2012 Vehicles

It's an ongoing dilemma for carmakers: How long can a given model last before it needs refreshing? How long until you have to junk it altogether in favor of something completely new?  If you do decide to retire a familiar brand, you risk alienating drivers who loved the old model and there is no guarantee that new buyers will flock to its replacement. How long will it take - and how much will it cost - to build new brand loyalty? Luckily for automakers, there's a middle road: radical redesign.

The overall quality of new automobiles has improved, according to a consumer survey by J.D. Power & Associates, although complaints about complicated onboard audio, entertainment and navigation systems were on the rise. Overall, owners of 2012 vehicles reported 5% fewer problems during the first three months of ownership, compared with last year's survey. Michelle Krebs, an auto industry analyst at Edmunds.com, said the industry is paying more attention to potential problem areas.

Imagine getting fuel efficiency that reaches 40 mpg and beyond, on models that sell for thousands of dollars less than hybrids. Manufacturers have delivered just that with several new and redesigned gas-sipping rides for 2012 - many of them available for less than $20,000. In fact, much-improved gas economy is a top trend for this new model year, with Chevy and Hyundai weighing in with a handful of slick new rides in the 40-plus club. And, of course, it couldn't come at a better time.

It's an ongoing dilemma for carmakers: How long can a given model last before it needs refreshing? How long until you have to junk it altogether in favor of something completely new?  If you do decide to retire a familiar brand, you risk alienating drivers who loved the old model and there is no guarantee that new buyers will flock to its replacement. How long will it take - and how much will it cost - to build new brand loyalty? Luckily for automakers, there's a middle road: radical redesign.

Compact pickups were all the rage in the 1970s and '80s, when they were popular among young drivers, working stiffs and weekend warriors who loved their flexibility and bargain price. The bed was big enough for ladders and lawn mowers, fishing equipment or horse tack. Fit a cab to the back, toss a sleeping bag in the bed and you suddenly had yourself a camper. And if you parked it backwards at the drive-in on Friday night, you and your sweetheart could watch a movie beneath the stars.  By the 1990s, trucks had gone super-sized and compact pickups had taken a back seat to their brawny gas-guzzling big brothers.

The overall quality of new automobiles has improved, according to a consumer survey by J.D. Power & Associates, although complaints about complicated onboard audio, entertainment and navigation systems were on the rise. Overall, owners of 2012 vehicles reported 5% fewer problems during the first three months of ownership, compared with last year's survey. Michelle Krebs, an auto industry analyst at Edmunds.com, said the industry is paying more attention to potential problem areas.

Traffic deaths in 2010 fell to their lowest levels in more than 60 years, according to new data from the Department of Transportation. Safety technology in vehicles has made huge leaps in recent years and has lowered death and injury rates in collisions, analysts say. Even the base models of 2012 vehicles are now required to have anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, tire pressure sensor monitors and multiple air bags. More expensive vehicles have extra features such as backup cameras and blind-spot warning lights and alerts.

LAS VEGAS - Leveraging more than half a century as a leader in hot rod building and racing on the drag strips and lake beds of Southern California, Pomona-based So-Cal Speed Shop unveiled a souped-up 1932 Ford Roadster at the Specialty Equipment Market Assn. trade show. The company's hot rod is a slight departure from the work it usually churns out, because it wasn't built entirely in house and it isn't painted in red and white. The gold and white Roadster was designed by So-Cal's President Pete Chapouris and built in collaboration with Detroit Street Rods and Champions Moto in Costa Mesa.

Don't like your new Chevy? Take it back for a refund. In a move that makes car buying akin to shopping for shoes at Nordstrom, Chevrolet's Love It or Return It offer will allow new-car buyers to return vehicles for a full refund as long as they have fewer than 4,000 miles on them. Buyers who choose to return a vehicle will get their money back, including what they paid in sales tax on the vehicle. They will still incur some expenses such as any other taxes, licensing and registration fees and extras such as extended warranties.

LAS VEGAS - Batman has the Batmobile. Green Hornet has Black Beauty. But why did the other superheroes miss out on a flashy ride? On Tuesday, Kia Motors America and DC Entertainment changed all that. The two companies opened the Specialty Equipment Market Assn. trade show in Las Vegas by unveiling five custom cars inspired by the superhero members of DC Comics' Justice League. Photos: Highlights from the 2012 SEMA Show Each Justice League character was assigned to a specific Kia vehicle based on personality and attributes to create the five cars.

Imagine getting fuel efficiency that reaches 40 mpg and beyond, on models that sell for thousands of dollars less than hybrids. Manufacturers have delivered just that with several new and redesigned gas-sipping rides for 2012 - many of them available for less than $20,000. In fact, much-improved gas economy is a top trend for this new model year, with Chevy and Hyundai weighing in with a handful of slick new rides in the 40-plus club. And, of course, it couldn't come at a better time.

Compact pickups were all the rage in the 1970s and '80s, when they were popular among young drivers, working stiffs and weekend warriors who loved their flexibility and bargain price. The bed was big enough for ladders and lawn mowers, fishing equipment or horse tack. Fit a cab to the back, toss a sleeping bag in the bed and you suddenly had yourself a camper. And if you parked it backwards at the drive-in on Friday night, you and your sweetheart could watch a movie beneath the stars.  By the 1990s, trucks had gone super-sized and compact pickups had taken a back seat to their brawny gas-guzzling big brothers.

After recent news that Chevy would officially unveil the all-new 2014 Corvette just prior to the Detroit Auto Show in January, the company said it would periodically release details about the car before the launch. Wednesday, it started with the engine. Powering the C7 Corvette will be a 6.2-liter V-8 that will pump out 450 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 450 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 RPM. That's a gain of 20 horsepower and 26 pound-feet of torque over the current base engine.

As our weekwith the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport continues, we've noticed a number of clever little touches that bring additional functionality to an already versatile interior. Underneath the cargo floor in the vehicle's trunk is a series of hidden storage compartments that are great for holding loose objects or keeping valuables out of the way of prying eyes. Another nice trick is there is a dedicated space in the cargo floor to store the retractable cargo cover when you're not using it. This means you always have it on hand, should you need it, and don't have to leave it cluttering up your garage.