The No.5 best-selling vehicle in America this year is the Toyota RAV4. With an all-new RAV4 just around the corner, arriving as a 2019 model, the 2018 RAV4 remains the top compact SUV chosen by buyers to take its owners on countless urban, suburban and off-the-beaten-path adventures. And for 2018, Adventure is a buzzword.

Next year, RAV4 is expected be sportier with an entirely re-imagined design and new performance parameters, thanks to the implementation of its new Toyota New Global Architecture platform and two new powertrains. But this year, RAV4 still adds onto last year’s model with significant safety upgrades, a new sporty Hybrid level, and a new Adventure grade with rugged styling and increased ground clearance.

Considered by Toyota as “the original small SUV that created the segment,” RAV4 was launched in 1994, as the baby-ute was named for its mission as a “Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive.” In the seventh and final year of its 4th generation, the 2018 RAV4 adds a fifth trim level -- the Adventure grade, and RAV4 Hybrid is now available in five grades.

The Adventure identity pays off inside, with such unique and exclusive features as carbon-fiber-like trim panels, leather-wrapped shift knob, “RAV4 Adventure” logoed door sill protectors, and all-weather floor and cargo mats with “RAV4 Adventure” badging. A 120V/100W power outlet in the cargo area is convenient for operating a portable air compressor or other equipment.

RAV4 has been the “cool” SUV for 24 years, and its sleek and dynamic stance includes a bold front fascia, flowing profile and sporty attitude. RAV4 keeps its compact dimensions with a 104.7-inch wheelbase and 181.1-inch length. Height is low enough for relative niche stability at 65.9 inches (the new Adventure trim is higher at 66.3 inches), while width is 72.6 inches. Curbweight remains in the range of 3460 to 3630 pounds depending on trim (3605 for the Adventure) and ground clearance comes in at 6.1 inches (6.5 for Adventure).

Non-hybrid RAV4 grades are powered by an efficient 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that delievers176 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. The dual-overhead cam plant teams dual VVT-i (Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) with a standard six-speed automatic transmission for EPA fuel economy estimates of 23mpg city/30mpg highway/26 mpg combined. My mixed-use tests garnered an average of 26.2mpg.

Driver-selectable operating modes let the RAV4 driver set the mood on the road. With Eco mode selected, RAV4 optimizes powertrain operation to help maximize fuel economy. Sport mode delivers sharpened shift timing, throttle response and steering feel. Downshifting will “blip” the throttle, as the driver in a stick-shift vehicle might do. On RAV4 models with Dynamic Torque Control All-Wheel Drive, Sport mode also alters torque distribution to enhance agility. Fun to drive and cozy behind the wheel, RAV4 is a confident drive with slow, but steady acceleration. On the highway, passing is easily accomplished, and on the track my 2018 RAV4 completed a zero-to-60mph sprint in 8.5 seconds, during a slow, but entertaining 16.1-second quarter-mile.

RAV4’s electric power assisted rack and pinion steering was predictable with good feedback and entertaining understeer. The MacPherson strut front suspension with stabilizer bar and hydraulic shocks, works with a double wishbone multi-link rear with coil spring, stabilizer bar and hydraulic shocks for good road-softening and a minimum of lean and topwobble.

The RAV4 cabin is sporty and accommodating and filled with infotainment including a 6-speaker Entune™ Audio system with 6.1-inch touchscreen. Special attention was directed toward improving cabin quietness with the addition of sound insulation. 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 2018 RAV4 is equipped with the Star Safety System™, a profusion of enhanced occupant protection and crash avoidance systems that starts with energy-absorbing crumple zone construction and includes Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Brake Assist, Anti-lock Braking System and Smart Stop Technology. Eight standard airbags consist of dual stage advanced driver and front passenger airbags; front seat-mounted side airbags; first and second row side curtain airbags; driver’s knee airbag and a front passenger seat cushion airbag. Whiplash Injury Lessening front seats are designed to help support the driver’s and front passenger’s heads during certain types of rear-end collisions.

The base RAV4 starts $24,660 for the base LE trim in FWD and runs through five trims, topping out at the Limited at $32,555. The RAV4 Hybrid starts at $27,385 and also runs through five trims, ending at the Limited Hybrid at $34,280. My test RAV4 Adventure (third trim up) started at $28,650. In AWD with 6-speed automatic transmission, my Adventure added Roby Flare Pearl (Red) exterior paint for $395. Mated to a Black fabric interior, the heavily safety-oriented Heated Fabric Front Seats package was added for $1760. Running Boards added $549 and a Remote Engine Starter was $499. With Delivery and processing fees of $1045, My test RAV4 Adventure stickered at $31,537.

