LA Auto Show - Toyota Reveals New 2014 RAV4

2014 Toyota RAV4 courtesy of Autoblog.com

Toyota has officially revealed the car at the LA Auto Show. While this might not sound like an exciting moment, it is the third best selling vehicle in the Toyota lineup (after the Camry and Corolla).

While the photos have surfaced for a while, we now have more details on the new RAV. The biggest development is the elimination of the 3.5L V6 engine of the previous RAV4 leaving just the 2.5L engine also found in the Camry. This engine is good for 176 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. With this redesign, we see a three mile-per-gallon increase in fuel economy up to 24 city/31 highway on the front-wheel-drive model. Checking the box for the all-wheel-drive model will knock the efficiency down to 22/29 mpg but that is still fantastic for an all-wheel-drive compact SUV. Even one of the most efficient small off-roaders, the MINI Countryman S All-4 only pulls in 25/31 but costs a fair amount more.

Looking at the new design, I have to admit that I think this new RAV is beautiful. It pulls all the right styling queues from the Camry (including the headlights and grille) while creating a car that looks more stunning and well-rounded compared to the Honda CR-V (which I personally feel is too box-like). One major note is that the spare tire has been removed from the exterior and the rear lift-gate is no longer hinged from the side. Instead, the new RAV will feature a space saver under the cargo floor and a standard rear lift-gate. This is something I am glad to see. When I was younger, my parents had a 1998 RAV4 and one of the biggest frustrations was the rear-mounted tire. Even as a low speed collision, this tire can cause a large amount of damage to the rear door resulting in an expensive repair bill. As a result, I advised against a RAV4 since.

2014 Toyota RAV4 Interior courtesy of Autoblog.com

The interior is also drastically improved over the previous model. When I was looking to purchase the Camry, I cross-shopped the RAV4 but I found a few issue with the quality of the interior. My issues are far removed from this new model which pulls many styling functions from the Camry while adding just the right amount of sportiness. As far as features go, all RAV4 models will feature a Display Audio 6.1" LCD touchscreen, backup camera, bluetooth, privacy glass, and full power accessories.

One thing that has not been announced is the pricing but expect it to be near the current models list price of around $23,000. This is a car I look forward to seeing more of in the near future.

BMW Recalls 45,000 7 Series Sedans

Today BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG) announced the recall of 45,500 7 Series sedans built between 2005 and 2008 because the vehicles can roll away while parked. BMW reports that the automatic transmission does not remain in the "park" position because of a software issue on cars with keyless ignition and the "Comfort Access" package.

BMW has received complaints that the system will put the car into neutral if the button is pressed multiple times in succession. This can lead to increased risk of roll-away.

BMW will begin notifying owners in November but reports that an update to the software will not be available until March. This is the send recall for these cars in the last two weeks. Last week, BMW announced a recall that the doors may not latch due to a software issue on cars with "Comfort Access" and "Soft-Close Automatic Door options.

Honda Recalls over 1.39 Million Accords, Civics and Pilots

Let me start by saying, I do not have a hatred for Honda. I actually admire the company even though I've done a few posts on them. I often get a lot of flack for pushing articles about Honda recalls or criticizing their cars. The truth of the matter is that, while I hate a fair amount of car manufacturers, Honda is not one of them.

Now that I have my rant out of the way, lets get to the latest in auto news with two Honda recalls. Over the last two-three years, Honda has recalled more cars than I can keep track of. This does concern me a bit when it comes to reliability but that is just me.

The first was on Monday when Honda added 572,000 '03-'07 Accord models to an active Acura campaign for leaking power steering pumps that can cause fluid to be sprayed in the engine compartment increasing the risk of a fire. Now for you owners involved, this recall will not go into effect until the beginning of next year because Honda cannot obtain enough parts to fix this recall. Honda will be sending out notices to owners about the issue and describing the symptoms. They advise that you bring the vehicle in for "interim repairs" if there is an issue. Basically, look for a smell from the seeping fluids. Also, if your car is really leaking fluid, you might hear a grinding type noise when the wheel is turning in either direction.

There is another recall out for 820,000 Civics and Pilots. If you have a 2002-2003 Civic or a 2004-2005 Pilot, there is a chance that the wiring of the headlight switch in cars may cause the low-beams to stop working. While Honda has said there were no reported accidents with this issue, this is not something to take lightly, especially if you drive at night.

If this recall sounds familiar to you, that's because it is. In March of 2012, Honda recalled 550,000 CR-V (2002-2004) and Pilot (2003 only) models for the same issue. This brings that recall alone up to 1.37 million cars.

Porsche Panamera Wagon Concept Revealed

One thing I will always be a fan of is a good looking wagon. You cannot imagine how happy I am to see that Porsche will be releasing a wagon version of their Panamera. The new model (cue the long name), the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Concept, is a fantastic looking car. Set to be displayed at the Paris Motor Show beginning September 27, the new Panamera is sure to be a hot topic.

As many of my loyal readers know, I have a major issue with the current five-door Panamera as I discussed in my road test. While I loved the ride, the quality and the power, I have an issue with the rear styling. I am also not the only one to think that it was hit by the ugly stick (watch an episode of Top Gear or read any review) the rear hatch on the Panamera has had some industry experts dub it, "ugly but deadly." While I understand the purpose for the rear hatch (trunk space and making it look like a stretched 911) I think it was poorly executed.

The revised front hints at the update Panamera.

The new wagon, as you can see above, is just plain beautiful. This car is fantastic to look at. It takes the good aspects of the Panamera design and adds sexier lines and more cargo space. While the car does look like a combination of every Porsche model thrown into one, I think it pulled the best aspects. The headlights off of the new Boxster, the tail lamps off of the 911 and the overall image of a shortened Cayenne all come together beautifully to make this car what the Panamera should have been.

