New Car Review 2012 Toyota Prius V




The 2012 Toyota Prius V.

Toyotas expansion of the Prius into a full family of cars begins here with the Toyota Prius V.

We can hear the puzzled readers now: "Prius V? What are Prius A through U like?" No, this is V as in roman numeral for the number 5. So its "Toyota Prius 5". Why? Because it has five doors (okay, it also stands for "Versatility", according to Toyota).




Rear view of the 2012 Toyota Prius V.

The fifth door is that big back one. Its called a door instead of a tailgate or liftgate because Toyota, like most manufacturers, cant quite bring itself to call this a "station wagon". But cmon...look at that profile. In fact, look at that fifth door when its open:




The "fifth door" of the 2012 Toyota Prius V in its open state.

That, folks, is a station wagon. And that, folks, is a good thing. Because station wagons, like their 90s replacement, the SUV, have rear seats that fold flat, resulting in some extremely useful cargo capability.

The Prius V comes extremely well equipped (17-inch alloy wheels, electronic braking and traction systems, airbags, smart keys, tire pressure monitors, LED headlamps, foglamps, power heated and folding outside miorrors, a display audio/navigation system with Toyotas terrific Entune entertainment system plus AM/FM/CD/mp3/SiriusXM/HD radio, Bluetooth, automatic climate control and more for $29,990.

Our tester had the Advanced Technology Package (Hard drive, JBL audio, backup camera, Advanced Voice Recognition, Text-to-speech, dynamic radar cruise control, panoramic moonroof and a batch more) for $5,580, floor mats and trunk mats for $225 and alloy wheel locks for $67. Delivery and processing was $760, for a bottom line of:

$36,622.

Yes, that is the most expensive Prius weve ever tested. But its also the most loaded, the most practical and the one young eco-friendly families might be most likely to take on a long summer roadtrip, when all those bells and whistles will make things considerably more pleasant.

Now they just need DVD screens in the back of the front headrests...

2012 Toyota Prius V

Base price: $29,990.

As tested: $36,622.

Likes: The extra utility of the wagon style.

Dislikes: Were not that far from a $40,000 Prius.

EPA estimates: 44 mpg city/40 mpg highway.

2011 Chevrolet Equinox Review

The 2011 Chevrolet Equinox.

The same knee-jerk that put drivers into SUVs last decade is taking a lot of them out, and in a lot of cases thats an over-reaction, too. The answer for many isnt "no SUV", its a smarter, right-sized SUV, which in most cases means a crossover.

Its been a while since weve done a review of a Chevrolet Equinox, so we borrowed one from Courtesy Chevrolet in Phoenix for a week.

Chevys done a great job of covering a wide price range with the Equinox, which is its smallest crossover. The base model (LS) starts at $22,995 in front-wheel drive. There are three trim levels up from there (1LT, 2LT and LTZ) and all four are also available in all-wheel drive.

Ours was the front-wheel drive LTZ. Base price $28,570. Thatll get you the 2.4 liter 4-cylinder ECOTEC engine with 182 horsepower hooked up to a 6-speed automatic transmission and some nice EPA fuel economy estimates: 22 city/32 highway. Also on the standard goodies list: Four wheel anti-lock disc brakes, Stabilitrak, remote keyless entry, OnStar, a rear-view camera, Ultrasonic parking assist, programmable power lifgate, heated power outside mirrors, 17-inch aluminum sheels, fog lamps, projector beam headlamps, and and exterior chrome package.

Inside, the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox is comfortable and, in LTZ trim, loaded.

The standard equipment list for the interior is pretty long, too: Leather appointed seats with heated front buckets, 8-way power memory drivers seat and memory mirrors, sliding and reclining rear seats, automatic climate control, cargo net, cover and cross rails, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, AM/FM/SiriusXM/CD 8-speaker Pioneer audio system, Bluetooth, outside temperature and compass, self-dimming rear view mirror and leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls.

Again, thats all part of the deal at $28,570. Not bad. In fact, very good. Good enough, in fact, that ours added only two options: 19-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels ($1,250) and the 3.0 liter V6 engine ($1,500).

About the engine...its a big step up in power...to 264 horses. Its great. But its also never going to get you anywhere near the mileage of the standard four. In fact, in 60% city street and 40% urban freeway driving, we averaged 16.5 miles per gallon (the EPA estimates 17 city/24 highway for the V6). If your driving includes mountain passes, that may be a trade worth making. If, on the other hand, youre mostly doing city-street commuting, seriously consider sticking with the ECOTEC four. 

With the V6, the Equinoxs bottom line was $32,130. Stick with the four and stick with the stock 17-inch wheels, and shed come in at $29,380.

Chevy says the Equinoxs prime competition is the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V and the Ford Escape, all three well into their product cycle. The Equinox is by far the freshest of the four and should be on your  list.

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer review

The Mitsubishi Lancer is offered in 5 versions for 2013 and this time we had the opportunity to evaluate the Lancer ES, one above the cheaper model (DE).

The Mitsubishi Lancer ES has a 4-cylinder aluminum engine DOHC 2.0-liter naturally aspirated. This is capable of producing up to 148 HP (@ 6,000 rpm) and 145 lb-ft (@ 4,200).

The force is transmitted to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission (standard) and is the same as also found in the versions Lancer DE and 2013 GT. On the other hand, we find a continuously variable transmission (CVT) as an option.

As will intuited this is not a very powerful car, but its low weight (less than 3,000 pounds) allows speeding safely. As expected, excellent fuel consumption of 25 miles per gallon in the city and 34 on the highway.

In independent testing models with the base engine able to reach 60 miles per hour in 8.8 seconds with the manual transmission and 9.1 seconds with the CVT automatic.
Outside the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer maintains a sportier design than any of its competitors, however inside, despite having a fair design, uses materials that reduce their appearance and hospitality.

