Mechanically, it is the same as the 500c so it’s really a glamorous facelift to a solid chassis. We had a ton of fun with it as the 500c charm was stepped up a couple of notches. Women loved it as they would stop in their tracks as we rolled slowly in downtown areas. The roof was awesome too as it gave the sensation of a convertible but none of the downsides like more weight and added chassis flex. We felt safer too as this Fiat 500c had a very secure structure with all the pillars still present.

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The 2012 Fiat 500 is a car that manages to deliver driving passion and excitement with 101 horsepower.  That is a new paradigm and that is an exciting development today. In this polarized nation of exciting V8s and gutless hybrid cars, the Fiat 500 stirs the pot and says: “Hey, I can be fun to drive, help the environment and not put you in debt all in one package.”

The good news is we agree. This is the most fun per horsepower we’ve had in the history of Carreview.com. Allez!

The better news is more Fiats are coming and the The angry 500 known as the Fiat Abarth is coming too.  We can’t wait!

REVIEWS
	2012 Fiat 500C Convertible Review Rating: By David Colman “There isn’t another $25,000 car on the market today that will garner as much attention as this convrtible Fiat 500C. Paint it Giallo (yellow) like our test car, and the petit bumblebee’s cynosure quotient jumps off the map.”
	2012 Fiat 500 Lounge Review – Italian movie star on four wheelsRating: By David Colman “The 500 is so small and nimble that a pair of them could square dance in your living room.”
	2012 Fiat 500 Sport First Impressions Review Rating: By Danny Chang”I was super glad to see the manual gear shift when I got in the tester 500. It’s so rare these days to see a car outfitted with a good old-fashioned 5-speed and clutch.”
Specs:
The 2012 Fiat 500 is a 2-door, 4-passenger family coupe, available in 3 trims, ranging from the Pop to the Lounge. The Fiat 500 is the new small car that marks the return of the Fiat brand to the U.S. market. On sale in early 2011 as a 2012 model, the Fiat 500 combines Italian styling with functionality, efficient design and innovative technology for a vehicle that is unique to the American market.
MSRP:	Standard Engine:
$15,500 – $19,500	1.4-liter, I4, 101-horsepower engine that achieves 30 city and 38 highway mpg. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard on the Pop. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on the Lounge
Average Consumer Rating:
Expert Rating:

By David Colman

For: Blatantly idiosyncratic appearance, Porsche 911-look alloys
Against: Jerky DSG gearbox, Limited use rear seat

VW has gone to great lengths to distinguish this 21st Century Beetle from its immediate predecessor, the 20th Century New Beetle. The New Beetle hit the market in 1998, and has had a very successful sales run for the past 13 years. Now, the Newest Beetle debuts as a 2012 model available in 2 versions, base (with 2.5 liter, 5 cylinder engine) and Turbo (with 2.0 liter inline turbo 4). Although eventually, 5 and 6 speed manual transmissions will be offered, first deliveries of both models will include the extra cost DSG automatic gearbox. The base model so equipped retails for $24,495, while the Turbo lists for $27,495.

Our test Turbo Beetle also included leather seat coverings, navigation and sunroof, options which boosted delivery price to $29,865. While the loaded, DSG-equipped Beetle is not limited to the one per center crowd, it’s hardly the People’s Car it once was touted to be. Is a $30,000 Beetle worth the money? On looks alone, it definitely is. This one, especially when finished in red, is an eyeball magnet in a sea of Jelly Bellies. If you don’t want attention, do not buy a Turbo Beetle. The latest version looks like a New Beetle that’s been flattened by a brick. A couple of years ago, a line of diminutive toy cars called Fat Boyz was popular with the Hot Wheels crowd, and this Turbo looks just like one of those intriguing caricatures. It’s been significantly recontoured to the tune of 3.3 inches of extra width, 6 inches of extra length and half an inch less height. Instead of the New Beetle’s tiresomely cute 3 arch design, the new Turbo’s flapjack proportions look more menacing than cute. The substantial rear wing, flattened roofline, laid back windshield angle, and porky 18 inch alloys make the new Turbo look like something George Barris would have done to the old one.

