Isuzu Trooper 92 Light Covers on 2040-parts.com

Ford and GM reliability ratings dip in Consumer Reports survey

Consumers rated Ford's new Explorer, Fiesta and Focus models at less-than-average reliability during their first year, according to Consumer Reports' annual auto survey. Poor reception of the new models bumped Ford's overall reliability rank from the 10th spot in 2010 to the 20th this year among the 28 major nameplates included in the survey. Findings are based on responses from 1.3 million vehicle owners or lessees who subscribe to the magazine.

2010 Lotus Evora to start at $74,675

The 2010 Lotus Evora will start at $74,675 when it arrives in the United States in the first part of next year. The exotic mid-engine 2+2 sports car is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 276 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It rips from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and tops out at 162 mph.

1970 DeTomaso Mangusta: Bring a Trailer special

The name means “mongoose” in Italian, and even if this American half-breed never killed a Cobra on the track, in the looks department it’s still lethal. DeTomaso built 401 Mangusta sports cars from 1967 to 1971 before it was axed in favor of the ubiquitous Pantera--a styling step backward in the eyes of your humble author. The Mangusta formula was the same as that for Pantera: a Ford V8 engine (albeit a 302 rather than a 351C) midships in a sleek Italian body.