Flash Drive — 2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek

By Bruce Caldwell

Model Tested: 2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek 4-Door Sedan

Engine: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (boxer configuration), 148 hp, 145 lb/ft

Transmission: 5-speed manual, All Wheel Drive

EPA Ratings: 23-mpg city/30-mpg highway

Base Price: $21,995

As Tested: $22,790

Performance: Very good fuel economy (our best was 33.6 mpg). Reasonably peppy if manual trans is used effectively. Engine is a little buzzy at high rpms. Extra ground clearance for rugged roads. Nimble and fun to drive

Comfort: Very good front row leg and headroom. Comfortable seats, soft headrests. Rear seats easily accommodate large adult.

Utility: Impressive cargo capacity

            Flat cargo floor

            Flat folding rear seats

            Wide hatchback opening

            Ample interior storage for small items

WOW Factors: Impressive fuel economy, especially for an AWD. Handy Incline Assist prevents rollback when starting on hills

Whines: Odd name; just Crosstrek would be preferable. A sixth gear would be nice for sustained freeway driving

Bottom Line: Subarus have always been popular with Pacific Northwest consumers. The new 2013 XV Crosstrek easily adds to that well-deserved reputation. A roomy interior, excellent fuel economy, attractive styling, good versatility, confidence-inspiring AWD and a budget-friendly price make the XV Crosstrek a top choice for anyone seeking a compact sport utility vehicle.  

2013 Toyota Prius c: New hybrid the most fuel-efficient plug-free car

By Lary Coppola

The Toyota Prius c is not a Yaris with gas-electric hybrid powerplant, and it’s not just a shortened-up Prius. It is a Prius with a gasoline-electric hybrid powerplant that was mechanically cross-pollinated — for lack of a better term — with the compact four-door hatchback Yaris.

The Prius c boasts the low emissions and fuel economy of eco-oriented hybrids like the larger Prius — but it’s smaller — 19 inches shorter and 500 pounds lighter — and substantially cheaper — at least $5,000. EPA rated at 53mpg/city, at $4 a gallon it will take you 450 miles on $36 worth of gas. It may also qualify for a tax incentive or carpool-lane access sticker in some places.

The Prius c has no direct hybrid competitors, but in this price range you’ll find the Honda Fit, Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio and Volkswagen Golf diesel. Some come close to the highway mileage of the Prius c — but none match it in the city.

Walkaround: The Prius c looks like a conventional hatchback. After all, there are only a few ways to position an upright rear end, four doors and the hood on a 13-foot-long vehicle. However, the Prius c is easily recognizable as a Toyota.

A character line flows from the lower edge, up over the dual grilles, culminating at the Toyota badge in the center. Triangular-shaped outer corners house fog lights on the top models, and the projector headlamps are molded smoothly into the sheet metal.

The front door’s relationship to the door cutouts and roofline mimic the regular Prius with its high point at the B-pillar. However the roofline is taller, resembling the Prius v.

At the rear, the sheet metal above the centerline angles rearward, with arches that carry over the wheels and around the rear resembling a motorcycle fender. While the Prius c uses LED-lit brake lights, conventional bulbs illuminate taillights and amber bulbs behind a clear lens for signals.

Cargo access is straightforward and a temporary-use spare is under the floor. Any flat tire will go in the well but the cargo floor won’t be flat.

Model Lineup: The 2012 Toyota Prius c comes in four models, called One, Two, Three, Four. All share the 99-horsepower gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain, power steering and brakes, and four-door hatchback configuration.

Safety features on all Prius c models include dual front, dual front-side, dual front-seat cushion, front and rear side-curtain and driver-knee airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, VSC electronic stability control, traction control, brake assist, Smart Stop Technology, tire-pressure monitors, and a proximity notification system for pedestrians and cyclists. A rearview camera is not available, however.

Interior: There’s nothing groundbreaking, but some unusual design, and level of standard features. Materials are mostly plastic with a few padded soft-touch panels. There’s a tilt/telescoping steering wheel with redundant controls, though the range of the telescopic function is very short. The floor-mounted shifter is standard with PRNDB settings — with B for battery. Eco and EV mode switches are adjacent the handbrake.

The front seats are roomy enough for 6-footers, comfortable enough for medium-length drives, and on most models the driver’s seat adjusts for height.

