Suzuki Ertiga show the optimum perfomance

DELHI, - Ertiga actual figure has emerged since June 2011 and successfully captured by the camera are conducting tests in India. Even the choice of name Ertiga been leaked since September and is ready to become Suzuki's next global product, in India also Indonesia.

Suzuki launched a step in the arena for Ertiga, Delhi Auto Expo next month (January 2012). Before the launch day, let us see what are equipped with Suzuki at low multipurpose vehicle, the prospective challenger, Toyota Avanza and Daihatsu Xenia in Indonesia.
Machine

Suzuki Ertiga equip with two petrol engine options. First, a capacity of 1372 cc engine with variable-valve timing system (VVT) has a maximum power of 96 ps and torque of 13 kgm. Second, the 1.3-liter diesel engine Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) with 90 PS power and 20.39 kgm of torque.

For Indonesia, confirmed petrol variant will be a mainstay. For diesel, Suzuki need to think again because the quality of diesel in Indonesia is still not assured. About the price, indeed there is no certainty. However, leaks from Suzuki Indonesia to ensure the price will be competing head-to-head with Avanza-Xenia.


Platform

Ertiga produced using the Ritz platform and a low product multipurpose vehicle (MPV), the first Suzuki in India. The design is similar to the Ritz, but it forms the main lights (headlight) like Swift. Quite sporty bumper with large airdam. The rear spoiler given on the glass, plus brake lights, so it became more stylized.

In terms of dimensions, 7-passenger MPV is longer (4265 mm) from the Avanza Veloz (4120 mm). Including wheelbase, 2740 mm Ertiga the longer 85 mm (2655 mm).

Ertiga interior feels luxurious because it uses a combination of two shades of beige and gray. Dashboard design is plucked from Swift. Not to forget there 2DIN CD player and audio control buttons on the steering wheel (it seems to the most luxurious variant).

In India, Suzuki just release Ertiga in two variants, namely ZXi and ZDi. However, in Indonesia, Suzuki will likely offer several packages of features and additional accessories.

Citroen new Variant , White C3 for £ 11,990 and the black's £ 12,430

Seine-SAINT DENIS, - The new C3 market at lower prices than its predecessor, Citroen did not reduce or minimize the design features of the 'Obsidian' black and 'Polar' white city car. Even this latest variant received additional aero kit as standard equipment, 16-inch rims, front fog lights and chrome trim patterned on the bottom of the front bumper. While the interior, the dash pattern changed into a white color.

In the sector of energy production, VT 1.4i engine which has a 72 PS power is still a mainstay. The use of fuel consumption is claimed to C3 is able to record 20 km / liter for the city. And CO2 emissions released 139 g / km.

After several days the appearance of variants of the Nissan Micra Kuro and Shiro in the UK, Citroen C3 also launched a new variant also with similar colors (black and white) as a competitor to the Japanese product. The price was, for C3 Black and White £ 300 cheaper than previous models.

For the European market, White C3 sold 11,990 pounds sterling, while the black one's 12,430 pounds. While Nissan's Kuro and Shiro marketed at a price of 11,500 pounds.

New Car: 2012 Chrysler Ypsilon Black & Red

The special-edition Chrysler Ypsilon Black&Red has gone on sale in the UK with prices starting from £12,750. Chrysler is trying to lure a greater proportion of younger buyers with the Ypsilon Black&Red, which was first unveiled at last year’s Bologna motor show wearing a Lancia badge.

The Chrysler Ypsilon Black&Red gets a well-specced interior featuring black and red fabric seat upholstery, dashboard and door linings, aircon, Bluetooth connectivity and a hi-fi system.

The exterior of the car features black and red bi-colour paint, 16-inch multi-spoke alloys, fog lamps, black glass and body-coloured side skirts as standard.

The Ypsilon Black&Red is offered with three engine choices: a 1.2-litre petrol (£12,750), 0.9-litre litre Twin Air (£13,950) or 1.3-litre MultiJet (£14,950).

Chrysler is offering a zero deposit and £199 per month finance deal on the 1.2-litre version.

Thanks to: Autocar

Spied: 2013 Land Rover Freelander

These spy shots show Land Rover is preparing a mildly facelifted Freelander 2, which is likely to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show later this year.

Having recently launched the eye-catching Evoque, it’s only fitting that Land Rover should be ensuring the rest of the range can keep up in the style stakes, so the Freelander 2 looks set to get a few visual updates.

The mild disguise on this mule shows there will be changes to the grille, the headlights and tail lights, but the visual changes are likely to end there.

The interior will get a few updates to quality and equipment, while there will be a few changes under the bonnet too, including making the 2.2-litre diesel engine slightly more efficient. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

New Car: 2013 Kia C'eed

Kia’s reasonably-priced Cee’d is getting quite the makeover, and the Korean automaker has released shots of the new car ahead of a Geneva Motor Show debut.

