Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2015 i MotorTrend

Despite rumors to the contrary, the Beetle is not dead. Lifestyle products such as the Beetle will play an even more important role at Volkswagen in the future. The Global Rallycross-inspired Beetle R-Line and the denimless Beetle Convertible denim concepts will both hit dealers sometime in the next year. The two new Beetle limited editions will be joined at VW dealerships nationwide by last year’s lifted Beetle Dune concept, which is nearing production. VW’s board member responsible for development, Heinz-Jakob Neusser, envisions lifestyle cars such as the Beetle playing an even more important part in the automaker’s lineup in both the United States (where sales are lagging) and China. Lifestyle vehicles, Neusser points out, must be sustainable and environmentally responsible and will include VW’s normal array of gas and diesel…

In 1964 the original Chevrolet Malibu made its debut. It was a sizable machine that stretched 193.9 inches long by 74.6 inches wide and came with a 3.2-liter straight-six that made—wait for it (literally)—120 gross horsepower. Given the humble output, maybe it’s not too surprising that safety belts were optional. Fast-forward 51 years, and the Malibu, now in its ninth generation, offers an engine that at 1.5 liters is not even half the original’s size. But with help from a turbocharger, its estimated output of 160 net hp dwarfs that of the old 3.2. Better yet, the 1.5’s estimated combined fuel economy of 31 mpg humbles the 3.2’s gas-guzzling figure, which surely fell closer to 13 mpg. (The EPA didn’t start providing fuel economy values until 1973.) Chevy’s just-introduced sixth-gen…

2016 LOTUS EVORA 400 What’s New: It’s the fastest and most powerful production Lotus ever. A 3.5-liter, supercharged V-6 engine produces 400 hp and helps the car achieve a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds, Lotus estimates. More than two-thirds of the car is completely new. A new aluminum chassis and composite body shed some 50 pounds from the previous Evora What’s Not: It’s still lightweight. When: Fall 2015 How Much: $90,000 (est) AUDI R8 What’s New: Its structure, design, and powertrain configurations. Designers retouched every exterior panel and interior panel to create an even more avant-garde exotic car experience. Audi’s 5.2-liter V-10, the sole engine, is available in 540- or 610-hp tunes and with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Expect a twin-turbo V-8 option later. Engineers cut 110 pounds from its…

HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ What’s New: The Hyundai Santa Cruz crossover truck is an all-new addition to the automaker’s lineup. This segment-crossing model features an interesting Subaru Brat-like appearance with its small truck bed and snug cabin. The Santa Cruz will be powered by a 2.0-liter, turbodiesel inline-four delivering 190 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, and mpg is estimated in the high 30s. With its unique looks and smaller size, it might just catch the attention of those under 30 looking for more utility. What’s Not: The Santa Cruz is new to the Hyundai lineup. When: Spring 2016 (est) How Much: $25,000 (est) HONDA RIDGELINE What’s New: Despite being based on the Honda Pilot SUV’s unit-body chassis, the upcoming second-generation Honda Ridgeline pickup is expected to be more trucklike. Power…

They’re barely whispers in the exquisite backdrop that is Grand County, Utah, yet they ring loudly in our ears. We’ve come to the mountain biker’s paradise of Moab, and the annual Easter Jeep Safari is just kicking into gear. We’ve come to explore the slickrock, panoramic views of the Colorado River, and an old uranium-mining encampment left to the elements’ reclamation. We’ve come to see the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk 4x4. The whispers are heard out in the wild, originating from accomplished outdoor pros whose off-asphalt escapades have been legend for decades. Their vivid tales recount moments from valiant (“I came across this tourist who had been lost for hours”) to hardly plausible (“I came across this remote campsite, and the guys there knew exactly who I was!”). We’ll choose to…

Getting the new Q7 right is a bigger deal than usual. That’s because this model is “the mother car” for the VW Group’s new MLB Evo platform. That means its mechanical and electronic bones will underpin a squadron of vehicles, including the next-gen Audi A4/A5 and A8 and the VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, and Bentley Bentayga SUVs. This mission is so critical that Audi’s technical development boss Ulrich Hackenberg and his senior management team have schlepped down to the world’s oldest desert—the Namib in southwestern Africa—to verify that everything’s ticketyboo. (Oshiwambo for “good enough for J.D. Power.”) This final drive includes a 200-plusmile trek over gravel roads threading a landscape that could pass for Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, minus the cacti and plus several more exotic species, including oryx, springbok, ostriches,…

