OFFICIAL NEWS: 2013 Nissan Sentra debuts with improved CVT, 40 MPG.

If this big reveal of the 2013 Nissan Sentra feels a bit anticlimactic to you, know that you aren't alone. Not only have we seen the new Nissan compact do its slow striptease on the spy shot circuit, the car already debuted for the Chinese market as the Sylphy during this year's Beijing Motor Show. Still, that doesn't make it any less of a big deal.

The new model is roughly 150 pounds lighter than the car it replaces.

The 2013 Sentra follows in the footsteps of Nissan's larger Altimasedan, and not just in terms of design. We already knew this new C-segment car was going to look a lot like its big brother, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It may not be as aggressive as a Ford Focus or Dodge Dart, but it's a conservatively handsome little thing nonetheless, offering premium touches like LED running lamps, attractive 17-inch wheels and LED taillamps out back. A close focus on weight savings has been applied to this seventh-generation Sentra, and the new model is roughly 150 pounds lighter than the car it replaces.

Under the hood, the outgoing Sentra's 2.0-liter inline-four has been ditched in favor of a smaller and oddly less powerful 1.8-liter unit. This engine produces 130 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque – losses of 10 and 19, respectively – and is mated to the company's next-generation Xtronic continuously variable transmission. Only the base Sentra S is available with a six-speed manual 'box. Much like in the larger Altima, this new CVT means fuel economy is vastly improved, with the majority of Sentra models rated at 30/39/34 miles per gallon (city/highway/combined). Adding the extra-efficient FE+ trim package will even net you a full 40 mpg on the highway with the CVT.



In addition to the S, S FE+, SV, SV FE+ and SL, Nissan will offer an SR trim (pictured above) that adds unique five-spoke 17-inch alloys, sport front and rear fascias, a sport front grille, lower body side sill extensions, fog lights, a rear spoiler and a chrome exhaust tip. Sadly, no suspension or powertrain upgrades are included with the "sporty" SR, but inside, silver trim is mixed in with unique cloth seats.

Sadly, no suspension or powertrain upgrades are included with the "sporty" SR.

The remaining Sentra models offer what Nissan says is a "class-above" premium feel inside, with improved overall interior dimensions versus the outgoing model. Both cloth and leather upholstery are available, as is the automaker's fancy new NissanConnect infotainment system that combines things like NavTraffic, NavWeather, as well as Bluetooth and Pandora streaming audio.

Full pricing information will be released closer to the Sentra's launch this fall. 

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BREAKING NEWS: 2,100 gallons of gas stolen from Indiana BP station... all at once.

To steal 2,100 gallons of gasoline, you'll need a really big tank and story that's at least somewhat believable. Someone in Hammond, Indiana apparently had both.

A clerk at a Hammond BP station says a tanker driver's story about checking the station's tank levels sounded legit, especially since BP has had contamination problems in the area recently. According to theAssociated Press, the station's manager noted that it wasn't unusual for a BP tanker to remove fuel from the station's tanks, but not at all normal for the tanker to leave without replacing the fuel.

Police estimate the value of the gasoline at about $8,500. Two other gas outlets in Hammond have been the victims of "pump tampering" recently, with the theft of about 350 gallons of fuel by several different vehicles.

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Hyundai comes to terms with Korean union.

Following a tumultuous four months, it appears Hyundai and its labor union have buried the hatchet. According to a report by the Associated Press, the Korean automaker and its labor union have struck an accord that will end the company's first strike in four years.

The deal between the two parties, which will be put to a vote of 40,000 unionized workers on September 3, would eliminate night shifts and increase workers' wages.

The strike, which started in July, has resulted in the loss of $1.4 billion in potential output. To compensate for the lost time and the new work hours, Hyundai will invest $264 million in upgrading facilities to maximize output.

The deal is not set in stone yet, as Hyundai workers rejected an earlier deal between union leaders and company management. According to Kwon Oh-il, a labor union official, "In previous years, there were cases when the tentative deal had failed to win majority votes."

Hyundai hopes that this deal will win the vote and workers can get back on task. A partial strike on Wednesday resulted in the loss of 15,000 vehicles in potential output. In spite of this, Hyundai appears able to meet its sales targets this year due to high production volume in the first six months of 2012.

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Has Apple's influence made white cars cool?

