Car Show
杜建业 黄宇辉 何子敬 郭志杰
Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2005
• • Winner: Chrysler 300 It's been all too long since a new American sedan created anything more than an apathetic yawn from consumers. Between relentless Japanese competition and America's seemingly endless obsession with trucks and SUVs, the idea that a domestic four-door could be the "it" car of the year seemed laughable. Then along came Chrysler's new 300 sedan, a car so unabashedly nontraditional in both its style and its substance that it makes the competition look hopelessly bland in comparison. Chrysler veered from the usual route of designing a car that would appeal to the broadest swath of the general public and instead went for a look that's original at best and polarizing at worst. Like it or not, there's no denying that it has a presence on the road that no Camry or Taurus could ever hope to duplicate. Backing up its sinister looks is the performance of a rear-wheel-drive chassis and a suspension design shared with some of its more expensive Mercedes cousins. And not only does the outrageous exterior look good, it surrounds a cavernous, well-trimmed interior that's as spacious as any sedan on the road.
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Winner: Cadillac STS
Never much of a threat to the dominance of its German counterparts, the redesigned STS now has all the tools necessary to compete on the world stage. The switch to rear-wheel drive, along with a stronger, stiffer and lighter chassis, gives the STS the feel of a much smaller, more agile sedan. And whether you stick with the standard 255-hp V6 or go for the top-of-the-line 320-hp V8, the STS delivers more than enough power to have some fun. Gadgets galore are offered in the cabin with everything from active cruise control to a 15-speaker Bose 5.1 audio system, but unlike some of its competitors, the STS integrates its high-tech hardware without resorting to overly complicated controls. Couple such attention to detail with a high level of style, comfort and performance and it's easy to see why the STS is a sedan that satisfies on all fronts.
Winner: Chevrolet Corvette
The sixth-generation Corvette made its debut this year with an all-new body style, retooled suspension and an even larger version of its triedand-true small-block V8. Available as either a coupe or convertible, the C6 uses the same underlying structure as its predecessor, the C5, to bring the Corvette into the 21st century. Ride and handling is more consistent on this latest edition of Chevy's iconic sports car than it has been in years' past, sacrificing none of the car's characteristic high performance. At the heart of the C6 is the LS2 V8 that produces a remarkable 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. With that much power on tap, the C6 is able to keep up with just about any of the world's most exotic sports cars. Available options include three different suspension packages, Magnetic Ride Control, plus a Z51 package with upgraded brakes. Regardless of how it's equipped, this is undoubtedly one of the best Corvettes ever.
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