STaSIS Engineering is dedicated to providing automotive performance to the mainstream market. They specialize in performance-enhancing brakes, suspension, driveline, and engine products. Hit the jump to read about how Stasis applied these products to the 2011 Audi S4. The side sills have painted black with a white and gray strip and the roof has been given a gray strip, as has the rear of the car. We imagine the interior was left alone, as 2011 Audi S4 interiors are like works of art. As an everyday sports car, the Audi is the cream of the crop. Buyers will have a choice from a plethora of custom wheel choices, including 20-inch cast aluminum units or 20-inch forged aluminum designs. Stasis decided to bolt on a reflashed engine controller, along with a less restrictive stainless steel exhaust. If you like exhaust kits, Stasis has created a piece that is simply brilliant. It’s a lightweight, free-flowing, T304 stainless steel exhaust system that works perfectly with the engine tuning software. Stock springs and dampers are replaced with stiffer units, while lightweight double-digressive valve dampers reportedly help body motions while delivering a comfortable ride. If that wasn’t enough - and it never is -, Stasis also bolts on larger front and rear anti-roll bars to further aid performance in bends. Sounds like our dream car. The stock rotors are scrapped in favor of lightweight two-piece 14.5-inch rotors, although larger 15.3-inch rotors. Not only did this modification help stopping distance, it reduced 52 pounds from the car’s overall weight.
Toyota Tacoma - What the Auto Press Says The 2011 Toyota Tacoma ranks 1 out of 7 Compact Pickup Trucks. Reviewers are nearly unanimous in saying that the 2011 Toyota Tacoma is one of the best compact pickup trucks you can buy. Most reviewers say that you don’t shop the compact pickup truck class if you’re looking for comfort and refinement. Reviewers like that the Tacoma offers two drivetrains, two engines, two bed sizes and three cab styles, making it easy to customize it to your needs. The Tacoma isn’t perfect.
Other Trucks to Consider Several reviewers say that the only credible alternative to the Toyota Tacoma is the Nissan Frontier. Details: Toyota Tacoma The 2011 Toyota Tacoma sees a few changes for the new model year. The Toyota Tacoma is available in regular, access, and double cab; the double cab is the trim with a full-sized back seat. Four- and six-cylinder engines are offered, and the Tacoma offers a performance-tuned X-Runner trim. "The Toyota Tacoma is the king of compact and midsize trucks, with about 40 percent share of the segment in the U.S."--PickupTrucks.com --Edmunds "Tacoma leads its class in refinement, and is more than competitive in performance, accommodations, utility, and off-road prowess. "The Toyota Tacoma may be the best pickup in its class." --Automotive.com Tacoma Performance - 8.3 (Very Good) Car and Driver says the 2011 Toyota Tacoma is "plenty of truck for 95 percent of truck buyers," and most reviewers agree. Read More Tacoma Exterior - 7.8 (Good) Almost all agree that the wide range of cab and bed styles means there’s a Tacoma to suit almost everyone’s needs. Read More Tacoma Safety - 10.0 (Excellent) With a long list of standard safety features impressive crash test scores, the Tacoma sets itself apart from other compact trucks. Tacoma Reliability - 6.0 (Mediocre) The 2011 Toyota Tacoma reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates.
A two-door 2012 Honda Civic EX-L or a Kia Forte Koup? Luckily, Hyundai is readying an Elantra coupe that should be totes cute. Other options that might show up include the Kia Forte Koup’s larger fours (a 156-hp 2.0-liter and a 173-hp 2.4-liter are offered), or the 210-hp, 1.6-liter turbo four that’s currently in development forHyundai’s Veloster, but we don’t expect hot performance to be the Elantra coupe’s thing. The Korean company must, after all, protect both the funky-doored Veloster and the rear-drive Genesis coupe.
DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: After driving this 2012 Honda Civic EX-L, I'm beginning to understand why Honda delayed the car. As for the Civic's power? Outward visibility was outstanding in the best Honda tradition. I can't imagine anyone except the most die-hard Honda aficionado choosing this car over the competitive offerings.
The small information screen tucked up high on the two-tiered dashboard seems to have no real purpose in a car with a big navigation/audio screen in the center console.
There's an Eco button, which seems to force the car into a fuel-saving, lesser-performance mode, but this seems hardly necessary in a car that already measures up quite well on the fuel-economy scale. Not in a Honda.All would be forgiven if the car still felt as if it was providing that same mechanical-direct link among driver and machine and road.
NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: So this is the new 2012 Honda Civic? It looks decent, drives fine and in general sips fuel. There's nothing wrong with the Civic. It's just that other small cars have gotten so impressive with almost premium interiors and better, classier sheetmetal that Honda seems almost stagnant. There's some irony in that, considering that Honda made cars like this matter. Ford and Chevy were late-comers to quality smaller cars, and Hyundai--well, it wasn't even in the discussion earlier in the decade.The Civic looks nice enough. It's a Civic. On the road, the Civic performed well. The brakes were very well mannered. If you happen to enjoy a permanent state of boredom, check out the 2012 Honda Civic.
COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO-WRIGHT: I came away from an overnight with the 2012 Honda Civic EX-L feeling there was nothing particularly noteworthy about his car. The Hyundai Elantra immediately comes to mind. That car has sporty sheetmetal, good styling inside and out, and it's fun to drive. As for the Civic, not so much.
First, the driver's seat felt as if it was designed with seven-foot-tall people in mind. The Civic held expressway speeds well and there is decent power underhood. And the brakes are strong.2012 Honda Civic EX-L Navi SedanBase Price: $24,205As-Tested Price: $24,205Drivetrain: 1.8-liter I4; FWD, five-speed automaticFuel Economy (EPA/AW): 32/33.0 mpg
