Hottest New-Car Features For 2013

Automakers are rolling out cutting-edge features and migrating last year’s hot new items more broadly across their model lines with increasing frequency these days. With the playing field being relatively level among most comparable models with regard to performance, comfort and quality, manufacturers are leveraging the latest technology to help their vehicles stand out in a crowded market and to help give motorists a reason to trade in their existing rides for the latest models.
An impressive array of totally new convenience, connectivity and safety features is debuting this year on model-year 2013 vehicles which we’re featuring in the accompanying slide show. These include such innovations as the first center-mounted airbags, a seat that “communicates” with the driver and a power liftgate that operates by the wave of a foot under the rear bumper.

Here Comes The Self-Driving Car, And There's Already 

The Hottest New Cars For 2013

The Hottest New Cars For 2013

If you’re one of the many thousands of motorists who plan on returning to new-car dealerships in the coming months to renew your rides you might be confronted with an assortment of never-before seen cars with what are unfamiliar nameplates. The auto business has undergone dramatic changes over the last few years, and if you haven’t gone car shopping since before the economy crashed you’ll find it to be the proverbial brave new world.
As they say, you can’t tell the players without a scorecard, so we’re highlighting the 15 hottest models that are brand-new for the 2013 model year, and which fresh elements each brings to the market. So let’s get ready to meet the freshman class of 2013.
For starters, you’ll find a greater emphasis on small cars these days, many of which now offer amenities like heated seats and advanced data connectivity features that were likely limited to luxury cars the last time you set foot on a showroom floor. Buyers are embracing the latest round of compact and subcompact cars with a passion these days, from empty nesters looking to downsize their rides but maintain desired levels of comfort and conveniences to younger motorists looking to minimize their carbon footprints and budget-conscious buyers looking for a lower sticker price and higher fuel economy.
The assortment of small cars expands for 2013 to include the economical Chevrolet Spark and Dodge Dart, the luxury-minded Acura ILX and the sporty Cadillac ATS.
Click here for the full gallery: Hottest New 2013 Cars.
The population of crossover SUVs, which have all but supplanted traditional truck-based SUVs in America’s driveways for their more car-like handling and improved fuel economy, has likewise grown exponentially. Small crossovers in particular have been booming, with most automakers now including a compact model in their lineups; subcompact crossovers are the next frontier, with two – the BMW X1 and Buick Encore – debuting for 2013. Additional new crossovers this year include the Audi Allroad, Infiniti JX, Mazda CX-5 and the Subaru XV Crosstrek.
What’s more, Cadillac debuts a new large front-drive sedan, the XTS, while Scion and Subaru bring excitement back to their showrooms with a pair of economical low slung sport coupes, the FR-S and BRZ, respectively. Among several new fuel-frugal electrified models for 2013, Ford pulls the wraps off the tall-roofed C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid wagons. These join the luxury-oriented limited-production Tesla Model S all-electric and Fisker Karma extended-range electric sedans.
Of course you’ll also find an expansive assortment of models that have undergone significant redesigns for the 2013 model year. These include sedan stalwarts like the Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Lexus ES and GS, Nissan Altima and the Toyota Avalon. Redesigned crossover SUVs are likewise plentiful and include the Acura RDX, Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Escape, GMC Acadia, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mitsubishi Outlander and – crossing over from truck-based SUV to car-like crossover – the Nissan Pathfinder.  An all-new version of the Ram 1500 full-size pickup helps create some excitement in an otherwise quiet truck segment for 2013. For the fast and furious crowd, there’s a revamped version of the Porsche Boxster roadster and the return of the snake, the rip-roaring Dodge SRT Viper sports coupe/roadster.
Click here for the full gallery: Hottest New 2013 Cars.
And for those keeping track of both sides of the scorecard, models being discontinued for 2013 include the Hyundai Veracruz, Jeep Liberty, Mazda CX-7 and Mercedes-Benz R-Class crossovers/SUVs, the Kia Sedona minivan, Lexus HS 250h hybrid and the Mitsubishi Eclipse sports coupe/convertible and Galant sedan.
Of course there’s a lot more to the above new models than just new names, fresh styling and updated powertrains. Check out this recent post for a look at some of the fanciful safety, convenience and connectivity features that are premiering among the cunning crop of model-year 2013 cars and crossovers.

