Chevrolet Corvette

While there are no doubt plenty of women who are Corvette owners, the 'Vette always has been, and always will be, a guy's car। Not only is it the symbol of the male mid-life crisis, but its wide body and over-the-top V8 engine make it an ode to excess that the male members of our species are hard-wired to appreciate. And then there's the Corvette's inherent patriotic appeal -- and the fact that Chevy has improved the chassis to the point that the newest 'Vettes are serious track cars, makes it all that much more rewarding to thumb one's nose at Porsche owners.

America's sports car. Only one production vehicle can legitimately lay claim to that title: The Chevrolet Corvette. So when GM tossed me the keys (the keyless ignition fob, actually) to a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, I was thrilled. After all, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible lists for $51,390 ($64,815 as tested, including $1,995 for the Power Convertible Top option) with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty and an EPA estimate of 17 mpg city/27 mpg highway. Is Corvette up to the hype?

MAZDA CX-9

The Mazda CX-9 shares some of its DNA with the CX-7, Ford Edge, and Mercury MKX. (All derive from a Mazda6 sedan chassis.) These are not, however, the same. The CX-9 is the only one with three rows of seats. It measures 200 inches long and offers a level of fit, finish, and desirability I didn't find in the Ford Edge. In particular, the CX-7 is not a two-row CX-9. Both Mazda and the Edge/MKX use Ford's new and well-respected Duratec 35 V6, a 3.5-liter powerplant with 263 hp. Built in Lima, Ohio, the engines are shipped to Mazda's Japan factory, which may seem like carrying coals to Newcastle—but the engine is

that good (and cargo space on returning ships is that affordable). The Duratec engine works best in cars weighing around 3,500 pounds. On a 4,300-pounder like the CX-9, it's not going to win any stoplight derbies, even with its six-speed Asin automatic. You'll need about 10 seconds to reach 60 mph, but at lower speeds, the car feels quick; throttle response and pickup is better than with the Ford products. Remember, it's Mazda, not Ford, whose motto is "zoom-zoom." Good Things in PackagesThe Mazda CX-9 comes in three trim levels: Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. Avoid the entry level Sport CX-9; it lacks the options you want, although it's the only way to get cloth upholstery. Go with the mid-level Touring ($31,730 including freight) or Grand Touring ($33,275). With these, Bluetooth comes standard, and you can order the Touring Assistance Package ($2,500) with a very good Denso navigation system and assistive items such as a backup camera and power rear liftgate, though there are no OnStar-like emergency assistance features, which the package name might suggest. That's a better deal than buying the navigation system alone ($2,100). Every model, even the Sport, lets you add a moonroof and Bose Centerpoint audio system with six-disc CD changer and 10 speakers ($1,760). "Centerpoint" means there's a front speaker that emulates a dialog-channel speaker on home theater systems. (But the optical drive does not play DVD audio discs, which would be another way to get center-channel sounds.) Or you can order a Bose audio/rear entertainment system with a DVD player, a 9-inch LCD, Centerpoint Audio, 11 speakers, a six-disc changer, and a 115-volt outlet ($2,560), so the backseat crowd can bring along a Sony PlayStation or Microsoft Xbox (not an Xbox 360, which sucks down more power than most emerging nations). Mazda and Bose product managers touted the ability of the back-seat DVD system to play 5.1 surround sound movies through the CX-9's speaker package. They're nuts to think you'll use it that way: While the movie sound is awesome, 5.1 just that means there will be five discrete channels of first-class audio plus the subwoofer annoying the front-seat passengers who can't see and may not want to hear what's playing in back. How many times can you listen to "Pirates of the Caribbean"? Fortunately, wireless headphones are included. Also, a line-in jack for music players is located in the center console, but you can't add an Apple iPod adapter.

FERRARI ON ITS WAY TO INDIA

Ferrari on its way to India

NEW DELHI: Fiat chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has also been at the helm of Ferrari for the last 16 years. With six record F1 titles in his bag, a steady performance, turnaround in the passenger car segment and an eye on India, Mr Montezemolo seems to be now stepping on the gas.

When Indiatimes Auto caught up with him recently - on telephone from Italy - the Ferrari honcho talked at length about his plans to introduce Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Fiat's Grand Punto and Bravo. Besides, he also did not rule out a tie-up with Tata Motors for its Rs 1-lakh car.


While Ferrari and Maserati would be launched in the next two to three years, Fiat would introduce Grande Punto and Bravo in the Indian market soon, he said. As for Ferrari, he said the US was still their largest market in the world. "I think India will become an important market for Ferrari, but not before two-three years from now," he added.

For the first time in 11 years, Ferrari will go to the Formula 1 without champion Michael Schumacher, who retired from competition last year. When asked about the subsequent pressures, Mr Montezemolo said, "We have a brand new team with Kimi Raikkonen from Finland and Felipe Massa from Brazil. I think we will be competitive and try to win the championship this year."


Brand Ferrari, he pointed out is not just a car but "a mixture of passion, design and extreme technology." There are Ferrari merchandising shops in Las Vegas, Shanghai, Milan and Rome, besides a theme park in Abu Dhabi. A similar one could come to India in the next two to three years, he said. , Maserati and Fiat's Grand Punto and Bravo.