Yoink! AutoWeek Forums Offline
Just when I thought that AutoWeek's major forums troubles were behind it, I get this announcement that the forums are under development. Perhaps there had been some warning and I just missed it, but it sure seems odd that they couldn't test the forums in a different beta section and then import all the posts over. It's a pretty bold move to simply take the forums offline to tinker with them and not even given a projected completion date.
AutoWeek does have one of the best entirely free magazine based car sites on the web. The content is refreshed constantly, almost to the point of making the magazine redundant.
In the past AutoWeek's forums usually returned within a day or so of encountering its troubles, so we'll see if that holds in this case.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
BMW M3 Test Driver Flips the Bird
Aside from this bit of rudeness, the video itself isn't that remarkable because it's aspect ratio is thrown off by some sort of faux 16:9 setup (what is the point of this?).
You can check out the car going through its paces by clicking here. A more interesting article, about legal cases involving finger flipping (warning, other parts of this link may not be work friendly, so click with caution) can be found here .
Mazda MX-5 Miata Retractable Hard Top Action Shots
While working on the seat belt story I saw this photo series showing the full range of motion for the MX-5's, oh hell Miata's, folding hard top. The front and middle section exterior panels of the top are made of sheet molding compound, the same stuff that has made such a "dent" in pickup truck beds.
What impresses me so much about this top is that it does not rob trunk space like so many other folding hard tops tend to do. Light in weight, fast in operation (fastest power folding hard top sold in the USA), and slick in it's design I think the new top truly fits with the spirit of the Miata. A very nice upgrade, adding a reasonable $1800 or so to the sticker. It’s too bad that I just can't get excited about the new design of the car. Somehow the RX-8 cues just don't work for me, they cause the Miata to lose its sinuous shape that made its forbearers classics. Edmunds has a review of the car along with some excellent photography: click here to check it out.
Ford to Strap One On for Safety
Ford is pioneering research into advanced next-generation safety belt technologies including a four-point “belt and suspenders” design comprising of two shoulder belts dropping down vertically over each shoulder and connecting to a center-buckled lap belt and a safety belt that incorporates an air bag directly into the belt itself.
Ford officials said the airbag belt spreads the forces of a crash over a broader section of the body than a traditional, two-inch-wide seat belt does, thereby minimizing the "whipping" forces imposed on the upper torso and neck. Rear seat passengers would be prime candidates for the airbag belts.
I’ve often wondered about four-point belts in passenger cars and thought, “Why not?” Testing to date has shown these belts to be more comfortable to wear with the exception of certain body types such as pregnant women who find the belt to rub them the wrong way (or something to that effect).
Of course Ford isn’t the only one out there looking into these technologies, but they’ve certainly been making the most noise about it. Other potential advancements include better fabrics for the belt itself that would manage crash energy in a more forgiving manner.
The safety belt has been a tremendous saver of lives, more lives that all other safety devices combined according to a NHTSA representative, and these developments would further enhance its capabilities.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Next Generation C-Class: No Wagon for USA?
Automotive News is reporting that the slow selling C-Class wagon that disappeared from the US lineup towards the end of the current C-Class model run will not reappear when an all new C hits our shores. I'm a big wagon fan, so I always mourn the loss of a model from our sedan skewed market. Part of Mercedes reasoning might be that the new small crossover based off the C-Class will fill the wagon's vacant slot. Although that might be true, the next time we circle the wagons we'll have one less member in our camp.
Gauging the Future, 2007 Hyundai Azera Changes
Some Hyundai boards are chirping with the pictures of the 2007 Korean Domestic Market Azera/Grandeur. The pictures show a new instrument cluster (above), but word from other sources is that the only change the US will see with regards to instruments is that the orange-ish tint of the trip computer will be changed to better match the rest of the panel and some fine tuning of the steering wheel mounted stereo controls. Below you see a close up of the gauges that Edmunds ripped in their review of the Azera.
From pictures that I've seen, it looks like that was already fixed (as pictured in 2006 marketing material).
In any case, most folks confirm that the 2007 Azera will get turn signals in the mirror housing.
And that at least for now, we're not getting navigation.
