2012 Car Awards: Best Supercar

To be considered a supercar, a car must be fast, quick, and rare. Supercars have the engine located in the rear. In 2011, McLaren released the MP4-12C and Lamborghini released the Aventador, both are exemplary supercars. But once a car hits 240 mph, whether with limiter attached or with the limiter removed, the car reaches hypercar status. But this award is not for the hypercars, this award is for the best supercar to come out in 2012. The best supercar to come out in 2012 is...


Pagani Huayra

 

The Pagani Zonda was not sold in America. However, the Huayra is steet-legal in America.  The Huayra is just amazing. The car has some styling from the Zonda, but there one thing noticeable on the Huayra, gull wing doors. The Huayra has a active aerodynamics. Powering the Huayra is a Mercedes-Benz AMG bi-turbo 6.0L V12 that produces 720 hp and 740 lb-ft of torque. The Huayra goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 230 mph. The Huayra costs $1.3 million dollars, a steep price for an incredible car. The Huayra has power, performance, and styling and is the best supercar to come out in 2012.

If you agree with my choice or think that another car that came out in 2012 deserves this award, please let me know in the comments below.

CarJunkie
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Unlocking The Car: Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

Welcome to Unlocking the Car, where I tell you how to unlock a certain car in different video games. The first car I will tell you how to unlock is the legendary Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. Winning races to unlock the car do not count.

The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe is one of the most successful cars to compete as it led Shelby to be the first American automotive manufacture to win the FIA World Sportscar Championship in 1965. The Daytona Coupe is a two seater grand tourer with a chassis and drive-train loosely based on the Shelby Cobra Roadster. The Daytona Coupe was built specifically to compete with Ferrari. The Daytona could reach a top speed of 190 mph, where as the Shelby Cobra could only reach a top speed of 157 mph. The rival Ferrari 250 GTO could hit 186 mph. Between 1965 and 1965, 6 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes were built. The one that captured the 1965 championship went for $7.25 million dollars at the 2009 Mecum Monterrey auction. The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe is playable in 13 games. The car is available from the start in netKar pro, Need For Speed: The Run, Vigilante 8 (Rattler), Gran Turismo 2, TORCS, Forza Motorsport 4, GT Legends, and Need For Speed: World.

The Daytona Coupe part of DLC packs for two games. The Daytona Coupe is part of the Motorsport Legends Car Pack for Forza Motorsport 3, which will cost the player 400 Microsoft Points, or $5.00. The Daytona Coupe is part of the Legends Pack for Shift 2: Unleashed, which will cost the player 800 Microsoft Points for XBOX 360 owners or $10.00 for Playstation 3 owners. For three video games, the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe must be unlocked.

In Forza Horizon, the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe is one of nine cars that has to be unlocked via barn finds. As with the all the barn find cars, you have to first get notified of the barn find location. While driving in free roam, you will hear over the radio a rumor that there is a car hidden in a barn in Carson. Once you hear the rumor, hit X and a circle on the map will show you the area where the barn is located. Drive to Carson and on a dirt road in the northwest section of Carson, there is the barn. Drive up to the open doors of the barn and a cut scene will begin. After the cut scene, you will get a message that you found the Shelby Daytona Coupe and Dak is fixing up the car. Once Dak is done working on the car, he will notify you. Head over to the garage and pick up the car. You have now unlocked the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. The video below shows you where the barn is. Video is from Super GT, not me.

The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe is unlockable in both Test Drive Unlimited and Test Drive Unlimited 2. For Test Drive Unlimited, it is a two part process to unlock the Daytona Coupe. First, obtain three Ford cars. There are six ford cars available in the game. The Ford GT, Mustang coupe, and Mustang convertibles can be bought at the dealership. The other three Ford cars have to be unlocked: Ford Mustang GT-R Concept (complete all vehicle transport driving missions), Ford Shelby Cobra Concept (finish all top model driving missions), and Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept (win gold on all speed challenges). Once you have obtained 3 Ford cars, earn $1,000,000 and head to the US Muscle Car dealership. Buy (or reserve if not in stock) the Sehlby Cobra Daytona Coupe. This is the best car for G-class competitions. Once I got this car, all G-class challenges were a breeze. In Test Drive Unlimited 2, there are six cars that are unlocked through wreckage discoveries. In each of the six zones (Ibiza 1 &2 and Hawaii 1, 2, 3, &4), there are 10 wreck car locations. In Hawaii 2, there are 10 wrecked Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes. As you approach a wrecked car, you will see a blinking car puzzle piece on your screen. As you get closer to the wrecked car, the piece will blink faster and faster. Once you find all 10 wrecked Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes, you will be informed that you have unlocked the car and the car is available at the used car dealership.For all 10 locations, watch the video below. Video is from MotogamesTV, not me.

Now go out and enjoy driving the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe in the virtual world.

CarJunkie

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2 Year Anniversary/200th Article Special Classic Car: Delage D8-120

On January 17, 2011, I released my first article, First Impression: Bugatti Veyron, on That Guy With The Glasses. After nine First Impressions reviews on That Guy With The Glasses, I created my own website through Blogger. On April 15, 2011, CarJunkie's Car Review was launched. To commemorate the launching of my own site, I created a new series of articles dedicated to classic cars. On April 15, 2011, I posted Classic Car: Ferrari F40 and Classic Car: Lamborghini Countach. In two years, I have done First Drive reviews, Top Gear US reviews, Top Gear UK reviews, Clunker reviews, Auto Countdowns,  my own Car Awards, one Unlocking the Car article, and one Video Game Review. I even did a two part collaboration with the very talented Les for Manic Expression in which we both created a list of the top ten movie cars we would like to own and had the other member and his comments to each pick. To celebrate my two year anniversary and my 200th published article, I have to do something special. The car to be featured on this milestone article has to be special. It has to stand out in a stadium filled with some of the greatest cars of all time. In a car competition that includes the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and 300SL Roadster, a Duesenberg Model J, a Bugatti Veyron Supersport, a Bugatti Type 40A, a Ferrari 599 GTO, three different editions of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, a Jaguar XJ200, and many other rare and unique cars, this car was named Best in Show at the 2011 Houston Classy Chassis: Concours d'Elegance. This car was on display by the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California. The car to be featured for the milestone article is the French classic car Delage D8-120.

Delage was founded in 1905 by Louis Delage in Levallois-Perret. In 1906, Delage released the Type A, a car powered by a one cylinder engine that can produce either 4.5 hp or 9 hp. In 1935, Delage was acquired by the French car manufacturer Delahaye. In 1953, Delage ceased operations. From 1936 to 139, 66 D8-120s were built. The D8-120 comes in five different body types. The body types are D8-120 S Saoutchik Cabriolet, D8-120 Pourtout Coupe, D8-120 Letourner et Marchand Aerosport Coupe, D8-120 Letourner et Marchand Deltasport Cabriolet, and D8-120 S Pourtout Aero Coupe. All variations of the D8-120 come in rear-wheel drive.

I saw the Delage D8-120 at the 2011 Houston Classy Chassis: Concours d'Elegance. The model on displayed was the D8-120 Letourner et Marchand Aerosport Coupe owned by the Petersen Automotive Museum. The car that attracted the most attention was the Bugatti Veyron Supersport, not the Delage. Yet it was the Delage that won Best in Show. The Delage is beautiful. I love the teardrop body styling. The wheel flares add to the car's beauty. This car has elegant curves going from the front bumper to the rear. 

