When Kia Motors first brought out the Optima in 2000, both the company and the vehicle were thought of as low-frills, workmanlike economy entities. Seventeen years later, they have both come a long way. The economy factor still exists, but exhibit style, substance, quality, premier safety attributes and upscale amenities.

The Kia Optima (also known in Canada and Europe as the Kia Megentis in 2002), now in its fourth generation, is sportier and sleeker than earlier versions, is crafted with Euro-inspired architecture and offers turbo engine options.

Re-designed last year, the 2017 Optima midsize sedan carries over into this model year with several new features to help keep it the bestseller in the Kia lineup, with focus on its attractive design, interior comfort, spirited performance and lots of infotainment. For 2017, the SX trim gets standard 18-inch alloy wheels and SXL is now equipped with 18-inch chrome alloy wheels – both were previously optional. LED dual-projection headlights with Dynamic Bending Light and High-Beam Assist is now standard on SXL and available as part of a new SX Technology Package. And now available on EX trim is the new Premium Plus Package with Advanced Driver Assisted System, which includes Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning System. Advanced Smart Cruise Control, Electronic Parking Brake, High-Beam Assist and Lane Departure Warning System.

Kia’s top-selling nameplate is styled with Euro-inspired architecture, and it continues with a length of 191.1 inches; height of 57.7 inches and width of 73.2 inches on a 110.4-inch wheelbase, with ground clearance of 5.4 inches. Optima seats five and my test SX 2.4 trim ride with an automatic transmission and a sunroof, weighed in with a curb weight of 3594 lbs.

The 2017 Optima is available with three engine choices carrying over from last year. A standard 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder with an aluminum block and head that produces 185hp and 178 lbs.-ft. of torque, is EPA estimated at 25mpg/city and 36mpg/highway. New for last year’s Optima, and held over. is the 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine on the LX trim. The 1.6 turbo is rated at 178hp and 195 lbs.-ft. of torque and with a Dual Clutch transmission, is rated at 28/37. My test SX trim was powered by the 2.0-liter turbo engine mated to an automatic transmission. The system delivered 245hp and 260 lbs.-ft. of torque. Rated at 22/city and 31/highway, my weeklong tests yielded an average of 26.6mpg in mixed-use driving.

On the highway, there was little turbo lag and acceleration was plentiful and predictable. On the track, I finished off a zero-to-60mph sprint in 6.7 seconds and a quarter-mile in 15.1 seconds.

The Optima ride is smooth thanks to an independent, MacPherson strut front with coil springs and anti-roll bar, working with an independent, Multi-link rear with coil springs and anti-roll bar. The rack and pinion, electric motor steering was vague, and some yaw was present during quick maneuvers, but Optima moves well in town and in parking while showing confidence and stability on the highway.

Optima’s interior is upscale and intuitive, with an innovative and functional cabin that is well-appointed with class-up touches. Optima utilizes soft-touch materials throughout the passenger compartment, and the driver-oriented cabin has been simplified with a clean, unified design. The cabin is filled with state-of-the-art connectivity items including UVO (an advanced technology system with no user fees), Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score, along with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®.

Optima provides comfortable interior accommodations, but they are not overly generous. Headroom is only 39.8 inches in front and 37.8 inches in row two; legroom is good up front at 45.5 inches, but only 35.6 in the rear seats; and shoulder room is 58.1 inches up front and 56.4 in the rear.

Earning Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) when equipped with optional front crash prevention, 2016 Optima is outfitted with such safety items as driver and passenger advanced front airbags, front seat mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, front active headrests, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, traction control system, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, electronic brake distribution, tire pressure monitor system, immobilizer and hill-start assist control.

