2012 Buick Regal eAssist

Hybrid five-passenger sport sedan

By Nina Russin

2012 Buick Regal with eAssist

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Buick’s transformation is General Motors’ most significant accomplishment following the restructure. Ten years ago, who could have imagined that the brand which once pinned its hopes on a tepid remake of the Roadmaster would re-enter the market with a sport sedan designed on two continents and validated in Europe?

But that’s exactly what happened. The new Buick Regal, with an available turbocharged engine is poised for combat against European and Asian luxury brands which members of its upscale target market might cross-shop. In short, Buick product planners are taking names and leaving no prisoners.

For 2012, Buick ups the ante by adding a mild hybrid to the Regal line-up. An electric motor, lithium-ion battery and regenerative braking technology stretch gas mileage for the base 2.4-liter engine by up to 25 percent. Average fuel economy is 29 miles-per-gallon according to EPA estimates. In my 100-mile test drive, I averaged slightly better: 30.1 miles-per-gallon

Base price is $34,470, excluding the $860 delivery charge. The eAssist package, which includes 17-inch alloy wheels with low rolling resistance tires, adds $2000. Buyers save $50 on the model by eliminating redundant turn signal indicators on the outside mirrors.

New infotainment technology developed by Chevrolet enables drivers to access Pandora and Stitcher using their smart phones. Chevrolet MyLink comes with a unique color touchscreen display, streaming Bluetooth audio, satellite radio, and available navigation with real-time weather and traffic updates. The navigation-enabled version costs $1145.

A power sunroof adds $1000 to the MSRP, bringing the price as tested to $34,470. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Toyota Prius c

Compact hybrid for active urbanites

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Prius c

The Prius may become Toyota’s best- selling vehicle, thanks to a new four-model strategy which adds midsized, compact and plug-in cars to expand upon the appeal of the original liftback. The compact Prius c is the final model to enter the Prius line-up.

The new entry-level Prius is geared towards young urbanites whose budgets kept them out of the other models. There are four grades, beginning with the Prius c 1 priced from $18,950 not including the $760 delivery fee. The upscale Prius 4 starts at $23,230. Toyota expects the Prius c 2 and Prius c 3 to be the volume leaders, priced from $19,900 and $21,635 respectively.

The compact Prius shares chassis components with the current Toyota Yaris. It is not only smaller than the Prius liftback but significantly lighter. Curb weight is about 2500 pounds.

 Weight-saving reductions in the battery pack and under the hood combined with aerodynamic enhancements give the Prius c 53 mile-per-gallon fuel economy around town and 46 mpg on the highway. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Infiniti FX50 AWD

Five-passenger performance crossover is ready for take-off

By Nina Russin

2012 Infiniti FX

This is why I don’t particularly care that the new Infiniti FX performance crossover is a bit fuel thirsty. As any endurance athlete knows, it’s important to feed the beast. And considering what the vehicle is capable of, 17.8 miles-per-gallon isn’t too bad.

The FX50’s V-8 engine develops almost 400 horsepower and 369 foot-pounds of torque. Accelerating from zero-to-sixty feels like bungee jumping off a cliff.

Mammoth wheel arches house the crossover’s standard 21-inch alloy wheels. Other performance highlights include a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual gear selection and downshift rev matching, four-piston front calipers, speed sensitive steering and dual exhausts. The exhaust note during hard acceleration is symphonic.

The five-liter V-8 is one of two available engines for the Infiniti FX. Buyers of a more practical bent can opt for the 3.5-liter V-6, which comes with the same transmission.

Base price for the FX50 all-wheel drive model is $59,350, excluding the $895 delivery charge. There are three options on the test car: a technology package which adds intelligent cruise control, lane departure warning, adaptive front lighting and rain-sensing windshield wipers ($2900); illuminated kick plates ($300); and a sport package including real-time damping control, rear active steer, front sport seats, a driver’s seat with power bolster adjustment and some unique exterior trim ($3100). MSRP is $66,545. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Chicago Auto Show

Nation’s biggest consumer show features indoor test tracks

By Nina Russin

2013 Dodge Dart at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Chicago is my favorite of the four major US auto shows because of its emphasis on consumers as opposed to focusing purely on journalists. On its 104th anniversary, the show continued to fine-tune its formula for reaching area car enthusiasts with indoor test tracks and an expanded social media program for bloggers.

