Mazda showed a freshened RX-8 alongside their race-inspired Furai concept at the 2008 Detroit show. The 2009 model features several evolutionary tweaks as well as a new sporty option package.

On the outside, all RX-8s will get revised front fascias, bumpers, headlights and taillights. The exhaust tips are also larger, now measuring 90 mm. The front fender side gills have been replaced with smaller openings that now house turn indicators.

A redesigned center stack joins a new steering wheel on the interior. The tachometer also gets an update and will now vary the red zone depending on engine temperature. Redesigned seating in all four spots aims to increase rear leg room.

Driving dynamics weren't ignored in the update. A trapezoidal strut tower brace adds rigidity up front, while rear suspension geometry has been revised for better handling.

A new R3 option package - an homage to the R1 and R2 packages offered on the RX-7 - adds some attitude to the RX-8. A sport suspension with Bilstein shocks is paired with foam-filled front suspension crossmembers for a smoother ride and more control. Exterior bits include a rear spoiler, side sills, fog lights and a sportier front bumper. Nineteen-inch forged alloy wheels are wrapped in performance rubber. The interior gets Recaro front seats, a 300-watt Bose sound system, and convenience options like Bluetooth and Mazda's keyless entry and start system.

The 2009 RX-8 will continue as the only mass-produced rotary-engined car on the market today.

Click the link below for high-resolution RX-8 images.

Mazda showed a freshened RX-8 alongside their race-inspired Furai concept at the 2008 Detroit show. The 2009 model features several evolutionary tweaks as well as a new sporty option package.

On the outside, all RX-8s will get revised front fascias, bumpers, headlights and taillights. The exhaust tips are also larger, now measuring 90 mm. The front fender side gills have been replaced with smaller openings that now house turn indicators.

A redesigned center stack joins a new steering wheel on the interior. The tachometer also gets an update and will now vary the red zone depending on engine temperature. Redesigned seating in all four spots aims to increase rear leg room.

Driving dynamics weren't ignored in the update. A trapezoidal strut tower brace adds rigidity up front, while rear suspension geometry has been revised for better handling.

A new R3 option package - an homage to the R1 and R2 packages offered on the RX-7 - adds some attitude to the RX-8. A sport suspension with Bilstein shocks is paired with foam-filled front suspension crossmembers for a smoother ride and more control. Exterior bits include a rear spoiler, side sills, fog lights and a sportier front bumper. Nineteen-inch forged alloy wheels are wrapped in performance rubber. The interior gets Recaro front seats, a 300-watt Bose sound system, and convenience options like Bluetooth and Mazda's keyless entry and start system.

The 2009 RX-8 will continue as the only mass-produced rotary-engined car on the market today.

Click the link below for high-resolution RX-8 images.

Mazda showed a freshened RX-8 alongside their race-inspired Furai concept at the 2008 Detroit show. The 2009 model features several evolutionary tweaks as well as a new sporty option package.

On the outside, all RX-8s will get revised front fascias, bumpers, headlights and taillights. The exhaust tips are also larger, now measuring 90 mm. The front fender side gills have been replaced with smaller openings that now house turn indicators.

A redesigned center stack joins a new steering wheel on the interior. The tachometer also gets an update and will now vary the red zone depending on engine temperature. Redesigned seating in all four spots aims to increase rear leg room.

Driving dynamics weren't ignored in the update. A trapezoidal strut tower brace adds rigidity up front, while rear suspension geometry has been revised for better handling.

A new R3 option package - an homage to the R1 and R2 packages offered on the RX-7 - adds some attitude to the RX-8. A sport suspension with Bilstein shocks is paired with foam-filled front suspension crossmembers for a smoother ride and more control. Exterior bits include a rear spoiler, side sills, fog lights and a sportier front bumper. Nineteen-inch forged alloy wheels are wrapped in performance rubber. The interior gets Recaro front seats, a 300-watt Bose sound system, and convenience options like Bluetooth and Mazda's keyless entry and start system.

The 2009 RX-8 will continue as the only mass-produced rotary-engined car on the market today.

Click the link below for high-resolution RX-8 images.