Less buttons and clutter make for an improved interior.

There is also another aspect to this news, the new concept gives us a hint at the refresh of the standard Panamera. Now in its third year on the market, it is due for a mid-cycle refresh. It appears that we will be greeted with a revised face and an improved interior to cut down on the number of buttons.

While I can only hope for a Turbo version of this, the concept at the Paris Motor Show will be powered by Porsche's plug-in "e-Hybrid" design. Either way, I look forward to seeing this and the 918 on the road soon.

Official: Kurt Busch Moves to #78 Next Season

Getty Images

It was announced today that Kurt Busch, the driver of the #51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet, will be moving to the Furniture Row Racing #78 for 2013.

After departing Penske Racing following the 2011 season, the 2004 champion joined Phoenix Racing because... well it was the only team willing to hire him without sponsorship. For those not familiar with Busch's antics, he lost his ride last season after two incidents with reporters following races at Richmond (where he tore up a reporter's script) and Homestead (where he cussed out a reporter). Earlier this season, Busch was suspended for the first Pocono race after berating a reporter the week before.

What does this mean for Phoenix Racing: According to Phoenix Racing's James Finch, the team is unlikely to return next year unless it can lock down a sponsorship. This likely means the end of Finch's time in NASCAR.

What does this mean for Regan Smith: Optimistic that he would return for next season, the 2011 Southern 500 winner does not think he will be back with the team. Busch is replacing him but the idea of a second car is not completely ruled out (i.e. it will not happen).

With the support of Richard Childress Racing behind FRR, maybe Busch might be able to accomplish something he couldn't with Hendrick technology (Hendrick backs Phoenix Racing), win a race or crack the top 20 in points. Although you don't exactly see RCR dominating the Chase right now...

Guess we'll have to wait until next season to find out.

Official: Ricky Stenhouse to Drive for Roush

In a bit of not-so-shocking news, Roush-Fenway Racing has announced that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will replace Matt Kenseth next season. The car will be sponsored by Best Buy, Fifth Third Bank, and Zest who are returning from this season with an increased commitment.

This is a great opportunity for Stenhouse who will be put with a championship caliber team from the start. This settles the questions about his future with Roush following the termination of the historic #6 car. However this does open the door for new speculation about which number he will drive: the 17 or the 6?

This is just a small reintroduction post for Zach's Auto Review. Look for new reviews and news in the near future.

August Playseat Forza 4 Pack

Who else is pumped for the newest pack of cars for Forza Motorsports 4 on the Xbox 360? I cannot wait for this pack to drop tomorrow (August 7) on the Xbox Live store. The new pack will be available for 560 Microsoft Points and include a few of my favorite cars from the new release.

I personally could not be more excited about the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, the 2013 Boss 302 Mustang or the 2013 Scion FRS (which I have pushed for for a few months). Check out the full list below and the trailer for the latest pack.

• 2012 Chevolet Camaro ZL1
• 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302
• 2013 Scion FR-S
• 2003 Aston Martin DB7 Zagato
• 1962 Lincoln Continental
• 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track
• 1984 Peugeot 205 T16
• 1989 Mercedes Benz #63 Team Sauber-Mercedes C9
• 1962 Triumph TR3B
• 2013 Lexus GS350 F Sport

Be sure to keep your eye out for the new pack. This is bound to be worth the 560 points.

Allmendinger Out At Penske Racing

Is some not-so-shocking news today, Penske Racing has announced that it is parting ways with the suspended AJ Allmendinger. Allmendinger was suspended before the July Daytona race a few weeks ago for testing positive in a random drug screening the week before. Allmendinger also tested positive in a second drug test last week (click here for that story).

While no parties wants to discuss the substance, ESPN is reporting it was an amphetamine. The doctor who does the testing for NASCAR says it is not likely for any over-the-counter items to test positive in the test.

Allmendinger has entered the NASCAR "Road To Recovery" program to work his way back to the track. He is taking the more noble path compared to the only other Sprint Cup driver who has failed the test, Jeremy Mayfield.

Sam Hornish Jr, who has an extensive history with Penske, will be in the #22 Pennzoil Dodge at least for this week at Pocono while Penske evaluates future options.

Breaking News: AJ Allmendinger Fails Second Drug Test

It was announced today that AJ Allmendinger has failed a second drug test after a second test found a banned substance in his system. Allmendinger has been suspended from NASCAR since July 7th when he was removed from the car before the start of the Coke 400 at Daytona.

The banned substance has not been clarified yet and the Allmendinger camp is insisting that the results were within a few nanograms of the accepted parameters. NASCAR has not commented on the levels.

A spokesperson for Allmendinger reports that the driver contracted an independant lab to determine if any of his daily products were the cause of the failure.

If Allmendinger agrees to complete NASCAR's "Road to Recovery" program than he will be reinstated. Until that time, it appears Sam Hornish Jr will drive the #22 Pennzoil Dodge for Penske (at least for this weekend's race at Indy anyway).

Lets just hope this doesn't become another Jeremy Mayfield case.

Recovering from an Automotive Theft after 42 Years

Suffering a property loss can be a tragic experience for anyone. When you have sentimental value in the stolen item, your suffering is even greater. For 42 years, Robert Russell of Texas has searched for his treasured 1967 Austin-Healey, which vanished from his Philadelphia home in 1970. The 66-year-old sales manager never gave up searching for the missing Healey, which vanished the morning after his second date with his future wife.

