The Hot Weather Toolkit for the Car

Summer months are a time when people enjoy the outdoors with their families and friends. The warmer temperatures and the longer hours of daylight mean extra trips to recreational areas and even family vacations. Often wilderness areas are ideal spots for camping and summer family vacations, and necessitate the need for long drives. Although in places like Missouri and Nebraska insurance premiums can be lower for good drivers, the added driving and the warmer weather brings its own share of risks that can create conditions for raised insurance rates, conditions like accidents and bad weather. Simple checklist for a toolkit for the warmer months can help alleviate some of these concerns.

The first thing that a driver should check their vehicle for in the summer months is the exterior. When the weather turns warm, it can be a good idea to give the car a good wash and to provide the car with a good wax protectant. This does a couple of things. For one thing it gives the car added protection from the rain and dust of summer months. It also helps protect the cars paint from damage that occurs from ultraviolet radiation. The paint on a car is meant to protect the metal from exposure to the elements where it can rust and lose its structural integrity. Summers can be extremely hot, and this combination of extreme heat and rain can be especially damaging to a car's exterior.

The driver should then turn their attention to the interior of the car. The summer heat can turn the interior of a car into a furnace. This is not only damaging to upholstery, but electronics and personal items that one leaves inside a vehicle. This is particularly true for black colored vehicles. For protection of the upholstery it is essential that a driver invest in a sunshade for the front windshield. Sunshades offer great protection to a car from both the heat and the damaging effects of heat on sensitive upholstery like leather. They are generally fairly inexpensive, and the driver should consider one with a reflective surface since they radiate heat and light back most effectively.

For roadside emergencies, there are a few items that a driver should consider having in their car for the summer months. Water is an essential addition. Water can mean survival when a driver is stranded in a hot place many miles from roadside assistance, but it can also mean having a necessary item for batteries and coolant systems. Batteries use water, and having water on hand to add to a coolant system that has leaked can mean being able to drive that extra mile to a gas station. Food that has been freeze dried is important to have because it can keep indefinitely and can be on hand in the case of a remote stranding. One should also keep an umbrella, a flashlight, and a basic toolkit for repairs.

The summer months are great for enjoying the outdoors, and the motor vehicle makes it possible to enjoy much of it. If the driver keeps these simple things in their cars, they will be prepared when disaster strikes.

Sally Smith writes for insurance blogs where you can learn more about Cheap Nebraska Car Insurance quotes and compare Missouri auto Insurance rates

Ford Focus

Although similar with Deutschland, the Ford Focus currently has stronger links to Tom Yum Goong than to dish.

The switch to Thai production in August saw the introduction of the Focus Mk2, that debuted Ford's hands-free synchronise moving-picture show system among different technical school options, nevertheless failed to suffer a come by cabin quality to the extent of the Fiesta it created an equivalent transition 2 years earlier.

The production shift was quickly followed by a price cutting that saw the RRP of the entry-level Ford Focus Ambiente manual drop to $20,290 and therefore the dual-clutch automatic to $22,590 though Ford's 'special' driveaway valuation supply of $19,990 and $21,990 severally remains months later and may be your start line negotiating with dealers.

It puts the Focus within the thick of the action within the ultra-competitive small-car phase, wherever it takes on the new-generation Toyota Corolla (from $19,990), the top-selling Mazda3 (from $20,330), the Australian-made Holden Cruze ($21,490), and therefore the dramatically improved second-gen Hyundai i30 ($20,990), to not mention over a dozen different compact sedans and hatchbacks.

The Ambiente is that the solely variant within the third-generation Ford Focus vary steam-powered by a one.6-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine (the higher-grade models feature two.0-litre gasoline and diesel alternatives). Its 92kW/159Nm output is respectable for a naturally aspirated engine of its capability, but the willing unit is burdened by the car's 1335kg edge weight. It's happy and sometimes needed to rev towards its 6300rpm most wall plug however begins to sound thrashy and strained north of peak force at 4000rpm. At lower engine speeds it's moderately quiet and refined.

