With a new nosepiece, chrome-ringed air-intake vents, and down below, the vehicle has been equipped with a more rigid rear suspension and better power steering. Just like the previous version, the 2012 MDX is powered with 300hp and 3.7-liter V-6 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shift controls.

As on of the best in the industry, Acura’s Super-Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) can shift the power front to back as well as side to side and can even overdrive the outside rear wheel in a turn for more stability.

Some of its more internal features include:

• Tri-zone climate control
• Power moonroof
• Leather seats (front are heated/power adjustable)
• reclining second-row seat
• Remote-controlled power lift gate
• 253-watt, 8-speaker audio system (can be upgraded to 410-watt, 10-speaker)
• Technology package also complete with perforated leather seats, rear view camera, and voice recognition navigation
• Auto-leveling headlights
• Adaptive cruise control (automatically maintains a safe distance from car in front)
• active damping (adjusts the shocks according to road conditions)
• blind spot alert (warns when vehicles on either side are about to overtake the MDX)
• 16/21 mpg city/highway

This vehicle is great for families, as it can pack-in 7 passengers. It also has great head and cargo space, making the ride suitable for any riders. I’m personally excited about this new model, too, beings that the makers of Acura made this vehicle almost primarily for the sole reason of Acura drivers.

The mid-sized four-door has returned with a sticker price of about $8,000 cheaper than the 2012 model, now at  $20,800. There are a few other basic modifications too, including 3.5 more inches to the total length of the car, and the distance between the front and rear wheels had been stretched by about the same amount, which means MORE passenger room!

Volkswagen producers say that the new size of the mid-sized sedan will give North American buyers the kind of size they want and need. The outer changes are the only additions that are being considered, however. The new interior styling is inspired by the Volkswagen’s new Touareg. Clean, spacey, and without the trendy dashboard dips and swoops that competing vehicles are equipped with. The 2012 model’s power has also been changed, as VW has replaced the previous, 200-horsepower/2.0-liter/4-cylinder/turbo-charged power-plant and is now complete with a less-expensive, 170-horsepower/2.5-liter/5-cylinder/non-turbo power-plant.

The model can also come in other options, including a 280-horsepower/3.6-liter OR a 140-horsepower/2.0-liter/turbo-diesel with 43mpg on the highway.

Special features of the 2012 model include:

• automatic climate control
• cruise control
• outside temperature display
• Bluetooth short-range wireless connectivity
• Hill Climb Assist (helps keep manual-gearbox models from rolling backward when you let out the clutch on an incline)
• Leather- and walnut-trimmed interior
• 17- or 18-inch allow wheels
• Push button start
• Fog lights
• Fender Brand audio system

As someone who is already a Passat owner, this new model is exciting because it underlines all the additions/changes that I would want my Passat to have! I’m really working forward to seeing more of this vehicle

The auto show is held at the Oregon Convention Center, Thursday, January 26th through Sunday the 29th. From Thursday-Saturday, the show will be open from 10:00am-10:00pm, and on Sunday from 10:00am-7:00pm.

Tickets are $12 for adults, children ages 7-12 are $7, and children under the age of 6 are free! There is also a military and senior discount (age 62 and over) for $10/ticket. Also, don’t forget to consider costs for parking too! If you’re lucky, you can get street parking, neighboring parking lots like Burgerville or Starbucks, or you can choose to park in the Convention Center’s garage for $9.

So what kind of new and exciting things are coming this year? “Camp Jeep” will have a 30,000 square foot area with a challenging indoor test track! Also, Ford will be having a Raptor simulator that gives visitors a chance to experience their ultimate off-road performance truck. Interested in the Eco Center? They will have information from the Oregon Department of Energy, electrical contractors, and charging stations to help consumers understand how to prepare your home or business for electric vehicles! Scion, is also hoping to gain a lot of attraction with its closed outdoor course to show off its new iQ micro-subcompact.

Need a place for the kiddos? The Jeep Kids course will offer the driving tots a chance to experience Camp Jeep, (but on a more appropriate scale), with kid-sized jeeps and a climbing wall!

