Auto News 5

Months in Fleet: Eleven
Mileage to Date: 23,113 miles

I employed the GMC Sierra to tow my 19-foot Glastron boat, a burden of only 4000 pounds. That was a rather piddling load for this well muscled machine and it barely knew a load was in tow. What amazed me most is how quiet, smooth riding, and generally enjoyable this dual-rear-tired pickup has become. The Duramax turbo diesel is quiet, smoke free, and impressively strong especially from rest. It is supremely well matched to the Allison automatic transmission. Anyone who seriously needs this much capacity will be well served by this mega truck.
- Don Sherman, Technical Editor

Months in service: nine
Miles to date: 25,936

At 10 p.m. sharp, a brace of Volkswagen vans spills out nine automotive journalists near the entrance of the famous Nardo test track. Straddling hydraulic hoists in Lamborghini's anonymous-looking garage are three thinly disguised prototypes marked VIN 1 (orange), 2 (yellow), and 3 (charcoal). We are the very first group of journalists to drive the next Lambo flagship. Our goal is to find out whether this project -- internally code-named LB834 but which will likely be badged Aventador in production -- has what it takes to upset the supercar establishment.

You don't need a high-riding SUV or crossover to get the winter traction benefits of four-wheel drive. There are myriad sedans, wagons, coupes, and even convertibles that offer four-wheel drive (usually called all-wheel drive in passenger cars) either as standard or optional equipment. We've gathered up a complete list of AWD passenger cars; the list is long and the choices are many. Although the advantages of four driven wheels are obvious in slippery road conditions, the technology comes at a cost. There is usually a cost premium associated with all-wheel drive, and sometimes a fuel economy penalty as well. So for each car listed we've indicated the extra cost of the all-wheel-drive option, or the cost differential compared with the equivalent two-wheel-drive model, as well as its EPA gas mileage ratings, and the fuel economy penalty versus the two-wheel-drive version of the same car.