New 2012 Kia Optima Si

With the Optima Si, Kia is targeting those who want a European style car without the hefty price tag.

And it seems to have the style to impress, with one observer christening our test car "a bad boy". Okay, that might be stretching things a bit too far, but even the base model Optima Si is light years away from the Kia we used to know.

Priced from $30,490 the entry level Si is a significant $6500 less than the $36,990 Platinum model. The price point is also slightly cheaper than the competitors: Hyundai i45 Active from $31,090 and Honda Accord Euro from $32,640.

The Si is under a generous five year warranty with a features list that includes Bluetooth connectivity, MP3 compatible CD player, steering wheel mounted audio controls, dual-zone climate control, auto door lock/unlock, auto headlamps and front fog lamps.

However at this level you get 17-in alloys and smaller discs rather than the 18s and larger ones on the Platinum spec. The only extra available on the base model is metallic paint priced at $450.

The Kia Optima gets a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine paired with outputs of 148kW of power at 6300 revs and 250Nm of torque at 4250 revs delivered to the front wheels via a six-speed sports automatic.

The Optima's official fuel consumption is 7.9 L/100km with 189 CO2 emissions. The specs are competitive against rivals like Honda Accord Euro - which comes close but with less torque at 230Nm.

The spacious interior combines sport styling with comfort, meaning there's plenty of room for four or five adults. The cabin plastics and dashboard are attractive and well-designed and the Si also comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The boot is large enough for everyday life with a capacity of 505 litres, and that can be increased by dropping the rear seats.

It was a bit disappointing to find the seats are leather-trimmed with 'pleather bolsters', rather than the real thing. The base model also doesn't offer ventilated driver's seat or a panoramic sunroof. However, these are more compromises in order to keep the 2.4 litre engine rather than move to a smaller one at this price.

The chrome radiator grille, chrome strips over the back bonnet and doors make the exterior aesthetically striking. But sports car lovers should be aware that the base model Si doesn't come with a sports bumper, LED lights or HID headlights. Even with all these dropped features, the Optima Si is a handsome thing.

The Si has a 5-Star ANCAP crash rating, and has six airbags, anti-skid brakes with electronic helpers, stability control, hill-start assist, speed sensing auto door lock, child proof rear door locks and impact sensing auto door unlocking.

Visibility is good, and the reverse parking sensors and the rear view camera, wide-angle mirror display and parking guidelines make city parking a hell of a lot easier than in some rivals.

Kia has made an effort to make the Optima Si as inviting as possible. Cabin space is impressive with plenty of legroom, comfy seats, smooth pedal feel and adjustable steering. Tall drivers and passengers will appreciate the generous head and legroom in the front and the rear, as well as the rear door apertures.

The dashboard is tilted logically towards the driver and the cruise control and audio buttons on the steering wheel are conveniently placed. The Si comes with speed dependent volume control, however it wasn't a noticeable feature.

The Si was a surprisingly quiet ride with hardly any wind or road noise. The six-speed auto served well through heavy stop start traffic in the city. But the Si felt a bit gutless when facing a climb, with the automatic transmission struggling to find the right gear.

Once you're on the open road you'll want to shift into Sport mode to really get the most out of the car. While the Si is far from a sporty, steering was responsive and well-weighted, with more grip than expected from a front wheel drive. The Si turned corners with ease and the acceleration was more than sufficient for a vehicle of this size. Overall, the Si was extremely easy to drive but may lean to the dull side for some drivers.

More Pictures of New 2012 Kia Optima Si

Chevrolet Urban Cool Impala Concept 2013

Chevrolet has previewed several performance-oriented concepts which will make their public debut at the 2013 SEMA Motor Show in Las Vegas.

The 2014 Chevrolet Urban Cool Impala Concept comes with some aggressive good looks which builds on the Impala LTZ with custom-painted grille accents, Chevrolet Accessories concept ground effects and Chevrolet Accessories concept 20-inch wheels painted to match the grille accents.

The Urban Cool concept rocks with the Impala's available 11-speaker Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound System, which connects to the Chevrolet MyLink system via an eight-inch-diagonal color touch screen.

2014 Jeep Cherokee Ad Unearths Your Inner Childhood

Posted on 11.2.2013 12:00 by Mark McNabb

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Ah, the boundless joys of childhood. Freedom and possibilities that stretched as far as the neighborhood streets, as fast as your bicycle would ride them, and as a wide as your orange-peel smile in the school cafeteria. Jeep's new Built Free ad campaign aims to unearth those youthful feelings from under the mundane grind of adulthood with the slogan, "You're still here. And you're still you. The horizons haven't gone anywhere."

The commercial for the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee ditches the numbers-filled, technical approach to selling in favor of a strictly lifestyle angle, with Chrysler saying the technical stuff will come later.

