pow

Fiesta, Golf, or new Focus

http://www.vw.com/golf/pricelist/en/us/#overview http://www.vw.com/2010gti/pricelist/en/us/ Golf 2-door, 2.5L 170 hp; Five-speed manual - $ 17,490 Golf 2-door, 2.5L 170 hp; Six-speed automatic with Tiptronic® - $ 18,590 Golf 4-door, 2.5L 170 hp; Six-speed automatic with Tiptronic® - $ 19,190 Golf TDI 2-door, 2.0L 140 hp; Six-speed manual - $ 21,990 Golf TDI 2-door, 2.0L 140 hp; Six-speed automatic DSG with Tiptronic® - $ 23,090 Golf TDI 4-door, 2.0L 140 hp; Six-speed manual - $ 22,590 Golf TDI 4-door, 2.0L 140 hp; Six-speed automatic DSG with Tiptronic® - $ 23,690 All models come well-equipped with typical class-exclusive VW features - full trip computer, ESP, heated mirrors, one-touch windows, pollen filter, 8-way front seats with lumbar support, and independent rear suspension. TDI models add 17" wheels, leather steering wheel, premium touch-screen radio, sports suspension, rear seat A/C, and fog lights. DSG TDI models EPA rated at 30/41 mpg. More: http://www.vw.com/golf/en/us/

I drove the wagon version of this and really liked it. Awesome car. But for Saturn, it's looking more Renault/Samsung/Nissan than Citroen/Peugeot.

I've driven both the Fit and the Soul, on which the Venga is based. The Soul feels more substantial, and the interior is much, much nicer, while the Fit has crisper control feel - better steering, gearbox, and throttle response. It's also more economical. Overall, however, I'd say the Kia is the better car for most Americans. If the Venga is as good as the Soul, I think it will surprise a lot of people. Personally, I'd rather have a Fiesta, Polo, or 207, but those are more traditional low-roof hatchbacks.

I like everything about the styling apart from the truckish front end. A CTS "V-Sport" would be ideal, IMO.

I don't think it's about pricing, it's about size. Americans like bigger cars. There's nothing wrong with, say, a 3-series-quality or price car that's bigger than everybody else.

No one is going to pay $41K for a 178" Cadillac.

$32K is fine when you consider that's how much the 2008 CTS started at. ATS ~ $30K CTS ~ $40K XTS ~ $50K

Essentially... instead of carrying huge batteries on-board, cars will be directly powered by the grid. An electric vehicle would pick up power from underground power lines through the non-contact magnetic charging. Pretty cool idea, IMO.

It's much more of a looker than the current one. It does look a bit melted down, but unlike the Elantra where the blobs are random, you can see what the designers were aiming for. There's a nice hump around the rear wheels, like a cheetah about to pounce.

Maybe the bushings in the driveshaft were leaking oil, causing the joints to wear and disintegrate?

They're doing this so they can charge more and make money.

I've always thought the old LaCrosse looked so awkward with its bottom feeder grill and ginormous overhangs, especially with the 16" wheels. The new one is much, much better.

They should rename it "MPG equivalency", a standard that evaluates relative efficiency of plug-in hybrids. But yep, the chances of getting exactly 230 mpg are unlikely. As far as GM using this methodology...

These new numbers are derived from soon-to-be-official EPA procedures specifically for plug-in hybrids. Pure EVs like the Leaf or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles won't use it.

Yep. The number is better used only for comparison purposes, not to calculate the actual MPG people should expect. A Volt that gets infinite MPG for the first 40 miles, then gets 50 mpg thereafter in gasoline, would be rated 230 mpg. A Volt that gets infinite MPG for the first 80 miles, then gets 50 mpg thereafter in gasoline, would be rated 414 mpg. A Volt that gets infinite MPG for the first 40 miles, then gets 100 mpg thereafter in gasoline, would be rated at 363 mpg. And an Escape Hybrid plug-in that gets 120 MPG for the first 30 miles, then gets 50 mpg thereafter in gasoline, would be rated at 94 mpg. The bigger the number the better.

It should be interesting if the transition to gas mode is determined by the miles driven in EV mode (40) rather than the actual SOC.

Interesting. So it heavily weights both EV range and ICE efficiency. However, does it include EV efficiency? According to GM, the Volt's EV efficiency is 25 kWh/100 mi in the city. Here's how other EVs compare (the lower the better): EV1 lead: 26 RAV4 EV: 27 Nissan Altra: 29 Tesla Roadster: 30 EV1 NiMH: 34 Ranger EV: 40

Agreed... 1) EV range 2) efficiency in EV operation (mi/kWh or kWh/100 mi) 3) efficiency on ICE

Well done for burgers, medium for steaks. I do like meat charred and Maillardy on the outside.

Yep, I've heard reliability horror stories on them, and they're not exactly the safest.

The M5 is a great car, much better than a C5 IMO, but it's complex and likely expensive to maintain. It all depends on how much they're selling it for. Personally, I'd go for a new M3 sedan if the prices are similar. Go for European Delivery and you get a vacation as well. Autobahn. Nurburgring. ED invoice is $46,000, so figure $7K off MSRP!

Transit Connects have arrived...

Like this?

It also reminds me of a house I drove by on Latigo Canyon Road in Malibu, CA: It was a pretty surprising sight to see after 15 miles of twisty road. The surrounding scenery was incredible, too... something about those hills seemed magical and Lord of the Rings-ish.