[Kia] Meet the all-new Carens (Rondo) Ⅰ Partnering with DreamWorks Animation, the Croods

DreamWorks Animation's The Croods Hit the Road in Kia Motors' Stylish all-new Carens.

2013 Kia Soul!

Schedule a test drive today.
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"My Kia, My Summer: Tailgating Traditions"

6/24/2013

This post is sponsored by Kia.

My mister and I have a Saturday morning tradition, which started last summer, involving a visit to the local farmer's market for coffee and incredibly spicy sausages.

It all started after our favourite farmer's market fare began to be less and less tasty, and we discovered a new delicious breakfast food -- locally made sausages from a quirky vendor. So yummy, and maybe you wouldn't think that's a great idea for breakfast, especially when paired with coffee, but we LOVE it, and now it's become a Saturday morning tradition for the entire season.

Our tradition also involves us tailgating in the back of our Kia Soul.

Sometimes we bring a picnic blanket, but most weekends we sit together in the back hatch, munching away and chatting about our plans for the rest of the weekend. Sometimes my daughter is with us, and she climbs right into the back and sits cross-legged with her snack.

Last summer we even folded all the seats down and watch iPad movies outside at night. It was like a little mini campout in the driveway!

When my partner first bought the Soul I pretty much fell in love with it. It's such a different looking car, and if I were in the market for a new car myself, I really think I'd get one too. (Are matching cars too much??)

The Soul is adorable, roomy, and fun

We've taken a lot of summertime road trips in this car, and have never once felt like we didn't have enough room for everything we needed. We also moved earlier this week and, excluding big furniture, we could fit everything into the back with the seats folded down.

I'm definitely looking forward to next weekend, for more morning tailgating... and later this month, another camping trip! We put our Kia to the test, and she's never let us down. (Time to inform my partner I just called his car a girl. But I don't think he'll mind.)

Hope you're enjoying your summer, friends! Time for one more GPO me eating a sausage. Peace!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Source: So Fawned (Blog)

It's Motivational Monday Fans! Like this post if YOU agree.

Flashback Friday! Do you remember this cartoon? Like this post.

Kia at the 2013 Vans Warped Tour -- Meet Tiffany Mink, Kia's Backstage Reporter

Kia is on tour for the sixth consecutive year as the Official Vehicle of the 2013 Vans Warped Tour. Follow us all summer long as our video blogger Tiffany Mink takes us behind the scenes.
Throughout the tour and at each stop, Warped fans have the opportunity to catch live music performances on the Kia Soul and Kia Forte main stages as well as participate in activities and events at the Kia Soul Lounge, including daily autograph signings and select acoustic sessions with We Came As Romans and Sleeping With Sirens.

Kia. Official Vehicle of the 2013 Vans Warped Tour.

Visit Concord Kia to test drive the 2014 Cadenza!

http://bit.ly/19jh3ko

Check out this 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport for Wallpaper Wednesday!

2013 Outlander Sport Sign & Drive Event. No First Payment, No security Deposit, Nothing Out of Pocket. 

http://bit.ly/14KzBZP

Kia GT concept

Sleek, stylish, and sporty are not the type of words you would describe a Kia, but the Korean automaker wants you to think about those things especially in this sedan concept called the GT at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show.

Mitsubishi Motors All-New Outlander The "Official Safety Vehicle" of the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is proud to announce that its completely redesigned 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander crossover will be the "Official Safety Vehicle" for this year's 91st running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) to be held on June 30, 2013.

With available technologically-advanced safety features including Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM),the stylish seven-passenger 2014 Outlander will represent Mitsubishi in serving as the "Official Safety Vehicle" for this annual motorsports extravaganza.

Held in the breathtaking Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the challenging Pikes Peak International Hill Climb features a unique road course that is 12.42 miles in length with 156 corners, commencing at an elevation of 9,390 feet and finishing at 14,110 feet – nearly three miles above sea level. First run in 1916, this annual event is the second oldest motor race in America after the Indianapolis 500.

In addition to its remarkable safety technology, the new 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander is available with the company's outstanding Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system that provides superior stability, traction and control – perfect for negotiating not only the many serpentine twists and turns of the Pikes Peak course but also the harsh weather and road conditions that can change in an instant along this high-elevation route.