Although the rear seats are configured for three adults, two adults or three kids is about it with any degree of comfort and room. The rear seat folds to increase cargo area, and on all but the One model, and has a flexible 60/40 split.

A power port sits below the climate panel, and the USB/auxillary inputs are in a tray above the glovebox.

Instrumentation features a digital speedometer, and fuel level, while a multi-information display provides fuel and energy data with numerous views.

Bluetooth and steering wheel controls are standard on every Prius c, while the top two models get Entune — Toyota’s telematics system. It comes with Bing, Pandora, sports, stocks, traffic, weather, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com and OpenTable. Sirius/XM and HD audio with iPod connectivity and iTunes tagging come with Navi/Entune vehicles, along with Bluetooth streaming. Entune access is complimentary for three years — 24 to 33 months longer than most similar services.

Under The Hood: The Prius c is all about fuel economy and low emissions, with the highest EPA ratings of any car without a plug. The basics of the propulsion system are the same as the standard Prius, but on a smaller scale.

Power is courtesy of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine coupled with a pair of electric motors and a 144-volt, 0.87-kilowatt hour battery pack beneath the rear seat. Each of the electric motors serves a different purpose and the computer that runs it all sends a maximum of 99 total horsepower to the wheels, with a power-to-weight ratio similar to the larger Prius.

The Prius c will run up to 1.5 miles on battery alone while staying under 25 mph with a very light foot, although acceleration or speed engage the gas engine much sooner.

An electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) doesn’t work the way most CVTs do but the results are similar. To keep engine and electric motor speeds in the most efficient range for the required performance needs, the speeds are variable.

EPA ratings peg the mileage at 53/46 mpg City/Highway, or 50 mpg Combined. We averaged 50 mpg in mixed driving.

Behind The Wheel: Prius c shares some platform features with the Yaris and rides and handles much the same as most compact cars. The Prius c has a pretty solid ride, only seeming bouncy on bad roads. It’s relatively flat in corners because the weight from the battery positioning gives it a low center of gravity for predictable handling.

The brake pedal triggers regeneration while the drivetrain uses the car’s momentum to recharge the battery pack.

Whines: No model offers adjustable height shoulder belt anchors and tall passengers end up with the belt across their upper arm.

Bottom Line: Strengths of the Prius c are the best mileage of anything without a plug, good maneuverability, electronics for the tech-savvy, and relatively low pricing for an eco-friendly hybrid. With moderate purchase and operating costs, it’s an ideal urban vehicle.

2013 Infiniti G37 Coupe: sporty, stylish, and luxurious

By Bruce Caldwell

The 2013 Infiniti G37 coupe is a sports car for people who desire performance and fun without attracting unnecessary attention. The G37 coupe (especially with the all-wheel-drive on our tester) has the wherewithal to stay with most competitors, but it’s more likely to fly under the radar than flashier cars. That stealthy nature suits many low-key Pacific Northwest natives — success and substance without being ostentatious.

Walkaround: The 2013 Infiniti G37 coupe is a very handsome vehicle. It has smooth, contemporary lines, but not the overly busy scoops/spoilers/strakes/etc. found on many Asian performance cars. The less aggressive, more refined look is in keeping with the overall sport/luxury demeanor of the G37. Attractive, multi-spoke alloy wheels barely conceal the massive 4-piston front and 2-piston rear disc brakes. The Infiniti G37 is definitely a sports car, but it favors refinement over raucousness.

Interior: A high-quality interior is expected of Nissan’s luxury Infiniti brand and we weren’t disappointed. Our test car was fitted with beautiful Stone (a very light gray) leather and correspondingly light carpeting. We drove the G37 during a record dry spell, but the “not for the Northwest” carpet quickly displayed dirt. The Stone leather made the slightly snug interior seem bigger, but some Weather Tech floor mats would be a wise addition.

The coupe’s sleek styling limits interior space and although the G37 is considered a four-passenger car, it’s really a two-and-change configuration. Front seat legroom is stretch-out spacious and headroom is fine even with the power sunroof. Back seat legroom is almost nonexistent. I squeezed myself into the back seat just to see if it was possible, but I had to slouch so much that the front seat was almost to the dashboard.

Rear seat ingress/egress is quite good. The big doors open very wide and the front seats go far forward. The problem is the lack of room once you get in.

