Vehicles International

BMW, Hyundai Earn Five Stars Under New Crash Test System

2010-10-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued its first safety ratings based on the new, more stringent crash testing protocols on Tuesday, October 5, 2010. Of the 33 cars tested under the new system, only two earned an overall five-star designation.

The improved testing program gives a single rating of one to five stars to each car tested in an effort to make the information more easily understood by consumers. The rating is inclusive of performance for front and side impact as well as rollover resistance.

The BMW 5-series and the Hyundai Sonata both earned five stars. Only two other vehicles earned less than four stars, the Toyota Camry with three and the Nissan Versa compact with two. (All cars that were tested had electronic stability control standard.)

"With our upgraded Five-Star Safety Ratings System, we're raising the bar on safety, said Ray LaHood, secretary of transportation. "Through new tests, better crash data, and higher standards, we are making the safety ratings tougher and more meaningful for consumers."

Testing now includes a diagonal slide into a pole to mimic a car skidding into a post or tree and crash dummies of various sizes were employed, including the use of a simulated female. In the past, only dummies approximating the size and weight of an average adult male were placed in the vehicles during the crashes.

The agency will ultimately rate 55 vehicles from the 2011 model year

source:http://www.carseek.com/news/october2010/BMW-Hyundai-earn-five-stars/

Toyota Highlander Crossover Gets Major Revision for 2011

2010-10-12T23:53:00.000-07:00

• Revised Styling with New Front Fascia, Hood and Fenders
• New Standard Three-Row Seating with Rear Climate Control
• Four-Cylinder Engine Availability Expanded
• More Powerful and Advanced V6 for Highlander Hybrid
• New User Technology

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Toyota has significantly revised its popular Highlander and Highlander Hybrid crossover sport utility vehicles for 2011, giving them enhanced styling, additional standard amenities and new user technology.

The 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, which was available only in the Highlander Base grade model for 2010, is now also offered in the SE, the most popular grade (2WD only). The Highlander Hybrid debuts a more powerful and advanced 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine, along with a standard Tech Audio Package and unique exterior design elements.

The 2011 Highlander is available in Base, SE and Limited grades in both two-wheel (2WD) and full-time four-wheel-drive (4WD). A 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 is standard on the Limited grade and available for the others. All Highlander Hybrid models are equipped with four-wheel-drive with intelligence and available in Base and Limited grades.

The first-generation Highlander pioneered the midsize crossover utility vehicle segment, ushering in car-like performance, comfort and fuel efficiency yet with SUV-like roominess and versatility. The second-generation Highlander amplifies those attributes and is among the leaders in the segment in standard active and passive safety features.

New Styling Details for 2011
The Highlander gets a sophisticated design update for 2011 featuring a new front fascia, hood and fenders, with the profile freshened by black rockers with chrome accents (gas models only). The headlights and tail lamps are also redesigned, as are the 17-inch alloy wheels. The Limited Grade offers stylish 19-inch wheels and also features silver roof rails. The SE grade gains a power liftgate.

The 2011 Highlander Hybrid is more easily distinguished from the gasoline model by its own unique grille and bumper design. It shares the new fenders and hood with the gas Highlander but features color-keyed rockers with chrome accents, plus vertically stacked fog lamps. The projector beam headlights and redesigned taillights feature blue lens covers. Daytime running lamps are now standard on all Highlander models.

Expanded Amenities and Tech for 2011
The Highlander remains a popular family vehicle and caters to that market more effectively for 2011 with more standard amenities and user technologies. In particular, Base and SE grades feature more comfort and convenience features than previously offered. A standard 50/50 split third-row seat and manual rear climate control have been made standard for all 2011 models.

The new Tech Audio is standard for SE and Limited and optional for Base grade and features a USB port, integrated XM Satellite Radio (includes 90-day trial subscription) and Bluetooth®, helping ensure a wide array of “connected” capabilities for passengers. In the Base grade, this is part of a more comprehensive package that also includes a backup monitor with 3.5-inch multi-information display, an eight-way power drivers seat, tonneau cover, engine immobilizer, easy-clean fabric interior, flip-up liftgate window, fog lamps and black roof rails.

The Highlander Hybrid base grade offers a new Leather Package that includes leather-trimmed front seats with front seat heaters, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, power moonroof, HomeLink®, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, plus an engine immobilizer with security alarm. The optional navigation system is now available for the SE grade (previously only on Limited), while the Limited gains standard automatic climate control for the rear and offers a new perforated leather. The Highlander Hybrid Base grade gains standard easy-clean fabric seating, along with an eight-way power driver’s seat, the Tech Audio, the third-row seat and manual rear climate control.

Performance and Efficiency
The Toyota Highlander offers three distinct types of performance: a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine joined the lineup in 2009, offering an EPA-estimated 25 MPG rating in highway driving. The 2.7-liter engine produces 187 horsepower and 186 lb.-ft. of peak torque.

The engine is equipped with a variable intake manifold and dual variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i), which controls phasing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts to optimize torque and fuel efficiency. The four-cylinder engine is teamed exclusively with a standard six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission.

The available 3.5-liter V6 (standard on Limited) produces 270 horsepower at 6,200 RPM and 248 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,700 RPM. The V6, also, is equipped with dual VVT-i and a variable intake manifold. A five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (ECT) offers selectable manual sequential shifting.

The Highlander Hybrid model’s Hybrid Synergy Drive features a new, more powerful 3.5-liter V6 for 2011, replacing the previous 3.3-liter V6. The system pairs the gasoline V6 engine with a high-torque electric drive motor-generator for total system output of 280 net horsepower. A second rear-mounted motor provides automatic on-demand four-wheel drive traction. The 2011 Highlander Hybrid receives EPA estimated fuel economy ratings of 28 MPG city and 28 MPG highway.

The 4WD Highlander Hybrid uniquely generates rear-wheel power with a separate electric motor (MGR) that provides additional drive torque on demand. Thus, the Highlander Hybrid 4WD-i system does not require power-transfer gearing or a driveshaft from the front. The system electronically varies front and rear torque distribution depending on traction conditions.

Activating an EV mode switch located on the front center console allows the driver to operate strictly in electric-mode under certain conditions for a limited distance at low speeds, or in some stop-and-go driving conditions. A new ECON drive mode switch activates a throttle control program that reduces the throttle response during acceleration, enhancing fuel economy. The Hybrid System Indicator in the instrument gauge panel provides the driver with a guideline to help maximize fuel consumption.

Handling and Ride
The Highlander continues to build on its strength of delivering one of the most capable, smooth and quiet rides in the segment. Four-wheel independent suspension is via MacPherson struts in front and a dual-link strut rear suspension system. Base and SE Highlander models are equipped with standard 17-inch alloy wheels with 245/65 R17 tires; the Limited features standard 19-inch alloy wheels with 245/55 R19 tires. A direct tire pressure monitoring system is designed to alert the driver if pressure in a tire drops to critical levels. All Highlander models are equipped with four-wheel disc brakes. On conventional Highlander 4WD models, full-time four-wheel drive is available on all V6 grades.

Active Safety
Highlander comes standard with Toyota's Star Safety System™. This system integrates operation of enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Electric Power Steering (EPS) and the anti-lock brake system (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA).

Enhanced VSC helps the driver maintain control by automatically adjusting engine output and braking force at each wheel under certain conditions while also providing steering assistance in the appropriate direction through Electric Power Steering (EPS). Gasoline Highlander models are also equipped with a straight-line steering feature. When varying traction causes ABS to apply different left/right braking force, the system can apply steering torque to help offset left/right pull.

The Highlander Hybrid employs the advanced Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system. VDIM is designed to enhance handling, traction and braking systems that normally react to vehicle driving conditions by anticipating tire slippage before a skid, slide or wheel spin occurs and helps to make corrections in a smooth, progressive way. In addition to integrating all of the Highlander's dynamic control systems (VSC, TRAC, BA, EPS, EBD and ABS), the VDIM system also employs powerful proprietary software to integrate the Electronic Throttle Control with intelligence (ETC-i) and Electronically Controlled Brakes (ECB).

All Highlander models incorporate a corner-braking feature. Harnessing the integration of the vehicle’s dynamic control systems, this feature limits brake pressure on inside wheels during cornering to help enhance control through the turn. Standard on all models, Hill-Start Assist Control helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backward from a stop by applying braking pressure for approximately two seconds.

Downhill Assist Control (DAC) is standard equipment on all gas 4WD models. The DAC feature is designed to maintain a constant speed and maintain handling and steering control by reducing wheel lock under braking even at slow speeds on slippery descents.

Occupant Safety
Highlander comes standard with seven airbags. These include advanced driver and front passenger airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags and a driver's knee airbag. Roll-sensing side curtain airbags help to protect the occupants of all three rows in the event of certain side collisions or vehicle rollovers. Additionally, all Highlander models are standard equipped with front active headrests.

Comfort and Convenience
Standard features on all Highlander models include front and rear air conditioning; eight-way adjustable driver's seat (10-way on Limited); power door locks and windows with driver's window jam protection and auto-up/down feature; manual tilt and telescopic steering wheel; cruise control; multi-function keyless entry system; UV-reduction windshield and rear privacy glass; digital clock; dual sun visors with vanity mirrors and sliding extensions; conversation mirror; illuminated entry system; scheduled maintenance indicator light; full-size spare tire and more.

The Highlander SE and Limited grades feature a standard backup camera with a 3.5-inch multi-information display; this feature is available for Base grade models for 2011 as part of the optional Tech Package. The display includes a backup camera monitor, clock, outside temperature, warning messages, and cruise information that includes average fuel economy, average speed, distance to empty, current fuel economy, and trip timer. On models equipped with the optional navigation system, the backup camera's images are viewed on the seven-inch navigation screen.

Options
A variety of available options and accessories include a voice-activated touch screen navigation system with an eight-inch screen; JBL premium audio; leather seat trim with heated front seats, and a power tilt/slide moonroof. The optional tow package for V6 models enables up to 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity. The four-cylinder tow package enables up to 3,500 pounds of maximum towing capacity. A power liftgate that can be opened and closed with a key fob is an available option on the Base grade and standard on SE and Limited.

Exterior Design
Designed at Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, Calif., the second-generation Highlander moves away from traditional SUV styling cues. Clean, sculpted lines, a wide, stable stance and muscular contours give Highlander a contemporary, dynamic presence. The Base grade Highlander could be mistaken for an upgrade model with its six-spoke 17-inch machined alloy wheels, color-keyed power remote outside mirrors, and silver-painted front grille. The Limited looks the luxury part with chrome door handles and roof rails, puddle lamps and rear spoiler.

Interior Design
The Highlander provides an open, airy and versatile interior with seating for seven or up to 95.4 cubic feet of total cargo capacity (94.1 for Highlander Hybrid). There are numerous storage compartments throughout the cabin, along with 10 cup holders, four bottle holders, two front and one cargo-area 12-volt auxiliary power outlets and cargo area tie down hooks.

The Base and SE grades feature a center console, shift knob with silver-painted accents and front driver and passenger assist grips. The center console, shift knob and assist grip on the Limited grade feature wood grain-style trim. Styling features on the inside of the Highlander Hybrid include a silver and wood grain-style interior trim with chrome door handle accents, Optitron meters with blue graphics and a power meter with a hybrid system indicator.

The headrests are adjustable in two ways on the Base grade and four different ways on SE and Limited. The second row provides 40/20/40 split seatbacks. The seat functions as either a three-person bench or, by removing the Center Stow™ seat, a pair of captain's chairs complete with armrests, creating a convenient walk-through area between the seats for easier access to the third row. A Center Stow™ center console can also be placed between the seats to provide additional storage. The second row also slides fore and aft and reclines.

Access to the third-row is made easy by placing the walk-in lever at an easy to reach position at the bottom of the passenger-side second-row seat. Standard one-touch levers inside the cargo area allow the second-row seats to fold forward and flat. The third-row seats function in a similar manner, using a lever in the back of the seat.

Production of the conventional engine Highlander, Toyota’s 12th North American-built model, began in October 2009 at the company’s plant in Princeton, Indiana. Moving the Highlander assembly line to this facility represented a $450 million investment.

Limited Warranty
Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and corrosion with no mileage limitation. Toyota dealers have complete details on the limited warranty.

source: Toyota

Honda supports 2nd Philippine Automotive Manufacturing Summit

2010-10-12T23:20:00.000-07:00

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc (HCPI) officially announces its full support and participation in the 2nd Philippine Automotive Manufacturing Summit on October 8, 2010 which will be held at Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City.

Organized by the Philippine Automotive Competitiveness Council (PACCI), this year’s summit presents the impact of local parts and automotive manufacturing industry in the economy as well as the challenges and opportunities that face the industry.

“This is a great avenue to help intensify local manufacturing’s global competitiveness and secure sustainability amidst economic challenges. Considering the substantial number of direct and indirect employment generated by the automotive manufacturing industry, it is best to address its welfare with careful attention.” said Mr. Hiroshi Shimizu, President and General Manager of Honda Cars Philippines, Inc.

In line with the summit theme “Partners in Action: Strengthening the Automotive Parts Industry,” Honda will display its locally manufactured model, City, while highlighting its local parts components. Local parts include seat assembly, foot rest, mat trunk floor and splash guard. The City is Honda’s best selling model and accounts for 53% of its total sales. Meanwhile, Honda also assembles Civic in its Sta. Rosa plant. Honda supports continuous development and enhancement of local parts in keeping up with global quality standards.

Established in 2009, PACCI is composed of Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines and local automotive manufacturers, which collectively dominates the entire local automotive industry.

source: honda

Porsche Panamera Performance & Efficiency Standard Features

2010-01-25T20:32:00.000-08:00

- 4,806 cc 4.8 liters V 8 front engine with 96.0 mm bore, 83.0 mm stroke, 12.5 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
- Premium unleaded fuel 91 and petrol
- Gasoline direct injection fuel system
- 26.4 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank 22.0
- Power: 298 kW , 400 HP SAE @ 6,500 rpm; 369 ft lb , 500 Nm @ 3,500 rpm

2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring Performance & Efficiency Standard Features

2010-01-24T18:31:00.000-08:00

- 1,975 cc 2.0 liters in-line 4 front engine with 82.0 mm bore, 93.5 mm stroke, 10.1 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
- Unleaded fuel 87 and petrol
- Multi-point injection fuel system
- 14.0 gallon main unleaded fuel tank 11.7
- Power: 103 kW , 138 HP SAE @ 6,000 rpm; 136 ft lb , 184 Nm @ 4,600 rpm

New Crash Tests Demonstrate the Influence of Vehicle Size and Weight on Safety in Crashes

2009-05-06T06:39:00.000-07:00

Three front-to-front crash tests, each involving a microcar or minicar into a midsize model from the same manufacturer, show how extra vehicle size and weight enhance occupant protection in collisions. These Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests are about the physics of car crashes, which dictate that very small cars generally can't protect people in crashes as well as bigger, heavier models.

Arlington, VA - infoZine - "There are good reasons people buy minicars," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "They're more affordable, and they use less gas. But the safety trade-offs are clear from our new tests. Equally clear are the implications when it comes to fuel economy. If automakers downsize cars so their fleets use less fuel, occupant safety will be compromised. However, there are ways to serve fuel economy and safety at the same time."

The Institute didn't choose SUVs or pickup trucks, or even large cars, to pair with the micro and minis in the new crash tests. The choice of midsize cars reveals how much influence some extra size and weight can have on crash outcomes. The Institute chose pairs of 2009 models from Daimler, Honda, and Toyota because these automakers have micro and mini models that earn good frontal crashworthiness ratings, based on the Institute's offset test into a deformable barrier. Researchers rated performance in the 40 mph car-to-car tests, like the front-into-barrier tests, based on measured intrusion into the occupant compartment, forces recorded on the driver dummy, and movement of the dummy during the impact.

Laws of physics prevail: The Honda Fit, Smart Fortwo, and Toyota Yaris are good performers in the Institute's frontal offset barrier test, but all three are poor performers in the frontal collisions with midsize cars. These results reflect the laws of the physical universe, specifically principles related to force and distance.

Although the physics of frontal car crashes usually are described in terms of what happens to the vehicles, injuries depend on the forces that act on the occupants, and these forces are affected by two key physical factors. One is the weight of a crashing vehicle, which determines how much its velocity will change during impact. The greater the change, the greater the forces on the people inside and the higher the injury risk. The second factor is vehicle size, specifically the distance from the front of a vehicle to its occupant compartment. The longer this is, the lower the forces on the occupants.

Size and weight affect injury likelihood in all kinds of crashes. In a collision involving two vehicles that differ in size and weight, the people in the smaller, lighter vehicle will be at a disadvantage. The bigger, heavier vehicle will push the smaller, lighter one backward during the impact. This means there will be less force on the occupants of the heavier vehicle and more on the people in the lighter vehicle. Greater force means greater risk, so the likelihood of injury goes up in the smaller, lighter vehicle.

