autivepanjatan: November 2012

Hyundai Accent 2012 Review

Hyundai Accent 2012 Review. Fully redesigned, the 2012 Hyundai Accent features a more powerful and efficient engine, a new four-door hatchback body style and upgraded interior.

Honda CR-V 2012 Review. Comfortable, enjoyable to drive and packed with utility, the previous-generation Honda CR-V was certainly deserving of its status as a top seller in the compact-crossover segment. For the 2012 Honda CR-V, the model gets a redesign that brings spruced-up sheet metal and cabin design, along with content and performance upgrades that should align it even more closely with the wants and needs of its family-focused audience.

Honda Civic 2012 Review. For a new compact car to stand out in an increasingly competitive category, you'd think it should offer more than just a few subtle improvements. So we find ourselves in a rather unfamiliar position with the redesigned 2012 Honda Civic.

Ferrari FF Coupe 2012 Review. Despite what you see in print and video advertisements, those who own exotic sports cars don't always get to drive where the roads are smooth and dry and the weather is perfect. The 2012 Ferrari FF is an exotic car for those driving enthusiasts who live where it's not perpetually 75 degrees and sunny with no chance of precipitation. In other words, most parts of the world.

Chevrolet Sonic Sedan 2012 Review. For a long time, domestic cars were laggards in the small-car segment, but these days, the picture is much different; homegrown models are at the forefront both in sales and overall quality. The latest example of worthy local talent is the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, a subcompact that replaces the Aveo in Chevy's lineup.

Performante Look For The Old Gallardo by SR Auto. SR Auto has updated its Project Mastermind Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder with a new kit that gives it the looks of the newer and awesomer Lamborghini Performante. So if you can’t afford the real thing, here’s a solution for you; buy an old one, have it converted by SR.

Audi TT GT3 In The Works. Audi has set themselves ambitious goals to reach over the next few years, including launching a new luxury SUV, a diesel hybrid super car, and a GT3-like version of the TT. Basically a stripped-out version of the TT RS, the new sports coupe is said to weight only 1,000 kg.

BMW 6 Series M Sport by Hamann. Hamann released a tailored package for the BMW 6 Series models equipped with the M Sport package. The factory kit comes with different bumpers, styling details, interior appointments, suspension and wheels, and performance upgrades. What Hamann does is make it look cooler.

Koenigsegg Agera S First Pictures. In between making one-off versions of the Ager R for Chinese people, Koenigsegg is also readying the Agera S, a follow up to the R with new styling details. The car was recently spotted out and about in Hong Kong.

Mercedes GL UK 2013 Prices and Specs. Mercedes Benz UK confirmed prices and specifications of the new 2013 GL in the British market, where the big SUV is available as GL350 BlueTEC AMG Sport and GL63 AMG. Prices start from £59,465 for the diesel one, and £91,680 for the full-fat AMG model.

Dodge Dart Limited 2013 Review. I'd been looking forward to driving the Dart since the car was revealed—this marks my first impression, if you don't count drives of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta that helped form my positive underlying opinion of the car. I'll admit that despite my good vibes going in, and the car's apparent high level of equipment for this money, I was somewhat underwhelmed—at least at first. The car seemed softened too much, with oversized upholstery, and I found it hard to find the “just right” driving position. Within a block of the office, the suspension crashed so hard over a bump in the pavement on a corner that I was really concerned that I'd set way too high an expectation. The drive home was generally uneventful, but allowed me time to start getting accustomed to the Dart and learn to appreciate its Italian nuances.

Honda Ridgeline Sport 2012 Review. This Honda Ridgeline Sport 2012 is a comfortable, nice-looking vehicle that drives more like a crossover with a bed, rather than a true truck. That's to be expected, but the Ridgeline actually has a decent amount of grunt and can tow 5,000 pounds. It's not fast by any means, but the 250 ponies are up to the task for merging onto expressways and launches from a stop if you aggressively use the throttle. The five-speed is fine, and four-wheel drive is a nice feature, though I had no reason to use it in my brief stint.

Lincoln MKZ 2013 Review. No one at Lincoln minimizes the importance of the 2013 MKZ. The sedan is the first of four new Lincolns debuting over the next three years, and the starting point for an overhaul intended to remake the brand and return it to prosperity, or at least relevance. Lincoln’s management team understands that the clock is ticking.

SRT Viper 2013 Hits The Race Track. It was raining, one of the world's toughest road courses was pretty wet and all the cars had 640 hp at the rear wheels. What could possibly go wrong?

