(Ford)

Yes, you read that correctly. On July 21, Ford is bringing a trailer full of Focus ST hatchbacks, the rally-inspired version enjoyed by Europeans for many years, to the parking lot outside Gillette Stadium. Basically, you have carte blanche to wring it through an open lot without caring about scuffing the paint or destroying orange cones -- and without scaring the daylights out of a salesman.

Racing instructors will be teaching average drivers how to slice through an autocross, a timed event that requires a driver to drive quickly in a very tight, narrow course dotted by cones. Balance and handling, not speed, are the end games here. It's a perfect way to show what the 247-horsepower Focus ST can do (along with Ford's torque-vectoring system, which can make the car grip harder when powering out of a sharp turn).

If you're up to task, Ford will let you race in an autocross competition later in the day. Sign up here (it's free). If you can't find the lot, just let the smell of burning clutches and melting brake pads get you there. And if you can't make it in Boston, Ford's doing the same thing in New York and Washington, D.C. starting at the end of June.

The Focus ST will start at $24,495 -- about the price of a Mazdaspeed 3 or a base Subaru WRX -- when it goes on sale later this year.

Q. I’m considering a new full sized pickup truck but the choices are dizzying. When I was growing up, you purchased a Chevy for a car and a Ford for a truck. Now, with pickups from Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Dodge and Chevy, I’m a bit confused. Of the five most popular makes, is there one that you like better than the other?

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Q. I’m hoping you can shed some light on a problem with my Volvo wagon. About six weeks ago, the trunk/hatch stopped opening. The car was not involved in an accident or otherwise bumped. There is no exterior lock on the trunk and no interior release lever. We have checked the fuses. The dealership says the only way to open it is a dramatic (and expensive) removal of the rear bumper and then the entire hatch. They provided this diagnosis without examining the car. I took the car to a local garage and the mechanic said that his research indicated that there is a covered exterior lock, where the outside release handle is on the trunk. He showed me a circular indentation which he believes can be punched out to expose the manual lock. He was hesitant to punch it out, in case he was wrong. Do you know if there as an exterior trunk lock that could be exposed and used with a key to open the trunk? I always try to read your column and miss it when it is not in the paper.

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Q. I own a 2001 Chevy Silverado extended cab pickup truck. I use it for dump runs and trips to the home improvement store. It has the smaller V-8 engine. My question involves the fuel pump. My friend (who in fact sold me the truck) states that GM pick-up truck fuel pumps usually fail after 125-135,000 miles. He has owned a few Silverado trucks and apparently they all have failed in this range. My concern is that I have just reached 135K and feel as though I am walking on eggshells! Would you be able to verify this? I have also asked my garage for an estimate on replacement and they quoted approximately $720.00 which sounds very expensive. Is this price out of line? What should I do?

A. I have seen the fuel pumps fail in these trucks in as little as 75,000 miles and have seen them last more than 200,000 miles. The main reason a fuel pump fails is driving with very little fuel in the tank. The fuel in the tank helps to cool the pump, therefore if you drive around with the low fuel light on all the time it, may be time to replace the pump. The other issue could be related to the wiring. I have seen the connector at the pump fail as well. The fuel pump itself is nearly $500 and according to the data base I use, Alldata, it will take three hours to remove the fuel tank and replace the pump.

Q. I have a 2005 Honda Pilot with 108,000 miles. When it reached 95,000 miles, it started vibrating in the rear of the vehicle when I was accelerating between 30-40 mph. It goes away quickly, but happens quite frequently. The vibration noise disappears both when I accelerate and when I take my foot off the gas. I had it at the dealer for three days and they were not able to identify the noise, yet my passengers can all hear the vibration. I also occasionally hear a vibration in the front of the car. I am wondering if there are two separate issues with the noise being in the front on occasion and also in the back. I definitely hear the noise from the back of the car more frequently. Any ideas on what could be causing this? I read your column every week and I am a big fan. Thank you.

A. Honda uses a very specific rear differential fluid (VTM4). This fluid is design to work with Honda’s active torque rear differential. Over time this fluid will wear out and cause a chatter. Since the dealer couldn’t find any mechanical problems, ask them about changing the fluid. I have seen many cases where this will help. In regard to the noise in the front of the car, that could be the result of a loose/vibrating exhaust heat shield.

