When I visited Aruba last week, I had no idea that I would be taking an off-road adventure. I was psyched for swimming, snorkeling, biking, sailing  and chillin' out with a bottle of Balashi, the local beer. Then Sjeidy, my hip host from the Aruba Tourism Authority, asked if I wanted to trek over some sand dunes in a Tomcar with Aruba Off-Road. I was in!



My first impression was that we were getting into  a Tonka Toy with harnesses. Our two-seater version had a roof but no doors, a windshield (that makes it street legal), a high ground clearance of  14.5" and 3 gears: drive, neutral and reverse. With bright yellow suspension coils, fat tires and lights that stuck out like bugs eyes, the vehicle looked cute enough to pet. But, it proved to be a serious off-roader that could do 35 miles per hour while running through sand, climbing boulders and descending into stream beds. In one gear! I was impressed.

Our tour started at a country stable only minutes from the Arikok National Park. We were on fabulous rutty roads within minutes moving up to high rises where we could view the entire island (and beyond to Venezuela on a clear day).  From there we cut through desert dotted with people-sized cactus to a series of caves with original Indian drawings and up the coast to a natural rock bridge that recently collapsed into the ocean. Our last stop of the day was Baby Beach... milky turquoise waters and a soft white sandy stretch. Could I have gotten all of these places in a Toyota Rav4? Sure thing. But, the Tomcar was a fabulous way to go behind the scenes on this exquisite island.

When I returned to my hotel that afternoon, I started researching the roots of the Tomcar and came up with some fascinating information. Turns out, the Tomcar is tough enough to take on bullets and boulders.

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Hold on ladies…it’s coming. In fact,  Inside Line is test driving it right now.  But if you want a Nissan 2009 GT-R ,you’re going to have to line up. Nissan has pre-sold 50% of the first years production allocation in the US.
(Globally, the Japanese plant is producing 1,000 a month.)

Why do you want it? The car's got history. The GT-R’s ancestor is the Skyline GT-R dating back to 1969, this latest version —called "R35" in the enthusiasts world, is claimed to be the ultimate in Japanese performance cars.

The Nissan GT-R is well-priced.  When it debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show last October, it was the talk of the show. Referred to as  Nissan’'s challenge to the beloved Porsche 911 Turbo, the Nissan GT-R is coming in at a much lower price tag.

The 2009 Nissan GT-R is expected to run around $70,000, the Porsche 911 Turbo comes in around $122,000. It also will beat out the other best value super car, the Chevrolet Corvette ZO6, which runs around $71,000. FYI, the Viper comes in around $87,000; the BMW M6 around $97,200 and the Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin are well over $100,000.

This sports car sprints!  OK, dollars aren’t everything, but power rocks!  Nicknamed the “Godzilla” in Japan, this cult car features a hand-built VR series 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 producing 480 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 430 lb-ft of torque @ 3,200 to 5,200 rpm. The 0-60 is 3.5. The only other car that beats it is the Murcielago; one tenth of a second less at 3.4. All that and the GT-R  meets ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) standards.

The manual Nissan GT-R has 6-speeds with paddle shifters on the sides of the steering wheel.

Do you think I can handle it? I’ve yet to test drive the GT-R. My  friend and Nissan spokesperson, Steve Oldham, assures me that it’'s just your “everyday super car”.  In any event, my kids would be impressed to just see it in our driveway. They’'ve been driving it on the video game Gran Turismo for years.

See those nice wheels? They're what SEMA has coined "Restyling"

SEMA (Specialty Equipment Marketing Association) has come up with a new word and a new audience for aftermarket accessories. The word is restyling and the audience is the general consumer.

We're not talking spinners, wild paint jobs and customized interiors with woofers the size of refrigerators. We're talking accessories that include anything from sunroofs and grille guards to bumpers-equipment that serves a purpose and looks good.

Nothing radical, just add-ons to enhance and improve. Like buying a new duvet cover and sheets for your bed.

So, OK, I'll go with the term restyling. But what exactly are they saying?

According to SEMA, accessories represented 66.4% of the products sold in the market for 2006; performance products accounted for 15.6% of sales and wheels, tires and suspension had 18.0%.

In November, when SEMA asked consumers what form their vehicle would take after modification, the most common answer was that it would be street performance (27%), with general personalization or restyling coming in a close second (23%). Off-road held third (17%) while restoration held fourth place (12%).

"When you consider that the data collection is not limited to automotive enthusiasts, we can conclude that mainstream consumers are entering our market through the restyling niche. Whether perfecting a new vehicle or bringing the existing one up-to-date, increasing numbers of mainstream consumers are finding our industry."

So, you know that sunroof you ordered on your new set of wheels? You can now officially call yourself a restyler.

For more on Women Customizing Cars go to my piece at Edmunds.

