THE FIRST TWINK? | The sporty modifications to the 2013 Civic, including a likable new interior, should silence those who complained about the 2012 model. (Photos courtesy Honda)

CASEY WILLIAMS  | Auto Reviewer
crwauto@aol.com

Between Consumer Reports failing to bestow its somewhat over-hyped “Recommended” rating upon the re-designed 2012 Honda Civic, and the boo-hooing from the rest of the journalistic flock, you’d think a person would have had to be legally drunk to buy the little zipper. I could give you a very long list of big name compacts that are considerably less fabulous than the Civic; it just needed a little polish to become great. A quick makeover for 2013 makes the Civic more delicious.

Plastic interiors were not exquisite, but they alone do not justify the tears. What small car doesn’t have a Hollywood actress’ worth of plastic? No matter, because the revised 2013 Civic’s cabin has been stitched and tucked.

The two-tier instrument cluster, with tachometer behind the leather-wrapped steering wheel and digital speedometer above, is star shuttle cool. Lighted strips on either side of the speedometer glow between green and blue, depending on how efficiently you’re driving. Maybe it’s just my love of all things ‘80s, but I prefer digital, and especially like the Civic’s layout. I also like the multi-function LCD screen next to the speedometer that provides displays for audio, trip computer, temperature and time: All of the information you could ever want is in one sweep.

The navigation screen and automatic climate control land in the driver-oriented center stack. Two big cupholders, concealed armrest storage, USB plug and power jack live in the center console. Beyond stitched dash, door and console coverings, our test car spoiled with heated leather seats, fold-flat rear seats, flip-down rear armrest, Bluetooth and power moonroof.

Designers spent a little extra time outside, too. Chrome accents on the grille and lower fascia, smoked taillamps and a chrome beam across the deck lid sparkle. The silver and black 18-inch alloys are pretty sporty. There was something that seemed a little cheap about the car before, but it now looks more like an entry-level Acura. The armchairs should fall silent.

Under hood is a 140 horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, connected to a 5-speed automatic transmission. It definitely won’t overpower the senses, but it gets you there, cruising comfortably at 80.

Want more? Choose the 201 horsepower Si edition. Otherwise, hit the ECO button to make the throttle less sensitive, feather in a light loafer, and enjoy 28/39-MPG city/hwy. Although you won’t become intoxicated with power, joy burbles with little fuel bills.

Nothing drives like a Honda. As with the bigger Accord, suspension motions are crisp, dancing as if trained by an Arthur Murray engineer. Annoying vibrations and vague steering are mostly exorcised.

There are no squeaks or rattles; build quality is tighter than a miser. Eight hours on the highway, and over rough downtown streets, dispelled the myth there’s anything seriously wrong with the Civic.

Now that the plastic has been plushed, steering embraces the road and exterior lamps reflect an Acura, maybe the critics will stop being so critical. A long drive in the finessed Civic, and a drink of vino at the end, should dry the whiny tears — although the $24,555 as-tested sticker will be plenty sobering.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition April 26, 2013.

TOUGH AS (FRENCH TIP) NAILS | Outdoorsy, dummy-proof and comfortable, the Outback provides fuel-efficiency in a useful, versatile package. (Photo courtesy Subaru)

Not too big. Not too small. For me, the Subaru Outback is just right.

It was the guy at the rental car counter in Denver who first got me hooked on Subarus. I had reserved another category of car (read: cheaper) and the attendant said I had to take the Outback. When he insisted even after I refused to pay the upcharge, I knew he must be serious.

I was smitten from the get-go. I loved the look and the feel. And, I admit, I loved the fact that it was instant membership in a club that I really liked belonging to. Not the gay club — that one I was already in. The Subaru Club.

Wherever we went, people asked about the car. “Is that the new black?” “How much do you love your Outback?” “How many Subarus have you had? I’m on my fifth!” I hated telling people it wasn’t mine.

A year or so later, when my Jeep started showing signs of wearing out, I went to Subaru of Plano to see if I really liked the Outback or if it was just an “out-of-town” fling — what happens in Denver, stays in Denver kind of thing.

Nope —I really did dig it. At 5-foot-nothing, I like a car that doesn’t swallow me, but that makes me feel big on the road. The Outback does just that.

