New and improved!

These auto makeovers beckon drivers

by David Menzies

What a sense of accomplishment when you are among the first behind the wheel of a vehicle that’s just been redesigned. And that feeling of bliss usually occurs when you’re stopped at a traffic light and the motorist in the next lane just happens to be driving the same vehicle (albeit last year’s model). It’s hard not to feel smug when you catch the other guy ogling your vehicle’s new grille design and headlight cluster. Feelings of one-upmanship come easy when he longingly gazes upon your car’s brilliant new tail-light layout or the whiz-bang dashboard treatment or the stunning new belt-line. Indeed, everything about a redesign – from the rims to the badging – screams “new and improved”.

Little wonder. When a vehicle is given a makeover, rarely is the end result a step backward from the previous model (unless, of course, the engineers and designers really screwed up.) Perhaps the vehicle’s been widened or lengthened (or both); maybe a more fearsome powerplant lurks underneath the hood; maybe a cutting-edge exterior has turned the vehicle into a real head-turner. One thing is for certain: vehicles are redesigned not merely for the sake of change, but to keep up with the competition or even raise the bar outright.

The really good news for those who consider themselves trailblazers and trendsetters: the 2008 model year offers a plethora of redesigned cars, SUVs, crossovers and minivans. Here are a few significantly redesigned vehicles currently at showrooms:

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ($27,300 to $39,950)

The Highlander is truly an SUV that a car lover might want to consider, given that it handles far more like an automobile than a truck. And that’s a good thing.

For ’08, Toyota has up-sized and up-powered the all-wheel-drive Highlander. The seven-passenger vehicle is 95mm longer and 75mm wider. Aesthetically, it features a far more integrated look, with the tail lights and headlights cut back into the body. The dashboard is all about functionality, thanks to audio and climate controls that are operated via large knobs (a welcome departure from today’s trend of unnecessarily complicated dashboards).

Under the bonnet is a delightful 3.5-liter V6 engine that generates an impressive 270 horsepower (an improvement of 55 ponies compared to last year’s model.) Available in four trim levels — base, SR5, Sport and the loaded-to-the-gills Limited edition — all models feature ABS, stability and traction control systems. For those keen on reducing their carbon footprint, a hybrid version of the Highlander is available in both the base and Limited trim.

CHEVROLET MALIBU ($19,995 to $26,995)

If there is one model in GM’s current stable that screams potential blockbuster, that car is the all-new Chevrolet Malibu. The Malibu easily features the most extreme makeover of all the redesigned ’08 vehicles on the market. And every nip, tuck and enhancement has been for the better.

Aesthetically speaking, the 2008 Malibu has gone from dud to stud: this is a gorgeously sleek-looking family sedan, and it represents a major departure from the previous generation Malibu (which excelled only at dullness).

Available in a range of trim packages, the base Malibu features a 164-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder powerplant mated to a four-speed automatic. But we implore you to splurge a bit and opt for the more refined and powerful 252-hp, 3.6-liter V6 with a six-speed automatic. Only when equipped with this motor and transmission will one experience the Malibu’s full performance potential.

Bottom line: the Malibu is set to do battle in one of the most fiercely competitive automotive segments (family sedans), dominated by the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. The highest praise for the new Malibu is that, at long last, GM has a sedan that actually rivals Camry and Accord.

CADILLAC CTS ($ 32,990 to $35,290)

When the CTS debuted in 2003, GM was serving notice that this sedan wasn’t your grandfather’s Cadillac (a point reinforced by a TV ad campaign that featured Led Zeppelin music — and no, the ditty wasn’t “The Song Remains the Same”).

Embracing Cadillac’s “art and science” design motif, the CTS looked sharp then and it looks even sharper today, thanks to some subtle, albeit significant, tweaks.

Drivers can choose from a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission, and all-wheel drive is also available. A 3.6 L V6 churns out 263 horsepower. Handling is a delight: granddaddy’s Caddy might have floated down the highway, but the CTS’s serious suspension upgrades give it more the feel of a bona fide German sports sedan.

AUDI TT ($34,800 to $41,500)

The new TT is longer, wider and more aerodynamic (it features a drag coefficient of 0.30 compared with 0.34 for last year’s model). While the old TT was a superb-looking vehicle, the ’08 model’s voluptuous curves make it even more of a head-turner. Better yet, the sexy new TT handles far better than the previous model, thanks to the optional Magnetic Ride suspension system. Available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the TT comes in a choice of two engines: a 200-hp four-cylinder or a 3.2 liter V6 that produces 250 hp (opt for the bigger engine mated to a manual transmission to get the full TT experience.)

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ($22,470 to $34,095)

Timing is everything and, with that axiom in mind, the potential is huge for Chrysler when it comes to its totally redesigned Dodge Grand Caravan. After all, Ford and GM are exiting the minivan business. And while some drivers scoff that being behind the wheel of a minivan is akin to waving the white flag of suburban surrender, such a slam is a bum rap: whether you’re hauling cargo or people, minivans are excellent utility vehicles.

As usual, Chrysler has injected some clever innovation into the new Caravan, the most dramatic option being the Swivel ‘n Go seating. This option allows two rows of passengers to face each other across a table should they get the hankering to play Monopoly or Texas Hold ‘Em poker. For those who aren’t into mingling, the Caravan can also be ordered with two separate DVD systems that allow occupants to watch two different movies on separate screens (headphones ensure the driver isn’t distracted by clashing film soundtracks.)

Bottom line: for those not affected by minivan stigma, the Caravan represents a lot of vehicle for the money. And it’s never been more practical.

FORD TAURUS ($23,245 to $29,080)

The Taurus is back. In a sense, it never really went away, although Ford inexplicably renamed it the Five Hundred a couple of years ago — a moniker that never caught on (ergo, the return of the Taurus nameplate).

For 2008, the full-sized family sedan has been given a complete makeover. Changes include the new three-bar grille that has become Ford’s new signature look. The front end has also been reshaped, and the rear end gets a nip and tuck, too, thanks to new dual chrome-tipped exhaust pipes and a new tail-light cluster.

But it’s not all cosmetic alterations. A superb new engine lurks under the hood. Ford’s Duratec 3.5 liter V6 now powers the Taurus, delivering 260 ponies (an increase of 30 percent). The new engine is married to a new six-speed automatic transmission (and the difference, compared to last year, is very noticeable).

Something else that’s new: to minimize engine and road noise, the Taurus features expandable foam pellets in its A-pillars, while Sonosorb (a new sound-muffling material) can be found in the headliner, doors and pillars.

David Menzies is a freelance writer specializing in automotive reviewing (www.davidmenzies.ca). A baby boomer himself, David currently drives a much-loved, trusty Honda Prelude.