Automotive Reviews

Chrysler 200, 2011 car review

Chrysler performed a major miracle in transforming its so-so Sebring mid-size front-drive sedan into the far superior Chrysler 200 model in only about a year. Such a project usually takes much longer, but faltering Chrysler had to rush things. Many critics are surprised, and some feel it shows that Chrysler promises to be far more competitive under its new Fiat control. The Sebring name is gone, replaced by the “200” name. The 2011 200 logically fits beneath the name given the improved top-line 2011 Chrysler 300. There are three 200 trim levels: the base $19,245 LX, mid-range $21,245 Touring and top-line $23,745 Limited, which I tested. The LX has air conditioning, four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 sound system, cruise control, 17-inch wheels, keyless

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Academy Awards: Hyundai ponders reality in Genesis ad

The Hyundai Genesis gained its first substantial acclaim as the 2009 North American Car of the Year. But the South Korean manufacturer didn’t rest for very for long on the praise. It’s now touting its performance-oriented Genesis during the Academy Awards. The award-winning Genesis sedan set a new benchmark in the premium car category. It costs about $33,000 and included performance and luxury features like touch-screen navigation, electronic parking brake with automatic vehicle hold, Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFLS), Lexicon audio systems and electronic active head restraints. But the new Hyundai Genesis is the 365-horsepower, 25 mpg edition. One automotive publication commented, “It’s as luxurious as a Lexus LS 460.” And with the voice over of Justin Bateman, the commercial

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Academy Awards: Hyundai offers free iPad with Equus

Hyundai is arguably the current most talked about manufacturer in the auto industry, and now there’s another reason. The South Korean carmaker promoted during the Academy Awards commercials its unique top-of-the-line Equus feature — a free 16GB WiFi Apple iPad. Hyundai, the exclusive auto advertiser during the Oscars telecast, says in promotional copy for the new offer: “There’s nothing worse than buying a new luxury car only to sit down and have to learn about it through a boring owner’s manual.” “Thankfully, every Equus comes with a 16GB WiFi Apple iPad, and instead of the boring owner’s manual, the Equus Owner’s Experience app teaches you everything you need to know through demonstration videos, interactive product and safety demonstrations via a

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1955 Ford Thunderbird (two-seater), 1955-57 Car Review

The 1955 Ford Thunderbird two seater (1955-1957) is among the most iconic American cars. It’s been in television shows, movies and print advertisements and pictured on a U.S. postage stamp. The mass media often has mistakenly called any sporty looking car, like the Ford Mustang, a “sports car.” It’s given the 1955-57 Thunderbird the same description, although Ford stressed from the get-go its “new baby” was a “personal car.” Ford knew the sports cars market was very limited and calling the Thunderbird a “personal car” would give it broader appeal. The 1955-57 “T-Bird” was America’s second mass-produced sports car from a large domestic automaker, behind the Chevrolet Corvette. Smaller U.S. car producers, such as Nash and Kaiser, built a limited

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Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, 2009 car review

You may not be able to afford a Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, or even want one, for that matter. But you owe it to yourself to drive one before you pass on. If all you drive are cars such as Toyotas and Chevys, you’ll never get the full picture. The 2009 Phantom Coupe ($400,000) is large, heavy and luxurious. That’s the way Rolls-Royces have always been, so why break tradition? But the car also is powerful, fast and agile on twisting mountain roads near this city, I discovered while driving it at a recent media preview, And that’s not the way Rolls-Royces have always been. The 2009 Coupe should not be mistaken for a Rolls built before Germany’s BMW Group took

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Hyundai Genesis, 2011 car review

The Hyundai Genesis coupe debuted two years ago as a 2009 model, and its styling, acceleration and fair price gave the Korean manufacturer a good, positive jolt in the auto industry. But Hyundai has extended itself with the 2011 edition options, including the 3.8 liter, V6-powered R-Spec. Previously only available on the smaller-engined 2.0T, the R-Spec model combines 306 horsepower with a six-speed manual transmission. The R-Spec also showcases 19-inch wheels with a gunmetal finish, Brembo brake package with ventilated front rotors, stiffer suspension and sportier trim. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Normal, around-town driving and a few local freeway treks during a week’s test drive are sufficient. But on more than two dozen occasions since 2003, I’ve taken test

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1963-64 Studebaker Avanti Car Review

The rakish 1963-64 Studebaker Avanti was among the most daring 1960s American cars, a modern masterpiece with totally unique American styling that even top exotic Italian auto stylists wouldn’t attempt to do. The Avanti had advanced safety features, when no U.S. automaker particularly gave a darn about safety. Such features included a built-in roll bar, padded interior and door latches that became structural body members when closed. Performance? An Avanti with a supercharged V-8 was one of the fastest 1960s autos. A supercharged model hit 168 mph, while a modified version reached 196 mph — a staggering speed for a 1960s production street car. Some 29 Bonneville speed records were smashed by a supercharged Avanti. Safety? The Avanti (Italian for

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Toyota defines hybrid terms: one is Prius, two is Prii

If the opinions of nearly two millions voters interested car names count, which apparently they do for Toyota, the proper plural word for automaker’s popular Prius hybrid is Prii. And it’s correctly pronounced PRE-EYE. Toyota allowed the public to decide the answer to grammatically puzzling question when it launched its “Prius goes plural” ad campaign earlier this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Japanese manufacturer reported 25 percent of the more than 1.8 million votes cast selected Prii. Finishing second was Prius with 24 percent, followed by Priuses (20 percent), Prien (18 percent) and Prium (13 percent). The word Prius means “beforehand” in Latin, and it’s not supposed to be pluralized. But linguistics experts report

