer's point of view is often inside the car as the Driver maneuvers without any discernible emotion. O'Neal is almost literally a driving machine, as he shifts, swerves and speeds his Trans Am through parking structures, alleys and oncoming traffic. This is no giggling "Smokey and the Bandit"; this is "Le Samourai" on high octane.
5. "Le Mans" (1971)"Le Mans" is about exactly that: the famed French auto race that runs for 24 hours. And not much else. In true car-noir fashion, it takes a good half-hour before we hear the film's protagonist utter a line of dialogue. That protagonist, Delaney, is played by Steve McQueen in a film so stripped of plot that it often feels like a documentary. We simply watch the auto race on the world's hardest endurance course as our hero goes more than 24 hours on 14.5 kilometers of cordoned country road. There's a duel between Delaney, in his Gulf Team Porsche 917, and a Ferrari 512LM that tests not only the driver's technical abilities, but also his personal will. Filled with terrific racing sequences galore and impressive wrecks, the spectacle is thrilling even if the narrative is not.
4. "Bullitt" (1968) What -- you thought we'd get through this list with only one McQueen film? Not likely, especially since this film is so firmly implanted in car cinema, it's tough not to combine the car and driver as one super being. "Bullitt," Peter Yates' too-cool-for-school-actioner, boasts the greatest cinematic drive through the streets of San Francisco. But there's more than that legendary pursuit. There's the car -- a sweet 1968 Mustang GT 390 (the best-looking Mustang ever) -- and the driver -- McQueen (the best-looking guy ever to drive a Mustang). McQueen, who helped re-vamp the bitchin' green Ford, is the James Dean of car culture.
3. "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977) Many remember 1977 as the year "Star Wars" became a national obsession. But while some of you played with plastic light sabers and (now priceless) action figures, there were others who busted out their Dad's CB radio ("Sheriff ... do the letters F.O. mean anything to you?") and prayed he'd buy a black 1977 Pontiac Trans AM just like the one Burt Reynolds (a.k.a., The Bandit) drives in Hal Needham's classic "Smokey and the Bandit." And yes, I did just say classic. A charming, laughing Reynolds teams with trucker pal Jerry Reed to transport 400 cases of Coors beer across state lines, with an apoplectic, hilarious Jackie Gleason (as Sheriff Buford T. Justice) in pursuit. Loads of light fun filled with clever, excellently edited and just plain stellar car-chase sequences, "Smokey and the Bandit" is, as the infectious Jerry Reed song proclaimed, "loaded up and truckin.'"
2. "Mad Max" (1979)"Mad Max" gives new meaning to the term "playing chicken." After super-studly, leather-clad cop Max The Rockatansky (played by Mel Gibson in a star-making performance) explosively wins this game with an escaped criminal named The Nightrider, thug-in-arms biker-gang leader The Toecutter (oh, how I love these names) seeks vengeance, killing not only Max's partner but Max's family as well. So now Max is, as the title states, mad. Very, very mad. As directed by George Miller, this dystopian vision of violent recklessness and ultimate revenge is wonderfully paced, beautifully textured and even quite emotional at times. It also, in terms of ingenious car chase, crash, smash and explode sequences, is incredibly, punk-rock badass. And it features one of cinema's coolest cars: The Interceptor, a 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT, the auto-erotic fixation of the petrol set. Where can I get one?
1. "Two-Lane Blacktop" (1971) If Jean Paul Sartre had directed a car movie, he might have crafted Monte Hellman's existential, car noir "Two-Lane Blacktop." The stoic central characters are stripped down to their basic handles -- James Taylor is known only as the Driver, Dennis Wilson the Mechanic, Laurie Bird the Girl and the late great Warren Oates, in one of his most unforgettable roles, is GTO. All players drive and drive and drive, seemingly to challenge other cars and race cross country, but is that really what they're seeking? The characters don't even know themselves. But they do love their cars. Taylor and Wilson drive a seriously souped-up '55 Chevy that's all muscle and speed, no frills, while Oates rolls a yellow 1970 Pontiac GTO -- something Taylor scorns as right off the lot. What makes this film unique is its absolute auto-centric vision (the continual purr and hum of the engine makes even the viewer feel at one with the car) mingled with art-house beauty. And it's one of the few movies in which the Driver can state with extra, ambiguous meaning, "You can never go fast enough." A masterpiece.
