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

2012 Toyota Camry SE Review

For over a decade, the Toyota Camry has been one of the best selling cars in America and it is responsible for multiple Toyota and Lexus models including the Avalon, Highlander, ES, and RX among others. The Camry and related models control almost 50% of Toyota’s overall sales on a yearly basis making it a very important part of Toyota's sales strategy.

With the 2012 model year, Toyota has redesigned its   best seller following a strict five-year schedule. This new design continues to be a reliable, comfortable and affordable vehicle. Additionally, the 2012 model increases fuel efficiency, power and value over the previous generation making it a top competitor for the mid-size class.

The Camry that I have been testing is a 2012 SE four cylinder in magnetic grey metallic. The packages include: leather (black leather seats with grey softex insert), upgraded audio with Entune, convenience package (includes a backup camera, auto-dimming rear view mirror, HomeLink universal transceiver, anti-theft alarm, and smart key system), eight-way power adjustable seats, and power tilt and slide moonroof. The sticker for the car was $29,078.

Technical:

The four cylinder 2.5L packs 178 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque with power going to a six speed automatic transmission equipped with a manual mode. This power is good enough for a 0-60 time in the eights while obtaining an EPA estimated 35mpg highway. The new Camry has also been through a diet regimen dropping 155 pounds from the previous model. The 2.5 and 3.5 liter engines remain unchanged while the hybrid receives some modifications like an electric water pump and better high-voltage-batter control.

The Drive:

The Camry is designed to provide a comfortable, smooth ride. I feel this car checks those boxes. There is little to no wind or road noise and the ride is smooth but manages to not be floaty. The new electronic power steering system is a bit of a disappointment. There is no steering feel compared to traditional hydraulic systems and there is no on-center feel. However, considering this change is common in everything from Toyota’s to Porsche’s, it is not the biggest deal.

There are some great mechanical features for upgrading to the SE model. The package stiffens the front strut suspension, lowers the car slightly, adds a longer stabilizer bar in favor of a pliant tube design, and removes fluid filled bushings for more-rigid pillow-ball designs. This helps to increase control over the base LE Camry while adding a bit of sport to the drive.

It is very hard to have true fun in this car with all of the Toyota assists activated. I would relate it best to a catholic school nun waiting with a ruler to smack anyone acting out. Even with the stability and traction systems disabled, it is very hard to do anything more than just cruising. Even dropping the transmission into manual mode and downshifting for a pass is incredibly uneventful. On that note, the transmission in this car seems out of place with paddle shifters and a manual mode. This is not a sports sedan and it is very noticeable in manual. Shifts can be harsh and there are a few bugs in the gear selection (you always start in 4th gear even if you are stopped). The six gears, however, do contribute to the smooth drive of the car when left to its own devices. 

Design:

While some dislike the generic look of this vehicle, I personally enjoy it. It was one of the biggest selling features to me compared to the likes of Kia, Hyundai, Honda and Ford. I like the aggressive stance (especially in SE trim), angled sheet metal, and simple cues on the Camry. I also enjoy having a car blend in. I feel that this blends in very well since there are already so many new 2012 Camry’s on the road. The car also takes some design cues from NASCAR tests. Examples of this are the slight fins on the taillights and the side mirrors.

The Interior:

I personally despised the last generation Camry mainly for its interior. It seemed too cheap with heavy use of hard plastics. I had the feeling they were going for a mid-size rental car with an attempt at a Civic like interior. This newer interior is greatly improved. While there is still a lot of plastic, the materials are of higher quality. The dash has a leather effect with stitching and a well-designed control layout puts everything where you would expect it to be. There is ample room in the car and you could easily fit 5 American sized adults in the car with a carry-on suitcase for each in the trunk (the car has 15 cubic feet of trunk space with the seats up).

The SE trim adds to the fun by including a three spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated Bluetooth controls, a silver trim, and paddle shifters. The vehicle also includes a 6.1” screen for the new Entune system with navigation. Additionally you will find French stitched upholstery, more seat bolsters and a decrease in chrome accents (they look out of place on other packages).

Fuel Economy:

To begin with, fuel economy is up in the four-cylinder model by 3mpg rating it at 25 city and 35 highway. This vehicle is even obtaining better fuel economy than its baby brother Corolla where I am averaging 33 mpg highway. On another note, the V6 is also up 1 mpg to 21/30 and the revised hybrid power plant jumps from 31/35 to 43/39. The surprise is how they obtained these increases (in the fossil fuel engines). Instead of drastic modifications, Toyota has installed low-rolling resistance tires, more aerodynamic queues, taller gears and electric power steering to increase economy to compete with its competitors. As I mentioned earlier, weight is down which also benefits fuel economy considering the engines have remained the same.

Conclusion:

This is a fantastic vehicle for anyone seeking a smooth-riding car that can carry five people and still obtain highway fuel millage in the 30’s. If you are not sold on the SE, you may be interested in the hybrid model with new regenerative breaking and close to 40mpg in the real world. If you feel the stickers on the SE and hybrid are too high, you could look into the base or LE. For those looking for a bit more power, consider the 3.5L V6 SE model. If you are looking for fun, go for German or a muscle car. This is a civilized cruise vehicle.