I have big hair. Not one strand of what I like to think is a funky coif brushed against the car’s apparent low headliner as I clambered into the back during a recent product test-drive event in Chicago sponsored by Volkswagen AG.

That says a lot. Like for starters that somewhere in the sporty CC’s development stage, VW designers ruminated on the midsize car’s interior space, and not just its striking exterior look that closely mirrors Mercedes Benz’s CLS.

In an age when space is valued, creating sufficient wiggle room between one’s voluminous hair and the interior roofline is nothing short of thoughtful. I certainly can appreciated VW’s effort to up the vehicle’s headroom even if my reason solely lies on vanity.

It makes all the more sense why VW scheduled a tour with the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. Gaywheels.com was among the invited guests taken on a private tour of the great American architect’s first home in Illinois’ Oak Park enclave. Wright had a penchant for creating illusions of depth – high archways, octagonal rooms – in the most unrestricted way.

Maybe VW designers tore a page from Wright’s playbook.

The CC’s design duplicity continues, as not only is the headliner high enough in spite of major coupe action to the rear, but there’s adequate leg room. There’s also sufficient cargo space, and a storage compartment tucked between the rear seats to store the doodads of your choice. The compartment holds two cups, bringing the total number of cup holders in the vehicle to a standard four.

Coincidentally, CC stands for comfort coupe. The four-door vehicle provides a fair slice of comfort. Where it falls short, though, is in the front-door pockets that are snug, making it slightly cumbersome to slip a folder stuffed with a few sheets of paper in. VW should have gone with hinged side pockets, which pull outward for easy storing and doesn’t call for contorting one’s hands.

I also found the beige and black two-toned sport bucket leather seats in the 4-cylinder version I drove to be, well, meh. It was uninspiring and, dare I say, drab. Even with real chrome accents, the interior’s look was comparable to almost hitting a high note but suddenly falling flat.

From the outside, the CC’s rear acutely slopes but not in a holy molly, we’re-going-to-make-you-wince-because-the-line-on-this-car-is-so-sharp kind of way. It’s more of a graceful plunge. VW describes it as dramatic. Either way, graceful plunge + dramatic = snazzy in my book.

The vehicle handled fairly well on roads though some turns in curvy areas were less-than-smooth. Equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that pumps 200 horsepower, it was zippy enough for my liking. A 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine is also offered. It pushes 265 horsepower.

VW characterizes the CC as near-luxury and positions it smack dab in the crowded midsize sedan segment where the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord reign, according to sales figures.

Its German engineering, spiffy design, and starting price of $26,790 should help it stand out though the vehicle’s base price exponentially swells depending on the package. It tops out at $39,300. The destination charge is $690.

The automaker hopes to sell some 28,000 units. Laura Soave, VW’s general marketing manager, says she thinks the car will be a head turner. I agree, big hair and all.

2009 VW CC:

Engine: 200 HP 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder or a 265 HP 3.6-liter VR6
Transmission: 6-speed manual available with four-cylinder only, 6-speed automatic for both
Drive Wheels: FWD in both engines, AWD available with 3.6-liter VR6

VW is a gay-friendly company.

More auto reviews and features are at Gaywheels.com.

With regal names like Kingswood and Caprice Estate, it was the full-size wagon that served as both the family shuttle and, for many teen drivers, the ideal vehicle in which to take a date “parking.”

Chevrolet has long since abandoned the Caprice nameplate, but the idea of a full size wagon based on car, not a truck, platform lives on in the all-new Chevrolet Traverse. Actually, as the Traverse shares its engine and chassis with three other GM juggernauts, namely the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook, it’s really not completely new.

Yet with the exception of the seductive Enclave, the Traverse may be the most attractive of the bunch. Priced similarly to the Saturn Outlook, the Traverse offers a look more European-inspired than Detroit.

Once you get around to the front, however, the image quickly changes. Here resides the new face of Chevrolet, boldly announced by a handsome split mesh grille and large gold bowtie emblem.