I am often toting one thing or another around town, not to mention out of town — my dog Walter to the park, a tangle of Hula Hoops to Move Studio, or a car load of family to Fossil Rim where the zebras all but climbed inside. And it even fits my new Slingshot SUP, which is pretty impressive, considering how long and wide the thing is. (Seven and a half feet long and nearly 31 1/2 inches wide, in case you’re wondering.)

 The thing is, I’ve never been a real car person. I like it to look good and run well, period. But I actually like driving my car now. Of course, once I got the chance to test the 2013, I realized that I enjoy driving it even better than my 2011. That’s always the way, I suppose.

I took the 2013 for a spin in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The sand dunes were the ideal place to show what an outdoorsy monster she could be. It took me two tries, but once I was brave enough to really punch it, the Outback went right over the dunes like it was on pavement. Very cool.

My 2011 was already user-friendly, but the 2013 is dummy-proof, ideal for drivers who will never be tapped to lap at Indy. They’ve primarily done that by adding EyeSight (comprised of two cameras over the rearview mirror), one of the most affordable systems of its kind.  Right now you can only get it on the Outback and the Legacy, but it should be available on other models moving forward.

EyeSight lets you know if you wander out of your lane without using your turn signal or if you start swaying within your lane. If traffic is heavy, EyeSight lets you know when the car in front of you has started to move again if you don’t move forward within a few seconds.

And if something is in front of you but you continue to step on the gas, the system will actually cut the throttle so that you simply cannot accelerate. This works when you are backing out of a parking space and shift into drive instead of reverse, too — for example, when you’re trying to merge onto 635 and the guy in front of you who started to make a move suddenly stops.

Subaru has also added Adaptive Cruise Control, which will brake or accelerate in order to keep you at a safe distance from the car in front of you while keeping you at the speed you’ve chosen. It works from 1 to 87 mph and will even bring you to a complete stop if the system “locks on” to a vehicle in front of you.

I think my favorite feature is the pre-collision braking, which works when cruise control is off as well. If an object is detected, EyeSight will brake for you, slowing you down or bringing you to a complete stop, if you don’t. (The idea is, even if a collision isn’t completely avoided, damage will be mitigated.)

Subaru is known for offering the most fuel-efficient, all-wheel drive vehicles on the market based on the fuel economy standards put out by the Environmental Protection Agency. And every Subaru is made in a zero-landfill production plant. In fact, Subaru’s Indiana plant (where the Outback and the Legacy are made) is the only U.S. automobile production plant that the National Wildlife Federation has designated as a backyard wildlife habitat.

I don’t usually like to follow the crowd. But when it comes to my Outback, I actually don’t mind the cliché: Gay women like Subarus. Maybe it’s an obvious pick, but it suits me just right. There’s a reason clichés become clichés.•

— Jenny Block

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 1, 2013.

SWEDE RIDE | Turbo-charged and small with many luxuries, Volvo’s C30 is an eye-catching way to be fun and practical at the same time.

CASEY WILLIAMS  | Auto Reviewer
crwauto@aol.com

Volvo is well-known as the nerdy Swedish automaker that makes safe sedans and blitzin’ wagons. But how would it build a sports car?
Turns out, much like Mini makes Coopers and Volkswagen makes GTIs: Take a box, slap on a sexy hatch and rev its motor with a turbo. Sounds like a great little sports car with a wide safety net.

Responsible sensibilities do not mean a completely boring partner. Strong shoulders and Volvo’s traditional grille are obvious bids to tradition, but the P1800 ES-inspired rear glass hatch, which opens up to a cavernous rear compartment, is a practical and stylish solution to a small wagon design. It’s more custom Jaguar “shooting brake” than a boxy mommy wagon — perfect for trend-setting urbanites. Contrasting color ground effects and 17-inch alloys fit some stylish kicks.

Although it’s becoming a little dated compared to newer S60 sedans and XC60 crossovers, the C30’s interior still makes a comfy locker room:

Very Swedish, with a thin metallic console with hidden storage behind. Canvaslike seats are comfortable, safe (includes WIPS whiplash protection headrests) and scrubbable should you make a mess during late night pleasures (it’s easier if you just put down the roomy rear seats).

When erected, rear bucket-style seats provide enough room for humans on shorter drives, but plenty of room for canines on longer ones.

Luxury touches include a leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt and telescope functions, premium speakers, USB port for iPods, Bluetooth and auto up/down power windows. Bunker-thick doors are fortified with side/side curtain airbags that protect outboard passengers.

