2012 Honda Civic Si

High-performance coupe stays true to its roots

By Nina Russin

2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe

It’s curious that Honda, a fundamentally conservative automaker, has become the marque of choice among millennial car enthusiasts. The compact Civic’s performance variant, the Si, is not a radical car by most measures. However, the OEM package, with its high-revving iVTEC engine, close ratio gearbox and compact sport-tuned suspension is the perfect palette for customization. It also offers superb ride and handling out of the box.

Honda introduced the ninth-generation of Civics for the 2012 model year, including an all-new Si. An aluminum 2.4-liter block replaces the 2-liter engine on the former model. Engineers made both peak horsepower and torque available at lower engine speeds to enhance the everyday driving experience.

As with its predecessors, the newest Si coupe is extremely light, and remarkably well balanced for a front-wheel drive car. Its performance adds a new dimension to everyday driving, without sacrificing versatility or fuel economy.

Average highway fuel economy is 31 miles-per-gallon, according to the EPA. Because of the engine’s high compression ratio, the Civic Si requires 91 octane premium unleaded fuel.

Base price for the Si coupe is $22,205, excluding the $770 delivery charge. The Si coupe comes standard with the 2.4-liter engine, six-speed close ratio gearbox, limited slip differential and 17-inch alloy wheels with all-season V-rated tires. A standard stainless steel exhaust will appeal to buyers in areas which experience severe winters.

Standard comfort and convenience features include remote keyless entry, air conditioning, Bluetooth interface, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with redundant controls, aluminum pedals, adjustable sport seats, a 360-watt audio system with MP3 and USB interface and speed-sensitive volume. Buyers can add a navigation system with XM satellite radio. Read the rest of this entry »

Winter Driving Tips from a Pro

Thinking ahead is the key to maintaining control

By Nina Russin

Bridgestone Winter Driving School, Steamboat Springs, Colorado

What can an inexperienced driver do to ensure that his trip up to the mountains is a safe one? I asked Mark Cox, a professional race car driver and director of Bridgestone’s Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado for some advice.

“If you’re using good technique, front, rear and all-wheel drive cars all perform the same,” said Cox. “The idea that they don’t is an urban myth. However if you aren’t using good technique, they perform differently.”

“You only have three ways to control a car,” Cox continued. Those controls are braking, steering and accelerating. According to Cox, the best way to maintain traction on ice and snow is by only using one control at a time. Read the rest of this entry »

2013 Dodge Dart

Chrysler unveils Fiat-based compact with classic nameplate

By Nina Russin

2013 Dodge Dart

Chrysler announced yesterday that it’s expanding the company’s small car offerings in North America with an all-new Dart compact sedan, to be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. The new Dart takes its name from Dodge’s midsized model of the late 1960s and early 70s, whose variants included some rather sedate four-door cars, but also the track-happy GTS.

The new Dart follows on the heels of the Fiat 500: the Italian automaker’s first North American model in several decades. Based on the Alfa Romeo Guilietta, the 2013 Dart comes with a choice of three engines: the same 1.4-liter Fiat block which powers the 500, and two new four-cylinder blocks with 2 and 2.4-liter displacement respectively. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec

Performance-tuned coupe feels at home on road or track

By Nina Russin

For 2011, Hyundai added two performance variants to the Genesis coupe family: one powered by a two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a second based on the 3.8-liter V-6. Both cars transform the coupe’s personality from a premium road car into something much edgier and more youthful.

The R-Spec coupes aren’t for everyone. The suspensions have stiffer spring rates, which can make for a bumpy ride on certain types of roads. Both models come exclusively with manual gearboxes. A limited slip differential is standard. In other words, the R-Spec coupes are Hyundai’s answer to Infiniti’s G coupes and Ford’s pony cars. Zero-to-sixty acceleration is 5.5 seconds: a pretty good number in any stable.

For buyers who want to buy a track-ready car, the R-Spec packages are hard to resist. If one were to purchase standard components on the Genesis R-Spec coupes, including Brembo brakes, strut tower brace, track-tuned suspension, 19-inch wheels with performance tires and the close ratio ZF gearbox in the aftermarket, it would cost a lot more than the OEM package.

On top of that, the buyer gets a sexy looking car loaded with comfort and convenience features such as Bluetooth and USB interface, satellite radio, bolstered sport seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, special badging and fog lamps.

Hyundai’s ten-year/100,000 mile warranty covers any repair due to defects from the factory, and includes five years of roadside assistance.

