2011 Toyota Sienna — Flash Drive

View Pictures:  2011 Toyota Sienna

Toyota's 2011 Sienna is one nice people-mover. Thanks to its large and wide body, it is able to carry two adults and four children comfortably. There isn't a lot of cargo room, though, unless the rear seats are folded down, which of course limits passenger capacity. The hidden rear storage area helps, but not enough. Around town, I found the Sienna a pleasure to drive. But due to its size, it was a tight fit in my garage. Fuel economy was decent; I was able to achieve 20 mpg in mixed driving. You should definitely look at the Sienna if you are considering a minivan purchase. –Joe Chulick

The significantly revamped Toyota Sienna is a great minivan. It significantly raises the level of competition in a category that already has many great options. The Sienna is bigger than most minivans, and definitely feels like it. In fact, it can be a little intimidating to back into your garage the first time or two. But that size means more interior space, which should be much appreciated. One thing the size doesn't affect is handling; the Sienna is quite responsive. Acceleration also felt best-in-class to me, making the freeway much more relaxing than usual. This really is a Toyota with almost everything for everyone. –Paul Hagger

Toyota decided to inject a little cool into the 2011 Sienna by giving this ultrapractical family hauler more aggressive styling. In SE trim, that translates into a new front fascia, side skirts, sport suspension, smoked taillights and 19-inch wheels. And while the Sienna still looks like a minivan — not that there's anything wrong with that — it drives better than most. The sport suspension in the SE is a little firmer than in the base model and the steering is a little heavier. Even so, this is no sports car. Its V6 engine offers plenty of power, though. –Mike Meredith

They may not be considered cool, but minivans are easily the best family vehicles on the road. For 2011, Toyota has completely redone the Sienna, with updated styling and more features. The most noticeable change, though, is the vehicle's size. There aren't many automobiles for which I need to fold the mirrors to fit them in my garage, but that was the only way the Sienna would go through the standard-sized door opening. Of course, being a large vehicle means there's an amazing amount of room inside. To add versatility, Toyota has placed storage cubbies everywhere, as well as removable covered cargo bins in the rear. To handle larger cargo, the second-row seats can be removed; however, you don't get the convenience of folding them flat into the floor like you can in Chrysler's minivans. The added size doesn't affect handling or performance, though; the Sienna drives much better than I expected. The ride is very comfortable. –Perry Stern


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Small Cars Big Attitude

Road & Track

By Nick Kurczewski of Road & Track

These days you don't have to be paranoid about rising fuel prices to opt for a smaller car. Forget the annoyance of having to make do with wind-up windows and tinny-sounding stereos (or no stereo at all). Those days are long gone. This new breed of small car has style and attitude to match frugal running costs and easy-to-park proportions.

We've chosen six of the best small cars here at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. They range from a sporty "3-door coupe" to an Italian city car that's cuter than a basket of puppies. An American manufacturer also makes the cut, despite the long dominance of foreign automakers in this highly competitive segment.

Want to spend your money on things other than hefty fuel bills and sky-high insurance rates? Here are some of the smartest small cars on the market (or coming soon).

More Coverage: 2011 Chicago Auto Show

The looks are unique and, to be honest, we're not even sure what to call it. The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is hard to categorize and that's why we think it could be a hit when it arrives this summer. It might look like a coupe, but the Veloster actually sports three doors: one on the driver's side, and two on the passenger's side. It's much less strange than it sounds, and credit Hyundai for making the asymmetrical design look so cool.

There's a lot going on in the shape, with perhaps a few too many air intakes and scoops (some of them fake) in the front. Yet we believe many people will love the Veloster simply because it takes a chance at being different. Hyundai says the direct-injected 138-bhp 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine will offer "at least" 40 mpg during highway driving. With an estimated base price of $17,000, the Veloster should have plenty of buyers willing to take a chance on this funky 3-door.

Read:  Hyundai Heads to the Races

Nimble, attractive and fun to drive. For years you might have automatically associated "foreign-built" to these fine attributes. The 2011 Ford Fiesta hatchback and sedan are bucking the long tradition of weak-willed domestic small cars. Designed with the global market in mind, the Fiesta has a handsome shape (especially in hatchback form) and driving manners that meet, or exceed, the competition.

