The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid is a rare vehicle.
It is one of a handful of hybrid vehicles that is available with all-wheel-drive.
It is also supercharged and battery powered hybrid. And until the new Toyota Highlander Hybrid is available for sale, the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder has this unique crossover hybrid market segment all to itself.
In another accurate, fun and informative TFLcar video here’s everything that you ever wanted to know about the brand new 2014 Nissan Pathfinder AWD Hybrid.
SUVs have become the latest line of defense for police to spot and stop drivers who are texting while behind the wheel.
No one should be texting while driving, but most drivers have done it now and then and many do it as a habit. It’s a bad habit, and one that can cost people their lives, but that hasn’t been enough to convince them to put down their phones.
There are 40 states that have passed laws that make texting while driving illegal which does make you wonder what the other states are thinking. Those laws mean drivers have gotten pretty savvy about keeping their texting unnoticed. Although some hold their phones right up in plain sight, others hold their phones low in their lap to avoid detection by any passing police vehicles.
The state of New York has found a new weapon to combat this particular technique in the form of a fleet of 32 unmarked, full-size SUVs that its state troopers will now be driving along its highways. The higher vantage point will let them look down into vehicles as they pass and see a driver texting even if their phone is in their lap.
New York has been cracking down on texting drivers particularly hard and doing everything they can to get drivers to break the habit. Governor Cuomo even relabeled 91 rest areas as “Texting Zones” to reinforce the idea that you need to pull over before you text. There are even signs reading, “It can wait. Text stop 5 miles.”
They’re also one of just twelve states that don’t allow the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Motorists caught breaking the law by using a device to talk or text face fines of up to $200 as well as five penalty points on their driving record, up from three.
All these measures are a reminder of just how serious a problem texting and driving has become and will hopefully make people think twice before they disregard the law and end up paying the price not in dollars or points, but lost lives.
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.
You can pretend you’re working with Agent Coulson to save the world from destruction when you drive around town in this official Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D 2011 Acura MDX that’s up for auction on eBay.
The vehicle has been put up for auction by Scottsdale Motor Company and is one of only ten that were made for the movie, The Avengers. It started its life as just a standard 2011 Acura MDX but it got some revisions inside and out to make it ready for the big screen.
It came from the factory with all the usual accessories, including the Technology Package and leather seats, but got some nice upgrades to handle all the evil villains it would be facing in the film thanks to Cinema Vehicle Services (CVS). They specialize in transforming ordinary cars into extraordinary cars for movies.
They started by sanding down the paint that Acura used and giving it a stealthier flat black paint job. It then got fender flares from a Ford truck, a front push bar with an added upper bar that includes bolted on LED fog lamps, an LED light bar for the roof and 18″ tires.
Those tires didn’t exactly fit with the vehicle’s original suspension so they had to increase it by 2.5″ to make the bigger tires work. The finishing touches came in the form of logos that were painted onto the Acura MDX later by the studio’s film department after CVS finished their modifications.
Currently, the LED light bar on the roof has been removed, but they’ve got it on hand so you can just remove the plug holes and put it back where it belongs. They also have the original tires and say the whole thing can be brought back to factory specs, but why anyone would buy a S.H.I.E.L.D vehicle and undo its best parts are beyond me.
Bidding as of this moment is up to $20,100 with three days to go so head on over to ebay if you want to grab yourself a piece of movie history.
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.
The Nissan IDx Concept vehicles might just be the biggest surprise for the 2013 Tokyo Auto Show. Looking nearly production-ready, the Nissan IDx Freeflow and NISMO hark back the spirit of the (awesome) Datsun 510. Also known as the Datsun 1300, 1500, 1600, Datsun Bluebird, Yue Loong Bluebird 706, Datsun Sedán and Datsun Guayin – the Datsun 510 is a coveted and celebrated design.
The cool design and floating roof-look aside, the Nissan IDx will most likely be a mobile infotainment device. I mean, that’s what’s important to the new youth market, the same people who had a hand it its design. That’s right, Nissan used the ideas from folks who were born after 1990. Frankly, the kids look like they got it right.
“The round, no-nonsense steering wheel, attached to the level dashboard, mounts a modern-looking speedometer that would not seem out of place in a younger person’s lounge. Together with an analog clock, prominently located above the centered function monitors, the cumulative effect is an interior that feels heavily influenced by the wish for a cozy, relaxing space.
Additionally, the coordination of finished metals with the thick surfacing material on the dashboard and console, combined with the denim selected to cover the seats and certain trim areas, produces sections that dazzle the eye but are balanced by more calming hues in other spots. This is the unique quality of the co-creators’ taste as expressed in the cabin appointments.” – – Nissan Media
The Nissan IDx (meaning identification meets dreams – I think) should be rear drive with a 1.2 all the way to 1.5-liter engines hooked up to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The good news is: the NISMO version will have a direct-injected, turbocharged 1.6-liter engine connected to a rev-matching six-speed manual. A “sporty” CVT will be offered too.
Guess which one I want to drive?