The Cheapest New Cars To Own

With the price of gasoline fluctuating between costly and downright expensive the last few years, it’s not surprising that fuel economy is a primary buying consideration among new-car shoppers in all market segments. While motorists can indeed salve the sting they’re feeling at the pump by shopping for a vehicle that gets more miles per gallon, they might ultimately wind up losing money if they’re ignoring other long-term operating costs.
“Car shoppers should set their sights on the long-term cost to own a vehicle since its factors such as depreciation, insurance cost and maintenance will significantly drive up the cost of owning a vehicle over time,” says Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst of automotive insights for Kelley Blue Book. “As an example, both the Volkswagen Passat and Honda Accord can be purchased for approximately $20,000 brand new; however, the Volkswagen Passat has a five-year ownership cost of $38,636, which is nearly $4,000 more than the Accord’s $34,564.”
To help consumers make more cash-sensible car-buying decisions, KBB recently announced its annual Total Cost of Ownership Awards in 22 separate vehicle classes. The kbb.com website tracks new vehicles’ depreciation, fuel costs, insurance costs, financing, repairs, maintenance, and average state sales taxes and registration fees over a five-year ownership period, and even computes a per-mile expenditure for easy comparison. We’re featuring the 22 vehicles cited by KBB for low ownership costs in their respective classes in the accompanying slide show.
In Pictures: Cheapest 2013 Cars To Own.
The least-expensive model-year 2013 car to own according to KBB is the diminutive Scion iQ subcompact with a base price of $16,250. When all long-term ownership costs are considered, it’s projected to cost an average owner a total of $27,011 over a five-year ownership period, which amounts to $0.36/mile.  While few would consider the $76,825 Porsche Panamera luxury sedan “cheap,” it nonetheless beats all comers in the high-end luxury segment with a low (relatively speaking) per-mile ownership cost of $1.12/mile.
Remarkably, one car on KBB’s list, the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle, actually registers a projected five-year ownership cost (at $37,052) that’s slightly less than its retail purchase price ($39,995). According to KBB’s Brenna Robinson, this is largely due to the $7,500 one-time federal tax credit granted to Volt buyers.
Among brands, KBB cites Mazda as offering the lowest overall ownership costs in the industry, with Lexus beating the competition in that regard among luxury automakers. Both brands get high marks for low depreciation, fuel and maintenance and repair costs across their full vehicle lines.
Generally, the more expensive the vehicle, the more important differences in certain ownership costs become over time, simply because there’s more money at stake. “Buyers looking for a compact or subcompact should be primarily interested in fuel costs, as it makes up the bulk of total ownership costs,” Gutierrez explains. “Those looking for a high-end vehicle will want to consider depreciation, insurance, maintenance and repairs as the most critical factors.”
In Pictures: Cheapest 2013 Cars To Own.
Depreciation – the difference between a car’s purchase price and its resale value – is the killer here. As an example, KBB estimates the Mercedes-Benz S-Class can be expected to lose a whopping $62,000 in value over the course of five years. It always pays to choose a model that’s predicted to hold its value better over time, based on economic factors, historical data and plain old supply and demand issues. (This is likewise important for those leasing a vehicle because payments are largely based on its projected value at the end of the contract’s term.) According to industry sources, large cars, luxury cars and minivans typically don’t hold their value as well these days as do compact passenger cars and sporty coupes
A five percent difference in resale value after five years between competing $50,000 cars would represent a $2,500 return at trade-in time, assuming both cars are kept in good condition with average mileage. However, differences in resale values among similarly priced models tend to narrow the longer one keeps a vehicle, and can become negligible if you’re the type of person who literally “runs a car into the ground.”
If you’re financing the cost of a new vehicle be sure to compare loan rates to minimize interest costs. Bank Rate Monitor currently cites a low of 1.49 percent for a 60-month new-car

Kia Soul - new car cheapest

Base price: $14,400

Fuel economy: 25 City, 30 Hwy

The Soul wins big with its combination of practicality, price and design. It may not be the most fun to drive but it's also not the worst by a long shot, either. It's a great cross between the tiny city cars and a bigger crossovers -- with dash of style thrown in.