When the C30 was developed, Volvo was part of Ford’s global empire, so it was based on the same small car architecture as the Ford Focus and Mazda3. Like its platform-mates, the car feels athletic and sturdy, rumbling over rough pavement like a much larger car, but still cutting a rug through twisty corners and fast on-ramps. DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control), four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, automatic panic assist and brake force distribution fortify Volvo’s reputation for active safety controls. Even in ice and snow, the C30 is unbothered.

Part of the C30’s ability to gobble pavement comes from a turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that generates 227 horses. A 5-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions put it to good use. There’s plenty of torque to roast the front wheels off the line — at least until the electronic nannies step in to quell the fun. It is a joy to drive on the highway where the turbo is wound and screaming. Fuel economy is rated 21/30 mpg when driven more reasonably.

It would be easy to overlook the C30. It is as safe as Volvo’s bigger cars and shares styling traits with its ancestors, but steps out with more spunk and a more energetic driving experience. And, like the trapeze artist you enjoy at the circus, comes with a wide safety net just in case the fun turns to tragedy. I’d say that makes it the perfect Scandinavian sports car, ripe with protected pleasure.

Base price is $25,500, but the aggressive R-Design can be yours for under $28,000. Or go all-in for the 250hp Polestar edition for a bit more.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition January 18, 2013.

A LITTLE PICK-ME-UP | The best-selling Toyota Tacoma compact has a peppy V6 version that behaves like a performance auto on a curve.

CASEY WILLIAMS  | Auto Reviewer

FLEXING ITS MUSCLE | The Nissan Frontier comes in a variety of formats, displaying a quality all gay drivers can appreciation: Versatility.

It’s hard getting up in the morning, and it is even harder to find an accepting friend to loan you their precious pickup to haul home that fabulous credenza for your home theatre. This being Texas, big hulking full-size trucks are standard fare. But, what if you want to carry your stuff and park it too? That downtown garage too tight for Behemoth The Truck? Maybe one of these everyday pick-me-ups will satisfy your toolbox.

Toyota Tacoma. Since Marty McFly almost hit a Rolls-Royce in his, Toyota has offered one of the best-selling compact pickups in the U.S. Eco weenies will choose the 159hp 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that achieves 21/25-MPG city/hwy., but manly men should opt for the 236hp 4.0-liter V6 that can tow up to 6,500 lbs.
To really get your juices pumping, drive the X-Runner sport truck that comes standard with the V6 engine and six-speed manual transmission to get it from 0-60mph in under 7s and pull 9g’s during cornering like serious performance cars. A full body kit, hood scoop, and supercharger churning 304hp tell stoplight pretenders to f-off.
Go full urban with Toyota’s Entune infotainment system that puts hands-free calling, streaming music, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable, Pandora, real-time traffic updates, and fuel prices at your fingertips. Tacoma starts at $17,525, but can cross $30k with all the tuna.

Nissan Frontier.  Like you’re favorite mate, this pickup is all about flexibility. You can get it in extended or four-door cab configurations, long or short beds, and 4×4 or 4×2. To move luggage or an occasional sofa, the standard 152hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder plugs the hole. However, if you need more muscle, expand your horizons to the 261hp V6. The best combination may be the 2WD King Cab that achieves 17/21-MPG city/hwy.
Nissan takes trucking seriously. Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist, and 4LO gearing take the rugged to purgatory while the PRO-4X edition with Bilstein off-road shocks, skid plates, 16-in. alloys with off-road tires treats passengers to a luxury loft of heated leather seats and red-stitched steering wheel. City dwellers may prefer the Sport package’s 18-in. alloys, dark grille, moonroof and Bluetooth.
Since before Datsun became Nissan, the Japanese automaker has captured the small pickup shelf. When I was a kid, almost everybody owned one, and they probably still do. A base price of $19,010 makes it a pretty affordable way to move about.

Honda Ridgeline. Ridgeline is an urban-ready pickup cocktail. Unlike other mid-size trucks, the big Honda does not have an independent frame like other trucks and has the bed smoothly integrated with the four-door, five-passenger cabin like a crossover. An independent rear suspension tames potholes and construction sites while the 250hp 3.5-liter V6, connected to fully-automatic all-wheel-drive, chugs down 15/21-MPG city/hwy.
Look inside the bed to find tricks like the In-Bed Trunk that can hold drinks and play clothes, eight tie-downs for whatever you wish to tie down, and four cargo area lights to illuminate the whole affair. Up front, there’s a 100-watt audio system with input jack, Bluetooth, automatic climate control, available heated leather seats, and 60/40 split rear bench with under-seat storage. There’s even a heated wiper park!
Whether you need a garage-friendly handyman, or wish to pull 5,000lbs. of Honda’s renowned recreational toys, the Ridgeline could be your best partner. With a base price of $29,350, and prices that cross $40k, you may need reviving salts before signing the line.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 9, 2012.

