Automotive Reviews

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Hyundai announces new Sonata planned for 2014

Hyundai will introduce the first revamped version of its flagship model and top-selling Sonata sedan in four years in 2014, the South Korean manufacturer announced. The latest version of the Sonata was launched in September 2009 in South Korea and early 2010 in the United States. As the world's fifth-largest auto group along with its affiliate Kia Motors, Hyundai's only newly planned model this year is the 2013 Santa Fe. Hyundai had a record sales year in 2011. In addition to the Hyundai Elantra selling more than one million units worldwide, the carmaker had its largest-selling year in the United States with a sales increase of 20 percent over 2010 totals. The Alabama-built Sonata and North American Car of the

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2012 Toyota Prius v Review: New hybrid wagon has room and a view

Introduced in Japan in May 2011 and six months later in the United States, the 2012 Toyota Prius v joins carmaker's four-member hybrid family. The "v" in Prius v stands for versatility. It's an apt description since the Prius v is a family sized, modern-looking hybrid wagon with 50 percent more cargo area than the original Prius. The Prius v is also six inches longer, three inches taller and one inch wider than its globally popular older relative. There are 34.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats and 38 inches of leg room. There's also a new rounded exterior design and an extended roofline that allows the Prius to emerge from its staid previous appearance. The Weekly Driver

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Chevy Impala 2014, now in 10th generation, set for debut in New York

The 2014 newly designed Chevrolet Impala, now in its 56th year and 10th generation, will be introduced in April at New York International Auto Show. “The momentum at Chevrolet continues to build with the debut of the the Impala, one of the brand’s most enduring and cherished nameplates,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing. “The new Impala further strengthens Chevrolet’s passenger car lineup by giving consumers a full-size sedan that balances the desire for distinction with engaging driving dynamics.” The Impala nameplate was introduced in 1958 and has been one of Chevrolet’s best-selling passenger cars for decades. The new Impala has a 3.6-liter, 217 cubic-inch, 300 horsepower V6 engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. It uses gas/ethanol,

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2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Review: First look at newly styled, seven-speed sedan

The Jetta is Volkswagen's biggest selling model and they want to offer a full compliment of drivetrain options for customers. The fifth drivetrain option for the VW Jetta will be a hybrid version and get a combined 45 mpg, according to preliminary estimates. Now, customers who prefer a European style sedan instead of the Asian and American hybrid offerings, can add the Jetta to their list of green car choices. The 2013 Jetta's hybrid powertrain is built around VW's 1.4L turbocharged gasoline engine and a 27 hp electric motor for a combined output of 170 hp. Transmitting this power will be a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission – the first production hybrid to use a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Unofficially, the Jetta

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Toyota Prius c, 2012: New hybrid's popularity prompts price gouging in Florida

Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield, who writes for the auto portal High Gear Media, has a story about price gouging for the new and vastly popular 2012 Toyota Prius C, the carmaker's subcompact hybrid. According to the report, a dealership in Coconut Creek, Fla., has taken the concept of inflated sticker prices to an extreme — about one third of the original sticker price. Gordon-Bloomfield was alerted to the situation by a reader who forwarded an image of the extreme price of a Toyota Prius c located at Al Hendrickson Toyota and bearing the words "Market Value Adjustment." Translated, that means price gouging. The 2012 Toyota Prius c, which debuted about a week about at dealers, has a sticker price of about $19,000

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2012 Toyota Camry Review: Change is good for U.S. top-selling sedan

It must be a difficult decision for manufacturers with popular models to substantially change what sells. The Toyota Camry, for example, has been the top-selling sedan in the United States in 13 of the past 14 years. Nevertheless, the seventh-generation Camry debuted in the 2012 edition with vast changes. The standard Toyota Camry, with its 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine, has increased horsepower to 178. Additionally, the use of lower viscosity oil, according to the manufacturer, has helped increase gas mileage averages. Beyond the engine, the exterior and interior designs are new. The exterior lines are sharper and the front fascia and taillights are new. The interior, completely redesigned, features upgraded materials. Toyota's new Entune infotainment system is now an option, and

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2012 Buick Verano Review: Luxury sedan with good looks, value price

The Chevrolet Cruze is an unqualified hit on several levels. But can the 2012 Buick Verano, which shares the same platform with the Cruze, be more than a rebadged GM project? For readers who like jumping to the last chapter before reading the whole book, I am not going to spoil the ending, just read on. The Verano is neither a rebadged Euro-market sedan (like the Regal) nor a “pure” Buick design like the LaCrosse. It splits the difference between the two designs, marrying a conservative design with a few discrete Buick cues such as the signature waterfall grille and the silly do-nothing portholes on the hood. The overall impression is of a clean, classy car with signature Buick styling

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2012 Toyota Prius c Review: At less than $20,000 and 53 mpg, it’s all the rage

The 2012 Toyota Prius c was destined to attract a lot of attention. And less than a week into its debut, that’s certainly been the case for the smallest car in the Toyota lineup and the most fuel efficient non-plug-in hybrid in the United States. A starting price of less than $20,000 and the dethroning of its older sibling, the original Toyota Prius, as the country’s most efficient fuel-sipping car hasn’t hurt, either. Add it all up and the Prius c, which debuted at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show as a concept car, is EPA rated at 53 mpg in city driving and 46 mpg in highway driving. Combined, the Prius c is rated at 50 mpg, the same as