Mazdaspeed3
Secretly I think most of hoped that the Mazdaspeed3 would be an AWD drive car. With 263hp and 289 lb-ft of torque there were visions of a hell cat, torque steering us into the nearest center divider ala Nissan Maxima. However, early reviewers say that isn’t the case. Mazda has saved the weight and cost of AWD by using a limited slip differential, and an engine management program which limits the amount of torque developed in the first four gears. The system also takes into account steering angles and vehicle speed when determining how much torque should pass through the driving wheels, by measuring the stiffness and speed of the left and right drive shafts. That keeps the wrinkles out the body work and a grin on your face. This stands to make the Mazdaspeed3 the quickest front drive car on the road. According to Motor Trend, the body rigidity of the pumped up 3 is up 60 percent over the standard issue hatchback and drag is down from 0.35 to 0.32. All of these stats remind me of Samuel L. Jackson’s Pulp Fiction quote “And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger.” It appears to me that the 3’s older brother, the Mazdaspeed6 (which uses the same 2.3L mill to less effect), just got his pants pulled down.
I’ve always dug the Mazda3. When traveling Europe in the nineties I used to pine away for a Mazda 323F, almost to the point of having to be pulled away whenever I saw one parked. I loved the shape of that car! I can’t wait to hear more about the new Mazdaspeed3. I'm not totally won over yet. I’ve been mislead by early, glowing car reviews before and I don’t want to be hurt again.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Suzuki Prices XL7 and SX4
Prices for Suzuki's latest models were relased today. The tasty new SX4 is slated to start out at $15,594 while the XL7 crossover begins at $23,534 (prices include shipping).
2007 Suzuki SX4 pricing
SX4 $14,999
SX4 Sport $16,399
- TCS and ESP, auto temperature control, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, premium audio with six-disc CD changer and nine speakers (including subwoofer), silver-color roof rails and SmartPass keyless entry and start system.
Factory options
- Automatic transmission $1,000
- iAWD Standard
Destination charge $595
2007 Suzuki XL7 pricing
XL7 $22,899
XL7 Luxury $24,599
- leather-appointed interior, power driver seat, heated front seats, wood trim accents and 17-inch alloy wheels
XL7 Limited $27,949
- standard seven-passenger seating and adds fog lamps, rear spoiler, upgraded roof racks with aluminum lower bumper valances, premium XM Satellite Radio-ready audio system with seven speakers (including subwoofer), auto-dimming antiglare rearview mirror with compass, remote starter and DVD entertainment system
Factory options
- AWD $1,600
- Three-row seating (standard on Limited) $1,350
- Sunroof (Luxury) $800
- DVD (three-row Luxury) $1,100
- Platinum Touring (Limited) $2,200
Destination charge $635
Where's That Eveready Cat When You Need Him? Plug in Hybrids Need More Lives?
A recent Road & Track article brought up an interesting point about plug-in hybrids. Plug-in hybrids have generated a lot of positive ink because of the possibility that drivers could, if they have relatively short commute, use electric drive for most of their commute. Thusly a plug-in hybrid would get about twice the fuel economy of a regular hybrid car. R&T’s article questioned what plug-in hybrids might do to the life of a hybrid car’s batteries. Toyota currently estimates that its hybrids’ batteries will last for the design life of the car or about 150,000 miles. This assumption is based on the fact that the battery pack is running at 60 percent charge +/- 10 percent. However, a plug-in hybrid would greatly stretch that range from the bottom to the top to get those high mileage numbers. Unfortunately most of the chemical stress placed on a battery occurs in the last 20 percent before full discharge and at the top 20 percent of full recharge. Barring a major advancement in battery technology, plug-in hybrids would see a shortened lifespan for their batteries. How much shorter? That remains to be seen. Plug-ins could still very well make sense, but it’s just an interesting observation that it’s not all wine and roses.
Dog Shows Aptitude, But Flunks Out In Real Test of Driving Skills
Remember that Carfax commercial where Bob Clendenin, who always blamed his dog for being late to work on "That '70s Show", lets his dog drive his pickup and it ends up in a lake? It seems that a woman from China's Inner-Mongolia unwittingly tried to remake the commercial when she let her pooch take the wheel. The woman said her dog was fond of crouching on the steering wheel and often watched her drive so naturally she thought she would let the dog "have a try" while she operated the accelerator and brake. They did not make it far before crashing into an oncoming car. Full story here.