Crash statistics confirm this. The death rate in 1-3-year-old minicars in multiple-vehicle crashes during 2007 was almost twice as high as the rate in very large cars.

"Though much safer than they were a few years ago, minicars as a group do a comparatively poor job of protecting people in crashes, simply because they're smaller and lighter," Lund says. "In collisions with bigger vehicles, the forces acting on the smaller ones are higher, and there's less distance from the front of a small car to the occupant compartment to 'ride down' the impact. These and other factors increase injury likelihood."

The death rate per million 1-3-year-old minis in single-vehicle crashes during 2007 was 35 compared with 11 per million for very large cars. Even in midsize cars, the death rate in single-vehicle crashes was 17 percent lower than in minicars. The lower death rate is because many objects that vehicles hit aren't solid, and vehicles that are big and heavy have a better chance of moving or deforming the objects they strike. This dissipates some of the energy of the impact.

Some proponents of mini and small cars claim they're as safe as bigger, heavier cars. But the claims don't hold up. For example, there's a claim that the addition of safety features to the smallest cars in recent years reduces injury risk, and this is true as far as it goes. Airbags, advanced belts, electronic stability control, and other features are helping. They've been added to cars of all sizes, though, so the smallest cars still don't match the bigger cars in terms of occupant protection.

Would hazards be reduced if all passenger vehicles were as small as the smallest ones? This would help in vehicle-to-vehicle crashes, but occupants of smaller cars are at increased risk in all kinds of crashes, not just ones with heavier vehicles. Almost half of all crash deaths in minicars occur in single-vehicle crashes, and these deaths wouldn't be reduced if all cars became smaller and lighter. In fact, the result would be to afford less occupant protection fleetwide in single-vehicle crashes.

Yet another claim is that minicars are easier to maneuver, so their drivers can avoid crashes in the first place. Insurance claims experience says otherwise. The frequency of claims filed for crash damage is higher for mini 4-door cars than for midsize ones.

Here's how the pairs of cars fared in the Institute's new crash tests:

Honda Accord versus Fit: The structure of the Accord held up well in the crash test into the Fit, and all except one measure of injury likelihood recorded on the driver dummy's head, neck, chest, and both legs were good. In contrast, a number of injury measures on the dummy in the Fit were less than good. Forces on the left lower leg and right upper leg were in the marginal range, while the measure on the right tibia was poor. These indicate a high risk of leg injury in a real-world crash of similar severity. In addition, the dummy's head struck the steering wheel through the airbag. Intrusion into the Fit's occupant compartment was extensive. Overall, this minicar's rating is poor in the front-to-front crash, despite its good crashworthiness rating based on the Institute's frontal offset test into a deformable barrier. The Accord earns good ratings for performance in both tests.

Mercedes C class versus Smart Fortwo: After striking the front of the C class, the Smart went airborne and turned around 450 degrees. This contributed to excessive movement of the dummy during rebound — a dramatic indication of the Smart's poor performance but not the only one. There was extensive intrusion into the space around the dummy from head to feet. The instrument panel moved up and toward the dummy. The steering wheel was displaced upward. Multiple measures of injury likelihood, including those on the dummy's head, were poor, as were measures on both legs.

"The Smart is the smallest car we tested, so it's not surprising that its performance looked worse than the Fit's. Still both fall into the poor category, and it's hard to distinguish between poor and poorer," Lund says. "In both the Smart and Fit, occupants would be subject to high injury risk in crashes with heavier cars." In contrast, the C class held up well, with little to no intrusion into the occupant compartment. Nearly all measures of injury likelihood were in the good range.

Toyota Camry versus Yaris: There was far more intrusion into the occupant compartment of the Yaris than the Camry. The minicar's door was largely torn away. The driver seats in both cars tipped forward, but only in the Yaris did the steering wheel move excessively. Similar contrasts characterize the measures of injury likelihood recorded on the dummies. The heads of both struck the cars' steering wheels through the airbags, but only the head injury measure on the dummy in the Yaris rated poor. There was extensive force on the neck and right leg plus a deep gash at the right knee of the dummy in the minicar. Like the Smart and Fit, the Yaris earns an overall rating of poor in the car-to-car test. The Camry is acceptable.

Fuel economy implications: One reason people buy smaller cars is to conserve fuel. Gasoline prices skyrocketed last year, and there's no telling what the price at the pump might be next week. Meanwhile, the gears are turning to hike federal fuel economy requirements to address environmental concerns. The conflict is that smaller vehicles use less fuel but do a relatively poor job of protecting people in crashes, so fuel conservation policies have tended to conflict with motor vehicle safety policies.

A problem with the current structure of fuel economy standards for cars is that the target of 27.5 miles per gallon is applied to an automaker's whole fleet, no matter the mix of cars an individual automaker sells. This encourages manufacturers to sell more smaller, lighter cars to offset the fuel consumed by their bigger, heavier models. Sometimes automakers even sell the smaller — and less safe — cars at a loss to ensure compliance with fleetwide requirements.

In response, the Obama administration announced it is boosting the fuel economy standard for cars, beginning with 2011 models, and instituting a size-based system to set fuel economy targets like the one already in effect for SUVs, pickups, and vans. This system will mandate lower fuel consumption as cars get smaller and lighter, thus removing the incentive for automakers to downsize their lightest vehicles to comply. It also could mean that technology currently used to enhance horsepower would go instead to reduce gas consumption — a direct safety benefit because less powerful cars have lower crash rates.

Another way to conserve fuel, and serve safety at the same time, is to set lower speed limits. Going slower uses less fuel to cover the same distance. The national maximum 55 mph speed limit, enacted in 1974, saved thousands of barrels of fuel per day. It also saved thousands of lives. Highway deaths declined about 20 percent the first year, from 55,511 in 1973 to 46,402 in 1974. The National Research Council estimated that most of the reduction was due to the lower speed limit, and the rest was because of reduced travel. By 1983 the national maximum 55 mph limit still was saving 2,000 to 4,000 lives annually.

"Fifty-five was adopted to save fuel, but it turned out to be one of the most dramatic safety successes in motor vehicle history," Lund concludes. "The political will to reinstate it probably is lacking, but if policymakers want a win-win approach, lowering the speed limit is it. It saves fuel and lives at the same time."

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/35409/

Toyota's 2009 Venza - a fresh take on the passenger car

2009-05-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

Toyota has taken a new direction in the development of a vehicle that blends comfort and style in a five-passenger sedan that delivers the utility and versatility of an SUV. The all-new 2009 Toyota Venza is essentially 70 percent car and 30 percent SUV. It is a car-optimized vehicle, similar to the Camry Wagon, but with SUV properties.

Venza comes with two engine choices - a new base 2.7-liter four-cylinder that makes 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and a like amount of torque in pound-feet at 4,200 rpm, or a more powerful 3.5-liter that cranks out 268 horses at 6,200 rpm, while delivering 246 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. One may order the Venza in front-wheel or all-wheel drive with either engine.

In terms of trim levels, the Venza focuses on a single-grade strategy. Aside from engine choice and drive configuration, there's an array of standard features and equipment, with several stand-alone options and packages making it possible to personalize.

The four-cylinder Venza FWD begins at $25,975, with the AWD model starting at $27,425. V6 models begin at $27,800 for FWD and $29,250 for AWD. All Venza models come with an impressive standard equipment inventory.

Venza's exterior displays an imposing frontal styling with a distinctive grille, headlamps and fog lights. The shape is aerodynamic, featuring short overhangs with pronounced fenders, a forward A-pillar, sharp and definitive character lines, a low roofline, wrap-around tail lamps and sweeping rocker panels. The Venza was designed to appeal to consumers seeking the value and dependability of a Camry, the refinement and comfort of an Avalon and the versatility and utility of a Highlander.

The interior design focuses on enhancing the driving experience both visually and functionally. The center console's flow emphasizes a unique 60/60 layout, providing both the driver and front passenger with the feeling that 60 percent of the space is readily accessible. Storage and auxiliary outlets and connections are innovative and versatile. The rear cargo area features 60/40 split fold-down seats with one-touch fold-down levers and a tonneau cover.

I experienced both engines and several levels of content during the national press introduction, but my review is of an AWD model powered by a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder motor, finished in Tropical Sea Metallic with an interior of ivory cloth with light gray and ivory trim panels accented by a faux-wood/carbon fiber inlay pattern. The base price was set at $27,425 while the final tally came to $30,830.

Summary

I can really find nothing to nit-pick with the new Venza. Obviously, the V6 is much peppier than the four-cylinder, but even it delivers satisfying performance.

Venza provides exceptionally easy ingress and egress - easier in fact, than most cars, and particularly better than the majority of SUVs, yet with a higher ride height and sight line for enhanced visibility. The sight line is higher than Camry, while rear load-in height is lower than Camry and nearly as low as the Sienna van.

The ride quality and handling characteristics are particularly car-like, making it pleasurable to drive. Steering is electronically powered. Acceleration is more than adequate with the four-banger, but considerably better with the V6. Venza is fuel efficient with EPA ratings of 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway for the four-cylinder and 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway for the V6.

The Venza is an all-new vehicle that is pleasing to all the senses and unique in its approach. It lends itself well to customization as exemplified by Five-Axis in tricked-out models exhibited at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/16/MTAE16TJC0.DTL

Chrysler's First Electric Car Will Be Sporty Dodge Circuit

2009-04-30T06:33:00.000-07:00

While General Motors has focused its green vehicle efforts on the Chevy Volt, Chrysler has shown no less than five electric and extended-range electric cars on the auto show circuit this year. Electric versions of the Jeep Wrangler and Patriot SUVs and the Chrysler Town & Country minivan have made the rounds, alongside a concept midsize sedan called the 200C and a sporty two-seat electric car known as the Dodge Circuit. The automaker has been telling the press for months that it planned to build one of the cars in 2010, but has stayed silent on which car would see production.

Now we have our answer. CNN Money reports, "Chrysler's first electric car, set to be introduced late next year around the same time as General Motors' Chevrolet Volt, will be a sports car with a zero-to-60 time of under five seconds and a top speed of 120 miles per hour." The Dodge Circuit will be released as a 2011 model.

If Chrysler survives, the Circuit may just be the first of many. CNN reports, "Following that...will come electric-powered cars, SUVs and crossovers, some based on Fiat vehicles, according to the ‘viability plan' Chrysler submitted to the Treasury Department."

PC Magazine adds, "No price range has been given yet. But that design," along with the performance figures Chrysler has quoted for the vehicle, "would put Chrysler's car in a virtual dead heat with the Tesla Roadster. Chrysler is even sourcing the chassis from Lotus, the same company that provided the platform design for Tesla's two-seat sports car."

In a way, however, the Circuit is the least ambitious choice Chrysler could have made. There is a limited demand for tiny, two-seat sports cars. Chrysler would likely build only a few thousand Circuits. The other possibilities would have all likely sold in much higher quantities.

If you're in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals.

source: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/090417-Chrysler-s-First-Electric-Car-Will-Be-Sporty-Dodge-Circuit/

Car registrations drop in D.C.

2009-04-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

by Tierney Plumb Staff Reporter

A sharp 5.8 percent decline in registered cars in D.C. since 2005 suggests that more city residents are choosing not to cruise around town -- even as population and household income have gone up.

Car registrations were up, however, in surrounding jurisdictions, which caused the rate to increase by 3.5 percent in the D.C. area since 2005, according to data compiled by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board.

In local areas of Maryland there was a 3-percent jump in registrations and Virginia’s registrations were up 5.6 percent.

Beginning in 2005, a vehicle identification number decoder has been applied to vehicle registration data so that the planning board can look at the types of cars that drive around the region.

Before 2004, the percentage of passenger cars relative to sport utility vehicles had been dropping for each model year, resulting in an almost equal share of new vehicle purchases.

But that trend has since ended, and passenger cars now claim 60 percent of new purchases to 40 percent for SUVs.

The planning board’s figures suggest that the area’s fleet has gotten older since 2005, and the increase in car age is even greater for light trucks, SUVs, and heavy trucks than for passenger cars.

Mobile source emissions will increase as a result of fewer new cars being purchased, says the planning board.

The number of hybrids rolling around have increased more than threefold, but they only make up 1.5 percent of the entire region’s fleet. That’s not enough to offset the increased emissions of older vehicles.

D.C. offers incentives to new hybrid buyers, like a slashed registration fee for the first period of registration.

The data sources for the report include vehicle registration data as of July 1, 2008 from the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, and Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Hybrid Hummer Promises 100 Miles per Gallon

2009-04-23T06:20:00.000-07:00

Posted by: superscientist

The Hummer is the poster child of excess consumption and inefficiency, but a Utah company is converting the much-maligned SUVs into a range-extended electric vehicle good for 100 mpg and a range of 40 miles.

Raser Technologies will unveil the Raser H3 on Monday in Detroit. It promises a 90 mph top speed, off-road capability and a lithium ion-battery you can recharge in as little as three hours. What's more, the company says the drivetrain can be installed in other trucks and it hopes to have 2,000 converted vehicles on the road by the end of next year.

That's a tall order, and there is no shortage of companies promising us wonder cars with miraculous fuel economy and impressive range. But Raser is taking a different approach. It isn't building a car from scratch like Aptera Motors or Lightning Hybrids. Instead, it's essentially cribbing from the Chevrolet Volt and Fisker Karma to convert existing vehicles with off-the-shelf parts.

"We've taken the worst environmental offender on the road and made it greener than a Prius," David West, the company's vice president of marketing, told Wired.com. "It truly is incredible to see and hear a Hummer that truly hums."

Because SUVs are popular but get lousy fuel economy, they're great candidates for electrification, said Jim Spellman, company vice president. Spellman came to Raser from General Motors, where he worked on the Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid.

"SUVs and trucks are the number one selling vehicle in America," he said. "Unlike the Prius, which is a mild hybrid vehicle, an eco-friendly SUV will get people's attention."

Spellman says there are practical reasons as well: Trucks are big enough to package the gasoline engine, electric motor and lithium-ion batteries without radically altering the bodywork or designing an all-new vehicle.

"Unlike the Volt and other hybrid cars we didn't have to build an entire car around the battery packs," Spellman said. "There was plenty of room in the back of the Hummer to install them, and they don't affect the ground clearance of the vehicle."

Raser Technologies has been building electric motors and developing geothermal electric plants since 2003, and Spellman says it started "cutting steel" on the H3 prototype 15 months ago.

The prototype we'll see in Detroit at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress on Monday features a series-hybrid drive train similar to the Voltec system in the Chevrolet Volt. Like the Volt, the H3 will be driven solely by electricity. The engine -- the 260-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder used in the Pontiac Solstice -- will drive a 100-kilowatt generator to recharge the three lithium-ion battery packs. Fisker Automotive is using the same engine in its Karma range-extended EV.

All together the battery packs have a combined capacity of 40 kilowatt hours and total weight of 600 pounds. Raser claims a recharge time of between 3 and 10 hours, depending upon the voltage of the outlet the batteries are plugged into.

For the sake of comparison, the Volt uses a 16-kWh pack that weighs 375 pounds, while the Tesla Roadster has a 53-kWh pack weighing 992 pounds.

Tying it all together is something Raser calls the Hybrid Master Controller, which is a fancy name for the software that manages the engine, generator, motor and batteries. It was designed by FEV, a hybrid drive train engineering firm that is working on a range-extended EV based on the Dodge Caliber. General Motors provided some expertise along the way, said GM spokesman Kyle Johnson.

"We're well aware of this project," Johnson said. "We helped them with some of the electronics integration and did some consulting."

Getting all the hardware to fit required modifying the Hummer's chassis. The transmission was moved back, the drive shafts altered and the exhaust re-routed. The Raser H3 also has a smaller fuel tank -- 11 gallons instead of 22 -- and it's been moved to make room for the batteries, which are mounted under the vehicle near the rear axle. Despite the mods, Raser says the vehicle doesn't lose any of its off-road utility.

West says production will begin "soon" and the company hopes to have 2,000 vehicles in the form of SUVs and trucks on the road by the end of 2010. He says Pacific Gas & Electric has requested two of them.

No word yet on how the project will be funded or what the vehicle will cost. Raser promises more details when the vehicle is unveiled Monday.

Photos: David West / Raser Technologies. Used with permission.

Above: The Raser H3 uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine to drive a 100-kilowatt generator, which recharges the lithium ion batteries as they approach depletion. It's the same engine Fisker Automotive is using in the Karma range-extended electric vehicle.

Above: Raser says it started with the Hummer H3 because it's big enough to package a gasoline engine, an electric motor, three battery packs and the control unit without extensive modifications.

The Volt will get roughly 40-50 mpg after the battery is discharged enough to cause the range extender to kick in.