A traditional media day opened the show with product reveals from GMC, Hyundai, Kia, Ford and Nissan. A keynote address by John Maloney, president and CEO of Volvo Cars North America at the annual Midwest Automotive Media Association breakfast set an optimistic tone for the product reveals which followed.

According to Maloney, it’s back to business as usual after the industry’s worst slowdown in recent memory. Although gas prices continue to fluctuate, significant declines in the US jobless rate have boosted consumer confidence. Buyers are heading back to dealerships to replace existing cars, the average age of which is now eleven years. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Hyundai Veloster

Three-door sport coupe designed for active lifestyles

By Nina Russin

2012 Hyundai Veloster

The Veloster compact coupe is Hyundai’s answer to urbanites with active lifestyles. Designers modified a three-door liftback, adding a fourth door on the right-hand side. The rear door eases access and egress to the second-row seats.

Under the hood, a direct injection 1.6-liter engine and six-speed manual transmission offer peppy performance with excellent fuel efficiency: 40 mpg on the highway, according to EPA estimates.

The car’s small footprint gives it maneuverability for weaving through dense traffic and parking in small slots on the street. A versatile interior is bicycle-friendly, and the driver’s seat has enough room for an extremely tall driver. A friend who’s six-foot-five got behind the wheel and had room to spare.

As with every Hyundai, the Veloster offers a high level of standard safety and convenience features at a remarkably low price. MSRP on the test car is $17,300, including delivery. The base car comes with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, a ten-year/100,000 mile factory warranty, alloy wheels, air conditioning, satellite radio, Hyundai’s proprietary telematics system, remote keyless entry, MP3 and IPod compatibility and Bluetooth interface.

A style package upgrades the wheels to 18-inch rims, adds a panoramic sunroof, chrome grille, leather interior accents alloy pedals and audio upgrade ($2000). A technology package includes a navigation system with rearview camera, keyless start and a 115-volt power outlet ($2000), bringing the price as tested to $21,300. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Toyota Yaris LE

Subcompact five-door sedan offers more to love

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Yaris

When Toyota redesigned its subcompact Yaris for the 2012 model year, the objective was, to paraphrase Mies, offering more for less. Available as either a three or five door lift-back, the new Yaris has a roomier interior and cargo area than the models it replaces, yet uses less gasoline.

The new model’s 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces the same horsepower and slightly less torque than the former block, but with better gas mileage: about one mile-per-gallon more around town. Equipped with the five-speed manual transmission, the 2012 Yaris averages 38 mpg on the highway: two miles-per-gallon better than the 2011 model.

Engineers reduced the car’s aerodynamic drag with some careful work in the wind tunnel, and also lowered the chassis for better high-speed performance. What this means for the customer is that the new Yaris looks and feels like a more substantial vehicle. Taller passengers will be more comfortable thanks to increased headroom, and buyers with active lifestyles will have a larger cargo area to load their gear into.

Pricing starts just over $14,000 for the three-door version with a five-speed manual transmission. The upscale five-door SE grade with a four-speed automatic transmission begins at $17,200. Prices do not include a $760 delivery charge. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Toyota Camry XLE

Best-selling midsized sedan moves forward

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Camry XLE

The downside to this strategy is moving the product forward. Under the hood, this means advancing technology without increasing maintenance.

Twenty-twelve models feature four and six cylinder direct injection engines. Because fuel goes directly into the engine cylinders rather than passing through valves combustion is more efficient, enhancing mileage and reducing toxic emissions. Electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmissions have large overdrive gears to produce 35 mile-per-gallon fuel economy on the highway.

Inside the car, owners can enjoy Toyota’s newest Entune infotainment system, which interfaces with smartphones for applications such as Open Table, Pandora, Yelp and IHeartRadio. Safety Connect automatically notifies emergency medical personnel in the event of a serious collision, and provides stolen vehicle location. A rearview backup camera and blind spot monitoring make it easier for drivers to park and maneuver through dense traffic.

Designers needed to create a distinctive exterior which is contemporary without being gimmicky. Toyota describes the new design as “architectural,” referring to more angular lines which replace soft, curvy surfaces. While I wouldn’t equate the new Camry with Paul Rudolph, I believe that the stylists met their mission with aplomb. A fresh, bright grille and wrap-around headlamps capture one’s attention, as does the sedan’s crisp beltline.