Our driving impressions were varied, as its good power and maneuverability segment position him well. But on the other hand, the noise generated by the engine and CVT automatic transmission seemed a bit exaggerated.

The base price of 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer DE (Basic) starts at $ 15.995 and more expensive version (Ralliart) for $ 28.095. While the version we tested (ES) starts at $ 17.095, making it an excellent choice for those seeking dynamic appearance, good fuel economy, safety and maneuverability.

2012 Ferrari FF Silver Review

The FF is an interpretation Ferrari-new Grand Tourer Sport concept. It is only the first four-wheeled Ferrari, but, more significantly, greets a major break with the past by combining extreme performance with the ease and versatility of a true GT and a very innovative design.

The Ferrari FF offers innovations everywhere, starting with the fact that it is equipped with the first Ferrari V12 engine, which is the direct-injection V12, with the first seven-speed dual-clutch. The new engine hits 660 hp at 8000 rpm and maximum torque of 683 Nm at 6000 rpm, 500 Nm available at 1,000 rpm. The Ferrari FF has a spectacular performance of a sports car very extreme: 0-100 kmh acceleration in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 335 kilometers per hour. It also provides excellent results in terms of efficiency with a fuel cut only 15.4 liters per 100 km and CO2 emissions to 360 g / km, a reduction of 25% over the previous V12. These achievements are due in part to HELE (high-low emission emotions), which also includes Stop & Start system.

Ferrari FF also ensures that the extraordinary performance in a field with very low adhesion coefficients with the Ferrari of his own patented drive 4WD four wheel drive. The couple is still supplied by the rear wheels, but PTU (Power Transfer Unit) to ensure that as much as necessary is also transferred to the front wheels when required on surfaces with low grip. Ferrari FF intelligently distributes torque to all four wheels individually, due to the fact that all the Vehicle Dynamic Control (E-Diff and F1-Trac and PTU) have been integrated into a single processor.

Ferrari FF FEATURES

Engine

Type: V12 65 °

Displacement: 6262 cc

Bore / stroke: 94 mm x 75.2 mm

Max Power: 660 hp @ 8000 rpm

Maximum torque: 683 Nm @ 6000 rpm

Specific power: 77 kW / liter - 105 hp / liter

Maximum: 8000 rpm

Compression ratio: 12,3:1

Dimensions and weight

Length: 4907 mm

Width: 1953 mm

Height: 1379 mm

Wheelbase: 2990 mm

Front track: 1676 mm

Rear track: 1660 mm

Dry Weight: 1790 kg

Curb Weight: 1880 kg

Weight distribution 53% front 47% rear

Cargo Capacity: 450 liters

Fuel tank capacity: 91 liters

Wheels and tires

Front: 245/35 ZR 20 8.5 J x 20 "

Rear: 295/35 ZR 20 10.5 J x 20 "

Rear (winter tires): 285/35 ZR20 10.5 J x 20 "

Brakes

Front: 398 mm x 38 mm

Wheel: 360 mm x 32 mm

Transmission and Gear

4WD (four wheel drive) and 7-speed dual-clutch

Electronic Controllers

Control 4WD (for the full integration of all the controls: the F1-Trac, the E-Diff and PTU), ABS / EBD, ESC

Suspension

SCM3

Performance

Maximum speed: 335 kmh
0-100 km / h: 3.7 seconds
0-200 km / h: 11 sec
100-0 km / h: 35 m
Power / weight: 2.7 kg / hp
Consumption and emissions (ECE + EUDC combined cycle)
Power consumption: 15.4 l/100 km
CO2 emissions: 360 g / km

Volkswagen CC Sport Review

I wonder if Volkswagen appreciates the irony of the new CC.

Six years ago, the company introduced the Phaeton, a big luxury sedan with a price tag starting around $65,000 and running all the way up to $95,000 (a hundred grand with tax) for a 12-cylinder model.

It was a monumental flop, yanked summarily from the U.S. market after only a couple of seasons (it is still sold in Europe and is on the verge of a third facelift for 2011 that has die-hard fans hoping for a return to America)

Part of the problem was that for all that money, it looked like a Passat, only bigger. And from a block away, with no perspective to judge size, it looked like a Passat, period.

So now, VW creates a truly desirable car...and it really is a Passat...but with a sleek roofline and some other styling tricks.

And...heres the good part...it carries a price tag lower than the Passat...base price for the Sport model I drove is $27,100...$1,200 below the least-expensive Passat.

The current-generation Passat is a bit of an awkward child...not Teutonically purposeful as the ones before, but without actually achieving elegance or desirability. Attempts to soften the Passat have resulted in it coming off as lukewarm.

But the CC turns up the heat by appealing to the emotions with fluid, sensuous lines.

And the best part is that, through artful use of colors, details and materials, Volkswagen makes the CCs interior feel special, too...giving you the impression that youre driving something a rung or two above the Passat.

The CC gets these impressions so right that driving the base model (the Sport), with only two options (a six-speed automatic transmission and Sirius Satellite radio), feels like the lap of luxury...and keeps the price tag, including destination charges, under $30,000.

You can go hog-wild with the VR6 4Motion and break $40,000 without a sweat....but why, when the Sport is so good?

EPA estimate (with automatic): 19 city/29 highway. Manual transmission 21 city/31 highway.

UPDATE: Just ended a week in another CC Sport. Everything above applies...apart from a base price increase to $27,760. Still, this one bottom-lined at $29,660...with the only option being a six-speed automatic.

And about that...the gas mileage estimate improves to 22 city/31 highway. In my even mix of city streets and freeways, I got 24 for the week...and the range estimate when I took delivery of 450 miles seems plausible. I handed it back this morning with just under half a tank of gas remaining.