First GlanceOkay, it doesn't look like a minivan. Not so much, anyway. Mazda is a company with a strong brand identity. Mazda's cars don't look like everyone else's -- which is either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you like their choices. I happen to like the punky, modern Mazda aesthetic. Big, feline headlights stretch around the front corners of the car, drawing attention away from the minivan-like wedge nose. The body has more of a crossover shape than minivan, and the high-mounted taillights lend a unique modern air, as well as great visibility. The 17" alloy wheels look great -- I'll bet 18s would look even better. A close look at the door handles reveals something different about the Mazda5 -- the rear door handles are at the leading edge of the doors. Could these be suicide...

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minivan Accessibility: What Do You Drive?

Tuesday March 25, 2008One market segment that the minivan has done well in is the vehicle accessibility market, which provides custom ramps, lifts, and motorized seating options for drivers and passengers with special needs. The low ride height, voluminous interior, and sliding doors found in most minivan models makes them a perfect vehicle format for this purpose, and helps them fill a role that many other vehicle types can't. Dozens of companies like Viewpoint Mobility provide flexible transportation options (pictured) for people that have difficulty using traditional vehicles. I've started putting together a directory of minivan accessibility options, which should go live next week. In the interim, I'd like to hear from some About.com Minivans...

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2010 Lexus RX

Average User Rating Overall 3.9 stars Appearance 4.1 stars Comfort 4 stars Performance 3.8 stars Value 3.8 stars No User Reviews Write a Review 350 AWD shown The 2010 RX is a 4-door, 5-passenger luxury sport-utility, available in two trims, the 350 FWD and the 350.AWD. Upon introduction, the 350 FWD is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 275-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway. The 350 AWD is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 275-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 24-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims. The 2010 RX is redesigned for 2010....

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2009 Pontiac G8

Average User Rating Overall 4.7 stars Appearance 4.9 stars Comfort 4.7 stars Performance 4.8 stars Value 4.7 stars 89 User Reviews Write a Review Sedan shown The 2009 G8 is a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, or sports sedan, available in 3 trims, ranging from the. Sedan to the GXP. Upon introduction, the Sedan is equipped with a standard 3.6-liter, V6, 256-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The GXP is equipped with a standard 6.2-liter, V8, 415-horsepower engine. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The 2009 G8 is a carryover from 2008....

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2010 Kia Soul

Average User Rating Overall 4.3 stars Appearance 4.5 stars Comfort 4.1 stars Performance 3.9 stars Value 4.4 stars 83 User Reviews Write a Review Base shown The 2010 Soul is a 4-door, 5-passenger wagon, available in 4 trims, ranging from the Base to the Sport. Upon. introduction, the Base is equipped with a standard 1.6-liter, I4, 122-horsepower engine that achieves 26-mpg in the city and 31-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard. The Sport is equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I4, 142-horsepower engine that achieves 24-mpg in the city and 30-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a...

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2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Average User Rating Overall 4.3 stars Appearance 4.5 stars Comfort 4.1 stars Performance 4.4 stars Value 4.4 stars 64 User Reviews Write a Review 2.0T Premium Auto shown The 2010 Genesis Coupe is a 2-door, 4-passenger family coupe, available in 16 trims, ranging from the 2.0T. Manual to the 3.8 Track Auto With Navigation. Upon introduction, the 2.0T Manual is equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I4, 210-horsepower, turbo engine that achieves 21-mpg in the city and 30-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard. The 3.8 Track Auto With Navigation is equipped with a standard 3.8-liter, V6, 306-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in...

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2009 Nissan Maxima

Average User Rating Overall 4.4 stars Appearance 4.9 stars Comfort 4.6 stars Performance 4.6 stars Value 4.2 stars 76 User Reviews Write a Review The 2009 Maxima is a 4-door, 5-passenger sports sedan, available in two trims, the S and the SV. Upon.. introduction, both trims are equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 290-horsepower engine that achieves 19-mpg in the city and 26-mpg on the highway. A variable speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The 2009 Maxima is redesigned for 2009....

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2009 Volkswagen CC

Average User Rating Overall 4.6 stars Appearance 4.8 stars Comfort 4.6 stars Performance 4.6 stars Value 4.4 stars 49 User Reviews Write a Review Sport shown The 2009 CC is a 4-door, 4-passenger sports sedan, available in 4 trims, ranging from the Sport to the VR6. 4Motion. Upon introduction, the Sport is equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I4, 200-horsepower, turbo engine that achieves 21-mpg in the city and 31-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The VR6 4Motion is equipped with a standard 3.6-liter, V6, 280-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city...