The only accessories not included in the test car’s $26,750 MSRP are a cargo net, iPod cable and carpeted floor mats. Together they add $180 dollars to the price of the car. The MSRP includes delivery charges as well. In other words: no ups, no extras. Read the rest of this entry »

First Drive: 2013 Lexus GS

Mid-luxury sport sedans get a fresh dose of attitude

By Nina Russin

2013 Lexus GS 350

The Lexus GS sport sedans undergo a complete make-over for 2013, beginning with three gas-powered variants that roll out in February, followed by new hybrid models. Lexus product planners hope that the fourth generation car, with revised styling, more interior space and enhanced performance will conquest fifty percent of buyers from its competitors, including the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6. That bold statement is indicative of renewed confidence, following several months of uncertainty due to last summer’s devastating tsunami in Japan.

Gasoline models roll out first, powered by a direct injection V-6 engine rated at 306 horsepower, with 277 foot-pounds of torque and six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid sedans which follow combine 286 horsepower Atkinson cycle V-6 engines, electric motors two-stage automatic transmissions. Net horsepower is 338: on par with a 4.5-liter V-8 engine.

GS 350 buyers can choose between base (premium), luxury and F Sport grades. The premium grade model comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, ten-way power seats, bi-xenon headlamps, leather upholstery, keyless access and start. The upscale luxury grade gets 18-inch wheels, adaptive front headlamps, tri-zone climate control and semi-aniline leather seating.

2013 Lexus GS 450h

An adaptive variable suspension, standard on F Sport models, automatically adjusts shock damping according to road conditions. The driver can chose between normal and sport mode, which makes the shock damping more compliant for everyday driving, or stiffer for high-speed control. Lexus’ proprietary dynamic handling technology adjusts wheel camber and caster to minimize the effect of oversteer. The performance grade also gets nineteen-inch alloy rims with summer tires, a unique grille and special front and rear bumpers.

Available all-wheel drive enhances wet weather performance by transferring power to the wheels with the best traction. The normal 30/70 power balance can change to 50/50 if the rear wheels start to spin out.

Zero-to-sixty acceleration is 5.7 seconds for the rear-wheel drive model according to the manufacturer; six seconds for the all-wheel drive model. Average fuel economy is about 28 miles-per-gallon for the gasoline cars and just over 30 mpg for the hybrids. All-wheel drive models lose about two miles-per-gallon on the highway. Because the engines have extremely high compression ratios, both the gasoline and hybrid cars require 91 octane gasoline. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Porsche Cayman R

Race-ready sports car proves that less is more

By Nina Russin

2012 Porsche Cayman R

The Cayman originated as a hardtop sibling to the open-air Boxster, sharing the same “boxer” engine, and midship engine placement. This year, Porsche added an “R” model to the Cayman, which strips weight off the chassis by using more lightweight construction materials, eliminating the air conditioning and audio system.

By shaving 121 pounds off the chassis, engineers boosted engine horsepower to 330: ten more than the Cayman S or Boxster Spyder equipped with the same engine. Zero-to-sixty acceleration is 4.7 seconds using the six-speed manual transmission.

The Cayman R comes with special lightweight wheels and a sport-tuned suspension which lowers the chassis 20 millimeters compared to other variants. Special aero effects include a unique front and rear spoiler to make the car slipperier in the wind tunnel.

Base price is $66,300 not including a $950 destination charge. Options on the test car include automatic dimming mirrors ($690), Porsche’s connectivity and navigation system ($3455), bi-xenon adaptive headlamps ($1550), three audio packages ($795), custom wheels ($1815), floor mats and automatic climate control ($1760), bringing the MSRP to $79,285. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

Mid-sized sedan gets a green connection

By Nina Russin

Kia Optima Hybrid

It was exactly one year ago that Kia unveiled its first gasoline/electric hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show. I’m thinking back to the model reveal as I drive the Optima Hybrid sedan across the Sonoran desert between Phoenix and Los Angeles for the 2011 show.

While other automakers struggle to tread water after the industry-wide implosion of 2008, Kia seems to be on a roll. Looking at the interior of the Optima Hybrid, it’s easy to understand why. Value has been core to Kia’s mission since arriving stateside in 1994 and remains so today. MSRP on the Optima Hybrid is $26,500, not including the $750 delivery charge.

For the price of a mid-level sedan, Kia offers its premium grade, with Bluetooth interface, a rearview camera display and dual-zone climate control. Kia’s UVO infotainment system, developed in conjunction with Microsoft, is also standard.

Power comes from a 2.4-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine, which works in concert with an electric motor. Kia partnered with LG Chem of South Korea to develop a lithium polymer battery, which is lighter and more compact than nickel metal-hydride units.

