AutoExpo2012 by Enquirer Media

FEBRUARY 12, 2012

TOYOTA 4RUNNER Page I 22

DODGE CHARGER Page I 29

he Enquirer Media and Cars.com Cincinnati Auto Expo, presented by the Greater Cincinnati Automobile Dealers Association, gets into gear Thursday through next Sunday at the Duke Energy Convention Center, Downtown. This year’s Expo is booked full with up to 250 new vehicles, and all local dealership brands will be represented. Read more about what’s new in the auto industry inside this section.

SCION IQ Page I 32

HONDA PILOT Page I 42

INSIDE THIS SECTION Meet the Karma, a luxury, electric plug-in hybrid sedan, Page I 2. Reviews of more than 50 new models, starting on Page I 4. Size no barrier to luxurious appointments this year, Page I 33.

I2 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

The Fisker Karma sedan joins a fleet of full electrics and hybrids at the Cincinnati Auto Expo including the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Deals on wheels Cincinnati Auto Expo expands attractions

By Mike Boyer mboyer@enquirer.com

Big crowds are expected for the Enquirer Media and Cars.com Cincinnati Auto Expo presented by the Greater Cincinnati Automobile Dealers Association, which gets in gear Thursday at the Duke Energy Convention Center. The expo, the unofficial kickoff to the spring auto sales season, has been booked full with up to 250 new vehicles, although the final tally won’t be known until the just before the show. Because the expo has a no-sales policy on the show floor, auto officials say consumers like the low-pressure opportunity to evaluate a lot of makes and models in one spot. “For the first time in at least four years we are completely full,” said Chip Hart, CEO of Hart Productions which produces the expo. All the floor space has been committed and all local dealership brands will be represented from Acura and Audi to Volkswagen and Volvo.

The expo will also mark the return of two automakers, Nissan and Mitsubishi, who have not exhibited at the show the last few years. It will also mark the official debut of Cincinnati’s newest dealership: Fisker of Cincinnati at Kings Automall. California-based Fisker, started in 2007, is introducing a luxury electric plug-in hybrid sedan called the Karma. Priced starting at $103,000, the four-door Karma sedan is aimed at the luxury car buyer who wants to make a statement about the environment, said Charles Cokeley, sales manager for the franchise owned by the Joseph Auto Group. The Karma has an electric motor with a 50-mile driving range for in-town trips and a turbo-charged four cylinder gasoline engine for longer trips. It will join a growing fleet of full electrics and hybrids at the expo including the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius.

IF YOU GO What: Enquirer Media & Cars.com Cincinnati Auto Expo presented by the Greater Cincinnati Automobile Dealers Association Where: Duke Energy Convention Center When: Feb. 16-19 Hours: Thursday, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $11; children 13 and under, with a paying adult, free Thursday and Friday. Children $2 Saturday and Sunday, with a paying adult. Two for one admission Thursday and Friday. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kroger offers $3 discount on tickets with a Plus card.

A combination of an improving economy, pent-up demand and low interest rates is setting the stage for a big event, said Ken Falhaber, president of the Greater Cincinnati Auto Deal-

ers Association, and president of Falhaber Nissan in Colerain Township. The dealers don’t disclose attendance figures, but Falhaber said he expects attendance this year could be up as much as 20 percent if the weather is good. Nationally, auto sales are expected to approach 14 million vehicles this year, up from just under 13 million units last year. Besides an improving economy, Falhaber said, more people are looking to replace their increasingly older cars and trucks. The average age of cars and light trucks in operation in the United States last year reached 10.8 years, according to Polk, the automotive market intelligence firm. That’s up from 9.7 years five years ago. “There’s so much pent-up demand, we’re expecting a big year,” Falhaber said. “Most automakers are offering some form of zero-rate financing which is also fueling demand,” he said.

Falhaber said his dealership, which like many in the region has undergone a major remodeling to include more customer-friendly decor and amenities required by automakers, saw a big increase in traffic in January, typically a slow month. New technology is also playing a larger role in the expo. The automakers are introducing a lot of new features such as keyless entry, wireless communication and media systems, backup cameras and systems that parallel park the vehicle automatically. “I’ve seen more new technology in vehicles in the last three or four years, than any time in my 31 years in the business,” said Falhaber. If classic cars are more your speed, the Ault Park Concours d’Elegance will have a special display at the expo including a 1963 Dodge Polara 426 Max Wedge and a 1952 MD TD Roadster. The 35th annual Ault Park Concours d’Elegance is June 10.

Year opens like winner for carmakers New models, low rates boost Jan. sales By Tom Krisher Associated Press

DETROIT — 2012 is already looking like a winner for automakers, just one month into the year. U.S. sales of new cars and trucks rose 11 percent to 913,287 in January. New models, low interest rates and better loan availability helped buyers overcome lingering worries about the economy and pushed the sales pace to its highest level since the Cash for Clunkers program in August 2009. Chrysler had its best January in four years. Toyota and Honda were back in the game, getting boosts from important new vehicles. Volkswagen, which wants to aggressively expand in the U.S., reported big increases. The only loser among the major automakers was General Motors Co., whose sales fell 6 percent from a strong January last year. “For the first time in several years, we are starting the year off with a warm and fuzzy feeling,” said Jesse Toprak, vice president of industry trends for TrueCar.com. January’s sales pace was even faster than December’s, a relief for the industry after a bumpy 2011. Sales started at a healthy pace last year but plummeted after the Japanese earthquake in March caused car

shortages and didn’t recover until the final four months of 2011. If sales stay at the same pace as this January, they would reach 14.2 million, up from 12.8 million in 2011, according to Autodata Corp. While that’s below the 2000 peak of 17.3 million, it’s better than the 10.4 million trough in 2009. One reason car sales are improving is that buyers need to replace aging vehicles. The average age of a vehicle in the U.S. is a record 10.8 years, nearly two years older than a decade ago. Coverage of the glitzy Detroit auto show at the start of the month may have piqued buyers’ interest. Unseasonably warm weather may also have drawn some to dealerships, but Ford’s U.S. sales chief Ken Czubay said the weather effect was probably a wash. Frigid temperatures can also boost sales because older cars may not start during a cold snap, he said. Chrysler’s January sales jumped 44 percent, led by surge in demand for its revamped 200 and 300 sedans. Chrysler sold 7,007 of the 200s last month, more than eight times the number a year earlier. Sales of the 300 almost quadrupled. Chrysler also reported its first full-year net income since 1997, helped by its revamped lineup. Toyota Motor Corp.’s sales rose 7.5 percent on strong demand for the new Camry, which went on sale in October. Camry

sales rose 56 percent in January ably to last January because its and the sedan remained Amer- 2011 sales were inflated by reica’s best-selling car, a distinc- bates and other deals. TrueCar tion it has held for nearly 15 estimated that GM’s incentives years. Sales of the Prius hybrid fell 16 percent to $3,095 per verose 9 percent. hicle this January. Toyota’s U.S. sales chief Bob GM’s sales will likely be Carter said earthquake-related down in February, too, because inventory problems are still af- of the incentives it offered last fecting the company’s small year, warned Don Johnson, SUVs, like the GM’s vice RAV4 and Highpresident of lander. U.S. sales. “For the first But Toyota GM could time in several and Honda Mosee slow sales tor Co. are getthrough the years, we are ting closer to a first half of the starting the year full recovery year, until new from the probmodels go on off with a warm lems. sale this sumand fuzzy David Whismer, Whiston ton, auto equity said. The comfeeling.” analyst for Morpany will offer JESSE TOPRAK, ningstar, said two Cadillacs, a TrueCar.com. inventories Chevrolet Malishould be back bu and the to normal by Spark mini-car. this summer, when sales should Sales of the Chevrolet Volt be robust. electric car totaled 603. That Honda sales were up 9 per- was less than half the number cent on the strength of the new sold in December and sales fell Civic small car. short of its rival, the Nissan “It’s gratifying to see how Leaf. many Civics we can sell when Johnson said sales were afwe actually have Civics to sell,” fected by government hearings American Honda sales chief into Volt battery fires and GM’s John Mandel said. announcement that it will retroGM car sales rose 13 percent fit existing Volts so they are less thanks to the new Chevrolet prone to fires after a severe Sonic subcompact. But demand crash. The company expects for its trucks and crossovers sales to pick up now that GM is fell. One problem: GM is no producing a Volt that’s eligible longer making the HHR cross- to drive in California’s high-ocover, which contributed more cupancy vehicle lanes. than 7,300 sales last January. Ford Motor Co.’s sales rose 7 GM also compared unfavor- percent. Demand for the Ford

Focus small car rose 60 percent, while sales of the Escape small SUV rose 24 percent. Ford is replacing the Escape with a new version later this year, and sales have been strong as dealers offer big discounts to clear out the old models. Whiston said buyers will have plenty of options this year as Toyota and Honda recover and automakers launch major new products like the Dodge Dart and new versions of the Honda Accord and Ford Fusion. “It will be a great time to be a consumer going into 2012,” Whiston said. But he cautions that buyers shouldn’t expect big price breaks, since there are so many new products and companies are closely guarding their profits. Buyers paid an average of $31,312 for a new car in January, including an average incentive of $2,206, according to Edmunds.com. Five years ago, buyers were getting about the same amount in incentives, but the average vehicle price was $27,966. Other companies reporting January sales: » Volkswagen of America reported a 48 percent rise in U.S. sales, led by the Jetta and Passat sedans. » Nissan Motor Co.’s sales were up 10 percent with big jumps for the new Quest minivan and the Altima sedan. » Hyundai Motor Co.’s sales rose nearly 15 percent thanks to the new Veloster small car.

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I3

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Third Generation Busam and brother, Charlie, agrees. “That’s why we offer the Busam Advantage – it includes a 7-year /100,000-mile warranty at no charge, a complimentary loaner car program, best price guarantee, and state-of-the-art facilities that are comfortable, productive and friendly.” From a simple oil change to the purchase of a brandnew vehicle, Busam sets the bar for all dealerships. And, as it’s been for over 100 years, if you like pinching pennies, you’ll love Busam. Busam features Nissan on Kemper Rd. and Subaru and Suzuki on Rt. 4 in Fairfield.

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I4 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I5

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Mustang 302 shows it’s still the Boss Muscle car blazes down memory lane By Ann M. Job For the Associated Press

After 42 years, the Mustang Boss 302 is back, channeling race car driver Parnelli Jones and his exhilarating 1970 Trans Am series win at Laguna Seca raceway in Monterey, Calif. Jones’ success in the Sports Car Club of America’s championship that year memorialized the horsepower wars among famous American nameplates in that era. Yet, the new, expressively styled, 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 — with optional hockey stripes on its sides — is way more than a drive down memory lane. With an honest-to-goodness 5-liter V-8, it growls with 444 horsepower, 53 percent more than the 290 horses of the original Boss. Zero-to-60-miles-anhour time is between 4.0 and 4.3 seconds compared with 6.5 seconds in the original car, which had a 302-cubic-inch, or 4.948-liter V-8. Best of all, steering, handling and ride, which are sporty at the get-go, can be further tuned for buyers who like to race at raceways on weekends. The test Boss coupe was surprisingly balanced with a firm ride and programmable steering that encouraged daily driving, too. Yes, the new Boss is a racetrack-ready sports coupe that’s street legal. And with a government fuel economy rating of 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 26 mpg on the highway, it doesn’t even incur the federal gas guzzler tax. Purchase price, though, isn’t cheap. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is

A visitor checks out a Ford Mustang Boss 302 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. With 444 horsepower, the new Boss has 53 percent more horses than the original. GETTY IMAGES

$41,105 for the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 with six-speed manual transmission. This is $18,000 more than a base, 2012 Mustang with 305horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 and manual transmission and $10,600 more than the $30,505 starting price than the 2012 Mustang GT with 412-horsepower V-8. In comparison, the 2012 Chevy Camaro SS Coupe with 426horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 and manual transmission starts at $31,920. In price and engine power, the new Boss is between the V-8powered 2012 Mustang GT and the 2012 Shelby GT500, which has a 550-horsepower, 5.4-liter V-8 and a starting retail price of

$49,605. Like the original Boss that was engineered and built by Ford Motor Co. as a secret project for the SCCA’s Trans Am race series, the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 comes from Ford, not a customizing shop. “The Boss 302 isn't something a Mustang GT owner can buy all the parts for out of a catalog or that a tuner can get by adding a chip,” said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. The Boss’ engine is based, though, on the Mustang GT’s double overhead cam 5-liter unit. Ford engineers didn’t add a supercharger. Instead, they kept the engine naturally aspirated, changed the camshaft profiles and crankshaft, im-

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THE RUNDOWN Price: $13,600 for LX manual; $14,700 for LX automatic; $16,500 for EX; $18,650 as tested EPA fuel economy rating: 30 mpg city, 40 mpg highway Type: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, five-passenger compact hatchback. Engine: 1.6-liter, double overhead cam, direct-injection four-cylinder engine with CVVT. Test-car options: EX convenience package (includes rear camera, 15inch alloy wheels, UVO infotainment system, fog lamps, dual map lights and illuminated vanity mirrors, outside mirrors with turn signal indicators, soft-touch dashboard) $1,000; economy package (includes idle stop and go) $400

were managed by the suspension, which uses McPherson struts in front and torsion beam in back. It wasn’t a pillowy, soft ride, for sure — I felt sensations from the road, but it was never

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harsh. While there was a bit of road noise, particularly on rough pavement, it was not overly intrusive. I barely noticed any wind noise, thanks to extra sound

insulation that Kia engineers put into the pillars by the windows. The engine powered the 2,483-pound test Rio commendably, and the 138 horses are up from the 110 that came with last year’s model. Shifts from the sixspeed automatic were smooth and hardly perceptible, and I managed 36 mpg in highway and country-road driving. The Rio five-door added 2.8 inches in wheelbase but limited the growth in overall length, from bumper to bumper, to just 1.2 inches. So the car fit well in parallel parking spots. The backup camera that showed what was behind as I backed up was helpful, but it was part of a $1,000 optional convenience package on the EX.

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The new Kia Rio is sportier and has more power than its predecessor. The car is longer and wider, and comes with an optional idle stop to save fuel. AFP/GETTY IMAGES

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It’s still called the Kia Rio. But the five-door hatchback for 2012 is a notable new model with sporty appearance, well-laid-out interior, a more refined and quiet ride and a government fuel economy rating of 40 miles a gallon on the highway. The revamped Rio also is wider and a bit longer than its predecessor, has more power and is one of the few in the segment whose four-cylinder engine is direct injected for powerful, efficient response. The new Rio includes optional idle stop and go — a feature prominent on gasoline-hybrid cars that conserves gasoline by turning the engine off when the car is stopped, say, at a stoplight. The car automatically restarts when the brake pedal is released, such as when a traffic light turns green and a driver wants to move forward. The Rio also is one of the few in the small-car class to offer a six-speed automatic rather than a five-speed. Generally, having more gears in a transmission helps engines get better gas mileage. And despite adding what Kia officials estimate is $1,400 of equipment to the 2012 Rio hatchback compared with its more pedestrian 2011 predecessor, the new Rio five-door has a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price some $300 less than last year’s base model. The Rio is a sibling of the Hyundai Accent and uses the Accent’s front-wheel drive platform as well as 1.6-liter, double overhead cam four cylinder with gasoline direct injection. Both hatchbacks are made by

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proved airflow in the aluminum alloy cylinders and added new runners-in-the-box/velocity stack plenum intake. An oil cooler is standard, as is a redesigned oil pan to make sure the hard-working engine is never without proper lubrication. There’s a quad exhaust system that helps account for the deep, throaty sounds emanating from the Boss. Even when the test car was at idle, my passengers and I heard the engine, sort of purring deeply the way a wild tiger might while resting. Note the new exhaust system helps keep the Boss street legal by keeping noise volume down. But at a racetrack, the exhaust baffles can be easily removed

Optional idle stop conserves fuel

so the exhaust system can be unrestricted. Elsewhere, brakes in the test car grabbed quickly to slow the Boss down. Its brakes come from Brembo and have 14-inch, vented front brake discs. The Boss’ wheels are lightweight alloy and black in color for a sinister look. Tires are 19inch Pirelli PZeros, a summer tire with tenacious grip. So, while the test car tracked well on curves and turns, there was considerable road noise. Indeed, between the engine growl and road noise, I had no way of knowing if the Mustang Boss had wind noise at highway speeds. The wide tires also tended to require driver steering attention on rippled, grooved pavement as the tires wanted to track along with the ripples and not necessarily where I wanted to go. Torque peaks at 380 footpounds at 4,500 rpm, and acceleration came on smoothly and strongly and certainly never lagged in the tester. But I managed only 14.9 mpg in combined city/highway travel. Speed-sensitive steering, adjusted to sport mode, gave precise, quick response. In the driver’s seat, I could see out better than I could in a 2012 Camaro, but I still never saw the front of the long and raised Boss hood. Optional Recaco cloth sport seats held me in place expertly. But these seats block forward views for rear-seat passengers who have some 34.7 inches of legroom and who sit under the rear window glass. Drivers who are short in stature have to work to get comfortable behind the steering wheel. At 5 feet 4, I moved the manual driver’s seat up on its track quite a ways to press the clutch.

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THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I7

INFINITI

Gas-electric hybrid boosts efficiency M35h saves 38% over M35 sibling By Ann M. Job For The Associated Press

Luxury brand Infiniti finally joins the gasoline-electric hybrid car market with the 2012 M35h that’s rated 38 percent more fuel efficient overall than its non-hybrid, V6-powered M35 sibling. Drivers can get nine more miles from a gallon of gas in city traffic and six more miles per gallon on the highway by driving the M35h rather than the regular M35, according to federal government estimates. The M35h helps prod the driver to meter gasoline via an accelerator pedal that feels as if it has a brick behind it whenever a computer in the car determines the driver isn’t being fuel-conscious. This firm resistance as the accelerator is being pushed comes only when the driver has engaged the car’s eco mode. And, it’s easily overcome with a bit more pushing on the pedal. But a driver can’t ignore that some nagging is going on. The manufacturer’s suggested retail starting price, including destination charge, for the 2012 M35h with V-6 and electric motor is $53,595. The government fuel economy rating is 27/32 mpg. That compares with the $48,595 MSRP for a non-hybrid, V6-powered, 2012 M35 that’s rated at 18/26 mpg. The M35h isn’t the highest priced M sedan. The 2012 M56 with a 420-horsepower V-8 has a $59,995 starting retail price and is not offered in a hybrid version. Competitors to the M35h include the 210-horsepower Mercedes-Benz E350 Bluetec sedan, which has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $51,775 as a 2011 model and has a government fuel economy rating of 22/33 mpg as it runs on diesel fuel. The Lexus 2012 HS 250h, which is a luxury gaselectric hybrid sedan, has a starting retail price of $37,030 and had a 2011 rating of 35/34 mpg.

The new Infiniti M35h gas-electric hybrid helps prod the driver into metering gasoline. The accelerator pedal feels as if there’s a brick behind it whenever the car’s computer determines that the driver isn’t being fuel-conscious. AFP/GETTY IMAGES

The M35h is a mixed personality. It’s designed to be a luxury car like the other M sedans and so its interior is swathed in leather. It also has many standard convenience features such as power moonroof, 10way adjustable front seats, intelligent key access, push button start, Bluetooth phone connectivity and rearview monitor. The test car had an optional

deluxe touring package with genuine silver powder accents and Japanese white ash wood trim inside. But the M35h can be much more resource conscious when it comes to fuel. I managed to get nearly the 29 mpg rating for combined city/highway driving, and I wasn’t in eco mode all the time and didn’t try hard to maximize fuel.

Then I switched to the sporty, shift-it-yourself mode, which doesn’t use a clutch pedal but has a shift gate in the center console for up and down shifts. Its mileage in city-only driving came to just 15.8 mpg. In similar conflicted fashion, the M35h has significantly more horsepower than the nonhybrid M35: a maximum 360 horsepower from the combined

working of the gas engine and electric motor compared with 333 horses with the traditional M35 V-6 that shoulders the load by itself. The electric motor gives impressive “oomph” quickly at low speed via its 199 footpounds of torque available at 1,770 rpm. It was enough to chirp the 18-inch tires on the test car.

��

I8 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

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*From date of ﬁrst use **With purchase of new or Certiﬁed Toyota from Kings Toyota between Feb. 1 - Feb. 29, 2012. Prior sales excluded. Valid only at Kings Toyota ‘11 SIENNA LTD $36,988 Gray, navigation, DVD, loadedP034110

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239 36

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159 36

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219 36

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1. 0% APR financing for 36 months on new 2011 Avalon, 2011 Corolla, 2011 Rav4. 36 monthly payments of $27.78 per $1000 borrowed. 0.9% APR financing for 36 months on new 2011 Prius. 36 monthly payments of $28.16 per $1000 borrowed. 1.9% APR financing for 60 months on new 2012 Highlander (excludes Hybrid). 60 monthly payments of $17.48 per $1000 borrowed. 2.9% APR financing for 60 months on new 2012 Camry. 60 monthly payments of $17.92 per $1000 borrowed. Subject to TFS Tier 1 + and Tier 1 credit approval. All new financing offers require no down payment. Plus tax, title and $250 doc fee and license. 2. Toyota Motor Sales $1000 recent college grad or qualified active duty or inactive reservist military rebate. No money down required. Subject to TFS credit approval. Only available on new Camry , Corolla, Matrix, Rav4, Yaris and Tacoma. 3. All 36 month closed end leases are plus first month payment, tax, title & $250 dealer doc fee and license. No security deposit. $350 Disposition fee may be due at lease termination. Leases include 12,000 miles per year. Excess mileage charge 15¢ per mile. 4. When financed through Toyota Financial Services. Excludes Hybrids. Offer expires 2/29/12.

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I9

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I10 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

MAZDA

Feisty, new CX-5 comes out swinging Crossover joins battle of small SUVs By James Healey USA Today

Mazda is about to join a fight so vicious you have to question the automaker’s sanity. Not only that, but the Japanese car company has decided to start from scratch, not only creating a new vehicle, but also basing it on the newly developed and challenging technology blueprint that Mazda calls Skyactiv. The result is Mazda’s 2013 CX-5, a small crossover SUV due in February to battle entrenched favorites the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V, both of which are getting overhauls and therefore, presumably, will be even more popular. You have to admire Mazda for such a heroic effort. But although the CX-5 is a technical stunner, it isn’t likely to take the crown among small SUVs. Short take: It handles great, but it needs more power. Nevertheless, there are many aspects that make the CX-5 worth considering. Where does it fit? Mazda swears it will continue to sell the CX-7, also a small SUV, even though the CX-5 represents a major investment to fit it to the Skyactiv template. What’s Skyactiv? It’s Mazda’s name for a suite of features intended to boost fuel economy while enhancing driving fun and safety. CX-5 is first to get the whole package. The Skyactive gas engine uses a very high compression ratio, which results in more power, but includes some magic around the edges to make it run OK on regular fuel. The six-speed Skyactiv Drive automatic uses a small torque converter for the smooth starts that you don’t get from increasingly popular dry-clutch automatics. Once rolling, the gearbox locks into mechanical-drive mode. That eliminates the drag and power loss caused by a conventional fluid-filled torque

A Mazda CX-5 crossover SUV debuts at the Tokyo Motor Show. It will compete with entrenched favorites the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V, both of which are getting overhauls. Mazda aims to boost fuel economy while enhancing driving fun and safety. KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

converter that remains in play most of the time. Skyactiv materials and construction techniques also cut weight at least 220 pounds for each new model. There’s no previous CX-5, so Mazda notes that it is at least that much lighter than the CX-7. What makes it handle so sweetly? Skyactiv’s remarkable attention to chassis details, changing suspension pivot points and tire angles from what would have been the normal layout on a small SUV, and reconfiguring the underbody layout. Worked well. A preproduction, all-wheel-drive CX-5 was tested around the Los Angeles

area, including a spirited run along the snaking, hilly Angeles Crest Highway. Under hard acceleration and deceleration, the CX-5 danced through tight, fast corners with little body lean, steered quite well, and delivered its modest amount of power smoothly and with enthusiasm. Caution: The ride’s a bit jiggly over some surfaces. The driver, being entertained by the vehicle, overlooks it, but passengers might not. What’s wrong with the engine? Despite the efficiencies that should come from the Skyactiv design, the 2-liter fourbanger is rated just 155 horsepower, or a hefty 30 horsepower

less than the updated CR-V, which is now on sale. The 2013 Escape, coming early next year, also trumps the CX-5, offering an expected 168 horsepower in the base engine, 173 horsepower in the optional 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and a bracing 237 horsepower from the 2-liter turbo. The CX-5 is likely to prove more fuel-efficient, but will it be enough to sacrifice the joy and safety that power brings? To be fair, modest drivers in flat terrain carrying few passengers won’t mind CX-5’s engine tuning. But spirited drivers (that is, typical Mazda fans) will bristle. So will those trying to make their way uphill with

several passengers and luggage. Details seem well-handled, for example: The backseat has three folding sections. The narrow center portion can fold flat while the outboard sections stay upright. That’s salvation for parents who need two car seats. They can be left installed, but long cargo still can be carried. Built-in navigation is to be a TomTom-powered system, familiar to the many drivers who use that brand’s aftermarket navigational system. All considered, CX-5 seems a really well-done machine that cries for another 20 or even 40 horsepower.

VOLKSWAGEN

Eos convertible is refreshed, reroofed Hardtop unique in its built-in sunroof By Ann M. Job Associated Press

It’s easy to get people staring at the newly restyled 2012 Volkwagen Eos — particularly when the convertible hardtop is down and a nearly 4-foot-tall, bright yellow M&M’s character is strapped into the back seat. VW doesn’t include the big, plastic M&M’s character, but I picked up the cheerful candystore display at a garage sale — for $5 — and drew a crowd, who wondered how I’d load it into the subcompact Eos. I had arrived with the Eos convertible disguised by its hard roof, so everyone expected me to struggle with the trunk. But all it took was a push of a button to lower the car roof, and the plastic M&M’s man, legs and all, went over the side and into the back seat. The utility of a back seat is a hallmark of the now 6-year-old Eos, which also is the only new car in the United States that comes with a standard sunroof embedded in its removable, power-operated hardtop roof. And though the Eos price isn’t a garage-sale bargain, it is a hardtop convertible that’s priced akin to some soft-top models. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, for the 2012 Eos is $34,765. This includes turbocharged, 200-horsepower engine, automatic transmission, dual climate control, heated front seats, touch-screen premium sound system, cruise control, tilt/slide sunroof and a wind blocker to reduce wind buffeting when the top is down. No manual transmission is offered, and the only engine in the Eos is the gasoline-powered, 2-liter, turbocharged and intercooled, direct-injection four cylinder. VW does not offer the Eos here with a diesel engine, but the gas powerplant qualifies the Eos as the fourth-best convertible in fuel economy in this coun-

The 2012 VW Eos convertible, though it suffers from a lack of rear headroom and trunk space, boasts a turbocharged engine and sports a sunroof in its removable power hardtop; it’s the only new car in the U.S. with the feature. AP

try, according to the U.S. government. The government rating for the 2012 Eos is 22 miles per gallon in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway. In test driving that was 65 percent city driving and wasn’t geared to maximizing gas mileage, I averaged 22 mpg for a range of 319 miles on a single tank. Competitors include the 2012 BMW 128i Convertible, which has a starting retail price of $37,475 for a model with a soft top, 230-horsepower, inline sixcylinder engine and manual transmission. Fuel economy rating for this BMW convertible is 18/28 mpg. The 2011 Mini Cooper Convertible with 121-horsepower four cylinder, manual transmission and fabric roof has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $25,550. Fuel economy rating for this Mini is 28/35 mpg. A turbocharged, 181horsepower Mini Cooper convertible starts at $28,550 and has four-cylinder engine, manual transmission, soft top and fuel mileage rating of 25/37

mpg. U.S. sales of the Eos are up 6.3 percent for the first seven months of calendar 2011 compared with the year-ago period, to 4,868. Changes for 2012 are subtle and include new headlights, light-emitting diode taillamps and a revised grille. The two-door car retains pleasing, but not showy looks — at least until the power-operated roof starts its activity. Then, as the rear “boot” or cover over the space where the roof will store behind the back seats, rises and sits straight up in the air, the Eos garners attention easily. The roof panels — with that sizable sunroof in them — separate and fold over themselves and snug down into the empty cavity, and the boot goes back down and fastens itself into place. It all takes some 25 seconds. As with most convertibles, the car looks prettiest when the roof is down. But this also compromises already limited trunk space of 6.6 cubic feet. There is a wind blocker that can be man-

ually installed to help reduce wind buffeting when the top is down. But until it was in use, it took up space inside the trunk, which I didn’t appreciate. The Eos rode with a heftiness not expected because of its small size,14.5 feet in length and 5.9 feet wide. The reason for the more than 3,500-pound weight is that heavy, mechanical roof. Passengers must watch when they open the long doors. They can hit adjacent cars in parking spots. And it can take some contortion to get in and out of the two back seats when the roof is on. It’s easier with the top down. The back seats provide a commendable 32.5 inches of rearseat legroom. But there are only 27.9 inches of rear headroom when the roof is on. The suspension managed many road bumps, but I felt road vibrations on the more stout pavement bumps. And when pressed hard on curvy mountain roads, the weight of the Eos was noticeable. The test car didn’t respond at the first touch of the accelerator

pedal. It seemed to need a bit stronger nudge to get the turbo engine to provide more than a dab of power. But once the right amount of pressure was applied to the pedal, the Eos moved along well. Torque peaks at 207 footpounds at a low,1,700 rpm, so the car can feel solid and peppy. The Eos has VW’s Direct Shift Gearbox automatic transmission, whose computer controls ensure super-fast shifting from gear to gear. This contributes to the sprightly performance of the Eos. Steering had a comfortable, weighted feel, and brakes responded capably and with good pedal feel. Standard safety equipment includes electronic stability control, four air bags and automatic rollover protection. But the Eos is rated below average by Consumer Reports in reliability, and on the test car, gaps between the exterior sheet metal panels appeared to be a tad larger and more noticeable than they are on some other cars.

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I11

I12 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

RANGE ROVER

Land Rover North America introduced the all-new 2012 Range Rover Evoque with an on- and off-road Range Rover Evoque Experience at Soldier Field in Chicago last fall. All Evoques come stocked with luxury features like leather-covered seats, navigation system, rear-view camera, and powerful sound system. TIMOTHY HIATT/GETTY IMAGES FOR RANGE ROVER

Compact Evoque stresses style

Luxury SUV also performs off-road By Ann M. Job The Associated Press

Boldly forsaking a history of boxy, gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles, England’s Land Rover now sells a compact SUV that’s so stylish former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham is consulting on a special edition model. The new-for-2012 Range Rover Evoque with standard all-wheel drive Terrain Response System also is impressively capable off-road and recently snagged the 2012 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year award against competitors that included the 2012 BMW X3 and 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUVs. Best of all, the Evoque, which in the United States comes only with a turbocharged, 240-horsepower, fourcylinder, gasoline engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, is the most fuelefficient Land Rover vehicle ever. Its federal government fuel economy rating is 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway. The Evoque is offered in two body styles. One has two side doors besides the rear liftgate and standard two separate back seats for a total passenger capacity of four. It’s called the coupe. A bench rear seat is a nocost option that provides seat-

ing for five. The other, fourdoor Evoque with easier access to a usual bench rear seat is expected to be the top seller in the United States All Evoques come generously stocked with standard leather-covered seats, navigation system, rearview camera with towing guidance, panoramic roof and sound system with at least 380 watts of power. So price is not cheap. With a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $43,995 for the four-door, the Evoque is $7,445 more than the 2011 LR2 SUV that it replaces in the Land Rover lineup. The two-door Evoque Coupe starts higher, at $44,995. The 2012 BMW X3 has a starting retail price of $39,025 for an xDrive28i model with 240-horsepower, inline, gasoline six cylinder, eight-speed automatic transmission, allwheel drive and leatherette upholstery. Adding leather seat covering, panoramic roof, rearview camera and navigation system pushes the X3 price to more than $45,600, according to the BMW consumer website. And the 2012 Mercedes ML350 with 302-horsepower V-6 and seven-speed automatic has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $49,865. The test Evoque Prestige model attracted people of all ages. The look, with a roof that seems squashed down onto a vehicle riding on 19-inch tires,

2012 LAND ROVER EVOQUE PRESTIGE Base price: $43,145 for Pure model; $51,545 for Prestige. Price as tested: $52,395. Type: Front-engine, all-wheeldrive, five-passenger, compact, luxury, sport utility vehicle. Engine: 2-liter, double overhead cam, turbocharged, directinjection, gasoline four cylinder. Mileage: 18 mpg (city), 28 mpg (highway). Top speed: 135 mph. Length: 171.9 inches. Wheelbase: 104.8 inches. Curb weight: 3,902 pounds. Built: England. Options: None. Destination charge: $850.

is urban and distinctive. Everyone agreed the 14.3-foot-long Evoque was a worthy alternative to a luxury sedan as well as luxury SUVs whose styling is traditional and well worn. The Evoque’s interior is handsome and crafted with soft-touch materials – even the sun visors had a rich, “cushy” feel. In the tester, stitching on seats and dashboard was perfectly aligned and all body gaps outside were consistent for excellent fit and finish. Faux jeweled crystals in the speedometer, right where the speed needle extends to the speed numbers, add an unexpected touch of glamour. Another touch: A graphic of the Evoque projected onto the

ground in darkness from the puddle lights on the front doors. After a short-stature driver adjusts the driver's seat upward, the Evoque’s dashboard doesn’t seem high up and blockish as dashboards are in competitor SUVs. Passengers could not guess accurately the size of the Evoque’s engine. The direct-injection, turbocharged four cylinder is from Ford and is used in Ford’s 2012 Explorer SUV. In the Evoque, this engine is covered completely by black plastic covering under the hood and it performs like a lively six cylinder. Indeed, the test Evoque was difficult to drive smoothly because tip-in on the accelerator was touchy and acceleration came quickly. Peak torque is reported at 250 foot-pounds and comes full on by 1,750 rpm in this less than 4,000-pound vehicle. Estimated 0-to-60 mph time is about 7 seconds, but it seemed faster than that in the test drive as I easily beat everyone away from stoplights. In comparison, the 0to-60 time for the 2012 ML350 with 273 foot-pounds of torque coming at 3,500 rpm, is 7.3 seconds. The base ML350 weighs 850 pounds more than the base Evoque. There was little indication of turbo lag during the Evoque test drive. Rather, there was always a steady, smooth power delivery through the automatic transmission. Paddle shifters are provided

on the steering column, but the automatic in the tester moved through the gears pleasingly on its own. Fuel mileage averaged 18.4 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which put full-tank range at 340 miles. Premium gasoline provides peak turbo performance. The 2012 X3 xDrive28i is rated by the federal government at 19/25 mpg, and the 2012 ML350 has a 17/22mpg rating. Both competitors use premium gasoline, but the Mercedes M-Class also is offered with a diesel engine that improves fuel mileage to 18/23 mpg. Evoque’s passengers felt and heard some road bumps through the big tires, but they were not harsh. Body motions were well controlled. The Evoque took sweeping curves confidently and maneuvered nimbly in tight spaces. It also braked capably in an emergency maneuver. There was little wind noise around this sleek vehicle, and the electric power steering was nicely responsive. Front seats felt good on long drives. Rear-seat legroom of 35.7 inches is less than what's in the larger-sized ML350. Note that the shifter is a knob that recesses into the center console every time the car is turned off. Drivers must wait for it to resurface after the car is started before the vehicle can be shifted from “Park.”