If you need more information, you can visit the Auto Show website here, or call 503-233-5044.

Selling 48,250 vehicles in 1986, Saab’s sales dropped to just 5,305 for the 2011 year. Saab had teamed up with the Chinese, in efforts to regain equity and loans for Saab, but General Motors refused to allow any exchange or transfers from GM’s previous files to the Chinese.

Believe it or not, Saab actually started out as an airplane company in 1937, originally named, Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, later turning into Saab. When the company transformed into the auto industry, it was decided to keep the influence of air craft on the make of the Saab vehicle. The company’s pitch stated,

“…tradition of aircraft-inspired design, independent thinking and innovation that continues to this day”.

General Motors bought Saab in 1990,  but eventually sold the company off due to lack of being able to work with the rest of GM’s lineup.

After Saab’s liquidation, GM will most likely pick up the previous patent rights and use them in their own line of vehicles.

Maybe this is where vehicles get their reputation—-from their sinister “grins” and wide-mouth “teeth”. Jettas are cute, Chargers are sophisticated, Escalades are bad-ass—Is it their faces that are getting to us?

Take, for instance, the Ford F-150 Raptor. It’s big, it’s demanding, and if it came up behind you in your rear-view mirror, you just might drive off a cliff. Besides its height and massive capacity…What is it about the design and look are intimidating? I’ll speak for myself, but I’m pretty sure it’s the huge grill and and complimentary headlights that make this machine look like a dude who’s not messin’ around.

Now, you might be thinking that this is just ridiculous, and that some people some where just need to grow up and get out of Hot Wheels land, but seriously, can’t you see it?

It’s almost thrilling, to know that our cars and trucks really can have personalities. Have you ever thought, “oh, that car fits that person so well!” Well, why is that? Because the leather resembles the person’s skin? Probably not. I’m not saying that cars “suit” their owners because their faces look alike either…But how about this Mazda3? The smiling grill makes me believe that some hot girl would own this car, being deviously sneaky but appearing to be a sweetheart.

Or how about this insane looking Mitsuoka Orochi that makes you wonder if it’s not a tarantula behind the wheel?

What are the first words that come to your mind when you see the front of this car?

Scary?

Creepy?

Gross?

Now who could you picture driving this car?

The Joker?

Willy Wonka? (if he were a serial killer)

Pennywise from It?

I think my point has been proven. What (or who) does your car resemble?

Nearly a month ago, ALG released their ‘Perceived Quality’ of automobiles results. Receiving a near-perfect score of 89.8/100 on the perceived quality rating of alternative fuel vehicles (The Perceived Quality Study, Fall 2011), Lexus triumphed over other autos in this study, with the next best score being Mercedes at 88.7.

Lexus, holding the top spot in the overall market survey, was exempt from the 2012 Perceived Quality Study of alternative fuel cars. Since it was immediately evident that Lexus ranked highly among other competitors in this study, a lot is said about the Lexus reputation and the quality that goes into their production.

The Perceived Quality Survey, (PQS), includes over 3,000 US consumer opinions of different makers in the auto industry, whom are surveyed twice a year. Eric Lyman, director of Residual Value Solutions of ALG (Residual Value Awards), explains the importance of this survey, and the consumer’s part in creating auto reputation.

“Buyer perception of a brand can dramatically affect a brand’s entire lineup, either positively or negatively.  Our PQS is powerful intelligence for the retail automotive industry, especially in the new hyper competitive landscape of alternative fuel vehicles.”

You can see the rest of the PQS news and Lexus’ success at Marketwatch.com.

It has been predicted that one of the most enticing markets for consumers to watch out for will be the auto industry. Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have been working on overtime to get their inventories back in action and stocked up after being wiped out and depleted as of February’s events.

Car company’s incentives have been rising from 37-20%, some only 8 or 6%, and some even declining their incentive spending by 2%.

The Japanese consumer incentive plans have been affecting the way domestic automakers attempt to attract more buyers. In effect, this could possibly create outstanding deals in the near future, and it’s what researchers say will happen.

For more information on this auto trend, visit CNN.com.