This thing weighs, what, twice what a Volt will weigh? At least. And has lousy aerodynamics. It's going to get 100 mpg?

Only by making silly assumptions. Like, counting trips under 40 miles as free mileage. (It isn't, and there are appropriate ways to convert it to mpg-equivalence.) And figuring users will only use the vehicle in certain ways - like, 90% of all use will be on battery alone (which you've already counted as free).

That thing will never get more than 20 mpg on the range extender. If that much.

The EPA needs to get cracking and establish some mileage rules for plug-in hybrids, methinks. The fog is getting mighty thick.

It's got a gasoline engine so it can recharge on the go. and it's STILL only good for 40 miles? That's what you consider to be "range-extended"?

Sounds to me like a really good reason NOT to start with a pig of a SUV like the H3.

No matter what they do, it's still ugly as it ever was, still will drive like the military vehicle is based on, and is still a hazard to anyone in a 'reasonable' size vehicle. I'll still flip off every one I see no matter what kind of mpg is gets.

This is the same misguided idea as thinking a hummer with Bio Diesel is green. Sorry guys but CO2 is CO2 if it comes from gas or vegetable oil and therefore polutes the environment alike. What it does is just taking away the Bio Diesel from better usages.

And just to remind everyone that most of our electricity on the grid is provided by firing coal and so electricity from the grid is NOT green and will produce CO2, too.

Posted by: Anddreas Schaefer | Apr 17, 2009 3:31:31 PM

Well, it isn't very clear, agreed, what the "range" of 40 miles really means. But, the comparison numbers from the Volt and Tesla are illuminating. This thing has a combined battery pack capacity 2.5 times that of the Volt. If you make the simple assumption that this thing weighs twice as much as the Volt, you could expect it to go further on charge alone than the Volt. However, it clearly is vastly inferior in terms of drag, so you might reduce your expectation to roughly matching the Volt's 40 miles range.

This is probably the claim they are making with that "range" of 40 miles.

Agreed that the equivalent mpg numbers are becoming meaningless. A cents per mile figure would be better, with an agreed-upon set of factors such as price per gallon of gas, and price per kWh of leccy.

I completely agree. There is no way in hell this thing would get anywhere near 100MPG. The only explanation is that they are talking about an average MPG one would get while taking a trip of a fixed distance, say 100 miles or so. Then they divide the miles traveled by the gallons of gasoline used --- obviously disingenuous when the first 40 miles are all electric.

However, considering most people don't exceed 50-60 miles per day except on road trips, the vehicle probably would get the equivalent of 100 or more "MPG" on an average work day commute.

That said, the electricity required to travel x amount of miles is far cheaper than the equivalent amount of gasoline, and even more so when the vehicle is charged at night during off-peak hours.

No, the vehicle goes 40 miles on electricity alone before needing to even start the generator.

He's absolutely right. The range needs to be at least . 3 times as far. What is this, a hummer for ants?!?

Yes! Finnally, someone is looking at the buying trend of the public! We want the SUV's -- not the dinky ecofriendly smart@$$ tin cans the enviro-weenies want on the road. Yes it could go into something a little more aerodynamic, but as a proof of concept that fits the market and can be scaled to get profit, its not a bad start. I (and a lot of people I know) have need for something big. With six kids and one with a wheelchair you need a serious vehicle for the road. Anything I can get outta this type of package is gonna be better than the 8mpg 350cid I get now. Its just too bad that I'll have to take out a second mortgage to get it.

When a car takes two "fuels" you can't quote one of them and ignore the other. They should give miles/kWh and miles/gallon.

And, kilowatts are not free. At an average cost of $0.11/kWh a Volt which takes 16 kWh for a full charge costs $1.76 to charge. That sounds good, but only get you 40 miles before the gas engine kicks in.

Looks like the internal cargo area won't be affected by the extra equipment, but can it really go off-roading or tow a huge boat as well as the normal IC version? Isn't that the argument for average people buying these things? I mean, no one buys a hummer because of ego or some self image problem right?

Hybrid, shmybrid. The future of propulsion is in perpetual motion. PayPal me $5 and I'll send you my brochure.

source: http://carjake.com/hybrid-hummer-promises-100-miles-per-gallon

Top 5: Car colours for 2009

2009-04-20T05:30:00.000-07:00

By Jodi Lai, National Post

Judging a book by its cover and judging a car by its colour are no different. Different colours say different things about the drivers who pick them and can sometimes make or break the appeal and longevity of a car.

Could you imagine a Ferarri that isn't red? We see yellow and black ones occasionally, but they get snubbed by hardcore Ferarri fanatics.

Do you remember the hideous vomit-coloured BMW M3? BMW's colour choice was the laughing stock of the entire automotive community when it was released. Silver is a classic Porsche colour and British cars almost always have to be dark green. Also, if you drive a white or blue Impala or Town Car, people will think you're a police officer.

According to DuPont Automotive's Colour Popularity Report, white is still the top choice, holding 20% of the North American market, while silver and black are tied at 17%. Blue is making a strong comeback, according to the report, coming in at 13%. Grey stands at 12% while red is at 11%, beiges and brown at 5%, green at 3%, yellow and gold at 2% and other colours filling in less than 1%.

Cars with metallic paint are worth more than cars with flat colours and usually demand a premium in dealer showrooms. Metallic cars are said to sell faster as used cars, and could be worth more than a flat-coloured counterpart.

Loud colours such as reds, yellows and oranges are generally more popular on sports cars and compacts, while larger vehicles such as SUVs and trucks, tend to me more neutral.

1. White is probably so popular because it doesn't show dirt and seems more unique than silver. It's also said to be unpretentious, with more buyers of luxury cars opting for unassuming pearly finishes instead of loud colours. Also, light colours act as reflectors, so white cars won't be as hot after sitting in a sunny parking lot all day.

2. Silver also doesn't show dirt and shares many benefits with white-coloured cars. In pouring rain and bad weather conditions, some complain that silver camouflages too easily and is difficult to see.

3. Black has a stealthy look to it, but shows scratches, dirt and dust like a lighthouse in a foggy evening. Black is seen as a sophisticated colour, as a black car generally requires more maintenance to keep it looking fresh. Black also shows off a car's lines more than a silver car.

4. Blue is going to go through a revival this year, according to DuPont. Dark blues are luxurious while lighter blue hues can be fun and playful in compact cars.

5. Grey is often chosen by people who want to get away from the commonality of silver, but crave all the benefits it offers. Grey could be called anything from "gun metal" to "seal grey" with those looking for something more badass opting for the harsher sounding gun metal.

(Photo: So many colours, so little time. Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

2010 Nissan Cube: First impression

2009-04-18T05:19:00.000-07:00

by Liane Yvkoff

There's something different about the Nissan Cube, and it's not because it's square or has asymmetrical windows. I'm in the driver's seat, and I can't seem to adjust the rear-view mirror to fit the entire rear windshield. Is the mirror smaller than usual? Is the offset window throwing me off? Or am I just not used to driving a car with good rear visibility?

Large asymmetrical windows that wrap around the Cube are the vehicle's signature design feature.

Large asymmetrical windows is one of the Cube's differentiators in the crowded crossover SUV segment. Although they've been doing it for 10 years in Japan, Nissan is a relative latecomer to the box-on-wheels trend in the U.S. with the Scion xB and the Kia Soul already in the mix. To stand out in the square car market, the company seems to have made "quirkiness" their signature on the Cube. A byproduct of this design is that you finally have a car with a rear window big enough that short people can see out of.

Compared to the other box-shaped cars, the Cube has the "edgiest" design. The strong styling is expected to appeal to a decidedly young audience. Marketed as a sort of "apartment on wheels" since much of their demographic is still living with their parents, it's tempting to make the comparison. Although it's shorter and narrower than its direct competitors, the Cube offers a voluminous interior and a decent range of accessories that encourage personalization.

Interior mood lighting is optional, and you can even spring for a shag rug to sit atop the dash. But a home away from home it is not.

The Cube is equipped with versatile 60/40 fold-flat and three-position sliding rear seats, but the vehicle's relatively short length makes it an improbable place to crash for more than a quick nap, unlike other cars, such as the Honda Element which can fit a double mattress. That said, the Cube offers a lot of headroom - more than the Scion xB and the Soul in the front and as much as the Soul in the rear -- giving the car a roomy, open feeling.

Or maybe it's the large wrap around windows on the right side.

The Cube offers sliding 60/40 fold-flat rear seats and storage in the left C-pillar.

But the Cube could stand a bit more purposeful function. There's only one 12-volt charger, and it's in the front. I hate having to decide which of my perpetually low-battery level devices to charge on a trip. The dash-topping shag rug may serve as a conversation piece, as one Nissan spokesperson explained it, but there probably would be even more to talk about if the rug were able to grip the personal electronics that don't really have a home, like cell phones, iPods, and those keyless keys that are still required for push-button ignition.

They may not have executed so well on the apartment-on-wheels concept, but unexpected compartments and accessories definitely inspire the idea of car-as-storage-unit. The Cube sports a built-in pillar storage (read: stash box) and Nissan is selling a lock-box for the well of the truck to store items out of sight.

The dash-topping shag rug is one way drivers can personalize the Cube. But don't expect to get any use out of it.

Bungee cords affixed to the doors can be used to hold small items such as maps, and knobs protrude from the center stack and doors on which to hang things (up to 1.5 kilograms). Finally there's a good place to hang a garbage bag.

Electronics, Nissan marketers say, are important to their targeted buyers. The upgraded stereo system on the SL interfaces with iPods and iPhones. However, I would have preferred actual iPod integration that's easier to use. Nissan explains that their setup is more modular; that it's easier to accommodate the next big thing, which may or may not be iPod-centric. But in the mean time, I couldn't figure out how to select different playlists. In Nissan's defense, I didn't have the manual. The Cube offers an optional navigation system that I didn't get to try. I'm hoping the iPod interfaces better with a screen.

Rolling on the streets, the car didn't turn as many heads as I expected, but I got a few quizzical looks at stop lights with drivers peering down from their SUVs into the smaller ute. Parked and from a distance, I sometimes confused first generation xBs for the Cube.

Door-mounted bungees can help organize loose items in the Cube.

Nissan marketers admit the success of the cube will not be achieved through performance. Zipping around streets? Yes. Racing down them? No. The handling isn't as responsive as other Nissan vehicles, but it's not designed for that. And with a 1.8L 4-cylinder, 122-hp engine, neither is the Cube designed for speed. But it's enough power tooling around the city, and is paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). On the upside, the short wheelbase and tight turning radius makes it easy to turn around mid-street (not typically legal) to snag an open parking spot.

At $13,990 for the base model, it's almost a couple thousand less than the xB ($15,750), but more expensive than the Soul ($13,300). The competitive price-point also puts it in competition with the other starter cars on the market, such as the Honda Fit ($14,750) or the Toyota Yaris ($12,205). Given the affordable entry price, good mileage (Nissan expects 30 mpg on the highway), forward styling, and spaciousness, the Cube is a great first-time buyer car, but without the starter car feel.

source: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10221096-48.html

Mercedes GLK: More Rugged Than It Looks

2009-03-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

By Jack Ewing

Don't let the pretty face of the new Mercedes GLK-Class fool you. This compact SUV is ready with some clever tricks for off-road adventures

felt bemused as I settled into the leather driver's seat of a Mercedes GLK-Class SUV for an off-road test drive in a wooded area of Germany's Ruhr Valley. Let's face it, I thought, Mercedes (DAI) is not aiming at the rod-and-gun crowd with a $53,000 car that you can order in white with tinted windows and two-tone upholstery. Promotional materials even show a fashionable woman loading her designer luggage into the back. Britney Spears may buy this car to evade the paparazzi, but you won't see many bass fishermen kicking the tires.

Or so I thought. A short while later I found myself trying to steer the GLK down a steep, slippery incline. At the bottom was a small river spanned by a bridge consisting of several logs. If I had been in a TV commercial, this would be the moment when a subtitle appears warning that only professional drivers should attempt this maneuver. Except that I'm not a professional driver.

The Mercedes man assigned to keep me from wrecking the vehicle seemed remarkably calm, and soon I found out why. He reached over from the passenger seat and pressed a button on the dashboard that activated the optional Downhill Speed Regulation. Using the cruise control lever on the steering wheel, I set the speed at 4 kilometers an hour. The GLK's electronics slowed the car to walking pace and distributed power among the four wheels in a way calculated to maintain traction. All I had to do was steer carefully onto the log bridge and across to safety. Even Britney could have done it.

After completing the off-road course, I had to admit that, yes, bass fishermen would like this car, too. You can drive the GLK at more than 100 mph on the Autobahn, as I did briefly. (For the record, it was a stretch of highway where there is no speed limit.) But the GLK is also a real 4-by-4. Thanks to clever electronics that keep the vehicle steady and maintain traction in rough terrain, an average driver can perform gymnastics on the trail that would confound even professionals.

Under Three Years
The GLK, which goes on sale in Europe in October and in the U.S. early in 2009, is Mercedes' most important new car of the year, and it's good—if you ignore the fact that soaring fuel prices are causing SUV sales to plunge. At least the GLK is a so-called compact SUV. "Compact" in this case presumably means "compared with a Hummer." But the GLK does get decent gas mileage for a 2-ton vehicle. The 4-cylinder diesel version is rated at 34 miles per gallon (or, in European terms, 6.9 liters per 100 kilometers). The 6-cylinder gasoline version that will be sold in the U.S. gets just 22 mpg, however. (Mercedes hasn't yet announced a U.S. price for the GLK, but the same car costs more than $60,000 in Germany.)

Mercedes brought the GLK from design to production in under three years because it needed to compete better with smaller SUVs such as BMW's (BMWG.DE) successful X3. Besides being smaller, the GLK differs from the rest of the Mercedes SUV lineup in a number of ways. Designer Steffen Köhl and his team gave the GLK a boxy look to set it apart from the crowded SUV market, as well as from Mercedes' own M-Class cars. The angular design harkens back to military vehicles, the original SUVs, which had squared-off body parts that were easy to make and fix.

Inside, the GLK feels like a passenger car, except with more upright seating and a picture-window view out the front. In fact, some of the cockpit, such as the seats, comes from Mercedes' C-Class sedans. The car's interior amenities seem more attuned to the suburbs than the woods, though I suppose you could argue that the video display that lets you see what's behind the rear bumper helps the environment. It keeps you from backing into trees.

But people who never drive off the pavement with their GLK will be missing some fun. At one point during the test drive, my Mercedes co-pilot coached me across a series of huge earthen bumps. Between each set of obstacles, the car teetered dangerously on one front wheel and the opposite rear wheel. The other two wheels were several feet off the ground. Instead of spinning wildly, the free wheels stopped instantly while the other two continued to deliver power. The Mercedes guy taught me how to brake slightly when the GLK crested a bump, causing the front wheel to drop gently back to the ground.

It will be interesting to see whether record fuel prices will restrict this kind of fun to a few buyers. Unlike most of the rest of Mercedes' SUV lineup, which is made in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the GLK will roll from a plant in Bremen, Germany. That suggests the car is destined not only for well-heeled European buyers but also the growing flock of wealthy Russians. The fast-growing Russian market (BusinessWeek.com, 7/11/08) has helped prop up sales for the whole industry recently. Mercedes execs can only hope it will keep the SUV market alive as well.

Car Throttle Parting Shot - The Chrysler Pacifica part 2

2009-03-17T04:40:00.000-07:00

Early Pacificas also featured mediocre engines in a price bracket where potent and refined powertrains were the norm. Not helping matters were the large wagon’s hefty weight and relatively unsophisticated four-speed automatic transmission, both of which took their toll on fuel economy. A significant update for 2007, however, brought about a new V6 engine, a new six-speed automatic for most models and updated styling.

After 2005, The Chrysler Pacifica is offered in three trim levels: LX, Touring and Limited, each of which is available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Base LX front-wheel-drive Pacificas are powered by a modest, 200-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 connected to a four-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. All other Pacifica models are motivated by a more sophisticated and powerful 4.0-liter V6 capable of 255 hp. The latter engine comes with a six-speed automatic, also with manual shift control. All Pacificas are rated to tow up to 3500 pounds. Base models feature two-row, five-passenger seating, while the Touring and Limited models boast the original six-passenger seating configuration.

Sales of these compromised crossovers have never reached expectations. Why? Well, along with the Crossfire, Chrysler optimistically priced these offerings far above customer expectations. They were simply too expensive for the Chrysler name. Realizing this, the LX was introduced during the 2005 model year, thoroughly de-contented, yet it still didn’t make any difference. Chrysler didn’t market the vehicle correctly, didn’t add value to this first ever crossover, nor did it try and widen the appeal past it’s Minivan roots. And so, during the Summer of 2005, Chrysler joined GM, and Ford in what has become the devaluation of the Detroit brand, offering Employee Pricing for everyone, and artificially creating demand.