Toyota Yaris - new car cheapest

Base price: $14,370

Fuel economy: 30 City, 37 Hwy

Here's one where a major redesign went the right way. In just about every respect, the old Toyota Yaris was about as unattractive as its awkward name. The new Yaris is much better to look at, to drive, and to be in. It's still not the top of the heap in its class, but at least it lands somewhere higher up in that heap.

Kia Rio - cheap new car

Base price: $13,600

Fuel economy: 29 City, 39 Hwy

Kia makes plenty of cars that are both good looking and good to drive. This isn't one of 'em. Sure, the Rio looks pretty sharp, at least on the outside, but, with squishy suspension and numb steering, the Rio feels all wrong on the road. Basically, it's a cheap car that drives like one. You can get cheaper cars that don't.

Ford Fiesta - cheap new car

Base price: $13,200

Fuel economy: 29 City, 39 Hwy

It's not awesomely powerful but Ford's little Fiesta is a fun, responsive little car. Based on a European design, its interior controls are rather baffling, but they pack in some serious available technology. While the Fiesta doesn't feel as roomy inside as some others in this market segment, it makes up for it in personality.

Smart ForTwo - cheapest new car

Base price: $12,490

Fuel economy: 34 City, 38 Hwy

Based on functionality, you'd think the Smart car ought to be the cheapest car you can buy but it's not. Not quite, anyway. What you get is two seats, a tiny three-cylinder engine and a rough-shifting transmission all wrapped inside a tall body that pitches forward and aft over bumps. The ForTwo is super-easy to park, infinitely customizable and a sure-fire conversation starter, though.

Chevrolet Spark - cheapest new car

Base price: $12,185

Fuel economy: 32 City, 38 Hwy

Surprising as it might sound, U.S.-based automakers are now turning out some of the best subcompacts on the market. For instance, here's the cute and fun Chevy Spark. Yes, it's really tiny but the front seats, at least, are reasonably spacious and the interior is highly practical. What makes the Spark really charming is that it doesn't pretend to be anything more or less than what it is: small cheap transportation. Other automakers take note. Even at this price, driving a teeny car ought to be fun -- and this one is.

Nissan Versa - cheapest new car

Base price: $11,990

Fuel economy: 27 city, 36 hwy

Sometimes, an automaker redesigns a car and, somehow, it becomes less good. The Nissan Versa is such a case. I've always liked the interior roominess of the Versa and the latest version maintains that. But the look and feel inside seems less nice. The Versa was never loads of fun to drive, but the latest version is duller than a crayon in a kindergarten. It's like the engineers studiously removed whatever excitement there might once have been.
Still, it's the cheapest new car you can buy today. But you can get something better for only a little more. So, for those folks who just can't bring themselves to buy a used car -- although, really, you should get over that -- here are the cheapest new cars you can buy today.

2013/2014 Compact Crossover Ford Escape SE vs. Mazda CX-5 vs. Subaru Forester 2.5 Touring vs. Toyota RAV4

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No modern family starter kit is complete without a small crossover. On the automotive family evolutionary timeline, these crossovers live somewhere between a single person's sports car and a family's minivan. Young couples adore the sense of maturity and stability they represent. Crossovers can easily carry kids to school, bring groceries home, and still provide enough space for a a weekend Home Depot run. Older couples appreciate the easy ingress, egress, and utility after packing away the child seats for hobbies that require a folding second row. Small crossovers typically provide more utility than a wagon, better gas mileage than an SUV, and more fun than a big sedan. And sales show no sign of slowing down. Segment sales climbed 9.3 percent in 2012, and all of this year's test vehicles are selling strong. The Toyota RAV4's sales jumped 30 percent last year; the Ford Escape (last year's compact crossover winner) and Subaru Forester had modest increases; and the Mazda CX-5 sold 43,000 units during its first year. The newest crop of CUVs makes the case that utility can still be fun to drive. Their firm suspensions, powerful I-4 engines, and quiet rides provide as much athleticism as some sporty sedans. Outside of Santa Barbara, California, we put four such small crossovers to the test, traversing highways, twisty roads, and even a little dirt. Our group consisted of the all-new Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring, which comes standard with all-wheel drive, and front-drive versions of the Toyota RAV4 Limited, the upgraded 2.5-liter Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring, and the reigning champ, the Ford Escape SE 1.6 EcoBoost, which last go-around defeated the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, CX-5 2.0, and VW Tiguan. All our top-trim CUVs cost about $30,000, including navigation and Bluetooth connectivity, and each is rated at over 30 mpg highway, making them ideal for a cross-country tour with the Grateful Dead or Phish. Sad to say, those fun and footloose college days are long past. It's time to revisit the reality of responsibilities -- carrying people and stuff in quiet comfort -- without completely surrendering the driving fun of that GTI you drove in college. Viewed through that lens, which is the best small crossover?

