Though the dust has barely settled on the 2017 Pennsylvania based Carlisle Events schedule, attentions are already focused on the first show of 2018, also taking place within the Keystone State. Auto Mania, an annual automotive flea market, takes place within Ag Hall and its surrounding lots every January, rain, snow, ice or shine! The 2018 show runs January 19-21 and includes PA’s Largest Indoor and Heated Swap Meet, limited car corral spaces within the event and outdoors, plus a great array of food via on-site food vendors as well as the neighboring Allentown Farmer’s Market.

Spanning nearly three-full days, Auto Mania has entertained and assisted motor heads for decades, offering some indoor solace from the otherwise dark and chilly winter months. The expansive Ag Hall within the Allentown Fairgrounds welcomes those selling automotive pieces and parts, food vendors, those selling movies, collectibles, signage, merchandise, antiques, aftermarket accessories and more, all will be offering a safe haven for like-minded enthusiasts to gather and catch up. After all, a show like this backed by Carlisle Events isn’t just an automotive weekend, it’s a reunion of sorts.

Situated conveniently off many of eastern Pennsylvania’s major roadways, Auto Mania sells out annually from a vending stand point, with a waiting list to boot. As guests wait in the que to enter the facility, there is an unmatched anticipation in the area. These vendors and guests travel from far and wide to buy, sell and trade all things automotive and really, to get out of the house in the midst of winter. From rare to common, unique to exotic, the event certainly does have it all!

An added bonus to all who traverse the grounds is the neighboring Allentown Farmer’s Market. The market runs Friday and Saturday of the show (January 19-20) and has as much variety food wise as the auto event does car parts. Just like there is something for everyone within Ag Hall for Auto Mania, there is a wide array of fare offered by local and regional farmers, including baked goods, fruits, veggies and more.

Carlisle Events and Carlisle Auctions have thousands of cars and millions of parts for sale as part of Fall AutoFest at the SUN ‘n FUN Campus in Lakeland, November 10-12, 2017. What this show will have that no other central Florida car show can offer though, is maybe THE best reason to swing by the facility to check it all out. In conjunction with the automotive weekend itself, Carlisle Events is pleased to announce the inclusion of an aerobatics show, with some of the top names in the hobby participating.

Since the SUN n’ FUN Campus is known for its massive air show each spring and annually supports the future of the aeronautical hobby, adding the air element made perfect sense. The air show takes place Saturday, November 11 at 12 p.m.

Guests are invited to turn their attentions to the sky as National Aviation Hall of Famer Patty Wagstaff offers plenty of ooooh’s and ahhhh’s as she defies gravity from thousands of feet up. In addition to Patty, taking flight will be Gene McNeely, Paul Schulten and his mascot Orville the Eagle. Enjoy the fun in the sky AND the fun on the ground with Carlisle Events, Carlisle Auctions and some amazingly skilled pilots too!

Daily admission is $10, with a weekend pass available at just $20. Further, gates open each day at 8 a.m. and offer access to a massive swap meet, car corral, family activities, a two-day collector car auction and of course the air show. In addition to flying, these talented pilots will sign autographs, while Orville the Eagle poses for photos with enthusiasts too. Complete event details are available via www.CarlisleEvents.com, while auction information is available at www.CarlisleAuctions.com.

When Buick introduced the all-new Cascada convertible last year, it was an invitation to drivers who wanted to live life wide open with features not generally thought of in a mainstream convertible. Cascada became the first convertible in the Buick line-up since the Buick Reatta ceased production 26 years ago, and it gained a following by offering a quiet, three-layer acoustically and thermally insulated soft-top system opens in 17 seconds at up to 31 mph. And Buick proclaims that Cascada presents stress-reducing engineering at a price that appeals to most budgets.

A suave, luxury, aggressively priced, convertible, Cascada, which is the Spanish word for “waterfall,” is an international vehicle built in Poland, with an engine made in Hungary and a transmission from Mexico. Cascada is based on the Euro Opel Astra sedan with some Buick Verano thrown in, but it is Americanized with 600 unique components, softer cabin materials and a more compliant and quieter riding experience.

Preferring to stand pat with few changes from the model Buick launched in 2016, the main enhancement for 2017 is a new trim – the Sport Touring model that features True Blue Metallic exterior color, Sterling Silver 20-inch wheels, sport pedals, Black Magic interior trim and flat-bottom sport steering wheel

With 2-plus-2 seating – seating for four (two in front and two in the rear) -- Cascada is a turbocharged convertible with a distinctive design, premium features and refinement. Its advanced chassis technologies include HiPer Strut front suspension and a standard turbocharged performance engine.

Packed with standard upscale comfort and connectivity items, Cascada is a treasure trove of standard items including Buick IntelliLink with a 7-inch-diagonal color touch screen featuring Text Message Alerts; Siri Eyes Free for Apple phones with an iOS 6 or newer operating system and available navigation; OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot (includes three-month/3GB data trial); remote vehicle starter; dual-zone climate control; front and rear 12-volt power outlets; heat-reflective leather-appointed seating; heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel; 50/50-split rear seat with trunk pass-through; fuel-saving electric power steering; rear Park Assist and an available navigation radio and seven-speaker premium audio system

Cascada’s sculpted forward stance starts with a raked windshield and A-pillars, and elegantly travels to a sweeping body-side line with sleek headlamps that flow into the front fenders. The two-door, four-passenger convertible with front-engine/front-wheel drive measures 56.8 inches high, 72.4 inches wide and 184.9 inches long on a 106.1-inch wheelbase, weighing in with a curbweight of 3979 lbs.