The Pacifica also had another thing going against it, and that was the fact that it didn’t share any of the interior furnishings with any other Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep product. The window switches, audio and video entertainment options, seats, center console, or the instrument panel were not interchangeable with any other vehicle. The optional navigation system display is incorporated into the speedometer, and could be seen only by the driver. The power seat switches (along with heat) were on the door, a nod to it’s Daimler parent, but never shared with any other Chrysler. The only thing shared was the engine, and the transmission, and even the gear selector was unique. This didn’t help bring the costs down, thereby making the break-even point harder to reach.

The Pacifica also had a very bad reputation as far as reliability during the 2004 model year. While electrical gremlins persisted throughout it’s entire production cycle, the 2004 models suffered from engine problems, transmission woes, and quality control issues. Chrysler did not handle these problems as well as they should have, which only compounded the problems during the launch of the car. It has been written that this was one of the worst new car introductions for Chrysler, with little or no advanced notice, hardly any pre-production publicity, and very little dealer training.

Is this car worth purchasing, either as a leftover new car, or as a good used car? Let me start by saying as a new car, you could do worse. There are still a lot of new 2007 and 2008 Pacificas available, and Chrysler has gone back to using the “Fire Sale” Employee Pricing scheme again, so they should be relatively affordable. If you want a used one, look for 2005 or later, and they should be real cheap, because their residuals have never been good. However, since the Pacifica introduction, there are better alternatives, Like the Subaru Tribeca, the GM Lambda offerings (Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, Chevy Traverse), The Honda Pilot, The Acura MDX, The Volvo XC90, and the Ford Freestyle/Taurus X/Flex. The Pacific may have been first, but it was never really that good, and that’s my parting shot.

source:

http://www.carthrottle.com/car-throttle-parting-shot-the-chrysler-pacifica/

Car Throttle Parting Shot - The Chrysler Pacifica part 1

2009-03-17T04:31:00.000-07:00

The German-American car company, Daimler Chrysler, was about to introduce a relatively new “Segment Buster” in the autumn of 2003. The idea was to marry the usefulness of a people carrier (Minivan as it were), to a go anywhere Sport Utility Vehicle, with better fuel mileage, and a better on highway ride. Unfortunately, as with all compromises, it never really lived up to any of the promises. It was a good idea, gone very bad, that inadvertently started the new larger Car-like Utility Vehicle (CUV) trend. Let’s take a Parting Shot at the 5 year run of the Chrysler Pacifica.

The Chrysler Pacifica is among the new breed of crossover 4-dr wagons that aim to blend traits of cars, SUVs, and minivans. To that end, it offers three rows of seats for 6-passenger capacity, a suspension designed to provide car-like road manners, and available all-wheel drive. The Pacifica is taller than a car but lower than most SUVs. It also has an exceptionally wide body and is nearly as long as Chrysler’s Town & Country minivan. The sole powertrain (at least for the first few years) is a 250-hp 3.5-liter V6 and 4-speed automatic transmission with manual shift gate. The Pacifica offers front-wheel drive with optional traction control, or all-wheel drive without low-range gearing. 4-wheel disc brakes, 17-inch wheels, and a load-leveling rear suspension are some of the standard features, with seating that consists of buckets in the 1st and 2nd rows and a 3rd-row split bench. The 2nd and 3rd rows fold but don’t remove. This is one of the first vehicles that provided a head-protecting curtain side airbags that cover all three rows. Other notable standard features include power-adjustable pedals, and a tire-pressure monitor on AWD models, but were optional on front-drive models. You could choose leather upholstery, heated 1st- and 2nd-row seats, sunroof, power liftgate, navigation and DVD entertainment systems, and Sirius satellite radio. All in all a very well equipped vehicle.

Compared to other crossover wagons, the Chrysler Pacifica is relatively upscale and offers a wide array of creature comforts wrapped in elegantly chiseled sheet metal. Clever styling tricks make it look smaller than it actually is. Unfortunately, the Pacifica doesn’t possess particularly great interior packaging. While the first two rows are spacious for occupants, the third row is acceptable only for children and leaves very little space for cargo behind it when deployed. The rearmost seat does, however, fold flat into the floor in convenient 50/50 sections. The Pacifica’s Minivan derived suspension has garnered universal praise for its carlike ride and handling, although early models suffered reliability woes.

source:

http://www.carthrottle.com/car-throttle-parting-shot-the-chrysler-pacifica/

Porsche's GTS the sports car of SUVs

2009-03-17T04:17:00.000-07:00

DEREK MCNAUGHTON, Canwest News Service Published: Monday, March 16

Cayenne's best-handling model: GTS an entertaining way to get through winter when your 911 is hibernating

The Porsche GTS has without a doubt, the sweetest-sounding exhaust of any vehicle ever.

OK, maybe the V12 Aston Martin DB9 or the Ferrari F430 sing with more sonorous notes. But these are not everyday sport-utility vehicles able to plough through mud or snow one day, haul the lads to hockey the next, or tow 3,500 kilograms of car and trailer to the race track -- where it could easily turn a few impressive laps itself.

Porsche addicts already know the GTS as the best-handling Cayenne traversing the Earth, and that those three initials are not used lightly since they are borrowed from the 904 GTS Carrera race cars of 1964, which weighed about half as much as today's Cayenne.

With a six-speed manual as standard equipment, this raging bull stands apart from every other Cayenne in the herd as much for its hunkered-down angry look as that addictive choir emanating from the four chrome oval pipes out back.

I almost had to apologize to my neighbours who had thrown scorn and frowns my way from all that rumbling of the 4.8-litre V8 in my driveway. But the engine revving in the 2008 model I drove could not be helped. Nor could the constant pressure I kept applying to the throttle every time the GTS got underway. Its 405 horsepower thundered out the gate with the force of 369 foot-pounds of torque, delivering an irrepressible, oh-what-a-joy feeling over and over again.

Indeed, the GTS could be the most entertaining way to get through winter when your 911 is hibernating.

There's little argument the Cayenne GTS is the enthusiast's all-weather vehicle, competing with the BMW X5, Infiniti FX50 and Audi Q7. With seating for five, all-wheel drive and 19 cubic feet in the back (63 cu.ft. with the seats down), that's less space than the X5 but more than the Infiniti.

Either way, it's enough to swallow four hockey bags and sticks.

But the machine itself, with all its power, handling and Porscheness, makes the dreaded awfulness of winter something that could almost be tolerated.

The GTS coddles its driver in leather-bound luxury under a canopy of alcantara, thrilling with zero-to-96-kilometres-an-hour sprints in 5.7 seconds and impressing the heck out of everyone with all-weather and off-road prowess.

Even the look of the GTS warms the soul in the way no other SUV does -- even the way no other Cayenne does (except maybe the Turbo) thanks to its low ride height, wider wheel arches, 21-inch wheels and Turbo-sourced front and rear fascias. There was joy in every turn of the heated leather steering wheel.

But there are also a few changes that could elevate the GTS to a higher plateau.

High among them are changing the parking brake so it is controlled by hand up top near the centre console -- or, better, equipped with an Audi-like electronic park brake. With a manual transmission, it was a pain to use the foot brake over and over again.

More of an issue, however, was first gear, which felt too short: little more than 30 km/h is reached before the need to shift into second, which again requires shifting just past 60 km/h.

source:
http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/cars/story.html?id=47ba8058-e0a8-441b-a259-650698de8344&p=2

2009 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro Review

2008-12-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Over the last few years, the last generation Audi A4 was growing increasingly stale. Updated offerings from BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, everyone but Volvo have overtaken Ingolstadt’s brot und butter model. To keep the faith– or at least the faithful– Audi’s engineers initiated a massive redesign of the A4. Obviously, it’s a better car. Vorsprung and all that. But can the new A4 leapfrog the luxury brat pack? Or is it more of the same? Yes.

If the new A4’s front end looks vaguely familiar, it’s because you’ve already seen it (essentially) on the A5. I’ve never been a fan of the A4’s slightly bulbous looks (too much like a fancy-schmancy Passat). The new version is a cheeky twist on the old one, like a sci-fi cinematic remake that acknowledges its predecessor even as it blows it away. The new car’s wider track gives the A4 a more menacing look than before, and the rest of the design returns Audi to its recent understated aggression remit. Now, if they only modified Billy the Big Mouth Bass for U.S. license plates…

Inside, the A4’s impresses at one of the most important touch points: the steering wheel. Granted, the fat helm isn’t as ergasmic as the GTI’s tiller, but I’ll have what she’s having. Unfortunately, the rest of the Audi driver’s zone has been afflicted with the same button-itis infecting Acura’s offerings (paging Steve Jobs). Learning to master the farrago of functions puts drivers on a learning curve on par with differential equations. Fortunately, the A4’s fit and finish maintain Audi’s unique selling point. And thanks to a longer wheelbase, the A4’s rear compartment finally offers what Americans call “legroom.”

As before, the A4’s engine bay packs either a 2.0T four or a 3.2 V6. Despite making a class trailing 265 horsepower, the six-pot’s been tuned to deliver more of what pistonheads like at lower rpms. Combined with direct injection, both fuel efficiency and driveability are improved; there’s none of that nasty lag commonly associated with drive-by-wire throttles. Not even when you’re trying to recreate the official zero to sixty sprint of six point nothing seconds.

The A4’s automatic transmission is a very fine thing indeed. The six-speeds come and go with such ease that you’d be forgiven for thinking the A4 was packing a DSG instead of ye olde Tiptronic. Better yet, the slushbox rev-matches downshifts so smoothly they’re literally imperceptible. So, wafting.

The A4 sits on the model’s first new platform since the Manic Street Preacher’s singer walked away from his Vauxhall Cavalier (1995). There’s a better balanced body and a new Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The latter now splits torque 40 percent front/60 percent rear, making the A4 feel more like a rear wheel-drive car. While understeer isn’t banished entirely, it’s no longer the A4’s defining dynamic response.

And then there’s “Audi Drive Select.” At the touch of a button you can modify the vehicle’s throttle response, shift points, suspension, power steering boost and steering ratio. Switching between ‘comfort’ and ‘dynamic/sport’ changes the A4 from comfortable cruiser to corner carver. No really. You can also let the car decide: automatic mode reads your inputs and tightens or loosens all those variables as the car sees fit. Or, you can customize all your settings (good luck with that).

Audi brags that they adapted the A4’s steering system from the NASA moon rover program. On the dark side, you’re good to go. At speed, the ECU reduces the steering ratio such that barely a half turn of the wheel is required to follow even the tightest of hairpins. In “dumb down mode,” on long straight stretches of road, the A4’s steering wil leave you craving the slightest hint of gravity. Yes, the system eliminates the over-correction some sports-oriented sedans experience during an ‘OHSHIT’ situation. But Quattro or no Quattro, on-center feel is something Audi should, finally, fix.

It’s really too bad that you can’t buy/lease a BMW 335xi for the same amount of money as the A4 3.2 and have the fist of an angry God under-hood. But you can’t, so there. Besides, who needs all that power (other than you and me)? And the Lexus, Infiniti and the Caddy equivalents lack Audi’s Germanic, uh, stolidity. Anyway, the Audi A4 still has a big question mark over its reliability, but it’s a fine steer. And it no longer carries the stigma of offering less for more. It is, once again, a sensible choice for sensible people who want to appear slightly sporty in a sensible way and might, on the rare occasion, in bad weather, be late for a dentist appointment.

by: Megan Benoit

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2009-audi-a4-32-quattro-review/

2009 Volkswagen Routan Review

2008-12-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

A large percentage of TTAC readers arrive here via a Google search of a specific vehicle. They know nothing of– nor care much about– our “take no prisoners” editorials or Inside Baseball auto industry analysis. So, in their honor, let’s start with THE key fact: the VW Routan is a rebadged Chrysler minivan. Rebadged as in mildly reworked. So why buy a VW Routan instead of a Chrysler product? For the same reason you’d buy a Chrysler minivan over a Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna: no reason at all, really. But there’s more to it than that. At least in theory…

Externally, the Routan’s metalworkers have done what they could to differentiate their “German engineered” product from its American/Canadian cousins (i.e. nothing much). If the Dodge Caravan is a lunchbox, and The Town and Country a Chrysler 300 sedan inflated by 500 percent, the Routan is an inflated lunchbox with a VW nose. That said, the Routan’s schnoz demonstrates the importance of a vehicle’s “face;” VW’s plunging trapezoid re-brands the box, transforming it into a significantly more coherent vehicle. Whether or not the resulting VW-ness appeals depends on how many hours/dollars you’ve spent at a VW dealership.

The aesthetic improvements continue inside… somewhat. VW recast the Chyrsler product’s cheap ass dash in a faux painted metal. For those who remember the original Microbus, it’s a constant reminder of the innovative, iconoclastic vehicle that the Routan is not. There’s no disguising the Routan’s modern roots: a non-Germanic vehicle made for people comfortable living inside a box. If you can’t see the problem, blinded as you are by the steering wheel’s big-ass logo, you can feel it. The switchgear and cabinetry respond with Chrysler-esque imprecision.

Also lacking: Chrysler’s oh-so clever Stow-n-Go seating. Jumbo cargo schleppers will have to remove the Routan’s mid seats and leave them somewhere. On the flip side (get it?), the Routan’s second row seats are considerably more comfortable than Chrysler’s origami ones. If you’re going to be carting more humans than old armoires, the Routan is the way to go.

Our test van had a power tailgate, which is helpful. You can lift things out, hit the gate with your elbow and walk away. The power-folding rear seat is jewelry: a nice touch that serves no practical function. Minivanistas will know that reconfiguring seats means crawling around in the back moving CD collections, abandoned sippy cups, Tonka trucks and such before you can start the folding. After that, who cares if seat accordionage is just a button away?

They’ve Veedubbed the Dodge, but it’s still a Dodge. For example, the spare tire. You must lower it to ground from a knob on the floor near the driver’s seat. Had VW bolted the wheel to the front grill, I would have given this thing five stars just for old time’s sake. Hell, I may have bought one. As nice as the Routan is– with its cubbies and LED map lights and 13 cup holders (six passengers can two-fist it, with the driver leaving one hand on the wheel) and back-up video camera– it’s got as much character as Brooke Shields in The Muppets Take Manhattan.

The Routan offers the same engines as its supposed Chrysler platform mates (duh): a 3.8-liter V6 making 197 hp or a 4.0-liter V6 turning-out 251 ponies. Bigger is better. The larger-engined SEL is not slow; zero to sixty in 8.9 seconds is an acceptable sprint time for a 4621 lbs. family hauler. More importantly, there’s plenty of torque on tap, allowing smooth, predictable acceleration at all speeds. AND the bigger motor gets slightly better gas mileage.

VW claimed they spent millions on the Routan’s suspension to give it that “VW feel.” Marketing execs now join TV weather people and my high school guidance counselor as people whose information must be “recalibrated” with reality. The whole world is not a parking lot. There’s simply too much waft, wallow and float, even for a minivan. I’ve driven heavyweight Dodge Chargers and sprightly VW GTIs. Both donor companies can do better.

I didn’t take the Routan on the Autobahn. Maybe there’s a difference between this four-wheeled crate and Dodge’s version at 100-plus miles per hour. The set up did seem a tad more taut than the Caravan’s… if I concentrated. What I came to believe, after a couple of mixed miles, is that whatever VW spent got diluted. Tweaking a suspension, while keeping everything else, yields nothing very much.

Taken as a whole, the Routan is the most desirable of the three minivans sharing this platform– provided you don’t need the trick seats. If Honda, Kia and Toyota weren’t in this space, the Routan would rule. But they are, so it doesn’t.

by: Michael Martineck

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2009-volkswagen-routan-review/

2009 Honda Pilot Review

2008-11-23T12:21:00.000-08:00

Honda was the first automaker to offer Americans a car-based SUV with a
third row of seats. It didn’t matter that an Odyssey minivan was more
fun to drive. Families wanted a third row without the stigma of a
minivan or the bulk of a conventional SUV. The Pilot outsold all other
midsize car-based SUVs. Then new competitors piled into the segment:
Hyundai Veracruz, GMC Acadia, Mazda CX-9 and more. Honda lost its place
at the head of the class. For the 2009 model year, Honda has responded
with a fully redesigned Pilot. Have they done enough to reclaim their
supremacy?

The original Pilot was a blandly inoffensive box on wheels. The new
Pilot sports a bulkier nose, a higher beltline, more Hummeresque side
windows (let us not speak ill of the dead) and a chrome butt strip. The
formerly cute ute looks much more like a conventional SUV– except for
the clunky grille. (Honda designer Dave Marek says the new design will
grow on you; so can fungus.)