WHAT’S IN A NAME | Chryler’s Aspen SUV, above, has little in common with the old Dodge Aspen, other than evoking a winter haven; Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon, below, could drive across a river.

CASEY WILLIAMS  | Auto Reviewer

Did you ever stop to wonder what your car says about where you’re from — or more importantly, from where you’d like to be? Back in the ‘50s, cars named for places were aspirational, with monickers like the Bel Air from Chevy, for those who imagined life in Hollywood; for drivers of GM’s value brand (who would presumably prefer a more tropical climate), there was the Biscayne. In truth, Bel Air and Biscayne were basically the same car with different trim.
Many of today’s most popular vehicles also have names that invoke places their drivers would like to drive.

Seaside retreats like Malibu and Rio aside, most of today’s location-derived rides tend more toward cowboy country — none more so than the Ford F-Series King Ranch edition. Named for the enormous South Texas ranch, the trucks convey the drama with saddle leather seats, rock-clearing chassis, and paint colors that reflect prairie sagebrush. Take a ride and you’ll be sure you are Ted Turner, home on the range.

Ram, Toyota and GM also slap big sky names on their full-size trucks. Chrysler’s truck brand invokes the wide spaces of Laramie to give its owners command of the countryside. Toyota reaches a little further north to the Tundra while GMC hearkens to the west with Sierra; Chevy prefers Silverado. However, the bow-tie gang has also used Cheyenne, and calls its compact truck the Colorado. It pretty much has lands west of the Mississippi fenced in.

I suppose automakers want to transfer that rugged individualism to their family-friendly crossovers and SUVs. GMC owners apparently relate to the far north, as the truck maker sells the full-size Acadia crossover and Yukon SUV. Going all-in, both are available in upscale Denali packages that elevate owners to Cadillac highs.

Never one to miss feelings of luxury and leisure, Chevy sells the Tahoe. In recent years, Chrysler sold the very cool Aspen SUV, which was launched to the media with an avalanche of paper snow, but we’re all still trying to forget the Dodge Aspen car. (About the only thing that lemon rose to was the top of most-repaired clunkers list.)

If choosing by name alone, I’d prefer to drive the Nissan Murano. I love Murano glass, plenty of which I dragged home from Venice a few years ago. Does that mean the Murano is fragile? Or that it can haul a lot of vases and paperweights? Maybe the headlight lenses are made from blown silicon or the floor is crafted from Italian marble? It’s all so confusing.

If visiting, we could also see a Ford Torino, but that Italian seems more akin to conveying Starsky & Hutch and crotchety old Clint Eastwood. I’m also ready to bed down in Santa Fe or Tucson with Hyundai, but I hope the A/C is frigid.

Jeep is probably the most authentic slapper of adventure-inspired names. The ultimate test of its vehicles has always been the Rubicon Trail, where boulders come as large as the red balls in front of Target. Unlike some of these other pretenders, you can actually take a Wrangler Rubicon over The Rubicon. The original Jeep would also be at home in Laredo or in the Sahara — both trim levels for the capable off-roader.

Maybe we’ll again see a Cadillac in Seville or a big luxury convertible near Eldorado, but hopefully never anywhere near Cimarron. Any of these cars can put you in a Malibu state of mind, no matter what state you live in

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 9, 2012.

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ROCK THE VOTE | A Tesla Roadster, top, turns the electric car into a thing of beauty; the Dodge Dart, below, is an American icon with an Alfa Romeo heart; and the Kia Optima, below, combines sex appeal, power and a great sticker price.

CASEY WILLIAMS  | Auto Reviewer

Now that all the politicking is over, the time for healing has begun. And that means liberals getting along with conservatives.

And we’re not talking about the election.

You don’t need an HRC sticker in the window to discover who is liberal and who is conservative — just glance down at the model of the cars they drive.