HONDA

The Accord is redesigned for 2013 There’s a plug-in hybrid, too By Chris Woodyard USA TODAY

Honda is going all out to reestablish the pre-eminence of its flagship family car, the Accord, with a new concept of the coupe that is lower and shorter than the present one, but has the same interior volume. The sedan is expected to look similar. Honda also had a big surprise: the next Accord will come in a plug-in version that will take less than two hours to charge on a 240-volt charger, or four hours in a standard wall outlet. The 2013 Accord could fix a few problems for Honda. The present version is decidedly bigger than the last one and most of its peers. It was classed as a full-size, instead of midsize, car — and its bigger size hurt sales. Making the car a tad smaller will help save more on fuel, says John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for Honda, who introduced the new prototype at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit today. The new Accord will come with a choice of new powertrains, including the first 2.4-li-

The 2013 Honda Accord Coupe has a plug-in hybrid that will go 15 miles before gas kicks in. WIECK

ter direct injection engine and two-motor plug-in hybrid in Honda’s lineup. Plus, the Accord is getting a new continu-

ously variable transmission, instead of a standard automatic transmission, that will save gas and be fun to drive. Mendel

vows it will not have a “rubber band” feel. The plug-in will use a lithium-ion battery, be good for up to

about 15 miles of electric-only driving and a top speed of 62 miles an hour before the gas engine kicks in.

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I13

HYUNDAI

Accent shows brand still has its mojo 2012 models are classy, quick, comfy By James Healey USA Today

You might suspect Hyundai would be out of mojo when it finally got around to redesigning the little Accent. You’d be wrong. The 2012 Accent subcompact, offered as a hatchback or sedan and on sale since June, is among the nicest automotive surprises in years. For the most part, it’s a classy, quick, comfy little car that responds nimbly to the driver and doesn’t leave you devastated that you didn’t buy a bigger car. The two test Accents, a hatchback with six-speed manual transmission and a sedan with six-speed automatic, got inexplicably poor gas mileage for four-cylinder subcompacts, however. Regardless of whether flogged or finessed, the two were in the 24 to 25 mpg range in the suburbs. That’s well off the 33 or 34 mpg government rating for mixed city/highway driving. And less than the recently tested Nissan Versa’s 30 mpg in the real world. (Test Drive, Aug. 19.) But if you figure you’ll do better or it’s not your main reason to pick one car over another, the new Accents are strong contenders, perhaps the best of the subcompact breed. » Drivetrain. The cars’ 1.6liter four-cylinder has direct injection and other tweaks for a rating of 138 horsepower, handily thumping rivals Versa, Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit. The engine is mated to a fun, smooth-shifting manual or crisp conventional automatic. None of the foibles of Nissan’s continuously variable-ratio automatic or Ford’s so-called PowerShift dry-clutch automatics, nor the limits of Honda’s five-speed automatic. » Interior. Classy and simple, a compelling mix among

Hyundai’s 2012 Accent is displayed at the New York International Auto Show on April 20 in New York City. Industry insiders say that the new Accent subcompact — offered as a hatchback or sedan and on sale since June — is among the nicest automotive surprises in years. SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES

subcompacts that often simply look and feel cheap inside, and sometimes try to mask that with over-the-top shapes and gimcracks. Accent has refreshingly big, readable instruments, well-placed controls that feel smooth and robust in operation, and textures and shapes that give the impression of a bigger, pricier machine. Except for the wretched wavy pattern in the seat fabric and door panels. It’s subtle enough that you might not notice, but once you do, it’s like popcorn stuck in your teeth. It’s good to keep in mind that for all their charms, the Accents and their small-car rivals cost what automakers would like us to consider cheap prices nowadays. Each well-equipped Accent test car was roughly $16,000, similar to the Versa and others. That means compromises. » Roominess. Just not as

much as in bigger cars. Very good efforts to carve out useful space, but small cars are small. The Accents manage to provide adult-size knee and legroom in back. And width in front seems relatively generous. The Accent hatchback also provides quite a bit of cargo space — that being the idea of hatchbacks, after all. » Noise. While both Accents seem reasonably quiet inside, the engine noise at idle is coarse, especially when the windows are down. Might be that direct injection. It boosts power and mileage and cuts emissions, but it can sound ragged unless well-deadened » Details. Something always has to give to make the budget. One obvious example is the lack of a lining to cover the underside of the sedan’s trunk lid. Just metal bracing and wires. Frightfully low-brow, undercutting an otherwise premium

persona. Everybody does it, Hyundai argues, and nobody complained about it on the previous Accent. » Price. The bare-bones Accent is $13,205, including shipping, with a manual shift. That doesn’t sound terrible, but even folks who (generally falsely, experience shows) claim they just want basic transportation will find it a bit spartan. To get even a little of what you want, you have to step up to the lowest-price automatictransmission model. It’s $15,955, a $2,750 (21 percent) jump. Hyundai says the $15,995 car comes not only with the automatic, but also air conditioning, radio, iPod jack, power windows and mirrors and cloth-upholstered door panels. OK, that’s a fair amount of content, but who wouldn’t expect most of it on a base-price car?

But if you can swallow that $16,000 is a low price (Test Drive can’t), the Accents belong on your short list. The hatch with manual transmission is especially inviting because of its extra utility and the sweet feel of the gearbox and clutch. Gotta have a “grown-up” sedan? The Accent with trunk hardly is a poor second choice. » What? Redo of the brand’s front-drive subcompact. Available as a hatchback or a sedan. » When? On sale since June. » Why? Aging designs don’t cut it in fierce subcompact market. » Where? It’s nade in South Korea. » How much? $13,205 including $760 shipping, but that’s a bare-bones without air conditioning, radio or power accessories. Versions most buyers will pick start at $15,995. » What makes it go? 1.6-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder rated 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm, 123 pounds-feet of torque at 4,850 rpm. Available with six-speed manual or sixspeed automatic with manual mode. » How big? Similar to Ford Fiesta or Honda Fit. Accent hatchback is 162 inches long, 66.9 in. wide, 57.1 in. tall on a 101.2-in. wheelbase. Sedan same, except 172 in. long. Passenger space: Hatchback, 90.1 cu.ft., sedan, 89.7. Cargo: Hatchback, 21.2 cu. ft. behind rear seat, 47.5 cu. ft. when second row’s folded. Sedan trunk: 13.7 cu. ft. Weighs 2,296 to 2,654 lbs. Turning circle diameter, 34.1 ft. » How thirsty? Manual rated 30 miles per gallon in town 40 highway, 34 in mixed driving. Automatic: 30/40/33 mpg. Test-car registered 24.4 mpg (4.1 gallons per 100 miles) in manual hatchback driven hard in the suburbs, 25 mpg (4 gal/100 mi) in automatic sedan driven moderately. Uses regular, holds 11.4 gal. » Overall: Very nice surprise.

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JOSEPH BUICK GMC TRUCK

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SALES HOURS: MON-FRI 9-8, SAT 9-6 • SUN 12-5

WWW.JOSEPHTOYOTA.COM

TOYOTA OF CINCINNATI

Member of

JOSEPH AUTO GROUP

“ASK YOUR NEIGHBOR...THEY BOUGHT FROM US!”

9101 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati 513-385-1800 | JosephToyota.com 35 NEW

MPG HWY

COROLLA

2011

MODEL #1838

159

MPG HWY

MODEL #4432

OR $500 CUSTOMER CASH!

PER MO. LEASE PLUS TAX $2399 DOWN

36 MO. LEASE NO SEC. DEPOSIT INCLUDES $500 LEASE CASH

NEW 2011

239

% APR

FORUPTO36MOS.

36 MO. LEASE NO SEC. DEPOSIT INCLUDES $500 LEASE CASH

% APR

FORUPTO36MOS.

MODEL #2546 GAS ONLY

CAMRY

0.9 $219

FORUPTO60MOS.

OR $1000 CUSTOMER CASH!

MPG HWY

NEW 2012

% APR

RAV4 PER MO. LEASE PLUS TAX $1599 DOWN

$2499DOWN 2.9

36MO.LEASENOSEC.DEPOSIT

24 NEW

MPG HWY

2012

MODEL #6942 GAS ONLY

PER MO. LEASE PLUS TAX

MPG HWY

MODEL #1223

289

% APR

FOR UP TO 36 MOS. APR IS FOR TIER 1+ & TIER 1 ONLY.

HIGHLANDER

1.9 $279 % APR

FORUPTO60MOS.

MPG HWY

$2799DOWN

36MO.LEASENOSEC.DEPOSIT

NEW 2012

PER MO. LEASE PLUS TAX

0.9

FOR UP TO 48 MOS.

FOR UP TO 60 MOS.

OR $2250 CUSTOMER CASH!

PER MO. LEASE PLUS TAX $3499 DOWN

36 MO. LEASE NO SEC. DEPOSIT

FOR UP TO 36 MOS.

1.9 % APR

TUNDRA

1.9 % APR $ 399 OR

OR $750 CUSTOMER CASH!

% OR $2499DOWN APR 2.9 % APR 36MO.LEASENOSEC.DEPOSIT FORUPTO36MOS.

MODEL #8331

OR $500 CUSTOMER CASH!

PER MO. LEASE PLUS TAX

PRIUS

NEW 2011

INCLUDES $400 TFS SUBVENTION CASH

0% APR OR

FOR UP TO 60 MOS.

New 2012 Camry SE Model 2546. Lease end purchase option $14,360.* Camry ranked No. 1 on the 2011 American-Made Index as compiled by the editors of Cars.com. For more information about the 2011 American-Made Index visit, Cars.com. Remaining new 2011 Corolla LE Model 1838. Lease end purchase option $9,856. Toyota Financial Services $500 Lease Cash must be applied towards due at signing – reduces $2,899 due at signing to $2,399 due at signing.* Remaining new 2011 RAV4 4x4 Model 4432. Lease end purchase option $15,003. Toyota Financial Services $400 Lease Cash must be applied towards due at signing – reduces $1,999 due at signing to $1,599 due at signing.* New 2012 Highlander 4x2 Model 6942. Lease end purchase option $17,226.* Remaining new 2011 Prius Model 1223. Lease end purchase option $13,642.* New 2012 Sienna LE. Lease end purchase option $17,226.* Customer cash directly from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Dealer participation may affect consumer cost. Covers normal factory scheduled service. Plan is 2 years or 25K miles, whichever comes ﬁrst. The new Toyota vehicle cannot be part of a rental or commercial ﬂeet or a livery or taxi vehicle. See plan for complete coverage details. See participating Toyota dealer for details. Subject to approved credit through Toyota Financial Services. See dealer for terms and conditions. Toyota Financial Services $400 Bonus/Subvention cash only available on new 2012 Tundra. May be combined with Toyota Financial Services special reduced APR and Lease offers, but cannot be combined with Toyota customer cash: ($2,500 on new 2012 Tundra CrewMax & $2,250 on new 2012 Tundra Regular & Double Cabs). Must take retail delivery from new dealer stock between 2/1/12 & 3/5/12. * NO SECURITY DEPOSIT subject to approved credit through Toyota Financial Services – Tier I PLUS customers ONLY. Excludes state and local taxes, tags, registration and title, and insurance. Ohio sales tax due at lease inception. License and applicable fees are extra. Lessee may be charged for excessive wear based on Toyota Financial Services standards for normal use and for mileage in excess of 36,000 miles at the rate of $0.15 per mile. A $350 Disposition Fee is due at lease termination. Must take retail delivery from remaining new 2011 and new 2012 dealer stock between 2/1/12 and 3/5/12. APR, Customer Cash & Lease offers may not be combined. See participating dealer for complete details. Individual dealer prices may vary. Offers may vary by region. VEHICLE IMAGES USED FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. Expiration for this ad is 3/5/12.

JOSEPH SCION Member of

JOSEPH AUTO GROUP

385-1800

9101 Colerain Ave. • www.josephscion.com

NEW 2012

SCION xD STARTING AT

16,075

NEW 2012

SCION xB STARTING AT

17,030

SCION tC STARTING AT

19,305

MPG HWY

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I15

CALL ABOUT AUTO SHOW BONUS CASH! 2012 CHEVY

Stk #A32167

SONIC 5 DR

MSRP WYLER DISCOUNT

$15,395 -$2000

SALE

13,145

-$250

2012 CHEVY

MALIBU 1LT

MSRP WYLER DISCOUNT REBATE SALE

5 AT THIS PRICE

36 MPG HWY 25 MPG CITY

Stk #A31624

$23,765 -$4500 -$2500

Stk #A31911

CAMARO

SALE

33 MPG HWY 22 MPG CITY

-$500

2012 CHEVY MSRP WYLER DISCOUNT

$24,445 -$3000

20,945

-$500

2012 CHEVY

TRAVERSE FWD LS

MSRP WYLER DISCOUNT REBATE

28 MPG HWY 17 MPG CITY

Stk #A31587

SALE

24,000

24,500 $ -$500

2011 CHEVY

SILVERADO

MSRP WYLER DISCOUNT REBATE

SALE

23 MPG HWY 16 MPG CITY Stk #A31235

1500 EXT CAB WT & 1LS

24,227 $

22,227

GM OWNER LOYALTY -$1000 TRADE IN BONUS -$1000

2012 CHEVY

SILVERADO

21 15 MPG CITY

MPG HWY

Stk #A30665

1LT & LTZ

$38,862 -$5000 -$2000

AS LOW AS

GM OWNER LOYALTY -$1000 TRADE IN BONUS -$1000

29,862

21 MPG HWY 15 MPG CITY

30 18 MPG CITY

MPG HWY

Stk #32210

EQUINOX

$24,555 -$2500

22,055 $

21,805

AS LOW AS

GM OWNER LOYALTY

-$250

2011 CHEVY

$55,302 -$6000 -$4000

32 22 MPG CITY

MPG HWY

Stk #31620

AVALANCHE

43,302

AS LOW AS

45,302 $

GM OWNER LOYALTY -$1000 TRADE IN BONUS

-$1000

2011 CHEVY

Stk #31405

TAHOE 4WD LT $52,221 -$6500 -$3500

AS LOW AS

42,221 $41,721

GM OWNER LOYALTY

-$500

2011 CHEVY

Stk #30140

SUBURBAN MSRP WYLER DISCOUNT REBATE

31,862 $

-$500

2012 CHEVY

SALE

AS LOW AS

SALE

GM OWNER LOYALTY

MSRP WYLER DISCOUNT REBATE

$30,222 -$1990 -$4005

MSRP WYLER DISCOUNT REBATE

18,200 $17,700

SALE

AS LOW AS

GM OWNER LOYALTY

36 26 MPG CITY

MPG HWY

Stk #A31144

IMPALA LS

MSRP WYLER DISCOUNT REBATE

$31,000 -$5000 -$1500

-$500

2012 CHEVY

SALE

21,445 $

GM OWNER LOYALTY

MSRP WYLER DISCOUNT

AS LOW AS

17,985 $17,485

SALE

16,765 $16,265

GM OWNER LOYALTY

CRUZE

MSRP $25,700 WYLER DISCOUNT -$4500 REBATE -$3000

AS LOW AS

Stk #A31604

SALE

13,395 $

GM OWNER LOYALTY

2012 CHEVY

MSRP $20,485 WYLER DISCOUNT -$2500

AS LOW AS

5-YEAR POWERTRAIN

$56,977 -$6500 -$3500

AS LOW AS

46,977 $46,477

SALE

GM OWNER LOYALTY

-$500

CHEVROLET COMMERCIAL TRUCKS 2011 CHEVY

2500 EXPRESS 3500HD

23,495

FROM

AFTER $1500 REBATE

BEFORE $500 OWNER LOYALTY

FROM

A31029

w/ GALION DUMP READY TO WORK!

BEFORE $1000 TRADE IN & AFTER $2505 REBATE $1000 OWNER LOYALTY

2011 CHEVY

EXPRESS 15’ BOX 3500HD FLATBED

A31184

32,995

2011 CHEVY

A31059

28,195

BEFORE $500 OWNER LOYALTY

AFTER $1500 REBATE

FROM

w/ BIN PACKAGE!

FROM

2011 CHEVY

A31245

28,995

AFTER $2505 REBATE

BEFORE $1000 TRADE IN & $1000 OWNER LOYALTY

Plus tax, license, fees. Closed end lease to qualiﬁed buyers with approved credit, not all buyers will qualify. No security deposit required. Expires 2/21/2012

1-855-300-0060

SALES HOURS: MON-THURS 9:30 am - 9 pm FRI - SAT 9:30 am - 7:30 pm SUNDAY 12-5

Rt. 32 - I-275, Exit 63B

JeffWylerEastgateChevrolet.com

ANY NEW 2012 JEEP

WRANGLER 2 DR

3,000

OFF MSRP

ANY NEW 2012 JEEP

GRAND CHEROKEE

5,000

OFF MSRP

INCLUDING $1000 REBATE

ANY NEW 2012 DODGE

JOURNEY

5,500

OFF MSRP

INCLUDING $2000 REBATE

ANY NEW 2011 CHRYSLER

200 TOURING

7,000

21 17 MPG CITY

MPG HWY

WRANGLER 4 DR

3,500

J2384 MSRP $35,360

22 16 MPG CITY

J2358 MSRP $35,060

25 17 MPG CITY

MPG HWY

TOWN & COUNTRY

5,000

31 21 MPG CITY

MPG HWY

ANY NEW 2012 JEEP

LIBERTY

7,000

OFF MSRP

INCLUDING $4000 REBATE

ANY NEW 2011 CHRYSLER

300C

11,000

$ A19730 MSRP $28,175

OFF MSRP

INCLUDING $1000 REBATE

$ A20162 MSRP $27,285

OFF MSRP

ANY NEW 2012 CHRYSLER

OFF MSRP

INCLUDING $4000 REBATE

ANY NEW 2012 JEEP

MPG HWY

For more information, scan this QR Code with your Smartphone

OFF MSRP

INCLUDING $4500 REBATE

21 16

MPG HWY MPG CITY

J2142 MSRP $40,970

25 17 MPG CITY

MPG HWY

J2318 MSRP $35,020

21 15 MPG CITY

MPG HWY

A20316 MSRP $33,640

25 16 MPG CITY

MPG HWY

A19592 MSRP $41,285

ALL BASE CONSUMER REBATES DEDUCTED TO ACHIEVE SALE PRICES, ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES MAY BE AVAILABLE. IN STOCK UNITS ONLY, SUBJECT TO PRIOR SALE, VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT MAY VARY FROM PHOTO. CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE AND RAM ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF CHRYSLER, AUBURN HILLS, MI, USA. EPA ESTIMATES BASED ON MANUFACTURERS TESTING. ACTUAL MILEAGE MAY VARY, DEPENDING ON OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT AND ACTUAL DRIVING HABITS. $1000 ALLY FINANCE BONUS REQUIRES PROOF OF LEASE OF ANOTHER BRAND. EXPIRES 2/21/2012

CALL ABOUT Rt. 32 - I-275, Exit 63B AUTO SHOW JeffWylerEastgateChrysler.com BONUS CASH!

1-855-300-0059

For more information, scan SALES HOURS: this QR Code MON-THURS 9:30 am - 9 pm with your FRI - SAT 9:30 am - 7:30 pm Smartphone

SUNDAY 12-5

I16 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

TOYOTA

2012 Prius v offers more room This new hybrid a minivan-styled ride

By Ann M. Job Associated Press

Toyota sold more than a million Prius gasoline-electric hybrid cars in the United States, but anyone who needed more room than the mid-size hatchback could provide was left out. Not anymore. Toyota’s biggest Prius, the 2012 Prius v, has arrived as a minivan-styled vehicle with 58 percent more cargo space than the current Prius and more room for passengers. (Though the new car keeps seating to five, which is the same number of seats in the Prius with no “v.”) Bumper to bumper, the Prius v is 8 inches longer, a tad wider and 3 inches taller than the current Prius. Better yet, with a federal government fuel economy rating of 44 miles per gallon in city driving and 40 mpg on the highway, the Prius v jumps to the top of the fuel-efficiency list among all 2012 minivans and station wagons. The Prius v has a higher fuel mileage rating in the city than on the highway because the onboard electric motor is able to engage more often in slowerspeed city driving, thereby boosting the city gasoline mileage. The starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $27,160 for the base Prius v Two model that includes a 98-horsepower, four-cylinder engine mated to a 60-kilowatt electric motor, continuously variable transmission, fabric-covered seats, backup camera and Bluetooth phone connectivity. This compares with the starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $24,280 for a 2011 Prius hatchback with the same engine and electric motor and a federal government fuel mileage rating of 51/48 mpg. (Toyota has not released pricing for the 2012 Prius.) There are no other gas-electric minivans or wagons on the U.S. market. But people might cross-shop the Prius v with the

There are no other gas-electric minivans or wagons on the U.S. market. But people might cross-shop the 2012 Toyota Prius v — with 58 percent more cargo space than the current Prius and more room for passengers — with the similarly sized minivans. PAUL SANCYA/AP

similarly sized Mazda5 minivan that starts at $21,140 with 157-horsepower, four-cylinder engine, automatic transmission and seating for six. The Mazda5 is rated at 21/28 mpg by the federal government. The starting retail price for the Prius v is just $500 above the starting retail price of $26,660 for a 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid sedan. The Camry Hybrid’s trunk space, however, is 13.1 cubic feet, while the Prius v has 34.3 cubic feet to 67.3 cubic feet of cargo space, depending on whether the rear seats are in use or folded. And with a larger, more powerful gasoline engine and more robust electric motor than the Prius v, the five-passenger Camry Hybrid is rated at 43/39 mpg. For the record, the “v” in the name stands for versatility. But it could stand for “van,” too, because that’s the lasting impression I had after driving this new Prius model. From easy access

to seats and good headroom in front and back seats to level rear floor, the Prius v felt like a minivan with high-tech flair. If you like the Prius styling, you will like the looks of the Prius v. Toyota designers didn’t stray far from the now-familiar Prius look. The extra passenger space is welcome. The test Prius v felt spacious, in part due to its panoramic moonroof that was part of a $5,580 option package. I liked that I turned and just sat on the fabric seats without having to climb upward or drop downward to get inside. Views out of the Prius v were good for all passengers; side door rear windows are large and we all sat up a good bit from the pavement. Note the rear doors open as car doors do; they don’t slide like minivan doors. The pillar around the Prius v windshield is sizable, so I had to watch carefully for pedestrians when making turns. A backup

camera that helps drivers see what’s behind them is standard equipment. For anyone who hasn’t been in a regular Prius, the Pruis v dashboard gauges and displays might seem otherworldly, but they all provide understandable information once a driver learns where to look. There is no typical gauge cluster in front of the steering wheel. Everything, including speedometer, is over toward the center of the dashboard. Of course, the item I looked at most was the average fuel mileage. While the government said the city/highway average should be 42 mpg, I never got above 37.5 mpg. I admit I tested all modes, including the “power” setting; it was about the only time the Prius v didn’t feel stodgy. But in the power mode, the electric motor didn’t kick in much, and fuel mileage decreased. In power mode, the 1.8-liter,

double overhead cam four cylinder took on responsibility more willingly, even in city driving, and there was a noticeable improvement in acceleration from when I drove in the “eco” mode. Still, in eco or even power modes, the Prius v could feel like it was struggling if the vehicle was loaded with passengers and cargo. It felt taxed, too, with a couple passengers on board as it traveling a long uphill grade on the highway, and we heard the four cylinder droning loudly. The Prius v handled competently. But the electric power steering had an artificial feel. Standard safety equipment includes traction control, antilock brakes, stability control and curtain air bags. More new Prius models are coming. A Prius Plug-In Hybrid should be available in 14 states come March and elsewhere in 2013, and a Prius c city car is due next year.

VOLVO

XC60 is a hybrid luxury crossover Plug-in diesel version to be available in Europe By Mark Phelan Detroit Free Press

Volvo’s slick XC60 luxury crossover adds up to 35 miles of battery power to its already impressive suite of safety features in this concept. There’s no production plan for a plug-in hybrid using the concept’s sporty combination of a 280-horsepower engine and 70-horsepower electric motor, but Volvo plans to sell a diesel XC60 plug-in hybrid in Europe later this year. Volvo is working on the gasolinepowered version so it can sell the XC60 plug-in in the U.S. and China, where

customers are less interested in diesels. Volvo contends the 35-mile battery range will allow most owners to use electricity for their daily driving, while the gasoline engine adds range for longer trips. The engine powers the front wheels, while the battery drives the rear wheels. That allows the driver to save battery power for when it’s most useful — for instance, European city centers that forbid combustion-powered vehicles. The 12 kWh lithium-ion battery charges in 3.5 hours at 220 volts and 7.5 hours at 110. Besides providing power for all-electric driving, the electric motor can provide 45 horsepower to supplement the engine’s output during acceleration.

Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volvo Car Corp., debuts the Volvo XC60 Plug-In Hybrid concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. AP

CADILLAC

New engine aids SRX, but brakes need work Midsize SUV gets a vital makeover

2012 CADILLAC SRX

By James R. Healey USA Today

Cadillac put a much-needed new engine under the hood of its SRX midsize crossover SUV, and boy, what an improvement. Smaller but nice improvements are additional features for the 2012 model, on sale since June. They include a Bluetooth hands-free link now standard on the base model, a heated steering wheel standard on the version most people buy (Luxury Collection) and better-looking wheels on the Performance package. But the transmission on the high-end test model still didn’t shift as quickly or smoothly as it should. It’s hardly the dealbreaker the original was, but you expect better. And the brakes felt awful. At first touch, the pedal was numb, and as it was pushed more, it felt inexplicably spongy. Sometimes, the brakes groaned loudly when easing off the pedal at a sto-

The 2012 Cadillac SRX comes with many improvements, including a Bluetooth hands-free link now standard on the base model. AP

plight. The other big deal to many folks will be lack of rear visibility because of the fat rear roof pillars, apparently the work of a stylist never required to back out of a parking spot in tight quarters. The backup camera helps, but it can’t do all the work. The newly powered-up SRX,

though, shined on a 550-mile trip from Detroit to Virginia. The Allegheny Mountains en route are a challenge because of tight turns, steep grades and limited visibility, but the SRX shrugged off the challenges, humming ahead as if on a flat six-lane highway. The drive also was less strenuous than it could have been be-

What? New engine, new features for 2012 version of Cadillac’s midsize, four-door, crossover SUV with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. When? On sale since June. Where? Made at Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. How much? Base front-wheel-drive version starts at $36,350 with shipping. High-end all-wheel drive starts at $49,960. Very well-equipped AWD test vehicle: $51,550. What makes it go? Only engine is 3.6-liter V-6 rated 308 horsepower at 6,800, 265 pounds-feet of torque at 2,400. Six-speed automatic with manual mode. How big? A little larger than Lexus RX. SRX is 190.3 inches long, 75.2 in. wide, 65.7 in. tall on 110.5-in. wheelbase. Weighs 4,277 lbs. (FWD) or 4,442 lbs. (AWD). Passenger space: 100.6 cu. ft. Cargo space: Behind back seat, 29.2 cu. ft.; when seat’s folded, 61.2 cu. ft. Turns in 40.3 ft. How thirsty? Rated 17 miles per gallon in town, 24 highway, 19 combined (FWD); 16/23/18 (AWD). Burns regular, holds 21 gallons. Test car with AWD registered 21.1 mpg (4.74 gallons per 100 miles) in highway driving including hilly terrain; 13.3 mpg 7.52 gal/100 miles) in suburban driving. Overall: New engine, features are big help, but transmission, brakes need work.

cause the Caddy’s seats were comfy, the climate control easy to tailor, the rain-sensing wipers effective and easy to set just-so, and the engine sufficiently gutty to avoid requiring the gearbox to stir constantly. Using the brakes on down-

hills wasn’t a highlight, however. In addition to the lousy feel of the pedal, pressure on it wasn’t proportional to the level of deceleration. Back home in the suburbs, See CADILLAC SRX, Page I17

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I17

BEST MPG

ROLLS-ROYCE

Five environmentally friendly cars, including this Mitsubishi iMiev sportair electric vehicle, vied for Green Car of the Year at the L.A. Auto Show. The EPA says the Mitsu electric has the top equivalent mpg. AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Mitsubishi all-electric car tops EPA efficiency list Gets 126 miles per gallon equivalent in city driving By Chris Woodyard USA TODAY

Mitsubishi’s small, funny-looking i electric car has been designated as the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the land in the latest Environmental Protection Agency roundup, according to the automaker. The 2012 Mitsubishi i all-electric sedan has been rated at a 126 miles-pergallon equivalent in city driving, 99 mpg equivalent on the highway, and 112 mpg equivalent in combined city/highway use. That’s better than Nissan's all-electric Leaf (106/92/99), and better than the Chevrolet Volt, an “extendedrange” electric that carries a gasoline engine as backup for when batteries are low. The government gives Volt gets mpg-e ratings of 95/93/94 on battery power only, dropping to 35/40/37 when using just the gasoline engine. “We are very pleased to see that the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have rated the 2012 Mitsubishi i as the top fuel economy leader in its annual Fuel Economy Guide,” said Yoichi Yokozawa, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors in North America. More than 17,000 vehicles with the same electric technology have been sold overseas.

NEW 2011

FORD

0% PLUS

The 2012 Rolls-Royce Phantom, part of the automaker’s Year of the Dragon collection, is more often than not custom-ordered. ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS LTD

Custom builds of Phantom, Ghost bolster record sales By Chris Woodyard USA Today

You don’t just buy a Rolls-Royce off the sales floor. More owners want a customized Rolls. More than half of the Rolls-Royce Ghosts ordered last year were custom, or as Rolls like to say in a snooty fashion, “bespoke personalization.” The figures were even higher for the larger

Cadillac SRX Continued from Page I16

SRX had the same accommodating, no-hassle personality. Cargo space is generous, and a bin under the floor helps hide valuables or lets you decisively separate the eggs from the laundry detergent. Pleasant surprises: » No steering-wheel shift paddles. No matter how well-intentioned, those infernal devices get in the way of something, usually turn signals. SRX sticks with the floor-mounted shift lever and lets you nudge into manual mode and shift yourself, if that’s your choice.

F-150

SUPERCAB XLT V6

FINANCING FOR 60 MONTHS*

$2 ,000

clients’ highest expectations and fulfill their innermost desires,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce CEO. “With highly bespoke Phantom and Ghost models, we are able to achieve this.” In August 2011, Rolls-Royce announced an expansion of its bespoke operation to meet growing demand, doubling the number of custom craftsworkers at the Rolls-Royce plant in Goodwood, England.