Buick Regal GS 2012 Review. The Buick Regal GS 2012 is a strong, sporty execution for Buick that's sharply styled and fun to drive. The chassis is excellent. I like the styling cues that blend bling and subtlety, and the cabin is purposeful and well-laid out.

After two years without one (how did we survive?), the BMW M6 convertible will be back in showrooms in late June. “It's the fastest convertible we've ever made,” said M brand manager Matt Russell. If you measure “fastest” by top speed, BMWs have been electronically limited to 155 mph for some time, which is pretty fast. But if you look at 0-to-60-mph times, it should take just 4.2 seconds, a few tenths quicker than the old model. The M6 also does it more efficiently, with a 30 percent mileage improvement.

Cynics would say that the 640i Gran Coupe is a BMW CLS, a Bavarian copy of the Mercedes-Benz CLS four-door coupe introduced way back in 2005 (not to be confused with the two-door 1973 BMW CSL coupe). The 2012 BMW 6-series Gran Coupe certainly shares its basic proportions with the Mercedes CLS, a car now well into its second generation. But BMW designed its Gran Coupe with its own distinct take on the genre, with a relatively small greenhouse canted inward around the edges and dolloped on top of a wide, powerful base. There is less of the distinct roofline arch that you see flowing from nose to tail on the Mercedes.

I won't say that the 2012 BMW 528i xDrive is slow, because when you wind it out it gets up and going. But the acceleration isn't something you'd comment on, unless, of course, it was the lack of acceleration.

When Volvo introduced the redesigned S60 for 2011, it relegated the availability of the Haldex AWD system to the higher-spec T6 model, leaving the five-cylinder T5 to make do with front-wheel drive. In an attempt to sell more cars in climes where premium customers won't bite unless all-wheel drive is available, Volvo added four-wheel motivation to the T5 as a $2,000 option.

At the end of 1989, Toyota put the world's schmantziest carmakers on notice. Detroit was stumbling aimlessly through its quality nadir. The Europeans were selling finicky machines that were as expensive to buy and maintain as they were enjoyable to drive.

The Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG is an effortless assassin, offering an abundance of power delivered in smooth, athletic fashion. The naturally aspirated V8 is the critical element in this machine. It sounds great, delivers a lot of grunt from launch and when thrusting to higher speeds on the expressway, and it really feels like a hot rod at times. A well-dressed one? Yes. But the engine offers up so much juice it's hard to not want to drive this thing fast.

But if one wants to simply cruise into work, that's fine, too. The car is comfortable and pleasing on the inside, despite its sporting nature. The materials are excellent, and this interior, done up in black and red, is a particularly nice blend of athleticism and elegance.

The chassis is well-tuned for sporty driving. It's stiff, almost to the point of borderline punishing at times, but it makes for smart dynamics. The steering offers smooth response, though it's a bit lighter than one might expect. Regardless, the reflexes in the SLK55 are excellent.

I liked the design, which looks muscular in back through the hips and is chiseled up front. It really stands out, though with all of the gills, vents and black wheels, it walks the fine line of being overdone. It works for my taste, though, and it's hard to fault a company for achieving attitude. And as an aside, the $500 panoramic sunroof is perhaps the nicest single option on this car, creating a relaxing, airy experience.

SENIOR MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: If you were to sit down in a quiet design office and begin to craft a White Paper for what a modern roadster should—or at least could—be, you might easily find yourself finishing up and seeing the blueprint for the SLK55 staring back at you.

The thing is, as with nuclear arms, Facebook, Twitter and the Jurassic Park scientists' cloning of dinosaurs: Just because you can doesn't mean you necessarily should.

This AMG creation veers too far outside of the roadster paradigm for me, though the upshot to some will be that it stands alone in character—and character is always central to this class of machine.

But I don't compare this car anymore to Porsche's Boxster or BMW's Z4 because it uppercuts the traditional open-top two-seater ethos, then drops a WWE-style flying-elbow-from-the-top-rope on it for good measure. It boasts gobs of power and torque, but its curb weight eclipses the Boxster S' by almost 600 pounds. Six hundred pounds, man! Its body does not appear svelte and flowing, but mean and brawny. You have a hardtop convertible roof at your disposal, but it also features a glass panoramic panel that, should you choose the appropriate option, can darken and lighten to suit conditions and moods. I would applaud this in a luxury sedan. But in a drop-top roadster? I could not help but wonder how much weight this adds in addition to the folding hardtop. Seems like a bit of blue-sky overkill.