The same can't be aforementioned for the ex gratia six-speed dual-clutch motor vehicle transmission. Gear changes square measure jerky when cold start-ups whether or not created mechanically or manually by the driving force via the dinky +/ buttons on the within of the shift lever and may stay overly thus for minutes. It tends to lurch in low just like the initial generation of twin clutches and misunderstands the engine's limitations at higher speeds, upshifting on hills and killing momentum before sharply trying to find a lower magnitude relation. nevertheless it's additionally unpunctual to react to aggressive throttle inputs, waiting (and wondering…) before kicking down. Best save yourself $2K and keep on with the quality five-speed manual, that is additionally a lot of fuel economical, employing a claimed six.2 litres per 100km on the combined cycle compared with the auto's six.5. On our take a look at covering a variety of conditions we tend to achieved economy of ten.6L/100km.

The Focus claws back points within the dynamics department, wherever it's each well balanced and fascinating. The electrically assisted steering (standard all told however the Ambiente sedan, that options an easier hydraulic system) is lightweight however keen, giving fast associated direct response to minute inputs and an encouraging changeability to greater twists of the tiller.

Unsurprisingly, the chassis that could be a highlight of the Focus ST hot-hatch remains capable and composed supporting the less performance-oriented variants. The suspension reacts promptly to disembarrass bumps and coarse surfaces, making a cushty ride, and helps to contain roll through corners.

The excellent seats, that square measure soft and adjunct, and significantly cossetting within the second row, enhance comfort. Rear passengers fancy tight head, leg and foot area within the back of the Focus, and whereas they miss out on a centre rest in Ambiente and Trend trim lines, square measure taken care of with a set of clever storage spots round the seat base and doors.

Visibility from the driver's seat is suitable front and rear, though the read of the centre console is a lot of of associate penchant. just like the smaller fete, the Focus options Nokia 5210-inspired switchgear and a little three.5-inch blue matrix screen that a minimum of to a smartphone-savvy info Y-er misses the mark each in terms of style and work and end. as luck would have it, the yr styling is saved modern technical school, with Ford's synchronise property system facilitating voice-activated hands-free job, phone book transfer, sonic text message readout (with compatible phones) and music player integration via either Bluetooth or USB.

The inaccessibility of controller within the Ambiente is unsatisfying, however, and therefore the base model will while not reversing sensors, foglights and alloy wheels (it gets 16-inch steels with a space-saver spare), that square measure all normal throughout the remainder of the Ford Focus vary. different options of the entry-level model embrace manual air con, multi-function show with trip pc, one-touch up/down electrical driver's window, and 60/40 split-fold rear seats. Boot house behind the rear bench trails the likes of the Hyundai i30 and Mazda3, with 316 litres on the market within the hatch and 421 litres within the sedan.

The entire Ford Focus vary has attained ANCAP's most five-star safety rating, every model equipped with six airbags (dual front, facet and curtains), electronic stability management and hand brake lights that flash below significant braking to warn drivers following behind.

The Focus is roofed by a three-year/100,000km guarantee and has 12-month/15,000km service intervals. Most services for the Ambiente can set you back $320 below Ford's six-year capped-price coupling program, with the sixty,000km interval the sole outlier at $455, that involves replacement the fuel and air filters and therefore the spark plugs on high of the regular service.

Well priced, well balanced and comfy, however lacking drivetrain refinement and a few basic options, the Ford Focus Ambiente could be a dish best served manual… maybe when sampling the i30 and Mazda3 for entree and main.

2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed

2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed
On Sale: November
Price: $217,725
Drivetrain: Twin-turbo, 616-hp, 590-lb-ft W12; awd, eight-speed automatic w/ torque converter
Curb Weight: 5115 pounds
0-60 mph: 4.0 seconds, (mfg.)
Fuel Efficiency: 13 city/20 hwy/15 combined

The Bentley Continental GT Speed is the fastest production Bentley ever made, with a top speed of 205 mph. How fast was the second-fastest Bentley ever made? The 2009 Continental Supersports went 204. The 2007 Continental GT Speed went 202. So we're splitting hairs to some degree but the hairs are all on very fast heads. Granted, you're not likely to ever find a place where you could actually go that fast, but it's nice to know you could and to be able to throw out the 205 figure and the phrase "fastest ever" when you're talking about your car.

