In my view, the Ford Fiesta rates well against an impressive choice of recently redesigned subcompacts. Completely redesigned in 2011, Fiesta offers no significant changes for 2012. Any bugs have been worked out in the first year, yet the design is still new enough to offer the latest advances in safety and fuel efficiency. read more »

With 2011 sales up a remarkable 20 percent, Land Rover has scored the largest improvement, percentage-wise, of any of its competitors. Combined 2011 Land Rover sales eclipsed those of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Lexus and Audi, making it the company’s best sales year since 2007.

Luxury and hatchback are terms that don’t seem to belong together, but the new 2012 Audi A7 has added practicality to their latest luxury/sport sedan. We don’t expect to see many A7s at Home Depot with lumber poking out of the hatch; weekend luggage and golf clubs are more likely. The A7 is a primarily an upscale sport sedan with added functionality.

Walkaround: The Audi A7 is a handsome car with an imposing presence. There is no doubt that this is a car of substance owned and driven by people of similar means. The A7 exudes Germanic Autobahn muscularity. It looks fast even when parked. read more »

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has announced that Leviton Manufacturing Company has been selected as its preferred Electric Vehicle equipment provider for customer and dealer EV charging.

Honda will debut two battery-electric vehicles beginning with the 2013 Honda Fit EV this summer, and the Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid Sedan next winter.

The 2013 Honda Fit EV battery-electric car, based on the popular Fit, targets an estimated 123 city-mile range per charge (76 mile range combined adjusted city/highway) and can fully recharge its battery in as little as three hours when connected to a 240-volt circuit. read more »

Liberty Bay Auto Center announced that Tyler Church a third generation automotive entrepreneur, has joined its sales team. His father and grandfather started Liberty Bay over two decades ago at the head of the bay in Poulsbo.

Reach Church at 360-697-4066, or visit www.libertybayauto.com.

The 2012 New York International Auto Show will provide the first glimpse of the new exterior styling direction of the updated 2013 Honda Crosstour, set to go on sale this fall.

First launched in 2009, and now available with both V-6 and four-cylinder engines, the Crosstour remains one of the most versatile choices in the midsize crossover segment, earning the distinction of J.D. Power and Associates’ “Highest Ranked Midsize Crossover/SUV in Initial Quality” in their 2011 Initial Quality Study.

Like many coffee shops, the RPM Café in Bremerton offers various conveniences in addition to espresso — from comfy seating and wireless Internet access, to quick breakfast and lunch fare. Customers can claim a chair and hang out for a few hours, or they can grab coffee and food on the run.

What makes RPM Café different is its unlikely location. read more »

The Hyundai Accent was redesigned for 2012. It has more power, a new look, a 2.8-inch longer wheelbase, a new four-door hatchback body style (the two-door hatchback was dropped), and it costs more, but it’s still a tremendous value. The Accent is tight and well built. It doesn’t come across as a cheap car, although close inspection will reveal cost saving measures. read more »

No one can accuse Nissan of building another copycat compact SUV when it comes to the unique 2012 Juke. Nissan has one of the most extensive SUV lineups in the industry, so maybe the Juke was an attempt to fill every possible niche.

The Juke is a compact crossover SUV that leans more toward the fun, sporty side than the boring, practical side of the SUV spectrum. read more »