Mitsubishi Motors will also serve as the Presenting Sponsor at the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

The legendary Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution high-performance sports sedan will also join the dynamic new 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander crossover as a supplemental safety vehicle. These vehicles were built specifically for the race with support coming from AEM®, BBS USA, Cobb Tuning, DC Sports®, Kenwood USA Corporation, and Muellerized Suspension Tuning.

In Mitsubishi Motors' debut in last year's running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, its innovative i-MiEV Evolution all-electric prototype racing car (using the identical electric motors and lithium-ion battery cells found in the 100% electric-powered Mitsubishi i-MiEV production vehicle) scored an impressive second-place finish in the Electric Vehicle Division in 2013.

This year, Mitsubishi Motors will return to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with an all-new, more powerful 100% electric-powered prototype racing car dubbed the MiEV Evolution II in a two-car assault, in the very capable hands of two-time Dakar Rally winner Hiroshi Masuoka and six-time Pikes Peak overall motorcycle champion and 2002 SCORE International off-road series champion Greg Tracy.

About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, sedans and sport utility vehicles through a network of approximately 400 dealers. In November of 2011, MMNA launched the battery-powered electric vehicle Mitsubishi i-MiEV as part of a corporate mission to offer consumers more environmentally responsible modes of transportation. This battery-powered electric vehicle technology addresses the need for vehicles that produce zero tailpipe emissions and support a growing agenda for sustainability.

Source: Mitsubishi 

Mod Masterpiece Monday!

What do you think of this Kia Track’ster Concept?

TGIF! We hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend. Like this post if you have plans for Father's Day.

Throwback Thursday!

A Commercial for the Mitsubishi Outlander featuring Télépopmusik's "Juste Breathe"

"Kia Rondo MPV 2013: Launch Review"

Kia Rondo MPV

Local Launch

Central Coast, New South Wales

What we liked:

>> Diesel engine option

>> Ride/handling balance

>> Better value, even with price hikes

Not so much:
>> Petrol engine underwhelms

>> You can't get a diesel Platinum-spec

>> Which means you can't have diesel with sat-nav

OVERVIEW

>> A compelling mix of space, standard equipment and on-road competence

With the auto industry delivering more for less with every new model, it's one confident mass-market carmaker that bumps up prices 15 per cent on a base model and close to 25 per cent on a top-spec variant in this day and age. More so on new product in an already lethargic segment.

But that's what Kia has done with its second-gen Rondo seven-seat compact people-mover. That's because the company is convinced those in search of space, style, kit-for-cash and seats for a couple of extra littlies every now and again will struggle to do better, even at the new prices.

The second-gen Rondo continues the company's brand reinvigoration with an all-new exterior, adopting the design language brought to Kia and parent company Hyundai by German designer Peter Schreyer. As the hand behind Audi's TT and Volkswagen's New Beetle, Schreyer knows that clothes maketh the car no less than the man.

With chassis engineers providing the walk to go with Schreyer's visual talk, Kia has elevated itself from daggy little sibling to its major shareholders -- first Ford, then Hyundai -- to a locus of excitement in its own right. The new Rondo carries the mantle into the MPV segment with a compelling mix of space, standard equipment and on-road competence. And it still starts below $30K, before you put it on the road, anyway.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

>> More space, more gear, more class

The makeover shakes the Rondo off its perch as Australia's cheapest seven-seater. Its three trim levels now stretch between $30K and just under $40K. Regardless of price rises, the equipment list for each demonstrates an awareness of a competitive market.

For $29,990 (plus on-road costs), base Si buyers get most of what one might expect of a $30K wagon these days, with a bit extra for competitive edge: 16-inch alloys, remote central locking, air-conditioning, power tinted windows, static cornering lights, cruise, trip computer, tilt-telescopic steering, six-speaker audio with MP3/CD player, Bluetooth with media streaming and steering wheel-mounted controls, a 11cm touch control screen, split-fold second and third row seats, folding heated wing mirrors, rear parking beepers, and a luggage screen.

The mid-spec SLi gets 17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, leather seat trim, electric driver's seat, fold-flat front passenger seat, paddle shifters, a 10.5cm colour TFT info screen between speedo and tacho, auto switching on all windows, privacy glass, front parking beepers, LED daytime runners, indicators and puddle lighting on the wing mirrors, and roof rails capable of holding up to 100kg.

A diesel engine option adds $2500 to both Si and SLi.