> 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.

What began as a quiet, upscale 1973 sedan, the Buick Regal ended its initial production run in 2004 and was relaunched to North America in 2011 (production and sales have been ongoing in China since 1999), and following a sporty mid-generation tweaking in 2014, Buick has gone all-new with Regal in 2018, with a sleek, sporty design increased horsepower, an upgraded cabin and advanced infotainment.

Heralded by Buick as “a sport sedan designed for everyday driving,” the five-passenger, four-door sedan has a front-engine, active twin-clutch all-wheel drive configuration and all-new, heated/cooled and massaging performance seats, while also adding a separate five-door sportback (hatch) design.

The Regal GS I tested was in the sedan line, and new for 2018 are a 3.6-liter V-6 engine; standard nine-speed automatic transmission and intelligent all-wheel drive with active twin clutch for improved vehicle control; five-link rear suspension; GS-specific, performance seats that are heated, cooled and massaging with adjustable seat and seat-back bolsters as well as thigh support; second-generation Continuous Damping Control capable of 500 adjustments per second; Interactive Drive Control with GS and Sport modes; unique sport front and rear fascias, side skirts and rear spoiler; standard 19-inch wheels; performance brakes with Brembo front calipers; sport-tuned exhaust system; sport flat-bottom steering wheel and metal pedals and an available head-up display.

Outside, Buick offers a sculptured Euro-sportiness with aggressive front and rear fascias, a rear decklid spoiler and GS badging front and rear. The 2018 Buick Regal GS has grown some and now measures 192.9 inches in length (a gain of 2.7 inches), 73.3 inches in width (up 0.2 inches), and 57.3 inches in height (a better road hugger now as it is 1.1 inches lower); on a 111.4-inch wheelbase, which is 3.6 inches longer. Curbweight is about 3796 lbs., a weight gain of 71 lbs.

Inside, the Regal features unique perforated GS-specific performance seats with integrated headrests and adjustable lumbar and thigh support bolsters. The seats are heated and ventilated and come standard with a massage function. The interior also features state-of-the-art infotainment, on-board WiFi and GS-specific pedals and sill plates.

The reconfigured cabin makes headroom a bit tight at 38.8 inches in front and 37.4 inches in row two, with the front as same as last year, and the rear 0.6 inches wider; legroom is an accommodating 42.1 inches in row one and 36.9 for the second row – the front remains the same and rear is 0.4 inches tighter; and shoulder room is 56.9 and 55.4 (0.2 inches wider up front and an inch wider in row two).

The 2018 Regal GS offers a cohesive and connected infotainment experience with an 8-inch diagonal touchscreen and 8-inch diagonal reconfigurable instrument cluster as standard equipment. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility both come standard. A full-color head-up display is available with an optional Driver Confidence II package that also includes several safety features including Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Automatic Braking.

Regal’s base engine is a cast aluminum 3.6-liter direct injection V- 6. Mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, the system is rated at 310hp and 282 lb-ft of torque. This represents a gain of 51 hp and a loss of 13 lb-ft over the 2.0-liter turbo I tested in last year’s Regal GS review. The 2.0 has been relegated to duty in the new Buick Regal Sportback model. The 3.6-liter system is EPA rated at 19mpg/city, 22mpg/highway and 27.0mpg overall, and my week of mixed-use tests yielded an average of 20.7mpg.

On the track, my GS accelerated sportily and I was more than a second-and-a-half faster than I was last year in the sprint with my 2.0-liter turbo. My zero-to-60mph time this year was 5.5 seconds during a 14.5-second-flat quarter-mile. On the highway, we had excellent passing power at speed, steering and balance were sportlike, and the suspension was Buicklike – stable and quiet … sporty, but traditionally Buick quiet.

The 2018 Buick Regal Sportback starts at $24,990, and runs through five trims, topping at nearly $40,000. The Regal GS Sedan bases at $39,070 with the 3.6-liter V-6 Engine with Stop/Start Technology, 19-inch Cast Aluminum with Technical Gray Gloss Finish, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Front and Rear Park Assist, High-Performance Heated, Ventilated Bucket Seats with Massage, Integrated Head Restraints and Power-Adjustable Bolsters, Brembo® Front Brakes, Rear Decklid Spoiler, Air Dams, Ground Effects and Pass-Through Exhaust.