I was extremely surprised to find that the idea of a hybrid-style vehicle has actually been around since the 1800’s, better known as the steam car. Beginning in 1839, Robert Anderson of Aberdeen, Scotland built the first electric vehicle. Following Anderson, many car creators were mimicking the same idea, only adding little features as time went on.

Later, in 1898, German Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, at age 23, built his first car, the Lohner Electric Chaise. It was the world’s first front-wheel-drive. Porsche’s second car was a hybrid, using an internal combustion engine to spin a generator that provided power to electric motors located in the wheel hubs. On battery alone, the car could travel nearly 40 miles.

About 100 years later, after Japan and Europe had started to see more makes of hybrids, Honda released the two-door Insight, the first hybrid car to hit the mass market in the United States. The Insight won numerous awards and received EPA mileage ratings of 61 mpg city and 70 mpg highway! That kind of mileage is incredible. Toyota also released their Prius hybrid to the US soon after Honda did, and it’s been a hybrid frenzy ever since.

Now, hybrids are far from exclusive. Nearly every car company has introduced a model of a hybrid within the last couple years. Here is a list of all the companies who are currently producing hybrids:

Audi Q5
BMW ActiveHybrid X6, ActiveHybrid 750Li, & ActiveHybrid 750i
Chevy Volt
Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Hybrid
Ford Escape Hybrid & Fusion Hybrid
Honda CR-Z
Hyundai Sontata Hybrid
Kia Optima
Lexus CT 200h
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Camry Hybrid
VW Touareg Hybrid

Only a few years into the US hybrid-producing market, it will be exciting to see what comes out in the years to come!

For most of the middle, working-class, it’s hard to even fathom such a car. At least for my area of residence, the flashiest sports car I come across is a Nissan 370z or a Ford Mustang GT500, (and that’s on occasion).

Internally, the cockpit is structured with technical clarity and every little feature gains the vehicles exceptional functioning. Forget the basic analog data that most of us are used to—information is delivered via two transreflective and one transmissive liquid-crystal displays. The driver also has the ability to switch between two modes at the touch of a button – one digital, illuminated view with high tech bars and one level with classic round dials with changing color graphics. Adding to the driver’s knowledge of their jewel of a car, the G-force meter allows the driver to know the intensity of the forces acting on the Roadster under acceleration, braking and heavy cornering.

Inspired by the sleek, technical, and upscale design of aviation fighter jets, Lamborghini models are designed with superb structure that exhibit a raging level of high performance speed.

Even if investing in a Lamborghini will never be on your bucket list, it’s amazing to study and digest the precision of the maker’s vehicles.

When asked why I’d choose the Hummer H3 over any vehicle, I honestly don’t have a straight answer. Maybe it’s the thrill of feeling like you’re driving a tank. Or perhaps it’s the egotistic driver in me that sees the huge square on wheels as having total control of the road. Whatever the appeal, the massive unit would make my everyday driving a whole new experience.

Not only would I become a rougher driver, making more risks of driving off-road, but my boyfriend would most likely appreciate me on a whole new level as well.

The impressive off-road capability has and always will be Hummer’s forte… and the H3 doesn’t disappoint. Short overhangs, generous ground clearance, and massive tires make it a force to be reckoned with on rugged trails.

Although, where would I go for this kind of rigorous driving? I live in the suburbs, I work in the suburbs—I would have to do some searching for that.

So, I’ve checked off the style and fun bullets of this vehicle, but what about the safety features? Clearly, if I’m going to be doing some insane wheeling, I would need some life security in the package deal as well.

In government crash testing, the 2010 Hummer H3 scored a perfect five out of five stars for driver protection and four stars for passenger protection in frontal impact tests. Side-impact testing resulted in five-star protection ratings for both front and rear passengers. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests, the Hummer H3 earned a second-highest “Acceptable” rating in both frontal-offset and side-impact crash testing. Bravo H3.

Well, it’s the end of my fantasy, dreaming rant, and I look out the window at my horribly dirty, small, soccer-mom-style vehicle that will never do any off-road driving unless I want to bottom out my car until the pieces fall out. However, those day-dreams and fantasies are vital for our imagination and our boring lives.