The best use of the back seat is as a catchall for coats and miscellany. The seat is soft leather like the front ones, but we doubt it will see much passenger use. The seat folds flat, which greatly expands the overall cargo capacity. The trunk also has a flat floor although it isn’t very deep.

Under the hood: Nissan and Infiniti V-6 engines are among the finest on the market. The current 330-horsepower 3.7-liter engine is an extension of the vaunted 3.5-liter V-6. This engine series is a cornerstone of the company’s powerplant program. Precision smoothness and broad power bands are hallmarks. The one in our test G27 coupe was rated at 270 lb-ft of torque.

Our G37 was the G37xS model, which means it had all-wheel-drive and the Sport Package. The transmission was the excellent 7-speed automatic, which has manual shift paddles located behind the thick, contoured leather steering wheel. The paddle shifters are an excellent compromise over the 6-speed manual transmission. They let you be aggressive when desired with the luxury of the automatic in congested traffic.

The 7-speed automatic helps fuel economy, which is fine for a sports car, but short of economy car numbers. The EPA rates the AWD G37 at 18 city and 25 highway. We got a little over 26 mpg on three 200-mile, nonstop highway trips. Fuel economy numbers dropped into the low twenties in mixed driving.

Behind The Wheel: We put about 800 miles on the G37 in a week. A round trip to Portland and another weekend excursion to Mount Rainier meant extended periods behind the wheel. The time was very enjoyable (except for the now too common I-5 traffic jams). The G37 is an excellent car for covering long distances in comfort and security. An excellent sound system and satellite radio helped pass the time. The 7-inch information/navigation screen was easy to read and use.

Nineteen-inch alloy wheels and Yokohama P225/45R19 tires were part of the $1,950 Sport Package. The package also includes a limited slip differential, sport-tuned suspension, and sport brakes. The Sport Package when combined with all-wheel-drive provides a level of handling performance that exceeds most opportunities to fully appreciate it. As great as this combination is, if we were purchasing a G37 we’d be inclined to order the AWD and stick with the standard P225/50R18 tires. The reality of western Washington traffic is that you’re more apt to want a smoother ride than racetrack handling.

The great leather seats and good insulation modulated road noise, except for notable rough stretches such as those near the Tacoma Dome and from Federal Way to Southcenter. The excellent sound system also helped a lot.

Whines: Rear seat access is via power actuated (both directions) front seats. The annoyance is the slow speed compared to a simple release and slide mechanism. Small item interior storage spaces/bins weren’t as big or plentiful as we like.

Bottom Line: We were fortunate to get the 2013 Infiniti G37xS AWD coupe during a week with extensive travel needs. The miles flew by effortlessly. The G37 coupe is loaded with high performance components, but it was the luxury touring features that sold us.

All-new 2013 Avalon signals a new direction for Toyota

By Lary Coppola
Decreeing that Toyota, “...will build no more boring cars,” the company’s recently ascended President and CEO Akio Toyoda has called upon his employees to design and build cars with renewed passion and enthusiasm. And nowhere is that spirit more evident than in the all-new 2013 Toyota Avalon — the first in what Toyota says will be a long line of much more stylish cars, departing from the staid vehicles of the past four decades. While long recognized as mechanically bulletproof, no one has ever accused Toyota of being a trend-setting style leader. However, the Avalon is a game changer — the first new design and build under Toyoda’s reign.

Originally launched in 1995, and built on the same platform as the popular Camry, the Avalon replaced the Cressida as Toyota’s flagship vehicle. Debuting at the 2012 New York Auto Show, the 2013 version is the fourth generation Avalon.

In a review of the 2000 Avalon, I termed it, “a bargain Lexus.” Having driven the 2013 Lexus LS just a week prior to the Avalon, I believe that statement is even more true today than it was then.

Toyota execs are quick to stress the new Avalon is as American as cars get, noting it was designed and engineered by teams in California and Michigan, and built at Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky assembly plant.

The new Avalon originated as a sketch drawn by a 20-something designer at Toyota’s Ann Arbor, Michigan-based studio. When CEO Toyoda saw it, his words were, “Don’t change a thing.” Having the seen the sketch, the designers stayed true to the vision.

The 2013 Avalon also debuts technology new for Toyota, starting with the Quadrabeam headlights. The Avalon is also the first Toyota with a Rear Cross Traffic Warning system, which warns the driver of oncoming vehicles when in reverse.

