The 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show: Patrick Dempsey, Olivier Francois, Paula Patton (M.I. 4), Mark Reuss, impressive cars and more

The 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show: Patrick Dempsey, Olivier Francois, Paula Patton ("M.I. 4: Ghost Protocol"), Mark Reuss, impressive cars and more

The first day of the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Media Day was quite impressive. Actors Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Paula Patton (from "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" --opening on December 21, 2011) and Fiat C.E.O. Olivier Francois, and Mark Ruess, President of G.M. North America made appearances, and so did some impressive production and concept cars.

Impressive cars also shared the spotlight; new cars appearing at the show included the 2012 Hyundai Azera, featuring Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" design philosophy, the 2013 Ford Mustang, 2012 Ford Escape, Bentley Continental GTC, Cadillac Ciel Concept, the performance-oriented Fiat Abarth, and many more cars, SUV's, crossovers and trucks were on display and presented at on the first day of press coverage. Another notable story form day one: the 2012 Volkswagen Passat was awarded Motor Trend's Automobile of the Year trophy Below this story are photos of the the people and vehicles that stole the show on day one of the L.A. Auto Show:

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 32: The 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 32: The 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

 Good Grades: Nice exterior styling update--taking styling cues from the 1969 Charger was definitely a great idea. Strong horsepower from the V8 engine--you just want to step on the gas pedal and see just how fast you can go--in spite of the heavy weight of the car. Good interior room and comfort, excellent brakes, and good trunk space.

 Bad Grades: The dash just doesn't seem to measure up to the rest of the car--designers tried to make it look flashy, but there's something cheap-looking about it.

 Final Grade: The 2011 Dodge Charger is nearly the perfect American Muscle Sedan. Lose the cheap-looking dash, a few hundred pounds of weight, and you have one perfect ride. Nevertheless, this is one impressive car.


The Car Exam Final Grade: A


MSRP: $30,395


Price as tested: $31,220


P. Scott

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 31: The 2011 Dodge Challenger Rallye V6

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 31: The 2011 Dodge Challenger V6

Good Grades: Cool retro exterior styling from the original, roomy trunk, useable back seats, comfortable ride, comfortable front seats and good ergonomics overall.

 Bad Grades: While the V6 feels adequate in city driving, I noticed some initial lag when entering on a freeway onramp, but then power surged into action once the rpm's increased; huge blind spots because of the extremely thick C-pillars in the rear. The interior seems a bit plain for a car with such great exterior styling.

 Final Grade: The 2011 Dodge Challenger has its flaws, but has its good points as well. Out of all of the pony cars, this one just might make the best road trip car--even with its huge blind spots. I would have loved to have driven the SRT8, though.


The Car Exam Final Grade: B/B+


MSRP: $24,895


Price as tested: $31,475


P. Scott

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #30: The 2011 Dodge Durango Express

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #30: The 2011 Dodge Durango Express

Good Grades: Excellent exterior and interior styling, decent power from the 3.6 liter V6, smooth-shifting automatic transmission, well-controlled ride, good brakes, nice use of interior room and materials, comfortable seat, respectable sound system, good overall visibility, back up camera on-screen feature is nice.

Bad Grades: You feel a bit uneasy getting used to the drive height at first (especially if you're not used to driving an SUV), but you do gain confidence as you drive it more; the base model's $30,000 price tag, fuel economy still could be better.

Final Grade: I was pleasantly surprised by the Durango. This is one well-executed SUV that looks great inside and out. Once I got used to the height, I found its driving capabilities to be quite good, and if the quality stands up over time, the 2011 Dodge Durango is one of the best efforts from Chrysler in a very long time.

The Car Exam Final Grade: A

MSRP: $29,195


Price as tested: $31,590

By P. Scott

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 29: The 2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan

Consumer and Car Exam Quick Quiz # 29: The 2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan

Good Grades: There are very few cars I sit in that feel like they fit like a glove--but the 2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan is one of them. Like several new cars I've driven recently, the Focus really feels like it's built to fit around the driver. The seats feel very comfortable, and the driving position is excellent. The interior quality is first-rate--one of the best I've seen on a Ford--ever. The gauge cluster is clear and simple to read, and the climate controls are also simple--and simple is a good thing. The radio controls are clearly marked, but they could take some getting used to. The Focus SE came with the optional MY Sync voice activated feature--neat, but you'll need practice to learn using it. I had no problem with the front or rear seat room--some reviews have--but it seemed to be fine in the Focus Sedan. Fuel Economy is a good 27 mpg in the city, and an even better 37 mpg on the highway. The six-speed automatic shifts well, also. The exterior styling is excellent--it's one of the best looking cars in its class, right up there with the Hyundai Elantra. The brakes work well, and the Focus comes packed with ABS, and a full complement of air bags. Engine acceleration was fine--but I'll get back to that in a moment.

Bad Grades: The engine acceleration was fine, but seemed a bit harsh--not as refined as a Toyota power plant, for example. That is something that could use some more work from Ford. The trunk lid wasn't lined, which it should have been, and the trunk opening should have been wider.

Final Grade: Having driven the 2010 Focus earlier this year, and comparing to the new 2012 model, the 2012 SE Sedan is a homerun for Ford, whereas the 2010 was a double at best. While it isn't perfect, the 2012 Focus SE Sedan is far better than the previous model, and worthy of praise.

The Car Exam Grade: A

MSRP: $17,400

Price as tested: $21,775

By P. Scott

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 28: The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1 LT

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 28: The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1 LT

Good Grades: Clean Styling, well-executed interior and roominess, Bluetooth capability, good ride quality and handling, satellite radio available on the stereo system, clear gauge cluster, excellent torque from the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, capable braking, the automatic transmission works well, and the Cruze has a nice array of safety features, and good fuel economy as well.