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4th Place: 2013 Ford Escape SE

The Yin and Yang of Crossovers For every good quality we found with the Escape, we found an equally disappointing one. "On one hand, it has entertaining qualities (nice set for such a tall vehicle, decent steering response, quick and predictable reflexes)," noted associate online editor Nate Martinez. "Yet it provided a bumpy ride that families would likely not find ideal." "I like the Escape's looks a lot. Its connectivity is tops, and its driving dynamics are solid," added technical director Frank Markus. "But there are corners cut, low-cost evidence in some places (cargo hold), and wasted investment in others (soft-touch but cheap-look dash)." These inconsistencies moved last year's compact crossover winner to this year's basement. Many testing numbers confirmed our suspicions about the car's underwhelming performance. The Escape tied with the Subaru Forester for the worst 0-60 time at 9.0 seconds, had the worst passing time of 5.3 seconds to go from 45 to 65 mph, and took the longest distance -- 126 feet -- to stop from 60 mph. It also got the worst gas mileage of all the vehicles tested -- 21.1 mpg. The other three CUVs averaged at least 3 mpg more. However, I thought the Escape provided the best second row of the bunch, complete with a 115-volt outlet for kids to keep their cellphones and games fully charged. The seats in both rows were well-bolstered, firm, and comfortable. Then again, the Escape had the least amount of passenger space in both rows. See? Yin and yang in the least complimentary form.

The Escape's second row has a 115-volt outlet for kids to keep their cellphones and games fully charged

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The Escape, while filled with features such as a huge sunroof, Sync, and a beautiful LCD screen on the center stack, lacked many of the amenities families would appreciate every day. "No push-button start,

2014 Porsche 911 Turbo/Turbo S

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Ever since its debut in 1974, the Porsche 911 Turbo has symbolized extreme performance (beaten only by the completely bonkers GT2). While the original 930 was an absolute handful to drive because of its massive turbo lag and propensity for oversteer, force-fed 911 Turbos have grown quite compliant over the years while producing increasingly mind-blowing performance numbers. At first glance, the 991 2014 911 Turbo doesn't appear to be that big of an improvement over the 997. Output from the 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six goes up by 20 hp and 7 lb-ft to 520 and 487, respectively. The Turbo S gets a 30-hp bump to 560 from the 997's 530, but torque is unchanged at 516 lb-ft. Curb weight of both remains at slightly over 3500 pounds, with the Turbo S closer to 3550 pounds. One big powertrain change is the departure of the manual transmission, with all 2014 911 Turbos offered exclusively with Porsche's seven-speed PDK twin-clutch automatic. Purists may balk, but even the most skilled drivers will be hard-pressed to hit the claimed 0-60 marks of 3.2 seconds (Turbo) and 2.7 seconds (Turbo S) without the PDK's lightning-quick shifts.

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Speaking of those performance numbers, the last 997 911 Turbo we tested needed 3 seconds flat, and the last Turbo S went into Veyron territory by hitting 60 in just 2.7 seconds, beating Porsche's estimates. We wouldn't be surprised if we saw 2.5 seconds out of the 2014 Turbo S -- aside from being astounded by just how quick that is. Quarter-mile times should be similarly jaw-dropping -- we saw 10.9 seconds from the 2012 Turbo S and 11.2 seconds for the 2010 Turbo, which was equipped with a manual rather than a PDK. Claimed top speeds are 196 mph for the Turbo and 198 mph for the Turbo S. Handling performance should increase as well, with the 2014s fitted with active aerodynamics (a three-stage front spoiler and deployable rear wing with three positions), rear-wheel steering, and the new Porsche Traction Management all-wheel-drive system, which can send more power to the front wheels than before. The 991s also get