Model Lineup: There are four versions of the new Avalon — the base XLE, XLE Premium, XLE Touring, and the Limited. All are available as both standard gas models and as a hybrid, using Toyota’s proven Hybrid Synergy Drive system.

The Base XLE comes pretty well-equipped, with a standard 2-door smart key; soft touch materials; leather seats, steering wheel, and shift knob; 17” wheels and tires, LED brake and taillights; with standard audio controlled by a touch-screen display, as well as knobs.

The XLE Premium upgrades the smart key to 3-door; adds heated driver and passenger seats and outside mirrors; power moonroof; and rear-view camera.

The Touring version adds 18” wheels and tires; Sport and ECO driving modes; paddle shifters; memory seats and mirrors; wide angle fog lamps; and Toyota’s Entune system, which pairs with smartphones to activate features.

Finally, the top-of-the-line Limited comes with all the above as well as blind-spot monitor and rear cross traffic warning system; HID headlamps and LED DRL, and puddle lamps, There’s also rain sensing wipers; auto high-beams; 10-way power driver’s seat and 8-way passenger’s; heated and cooled front seats; rear HVAC controls; and optional radar cruise control, and pre-crash detection system.

Walkaround: In a world where cars — like many of the people who drive them — are getting wider, the 2013 Avalon bucks the trend. It’s more than two inches shorter, slightly narrower and lower, with shorter front and rear overhangs, and more than 100 pounds lighter than the previous model.

But styling is the big news here. The aggressive look puts a younger buyer directly in its crosshairs, with the Avalon appearing as a merger of many popular, competing full and midsize sedans. For example, it utilizes popular styling cues such as wraparound headlamps and taillights — the first non-round projector headlamp units on an Avalon — along with LED lighting.

The hood line flows downwards to the two-tiered fascia featuring a sweeping chrome strip with an integrated Toyota badge, with a large oval-shaped lower front grille reminiscent of Aston Martin.

Gone are the staid, straight up and down slab-like sides of the last generation Avalon, replaced by smoothly aggressive sheet metal curves so deeply contoured that Toyota had to work with suppliers to ensure the steel stampings could actually be mass-produced. The steeply raked C-pillar is also a very trendy feature in current automotive design.

The rear end is a bit more traditional, with a 16.0 cubic feet trunk (14.4 in the hybrid, due to the location of the battery pack), flanked by two-tiered tail lamps and dual exhaust outlets.

In short, the Avalon’s appearance is a radical departure from Grandpa’s dowdy, 80’s era, Buick-like sedans of years passed. It’s now a very strikingly attractive car — inside and out.

Interior: Inside, you’ll find a well-designed, superbly quiet cabin offering a cockpit-like feel for the driver. The wraparound dash is all about high-tech attention to detail, while offering a clear view of the climate, infotainment and audio controls to passengers as well as the driver.

Instrumentation consists of a high-tech gauge cluster with a color LCD screen between the speedometer and tach, with MID graphics and centrally located two-level information screen in the center stack, featuring capacative touch buttons — a first for Toyota. The display screen does double duty as an energy flow readout on the hybrid, and the clock face also offers a choice of analog or digital readouts.

The latest version of Toyota’s Entune technology features Bluetooth, plus a suite of apps including Pandora, Bing, iHeartRadio and MovieTickets.com. Local fuel prices, stock prices, sports, traffic and weather data are also available, along with navigation on the XLE Touring and Limited models.
There’s adequate storage space and cuphoders, along with a coin box. There’s also a new eBin, which houses small electronics — like your smartphone — and hides the connection cords. All Avalons come with two 12-volt power outlets, USB and AUX ports.

Besides the abundance of room to accommodate five passengers — over 40 inches of front legroom and 39.2 inches in the rear — there’s also a new hand-stitching process used on the dashboard trim and steering wheel.

Under The Hood: The front-wheel drive Avalon features Toyota’s workhorse 3.5-liter V6 (the same engine as the previous Avalon) that puts 268 horses to the highway, with 248 ft.lbs of torque. It’s married to a smooth, 6-speed automatic with a manual shift mode, and paddle shifters on the XLE Premium and Limited editions. There are also three drive modes, controlled by a console-mounted spring-loaded knob — Normal, Sport, and ECO.

