The 2011 Lexus IS 250C is the hardtop convertible version of the IS 250, a sporty sedan. While the IS sedan can hold five passengers, the IS 250C carries four. There’s also a significant difference in rear legroom between the two models. The sedan has 30.6 inches of legroom in the second row; the convertible has only 25.9 inches, which made it difficult to install rear-facing child-safety seats in it. Our results can also be applied to the 2011 Lexus IS 350C, which offers a more powerful V-6 engine than its 250C sibling. For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant seat and convertible seats are installed behind the passenger seat. We also install the infant seat in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and convertible in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Here’s how the 2011 IS 250C and IS 350C did in MotherProof.com’s Car Seat Check: Latch system: There are two sets of lower Latch anchors in the convertible’s two-person backseat. The anchors are deeply buried in the seat bight, where the back and bottom cushions meet. The seats have significant seat bolsters and the anchors are set close together, making it difficult to install a car seat. Two tether anchors sit under hinged covers at the base of the roll bars. The covers make it difficult to use the anchors. We had to flop the head restraints forward to get at the anchors. Booster seat: The seat bolsters helped give our high-back booster seat a good fit in the convertible. However, the limited legroom in the second row will create problems for a child sitting in the seat. The seat belt buckles are well-anchored and sit high enough that kids in boosters can easily use them. Convertible seat: To get the rear-facing convertible to fit in the IS 250C, we had to move the front passenger seat all the way forward. This left no room for the front passenger. We also had fit problems with the forward-facing convertible. The rear seatback has little to no recline, which pushed the convertible far forward. At least half of the convertible’s base was off of the bottom seat cushion. This shows yet again that not every car seat fits in every car. Infant-safety seat: We also had to move the front passenger seat all the way forward to get this rear-facing car seat to fit in the convertible. As with the rear-facing convertible, there wasn’t enough room for the front passenger. How many car seats fit? 2, but they’ll need to be forward-facing Editor’s note: For three car seats—infant-safety seat, convertible and booster seats—to fit in a car, our criteria is that a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat. See manufacturers auto brochure for exact specs.
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2011 Smart For Two-This lightweight car weighs in at only 1800 pounds and has a 3 cylinder engine helping it to achieve a 41 mpg highway rating.

2011 Chevy Cruze Eco.- General Motors shaved 125 pounds of weight off of this year’s model and with the help of the “eco” system the Cruze has a 42 mpg highway rating with the 6 speed manual transmission configuration.

2012 Mazda 3- When equipped with the “SkyActiv” suite of technology which includes direct injection and a high compression ratio for the motor, plus an aggressive torque converter, the 2012 Mazda 3 will reach 40 mpg on the highway.

2012 Honda Civic HF-The new Civic HF trim level falls between the regular civic and the hybrid models. By adding aerodynamic enhancements and the wheels and tires from the previous civic Hybrid model the Civic HF delivers 41 mpg on the highway.

2012 Chevy Sonic- The new Sonic has yet to be released but general motors’ product specialists are reporting that at least one version of the Sonic will achieve 40 mpg on the highway. The new Sonic incorporates transmissions and engines from the base Chevy Cruze but with an overall lighter body.

2012 Kia Rio-The new Rio comes with direct injection to help obtain 40 mpg on the highway but  it will also be the first non hybrid car to offer a “start-stop” system that turns the engine off when the car comes to a stop and then turns it back on automatically when the accelerator is pushed again.

2012 Hyundai Accent- With the help of direct injection the new Accent is expected to get 40 mpg on the highway in both the six speed automatic and the manual transmission configurations.

2011 Hyundai Elantra- Weighing in at only 2700 pounds and longer aerodynamics is what helps to push the 2011 Elantra to the 40 mpg mark on the highway.

2011 Ford Fiesta SFE- The key component that helps the Fiesta SFE reach the 40 mpg mark on the highway is a dual clutch six speed automatic transmission, which is more efficient than the manual transmission.  That coupled with the various aerodynamic tweaks and low rolling resistant tires have pushed the Fiesta SFE to 40 mpg on the highway.