The top-spec Platinum bumps the alloys up (literally, it turns out) to 18-inch, also adding an electronic park brake, heated/cooled front seats, heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start, HID headlights with washers, LED tail-lights, a two-row sunroof, window blinds for the mid row, glovebox cooling and sat-nav with a 17.5cm full touch screen.

All variants get the three-way Flex Steer variable steering weight system standard -- press a small button on the wheel to switch between super-light Comfort mode for low-speed moments like parking, Normal for day-to-day urban stuff and Sport for extra weight on freeways and the like.

One issue with spec is the lack of overlap between two important options. No diesel Platinum and no sat-nav option below it means you can't get a diesel-powered Rondo with a navigation system, at least for the time being. A glance at the centre stack reveals that the infotainment units for all specs fit in the same hole. It can't be hard to serve it up as an option on Si and SLi.

The option list is limited to premium paint at $695.

MECHANICAL

>> More power for less petrol, new diesel option, and a new undercarriage

Kia has expanded the powertrain lineup, adding a 1.7-litre diesel to go with a new-generation 2.0-litre petrol. Both direct-injected, they're relatively high-tech for this end of the market, sourced from parent company Hyundai but tweaked for Kia's own purposes.

Gone is the choice of five-speed manual or four-speed auto; in their place are no-choice, six-speed autos all round.

The major news here is the oiler, a first for the Rondo. Good for 100kW from 4000rpm, it hits its 320Nm torque band at 1750rpm and stays there until 2500rpm; driving up to the Central Coast north of Sydney for the launch program, Kia's claimed 0-100km/h time of 12.0 seconds seemed pessimistic.

It's a lively performer, well matched to the auto for a bit of verve on take-off and seamless shifts through the escape from Sydney's CBD, through the long, smooth undulations of the F3 and the twists and hills of Old Pacific Highway and back roads.

With no effort on our part, our base diesel Si averaged 6.8L/100km on the run, suggesting the official figures of 6.4 combined/8.2 urban/5.4 highway aren't beyond reach with a bit of care.

On paper, the 122kW/213Nm petrol engine boasts palpable improvement in power and torque over its 106kW/189Nm predecessor. But after the oiler on the way up, the engine in our petrol-only Platinum spec didn't feel as well matched to the vehicle.

All its performance mojo comes at relatively high revs, with peak torque arriving at 4700rpm. But it felt asthmatic by comparison. At 10.8 seconds, the official 0-100km/h sprint time is more than a second better, but it doesn't feel it. Pedalling it a bit on the mostly-freeway ride back to Sydney, with the last 30 kay in afternoon traffic, we averaged a creditable 8.9L/100km, again meaning the 7.9 combined/10.6 urban/6.3 highway official figures are pretty realistic.

Aided by a 64 per cent improvement in torsional rigidity, the rejigged front MacPherson struts and an all-new torsion beam rear end work to the benefit of ride and handling, road noise and steering. The Rondo is better insulated from rough surfaces than its predecessor, at least in lower specs -- the Platinum's 18-inch rims make themselves felt and heard at times.

PACKAGING

>> Smaller and better formed outside, bigger indoors

Predictably for an MPV, packaging is the revised Rondo's forte. Outdoors, Kia has given it a more carlike demeanor than its predecessor: it's 20mm shorter, 15mm slimmer and 40mm lower. But the cab-forward design has allowed them to parlay an extra 50mm of wheelbase into decent legroom for up to five adults, helped by fore-aft adjustment for second-row seats.

With no ventilation and very limited legroom, the third row is skewed towards short-haul duties for kids.

An exceptionally versatile layout with a 35:30:35 split-fold mid-row and 50:50 third row makes for 64 different interior configurations, Kia says. All mid and rear seats fold flat, along with the front passenger seat in SLi and Platinum variants. The third row goes into the floor when it's not needed.

Cargo space varies from 103 litres with all three rows of seats in use, through 492 litres with the third row down and 1650 litres with the second-row seats down. Drop the front passenger seat in up-spec variants and it goes over 2000 litres, with room for long loads like planks or surfboards.

Neat storage touches abound, starting with a decent-sized glove box, centre box and console tray; mid-row passengers also get fold-out tray tables with built-in cup-holders (i.e. holes). All door pockets take drink bottles while two storage bins under the mid-row floor make useful hidey holes for things like iPads. There's also a storage spot under the boot floor for the cargo screen when it's not in use.