Q. I hope you can shed some light on a non-mechanical question. I have a 2003 Volvo S60, and am having a problem with the radio. At times I am unable to hold a station. This happens throughout the winter, and it is starting to happen as the weather has gotten warmer. For some unknown reason, the digital stations will scan through nonstop, or just move up or down one station. Sometimes tuning the radio with the steering wheel button helps, or else I just turn the radio off and start over. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

A. Volvo did issue a technical bulletin for erratic radio operation. Apparently a cable inside the CD player portion of the radio chafes and causes problems. There is no specific repair other that replacing the radio.

Q. I’m hoping you can settle an argument between me and my wife. She is convinced that if we use premium gas in our car we will get better fuel mileage. I see gas prices have gone down a few cents, but I think it is just a waste of money. What do you think?

A. If the car was designed for premium fuel, follow the recommendations of the owner’s manual for the best performance and mileage. If it is designed to run on 87 octane regular, paying for premium is just a waste of money.

Q. I admit it, I’m having a mid life crisis, maybe even past “mid-life”. Rather than get myself in real trouble, with women and gambling like some of my friends, I thought I would buy one of the new “muscle” cars. I have been looking at the Camaro, Ford Mustang, and the Chrysler Challenger. I liked these cars in the sixties and seventies and still do. Have you driven any of these cars? What do you like best?

A. The Challenger is the best representation of the muscle car era, although for both good and bad reasons. The performance, ride, and exhaust note are very nice. Like cars of the 70’s the handling and steering are not up to 21st century standards. Although the Mustang has the smallest engine, it has great performance and the steering and handling are very good. The Camaro was always one of my favorite cars and with its big V-8, has plenty of muscle. GM did a good job with styling the interior. Although the Camaro draws plenty of cues from the 1968 and 1969 models, the style doesn’t appeal to me except with the convertible which I really like. In my opinion, the overall best combination is the Mustang; it is just a good value for the money. The Mustang has a variety of variants and the Boss Mustang is one of my favorites. On final item, don’t dismiss the V-6 engines in any of these models. The 6-cylinder engines offer great fuel economy and some are over 300 horsepower. At the end of the day, buy what you like and will enjoy, as you pointed out it is cheaper and safer than the alternative.

Q. Three years ago, my 2004 Hyundai XG350 was recalled due to sub frame rotting. The dealer drilled holes in the frame and applied an anticorrosive, according to manufacturer's guidelines. Last week, the car started pulling to the right and sliding across the road when I hit small bumps. I thought it needed an alignment, but when it got on the lift, turns out the entire sub frame had rotted from the inside out. The dealer is replacing sub frame at his cost, but I am worried about the stability of the fix, whether or not the car will be right once it is repaired. What would you do?

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Q. I just read about the latest Hyundai Azera in one of the buff-books and it looked pretty good. Have you driven it and what is your take on this car? At one time it seemed people purchased a Hyundai because of price and warranty, are they truly good cars?

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(L.L. Bean). Click photo for larger version.

Most of us have seen at least a photo of the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile, but how many have seen the 13-foot high L.L. Bean Bootmobile in person?

The Bootmobile was at Fenway Park this Friday for the Sox home opener. Fenway Park is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and so is iconic Maine retailer L.L. Bean. On Saturday, the Bootmobile heads to Boston Common from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to announce a summer kayaking series in conjunction with the City of Boston.

On Sunday, the vehicle will be at the L.L. Bean Dedham retail store from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at the Mansfield store from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

But that's not it. On Monday it will stomp over to Bean’s Burlington store from 9 a.m. to noon, and then take part in Lexington’s Patriots’ Day Parade at 2 p.m.

In case you were wondering, the driver enters the Boot through the heel and a camera provides rear visibility.

The Bootmobile also is scheduled to visit Chicago, New York City, Northern Virginia, and Freeport, Maine. For every person to share a photo of the Bootmobile, or share their outdoor experience, L.L.Bean will donate a dollar to the National Park Foundation, up to $1 million.

Q. My Ford Explorer with a six-cylinder engine just started running rough, and the next day it started blowing white smoke. I checked the water, so far no oil. So this morning I started it and I looked at the passenger-side exhaust manifold, and oil is being blown through the exhaust, from the cylinder head. Where could it be coming from and what would cause that?