Kia offers five basic Optima trims starting with the base LX and a 2.4-liter inline-4 engine for $22,000. The LX 1.6T (Turbo) starts at $24,140; the EX with the 2.4 engine starts at $25,440; the base SX that I tested, starts at $29,940 and adds the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, panoramic sunroof, voice-command navigation and Infinity® Premium Audio System. The top-tier SX Limited starts at $36,090 and adds Advanced Smart Cruise Control and a Harman/Kardon® QuantumLogic™ Premium Surround Sound system with Clari-Fi™, 630 Watts and 10 Speakers. My test SX Turbo in Snow White Pearl with Merlot leather, added the SX Launch Edition Package for $2900 containing Merlot sport leather seating, panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, Harman/Kardon® Premium Surround Sound, 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. An autodimming mirror added $350; a cargo mat added $95; a cargo net added $50; mud guards were $95 and destination charges added $895, for a sticker-as-tested of $34,230.


> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

Fall Carlisle helped wrap the 2017 Carlisle, Pennsylvania based schedule for Carlisle Events and did so in a unique way; with nice weather every single day! That’s not to say that since 1974, Fall Carlisle hasn’t seen its fair share of nice weather, but Mother Nature certainly had not been good to the nearly 100,000 guests who come from around the world as of late. This year; however, was different as lady luck and Mother Nature came together to treat everyone to a perfect automotive themed weekend!

It all started in an unofficial way with vendors converging on the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds as early as September 22, but really got going at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, September 27. Early on, it was vendors working each other over for deals, but once the guests started coming on-site, it was full speed ahead for all involved. 8,100 vending spaces hosted millions of automotive pieces and parts via thousands of vendors, while the car corral carried automotive history spanning over 100 years.

Unique displays included those dedicated to barn finds and survivors too. Nearly a dozen cars were spread over two locations, the stage and North Side Collectors Corner, and wowed guests at every turn. From a ‘70s era Ford Bronco to a ‘50s era Hudson Hornet, a ‘60s era Dodge Charger and more, these time capsules perfectly captured the essence of Fall Carlisle and the automotive hobby as a whole.

Saturday hosted a little get together in the evening to recognize the swap meet vendors, which included complimentary food and drinks, including crabs, BBQ and Chips from UTZ. This was the third year that Carlisle hosted a vendor party and each year the turnout gets bigger and better.

Finally, what would Fall Carlisle be without its popular car auction? Carlisle Auctions supported this aspect of the weekend and did so with amazing results. Over 450 consignments crossed the block with 60% of them actually being sold. The Fall 2017 offering garnered $5.5 million in sales, the most ever for a Fall Auction. Cars were priced to move too as rides sold from the low four figures to six figure range. The top five sellers amassed $621,670. Of that total, the top seller was a 2006 Ford GT ($296,390). The second high seller was a 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 ($94,160), third was a 2003 Shelby Cobra ($85,600), fourth was a 1956 Lincoln Premier ($73,830) and rounding out the top five was a 1956 Pontiac Starfire ($71,690). Each sales price mentioned includes all fees associated with the auction.

With Fall Carlisle in the bag along with its auction, Carlisle Events turns its attention to Lakeland, Florida and its Fall Florida AutoFest event. This event, much like Spring and Fall Carlisle, is a home for all things automotive and is where thousands of guests come to buy, sell and trade. Anchored by a car show and the auction, there are also activities and unique displays. Fall AutoFest runs November 10-12, with the auction taking place November 10-11. For information on the auction or to secure a vending space, call 717-243-7855 or visit www.CarlisleEvents.com.

When Toyota launched its compact SUV, the RAV4, in 1994, the baby-ute was named for its mission as a “Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive”. Now, in the sixth year of its 4th generation, the 2017 RAV 4 adds two new trim grades, an upgraded standard safety system Toyota Safety Sense™ P and a true sense of sportiness.

The former “new-concept” SUV may be sporty and fun, but it is all about safety with the new Toyota Safety Sense™ P system that combines the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection , Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. TSS-P’s comprehensive features create in-the-moment safety designed to support a driver’s awareness and decision-making on the road. And it is a standard add-in.