After a few days, many people begin to realize that their car is gone and carry-on with an empty hole in their heart. You lose that feeling of closure and you will forever be without the peace of mind that comes with recovering your stolen property. Luckily for Mr. Russell, he never gave up and eventually spotted his car listed on eBay in Beverly Hills. After confirming the stolen car was his, Mr. Russell took position of the classic British roadster, which is now valued around $23,000.

After seeing a story like this, you should never give up hope in recovering your stolen property. There are also things you can do now to prevent a car theft happening to you in your home. Technology has greatly advanced over the past 42 years and it is a lot easier to keep your car secure.

Car Security

When you are home with your vehicle, always keep it stored safely in a locked garage. If you must store your vehicle outside, be sure to keep it locked and close all of the windows. Even if it is for a short period of time, do not leave a door open or your convertible top down. This is inviting anyone into the car and you’re making it easy to bypass that first layer of security. 

Additionally, you should be sure to install an alarm system on your vehicle with an engine immobilizer and glass breakage sensors. Most modern day cars have an option for this when you purchase the vehicle. I would also suggest installing alloy wheel locks to prevent your wheels from being stolen. An additional security method could be installing a Lo-Jack device to track your vehicle if it is stolen. 

Home Security

When it comes to protecting your car, you also need to protect your home. One suggestion is to install a surveillance system inside and around your home. This will help deter a possible thief or get a nice mug shot of the burglar if they try to steal your car.

You should also secure your garage by covering up any windows and replacing your garage door motor with one that has a rolling code system. Additionally, be sure not to leave your keys or garage door opener in the car. A burglar could smash the window to get into the home to take the car. Also, always keep your garage door closed unless you’re there to monitor it. 

As mentioned earlier, I advise you to keep your car stored in the garage. I would also suggest re-enforcing the door between your garage and your home by installing a slab door that cannot be kicked down. Also, replace any hinges with visible pins and install three-inch screws on the hinges.

Be sure to look at other DIY home security tips to protect your home and keep your valuables safe.

About the Author: Dan Miller is a home security professional and car enthusiast. He is also a copywriter for HomeSecurityDeals.com and a consistent reader of Zach’s Auto Review.

Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Wrap-Up

Property of NASCAR

Saturday night's race at Daytona was one of the better races I've seen this season. I always love restrictor plate racing because you never know what is going to happen even on the last lap. This year's Coke Zero 400 did not disappoint with the race coming down to the last few corners.

Throughout the entire race, the team to beat was the 16-17 tag-team of Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth (the Daytona 500 winner). Kenseth led the most laps with 89 while Biffle was out front for 35. They were hurt by a late caution as Jimmie Johnson was punted ducking down to pit road. This started a chain reaction accident taking out multiple cars including Jeff Gordon who was in third at the time. While Biffle and Kenseth were not involved, they already committed to pit road. Before they hit the line, the red lights came out signaling pit road was closed. While Kenseth drove through, Biffle elected to pit forcing Kenseth to re-pit and they both restarted in the back from Biffle's penalty.

While the pair did eventually work their way back up, Biffle got loose causing a 15-car accident. On the last lap, it was down to Kenseth/Biffle, Stewart/Kahne and Harvick/Burton. Coming back tot he start/finish line, it was just Kenseth, Stewart, and Burton (who had an amazing save on his #31 Chevy). At the finish, Stewart was the winner taking his fourth Daytona summer win while continuing to chase an elusive Daytona 500 win. Burton took second while the dominating Kenseth walked away with third. The drafting partners of all three were taken out in the last lap wreck though Kahne did finish in the top 10.

I did want to point out the frustrating coverage by TNT this weekend as they spent the entire race "with continuous coverage." Their idea of continuous coverage is nothing like ESPN's last year. Instead they played a commercial in the bottom third of the screen every two minutes plugging "non-stop coverage" then they would still go to commercial breaks anyway. Even after the commercial ended, the bottom third of the screen would continue to plug the sponsor limiting the size of the actual racing (i feel bad for anyone with a small TV since you couldn't see anything). Their coverage has been horrible this season often switching to less important camera angles while races were going on for the win. I hope they fix their problems soon or NASCAR dumps their coverage.

In other news, there is a surprising report of AJ Allmendinger being suspended for failing a random drug test at Kentucky. Since this report showed up 90 minutes before the race, Penske was forced to rush Sam Hornish Jr. to the track where he arrived just minutes before the green flag. Hornish ended up 33rd after a tire problem caused him to spin just pas half way. Penske officials say they will meet with Allmendinger to grasp the situation.

See everyone next week at Loudon, NH for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.

Results:
1. Tony Stewart #14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet
2. Jeff Burton #31 Wheaties Chevolet
3. Matt Kenseth #17 Zest Ford
4. Joey Logano #20 Dollar General Toyota
5. Ryan Newman #39 Aspen Dental
6. Carl Edwards #99 Subway Ford
7. Kasey Kahne #5 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
8. Brad Keselowski #2 Miller-Light Dodge
9. Michael Waltrip #55 Aaron's Toyota
10. Bobby Labonte #47 Kingsford Toyota

Standings:
1. Matt Kenseth 676
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -25
3. Greg Biffle -44 (+1)
4. Jimmie Johnson -58 (-1)
5. Tony Stewart -84 (+4)

Forza Motorsports 4 July Car Pack

It is time for the latest Forza Motorsports 4 car pack to hit the marketplace. The July car pack will drop July 3rd for 560 Microsoft points and will feature some of the fastest cars in Forza. This article will run through the ten news cars. Also be sure the check out the trailer below.

- McLaren 59 GT MP4-12C GT3

This car has a mouthful of a name that sounds like the latest fax machine out of the HP R&D department but it is actually one of the fastest carbon-fiber production sports cars on the market. This car borrows a lot of technology from F1 including the steering wheel. The GT3 had to be detuned for the series to make it tractable so it is down to 539 hp (not like thats a small amount). The car also features a Ricardo six-speed sequential gearbox and will be in limited production.

