Automotive Einstein

I’m not one to COMPLAIN, but being an observant Jew at a car magazine has its challenges. For one, there’s one day every week, from sundown on Friday until one hour after sunset on Saturday, during which I do not drive, in honor of the Jewish Sabbath. Even if it’s a really, really cool car. I’m also limited in where I go to eat: Michigan may still be the epicenter of the U.S. auto industry, but it’s hardly a destination for kosher food.

Photo Gallery: Corned Beef and Cadillacs – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Corned Beef and Cadillacs – Automobile Magazine

I’m reluctant to parrot Toyota’s advertising, but there’s more than an ounce of truth in the “Yaris — It’s a car!” campaign. During my night with the Yaris, I verified that it does indeed have four wheels, a steering wheel, and a gasoline engine. It also has a steering column that doesn’t telescope and a four-speed automatic transmission, which were two of the key factors preventing Toyota from pursuing the alternative tagline, “It’s a competitive car!”

Photo Gallery: 2012 Toyota Yaris SE – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Toyota Yaris SE – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

Three years ago, my mother almost bought a C300 sedan but cited the fact that it “wasn’t special enough” as a deal breaker. Given the comprehensive update Mercedes gave the C-class for 2012, my mother was obviously not the only one who thought that the baby Benz could be more deserving of the three-pointed star. Simple changes like the silver, watch-like gauge faces go a long way, but the all-new interior makes all the difference. No longer is the center stack a large wasteland of black plastic; instead, it’s an artfully laid out and usable infotainment space decorated with wood trim and chrome. All of the controls come straight from the Mercedes-Benz parts bin, which is not a bad thing in this case – the same radio and climate controls from the C-class can now be found on the $130,000 CLS63 AMG test car we recently had.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 Coupe – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 Coupe – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

After years of ignoring the exploding market for pickup trucks, Honda finally in 2006 brought out its first pickup, the Ridgeline. Rather than develop a V-8 engine and a body-on-frame chassis from scratch, Honda adapted the unibody underpinnings of its Pilot SUV to create an unconventional pickup, but one that nonetheless would meet the needs of a large number of pickup buyers.

Photo Gallery: Driven: 2012 Honda Ridgeline Sport – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Driven: 2012 Honda Ridgeline Sport – Automobile Magazine

In early 2013, the Mini Paceman crossover coupe — the seventh and final body style of the current Mini — will arrive. Just six months later, the third-generation new Mini is set to debut. The new line will launch with the signature two-door hatchback, but brand expansion has firmly taken hold at Mini and the company is planning four new models to bring the full lineup to eleven vehicles.

Photo Gallery: Deep Dive: Mini’s Big Plans – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Deep Dive: Mini’s Big Plans – Automobile Magazine

I didn’t spend much time in the Beetle Turbo but it doesn’t take much time behind the wheel to appreciate VW’s spunky 2.0-liter turbo four. The turbo spools up quickly — all 207 lb-ft of torque are available at an insanely low 1700 rpm — but progressively so acceleration is instantaneous but easily controllable. My only criticism after driving the Beetle is that, like the Passat, the throttle requires a fair bit of concentration and a controlled touch to take off gradually from a stop.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

The Dodge Charger exists in a class of one. Its attitude, style, and rear-wheel drive distance it from an otherwise bland segment defined by the unexceptional Ford Taurus, Chevy Impala, and Toyota Avalon. As much as we respect the Charger’s swagger, though, we could never get past its less compelling traits — tired six-cylinder engines, sluggish transmissions, and a dour interior.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Dodge Charger SXT Plus – Four Seasons Introduction – Automobile Magazine