Mazda showed a freshened RX-8 alongside their race-inspired Furai concept at the 2008 Detroit show. The 2009 model features several evolutionary tweaks as well as a new sporty option package.

On the outside, all RX-8s will get revised front fascias, bumpers, headlights and taillights. The exhaust tips are also larger, now measuring 90 mm. The front fender side gills have been replaced with smaller openings that now house turn indicators.

A redesigned center stack joins a new steering wheel on the interior. The tachometer also gets an update and will now vary the red zone depending on engine temperature. Redesigned seating in all four spots aims to increase rear leg room.

Driving dynamics weren't ignored in the update. A trapezoidal strut tower brace adds rigidity up front, while rear suspension geometry has been revised for better handling.

A new R3 option package - an homage to the R1 and R2 packages offered on the RX-7 - adds some attitude to the RX-8. A sport suspension with Bilstein shocks is paired with foam-filled front suspension crossmembers for a smoother ride and more control. Exterior bits include a rear spoiler, side sills, fog lights and a sportier front bumper. Nineteen-inch forged alloy wheels are wrapped in performance rubber. The interior gets Recaro front seats, a 300-watt Bose sound system, and convenience options like Bluetooth and Mazda's keyless entry and start system.

The 2009 RX-8 will continue as the only mass-produced rotary-engined car on the market today.

Click the link below for high-resolution RX-8 images.

Mazda showed a freshened RX-8 alongside their race-inspired Furai concept at the 2008 Detroit show. The 2009 model features several evolutionary tweaks as well as a new sporty option package.

On the outside, all RX-8s will get revised front fascias, bumpers, headlights and taillights. The exhaust tips are also larger, now measuring 90 mm. The front fender side gills have been replaced with smaller openings that now house turn indicators.

A redesigned center stack joins a new steering wheel on the interior. The tachometer also gets an update and will now vary the red zone depending on engine temperature. Redesigned seating in all four spots aims to increase rear leg room.

Driving dynamics weren't ignored in the update. A trapezoidal strut tower brace adds rigidity up front, while rear suspension geometry has been revised for better handling.

A new R3 option package - an homage to the R1 and R2 packages offered on the RX-7 - adds some attitude to the RX-8. A sport suspension with Bilstein shocks is paired with foam-filled front suspension crossmembers for a smoother ride and more control. Exterior bits include a rear spoiler, side sills, fog lights and a sportier front bumper. Nineteen-inch forged alloy wheels are wrapped in performance rubber. The interior gets Recaro front seats, a 300-watt Bose sound system, and convenience options like Bluetooth and Mazda's keyless entry and start system.

The 2009 RX-8 will continue as the only mass-produced rotary-engined car on the market today.

Click the link below for high-resolution RX-8 images.

Mazda showed a freshened RX-8 alongside their race-inspired Furai concept at the 2008 Detroit show. The 2009 model features several evolutionary tweaks as well as a new sporty option package.

On the outside, all RX-8s will get revised front fascias, bumpers, headlights and taillights. The exhaust tips are also larger, now measuring 90 mm. The front fender side gills have been replaced with smaller openings that now house turn indicators.

A redesigned center stack joins a new steering wheel on the interior. The tachometer also gets an update and will now vary the red zone depending on engine temperature. Redesigned seating in all four spots aims to increase rear leg room.

Driving dynamics weren't ignored in the update. A trapezoidal strut tower brace adds rigidity up front, while rear suspension geometry has been revised for better handling.

A new R3 option package - an homage to the R1 and R2 packages offered on the RX-7 - adds some attitude to the RX-8. A sport suspension with Bilstein shocks is paired with foam-filled front suspension crossmembers for a smoother ride and more control. Exterior bits include a rear spoiler, side sills, fog lights and a sportier front bumper. Nineteen-inch forged alloy wheels are wrapped in performance rubber. The interior gets Recaro front seats, a 300-watt Bose sound system, and convenience options like Bluetooth and Mazda's keyless entry and start system.

The 2009 RX-8 will continue as the only mass-produced rotary-engined car on the market today.

Click the link below for high-resolution RX-8 images.

Summer is here, and as the saying goes, the time is right for cramming the kids and the dog and grandma and the cooler full of sanity-saving beer into the family truckster. Yep, you guessed it: It's time to go on vacation. It's time for a road trip.