Chrysler Minivan Spy Shots
These shots, taken by a member at The Car Lounge, show Chrysler's forthcoming minivan going through its paces. Yes, we've seen these stripes before and no these shots don't really show us anything new but props for the really clean rear view mirrors! You can check out the whole collection of photos here.
Nissan Qashqai
That mouthful of a name is pronounced cash-kye and is going to fill an SUV-like, mini-Murano slot for Nissan (in Europe at least). According to Auto Express, Nissan is aiming for the likes of the A3/Golf class, but certainly one could see RAV4 customers checking out this little number. The original Qashqai concept debuted at Geneva in 2004 and I've included a couple of shots for comparison.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Not Just a Sedan Anymore: CTS to Spawn Coupe, Crossover?
According to Automotive News a fastback coupe and Euro-styled crossover variants of the Cadillac CTS were shown to dealers. AWD is also a possiblity as is a "third" yet to be described variant. Cadillac believes that the CTS has been a "credibility booster" and wants to leverage its standing into a full lineup of vehicles not unlike BMW and the 3 series.
It all makes sense to me. The CTS has garnered a lot of attention from folks who would have otherwise never considered a Cadillac. I've long thought that a CTS coupe would be quite tasty. As for the crossover, would this be different than the rumored BRX which would share basic architecture and components with the next-generation Chevrolet Equinox and Saturn Vue?
My, My, My Urea (Don't have a cow, EPA)
Diesel engines will soon have to meet Tier 2 Bin 5 levels of emissions set by the EPA. Basically this will mean that diesel engines will be meeting the same requirements that gasoline engines do. A tough order to be sure and one that will mean extra cost for manufacturers. One solution is a NOx trap in the exhaust system that would cost around $1,400. A tall bill for an engine that already costs more to manufacture. The other solution involves injecting urea into the exhaust stream something that engineers call Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) at a cost of around $880. A consortium of manufacturers has simplified SCR down to AdBlue. You can even play "Where's Waldo" and find AdBlue locations around Europe.
However, back to the EPA. The EPA "no likey" urea because it requires the driver to be an active participant. The tank of urea must occasionally be filled and the EPA is worried that because there is no performance loss, the driver has little incentive to fill the tank. The EPA wants to engine to refuse to start once the tank is empty, but manufacturers are looking for something more lawyer friendly like the disabling of climate control, stereos, etc.
However, it appears that the EPA is seeing the light and is willing to set some guidelines for SCR. The EPA wants to make sure that the following items are met:
- The urea system is tamper proof and can't be disabled. Since urea is injected into the vehicle's exhaust system, the engine runs normally without it.
- Assuring that the system works in cold weather. Urea freezes at about 11 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Widespread availability of urea. It could be sold at auto parts stores, quick lube shops, dealership service departments and gas stations.
- Assurance that the urea refill interval is at least as long as the manufacturer's oil change interval so both items can serviced at the same time by the dealership.
I don't know if there is a futures market for cows' urine, but if SCR takes off there just might be a run on the stuff.
Alfa's "Junior" for USA Sale? No
For those hoping for the Grande Punto based entry level Alfa in the USA you can forget it. The Grande Punto wasn't engineered for USA's safety/emissions regulations. That kind of news will also put the kibosh on any hopes that Saturn would bring over the Grande Punto based Corsa. Fiddlesticks!
Alfa is still on tap to bring over the $200K 8c Competizione in 2008 or 2009 and follow it up with the Spider, Brera coupe and 159 in 2010 or 2011. At least that's the plan for now, but as Alfisti know all too well, those plans are subject to constant change.
For those interested, the photo above is a 1974 Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior.
New Camry a Sellout
Toyota dealers are seeing a fantastic 10 days-to-turn rate (the number of days a vehicle spends on a dealership lot) for the new Camry causing one distributor to quip "Customers are following the car carriers to the dealership."
What is interesting to me is that according to an Automotive News report, the previous Camry was only stocked by dealers as a loss-leader so that they could become eligible for hotter, more profitable models. The cars often sold for below dealer invoice. That seems to be a bit hard to believe given the Camry's amazing sales run. Certainly a good number of Camry's sold for greater than invoice.