The latest Kia Cee’d – which is likely to remain a European exclusive – remains a hatchback, but shares only its daylight opening shape with its forebear. The new Cee’d packs plenty of Kia’s latest design DNA into a compact vehicle: the corporate “tiger nose” grille is more prominent than ever, and flanked by long, tapered headlamps and a dramatically flared hood. As usual, the car also receives LED running lamps placed along the lower edges of the headlamp housings.

Further back, the new Cee’d shares a number of cues with the smaller Rio: taillights are mounted high up the curvaceous rear end, although the bumper cut echoes the shape of the hatch stamping itself. The lower diffuser is also a little more sophisticated, with raised accents surrounding the rear reflectors, license plate, and lower diffuser.

Inside, the interior is anything but drab. Like the Optima, the Cee’d’s instrument panel wraps into the center stack. Grey plastic materials used on the dashboard itself are broken up with strips of glossy piano black trim. Door panels are two-toned, and the leather seats shown here feature contrast stitching. The look is refreshingly high-end – which is welcome, considering the C-segment continues to move upmarket in around the globe.

As for the mechanicals, it’s still anyone’s guess: Kia has been tight-lipped about the car’s selection of engines. Currently, European models feature a range of gasoline and diesel engines that make anywhere between 89 and 126 horsepower, but it’s been rumored that the Procee’d, the three-door version of the Cee’d, could make use of the the same 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine used in the new Hyundai Veloster Turbo.

Also unknown at the moment is whether or not this car will make it to the United States. We wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t: after all, the previous Cee’d was designed expressly for the European market, which left North America with the Forte. We may not see a Cee’d on our shores, but we can only hope the next Kia C-segment offering for North America looks this good.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

First Sketch: 2014 Porsche Macan

Meet the 2013 Porsche Macan. Chances are you previously knew this forthcoming small SUV as the Cajun, but the German automaker confirmed its official title before it officially launches in time for the 2013 model year.

What’s a Macan? Technically, it’s the Indonesian word for tiger, but Porsche suggests the name “combines suppleness, power, fascination, and dynamics.”

“The Porsche Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of a SUV, and is a genuine Porsche,” said Bernhard Maier, member of the executive board of sales and marketing at Porsche AG, in a prepared release. “The name of a new Porsche has to fit with the brand, sound good in very many languages and dialects, and evoke positive associations.”

The official rendering shown here, which was released this morning, echoes our previous illustrations. The Porsche Macan bears a close resemblance to its larger sibling, the Porsche Cayenne, but also appears to look a little more like its sports car siblings, especially in the front clip. We’re told the Macan and Q5 share hard points (i.e. pillar position, windshield angle, etc.), but the two share no exterior or interior body panel. The illustration shows a five-door model, although there’s also a chance the Macan will be offered in a three-door form to counter the Range Rover Evoque.

As previously reported, the Porsche Macan will share its architecture with Audi’s Q5. Powertrain offerings will likely include a 235-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4, along with a form of Volkswagen/Audi’s supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, possibly good for 333-350 hp. As we previously reported, a Macan Turbo S is also under consideration, and could use a hotter, Porsche-developed twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6. The driveline will be based off Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system, but Macan models should receive Porsche-specific touches like launch control, optional carbon ceramic disc brakes, and a sport-tuned exhaust system.

We’ll likely see more details emerge shortly, as the Porsche Macan should launch in time for the 2013 model year. The automaker has invested nearly $691 million to add the Macan to its assembly plant in Leipzig, Germany; if all goes according to plan, Porsche hopes to sell nearly 50,000 units annually.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

First Sketch: Touring Superleggera Disco Volante Concept

Italian coachbuilding firm Touring Superleggera will launch a concept model called the Disco VOlante 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Based on Alfa Romeo 8C running gear, the concept car pays homage to the 1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante sports car.

The original Alfa, named for the Italian words for flying saucer, was an extremely aerodynamic sports car with bubble-shaped styling. Though it looked somewhat like a Jaguar E-Type of the same era, the Alfa Romeo had a drag coefficient of just 0.25 — less than modern-day eco cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt. The car was launched with a 158-hp 2.0-liter engine and could top 140 mph.

As previewed by this sketch, the DV 2012 will follow the car’s basic styling formula, with cues like raised bubbles over each front fender, a tapered nose reminiscent of a boat hull, and a narrow greenhouse. The bodywork will likely be hand crafted from both aluminum and carbon fiber. Beneath the sultry skin lurk the underpinnings from the Alfa Romeo 8C supercar, including that car’s 450-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 engine.

Not much else is known about the Disco Volante 2012. The concept shown in Geneva will reportedly only be a design study with no running gear, but Touring Superleggera is said to have already green-lit a production model. It’s certain that the car would be built in extremely limited quantities.

