Auto News 5

A preview concept of the next-generation Escape SUV with Auto Stop-Start technology is a distinct possibility for the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

The third-generation Toyota Prius will soon be getting another family member in the form of a larger people mover style vehicle. According to a recent Automotive News report, the new car will be called the Prius-V and will more than likely feature a larger cargo area and more room for second-row passengers.

I drove the Camry immediately after spending some time in a new, fully loaded Ford Taurus Limited. While the Taurus is a newer, more glamorously styled car with more bells and whistles than the Camry, which looks kinda stodgy by comparison, I had only to spend a few minutes in the Camry to discern the major differences between these two upscale family sedans. These differences can be described in two words: continual improvement.

It's quite remarkable how, in the short span of a few years, the compact-crossover segment has blossomed from a handful of vehicles to a category nearly as dense as the mid-size-sedan field. But then, small utes are an entirely rational, left-brain purchase, because they offer both family-car practicality and trucklike utility. It's a solid formula for sales, if not excitement.