When you think of Apple products, what color comes to mind? If you purchased a MacBook this year, maybe gray, but for everyone else, the color that likely comes to mind is that clean white, maybe with a white Apple logo in the middle. According to a Fortune article, that prevalence may have led to a shift in popular car colors. While silver was the longtime favorite color, designers have apparently fallen for white. Says the report "Prior to Apple, white was associated with things like refrigerators or tiles in your bathroom. Apple made white valuable."

But not too fast, as the Yahoo! story that the Fortune article cites point to brown as a leading color in the modern car market. Jane Harrington, Global Color Manager for paint company PPG offered her insights on why that may be: "Think of the experience of a good coffee, good chocolate, great pieces of wood." Apparently, we associate the color brown with genuine materials and handmade luxury.

We could always do as the Yahoo! post did and cite our very own Alex Nunez: "We grew up at a time when you had all these brown cars in active use... this stuff is sort of subliminally ingrained as a feel good thing – these browns and earth tone colors."

How much does Nunez appreciate brown cars, you ask? He's only the founder of the Brown Car Appreciation Society. Hey, everyone has to have a thing.

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OFFICIAL NEWS: Toyota announces new four-cylinder Camry SE Sport.

There are plenty of great reasons to look forward to the upcoming three-day Labor Day weekend, but is aToyota Camry one of them? While a special-edition Camry might not sound as exciting as the numerous parties or cookouts taking place this weekend, Toyota is giving its dealers a special way to celebrate with the new SE Sport Limited Edition added to the 2012 Camry line equipped with the four-cylinder engine.

Essentially, this car is a more attractive value package that combines a few popular options bundled together for a low(er) price. The 2012 Camry SE Sport Limited Edition will have a starting price of $25,995 (*not including delivery charges) which is about a $2,700 premium compared to the 2012 Camry SE. The package will include added equipment such as navigation, Toyota's Entune infotainment (a $2,405 option on its own), power sunroof and power driver's seat.

Toyota livened this package up a little more with exclusive features like the 18-inch, smoked-finish wheels and a Blizzard Pearl paint that will only be produced between September 12 through November 12. The Camry SE Sport that shoppers can find in dealers this weekend will come in Barcelona Red and Attitude Black.

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Highly modified Nissan Patrol impounded after 200-mph 'Hollywood-style' chase in Dubai.

Police in Dubai have been cracking down on illegal racing by seizing modified vehicles, but they probably didn't expect to find themselves in pursuit of a full-size SUV supposedly capable of speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. The driver had altered his Nissan Patrol to allow it to run on "jet fuel", according to the report, and he put it all to the test when he tried running from the cops.

The report says that the unnamed driver had spent around $68,000 (U.S dollars) to equip his Nissan Patrol, closely related to the Infiniti QX here in the United States, with the new fuel tank (we'd assume it's really aviation fuel for piston engines) along with plenty of engine and body upgrades, but it isn't clear what exact modifications were made to allow this full-size SUV to run on the high-test fuel or be capable of hitting speeds comparable to a supercar. Regardless, the modifications couldn't stand up to whatever stopping devices police in Duabi use to end pursuits (referred to as speedbreakers), and after a "Hollywood-style" high-speed police chase that ended in a residential neighborhood, the suspect was apprehended.

The pilot was charged with reckless driving, unlawful car modifications, expired registration and resisting police, and he told police that his vehicle was modified at a local garage and that some of his friends had spent upwards of $80,000 USD for similar upgrades. We've all seen the crazy videos coming out of theMiddle East of reckless drivers on public roads, and Dubai Police had apparently been cracking down on these drivers especially hard during the month of Ramadan. In that time (July 19 through August 18), police had seized more than 120 vehicles and are said to be investigating an additional 1,700.

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VIDEO: eGarage looks into the man behind America's Car Museum.

In the second part of its coverage of the LeMay Museum in Tacoma, Washington (part one is here), we get even more visual representation of why it bills itself as "America's Museum." There are few places where you can wander through a single collection and see the vintage Rolls-Royce pictured sharing floor space with aFerrari 308 GTB, an original Mini, a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster and a Ducati.

With 3,500 cars of its own, plus 350 cars donated by private collectors and companies, it might lay claim to being the Smithsonian of American automobilia. There's a short video with more of the goodness below.

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VIDEO: 100-year-old driver jumps curb near elementary school, 9 children injured.

It's never pleasant to run across a story of an elderly driver plowing through a group of innocent pedestrians, but here we are. This time 100-year-old Preston Carter lost control of his Cadillac Sedan de Ville, drove up on the sidewalk and injured 11 people across the street from Main Street Elementary School, which had just let out.