The first Bentley Speed appeared in 1923 as the Bentley 3.0-liter "Speed Model." That one used twin SU carburetors and higher compression on its four-cylinder engine to reach its performance goals. Ninety years later, the 2013 Speed uses changes to the Bosch ME17 engine management program to wring 49 more horsepower out of the twin-turbo W12, increasing boost 0.3 bar from 1.65 in the standard W12 to 1.95 in the Speed. Thus, horsepower goes from 567 to 616. Torque peaks at 590 lb ft on a broad plateau from 2000 to 5000 rpm. To make the most out of all that power Bentley stiffened the springs, bars and bushings and set it down on 275/35ZR21 Pirelli PZeros. There are even optional carbon ceramic disc brakes to replace the standard iron discs.

Other differences distinguish it from the GT, including ten-spoke 21-inch wheels, dark trim in the grille, quilted leather seats and "Speed" script on the door sills.

By: Mark Vaughn

2012 Acura MDX

NEWS GREG MIGLIORE: The 2012 Acura MDX is a classy SUV with respectable power and a bit of space inside. Using it for a commuter lap, I unfortunately didn't make full use of its potential, but I'll leave that to members of the staff with offspring of the two- and four-legged variety.

I was impressed with the six-cylinder engine. It didn't strike me until I merged a few lanes over and jabbed the throttle, producing a pleasing sound and decent acceleration as I trailed in the wake of a Chevy Camaro convertible. I played with the paddles a bit, too. They were fun, amusing for a good-sized crossover, but not exactly Formula One-inspired. They're just something to spice up the drive into work and summon the revs a bit more purposefully on the expressway.

The cabin of the MDX is impressive in appearance and execution. This sampler came in stately black inside, and the steering wheel and door panels were smart. The atmosphere was quiet and serene, with just a bit of wind and exterior noise getting in. The negative? I'm not a fan of the center stack, which has way too many buttons and is confusing. It's hard to get used to in a short period and not easy to operate at a glance. MIT-inspired controls are not my preference at expressway speeds.

ROAD TEST JONATHAN WONG: Even with a new MDX expected to appear sometime next year, the current model is still my favorite three-row SUV. With our 2008 MDX long-termer, we piled more than 30,000 miles onto it, it never missed a day of service because of mechanical issue and the cabin held up remarkably well.

I continue to believe that this V6 and six-speed automatic transmission combination is one of (if not the) smoothest drivetrain combination in the SUV class. When you light-foot it around town, it's quiet, with the transmission performing seamless shifts. And like Greg mentioned, it has a surprisingly nice exhaust note during wide-open throttle to unleash decent power for merging onto the expressway and passing slower traffic.

The magnetic suspension is cushy in comfort mode for a soft ride around town and more roll around corners, but tightens in sport mode. Of course, a high-riding 4,600-pound vehicle isn't going to take a corner like a sports car, but all things considered, it can round an expressway entrance ramp quite well. Steering has some weight tuned and responds well to inputs. Brakes feature good bite and slow things down without drama.

I suppose the best compliment you can give a large vehicle is that it drives smaller than it is. Maneuvering around parking lots is done with ease, and the backup camera is handy. I also think Acura's blind-spot warning displays are the best in the business, with the warning inside the cabin instead of outside on the mirror itself or on the side of the mirror housing like Audi's is.

Complaints about the MDX's button-laden center stack are expected, but I prefer buttons over having the majority of functions being controlled by an iDrive-like knob. It's kind of like your home entertainment remote control that has a billion buttons on it, but you eventually get used to it and pick up on how to control the cable box, DVR, DVD player, speaker system and TV. It's the same thing with the MDX's center stack you'll get acclimated to it and will be a pro at working through it before long.

The rest of the interior is nice, with quality materials, good-looking wood trim, soft leathers and one of the most comfortable front bucket seats you'll find in a luxury SUV.

As for complaints, I do have one. The navigation map in Acura vehicles is really outdated. While Audi has Google Maps images, Acura is still slogging along with the same beige background image that's in the Wong family's 2004 MDX. Kind of disappointing, but I'm sure updates are in the works--at least I hope they are.

2012 Acura MDX Advance with Entertainment Package
Base Price: $55,450
As-Tested Price: $55,450
Drivetrain: 3.7-liter V6; AWD, six-speed automatic
Output: 300 hp @ 6,300 rpm, 270 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,627 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 18/19.6 mpg
Options: None
For more information: Check out the 2012 Acura MDX Advance with Entertainment Package at shopautoweek.com

Ford donates Mustang Boss 302 for Cattle Baron's Ball

Ford Motor Co. will donate a customized 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca to the Cattle Baron's Ball auction on Sept. 29 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. It has a one-of-a-kind candy red paint job made just for this car, for this event.

