Cars.com Reviews the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Though the Outlander Sport is selling well, Cars.com has never been a fan of Mitsubishi's compact SUV. Its loud, slow engine really annoys. Tweaks to its powertrain for 2012 improved things, according to Cars.com Managing Editor Dave Thomas, but only slightly and not enough to bring it up to the level of its class competitors. 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Review   from KickingTires http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/

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Moody’s: GM Deal Turns PSA Into Junk

GM and PSA praised monstrous synergies and annual cost savings of $2 billion a year as an effect of the alliance that was announced yesterday. The savings won't come immediately, rather in about 5 years from now. Moody's thinks it's a bad deal, and did cut PSA's debt rating to junk status. Moody's Investors Service lowered Peugeot's rating to Ba1, the highest so-called "speculative" grade with a negative outlook. Moody's reasoning, according to Reuters: The cost of implementing the alliance will hurt Peugeot's earnings in the short term, the agency warned, and cooperation may not produce the savings expected later. "Moody's notes that past mergers and alliances in the automotive industry have often not resulted in the anticipated competitive advantage and improved performance," it said. from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

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School Carpool Lanes are a Danger Zone

Driving through my daughters' school carpool lane twice a day, I'm shocked to see the disregard parents have for their children's safety while under the perceived safety net of the school zone. Parents allow their kids to unbuckle their seat belts and hang their bodies out of the car windows to wave to their friends, stand up in the sunroof to greet their buddies, climb into the cargo space to wave at the cars behind them and get into the front seat — remaining unbuckled — to chat with Mom or Dad. I've even seen a child sitting on Mom's lap while "helping" her steer through the school's carpool lane. Can you imagine the horror if the driver of the car behind them was distracted for a minute by a phone call and hit the car with the "child driver," causing the airbag to inflate? I'd hope that common sense would tell most of us that if the car is moving — even if only at a stop-and-go rate — there's a danger of getting into a collision. All the same safety rules that we adhere to while going 70 mph on the highway should also apply while in a school zone or carpool lane. Unfortunately, a recent study shows than many of us are lacking this common sense. A recent SafeKids USA Coalition study observed drivers in 20 school zones across 15 states, including my state of Colorado. The study found that one in six school-zone drivers were distracted. The main distractions seen were cellphone/electronics, eating/drinking/smoking, reaching/looking behind, grooming and reading. School zones with a decreased speed limit showed a higher percentage of distracted drivers than school zones without one. This just proves that many parents think slowly pulling through the carpool lane gives them license to loosen up their usually sharp judgment. This study didn't account for other typical distractions such as a parent's emotional/mental state (flustered after your hubby just called to tell you he's running late and will miss the science fair this year .... again?) or cognitive distractions like listening to the radio or trying to ignore an irrational toddler in the backseat. According to a 1995 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study, 18% of crashes in urban areas occurred when a vehicle that was stopped or in the process of stopping was struck from the rear. Unfortunately, school zones and carpool lanes are not immune from this statistic. It's a potentially deadly oversight for parents to think their kids are invincible while driving through the carpool lane and slacking off on all the usual safety rules we'd implement in the car at any other time. What crazy driving behaviors do you witness in your kids' school zones or carpool lanes, and what do you do to try to protect your own kids from other parents' poor choices? from KickingTires http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/

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VW GTI Cabriolet Not Coming to U.S.

This probably won't come as much of a surprise since the U.S. never got a version of the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet when it went on sale last year in Europe, but the GTI Cabriolet also is not coming here, says Volkswagen spokesman Corey Proffitt. To be announced next week at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, the GTI Cabriolet is a two-door open-top version of the high-performance GTI we have in America. The cabriolet packs a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission and features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Volkswagen says zero to 62 mph happens in 7.3 seconds, which is no better than the Volkswagen Eos' acceleration. The only big difference between the Eos and the GTI Cabriolet seems to be its ground effects and the fact that the GTI has a cloth top rather than the Eos' standard hardtop. from KickingTires http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/

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Name That Car Clock: VDO Analog With Fuel and Temperature Gauges

Yesterday, we saw a majestic Cartier chronometer out of a '76 Lincoln Continental Mark IV, which was a pretty easy call for many of you. Today's NTCC contestant should be a little more difficult, though it should be an obvious call to certain single-marque-obsessed types. Make your guess, then make the jump to see what it is. Year/make/model? 1984 Volkswagen Golf Wolfsburg Edition The VDO name indicates that it's probably from something European, and the built-in gas and temp gauges smack of VW-ness. It's a bit subdued for the mid-1980s, but VW never went for Mitsubishi-grade wild gauges. Did you get it right? If not, what did you think it was? from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

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Hyundai i-oniq Concept: A Hatchback for Hyundai’s Future [Geneva Auto Show]

This is the Hyundai i-oniq concept, a hatchback that provides a possible glimpse into the Korean brand's stylistic and technological future. It's set to appear at the 2012 Geneva auto show. Keep Reading: Hyundai i-oniq Concept – Auto Shows from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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Citroën DS3 Racing Limited Edition Honors Rally God Sébastien Loeb

The Citroën DS3 is one of our favorite Euro-market B-segment cars, and its Racing variant—powered by a 204-hp, 1.6-liter turbo four—is the ultimate DS3. Painted in white/gray or black/orange, the regular Racing cuts a jaunty, rally-themed figure. That makes sense, of course, as the DS3 competes in the World Rally Championship. The car's only real issue is that just 2000 examples have been built, and they are all spoken for. Until now. Citroën is adding another 200 units in the form of the DS3 Racing S. Loeb, named in honor of 38-year-old French rally driver Sébastien Loeb, the virtually unbeatable, eight-time defending champ who pilots a DS3 in the World Rally Championship. There are no changes to the mechanicals or the numbers: The DS3 Racing S. Loeb reaches 62 mph in 6.5 seconds and tops out at 146 mph. The matte-black paint; bright red roof, mirrors, and dashboard; and Loeb roof graphics are what distinguishes this version. There is no price yet. We wouldn't be surprised if Citroën adds further limited editions later; demand for the DS3 Racing has already exceeded supply to a remarkable extent. Will Americans ever see the DS3 in any form? There isn't even the faintest prayer. Citroën is light years away from re-entering the U.S. market, but we can get close to the DS3 Racing with the Mini John Cooper Works, which is powered by the same basic engine. The Citroën's character, however, is more resolutely modern—so much so that the car is advertised as the "anti-retro" choice in Europe. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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