In previous years, Touring Superleggera has used the Geneva show to unveil a lightweight version of the Gumpert Apollo and a unique Bentley shooting brake.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Unofficial Picture: 2013 Volvo V40

Volvo may have shown an official teaser image of the new V40 on Facebook, but now a Swedish magazine has leaked full photos of the new five-door Volvo. As was previously confirmed, the Volvo V40 will be officially revealed at the Geneva Motor Show on March 6.

The leaked images reveal that the Volvo V40 will adopt a considerably sleeker design than the old boxy model. A character line runs the length of the car, kinking up over the rear wheel wells. In profile, the five-door V40 looks like a less-tall version of the company’s XC60 and XC90 crossovers. The front fascia and headlights recall the Volvo S60 sedan, while the large glass liftgate mimics the opening on the C30 hatchback.

Volvo has previously said that the new V40 won’t be sold in the U.S. market. Overseas, the V40 essentially supplants the slightly larger V50 wagon. European buyers will reportedly be able to pick from engines displacing between 1.4 and 2.0 liters, with all-wheel-drive optional on all trims. Volvo’s anti-collision City Safety and Pedestrian Safety technology will be on board.

The Volvo V40 is said to measure 177.2 inches long, about a foot longer than a 2012 Volkswagen Golf. It’s built on Volvo’s new Scalable Platform Architecture, which allows for building cars of varying sizes on essentially the same chassis. The leaked magazine story also indicates that the V40′s 450-cm (177.2-inch) SPA platform could potentially underpin several other models: a C40 hatchback, an S40 sedan, and an XC40 small crossover.

We’ll see the Volvo V40 once it is fully revealed in Geneva, but so far these leaked images portend a stylish, attractive new small wagon.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Recall Up Date: 2012 Subaru Legacy & Outback

Subaru is recalling certain 2012 Subaru Legacy and Outback models due to side curtain airbags with an incorrect mixture of propellant, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Problem: The incorrect propellant mixture may not be sufficient enough for the initiator component to expel the compressed gas preventing the side curtain airbags from deploying on certain 2012 Subaru Legacy and Outback models. Without proper inflation of the side curtain airbags on the affected 2012 Subaru Legacy and Outback models, risk of injury for occupants during a side impact could increase.

The Fix: Subaru will begin notifying owners of 2012 Subaru Legacy and Outback models as well as dealers around the end of March or the beginning of April. Dealers will replace one or both side curtain airbag modules for free. Concerned owners can also contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.

Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: Only 381 2012 Subaru Legacy and Outback models built between December 1, 2011, through December 23, 2011 are affected. no reported deaths or injuries have been linked to the recall.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Car: 2013 Audi RS4 Avant

Audi's high-performance wagons are icons. The mid-1980s saw the 100/200 Turbo Wagon, and things got really wild with the RS2 launched in 1994. It was an over-the-top variation of the Audi 80 Avant created with assistance from Porsche, powered by a 315-hp version of Audi's 2.2-liter turbo five-cylinder and wearing wheels from the 964-gen Porsche 911. (Its side mirrors and front turn signals were from the 993, too.) The RS2 was followed in 1999 by the first RS4, which packed a 380-hp, 2.7-liter twin-turbo V-6. Audi launched the second-gen RS4 in 2005 with a naturally aspirated, extremely high-revving 4.2-liter V-8; this powerplant was engineered by Wolfgang Hatz, now head of Porsche R&D. For the first time, Audi offered a sedan and a convertible in addition to the station wagon. The previous-gen RS4 was sold until 2009. One year later, the RS5 coupe was launched on a platform shared with the current A4, as a sort of RS4 stand-in.

But now the RS4 returns—but only as a station wagon, to be launched at the Geneva auto show next month. The engine remains true to its immediate predecessor, as the car is powered by a 4.2-liter direct-injected V-8 that produces 450 hp at 8250 rpm. Maximum torque stands at 317 lb-ft and is available from 4000 to 6000 rpm. The performance is more than adequate: Audi claims a 0-to-62-mph sprint of 4.7 seconds; we’re guessing that’s at least a few ticks on the conservative side. Top speed is limited to 155 mph unless you pay to relax the governor, at which point the fun ends at 174 mph.

The torque delivery is rear-biased, at 40/60-percent; the self-locking crown-wheel center differential can adjust this ratio almost instantly between 70/30 and 15/85 according to road conditions and driver input. A sports differential that can distribute the torque between the rear wheels is optional. While the last-gen RS4 was available only with a slick-shifting six-speed manual, the new model comes only with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The driver can use paddles or leave the shifting up to the car entirely. In the standard Drive Select system’s more-aggressive settings, the car will blip the throttle to provide rev-matched downshifts.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

New Car: 2013 BMW M6

After a brief sabbatical, BMW’s M6 coupe and convertible are back and prepped to reassume their duties as BMW’s two-door M5 alternatives. The M5 and M6 share most of their underpinnings, with the latter delivering more style than the former—as well as reduced practicality. If you’re wondering why the droptop M6 is a 2012 and the coupe a 2013, it’s because BMW is staggering the launch of each version. The convertible lands in dealerships this June, with the fixed-roof car following a few months later.