The VW’s 8 inch wide wheels, with their five spoke black exclamation point pattern, mimic the classic look of the Fuchs alloys used by the Porsche 911. Unfortunately, the alloys on the Turbo VW are shod, not with high performance rubber, but middling Bridgestone Turanza R400 wear (235/45R18) which reduces ultimate cornering grip in favor of improved winter adhesion. The DSG 6-speed automatic not only adds extra cost to the bottom line ($1,100), but also saddles you with a transmission that is difficult to live with. Shifts are noticeably jerky, and when set in Sport mode, the gearbox downshifts of its own accord with a nasty snatch. You can partially alleviate the DSG’s willfulness by operating it manually via paddles on the steering wheel, or up and downshift prods via the stick on the center console.

The performance of the 2.0 liter turbo is scintillating when the engine is on full boost. Since the Turbo Beetle weighs in at just under 3,000 pounds, the horsepower to weight ratio of 14.9 makes for lively acceleration. But the transition from no boost to full boost is magnified by the DSG’s jerkiness, so full launch becomes a real neck snapper.

The interior of the latest Beetle is considerably enhanced over previous models. In Turbo form, the dashboard is covered with a faux carbon fiber plastic face plate that looks rich and handsome. Piano black upper door fascias keep the interior style simple. A separate upper glove box – in addition to the normal lower storage bin – is a neat holdover from early Beetle design. The 5 inch screen on the navigation device is a smidge small, but still quite welcome, since this is the first time navigation has ever been offered on any Beetle. The 2 rear seats, with uncomfortably vertical backs, are suitable for short hops by adults, though getting situated back there is an ergonomic problem.

This Newest Beetle still looks defiantly different than anything else on the road. In that sense, it has lost none of its illustrious design luster. But you’ll have a better driving experience if you pass on the initial run of DSG cars in favor of the coming manual gearbox models.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo

• Engine: 2.0 Liter in-line 4, 16 valves, turbocharged and intercooled
• Horsepower: 200 at 5,100rpm
• Torque: 207 lb.-ft. at 1,700rpm
• Fuel Consumption: 22 City MPG/30 Highway MPG
• Price as Tested: $29,865
• Star Rating: 7 out of 10 Stars

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Hyundai and Kia are getting better and better with each new model release and the latest from Kia is a prime example why they are gaining market share at a fantastic rate. The 2011 Kia Optima jumps into the one most heavily contested categories and does well competing against the heavy hitters such as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima.

Designed at Kia’s studios in Frankfurt, Germany and Irvine, California, the all-new Kia Optima is longer, wider and lower than the out-going model it replaces and is based on an all-new midsize platform that allows for distinctive dimensions and proportions, while also providing a unique canvas for Kia’s global design team to pen a vehicle that stands apart from everything else in its segment.

Watch Driving Sports TV review of the 2011 Kia Optima:

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Driving Sports is an online publication and video series that strives to entertain, inform and engage. Click in every Wednesday at 10pm PST at drivingsports.com to watch a live streaming broadcast. If you can’t watch live, view the archives posted at drivingsports.com as well as their various syndication partners (YouTube, Streetfire, etc.)

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The BMW 1-Series began its life back in 2004 when the 3-Series was moving up in the world and BMW needed another small family car to serve as an entry model. It started off as a 5-door hatchback, but was introduced as a 2-door coupe, a 3-door hatchback, and a convertible in 2007.

The current engine selection consists of a 3.0L I-6 producing 230hp and 200 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0L twin turbo I-6 producing 300hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

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Volkswagen made it clear that the targets are once again the strong-selling Civic and Corolla. To entice folks considering those cars to also look at the Jetta, VW has lowered the model’s price, introduced a 115-hp base version, reduced the complexity of the options and trim levels, and grown it even further.

To reach a lower model price, the 2011 Jetta has had to make some concessions. One very obvious compromise can be seen its dashboard material. Whereas the previous car had soft-touch, nicely grained plastics that were comparable to those of the Mercedes-Benz E-class, the new model has hard plastic that wouldn’t look too out of place in a Chrysler Sebring.

All models besides the top-spec GLI return to a torsion-beam solid rear axle, and the bottom two trim levels (S and SE) have rear drum brakes instead of discs. And those are only a couple examples of the changes made to make the Jetta a more affordable car. Watch the video and find out if the cost-saving measures really cheapens the new 2011 VW Jetta.

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Driving Sports is an online publication and video series that strives to entertain, inform and engage. Click in every Wednesday at 10pm PST at drivingsports.com to watch a live streaming broadcast. If you can’t watch live, view the archives posted at drivingsports.com as well as their various syndication partners (YouTube, Streetfire, etc.)

