2009 Car of the Year Nominee: Dodge Challenger

In January of next year the North American Car and Truck of the Year winners will be announced during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  The process that leads to that decision began last week with the release of the first round of 26 finalists.  Not suprisingly, vehicles from the crossover segment of the industry dominate this year’s list.

In Japan, Honda is generating hype for the impending release of the redesigned 2009 Honda Odyssey minivan with teaser photos of the slick new ride. In addition to a 2010 Mustang-ish teaser, Honda has also launched a website dedicated entirely to the new Odyssey’s debut. Questionable design aesthetics aside [it's a minivan, there isn't a whole lot of room to be creative with the overall layout], the dinosaur-purple exterior color makes us feel extremely uncomfortable. As matter of fact any van attempting to camouflage itself as trendy triggers some sort of internal alarm with us. It’s almost like we nervously suspect either the ATF or Gary Glitter to be involved somewhere down the line…

Although the screaming/general panicking is down entirely in Italian, it’s not necessary that you understand what’s being said in order to get a kick out of the video. Bonus footage of hilarious Honda Civic ad after the jump.

2009 Mazda6

Mazda is clearly sticking to a youthful philosophy and marketing plan.  Like Chuckie, that Zoom-Zoom thing just won’t die.  While the previous Mazda 6 was received favorably by the public and in car reviews, it was only modestly successful in terms of sales compared to the Accord and Camry.  For all of the car’s dynamic driving characterstics, it was on the small side, perhaps a bit unrefined and by most estimations not quite up to the fit and finish of its competitors.  Rather than scrapping the 6 to introduce a new 2009 model, Mazda has comprehensively revamped and produced a new version that is better in almost every facet than anything else of this type.

Or so I like to imagine. In my mind, I picture a squad of Ruckus riders isolating and encircling a rival scooter rider, mocking him mercilessly as he nervously tries to secure his soy-base purchases to the back of his Vespa. In another scene, I picture a guy at a stoplight on a Ruckus, flexing his henna-tattooed arm, revving his 49cc, single cylinder engine for the girl in the Honda Civic Hybrid next to him.

All joking aside, despite the fact that it would be shamed off the track at any respectable sport bike meet, the Ruckus is actually an impressive ride for its class. It maxes out at 43 mph but since it weighs only 194 lbs, any faster than that and you’d be airborne. With congestion in cities the way it is, flight capability might seem like an attractive option, but with the Ruckus’ petite 49.8″ wheelbase and 28.9″ seat height you don’t really need it, maneuverability isn’t an issue.

Back in April, Motor Trend ran a feature on the new 2009 Honda Pilot asking whether consumers thought the new body style was refreshing or revolting. Perhaps I need to work on my game, or maybe I’m mellowing in my old age, but whatever the case, I just wasn’t able to work up my usual ire for the little Asian invader. I can attribute this to several reasons, chief among them the telltale symptoms of depression I’ve been feeling as I witness my beloved domestic auto industry suffer one beating after another. The new Honda Pilot itself has also played a rather large hand in softening my rage, thanks mostly to its ubiquitous SUV styling.

Ah, the Rube Goldberg-esque Cog commercial Honda made for the new Accord back in 2003. That was awesome. Here’s a re-cap:

Honda shot that commercial in real time with no CGI. It took 606 takes to get it right. The equipment was so precisely set up that the crew literally had to tip toe around the set for fear of disturbing the bits and pieces.

As a part of the mid-cycle upgrade Honda is performing on its 2009 model line-up, the forgettable Honda Civic Hybrid will be getting some upper-class editions. Offered in basic budget trim levels before, the face-lifted 2009 Civic Hybrid will the option of leather seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Still priced below the Prius, the premium ‘09 Civic Hybrids will now feature Bluetooth HandsFreeLink mobile, and the entertainment system will gain a USB/iPod interface adapter. The biggest change, however, is the Honda Civic’s exterior revision.

We know we bitch and moan about a lot of the entry level sedans currently on the market - they’re always too small or too slow or too ugly. If you were to hazard a guess based simply on what we write, you’d assume we make beer runs in late model German luxury sedans, but we don’t. Our fervent ride lust is dampened considerably after we balance the checkbook, and when it comes right down to it, all we really need is a good, reliable car to get us from Point A to Point B. We assume that most car buyers are currently in the same boat, so we decided to temporarily abandon our unadulterated hate for penny racers like the Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa and assemble an objective, unbiased list of the least expensive, best new car bets for 2008-2009.

1. 2009 Hyundai Accent [$11,745 - $14, 595]

2. 2009 Chevy Aveo [$12,120 - $14, 255]

Today, Honda has confirmed that a bigger, updated model of their hybrid vehicle, the Honda Insight, will make its green entrance at the Paris auto show in October. Introduced in 1999, the Honda Insight is technically billed as the first mass produced hybrid vehicle and, in theory, should’ve beat the Toyota Prius at it’s own game. Unfortunately, in addition to being the leaders in hybrid technology, Honda was also the leader in aesthetically revolting exterior design. The latter distinction ultimately cost them big time; from 1999 to 2006, the Honda Insight only sold a total of 17,001 units. Expected to hit dealer showrooms in April, the 2009 Honda Insight will ditch the 2-passenger, covered rear wheel layout in favor of a five-passenger hatchback and will look absolutely nothing like its rival, the Toyota Prius. We jest, of course.

‘See The 09 Insight After The Jump