Z06 Apologist Section The Earth is round, not flat, and it orbits the sun. A two-legged man runs faster than a one-legged man without artificial limbs. Play with snakes, and you’re likely to get bitten. What other things could you tell me that virtually everyone already knows? Oh yeah, the factory hot-rodded version of the allwheel-drive Nissan GT-R with a dual-clutch transmission beats the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 with a manual transmission (“The Weight of Expectations,” April 2015). I know you said the automatic version of the Corvette wasn’t available, but then why do the comparison since it was a foregone conclusion and almost a waste of time? The only worthwhile part of the article was Randy Pobst’s insight about the driving characteristics of the two cars. I plan on buying…

FORD TAURUS What’s New: The full-size Ford Taurus will finally offer up full-size sedan cabin space when the new model hits our shores. With the old Taurus offering about the same interior space as the midsize Fusion, the new Taurus gets a 3.2-inch wheelbase stretch, which allows Ford engineers to increase rear seat legroom and comfort. Other changes include an upscale exterior design and more luxurious interior trim. What’s Not: The 2.0-liter, turbo inline-four from the old car likely carries over as the base engine. Although that engine is great in some smaller Ford products, the Taurus’ larger mass might prove to be too much for it to overcome. Engine options should include twin-turbo V-6s in 2.7- and 3.5-liter displacements. When: Spring 2016 How Much: $30,000 (est) 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU…

CADILLAC XT5 What’s New: Expected to be called the Cadillac XT5, the replacement for the Cadillac SRX crossover will be built on GM’s all-new Chi platform, which is rumored to be available in short- and long-wheelbase variants with seating for five or seven passengers. Expected powertrain options include GM’s turbo, 2.0-liter inline-four, a revamped 3.6-liter V-6, and a new 3.0-liter, turbo V-6. A new nine-speed automatic transmission is possible. The new chassis could also underpin the next Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia. What’s Not: Nothing. This one’s all-new. When: Fall 2016 How Much: $40,000 (est) NISSAN ROGUE HYBRID What’s New: The powertrain. The new JDM X-Trail Hybrid (Rogue Hybrid for the U.S.) uses a special 2.0-liter, 145-hp, 153-lb-ft inline-four paired with a 30-hp, 118-lb-ft electric motor and a…

2016 Fiat 500X AWD (TREKKING) Base Price $25,900 Price As Tested $28,100 Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Engine 2.4L/180-hp/175-lb-ft SOHC 16-valve I-4 Transmission 9-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R dist) 3,307 lb (61/39%) Wheelbase 101.2 in L x W x H 168.2 x 70.7 x 63.1 in 0-60 MPH 8.5 sec Quarter Mile 16.6 sec @ 82.3 mph Braking, 60-0 MPH 116 ft Lateral Acceleration 0.76 g (avg) MT Figure Eight 28.7 sec @ 0.59 g (avg) EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuael Econ 21/29/24 mpg (est) Energy Cons, City/Hwy 160/116 kW-hrs/100 miles (est) CO2 Emissions, Comb 0.81 lb/mile (est) Fiat expects the 500X to become its volume model, so a lot rides on its success. It offers less space than the 500L wagon, but Fiat says the crossover’s unique ride characteristics…

Raffaele de Simone tells me to be smooth. It’s normal instructor talk, but when you’re sitting passenger in a 950-hp Ferrari LaFerrari, a car he helped develop, and circling Ferrari’s 1.9-mile Fiorano test track— his office—you listen. De Simone’s pushing while he talks, keeping the car just over the edge of its tires. He drives with a confidence gained from countless miles logged here as the chief test driver. He’s braking with his left foot, tightening the nose mid-corner. He takes a hand off the wheel and makes a gesture I take to mean, “Just like that.” We enter the pits and read the data. He had done a 1:19.8 lap. The official LaFerrari lap time here is 1:19.7. And then he says it’s my turn. On the premises are…

ARRIVAL 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport SC Angus MacKenzie “A 510-hp supercharged V8, 155 mph top speed. And it tows a trailer.” @Angus_Mack EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 14/19/16 MPG BASE PRICE $81,020 PRICE AS TESTED $93,856 And now for something completely different: another Range Rover. This time, though, I’ve moved into the fast lane with a 2015 Range Rover Sport. My last Range Rover was an exercise in entry-level luxury, but this Sport dips deep into the options cookie jar. The starting point is the $81,020 Supercharged model with the lusty 510-hp V-8 under the hood, the Terrain Response 2 all-wheel-drive system, an active locking rear differential, and a brake-based torque vectoring setup. The $2,750 Dynamic package delivers cosmetic changes. More important, new fuel mapping and a reprogrammed…

One of the many legal battles General Motors faces from last year’s ignition switch recalls is a raft of non-injury lawsuits claiming economic losses. For now, GM is safe from dozens of those types of lawsuits totaling almost $10 billion after a ruling by Judge Robert Gerber of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York. In that ruling, Gerber stated that the “new” GM isn’t responsible for claims prior to July 2009 when the automaker emerged from bankruptcy proceedings. The ruling essentially upholds a motion GM filed last year to block economic loss claims directed at pre-bankruptcy “old” GM. The lawsuits in this ruling don’t include injury or death claims, which GM is handling separately, either through its compensation fund program or other suits. A majority of the lawsuits are…

