Auto News 5

Five years after Pontiac invented the muscle car formula by wedging a huge engine into its smallest car, American Motors followed suit in a big way, shoehorning the 390-cubic-inch V-8 from its AMX performance flagship into the company's entry-level car, the Rambler (née Rambler American). The result was the fabled Hurst SC/Rambler. To help the car gain its SC (for "super car") prefix, the Hurst corporation provided one of its famous T-handle shifters - and the car's middle name - along with direction for the modifications made at AMC's factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In addition to the 390 V-8 and the Hurst-shifted four-speed manual gearbox, the list of SC/Rambler-specific upgrades included power front disc brakes, quick-ratio steering, a limited-slip differential, straight-through glass-pack mufflers, a vacuum-controlled "mailbox" hood scoop, and a Sun tachometer, as well as heavy-duty suspension, clutch, and cooling-system components. A few less-than-subtle patriotic cosmetic touches completed the two-door-hardtop Rambler Rogue's transformation from grandma's church chariot.inline_mediumwraptextright26181185/features/collectible_classic/1001_1969_amc_hurst_sc_rambler1001_01_z+1969_aMC_hurst_sC_rambler+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Q+A: Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain inline_mediumwraptextright31800924/features/news/1002_garth_stein_interview_speed_writer1002_03_z+garth_stein+the_art_of_racing_in_the_rain.jpgTrue

It’s a Prius! It’s an iQ! It’s…well, we’re not exactly sure. All Toyota’s saying at this point is it’s a conceptual “dedicated hybrid” model, and that it will make its world debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.inline_mediumwraptextright26492525/green/news/1001_toyota_hybrid_concept1001_08_z+2010_nAIAS_toyota_hybrid_concept+emblem.jpgTrue

Volvo unveiled its first electric C30 prototype in September, but already has a second-generation car ready to show at the 2010 Detroit auto show in January. Volvo will build a test fleet of its new electric C30 to help further its development.inline_mediumwraptextright27775741/green/news/1001_electric_volvo_c301001_01_z+electric_volvo_c30+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

I like wagons, but the CTS is one car that I didn't think needed a long-roof variant. For marginal volume, it seems a strange place for GM to be spending money these days, even if it is a relatively minor investment.inline_mediumwraptextright31897236/reviews/editors_notebook/1001_2010_cadillac_cts_sport_wagon_premium1001_03_s+2010_cadillac_cTS_sport_wagon_premium+side_view.jpgTrue