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Q. I own a 2012 Hyundai Sonata that I plan on owning for a long time. It’s my family’s second vehicle so I’ll put around 7500 miles a year on it. Since the manufacturer recommends a 3750 mile interval between oil changes in severe conditions (such as a lot of short distance driving, which I do), that’s about 2 oil changes per year. Do you think that under those circumstances synthetic oil would make sense for me? I believe in the benefits of synthetic, but I’m not sure it makes sense because of the added cost. If you think synthetic would make sense, which brand is best? I’ve heard that Royal Purple can help increase fuel efficiency. By the way, I enjoy reading your advice columns.

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(Front: Gerry Miles for The Boston Globe; Interior: Hyundai). Click photo for larger version.

I get the Veloster, I think. Or maybe I’ve spent too much time reading the Steve Jobs biography and Apple thinking has convinced me that great design takes great risks. The Hyundai Veloster’s polarizing design is certainly risky, but it’s also daring.

The Veloster is designed with an angle – purposely – to get drivers thinking about what fun they could have driving a Hyundai. How many times have you looked at a car recently that seemed really high-end only to be surprised that it’s a Sonata or Elantra?

To use some spring training lingo, consider the new Veloster as the set-up man for the upcoming closer–the Veloster Turbo. This car is the appetizing first serving of what promises to be a dramatic future.

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Q. I just purchased a 2011 Chevy HHR that is a flex fuel car. The E85 gasoline looks tempting since it is 30 cents lower than regular gasoline. What are the positives and negatives of this (E15 and E 85) fuel?

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(All photos: Steve Davis/WheelsTV). Click photo for larger version.

LOS ANGELES—Refined excess may sound like a contradiction, but it's the simplest way to describe this city and the monster I'm driving, a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe. A fair amount of Angelinos will buy this elegant luxury car, which only gives off subtle hints of its bone-crushing power and finely-tuned suspension.

AMG is the in-house performance wing of Mercedes-Benz, akin to BMW's M Division. Both are well known among car enthusiasts, but with the M3, only BMW had a true world-beating performance coupe. Until now.

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Q. I have a 2003 Chevrolet Impala with 112,000 miles on it. The dealer advises it will soon need a steering rack with an estimated cost over $2,000 for this. It’s also possible that the power steering pump is shot. The car is in otherwise excellent condition, has been maintained “by the book” and never abused. It runs extremely well. Do you feel this type of repair is worth it for an older car? I am leaning toward repairing, just because the car is paid for and I enjoy having no car payments. I have friends with the same model who have easily driven 200K miles. What do you think?

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(Keith Barry for The Boston Globe). Click photo for larger version.

A Nissan Leaf plugs into one of two public charging stations at the Hanover Mall.

By Keith Barry, Globe Correspondent

HANOVER—Two new public electric vehicle charging stations that just opened at a shopping mall in Hanover might not be drawing crowds yet, but state officials hope they'll be the first of many spots where electric car owners will plug in across Massachusetts suburbs.

The charging stations at the Hanover Mall on Route 53, which opened to the public last month, are part of an ambitious public-private partnership to provide a statewide charging infrastructure with at least one station every 60 miles. Among other cities and towns slated to get charging stations this year are Chelmsford, Kingston, Newton, Salem, and New Bedford.

"The vehicles are coming, but this is part of the pilot," said Stephen Russell, the program director for alternative transportation and clean cities at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Altogether, there should be about 150 more stations across the state by the end of the year, distributed across commercial centers, town-owned properties and MBTA and Massport parking lots. Many are in Boston's suburbs, though some are located as far west as Lenox and Greenfield. National Grid is opening an additional 30 stations across the state, including ones at some Chili's and 99 restaurants.

Given its distance from an urban center, a suburb like Hanover might seem like an odd place to put a charging station. But managers at the mall, located about halfway between Boston and Cape Cod, say that the charging station will attract both locals and city-dwelling EV owners who can do some shopping while waiting for their cars to be ready.

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(All photos: General Motors). Click photo for larger version.

This is the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo, the last of the awful American subcompacts. Overseas, the Aveo name lives on as our US-market Sonic.

