Autos
*Base prices for the 2008 Saturn Astra four-door hatchbacks are $15,375 for the XE and $16,925 for the XR. The two-door Astra XR starts at $17,875. The prices do not include the $620 destination charge. Sales will begin in early December for Astra, a version of the European Opel Astra.
*Dodge will add a midsize crossover called Journey in the first quarter of 2008 that will seat up to seven. Based on the Avenger platform, Journey will be available with front- or all-wheel drive and 4-cylinder and V-6 engines. Features will include storage bins in the floor that can hold a dozen 12-ounce beverage cans, a bin under the front passenger seat and sliding second-row seats.
*Ford will unveil a concept called Verve at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month that will replace the subcompact Fiesta in Europe and come to the U.S. by 2010 in the entry-level role below Focus. Verve is a two-door hatchback created by Ford designers in Europe and built off the Mazda2 platform.
Safety
*Graco Children’s Products has alerted consumers that the lower anchorage belt on the ComfortSport convertible car seats may be misrouted, allowing the seat back angle to exceed 70 degrees in a frontal crash. Models affected are: 8629TWL, 8630MTR, 8631DFT, 8631DRA, 8632PSO, 8635TAC, 8639COS, 8C00BLG, 8C00DMN, 8C00GRP, 8C00LNW, 8C00MID, 8C00TMB, 8C01SVD, 8C01WTN, 8C02MGI, 8C02MRC, 8C03HAL, 8C03WCF, 8C04FRR, 8433FOF. Visit www.gracobaby.com.
FYI
*More than 200 crash test videos conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are available for free viewing at the Consumer Reports Web site, www.ConsumerReports.org/crashtest. The tests include an offset frontal crash at 40 m.p.h. into a fixed barrier and a 31 m.p.h. side impact by a moving barrier that simulates another vehicle.
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Quick Trips are compiled from the notebook of Rick Popely and from Tribune news services.