The hybrid has a new 2AR-FXE 2.5-Liter powerplant, putting down 154 horses and 153 ft.lbs of torque. The 200 horsepower electric motor is powered by a Nickel-Hydride 244.8-volt battery pack The system is coupled with the same 6-speed automatic as the gas engine, but offers three different drive modes — EV, ECO, and Sport.

The gas version does the 0-60 drill in a respectable 6.7 seconds, while it takes the hybrid 8.2.

Behind The Wheel: The 2013 Toyota Avalon is certainly a pleasant departure from the previous model. One drive in the Limited version took us from the Santa Barbara/Goleta area, through the mountains leading to Santa Ynez, thru Solvang, and then down the 101 along the ocean back to Santa Barbara.

We found the new Avalon an absolute pleasure to drive. It was exceptionally quiet, and comfortable, but when called on, acceleration is more than adequate. It effortlessly topped 100 mph on a couple of short stretches of the 101, with no complaints from the powerplant. Cruising at a pretty steady 80, was like taking a Sunday drive.

The retuned electric steering, along with a much stiffer body structure, have increased agility and reduced body roll. There are McPherson struts at all four corners featuring rebound springs — a nice improvement over past Avalon models. One notable feature included in Sport mode is Dynamic Rev Management. This blips the throttle when downshifting and is useful when using the paddle shifters.

Whines: The obviously plastic-wood trim detracts somewhat from an otherwise gorgeous interior.

Bottom Line: The base price is $30,990 - $2,200 less than the 2012 Avalon XLE — while the Hybrid starts at $35,555. Meanwhile, the V6 Limited stickers at $39,650 and a Limited Hybrid $41,400.

Toyota is specifically targeting men and women in the 55-year-old age bracket - 10 years younger than the average buyer of the 2012 Avalon. With expressive styling and new technology, the 2013 Avalon measures up well against competitors like the Chrysler 300, Buick LaCrosse, and Hyundai Azera. So if you’re looking for a large, stylish sedan, with plenty of room, and great fuel economy, you owe it to yourself to check out both the gas and hybrid 2013 Toyota Avalon.

Flash Drive — 2013 Subaru Impreza

By Bruce Caldwell

Model Tested: 2013 Subaru Impreza 2.0 Limited 4dr Sedan

Engine: 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder, 148 hp, 145 lb/ft

Transmission: CVT automatic, Symmetrical All Wheel Drive

EPA Ratings: 27-mpg city/36-mpg highway

Base Price: $21,895

As Tested: $24,714

Performance: Excellent fuel economy (the automatic beats the manual). Added wet weather confidence of great AWD system. Handy paddle shifters. Good power for engine size and relatively heavy weight. Responsive handling; not WRX great, but very good.

Comfort: Spacious interior, especially for a compact sedan. Ample seat travel accommodates wide range of drivers. Very good headroom even with sunroof. Room for six-foot tall occupants both front and rear. Nice leather quality for this price point.

Utility: Big trunk with flat floor and oversized pass-thru

            Flat folding split rear seats

            Lots of small item storage bins

WOW Factors: Lots of high quality features at a budget price

                          Subaru’s world-class AWD is standard

Whines: Conservative styling compared to wild WRX STI models

Bottom Line: The Subaru Impreza is an outstanding value in its many iterations. The modest increase from base to Limited adds a lot of luxury to a very competent, all-weather, spacious, economical sedan.

Flash Drive: 2013 Chevy Volt

By Bruce Caldwell

Model Tested: 2013 Chevrolet Volt 4dr Sedan

Engine: Electric motor 149-hp, 273-lb/ft plus 1.4-liter 4-cylinder gas engine, 84-hp, 92-lb-ft

Transmission: CVT automatic, Front Wheel Drive

EPA Ratings: 98-mpg electric (38 mile range)/37-mpg gasoline only

Base Price: $39,145

As Tested: $43,375

Performance: Smooth and quiet (almost too quiet in electric mode). Four-hour recharge rate with 240-volt charging station. Non-traditional brake feel. Seamless transition between electric and gas modes

Comfort: Excellent front passenger room

                Great long distance comfort for front passengers

                Very tight rear seat, low ceiling, limited knee room

Utility: Modest cargo capacity

            High lift-over

            Below average size interior storage bins

WOW Factors: Phenomenal fuel economy

                          Very high tech; well executed

                          8-year/100,000 mile battery/Voltec components warrant

Whines: Slow recharging (12-15 hours) on standard household current

               Strictly four-passenger due to huge center tunnel

               Information display borders on overload

               Odd, electronic emergency brake

Bottom Line: The 2013 Chevy Volt is one electric vehicle that makes sense for our expansive country thanks to its gasoline backup engine. Chevrolet calls the Volt an extended range electric vehicle and that’s a perfect description. It provides all the benefits of an electric vehicle without the range anxiety.