Bad Grades: Low-end torque needs the turbo to kick in to feel competent; the radio controls need to be simple to use at a glance.

Final Grade: The Chevrolet Cruze is a much better car than the Cobalt it replaces--it's a competent vehicle with nice features--if reliability can hold up, and if it can do well against the competition, then Chevrolet will have a real winner on its hands.

The Car Exam Grade: A/A-

MSRP: $18,425

Price as tested: $20,460

By P. Scott

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #27: The 2011 Chevrolet Volt

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #27: The 2011 Chevrolet Volt

Good Grades: Electric power and a gasoline-powered generator= 300 plus miles of range--something the Nissan Leaf or the outgoing Tesla Roadster can't boast; a comfortable, usable interior (making it a hatchback was a great idea), a nice Bose audio system, terrific gauge cluster with informational computer, good in-town acceleration, as well as highway passing acceleration. It's the best-executed gasoline/plug-in electric car on the market right now.

Bad Grades: The Volt is on the heavy side, the touch-control system a bit on the sensitive side, the brakes take some getting used to--they require more effort than normal, and the price of admission is somewhat high.

The Final Grade: The Volt is a winner--it shows that General Motors can indeed build an innovative, useful electric car that can run circles around the competition. I was very impressed with the Volt, and I can see why it is such an award-winning car. Plus, know this: for 2012, the navigation and Bose stereo system will be optional, which should put in dent in the price of the Volt's starting price. Add the government's additional price reductions on electric vehicles, and the Chevrolet Volt will be accessible to more customers. Also, get the 220 volt charger for the Volt--it will charge the electric motor much faster than the 110 volt system. Well done, Chevrolet and GM.

The Car Exam Final Grade: A

MSRP: $32,780

By P. Scott

Consumer and Car Exam Quick Quiz #26: the 2011 Audi A3 TDI Wagon

Good Grades: Nice power from the 2.0 Liter, four-cylinder TDI engine--it has good acceleration from the Turbo Diesel power plant--it's the first diesel-powered car I've had the opportunity to drive, and it was a pleasurable experience. The Audi A3 TDI's six-speed Automanual transmission shifts with precision. The interior materials are great, the seats are comfortable, and interior room is also useful and respectable. The ride is firm but nice, and the A3 TDI's overall driving experience does not disappoint. It feels very sporty and the braking is also good. This feels like a well-made automobile. It comes fully-loaded with useful safety features (a full complement of air bags all around, anti-lock brakes, stability control and traction control), also.



By the way, it should be noted here that the photos for this review are of the 2012 S Line Wagon; photo opportunities of the TDI I tested were limited to a parking structure--not exactly ideal for good photos--so I had to resort to going to an Audi Dealer to get the shots I needed. However, the dealer was out of TDI's, and a salesman told me as they are such hot sellers, most are already spoken for by the time they arrive at the dealership. In fact, the A3 Wagon shown in this review was the only A3 Wagon they had in stock. The S Line model in the photos does not have the navigation system that I mention below.



Bad Grades: The instrument panel is nice, but I must say I don't care for small, distracting buttons on the radio and navigation system. I'm old school that way, and prefer the least amount of distraction from the road as possible. Plus, the price of admission isn't cheap: prices start at $30, 250 and it can go up from there with options.



Final Grade: There is a lot to like about the 2011 Audi A3 TDI Wagon--this isn't your dad's old-tech, diesel-powered car that was slow, made an annoying "knocking" sound and had smelly exhaust fumes. Diesel Technology has improved over the years, and the Audi A3 TDI Wagon proves it. Decrease the price on it by at least three to five grand, and you'd have a straight "A" grade for this car.

Consumer and Car Exam Final Grade: B+/A-
MSRP: $30, 250

By P. Scott

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #25: The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

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Good Grades: Just about everything--this is one of the best bargain family sedans I've ever driven. The 2.4 liter, 204 hp four cylinder/hybrid combination works very well. It's the most powerful four cylinder car I've driven to date, and the engine is smooth and strong. I've read complaints that the drive train doesn't feel smooth, but during my brief test drive of the Sonata Hybrid, I found nothing bothersome about it. It feels like a V6, but it isn't. The six-speed automatic shifts smoothly, as well. The interior is excellent, with good ergonomics and controls. The ride also felt just fine to me. The interior materials are good quality as well, further demonstrating that Hyundai has come a very long way in quality and design the last several years.



Fuel economy is also excellent, boasting an impressive 35 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway--that's hard to beat in a family sedan. The styling is great and simply elegant, though I would argue it even looks better on the smaller 2012 Elantra (I've taken photos of both side by side for comparison). Visibility is also good from all angles. The 2011 Sonata Hybrid has a full array of safety features, from anti-lock brakes to a full complement of front and side curtain airbags. It also has a great warranty (a basic 5-year, 60,000 mile warranty and a 10-year, 100,000 mile warranty on the drive train).



Bad Grades: Prices on the Sonata Hybrid can get very pricey for budget-minded people if they're not careful. The GLS would be a great alternative to the Hybrid, but your fuel economy would be 11 mpg less in the city, but still would be very good on the highway. However, its $25,795 base price (and even higher with options) may chase away budget-conscious buyers.



Final Grade: The Car Exam doesn't give a lot of "A" grades, but the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is more than worthy of it. Its styling makes the competition look dated, and other Sonata models have proven to be a reliable--something people couldn't say with a straight face about Hyundai in the past, especially about models from the 1980's and 1990's. Dealers are clearing out the 2011 models to make room for the 2012 Sonatas, so if you can find a 2011 Hybrid model at a deep discount, it may be worth a look.

The Car Exam Final Grade: A-/B+

MSRP: $25,795

By P. Scott