With a starting price of just over $13,000, the base Fiesta is a bargain that doesn't sacrifice its driving soul for economy. The 120-bhp 1.6-liter 4-cylinder is efficient (39 mpg on the highway) and offers enough power to keep you zipping along in traffic. Higher up the Fiesta food chain, you'll find options like a power moonroof and Ford's Sync in-car connectivity system, which permits hands-free calling and voice controls for other vehicle functions.

Compare: Ford Fiesta vs. Honda Fit vs. Mazda Mazda2

Face it; nobody is going to buy a Fiat 500 because of its power. The 101-bhp 16-valve 1.4-liter four is fine, most of the time. But passing another vehicle on a two-lane road should only be done with plenty of patience and lots of room. So what does the Fiat 500 have more than the competition, or even cars costing double its price? The answer: style. Sure it can get cramped with four onboard, but this adorable little 2-door can't help but make you smile when you see it.

A Mini Cooper has sharper steering, but the softer ride and handling combination of the Fiat 500 is still plenty fun. And like a Mini — or Toyota's youth-oriented Scion brand — one of the keys to the Fiat 500 is its high degree of customization. You can add stripes, larger alloy wheels, Italian flag decals, and even an in-car perfume dispenser. Fuel economy in the mid-30s is also pretty good. Just be wary with the options since range-topping 500s can break the $20,000 barrier.

Read:  Chrysler, Fiat to Completely Merge?


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Tomioka Racing Exhaust Manifold for Mitsubishi EVO X (4B11) Back In Stock!

Get them while they’re hot!

TR EVO X Stainless Steel Exhaust Manifold is machine welded, no joint pipes and with excellent lost wax finished flange. It has been designed for optimum gas flow to allow faster exhaust exit.

The TR exhaust manifold is a direct bolt-on replacement for the stock manifold and fit perfectly with stock turbo or stock based upgraded turbocharger. The kit comes with all the fitting parts such as bolts & nuts, gaskets and heat wrap.

• Exhaust manifold
• Exhaust Manifold Gasket
• Thermo Bandage


Tags: EVO, EVO X, exhaust, exhaust manifold, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi EVO X, Tomioka Racing, TR Exhaust Manifold

This entry was posted on Monday, February 7th, 2011 at 5:46 pm and is filed under New Arrivals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


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Cadillac ESV Limo

Escalade ESV LimoAn Escalade is great – but an ubber-Escalade is even better. Becker and STRUT work their magic on cars like this and the end result is the Cadillac ESV limo. The new limo has leather interior from the floor all the way to the ceiling. Other features include, broadband internet, wall mounted computer screen, and a theatre system. Check out the press release for more details.

PRESS RELEASE

Becker Automotive Design Partners with STRUT to create Custom Escalade Limousine

Becker Automotive Design, Inc., known globally for their unique custom limousine and coach conversion vehicles, has partnered with bespoke custom automotive designer STRUT to create a special-edition Cadillac Escalade ESV for Becker’s exclusive global clientele. The new Becker/STRUT Cadillac Escalade ESV combines an unmatched blend of privacy and European luxury interior craftsmanship with cutting-edge mobile office capabilities in a floor-to-ceiling custom-leather interior designed for comfort, convenience, and ergonomic utility.

Integrated into the vehicle is an impressive Apple iPod® ready audio-video system featuring satellite HDTV, DVD, and digital surround sound that yields picture and sound quality rivaling those of any high-end home audio or theater system. Becker has chosen only the finest high-end components from Alpine, JL Audio, LG, Dynaudio, and other manufacturers, all controlled by a custom Crestron touchscreen using proprietary Becker Automotive Design software.

While the Becker/STRUT Escalade ESV offers luxurious accoutrements, it’s as ready for work as it is for play, with a sophisticated onboard computer system, broadband Internet connection, and full printer/scanner functions. Better still, whenever the ignition key is engaged, this superb mobile office automatically “smart boots,” and elegantly shuts down when the key is removed before exiting the vehicle.

The exterior of the Escalade ESV features a custom-crafted, and meticulously tooled jewelry collection from STRUT featuring a woven, diamond-mesh front grille and surround with matching side vents, all created from the finest stainless steel available and highly polished for style and durability that will withstand all weather conditions. Each piece in the collection bears the distinctive STRUT shield announcing to all that this vehicle stands apart from the crowd. Completing the Becker/STRUT Escalade ESV signature collection is a set of Icon Wheels, also by STRUT.


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