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2009 Chrysler Town And Country Car

Short Car Review : Innovative Swivel 'n Go interior arrangement; interior versatility; available convenience features; optional entertainment systems.

Starting MSRP:

$26,340

Mini-Van Styles

Style Name	Transmission	Engine	MPG	MSRP
4dr Wgn LX	Automatic	3.3L Gas V6	City 17 Hwy 24	$26,340
4dr Wgn Touring	Automatic	3.8L Gas V6	City 16 Hwy 23	$29,645
4dr Wgn Limited	Automatic	4.0L Gas V6	City 17 Hwy 25	$36,780

2009 Chrysler Town And Country Car Photo

One would think that the last thing this world needs is another car manufacturer, unless, of course, it's an ecologically relevant one like Tesla, Fisker, Think, or Ligier. A new sports car brand surely is only a recipe for commercial disaster. But Artega, a new German maker of sports cars, has conceived a very different product. "There are many things Artega is not," states Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, a longtime German automotive executive who has held top posts at BMW, Rolls-Royce, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati, and who has served as chief adviser to the Artega team since 2006.

"We're not a cottage car manufacturer, we are not in the bespoke business, we are not a coachbuilder, and we are going to stay well clear of the supercar segment. Our main stakeholder is Paragon, a leading Tier 1 systems supplier, and our mission is to occupy the niche that separates the high-volume from the tiny-volume sports car manufacturers." Artega's means to this end is the GT, a relatively affordable, mid-engine, two-seat coupe aimed at performance- and handling-oriented enthusiasts.

And here it comes, fresh out of the car wash, the new Artega GT: Shorter than a Honda Fit (157.9 inches), wider than a Mercedes-Benz S-class (74.0 inches), nearly as low as a Lamborghini Gallardo (46.5 inches). Designed by Henrik Fisker of BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9 fame and now head of his own eponymous company. Powered by the Volkswagen Group, which agreed to sell its latest direct-injection VR6 engine and dual-clutch transmission to Paragon. Engineered in-house by a young crew of enthusiasts. Supported by renowned suppliers like BASF, Bilstein, Bosch, Brembo, Eibach, Hella, and Michelin. Built in a brand-new factory on a dedicated greenfield site in Delbrück, between Frankfurt and Hanover. Financed by a €20 million (approximately $29 million) budget, which covers more than just phase one of the gestation process. That's all very well, you say, but where is the special Artega touch? How does the GT differ from, say, a Porsche Cayman? "It's all in the mix," Kalbfell answers, smiling. "Thanks to the aluminum spaceframe structure, our car weighs only about 2425 pounds, undercutting the Cayman S by 550 pounds. This weight savings gives us a tangible acceleration and handling advantage.

2008 Artega GT Photo

Audi Shark concept Fly Car

There are certain terms used so often to describe automotive designs that they become cliche. Right up there on the list with "Darth Vader, your car has arrived" and "This could be the next Batmobile" is shark imagery, with every other car being equated to the deep-sea hunters. This is a shame, because once in a while a car comes along that really does look like a shark, leaving us poor automotive scribes at a loss for words.

Take this fine piece of work for example. The brainchild of Turkish design protege Kazim Doku, the Audi Shark is a conceptual futuristic four-ringed hovercraft that won Audi's most recent design competition. The styling borrows elements from the R8, TT and S5, and looks thoroughly Audi right down to the LED lighting. A front-hinged canopy and air foils replacing the wheels are straight out of sci-fi, though. It's a compelling vision of the future in which we'd love to take a ride, and it isn't Doku's first prize-winning design, either. His Ustuminki concept made the final cut in Peugeot's 2007 design competition, while his door-less KA-Design concept won first prize in his native Turkey's Ototrend competition. The Audi contest awards Doku with a 70% scholarship to the prestigious Domus Academy, but he tragically had to turn it down as he couldn't put up the remaining 30. If you're interested in helping Kazim out with a little tuition cash, we're sure he'd be glad to hear from you through his website, but in either case, you'll want to check out the images in the gallery below and the video after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Will!

Audi Shark concept Fly Car