Like the latest M5, the new M6 ditches the previous model’s high-revving V-10 engine for a direct-injected, twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8. The engine is a gem—we had a chance to fully test it in the M5—and it makes a whopping 560 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. As in the M5, it’s backed here by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, and power is apportioned to each rear wheel by BMW’s torque-vectoring active M differential. Although we recently confirmed that the new M5 will be available with a manual transmission in North America, BMW isn’t saying yet whether the stick will be offered on the newest M6. That said, the last-gen M6 was available with a manual, and this new car is again being pitched as sportier than the already-ballistic M5. So we figure there’s hope.

BMW claims the M6 coupe reaches 60 mph in about 4.2 seconds and the convertible in 4.3—those figures are likely conservative. For reference, the company projected a 4.4-second 0-to-60 time for the new M5; in our hands, the über-sedan hit 60 in just 3.7 ticks.

Versus a regular 6-series, the M6 gets a rigidly mounted rear subframe, an M-specific suspension with Dynamic Damper Control active dampers, and uniquely tuned hydraulic-assist steering. As in the M5, the M Drive system allows drivers to tailor nearly every performance parameter of the M6, including suspension stiffness, steering effort and feedback, the quickness and severity of the transmission’s shifts, and myriad traction- and stability-control thresholds. Braking is handled by 15.7-inch front and 15.6-inch rear cast-iron discs squeezed by six-piston calipers. A first for an M car, the M6 will be available with carbon-ceramic brake rotors as an option. Measuring an even-larger 16.1 inches up front and an unchanged 15.6 in the rear, the ceramic jobs promise to resist fade better than the standard brakes while also saving more than 40 pounds of unsprung weight. (We have to imagine that this option will be extended to the M5 soon, although BMW won’t confirm the point.)
Thanks to: Car and Driver

New Car: 2013 Ferrari California

Ferrari has updated its California convertible for 2013, and will show off the refreshed convertible at the upcoming Geneva auto show. Here are the key changes, and they’re good ones: Ferrari added some horsepower to its boulevardier while at the same time removing some weight. The front-engine, rear-drive, folding-hardtop California still isn’t as hard-core as, say, the 458 Italia, but the gap has narrowed. Ever so slightly.

First, the reduction in weight: The automaker was able to strip out 66 pounds via improved chassis fabrication techniques and construction technologies. The savings aren’t huge, but given that the last California we tested weighed a hefty 4123 pounds, any savings are welcome.

The California’s 4.3-liter V-8 now makes 37 hp and 14 lb-ft of torque more than before, thanks to new exhaust manifolds and some fresh code for the engine computer. The new totals are 490 hp and 372 lb-ft. Ferrari claims the fitter, more powerful California can run from 0-to-62 mph in 3.8 seconds. We’ve clocked a 3.9-second run in the outgoing version, so the company’s claim seems plausible. The California’s V-8 is still backed by a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transaxle. Buyers looking for special handling can rejoice: A new “Handling Speciale” package is now on offer. It bundles the California’s optional magnetorheological adaptive dampers with stiffer springs and quicker steering.
Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: 2012 Ram Laramie Limited

At the 2012 Chicago auto show, Ram trucks will introduce a new top trim level, the 2012 Ram Laramie Limited. Think of it as a city-slickened counterpart to Ram’s luxurious, Southwest-themed Laramie Longhorn; the Limited packs a similar amount of goodies, but swaps the country kitsch for a sleeker, more contemporary flavor inside and out.

Specific changes to the exterior include body-color bumpers (chrome bumpers are subbed on white and silver versions); body sides devoid of badging; chrome door handles, mirrors, door trim, and tubular running boards; and 20-inch forged aluminum wheels with polished faces and silver-painted inserts. If less is more from an appearance standpoint, then the Laramie Limited has the most of all the big luxo-trucks (including those built by GM, Ford, and Toyota). But as much as we savor aesthetic simplicity, we expect that some truck customers may find the new Laramie Limited a little too plain for flagship status. (That’s where the over-the-top Laramie Longhorn comes in, apparently.)

Inside, the Ram Laramie Limited has seats covered entirely in premium dark slate leather (not just the seating surfaces themselves) offset by gray piping and stitching. More stitched leather covers the steering wheel, shift lever, door panels, and center-console lid. Berber carpets; LED accent lighting; unique gauge faces; scuff plates; a smattering of piano black, chrome, and “liquid graphite” trim bits; and nearly every available tech toy and comfort item are standard on the new Limited. Like the Laramie Longhorn, this trim level will be available in 1500, 2500, and 3500 chassis strengths, as well as crew and Mega cab styles.

