BRB. Kthxbye.

Headed out to the Midwest to visit family and attend a wedding this week, so if you don't see much from me in the next few days, that's likely why.

The good news is, I'll be attending the 2011 Run to the Sun event next week, so there should be plenty of content, photos, debauchery, and stories, especially if it is half as good as last year.

Stay tuned!

What's your favorite small car accessory?

K&N Typhoon for Toyota Yaris (1NZ-FE)

Car/truck owners love to accessorize their vehicles. Spoilers, suspension kits, trailer hitches, lights, all-weather floor mats, stereos, shift knobs—you name it.

So is there a quintessential small car accessory that you just have to have on your vehicle?

For me, most of my vehicles have an aftermarket intake system. I think every one of my vehicles I've ever owned—from my '92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV to my 2010 Suzuki SX4—have had an aftermarket intake, or at least a drop-in K&N filter.

What's the one accessory you just have to have on your small car/truck?

Rebel Yell: Gaddafi's electric Fiat 500 taken by Libyan rebels

Maybe you've heard the news: Libyan rebels have taken Muammar Gaddafi's one-off electric Fiat 500 as booty after capturing the capital, Tripoli. With the rebels' propensity to turn everyday drivers into battle wagons, I wonder what they'll do with this new subcompact? Maybe a .50 caliber? A rocket launcher? Maybe they'll just save this one as trophy. Regardless, it was certainly not something I expected to see with regards to the situation over in Libya. Jalopnik has more info about this car. Check it out.

In the driveway: 2012 Mazda5 Sport

So what's in the driveway this week? The 2012 Mazda5. You may instantly be thinking "minivan = bleh." Not the case. The Mazda5 is more like a stretch Mazda3 with two sliding doors and room for two more people or lots more cargo. Call it a minivan. Call it a wagon. Mazda calls it an MAV (Multi-Activity Vehicle). Call it whatever the hell you want. I call it a breath of fresh air. Why? It has a six-speed manual transmission. Perhaps I'm one of the lunatic fringe that gets all giddy about a car like this offering a shift-it-yourself option, but I can't help it. In fact, I just love the idea of a vehicle like this being offered with a six-speed, and I give Mazda kudos for doing so. Plus, it posesses those wonderful Mazda driving dynamics. Oh yes. Fun-to-drive seven passenger van brimming with paradoxical whimsy. Ok, too much prose.

Anyway, initial impressions are very good. A sporting yet comfortable ride, outstanding six-speed manual transmission, and enough guts to make it fun. This vehicle features the Nagare "flow" styling in the sheetmetal that have been met with mixed reaction on this MAV. It's actually growing on me.

Can't wait to put some more time in behind the wheel and see if Mazda's miniva ... er ... wago.. er ... seven-passenger Mazda5 is the prefered subcompact culture people mover. Hey, it's the smallest vehicle of its kind offered here, which bodes well for Subcompact Culture!
Stay tuned!

The Teal Terror gets its lift on, gets hitched

Project "Teal Terror" is coming along well. After plenty of maintenance things, such as a full tune up, new Bestop soft top, and of course the 15" wheels with 235/75/15 BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires, it was time to add a lift.

I ended up going with a 2" coil spring lift from BDS Suspension. This kit contains springs for each corner; new, longer rear shocks; strut extenders for the front struts; and a set of camber bolts. BDS is also known for its "No Fine Print Warranty." If it breaks, they fix it. All of the parts look very well made and feel stout, so I doubt I'll need to take advantage of that warranty. Regardless, it's nice to know its there.

BDS spring vs. OEM

Installation is straight forward, and there are comprehensive written instructions. There are two things to note: The rear shocks are painted white, and that included the threaded ends. You'll want to clean these up so it's easier to put the nuts on.

Also, I intended to replace the OEM struts with a set of Monroe Sena-Tracs. Unfortunately, the rods on these struts are slightly wider than the OEM units, and the BDS strut extender wouldn't fit over the rod. I opted to reuse the OEM struts instead, and was able to return the unused Monroes.