The same, more massive aesthetic has been applied to the Pilot’s
interior. The center stack, the center console, and the door panels all
have the chunky forms typical of a conventional full-size SUV.
If this were a Chrysler, we’d be saying that the interior plastics look
cheap. Since it’s a Honda, we’ll say they look “affordable.” As in
cheap. Surfaces display the sheen you’d expect from budget grade
rock-hard polymers, while the instrument panel includes far too many
prominently located cut lines. Want something nicer? Honda invites you
to pick up an MDX. Alternatively, you could buy a competitor’s product.
Like a conventional SUV, the Pilot’s windshield is downright upright.
The instrument panel isn’t minivanishly deep and visibility is
excellent. Although the Pilot’s front seats are larger and cushier than
those found in smaller Hondas, there’s less lateral support than
Hillary Clinton affords Barak Obama. Also on the downside, the Pilot’s
shifter has moved to the left side of the center stack. It’s an
improvement over the old column shifter, but the cog swapper’s
positioning isn’t ideal for anyone who likes to drive.

The new Pilot has all the width of a full-size SUV. In terms of length
and wheelbase, both dimensions have increased by about three inches;
remaining about ten inches shorter than competitors. Legroom in the
second row is up an inch, third row limb accommodation is up nearly two
inches. The second row adjusts a few inches fore-and-aft, but adults
will want it all the way back.
Humans up to six feet tall can now fit into the Pilot’s third row, with
little room to spare. The wayback seats are positioned above the first
two rows, providing occupants with a pleasantly unobstructed view
forward. But the chairs are still too close to the floor to provide
adults with enough thigh support to prevent Restless Leg Syndrome.
The Pilot’s relatively short exterior length also compromises cargo
volume. The Honda can carry eight people or their luggage, but not both
at the same time. As with the third row, you’ll find more room
elsewhere.

Honda’s secured an extra six horses for the Pilot’s 3.5-liter V6, for a
total of 250. The i-VTEC system makes the most of what’s there,
stumping-up 253 ft. lbs. of torque. Unfortunately, there’s no
noticeable difference in performance. Why would there be? The Pilot’s
curb weight has increased to 4500 lbs. (with all wheel-drive). To
compensate for the heft’s effect on gas consumption, the powerplant now
runs on three or four cylinders while cruising. The resulting 16/22 EPA
numbers are competitive, but hardly qualify as a unique selling point.
The Pilot’s automatic five-speed gearbox remains. (Most competitors
have a sixth ratio, which enables a shorter first gear for stronger
acceleration off the line.) The Pilot’s steering feels a bit firmer
than before. Thanks to improved suspension tuning, the Pilot no longer
leans like a boat through the turns. But the not-so-cute-ute is about
as much of a sporting machine as the [only slightly less expensive]
Panasonic EP3005 massage chair.

Disappointingly, the Pilot’s new underpinnings don’t deliver markedly
improved ride quality or a vast reduction in noise levels. If you’re
looking for a bargain-basment alternative to premium-branded products,
this ain’t it.

The new Pilot doesn’t change the game the way the original did. There’s
not a single area in which it excels, in a field crowded with excellent
products. Of course, the same could be said of the old Pilot, of which
Honda sold quite a few. Much like the previous model, the new Pilot is
a vehicle for those who will only consider a Toyota or Honda, and want
something roomier than the Highlander. Honda bunted. The Pilot’s a base
hit.

By Michael Karesh

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2009-honda-pilot-review/

2009 NISSAN ROGUE CROSSOVER SUV COMBINES FUEL EFFICIENCY, ENGAGING PERFORMANCE AND ULTRA-FUNCTIONALITY

2008-09-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Nashville, Tenn. - The Nissan Rogue crossover SUV, introduced as an all-new model for 2008, was created as a whole new way to make driving fun – combining 27 miles per gallon estimated highway fuel economy with spirited performance and SUV utility.
Rogue received a number of prestigious awards in its first year, including “Best New Small Crossover” by Kiplinger’s magazine, Parents Magazine “Best Family Cars for 2008” award, AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA) for Compact Crossover SUV segment and MotorWeek’s “Driver’s Choice Award for Best Small Utility.” In addition, the 2008 Rogue received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NTHSA) highest rating – 5 stars – for side-impact crash safety.
Enhancements for the 2009 Nissan Rogue include new auto speed-sensing door locks; fold-down front passenger seat, driver seatback pocket, dual-level center console tray and mood lighting for SL models; drive computer and outside temperature display added to SL models; two luggage side cargo hooks and dual visor vanity mirror illumination for SL models; the Leather Package option is now available for Rogue FWD SL models; and Bluetoothâ Hands-free Phone System and Nissan Intelligent Key™ added to the Rogue FWD Premium Package.
“The Rogue had what we consider an All-Star rookie season, proving once again that the Nissan’s philosophy of providing good fuel efficiency and great driving performance in one high-value package resonates with today’s new vehicle buyers,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. “Rogue was designed to satisfy both the functional needs of the buyer and their emotional needs with aggressive, performance-oriented styling, a powerful engine, responsive handling, a driver-focused cockpit and thoughtful everyday utility – and it continues to do so in 2009.”
The 2009 Nissan Rogue is available in two models, Rogue S and Rogue SL, each with a standard 170-horsepower (167-hp CAL emissions) 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVTÔ (Continuously Variable Transmission), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and 4-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). Both S and SL models are available with an intuitive all-wheel drive system with yaw moment control. Rogue also offers a long list of standard safety features – including front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags and roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection.
Aggressive Design and Attitude
Rogue’s exterior is designed to present an image of modern sophistication – both aggressive and sporty. Its sleek, masculine styling includes dynamically arched forms and powerful rear shoulder lines.
“Although people buy small crossover SUVs for their utility, the designers of Rogue sought to create a vehicle that makes you first consider its power, style and sophistication – like a high-end designer briefcase or bag,” said Castignetti. “All the necessary compartments and storage spaces are there, they just don’t scream ‘utility’ at you.”
Rogue features available Xenon headlights, available power sliding glass moonroof with dark gray glass, and an available roof rail system with detachable cross bars (accessory).
Rogue is built on Nissan’s “C” platform, which provides high body stiffness with extensive use of high-strength steel utilized to reduce body weight. Rogue features a 105.9-inch wheelbase and 182.9-inch overall length – among the longest in class, compared with leading small crossover competitors – providing ample rear seat proportions and one of the longest interior lengths. The body also features large front door openings for easy ingress and egress.
A Driver-Oriented, Ultra-Functional Interior
Rogue’s interior, like its exterior, is designed to stand out in class with its sophisticated integration of a cockpit-like driver’s space and exceptional utility. The driver’s seat position offers excellent visibility, enhanced by an available seat lifter with up to two inches of seat height adjustability. Rogue’s instrument panel layout and steering wheel are designed for easy readability and operation while also providing a sporty look and feel, with reddish-orange illumination and silver gauge surround rings.
An available drive computer (standard on SL) includes displays for distance-to-empty, average fuel consumption, average speed, elapsed time and outside temperature. Available steering wheel-mounted controls include audio, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System and cruise control (cruise control is standard on all models).
Leather-appointed seating surfaces and heated front seats and mirrors are also available, along with a fold-down front passenger seat (standard on SL) – which allows more than 8.5 feet of front-to-rear cargo space for carrying long items such as wood or ladders. A rear 60/40 split-fold bench seat and oversize glove box with partition that measures more than half-a-cubic foot in volume are standard. Also available is a highly versatile, dual-level center console storage with hidden functionality features.
Rogue’s roomy cargo area has a number of available utility features, including a unique cargo organizer (available on SL only). When needed, the organizer pops up – with a one-touch open button – from its hidden space below the flat cargo floor. A portion of the cargo floor snaps into a vertical position, revealing a flat recessed space with removable, vertical cargo nets. The system helps prevent items such as sports equipment and grocery bags from rolling loose around the cargo area while driving. Rogue also features a washable, removable tray that fits below the cargo area floor to hold wet or dirty gear and tools and a rear tonneau cover to keep luggage and other items out of sight. Rogue’s everyday utility features also include a variety of cupholders, memo/pen holder, coin holder and cell phone/sunglass holders.
Among the advanced technology features available on Rogue are a Nissan Intelligent KeyÔ and a powerful Bose®-developed audio system with 7 speakers and subwoofer with MP3 capability and XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately). Also available is a Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, HomeLink® Universal Transceiver garage door opener and Xenon headlights.
Engaging Performance
While maintaining its functionality as a family vehicle, Rogue’s creators also recognized the target buyers’ desires for a higher level of acceleration, handling and fun-to-drive attributes than offered by traditional small crossover SUVs. Rogue delivers on this promise with an advanced drivetrain anchored by its powerful 2.5-liter engine, 4-wheel independent suspension and refined, intuitive All-Wheel Drive system.
Rogue’s standard QR25DE 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder is rated at 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft torque (167 hp, 170 lb-ft CAL emissions), tuned to provide ample torque in the low-to-mid rpm range for smooth, powerful acceleration and quick initial response from a standing start. The engine features an aluminum block, reduced piston and piston ring friction and increased thermal efficiency (over the previous generation 2.5-liter engine design), 9.6:1 compression ratio, and large diameter intake port and exhaust manifold.
Fuel economy is rated at 22 mpg City/27 mpg Highway for 2-wheel drive models and 21 mpg City/26 mpg Highway for all-wheel drive Rogues.
Every Rogue comes with a standard Nissan Xtronic CVT™, combining smooth, linear and responsive acceleration feel with high-efficiency operation. Rogue’s CVT utilizes adaptive logic control and a high-speed central processing unit. Its advanced shift control offers the optimal shift pattern according to the driving situation and driver’s demands, using input from driver operation, vehicle speed, road gradient, turning condition and acceleration force to adjust shifting patterns accordingly. Available paddle shifters provide an added level of sporty performance and driver control.
Rogue is available with an advanced, intuitive All-Wheel Drive system with yaw moment control or front-wheel drive. The system provides stable starts on dry or slippery roads and excellent all-weather performance and traction. Every Rogue also features standard Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS).
Rogue’s standard 4-wheel independent suspension provides a balance of ride comfort and driving stability. The front suspension includes subframe-mounted independent struts with coil springs, high-performance shock absorbers with rebound springs, and a stabilizer bar. The rear independent multi-link suspension includes aluminum-alloy upper links, high-performance shock absorbers with rebound springs and stabilizer bar. The rear suspension design provides maximum luggage space (versus a rear strut design), as well as driving stability.
Responsive steering is provided by an Electric Power-assisted Steering (EPS) system. Every Rogue also comes equipped with standard power-assisted front and rear vented disc brakes with standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). Rogue S models come with 16-inch steel wheels and P215/70R16 tires, while 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with P225/60R17 tires are standard on Rogue SL models.
Standard safety features include the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors; front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags; roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection; front seat Active Head Restraints; 3-point front/rear seatbelts with pre-tensioners, load limiters and adjustable upper anchors for front seating positions and LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren).
Every Rogue also offers child safety rear door locks; Zone Body construction featuring front and rear crumple zones and occupant zone; Nissan Immobilizer system and anti-theft alarm system; and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
“Like all of our Nissan SUVs, including Armada, Pathfinder, Xterra and Murano, Rogue is ready for anything life offers,” said Castignetti. ”Distinctive style, roominess, ultra-functionality, 27 mpg highway fuel efficiency, exhilarating driving performance and outstanding value – Rogue has it all.”

source: http://www.nissanhelp.com/Models/2009/rogue/description.htm

pic: http://www.gotryke.com/2008/08/04/the-feisty-2008-nissan-rogue/

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart

2008-09-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

What's special about it?
If we were making a list of things to do before dying, owning a Lancer Evolution would be in the top 50, if not the top 10. For those who can't afford to spend $35,000, we would have previously advised curling up in the fetal position with a PS2 and a copy of Gran Turismo 4. Now, however, we can suggest the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, which looks to be a legitimate Evo Lite.

Unlike the last Ralliart, this one starts with the right drivetrain parts — genuine Evo-derived stuff. Instead of a dull, naturally aspirated 2.4-liter engine, it has a detuned version of the Evo X's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for an estimated 235 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. Compare this to 224 hp and 226 lb-ft of torque in Subaru's Impreza WRX.

Although we had expected Mitsubishi to stick with a conventional five-speed manual gearbox in the Lancer Ralliart, it now appears the company will offer only its six-speed Twin Clutch-Sequential Sportshift Transmission (TC-SST), which we've found quite effective in the Evo X MR.

The dual-clutch gearbox drives all four of the '09 Lancer Ralliart's wheels through an all-wheel-drive system with an active center differential. Just as in the Evo VIII, IX and X, the driver can choose from Tarmac, Gravel and Snow driving modes. Although the Ralliart won't have the Evo X's Active Yaw Control (AYC) feature, it still has a mechanical rear limited-slip differential and a helical LSD up front.

Mitsubishi hasn't gotten specific about suspension changes on the 2009 Ralliart, and the showcar wears the same P215/45R18 Dunlop SP Sport 5000M all-season tires as our long-term '08 Lancer GTS. However, we'd be very surprised if the company didn't offer a summer tire option for the Ralliart.

What's Edmunds' take? We're a little disappointed the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart won't have a normal manual transmission. Even with the sophisticated automated sequential gearbox, though, this is probably the car that will drive the soggy WRX to an early refresh. — Erin Riches, Senior Editor

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/autoshows/detroit/2008/2009mitsubishilancerralliart.html

2009 honda civic

2008-08-30T06:29:00.000-07:00

Mid-model change
Expect modest exterior enhancements
Diesel power looks to be a no go.

Standard Civic
VP and LX-S trims will make an appearance for the first time in 2009. Both these models will carry special value options. The VP will be a step above the DX adding air conditioning and an AM/FM/CD with Aux jack. The LX-S, a step above the LX, will add 16" alloy wheels, deck lid spoiler, leather wrap steering wheel, exhaust finisher, and sport trimmed interior. Look for new colors including Crystal Black Pearl, Polished Metal Metallic and Urban Titanium Metallic. Nighthawk Black, Galaxy Gray and Borrego Beige will be discontinued.

Civic Si
Some new and exciting colors will be present for the Si as well for 2009. Honda will introduce Crystal Black Pearl, Dyno Blue Pearl, Polished Metal Metallic and Redline Orange Pearl. Nighthawk Black, Fiji Blue, Galaxy Gray, and Habanero Red will be discontinued.

Hybrid
There is a new variation for both NAVI and non-NAVI trims. We don't know what it is at this time but we are guessing from the model description that it is a leather option. New colors will be Atomic Blue Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Polished Metal Metallic, and Spectrum White Pearl. Opal Silver Blue, Galaxy Gray, and Taffeta White will be discontinued.

Also keep watch for the USB audio interface on upper level trims and Bluetooth capability on Navi equipped models.

The mid-model Civic will go on sale in September and the Hybrid in October.

http://www.hondapreview.com/civic/

2009 Honda Prius

2008-08-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

Hybrid car shoppers will have more choices than ever before in 2009 when Honda releases their new Prius fighter and the CR-Z hybrid sports car. Toyota has also publicly said that their next-generation Prius will go on sale in '09. Honda hopes to sell 100,000 of their dedicated hybrid family sedan in North America, and hopes to double that number when worldwide sales are tallied. Details remain sketchy, but as we've reported before, the CR-Z model is separate from their hybrid family sedan. They hope to price the sedan between the Fit and the Civic Hybrid.

The CR-Z is intended to be a sporty hybrid, and the weight of the battery is a big concern. Honda COO Takanobu Ito was interviewed at the Tokyo Motor Show and declined to comment on whether Honda plans on a lithium ion battery for their new hybrid models, but that would make a big dent in the weight problem.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/10/29/hondas-prius-fighter-set-for-debut-in-2009/

The 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R

2008-08-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R is a legend before it even enters production.

Born from a long line of Skyline GT-Rs dating back to 1969, this latest version — "R35" to the hard-core — promises to pack more turbocharged power, more all-wheel-drive technology and more sheer speed than any Japanese car ever to come to America

For six years the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R has been the subject of intense rumors and frenzied speculation. Frequent sightings of GT-R test mules help fuel the excitement. We've caught GT-R prototypes on the streets of L.A. and the Nürburgring test track in Germany. Nissan's engineers also made a trip to a couple California racetracks, bringing the GT-R to both Laguna Seca and Sears Point.

Why is this car followed so closely? Because the Skyline GT-R R35 is expected to be the ne plus ultra of Japanese performance machinery; and after 30 years of waiting, it's finally America's turn to officially take part in all the fun.

The Allure of Forbidden Fruit
The original Nissan Skyline GT-R
might have hit the street in 1969, but it wasn't until 1990 that the GT-R legend would be solidified. That was the year the Skyline GT-R was introduced to an utterly stunned Japanese market. It was the first of three twin-turbocharged, all-wheel-drive and all-wheel-steering Skylines (R32, R33 and R34) and it's the generation upon which the Skyline GT-R legend rests.

