Automobile Blog

The 2006 Cadillac DTS is a 4-door, up to 6-passenger luxury sedan, available in one trim only, the Sedan. Upon introduction, the DTS is equipped with a standard 4.6-liter, V8, 275-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 26-mpg on the highway. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The 2006 Cadillac DTS is reskinned for 2006.

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Saab and parent company General Motors are desperate to reinvigorate the prestige Scandinavian marque’s line-up, and with cars like the upcoming 9-2X and now the 9-7X, the mood is definitely changing.

Far from standing still, Saab is pursuing many avenues for new product, and further to increasing its vehicle range, the 9-7X will be a key tool for the European company in improving sales in Europe and the US.

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You might be surprised to learn that British hot hatch buyers purchase 50 per cent of all Renaultsport cars produced. The tuning firm’s work on the Clio is in demand among driving enthusiasts here, so it is good news that the plant which assembles the cars is only a short hop across the Channel in Dieppe.

With production of the current hot Clio ending in September, fans are being offered a limited-edition Trophy model – and virtually all of them are heading to our shores. The newcomer is marked out by its bright Capsicum Red paint and new Trophy logos, and only 500 cars will be available.

A larger, wider, Clio V6-style rear wing sets the Trophy apart, while inside a plaque mounted on the seat runner proudly shows the production number. The Recaro sports seats are also new, and mounted a little lower than those in the standard Cup variant. This ensures a better driving position, and banishes the traditional Clio problem of limited cabin space.

That said, the steering wheel lacks reach adjustment and is mounted at an upright angle, so tall drivers will still have cramped legs and stretched arms after a long journey.

The seats are hugely supportive, however – and this is just as well, as the Trophy’s suspension has been honed to provide even more grip in corners. New dampers, supplied by German firm Sachs, are similar to those fitted to race cars and even have a separate remote oil reservoir, allowing for better suspension control over bumpy roads. What’s more, the ride height has been lowered by 10mm and the springs are now stiffer by 20 per cent at the front and 15 per cent at the rear.

The 180bhp 2.0-litre powerplant is unchanged, and continues to deliver impressive performance. The engine note is sporty, with a noticeable change in pitch at 5,000rpm, when the variable valve timing kicks in. It is just a shame the gearshift is so rubbery.

While the Trophy’s ride is firm, the newcomer does not feel any more uncompromising than the standard Cup. There is more grip, though, with the chassis providing greater control at speed. On the test track, the Trophy will lift its unloaded rear wheel into the air before front-end traction gives way to understeer.

The nose of the car can be adjusted easily with small throttle adjustments, and rear end stability is excellent. And although the steering still suffers from artificial weighting and the powerful brakes can feel a little soft underfoot, the Clio Trophy is a highly accomplished hot hatch on the road and track.

It was only after years of losing customers to specialist importers that Subaru decided to make its Impreza STi available in the UK. Fast-forward to 2005, and you can imagine our sense of déjà vu as Auto Express takes the wheel of the very latest Forester STi, imported from Japan by specialist Litchfield.

A blend of boxy Forester estate bodywork and high-octane Impreza STi running gear, this is the ultimate high-performance SUV. Smaller and more responsive than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Range Rover Sport, it is powered by a 2.5-litre version of the manufacturer’s legendaryturbocharged flat-four unit.

The engine management system has been recalibrated to run on UK fuel by tuning expert Powerstation. Litchfield has also tweaked power output in this top-spec variant to 320bhp – that’s 20bhp more than the flagship Impreza STi PPP. The companies claim the Forester can go from 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds and hit a top speed above 150mph – again beating Subaru UK’s top model.

A capable chassis, close-ratio six-speed gearbox, huge Brembo brakes and broad low-profile tyres ensure all this power is kept under control.

While it may seem daunting to contemplate buying a vehicle fromoutside the UK dealer network, getting hold of this newcomer will be asurprisingly simple and straightforward procedure. A comprehensive extended warranty is available to provide added peace of mind.