» The “eco” setting for the transmission was well-suited for the ’burbs. In search of better mpg, “eco” upshifts sooner than normal, downshifts later. Instead of feeling as if it were resisting the driver’s commands, as most mpg-oriented transmission settings do, the SRX setup merely felt smoother. The SRX transmission stays in whichever setting you choose. You needn’t fiddle with it when you restart the vehicle, as you must in some. For most people, using “eco” all the time would feel better. Don’t look for outstanding mileage, though. We hit about 21 mpg on the highway and about 13 mpg in the burbs, even driving more gently than normal. The new 3.6-liter V-6 costs about

one mpg overall vs. the 3-liter it replaces, according to the government ratings. The high-performance turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6 no longer is available. How to grade the SRX is a relative matter. Are you comparing it with similar-price crossovers? The new Range Rover Evoque and BMW X3 go into the mix. We’d take either of those before the Caddy (though Evoque’s really too small and makes the list for looking so cool and driving so well.) Or are you pitting similar-size models? That axes Evoque but leaves Lexus RX, X3 and a big array of others, luxury and otherwise, in contention. SRX hardly seems a bad choice, but neither is it a compelling standout.

NEW 2012

FORD

FUSION

LEASE FOR

TOTAL FORD FACTORY SAVINGS OFF MSRP

9 000

OR $

Phantommodel,including84percentin the U.S. They include such touches as unique paint colors, coach lines and tread plates.Sometimes,thecarsareordered with Champagne sets, humidors and picnic cabinets. Rolls-Royce couldn’t be happier about the trend. It helped drive the brand to record sales last year. “It is always our goal to exceed our

TOTAL FORD FACTORY SAVINGS OFF MSRP

NEW 2012 FORD

$199

NEW 2012 FORD

PER MO.

24 MONTH LEASE 10,500 MILES PER YEAR $2108 DUE AT SIGNING PLUS TAX & TITLE SECURITY DEPOSIT WAIVED

NEW 2011 FORD

FUSION ESCAPE RANGER

FINANCING FOR 60 MOS.*

PLUS

$1,000 OR $3,000 $1,000 OR $2,500 $3,000 OR $ TOTAL FORD FACTORY REBATE

TOTAL FORD FACTORY REBATE EXCLUDES HYBRID

TOTAL FORD FACTORY REBATE

TOTAL FORD FACTORY REBATE EXCLUDES HYBRID

TOTAL FORD FACTORY REBATE

6 000 ,

TOTAL FORD FACTORY REBATE

* Special APRs with approved credit through Ford Motor Credit. Leases based on 10,500 miles per year closed end lease through FMCC with approved credit. Taxes, license, registration and acquistion fees not included in advertised payment. Total of lease equals payment x24 months plus down payment. Mileage charge of 20¢ per mile over 10,500 miles per year.All prices reflect all applicable Ford Factory rebates deducted. Some offers require Ford Credit financing. Customers that choose not to finance may lose these rebates. See dealer for complete details of any offer. Offers end 2/29/12.

Serving Cincinnati for the last 40 years . . . and the next 40 years!!!

I-75 @ (513) Mitchell Ave. (Exit #6) www.woodysanderford.com

541-5586

HOURS: M-T 9-8 F 9-6 SAT 10-5 SUN 11-4

OUR GOAL IS 100% FINANCING

1-866-849-9728

I18 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

OPEN EVERY SUNDAY 12-5 PM

KINGS KIA

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Every FIAT® 500 created after July 2011 received a top rating based on front and side crash tests, a roof strength test, a rear-impact test, and the availability of Electronic Stability Control conducted by IIHS. Remember, although it was built to be safe, do not jump gators or attempt any other maneuver outside of the normal realm of driving, duh.

See dealer for details

NEW 2012

FIAT 500

$15,675 -$1,176 -$500

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

40 MPG • 40 MPG • 40 MPG

up to

Shop 24/7 at www.kingskia.com Every New Kia Comes With: 10 Year/100,000 Mile PowerTrain Limited Warranty 5 Year/60,000 Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty 5 Year Unlimited Roadside Assistance

Experience the Kings Difference

9570 KINGS AUTOMALL RD • CINCINNATI, OH 45249 SALES HOURS: M-TH: 9-9 F: 9-6, SAT: 10-6, SUN 12-5

SERVICE HOURS: M-T: 8-6, W 8-8, TH-F 8-6, SAT 8-2 513-677-6700

(hwy)

38 mpg is EPA estimated mileage

*Warranty is a limited powertrain warranty. For details, see retailer or go to kia.com.

VISIT KINGS KIA IN THE KINGS AUTOMALL I-71 EXIT 19 FIELDS ERTEL RD. ONE EXIT NORTH OF I-275

mpg

2012 SUBARU

• Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive • 27 mpg (hwy) • 170-hp SUBARU BOXER® engine

PLUS

0.9% APR AVAILABLE

21,794

CFB-21 STOCK# HB-7962 CH427962

TRIBECA

save up to

42 Month Lease*

on Lounge models

($0 due at signing) $0 security deposit. 12,000 miles/year. 20¢ per mile over. Plus tax, title, license, doc fee. With approved credit. Offer ends 2/29/12.

up to

0% APR for 60 mos. available $16.60 per thousand borrowed

30 Mpg city 38 Mpg hwy • 1.4L 16V Multi Air • 7 Airbags • BLUE&ME commu.

•

5969 Centennial Cir Florence, KY 41042 (859) 371-3428 WWW.FIATUSAOFFLORENCE.COM

877-302-7474

FORESTER 2.5i

prices starting at

Jake Sweeney FIAT

All prices plus tax, title & fees. All rebates deducted from prices including Kia Finance Bonus Cash. You must ﬁnance through Kia Finance to qualify for Bonus Cash. $4500 off MSRP on Sorento SX includes Dealer Discount, Kia Finance Bonus Cash and Loyalty or Competitive Rebate if you qualify. Sale ends 2/29/12

2012 SUBARU

or $199 per mo. sign & drive $3,500 $14,995

2012 SUBARU

3.6R LIMITED

• Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive • Three rows of seating • Leather-trimmed upholstery

PLUS

0.9% APR AVAILABLE

35,081

CTD-08 STOCK# X9-0457 C4400457

LEGACY 2.5i • Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive • 31 mpg (hwy) • 170-hp SUBARU BOXER® engine

PLUS

0.9% APR AVAILABLE

21,704

CAB-11 STOCK# MC-5118 C3025118

SUBARU of KINGS AUTOMALL PLUS EVERY NEW SUBARU GETS THE GREEN PACKAGE:

• FREE HAMILTON COUNTY PARK PASS • VALUABLE PARK COUPONS • FREE OIL CHANGES FOR LIFE • FREE SERVICE WASHER • FREE SERVICE SHUTTLE SERVICE • FREE SERVICE LOANERS • FREE PINSTRIPE

9536 Kings Automall Road • Exit 19 @The Kings Automall

(513) 583-9300 www.subaruofkingsautomall.com

Sales Hours: Mon-Thurs 9-8; Fri 9-6; Sat 9-6; Sun 12-5

Subaru, Forester, Outback, Tribeca, Legacy, Impreza, WRX, STI and SUBARU BOXER are registered trademarks. All sales prices plus tax, title and license. Subject to credit approval through Subaru Motors Finance. Hamilton County Parks have no afﬁliation with Subaru Motors. As low as 0.9% apr available up to 36 months to qualiﬁed buyers. Sale ends 2/29/12

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I19

FORD

New Fusion NASCAR racer revealed By Chris Woodyard USA TODAY

Ford’s next Fusion NASCAR looks more like the real thing. The 2013 Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup car was unveiled lastmonthaspartoftheCharlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour. The car has a new silhouette that’smoreintheshapeofthereal car. Most of the cars in NASCAR have basically the same shape on their shells and are differentiated only by stickers. While the NASCAR Fusion looks more like a stock Fusion, that’s about as far as the similarity to the real stock version goes. Beneath the shell, the engine, chassis and the rest are strictly NASCAR. Once upon a time, stock cars were just that: stock. “We wanted Fusion to be the car that helped return ‘stock car’ to NASCAR,” said Jamie Allison, director of Ford Racing. “I think fans, when they see thecar,arejustgoingtosmileand cheer,”headded.“Itisgoingtoreengage them with the sport and make the sport better because there is just something natural about seeing race cars that look like cars in their driveways.” Ford says that this is the third time that it has simultaneously launched production and NASCAR versions of a new model. Thefirstwasin1968withtheTorino. The second time came in 2006 with the current version of the Fusion.

Ford unveils the 2013 Ford Fusion which will compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2013 in Concord, N.C. While it looks more like a stock Fusion, that’s as far as the similarity goes. Beneath the shell, the engine, chassis and the rest are strictly NASCAR. NIGEL KINRADE/AUTOSTOCK

HYUNDAI

A playful oddball for young and hip By James R. Healey USA Today

HOBOKEN, N.J. – The most exciting car yet from South Korean automaker Hyundai is the 2012 Veloster, on sale since September. The Veloster (ve-LOS-ter) is an oddball, three-door hatchback that fills a niche not apparent to most folks. The small car has a big door on the driver’s side and two smaller ones on the passenger side. The styling is show-car wild. The $18,000 starting price and 40-mpg highway rating are tantalizing. Hyundai calls it “playful” and says it’s a “reverse-halo” car — a low-price model, instead of the more typical high-price one, that casts a glow over the whole brand. Hyundai says Veloster is aimed at attracting “a new generation of Hyundai customers.” It’s also a billboard for Hyundai’s first use of a direct-injection gasoline engine mated to a dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). Ford Motor and Volkswagen use similar gearboxes on small cars, with mixed success. Veloster’s version, while flawed, seems the best-tuned, so far. Also known as “manumatic” or “dryclutch” gearboxes, the transmissions work like manuals internally, but are automatically shifted by the car’s computer. The driver has no clutch pedal and doesn’t need to move the gear lever to shift. The gearboxes eliminate the fluid coupling, called a torque converter, that’s used on conventional automatics. It’s a source of fuel-using drag, but also is smoother in traffic and from a dead stop than the manumatics. One Veloster test car had the DCT and was annoying in traffic. As is the case with a pure manual, it’s hard to creep gently ahead. You’re on and off the brakes a lot to keep the DCT Hyundai easing forward. It works fine once up to speed, though. The other test car was a base model with manual transmission. It was easy to shift, satisfying the hand and head doing so, and was abetted by a clutch pedal neither too light nor too firm. It seemed to be no problem, either in traffic or on the open road. Veloster’s manual was quite a bit easier to use and smoother to engage than several other small cars with manuals tested lately. Also worth noting: » The three-door design is unusual but not unique. GM’s now-defunct Saturn brand sold a “three-door coupe.” Mini Cooper’s Clubman model has two doors on one side, one on the other. Veloster’s rear door is hinged at the front, like most doors, and opens without requiring you to open the front door first. The design gives the presumably hip young owner of the car an eye-pleasing view of a graceful coupe when approaching the driver’s side, and supplies riders with easier access to the back seat as they approach from the other side. » The optional 18-inch-diameter wheels, and their tires with very short, stubby sidewalls, are a huge mistake unless you live in the Land of Always Perfect Pavement. The 18s will slam you hard over even small bumps and road patches. Standard 17s, by contrast, are smooth-riding, and handle tight corners

HYUNDAI VELOSTER What? Front-drive, four-passenger, subcompact, three-door hatchback. One larger door on driver side, two smaller doors on the passenger side. Hyundai calls it “playful.” Where? Made at Ulsan, South Korea. Why? To attract young buyers. Create a “reverse-halo” car: Low-price model that gives whole line cool, rather than the usual high-price “halo” model. How much? $18,060 to start with shipping. Loaded: $23,310. What makes it go? 1.6-liter, direct-injection, four-cylinder, rated 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm, 123 pounds-feet of torque at 4,850. Six-speed manual standard; six-speed dual-clutch automatic is $1,250. How big? A few inches, longer, wider than a Honda Fit. Veloster is 166.1 inches long, 70.5 in. wide, 55.1 in. tall on a 104.3in. wheelbase. Weighs 2,584 to 2,813 lbs. Passenger space 89.8 cubic feet. Cargo space 15.5 cu. ft. behind second row, 34.7 cu. ft. when second row’s folded. How thirsty? Manual rated 28 mpg in town, 40 highway, 32 combined. Automatic 29/38/32 mpg. Automatic test car’s computer registered 35.3 mpg in fast highway driving, 24.8 mpg in suburban driving. Manual transmission test car: 31 mpg in mix of urban, highway driving. Burns regular, holds 13.2 gallons.

well. » Space is tight in the back seat. That’s normal for a car this size, but rear headroom is also iffy. There’s even a sticker warning that closing the hatchback could whack taller rear passengers’ noggins. Hyundai puts just two seats in back, rather than dishonestly trying to convince you there’s room for three across. » There are plenty of standard features; you’re getting not only an unusual car but a nicely appointed one. You get a seven-inch touch-screen (pretty big in a little car), power steering/brakes/seats/ windows, of course. BlueTooth handsfree connectivity, a USB hookup for your iPod rather than just an “aux” jack. Remote-control locks, defrosting mirrors, adjustable steering column. » Remarkably comfortable front seats. » A regrettable gutlessness. The1.6-liter four-cylinder is OK in town, but couldn’t hold 60 mph on modest hills in sixth or fifth gear under wide-open throttle. Had to shift the manual transmission test car down to fourth to maintain speed. The DCT’s automatic shifts mask that, but it’s still evident that the engine, same as in the new Accent, lost its highway liveliness along the way. » Unexpected highway composure. More than 200 miles in heavy rain at highway speed never felt dicey. Veloster has the road presence of a bigger machine. It resists wind buffeting better than some other small fry, and that contributes to a feeling of stability. If all we’d driven was the base model with manual gearbox and 17-inch tires, we’d rave about the smooth, easy-going, inviting, crazy-looking car that far exceeds expectations. But Hyundai expects 70 percent to take the DCT. And those dreadful 18-inch wheels are packaged with other features you want. So most Velosters are unlikely to merit the rave.

The Hyundai Veloster is well-appointed, inexpensive and gas-thrifty. On the downside, the engine isn’t quite peppy enough on highway hills. AFP/GETTY IMAGES

JOSEPH 0.9% FINANCING AVAILABLE ON MOST SUBARU’S THRU 2/29/12

2012 OUTBACK 2.5i

259

SIGN ‘N’ DRIVE

361 $ 24,794 *

36 MO. LEASE $0 SEC. DEP. $0 DOWN SALE $0 DUE AT SIGNING PRICE

2012 FORESTER 2.5X

199

CFB-21 STK #S60768 AUTO, ALLOYS, VALUE PKG.

36 MO. LEASE $0 SEC. DEP. $3141 DOWN $3341 DUE AT SIGNING SIGN ‘N’ DRIVE

300* $ 21,794

36 MO. LEASE $0 SEC. DEP. $0 DOWN SALE $0 DUE AT SIGNING PRICE

FREE

SUBARU CLASSIC ADDED SECURITY EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN WITH NEW CAR PURCHASE!

2012 IMPREZA 2.0i

139

CJA-01 STK #S20778

SIGN ‘N’ DRIVE

224 $ 17,523 *

36 MO. LEASE $0 SEC. DEP. $0 DOWN SALE $0 DUE AT SIGNING PRICE

2012 LEGACY 2.5i

169

CAB-11 STK #S00895 AUTO, ALL WEATHER PKG.

36 MO. LEASE $0 SEC. DEP. $2918 DOWN $3087 DUE AT SIGNING SIGN ‘N’ DRIVE

259 $ 21,704

STK #C80137

289

39 MO. LEASE $0 SEC DEPOSIT $2995 DUE AT SIGNING $0 FIRST MO. PAYMENT

NEW 2012 SRX STK #C60716

339

39 MO. LEASE $0 SEC DEPOSIT $2995 DUE AT SIGNING $0 FIRST MO. PAYMENT

0% $1000 APR FOR 72 MONTHS!

36 MO. LEASE $0 SEC. DEP. $2779 DOWN $2918 DUE AT SIGNING

NEW 2012 CTS

CDB-11 STK #S90876 AUTO, ALL WEATHER PKG.

36 MO. LEASE $0 SEC. DEP. $3159 DOWN $3418 DUE AT SIGNING

JOSEPH CADILLAC

36 MO. LEASE $0 SEC. DEP. $0 DOWN SALE $0 DUE AT SIGNING PRICE

AVAILABLE ON ALL 2011 CADILLACS FOR WELL QUALIFIED BUYERS

OWNER LOYALTY GM IS OFFERING $1,000 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OR LEASE OF A NEW 2011 OR 2012 CADILLAC TO ANYONE WHO CURRENTLY OWNS A 1999 OR NEWER GM VEHICLE

ALL LEASES ARE 10,000 MILES PER YEAR, 15¢ PER MILE OVERAGE, PLUS TAX, TITLE, LICENSE AND DOCUMENTARY FEE. WITH APPROVED CREDIT SUBARU MOTOR FINANCE, 700 MINIMUM BEACON SCORE, $ 300. DISPOSITION FEE AT LEASE END IN ADDITION TO ANY CHARGES FOR EXCESS WEAR AND TEAR. CLASSIC PLAN 4 YEARS, 60K MILES PLAN. $100 DEDUCTIBLE. *0% OFFER EXCLUDES WRX, STI, WITH LIMITED TERMS. OFFERS GOOD THRU 2/29/12.

LEASE DISCLOSURE: 39 MONTH CLOSED END LEASE, 10,000 MILES PER YEAR, $.25 PER MILE OVERAGE, PLUS TAX, TITLE, LICENSE AND DOCUMENTARY FEE, WITH APPROVED CREDIT ALLY FINANCIAL, 625 MINIMUM BEACON SCORE, NO DISPOSITION FEE BUT CHARGES FOR EXCESS WEAR AND TEAR WILL BE MADE AT LEASE END.$2995. DUE AT SIGNING. OFFER GOOD THROUGH 2/29/12.

www.Joseph.Subaru.com

www.JosephCadillac.com

Member of

JOSEPH AUTO GROUP

Ask Your Neighbor...They Bought From Us!

KY: 859-525-2500 OHIO: 513-351-5400

7600 INDUSTRIAL RD., FLORENCE, KY

Chuck Adomitis, Doug Schmidt, Joe Fangman or Dan Robke MON-THUR 9-8 • FRI 9-7 • SAT 9-6 • SUN 11-4

Member of

JOSEPH AUTO GROUP

Ask Your Neighbor...They Bought From Us!

KY: 859-525-2500 OHIO: 513-351-5400

7600 INDUSTRIAL RD., FLORENCE, KY

Chuck Adomitis, Doug Schmidt, Joe Fangman or Dan Robke MON-THUR 9-8 • FRI 9-7 • SAT 9-6 • SUN 11-4

I20 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

TOYOTA CAMRY

AMERICA’S BEST-SELLING CAR 10 YEARS IN A ROW

JUST ANNOUNCED SPECIAL LEASE! NEW 2012 CAMRY SE

- MotorIntelligence.com

219

4-DOOR SEDAN MODEL #2546

PER MONTH 36 MONTH LEASE $2,499 DUE AT LEASE SIGNING

0R MORE OF THE BEST LEASE DEALS!

159 $239 $279 $289 $329 $

PER MONTH

APR FINANCING FOR

60 MONTHS

PLUS $400 TFS BONUS/SUBVENTION CASH! 11 ANY NEW

2012 TUNDRA

Bonus/Subvention Cash thru Toyota Financial Services only.

• 60 monthly payments of $16.67 per $1,000 borrowed.

NEW 2011 COROLLA LE

0R BIG CASH BACK!

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4-DOOR SEDAN MODEL #1838

2012 TUNDRA CREWMAX

• 36 MONTH LEASE • $2399 DUE AT LEASE SIGNING

$ $2 2,,500 500

2012 TUNDRA

NEW 2011 RAV4 4X4

REG. & DBL. CABS

$ $2,,250

2011 AVALON, RAV4 or VENZA

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$ $1,,000

• 36 MONTH LEASE • $1599 DUE AT LEASE SIGNING

NEW 2012 HIGHLANDER

2011 PRIUS

EXCLUDES PRIUS v

$ $750

2011 or 2012 COROLLA or 2012 HIGHLANDER GAS

4-DOOR 4X2 SUV MODEL #6942

$500

• 36 MONTH LEASE • $2799 DUE AT LEASE SIGNING

NEW 2011 PRIUS

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ASK ABOUT OUR $1,000 MILITARY AND COLLEGE GRAD REBATE PROGRAMS!

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% .

0R LOW APR! APR FINANCING FOR

60 MONTHS

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2011 COROLLA 2011 VENZA

• 60 monthly payments of $17.05 per $1,000 borrowed.

% .

APR FINANCING FOR

60 MONTHS

ANY NEW

‘11 AVALON OR RAV4 OR ‘12 HIGHLANDER OR SIENNA

Excludes Highlander Hybrid models. • 60 monthly payments of $17.48 per $1,000 borrowed.

% .

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ANY NEW

2012 CAMRY, PRIUS OR AVALON

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SEE YOUR CINCINNATI AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY TOYOTA DEALERS TODAY! Performance Joseph Toyota Beechmont Kings Toyota Kerry Toyota Dry Ridge Toyota 4700 Fields Ertel Rd. Toyota Toyota I- 75 South, Exit 159 of Cincinnati I- 75, exit 181 I-71, Exit 19

8667 Beechmont Ave. Cincinnati

888-377-3359

beechmonttoyota.com

Florence, KY

888-565-1186 kerrytoyota.com

Dry Ridge, KY

859-824-9200

dryridgetoyota.com

Cincinnati

9101 Colerain Ave. Cincinnati

5676 Dixie Highway Fairfield

kingstoyota.com

josephtoyota.com

performancetoyotastore.com

866-812-9295

1. New 2012 Camry SE Model 2546. Lease end purchase option $14,360.* 2. Camry ranked No. 1 on the 2011 American-Made Index as compiled by the editors of Cars.com. For more information about the 2011 American-Made Index visit, Cars.com. 3. Remaining new 2011 Corolla LE Model 1838. Lease end purchase option $9,856. Toyota Financial Services $500 Lease Cash must be applied towards due at signing – reduces $2,899 due at signing to $2,399 due at signing.* 4. Remaining new 2011 RAV4 4x4 Model 4432. Lease end purchase option $15,003. Toyota Financial Services $400 Lease Cash must be applied towards due at signing – reduces $1,999 due at signing to $1,599 due at signing.* 5. New 2012 Highlander 4x2 Model 6942. Lease end purchase option $17,226.* 6. Remaining new 2011 Prius Model 1223. Lease end purchase option $13,642.* 7. New 2012 Sienna LE. Lease end purchase option $17,226.* 8. Customer cash directly from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Dealer participation may affect consumer cost. 9. Covers normal factory scheduled service. Plan is 2 years or 25K miles, whichever comes first. The new Toyota vehicle cannot be part of a rental or commercial fleet or a livery or taxi vehicle. See plan for complete coverage details. See participating Toyota dealer for details. 10. Subject to approved credit through Toyota Financial Services. See dealer for terms and conditions. 11. Toyota Financial Services $400 Bonus/Subvention cash only available on new 2012 Tundra. May be combined with Toyota Financial Services special reduced APR and Lease offers, but cannot be combined with Toyota customer cash: ($2,500 on new 2012 Tundra CrewMax & $2,250 on new 2012 Tundra Regular & Double Cabs). Must take retail delivery from new dealer stock between 2/1/12 & 3/5/12. * NO SECURITY DEPOSIT subject to approved credit through Toyota Financial Services – Tier I PLUS customers ONLY. Excludes state and local taxes, tags, registration and title, and insurance. Ohio sales tax due at lease inception. License and applicable fees are extra. Lessee may be charged for excessive wear based on Toyota Financial Services standards for normal use and for mileage in excess of 36,000 miles at the rate of $0.15 per mile. A $350 Disposition Fee is due at lease termination. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 10: Must take retail delivery from remaining new 2011 and new 2012 dealer stock between 2/1/12 and 3/5/12. APR, Customer Cash & Lease offers may not be combined. See participating dealer for complete details. Individual dealer prices may vary. Offers may vary by region. VEHICLE IMAGES USED FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. Expiration for this ad is 3/5/12.

385-1800

866-762-8407

For over 30 Toyota offers

buyatoyota.com

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I21

w w w. b e e c h m o n t f o r d . c o m

OVER 500 VEHICLES TO CHOOSE FROM! 2012 FORD FIESTA S MSRP BEECHMONT DISCOUNT FORD REBATE

YOUR PRICE

STK #C12-585

MSRP BEECHMONT DISCOUNT FORD REBATE FORD CREDIT REBATE

$13,995 -$1506 -$500

$11,989

40 FIESTAS IN STOCK!

2012 FORD FUSION S MSRP BEECHMONT DISCOUNT FORD REBATE FORD CREDIT REBATE TRADE-IN BONUS CASH

STK #C12-559

$22,385 -$2396 -$2000 -$500 -$500

53 FUSIONS IN STOCK!

2012 FORD TAURUS SEL MSRP BEECHMONT DISCOUNT FORD REBATE FORD CREDIT REBATE

YOUR PRICE YOUR PRICE W/O CREDIT FINANCING

$29,250 -$3761 -$2000 -$500

22,989 $ 23,489 $

YOUR PRICE

13,989 14,489

YOUR PRICE

YOUR PRICE W/O FORD CREDIT REBATE

STK #T11-1206

YOUR PRICE

13,489 $ 14,489 $

38 RANGERS IN STOCK!

YOUR PRICE W/O TRADE-IN BONUS CASH

STK #C12-597

$24,595 -$2106 -$1500

$20,989

16 MUSTANGS IN STOCK!

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$23,495 -$2506 -$2500 -$500

17,989 18,489

YOUR PRICE

58 ESCAPES IN STOCK!

YOUR PRICE W/O TRADE-IN BONUS CASH

2011 FORD F-150 SUPERCAB XLT MSRP BEECHMONT DISCOUNT FORD REBATE FORD CREDIT REBATE TRADE-IN BONUS CASH

$19,205 -$1716 -$3000 -$1000

48 FOCUS IN STOCK!

2012 FORD MUSTANG V6 COUPE

MSRP BEECHMONT DISCOUNT FORD REBATE TRADE-IN BONUS CASH

34 TAURUS IN STOCK!

2012 FORD RANGER MSRP BEECHMONT DISCOUNT FORD REBATE TRADE-IN BONUS CASH

STK #C12-284

STK #C12-2107

$17,295 -$1806 -$1000 -$500

MSRP BEECHMONT DISCOUNT FORD REBATE

16,989 17,989

YOUR PRICE YOUR PRICE W/O FORD CREDIT REBATE & TRADE-IN BONUS CASH

2012 FORD FOCUS S

YOUR PRICE YOUR PRICE W/O FORD CREDIT REBATE & TRADE-IN BONUS CASH

STK #T11-1068

$38,325 -$6336 -$3000 -$1000 -$1500

26,489 27,989

$ $

50 F-150s IN STOCK!

SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS. FOR FORD CREDIT REBATE YOU MUST BE APPROVED THRU FORD CREDIT AND FINANCE THRU FORD CREDIT. NOT EVERYONE WILL QUALIFY. ‘95 OR NEWER TRADE-IN FOR TRADE-IN BONUS CASH. SEE YOUR DEALER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. DEALER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS IN THIS AD. PICTURES MAY NOT REFLECT EXACT MAKE AND MODEL DEALER HAS IN STOCK. SEE DEALER FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPLETE DETAILS. OFFER EXPIRES 2/29/2012.

Beechmont Ave. & I-275

513-752-6611 www.beechmontford.com

0% APR

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2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE LS or 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS AUTOMATIC! MSRP $17,470

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MSRP ��$24,275 LAWRENCEBURG DISCOUNT��-$1505

SALE PRICE

22,770

10 000

OFF MSRP

PER MO� 24 MO� LEASE $3883 DUE AT SIGNING

2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA

8000 UP TO

STK #612334

2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO MSRP �� $23,330 LAWRENCEBURG DISCOUNT��-$3332 REBATE��-$2000

SALE PRICE

17,998

298

MSRP $22,755

2012 CHEVROLET VOLT

PER MO� 36 MO� LEASE, 36K MILES, $2495 DOWN, $3093 DUE AT SIGNING

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2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO CREW CAB 4X4 UP TO

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STK #123080

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CRUZE & MALIBU LEASES 39 MO 39000 MILES THROUGH GM FINANCIAL WITH APPROVED CREDIT...2012 CRUZE INCLUDES $800 GM LEASE CASH AND $775 GM SUPER TIER CASH (LS AND ECO MODELS ONLY) TO BE USED AS CASH CAP REDUCTION...2012 MALIBU INCLUDES $1900 GM LEASE CASH AND $670 GM SUPER TIER CASH (LS MODEL ONLY) TO BE USED AS CASH CAP REDUCTION...800 PLUS BEACON SCORE REQUIRED, NOT ALL APPLICANTS WILL QUALIFY. VOLT LEASE IS 36MO/36,000 MILES LEASE THROUGH ALLY, MUST BE LEVEL S OR A TO QUALIFY, ALL REBATES DEDUCTED, PAYMENT EXCLUDES TAXES, NOT ALL APPLICANTS WILL QUALIFY, $350 DISPOSITION FEE AT LEASE TERMINATION.

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I22 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

NISSAN

Revamped Quest vies for attention Minivan’s unique touches can surprise drivers By Ann M. Job The Associated Press

Do buyers know there is a minivan again at Nissan? The Nissan Quest, which had been dropped for a couple years and reemerged as a fourth-generation 2011 model, is back for 2012 with unique touches. Seats have special padding and frontseat heaters that arguably are the fastest-acting in the business. An odor-avoidance system goes high-tech with grape polyphenol filtering. There’s no tugging or fighting with electronic sliding side doors in this minivan, because they work without fuss. Nissan says the sliding door entryways also are lower than in other vans, which helps youngsters get inside and out. And no one risks a hernia taking a Quest seat out to make room for cargo. The seats are designed to stow in place and can’t be removed on a whim. The Quest even looks a bit different from other minivans. It has a noticeably flat roof and styling that makes it look larger than it is. And in top-of-the-line LE form, the 2012 Quest competes as a decked-out luxury van. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $28,560 for the base 2012 Quest S with 260-horsepower V-6 and continuously variable transmission. The top-selling minivan in calendar 2011 was the Toyota Sienna, which has a starting retail price of $25,870 with 187horsepower, four-cylinder engine and $27,110 with 266-horsepower V-6. All 2012 Siennas come with automatic transmission. The second most popular minivan last year, the Dodge Grand Caravan, has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $21,830 for 2012. This is for an American Value Package Grand Caravan with 283-horsepower V-6 and automatic transmission. Why ask if buyers know that Nissan has a minivan again? Despite its unique features, the Quest’s 2011calendar-year sales of12,199 were at the bottom of U.S. minivan sales. Sienna and Grand Caravan each sold more than 110,000 vans last year. Even Volkswagen sold a few hundred more of its Routan minivans than Nissan did of the Quest. Nissan’s Quest can surprise drivers. It’s some 16 feet long, but the turning circle is on par with that of a sedan and makes U-turns easy.

Nissan’s 2012 Quest minivan looks a bit different from other minivans. It has a noticeably flat roof and styling that makes it look larger than it is. Seats have special padding and the cabin has a high-tech odor-avoidance system. PROVIDED PHOTO/MIKE DITZ

2012 NISSAN QUEST LE Base price: $27,750 for S; $31,050 for SV; $34,500 for SL; $41,350 for LE Price as tested: $42,365. Type: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, seven-passenger minivan. Engine: 3.5-liter, double overhead cam V-6 with CVTC. Mileage: 19 mpg (city), 24 mpg (highway). Top speed: NA. Length: 200.8 inches. Wheelbase: 118.1 inches. Curb weight: 4,568 pounds. Built: Japan. Options: Carpeted floor mats in all three rows $205. Destination charge: $810.