The Cattle Baron's Ball is a yearly event that benefits the American Cancer Society. In its 39-year history and its 10th year in Detroit the group has raised nearly $48 million for cancer research.

Ford's Jim Farley was instrumental in getting the Mustang to the event.

"Like many people, my family has been personally affected by the challenges of cancer, and I am proud to chair the Cattle Baron's Ball in Detroit," said Farley, Ford's group vice president for global marketing, sales and service. "As a fan of the powerful, historic Mustang, I am especially pleased to provide this American icon for auction."

The ball will have a Western theme, as always, and feature Texas cuisine, dancing, the auction and a special concert by country star Toby Keith. Previous musical guests have included Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Wynonna Judd.

By: Jake Lingeman

2012 Subaru Impreza WRX 5-Door

This 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX for the weekend, and I was surprised by how little I missed our long-term 2011 Impreza WRX STI version. This car provides almost all of the fun, without many of the drawbacks of the hard-core model.

The WRX is down 40 hp from its big brother, but in between 3,000 rpm and 5,000 rpm you'll hardly notice. It makes the same sounds as the STI and rips off the line with the same aplomb. Unfortunately, fuel mileage didn't seem to improve; my two fill ups averaged about 19 mpg.

I did like the feel of an old-school five-speed manual in the hatchback, instead of the six in our sedan. The cogs could be held for a bit longer, and there are no extra steps to get into reverse. Like the STI, the driver doesn't need to shift out of top gear to pass on the expressway. Also, the shifter felt robust in the hand. There wasn't a lot of flexing from any of the linkage parts.

The steering and suspension are both softer than the STI. I put a good amount of miles on the car over the weekend, and not having to dodge every road imperfection was a blessing. I didn't realize how stiff our long-term car actually was until I jumped in this one.

Ninety percent of the time, having a softer suspension and easier steering are a good thing. But those few times when you do want the razor sharpness of the STI you'll miss it. Luckily for me, spirited driving wasn't needed on Saturday or Sunday.

I still like the sedan body better than this hatch. I like the big wing on the four-door, something I wouldn't trade for the extra space of the hatch. I might be alone in that. I also love this gunmetal color much better than the WR blue.

So, the upgraded STI gets you more power, upgraded brakes and the driver-controlled center differential. If you're looking for a track car, that's the one to have. But if you want a car that's good everywhere, except when being pushed to 10/10ths, the WRX will do. And being $8,000 less expensive doesn't hurt, either.

This is a pure, fun-to-drive hatch with excellent dynamics, a nice engine and a middling interior. Enthusiasts will appreciate the five-speed, which is easy, simple and enjoyable to operate. Downshifting is fun, and launches as one works through the lower gears are energetic. The engine is responsive, and this manual allows the driver to wring the most out of this Subie for spirited driving.

I like the look of the hatch. It's tasteful, functional and something a lot of Americans could actually find useful in their everyday lives. The interior is below standard, however, with chintzy plastics all over the doors and dash. The easy-to-read and sporty dials and athletic, upright seats, however, are solid redeeming qualities. My issue is that this cabin makes a sporty-driving and -appearing car feel cheapy, which for this price comes close to sandbagging the value proposition.

Behind the wheel, however, this thing does make one want to drive, and drive fast. The steering is light but pleasing, the chassis is sporty enough, and the all-wheel drive and the well-mannered body make this hatch more than up for the tasks for daily driving mixed in with some verve.

2012 Subaru Impreza WRX 5-door
Base Price: $26,345
As-Tested Price: $26,841
Drivetrain: 2.5-liter turbocharged H4; AWD, five-speed manual
Output: 265 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 244 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,208 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 21/20.2 mpg
Options: XM satellite radio kit ($427); all-weather floor mats ($69)
For more information: Check out the 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX 5-door at shopautoweek.com.

