Reviews of Fiat 500c

 

The 2012 Fiat 500c is the Italian carmaker’s novel way to give an open-air driving experience without building a full convertible. The canvas roof certainly adds more eccentricity to this cute small car, but there are many small problems, according to Cars.com Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder. In fact, all those small issues lead to one very big annoyance that the 500c can’t shake.  Watch the video above to learn more, and make sure to 

Reviews the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder Reviews

Nissan's Pathfinder never kowtowed to the swoopy crossover trend and didn't fall to the sedan-ification of SUVs like some of its competition.

Of course, there's a price to pay for its truck-based SUV ways: With the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder, a three-row SUV, it comes mostly in the form of reduced gas mileage and a trucklike ride that can get tiresome.

My test Pathfinder was a Silver Edition, which celebrates the Pathfinder's 25 years in America and adds 17-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated front seats and a 10-speaker Bose sound system. It has a 4.0-liter V-6 and an adjustable drivetrain that allowed me to choose two-wheel drive, 4-High or 4-Low. I liked having the choice; it made me feel able to attain the high end of the Pathfinder's EPA-estimated 14/20 mpg city/highway. Having a little control helps because the Pathfinder uses premium gas and that will get pricey.

Even with its truck platform, the Pathfinder was comfortable on the road, but it had a stiff suspension. There was some body roll in corners, too. Overall, I liked the ride. It reminded me I was in an SUV and not a posh crossover.

For those who like to go out and play with their truck, their toys and their kids, the Pathfinder can be a pretty good fit. It has a starting MSRP of $28,570. The price of my midlevel Pathfinder Silver Edition 4x4 was $38,485.

EXTERIOR

The Pathfinder is rectangular to the extreme, and it has 17-inch alloy wheels, a towing hitch and rugged tubular running boards. There are no sinewy curves here.

There are a couple hiccups, though. First off, if you want your small kids to get in this three-row SUV, you'll have to wait until they're taller or be ready to help them for a while because the rear-door handles sit up high. Kids will figure out a work-around eventually, but until then you're their primary door-opener and that can get old. For adults, the Pathfinder is easy to get into, which surprised me. Because the Pathfinder looks so much like the Nissan Armada, I kept expecting to have to take a giant step to get in it. A couple of times, I took too big of a step and hit my head on the doorframe.

The cargo area's load floor is high, but that's not unexpected. A double-stroller can fit in the cargo area, but parents hefting it might want to see if they can live with lifting it up really high to get in the cargo area.

The Pathfinder has a 266-horsepower, 4.0-liter V-6 engine that's paired to a five-speed automatic transmission. A 5.6-liter V-8 engine is available on the top-of-the-line LE trim.

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Great
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Some

INTERIOR

After 25 years in the U.S. you'd think the Pathfinder would have its act together. For the most part, it does, but not across the board and some features seem like they were added to the SUV at the last minute. I was pleasantly surprised by the Pathfinder's comfortable driver's seat, however.

The driver's seat helped make up for the Pathfinder's stiff ride. My back never ached and my legs never got tired. I wished the Pathfinder had a telescoping steering wheel, but my test car did have adjustable pedals, which helped somewhat.

This three-row SUV's buttons were easy to understand and use. However, there were some stereo knobs that were set apart from the rest of the controls. This seemed weird. Also, there were two power outlets on the passenger side of the center stack that seemed like afterthoughts. I know utility is the opposite of polish most of the time, but it seemed like these details were overlooked.

In the Pathfinder, there are a lot of functional storage spaces in the front row, but the cupholders annoyed me a little. There are rubber inserts in them that stuck to most water bottles I put in them. Paper cups fared well, as did soda cans. A travel mug is the perfect fit because the Pathfinder has a niche for the handle. A nice touch.

In the second row, things are less equipped. The cupholders are at the base of the center console's rear, which is difficult for kids in car seats to reach, and there are pockets on the seatbacks. There was plenty of legroom, though, and the flat floor made carpool drop-offs a breeze.

There's also a standard third row in the Pathfinder. It's easily accessible because the second row's outboard seats tumble forward. If child-safety seats are in the outboard seats, kids can access the third row by folding the center portion of the 40/20/40-split second row. The third row is small. My kids, ages 7 and 9, were comfortable back there, but adults would find it uncomfortable after a short ride. Both the second and third rows fold flat.