The step inside the Quest is accommodatingly low for elderly and younger passengers, and fixed grab handles at the sliding door entryways are positioned just right to help steady passengers getting in and out. Nissan’s tried-and-true 3.5-liter, double overhead cam V-6 delivers capable power for this 4,300-plus-pound vehicle. Drivers won’t compare the Quest to a sports car, but the vehicle isn’t slow and stodgy, either, as the engine delivers a good 240 foot-pounds of torque at 4,400 rpm. In fact, the test Quest merged with vigor into traffic and maintained its pace in traffic without fuss. Throttle response

was quick. The Quest’s torque compares with 245 foot-pounds at a higher 4,700 rpm in the V-6-powered Sienna and 260 foot-pounds at 4,400 rpm in the Grand Caravan. Nissan only offers the Quest with front-wheel drive, and during some start ups, the strong engine power hit the front wheels with force. Drivers had best keep both hands on the steering wheel at these times, because the wheel can feel as if it’s tugging to one side or the other. The test Quest, a top LE, impressed with its airy and spacious feel inside. It rode nicely on virtually all road surfaces. The front independent strut suspension and rear multi-link kept bumps away from passengers, with some vibration coming through now and then. There is a sense of body mass and weight shifting when the 6-foot-tall Quest goes into curves and around corners, but the ride overall was well controlled and not wallowy. The interior was quiet except on windy days, when wind noise was noticeable from around the outside mirrors. The LE came with a good, 13-speaker, Bose sound system that delivered awesome tunes. But the radio volume button on the dashboard was located around the other side of the shift lever when it was in “Drive” in the center stack and was not visible to the driver. Good thing the radio volume also could be controlled by a button on the steering wheel. With one, quick lift of a plastic lever,

second-row seats fold flat. Third-row seats go down just as easily after a tug on each release strap. Even with these five seats folded down, there’s a lot more storage space in a cavity in the floor by the back bumper. Access to the third-row bench seat could be better in the Quest. The two separate middle seats – no second-row bench is offered – have seatbacks that tilt forward and then the whole seat slides forward. But it can still be awkward as passengers step up and over the seat tracks to get into the third row. In the tester, the hard head restraints in the third row were positioned in a bad spot for me. They locked into place in only one position, which put the protruding area of each head restraint at the part of my head where neck meets lower skull cap. I had to recline the seatback more than I would have preferred so I could reduce the pressure that the head restraint put on my head. The Quest is the only minivan on the market with a CVT, which is designed to maximize fuel economy. But the Quest’s government rating of 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 24 mpg on the highway is lower than the 22/ 28-mpg rating that the federal government gives the 2012 Honda Odyssey minivan with V-6 and automatic transmission. And, the test Quest LE averaged just 16.9 mpg in driving that was 70 percent city travel and 30 percent on the highways.

TOYOTA

4Runner ready to hit the rugged road SUV packed with gadgets to keep you connected By G. Chambers Williams III San Antonio Express-News

Toyota’s rugged 4Runner midsize SUV moved into its fifth generation just two years ago and now returns for 2012 with only minor changes. Prices begin at $31,090 (plus $810 freight) for the base model with rearwheel drive and $32,830 with four-wheel drive. The four-wheel-drive Trail model lists for $36,755, while the top-of-the-line Limited versions begin at $38,595 with rear drive and $40,630 with four-wheel drive. In the Toyota U.S. lineup for 27 years now, the 4Runner is a traditional bodyon-frame, truck-style sport utility vehicle that began as essentially a Toyota compact pickup with a cap over the bed and a back seat. Over the years, it evolved into a family hauler with four doors, a refined interior and the same off-road capabilities as the Tacoma pickup trucks when equipped with four-wheel drive and other trail-ready features. The first fourdoor model arrived in 1990. New for 2012 are audio system upgrades and optional new automatic-deploying running boards. Base SR5 models now come with satellite radio, a USB port with iPod connection, and Bluetooth hands-free phone and music streaming. These models also have new steering wheel audio controls. Top-of-the-line Limited models get a new display audio system with a 6.1-inch screen. Other new features include navigation, Toyota’s Entune services, satellite radio, HD radio with iTunes tagging, and text/email-to-speech capability. Entune is a voice-activated multimedia system with mobile applications and data services. It connects the car to the Internet through a compatible smartphone, provided by the consumer. It hooks up through a USB cable or a wireless Bluetooth link. The system includes mobile apps for Bing, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable and Pandora. Also provided are such services as a fuel-price guide, sports scores, stocks, traffic and weather. The 4Runner has seating for up to seven passengers with the optional third-

The Limited is the top model of the Toyota 4Runner. It has standard amenities such as leather seats and an in-dash navigation system. Other new features include HD radio with iTunes tagging and text/email-to-speech capability. PROVIDED PHOTO/DAVID DEWHURST

row seat, and it has a long list of available amenities, including leather upholstery. With the redesign, Toyota eliminated the V-8 engine option. All models are powered by a 4.0-liter V-6 engine rated at 270 horsepower and 278 foot-pounds of torque, connected to a five-speed automatic transmission. EPA ratings are 17 mpg city/23 highway for two-wheel-drive models and 17/ 22 for the four-wheel-drive versions. The four-wheel-drive system has a twospeed transfer case for low-range offroad driving, and Limited four-wheeldrive models have a center differential lock. Among the few true SUVs that are left, the 4Runner remains one of the best choices. Those who need a vehicle with a sturdy truck frame that can tow trailers will appreciate the 4Runner. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds. Four-wheel-drive models are quite capable off road, making them a favorite of trail drivers. Although soccer moms can live with their crossovers, truck-based SUVs are still the choice for serious off-road driving. Styling is boxier than that of the pre-

vious generation, giving the 4Runner a shape similar to that of the Jeep Commander, one of its main competitors. That gives it a more rugged look than that of a crossover such as the Toyota Highlander; but because the target customer is the off-road enthusiast, the 4Runner doesn’t need to be carlike. Among the 4Runner features is an optional sliding rear cargo deck, designed for tailgate parties. It can hold up to 440 pounds. It comes with a “party mode” button that pumps up the bass of the audio system and sends the sound mostly to the rear speakers Unique 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels are standard on SR5 and Trail models, while the Limited comes with 20-inch wheels. A full-size spare tire is standard, as well — a necessity for trail driving. Active Traction Control is included on all four-wheel-drive models. Downhill Assist Control, which helps bring the vehicle safely down steep offroad grades without the use of the brakes, is standard on SR5 and Limited four-wheel-drive versions. Hill-Start Assist, which holds the vehicle in place briefly on a hill when the

driver takes his foot off the brake pedal, is standard on all models. Several off-road features were migrated to the 4Runner from the more expensive Land Cruiser, including Toyota’s Crawl Control, which allows the driver to choose one of five modes to match the terrain on which the vehicle is operating. Trail models come with a different system, called Multi-Terrain Select, which also includes wheel-slip control for the most rugged off-road situations. In mud or sand, this system will allow more wheel slip than normal, which helps it push the vehicle through. While driving on rock, wheel slip is more controlled, which helps on uneven surfaces. Optional on the Trail model is the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System. It’s designed to disconnect stabilizer bars to allow the axles to flex enough to keep the wheels on the ground on uneven terrain, a great help on difficult trails. Among standard safety features are driver and front-passenger knee air bags, front seat-mounted side air bags and roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for all three rows. There is also electronic stability control with rollover mitigation.

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I23

VOLKSWAGEN

Restyled Beetle is looking for men By Ann M. Job

For the Associated Press

The Volkswagen Beetle is back as a new, larger car with a flatter roofline, wider track, shorter windshield, better fuel economy and no bud vase on the dashboard. It’s also offered in Turbo trim with the same 200-horsepower, turbocharged four cylinder that powers VW’s sporty GTI. Make no mistake: The 2012 Beetle, with new features such as an optional premium music system from the folks who make Fender guitars, has a masculine intent and is aimed at attracting male buyers. Women have been the majority of buyers and drivers of the previous generation car. Starting price hasn’t changed from the previous model and reflects the uniqueness of this German-engineered hatchback with one of the most iconic images in auto history. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, for the 2012 Beetle is $19,765. This is for a base model with 170-horsepower, non-turbo four cylinder and manual transmission. The lowest starting retail price for a 2012 Beetle with an automatic transmission is $21,665. The 2012 Beetle with the uplevel turbo engine has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $24,165 with a manual fivespeed transmission and $25,265 with VW’s six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) automatic. All 2012 Beetles come with VW’s free scheduled maintenance for the first 36,000 miles or three years, whichever comes first. Competitors in the small, two-door car segment include the volume-selling Honda Civic, which has a starting retail price of $16,375 for a 2012 Civic DX Coupe with 140-horsepower four cylinder and manual transmission. There’s also the 2012 Ford Focus with 160-horsepower four cylinder starting at $18,995 for a five-door hatchback and the retro-styled 2011 Mini Cooper Coupe that has been priced at $22,000 with 121-horsepower four cylinder and manual trans-

Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, introduces the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle in New York. AP

mission and $25,300 with 181horsepower, turbocharged four cylinder and manual transmission. The Beetle debuted in the United States in 1949 as an inexpensive “people’s car” and became trendy with young Baby Boomers in the 1960s. Its reappearance as the New Beetle in 1998 contributed to a renaissance for retro-styled vehicles. Note that the word “new” has been dropped, finally, from the Beetle’s name even though there’s plenty that’s really new about the 2012 Beetle. The test car, a Beetle 2.0T with gasoline turbo engine, felt larger inside than its predecessor, giving passengers a greater sense of space around them. VW lengthened the car by 6 inches, made it wider by 3.3 inches and expanded the track and wheelbase to give the car a more substantial and sporty look. A new taillight treatment gives the car a less cartoonish character, too. Inside, there’s a bit more room for the two seats in front and two in back. For example, front shoulder room and leg-

room have grown by some 2.5 inches and 2 inches, respectively. Back-seat headroom is improved by nearly half an inch, and because the old, bubbleshaped roofline is gone, rearseat passengers don’t sit with their heads right under the rear window glass. The overly large, rounded dashboard of the previous Beetle has been replaced by a shorter, more upright dashboard. The windshield is closer and not sloped in such an exaggerated fashion as in the previous model, and there’s a conventional glovebox along with a covered “Beetle bin” above it. I still had to watch carefully when making turns, though, to ensure I looked around the sizable steel pillars that frame the windshield. The Beetle rode quite quietly, with little road and outside noise coming in, save for some wind noise by the outside mirrors. Even while in the back seat, I conversed easily with front-seat passengers. In the driver’s seat, I noticed that left to its own, the DGS transmission had a tendency to

LINCOLN

Bearing not even a coincidental resemblance to the sedate sedans Lincoln has sold in recent years, the Lincoln MKZ concept car, shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, offers a glimpse into the brand’s future. GETTY IMAGES

From the distinctive Lincoln grille to its fastback roof, the MKZ conveys a sense of motion. The spacious and bright interior features a glass roof, leather upholstery, poplar wood, LED instruments, touch-screen controls and a push-button transmission. GETTY IMAGES

Sleek and sophisticated the MKZ concept is a tantalizing glimpse into the brand’s near future. At 112.2 inches long, 73.4 inches wide and 56.9 inches high, the concept is longer, wider but no taller than the 2012 MKZ, giving the concept a dynamic look and roomy interior. From the distinctive Lincoln bowwave grille that looks like water split by the prow of a speeding boat, to its fastback roof, the MKZ concept conveys a sense of motion. The spacious

and bright interior features a glass roof, light-colored leather upholstery, poplar wood, LED instruments, touchscreen controls and a push-button transmission. The new midsize platform underpinning the MKZ concept has a 112.2inch wheelbase. The concept features technologies that include an adjustable suspension and a system to keep it from wandering from its lane. Detroit Free Press

CE-0000497302

MKZ concept tomorrow’s car

move through the gears to get to the higher and more fuel-efficient gears quickly. This helped me average 26 miles per gallon in combined city/highway/country roads travel, but it didn’t make the Beetle feel spunky. So I used Tiptronic manual shifting — which doesn't require a clutch pedal — to manage the shifting myself and get a decidedly more sporty experience. It was easy to time the shifts for impressively smooth shifts. Torque came on strongly and peaks at 207 foot-pounds at a low 1,700 rpm with the turbo. I had no problem squealing tires now and then at startup from stop signs, even though the Beetle Turbo weighs 3,089 pounds and feels solid and stable, not a lightweight small car. In comparison, the 2012 Civic Coupe weighs some 2,600 to 2,700 pounds, depending on equipment included. Still, to get the peak performance from the Beetle Turbo, VW recommends premium gasoline, and at today’s prices, that's $55 to fill up the 14.5-gallon tank. Using the federal gov-

ernment’s estimated fuel economy for this model of 22 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway, the Beetle should go some 360 miles on a tank of gas. The base Beetle engine — a 2.5-liter, non-turbo four cylinder developing 177 foot-pounds of torque at 4,250 rpm — only needs regular gasoline. Its government mileage rating is similar to that of the turbo, though — 22/29 mpg. VW plans to add a fuelthrifty diesel-powered Beetle in calendar 2012. With underpinnings borrowed from the VW Golf, the Beetle rides and handles well and managed sweeping curves and aggressive maneuvers competently. There’s more trunk space in the 2012 Beetle —15.4 cubic feet instead of 12 cubic feet. And the split rear seatbacks fold down, though not completely flat, and help boost the trunk room to nearly 30 cubic feet. Standard safety equipment on the 2012 Beetle includes electronic stability control, curtain air bags and antilock brakes.

I24 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

JEEP

Wrangler keeps its off-street cred It stands out in the wilderness By Ann M. Job For the Associated Press

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Mojave in New York City. The Wrangler never succumbed to the family redesign of other SUVs. AP

road travel. The new engine, by the way, delivers a significant 83 more horsepower than last year’s 3.8-liter V-6, is the same one used in the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee and is winning lots of praise from Wrangler enthusiasts. The test Wrangler Rubicon responded readily when I pressed the accelerator, and while not ripping forward in sport car fashion, the 4,100-pound vehicle felt all-around sprightly. Zero-to-60 mph time has improved to 8.3 seconds. Torque peaks at 260 foot-pounds at 4,800 rpm, which is 10 foot-pounds more than last year. While a six-speed manual still is the base Wrangler transmission, Jeep officials upgraded the automatic for 2012. It’s now the five-speed from the Grand Cherokee and makes more efficient use of engine power and gasoline. I liked how well timed the shifts were and how smoothly they occurred in the test Wrangler. Also, with lower first gear ratio than last year’s four-speed auto, the new automatic provides a lower overall crawl ratio for off-roading. Fuel mileage is increased, officially, to 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 21 mpg on the highway from last year’s 15/19 mpg. During the test Wrangler with gusto, I averaged just16 mpg in combined city/highway travel. Fillups can be pricey, requiring some $65 to load the 18.6-gallon tank with unleaded regular. The gas tank warning light came on in the test Wrangler well before I had traveled 300 miles. There’s no quiet ride in the Wrangler. Even with the hardtop on, I readily heard nearby vehicles, and road noise from the off-road-ready tires was present all the time. No adults were eager to climb into the back two seats of the test, two-door Wrangler. For one thing, they had to lift themselves up off the pavement while squeezing past the front seats, which is not easy to do. Some groused about no running boards, but that would be nearly blasphemous for a perfectly good

Wrangler Rubicon. Once settled in back, passengers found their knees resting upward because the bench seat cushion was positioned near the floor. At least they had good headroom – a full 40.3 inches, which is just 1 inch shy of what frontseat passengers have.

Legroom in the rear seat is 35.6 inches but it can expand to 37.2 inches in the Wrangler Unlimited, which is the larger Wrangler model with four doors, not the typical two. Overall, the Wrangler is a quirky vehicle that is loved for its authenticity and its quirks, such as the

soft and hard tops that can be difficult to remove and put back on, with many steps and sometimes frustrating instructions. The Wrangler windshield is one of the few that sits so upright that it doesn’t take a lot of travel in summer before bug “splats” make cleaning a

necessity. Seats, even the optional leather-trimmed in the test Wrangler, aren’t form-fitting, but they give good views out above traffic and off-road obstacles. And the little turning circle of 34.9 feet provides for amazing agility onand off-road

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Taming America’s sport utility vehicles and turning them into newday minivans for mainstream buyers took a toll on most classic SUVs. But the iconic Jeep Wrangler escaped the trend. Today, the Wrangler – with new, more powerful engine and a five-speed automatic transmission added for 2012 – stands out in the wilderness and the marketplace. With rugged styling derived from Jeep’s World War II heritage, the immensely off-road-capable Wrangler has posted a 28 percent increase in U.S. sales this year. Sales are up over 100,000 and top those of some other SUVs – off-road ready or not – like the Toyota FJ Cruiser, 4Runner and Highlander. The Wrangler is the only mass-produced SUV with removable doors. The roof, which can be soft top or hardtop, can come off, too, for close-tonature travel. And, the 2012 Wrangler comes only with four-wheel drive. No two-wheel drive is offered. With a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $22,845, the 2012 Wrangler arguably packs the most offroad SUV capability for the price. The starting price is for a base, 2012 Wrangler Sport 4X4 with 285-horsepower V-6 and six-speed manual transmission. In comparison, Hyundai’s lowest-priced SUV, the Tucson, has a starting retail price of $23,845 for a more on-road-inclined, all-wheel drive model that has 165-horsepower fourcylinder engine. All-wheel drive Tucsons come only with automatic transmissions. The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser starts at $27,930 with 260-horsepower V-6, four-wheel drive and manual transmission. Time was when the jaunty ride of a Jeep was part of the unique experience of these vehicles, when people expected and even relished the ride as a memorable treat not to be missed. Too many auto critics spending too much time in today’s soft-riding SUVs have led to complaints about the Wrangler’s ride, which, because of the vehicle’s short wheelbase of 95.4 inches, can feel a bit choppy, especially over highway segments with prominent concrete expansion cracks. There can be a tippy sensation, too, in turns because of the vehicle’s high center of gravity. But anyone who dislikes a numbing ride and who believes in really piloting an SUV, rather than merely going along for an insulated, sublime ride, will find the Wrangler, especially in Rubicon dress, a satisfying, one-of-a-kind experience. With the new 3.6-liter, double overhead cam, Pentastar V-6, the test 2012 Wrangler Rubicon had ample power to merge, pass and amble easily with other traffic on roadways. It’s a major difference from the previous Wranglers that seemed to strain to deliver sufficient power for on-

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THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I25

BUICK

Little Verano is big on style, handling Compact sedan’s upscale looks attract attention By Ann M. Job Associated Press

“Nice car.” The words finally registered the third time the young man in the parking garage said them. With surprise, I acknowledged his comment. Then he asked, “It’s a Lincoln, right?” No, the 2012 Verano is a Buick, not a Lincoln. But yes, it is a decidedly nice car with pleasing styling, quiet interior, decent fuel mileage and noteworthy ride and handling. The Verano is the smallest car at Buick, where it is positioned in size and price below the Buick Lacrosse and Regal sedans. The Verano comes with a four-cylinder, naturally aspirated engine and carries a federal government fuel economy rating of 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway. I averaged 25.5 mpg in travel that was twothirds on the highway. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $23,470. This is for a base model with the 180-horsepower engine, sixspeed automatic transmission and leatherette seating material. Competitors include premium compact sedans, such as the 2012 Acura TSX compact sedan. With 201-horsepower four-cylinder, five-speed automatic and standard real leather seat trim plus other standard features such as moonroof and premium audio that are not offered in the base Verano, the base TSX has a starting retail price of $29,810. Some compact sedans can be found with lower starting prices. A 2012 Volkswagen Jetta with 170-horsepower, fivecylinder engine, automatic transmission and leatherette seat material has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $18,365. For the record, there is no compact Lincoln sedan. The Verano gets a lot of looks, and not just from young people. The 15.3-footlong, four-door car is nicely proportioned and upscale looking inside and out. Textured material on the interior ceiling looks as pricey as that in some European cars, and smart touches of faux wood-look plastic inside convey a luxury feel even at a $20,000-plus price. I just wish the middle passenger in the rear seat had a height-adjustable head restraint. It’s stationary and sits too low for use by adults or even some teenagers. I also noticed that while the stitching around the optional leather-trimmed

General Motors Executive Director and Vehicle Chief Engineer Jim Federico introduces the 2012 Buick Verano at last year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit. ASSOCIATED PRESS/PAUL SANCYA

seats in the test car had a light gray stitching accent color, the leatherwrapped steering wheel was finished with black stitching. Intriguingly, the Verano doesn’t float along on roads, the way old Buicks did. This new model rides solidly via a suspension – independent MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam in the rear – that keeps the car body planted over bumps. Drivers feel some of the road imperfections through the steering wheel, and the test Verano cornered well, maintained its composure in the curves and moved into compact-sized parking spaces easily. The car also is quiet inside, noticeably more quiet than the Chevrolet Cruze, which uses the same front-wheel drive platform as the Verano. The platform was developed in Europe by Germany’s Opel, which is part of Buick’s parent company, General Motors Co. Engine sound management is impressive. Lifting the Verano hood, I found the 2.4-liter, double overhead cam four banger with an Ecotec label. Ecotec engines are more well-known in Chevy

2012 BUICK VERANO Base price: $22,585 for base model; $23,785 for model with convenience group; $25,965 for model with leather group. Price as tested: $26,850. Type: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, five-passenger, compact sedan. Engine: 2.4-liter, double overhead cam, direct injection, four-cylinder engine with VVT. Mileage: 21 mpg (city), 32 mpg (highway). Top speed: 118 mph. Length: 183.9 inches. Wheelbase: 105.7 inches. Curb weight: 3,300 pounds. Built at: Orion Township, Mich. Options: None. Destination charge: $885.

cars, and the Verano’s Ecotec engine includes direct injection for best performance. But with the hood up, the engine sounded noisy and a bit rattly, as four cylinders can. Sitting inside the Verano, though,

with the hood closed, I never heard rough, noisy engine sounds, and passengers couldn’t tell what kind of engine was in the car. The singular transmission – an automatic – shifted smoothly in the test car, and in normal, everyday driving in the city and highway, the test Verano moved along with decent pep. Most buyers won’t need much more than the 170 horsepower and peak torque of 171 foot-pounds at 4,900 rpm provided by this direct gasoline injection powerplant. Note that regular gasoline and E85, which includes ethanol, are acceptable fuels for the Verano. But opening the car’s gasoline filler door, I found printed warnings cautioning Verano drivers not to use fuel additives if they put E85 in the gasoline tank. Additives typically are advertised as fuel mileage boosters or engine cleaners. Much of the trunk space in the Verano is under the rear window. Total storage space is 15.2 cubic feet maximum, if there is no Bose audio subwoofer intruding and a tire inflator substitutes for the spare tire. VW’s Jetta sedan has 15.5 cubic feet of trunk space in all models.

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Great mileage will likely help Camry stay on top By Ann M. Job Associated Press

There are three thrifty reasons why the best-selling car in the United States for the past 10 years is likely to stay on top. In gasoline-electric hybrid form, the Toyota Camry, revamped for 2012, beats all other mid-size hybrid sedans with a combined city/highway fuel economy rating of 43 miles per gallon, according to the federal government. This is up from 33 mpg for the 2011 Camry Hybrid. The 2012 Camry with V-6 tops all other mid-size, nonhybrid, V-6-powered sedans in fuel economy with a government rating of 21 mpg combined city/highway mileage. And the 2012 Camry with gasolinepowered, four-cylinder engine gets better mileage than its predecessor — a combined 25 mpg, per the federal government. This is up from 22 mpg in the 2011 Camry and means that in the gasolinepowered, non-hybrid, mid-size sedan segment, the four-cylinder, 2012 Camry is second only to the lower-powered, smaller, 2012 Hyundai Elantra whose mileage rating is 29 mpg. That’s not all. The five-passenger, 2012 car has a more upscale interior, new features and more engine power than its predecessor, and earns a top rating of five out of five stars in the U.S. government’s overall crash test results. The four-door also is a recommended buy of Consumer Reports magazine, which lists its reliability as above average. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $22,715 for a 2012 Camry L with 178-horsepower, four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. A 2012 Camry with 268-horsepower

2012 TOYOTA CAMRY The vehicle: 2012 Toyota Camry, a frontengine, front-wheel-drive, five-passenger, midsize sedan Base price: $21,955 for L; $22,500 for LE; $23,000 for SE with four cylinder; $24,725 for XLE with four cylinder; $26,640 for SE with V-6; $29,845 for XLE with V-6 (tested) Destination charge: $760 Price as tested: $33,372 Engine: 3.5-liter, double overhead cam V-6 with Dual VVT-i Transmission: Six-speed automatic EPA mileage: 21 mpg city/30 mpg ghway Top speed: 143 mph Length: 189.2 inches Wheelbase: 109.3 inches Curb weight: 3,395 pounds Built in: Georgetown, Ky. Options: Premium navigation with Entune and JBL, $1,550; blind spot monitor, $500; Safety Connect, $450; carpeted floor mats, $130; emergency/assistance kit, $70; wheel locks, $67

V-6 and six-speed automatic has a starting retail price of $27,400. Toyota does not offer a manual transmission in the 2012 Camry. The 2012 looks sleeker than its predecessor, even if the test car, a top-of-theline XLE with V-6, didn’t get a second look from passersby. The new exterior deceptively masks the roomy interior, where front seat riders have a generous 41.6 inches of legroom and where back seat passengers get a commendable 38.9 inches of legroom. In fact, a 6-foot passenger was comfortable in either front or back seat of the test. The inside of the car looks richer than before, thanks to better materials and a new dashboard design.

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I28 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

NISSAN

Rogue SUV grows stylish Upscale looks join tamer car-like ride By Ann M. Job For The Associated Press

The Nissan Rogue compact sport-utility vehicle is spruced up nicely with upscale styling and new features including automatic climate control and navigation system. Nissan retained the best attributes of the five-passenger, five-door Rogue. At just over 15 feet long, it handles nimbly, has high seat positions for good views out the front, is nicely sized for city driving and parking and is comfortable to drive and ride in. There’s even generous storage space in the center console and a cavernous glovebox. The 2011 Rogue is a recommended buy of Consumer Reports magazine, where its predicted reliability is above average. All Rogues come with a 170horsepower, four-cylinder engine and Nissan’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) that the driver operates like an automatic. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, for the 2011 Rogue with frontwheel drive is $22,010. A 2011 Rogue with all-wheel drive starts at $23,260. Like most popular SUVs these days, the Rogue is a crossover based on a car platform that helps give a more car-like, less truck-like ride than traditional SUVs have. And while the name Rogue implies a scruffy, rugged vehicle, the 2011 Rogue – even with its 8.3-inch ground clearance – really is at home on pavement. The Rogue’s outer shape is like that of luxury, compact SUVs. And for 2011, some new chrome-looking trim, new grille and new front and rear spoilers help give a richer appearance. Inside the test Rogue, plastic dashboard and trim looked good. New gauges with bright white numbers and letters had that “look alive” appearance. The fabric mix on the seats – black on the outer parts of the seats and a gray insert in

For 2012, the Nissan Rogue compact SUV offers automatic climate control and a navigation system. It offers high seat positions for good views out front, but the small rear window and sizable rear pillars make it difficult to see out back. PROVIDED PHOTO/MIKE DITZ

the middle of the seats – was attractive and felt good. The only engine for the Rogue – a 2.5liter, double overhead cam, inline four cylinder – worked admirably to move the 3,300-pound SUV along. It wasn’t rocket performance, but it wasn’t sluggish. The Rogue felt sprightly, with torque peaking at 175 foot-pounds at 4,400 rpm. I managed 22.7 miles per gallon without trying to maximize fuel economy (80 percent of the test was city driving). This was pretty much on par with the federal government’s rating for this Rogus SV model with front-wheel drive of 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Last year’s Rogue had a lower highway rating of 27 mpg. The new Rogue includes a panel underneath to help channel airflow for smoother, less gas-consuming travel through the air; the car uses regular unleaded. The engine does buzz when pressed to accelerate quickly, which it doesn’t really do anyhow, and overall the Rogue had a good amount of noise inside. I heard road noise from the Rogue SV’s standard 17-inch tires on all but the smoothest of asphalt surfaces, and the engine even when the Rogue was sitting and idling. The Rogue offers a good perch – I sat up a ways above the pavement and could see over the roof of a Toyota Avalon in traffic in front of me.

Rear-seat passengers also sit high on a cushion that allows adults to see above the front head restraints. But the smallish back window on the Rogue makes it difficult for drivers to see what’s behind the vehicle as they back up, and sizable metal pillars around the sides of the back window also limit rearward side views. There is scarcely any hump in the middle of the Rogue’s rear-seat floor, and the rear windows go down almost all the way. The Rogue’s outer shape is like that of luxury, compact SUVs. New chromelooking trim, new grille and new front and rear spoilers help give it a richer look.

AN INDUSTRY ON THE REBOUND

Auto sales at highest levels since recession By Craig Trudell and Keith Naughton Bloomberg News

Automakers sold new cars and trucks in January at the fastest pace since the 2009 “cash for clunkers” program without resorting to profit-sapping discounts, signaling demand returned to prerecession levels. U.S. light-vehicle sales accelerated to a 14.2 million seasonally adjusted annualized rate in January, the highest since the August 2009 government trade-in program. Honda Motor Co. reported its first increase since its inventory plunged after Japan’s tsunami in March interrupted the auto market’s recovery last year. General Motors Co. remained the sales leader even as its market share dropped by 3.4 percentage points, followed by Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. Though GM was the only major automaker to report a sales decline, investors rewarded the company for pulling back on discounts to lift profit margins, boosting the stock 1.5 percent. “We’re on the road to a real recovery,” said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president for forecasting at LMC Automotive in Troy, Mich. January sales showed “a strength that we haven’t seen since well before cash for clunkers, back into mid-2008 before things started going downhill. That’s a long time.” The light-vehicle sales rate exceeded the 13.4 million pace that was the average estimate of 14 analysts in a Bloomberg survey. Aside from August 2009, the U.S. monthly sales rate last topped

14 million in May 2008, according to Autodata Corp.

Incentives drop

Automakers lowered spending on incentives by 5.6 percent, or about $144 per vehicle sold, to $2,435 in January, Woodcliff Lake, N.J.-based Autodata said. With the average age of cars and trucks rising to a record 10.8 years, analysts see pent-up demand boosting U.S. sales to a third-straight annual gain in 2012, the longest streak since sales peaked in 2000. An improving job market and available credit may propel an increase of more than 6 percent to 13.6 million vehicle sales, the average of 18 analysts’ estimates. Honda sales climbed 8.8 percent, topping six analysts’ average estimate for a 1.2 percent decline. Deliveries were buoyed by a 50 percent increase in sales of Civic compacts. The Tokyo-based automaker lost 1.6 percentage points of market share last year as sales fell in each of the previous eight months. GM said deliveries fell 6.1 percent, beating the 7.3 percent decline estimated by eight analysts. The Detroit-based automaker, the world’s largest, was helped by sales of the Chevrolet Sonic subcompact that it introduced late last year and the new Chevrolet Malibu that started production last month.

GM’s prices

Buyers paid about $30,400 per GM vehicle in January, up about $1,000 from a year earlier, said Jim Cain, a company spokesman. GM’s incentive spending fell 16 percent, or $592, to $3,071 per vehicle

according to Autodata. In January 2011, the automaker outspent the industry average by 42 percent. Last month, that gap was trimmed to 26 percent. “As the vehicles have become more desirable, the need for rebates is waning,” said Gordon Stewart, who owns four Chevrolet dealership and one Toyota outlet in four states. “You just see rebates on very select models and not the newest stuff.” Kevin Tynan, senior automotive analyst for Bloomberg Industries, said slight stock gains for GM this year were bolstered by the rebate decline. “GM laying off incentives looks like a positive to the markets,” Tynan said. “Better to stand firm on prices and let demand fall where it will for now.”

Chrysler gains

Chrysler Group LLC vaulted over Nissan Motor Co. and Tokyo-based Honda, which were ahead in sales a year earlier, by reporting a 42 percent increase in car and truck deliveries that led the industry. Sales of the 200 sedan, its top-selling car last year, surged to 7,007 from 788. That pushed Chrysler-brand sales to an 81percent increase. Ram pickup deliveries rose 47 percent to 17,909. Chrysler, majority owned by Fiat SpA, said yesterday that it earned $225 million in net income in the fourth quarter, exceeding the $186 million average of four analysts’ estimates. Profit could rise to about $1.5 billion in 2012 as global revenue climbs 18 percent to $65 billion, the Auburn Hills, Mich.based company said. “We’re looking at 2012 with some de-

gree of optimism,” said Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Chrysler and Fiat. The company forecasts that U.S. sales will rise to 13.8 million this year and that it will gain about 1 percentage point of market share, said Richard Palmer, the company’s chief financial officer.

Camry rebounds

Toyota sales rose 7.5 percent last month to 124,540 cars and light trucks. Asia’s largest automaker exceeded the average of six analysts’ estimates for a 7 percent increase. The gain was led by a 56 percent jump in sales of Camry model. Nissan’s January sales rose10 percent to 79,313 cars and trucks, topping the 7.6 percent average estimate of six analysts. Deliveries were led by a 36 percent increase in deliveries of Altima, its bestselling model. The automaker expects to increase sales at least 10 percent this year, Brian Carolin, its U.S. sales chief, said Jan. 9. Volkswagen AG, which is targeting U.S. sales growth of more than10 percent this year, increased combined U.S. sales of its Volkswagen and Audi brands by 39 percent last month from a year earlier. The average of three analysts’ estimates was for a 27 percent gain. Volkswagen plans to sell more than 500,000 cars in the U.S. this year as part of the Wolfsburg, Germany-based automaker’s goal to become the world’s biggest automaker by 2018. “Momentum continues to build,” LMC’s Schuster said. “The overall feeling of the industry is certainly that we’re much closer to what normal is.”