The RAV4 family also gains a new luxurious Platinum grade to its gas-powered variant, while its hybrid-powered model welcomes a sportier SE grade, and a redesigned front bumper cover gives the SE – gas and hybrid – a more rugged look.

Playing off its rep for being packed with amenities, my LE trim came standard with Halogen projector‐beam headlights with auto on-off feature; Halogen Daytime Running Lights; color‐keyed rear spoiler; roof rails; roof-mounted sharkfin antenna; 17‐inch wide vent steel wheels with wheel covers and P225/65R17 tires; color-‐keyed outside door handles; power outside mirrors with folding feature and blind spot mirror; washer‐linked intermittent windshield wiper and intermittent rear window wiper; rear window defogger with timer; privacy glass on rear side, quarter and liftgate windows; acoustic noise‐reducing front windshield and front and rear skid plate.

Inside, the RAV4 LE comes standard with air conditioning with airfilter; backup camera with projected path and a 4.2‐in. TFT Multi‐Information Display with integrated backup camera display, customizable settings, odometer, outside temperature, clock, climate control settings, fuel economy, trip information, and many safety and performance warning messages. You also get a tilt/telescopic urethane steering wheel with audio, multi‐information display, voice recognition and Bluetooth ® hands‐free telephone controls.

RAV4 has been the “cool” SUV for 23 years. Its sleek and dynamic stance includes a bold front fascia that excites when equipped with the available LED combo of headlights, daytime running lights and Hi-Lo Headlights. Its flowing profile and sporty attitude are enhanced by its raked front windshield, rear rood spoiler and sculpted side panels.

RAV4 keeps remains compact with a 104.7-inch wheelbase and 183.5-inch length. Height is low enough for relative stability at 65.9 inches, while width is 72.6 inches. Curbweight remains at about 3550 pounds and ground clearance comes in at 6.1-inches.

For power, RAV4 utilizes a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed ECT-i automatic transmission. The set-up provides 176hp and 172 lbs.-ft. of torque for a 22mpg/city, 28mpg/highway EPA rating for AWD in my LE trim. My mixed-use tests achieved an average of 25.9mpg.

Fun to drive and cozy behind the wheel, RAV4 is a steady, but not speedy drive. Acceleration is good for passing at speed and for taking on uphill highway grades. In tests, my 2017 RAV4 finished off a zero-to-60mph dashing 8.6 seconds, and polished off the quarter-mile in a slow, but entertaining 16.2-second quarter-mile.

RAV4’s electric power assisted rack and pinion steering was responsive, with some entertaining understeer. In quick auto-cross S-curves, I experienced some body roll, but but on the highway at speed, RAV4 is predictable and confident. MacPherson strut front suspension with stabilizer bar and hydraulic shocks, working with a double wishbone multi-link rear with coil spring, stabilizer bar and hydraulic shocks are attentive and road-softening for the niche. The power-assisted ventilated disc brakes provided sure stopping power.

The RAV4 cabin is sporty and accommodating and filled with infotainment including a 6-speaker Entune™ Audio system with 6.1-inch touchscreen. Comfort items include six-way adjustable driver’s seat. Special attention was directed toward improving cabin quietness with the addition of sound insulation materials in the rear cargo area, floor pan, and side and rear doors to help reduce road noise and create a premium feel.

Front headroom is niche-roomy at 39.8 inches, with 38.9 inches in row two. Legroom is accommodating at 42.6 inches in row one with 37.2 inches for second-seat passengers and there is a wide-body 57.3 inches of shoulder room in front with 55.4 inches for the back row.

The RAV4 Star Safety System™ is a cornucopia of enhanced occupant protection and crash avoidance systems from eight standard airbags to vehicle control systems to energy-absorbing crumple zone construction.