We count down the 10 greatest auto-centric movies
Speed Racer
Angelina Jolie's lips? Johnny Depp's cheekbones? Sure, sure, they're gorgeous movie stars and we love to look at them on the big screen. But listen: there are those of us who, if forced to choose, would turn away from Brad Pitt's blond beauty to watch a bad-ass 1977 Pontiac Trans Am go up against a yellow Mercedes in a parking structure. Preferably with 1970s era Ryan O'Neal in the driver's seat.
Yes, the car in cinema. Assembled, sometimes, like the ultimate dream machine of perfection. Uber speed and sex appeal, a lovely car can be a more aesthetically beautiful creation than ... Catherine Zeta-Jones. Ask any gear-head. Not only can they discuss the repair and restoration of the four or five cars piled in their front yard, they can also tell you the all specs of Mad Max's Interceptor without missing a beat. And yep, not surprisingly, they'd rather watch "Mad Max" over "Love Actually." Hell, they'd rather watch "Mad Max" over "The Fast and the Furious" -- the re-make -- which is where this list pulls into the, uh, driveway.
In anticipation of the release of Speed Racer, we're revving our engines with a look at the 10 greatest examples of car cinema, proving that autos can make not only a genre, but compelling characters as well. For these films, it's not star, but car, power.
10. "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" (1974)OK, so the film itself leaves something to be desired in the deep-meaning department. And the director dips into the cheap-thrills cookie jar one too many times. But "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" is lots of fun -- especially when involving automobiles. Peter Fonda is (crazy) Larry, a would-be NASCAR driver who, with his mechanic Deke (Adam Roarke), pulls off a heist and runs for a new country. But they also take Mary (Susan George), a nutty wild child (who's really the "crazy" one here, anyway?), who makes the getaway a little more, well, interesting. Filled with all kinds of terrific chase sequences starring lust-worthy hotrod "characters" such as a Dodge Charger, a Chevrolet Impala and a Dodge Polara. This one's muscle-ri-fic.
9. "Duel" (1971) Before he struck fear in the heart of every beach-loving, ocean-swimming New Englander, Steven Spielberg crafted one of his supreme films with "Duel," a movie that struck fear in the heart of every traveling salesman just trying to get down a California highway. Dennis Weaver is the nebbish, Joe-Blow salesman whose life becomes a vehicular nightmare when a mysterious, ominous truck will not stop following him. But why? Well, we assume the truck wants to kill him (or just completely mess with his head) in some kind of sanity test the poor schlub did not need that morning. Or maybe the truck really hates his car -- a Plymouth Valiant. Whatever the case, the deranged semi vs. Plymouth makes for a superbly tense 90-minute chase film that's a lot more disturbing and "bad to the bone" than "Christine."
8. "The Vanishing Point" (1971)Can you get from Denver to San Francisco in one night? Check out "The Vanishing Point," in which Barry Newman's mysterious speedster, Kowalski attempts just that. Hired to deliver the white Dodge 440 Challenger in less than 15 hours, he's in the exceptional predicament of being pursued by cops, while a blind DJ named "Super Soul" (Cleavon Little) helps him along his way. Informing the driver of his progress via radio show, Super Soul also makes Kowalski something of a folk hero ("the last American to whom speed means freedom of the soul"). Taut, enigmatic and chock full of pursuits (a memorable one involves a Jaguar), the film skids and scoots and speeds to a kind of infinity. Who really wants to get out of their car?
7. "Gone in 60 Seconds" (1974) You gotta love a movie in which the car is such a major character, she's given a name ("Eleanor"). You also gotta love a movie in which the writer, director and stunt driver also stars (H.B. Halicki), mostly because he's such a die-hard gear-head that he surely couldn't imagine anyone else leading the proceedings. Car thieves must steal 48 cars in a short period of time, including a 1973 Mustang Mach 1 code-named Eleanor. When Halicki (as the amusingly named Maindrian Pace) gets his hands on Eleanor, the film kicks into epic high gear, with a 40-minute chase scene that passes through five California cities and leaves nearly 100 cars totaled. The movie was re-made (badly) in 2000, proving you don't need big stars (Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie) or extra extreme effects when you already had the real deal in the first place. And Halicki was the real deal; he died in a stunt accident while making this film's sequel.
6. "The Driver" (1978) Walter Hill proved that he knew his way around a car by writing the screenplay for Sam Peckinpah's "The Getaway" and directing the auto-centric "The Driver." An unyielding, enigmatic thriller, the film stars Ryan O'Neal, known simply as The Driver, a man constantly chased by, yep, The Detective (a fantastically creepy Bruce Dern) in a seemingly endless game of cat and mouse. The entire film involves obsessed pursuit; the viewer's point of view is often inside the car as the Driver maneuvers without any discernible emotion. O'Neal is almost literally a driving machine, as he shifts, swerves and speeds his Trans Am through parking structures, alleys and oncoming traffic. This is no giggling "Smokey and the Bandit"; this is "Le Samourai" on high octane.