A technology package on the test car adds navigation with Sirius traffic updates, an Infinity premium audio system, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, high-intensity discharge headlamps, leather seating, heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror with Homelink and a compass ($5000). Price as tested is $32,250. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Los Angeles Auto Show

Automakers focus on green cars and connectivity

By Nina Russin

Kia's GT Concept at the 2011 LA Auto Show

The Los Angeles Auto Show’s star continues to rise, despite financial unease within the car industry. A continuing focus on green transportation solutions has piqued the interest of the international press, helping the show to attract numbers comparable to North America’s three other major shows: Detroit, Chicago and New York.

While the focus on alternative and hybrid vehicles remains strong, automakers at the 2011 LA Auto Show seemed as, if not more concerned with user interfaces inside the vehicle. Cadillac’s new CUE system rolls out in the all-new XTS sedan, followed by the ATS and SRX later next year. Infiniti takes a personal touch in its new JX seven-passenger crossover, with a concierge service that provides 24-hour access to a live assistant.

Hyundai and Kia continue to upgrade their proprietary infotainment systems- BlueLink and UVO- while Ford, which pioneered the field with Sync, introduces the next generation My Ford Touch system on the all-new Escape and refreshed Flex.

At the conclusion of the two-day press preview, Ford captured Nielsen’s Green Marketer of the Year award, while the 2012 Green Car Journal Green Car of the Year went to the Honda Civic Natural Gas model. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350

Third generation roadster gains muscle under the hood

By Nina Russin

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350

Two-seaters are by nature personal cars, purchased by drivers who value the experience of being one with the road. While I wouldn’t classify the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 as a sports car, it is certainly a vehicle for enthusiasts of beautifully crafted and styled automobiles.

The third-generation model which debuts for 2012 evokes memories of the iconic 190SL. The newest SLK shares the original SL’s long hood and short rear overhang. The design is considerably softer and more refined than the 1996 SLK, whose rather angular exterior always struck me as a bit unresolved.

Underneath the 2012 SLK’s hood is a more powerful V-6 engine, rated at 302 horsepower. Direct injection delivers gasoline directly into the cylinders rather than through the valves for enhanced throttle response and reduced parasitic fuel loss. The automaker estimates zero-to-sixty acceleration at 5.4 seconds.

A seven-speed automatic transmission enhances the coupe’s fuel economy even further by providing large overdrive gears for the highway. Despite the additional power, the newest SLK350 averages four miles-per-gallon more on the highway and one more in the city than the model it replaces.

Base price is $54,800 not including the $875 delivery charge. Options on the test car include a premium package which upgrades the audio system and adds seat and neck-level heaters ($2590); bi-xenon headlamps with washers ($1070); hard drive navigation ($2150); 18-inch AMG wheels and ground effects ($2500); a panoramic roof ($500); wind foil ($350) and ultrasonic park assist ($970); bringing the price as tested to $65,805. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

Full-sized sedan races on Sunday, commutes on Monday

By Nina Russin

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

Although Americans can’t take credit for inventing the full-sized sedan, they were instrumental in perfecting it. Before the era of sport and cross-utility vehicles, husbands drove their wives and children around in full-sized sedans.

The end of the Second World War ushered in a new era of American car design, during which the sedan was front and center. A country deprived on new car models for over half a decade swarmed into showrooms to discover sleek, muscular new machines that bore little resemblance to the cars of the early 1940s.

Models such as the fabulous Hudson Hornet, the Olds Rocket 88 and the original Chrysler 300 series were the early heroes of the newly formed NASCAR racing series. Skunk-works teams working late at night transformed plain vanilla sedans into the first muscle cars. They became instant classics.

The Chrysler 300 SRT8 takes its name and spirit from these sedans of the 1950s and 60s, with a dynamic profile and driver-focused interior. The division’s Street and Racing Technology team takes the formula a step further by adding an all-new hemi V-8 engine which accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in less than five seconds.

While its powerful engine is the sedan’s most obvious nod towards driving enthusiasts, it is not the only one. Formula-style shift paddles on a specially-designed steering wheel, on-board telemetry, and colossal Brembo brakes engineered to withstand the rigors of long days at the track make the 300 SRT8 a car which can go racing over the weekend and commute to the office during the week.

Base price is $47,170, not including an $825 delivery charge. The test car comes with a safety option package which adds blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and power folding mirrors with redundant signals ($1995). Other options include leather seating ($2500), an audio upgrade which consists of 18 speakers with a 900-watt amplifier ($1995), a dual-pane panoramic sunroof ($1295) and performance tires ($150). A $1000 gas guzzler tax brings the price as tested to $56,930. Read the rest of this entry »