2012 Ford Focus SFE- Utilizing the same dual clutch transmission as the Fiesta and direct injection the regular Focus gets 38 mpg on the highway. The Focus SFE model adds aerodynamic disc style wheel covers, low rolling resistant tires, and a large spoiler. These items are what help the Focus SFE to reach the 40 mpg on the highway mark.

Consult manufacturer’s auto brochure for city mpg ratings and specifications.

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General Motors has introduced the first Chevy brand model to use the company’s new eAssist technology, the 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco. Mileage is estimated at 26 mpg city and 38 mpg highway, making it one of the most fuel efficient midsized vehicles on the market without a full hybrid system.

This is Chevy’s second attempt at offering hybrid technology to the mainstream consumers. In 2009 Chevy abruptly discontinued the original Malibu Hybrid which featured a first generation version of hybrid technology that was inexpensive but not very effective and failed to impress consumers.

But rising gas prices have resulted in General Motors considering releasing “mild hybrids” by adding their eAssist technology to a few of their models.  eAssist pairs a regenerative braking system featuring a 0.5-kWh lithium ion battery and more powerful electric motor with a 4 cylinder gas engine and computer controlled idle start system. The result is the impressive fuel economy gains seen in the Malibu.

Along with the Malibu General Motors is preparing to launch variations of both the Buick Lacrosse and Buick Regal which will all feature the eAssist mild hybrid system.

source: hybridcars.com

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The redesigned 2012 Subaru Impreza is a little bit of a surprise because typically Subaru does a redesign every 5 years, meaning the new body style Impreza would not be due for release until 2013. But Subaru has announced that they will indeed be releasing the new Impreza for the 2012 model year.

The overall theme of the 2012 Subaru Impreza seems to be a cleaner and more sophisticated look than previous years while still maintaining the sportiness that consumers have become accustomed to.

Although nothing is concrete yet the engine choices are expected to be the new 2.0 liter flat-4 that’s being introduced in the Subaru Forester this year, and the return of the 2.5 liter. The turbo charged 2.5 liter engine is expected for the WRX and WRX STI models.

Transmission choices are expected to be a new CVT for the base Impreza and the traditional manual transmission offerings.  As always with Subaru the AWD system will be the standard drivetrain for all models. See Subaru’s auto brochure for exact features and specifications.