By: Jake Lingeman

BMW M135i Sports Hatch Sport Auto

Price: £31,595
0-62mph: 4.9sec
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Economy: 37.7mpg combined
CO2: 175g/km
Kerbweight: 1500kg
Engine: 6-cyls, in-line, 2979cc, petrol turbo
Installation: Longitudinal
Power: 316bhp at 5800rpm
Torque: 332lb ft at 1300-4500rpm (with overboost)
Gearbox: 8-spd automatic

A mix of dry and damp, tight bends and a narrow road should be challenge enough for a hot hatch with 316bhp to spill from its rear wheels. And if that sounds like a temptingly reckless number then you'd be right it's only 19bhp down on the output of the lately departed 1M Coupe, and the M135i's 320lb ft of torque is identical.

If it comes with the optional eight-speed paddle shifter of our test car, the 135i will zoom-flick, zoom-flick, zoom-flick through the gears to 62mph in just 4.9sec. Go for the six-speed manual and the time actually rises to 5.1sec because its wider spread of ratios are less speedily swapped.

Either way, this new three-door 1-series is eagerly, muscularly and excitingly quick with the potential, you may think, to become a flailing handful if you dare to meddle with the ESP button. But the first bold dive into a rain-sheened bend uncovers grip reserves far deeper than expected deep enough that when that DSC button is prodded for partial disengagement, it takes some lead-foot ambition to get the rear axle's wider 245/35 R18s to get a skate on, the slide part-managed by a brake-deploying virtual limited slip diff.

So it's pretty neat, controllable and reassuring, the more so because this rear-driver is quite a finely balanced tool, as proved by a too-fast arrival into a tight, low speed turn that fails to bring on any plough-on understeer. That said, you can expect to see plenty of the orange light that confirms an active ESP system, which is no surprise given all this energy and rear-wheel drive.

Perversely, it's best to experience all this in the Comfort setting of the £515 Adaptive M Sport suspension, an essential option. It softens off the electronic dampers and lightens the steering effort to produce a satisfyingly communicative, more absorbent chassis and best of all, usefully more feelsome steering. Of course, tripping the Comfort mode slows the shift times and the gearbox's willingness to hold a gear, but that's easily undone by sliding the gearlever to leftwards to Sport, which gets you a more eager gearbox.

The result is a an excitingly rapid drive that sits just the right side of hectic, the excitement of the six's keen blare built on by the 'box's light thumps in sport, the ra-ta-tat of the exhaust's over-run, the lightly clasping support of the seats and an excellent driving position. While some may desire the more uncompromising character of the 1M Coupe, the fact is that this M135i's ride is less maskingly firm, its steering more delicate and its character easier to live with. And it's also a whole lot cheaper, being almost £10k less.

Of course, you do without the some of the 1M's alloy suspension hardware and massive brake rotors although the 135i's enlarged blue-calipered discs are entirely effective but remember that the M135i rides on the latest 1-series platform besides benefiting from bespoke suspension geometry and its own springs, dampers, anti-roll bars and bushes.

More immediately noticeable M135i identifiers include a new front bumper unit with larger air intakes, a rear bumper with twin exhausts and 18in alloys, and tyres, that are wider at the rear. Inside you get leather sports seats (the UK won't be getting the appealing Alcantara/hexagon cloth mix of the test car, which seems a pity), a black headlining, an M footrest, blue accent stitching to the seats, patterned aluminium trim inserts and modified instrument faces. Not a huge amount of differentiation then, but enough to mark this 1 out as something sportier. The cabin is robustly constructed too, although it's not as finely, designed, finished or textured as the cabin of the latest Audi A3.

Much of the M135is's considerable entertainment repertoire is provided by the straight six. This Twinpower motor features a twin scroll variable geometry turbocharger, variable timing of both inlet and exhaust cams, variable valve lift and direct injection, these features managing to almost eliminate turbo lag. Indeed, you must actively search it out to find any, by shifting manually and having the revs build from 1000rpm to the 7500rom limit in second, say. Then you'll uncover a slower-moving tacho needle to 1300rpm. From this point the six has already reached its 320lb ft torque peak, this figure impressively maintained through to 4500rpm, although the revs don't rush at you until this peak has passed, the tacho needle performing a lightning flit to the limiter.

Throttle response is not as instant as you'll find in a normally aspirated M3, but it's sharp enough for most circumstances. Couple the six's breadth of urge to that eight-speeder, and you have a car that powers near seamlessly from a dawdle to its easily struck and restricted - 155mph maximum.