TOYOTA

Midsize pickup shootout: Tacoma comes out on top By Chris Woodyard USA TODAY

ONTARIO, Calif. — They’re practical and fun, and would seem right for the times. But somehow, midsize pickups just aren’t taken seriously. Their sales are just 20 percent of fullsize models, according to sales tracker Autodata. Roughly 300,000 were sold last year, vs. 1.5 million full-size trucks. To figure out why they are still around, and which is best, Cars.com’s PickupTrucks.com website and USA TODAY tested seven models for the Midsize Pickup Truck Shootout. The smallest pickups really have grown into midsize machines, though sometimes they still are called compacts. Seven trucks were tested, quite a few for a segment so small — and a reason it’s hard to make money selling midsize pickups, having to split a modest market so many ways. All trucks were 2012s, except for the 2011 Ranger. Ford killed it after the 2011 model, but it was in production at the time of the Shootout, so it was included.

The judges were USA TODAY’s Chris Woodyard; PickupTrucks.com editor Mark Williams; Dan Sanchez, author and editor of a number of truck publications; and Trevor Reed, editor of Work Truck Review and freelancer. Their collective view: Toyota Tacoma was the clear winner. “The Tacoma is getting better and better,” wrote the judges. “There’s a lot of truck here for the money.” Testers pounded each truck nearly 200 miles over freeways, byways and the steep mountains of Southern California’s so-called Inland Empire. They were tested on dynamometers to verify power, accelerated full-throttle to measure quickness, and braked full-bore for stopping distance. All performed well overall, and their practicality was obvious. But the Shootout showed significant differences. The Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier, Suzuki Equator and Tacoma were four-door crew cabs with fourwheel or all-wheel drive and automatic transmissions. Ranger was an extendedcab model.

HOW THE MIDSIZE MODELS FINISHED » Toyota Tacoma 4x4 V-6. The 2012 Tacoma got a new grille and rump and dressed-up interior. It accounted for 38 percent of midsize pickup sales last year. In testing, Tacoma had the quickest-stopping brakes. Price:$34,635. MPG: 19.3. Score: 938. » Nissan Frontier SV. It was judged best value, and it scored well in other categories but won no other. Its strong engine (261 hp) was lauded, but the truck seemed unrefined inside. Price: $29,085. MPG: 19.1. Score: 913. » Honda Ridgeline Sport. Hard-core truckers are dismissive of the unibody, car-like Honda, but it had top payload capacity: 1,550 pounds, better than some full-size crew-cab pickups. Its unibody chassis performed poorly in dirt and over ruts. Price: $30,805. MPG: 20.9. Score: 885. » Suzuki Equator RMZ-4. The Equator placed only a point behind the Ridgeline, praised for snappy performance and crisp handling. Suzuki’s RMZ-4 package stood out, with stiffer shocks, a locking rear differential, about 100 pounds more weight and six more horsepower. Price: $30,849. MPG: 19.4. Score: 884. » Chevrolet Colorado LT Z71. Judges loved the 5.3-liter V-8 (300 hp). GM is last to offer a V-8 in a midsize pickup, a $1,300 option. It was quickest off the line, loaded or not. But raw power couldn’t trump sub-par braking and body rattles. Price: $33,875. MPG:17.3. Score: 865. » GMC Canyon SLE Z71. Take away the awesome V-8 in Canyon’s corporate cousin Colorado and you’re left with an acceptable truck that doesn’t really stand out. The five-cylinder engine — yes, five — posted fuel-economy figures that tied it with Tacoma’s V-6. Price: $30,310. MPG: 19.1. Score: 838. » Ford Ranger XLT. At the back of the pack, Ranger seemed a “time machine … teleporting back to the early 1990s.” Ford’s spent little on updates. Ranger’s gas mileage was worst of the bunch. Price: $27,890. MPG: 15.7. Score: 779.

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I29

DODGE

Charger powers up the ‘Wow’ factor Eight-speed transmission among many updates James R. Healey USA Today

Big whoop, you chide. Tell us interesting stuff about the car. OK. It has an eight-speed automatic transmission. And boy, does that make all the difference. The Charger, as did many Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models, got a makeover for the 2011 model year. But so many updates are arriving on 2012 models that 2011is kind of a lost year. It almost seems as if Chrysler ought to apologize to buyers of 2011 models for giving them half loaves. The eight-speed that you now get standard on all but the very base Charger SE V-6 models (and it’s a $1,000 option on that one) replaces a five-speed that depressed the performance and hurt the fuel economy of the 2011 Charger and 300. It’s hard to put into words how much better the 2012 drives, feels, flings and fuels than the 2011, but let’s try. Wow. For the practical-minded who believe cars have no soul, no identity, no chemistry, get this: The new transmission gives the car better low-speed scoot (making less-tedious that stop-go routine most of us must abide). It takes small steps up through its gear ratios so the engine never sags and leaves you wishing you’d bought the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 instead. The V-8 continues to use a five-speed. It’s scheduled to get an eightspeed in the future, but Chrysler won’t say when. The eight-speed finds the just-so gear if your olfactory sense requires you to rocket past that hog-hauler on a rural two-lane road in hilly terrain. And it provides overdrive gears aplenty (the three top ratios are overdrive) so the car can cruise at naughty speeds while the engine loafs, thereby using little fuel. How many “wins” is that? Win-winwin-win? For the passion privileged among you: The 2012 drives like a dream. It feels the way your euphoric (and erroneous) recall would portray the big, old American sedans of yore. It helps turn today’s auto reality into the good ol’ days, erasing whatever silly shine Detroit sedans of the (name your decade … ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, whatever) might seem to have had. Those same small steps among the eight ratios that make the car smooth and fuel-efficient, also make it a royal, howling hoot to drive. It flat goes. Never mind what a stopwatch might say, it’s that grin on your face that measures acceleration. Dodge has graced the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 (292 horsepower as used in the Charger) with a growl proportionate to the thrust of your right foot. It presents itself, as do European six-cylinders, as a full-fledged powerplant, not a wanna-be anything. Not the engine you bought because you couldn’t afford the Hemi, or were terrified of $6 gasoline, or to placate your spouse or mollify your neighbors or avoid brimstone from the ecopreacher down the street. Nope. None of those. The V-6, because of that eight-speed transmission, now is very much the package of choice. Lighter and thus, nimbler, than the Hemi V-8 (because the V-6 weighs less) and, tadah, available now with all-wheel drive formerly reserved for the V-8. Surely Dodge must have done other things. It can’t have banked solely on a transmission update that salespeople can’t show you and that you might not appreciate enough to buy the car. Right. There’s also the color dashboard display, instead of a black-andwhite view. Bright-hued readouts on the driver information display, and on the center screen for stereo, climate settings and more. Silly? No, easier to see and read, so less distracting. (OK, it looks sweet, too.) Big display with Garmin navigation, such as the ones familiar to people who

The Dodge Charger’s eight-speed automatic transmission provides overdrive gears aplenty so the car can cruise at naughty speeds while the engine loafs, thereby using little fuel. PR NEWSWIRE

use the popular aftermarket navis, and you can tell it what to do by voice while underway. Big improvement. A traffic report can be set to come on only when the satellite radio traffic station plays an update for your location. What good is Atlanta when you’re in Portland? There’s a suspension tweak — hydraulic bushings instead of hard urethane — that better targets the elusive blend of comfort and control that a proper suspension provides. Also enjoy the airlock sound of the power windows and reassuring thump of the doors as they close. Plus the handy control and gauge locations and attractive textures. But — there’s always a but, it seems — some annoyances remain. •The voice-control for the navi can’t always understand you. Never could find the Obama residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C., no matter how clearly or casually the address was enunciated. It did manage to find an amazing number of other cities with a 1600 Pennsylvania. •The big doors swing open so wide that you’re about fall out of the car reaching for the door handle. You have to take care to let the door stop at a partly open position. •Trunk lid lifts too high for less-tall users to easily reach and close. And the trunk, while adequate, is space-stingy by full-size car standards. •Seats might not suit all. Too much lumbar bulge for some. Physiques differ, and yours might be well served. •Styling, nicely updated for the 2011, remains not quite “adult” enough for people who might otherwise appreciate the car’s high-level execution. Sure, it’ll look fun and fierce for a year or two, but will it then begin to seem like the auto equivalent of 1960s bell bottoms? Reasonable people often disagree on matters of taste, so you might think otherwise. All the negatives are worth considering, but they don’t seem to add up to dealbreakers. Rather, the 2012 Charger easily triumphs on its strong points: As much as 31 mpg on the highway, a smoothness that’ll trump fancy German brands, a level of driving satisfaction that is almost unbelievable in a big Detroit sedan and, now, all-wheel drive with the V-6 for the folks whose weather often is uncooperative. Dodge keeps doing that kind of thing and it’s likely to get taken seriously, even regarded as a premium brand. The Charger’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine presents itself, as do European six-cylinders, as a full-fledged powerplant, not a wanna-be anything. PR NEWSWIRE

2012 DODGE CHARGER What? Eight-speed automatic replaces five-speed on V-6 versions of the full-size Dodge Charger (and mechanically similar Chrysler 300), boosting mileage, improving performance. V-6 now available with all-wheel drive (AWD). Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard. No change to Hemi V-8 drivetrain. When? On sale this month. Where? Made at Brampton, Ontario. How much? Base SE RWD with eight-speed is $27,320. Eight-speed is $1,000 option on that model, standard on all other V-6 models. SXT Plus, well-equipped V-6 model expected to be popular, is $32,820. What makes it go? 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 rated 292 horsepower at 6,350 rpm, 260 poundsfeet of torque at 4,800, mated to new, German-designed eight-speed automatic transmission. How big? Classic big Detroit sedan. Slightly shorter, wider, lower than Ford Taurus, on a longer wheelbase. Charger is 199.9 inches long, 75 in. wide, 58.4 in. tall on a 120.2-in. wheelbase. Weighs 3,961 to 4,151 lbs. Passenger space, 104.7 cu. ft.; trunk, 16.5 cu. ft. Turning circle diameter, 37.7 or 38.7 ft., curb-to-curb, depending on model and tires. How thirsty? Rear-wheel drive rated 19 miles per gallon in town, 31 on the highway, 23 in mixed driving. All-wheel drive: 18/27/21 mpg. All-wheel-drive test car registered 18.4 miles per gallon (5.43 gallons per 100 miles) in suburban driving. Burns regular, holds 19.1 gallons. Overall: Eight-speed automatic makes a huge difference. Smooth, quick, very satisfying.

COLUMBIA ACURA

2012 TSX

Save your pennies, Audi R8 fans. Audi just announced a base price of $210,000 for the limited-edition GT Spyder version of its R8 supercar. Tack on an extra $1,200 for the destination fee and anywhere from $2,000-$3,000 for the gasguzzler tax. Audi says the hand-built droptop R8 goes from zero to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, thanks to its 560-horsepower, 5.2-liter V-10. Its top speed is 197 mph. R8 GT Spyder-specific features include unique 19-inch wheels, carbon-fiber exterior

mirrors and interior trim, aluminum doorsill inserts, R8 GT badge on the steering wheel, sport seats in Alcantara leather and a carbon-fiber spoiler. Audi is producing 333 units, but only 50 of those will be for sale in the U.S. Each car sold here will have its production number displayed on the gearshift. Customer deliveries begin this month. — Jennifer Geiger/Cars.com’s Kicking Tires

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I30 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I31

MAZDA

CHEVROLET

Malibu Eco: strong midsize contender By James R. Healey USA Today

Chevrolet can’t wait to get the redesigned Malibu midsize sedan into the market, giving it a stronger contender against the powerhouse sedans that control the biggest single segment of the new car market. Nor could General Motors CEO Dan “Do It Yesterday” Akerson. He pushed Chevy to accelerate development by six months. It takes roughly three years to develop a car, from planning to production, so slicing six months is a big deal. The result: The 2013 Malibu goes on sale in the first quarter next year with just one drivetrain, a mild hybrid system that GM calls eAssist. Chevy will market it as the Malibu Eco. GM’s Buick brand also uses eAssist. The regular gasolineonly Malibu that will use a new-generation 2.5-liter four-cylinder isn’t ready. Those cars will come next summer, when the Malibu originally was to have been launched. It’s not quite as bad as Chrysler Group’s pattern of introducing redesigned vehicles one year but not getting updated drivetrains and other goodies into the mix until the next model year. But laudable as it is to speed up the development process, it seems unfortunate that it makes people wait for the “good stuff” or take what’s first available and regret it just a short time later after other versions or desirable improvements become available. The Malibu Eco verdict: nice car; wait until summer. Here’s what stood out, positive and negative, from a day wheeling early-production Ecos through downtown traffic in Austin, Texas, beating up and down the highways and maneuvering through Texas Hill Country on roads apparently laid out following the path of an amphetamine-crazed snake. » Styling. Handsome. Conservative. Perhaps too much like the previous model, to a casual observer, to excite buyers. » Interior. High point. Eco comes across as a premium-level model, so nothing cheap or dumpy. Some test cars had gorgeous two-tone leather worth considering.

Curves inside are smooth and make visual sense, rather than appearing to have been done just for the effect. Controls look inviting and have a premium feel in operation. The exception: a round headlight knob, same as used on the Buick Verano and other GM products, that has a hard-to-see pointer. » Quiet. Chevy did an outstanding job keeping out noise, making it as quiet as some premium sedans. » Dynamics. How it moves, responds, feels are a mixed bag. Swift, but doesn’t seem so. Quickly up to highway speed with no boy-racer drama. Plenty of understeer. That is, the front end wants to run wide in corners. All front-drive sedans have understeer. The tighter and faster the corner, the harder it is to keep the front properly aimed. Eco seems worse than others. Takes away a lot of the fun and feeling of confidence. Automatic transmission was only so-so. It sometimes delayed badly on hard-throttle downshifts. On hard-throttle upshifts, the engine kept revving past the time the transmission paused to shift – “flaring,” it’s called by car folk. Steering and brakes felt good, worth little notice either bad or good. » Details. Not all as they should be. Mainly, it’s a case of just wait. You can’t get the newdesign, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine until next summer. Once it’s available, there will be lowerprice Malibus that might fit your budget better. Until then, Chevy will continue selling the current version of Malibu, too, so it has a gas-only, lower-price midsize car. Possibly confusing: The 2.5-liter will be the first in a new generation of what GM calls Ecotec engines, to give its basic engine family a zingy identity. So the Malibu Eco, despite its name, doesn’t have the new Ecotec engine. You can’t get both navigation and the connectivity-rich infotainment suite called MyLink. One or the other. But next summer, they’ll be available together. The back seat has sufficient room for most adults. But the shape of the door sill and position-

horsepower at 6,200 rpm, 172 pounds-feet of torque at 4,900 rpm, is mated with a 15-hp/79 lbs.-ft. electric motor that moves the car momentarily be-

make of front-drive, fourdoor, five-passenger midsize sedan. » When? On sale first quarter of 2012, as a 2013 model.

ing of the middle roof pillar make it too easy to tangle your toes swiveling into or out of the rear. Outside mirrors, trimmed to reduce wind

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libu Eco is 191.3 inches long, 73 in. wide, 57.6 in. tall on a 107.8-in. wheelbase. Weighs 3,620 lbs. Passenger space: 100 cubic feet; trunk, 14.3 cu. ft.

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noise and drag, are a bit small, leaving you uncertain whether you can change lanes. Blind-spot monitors would seem just the thing. So they are, Chevy says, and you can get them … sometime next year. Applause to Chevy for accelerating Malibu development, giving buyers a better car sooner. But a loud raspberry for doing so at the expense of features and options many potential buyers would expect immediately. » What? Major re-

» Where? Built at Fairfax, Kan., and, later next year, Detroit-Hamtramck, Mich. » How much? A mild hybrid called Malibu Eco comes first, starting at $25,995 including $760 shipping. A gasoline-only model is due next summer and will have a lower starting price. » What makes it go? Malibu Eco is powered by General Motors’ eAssist setup, similar to that on Buick LaCrosse and Regal. A 2.4-liter, four-cylinder gas engine rated 182

fore the gas engine restarts and takes over after extended stops. Electric also provides acceleration boost. Six-speed automatic transmission with (awkward) manual mode. The 2.5-liter gasolineonly engine due next summer will be rated about 190 hp at 6,200 rpm and180 lbs.-ft. at 4,500 rpm and use a six-speed automatic. Due still later: a 2-liter turbo four-cylinder. » How big? A few inches longer, wider than Toyota Camry hybrid and about 200 lbs. heavier. Ma-

Turning diameter, 37.4 ft. » How thirsty? Rated 25 miles per gallon city, 37 mpg highway, 29 combined. Trip computers in early-production test cars registered 21.6 mpg (4.63 gallons per 100 miles) in heavy traffic in Austin, Texas, and 29.2 mpg (3.42 gal./100 mi,) in vigorous driving on open roads nearby. Burns regular, holds 15.8 gallons. » Overall: Nice car; not designed for eye-popping hybrid mpg. Consider waiting for the new engine, other updates.

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E-class hybrids: Midsize luxury By Mark Phelan Detroit Free Press

Mercedes-Benz gets very serious about hybrids as it drops the electric system into its bestselling vehicle — the Eclass luxury sedan — and adds a unique diesel hybrid to its European

lineup. The automaker’s new E 400 hybrid sedan combines a direct-injection gasoline V6 engine with a small hybrid motor and a battery for projected EPA fuel economy ratings of 24 mpg in the city, 31 on the highway — and 27 combined.

In addition to the auto-stop and regenerative braking, this hybrid system can propel the E 400 on electricity alone — for short distances. The E400 is scheduled to debut in America later this year. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ new E 300 Bluetec

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is the first luxury car to combine the high-mpg diesel engine Europeans love with a hybrid system. There’s no plan to sell it in the United States, but Mercedes does plan to sell the E 300 Bluetec as a sedan and station wagon.

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» 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (263 hp, carryover) powers the MazdaSpeed3 hatchback. OK, back to the Skyactiv models. » They have enough power to be fun, even though the 3 is heavy for its size. The engine serves enough of its scoot at low speed to make the manual transmission car easy to drive in town. Not much risk of killing the engine in a careless moment. Skyactiv engines are tuned according to Mazda’s linear principle. You get power proportional to how much you push the gas pedal. Most modern cars exaggerate, giving a lot of response with the first little throttle movement, to appear more powerful than they are. That’s called “aggressive tip-in.” They have little punch left for high-speed passing and merging. Mazda’s approach probably costs it a good first impression among shallow shoppers but is more satisfying to attentive drivers over time. The Skyactiv engines sound cranky when first started. That’s due to the Skyactiv tuning to lower emissions when the engine’s first fired up, a dirty time in an engine’s life. The sound smooths out very quickly as the engine warms. The Skyactivequipped cars enjoy Mazda’s attention to handling precision. The 2012 updates include more welds and some different materials to stiffen the chassis. Only Skyactiv and 2.5-liter cars get the stiffening.

SPECS What? Mild freshening and major drivetrain update — called Skyactiv — for the front-drive compact available as a four-door sedan or a four-door hatchback. When? Skyactiv models on sale since mid-October. Other 2012 Mazda3 models on sale since August. Where? Built at Hofu, Japan. How much? Least-expensive Skyactiv model is Sport sedan with six-speed manual transmission: $19,245 including $795 shipping. Skyactiv hatchback starts at $19,745. Least-expensive non-Skyactiv, which has less standard equipment, is SV sedan, $15,995. What makes it go? Skyactiv engine is 2-liter, four-cylinder, rated 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 148 pounds-feet of torque at 4,100 rpm, mated to six-speed manual or automatic. How big? Slightly longer, heavier than Honda Civic sedan. Mazda3 is 180.9 inches long (177.4 in., hatchback) , 69.1 in. tall, 57.9 in. wide on a 103.9-in. wheelbase. Weighs 2,872 to 2,969 lbs. Turning circle diameter 34.2 ft. curb-to-curb. How thirsty? Rated 27 to 28 mpg in the city, 38 to 40 mpg highway, 31 to 33 mpg combined, depending on model and equipment. Test-car trip computers registered 24 mpg (4.17 gallons per 100 miles) in suburbs in automatic transmission sedan; 27.8 mpg (3.60 gal./100 mi.) in suburban/highway mix with manual transmission hatchback. Burns regular, holds 14.5 gallons. Overall: Fuel-thrifty fun.

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showrooms in February. Test Drive reviewed the CX-5 last month. But the freshened 2012 Mazda3, on sale since October, is first to use the interesting Skyactiv engine/transmission combo, and that’s what we tested: a sedan with automatic transmission and hatchback with manual. The engine’s more powerful than the base, non-Skyactiv engine, so gets off on the right foot. The 3 uses the same new 2-liter four-cylinder gas engine coming in the CX-5, but tuned differently for the 3. It’s still rated the same 155 horsepower and 148 pounds-feet of torque as the CX-5. The Mazda3 Skyactiv with automatic transmission delivers a 40 milesper-gallon highway rating in government tests, giving Mazda a great advertising peg. Before we move on, here’s a clip ‘n’ save item for Mazda3 shoppers, or buffs, trying to sort out which engines are in which models. Even Mazda acknowledges that it’s confusing: » 2-liter, four-cylinder Skyactiv engine (155 hp) comes in the Touring and Grand Touring sedan and hatchback. Mazda puts a vivid blue engine cover on Skyactiv engines, should you need visual verification. » 2.5-liter MZR fourcylinder (167 hp, carried over from 2011) is in the Touring and Grand Touring sedan and hatch, but with a broader standardequipment list than the Skyactiv models. » 2-liter MZR (148 hp, carried over) comes only in the Sport sedan.

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The 2013 BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe’s name is certainly a misnomer. The four-door sedan has improved rear legroom and surprising trunk space. PROVIDED PHOTO/M.MOESCH

Pay no attention to the gorgeous 6 series Gran Coupe’s name. There’s nothing remotely coupelike about BMW’s slinky new car, which has four doors and a slightly concealed B-pillar between the front and rear doors. That linguistic quibble is the only grounds for complaint about the stunning Gran Coupe, which adds a more useable rear seat to the beautiful but space-challenged 6 series coupe. At 197 inches long, the Gran Coupe is 4.2 inches longer than the actual coupe. Its 116.8-inch wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer, with most of the

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growth used to increase rear passenger space. The trunk measures a useful 16.2 cubic feet. Power comes from BMW’s brilliant 300horsepower, 3.0-liter straight-six turbo in the 640i Gran Coupe, which reaches 62 mph in 5.4 seconds. The 650i Gran Coupe uses a twin-turbo 4.4-liter that produces 445 horsepower and a 4.6-second 062 mph sprint. Both engines come with an eightspeed automatic transmission. Night vision, pedestrian detection and all-speed adaptive cruise control are available, as is a 16speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

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more fun. First full-blown Skyactiv vehicle will be the 2013 CX-5, a small crossover SUV new to the Mazda line and due in

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The 2013 SL is almost entirely aluminum and weighs 275 pounds less than its predecessor, despite adding plenty of new equipment and features. GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

2013 SL: Luxury hardtop roadster DETROIT FREE PRESS

The latest generation of Mercedes’ iconic luxury roadster, the 2013 SL is made nearly entirely of aluminum and weighs a remarkable 275 pounds less than its predecessor despite adding plenty of new equipment and features. The new twin-turbo direct-injection 4.7-liter V8 is 0.8-liter smaller than the previous SL’s engine, but produces 429 horsepower and an astounding 516 pound-feet of torque — increases of 12 percent and 32 percent from the 5.5-liter V8 in the 2012 SL 550. Linked to a sevenspeed automatic trans-

mission, the engine blasts the 2013 SL 550 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds — 0.8 seconds faster than last year’s model. The design features an upright grille with headlights pushed to the corners to emphasize the car’s width, which increases 2.24 inches from 2012. The car’s 2-inch greater length is emphasized by the low hood and horizontal chrome fins that sweep back from large fender vents. The 2013 SL 550 features two retractable hardtops: a clear glass roof, and Magic Sky Control, which can be set to be either opaque or as clear as glass.

I32 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

NISSAN

Versa surprises with plenty of space Sedan, but not hatch, redesigned for 2012

2012 NISSAN VERSA SEDAN

By G. Chambers Williams III San Antonio Express-News

The redesigned 2012 Nissan Versa subcompact sedan is quite a surprise, not only because of its price but also because of its size. There is room for up to five people in the new sedan, as well as plenty of cargo. Interior volume is 90 cubic feet, and the trunk is quite spacious for this class at 14.8 cubic feet. Still the lowest-priced new car on sale in the United States, with a starting price of $10,990 (plus $760 freight), the new Versa also is the roomiest car in its class, with more rear legroom than — get this — the Lexus LS 460, Mercedes-Benz E class and BMW 5-series large sedans. Probably even more important, though, as people shopping the Versa aren’t likely to look at those high-dollar cars, the 2012 Versa sedan has considerably more rear legroom than the redesigned 2012 Ford Focus, which is in a larger class, compact sedans. In fact, the Focus has the same passenger volume, 90 cubic feet, but only 12 cubic feet of trunk space, for a total interior of 102 cubic feet. The redesigned 2012 Honda Civic, a compact car in the same class as the Focus, has 95 cubic feet of passenger space and a 12-cubic-foot trunk, giving it total interior volume of 107 cubic feet, compared with 104.8 cubic feet for the Versa. Only the Versa sedan has been updated, though. The hatchback carries over unchanged from 2011, and prices begin at $14,380 for that version. For the $10,990 price, you’ll get a five-speed manual gearbox. A continuously variable automatic is optional, but it raises the price of the base S model to $12,760. The CVT is standard on the 1.6 SV model, which lists for $14,560, and on the 1.6 SL model, at $15,560. The sedan’s starting price is up $1,000 from that of the 2011 model, but it really doesn’t represent an increase; it’s actually a decrease when comparing standard content. That’s because the new model has features not included on the previous entry-level Versa sedan, which had a base price of $9,990 for 2011. That model

The Nissan Versa sedan, still the lowest priced new car on sale in the United States, has been redesigned for 2012. It is the roomiest car in its subcompact class, with 90 cubic feet. PROVIDED PHOTO

didn’t come with such items as air-conditioning and antilock brakes, which are standard on the base 2012 model. When those were added to the 2011 Versa, the price was $11,420. Also standard on the 2012 base Versa, but not on the entry 2011 model, are a six-way manual-adjustable driver’s seat and an AM/FM/compact-disc audio system with auxiliary input. Under the hood of all sedan models for 2012 is a new 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 109 horsepower and 107 footpounds of torque. Gone from the sedan is the optional 122horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder that was offered in the 2011 model. But that is the only engine available in the hatchback model. EPA fuel-economy ratings are 27 mpg city/36 highway with the manual gearbox and 30 city/38 highway with the CVT, which Nissan says is more efficient than a regular sevenspeed automatic. That’s up from 26/34 for the 1.6-liter engine with the manual gearbox and 25/ 33 with the four-speed automatic, from the 2011 Versa sedan. The sedan has been completely redone. It sits on an entirely new chassis, Nissan’s global “V” platform. Nissan says the new platform, “designated ‘V’ for Versatile,” has al-

most 20 percent fewer components and weighs about 150 pounds less than the previous model’s “B” platform. There are new high-tech features in the 1.6-liter engine, such as two streamlined fuel injectors for each cylinder, designed to deliver a finer spray of fuel into the combustion chamber to improve efficiency. The engine also is smaller and lighter and has continuously variable timing control similar to the system used on the Nissan Maxima sedan. There is decent power for most situations, although there were times I really wanted a bit more zip for merging onto freeways, especially on uphill ramps. The CVT seems to allow the engine to rev higher than it should at times, almost like riding the clutch on a standardtransmission car. Outside, the new Versa is more aerodynamic, which also helps with fuel economy. It’s almost a fastback look, with a sloped rear end from top to rear trunk edge. An independent strut-type front suspension is standard, along with electric power steering, 15-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers and power front disc/rear drum antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution with brake

assist. Available are 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The cabin has an open, airy feel, with higher-quality materials. There is room for five people, with ample leg and knee room in the back. Up front are bucket seats, with front door pockets that include bottle holders. Power windows are available on the SV and SL models, as are speed-sensitive power door locks. Safety features include front seat-mounted side air bags, roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows, electronic stability control with traction control, child-safety rear door locks, child-seat anchors and tire-pressure monitoring. Among other standard or optional features are a 60/40 splitfolding rear seatback (with trunk pass-through), upgraded seat fabric, Bluetooth phone system, an in-dash touch-screen navigation system with XM NavTraffic (part of the $700 Tech Package for the SL model only), a USB input for iPod and other compatible devices, and cruise control ($350 on the base CVT model, but standard on SL and SV). Several port-installed accessories are offered, including a rear deck-lid spoiler ($300), self-dimming rearview mirror

The package: Four-door, fivepassenger, front-wheel-drive, four-cylinder, subcompact economy sedan. Advantages: Redesigned for 2012, this is Nissan’s entry-level car for the U.S. market. It’s economical to buy and to operate, and it has more interior space than its competitors and as much rear passenger room as some midsize cars. Negatives: No option to upgrade to the more powerful 1.8-liter engine used in the Versa hatchback. Engine: 1.6-liter inline fourcylinder. Transmissions: Five-speed manual; continuously variable automatic (optional). Power/torque: 109 HP/107 foot-pounds. Length: 175.4 inches. Curb weight: 2,350-2,459 pounds. Brakes, front/rear: Disc/drum, antilock. Side air bags: Front seatmounted; side-curtain for both rows. Electronic stability control: Standard. Cargo volume: 14.8 cubic feet. Fuel capacity/type: 10.8 gallons/unleaded regular. EPA fuel economy: 27 mpg city/36 highway (manual); 30/38 (CVT). Major competitors: Toyota Yaris, Suzuki SX4, Mazda2, Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Fiat 500. Base price range: $10,990$15,560 plus $760 freight. Price as tested: $15,670, including freight and options (SV with CVT, Convenience Package). On the Road rating: 8.5 (of a possible 10). Prices shown are manufacturer’s suggested retail; actual selling price may vary.

($210), illuminated kick plates ($200), splash guards ($125), floor and trunk mat set ($170), interior-trim appliqués ($220) and fog lights ($230). Our tester was the SV model with the CVT and the SV Convenience Package ($350), which added an upgraded AM/FM/ compact-disc audio system with iPod/auxiliary connect and MP3 playback, Bluetooth, steeringwheel-mounted audio controls, map lights and vanity mirror.

