A wave of your
foot under the bumper opens or closes the tailgate, making it easy to access even when your hands are full.
From Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC cruise control to Active Parking Assist, the C - Class offers advanced options to help you go far and near, or even lend a hand before you get in: KEYLESS - GO lets you unlock the doors with just a touch, and new HANDS - FREE ACCESS lets you open the trunk with a convenient foot
motion under the bumper.
With side rocker panels, front and
rear under bumper spoilers, and available aluminum alloy wheels the Yaris S offers a more aggressive appearance.
On the positive side, Ford's new automatic tailgate, actuated with a foot
wave under the bumper, is available.
Feel trim adds 16 - inch alloy wheels and a bodystyling kit with plastic front and rear skid
plates under the bumpers for a stocky look.
The base model featured a separate bumper / grille design with parking
lights under the bumper, while the Rally Sport option included a distinctive grille surrounded by a flexible Endura material along with round parking lights beside the headlights and bumperettes surrounding on both sides of the grille.
There is a set of full LED headlights, a twin - blade grille, 10 - spoke, 19 - inch titanium gray alloys, and what Mercedes - Benz calls «A-Wing» air
intakes under the bumpers.
Side rocker panels, front and rear
under bumper spoilers, 15 - inch steel wheels and available aluminum alloy wheels give the Yaris S a more aggressive appearance.
Check that box, and there's no need to wave your foot
under the bumper like Ford's hands - free trunk; simply stand with the key fob within three feet of the Azera's rear bumper, and the lid will pop.
And if that bothers you, perhaps you should avoid considering the «any other surface» bit, because without some sort of James Bond spy equipment or advanced training you'd have almost no chance of noticing a dozen of these stuck behind your walls, inside your toilet, or
under the bumper of your car.
Advancing to the more refined SX trim adds mirror - finish 10 - spoke 18 - inch alloy wheels, chrome - tip exhaust, body - color wheel well molding, stainless
steel under bumper trim accents and step pad, sleeker body - color front and rear bumpers and LED tail lamps for a decidedly more upscale appearance.
Up front the original bumper is completely replaced by a Hamann Nervudo unit, which houses two additional air intakes on the top but also a more aggressive, further forward design towards the lower intakes that receive a large fin on the sides to push even more fresh air into the vents... a lower lip is
added under the bumper to further increase down force on the front wheels... to balance out the additional down force generated by the rear wing.
You'll get used to it, as well as angling across parking lot and driveway entrances if they're sloped; otherwise you risk scraping the air
dam under the bumper.
Out back are the big Shelby block letters as well as a diffuser
panel under the bumper and twin exhaust tips that shine brightly.
It also gets a 3 - zone air - con, touchscreen infotainment system with 8 speakers, aux - in / USB / Bluetooth connectivity, massage function for driver seat, «Easy open» boot lid opener (wave your
leg under the bumper), tyre pressure monitoring system, and hands - free parking.
The 2 Series Convertible remains largely untouched around back, where BMW only added a high - gloss chrome ornament to the exhaust pipe and a diffuser - like
piece under the bumper.
A hands - free power tailgate activated by waving one's foot
under the bumper comes with the optional Comfort Access package, while tech and driver aids include BMW Apps, Lane Departure Warning, BMW Parking Assist, and Rear - view Camera with Top View.
It was the worst performer in the corner test and second to worst in the front full - width test, during which it
slid under the bumper barrier and sustained damage to the hood and grille.
This can be activated (in the user settings menu) to open the trunk automatically --- no foot - waving
under the bumper required --- if a smart key is detected near the rear bumper for longer than three - seconds.
BMW, in a fit of «where do we stick this» bolted the muffle to the body,
just under the bumper, in plain sight.
The front grille has been tweaked and features twin - slats (earlier it was three) and the bumpers get revisions for a sportier appeal (the rear gets a chrome insert that makes it appear like twin exhausts but the tail pipe is
placed under the bumper).
The top half is now power operated but from the key - fob only, not by swinging a foot
under the bumper as in newer cars.
The K900 already sports 420hp, but
hidden under the bumper is a Garrett 2871R twin - turbo, boosting the engine to about 650hp.
Welding revisions that strengthen the steel
beam under the bumper cover allowed for the better crash rating.
At the rear, a diffuser - like finisher
sits under the bumper, flanked by large oval tailpipes, a now - standard bit of Audi RS kit.
At the front there is a new nine - slat iteration of BMW's double - kidney grille, a new bumper and more horizontally
orientated under bumper intake with trapezoidal fog / auxiliary lamps.
The grille looks more imposing with additional chrome, while the front end also gains an Audi - style brush
guard under the bumper.
Ford claims the new Escape will offer 11 class - exclusive features, starting with a panoramic glass sunroof and a hands - free tailgate, which opens and closes by waving a foot
under the bumper when the proximity key is in range.
Onto the sides, the massive side skirts form a single piece with the rear wheel arches, while the rear end is highlighted by a large roof wing and a big
diffuser under the bumper.
In back, BMW's new Smart Opener allows you to wave your
foot under the bumper to open the power tailgate, similar to a feature in the Ford Escape.
One final option that I appreciated: The Enclave's hands - free tailgate requires you to kick
under the bumper to get it to open — which I don't usually like because there's a lot of flailing around.