The D8-120 is available with two different straight 8 engines. The D8-120 Letourner et Marchand Aerosport Coupe, the D8-120 Letourner et Marchand Deltasport Cabriolet, and D8-120 S Pourtout Aero Coupe, and the D8-120 Pourtout Coupe come with a 105 hp 4.3L straight 8 engine. The D8-120 S Saoutchik Cabriolet and D8-120 S Pourtout Aero Coupe come with 120 hp 4.7L straight 8. The D8-120 Letourner et Marchand Aerosport Coupe is the slowest of the five variants with a top speed of 93 mph. This is due to the excessive weight of the unique body design. The other four variants of the D8-120 have a top speed of 99 mph, which is fast by pre-World War II standards. At a 2012 auction, a 1937 Delage D8-120 coupe went for $605,000. The average price for a 1937 Delage D8-120 is $715,000 with the highest sale going at $825,000. A 1936 Delage D8-120 went for $1,705,000 at an auction. These classic French cars do not go cheap. 

The Delage D8-120 has been featured in RPM, An American in Paris, Carmen Jones, Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, Clive James-Postcard from Paris, Le Chateau des Oliviers, and Car Crazy.

Since this is a celebration of my 2 year anniversary/200th article, this cannot just be a Classic Car review. This article is also has an Unlocking the Car section. There are two versions of the Delage D8-120 that are unlockable in L.A. Noire. As you reach a certain rank in the game, you unlock cars. There are 15 cars that become available as you rank up. When you reach rank 3, you unlock 5 cars. When you reach rank 10, you unlock 5 more cars. At rank 15, you unlock the last 5 of the hidden vehicles. Once you unlock a hidden vehicle, it location becomes available on the map as a question mark. Drive to the location and look for a blue garage door that says "Angeles City Security." In this garage, you will find a hidden vehicle. Since this is about the two Delages, that is what I will be focusing on. In Central, the Delage D8-120 can be found. Look for an alley between Beacon Ave. and Union Ave. just north of 8th St. Inside the garage with the blue door is the Delage D8-120. The Delage D8-120 S Pourtout is located in Hollywood. It is found near the corner of Normande Ave. and Lemongrove Ave. Go northwest from this intersection and look behind a house. In the garage with the blue doors in the Delage D8-120 S Pourtout Aero Coupe. That is how to unlock the two Delage D8-120s in L.A. Noire.

The Delage D8-120 is a beautiful car. It has good performance by Pre-World War II standards. The Delage D8-120 that was at the D8-120 is a seven figure car. It is owned by the Petersen Automotive Museum and won Best in Show. That speaks for itself. As for collections, the Delage D8-120 is good for any major classic car collection, classic French car collection, or classic European car collection. There were only 66 Delage D8-120s built so they are very rare and expensive to get hold off. The Delage D8-120 is a very special car and is the only classic car that deserves to be covered for my 2 year anniversary/200th article special. It started with a French car two years ago and now I cover a French car for the 2 year anniversary.


CarJunkie
Photo was taken from www.classychassis.org.

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2012 Car Awards: Best Hypercar

Hypercars are unique. They are the highest performing cars, having top speeds of 240 mph and above. With that said, the best hypercar to come out in 2012 is....

SSC Tuatara

This should be a surprise to no one. This car is just amazing. It looks like nothing else on the road. This car looks amazing. The previous SSC hypercar, the SSC Ultimate Aero, had a generic styling. That is not the case with the Tuatara. Credit Jason Castriota for the Tuatara's design. He previously worked for Ferrari, Pininfarina, Bertone, and Rolls-Royce. Powering this American made hypercar is twin-turbocharged 6.9L V8 that has a rev redline of 9,200 rpm and produces 1,350 hp at 6,800 rpm and 1,042 lb-ft of torque at 6,800. The Tuatara goes from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and has an estimated top speed of 275 mph. Amazing looks, amazing power, and amazing performance earns my award for Best Hypercar of 2012.

If you agree with my choice or think that another car that came out in 2012 deserves this award, please let me know in the comments below.

CarJunkie
Photo was taken www.autoblog.com.

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2012 Car Awards: Best Redesign

I like it when car companies go away from the norm and try something new. When a car company comes out with next generation of a vehicle, there is usually a small change from the previous generation to the next generation. However, for one car, there is a noticeable difference in design, and it is for the better. The best redesign in 2012 is...

Ford Fusion (Ford Mondeo in Europe)

Ford Fusion 2010-2012

Current Ford Fusion

The previous Ford Fusion was nothing special. The design was just bland. It did not stand out at all. The current Ford Fusion is something else. The styling of the new Ford Fusion is stunning to say the least. The grill reminds me of an Aston Martin, which is not that surprising since Ford owned Aston Martin from 1995 to 2006. Ford still has a stake in Aston Martin even after selling Aston Martin to a consortium headed by David Richards. The new Fusion also has sleek body lines. The headlights and fog lights are integrated well in the front. This car is beautiful. The new Fusion attracts attention and turns heads, which is unusual for a domestic mid-size sedan. If there is one thing I would add to the new Fusion, it would be adding a 3.5L V6 that is available in the Ford Taurus, Ford Edge, and Ford Flex. Still, the new Ford Fusion is beautiful and is the best redesign in 2012.

If you agree with my choice or think that another car that came out in 2012 deserves this award, please let me know in the comments below.

CarJunkie
Previous Fusion pic was taken from Ford Fusion Wikipedia page and current Fusion photo was taken by a digital camera.

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2012 Car Awards: 2012 Car Of The Year

In 2012, we saw several cars make a splash in the industry. But to be named my car of the year, the manufacturer has come out with a car that one would not think that manufacturer would make. Last year, my Car Of The Year went to the Ferrari FF. This is not your typical Ferrari. All Ferraris have been rear-wheel drive supercars and grand tourers until the FF, which is a four-wheel drive. Also, the FF is a hatchback, which is also a first for Ferrari. So what manufacturer took their game to the next level? What car stood out as the best of the best in 2012? The best car to come out in 2012 is...

Toyota FT 86/Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ

Toyota FT 86

Subaru BRZ

Scion FR-S

Just like the Ferrari FF, the Toyota FT-86 is like no other current Toyota. Likewise, the Subaru BRZ is like no other Subaru. The Scion FR-S is truly unique to the Scion brand. I drove the FR-S in 2012 and just had so much fun in the car, and this is from the car manufacturer that is responsible for the Scion/Toyota iQ and the Prius line. The interior is very sporty. The 200 hp 2.0L flat-4 engine is more than capable of pulling the car along. These three cars go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds and it felt quick on the test drive. The styling is like nothing I have seen from either Subaru or Toyota. All their cars are generic boxy cars, but the FT-86, FR-S, and BRZ look like sporty coupes and even have better styling than the Nissan 370Z. The kicker is that these three cars are rear-wheel drive. All modern Subarus are four-wheel drive. Most current Toyotas are front-wheel drive with an optional four-wheel drive system. The FR-S is the rear-wheel drive car for Scion. All other Scions are front-engine drive. I test drove the FR-S and found the car to be very responsive and smooth on bumpy roads. If there is one issue that could turn people away from the FR-S is the racing style seats. It took a few minutes for me to get familiar with the seats. After that, I had no problems with the FR-S. Prices for these cars are around $26,000, which is a great value for what you get from these three cars. With that said, the Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota FT-86 my 2012 Car of the Year. Great work Toyota and Subaru.

