2009 Audi A4, 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Saab 9-X "Air" BioHybrid

Three New Auto Reviews

2009 AUDI A4
Audi's Latest Dark Horse

A fine line is etched when discussing the characteristics that distinguish a complete sedan from a car that is just appealing to the eye. The level of engineering, degree of craftsmanship, and innovative technology are all contributing factors in creating a sophisticated giant for the open road. German automotive leader Audi redefined the meaning of the luxury sedan when it unveiled the 2009 A4. The A4 is a dream for the driver who is looking for all of the contours of a high class sedan with sports car handling. Audi engineers went back to the drawing board and redesigned this model for the first time since 2001. The 2009 A4 has all the classic features that drivers have come to expect from Audi and new features as well.

Safety should always be the first component a driver looks for when evaluating the true worth of an automobile. Optional with this model are the newly added LED wrap around daytime running lights. This timely addition was borrowed from Audi’s R8 Supercar and is perfect for maneuvering in inclement weather. Audi has also equipped this model with a built in navigation system to get you on your way. Style is a quintessential aspect with the designers at Audi and the low-gloss leather, wood and aluminum interior offers a lush cabin which even makes driving the children to and from soccer practice a comfortable ride. The Audi A4 multimedia-interface panel allows drivers to explore features of the car’s computer and actually surpasses the BMW IDrive system.

The physical dimensions of the A4 are lighter and efficiently created to withstand everyday usage. In this ‘green’ economic market, being able to keep money in the wallet is better than losing it at the pump. The A4’s gas-efficient engineering makes driving a piece of cake while offering complete piece of mind. The A4’s lightweight frame is more than an insignificant factoid. This gives the car greater agility and takes the edge off sharp curves. And to top it off, the trunk’s 16.8 ft3 can hold anything from bags of groceries to a plasma screen television.

Audi’s impeccable engineering and design of the A4 competes with the BMW 3-series, Cadillac CTS and the Mercedes-Benz C-class. Yet, there is always room for improvement and Audi has made the necessary changes to stay ahead of the pack.

2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID
The Wheels of Progress Never Looked So Good

So you thought you missed your chance to own the SUV of your dreams? We’ve all heard the party line: SUV’s are gas-guzzling, emission-spouting pollution mobiles. Well perhaps it’s time to question that generalization and thanks to Cadillac’s 2009 Escalade Hybrid your dream may not have to be deferred for much longer. GM’s two-mode hybrid system has improved the 2009 Escalade’s city fuel economy by half. So now you can drive this luxury flagship with a clear conscience without giving pedestrians black lungs or withering evergreens.

Yet the Escalade maintains its stature as a powerhouse, showcasing a Vortec 6.0L V-8 engine and 332 horses that guide it’s 16 foot frame the way Count Bassie led his band. Given its track record of asphalt dominance, it’s no surprise that the Escalade seats 8, sports one of the plushest interiors on the market and offers the grand canyon of all cabins. But the real cutting edge intervention is the Escalade’s advance hybrid power technology. It is comprised of an electrically variable transmission and a 300-volt nickel-metal hybrid Energy Storage System that work in tandem with the V-8 engine. As a result, the Escalade’s hybrid engineering improves fuel economy and operates on electricity at low speed while reducing your carbon footprint. Who says the phrase “progressive bling” is an oxymoron.

SAAB 9-X "AIR" BIOHYBRID
A Concept for the Clouds

Time for the hard truth. Just because you get behind the wheel doesn’t make you a driver. Anyone can steer a car from point a to point b, puttering through traffic, foot half-cocked on the pedal, longing to coast quietly to the destination. Captivated by cut-rate bells and whistles, these cruise control champions can’t wait to get back to terra firma. So it’s obvious that they’re just not ready for a breed of cars originally designed by aircraft engineers. It may be hard to swallow, but not everyone was meant to drive a Saab.

In 2008 the Saab 9-X BioHybrid seized the “Specialty Concept Car of the Year” award. Hot on the heels of this victory, last month at the Paris Motor Show Saab unveiled the 9-X “Air”. Featuring a retractable Canopy Top, a wraparound “glasshouse” windshield and a 1.4-liter Saab BioPower engine, the 9-X “Air” concept car sets new standards for convertible design and hybrid technology. Oh, and by the way, it just happens to be turbo-charged, which means the full force of its aeronouatical pedigree purrs under the hood. Saabs are known for their agility, but the 9-X “Air’s” power-train promises unparrallaled responciveness.

A quarter century after Saab released it’s first convertible, the 9-X “Air” has returned with the same unmistakably aggresive aesthetic. The cabin—scratch that, cockpit--is an unabashed salute to this tradition. Not only is it uber-functional and sleek, but it can also easily accommodate four adults.

So in a sense the X-9 Air is razor sharp ray of hope. It might just inspire those slow lane laggards to overdose on adrenaline for once. Real drivers, however, don’t need the inspiration. They know a chariot for the ages when they see one. And they’re praying the “9-X” Air hits the production line one day soon.