M division has tuned the 135i's exhaust to provide a smoothly busy soundtrack that makes paddling your way through eight ratios an absorbing business, even if the noise can turn slightly wearing. Happily it quietens off at a motorway cruise. And we suspect the same may be true of the ride, which showed signs of choppiness on Germany's mostly smooth roads.

by Richard Bremner

2012 SLP GMC Sierra 1500 4WD Crew Cab SLT

After four days in this truck I began to feel something of an appreciation for how Genghis Khan must have felt as he charged into unsuspecting villages.

The 450 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque were intoxicating in this pickup, and the whine of the supercharger was a quick way to bring a smile to my face.

While docile under normal driving conditions, when dipping into the WEP War Emergency Power of the supercharger, the truck became even more enjoyable.

While the truck is no slouch, given its weight, the additional height from the off-road suspension and its oversize wheels, it feels much faster than a normal Sierra, but not as insanely quick as one would hope with the additional power of forced induction.

The TVS 1900 supercharger kit for the 5.3-liter gives you instant power when you tromp on the loud pedal. And loud it is, because with the addition of SLP exhaust tips, the truck has a burble and growl that makes a great addition to something with a high ride height and badges that say "supercharged" on the door.

Looking under the hood you can tell that this is no stock truck, despite being able to order the kit and products from the dealer without impacting the warranty.

But, the underhood finish of the kit leaves something to be desired. It looks both at home and not quite right. The kit would look better with a little less chrome and more flat accents; the shiny SLP air tube under the hood looks out of place.

The interior was the biggest letdown. Much to my surprise, the Katzkin interior treatment not only mixed two colors you shouldn't mix black and brown but it made it appear that the truck had far more miles on it than it actually did.

Judging from the play in the fabric and finish, I would have thought 30,000 miles had been ridden in the seats. Much to my horror, there were just more than 500 miles on the odometer when I grabbed the keys. I would have preferred the money be kept under the hood and the interior upholstery left stock.

The crew cab provided ample interior space for both front and rear passengers and for hauling groceries.

As I was in the process of moving, I filled the bed with my large items and hauled them to my new place.

The added height from the off-road suspension option worked well for setting and picking items up when loading and unloading.

Overall the truck is a lot of fun and useful if big trucks with big power tickle your fancy. The biggest problem I had over my time with it was keeping my foot out of the accelerator. While I was no fan of the interior appointments, I'll overlook it for the sound of the supercharger and the juvenile smile I often had.

By: David Arnouts

An exhaustive introduction to the Ferrari FF

BY: Nic Cackett

An exhaustive introduction to the Ferrari FF is likely to be superfluous to even the most casual Ferrari fan so we'll only pause for a brief recap before getting to the nitty gritty of our first UK drive.

Launched around a year ago, the shooting-brake-styled four-seater offered buyers a first: a full-size Grand Tourer with a 651bhp V12 engine and, somewhat contentiously, four-wheel-drive.



The colossal, naturally aspirated unit is a direct injection descendant of the V12 that featured in the Enzo, but Ferrari's first production all-wheel drive system is an altogether more novel solution. When required by the front wheels, power is fed directly from the crank into a second, smaller gearbox located beneath the engine.

This transmission only has two forward gears, and because its ratios cannot replicate the seven-speeds of the main gearbox, the resulting wheel speed mismatch is managed by two continually slipping clutches. The main benefit of the system is that it offers all-wheel-drive traction (you'll doubtless have seen video footage of the FF ploughing through snow) without the normal weight penalty.

Ferrari claims its Power Transfer Unit adds just 45kg to model's kerbweight.

 The innovative packaging is not limited to underneath, either. As well as four perfectly chiseled sports seats the FF provides 450 litres of boot space - enough to put some family hatchbacks to shame.

The only thing it consumes more enthusiastically than people and luggage is fuel and air: up to 80 per cent of the engine's 504lb ft of torque is available from 1750rpm - use all 8000rpm and it will reach 62mph in 3.7 seconds, splinter 124mph in 11sec, and top out at a claimed 209mph.

Ferrari FF
Price: £227,077;
0-62mph: 3.7sec;
Top speed: 208mph;
Engine: V12, 6262cc, petrol;
Power: 651bhp at 8000rpm;
Torque: 504lb ft at 6000rpm;
Economy: 18.3mpg;
CO2: 360g/km;
Transmission: 7-spd dual clutch transmission (rear axle) + 2spd (front axle)

Lamborghini could launch an SUV in 2017

Lamborghini could launch an SUV in 2017, CEO Stephan Winkelmann told a German newspaper.