The Laramie Limited will appear in dealers by the middle of this year as a 2012 model. Prices haven’t yet been announced, but we’re told that they should fall in line with those of the Longhorn edition, which starts at $44,120 for the crew-cab, short-bed, rear-wheel-drive 1500 model. In other words, don’t expect to get much change from your $50,000 bill. But do expect a rather sweet truck.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: 2012 Fiat 500 Stinger

While its primary business is offering replacement parts and fluids for Chrysler products, Mopar is of course best known among enthusiasts for peddling performance add-ons for brands such as Plymouth, Dodge, Jeep—and now, Fiat. This Mopar-fettled Fiat 500 Stinger, which showcases parts and mods available in the brand’s catalog, debuts at next week’s Chicago auto show.

The mods made to the Cinquecento are pretty standard fare when considered against Mopar cars of late. Like the Dodge Challenger 392 and Charger Super Bee with Stinger Yellow paint, this 500 is also yellow. Somewhat nonsensically, though, the paint on the Fiat 500 Stinger is simply called Giallo—that’s “yellow” in Italian. (They couldn’t have at least gone with Spina Giallo?) Other cosmetic changes from a standard 500 include black chrome around the headlights, 17-inch Abarth Hyper Black wheels, and tinted headlamp and taillight lenses. Inside, the 500 Stinger is spruced up with a black and yellow interior scheme, as well as faux suede seat inserts, a slice of carbon fiber on the dash, and a Mopar shift knob.

We figured the “Stage 2″ version of the Fiat 500 Stinger would amp up the performance. On paper, however, things aren’t promising. The only changes to the standard 500 are the addition of a cold-air intake and a freer-flowing cat-back exhaust for the 1.4-liter four; Fiat promises these mods will “deliver even more power and torque” than the standard 101 hp and 98 lb-ft. We’re thinking the increases are likely in the low-single-digit range.

Considering Fiat already has its own in-house tuning division in Abarth, this 500 is a little perplexing, although the fact that all of the parts are available via Mopar is kind of cool, we guess. That said, we think we’d just wait for the real hotted-up Fiat 500, the 160-hp Abarth.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: 2012 Dodge Dart GTS 210

To keep the spotlight shining on the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart, Chrysler has unveiled the Mopar-massaged 2013 Dart GTS 210 Tribute. The car pays homage to the performance-oriented Dart GTS of the 1960s, according to Chrysler, and incorporates many of the 150 Dart accessories that Mopar will offer once the Dart goes on sale later this year. It was introduced alongside three other Mopar-encrusted vehicles to help celebrate the 75th anniversary of Chrysler’s in-house parts arm.

What you see screwed to the 2013 Dart GTS 210 Tribute will be available in two staged kits starting in fall of 2012. The Stage 1 appearance package adds a new chin spoiler, side sills, rear spoiler, and rear-diffuser-style panel, all rendered in matte black. Titanium-colored, 10-spoke 18s fill each wheel well. The Stage 1 kit also features a bescooped real carbon-fiber hood, and a faux carbon-fiber roof appliqué that appears to be crafted from the same reasonably convincing stuff (let’s call it “karbon fiber”) as the hood stripes of the inaugural 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8s.

The pack brings an equally audacious interior renovation, with “Ruby Red” being the color of choice for the seats, door panels, center armrest, and map pockets. Black is the chosen hue for the stitching and the suede instrument cowl, while so-called black chrome is employed for sundry shiny trim pieces. A red-and-black, leather-wrapped steering wheel and new floor mats complete the high-contrast makeover.

The Stage 2 performance kit includes a cold-air intake, a cat-back exhaust, and an ECU recalibration that brings horsepower for the 2.4-liter four-cylinder MultiAir2 engine from 184 to “over 210” (hence the “210” in the car’s name). Torque is unspecified; according to a Chrysler spokesman, fine-tuning is not yet complete.

It should be noted that most of the GTS 210 Tribute’s components may be purchased separately, and that Darts with either the six-speed automatic or manual transmissions can be kitted. Cars will be able to be ordered and delivered from the factory with all accessories installed. Pricing for both packages probably won’t be announced until summer, according to Chrysler.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: 2012 Jeep Compass True North

The Compass has always been one odd duck of a Jeep. A face lift for 2011 brought Grand Cherokee–esque styling and a “Trail Rated” version, but few choose to take the Compass or its Patriot sibling far astray of blacktop. This beefier Mopar Compass True North concept aims to change that. It previews an upcoming Mopar kit for the Compass and is one of four Mopar projects celebrating the parts division’s 75th anniversary that will be on display at the Chicago auto show.