The cockpit is classy for the money, especially in up-spec models, although the plastics get a bit cheap in less visible places.

The switchgear's busy, but the ergonomics are decent. Pairing a Samsung S3 was a bit tedious, but that's not unique to Kia. The front seats are comfortable and we found a comfy driving position with ease. Visibility is good all round.

SAFETY

>> Nothing radically missing, nothing radically new

Kia serves up the panoply buyers expect in this price bracket without threat to safety pioneers like Mercedes-Benz and Volvo. All specs get six airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and impact sensing auto-door unlock.

Downstairs is an industry-standard suite of chassis and brake electronics: anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist; stability and traction control, and vehicle stability management.

Every model gets headlights that look round corners, rear-view cameras of varying image size and clarity, hill-start and park assistance.

No crash testing has occurred as yet, but at the launch event, Kia Australia execs told media the company is confident the Rondo will earn a spot on the five-star podium. ANCAP gave the superseded model four stars.

COMPETITORS

>> Upwardly mobile in its niche

Where the old Rondo 7 sat at the bottom of its niche for price and pizazz, the newcomer is a clear expression of upward ambition.

After a period of dormancy, the MPV segment appears to have found some resurgence. Kia execs put this down to the threat of fuel price rises. This niche is all about how many people you can cart round affordably.

The Rondo was launched hot on the heels of Fiat's Freemont (from $25,990 plus on-road costs), the Italian giant's cut-price take on recent acquisition Chrysler's Dodge Journey ($32,400 plus on-road costs).

Even at the base end of the Kia lineup, Nissan serves up a compelling alternative in its Dualis +2 from $31,190 (plus on-road costs).

Later this year, GM will re-launch the Zafira MPV Down Under, this time as an Opel rather than a Holden, and very likely with a sub-$40K starting price tag to compete with Honda's ageing Odyssey ($37,100 plus on-road costs).

At that end of the price scale, you might also consider the unloved six-seat Subaru Liberty Exiga ($37,990 plus on-road costs).

ON THE ROAD

>> Smarter than your average people mover

On the road, it's not hard to sense the benefits of the new model's mix of smaller exterior, longer wheelbase, lower centre of gravity, improved rigidity and overhauls to drivetrain and undercarriage.

For a vehicle of its ilk, the Rondo is a taut handler, its structural integrity presenting in a supple ride, competent handling, low road and wind noise. It's relatively sure-footed and free of body roll through corners, although you hardly feel compelled to stretch the friendship.

The diesel is the pick of the two engines, expressing its compatibility with its gearbox in an intuitive ease and smoothness, rendering manual shifting virtually redundant.

The petrol engine is competent for a light MPV's purposes, but I have no doubt it would feel the strain under a full load of people. Peak torque comes too far up the tacho for comfort, taking its toll in NVH -- something exacerbated downstairs by the Platinum's thin-soled 18-inch wheels, with no payoff in handling.

Flex Steer is a relatively rudimentary system that proves there's more to steering feel than weight. Geometry and responsiveness remain unchanged through all modes, making it useful in car parks, but limiting its value for those looking to make the most of a decent ribbon of back road.

One of our test vehicles' brakes were effective but a bit grabby at times. But as a new car, it deserves the benefit of the doubt. A couple of thousand more kays and it'll probably be right.

Overall? Such is the chasm between old and new that Kia's price hikes on the Rondo shouldn't elicit a fuss. The only surprises for the money are pleasant ones.

Source: Motoring.com 

Add some Soul to your desktop this Wallpaper Wednesday!

Max & Annie On the Road in the All-New 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander - Monument Valley.

Max and Annie reach their next destination on their road trip—Monument Valley, Utah. To the rescue for a couple exhausted hikers is comfort within the all-new 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander.

The Kia Forte Techathlete Games.

The Kia Forte Techathlete Games: a tongue-in-cheek test of tech talent where players compete in a series of games to prove that they're worthy of the futuristic Forte.

There are five games in total: Type-Wondo, Gymnas-Clicks, 100m Headles, Sla-La-La-Lom, and Gy-Row-Scope. Each game requires the player to master a different piece of tech equipment (the webcam, the mic, the smartphone, the keyboard and the mouse) and highlights a different feature of the Forte, drawing attention to its many cutting-edge gadgets and state-of-the-art gizmos.

To play, visit www.techathletegames.com

Thank you for this 5 Star Review!