Honorable Mentions

Buick Verano

The Buick Verano is the biggest surprise of 2012. While the exterior is nothing to write home about, the interior and driving experience makes up for it. Powering the Verano is a 2.5L I4 engine that produces 178 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. There is also a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine available for the Verano that produces 247 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. GM estimates that the Verano Turbo can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. The selling point for the Verano is the head and leg room available for adult passengers sitting in the rear. I test drove this car at the 2012 Houston Auto Show and my dad was riding in the back. He says he had plenty of leg room and head room and was more comfortable sitting in the back of the Verano than he did sitting in the back of a BMW 3-Series. As far as comfort behind the wheel, the Verano delivers. I had plenty of head room behind the wheel. My seat was very comfortable. The Verano felt luxurious. The car was smooth and responded very well when I turned the wheel. Prices for the Verano start around $24,000 and the car I test drove cost around $26,000. That is great value for a comfortable luxury compact car. If it was slightly quicker without the addition of the turbocharger and had a more aggressive styling, then the Buick Verano would have been my 2012 Car Of The Year. But it is a close second to the FT-86/BRZ/FR-S. Still, great job General Motors and Buick.

Cadillac ATS

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The ATS continues the new trend set by Cadillac. Cadillac had a reputation for being cars for the seniors. But not anymore. The ATS has the sportiness as the CTS. The ATS can compete with the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, Lexus IS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Like its rival, it comes with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The ATS is available with three different engines. The 2.5L I4 engine produces 202 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine produces 272 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 3.6L V6 produces 321 hp and 274 lb-ft of torque. ATS has style, luxury and sportiness. But Cadillac has done that in the past with the CTS. Even thought it is not my car of the year, it is still a great car and I cannot wait for the ATS-V.

Tesla Model S

Tesla continues to raise the bar for electric vehicles, but that is expected from Tesla. The Tesla Model S is just beautiful. It looks like a luxury sedan. I named the Tesla Model my 2011 Best Electric Car since it was in production in 2011 and I saw at at the Tesla store in the Galleria. Except that it was released during 2012, so as a shock to no one, the Tesla Model S is the best electric car to come out in 2012. It is even Motortrend's 2013 Car of the Year. Last two years, Motortrend's Car of the Year award went to the Chevrolet Volt in 2011 and the Volkswagen Passat in 2012. Back to the Model S, this car is available with a three-phase AC induction motor and three different lithium-ion batteries. The 40 kWh battery option pack produces 235 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque and has a range of 160 mile. The 60 kWh battery option pack produces 302 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque and has a range between 208 miles and 230 miles. The 85 kWh battery option pack produces 360 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque and has a range between 265 miles and 300 miles. There is also a high performance 85 kWh battery pack option that produces 420 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque and can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The base price for the Model S is $59,900 and can reach up to $94,900 for the high performance Model S. Still, this is the best electric car you can own, but it is just too expensive to be my 2012 car of the year. 

If you agree with my choice or think that another car that came out in 2012 deserves this award, please let me know in the comments below.

CarJunkie
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First Drive: 2013 Toyota RAV4

After two years of CarJunkie's Car Review, it is time that I reveal my everyday vehicle. I drive a 2007 Toyota RAV4 with the optional 3.5L V6 that produces 268 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. It has been a workhorse. It help me get from Houston to San Antonio and back to Houston when I was in college. It help move my grand mother from her house of 55 years into her new place. It help me move into my new apartment. I have the sports edition which includes charcoal colored clothe seats and sports-tuned suspension. One feature I like on my RAV4 is the swing-out gate in the back with the spare tire on the exterior of the gate. I will get back to this fact later. But, today is the first day of the 2013 Houston Auto Show and as part of the auto show is Ride and Drive. Most participating manufacturers hold their test drives on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Two manufacturers started their test drives today. One being Toyota. Toyota has seven vehicles for test drives. I already test drove the Prius last year and did not want to be bored again. Toyota has the new RAV4 available for test driving. As someone who currently drives an older RAV4, I had to take this car out for the spin.

The first I notice about the RAV4 is the exterior design. One issue with my RAV4 is its boxy styling. The new RAV4 has a more sporty aggressive design. The front looks meaner than the previous RAV4s. I like how the grill and headlights are integrated into the design. The swing-out gate is replaced by a lift gate in the back. The spare tire that had previously been located on the rear gate is now located under the floor in the trunk.The interior is nothing special. You can get touchscreen navigation system as an option.

As far as drive quality, it is a Toyota and it is an SUV. The RAV4 handles bumps rather well. I hardly felt the bumps and I went over them. The car has responsive handling. I felt comfortable behind the wheel. The seat and suspension is softer in the new RAV4 than in my RAV4, but I have the sports-tuned suspension.

For the new RAV4, the only engine available is a 2.5L I4 engine that produces 176 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. It goes from  0 to 60 mph in 8.9, which is on the slow side. Gone from the new RAV4 is the optional 3.5L V6 engine, yet the current Toyota Camry has the optional V6. The RAV4 I test drove did not feel as quick as my current RAV4. It also is not as much fun to drive as my RAV4. 

For as improved as the new RAV4 is on the outside, I still prefer my RAV4. Why Toyota decided not include an optional V6 for the RAV4, I have no idea. The RAV4 needs the optional V6. Car companies can get away with using I4 engines on compact cars and subcompacts because they are lightweight. As far as SUVs and mid-size car, they need to have either a V6 as the standard engine or an optional engine. My RAV4 has a 0-60 mph time of under 7.0 seconds. Not having that extra power really hurts the driving experience of the RAV4. Also, the swing-out gate and the spare tire on the outside of the gate give the RAV4 personality. It helps RAV4 stand out. What really hurts in the extra storage space under the floor in the back. Instead of having that extra storage space, you get the spare tire storage. I like the swing-out gate because if my two hands are carrying items, I can close the gate with my hip. I cannot do that with the lift gate. That ends my rant on the new RAV4.

Overall, the new RAV4 is not the same vehicle as older RAV4s. It is much easier on the eyes, but it does not have the features that make a RAV4 what it is. If you prefer the lift gate over the swing-out gate, then take the new RAV4 on a test drive. If you want a reliable vehicle that is good for road trips or a good car for college, the RAV4 is still a good option. The RAV4 still needs more power from 2.5L I4 engine, but it is comfortable to drive. Toyota kept the all-wheel drive system as an option of the new RAV4, which has front-wheel drive as standards. Prices for the new RAV4 start at $23,300. A fully loaded RAV4 Limited with all-wheel drive costs $28,410. The RAV4 is still good value for a compact SUV, it just can be so much better with the addition of a V6 engine.

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First Drive: Kia Optima Hybrid

The Kia Optima has been serving as Kia's mid-size since 2000. In its third generation, the Kia added a hybrid drivetrain to the Optima. In September 2011, the Kia Optima Hybrid set a Guinness world record for "lowest fuel consumption in a hybrid gasoline vehicle" while driving across the continental United States for 14 days. The Kia Optima traveled through 48 states and 7,899 miles while averaging 64.55 miles per gallon. It took five and a half tanks for gasoline to travel the 7,899 miles. For the first day of the 2013 Houston Auto Show, Kia and Toyota had cars available for test drives. The first car I took on a test drive was the Kia Optima Hybrid.