Like its brothers and sisters, the Traverse is a crossover SUV riding on a single unit body platform that adds both strength and lightness to the design. With seating for up to eight people, the Traverse can definitely fill the roll of full-size SUV. It can even tow up to 5,200 pounds. And with its front and available all-wheel drive, the Traverse is well suited to foul-weather excursions.

But it’s what’s under the hood that truly separates the Traverse from larger SUVs such as the Tahoe and Suburban.

In place of a fuel thirsty V8, Chevrolet offers a potent yet fuel-efficient 3.6-liter V6 engine. The Traverse is the first of the four siblings to be fitted with gasoline direct injection, a revolutionary way to get fuel into the combustion chamber that results in better fuel economy and more horsepower. In front wheel drive from, the Traverse earns an EPA rating of 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg highway.

That’s pretty impressive for a vehicle that can comfortably hold six people and their luggage.

Available in LS, LT and LTZ trims, the Traverse runs the gamut from basic transport to near-luxury cruiser. Even the base LS includes such features as power windows, door locks and mirrors, as well as air conditioning, cruise control and an AM/FM stereo with MP3 compatible CD player.

You also get a one year subscription to OnStar with Turn-by-Turn navigation. A fully-loaded LTZ find such features as a power rear liftgate, heated and cooled front seats, ultrasonic rear park assist and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity.

Climb inside the Traverse and you’re greeted by a contemporary interior loaded with usable space and efficient design.

Gone are the bad plastics and Fisher Price switchgear that once haunted GM SUVs. In their place is a handsome dash with well placed instruments backlit in cool blue lighting and many available features, from onboard navigation, to a Side Blind Zone Alert system, to a dual pane glass moonroof.

Comfortable seats in all three rows are a plus, as it a third-row seat that can actually accommodate two adults. And unlike many of its competitors, the Traverse’s third-row seat doesn’t back right up to rear hatch; there’s still a good amount of usable cargo room behind it.

When not in use, the Traverse’s seats fold flush to create a huge flat cargo floor measuring a massive 116.4 cubic feet. The Traverse is also loaded with standard safety features, including front side impact and three-row side curtain airbags, traction and roll stability control and anti-lock disc brakes.

In short, if you need a big SUV-like vehicle to do the things big SUVs do, but you have a need for best in class safety, fuel economy and resale, the Traverse should defiantly be at the top of your test drive list.

Perhaps they should have named it the Traverse Estate.

Chevrolet is a gay-friendly company.

For more reviews, visit Gaywheels.com.

The Volkswagen Rabbit and Eos remained in first and second place, respectively. Mazda’s MAZDA3 gave up the third slot to its sister car from Mazda, the MX-5 who now shares that position with the Audi A3.

“The Top 10 Most Researched list tends to be self-perpetuating,” said Gaywheels.com founder Joe LaMuraglia. “But with the arrival of the Toyota Matrix, smart fortwo and Maserati GranTurismo, our users continue to amaze us with their diversity of vehicle interests.”

For the first time, there were multiple ties on the list.

In addition to the tie for third, the MAZDA3 and VW Jetta vied for the fourth slot, the Saab 9-3 and Dodge Caliber both slotted in at 6th and the newcomer Toyota Matrix joined the MINI Cooper as the 9th Most-Researched Vehicles. Rounding out the Top 10 is the Maserati GranTurismo – first exotic vehicle to ever appear on the list.

Gaywheels.com Top 10 Most-Researched Vehicles – 3rd Quarter 2008

Rank
1 VW Rabbit
2 VW Eos
3 Mazda MX-5 Miata and Audi A3 – tie
4 Mazda MAZDA3 and VW Jetta – tie
5 Toyota Yaris
6 Saab 9-3 and Dodge Caliber -tie
7 Volvo C30
8 smart fortwo
9 Toyota Matrix and MINI Cooper – tie
10 Maserati GranTurismo

The Top 10 Most Researched list is based on website statistics gathered from July 1, 2008 – September 30, 2008 from Gaywheels.com’s New Car section. Gaywheels.com publishes its Most-Researched list quarterly.

They’ve had contenders as far back as the late ’80s with the 626 and more recently with the last generation Mazda6. But it is the first time that Mazda designed and built a midsized sedan specifically for the U.S. consumer.