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Toyota Prius c, 2012: superior mpg, value price equals strong sales debut

The 2012 Toyota Prius c, the new five-door, sub-compact hatchback and the smallest in the carmaker's lineup of hybrids, debuted impressively in its first week on the market. In its first three days of sales since its March 12 debut, 1,021 Toyota Prius c models sold in the United States, According to Toyota, that number eclipses the sales totals for the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf in February. "A number of factors drive the auto market, and fuel prices is one of them,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division. “With 53 miles-per-gallon in the city and priced under $19,000, the timing for Prius c couldn’t be better." During the first half of

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2012 Buick LaCrosse Review: Supple ride, precise steering for new look in old brand

The full-size Buicks sedans of the 1950s through the early 1970s were stylish, comfortable and had powerful V-8s. They were well-suited to older drivers who bought most of them and mainly drove them on America’s ruler-straight roads. The 2012 LaCrosse sedan is now the largest Buick, although it’s smaller and lighter than those old gas-thirsty Buick land yachts. It comes with front-or all-wheel drive, whereas the old large Buicks had rear-wheel drive. Prices for the new LaCrosse range from $29,960 to $38,270, with all-wheel-drive models starting at $34,070. Even the base LaCrosse is fairly well equipped with comfort, convenience and safety features. A long options list contains a $1,195 power sunroof. The auto world is changing fast, but it still

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2013 GMC Terrain Denali Review: Makeover shines in and out for crossover

Text/Images By Megan Green The 2013 GMC Terrain Denali, introduced recently in New York (its biggest market), is the smallest of the GMC crossovers and features an updated grille, new headlight and tail lamp configurations and additional interior comforts associated with the Denali trim level. Powertrain Options Two direct injection cast aluminum engines are available — the standard Ecotec 2.4 liter dual overhead cam inline 4-cylinder engine and a new comparatively lighter 3.6 liter V6 with a composite intake and an integrated cylinder head/exhaust manifold. Front wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available with either engine choice. The 3.6-liter V6 engine boasts 272 lb.-ft. torque and 301 horsepower. The integrated engine design is key to keeping the estimated

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2012 Fiat 500 Abarth Review: Scorpi0n edition adds to brand’s savvy hot model marketing

Since its return last fall after nearly a four-decade absence, the Fiat 500 continues to find a steady, niche new market in the United States via its new relationship with Chrysler and several massively popular television commercials. In addition to the three models, Pop, Lounge and Sport, Fiat has several specialty editions, including the recently released Abarth and Gucci, and some further specialized offerings for 2013 currently featured at the Geneva Auto Show. In the Gucci trim, a two-tone style and high-styled badging is offered to reflect the famed designer. And with the much-anticipated Abarth, Fiat is hopeful of vast interest in the Scorpion badging that pays homage to the famous driver and builder Karl Abarth. Born under the Scorpion

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2012 Infiniti M Hybrid Review: World’s fastest full hybrid combines performance, economy

According to Infiniti, the 2012 M Hybrid luxury sedan features the performance of a V8 engine with the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder. If this sounds too good to be true, consider the numbers: Infiniti claims 0 to 60 in well under six seconds, and up to 32 mpg. Could the M Hybrid be the automotive equivalent of having your cake and eating it, too? The M Hybrid, or M35h, utilizes Infiniti’s new Direct Response Hybrid system, the first hybrid system developed fully in-house by Nissan/Infiniti. The system combines a 302 hp 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 7-speed automatic transmission, and a 50 kW electric motor powered by a lithium ion battery. Total output is a notable 360 hp engine with

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Historic Ferrari racing returning to Laguna Seca Raceway

Historic Ferraris and their modern-day relatives will take to the race track May 18-20 for Ferrari Racing Days at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Ferrari 458s will compete alongside their predecessor the F430s in the Ferrari Challenge as well as separate 599XX, FXX and Shell Historic races. “We had a tremendous response to this event last year,” said Gill Campbell, CEO/raceway general manager. “Ferrari’s have such a loyal following and we had participants and spectators from around the world turn out to see these cars in their natural environment – the race track.” The single marque racing series allows Ferrari owners and drivers seeking to sharpen their skills to compete against each other on some of the finest

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Toyota Venza, 2013: Revised grille, more technology for New York Auto Show debut

The 2013 Toyota Venza crossover, which will feature a restyled exterior design, will make its North American debut as part of the Toyota display at the 2012 New York Auto Show, April 6-15 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York In addition to enhanced exterior styling, added value through several new standard convenience features and updated option packages that include the Entune™ multi-media system for 2013 model year. Venza’s aerodynamic shape has been modified with a new upper and lower grille, fog lamps and rear taillights. The updated styling is complemented by a new 19-inch wheel design and three new exterior colors: Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl, and Cosmic Gray Mica. The 2013 Venza will continue to be available in

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Bugatti auctioning ride and drive of Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Bugatti Automobiles will auction the opportunity to drive a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport during the RM Auctions’ 14th annual Amelia Island sale on March 10. The winner will get a ride and drive in the Grand Sport with Bugatti’s official test pilot on either the East or West Coast on roads such as Pacific Coast Highway or the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway. When the roof is closed, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, which has a price of $1.8 million, can reach 253 mph. RM Auctions is the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. The auction will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 10. Full-day previews will be held March 8 – 9 from 9 a.m.

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