To get a Trail Rated Compass, you have to start with an all-wheel-drive model and add the new-for-2011 Freedom Drive II Off-Road Group, which includes low-range gearing, skid plates, tow hooks, and a one-inch suspension lift. In a recent review, we described this package as “less a compliment to the Compass and more as a slight to Jeep’s Trail Rated claim.” The True North ups the ante in this area considerably with a full off-road conversion from the wheels up. Mopar fitted matte-black 16-inch wheels wrapped in knobby off-road rubber, a Rocky Road Suspensions two-inch lift kit, front and rear brush guards, and rock rails. Besides the off-road gear, the Compass’s looks are beefed up with charcoal-colored fender flares and lower door cladding, black grille and headlight surrounds, black fog-light housings, and a matte-black roof. The look is decidedly tougher and, more importantly, this Compass actually looks like it would be at home bouncing along the Rubicon Trail.

Inside, the Compass True North gets a Kicker audio system and a bevy of Mopar accessories like doorsill accents, a rear cargo tray, a shift knob, and a metal pedal kit. Trail-friendly stuff like neoprene seat covers and a custom gauge cluster on the center stack with an inclinometer further the Compass True North’s off-road cred.

The True North bits will be available as either a dealer-installed kit or individually through the Mopar parts catalog this fall; a turnkey, factory-orderable version will come later. We will now remind those looking for a true off-roader that the Jeep Wrangler still exists, needs no modifications for trail duty, and is now better than ever on-road, too.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: 2012 Kia Optima SX

Kia unveiled the 2012 Optima SX Limited sedan today at the Chicago auto show; it’s a new, fully loaded trim that sits at the top of the mid-size Optima range. It’s true that family-sedan news hardly stokes the enthusiast fire, but the Limited is based on one of the nicest-driving mainstream four-doors on the market: the turbocharged Optima SX. The luxurious Limited is basically an SX at which Kia threw the kitchen sink.

The Limited treatment starts with a $3300 package on the SX’s option sheet. Checking that box adds black or white Nappa leather for the seats, door panels, and center console; LED daytime running lights; wood interior trim; red-painted front brake calipers; additional exterior chrome, including the 18-inch wheels; a first-aid kit; and SXL badging. But Limited buyers aren’t done spending money: Ordering those goodies mandates the $4350 SX Technology and Premium package, which includes a backup camera, in-dash navigation, a panoramic sunroof, eight-speaker Infinity audio system, a four-way power front-passenger seat, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear outboard seating, and power folding side mirrors. Only three exterior colors are available, so we hope you like black, white, or silver. Being based on the SX, the Limited also packs a 274-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four, a paddle-shifted six-speed automatic, HID headlights, and a firmer suspension.

About the money: The Optima SX starts at a reasonable $27,250; adding $7650 in Limited kit (some of which is available on lesser Optimas) inflates the bottom line to $34,900. That’s more money than a Toyota Camry XLE V6 orHonda Accord EX-L with navigation, and nudges awfully close to BMW 3-series territory. While the Optima Limited has more features than any of the aforementioned cars, we can’t help but feel that it’s a pretty aggressive deviation from Kia’s tried-and-true value strategy.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: 2013 Acura RDX

Car companies only get one chance to introduce their new cars. But between sketches, renderings, concepts, teasers, and leaks, they’re quickly learning how to exploit the internet for more opportunities to discuss cars prior to actually revealing them. Acura apparently realized too late that it had blown the opportunity to draw out the introduction of its 2013 RDX and settled for calling the car that officially debuted at the Detroit auto show a prototype. At the Chicago show, Acura is introducing a production RDX.

What’s changed on the RDX from prototype to production vehicle? The paint. Apparently silver is a prototype color. And the wheels. Also, the RDX has a strut front suspension and a multilink rear (we hadn’t told you that before) and something called Amplitude Reactive Dampers. Free advice to Acura marketing: Call them Adaptive Amplitude Reactive Dampers, pair them with a camera-based system that scans the road ahead and primes the shocks for upcoming imperfections, call the latter Visual Anticipation of Road Kinematics, and your initialism could be AARDVARK. Also, please stick to just introducing your cars once.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: 2013 Nissan 370Z

As is often the case with aging starlets, sports cars reach a certain point in their careers when a mere mention of their name no longer lights up a room. Their success dependent on surviving the cruel and fickle selection process of the consumer public, they submit themselves to minor face lifts, stopgap procedures aimed at keeping their outward appearance fresh amongst a sea of hungry up-and-comers. And so it goes with the 2013 Nissan 370Z.

The changes, however, are minor. The most obvious update to the sixth-gen Z is the relocation of the car’s “fangs” from the grille to the outside edges of the front bumper; the vestigial teeth are now rendered as a pair of vertical LED daytime running lights rather than in body-color plastic. The Z’s formerly toothy maw now appears gaping by comparison. On the rear bumper, a red reflector has replaced the small piece of black plastic that was used here in place of the non-U.S.-market fog lamp.

