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February 2006 Your Auto Show Event Guide WHEELS 23 SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Something for Everyone W hat this year's show has to offer display by display. M it s u b is h i LA N C E R S P O R TB A C K Mitsubishi With one of the most eye-catching designs on the road, the new Mitsubishi Eclipse gets a new Spyder sibling at the CIAS this year. Just in time for topless summer motoring, the 2+2-seat Spyder car ries over much of the coupe's equipment, including its 4- and 6-cylinder engines and the 650watt Rockford Fosgate stereo sys tem. The convertible also gets a fully automatic soft-top and a poweroperated tonneau cover, which covers the top when lowered for a sleek appearance. Also on hand is the 2006 Lancer Sportback, a wagon ver sion of the automaker's popular compact sedan. Pontiac GM's performance brand has plenty of eye candy to look at this year, including the new G6 Convertible. Featuring the longest retractable hard top in the industry, the Karmann-designed lid can be automatically raised or lowered in 30 seconds. With the same long wheelbase as the coupe, the G6 drop-top provides ample rear legroom for back seat passengers. Also be sure to admire the stunning Solstice GXP, a new take on the sporty roadster introduced last year. It comes equipped with an allnew, turbocharged 2.0-litre Ecotec engine deliver ing 260 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Porsche Auto enthusiasts need not look further than the Porsche booth for an injection of power and per formance. Check out the new Cayman S, a hard-top coupe based on the Boxster roadster. With a 3.4litre boxer engine delivering 295 hp, the Cayman S can sprint to 100 km/h from zero in just 5.1 seconds. An attractive interior fitted with luxury appoint ments ensures it is also a comfortable long-distance driver. Also on hand is the 911 family, including the new Carrera Cabriolet. Drool over its signature Porsche lines, wide back end and beefy tires. Continued on page 24 Nissan A stop at the Nissan display shows the diversity of the Japanese automaker's product line. From entry-level economy cars to large, family-friendly SUVs and tough pickup trucks, there's a model for everyone's taste. The much-anticipated, allnew Nissan Sentra makes it's Canadian debut at this year's CIAS and don't miss the new Versa, which gives the automaker a foothold in the hot subcompact market. Maybach Maybach has added more power to its ultra lux urious saloon. The new 57 S makes its first Canadian appearance, sporting a 6.7-litre bi-turbo engine delivering 612 hp, as well as a firmer sus pension and carbon fibre interior accents. An exclusive monochromatic colour scheme, modi fied front end and new 20-inch spoked wheels set the S apart from its 57 and 62 siblings. Built by Mercedes-Benz, Maybach sedans deliver the ulti mate in sophistication and high style, offering such luxuries as an electro-transparent glass roof with wood coffering. The sedans are mostly hand-built -- even the driving gear, which consists of 750 working parts, is manually assembled. redesigned GL-Class features amenities like powerfolding third row seats, stowable second row seats and full-time 4MATIC all-wheel-drive. Built on the same chassis as the new M- and R-Class vehicles, the GL still retains truck-tough capabilities features like hill-start assist, unique off-road tuning and an available Airmatic air suspen The new S550 sedan also makes its regional < and don't miss the B-Class sports tourer. MINI Sit behind the wheel of a MINI hatchback convertible at the BMW brand's booth and check out the retro inspired gauges paired with modem interior styling cues. Colourful and cheerful, the MINI is available in a variety of colours and patterns. If you're a power junkie, look for a model equipped with the automaker's John Cooper Works tuning kit, which boosts power to 210 hp and adds performance items like a central twin exhaust, a second air intake, special supercharger and carbon interior trim. Mazda Designed specifically for the North American mar ket, the new CX-7 crossover has SUV practicali ty and Mazda's trademark "soul of a sports car." Making its Canadian debut, the CX-7 features many styling cues from the MX-Crossport con cept, which was on display at last year's CIAS. With up to 1658 litres of storage space, the CX-7 can swallow lots of gear, while its 2.3-litre 4-cylin der turbocharged engine produces 244 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Available in front- or all-wheeldrive, the CX-7 also offers a 6-speed manumatic transmission, anti-lock brakes, stability control and traction control. Look for the newest member of the Mazda family to arrive in stores this spring. C R5396; M ercedes-Benz Be sure to head over to the Mercedes-Benz booth for the Canadian debut of the automaker's latest GClass SUV. Eschewing its boxy, military-inspired look for more modern civilian comforts, the