New Cars Specification

You see, to me, minivan haters have it wrong. At least from a standpoint of timing. 15 years ago, minivans were dreadful. The original Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth vans were expanding...and not gracefully. GM and Ford didnt have a clue and the Japanese were trying to be unique...and succeeding all too well. That would have been the time to rebel against them.

But now? There are some very, very good minivans out there. And the new Sienna is at the top of the list.

I had three different trim levels of Sienna over the summer. There are five. But the Swagger Wagons on loan to TireKicker were the one-step-up-from-base LE, the next-step SE and the top-of-the-line Limited.

The Limited? Well, lets just say that exposure to it caused one die-hard minivan-hater I know to go into a spasm of "Oh my God"s...and in a good way. Reclining captains chairs with footrests in the second row with which to enjoy the split screen entertainment system will do that to you. And the Limited is decked out very nicely. Its the Lexus of minivans. And ours had the $4,025 LTD Premium package. 

Base price? $39,770. As tested? $45,890.

Yeah...thats a lot for a minivan. But its good enough that if I was looking at family vehicles (SUVs, wagons, minivans) with a max budget of $50,000 (have you priced vehicles that seat seven lately), Id pop for the Sienna Limited in a heartbeat.

But if you listen to your inner CPA, stepping down to the SE is by no means trading riches for rags. Its a wonderfully solid piece, with the same engine and transmission as the Limited, but less weight, resulting in a boost from 16 miles per gallon city, 22 highway to 18/24. And its hard to argue with the savings...base price drops to $30,550 and our tester topped out at $33,518.

However, my favorite (no surprise to regular TireKicker readers) was the second-from-base LE. The 3.5 liter V6 is replaced by a 2.7 liter 4-cylinder which is more than adequate and bumps the EPA numbers up to 19/24. Base price drops down to $25,345 (ours had the LE Preferred Package, adding power sliding doors and drivers seat, backup camera, sunshades, upgraded audio system and Bluetooth) and the as-tested was $29,703.

Well-equipped minivans under $30K are not everyday things. But then, neither is the Sienna. Id happily make the LE my daily driver.

Mitsubishi says it plans to triple its electric car output over the next three years, and will sell the i-MiEV, currently on sale in Japan, here in the U.S. in 2011.

A seven-hour charge is good for up to 100 miles in the i-MiEV, according to Mitsu, but even they admit that its a pricey vehicle...it costs double what a Prius does in Japan...the equivalent of $51,000 in todays American dollars.

Full story from AP and The Detroit News here.

2011 Subaru Forester Specifications And Reviews - Subaru last but not least has launched a different auto. The sort is 2011 Subaru Forester. This firm normally models an really responsive Car. It offers you with swiftly acceleration and braking handle. The 2011 Subaru Forester is so sporty you can lead within the town large way. You can even take pleasure in the enhanced horse ability and torque in comparison towards the past Forester types. You may make a sharper flip. You’ll be able to get it done easily applying this sort of automobile. It provides you with versatility and mobility.

The 2011 Subaru Forester is most effective driven in soft and sleek approaches. Should you utilize it in off-road traveling, chances are you’ll keep away from the higher way stream. The 2011 Subaru Forester just isn’t made to get it done. The inside is created in deluxe and precise type. The seat is created in convenience and balance. You’ll take pleasure in in seating on it. The leather from the seat is sunroof. For that audio method, this Car or truck attributes the AM/FM radio and CD player. You’ll be able to like it when you are traveling working with the 2011 Subaru Forester.

The engine desires 2.5L F4. It could generate as much as 170 pound-feet of torque and 170 of horsepower. The transmission is usually managed in manual and automated. The 2011 Subaru Forester is offered within the cost of $20,495. This middle-class auto is excellent and great to become Used in your excursion, journey, and traveling. You are able to get pleasure from the surroundings with the remarkable window of this vehicle. On the other hand, the 2011 Subaru Forester is just not appropriate for anyone who would like to like the soft and sleek interaction along with the street. The gasoline mileage can make you frustrate in comparison towards the cost-effective automobile.

Nissan Juke 2011 Review - What Car and parsimonious conformers, Juke very successful. Although it is not its aesthetic defects, will generate enough experience of driving pleasure. When the starting price of $ 18,960, Juke may also be a rare combination of affordable, fast and reliable. Only the stuttering block is that, instead of packed with dazzling, sexy wrap, it is the public under the guise of a clumsy, ungainly package surface types can write off for no reason.

The 2011 Nissan Juke is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine has 188hp. 6-speed manual transmission, available in front-drive models only, is not as good as the gearbox MINI, but it is nice to use, with strong throws and a clutch that is easy to modulate around the city and offers good feedback. A CVT is also available in models with front-or all-wheel drive. The manual is aimed at some of those concerns, with six "gears" to choose from, and a reasonable facsimile of a gas in a short time, but this is nothing next to the manual.

Although it looks masculine and authoritarian, the unusual design is a pastiche of shapes and surfaces that are visually unpleasant. The interior is another mixed bag with some very innovative touches mixed with some equally bad, hard plastic at low prices. The rear seats are very narrow, even for someone under 6 feet tall, with little in the way of the head or legs. The design of the seat itself is rather too upright and cushioning, and is presented as an afterthought.