UPDATED: see below

It’s been a quiet week here at Gaywheels, with many of our automotive acquaintances stuck at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show. (Life’s rough sometimes.) Still, we found a couple of tasty news nuggets for car nuts. Savor them as you count down the minutes until Miller Time — or cosmo time, if that’s your thing:

• Racing fans will be happy to hear that Toyota has announced its star-studded list of participants for the 2012 “Glitz, Glamour, and Glory” pro/celebrity race on Saturday, April 14 in Long Beach, California. Non-racing fans will be happy to hear that uber-daddy Christopher Meloni (of Oz, Law and Order, and soon, True Blood) will be among the celebs on the track, racing Scion tCs for fun and philanthropy. Horsepower and hunks: everybody wins.

• Remember how we told you that the LGBT-friendly license plates in Indiana had been spared? Well, not so fast. Bilerico is reporting that someone has resurrected the bill to nix them – along with all other specialty plates — as an amendment to another piece of legislation. Typically, that sort of thing isn’t supposed to happen in the last few days of the legislative session, but clearly, conservatives have ditched manners in their desperation. We encourage you to give the legislature a call — especially if you’re a resident of Indiana. Ring (800) 382-9842 to leave a message for House leadership, or (800) 382-9467 to reach state Senate leadership. Now, please. [h/t John Voelcker]

• UPDATED: The bigots in Indiana may have found a loophole allowing them to kill the LGBT license plate while leaving all others intact. What a frustrating way to end the week.

Remember when we told you that Indiana was adding an LGBT-friendly license plate to its roster of specialty plates? Well, that didn’t sit to well with conservative lawmakers in Indianapolis. In fact, Republican representative Ed Soliday of Valparaiso was so sickened by the idea of tolerance and harmony that he introduced a bill to nix specialty plates altogether.

The good news is that Soliday has now pulled that bill. Given the drubbing that social conservatives have taken over the past few months — from Rick “frothy mix” Santorum to Rush “we wanna watch” Limbaugh — we’re going to assume that Soliday’s GOP colleagues asked him to focus on less divisive matters. You know, for the good of the party.

The bad news is that Soliday has promised to introduce the bill again next year.

Indiana readers: let us know if you have any special insight on this one. And by all means, keep us posted!

Can the latest 3-Series hold off the competition?

The automotive world has seriously changed when you find yourself behind the wheel of a new BMW 3-Series and start drawing comparisons to a Kia sedan. I know that BMW fans are going into apoplectic shock over that comment. But give me a minute to explain. For starters, the sixth generation of the iconic 3-Series sports sedan looks great, is fun to drive, and gets better mileage than the outgoing model. The exterior changes are evolutionary but, in my opinion, very successful.

Two engines are offered, the base 328i sedan comes with a turbocharged and direct injected 240-bhp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, while the 335i comes equipped with a turbocharged 300-hp inline-6. Since I spent the majority of my driving time in the 328i, I’ll focus my attention on that model. Being the entry-level model doesn’t mean the 328i is a slouch when it comes to performance. When equipped with the optional 8-speed automatic, like the one in my test car, the sprint from 0 to 60 mph takes less than 6.0 seconds.

The standard 6-speed manual is a few tenths quicker, though either gearbox comes highly recommended and is extremely well engineered. Fuel economy during highway cruising is a very respectable 34-mpg in the 328i (automatic). Unfortunately, the stop-and-start engine function was noticeably unrefined. The system shuts engine off at red lights to save fuel, but it often felt like the car had stalled. Similar systems, like the eAssist program in the Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Malibu, are miles better. Maybe this was a foible with my specific test car?

The 3-Series has been a longtime benchmark when it comes to ride and handling, so I was surprised when my first impressions of the 328i’s handling weren’t stellar. It initially felt too light, especially when cruising down the highway where it felt like slackness had been built in. Selecting ‘Sport’ mode brought on a vast improvement, and the solid heft you expect of a German sport sedan was finally there. But should a 3-Series buyer have to program handling prowess? Driver selectable programs are fine, so long as the default setting doesn’t disappoint.

The power and flexibility of the 4-cylinder engine, however, leaves nothing to be desired. This slick little engine has a very tractable nature and never feels peaky or short of breath. And unless you really need the extra 60 horsepower, it’s hard to imagine opting for the pricier and thirstier 6-cylinder (though that engine is pretty addictive once you sample it). In either model, the ride is stable and controlled, which was a great relief considering the switchback roads BMW had picked for the drive. Yours truly considered kissing the pavement after one harrowing stretch of canyon road.

High quality plastics and leather are what you expect in this segment, and the 328i maintains the status quo. Yet I would have liked something a little more daring in terms of layout. Even the Kia Optima sedan (yes, here comes that Kia reference) has more panache in the overall design of the dashboard – though the BMW does feel extremely solid. Nothing felt inferior out of place in the BMW, but at nearly $50,000 (with options) the cabin merely feels good enough. Space in the rear is surprisingly good, with more than enough room for two full-size adults.

Trust me, the 3-Series remains the car to beat in this segment – a fact proven by sheer sales volume too. But the gap from to rivals like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4 has narrow. And upstarts like the Buick Regal GS and Cadillac ATS stand a chance of finally cracking into this segment that German automakers have dominated for so long. Forget the Kia comparison, I just suggested cross-shopping a Buick with a BMW.

If you’ve got a little time to kill this Thursday, and you’ve already slogged through the endless array of “Sh*it People Say” videos and Angelina Jolie legbombing pics, maybe you should pay a visit to FirstCarStory.com.

FirstCarStory allows car nuts like yourself to share the story of your very first ride via a short, animated cartoon. It’s clever, it’s really well-designed, and since it’s sponsored by Subaru, it’s totes LGBT-friendly.

To get the ball bearings a-rolling, pick out the model, color, and condition of your first car. (Or, you know, totally make it up.) Clicking the “Bring it to life” button allows you to log into the website using Facebook Connect, which will come in handy if you plan to incorporate Facebook friends into your story. Or you can choose to skip that part. Your call.

Next, you’ll pen a 150-word story about your first car. We suggest a fun anecdote about all the fabulosity that happened in said ride, but you’re the Hemmingway here.

When writing that story, you can use the highlight function to draw attention to certain words that you want to figure prominently in the animation. The site will automatically pick some words of its own, too — including “gay” and the acronym “LGBT”.  If you happened to log in through Facebook, you can rope friends into the story using the tried-and-true “@FriendsName” formula.

Almost done. Now all you have to do is pick a backing track. (Note: the one at the top of the list is disco. We say go for it.) If you like, you can also record your story, so people will hear you narrate it.

When you’re done, FirstCarStory.com will slap all the info you provided onto a storyboard and animate the heck out of it. Like what you see? Share it on Facebook, Twitter, and with others via email.

Apart from the fact that FirstCarStory.com seems like great way to kill some time on a Thursday afternoon, we love the fact that Subaru has anticipated and made plenty of room for its LGBT fans. (In our own test clip, a big ol’ rainbow popped up when the story reached the word “gay”.) Then again, should we expect anything less from the automaker that brought us an LGBT-specific badge for our bumper?

We also like the fact that Subaru has built this as such a soft-sell for the 2012 Impreza. (Scroll over the bottom-left corner to see the ad.) Even though the money to build the site almost certainly came from Subaru’s advertising budget, it feels less like an ad and more like a present to fans. And really, who doesn’t like getting presents?

The past couple of weeks have been slow on the car news front but great for LGBT Americans.

We scored marriage-equality victories in Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington, and when Chris Christie vetoed that New Jersey bill, he was roundly, soundly booed for being on the wrong side of history (as we now say). What’s more, if the recent Prop 8 verdict stands, it would seem that once couples begin marrying in Maryland and Washington, there’ll be no going back.

Even better, a U.S. District Court in California declared the controversial 1996 Defense of Marriage Act — which prevents federal recognition of same-sex marriages by agencies like the IRS – to be unconstitutional. Naturally, John Boehner & the Bigots have appealed, and the case will likely be challenged all the way to the Supreme Court. However, it’s an encouraging start.

Oh, to be a fly on Maggie Gallagher’s wall right now.

But we have to wonder: why the sudden movement? Why this lurching forward? It may have something to do with Millennials, who are beginning to come into their own, and whose decidedly pro-LGBT marriage stance is beginning to play out in the larger culture.

That effect is perhaps most visible in the workplace, where it’s increasingly common for businesses to draft non-discrimination policies to protect their LGBT employees. Here’s a quote from a recent issue of The Economist:

What caused this corporate revolution? Pressure groups such as HRC and Britain’s Stonewall can take some of the credit. But mostly it happened because changing attitudes in society at large have reduced the cost of being gay-friendly, and raised the rewards. A generation ago in the West, creating a gay-friendly workplace might have upset heterosexual staff. Now it probably won’t. But failing to treat gays equally is very likely to drive them to seek employment elsewhere. Since they are perhaps 5-10% of the global talent pool, bigotry makes a firm less competitive.

So, it seems like we’re experiencing a perfect pink storm: more LGBT individuals are coming out of the closet because more of their straight counterparts either accept or don’t care about their sexual orientation. Eventually, those LGBT individuals want — and win — the same rights as their straight colleagues. And then, things begin to snowball.

The shift in mindset has been thrown into sharp relief over the course of the Republican presidential debates, which have ratcheted up the debate on social issues like marriage equality. All of the major candidates except Ron Paul (who’s not perfect on LGBT issues, either) have come out swinging against same-sex marriage and said that they’d support a constitutional amendment to protect “traditional marriage” — whatever that means. In turn, they’ve been criticized by many of their fellow GOPers for veering so far to the right, for being so out of step with an American public that is increasingly LGBT-friendly.

Of course, that’s not to say that President Obama has been front-and-center, pushing for marriage equality like New York’s Governor Cuomo (whom we should probably expect to see in 2016). He’s clearly, repeatedly hedged his bets. But you can’t argue the fact that Obama helped abolish “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, and he has refused to defend DOMA in court. If Americans voted solely on social issues (note: we don’t), Obama might be looking at a near-certain victory come November.

We don’t mean to be overly optimistic. We know our LGBT history. We know that the community seemed poised for similar gains in the late 70s and early 80s, just as HIV/AIDS began to ravage our ranks and opened the door to decades of discrimination. Things can go wrong. Things we can’t predict.

But for now — whether we live in a state that has marriage equality or one that’s criticized for not having it — it’s a good time to be an LGBT American. Not a great time, but good.

Today is Fat Tuesday — or, literally translated, “Mardi Gras”. Mardi Gras is the final day of the Carnival season, which begins every year on January 6 and ends 47 days before Easter.

Mardi Gras is a day of indulgence, a day of food, friends, and, of course, drinking. In New Orleans — home to one of your friendly Gaywheels staffers — locals hang up their keys and leave the driving to the police, the float-pullers, and the tourists who have to be back in their cubicles on Ash Wednesday. If you’re unfortunate enough to be in that number, here are a few of the sights and obstacles you’ll face behind the wheel today. (Click on one of the highlighted areas to get the full scoop):

View Mardi Gras driving guide in a larger map

It’s Friday, and Gaywheels’ New Orleans office is preparing for a long weekend of Carnival balls, parades, and beads (as well as some inclement weather and the inevitable assortment of homophobic bible-thumpers telling all the gays that we’re doomed). But before we break out the bedazzler to spruce up our party gear, here are a couple of news bits you might find interesting:

1. Stupidity can’t fully explain homophobia. True, a recent study did find parallels between low IQs and homophobia — in fact, 68% of people with below-average cognitive abilities had homophobic tendencies. (That’s mimics a separate study on racism, which found 62% of males and 65% of females with below-average intelligence had racist tendencies, while only 35% of males and 38% of females with above-average intelligence felt the same.)

But the folks at BigThink offer some clarification:

The authors of this study have been quick to point out that they are not suggesting that everyone who has conservative beliefs are all stupid or that everyone who has liberal beliefs are all smart. Instead they are arguing that an ability to form your own beliefs, rather than taking those from an authority on faith, requires a confidence in your ability to think intelligently. In that respect, they are essentially arguing that left-wing liberal ideologies necessarily exclude people who lack the confidence to form their own opinions.

2. Speaking of bigots: Victoria Jackson equates riding the bus with communism. In a rambling tirade spewed to Huffington Post reporters at the recent hate-fest known as the Conservative Political Action Conference (which this year decided to ban even the most self-loathing gay groups), Jackson had this to say.

“The people of California voted that they did not believe that gay marriage — no gay marriage,” she explained to HuffPost Gay Voices. “They voted that. A judge, probably gay, activist judge, overturned that. That’s what I’m talking about — communism.”

She explained further that it could lead to living in pods. “Do you know what the housing is going to be like when we all live in a pod?” she asked. “And we all take public transit? It’s going to be Russia. It’s going to be Cuba.”

First of all: what?

And second of all: what?

Now don’t get us wrong: we appreciate Jackson’s implied love of cars, and although we don’t have anything against subways or ferries or other forms of public transportation, we know how much of a bummer it can be to take the bus when your car’s in the shop.

But seriously: gay marriage, communism, pod people, and mass transit, all in the same breath? Give that woman a round of applause.

One day scientists are going to get their hands on Victoria Jackson’s brain. Will they uncover the answers to the universe’s most pressing questions? Or just a heap of cat food held together by bits of string and twist-ties? We can’t wait to find out.

Note: Hyundai is a non-gay-friendly automaker.

HYUNDAI PUTS ACCENT ON SUB-COMPACTS

I’m driving along in the all-new 2012 Hyundai Accent, enjoying the crisp handling, hearing the solidness of the body structure, and appreciating how the powertrain does its thing. Then it hits me, “This is the entry-level Hyundai!” It is a suave little fuel-sipper that won’t put you out on the street — unless you want to be.

“Fluidic Sculpture” styling made the Sonata midsize sedan and Elantra compact the most exciting-looking cars in their classes. The look even plays well on the Tucson crossover and Veloster funster. But, I wondered how it would play on a small sedan. Turns out, very well. The large trapezoidal headlamps, gaping grille, raised hood, sweeping roofline, and ribbed bodysides look sleek, contemporary, and tough. It proves former GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz’ adage of “it costs as much to make an ugly car as a beautiful one.”

This feeling of punching above its price point carries into the Accent’s interior. That doesn’t mean there are heated leather seats, Bose audio systems, or hand-stitched dash coverings. Because, there aren’t any. Hard plastic covers the doors, the dash is equally hard, and seats are upholstered in gray canvas. But, everything feels as if it will last forever. Deft sculpting on the dash, molded pulls on the doors, silver accents around the window switches, and black piano finish encircling the gear selector look upscale.

As with the larger Sonata, controls are housed in a center pod that looks like an African war mask. Climate is controlled by three easy-to-use knobs on the lower level while the radio is changed up top. A thick leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio and phone buttons falls to hands. Our test car also came with a USB iPod connection, CD player, satellite radio, and Bluetooth. Fold-flat rear seats let owners carry almost anything.

Driving the Accent sells it. Sub-compact cars in this price class once came with horrific suspensions that would embarrass a Yugo. Manual transmissions provided all the feeling of a wooden spoon in wet noodles. The Accent’s steering is direct, the suspension rumbles over rough roads without a shudder, and the car clips through corners. The gear selector is not perfect, but it is easy to click through the gears.

And, you’ll work the gears to get the most out of the 1.6-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine that delivers 138hp, directed to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission or optional 6-speed automatic. The engine must be revved like a screaming drag queen for maximum power, but at least it’s there. Fuel economy ratings of 30/40 mpg city/highway keep money in pocket.

Enhancing safety, the Accent comes standard with four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, brake force distribution, and brake assist. Dual front, front side, and side curtain airbags protect everyone. Not long ago, you would have purchased a luxury car to get all of these features. Now, you get them all in the most affordable Hyundai.

The only option our test car had was a $35 iPod cord, bringing the as-tested price to $15,830. Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty comes standard.

2012 Hyundai Accent SE 5-Door
Five-passenger, FWD Hatch.
Powertrain: 138hp 1.6-litre I4, six-speed manual.
Suspension f/r: Ind/torsion beam
Wheels: 16”/16” f/r
Brakes: Disc/disc fr/rr with ABS
Must-have feature: Style, value
Fuel economy (city/hwy.): 30/40 mpg
Manufacturing: Ulsan, S. Korea
As tested price: $15,830

Last week, we told you about the sad state of Hyundai, Kia, Porsche, and Suzuki. We told you about how they refuse to offer workplace protections to their LGBT employees. We told you about how they avoid answering our questions, like, “When will your employment policies catch up to the rest of us in the 21st century?”

If you’re the sort of person who puts her money where her mouth is, that could be enough to put you off those brands for a long time to come. After all, there are plenty of other fish (and four-door sedans) in the proverbial sea.

But what if you’re not so political in your shopping habits? And what if you really dig a ride like the Hyundai Accent (which we’ll review tomorrow)? How can you reconcile terrible, regressive corporate policies that conflict with your own deeply held beliefs — policies that implicitly devalue you and the rest of the LGBT community — with your need for a good car? How can you make a deal with the devil?

It ain’t easy, but it can be done.

Look, in a perfect world, we could spend all our time shopping at places like J.C. Penney (now known as jcpenney) and bypass Target altogether. We wouldn’t have to stay at hotels like the Manchester Grand Hyatt. We could pick up stakes and move to one of the growing number of states that allow gay marriage.

But the world isn’t perfect– if it were, Ryan Gosling would bat for our team and Maggie Gallagher would develop a lifelong case of laryngitis. Sometimes, we just have to close our eyes and think of England’s more progressive legal protections.

Case in point

This isn’t just idle chatter. One of our readers recently wrote in and asked, in essence, “How ‘gay-unfriendly’ are the four companies on your ‘non-gay-friendly’ list?” He needed a new ride, and he was looking at the Kia Rio SX, but as he said, “I really don’t want to support a company that doesn’t understand that LGBT people should have the same rights as everyone else.”

Our advice was that he contact his local Kia dealership and see what its policies are. As we mentioned in our interview with GM’s Eric Peterson, each dealership is unique, since dealer’s contracts with automakers don’t get into specifics like employment policies.

Long story short, our reader found a Kia dealer in his area that had a history of supporting LGBT causes and had even participated in a local AIDS Walk. That made him feel better about purchasing a car made by a company that still doesn’t “get it”.

But what about you? Have you run into this problem in looking for a new car? Has it been a major sticking point? How did you overcome it? Drop us an email, or leave us a note in the comments below.

Hyundai, Kia, Porsche, and Suzuki offer no protections or benefits for their LGBT employees.

There are two ways of looking at that.

On the one hand, you could say that of the 37 car companies Gaywheels has surveyed, a whopping 33 are gay-friendly (at least to some degree). Considering that most of those automakers have added pro-LGBT policies within the past decade, that’s swift progress. Only four lagging behind? Not so shabby.

On the other hand, you could also say that in this day and age — when every single firm on Fortune’s list of Best Companies to Work For has a non-discrimination policy to protect its LGBT employees — it is appalling that any automaker remains so clueless.

We can appreciate both arguments, depending on our mood and caffeine levels.

In an effort to keep Gaywheels’ list of gay-friendly automakers up to date, we’ve contacted Hyundai, Kia, Porsche, and Suzuki to see what steps — if any — they’re taking to make their companies more LGBT-friendly. During the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, we even followed up with three of those companies in person. Here’s what we learned.

HYUNDAI/KIA: Still not gay-friendly
We’ve reached out to Hyundai/Kia on several occasions, asking for updates on their LGBT employment policies. To date, our calls and emails have been ignored. In Detroit, on our first visit to the Hyundai/Kia booth, we were told that no one on-site could respond to our queries, but if we stopped by later in the day, they’d have some answers. We did. They didn’t.

Hyundai’s website isn’t any more helpful or encouraging. Under “diversity“, the company says one of its goals is “To hire and retain an executive management and employee staff based on equal participation and opportunity for all, regardless of race, gender, age, national origin, religion, or any other legally protected characteristic [emphasis ours].” Sigh.

That said, we would be very, very surprised if Hyundai/Kia didn’t get on the LGBT equality train very, very quickly. The sisters from South Korea are working overtime to grow market share in the U.S., and if they want to do that, they’re going to need to maintain a workforce that is as diverse and creative as the ones managed by competitors like Toyota, Honda, and Detroit’s Big Three.  Hyundai/Kia won’t add LGBT-protections because it’s “the right thing to do”; they’ll do it because they need the talent of LGBT employees and the bucks of LGBT customers.

Want to make your voice heard? Send a note to Hyundai at consumeraffairs@hmausa.com (Kia doesn’t make it that easy), or call 800-633-5151 (Hyundai) and 800-333-4542 (Kia).

PORSCHE: Still not gay-friendly
When we stopped by the Porsche booth at the Detroit Auto Show, the front desk attendants were all smiles. “Is there someone we could talk to about Porsche’s policies toward its LGBT employees?” we asked. One happily went off in search of an appropriate staffer.

The PR rep who came out to meet us, however, was definitely not eager to chat. In a nutshell, her response was a curt, “We don’t comment on internal policies” — a response she repeated several times. She was kind of like the bouncer at a nightclub telling an intoxicated patron, “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

We left all right, and much like that drunk, we were not happy about it.

After we’d calmed down a bit, we tried to give the rep the benefit of the doubt. The auto show is a hectic place, after all — maybe she’d just had a bad day. We followed up with her a couple of weeks ago to see if she’d be willing to elaborate. Not surprisingly, we were ignored.

But despite her reluctance to comment on personnel policies, our PR rep and the rest of the Porsche team will likely be dragged kicking and screaming into the era of LGBT equality — and soon. There’s no question that Porsche suffers from a bad case of elitism, but that’s the very attitude that got Porsche in trouble when it recently tried to take over sister company, Volkswagen. Now that VW is running the show, rumor has it that Porsche has begun a slow process of adding LGBT protections, bringing it in line with VW, which landed an impressive score on HRC’s 2012 Corporate Equality Index.

Want to make your voice heard? Porsche has practically no contact information on its website, but you could try reaching out to Nick Twork, Product Communications Manager, at nick.twork@porsche.us or 678-323-6975. (He’s not the right person to hear your grievances, but he’s listed on recent press releases. Better than nothing.) We’d give you the email address of the PR rep we spoke to in Detroit, but that would probably be an exercise in futility. And frustration.

SUZUKI: Still not gay-friendly
As with Hyundai/Kia and Porsche, our queries to Suzuki have gone unanswered, and the company was a no-show in Detroit. Short of sending a letter by registered mail, we don’t know what else to do.

But whatever. Rumor has it that Suzuki isn’t long for the Western World anyway. The Kizashi helped improve the brand’s standing a bit, but it’s has its share of critics, too. (We’d add that if you’re trying to draw attention to your car company with a halo model, betting the farm on a mid-size sedan may not be the way to go.) We wouldn’t be surprised if Suzuki packed up its toys and went home in a couple of years.

Want to make your voice heard? Given the lack of email addresses on Suzuki contact page, we’re guessing the company doesn’t like to communicate that way. (Which might explain why our emails have gone unanswered.) If you feel passionately about Suzuki and want to see it stick around, try calling 800-934-0934.

But what if you love the Hyundai Santa Fe? What if you can’t live without a Porsche 911? Next week, we’ll talk more about these four not-so-gay-friendly brands and what to do if you’re bound and determined to buy a car from one of them.

Last month, we told you about the Human Rights Campaign’s 2012 Corporate Equality Index, which scored companies according to how well they treat their LGBT employees. Chrysler, Ford, and Toyota aced the study, with General Motors, Subaru, and Volkswagen following close behind.

Nissan, however, was a disappointment. The automaker does have a basic non-discrimination policy (though it doesn’t cover gender expression), and it offers health/medical coverage to same-sex partners of its employees, but it lacks many other benefits for LGBT workers. In the end, Nissan scored 30 out of a possible 100 points.

We wrote Nissan to ask about its 2012 CEI score and how the company plans to make its workplace more LGBT-friendly. Within less than 24 hours, we received this thorough and thoughtful reply from Paula Angelo, the Director of Corporate Communications for Nissan North America:

Thanks for getting in touch with Nissan regarding the recent CEI report. This score is very important to Nissan’s overall diversity efforts, and it’s useful to understand where we have opportunities for meaningful progress on LGBT issues. Nissan is committed to raising its score to the level achieved by other automakers.

Nissan has a long-standing commitment to providing a diverse, inclusive work environment for all stakeholders, including those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. The company strives to develop, promote and recruit at all levels of the organization so that our workforce represents the diverse communities and customers we serve, and to create an internal environment where everyone’s background and perspective are respected. In addition, all Nissan employees who are eligible for and enroll in company benefit programs may enroll a same-sex domestic partner for medical, dental and vision coverage, and same-sex domestic partners are eligible to participate in the company’s employee lease-vehicle program.

At Nissan, we view diversity and inclusion as a path, rather than a fixed destination – and while we know we can do more to ensure a welcoming environment for everyone, we have taken some strong steps forward on this issue during the past 12 months. In May 2011, our company launched the Nissan Americas Diversity Office and, soon after, created the Nissan Americas Diversity Council. Both entities are intended to accelerate Nissan’s progress toward being trusted in the Americas as a leading car company for diversity and inclusion by 2016. The Diversity Council is supported by external advisors that include Corbett Doyle of Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. Under the Diversity Council’s direction, in November 2011, Nissan’s corporate policy on diversity and inclusion was updated to incorporate language directly referencing sexual orientation. The next Diversity Council meeting, which is scheduled for later this month, specifically includes a discussion of our 2011 CEI scores on the agenda.

Finally, I want to reiterate that Nissan is on record in opposition to Tennessee HB600/SB632 [Ed. note: referenced here]. The legislation was initially presented to Nissan and other members of the corporate community as a measure to cultivate a consistent, business-friendly climate; however, once its consequences for diversity and inclusiveness became clear, the company took a public stance that reflects our values on this issue. While I know your initial story indicated that Nissan did not oppose the legislation until after the Governor signed it into law, in fact our opposition was well documented prior to the Governor making his declaration. Those close to the issue know that Nissan was instrumental in soliciting corporate opposition to HB600/SB632 but, unfortunately, those efforts were not successful in swaying the Governor’s decision.

The third paragraph is probably the most important. From where we sit, it roughly translates as, “We’re not there yet, but we’re on-track to get there soon.” That’s great news — though it seems as if transgender equality at Nissan will lag behind policies ensuring fairness for lesbian, gay, and bisexual employees. We’ll post more news about Nissan’s progress as we get it.

Tomorrow, updates on the four automakers on Gaywheels’ non-gay-friendly list: Hyundai, Kia, Porsche, and Suzuki.

Last week, I wrote about my sit-down with General Motors’ Vice President for Global Diversity, Eric Peterson, who told me about GM’s efforts to reach out to the LGBT community. A few minutes after I wrapped up that interview, I wandered 20 feet across the floor of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show and got a slightly different perspective on GM, courtesy of Adam Bernard. (Pictured above at left, with partner, Rich.) As an added treat, we were joined by the lovely and talented Joe LaMuraglia, Communications Manager for GMC and a noted friend of Gaywheels.

Technically speaking, Bernard is GM’s Associate Director of Competitor Intelligence, but for the time we chatted, he wore a different hat — the one he sports as the chair of GM PLUS. “PLUS” is shorthand for “People Like Us”, and it’s GM’s official LGBT employee resource group. Bernard has been involved with the group since 2001, and he’s served as its chair since 2006.

Over the course of our half-hour together, we talked about a wide range of initiatives that GM has undertaken to ensure an LGBT-friendly workplace. Here are some of the high points:

What GM PLUS does
GM PLUS educates GM employees about what the company is doing “right” for LGBT workers and also what the company should be doing. Those education efforts affect all levels of GM staff, from engineers to marketers to the OnStar team to the folks on GM’s assembly lines. PLUS also advises LGBT workers on matters like health care and other benefits for same-sex partners.

The most successful work of GM PLUS
One of the best-received programs of GM PLUS has been its “Can We Talk?” workshops. “Can We Talk?” is a “fishbowl” exercise, and it’s become a common, effective way for workers at many companies to broach sensitive topics. Typically, “Can We Talk?” workshops involve one group — for example, LGBT employees — sitting around a table, discussing issues that arise in the workplace. Another group — say, executives — observes the first group, “eavesdropping” on their discussion. The group inside the fishbowl gets to air some grievances, and the group on the outside gains some new perspectives, and neither group has to deal with the hassle of direct confrontation. Bernard said that the workshops have been hugely successful and raised a lot of interest about GM PLUS within the company.

Bernard also mentioned the “It Gets Better” video that PLUS helped develop for GM. Both he and LaMuraglia described it as a meaningful, moving experience, and frankly, that shows in the clip.

What progress has been made on LGBT awareness within GM?
Bernard said things have changed dramatically within GM over the past decade. One of the most visible examples of that has been the creation of advertising with LGBT-specific content, which began around 2010 when Buick first sponsored the OUT 100. Bernard pointed out that dealers in many markets have been doing LGBT-oriented advertising for years, but now, it’s coming from GM HQ, too.

Bernard added that each of GM’s brands now reaches out to the LGBT community in different ways. GMC, for example, hosts breakfasts with Dot429, the gay and lesbian professional network. (LaMuraglia corrected him: “They’re brunches.” We laughed.) Chevy recently sponsored the “Out & Equal” summit and had a Chevy Volt on display — the only automaker to bring a car to the conference. And of course, Buick has worked closely with straight ally Hudson Taylor on Athlete Ally, a nonprofit that encourages “athletes, coaches, parents, fans and other members of the sports community to respect all individuals involved in sports, regardless of perceived or actual sexual-orientation or gender identity or expression.”

But perhaps the thing of which Bernard is most proud is that in 2007, GM became the first — and to date, only — automaker to support a fully inclusive ENDA. Bernard attributes this in part to the workshops that GM PLUS has conducted with executives, which have led to more than a few “aha” moments. During those workshops, Bernard tells attendees that if they didn’t work for GM, they could legally be fired for being gay or even being perceived to be gay. “If you wear too many pink shirts and your boss thinks you’re gay, they can fire you, and you have no legal recourse. And the jaws just drop around the room.”

What’s been your most rewarding experience?
Bernard said that there have been lots of great experiences working with GM PLUS, but one of the most recent involved a workshop held at a manufacturing facility in Indianapolis. He and his colleagues were a little nervous going into the meeting, not sure of what to expect, but their preconceptions quickly dissipated when they found the vast majority of workers to be very welcoming. In fact, many had close LGBT connections — gay brothers, transgender sisters, and so on.

The highlight of that day came when they were speaking to a manager who said quite frankly that on a personal level he didn’t fully “understand” homosexuality, but that he wanted to create a comfortable, welcoming environment for his employees. It was rewarding and inspiring to see that this man was able to leave his personal opinions at home and look out for the needs of his workers.

