Fuel Infection
Automotive Reviews
2011 BMW 550i
Jul 13th
This is an automotive truth: BMWs are happier with manual transmissions. I have yet to drive a BMW that wasn’t dramatically more fun when equipped with a stick. I sampled the all-new 550i last spring and came away generally unimpressed; it was a competent luxury sedan that could tackle the twisties with aplomb, but not markedly cooler than a comparable Audi A6.
Drop a six-speed manual transmission into the equation, however, and the 550i is transformed into a serious piece of driving equipment. BMWs aren’t about being comfortable when stuck in rush-hour traffic, in the end. This is a car that demands driver engagement. Even the cupholders are inconvenient, an afterthought. More >
2011 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition
Jul 6th
There are cars and trucks that are blank slates, waiting for you to add your own personal touch. And then there are vehicles that come from the factory with all the attitude you could ever hope for built right in. It should come as no surprise that the Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson edition is one of the latter.
Ford’s partnership with Harley dates to 1999, and each successive edition seems to get bigger, bolder and brasher. The 2011 model is so in-your-face that you might feel compelled to take a step back, in fact. Massive wheels, a lowered stance and a custom graphics look belie the fact that this is a factory-built truck. The Harley F-150 also benefits from a significant round of 2011 upgrades to the F-150 lineup, including new engines and some tricks for improving fuel economy. More >
2012 Fiat 500 Cabriolet
Jun 24th
The Fiat 500C isn’t just cute; it knows it’s cute. In true Italian fashion, this little car doesn’t stand by the curb being adorable and feigning surprise when someone notices. No, the Fiat 500C jumps out at you, steps into your field of vision with its retro sheet metal covered in a wide range of designer hues, and says, “Look at me. I am adorable, and you cannot resist.”
And why would you want to? The Italian manufacturer, making a return to the U.S. market after almost three decades, is hitting the streets of North America with a subcompact that combines the style of a classic Euro-commuter with modern fuel efficiency and safety, one of the quietest rides in its class, and a funky-cool canvas soft-top. More >