New Cars - June 2005

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KEYWORDS

• new cars
• Aston Martin
• Toyota
• Audi
• Hummer
• Mercedes-Benz
• Volkswagen
• Suzuki

A-OK
After driving Audi's new A4 through Arizona's Superstition Mountains and desert, we have to tip our hat to Audi's engineers. Both the sedan and wagon versions of the car handle pretty darn much identically. Trust us, that's no mean feat. And we can tell you, after our test drive, that they both handle quite well. The A4 continues the company's rush to be the premier provider of sporty all-wheel-drive cars. There's a new chassis, a new look and two new direct-injection gasoline engines: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline Four (Audi's first direct-injected turbo engine) and a normally aspirated 3.2-liter V6. Coupled to a six-speed automatic, the car can get to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. The Four can be mated with a six-speed manual or the automatic. Both wagon and sedan are available now. But we're really looking forward to the V8-powered S4, which should be here soon.--M.A.

Alpha Male
Hummer is introducing the ultramacho H1 Alpha, which replaces the H1 at the top of the Hummer pile with more power and a new transmission. The revised drivetrain is a 6.6-liter turbocharged V8 diesel with 300 hp and an Allison five-speed transmission. Because of the new engine's deeper crankcase, Hummer designers were forced to raise the Alpha's body 2 in. for ground clearance, making passenger entry/egress noticeably more difficult. Two body styles, the four-seat Open Top and Wagon, are continued. We got to push both Alpha versions through the rough Nevada terrain. Suffice to say, nothing stopped them.--Jim Dunne

Star Power
There was a time when the three-point star on the front of a vehicle all but ensured that vehicle's success. That era has passed. Mercedes-Benz, like other manufacturers, has to claw for sales in a competitive marketplace. And few markets are as ruthlessly competitive as that of the luxury crossover SUV. Enter the second-generation Mercedes M-Class. The more muscular 2006 M elbows its way into the crowded bazaar with a Swabian interpretation of American macho SUV styling. It has a swept-back front end and snarly fender flares. Critically, it also boasts an extra 3.7 in. of wheelbase and has more power than the outgoing model.

Putting the new M-Class through its paces in the South of France, we found the V8 swooped along the autoroute from the Mediterranean into the rumpled interior of Provence without breaking a sweat, its unique seven-speed automatic transmission smoothly micromanaging gear changes. The double-wishbone front suspension tamped down road noise into the funereal range. Off the French version of the interstate, the M-Class's suspension setting dramatically reduced dip and sway on twisting country roads. We can attest that the optional Off-Road Pro engineering package is effective and makes taking this extremely capable vehicle off pavement virtually idiotproof. Waddling through cratered tracks, wading down a mountain stream, clambering up steep banks-the suspension grunts and groans to boost clearance and reduces driver lurch to the merest lateral shift.--David Dunbar

Joining The Pack
For more than two decades it seemed every college student from California to Maine wanted a VW Jetta because it was cool. No more. The all-new Jetta is more reminiscent of a Japanese family sedan than the bargain BMW it was. Flip side: The new Jetta is a better car in every way. It's based on a rigid new platform. And it feels solid and weighted out on the road. Much of that newfound composure comes from its fresh, independent rear suspension, complemented by an electrically boosted steering system that feels more mechanically enhanced than most. Under the hood is a new 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine with 35 hp more than last year's. The engine can be paired to either a five-speed manual or a new six-speed automatic. The car weighs about 300 pounds more than before, so despite the extra moxie, don't expect a hearty sport sedan thrust. Inside, the Jetta is fitted with rich-looking, soft-touch materials. The car's interior is easily the best in its price class. Your $17,900 gets power windows and locks, and traction control.--Ben Stewart

Sheep In Wolf's Clothing
An M50 sounds more like something Arnold might use to vaporize cyborgs in "Terminator 4" than something you would ride to the Kwik-E Mart. But that's what Suzuki calls its new cruiser bike. But then who wants to brag about a cruiser with a wimpy name? The new Boulevard M50 has sinister styling befitting its appellation. Especially the $6749 black-on-black model we recently tested in Southern California (red or blue ones go for $6849). It's low-slung, has a raked back and looks a bit rebellious. Well, looks can be deceiving. The torque flow is smoother than 25-year-old bourbon. The beefy tires and well-damped suspension efficiently soak up pavement ripples. It may look like an outlaw's bike, but the M50 rides like a gentleman.--B.S.