What about on the customer front?
Around seven years ago, PLUS helped convince GM’s internal research group to begin collecting data on LGBT customers: “Until that point we’d ask, are you married and how old you are and all that stuff, but we didn’t ask anything about sexual orientation or gender identity.” In that short span of time, GM has already begun to debunk some stereotypes about LGBT shoppers, while reaffirming others. For example, LGBT consumers don’t necessarily earn more than their straight counterparts, as commonly believed. However, they do typically have more disposable income. (That might be because of the “double income, no kids” factor, although as Bernard pointed out, the “no kids” part of the equation is starting to change.)  Bernard also said that LGBT shoppers have a greater tendency to purchase a vehicle based on its personality, because it expresses who they are.

What’s next?
Bernard said that keeping up with the HRC’s criteria for the Corporate Equality Index is a big priority for GM. He and others hope to address some of the company’s shortcomings on transgender issues — particularly where health benefits are concerned — before the end of 2012. With some hard work and a little luck, GM will be back at a full 100 score in time for the next CEI.

He also said that internal education is increasingly important, especially at a global level. PLUS aims to lay the foundation for consistent treatment of LGBT employees and their partners as they move throughout GM’s worldwide network.

Continued support of ENDA is also on the PLUS agenda. And Bernard isn’t just adamant about it because it’s good for GM employees — it’s also good for business. As Bernard pointed out, the LGBT community supports the companies that support it.

Finally, Bernard said that GM is considering ways to gross up the salaries of LGBT employees to compensate for the imputed tax on domestic partner health benefits. This is a new field of discussion taking place at companies across the country, and GM hasn’t yet determined how best to resolve it, but the talks have begun.

Why does this matter?
Bernard said that at most GM PLUS workshops, someone typically asks, “Why do we need to know this? I don’t want to know what goes on in your bedroom.” And Bernard’s response is, “We don’t want to know what goes on in your bedroom either. This is about respect, particularly respect of relationships.”

At the end of the day, a workplace that is welcoming and sensitive to the needs of LGBT employees makes for a better, more efficient company. As Bernard tells LGBT colleagues, “You shouldn’t come to work trying to figure out which lies you spun to which coworker about what you did over the weekend, because that’s not productive. You should come to work focused on your job, and you should be able to put a photo of your wife, partner, or whomever on your desk.”

Here are a couple of quick news items to spice up your Super Bowl weekend. We’ll see you on the other side…

1. The folks at Kaggle wrote in to share the results of their used car study. Kaggle works a little like Innocentive, harnessing the power of the cloud and the crowd to answer challenging problems. In this particular study, Kaggle asked the folks to identify cars up for auction that are most likely to be defective (aka “kickers”).

The winners – Marcin Pionnier of Sollers Consulting and Xavier Conort of Gear Analytics — identified a couple of important tell-tale signs. Some of those had to do with the brand of the vehicle up for auction, others had to do with the vehicle’s color. Here are the study highlights:

Allowing for factors such as the age of the vehicle and the sheer volume of examples, they found GMC-made autos were the most reliable choices followed by Honda, Toyota, Isuzu and Chevrolet. Convertibles and coupes were the most risky and, colorwise, red and purple should be avoided. In contrast, orange colored cars may be rarer but tend to be more reliable and with fewer faults.

Other factors that should flash a warning light to an auto dealer include accessories and add-ons that the owner probably thought was an improvement but may prove to be the opposite, such as alloy wheels, an ear-piercing sound system, sports seats and up-rated suspension.

Unfortunately, Kaggle isn’t too good at explaining how the winning team arrived at its conclusions. Still, the basic findings seem like good common sense. You might take those into consideration when looking for your next used car.

2. As you probably know, the Super Bowl is this Sunday night. Midway through the game, you might be inclined to flip over to watch the Puppy Bowl‘s halftime show, featuring kittens. If you leave the clicker right where it is, though, you’ll have a shot at winning two new Toyota Camrys– one for you, and one for a friend.  Be aware, however, that you’ll also need to watch Madonna do her latest number on the 50-yard line. (We’re talking about “Give Me All Your Luvin’”, obviously, not her new boy toy.) We’ve embedded it below, just so you know what you’re getting into.

Frankly, we suggest following Subaru’s lead and taking your dog for a walk (which is not a euphemism). If you’re feeling conflicted, maybe you could both zip down to the Starvin’ Marvin for more beer — so long as you’re the designated driver, of course.

I enjoy the Nissan 370Z, but its hyper-tweak personality can wear me out. Revving the engine to a scream and lighting up the tires makes me giddy, but constantly getting thrashed by the suspension is a bit much. I can think of a number of more entertaining ways to get thumped that don’t require a sports car. Coffee down the front of my shirt, throbbing headache, sore…never mind. There’s not even a rear seat. Point is, I could go for sports car fun without all of the sports car drama.

That’s kinda the point of the Infiniti G37 IPL Coupe. It has the guts and glory of its more rambunctious sibling, but with a more compliant suspension, leather-lined cabin, four-place seating, and a trunk large enough for you and your sweetie to have that weekend away. It’s for the 30- or 40-something who isn’t ready for an old queen’s home, but wants comfy digs.

Find the fun pedal to see how they take their 348hp 3.7-litre DOHC V6. That’s as much power as a 5.7-litre V8-powered C5 Corvette and 18hp more than a non-IPL G. Infiniti’s 7-speed automatic transmission might be the best choice in traffic, but that’s for old people. I’d choose the firmly-clicked six-speed manual for my daily sugar. Clutch take-up is aggressive and requires attention; my partner killed it four times getting out of our driveway and I almost face-planted leaving a stoplight. Fuel economy with the manual transmission is rated 17/25 mpg city/hwy.

From the curb, neophytes would be hard-pressed to believe the Z and G have similar chassis and powertrains. Zero-lift front and rear aerodynamics, 19” graphite-finish alloy wheels, and dual chrome exhaust tips are mostly functional, but also to backlight a gentleman’s style. You know the IPL is fast, but it could roll up in front of the Ritz-Carlton without embarrassing itself, too.

The G37’s interior fits like custom sneaks. Extendable seat cushions fit almost anybody and gauges go up and down with the adjustable steering column. Navigation, USB, Bluetooth, Bose audio, and rear view camera are all here, but everything is simple. Large knobs on either side of the center stack actually control the volume and tune the radio. Amazing! Big knobs below have slivers of blue and red behind them so one can easily adjust the climate control. Aluminum kick plates add class.

Each IPL model has its own personality. The sedan has all of the coupe’s style, but it’s the sport sedan BMW would build if it were based in Japan. Convertibles, mostly due to their heavy hard tops, feel more substantial and luxurious with real wood inside. Coupes are only a little polish removed from the Nissan Z.

This Infiniti’s problem is the same as every Infiniti’s. How do you convince BMW, Mercedes, and Cadillac drivers to give it a try? Everybody makes his own choice, but none of those has the pure sports car feel of the G37. Hopefully, that’s enough to watch $50,445 levitate from your gracefully-aging wallet.

Infiniti G37 IPL Coupe
Four-passenger, RWD Coupe
Powertrain: 348hp 3.7-litre V6, six-speed manual transmission
Suspension f/r: ind/ind
Wheels: 19”/19” f/r
Brakes: 4-wheel disc/ABS
Must-have feature: Power, style
Manufacturing: Japan
Fuel economy: 17/25 mpg city/hwy
As tested price: $50,445

When you go to buy a Volkswagen, their best cars almost always have three letters or numbers at the end of the model name: GTI, TDI, VR6.

The sixth generation, 2011 Jetta, on sale for a little over a year now, has been met with some pretty strong criticism. Reviewers took one look at 2011’s cheapened interior, and suspension, and had three letters of their own: “WTH??”

Now, the sportier, 2012 Jetta GLI has gone on sale and looks to undo some of the ills of the standard Jetta. But can those three letters make up for the heap of hate dished upon this car?

GTI with a trunk?

First, a confession. I was hoping that the Jetta GLI would amount to a Golf GTI in sedan guise. The Golf GTI hatchback is still the best, most entertaining front-wheel-drive car I’ve ever driven, so, naturally, I wanted more of the same.

To hope that the GLI was simply a GTI with a trunk didn’t seem unreasonable. The Jetta GLI has the exact same motor, transmissions and XDS cross differential as the GTI. The hotter Jetta also has a sportier, multi-link suspension and lower ride height, again, just like the Golf GTI. All good things to go apex-hunting with.

While those similarities seemed like enough on paper, out on the blacktop, chucking the GLI into a left-hand sweeper, the desire for a GTI sedan equivalent dies a quick death.

Like many cars with sporty aspirations, the “track-tuned” suspension on the GLI is trying to be two things at once: not firm enough to shatter your coccyx, but not soft enough to erase your ability corner like a hooligan.

The result of that middle of the road suspension is a fairly comfortable ride, increased body roll, and cornering that is only OK. Diving into this particular left-hander on my test route, the GLI doesn’t feel nearly as planted or confident as the GTI. The GTI, with its firmer tuned suspension, would egg me on to take this corner faster and faster, while I grinned like an idiot. The GLI had one go at the bend and I was gritting, not grinning. No more for me, please.

It’s a similar story with the brakes. The GLI calipers are painted red, so that HAS to mean they perform at a higher level, right? Hmmm, no. Braking late for a corner entry brings back that uneasy feeling I had in the middle of the corner. Don’t get me wrong, during normal, everyday driving, the brakes are more than fine. It’s only when you ratchet up the speed that the stoppers began to make ME clench.

Oddly enough, the GLI does not even sound like a GTI. This might be the hardest difference to understand since the powertrains in the two cars are identical.

Under hard throttle, the GTI has a racy engine noise and exhaust note. You’ll find yourself planting your right foot just to hear it.

The GLI’s soundtrack is…different. It’s a deeper sound that isn’t as pleasing. While the GTI has a small hint of racecar, the noise the GLI makes has a small hint of a rusty, 1986 Silverado with an exhaust leak.

The one to get

So, take a pass on the Jetta GLI? Actually, no.

In fact, if you’re buying VW’s entry-level sedan, it’s the only one you should buy.

Despite not being a GTI sedan, the GLI is the best Jetta you can buy.

Most detractors of the new Jetta cite the cheapened interior and less-than-modern, torsion beam suspension as the worst parts. And they’re right, both are pretty offensive.

What adds insult to injury on those two aspects is the fact that those cost-cutting measure are only in plac on the U.S.-spec models. The Jetta sold in Europe has a higher quality interior, with a soft-touch dash, and the better, multi-link rear suspension.

The GLI fixes those two major problems and gives U.S drivers the chance to buy the Euro-spec model with the upgraded parts. When compared to the base Jetta, the GLI also gives you a flat-bottom steering wheel to churn, a sportier front-end design and some upgraded trim and stitching.

When you buy your GLI, make sure you go for one that has at least the Autobahn package. You’ll get better wheels, a sunroof, heated seats covered in V-tex leatherette and the fantastic, Fender-branded audio system.

The tin-can sound quality of the base sound system and lack of heated seats in the base GLI I tested were all it took to be wishing for an upmarket GLI during my test.

Not a GTI, not bad

So the GLI isn’t a GTI with a trunk, but it’s not as if there aren’t good reasons for that. The GLI is simply a bigger car. The motor has to pull around a sedan that has three more inches of wheelbase, about 16.5 more inches of overall length, and about 100 pounds more than the GTI hatchback.

Fortunately, dropping two-gears and bombing down the highway in the GLI is still enough to make me grin. And if it’s fun you’re after, you certainly won’t find more of it in a Hyundai Accent, Honda Civic, Chevy Cruze, Mazda3 or any sedan with a Toyota badge on it.

2012 Jetta GLI, 6-speed manual transmission – $23,495
Destination – $770
Total – $24,265

A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to land an interview with Eric Peterson, General Motors’ Vice President of Global Diversity. Despite the fact that he was very busy and that we were in the middle of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show — literally in the middle: we chatted at a table between two GMC displays — Eric gave me nearly half an hour to ask questions about GM, its brands, and the company’s views on LGBT employees and customers.

Here are some of the high points of our meeting.

The role of diversity at General Motors
Peterson is a big believer in workforce diversity, and not just because it’s part of his job title. Speaking of General Motors as a whole, we talked about the creative, productive environment that the company tries to foster through its employees: “Diversity and inclusion, it’s really been part of our DNA — whether it’s in the LGBT market, or whether it’s ethnicity, women, what have you.” (For specifics on Peterson’s efforts within General Motors, check the “diversity” section of GM.com.)

The HRC’s 2012 Corporate Equality Index
General Motors typically earns high marks on the CEI, but this year, the automaker’s score slipped to 85 out of a possible 100. After we ran our post on HRC’s 2012 rankings, Joe LaMuraglia, GM’s LGBT Liaison for Communications, contacted us to say that GM was aware of the situation, which may have resulted from changes to HRC’s scoring criteria.  He and other GM team members were looking into it.

By the time the Detroit Auto Show rolled around a few weeks later, the GM staff had reached more solid conclusions. Specifically, Peterson attributes the 15-point slippage to protections for GM’s transgender employees — protections that do, in fact, exist, but need to be more clearly articulated to meet HRC standards: “We have the appropriate coverages in place, but they aren’t stated very specifically, within all of our benefits… And that’s being corrected.” Peterson said that he has already met with GM’s employee resource group to discuss ways in which the company can rectify the situation.

Protections for employees at dealerships
Protections for corporate employees are one thing, but I wanted to know if  there were any protections for LGBT employees at General Motors’ network of dealerships. Is there any stipulation in GM’s contract with dealers that prohibits discrimination against LGBT staff?

Peterson responded that GM’s anti-discrimination policies apply to a wide range of employees — from white-collar to blue-collar, from hourly to salaried. Unfortunately, there’s nothing in GM’s sales and service agreement with dealers to force those outlets to adopt such policies.

The problem, he explained, is that GM dealers aren’t franchises, they’re individually owned and operated companies that contract with GM to sell its products. In that sense, dealerships are a little like department stores that contract with Calvin Klein to carry the company’s underwear: the dealer is an authorized outlet for GM sales, but it’s not technically part of GM.

However, Peterson said that GM trains dealers “to respect all people who walk through their door, regardless of sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender” and so on. We’d imagine that such policies are gradually improving, as more dealers go through training programs like the one GM recently launched at Disneyland. Still, though we’re not lawyers, we’d be surprised if GM couldn’t drop something into its sales and service contract that stipulates LGBT non-discrimination policies. Plenty of municipalities have such regulations in place, so why not corporations?

Marketing to LGBT consumers: Buick takes the lead
I asked Peterson if GM had identified particular brands or vehicles that were being targeted to LGBT consumers. He prefaced his response by saying that every customer is different, and that interests vary based on region, income, and other factors. However, GM has a finite number of advertising dollars, so it regularly challenges its four brands to focus their marketing efforts on key demographics.

Buick very quickly identified the LGBT community as a good match for its products. It’s more upscale that Chevrolet, a bit more expensive, and it recently unveiled some very stylish new rides (including the new Verano and the Encore SUV). Given Buick’s renewed efforts to attract younger customers, aiming for LGBT shoppers — which are, like it or not, often considered trend-setters — could be a way of achieving that goal. Expect to see Buick at the center of some hip, new, gatherings for influencers in 2012, kind of like the parties we saw in 2010 for the Buick Regal.

Why Buick and not Cadillac? They bear a number of similarities, after all. The simple answer is, Buick asked before Caddy did. That doesn’t mean that you won’t see Cadillacs at LGBT events, but they’ll probably be fewer and further between, since each brand has to focus its marketing efforts.

Parting shots:

Peterson’s favorite reveal of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show?
The Cadillac ATS. He was particularly happy to see it take place at the College for Creative Studies, which has produced scores of students who’ve gone on to work at GM. (In fact, over 20 of them worked on the ATS.) Peterson sees the ATS as Cadillac’s first truly competitive entry-level vehicle. Expect to see it in showrooms during the third quarter of this year.

The future of Pontiac
When GM whittled down its family of brands from eight to four, Pontiac was the only marque that never went up for sale. Performance junkies miss loud, proud models like the Pontiac G8, so I asked if there were any chance of Pontiac being dusted off one day down the line.

Peterson explained that because of today’s competitive market, there’s not the sales volume to feed any more “kids”. In fact, thanks to its leaner, meaner focus, GM is now selling more vehicles with four brands than it did with eight. So although he wouldn’t say “never”, it’s unlikely that we’ll see Pontiac return anytime soon.

European developments
More than one of our readers asked about GM’s European plans. Peterson admitted that although it wasn’t entirely his area of focus, he could say with certainty that Chevrolet would have a significant presence across the pond and that Cadillac will grow — in fact, the ATS may be front and center in that market. Unfortunately, although Buick’s doing very well in China, there are no plans to hype the brand in Europe, and of course, GMC’s big, brawny silhouettes will remain on this side of the Atlantic. And don’t forget Opel: it’s also a significant seller for GM, too.

Stay tuned: we’ve got one more interview from the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. This one comes from a chat with Adam Bernard, the Chair of General Motors’ People Like Us group (aka the “PLUS group”), GM’s “affinity group for direct, contract and retired employees of GM Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates, in support of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) workplace equality”.

We’ve got a long, work-filled weekend ahead of us, full of code and comparison drives. (Oh, the things we do for our readers). But before we dive headlong into all that, here are a couple of news items we thought you might find interesting:

• Twitter is great for many things — sharing status updates, facilitating meet-ups, posting funny pictures of cats. But one man in Madison, Wisconsin decided to try buying a car with it. It’s an interesting experiment, but, well, is it just us, or does the shopper come off like a bit of a jerk? And if he really wanted local dealerships to fight for his business, why didn’t he just use CarWoo?

• Remember the Rimac Concept One electric supercar and Zach’s interview with designer Mate Rimac? If you can’t swing the car, maybe you should consider the Vilner Concept One home audio system it inspired. No word on availability yet, but to judge by Vilner’s Facebook page, it may beat the Concept One to market — and it’ll probably be a few bucks cheaper, too. [via Cnet]

We’ll see you next week. In the meantime, stay in touch by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

A guest post by Friend of Gaywheels, Michael Oroszi:

The most important purchases you’ll ever make are likely to involve a roof or wheels. Here are seven helpful tips to make you a pro at one of those:

1. Narrow your list to fewer than seven options
Start by keeping it simple. Choose candidate cars that match your lifestyle. Seven choices will give you flexibility in the market and not cause your head to explode. (Need some suggestions? Check out KBB.com’s “Ten Best Used Cars Under $8,000“.) Do your research and get informed — we promise, it’ll take less time than it takes to check your friends’ Facebook updates.

2. Determine the vehicle value
You don’t want to go home and realize you’ve just paid too much for that perfect vehicle. Edmunds and TrueCar are great tools to determine fair market values. You’ll be able to negotiate with confidence if you know the going price for your car. Keep in mind that market values vary by region and even by season. You may be able to score a better deal on that convertible in the winter than in the summer.

3. Pull comps
Check out the listings for your car on sites like Autotrader and Searchtempest (which searches all of Craigslist). This is a quick way to fine-tune your negotiating strategy. Check the supply and demand for your target vehicle. You can negotiate more aggressively on more common cars and play one seller off the other Knowledge is power!

4. Vehicle history reports
Get the vehicle history report for any car that you are seriously considering. Autocheck and Carfax are greate sources. Vehicles listed on eBay Motors that are newer than 1981 come with a free Autocheck report. The folks at Popular Mechanics put out a pretty good vehicle checklist when you’re ready to inspect your car.

5. The test drive
This is crucial! Bring an extra set of eyes and ears whenever possible — especially trained ones. We don’t mean someone who can pick a color or likes the shape of the Audi A7, we mean a real enthusiast! A passenger can give great feedback on ride and performance, and she might also notice some of those little noises and vibrations that could end up costing you down the road. Don’t forget to go through the vehicle service history file. Anyone willing to go through this process with you is either a great friend or relationship material.

6. Pre-purchase inspection
This should be done before negotiating the final price of a vehicle. Pre-purchase inspections will always come up with something and will often give you an edge at the bargaining table. They typically cost $100 – $200 and are performed by certified mechanics. Any vehicle repair facility is capable of a pre-purchase inspection.

7. Paperwork
Run or skip or fly away if any title says “Salvage”, “Reconstructed”, “Branded”, or “Lemon Law Buyback”. Ask to see the vehicle title. Make sure the vehicle owner matches the name on the title. Double check the VIN number on the vehicle with the VIN on the title. VIN numbers are usually located on the upper left hand side of the dashboard, inside the drivers door or B pillar which is that post thingy that the door latches into. Know your state laws for what is required when purchasing a used vehicle. Any state motor vehicle website will have this information. If the seller has financed the vehicle and there is still a loan on it, be sure and deal directly with the bank and vehicle owner. Dealer transactions are easier in this case. Dealers are required by law to make sure paperwork transactions run smoothly, though they do charge a documentation fee or processing fee for this.

These helpful tips should keep you behind the wheel of the right vehicle (at the right price!) for years to come.

The Citroën DS4 has been voted European Gay Car of the Year 2012. The title was awarded by website Legorda.fr, which devotes itself to promoting gay and gay-friendly car clubs and events around the world. Past European Gay Car winners have included everything from the wildly expensive Aston Martin DB9 Volante, which starts at more than $200,000, to chic urban runabouts like the Mini Convertible and Fiat 500. In France, the entry-level DS4 costs approximately $27,500.

Based on the Citroën C4 hatchback, the DS4 includes more upscale features, a slightly sportier exterior, and a posh cabin with leather seats and metallic trim sprinkled on the dash and center console. This is the first time a four-door has won European Gay Car honors, rather than a more traditionally seductive coupe or convertible. Citroën nearly took top honors last year with its DS3 hatchback, but fell one point short of the curvaceous Peugeot RCZ coupe.

According to Legorda.fr, “Citroën does help a bit by calling the DS4 a 4-door coupé and by concealing the (handles of the) rear doors.” At a glance, the DS4 has all the style of a coupe, yet with the added functionality that comes with those extra doors and rear hatch. There are six engines available, three gasoline and three diesel-powered, and the most economical models deliver more than 50-mpg during highway driving.

Visit Citroën’s (French) website and “configurez” your own DS4 here.

Before we head out of the office for a much-needed weekend break here are a couple of news items that crossed our desks over the past 24 hours:

• Take a spin through the nearest parking garage, and you’ll see a number of specialty license plates. Most come announce the driver’s support for a particular college or, occasionally, advocacy group. Due to the conservative nature of government, those groups tend to live on the right side of the political spectrum, but now, Indiana and South Carolina have become the second and third states, respectively, to offer specialty licence plates supporting LGBT equality. (Maryland got there first, way back in 2008. Woot!) I’ve already posted about this news elsewhere, so rather than repeat myself, click here to read the full story.

• Rosie O’Donnell has been in the news a good bit lately, waxing nostalgic about yesterday’s top-secret lesbian parties and blasting most of the GOP presidential candidates for their virulent, anti-gay remarks. But our friends at Queers4Gears picked up on something else Rosie recently said: she assured Piers Morgan that Tom Cruise is straight as a board. How does she know? Because he drive race cars. Oy. Catch the write-up here.

Have a great weekend, and drive safely!

The idea of taking the suburb-conquering, Rubicon-busting Jeep Grand Cherokee and turning it into a star of your weekend track club is somewhat akin to putting sneaks on L. L. Bean and asking him to win the New York Marathon. One has to wonder, “What’s the point?”

You could attach Chrysler’s 470hp 6.4-litre HEMI V8 to a John Deere and be impressed with its performance. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 runs from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds and hits a terminal velocity of 160 mph. Those figures make it the quickest Jeep, ever. Its paddle-shifted five-speed automatic transmission makes the most of the engine’s prodigious thrust, while multi-displacement technology shuts down cylinders when the full fury isn’t needed. Still, with the SRT8 offering only 12/18 mpg city/hwy, you’d never call it frugal.

Asking stylists to turn the big n’ boxy Grand Cherokee into a performance beast worthy of this HEMI engine must have caused some soul searching within the studios of Chrysler’s design center. Being consummate professionals, they lowered the SUV an inch, attached monochrome wheel flares, and installed massive 20” alloys. A nose job includes LED running lamps, front splitter, and functional heat extractors in the hood. Though to be honest, most fellow highway travelers will only see the Jeep’s liftgate spoiler that improves downforce, and dual 4” chrome exhaust tips as the SRT8 streaks away.

Behind the steamroller wheels and Pirelli P Zeros are giant Brembo discs with red calipers. They’re capable of stopping the Grand Cherokee from 60-0 mph in only 116 feet. Much of the chassis was co-developed with the Mercedes M-Class, giving it a German heaviness, four-wheel independent suspension, and a full array of stability control electronics. Five modes of suspension adjustment control the handling for touring, track performance, snowy conditions, or towing. In Track mode, this bruiser serves up .90g on the skidpad – on par with many top-shelf sports cars. Quadra-Trac AWD shifts power to wheels with grip, though all drive modes bump and tug the steering wheel. It gets the job done, but you’re better off looking elsewhere if you want a luxurious ride.

Inside, the SRT8 is a pretty cozy place to travel. The heated/cooled leather front seats and heated rear perches grip your sides with thick bolsters and hold your rump with suede inserts. Carbon-fiber trim complements large analog gauges, and a heated steering wheel, power steering column, and touchscreen for navigation and audio are nice touches. There is also a handy rear camera. The 19-speaker harman/kardon audio system kicks out 825 watts of power to thump just about anyone within a ten-mile radius. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring systems are available. Enthusiasts will swoon over the SRT-exclusive Performance Pages that provide feedback for your steering input, horsepower, torque, acceleration, braking, and cornering. Take a pic (not while driving please!) and post it on your Facebook wall.

On the way to my parents’ for Christmas, I blasted by a long line of Conestogas clogging up the left lane. Those who didn’t respect the Jeep’s sinister snout soon bowed to its gathering wake. That’s pretty much the point of this truck. A Grand Cherokee SRT8 will never conquer the Rubicon Trail, and it’s barely adequate for hauling groceries. But it will make you laugh and scare the hell out of everyone else.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Five-passenger, AWD SUV
Powertrain: 470hp 6.4-litre V8, 5-speed automatic transmission
Suspension f/r: Adjustable Ind/Ind
Wheels: 20”/20” f/r
Brakes: Disc/Disc fr/rr with ABS
Must-have feature: Style, performance
0-60mph: 4.8s
Top speed: 160mph
Fuel economy (city/hwy.): 12/18 mpg
Manufacturing: Detroit, MI
As tested price: $55,295

Acura NSX, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Last week, Richard Read gave his picks for the best of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show last week, and earlier today, Nick Kurczewski had his say. Now, Casey Williams is putting in his two cents. Hey, we’re nothing if not opinionated. Be sure to check out the gallery at the bottom of the page.

Ford Fusion
Had to be the star of the show – a Jaguar for commoners. Euro styling, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, and an available 100 MPGe plug-in hybrid are difficult to top. Camry better watch its lunch.

Chevy 140S Concept
I shrieked like a schoolgirl and almost wet myself when it rolled out. Based on the Chevy Cruze, the exotic-looking 140S is one possibility for a $20,000, 40-MPG sport coupe. The rear-drive Camaro-inspired 130R is another, but not so much. Vanna, give me an S.

Acura NSX
Imagined as a mid-engine successor to the original NSX, this one will be V6- and hybrid-powered with electric AWD. Acura needs a car like this to regain traction. More surprising, it will be built in Ohio, circa 2015.

Buick Encore
Designed for China, built in S. Korea, and right for America, the 2014 Encore anticipates a trend towards compact luxury crossovers from non-pretentious automakers. Crafted interiors and an array of technology will make it desirable on any continent.

Dodge Dart
It looks like an Americanized Alfa Romeo (which, it is), comes with efficient engines, and praise Sergio, is not a Caliber. As the first Fiat-based Chrysler, it promises to be a winner and sweet justification for saving Chrysler.

Pleasant Surprise – Lincoln MKZ
Lincoln must find a style that works and stick with it for more than one iteration. MKZ, a close sibling of the new Fusion, has Lincoln’s bow wake grille, but is sleek with a full glass roof, wide taillamps, and contemporary technology. If this is the shape of Lincolns to come, there’s hope in saving the storied brand.

Ugly Dudling – Coda
The supposed 150-mile all-electric range is impressive, but it is cool tech in a throw-away wrapper. Mid-90s Slovakian chic won’t cut it. Although cleverly assembled in CA with Chinese- and American-sourced components, nobody is going to choose this dud over a Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, Focus Energi, or any number of electrics on the way. DOA.

Ford Fusion, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Chevrolet Tru 140S Concept

Acura NSX, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Buick Encore, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Dodge Dart, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Lincoln MKZ concept

Coda sedan, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Volkswagen E-Bugster concept, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

The 2012 North American International Auto Show — aka the Detroit Auto Show — is still going strong, and if you’re fortunate enough to visit between now and closing time on Sunday, here are a few of the rides you ought to check out, courtesy of our editor, Nick Kurczewski. (FYI, scroll down for pics.)

Cadillac ATS
This is Cadillac’s latest attempt at taking on the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4. We’ve been down this road before, except this time Caddy has done its homework. Refined styling doesn’t break any new ground, though you could say the same about its German rivals. Turbocharged 4-cylinders and an optional V-6 with more than 300-hp could give the ATS all the right moves in this competitive market.

Dodge Dart
When is the last time a small Dodge earned its place on your shopping list? The Dart is based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta – that’s a good thing – and comes with a choice of two “Tigershark” 4-cylinders, along with a turbocharged MultiAir engine that should be the economy champ of the range. It looks great, the $15,995 starting price is spot-on, and the secret storage under the passenger seat is way cool.

VW E-Bugster
An electric-powered VW Beetle could have been seriously underwhelming. Lo and behold, the E-Bugster has a zero emission powertrain and a hint of retro Porsche 911 in its chopped and lowered lines. Electrics are coming to the Volkswagen range soon. Here’s hoping the Bugster is too.

Ford Fusion
Placing an Aston Martin grille onto the front of a midsize Ford sedan turns out to be a very good idea. Aston’s legal department might not be pleased, but judging from the buzz in Detroit it’s hard not to argue that the Fusion wasn’t the hit of the show.

Chevrolet Tru 140S Concept
With Honda and Toyota having lost the plot recently in terms of youth-oriented sport models, Chevrolet has a great opportunity with the Tru 140S Concept. Edgy and futuristic, with the right engine (probably a turbo 4-cylinder) this car could be awesome. Now Chevy has to simply build it – and mothball the horrid Code 130R also shown in Detroit.

Pleasant Surprise – Acura ILX Concept
The new Honda Civic has been totally underwhelming. So expectations were pretty low when news came that Acura was going to build a small sedan based off the Civic. But to my surprise, the ILX Concept is a slick little 4-door that could help Acura regain some swagger. Too bad the door handles are too big, and look like they’re upside down. It’s not NSX Concept, yet the ILX is an overdue move in the right direction for the brand.

