Minivans are known to be boring and at best they appeal because of their function. This maxim might just be challenged as Japanese carmaker Honda unveils its Odyssey Concept during the Chicago Auto Show. The Honda Odyssey Concept looks compact, sleek, and very modern. The design lines used for the Odyssey seem to represent the future of how mini vans should look like and how they should be fun-to-drive. The beltline of the car has a cool lightning bolt touch. The lines jag down before the D pillar. This gives the Honda Odyssey Concept a more aggressive stance than the typical minivan on the road. The Odyssey will also be more than your usual people-mover with its wider base and lower roofline. These features add to the sporty feel people have been looking for in minivans. The A pillar slopes into the roof that narrows down as it approaches the back. The rear looks more of a hatchback which distinguishes it from the car driven by mommies to their kid’s soccer game. The Odyssey though does not miss the touch of being a family car with seat capacity of up to 8 people with a magic seat set up for the third row. The improved aerodynamics of the vehicle also gives it a decent 19mpg fuel efficiency on city driving and about 28 mpg while cruising on the highway. The power of the Honda Odyssey Concept comes from a V6 i-VTEC power plant under its hood. The engine is equipped with variable cylinder management that does not utilize some of the engine’s cylinders when full power of the vehicle is not needed. The next generation of Honda Odyssey will be due for production by fall this year. Though the one unveiled during the auto show in Chicago is just a concept, we can expect that the production car will resemble much of it. See original here: Honda displays Odyssey Concept at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show

The new Jaguar XJ , originally scheduled to be launched in December 2009 has been pushed back to arriving at dealers April 2010, with rumours that it may be delayed further being strenuously denied by executives at Jaguar UK. The initial postponement of the launch has reportedly been caused by the laudable desire from Jaguar UK to make sure the car is 100% right when first deliveries start. The technical problems have seemed to stem from the increasingly complex electrical system, with software glitches being tricky to track down. The dual-view display screen is rumoured to be head culprit, which has caused issues in the newly face-lifted Range Rover, and Jaguar are keen to make sure these are all resolved before the first customers receive their gorgeous new cars, after a spate of electrical gremlins plagued early versions of the XK when it was first launched in 2006, something which the manufacturer is keen not to repeat. We think that this is a great step for Jaguar to take, and we would rather see Jaguar enhancing its fantastic reputation for quality still further with this stunning new car, rather than going for the easy money by launching less than perfect cars a few months to early. Read more from the original source: New Jaguar XJ Delayed

       Without question, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO marks the return of the authoritative sports sedan that quickly rose to power in the late 80's but fell on hard times in recent years. Ford certainly got it right again by staying true to its Taurus SHO sport sedan heritage while delivering several new amenities and technologies that provide a dynamic ride and impressive power, coupled with fuel economy numbers that consumers desire. It's not only the turbocharged eco-conscious V-6 that makes the Taurus SHO a standout, it's the attention to detail in the interior. Ford's design team did an excellent job in engineering a classy interior that has the right amount of sportiness, combined with the creature comforts you'd expect to see in a higher priced sedan. NADAguides.com selected the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO as its February Car of the Month because the Taurus is the most refined, well-crafted, and technologically advanced, and yes, fun-to-drive Taurus of all time. Powered by a 3.5-liter Super High Output (SHO) EcoBoost™ twin turbocharged V-6 engine, the performance version of Ford's all-new flagship delivers V-8 levels of power without compromising on V-6 fuel economy. After testing several other contenders in the competitive class, the Ford Taurus SHO is the winner hands down, based on its authentic "sleeper" sports sedan performance, universal appeal, and premium luxury accompaniments. The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO is loaded with technology like radar cruise control with heads-up collision warning, radar sensors that detect cars in blind spots and to the left and right when reversing out of a parking space, keyless entry keypad, SIRIUS radio with traffic info, SYNC® 3.0 with navigation and 911-assist, massaging leather seats, a 12-speaker, 390-watt Sony stereo, rear view camera, push button start, rain-sensing wiper and MyKey, which allows owners to activate a restricted driving mode, Belt-Minder® safety system, audio system volume limits, an earlier low-fuel warning, and consistently-engaged AdvanceTrac® stability control. The top vehicle speed can be limited to 80 mph, and speed chimes can be programmed to engage at 45, 55, or 65 mph further protecting the owner's investment. The most...