Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays' introduction to the 2013 Toyota RAV4 at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show is the most-watched video of the week for a second time in a row. Mays likes the upgrades to the crossover and looks forward to seeing if the improvement extends to the driving experience. Check out that video above and see what other videos were popular this week:
Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays attended the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show and got a look at the updated-for-2013 Toyota RAV4. In this week's most-watched video, Mays says upgrades to the crossover are a good start, but that the true test in this competitive class will be on the road. Check out that video above and see what other videos were popular this week:
The Porsche Cayman's redesign follows the logical progression of its soft-top sibling, the Boxter, as it continues on a fast track to fuel efficiency. The sports coupe, bowing this week at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show, largely stays the course of its predecessor design-wise, adding new steel and aluminum pieces to the exterior in addition to a Boxster-like cabin with a flow-through center console and dashboard.
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Beyond the comparable appearance to the old Cayman, the new model is around 66 pounds lighter, and power is up by as much as 10 horsepower, depending on the trim level. Those two improvements increase quickness while improving fuel economy to a high of 32 mpg. Check out the gallery below.
Stare at the Porsche Cayman for a while, and you realize this might be the best-looking Porsche in the automaker's lineup. I declared that when the first-gen Cayman hit dealerships in early 2006, and it's safe to say Porsche did it again.
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This is no mere Boxster conversion. With its aggressive intake ports — nearly as gaping as the erstwhile Ferrari 360's — and trapezoidal center grille (psst! It's fake), the Cayman has simple flair. The taillights ape the Boxster's, with a cool bisecting fin that flows into a subtle tail-lid spoiler.
When Porsche showed a new version of its Boxster roadster earlier this year, we knew a redesigned version of its sibling, the Cayman coupe, couldn't be far behind. Now it's here, and its formula of less weight and greater efficiency is, not surprisingly, similar to the soft-top Boxster's. It hits dealerships this spring with a base price of $53,550, including a $950 destination charge.
The drive for better fuel efficiency has touched all segments of the car market, including the realm of high-priced sports cars where Porsche competes. You can see the results in the new Cayman, which makes slightly more power, weighs slightly less, gets better estimated gas mileage and is a little quicker to 60 mph compared with the previous model.
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The base Cayman is powered by a 275-horsepower, 2.7-liter flat-six engine while the S version gets a 325-hp, 3.4-liter flat-six; power is up 10 hp and 5 hp, respectively. As before, the engine is mounted behind the seats, and power is fed to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The engine position improves weight distribution and enhances practicality, as the Cayman has front and rear luggage compartments that measure 5.3 and 9.7 cubic feet, respectively.
The Porsche brand is renowned for its on-road prowess, but if you want the ultimate handler, you should opt for the 2012 Porsche Cayman R. It adds more sport to the Cayman sports car, making it ideal for tackling twisty back roads, according to Cars.com editor Mike Hanley.
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Cars.com Reviews the 2012 Porsche Cayman R
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In a world that’s moving more toward cars as appliances, the 2012 Porsche Cayman R is a dyed-in-the-wool sports-enthusiast machine, according to Cars.com Editor Mike Hanley. The R version of the Cayman is more lightweight, featuring racecar-style seats, straps instead of door handles and lighter materials. Check out how it drives in our full review with the link below.
AAA predicts holiday travel will increase 4.9% over the Fourth of July weekend, with 42.3 million Americans hitting the road — or airport, train station and the like — between Tuesday, July 3, and Sunday, July 8. That's up 42% over Independence Day travel in recession-strapped 2009. Lower gas prices play into the increase. A gallon of regular averages $3.50 nationally, down 19 cents from a month ago, leading 35.5 million of those travelers to plan on piling into their car for the long weekend. Even those who fly may drive more: Rental-car rates for the holiday weekend are down 9% from a year ago, AAA says. If you're planning to pile the family in for that trip to Walley World, Volvo's tips for safe road trips is a good primer.
In other news:
The all-new 2011 Porsche Cayenne and its first-for-the-brand hybrid model are already on sale, but we learned this week that early adopters of the hybrid trim can get a tax credit this year.
According to Porsche, the 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid qualifies for a $1,800 tax credit for the 2010 tax year. The hybrid is rated at 20/25 mpg city/highway.
That’s more than the $900 credit given to the 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 750i and X6, but less than the $2,200 credit for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid.
We recently tested Porsche’s lightened Boxster Spyder and raved about pretty much everything save the awkward top. Just like when the original Cayman was released, the Cayman R solves the convertible dilemma.
The Cayman R bumps horsepower over the Cayman S, just like the Boxster Spyder, losing 121 pounds via racecar-style seats, straps instead of door handles and lighter materials.
The show car's lime green paint job and the black spoiler and side mirrors really make the Cayman R stand out. The surprising livability of the Boxster Spyder makes this Cayman more palatable. Porsche’s claims of a 5.0-second zero-to-60 mph time with the manual and 4.9 seconds with the PDK – top speed is an unadvisable 175 mph – help matters.
It will arrive at dealers next month, just in time for the holidays. So if Santa can pony up $66,300, this little beauty can be gift-bow-adorned and in the driveway.
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