"The return of Jeep Cherokee and the Built Free campaign serves as a reminder that we can fulfill our daily responsibilities and still follow our innate desire to explore new and different experiences," says Olivier Francois, Chrysler's Chief Marketing Officer. "The Jeep brand has a rich history steeped in the unrelenting pursuit of freedom."

The ad started airing Oct. 28th on all the major television networks and is the first in a long line of advertisements for the new crossover. Print, online, and even movie theater spots will follow, including Ben Stiller's latest, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Jeep began marketing the Cherokee this summer with a unique digital campaign "Tales from the Trailhawk," an online video series showcasing the crossover's 4x4 capabilities. The video series follows the Cherokee through the many off-road obstacles it faced while earning its "Trail Rated" badge, including traction, articulation, maneuverability, ground clearance, and water fording.

The Cherokee may be trail-rated, but now can finally be considered dealer-rated, as it officially makes it way into dealer showrooms. The Cherokee's launch was delayed by two months due to last-minute updates to the engine management software. The Cherokee has a base starting price of $22,995, excluding tax, title, and destination.

Click past the jump for more about the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee

2014 Jeep Cherokee Ad Unearths Your Inner Childhood originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 2 November 2013 12:00 EST.

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Video: Angry Birds Go! trailer

Posted on 11.2.2013 18:00 by Simona

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We're willing to bet that the majority of our readers have played Mario Kart at least once. We're also pretty sure that most of you have fooled around with Angry Birds. Well, if you liked both of those games, we are certain that you will love the upcoming Angry Birds Go! game.

Angry Birds Go! is a downhill racing game that takes place on Piggy Island. The game features high-octane racing, upgradable karts, tons of characters with unique special powers and a fully rendered, 3-D world. Players get the opportunity to customize and update their vehicles with tons of special features, plus they get to tinker around with all sorts of special powers.

The new Angry Birds Go! is available for download on December 11, 2013, and will be available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry 10. The best part of this game is that is comes absolutely free and you will be able to download it from http://go.angrybirds.com.

Video: Angry Birds Go! trailer originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 2 November 2013 18:00 EST.

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The brand new 2012 Jaguar XFR

This 2012 Jaguar XFR is one finely dressed assassin. With elegant white paint that shines and looks sporty and a dark, leather-laden interior, this XFR is spot-on as to how I would spec out a Jaguar-if I ever have the means to acquire one.

I was supremely impressed with the cabin, which has pleasing touch points everywhere. I mean, everywhere. The leather on the doors, the headliner and the white stitching made a Mercedes-Benz that I drove recently look pedestrian. Add in the carbon-fiber veneer that bisects the dash, and you have one stately interior. It’s hard not to like a sinister, jet-black interior in an athletic-endeavoring luxury sedan. It makes the correct statement that this is expensive, but it’s there to be driven. Just in comfort.

Speaking of that, dialing up dynamic mode from a button in the center console adds a bit more response to the car, though it’s fine in the base setting. This supercharged V8 is a rocket, achieving irrational speeds effortlessly. The transmission is generally smooth, though the kickdowns can be a touch unsettling. With tornado warnings in the area on the night I piloted this Jag, the ground was generally wet, which meant some outrageously fun tire spinning for me.

The XFR is a big car, and it handles well. Personally I like large, rear-wheel-drive sedans, so this luxury liner’s dynamics are tailored my tastes. I’ve been impressed with Jag’s styling, with the raked C-pillar, subtle curves and elegant styling cues such as the quarter-panel vents and tasteful yet bold grille. This is a smart, contemporary look for Jaguar. Add in the dark wheels, and you have a sporty look with a slight sinister streak.

The negatives? It does enjoy fuel. And the electronics can be a bit challenging to pick up during a one-night stint, though I did figure out the climate and audio expeditiously enough.

More Pictures of 2012 Jaguar XFR

2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid First Drive

It’s the quietest Porsche sports car I’ve ever driven, but that doesn’t mean it’s the slowest.

Unplug any thought you may have that hybrid vehicles are painfully slow and uninspiring to drive; the 2012 Panamera S Hybrid will short-circuit that notion.

The gas/electric four-door Porsche is a highly sophisticated machine that won’t let performance enthusiasts down. Heck, it’s capable of 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds and 80-120 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. These specs are cited by Porsche, along with a top speed of 270 km/h.

When one considers the size of the Panamera and its four-door architecture, the performance numbers are impressive, especially considering that the core powerplant is a supercharged 3.0L V6 gas engine. Perhaps more impressive is the vehicle’s ability to conserve the black gold in its tank.

