Category: New Model Introductions

Believe it or not, one of the most anticipated new vehicles introduced at the 2006 North American Auto Show in Detroit is the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe mid-size SUV. VehicleVoice (http://www.vehiclevoice.com) and AutoPacific (http://www.autopacific.com) are watching this introduction very, very closely because it will demonstrate the strength of Hyundai's research and development process and ability to produce quality products at its new assembly plant in Alabama.

With the launch of the Jeep Compass car-based SUV in the 2006 calendar year, Jeep customers get to decide if a car-based Jeep is still a Jeep. Though there will be two car-based Jeep SUVs to consider by the end of the year, the production Compass has been shown first with its Patriot stablemate coming later. The "talent" launchingthe Compassat the 2006 North American International Auto Show was Angie Harmon of Law and Order fame.

At first look, Jeep hits the mark with latest Wrangler.

Among the most significant news about the Saturn Vue Green Line news at the Detroit auto show was its expected $23,000 price tag. GM explains being able to charge less by offering a less costly system than the competition. This compares with a price tag for the Escape hybrid at $27,500 in January 2006 and the Toyota Highlander at $33,650 (both for front-wheel-drive models). Even the Toyota Prius has a base price of nearly $22,500. Whether Saturn will actually find the Green Line a profitable vehicle, GM has decided to win the price war. Sales are set for summer 2006.

Toyota offers a stylish sedan and perky hatchback Yaris to replace not-so-popular Echo.

Just like the Lincoln MKX, the Edge uses the platform introduced with Ford's latest trio of mid-size sedans, the Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr. Edge will broaden Ford's SUV lineup to five when it arrives in late 2006, similar to Toyota's lineup. Ford dealers will offer Edge, Explorer, Escape, Freestyle, and Expedition for 2007MY. Edge is sized and powered above Escape, but smaller than the Explorer or Freestyle. It brings Ford's car-based SUV total to three (Escape, Edge, Freestyle), with the Explorer and Expedition continuing their truck-based personalities.

Mazda expands its lineup with a car-based SUV in spring 2006 called the CX-7. While the entry was previewed by the 2005 MX-Cross Sport concept, the production car was unveiled at Los Angeles and Detroit auto shows in January 2006. As with other car-based, post-modern SUVs, or crossovers, the five-seater CX-7 comes standard in front-drive form with an optional AWD system available. The CX-7 will be built in Japan, and is not directly related to the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX new-for-2007MY entries also being introduced to at the Detroit auto show.

If you're looking for a two-seat convertible in the $25,000 range, this spring you'll find a buyer's market, with the Saturn Sky, Pontiac Solstice, and Mazda MX-5 Miata to choose from. The Saturn is all new for the 2007 model year, but the Pontiac and Mazda are also very fresh. Both were fresh for the 2006 model year and have only been on sale since fall 2005. All three should offer an entertaining drive, modern conveniences, and good fuel economy from their four-cylinder powerplants.

Porsche has coaxed another 70HP from the 4.5L twin-turbo V8 in the Turbo Cayenne to create a 520HP Turbo S, and the order books are open.

BMW's M6 high performance coupe started with borrowing the 500HP 5.5L V10 and seven-speed sequential manual gearbox found in the latest M5. Though launched in 2005 in Europe, North American sales do not begin until spring 2006. The M6 was introduced in the States at the 2006 Los Angeles auto show in January, where its nearly $97,000 price tag was also revealed.