"The dealership is small and had a nice "family" feel to it."
http://edmu.in/14v03GD

How To Survive the Top 10 Driving Emergencies.

To earn a private pilot's license, one must show proficiency in overcoming emergency situations. But a motorist gets a license by demonstrating little more than a well-executed three-point turn and parallel parking. The first time a typical driver is truly asked to demonstrate accident-avoidance expertise, lives are on the line.
In this three-part series, I'll offer tips on how to survive driving emergencies. These I learned — often the hard way — as a racecar driver, vehicle and tire tester, and high-performance driving instructor.
In this first part, I'll explain how to survive tire failures and stuck throttles. In Part 2, we will tell you how to make an emergency stop and how to drive around an emergency with the help of ABS. Part 3 will explain what to do if you run off the road and will also teach you how to manage sliding front tires or skidding rear tires. And if you think you already know how to handle these emergencies; trust me — you don't.
Emergency #1: Tire Blowout
To survive a tire blowout, pretend you're the bad guy in a police chase: Push the gas and drive straight ahead. The shotgun-blast noise of a tire blowout makes most law-abiding drivers do exactly the wrong thing: attempt to slow down quickly and get off the road. With a rear-tire failure, any turning at high speed will likely result in a crash.
I've taught hundreds of drivers how to correctly handle a tire blowout: I sat in the passenger seat and exploded a gaping hole in the tire with plastic explosive. Not one lost control. Here's how they did it.
If a tire blows:

• Squeeze the gas pedal for a couple of seconds. This puts you in control of the car and directs the car straight down the road. It also prevents you from committing the mortal sins of braking and turning. After a couple of seconds, gently and smoothly release the accelerator pedal. The drag force of a completely flat tire is so potent that pushing the gas will not allow the vehicle to go faster.
• Most importantly, drive straight down your lane. Keep your feet away from the brake (or clutch).
• Allow the car to coast down to as slow a speed as is safe (30 mph is good). Engage your turn signal and gently turn toward the shoulder of the road that's on the same side as the blown tire: This lessens your chance of losing control and will make the tire change safer. If the situation requires, you may ever so lightly squeeze the brakes.

Almost all highway blowouts and tread separations occur with the car traveling in a straight line on a very hot day at high speeds with an underinflated tire. The repeated flexing of an underinflated tire causes the failure. Check your tire pressures!
Emergency #2: Tread Separation
Though the recovery techniques are nearly identical, a tread separation is more dangerous than a blowout. This is where the tread rubber and underlying steel belt partially or completely come off the tire. This creates a giant Weed Eater with a blade of steel-backed rubber spinning around at about 1,000 rpm. It'll scythe through the fuel tank, brake lines, inner fender panels, rear seats, side windows and, of course, flesh and bone.
An impending tread separation is usually announced by a consistent thumping noise, which will increase to a slapping sound, and then a metal-tearing jackhammer pounding. Sometimes this process takes days, other times only seconds. If you hear this, immediately slow down and take the tire to a professional for inspection. If you can see damage, put on the spare before proceeding.
If the tread begins to fly off:

• Squeeze the gas pedal for an instant and gently release it.
• Drive straight down your lane.
• Allow the car to coast down as much as is safely possible. You will likely have to apply the brakes lightly in order to reach a safe turning speed.
• Engage your turn signal and smoothly turn toward the shoulder of the road that's on the same side as the damaged tire.

Another reason why tread separations are more dangerous than blowouts: When the tread leaves the tire, the bad noise stops and some people think the car has magically cured itself. But instead of rolling along on grippy rubber, they're riding on fabric. Polyester will offer little grip when they take that next freeway off-ramp.
Emergency #3: Stuck Throttle
Thanks to things like loose floor mats and a poorly placed racecar throttle cable, I have experienced stuck throttles. Although this will be a rare occurrence for most drivers, if your engine starts racing away uncontrollably, it must be stopped immediately.
Take these actions:

• If the engine started racing when you pushed the brake, release the brake. If the engine stops racing, you were actually pushing the gas by mistake.
• Put the transmission in Neutral (and/or push in the clutch). Don't worry about the engine when you shift into Neutral: Engine speed limiters on modern cars will prevent damage. And it's OK if you get Reverse: The engine will either stall or act as if it were in Neutral.
• If you can't get Neutral, switch off the ignition as a last resort. Today's cars don't allow the key to turn to the locked position if the car is not in Park, and the car will be much harder to steer once the engine is off since the power-assist will not be working. Fortunately, with the engine off, there's still plenty of reserve braking power to stop the car. Of course, if the car is equipped with a newfangled keyless ignition, getting Neutral may be your only hope.