SCION

The tiny iQ debuts; only 10 feet long Offers add-ons to appease the young By Ann M. Job Associated Press

Where is the rest of the car? Just about everyone asked this question when they saw Scion’s newest car, the iQ. New for 2012, the three-door Scion iQ hatchback is 10 feet long from bumper to bumper — that’s almost 2 feet shorter than a Fiat 500 — and has a rear end that seems abruptly cut off aft of the rear wheels. Classified as a minicompact and weighing only 2,172 pounds with a 94-horsepower engine, the iQ also is the top gasolinepowered, non-hybrid, 2012 small car in federal government fuel-economy rankings. Specifically, the iQ, which comes with a continuously variable transmission, is rated at 36 miles per gallon in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway. Although the iQ interior is rather Spartan, add-on accessories galore promise imaginative customizing of this little car by young, urban hipsters. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, for the 2012 iQ is $15,995. This is $820 more than the starting retail price for a 2012 Honda Fit and $300 less than the starting retail price for a 2012 Ford Fiesta hatchback. Both competitors are larger than the iQ, provide more space for cargo and rear-seat passengers, offer more than one transmission and have more powerful engines. Even the diminutive and arguably cuter 2012 Fiat 500 hatchback, with $16,000 starting retail price, is bigger in interior volume and has a more powerful engine than the iQ. The first new Scion model since 2004, the iQ is new to the United States. But Toyota has

Cute and fuel efficient, the Scion iQ doesn’t have as much pick-up as Americans are used to. PROVIDED PHOTO

2012 SCION IQ Base price: $15,265. Price as tested: $15,995. Type: Front-engine, frontwheel-drive, four-passenger, minicompact hatchback. Engine: 1.3-liter, double overhead cam, four-cylinder engine with dual VVT-i. Mileage: 36 mpg (city), 37 mpg (highway). Top speed: 100 mph. Length: 120.1 inches. Wheelbase: 78.7 inches. Curb weight: 2,172 pounds. Built at: Japan. Options: None. Destination charge: $730.

sold it for years overseas where extremely small cars are popular and the iQ blends in. Still, on American roads, amid pickup trucks and sportutility vehicles, the iQ is an anomaly. I drove it defensively, because the first few times on the

road, other drivers cut me off, and I wasn’t sure they saw the iQ coming up in the lane next to them. Even knowing the iQ comes standard with 11 air bags — one is the world’s first rear window air bag — and meets U.S. crash requirements, I remained aware that the iQ was lightweight. It can be buffeted by winds on stormy days, and there’s not a lot of sound insulation, so I could hear noisy trucks and motorcycles as they approached, even with all the windows of the test iQ closed. There’s an odd sensation sitting behind the wheel because there’s so little of the iQ behind the driver’s seat, I sometimes felt like I was following the front of the car around the turns. The iQ needs only 12.9 feet to do a U-turn. In making my first U-turn in the iQ, I was so used to needing to turn more, I nearly did a “doughnut” instead of a Uturn. But I easily turned around

on narrow city streets to nab parking spaces. Wider and longer than the Smart cars but similar in overall shape, the iQ is perfect for slipping effortlessly into tiny parking spots in the city that bigger vehicles can’t claim. Anyone with a small garage at home will love the way the iQ fits inside. In my traditional two-car garage, I figure I could fit four iQs. But the “get up and go” of the iQ power train can be disappointing, and most small cars in this country have at least 100 horsepower. In contrast, the iQ’s 1.3-liter, double overhead cam four cylinder puts out 94, and it can sound like it’s straining at 55 miles an hour, especially if the highway has some elevation changes. Some of this is the transmission, which seeks to maximize fuel economy by operating in the optimal gear range for the load and speed of the car. It sent droning sounds to the test car

interior. Torque in the iQ peaks at 89 pound-feet at 4,400 rpm, so the car doesn’t feel sporty even in city driving. In comparison, the Honda Fit’s 1.4-liter four cylinder puts out 117 horsepower and 108 pound-feet of torque, while the Ford Fiesta’s 1.6-liter four cylinder generates 120 horses and 112 pound-feet of torque. My mileage was 75 percent city travel and 25 percent highway. And I averaged between 29.5 mpg and 31.7 mpg. With a fuel tank holding 8.5 gallons, this meant my driving range was just over 300 miles. Surprisingly, standard wheels and tires on the iQ are larger than expected -- 16-inchers. Because they are positioned at the outermost corners of the car and the iQ is relatively wide, the car has a more stable feel than you might anticipate. There’s no room for a spare tire in the iQ. The car comes with a tire repair kit, instead. I liked that the electric power steering in the test car responded quickly. But rear seats seemed flimsy and are space-constrained, and rear-passenger head restraints are positioned very close to the back window. Cargo space totals 3.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats -about enough for a thin briefcase and purse. Cargo space expands to 16.7 cubic feet with rear seats folded down. In the test car, there were no hooks to help hold bags back there in place, the center console didn’t have covered storage, and the interior had a liberal amount of hard plastic trim. There’s also no glovebox. Instead, a tray is under the front passenger seat, which is slightly offset to be able to be moved closer to the windshield than the driver’s seat so one of the two rear passengers can get more legroom.

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I33

CHEVROLET

Equinox offers a lot of space, spunk for a small sport utility Comfortable interior and easy ride make it a solid choice, despite tester’s flawed A/C

By Ann M. Job Associated Press

Chevrolet’s best-selling sport utility vehicle, the Equinox, is comfortable, attractive and roomy without being oversized. Thanks to an accommodating sliding mechanism for the rear seats that allows them to go forward and back nearly 8 inches, the Equinox features the most rear legroom – 39.9 inches – in its class. The midsize, five-passenger, 2012 Equinox also has good safety ratings and is a recommended buy of Consumer Reports. Unlike some competitors from foreign brands, it is available with a V-6. No wonder, then, that sales of the Equinox are up a whopping 48.2 percent through the first eight months of 2011, to 129,538. This makes the Equinox, which is a so-called crossover SUV because its platform, ride and fuel mileage are more carlike than trucklike, General Motors’ top-selling SUV by far. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $24,260 for a two-wheel drive Equinox with 182-horsepower four-cylinder engine. Starting price for an all-wheel drive is $26,010 with the same fourcylinder powerplant. The optional three-liter V-6 delivers 264 horsepower and boosts towing capacity to 3,500 pounds, from the fourcylinder’s 1,500 pounds. Starting retail price, including destination charge, for a 2012 Equinox with this V-6 and front-wheel drive is $27,280. The Equinox’s exterior is somewhere between a compact SUV and a larger midsize. The Equinox only comes with two rows for a maximum

of five passengers. But all the seats in the test LTZ were comfortable for adults. The back seat – with ample legroom, a flat floor, reclining seat backs and nice views out the side windows – was truly pleasant. I liked that the windows on the second-row doors went down completely, and the leather trim on the LTZ tester made it easy to slide onto and off the seats. Of course, two adults in the Equinox back seat using the pull-down center armrest between them is still more comfortable than three adults sitting next to each other. The test vehicle had the double overhead cam V-6, and it moved the SUV easily in city and highway traffic. With 222 pounds-feet of torque coming on at a high 5,100 rpm, the Equinox accelerated steadily to merge on the freeway, but it was never unruly in its acceleration. It also managed a subdued pace in neighborhoods without fuss. Steering had a mainstream feel. With 70 percent of my driving at highway speeds, the tester without all-wheel drive managed a commendable 21.4 miles per gallon. The federal government’s mileage rating for my V-6-powered vehicle was 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, for a combined 20 mpg. The base 2.4-liter, direct-injection four cylinder that is standard on every Equinox carries a government rating as high as 22/32 mpg. But that’s the engine that provides the lower towing capacity. All models come with a sixspeed automatic transmission. I did feel shift points at times, though I marveled that I heard very little engine

The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox SUV, quiet and with a sleek, spacious interior, handles well and performs brilliantly on safety tests. It’s comfortable on the highway and in neighborhoods alike. AP

noise, even when accelerating. I noticed just a bit of wind noise by the outside mirrors, and some road noise came through via the optional 18inch tires. My passengers and I also felt vibrations from the road through to the seat cushions as we traveled on cracked and patched pavement. My biggest complaint in the test vehicle was the fact it had only 344 miles on it, and its air conditioner didn’t work. On a muggy, hot day, I heard the compressor trying to do its job, but the system did nothing but blow air from outside without cooling it. I liked the high ride height; it helped me see over lower cars and through the windows

of tall vans for what was ahead. However, I could not see if anything low to the ground was directly behind the vehicle as I backed up and so relied on the rearview camera. The Equinox came with plentiful standard safety equipment including front, side and curtain air bags, electronic stability control, traction control and antilock brakes. It has good safety ratings – five out of five stars for the driver in a frontal crash, four of five stars for front passenger protection, plus four and five stars for occupant protection in side crash testing – from the federal government.

2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX The vehicle: A front-drive, fivepassenger, midsize sport utility vehicle. Base price: $23,450 for LS; $29,140 for FWD LTZ (tested). Destination charge: $810. Price as tested: $33,540. Engine: 3-liter, double overhead cam V-6. Transmission: Six-speed automatic. EPA mileage: 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway. Length: 187.8 inches. Wheelbase: 112.5 inches. Curb weight: 3,777 pounds. Built in: Ingersoll, Ontario.

Smaller, stylish, gadget-filled cars aim to lure buyers

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Size is no barrier to luxurious appointments this year By Dee-Ann Durbin USA TODAY

DETROIT — Beyond the usual hype at

last month’s Detroit auto show, automakers had plenty to crow about this year: U.S. sales are the highest since 2008 and are expected to keep growing. Buyers are being lured by cheap loans and an improving economy. The timing was perfect for automakers to introduce more than 40 new cars and trucks at the North American International Auto Show. Many of the models are expected in showrooms this year. Based on what automakers unveiled at the show, here are three trends to look for this year: Fuel-efficient cars with more style and safety features; trendy subcompacts for younger buyers; and small luxury sedans. Smaller but stylish: Gas prices have dropped from their $4 peak last spring but remain high. People looking for a more efficient car will have plenty of choices among midsize sedans and compacts. Being efficient doesn’t mean these cars will be stripped down. They’ll be loaded with gadgets to win customers in these fiercely competitive car segments. Midsize and compact are nearly tied as the largest segment in the U.S, and combined they make up more than 40 percent of the nation’s sales. Ford unveiled a redone version of its top-selling Fusion midsize sedan. The new model, which goes on sale this fall, will feature a sharper, more chiseled design and a warning system to alert drivers when they drift into another lane. It’s the first time such a system has been on a non-luxury car, Ford says. The price and fuel economy of the Fusion aren’t final, but expect them to be competitive. Honda, normally a top-seller of midsize cars, unveiled a new Accord coupe, a model that will foreshadow the looks of its new sedan due in showrooms later this year. Both cars will compete with Chevrolet’s new Malibu sedan, which goes on sale this spring. With better fuel economy, improved styling and new features, the three cars hope to steal sales from Toyota’s Camry, the perennial leader among midsize sedans. The show also featured smaller cars, including the Dodge Dart, which is the first car jointly designed by Chrysler and its Italian owner, Fiat SpA. The

Dart’s name is borrowed from a hot-selling compact introduced in 1960. It’s Chrysler’s latest effort to launch a strong competitor in small cars, a segment where it normally falls short. The Dart will heat up a competitive market that includes the new Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze and Honda Civic. Volkswagen debuted a hybrid version of the Jetta, hoping to keep its sales momentum going. Last year, sales of the Jetta jumped after it was redesigned. Downsized luxury: Luxury car sales grew just 2.8 percent, compared with 10percent growth for the industry as a whole, according to Autodata Corp. But an improving economy and a slew of new cars could turn that around, especially because many of those new models are less expensive small sedans. Cadillac, BMW and Acura all introduced new small cars. Hyundai – a company that targets more budget-minded customers – launched a new Genesis coupe, aiming for luxury buyers who want to spend less. Ford’s Lincoln brand, which is being overhauled, offered a big hint about its new direction with a concept version of the midsize MKZ. It will go on sale later this year. But the most striking luxury model might have been from Lexus, which displayed the swooping LF-LC hybrid sports car concept that was crafted in Toyota’s California design studio. Mad for Millennials: Millennials – the 70 million people born between 1981 and 2000 – are a growing force in the market. But they’d just as soon buy a smart phone and text their friends as buy a car to go visit them. Like first-time buyers the past, Millennials will start out with small, more affordable cars. But unlike earlier generations, they expect luxury and connectivity, automakers say. To appeal to this group, this year’s Detroit show featured subcompacts with such perks as leather seats, ambient lighting and easy connections to Pandora and other cellphone applications. Subcompacts unveiled at the show included Toyota’s new Prius C hybrid, the Mini Roadster convertible, the sporty Chevrolet Sonic RS and a turbocharged version of the Hyundai Veloster. Smart debuted the For-Us concept, an electric pickup truck that’s so tiny it could fit in the bed of a regular truck.

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I34 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

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THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I35

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I36 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

SUBARU

Subaru to launch four new vehicles New models to focus on fuel efficiency

USA TODAY

Subaru’s plan for the next four years — like its larger rivals — is to quickly launch vehicles that are more fuel efficient, according to Ward’s Automotive. The company plans to release four completely new vehicles over the next four years, said Toshio Masuda, the automaker’s senior general manager of product planning. The four do not include the 2012 Subaru Impreza, above, which is due on sale before the end of the year. High-powered WRX and STI models also are coming to the Impreza, Masuda said. The goal is for the top-ofthe-line Impreza to get a Boxer engine rated at 300 horsepower. Overall, Subaru wants to raise fuel economy by 30 percent for each of its subsequent models. The Impreza will be the most fuel-efficient allwheel-drive car sold in the U.S. when it hits dealerships, achieving a 27 city/36 highway mpg rating. Subaru will reach the new fuel-economy targets with two new engines — a 2.0liter and 2.5-liter boxer fourcylinder — that make their debuts in the 2012 Impreza and 2012 Forester, respectively. Also part of the package is a new continuously variable automatic transmission being

The 2012 Impreza. A crossover version is expected to be launched next year. PR NEWSWIRE

used first on the 2012 Impreza, too. While Masuda did not specify the four models, they are believed likely to include: » The Subaru XV, a crossover variant of the Impreza that’s expected to be coming to dealerships next year. » A rear-wheel-drive-only sports coupe -- uncharacteristic of Subaru -- called the BRZ. The model is being co-developed with Toyota and also is expected to arrive in 2012. » Subaru’s first hybrid in 2013 as a 2014 model (according to Cars.com editor Mike Hanley). » A likely redesign of the Forester, which has been on the market for three years now. — By Colin Bird/Cars.com’s Kicking Tires

The 2012 Subaru Impreza. AP

CADILLAC

V-trim options offered on CTS models Both V-6 models can have special package By Gannett

Components typically reserved for Cadillac’s exclusive and expensive V club are now a bit more accessible to 2012 CTS buyers. Features usually found in V-trim Cadillacs are newly available on 2012 CTS models through a Touring Package. The package, available on coupes, sedans and wagons, is priced separately based on the CTS’ two engines. On 3.0-liter V-6 versions, the $2,065 Touring Package includes 18-inch pearl-nickel-finished wheels, dual exhaust, dark-finish grille, high-intensity headlamps and fog lights, VSeries center-mounted stop lamp (except on wagon models), suede interior details, Midnight Sapele wood trim in the cabin and metal pedals. On 3.6-liter V-6 versions, the package costs $2,810. It adds Recaro seats and 19-inch polished wheels with a choice of summer performance or allseason tires. If you want the 556-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8, you’ve got to pop for the actual CTS-V. Sedan, wagon and coupe versions of Cadillac’s hot rod start at $63,215 (excluding a $1,300 gasguzzler tax and $875 destination fee). The non-V CTS starts at $35,915.

ATS sport sedan

Ever since the CTS grew with its second generation, Cadillac has needed a credible competitor in the entry-level rearwheel-drive sport-sedan segment. Behold the long-awaited ATS. It’s GM’s latest shot at the BMW 3 Series, which is still the best-selling luxury car in America. Cadillac says the ATS weighs less than 3,400 pounds – less than the minimum weight of the 2012 Acura TSX (3,400 pounds), BMW 328i (3,406) and Audi A4 (3,505). That’s an impressive statistic from GM. Toward that end, the ATS is 8.5 inches shorter, bumper-to-

The CTS sedan, the centerpiece of Cadillac’s lineup, is focused on excellent driving dynamics and technology, competing strongly against many of the world’s finest midsized luxury cars. For 2012, both V-6 models of the CTS can add a Touring Package with special options like fog lights. WIECK

bumper, than the CTS. It’s also 1.4 inches narrower and 2.1 inches shorter wheels-to-roof. The footprint mirrors the 3 Series. The shrink-wrapped package affects trunk volume, which measures 10.2 cubic feet. The ATS’ narrower headlights represent the closest interpretation yet of the slit-like lamps on Cadillac’s recent Ciel and Converj concepts. The protruding nose – with an offset center bumper inlet – recalls GM’s Buick Regal, though the cars ride separate platforms. Inside, the dash has genuine wood and metal trim, with stitching similar to that in the CTS. Cadillac’s CUE system – Cadillac User Experience – is front and center. Rounding out the safety up front are up to 10 air bags, plus radar-based automatic braking in drive or reverse.

2013 Shelby thunder

The Ford Mustang Boss 302 is so good, it’s been stealing the Shelby GT500’s thunder. So what did the ultimate Mustang do for 2013? It came up with more thunder: 650 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque from a new supercharged 5.8-liter V-8, which is good for a claimed 200-mph top speed.

front splitter and aspects of the nose.

Escalade lockdown

The 2012 CTS-V Coupe is among the world’s highest performing luxury cars, featuring a 556-hp supercharged engine and Brembo brakes. WIECK

The outgoing model produced 550 horsepower and 510 poundfeet of torque from its supercharged 5.4-liter V-8. Ford engineers emphasize that the new Shelby is more than just a larger engine – the whole car has been revised to provide the balanced performance for which the Boss 302 has been celebrated. To wit: The supercharger is larger yet more efficient; the intercooler and cooling fan are larger; and the camshaft profiles have been modified. The six-speed manual transmission’s gear ratios, bearings and housing are customized for

the new setup. The new dualdisc clutch has higher torque and rpm limits. The dual exhaust is new as well, and the Brembo brakes are upgraded. Whereas the Boss 302 has manually adjustable shock-absorber rates, the GT500 offers on-the-fly changes with a Bilstein adaptive suspension, which comes in the optional Performance Package. A dashboard button selects between normal and sport modes, improving the car’s day-to-day comfort without sacrificing track performance. To maximize stability at high speeds, Ford modified the car’s

One of the most stolen vehicles in the U.S. just got tougher to swipe. For 2012, Cadillac is adding new security features that make the Escalade harder to steal. Car thieves are apparently drawn to big, blingy vehicles; Cadillac’s high-profile Escalade consistently tops the Highway Loss Data Institute’s list of most popular vehicles to steal. The Escalade EXT, with its pickup-truck bed, appeals most to burglars, according to the institute. The new standard safety features include PASS Key 3+, which encrypts the key and the ignition system and reduces the risk of drive-away thefts. To deter push-away and towaway thefts, Escalades will have a tougher steering column-lock system and a sensor that detects an unexpected change in incline and sounds an alarm. Also available are new shock sensors that sound an alarm if a window is broken and a wheellock system designed to prevent the theft of wheels and tires.

NISSAN

New GT-R gets a big price boost Nissan’s most expensive car is getting even pricier for 2013. GT-R prices are going up by $10,000 or more. Now the 2013 Nissan GT-R Premium will be $96,820, and the even more premium 2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition will start at $106,320. Last year, the GT-R Premium started at $89,950 and the Black Edition at $95,100. All prices exclude a $1,000 destination fee.

Nissan’s refreshed-for-2012 halo car gets more horsepower and a standard backup camera for 2013. Black Edition models also get a new dry carbon fiber rear spoiler. The GT-R’s twinturbo 3.8-liter V-6 now makes 545 horsepower compared with last year’s 530 horsepower. Torque is up too, from 448 pounds-feet in the 2012 model to 463 pounds-feet for 2013. There no official reason for

the price increase, although we suspect the strong yen for these Japan-only made cars could be coming into play — and we suspect that Nissan believes that anyone who wants one of these cars will let their emotions win out over their wallets. The 2013 GT-R is on sale now. — Jennifer Geiger/Cars.com’s Kicking Tires and Chris Woodyard/Drive On

The new 2013 GT-R is on sale now — starting at $96,820. MIKE DITZ

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I37

CHEVROLET

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is rated at 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 29 mpg on the highway. It offers a stylish appearance inside and out and plenty of power. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Camaro Convertible: Sky’s the limit Car offers unique style, attitude By Ann M. Job The Associated Press

Thank goodness you don’t need one of the 100 special-edition Neiman Marcus Chevrolet Camaro Convertibles to enjoy a special open-top Camaro ride. For $44,000 less than the $75,000 Neiman Marcus cars, a regular 2012 Camaro Convertible offers ample attitude, fun and unique style. All Camaro Convertibles, which started to arrive in showrooms earlier this calendar year, look like the hard-top, reincarnated Camaro Coupe that was introduced in 2009. But the Camaro Convertible A 2012 Camaro ZL1 is displayed at last year’s Chicago Auto Show. Camaros date to 1968, when they were introduced to compete with the wears a fully-lined fabric top popular Mustang. ASSOCIATED PRESS and adds some 210 pounds over lookers turning to see what kind which I loosened via a latch inDon’t expect to see the Coupe because of structural of car was coming. side the car and then pressed a those Neiman Marreinforcements needed when a 2012 CHEVROLET The test Camaro Converti- button to activate, also wasn’t cus special edition fixed roof is missing from a car. CAMARO 2LT ble, a 2LT, looked flashy, too, the fastest convertible roof go- Camaro ConvertRiders sit down well below the CONVERTIBLE with white exterior paint ac- ing up and down. Trunk space ibles. They sold side window ledges in the CaBase price: $30,100 for 1LT mancented by a large Inferno Or- suffers because of the need to out in 3 minmaro Convertible, hunkered beual; $34,100 for 2LT manual. ange striping. The car wore big, store the roof behind the rear utes when hind a narrow windshield and a Price as tested: $38,530. 20-inch, aluminum, low-profile seats. There’s just 10.2 cubic they went long hood and thoroughly imType: Front-engine, rear-wheelwheels painted black that added feet of space with the roof on the up for mersed in a retro-turned-mod11am-5pm drive, four-passenger, compact more drama. The fun look car- car and less when the roof is sale. ern Camaro environment. Still, coupe. ried inside to black leather seats down. with the open sky above as the Engine: 3.6-liter, double overaccented by orange stitching, I had to be careful parking convertible’s power roof rehead cam, direct-injection V-6 plus orange plastic trim on the the car because the turning cirtracts and folds away, the test with CVVT. doors that was beautifully illu- cle is rather large at 37.7 feet Camaro Convertible felt more Mileage: 18 mpg (city), 29 mpg minated at night. Gauges had an and the low-profile wheels can comfortable and less confining (highway). old-school style, but a blue- get scraped on curbing. than its sibling coupe, even if Top Speed: n/a. lighted head-up display that I Doors are long, too, and shorter passengers still strain Length: 190.4 inches. set to show my speed digitally can bang into nearby cars to see over the surrounding Wheelbase: 112.3 inches. on the windshield glass was in parking lots. The two sheet metal. Curb weight: 3,986 pounds. something never found in a Ca- rear seats are cramped. Starting manufacturer’s sugBuilt at: Canada. maro in the ’60s. It was one way At 5 feet 4, I hated the gested retail price, including MSRP $35,520 Options: RS package (includes I tried to keep my speeds under closed-in feeling destination charge, is $31,000 high-intensity discharge headconstant scrutiny. when the roof was for a 2012 Camaro Convertible lamps with light-emitting diode This is a car that begs to be on. It was better, with six-speed manual transLease For halo ring, 20-inch Midnight OR driven. The firm-feeling sus- but still legmission and 323-horsepower Silver painted aluminum wheels) BUY FOR pension in the test Camaro 2LT confining, V-6. A Camaro Convertible with $1,375; six-speed automatic Convertible handled road with the automatic starts at $31,995. Per transmission $1,185; interior trim bumps without sending too roof off. These prices compare to the Month 39 MO. LEASE • $399 DUE AT SIGNING package (includes black interior many sensations inside to pas$24,100 and $25,300 starting re$0 DOWN PAYMENT • $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT with Inferno Orange accents on sengers. Structural rigidity of tail prices for 2012 Camaro PLUS TAX, TITLE, LICENSE & AQUISITION FEES AFTER $2500 FACTORY REBATE front and rear seats, accent the car – with roof on and off – Coupes with manual and autostitching on shift knob, steering was impressive. As the car travmatic transmissions, respecwheel, door armrest and seats) eled over railroad tracks, the tively. $500; orange stripe package cowl of the test Camaro ConverThe competing 2012 Ford $470. tible didn’t shake and the body Mustang Convertible has a Destination charge: $900. didn’t shudder, for example. starting MSRP, including destiThe roof looked good and fit nation charge, of $28,105 with snugly, but it didn’t insusix-speed manual and 305horsepower V-6. The lowest recommended for the V-8; reg- late against sound. I starting retail price for a Mus- ular gas is fine for the V-6. Even heard a lot of outside MSRP $42,970 tang Convertible with six-speed with the base, 3.6-liter, double noises, such as diesel overhead cam V-6 mated to an semis approaching automatic is $29,300. OR Camaros date to 1968, when automatic in the nearly 4,000- and stereos blastBUY FOR they were introduced to com- pound Camaro Convertible testing from cars 39 MO. LEASE Lease pete with the increasingly pop- er, the ride was fun and energet- nearby at sto$499 DUE AT SIGNING $0 DOWN PAYMENT For plights. The ular Mustang. These two mod- ic. $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT Per I had difficulty keeping the retractels, plus the Dodge Challenger, PLUS TAX, TITLE, LICENSE & AQUISITION FEES Month were known as affordable, Camaro under the speed limits, able AFTER $2500 FACTORY REBATE American-made, two-door and with 60 percent of my travel roof, coupes that could be had with in the city and on country roads, high-performance V-8s for I averaged just 16.4 mpg. This sporty and high-energy rides. translated into a disappointing Today, with gasoline priced travel range of 310 miles with much higher than the 35 cents a the sizable, 19-gallon fuel tank. gallon it was in the late 1960s, Power came quickly, but not the Camaro uses modern engine rashly, from the engine when technology, like variable valve I wanted to accelerate. timing and direct gasoline in- With 278 foot-pounds of jection, to get the most out of ev- torque peaking at a high 5,200 rpm, the car ery gallon. The highest government fuel merged into traffic being economy rating for the 2012 Ca- without MSRP $40,290 maro Convertible is with the V-6 overtly sporty. OR that was in the test car, and the Strong, deep Lease For BUY FOR window sticker listing was 18 exhaust 39 MO. LEASE miles per gallon in city driving sounds – $499 DUE AT SIGNING and 29 mpg on the highway. This yes, from $0 DOWN PAYMENT $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT is close to the 19/30-mpg rating the V-6 PLUS TAX, TITLE, LICENSE AFTER $1000 FACTORY REBATE Per Month & AQUISITION FEES for the 2012 Mustang Converti- – got ble, and the base Mustang Con- onAND PRICE OUR ENTIRE INVENTORY AT MIKECASTRUCCIALEXANDRIA.COM vertible has 18 fewer horsepowOPEN er. 7400 Alexandria Pike • Alexandria The Camaro’s V-8 is a 426EVERY horsepower, 6.2-liter powerSUNDAY plant that delivers 420 footF O R D – L I N C O L N 11 am-5pm pounds of torque at 4,600 All leases through Lincoln AFS with approved credit. All leases based on 10,000 miles per year with over milage charge of 20¢ per mile. Tax, title, license & acquisition fees extra. $0 security deposit required. 1st payment due at delivery. See dealer for complete details. Offer ends 2/29/12. rpm. Premium gasoline is

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I38 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

CHRYSLER

New 200, Dodge Avenger coming soon Toledo-built models to use Dart platform By Mark Phelan USA TODAY

Chrysler is going to introduce new midsize sedans to replace the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger and new versions of the Compass and Liberty for 2013. They’ll be based on the platform that underpins the Dart and built in Toledo. Modifying the platform to meet Jeep owners’ demands will be a crucial test of the Fiat-Chrysler strategy. “It’s gonna be a trail-rated, full-blooded Jeep that has its origins in the architecture of a sports car,” Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said in an interview. Chrysler is also considering a compact hatchback – Marchionne calls it the “Chrysler 100.” If that car gets the green light, Chrysler will also export it as a Lancia, Fiat’s European luxury brand. He also plans to export sporty Alfa Romeos, probably a midsize sport sedan and wagon. Alfa’s return to the U.S. has been frustratingly delayed until 2013, but Marchionne remains adamant it will happen. “We had to make sure they were lightweight, fast cars with Alfa powertrains,” he said, citing an upcoming 1.8liter engine that produces a mind-boggling 300 horsepower. “There will be plants making Alfas in the United States and Europe,” he said.

The 2012 Chrysler 200 Super S by Mopar offers this Stage One appearance package, which amplifies the refined styling of the 200. Stage Two amplifies performance with coil-over suspension, cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust. PR NEWSWIRE

“I need to export to Europe from the U.S. The volumes I get here are how I reintroduce Alfa to Europe,” where it has become a bit player compared with brands such as Audi and BMW. Marchionne must also solve the riddle of Chrysler and Dodge’s minivans in 2013. He hates building nearly identical vehicles for two different brands, but he can’t afford to throw away tens of thousands of sales by rashly killing a model. “Retention and growth of volume is key,” he said. “I’ve got to protect (the golden) goose.”

The 2012 Jeep Compass, pictured here, and the Jeep Liberty will get new versions next year. Both will be trail-rated models with origins in the architecture of a sports car, according to Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne. AFP/GETTY IMAGES

VOLKSWAGEN

Tiguan sales keep jumping, but why? Small SUV cute but lacks key upgrades By James Healey USA Today

Tiguan has not yet been overhauled for American tastes, as have VW’s Jetta and Passat sedans. It’s still made at headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, rather than in North America. That means that the price hasn’t been sliced the way local manufacturing has allowed on the Mexicanmade Jetta and Tennessee-built Passat. Tiguan’s updates for 2012 aren’t gotta-haves: changes to headlights, taillights, trim, wheels, upholstery choices. There’s no backup camera, no power tailgate. The rackety engine uses pricey premium fuel. Road noise is high when you get the 255x40 19-inch diameter tires on the tester. They definitely look sweet but sing a bit loudly. On the other hand, Tiguan is kinda cute. It’s a squirty little quickster, has a crisp and sporty feel in the twisties, is comfy, classy inside and fits urbanscale parking and maneuvering. Somehow, that amounts to an appeal that has VW posting big increases in Tiguan sales month after month. In January, for example, VW sold 50 percent more Tiguans than it did the year earlier. For all of last year, the Tiguan tally was 24.1 percent higher than it was the year before that, according to tally master Autodata. Still, Tiguan is but a grease spot on the sales landscape, about 26,000 for all of 2011. Honda sells more than eight times as many of its similar-size CR-V crossovers. VW considers the Tiguan one of the pillars on which the company intends to triple U.S. sales by 2018. The Americanized Passat and Jetta are the main pillars. For Tiguan to fill its role in the sales scheme, it probably needs the stem-to-stern American treatment — bigger and roomier, using the Jetta/Passat example. And production would need to shift to North America to slash the price in the fashion of Jetta/ Passat. Some or all of that could happen in about three years, but meanwhile, Tiguan is what it is. Which mainly is a hot seller overseas, so the U.S. numbers are temporarily suppressed by demand elsewhere. Where did that name come from, by the way? Somebody’s fevered brain, as so often happens. VW says it’s “tiger” and “iguana” smooshed together.

Volkswagen says the name Tiguan comes from “tiger” and “iguana” smooshed together. The SUV has a tautness and premium ambiance that might be enough to make you pounce — or the drawbacks could make you slither away. PROVIDED PHOTO

Our time with a $36,750 Tiguan SEL 4Motion (all-wheel drive) with six-speed automatic inspired too little passion to call it a love-hate episode. But that description would be directionally correct. » The styling seems misshapen from some angles — too much hood, too little rear. From other angles, it seems distinctive, cutesy, nicely tailored. » The engine racket is offputting, but the pep, especially the robust torque at low revs, is a delight. » The automatic transmission, retuned on the 2012 models to favor fuel economy, toggles between lug and lunge. It’s too often in too high a gear, especially in low-speed residential neighborhoods. And at even the slightest hill, it downshifts to keep momentum. Putting up with that is your penance for a fuel-economy rating 2 miles per gallon better than last year’s model. You can transcend the dragalong feel by flooring the gas, at which time the transmission shifts up through the gears perfectly — no pause, no shudder, just the next gear. And there goes your mpg, of course. The front-drive base version, called S, comes with a manual shift, but mileage ratings on the

2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN What? Small, four-door, five-passenger, crossover SUV available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (4Motion). Cosmetic and trim changes. When? On sale since August. Where? Made at Wolfsburg, Germany, using Hungarian-made engine, Japanese transmission. Why? Edge closer to what U.S. buyers want as stopgap before redesign in several years. How much? Starts at $23,660 including shipping for S FWD, manual. Top model, SEL 4Motion, automatic, with navigation and up-level audio, is $38,900. Well-equipped SEL 4Motion test vehicle: $36,750. What makes it go? 2-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine rated 200 horsepower at 5,100 rpm, 207 pounds-feet of torque at 1,700. FWD available with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. 4Motion available with six-speed automatic only. How big? Similar to Honda CR-V. Tiguan is 174.5 inches long, 71.2 in. wide, 65.6 in. tall on a 102.5-in. wheelbase. Weighs 3,393 to 3,591 lbs. depending on model. Carries 1,149 lbs. (4Motion) or 1,195 lbs. (FWD). Tows up to 2,200 lbs. Passenger space, 95.4 cu. ft. Cargo space behind back seat, 23.8 cu. ft.; when back seat’s folded, 56.1 cu. ft. Turning circle diameter, 39 ft. curb-to-curb. How thirsty? Rated 18 miles per gallon in town, 26 on the highway, 21 in combined driving (FWD manual); 22/27/24 (FWD automatic) 21/27/23 (4Motion). Trip computer in 4Motion test vehicle registered 18 mpg in spirited suburban flogging. Burns premium, holds 16.8 gallons. Overall: Comfy, classy, but pricey, and powertrain needs refinement.

stick shift are 1 to 4 mpg worse than on the same machine with the automatic. And the manual’s not available with 4Motion, VW’s designation for all-wheel drive. It does provide a low-price mod-

el for the ads: $22,840 (before $820 shipping), which is $880 less than last year’s S model Tiguan. The S with automatic is $480 less. But other models are the same as last year or slightly

more. » Rear seat leg and knee space is adequate for adults, a surprise in a small vehicle. But that’s when the rear seats are slid full-back, which in turn eats into the cargo space. » Front seats are roomy and comfy, and the leather upholstery in the test vehicle was quite handsome. » Touch points inside have a premium, rich feel. Instruments are round dials (applause), attractive and quite easy to read. But trying to find the right info screen or going through the should-be-simple process of linking a radio station to a specific preset button has you punching and swearing and slamming things in frustration. Even once you’re used to the rigmarole, there are too many steps to accomplish routine things. No reason for such complication. The relatively high price will be a deal-breaker for some. A Honda CR-V or a Hyundai Santa Fe would be much less expensive. But Tiguan has a tautness, a premium ambiance that — despite its lack of no-brainer features such as a backup camera and other drawbacks — might be enough to get your signature on the contract.