Despite healthy sales, there is something about the three-door Audi A3 that has obviously been irritating company top brass since its launch in 2003. And the firm has not wasted any time doing something about it. Just two years after its launch, Audi has decided to treat the car to a facelift. The most obvious update is the new-look chrome grille, which finally gives the A3 Audi’s corporate look.

Beyond that, alterations are subtle, although the company says it has made changes to the front bumper, with a few minor tweaks at the rear too. Inside, we struggled to spot any differences, but it is hard not to be impressed by the ergonomics and excellent build quality. Our test car also came with plenty of luxurious equipment, but buyers should beware of escalating costs if they raid the options list. Satellite-navigation, for example, costs a whopping £2,175.
Much of Audi’s facelift work has gone on under the skin.

Engineers aimed to enhance the A3’s ride and handling, but have not been entirely successful. With the added advantage of upgraded steering, the Audi is better to drive, but the Sport model is still uncomfortably stiff over bumpy surfaces. Go for the standard suspension set-up and the ride is smoother. Our car was fitted with Audi’s version of the VW Golf GTI’s 2.0-litre turbo-charged petrol engine. An impressive 198bhp is fed through the superb DSG transmission to the front wheels to deliver hot hatch performance.

Whether you like the new look or not, it is hard not to be impressed by the latest A3. The five-door Sportback might have to edge on practicality, but it cannot quite match the desirability of the newest member of the family.

Successful people carriers need to be stylish, spacious and cheap to run. Mitsubishi’s Grandis scores well on two counts, yet its petrol engine means the car is costly at the pumps.

All that looks set to change with the introduction of a diesel model. Thanks to a deal with Volkswagen, it is not just any old oil-burner under the short bonnet. The newcomer gets what is regarded as the best mid-range diesel on the market – the 2.0-litre TDI used in the latest-generation Golf.

In Mitsubishi guise, the powerplant is badged DI-D and produces 134bhp. Performance is strong and the slick six-speed manual gearbox allows the driver to make the most of the unit is torque. Use all 310Nm and 0-60mph takes only 10.8 seconds – that’s just 0.8 seconds behind the petrol model. In fact, the oil-burner’s mid-range punch means this car is quicker for everyday driving.

Refinement is less impressive and diesel clatter is audible, with the Grandis becoming really noisy under hard acceleration. Drive carefully and the engine will return 43mpg, while CO2 emissions of 176g/km make the Euro IV-compliant model a viable option for company car drivers. Both the steering and front suspension have been tuned to improve handling, although not noticeably. The real problem is the ride, which fails to smooth out rough road surfaces.

The entry-level oil-burning model costs £1,200 more than the equivalent petrol variant – but there is no doubt it is worth every penny extra. Most buyers will find that the Grandis fits the MPV brief better than ever before.

Not content with overhauling its Forester, Subaru has found time to tweak the Legacy line-up, too. A new base model, the 2.0R, is top of the bill, and it is just arrived in Europe with Auto Express first to drive it. The Legacy is powered by a 2.0-litre flat-four engine, which replaces the old 2.5 unit and feeds 163bhp to all the wheels.

Unlike the facelifted Forester, the base Legacy rarely feels underpowered, with its five-speed manual gearbox giving slick, precise changes. A 0-60mph time of 9.2 seconds is nothing special, but in everyday conditions the engine is strong and refined. A new exhaust system helps to make the Legacy quieter, while also improving performance.

Once again, though, running costs are a drawback. Economy is 32.4mpg, but emissions of 207g/km are higher than those from the outgoing 2.0 and 2.5-litre units. Yet at £16,995, this attractive premium saloon will be within reach of Ford Focus hatch buyers.

The 2.0R, available from next month, has climate and cruise control, plus attractive 17-inch alloy wheels. Revised rear lights further enhance the look, ensuring that this is one of Subaru’s best-value four-doors ever. The Forester seems overpriced in comparison.