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We wish the Fiat Toro compact pickup would come to America

Ready for another round of wailing and gnashing of teeth? Then let the Brazilian-market Fiat Toro pickup commence the lamentations about our domestic lack of compact pickup trucks. Previewed by the FCC4 concept showed at last year's Sao Paolo Motor Show, and then this mule, the little double-cab is rumored to be based on the Small Wide 4x4 corporate architecture that supports the Jeep Renegade. At 193.5 inches long, the Toro is 26 inches longer than the Renegade, 20 inches shorter than the Chevrolet Colorado extended cab, and ten inches shorter than the 2011 Ford Ranger. The Toro is offered in three trims - Urban, Adrenaline, and Country - and two drive options. The Urban comes in a front-wheel drive configuration, and gets a 1.8-liter E-Torq Flex four-cylinder with 138 horsepower mated to a six-speed automatic. Adrenaline is also 4x2 only, but buyers will get a 2.0-liter Multijet turbodiesel with 170 hp tied to that six-speed auto or a six-speed manual. The top Country trim is the only one with 4x4 and it gets all the powertrain options: the 1.8-liter with the six-speed auto, or the 2.0-liter diesel with either a six-speed manual, six-speed auto, or nine-speed automatic. The manual can be specced with 4x2 or 4x4, the nine-speed only comes in 4x4. The turbodiesel has up to 280 pound-feet of torque in other Fiat applications. Fiat Brazil says it can carry five in "the comfort of a luxury car." That might be a bit much, but it is tow-rated for 2,200 pounds and can be optioned with appealingly useful and decorative features like xenon headlights, LED DRLs, fog lights, bright underbody protection, Uconnect with a five-inch touchscreen, light and rain sensors, and a sunroof. The smaller Fiat Strada, a compact Brazilian-market pickup we drove in 2013 that 74 percent of you said Fiat should bring here, managed an easy 50 miles per gallon with a 1.3-liter turbodiesel with 94 hp and 148 lb-ft. The Toro wouldn't be that sippy with fuel, but we have a feeling it'd be more than pleasing to those still hankering for a genuinely small truck with some comfort features and a decent tow rating. We also have to wonder if such a machine, perhaps with the powertrain options of the Jeep Renegade, might help with Fiat's lagging US sales figures. Related Video:

2017 Fiat 124 Spider: Japanese bones, Italian flair

Fiata! Fiat + Miata. That's exactly what we have here in the new 124 Spider that officially debuts in Los Angeles this week. FCA leveraged Mazda's excellent fourth-generation MX-5 Miata platform, but created something rather unique in the process. Yes, it's more than just a rebadged Mazda. See what we mean with a lot more detail, here. The big difference is design, Fiat having incorporated totally new sheetmetal for the 124 Spider. It's a polarizing look, perhaps not as friendly as the Mazda, and Fiat says it pays homage to the original 124 Spider from long ago. There's an upright fascia with rounded lamps and a nice LED running lamp signature, mimicked out back with squared-off taillamps with LEDs that light up the outline of the taillamp housings. Curves and lines abound, making the Fiat an interesting roadster to behold. Under the hood lies Fiat's 1.4-liter, turbocharged, inline four-cylinder engine, plucked from the 500 Abarth. It makes 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, and can be mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Fiat's quite insistent that its 124 Spider has the soul of a proper Italian roadster, and from some short teaser videos we were able to watch, it sounds like the little droptop will offer plenty of raspy, throaty, aural delight. The interior is, well, straight from the Miata, right down to the control knobs for the HVAC system, infotainment screen (no UConnect here), and window switches. But that also means the roof is easy to unlatch and throw back, the seats are surprisingly comfortable, and there's ample room for even larger drivers. Fiat will launch the 124 Spider next summer, and the first 124 examples will be offered in a limited-edition Prima Edizione Lusso trim, with individually numbered badges. Those first samples will be available in a unique Azzurro Italia (read: blue) paint. Read Fiat's full press release below for more details, and don't forget to check out or deep dive about how this car stacks up agains the Miata on which its based. All-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Revives Legendary Nameplate with Iconic Italian Styling and Dynamic Driving Experience - 2017 Fiat 124 Spider returns nearly 50 years after original introduction Revival of roadster continues expansion of FIAT brand in North America - Delivers iconic Italian style with modern adaptation of original Spider legend - Powered by turbocharged MultiAir 1.4-liter engine for 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft.

These are the 'Greenest' and 'Meanest' cars in 2015

As has become tradition, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has come up with a ranking of what it refers to as the "greenest" cars of 2015, and, by way of contrast, a list of the so-called "meanest" cars, so those who value eco-friendliness over all else can choose which vehicles they should or should not consider buying. As you may expect, electric cars make up the majority of the greenest cars on the list, but, perhaps surprisingly to many, the Tesla Model S didn't make the cut. It's worth noting, too, that where the electricity an owner uses to charge their electric vehicle has a big impact on its overall environmental impact. "A car that is charged using electricity generated from natural gas or renewables is going to have significantly less impact on the environment than one charged on a coal-heavy grid," says ACEEE lead vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan. The ACEEE's list for 2015 looks very different than it did in 2014. It's an interesting collection, though – and we're sure this goes without saying, really – we'd recommend doing a bit more research into each vehicle and how it might fit into your daily life before making any purchase decisions. Click here to see the ACEEE's list of the Greenest and Meanest vehicles sold in the United States in 2015. Green Bugatti Chevrolet Fiat GM GMC Mercedes-Benz Nissan RAM smart Toyota greenest greenest cars