You’re not likely to see many hybrids at the sports bar or muscle cars at Station 4. Sure, there’s the rare gay stud who drives a 420hp Camaro SS or the manly-man hunter who drives a Prius, but both stand out because they are rare.

We took a look at vehicles of all types to figure out who would drive what by our entirely non-scientific comparison of liberal vs. conservative rides.

Tesla Roadster vs. Chevy Corvette. The little electric cars are all over California and they’re a real quickie. Range is about all you need in an L.A. commute and they don’t pollute. Unfortunately, you’ll need a Wall Street wallet to afford the $100,000 asking price and a burly flatbed truck driver when it runs out of juice.

The Corvette, though, is sex on wheels and fast as Jeff Gordon with Tony Stewart on his rump. You can drive it from coast-to-coast, racing the standard 430hp V8 from stoplight to stoplight, and getting 26-MPG on the open road. Your woman can pack all she wants because the trunk is bigger than her brother’s closet. $49,600 buys a lot of glory.

Dodge Dart vs. Ford Focus. An Italian-American affair that resulted from the auto bail-out, the Dart (fortunately) turned out to be an Alfa Romeo in Dodge skin, which makes it a tight little number with junior Charger styling. It also sounds like a Ferrari, achieves 41-MPG hwy., or pumps 184hp. Tickets start at $15,995.
If you’re looking for the American compact not saved by Obama, the Focus is your ride (though much of the engineering and design came from Europe). Still, don’t tell fans of Big Oil — an electric version is coming soon, but a $16,200 base price pleases everyone.

Lexus ES 300h vs. Lincoln MK-S. Even when liberals go gray, they look for environmentally friendly rides. When they’re ready to move up from their Volt, the Lexus ES Hybrid achieves 40/39-MPG city/hwy. If that doesn’t make you feel like hugging a koala, select the bamboo interior trim. Save for at least $38,850.
For the religious right, Sister Bertha Better-Than-You will love her big holy roller. Collision warning with brake support system and automatic parking save her fat arse from hell … or can throttle the optional 365hp EcoBOOST V6 to power out of it. She can use SYNC with MyLincoln Touch to preach at her car. Prices ascend from $42,800.

Kia Optima vs. Buick LaCrosse eAssist. Even if Kia is still on Gaywheels.com’s naughty list, the Optima is a mad-sexy sedan. Styled under ex-Audi stylist Peter Schreyer, it’s sculpture on wheels. Get it with the 274hp turbo engine to really slather your sexy on, but base four-cylinders achieve 24/35-MPG city/hwy. Plan for $22,000.

As contrarian as Newt Gingrich in drag, the beautiful Buick sedan attracts both suave gentleman and grandpa’s coffee klatch. If you don’t tell the old fart it comes standard as a “lightly electrified” hybrid, he’ll just think gas is still cheap when he enjoys 36-MPG hwy. You’ll need a tax refund of about $32,000 to pay for it.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 9, 2012.

]]> http://www.dallasvoice.com/liberal-conservative-10131370.html/feed 0 http://www.dallasvoice.com/pocket-rockets-10131358.html http://www.dallasvoice.com/pocket-rockets-10131358.html#comments Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:45:00 +0000 Kevin Thomas http://www.dallasvoice.com/?p=131358 Little doesn’t mean weak, as these powerful compacts can attest

POWER AND PANACHE | The Scion, above, is a dreamy sports car with as much flash under the hood as its exterior; the Fiat Abarth, below, reinvents the Italian brand with a sexy style.

CASEY WILLIAMS  | Auto Reviewer

It’s not the size of your rocket that counts, but rather how it fits with your pocket. Properly packaged, your favorite ride can flaunt all of the right curves and deliver rapid elation. And the right subject of your desires shouldn’t always require expensive dates.
No matter who you take, or where you take him, one of these smokin’ cars should get you there with a little fun along the way.

Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ. There have been stranger bedfellows than Toyota and Subaru, but the little rear-drive sports car they produced is a dream. Subaru’s 200hp 2.0-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine delivers up to 34-MPG. Drivers can choose between six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, the latter with rev matching, paddles and Auto Sport mode to hold gears longer. A 53:47 front:rear weight balance should enable wicked shenanigans on the track. A flowing hood, fastback roofline, LED taillamps and colors like Raven, Hot Lava and Firestorm paint a pretty picture. A driver-focused interior features 300-watts of Pioneer audio, Bluetooth, and BeSpoke that connects with iPhones for personalized connectivity to Facebook, Twitter and Internet radio.
Prices start at $24,955.