Previous sales aside, the new Camry is a winner. I've seen them plying the freeways and I must say that they do look better than the previous generation. If you liken the 2006 Camry to vanilla ice cream, then the 2007 Camry has the little flecks of vanilla bean than make Breyer's ice cream one of the tastiest on the market. I just never get tired of that stuff! I think that the same can be said for American's affection for the Camry. Hopefully the raft of powertrain issues plaguing the early editions has been rectified in present and future production models.
Of more interest is the fact that Toyota is looking to boost capacity for the Camry. Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky plant will begin producing 48,000 hybrid Camrys and that in turn will increase the number of standard Camrys being shipped from Japan. Toyota will also be making use of its investment in Subaru, when Subie's Indiana plant will begin building Camrys at a rate of 100,000 units per year. However, according to sources those Camrys will decrease the number shipped from Japan. We'll see if that's the case of the Camry continues to fly.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
2007 Acura MDX
According to this AutoWeek post there will be three option packages available when the car is on sale in a month or so and can be mixed and matched:
The Sport package has active dampers, finer leather and alloy wheels.
The Technology package includes DVD Nav system with real-time traffic updates, rearview camera, and automatic climate control.
The Entertainment package has a rear-entertainment system, power tailgate and heated second row seats.
There is a new 3.7-liter V6 with horsepower up 40 to 300 and torque up 25 to 275 lb ft. Commanding the operation is a 5-speed sequential gearbox.
The grill certainly is BOLD, isn't it?
AutoWeek seems to knock Acura's refreshing the MDX with the headline "Tired of Crossovers?" and stating that Acura is "Going against conventional wisdom" by introducing the second generation model. Huh? I'm not quite sure what AW expected them to do. The current MDX was beginning to languish on dealer lots and the new MDX will certainly bring back repeat customers in addition to fresh meat. All in all a decent effort: Not groundbreaking, but enough change to keep dealers in the game.
Will Acura field an entry in the Mercedes R-Class niche? BMW and Lexus are lining up to take swing, perhaps Acura will have a similar "people mover" of it's own?
Saturday, August 26, 2006
5% Cash Back on Gas Credit Cards Starting to Disappear?
One small comfort with $3.00/gallon gas has been the raft of 5% cash back cards that gave back 15 cents to cut your bill to $2.85. However, it seems that those cards are headed for the history books. Chase pulled their 5% card off the website, but folks have still been able to apply over the phone or through certain links found on "deal" websites. Now Citibank is ending the party for all it's 5% card holders. As witnessed by this letter, starting in October gasoline purchases will only earn a 2% cashback award. Since Citibank was one of the major players, how long before other card companies follow Citi's lead? Besides the aforementioned Chase card, Advanta, HSBC and Discover still offer 5% back at gasoline stations. If you stick to one brand such as Shell you can pick up a co-branded card that offers 5% cash back. It's interesting to note that Shell gas stations used to be some of the most expensive on the block, but lately most Shell in the Bay Area have been quite reasonable when compared to the likes of Chevron, etc.
Well, the party couldn't last forever. Here's hoping that some of these cards stick around, but with the competitive pressure easing off I see little chance of that happening.
Win a 2006 Ford Mustang Convertible (9/22/06)
Sony isn't going to pony up (pun intended) for a V8, but it's still a nice ride. I saw a 2007 "Grabber Orange Clearcoat Metallic" V6 "Pony Package" Mustang at a dealer in Junction City and it looked pretty good. Click here for your chance to win!
Friday, August 25, 2006
Win a 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo (12/31/2006 online and 1/2/2007 mail in)
There are two ways to go about winning this stellar prize: You can pre-order the X-Box 360 game "Test Drive Unlimited: Lifestyle Without Limits" and get a code to enter online or mail in a 3½ by 5½ post card with name, address, city, state and zip to "Test Drive Unlimited Lifestyle Without Limits"” Sweepstakes, 417 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Entries must be postmarked by January 2, and received by January 8, 2007.
You can dream away about winning this prize and the few short seconds you'd own it before the reality of how much Uncle Sam and your insurance agent are going to want from you.