If you're a passenger in this situation and the driver fails to act, you can reach over and put the car in Neutral or switch off the engine. But to have any hope of acting properly with a stuck throttle, both driver and passenger must practice first. Find a training partner and an empty parking lot. First practice with the car stopped, just to make sure you know the drill. Move the shift lever from Drive to Neutral. Then turn the key off. Next, restart the car and accelerate to no more than 10 mph, then push the gas pedal to the floor (to simulate a stuck throttle) and hold it there through the rest of the exercise. Immediately, put the car in Neutral and switch off the key. Repeat the process but with the passenger working the shifter and key while you're still in the driver seat. Then, swap seats and repeat.
Emergency #4: Sudden Acceleration
Also called "unintended acceleration," this is identical to a stuck throttle...except it's not a mechanical failure but rather the driver accidentally pressing on the gas. As an instructor, I have had numerous panicked students push the gas in the mistaken, but unshakable, belief they were on the brakes. (Left-foot brakers more familiar with automatics frequently push the clutch.)
Know this: In every well-maintained modern car, the brakes will easily overpower the engine. If you're truly pushing the brakes as hard as you can, the car will stop even with the engine going full speed.
The corrective actions for sudden acceleration and a stuck throttle are identical. Check the list above.


Coach Tom was a stereotypical high school driver's ed teacher. But with one exception: He had a mean streak. When we made a driving mistake, he hit us on the head with a screwdriver handle. While we were driving. When we returned to the classroom, he hit us with a paddle: Imagine a from-the-heels stroke from a guy with biceps better than my leg. While showering after phys ed, everyone knew who'd gotten a Coach Tom whack by the purple streak, punctuated by dots, across their bottoms. The dots were from the holes he drilled in the paddle — to reduce air drag.
Although I've used corporal punishment in my years as a driving instructor, I sometimes think of Coach Tom when I'm teaching students to perform a successful crisis stop. Whether your car has antilock brakes, it's important that you know exactly what to do in an emergency stop situation. Get it right and you'll probably avoid an accident. Get it even a little bit wrong and you'll be getting intimate with another vehicle or a ditch.
Emergency #5: Crisis Stop, Without ABS Without an antilock brake system (ABS), a good emergency stop requires a deft touch. You still must push the brake pedal hard, but not so hard that you skid the tires. Your goal: Be an organic version of ABS and bring the tires to the point they've almost stopped rolling. If they completely stop, grip drops precipitously and you must release brake pressure until the tires start rolling and then reapply brake pressure. Remember, if you lock the brakes, the car will not steer at all. In this situation, many drivers turn the wheel completely to the right or left: If they release the brake before the car comes to a stop, it will dart whichever way the wheels are pointed.
To practice: Find an empty parking lot. Start moving. Now squeeze the brake pedal. Increase the pressure until you hear just the barest hint of tire squeal. It's a "squeal of delight" and signals the tires are very close to their peak grip. But if the tires howl like a dog in pain, they've stopped rolling and grip has dropped. Release and reapply the brakes.
In an actual emergency, if you can't keep a non-ABS car at the squeal-of-delight level, you'll stop quicker with the howling dog-release-howling dog process than if you fail to push the brake pedal hard enough.
Without extensive practice, braking while turning without ABS is like taking a double black diamond ski slope: It can be done well only by those with skill and experience. But it's difficult and expensive: You will tear up tires and you may lose control. Many rental cars lack ABS: You take it from there.
Emergency #6: Crisis Stop With ABS If your car has ABS and you face a road-blocking emergency, here's what you do:

• Stomp the brake pedal to the floor. Kick it as if you're trying to snap it off.
• Stay hard on the pedal until the car comes to a complete stop. Hold the brake pedal to the floor as if you were pinning the head of an angry rattlesnake.