- 1998 Aston Martin V8 Vantage V600

As many of you know, I love a good Aston. While this was personally not one of my favorite designs, this is a quality Aston driven by two Eaton superchargers producing 600hp and 600 lb-ft of torque from the 5.3L V8. Only 56 cars were made so here is your opportunity to snatch one up albeit a virtual one.

- 1973 AMC Gremlin X

Your thoughts are probably the same as mine, "WTF?" Yes the AMC Gremlin has finally poked its ugly face into the Forza network with the "X" trim package adding stripes, body colored fascia, slotted road wheels, and a black-out grill. While the X did add some flare, it did not add any power making the sales boost for AMC in '73 a surprise.

- 1952 Hudson Hornet

This historical car was a technological marvel back in its day. The car was also a racing masterpiece which set records that would stand tall for decades. The Hornet also had a staring role in Pixar's "Cars" as Doc Hudson. Now you can create your own Doc to take to the Forza 4 track of your choice.

- 1954 Jaguar XK120

For any fan of classic British sports cars, or cars in general, the '54 XK120 was a dream car. This classic roadster delivered an exhilarating ride and refined performance. While performance in that day was only 210hp, the car still had plenty of power (and the looks) to snatch up that beautiful lady at the Bellagio.

- 2012 Ascari KZ1R

Lets welcome yet another fax machine to the Forza family. While I cannot understand the naming system of these new hyper cars, I can appreciate a car this good looking packing enough power to reach a 200mph top speed and 0-60 in three seconds. This car gets its power from the same 5.0L V8 out of the M5 while only weighing in at 3,000 pounds. Seeing as this car will have a limited edition run of only 50 cars, this may be your best chance to snatch up a KZ1R.

- 1956 Lotus Eleven

This car was amazingly powerful for a 1.1L engine. In 1956, the car could hit 143 mph and it managed a seventh place finish at Le Mans. Because the car only weighed 1,000 pounds, its minuscule engine could do amazing things. Check out the Eleven in the Lotus dealership.

- 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

While this may not seem like a particularly special car, the SLK55 is a masterpiece with its 5.5L V8 throwing out 415 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. This loud example of AMG power features a seven-speed transmission while being one of the sharper cars in the pack.

- 1995 RUF CTR2

Even though the recent Porsche Pack added more rear-engined cars from that other sports car company in Germany, Forza continues to add cars from RUF. The CTR2 is based on the 993 chassis and is capible of 220mph and a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds from the 3.6L twin-turbo flat six. Power comes in at 520 hp eventually getting up to as much as 580hp. While they are street legal, I would advise against driving them anywhere near a cop unless you like a challenge.

- 2012 Spyker C8 Aileron

This car is designed for the GTE class and the 4.2L mid-engined C8 produces 400hp and 354 lb-ft of torque providing power through a six-speed automatic ZF box. We will see how the Aileron performs soon in the next Le Mans race.

As is typical with Forza, you can also expect new monthly rivals challenges based on the new cars. This pack is also not part of the season pass. Check out the trailer below.

Matt Kenseth Leaving Roush-Fenway

At the end of the 2012 season, Matt Kenseth will be out of the #17 Roush-Fenway Ford that he has driven since 1997 (the car was an entry by current Roush manager, Robbie Reiser). The expectation is that Ricky Stenhouse Jr., last year's Nationwide Series champion, will take over the ride beginning next season.


The rumor in the NASCAR community is that Kenseth will join Joe Gibbs racing to drive the #20 currently driven by Joey Logano or a fourth entry. Team president J.D. Gibbs has not said anything on the matter but speculation on Kenseth's departure began last weekend at Sonoma noting that Logano is in a contract year.


Following 452 career starts behind the weel of the #17 Ford, Kenseth tweeted, ''I'm very thankful to Jack Roush for the opportunities he's given me over the past 14 years. Together we have enjoyed a lot of success... as a team we are committed as ever to the remainder of the 2012 season and chasing a 3rd sprint cup title for Jack and RFR.'' 


One of the biggest issues is the lack of solid sponsorship since DeWalt tools left a few year back and Crown Royal bowed out last season. Sponsorship issues also led to David Ragan losing his ride following the end of last season. Since Stenhouse Jr is in a long term contract with Roush and in need of a ride, (Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle extended their contracts last season) it makes sense that Kenseth is out.


Lets see how this effects the #17's championship run.

Manual Transmissions Get Closer To Death

BMW F10 M5 Manual - Autoblog.com

In a time where no one respects the concept of controlling a car for yourself, many car companies are screwing those who love to have full control. Those who love to take a screaming muscle car or an exotic hyper car from zero to 60mph one gear at a time (or in the case of some cars, only one gear).

You will be hard-pressed to find a manual high-performance car today. One such tragedy is Lamborghini, who decided to cut manual transmissions from their lineup after only 3% of cars sold were row-it-yourself transmissions. But they are not the only one to do this. Look at the Bugatti Veyron, the new Vanquish, the Ferrari California/458, most AMG powered Mercedes,  and the Lexus LFA; all of these amazing automobiles forgo a manual transmission in favor of an automatic or "flappy paddle" gearbox. Even Porsche, who is traditionally known for manual transmission cars and the first to implement a seven-speed manual, now offers PDK automatics in all of their models. What a long way we've come.

It was rumored yesterday that BMW is now joining that group by taking the manual transmission option out of the next generation of M5 and M6 performance cars. I personally take issue with this because I love the new M5. If I had the means to purchase one, I would in a heartbeat. The idea of a rear-wheel-drive saloon car with over 500 horses and a manual transmission it like an amazing dream. I drove one of these a few weeks ago and I love it. I can't guarantee that I would like the new M5 (which is a few years away) but this doesn't help their case.