And THAT’S the thing about the Nissan IDx… it looks like we may get a real one – soon. Nissan has made no secret of the fact that they have no intentions on being a boring company. Sure, they build a lot of CVT-based machines, but they also build the Z-car and GT-R. The Nissan IDx looks primed to go heads-up against the Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S.
“Many of the group of co-creators who were involved with IDx NISMO are people who grew up playing racing simulation games that feature cars of the past and from all corners of the globe. They had a natural desire to realize that virtual driving experience in a real car of their own.
Not limited to being inspired just by racing cars, IDx NISMO was born from a refined combination of the freedom to borrow liberally from memorable vehicles of yesteryear and the present, in addition to whatever was felt exudes “cool.”
The IDx NISMO’s co-creation dialogue took the distilled heritage of Nissan’s basic box-shaped racing vehicles of the past and married it with various intriguing new details. This resulted in a car that appears to be timeless and moored in a place all its own.
Though IDx NISMO shares the overall length and height of its Freeflow cousin, the 1.8 meter width of the car is testament to its low, wide stance that emphasizes its sporty proportions.
One of the hallmarks of box-type racecars is speediness conveyed by a reverse-slanted nose. On IDx NISMO, this frontal design element is embellished by an aura of seriousness communicated by the use of carbon panels. Side mufflers provide a pleasing exhaust note. The car also has contemporary touches such as front/rear and right/left aerodynamic spoilers and lightweight 225/40 19-inch tires.” – – Nissan Media
This car looks too cool to ignore and I intend to keep an eye on it as production information (hopefully) will surface one day soon. In the meantime, enjoy this video of some other Nissan/NISMO goodies from the 2013 LA Auto Show!
The fun-to-drive, European-style, economical 2014 Ford Fiesta has what many want from a subcompact four-door hatchback or sedan, although its rear seat is only comfortable for children.
New for 2014 is an Aston Martin-inspired grille and new hood that fronts a slick body. (Ford once owned Aston Martin.) The Fiesta comes as a four-door hatchback or four-door sedan with a variety of engines—from a fuel-stingy new EcoBoost three-cylinder to a hot new turbocharged four-cylinder.
| STATS | Starting Retail Price | As Tested Price | HP / Lb-Ft |
| 2014 Ford Fiesta | $14,000 | $18,800 | 120 / 112 |
| EPA Rating MPG | As Tested MPG | ||
| Rating: BUY IT! | 29/39 Combined 32 |
The new Fiesta is offered as front-drive S, SE and Titanium models. You can get a four-door hatchback or sedan, but the new front-drive ST hot rod model comes only as a four-door hatchback. The sedan is 173.5 inches long, while the hatchback is 159.7 inches long. Both have a 98-inch wheelbase.
Fiesta list prices range from $14,000 for the base S model to $21,400 for the ST version. Prices for the new three-cylinder weren’t available as of this writing. I tested the upscale $18,800 Titanium hatchback, which costs $600 more than the Titanium sedan.
My test car looked especially racy in its striking Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat paint, but it costs an extra $395.
Standard for the S are features including an AM/FM stereo, air conditioning, adjustable steering wheel with audio controls and power mirrors. The SE adds cruise control, automatic headlights, keyless entry, leather steering wheel and aluminum wheels.
The more upscale Titanium has wider wheels (16- vs. 15-inch) with wider tires, a premium sound system, pushbutton start, heated front leather-trimmed seats and power mirrors that (manually) fold to prevent parking lot damage. It also has automatic temperature control, back-up camera and rear parking aid.
Safety features include air bags galore with side air curtains. You get a strong little car with top marks all the way around from the IIHS.
Most small cars no longer are “strippers”, so options include a sunroof, leather-trimmed seats for models that don’t have them, navigation system and a new MyFord Touch system with a 6.5-inch touch screen that has enhanced voice control, providing more options for navigation, communication and entertainment functions.
The newcomer engines are a turbocharged EcoBoost 1.6-liter 197-horsepower four-cylinder for the ST and a turbocharged EcoBoost 1.0-liter 123-horsepower three-cylinder. Ford says, the latter is expected to deliver “more than 40 miles per gallon.”
Standard for this subcompact is a 1.6-liter normally aspirated four-cylinder that provides 120 horsepower. That engine was in my test Fiesta Titanium automatic-transmission hatchback. It provided lively acceleration in town but just average 65-75 m.p.h. passing on highways.
The engine was hooked to a responsive, optional ($1,095) Powershift six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift feature that worked well despite too-small upshift/downshift controls. It’s offered for the S, SE and Titanium models. All, except the ST, have a standard five-speed manual transmission. The ST comes only with a six-speed manual. After all, it’s mainly for car buffs.
At 65 m.p.h., my test car’s engine registered 2,500 r.p.m., which is rather high for a car with a six-speed automatic.
Estimated fuel economy of the ST is 26 miles per gallon in the city and 35 on highways. The standard 120-horsepower engine delivers an estimated 29 miles per gallon in the city and 39 on highways with either the five-speed manual or PowerShift automatic.
