2014 Audi A6 TDI: It Goes a Long Way

In recent years, Audi and other automakers have changed the game when it comes to diesel-fueled vehicles. No longer smelly, loud and sluggish, the diesel engines of today offer cleanliness, efficiency and power.
This is evident in the 2014 Audi A6 TDI. This sedan is powered by a 3.0 liter V-6 engine that makes 240 horsepower and 428 pounds-feet of torque.
Those who argue against diesel say that it's considerably more expensive per gallon than gasoline, which is true. The price differential these days is roughly 50 cents a gallon.
However, with the A6 and many other diesel-powered vehicles, you sure do get a lot of bang for your buck from those gallons.
In our weeklong test drive of the A6, we got nearly 800 miles out of one tank of fuel.
If you commute a lot, that's sensational.
However, if you still can't be talked into buying a diesel, the A6 comes with a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that runs on gas and makes 220 horsepower, or a 3.0 liter supercharged V-6 that makes 240 ponies.
The latter model, and the diesel, have Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
The four-cylinder carries either front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission, or all-wheel and an eight-speed automatic.
The diesel model gets fuel economy numbers of 24 mpg city, 38 highway, which is quite impressive for a sedan of this size.
The exterior styling is attractive, but not really head-turning or distinctive. In fact, we probably got more looks because of the large TDI Clean Diesel decals on both sides of the car rather than just for its styling.
The A6 has standard 17-inch alloy wheels, with 18-, 19- or 20-inchers optional.
The interior is typically Audi, meaning roomy and comfortable, with pretty good fit and finish.
Leather seating is standard, and a raft of options is available, such as heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, four-zone climate control and the MMI multimedia system.
Driving the A6 is also typically Audi, meaning responsive, exhilirating and power packed.
We didn't get the opportunity to tackle too many twisty roads, but the few times we did, we smiled at how it gripped corners, accelerated and braked smoothly and seemed to revel in being pushed a little harder.
The A6 starts at around $46,000 and ranges to around $67,000, which was the approximate price of the test model.
If you want a large luxury sedan, the A6 TDI is a terrific choice, and even if you don't want diesel, its gasoline version deserves a good look, too.

Toyota 4Runner: Remaining True to its SUV Roots

The rise in popularity of crossover SUVs in the past few years has been strong and steady. But that doesn't mean there aren't some folks out there who still enjoy an old-fashioned, body-on-frame SUV that's a little more rugged than your typical family vehicle.
That's how the Toyota 4Runner continues its successful run, five generations after it was introduced.
Among SUVs, the 4Runner seems to have always been able to fill the role of being a lot of things to a lot of people.
Need to carry a bunch of stuff and passengers?
Done.
Want something that can reliably go off road?
Got it.
Are you looking for a little bit of style to accompany that size?
Here you go.
And fortunately, the 4Runner continues to deliver in each of those areas, all these years later.

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Korean Automotive Supplier to Build Georgia Plant

KOPLA, a South Korean automotive manufacturer, will open its first U.S. plant in West Point, creating 150 jobs and investing $15 million into the project by 2018, according to a news release from the office of Gov. Nathan Deal.

“We are proud that Korea’s presence in our state continues to grow,” Deal said in a statement. “Our booming automotive industry and key business resources create a perfect location for KOPLA and we have no doubt that this state-of-the-art automotive manufacturer will continue to succeed.”

The 100,000-square-foot facility will be constructed on 20 acres of the Northwest Harris Business Park, the release said. The plant will supply engineering plastics resin to leading automobile manufacturers nationally.

Georgia's automotive manufacturing industry has been spurred by the opening a few years ago of Kia's North American manufacturing facility in West Point.

Porsche Unveils New Hybrid

Porsche, with its North American headquarters in Atlanta, showed local journalists its new Panamera S E hybrid at a luncheon today. This model is a plug-in that expands the German performance brand's hybrid offerings.