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2010 Chevrolet Camaro

Average User Rating Overall 4.2 stars Appearance 4.4 stars Comfort 4 stars Performance 4.4 stars Value 4 stars 340 User Reviews Write a Review LS Coupe shown The 2010 Camaro is a 2-door, 4-passenger sports car, available in 5 trims, ranging from the LS Coupe to the.2SS Coupe. Upon introduction, the LS Coupe is equipped with a standard 3.6-liter, V6, 304-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 29-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The 2SS Coupe is equipped with a standard 6.2-liter, V8, 426-horsepower engine that achieves 16-mpg in the city and...

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2009 Lamborghini Murcielago

Average User Rating Overall 4.3 stars Appearance 4.6 stars Comfort 4 stars Performance 4.5 stars Value 3.7 stars 60 User Reviews Write a Review LP640 Coupe shown MSRP $354,000 - $382,400 Invoice Not AvailableThe 2009 Murcielago is a 2-door, 2-passenger luxury sports car, or convertible sports car, available in two.trims, the LP640 Coupe and the LP640 Roadster. Upon introduction, both trims are equipped with a standard 6.5-liter, V12, 631-horsepower engine that achieves 8-mpg in the city and 13-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The 2009 Murcielago is a carryover...

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2009 Lamborghini Gallardo

LP560-4 Coupe shown MSRP $198,000 - $221,000 Invoice Not AvailableThe 2009 Gallardo is a 2-door, 2-passenger luxury sports car, or convertible sports car, available in two... read more trims, the LP560-4 Coupe and the LP560-4 Spyder. Upon introduction, both trims are equipped with a standard 5.2-liter, V10, 560-horsepower engine that achieves 12-mpg in the city and 20-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The 2009 Gallardo is freshened for 2009....

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Detroit reaches out to auto innovators

By Jorn Madslien Business reporter, BBC News The aim of the prize is to come up with a vehicle that does 100mpg With the Detroit auto show suffering from a drought of groundbreaking model launches by the city's incumbent carmakers, the focus has shifted towards an alternative motoring future based on innovation and inventions. This year, Michigan State will host a series of competitions that offer a $10m (£6m) prize to the inventors of the world's...

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Honda extends airbag recall to 380,000 extra US cars

Honda is worried the airbag in certain models will not perform perfectly Honda is adding more than 378,000 cars to an existing safety recall in the United States for airbag inflation problems, the firm said.It broadens a recall announced in late 2008 for less than 4,000 Accord and Civic sedans, and expanded in July last year to cover another 440,000 vehicles. The company said the airbags can deploy with too much pressure, causing injury. The fresh blow to Japanese carmakers came on the same day Toyota recalled 436,000 hybrid cars over faulty brakes. Toyota has already recalled millions of other vehicles amid accelerator and floormat problems....

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Toyota recalls thousands of Prius cars worldwide

Akio Toyoda: "Let me assure everyone we will redouble our commitment to quality" Toyota has announced the recall of about 436,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide, including its latest Prius model, to fix brake problems.The total includes more than 200,000 Prius cars sold in Japan and 8,500 cars in the UK. "We have decided to recall as we regard safety for our customers as our foremost priority," the firm said. The company has already recalled eight million vehicles because of accelerator and floormat problems. Company president Akio Toyoda made the latest recall announcement at a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday afternoo...

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Toyota in new doubts over fault remedies

Toyota's latest woes were the Prius' brakes A US Congressional committee has cast doubts on Toyota's plans to fix its two acceleration problems.In a memo to lawmakers it said there was growing evidence neither Toyota nor federal safety officials had identified all the faults. The memo cited "substantial evidence" of redesigned floormats failing to stop the pedals sticking under the mats. Earlier, Toyota recalled 436,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide, including its latest Prius, to fix brake problems. The total includes more than 200,000 Prius cars sold in Japan and 8,500 cars in the UK....

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Chrysler cars in Indonesia Safe For 8 Years

Jakarta - The failure of Chrysler LLC would disrupt the distribution of Chrysler cars to Indonesia. For availability of spare parts, automotive circles estimate Chrysler would still get spare parts at 8 years old. "At least it ATPM provide spare parts to 8 years, and this umun applicable regulations," said Secretary General Freddy Sutrisno Gaikindo when contacted detikOto, Friday (1/5/2009). Chrysler filed for bankruptcy to the court of New York after not reaching the intersection with the creditors about debts Chrysler....

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