There are a lot of factors that go into a successful road trip (Did you remember the sandwiches? The maps? Did you leave grandma at that last gas station?), but the most important one is often the most overlooked. Yep, that's right--we're talking about the car. The wheels that you choose can make or break your good-time highway odyssey.

Herewith, we present to you Automobile Magazine's list of the six best road trip cars for 2008. The steeds here were chosen based on real-world criteria, not just cold and heartless intangibles. Enjoy, travel safe, and don't forget to write.

BEST SEATS: Volvo S80

Volvo seats are among the best in the business, and the chairs in the S80 are the best that Volvo has to offer: comfortable, friendly to sore backs, and supportive in the extreme. Long hours behind the wheel require seats that don't add to your fatigue, and the S80's thrones are essentially mattresses with recline adjustment. If you're looking for big side bolsters and infinite adjustability, look elsewhere, but if the idea of a comfort-filled thousand-mile day stokes your fires, then look no further.

MOST VERSATILE: Chrysler Town & Country

Ahh, the minivan. It's an American family staple. Trucking from sea to shining sea in your sliding-door sled is as much a stateside glory as baseball or apple pie. Chrysler's Town & Country minivan--all-new this year, along with its sibling, the Dodge Caravan--wins the prize for tradition and carry-all capability, but what seals the deal is the T&C's unparalleled versatility. What other minivan offers you swiveling second-row seats, a removable (full-size) center table, an under-floor storage compartment, and a power folding third row? That's right: none of 'em. And while a sedan (or Honda's Odyssey minivan) may be much more entertaining to drive, the T&C trumps everything else out there by simply being ready for anything.

MOST CARGO SPACE: Dodge Sprinter

OK, we give. Yes, this one is a little bit of a cop-out; it's not really something most people would buy if they were in the market for a road-trip car. Believe it or not, though, Dodge's service van for the people actually makes one heck of a nice long-distance runner. Sprinter? They should've named it the Kenyan Marathon Star. The Mercedes-Benz-designed Sprinter handles long distances with aplomb, and as such, it has a dedicated following among the small-motorhome set. The seats are comfortable, wind noise is surprisingly low, and visibility is excellent. Seating options verge on the infinite. At a whopping 247 cubic feet of cargo space, the Sprinter bests almost any other commercial vehicle on the market, but believe it or not, there's more. That figure, after all, is for the short-wheelbase Sprinter. The long-wheelbase model offers up a cavernous 473 cubic feet. Laugh if you must, but if we were moving to Alaska and had to drive our sorry, moose-loathing selves there, we'd pick a Sprinter before just about anything else.

BEST ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM: Infiniti M35/M45

Entertainment systems are a matter of personal taste, as one man's tech-laden DVD powerhouse is another man's complex electronic nightmare. With that in mind, the Infiniti M-series offers the best of both worlds: high audio/visual fidelity, feature-laden options packages, and a simple, intuitive interface. The optional premium-package stereo delivers some of the most nuanced and articulate digital surround sound and music playback that we've ever heard, and when you pair it with the rear-seat entertainment system (a pop-up screen and DVD player), you get one of the best in-car factory A/V systems on the market. Chrysler's Town & Country may offer more versatility (two screens that can simultaneously show different programs, for example), but its playback quality isn't anywhere near as impressive.

BEST FUEL ECONOMY: Toyota Corolla/Honda Civic Hybrid (tie)

Contrary to what you'd think, road-trip fuel economy isn't just about the numbers. It's also about the compromises that you make. If you go strictly by EPA ratings, then the Toyota Prius's 48-mpg highway rating wins the day. But not so fast--as pump-thrifty as the Prius is, more than a few hours behind its wheel will have any sane enthusiast screaming for mercy. The Toyota's floaty suspension, numb steering, tiny rear seat, and strung-out highway manners leave us wanting. With that in mind, we suggest two alternatives: the Toyota Corolla, and the Honda Civic Hybrid. Their EPA highway ratings (37 and 45 mpg, respectively) rival that of the Prius, but they're both much nicer to drive. The Corolla is a little less strained at high speed than the Civic is, which helps make up for its lower highway fuel economy. Tie.