American manufacturers used to make horrible subcompact cars. Finally, that time came to an end when the last Chevy Aveo slithered off the assembly line. Chevy, in particular, had fundamental issues turning out a usable small car. From the Vega through the revived Nova years, and right on up to the Aveo (a rebadged Daewoo Lanos), Chevrolet seemed to treat subcompact consumers with outright hostility. That all changes with the Sonic. I spent a six-hour ride to Vermont and back in a Sonic LTZ Turbo. In the old days, when you drove an inexpensive Chevrolet, you felt as if the entire car was giving you the finger. Cardboard door panels, wind noise at 30 mph, lousy radio, flaccid handling. This uprated Sonic, on the other hand, features truly comfortable seats, a solid audio system with XM Satellite Radio and connections for every electronic device in your arsenal, a usable instrument panel, an extremely quiet interior and surprisingly good exterior aesthetics outside.

It's as if Chevrolet was attempting to build an actual car.

You won’t climb long hills in sixth gear – a subcompact Chevy with a six-speed? Will wonders never cease? – but downshifting past fifth is unnecessary under most conditions. Fuel mileage is outstanding, and filling a 10-gallon tank makes you look down your nose at drivers filling SUVs at the pump.

Complaints are exceedingly minor. I like the idea of the fold-down armrest for the driver, but it needs to offer a little bit more of a downward angle, especially in Sonics with a manual transmission. A leftward head-check over the shoulder when changing lanes results in a B-pillar that almost completely blocks your view. The cargo area is good for not much more than a knapsack and a pair of running shoes.

That’s it, though. In total, it was an honestly enjoyable car to drive on a long trip, which is a lot more than I can say for cars like the truly awful Geo Metro. Well done.

(All photos: General Motors). Click photo for larger version.

About five years ago, an old friend got married. As a member of the wedding party, I was hoping I would have a cool car to drive to the ceremony. I ended up with a Chevrolet Aveo – a dismal subcompact that demonstrated everything wrong about America's subcompacts at the time: uninspired design, bad ride, and the inability to get out of its own way.

Fast forward to the Aveo’s replacement, the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, which sat in my driveway for two weeks over the December holidays. Once again I was initially disappointed because I like to drive something a little bigger in December, especially (I shamelessly admit) to look good in the eyes of my relatives.

But then I get behind the wheel a couple days before Christmas and discover Santa Claus has delivered an early present. The Sonic hatchback with the turbocharged 1.4-liter engine is an absolute blast to drive in a small but comfortable package.

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(All photos: BMW). Click photo for larger version.

MONTERREY, Calif.—For its all-new 2012 3 Series sedan, BMW is thinking big and small: an 8-speed automatic transmission mated to a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It's an interesting gamble to combine fuel efficiency with spirited driving.

There's also something unusual the German automaker is bringing: value. It’s a word product manager Oliver Ganser used over and over during the car’s media introduction in Monterrey.

Since when is the adjective “value” used to describe a BMW? If you’ve ever priced a 3 Series and wondered why you’re forced to pay $1,450 for leather in a $35,000 car, you know the answer. This is a car you want, not need, to drive.

Except, oddly enough, the 2012 3 Series sedan is a value, a weird thing to say for a car that competes against the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Audi A4. BMW has managed to make a competitive sedan that performs well, has lots of luxury, and yet manages to be well-priced among premium compact sedans.

What is this world coming to?

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Q. Here is my problem, I have a 2003 Honda Civic hybrid and I have been told the car needs its hybrid battery replaced. I have been told there is no answer except a $4,300 purchase of a new battery and computer. The Honda dealership says there is no repair, only replacement of the battery. My question is with the overall emerging hybrid market if someone is not finding a niche in repairing these batteries. The problem is the car runs fine but needs to be inspected in April. I am told that the car will not pass inspection with either the check or the IMA light on. Is there any hope or solution other than spending $4300.00?

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Range Rover, roll over.

At the Geneva Auto Show, Bentley has unveiled a concept of what may be the most lavish production SUV ever built.

The EXP 9 F, especially from its tapered rear, may look like a custom Range Rover Sport with 23-inch chrome rims. But the engine, a 600-horsepower W-12 as seen in the two-door Continental GT Speed, is unlike any Range in a Wellesley strip mall. The center stack is a thin metal enclosure with a glass touchscreen -- there are actual iPads in the back seat with fold-down keyboards -- and the rest of the leather-swathed interior includes room for champagne flutes and a silver picnic set neatly folded in the cargo area.