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Owners claim that the 2007 STI was the “best” ever and the changes made to the model in subsequent model years softened the car and ruined its driving performance. Does the new 2011 STI model live up to its expectations?

Apologies in advance from Driving Sports TV for borrowing a certain format from another popular automotive show.

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All 2007 Impreza WRX STI models are powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 2.5-liter DOHC Boxer engine producing 293 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 290 lb-ft of peak torque at 4,400 rpm. The Subaru Active Valve Control System (AVCS) variable valve timing technology helps provide strong torque characteristics throughout the engine’s operating range. A manually operated water spray feature helps to bolster intercooler efficiency during spirited driving.

The 2011 STI models continue with Subaru’s familiar 2.5-liter turbocharged flat four, 6-speed manual transmission, and standard all-wheel drive. Power is unchanged from the previous year — the STI produces 305 hp at 6000 rpm and 290 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm.

Driving Sports is an online publication and video series that strives to entertain, inform and engage. Click in every Wednesday at 10pm PST at drivingsports.com to watch a live streaming broadcast. If you can’t watch live, view the archives posted at drivingsports.com as well as their various syndication partners (YouTube, Streetfire, etc.)

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The small Nissan Rogue SUV is compact, pleasant, and competitive in the small SUV class. The 2011 Rogue is now offered in two trim levels, S and SV, along with the sporty Rogue S Krom™ Edition. Built on the Nissan “C” platform, which provides high body stiffness, the Rogue is a front engine, front-wheel-drive vehicle with optional all-wheel drive. The standard 4-wheel independent suspension gives a balance of ride comfort and driving stability and all Rogues come standard with power-assisted front and rear vented disc brakes with ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist. The Nissan Rogue has a MSRP starting price of $20,810.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a stylish and roomy 5-person compact crossover vehicle (CUV) that achieves an impressive 31 mpg highway and sports high-tech amenities including a Sportronic ® continuously-variable transmission (CVT) and an available 40GB HDD navigation system featuring real-time traffic and storage for up to 3,000 songs. Standard features include steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, LED taillights and Mitsubishi’s innovative FUSE Hands-free Link SystemTM with USB input that allows users to make hands-free phone calls or access music on their iPod® with simple voice-commands. Eco-friendly equipment including electric power steering (EPS) and a brake energy regeneration system and safety features including 7 airbags, Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Active Stability Control (ASC) are all standard. The Outlander Sport has a MSRP starting price of only $18,495.

Driving Sports is an online publication and video series that strives to entertain, inform and engage. Click in every Wednesday at 10pm PST at drivingsports.com to watch a live streaming broadcast. If you can’t watch live, view the archives posted at drivingsports.com as well as their various syndication partners (YouTube, Streetfire, etc.)

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Hyundai’s first hybrid could offer efficiency above 30 mpg, for thousands below the competition. The all-new 2011 Sonata, a sedan that has so far delivered the kind of styling, efficiency and low MSRP that sends consumers scrambling for their checkbook. Now Hyundai offers the Sonata as a hybrid model that comes loaded with nearly all of the latest and greatest tech to keep fuel consumption at a minimum. Watch Ryan as he delivers a behind-the-wheel review of the Sonata Hybrid.

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Hyundai says that the Sonata Hybrid can cruise on battery power alone at speeds of up to 62 mph. How do they do it? Under the hood, Hyundai has converted its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine to the Atkinson Cycle and added a 40-horsepower electric motor. The duo is good for a combined 206 horsepower and 193 pound-feet of torque, but the real star of the show is the car’s battery pack.

Instead of opting for the cheaper nickel-metal hydride cells used in cars like the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid, Hyundai has gone for costlier lithium-polymer cells. The company has crammed a total of 72 cells into the pack, each about the size of a cigar box lid and the weight of a roll of quarters. Throw in all of the necessary electronic wizardry to manage the LiPo goodies and a structure to support them, and you’re looking at a battery pack that weighs a relatively svelte 96 pounds.

Hyundai says that the Sonata Hybrid is good for 36 miles per gallon in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

Driving Sports is an online publication and video series that strives to entertain, inform and engage. Click in every Wednesday at 10pm PST at drivingsports.com to watch a live streaming broadcast. If you can’t watch live, view the archives posted at drivingsports.com as well as their various syndication partners (YouTube, Streetfire, etc.)

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Photo Gallery	2011 Hyundai Sonata Specs
Hyundai Motors America: Cars, Coupes, Sedans, CUVs, Touring – www.hyundaiusa.com

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