Though the R34 left production after the 2003 model year, it was so beloved that Nissan's Nismo division actually bought 20 used Skyline GT-R R34 V-Spec models during 2005 and completely rebuilt them into what is currently considered the greatest GT-R of them all — the $170,000, 500-horsepower Skyline GT-R Z-Tune.

Although Nissan never imported the Skyline GT-R to the United States, the supercar still found its way into America's automotive consciousness. In fact, buying one in the U.S. became relatively easy. By the dawn of the 21st century, several hundred had been imported.

So prominent had the Nissan Skyline GT-R become that in 2003's 2 Fast 2 Furious, the film's hero drove and raced one through the streets of Miami. And the actor Paul Walker, who played the role, bought his own and modified it.

America's GT-R
At the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan showed the GT-R Concept as the prospective successor to the R34. By early 2005, modified G35 coupes with Infiniti badges, oversize wheels and tires, big rear wings, hood scoops and bodywork protrusions big enough to hide exotic exhaust systems in back or intercoolers up front were spied at the Nürburgring.

These weren't just tuner cars, but full-fledged prototypes of the next GT-R.

Then in the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, another GT-R showcar appeared called the GT-R Proto; and the new, innovative shape of the next GT-R was apparent. Obviously based on Nissan's FM-code front midengine chassis, this GT-R would apparently use a turbocharged version of the VQ V6 with a seven-speed transmission and all-wheel drive.

And at the 2006 New York Auto Show, Nissan's CEO Carlos Ghosn announced that, yes finally, the new Skyline GT-R R35 would be sold in the United States and it would be sold worldwide exclusively through Nissan, and not Infiniti. And apparently without the Skyline name.

That's right, it'll officially be called the Nissan GT-R. Yeah, right, just like the 2007 Mazda Miata is the MX-5.

Almost Ready To Rock
Since then, more prototypes of the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R with sheet metal nearly identical to the GT-R Proto have been often seen at the Nürburgring and in America's Southwest, usually in the company of at least one Porsche 911 Turbo. It's that 480-hp, all-wheel-drive Porsche that Nissan is obviously using as its performance benchmark for this car.

But when the new production GT-R R35 goes on sale after its debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in October, we don't expect it to carry a price tag near that Porsche's $122,000 chit. Instead the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R is expected to run somewhere around $70,000, making it a contender to take the title of best value supercar from the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

No wonder it's the most eagerly anticipated car in a generation. And to feed that anticipation, we'll be updating this page with new information, photos and anything else related to the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R R35 until the official unveiling at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show.

http://www.edmunds.com/il/nissan/skyline/index.html

2009 Honda City in September

2008-08-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

Resize to smart-size in the all-new 2009 Fit, and expand your expectations. Imagine a super compact that can comfortably carry five adults and gear, connect with your digital music, find destinations by audible command, get fuel-efficient mpg, and make a parking opportunity out of almost any available space.

Drivers are rethinking the way they get around, and that’s where the 2009 Honda Fit comes in. It’s a smart-sized example of style, function and swift hustle. An abnormally adaptable nemesis of waste, and as ready for change as you are. It’s time to rally behind this dynamo warrior of efficiency.

The Fit Sport is all-new, and comes with some impressively efficient and upscale features. In this case, resizing has nothing to do with sacrifice.

1.5-liter, 4-cylinder i-VTEC® engine
Spacious, configurable interior
Available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™*
iPod®†-compatible USB port** for radio-controlled connectivity
2nd-row Magic Seat® with one-motion dive-down functionality
Available paddle shifters

Beyond Efficient Safety

Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure
Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®)
Active head restraints
Dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags
Front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)
Side-curtain airbags
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)

* The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System is available on Sport models in the United States, except Alaska. See your Honda dealer for details.

†iPod is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. All rights reserved. iPod not included.

**The USB Audio interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your dealer for details on compatibility.

photo from http://bkkautos.com/node/743

Toyota Cuts Sales Goal on Falling U.S. Truck Demand

2008-08-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

Toyota Motor Corp., vying with General Motors Corp. to be the world's largest carmaker, lowered its sales and production forecast for this year as record U.S. gasoline prices erode sales of trucks and sport-utility vehicles.

The company expects to sell 9.5 million vehicles worldwide in the 12 months ending Dec. 31, down 350,000 units, or 3.6 percent, from its initial estimate of 9.85 million, it said in a statement today. Toyota sold 9.37 million last year.

U.S. gasoline prices, which topped $4 a gallon last month, dented demand for pickups and sport-utility vehicles built by Toyota, GM and other automakers. That prompted Toyota to suspend production of Tundra pickups and Sequoia SUVs for three months from August. The company cut its U.S. sales forecast for the Toyota and Lexus brands by 7.6 percent.

``The current market is hurting everyone,'' said Atsushi Kawai, a senior analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities Co. in Tokyo, who has a ``neutral'' rating on the stock. ``What's impressive is that even with the severe environment in the U.S. Toyota is still saying it will beat last year's sales.''

U.S. sales of Toyota and Lexus brands may total 2.44 million vehicles, compared with its previous estimate of 2.64 million, the company said.

The Toyota City, Japan-based automaker also cut its production estimate by 4.5 percent to 9.5 million vehicles for this year. It would be unchanged from last year.

Toyota fell 1.2 percent to 4,880 yen as of the close of trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

U.S. Sales

Toyota's sales goal includes its Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. subsidiaries. The two companies' sales account for about 10 percent of the carmaker's estimate.

Excluding the two units, Toyota lowered its sales forecast by 3.8 percent to 8.5 million vehicles in 2008 because demand will also be lower-than-expected in Europe, Japan and Latin America.

Domestic sales may fall about 2 percent to 1.55 million vehicles, the company said. Toyota expects European sales to decline 4 percent to 1.19 million. In the Middle East, the only region where Toyota raised its sales forecast, the company expects sales to gain 23 percent to 590,000 units.

The carmaker's sales in the U.S., the world's largest auto market, fell by 6.8 percent in the first half of this year, led by a 13 percent drop in demand for its light trucks.

G.M., Ford

Detroit-based GM fell further behind Toyota during the second quarter. Toyota posted a preliminary increase of 1.8 percent to about 2.41 million in the three months ended June 30 as demand rose in China and Russia. GM's sales dropped 5 percent to 2.29 million vehicles.

The results boosted Toyota's first-half lead to 278,000, diminishing chances that GM will extend its 77-year reign as the world's largest automaker. Last year, GM trailed in the first quarter and narrowed the gap in the second before topping Toyota by 3,100 sales for the year.

Toyota's U.S. rivals GM and Ford Motor Co. plan to shut factories and cut jobs. GM, which announced plans to close four truck plants and make more cars in June, may also cut thousands of additional factory jobs as it further trims production capacity, the company said July 15.

Ford, the world's third-largest automaker, on July 24 posted a record quarterly loss of $8.7 billion and accelerated a conversion to fuel-efficient vehicles to wean itself from money- losing trucks. Ford will convert three North American truck factories to build small cars.

Toyota's earnings may also fall because of a stronger yen and falling U.S. sales where sales are heading for the first annual decline since 1995.

Net income at Toyota for the three months ended June 30 may have fallen 33 percent to 330.6 billion yen ($3.06 billion) from a year ago, according to the median estimate of six analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The company will report its earnings on Aug. 7.

By Naoko Fujimura
source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aqPFjEh9qNns&refer=japan

Mitsubishi to Unveil New Pajero SUV at Moscow

2008-08-01T22:30:00.000-07:00

Mitsubishi will unveil its new Pajero Sport SUV model at the Moscow Auto Salon 2008 (The Moscow Motor Show) later next month.

The new Pajero Sport will be phased in selected regions such as Russia, the ASEAN area, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania starting in the fall this year. T he new Pajero Sport will neither be sold in Central & Western Europe nor in North America, where other types of SUVs are favored.

T he model will carry a different name in different markets: Montero Sport in South America, Nativa in Latin America and Challenger in Australia.

The new Pajero Sport features dynamic and sporty exterior lines, complemented by a stylish and vast interior space that engenders a sense of comfort, purpose and safety. This cabin, available in either a 2-row (5-passenger) or 3-row (7-passenger) seating configuration is also very practical with water-repellent seats and a waterproof luggage compartment floor, ideal for leisure use.

Mitsubishi's latest SUV will be powered by a choice of three engines which all deliver outstanding motive performance and fuel economy: 2.5-liter and 3.2-liter common rail direct injection diesel units and a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline unit.

In terms of architecture, the body of the Pajero Sport is mounted on a new ladder frame to realize high levels of durability and reliability, consistent with the needs of its target markets.

Mitsubishi's All Wheel Control philosophy, forged through its participation in the Dakar Rally and other contests, informs all of the company's 4WD systems. The new model will use the Super Select 4WD system, also used in the Pajero SUV, which transmits drive torque effectively to all four wheels on all types of surface. The body, frame and driveline not only give Pajero Sport outstanding off-road performance but allow it to deliver excellent drive dynamics over all surfaces.

The choice of the Moscow Motor Show to unveil the new Pajero Sport is a clear indication of Russia's eminent position within Mitsubishi Motors. In fiscal 2007 Mitsubishi Motors sold some 100,000 vehicles on the Russian market, boosted by the ever successful Lancer line-up and a popular range of SUVs.

MMC is confident that the new Pajero Sport SUV will make a strong addition to its SUV range, which also includes the Pajero and Outlander. Coming on the heels of the introduction of the Lancer sports sedan last year, this will allow MMC to expand SUV sales and hit a total sales volume of 140,000 units on the Russian market in fiscal 2008.

Last month, Mitsubishi and PSA have opened a joint venture assembly plant in Kaluga, Russia to produce midrange SUVs for the Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Citroen brands, as well as midsize Peugeot and Citroen vehicles, with an overall capacity of 160,000 vehicles.

source: http://puregreencars.com/Green-Cars-News/Other-Green-Car-News/mitsubishi_to_unveil_new_pajero_suv_at_moscow.html

Honda Goes Whole Hog for Hybrids

2008-07-31T22:22:00.000-07:00

TOKYO - With a solid lineup of small cars and superflexible factories that can quickly shift from SUVs to subcompacts, Honda Motor (HMC) has prospered lately. In June the Japanese automaker saw its sales jump by 14% even as its biggest rivals slumped.

But Honda's satisfaction with its results is tempered by the knowledge that they might have been far better if the carmaker had gotten its hybrid strategy right. While the company was the first major automaker to offer a hybrid in the U.S.—the Insight, introduced in 1999—Honda's efforts have long been overshadowed by Toyota Motor's (TM) success with the Prius. Honda misread what customers wanted, acknowledges research and development chief Masaaki Kato. As a result, the company has sold just 277,000 hybrids to date, compared with Toyota's 1.5 million. Honda stopped making the two-seat Insight in 2006 and last year ditched an unpopular Accord hybrid. Today, the company sells only one hybrid model: a version of the Civic compact. "I must admit that Toyota was better with its strategy of focusing on the Prius and trying to build an environment-friendly image," he says.

Now, Honda is fighting back. By early next decade, it aims to sell 500,000 hybrids annually, up from just 55,000 in 2007. Next year it expects to offer a new compact in the U.S., Japan, and Europe that, like the Prius, will be sold only as a hybrid. Honda has high hopes for the car, and wants to sell 200,000 units a year eventually. In 2010, Honda will launch a hybrid sportster based on a sleek concept car called the CR-Z that it unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October. That same year, Honda will likely release a new hybrid Civic, and it's planning to market a hybrid version of the Fit subcompact soon thereafter.

As sales pick up and Honda gets better at making hybrids, the company expects to reduce costs sharply. R&D boss Kato says he can bring the price differential between a hybrid and an equivalent gasoline-only car below $2,000. While not as powerful as Toyota's hybrid technology, the Honda system is lighter and less complex, so its new models may offer better gas mileage. Honda hasn't disclosed pricing, but the compact hybrid due next year could retail for around $18,000-$3,000 less than a Prius, reckons Tatsuo Yoshida, an analyst at UBS (UBS) in Tokyo. He adds that while selling 500,000 hybrids a year will be a challenge, the new cars could also help Honda steal some of the green limelight back from Toyota. "Publicity-wise, the new hybrids are very good news for Honda," he says.

RISKS OF THE ROAD
Honda is less interested in hybrid technology for heftier vehicles. Unlike Toyota, which makes hybrid versions of the Highlander SUV and some large Lexus models, Honda believes cleaner diesel is more appropriate for bigger cars. Next year, it's planning to add diesels to its Acura luxury line. Kato says Honda could introduce larger hybrids in the future, but its lighter hybrid system is less suited to big vehicles than Toyota's technology is. And he says he's skeptical of plug-in hybrids, which can be recharged using home electricity. Battery technology, Kato says, simply isn't ready.

Honda's rapid hybrid expansion has its risks. First, there's no shortage of potential competition in greener cars. By late 2010, Toyota plans to introduce five new hybrid-only models in the U.S., including a revamped Prius, a minivan, and a new Lexus-some of them plug-ins. "Without focusing on measures to address global warming and energy issues, there can be no future for our auto business," Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota's president, said at an environmental forum in Tokyo on June 11. European automakers have a slew of new, cleaner diesels in the works, and GM is developing the electric-powered Chevrolet Volt. Even Nissan Motor (NSANY) chief Carlos Ghosn, once skeptical about hybrids, is promising electric vehicles for the U.S. and Japan for 2010.

LOWER MARGINS
Selling more hybrids could also eat into Honda's profits. Small cars typically offer lower margins than bigger vehicles, and adding hybrid technology is expensive. That means Honda will earn less on its new hybrids than it does on most of its current range of models, at least until it can pass on the full cost of the technology to customers. "They're finally getting the strategy right in terms of how they're going to position their hybrids in the market, but do the numbers add up?" asks Andrew Phillips, an analyst at KBC Securities in Tokyo. "They're going to have to be really careful on the cost and achieve their volume targets."

source: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_30/b4093062857546.htm?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5

Sonic Automotive cuts outlook as car market drops

2008-07-25T22:21:00.001-07:00

by David Bailey

DETROIT, July 14 (Reuters) - Sonic Automotive Inc (SAH.N: Quote, Profile, Research), the No. 3 U.S. auto retailer, warned on Monday that its full-year earnings would be lower than previously expected due to significant declines in the new and used vehicle market.

Sonic, whose shares fell more than 12 percent in after-market trade, said the sales rate has trended significantly lower from what it expected when it set the original forecast, and markets are expected to remain difficult the rest of the year.

Automakers and dealers have seen U.S. light vehicle sales drop for a third consecutive year amid a weak economy, and consumer demand has shifted toward smaller vehicles and away from pickup trucks and SUVs due to soaring gas prices.

Sonic originally had expected U.S. sales at a 15.5 million annual rate in 2008. However, sales have trended far below that rate in recent months and analysts and automakers have cut their full-year estimates to about the 15 million range.

In June, for example, light vehicle sales dropped to a 13.6 million unit seasonally adjusted annual rate from 15.7 million a year earlier, the weakest result in 15 years.

The car retailer said its cash flow and liquidity remain strong, and it is actively reducing costs and taking steps to increase demand in the higher-margin segments of its business.

Sonic said it now expects earnings from continuing operations of $1.65 to $1.85 for the year, down from a prior forecast for $2.35 to $2.50 per share. Analysts on average expect Sonic to earn $2.21 per share for the year, according to Reuters Estimates.

Sonic said it expects second-quarter earnings of 48 cents to 50 cents from continuing operations, with the retail market for new and used vehicles lower than expected. Analysts expect the company to earn 55 cents per share in the quarter.

Sonic shares fell to their lowest level in more than seven years on Monday. In after-hours trade, the stock tumbled to $9.05 from its close at $10.30 on the New York Stock Exchange

SUV love story comes to sad end

2008-07-22T22:19:00.001-07:00

by: BILL McAULIFFE

The golden age of the big sport-utility vehicle has come to a rapid end.

Surging gas prices are making tens of thousands of Americans reconsider their desire for ever-bigger SUVs, with the largest fuel-hungry vehicles turning from status symbols to expensive burdens.

Sales of full-sized utility vehicles in the past three months dropped to less than half what they were at their national peak in 2002 and lower than they have been in at least 13 years. As recently as three years ago, light trucks and SUVs made up 55 percent of the new-vehicle market.

Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis for J.D. Power and Associates, said high gas prices are forcing a "pretty permanent change" in the vehicles Americans choose to drive -- away from the full-sized SUV to smaller ones, and even back to cars.

It feels much like lost love for those who in some cases have spent a generation using their SUV to tow snowmobiles, store multiple strollers and carpool kids to soccer games.