The base RAV4 starts $24,410 for the LE trim in FWD, The XLE starts at $25,500; the XLE Hybrid starts at $29,030; SE trim starts at $30,190; the Limited trim begins at $30,905; the SE Hybrid starts at $32,185; the Limited Hybrid bases at $34,030 and the new Platinum trim starts at $34,030. My test LE added AWD for $1400; Entune® Audio Plus with Navigation App and roof rails (for some reason), added $865. All-weather floor liners added $149; bodyside moldings added $209; fog lights added $355 (why are these an option, I wondered) and running boards added $549. Delivery and processing fees were $995, for a sticker-as-tested of $28,932.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

Carlisle Events is known around the world as the top presenter of classic and collector car entertainment. Shows presented at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds are some of the largest of their type and what happens at Carlisle isn’t too unlike what happens at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. Just like at Carlisle, classics and collector cars are on display at SEMA, while vendors are on-site promoting the hottest items coming on to the market.

The two worlds collide in November as Carlisle Chrysler Nationals Event Manager Ed Buczeskie takes his 1967 Plymouth Belvedere to be showcased at SEMA as a way to highlight how an average enthusiast can take a car with miles on it, transform it, yet still not go broke doing so. Powered by a HEMI direct from MOPAR, a suspension system from Hotchkis Sport Suspension and additional parts from TTi Performance Exhaust and Headers, Mancini Racing and Schumacher Creative Services, the Belvedere will be worked on in a small Pennsylvania shop. There won’t be cameras, unlimited resources or top of the line products coming in from companies around the world, but there will be a true-blue enthusiast wrenching his beloved classic, all while doing so on a budget that includes some donations and discounts, but more than anything else, time and energy from a passionate car owner.

The goal of this project is to show what can be done with what most enthusiasts already have. In other words, rather than buying a project and building a car from the ground up, this project is taking an existing car and doing just an engine swap. In typical hot rodder fashion, Buczeskie (and friends) are taking what they have and making it better. Long before the high-end restoration shops and custom builders, guys took the cars they were driving and swapped out small blocks for big blocks, 383s for 440s and just about anything for a HEMI. The biggest advantage to the late model HEMI swap is the ability to get an increase in power AND an increase in gas mileage and overall drivability. That was never the case in the past.

Of course, there’s nothing stopping an enthusiast from going farther. Buczeskie is simply showcasing the basics that are involved with the engine swap. Enthusiasts often get discouraged with their projects as they become too big and/or too expensive. Anyone with a complete car that’s in good shape can look at this as a way to make it better. There are also plenty of cars out there with a solid body but missing the drivetrain. Either of these would be a great platform for a late model HEMI swap and the new kits from MOPAR include the wiring and computer to allow you to add a modern, fuel-injected engine to pretty much any older MOPAR.

The car will debut at SEMA starting October 30 and be on display as part of the Carlisle Events booth throughout the week-long event. In the meanwhile, anyone interested can follow the build via social media at (https://www.facebook.com/BelvedereRustomod/) or call Ed Buczeskie with questions at 717-243-7855 x131.

Remaining at its rank as the 11th top-selling sedan in America, (it was last year, and remains so for 2017), the 2017 Ford Focus stays with what has worked for it, while we anticipate a redesign for 2018.

Focus is the result of Ford’s focus on compact cars, which began in 1999 for the 2000 model year, as their engineers designed the Ford Focus to replace the Escort (and Mercury Tracer) and Contour (and Mercury Mystique) in the line-up.

Seven years into its third generation (last tweaked for 2015 with a redesigned front end), the front-wheel drive Focus line-up stays quiet for 2017 with the exception of its RS trim amping up with a 350hp engine.

Assembled at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, with unitized steel body construction, this year’s uptweaks include a new SEL trim package that features 17-inch machined-aluminum wheels with black-painted pockets, fog lamps, black headlight bezels and power moonroof. Focus is available in either sedan or hatchback configurations.