Carter, who turns 101 on September 5, said his brakes failed when he hit the group of kids waiting to be picked up by parents, but a witness said that he had put his car into reverse just before running over the curb into the crowd of people. Four kids were trapped under the car, and people nearby were able to lift the car up to get them to safety. In total, nine school kids and two adults were injured and taken to the hospital, and four of the victims were in critical condition. None of the injuries were life-threatening, according to a report by the local CBS affiliate, KCAL.

When asked why he is still driving, Carter simply said, "They gave me the license." Scroll down for the news report.

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Bentley pondering foray into the armored car business.

In a move that makes us say, "Well... of course," The Guardian reports that Bentley is contemplating the creation of a division that would build "armour-plated" versions of its cars. The competitors in mass-market luxury and premium luxury already have such divisions – BMW just announced the latest versions of itsarmored 7 Series and Rolls-Royce launched an armored Phantom five years ago, for starters – and third-party companies are already producing armored Mulsannes and Flying Spur Speeds.

A final decision hasn't been made, but Bentley's armored products would be tailored to clients in the Middle East, Russia and Latin America. Entering the high security market could also do that little bit more to help Bentley reach its 2015 sales goal of 15,000 vehicles.

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Health Canada clamps down on Targa Newfoundland over collectable Marlboro suit.

We're sure you remember Zahir Rana, the gentleman who piloted a Ferrari Enzo into the Atlantic Ocean during last year's Targa Newfoundland. When the gentleman took his co-pilot and his car for a swim, he happened to be wearing a racing suit once worn by Rubens Barrichello. Back when the Formula One racer drove for Ferrari, the team was sponsored by Marlboro, which meant the cigarette company's logo was plastered all over the the suit. As it turns out, Health Canada takes a dim view of tobacco advertising during any racing event, and despite the fact that Rana had bought the signed suit at a charity auction as a piece of racing history, the government agency took offense to photos from the race depicting Rana in full Marlboro regalia.

According to Wheels.ca, Targa President Bob Giannou found himself on the raw end of phone calls and letters from Health Canada, informing him of "prohibitions regarding the promotion of tobacco products," even if the reference is historical.

Does that mean Canadian officials are going to block the public appearance of the hordes of vintage race cars sponsored by the likes of Rothmans, Marlboro, John Player Special, Camel, Lucky Strike, Kool and Skoal just to name a few? Like it or not, tobacco and racing have a long and storied history together, and attempting to censor that history from the public eye is downright foolish. Good luck, Health Canada.

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VIDEO: Watch the World's Greatest Drag Race 2 with just engine sounds.

The good people at Motor Trend were kind enough to whip up a behind-the-scenes video of the publication's recent epic drag race for our viewing enjoyment. As it turns out, there's more to pitting the world's quickest production cars against one another than finding an empty air strip and going to town. Last year, the magazine broke a total of 11 windshields thanks to a surprising number of stones on the course. To keep that from happening again, crews applied a thin sheet of vinyl to each windscreen to protect the glass from vicious chips.

But that's not what makes the clip below the jump so incredibly interesting. As you may recall, the first video featured plenty of dramatic music and only a few faint whispers of engine noise. Now MT has fixed that issue by serving up the full race with nothing but the raucous bark of exhaust notes to usher the cars toward the finish. Hit the jump to check it out for yourself.

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OFFICIAL NEWS: Volkswagen again named tops in Total Quality survey by Strategic Vision.

Global marketing and communications firm Strategic Vision has announced the results of its annual Total Quality Index. In the 2012 edition of the study, Volkswagen Group of America achieved the highest rating in Total Quality. This marks the German automaker's second year of achieving the accolade. According to thepress release from Strategic Vision, the runner up spot was actually a tie between Chrysler Group and FordMotor Company.

Strategic Vision factored in vehicles like the Audi A4 and A8, as well as notable VW vehicles like the Golf,Eos, and Tiguan in its study. The study also pointed to the quality of vehicles like the Flex, F-150, as well as the Fiat 500 for such a tight finish between Ford and Chrysler.

Toyota came out with the fewest reported problems of any brand. According to the study, only 17% of Toyota owners reported having problems.

Strategic vision says this was its closest finish in "Total Quality" that it has ever reported. According to the release, "Customers are increasingly defining 'quality' holistically and using Total Quality in their decisions." In assessing the Total Quality Awards, Strategic Vision calculated the results from surveys sent out to 45,390 individuals who purchased new 2012 model year vehicles from September to December of 2011. 

