LOS ANGELES,CALIF. — The Fiat 500 is cute, fun, efficient, and economical, but nobody would really call it electrifying. Until now. For 2014, the Fiat 500 will come in a version called the 500e, with the “e” standing for electric. Before consumers in 49 states get too excited about the 500e maybe becoming their electric car of choice, however, the car will require a little California Dreamin’ because the only showrooms it …
A prominent note in my notebook will remind me to plead with the press-fleet powers at BMW to send me the new BMW 750iL for a second test-drive week, after the persistent snow and ice of this never-ending winter finally cash in their chips. As it is, the chance to experience the many wonderful features of the car, which is BMW’s flagship of luxury and class. It’s not as though I didn’t get a chance …
ATS isn’t simply a car Cadillac wants to offer. It’s a car Cadillac needs to offer. Globally, the biggest category in the luxury field is the compact performance segment, and Caddy simply hasn’t been a player. Until now. Eight inches shorter and 500 pounds lighter than its CTS showroom mate, ATS is virtually all new; only its available V-6 is off the shelf. Everything else is consciously designed to target …
Honda’s Accord has become a generic family sedan in America, a car that’s a good value, an excellent performer, but does not stand out. You may never notice the 2013 model, but you may want to own one. While Toyota has added a touch of styling flair to its formerly vanilla Camry and Ford has leapt forward with its new Fusion design, Honda stays with its safe, bland look, coupled …
Not long ago, Nissan’s Pathfinder was a sport-utility truck that was set up for off-roading and hauling gear. Today, that tough truck has gotten a little softer and is tailored more for comfort. Oh, it can haul and is available with all-wheel-drive, but you are not going to take this vehicle off road. With its remodel for 2013, Pathfinder is pure crossover, leaning toward minivan. That’s because it rides on …
Subaru’s new crossover, the XV Crosstrek, is an attractive vehicle that splits the difference between sedan, wagon and crossover, with many of the good characteristics of each. But the Crosstrek, which rides on the compact Impreza platform, is underpowered, so keep that in mind if you plan to haul four people or a load of stuff under its roomy hatchback. Crosstrek has 8.7 inches of ground clearance, but looks more …
Despite high-priced new iron like the 2014 RLX sedan and MDX crossover, Acura figures there’s a market, as well, for a classy-but-affordable compact aimed at 20- and 30-somethings who seek to make an “I have arrived” statement, even if they’re still in transit. Thus, we get the 2013 Acura ILX. The new ILX shares its basic platform with the Honda Civic, but you’d need the deductive powers of Sherlock Holmes …
Buyers of full-size pickups have not proven as susceptible to Toyota’s charms as sedan buyers. While Toyota’s Camry and Corolla were, as usual, among the Top-10 best-selling vehicles in America last year, its Tundra truck was, as usual, an also-ran in the full-size pickup segment, garnering a mere 6 percent share. Introduced in 2007, Tundra carried with it Toyota’s hopes that it would scoop up a big helping of the …