122 years ago on January 29th 1886 Karl Benz applied for a patent for his vehicle with gas engine operation. This date, according to Mercedes, is “widely considered to be the birthday of the automobile.”

Several years ago I had the opportunity to visit the Mercedes museum in Stuttgart. We also made a trip to the Gottlieb Daimler Memorial—the greenhouse on the grounds of Gottlieb Daimler’s (as in Daimler-Benz or Daimler-Chrysler) home. This is where Gottlieb and Maybach worked 24/7 in absolute secrecy creating their first engine. 

Even Daimler’s family and staff didn't have a clue as to the goings on.  At one point a suspicious gardener contacted the police claiming that the greenhouse was a money-counterfeiting workshop. After they found only tools and engine components during a nighttime search, the inventors were left alone to work.

In 1885 they received a patent on an upright engine which they named  “grandfather clock “. It was a single –cylinder engine that was small enough to fit into a two-wheeler “riding car”.

Their first motorcycle produced in 1886 had a wooden riding saddle. This was also known as the first heated seat—yet only by default. The open flame of a Bunsen burner (part of the power system) was unfortunately positioned directly beneath the saddle. Story has it that Gottlieb Daimler  had to jump off several times while testing the two-wheeler.

In the summer of 1886 the pair mounted the engine into a horseless carriage and drove around town much to the shock of observers. People were so spooked by the technology that Daimler and Maybach decided to do future testing on the Neckar River. Thus, they mounted the motor in a boat and the Neckar became the first motorboat.

The first motor-driven buggy from 1888 was tested by the wife of Carl Benz. She packed up her two boys and left home for a day. When she needed to stop for gasoline she got it at the local pharmacy.

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Super engines are not dead. Not by any stretch.

There was quite an offering at the Detroit Auto Show this year. There will always be a need for speed. Did I just say that? Well, it's true...and I don't fault it. If you had seen that light blue Lambo Murcielago LP 640 Coupe you might have stopped and sighed too.

Imagine an ice blue sports car with highlights that simply skipped off the silky curves. Awesome. The Coupe comes equipped with permanent 4WD, 6.5 liter 12 cylinder heart with 640 hp and 660 NM @ 6000 rpm with fuel injection and multi-point sequential.  It looked perfect.

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 The winning fully decked out Caliber

Would you rather trick out your car than go on a date?

A recent survey from Dodge found that 16 percent of men and 22 percent of women would rather spend time with their car than their significant other. Doing what we may ask?

According to Chrysler designer, Ralph Gilles, these potential daters were decking out their wheels. Last year 36 billion dollars were spent on car customizing.

Gilles says, "You have enthusiasts, you have young people, but you also have "boomer tuners" getting involved. Not to mention soccer moms who want to personalize their SUVs and family vehicles."

To address this craze, Dodge is launching a search for the most "tuned out" tuner. Register with your significant other,  friend or family at DodgeRUTunedOut.com for a chance to win the 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4. This high-powered vehicle comes "tuned out" directly from the factory so enthusiasts can spend more time with their other half and less time with their car.

While customized cars often get a bad rap as basic tuners and restoration jobs, the Volvo XC70 Surf  Rescue is an exercise in form and function for your favorite divers, on display at the SEMA Show last week.  Adorned with the official seal of  the city of Avalon, a beach locale on Catalina Island, the amped up XC70 has everything a lifeguard would want to make waves on oceanside protection. You can't miss the canary yellow paint, but a closer look reveals logical add-ins such as skid plates for sand protection, a lifted body for ground clearance, sand-friendly Pirelli tires and a surfboard rack. Bells and whistles come in the form of emergency blue strobe lights.  The cabin is as cozy as a speedboat with neoprene seats (the material used to make wet suits). Of course, two scuba tanks and a first aid kit are included in the package. It's a  natural fit for Volvo, the industry safety barons to wade through these waters.

There are all kinds of cool functional car toys if you sift through the dirge of companies at SEMA. With 10,000 booths and over 100,000 attendees, SEMA truly has something for everyone, and will only grow as the massive Las Vegas Convention Center expands in years to come.  I'm waiting for a wing on green cars to be wedged in between the electronics and performance sections or maybe a section for parental friendly vehicles. A word of advice for planning should you attend SEMA in 08 --  skip the cabs. Ironically, the best way to go to and from SEMA is a $9 day pass on the Monorail. 

Renée Zellweger, ambassador for Key To The Cure

Again, I say YAY to car companies that are helping out a cause that is so important to women all over the world.

Over the past five years, MBUSA has supported Saks Fifth Avenue’s KEY TO THE CURE by raising over $5 million for women’s cancer research. This year MBUSA designed a special edition version of the 2008 C350 Sport Sedan to raise funds for the KEY TO THE CURE, the women’s cancer initiative developed in partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund. 
    
