2012 Fiat 500

The US-spec Fiat 500 got a 38 mpg on the highway EPA rating, making the car rank near the top of the non-hybrid small vehicle mpg standings, although it hasn't reached the 40 mpg milestone. This mileage is available with the 5-speed manual transmission which will allow the 500 to do 30 mpg in the city and 33 mpg combined. These figures put the tiny Fiat 500 along with the Mini, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Elantra, Honda Fit and the Ford Fiesta.

2012 Fiat 500

According to Fiat, they think that most of the 500s sold will be with a 6-speed automatic gearbox, which allows the car to do 27 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg combined. The production for the cars fitted with a manual gearbox started at the beginning of 2011 in Mexico, at Fiat's factory in Toluca, where they also plan to make the Dodge Journey-based Freemont crossover. At the beginning of this week they started making the automatic transmission versions and about 130 of the designated Fiat dealers are starting to receive cars for marketing purposes which they'll show to potential buyers. The automatic 500 will be available in larger volumes starting with this March.

Laura Soave, head of Fiat North America, said that approximately 130 dealerships will be opened until late-March while the rest of the dealers will open their doors by year-end.

2012 Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 which is known by the Italians as the Cinquecento is available in three trim levels. The entry-level model dubbed Pop has a base price of $15,995. The Sport version costs $17,995 while the top-of-the-range model will set you back $19,995 with the destination fee included. According to Fiat, they believe that the Sport version will be the most popular among customers.

In order to make the 500 more appealing to the US market, they added the aforementioned automatic gearbox to boost sales. In addition, the North American-spec version rides more smoothly and is quieter in comparison to its European sibling. This extra quietness was possible thanks to the extra sound insulation in the 500's body structure and powertrain, including here a large plastic engine cover which you won't find in the European version.

2012 Fiat 500

The ride quality of this small Fiat was boosted with the help of a new, beefed up rear axle, which according to the Italian automaker is 300% stiffer than the European-spec model. The most important difference between the two models is the 1.4-litre FIRE power unit which is fitted with the company's Multiair system. According to the automaker, this system which is capable of regulating the intake valves in order to guarantee maximum fuel efficiency and hp under most conditions, will improve fuel economy and power by 10% in comparison with the same engine that doesn't have the Multiair system.

This US-spec engine is manufactured at Chrysler's factory, located in Dundee, Mich. The power unit outputs 101 hp @ 6,500 rpm and 98 lb.-ft @ 4,000 rpm. The Fiat 500 benefits from a 4-year / 50,000 miles warranty.

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Fiat 500 Gets 38 MPG HWY Rating

2011 Chrysler 300

Mitch Clauw is the Chief Engineer on the new 2011 Chrysler 300 and he said that very few parts were taken over from the old model which means that the car you see in these pictures is basically new. The outgoing generation was produced between 2005 and 2010 and had a sported bold, in-your-face styling while the new one has a more grown-up appearance. Its bodylines are less angular and crisper. Despite the fact that the wheelbase remained just about the same (120.2 inches in comparison with 120 inches of the old gen), the 300 model is now longer, taller and wider – better.

The old model wasn't really capable of standing out against the other competitors from the segment and the engineers at Chrysler had to do something to change this situation. What they did is they made the A- and B-pillars a little bit thinner; the beltline was lowered while the windshield was racked back about three inches. All of the modifications were made in order to improve the outward visibility which I must say it was a very good idea.

2011 Chrysler 300

Putting it side-by-side with the previous model, the front of the car looks to have suffered the most changes. The nose is now more contoured, improving the car's aerodynamics, which was another area where serious work had to be done. In this attempt, they also made the grille more trapezoidal and LED daytime running lights were attached to the now slimmer headlamps which look very elegant. The new exterior changes are not as obvious as you might have hoped, but move on inside and you'll think that this is a totally different car and by "different" we mean way better. What I like the most is the new instrument cluster which looks awesome, way better than the highly-appraised 5-Series from BMW. We've seen this design on the Chrysler Imperial Concept which debuted back in '09.