The Italian supercar brand will unveil a concept for the vehicle at the Beijing motor show on April 23 to test public reaction, according to a report in the German business daily Handelsblatt on Thursday.

Winkelmann wants the SUV as a third model line along with the Gallardo and Aventador super cars to help make the brand profitable. China is a key market for high-margin luxury SUVs.

"We definitely need a third line in the mid and long term," Winkelmann told the paper. "An SUV would be the first Lamborghini for everyday use, not just for the race track or weekends. We would have the opportunity to win new customers."

Lamborghini has been losing money since 2009 and is under pressure from parent Volkswagen Group to become profitable, the newspaper report said.

Winkelmann told the paper that he hopes that VW will decide this year whether to allow the brand to build an SUV. "It usually takes 48 months until an all-new vehicle arrives at dealers, so the new Lamborghini would not be available to buy before 2017."

The paper quoted company sources as saying the decision is certain to be positive.

If the car is approved for production, Lamborghini would join VW stablemate Bentley in diversifying into the growing super-luxury SUV market.

Both brands will be able to call on a new version of the VW Group platform that currently underpins the Audi Q7, VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne.

Bentley is planning to launch within three years an SUV based on the EXP 9 F SUV concept shown at the Geneva motor show in March. Next year, Fiat's Maserati brand will launch sales of a production version of the Kubang concept unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show.

Lamborghini is expected to use its own engines for its SUV, most likely a revamped version of the Gallardo's V10 gasoline unit.

Last year, Lamborghini sold 1,602 cars globally, an increase of 23 percent on the previous year. China is the brand's second-biggest market after the United States. The U.K. is next, followed by Germany and Italy.

By: Nick Gibbs

Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited 2012

Leave it to a black Subaru Impreza interior with Vinyleather upholstery and all-weather floor mats to redefine the word cheap. Add a raucous engine note amplified by the dreaded continuously variable transmission, and you have a recipe for Japanese Econobox Flashback, 1988-style. Justy, anyone?

OK, so comparing our 2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited to the three-pot Scooby scooter is probably a bit harsh. In Subaru's defense, I probably wouldn't be so hard on the Impreza if it weren't for the fact that I was in two Kias earlier in the week, each of which had interior appointments far surpassing that of our Subaru. These weren't $30,000 Optimas, either: They were both Kia Rios, and both came in at less than $21,000.

On the road, once the CVT had stopped adjusting its belts and pulleys, things definitely improved. Noisy though the cabin was, the 2.0-liter flat-four proved adequate for pushing the Impreza along. The driving position was good, with much better seat-bottom bolstering than I'm used to in small Asian products, and the Impreza had that hunkered-down Subaru on-road stability that seems to be a hallmark of every example of the brand. Whether it's because of the AWD or the low center of gravity, or perhaps just suspension tuning, the Impreza drives like a larger, heavier car than it is--in a good way. Of the multitude of small cars that I've driven lately, only the Ford Focus approximates the same planted feel.

I'm confident that Subaru aficionados will be fine with the Impreza. After all, it carries the brand's DNA while improving things perhaps a half-step over the previous model--about the cadence Subaru seems to follow. Conquests will come harder, however: The average Joe with $26,000 to spend on a compact will find much more compelling packages from a variety of manufacturers.

2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited
Base Price: $23,645
As-Tested Price: $25,714
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter H4; AWD, continuously variable transmission
Output: 148 hp @ 6,200 rpm, 145 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,086 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 30/26.9 mpg
Options: Option package 63 including power moonroof, navigation system, GPS navigation with LCD touch screen ($2,000); all-weather floor mats ($69)

By: Andrew Stoy

Subaru's new BRZ

You might think you know every last detail about the BRZ. Between Subaru and Toyota, there's been a blizzard of multimedia. Enough concept cars, prototype sneak previews and track tests to broach your download limits.

But you don't know it all. Because this is a road car, and here we are for the first time on the actual road.

So does it live up to the hype? Of course not. Unless it had been styled by da Vinci and engineered by Brunel - and for good measure had Newton quietly bent the laws of mechanics in its favour - it'd never have been as good as they said it would be.