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Kia used its redesign of the 2011 Optima to start over with this family sedan. The result is a five-passenger car that is stylish both inside and out. Kia’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed — Cars.com named it the Best of 2011 in its Platinum Awards. For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant seat and convertible seats are installed behind the passenger seat. We also install the infant seat in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and convertible in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit. In the third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Here’s how the 2011 Optima did in MotherProof.com’s Car Seat Check: Latch system: The Optima has two sets of lower Latch anchors in the second row’s outboard seats. While the anchors aren’t set too deeply into the seat bight, we did run into problems when trying to use them. The outboard anchors in each set, which are closer to the doors, have less clearance around them because of the stiff seat cushions, making them harder to use than the inboard anchors. There are three tether anchors in the Optima, and they sit under hinged covers on the rear shelf behind the head restraints. In our test car, the metal tether anchor was really sharp. Booster seat: After we raised the head restraint, which is removable, the booster seat fit well in the backseat. However, the seat belt buckle is set too close to the door, which meant our booster seat sat on top of the buckle. The buckle is floppy, which allowed us to pull it out from under the booster seat. Its floppiness could make it difficult for kids to use, though. Convertible seat: There’s a ton of legroom in the Optima’s backseat, and this allowed both the rear- and forward-facing convertible seat to fit well. Parents should note, however, that the second row’s seatbacks don’t recline. Infant-safety seat: This rear-facing seat also had plenty of room and fit well in the Optima. How many car seats fit in the second row? Two Editor’s note: For three car seats—infant-safety seat, convertible and booster seats—to fit in a car, our criteria is that a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat.
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What is the Chevy Volt anyhow?  Is it a true electric vehicle, a hybrid or something in between? To find out, I decided to drive it for myself this weekend. The Volt was on a road trip from its home base in Detroit all the way to L.A. for this week’s 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.  It made an overnight stop in Denver and I jumped at the chance for a spin. The first thing I noticed, of course, when backing out of the parking space was how silent the Volt was in its electric mode. Getting up to speed in this mode on both side streets and the highway was a total breeze.  A misconception I had about the Volt was it would feel puny or sluggish, but that wasn’t the case at all. After reading the auto brochure I discovered it has a 350-volt, 16-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that provides 149 horsepower and 250 pounds-feet of torque. It also has an 84-horsepower, 1.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine that kicks in when the battery is depleted and drives an electric generator. To answer my earlier question, the Volt is a battery-powered electric car with a range-extending, gas-powered generator. It had plenty of torque. I found the drive to be quite zippy and smooth at the same time, amounting to a pleasant driving experience. The Volt’s interior is quite nice, as well.  I really loved the iPod-like center stack that operated everything from the nav system to the audio and climate controls with the mere touch of a finger on the touch panel.  However, I had to wonder about the longevity of the white-printed words on the controls. Would they rub off after years of use? The Volt seats four comfortably with two full-sized split seats in the back (similar to a Volvo C30).  The rear seats fold down and create a nearly flat load floor. Add to that the sizable amount of cargo room afforded by the hatchback design and a there’s plenty of flexibility for small families in the Volt.  As a matter of fact, Lane Rezek, a GM engineer (and my driving partner) has been driving the Volt with his family in tow since September.  According to him, his nearly 3-year-old daughter’s child-safety seat installs seamlessly in the back, and she gets excited to ride in “Daddy’s ’lectric car.” The Volt can drive up to 40 miles on electric power only (and up to 100 mph), according to GM.  On the very last part of my drive, the Volt switched into extended range mode by turning on the gas engine.  The switch was nearly imperceptible, minus for a slight vibration in the steering wheel and, of course, the sound of a gas engine that we all know. I loved my brief stint in the Volt and was excited to discover that it really could work quite nicely as a family hauler.  Leaving the Volt behind, however, something kept nagging at me and I couldn’t quite place a finger on it.  After reflecting upon it, I realized it was the Volt’s bland exterior styling.  Back in the days when new hybrid technology started entering the scene, you could easily distinguish a hybrid from any other car on the road.  The forward-thinking design let road warriors know that the driver was an early technology adopter who was concerned with energy conservation.  The Volt, in contrast, looks to me to blend in with every other car on the road.  The front end looks very Chevy Malibu-esque, with the rear end looking kind of Prius-like with the hatch design.  If I were to spend nearly $41,000 – not taking the $7,500 federal tax credit into account—on new technology like this, I want it to look modern and edgy, as well.  I want the innovative technology of the Volt wrapped up in the simplistic, style-conscious packaging of a Mac computer.  And, I’m prepared to wait for my cake and eat it, too. You can learn more by reading their online auto brochure.
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Hybrids are hot, so it’s no surprise when automakers add a hybrid option to their lineup. Volkswagen is here to please with the newly redesigned 2011 Touareg and Touareg Hybrid. While I was confused as to why VW would want to add a hybrid to compete with their clean-diesel Touareg TDI, I was curious to drive it. And drive it I did through California’s Santa Monica Mountains on a gorgeous fall day during a VW event. I also drove the TDI and gas-powered V-6 versions, which are no slouches in the efficiency department, either. The 2011 Touareg is completely new, from the platform on up. The exterior has been resculpted, resulting in a wider, longer Touareg that has more room in the backseat. There’s plenty of room for adults or child-safety seats in the second row. The front has been updated with a more delicate grille and the addition of LED daytime running lights surrounding the bi-xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights. A new panoramic sunroof lets in the sunlight, while new soundproofing keeps out the noise. The power tailgate now opens and closes at the touch of a button, which can be found either on the tailgate or the key fob. Navigation is now standard on all trims. The 2011 Touareg is now easier to buy, with three engine options and three interior trim levels. The super-charged hybrid will only be available in the highest trim. It’s set to be a limited release. That’s probably wise since the integration of the two systems is far from seamless, as of yet. The hybrid drive seems twitchy, with super-sensitive steering and braking that has a surprising bite. After reading the auto brochure I discovered the Touareg Hybrid has a 3.0-liter V-6 that’s paired with an electric motor to make 375 horsepower. It gets an EPA-estimated 21/25 mpg city/highway and costs $60,565. With its 225-hp, turbo diesel V-6, the TDI version drives more smoothly than its hybrid counterpart It gets 19/28 mpg and starts at $47,950. The gas-powered V-6 Touareg is the sportiest of the bunch, with 280-hp V-6 and a not-awful 16/23 mpg. It starts at $44,450. I was really pleased with the Touareg during my short time driving it. It’s comfortable, quiet and handles beautifully, even in the twistiest turns or on the roughest roads. The power leather seats are soft, and both the front and rear seats are heated. I found cupholders, cubbies and bins enough to contain all of my clutter, and the cargo space is roomy enough for a serious run to Costco. I look forward to putting that into practice during a full test drive.  
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Did you ever wonder where the logos and symbols that adorn manufactures automobiles and their auto brochures originated? Below is a history of some of the most famous logos on the market.