Moving the 2-ton convertible is a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that provides 200 horsepower, with good broad-range torque estimated at 207 lbs-ft. Its overboost feature briefly pushes torque to an estimated 221 lbs-ft. Mated to a Hydra-Matic 6T45, six-speed transverse, electronically controlled, automatic overdrive transmission, the system effectively accelerates, but passing at speed must be done with patience.

Steady, but not a track star, my test Cascada took 8.6 seconds to complete a zero-to-60mph sprint, and the quarter-mile was a 16.6-second trial. But with the top down and wind in my hair, it was a fun trip down the track. The rack-mounted electric, variable-assist rack-and-pinion steering was attentive, though S-curves showed some understeer. The ride was smooth, however, with Buick’s HiPer Strut independent front suspension with specifically tuned coil springs, direct-acting stabilizer bar and hydraulic ride bushings that work well with the compound crank torsion beam rear and Watts Z-link to level out rough rides by dampening loads to the body structure, reducing torque steer and gaining impact isolation on bumps and rough surfaces.

Economically, the system is rated at 20/city and 27/highway mpg, and my mixed-use tests came in at 23.7 mpg.

The interior is upscale, packed with infotainment and filled with soft-touch material, while heated front seats and steering wheel offer comfort in colder weather conditions. With seating for four -- 2 in front and 2 in back -- headroom is tight with the top in place at 37.8 inches in front and 36.1 in the rear, but unlimited with the top down; legroom is spacious at 42.2 inches in row one, but a confining 32.8 inches in row two; and shoulder room is good in the front seats at 54.6 inches, but tight for adults in the rear at 45.8 inches.

Safety features include six standard air bags, with dual-stage frontal and knee air bags and seat-mounted side-impact air bags for front seating positions; a standard rear vision camera system; four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and brake assist; StabiliTrak stability control system with full-function traction control; automated, spring-loaded and high-strength steel rollover bars behind the rear seat that are linked to the air bag system; and an available Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning

The 2017 Buick Cascada starts at $33,065 plus destination and freight; the upper-scale Premium trim starts at $36,065 and the new Sport Touring trim starts at $37,065.

My Cascada Premium in front-wheel drive added Toasted Coconut (dark-gray) Metallic paint for $395 (the standard no-charge color is Summit White). Front and rear carpeted floor mats added $100 and destination freight charges added $925 for a price-as-tested of $37,385, but cash incentives of up to $2,000 are available, so check with your local dealer.


> 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.

When Carlisle Auctions added a third day to its Spring Event, the team knew then that demand was high for its services and that its product was top-notch. One auction later and it’s a stone-cold fact that three days at Carlisle is a smashing success! Fall Carlisle 2017 has come and gone and this three-day affair was one for the record books. For that matter, it seems that every time Carlisle Auctions hosts an event, another record falls. The recent September 28-30 offering was no different, topping the $5.5 million mark for sales AND registering the highest dollar amount ever for a car sold through Carlisle Auctions.

First, the records – most pre-registered bidders, most total sales at an auction AND the highest selling car of all time. The bidder pre-registration totals were up 25% over Fall of 2016, the $5.5 million in sales is more than a million up over Fall 2016 and $1.5 million more than the Spring auction in April and for the first time ever, Carlisle Auctions sold a top of the line car for top of the line money; a 2006 Ford GT with low mileage. This yellow muscle machine went home for $296,320 (fees included) and was almost $100,000 more than the previous top dollar car, also sold at last year’s fall auction.

It was fast paced auction fun and the Carlisle Expo Center was packed. In addition to the high dollar Ford GT, the remainder of the top-five sellers totaled, $325,280. Making up that total are top sellers two through five and include a 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 ($94,160), 2003 Shelby Cobra ($85,600), 1956 Lincoln Premiere ($73,830) and a 1956 Pontiac 98 Starfire ($71,690). As was the case with the top selling Ford GT, all listed sales numbers include buyers and sellers fees!

While many more amazing consignments crossed the block AND SOLD, the Ford GT drew a bulk of the attention. Crossing as part of the all-Ford hour on Friday evening, it had droves of enthusiasts crowding the stage. Some were there to simply witness the fun, while a handful of bidders were serious about trying to own one of the most sought-after pieces of Ford history. In the end, once the gavel slammed, everyone walked away happy and one man walked away with the car.

Carlisle Auctions has run three amazingly successful events to date with one remaining; Fall Florida AutoFest, November 10-11. This event, at the SUN ‘n FUN Campus in Lakeland, brings two days of fun, thousands of enthusiasts and 400+ consignments to the massive facility. But after such a great year, what might Carlisle Auctions have left for its 2017 swan song?

"Our auctions continue to move forward, specifically in quality of consignments,” noted Tony Cline, Director of Auction Operations. “We look forward to carrying the momentum of this $5.5 million event to Lakeland Florida, November 10-11 and doing it all over again!"

As noted, the next (and final) Carlisle Auction event of the year is November 10-11 in Lakeland, Florida. This auction runs concurrent with Fall Florida AutoFest itself, which is November 10-12. Complete details on the auction, including FULL RESULTS from Fall Carlisle can be found at www.CarlisleAuctions.com.

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.