Autos
– The 2008 Lexus RX350 will arrive early this month with a new grille and other minor exterior changes but the same base prices as the 2007 models. The front-wheel-drive RX is $37,400 and the all-wheel-drive is $38,800, not including the $715 destination charge.
– The 2007 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup goes on sale in mid-February with a base price of $22,290 for a regular-cab with a 4-liter V-6 and 5-speed automatic transmission. The four-door Double Cab starts at $26,105 with the same engine and transmission. CrewMax models with four full-size doors are due in March starting at $29,675 with the 4.7-liter V-8. The prices do not include the $645 destination charge.
– A diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee goes on sale in March at a $37,780 base price for a two-wheel-drive Limited. The four-wheel-drive Limited starts at $41,020. Overland models are 41,265 for 2WD and $44,700 for 4WD. Prices do not include the $695 destination charge. The engine is a Mercedes-Benz 3-liter diesel V-6 with 215 horsepower and EPA ratings of 20 miles per gallon city and 24 highway.
– Ford has lowered prices on the redesigned 2008 Escape and Mercury Mariner. The 2008 Escape XLS starts at $19,245, $740 less than the ’07. The XLT is $22,545 ($400 less) and the Hybrid is $25,740 ($580 less). Base price on the 2008 Mariner is $410 lower, at $21,395. The prices do not include the $665 destination charge. Side-curtain air bags, traction control and roll stability control are new standard features on all 2008 models, due in dealerships in early March.
– The 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid went on sale in late January at a base price of $24,400 (not including the $615 destination charge) in California and seven Northeastern states that have adopted California emissions regulations. Nissan has no plans to sell the hybrid in the Midwest. It comes with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, continuously variable transmission and hybrid technology Nissan licenses from Toyota. EPA mileage ratings are 42 city and 36 highway (versus 40 city/38 highway for the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which starts at $26,200, not including the $620 destination charge).
People
– To mark its three-year sponsorship of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s Bike the Drive, Bank of America has named former Chicago Bears safety Gary Fencik, who participates in the annual ride with his family, honorary starter. The 2007 ride will take place May 27 on Lake Shore Drive, which is closed to motorized traffic from 5:30 to 10:30 a.m. Registration is open at www.bikethedrive.org.
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Quick Trips are compiled from the notebooks of Jim Mateja and Rick Popely, and from Tribune news services.
