Warm weather is deffinitely on it's way. Have you dreamed of owning a convertible but were afraid of the price and inconvenience? Well, now you have a great option from VW. I asked Jody Victor to give us a preview of the 2007 VW Eos.

Jody Victor: Convertibles - the sexiest vehicles alive - they never lose their appeal no matter what brand or year they were made. Now, VW has come up with an innovative, new convertible ( in US showrooms now) and they named it appropriately - Eos is the Greek goddess of dawn.

Not only is the subcompact Eos youthful and appealing, it's also intriguingly practical. The two door boasts four usable seats, a full complement of modern safety equipment, including airbags for head protection and roll bars, and a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price of $28,110 with a hardtop roof - not fabric.

Plus, the Eos debuted as the fourth best convertible nameplate in the US in fuel economy for the 2007 model year. The base Eos, with turbocharged four cylinder and manual transmission, is rated at 23 miles a gallon in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway. Only the 2007 Mini Cooper, Mazda MX-5 and Audi A4 Cabriolet rate higher than the Eos.

The Eos has an innovative, stacking, five-piece roof that incorporates a glass sunroof so drivers actually have three choices while they travel: a coupe with closed-up roof and sunroof for excellent sound-and heat-insulation, a coupe with sunroof for use on those not-so-warm and not-so-cold mornings, and a convertible with roof fully down and stowed in back when the sun shines gloriously warm and bright. And it is all done completely by pushing a button - just be sure to leave room above for the roof to elevate and in back for the clamshell-opening trunk to operate.

Thanks, Jody! I think this is one to try out in person!

Joe Victor

Are you driving around in a car swirling with extra wires and gadget-filled cup-holders? There will be a solution soon! I asked Jody Victor to fill us in on Ford's new Microsoft-developed Sync system.

Jody Victor: Ford's new factory-installed Sync in-vehicle entertainment and communication system developed in conjunction with Microsoft, promises to free your car's cockpit from a tangle of wires and help keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

The Sync provides a means to operate almost any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone and portable music player seamlessly and safely. Sync will read messages aloud and also translate emoticons, such as "LOL" and "XOXO," as well as allow the driver to reply to a text message with preprogrammed responses such as "Meeting Cancelled" or "Can't Talk Right Now."

All of this can be done by voice-activation and steering wheel controls, or by controls in the dash when appropriate. Sync operates in English, French or Spanish, and Ford claims it doesn't need to "learn" special commands or individual voices, as is the case with some voice-activated systems.

The new technology is being offered on entry-level cars such as the Focus, instead of waiting to trickle down from the luxury segment, because the people buying entry-level cars are generally more technology savvy than the luxury car buyer.

Look for the Sync in about a dozen Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles this fall, including Edge, Explorer, Ford Five Hundred (soon to be Taurus), Focus, Freestyle (soon to be Taurus X), Fusion, Milan, MKX, MKZ, Montego, Mountaineer and Explorer Sport Trac.

Thanks, Jody! What a great innovation!

Joe Victor

At the 2007 Geneva Motor Show there was plenty of talk about making motoring greener - not a big surprise with carbon emissions being a hot political topic all over the world. I asked Jody Victor to share some info about his picks of the ten vehicles that the editors of MSN Autos chose as the greenest stories of the Geneva Show.

Jody Victor: Apparently even the most reluctant motor industry converts are starting to realize the green issue is one they cannot ignore. These concept cars represent the most realistic possibilities among the many at the show.

Mercedes-Benz Vision C220 Bluetec concept - Mercedes' new C-class will consume 9 tons less CO2 over its lifecycle (from production to scrapping) than its predecessor. That's a cut of 15% - and it's not done with fancy new innovations but old fashioned engineering skill: better aerodynamics, minimal weight increases, and conventional engines that squeeze more power out of less fuel. And there are more improvements planned - impressive.

Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion - VW and Mercedes actually joined forces to work on the "Bluetec" project - hence the similarity of names. The Passat BlueMotion manages more than 42 mpg -  there's a small price to be paid in performance and ride comfort but buyers have been willing to convert for the big reduction in emissions.

Saab BioFuel Range - Saab's solution is more adventurous and can be used now. Their biofuel cars have conventional engines that are adapted to run on biofuels. Biofuels are a mix of gasoline and ethanol (ethanol from corn and other farm crops) - 85% ethanol / 15% gasoline known as E85, or any mixture of the two. While this theory won't produce enough fuel for everyone (because it takes a lot of crop to produce the fuel  - so land availabilty is a problem and clearing forests - no way) biofuels could help diversify energy sources in parts of the world where agriculture can support it.

Toyota Hybrid X - Toyota, with 11 hybrids already on the road, knows something about hybrid technology. Likely representing the next-generation Prius, the Hybrid X Concept is physically the same size as a conventional family car of today but with it's one-box design, all-glass roof ( in the shape of an X - hence the name), ultrathin seats and flat load floor, the concept is a vision of the family car of the future. Advancements are expected in both performance and economy.