2014 Toyota 4Runner First Look

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For the dyed-in-the-wool Toyota 4Runner fans, here's all the important information you need to know about the 2014 version: The word "new" appears in 16 instances throughout the midsize SUV's eight-page, introductory press release, but it doesn't show up anywhere in the 1.5 pages dedicated to the engine, chassis, and drivetrain. Which, if you can believe it, will be good news for the 4Runner devotees who uses their 'utes for serious 4Running, off-road activities. For that group, the fewer mechanical surprises, the better. For those of us whose job or hobby it is to gripe about all things automotive, here are the facts. The 2014 4Runner continues with body-on-frame construction and is powered by a 270-hp, 4.0-liter V-6. A five-speed automatic matches to the engine with a choice of rear-wheel, all-wheel, or four-wheel drive. Control arms suspend the front corners and a four-link rigid axle handles the rear wheels (coil springs all around, of course). The long-standing SR5 trim name retains its entry-level position. The midlevel, 4WD Trail edition soldiers on with Multi-Terrain Select, low-range crawl modulation, and the optional Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System. The topline 4Runner Limited takes on greater passenger-coddling responsibilities with its X-REAS self-adjusting suspension and longer list of comfort and convenience features. An available third row enables a seven-passenger seating claim. It all sounds too familiar, right? Our presumption for the familiarity: In 2010, Toyota announced it would offer a 157-hp, 2.7-liter four-cylinder in the then-new, fifth-generation RWD SR5 (with a four-speed auto). It got exactly 1 more city mpg in the EPA ratings than the comparable V-6 model. And see how long that lasted. So what exactly is new about the 4Runner? Let's go through those 16 "new" points. 1. "New 2014 4Runner Features Rugged Exterior Design To Match Its Authentic Off-Road Heritage" This is the press release title. Makes sense, yes? 2. "…and the redesigned 2014 4Runner receives a rugged new exterior design…" See point number 1. 3. "The Trail grade features new color-keyed bumpers and overfenders…" Just when we had gotten used to the black ones. 4. "In addition to the distinctive new grille…" Toyota updated the 4Runner's front and rear fascias for a bolder appearance, which meant modifying the graphics, front grille, and the light housings. The redesigned, smoked headlights switch from halogens to projector-style illumination, and LEDs are incorporated into the head- and retouched taillights. The Limited goes heavier on chrome-plated trim pieces. 5. "Both the SR5 and Trail grades will ride on 17-inch alloy wheels with a new wheel-design for both…" The Limited model rides on 20-inch wheels (now painted black). Maybe that's why they're paired with the X-REAS adaptive shock

2012 Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4 EcoBoost Long-Term Update 4 Tow Truck

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When the F-150 was used as the tow vehicle for the Tesla test -- the one where Motor Trend editors drove the Tesla Model S from the Los Angeles area to Las Vegas -- we were reminded that at some point soon, the truck should really get a trailer brake controller. Since we weren't towing a heavy load that day, the truck's brakes would suffice, but that wouldn't always be the case, and we probably wouldn't get a lot of advance notice when the Ford would be called upon to tow closer to its capacity. It would be better to make the truck ready ahead of time than to not have it and regret it. Ford does offer a trailer brake controller from the factory, and to be honest, when we ordered our truck with the Lariat trim level, and saw that the Trailer Tow package was included, we made the mistake of presuming that a trailer brake controller was part of that package. It isn't. You may ask why it isn't; we certainly did. The answer makes total sense, though: people that tow on a regular basis may want to use their favorite brand of controller, so Ford gives them that choice. We opted to stay with the unit offered by Ford, and took it to a local dealership to have it installed. The controller cost $230, and there was already a space in the dash for the controller. We followed along as the installation took place, a process that took about an hour. The installer unbolted the bottom of the center stack, which freed the center console. He unbolted that, removed it, and set out of the way. He also unbolted the dash, exposing the areas where the wiring had to go. There had been a cover behind the dash where the controller wiring would connect to the truck, and once the installer removed that, he could plug the controller wiring in place. The unit itself, at least the interface that the driver would use, slid right into place on the center stack. Then he reassembled the interior, and the truck looked just as nice as when we brought it in, except for the new addition. But there was one more step to the installation. The electronics had to be programmed so the controller would work. After connecting a computer at the OBD II connector under the dash, the installer found the right program on the computer, and set it to run. We saw the gauge needles quickly blip from left to right (0 to max) and back, twice, and then the trailer brake controller installation was complete. He toggled through the menu within the gauge cluster to prove that the controller was set up correctly -- he checked to make sure that adjusting the gain was now an option (and it was), so his job was done. And now our long-termer is ready for towing heavy loads.