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OFFICIAL NEWS: Gumpert declares itself provisionally insolvent.

Once asked by Adam Carolla what this blogger's two favorite cars were, I replied the Lamborghini Murcielagoand the Gumpert Apollo. Proving that this August is the cruelest month as far as niche German carmakers are concerned, the latter company, Gumpert, just filed paperwork to begin provisional insolvency proceedings in Altenburg, Germany. This month has seen fellow Teutons Artega and Melkus file for bankruptcy.

The ten-year-old company had apparently been trying to break into the Chinese market and the move didn't pan out. It's not over for Gumpert – an administrator has been appointed, and we're told he sees the chance of recovery as extremely positive, so now the makers of the Apollo will return their attentions to the European market while they seek new investors.

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VIDEO: Styrofoam takes out multiple motorcyclists on TX highway.

A group of motorcyclists encountered one hell of an incident on a Texas highway, all of which was captured thanks to the magic of helmet cam. This time, however, it doesn't involve the authorities and more than just the riders' pride was hurt.

According to one of the bikers on the weekly ride in McAllen, Texas, a truck was carrying large styrofoam boxes that weren't properly tied down. As the group came up behind the truck, one of the boxes flew out and shattered in front of the riders. One of the motorcycles went down in the explosion of styrofoam, and second rider went down after, clipping the first downed bike in the process. Both riders were taken to the hospital and, thankfully, were released the following day with nothing worse than bruising and road rash. One of the bikes, though, was totaled.

Scroll down to watch the carnage unfold.

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Next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans pushed back a week.

Race fans that look forward to the motorsports mecca that is the 24 Hours of Le Mans will have to wait one additional week.

According to an Autosport report, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest had announced the dates for the 2013 race as June 15-16, but following a request by the FIA, the dates had been changed. The race will now take place the 22nd and 23rd of June. The test date for the race will now be on June 9th.

In a statement from the ACO, the change was made, "in order to harmonize the world calendar of motor racing events."

The schedule change will not alter the fact that the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains as the centerpiece of the FIA World Endurance Championship season. The current season includes 12 Hours of Sebring, and six hour races at Spa, Silverstone, Sao Paulo, Bahrain, Fuji, and Shangai.

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OFFICIAL NEWS: 2013 Buick Regal gets sizable price hike thanks to standard eAssist.

Buick has announced that the 2013 Regal will come equipped with standard eAssist when it hits dealers in the fall. As a result, the MSRP of base model will jump considerably over the 2012's starting price. While last year's Regal started at $27,055, with eAssist as a $2,000 option, the 2013 model starts at $29,015.

While we knew that eAssist would be standard in the 2013 Regal, this is the first pricing information we've seen. This further classifies the Regal as a premium sedan, and distances itself from the entry-level BuickVerano, which starts at $22,585, but can cross $30,000 when fully loaded. The downside of this move is that it detracts from the value argument when comparing the Verano and Regal.

Still, Buick hopes that buyers will be drawn in by the improvement in fuel economy. While last year's base Regal returned EPA fuel economy numbers of 19 miles per gallon city and 31 highway, the standard eAssist four returns 25/36.

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GM will sell 2,500 Chevy Volts in August, the most ever.

We should be getting August's official sales numbers early next week, but The Detroit Free Press is already reporting that General Motors will have something to be proud of in the announcement: 2,500 Chevrolet Voltsales, the car's best month ever. Previously, the best month of sales was March 2012, when GM sold 2,289 Volts.

GM spokeswoman Michelle Malcho told the Freep that, "We're really seeing momentum continuing to build. As people see their neighbors have one and as they start to understand the technology and are able to drive it, they put it into their consideration." Malcho said California residents buy a third of all Volts, and Michigan is also a strong sales market.

We heard recently that the GM plant that builds the Volt in Hamtramck, Michigan will be idled for a monthstarting in the middle of September, either to retool the machines or balance out supply and demand or a little bit of both. Currently, GM is building both 2012 and 2013 model year Volts "to accelerate the transition to the new model."

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REPORT: Mazda working on range-extended, rotary-powered vehicle.

The Moscow Motor Show may be hotter than we previously though. Right on the heels of the debut of the next Mazda6, the Japanese automaker has revealed that it will continue to develop rotary engines and is also working on a range-extended vehicle.