Ugly Duckling – Lexus LF-LC
Disclaimer: I actually liked the Lexus LF-LC. Unfortunately for Lexus, I seemed one of very few in Detroit who appreciated this big bruiser of a coupe. The details are exaggerated, especially the mammoth grille. But I like to see Lexus take some chances and, with a few refinements, the LF-LC could become the brand’s halo sports coupe. I’m (fairly) convinced. Now Lexus needs to work on everyone else.

Cadillac ATS

Dodge Dart, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Volkswagen E-Bugster concept, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Ford Fusion, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Chevrolet Tru 140S Concept

Acura ILX concept

Lexus LF-LC concept

Need a break from the non-stop auto news coming out of Detroit? Have a look at this clever commercial, courtesy of French automaker Renault.

The ad is for the Renault Twingo — a three-door city car that, from some angles, can look almost as sporty as a Chevrolet Sonic or Volkswagen Golf. What’s curious is that the clip is in English, the speakers have vaguely North American accents, and the Twingo featured in it is a left-hand drive model, so we’re not sure which market the ad was built for. After all, Renaults haven’t been sold stateside in decades, and the ones found across the U.K., South Africa, and Australia would be right-hand drivers.

But whatever: it’s a pleasant, 30-second diversion for a Friday. Have a look:

Ford Fusion, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Walking the floor of the North American Auto Show in Detroit, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Staff from each company rattle off details about their newest rides and how they differ from the competition. With all that minutiae running around in your head, you could begin to think that each automaker works in a vacuum.

But take some time to relax and view things from a distance, and you’ll see trends emerge. Here are the six most common themes I saw running through this year’s auto show.

• Electric cars & hybrids
The auto industry has come a long way since the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, and Toyota RAV4 EV launched over a decade ago. Most of the world’s other automakers laughed at those vehicles, but now, nearly every major brand has at least one hybrid on the lots and an electric car waiting in the wings.

The success of hybrids (and to a lesser degree, electric cars) is due to several reasons. Some consumers are drawn to these vehicles because they reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Others like the environmental benefits hybrids and EVs provide. But as gas prices continue to rise, one thing’s for sure: customers will drift toward electrics and hybrids because of the savings they offer at the pump.

Nearly all automakers agree that hybrid technology is a stopgap solution and that electricity is where things are headed. However, there’s heated debate as to whether future electric vehicles will run on plug-in powered batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, or something else.

• Smaller, more efficient engines
Some eco-enthusiasts want the world to change overnight to hybrid and electric technology, but that’s neither feasible nor possible — not here, and certainly not in the developing world. Combustion engines will be with us for a good while longer, but to improve the performance of those engines, companies are making them more efficient. As a result, thirsty V8s are becoming a rare breed, replaced by slim, turbocharged, four-cylinder models.

For proof, look no further than the 2013 Cadillac ATS that debuted in Detroit. This new compact sedan comes with three engine options: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 2.5-liter direct-injection four-cylinder, and a 3.6-liter direct-injection V6. Surprisingly for a luxury car, there’s no V8 to be seen, and GM is betting that the turbocharged four-cylinder will be the model’s best seller.

• Smaller cars
To make hybrid, electric, and small combustion systems feasible, automakers are scaling back on vehicle size. But that doesn’t represent a sacrifice in safety — in fact, the pint-sized 2012 Honda Fit is one of the IIHS’s Top Safety Picks. It simply means that these new powertrains can be more productive, since they’ve got less weight to move around. The fact that more Americans are living in congested urban areas also contributes to the shrinking U.S. vehicle.

• Smartphone integration
At the moment, some automakers are trying to push proprietary infotainment systems, with brand-specific apps and such, but it seems to me as if smartphones are the winning bet. Think about it: we deal with our phones all day long, and we carry them with us wherever we go. In the near future, it looks like those devices will be the means by which drivers enjoy music, navigation, and other features. Down the line, as more data moves to the cloud, this may change, since we’ll be able to enjoy music, apps, etc. from anywhere just by logging in.

• Thinking globally
The world is shrinking, and competition between automakers is getting stiffer. To get ahead, car companies have to create vehicles that appeal to shoppers across continents and cultures — otherwise, automakers get mired in creating very specific cars for very specific markets, which is a losing game. The new Ford Fusion is a great example of this global outlook in action.

• LGBT-friendliness
I noticed two things when I spoke to company reps about the vehicles on display in Detroit: (1) they were familiar with Gaywheels, and (2) the LGBT factor was a non-issue for most of them. According to my colleagues, the situation was very different just five or six years ago, when some executives laughed in the faces of gay journalists.

However, there were exceptions. In one case, a company spokesperson was pretty brusque and condescending. (More about her later.) And there were two instances in which people asked, “Why do gay shoppers need their own car site?” My response was that LGBT consumers often feel intimidated in the very straight-male world of automobiles, and Gaywheels provides a comfortable space for them to get the information they need.

Furthermore, only three automakers have scored a 100% rating on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index. Until that’s addressed, LGBT employees at most companies are subject to discrimination. LGBT consumers often choose to spend their money with equality-minded organizations, and it’s Gaywheels’ job to explain which companies those are.

Did I miss anything? Let me know if you spotted other trends, either from visiting the Detroit show yourself or from reading online coverage of the event.

Technically speaking, there are only two press days at the North American Auto Show, but there’s so much to see and do in those 48 hours, by the time you leave Detroit, it feels as if you’ve been here a week. After walking the floor countless times — alone, with friends, and with experts — I’m pleasantly exhausted.

Overall, I’d say that the tone of the show was one of excitement. Though there were a lot of concepts on display — perhaps more than usual — there were lots of very real cars, too, which we’ll soon see in showrooms and on the roads. The Buick Encore, Dodge Dart, Ford Fusion, and Honda Accord are just a few new rides that are primed to become popular with shoppers.

I also had the chance to chat with some folks at the corporate level about LGBT equality. While I’m compiling those interviews and collecting my thoughts, have a look at these rides that caught my eye on Day 2. Be sure to scroll to the bottom to check out the gallery. If you missed my Day 1 recap, you can find it here.

Acura NSX hybrid concept: The NSX was killed off around 2005, but Acura may well revive it —  and to judge from the reveal of this concept in Detroit, the press is really excited. The unveiling was backed by thumpa-thumpa electro beats, and there was bona fide applause when the drapes came off (which is kind of a rarity).

Buick Encore: GM sees a growing demand for small SUVs and crossovers, and the new Encore is meant to appeal to shoppers in that market. Since Buick is particularly focused on drawing in LGBT consumers (more about that later), expect to see the Encore make appearances at special events throughout the country soon.

Buick Verano: If the Encore isn’t your thing, maybe the Verano sedan will do the trick. We should see more of this one soon, too.

Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition: Okay, including this one is pretty gratuitous. But scroll down and check out that paint job. Who wouldn’t like a blazing green Camaro?

Chevrolet EN-V concept: If you keep up with the  auto news, you’ve probably seen the EN-V concept before. It’s meant to be a people-mover for urban areas, and it runs on electricity. The EN-V is designed using a system of gyroscopics, so it’s a little like motoring around in a two-seater Segway. Added bonus: it’s autonomous, so once you tell it where you want to go, you’re free to relax and check out Facebook.

Ford Fusion: This is a real beauty of a sedan — and it’s great to see Ford develop a vehicle with true global potential. Personally, I was never blown away by the previous Fusion’s design, but this one’s entirely pic-worthy. And no, you’re not the only one who sees more than a hint of Aston Martin in that grille.

Honda Accord coupe: Honda has suffered a few dings lately. In particular, the revamped Civic took a lot of hits thanks to its low-budget interior, and Honda has fast-tracked a refresh to fix it. The Accord coupe keeps Honda moving in the right direction. The lines of this model are great, and I wish you could seen that paint job in person. Jungle red!

Honda Fit EV: One of Honda’s most highly praised models in recent memory is ready to be electrified. We couldn’t imagine a better car to meet that end: the Fit is cute, it’s got personality, it’s very safe, and it’s just the right size.

Maserati Kubang concept: Maserati is owned by Fiat, which also owns Jeep. Which explains why Maserati rolled out an SUV concept based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Nice, but will it see the light of day? If it does, let’s hope Maserati finds a better name for it.

Mazda Miata Spyder concept: This hot little number rolled out in November at SEMA, but it’s the first time I’ve gotten to see it in person. Like the Miatas that already roam the roads, it looks like a real blast to drive — though perhaps not in Detroit in January.

Scion FR-S: For years, Toyota and Subaru have been working together to develop a new sports car. Now, each company has officially rolled out its own version of the mythical “Toyobaru”: Subaru’s was the BRZ mentioned yesterday, and the FR-S is Toyota’s model. The lines are strong and very sexy, and it borrows Subaru’s flat-four engine for the powertrain. We’re not sure how big a seller this will be, but it’s sure to be a halo car that will pull non-owners into Scion showrooms.

Mercedes-Benz SL300 vintage: The vintage SL300 is drawing a lot of attention these days. For starters, Mercedes-Benz won its first Le Mans race 60 years ago, and it did so in an SL300. It was also a popular car among the Hollywood elite, including Natalie Wood, whose accidental death case was recently reopened by the LAPD.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG roadster: I suppose there’s nothing special about the SLS AMG — except, of course, it’s a work of art. The fuel economy of 14 city/20 highway is pretty dreadful, but if you’ve got nearly $227,000 to blow on a ride, that’s probably not a concern.

Tesla Model S: This is Tesla’s newest electric car, and it’s set to be fairly competitive with other electrics on the road. At roughly $50,000, it’s around $10,000 more expensive than the Nissan Leaf and the electric hybrid Chevy Volt, but it’s full of luxury touches to justify the extra dough. Also, the battery pack can be upgraded to offer a range of 300 miles — far more than other EVs — though that upgrade pushes the price well beyond $70,000.

Toyota NS4 concept: This plug-in hybrid is a real looker. Around the same size as the Ford Fusion, we’d much rather see folks motoring around in this sleek sedan than the Toyota Avalon, which can be a little dull. Like the Accord coupe mentioned above, the paint job on this was a knockout — provided you like plums.

Volkswagen E-Bugster concept: German automakers have been late to the hybrid and electric vehicle game. (Remember when Audi’s head honcho called the Chevrolet Volt “a car for idiots“?) And yet, here we have Germany’s largest automaker debuting yet another electric concept. (Audi launched its own e-Tron concept some time ago.)  The irony, she is sweet.

Chevrolet Code 130R concept, 2012 Detroit Auto Show

It was a long first day at the 2012 North American International Auto Show — and frankly, day #2 isn’t going to be any easier. While I’m gearing up for another series of reveals and interviews, I thought I’d share a few images of rides that caught my eye during the show’s first 24 hours.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I’m a guest of GM at NAIAS. But although I’ve been scheduled to attend a number of unveilings and to interview many outstanding employees (including GM’s North American president, Mark Reuss), the company has also given me loads of time to wander the floor and see what else is going on in the automotive world. Bottom line: I feel like I’m getting a pretty balanced perspective on the Detroit show’s offerings.

Here are a few of the more interesting sights so far. There were many, many others, but unfortunately, the huge crowds prevented me from getting clean shots of some of them. Scroll to the bottom for a peek at the gallery.

Audi e-Tron electric car concept: Previous versions of the e-Tron (an unfortunate naming choice, if you happen to speak French), have been based on smaller Audis. This one — modeled on the larger A3 — wasn’t drawing much attention because it had already been revealed at another auto show, but a product professional told us that it was the concept’s U.S. debut.

Audi R8 spyder: No matter how you slice it, the R8 is a looker. Perhaps best of all, the R8 says “badass” without looking quite as desperate and, um, compensatory as some other supercars (e.g. Ferraris, Lamborghinis, etc.). This model wasn’t much different from the existing R8 convertible, but the blue matte paint job was stunning.

BMW i8: If you’ve seen Mission Impossible (or pics from European auto shows), you’ve already seen the i8, which is scheduled for model year 2014. We were prevented from actually sitting inside the ride, but even from a distance, it’s a thing of beauty.

Cadillac ATS sedan: This reveal took place Sunday night, and it marks the arrival of Cadillac’s new, entry-level model. I wasn’t initially bowled over — at least not as much as Brett Berk was — but judging from the way that everyone in attendance was swarming to get next to it, the ATS has a very bright future ahead of it. We were told that the ATS will earn over 30 mpgs, which is the best of any Cadillac to date. As an added bonus, the designers have toned down the severity of the creasing. That’s big in my book, since some of the recent Cadillacs have looked in need of some editing.

Chevrolet Code 130R concept: This was one of two concept rides designed specifically to appeal to Millennial shoppers. That’s a tricky demographic to hit, since studies have shown that over 50% of them don’t care much at all about cars. But for the 40% who do, this could be an interesting choice. Still, it’s not as interesting as the…

Chevrolet Miray concept: Like the R8 spyder, the Miray wasn’t drawing much attention, despite its stunning silhouette. We were told that it had already debuted in South Korea, and that GM wasn’t doing much to hype it here in Detroit. In its current form, it’s far too “concept-y” to make it into production, but we can dream, can’t we?

Chevrolet Tru 140S concept: Like the Code 130R, the Tru is geared toward Millennials. Of the two coupes, I liked the lines of this one better — though since there was no interior to speak of, it was impossible to get a sense of what the whole package might entail. However, both rides fit the key needs of Generation Y that GM identified — namely, their desire to travel and occasionally take friends along for the ride.

Coda sedan: This all-electric ride comes from China, though it’s technically built here in the U.S. That pedigree is interesting, but aesthetically speaking, the car is decidedly meh. For now, it’s available only in California.

Dodge Dart: Dodge has revived the storied Dart name as a new, small performance sedan (kind of like the old Neon, but butcher). From the way this reveal was talked up, I’d hoped for something a bit more stylish and muscular, but the final product left me slightly underwhelmed. Still, since it’s based on an Alfa Romeo, the Dart could be very, very fun to drive. I’d be curious to know what you guys think of the design.

Ford Escape: The new Escape looks great, no question about it. Sitting inside, the cabin felt a little small (and I’m just under 6′), but in fairness, I didn’t tinker much with the seat adjustment. The revised model packs a lot of style into something that clocks in just over the $20,000 mark.

Ford Focus Electric: Like the Escape, the Focus looked great — though as far as I could tell, it’s practically identical to its more conventional twin. (Maybe that’s the point?) And the data indicate it’s got a range equivalence of over 100 miles.

Lexus LFA: Nothing new to report here, since the LFA has been around for a while. Still, it was great to see this supercar up close and personal. The center stack screen was perhaps the most interesting part: at roughly 12″ across, it looked like the designers had embedded an iPad in the dash. Size doesn’t really matter, but it was impressive.

Smart for-us concept: Smart is tanking in the U.S. market. Maybe it’s because the fortwo doesn’t perform quite as well as consumers would like, or maybe it’s because gas prices seem to have stabilized, so people aren’t as keen on small cars. As a result, smart is dreaming up new ways to appeal to American shoppers, and one of those ways is apparently with the for-us concept. The for-us basically turns the fortwo into a truck — a truck that can barely contain a bicycle in the bed. It’s cute, but it looks like it’s made for Weebles.

Subaru BRZ: In terms of pure aesthetics, this was easily one of the sexiest cars on the floor today. It looked a bit like an elongated Nissan 370Z (which was, by sheer coincidence, positioned about 20 yards away), and the extra length added a lot of oomph.

Toyota FCV: I’m a tech nerd at heart, so I love the thought of a mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. We’re years — nay, decades — away from the infrastructure needed to make FCVs viable for the mainstream population, but as an experiment, it’s pretty exciting.

Stay tuned for more cars from the 2012 Detroit Auto Show tomorrow. I’ll also be posting some interviews with GM personnel, who talk about the important role of LGBT workers at the company.

We’re staring down the barrel of a busy day here at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, but here are a couple of updates you might find interesting:

1. Remember Adam Carolla’s homophobic, transphobic rant last year? Remember how we asked if it would kill The Car Show? Well, word on the street has it that The Car Show is dead. That probably has more to do with the show’s terrible format than with anything Carolla said during the podcast in question, but still, we kind of called it.

And just for the record: we know that Carolla has been supportive of LGBT causes in the past, and we really do hate to see anyone lose a job. We’re not monsters, y’all.

2. GOP hopeful Rick Santorum has eschewed tour buses and has been spreading his message of homophobia in a Ram 1500 pickup. It’s a curious choice for Santorum, since that Ram owes its existence to the federal bailout of Chrysler, which was overseen by President Obama. Sometimes, we suppose you just have to close your eyes and think of polls. [via John Voelcker]

For up-to-the-minute new-car news from Detroit, follow us on Twitter at @Gaywheels. Today and tomorrow, we’ll post regular updates on auto reveals, insider gossip, and other bits of interest. Tweet your questions to us, and we’ll do our best to answer ‘em.

Next week, Nick and Richard — two of your faithful Gaywheels correspondents — will head to the Motor City for the 2012 North American International Auto Show (better known as the Detroit Auto Show). We’ll check out the latest rides from Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Lexus, Lincoln, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Porsche, Ram, Scion, Smart, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo…well, basically every major brand sold in the U.S.

We’ll also try to score face time with company reps to talk about diversity issues. We know that many of you like to spend your hard-earned ducats with companies that value the LGBT community. We’ll talk to some automakers that have a long history of doing just that, and we’ll press others on why they haven’t stepped up to the plate.

But what we really want to know is: what would you ask if you were in our shoes?  Let us know in the comments below, or send your questions to  richard@gaywheels.com.  We’ll do our best to get ‘em answered!

The end of a year brings many things — notably, a host of holiday parties, a fistful of New Year’s resolutions we’ll never stick to, and an endless series of lists to sum up the waning year. Now, a couple of days behind schedule, we’d like to present just such a list of Gaywheels’ 11 most-viewed posts for 2011.

The two pieces at the top of that list are no surprise: number one is about Los Angeles, California and whether the BMW 7-Series is the gayest car in town, and item number two centers on diehard car guy/loudmouth Adam Carolla, who published a podcast that veered into territory offensive to gays, lesbians, and transgendered individuals. (In case you missed it, Chaz Bono bore the brunt of the tirade.) Like Carolla himself, both stories stirred strong emotions among readers.

Item three was our handy-dandy list of gay-friendly automakers — a list that we’re hoping to update next week during some chats at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. And the remaining eight pieces were all auto reviews. A nice, diverse list from our nice, diverse readership. It’s like the belated Christmas present we totally weren’t expecting, but we’re glad it arrived anyway.

And so, without further ado, the 11 most-viewed posts at Gaywheels in 2011:

1. Is The BMW 7-Series The Gayest Car In LA?
2. Will Adam Carolla’s Idiotic, Homophobic, Transphobic Rant Kill ‘The Car Show’?
3. Gay-Friendly Automakers
4. 2011 VW Golf GTI vs. 2011 VW Golf TDI
5. 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
6. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
7. 2007 Nissan Quest
8. 2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum
9. 2011 Toyota Sienna
10. 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI
11. 2011 Volvo XC60

Honorable mention goes to the 2011 Volvo XC60 Road Trip Adventure. It was a great article, to be sure, and the added beefcake didn’t hurt. Not a bit.

UPDATED: Joe LaMuraglia, General Motors’ LGBT Liaison for Communications (and the founder of Gaywheels.com), wrote in with a couple of very important clarifications. See the update below.

The Human Rights Campaign has released its 2012 Corporate Equality Index, which ranks over 1,000 U.S. companies according to their LGBT-friendliness. Among the 190 businesses that scored a perfect 100 on the Index, we’re especially pleased to find Chrysler, Ford, and Toyota.

To assign points to companies, the HRC looks at nine criteria across five distinct areas. As per page 42 of the document, those criteria and their respective point values are:

1a Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation (15 points)

1b Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression (15 points)

2a Offers Partner Health/Medical Insurance (15 points)

2b Has Parity Across Other “Soft” Benefits for Partners (10 points)
(half credit for parity across some, but not all benefits)

2c Offers Transgender-Inclusive Health Insurance Coverage (10 points)

3a Firm-wide Organizational Competency Programs (10 points)

3b Has Employer-Supported Employee Resource Group OR Firm-Wide Diversity Council (10 points)
Would Support ERG if Employees Express Interest (half credit)

4 Positively Engages the External LGBT Community (15 points)
(partial credit of 5 points given for less than 3 efforts)

5 Responsible Citizenship Employers will have 25 points deducted from their score for a large-scale official or public anti-LGBT blemish on their recent records (-25 points)

Chrysler, Ford, and Toyota aced the study, scoring well where it counts and dodging the pitfalls of #5 (unlike Target did in 2010). Congrats to all three.

Honorable mention goes to three other automakers:

Volkswagen (90), which is just a few organizational-competency programs from a perfect 100;

Subaru (85), which still needs to add transgender-friendly health coverage and benefits like bereavement leave for domestic partners; and,

General Motors (85), which lacks health and medical coverage for the partners of LGBT workers*.

Less honorable mention goes to Nissan (30), which instituted a basic non-discrimination policy (that doesn’t cover gender expression) and offers health/medical coverage to LGBT workers and their partners. You’d think the creators of the forward-looking Leaf electric car might do a little more for the LGBT community. After all, we do love to set trends.

The HRC 2012 Index vs. Gaywheels’ list of gay-friendly automakers

It’s worth pointing out that the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index doesn’t perfectly align with our own list of gay-friendly automakers. The HRC looks only at companies with large U.S. workforces, while we examine automakers wherever they do business. That lets us include many companies that the HRC skips over, including Aston Martin, Volvo and many in between.

On the other hand, the HRC’s method of evaluation is considerably more rigorous than our own. Gaywheels’ primary criteria for including automakers on its gay-friendly list is whether or not they have non-discrimination policies in place. The HRC goes much deeper in its analysis.

We’re hoping to update our gay-friendly list soon, courtesy of some face-to-face discussions with automakers at next week’s 2012 Detroit Auto Show. If you have questions that you’d like us to ask, please leave them in the comments below, or send them to richard@gaywheels.com. (Nick’s going to Detroit, too, but for now, I’ll keep track of your questions.) We look forward to hearing from you!

In the meantime, you can download the HRC’s 2012 Corporate Equality Index as a PDF or review it online by clicking here.

* UPDATE, via Joe LaMuraglia, LGBT Liaison for Communications at General Motors: “GM absolutely offers health and medical insurance for same-sex domestic partners and was among the first automakers to do so in 2000. We did drop from 100 to 85 this year on the HRC CEI, and it seems the reason is that HRC may have changed their criteria for a perfect score. GM currently does not offer health and medical insurance for dependents of same-sex partners who are not tax-dependent. So, for example, if you had a child from a previous marriage and your ex has listed that child as a dependent on their taxes, then they are not currently eligible for health and medical insurance coverage under the current program. GM is currently reviewing this policy, and while it has not been changed as of today, it is under consideration.”

We’ve endured the wackadoodle predictions of gloom and doom. We’ve sat through that terrible, godforsaken John Cusack vehicle (though only because it was the lesser evil of two in-flight movies, the other being Alvin and the dreaded Chipmunks). And at last, it’s finally here: 2012!

What will this much-feared leap/election/Olympics year bring? We pulled out our crystal ball, some tea leaves, a bunch of yarrow stalks, an old deck of Pokémon cards, and a vintage copy of Mystery Date, put on our best bejeweled turban, and prepared a handful of predictions just for you. Here’s what we expect to see in 2012:

1. Spurred by the success of having Jennifer Lopez as its U.S. spokesmodel, Fiat will launch a line of celebrity customization packages for the 500. The J-Lo-Rider package comes with wider seats and a dozen artfully arranged wind fans. The Charlie “Oil” Sheen package comes with a special fragrance sachet — “Cheap Bourbon and Waffles” — and a nickel bag in the glove box. The Hugh Jackman Six-Package comes with Hugh Jackman. Sales among LGBT shoppers skyrocket.

2. Hyundai, Kia, and Porsche finally get on the bandwagon and become LGBT-friendly. Suzuki drops out of the U.S. market and becomes a non-issue. Well, more of a non-issue.

3. At the 11:59 mark, Saab finds a marriage made in heaven. Unfortunately, that marriage is to Kim Kardashian. After the annullment, Saab is picked up by Sinead O’Connor, Britney Spears, and Newt Gingrich. At last, it lands a honeymoon with Dennis Rodman, and even though divorce comes quickly, the alimony’s sweet.

4. Rick Perry finally comes out of the closet during a GOP debate, while listening to Rick Santorum wax poetic about gays and showers. Caught up in the heat of the moment, Perry proposes to the moderator, which should’ve been Andrew Breitbart, but due to a bout of influenza, he’s replaced at the last minute by Andy Dick. This leads to misfortune for Perry, who drops his maiden name after the wedding.

5. Most importantly, December 21, 2012 will be just another Friday for most Americans, filled with the usual array of Christmas parties, tearful breakups, and non-fatal Walmart tramplings. Pastor Harold “The Rapture Is Coming!” Camping will laugh sagely.

Have a joyous and safe New Year, y’all. We’ll see you on the other side!

Chevy’s Malibu will be “lightly electrified” when re-designed for 2013. “What in batteries does ‘lightly electrified’ mean,” you may ask? Apparently, “hybrid” was too much for the last Malibu to live up to. Its system was expensive and did little to wean the car off fossil fuels. Re-booted and uplifted, the 2013 Malibu ECO with eAssist benefits greatly from junk, err lithium-ion batteries, in the trunk.

The system stores energy during deceleration and through generators in the brakes, then assists the gasoline engine when a little extra power is needed heading up a hill, getting off the line, or to keep the transmission from shifting down and guzzling more fuel. To keep things simple, eAssist can’t run the Malibu only on electricity. Most drivers should expect a 3-year pay-back from these fuel savings.

It’s not all about the electric system. The 182hp 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine under the power dome hood earns its keep, as does the quick-shifting six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode. All Malibus will come with four-cylinder engines. eAssist contributes 15hp additional thrust, making it the most powerful Malibu until a turbo debuts later next year. Fuel economy is rated 25/37-MPG city/hwy.

Malibu is a stylish car, familiar in its big cross-bar grille and Camaro-inspired quad taillamps,. There’s also a lot of engineering hidden in the design details. The headlamps and grille greet the wind with smooth curves while sharp creases in the rear help to provide the car with a minimum of drag resistance. Behind the grille are shutters that close to divert airflow when not required for engine cooling. Lightweight alloys and low rolling resistance tires hold the road and earn a modest bump in MPGs.

Careful attention has been paid to airflow (i.e. wind noise) around the mirrors, and extensive insulation provides a quiet cabin in which you can enjoy Chevrolet’s MyLink® system. Voice controls USB-connected MP3 players, CDs, Pandora internet radio, and XM satellite radio. Bluetooth is standard; navigation is optional. Go old-school and tune in your favorite AM or FM station with a big tuning knob – much better than small fiddly buttons.

The cabin’s upscale materials, blue lighting that seeps out of the dashboard, convincing fake wood, and round gauges in square housings could have come from a Cadillac that copulated with a Camaro – it’s elegant and sporty. Rear legroom is a little tight, but shoulder space was increased. Safety is enhanced with 8 airbags: Dual front, front side, side curtains, and front knee airbags.

Hot-shoeing it through Texas hill country, just outside of Austin, the car shows its athletic side. The chassis felt nicely planted as I pushed it through hairpin corners, only once eliciting nanny-genies from the electronic stability program. Although there’s no hydraulic pump assisting the steering, the electric system felt more natural than other’s I’ve tested. Still, if you want a sports car, buy a Camaro.

Families of all types bought the outgoing Malibu, but not so many with a hybrid system. I like the new Malibu much better. Lightly electrified and styled to impress, Malibu ECO sales begin this spring with a base price of $25,995.

2013 Chevy Malibu ECO
Five-passenger, FWD sedan
Powertrain: 197hp (total) 2.4-litre I4, Lithium-ion batteries
Suspension f/r: Ind./Ind.
Wheels: 17”/17” alloy f/r
Brakes: Re-gen disc fr/rr with ABS
Must-have feature: Style, MPGs
Manufacturing: Oshawa, ON
Fuel economy (city/hwy.): 25/36 mpg
As tested price: $34,470

At this time of year, many of us try to put our own needs aside and focus on the needs of the less fortunate — though it’s often easier said than done. Providing gifts for everyone on our holiday shopping lists and giving a little something to charity can push personal finances to the brink.

If you’re feeling a little over-committed this year but still want to do some good, here are three free and easy ways to make a difference in the lives of folks across the country. The donation amounts may be small, but spread the word among friends, and they can really add up. Best of all, each is done through Facebook, meaning that you won’t need to go anywhere near a shopping mall. Score.

Subaru’s “Share the Love” event: Simply like Subaru on Facebook, visit the company’s “Share the Love” tab, and click a button to donate $1 to one of five charities – American Forests, the ASPCA, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Meals On Wheels Association of America, or the Special Olympics. Subaru will contribute up to $250,000 through this year’s “Share the Love” program, which runs through January 3, 2012.

Lexus’ “Bows for Charity”: Visit Lexus’ Facebook page and hit the “December to Remember” tab on the left-hand side. You’ll see a “Share a Bow” button in the middle of the page. Click it, share it on your wall, and Lexus will donate $5 to Toys for Tots, up to a total of $100,000. This program also runs through January 3.

AT&T’s No-Texting Pledge: You’re no dummy. You know that texting and driving is a dangerous habit. AT&T knows it, too, which is why the company is asking people to pledge not to text and drive. Once you’re logged into Facebook, visit the pledge page, click the “TAKE THE PLEDGE” button sitting smack in the middle of the screen, and AT&T will donate $2 to a nationwide coalition of nonprofits that address problems like driver safety, substance abuse, and bullying.

See, we told you it would be easy — and it’s no strain on the old wallet, either.

From all of us at Gaywheels, have a happy and safe holiday season.

Ordinarily, contests like the one that’s being run by Bosch Auto Parts and the Discovery Channel would be a little outside Gaywheels’ scope. After all, what does a sweepstakes offering a shot at a “five-night VIP Storm Chasing trip” for two with Reed Timmer have to do with cars or LGBT shoppers? At first glance, the answer might seem to be “not much”, but we’ll try to make the case:

1. For starters, the promo is designed to promote Bosch’s new ICON wiper blades, and every car owner needs wiper blades, right?

2. The grand prize of a storm-chasing trip sounds like a pretty nifty vacation. Heck, no matter how you feel about meteorology, it would give you a chance to spend the better pretending you’re Jamie Gertz in Twister. Who wouldn’t be into that?

3. Let’s not forget: Reed’s pretty cute.

So, how does this work? Well, there are two ways to win.

First, Bosch has given Gaywheels a special prize-pack that we’re giving away to one lucky reader. (Sorry, it’s for U.S. residents only.) The pack includes:

• A set of Bosch ICON wiper blades ($50 value)

• Storm Chasers: Season 4 DVD ($55 value)

• A signed copy of Reed Timmer’s book Into The Storm ($20 value)

• A Bosch C3 6V/12V Fully Automatic Four-Mode Battery Charger ($70 value)

To win that pack, just “like” or post a comment on this story on Gaywheels’ Facebook page before midnight on January 6. (You can do so here, too, but the winner will be chosen from Facebook.) We’ll draw one lucky name at random and ship out the package right away — though we obviously won’t be able to send the blades until we know the make and model of the winner’s car.