The 2013 Nissan 370Z will again be available in coupe and roadster configurations when it goes on sale this June. The coupe gets new 18-inch wheels, and two new exterior colors, Magma Red and Midnight Blue, have been added to the palette (the latter will be unavailable on NISMO models). Buyers who opt for the Sport package also now get red-finished brake calipers, redesigned 19-inch rims, and retuned shocks.

The basic and Touring coupes and roadsters carry over the 332-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 and a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmissions; in the roadster, the manual transmission is limited to the Touring model. The NISMO Z coupe continues to top the lineup with its special exhaust and 350-horse version of the V-6, but it doesn’t adopt the front or rear fascia changes.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata SE

When the first-generation Mazda Miata debuted way back in 1989, the reveal took place at the Chicago auto show. Given the city's honored place in Miata lore, it's little surprise that the intervening years have seen a long line of special-edition Mazda roadsters zip through McCormick Place.

This year’s Chicago-bound special edition is based on the Power-Retractable Hardtop Grand Touring model; it will be available in two exclusive colors—Crystal White Pearl and Velocity Red—and all of them will have a contrasting black roof. The car reminds us a little of the minimalist and sinister Super 20 concept from the 2010 SEMA show, as it loses the chrome trim on the grille and door handles of PRHT GT Miatas and adds black side mirrors and dark-finished 17-inch wheels. (Too bad this car couldn’t adopt the Super 20’s first-gen door handles and nonretractable lid. Or roll cage. Or racing modifications. Or—well, maybe the resemblance is only passing. We just want a Super 20. Bad.)

The SE doesn't pack any powertrain upgrades—the standard 167-horse, 2.0-liter four is on offer here, paired with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. (The 2.0-liter produces 158 hp with the auto.) But the Premium and Suspension packages will be standard along with piano-black interior trim, aluminum pedals, black roll-bar trim, and black heated leather seats with contrasting gray stitching.

Only 450 of the 2012 special-edition cars will be sold in the U.S. starting at the end of this month. Examples with a manual transmission will run $32,020; the unfortunate souls who order an automatic will be charged an additional $450.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: Kia Track'ster Concept

There must be something about the Soul hatchback that compels Kia to use bizarre punctuation. Take, for example, the Soul’s + and ! (Plus andExclaim in our language) trim levels, and the topless Soul’ster conceptfrom three years ago. This Track’ster is the company’s second apostrophe-laden Soul-based concept: It’s a 250-hp, all-wheel-drive hatchback that sacrifices the normal Soul’s rear doors and rear seat in the pursuit of track-readiness. The somewhat tough-looking concept makes its first appearance at the typically pickup-truck-heavy Chicago auto show.

The Track’ster’s basic shape was carried over from the Soul—the front end and sloped roof are vaguely familiar—but much of the rest is unique. The concept rides on a wheelbase that’s nearly an inch longer than the Soul’s, and its fender flares contribute to an additional five inches of overall width. It hides its size increase well; the extra width and lengthened front doors make it appear more compact and sporty than the five-door Soul.

The Track’ster’s best angle might be the rear shot, which features two booster-rocket exhaust outlets and taillights that illuminate from behind the hatch’s glass. Out front, Kia stuffed a pair of giant LED fog lights into the corners of the equally oversized lower intake. The headlights look like squared-off versions of the current Soul’s, and between them is a rather conventional-looking take on Kia’s corporate grille. Scoops and vents adorn both sides of the front and rear bumpers, each front fender, and both rocker panels just ahead of the rear wheels. Speaking of, they’re custom 19-inch HREs wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 rubber.

Inside, there are just two deeply bolstered seats covered in grippy suede. In place of the absent rear seat, there’s a special parcel tray with has spots for track gear like helmets, racing suits, and tools. In keeping with the Track’ster’s racy theme, there are dash-top readouts for oil temperature and battery voltage.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT

Ever value-conscious, Hyundai is looking to save money on badges for its latest five-door Elantra. Why else change the name from Elantra Touring to the revived Elantra GT moniker? The new hatchback makes its debut at the 2012 Chicago auto show alongside a two-door Elantra.

Name change aside, the second-generation Elantra five-door is again an Americanized Hyundai i30. Hyundai points out that the Elantra GT will have more passenger and cargo room than all of its five-door competitors, save for the recently enlarged Subaru Impreza. It fails to mention, however, that those numbers are down from the last car. That’s partly because the new i30—and, as a result, this GT—loses its upright, wagon-style rear end; it’s shorter in length and height, rides on a shorter wheelbase, and is slightly wider than the car it replaces. Seats-folded cargo capacity is down by 14.3 cubic feet to a still-competitive 51. All told, it’s a lot more attractive than the outgoing car and fits in well with the rest of the Elantra lineup.