Chevrolet- The legend behind the Chevy logo was that Louis Chevrolet saw the shape in a wallpaper pattern in his hotel room during a trip to Paris in 1908. His wife however later debunked that myth  when she said that her husband had actually  seen a similarly shaped logo in an add in a Sunday supplement and liked it so much he decided to expand on it.

Mercedes Benz- The Mercedes Benz logo “a three pointed star” first appeared in a letter written by Gottlieb Daimler to his wife in 1872. Daimler used a three pointed star to mark the location on a map of his family’s new home in Deutz, Germany. His sons later adopted the symbol as the Mercedes Benz logo starting in 1910. Today the Mercedes Benz logo is commonly known to symbolize the use of the company’s engines on land, air, and sea.

Maserati- This logo was derived from the statue of Neptune by the Maserati brothers. The statue was located in the central square of Bologna, Italy, where Maserati was originally headquartered. The actual logo was sketched by Mario Maserati, an artist, who also was the only brother never actively involved in the engineering and design of their cars.

Toyota- In 1936 company founder Kiichiro Toyoda ran a contest for ideas for a new Toyoda logo. Out of 20,000 entries the winner was a design of katakana characters that signified a sense of speed. Later the company changed the name from “Toyoda” to “Toyota”because it was more esthetically pleasing and because the number of strokes it took to write it was eight, which in Japan is a lucky number meaning increasing prosperity.

Ferrari- The prancing horse first appeared on airplanes flown by Francesco Baracca, a pilot and war hero in World War I. Baracca died before the war ended but in 1923 the company founder Enzo Ferrari met Francesco’s parents who suggested he use their sons prancing horse badge on his cars to pay homage to Francesco. Enzo later added a yellow background which is the official color of his home town of Modena Italy and redesigned the horse’s tail to point upward.

Smart Car-The name was actually two words combined. “Swatch” which is a Swiss watch company and partner in the early stages of the company. Mercedes which is the company’s current custodian picked the “art” portion of the name. Together the acronym “smart” was born. The logo “C” stands for compact and an arrow to signify forward thinking.

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Source:Bradford Wernle Automotive News

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I’ve driven so many different test cars—too many to even count anymore—with useless, quirky and just plain strange features in them. Looking at pictures of these cars brings up many memories— not all of them good.  This week, I came across photos of the flip-down liftgate speakers, which are for tailgating, in the 2010 Jeep Patriot. Call me stodgy, but does anyone older than 21 actually use these speakers? They’re kind of a fun gimmick, but I never whipped them out in the carpool lane.   The speakers got me thinking. What weird features do you have in your car?  There’s got to be at least one that makes you say, “What the @#%$ were they thinking?”  Tell us about it in the comment section below.   
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