The problem is that most of the people buying a luxury performance car want something to show off and keep more as a status symbol for your daily commute rather than its true purpose of screaming around a racetrack. According to BMW, only about 15% of buyers are opting for a manual transmission in their new M5 which equals a monetary loss for BMW.

BMW Seven Speed Manual - Bimmer Post

Now, from a business perspective, I cannot blame them for this move. If your losing money, do not continue to piss it down the toilet. The problem I have from a car-enthusiast perspective is that I will not buy a BMW M5 or M6 now. The teenage dreams of owning a brand new manual M5 are dead. In the minds of stick-shift lovers, BMW is dying.

A bit of good news is that BMW will continue to offer it in their M3 and hopefully a future 1M. You can also obtain a manual in many "basic" BMW models. Even more ironically is that this news comes just two weeks after patent applications show a seven-speed manual gearbox in the works (with an awkward shift pattern that you can see to the right).

I sincerely hope that the manual transmission does not die off. As a memo to auto manufacturers worldwide, I (and many other auto enthusiasts) would take a car with a manual over your next "performance minded car" with any form of automatic or flappy paddle gearing system. These cars are meant to give exceptional performance whether it is on the racetrack or in town. The only reason for an automatic sports car is as a grand-touring car (even then I still rather have a manual to play with as I zip through the mountains.

2013 Porsche Cayman Spotted

Property of AutoBlog.com

It looks like AutoBlog has stumbled upon a test car that seems to be the new Cayman. This would make sense as it typically follows the Boxster which debuted earlier this year. However, an official Porsche launch is several months away.

It looks like the biggest changes result from fuel economy goals leading to a weight reduction to prevent a performance sacrifice. It is expected that the base 265hp and the 315hp S engines will carry over

The perfect gift for any Porsche enthusiast.

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Aston Martin Officially Reveals The Vanquish

The New Aston Martin Vanquish:

Although the return of the Vanquish has been reported for a few weeks now, the replacement for the aging Aston Martin DBS was formally introduced yesterday at Villa d'Este. The Vanquish has officially reclaimed its thrown in the Aston Martin lineup.

The Vanquish will sit on the VH platform of the past but I do not see that as a bad thing when stiffness is up almost 25% and power is derived from the traditional 6.0L V12 out of the DBS. I also like the current styling where bits of the design were taken from the One-77.

Inside the Vanquish, the beautifully designed interior does not put form over function as the car looks easy to enjoy and use. The cabin is also larger and trunk space has grown over the DBS.

Going back to the 6.0L engine, the motor adds 55 horses from the DBS bringing the total to 565 hp with 420 lb-ft of torque (unchanged). The transmission will be a Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic and the car should be good for 0-60 in 4 seconds.

For those of you who are not aware, I am an Aston Martin lover. I personally feel this car looks amazing and I hope to get behind the wheel in the near future.

For more information and some great clips, check out the official video from Aston Martin.

2012 MINI Cooper Countryman S Review

2012 MINI Cooper Countryman S:

Photo property of Zach's Auto Review

Over the weekend, I helped a friend purchase a new MINI Cooper. After a few months of narrowing down a car he wanted, he finally settled on a 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman S. He even narrowed it down to a particular car he wanted from Global MINI in Atlanta. On Saturday, we went to view and test the Countryman before eventually choosing to buy it.


The selected car was a 2012 S model in alpine white with black leatherette interior. The car included a panoramic moonroof, Harmon/Kardon sound system, bluetooth, black bonnet stripes, black alloy wheels, center arm rest, flat-load floor and rear bench seat. MSRP came in at $30,650.

The Car:

The Countryman is one of the latest inductees into the MINI lineup. It is also the first MINI to feature four doors and optional all wheel drive. With increased functionality and room for five people, this is the most practical car to come out of the company. 

While this swollen MINI may seem like a gas-guzzling SUV to some, the car actually employs the same 1.6L and 1.6L turbo engines as the rest of the MINI line which is good for 32mpg highway and 26 city. This makes the Countryman one of the most fuel efficient petrol SUV's on the market. At the same time, the car is not short on power with 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque from the 1.6L turbo S. This is good enough for a 0-60 time in the seven second range from its relatively light body (curb weight is 2,954).

From a manufacturing stand-point, the Countryman is not built by MINI. For those familiar with the E83 BMWs, they were built by Magna Steyr in their Austrian plant. After the F25 moved production to the South Carolina factory with the X5 and X6, Magna Steyr had an extra line at the plant to produce a new car. BMW AG decided to give MINI an SUV that would be similar to the BMW X1 which is also built in the Austrian factory.

Exterior:

While the Countryman is obviously a MINI, it does vary its styling compared to its brother vehicles. The front grill is noticeably varied from the generic MINI front fascia. The roofline does slightly invoke "Coupe" design with a slightly stretched baseball-cap look. The rear of the car uses a sturdy tailgate with a VW duplicated door latch. 


This car honestly looks fantastic. Its aggressive stance and longer body makes it one of the best looking MINI's since the Cooper came back in 02. Unlike other MINI designs - like the new coupe or the upcoming MINI Clubvan - the Countryman can best be related to a beautiful woman, it is stunning and it makes you want to see more. 

Interior: 

If you are familiar a MINI, you will feel right at home with the Countryman. Everything is where it would be in a similar car... for the most part. The Countryman adds a center rail which, depending on your rear seat configuration, can run through the entire cabin or end for a full rear bench seat (new for 2012). 