They Optima Hybrid has the same styling as the standard Optimas. Kia and Hyundai have greatly improved their overall. Previous Kias had either bland styling or were eye sores. In 2006, Peter Schreyer, who previously was a designer for Audi, became the head designer for Kia. Compared to previous Optimas, the current Optimas have improved design. Previous Optimas had a bland grill, normal headlights, a bland side profile, and just overall bland. The current Optima and Optima Hybrid have a more aggressive grill, a sleek side profile, and well integrated headlights. The fog lights are integrated well on the front bumper. I like the new direction for Kia styling.

I was part of the first group of test drives for Kia. While the traffic on the route was not an issue, the road condition was a problem. There were potholes on the right line. I ran over a pot hole and the Optima Hybrid handled it well. There was not aftermath vibrations. The route was very bumpy, yet the Optima Hybrid drove smoothly. As part of Kia's Ride and Drives event, Kia had a small test track where visitors can test out the acceleration, braking, turning radius, and handling. The Optima Hybrid had a solid performance on the slalom, demonstrating is good handling. The car was very responsive when I turned the steering wheel. Turning radius was fine. I did not hit any cones. The car also braked well.

The Optima Hybrid has a good interior. I was driving the top of the line, fully loaded Optima Hybrid and it was nice inside. The driver seat was comfortable. I had plenty of head room and leg room. I did not feel cramped.

The Optima Hybrid has a parallel hybrid drivetrain. Powering the Optima Hybrid is a 2.4L I4 gas engine that produces 166 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque as well as an interior-permanent magnet synchronous motor that produces 40 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque. The combined output for the Optima Hybrid of 206 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. When I tested out the acceleration, I was pleasantly surprised by the acceleration. It goes when I step on the acceleration pedal, unlike some other hybrids. The Optima Hybrid goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds, but it felt quicker than that. The Optima Hybrid also has a top speed of 123 mph, which is not bad for a hybrid.

The Optima Hybrid is one the better hybrids I have driven. I prefer it over the Prius line and the Volt. The Optima Hybrid felt quicker than the other two as well being more comfortable to drive in. The Optima Hybrid has the same styling as the other current Optimas, which is a good thing. It looks like a normal car. Prices for the Kia Optima Hybrid start at $25,700. A fully load Optima Hybrid goes for around $33,000, which is not bad compared to the $41,000 price tag for the Chevrolet Volt. While the Toyota Prius is cheaper with a base price of $23,215, the Optima Hybrid is the better choice. If you are in the market for a hybrid, give the Kia OptimavHybrid as test drive. It is a better overall driving experience than the Prius or the Volt.

CarJunkie
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First Drive: Kia Soul

The Kia Soul has been in production since 2008. The 2009 model year for the Soul was available  The Soul is a front-engine, front-wheel drive, five door compact MPV. In other words, it is a city car. It competes with the Nissan Cube, Honda Element, and Scion xB. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, the Soul was one of four Kias available for test drives. I took the same route as in the I did in the Kia Optima Hybrid. Each manufacture has a specific route for test drives, and all of them so far have involve using near by streets and no highway driving. On this time around the Kia route, I stuck to the left lane, which had fewer potholes than the right lane, but it was still bumpy. How did the Kia Soul handle the street route and the test track and how did it handle the Kia test track? Time to find out.

But first the exterior and interior. As far as the ride height, the Soul is higher of the ground than the Optima Hybrid. The Soul has a boxy exterior design and a bland side profile. The front looks quasi-aggressive with the Kia tiger nose grill. The fog lights are integrated well in the front bumper. Other than that, there is not much else to the Soul's styling. As far as the interior goes, it is a standard interior, nothing special. The seat was not as comfortable as the the seat in the Optima hybrid. As far as interior and exterior design, the Soul is nothing special.

The Soul has a bumpy ride. I could feel most bumps on the road. On next year's Soul, Kia needs to tune the suspension for a softer, more comfortable ride. The ride was too rough, but it did not try to kill my back like the Buick Regal Turbo try to do last year. The Soul has a good turning radius as I did not hit any cones while driving in a circle. The Soul was adequate on the slalom. Steering wheel was responsive. The braking was fine.

The standard engine for the Soul is a 1.6L I4 engine produces 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. The engine in the Soul I drove is a 2.0L I4 engine that produces 164 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired with a CVT transmission. The Soul needs the larger engine. The car has accelerated smoothly while I pressed the accelerator. The Soul has good acceleration with the 2.0L engine. The 0 to 60 mph time for the 2.0L Soul is 7.0, while the 0 to 60 mph time for the 1.6L Soul is 7.7 seconds. That is really good for a city car.

The strong point for the Soul is the acceleration. No matter which engine the Soul has, it has solid acceleration. But the Soul has a rough ride, yet it has plenty of leg room and head room for the driver and front passenger. Kia needs to make the seats more comfortable to sit in. Also, I do not like the boxy styling of the Kia Soul. For the next generation of the Soul, Kia should add some sleek lines along the side and give it a more aggressive front end. Prices for the Kia Soul start at $14,400, which makes it one of the least expensive cars to buy. The Soul I test drove has $10,000 worth of optional accessories, bumping the price to $24,400 for a fully loaded Soul with the 2.0L engine. If you like a car with the boxy styling, give the Soul a try. As far as the four Kias I test drove at the Houston Auto Show, this is my least favorite out of the four.

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First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Spark

In the North American market, we have the Fiat 500, Mini Cooper, Smart ForTwo, and Scion iQ as the main players in the supermini class. These car are small cars with seats in the rear. These cars are designed for getting most fuel economy while still being practical for city driving. In August 2012, General Motors released its supermini car, Daewoo/Chevrolet Matiz, to the United States market. The supermini would be sold in the United States as the Chevrolet Spark. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, the Spark was available for test drives, but the only Spark available for test drive was pink. However, the Spark does come in other colors. The Chevrolet Spark is a front engine, front wheel drive, five-door hatchback.

On the outside, the Spark is a smaller version of the Sonic, Chevrolet's entry in the subcompact market. The styling is average, nothing really sticks out. Like the Sonic, the rear door handles are integrated nicely behind the windows of the rear doors. The rear door handles do not stick out on doors, like most cars. As far as the interior goes, nothing special. But for a supermini car, I did not feel cramped. I had plenty of leg room and head room behind the wheel. Even when I was sitting in the rear, I still had good leg room and plenty of head room, and I am 5"9. Now for people over 6'0", you might feel cramped. As compromise for the roomy cabin, the is little room for storage in the truck. The rear seats come close to touching the rear hatch.

Powering the Spark is a 1.2L I4 engine, paired with either a five-speed manual, or a four-speed automatic transmission, that produces 84 hp and 83 lb-ft of torque. The Spark goes from 0 to 60 mph in 11.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 90 mph. On the test drive, it did not feel slow. Over the five days of test driving, other cars felt slower. The ride was smooth. The car responded nicely when I pressed the accelerator and brake pedals. Steering is responsive. The Spark just needs a little bit more power out of the 1.2L engine.


