someone would look if they were breaking into
your car? That’s why I love the super-secret spy
storage found in Chrysler Group products. Stow ’n
Go offers a very usable 6.14 cubic-feet of in-foor
cargo space in both the Dodge Grand Caravan and
the Chrysler Town and Country. This is perfect for
larger items such as a big purse, gym bag or smaller
sporting equipment. Dodge Dart and Dodge Journey
offer under-seat-cushion Flip ’n Stow storage, which
easily fts a small purse, iPad or wallet.
We fit, we foat … we stow
One of the perpetual questions I try to answer
when driving a new car is: Where do I put my
purse? On the passenger seat might attract a smash-
and-grabber. On the foor of the front passenger seat,
leaves less space for, well, the front passenger. The
back seat or rear foor makes it inconvenient for me
to do a quick reach for gum or lip gloss. Thus, the
foating center stack on the Volvo and Prius lineups
is a favorite. Not only does it look futuristic and
sleek, but it provides the perfect place to stow my
small- or medium-sized purse. Which means it will
also ft a man’s wallet and cell phone.
Now that’s hot
We are an on-the-go society. And, many
of us live and die by our cell phones and
laptops and iPads. Streaming movies,
Tweeting, texting, divulging status play-
by-plays on Facebook and checking in on
FourSquare have become an addition. So,
what if your passengers could do all this
over Wi-Fi provided by your car? Sure 3G
works fne, but imagine how much you’ll
save on your data plans if you could just
use Wi-Fi instead. Chrysler Uconnect and
Audi connect both offer hotspot technology
that does not require any additional cell
cards or software. However, you will have
to opt for some up-level options and pay a
Wi-Fi subscription fee.
Drive by design
Whether you like it or not, your car says a lot
about who you are. Are you looking for fash-and-
dash or practicality? Will any color do, or do you
want to customize? Do you opt for generic, or is it
name brand all the way? Over the years, we’ve seen
a lot of automakers offer aftermarket customization
(a-la-Scion). And we’ve seen designer partnerships
between automakers and high-end brands (a-la-
Bvlgari and Cadillac). But my current fave is the
Fiat-Gucci collaboration. Not only because those
red-and-green seatbelts look awesome, but also
because it’s affordable. Base price for the Fiat 500
Gucci model is $23,750, and it comes standard with
an automatic transmission, and estimated 38 mpg on
the highway and Gucci badging galore.
Tickled Techno Pink
Color is important on a car, and classic paints such
as Hemi Orange or Racing Green never go out of
style. But there is a new crop of eye-popping colors
that range from clever to crazy, and they are sure to
add panache – and maybe just a bit of funk – to your
ride. Some of my favorite colors for 2013 include:
Techno Pink on the Chevrolet Spark, Clear Water
Blue Metallic on the Mazda2, Yellow Blaze on the
Ford Fiesta, Marathon Blue on the Hyundai Veloster
and Alien on the Kia Soul.
Regardless of your gender, it’s nice to know that
automakers fnally have gotten hip to the fairer sex
when both designing and marketing vehicles.
More Than 100,000 Veh i c l es Jus t A Cl i ck Away…Dr i veCh i cago. com
CHICAGO AUTO SHOW 2013
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