Six years ago, the Chevy Tahoe was just the thing for Mike Bendickson and his wife -- big enough to haul fishing gear, with four-wheel drive for snow and ice, and enough seats for what would someday be a young family.

Then came $4 gas, each gallon of which moves his Tahoe only about 17 miles.

"It used be, I'd fill up and it would cost me maybe $50 or $60," said Bendickson, a marketing director who commutes from St. Louis Park to downtown Minneapolis. "Now it's over $100. It hurts."

Those who want to sell their vehicles are finding fewer and fewer takers. Bendickson said he wouldn't even try to sell his Tahoe right now.

"I've come to the realization that I'm driving this thing until it dies," Bendickson said.

Market reversal

Last month, sales of the Ford Explorer were down 52 percent from a year ago. The nation's No. 3 seller in 2001, the Explorer now isn't among the top 50, Libby said. But sales of compact SUVs in the first quarter were 62 percent higher than three years ago.

Among cars, sales of the diminutive Ford Focus hit a monthly record in May, up 53 percent over the year before, while the Honda Civic had its biggest U.S. sales year for any Honda model, ending the Ford F-150 pickup's 17-year reign atop the best-seller list.

Meanwhile, used SUVs have been selling for an average of $6,000 less in the first half of 2008 than in 2007, according to the Wall Street Journal. And they were staying on the market for more than two months, up from 49 days the year before.

"Two years ago a Tahoe would be gone in five minutes," said Greg Evans, a salesman at All Wheels, a neighborhood used-car lot on E. Lake Street in Minneapolis. "Now we'd be lucky if it goes in five months."

For Bob Stamos of Robbinsdale, it has been that long since he posted his 2006 Jeep Commander for sale on the online car market CarSoup.com. He's had one caller. A dealer offered him $16,000 for it, but he'd have to pay $20,000 to get out of his lease. Online he's asking $21,700, "which I'll never get," he said.

"I love it," he said of the Commander, which gets about 16 miles per gallon. "And another problem is, I'm kind of a big guy. I don't fit in these smaller cars, and safety is important to me."

It's not really a serious problem for Stamos. He's selling because he and his wife now have three vehicles, but if it doesn't move, he'll just drive it until the lease runs out.

Likewise, Bendickson and his wife, Carlene, are fond of their Tahoe. They prize its durability and space, particularly now that they have two kids, ages 3 and 1, who require strollers, car seats and other accoutrements. They'd like better gas mileage, but these days it's unlikely they could sell or trade the Tahoe, which has 145,000 miles on it.

That's what Rob Tregenza, a transportation consumer strategist for Iconoculture, a Minneapolis-based trend research firm, called a "behavioral holding pattern," with SUV owners facing a stalled market while waiting for more options from automakers.

New habits

Part of that dynamic, Tregenza added, is actually a behavioral change, with many people driving less -- either through commuting options, shorter-distance road trips, better-planned errand-running or all the above. Nationally, driving mileage was lower every month this year than it was in the corresponding month in 2007.

Diane Armitage of Minnetonka said she and her family are putting fewer miles on their 2002 Ford Explorer. That might involve fewer trips to the cabin, but also taking those trips in the family's other vehicle, a Toyota Prius hybrid.

"It's a nice blend," she said. "It's nice to have the SUV when we need it. But we aren't traveling as often."

That mirrored what Evans, the used-car salesman, has been doing. He owns a Cadillac Escalade. But what's he been actually driving?

"A '97 VW Passat," he said.

The repossession service that Brian Bowman runs out of La Crosse, Wis., operates in four states, including Minnesota. Last year around this time, he was getting five to 10 new orders a week; right now, it's more than 20. And most of the vehicles he's taking away are bigger ones, including a Cadillac Escalade on Thursday.

"I've talked to a lot of the people I'm repo-ing [repossessing] from," Bowman said Friday, and gas prices "are killing them." The owners are forgoing car payments to pay other bills, and selling the vehicle often isn't an option -- not only is demand down, but tighter credit markets also make it harder to find potential buyers, Bowman said.

The next bargain?

Auto industry observers noted that for now, the devaluation of the SUV means two things. First, trading or selling one to buy a more fuel-efficient car will often cost thousands more than the potential gas savings, so many won't or can't sell. (The online automotive information site edmunds.com has recently developed a "Gas-Guzzler Trade-In Calculator" to help people make the right call. Look under "Green news and info.")

Second, prices on both new and used SUVs are falling so steeply that soon SUVs may become a bargain.

Chuck Eck, managing partner of ABC Minneapolis auto auction, said SUV prices have fallen 25 percent in the past year and 10 percent to 15 percent in the past several months. But the big SUVs are still hard to move. Uncertainty about gas prices "has thrown a scare into the market," he said. "Nobody knows when cheap is cheap enough."

Bendickson doesn't buy the view that $4-a-gallon gas is the death warrant for the full-size SUV.

"The purist in me hopes it is. But I don't think it is," he said. "We're a cyclical bunch in America. We got away from big cars in the 1970s, but they all made it back. I hope this is the permanent change we need. But in the end I think we'll come back to the big vehicles again."

Paul Walser, CEO of Walser Automotive Group, said he thinks that the SUV market has been going through an "overreaction" to high gas prices, and that demand and price will move back toward a balance in several months.

Still, Walser added, full-sized SUVs are not likely to return to being the profit center for automakers or the dominant silhouette on the highways they were a few years ago. That, Walser said, is because fuel prices have reached the point where many people have misgivings about being seen driving a vehicle that gobbles so much gas.

"The country is concerned about our dependence on foreign oil. People want to see manufacturers put more emphasis on more fuel efficient products," Walser said. "I think that's the part of this that's here to stay. And I think that's probably good for all of us."

source: http://www.startribune.com/local/24556834.html?location_refer=Local%20+%20Metro

Prices put the brake on SME car splurge

2008-07-18T22:09:00.001-07:00

A leading economic consultant believes many small businesses are now suffering because they have borrowed money to buy expensive status symbols - including high powered utes and sports utilty vehicles - rather than using the money to help grow their businesses.

Martin North, co-author of a joint JP Morgan/Fujitsu Consulting report on SME confidence, says while 17% of the 25,000 small and micro businesses surveyed mentioned the need for extra working capital as the number one reason for borrowing, purchasing or leasing vehicles was the biggest combined category with 29% of all mentions.

The JP Morgan/Fujitsu report also reveals borrowing for vehicles far outstrips borrowing to buy commercial property or seeking loans to expand the business.

North thinks a lot of borrowed money has been ploughed into expensive status symbols, particularly due to tax changes surrounding depreciation.

''Much of the spending on equipment by SMEs seems to have been about - I want the latest and greatest, shiniest and biggest,'' he says.

Sales figures complied by the Federated Chamber of Automotive Industries in the six months to June 30 shows business driving sales growth.

Business spending on passenger cars rose 6.1%, light commercial vehicles grew 12.8%, while sports utility vehicles [SUVs] jumped 24.2%.

Across all vehicle categories, while government and private sales both contracted, business spending rose 11.6%.

In the light commercial category, where business is the biggest customer sales of four wheel drive utes, the rugged farm and mine workhorses were up a modest 3.7%.

While van sales shot up 30%, they are dwarfed in value terms by the pick up in two-wheel drive ute sales, which grew by 12 %.

Holden, which launched its revamped commodore-based VE ute range, including the 6 litreV8 powered SS V series in October 2007, says three out of every four VE utes it sold to businesses during that period were the more expensive variants - the SV6, SS and SS V Series.

The Holden SS V series super-ute (including ladder racks) costs $59,500 before on road costs.
Teresa Basile, GM Holden Marketing Manager for light commercial vehicles, says business owners sought to convey status andsuccess in their purchasing decisions

''During the week the Holden ute is functional, practical and makes a statement about the owner and their respective business,'' she says.

''But at the weekend it's the perfect transportation for their leisure time.''

BMW says around 40 % of its SUV sales are going to businesses. BMW spokesman Toni Andreevski said the sales growth of premium SUVs and utes is part of the same global trend. But he argues it is not all about conspicuous consumption.

''[Business] people are buying luxury cars as a reward for success (but) technical innovation is also a big motivator,'' he argues.

However with rising petrol prices many small business owners may now regret borrowing to buy a 6 litre V8 powered super-ute.

The JP Morgan/Fujitsu report identified rising petrol prices and interest rates are the two major factors battering confidence in the SME sector.

North says he was initially surprised that petrol ranked above rising interest rates as the key issue of concern for micro and small businesses in a recent survey.

''I expected interest rates to be the number one issue. But its not, it is petrol,'' he says.

He says the big splurge by SME owners on thirsty utes and SUVs may be a reason why rising petrol prices are a more visible and painful than interest rates.

But that may change.

JPMorgan's Brian Johnson says the potential interest burden now facing SMEs has been exacerbated by the huge ramp-up in SME debt between 2002 and 2007.

During that period SME borrowing trebled from $60 to $180 billion. Around 70% of SME borrowers were paying interest rates of less than 8%.

''As monetary policy tightened in 2006 and 2007, that proportion dropped to 40%, and today, it stands at 20%,'' says Johnson.

North says if the interest burden grows or the economy slows a lot of the show ponies may end up on the auction floor.

At that point, he says it may be very difficult to borrow money for a less glamorous, but more practical, workhorse.

by: Andrew Linden

source: http://smallbusiness.smh.com.au/managing/management/prices-put-the-brake-on-sme-car-splurge-914280049.html?page=2

Chrysler aims to have electric cars in three to five years

2008-07-15T07:01:00.000-07:00

By Poornima Gupta

DETROIT (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC is planning to launch all-electric vehicles in the next three to five years, the latest automaker to join the race to produce cars with fuel-saving technologies.

Chrysler's new Envi unit, which was created last September, is developing vehicles that are intended to run on battery power alone for about 40 miles, Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa said on Monday.

"The group is looking to have a product available in the marketplace in the next three to five years," Cappa said.

Chrysler, which has lagged rivals in its hybrid strategy, is working on a new generation of hybrid vehicles with lithium-ion batteries that are lighter and store more energy than the nickel-metal hydride batteries now in wide use.

Chrysler has not yet announced any partnership for the project or for the development of the batteries.

General Motors Corp and Toyota Motor Corp are racing to develop rechargeable hybrid vehicles using lithium-ion batteries.

GM's all-electric Chevy Volt is scheduled to go into production in 2010 while Toyota has said it will be testing a rechargeable version of its Prius hybrid with fleet customers around the same time.

Ford, which is building 20 plug-in hybrid SUVs on a demonstration basis, has said it expects to have a mass-market car in five to ten years.

Lithium ion batteries are widely used in consumer electronics but automakers have faced a range of issues, including cost and the risk of overheating, in adapting them for use in powering cars.

Chrysler, bought by private equity group Cerberus Capital Management last August, showed three "green" concept cars in January during the Detroit auto show that featured electric motors intended to be powered by lithium-ion batteries -- Chrysler's ecoVoyager, Dodge ZEO and Jeep Renegade.

"Chrysler will produce technology similar to one of them or a combination of the three," Cappa said.

Chrysler's move comes as it is reeling financially from sinking sales of large SUVs and pickup trucks as domestic gasoline prices top $4 a gallon.

The Auburn Hills, Michigan-based automaker relies on sales of trucks and SUVs, such as the Dodge Durango SUV and RAM pickup truck, for almost 70 percent of its total sales at a time when U.S. consumers are increasingly demanding lighter and more fuel-efficient vehicles.

The rising popularity of gas-sipping hybrids is prompting automakers to invest in the development of hybrids and electric vehicles.

Toyota dominates the U.S. market for hybrid sales on the strength of the success of its Prius and expects to be selling over 1 million hybrid vehicles annually by early next decade.

source:http://uk.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUKN1446121020080714

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe

2008-03-19T13:30:00.001-07:00

The 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe is largely unchanged, but there are new standard features for the Limited model. This crossover SUV comes in GLS, SE, and top-line Limited trim. All offer front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive that allows locking in a 50/50 front/rear power split. All Santa Fes have a V6 engine; the GLS has a 185-hp 2.7-liter, while SE and Limited have a 242-hp 3.3-liter. GLS offers a 5-speed manual transmission and an optional 4-speed automatic. The other models have a 5-speed automatic. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, an antiskid system, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags. All models seat five, but an available Touring Package adds a 50/50 split 3rd-row bench seat that increases seating capacity to seven.

News
Hyundai-affiliate Kia is working on a midsize pickup and a related SUV. These body-on-frame vehicles would likely be produced at the Kia plant now rising in western Georgia, not far from the Hyundai Alabama factory that builds Santa Fe. Kia has only started building its plant, so both these trucks are still a ways off, but Hyundai is expected to get its own versions. Timing is unclear, but model-year 2010 seems a safe bet.

source: http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2008-hyundai-santa-fe-5.htm

Minivan: Toyota Sienna

2008-03-16T13:09:00.001-07:00

The 2008 Toyota Sienna minivan is available in 7 or 8 passengers seating configurations and provides an abundance of creature comforts and a smooth, comfortable ride.

The Sienna is available in your choice of 4 trim levels-the CE, LE, XLE and Limited. All models feature a spacious open design cabin that is equipped with high quality materials throughout. The CE and LE are available in 7 or 8 passenger models, while the upscale SLE and Limited are configured to accommodate 7 passengers only. With the exception of the front wheel drive only CE, all models are offered with a choice of front wheel drive or all wheel drive. The 2nd row captain's chairs in 7 passenger models can easily be positioned together to create a bench seat. 8 passengers are accommodated with a 40/20/40 split bench 2nd row seat with a center section that slides just over a foot closer to front seats, which makes access to a small child seated there less than an arms reach away. A maximum cargo area of 149 cubic feet is more than ample for most large families

The base model CE includes 16 inch steel wheels, front and rear air conditioning, dual sliding rear doors with power operated windows, power windows, door locks and mirrors, and a 6 speaker stereo with CD player and auxiliary audio jack. In addition to the folding 2nd and 3rd row seats, the front passenger seat also folds down to increase cargo space. The LE enhances these features with privacy glass, heated mirrors, a roof rack, cruise control and both a CD changer and steering wheel mounted stereo system controls. The XLE features alloy wheels, a power lift gate, power operated adjustable front seats, automatic headlights, a trip computer, removable center console, three zone automatic climate control, and superior quality faux wood interior trim. The lavish Limited version is enhanced with a sunroof, heated leather seats, leather and wood steering wheel, rear window shades, windshield wiper deicer, and a JBL 10 speaker sound system. Each all wheel drive Sienna is equipped with 17
inch wheels, run flat tires and the wiper de-icer. Option packages are available for those who would like to fill their cabin with features such as a rear seat DVD entertainment system, a power folding 3rd row seat and a Bluetooth enabled combination navigation system with back up camera.

All models are equipped with an outstanding 3.5 liter V6 engine that produces 266 horsepower and is mated to a sophisticated 5 speed automatic transmission. The superb combination equates to efficient performance, a smooth ride and decent gas mileage with front wheel drive EPA ratings of 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway and AWD ratings of 16 mpg in city traffic and 21 mpg on highway treks.