2011 Chrysler 300

Can't say the same thing about the steering wheel but it is considerably better than the one on the old gen. A big plus for the cabin is the generous 8.4-inch LED screen located right in the center. It is capable of providing you with all the audio controls, the HVAC system, Bluetooth phone as well as the built-in Garmin navigation system for which you have to pay extra money. The monitor and the gauges are easy to read even in bright sunlight.

The people over at Chrysler did a hell of a job at making the cabin as silent as possible which means that if you are looking for a quiet full-size sedan, the new 300 might be what you need. They also used a lot of lightweight materials like aluminum and high-strength steel in order to maintain the weight of the old model while at the same time making the car bigger due to the new added equipments.

2011 Chrysler 300

Under the hood you will find a V6 engine that outputs 292 hp and is linked to a 5-speed automatic gearbox. With this engine and RWD, the Chrysler 300 does 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, according to EPA ratings, which is just about the same as the BMW 535i @ 19/28. A transmission with more gears will certainly improve the car's fuel efficiency and I'm pretty sure that in the next 1-2 years, the 300 will get a 7- or 8-speed (courtesy of ZF) automatic gearbox which will allow the car to do over 20 mpg in the city.

The base price for the 300 with the V6 and RWD is $27,995 while the 300 Limited is a little bit more expensive, standing at $31,995. The starting price for the 300 with a more powerful HEMI V8 is $38,995. This engine is capable of producing 363 hp. In the future, Chrysler will probably roll out a SRT8 300 model which will produce even more horsepower. Over the old gen V6, you'll get an additional number of 71 ponies which you will definitely feel.

Even more significant is the increased torque – the old one had 260 lb.-ft while the new generation offers 394 lb.-ft, a pretty important upgrade. With the HEMI engine and RWD, the Chrysler 300 will do 16 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway while the AWD model does 15/23. The cars fitted with the V8 HEMI also get the fuel saving cylinder deactivation.

2011 Chrysler 300

The 2011 Chrysler 300 offers a pretty smooth ride thanks to its fully-independent suspension that does the job very well. Steering is very precise with the help of the EPAS – electrically assisted power steering.

Taking into consideration the rough last few years of the company – surviving Cerberus mismanagement, bankruptcy issues and being taken over by Fiat, we must admit that they did a very good job with the new 300 model and put the manufacturer back on the map, promising a bright future ahead.

I for one didn't like the old model – I thought that it had an outdated look ever since the first day it was launched. The new model is a major improvement in all compartments over the old gen and now it can really face up the competition in the full-size sedan segment.

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In Depth – 2011 Chrysler 300

2011 Scion tC

Although the lines of the 2011 Scion tC are new, they are quite familiar, probably because the car has the exact same dimensions, except for the fact that it is 1.6 inches wider. The flat roofline of the tC gives it a low, bulldog-like stance and the big C-pillar will get your attention immediately. In the front, the lower fascia channels an award-winning Grouper while at the same time, the swept back headlamps gives the car a somewhat aggressive look, a little bit better than the previous model.

2011 Scion tC

I for one like the exterior look of the car, but I can't say the same thing about the cabin. With a base price of $18,995 (manual transmission), it rivals the Honda Civic and the beautiful Kia Forte Coup. If you are willing to pay a little bit more, the $22,250 Hyundai Genesis Coupe will satisfy your dreams of owning a proper RWD car. Also in that price range you got the Nissan Altima Coupe. In other words, you have plenty of options to choose from. It is a rather rough segment for the Scion tC and because of its rather cheap interior, I for one can't see a bright future for this model.

2011 Scion tC

The door and dash materials scuff at the lightest touch and the stereo system is of poor quality, at least. What I do like about the interior is the super-sized steering wheel that looks very nice. The front seats of the tC are quite comfortable and you will have plenty of headroom. In the back, there isn't as much space as you might have hoped but all cars from this segment offer just about the same room.