And what about the storm-chasing trip (and all the other runner-up prizes, like iPads)? For that, you’ll need to visit the Bosch Facebook page and watch a short video about Reed and his work. Then, submit your own short essay on why you want to join Reed on one of his expeditions. You can enter once per day, until January 1, 2012.

After that, Bosch will post two more clips of Reed, and each will offer more chances to write in and win. The contest officially ends on February 12, 2012, with a winner to be announced around February 15. Complete contest rules are available on Bosch’s Facebook page.

So you’ve got two possible wins — a prize pack from us and a range of goodies from Bosch. Get crackin’!

A safe first step towards sport

Lexus wants to add some dynamism and excitement to its lineup, beginning with the luxury sedan it hopes is ready to take on German rivals head-to-head. The 2013 Lexus GS represents the Japanese luxury brand’s new focus on driving dynamics, along with a new design that will migrate to the rest of the lineup. And frankly speaking, it’s the GS’s bold grille that could take the most getting used to.

Love it or hate it, the controversial front fascia finally gives Lexus something to talk about other than J.D. Power ratings and whisper-quiet cabins. For the first time in a long time, a showroom fresh Lexus doesn’t feature an exterior that immediately fades into the background of the luxury market. And with the exception of the look-at-me grille, the rest of the new GS is well proportioned and classy.

The same is true of the cabin, even though one base model I tested felt noticeably heavy on black plastic. There is lots of stretch out space both front and rear, and I felt immediately comfortable with the layout of the controls. For anyone who judges a car based on a quick test-drive at the dealership, the new GS should score plenty of bonus points for its user-friendly interior.

Performance isn’t too shabby either. The base engine in the GS350 is a 306-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 coupled to a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission (with manual controls for when you feel like taking control). Lexus reps told us to pay attention to the exhaust note and, sure enough, the GS emits a nice growl when you punch the gas pedal.

The driver can use a control located on the center console to choose between different driving modes: ECO, SPORT S, and SPORT S+ on models equipped with luxury or sport option packages. I pretty much avoided ECO mode, which felt like it throttled back power way too much for a modest bump in fuel economy. The GS felt much peppier when kept in SPORT S or SPORT S+. The handling – while occasionally a little artificial in its weighting – is a noticeable step in the right direction for the Lexus brand.

Lexus will also offer four-wheel-drive, as well as a hybrid model. The GS450h combines an electric motor with the standard 3.5-liter V-6 for a combined output of 338-hp. According to Lexus, this is enough for a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds. Unlike the outgoing GS450h, which was noticeably short on cargo space, the new version repositions the battery pack so it doesn’t devour trunk room. Fuel economy is an impressive 29/34-mpg during city and highway driving.

Given that Lexus wants to toughen up its image, I spent the majority of my driving time with the GS350 F Sport. This model boasts a firmer suspension, larger front brakes, staggered 19-inch alloys, and revised aerodynamics amongst other changes. The F Sport immediately feels a degree or two more dialed into the road, without getting unsettled over bumps and ridges. Yet without any actual increase in horsepower, choosing the F Sport could come down to whether or not you prefer its edgier exterior design.

The GS range arrives next February. Pricing has not been officially announced, but expect a base GS350 to start around $47,000 while F Sport and Hybrid variants should begin somewhere in the region of $55,000.

When size matters.

During the media drive of the 2012 Scion iQ, an auto journalist leaned over and said, “I guess this is the future” with a notable lack of enthusiasm. Stretching only 120.1 inches in length – and seemingly as wide as it is long – the iQ has a squat stance and, yes, it does look pretty futuristic. Yet from the deflated tone of this fellow’s comment, my guess is that he’s referring to the iQ’s modest 94-horsepower engine and extreme packaging solutions for passengers and cargo.

Scion and its parent company, Toyota, like to refer to the iQ as a 3+1 seat vehicle. Unlike the 2-passenger Smart Fortwo, the iQ does have a small rear bench that can (possibly) accommodate two passengers. The front seats are staggered, the front passenger seat sits slightly forward of the driver. In a pinch, you could squeeze one full-size adult into the rear. But the room aft of the driver is miniscule; legroom is almost non-existent unless the driver scoots his seat all the way forward.

And unless you fold the rear seatback down, cargo room is limited to a couple of three-ring binders or a laptop (standing on edge). I actually uttered an unprintable expression of ‘surprise” when I opened the hatch and saw the trunk space. Then again, you do have the choice to haul people or stuff in the iQ. So it’s hard to knock the compromise between people versus cargo hauling capability.

The iQ proved to be very capable on city streets and highways. Like other tiny city-cars, you’ll probably suffer from ‘phantom hood and ghost trunk’ when parking the iQ for the first time – don’t worry, you still have loads of room. It’s about one foot longer than a Smart, though you’re still dealing with a car that’s perfectly sized for tight parking spots. The iQ is also highly maneuverable, thanks to a nimble 12.9 turning circle. Making a U-turn is rarely so much fun!

Under the hood is a 94-hp 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engine coupled to a CVT (continuously variable transmission) gearbox. The iQ held its own on the highway, cruising along comfortably and relatively quietly at a steady 70 mph. Acceleration is decent, with a 0-60 mph time of approximately 10 seconds. You’re not going to win many drag races, but the iQ also doesn’t feel like it will run out of power during highway merges.

Of course, especially sharp bumps and ridges can unsettle the suspension of the iQ more than, say, small cars like a Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta or Toyota Yaris. There is only so much ride comfort that can be squeezed into a small 78.7-inch wheelbase. More importantly, the iQ’s fuel economy is only mid-pack, with an estimated 37-mpg highway average. Not bad, but I would have expected better when larger sub-compacts (and a few compacts) now routinely offer 40-mpg highway averages.

With a starting price around $16,000, the iQ comes loaded with plenty of standard features and a whopping 11 airbags. So rest assured, safety is not an issue here. The Scion iQ isn’t a bad deal, especially if you’re looking for a car to run short errands or live where parking spots are scarce. But unless you really need to downsize, it’s hard to see what the iQ offers versus larger rivals that provide real rear seats, more cargo room, and similar fuel economy.

My partner thinks the CLS is sexy – he calls it the “moon car” – while I appreciate its accentuated rear fenders, a throwback to mid-century Mercedes-Benz “Adenauer” sedans, and grille lifted from any number of sporting Mercedes since the 1955 300SL Gullwing. It looks smokin’ on its set of 18-inch AMG alloys. Some people don’t understand the CLS, but the ‘four-door coupe’ bodystyle has been copied for cars as diverse as the Porsche Panamera, Audi A7, Volkswagen CC, and Hyundai Sonata.

The real point of the sleek roofline is to slide a little sportiness under the radar of a practical four-door layout. Family and friends can get cozy in the console-divided rear buckets for short trips, while you and your partner snuggle into the front compartment. Heated and cooled leather seats, polished wood trim, thick carpets, and traditional gauges instill tradition and comfort. Mercedes has also installed a crystal-clear 14-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound audio system with HD Radio, 6-disc changer, and SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

Telling your neighbor you owned a Mercedes-Benz ‘550 used to mean your sports sedan had a 5.5-litre V8 under the hood. The numbering remains, but this new version comes packed with a (smaller) 4.6-litre twin-turbo V8. Don’t let size be an issue, since this engine given puts out 402-hp and 443 lb-ft. of torque. Power is routed to the wheels through a seven-speed paddle shift transmission. Optional is Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. Fuel economy isn’t bad at 17/26 mpg city/hwy.

Being a modern ‘Benz, the CLS550 flaunts an incredible load of safety tech. Our test car came with Attention Assist to keep you alert, Active Blind Spot Assist to keep you informed, and Active Lane Keeping Assist to vibrate your hands when you stray from your given lane without signaling. Distronic Plus with Pre-Safe Brake is available to monitor the road ahead of you, maintain a safe distance on the highway, and apply the brakes if necessary. The CLS550 also comes with anti-lock brakes, traction control, and ESP electronic stability control – all are good to have when piloting a 400+ horsepower German luxury sedan.

All of this electronic wizardry is great, but it’s more fun to drive a car than read the owner’s manual. Direct steering and an adjustable air suspension gives drivers the solid Mercedes feel they covet, along with the ability to personalize their ride. I don’t always love the artificial feel of air suspension, but the CLS’ is better than most. Track jockeys will go for the Sport tuning while long-time Mercedes owners will likely prefer touring mode for its highway demeanor.

Truth be told, if cabin room is a priority, you might do better to look at the boxier E-Class sedan. The rear of the CLS is adequate, but not much more than that. However, you can’t deny the CLS has style and performance, even if it appeals more to the fabulous amongst us.

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550
Four-passenger, RWD sedan
Powertrain: 402hp 4.6-litre turbo V8, 7-speed automatic transmission
Suspension f/r: Semi-active ind. air
Wheels: 18”/18” alloy f/r
Brakes: Disc fr/rr with ABS
Must-have feature: Style, efficiency
0-60mph: 5.2 seconds
Top speed: 130 mph
Fuel economy (city/hwy.): 17/26 mpg
Manufacturing: Germany
As tested price: $83,560

Auto sales have been picking up speed lately, outpacing analysts initial predictions. As a result, we’ve seen a steady increase in traffic — particularly where car reviews are concerned.

Of course, we’re happy to see that our list of LGBT-friendly automakers remains the most-viewed page at Gaywheels.com. Apart from that, though, the top spots for November were mostly reviews and articles about specific makes and models. (Even better: once again, all of the top ten rides were manufactured by gay-friendly companies.) Here are the cars that made the cut last month:

1. 2011 VW Golf GTI vs. 2011 VW Golf TDI
2. 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
3. 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI
4. 2008 Lexus GX 470
5. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
6. 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman
7. 2011 Lexus LFA – Preview
8. 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
9. 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
10. 2011 Toyota Sienna

Accidents don’t get more dramatic and expensive than the one that involved eight Ferraris and one Lamborghini this weekend on a highway in Japan. A report by the Associated Press states that the wreck began when one Ferrari driver lost control, hit the center median, then ricocheted across the highway. In total, 14 cars were involved in the carnage.

Thankfully, media reports indicate no one was seriously injured. The same can’t be said for the wrecked exotic cars, which included a multi-generational mix of Modena’s finest. From the photos (along with a Japanese news video of the accident being cleared) you can make out a white Ferrari Testarossa, an F430 with large rear spoiler, an F430 and at least two F355s. Various sources have said the other cars include a Mercedes-Benz and Lamborghini Diablo. Also: a very unfortunate Toyota Prius.

The combined total value of the wrecked vehicles is in excess of $1 million. Here’s a video look at the wreckage. (Sadly, no sound.)

More details at Google and Motor Authority.

We’re going to veer away from the topic of cars for just a minute to talk about something special: World AIDS Day.

When it comes to HIV and AIDS, we’re in a very different place now than we were just a few years ago. Today’s medicines have dramatically increased life expectancies for people living with HIV —  as much as 53 years (or more) from the time of infection. Advances in technology also mean that many scientists are once again talking about a cure for HIV – something they haven’t done in decades. The battle isn’t over, but slowly, HIV is becoming a chronic condition rather than a fatal disease. And yet, there’s still a huge stigma surrounding HIV-positive people. That has to change.

World AIDS Day is held every December 1. It’s an opportunity to remind people about how far humankind has come in its fight against HIV and AIDS and how far we still have to go. Over 30 years into the pandemic, we all know that HIV and AIDS aren’t limited to LGBT people, but there’s no denying that they’ve had a disproportionate impact on our communities in the U.S. and elsewhere.

We encourage you to take a few minutes out of your day and to contribute to the cause — financially or in other ways. Here are five things you can do to make a difference.

1. Donate
There are hundreds if not thousands of organizations that offer services to people living with HIV and AIDS. Some, like amfAR, are huge. Others, like the community outreach organizations found in your own neighborhoods, work on much smaller scales. All of them need your help in providing education, testing, counseling, and drugs to people living with HIV and AIDS. If you can, consider setting up a monthly donation with these organizations to provide support throughout the year.

2. Donate on behalf of your family members this holiday season
The children in your family might be dead-set on a new Xbox 360 or a Barbie dream car or whatever plastic thingamajig is hot this year. But chances are good that many of the adults on your shopping list already have more than enough stuff cluttering up their lives. Consider making a donation in their names — or perhaps in memory of a late loved one — instead of purchasing yet another Snuggie or Bumpit.

3. Volunteer throughout the year
Have you got an extra couple of hours that you can offer to a local HIV/AIDS service organization? You might lend time in the kitchen at a local hospice, or if you have a special set of skills — say, accounting or legal knowledge — you can put those to use, too. If you’re particularly enthusiastic, ask about serving on a board of directors. Whatever you do, though, be sure to offer help throughout the year. Many charities have an influx of help during the holidays — which is great — but they struggle at other times, like during the summer months.

4. Get tested — and bring a friend
There’s nothing quite as stressful as getting an HIV test.  Even when you know that you’ve been safe, even when you have no rational cause for concern, the whole process is deeply unnerving. But obviously, it’s important to go through with it: as many as 20% of people carrying HIV in the U.S. don’t know they have it. And as crushing as a positive diagnosis might be, it’s better to know than not. Getting on treatment can result in a relatively normal lifespan and prevent HIV-positive individuals from passing the virus to others.

5. Get educated and share your knowledge with friends and family
For many of us, the facts about HIV and AIDS were drilled into our heads in high school. But how long has it been since you took a refresher course? Just as importantly, how long has it been since your friends and family familiarized themselves with the facts? Re-educate yourself, and find time to share that knowledge with loved ones — especially anyone who’s sexually active, no matter what their age.

Toyota builds a car to replace your iPhone.

Do you think Apple’s legal department buys into the theory that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? We sure hope so, if only for the sake of Toyota’s totally wacky Fun-Vii Concept, shown this week during the Tokyo Auto Show. This three-passenger vehicle looks more like the lovechild of a mouse-pad and iPhone than any Toyota we’ve seen.

Toyota says the Fun-Vii offers “the ultimate in personalization,” since both the interior and exterior are completely customizable. The entire vehicle body can be used as a display space. That seems perfect for businesses that want to show ads and contact info. Though you can’t help but wonder how this technology might be used for less, shall we say, business-oriented messaging.

Someone cuts you off on the highway, or there’s a hottie in the car next to you at a stoplight…we’ll let you conjure up the type of images you’ll start downloading for display. Toyota has not said whether or not the displays can be altered while in motion.

Things only get weirder once you fire up the navigation system. A 3-D holographic image, a “navigation concierge” according to Toyota, pops up to assist you with directions and other guidance functions. The Fun-Vii is also capable of linking its network to other vehicles and infrastructure, allowing for everything from blind spot assistance to connecting your vehicle with friends driving nearby.

And you thought a mobile phone was a driving distraction?

Before we close up shop for the long weekend ahead, we’d like to take just a moment and share a few of the things for which we’re thankful this holiday season. This isn’t a snarky list — in fact, it’s a little earnest, a little hokey — but there are worse things to be, we suppose.

And so, in no particular order, we’d like to express a little gratitude for:

1. The overwhelming number of LGBT-friendly automakers: Seriously, have you looked at our list recently? It’s pretty amazing that of all the companies on that long, long roster, only four miss the boat on being gay-friendly. Just ten years ago — less, even — we were living in a very different world.

2. The push for LGBT-equality in America’s daily life: Our community has made huge strides the past couple of years — perhaps the biggest being the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. Today, LGBT Americans figure prominently in politics, business, entertainment, and every other sphere. That’s not to say we don’t have a long way to go — starting with the repeal of DOMA, thankyouverymuch — but we’re on a roll. Even right-wing bigots admit that we’ve pretty much won the battle for marriage equality. That’s saying something.

3. Our allies in the industry: When we see massive companies like GM create an “It Gets Better” video and conservative brands like Buick sponsor a story about an anti-bullying campaign in the world of sports, it’s enough to knock our socks off. Beyond just treating their LGBT employees fairly, these companies go out of their way to make them feel welcome and to promote tolerance in the workplace.

4. Dual-clutch transmissions: They may not be quite as challenging as that column-shifter you drove back in high school, but dual-clutches will do in a pinch. And having them around means that drivers get a taste of what gear-shifting feels like, which may keep more manual models off the extinction list.

5. The Chrysler/Fiat merger: Was it the most popular merger in U.S. history? Not by a longshot. But it’s made Chrysler one of the most interesting stories in today’s automotive world. Rather than whittle down its brand family like Ford and GM did, Chrysler went in the other direction, adding one marque (spinning off Ram into its own line) and then another (the new Fiat). And there’s talk of another Chrysler line in the return of Alfa Romeo. Will Chrysler’s strategy work? Will the Fiat 500 stick around? Who knows? But it’s damn entertaining to watch.

6. Smartphones: Today’s cars are a long way from the ones your parents drove — and that’s not just because of what’s under the hood. It’s also because of the many ways we can accessorize them, and one of the most versatile accessories on the market is the smartphone. With a range of apps — most inexpensive, some completely free — that can rival many built-in navigation and infotainment systems, smartphones have helped make driving fun again for many of us. (Just please don’t use them to text while driving. Oprah would be very, very mad.)

7. Greener cars: No matter whether you’re a Jeremy Clarkson-style gasoholic or an electric-car hugger like Ed Begley Jr., you have to admit, the advances in green vehicle tech are exciting. Are today’s EVs viable for most people? Probably not. But every gearhead and gadget-lover worth their slide ruler has to be thrilled at the sight of so many intriguing technologies perched on the horizon. (Saving gas and cleaning up the environment aren’t too bad, either.)

8. Social media: We’re not ashamed to admit that we have a thing for Facebook (and Twitter, too). Not only do social networking sites allow us to share news in near-real time, but they also give us a new way to keep tabs on car companies. The marketing conversation has changed: it’s no longer just about automakers pumping out car ads, it’s about dialogue. They have to say interesting things to keep consumers listening — and they’ll be held accountable when things go off-track. Ford’s Fiesta Movement campaign was just the beginning of a new way for us to communicate with our favorite car brands — and vice-versa.

9. China, India, and Brazil: For years, automakers — like many companies — operated in a vacuum. Now, emerging car markets are forcing those same automakers to collaborate and forge partnerships with their former competitors. While this may not yield huge benefits for us in the short-term, down the road it may lead to more interesting products and faster development of technology.

10. Our readers: C’mon, like you didn’t think we’d give you a shout-out on this special day? We’re really happy you’re here, and we hope you’ll let us know if there’s anything special you’d like for us to cover.

Thanks for tuning in. Have a great holiday, and we’ll see you next week.

Buick’s comfort-oriented LaCrosse goes green.

The good news, especially if you’re a Buick PR rep, is that I’ve really enjoyed a week spent with the 2012 LaCrosse eAssist. The handsome 5-passenger sedan is comfortable, quiet, roomy, and it offers an EPA rated 25/36-mpg in city and highway driving. The bad news, also if you’re a Buick PR rep, is that I’m kind of embarrassed to be gushing over the fine attributes of a Buick sedan.

I know that the brand is revamping its image and has sport-themed models like the turbocharged Regal GS to prove it. The latest LaCrosse has maintained Buick’s cozy highway-cruiser manners, while jettisoning the pillow-soft ride and ultra-numb steering of past editions. I’ve enjoyed driving the V-6 and inline-4 cylinder models – though the near-silent 303-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 would probably be my pick.

That choice might need some revising. The LaCrosse eAssist is proving equally capable, thanks to a powertrain that combines a 182-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and hybrid motor. This is not your conventional hybrid, capable of powering the car on electric power for short distances and at low speeds. Instead, Buick refers to this as a mild hybrid system.

Under acceleration, the electric motor/generator provides an additional 15-hp and 79 lb.-ft. of torque to take some of the burden off the gas engine. The engine shuts down automatically at stoplights, to help save fuel, then instantly restarts when needed. Regenerative brakes feed power to the electric motor, while low rolling resistance tires and electronically-controlled shutters in the front grill help eek out a few extra mpgs.

On the road, the LaCrosse eAssist is almost as whisper-quiet as the V-6 models. Acceleration from 0-60 mph is approximately 9.0 seconds, which is within a few tenths of the non-hybrid inline-4. Best of all, the eAssist’s fuel economy is much better than either model. The standard 4-cylinder averages 19/30-mpg, and the V-6 is rated at 17/27-mpg.

There are some sacrifices, however, when it comes to packaging. Trunk space suffers slightly, since the battery pack is mounted behind the rear seat and eats into the cargo space. The gas tank is also smaller (15.7 gallons versus 18.4), though Buick says overall driving range – thanks to those higher economy figures – remains better in the eAssist model.

There is loads of space in the back seat; your rear passengers won’t have any complaints when it comes to legroom. The cabin controls are easy to understand, even if some design details (like the plastic-chrome surround on the center console) are a little over-the-top. German luxury sedans are still tops when it comes to business-class-like cabins, though Buick has definitely narrowed the gap, or exceeded, many domestic and Japanese luxury rivals.

The LaCrosse eAssist starts at $30,820, including destination charge.

Putting aside first impressions

My boyfriend says I’m too quick to judge people. So allow me to rectify this bad habit, at least when it comes to cars. My first impressions of the 2012 Honda Civic were definitely less than flattering. The bland exterior redesign left me indifferent. The Civic is still a handsome car, though the new one sure doesn’t look much different from the outgoing model.

The problems really started on the highway, where the base Civics I drove were far too noisy. Cheap cabin plastics only made matters worse. Was this the same Civic that had served as the industry’s small car benchmark for years? Everything felt built to a strict budget, which is fine if you’re talking about value for money and good fuel economy.

The Civic wasn’t all bad. Yet the tepid new model seemed only mid-pack, at best, in a small car market now filled with much more exciting choices.

Enter the Civic Si

A couple months later, I was sliding behind the wheel of a bright red Civic Si coupe. I took a moment to clear my head of those negative early impressions. This is the sporty Civic after all, and Honda has an excellent reputation for building fun-to-drive cars that won’t break the bank. At $22,975 (as tested), my Civic Si isn’t a bargain basement ride. But thankfully, and unlike the other variants I’d driven, it finally didn’t feel like one.

The 3-D gauge layout is funky and futuristic; consider me a fan even if the functionality is debatable. Too bad Honda’s streak of styling whimsy didn’t extend to the center console or door panels. These are the polar opposite, functional to the point of dourness. And yes, hard and cheap-feeling plastic creeps back into the equation. At least the cabin is spacious, and the backseat easily accommodated a couple of friends.

Redemption is found from the driver’s seat, while zinging the 201-bhp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine around the tachometer and giving the sharp steering a quick left-right flick. The Honda Civic Si coupe is a very rewarding car to drive. I immediately felt comfortable dicing through traffic and pushing the car hard into corners – at least as hard as you can push a car in Brooklyn and lower Manhattan.

The ride is firm but not harsh, even on the worst New York City roads. You have a choice of only one transmission, a slick-shifting 6-speed manual. If you’re a novice with shift-it-yourself gearboxes, this is the car to learn the art (though perhaps with a dealer demo). A perfectly weighted clutch and precise H-gate make this transmission a tactile joy, even in heavy traffic.

There is lots to like with this car, something I wouldn’t have said about the other Civics I drove. The coupe also has a handsome and more angular design, coupled to a set of classy – though not flashy – 17-inch alloy wheels. A highway fuel economy average of 31-mpg is a nice bonus.

The Civic Si coupe isn’t perfect, but it’s much better than expected. Is that faint praise? Oh well, I guess I’m not perfect either.

General Motors has been on a roll the past couple of years. Since emerging from a contentious bankruptcy in 2009, the company has increased profits, shown a willingness to innovate, and generated more buzz for its vehicle lineup than we’ve seen in ages (cf. the 2011 Chevy Camaro).

GM also remains one of the auto industry’s strongest supporters of LGBT equality. The company does more than just give LGBT employees the same rights and benefits as their straight colleagues (though that’s an important step, and something that other automakers like Hyundai and Kia haven’t yet managed to do.) General Motors has really taken the message of LGBT equality to heart, as evinced by the touching video that its workers recently created for the “It Gets Better” project.

As another example of GM’s pro-LGBT stance, we’d also point to Chevrolet’s staunch support of Glee. Cynics might say that Chevy’s sponsorship of Glee is solely a marketing ploy, meant to reach the show’s young, eager audience. But without advertisers like Chevy, of one of the most LGBT-inclusive programs in the history of network television might not have made it past its first few episodes. Having a TV show like Glee that offers positive messages to gay teens would be important at any time, but it’s doubly so today, when stories of suicides among LGBT teens continue to litter the headlines.

Now, Chevy’s more conservative sibling, Buick, has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the OUT100 for the second year in a row. If you’re not familiar with the OUT100, it’s OUT magazine’s salute to the 100 most inspiring, influential people in politics, entertainment, design, and other areas. The OUT100 includes a large print and online campaign honoring these role models, culminating in a celebratory event held this Thursday, November 17 at the Skylight Soho in New York City. (Sorry, y’all: it’s invitation-only.)

Buick features prominently in most of the advertising for the OUT100, and company reps will take center stage Thursday night as they present Daniel Hernandez with the 2011 Buick OUT100 Humanitarian Award. Hernandez is the intern credited with saving the life of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) back in January, and this year’s OUT100 celebration is dedicated to him.

Buick deserves kudos for stepping up to the plate and supporting this important event for the LGBT community — though the relationship between Buick and OUT isn’t exactly one-sided: the OUT100 gets a sponsor, and the Buick name gets put in front of thousands of LGBT shoppers. We don’t have demographic info on OUT magazine’s readership or the attendees of the OUT100 event, but we’d guess that they skew toward the young side. That’s very attractive to Buick, since the company has been working overtime to draw younger drivers to the brand. (Sadly, that Tiger Woods thing didn’t work out so well.)

If you’re so inclined, you might drop a quick email to Nick Richards, group manager for Buick communications, and thank him for the company’s support of LGBT equality. And if you have a few minutes more, have a look at some of this year’s outstanding OUT100 honorees.

As part of its recent “Taxi of Tomorrow” exhibition in New York City, Nissan hosted a Ca$h Cab for charity event with host Ben Bailey fielding questions. Yours truly and my boyfriend, Matthew, opted to play for The Trevor Project, a crisis intervention and suicide prevention resource for LGBTQ youth. I’m happy to report that we did the gay community proud as Ni$$an Taxi Trivia Team 1.

Did you know an average of 600,000 New Yorkers take cabs each day? As you can tell from the video, we definitely did not:

Nissan graciously overlooked our taxi trivia flub and donated $1,000 to The Trevor Project. In the process, we also got a glimpse of the ongoing development of the Nissan NV200 taxicab, the winner of the “Taxi of Tomorrow” contest. Beginning in 2013, this five-passenger minivan will become the official taxi of New York City. A mock up of the rear cabin allowed curious onlookers to get a preview of what’s in store for future taxi rides.

Thanks again to Nissan for supporting a good cause!

Life was pretty boring at Chrysler dealers after the retro-cool PT Cruiser hit the skids. If you wanted a compact car, well, good luck. There were none to be had, at least in Chrysler showrooms.

On one of their first missions to Italy after discussions began for Fiat to gain control of Chrysler, executives saw the little Italian 500. They wanted it bad. That’s why the sub-compact two-door has made the trip here.

The exterior design is based on the original Cinquecento, built from 1957 to 1975; however its rear engine format has been reversed. The modern 500 has the engine up front and is now front-wheel-drive. Fiat’s stylists did a great job of concealing the powertrain flip by placing the engine behind large round headlamps, a stubby hood, and outline of a grille that all echo the original. Some find the shape as pleasing as a gondola. Others aren’t quite as enamored with the cutesy looks.

The 500’s canted hatchback with chrome-detailed taillamps is a classic touch. Sport editions, like my test car, ride on stylish 16-inch alloys and come dressed up with a rear spoiler, chrome exhaust tips and fog lamps.

Inside, Fiat 500 passengers might feel like a Toyota Yaris snuck out and co-luxuriated with a Ferrari. Painted dash surfaces, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated leather seats, and vast choice of colors make the interior feel like it came from a car costing many multiples more – even if much of it is hard plastic. A Bose audio with USB input is there for all you audiophiles and iPod addicts.

In my mind, there must be a rolling lane through the Italian countryside that’s calling my name. Granted, the 500’s 101-hp 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine, connected to a five-speed manual transmission, is not so exotic. A stiff clutch and tiny pedal could give you charley horses, but once mastered, the car revs to redline and can be clicked through the gears with the snap of a wrist. A button puts the car into Sport mode for quicker throttle response. If the engine’s verve doesn’t move you, then maybe you’ll be won over by the excellent 30/38 mpg city/highway fuel economy averages.

Driving the 500 is what sets it apart from the average city car. The steering is precise, the four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes are strong, and a full range of electronic controls keeps the car under control. An independent front, twist-beam rear suspension system is engineered with cost in mind, but sport-tuned shock absorbers and springs grasp the road. You can toss the car around without fear of putting it into a ditch. The 500 is also calm, quiet, and comfortable on the highway. It’s not as sporty as a Mini Cooper, but it makes a better long-distance companion than a Smart Fortwo.

It’s easy to hone a passion for Italian goods; I wouldn’t give up my Persol sunglasses for anything. While J-Lo is hocking gussied up Gucci editions of the 500, the best way to experience Italy here is to buy a Fiat 500 and drink gallons of Lavazza coffee while driving it. With an as-tested price of $19,500, the Fiat 500 Sport becomes la voce della ragione, the voice of reason.

2012 FIAT 500 Sport
Four-passenger, FWD Hatch
Powertrain: 101-HP 1.4-litre I4, 5-speed manual transmission
Suspension f/r: Ind/Twist beam
Wheels: 16”/16” alloy f/r
Brakes: Disc fr/rr with ABS
Must-have feature: Style, efficiency
Fuel economy (city/hwy): 30/38 mpg
Manufacturing: Toluca, Mexico
As tested price: $19,500

Another month, another set of numbers for the statistics fans. We’ve pulled Gaywheels’ traffic stats for October, and we’re happy to report that, once again, the biggest bottleneck occurred on our Gay-Friendly Automakers page. It’s great to see that so many people want to know which companies treat their LGBT employees fairly.

Lots of news items and original pieces wound up in the top berths, too, including Nick’s article about “The Best Cars For Coming Out” and our look at the rides of yesteryear entitled “Gone But Not Forgotten: Gaywheels Talks About The Cars We Miss, Part 1“. Quite a few of you were curious about Tom Ford’s taste in cars, too, given the number who viewed “The Other Star of A Single Man“.

