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8 WHEELS Your Auto Show Event Guide February 2006 SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Something for Everyone W hat this year's show has to offer display by display. Dodge Dodge's first mid-size SUV is the highlight of the automaker's booth this year. The 5-passenger 2007 Nitro, which will hit showroom floors later this year, offers a range of engines, all-wheel-drive and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Also on hand is the new Charger, a modem day muscle car with a coupe-like profile and a choice of Hemi engines. Be sure to check out the rest of the cars, trucks and SUVs in Dodge's extensive lineup. Ferrari The Italian supercar company will have the crowds in exotic car ecstasy. With much of the design and engineering of its models taken straight from FI racing, there's a lot to admire here. Take the F 430, for example, with its available carbon-ceramic disc brakes, industry-first electronic differential and steering wheel-mounted "manettino" com municator switch. With a new Challenge version available for 2006, which is even lighter and more race-bred, plus a drop-top model, the Prancing Horse continues to surprise and delight. Ford The Ford Edge crossover makes its Canadian debut at the CIAS. Its many highlights include a panoramic Vista Roof, best-in-class rear space and available all-wheel-drive. The Blue Oval will also show the new Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang, the most powerful factory-built model ever, which taps into the muscle car's more than 40-year his tory. Offered in coupe and convertible models, the GT500 has a supercharged 5.4-litre V8 producing 475 horsepower and an equivalent amount of torque for hair-raising, off-the-line performance. Be sure to check out Ford's new sensation in the midsize sedan class, and the company's new stan dard bearer in the*NASCAR Nextel Cup racing series, the Fusion. a brand new platform, the Yukon's V8 engines have more power and feature Displacement on Demand technology, which deactivates half the cylinders at low loads for increased fuel econo my. Totally updated from the ground up, the Yukon has a more sophisticated interior, new exterior sheetmetal, a refined chassis and more features. Also be sure to check out the division's of pickup trucks. C IV IC Honda Stop by the Honda stand for a look at the all-new, award-winning Civic. The popular compact sedan and coupe have a new modem look and roomy inte rior, which features an innovative two-tier instru ment panel with a digital speedometer. The Civic Hybrid has a new-generation Integrated Motor Assist System that increases horsepower and low ers fuel economy, which now sits at 4.3 litres/knT on the highway. For driving enthusiasts, check out the Si coupe, which has go-fast exterior add-ons, sport-tuned suspension and exhaust, plus engine enhancements that boost performance to 197 hp. its 7-slot grille, upright windows and fully weld ed ladder-type frame, the H3 has the signature Hummer toughness in a garage-friendly package. Hyundai TTie wave of new products from Hyundai con tinues at the CIAS with the Canadian debut of the all-new 2007 Entourage minivan and revamped Santa Fe SUV. The Entourage fea tures a host of safety equipment and shares its 3.8-litre V6 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission with the automaker's new Azera sedan, which will also be on display, Word is the Entourage wiH also be the first minivan with stan dard power sliding doors. Also worth a look is the redesigned Santa Fe, which has grown in size and stature with 7-passenger seating, a new exterior look and upgraded features and equipment. GMC The highlight of the GMC stand is the redesigned 2007 Yukon SUV, one of several trucks and sportutes from GM that are getting a facelift. Built on Hum m er Check out the newest addition to the Hummer family, the "baby" H3. The H3 literally stands above other SUVs thanks to its standard 32-inch all-terrain tires or optional 33-inchers. The elec trically-controlled 4-wheel-drive system is moti vated by a 3.5-litre inline 5-cylinder engine pro ducing 220 hp and acceleration that equals the V8-powered.H2 in most driving conditions. With Infiniti Nissan's luxury brand brings its freshened FX series SUV to Toronto. The standard equipment list has grown and now includes a sunroof, hands-free phone system, leather seats and a 300-watt, 11-speaker Bose sound system. The centre console is redesigned and the gauges and interior trim are new. Aluminum accents grace the exterior, while the grille and front bumper are restyled. Browse through the rest of the Infiniti family, including the tech nologically advanced M series sedans. roof that can be powered up or down in less than 18 seconds. The drop-top's 4.2-litre V8 engine produces 300 hp and powers the car to 100 km/h from zero in a scant 6.3 seconds. Billed as the most technically and technologically advanced car the automaker has ever produced, the new XK is the first in a new generation of cars from Jaguar. Jeep DaimlerChrysler's Trail Rated division is show ing its first SUV with three rows of seats. The new Commander has the look of an old Willys wagon, with a tall stance and near-vertical sides. With a choice of engines -- yes, there's a Hemi -- and 4-wheel-drive systems, the Commander can tack le tough terrain, while providing a refined ride on the pavement. Word is the new Jeep Compass could also make an appearance. It's the automak er's first front-wheel-drive vehicle with a fully independent suspension. Also take time to con sider the luxurious Grand Cherokee, compact Liberty and rough and tumble TJ in regular and stretched Unlimited wheelbases. Continued on page 10 Jaguar If you want to see the latest in technology and design, stop by the Jaguar booth. Making its Canadian debut is the new XK Convertible, which features an ultra light, aluminum monocoque body, new sequential shift gearbox with steering wheel paddles and a triple lined fabric H YU N D A I SANTA FE