The SLK55's on-road performance borders on brutal at times, especially on uneven roads. Everything about its feel says “heavyweight brawler,” not “featherweight technician.” Foot down, the V8 belches deep and loud, and you have a ball alternating between serious forward acceleration and seriously fun sideways powerslides. Oddly, I found the deadpedal, or footrest, is not high enough and is placed too far over on the footwell's left side. A result, perhaps, of AMG not offering a manual gearbox.

For me, the automatic transmission employed here is the car's weak link in terms of driving joy and engagement. It works fine and is reasonably smooth on both upshifts and downshifts (matching revs for the latter), but it does not like to bang down through the gears quickly. Several times I found myself arriving at my predetermined braking point and attempting to rifle-off downshifts at a quick pace using the left-hand, wheel-mounted shift paddle: “click, click, click.” Too often, my three or four clicks would yield only two or three actual shifts, invariably leaving me at least one gear higher than I wanted. You must be very deliberate and well-spaced with downshifts when driving in spirited form, which is a bummer in a car like this. I felt that way in general, as the harsh ride, obviously assisted steering and raw power are much more akin to the Incredible Hulk's plodding, building-smashing nature than to, say, Spiderman's pure athleticism.

Yes, I still like this car a lot, I really do. The interior is very hip and high-end, with carbon fiber and glowing red LED strips trimming the doors and console. It is fun to drive. However, it produces an experience more like the one my brain and body expect from a high-performance German sedan or midsize coupe than a relatively compact sports car.

Turning back to that White Paper, I'd say to myself after my first test drive, “Well, that didn't turn out quite as I intended.” AMG, on the other hand, certainly did, and I have no doubt there are people who love it for doing so.

I'm just not that kind of guy when it comes to open-air roadsters, unless I'm driving consistently on unrestricted stretches of Autobahn.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: Fact is, the car most SLK55 AMG buyers really want is that bad boy SL AMG, but they can't come up with the scratch. Yes, it's heavy and hard to completely control and little on the wicked side, but so is your badassed tattooed baby brother. Get used to it or buy further up the food chain.

I'm with Mac when it comes to the car's slouch point, the tranny action, or inaction as the case may be. When you need—really need—a downshift and you're nowhere close to redline, you ought to be able to get one. Instead, you have to self-limit your driving to accommodate the powertrain and that's a sad situation in a car that purports to be serious sports car.

Love the engine, love the looks, but the overall package leaves me wanting more. I guess if my pocketbook could take it, I'd be an SL shopper.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I went on the launch of the SLK 350 last year and I was elated by the fact that it finally looks more masculine than the curvy hip lines and rabbit nose of the last two generations. The V6 in it more than pushed the car around the Tennessee mountains and as hardtop convertibles go, this is one of the better looking examples.

This AMG monster ditches the light and peppy V6 for 5.5-liter German hammer, and I loved every minute of it. Well, that's not exactly true, but we'll get to that in a minute. The 415-hp V8 launches this car with a whoosh feeling in the pit of your stomach that's normally reserved for bigger cars. It makes the same V8 exhaust note as the SLS AMG and the same sort of backfire sound on high-rev upshifts. Awesome.

It's also another naturally aspirated mill like the Honda Civic Si I was just in with strong power through the rev range. And like the guys above said, the logic programmed into the transmission is a little wonky. Sometimes you can't get a downshift when you need one; I'd love a multi-clutch setup like the SLS.

My complaint might be a bit picky but the SLK has one annoying thing that would drive me crazy if I owned the car. When the seat is all the way back it squeaks on the surface behind it, a loud, annoying, continuous squeak.

Like I said the exterior is way manlier than in past years. It now wears the same front end as the big SL coupe, which is a good. And this is one of the few cars with a folding hardtop that doesn't upset the lines. I also just realized that the top probably centers the weight quite nicely when it's packed away in the trunk. I did miss the Magic Sky roof, which is the Star Trek glass that Mac was talking about. One button turns it from clear to a dark-tinted blue, keeping most of the sun out. That would be first on my option list.