The last generation of the Mazda6 was a global car and had to meet the needs of consumers from various countries. As a result, it was smaller than its competitors and when you are thinking baby seats, baggage and American teenagers, bigger is better.

In addition to the size deficit, Mazda product planners identified two additional areas that needed improvement over the last generation 6: power and quality. So they set out to make a high-quality vehicle with efficient power in a roomier package.

 Luckily, they paid attention to aesthetics as well, because what emerged is a vehicle that met all their technical requirements and comes wrapped in gorgeous sheet metal that is unmistakably a Mazda.

Bigger

The new Mazda6 is bigger than the car it replaces. It has a 4.5-inch-longer wheelbase and a wider front and rear track. It is 6.1 inches longer and 2.3 inches wider than the last car and its trunk volume increased by almost 10 percent.

The growth is evident when you enter the roomy cabin. Where the last car felt snug and sporty, the new Mazda6 has a more open feel with details and controls that still hint of its sporty nature.

You can feel a real difference in the rear seat and the Mazda6 is now on par with the best in its class.
Badder

What’s more room without some zoom? When they say that the Mazda6 got a complete makeover, that includes the engines as well. The new Mazda6 base “i” trim gets a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that has 170 horsepower while the new Mazda6 “s” trim gets the 3.7-liter V-6 from the CX-9 that produces 272 horsepower.

The base 4-cylinder is quite impressive and for those of you with sporty intentions, choose the standard 6-speed manual transmission. I drove it in the hills just north of Los Angeles and it is a fantastic package. If you want the efficiency of the 4-cylinder but don’t like to shift your stick, there is an optional 5-speed automatic available. Both get competitive fuel mileage with the manual rated at 20/29 city/hwy and the automatic at 21/30 city/hwy.

Yes, you read that correctly, the automatic actually gets better MPG in this case.
For those of you that have to have the power, the V6 in the “s” trim is sublime. At 272 horsepower, it outguns the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. On the road it pulls smoothly and with the manual shift mode in the automatic, is a blast on the curves and highway alike. It’s fuel economy is not at the head of the pack but it still achieves a respectable 17/25 city/hwy.

No matter what engine and transmission combination you get, the DNA of Mazda is evident. As Mazda says, Zoom-Zoom is bred, not born. They’ve done an awesome job creating a mid-size sedan with athletic handling, responsive steering, confident braking, and a well-controlled ride that is smooth when you want it and sporty when you need it. If you move up from a Mazda3 or a MX-5, you won’t be disappointed. If you migrate from an Accord or Camry you’ll rediscover the joys of driving.

Beautiful

The saying goes that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but one might argue that there is such a thing as universal beauty as well. I’d use the second argument to describe the 2009 Mazda6. The designers have done an amazing job at making a gorgeous car that is clearly related to the rest of the Mazda lineup. There are very few lines to find fault with.

While there are many beautiful cars for sale, most have the luxury price tag attached to them. What is so unique about the Mazda6 is that they’ve made a vehicle in a very mainstream segment look so good. This is no shallow West Hollywood poser either. The beauty continues on in the interior with high quality materials, thoughtful design and intuitive controls.

Better?

The 2009 Mazda6 is bigger, badder and more beautiful than the car it replaces, that much is clear. But how does it compete on price and features? Starting at $18,550 for the 4-cylinder Mazda 6i with a manual transmission and easily topping $32,000 for a fully loaded V6 Mazda6s Grand Touring, there is a 6 to meet just about everyone’s price point. Those prices are inline with its competitors as well.

While all but a few offer the litany of features like keyless entry, Bluetooth, satellite radio, remote start and Bose stereo, few can match the combination of style and driving pleasure. I’d say that the Mazda6 is the new “10″ for mid-size sedans.

Read more about Mazdas and other vehicles at Gaywheels.com.

Boring, in whole. Kinda reminds me of the old Toyota Corolla.

I don’t think anybody ever confused the Corolla with stimulating. It’s as stable and conservative as your grandmother’s banker and as affordable as a White Castle hamburger.