Overall, the Spark is good for what it is. For a supermini, there is plenty of room. I was comfortable inside the Spark, but I wish General Motors had a different color Spark available for test drives instead of pink. Some of the other superminis had noisy rides and when I am trying to talk to a product representative about the car I am driving, it is hard to hear them over the noise from the engine. But, when I was in the Spark, I did not have this problem. It was quiet inside the Spark. I could hear every word from the product specialist. The Spark is ideal for city driving. However, for highway driving look elsewhere. If the Spark came with an engine to produces over 100 hp, then the Spark could be good for highway driving. If you are looking for a car just for city driving and very little highway driving, then test drive the Chevrolet Spark. The base price for the Spark is $12,995, which is a good price for what you get with the Spark. The Spark is one of the least expensive new cars you can buy in the United States.

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First Drive: 2013 Nissan 370Z

Nissan Z-line of sports coupe has been around since 1969 when the Datsun Fairlady Z started being produced. The Fairlady Z was around until 1978 with three different versions. From 1969 to 1973, the Fairlady Z was also known as the 240Z, which was powered by a 2.4L I6. From 1974 to 1978, the Fairlady Z was known as the 260Z, which was powered by a 2.6L I6. The U.S. market only got the 260Z in 1974. From 1975 to 1978, the United States got the 280Z, a Fairlady Z that was powered by a 2.8L I6. All versions of the Fairlady Z were 3 door hatchbacks that came with a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The successor for the Datsun Fairlady Z was known as the 280ZX, also known as the Nissan Fairlady Z, which was in production from 1978 to 1983. The 280ZX came with 2.0L I6 engine, a turbocharged 2.0L I6, a 2.8L I6 engine, or a turbocharged 1.8L I6 engine. The 280ZX was also a three door fastback  with a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Next in the Z-line is the Nissan 300ZX that was produced with the Z31 chassis from 1983 to 1989 and was produced with the Z32 chassis from 1989 to 2000. After a two year hiatus, the Z-line returned in 2002 with the Nissan Fairlady Z Z33, known better as the Nissan 350Z. It came with a 3.5L V6, while the Nismo 350Z came with a 3.8L V6. The 350Z coupe was produced from 2003 to 1008 while 350Z roadsters were produced from 2004 to 2009. Replacing the 350Z is the 370Z, which went into production in 2010 and is the current version of the Z-line. The 370Z is a front-mid engine, rear-wheel drive sports car that is available as either a roadster or a sports coupe. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was the first one to take the 370Z coupe on a test drive. I got to the Nissan booth right when it open.

The Nissan 370Z has a very sporty exterior. The headlights are integrated well. The 370Z has a nice sporty profile. On the inside, it is all about sportiness. There are three gauges on the top middle of the dashboard that display the time, battery voltage, and the oil temperature. It is a sporty dash. The car I test drove came with paddle shifters, and they work well. The 370Z is sports-tuned, so the seat is stiff, but not too stiff to break you back. I had a nice amount of leg room and head room behind the wheel. The 370Z is a two seater, so if you want to drive around with two passengers, then the 370Z is not for you.

The 370Z is powered by a 3.7L V6, paired with either a seven-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmssion, that produces 332 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and it felt quick behind the wheel. The 370Z is sports-tuned and it handles well. The car was very responsive when I turned the steering wheel. There was no jerky motions coming from the car when I used the paddle shifters. The 370Z has a stiff ride, so you will feel every bump, but not to the point that the car becomes uncomfortable to drive or ride in.

The 370Z has been featured on Top Gear USA, Top Gear UK, Top Gear Australia, Born to Race, Fifth Gear, Motorweek, RTL Autowereld, Gek Op Wielen, Top Gear Korea, Auto Esporte, Fast Five, 200 M.P.H., Jane By Design, 90210, Pretty Little Liars, The Green Hornet, Cars.TV, Switched At Birth, and The Sitter. The 370Z is playable in Dead Heat, Test Drive Unlimited 2, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, Asphalt 3D, Need For Speed: The Run, StreetRally, Asphalt Injection, Auto Club Revolution, Speed Driver 3: Crash Hour, Speed Driver 4: World Fever, Driver: San Francisco, Need For Speed: Undercover, Need For Speed: Shift, Need For Speed: Nitro, Gran Turismo 5, Asphalt 5, GT Racing: Motor Academy, Need For Speed: World, Just Cause 2, Nitto 1320 Legends, Shift 2: Unleashed, Forza Motorsport 3, Real Racing 2, and Car Town.

Overall, the Nissan 370Z is a great car. Although the ride is stiff due to the sports-tuned suspension. The paddle shifters enhance the experience with the automatic transmission. There is plenty of leg room and head room for the driver and passenger, but there are no back seats. The engine generates great power for a naturally aspirated V6 engine, and I felt power through the entire rev range. With some engines, you do not get a good amount of power at lower rpms. The 370Z is quick, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.6 seconds. The car has a good sporty exterior and a good sporty interior. The Nissan 370Z is a good sports car. Prices for the base 370Z coupe start at $34,420. Prices go up to $39,120 for the 370Z Touring Coupe. Prices for the 370Z Roadster start at $41,470. A Nismo 370Z Coupe goes for $43,020. That is not bad for what you get with the Nissan 370Z. This is a fun sports car and if you are in the market for a sports car, give the Nissan 370Z a test drive.

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First Drive: 2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI

The Volkswagen Passat has been around since 1973, serving as Volkswagen's mid-size/large family sedan. The Passat is in its seventh generation, which was released in 2010. In the North American and Chinese markets, the seventh generation Passat was released in 2011. While the new Passat is known as the Passat B7 worldwide, the new Passat is known as the Passat NMS (New Mid-size Sedan). The Passat NMS was named Motortrend's 2012 Car of the Year. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, this is one of six Volkswagen that were available for test drives.

As far as exterior styling goes, nothing special. It looks like your typical mid-size sedan. The front grill is standard for Volswagen. On the inside, the Passat felt roomy. I had plenty of leg room and head room behind the wheel. Other than that, nothing else noteworthy.

The Passat TDI is powered by a turbocharged direct injected 2.0L diesel engine that produces 138 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 seconds in 9.2 seconds. When I was behind the wheel of the Passat, I was comfortable. The Passat went smoothly over speed bumps. The car responds when I turn the steering wheel. The Passat has some zip to it. I had fun behind the wheel of the Passat TDI.

The Passat has been featured on The Middle, Parks and Recreation, Modern Family, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Continuum, Major Crimes, and Your Sister's Sister.

Overall, the Passat may look like your typical mid-size car. The interior and exterior are nothing special. Yet, the Passat TDI was very comfortable to drive in and I had fun behind the wheel. While the 2.0L TDI engine does not put out a lot of horsepower, the engine has a good amount of torque and it gives the car decent acceleration. The Passat handles the one curve on a side street well. I was so comfortable behind the wheel that I felt like I was on cloud. The Passat TDI is a good car. Now do I agree that with Motortend that the Passat is the 2012 Car of the Year, an award given out near the end of 2011, no I do not. The Passat was not my favorite Volkswagen to drive. Prices for the Passat TDI SE sedan start at $26,225. Prices for the Passat TDI SEL Premium sedan starts at $32,915. If you are in the market for mid-size sedan that comes with a diesel engine, give the Passat TDI a test drive. However there are better mid-size sedans out there for around the same price as the Passat TDI, and the Passat TDI does not stand out from the other mid-size sedans. But if you are interested in the Passat, with or without the TDI engine, give it a test drive.