Camry buyers can choose from four, four-cylinder models and two V-6 grades. Base price on the upscale XLE four-cylinder sedan tested is $24,725 excluding a $760 delivery charge. The test car is equipped with five option packages: blind spot monitoring ($500); push button start, a backup camera and auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink and compass ($1195); premium audio with navigation, Entune, satellite radio and Bluetooth streaming music ($1700); safety connect ($450); and leather upholstery with heated front seats and a four-way power adjustable front passenger seat ($1650). MSRP is $30,980. Read the rest of this entry »

Extended drive: 2012 Toyota Prius V Five

Versatile hybrid for active families

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Prius V Five

The fact that Toyota is expanding its hybrid offerings from a single model to a family of vehicles is therefore no surprise. The new Prius family includes a plug-in version which can run on pure electric power for short distances and a compact hatchback aimed towards urbanites living in areas where parking space is at a premium.

Of the new models, the Prius V is the largest, and the best suited for active families. Readers who expect the Prius V to be a new version of the minivan are mistaken: it isn’t that large, nor does it have three rows of seating. The extra interior space adds room in the second row, which can comfortably seat three passengers, and the cargo area. While the original Prius can only hold one bicycle, the Prius V can hold two and the people riding them.

As with the current Prius, the Prius V comes in four grades, beginning with the Two priced from $26,400. The upscale Prius V Five starts at $29,990. In both cases pricing does not include a $760 delivery charge.

Standard comfort and convenience features on the test car include keyless entry and start, navigation, rear backup camera, Bluetooth interface, heated front seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, automatic climate control and split/folding second-row seats.

A premium package on the test car adds a two-pane panoramic moonroof, upgraded audio system, real-time weather and traffic updates, safety connect with automatic emergency assistance, stolen vehicle locator, and roadside assistance as well as Entune: Toyota’s proprietary infotainment system ($5580). Carpeted floor mats cost $225 and wheel locks add $67, bringing the price as tested to $36,622. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Acura TSX Technology

Sport sedan adds spice to the daily commute

By Nina Russin

2012 Acura TSX

The TSX is the entry luxury offering in Acura’s lineup, competing against the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, Lexus IS and Infiniti G series. Buyers can choose between an inline four or V-6 engines, with a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual gearbox.  The V-6 engine is available only for the sedan. Acura’s TSX sport wagon comes with the inline four-cylinder engine.

Shift paddles on the steering wheel gives the driver the option of selecting gears manually for more aggressive performance. A sport mode holds onto gears longer to keep the engine in its power band.

An available technology package adds an upgraded surround-sound audio system, hard-drive navigation with real-time weather and traffic updates, and dual-zone climate control. Base price for the four-cylinder TSX sedan with technology is $32,910. An $885 destination charge brings the price as tested to $33,795. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Mazda3 Grand Touring Sedan

Skyactiv technology boosts gas mileage to 40 mpg

By Nina Russin

2012 Mazda3 Sedan

A refreshed exterior on the 2012 Mazda3 is just the appetizer: bigger changes under the hood include a brand new engine and transmission which give the compact sedan fuel economy comparable to some gasoline/electric hybrids. Engineers redesigned fuel nozzle jets and gave the new two-liter engine a compression ratio comparable to a race car: 12:1.

The compression ratio indicates how much pistons compress the air-fuel mixture in the engine cylinders before the spark plugs light it up. A higher compression ratio makes the engine burn fuel more completely but can also lead to detonation. By changing the shape of the piston heads and shortening combustion times, engineers minimized the possibility of preignition, so the engine can run on regular gasoline as opposed to high-octane premium.

The new engine, which is also 4.4 pounds lighter than the block it replaces, achieves 28 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway, according to EPA estimates, with a range of over 500 miles between fill-ups.

In addition to its large overdrive gears, the new six-speed automatic utilizes a lockup torque converter with friction couplings to boost gas mileage. Engineers redesigned the manual transmission as well, making it lighter than the gearbox it replaces for similar fuel economy gains.

But being Mazda, extending gas mileage wasn’t enough. The new powertrain had to satisfy the needs of the automaker’s core audience of driving enthusiasts. Having put 200 miles on the Mazda3 sedan, this writer believes that Mazda has fulfilled its mission. The newest version of its compact sedan maintains the responsive handling and peppy acceleration of its predecessors, at a price which won’t break the bank.

MSRP for the upscale Grand Touring model is $22,300, excluding the $795 destination charge. A $1400 technology package adds blind spot monitoring, perimeter alarm, bi-xenon adaptive headlamps, satellite radio and rain-sensing wipers, bringing the price as tested to $24,495. Read the rest of this entry »