Practice before the actual emergency: Find a dead-end street or an empty parking lot. Start at a low speed, say, 25 mph. Stomp and Stay. The first time, you will almost certainly not push the brake hard enough, nor will you stay on the pedal until the car comes to a complete stop. The complete stop is important. Do it again at higher speeds. Ignore bad noises. Other than slightly accelerated brake and tire wear, you're not hurting the car. (I had one student run off the road because she wouldn't push the brake pedal hard enough: "I was afraid of skidding," she said. "You'd rather crash than skid?" I asked. Where's Tom's screwdriver?)
Emergency #7: Accident Avoidance Maneuvers Using ABS There's a third "S" that goes with ABS's "Stomp and Stay." It's Steer (around the obstacle). One of the great benefits of ABS is that it allows you to steer even while pushing hard on the brake. In radically oversimplified terms, it transfers a little bit of the tire's braking power into turning potential.
But a little bit of steering goes a very long way, and many drivers way overdo this part. I've had numerous students turn the wheel completely in one direction. The problem is that the instant the driver releases the brake pedal, the front tires are relieved of their braking duties and have 100 percent cornering power available, which sends the car into oncoming traffic or off the road.
Here's your parking lot practice mission: Set up a row of water-filled plastic soda bottles perpendicular to your path. If you have ABS, stomp the pedal to the floor, stay hard on the pedal and try to steer around them. It's simple and fun as well.


In this final installment, I'll tell you how to react to and recover from common driving mishaps, including dropping two wheels off the road and a front- or rear-tire slide. Although such incidents occur frequently in normal driving situations — especially on roads beset by heavy traffic or hazardous weather conditions — many people don't know what to do in the moment, and the results can be grisly. Your best line of defense is knowledge and experience.
Emergency #8: Dropping Two Wheels off the Road This should be the easiest to handle of the 10 emergency situations, yet it results in a large number of fatalities each year. The answer is as easy as this: If you drop two wheels off the road, don't be in a hurry to get back on the pavement.

• Smoothly remove pressure from the gas pedal. Stay away from the brake pedal unless it can't be avoided (e.g., if you're headed downhill or there's an upcoming obstacle). Here's where ABS would be worth its weight in hundred-dollar bills.
• Drive parallel to the road: Allow the car to coast down to, say, 35 or 40 mph.
• Gently turn the wheel a very small amount: If you have to turn more than 5 degrees, you're going too fast. Let the car slow down more.
• If you face an obstacle, brake harder but don't try to reenter with more than 15 degrees of steering. The reason: If you have to turn the wheel, say, 45 or 60 degrees to get back on the pavement, the front tires will fully regain traction before the rears and either you'll spin out — likely hitting what you were trying to avoid — or shoot across the road into other traffic.

I once ran completely off a racetrack at 110 mph in an important turn. I straightened the steering up and allowed the car to slow down a bit. And I eased it back over onto the pavement. That mistake could have been tragic, but instead it cost me less than one second.
Even the curves you'll find on interstate highways need only the grip from two tires to stay firmly planted on the road.
Emergency #9 Front-Tire Slide Manufacturers work hard to make their cars lose front traction before rear grip. When front tires lose grip, most drivers' natural reaction is the correct reaction; that is:

• Say "Oh, fudge" (or similar) and have your adrenal gland increase your heart rate.
• Remove your foot from the gas pedal (and stay away from the brake pedal).
• Leave your hands where they are. More steering won't help and might hurt.
• Wait for the traction to return.
• Pray that the grip comes back before you get to the trees or concrete barriers.

