Saturn Sky

“The new phonebooks are here,” certainly sounded funnier when Steve Martin screamed it out in The Jerk. Still, even in print it sounds better than “The new 2007 vehicles are here!” After all, people probably care more about the phonebook anyway. C’mon, admit it, you always look for your name, don’t you now?

And as long as you phonebook fans have read this far, you may as well keep on reading to see what’s new for 2007 at your friendly neighborhood car dealer.

Drum roll, please…

A couple of brands which could certainly use some good news are Ford and Saturn. And they both have a few interesting vehicles about to hit the showrooms. The Ford Edge will be the Blue Oval’s latest entry into the very competitive crossover, or CUV, market segment. Pricing should start at under $26,000 for the front-wheel drive version, with all-wheel drivers going for about two grand more. Equipped with a 3.5-liter V-6 and a six-speed automatic transmission, fuel economy for this five-seater should be in the mid-twenties.

An interesting option will be the VistaRoof—a two-panel skylight which will bring a skyview to both front and rear passengers. The Edge is scheduled to hit showrooms in November.

Meanwhile, Saturn is unveiling a new sedan, the Aura. It’s a mid-sized four-door sedan based on GM’s German Opel. The Aura basically replaces the LS300, which never really caught on with buyers anyway. The base XE will come with a 3.5-liter DOHC V-6, putting out 252 horsepower, mated to a four-speed automatic, with fuel economy EPA-rated at 20/29 miles per gallon city/highway. The Aura’s styling is probably its high point, especially when compared to the anonymous LS300. With seating for five, the XE model starts at just over $20,000, while the upscale XR is about four grand more. The XR comes with a larger engine, six-speed automatic, and StabiliTrak stability control. On sale now.

Hyundai Entourage

Also from Saturn, look for the Sky roadster. It’s Saturn’s version of the Pontiac Solstice, the hot two-seat convertible which went on sale last year. Personally, I think the Sky is the better looking of the two. There’s one other version of this car out there: the Opel GT, which we won’t see here in North America, and which is even sharper-looking than the Sky. Prices should start at just over $25,000. Good luck finding one.

Those of you who think the minivan is dead, don’t tell Hyundai. They’ve just come out with their very first one, only 23 years after Chrysler invented the segment. While Ford and GM are about to exit the market, giving the axe to their slow-selling models, Hyundai has rebadged the Kia Sedona as the Hyundai Entourage. They’ve obviously been paying attention to what minivan buyers want. Expect a bit more interior room than the segment-leading Honda Odyssey; flip-and-fold second row seating; fold-into-the-floor third row seating; stability control; six airbags…the list goes on, and included is the Hyundai/Kia 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Available now, look for prices to start just under $24,000.

Next time: What’s new from Jeep, VW, Honda and Chevrolet.