Minivans are not as popular as they once were, with many families turning to various sized sport utility and cross over vehicles, but the 2008 Toyota Sienna offers an excellent choice in the minivan category. As expected of all Toyota vehicles, safety features are abundant and safety ratings are top notch. Comfort and convenience options are plentiful and well designed while the powertrain is well suited for the vehicle's size, offering plenty of acceleration and smooth gear shifts, and reliable. Being one of the most spacious minivan's as well as one of the few that offers seating for 8 passengers and an all wheel drive option, the Sienna can satisfy the transportation and cargo needs of most large families very nicely.

source: http://www.carseek.com/reviews/toyota/2008-sienna/

Pickup truck: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

2008-03-13T12:49:00.001-07:00

Warranty Standard Features
Rust-through Corrosion Perforation - 6 years/100,000 miles
Roadside Assistance - 5 years/100,000 miles
New vehicle Limited Warranty - 3 years/36,000 miles
Powertrain Limited Warranty - 5 years/100,000 miles

Mechanical Standard Equipment
Transmission, 4-speed automatic, electronically controlled - With overdrive and tow/haul mode
Suspension, rear 2-stage multi-leaf springs, semi-elliptic
Suspension, front independent, coil over shock
Exhaust, aluminized stainless-steel muffler and tailpipe
Frame, hydroformed
StabiliTrak, stability control system - With Proactive Roll Avoidance
Steering, power, rack-and-pinion
Battery, heavy-duty 600 cold-cranking amps, maintenance-free - With rundown protection and retained accessory power
Brakes, 4-wheel antilock, front disc/rear drum
Alternator, 145 amps

Exterior Standard Equipment
Tire carrier, outside spare - Winch-type mounted under frame at rear
Air dam, Black
Headlamps, dual halogen composite - With automatic exterior lamp control and flash-to-pass feature
Lamps, dual cargo area lamps
Paint, solid
Daytime Running Lamps - With automatic exterior lamp control
Wipers, front intermittent wet-arm - With pulse washers
Wheel, 17" steel spare - (Spare wheel will not cosmetically match the other 4 wheels)
Bumper, rear chrome, step-style - With pad

Interior Standard Equipment
XM Satellite Radio - With a wide variety of programming, XM has something to excite any driver. Whether you want to be entertained or informed, to laugh, think, or sing, XM has the perfect channel for you - coast-to-coast, and in digital-quality sound. 3 trial months - no obligation (Available in the 48 contiguous United States. Required $12.95 monthly subscription sold separately after 3 trial months. All fees and programming subject to change. Subscription subject to customer agreement. For more information, visit gm.xmradio.com)
Warning tones - Headlamp on, key-in-ignition, driver and passenger buckle up reminder and turn signal on
Steering column, Tilt-Wheel, adjustable - With brake/transmission shift interlock
Seat, rear 60/40 folding bench (folds up), 3-passenger, folding - (Includes child seat top tether anchor)
Power outlets, 2 auxiliary instrument panel-mounted - With covers, 12-volt
Cup holders, front - (Also includes rear cupholders)
Air bags, frontal, driver and right-front passenger - With Passenger Sensing System (Always use safety belts and the correct child restraints for your child's age and size, even in vehicles equipped with air bags. Children are safer when properly secured in a rear seat. See the vehicle's Owner's Manual and child safety seat instructions for more safety information)
Lighting, interior - With dome and reading lights, illuminated entry feature and backlit instrument panel switches
Coat hooks, rear driver and passenger side
Audio system, AM/FM stereo with MP3 compatible CD player - Seek-and-scan, digital clock, auto-tone control, Radio Data System (RDS), speed-compensated volume and TheftLock
Tire Pressure Monitoring System - (Does not apply to spare tire)
Assist handle, front passenger - (Also includes rear assist handles in the headliner)

source: http://easynewcars.autofusion.com/carresearch/TrimsBuild/confid_easynewcars/year_2008/make_Chevrolet/model_Silverado%201500%20Crew%20Cab/

top 10 picks for 2008

2008-03-10T12:37:00.001-07:00

This year's Top Picks in 10 categories include four new models. For the first time since 2005, a U.S. model, the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado, made the list as our choice in pickup trucks. And for the first time ever, a South Korean automaker is represented: The Hyundai Elantra SE and Santa Fe are our top small sedan and midsized SUV, respectively. The fourth new entry is the Lexus LS 460L, the highest-scoring vehicle we've tested and best among luxury sedans.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on Yahoo!.

Choosing the Top Picks
Our Top Picks are the most well-rounded models in their categories. Each must meet these stringent requirements:

Road tests: Each Top Pick scores at or near the top of its category among more than 260 vehicles weâ™ve recently tested at our Auto Test Center.
Reliability: Each has an average or better predicted-reliability Rating, based on the problems subscribers reported on almost 1.3 million vehicles in our Annual Car Reliability Survey.
Safety: Top Picks have performed adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or the insurance industry. Starting this year, they also must provide a critical safety feature, electronic stability control (ESC), either as standard equipment or as a readily available option.

Top Picks 2008
Green car: Toyota Prius

Small sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE

Family sedan: Honda Accord

Upscale sedan: Infiniti G35

Luxury sedan: Lexus LS 460L

Fun to drive: Mazda MX-5 Miata

Small SUV: Toyota RAV4

Midsized SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe

Minivan: Toyota Sienna

Pickup truck: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

source:http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/450/Top-Picks-2008/;_ylc=X3oDMTE0bG0zbnQ0BF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEc2VjA2ZwLXRvZGF5BHNsawN0b3AtMjAwOA--

2008 Honda Odyssey

2008-03-07T10:24:00.001-08:00

here are some of the performance features of the 2008 odyssey:

You might just forget that you're driving a vehicle that can seat up to eight.

Power
A 244-hp, 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC VTEC V-6 engine (LX and EX vehicles) offers exceptional power while running on unleaded fuel and meeting CARBs ULEV-2 emission rating.

On EX-L and Touring vehicles, the revised Variable Cylinder Management engine increases the cruising range.

High-Tech Safety
Odyssey puts a priority on safety with features like Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) on all vehicles.

Michelin System

And with the ingenious Michelin System run-flat technology available on Touring vehicles, you can travel on a punctured tire at 50 mph for up to 125 miles

The Odyssey is a showcase of advanced safety features that help protect you and your precious cargo.

5-Stars
The Honda Odyssey is the embodiment of peace of mind. An array of standard safety features stands ready on all trims to help protect you and your family wherever you roam. In fact, the Odyssey earned a 5-star rating in frontal- and side-impact tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).* And the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the Odyssey a 2008 "Top Safety Pick."

Active Safety Features
Standard active safety features include the anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Brake Assist, which helps the driver retain steering control when braking hard, and Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control, which helps to detect and correct oversteer and understeer.

Peace of Mind
While sharing the road with many other drivers, sometimes a collision just cannot be avoided. So certain standard safety features in the Odyssey can help provide superior defense. Our Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure is designed to absorb impacts of vehicles of various sizes in the event of front-end collisions. And front 3-point seat belts with automatic tensioning devices, front side airbags and side-impact door beams all help to protect you and your passengers in sufficient impacts.

For three decades, Honda has played a leading role in meeting environmental challenges.

Low Emissions
The Odyssey is known for being big on fun. But were you aware that this innovative vehicle is small on emissions at the same time? An Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle (ULEV-2) rating from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) says so in no uncertain terms.

IntelligentThe Honda Odyssey does all this with its powerful V-6 engine that produces up to 241 hp and 242 lb.-ft. of torque on regular gas. The revised, brilliant Variable Cylinder Management system found on the Odyssey EX-L and Touring vehicles is powered by the intelligence of i-VTEC technology to quickly and seamlessly activate or deactivate two or three cylinders, based on the power requirement. So you get the best of both worlds: V-6 power when you're accelerating or climbing, as well as the efficiency of a smaller engine while cruising.

2008 Honda Odyssey part 1

2008-03-04T10:18:00.000-08:00

here are some features of the Honda 2008 Odyssey:

The sleek, new lines and aerodynamic styling on the Odyssey will no doubt captivate you.

Ultra-Modern Styling
New styling cues at the front and rear, including a new hood and tailgate spoiler, are bolder and more powerful, conveying a sense of strength and integrity. And Daytime Running Lights (DRL) have been added to help increase visibility to oncoming cars.

AerodynamicTrace the aerodynamic lines from front to rear and you'll immediately sense that this quiet, peaceful ride is one of the best around.Power Sliding Doors and Tailgate

Power sliding doors (EX, EX-L, Touring) can be easily operated with the remote entry system from up to 50 feet away. And Touring vehicles offer a power tailgate and body-colored parking sensors (front and rear) for ultimate ease of use.

The interior of the Odyssey offers a level of innovation and technology that is unexpected in a minivan.

Tech Gadgets Galore
BluetoothÂ® HandsFreeLinkÂ® Technology (Touring) lets you make and receive calls with your compatible cell phone while your hands stay on the wheel. An MP3/Auxiliary Input Jack is standard on all models. And XM Satellite RadioÂ®* is standard on EX-L and above trim levels.

Creature Comforts
New for 2008, your friends and family will be even more comfortable with the passengerâ™s seat with 4-way power adjustment (EX-L and above). And tri-zone automatic climate control is now standard on EX and above trim levels.

Better Than a Backseat Drive-In
The available Honda DVD Rear Entertainment System (EX-L, standard on Touring), with a 9-inch display, lets rear passengers enjoy a movie or even a video game. When DVD-equipped, a 115-volt outlet in the third row lets you plug in your video-game console, laptop or other electronics.

Navigate and Configure
The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation Systemâ„¢ with voice recognitionâ and Honda DVD Rear Entertainment System, now standard on Touring vehicles, make it fun to find your way. Meanwhile, passengers, cargo, or any combination of the two are easily accommodated, thanks to a removable 2nd-row PlusOne Seat,â„¢ with storage bin and the 60/40 split 3rd-row Magic SeatÂ®.

2008 Volkswagen Jetta SE test drive

2008-03-01T10:14:00.001-08:00

well respected Aaron Gold has this in his car blog:

The Jetta sedan is the best-selling car in Volkswagen's model lineup. I've always admired the Jetta for its family-friendly interior and exceptional safety record, and I love the hot-rod GLI version -- but I've always found the plan-vanilla Jetta a little dull. Has anything changed for 2008? Yes -- just enough, as it turns out, to change my opinion. $16,990 base, $19,904 as tested, EPA fuel economy estimates 21-22 MPG city, 29 MPG highway.

For starters, my test car was finished in red -- not some fancy high-tech shade of red with a whimsical name like Sunset Blush Pearlsonic Flakecoat, but plain ol' non-metallic red, which did a beautiful job of showing off the Jetta's chrome grille and alloy wheels (link goes to photo). (Alas, the photos didn't come out so well, hence the pics of the white Jetta.) The Jetta's paint palette includes some very nice grown-up shades of grey and blue, but I think the car looks its best in plain, bright colors like red or white.

The next issue the Jetta had to tackle -- in my eyes, at least -- was the value equation. 2008 sees a new model lineup for the Jetta; last year's Jetta 2.5 has been split into S, SE and SEL models. I drove the mid-level SE; for just under $20K it comes with power windows, mirrors and locks, air conditioning, sunroof, 6-disc CD changer, height-adjustable driver's seat, alloy wheels, fake leather, and a tilt and telescope steering wheel. Too spendy? The Jetta S runs $2,800 less and is still pretty nicely equipped.

I mentioned that I've always found the base-model Jetta a bit dull to drive. So what made this one different? For one thing, Volkswagen has fortified the 2.5 liter five-cylinder engine for 2008 -- output is 170 horsepower, up 20 from last year, while torque rises by 7 lb-ft to 177. Despite the extra grunt, the engine is slightly more fuel efficient than last year's car, though fuel economy is still below average for a compact sedan. VW builds a PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) version for California-compliant states; unlike many PZEVs,which extract a power penalty, the Jetta's PZEV engine puts out just as much power as the non-PZEV version. Way to go, VW!

The extra power definitely upped the grin factor, but what I really fell in love with was my test car's manual transmission. The automatic 2.5 is droning and dull, but the 5-speed manual really wakes the engine up. If you must have an automatic, I'd recommend skipping the 2.5 and buying either the GLI or Wolfsburg Edition, both of which are equipped with VW's stellar 200 hp 2.0T engine. (Of those two, I'd take the GLI, which gets Volkswagen's Direct Shift Gearbox in place of the Wolfsburg's conventional automatic.)

Handling is wonderful; I took the Jetta up to the About.com Cars Top Secret Curvy Test Road and it seemed to enjoy the drive every bit as much as I did. But the ride quality -- or lack thereof -- came as a bit of a surprise, with the firmly-sprung Jetta jiggling and joggling over LA's sectional freeways. Oddly enough, it was as comfortable as could be on the bumpiest sections of the Curvy Test Road.

As you can tell, I was really impressed with the Jetta. It turns out that the car I'd perceived as a slightly dull, slightly snobbish family hauler does have a soul after all -- it's just a matter of equipping it right. -- Aaron Gold

http://cars.about.com/od/volkswagen/fr/08_vw_jetta_se.htm

More Doors, More Cargo, More Mini

2008-02-27T10:04:00.001-08:00

By Andreas Stahl, Contributor

Now Mini has brought us an even stranger version of an already eccentric car, a stretched-out model with three doors for people and two doors for cargo. And yet Mini expects the new car to eventually account for more than a quarter of all its sales worldwide.

The crucial question is: Has Mini managed to preserve the qualities that have made its standard model such a hit even as it reaches out to a broader audience with this stretched version of its iconic small car?

While the club door provides the Clubman with a modern twist, its rear barn doors are a clear nod to the past, having first appeared on the original 1950s Morris Mini Traveller. A lovely pair of horizontal chrome handles unlatches the doors, and they eagerly spring outward on gas struts.

Hildebrand comments, "We wanted to offer the widest possible opening. After trying many different setups this is the one we finally arrived at. It's a complex solution. To fulfill all the various legal regulations, the rear lights need to be fixed to the car, not to the door."

The Mini two-door's simple hatchback arrangement is far easier to operate and a good deal more practical in everyday use. But there is something special about the Clubman's barn doors that will draw prospective buyers to the car.

The overall design of the Clubman's rear end also attempts to mimic the exposed wooden trim of the original Traveller, as the corner panels and rear bumper carry a contrasting color. It's a nice touch that further gives the Clubman its own unique identity.

The Clubman will be sold in North America with a choice of the Mini's two existing four-cylinder engines. The Cooper S we drove in Spain has its direct-injection, turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-4, producing 175 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 177 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 rpm. The Cooper version, meanwhile, gets a naturally aspirated version of the same engine, developing 120 hp and 118 lb-ft of torque.

The Cooper S Clubman's engine is hugely flexible around town, even at small throttle openings. The electrically operated power steering surprisingly combines light effort with highly direct action. The Clubman's wheelbase has increased the turning circle slightly over the standard Mini, but we hardly noticed.

The 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman is not a car you can easily pigeonhole. This in itself might be its biggest asset.

The Clubman's unconventional five-door layout will no doubt appeal to a lot of people who have tired of the familiar hatchback theme served up by just about every small car on the road today. It's not the roomiest car in its class by any stretch of the imagination, yet the addition of the small club door lifts the Mini's appeal greatly.

And what the Clubman lacks in space, it more than makes up for in driving enjoyment. That's the clincher for us.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=122520?imw=Y

Mazda Road-Testing Advanced Safety Prototype in Japan

2008-02-24T17:37:00.000-08:00

HIROSHIMA, Japan — Mazda Motor announced it will start public road testing of its ASV-4 Advanced Safety Vehicle in the Hiroshima area on March 11. The automaker plans to collect and analyze information about the vehicle-to-vehicle communications technology onboard, hoping to come up with accident-prevention solutions that will be transferable to production vehicles.

The ASV project is sponsored by the Japanese government and has already been in the works since 1991. The ASV-4, as its name suggests, is actually phase four of the project. Mazda says some current technology coming out of the project includes its Pre-crash Safety System, which uses milliwave radar to alert drivers to oncoming obstacles, and rear-vehicle monitoring to detect vehicles approaching from behind at highway speeds.

In the current road-test phase, Mazda will start testing a two-vehicle blind collision avoidance system this year. In fiscal 2008, Mazda will start testing right-turn and rear-end collision avoidance systems as well. The new tests using the ASV-4 are taking place in the same area as Mazda's ongoing Intelligent Transport System road-to-vehicle communication testing, which uses sensors installed along the roads to communicate hazard information to vehicles.

What this means to you: Eventually, the highway will be able to tell the car what's going on, and they will both tell you, thanks to Mazda's efforts now underway. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=124911

the 2009 toyota corolla

2008-02-22T22:42:00.000-08:00

Aerodynamic multi-reflector halogen headlamps with Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and smoked lenses
Integrated front fog lamps
Color-keyed rear deck spoiler
Intermittent windshield wipers
Variable intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle
Power remote-controlled outside mirrors
Color-keyed power remote-controlled outside mirrors
Heated outside mirrors
Color-keyed outside door handles
Color-keyed front and rear underbody spoilers, sport side rocker panel
moldings and rear mudguards
Blackout front grille

these are only some of the new toyota's exterior features!

it is interesting that STEVE SILER had this to say about the new corolla:

From pretty much every angle, including the window line, the cut-lines on the hood, and the head- and taillamp graphics, the Corolla and the Camry appear to be two sizes of the same dress. Sportier S and XRS trim levels even have the same style of body cladding as the Camry Sport models (does anyone find it curious that, even as GM issues a moratorium on body cladding, Toyota steps it up on the cheap stuff?). But we approve, since the overall look is pleasing enough to the eye and considerably bolder than before, although still rather far from exciting.

here are also some positive reviews from important sources:

"The car exhibits an overall refinement that's noticeably enhanced in contrast to the previous model's."
—Road & Track"

More features are standard this year, and even the lowly CE comes with air...a CD player, power steering, power mirrors, an outside temperature gauge, 60/40 split-folding rear seats and 15-inch wheels." —Edmunds.com

"...performance is lively and fuel economy -- always a prime Corolla virtue -- is high: an estimated 30-32 in the city and 36-40 on highways." —Carpoint.com

however, there are also some negtive feedbacks:

It's too bad that, while significantly improved, the new Corolla sedan has an awkward appearance." —Carpoint.com

"Its engine keeps the Corolla from dominating the class." —The Car Connection