5. "Le Mans" (1971)"Le Mans" is about exactly that: the famed French auto race that runs for 24 hours. And not much else. In true car-noir fashion, it takes a good half-hour before we hear the film's protagonist utter a line of dialogue. That protagonist, Delaney, is played by Steve McQueen in a film so stripped of plot that it often feels like a documentary. We simply watch the auto race on the world's hardest endurance course as our hero goes more than 24 hours on 14.5 kilometers of cordoned country road. There's a duel between Delaney, in his Gulf Team Porsche 917, and a Ferrari 512LM that tests not only the driver's technical abilities, but also his personal will. Filled with terrific racing sequences galore and impressive wrecks, the spectacle is thrilling even if the narrative is not.
4. "Bullitt" (1968) What -- you thought we'd get through this list with only one McQueen film? Not likely, especially since this film is so firmly implanted in car cinema, it's tough not to combine the car and driver as one super being. "Bullitt," Peter Yates' too-cool-for-school-actioner, boasts the greatest cinematic drive through the streets of San Francisco. But there's more than that legendary pursuit. There's the car -- a sweet 1968 Mustang GT 390 (the best-looking Mustang ever) -- and the driver -- McQueen (the best-looking guy ever to drive a Mustang). McQueen, who helped re-vamp the bitchin' green Ford, is the James Dean of car culture.
3. "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977) Many remember 1977 as the year "Star Wars" became a national obsession. But while some of you played with plastic light sabers and (now priceless) action figures, there were others who busted out their Dad's CB radio ("Sheriff ... do the letters F.O. mean anything to you?") and prayed he'd buy a black 1977 Pontiac Trans AM just like the one Burt Reynolds (a.k.a., The Bandit) drives in Hal Needham's classic "Smokey and the Bandit." And yes, I did just say classic. A charming, laughing Reynolds teams with trucker pal Jerry Reed to transport 400 cases of Coors beer across state lines, with an apoplectic, hilarious Jackie Gleason (as Sheriff Buford T. Justice) in pursuit. Loads of light fun filled with clever, excellently edited and just plain stellar car-chase sequences, "Smokey and the Bandit" is, as the infectious Jerry Reed song proclaimed, "loaded up and truckin.'"
2. "Mad Max" (1979)"Mad Max" gives new meaning to the term "playing chicken." After super-studly, leather-clad cop Max The Rockatansky (played by Mel Gibson in a star-making performance) explosively wins this game with an escaped criminal named The Nightrider, thug-in-arms biker-gang leader The Toecutter (oh, how I love these names) seeks vengeance, killing not only Max's partner but Max's family as well. So now Max is, as the title states, mad. Very, very mad. As directed by George Miller, this dystopian vision of violent recklessness and ultimate revenge is wonderfully paced, beautifully textured and even quite emotional at times. It also, in terms of ingenious car chase, crash, smash and explode sequences, is incredibly, punk-rock badass. And it features one of cinema's coolest cars: The Interceptor, a 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT, the auto-erotic fixation of the petrol set. Where can I get one?
1. "Two-Lane Blacktop" (1971) If Jean Paul Sartre had directed a car movie, he might have crafted Monte Hellman's existential, car noir "Two-Lane Blacktop." The stoic central characters are stripped down to their basic handles -- James Taylor is known only as the Driver, Dennis Wilson the Mechanic, Laurie Bird the Girl and the late great Warren Oates, in one of his most unforgettable roles, is GTO. All players drive and drive and drive, seemingly to challenge other cars and race cross country, but is that really what they're seeking? The characters don't even know themselves. But they do love their cars. Taylor and Wilson drive a seriously souped-up '55 Chevy that's all muscle and speed, no frills, while Oates rolls a yellow 1970 Pontiac GTO -- something Taylor scorns as right off the lot. What makes this film unique is its absolute auto-centric vision (the continual purr and hum of the engine makes even the viewer feel at one with the car) mingled with art-house beauty. And it's one of the few movies in which the Driver can state with extra, ambiguous meaning, "You can never go fast enough." A masterpiece.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Canada's Top 20 Favourite cars..
Decide your Buy.....