MBUSA expects to contribute $1 million through the sale of 1,000 exclusive C-Class vehicles arriving at Mercedes-Benz dealerships this month.  Sales of this sedan will benefit charitable programs dedicated to finding new detection methods, treatments and a cure for women’s cancers nationwide. 
   
And about that car... First of all, it's not pink! But in true Mercedes form, it has tons of power and is equipped to the nines. Ladies, get ready. The C350 Sport Sedan ramps up with a 268-horsepower, 3.5 liter V-6 engine. And that Special Edition model is equipped with: Sahara beige/ black leather interior; Obsidian Black metallic paint; 18- inch AMG twin-spoke aluminum alloy wheels; HDD Navigation, Harman Kardon sound system, DVD changer, Voice Control and an iPod Integration Kit. And then there's the SIRIUS satellite radio, heated front seats, rain sensor, garage door opener, and power-folding/ auto dimming mirrors.

To add star power, the ambassador for KEY TO THE CURE is Academy Award winning actress Renée Zellweger.

AND THERE'S MORE:  During Saks Fifth Avenue’s KEY TO THE CURE nationwide shopping weekend (Oct. 18-21, 2007), a percentage of Saks’ shopping weekend sales will be donated to national and local breast and women’s reproductive cancer research centers. So start shopping. After all, it’s for a good cause.

40,000 Classic Cars. A sight to see, and that's why I traveled to my hometown this weekend,  to check out the 2007 Woodward Dream Cruise. Things have changed since the Cruise started in 1995.  It's grown to accommodate a whopping 1.2 million spectators.

It's also become a Detroit motor company renaissance, mostly past but a bit of present. Chevy seized the opportunity to roll out the HHR SS at a local hotdog spot, the Athens Coney Island.  NASCAR driver Casey Mears was on hand to give me personalized instruction on how to do a burnout - an important skill to have that dates affectionately back to the classic car era. I stole away from the packed streets to GM's  Warren tech center to pull off this amazing feat, before joining the throngs of spectators. The cruise officially happened on Saturday, but the streets filled with classic makes all week long.

The Dream Cruise is an outdoor, virtual museum. If you're of age, you could reverse back to a childhood memory, or if you're a bit a younger, the cruise hinted at finer times, when Detroit manufactured car sculptures worth savoring. Lines of 'Cudas, Galaxies, and Mustangs extended across the 16-mile stretch of pavement, with all kind of innovations shoved in between authentic restoration. At the Dream Cruise, anything goes. Of course, I was one of the few doing burnouts in the area. Hefty fines were slapped for tire squealing on Woodward and the surrounding areas. What can I say? There are perks to test driving new makes and models.
 
I wasn't alive in the '50s or '60s when cruising was the thing to do on Woodward Avenue (and the event's inspiration) but my mom was, and she grew up near Woodward, which turns 200 this year. On Friday, she traipsed down memory lane as we dined at the Kingsley Inn overlooking the cruise route, with '57 Chevys filing the parking. She fondly recalled cruising with one boyfriend in a MG Midget. Back then, she said that Detroit women knew all the cars. Judging by the mix of the crowd we saw the next day, plenty of ladies still have the fever for a classic. The Dream Cruise, unlike other car events, is truly a family affair with face paint, ice cream stands and an alcohol free policy. It's about wandering and moving slowly, and taking the time to get there at an easy pace. Some traditions are worth reviving.

AMC Pacer

The title of the press release was “Cars only a mother could love.” Naturally, I was intrigued. The news concerned an online poll conducted by Hagerty, the well-known insurance agency for collector vehicles and boats.

The company asked its clients to vote for the most dubious designs in automotive history. 2500 Hagerty clients enthusiastically responded. Noting poor styling and likening its design to a “pregnant roller skate” or “fish bowl on wheels,” they chose the AMC Pacer as the most questionable car design of all time.

 “Even though our clients are some of the most passionate car collectors, over the years we couldn’t help noticing that even the collectors themselves would poke fun at even their own cars,” stated CEO McKeel Hagerty. “We thought this poll would be a fun way to excite our clients into sharing their thoughts with fellow enthusiasts on what makes one car design work and another be considered a car only a mother could love.”

And interestingly enough, the timing of the Most Questionable Design poll coincides with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 19th, a legendary affair that is lauded as being the world’s premier celebration of the automobile.  Only the most beautiful and rare automobiles are invited to attend. (It’s kind of like a Cannes for autos). To note: These are vehicles both you and your mother would lust after.
 
Hagerty clients named the following ten vehicles to their list of “The Most Questionable Car Designs of All Time”:
 
 .    AMC Pacer  
 .    Yugo
 .    Ford Pinto
 .    Pontiac Aztek
 .    Chevrolet Vega
 .    AMC Gremlin
 .    Chevrolet Corvair
 .    AMC Matador –
 .    Edsel
 .    Chevrolet Chevette

Second runner-up: Yugo