This was the first vehicle I'd lifted, and there was a lot of learning that went on. For instance, I'd never disassembled a set of automatic front locking hubs. There is some disassembly that has to happen in order to get the taller front springs in (e.g. the axle had to be popped out). Unfortunately, I stripped a screw on the bearing adjuster, and had to use a screw extractor (for the first time) to remove it. I then re-tap the hole, so I bought a tap and die set. A slight delay, but so be it. I also used camber bolts for the first time, which were included in the BDS kit—a very welcome addition. These simple, effective bolts helped to get the vehicle's front end right.

A couple of trips to the hardware store later (I had broken a few washers, needed a couple of new bolt), and the lift was done. I have to say I think it looks great. It's not extreme; just a little lift that gives a bit more ground clearance. And larger tires look at home on the Sidekick. The ride is noticeably firmer, but not harsh. In fact, the trucklet makes feels more controlled in the corners now. And since the Teal Terror will be getting a new front bumper and a WARN winch in the near future, the extra stiffness might be a welcome thing. It was off to get the vehicle aligned, and it tracks straight and true. Now I can't wait to hit the trails and put the lift to the test.

Another modification I did was added a hitch. I found a used Reese Shadow hitch on craigslist for $50. It was a bit rusty, so I removed the rust with a wire brush and Dremel tool, then primed, painted, and installed it. It'll be perfect for hauling leaves to the dump this fall.
So there you have it: Lifted and hitched!

LINKS

BDS Suspension

Bestop

Warn Industries

Honda Brio from Thailand

Thomas in Thailand sent photos of Honda's latest offering in that country, the Brio.
According to Thomas, the Brio has a 1.2-liter engine making 90hp. "[It's] quite a bit cheaper than a Fit/Yaris; just looks rather odd," he said.
I'll concur on the looks. The rear bumper looks a bit frumpy. Overall, not the worst looking car in the world, IMHO.

Thanks, as usual, to Thomas for the pics from Thailand!

Got a story idea, pictures, or info you'd like to share on Subcompact Culture? Send me an e-mail!

LINK
Honda Brio (Honda Thailand)

Jay Leno's Garage features Road Race Motorsports' Fiat 500

Car guy maximums, Jay Leno, just did a spot on the Fiat 500 on his website, Jay Leno's Garage. Included in this video is none other than Road Race Motorsports' Fiat 500 CLUB///SPORTIVO. The car is in the Road & Track stable at the moment. Very cool stuff.

LINK
Road Race Motorsports Fiat 500 CLUB///SPORTIVO

Nostalgic Subcompact: Toyota Starlet

Project Starlet from ClunckBucket.com

By the early 1980s, Toyota had started making a name for itself with regards to small, frugal vehicles. One of those vehicles was the Toyota Starlet. This small, rear-drive hatchback was sold in the U.S. from 1981-1984; it was even sold along side the front-drive Toyota Tercel until the 1985 model year.

The USDM Starlet came with the 1.3-liter 4K-C (carbureted) engine from '81–'82, and the 4K-E (fuel injected) from '83–'84. The overhead-valve engine made 58 horsepower and between 67 and 74 ft. lbs. of torque. Fuel economy in '81 was rated at 38 city, 52 highway. Later models got as much as 54 MPG highway! (That's what low-horsepower, low-weight will do for cars' economy!) Early Starlets came with a five-speed transmission, later changing to a four-speed manual transmission. All starlets had power going to the rear wheels. The suspension wasn't too fancy: MacPherson suspension up front, four-link suspension out back. The wheelbase was a scant 90.4" with an overall length of 152-153 inches ('83–'84 were longer). Weight was as low as 1724 lbs and as much as 1755.

Toyota didn't continue to offer the Starlet after '84, instead opting to only sell the front-drive Tercel as the company's sole economy offering in the U.S. However, the rest of the world got updated Starlet models until 1999.