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

SAFETY

The 2011 Pathfinder received the top score of Good in frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In IIHS rear and roof-strength crash tests, the Pathfinder received the second-to-lowest score of Marginal. In rollover crash tests, it received three out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Pathfinder has two sets of lower Latch anchors in the second row's outboard seats. The second row is hospitable to child-safety seats — even a rear-facing infant-safety seat — despite the lower Latch anchors being wedged into the seat bight, where the back and bottom cushions meet. The seats recline, allowing a good fit for the car seats, and the tether anchors are high on the seatbacks.

The Pathfinder has standard four-wheel drive, antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, an electronic stability system with traction control, a backup camera and six airbags, including side curtains for all three rows of seats.

2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport Package: SEMA Photo Gallery

Over the past few years, Lexus has tried to be more than just a maker of reliable but bland luxury vehicles. The Lexus IS F, CT 200h and LFA try to move the brand toward that sporty and aggressive strategy. While the previous-generation Lexus GS sport sedan had some F Sport options, Lexus has decided to anoint a complete F Sport Package to its redesigned 2013 Lexus GS series. The package includes new bumpers, mesh grille, rear spoiler, diffuser and larger wheels. 

We covered the F Sport Package earlier last week, but intrepid Cars.com photographer Ian Merritt spotted the real thing at SEMA. Check out his photos below.

Click on any image for larger version.

Ford Focus ST at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show

• Competes with: Mazdaspeed3, Honda Civic Si, Subaru WRX
• Looks like: Focus SVT fanatics will be rewarded for their patience
• Drivetrain: 247-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, six-speed manual transmission
• Hits dealerships: 2012

Ever since the North American and European Focus coalesced into the same uniform model for 2012, American sport enthusiasts have been anticipating a replacement of the SVT, the high-performance Focus model that was killed nearly eight years ago.

Next year, these faithful will get what they wanted in the guise of the Ford Focus ST. This pocket rocket will be powered by the first EcoBoost engine announced for the U.S. Focus, a 247-horsepower, 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine with 250 pounds-feet of torque. Those estimates are pending final SAE ratings. The motor will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission only.

There are many more mechanical changes behind the robust engine in the Focus ST, however. Ford has reworked the suspension by upgrading the shock absorbers and springs. The rear suspension has been revised with uprated suspension knuckles and an all-new antiroll bar design. Overall, the sport-tuned suspension offers less ground clearance, but better cornering abilities, says Ford.

The electronic stability system and Torque Vectoring Control programming have been revised in the ST, too. The stability control has three modes to choose from, including an intermediate “reduced or wide-slip mode,” which turns off traction control off and intrudes only when absolutely necessary. Stability control can be turned off, but the Torque Vectoring Control will remain active, no matter the setting. Torque Vectoring Control, which is also found on the base Focus, applies brake torque to the inner wheel to reduce understeer.

The electronic power-assisted steering also has a torque steer compensation program, which detects torque steer and counteracts it when necessary.

Besides all the technical upgrades, the ST also shows off its more aggressive nature inside and out. The ST features large 18-inch wheels and unique exterior ground effects kit. A large lowered honeycomb front grille and a Ford badge moved high on the front leading edge of hood make the ST instantly recognizable. Within the cabin, the ST is comes with Recaro-brand sport seats and partial and full leather upholstery are available. The pedals, steering wheel and gearshift designs are unique to the ST, too.

We’ll have more information on the Focus ST once the 2011 L.A. Auto Show gets underway, but for now, check out the additional photos below.

Click any image for larger version.

Ford Fiesta ST Concept at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show

• Looks like: The Focus ST's pipsqueak brother
• Defining characteristics: Turbocharged four-cylinder, six-speed manual, aggressive styling 
• Ridiculous features: None to speak of — it's ready for primetime 
• Chances of being mass-produced: Count on it joining the Focus ST in Ford's lineup

Ford has made it clear that there'd be a high-performance version of the Fiesta subcompact car, and the Fiesta ST Concept is what it may look like.

Based on the much more stylish four-door hatchback body style versus the sedan, the Fiesta ST Concept wears aggressive styling cues like a gaping honeycomb mesh grille similar to the one on the Focus ST, restyled bumpers and 17-inch alloy wheels inside widened wheel arches. The car's stance is also lower. The resulting look is considerably more aggressive than the regular hatchback.