When word came that the RX-8 would drive off to the big salvage yard in the sky, it was feared that it would spell the end for the stupendously high-revving mill, but Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi stated that the company will "continue to explore ways to improve the fuel efficiency and capabilities of the rotary engine so it can be the primary source of power again." That sounds very promising, coming form Yamanouchi, who said that interest in the rotary motivated his decision to come work for the automaker in 1967.

Part of the equation to maximize the potential of the rotary is to incorporate range-extending technology. Sure, Mazda's rotary engines loves to play with its RPMs in the stratosphere, the company knows this mill is most efficient at about 2000 rpm. Starting and stopping require a good amount of energy to change the momentum of the Reuleaux triangle-shaped rotor. Range extenders would keep the rotor spinning at that ideal 2000 rpm while idling.

Rotary fans will hopefully rejoice at the idea of the Wankel mill continuing on for some time. Anyone worried about the engine's fate will appreciate word that as long as Yamanouchi works for Mazda, research into the uses of the rotary will continue.

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VIDEO: Kia Hamsters return for party at the opera.

As promised, the Kia Hamsters have returned for yet another volley of advertisements to show off the Soul. We've seen the rodents play roles in some fairly strange situations in the past, but the newest clip takes top honors in that department.

The ad is set in an 18th-century opera house and takes place during a ballet. It doesn't take long for thehamsters to put their own spin on things, however. This marks the fourth generation of Soul-slinging Hamster ads, and the spots have helped Kia increase its sales by a lofty 78 percent since 2008.

We'll just shut up and let you take in the weirdness. Check out the video for yourself below. The 2013 Kia Soul starts at $14,400 plus a $775 destination fee.

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2012 Fiat 500 Abarth(VIDEO).

osted Aug 30th 2012 11:57AM

00

Vital Stats

Engine:

1.6L Turbo I4

Power:

160 HP / 170 LB-FT

Transmission:

5-Speed Manual

0-60 Time:

7.2 Seconds

Top Speed:

130 MPH

Drivetrain:

Front-Wheel Drive

Curb Weight:

2,533 LBS

Seating:

2+2

Cargo:

34.7 CU-FT (max)

MPG:

28 City / 34 HWY

MSRP:

$26,700 as tested

You can learn a lot about a car by the way it sounds. Fire up aLexus LS and you'll hear practically nothing. Rev the snot out of aBMW M3 and your ears will be beaten by high-pitched traces of Formula One; do the same with a Dodge Challenger SRT8 and you'll be taken back to 1970 with a low, burbling rumble.

Bear in mind that all of these machines mentioned are powered by V8 engines, long the bastion of beastly automotive soundtracks. Clearly, each car's designers tuned all eight cylinders, their assorted valves, camshafts and exhaust tracts, to produce a specific sound, and to good effect.

Imagine our surprise, then, when the ignition clicked in our tiny2012 Fiat 500 Abarth and an aural symphony not unlike a Dremel shredding a Fender Stratocaster into tiny little specks of bass and treble emerged. And it makes all this sweet-sounding music with just 1.6-liters of displacement from its four turbocharged cylinders.

We had a feeling this was going to be fun.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's talk style. As befitting an icon from Italy – and nevermind thatCatrinel Menghia, the ridiculously beautiful model forever linked to the 500, is from Romania – the Fiat 500 Abarth is a shapely beast. Where the standard 500 could best be described as cute, the Scorpion-badged Abarth model is significantly more menacing... though it's still a bit cute, sort of like an oddly cuddly miniature pitbull puppy.

While the standard 500 is available in a wide range of pastel hues, the Abarth is offered only in white, gray, black or red.

The Abarth sits 15 millimeters closer to the ground, and our tester's wheel arches were filled with 17-inch, 12-spoke wheels wrapped in 205/40-series Pirelli PZero Nero tires. This rolling stock gives the car an aggressive stance that's appropriate for a hot hatchback from Europe. The front fascia sits a few inches further into space than on lesser 500s, due to the turbocharged engine beating underhood. Large ducts feed air into the engine bay, and the sporty effect is carried through to the rear via a large spoiler.

While the standard 500 is available in a wide range of pastel hues, the Abarth is offered only in white, gray, black or red. Further customization is provided by optional gloss white or black wheels. Along that same limited color pallet, mirror caps and body-side stripes (the latter of which are optional) are offered in black, white or red. The somewhat monochromatic look is carried inside with either cloth or leather in – you guessed it – black and red.

The seating position and relationship between the pedals, shifter and steering wheel is a little bit odd in the 500.