Your Top 20 favourites on Sympatico / MSN Autos
By Isaac
Adams-Hands
Every month, several hundred thousand visitors read through and research their favourite vehicles on Sympatico / MSN Autos, Canada’s top independent automotive web site.
With a rich resource of about 280 different vehicle lines featured on Sympatico / MSN Autos, we believe our monthly rankings offer an accurate reflection of what interests our readers and shoppers.
Which leads us to our list of the Top 20 vehicle models for September, as chosen by our readers:
#1- Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini has taken its already impressive Gallardo coupe and made it even more extreme. Through the extensive use of lightweight materials such as carbon fibre, the weight of the new Gallardo Superleggera model was reduced by 100 kilograms (220 lbs) while the power of the engine was increased by 10 for a total of 530-hp.
#2- Acura TL
The Acura TL is a mid-size, entry-level luxury sedan, and it is currently Acura's best-selling model. Though the TL typically does not deliver the excitement or prestige of competing European sedans, it counters with exceptional value and above-average durability and reliability.
#3- Nissan 350Z
Announced at Geneva Motor Show, the Nissan 350Z will now have an improved 3.5-litre V6, along with a slew of other changes: a new dual air intake system, more flexible variable valve timing, and a higher rev limit thanks to upgraded load bearing components and an asymmetric piston pattern.
#4- Hummer H3
As fuel prices steadily climbed throughout North America in 2007, many consumers thought that would spell the death of big Hummer. However, the strong presence of these go-anywhere vehicles has kept interest alive with a new H3 that boasts a 5.3-litre V8 engine producing 300 horsepower.
#5- Maybach
The new flagship model in the Maybach lineup is the Maybach 62 S, an ultra-luxury sedan that nevertheless delivers levels of performance that are usually expected only from an exotic sports car; effectively rocketing from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, while maintaining the extraordinary luxury and comfort.
#6- BMW 3-Series
Although the 3-Series is BMW's current entry-level model, it is hardly an entry-level vehicle.
The 3-Series is offered in a sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon form, powered by either a 2.5-litre, naturally-aspirated inline six or a twin-turbo 300-hp variant, with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
#7- Subaru Impreza
Subaru is aware that the small band of WRX fanatics will be unhappy with the new look, but is willing to trade that for wider acceptance in the largest segment of the Canadian market. Hopefully this gamble will pay off because the new 2008 Impreza might be the best bargain in the compact class.
#8- Nissan Sentra
When it was redesigned for 2007, the Nissan Sentra compact sedan finally became competitive with the likes of the class-leading Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla - after having trailed the Ford Focus and perhaps even the Chevrolet Cobalt. Regular Sentras come in base 2.0, 2.0 S and 2.0 SL trim levels.
#9- Bentley Continental GT
Earlier this year, the GT broke the World Ice Speed Record on the frozen Baltic Sea, reaching a maximum speed of 331 km/h (207 mph). The Bentley was largely standard except for a roll-cage, some aerodynamic improvements, low-temperature fuel, and Nokian studded tires.
#10- Mazda3
The Mazda3 hasn't lost any steam since it was introduced and Voted Best New Economy Car and Canadian Car of the Year in 2004 by AJAC. Matched with Mazda quality, sporty styling, increased cargo carrying ability, competitive pricing and pleasurable handling, it makes it a perfect car for "fresh out of University, new to the workforce" youth market, and more.
#11- Mitsubishi Lancer
The fully redesigned 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer shares a new platform with the recently-introduced Outlander compact SUV. The base Lancer has a new economical 152-hp 2.0-litre DOHC 4-cylinder engine with MIVEC variable valve timing that also delivers 146 lb-ft of torque. The legendary, rally-inspired, turbocharged Lancer Evo X is coming soon...
#12- Rolls-Royce Phantom
For 2008 Rolls-Royce will add a second model: the all-new Phantom Drophead Coupé. The Phantom goes on sale this year with a base price of around $500,000, making it the most expensive convertible on the Canadian market.
#13- Honda CR-V
Originally launched in 1997, the CR-V was thoroughly redesigned for 2007. This slick, city-friendly compact sport-utility is now powered by a smooth, torquey and lively 166-horsepower, 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine.
#14- Nissan Altima
Sporting a comprehensive redesign for 2007, the fourth-generation Nissan Altima is built on the new Nissan "D" platform that offers a more rigid body and redesigned suspension components. The vehicle also gets an upgrade in distinctive interior and exterior styling cues, similar to those of the Infiniti lineup.