2016 LEXUS ES What’s New: Its entire exterior. LED headlights accentuate the nose’s familial spindle grille, and 17-inch wheels continue the sheetmetal’s sleeker vibe. Four new exterior paints and four diferent seat colors broaden the ES’ palette. The available bamboo trim now has a matte finish. The interior also has higher-quality surfaces, a sportier three-spoke steering wheel, and increased sound-deadening materials. Comfort benefits from the stiffer unibody. What’s Not: The 350’s 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 and the 300h’s 156-hp, 2.5-liter I-4 with a 141-hp electric motor remain the same. When: Fall 2015 How Much: $39,000 (est) JAGUAR XF What’s New: In addition to new interior and exterior styling, the XF gets a 2-inch longer wheelbase but still loses up to 265 pounds thanks to a mostly aluminum structure. An updated all-wheel-drive…

BMW 7 SERIES What’s New: Everything, especially the mixed-material unibody, which pioneers the use of 16 carbon-fiber structural bits bonded and/or riveted to the steel and aluminum safety cage, helping the car shed 300 pounds. The entry-level TwinPower gasoline inline-six upgrades to B-engine architecture, and a plug-in hybrid will be offered. Four-corner air suspension is standard, and a new “adaptive” driving mode tailors comfort and sportiness to suit driver behavior. Inside, the iDrive system incorporates a tablet-like touchscreen, more conversational voice commands, and even rudimentary gesture controls. What’s Not: The eight-speed automatic and other engine choices will likely represent refinements of the current generation’s offerings. When: November 2015 How Much: $75,000-$145,000 (est) ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH DROPHEAD COUPE What’s New: A soft roof. Rolls-Royce is being both coy and open about the…

LARGE LUXURY SUV Cadillac Escalade Platinum ........$94,565 Infiniti QX80 Limited .....................$89,845 Land Rover Range Rover HSE .....$96,456 Lexus LX 570 .................................. $90,970 Lincoln Navigator .......................... $74,635 Mercedes-Benz GL450 4Matic ..$88,085 Allow me to state the obvious: We live in a big country. Not the biggest, but pretty dang close. We Americans also like big things. Be it burgers, beers, buildings, boobs, butts, you name it, in America bigger is more often than not associated with better. That’s just how we think. For every fan of Sarah Susanka (the British-born architect credited with igniting the “Not So Big” house movement), I’ll point to 100 new subdivisions where the average floor plan is 3,000 square feet. When it comes to cars, though, bigger is not only perceived by many as better, but…

Cadillac isn’t being coy. While introducing the ATS-V in the paddock at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, chief engineer Tony Roma said his goal was “to put the BMW M3 on the trailer.” Later in the day while lapping the 3.4-mile Formula 1 track, I realized two things. The first: Everybody wins in this scenario because when your target is the benchmark, you end up making something good even if you miss. A sports luxury car is a mix of contradictions. It has to wear a business suit but also be able to power lift. The ATS-V looks sharply dressed in both coupe and sedan forms, its enlarged grille openings and vented carbon-fiber hood adding a subtle edge. The Carbon Fiber package ($5,000) on the cars I drove…

The 2016 Honda HR-V is a star in the making. It’s quick, it’s nimble, and it’s surprisingly comfortable with a thoughtful interior package. It answers the question few people have ever asked: What’s better than a Civic? Built on the same platform as the Honda Fit, the HR-V provides solid performance and lots of space. It takes some of the best attributes of the Fit and packages them in much more appealing sheetmetal. From the soft-touch materials and Magic Seat second row to its peppy engine and well-tuned suspension, the HR-V is a great vehicle for a starter family, a single person with pets, or anyone else looking for reliable, stylish, efficient, and fun transportation. Honda has always been a safe bet in the automotive world. Its well-earned reputation for…

It’s August 1998, and I’m somewhere over Nebraska, sitting next to soon-to-be Ford CEO Jac Nasser in the company’s Gulfstream jet, en route to Detroit after a weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours. As usual, we’re talking shop, and the topic of conversation soon turned to the consolidation mania sweeping the auto industry. In May Daimler had announced the infamous “merger of equals” with Chrysler, while VW Group boss Ferdinand Piëch had snapped up Bentley, Lamborghini, and Bugati in a stunning rapid-fire buying spree a couple of months later. The enigmatic Piëch thought he’d bought Rolls-Royce, as well, only to have it snatched from under his nose by BMW’s wily Bernd Pischetsrieder. Ford was cashed up, and Nasser eager to spend. In addition to its homegrown Lincoln and Mercury brands,…