That’s been enough to make the Corolla the best-selling nameplate of all time, but that’s not enough. To slay Honda Civics, Saturn Astras, and Nissan Sentras, Toyota had to go in for a makeover. When Toyota designers saw the sexy sleek Civic a couple of years ago, they nearly hurled their last supper. They should be feeling better by now.

Much of the Corolla’s tall, three-box design will cause no trauma among the faithful, but a snarly aero face, steeply raked windshield, smooth bodysides, and squinted taillamps are a bit like gluing falsies on a 53-year old man – they look fabulous, but glitz up a simple soul. Large alloy wheels and ground affects up the amps in the sporty column while body color door handles, and crisp creases dress for a night out. Toyota claims the car’s styling was in collaboration with its studios in Turin, Italy.

Corolla’s base 132-horsepower 16-valve 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, connected to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, sings like Olivia Newton’s umpteenth comeback attempt on the stage at Bubba’s bar in the show.

For more stage presence, step up to the available 2.4-litre four-cylinder that summons 158-horsepower to bark rubber. I’ll tell you right here and now that I’m not a fan of the twitchy electric power steering, but it contributes to excellent fuel economy ratings of 22/30-MPG city/hwy.

No big surprise, most Corolla drivers are practical people.

They’ll wet themselves over an extra storage bin above the glove box, door storage that can hold 20 oz. bottles, and large center console. They can even store their glasses in a compartment over the rearview mirror.

Whether driving cross-country or just to Fresh Market for sushi and Morbier, four passengers ride high and comfy under the sedan’s tall roof, enjoying XM Satellite Radio, protected by side curtain airbags, and getting a commanding view of the road and sidewalk hotties.

Don’t worry if nobody respects your version of excitement; you can make fun of their gas-popping luxury barges all the way to the club and back. Toyota took a boring, but infinitely practical compact sedan, gave it a facelift, added athleticism, and delivered a car as reliable as the laughs on Sordid Lives.

It’s never too late to have some fun – just ask Rue McClanahan about her character, Peggy Ingram. From a proper Baptist grandma to bar hussy and adulteress, she blazes a marvelous trail for the staid and boring. Just like the all-new 2009 Toyota Corolla.

Get more detailed information on the 2009 Toyota Corolla in Gaywheels’ New Car Section.

Toyota is a gay-friendly company.

We promised an interview with Chris Webb and thanks to the wonderful PR divas at GM, we now have some of his snarky insight into what went down last week in NYC.

1. The purpose of the task was to take Saturn car parts and “recycle them” into fashion.
Were all the parts they used recyclable?

The designers used parts from the Saturn Vue and 85 percent of the vehicle, by weight, is able to be recycled in today’s environment/infrastructure.

2. Chris, you know me. What would you have designed if I were your “model”
on this challenge?

I like the thought of something bounded and tight in seat belt webbing for you darling. I just don`t know if the four minutes allocated and one cart would have been enough time to grab myself enough material to cover you modestly.

3. What was your favorite design and why?

My preferences were the same as the judges. Honestly. I thought Leanne`s leather dress was absolutely incredible. Considering she only had 13 hours to create it, the pattern cutting and workmanship was amazing. I also thought her usage of the seat belt material was quite innovative. She frayed it in such a way that it actually resembled feathers.

For its pure wearability and catwalk presence, I thought Korto’s woven seatbelt dress was stunning. the drape and her control of this relatively rigid material was fantastic. I don’t think this outfit would have looked out of place on the runway of Givenchy or Balenciaga.

Either of these outfits were “total winners” for me.

4. Why do you think Saturn is a good “fit” for the Project Runway
demographic?

Saturn’s design essence is vibrant, aware and forward thinking. Attention to detail, fit and finish, proportion – these are all integral to design, be it in fashion or automotive.

Our designers are amongst the most talented artists in the world – and not all dreamed of being industrial designers. Fashion designers, textile designers, tattoo artists, interior designers, sculptors – all gravitate towards GM and Saturn design because our vehicles are functional art – which directly parallels fashion design.