2013 Toyota Prius c: It Deserves an A+

The Toyota Prius, the granddaddy of hybrids, has expanded its lineup of models in recent years to draw more buyers.
One of the newer Prius models is the Prius c, a smaller version of the original that gets super gas mileage and comes with a lower sticker price.
The result is a hatchback that looks cool, puts up crazy-go-nuts fuel economy numbers and, despite its small size, is pretty practical.

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GM to Offer Benefits to All Gay Married Employees

FROM THE HUFFINGTON POST

General Motors made a groundbreaking policy change this week and announced that the company would extend marriage benefits to the spouses of same-sex employees -- even if the pair lives in a state where gay marriage isn't legal.
The only catch? The couple must have been legally married in one of the 14 (soon to be 15!) states in which gay marriage is legal.
“This decision is in line with GM’s efforts to find, keep and grow the world’s best talent and to offer our employees policies and benefits that are competitive with many of the largest and best-managed industrial companies in the U.S.,” said GM’s Chief Diversity Officer Ken Barrett in a statement sent to The Huffington Post.
The changes will include pension plans, savings plans and health care plans for legally married same-sex couples.

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2014 Lincoln MKZ: A Sedan with Style

If a stylish, fuel-effient and comfortable midsize sedan is what you're after, you need to take a look at the 2014 Lincoln MKZ.
The MKZ got a redesign last year that gave it a serious style upgrade, with sleek lines and a sporty front grille.
The MKZ, built on the same chassis as the popular Ford Fusion, has standard 18-inch alloy wheels, with 19-inchers optional.
Also optional are rain-sensing windshield wipers and a panoramic sunroof.
The MKZ is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 240 horsepower and is rated at 22 mpg city, 33 highway. There is also an available 3.7-liter V-6 that makes 300 horsepower and is rated at 22 and 31. Both engines are linked to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
A hybrid version of the MKZ is also available.
The inside is fairly roomy and comfortable.
However, we continue to be disappointed by the touch-pad controls on the center dash, which take a lot of getting used to and are prone to having the user make errant touches.
If the MKZ just went back to knobs and buttons, it would offer a much better driver experience.
The otherwise pleasant cabin includes leather seats that are heated up front (the rear seats can be heated as an option), and a quality audio system.
For safety, options include a lane departure warning system, backup camera, rear parking sensors and a very helpful blind spot warning system.
The MKZ starts at around $37,000 and ranges to around $45,000.
With luxury and good looks, the MKZ is a sedan worthy of consideration.

2013 Ford Focus: A Pairing of Style and Great Fuel Economy

Ford is on a roll, and one of the vehicles that is moving it in the right direction is the Focus.
This compact gets high marks for fuel economy and styling, and last week, Ford announced that it is the best-selling car in the world.
For the 2013 model year, the Focus added an ST high performance model, and put an available five-speed manual transmission on its highest trim model.
The sporty-looking Focus has large grille openings and flowing crease lines along the side to give it a motion-like appearance. The rear also has an aggressive and flowing look, and when you add the spoiler, you've got a humdinger of an economy car in sports-car clothing.
The Focus is powered by a  2.0-liter four cylinder engine that makes 160 horsepower and 146 pounds-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Focus is rated at 27 mpg city, 38 highway. And if those numbers aren't impressive enough, get the Super Fuel Economy package and you get 28 and 40.
The Focus might not gain a lot of acclaim for its interior space, though. Head- and leg- room up front are adequate, but the back seat is pretty tight. It comes standard as a bench, optional as a 60/40 split seat.
Ford says there is 13 cubic feet of cargo space available in the sedan, with hatchbacks having almost  24 cubic feet with the rear seat up and 44 cubic feet with it folded down.
As for technology, the Focus is no slouch, offering optional park assist, which can measure up parallel parking spaces and guide the car into place pretty much on its own. The Focus also can be had with Ford's SYNC and MyFord Touch technological controls. 
The Focus starts at around $17,000 and ranges as high as about $27,000.
For a stylish small car that gets great fuel economy, the Focus is a terrific choice.