For a person who has never seen a MINI, the dashboard may take some adjustment. In all honesty, the interior is very easy to get used to and it is actually very functional and useful. The major complaints are that people seem to hate the pizza sized speedometer and the location of the window switches. 

While the interior seems very well constructed and the build quality seems top notch, I do have a few personal complains. Firstly, the seats. The standard "sports seats" do very little to keep you from moving around in the cabin. I also do not like run-flat tires and the fact that this car does not allow for a spare means that you are stuck with the expensive run-flats. These tires can cost $200 more than a traditional tire and they cannot be repaired if you pick up a nail. The panoramic moonroof cover also has a few issues. The cover is basically a sliding perforated sheet of plastic that allows in a fair amount of light and glare which occasionally makes it difficult to see.  

My last complaint is almost generic throughout the BMW AG line. I cannot stand the turn signal and wiper stalks on the steering column. With the launch of the last generation of BMW's, someone had the idea to put control stalks that do not stay where they should. If you indicate a left turn, the stalk returns to neutral making you have to push it to the right to cancel the action. Quick lane change signals are there but tend to only flash for a brief moment. The wiper stalks are the most confusing. Putting your wipers in the fastest setting requires you to constantly hit the level upwards. Turning on/off the wipers can require three separate motions.

The Drive:

To start with, the car is higher than any other MINI. You sit high (It is not a truck but it is comparable with most small crossovers) and you have very good visibility. I was amazed how easy it was to see all around the car and check blind spots. In the smaller MINIs, this is occasionally a problem due to the small size of the car. Nothing bad about it but you need to be more careful.

The Countryman is also the widest MINI and you can definitely feel it when your driving. It is also the heaviest MINI. Because of this, I would recommend the S model over the base. The base engine is fantastic in the standard Cooper but the extra weight requires extra power of the S. 


The "go-kart" feel of the traditional MINI is slightly lost on this car because of the longer wheelbase and the higher suspension. The Countryman is similar to a BMW SUV when it comes to ride quality. It is responsive but it is not a go-kart. I feel it is a good ride because "go-kart feel" tends to translate to a rough ride on highways from the firm spring and damper rates combined with a short wheelbase. With the Countryman, you have reasonable suspension travel without too much body roll combined with a responsive ride. All-in-all, the car handles extremely well when you consider it is an SUV. Do not worry about the Countryman letting you down on a mountain road, it will pull through.


I do have to admit that there is some turbo lag in the Countryman that is not as noticeable in some of the other MINI S's. I would attribute this to the size of the vehicle but it is not surprising when the car weighs in at 2,954 pounds. However, the car does get up to speed quickly. It did not take long to get up to highway speeds on an entrance ramp. The problem is that the Countryman (like most luxury/sport SUV's) is floaty and you can lose track of your speed so watch that massive speedometer.

Additionally, the automatic transmission feels slightly different in this MINI compared to other models. In other cars, the shifts are harsh and easily felt. The Countryman has a nice smooth gearbox that is barely felt climbing to sixth. For a bit of extra oomph, you can enable the "sport" mode which quickens your shifts or you can manually shift the car. Keep in mind that manually shifting in a BMW/MINI is different than most cars. Down is up and up is down. If you want to shift upwards, pull the shifter or paddle towards you or vice-verse to downshift. Also, the paddles on the steering wheel can be annoying. Both paddles do the same function as opposed to left is down, right is up. This can translate to some awkward shifts are you try to reach into the wheel to push the paddle back.

MINI Cost:

The biggest issue I have with MINI (and its parent, BMW) is that nothing comes with the car. In an age where bluetooth and iPod connectivity is standard in most cars, it is a $500 add-on for a BMW AG product. It is very easy to tack on $15,000 in additional items in this car and some of the MSRP stickers on the lot topped $38,000 in price before tax. Even a center armrest will run you $250. Another confusing aspect is that with BMW, you can get an automatic transmission at no cost. In the MINI, an auto will run you $1250.

While I do appreciate the level of customization that MINI provides, the items are not cheap. Lets say you wanted to deck out your MINI with British flags (ironic since the car is made in Austria) - interior mirror caps ($62), exterior mirror caps ($62), Valve stem caps ($17), side vent ($164) and roof graphic ($165) adds almost $500 to the MSRP of the car. 

Overall: 

To sum everything up, the Countryman is as much a MINI as any other car in the line-up. It is extremely fun to drive but it will not kill your body. The car also has plenty of power with the S turbo engine and you could easily get up to speed in a hurry if you need to. It is also fantastic to see a MINI that can actually fit a family of five with reasonable room and cargo. 


If you you are looking for a family vehicle and it fits your budget I would definitely consider the Countryman for a small, fun SUV. However, I do feel the best option will be a JCW powered option (in the works) with 208 hp and a six-speed manual transmission to compensate for the weight.

Recall Round-Up June 20

June 20 Automotive Recalls:

BMW: 

If you own a 2012 diesel X5 or a 2013 X5 or X6, your car may be under recall with BMW for a leaking power steering pump. The pump may leak power steering fluid potentially causing a fire if the fluid sprays on to hot engine parts. This recall is the result of an NHTSA investigation for a "machining error" in the steering gear surface.


BMW will begin to notify affected owners in July. These cars will be inspected and defective parts will be replaced if necessary. 


For more information, contact BMW North America at 1-800-525-7417.

Honda: 

Honda is recalling more than 50,000 new 2012 Civic sedans for improperly installed driveshafts. The driveshaft can separate and cause the Civic to fail to shift into any gear. Additionally, manual Civic are subject to roll away if the parking brake is not engaged.

This is the second recall for the 2012 Civic. The last recall was for leaky fuel lines due to "misplaced O-rings" during production.

Starting tomorrow (June 21), Honda will begin to notify all affected owners to bring their Civic in. If necessary, Honda will replace the driveshaft.