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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac XTS

In 2011, General Motors and Cadillac ended production for both the Cadillac STS and DTS. In 2012, Cadillac came out with an all new full-size sedan, the XTS, to replace both the STS and DTS. The XTS also serves as the flagship car for the Cadillac brand. I first saw the Cadillac XTS at the 2012 Houston Auto Show and named it my best full-size Car to come out in 2012, and I did that before I drove the XTS. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I got behind the wheel of an XTS. This was the first car I drove on Day 4 of the Houston Auto Show.

The XTS is just beautiful. The XTS has some sleek lines going along the side of the car. The rear slope is integrated nicely. The headlights are integrated nicely into the body. The interior is even better. The XTS has a luxurious and roomy. I was very comfortable behind the wheel. The feel like I am on a cloud when I am behind the wheel. I had plenty of leg room and head room. There are some features that I like. There is a heads up display that informs the driver what the speed limit is and also acts as a speedometer. The gauges are digital and can be customized to fit the driver's need. The middle gauge acted as a speedometer and navigation. This is the first time I have been behind the wheel of a car with the navigation located in front of the driver and not to the side. I have an external GPS device for my RAV4 and I have to turn to the side to look at it instead of looking ahead. In the XTS, I can look straight at the rood and at the navigation screen at the same time. This feature is something that needs to be on more cars. It is dangerous for a driver to have his or her eyes not looking directly at the road.

Powering the XTS is a 3.6L V6, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, that producs 304 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque. The XTS goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, which is good for a full-size sedan. The car feels quick. The XTS has a soft ride, yet the XTS handles well. The car immediately turns when I turn the steering wheel. Over the five days, there were some vehicles that did not turn one way or another immediately when I turn the steering wheel. The XTS handles bumps well. I barely felt any bumps when I was behind the wheel. The XTS is a good car to be behind the wheel of.

Overall, the XTS is an amazing cars. I love the exterior styling. It is just beautiful. The interior is really nice. I felt very comfortable behind the wheel. I love that the driver can customize the gauges to fit his or her needs. I liked having the navigation screen directly in front of me when I was behind the wheel of the XTS. The XTS also has good acceleration. It is just an enjoyable car to drive. Prices for the XTS start at $44,075 and can go up to $60,385 for a fully loaded XTS premium sedan. That price may seem high, but compared to its German rivals, the XTS has a lot to offer for a good price. If you can afford it, get it. The XTS is an amazing car.

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First Drive: 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

The Ford C-Max has been around since 2003, serving as Ford's entry in the European compact MPV market. The first generation, which was in production from 2003 to 2010, used the Ford C1 platform, which was also used for the Ford Focus Mk II and the Mazda 5. Production for the second generation C-Max started in 2010. In 2012, the C-Max made its way to North America. While the European market C-Max has various different engines to pick from, the North American C-Max comes only with a hybrid drivetrain. I have seen a few C-Maxes on the Houston roads, but I only got a distant glimpse at them. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, there were two C-Maxes available for test drives. The only difference between the two was the color. For the ride and drive event, Ford had several cars to choose from. The popular Ford was the Mustang 5.0. Since there were only four representatives rode along on the test drives, participants were restricted to driving in the parking lot. Out of the 70 vehicles I test drove over the five day period, the C-Max was the only vehicle I drove twice. The first time was Friday night in the parking lot. For the second time out in the C-Max, I was able to drive on the streets. The C-Max was the last car I drove on Sunday. The C-Max is a front engine, front-wheel drive five-door compact MPV.

As far as styling goes, there are a few things that stand out. The C-Max has a double grill. The upper grill is from a Ford Focus and the lower grill is from the Ford Fusion. The styling is similar to the Ford Escape. Other than that, nothing real special about the styling. The C-Max has a nice sized interior. There is plenty room for five. Behind the wheel, I had plenty of head room and leg room. The seat was comfortable. The gauges are nice. On the right, there is a screen that uses leaves to show the driver how efficiently the person is driving.

The C-Max is powered by a both an Atkinson cycle 2.0L I4 engine that produces 141 hp and 129 lb-ft of torque and a permanent magnet AC synchronous electric motor that produces 118 hp and 117 lb-ft of torque. The C-Max comes with a 1.4 kWh lithium ion battery pack. The combined hybrid powertrain produces 188 hp. The C-Max uses a CVT transmission. The C-Max goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and has at top speed of 115 mph. The C-Max can reach 62 mph will only using electric mode. The C-Max has good acceleration for a hybrid. The C-Max also has smooth acceleration. I felt no jerks will accelerating. The C-Max has a smooth, quiet ride.  Prices for the C-Max Hybrid SE starts at $25,995. Prices for the C-Max Hybrid SEL starts at $28,995. That is a fair price for a hybrid. The C-Max performs very well compared to the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius and Prius V, and the Chevrolet Volt.

The Ford C-Max Hybrid was featured in Motorweek.

Overall, the Ford C-Max Hybrid is a good hybrid. The ride is smooth. It has good acceleration. The interior is nice and roomy. The styling is nothing special, but it is better than the Volt, Prius, Prius C, and Insight. If you are in the market for a hybrid, give the C-Max a test drive. If you are in the market for a five seat MPV, give the C-Max a test drive. Compared to the competition, the C-Max is the best value for a hybrid.


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First Drive:2012 Buick Regal CXL Turbo

The Buick Regal has been around in North America since 1973. In 1999, the Regal made its way to China. From 2004 to 2010, Buick and General Motors stopped selling the Regal in North America, but sales of the Regal continued in China. In 2009, an new Regal went to production. From 2009 until early 2011, the Regal was produced in Germany at the Opel (the German subsidiary for General Motors) Russelheim Assembly facility. In German, the car was called the Opel Insignia. In 2011, the Buick Regal began being produced in Oshawa, Ontario. The Regal is a front engine, front-wheel drive four door mid-size sedan. At the 2012 Houston Auto Show, I took one out on a test drive with my father sitting in the back.

On the outside, nothing special. Nothing really stands out. It just looks bland compared to other mid-size sedans. On the inside, there is not much head room. My dad is 5'5"/5'6" and his head was hitting the roof. The seat was not comfortable what so ever. My back stated hurting just one minute into the test drive.

The Regal I test drove came with a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine that produced 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Regal goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. I had no desire to test the acceleration of the Regal. My back was hurting. Also the car has a stiff suspension. The other two Buicks that I drove were very comfortable and had a soft ride. Why did Buick need to make the Regal have a very stiff ride. It is not a car people would take to the track. It is a luxury sedan. Prices for a Buick Regal Turbo start at $30,260. That is not a lot of money for a luxury mid-size sedan with a turbocharged engine, but the ride is too uncomfortable for me to recommend.

Overall, I did not like the Buick Regal Turbo. The ride was so stiff that my back was hurting after one minute of driving it. For as much as I did not like the Chevrolet Volt, at least the Volt was not trying to kill my back. The Buick Regal was not available for test drives at the 2013 Houston Auto Show, but one was on display inside. I sat in a 2013 Buick Regal and it too was uncomfortable. At the 2012 Houston Auto Show, I drove the Buick Verano and Buick LaCrosse and both cars were very comfortable to sit in. I even drove the Buick Enclave at the 2013 Houston Auto Show and that was comfortable to sit in. I just do not understand why the Buick Regal was designed with a stiff suspension. It is not a car someone would drive on track day. The Buick Regal is the most uncomfortable car I drove in 2012. I cannot recommend someone buying this car. If you want a turbocharged four-door sedan, I recommend almost anything else.