The car is powered by the same engine that you will find in the entry-level Toyota Camry. The outgoing tC has a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that outputs 161 hp. The new one is a more powerful 2.5-liter that produces 180 hp @ 6,000 rpm and 173 pound-feet @ 4,100 rpm. Another welcomed addition is the pair of new 6-gear transmissions; one is manual while the other is automatic. Accord to EPA ratings, with the latter gearbox, the tC will do 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

2011 Scion tC

Although the steering of the car can be quite heavy, it still is engaging and offers a less-boosted feel in comparison to other Toyotas. The tC rolls on 18-inch alloy rims that are covered by 225/45R Toyo Proxes tires. The outgoing model comes with 215/45/17 tires.

In conclusion, the 2011 Scion tC has a more aggressive and masculine look in comparison with the former model and it packs a new engine that has more ponies and a choice of two near gearboxes. Despite all of these improvements, the quality of the interior materials is a big minus in a segment where there are plenty of car to choose from, cars that don't have this problem. If I wanted to buy a car in the $20,000 segment, I'd buy the 2011 VW Golf. People that are looking for the most fuel efficient car in this budget will probably get the Honda CR-Z so the market for the tC will be rather limited.

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Quick Look – 2011 Scion tC

2011 Nissan Juke

Lately, it seems that the Japanese automaker Nissan is trying to fill out all of the remaining segments in the automotive industry where they don't have a player. The Nissan Juke is an interesting addition to their lineup – a sub $20,000 small crossover with plenty of horsepower and a tail ride height. With a curb weight of only sub-3,000 pounds, the Juke offers a pretty good package: FWD, 1.6-liter 4-cylidner turbocharged engine and 188 hp. If you choose the manual transmission, the car is even lighter.

One of the most interesting things about the car is without any doubt its rather unusual exterior look, putting the car in a class of its own. We have to admit that it has a couple of things borrowed from the beautiful 370Z, especially in the tail lamps area and also the roof line resembles to the Kia Soul, but other than that, it is pretty unique design-wise.

Up front, the Juke packs some very interesting headlights that I for one haven't seen before, can't say that they are nice or ugly – interesting? Yes. From the side, this small crossover has some seriously bulging fenders plus a very short wheelbase of only 99.6 inches. The entire car is only 162.4 inches long which is just about the same as the small Versa hatchback. Luckily, the car packs some serious attitude thanks to the standard 17-inch alloy rims. From a distance, the Nissan Juke looks like a three-door hatchback due to the rear door handles that are hidden in the C-pillar.

2011 Nissan Juke

In the back things get a little bit normal as it looks more like a traditional CUV / crossover thanks to the small roof spoiler, the sculpted tail lamps and the rounded hatch. Although I can't say that I like the exterior design of the Juke very much, the interior however looks great. The level of the interior details is quite high in comparison to what we have seen before from the Japanese automaker. The driver will definitely like the sport steering wheel that has a nice quality texturing which is way better than the one on the Rouge. The generous-sized buttons are very easy to use, allowing the drive to access the audio settings, cruise control and the Bluetooth system with little to no effort.

2011 Nissan Juke

The door panels of the Juke are nicely decorated with high quality painted plastic bits color-matched to the special "motorcycle tank" center console. The large and rounded chrome handles are doing a nice job at brightening up the cabin. Speaking of, it offers plenty of room for four adults plus enough cargo space.

A very good thing about this small crossover is that regardless of the trim level you choose, you'll get a very capable 4-cylidner power unit under the hood. It is a 1.6-liter unit that develops 188 hp and 177 pound-feet of torque. According to the EPA ratings, the Juke does 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway with the CVT transmission and front-wheel drive.

2011 Nissan Juke

The base model is the S trim which will set you back $18,960. What do you get for the money? You get power doors, locks, Bluetooth, iPod support and a 6-speaker sound system. With this price tag, the Juke is more affordable than the Rouge (priced at $20,810) and more expensive than the Sentra (priced at $15,520). The Juke is a bit more economical than those two models and way more fun to drive.

If you like the looks of the car, you will certainly love the Nissan Juke as it packs some pretty nice goodies at an affordable price.