And Now, For Something Patriotic...

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ik9AtJQXaHQ?rel=0

This is what loving cars, and family, is all about...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS3SvdWcAks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR-iDNsq388&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFJ-fvi_WZI&feature=fvwrel

American Suzuki files for bankruptcy protection

From the Associated Press

American Suzuki Motor Corp. on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it will cease selling automobiles in the U.S. as part of a plan to restructure its business.

American Suzuki Motor Corp. on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it will cease selling automobiles in the U.S. as part of a plan to restructure its business.

The company, based in Brea, Calif., is the sole distributor of Suzuki Motor Co. vehicles in the continental U.S.

In documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Central District of California, the company estimated that its debts and liabilities range from at least $100 million to as much as $500 million.

It also said it has between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors.

American Suzuki Motor said it has enough cash to operate during the restructuring and intends to honor all car warranties and buyback agreements. It will work with its car dealerships to help them transition into parts-and-service operations. In some cases, the dealerships will be shuttered, it said.

Once it exits bankruptcy protection, American Suzuki Motor said it will focus on selling Suzuki motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and marine outboard engines.

It said that it is exiting the car business because of slow sales, unfavorable foreign exchange rates and high costs due to U.S. regulatory requirements.

It sold 2,023 vehicles in October, which was up 5 percent from the same month last year. Its Grand Vitara sport utility vehicle posted a 64 percent jump in sales last month, although American Suzuki did not say how many of them were sold. In May, the last month it provided a breakdown of its sales, it moved 474 Grand Vitaras, while its biggest seller was its SX4 small crossover, of which 1,101 were sold.

The bankruptcy and reorganization are unrelated to its parent Japan-based Suzuki Motor Corp., which intends to buy the American subsidiary’s remaining businesses and automotive service operation.

The reorganized company will retain the American Suzuki Motor name, the company said.

Flash Drive — 2012 Mini Countryman a capable, fun ride

By Bruce Caldwell

Model Tested: 2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

Engine: 1-6-liter turbocharged dohc I-4, 181 hp, 177 lb/ft

Transmission: 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive

EPA Ratings: 25-mpg city
31-mpg highway

Base Price: $27,050

As Tested: $35,500

Performance:

A sports car that can go off-roading

Strong, responsive engine

Excellent 6-speed transmission, smooth clutch

Welcome hill hold clutch function

Comfort:

Stretch out front seat room

Extra thick, contoured steering wheel

Largest ever Mini Cooper rear seat

Decent highway ride

Utility:

It’s the largest Mini ever, so it carries more than other Minis

Four doors and a hatch optimize accessibility

Folding rear seats and flat cargo floor

Wide hatch opening

Decent cargo capacity

WOW Factors:

High fun-to-drive factor

Uniqueness of a Mini Cooper S

Tons of high-tech features; it’s like an iPad on wheels

Very light interior thanks to panoramic sunroof

Gets lots of positive attention

Fun, fun, fun

Whines:

Extensive option list can run up price

Oversize central speedo is more funky than functional

Too small interior storage bins

Electronic features not very intuitive

Small center armrest interferes with odd E-brake

Too small sun visors

Bottom Line:

The Mini Cooper S Countryman ALL4 is unique and quirky. Its many odd features can be annoying, but its incredible fun factor quickly overrides them. The Mini Countryman ALL4 functionality is fine, but having on and off road fun is the key reason to buy one.