The Panamera S Hybrid is rated at 8.6L/100km and 6.8L/100km, city and highway driving respectively. While fuel economy ratings are often artificial and near impossible to achieve by the average driver, such wasn’t my experience with this week’s tester.

So let’s not kid ourselves about ability to pay. Folks buying a $127,395 (as tested) Porsche aren’t likely bereft of funds to fuel it. For them, the motivation to go hybrid may be more altruistic than economic. Regardless of reason, it’s a good thing.

I was quite surprised at how effectively I could maximize the potential of the Panamera’s hybrid technology. After a dose of seat time to get accustomed to the system’s operational characteristics, I learned when to lay off the throttle and allow electrical propulsion to take over. And it wasn’t necessary to slow to a crawl to maintain the spark.

The Panamera S Hybrid can move along at low highway speeds for short durations on purely electric power. The driver can also select E-Power, which aids in the exclusive use of electrical propulsion. I found this a great way to drive cost-free the six or so blocks of side streets that lead to my home.

While my average economy was all over the map due to pushing the hybrid Panamera for performance purposes and alternately babying it for economy testing, I was still capable of matching the posted city consumption rating of 8.6L/100km.

Part of the push in economy belongs to the vehicle’s 8-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission. The vast selection of gearing enables the Panamera S Hybrid to match the most efficient gear to the immediate needs, whether gentle cruising or full-on track duty.

The track isn’t where one expects a hybrid-powered vehicle to excel, yet I can verify the competency of Porsche’s hybrid in such an octane-doused setting. Its combined output of 380 hp is notable, but what really delivers the goods post apex is the car’s massive 428 lb-ft of combined torque.

A few months back, I wrote this comment following my track day with the Panamera S Hybrid: "I’m sure more than a few drivers were surprised to see the big four-door hybrid sled filling their rear-views". Yes, there were a lot of exotic machines on Mission Raceway’s road course that day – including an Italian tour de force – yet the electric/gas four-door from Germany more than held its own.

Activating the Panamera’s Sport and Sport Plus modes keeps the gas engine more in the game, ensuring that it constantly contributes to motivation rather than shutting down when it normally would. For everyday driving, though, the gas/electric combo functions fairly seamlessly.

Allied with its dual power sources, the Panamera S Hybrid exhibits two distinct personalities; one oriented toward power and performance, while the other favours luxury and comfort.

The car rides with a pleasing degree of decorum. The driver can opt to firm up the damping, but there seems to be little reason to do so; the Panamera corners with exceptional accuracy and control without engaging the Sport or Sport Plus modes.

Still, the performance purists will appreciate the ability to alter the big car’s persona at the touch of a button, especially when taking it to the stallions at the track.

One aspect of the Panamera S Hybrid that does require a little more finessing to perfect than with the conventional version is brake function. As with all regenerative brake setups, the Panamera’s can be slightly more difficult to operate smoothly and modulate intuitively.

The 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is every bit a Porsche despite the absence of a howling Porsche exhaust note. This Stuttgart-derived ride is more grown-up than its pure-octane siblings yet highly capable by every measure, and surprisingly effectual when the yardstick is measuring fuel economy, and by extension, CO2 emissions.

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2015 Ford Mustang GT Coupe Concept

As the current life-cycle of arguably America's most iconic automotive nameplates draws to an end, all eyes are looking towards the near future and locking on to the next Ford Mustang that will arrive in 2014 as a 2015 model, right in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the pony car.

Now in writing this I must confess to admiring the styling of the current Mustang, with its chiseled bodywork and retro throwbacks it does get my heart pumping – almost bordering towards cardiac arrest in GT500 form.

So where to from here for Ford and the global design studios that have a hand in penning the next Mustang; should they look to the past for inspiration or should they follow a clean slate approach that throws all previous retro elements into the shredder?

In protecting its loyal customer base, Ford will want this to be a home run, so expect some familiar cues combined with a more futuristic look incorporating the company's Post-Kinetic design language.

To give a speculative insight on how the next Mustang might look, I've created a render that incorporates Ford's latest design language from current production and concept models.

The word on the street is that the new pony car will borrow heavily from last year’s Evos concept, so bearing this in mind, I have softened some of lines as well as making them more expressive and sleeker. For example, the scollops in the doors are deeper and rear haunches are more curvaceous to exude a subtle hint of the GT40.

The front keeps that classic Mustang look combined with an exaggerated border that leads down from the headlights and onto the lower bumper. Not forgetting the grille, it gains an imposing variation of the staple trapezoidal outline, now found on most of Ford's current passenger car lineup.

So this is just one designer’s crystal ball gaze. Is it far too evolutionary or just on the mark, what do you think?

One thing is for sure; whatever Ford lets out of its stables next will have to be good enough to take on the world.

More Pictures of Ford Mustang GT Coupe