2014 Mazda6: One of the Best Got a Little Better

For a few years, the Mazda6 midsize sedan has won acclaim as a sporty, athletic and good-looking car, even if it has flown under the radar of some consumers and auto enthusiasts.
Well, if you're among those who hasn't paid much attention to this model, the 2014 Mazda6 is serving notice that it is one of the best midsize sedans in the business.
This Mazda6 gets a makeover that gives it a slightly more upscale look, while retaining the sportiness that characterized the prior version.
The styling now emphasizes aerodynamics and has touches such as an elongated hood and revised headlight presentation, which optionally can include LED lights.
And though you wouldn't know it at first glance, the new model is a tad smaller than the previous one, but retains the rear leg room, thankfully.
The most exciting development, and the thing that makes the Mazda6 one of the best cars on the market, is its commitment to great fuel economy.

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2013 Mitsubishi Outlander: Affordable and Versatile

Small SUVs, which offer some of the functionality of their larger counterparts but are cheaper to fuel and easier to drive, remain popular among consumers.
One entrant in this market is Mitsubishi's Outlander Sport, the top seller for this brand, which has been mostly an also-ran for the past few years.
The Outlander Sport seats five and is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 148 horsepower and 145 pounds-feet of torque. The engine is linked to either a five-speed manual transmission or continuously variable transmission. All-wheel drive is also available.
The test model had the stick shift.
Driving the Outlander Sport is not unpleasant, but don't expect any thrills.
The gear stops in the manual transmission seemed rather vague, and in fifth gear, it really felt like it needed a sixth to reduce strain on the engine.
Noise from the engine is fairly intrusive also, despite the fact that Mitsubishi says it has improved sound insulation.
The manual version gets 24 mpg city, 30 highway, while the CVT with front-wheel drive gets 24 and 31 and the CVT with all-wheel gets 24 and 29.
This year's model has a few exterior design tweaks, and overall, the Outlander Sport is not a bad looking vehicle.
There's a new front and rear bumper with matching side sills, standard 18-inch alloy wheels and a revised grille.
 A rear spoiler and heated, power side view mirrors are standard as well.
Two trim levels are offered, ES and SE.
The ES has voice-activated mobile phone and iPod control and audio control buttons on the steering wheel, among other features. The SE includes heated front seats, automatic climate control and smart key with push-button start.
The Outlander Sport starts at around $19,000 and ranges to around $25,000.
If you're looking for a small SUV with a reasonable price tag, the Outlander Sport might be worth a glance.

Luxury Vehicles, Vintage Planes on Display

Lexus teamed up with organizers of the Great Georgia Air Show to display a nice collection of planes and luxury cars and SUVs at Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City this week.
 The vintage airplanes had been used in World War II and celebrate the heritage of American military aviation.
The Lexus vehicles included the IS 350, IS 350C and IS-F sedans and the GX 460 SUV.
Visitors got to fly in some of the aircraft and take the cars and SUVs out for test drives.
Safe to say that it was a fun day for transportation nuts.
The Great Georgia Air Show takes place at Atlanta Regional Airport this Friday through Sunday.
Click here for more information.

First Glance: 2014 Kia Soul

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Kia Soul is perhaps best known to many people as the vehicle endorsed by a bunch of hipster hamsters in TV commercials.
But if you're an automaker, you can only ride rodents so far. You must have a vehicle that delivers the goods to consumers.
Since its debut in 2009, the Soul has done that.
And the new version, the 2014 model, even gets a bit better.
Kia bared its new Soul to the media in beautiful Minneapolis, giving auto reviewers a chance to drive in both urban and rural settings.

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South Korean Parts Maker to Build Georgia Facility

Georgia officials announced that South Korean autoparts maker Hyundai Dymos will open a $35 million manufacturing plant in West Point, Ga., that will supply automaker Kia, which operates its North American plant in the town. The new facility is projected to create 350 manufacturing jobs.
The plant will make seats for the Kia Sorento crossover SUV.
Hiring for the facility will begin in January, with construction expected to be finished by July, and normal production slated to start in November 2014.
Hyundai Dymos was founded in 1994 and manufactures manual transmissions and axles in addition to seats.