Runner-up: Toyota's Camry Hybrid, for its combination of spacious interior, couch-comfy seats, and 34-mpg highway thirst.

BEST TO SLEEP IN WHILE MOVING: Lexus LS460L/LS600hL

What good is a road trip without a co-driver? And what good is a co-driver if they don't drive while you sleep? In long-wheelbase form, Lexus's LS luxury sedan trumps all road-snooze comers, and it turns every highway into a one-way road to Dreamsville. Sure, the Lexus's back seat offers up seemingly endless legroom, but that's not the cake-topper. What sells us is the LS's optional reclining rear seats--yes, you read that right--extendable rear footrests, and tomb-quiet interior. All four seats are comfortable for days, but the reclining rears are a gift from God. Couple them with the LS's famously serene interior, and you have a recipe for miles and miles of snooze.

Mercedes-Benz says the G55 AMG's recent makeover "made this classic fit for the future."

However, we aren't sure if Mercedes is talking about the same future most consumers anticipate.

In the face of reports that gasoline prices may reach $4.50 per gallon by July 4, Mercedes has unveiled a refreshed G55 AMG that features an upgraded 507 hp, supercharged 5.5-liter V-8 engine, a reworked grille, and new 19-inch alloy wheels. While the G55 AMG's power has increased (thanks to the integrations of a new engine control unit), 0-62 mph performance remains unchanged. The G55's electronic stability program also boasts a new and more powerful control unit, and the Mercedes now comes with hill-start assist.

Inside, the G55 AMG gets latest generation telematics equipment, optional heated and cooled seats, and standard designo leather upholstery.

Mercedes has not released new G55 AMG fuel economy figures, but we anticipate the tank-like SUV to achieve no better than 11 mpg city and 13 mpg highway the current G55 AMG is rated for.

Midcycle face-lifts rarely excite us here at Automobile Magazine, but in the case of the iconic Porsche 911, we're finding it difficult to suppress our enthusiasm. But there's no reason to be shy ...

Two-wheel-drive versions of the 2009 Carrera will be the first 911s to get a new dual-clutch automatic, more power, and LED running lights, all of which will help strengthen the car's position in the face of stiff competition from the likes of the Audi R8, Nissan GT-R, Chevrolet Corvette, and others.

Porsche calls its optional seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox "PDK," short for Porsche-Doppelkupplung. Although other carmakers have offered dual-clutch transmissions for quite some time, Porsche makes sure to point out its leadership in this concept: "Porsche developed this gearshift principle for racing no less than 25 years ago," states the press release. "It features two parallel clutches to eliminate any interruption in power delivery and eliminates even the slightest break between gears."

Whoever invented this type of fancy automatic gearbox, we feel that there's nothing quite like rowing your own gears in a stick-shift Porsche 911. Still, this PDK gearbox is certainly an enticing feature that we're eager to sample, particularly given its promises of ultraquick shifts and superior performance. According to Porsche, the PDK-equipped Carrera S coupe is 0.2 second quicker in the sprint from 0 to 60 mph, which takes a scant 4.3 seconds. Furthermore, a Carrera S with optional launch control (part of the Sport Chrono Plus package) can accelerate an additional 0.2 second quicker, reaching the mark in a hair-mussing 4.1 seconds. Garden-variety 2009 Carrera models will reach 60 mph only 0.2 second behind their S-badged counterparts. The Tiptronic automatic option, by the way, goes bye-bye, but we won't miss it a bit, since comparable PDK-equipped cars improve upon Tiptronic 0-to-60-mph times by a whopping 0.7 second.

The transmission isn't the only thing boosting the updated 911's performance. Direct fuel injection, a first in the 911 range, helps bump horsepower to 345 hp for the base 3.6-liter flat six (20 hp more than before) and 385 hp for the S's 3.8-liter boxer (a 30-hp increase). As you'll longingly tell your cellmates after you've been locked up in jail, the new Carrera S, Porsche says, will now top out at 188 mph, six hard-earned mph faster than before.

In a sign of the times, Porsche's Euro-market press release describes the car's fuel economy before it discusses the engines' outputs. To that end, direct injection helped lessen the car's carbon footprint by up to 13 percent, and it's rated at a combined 24 mpg in the European test cycle.

