Posts tagged Denver Auto Show Special

It's the 2011 Denver Auto Show Special with host Jann Scott. We look at a large selection of new car, trucks, SUV's, crossover and more on the floor, in search of great cars to buy and what new innovations the auto manufacturers are starting to include in their vehicles in order to compete with the new green movement. Some of the Automotive groups we explore are Acura, Jeep, Chevy, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Kia, Nissan, Toyota and VW as well as fancy rides by Aston Martin, Mercedes, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, and Lotus for you education and entertainment.[READ|SHARE]

The VW Jetta Sports Wagon is pretty much in a class of its own. It's is a great alternative to a variety of vehicles, thanks to its versatility and available diesel engine. Pros: Cavernous cargo space, stellar fuel economy with TDI, upscale cabin, comfortable seats, refined ride, good iPod interface. Cons: TDI's premium price.[READ|SHARE]

We learn from a Toyota Spokesman about the new Toyota Prius Plugin Hybrid how the new plugin feature increases the range on the vehicle in electric mode and is a giant leap forward for electric and hybrid cars.[READ|SHARE]

The Nissan Leaf is an electric car with great in town commuting car, however it's not available for production quite yet and there's huge waiting lines for when it is. With the Nissan Leaf, a real (and realistically priced) electric car is finally here. Pros: No more gas stations, spacious, quiet cabin, snappy acceleration, intelligent navigation system. Cons: Limited cruising range, limited recharging points, home charger is a necessity.[READ|SHARE]

The 2011 Kia Soul brings hipster styling and a fun-to-drive nature to the realm of the practical hatchback. Pros: Loads of available features, highly customizable, user-friendly controls, ample passenger space, surprisingly fun to drive, low price, long warranty. The Kia Soul receives a few improvements for 2011, with new rear shock absorbers and standard rear disc brakes (replacing last year's rear drums) being the most notable. Other minor changes include new door handles, push-button start, a trip computer and heated outside mirrors. Kia's engineers also managed to infuse the Soul with peppy engine performance (at least on the upper[READ|SHARE]

The Kia Forte Coupe is a concept car used in Kia's kinetics sports team and shows us what's possible with this sporty car.[READ|SHARE]

Honda CR-ZA sport hybrid concept car with 3 models Hard-core enthusiasts will likely be disappointed, but somebody just looking for a sporty two-door with good fuel economy will likely be pleased with the 2011 Honda CR-Z. Pros Nimble size and handling, quick steering, good fuel economy, sporty looks. Con Poor rearward visibility, most competitors have backseats, missing a few upscale features. A sporty hybrid, at first glance, the 2011 Honda CR-Z might seem a bit oxymoronic. After all, Americans expect their hybrid cars to be purely about fuel economy, with flowers, rainbows and unicorns coming out of the tailpipe. But[READ|SHARE]

For 2012 after a very long wait, American buyers finally get a world-class small car from a Detroit label. The 2012 Ford Focus is the segment's new benchmark. Pros: Nimble handling, refined ride, stylish and well-made interior, lively engine, smart automatic transmission, abundant list of upscale and high-tech options. Cons: Backseat is a little short on legroom, infotainment controls can be finicky to learn and use.[READ|SHARE]

We'll have to wait and see about its reliability, but the 2012 Fiat 500 is yet another stylish subcompact that proves that small can be cool. Pros: Adorable styling, highly customizable, fuel-efficient, surprisingly spacious for two people. Cons: Wait-and-see reliability, limited dealer network, less cargo room than rivals, cramped for four people. There was once a car so small it made the Mini seem like a Big. A car so cute the animators of the movie Cars did little to transform one into the adorable “Luigi.” A car that if you saw one on the streets, you'd swear it was[READ|SHARE]

The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is mostly electric with a gas motor however it's not available in Colorado yet. The 2011 Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid is arguably the most fuel-efficient car on the market, but it's pricey for what you get. Pros Low monthly fuel cost in normal driving; useful 300-mile maximum range; appealing standard features; high-tech cabin. Cons Questionable value; small backseat for two people only; touchy brakes; no power front seats; home charger is a necessity. Here's the long and short of it: The Volt is a four-seat, four-door “series-parallel plug-in hybrid” hatchback with a lithium-ion battery pack that[READ|SHARE]