But of course, what most came a-looking for was car reviews. So without further ado, here are the ones that drew the most attention last month:

1. 2011 VW Golf GTI vs. 2011 VW Golf TDI
2. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
3. 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
4. 2011 Toyota Sienna
5. 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI
6. 2008 Volvo C30
7. 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman
8. 2008 Lexus GX 470
9. 2011 Ford Mustang GT Convertible
10. 2012 Nissan 370Z Roadster

If you think Gone in 60 Seconds is a film about gay dating habits, then you could probably use a break from the bar scene. And for a car fan in New York City, there’s no better way to unwind than with the amazing fleet of classic and sports cars owned by the Classic Car Club Manhattan. Opened in 2005, the CCC offers members the thrill of having dozens of incredible vehicles at their disposal, without the hassle of garage bills, insurance premiums, and hefty maintenance fees.

The Club works like a timeshare — or you could consider it the most kick-ass alternative to Zipcar. A member pays an annual fee in return for an allotment of points based on his or her level of membership. Pricier levels of membership allow members extra driving days, along with access to a more exotic and expensive range of cars. Points are deducted each time a car is borrowed from the fleet. A sliding scale determines points usage based on the length of the loan, the car’s desirability (and value), and even the season.

Best of all, the CCC is officially LGBT-friendly. Whether you’re determinedly single, or want to sign-up with your long-term better half, the Club is open to all. Discounted rates for couples are extended to both straight and gay members. I recently spoke with Michael Prichinello, director and co-founder of the CCC Manhattan, about how the Club operates, the profile of a typical member, and this season’s hottest vehicles.

What is the current membership cost, and how does it apply to couples (both gay and straight)?

Membership has just been improved to make sure that membership to CCC is as flexible and convenient as possible. We’ve modified the program to allow membership to CCC for as little as $4,500 and a $165 a month membership fee. There’s no place in the world to receive such incredible motoring for such a small cost. As always, couples are both insured upon becoming members so both can enjoy the drive.

Is there a typical CCC member? Has this changed since the Club opened?

The only common thread amongst our members is the taste of adventure. Other than that, they come from all backgrounds — male, female, gay, straight, bankers, entertainers, racecar drivers and everything in-between. On average, they’re about 38 years old and they know driving is better than owning.

Okay, without outing anyone or getting too cliché, do gay clients differ in terms of the cars they prefer?

We have quite a few gay members and the truth is, their tastes vary, as much as anyone else’s…it just seems they go to more luxurious destinations!

You have a lot of cars in the fleet. Do some models have more appeal to certain clients?

The most popular cars are the ones that are newest in the fleet. In the past two months, we’ve added a brand new Ferrari 458 Italia and a Mercedes Benz SLS AMG. Next month, a 1965 customized Lincoln Continental convertible with suicide doors will be put into the club and will become the most wanted car of the moment. As far as groups, we do have a population of automotive purists, and they are always excited about our historic racers, like our BMW M2 (1975 2002 with an E30 M3 drive train), our 1965 Alfa Romeo GTV, or Lancia Delta Integrale. We like those members. They know it’s about more than just horsepower.

Are there cars that routinely surprise clients, vehicles that get overlooked until someone gets behind the wheel?

Every day! One such surprise is our 92 Acura NSX. It’s the first car to have a space frame, it’s all lightweight aluminum, and it was designed with the help of Ayrton Senna at the Suzuka Raceway. It’s Japan’s first supercar — the Ferrari killer of the day, yet it’s not the first “go-to” car for many because it has a Japanese badge instead of an Italian one. But we make members give it a go…they always come back grinning ear to ear, as it’s one of the best driver’s cars throughout automotive history, and I’ll still put it up against most modern cars for the fun of the ride.

What’s the hottest car in the fleet right now?

The Ferrari 458 Italia. It’s one of the best road cars ever made. As Ferris Bueller said, “If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”

And for a long drive after work, you’re grabbing the keys to which car?

Whichever CCC car is closest to the garage door. Each one is better than the next.

Zach, our friend from Croatia, has returned with a great write-up of 23-year-old automotive designer, Mate Rimac; his new car company, Rimac Automobili, based in Zagreb; and Rimac’s first vehicle, the Concept One electric supercar, which debuted earlier this year at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. Of course, since this is Gaywheels, Zach also asked Rimac about his feelings toward the LGBT community and LGBT workers. Rimac’s answers are in keeping with those of Croatia’s president, who has been vocal in his support for the LGBT community, in stark contrast to politicians from some other Eastern European nations.

* * * * *

Croatia’s newest sensation is 23-year-old, Mate Rimac. Not only is he young and handsome, but he’s also a very talented automotive designer and an aggressive entrepreneur. He recently launched his own car company called — appropriately enough — Rimac Automobili.

I decided to contact Rimac and ask him a few questions about his Concept One electric supercar, his plans for the future, his means of coping with public pressure, and his thoughts about the LGBT community — specifically, his thoughts about hiring gay men and lesbians to work in his new company.

This year, the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show had, among its sea of novelties, one sensational breeze from Croatia. It was found in a pavilion especially designed for the cars of the future, with a particular emphasis given to electric vehicles. Alongside numerous cars from better-known companies, Rimac’s fascinating Concept One was a standout. At 1,088 hp, it catapults it from 0 – 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds, making it one of the fastest electric cars in the world. Journalists and industry execs couldn’t get enough of it.

Mr. Rimac, you’re very young but you have the air of someone with many years of experience. How did you manage to build such an elaborate concept vehicle and do it so well — something few other Croatian manufacturers have been able to do?

It took a lot of work, will, and effort to get to the level where we are now.  I had a vision from the start; I was determined, and I didn’t want to give up on my dreams. But of course, we’re just at the beginning — the hardest part is still to come! We have to get a full range of approvals for the car and run all sorts of tests so that we can begin manufacturing it in 2013.

How do you cope with so much public pressure and all of the meetings that you have to attend? Do you have a lot of assistants?

I deal with public pressure very well, but it can get hectic sometimes. For example, during the Frankfurt show, we were occupied with spokesmen and journalists from all over the world. All of the big firms came to see us and admired our technology — from Audi to BMW to Tesla. But during all of those interviews, I realized that I didn’t get a chance to drink a single glass of water!  It isn’t hard to attend meetings, but I will say that my private life has suffered.

Do you have any kind of free time?

To be honest, no. Since we started to work on this project in earnest, I really haven’t had time for anything else. I get up at 7am, and I stay in the office until midnight (on a good day). When we were preparing for the Frankfurt show we were up 24/7.

What is your attitude towards LGBT community? Would you ever hire an openly gay person?

Absolutely, yes. I don’t have any kind of prejudice towards the LGBT community, nor would I mind having an employee who is openly gay. There’s no place for discrimination in my firm of any kind.

I respect the LGBT community, and I also have a few gay friends. I would even like to take this opportunity and put the word out that I am looking for an expert in mechanical engineering and electrotechnics. We are growing very quickly, and this is crucial to our success, so I welcome them — gay or straight.

At the beginning of 2011, we had a contest for Croatian Gay Car of the Year .We could include Concept One in the next one — after all it is domestic product! What do you think about that title?

Why not? I’d love to see it in that kind of contest, and I hope that visitors to Gaywheels.com will like it.

Part of Gaywheels’ reason for being is to give LGBT shoppers and car-owners the facts they need to make informed decisions. Dealerships and garages can often feel like Old Boys’ Clubs (translation: Straight Old Boys’ Clubs), and that, in turn, can feel intimidating to many LGBT consumers — including us.

As a Gaywheels reader, you’ve hopefully gotten a lot of useful info from our car reviews and news articles, and you might’ve even been called upon to help an indecisive friend in the showroom. Now, that process has gotten a little easier with a new infographic from KBB.

The folks behind everyone’s favorite little Blue Book put this together for shoppers in in the market for a new compact sedan — the kind that so many of our friends drive. It includes four great options for four types of friends in your life.

All four are great cars, and three of them come from gay-friendly companies. (Maybe one day, Hyundai will join the 21st century.) It’s probably worth noting that the three cars from gay-friendly automakers — the Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, and Honda Civic — scored higher on both the “fun” and “comfort” grids.

Now, go forth and be an informed adviser!

She is also a huge supporter of LGBT equality and an avid car fan. We knew all about the former, thanks to her appearances on Ru Paul’s Drag Race and at countless LGBT events. The former, however, was new to us, brought to light during a video interview with Forbes’ Hannah Elliott earlier this week.

As you might imagine, given Von Teese’s retro look, she’s crazy for vintage rides. She gives Elliott a tour of two from her stable: a 1939 Packard 128 and a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe.

What’s interesting is that Von Teese isn’t just interested in these cars for their retro style: they’re also very savvy investments. Says Teese, “Vintage cars aren’t like a new car, where when you suddenly walk off the lot…and it’s worth, like, half of what you paid for it. You know, I’ve made money in all my vintage car buying adventures.” So, they’re good looking, and they’re good investments, too. Nice work.

Have a look at the full video clip below:

Like all electric cars, the Leaf operates in near silence and offers the feel good benefit of zero emission driving. However, a range of approximately 110 miles makes long trips difficult, if not impossible. That’s where the Leaf’s capabilities, and a weekend getaway, came into conflict. The Leaf could make the trip to Asbury Park, New Jersey, but the battery didn’t have enough juice for the ride home to N.Y.C.

My partner, Matt, and I searched online for charging stations at our destination. No luck.

The Leaf also has a satellite navigation system that shows the nearest charging points – though it didn’t always jive with what we were finding online, and vice versa. Our planned trip to “da’ Jersey shore” was looking like more trouble than it was worth. Sorry Snooki, we’ll catch you next time.

If you’re thinking about buying an EV, be certain to factor in your driving habits and whether or not you have a reliable spot to keep it charged. To be fair, that’s a quirk of all electric cars. So how does the Leaf stack up in terms of design, cabin comfort and performance?
Getting people behind the wheel would ease a lot of trepidation. The Leaf rides and handles like a normal car, with little in the way of extraneous gadgetry to get in the way. The automatic transmission’s chunky control knob – it looks like an oversized computer mouse – and the gauge cluster’s cool blue readings for battery charge add a nice touch of tech to the cabin. Acceleration is strong in town, though it’ll take about 10 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour. Top speed is limited to 92 mph.Nissan purposefully kept the Leaf’s design conservative, since the automaker figured the electric powertrain was enough of a leap forward for most customers. Edgy early-adopters might want something flashier if they’re going to hand over $33,600 (base price, before federal and state tax credits). The 5-door hatchback shape is a little bland, though Nissan can always introduce wilder styling once customers get more used to the idea of electric cars.

The Leaf is exceptionally slick during city driving. My partner and I rolled down the windows while the 107 horsepower electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack operated in total silence. Engine noise suddenly seems so last century in a Leaf. Having rearranged our weekend plans to suit the car, we at least found it remarkably easy to drive. More steering feel would be nice; the Leaf is nimble, but the front-wheel-drive hatch is not what I’d call sporty.

But hey, the kids love it.

Automakers shouldn’t be too worried about the next generation of car buyers opting for EVs. Almost every thumbs-up came from the 12-and-under crowd – one kid had his dad roll down the window so he could shout “cool car!” as we sat in a traffic jam.

All the city driving finally added up. With only 18 miles of range left on the Leaf, we located a parking lot on the Lower East Side with a charging station. The attendant told us we were the second EV to use the recently installed system. A flap on the nose of the car covers the 220-volt charging port. I had Matt pose as we officially marked our first EV recharging memory in NYC. Does Hallmark make a card for that?

We budgeted two hours for recharging the Leaf – and took that time to replenish our own batteries with a relaxed lunch around the corner. That was enough to bump the driving range back to 55 miles. A full recharge would have required several more hours. Using a normal 110-volt plug and outlet means waiting upwards of 10-12 hours, or more.

The Leaf is good, though not for everybody. While electric cars seem custom-made for city driving, the infrastructure isn’t quite there to keep them humming along. A quieter suburban existence, with a cozy garage and nightly recharge, is where the Leaf works best – probably as a second car.

What car do you miss most of all? That’s the question I recently asked of our contributors here at Gaywheels. If they could only pick one car to bring back from the automotive graveyard, what would you choose?

The answers ranged from cargo-hauling Hondas, to classic American luxury barges. Interestingly, no one opted for anything truly exotic, a wildly expensive supercar with gullwing-style doors and bigger wings than an Airbus A380. Maybe we’re all exceptionally tasteful…or maybe we’re just really cheap?

This is the second and final leg of our drive down memory lane. Missed first part? Catch it here.

Casey Williams – 1999-2009 Honda S2000

The car I miss most is the Honda S2000. It was built from 1999 to 2009, but I’d choose the last year because it was the best. It combined the best features of a Miata and NSX.

Designed by Shigeru Uehara, the S2000 looked like a classic sports car, but came with the soul of a race bike. Its 237hp 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine revved like a banshee, but the click-click six-speed manual transmission was divine. Fully revved, you could get from 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds, but the one-button power top was what the car was all about. Quick steering, a mega-stiff body structure, and a tendency to oversteer just added to the allure.

The ’99 S2000 was one of the first test cars I drove and I took it Christmas shopping in Dallas with the top down. I was almost killed in another when a journalist friend was driving and an SUV pulled out in front of us. Its quick reflexes jumped through the median and around the SUV. I later convinced my boss to buy a silver one. I’m working on my uncle now…. Under 67,000 were sold in the U.S., so maybe I should buy one while I can?

Richard Read – 2003-2011 Honda Element

I freely admit that I don’t like “things”. I could live very happily in a near-empty house, with only a good bed, a Kindle, and my dogs. (Having my husband around wouldn’t be bad either, I guess.) So I’ve never truly lusted after a car, but I can honestly say that I already miss the Honda Element. I do a lot of schlepping, I have four unruly hounds, and I live in a hurricane zone; the Honda Element has tons of cargo room, it’s dog friendly, and it’s reliable enough to endure evacuations with ease. Match made in heaven.

Nick Kurczewski – 1961-1982 Checker Marathon

I couldn’t let everyone else have all the fun! While I was tempted to choose truly obscure and rare car, I decided my “back from the dead” vehicle should have some sentimental value. So my apologies to all those Iso Grifo and Gordon-Keeble fans out there (both of you). It also had to be a car I’ve driven and, in terms of road tests, they don’t get much more fun than piloting an old Checker taxicab around the streets of New York City.

The Checker was known as “the king of cabs.” Believe me, it didn’t earn the title based on driving pleasure. To be honest, I’ve driven bumper cars that had more steering feel than the Checker. The original engine was a Continental-built inline-6 cylinder, though later models used Chevy sixes and V-8s. And let’s not overlook the iron girders Checker used as bumpers to help meet federal safety standards. They’re ugly as sin, but sure would come in handy when parallel parking.

For all its flaws, I still love the Checker. My first ride in one was back in elementary school. Don’t ask me why my best friend’s dad owned a gunmetal-gray Checker – he wasn’t a cabbie, and the lumbering hulk shared garage space with much more subdued family sedans. But man, I’ll never forget laughing my head off as the Checker leaned and rolled into every corner. Me (and seemingly 20 of my pals) slid off the rear vinyl rear seat and landed onto the floor of the cavernous cabin. Years later, my Checker drive was no less enjoyable – and I didn’t have any bumps or bruises afterwards.

What car do you miss most of all? That’s the question I recently asked of our contributors here at Gaywheels. If they could only pick one car to bring back from the automotive graveyard, what would they choose?

The answers ranged from cargo-hauling Hondas to classic American luxury barges. Interestingly, no one opted for anything truly exotic, a wildly expensive supercar with gullwing-style doors and bigger wings than an Airbus A380. Maybe we’re all exceptionally tasteful…or maybe we’re just really cheap?

Here’s the first leg of our journey down memory lane. Stay tuned for part two tomorrow.

Jeff Stork – 1976-79 Cadillac Seville

Cadillac hit a home run on April 1, 1975, when it introduced the original Seville. The smallest Cadillac in 60 years debuted with the highest base price of any car in the line up and an unprecedented level of standard equipment — including the debut of Electronic Fuel Injection on a Cadillac product. It was a bold attempt by Cadillac to remain relevant in the game, and it was a winner through and through.

Although touted as “International Size”, the Seville paid homage to the silhouette of the Rolls Royce yet remained a Cadillac through and through, with luxurious interior trim, thick carpeting, faux wood trim, and even an instrument panel that was a miniature version of the Cadillac “Space Age” panel. The exterior was Detroit all the way with a padded vinyl roof, generous applications of chrome trim, a downsized version of Cadillac’s famous egg crate grille, and the widest whitewalls of any production car on the road. Color and trim were done in Cadillac style as well, with fourteen exterior colors, eleven vinyl roof choices, eight colors of leather, seven choices of cloth, and even nine choices for accent striping. No European choice had such a varied color palette.

A gamble that paid off, the little jewel box sold 43,772 copies in its first model year and established itself as a viable alternative to the imports. Sales remained strong through the end of the first generation in 1979, with sales peaking in 1978 at 56,985 units. The styling changed dramatically in the second generation and beyond, but the charm and cachet of the original has never been equaled. If you see one today, it will stand out in traffic for its timeless good looks.

Will Cheval Jr. – 2004- 2009 Cadillac XLR

My choice for resurrection would be the Cadillac SLR. Constantly compared to the Corvette, the XLR had a one-model lifespan, with only a few minor tweaks along the way. Seen primarily as Cadillac’s flagship roadster, the XLR had a retractable hardtop that made the two-door stunning — whether it was topless or not.

Still today, the XLR is a head-turner with its sharp lines, and Cadillac’s “arts and science” design attitude. Next to Mercedes-Benz SL-class and BMW’s z4 roadsters, the XLR always stood out and was truly American luxury. To me, the SLR was the rogue from the heartland that never wanted to blend in. Nowadays, it’s rare to come across an XLR or spot one driving, yet when I do, it still takes my breath away.

Joe Tralongo – 1961-1969 Lincoln Continental and Oldsmobile division

Call me old fashioned, but there was something about America in the 60s that no longer exists today. Amid all the political strife and social inequality, there was also elegance about America. It was a time when people wore suits to get on an airplane, and European culture was something to be admired, not shunned. During this time, one of the greatest American luxury names produced what may be the finest motorcar of the 60s: The 1961-69 Lincoln Continental. From its slab-sided simplicity to its unique suicide doors, the Continental shunned the overt excess of the 50s and made a new statement about American style and prestige.

The quintessential American luxury car for almost a decade, the Continental marched into the 70s retaining its basic shape, but picking up a few more flamboyant attributes. Nevertheless, the 75-79 Continental remained resplendent, offering no less than 19 different exterior color choices and 15 different interior color combinations. Today, a luxury car buyer is lucky if he or she is given a choice of four interior hues, usually some form of black, beige, gray or red. If Lincoln were to do it right, the Continental could be the American equivalent of the Audi A8 or Mercedes S-Class. But, the industry seems to shun every part of its past, even as younger Americans flock to older Lincoln products (I need only point out the car driven in the popular series Entourage). Are you listening, Mr. Mulally?

My second choice wouldn’t be a car, but a division. Oldsmobile had the best selling car in America in 1977, the Cutlass, and yet a mere three decades later, the brand’s lifeline was severed by a shortsighted team of corporate bunglers. Great names like the 442, Cutlass, Toronado, Vista Cruiser and 98 Regency were family favorites spanning generations. In a world of clone cars and look-a-likes, the Oldsmobile name and lineup would make a brilliant addition to GM. While I was at it, I’d bring back all the old designers, like my friend Blaine Jenkins, to teach the youngsters a thing or two about design. Color, fabric, sew patterns and whimsy are the ingredients of the cars we now call classics. I’ll take my Regency in hardtop form with a big V8 and split bench seat!

The campaign is called the Buick Human Highlight Reel, and it’s a collection of videos documenting the social good being done by people across the U.S. and around the globe. Since Buick partnered with the NCAA for the campaign, most of those people are athletes, and all of the stories center around sports in some way.

Among the 12 videos that Buick has published as part of the campaign, one of the most popular has been the clip of straight ally Hudson Taylor. Taylor is a three-time All-American wrestler and the founder of Athlete Ally, a nonprofit that encourages “athletes, coaches, parents, fans and other members of the sports community to respect all individuals involved in sports, regardless of perceived or actual sexual-orientation or gender identity or expression.”

Taylor deserves a big round of applause for the work he’s doing — not just for the LGBT community, but for the sports community, too. And of course, Buick deserves kudos for bringing Taylor’s story to a larger audience. Do yourself a favor and carve six minutes out of your Friday to watch Taylor’s clip below:

Coming out of the closet can be liberating, or terrifying. It can end up being a complete non-event, or the biggest change you’ll ever face. For most people, myself included, it was a combination of all of the above (and much more). Without delving into clichés – like talking about ‘the road ahead,’ or being sure to check under the hood etc. – I recently wondered what might qualify as an ideal coming out car.

Depending on your situation, something fast as hell and with a tank full of gas might be the best option! But let’s assume you have some form of support network – you’re going to need room for at least a couple of friends. If you’re of drinking age, you’ll need spending cash for over-priced cocktails at all those new clubs and bars. And for the romantics out there, you’ll need some money for flowers and chocolate.

This means our choices are going to be relatively roomy, budget-friendly, and lots of fun. So where exactly does that leave us? With a lot more options than you ever thought possible.

Scion tC

Edgy-looking and fun to drive, the Scion tC is also built by Toyota, so you’re still playing it safe and smart when it comes reliability and dealer service. A 180 horsepower 2.5-liter engine, coupled with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission, powers the tC. The rear seats are a little too cozy for long drives with four onboard. However, the tC makes up for this by coming loaded with cool standard features, including an 8-speaker audio system, panoramic sunroof, power windows and locks, a/c, sporty front bucket seats and a grippy leather-covered steering wheel.

Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta – and the slightly larger Focus – is like that romantic European fling that unexpectedly turns into something serious. For years, Ford sold vastly more attractive and enjoyable small cars in Europe than it did here in the U.S. That’s finally changed, now that the Fiesta 5-door hatchback and sedan have been brought stateside. It looks cute, has a meager appetite for fuel (29/40 city/highway) and a low base price of $13,995 (Fiesta S sedan) makes it easy on your wallet. The Fiesta is one of the cheapest cars on sale, but it sure doesn’t feel it. Every Fiesta also comes with seven airbags and electronic stability control as standard.

Fiat 500

If you want to make a splashy entrance, there’s no better way to do it than in a Fiat 500. This little 3-door hatchback has Italian style and charm in abundance. That’s good, because the 100-hp 1.4-liter engine is not going to challenge any Ferraris or Lamborghinis. At least the Fiat sips fuel, with a 38-mpg highway average (equipped with the 5-speed manual). The new 500C convertible is also probably the car most likely to be hugged – walk past one and try not saying “awww.” For the truly fabulous amongst us, there is the limited edition 500 by Gucci. If you prefer to balance vanity with social awareness, Fiat has teamed with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to create the 500 Pink Ribbon model. Fiat will donate $1,000 for each one sold.

VW Beetle

Let the haters say what they will, the newest New Beetle looks better than ever and has sharper dynamics than the slightly roly-poly previous generation. VW likes to refer to this as the more “masculine” Beetle – which once led me to ask a company rep if there was something wrong with female buyers. What this means is that the Beetle has a sportier and more hunkered down exterior, along with a range of economical engines that stretch up to a 200-hp 4-cylinder in the Beetle Turbo. The cabin has also been brightened up, with body-colored plastic on the dash. Does all of this make the Beetle manlier? Who cares, especially when the result is a car that has loads of attitude, but never comes across as being arrogant.

Mazda3

This is the ‘where have you been all my life?’ kind of economy car. Mazda has a great reputation for building a range of vehicles that have the sharp steering and quick-shifting transmission you’d only expect to find in the Miata roadster. Available as a sedan and 5-door hatchback, the Mazda3 isn’t flashy or verbose. It’s like finally finding that special someone who, to your amazement, both you and your parents simply adore. If you crave a little more excitement, you could always opt for the wilder Mazdaspeed3, which comes with a 263-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder and rock solid ride. But like getting matching tattoos or piercings, sometimes less can offer much more in the long run. The standard Mazda3 is fine, just as it is. Sound familiar?

Chevrolet Sonic

This is the kind of moment when you confide to someone close and, OMG (!!!), they come out too. Chevrolet has burst onto the small car scene with the Sonic sedan and hatchback. Big headlights give this little Chevy an intense stare, and I’m particularly fond of the hatchback’s hidden rear door handles – they’re tucked onto the C-pillar. Small details add up to one very appealing package (get your mind out of the gutter). There is a choice of naturally aspirated 1.8-liter and turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engines, equipped with either a 5 or 6-speed manual, or optional 6-speed automatic. Based on looks and performance, the handsome hatch fitted with the turbocharged engine and 6-speed manual is the one I’d take home.

Honda Fit

You can’t compile a ‘coming out cars’ list and not include a model called the Fit. Don’t let this little Honda give you any body issues; this pint-sized hatchback is as cuddly as a puppy and is eager to please. You’ll be equally smitten by the Fit’s rev-happy 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, and nimble steering that offers sports car-levels of excitement. Thanks to its futuristic cab-forward design, the Fit offers tons of cabin room for a car its size. And who can resist a vehicle that comes with a “Magic Seat” in the back? The bottom cushions of the 60/40-split rear seat can fold up, the seat backs can also fold down, and there is even a hidden storage compartment.

Jeep Wrangler

When I was coming out, one major worry was that my passion for cars would never allow me to fit into the gay scene. Gay people could never be into cars and trucks, right? The Jeep Wrangler is honest, rugged, and proud to remain a little rough-around-the-edges. You might wear a new label, but that doesn’t mean trading in your jeans and boots image. New and improved for 2012, some of the old edginess has been smoothed over – and the Wrangler is much better for it. A new 285-hp “Pentastar” V-6 engine provides all the power you’ll need to enjoy mud-covered, off-roading antics. It’s also quieter and more economical than the outgoing motor, proving you (and your trusty Jeep) have the brains to back up that brawn.

Mini Cooper

The Mini Cooper is the selfish choice here, if only because the driver’s seat is by far the best place to be. Part of the reason is due to the cramped rear seating, which is best used for short trips, and with short friends and petite pets onboard. Keep your mind focused on the road ahead, and the Mini Cooper (especially in turbocharged Cooper S trim) immediately puts a smile on your face. Remember that jerk who called you names in middle school? Trust me, you won’t once you’re flinging the Mini into corners, and punching the gas pedal on the straightaway. There are a ton of options to personalize a Mini, from sporty alloy wheels, to roof-mounted flag decals, and wild racing stripes. The Mini ends up being all about you. And frankly, isn’t it about time?

We admit it: we’re statistics junkies. We compare and contrast. We read labels. And at the end of the month, we look back at our traffic stats to find out which car reviews and news articles you’ve enjoyed the most.

With October come two sets of stats: the numbers for September and those for the third quarter of the year. We’re happy to see that in both cases, our list of gay-friendly automakers ranked near the very top of the lists. Other than that, car reviews were on everyone’s mind last month, and none of the more “newsy” pieces we wrote could touch them in terms of numbers. Over the whole of Q3, however, our piece on Adam Carolla and the BMW 7-Series (aka “the gayest car in LA“) admittedly turned a few heads.

One more bit of good news: every vehicle on these two lists is manufactured by a gay-friendly automaker. Perhaps Hyundai, Kia, and Suzuki will come around soon. (We’re not holding our breath on Porsche.)

And so without further ado, the stats on Gaywheels car reviews:

September 2011
1. 2011 VW Golf GTI vs. 2011 VW Golf TDI
2. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
3. 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
4. 2011 Volvo XC60
5. 2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum
6. 2011 Toyota Sienna
7. 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman
8. 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI
9. 2008 Lexus GX 470
10. 2012 Nissan 370Z Roadster

Q3: July – September 2011
1. 2011 VW Golf GTI vs. 2011 VW Golf TDI
2. 2007 Nissan Quest
3. 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
4. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
5. 2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum
6. 2011 Toyota Sienna
7. 2011 Volvo XC60
8. 2011 Volvo XC60 Road Trip Adventure
9. 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman
10. 2008 Lexus GX 470

2011 FOG Rally (photo by Kirby Fong)

As you might imagine, we tend to stick pretty closely to car stories with an LGBT focus, but when we saw photos from last weekend’s Ferrari Owners Group Rally, we felt we had to veer off-topic for a second.

The 2011 FOG Rally gave 50 Ferrari owners a chance to drive the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Los Angeles, California. But the event wasn’t just an opportunity for fast-car fans to show off their rides: through entry fees and sponsorships the Rally raised funds for Opportunity Impact, a nonprofit organization that offers educational support to children in low-income households. Opportunity Impact uses a combination of in-home visits, referrals, and other interactions with kids to ensure that they’re excelling in school.

Organizers haven’t yet released data about funds raised from the 2011 event, but if you’d like to raise the sum by a few bucks, you can make a donation directly to Opportunity Impact here.

Props are due to CarWoo, which organized the event. For more photos of the 2011 FOG Rally, visit ITZKirbPhotography (warning: minimal cheese ahead).

When the previous-generation Nissan Z was delivered to me for the first time, the gentleman who handed me the keys was wearing a half-cup of coffee. As I soon discovered, the sport suspension package was stiffer than the Ingalls’ Conestoga on Little House on the Prairie. By the next morning, I was also sporting a mocha latte. I hoped the latest 370Z Roadster would be kinder on clothing.

For starters, it’s much more of a looker. Smooth, sexy curves begin at the nose, rise through razor headlamps, kick up over the menacing alloy wheels, and finish off in a pleasantly round rump. It traded industrial chic for a design that has more visual candy and better ties it to the original 1970 Datsun 240Z. Optional (and very attractive) Metallic Black Cherry paint transitions from java to plum in sunlight.

The interior is more contemporary Infiniti than disco-era Z. I could do without the netted material on the seats, but the leather bolstering along with heated and cooled cushions are great – perfect for split-season driving. Suede and stitched coverings soften the doors, console buttresses, dash, and doors. Some may not like the big round tachometer front and center, but it reminds me of a Porsche.

So does the chunky leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel. Automatic climate control, in-dash navigation, USB, Bluetooth, and push button starting add today’s expected technical hardware. My partner enjoyed rocking out to Cindy Lauper on the Bose audio system.

Nissan’s 332hp 3.7-litre V6 loves to be revved. You can get a 7-spd automatic transmission, but skip that and go straight for the 6-speed manual. It has crisp, tight motions and comes with SynchroRev Match™, which automatically blips the throttle for smoother downshifting. An S button quickens pedal response, but requires an intelligent foot for smooth shifts. It also takes a bite out of 18/25 mpg city/hwy fuel economy. The car’s aluminum chassis provides a good balance of ride comfort and corner carving fun, though you’ll never be in any doubt that this is first and foremost a sports car.

Yet you could drive the 370Z all day long, and still be refreshed enough to put the top down and go for a long moon-lite cruise. Flip one button in the console to spring the top into action and quickly store itself under a flush tonneau behind the seats. We had the standard black top, though oenologists will appreciate the Bordeaux top with wine-colored interior.