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In Depth – 2011 Nissan Juke

The car industry went through hell in 2008 and 2009 when the annual domestic sales in the US plummeted to approximately 10 million units which is a lot less in comparison to 2005 and 2006 when people bought almost 16 million cars. This downfall in the economy drove the all-mighty General Motors and Chrysler into the dreadful Chapter 5 and caused tens of billions in losses among their financially stronger competition.

Luckily, last year things took a turn for the better as the annual sales rates went up by 2 million, despite the fact that Toyota added a couple more pages to their recall book. Thanks to the fact that the economy is showing signs of improvement, consumers are visiting the showrooms more often now.

The guys over at 247Wallst.com were curious to see which cars will be the most popular this year in the United States and for this reason they came up with ten models that they think will be quite successful among buyers.

2011 Ford F-150

First, the Ford F-Series of course, as it has been the top-selling vehicle in the United States for decades. The high demand of light-trucks is traced back to the early days of automobiles and it should come as no surprise to anyone if the F-Series will remain master of his domain in 2011. The starting price for this car is around $23,000. According to a forecast published by 24/7 Wall St., Ford will be selling approximately 535,000 units of their hit F-Series this year.

2011 Chevrolet Silverado

The Chevrolet Silverado promises to be another successful light-truck in the US this year. This car segment has to be one of the most crowded and the Silverado will have to face up some serious competition coming from the GMC Sierra, Dodge Ram and the Toyota Tundra. A forecast for 2011 shows that Chevy will sell about 310,000 units of their Silverado model.

2011 Toyota Camry

Their guess is that the Toyota Camry will also be preferred by many of the US car shoppers. The Camry is one of those Japanese cars known for being fuel efficient and offering a high quality level. 2010 was not so good for this model, because of Toyota's long history with recalls. The starting price for this model is $20,000 and according to the estimates made, the Japanese automaker will sell about 305,000 units.

2011 Honda Accord

No top of best-selling cars would be relevant without the Honda Accord. Although last year wasn't very good for the model, mostly because of the outdated model, the freshened one which will be launched this April promises to bring more people to the Honda dealerships. The Japanese automaker will sell about 280,000 cars according to the same sources.

2011 Toyota Corolla

Another Japanese car, this time we are talking about the Toyota Corolla (which frankly I never liked), a model that has always been priced below the aforementioned Camry. Targeted to take customers away from the Honda Civic or other "value" based cars that come with smaller power units, the Corolla offers a pretty good package, except for the rather boring and unattractive look. 24/7 Wall St. says that Toyota will be rolling out about 270,000 units of their Corolla model which has a base price of $15,000.

2011 Chevrolet Malibu

The flagship of GM's Chevrolet division is the attractive Malibu, a model launched back in 2008. The new one was an instant hit and the cheapest you can get will set you back $22,000. How many units Chevy will sell this? Estimates say that about 265,000.

2011 Honda Civic

It seems that the US market will be invaded this year with Japanese cars as on the 7^th place we find the Honda Civic. Back in the days, the car was one of the smallest sedans money could buy in North America. Since then, the car has grown in size and power in order to appeal to a broader audience. Just like the Accord, the Civic sales figures have decreased last year due to the "rusty" look. Honda should sell about 245,000 units of their very popular model.

2011 Ford Fusion

Introduced about five years ago, the Ford Fusion is a looker, at least in my opinion. The model is positioned as a mid-size sedan, right between the Focus and the Taurus. Last year it was named the Motor Trend Car of the Year. You can have one if you are willing to spare at least $18,000. 24/7 Wall St. forecast says that about 235,000 people will buy it.

2011 Hyundai Sonata

Here is a personal favorite – the Hyundai Sonata which I think that will do way better than the estimated 225,000 units. Hyundai is one of the few automakers that have grown in the recent years when the recession affected almost all of the automotive industry. With the introduction of their new model which is drop-dead gorgeous, Hyundai will have a very bright future in the year to come.