Fiat 500 Abarth. There’s a scorpion on the side of this little ribbed rider, and that’s a hint of the sting coming from its 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo-four that delivers 160hp. An Abarth-tuned suspension, large brakes with Rosso calipers, wide tires and 17-in. alloys shod with Pirelli P-Zero tires fill its pants. Sexy visuals include twin nostrils, rear wing and Abarth logos all around. God’s leather sport seats, thick flat bottom steering wheel, Beats by Dr. Dre audio, automatic climate control and BLUE&ME hands free communications plug pleasure. Tom Tom navigation takes you there.
Feel it from $22k, including a day’s instruction from the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Hyundai Veloster Turbo. This Korean three-door fling puts its heart in a 201hp 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, connected to six-speed transmissions. It’s also frugal at 27/38-MPG city/hwy. The sport-tuned exhaust note provides background music for fondling the heated leather seats and 7-in. touchscreen to control the 450-watt Dimension Premium Audio system with subwoofer and Pandora. Hyundai’s Blue Link connects POI searches, emergency assistance, and automatic crash notifications.
Veloster are dressed to impress, boasting unique fascias, 18-in. alloys, LED taillights, twin center exhausts and alloy pedals. The graphite black interior with blue accents sexes up the night.
Prices rise from $21,950.

Chevy Sonic RS. Pumping more juice into the world-beating Sonic is the RS’ 138hp 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. A stiffy suspension, 17-in. wheels and four-wheel disc brakes let drivers play all night. Dressed for fun, interiors are decked with bolstered leather and suede sport seats, aluminum pedals and motorcycle-inspired instruments with a digital speedometer your sugar daddy could read. The standard touchscreen, USB and Bluetooth connect smartphones for navigation, hands-free calling, local search via Google, live traffic updates, Pandora and Stitcher. Aggressive ground effects announce intentions.
Prices, including 10 airbags, start at $20,995.

VW Golf R. Volkswagen originated the idea of a speedy compact with the GTI and the Golf R glides one further. More sophisticated than the others in this drawer, it packs a 256hp 2.0-liter turbo engine, all-wheel-drive, six-speed manual transmission and 18-in. wheels standard. Fuel economy is rated 19/27-MPG city/hwy. LED running lamps, gloss black grille, Xenon headlights, central twin tailpipes and flared side skirts add distinction. Dual zone automatic climate control, 300-watt Dynaudio, deep leather buckets, squared-off steering wheel and aluminum sill plates are fancy.
Adaptive lights even turn Tucker-style with the steering wheel — all for a base of $33,990.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 9, 2012.

 
You can love speed and metal and not have to be into automobiles — and you have a way to explore it this weekend.

The Progressive International Motorcycle Show rolls into the Dallas Convention Center this weekend, as part of a 13-city tour that features every imagineable form of two-wheelers: dirt bikes, sportsbikes, cruisers, scooters, ATVs and more. Activities include a stunt riding showcase, the chance to complete an actual pit stop and a custom motorbike competition that includes eye-popping chrome and paint jobs.

— Arnold Wayne Jones

Dallas Convention Center, 650 S. Griffin St.
Nov. 9–11. $15. Motorcycleshows.com.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 9, 2012.

Even folks who consider themselves car enthusiasts probably pale against those who enjoy motorsports — sort of the civilian version of NASCAR, where men and women 18 to 80 race their high-performance vehicles on special-built road courses. But Oak Lawn’s Park Place dealership noticed a lot more people were showing an interest in racing.

From that reality was Park Place Motorsports born.

“There are really three levels to motorsport,” explains Alex Whitman, director of the new enterprise and himself a former racecar driver. One level involves street-legal daily-use cars modified slightly for racing; another are club racers, who buy purpose-built cars designed specifically for racing; and at the top of the chain, what Whitman calls Cup Car Clients — those with kick-ass Porsches built for speed. (Presently, the garage only services Porsches, though that will change.)

Park Place Motorsports was designed to serve those clients who want to pursue this intensive sport. The new facility, which will officially open following a gala invitation-only event on Saturday, has service techs tasked solely to work on performance cars. The concept also provides full-on support for those wishing to explore the glory that comes with racing cars like the professionals. They can even move your car to and from events and provide, essentially, a personal pit crew. “All you need to do is show up at the track with your helmet and we can do the rest,” Whitman says.