For more information, please contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 with recall number S40.

Mercedes Benz:

Mercedes Benz is recalling 2007-2009 E350 4MATIC wagons and sedans. About 3,600 E350's have a load-level suspension which can fail reducing driver control and increasing the risk of a crash. 

Affected owners will be contacted in August. Following an inspection, Mercedes Benz will replace the level control connecting rod for free.

For more information, please contact Mercedes Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Recall information courtesy of the NHTSA.

Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan Wrap-Up

With a wave of the checkered flag at Sunday's Quicken Loans 400, Dale Earnhardt Jr. snapped a 143 race winless streak. "That was the worst feeling, riding around with 15 laps to go and wondering what was going to happen - how you were going to lose," Jr said.


There was no losing for Jr. this time as his #88 Chevrolet won for the first time since 2008 with a 5.4 second victory. Ironically enough, that June 15, 2008 win came almost four years ago to the day. His last win also came at Michigan.


With 11 top-10's already on the season, Earnhardt has had one of the most consistant seasons in a long time. A season that any driver would wish for as he comfortably sits in second place for the championship.


Speed was also a topic of conversation with qualifying speeds soaring over 200 mph on the newly paved track.


Accidents were also increased at the track where we saw last week's winner, Joey Logano, get taken out in a multi-car crash which brought out the caution for six laps. Almost immediately after the restart, Denny Hamlin's toyota decided to go for a spin through the grass and caught fire. Luckily, Hamlin was uninjured in the wreck.

Kurt Busch:

On another note, Kurt Busch had another run-in with a reporter. Following Saturday's Nationwide race, Busch chose not to fulfill his media obligations. NASCAR rules state that the top three finishers must take with MRN Radio first on pit-road. 


In the media center, The MRN issue came up about Busch leaving before fulfilling his obligations. Busch reportedly replied, "That's what everybody says, don't they?" When questioned by ESPN's Marty Smith about the refusal, Busch told Smith to come over with a camera before saying, "Have you ever heard of sarcasm?"


We are not likely to see any penalty for the incident. However, for a driver who is seeking sponsorship and an owner willing to provide a top quality ride, Busch is not doing himself any favors with his behavior. I am curious to see if he will be in the car come next Sunday.


Results:
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 Diet Mtn. Dew Chevrolet
2. Tony Stewart #14 Office Depot Chevrolet
3. Matt Kenseth #17 EcoBoost Ford
4. Greg Biffle #16 3M Ford
5. Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe's Chevrolet
6. Jeff Gordon #24 DuPont Chevrolet
7. Clint Bowyer #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota
8. Juan Pablo Montoya #42 Target Chevrolet
9. Marcos Ambrose #9 Stanley Ford
10. Kevin Harvick #29 Budweiser Chevrolet


Standings:
1. Matt Kenseth 565
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -4
3. Greg Biffle -17
4. Jimmie Johnson -33
5. Denny Hamlin -51

Saab Saved... For Now

A few weeks ago I reported that a mystery company named National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB was in negotiations to purchase Saab and save it from bankruptcy. It was recently announced that the company has purchased the company for an undisclosed amount.

National Modern Energy Holdings and Sun Investment LLC. joined together for the sole purpose of buying Saab for its electric technology. The purchase assumes the $1.9 billion in Saab debt but both sides agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Interestingly the sale did not include Saab Automotive Parts AB (which the Swedish National Debt Office is taking over), the rights to the 9-5 or 9-4x, or the rights to the Saab name in general (owned by Scania and the Swedish Aerospace And Defense group or Saab AB). The only naming right purchased seems to be "9-3".

Additionally, Automotive News Europe reports a new electric car will be out in 2014 based on the next 9-3. NEVS also announced the hiring of 200 engineers to work on the electric car program. They are also looking to partner with Mahindra and Mahindra (once in the running for Saab's assets) to develop a gas-powered 9-3 as well as other future models.

Considering that Saab has not produced a car since 2011 and they have not been profitable for nearly 20 years, there is not much of a lower point for the company to hit. I wish them the best.

NASCAR Putting "Stock" Back In "Stock Car"

New 2013 NASCAR Body Styles:

NASCAR wants to bring the sport back to its roots and it seems like they have come a little closer. New regulations from NASCAR allow the manufactures to redesign their cars to look like the real models for next season. So far we have seen models from Dodge, Ford, and Toyota (Chevy has only released a camouflaged version of its new SS). These new designs are welcome change to the generic body we have now where the only difference between manufactures (from an exterior perspective) were the stickers for lights and badges. While I understand the reasoning for this "car of tomorrow" design, I could not be happier to see the vehicles actually looking like the street model you you buy bringing back the "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" mantra.

Chevrolet: 

All we know is that Chevy will be using a new design called the SS for their stock car. The street model should be a V8, rear-drive platform similar to the Pontiac G8 producing over 400hp. While I look forward to the car, I am curious how the stock car will look.

Dodge: 

Dodge released their new design way back in February. However, right before the release, it was announced that Penske was abandoning ship in favor of Ford. This marked the latest major Sprint Cup team to leave the manufacture since it's return to NASCAR over a decade ago. It also leaves Dodge without a major team to represent the brand (there are some start and park teams). Now I do like the new design and it closely mimics the street Charger (read my review on the 2012 Dodge Charger Pentastar V6) that many have come to love. Good luck to Dodge on finding someone to drive it as most of the major teams are already under contract. Maybe Kurt might start his own team since no one will hire him following is latest suspension.