Honda F1 Racecar - Most people, myself included, don't realize that F1 is all about efficiency and so would not associate Formula 1 with environmental concerns. To win, teams must make an engine that can extract as much energy as possible from every last drop of fuel. They must put it in the lightest and most aerodynamic car without compromising reliability or safety, in one of the world's most competitive environments. Honda's 2007 season will be all about using that power for environmental gain while sending a message that they care about the environment.

Wow! Thanks, Jody!

Joe Victor

According to MSN, the most popular luxury cars below, are based on total visits to the site's vehicle research pages. I asked Jody Victor to give us his version of this impressive list of near-luxury cars.

Jody Victor : While these cars are not considered exotic or the most expensive cars available, they are prized for their drivability, luxurious interiors, and loaded options. These rankings are based on data compiled during the 2006 calendar year on msn.com.  

1. BMW 3-Series - Ater a makeover for the 2006 model year that features more room and more powerful engines, the fifth-generation BMW 3-Series adds a new line of coupes to its lineup. The new 3-Series Convertible has a power-operated, retractable hardtop that that goes up in 23 seconds and down in 22.

2. Acura TL - The third-generation TL added minor upgrades for 2006 including a standard tire-pressure-monitoring system and engine control module changes to help reduce torque steer when equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission.

3. Infiniti G35 - An all-new second-generation G sedan debuts for the 2007 model year with a restyled look, an enhanced platform, redisigned suspension and an upgraded engine.

4. Lexus IS - The Lexus IS was introduced for 2006 as the replacement of the popular IS 300 entry sport sedan. Available in the IS 250 and IS 350, the latter has significantly more power with its 306-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine.

5. BMW 5-Series - BMW's midsize lucury sedan received engine upgrades and made all-wheel drive available for the first time in the 2006 model year.

6. BMW 7-Series - The flagship luxury sedan for BMW received a number of significant changes for 2006 including a total makeover that consists of a new hood, grille, headlights and taillights, front and rear bunpers, front spoiler, side sills, trunk lid and new wheel designs. 

7. Mercedes-Benz C-Class - The C-Class is Mercedes-Benz's entry-level luxury car that now only comes in a sedan. Available in Sport and Luxury versions, the C-Class gets new standard equipment for 2007 including seven-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels, power front seats and an adjustable steering column.

8. Audi A4 - Audi gave its A4 Cabriolet a makeover for 2007 with updates to the grille, headlights and steering wheel. Using components from the S4 and A6, the suspension system is completely revised with an updated brake systyem.

9. Cadillac CTS - For 2006 the CTS added a Sport Performance Package and a Sport Appearance Package and the CTS-V received a new 400-horsepower 6.0-liter LS2 V8 engine.

10. Mercedes-Benz S-Class - Debuting in 2006, the ninth-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class is all new for the 2007 model year. Larger, roomier and more powerful than its predecessor, the Mercedes flagship is one of the most technologically advanced luxury cars on the road today.

Thanks, Jody! We'll check them out!

Joe Victor

Not all car shows are alike - some are strictly new models and concept cars, some are classic and historical, and some a mix. Whatever car show you go to there's sure to be shiny paint, sparkling chrome, and exposed motors. I asked Jody Victor to describe the recent car show he and Kathy attended in Naples, Florida.

Jody Victor: I have to say it was one of the most incredible car show events that we've ever seen! There were row upon row of exotic cars and American muscle cars. It was absolutely phenomenal!

There were rows and rows of almost every style of Ferrari - F430 Coupe, F430 Spider, F355 spider, F328 GTS, F360 Coupe, f360 Spider, F456 GTA and the V-12 Enzo. There were over 100 Ferrari's at the show...Unbelievable!

Then there were rows and rows of Lamborghini's...all syles...Murcielago, Gallardo...coupes and spiders.

Maserati was there with Gran Sport Coupes, Cambiocorsa Spyder and coupe, and Quattroporta Sport GT...just gorgeous!

There were several Aston Martin Vanquish's, Lostus Esprit, and a BMW Z8 Roadster....Wow!!

In addition to all of those beautiful cars there were also loads of classic cars and good old American Muscle Cars - Corvettes, 57 Chevys, Chevy SS, Mustang Trick Pony, Mustang Boss GT 350 and a wide assortment of other beautifully restored classic cars.

We stayed until it was over and watched and listened as they all started pulling away to take them home or back to the car dealership. There is nothing like the beautiful whine of the Ferrari and Lambo engine. And many of the owners showed-off and revved them up as they sped off. Of course, the American muscle cars all had those throaty sounding glasspack mufflers!!

But my day was made when one of the exotic car dealers asked me to "help him out" by driving a Ferrari 355 up the street! Needless to say I was flying high!

Thanks, Jody! What a thrill!

Joe Victor