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for more information and to locate your nearest dealer visit: www.honda.ca Civic Coupe DX-A model FG1128EX Test Drive an 08 Honda Today! MORE FUEL EFFICIENCY Civics bold styling, fun-to-drive attitude and squeeze every litre fuel efficiency never fail to lift your spirits. For 2008, the value-enhanced Civic DX-A offers these standard highlights: CFC-Free Air Conditioning 1.8L 140hp SOHC i-VTEC Engine Power Windows and Door Mirrors CD Audio System with MP3 Compatibilityand much more. Get it with leather! Available in the all-new Civic EX-L 2008 HONDA NOW GET MORE 08 CIVIC DX-A SEDAN OR COUPE GET MORE FOR ONLY 5.9%218#$ PER MONTH FOR 48 MONTHS ON APPROVED CREDIT. WITH $3,012 DOWN (SEDAN) / $3,133 DOWN (COUPE) $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT LEASE FOR LEASE APR @ Honda raises the bar with restyled Accord Toronto Star September 2007 MORE VERSATILITY City or highway, go your own way. CR-V has what it takes to exceed the demands of your active lifestyle. Enjoy the flexibility of: Upper and Lower Glove Compartment 60/40 Split Rear Sliding Fold & Tumble Seats Reclining Rear Seatbacks with Centre Pass-Through Underseat Storage Bin Flip-upTailgateand much more. GET MORE FOR ONLY 5.9%338#$ PER MONTH FOR 48 MONTHS ON APPROVED CREDIT. WITH $3,639 DOWN $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT LEASE FOR LEASE APR @ 08 CR-V LX 5.9%298#$ PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS ON APPROVED CREDIT. WITH $4,214 DOWN $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT LEASE FOR LEASE APR @ 08 ACCORD LX GET MORE FOR ONLY ACCORD ALL-NEW FOR 2008 MORE EVERYTHING MORE stirring performance MORE extensive safety including Hondas revolutionary ACE body structure MORE interior space than the competition MORE dynamic, sophisticated styling and much more. Accord Sedan LX model CP2538E CR-V LX model RE3838E #L im ite d t im e l ea se of fer s b as ed on ne w 20 08 Ac co rd S ed an LX ,m od el CP 25 38 E / 20 08 C ivi c S ed an D X- A, m od el FA 15 28 E4 X / 2 00 8 C ivi c C ou pe D X- A, m od el FG 11 28 EX / 2 00 8 C R- V L X 2 W D, m od el RE 38 38 E a va ila ble th ro ug h H on da Fi na nc ial S er vic es on ap pr ov ed cr ed it. 5 .9 % / 5 .9% / 5 .9% / 5.9 % le as e A PR fo r 3 6 / 4 8 / 48 / 48 m on ths .M on th ly pa ym en t is $2 98 / $ 21 8 / $2 18 / $ 33 8, w ith $4 ,21 4.4 0 / $3 ,01 1.7 3 / $3 ,13 2.7 5 / $3 ,63 8.7 8 d ow n pa ym en t o r e qu iva len t t ra de ,$ 1,3 90 / $ 1,2 95 / $ 1,2 95 / $ 1,5 40 fre igh t a nd PD I,f irs t m on th ly pa ym en t a nd $0 / $ 0 / $0 / $ 0 se cu rit y d ep os it d ue at lea se in ce pt ion .T ot al lea se ob lig ati on is $1 7,0 34 .34 / $ 15 ,36 2.3 3 / $1 5,5 00 .30 / $ 22 ,64 3.5 7. Ta xe s, lic en se ,in su ra nc e an dr eg ist ra tio n a re ex tra .7 2, 00 0 / 96 ,00 0 / 96 ,00 0 / 96 ,00 0 k ilo m etr e a llo w an ce ; c ha rg e o f $ 0.1 2/k m for ex ce ss kilo m et re s. Re ta ile r m ay le as e for le ss .R et ail er or de r / tr ad e m ay be ne ce ss ar y. # Of fer s v ali d o n n ew 20 08 m od els fr om O cto be r 1 st, 20 07 th ro ug h O cto be r 3 1s t,2 00 7 at pa rti cip at ing H on da re tai ler s. Su bje ct to ch an ge or ca nc ella tio n wi th ou t n ot ice .S ee yo ur H on da re tai ler fo r f ull de tai ls. 6 WHEELS October 26 2007 The attractive Taurus Limited interi- or with optional voice-activated DVD-based navigation system. What's in a name? Lots, it seems, when it concerns the automotive world and the sales of new cars. For example, the Taurus was long considered the mainstay of the Ford fleet from the time it was first intro- duced in 1985. The very next year, in fact, it was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year and by 1992 it had become America's best-selling car for the fifth straight year. Then, in 2004, Ford brought out a new flagship sedan, the 2005 Five Hundred. A year later, the Taurus was dropped. Fast-forward to 2007 and the Taurus name has sud- denly re-emerged on Ford's 2008 full-size sedan as slug- gish sales sent the Five Hundred name to a place in auto- motive history. Name recognition obviously means a lot in the car business or we wouldn't see old names resurrected as we so often do. However, a name change is not all that's new with Ford's full-size sedan for 2008. Ford boasts about more than 500 engineering changes on the new model, with the major one being a huge boost in horsepower thanks to a new 3.5-litre Duratec V6 that delivers 263 hp and 245 lb/ft of torque. That's an increase of nearly 30 per cent over the previous engine. It's mated with the same six-speed transmission found in the Ford Edge, and you have a combination ready to take on the best sedans in its class. My recent tester was a top-of-the-line Taurus Limited, featuring all-wheel drive. Options included a power moonroof, navigation system and 18-inch seven-spoke chrome wheels. All in, it priced out at $45,129. However, a Taurus in SEL trim starts at a shade under the $31K mark. While full-size sedans are not normally my cup of tea, I am in the demographic that traditionally would have gravitated to a car like this. Being in the 50-something age group, we mature drivers often favour comfort over handling and sportiness unless we're entering that mid- life crisis stage and HAVE to own just one more sports car before we're done here on earth. So if you fit in that first category and only remember the full-size cars your parents used to drive, things have changed, and quite dramatically. The Taurus is evidence of the evolution of the family sedan. First off, it still has the roominess and quietness we associate with big sedans. But, what is surprising is the improved handling and performance, combined with decent fuel economy. In fact, Ford claims the Taurus has a 10 per cent improvement in fuel economy despite a boost of 60 horse- power over last year's car. Styling wise, the Taurus has a Ford family look with a new signature three-bar chrome grille like the popular mid-size Fusion sedan. Other exte- rior changes include a sculpted hood with crisp accent lines and a new front fascia along with new tail lamps, rear fascia, chrome side vents and door handles. All in all, it's a clean, simple and attractive look, but not the type of styling that makes it stand out from the crowd. But where it does stand out is the quietness of the cabin. Ford has taken a big step forward here with the use of a new sound package to reduce wind noise. It involves a sound deadening material called Sonosorb, used in the doors, headliner and pillars. Meanwhile, engi- neers have reduced road noise by stiffening the area where the rear package shelf meets and floor pan and the new climate control system is 50 per cent quieter than before. From my week behind the wheel, I can attest to the advances Ford has made in this regard. The cabin is sim- ply a pleasant place to be when you don't have to con- tend with significant wind and road noise. When it comes to ride, Ford has made improvements in this area as well including the way the engine is bolted to the body with hydraulic mounts to reduce engine vibration. By moving the engine weight off the sub frame, engineers were able to better tune the suspension for an improved ride. Ford brings back the Taurus name LORNE DRURY Metroland Media Group See TAURUS, pg. 7