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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.0T

In 2012, Cadillac came out with two new sedans. The first of the two new sedans is the XTS, a full size sedan that replaced both the STS and DTS. The second new sedan is the ATS, a compact sedan that competes against the Lexus IS, BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.The ATS is the first Cadillac compact sedan to be sold in North America since the Cimarron was sold from 1982 to 1988. The European market got the BLS from 2005 to 2010. The Cadillac is a front-engine, four door compact sedan that is available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. I first saw the ATS at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. I liked what I saw out of the ATS and named it my 2012 Best Sports Sedan award before even driving it. The ATS was Esquire's 2013 Car of the Year, Popular Mechanics' 2013 Luxury Car of the Year, and Motor Press Guild's 2013 Vehicle of the year. The ATS is also the 2013 North American Car of the Year. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to get behind the wheel of the ATS and take it out for a test drive. The version of the ATS that I drove came with a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and with rear-wheel drive.

The ATS styling grew on me. It has some nice character lines and a nice sports sedan styling. It does not look as bland as some of the other compact sedans, luxury sedans, and sports sedans. The ATS has a nice interior. The touch screen is user friendly.  The seat was comfortable to sit in. I had a nice amount of leg room and head room. The car has a sporty feel to it, but it is not too stiff and unpleasant. 

The ATS I drove came with a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine that produces 272 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The ATS is also available with a 2.5L I4 engine that produces 202 hp and 190 lb-ft. The ATS also comes with a 3.6L V6 engine that produces 321 hp and 274 lb-ft of torque. All engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged 2.0L engine is available with an optional six-speed manual transmission. The first I noticed about the way the ATS 2.0T was the lack of turbo lag. I did not notice any turbo lag, if there was any. The car has smooth acceleration. The ATS 2.0T can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds, and it felt quick. The ATS has a comfortable, quiet ride and was fun to drive. The car has good throttle response and responds well when I turned the steering wheel. The base price for the ATS starts at $33,995. The ATS 2.0T starts at $35,795. The ATS 3.6 starts at $42,090. That is a good price for what you get with the ATS.

Overall, the ATS is a very good sports sedan. I drove both the ATS and CTS sedans, and I was more comfortable in the ATS than in the CTS.The ATS has a nice balance between ride quality and handling. The ATS has a sporty suspension, yet it was comfortable to be in. I have been in cars that have too soft of a ride that there is a delay between turning the steering wheel and the car turning. I have also been cars that the suspension was too stiff more me to enjoy the car. The has good power and nice acceleration. I drove the ATS with the turbocharged engine, but I did not notice any turbo lag. Well done General Motors and Cadillac. Also, the ATS has a good sports sedan styling. It shares some resemblance to the Cadillac CTS, but that is not a bad thing. And the ATS also goes for a reasonable price. You get a lot of car for under $40,000, and that includes a turbocharged engine. If you are looking for a luxury compact sedan or a sports sedan, give the ATS a test drive. I highly recommend the ATS. This is one of the best cars to come out in 2012.

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First Drive: 2013 Hyundai Equus

The Hyundai Equus has been around since 1999, serving as the brand's full-size luxury sedan. The first generation Equus was produced from 1999 to 2008 and was sold in South Korea, China, and Middle East. The Western European got this car, which was renamed the Hyundai Continental, in the early and mid 2000s. In 2009, the second generation Equus was released. This time, the Equus was available for the North American market. In 2012, the Equus got an update, now available with an eight-speed automatic transmission. I have seen the Equus at a few automotive events in the greater Houston Area. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to test drive one. The Equus is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive four-door full-size luxury sedan.

I have to give credit to Hyundai for the great improvements over the years to its brands. The new Hyundais are vastly improvements over previous Hyundais. The Equus is very easy on the eyes. The car looks luxurious. I like the sleek body lines and the front grill. Everything is nicely integrated as far as body design goes. While it does not have a sporty or aggressive styling, the Equus is still beautiful. The Equus is very luxurious on the inside. The leather seats are nice a comfortable. The leather and wood trim gives the Equus a luxurious feel. The user interface and touchscreen are easy to use. Behind the wheel, I had plenty of head room and leg room. And there is plenty of room in the back for adult passengers. I was very comfortable behind the wheel.

Powering the Equus is a 5.0L V8 engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, that produces 429 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. The Equus goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The Equus felt quick when I pressed the accelerator pedal. The Equus has a very soft ride. I felt like I was riding on a cloud when I was driving the Equus. The Equus may have a soft suspension, but it handles well. There is an instantaneous response when I turned the wheel. The Equus also has a quiet cabin. I did not hear any outside noise and I could barely hear the engine when I was inside the Equus. Prices for the Equus start at $59,250 and the Equus Ultimate goes for $66,250. That may seem expensive for a car, but the Equus is a good value compared to the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the Audi A8.

Overall, the Equus is a great luxury full-size sedan. I felt like I was riding on a cloud because the Equus has a very soft ride. The car has a luxury sedan styling and a luxurious interior. The Equus has wood trim and very comfortable leather seats. The Equus gets good power from the V8 engine and has good acceleration for a full-size luxury sedan. Despite the soft ride, the Equus handles nicely. The Equus has a very reasonable price of around $60,000 compared to its German rivals. If you are in the market for a full-size luxury sedan, give the Equus a test drive. Hyundai has greatly improved its quality of vehicles over the years.


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First Impression: 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish

The original Aston Martin Vanquish was in production from 2001 to 2007, serving as the flagship for Aston Martin. It served as the Bond car in Die Another Day. In 2007, Aston Martin came out with the DBS, a grand tourer that served as the successor to the Vanquish. In 2012, Aston Martin revealed the Project AM310 Concept. The concept car became the new Aston Martin Vanquish. The new Vanquish is the successor to the Aston Martin DBS. The Vanquish is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door grand tourer.

I saw the new Vanquish at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. This was the main car I wanted to see at the auto show. However, this was not one of the seventy cars I drove during the five day event. The local Aston Martin dealership has a few Aston Martins on display, including an unfinished Vanquish. Aston Martins are known for power, beauty, and soul. The Vanquish is beautiful. It is more refined than the DBS. Compared to the old Vanquish, the new Vanquish has a small grill, sleeker side body lines, and a wider hole on the lower part of the front bumper. While the old Vanquish has beauty, the new Vanquish has both beauty and aggressive styling. The new Vanquish will turn heads when it is on the road.

The Vanquish is powered by a 5.9L V12, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting mode, that produces 565 hp and and 457 lb-ft of toque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 183 mph. Prices for the Vanquish start at $282,110. The Vanquish has power, speed, and acceleration, but it comes at a steep price.

Final Thoughts: The Vanquish is another car worthy of the Aston Martin badge. The Vanquish has beauty, power, and soul. This car is beautiful and has an aggressive styling. Plus, it has good acceleration and a supercar speed. This is one amazing car. But it is expensive. Still, if you can afford it, take it out for a drive.