More Recalls — Honda (Again) and Dodge

Honda has announced it is recalling CR-V crossovers from the 2002 to 2006 model years because an electrical switch in the driver's side door could melt and cause a fire. The problem involves around 268,000 vehicles. Honda said rain or other liquids could enter through a driver's open window and damage the master power switch on the door. If that happens, the switch could overheat and melt, causing a fire. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said owners should park their CR-Vs from those model years outside until the recall is performed to avoid any property damage from a fire. A fire could start even when the ignition is off and the CR-V is parked. Honda agreed that concerned owners should park their CR-Vs away from structures that could burn. But spokesman Ed Miller emphasized that a switch is unlikely to catch fire unless someone spilled liquid on it or let a large amount of rain into the vehicle through the driver's side window.

Honda said owners have reported four fires but no injuries or crashes associated with the issue. The company will begin contacting owners next month and will repair the vehicles for free. Honda will install a cover plate inside the switch to prevent any liquid from coming in, Miller said.

It was the third major recall in a week for the Japanese automaker, which usually sits near the top in J.D. Power and Associates' annual rankings of vehicle quality. Earlier the company said it was recalling 820,000 Civic compact and Pilot SUVs from the 2002 through 2004 model years because the headlights can fail. CR-Vs were also recalled earlier this spring for that same issue.

Honda is also recalling 600,000 Accord midsize cars because a faulty power steering house can leak and cause a fire. That recall affects Accords with V6 engines from the 2003 to 2007 model years.

The NHTSA also announced that it's investigating complaints that Honda Odyssey minivans and Pilot SUVs can roll away after drivers remove the ignition key. That investigation involves vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years.

Also he government announced a recall of 44,300 Ram 1500 and Dodge Dakota pickup trucks from the 2009 and 2010 model years. The trucks have a nut that could loosen on the rear axle, causing drivers to lose control of their vehicles. The government and Chrysler Group LLC said there have been 15 reports of rear axle failure and three minor injuries related to the issue.

Driverless Cars Coming To California?

Gov. Jerry Brown rode to Google headquarters in a self-driving Toyota Prius before signing legislation recently that will pave the way for driverless cars in California. The bill by Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla will establish safety and performance regulations to test and operate autonomous vehicles on state roads and highways.

"Today we're looking at science fiction becoming tomorrow's reality — the self-driving car," Brown said. "Anyone who gets inside a car and finds out the car is driving will be a little skittish, but they'll get over it."

Google Inc. has been developing autonomous car technology and lobbying for the regulations. The company's fleet of a dozen computer-controlled vehicles has logged more than 300,000 miles of self-driving without an accident, according to Google.

"I think the self-driving car can really dramatically improve the quality of life for everyone," Google co-founder Sergey Brin said. Autonomous cars can make roads safer, free commuters from the drudgery of driving, reduce congestion and provide transport to people who can't drive themselves, such as the blind, disabled, elderly and intoxicated, he added. "I expect that self-driving cars will be far safer than human-driven cars."

Brin predicted that autonomous vehicles will be commercially available within a decade. He said Google has no plans to produce its own cars, but instead plans to partner with the automobile industry to develop autonomous vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers expressed concern that California is moving too quickly to embrace self-driving cars and needs to first sort out liability issues. "Unfortunately this legislation lacks any provision protecting an automaker whose car is converted to an autonomous operation vehicle without the consent or even knowledge of that auto manufacturer," the trade group said in a statement. 

Autonomous cars use computers, sensors and other technology to operate independently, but a human driver can override the autopilot function and take control of the vehicle at any time. With smartphone-wielding drivers more distracted than ever, backers say robotic vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce collisions and traffic fatalities, noting that nearly all car accidents are a result of human error.

The legislation requires the California Department of Motor Vehicles to draft regulations for autonomous vehicles by Jan. 1, 2015. Currently, state law doesn't mention self-driving cars because the technology is so new. The regulations would allow vehicles to operate autonomously, but a licensed driver would still need to sit behind the wheel to serve as a backup operator in case of emergency.

The legislation also is aimed at keeping California at the forefront of the autonomous car industry since Stanford University and Silicon Valley companies have been working on the technology for years. In February, Nevada became the first U.S. state to approve regulations spelling out requirements for companies to test driverless cars on that state's roads.

Automakers such as Ford, Volvo, Audi, and BMW have been working on autonomous car technology for years. In recent years, automakers also have introduced precursors — autonomous functions such as self-parking, lane departure warnings and adaptive cruise-control — which allow vehicles to automatically accelerate and decelerate with the flow of traffic.