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BMW announces new green sub brand, i3, i8 set for 2013

BMW has unveiled the sub-brand BMW i, which will feature two green vehicles expected in the marketplace by 2013. The BMW i3, previously known as the Megacity Vehicle, will be the BMW Group’s first series-produced car for urban areas driven by electric power alone. The BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid. Both models are based on a construction concept known as LifeDrive architecture. An aluminium chassis houses the powertrain, and the passenger cell consists of high-strength but lightweight carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). Like the BMW i3, the BMW i8 will also be manufactured at BMW’s Leipzig, Germany, plant. An additional range of mobility services — which can also be used independently of the cars — will be an integral component

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Nissan Versa leads top-10 cheapest new cars to own

The 2011 Nissan Versa is the least expensive car in the United States to own and operate for five years, according to a new report on the website of the business publication, Kiplinger. The five-year cost of ownership assessment, published on Kiglinger.com, includes the purchase price, down payment, interest on the car loan, insurance, depreciation, taxes and fees, fuel, service and repairs. The Versa and the other cars on the list are all compacts or subcompacts because, according to the report, “They tend to have the lowest market price, the best fuel economy, and reasonable insurance rates since premiums tend to rise with horsepower.” The Nissan Versa averages 26 mpg (city) and 34 mpg (highway), has six airbags standard, but

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McLaren MP4-12C, 2012: world's best sports car?

Dan Neil, the long-time automotive columnist whose feature Rumble Seat appears in the Saturday edition of the Wall Street Journal, has something to say. He believes the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C is the best sports car in the world. The reason: “(It’s) an era-defining work of technical intelligence and jet-fighter performance that will — be warned — make you look look at the other cars in your garage like they were lawn mowers.” Neil bases his opinion on a variety of factors, most notably: the new McLaren accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds and can complete a quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds. The C12 has a 32-valve, 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 with 592 horsepower and a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. Neil

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Honda Fit recall: nearly 700,000 globally for stalling issue

Honda is recalling about 97,000 of its 2009–10 Honda Fit hatchbacks in the United States and about 700,000 worldwide (also sold under the names Honda Freed and Honda City) because a part failure can cause the car to stall or damage the engine. The carmaker announced in a news release that “lost motion springs” within the engine’s valve train “may bend or break over time resulting in abnormal engine noise and potentially causing engine damage or stalling.” Honda said it was not aware of any crashes or injuries and would begin notifying owners early next month. The Japanese automaker said the problem is originates from a  “a lack of lubrication “where the lost motion spring retainer contacts the rocker arm.”

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BMW 1956-1959 507 car review

One of the most revered BMW models is the 1956-59 507 sports car, valued at $420,000 if in excellent (and not even show car) condition. Only 253 were built, but at least 200 have survived because the 507 isn’t the sort of auto that’s neglected and then thrown away. BMW made top sports cars in the 1930s, but suffered so much damage during World War II that it couldn’t return to auto production until 1951. The 507 revived its reputation for producing fast, durable, superbly engineered road cars. The 507 had everything you could ask from a sports car. It had sensational styling that still looks great and could do 0-60 mph in 7 to 8.8 seconds, depending on gearing.

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Porsche set to debut second hybrid, Panamera S

Porsche will unveil its second production hybrid model, the Panamera S Hybrid, later this year, adding another chapter to the carmaker’s Intelligent Performance development philosophy. The new Panamera model produces 380 horsepower is the most fuel efficient Porsche in history. Optional low-rolling-resistance tires developed for the Panamera helps hybrid performance sedan deliver its impressive NEDC fuel economy figure. But even with standard performance tires, the Panamera S Hybrid’s estimated mpg will be just under 27 mpg. (The official EPA fuel economy estimates will be available closer to the car’s on-sale date.) The Panamera S Hybrid sets new standards in terms of Porsche performance as well as hybrid efficiencies. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and has

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Lexus video: Super car does donuts around super model

Like manufacturers featuring stunning models at auto shows, the same equation works in print and in video marketing.  But throw in a performance Lexus and add a little suspense, and it’s a great way to sell cars — or at least yellow bikinis. In the video below, champion drifter racer Rhys Millen guides the Lexus LFA super car around super model around Rianne Ten Haken. Photographer Yu Tsai explains his concept in the video, Rhys does an extraordinary job getting the Lexus close to the model. And Ten Haken? She just stands there and then comments she had no idea how close the car was. Of course, the dilemma is whether those watching the video will even care about the

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Million Dollar Baby, Pagani Huayra, will be sold in U.S.

Pagani, the niche Italian carmaker founded about 20 years ago, will sell the Huarya, its new more than $1 million sports car, in the United States later this year through a dealer network. The Zonda, Pagani‘s current model, is a perennial favorite for enthusiasts interested in top-speed and brute-power. But it’s not available in the United States. Pagani, based in San Cesario sul Panaro, near Modena, Italy, builds about 40 cars per year, and hopes to sell five of its new Huayra model in the U.S. this year. Named after Huayra Tata, an ancient God of wind, the Huayra has a six-liter, 12-cylinder engine with two turbochargers built by Mercedes-Benz’s AMG. The engine breathes through a pair of air intakes

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