#15- Maserati Quattroporte
The Quattroporte sport sedan is designed to combine the materials and comforts of a luxury automobile with the capabilities of a high-performance sports car. It delivers with a powerful V8 engine positioned behind the front axle, resulting in a balance of 49 per cent of the weight in front, 51 per cent in the rear.
#16- Honda Civic
Honda first introduced the Civic in the early 1970s as a small, dependable, and inexpensive car. Today, the Civic is offered in a coupe, sedan, or hybrid version. Although the size has increased since the 70s, the fuel economy numbers remains excellent. The Civic has also been Canada's best-selling car for a number of years.
#17- GMC Acadia
The GMC Acadia offers a standard 7-passenger interior (front buckets, second-row buckets and a third-row bench). The engine is a 3.6-litre, 275-hp V6 with variable valve timing, coupled with GM's new 6-speed automatic transmission, available in front or all-wheel drive configurations.
#18- Pontiac Torrent
Sharing its basic body structure and mechanicals with the Equinox; the Torrent has a different front and rear end which makes it appear like a Pontiac rather than a Chevrolet. The suspension and power steering was also modified to be firmer and sportier. The Torrent shares the Equinox's 185-hp engine.
#19- Jaguar XK
The redesigned XK is the most technically advanced Jaguar ever built. A new lightweight aluminium structure is more rigid than before, which allows sporty handling and a quiet, comfortable ride. Its 4.2-litre V8 is rated at 300-hp.
#20-Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The C-Class, the entry-level of the Mercedes lineup, is the latest model from the German automaker to get a complete redesign. Longer and wider than its predecessor, the 2008 C-Class offers a roomier interior with an increased level of safety and luxury.
The Top 20 models on Sympatico / MSN Autos
From September 1 to September 30, 2007
1- Lamborghini Gallardo
2- Acura TL
3- Nissan 350Z
4- Hummer H3
5- Maybach
6- BMW 3-Series
7- Subaru Impreza
8- Nissan Sentra
9- Bentley Continental GT
10- Mazda3
11- Mitsubishi Lancer
12- Rolls-Royce Phantom
13- Honda CR-V
14- Nissan Altima
15- Maserati Quattroporte
16- Honda Civic
17- GMC Acadia
18- Pontiac Torrent
19- Jaguar XK Series
20- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
By Isaac
Adams-HandsEvery month, several hundred thousand visitors read through and research their favourite vehicles on Sympatico / MSN Autos, Canada’s top independent automotive web site.
With a rich resource of about 280 different vehicle lines featured on Sympatico / MSN Autos, we believe our monthly rankings offer an accurate reflection of what interests our readers and shoppers.
Which leads us to our list of the Top 20 vehicle models for September, as chosen by our readers:
#1- Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini has taken its already impressive Gallardo coupe and made it even more extreme. Through the extensive use of lightweight materials such as carbon fibre, the weight of the new Gallardo Superleggera model was reduced by 100 kilograms (220 lbs) while the power of the engine was increased by 10 for a total of 530-hp.
#2- Acura TL
The Acura TL is a mid-size, entry-level luxury sedan, and it is currently Acura's best-selling model. Though the TL typically does not deliver the excitement or prestige of competing European sedans, it counters with exceptional value and above-average durability and reliability.
#3- Nissan 350Z
Announced at Geneva Motor Show, the Nissan 350Z will now have an improved 3.5-litre V6, along with a slew of other changes: a new dual air intake system, more flexible variable valve timing, and a higher rev limit thanks to upgraded load bearing components and an asymmetric piston pattern.
#4- Hummer H3As fuel prices steadily climbed throughout North America in 2007, many consumers thought that would spell the death of big Hummer. However, the strong presence of these go-anywhere vehicles has kept interest alive with a new H3 that boasts a 5.3-litre V8 engine producing 300 horsepower.
#5- Maybach
The new flagship model in the Maybach lineup is the Maybach 62 S, an ultra-luxury sedan that nevertheless delivers levels of performance that are usually expected only from an exotic sports car; effectively rocketing from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, while maintaining the extraordinary luxury and comfort.
#6- BMW 3-Series
Although the 3-Series is BMW's current entry-level model, it is hardly an entry-level vehicle.
The 3-Series is offered in a sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon form, powered by either a 2.5-litre, naturally-aspirated inline six or a twin-turbo 300-hp variant, with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.#7- Subaru Impreza
Subaru is aware that the small band of WRX fanatics will be unhappy with the new look, but is willing to trade that for wider acceptance in the largest segment of the Canadian market. Hopefully this gamble will pay off because the new 2008 Impreza might be the best bargain in the compact class.