In place of the small diesels and gas engines offered in the European i30, the U.S.-market GT uses the same 1.8-liter four-cylinder as our Elantra sedan; it makes 148 hp and 131 lb-ft of torque. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual, while a six-speed auto is optional. Hyundai estimates that either transmission will achieve 28 city mpg and 39 on the highway in EPA tests—both measures are 1 mpg lower than the Elantra sedan’s. This is one place where the GT has a big edge over the 2012 Elantra Touring, which was rated at maximums of 23 mpg city and 31 highway.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe

The 2013 Hyundai Elantra coupe may not need much explanation; it’s basically an Elantra sedan with two fewer doors. On the other hand, it’s hard for us to say why Hyundai has decided to enter the shrinking segment of front-wheel-drive coupes—especially with the Veloster andmore-powerful Genesis coupe already on dealer lots. Perhaps Hyundai’s sleek new two-door will steal a few sales from the Honda Civiccoupe and even the Elantra’s corporate sibling, the Kia Forte Koup.

Take a close look at the pictures, and you’ll notice that the coupe’s front fascia has been tweaked ever so slightly to differentiate it from the sedan’s, with changes to the lower part of the grille and the fog lamps. The Elantra sedan already has a coupe-like shape, and that roofline works well on the two-door version. The big crease, running the length of the doors on the sedan, looks far more stylish on the Elantra coupe, as does the whole wedge-like profile. The lower rear diffuser has been painted black, and we’re relieved to see it hasn’t been executed in as overwrought a manner as Forte Koup’s. Relatively conservative buyers won’t be offended here—even if they opt for the SE model, which adds a modest lip spoiler on the trunklid.

The dual- and quad-doored versions of the Elantra are nearly identical underneath. They have the same 106.3-inch wheelbase, the same overall width of 69.9 inches, and the same height of 56.5 inches. The only major exterior dimensional difference is that the coupe is 0.4 inch longer than the sedan. (Scintillating stuff, we know.) So they’re really, really similar and those sedan-like dimensions should make the Elantra coupe very spacious. The two-door beats the Civic coupe and Forte Koup in both interior volume and cargo space.

Powertrain options are directly carried over from the Elantra sedan. That means buyers get a 148-hp, 1.8-liter inline-four with a less-than-awesome 131 lb-ft of torque. These numbers put the Elantra coupe ahead of the Civic coupe, behind the wimpiest Forte Koup—that car gets a 2.0-liter standard; a 2.4 is optional—and mid-pack for the segment in general. A six-speed manual transmission is available—and necessary if you want to maximize fuel economy—while a six-speed automatic is an option. Self-shifting coupes are estimated at 28 mpg city/39 highway, while Hyundai says the stick version should get 29/40. These fuel-economy ratings are just about identical to those of the sedan.

The Elantra coupe will be as well-equipped as its four-door bro. A touch-screen nav system with a rearview camera is optional, as are leather-trimmed seats, keyless entry and start, a power sunroof, and dual-zone climate control. SE models get a sportier suspension tune.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Chicago Show 2012 Highlights: 2013 GMC Acadia

For automakers, the prospect of freshening up a successful model can be daunting. Focus on only the minutiae, and your efforts may go unnoticed by the buying public; change too much, and you risk alienating your core customer base. Considering that 2011 was the most successful sales year for the Acadia since its 2007 debut, we understand why GMC made few obvious changes in this restyle.

For the latest incarnation of this three-row crossover, the softly rounded nose and recessed grille of the outgoing model have been replaced by a comparatively upright three-slot affair with sharper creases. Standard diffused LED running lamps make their first Acadia appearance and are paired with both the standard projector-beam and optional HID headlamps. Aft, a new taillight treatment echoes the look of the front lamps. The rear glass gets a wraparound look that appears to have been donated by the now-defunct Saturn Outlook, and it’s capped by a new spoiler. As with the outgoing Acadia, wheels come in either 18- or 19-inch varieties, although the designs have been updated.

Power in all Acadias comes from the same 3.6-liter V-6 used in the 2012 model, all 288 of its horsepower now routed through a “next-generation” six-speed automatic said to have better shift response and improved drivability. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive remains an option. Mileage remains unchanged at 17 city mpg and 24 highway for front-drivers or 16/23 when equipped with AWD.

As seems to be the trend these days, the Acadia’s interior now employs so-called “upgraded soft-touch materials”—this was easily the most needed improvement on the otherwise-competent and comfortable crossover. The upgrade is complemented by ambient red lighting on the dashboard and a standard rearview camera. High-zoot SLT models get aluminum accents on the center console, doors, and dash because nothing says “I’ve made it” like random applications of an alloy material.

Thanks to: Car and Driver