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I39

FORD

Ford holds onto crown as king of trucks While F-series pickup is still the industry’s top seller, redesigned Explorer also is a hit G. Chambers Williams III San Antonio Express-News

Ford still has the top-selling truck line in Texas, where truck models (including SUVS and crossovers) still outsell cars. And the king of the Ford truck crop is the F-series pickup, which remains the industry’s best-selling pickup. But Ford also has a hit on its hands with the completely redesigned Explorer midsize SUV, and still does well in Texas with the full-size Expedition sport utility, along with the compact Escape, midsize Edge and full-size Flex crossover utilities. Just last year, the F-150 got a new, optional high-output, fuel-efficient 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6 engine, the EcoBoost. It has been so popular that it’s now the top choice of buyers. The EcoBoost has a whopping 365 horsepower and 420 footpounds of torque. That was one of four all-new engines introduced

for the F-150 last year, part of Ford's ongoing efforts to improve the fuel efficiency of its vehicles as deadlines approach for tough new federal fuel-economy standards. The engines represented the most extensive powertrain overhaul in the 62year history of the F-series, Ford said at the time. Other new F-150 engines were the 302-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6; 360-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8; and 411-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8. All are paired with six-speed automatic transmissions, making Ford the first truck manufacturer to equip its complete line of full-size pickups with the fuel-saving gearboxes.

With the F-150, the new engines also offer best-in-class towing and horsepower in their respective classes, and combined, they make the F-150 at least 20 percent more fuel-efficient than the 2010 models. The trucks also now come with electric power steering, which is designed to improve steering feel and fuel economy. Ford’s larger F-series Super Duty lineup is offered with a 6.4-liter Power Stroke diesel engine, with 350 horsepower and 650 foot-pounds of torque. It’s available on the F-250, F-350 or F-450 models, which come with a 5.4-liter gasoline V-8 as their standard engine. That engine is rated at 300 horsepower. The F-450 model can tow up to 24,500 pounds. Trailer towing limits for the 2012 F-150 are 6,100 pounds with the 3.7-liter V-6; 10,000

The most fuel-efficient and capable full-size pickup on the market is getting fine-tuned, with several driveline updates and new technologies to further improve and refine the driving experience. WIECK

pounds with the 5.0-liter V-8; and 11,300 pounds with the EcoBoost V-6 or 6.2-liter V-8. There is a wide range of offerings in the F-150 lineup, along with options such as a 4.2-inch LCD message center, larger in-mirror rearview camera, remote start, express up-and-down front windows, telescoping steering column, a perimeter alarm system and even HD radio. Technology choices include the Ford Sync and Ford Work Solutions systems. Sync offers audio and navigation systems with voice-recognition operation, using GPS and Bluetooth to provide the driver with such information as personalized traffic reports, turn-by-turn directions and news, sports and weather. The Ford Work Solutions setup has an in-dash computer that offers high-speed Internet and wireless accessories, including a mouse and printer; RFID tracking system; fleet telematics and diagnostics systems; and a cable-lock system to keep large tools and equipment secure in the cargo bed. Trim levels for the F-150 include XL, STX, XLT, FX2/FX4 and Lariat, along with special models such as the King Ranch, Platinum, SVT Raptor and Harley-Davidson editions. There also is an XLT Custom package for models equipped with the base V-6. FX2 and FX4 off-road models have special grilles, along with 18-inch wheels (20-inch are optional); body-color mirrors and door handles; black-trimmed headlights and taillights; and unique badges on the front fenders and cargo box. Off-road packages are available for the XLT and Lariat models, and include an electronic locking rear differential, skid plates and specially tuned shock absorbers. F-150 models range in price from about $23,000 to $52,000; Super Duty models range from $29,000 to $64,000.

FORD

Ford puts style into fuel-efficient Focus By Ann M. Job Associated Press

Just in time for $4 a gallon gasoline, the Ford Focus compact arrives as a handsome new model with head-turning fuel mileage, comfortable ride and luxury options not usually found in small cars. The early-introduction Focus, available as a sedan and five-door hatchback, is rated at 28 mpg in city driving and 40 mpg on the highway as a sedan with automatic transmission and an extra-cost Special Fuel Economy package. Ford’s smaller Fiesta also has a 40-mpg highway rating. The $495 SFE package on the Focus swaps out standard tires for low-rollingresistance rubber, adds special wheel covers that are more aerodynamic than the regular ones and a spoiler at the trunk lid and puts a newfangled grille in front that can adjust air flow. All that boosts the mileage rating above that of the regular sedan, 28/38-mpg. Best of all, pricing for the Focus remains affordable. Starting price, including destination charge, is $16,995 for the base S sedan and $18,790 for a Focus SE hatchback. Both have the strong, 160horsepower Focus engine and manual transmission. The lowest price for a sedan with automatic is $18,090, while a hatchback with automatic, an SE model, starts at $19,885. The starting price for the fuelmiser sedan, again with 160-horsepower engine, is $19,585. Notably, Ford also offers an upscale version — with Titanium Premium Package — that adds luxury touches like sixway, power driver’s seat, rear-seat center armrest with storage and rain-sensing wipers. Its starting price, including destination charge, is $23,490, and the price can run beyond $26,000 with other options, such as navigation. Competitors include long-running compact favorites such as the Toyota Corolla, which starts at $16,360 for a 2011sedan with 132-horsepower four-cylinder and manual transmission. The Corolla comes only as a sedan. The revamped 2011 Hyundai Elantra has been getting attention because it, too, has a fuel mileage rating of 40 mpg on the highway, with 29 mpg rating in city driving. This is one mile a gallon higher than the Focus. Testing a 2012 Focus hatchback with Titanium package and other goodies, I didn't have to drive carefully to get noteworthy mileage of nearly 32 mpg in combined city/highway travel — and that wasn't the fuel miser version. The test car impressed with its striking exterior style, which mixed elements of a European hatchback with Lexus cues such as the slick headlights. It looked a bit more like a station wagon, albeit a stylish one, than a hatchback. It got looks from passers-by. Inside the test Focus, the optional interior style package provided seats that looked attractive with a mix of black and dark red leather pieces. The steering wheel with silver trim pieces even

This December photo shows a 2012 Ford Focus on the assembly line at the Ford Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne, Mich. Ford brand small car sales were up 25 percent in 2011, with 244,291 vehicles sold, while utilities increased 31 percent with 579,626 sales. AP

looked upscale. I talked to get the sizable and colorful display atop the center of the dashboard to post the map. I talked to get a Bluetooth-enabled phone to dial my friend. I changed the radio channel by voice command. When I didn’t know exactly what to say, the system eagerly offered suggestions to help out. There were only a couple times when the MyFord Touch system, as it’s called, couldn’t understand what I said. Once, for example, I must have enunciated the “p” sound at the end of the word “map” too much, because the system responded by telling me there was no USB connected. I learned it’s best to talk naturally to this car. Engine power came on pleasingly through Ford’s PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission. I eased into traffic without fuss. Engine sounds were not harsh. The 160 horses is more than the 132 in a Corolla and 148 in an Elantra. Torque in the Focus peaks at 146 foot-pounds at 4,450 rpm, so there’s a steady progression of power and speed, not some quick thrust. I enjoyed the ride and handling, which was tuned with help from Ford's German operations. Blessed with independent suspension front and rear, the Focus rides stably and with agility and hews well to the road. It manages road bumps while providing good feedback to the driver. The electric power assist steering had a bit of an artificial feel, though. Most Focuses sold will have the automatic transmission, but a five-speed manual is available. Interestingly, manual transmission Focus cars have a lower government fuel mileage rating — 26/36 mpg. There’s good legroom in Focus front seats — more than 40 inches. The driver’s seat moves upward a good ways for comfortable views out. Back-seat legroom in the hatchback is a bit tight at 33.2 inches, but headroom of 37.9 inches is commendable.

The hatchback offers way more cargo room than the sedan. There is 23.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and a full 44.8 cubic feet of storage space when the back seats are folded down. By the way, the hatchback, which offers different styling elements from the hatchback, is some 6 inches shorter than the sedan.

SPECS The vehicle: 2012 Ford Focus Titanium, a front-wheel-drive, five-passenger, compact five-door hatchback (also available as four-door sedan) Base price: $18,065 for SE manual; $21,065 for SEL; $22,765 for Titanium Destination charge: $725 Price as tested: $26,725 Engine: 2-liter, double-overhead-cam four-cylinder with direct injection, four valves per cylinder and twin independent variable camshaft timing, producing 160 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 146 poundfeet of torque at 4,450 rpm; Focus Electric will be introduced later this year. Transmission: Six-speed PowerShift automatic (five-speed manual also is available) EPA mileage: 28 mpg city, 38 mpg highway (40 mpg in SFE sedan) Wheelbase: 104.3 inches Length: 171.6 inches Curb weight: 2,948 pounds Cargo space: 44.8 cubic feet behind first row, 23.8 cubic feet behind second row; 13.2 cubic feet in sedan's trunk Top speed: 112 mph Options: Titanium package (leather seats, six-way power driver's seat, rear-seat armrest with storage, rain-sensing wipers, parking sensors), $1,295; MyFord Touch system with voice-activated navigation, $795; technology package (rearview camera, auto-mated parking), $695; style package (two-tone seats, special steering wheel, stainless steel door sills, split folding rear seat), $450

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I42 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

LEXUS

Redesigned GS 350 sedan gives customers a break with 2011 pricing

Latest model features redone chassis, more interior space and better fuel economy; special packages available By Fred Meier USA TODAY

Lexus says you’ll be able to drive away with a redesigned 2013 GS 350 for the same base price as the outgoing 2011: $46,900 plus $875 shipping. The car is due at dealers this month. Given that the car is produced with soaring yen and sold for declining dollars, Toyota must have decided to take a profit hit on the new car for the launch. Don’t be surprised to see a price increase later in the model year. If you want all-wheel drive, the base goes up to $49,450 plus shipping. Pricing for the hybrid GS 450h is still to come. The look picks up cues from last year’s LFA concept and Lexus says that for the price, the new one has more features, a redone chassis, more interior space and better fuel economy. The base powertrain is 306 hp. 3.5-liter V6 with variable valve timing mated to a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters and four driving modes from eco to sport-plus. Lexus says 0-60 is 5.7 seconds and expects mpg ratings of 19 city, 28 highway, 23 combined. Standard features also include, says Lexus, bi-xenon HID headlamps, LED

running lights, a new energy-saving auto climate control system and a new infotainment system. Add $1,400 for the Premium package and features include rain-sensing wipers and heated/ventilated front seats. For $5,750 more, the Luxury package includes adaptive suspension, adaptive front lighting, more wood trim, semianiline leather, 18-inch wheels and – we’re not making this up – 18-way power front seats. Thankfully, they come with memory so you can figure it out once and recall it. The GS F Sport, at $5,690 more, has sportier appearance enhancements, 19inch wheels, bigger brakes and sporttuned variable suspension, steering and stability control. The driver’s sport seat, however, only adjusts 16 ways. Lexus boasts that the navigation system, a $1,735 extra, sets the new standard in automakers’ screen-size race: a 12.3-inch, split-screen, high-res display. GS models with the navi will have access to the new Lexus Enform system using apps and your mobile phone for such things as Bing searches, OpenTable reservations, Internet radio or updating your relationship status on Facebook.

Lexus is releasing both the gas version and the hybrid version of the midsize GS 350 sedan for its 2013 models. AP

HONDA

The 2012 Pilot: It’s boxy as a brick — but still practical as a pocket knife Although it’s no looker, this SUV is probably your best bet for when it comes to family-friendly transportion By James R. Healey USA TODAY

Honda messed around with its Pilot SUV for 2012 and managed not to wreck a very good package. Nor dramatically beautify it. The car company rearranged some controls, upgraded some trim and generally improved the interior enough that, while it isn’t a reason to buy, it’s no longer a reason not to. Honda tweaked the front styling, replacing a grille that looked as if it were an industrial-size heating element with one that’s clearly from the Honda family. Again, not a reason to buy, but not a reason to reject. It bumped up the fuel-economy ratings by one or two miles per gallon, taking the combined city/highway numbers out of the high teens to 20 mpg (all-wheel drive) and 21 (front-wheel drive). But the boost isn’t glaringly evident in realworld driving, which yields midteens, just as in most similar vehicles. It’s reassuring to have better mileage on the window-sticker, but not a compelling reallife selling point. But Pilot nonetheless is a champion. It’s the one to look at very, very closely if you’re a family-first SUV buyer, not a style maven or lead foot. It still has room for eight, trumping other guys’ seven-passenger layouts. Easy-as-pie third-row folding operation and second-row tilt/slide maneuver makes some rivals’ rigmarole seem just stupid. Big shelves, bins, storage spaces, cupholders make Pilot, still, about as family-friendly as you can find. Pilot has a lot less cargo space than the bigger Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Explorer and other full-sizers. If you need to use all three rows of seats and still need a big cargo hold, Pilot might not be for you. But if your needs are slightly less, then you will find the Pilot is quite passenger-roomy. And its second row easily slides foreaft to help tailor the interior to disparate needs of the people and cargo. Honda says the biggest changes for 2012 are the new front-end styling, the less bargain-basement feel to the interior (though Honda puts it differently), handier controls, audio system upgrades and a more versatile Bluetooth system that does more by voice command. What Honda didn’t do: » Truly restyle the vehicle. You have to sit a 2012 and a 2011 cheek-by-jowl to note differences. Maybe fine. Pilot stands out because of its honest, bricklike look and doesn’t try to be a 21st-century streamliner, as some others do. » Modernize the safety-belt mounting for the middle slot in the second and third rows. Those belts still hang from the ceiling and are a bother to deploy and stow. Most automakers mount all belts directly to the seats. The drawback there is that the seats have to be much more robust to secure belts and occupants in a crash, and that makes them heavy. Thus, no more easy-as-pie folding, sliding. » Make Pilot sporting. The front end, especially on the front-wheel-drive versions, has a heavy, stubborn feel when you’re trying to round a fast corner or one that’s tighter than you expected. And the brake pedal on two of the three

The 2012 Honda Pilot Touring 4WD is the one to look at closely if you’re a family-first SUV buyer, not a style maven or lead foot. Big shelves, bins, storage spaces and cupholders make it about as family-friendly a vehicle as you can find. PHOTOS BY WIECK

HONDA PILOT What? Freshening of big, four-door, eight-passenger, crosssover SUV. Available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). When? On sale since Aug. 31. Where? Made at Lincoln, Ala. How much? Base LX FWD starts at $29,280 including $810 shipping. Top-end Touring AWD with leather, navigation and rear entertainment system is $41,630. What makes it go? 3.5-liter V-6 rated 250 horsepower at 5,700 rpm, 253 pounds-feet of torque at 4,800; five-speed automatic. How big? Six inches shorter, about 300 lbs. lighter than Ford Explorer. Pilot is 191.4 inches long, 78.5 in. wide, 71 (base LX) or 72.7 (all others) in. tall on a 109.2-in. wheelbase. Weighs 4,295 to 4,414 lbs. Passenger space, 153.7 (LX, EX) or 152.7 (EX-L, Touring) cubic feet. Cargo space, 18 cu. ft. behind third row, 47.7 cu. ft. with third row down, 87 cu. ft. with second and third down. Turns in 37.9 ft. curb-to-curb. How thirsty? Rated 18 mpg in city, 25 mpg highway 21 mpg in combined city/ highway driving (FWD) or 17/24/20 (AWD). FWD test vehicle registered 15.4 mpg (6.49 gallons per 100 miles) in mixed city-suburban use, 25.1 mpg (3.98 gal./100 mi.) in mostly highway driving. AWD registered 15.2 mpg (6.58 gal./100 mi.) in mixed city-suburban use. Burns regular, holds 21 gal. Overall: Practical as a set of steel shelves, and about as exciting.

test vehicles felt unpleasantly spongy. Still, Pilot retains the brand’s faint athleticism, an attribute that, for instance, makes the Honda Accord more

The Pilot stands out because of its honest, brick-like look which doesn’t try to be a 21st-century streamliner, as some others do.

fun to drive than the Toyota Camry. » Improve power-window switches. To halt the auto-up/down front windows, you must push or pull the switch the opposite direction. If the window’s lowering, you have to lift the switch, for instance. But lift it too much, and the window reverses direction instead of just stopping. Many car companies use switches that stop automatic windows if you tap the switch in either direction. That’s much more convenient. Is Pilot the pick o’ the litter among

family-size SUVs? Well, it’s neither a bargain nor a rip-off, judging by the price standards of the class. It’s not exciting, but it’s as practical and handy as a minivan — without resembling one). It gets a little better mpg than it used to, but still nothing that would make you a hero with the green crowd. Pilot, all things considered, is arguably the best bet, and its ability to address real-word needs will prove endearing over time. But it seems so cruel that Honda has made “competent” a synonym for “dull.”

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I43

CHRYSLER

Dodge Dart gets a little help from Fiat Compact to replace slow-selling Caliber Associated Press

DETROIT — The Dodge Dart, a 1960s compact car that gearheads turned into street racers, is making a comeback. Chrysler said it will use the Dart name for a new compact car based on Italian technology that it will introduce in the United States next year. The Dart, which is expected to get 40 miles per gallon of gas on the highway, is an extremely important car for Chrysler Group LLC, which now has outdated offerings in the fastgrowing compact car market. Young buyers in the United States generally pick compacts as their first new cars, and research shows they’ll stick with a brand if they like their first vehicle. The new car is based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, a compact sold in Europe, but will be wider and longer to handle Americans’ preference for more space. Chrysler said the four-door sedan will perform well and be efficient. It will be the first car sold by Chrysler dealers that is based on Fiat underpinnings. The Dart, due in showrooms during the first half of next year, will replace the Dodge Caliber, a slow-selling compact SUV that is based on a design from Chrysler’s lean years before bankruptcy protection. Two other compact SUVs, the

The 2013 Dodge Dart debuted at the Detroit auto show last month. Based on Italian technology, it’s nothing like its predecessor from the 1960s and ’70s. But Chrysler is counting on the Dart, and its zippy name, to help it sell more small cars and continue its recent revival. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jeep Compass and Patriot, will still be sold. The Dart also is important to Fiat because the Italian company will get another 5 percent stake in Chrysler once it starts making a car in the United

States that gets 40 mpg. The Dart will be produced at the Chrysler assembly plant in Belvidere, Ill., where the company is investing $600 million. Chrysler said the Dart will be formally introduced in January

at the Detroit Auto Show. Rebecca Lindland, senior analyst for the IHS Automotive consulting firm, said growth in compacts will continue as the segment attracts young firsttime buyers as well as baby

boomers who are downsizing their cars. She said the Dart will have to be really good because competition in the segment is fierce. “You’ve got to have your best game face,” Lindland said.

ACURA

TSX is on course for a ‘Special’ 2012 The new Sport Sedan and Sport Wagon are now available — along with a red-themed, sportier offering By Chambers Williams III San Antonio Express-News

The 2012 Acura TSX Sport Sedan and Sport Wagon are now on sale, with prices beginning at $29,810 (plus $885 freight) for the sedan and $31,160 for the wagon, which was added to the lineup just this year. Prices range as high as $38,450 for the TSX sedan with the optional V-6 engine and Technology Package and $34,810 for the wagon with the Technology Package. The base TSX sedan with the Technology Package is $32,910. The TSX sedan recently was named “Best Upscale Small Car for Families” by U.S. News & World Report. New for 2012 is the Special Edition sedan, which lists for $30,810 but offers a choice of either a five-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual. This is the only TSX model available with a manual gearbox, which adds a sporty touch to an already fun-to-drive car. The 2012 prices are up just $200 across the board compared with corresponding 2011 models. Acura says the Special Edition has “numerous upgrades to the exterior, including a more aggressive front spoiler, rear bumper fascia and side sills,” along with 17-inch/five-spoke aluminum wheels with a dark gray finish and a “Special Edition” badge on the trunk lid. Interior differences include “exclusive seating surfaces” with perforated black suede inserts and red backing. The red theme continues with red stitching and red lighting “throughout the interior,” Acura says. There also are aluminum pedal covers and a black headliner material instead of the gray on other TSX models. Acura added the 3.5-liter V-6 engine from the base TL sedan as an option on the smaller TSX sedan for 2010. It has 280 horsepower and 254 foot-pounds of torque and comes only with a five-speed automatic transmission. EPA ratings for the V-6 are 19 mpg city/28 highway, compared with 22/31 for the four-cylinder models with the automatic. The four-cylinder engine with the manual gearbox is rated at 21 city/29 highway. The Technology Package ($3,100 sedan, $3,650 wagon) is available on all models of the sedan and wagon. It brings Acura’s impressive ELS audio system and a hard-drive based navigation system. On the wagon, it also adds a power tailgate. The wagon, which has front-wheel drive, comes with the same four-cylinder engine as the base TSX sedan. It’s rated at 201 horsepower and 170 footpounds of torque, the same as in the sedan. The V-6 is not available in the wagon. Added in January, the Sport Wagon is another in a series of small wagons that automakers have been rolling out in response to rising gasoline prices and the increasing popularity of small wagon/ crossover models as replacements for larger SUVs and crossovers. They provide the fuel economy and comfort of passenger cars, along with some of the cargo-hauling capabilities of sport utilities.

The 2012 Acura TSX SE recently was named “Best Upscale Small Car for Families” by U.S. News & World Report. WIECK

Competitors include comparably sized wagons and small crossovers, such as the Volvo XC60, Infiniti EX35, Subaru Outback, Audi A4 Avant and even Acura’s own RDX crossover, which begins about $800 higher but has about the same interior space. The wagon has bucket seats up front and a rear bench with a split-folding seatback in the rear to hold up to five people comfortably, but no third row is offered to expand passenger capacity. With the rear seat folded, there is 60.5 cubic feet of cargo space, and the rear hatch opening is 28 inches high, which can accommodate items such as mountain bicycles, which are popular with the Generation Y crowd for which this vehicle is intended. A removable side panel in the cargo area allows for loading wide items such as golf clubs, and the under-floor storage area allows valuables to be hidden while the vehicle is parked. Outside, the wagon has a Europeanstyle design that incorporates “bold wheel arches,” 17-inch aluminum wheels, a sloping roof and a “chiseled, muscular body,” Acura says. The transmission comes with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters that allow the driver to shift manually without having to use a clutch. Standard are a power glass moon roof, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather interior; power front seats, 17inch five-spoke aluminum wheels, power windows/mirrors/door locks, premium sound system, Bluetooth hands-free phone connection, and a USB port and auxiliary jack for connecting portable music players to the vehicle’s audio system. Its high-tech features include an optional hard-disc based navigation system with an 8-inch high-resolution color

monitor and AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic and Weather with radar-image mapping. Among standard safety features are Acura’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, front seatmounted side air bags, roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows, electronic stability control, antilock brakes

with electronic brake-force distribution, tire-pressure monitoring and LATCH child-seat connections. The wagon, at 189.4 inches, is 3.8 inches longer than the sedan. It’s 72.4 inches wide and 57.9 inches high. It’s the same width as the sedan, but 1.2 inches higher. It has a 106.5-inch wheelbase, the same as the sedan’s.

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I44 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

PORSCHE All-new Volkswagen Passat. 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year.®

Porsche CEO Matthias Muller, second from right, introduces the new 911 Carrera Cabriolet at the North American International Auto Show. STAN HONDA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Go ahead, take it for a victory lap after the Auto Show.

911Carrera increases power, loses weight Aluminum, steel body lightens by 100 pounds Detroit Free Press

For any car lover, it doesn’t get much better than the first glimpse of a new Porsche 911. The convertible version of the legendary sports car makes its world premiere at the auto show, while the coupe makes its North American debut. The new model keeps its iconic looks but adds room, features, power and fuel economy. The wheelbase grew 3.9 inches, but the car’s overall length increased just 2.2 inches thanks to shorter overhangs. Despite its bigger size, the 911

Lease a 2012 Passat S for $219mo./36 mos.* $$1,999 due at signing (excluding title, taxes, options, and dealer charges). Offer good through 02/29/201.

coupe’s weight falls 100 pounds thanks to an aluminum and steel body. It’s also the first 911 with electrohydraulic steering. An auto-stop system that shuts the engine off when the car isn’t moving and a sailing mode that allows it to idle when coasting further help reduce fuel consumption up to 16 percent. The Carrera comes with a 350horsepower 3.4-liter flat-six engine. The Carrera S gets a 400-horsepower 3.8-liter flat-six. A seven-speed manual or dual clutch automatic transmission is available with either engine. A Carrera S with the dual-clutch transmission reaches 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Prices start at $82,100 for the Carrera coupe.

Jetta S

2012 Beetle 2.5L

$1,999 due at signing (excluding title, taxes, options, and dealer fees). Offer ends 02/29/2012.

2012 CC

2012 Routan SE

Offer ends 02/29/2012.

Lease for $139.00 $169.00 per mo./36 months2

Lease for $229 per mo./36 months3

0% APR for 72months.4

0% APR for 72 months.5

Kings Volkswagen of Loveland

Exit # 52 off of I-275 Loveland, Ohio 45140 www.vwkings.com | 877-971-5252

*For all lease offers: Lessee responsible for damage, excess wear and insurance. Exclude taxes, title, options and dealer fees. On approved credit through primary lender. Supplies limited. Photos for illustration only. For all APR offers: Offers require approved credit through primary lender. See dealer for details. Dealer sets actual price. Supplies limited. Photos for illustration only. *2012 Passat S with Appearance package, automatic transmission, MSRP $23,460. Monthly payments total $7.884 Requires dealer contribution of $1,419. Purchase option at lease end for $13,488. Lessee responsible for $.20/ mile over 35,000 miles. MSRPs exclude taxes, title, options, transportation and dealer fees. Lessee responsible for damage, excess wear and insurance. Dealer contribution could affect final negotiated transaction. Closed-end lease offered to approved credit by Volkswagen Credit through participating dealers. Supplies limited. Additional charges may apply at lease end. Dealer sets actual prices. Example lease may not reflect models shown. See Kings VW of Loveland for details. Offers end 02/29/2012. 2Based on a 2012 Jetta S with manual transmission, MSRP $17,415 excluding (transportation), taxes, title, other options and dealer fees. Monthly payments total $6,084. Requires dealer contribution of $775. Purchase option at lease of lease end $10,103. $.20/mile over 36,000 miles. #Based on a 2012 Beetle 2.5L with manual transmission. MSRP $20,565 excluding (transportation), taxes, title, other options and dealer fees. Monthly payments total $8,244. Requires dealer contribution of $325. Purchase option at lease of lease end $11,867. $.20/mile over 36,000 miles. 40% APR on all 2.0T CC models through 02/29/2012. For 0% APR, monthly payments for every $1000 you finance for 72 months is $13.89. No down payment required with approved credit through Volkswagen Credit. Not all customers will qualify for the lowest rate. 5APR on all 2012 Routan models with automatic transmission through 02/29/2012. No down payment required with approved credit through Volkswagen Credit 0% APR monthly payments for every $1,000 financed for 72 months is $13.89. See Kings VW of Loveland for details. ©2011 Volkswagen of America, Inc.

The new 911 Carrera comes with a 350-horsepower 3.4 liter flat-six engine. The Carrera S gets a 400-hp 3.8 liter engine. SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES

Stk# 109696

WITH GM OWNER LOYALTY*

299

-or-

PER MONTH PLUS TAX

WITHOUT GM OWNER LOYALTY

329

PER MONTH PLUS TAX

Only $2995 due at signing; Includes 1st payment

Brand NEW

2012 CTS SEDAN AWD MSRP $40,340

24 Month Lease

WITH GM OWNER LOYALTY*

269

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-or-

PER MONTH PLUS TAX

WITHOUT GM OWNER LOYALTY

309

PER MONTH PLUS TAX

Only $2995 due at signing; Includes 1st payment

*MUST OWN OR LEASE A ‘99 OR NEWER GM VEHICLE TO QUALIFY FOR GM OWNER LOYALTY.LEASES ARE FOR 24 MONTHS, 10,000 MILES PER YEAR, 20¢ PER MILE OVERAGE. OFFER ENDS 2/29/12.

2820 Gilbert Ave (3 minutes north of Eden Park)

513-221-5600

www.easytofindtmc.com

MSRP $21,730

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Lease for 24 Months*

179

per mo.

$2499 due at signing plus taxes

2012 Outlander Sport ES

Stk #P326380 Power Windows, air, Fuse Hands-Free Bluetooth System

MSRP Dealer Discount

$19,605 -$710

Sale Price

2011 Galant ES

18,895

Stk #V3-80290

MSRP Rebate Dealer Discount

$22,583 -$3,500 -$2,088

Sale Price

2011 Endeavour LS

16,995

Stk #M2-38200

MSRP Rebate Dealer Discount

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Sale Price

22,995

BEECHMONT MITSUBISHI 8549 BEECHMONT AVENUE • CINCINNATI, OH 45255 www.beechmontmitsubishi.com

Sales Hours: Mon-Thurs 9-9; Fri 9-6; Sat 10-6

(513)

474-5600

10 year/100,000 mile Powertrain Limited Warranty applies only to the original owner of new, retailed 2011 models purchased from an authorized MItsubishi dealer. Subsequent owners receive the balance of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty of 5 year/60,000 miles. See your authorized Mitsubishi retailer for limtied warranty and roadside assistance items, warranty coverage and conditions. Excludes Lancer Ralliart, Lancer Sportback Ralliart and Lancer Evolution. *24 months closed end lease includes 24,000 miles and 15¢ per mile overage. Subject to credit approval from primary lender. Tier 1 Credit. Sale ends 2/29/12

POWERTRAIN WARRANTY • 10 YEAR / 100,000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY

24 Month Lease

MSRP $41,490

2012 Lancer SE AWControl

POWERTRAIN WARRANTY • 10 YEAR / 100,000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY • 10 YEAR / 100,000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY • 10 YEAR / 100,000-MILE

COMPETITIVE OFFERS FOR THE 2012 AUTO SHOW! Brand N E W 2012 CTS COUPE AWD

• 10 YEAR / 100,000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY • 10 YEAR / 100,000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY • 10 YEAR / 100,000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY

• 10 YEAR / 100,000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY • 10 YEAR / 100,000-MILE

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I45

CHEVROLET

Sonic only subcompact built in US More comfort than earlier small cars By Mark Phelan Detroit Free Press

Chevrolet is not a small-car specialist. Never has been. But still ... the three newest, and three of the best, cars in Chevy showrooms are the subcompact Sonic, compact Cruze and Volt. Something’s going on here. Chevy built its brand image on powerful sports cars, roomy family sedans and rugged pickups. Chevy’s honor roll includes the Camaro, Corvette, Malibu and Silverado, not such benighted small cars as the Chevette, Vega, Cavalier and Cobalt. But all of a sudden, Chevrolet is pumping out excellent small cars like a Pez dispenser. The 2012 Sonic’s impressive list of features includes 10 air bags, a spunky and fuel-efficient turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, responsive handling and attractive, contemporary styling. The car’s interior materials and voice recognition for hands-free phone calls need work, but the Sonic has a lot going for it. Chevrolet’s new line of small cars could be the start of something big. The Sonic was a risky bet, but it appears to have paid off. Chevrolet bet it could develop a subcompact that would compete with Asian small-car experts such as Honda, Hyundai and Toyota. The United Auto Workers bet its members would make unprecedented concessions to build the car in the United States at a price that challenges

A 2012 Chevrolet Sonic sedan is driven around the test track at the GM Milford Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan. AP

vehicles from Mexico, Japan and Korea. The Sonic is the only subcompact built in the United States. It’s the latest among new subcompacts that have more features, comfort, style and performance than earlier small cars. It competes with the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris. I tested a Sonic LTZ hatchback with the turbocharged en-

gine and six-speed manual. It cost $17,935. Sonic prices are competitive with the other comparably equipped subcompacts. The hatchback’s exterior design has crisp, sporty lines. The front view is particularly strong, with four large round lights bracketing a bold twinport grille. The sides are noteworthy for sharp creases over the front fenders and rear-door handles concealed in black trim around the windows. The passenger compartment has more room than the Fiesta,

Accent and Yaris. Headroom is particularly generous. The hatchback offers a useful 19.0 cubic feet of cargo capacity — 30.7 with the rear seats folded flat. Handling is responsive and enjoyable. The steering provides good feedback. The Sonic’s looks, features, performance and price help it stand out in spite of the interior’s unappealing materials. Chevy and the UAW backed a long shot when they bet on the Sonic. It came home a winner.