A quick recap. It's a low-built, short-overhang, long-wheelbase rear-drive coupe. But the centre of mass is even lower than everyone else's cars of that type, because it has a flat-four engine. And actually the flat-four is even lower and far further back than with other Subarus, because (since it's RWD-only) there are no front driveshafts or diff in the way. There's a limited-slip diff. It uses comparatively narrow tyres, so its 200bhp is enough.

The whole thing is a recipe for agility, low roll, tossable handling and general chicanery.

And so it turns out. The first few mountain hairpins or wet roundabouts verify that pivoting into a corner is the most natural feeling in the world. The front wheels are always happy to carve the exact track you request. Then you can poke the back end out and feel the hero. And unlike some rear-drivers, the BRZ's magical balance and progression means it's a cinch to gather up again. The low roll makes it marvellously tidy through S-bends.

But a road car needs more from its suspension and steering than a track car does. The steering needs to be direct and progressive, so you can pour the car into an uneven or unknown bend. The springs need to absorb bumps and keep the tyres evenly weighted so you don't hop about.

And the BRZ is brilliant there too. All the steering lacks is a bit more feel, to tell you how much grip the tyres have left. But in this car more than in most, you don't miss that because the rest of the car's reactions are so accurate and faithful. You get the information from other sources.

The 200bhp two-litre is enough engine. Just. In this age of turbos, it does seem very light on torque between 3000 and 4000rpm. You have to revise your whole style of driving. Change down. And again. Rev its little spuds off, make sure you keep getting flashed by shift-up light as you zero in on 7500. That way happiness lies. For a flat-four, it doesn't sound as charismatic as it might, but it's always smooth enough that there's no pain in sticking with those epic revs.

By: Paul Horrell

Ford Flex 2013

The Ford Flex, is, of course, the Taurus's wagony analogue, the glitzy, boxy companion to the D-segment sedan that the unlamented Freestyle never was to the Taurus's daddy, the Five Hundred. What this particular Flex is is the freshened-for-2013 version.

While the basics remain the same, Ford's updated the styling of its boxy seven-seater, offering a front-end treatment more avant garde than that of the previous car--or even that of the 2005 Fairlane concept which spawned the Flex. The blue oval grille badge is gone, replaced by extra-width "FLEX" lettering spanning the hood's leading edge.

Inside, Ford upgraded the materials and redesigned the dash, offering touch-sensitive buttons à la the Chevrolet Volt's center stack--though the look is decidedly 1970s Aston Martin Lagonda--minimal rather than the Volt's Starfleet hodgepodge. Furthermore, the new Flex ships with the updated version of the often-cursed MyFord Touch. Some 300,000 people are now using the infotainment system, and we presume that some of them are happy with it.

Under the skin, Ford upped the power of the available engines. The 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 now makes 288 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque, and the EcoBoost twin-turbo six pumps out 365 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Mileage improves as well, up a tick to 18/25 mpg for the FWD naturally aspirated base model and 16/23 mpg for the AWD EcoBoost version. A six-speed slushbox is still the only available transmission.

We sampled an AWD Flex Limited EcoBoost. If you've driven the previous model, the new wagonoid will feel like a subtle yet substantial improvement. Ford added sound-deadening insulation, recalibrated the steering and imparted the handling with an aura of solidity that pairs well with the upgraded interior. Ford also beefed up the brakes, which now offer fine modulation and confidence-inspiring stopping power.

The turbocharged six never overwhelms the chassis, nor does it feel underpowered. Call the thrust level "adequate" in the Rolls-Royce manner. Not that the Flex is Rolls refined. There's a hint of coarseness to everything Ford builds on the D3/D4 platform (the MKS, the MKT, the Taurus, the Explorer, the Flex) that the company has yet to entirely iron out. It's not bad, it just feels as if it should somehow be better.

2013 Ford Flex
On Sale: Spring 2012
Base Price: $30,885
Drivetrain:288-hp, 254-lb-ft, 3.5-liter V6/365-hp, 350-lb-ft, 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6; FWD/AWD, six-speed automatic
Fuel Economy: 3.5-liter: 20 mpg (FWD), 19 mpg (AWD); 3.5-liter turbo: 18 mpg (AWD)

By: Davey G. Johnson