Bentley will fit an 8-speed automatic transmission from its Mulsanne, but we don't know if the EXP 9 F is riding on a unique chassis or is simply a taller version of the Continental (a coupe that already weighs more than most SUVs). Bentley says it may also offer a hybrid powertrain or the newly introduced 4.0-liter V-8 to customers, who should likely place enough orders for the British automaker to build it next year.

But while the soft leathers and deep pools of polished wood look amazing, how much more luxurious can this Bentley SUV be from the Range Rover, the Rolls-Royce of SUVs that’s been making sumptuous trucks longer than anyone?

Last year, Range Rover introduced a limited-edition Autobiography model with similar specs to the Bentley concept: buttery-smooth semi-aniline leather covering every surface, including the roof and cargo walls; exotic woods; custom drink coolers and swiveling tray; two iPads; and a rear cargo floor made of solid teak. The engine? A supercharged V-8 with “just” 510 horsepower. All for $170,000. The Bentley will no doubt cost the same, if not more, and likely won’t be tuned to tackle the insane off-road challenges the Range Rover can.

But competition does improve the breed, and the bloodline of thirsty, exuberant, enormous trucks doesn’t look to die, even in the face of $5 gasoline.

(All photos: Bill Griffith for The Boston Globe). Click photo for larger version.

Sometimes driving is fun; other times, it’s a hoot. This is about one of those wonderful occasions.

We’re at the wheel of a 2012 Dodge Charger—a.k.a. the undercover police car—near the New Hampshire border. Our test car’s tungsten metallic paint job isn’t too far away from the N.H. state police cruisers’ color scheme.

So, when we manage a friendly wave at local police officers in their black and white Chargers, they wave back, not quite certain if we’re an unmarked member of the fraternity. Of course, we’re not part of their lodge, but we’re driving one of the neatest full-sized sedans around, one the law enforcement types like for its intimidating looks and power.

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(Jay Leno). Click photo for larger version.

Jay Leno at his garage with the Dunlop Bridge replica, an Austin Healey, and (left to right) Dominic Falconeiri of Middleboro, Peter Sturtevant of Mansfield, and David Altman of Beverly.

A group of local Austin Healey aficionados have built a bridge that has spanned the country, starting in Middleboro and ending at Jay Leno’s Garage in Burbank, Calif.

The display is a replica of the landmark Dunlop Bridge that spans the LeMans race circuit in France.

Leno’s “garage,” of course, is one of this country’s most extensive and eclectic high-quality collections of automobiles, automobilia, and motorcycles. And its owner has a special place for his new archway.

“I just acquired a new building and needed something for the transition area that connects the garages,” says Leno. “The bridge is a perfect connection. It’s the gateway to the new area.”

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(All photos: Craig Fitzgerald for Boston.com). Click photo for larger version.

I walked out of the garage with a snowbrush yesterday right as my plow guy, finishing his last pass of the driveway, stopped and called me over to his Ford pickup.

“You’re not taking that, are you?” he asked, his finger pointed at a bright red 2012 Porsche Boxster S.

Why wouldn’t I?

Since last year, Porsche has been running the “Porsche Everyday” campaign, pitching its line of cars – not just its SUVs and sedans – as everyday drivers, suitable for picking up the kids at school, hauling a couple of bags of Portland cement from the Home Depot, and yes, getting through the snow safely and securely.

For years now, I’ve been listening to New Englanders bellyache that you can’t get through winter without all-wheel drive. Utter nonsense. All-wheel drive is nice to have. It’s by no means mandatory.

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Q. I've owned a 1966 Corvette for over 30 years. Although I don't drive it a lot, I always started the engine and drove it for a couple of miles at least once every two months. This past year, however, I got involved in a project and the car has sat for nearly the entire year without any activity. I'm concerned about starting the engine as the gas is old and there has been no circulation of the oil though the engine. I don't want to damage the engine when I attempt to start it, is there something I should do before starting the engine?

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A successful business leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Ernie Boch, Jr. is President and CEO of Boch Enterprises, based in Norwood.

Q. I often see Range Rovers on television and they look pretty impressive. Are they worth the money? Although I’m pretty sure I’ll never be able to buy one, I can dream.

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