There’s a bigger market that you might imagine for such a service, but the goal is to make it even bigger.

“I’m a Dallas native, and North Texas is tailor-made for motorsport,” Whitman says. “With this, we hope to grow the motorsport culture.”

— Arnold Wayne Jones

Park Place Motorsports, 6219 Peeler St.
ParkPlace.com.

PURRING POWER | With its snubbed nose and compact frame, Fiat’s Abarth has a density that contrasts to its perky engine and Italian styling.

CASEY WILLIAMS  | Auto Reviewer
crwauto@aol.com

 “Look at that. Isn’t it cute?” said the lady to her husband as she walks into the sub shop where I’m eating. Yeah, lady, that’s the Fiat Abarth. Real cute — with a bad attitude. I wouldn’t pet that scorpion! But I would flog it. Hard.

Two blind monks could tell there’s something amiss with the Abarth upon first encounter. Our test car was painted Nero Black metallic with 17-in. forged aluminum alloys shod with low-profile Pirelli P-Zero performance tires. Wide stripes and Abarth logos adorn the sides. The 500’s traditional “whiskers and logo” face looks as good as ever, but is accentuated by bolder faschia, twin snarling nostrils, and a big scorpioned Abarth logo in the nose. Flared wheel arches, unique side skirts, and twin chrome exhausts up the visual gravity. A rear spoiler gives the car a longer look while increasing downforce and the rear diffuser optimizes airflow. While there is some jewelry for jewelry’s sake, most of the add-ons have purpose.

If the monks sniffed deeply, they might believe they’re in a Ferrari. One-piece leather thrones look beautiful, grip your sides, and smell like fine Italian cow. It is hard to deny the thick flat-bottom leather-wrapped steering wheel either. Dash panels continue the body color for an expensive look. Automatic climate control and TomTom Navigation add convenience. Fiat’s BLUE&ME hands-free communications system utilizes smartphones, connected via USB or Bluetooth, for calling, real time traffic reports, weather and points of interest. Beats by Dr. Dre audio with a 368-watt amplifier and subwoofer rocks you happy, but the powertrain will blow your hair back.

The Abarth’s acoustically-tuned exhaust makes the car sound like a souped up lawnmower, but the car’s light weight and abundant energy give it a fun-loving spirit that only an Italian could divine (even if it is built in Mexico). Under the stubby hood is a turbocharged and twin-intercooled 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that sends 160hp and 170 lb.-ft. of torque through a five-speed manual transmission to the front wheels. That may not register as a lot of power until you realize the Fiat only weighs 2,500 pounds.

That all sounded like the potential for rapturous turmoil and hedonistic pleasure, but on first drive, the car was not living up to the spirit I imagined. It seemed to take a lot of throttle-caressing to get it to move even when revved obnoxiously through its click-click shifter. But then, I discovered the Sport mode’s “fun button” and all Hades erupted. In no time, I was giggling like a devil on the win. Fuel economy is rated 28/34-MPG city/hwy. — less so under full stomp.

All of the body accoutrement and rebellious thrashing is backed up by a track-ready chassis. Engineers lowered the ride height and stiffened up the suspension to give the tall city car handling that would set a Mustang back a couple of paces. Four-wheel disc brakes are up to the car’s potential while an innovative 3-mode stability control system can be switched “On,”

“Partial Off” or “Full Off”, allowing the Torque Transfer Control system to maximize performance through corners. There’s only so much you can do to make a front-drive car handle like a sports car, but the Abarth gives its soul to play the part.

The Abarth is not all whipped espresso. The driving position is typically Italian with a forward-canted steering wheel and legs-length clutch travel — made more difficult with a dime-sized pedal. You feel like you’re shifting with your tippy-toes. The suspension is necessarily stiff, but thunks over rough pavement. Except for what’s leather and painted, interior quality is about what’s expected for a $15,000 car. Rear seat space is best left to those with severed legs. My partner got hot over the rowdy exhaust rumble, but it could tire your ears every day.

Your morning drive, whether to a stuffy office or college campus, does not have to be boring. The Fiat Abarth is as practical as every other city-sized 500, but comes with a lot more attitude. Don’t pet the Abarth. Love it. Relish it. Wash it. And, by all means garage it. But, don’t hug it.

An as-tested price of $26,200 puts it against the Mini Cooper S, Chevy Sonic RS, and upcoming Ford Fiesta ST.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 26, 2012.