The price tag puts in a weird no-man's land, being much more expensive than most small roadsters and without the utility of something bigger. I can see this as a weekend cruiser for someone who already owns a GL- or G-class.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

Base Price: $68,375

As-Tested Price: $78,795

Drivetrain: 5.5-liter V8; RWD, seven-speed automatic

Output: 415 hp @ 6,800 rpm, 398 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,549 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 22/16.3 mpg

Options: P30 AMG handling package including AMG compound braking system, top speed 174 mph, AMG performance suspension, limited slip differential, AMG leather/alcantara performance steering wheel, 18-inch AMG multi-spoke wheel ($4,750); H73 carbon fiber trim ($2,250); 319 lighting package including bi-xenon headlamps with active curve illumination and headlamp washing system ($1,090); digital dual-zone climate control ($760); Iridium Silver metallic paint ($720); panorama roof ($500); Airguide windstop ($350)

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121120/carreviews/121119797#ixzz2CqlUGWY8

BMW ActiveHybrid 3 2013 Review

The ActiveHybrid 3 is BMW's fourth series-production hybrid. After the short-lived X6 ActiveHybrid and the more recently introduced ActiveHybrid 7 and ActiveHybrid 5, there is now another gasoline-electric-powered BMW to tempt U.S. car buyers.

BMW has offered the X1 in Europe since 2009, but the company waited for this mid-cycle refresh to bring its small SUV to the U.S. market. While BMW offers a plethora of X1 gasoline and diesel variants outside of North America, we'll get two engines: the 28i featuring a twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the U.S.-exclusive 35i employing BMW's potent twin-scroll turbo 3.0-liter six mated to a six-speed automatic. All- or rear-wheel drive is offered with the smaller engine (SDrive28i or XDrive28i), while all-wheel drive is standard with the bigger powerplant in the XDrive35i.

This BMW 335i sedan is a pricey little bugger. It's a very nice, small-to-midsize sedan seriously let down by its tires. On all but the smoothest pavement, the ride is harsh and slams over road imperfections, even in comfort mode. BMW's run-flat program is not good--witness our troubles with the long-term 550i xDrive.

Wow, this BMW Z4 sDrive 28i is really yellow and expensive. And a whole lot of fun. I really like this 2.0-liter engine with its decent torque relatively low in the rev range for such a small engine, and the turbo picks up midrange and really packs a punch. The gearbox action and clutch engagement are spot-on, just what we've come to expect from BMW. The steering is direct, and the suspension settings can be set for sport or comfort. While there's not really enough horsepower to kick the rear end out in twisty corners, there's certainly more than enough oomph to keep the driver engaged.

I'm left a bit flat by this big German bruiser, which surprises me. The seats are fantastic, the infotainment system is easy to use and the whole car smells of fine leather and wood. But as a package, particularly a $90,000 package, the 2012 Audi A8 L 4.2 FSI is not my favorite mode of transport in the segment.

This is what the Audi TT should be--a high-revving, precise-handling, rock-solid all-wheel-drive sports coupe. I’ve always felt that the front-drive TT roadster was a bit of a poseur, with not enough chassis stiffness and too much front-drive understeer to support its high-charging aspirations. This car, with the fixed roof and well-balanced all-wheel drive, does a great job of exorcising all of the demons and bringing out the car’s devilish character.

This is certainly a handsome execution of the 2012 Audi A4, and the manual gearbox makes it come alive for enthusiast pursuits. I love this bright red color, which was absolutely gleaming when I grabbed the keys and headed out after work. I like the simple elegance of the A4’s design. It’s balanced, sleek and done in a smart fashion. I love these headlights, too. Seeing the reflection of the outlines in vehicles in front of you is arresting.

The RS5 is the top performance model in Audi's A5 range, picking up the corporate 4.2-liter V8 that was deleted from the S4 at last year's facelift. This V8, however, is an upgraded version with 450 hp, rather than the 420 hp it produces in the Audi R8.

Call it a midsize crossover all you like, but the 2012 Audi Q5 3.2 FSI Prestige is a heavy vehicle, and one feels every pound. The unboosted V6 is a delight at higher rpm, but when lugging around town I wished for Audi’s supercharged six and its extra torque down low. Or a diesel, for that matter.

Take a Chevy Spark. Remove about 150 pounds from the front end. Add 400 in the rear. Garnish with 320 extra lb ft of torque. It can run silent, and according the ads, Chevy runs deep. So it has a couple of things in common with a submarine. You can call it Alvin. Given that every electrified GM model undergoes a full saltwater-immersion test before entering production, the comparison is marginally apt. Marginally.

The second-generation RDX is so different from Acura's first foray into the small-crossover segment, it could almost justify a new name. But Acura doesn't want to further confuse potential buyers, so instead Honda's high-end brand is retaining the RDX badge but rolling out a significantly different vehicle.

It's the third evolution of Aston Martin's current two-door GT. The 2012 Virage slots between the more understated DB9 and the testosterone-heavy DBS.