Inside, there's a combination digital/analog gauge cluster directly in front of the driver that includes a large circular speedometer in the center. Off to the driver's left is another round gauge that houses the tachometer. In comparison to the Mini Cooper, another small and stylish hatchback that will surely be cross-shopped with the Abarth, the 500's interior isn't nearly as stylized and unique, but it is at least ergonomically functional. Interior plastics and switchgear remind the driver that the Abarth is based on an inexpensive platform, though important touch points like the steering wheel and shifter lend a more upscale feel.

The seating position and relationship between the pedals, shifter and steering wheel is a little bit odd in the 500, putting the driver into a posture akin to that of a kitchen chair. The Abarth is no different. Some of our staff has found the interior positioning problematic; others cope with it easily. Your mileage may vary.

It makes lovely music, as you can hear in our Short Cut video.

Now, finally, it's time to twist that key. Then turn it off. And then turn it back on again. Yep, sounds great. Blip the throttle; the little MultiAir engine sounds mean as it spits out 160 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, good for a 0-60 run of 7.2 seconds. And you'll only get the full 170 lb-ft if you remember to hit the Sport button, which, assuming you bought the Abarth on purpose and not just because you thought the Scorpion badges were cool, you'll want to do every time you drive the car. In Normal mode, the engine is tuned to put out 150 lb-ft. In either case, it makes lovely music, as you can hear in our Short Cut video above.

A 0-60 time of 7.2 seconds is not particularly quick these days, but at least it gives you some extra time to enjoy the sound. The four-wheel disc brakes easily stopped the 2,500-pound car in every situation we found ourselves in, with adequate control and easily modulated power.

It's more comfortable than we expected based on its overtly sporty intentions.

Putting the car in Sport mode further benefits the driver with tighter steering and throttle response. The Abarth's short wheelbase, somewhat stiff suspension and tiny tire sidewalls combine to make the car a bit twitchy whether in Sport mode or not, but we certainly prefer a little dartiness in place of any hint of wallow. We also love the fact that the Abarth is so easy to rotate using a little steering input along with the gas and brake pedals – sometimes it feels like the car is getting squirrely, but it's always controllable. And even better, it's fun.

But the Abarth's lively demeanor doesn't equal a harsh ride. Nobody outside of a tank operator would describe it as plush, but it's more comfortable than we expected based on its overtly sporty intentions.

One solid knock against the Abarth is its decidedly old-fashioned five-speed manual gearbox.

One solid knock against the Abarth is its decidedly old-fashioned five-speed manual gearbox. Not only is it missing the sixth gear that each and every one of its natural competitors boast, it also doesn't have particularly short throws (despite apparently being fitted with a short-throw kit) and doesn't slink into gear the way we'd like. It's not a difficult or malcontent shifter, it's just not crisp.

Similarly, the steering feel of the 500 Abarth could use some work. It's a bit numb and doesn't deliver much in the way of feedback to the driver. At 15.1:1, the Abarth has a 10-percent quicker steering ratio (16.3:1 in the 500 Sport) than lesser 500s, and the wheel itself is a nice piece, which is good, because we found ourselves making constant corrections to keep on our intended path.

It's so full of character that the things it gets wrong sort of become endearing.

Fuel mileage is decent, as well. The EPA estimates that the 500 Abarth will manage 28 miles per gallon in the city and 34 on the highway. We found that it's not terribly difficult to achieve those figures, so long as you don't constantly blip the throttle and run the engine to redline. Of course, that's a good portion of the pleasure of driving the Abarth to begin with. And it really is a hoot – in fact, perhaps it's the most fun you can have for $22,000 (plus $700 for destination). That's about $4,000 less than a comparable Mini Cooper S, though it's very easy to push the price of both European hatchbacks considerably higher. Our test car wore a sticker of $26,700 and included a sunroof, leather seats and a tacky aftermarket TomTom GPS system that plugs into a receptacle in the dash. We'd pass on the navigation and opt for a smartphone.

Almost every aspect of the Abarth is flawed – from the steering to the shifting and everything in between – and yet running the Fiat 500 Abarth up through the gears is one of the more oddly pleasurable events in the automotive realm. It's quick and nimble, as you would expect, but it's also so full of character that the things it gets wrong sort of become endearing. If its offbeat seating position doesn't immediately knock it out of contention for your hard-earned dollars, the 500 Abarth is an extremely fun car to drive, almost in spite of itself. Plus, for the autophile audiophiles among us, it's price-per-decibel ratio is simply unmatched.

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