Ford: 

Ford has elected to stay with the Fusion for the 2013 season. With the new Fusion set to be released in the coming months, Ford has decided to take advantage of the marketing opportunity of keeping the badge in stock car racing opposed to the Mustang which currently runs in Nationwide. Now I personally love the new Fusion's design and I feel that this is a sleek, aggressive looking car that is sure to sell world wide (the car is known as the Ford Mondeo in other areas of the world). Personally, I think the stock car version looks even better. Fans can see the new #21 Motorcraft Ford livery (pictured above) at the Roush-Fenway headquarters in Concord, NC. I look forward to seeing it at Daytona in February.

Toyota: 

While some have complained about a Japanese automaker in NASCAR, I feel it is great for the sport. In addition, the Camry (in addition to about a dozen other Toyota AG models) is built in the US in Georgetown, KY. This car is more American than the Charger and Chevrolet Impala (both built in Ontario, Canada) or the Fusion (Sonora, Mexico). I feel this new Camry looks fantastic and the stock car closely mimics the street version (see my review of the 2012 Toyota Camry SE).

Be sure to check these new models out next season starting at Daytona in February. Also, stay tuned to Zach's Auto Review for more automotive news, reviews and information.

June Meguiar's Car Pack | Forza Motorsports 4

With the new month rolling in, here is a look at the June car pack for the xbox racing game, Forza Motorsports 4. This month will be the Meguiar's car pack featuring a few fantastic cars ranging from the oldest car in the game to a brand new Mercedes.. The car pack will arrive today, June 5th, and cost 560 Microsoft Points. You can also see the trailer for the pack below.

One thing is for sure, you are guaranteed to see a Herbie car within the hour and there will be some complaining over the Cygnet.

The Cars (courtesy of

• 2011 Chevrolet #4 Corvette Racing ZR1

• 1959 BMW 507

• 1940 Ford De Luxe Coupe

• 2011 Aston Martin Cygnet

• 1958 MG MGA Twin-Cam

• 1997 Maserati Ghibli Cup

• 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series

• 1987 RUF CTR Yellowbird

• 1992 Toyota Celica GT-Four RC ST185

• 1963 Volkswagen Beetle

 

Aston Martin DBS Successor To Be Named Vanquish

The Aston Martin Vanquish Returns:

Since the Aston Martin DBS being phased out, it is time for the successor to spread its wings as it leaves the Aston Martin R&D facility on its way to Pebble Beach. The AM310 concept showed its face at Villa D'Este but we now have a clue what it will be called, the Vanquish. If that name sounds familiar to you, thats because the Aston Martin Vanquish was the DBS' predecessor and was in service until 2007. 

The car was even featured in the James Bond film, "Die Another Day." 

Look for power to come from the latest Aston Martin 6.0L V12 engine combining with light body panels designed to outperform the DBS. 

Check out the videos below for more on the Vanquish.

FedEx 400 at Dover Race Recap

Johnson with his rainbow wig in Victory Lane

Johnson and the Rainbow Wig Claim Dover

While he becomes one of the most hated and feared drivers in the sport, Jimmie Johnson cannot be ignored as one of the sports most talented driver. This week at Dover, Jimmie Johnson claimed his seventh win at Dover and third win this season (counting the All Star race). The win also put Johnson above Richard Petty and Bobby Allison for the most all-time wins at the track. This is an amazing bounce back for a driver who began the season with negative points following a terrible finish at Daytona and a points hit for "cheating."

Johnson was the dominant driver throughout the afternoon fighting only one true rival for the win: Jeff Gordon. However, Gordon had problems with a vibration in a wheel forcing him to pit and subsequently going a lap down. Gordon stayed a lap down due to an untimely (and controversial caution) for "debris" which caused him to take the wave-around. Gordon could never fight his way back and managed to finish 13th with a car that could have easily won.

All-in-all, Johnson's win came down to one thing, the hair. For those of you who did not tune in, Johnson was sporting a rainbow colored wig throughout the weekend in promotion of Madagascar 3. He was quoted as saying, "The hair really brought some speed to the team."

It is nice to see consistant success for Rick Hendrick who picked up his 200th career win as an owner back at Darlington. This race marks the fourth in a row for Hendrick including Kasey Kahne's win last week at Charlotte. It also marked a 3-4 streak for Johnson.

On another note, there was a massive 13 car wreck on lap 9 taking out Tony Stewart, Juan Montoya, and Regan Smith among others. The accident was caused by contact between Stewart and the 83 of Landon Cassill coming off the corner. Besides that, most of the cautions throughout the day were due to debris or engines spontaneously combusting.

Notable:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues his impressive season with another top five leaving him third in points.

Kurt Busch has more anger issues using another expletive as he threatened to "beat the %*&#" out of the reporting questioning him following Saturday's Nationwide race.

Tune in next week for the Pocono 400 at 1pm.

Results:

1. Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe's Chevrolet
2. Kevin Harvick #29 Jimmy Johns Chevrolet
3. Matt Kenseth #17 Best Buy Ford
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr #88 Amp Energy Chevrolet
5. Clint Bowyer #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota
6. Aric Almirola #43 Jani-King Ford
7. Martin Truex Jr. #56 Napa Toyota
8. Joey Logano #20 Home Depot Toyota
9. Kasey Kahne #5 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
10. Marcos Ambrose #9 Stanley Ford
11. Greg Biffle #16 3M Ford
12. Brad Keselowski #2 Miller Light Dodge
13. Jeff Gordon #24 DuPont Chevrolet
24. Kurt Busch #51 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet
25. Tony Stewart #14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet
26. Carl Edwards #99 Subway Ford
29. Kyle Busch #18 M&M's Toyota

Points Standings:

1. Greg Biffle #16 486 points
2. Matt Kenseth #17 -1
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 -10
4. Denny Hamlin #11 -22
5. Jimmie Johnson #48 -33