Okay, so the car’s tiny trunk is a joke – don’t even think of taking along more than a carry-on and computer bag. The 370Z has plenty of power, though not enough to scare any V8-powered Camaros, Mustangs, and Chargers. Your mother will never warm up to the stiff suspension, but this isn’t your mother’s sports car. The latest 370Z is smoother, easier to drive, and nicer to the touch. It might not be my favorite sports car, but it’s definitely my favorite Nissan Z. And at least there will be no more crying over spilt café.

Nissan 370Z Roadster
Two-passenger, RWD convertible
Powertrain: 332-HP 3.7-litre V6, 6-speed, manual transmission
Suspension f/r: Ind/Ind
Wheels: 19”/19” f/r
Brakes: 4-wheel disc/ABS
Must-have feature: Smooth operator
Manufacturing: Japan
Fuel economy: 18/25 mpg city/hwy
As tested price: $47,370

The Republican-controlled Michigan House has voted to ban all city agencies and state-funded universities from offering domestic partner benefits. Passed under the guise of saving millions of dollars for the cash-strapped state, proponents of the legislation also insist it’s upholding the will of state residents. In 2004, a one man and one woman marriage amendment was approved by voters.

“It is not the responsibility of taxpayers to support the roommates and unmarried partners of public employees,” said state Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville, in comments published by the Detroit Free Press. “Providing benefits in this way is not the role of the state, especially when tax dollars are in short supply and there are critical programs being affected by the decrease in revenue.”

Similar anti-gay legislation passed earlier this year in Tennessee prompted automakers such as Nissan and Volkswagen – both of which have invested heavily in the state – to speak out against this kind of sexual discrimination. Hopefully, the Big Three U.S. automakers (Ford Motor Company, Chrysler, and General Motors) will also come out against this kind of law being passed in their home state.

(Note: we’d meant to run this on Tuesday, when DADT was officially nixed, but server issues got in the way. Sorry for the delay.)

For such a hotly debated subject, one that often escalated to raised voices and raw emotion, the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and acceptance of openly gay men and women into the U.S. military has seemed remarkably quiet and calm. The result is like sitting at a dinner table with feuding family members who, out of nowhere, suddenly start chatting amicably about the weather. There is an undeniable sense of relief, mixed with a twinge of lingering tension.

Since 1994, when the ‘Don’t Ask’ policy was implemented during the Clinton Administration, thousands of military personnel have been forced to leave the service. Late last year, Congress finally agreed to repeal the law and President Obama approved the measure shortly before Christmas break. The Pentagon has taken months to train personnel as to what the change means, and any impact it might have on daily military life.

“The force is prepared,” said Pentagon spokesman George Little, in comments published by Bloomberg news. “The vast majority of the force has been trained on issues related to repeal and we’re ready to move forward.” Also hoping to move forward are some of the servicemen and women who were previously discharged for being gay, yet now hope to return to the military.

The 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque adds chic design to the legendary off-road prowess that has always been an integral part of the Land Rover brand. I discovered just how happy the Evoque is to claw up steep inclines and scrabble over muddy trails during several rainy days spent in the U.K. with this littlest Land Rover.

Land Rover likes to remind everyone that the Evoque is the brand’s smallest and most fuel-efficient vehicle. It’s also worth mentioning, however, that Land Rover has traditionally built very big, very rugged, and primarily V-8-powered sport-utilities. The current 375-hp Range Rover SUV manages 12/18 mpg during city and highway driving.

The 240-hp direct injection, turbocharged, inline-4 cylinder in the Evoque handily beats those figures. Fuel mileage in the Evoque is rated at 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway. Coupled with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic transmission, the Evoque accelerates from 0-60 mph in about 7.0 seconds.

Driving on British highways, the Evoque felt relaxed and comfortable. Power is more than enough for passing slower traffic, though the engine sometimes sounded too raspy for a vehicle with a starting price of $44,000. A bit more purr and little less grumble would be welcome here, but it’s not a deal breaker.

What I love about the Evoque is that the handling lives up to the sporty exterior. This isn’t a crossover to challenge Lotus or Porsche when it comes to corner-carving dynamics. Yet the Evoque could have stumbled badly if the handling failed to offer at last sedan-like levels of control.

Despite some seriously crummy weather along the route, the Evoque deftly got me through narrow and challenging roads in the north of Wales. With only some totally unimpressed and soggy-looking sheep as my witness, I can vouch that the Evoque maintained its composure even when the guy behind the wheel (i.e. me) felt like calling it a day and parking at the nearest pub.

Credit to Land Rover for sticking with the trip’s agenda, including off-road sections that were fast becoming swamps. As the rain poured down, the Evoque picked its way along rocky roads and through gooey mud that would have sucked my (totally inappropriate for the weather) sneakers off my feet — had we gotten stuck, which we didn’t.

Hill descent control is particularly eerie for the uninitiated, but the system kept the Evoque moving steadily downward with no sliding and only a minimum of steering input from yours truly. I was more interested in how the Evoque dealt with paved roads but, in the interest of maintaining the brand’s integrity, it’s nice to know Land Rover instilled the Evoque with off-road cred.

The cabin has all the luxury items you’d expect, including leather seating, a thick-rimmed steering wheel, handsome plastics on the dash, and a cool rotary shift knob on the center console. Of course, driving on the “wrong” side of the road made getting used to the layout a bit more time consuming.

[Full gallery below]

Celebrities always seem smaller in real life, much shorter and tinier than the over-sized personas they portray in movies and on television. The Cadillac Ciel Concept proved to be no exception to this rule during its recent trip to New York City. This four-passenger convertible looked absolutely huge in the photos I’d seen during its grand unveiling at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Thankfully, the folks at Cadillac brought the Ciel to New York City for a limited engagement (i.e. a rooftop lunch open to the media) before immediately shipping the car off to the Frankfurt Auto Show.

The Ciel looks far leaner and meaner sitting in the sunlight – the “Cabernet” paintjob is particularly deep and lustrous. The blunt eggcrate-style grill still dominates the front end, flanked by tall and thin headlights that sweep upwards and back onto the fenders. However, most photos made the car look flat, like a shingle sprinkled with chrome highlights. In person, the sides of the car taper to a very clean and contemporary rear end with neatly integrated taillights.

A set of enormous 22-inch wheels and a chopped-down look to windshield add a hint of hot rod to the design. And let’s be honest, the Ciel Concept is no petite roadster. At 203 inches in length, the Ciel is only 4 inches shorter than Caddy’s old school (and soon to be replaced) DTS sedan. The timing is no coincidence, as the Ciel offers a glimpse of Cadillac’s stylistic direction for the next few years. Company officials say the Ciel could even foreshadow a future range-topping model in the Cadillac lineup – though my bet would be on something racier, a two-door luxury GT to challenge the Mercedes-Benz SL and BMW 6-Series.

A twin-turbocharged and direct-injected 3.6-liter V-6 engine serves up 425-hp and 450 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is routed to an all-wheel-drive system. The gasoline engine is also coupled with a hybrid system powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. There are few details at the moment about this electric powertrain, though Cadillac has promised the system would allow for some sort of zero emission, all-electric driving mode.

Stats junkies: we hope you’re sitting down. With August firmly behind us (minds out of the gutter, please), we can now tell you about the month’s most popular car reviews at Gaywheels.com.

Before we do that, however, we should point out that the three most-read pieces at Gaywheels in August weren’t actually auto reviews at all. Our piece called Will Adam Carolla’s Idiotic, Homophobic, Transphobic Rant Kill ‘The Car Show’? came in at #1, followed by Is The BMW 7-Series The Gayest Car In LA?, and our own page of Gay-Friendly Automakers scored a very respectable third place.

Reviews began showing up in the #4 spot. This month, we’re especially happy to report that every last vehicle in the top ten is manufactured by a gay-friendly automaker. And so, without further ado, your favorite reviews for August 2011:

1. 2011 VW Golf GTI vs. 2011 VW Golf TDI
2. 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
3. 2011 Toyota Sienna
4. 2011 Volvo XC60
5. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
6. 2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum
7. 2007 Nissan Quest
8. 2012 Audi A7 Sportback
9. 2011 Volvo XC60 Road Trip Adventure
10. 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman

You’ve got to love a car that accelerates from 0 to 250 mph in less time than it takes to reheat a cup of coffee. Rotary Supercars says its upcoming “hypercar” will become the fastest car in the world, courtesy of a top speed of 279 mph and its 0.9 second sprint from 0 to 60 mph. That’s right, you’ll be able to accelerate to highway speeds in less than one second. That should be fun.

But like many upstart supercar companies, Rotary Supercars is big on boasts and short on details. The company does not mention any price for this as-yet-unnamed supercar, and no fixed address is listed on its homepage – there is a phone number to reach the company founder/president.

All we have are a few computer-generated images, and one totally insane list of specs. Powering the car is a quad-turbo 8-rotor engine, coupled to a sequential 8-speed transmission and all-wheel-drive system. Thanks to the use of lightweight carbon-fiber in the body, the car is said to weigh only 2,970 lbs.

The obvious target here is the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, presently the quickest car in the world with a top speed of 258 mph for the road-going version. It’s also one of the most expensive, with the Bugatti Super Sport commanding a price in excess of $2 million. Don’t expect Rotary Supercars to offer any bargains in the land of ultimate exotic cars.

Yet the firm apparently has a less powerful model, called the Predator GT, under development too. While not my first choice when it comes to alluring car names, the car’s twin-turbocharged 1,200-hp four-rotor engine does have a nice ring to it. Once considered the engine of the future, almost every automaker (with the exception of Mazda) gave up on the powerful but fuel-hungry rotary design decades ago.

Rotary Supercars says it plans on displaying at least one of these speed machines next year, during the 2012 Top Marques auto show in Monaco.

[Ed note: this article was penned before Hurricane Irene made landfall. If you're interested in the Cape Cod or Blue Ridge Parkway trips -- both of which are normally spectacular -- be sure to check with local authorities to ensure that roads are clear and open.]

With the summer sun slowly setting, it’s time to hit the road before autumn sets in. Who doesn’t love a great drive through winding curves, sandy coasts, or a hilly countryside? Listed are four great road-trips around the country, known for the scenery as much as the drive itself. These are all bucket-list worthy and breathtakingly fantastic, whether in a Jeep Grand Cherokee or a BMW Z4. Take some friends along, or venture on solo.

Florida, Overseas Highway

This 127-mile highway links each of the Florida Keys together. Located just south of Miami, Florida’s Rt. 1 turns into the Oversea Highway, as your enter in South Key Largo. The National Scenic Byways Program recently named the highway an “All-American Road,” for its iconic landscape. Cruise through Islamorada, Marathon, and the islands in-between before ending in Key West. Finish the drive by watching the sunset on the beach, then venture over the Duval Street for fabulous eats to start the night off right. A perfect vehicle for this drive would be an Infiniti G37s convertible. With its dashing looks, and roaring 325hp V6, you’ll be creating waves.

California, Monterey to Morro Bay

It’s widely known that the Pacific Coast Highway could be one of the most beautiful highways in the world. With spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean along steep cliff sides, this is a driver’s dream. The 125-mile stretch of highway begins just south of Monterey and leads you along the Santa Lucia Range, where massive volcanic formations appear nestled in the sea. Be aware that these roadways are quite narrow with dangerously sharp turns, so be diligent about staying alert. This route takes you through some of the most breathtaking scenery, that includes Pebble Beach, Big Sur, and along the Hearst Castle. If you stop to rest, keep your eyes peeled for whales in the distance. They’re known to peek up from time-to-time. This drive deserves a vehicle than can tackle the curves with ease. Take a friend and hop on the highway in a Mini Cooper S Convertible. It’s go-kart-like steering will easily clear the rocky edges and sharp curves. The turbocharged 181hp engine moves this Mini with vigor.

Massachusetts, Cape Cod

The peninsula that is Cape Cod is the prime vacation destination for many locals living in the Northeast. The 50-mile drive from Orleans to Provincetown brings you past some of the best beaches on the east coast. As you start in Orleans, which is one of the entrances onto the cape, hop along Rt. 6A, which is the highway most inland. Take this along beach communities on the bay, passing miles of sandy coast, lush nature preserves, and through the towns of Eastham, Wellfleet, and Truro along the hook of the cape. Merge onto Rt. 6 toward Provincetown, passing massive dunes and quaint neighborhood streets as you inch your way toward the end. You’re welcomed into Provincetown by the towering Pilgrim Monument. Once off the highway, take a trip up Commerical Street to bask in the wild atmosphere, fantastic people watching, and delicious eateries. Might I suggest packing a Lincoln MKX for this drive? The new redesign gives occupants a technology-filled experience with a warm and beautifully designed cockpit. While the exterior will be quite the scene-stealer once you reach Provincetown.

Virginia and North Carolina, Blue Ridge Parkway

Created on September 11, 1935, the Blue Ridge Parkway was built to bring a pathway between Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The first mile marker starts in the northeast end of Virginia and ends 469-miles later in the southern end of North Carolina. While it’s picturesque, this trip needs to be taken in doses. Long windings roads take you past miles of lush forest, clear lakes, and mountain majesties. The highway elevations change rapidly down the route, so temperature and conditions change often. Most of the best sites are off the beaten-path, so be sure to park and hike along some of the open paths. The nearest city along the route is Asheville, North Carolina, which is known for the friendly southern hospitality, and a bustling downtown. Travelers say the best drive time is early spring all the way into late autumn. I would suggest a SUV for this trip. When the rocky roads beckon, be ready. Perhaps the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its adjustable suspension can handle nearly anything you throw at it. Open the panoramic sunroof, and let all that mountain air in.

These are merely recommendations, but all venture-enthusiasts know that it’s the journey, and not so much the destination. Research some road-trip ideas in your area, whether you’re looking for a day trip or a weekend away. My suggestion is to keep a map handy, just in case things get confusing. Navigation systems are helpful, but tend to get fooled if they’re not properly updated. So pack a bag, some snacks and your favorite playlist (might I suggest some Fleetwood Mac?) and hop on the road.

I’m going to admit something slightly embarrassing here in the hopes that other people out there, who suffer from the same thing, won’t feel so alone.

OK, here goes.

I’m a virgin.

…a BMW-virgin.

I’ve driven many Audis, Vokswagens, Mazdas, Infinitis, Cadillacs and even a few Porsches, but never a car with the blue and white roundel on the hood.

All that changes today as I step into the new, 2011 BMW 5-series.

Today, I become a man. Or, something…

What Works

Good news first. The 535i is packing a 3.0L, inline 6-cylinder motor with a twin-scroll turbocharger, and it likes to party. Its 300hp will get you to 60mph in about 5.5 seconds, and a $250 speeding ticket in another four seconds. While that might sound raucous, the turbo six delivers its power in a very smooth fashion, whooshing your passengers up to 100mph without them realizing it.

The exhaust note and rumble this inline six-cylinder makes might be the best part of the entire car. As the growl builds from 3,000 to 4,000rpm, it will only egg you on to keep revving and increase your aural pleasure. Keep in mind that approach will make mincemeat out of your fuel economy.

The view from the driver’s seat is pretty fantastic as well. Most of the luxuries you’d expect to find in a large German sedan are there. Fine leather and rich wood surround you, along with a 10-way adjustable seat with heat, but oddly, no cooling in this particular 5-series with the near $68-grand price tag.

There’s also a bird’s eye view camera system, which makes it possible for you to see everything around the car on the dash screen. If you back into something or clip someone’s bumper because you thought you had enough space to make the turn, it really is your fault this time.

What’s So-So

Let’s just jump right to the often-dissed BMW iDrive system. After so much discussion, I probably don’t need to explain it at this point, but briefly, it is the multi-function dial on the center console that controls most of the systems in the car.

It’s not really the dial itself that is bad, it’s the way the system is laid out and appears on screen. Navigating through the many levels of menus just isn’t as user-friendly as it could be. Like any technology, though, the more you use it, the more sense it makes

Right next to the iDrive dial is another piece of questionable technology: the shifter for the 535i’s 8-speed, automatic transmission. For whatever reason, it’s been styled to look like a Norelco electric razor and has some slightly-less-than traditional looking controls. I suspected this might throw off certain drivers so I tried a quick experiment.

I had two people from, let’s say, slightly advanced generations, sit in the driver’s seat. All I asked them to do was turn the car on and put it in drive. Figuring out the push-button start didn’t cause too much trouble, but when it came to the shifter, things got hectic. There was double-clutching of the shifter, pushing of multiple buttons at once and general confusion. The BMW alert chime sounded several times to alert them something was not being done correctly.

Both found it needlessly complicated. That should, at the very least, get BMW’s attention as their target market for the 5-series would likely be drivers of their age.

Once you get the 5-series moving, the handling is pretty good, and a bit strange, all at once. The good part is that, like many BMW’s before it, this 5-series can take a bend in the road quite well. As part of the optional Dynamic Handling package, this Bimmer has adaptive suspension dampers, along with the standard anti-roll bars, to make sure you corner quickly and flatly.

The strange part is that the steering feels…strange. The culprit is BMW’s electric-assisted steering system. While I know I can take a corner quickly in the 535i, the steering feels so light, it just comes off as unnerving. It’s something you really have to feel in person to understand.

On the plus side, BMW’s xDrive, all-wheel-drive system has been updated and now features torque vectoring. When going through a corner, this system will brake the inside rear wheel, while feeding more power to the outside rear wheel, to help you rotate the car through the bends.

Past the techno-whiz bangs, the new exterior design is a nice step forward from the old model. Where the 2010 5-series had many slab-sided surfaces, the 2011 model has new, tightly formed sculpting and some sharp, leading lines to it. It’s still conservative, sure, but in the luxury sedan market you can’t expect massive spoilers and crazy, sweeping sheet metal.

What Sucks

I know it’s probably ridiculous to bitch about this, but the alert chime in the 535i drove me up the wall. It is the most polite-sounding “hey, idiot, your seatbelt isn’t on” chime I’ve ever heard. A chord played on a marimba, I believe.

The fact that it comes on with such frequency is what gets annoying. Yes, I know I didn’t push that button on the shifter. Yes, I know the lights are on. Yes, I know my seatbelt isn’t on, give me five seconds to put it on before you start yelling at me. Yes, I know I started the car, what the hell is wrong with that??

On a completely different plane, the side mirrors on the BMW are much too small. I found myself wanting more rear visibility in that department.

Wrap

In the end, the 535i is a little two-faced. You’ve got a hot-tamale powertrain and chassis, but it’s being cooled off by a conservative, vanilla luxury design style and a steering system that leaves you confused.

None of that is likely to bother most of the 5-series’ potential customers, though. The 5’er is an extremely comfortable, very capable luxury cruiser.

As for me, I’ll save my pennies for the much hotter, harder (way more expensive) M5 sedan. Monte Carlo Blue and the 6-speed for me, please.

2011 BMW 535i xDrive – $52,400
-Premium Package – $1800
-Premium Package 2 – $4500
-Dynamic Handling Package – $2700
-Sport Package – $2200
-Cold Weather Package – $1050
-Comfort Access Keyless Entry – $1000
-Side & Top View Cameras – $800
-Space Gray Metallic Paint – $550
Destination – $875
TOTAL – $67,875

Our friend across the Pond, Zach, who wrote about NASCAR driver Evan Darling last week, has penned another short piece for Gaywheels. Today, he talks about his love of small cars, the LGBT fascination with petite rides, and (mostly straight) foreigners’ reactions to the itty-bitty vehicles found on Croatian roadways.

In Croatia, I don’t get the chance to be around many big American cars, SUVs, or minivans. And so, I thought I’d tell you a bit about my experience owning a really small car (the Hyundai i10) and interacting with people from all over the world who drive really big ones. Well, big compared to mine.

Recently I worked as an assistant at a rental car agency. Most of my job involved walking people to their rental cars, filling out damage reports if there were pre-existing marks or dents, and handing over the keys. My customers were typically from the U.S., Canada, or Australia, and they were frequently surprised to find that in our fleet, we had only small cars like the VW Polo, the Seat Ibiza, and the Skoda Fabia.

The tourists’ reactions were usually pretty funny. They often asked if they need a helmet for the ride, or said things like, “If it breaks down, we’ll just have to carry it”, or, “I should have a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend because this car is so gay”. I understood some of those comments because most of the drivers were used to much bigger cars, but I when asked why they thought that their rental car was “gay”, they said because is small and feminine. For them, owning a big car was a symbol of power, status, and masculinity.

I can’t say I don’t like big cars myself, but at the moment, I’m not in a position to own one. In Croatia, many of us drive smaller cars because the economic crisis hit our country very hard, and people don’t have money to buy bigger vehicles. (Plus, petrol is very expensive!)

But I don’t want to give the impression that I bought my i10 simply because it was affordable. In fact, I was looking for a small car with personality, and one that wasn’t so common on the roads.

In fact, it’s fairly common to see smaller cars win “car of the year” awards” — especially if they’re popular with LGBT drivers. (Ed. note: this jibes pretty well with Brett Berk’s article we mentioned on Monday.) The Fiat 500, MINI Cooper, and Ford Fiesta are just a few examples of award-winning small cars are also very popular in the gay community.

I recently ran a gay car contest on our local gay website — mainly because I wanted to steer the topic toward cars and away from the endless discussions of Lady Gaga’s wardrobe and whether Britney is getting fat (again). The Audi A1, MINI Paceman, Kia Sportage fared well in the contest, but the winner was the Nissan Juke. (Ed note: FWIW, the Juke is popular with American LGBT drivers, too — 181% more popular than with their straight counterparts.)  It features a mix of provocative and modern design: it’s not SUV, it’s not a coupe, it’s not a small car, nor is it a big one. Many of the comments on the website said, in effect, “It looks like Lady Gaga made it.”

Sigh. There’s really no way to keep her out of the conversation, is there?

Zach

Like it or not, gay men are considered trendsetters. Maybe it’s because we’re disproportionately represented in the fashion and design industries, or maybe it’s because the “gay gene” comes with a trendy sixth sense. (“I see dead people, and they’re wearing bolero jackets!”) But whatever the reason, fauxhawks, aviators, skinny jeans, Lady Gaga, and even the dreaded cargo short all owe their success to us. Well, at least partially.

Late last week, Jalopnik published a story by our queer car comrade, Brett Berk, claiming that the LGBT influence in trends extends to automobiles, too. Berk was one of the first to get his hands on a new study from marketing firm Strategic Vision, which implies that when cars are popular with gay men, they tend to become popular with the general public, too.

Technically, Strategic Vision doesn’t say that all gay men have this magical power — only the “Innovators“. But as Berk points out, a disproportionally high number of “Innovators” are gay men. We’d cite Michelangelo, Alan Turing, and Christian Siriano as proof.

To make its point, Strategic Vision compares the popularity of certain auto models among LGBT shoppers versus the general population. Big sellers like the Toyota Prius (62% more popular with us) and the Honda Fit (135% more popular) would seem to imply that we have some predictive capabilities.

And what, exactly, makes a car the target of LGBT desire? Strategic Vision says that determining factors include fashion-forward amenities, like a unique exterior, snazzy audio/video equipment, and even eco-friendliness (which may not always be fashion-forward, but it’s usually progressive). We like to believe that the gay-friendliness of the automaker has an effect, too; that might explain why Suzuki sales are in the pits, but not so much about Hyundai and Kia, which aren’t LGBT-friendly but still boom in the marketplace.

Our take?

We’re always a little wary about these sorts of generalized studies. After all, if Rick “frothy mix” Santorum and other wingnuts can pull iffy stats from their backsides to justify continued hatred of our community, surely marketing firms can do the same.

However, there’s a big difference between politicos and research firms. And there’s anecdotal support for Strategic Vision’s assertions, too. There’s no denying that some of the vehicles on the firm’s “hot” list keep popping up in the driveways of our LGBT friends — especially the adorable MINI Cooper. (The Honda CR-Z? Not so much. And where’s the Mazda Miata?)

On the other hand, even an army of LGBT warriors couldn’t save the Suzuki Samurai, or the Renault Le Car, both of which littered the parking lots of American gay bars, once upon a time. Did we fail in our trendsetting mission? Or were those rides being bought by less-influential gays — The B-List, perhaps? The designer’s behind VW’s new Jetta sedan surely hope those were merely blips on a much larger screen.

[Jalopnik]

Note: Late last year, we received a letter from a Gaywheels reader in Croatia – a guy named Zach. (Since he’s not out in his home country, he asked that we not use his real name). Recently, Zack contacted us again to say that he’d penned a couple of brief articles, and he wanted to know if we’d be interested in running them. The first is below; it’s a follow-up to a piece we ran several years ago on openly gay NASCAR driver Evan Darling.

Last year, I came across an article about gay NASCAR driver Evan Darling, right here, on Gaywheels.com.  Since I adore cars and everything about the topic, I loved reading about his path to success, along with his fight for respect from other drivers and sponsors. A search on Google gave me additional data about him, and I was happy and proud to be a part of a community that has such a wonderful person as a role model.

Driven by my curiosity, I decided to contact him in March this year. I wanted to ask first-hand what was new in his life and career as a driver.  The feedback was discouraging: because of his coming out, one by one, his sponsors started to retreat, and he couldn’t finance his car or pay his mechanics.

Knocking on the doors of different companies was getting him nowhere fast. I asked if he’d tried contacting gay celebrities, or gay-friendly companies. He’d had no luck there either. How disheartening, I thought, that Paris Hilton has her own motorcycle team while a truly talented individual was seeing his career fizzle.

Still, the economy has been anything but robust, so I asked if economic gloom had been one of the main culprits. To this, Darling responded that NASCAR is still “a highly viewed and profitable event.” In his experience, even “gay-friendly” companies were not as open as they presented themselves to be. “They like when a gay person buys their product, but they are not ready to sponsor a gay athlete on a sports front, which is considered to be straight territory.”

When we spoke in March, he was working as a mechanic and trying to work his way back into lower-profile races to attract new interest from sponsors. At the same time, he also worked as a driving instructor, helping younger and inexperienced drivers.

Only a few weeks ago, I was crushed when Evan updated me with the latest news. “Hey there, nothing new, lots of disappointments, looking for a job.” He said he realized why gay people are often not out in sports, as finding sponsorship was proving impossible.”We have a long way to go before we can call ourselves equal,” he said. “I have lost almost everything that means something to me, so I am pretty bitter.”

I could only offer words of support, sympathy, and understanding — along with the hope that being gay will someday not dictate someone’s success in life, either on or off the racetrack.

Zack

Cancel that order for your electric-powered 599 Fiorano; Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has said the Italian sports car company will never build an EV. During an interview with Engadget, Montezemolo reiterated the company’s commitment to producing a hybrid vehicle – something similar to the 599 Hy-Kers concept, shown during the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. But on the subject of a full electric Ferrari, he was blunt and to the point:

You will never see a Ferrari electric because I don’t believe in electric cars, because I don’t think they represent an important step forward for pollution or CO2 or the environment.

What’s your take? Should the world’s most famous automotive brand think outside the box and look into electrification? Or is Ferrari better served sticking with what it knows, building fast and covetable cars with screaming gas-powered engines?

With all the excitement regarding gay marriage becoming legal in New York State, I’d almost forgotten several recent setbacks our community has seen. Some of the most infuriating news has come from Tennessee, a state I’ve always enjoyed visiting for work and pleasure.

First came the proposed “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, which would have forbidden all elementary and middle school teachers from mentioning homosexuality.  Thankfully, the bill was not passed.

However, the same can’t be said for another anti-LGBT law. This one was designed specifically to wipe out Nashville’s civil rights ordinance, which made it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Many large corporations with major stakes in the state, including Nissan, whose North American operations are located in Nashville, quickly issued statements condemning the anti-LGBT legislation.

But what about a certain German automaker that recently opened a factory in Chattanooga? Lest we not forget, this is the same company that came up with the white-on-white Cabrio, not to mention the famous “Da Da Da” commercial.

Volkswagen recently issued this statement to Gaywheels.com when asked about the company’s stance regarding the legislation.

“The principles of diversity and inclusion help Volkswagen create an environment where each person feels respected and valued for their contribution. Diversity and inclusion are strategic imperatives and we have worked diligently over the years to build inclusiveness for all employees into our benefits and discrimination policies, and will continue to do so at every opportunity.”

Not earth-shattering stuff, granted, but a solid first step for a company thrust into a debate it hoped never to have. Politics and business can be a very complicated mix. But few things motivate politicians like a deeply annoyed corporation, especially one that employs thousands of local taxpayers – and markets its products to millions of voters around the country.

Adam Carolla isn’t known for being smart. That’s not to say he’s stupid — only that he’s built his reputation on other things, like his spotless “bro” credentials, his penchant for adolescent humor (despite being 47 years old), and his unabashed love of women (or portions of their anatomy).

So it should come as no surprise that Carolla recently went on a tirade against gays and the transgendered and that he’s reluctant to apologize for his actions.

It happened during his most recent The Adam Carolla Show podcast, when the alleged comedian weighed in on the clearly lighthearted internet campaign to allow Sesame Street‘s Bert and Ernie to marry. Convinced that this is a new, high-priority action item on The Gay Agenda, Carolla asked: “When did everybody get fucking lumped in with the gays? Really? What percentage is transgendered?”

But he didn’t stop there. He also told the LGBT community to “shut up” about getting equal rights, because we’re ruining his life. He lashed out at transgendered individuals in particular, clearly angered by their ability to confuse his libido. (Sounds like someone doth protest a little too much. Maybe he and Marcus Bachmann ought to go on a camping trip.)

Then, Carolla hit rock bottom: he attacked Chaz Bono, which was (a) seriously rude and (b) bound to invoke the wrath of Cher.

To his defenders, Carolla’s tirade against Chaz probably sounded like Mike Huckabee discussing the “ick factor” of gay sex – and, in fact, Carolla later encouraged us to stop using the term “LGBT” and instead use “YUCK“. But to the rest of us, Carolla’s whining sounded about as squeamish and childish as Nellie Oleson trapped in a bait shop. A little ironic for someone who wants to give an impression of some very big, brave cojones.

Look: we understand that Carolla is a comedian. We’re gays — we’re great at laughing at ourselves — but only when the jabs are funny. In this case, Carolla pulled a Tracy Morgan and crossed the line from comic to bigot.

So what in the Sam Hill does this have to do with cars? Well, as you may or may not know, Carolla is the host of a new show on the SPEED network called The Car Show. And like other TV shows, The Car Show depends on advertisers. And in our experience, advertisers aren’t in the business of aligning themselves with self-righteous jerks. Just ask Dr. Laura. Or Don Imus. Or Glenn Beck.

GLAAD has begun a campaign to get Carolla to apologize, but clearly, Carolla’s not paying much attention. He sent out a half-hearted tweet that said, “I’m sorry my comments were hurtful. That being said, I’m a comedian, not a politician.” Which is kind of like Madame Defarge apologizing for the fact that the guillotine was a little rusty. In other words: not an apology at all.

Carolla’s resistant now, but as Morgan learned just a few months ago, the LGBT community is pretty tenacious. Not that he asked, but if we were his PR team, we’d encourage him to make the morning show rounds on bended knee before Cher gets her hands on his home address.

P.S. If you want to listen to the tirade yourself, click here. Just don’t do it on a full stomach.