In Sport Red, with Ebony leather-appointed seat trim, my Regal GS added the Driver Confidence II Package for $1690, with Adaptive Cruise Control, Following Distance Indicator, Head-Up Display, Forward Collision Alert and Forward Automatic Braking. The power moonroof added $1000; The Appearance Package for $485 added wireless charging, LED headlamps with automatic leveling, cornering lamps and more. The Sights and Sounds Package added $945 for an 8-inch diagonal, 8-speaker infotainment and audio system with navigation; Premium all-weather floor mats were $140 and destination and freight charges were $925, for a sticker-as-tested of $44,255, but cash allowances and other incentives are available from the dealer to lower the price.

> 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.

Except for a little rain Thursday, the weather overall for Fall Carlisle was spectacular. Mother Nature was friend, not foe for the October 3-7 event that just took place for the 45th time at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds. With her support, thousands of vendors and tens of thousands of guests had a great time buying and selling all things automotive.

Though gates opened Wednesday for the first time to officially start the show, business was happening by Monday, as vendors set up and patronized each other, while an exclusive set of pickers also had access to the grounds. Starting with vendor load in on Monday, the all-new VIP Power Picker group was able to come on grounds early, park on grounds and have free reign of the swap meet and car corral. This package was just $99 and gave unprecedented access to the grounds at an amazing value.

As each day turned to the next, there was always something different happening. The stage hosted a DJ playing music, plus FREE metal fabrication seminars from Steve Mercurio from Pro Metal Shop of Danville, Pennsylvania. His display was flanked by a special build; a custom pet wagon called the Ruff Rod. This creation was auctioned Friday and generated over $1,500 in monies for Speranza Animal Rescue of Mechanicsburg, PA.
Additional event fun included a Friday trivia party with vendors and a Saturday vendor appreciation and send off dinner for Carlisle Events’ very own Diane Vaughn. In between, Thursday offered the first day of the three-day auction powered by Carlisle Auctions, while Sunday was a day to say goodbye until next year!

Speaking of next year, Carlisle Events is pleased to open its “home based” schedule as part of its 45th Anniversary season starting April 23. The five-day event will again offer a swap meet and car corral, while Carlisle Auctions supports a 500+ car, three-day auction.

Complete details on the auction can be found at www.carlisleauctions.com, with details on Spring and Fall Carlisle available at www.carlisleevents.com.

A little rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of the bidders and spectators who gathered at the Carlisle Expo Center and made the Fall Carlisle auction part of their early October plans. In fact, the temps were cool at times outdoors, while things were sizzling hot indoors! Well hot enough that over $5 million in sales transpired. With over 100 years of production available, there really was a little something for everyone.

Each day of the auction offered something special, including select consignments earmarked for charity. Some cars saw the sale dollars go direct to the local Carlisle branch of the Salvation Army, while Friday saw a custom built wagon auctioned off to benefit a local animal rescue. The wagon, fabricated by Steve Mercurio of Pro Metal Shop of Danville, PA, garnered $1,000 for the Speranza Animal Rescue, plus nearly as much in secondary donations. There were also specialty hours dedicated to Ford and Chevrolet, while also spotlighting trucks too.

As noted above, over $5 Million in sales were consummated. Of that $5 Million, $582,615 came from its top five sellers. Those sales include the following:

1) 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 - $181,900

2) 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Restomod - $133,750

3) 2010 Ferrari California - $100,580

4) 1966 Chevrolet Corvette - $88,810 

5) 1967 Chevrolet Corvette - $77,575

Of course there are some that didn’t sell and Carlisle Auctions is eager to work with buyer and seller to help close a deal on a “Still For Sale” consignment.

For complete information on this auction, its results and those cars that might still be available, contact Carlisle Auctions at 717-960-6400 or to learn more about this event or future auctions, including the next one taking place in Lakeland, Florida in February, visit www.carlisleauctions.com.

The Honda Civic debuted as an economical subcompact for the 1973 model year as an answer to the U.S. oil and gas crisis, and has been a top-seller for 45 years to buyers in the 35-and-under market. Originally a sub-compact, Civic has employed compact proportions since 1988, It is currently the No.2-selling car in America and eighth-best-selling vehicle overall, when trucks and SUVs are figured in.