The 2017 Ford Focus has available SYNC® 3 enhanced voice recognition and entertainment system with AppLink™ and 911 Assist®, an 8-inch center LCD touch screen with available navigation, and swiping and pinch-to-zoom capabilities. Two standard smart-charging USB ports are great for families on the go with energy-hungry devices.

A new color available for 2017 is White Gold.

Showing off a sporty architecture not expected from an economical sedan, priced under $20K, Focus looks energetic and hip with a curvy and fluid demeanor. Available in hatchback or sedan, the compact sedan, measures 178.7 inches in length (the hatchback is 5 inches shorter), 71.8 inches in width and 57.8 inches in height on a 104.3-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight just under 3000 lbs.

The SE model I tested was your basic Focus, but featured some cool packages that included a body kit as well as a standard 2.0-liter Ti-VCT engine, the 17-inch machined aluminum wheels in the SEL trim, fog lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, rear disc brakes, rear spoiler and PowerShift® 6-speed automatic.

For power, Focus offers two direct injection power source options, which can be mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission with available SelectShift® functionality. A 1.0-liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost® engine built in Craiova, Romania, is the more economical offering, providing 123 hp and 125 lbs.-ft. of torque. The manual version is EPA rated at 30mpg/city, 42mpg/highway and 35mpg combined, while the six-speed PowerShift automatic with SelectShift is rated at 28mpg/city and 40mpg/highway. My test Focus SE was outfitted with the 2.0-liter Ti-VCT FFV inline-4-cylinder engine built in Dearborn, Michigan. That system provides 160hp and 146 lbs.-ft. of torque and is rated at 26mpg/city, 36mpg/highway with a manual transmission and my six-speed PowerShift automatic was rated at 27mpg/city and 40mpg/highway. My car tests finished with an average of 31.6mpg in mixed-use driving.

We seldom expect much zip from a compact economy sedan, and my Focus SE filled the niche as presumed. My test ride was predictable with a steady zero-to-60mph dash accomplished in 9.2 seconds during 17.1-second quarter-mile. At speed, Focus has enough to pass other vehicles and take on hill grades, and while some understeer was apparent, the response was also predictable and in a solid range.

Inside, Focus features a center console and driver/passenger-friendly capabilities. With seating capacity for five, front head room is 38.3 inches with 38 inches of rear head room; front legroom measures 43.1 inches with a crunched 33.2 inches for rear passengers and shoulder room is 55.6 inches in front and 52.6 inches for rear seat passengers.

Focus was designed to exceed global safety standards for occupant and pedestrian protection. To that end, it includes dual-stage first row airbags with passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation, front-seat side-impact airbags and side-curtain airbags, four-wheel Anti-Lock Brake System, front fog/driving lights, dusk sensing headlamps, stability control, AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control, rearview camera, child safety rear locks, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children), anti-theft engine immobilizer and tire pressure monitoring.

The Base “S” 2017 Focus sedan starts at $17,650. The SE Sedan adds 16-inch painted wheels, a trip computer and automatic quad-beam LED halogen headlamps and bases at $19,050, and the 4-door hatchback starts at $25,650.

My test SE sedan in Ingot Silver Metallic, and the 2.0-liter engine, upgraded to the 6-speed automatic transmission for $1095, and added the $1995 201A equipment group with 17-inch Black Gloss Aluminum wheels, ambient lighting, black headlamp bezels, fog lamps, overhead console, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, leather-trimmed seats with 8-way power driver seat and power lumbar, LED signature lighting, perimeter alarm, rear center armrest, rear disc brakes, Reverse Sensing System, SelectShift® (when equipped with 6-speed automatic transmission) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. The Exterior Protection Package added $245 for molded front and rear splash guards and a rear bumper protector. Destination charges added $785 for an MSRP as tested of $23,170, built I really would have liked the Ford Sync3 navi package for an extra $1300 – my test ride was without it. And incentive packages can slash thousands so, check with your local dealer to see what offers are available.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.