[Towleroad, eOnline]

To this day, I still think the first-generation Mercedes CLS is one of the sexiest cars I’ve ever laid on eyes on. While the term “four-door coupe” goes against the very definition of what a coupe is, Mercedes broke the rules in all the right places with the CLS.

Late last year, the next-generation, 2012 Mercedes CLS was revealed. Strangely enough, Mercedes ruined it! The new CLS is no longer sinister. I don’t hear a growling noise in my head anymore when I see one. What I see now are bizarre, chunky fender arches and hugely over-styled doors.

Someone at Audi must’ve predicted the forthcoming demise of the CLS, because just about the time the new, much worse, CLS was debuting, Audi revealed its own entry into the four-door coupe segment – The A7 Sportback. And just like that, the four-door coupe segment has a four-ringed leader.

Rolling sculpture

The A7 is art, sitting on 19-inch Goodyears. It would look just as appropriate sitting in your garage as it would in the Guggenheim. It’s elegant, it’s low slung, it’s long, it’s sleek. As with other Audi’s, there’s something about the A7’s beauty that even the most expensive camera can’t capture. Only when you’re standing in front of it will the words “Wow” escape your mouth.

While the “cat’s eye” LED daytime running lights and the extremely clean lines of the profile all compete for your attention, the sloping, abrupt rear-end may make the car’s posterior the best view of all. Whatever the view, the A7 certainly got plenty of looks and compliments throughout my week with it.

If you read car reviews with any frequency, you’re probably thoroughly tired of automotive journalists trumpeting the exceptional quality and design of Audi interiors. If that’s the case, just skip ahead, because I’m about to dole out more of the same – with one exception.

Yes, the inside of the A7 is a really nice place to be. High quality leather, wood, aluminum and plastic trim are everywhere you touch. A high-resolution, 6.5” LCD screen rises out of the dash to display the satellite navigation, as well as the MMI interface for most of the systems in the car.

Unfortunately, this particular A7 had developed an occasional rattle in the dash, just above the gauges. With a little less than 5,000 miles on the clock, that’s disheartening. Keep in mind, however, that 1,000 journalist miles is probably the equivalent of about 10,000 every day miles. Delicate drivers, we are not.

The driver’s seat itself is very supportive and comfortable, and is heated and cooled. Though I felt like fans inside the seat were a little on the loud side and not-all-that efficient at, well, cooling.

While I never spent any time in the back seat myself, I never heard any complaints from my passengers. They’ve got their own climate controls as well as a fold-down center armrest with cup holders. Keep in mind, however, you’ve only got room for two back there in this grand tourer.

Moving even further back in the car, the trunk is not the deepest, but it certainly is long. You won’t be putting sheets of plywood back there, but it will take all the luggage you can throw in it.

Tons of Tech

Along with a comfortable interior, you’ve got quite a bit of technology. This A7 represents the first car I’ve ever tested that comes with an in-car, WiFi hotspot. Simply put, it’s a pretty awesome feature. Connecting a Macbook Pro to the A7’s WiFi signal was simple and data speeds were good. Now we’ll all be distracted by texting AND updating our Facebook page while doing 75mph.

Controlling another sort of speed is the standard, Audi Drive Select system. This system adapts the throttle response, transmission shifting points and steering weight based on the mode you set it in. In dynamic mode, the throttle response is at its’ most aggressive, the transmission will hold a gear higher into the rev-range and the steering will be weighted a bit heavier. In comfort mode, it’s just the opposite. When set in automatic, sensors in the car will continually adjust all those systems to provide what it feels is optimum performance for the current road conditions.

Other available A7 gizmos include radar-controlled, adaptive cruise control and “Side Assist” blind spot monitoring system. If that isn’t enough safety related technology for you, the A7 is also available with a heads up display and a night-vision sensor that can detect pedestrians from 1000 feet away. No word yet on when they’ll start adding weapons systems.

Charged 6

Normally, when we talk about supercharging, we’re usually driving something with a loud, fire-breathing V8 motor. Under the hood of the A7, we’ve got a supercharged, direct-injected V6 motor, good for 310hp. It’s a slightly down-rated version of the motor you find in Audi’s S4 sport sedan.

If the thought of only 6-cylinders in a big luxury sedan makes you furrow your brow, not-so-fast. Along with that 310hp are 325 pound-feet of torque. That provides a V8-like kick in the pants. Not once during the week did I feel like I was down on power, whether the A7 was passing on the highway, climbing a steep grade or embarrassing the guy in the BMW.

More importantly, the supercharged V6 does all this with none of the lag as you might experience with turbos. At the same time, the A7 also manages to return nearly 30mpg during civilized, highway cruising.

One of the reasons for that good fuel economy is the 8-speed automatic transmission. While Audi’s tiptronic 8-speed is not dual clutch-fast, it is “get me to the church on time” quick. During spirited test runs, getting from 5th gear to 3rd gear in a hurry was not a problem. Selecting your own gears can be done via sport mode on the shifter itself, or if you opt for the Sport Package, you’ll have a pair of paddle-shifters behind the steering wheel.

Not the S7

If you’re looking for something that has the ability to attack the corners full on one minute, and be an elegant, grand tourer the next, the A7 might not be for you.

While the A7 will take a corner at speed without much drama, the car starts getting a little roly-poly once your driving style approaches what your mother might call “crazy.” In other words, when things start getting fun.

At high speed, the front end will, predictably, start to understeer a little and resist turning in. Body-roll will also pop up during a quick corner. Additionally, after one particular 20-minute session of sport driving, I started experiencing some noticeable brake fade.

None of this comes as a surprise, however, because we aren’t driving the sportier S7, we’re driving the A7. Considering how the A7 is intended to handle and ride, it does so in high fashion. The suspension is tuned for a compromise between comfort and handling. Even with the fantastic-looking, optional 20-inch wheels, the ride is not overly harsh.

If performance is more your thing, wait until 2012 when you can buy the Audi S7. Not only will the S7 be packing a sportier suspension and better brakes, but the heart of that beast will be a new, 4.0L V8 that should be good for around 425hp.

Auto Therapy

When it comes to cars, the really good ones don’t just drive well and look fantastic, they make me feel something: excited, amazed, overwhelmed.

The morning the A7 was to be dropped off, I woke up feeling something between “bleh” and “ugh.” Life had been throwing me a few curve balls lately and things seemed less than sunny.

I happened to be looking out the window when the A7 rolled up outside my apartment. Even though I’d seen one before at an auto show, the words “Holy,” followed by an expletive, came out of my mouth. That beautiful thing was mine for the week?? I couldn’t run down the stairs fast enough to get the keys. Christmas in July, indeed.

I don’t think I stopped smiling much during the first few hours behind the wheel.

The big, four-ringed coupe had made me feel…better.

2012 Audi A7 – $59,250
-Prestige trim – $6,330
-20” wheels w/ summer tires – $1,200
-Audi Side assist – $500
-Moonlight blue metallic paint – $475
Destination – $875
TOTAL – $68,630

• Audi is a gay-friendly company.
• Get a free insurance quote for a 2012 Audi A7 by clicking here.

Last week at FamilyCarGuide.com, I posted some suggestions for planning a perfect vacation with your pet. That was based on experiences my partner and I had over the course of a long road trip from our home in New Orleans all the way to Provincetown, Massachusetts and back.

But pets aren’t the only consideration when planning a vacation by car — obviously, your partner figures into the equation, too. Here are a few suggestions that I’ve found to make road trips with your significant other (or a good friend) simpler and more stress-free.

1. Start slowly: If you’re heading out for a long road trip, don’t make your first day too grueling. The stress and strain of packing, handing off keys to housesitters, notifying credit card companies of your plans, and all those other vacation preparations adds up, meaning that you’re apt to be pretty keyed up for the first few hours of “vacation”. If you’ve got three full days of travel ahead of you, save the roughest for day two.

2. Plan your overnight stays in advance: Even the best of friends and partners have different body clocks. If I had my way, I’d stop after about six hours on the road, but my partner is comfortable driving much longer stretches. Mapping out overnight stays ahead of time is a good way to avoid arguing about whether to stop at the next La Quinta or keep going for another 100 miles.

3. Share expenses: In the case of most couples, one person earns more than the other. Still, both should share the cost of the vacation — not split, mind you, but share. That’s not just good for the two wallets involved, it’s good for morale, too, showing that both folks in the car are ready to pitch in and make the vacation a success.

4. Share the driving: It doesn’t matter whose car you take. It doesn’t matter who likes driving and who hates it. As long as both of you have your drivers’ licenses, you should share — again: not split — the driving duties.

5. If you’re planning to take pets, reconsider: I’m very fortunate that all four of our dogs do pretty well when traveling. They’re antsy for the first hour or so, but after that, they settle in and do what they do best: sleep. However, I’ve had other dogs who’ve hated it — they’ve been sick in the car, they’ve tried to hide under seats, they’ve been nervous in traffic, and worst of all, they’ve not been able to relax when we’ve reached our destinations. And frankly, if your pet is a ball of nerves, you and your partner are going to be the same way. Think long and hard before loading Rover in the Range Rover.

6. Reconsider for the sake of your relationship: I won’t lie: vacations of any sort — especially road trips — can be taxing. Even the best of friends can find themselves at each other’s throats after two days of being cramped in a car. If you’re a new couple, or if you and your partner are having trouble, choose your vacation wisely. Some therapists might suggest that struggling couples should embark on a big, bonding experience; I say that a two-hour trip to the outlet mall makes for a good test run — and even better shopping.

Have other suggestions? Counseling advice? Dos and don’ts? Feel free to share them on our Facebook page or leave a comment below.

Here’s what we have to find out: Is the re-designed 2011 Jetta the great new car Volkswagen claims it is, or just an Americanized version of its former self? There’s no denying sales are up 58% since 2010. The new Jetta is bigger, re-styled, and more powerful – but is it a better car?

I have a silly test that I like to do with cars that drives my friends nuts. I tap every interior surface with my fingernails. In seconds, I can tell what is high quality or just thin plastic. Your eyes would tell you the new Jetta is as expensive as its predecessor with nicely grained dash panels, piano black touches around the radio, metallic finishes, and a thick sport steering wheel. But my tapping soon sets the truth free.

My fingers found hard plastic where soft padded rubber used to live on the dash and doors. The center armrest is no longer height adjustable either. And, apparently, nobody cares (note those increased sales). The heated leatherette sport seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth, and in-dash NAV must be dazzling VW’s new customers. The trunk, with rear seats folded, is at least big enough to conceal three German Shepherds and two Cannondale bikes [Casey, we’re hoping this is just a theory—ED]. I could really go for a USB port to connect my iPod, but no luck here. At $24,865 as tested, the new Jetta is not cheap and should have that kind of extra.

Outside, we get the design equivalent of hard plastic. The Jetta isn’t ugly; I just liked the old shape better. Its horizontal grill slats, chiseled body-sides, and 17” alloys should age well. Yet the overall impression is that VW has traded in the Jetta’s urban-chic exterior for something a tad too church-lady-conservative.

My father, who builds street rods in his spare time, may find the Jetta underpowered. You and I won’t. Step on the throttle from a stop and the 170-HP 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine sets you in your seat. Click down a great at Interstate speeds and there’s plenty of spunk. A six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic manual shift mode makes driving fun. But if VW wants to take on strong new competitors – like the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra – it must do better than 24/31-MPG city/hwy. Several competitors can top 40-MPG hwy.

VW snuck another change under the trunk. In place of a sophisticated independent suspension system is a lower-cost twist beam axle. To be honest, I couldn’t tell a difference from behind the wheel. The car feels sprung to run and laps up curvy roads. Nasty jolts at high speed didn’t disturb it. As is typical in VWs, the steering is light and precise.

If you’re planning a cross-country journey to your favorite parade with four friends aboard, the new Jetta is better. Getting baby seats in and out will be easier and that all-terrain stroller will fit in the trunk. Despite lower grade materials inside, the solid VW driving experience remains. I just miss the old Jetta’s attention to detail.

2011 VW Jetta SEL
Five-passenger, FWD sedan
Powertrain: 170hp 2.5-litre I5, 6-speed automatic transmission
Suspension f/r: Ind/Twist beam
Wheels: 17”/17” alloy f/r
Brakes: Disc fr/rr with ABS
Must-have feature: Space, handling
Fuel economy (city/hwy.): 24/31 mpg
Manufacturing: Puebla, Mexico
As tested price: $24,865

• Volkswagen is a gay-friendly company.
• Get a free insurance quote on a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta by clicking here.

With gay marriage now legal in my home state of New York, I was curious how the new law affects some of the more humdrum aspects of life that straight married couples have taken for granted. After all, life goes on once the wedding is over and the honeymoon has been relegated to a photo archive on Facebook.

This article in The New York Times helps explain how the law changes the tax status of happy gay newlyweds living in the Empire State. The law will even have an impact on how you might sell a car to a loved one.

Sales Tax: Certain family members don’t have to pay sales and use taxes if they sell a car to a relative. So starting on July 24, the sale of motor vehicles between same-sex spouses, or between a same-sex spouse and his or her spouse’s child, are exempt from sales and use taxes, according to the state tax department’s Web site.

Okay, I know, this isn’t as exciting as choosing the flowers for the bouquet – nor is it as amusing as deciding whether your older brother should be best-man or maid-of-honor.  And my boyfriend and I can rarely agree which subway line to take most days, much less haggle over the price of a car.

But if we’ve fought this hard for equality, a quick review of the tax code is probably the least we can do.

On Tuesday, the Village Voice ran an article about two upcoming bus tours — road trips that would strike fear and dread in the hearts of bus tour regulars like Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and the like. These bus tours are about marriage equality. But to at least one activist, the two buses are anything but equal.

Bus tour #1 is being put together by Louis Marinelli, the conservative Republican who was, until recently, Maggie Gallagher’s right-hand man and a heavy-hitter on the National Organization for Marriage’s marketing team. In April of this year, Marinelli had an epiphany: the scales fell from his eyes, and he left NOM in the dust, taking his laptop and the 290,000 social media contacts he’d amassed and putting them to work for marriage equality.

Recently, Marinelli has been planning a cross-country bus tour to promote marriage equality with his new organization, the aptly named National Organization for Marriage Equality. But then came bus tour #2….

Bus tour #2 is being organized by the Human Rights Campaign. Dubbed the “On the Road to Equality” tour, the HRC is beginning its tour on the same weekend as Marinelli and will cover some of the same ground.

Marinelli is not pleased. He thinks the timing and nature of HRC’s tour are both suspicious, and he’s even made hints that the HRC stole his tour title, “Road to Equality”.

This is a holy bunch of crap.

Anyone who’s ever put together a project bigger than a trip to the mall knows that something the size of a cross-country bus tour would take months to pull together. No matter how you may feel about HRC — and the organization isn’t perfect, not by a looooongshot — there’s no denying that its staff have been working on the tour’s logistics for some time. Stealing Marinelli’s idea? Highly unlikely.

From where we sit, Marinelli comes off like a whiner — and worse, his reaction implies that he may be in this for the wrong reasons. Given his 180-degree conversion that came on so suddenly it could’ve made Ken Mehlman‘s head spin, Marinelli should probably take pains to avoid looking disingenuous. If he’s really firm in his new-found beliefs, he’ll understand that having two, simultaneous bus tours promoting marriage equality is an amazing problem to have. We should be so lucky.

That doesn’t mean that HRC is out of hot water, though. To tout its bus tour, HRC has created a riff on that ubiquitous 1980s car accessory, the “Baby on Board” sticker — except in this case, the sticker reads “Equality on Board“, which is (a) not terribly clever and (b) hard to envision, since “equality” is a concept, not a concrete idea. It’s a little like saying, “Benevolence on Board” or “Greed on Board”. Next time, call a copywriter — preferably, a nit-picky one with an English degree.

This is the real problem, and it’s where Marinelli should ultimately aim his slings and arrows — not at fellow campaigners for doing something he believes in, too, but for the revival of an auto accessory that should be left in the bright yellow dustbin of history. Yeesh, aren’t bumper stickers enough?

It’s that time of the month again — time to look back at Gaywheels’ most popular reviews.

There were a few interesting shifts between June 2011 and July, but as you can see, the #1 ride remains the same. Who knew that y’all were such a minivan crowd? We learn something new about you every day.

This go-round, we thought we’d post the links in reverse order, just to maintain a little suspense.  And so, without further ado:

10. 2012 Volkswagen Passat

9. 2011 Hyundai Elantra GLS

8. 2011 Volvo XC60

7. 2011 Volvo XC60 Road Trip Adventure

6. 2011 Toyota Sienna

5. 2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum

4. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

3. 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander

2. 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs. 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI

1. 2007 Nissan Quest

Of course, the most-viewed piece on Gaywheels last month wasn’t a review at all — it was last week’s article, “Is the BMW 7-Series the gayest car in LA?”. That was followed closely by our ever-popular list of gay-friendly automakers. It’s great to see your continued interest in knowing which automakers treat our community fairly.

Our pal Brett Berk has long held that there are “gay cars”, and we tend to agree — though with certain caveats.

Frankly, we believe that when you talk about “gay cars”, you have to talk about gay communities. Think of it like fashion: today’s twinks enjoy jorts and baggy tank-tops. Go to a bear bash, though, and you may well drown in a sea of cargo shorts. A-Listers like anything with a label (so long as it’s visible and says “Marc Jacobs”), and babydykes typically aim for simple, sporty attire, with a pop of color on their jogging shoes.

Of course, there are plenty of exceptions to those rules — twinks who wear cargo shorts, bears who wear shirts — but there’s some truth in them, too. In fact, the entire field of demographics is devoted to mapping such trends. Heck, if there weren’t similarities among communities, the very foundation of marketing would collapse like so many popped collars during a humid Sunday tea dance.

Similarly, certain gay communities seem to prefer certain cars. The leather-and-Levis set loves a good truck; butch gals enjoy anything with 4×4, and for reasons yet to be explained, bears adore the tiniest of cars, like the MINI Cooper and the Mazda Miata. (This bodes well for the Fiat 500, no?)

And so, we weren’t really surprised yesterday when someone suggested that the BMW 7-Series is the unofficial gay car of Los Angeles. After all, communities can be tied to geography just as easily as body type, so it makes sense that LA’s up-and-commers would be drawn to the sleek, high-profile elegance of the 7-Series.

Disagree? LA friends: feel free to weigh in on the BMW phenomenon, either in the comments below, on Twitter, or on our Facebook page. And wherever you are, let us know if you’ve spotted some trends we might’ve missed. We’ve been a little too preoccupied tidying up our VW Beetles to keep track.

Mercedes-Benz didn’t join the midsize luxury SUV craze, they invented it. The first M-Class introduced Americans to the idea that a luxury car could be a durable all weather, all road condition vehicle without requiring it to carry a six-digit price tag. Now, in its third generation, the M-Class has improved by leaps and bounds, shedding the original design’s body-on-frame construction, somewhat bland interior, and obnoxious rough ride for a driving experience worthy of the Mercedes three-point star.

For 2012, the M-Class model lineup remains relatively unchanged, but everything else about the M-Class is new from the ground up. All new sheet metal displays a crisper, more purposeful look, one that seems to share the same aggressive stance as the SLK and S class cars. The grille is also new, as are the tail lamps, pronounced side sculpting and multi-spoke wheels, but the familiar flared C-pillar—a styling cue dating back to the first M-Class—is still in place. I like the look of the new M, but I must admit a fondness for the previous model’s front end which I think was more detailed and somewhat more athletic. The 2012 M-Class is also a bit longer and wider than last year’s model, which translates into improved interior and cargo space, although there is still no third-row seat.

Under the hood are two engine choices. The first is a 3.5-liter V6 engine that develops 302 horsepower and is EPA rated at 17-mpg city and 22-mpg highway. The second option is 3.0-liter BlueTEC diesel V6, generating a respectable 240 horsepower but a stump pulling 455 pounds-feet of torque. That second number is important because torque is the force needed to move an object quickly from a standing start, as well as pull heavy loads once in motion. Best of all, the new 3.0-liter diesel engine returns fuel economy figures of 20-mpg city and 25-mpg highway. The test cars were all 4MATIC all-wheel drive models, but I suspect the fuel economy numbers for the front-drive M-Class will be slightly higher. (Ed note: see correction in comments below.) As I spent most of my driving time behind the wheel of the diesel, I can say with some assurance that this is the best diesel V6 Mercedes has ever produced. Smooth, efficient and nearly silent (you can’t hear the diesel clatter inside the M-Class, but its still audible standing outside the car) the BlueTEC diesel is only a $1,500 option that I would take in a heartbeat.

No matter which engine you choose, they are teamed to a new seven-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode. Although this transmission works well and helps the M-Class achieve maximum fuel economy, I was still able to detect a bit of a lag when operating the manual mode, prompting me to just leave it in drive and let the computer make the all the decisions. Also new is the available Dynamic Handling Package that features a hydraulically-controlled front stabilizer bar that disconnects on straight roads but comes online in the curves helping to reduce body roll and lean. The package also continually adjusts the shock setting and ride height to ensure a smooth yet controlled ride.

Inside, Mercedes has stepped up the M-Class’ luxury look and feel, with more wood trim, a more contemporary looking dash and more detailed stitching on the seats and door panels. The long tradition of placing the cruise control stalk at the 10 o’clock position has been rethought, relocating it to a spot where it is less likely to be mistaken for the turn signal stalk. On diesel models, a laminated windshield greatly reduces noise from the diesel engine, while also shutting out wind and road noise. Of course, luxury features such as a power sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and go, and heated front seats are standard, but you can go hog wild and opt for heated and cooling front cup holders, leather seating, a panoramic glass moonroof, GPS navigation and a 830-watt, and a 14-speaker harman/kardon audio system. Check all the option boxes and your M-Class will run you about $65,000. You can even get an iPad docking station, which I think is pretty cool for just 65 large! Of course, all of Mercedes’ legendary safety features are in place, as well as some optional aides such Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist.

Look for the Alabama-built M-Class to go on sale this September. The first models to arrive will be the 4MATIC all-wheel drive cars, followed in about 12 months by the front drive variant. A V8 powered M Class should arrive by Spring of 2012 followed by a hybrid model shortly there after.

A unique spin on Japanese luxury

Luxury is not just about showing off with an old-world brand.  There’s also exquisiteness in style, technology, and exciting performance.  The Infiniti M56 has all three.

Long, flowing front fenders and hood, a coupe-like roof and high tail give the car proportions that stand out on the road and are clearly distinguished from German and American competitors.  You’ll also know it by the big chrome grille tucked into its front fascia.  The sculpted deck-lid increases downforce at speed, enables zero lift front and rear, and slips through the wind with an impressive 0.27 coefficient of drag.  Swiveling projector beams up front follow curves, while twin chrome exhaust tips leave other drivers with one last glimpse of the M56 as it dashes away.

Step inside and the luxury theme continues.  Japanese White Ash wood on the center console, dash, and doors glimmers, thanks to real silver dust being used in its application.   My test car had supple leather in the darkest of chocolate-colored hues, along with heated and cooled front seats. Despite the spaceship command center style of the dash, the large analog gauges in fluted housings, voice controls, and machined metal knobs for the audio system make the controls easy to understand and elegant in appearance.  A Bose 5.1 16-speaker audio system offers crisp and clean sound.

That’s only the start of this car’s technology.  Active noise control electronically silences the cabin, Bluetooth connects phones, and a USB port wires iPods to the car’s controls.  Navigation, audio, and the Zagat restaurant guide can all be accessed by voice commands.  Thankfully, our test car came without Infiniti’s too-smart-for-its-own-good blind spot, forward warning, and crash intervention systems.  They’re impressive in their use of sensors and cameras, but can drive you batty in city traffic.

You could choose an M with a 3.7-litre V6 or hybrid powertrains, but I’d suggest the 5.6-litre V8.  The engine’s 420hp and 417lb.-ft. of torque give you a wide band of power that starts off the line and keeps going strong for as long as you like.  A distant thunder-like rumble from the exhaust encourages driving fun – or at least some lead-footed acceleration – and the 7-speed automatic transmission clicks off gears quickly.  Fuel economy is rated 16/23mpg city/hwy.

The M56 has a strong chassis to match its powertrain.  Its torque-shifting all-wheel-drive system, firm suspension, and 18-inch alloys provide a good balance between absorbing rough city streets and tackling smooth backroads.  A dial on the center console lets drivers adjust the throttle and transmission mapping for four different driving conditions, including snow and sport.  Although our car was not so equipped, rear-drive models can be selected with a Sport Package that includes 4-wheel Active Steer, a tighter suspension, and 20-inch wheels.

Infiniti has sometimes seemed a step behind rivals.  It tried to copy German automakers, but now appears to have embraced its Asian heritage.  While not a benchmark of the segment, like the Mercedes E550, or as outrageously quick as the 556-bhp Cadillac CTS-V, the M56 offers drivers plenty of luxury and performance with its own unique style.

2012 Infiniti M56 AWD

Five-passenger, AWD sedan
Powertrain:  420hp 5.6-litre V8, 7-speed automatic transmission
Suspension f/r:  Ind/ind
Wheels:  18”/18” alloy f/r
Brakes:  Disc fr/rr with ABS
Must-have feature:  Style, pace
Fuel economy (city/hwy.):  16/23 mpg
Manufacturing:  Japan
As tested price:  $66,925

If you work in the U.S. auto industry and you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered, we want to hear from you!

Gaywheels would like to profile a wide range of employees from across the sector. Whether you’re on the assembly lines or in a corner office, whether you’re at company HQ in Detroit or a small rural dealership, we’d love to learn more about you.

Why? Well, Gaywheels was begun for a couple of reasons: (1) to help LGBT shoppers find up-to-date info on cars and the companies that make them, and (2) to show the auto industry that the LGBT community is valuable — not only as customers, but as employees, too.

We like to think that over the past decade or so, there’s been a major shift in the way that car companies treat their LGBT workers. Today, most automakers sit comfortably on our gay-friendly list, and as you can see from the map above, a growing number of states protect LGBT employees from discrimination, no matter what their field of work may be. But we realize that what’s written in policy manuals and what happens from 9-to-5 can be very different things.

If you’d like to share your story with us, please use the Gaywheels contact form to tell us a bit about yourself. Be sure to put “LGBT employee” somewhere in the subject line so it gets routed to the right place. We’ll follow up via email.

Thanks!

A couple of weeks ago, someone brought this Hyundai ad to our attention. Though it’s over a year old, we hadn’t seen it before, and frankly, it took us by surprise. Check it:

Why is that surprising? Because it features a lesbian plotline, despite the fact that Hyundai is one of only only four major automakers that isn’t LGBT-friendly. (The others are Suzuki, Porsche, and Hyundai’s sister, Kia.)

We wrote to Hyundai and asked the company to verify a few things:

1. Whether this was a real commercial or a student project;

2. Whether it ran in regular rotation; and,

3. If Hyundai had made its employment policies more LGBT-friendly since the last time we checked.

That was two weeks ago, and we still haven’t received a response, so for the time-being, we’ll assume that the answer to #3 is “no”. However, we’ve gotten reports from Canada that the ad is legit and that it did, in fact, run on Canadian TV for a while. So that’s…interesting.

More recently,  AdWeek posted a rundown of “The 50 Gayest Ads Ever” (what’s that mean, anyway?). And there we found another LGBT-themed clip from Hyundai — this time from Sweden in 2006:

Maybe we haven’t met our caffeine quota for the day, but we can’t say that we’re exactly happy with this clip either. The first ad looked like porn for straight men; in this one, the gay guy’s a joke, a punch line. Compare those clips to two from the very-LGBT-friendly Subaru, and you’ll notice a significant difference in tone:

We’re not plot devices in the Subaru ads. We’re not jokes. The clips don’t talk about us, they speak to us. That’s a major difference.

But what do you think? Are we being too hard on Hyundai? Too humorless? Or should Hyundai’s well-shod corporate feet be held to the fire until the company becomes more LGBT-friendly? Feel free to weigh in via email, Twitter, or in the comments below.

As many of you know, we relaunched Gaywheels a couple of months ago. But the changes we made weren’t just cosmetic — we’ve been tinkering with the backend, too. (Minds out of the gutter, kids.)

With that tinkering, we refreshed all our stat-gathering resources, which means we’ll be able to give more regular updates on the cars that readers like you are researching on the site. Ultimately, we’ll make these updates quarterly, but we thought the statistics for June were pretty interesting, so we’re passing them along.

And so, without further ado, the ten most-visited car reviews at Gaywheels.com in June 2011 were:

1. 2007 Nissan Quest

2. 2011 Volvo XC60 Road Trip Adventure

3. 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander

4. 2011 VW Golf GTI vs. 2011 VW Golf TDI

5. 2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum

6. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

7. 2008 Lexus GX 470

8. 2011 Toyota Sienna

9. 2012 Volkswagen Passat

10. 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman

Of course, the most-viewed page of all was our list of gay-friendly automakers. It’s great to know that our readers are so interested in companies that treat members of the LGBT community fairly and equally. (It’s also nice to see that all June’s top-ten cars are made by gay-friendly companies, too!)

Some people don’t think of NASCAR as a terribly inclusive sport, but that’s changing for the better, thanks to fair-minded sponsors like Red Bull.

At a race last weekend, our eagle-eyed pals at Queers4Gears spotted a homophobe in their midst — a man by the name of Jeremy Fuller, who is part of the Red Bull Racing Team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Or perhaps we should say: was a part of the Red Bull Racing Team.

Here’s what happened: as Fuller was leaving the track in Sonoma, California, he saw an SUV with a rainbow sign in the back window that said “ON OUR WAY TO S.F. GAY PRIDE!” Fuller tweeted a pic of the sign and said “This is way [sic] I don’t live here“.

That was bad enough, but then one of Fuller’s followers, @gofastharvick29 picked up the ball and replied via tweet: “yea if we could get rid of them it’d be a lot better”. To which Fuller responded, “lol.. Don’t we all wish!!”

Queers4Gears notified NASCAR and Red Bull about the offensive tweets. NASCAR hasn’t yet issued a formal response, but the organization  does have a non-discrimination policy that prohibits any NASCAR member from making a statement that “criticizes, ridicules, or otherwise disparages” anyone on the basis of her/his sexual orientation.

Red Bull, on the other hand, acted very swiftly. After conducting an internal investigation, the company terminated Fuller’s contract. Fuller accepts guilt for the first tweet, but claims to have no idea how the second got posted to his account.

This is just the latest in a string of homophobic rants vented by folks in the wide world of sports over the past year or so. As sorry as we might be to see someone lose a job over a 25-character tweet, we’re happy to see corporate officials treating homophobia as seriously as racial, sexual, and ethnic slurs.

For a lot more detail, be sure to read the full story at Queers4Gears.

It was the stuff of screenwriters’ dreams: marriage equality legislation passing on Gay Pride weekend in the very state that saw the birth of the modern LGBT rights movement 42 years earlier. Even ham-fisted Michael Bay might’ve considered it too over-the-top.

