Compact Cars Archives

VIDEO: 2014 Ford Fiesta ST is Most Fun at Road America Autocross Track

February 17, 2019, 8 pmMay 29, 2014, 6 pm by Tom Burkart

Do you ever want to reach into TopGear magazine sometimes and shake them by the collar, yelling: “YES, We know the Fiesta ST is fun. Next topic!” Oh, that is just me? Whatever then! I have gotten really fatigued with Fiesta ST rave reviews. It just didn’t seem relevant. Until the first peel-out. On the go-kart-track turned Autocross of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – the Fiesta ST comes alive. I finally get it. Finally. Finally! The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST really is a hoot. It is How Stella Got Her Groove Back. It is the g-spot in Octopussy. …

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2015 Subaru BRZ Series.Blue Limited-Edition Brings STI Goodies

February 17, 2019, 8 pmMay 29, 2014, 4 pm by Tom Burkart

2015 Subaru BRZ Series Blue …. Also Available in White. No joke. 500 copies of the World Rally Blue color and 500 copies of Crystal White are the only choices for the top-spec Series.Blue limited edition coming this summer to Subaru BRZ fans. A minimal makeover of the 2015 BRZ will kick off the second-generation cars’ market tenure: underbody aero panels smooth the drag coefficient, STI wheels and body accessories add drama outside, while larger exhaust tips and a shark-fin radio antenna also join the fun for 2015. The cars are also likely to include a bit more NVH material …

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2015 Subaru WRX Colors – All 7 Shades in Animated Turntables + Track Testing Videos

February 17, 2019, 8 pmMay 29, 2014, 9 am by Tom Burkart

The 2015 Subaru WRX is really a terrific car: much more rigid chassis, same awesome handling, but now much better-looking and far more liveable on a daily basis. The regular WRX is also darn close to the STI in the official sprint times: 5.2s for the WRX plays about 4.8-seconds for the STI. This test car is the automatic, which is a CVT this year with six-speed or eight-speed paddle-shifter settings available. Unfortunately, the automatic WRX did not feel quite as peppy as the manual cars’ times suggest above: we estimate this automatic WRX to hit 60-mph in about 6.2 …

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR Scoots Around Go-Kart Autocross at Road America

February 17, 2019, 8 pmMay 28, 2014, 10 am by Tom Burkart

Alternative headlines? “GSR Aims at Autocross Target, Misses.” “Beetle GSR Drives Like It Has Gorilla On Roof.” The Beetle GSR is supposedly tailor-made for racing and timed laps – it even includes a chronometer stopwatch right in the central dashboard and racing stripes outside. Unfortunately, all who drove it at Road America last week came away with various harsh critiques. Brakes were spongy and non-existent, the tires washed out all sense of grip, it felt pokey, and most damning of all: it handled extremely poorly. My critique that it felt like a gorilla was on the roof was echoed by …

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Hottest LA Debuts: 2015 Audi A3 and S3 Spell Trouble For Subaru, Lexus, Ford, Acura…

February 17, 2019, 9 pmNovember 26, 2013, 1 pm by Tom Burkart

The $29,000-plus luxury compact market just got very hot under the collar. Audi revealed the 2015 A3 line-up in LA this week, and it is a direct hit for stylish urban executives. Coming in two sedans (the A3 and S3), a PHEV Sportback, and also a cute A3 cabrio —- the A3 is poised to take sales off the books of the WRX, Lexus IS250, Ford Focus ST, and many others. Pricing an arrival time estimates vary, but by summer 2014 seems like a safe bet. 2015 Audi S3 Sedan – Exterior Gallery 2015 Audi S3 Sedan – Interior Gallery …

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Picture1 Subaru BRZ Colors Showdown - World Rally Blue - Exterior Gallery

Subaru BRZ Color Fight – World Rally Blue or Light Silver?

February 17, 2019, 9 pmNovember 23, 2013, 5 pm by Tom Burkart

Subaru BRZ Color Fight – World Rally Blue – Downloadable GIF Subaru BRZ Colors Showdown – World Rally Blue – Exterior Gallery Subaru BRZ – Interior Gallery Subaru BRZ Colors Showdown – Light Silver – Downloadable GIF Subaru BRZ Colors Showdown – Light Silver – Exterior Gallery

2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos

February 17, 2019, 9 pmNovember 11, 2013, 8 am by Tom Burkart

2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos The Juke Nismo is incredible value at just below $25,000 all in, with a choice between a manual transmission and front-drive or a NISMO-tuned CVT auto and AWD with a “V” mode for extra shenanigans. Sunny Day Gallery Rainy Day Gallery