Subtle changes also grace the skin of the '09 911, including larger front-bumper intakes and bigger sideview mirrors, while LED driving lights (à la Audi R8), bixenon headlights, and LED taillights are now standard. Swiveling headlamps join the options list, but they'll surely be pricey, in standard Porsche fashion.

The updated 911 goes on sale in September 2008 in North America. U.S. pricing starts at $75,600 (up from $73,500) for the Carrera coupe, $86,200 (up from $83,800) for both the Carrera convertible and the Carrera S coupe, and $96,800 (up from $94,100) for the Carrera S cabriolet.

Talented racing driver Tony Stewart holds valuable bragging rights for the next year, after leading all thirty laps of the fourth annual Prelude to the Dream, held on June 4, 2008, at Ohio's Eldora Speedway, which Stewart also happens to own.

Stewart and twenty-four rivals, including twenty-one other NASCAR regulars and two NHRA stars, drove unfamiliar late-model stock cars in the exhibition. Stewart was awarded a trophy for his efforts, but the real purpose of the event was to raise money for the Victory Junction Gang, a kids' camp founded by Kyle Petty's family. The funds from the Prelude were raised largely through the proceeds from HBO Pay-Per-View live coverage of the race.

Said Stewart after his victory: "We don't know what the results of the pay-per-view are and everything that's coming in, but I'm going to guarantee Kyle Petty and the Victory Junction Gang $1 million from tonight's event," Stewart added, handing Kyle Petty a check for that amount. "The Victory Junction Gang camps have become such a part of my family, too. That's what tonight is all about. We all get to have fun out here tonight and get to drive dirt cars ... but it's a lot deeper and bigger cause than that."

An estimated 23,000 people turned out on the hot Wednesday night to see how the NASCAR and NHRA stars would fare as fish out of water, and Stewart was a primary organizer of the event.

"To get twenty-five guys all on the same night to be able to get an opening in their schedule - that's something that means a lot to me," Stewart said. "For all the fans to take off work to come here, along with the drivers, it just makes for an awesome victory."

Automobile Magazine was there, too. Check out some of the behind-the-scenes photos that we snapped while standing on the muddy ground at Eldora.

Local and national media turned out in remarkable numbers, considering that the exhibition was held at a relatively small-time dirt track in rural Ohio. Here, ESPN's Jamie Little interviews four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon.

Many fans tried their hands on Eldora's half-mile, albeit on a sprint-car simulator.

What could possibly be cooler than a giant inflatable Bass Pro Shop?

Jimmie Johnson, moments after sending someone a text message.

Tony Stewart checks Eldora's prerace track conditions in a clapped out Chevy pickup. Shouldn't you be behind the wheel of a Toyota Tundra these days, Tony?

Bobby Labonte draws his qualifying card out of a five-gallon bucket. Classy!

A push-truck helps dry the Eldora backstretch.

Ray Evernham and Kenny Schrader.

Our favorite late model from the support race was this interpretation of the 1957 Chevy.

Our favorite late model from the support race was this interpretation of the 1957 Chevy.

Dale Earnhardt, Sr., passed on in 2001, but his legend lives on.

Ray Evernham and Bill Elliott laugh it up before taking to the track.

Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman, their expressions proving that these drivers truly enjoyed a break from their normal routines.

Muddy push truck: Dodge Ramcharger Prospector package.

Once the helmet goes on, Stewart is all business.

Hoosier tire shavings and a shaving tool.

Kenny Wallace gets a wheel up in front of the HBO boom camera.

2007 Prelude winner Carl Edwards displays how late models can crazily shift their bodies through the corners.

Access to the engine bay of a late model is pretty easy: just remove the fender and climb on in.

Same with the suspension: just jack up the car and stick your head in the wheel well.

An HBO cameraman at work.

For this race only, one of NASCAR's main sponsors, Sprint, brought a giant video screen to Eldora.

Ryan Newman suffered a flat tire during warm-ups.

Drag racer Cruz Pedregon's late model is a blur during qualifying.

Eventual race winner Tony Stewart twists the chassis under the lights.