Photo via Driving Sports

Nowadays, Starlets are saught after by the drift/drag crowd due to their rear-drive layout and ability to swap in higher-performance engines. They are one of the harder Toyotas to find, especially in good shape. They are, however, one of my favorites! Someday, I'd love to have a KP61 with either a 3TC ("Mini Hemi" engine) or a full 4AG-E swap. The photo above has a 4AGZE swap (that is a supercharged MR2 engine!). More on that car at Driving Sports' site.

LINKS
ToyoLand.com
Toyota Starlet (Wikipedia)

Suzuki Swift Sport preview

Here's a preview of the upcoming Suzuki Swift Sport before its slated debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

It will be powered by a 136 horsepower 1.6-liter engine producing 118 ft./lbs. of torque run through a six-speed manual.

I think I speak for most people: Bring the damn thing to the U.S.! Last I heard, Suzuki was having issues justifying the Swift's re-entry in the U.S. market due to the dollar-to-yen ratio. Not sure if that's still the case or not, but I'd think the U.S. market is plenty primed for another compact hatch. And with the international accolades the Swift has received, it might be just what Suzuki needs to continue its increase in North American Sales.

Toyota announces Yaris pricing; three- and five-door models for North America

Toyota announced today that the next-generation Toyota Yaris' pricing will start at $14,115. This gets you an three-door Yaris L three-door liftback with a five-speed manual transmission. A top-of-the-line Yaris SE five-door with a four-speed automatic will go for $17,200. Pricing is set to start August 31. At this point, Toyota hasn't disclosed any more information regarding the Yaris for North America. Toyota hasn't released any more official information (not even official photos yet), but it is presumed the 2012 model will retain the 1.5-liter 1NZ-FE engine found in the current Yaris.

There has been some grumblings about this on the blogs, and the fact that the car comes with a five-speed manual or four-speed auto, and not a six-speed manual and five-speed automatic or CVT. This leaves the Yaris as one of only a handful of vehicles still offering a five-speed manual/four-speed automatic as transmission offerings.

However, it also means the Yaris is now one of only a few vehicles offered in a three-door configuration. The MINI Cooper, Honda CR-Z, and Fiat 500 will be the only 2012 models available as a three-door hatchback. And, frankly, if the three-door can be made to look like these Australian models pictured here, I'd be tickled. Not a huge fan of the five-door, but really like the three door.

Pics: 2012 Toyota Yaris Debuts at Lollapalooza

Toyota decided to give a first-look at the 2012 Toyota Yaris at, of all places, the Lollapalooza Music Festival in Chicago today. Here are some photos via a user at YarisWorld.com. Gone is the center gauge cluster, replaced by a traditional set of gauges. Also, it looks like a big head unit, possibly sourced from the Scion line? No official details on the engine yet, but previous info has suggested the 1.5-liter 1NZ-FE may carry over from the Yaris, which carried over from the Scion xB and xA, and Toyota Echo.

UPDATE-9:23am: Pics apparently came from Cars.com. Also, according to this article, the Yaris' fuel economy will go up to 30/35 with the automatic, and 30/38 with the manual—up a couple of ticks from the previous generation. This suggest they are likely using the 1NZ-FE engine again.

GM confirms sale of Chevrolet Spark in the U.S.

Well, it's official: Chevrolet says it will be selling the Spark microcar here in the U.S of A. There has been talk of importing the car (which is made in South Korea) for nearly three years. The photo above is the Spark Z-Spec Concept from the 2010 SEMA Show. According to Green Car Reports, the Spark will go on sale in 2012 as a 2013 model. Not sure what engine we'll get, but the Spark is sold with a 1.0-liter or 1.2-liter mill elsewhere. The current version of the Spark sells as the Daewoo Matiz in South Korea, and is also already on sale in Australia, Europe, India, and South America.

FYI, the Spark is smaller than the incoming Chevrolet Sonic, which is set for sale here shortly.