Simply: Project Runway gives insight into young, aspiring designers striving to showcase their talent, perspective and impact the industry. The same holds true for our GM Design team.

5. You’ve talked at length in the past about how fashion and car design should work together more. Can we expect to see a Heidi Klume Astra in the future?

Car and fashion design have many synergies as we have discussed before. Both are about wrapping a form, (whether it be the human body or sheet metal of a car) in material and color.

It looks like our collaboration with Project Runway will continue in the future, but I don`t know the scope of the plans. Maybe there will be a Heidi Astra or a Tim Gunn Sky??

6. Is Keith as cute in person as he is on screen? Were you there to console
him? Do you have his number?

I agree!! Keith is incredibly cute – and even better in the flesh.

No, unfortunately I didn`t get to spend much time with him or the others. The Saturn Project kept them damn busy. If you speak to our Bravo Connections, maybe you will get his number, but then I will have to tell your Steve!

Read more auto articles and reviews cars daily on GayWheels.com.

Ten inches later, a new MINI was born. Gaywheels.com’s Joe LaMuraglia puts the MINI Cooper Clubman through its paces in a steamy Nashville, TN. Watch and see if the new Clubman can be called the Maximus MINImus.

The same set of rules applies to cars. Some of us are swayed by swoopy style and big-name badging, while others get turned on by fuel efficiency and cargo capacity and other practical, nerdy things.

It’s a good thing for the 2009 Toyota Matrix that the latter is true. Newly redesigned for 2009, the Toyota Matrix isn’t pretty, what with its oddly angular, slab-sided body. But geek love is a beautiful thing, and the Matrix has the goodness that draws us to its real talents, beyond its awkward exterior.
The Matrix is loyal to your wallet and eager enough to entertain you in commuting.

You can equip the Matrix to be a fuel-efficient wallflower of an engine, a 1.8-liter four with 132 horsepower and front-wheel drive – or you can pony up for the 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter
four and all-wheel drive. Either way, you can choose either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic, depending on how shifty you are. The Matrix is a fuel-sipper either way, and anyone who says they don’t care in this day of $4 gasoline is loaded or lying. The smaller engine turns in up to 26/32 mpg with the manual transmission.

And though it’s not a chart-topper in terms of power, the Matrix is tossable and fun to drive. Its low center of gravity and high seating position give you the best of both worlds; great handling and a commanding view of the road ahead.

If versatility arouses your attention, the Matrix puts out the pheromones you’re seeking. Its mini-crossover design offers 19.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity in the rear and the ability to flip and fold the second row seats to accommodate just about any size package. If you have an extra-long item – a kayak, possibly an eight-foot-tall cardboard cutout of nerdstud Steve Carell? – the front seat will even fold flat to handle the length.

Starting at $16,190 the Matrix won’t drain your bank account, and Toyota’s reputation for quality and high resale value will come in handy when you decide to trade it in for a newer model.

It may not be a profiling stud, but the Matrix is the kind of long-term commitment you’ll never regret.

Get more detailed information on the 2009 Toyota Matrix in our GayWheels’ new car section.

Toyota is a gay-friendly company.

With the above in mind, we at GayWheels.com are helping Community Marketing with their latest survey and ask that you take a few minutes to answer their questions. Your answers will help LGBT companies continue to move the needle towards equality and inclusive business practices.

Take the survey. Make sure to tell your friends about it!

Everyone who completes the survey by Sept 14, 2008 will be entered into a drawing to win one of FIVE iPod Shuffles or the Grand Prize of TWO free airline tickets from/to any of
the participating airline’s destinations in the 48 continental U.S. States, plus Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Restrictions apply.

Keep this in mind:

• Demographic reports also influence marketing investment. Virtually absent until recently, we now see a growing variety of products and services represented in gay media, celebrating our diversity. Ads keep LGBT publications and websites in business, serving their communities with independent news and information.

• Beyond simply advertising, though, these companies support us in many ways, including sponsoring community events and funding community-based charities in order to earn our loyalty.

• Taking an annual pulse on market trends through surveys helps demonstrate the LGBT community’s growing power, and influences positive change.