2011 Nissan Altima

To round up the top, the Nissan Altima is another mid-sized sedan, popular for its fuel efficiency. Last year the sales went up, but not by much. Like the Honda models, the Altima is an aging model. If you like it, you can have one for at least $20,000. Nissan will probably sell around 205,000 units of this model.

Here is the top for the best selling cars in 2010 in the US:

1. Ford F-150 – 528,349 units; (413,625 in 2009);
2. Chevrolet Silverado – 370,135 units; (316,554 in 2009);
3. Toyota Camry – 327,804 units; (356,824 in 2009);
4. Honda Accord – 311,381 units; (290,056 in 2009);
5. Toyota Corolla – 266,082 units; (296,874 in 2009);
6. Honda Civic – 260,218 units; (259,722 in 2009);
7. Nissan Altima – 229,263 units; (203,568 in 2009);
8. Ford Fusion – 219,219 units; (180,671 in 2009);
9. Honda CR-V – 203,714 units; (153,431 in 2009);
10. Dodge Ram – 199,652 units. (177,268 in 2009).

We are eager to find out which cars will be a hit in terms of sales. We will have a preliminary top 10 after the first half of 2011. Stay tuned.

Source: 247Wallst.com

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Top 10 – Best-Selling Models This Year ?

Ferrari F150

Ferrari is hoping that with the help of their new F150 racer they will grab the title in the upcoming Formula One season which should be the most interesting in its long and exciting history. The new car is the company's 57 single-seater F1 racer and features a bundle of innovative characteristics, most of them due to the new season regulations imposed by FIA.

This new F150 model features a different dimension fuel cell, the KERS system and a new hydraulically controlled adjustable rear wing. The power is provided by the V8 2398 cm3 cast aluminum Type 056 engine with electronic injection and ignition. With a weight of less than 100 kg, the engine will send the power to the rear wheels of the F150 with the help of a longitudinal semiautomatic, sequential electronically controlled transmission with 7 gears + reverse. In addition, the car has a limited slip differential. The weight of the F1 car is only 640 kg.

Ferrari F150

The Ferrari F150 is built on a very light carbon fiber and honeycomb structure and features an independent suspension system that has push-rod activated torsion springs. To stop the car, the engineers at the company installed carbon-fiber disc brakes developed by Brembo. The F150 rides on 13-inch BBS rims.

Alonso hopes that this new F1 racer will bring him the third title in his career. We'll have to wait and see if he can beat the Red Bulls this year.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Ferrari F150 Launched

Mercedes C63 AMG Facelift

This week, Mercedes launched a couple of images of their upcoming C63 AMG facelift in both sedan and estate configurations. Slated to go on sale this summer, the car will have the same engine as the outgoing model, which is a V8 6.2-liter that churns 457 hp and 600 Nm of torque to the rear wheels. This engine is linked to the MCT 7-speed sports gearbox developed by AMG. Not only this transmission is more fuel efficient, but at the same time it has the capability of changing the gears in the blink of an eye and reducing the CO2 emissions. The C63 AMG facelift will consume 12 liter / 100 km for both of the versions which is pretty good for a car that packs so many hp under its hood.

Mercedes C63 AMG Facelift

This V8 engine allows the car to do the 0-62 mph sprint in only 4.5 seconds, onto a top speed of 155 mph (electronically limited). If you want more from the car, you can get it with the Performance Package which will increase the power output to 481 hp, allowing the C63 AMG to do the sprint in 4.4 seconds. With this optional package, you also get a new lighter crankshaft, boot lid carbon fiber wing, revised connection rods and pistons as well as a sports steering wheel.

Mercedes C63 AMG Facelift

Regarding the exterior appearance of this facelifted C63 AMG, the new revised bumper has been fitted with LED daytime running lights, restyled headlights plus a new grille. To lower the weight of the car, the German engineers installed an aluminum hood.

Mercedes C63 AMG Facelift

The price list for the Mercedes C63 AMG has not been revealed yet, nor the release date. Once this info will become available we'll let you know.

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Preliminary Info – Mercedes C63 AMG Facelift