The current 10th-generation Honda Civic was introduced in 2016 and has undergone few changes and augmentations since. Next year, look for Civic to enhance with a refreshed and sportier exterior architecture, tweaked interior, upgraded technology and infotainment, and improved handling. But there’s plenty to like for 2018. Ranked by Kelly Blue Book as one of the “10 Coolest New Cars Under $20,000", KBB editors herald Civic as “… a well-rounded car offered as a Sedan or Coupe that's comfortable, roomy, practical, efficient, packed with cool tech, and a blast to drive."

A functional, economical and driver-experience-friendly vehicle, Honda Civic comes in four-door Sedan or two-door Coupe styles, multiple engine choices and trims and a bevy of colors – nine exterior shades: White Orchid, Taffeta White, Lunar Silver, Crystal Black, Rallye Red, Modern Steel, Aegean Blue, Cosmic Blue, and Burgundy Night.
Since 2016, the Civic Coupe (the model I tested) has displayed sporty and sophisticated exterior styling and a cabin to match. Civic has sleek, swept-back bodylines, a sharp and aggressive face, and bulging wheel arches. The hood features sharply defined character lines that draw the eye forward and down to the Civic's aggressive face, highlighted by a chrome-plated Honda “wing” that runs the full width of the front fascia and is flanked by available LED headlights in an in-line configuration.

Building on the foundation of its ultra-rigid and lightweight body structure, the Civic Coupe utilizes a fully independent suspension with a multi-link rear design mated to a rigidly-mounted rear subframe for a high degree of lateral stability. The Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ body structure and rear frame structures, aid in occupant protection while minimizing weight for better fuel efficiency.

With angular unibody construction, the compact Civic Coupe measures 176.9 inches long, 54.9 inches high and 70.8 inches wide on a 106.3-inch wheelbase for a curb weight of 2899 lbs.

Inside, the cabin is packed with high-quality, soft-to-the-touch materials and such convenience features as remote engine start, electronic parking brake, walk away door locking, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and rain-sensing wipers.

The cabin plays into its compact nature and measures a hunched 36.5 inches up front and only 34.5 inches in row two. Legroom is comfortable at 42.3 inches in row one and 35.9 inches in the rear seats and shoulder room is 56.9 and 52.6.

The 2018 Civic Coupe brings back its two engine choices and both have been designed to provide highly refined, responsive and fuel-efficient performance. A 2.0-liter DOHC, 16-valve, port-injected, inline 4-cylinder engine with i-VTEC™ valvetrain producing a peak 158 hp and 138 lb-ft. of torque is standard on the LX and LX-P trims and earns ratings of 30mpg/city, 41mpg/highway and 34 mpg/combined.

Civic Coupes in EX-T, EX-L and Touring trims are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter DOHC, direct-injected 4-cylinder engine with variable cam timing and electronic wastegate, turning out 174 hp and peak torque of 162 lb-ft. The system gets a 31/41/35 mpg rating. My week of drives averaged 34.1 mpg with the 1.5-liter.

The ride is reliable, stable, road-hugging and compliant, with solid passing at speed and responsive steering. A zero-to-60mph sprint was completed in a hand-timed 7-seconds-flat, and a quarter-mile run was hand-timed in 15.4

With a solid rep as a safe car, the Honda Civic coupe consistently earns the top rating of “Good” in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) crash tests and a perfect 5 stars in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests.

The 2018 Honda Civic Sedan starts at $18,940, and the Coupe bases at $19,350. available in five trims with two engine choices and either manual or automatic transmission, the LX trim is the base model; the LX-P trim that adds push-button start, remote start, Smart entry and power moonroof, starts at $21,150; the EX-T, which adds the 174-hp turbo engine, dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto ™ and Honda LaneWatch™ starts at $21,800; the EX-L with leather-trimmed seating, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and auto-dimming rearview mirror starts at $23,725; and the Touring trim comes in at $26,425 with Honda Sensing™, Honda satellite-linked navigation system, LED headlights with auto on-off and 450-watt premium audio system.

My test Civic in Touring trim, with its 1.5-liter Turbo and automatic transmission, was bathed in Aegean Blue Metallic exterior paint and came with a Black/Gray interior. My test ride added Body Side Molding for $217, Door Edges Guards for $59, a Moonroof Visor for $138, splash guard set for $104, a cool rear wing spoiler for $442, all-season floor mats for $155, a cargo net for $49, interior console illumination for $250, interior illumination for $125, and a wireless phone charger for $305. With destination charges of $895, my 2016 Honda Civic Touring as-tested stickered at $29,164.

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.