Like the current Fiesta, there's a 1.6-liter four-cylinder under the hood, but it's turbocharged in the concept and rated at 180 horsepower, which is 60 hp more than the production car's engine. Torque is up to 177 pounds-feet, an increase of 65 pounds-feet. The concept is fitted with a six-speed manual transmission.

In its regular form the Fiesta has proven to be a nimble, good-handling car, so Ford's starting with a good foundation on which to build a performance variant that should still offer reasonable fuel efficiency.

Updated 2013 Volkswagen CC Coming to 2011 L.A. Auto Show

The 2013 Volkswagen CC adds new front and rear styling to better match VW’s new corporate look. That's the biggest takeaway we can see in Volkswagen's early release of information ahead of the car's debut at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show later this month. The four-door coupe’s new styling has a more serious expression with angular headlights, fog lights and grille, much like the recently redesigned Passat and Jetta wear.

Along with new styling, VW is upping the CC’s standard feature content for 2013 with bi-xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights, adaptive front lighting and LED taillights. The 2013 CC will be available in the U.S. next spring.

There are few details regarding any other changes or pricing, but we will know more in the coming weeks. More photos are below.

2012 Ford Electric Priced at $39,200

 

Starting today, Ford will take orders for the 2012 Focus Electric, which has been priced at $39,200, excluding a $795 destination fee. A limited number of the electric compact cars will be available before the end of the year in California, New York and New Jersey, with 15 other markets getting the EV early next year.

In contrast, the Nissan Leaf starts at $35,200, and the Mitsubishi i starts at $29,125. Currently, that makes the Ford Focus the most expensive of the mainstream electric cars, but it comes better equipped than the rest. The 2012 Coda EV, which recently went on sale, costs $44,900. All of these electric cars are eligible for a $7,500 tax credit. If you’re eligible for the whole credit, that would translate to a $31,700 asking price for the Focus Electric.

The model comes nicely equipped with automatic headlights, a 10-speaker Sony stereo, dual-zone automatic climate control, MyFord Touch, navigation, 8-inch touch-screen display, backup camera, rear parking sensor, leather-wrapped steering wheel, passive entry system and push-button start. The upholstery is an earth-friendly cloth made of 100% post-industrial materials; materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, according to Ford. Leather seats are a $995 option. The Focus Electric is powered by a 123-horespower, 100-kilowatt AC electric motor that makes 181 pounds-feet of torque, mated to a single-speed automatic transmission. The 23-kilowatt lithium-ion battery pack is a kilowatt less than the Leaf’s battery. The Focus EV has a top speed of 84 mph, much lower than the Leaf’s top governed speed of 90 mph. Unlike the Leaf, the Focus’ battery pack is liquid cooled and heated, which is supposed to better regulate battery temperatures in extreme weather. The car can get a full charge on a 240-volt outlet in three to four hours, Ford says, compared with the eight hours it takes to charge the Leaf at the same voltage. There’s no fast-DC-charging option in the Focus EV; the Leaf theoretically can be charged to 80% in 30 minutes with this added-cost option that we've tested on the Cars.com long-term Leaf.
Total range is pending, but earlier indications are the Focus EV will go about as far as the Leaf. Ford’s modular 240-volt charging station can be removed from your home if you move, and the automaker says it will save Focus EV buyers $500 to $700 compared with the 240-volt stations offered by Nissan and GM.
The Focus EV looks like a more aerodynamic version of the Focus, with 17-inch Michelin Energy Saver tires and a large trapezoidal grille that appears to be fashioned by Aston Martin, according to Cars.com Industry Analyst Kelsey Mays. A plug port sits above the driver-side front fender. Inside, twin LCD screens flank the speedometer, with battery charge in place of a fuel gauge.
Besides those nuanced differences, this pretty much looks like a regular Focus, which raises a potential problem: It’s hard to show off a near-$40,000 gasless car (and thus making your neighbors jealous) if it looks the same as its gas counterpart ... one that has a sub-$17,000 starting price. Still, if vanity is your aim in the eco-conscious game, we haven’t experienced much envy for our Leaf, either; most people think it’s a cute compact car.