My
current
ride
—
a
2003
Jeep
Liberty
known
affectionately
by
my
young
nephews
as
the
Barbie
Jeep
—
will
keep
its
spot
in
the
garage
for
years
after
it’s
paid
off
a
few
months
from
now.
That
was
the
theory,
anyway,
until
the
recent
Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
International
Auto
Show,
which
celebrated
its
25th
anniversary
in
this
car-crazy
town.
The
show
featured
more
than
500
new
cars
from
nearly
40
manufacturers,
offering
an
expansive
exhibition
at
the
Georgia
World
Congress
Center
with
gleaming
metal,
slick
tires
and
more
spokesmodels
dressed
in
black
than
any
HRC
dinner.
Environmental
friendliness
was
an
overriding
theme
as
manufacturers
nearly
tripped
over
one
another
to
show
off
their
fuel-efficient
small
cars
and
hybrids.
But
there
was
also
plenty
of
muscle
in
full-size
pickups,
big-engine
luxury
cars
and
a
handful
of
Hummers
that
came
in
medium,
large
and
extra
large.
There
was
the
playful,
too,
as
nearly
a
dozen
concept
cars
wowed
visitors
with
inspirational,
cutting-edge
designs
and
color
schemes.
Trends
seemed
to
skew
toward
technology,
with
models
offering
internal
hard
drives
for
music
files,
built-in
satellite
radio,
navigation
assistance,
keyless
ignition,
rear-view
monitors
and
models
that
nearly
park
themselves.
And
environmental
friendliness
does
not
mean
sacrificing
luxury.
Enter
the
Lexus
LS
600
HL
Hybrid.
This
all-wheel
drive
model
hits
showrooms
this
summer.
It
sports
the
same
extended
wheel
base
as
the
LS
460
L
and
includes
a
430-horsepower,
V8
full-hybrid
system,
something
Lexus
touts
as
the
“world’s
first
in
a
sedan.”
It
also
packs
an
executive
class
seat
package
with
a
foldaway
table
and
leather-trimmed
recliner
with
massager
and
leg
rest.
The
460
L
doesn’t
yet
carry
a
price
or
fuel
economy
stats,
but
its
non-hybrid
relative
comes
in
at
$71,000.
This
one
is
clearly
for
queens
that
have
it
all.
Saturn
now
offers
the
new
Aura
Hybrid
at
$23,000,
with
a
host
of
features
and
a
36-volt
battery
that
powers
accessories
so
the
gas
engine
can
shut
off
when
you’re
at
a
complete
stop.
But
the
Saturn
Astra
really
caught
my
eye.
The
2008
replacement
for
the
Ion
boasts
a
140-hp,
1.8-liter
Ecotec
four-cylinder
that
appears
in
late
2007
for
$18,000
to
$22,000.
Saturn
also
touts
its
new
Sky
Turbo,
a
modern
roadster
that
gives
the
company
a
flashy
punch.
Gay
men
and
lesbians
Outside
the
Perimeter
often
face
a
dilemma:
Car
or
truck?
They
want
to
show
off
their
gay
sensibilities
and
go
a
little
urban.
But
they’ve
got
stuff
to
haul
and
need
space
and
durability.
GMC
has
the
answer:
the
2008
Sierra
Denali,
their
popular
pickup
upgraded
for
the
Denali
line.
The
sleek
four-door
includes
a
Vortec
6.0
liter
V8
and
cashes
in
at
$40,025.
Tough
but
classy.
Of
course,
a
gay
review
of
an
auto
show
wouldn’t
be
complete
without
Subaru.
Subaru’s
pride
and
joy
this
auto
show
was
the
B9
Tribeca
Limited,
with
plenty
of
refinement,
seating
for
up
to
seven,
and
a
245-horsepower,
6-cylinder
engine.
It’s
definitely
a
step
or
two
up
from
the
lesbian-favorite
Outback
and
costs
$32,495.
The
show’s
concept
cars
provoked
prolonged
stares
and
enough
gawking
to
rival
the
new
hottie
at
the
gym:
pretty
to
look
at,
but
difficult
to
attain.
For
campy
gays
—
as
in
tents
and
fireside
chats,
not
drag
shows
and
showtunes
—
Suzuki
offers
the
Basecamp.
Modeled
after
the
XL7,
this
SUV
includes
a
single
gull-wing
passenger
side
door
that
opens
to
form
a
cantilevered
roof
creating
a
weather-protected
outdoor
area
with
attached
canopy.
For
DJs
on
the
go,
Suzuki
also
displayed
its
Hip
Hop,
a
spin-off
of
the
Grand
Vitara
that
is
the
ultimate
mobile
recording
studio.
A
gull-wing
window
features
slide
out
audio
mixing
equipment,
a
telescoping
microphone
boom,
digital
machine
and
digital
recorder.
It’s
the
perfect
car
to
take
beachside
during
the
annual
gay
trek
to
Pensacola
Beach
during
Memorial
Day
Weekend.
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