I just had the chance to try out the 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara which now comes standard in all trim levels with a built-in Garmin navigation device, making it the least expensive SUV equipped with navigation. The unit looks very similar to my Nuvi 760. I’m a big fan of the Garmin Nuvi series for its assist of operation, clear graphics and general user-friendliness. So I was inclined to appreciate Suzuki’s approach of providing a built-in docking station for the Nuvi (it folds down into the top center of the dash when not in use), and providing some rudimentary integration (a Suzuki logo appears onscreen when you power up and voice prompts interrupt the vehicle’s sound system). The Grand Vitara’s base price increased by just $500, which primarily covers the nav, splitting the difference between the lower-end aftermarket, sucker-on-the-windshield, cords-a-danglin’ Nuvis and the $1200-$2000 custom in-dash units most other manufacturers offer.

Other bonus features: The SD card slot makes database-updating a snap and allows most of the same photo/music playback functionality as found on my Nuvi. It can be detached for on-foot navigation or to connect to your laptop for direct internet-based system and map database updates. The unit comes pre-loaded with American, Brit, and Aussie male or female voices, and presumably one could download Homer Simpson’s voice and others offered by Garmin for eventual personalization. Oddly, although Garmin offers a number of vehicle icons for download, the one adorning this mini-offroader’s screen looked like a pink sportscar.

A number of features seem to have been upgraded since my 760 was minted, including speed-limit information for more than just major state and interstate highways (it’s displayed as a speed-limit sign located very near the readout of your current GPS-determined speed, which itself is a useful double-check of the car’s speedometer reading, especially if you’ve mounted taller off-road tires). More detailed graphic depictions of intersections and off-ramps including signage helps remove some of the guesswork with tricky directions. Arrival time (or remaining driving duration of a trip), the direction of north, and the map scale are also shown on screen.

But the green-geek in me really delighted at a new Eco Route feature. Enable it, and the system begins monitoring your rate of acceleration and braking, as well as your speed, and grades your eco-driving performance. A leaf changes color from red to yellow to green depending on your driving style at the moment, and then a screen indicates your scores for acceleration, deceleration, speed, and an overall composite score at the end of the trip. The system is pretty stingy with A-grades, even for hypermilers, unless the journey’s speed remains low (it doesn’t seem to pass moral judgment on your velocity relative to the posted limit, it just wants you to go 40-45 mph for optimal aerodynamic drag to get a good grade). One of my best runs was an early-morning ride to the airport. Because there was nobody on the road to impede, I kept my speeds below the limit and drove with imaginary eggs on the pedals and still ended up with an 84. Harumph.

The system is not perfect. It inexplicably zooms in and out at random, giving you the 10,000-foot view when you’re just rolling along, then swoops in for a close-up when direction changes are coming up. I’d generally rather set a level of ascent and have the system stay there–or at least ascent back to there after the intersection close-up. I also was unable to shut off voice commands using only my wits and my experience with the 760, but I confess to not having opened the manual.

In any case, I believe the future of in-car electronics is open structure that can be upgraded as the years roll by. Ford’s Sync telematics platform is heading in that direction as are others. Suzuki’s extractable nav is another great step in that direction.

Ferrari place on a little show for a crowd in Italy, as test driver Luca Badoer drives the 2009 F60 Formula 1 car around a makeshift track. Every time he exits the pits, he does a burnout.

The soundtrack? Why none other than "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas and The Papas.

DTM may be the German equivalent of NASCAR today, but in the 1980s, the race cars competing in Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft were a lot closer to the production cars on which they were based.

If you like E30 BMWs and 190-series Benzes, you'll enjoy this well edited video, which has ample of footage of cars jumping and fenders rubbing in the pack.

Motor Mavens

Seeing as how it's December 25, we feel comfortable talking about toys, specifically model cars. Master modeller Robert Downie likes certain styling elements on the current Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang, but isn't happy with the overall design of any one muscle car.

So he started with AMT's 1/25-scale Camaro and applied the Challenger's front end and the Mustang's rear end. Then, he fitted Maisto Mustang GT wheels and painted the body Testors Grabber Orange, later adding satin black accents. In all, the conversion took 4 months.

Fotki via Carscoop

Despite the tough economy, the Mazda RX-7 revival is still going to happen. Sources close to Mazda tell us that we could see a new RX-7 as primeval as 2011. However, the arrival of the 2012 Mazda RX-7 of the RX-7 will almost certainly signal the end for the expensive, slow-selling Mazda RX-8.

As we reported early this year, the next RX-7 will use Mazda's new-generation Renesis 16X rotary engine which debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show in the Taiki concept. This 1,600cc, two-rotor Wankel engine has a 800cc x 2 configuration versus the 654cc x 2 configuration in the current RX-8.

The upshot of the extra displacement should be better performance, as the 16X is said to be capable of up to 350 horsepower and 215 pound-feet of torque versus the RX8's paltry 232 hp and 159 lb-ft.

Early reports suggested that Mazda would take advantage of this power potential and build a 300-hp RX-8 with styling cues from the Furai concept (shown at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show)and a mid-$30Ks price tag.

However, sources close to Mazda now suggest that the company will take a simpler approach and create a car whose character evokes the original RX-7 (sold in the U.S. from 1979-1985). Horsepower is expected to be in the 200-250 range and the pricetag will be about $25,000.

A simpler, more efficient RX-7 would likely be a better fit with current economic and legislative realities, though we hear Mazda is still trying to reduce the weight of the 16X engine while lower fuel consumption (the age-old problem with rotaries). If the company can sort it all out, the 2012 RX-7 should wage interesting competition for the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and the production version of the Toyota FT-86. – Mak Tokuyama, reporting from Japan 

Here's a video about the very Subaru Impreza WRX STI that Travis Pastrana will use for his record jump attempt. Maybe the most interesting revelation? The Japanese-spec 2.0-liter boxer-4 was apparently the starting point under the hood, rather than the 2.5-liter used in U.S.-spec Subarus. Of course, the engine in the jump car has been bored and stroked.

Only one week left until Pastrana's jump attempt, so we'll only expect 7 more pre-jump videos from Red Bull. 

Though the production car will almost certainly bear a different name, the Toyota FT-86 pays big homage to the rear-drive Corolla AE-86. These Corollas are regularly spotted at drift and autocross events, but this drag car is the most interesting one we've ordered eyes on in a while.

This car apparently started with the 2JZGTE 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline-6 from the Supra, but has reportedly been modified to deliver about 800 horsepower — 80 of which come courtesy of a nitrous shot. Now it's said to be capable of running a quarter-mile in the 8s.

Speedhunters is running a room of the images originally posted on the Spanish-language blog, Boostiao, and either site is worth checking if you want to see more photos.

Video of the car on the dragstrip after the jump.

Boostiao via Speedhunters

There are plenty of "let's fix up a car" shows you could watch, but Motor City Motors, which airs on the Discovery Channel starting Monday, Dec. 28, promises to be a little different.

In the hour-long show, an apparently struggling father/son-owned motorcycle shop opens its doors to a different crew of unemployed Detroit autoworkers apiece week. They'll be given a challenge and five days to complete it. In Episode 1, "The Gasser," the challenge is to turn a 1928 Ford Model T into a hot rod. In Episode 2, "The Asphalter," a 1992 Suburban must be transformed into a pothole filler capable of repairing neglected Detroit streets.

You'll find a couple trailer videos for Motor City Motors after the jump.

Motor Trend, Discovery Channel