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First Drive: 2013 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee

The Dodge Charger served as Dodge's entry in the muscle car market from 1966 to 1978. It was a front engine, rear-wheel drive mid-size two door coupe. In February 2005, Dodge revealed a new full-size sedan to replace the Dodge Intrepid. Dodge decided to bring back the Charger name. With the new Charger comes a Charger SRT-8 powered by a hemi V8. In 2010, the second generation of the Charger came out. Starting in 2012, SRT got its hands on the second generation Charger. I first was the second generation Dodge Charger SRT-8 at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I got a change to take one out for a test drive. The version I drove is the 2013 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee. This was one of two SRT vehicles available for test drives. You have to first drive a non SRT Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, or Fiat before getting into one of the two SRT vehicles.

The Charger SRT-8 Super Bee has an aggressive styling. It starts with the front bumper, grill, and headlights. It looks mean. The is a rear spoiler that does not hinder visibility when looking at the rear view mirror. I have driven some cars where the rear spoiler hinders visibility when looking at the rear view mirror. The yellow paint job with black trapezoids on the hood. The Charger has a sporty interior. No leather seats are in the Super Bee. The seats are covered with an exclusive Z-stripe cloth with the Super Bee logo on the headrests. The are two gauges and a screen behind the steering wheel. I had a good amount of head room and leg room behind the wheel. The seat was comfortable, especially for a performance vehicle.

The Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee is powered by a 6.4L hemi V8, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting mode, that produces 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4,2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 178 mph. The Charger felt fast, for the few seconds I could unleash the Charger. I was behind a very slow driver and every time I gave myself some distance, I caught up. This was frustrating because I wanted to test the power and acceleration of the Super Bee, but I just could never give myself some room because the person test driving the Chevrolet Spark in front of me was driving very slowly. As far as drive quality, the Charger has a smooth ride. The Charger also has responsive handling. It was also very quiet inside the Charger as well. This is a good ride, I just wish I was not behind a very slow driver.

Overall, the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee is a great muscle car. It is quick, fast, and comfortable. The Dodge Charger is available with a 3.6L V6 engine for people who want a good full-size sedan ideal for everyday driving. For those who want a four-door sedan for both everyday driving and track days, the Super Bee is the ideal car. A Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee will set you back $43,450, but that is a great value for what you get. If you are in the market for a full-size sedan that is practical and fun to drive, give the Super Bee a test drive. There was another SRT vehicle available for test drive, and when I was in that car, I did not have a very slow driver in front of me.


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First Drive: Chrysler 300S

The Chrysler 300 has been around since the spring of 2004, serving as the full-size luxury sedan for Chrysler. It replaced the Chrysler Concorde. In 2011, the second generation Chrysler 300 was released. At the 2011 New York International Auto Show, Chrysler revealed an "S" level trim for the 300. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to take the 300S out for a test drive. This was one of two versions of the Chrysler 300 that I drove. The other 300 was tuned by SRT.

The 300S has a nice exterior. It is not sporty or aggressive, but it looks luxurious. I prefer the lined grill on the second generation 300 over the checker grill on the first generation 300. It has a nice hood and a slanted truck, and a nice luxurious side profile. The 300S also comes with 20" polished aluminum wheels with black painted pockets, and a black painted grill and headlamps. The 300S comes with a 10-speaker Beats by Dr. Dre sound system, and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. The interior is luxurious. The 300S has leather seats with the Chrysler 300S logo located on the upper part of the seats. The dashboard is wrapped in leather. The seat was comfortable and I had good head room and leg room behind the wheel.

The 300S is powered by a 3.6L V6 enigne, paired with a eight-speed automatic transmission that comes with paddle shifters, that produces 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 300S goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 114 mph. The 300S has good acceleration and power throughout the rpm range. The acceleration was smooth. I did not feel any jerky motions when I upshift and downshift. The 300S has a very comfortable ride. It was very quiet inside the 300S. The 300S also has good handling. The car responded when I turned the wheel. Prices for the 300S start at $33,995, which is a good value for what you get with the 300S.

Overall, the 300S is a good full-size luxury sedan. It has good acceleration and a good ride quality. The car drives smoothly on city roads. I was very comfortable behind the wheel. And you get a good car for under $35,000. So if you are looking for a good domestic luxury full-size sedan and do not want to spend $40,000, give the Chrysler 300S a test drive. If you want a Chrysler 300 is a Hemi V8, there is an SRT-8 version of the 300.

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First Drive: Chrysler 300 SRT-8

The Chrysler 300 has been around since 2005, serving as Chrysler's full-size luxury sedan. So far, there have been two generations of the 300. Chrysler has its own in house tuning company Street and Racing Technology, or SRT for short. SRT took a Chrysler 300 C and turned into the Chrysler 300C SRT-8, replacing the 5.7L Hemi V8 engine found in the standard 300C with a 6.1L Hemi V8 that produces 425 hp. With Chrysler releasing the second generation 300 in 2011, SRT got its hands on the car. At the 2011 New York International Auto Show, Chrysler revealed the next generation Chrysler 300 SRT-8. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to take one out for a test drive. Unlike my test drive with the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee, I did not have a slow moving car preventing me from unleashing the fury of a SRT vehicle.

On the outside, the 300 SRT-8 looks like a standard Chrysler 300, but there are few minor changes. The chrome trim has been replaced with body color trim, a lower front fascia, larger exhaust tip, and 20" aluminum wheels. The 300 SRT-8 also sits a half-inch lower to the ground than the standard 300, plus the 300 SRT-8 also has a sportier suspension and a Brembo brakes package. The interior is very similar to other Chrysler 300 that I drove. The major difference is that the seat in the SRT-8 is stiffer than the seat in the 300S. I still had good head room and leg room behind the wheel of the 300 SRT-8.

The 300 SRT-8 is powered by a 6.4L Hemi V8, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, that produces 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 175 mph. On the test drive with the 300 SRT-8, I had no cars in front of me, so I was able to unleash the fury of the engine. The 300 SRT-8 is quick. Compared to the 300S, the 300 SRT-8 has a stiffer, sportier ride. It was stiff, but not too stiff for my comfort level. The 300 SRT-8 did not try to kill my back, unlike some other vehicles I have driven. For a car with a big engine, it was quiet inside the 300 SRT-8. This car has good muscle car performance. The Chrysler 300 SRT-8 goes for $47,995, which is over $1,000 more than the Dodge Charger SRT-8. Still, that is not bad for a full-size luxury four-door muscle car.

The Chrysler 300 SRT-8 has been featured in Breaking Bad. The Chrysler 300 SRT-8 is playable in Forza Motorsport 4, Car Town, and Car Town EX.

Overall, the Chrysler 300 SRT-8 is a fun car to drive. It is a quick full-size four door door sedan. It has a few minor differences on the exterior compared to the other versions of the Chrysler 300. It still feels luxurious on the inside, even with the stiffer ride. When I was in the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee, I was not able to test out the acceleration of the car since I had a slow moving car in front of me. It was a different story with the Chrysler 300 SRT-8. I had nothing in front of me when I was on the roads in the 300 SRT-8 and I could just nail it. I could feel my heart beat fast when I was in this car. The 300 SRT-8 has a sporty ride, but I was still comfortable behind the wheel. If you want a muscle car with four doors, then check out the Chrysler 300 SRT-8. If you want a slightly softer ride from SRT, then go with the 300 SRT-8 over the Charger SRT-8. But if you want a slightly sportier ride, then go with the Charger SRT-8. Both are very good four-door muscle cars. But if you want an American full-size sedan with a softer ride, then go with the Charger or 300 that was not tuned by SRT, or go with the Cadillac XTS. SRT cars are for people who want to go quick.

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