2012 Toyota Yaris to debut this weekend at Lollapalooza in Chicago

Toyota announced today, via its Twitter account, that the 2012 Toyota Yaris would debut this weekend at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Considering Toyota is listed as the only automotive sponsor of the event, that seems to make sense. Looking forward to seening what Toyota has up its sleeve for its subcompact offering. 

July 2011 subcompact sales

It was not a good month for many automakers, and this showed in the July '11 subcompact sales, with a few exceptions.

The Hyundai Accent is full-steam ahead with its new model, and its 75% increase in sales vs. July '10 makes that evident. The Ford Fiesta also sold like proverbial subcompact hotcakes. And hello Suzuki SX4: Welcome to the top three this month (+50%). Kia's Soul continues to sell the best overall. This month's big loser, however, is the Kia Rio, down 70.5% vs. July '10. With the new Rio coming out soon, we can expect that number go way up. Ditto that with the Yaris and Versa.

Make/Model	July '11 vs. July '10	Units July '11	YTD '11 vs. '10	YTD sold '11
Hyundai Accent	+75.2%	6938	-0.2%	30956
Ford Fiesta	+58.1%	5296	+983.5%	47425
Suzuki SX4	+50.0%	1184	+9.0%	7237
Kia Soul	+26.3%	10131	+77.6%	65118
MINI Coooper/S Clubman	+2.2%	642	-14.9%	4592
MINI Cooper/S Convertible	-12.9%	499	-26.3%	3114
Chevrolet Aveo	-21.0%	1621	-0.4%	24615
Honda Fit	-22.1%	4857	+31.9%	39275
Nissan Cube	-26.0%	1122	-26.0%	12614
MINI Cooper/S Hardtop	-26.8%	2287	+11.1%	17392
Scion xD	-30.0%	715	+2.1%	5871
Smart ForTwo	-30.4%	327	-22.9%	3012
Nissan Versa	-30.6%	5359	-17.7%	51245
Toyota Yaris	-52.9%	1391	-49.8%	13080
Kia Rio	-70.5%	1011	-24.6%	11689
Nissan Juke	--	3221	--	20685
Fiat 500	--	3038	--	7982
MINI Crossover	--	1283	--	9429
Mazda2	--	1072	--	8512
Honda CR-Z	--	878	--	8990

LINKS
July 2010 subcompact sales

Choice Interior Accessories that Add Luxury to your Ride (brought to you by AutoAnything.com)

Since most subcompacts are built and marketed as “affordable” vehicles, the manufacturers sometimes leave out the simple luxuries that make motoring comfortable. But, thanks to a healthy aftermarket and a lot of enthusiast demand, it’s easy to add the frills and amenities reserved for fine automobiles. The easiest addition, one that delivers the most bang-for-your-luxury-buck, is a set of custom-cut super plush mats. Thick floor mats not only up the luxury; they add a layer of protection to your interior, too. And, if you get the matching cargo liner, you’ve got instant wall-to-wall comfort.

Next, it’s time to upgrade your cockpit with some of the finer pleasantries of motoring. First, get some comfy covers for your seats—sheepskin covers are best, but velour and suede also add a nice touch. Remember, this is where you sit, so splurge on nice covers. Now about that dash. The average subcompact dashboard is a pretty utilitarian array of gauges and controls. But, with the addition of custom wood grain dash kits, you can take your dash from drab to dashing in no time. There’s nothing like some polished burl wood trim to add that European touch.

Finally, some electronic luxuries are in order. For the tech savvy, an iPhone / iPod car adapter bridges the gap between your personal playlists and your subcompact’s stereo system. Plus, most adapters include Bluetooth technology to keep your phone hands free, so you stay legal. To take the interior luxury over the top, invest in a set of rear headrest monitors. After all, nothing says high-roller like seeing your kids be-bopping in the backseat to their favorite videos while you drive along in complete comfort. While these luxury additions won’t transform your subcompact into a Coupe de Ville, they’ll certainly keep you riding in high style.

Please be sure to support Subcompact Culture sponsor AutoAnything.com!