But that’s exactly how it unfolded. And if history does, in fact, repeat itself, such legal victories will continue unfolding across the U.S., until our relationships are eventually recognized by every state in the union.

Why is this happening? Why now? Having high-profile straight allies like Mario Batali and Ben Cohen and Vanessa Williams and dozens of others hasn’t hurt. But none of their support would mean a thing if legislators and constituents didn’t have regular contact with out-and-proud LGBT Americans like you.

Now, we know what you’re thinking: “What in the Sam Hill has gay marriage got to do with cars?”

For Gaywheels readers, the answer is simple: everything.

Gaywheels came about for several reasons — not just because of our founders’ love of automobiles, but also because of the homophobia that has run rampant at dealerships, garages, and even among automotive manufacturers. That caustic environment has made shopping for cars and arranging repairs far more stressful than it ought to be. Gaywheels was envisioned as a place for LGBT readers to get the information they need to make those processes less painful.

We’re happy to see that attitudes in the auto industry have changed dramatically since this blog’s launch. The list of gay-friendly automakers now far, far outweighs the short list of non-gay-friendly companies. But we still have a long way to go.

Marriage equality is a step in the right direction. It enshrines anti-discrimination into law. And as much as we love our libertarian friends, such laws are an absolute necessity.

One day, we’ll reach a point at which people will look back at legislative protections for women, racial minorities, and LGBT citizens and think, “What the heck was all that about? Of course everyone’s equal.” By that time, it may not make sense to have a site like Gaywheels anymore.

Sadly, that day lies in the distant future (and it’s even more distant for LGBT residents in countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Uganda). Until then, we’ll be here, doing our part to put folks on equal footing.

Thanks for reading, and remember that LGBT pride doesn’t end on June 30.

I won’t tell you which one, but I was recently driving a competitor to the all-new Hyundai Elantra when discussing it with an auto-writing colleague. I mentioned how unimpressed I was with the big-name compact I was driving and couldn’t wait to get into the Elantra.

He said, “Could you have believed that 10 years ago? You want to give up a top-selling car with a world-class reputation and can’t wait to get in a Hyundai! I’m with you man. Me too.”

Hyundai’s world-class reputation precedes the Elantra. People ask me all of the time about the hot Sonata, especially the 274-HP Turbo and 40-MPG Hybrid models. That’s usually one breath before they go on and on about the Genesis coupe and sedan or Tucson crossover. Yeah, I’m with you man. These new Hyundais are a dream. So, what about the Elantra?

To make the point that you get a lot for the money, Hyundai sent over a base model with hubcaps and a manual transmission. Usually, automakers woo and coerce journalists with up-level trim packages that include heated leather seats, premium audio, and a convenience package that does everything but serve steak on silver. It’s like double martinis before the sales pitch. For the Elantra, they didn’t even offer a Diet Coke! I think, “It must be good.”

As an appetizer, Hyundai feeds us the Elantra’s cab-forward “Fluidic Sculpture” design that trickles down from the larger Sonata. When little boys imagined the future, this is the shape they had in mind. The team at Hyundai’s North American Design Center in Irvine, CA gave the Elantra a shape that is both sleek and aerodynamic (about the same drag coefficient as the ultra-slippery Chevy Volt). An arching body has more character than a jellybean with strong wheel arches, rigid surfacing on the bodysides, and attention to detail in how the A-pillars flow into the hood and chrome inside the headlamps line up with grille trim. It is expertly done and quite beautiful.

Intriguing shapes flow inside the large cabin. There’s plenty of space for four passengers and their entire luggage; rear seats fold down for bicycles and bigger toys. The twin-cockpit dashboard is a more stylish version of the Sonata’s and features a cool pinched center control stack. Large analog gauges, four-spoke steering wheel, wide dead pedal, and 32 oz. cupholders make driving easy. Designers sweated details like knurled detailing on the major knobs, silver finishes on the doors, “audio zone” arrangement, and easy-to-use climate controls. The audio system sounded excellent for a compact sedan and comes with a CD player, USB input for iPods, and available XM Satellite Radio. Safety is enhanced by a full array of airbags.

At least until Hyundai decides to throw on a turbo and attack faster competitors, every Elantra achieves 40-MPG Hwy. You don’t need a special package, low-resistance tires, or articulating grille shutters. You just need the standard 148-HP 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine attached to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. With 29-MPG city and the excellent highway ratings, the Elantra can travel up to 500 miles on one tank, or roughly four stops given my usual Diet Coke intake.

So, hit the road, Hotchkiss. You know in the first ten feet of driving some cars that you are going to like them and it took about that long to warm to the Elantra. The clutch engages comfortably and the shifter slips into gear with a precise push. Plant your Puma into the throttle and the little engine zings up to its redline, screeches the front tires, and begins its sprint up to above-legal speeds with ease. Unlike in the competitor mentioned above, the Elantra’s electric power steering is near perfect to the touch and provides the right amount of tension off-center. As with the Sonata, the car’s heart beats in your hand.

The independent front, torsion beam rear suspension system provides the right balance of comfort and fun. Electronic stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes with brake force distribution (varies brake forces due to vehicle load) & brake assist (provides extra boost when emergency is detected) stand by just in case. If this is the way small cars are going to drive in the future, who needs mid-sizers?

Even without heated bum warmers, alloy wheels, and tri-surround symphonic reverberation, or whatever audio engineers call it, the Elantra hits it out. It drives as well as some cars costing twice its price and couldn’t be easier to enjoy. At least one of its competitors should watch it as this whistler lands in its lap! Given an as tested price of $16,930 that mainly adds A/C and cruise to a base car, the rest of the field includes the Toyota Camry, Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Mazda3, VW Jetta, and Nissan Sentra.

2011 Hyundai Elantra GLS
Five-passenger, FWD sedan
Powertrain: 148-HP 1.8-litre I4, 6-speed manual transmission
Suspension f/r: Ind/torsion beam
Wheels: 16”/16” alloy f/r
Brakes: Disc fr/rr with ABS
Must-have feature: Style, MPGs
Fuel economy (city/hwy.): 29/40 MPG
Manufacturing: Montgomery, AL
As tested price: $16,930

Note: Hyundai is NOT a gay-friendly automaker. For a complete list of gay-friendly manufacturers, click here.

The XC adventure began with a flight to LA on a Sunday where I was promptly shipped to the Weston hotel and forced to eat delicious food almost immediately. I mention food because the only thing I love more than playing around in new cars is stuffing my face. Really, it’s a horrible habit; a horrible, tasty habit. Here I would meet all of my fellow adventurers and get to know each other before the following day when we became competitors. At this point, I really didn’t have an idea of what Volvo had in store for us, or just how much fun I was going to have getting to know these people and drive the stunningly beautiful 2011 Volvo XC60 half way across the country. I teamed up with my editor-in-chief, Joe Tralongo, who lazily made his way to the car port just in time to catch the last available XC60. He’s 48, I’m 24. I think it’s going to be a long, long drive.

Team Gaywheels departed from the Weston early Monday morning. Our picture taking extravaganza began when I noticed the New Jersey license plate affixed to our test car. I felt compelled to do my best Jersey Shore pose while kneeling for a photo because I’m an adult and that’s what adults do. I told Joe the Situation had nothing on me, at which point he responded, “Huh?”

After a quick rundown of our supplies (cameras, music and directions), we set to work. First things first, I was assigned the task of configuring the navigation system and figuring out our path for the trip ahead. The XC60’s navigation was slightly difficult at first using rotary knobs and pretty, but illogical, graphics to do what a simple touch screen (think Garmin) could do only about 10 times quicker. However, in the following few hours I found that, with some simple fumbling through screens and allowing myself time to get the feel of the speed and rotation of things, I was able to quickly and efficiently get to the screens I was looking for and set the destination. The split screen navigation allowed for a closer, more detailed shot of where we were driving in one screen while another gave a bird’s eye view showing what was to come further down the road.

Once I had the destination set, I began to play with the XC60’s sound system. I can’t go anywhere without my music so I was thrilled to learn our vehicle was equipped with Volvo’s best Premium audio system that drives 650-watts through 12 speakers and a separate powered subwoofer. The sound was crisp and filled the car with everything from progressive electronic (for when we felt like “driving aggressively”) to Sia (when we were discussing life on life’s terms). The same screen is used for both the navigation and the iPod commands, but the convenient part was that the screen kept the immediate directions on top in case the driver found themselves toggling through screens and needed to remember what street they were looking for had they disabled the command voice as we immediately did (authority issues).

The XC60 is loaded with other technological wonders all aimed at making you and me better (and safer) drivers. The car did everything but drive itself, and one could even say that it bordered on actually turning a driving experience into one of simply steering. When the old man, err, Joe was at the wheel, the XC60 constantly alerted via a series of rapid fire audible beeps that the vehicle was wandering out of its lane (Volvo calls this the Lane Departure Warning system.) Joe explained he was not wandering from his lane but simply changing lanes without using his turn signal. Since the system works by monitoring the painted white lane markers, any attempt to cross said markers will trigger the system’s response. After a short while we stopped for a driver change and I climbed behind the wheel. It wasn’t long before I got to experience another XC60 assist: Adaptive Cruise Control. Unlike normal cruise control, the Volvo system uses sonar to detect vehicles ahead and keeps the car at a safe distance, regulating the vehicle’s speed and even applying the brakes to avoid a collision. Learning the system takes a bit of research. Of course I could have just read the owners manual, but who does that? I was a bit frustrated by the preset speeds, which are staggered at five mile intervals. After playing around a bit more, I discovered a separate button on the steering wheel would let me move up or down at one mile increments. In all, the XC60’s cockpit is clean and simple and logically arranged. The only real complaint on the driver’s side of the car was that the steering wheel prevented me from seeing the stalk-mounted windshield wiper controls. Come nightfall the XC60’s cabin is lit up by the subtle blue LED lights that littered the dash and both speedometer/odometer spheres.

For a ten hour road trip, I can’t think of a better vehicle in which to ride than the XC60. The potent 300-horsepower 3.0-liter engine in our T6 R-Design never failed to impress, offering up gobs of power for passing and just flat out running, but still returning fuel economy in the mid 20 range. When we finally arrived at our destination, a lovely resort at the end of a secluded canyon in Gateway, Colorado, I got a chance to ditch Joe and take another Volvo favorite, the XC70 wagon, out on the muddy roads of clay that surrounded the entire area. The power in front of me was immediately apparent as I decided I wanted to press down firmly with my right foot once or twice. As with the XC60, the XC70 presented a sleek interior, only this time the navigation and rear view back-up screen raised itself form the dash board directly beneath the rearview mirror. This could get a little irritating when I was backing up a lot in the mud as the screen would be up and down repeatedly, but I’m sure I’d get over it eventually. I don’t suppose the common driver finds themselves going back and forth in thick mud over and over as we were that day either, unless of course their cheating spouse is laid out in the road ahead. The car moved through the terrain easily, even with the traction control still on. It had plenty of power and control that made some of the more difficult places (mud, streams, rocky areas and climbs) easy as pie.

The appearance, intelligence, and sheer power of the XC class is nothing short of impressive. I think drivers of all ages and backgrounds could easily find themselves falling in love with these brilliantly designed vehicles, which have all the bells and whistles of a luxury sedan combined with the abilities of a rugged SUV. My experience with them was enough to show me that they are remarkable moving machines.

Last fall, America was hit with a wave of teen suicides. The cause, more often than not, was anti-LGBTQ bullying. Gay kids — or those who were perceived to be — told stories of being tormented by friends, enemies, school officials, and, occasionally, parents. Sadly, some succumbed to the pressure.

In response, author and activist Dan Savage launched the “It Gets Better” project to reassure young people grappling with their sexuality that things change. The project has been hugely successful, generating inspiring messages from the LGBTQ community and its allies — from pop music stars to baseball teams to the president of the United States.

Now, we’re happy to announce that General Motors — a huge supporter of diversity — has put together its own “It Gets Better” clip, just in time for many of world’s Pride celebrations. Coming on the heels of Nissan’s stand for LGBTQ workers in Tennessee and progress on the marriage equality front in California, it’s hard not to feel a little optimistic these days.

Watch closely, and you might even glimpse a familiar, handsome mug around the one-minute mark and in a very touching, behind-the-scenes moment at the end.

[via TheCarConnection]

The Passat shows volks its big wagen.

Volkswagen has something big to show you, and it can even be viewed online. No, it’s not the “Mini Vader” Super Bowl commercial, although it’s pretty bitchin’! You can also forget about naughty pics of naughty politicians. During its recent media launch, VW’s P.R. team gave a dissertation that contained references to inches, but fortunately they were discussing the 2012 Passat’s longer shadow and not the size of its underpinnings.

Longer than the current model by four inches, the new Passat is sized for America. Nearly all of the additional space is hanging out in the rear compartment. To keep the car from looking like German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s stretched A8, the Passat’s B-pillar was moved rearward to balance the door widths. The shape is uber conservative and exhibits attention to detail in the way creases are cut through the fuel door, subtle rear spoiler, alloy wheels, and three chrome slats dicing up the grille.

Designers must have had pin-ups of the discontinued VW Phaeton’s cabin in their lockers as they contemplated the Passat’s interior. Slabs of woodgrain on the dash and console slather visual munchies while soft-touch materials on most surfaces delight the touch. Authentic leatherette or intoxicating cowhide cover thickly-bolstered seats, which are optionally heated and power-adjustable. Large gauges, an analog clock, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and click-click gear selector are spot on, as are standard dual-zone automatic climate control, auto up/down windows, USB MP3 input, and Bluetooth. The net ambience is of affordable wealth.

I could buy a Passat just for the available Fender Premium Audio System. Every note is reproduced to create the raw sound of a live performance, meaning you hear it naturally from front instead of just around your head. The sound is crisp and clear, free of distortion, highlighting every guitar and violin. Nine speakers and 400 watts are plenty to cut through the clutter of exhaust notes and wind noise.

Under the smooth hood is more sweet music from a range of engines that includes a 170-HP 2.5-litre inline five-cylinder, 280-HP 3.6-litre VR6, and 2.0-litre TDI Clean Diesel. VW expects about 75% of buyers to choose the 5-cylinder that achieves 32-MPG Hwy., while only 12% or so will go diesel to enjoy 43-MPG and a nearly 800-mile range! A 5-speed manual transmission is standard; 6-speed automatics are optional.

Power from the five-cylinder engine moves crisply through the gears on the Interstate, but when moving the Passat’s mass through mountains, it needs more gusto. Trying to pass a farm truck on a short stretch of Appalachian countryside required prayer and hastened breath. The VR6 is a scream, but the diesel’s earth-tugging torque stomps off the line and the engine’s turbo allows for easy high-speed running. VW will eventually need a 200-HP four-cylinder that achieves 35-MPG Hwy. if it wants the Passat to truly measure up. Tepid response from the five-cylinder engine is more than compensated by the car’s agile chassis and steering that is light on-center, but tightens into corners. You rarely feel the car’s heft when dropping curves.

The Passat’s Chattanooga, TN factory is as impressive as the car. During the depths of The Great Recession, Volkswagen wagered a cool billion that it could build a domestically-aimed mid-size sedan that could win against straight-faced rivals from Toyota, Honda, and Ford. The approximately 585,000 sq. ft. facility currently has the capacity to build 150,000 Passats annually, but can be expanded to produce up to 250,000 vehicles of three types. A Passat-based crossover would be a fine addition.

Without question, the roomy Passat is every inch a Volkswagen – a serious car you’ll likely enjoy very much. Making it easier to take is VW’s Care Free Maintenance program that provides service for “non-wear items” during the first 3 years/36,000 miles. A major bonus, prices are nearly $7,000 less than last year and will start under $20,000. Up-level VR6 models with all the trimmings will top $30k.

After a long drive from Chattanooga, stopping in Lynchburg, TN to sample some Jack Daniel’s [ice cream], and arriving in Nashville for dinner at the Country Music Hall of Fame, journalists were treated to Grammy-winner Don Schlitz strumming a song he wrote for Kenney Rogers: The Gambler. We’ll find out if the Passat makes it into the auto sales hall of fame, but Volkswagen built a very nice car. In any dimension, that should curb most risk. Before buying another car, be sure to compare your wagon to Volkswagen’s.

While many LGBT vacationers opt for the cool, queer-friendly climes of Fire Island or Provincetown, there’s another option for those who prefer to take the road less traveled: the Yellow Brick Road.

Yes, folks, that Yellow Brick Road. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, historian John Curran has identified a stretch of yellow-bricked road in Peekskill, New York as the inspiration for the one that Dorothy famously traveled in L. Frank Baum’s children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Although scholars in other parts of the country might beg to differ, Curran has conducted years of research and concluded that this bit of road is the one that sparked Baum’s imagination. Curran’s argument is based in part on fact: Baum lived two years of his young life in Peekskill, attending a military academy there. Legend has it that when he stepped off the boat and asked for directions to the school, he was told to “follow the yellow brick road”.

Unfortunately for Curran — not to mention historians, preservationists, and literary types — only a small portion of the yellow brick road still exists today, and even that is being threatened with blacktop “improvements”. If you’re the sort of vacationer who likes to say, “I was there!”, we’d suggest getting your pic on Peekskill’s yellow brick road sooner rather than later.

[via Towleroad]

On Saturday morning, May 21, Range Rover held a free concert in downtown Manhattan to celebrate the impending arrival of its new Evoque sport-utility, the brand’s smallest and most fuel-efficient model ever. Special guest performers included deejay Solange Knowles (Beyonce’s sister), along with singer Cee Lo Green.

Held under brilliantly sunny skies in Battery Park City, the morning start time was necessary for the New York festivities to coincide with Evoque-themed concerts held simultaneously in Shanghai and Milan. Scottish-born singer Paolo Nutini crooned for the crowds in Milan, while deejay Mark Ronson worked the turntables in Shanghai. Each event was broadcast on a large LED screen onstage.

Cee Lo finished with his hit “F—You,” though he left it up to the cheering crowd to fill in the expletive-laced highlights of the song. The concert marks the first stop for the “Evoque Experience,” a global tour bringing the new sport-ute (and free music) to more than 100 cities around the world. The Range Rover Evoque goes on sale later this year, with a starting price of approximately $45,000.

Driving a Bugatti in the Big Apple

With its $2.1 million price tag and mid-mounted 1001-horsepower engine, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 GrandSport is one of the world’s most exclusive automobiles. For the price of one GrandSport, you can buy nine Ferrari 458 Italias (and still have cash left for a Corvette). So what would inspire anyone to take this multi-million exotic onto the mean streets of Manhattan?

For starters, you don’t mess around with details like ‘where to’ when the chance comes to drive a Veyron. The invitation from Bugatti U.S.A. was to start around noontime from the posh suburban enclave of Greenwich, Connecticut, before heading west to New York State, and down into Manhattan and to the heart of Times Square. My co-pilot was racing driver and three-time 24 Hours of Daytona winner, Butch Leitzinger.

As he deftly steered the Bugatti around road-hogging soccer moms in Porsche Cayennes, Butch offered a few pointers before I got behind the wheel.He assured me the Veyron is extremely “easy” to drive – at least once you forget the wheels and tires alone cost more than $60,000 to replace. His assurances about the car’s normalcy were, of course,followed by a highway merge that felt like being dropkicked by God.

There aren’t many adjectives (at least PG-rated ones) that accurately describe a Veyron’s acceleration. There is a whoosh from the four turbochargers, the bellow of the W-16, and a split second as the four-wheel-drive system and massive tires grab hold of the asphalt. You’re fired down the road with ethereal speed. Top speed is more than 250 mph. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph takes less than 3 seconds.

Sliding behind the wheel, I couldn’t help but notice the speedometer reads up to 280 mph. The seats are exceptionally comfortable and finding all the major controls takes only a minute or two. Anything not covered in rich black leather is finished in solid metal, with brushed aluminum covering the center console. It’s very business-like and, with the top removed (a two person job), there is the bonus of unlimited headroom.

After the first overly cautious couple of minutes, the Veyron GrandSport proves itself to be extremely user-friendly. The suspension is firm, but soaks up bumps with a solidity that makes the car feel like it was honed from solid rock. The Veyron feels like a real car, not simply an expensive toy priced higher than a Central Park East luxury condo. The steering is direct and fluid, though not hyperactive and constantly alive in your hands. That’s a good thing when you have more than 1000-hp lurking over your shoulder.

The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission has shift-paddles on the steering wheel, though you’re better off leaving it in fully automatic mode and focusing on the road ahead. Or in the case of my test drive, the sudden appearance of blinking blue lights directly behind me. I was being pulled over in a Bugatti. The coolness factor was only limited by the fact that I’d actually been doing the speed limit.

The young officer sauntered up to the driver’s side and, peering down at me from his Oakley sunglasses, asked if I knew why I’d been stopped. When I admitted to having no clue, he flashed a smile. “To check out the car, of course,” he exclaimed. After a sigh of relief and quick tour of the car (on the shoulder of I-95 south) we were back on our way – minus any ticket, but also lacking my request for a police escort.

There was some time to make up if the Veyron was going to make its 2 p.m. appointment in Times Square.Seeing any gap in traffic, all it took was a dab of the gas pedal for the car to streak forward. Vehicles that, only moments before, were far in the distance were reeled in and suddenly only inches away from the Bugatti’s chrome-ringed nose.

Down the West Side Highway, around the tip of Manhattan at Battery Park, and back up the FDR, the Bugatti devoured city traffic. At every red light, other drivers and pedestrians would scramble to snap a photo with their mobile phone. People shouted and waved, and I admired the car’s reflection while cruising past the glass-walled lobbies of Midtown skyscrapers.

On time and with the car in one piece, I hopped out in Times Square and said good-bye to Butch and the Bugatti. Somehow I’d expected to feel a sense of relief. After all, my career was safe again; the burden of piloting a $2.1 million supercar in New York was no longer mine. Instead, I felt like I’d just partied with a rock star but had to leave before the concert began.

Could I ever afford this car? Absolutely not. But could I get used to this kind of four-wheeled celebrity lifestyle? Oh yes, you bet I could! The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 GrandSport is outrageous in every detail: price, power, performance and exclusivity. It’s the most awesome machine I’ve ever driven, period.

Our friends at TheCarConnection.com have done some interesting detective work by reading between the lines of Nissan’s latest press release. It seems the good ‘ol boy network of Tennessee Republicans are trying to dissolve equal employment opportunities for LGBT workers, but Nissan, which has its corporate office and two plants in the state, seems to have a different opinion. Read John Voelcker’s excellent piece at TheCarConnection.

Better than before, but is new Civic still a stand out performer?

The 2012 Honda Civic is more efficient than the model it replaces and, in the case of the Si Coupe and Sedan, this nimble compact is also plenty of fun to drive. Now in its ninth generation, there appears to be something for everyone in the new Civic lineup. If you’re not looking to spend a lot of money, the base Coupe and Sedan start at just under $16,000. For driving enthusiasts, the edgier Si Coupe and Sedan offer sharper steering, firmer suspension settings, and a 201 horsepower 2.4-liter engine that loves to be revved. For the fuel-conscious, there is a hybrid model, the fuel-miser HF variant, and even a Civic powered by natural gas.

I recently spent a day driving almost every variant of the new Civic, with the exception of the natural gas-powered model and Si Sedan. The exterior is conservative, and to be honest, telling the old Civic from the new one isn’t always easy. In terms of exterior styling, the Civic is about as daring as a polo shirt and khakis. The overall proportions and front-end treatment are almost identical to the previous model. At the rear, larger taillights make the 2012 Civic much more recognizable.

On the road, the usual Civic attributes are still there. The steering is nimble, perfect for zipping around a city or darting through suburban traffic. The 140-hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine in the base Civic sedan (or coupe) offers adequate pep and 28/39-mpg during city and highway driving. Honda offers a six-speed manual and optional five-speed automatic. Unfortunately, there was lots of road noise on the highway. And while the cars I drove were pre-production models, the feel and quality of some interior plastics left a lot to be desired.

And that could be the Civic’s biggest problem. The competition has improved by leaps and bounds, while the latest Civic is just an evolutionary step forward. Don’t get me wrong; Honda’s engineers haven’t been napping. The Civic sedan offers 3.7 cubic feet more interior room, and all models boast standard ABS, along with the safety net of stability and traction control systems. The Civic Hybrid delivers an impressive 44-mpg, while the sporty Si models can zip from 0-60 mph in less than 7 seconds. There is a lot to like about the new Civic. But there is plenty of new competition, especially from North American and Korean automakers.

Until recently, cars like the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, and Chevrolet Cruze either didn’t exist, or they were hapless also-rans compared to the Civic. That’s no longer the case. By opting not to do anything radical — like Hyundai did with the Elantra’s bold exterior, or Chevy’s decision to toss the aged Cobalt for the totally new (and vastly superior) Cruze — Honda has placed the 2012 Civic into a crowded field of extremely worthy economy cars.

Chevy charges ahead with Volt hybrid

“Electric cars are the future, right?”

That question was levied at me by a show-goer during this year’s New York Auto Show, where the fully electric-powered Nissan Leaf had just taken the World Car of the Year award. Worth mentioning is that, only a few months earlier, during the Detroit Auto Show, the North American Car of the Year award had gone to the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt. So score it a tie for EVs and plug-in hybrids (at least in the eyes of the judges).

Unlike the electric-only Leaf, the Chevy Volt uses a 150-horsepower electric powertrain coupled with a small displacement, gasoline-powered engine. When the electrical range is used up – at approximately 40 miles – the 84-hp 1.4-liter engine starts up and powers an onboard generator. This helps extend the driving range of the Volt by 200 miles, more or less. That’s much more than the 100-mile maximum range offered by the Nissan Leaf.

Unfortunately, I picked up my Volt test car in a hurry. Grabbing the keys, I hopped behind the wheel and reached for the…whoa, wait just one minute! The first thing that strikes you about the Volt is that the dashboard is very different from what you’ll find in any Malibu or Cruze. There are displays showing everything from remaining charge left in the lithium-ion battery pack, to the mileage covered while in electric mode.

The center console is covered in white plastic, which is touch sensitive and free of any buttons or toggles. There are cozy bucket seats front and rear (making the Volt a strict 4-seater), and a convenient hatchback, which provides easy loading of the 10.6 cu ft. trunk. But a little time is definitely needed to learn the controls, and Manhattan rush-hour traffic was not the ideal setting for a rapid intro to the Volt cabin.

Yet once on the road, the Volt feels very much like a normal car – albeit a totally silent one when cruising on electric power. A trip to visit my boyfriend’s family in New Jersey had me use up the rest of the Volt’s electric driving range. A light hum and tiny vibration from the front signaled that the gasoline engine had started up and was now powering the electrical motor. In an electric car, I would have been stranded when the battery power ran out. In the Volt, I had range to spare.

The Volt is fairly hefty, with a curbweight of 3,781 lbs. But the ride feels very composed, and the steering offers a good level of feedback and response. My one complaint was with the brakes, which felt overly sensitive at low speeds and a bit too ‘wooden’ when braking on the highway. Maybe the regenerative braking system is the culprit? Whatever the case, the Volt did manage to claw back some electrical power while occasionally coasting on the Garden State Parkway, and as the brakes fed back power while coming to a stop for tolls.

That was enough to give my in-laws a quick demo of the Volt’s electric-only driving mode, even if it was only at parking lot speeds. I decided to plug the car in, though the visit was nowhere near the 10-12 hours needed for a full recharge from a 120-volt outlet. That time is cut in half if you have access to 240 volts. The cord for the Volt is stored in the trunk, with the recharge port located on the front left fender. And yes, I embarrassingly mistook the fuel flap (located on the right rear fender) as the charge port on my first attempt.

An electric vehicle is not going to send your utility bills soaring. Many automakers make the easy-to-understand comparison that plugging in an electric or plug-in hybrid uses as much energy as your average clothes dryer. Budget a couple bucks, depending on your local energy rates, for a full recharge. The process is safe and simple, there are safety systems built into the Volt to prevent you from driving off while still plugged into an outlet.

The Volt is a technologically advanced piece of machinery that, for most people, provides an extra level of convenience by offering much better range than an EV. Today’s electric vehicles serve perfectly well as a second car, useful for short commutes and local errands. However, a plug-in like hybrid like the Volt offers an excellent balance between green engineering and practicality.

The Volt’s high-tech hardware does come with a price. At $41,000 (excluding federal and state rebates) the Volt isn’t cheap. A Nissan Leaf starts at approximately $33,000 (also before rebates). And of course there is the 50-mpg Toyota Prius, whose base price of $23,800 can’t be ignored in this company.

• Chevrolet is a gay-friendly company
• Get a gay-friendly insurance quote

Has Kia Built the Sexiest Sedan?

Want to impress others with your automotive knowledge, but not give away your age by commenting on car trends dating to the Eisenhower era? Here’s a tip: tell everyone you remember a time when Kia wasn’t sexy. It’s okay, because only a couple years ago the Korean automaker was synonymous with budget-priced vehicles that were good for fuel mileage and incredibly dull to look at.

Then along came cars like the new Kia Optima sedan. Sure, the urban hamsters are having plenty of fun in the cutesy Kia Soul commercials. But anyone looking for a midsize sedan with great looks and low entry-level price should check out the new Optima.

The brand’s new chief designer, Peter Schreyer, formerly of Audi, has added a huge dose of German luxury car styling to Kia. This is most evident with the Optima, whose solid stance and bold front and rear end make it stand out in a market crowded with the likes of the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Honda Accord.

When two parking valets told me my test car was “gorgeous,” I figured Kia was onto something good. Thankfully, the Optima’s driving manners live up to the sleek exterior.

The steering was direct and precise while dicing with New York City traffic, and when blasting down I-95 during a drive to Washington D.C. The suspension is set up for comfort, though the Optima never felt floaty or disconnected from the road.

My test car, an Optima EX, was in mid-range spec. The base LX starts at $19,690 (including destination charge) and comes with a 200-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual transmission. My Optima also came with the standard 2.0-liter, but added a 6-speed automatic and luxury items such as panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled front seats, navigation, back-up camera and upgraded audio system.

The price was a reasonable $27,440. Economy is also a strong point, with the Optima listed at 24/34-mpg during city and highway driving. Despite lead-footing the Kia to test its performance, the Optima still returned mileage figures pegged right to those EPA estimates. And with a 0 to 60 mph time of approximately 9.0 seconds, the Optima is no slouch. The car held its own when merging onto highways, or when passing slower vehicles.

Inside you won’t find the hard plastic and cheap-looking buttons of previous Kias. My test car came with leather seats and easy-to-read nav screen, along with dark wood trim and metal highlights which could fool you into thinking you’re in an entry-level luxury sedan. There is plenty of room for five adults and the trunk offers a roomy 15.4 cu ft. of cargo space.

Sure, there is also the 274-hp turbocharged Optima, if you must win every stoplight grand prix. Yet the base engine feels more than adequate, and you’ll save some cash. Kia will also soon offer a hybrid model. All Optimas come standard with six airbags, ABS, electronic stability control…and yes, those seductive good looks. Consider me smitten.