#8- Nissan SentraWhen it was redesigned for 2007, the Nissan Sentra compact sedan finally became competitive with the likes of the class-leading Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla - after having trailed the Ford Focus and perhaps even the Chevrolet Cobalt. Regular Sentras come in base 2.0, 2.0 S and 2.0 SL trim levels.
#9- Bentley Continental GT
Earlier this year, the GT broke the World Ice Speed Record on the frozen Baltic Sea, reaching a maximum speed of 331 km/h (207 mph). The Bentley was largely standard except for a roll-cage, some aerodynamic improvements, low-temperature fuel, and Nokian studded tires.
#10- Mazda3
The Mazda3 hasn't lost any steam since it was introduced and Voted Best New Economy Car and Canadian Car of the Year in 2004 by AJAC. Matched with Mazda quality, sporty styling, increased cargo carrying ability, competitive pricing and pleasurable handling, it makes it a perfect car for "fresh out of University, new to the workforce" youth market, and more.
#11- Mitsubishi Lancer
The fully redesigned 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer shares a new platform with the recently-introduced Outlander compact SUV. The base Lancer has a new economical 152-hp 2.0-litre DOHC 4-cylinder engine with MIVEC variable valve timing that also delivers 146 lb-ft of torque. The legendary, rally-inspired, turbocharged Lancer Evo X is coming soon...#12- Rolls-Royce Phantom
For 2008 Rolls-Royce will add a second model: the all-new Phantom Drophead Coupé. The Phantom goes on sale this year with a base price of around $500,000, making it the most expensive convertible on the Canadian market.
#13- Honda CR-V
Originally launched in 1997, the CR-V was thoroughly redesigned for 2007. This slick, city-friendly compact sport-utility is now powered by a smooth, torquey and lively 166-horsepower, 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine.
#14- Nissan Altima
Sporting a comprehensive redesign for 2007, the fourth-generation Nissan Altima is built on the new Nissan "D" platform that offers a more rigid body and redesigned suspension components. The vehicle also gets an upgrade in distinctive interior and exterior styling cues, similar to those of the Infiniti lineup.
#15- Maserati Quattroporte
The Quattroporte sport sedan is designed to combine the materials and comforts of a luxury automobile with the capabilities of a high-performance sports car. It delivers with a powerful V8 engine positioned behind the front axle, resulting in a balance of 49 per cent of the weight in front, 51 per cent in the rear.
#16- Honda CivicHonda first introduced the Civic in the early 1970s as a small, dependable, and inexpensive car. Today, the Civic is offered in a coupe, sedan, or hybrid version. Although the size has increased since the 70s, the fuel economy numbers remains excellent. The Civic has also been Canada's best-selling car for a number of years.
#17- GMC Acadia
The GMC Acadia offers a standard 7-passenger interior (front buckets, second-row buckets and a third-row bench). The engine is a 3.6-litre, 275-hp V6 with variable valve timing, coupled with GM's new 6-speed automatic transmission, available in front or all-wheel drive configurations.
#18- Pontiac Torrent
Sharing its basic body structure and mechanicals with the Equinox; the Torrent has a different front and rear end which makes it appear like a Pontiac rather than a Chevrolet. The suspension and power steering was also modified to be firmer and sportier. The Torrent shares the Equinox's 185-hp engine.
#19- Jaguar XK
The redesigned XK is the most technically advanced Jaguar ever built. A new lightweight aluminium structure is more rigid than before, which allows sporty handling and a quiet, comfortable ride. Its 4.2-litre V8 is rated at 300-hp.
#20-Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The C-Class, the entry-level of the Mercedes lineup, is the latest model from the German automaker to get a complete redesign. Longer and wider than its predecessor, the 2008 C-Class offers a roomier interior with an increased level of safety and luxury.
The Top 20 models on Sympatico / MSN Autos
From September 1 to September 30, 2007
1- Lamborghini Gallardo
2- Acura TL
3- Nissan 350Z
4- Hummer H3
5- Maybach
6- BMW 3-Series
7- Subaru Impreza
8- Nissan Sentra
9- Bentley Continental GT
10- Mazda3
11- Mitsubishi Lancer
12- Rolls-Royce Phantom
13- Honda CR-V
14- Nissan Altima
15- Maserati Quattroporte
16- Honda Civic
17- GMC Acadia
18- Pontiac Torrent
19- Jaguar XK Series
20- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
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