Turning the wheel more or stepping on the brake is like writing additional checks from an already overdrawn account: You're already asking for more grip than the tires can provide. But something bad can happen if you turn the wheel more and the traction suddenly returns. Let's say it was a narrow strip of ice. On the other side of the ice, the road is barely even damp. The tires now have plenty of grip. And they think you just asked them to make a very hard left into oncoming traffic. "Yes, sir!"
Emergency #10: Rear-Tire Slide Words can no more teach you how to catch a rear-tire slide (stock car drivers call it "loose") than videos can teach you how to hit a curveball. Unlike a front-tire slide, you cannot successfully react to a rear-tire slide; you must anticipate it. If you don't anticipate it, you will spin out.
Then, you must act appropriately, putting in the correct amount of countersteering, anticipating the return of rear traction and removing the precise amount of countersteer at the correct rate. In driver's ed, Coach told you to turn in the direction of the skid. Did he ever say that at some point you've got to unwind the steering? Didn't think so.
There are a few moderate-cost ways to learn how to catch a sliding tail. The biggest bang for the buck is the "slick track" go-kart tracks found at many fun parks. The next step up is the indoor kart tracks found in most metro areas. When you're among the fastest drivers around the track, you're probably adequate when it comes to catching a rear-tire slide. A rear-drive car and a snow-covered parking lot also offer potential for practice — along with an equal chance for the cops to come visiting.
Third would be doing the skid-pad course at a performance driving school. Lots of terrific practice under professional guidance, but it's lots of money, too.
On the highway, though, no "Bs" are given for catching a sliding tail: There are either "As" or "Fs."
Here's my recommendation for those who can't get enough practice, to enable them to always perfectly deal with the loss of rear traction: The instant a rear slide makes you say "Oh, shoot" (or similar), pound the brake pedal to the floor and hold it there until the car comes to a complete stop. Then, count to three before proceeding. If you release the brakes before you've come to a complete stop — even if you're traveling but 5 mph — your car is going to go whichever way the tires are pointed, and that may cause you to hit something you just avoided.
Racecar fans have often seen a driver spin out at 175 mph and miraculously miss the wall, but while going no more than 25, release the brakes and smash into the wall or another car. This means the driver lost track of which way the steering wheel was pointed.
If you haven't gotten the message already, each of these tips on how to successfully survive a driving emergency must be practiced to be properly employed. For each, we've offered low- (or no- ) cost tips on how to get some training.
Here's an affordable way to practice most of these tips at once: Car-club autocrosses, also called Solo II. These are low-speed (less than 60 mph) one-car-at-a-time, against-the-clock competitions usually held in parking lots. The only things to hit are plastic traffic cones. Any well-maintained street car is eligible and entry fees are typically less than $50. (Check out the Sports Car Club of America for more.) Some clubs will loan helmets to first-timers and many hold free or low-cost driving schools.
While autocross won't hurt your car other than slightly accelerated brake wear, it will tear up your tires. You could wait until you need new tires to enter an event. To enable my children to practice the tips, I bought a set of "take-off" steel wheels on eBay for $75 and picked up a cheap set of tires.
While not inexpensive, the amount I spent on my teenagers' hands-on education was but a fraction of the cost of bodywork, much less hospital bills. And I sleep better at night with the knowledge that they know how to deal with common driving emergencies.

Source: Edmunds 

Is Kia working on a sporty convertible? Like this post if you think this is a good idea.

Mitsubishi Motors Reports 79 Percent Increase for Outlander Sport Sales in May.

Mon, Jun 03, 2013 - CYPRESS, Calif. -

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) today reported the U.S.-built Outlander Sport achieved a year-over-year sales increase of more than 79 percent in May.
The 2,226 units sold is the second-highest-ever total of Outlander Sport sales in a month and marks the ninth consecutive month of sales increases for the fuel-efficient CUV.  Outlander Sport sales are up more than 48 percent year to date.
"Outlander Sport continues to lead an increase in traffic to our dealer showrooms," said MMNA President & CEO Yoichi Yokozawa. "This attractively priced CUV is appealing to many customers looking for a crossover with high fuel-efficiency and outstanding safety features."
Outlander Sport recently received a "Top Safety Pick PLUS" designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).  Outlander Sport was one of only two vehicles in the Small SUV category to receive IIHS’ new and highest accolade for vehicles that offer superior crash protection and meet new, tougher crash safety standards.
"We will carry this positive momentum through the summer selling season with increased network television advertising and the introduction of our all-new 2014 Outlander," Yokozawa added.
Lancer sales were also up, more than 15 percent for the month compared to the prior year and more than 43 percent year to date.
Sales of Mitsubishi models currently in production were up more than 31 percent compared to May 2012.  However due to discontinued models, total overall Mitsubishi sales were down 15 percent.

Source: Mitsubishi Media 

Max & Annie On the Road in the All-New 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander - Breckenridge.

Max and Annie's all-new 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander is ready for anything. See their adventure through Breckenridge, Colorado on their road trip.

Kia Cadenza "Impossible to Ignore"

You know that girl you didn't notice in high school? Well, she's back, and now she's sexy and sophisticated. A lot like the all-new 2014 Kia Cadenza. Watch what happens when this woman drives through the streets of New York and returns to her high school reunion. Let's just say that, like the Kia Cadenza, she's impossible to ignore.

Impossible to Ignore. All-New 2014 Kia Cadenza.

David Bowie -- "Let's Dance (Remix)"

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