GM recalling more than 40,000 cars for potential fuel leaks

General Motors has announced it is recalling more than 40,000 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 sedans from the 2007 through 2009 model years, and the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent SUVs and Saturn Ion sedans from the 2007 model year. The recall only impacts cars sold in warm weather states because a plastic part may crack and cause a fuel leak.

The recall affects vehicles sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada or Texas. Owners in Arkansas and Oklahoma also are included in the recall of the 2009 Cobalt and G5. The vehicles have plastic parts connected to the fuel pump which could crack. If the crack gets large enough, fuel could leak out of the vehicle and cause a fire.

GM says there have been no reports of fires or injuries related to the defect. The company began investigating the issue in 2011 after a dealer reported fuel leaking from some vehicles.

GM says its warranty data indicates that the problem is far more common in warm-weather states. It will repair the vehicles for free in those states. Owners will be notified of the recall by mail. But the company also plans to send letters to owners in other states offering a free repair within a limited time period if the parts are cracked. That offer is valid for 10 years or 120,000 miles from the date the vehicle was sold, GM spokesman Alan Adler said.

Honda recalling 600,000 Accords for faulty hoses

Honda has announced it will recall 600,000 Accords in the U.S. and Canada to fix a faulty power steering hose that can leak fluid and possibly cause a fire.

The recall affects Accords with V-6 engines from the 2003 through 2007 model years. Honda has a report of one fire but no injuries or crashes.

The five-passenger Accord is consistently among the top-selling vehicles in the United States, mainly because of its reputation for reliability and fuel economy. For years it has been the nation's second-best-selling car, beaten only by the Toyota Camry.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a posting on its website that the Accord's power steering hose can deteriorate with prolonged exposure to engine heat, which can cause it to crack and leak, possibly causing a fire or loss of power-assisted steering. 

Honda will replace the hoses for free, but it won't have the parts available until early next year. Any owner who suspects a leak should take their car to a dealer for inspection, Honda spokesman Ed Miller stated. The company that makes the Accord's power-steering hoses had to ramp up manufacturing to make them since the affected cars are more than five model years old and the hoses were out of production, he added. "We're going to start making them and getting them out there as soon as we can."

The Accords are being added to a May recall of 53,000 Acura TL midsize luxury cars in the U.S. from the 2007 and 2008 model years. Acura is Honda's luxury brand.

The replacement hoses for the Accords are different from the hoses in the original Acura recall.

Jaguar F-Type earns “Best In Show” Kudos From Autoweek Magazine

New Jaguar two-seat roadster grabs global spotlight in its debut at 2012 Paris Motor Show

The Jaguar F-Type, an all-new two-seat convertible sports car, was honored with the 2012 Autoweek Editors’ Choice Award for Best in Show at the Paris Auto Show.

The F-Type is an all-new two-seat Jaguar soft-top convertible sports car, which will hot showrooms in the Summer of 2013. Built on a front-engine, lightweight aluminum architecture and rear-wheel drive, the F-Type is engineered to be a true high-performance sports car.

“Sleek, sexy and powerful, the F-Type becomes a new halo for Jaguar,” Autoweek’s Digital Editor Andrew Stoy said. “Put the top down, fire up the engine — especially the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 — and all suddenly becomes right with the world. It's a car to covet for anyone with a love of sports cars.”

The new Jaguar F-Type represents a return to the company’s heart: a two-seat, convertible sports car focused on performance, agility and driver involvement. It's a continuation of a sporting bloodline that stretches back more than 75 years and encompasses some of the most beautiful, thrilling and desirable sports cars ever built. Joining the XK Convertible and Coupe models, the new F-Type provides Jaguar with a broader line of sports and GT models.

"The all-new Jaguar F-Type, our first new two-seat sports car in 50 years, is incredibly important as it returns Jaguar to the heart of the sports car market and creates a new emotional fulcrum for the entire brand,” said Andy Goss, President Jaguar Land Rover North America. “We appreciate Autoweek‘s recognition of the F-Type’s design and performance credentials and its significance for our company, and car enthusiasts everywhere.”

A front-engined, rear-wheel drive convertible, three models of the F-Type will be available, starting at $69,000. Powered respectively by 340hp and 380hp versions of Jaguar’s new 3.0-liter V6 supercharged engine and a new derivative of its 5.0-liter V8 supercharged unit, each F-Type is engineered for pure dynamic driving reward and stunning performance.