The new bodywork on the 300 is more rounded, with more creases, lending it a more modern look than the previous generation, which featured a decidedly retro theme, although the rear view reminds me of the 1950′s-era finned cars and makes me wonder if designers are returning to that design cue.

Out front, a crease running the length of the hood breaks up what would otherwise – and currently is – a large mesa of steel.  Moving along the sides of the 2011 300, the slit-window profile is present and hasn’t been too heavily modified.  This is definitely a good thing, as I found the distinctive profile attractive on the 2005-2010 model.

If there’s anything I don’t like about the outside, it’s the chrome strip that runs the width of the trunk.  It looks out of place, even if it’s meant to be there in lieu of a true chrome bumper.

Inside, Chrysler has done a number on what was a fairly plain and angled setup, instead opting for more organic rounded shapes.  The updated gauge cluster is a welcome sight, removing the last of the “Indiglo” bluish-green backlighting that Chrysler loved 10 years ago.  In its place is a cool blue lighting, used throughout the interior for a cohesive look.  The only shape that seems out of place is the trim ring around the center console, a rounded-rectangle.

Throughout the interior, the hard, angular plastics have been replaced by soft touch materials, including lots of leather, as seen on many of the Pentastar’s updated 2011 models.  There’s even the seemingly ubiquitous dual-panel moonroof, as seen on many a luxury car in the past few years.

While engines haven’t weren’t mentioned in the press release, expect the new Pentastar corporate V6 and an updated Hemi V8, both with better power and fuel economy than their predecessors.

Overall, the new 300 should boost its sales, which have steadily declined as the previous generation’s looks became quickly dated.

Show Press Release

by John Suit

Source: Chrysler

Related posts:

1. Introducing the Chrysler 200
2. Update: Chrysler Releases Photos of Upcoming 200 Sedan
3. Detroit 2012: 2013 Dodge Dart Makes Its Debut (w/Video)

Review of the 2010 Ford F-150

In the past year, I’ve moved the site from its original WordPress location to a paid hosting provider, reviewed several vehicles and test drove a bunch more, received a ton of email from readers, and with MaximumPhil’s own Owner’s Log entries, the Road Reality community is growing!  If you’d like to join the Owner’s Log program, please contact me.

2011 Ford Mustang GT's 5.0-Liter V8

I’ve managed to put up one or more posts on almost every weekday since November 9th, 2009, for a grand total of 313 posts in 22 Categories, and used 1,144 Tags to make the posts easily searchable.

Over the last year, there were a lot of popular posts, but the Top 10 are the following, in order:

Other highlights and fun stats from our inaugural year:

1. The Road Reality YouTube channel, which has seen almost 80,000 views of its 32 videos
2. A Road Reality Facebook page, with 43 fans
3. 327 Tweets on the Road Reality Twitter Page, with 61 followers and 2 listers
4. An image count of 1,412 – an average of 4 new pictures on the site each day

Things to look forward to in the coming year:

1. Continuing coverage of the American Automotive Industry, including both domestic and foreign makes
2. Reviews of new cars
3. Pictures and specifications on upcoming cars
4. Safety recalls
5. More Reader Polls

Thanks again for your continued readership, and I look forward to building the Road Reality site and community over the coming years!

by John Suit

Related posts:

1. Welcome to the new Road Reality site!
2. How Road Reality Reviews are Conducted
3. New Road Reality Feature: Owner’s Log

Cars with electronic power-assist steering (EPAS) are starting to outnumber those with hydraulic power steering.  While EPAS doesn’t usually give as nice a feedback as hydraulic, it saves at the gas pump, which is why more and more automakers are using it in their vehicles.  It also re-routes some of the components underneath a car’s hood, which seems to be leading to a learning curve, as we’ve seen half a dozen recalls this year because of EPAS.

Chrysler is not immune to this learning curve, as they’ve just recalled a slew of their new products.  A faulty end on a power steering hose can come apart, leading to power steering fluid spraying on a hot engine, which can lead to an engine fire.

Definitely not good, but no word on how many complaints were made or if any actual engine fires were reported.

Here’s the list of affected vehicles:

Show Press Release

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s): CHRYSLER / 300 2010 CHRYSLER / SEBRING 2010 DODGE / AVENGER 2010 DODGE / CHALLENGER 2010 DODGE / JOURNEY 2010 DODGE / RAM 2011 Manufacturer: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC Mfr’s Report Date: OCT 07, 2010 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V475000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Potential Number of Units Affected: 26397

Summary: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING, 300, CHARGER (LX) AND DODGE CHALLENGER (LC), AVENGER (JS), AND JOURNEY (JC), AS WELL AS MODEL YEAR 2011 DODGE RAM LIGHT DUTY PICKUP (DS) VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A SEPARATION AT THE CRIMPED END OF THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: LEAKED POWER STEERING FLUID ONTO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE AS NECESSARY THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Notes: CHRYSLER’S CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS K26. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

by John Suit

Source: NHTSA

Related posts:

1. GM Recalls Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS for Misplaced Cables
2. GM Recalling 2010 Cadillac SRX Over Fire Concerns
3. Recall: 2009-2010 Chrysler/Dodge/Jeeps being recalled over Brake failure?

2005 Toyota Avalon

If Toyota were a person, he or she would need some anti-depressants at this point.  After a multitude of recalls earlier this year, another big one is hitting the airwaves.  This time, it’s for the brake master cylinder, which amplifies the pressure you put on the brake pedal, making it easier for you to stop your car.  In certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles, however, a seal is going bad, leaking out the brake fluid, which leads to the “brake warning lamp” illuminating on your dash.  Click past the jump for the affected model list and full press release.