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Our Cars
Service life	8 months/21,476 miles
Average fuel economy	14.2 mpg
CO2 emissions	1.37 lb/mile
Energy consumption	237 kW-hr/100miles
Unresolved problems	None
Maintenance cost	$107.58 (2 x oil change, tire rotation, inspection)
Normal-wear cost	$0

2012 Land Rover Range Rove Evoque

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It was the middle of fall when a cold, wet, weather system blew in from the Pacific and dumped the season's first significant snow on California's Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort. The next day I received an enthusiastic email from co-worker Karla Sanchez asking to swap cars with me for the weekend so that she could zip to Mammoth Lakes for opening day on the slopes. I obliged but with the agreement she would give me a full report of the Rover's first frolic in foul weather. Here are her observations: "This is an overall awesome rig to take up to the mountains: It stuck well to the snow-covered surfaces, and rarely felt like it was going to lose traction. Driving at about 50 mph up Minaret Rd, the chassis would occasionally lose grip, but the traction system would quickly actuate, catch and correct any sliding. At one point, I approached a turn too fast and began sliding, but only for a moment, as the tires promptly gripped the snow, allowing the brakes to quickly bring us to a halt. I was a bit nervous pulling into six inches of fresh snow on the driveway of our rental cabin, but the Evoque plowed right through without hesitation. I drove with the snowy/icy surfaces mode engaged most of the time until the end of the weekend when all the snow had melted off the roads. And even then I drove over some large ice patches with the regular mode engaged, but the Evoque glided over them without incident, proving that the stability system is reliable even if the proper mode is not engaged. Room is not very generous inside, either. We had small and large suitcase, a medium duffel, three snowboards, and a few other small bags stacked inside, minimizing the already compromised rearward visibility. My backseat passenger was more then a bit cramped, but be kept his complaints to a minimum, and in fact, over the course of a few days grew to love the car's design and style - his eyes were opened to the benefit of small SUV with lots and lots of luxury amenities. He was also was charmed by the multi lens camera system and thought all the different views were a great novelty. Overall, the Evoque's condensed size and sure-footed stability system make it a great weekend runner to where the payment ends and the lifts begin."

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Our Car
Service Life	8/20,566 miles
Average Fuel Economy	21.7 mpg
CO2 Emissions	0.89 lb/mile
Energy Consumption	155 kW-hr/100 mi
Unresolved problems	None
Maintenance cost	$0 (oil change, inspection, cabin-air filter, engine-air filter)
Normal-wear cost	$0

2014 Buick Regal First Look

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Like the 2014 Buick LaCrosse, the midsize Buick Regal will undergo a face-lift and technology infusion for the 2014 model year. Additionally, the Regal GS and Regal Sport will feature a more powerful turbocharged engine and an upgraded all-wheel-drive system. Both the 2014 Buick Regal and 2014 Buick LaCrosse debut at the New York auto show this week. The refreshed Regal replaces its front and rear fascias, tweaking its headlights and adding new daytime running LEDs. Those light emitting diodes also go to the rear of the car, where "wing shaped" taillights make the 2014 Regal more recognizable. The interior adds a new center stack console, bringing this European Buick -- it began life as an Opel Insignia -- in line with other Buicks with the next-generation IntelliLink infotainment system, which centers around an 8-inch touch screen. The system also promises to be easier to use, as Buick cut back the number of buttons on the center stack from 17 to just seven. The Regal also swaps out its instrument panel, adding a 4.2-inch color screen between the speedometer and tachometer. This screen provides vehicle information, navigation, phone and other features for quick glances as a driver can toggle through screens with steering wheel controls. The new Regal GS will use a configurable 8-inch digital screen for its instrument cluster. Like the LaCrosse, the 2014 Regal will also receive a significant technology upgrade, offering radar-based adaptive cruise control which will operate even in stop-and-go traffic. The Regal also adds camera-based systems such as Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert systems.

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