Fashion-forward auto shoppers take note: eCityofStyle.com—a top online destination for those interested in discovering what’s hot and what’s not—recently revealed its 12th annual Auto Style Awards, picking five eye-catching vehicles that deliver a strong combination of exterior and interior coolness, superior driving dynamics, and stand-out-from-the-crowd exclusivity. This year’s quintet includes vehicles for nearly every budget, too, proving it doesn’t always make sense to spend big bucks to get high style.
Fiat 500Calling it a “potent entry in the fun-to-drive, small-car segment” and acclaiming its “overt retro flair,” the eCityofStyle editors chose the FIAT 500 as an award winner in its very first year on the U.S. market. The 2012 500 starts at just $15,500 for the “Pop” model, which offers an easy way to enjoy Italian fashion at a smart price, and recently added the high-performance Abarth model to this year’s lineup. Packing 160 hp and 170 lb.-ft. of torque inside a lighter version of the 500’s already lightweight package, a stripped-down and enthusiast-oriented cockpit, and a modified, more aerodynamic exterior, the track-ready Fiat 500 Abarth is slated to launch in this country in March of 2012.
Hyundai VelosterHyundai seems to have another hit on its hands with the dramatically designed Veloster. In its first full month on sale, the unique three-door coupe earned 3,724 sales—nearly twice as many as the Fiat 500—to go with its place on the 2012 Auto Style Awards list. Consider it a further example of how, according to eCityofStyle editors, Hyundai has become “a legitimate threat to the establishment, designing cars that look considerably more expensive than they really are.” In this case meaning you can get into a Veloster for as little as $17,300, which still gets you standard equipment like Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system, a six-speaker 196-watt sound system, the largest high-res LCD touchscreen in its class and up to 40 mpg highway.
Range Rover Evoque“Razor-sharp headlights, a swoopy roofline, and eco-friendly interior materials highlight the Evoque's smart design,” according to the eCityofStyle website, and that’s just for starters. In addition to wearing much the same sheet metal as the striking LRX concept vehicle of 2008, the Evoque delivers a sumptuous, high-tech interior with standard accoutrements ranging from premium leather surfaces to an eight-inch touchscreen, as well as a high-efficiency turbocharged I4 engine that produces 240 hp and up to 20 percent fewer CO2 emissions than similarly horsepowered larger-displacement engines. Also standard on the Evoque is Range Rover’s cutting-edge Terrain Response system, helping drivers enjoy optimum traction and control on a wide range of on- and off-road surfaces. The 2012 Evoque has an MSRP that starts at $43,995.
BMW 6 SeriesThe drop-top version of BMW’s 6 Series coupe—with a starting price of $81,800—picked up its Auto Style Award courtesy of its “sleek, swoopy lines,” a twin-turbo 400-hp V6 engine that “emits a refined symphony of muscularity,” and, on the interior, “rich surfaces and textures, such as Nappa leather-finished seats and dash, befitting pampered sensibilities like ours.” The pampering then continues with features like a three-mode Driving Dynamics Control system that allows drivers to choose between “COMFORT,” “NORMAL” and “SPORT” modes; a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission; a full-color, 10.2-inch touchscreen providing fingertip control of numerous vehicle systems; and a well-tailored soft top than can open or close in less than 20 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMGThis awe-inspiring Mercedes has the highest starting price among the Auto Style Award winners, at $94,900, but “the AMG package upgrades are worth every penny. Adding a more rakish front fascia inspired by the exotic SLS, muscular fenders, and a meaner engine, the CLS63 AMG is a bona fide sports car,” said eCityofStyle.com. That powerplant is the heart of the matter, but the only drivers likely to be angered by the car’s handcrafted 5.5-liter V8 are those in other vehicles: With that biturbo engine capable of 518 hp, the CLS63 AMG rockets from 0-60 in 4.4 seconds while ensconcing its owners in a premium interior that boasts AMG sport seats and multi-colored ambient lighting, and offers available technologies like the Mercedes-Benz COMAND infotainment and connectivity system and the world’s first all-LED active headlamps.