The Aston Martin Vanquish, coming next spring as a 2014 model, replaces the DBS in Aston's lineup. It wears an all-carbon body and a new V12 boasting 565 hp and 457 lb ft of torque. The powerplant is an all-new block and head with variable-valve timing, new fuel pump, bigger throttle bodies and a bigger intake manifold.

I have been a growing fan of Audi for years and I really liked the A5 coupe when it was released. The four rings have kept the hype going, releasing one great car after another for the past few years. This could be the best-looking car in the stable besides the R8.

Acura's engineers will tell you that the vowel in ILX stands for inomama, a Japanese word for intuitive handling that roughly translates to “it does what we expect it to do” as a premium sports sedan.

What an outstanding engine and gearbox combo—there could be a decade-old chassis on top of it (and come to think of it, there might be), and the powertrain alone would make the Acura TSX 2012 Special Edition a strong contender in the near-luxury sports-sedan market. I'm not prone to gushing, but the six-speed manual in this Acura is hands-down the best stick shift I've driven in years. Combined with the smooth, zingy four-cylinder engine, the TSX is an example of the mechanical mastery of which Honda is capable when it tries.

The Acura MDX 2012 is a classy SUV with respectable power and a bit of space inside. Using it for a commuter lap, I unfortunately didn’t make full use of its potential, but I’ll leave that to members of the staff with offspring of the two- and four-legged variety.

The Acura TL continues to surprise as it evolves in its current fourth generation.

What a difference a day makes. Last night I was in the Mini Cooper S Coupe and then I get in this Volkswagen GTI Two-Door 2012. I was thinking about trade-offs yesterday with the Coupe, but after the GTI I realized there's no need. The Mini was bone-breaking on 90 percent of the roads around here. But on the 10 percent that was smooth, that thing was razor sharp.

The Kia Rio EX 2012 sedan looks miles better than its predecessor but still has a little ways to go before it looks as good as the hatchback. The tiger-nose grille, as funny as it sounds, does make the front end look a bit cute. The rear sits up a bit too high for my taste; it makes the car look narrow. The styling on the rear is OK, but it's nothing like the hatch, which I say looks almost cool.

Still in house-moving mode for the second week with many more likely to come. So another pickup truck request and the Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ 2012 assigned. Didn’t know Chevrolet still made the Avalanche—thought it’d been killed a while back.

This Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew 2012 seems like a whole lot of truck for the money, considering a loaded-like-this F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado usually comes in closer to $50K if memory serves. I like the big pickups from Ford, Chevy and Dodge. With this particular sample, it's all about the EcoBoost engine. Why should one consider an EcoBoost instead of a V8? With this stout twin-turbo V6 you have the ability to tow up to 11,300-pound if that is what you need. When you're not towing and the turbos aren't always spooled up, you should get more than 20 mpg on the highway. Show me another light-duty truck that will give you that kind of mileage and towing capability.

The Mercedes Energ-G-Force, which will debut at the Los Angeles auto show, could be the shape of Mercedes SUVs to come--if you like it.

The Honda Crosstour 2013 gets a base price of $27,230, which is $525 lower than 2012 model. The sheetmetal is reworked for the new year, and some equipment has changed.

If flashy-exoticar curb appeal and organ-bruising ride are at the top of your supercar requirements, cross the McLaren 12C Spider off your list. From some angles, the car might be mistaken for a $25,000 Scion FR-S, while from the driver's seat it can seem as tame and relaxed as a garden-variety Honda Accord.

This is my second time in a Honda Civic Si in the past few months. What I liked about the coupe, I also like in the sedan: comfortable seats, a clean dash and a relatively strong naturally aspirated engine—mostly the engine.

The 2014 Audi R8 marks the first substantial revision for the supercar since it was launched in 2007. There are styling updates, the addition of a range-topping V10 Plus model and addition of a seven-speed dual-clutch sequential manual transmission. There won't be a 2013 R8. Instead, Audi will stretch the 2012 model until the 2014 goes on sale in the United States on March 20, 2013.

The Audi R8 2014 marks the first substantial revision for the supercar since it was launched in 2007. There are styling updates, the addition of a range-topping V10 Plus model and addition of a seven-speed dual-clutch sequential manual transmission. There won't be a 2013 R8. Instead, Audi will stretch the 2012 model until the 2014 goes on sale in the United States on March 20, 2013.

There are lots of things I like about the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE, but the CVT would be a deal-breaker. I like the looks, which steal some cues from the Lancer Evolution—a good idea. The car has a nice aggressive look to it, and as little crossovers go, I would rank this, looks-wise, near the very top.

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