Your odds of winning? 1:14,348,907 Now tell me, is that Harley sweeps looking better to you now?
You can find out more about the sweeps here.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
A Mighty Wind: VW Iroc Coupe
My, VW is getting clever. The Iroc name comes from the middle four letters from the word Scirocco (not International Race of Champions) and is hoped to be an image building coupe for VW come 2009. Well, if this is it then I'm not green with envy. The design looks derivative, I see Volvo, I see older Honda Civic hatchback, a dash of GTI what I don't see is a real design stand out. How much input did VW's Malibu based "let's retake America" Project Moonraker have during the design process? I couldn't be coaxed out of $26K for this puppy. The concept will debut at the Paris Motor Show in September. I had higher hopes for this one. Autoweek article is located here.
Hyundai Veracruz?
This photo looks to be the forthcoming Hyundai Veracruz. Hyundai says that the Veracruz will be larger than Honda Pilot, have more cargo volume than the full-size Mercedes-Benz GL and offer sleek styling, a car-like ride and premium features. Well, isn't that special?
You can compare this photo with the spy shots from Brenda Priddy by clicking here. If you're really into Hyundai, you check out John Krafcik's interview on Autoline Detroit. Krafcik doesn't dodge questions and gives a taste of future product like the upcoming RWD architecture and what that might bring to the table. The only thing missing is someone popping off about Hyundai's flip/flop on the Entourage minivan. C'Mon, you gotta ask what happened there!
Update: Thanks to Hyundai Exchange forum (registration required) for the interior shots!
Veracruz GLS FWD $26,305
Veracruz GLS AWD $28,005
Veracruz SE FWD $28,005
Veracruz SE AWD $29,705
Veracruz Limited FWD $32,305
Veracruz Limited AWD $34,005
$690 destination charge not included
Veracruz GLS comes well-equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine, six-speed automatic transmission, ESC with traction control, ABS with Brake Assist and EBD, rear spoiler, 17-inch alloy wheels and seating for seven. Also standard is an AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system (including three months of complementary XM service), air conditioning with separate rear HVAC controls, steering wheel audio/cruise controls, heated power side mirrors with puddle lights and side turn signal repeaters, front solar glass and rear privacy glass, remote keyless entry, and power windows and door locks. Inside are active front head restraints, dual front airbags, front seat side-impact airbags plus side-curtain airbags protecting all three rows. Other useful features include a tire pressure monitoring system, a trip computer and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel. The Hyundai Hideaway third-row seat folds flat into the floor and is split 50/50, and the second- and third-row seats include their own roof-mounted vents. The optional Premium Package adds a power tilt/slide glass sunroof, power driver seat, heated front seats, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and backup warning system.
VERACRUZ SE -- A SPORTIER FLAVOR OF VERACRUZ
The SE features the GLS equipment plus standard 18-inch alloy wheels, power driver seat, electrochromic auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and HomeLink(R), and front fog lights. A streamlined roof rack, center storage console with Cool Box functionality, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, automatic headlights and leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob are also standard equipment. An optional Premium & Leather Package adds a power tilt/slide glass sunroof, leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, a 315-watt Infinity(TM) audio system with CD changer and backup warning system. The available Entertainment Package (requires Premium and Leather Package) features a rear-seat entertainment system with an eight-inch LCD monitor, 605-watt Infinity AM/FM/XM/CD-changer/MP3 audio system with Logic 7 surround sound, 115-volt power outlet and conversation mirror.
VERACRUZ LIMITED -- PREMIUM FEATURES, OUTSTANDING VALUE
Veracruz Limited comes standard with all of the equipment found standard on the SE and adds leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, power front passenger seat, automatic temperature control, a 315-watt Infinity(TM) audio system with CD changer, power tilt & slide glass sunroof, power tailgate, chrome door handles, metal door sill scuff plates, conversation mirror, windshield wiper deicer and backup warning system. For even greater luxury, the available Ultimate Package includes power-adjustable pedals, integrated memory system, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, blue backlit sill scuff plates, 605-watt Infinity AM/FM/XM/CD-changer/MP3 audio system with Logic 7 surround sound, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with an eight-inch LCD monitor, 115-volt power outlet, proximity key and rain sensing wipers.