Auto News 5

History/Description: Selection, style and capability were arguably the biggest draws to the outgoing generation of the Ford Escape. With four- and six-cylinder power, front- or all-wheel drive, generous ground clearance and a large span of options and packages, this Canadian favorite offered a variation that was just right for virtually any shopper.

2008 Ford Escape (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

The 2008 Escape offered a 153-hp, 2.3L 4-cylinder and a 200-hp, 3.0L V6.

Model year 2009 saw engineers fit a new 171-hp, 2.5L four, while the V6's output was bumped to 240 hp. A 5-speed manual was offered on base trims, while a 6-speed automatic was standard on the rest of the line-up.

All models were five-seaters, and feature content included heated leather, SYNC, steering wheel audio controls, a sunroof and automatic climate control. Key competitors included the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue.

What Owners Like: Performance from the V6 engine, off-road capability with all-wheel drive, a sporty and comfortable ride and a flexible interior were all rated highly by owners. A commanding driving position, comfortable seats and exterior styling are also owner favorites.

What Owners Dislike: Common complaints include transmission ‘gear hunting,' noisy engines, poor performance from the factory stereo system and higher-than-expected levels of road noise.

Common Issues: Approach your used Escape looking for signs of automatic transmission trouble. Hard shifting, ‘flaring' or slipping during gear changes could all be signs of trouble. Ensure the unit shifts between Drive and Reverse as quickly as you'd expect, too. Apparently, a problem within the transmission itself is to blame. Some reports of transmission failure have been made, too.

Ensure the transmission on the used Escape you're considering operates as expected, and have a mechanical inspection completed regardless. Additionally, an issue with the transmission cooler may cause a potentially damaging fluid leak.

2009 Ford Escape (Photo: Matthieu Lambert)

Continue reading 2008-2012 Ford Escape Pre-Owned

A plant deep in the American South has emerged as a proving ground for the UAW's new model to turn around three decades of failure to unionize foreign auto plants on U.S. soil.

Mercedes-Benz will offer its flagship SLS AMG as the 2013 SLS AMG GT late this year. It will get a boost in horsepower and a refreshing for the upcoming model year.

A euro-zone breakup could cut European car sales to less than 10 million vehicles this year, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said.

Luxury plug-in hybrid maker Fisker Automotive has opened a new dealership with Penske Automotive Group in Scottsdale, Ariz., but consumers will dictate whether the companies open more stores together.

The intrepid Bimmerphiles over at www.e90post.com have uncovered a few drawings from BMW's latest patent request.

A Chinese auto supplier with local ties reached a settlement today with the federal Department of Justice on claims it misclassified parts made in China to avoid $2.5 million in duties.

Brothers Tom and Ray Magliozzi will be hanging up their radio microphones in September after 35 years of giving car advice on the air.

The U.S. flag has inspired some well known works, such as Francis Scott Key's "The Star-Spangled Banner" and Joe Rosenthal's photograph of five U.S. Marines and a Navy corpsman raising the flag on Iwo Jima.

Also in this episode: The Chevrolet Volt gets a bigger charge, the government maps a plan to

Let's be honest with ourselves. Metro Detroit celebrates mediocrity when it comes to food.

Indian automaker Mahindra and Mahindra's struggles to enter the U.S. market continued this week when five U.S. dealers filed suit against the company in federal court, alleging Mahindra misled them and swindled them out of millions of dollars.

Robert Remenar, an auto industry veteran who also held key posts at General Motors and Delphi, is stepping down as CEO of former Delphi unit Nexteer Automotive to become CEO of supplier Diversified Machine.

FAW-Volkswagen has started building a vehicle test track in northeast China's Jilin province that will be the largest of its kind in the country when finished in 2014.

Rivolta: The Best Failed Automotive Project Ever

It's an old idea and, on the face of it, a good one.

It's an old idea and, on the face of it, a good one: put a reliable, powerful American engine with its slightly retrograde specification (but astonishingly low price) in a European chassis, add a stylish body, and create a bargain exotic. In the early 1930s, the formula was tried by Noel Macklin, one of the British founders of the expensive Invicta marque. In the post-1929 financial turmoil, he needed less expensive mechanicals for the cars produced on his estate. He used complete Hudson chassis and drivetrains for those cheaper cars, enlisting the name and reputation of respected engineer Reid Railton, designer of some of Sir Malcolm Campbell's Bluebirds and John Cobb's land-speed-record cars, for his sub-Invicta project.

Photo Gallery: Rivolta: The Best Failed Automotive Project Ever - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Rivolta: The Best Failed Automotive Project Ever - Automobile Magazine

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The replacement for the Ferrari Enzo has been spied, and the new car gets a carbon-fibre body and around 900bhp

A Chinese-controlled consortium has completed a deal to buy the assets of bankrupt Swedish carmaker Saab, media reports said.

Texas and Utah are the two states that have 80-mph posted speed limits. But Texas wants to up the ante to 85.

2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

The STI really is a serious performance car.

It's easy to write off systems like Subaru's SI-Drive as gimmicks that are more about marketing than real-world utility, but the STI benefits from the SI-Drive system. Driving around in the Intelligent setting makes the car a little smoother and slightly more economical. Bumping up to S# setting gives the car much better throttle response that makes rev-matched downshifts extremely easy and is perfectly situated for track use or very spirited driving.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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Toyota Motor subsidiary Toyota Auto Body plans to start selling an updated version of its Coms one seat electric vehicle for around JPY600,000 (US$7,500) as early as next month.