The total number is listed at 740,000 vehicles, and includes the following models:

• 2005-2006 Toyota Avalon
• 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander (non Hybrid)
• 2004-2006 Lexus RX330
• 2006 Lexus GS300
• 2006 Lexus IS250
• 2006 Lexus IS350

From Toyota’s press release, it looks like they’re laying the blame on using non-Toyota brake fluid, which allows the internal seal to dry out because of lubricants missing in the replacement fluid.

Over time, with the dried-out seal, this small leak can lead to a soft or spongy brake pedal, and reduced braking.

If you’ve got one of the above-listed vehicles, and have more questions, go to www.toyota.com/recall or www.lexus.com/recall or call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-25 LEXUS or 1-800-255-3987.

Show Press Release

by John Suit

Source: Toyota

Related posts:

1. Toyota expands application of Brake Override system
2. Honda Recalls Odyssey, Acura RL because of Shared Supplier
3. Official: Lexus Engine Recall affects 138,000 vehicles

The new 200 is a complete redesign of the Sebring, including different underpinnings.  Since the Sebring nameplate has been so tarnished as of late, and the Chrysler 300 is still selling fairly well, it makes sense to use a similar nomenclature, although I really dislike the automotive industry’s penchant for naming their vehicles using alphanumeric gibberish.

With a new 4-cylinder engine and the company’s new corporate “Pentastar” V6, the 200 should have plenty of power.  Featuring a new suspension, it should be able to put that power to use.  The new car should compete well with the likes of Honda and Toyota, or more likely, Ford and GM, if you can get buyers into the dealerships.

by John Suit

Source: Chrysler

Related posts:

1. Chrysler Recalls 27,000 Vehicles Over Fire Concern
2. Update: Chrysler Releases Photos of Upcoming 200 Sedan
3. Redesigned Chrysler 300 Makes its Debut

When Toyota realized that its average customers were getting closer to Buick’s than they liked, they came up with the Scion brand.  Specifically marketed towards young drivers, males in particular, the brand has several inexpensively-priced, quirky-looking boxes, and the tC.  By far the most popular, the tC has led to a customer base whose median age is 26 years old.  But, while originally favored by young males, young females have been buying up tCs for the past few years, and this is one of the things Toyota wanted to correct.

To that end, they’ve created a “helmet visor” roof by blacking out the sides of the windshield frame and the separator between the front and rear side glass, also known as the A and B pillars.  The new tC’s profile now looks like a helmet, and is decidedly more masculine, although I find it to be a bit polarizing, as it’s taken some time to grow on me.

The front end of the new car is probably the least worked-over part of the exterior sheetmetal, and it looks handsome.  Meanwhile, out back, the only congruous line is the one sculpted at the bottom of the rear fascia, which is a carryover from the bottoms of both doors and rear fenders.  The rest of it just doesn’t work for me, but then again, that’s why it’s polarizing.

Inside the new tC it’s a much better situation.  There appear to be better materials, at least with better textures to them, and while the radio still looks like an aftermarket install, you at least get the option of satellite navigation and HD radio this time around.  The thick steering wheel with auxiliary radio controls looks good, and it’s interesting to see an “active 3-way front stage” (in audiophile speak) of speakers all on the doors, including the tweeter, mid-range speaker and woofer from top to bottom.  Toyota even mentions that the new tC shares some of its stereo components with the Lexus LX470.

The seats continue their funky look, but without having sat in one, I still say they look comfortable, and the patterns on them break up what could otherwise be a monotone interior.  Behind the rear seats, you’ll find the familiar hatchback setup, and apparently the rear seats split 60/40, to give even more cargo room.

The tC carries on with its glass roof design, which I always thought was a nice touch for a car in its class.  Usually you only see roofs like this one on luxury vehicles and 3-row crossovers.

Feature-wise, the “base” tC comes with ABS, Toyota’s brake-override system, airbags a-plenty, a 300-watt stereo (including iPod/USB hookup), satellite radio (capable), 18″ wheels (almost unheard of in the tC’s class), as well as just about any other amenity you’d expect for under $20k.

Options, on the other hand, are not so numerous: satellite navigation (either an add-on module and a built-in module), HD radio, BlueTooth hands-free phone capability, interior bits and baubles, and of course a bevy of TRD (Toyota Racing Development) add-ons to boost performance, handling or braking.

Fuel mileage is the same for both the 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions, at 23/31/26 city/highway/combined.  Those are slight improvements from the previous model, with a modest bump in power due to direct injection, a now-mainstream technology which improves performance and fuel economy at the same time.

Overall, the new tC still presents itself as quite the value, although I’ll have to drive one before I can see if Toyota’s claims that it’s faster and handles better are true.  Starting at $18,275 ($19,275 with automatic transmission) and adding on a $720 destination charge brings you awfully close to the $20,000 mark, so it’s more costly than the cars it’s cross-shopped against; namely the Honda Civic (non EX-L models) and Toyota Corolla.  If you’re in the market for an inexpensive car with a lot of upmarket features, though, the Scion tC is definitely not a bad way to go.  The 2011 Scion tC should hit showrooms sometime this fall.

by John Suit

Source: Toyota

Related posts:

1. Toyota releases pricing for restyled 2011 Scion xB
2. Want Complimentary Maintenance? Buy a New Toyota or Scion
3. Lexus announces the 2011 ES 350