The ST provides the most fun, with its added power, quicker steering, sport suspension, upgraded brakes, electronic torque vectoring, larger (17-inch) wheels with wider tires and a rear spoiler. It reminds me of one of those legendary (at least in Europe) fast, tough European rally cars.
However, my tamer test Fiesta was still fun to drive with its super-quick steering and supple suspension that shrugged off most bumps, although occupants could feel and hear some of the worst road imperfections. Handling was agile and cornering was flat, helped by electronic stability control. The four-wheel anti-lock brakes worked confidently, controlled by an easily modulated pedal.
Large door handles make it easy to quickly enter the Fiesta’s quiet interior, which looks upscale with such things as soft-touch materials. The gauges can be easily read, but the sound system controls are offbeat. The front bucket seats provide good side support in curves, although they need more thigh support. So could the rear ones. The front console has dual cupholders, but there’s only one cupholder awkwardly placed at floor level in the rear.
There’s good room up front, with wide-opening doors, but the rear seat is cramped and has narrow door openings.
The hatchback has a moderately large cargo area, and rear seatbacks flip forward to enlarge it. Rear headrests fold forward so they’re out of the way of front seats when rear seatbacks are folded forward to form a flat cargo floor.There are few cabin storage areas, so some stuff likely will be tossed in the backseat.
The heavy lined hood is held open with just a prop rod, but the neat engine compartment has easily reached fluid filler areas.
The new Fiesta offers a lot for the money, but load it with options and you’re in compact-car price territory.
On the TFLcar scale of:
I give the 2014 Ford Fiesta Titanium a Buy It!
Check out this fun and informative TFL video review of the 2014 Ford Fiesta Titanium as it takes the crew up the Ike Gauntlet.
Dan Jedlicka joined the Chicago Sun-Times in February 1968 as a business news reporter and was named auto editor later that year. He has reviewed more than 4,000 new vehicles for the Sun-Times–far more than any newspaper auto writer in the country. Jedlicka also reviewed vehicles for Microsoft Corp.’s MSN Autos Internet site from January, 1996, to June, 2008. For more of Dan’s thoughtful and insightful reviews please visit his web site HERE.
The Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupé concept is based on the new MQB architecture and will feature a gas/electric power-plant that has the potential to give it supercar-like power. The CrossBlue Coupé concept can be based on natural gas, hybrid, or electric power-trains as well as diesel and/or gasoline engines.
In one variant, a TSI V6 makes 295 horsepower and 369 lbs-feet of torque. It is hooked up to a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. Things get interesting when you add the 54 hp front electriric motor and the 114 hp rear electric motor.
Combined, you get 415 hp and 518 lb-ft of torque. WOW! Add to that a potential for 70 MPGe (it is an electric plugin hybrid) and you have a crossover SUV that destroys numbers of today’s sports crossovers. To put that into perspective: the mighty Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT with its 6.4-liter HEMI makes 465 lb-ft of torque.
Check out the Volkswagen Cross Blue Coupe Concept Debut at the LA Auto Show below:
The next six months will be very exciting for Ford Mustang fans everywhere. First, the all-new sixth generation 2015 Ford Mustang is getting unveiled on December 5, 2013 (less than eight days from now). TFL will be there and you expect video and photo coverage from this historic event. The new Pony will make the Auto Show rounds leading up to its 50th birthday celebration on April 17, 2014.
How does the Mustang celebrate it’s 50th? This event is so big, that it warrants a simultaneous 5-day party in Las Vegas, NV and Charlotte, NC.
The celebrations will be held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Mustang Club of America (MCA) is playing a big role in organizing the events. Here is the tentative schedule:
The entire TFL team is very excited about this upcoming anniversary. The Mustang’s birthday party does overlap with the 2014 Easter Jeep Safari and 2014 New York Auto Show. It will be a very exciting and busy April. Stay tuned for more details.
![Subaru-2[2][3]](https://tflstudios.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Subaru-223.jpg)
Very little is known about the Subaru Crossover 7 Concept other than it has seven seats, all-wheel drive (AWD) a boxer engine and it looks a lot like a pumped up Legacy wagon. Subaru recently announced that they will build a successor for the Subaru Tribeca. Something Subaru has needed to do for some time.
I never hated the Subaru Tribeca, I just considered it a wasted opportunity. At the time of its debut, I thought the interior design was amazing, and, despite the polarizing exterior design, I thought it was a smart bet for an all-weather family car. Unfortunately, it was too expensive, cramped in back and was never very competitive with the Toyota’s Highlander, the Ford Explorer and others in its class.
This new design looks production ready and is more appealing than the Subaru Tribeca, at least from the outside.
If you look carefully, you can see some similarities with Toyota’s new Highlander. I’m not saying they are related, but I’m not saying that are are not either. We caught one testing at high altitude and a few of us thought we saw a Subaru emblem hiding under tape.
Check out this video and tell us what you think.
Thanks to CarScoops for the info!
