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Update: 2013 Kia Rio — Transmission
Overall, the inclusion of a manual gearbox on the Rio SX is a win for enthusiasts who are looking for cheap, well-equipped, economical, and fun-to-drive transportation.
Driven: 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550
During this author’s nearly three-year tenure, we’ve had no more ostentatious of a car in the office (that’s including the Aston Martins, Ferrari, and Porsches), thanks in large part to that stealthy matte gray paint job. This is more than just a skin-deep car, though. It’s the 2013 SL550. With respect to the awe-inspiring SLS AMG Roadster, the SL is the flagship. It’s the car that comes to mind when someone says “Mercedes-Benz convertible.” And it’s an indelible sign of wealth.
Driven: 2013 Buick Encore
The 2013 Buick Encore is unlike anything the GM subsidiary has produced before. It’s tiny. Really tiny. It’s so tiny that you need to see it in person to appreciate the size of its footprint. Since it won’t be on sale for some time, this is the best we can say: its 100.6-inch wheelbase is shorter than a Mini Countryman (102.2 inches).
Driven: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi
There’s a very real chance the Ford C-Max Energi won’t be for you. Frankly, that’s okay, as this isn’t a car that’s meant to appeal to the masses (at least not yet). Instead, it’s a car for pioneer consumers—those who need to be on the bleeding edge of what’s possible in four-wheeled motivation. So while not everyone’s going to love the C-Max Energi, it’s likely to develop quite a dedicated following.
Driven: 2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe
While the natural reaction is to compare the 1-Series M Coupe to the 135i, BMW has used the original E30 M3 as the inspiration for this car. It shares proportions with the 1988 M3, being just 4.8 inches wider and 1.3 inches longer, with a wheelbase 3 inches longer. Compared to the 135, it the 1M has the same wheelbase and slightly wider track (2.8 inches in front and 1.8 inches in the rear). It’s 11 pounds lighter than the 135i, at 3362 pounds. It borrows a lot of components from the current M3, including its aluminum rear subframe and suspension, centrifugal M variable differential lock, and nineteen-inch wheels.
Video: The Onion Interviews Five-Year-Old “Fast Five” Writer
Not all of us at Winding Road have seen Fast Five yet, but we’re still thinking about it. And, some of us (well, just your author) having been accused of being five years old, the following video from The Onion has us debating whether we should give up on waiting for it to come out on DVD.
Driven: 2010 Toyota Prius
It has become almost passé to criticize Toyota products for being rather soulless, yet utterly effective, to drive. Prius, especially in the ubiquity that it has earned in its last generation, has toiled famously under the “appliance” descriptor—serving up masses of consumers with a high-mileage, low-effort driving experience. And while enthusiast-minded detractors everywhere may take issue with the very notion, the good people at Toyota Motor Corporation are well aware of their cars’ snoozing reputation and are far more willing than one might expect to create a different identity for their brand.
Driven: 2010 Kia Soul Sport
When an automaker launches a new vehicle, there’s usually a lot of corporate enthusiasm built in. All of the engineers, executives, and public relations people get really excited about their latest and greatest offering, and in turn, they hope that the automotive press feels that excitement, too. The Kia people are no different in this regard but, given the automaker’s rather bland current lineup, it’s been harder for them to sell it.
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