THE RUNDOWN Price: $14,365 base for hatchback; $13,735 for sedan; $17,935 as tested EPA estimated fuel economy: 40 miles per gallon highway; 29 mpg city Type: Front-wheel-drive fivepassenger subcompact Reasons to buy: Fuel economy, performance, looks Shortcomings: Interior materials, interior storage, phone voice recognition

HONDA

Honda Civic Natural Gas vehicle is on display after it was awarded the Green Car of the Year award in Los Angeles, Calif. The award was presented to Honda by Green Car Journal, which annually selects a single vehicle for its environmental performance. GETTY

Civic’s Natural Gas is now available Not so easy to find a place to gas-up

By Ann M. Job Associated Press

Thirteen years after launching its natural gas-powered Civic as a low-emission, lowfuel-price vehicle for public utilities and other business fleets, Honda is expanding availability to more consumers than ever. For the first time, car shoppers in 30-plus states — including Florida — should find natural gas-powered Civics sitting on lots at select Honda dealerships. Natural gas prices can be 35 percent less than gasoline. Named the 2012 Green Car of the Year by the Californiabased Green Car Journal, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas sedan looks like a regular Civic. The words “Natural Gas” on the trunk lid are all that visually differentiate it on the outside.

2012 HONDA CIVIC NATURAL GAS Base price: $26,155 for base model; $27,655 with navigation. Price as tested: $28,425. Type: Front-engine, frontwheel-drive, five-passenger, compact sedan. Engine: 1.8-liter, single overhead cam, compressed natural gas four-cylinder engine with i-VTEC. Mileage: 27 mpg (city), 38 mpg (highway) gasoline-gallon equivalent.

Formerly called the Civic GX, the Civic Natural Gas sounds and drives like a regular Civic, though there’s less torque available from the fourcylinder engine than there is in other Civic sedans. The 2012 Civic Natural Gas also can’t be had with a manual transmission, leather seats or sunroof. But with a starting manu-

facturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $26,925, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas has the highest starting retail price of any 2012 Civic model. Indeed, the starting price for a base, 2012 Civic Hybrid, which has a gasoline-powered four cylinder supplemented by an electric motor and which has a higher government fuel economy rating than the natural gas-powered Civic, is $24,820. A base, 2012 Civic sedan without hybrid or natural gasusing powerplant has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $16,575. Honda is the only mass-market automaker producing a natural-gas car on a factory assembly line, though other carmakers, including Ford, have long offered natural gas vehicles to business fleets. A consumer should consider installing a natural gas dispenser at his or her home when buying a Civic Natural Gas. A

home refueling station, which is powered by electricity, has a compressor that converts your home supply to the Civic-required pounds per square inch (psi). Without a home refueling station, consumers have to do what I did on my test drive, which is find places to “gas up.” And that used up precious time one busy workday morning, because even in environmentally inclined California, it may not be easy to find natural gas to put into a consumer car. The test car rode like other Civics. I felt road bumps nearly all the time, and the interior, while roomy, was not well-insulated against outside noises. As in other 2012 Civics, there is a futuristic feel behind the wheel. It’s primarily because big digital speedometer numbers and other typical car gauge data are clustered in a long, raised screen atop the dashboard in front of the driver. But seat cushions in the test-

er felt a bit cheap, and hard, gray plastic dominated inside. In the test car, the hard plastic trim next to the driver’s side window on the inside of the door would groan when I put my elbow or any pressure there. Trunk space is compromised by the 3,600-psi natural gas tank that sits behind the rear seatbacks, which do not fold down. The 1.8-liter, single overhead cam four cylinder sounded strained when I pressed hard for sudden acceleration. The engine, which is a modified version of what’s in other Civics, develops the same 110 horsepower as the Civic Hybrid. But torque peaks at just 106 foot-pounds at a 4,300 rpm vs. the 127 foot-pounds at a low 1,000 rpm in the Civic Hybrid. Honda’s big news is the navigation system in the upper trim level Civic Natural Gas model provides directions to places where consumers can gas up.

I46 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

AUDI CONNECTION

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2003 Audi A4 Sedan 1.8T Quattro AWD Stk# 942172 ..$10,995 2009 Mazda 3 Stk# 342481 ................................$12,995 2002 Lexus RX300 AWD Stk# 044221 ..............$13,995 2007 Honda Accord Coupe Stk# 544561 ..........$14,995 2007 Acura RL AWD Stk# 640451 ....................$17,995 2007 Honda Pilot EX-L 4WD Stk# 044691 ......$17,995 2006 Audi A6 3.2 Quattro AWD Stk# 644521...$18,885 2005 Audi A4 Cabriolet 3.0 Quattro Stk#70231 .........$18,995 2008 Acura RDX SH-AWD Stk# 69021 ...........$24,995 2007 Audi A8L Quattro AWD Stk#943901.......$31,995 2008 Mercedes ML320 CDI 4-Matic Stk# 6963 .........$32,995 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Stk# 6964 .....$46,995

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ON CERTIFIED CARS!

2008 Audi A4 Convertible AWD Stk# 6969 ...........$25,800 2008 Audi A6 Sedan 3.2 Quattro AWD Stk# 6901 $27,800 2009 Audi A4 Sedan 2.0T Quattro AWD Stk# 6956 ...$27,800 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet 2.0T Quattro AWD Stk# 6915 ..$31,800 2009 Audi Q5 3.2 Quattro AWD Stk# 6957 ...........$33,800 2009 Audi A6 Sedan Quattro AWD Stk# 6954 ......$35,800 2009 Audi A5 Coupe Quattro AWD Stk# 6977......$40,800 2010 Audi A6 Sedan 4.2 Quattro AWD Stk# 743751 ....$45,800 2009 Audi Q7 TDI S-Line Quattro AWD Stk# 6920...$48,800 2009 Audi A8L Quattro AWD Stk# 842051..............$52,800

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All sale prices after applicable rebates. Subject to credit approval. 0% apr financing for 36 months is $27.78 per $1000 borrowed. 60 months is $16.67 per $1000 borrowed. 72 months is $13.89 per $1000 borrowed. $1.9% apr financing for 60 months is $17.48 per $1000 borrowed. 36 months is $29.20 per $1000 borrowed. Subject to ALLY A Tier credit or primary lender credit approval. All GMAC rebates applied. Tax, title & licensing extra. *ALLY must approve credit for qualified individuals. *Must have down payment of $1000 to qualify for Chrysler Match Program. This ad shows typical in stock vehicles. Sale ends 2/12/2012

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I47

TOYOTA

Corolla, Matrix keep a rein on prices Models’ features also hold steady By G. Chambers Williams II San Antonio Express-News

Toyota’s fuel-efficient Matrix compact wagon returns for 2012 with prices the same as last year, ranging from $18,845 (plus $760 freight) for the base L model with a five-speed manual transmission to $21,715 for the top-of-the-line S all-wheel-drive with a four-speed automatic. This is a wagon version of the popular compact Corolla sedan, which saw its prices for 2012 jump a little bit. The base Corolla L with the five-speed manual now lists for $16,130 (plus $760 freight), up $230 from last year. Prices go as high as $18,600 for the S model with the four-speed automatic, a $220 increase. In between, the Corolla LE model, the most popular, begins at $17,600, up $310. It comes only with the automatic. There are no changes in the 2012 Matrix, which continues with the same two trim levels and engine offerings that were available for 2011. Toyota made some tweaks to the Matrix last year, after a complete redesign for 2009. Added last year to the Matrix and Corolla was Toyota’s Smart Stop technology, designed to override the electronic throttle to shut off engine power if the brake pedal is applied. For 2012, Matrix engine choices are a 1.8-liter four-cylinder, with 132 horsepower and 128 footpounds of torque, and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, the same engine used in the base Toyota Camry sedan. In the Matrix, it produces 158 horsepower and 162 foot-pounds of torque. The 2.4-liter is standard on the S model, which also comes with 17inch wheels. Matrix transmission choices include the fivespeed manual or a fourspeed automatic with the 1.8-liter engine, or a fivespeed manual or fivespeed automatic in the S version with the 2.4-liter engine and front-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive S model comes with the 2.4liter engine and a fourspeed automatic. EPA ratings for the base model are 25 mpg city/32 highway with the manual gearbox and 26/32 with the four-speed automatic. S models with front drive and the manual are rated at 21 city/28 highway; with the five-speed automatic, 21/29. The allwheel-drive version has ratings of 20 city/26 highway. Standard features on the base model include an all-weather package; power windows with driver’s side auto down and retained power features; the power door locks and cruise control; colorkeyed power/heated outside mirrors; tilt-and-telescopic sport steering wheel; daytime running lights; heavy duty rearwindow defogger; AM/ FM/CD audio system with four speakers and MP3 playback capability, auxiliary audio jack, and auto sound leveling; intermittent rear wiper; a 12-volt power outlet; front center-console box; and an engine immobilizer. With the Matrix S, standard items include metallic interior trim; a 115-volt power outlet; integrated fog lights; a fold-flat front passenger seat; remote keyless entry; and an AM/ FM/CD system with MP3 capability and six speakers with MP3 playback. The 16-inch steel wheels on the base model come with six-spoke full wheel covers and P205/ 55R16 tires. Optional on the S model are 17-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels with 215/45/ R17 tires. Four-wheel antilock disc brakes are standard on all models.

wheels. But power is partially shifted to the rear through an electromagnetic coupler whenever front-wheel slippage is detected. Traction control is standard on all models. Other safety features include front seat-mounted side air bags; roofmounted side-curtain air bags for both rows; elec-

On the base model, there are 10.7-inch ventilated front discs and 10.1inch solid rear discs. The S model has 11.6-inch ventilated front discs and 10.9-inch solid discs in the rear (11-inch for the allwheel-drive version). The all-wheel-drive system has active torque control and normally sends power to the front

tronic stability control; tire-pressure monitoring; and active front headrests, designed to help prevent whiplash injuries when the car is rear-ended. Also included is a complimentary maintenance plan, which covers the car for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. This plan now cov-

ers and rear roof spoiler. The Premium Package brings a power tilt/slide moon roof with sunshade, upgraded audio system with XM satellite radio, and iPod connections. New seat fabrics and a leather-wrapped steering wheel were included beginning last year for the S model. It now has integrated audio controls.

ers all Toyota models, including the Corolla. Matrix options include a Sport package for the base model, which adds front and rear underbody spoilers, a color-keyed rear roof spoiler and integrated fog lights. With the S model, the Sport package includes the special 17-inch wheels, underbody spoil-

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I48 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

BUICK

Buick LaCrosse with eAssist technology offers a mild hybrid setup that replaces a base four-cylinder gas-only model. The electric motor adds start-off horsepower and saves fuel. The vehicle’s tire pressure monitor also tells the pressure in each individual tire, instead of just showing a warning light. The style of the car is curvy without being a showoff. WIECK

LaCrosse eAssist replaces gas-only 4 Fuel economy up with electric motor By James R. Healey USA TODAY

General Motors’ 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist is a reminder that GM does a lot of things right. If you suffer from outdated “Import Good, Detroit Bad” prejudice, you can take a moment here to realign your reality. Meantime, let’s review: LaCrosse was redesigned for the 2010 model year. The eAssist mild-hybrid system is what’s new for 2012. It replaces the former gas-only four-cylinder base models. The eAssist version is priced at $30,820 including shipping, the same as the only other power offering, a V-6 gasoline engine. That’s a hefty $2,830 more than the base 2011 CX four-cylinder LaCrosse, and $270 more than the midgrade 2011 CXL four-cylinder. In return, you get fuel-economy ratings that are 6 miles per gallon better than the 2011 fourcylinder gas models. Though the Buick has opportunities for improvement, it also is a poster car for the idea that GM makes good vehicles, thoughtfully equipped, smartly appointed, handsomely styled

The marquee feature, eAssist, is a very mild hybrid setup. An electric motor/generator sits where the alternator normally would be. The four-cylinder gas engine turns the motor/ generator via a beefed-up “fan belt.” And the motor/generator can turn the engine (and, thus, help propel the car) via the same belt. GM will use eAssist on multiple brands, including the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu coming early next year. It seems risky to include “assist” in the name of any Buick because it implies “assisted living” and reminds one that the brand still attracts older buyers. But a plus is that the name lets your imagination pick what “e” means: Electric assist? Engine assist? Energy, ecology or economy? Yes. The eAssist electric motor can add 15 horsepower when passing or scooting up a freeway ram. It also can propel the car alone momentarily, as when pulling away from a stoplight. In typical hybrid fashion, the motor turns into a generator on deceleration and braking, recharging the modest-size lithium-ion battery pack in the trunk. Also like other hybrids, the eAssist system stops the gas engine when you’re at a long light or otherwise halted. The engine stays off up to two minutes. It restarts when you lift off the

ABOUT LACROSSE What? Mild-hybrid, gas-electric drivetrain for big Buick eAssist sedan. Priced the same as the V-6 gas model, but rated 6 miles per gallon better. Front-drive, four-door, five-passenger sedan on the big end of midsize or small end of full-size. When? On sale since September. Where? Made at Kansas City, Kan. Why? Have you looked at federal mileage regulations lately? How much? Starts at $30,820 including shipping, same as the V-6 gasoline model. Competition? Buick says Acura TL, Lincoln MKZ, Lexus ES350. What makes it go? 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine rated 182 horsepower at 6,700 rpm, 172 pounds-feet of torque at 4,900 and a belt-driven, liquid-cooled motor/generator rated 15 hp and 79 lbs.-ft., mated to six-speed automatic transmission. How thirsty? Rated 25 mpg in town, 36 mpg on the highway, 29 in combined driving. Test car trip computer registered 18.2 mpg (5.49 gallons per 100 miles) in easy-going suburban driving. Burns regular, holds 15.7 gal.

brake pedal. If you creep forward electrically, you won’t notice any vibration as the gas engine comes

back into play. If you’re stockstill, and suddenly demand lots of gas-engine power, you feel slight shudders. LaCrosse eAssist gets much of its mileage improvement from features other than the electric motor. For example, the system shuts off gas to the engine during deceleration and keeps it off till you stop. Most automakers shut off the gas, then restore it for smoothness as the car nears the stop. While Buick’s way saves fuel, decelerating the test car sometimes produced jerks and stumbles — often enough to give pause to a potential buyer. The eAssist models also have low-rolling-resistance tires, plus a trunk-lid air spoiler, underbody panels and other aerodynamic aids. And the climate control has a selectable “eco” mode that lets the cabin temperature rise or fall a bit from your setting. That lets the AC compressor run less, cuts drag on the engine, saves gas. Some of LaCrosse’s other things-done-right may seem minor, but are the very things that, if executed poorly, would make you tire of a vehicle before the loan is paid. Among things done right: » Tire-pressure monitor tells the actual pressure in each tire. Most other makers use a dumbed-down orange alert light that requires you to get out

FORD

and test the pressure in each tire, which nobody bothers to do, of course. » The reach to the turn signal lever is perfect. Some makers put it too far away, requiring you to take your hand off the wheel. And the operating feel of the stalk is smoother than in some $60,000 cars. » Styling is curvy, and slightly showy without being a showoff. The test car’s mocha color was a visual knockout. » Bluetooth phone link connected fast and easily. » Big, easy-to-read display screen for stereo controls, navigation, backup camera makes life easier. Undercutting the sheen, however: » Visibility is poor, thanks to big, swoopy roof pillars and angled back window. » Interior door handles sacrifice function for style, are too curved and shallow. But the most disappointing fault was the tester’s real-world fuel economy of about 18 miles per gallon driven conservatively in the suburbs, with plenty of gas engine auto-stop time. That’s notably less than the rating of 29 mpg in combined city/ highway use, which roughly approximates suburban conditions. Overall, the LaCrosse is appealing, but the eAssist in realworld use doesn’t seem like the magic bullet.

Smart mirror used for Escape crossover Detects exterior noises; car is quiet By Chris Woodyard USA TODAY

When Ford engineers sought out innovative ways to reduce noise in the all-new 2013 Ford Escape, they looked in the mirror. They didn’t settle for just any mirror. They developed an elliptical acoustic mirror, the Detroit Free Press reports. This high-tech device was used for the first time on the Escape to reduce wind noise and deliver a quieter interior. The mirror resembles a satellite dish with a microphone. The mirror identifies “hot spots” where noise penetrates the interior of the vehicle, allowing drivers to listen to music or conversation inside the car instead of external noises. The technology is common in European luxury cars, but is just beginning to be applied by U.S. automakers. The next Escape, unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show, is being considered a chance for Ford to show off its latest technology.

The 2012 Ford Escape delivers sporty performance and great fuel economy with SUV capability. PROVIDED PHOTO

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I49

VOLKSWAGEN

The four-door, five-passenger, 2012 Passat is bigger than ever, with more back-seat legroom and a bigger trunk than in the Toyota Camry. Front-seat legroom of more than 42 inches is impressive, too, also exceeding Camry’s. IMAGINECHINA

Passat almost Americanized New, understated 2012 sedan is more affordable and accommodating to draw more buyers in North America By Ann M. Job The Associated Press

German automaker Volkswagen is making its mid-size Passat sedan affordable and accommodating for more American car buyers. The four-door, five-passenger, 2012 Passat is bigger than ever, with more back-seat legroom and a bigger trunk than in the Toyota Camry. Front-seat legroom of more than 42 inches is impressive, too, also exceeding Camry’s. But the Passat didn’t leave its German heritage behind. Besides two gasoline engine offerings, the new Passat has an available fuel-sipping diesel engine that is rated at 43 miles per gallon in highway driving. It’s the only diesel in the midsize sedan segment, and this 43mpg rating is higher than the 35 mpg highway rating the U.S. government gives the 2011 Toyota Camry with gas-electric hybrid power. On a long highway trip, the new Passat could travel more than 750 miles on one tank of diesel. Best of all, starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, for a 2012 Passat is some $6,000 less than the previous Passat. Starting MSRP, including destination charge of $20,765 for the 2012 Passat is also $230 less than a starting retail price for a 2011 Camry. The base 2012 Passat comes with 170-horsepower, five-cylinder, gasoline engine and manual transmission and compares with the base 2011 Camry with 169-horsepower, gasoline, fourcylinder engine and manual transmission. A 2012 gasoline-powered Passat with automatic transmission, plus fancier wheels, has a retail price of $22,690. This compares with $22,005 for a base, 2011 Camry with automatic. The Passat’s diesel-powered and turbocharged four-cylinder model starts at $26,765. VW also offers a 280-horsepower V-6 in the 2012 Passat. Starting MSRP, including destination charge, is $29,765 and includes VW’s direct-shift gearbox (DSG) automatic transmission. Clearly, VW’s new pricing for the base car finally puts the Passat in the same price range as major competitors in the family sedan category. But buyers still can find lower-priced sedans. For example, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata mid-size sedan undercuts both the Camry and Passat with a starting retail price of $20,145 and gets more horsepower — 198 — from its

The base 2012 Passat comes with 170-horsepower, five-cylinder, gasoline engine and manual transmission and compares with the base 2011 Camry with 169-horsepower, gasoline, four-cylinder engine and manual transmission. GUY SPANGENBERG/VOLKSWAGEN

base, gasoline, four-cylinder engine mated to a manual transmission. Note that all 2012 Passats include dual-zone automatic climate control — usually an upscale feature — and Bluetooth cellphone connectivity. These features are not included in the base Camry. For years, the Passat had been dogged by comparisons with the class-leading and larger Camry and Honda Accord. The new Passat is some 2 inches longer, bumper to bumper, than the Camry and Sonata and is just shy of the lengthy Accord. The Passat’s bigger size and other changes for 2012 came as VW opened a new factory in Chattanooga, Tenn., where it is building all Passats for U.S., Mexican and Canadian customers. European Passats continue to be built in Europe. But not everything in the car is American-made. The 2-liter, turbocharged and direct-injected diesel four

cylinder that goes into the new Passat comes from a factory in Poland. This diesel engine was in the test car, a Passat TDI with SE trim plus VW’s DSG and navigation system. The new Passat is cleanly styled on the outside. It’s attractive without standing out. So, buyers wanting something more stylish might be drawn to the Sonata, which has a noticeable resemblance to some of today’s luxury cars. Inside, the new Passat retains the well-crafted look that VW sedans are known for. The ceiling has nicely textured material, and gauges and controls are well laid out. I just wish the knobs for climate control adjustment in the test car hadn’t felt so flimsy as I turned them. The test car had leatherette fabric on the seats, not real leather. It looked almost like leather and appeared to be more durable. Seats were wonderfully sup-

portive and comfortable, as expected in a VW. The back seat was so expansive I could stretch my legs forward with ease. Headroom back there is equal to that in the Camry, and the pull-down rear armrest in the middle of the back seat allowed access to a pass-through slot for long items, such as skis, to extend through from the trunk. The middle person in the back seat, though, has a sizable hump in the floor to contend with. The turbodiesel moved the 3,400-pound Passat along without stress, and I easily got 33 mpg in combined city/highway driving without trying to maximize fuel economy. Torque, or low-end “oomph,” peaks at a healthy 236 footpounds starting at a low 1,500 rpm. In the test car, this power started the tires squealing a couple times. Note that this four-cylinder torque compares with the 248 foot-pounds of peak torque in the V-6-powered Camry that

comes on at a high, 4,700 rpm. The base, 2.5-liter, five-cylinder gasoline engine in the new Passat uses regular unleaded gas and delivers up to 177 footpounds of torque at 4,250 rpm. I noticed the characteristic rattling sound of the diesel engine only when I was outside the test car. Inside, the Passat was refined and mostly free of engine and road noise, though I did hear wind noise at highway speeds coming from the area of the outside mirrors. The diesel car’s DSG shifted with commendable quickness — sometimes so quickly, I couldn’t enjoy the full force of the diesel’s torque before the car upshifted. Brakes worked fine, but I prefer a brake pedal with a stronger, quicker response than what I experienced in the test car. Standard safety items in the Passat include curtain air bags, electronic stability control and antilock brakes.

I50 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

FIAT

500 Abarth offers a sporty coupe in a subcompact size

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Legendary European tuner Karl Abarth said the sporty versions of everyday Fiats he built and raced were “small but wicked,” and the little Fiat 500 Abarth lives up to every word of that motto. The turbocharged 1.4-liter Multiair four-cylinder engine from Chrysler’s Dundee plant produces 160 horsepower with 170 pound-feet of torque avail-

able from just 2,500 rpm. Only a fivespeed manual transmission is available. The Abarth has quicker steering, upgraded brakes, wider tires, and modified shocks and suspension. Available features include a power sunroof, leather upholstery, Bose audio, Sirius satellite radio, iPod compatibility voice recognition for handsfree phones and audio and TomTom navigation system.

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The Fiat 500 has special versions that include this Gucci model. The 500 Abarth performance model also is available. It has a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine. TABATHA FIREMAN/GETTY IMAGES FOR FIAT

©2011 Chrysler Group LLC FIAT is a registered trademark of Fiat Group Marketing & Corporate Communications SpA used under license by Chrysler Group LLC. Price excludes tax, title and registration fees. For full pricing detail, see Kings Fiat. See dealer for a copy of the limited warranty. Other credit restrictions may apply. Subject to credit approval from primary lender. Sale ends 2/29/12

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THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 I51

SCION

Styling, power make tC a brand leader Toyota youth line draws young men By Ann M. Job For The Associated Press

A more powerful and more fuel efficient engine as well as new styling helped boost sales of the three-door Scion tC by 47 percent last year from the year-earlier period. The long-established sales leader of Toyota's youthful Scion brand also received five out of five stars in its overall crash test rating by the federal government. Young male drivers lock onto the 2012 tC like heatseeking missiles. Judging from the attention the test tC attracted, these guys love getting 180 horsepower at a starting retail price of less than $20,000. And they know all about adding sporty accessories like big, fancy wheels and optional lowering springs to the tC to make it their very own. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $19,305 for a 2012 tC with 180horsepower, four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission. This engine is naturally aspirated, not turbocharged, and it’s the same four cylinder that’s in the larger, heavier Toyota Camry sedan. A 2012 tC with sixspeed automatic has a starting retail price of $20,305. The tC starting prices are higher than some competitors’, such as the 2012 Ford Focus five-door hatchback with a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $19,095. The base Focus hatch has a 160-horsepower, four-cylinder engine and manual transmission. And, a 2012 Kia Forte 5Door with 156-horsepower four cylinder and six-speed automatic starts $455 lower than the base tC — at $18,850 — while the uplevel Forte 5Door with 173-horsepower

The 2012 Scion tC carries over from last year’s model, which was the debut of the second generation tC. The youth brand for Toyota has a strong appeal to young male drivers, who can add accessories to personalize the car such as fancy wheels and springs for a lower profile. AP

four cylinder and automatic has a starting retail price of $20,350. The Forte is not offered with a manual. The tC’s big changes occurred for 2011, as the secondgeneration car debuted. Sales zoomed from 15,204 in calendar 2010 to 22,433 last year, and the tC is basically a carryover for 2012. The 14.5-foot white test tC sat low to the pavement on low-profile, optional 19-inch wheels that filled the flared fenders with precious little space left. This size of tire is not on the manufacturer option sheets of the Focus and Forte. Even without the bigger wheels, though, the tC’s styling is sporty, though the rear-end looks a bit ho-hum. Fabric-covered black, front bucket seats had a sporty appearance, too, and provided better support than expected. But putting the tC’s driver seat up in height jammed the head restraint into the ceiling and made it nearly impossible to get the seatback moved aside to let passengers get into the back seat. There are seat belts for

three back there, but I wouldn't attempt to fit three adults. Two adults were confined enough, contending with small side windows that don’t open, bulky, view-blocking front buckets in front of them, and 34.6 inches of measured legroom. Note the Focus has only 33.2 inches of rear-seat legroom, while the Forte has 35 inches. And with no second doors on the sides of the tC, everyone climbing into the back has to contort to get behind the bucket seats. Also, the tC’s sloping, coupe-like roofline means the 36.4 inches of rear headroom is less than what’s in the back seat of the Focus and Forte. Cargo space maxes out at 34.5 cubic feet with the back seatbacks folded down. The cargo space is shallow and is less than the 44.8 cubic feet in the Focus hatchback. Items in the cargo area also are under the large rear window and so can get hot in the sun. Clearly, the tC is not a bigtime people and cargo hauler. But for a solitary driver and/ or driver and front passenger,

the tC can be a satisfying ride. It’s expressive, and the horsepower and generous 173 foot-pounds of torque at 4,100 gives more than a peppy feel. Scion officials point out that fuel mileage is improved from previous tCs. The tester with automatic, for example, had a government rating of 23 miles per gallon in city driving and 31 mpg on the highway. But this is lower than most other four-cylinder-powered compact cars that have less power. For instance, a 2012 Focus with automatic can carry a 31/37-mpg rating. During the test drive, which was 65 percent city and 35 highway, the test tC averaged just 23 mpg. The ride in the tC was nonstop road noise and vibrations. Passengers felt even small road imperfections, and minor potholes came through with a teeth-jarring ferocity. On smooth asphalt, the test tC conveyed a rhythmic “thrum” that made me wonder if a wheel was out of balance. Good-sized brake discs — ventilated in front only — gave strong stopping power, and steering was nicely

weighted and felt less-assisted than expected. The thick, leather-wrapped, three-spoke steering wheel is a nice touch. But the grooved, hard black plastic on the test car’s dashboard top smeared easily with dust or dirt that I couldn’t just wipe off. The optional radio and navigation system looked cheap and like an aftermarket part. Users need to go through some unnecessary menu screens to manage the display. The optional, stationary rear spoiler was visible in the rearview mirror and reduced, just a bit, the rear views. More troubling was the large, body metal pillars at each side of the rear window. In the test car, it was impossible to see what was approaching the car as I backed up out of slanted parking spots. A rearview camera is a necessity, in my view, but it wasn’t listed among available options. Lastly, the thin tC radio antenna sits atop the right rear fender, next to the cargo opening and can be whacked by a large item going inside the tC.

KIA

Boxy Soul gets a more high-tech look Also added is Idle Stop and Go saver By Ann M. Job For the Associated Press

The boxy Kia Soul is still funky-looking and still has dancing hamsters in its awardwinning television ads. But for 2012, the youthful Soul is restyled for a more hightech look, has more powerful, yet more fuel-efficient engines, new six-speed transmissions and more features, including an infotainment system with voice recognition. Kia even offers 18inch wheels now. This model year, the fivedoor Soul also adds Idle Stop and Go (ISG), which automatically turns off the engine when the car is at idle, such as at a stoplight, and then automatically restarts the engine when the driver’s pressure on the brake pedal lets up. The ISG, which is commonly found on gasolineelectric hybrid vehicles, helps conserve fuel. What’s not changed: The front-wheel drive Soul hatchback retains its industry-leading warranty coverage, which includes 10 years/100,000 miles for powertrain and five years/60,000 miles for limited, basic car coverage. And it still comes standard with lots of safety equipment, such as traction control and electronic stability control, six air bags and antilock brakes. Best of all, the Soul, which is a recommended buy of Consumer Reports magazine, remains priced below many competitors. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $14,650 for the base Soul with138-horsepower, 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission. But the lowest retail price for a 2012 Soul with automatic is $1,800 more, or $16,450. The 2012 Soul is offered with a larger, 164-horsepower, 2-liter four cylinder with a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $17,050. Competitors include the boxy-styled Nissan cube, which has a starting retail price of $15,500 as a 2011 model with 122horsepower, 1.8-liter four cylin-

The Soul has become the top seller in the Kia lineup. The front-wheel drive hatchback has an industry-leading 10 years/100,000 miles drive train warranty and lots of safety equipment, including traction control and electronic stability control. AFP/GETTY IMAGES

der and six-speed manual transmission. The competing 2012 Scion xB has a starting retail price of $17,030 with 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter four cylinder and manual transmission. Note that the federal government’s top fuel economy ratings of 27 miles per gallon in city driving and 35 mpg on the highway for the 2012 Soul with base engine are better than the fuel ratings for the cube and xB. For example, the 2012 xB’s mileage rating is 22/28 mpg. The Soul has become Kia’s top-selling car, with sales topping 92,600 through the first 11 months of this year. This is up 52 percent from the same period a year ago. No doubt buyers are attracted by the Soul’s value for the price. Standard equipment on all models includes ample cargo space, Sirius XM satellite radio (buyers must subscribe to keep this satellite radio beyond the complimentary tryout period), dual-level glovebox, air-conditioning, power door locks, outside mirrors and windows, as well as USB/auxiliary jacks. The test Soul, a Plus model

2012 KIA SOUL Base price: $13,900 base with manual; $15,700 for base with automatic; $16,300 for Soul Plus manual; $17,300 for Soul Plus automatic. Price as tested: $19,845. Type: Front-engine, frontwheel-drive, five-passenger small wagon. Engine: 2-liter, double overhead cam, four-cylinder engine with CVVT. Mileage: 26 mpg (city), 34 mpg (highway). Top speed: NA. Length: 162.2 inches. Wheelbase: 100.4 inches. Curb weight: 2,778 pounds. Built: South Korea. Options: Audio upgrade package (includes UVO infotainment system, rear camera, Infinity audio system, subwoofer and speaker lamps) $900; power sunroof and front fog lights $800; carpeted floor mats $95. Destination charge: $750.

with the larger four cylinder and six-speed automatic transmission, included Plus standard features like keyless entry, Blu-

etooth phone connectivity, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, audio controls on the steering wheel, two powerpoint outlets and metal-look interior trim — all for $18,050. At just 13.5 feet long from bumper to bumper, the test Soul fit easily into compact parking spaces and handled nimbly in tight spots. But inside, the feeling was anything but tight. The 5.3foot-tall Soul provides 40.2 inches of headroom in the front seat and 39.6 inches in the back seat, so even tall riders don’t feel constrained. This is akin to the headroom inside a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox sport utility vehicle. This ample headroom isn’t achieved by forcing riders to sit low to the pavement. Rather, it’s the product of a roofline that doesn’t slope much until it’s behind the back seats. In the test Soul, passengers had good views out of the vehicle and to the traffic ahead, though we still couldn’t see over or beyond big pickup trucks or vans. Be aware, though, that three adults in the back seat sit close to each other, even if the gener-

ous 39 inches of rear-seat legroom meant no one’s knees touched the front seatbacks. Note that rear seatbacks are split 60/40 and fold down to extend the 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats to an SUV-like 53.4 cubic feet. It wasn’t difficult to load items inside since the flat cargo floor was at thigh level on me and the rear bumper was not obtrusive. The uplevel, 2-liter, double overhead cam, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing provided commendable power, even with the Soul’s cargo area filled with suitcases and shopping bags. I did hear the four-cylinder buzziness at times when pressing the car to accelerate on uphill road sections. But the engine response and power delivery was pleasing, not at all lagging. Without trying, I averaged 29.1 mpg, which is just over the combined city/highway mileage that the federal government estimates in combined city/highway travel. The tester did not include the automatic engine shutdown and restarting feature.

I52 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 /// THE ENQUIRER

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