Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2013 i MotorTrend

MOTOR TREND has confirmed with Global Lincoln director Matt VanDyke that the Navigator SUV will survive the brand shake-up and will feature EcoBoost power. That means you can expect Ford’s successful 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6 under the hood, likely in 365 horsepower and 410 lb-ft spec, a nice bump from the current truck’s 310 horsepower and 365 pound-feet. The Navigator currently weighs about the same as an F-150, so expect a similar 0-60-mph time of around 6.5 seconds. Fuel economy should likewise improve a bit, and both could benefit if the next Navigator is lighter. VanDyke says Lincoln is going all-EcoBoost, so a V-8 is unlikely. Ford’s 302-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 and its 278 lb-ft of torque is a potential base engine. The Navigator’s twin, the Ford Expedition, may well hang onto…

Mercedes-Benz officials quietly revealed to journalists attending the launch of the new E-Class that the E550 would soon depart the U.S. lineup. Its replacement: a twin-turbo V-6. Despite the face-lift, the E550 will last only one year in America before it and its twin-turbo, 4.7-liter V-8 are put out to pasture. Had the new twin-turbo V-6 been ready in time, it’s possible we never would have seen a new E550 here. Either way, the E550 will bow out in fall 2014 and be replaced by the new E400 for the 2015 model year, not to be confused with the carryover E400 Hybrid. The E400, which you can read more about on page 82 in this issue, is powered by an all-new, 3.0-liter biturbo V-6 that makes 329 hp and 354…

Kia thought the Sorento, just a few years into its third-gen life cycle, needed some updates. The resulting mid-cycle refresh is anything but minor: More than 80 percent of the crossover is all-new or redesigned. Key to the update is a new chassis that emphasizes improved passenger comfort and straight-line stability. Chassis reinforcements and a stiffer H-shaped subframe cradle help boost torsional rigidity by 18 percent, while bigger bushings and a revised multilink rear suspension soften the ride. An efficient electrically driven steering system replaces the hydraulic arrangement. There are two new direct-injected powertrains: a 191-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 290-hp, 3.3-liter V-6. Each is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. The entry LX and EX models get the smaller engine, while the LX V-6, EX V-6, SX, and the…

Truck of the Year I just received my February 2013 edition and finished reading your Truck of the Year article. I realize you are not alone in this, but explain to me when you make such decisions, why you do not compare all available vehicles in class? You failed to compare the Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra, and Nissan Titan, selecting instead a Nissan van/wagon crossbred. I don’t believe I have ever seen a comparison including all half-tons comparing apples to apples in one article. The Tundra has to be a competitor on merit; perhaps you left Chevy out because it offers little change from last year’s model. Anyway, can you explain this to me? RICK DEEMYVia the Internet Each of our gold-standard “of the Year” programs is open to new…

Ferrari’s first hybrid road car is also its quickest-ever super car If you can get past the dubious name, Ferrari’s Enzo-succeeding LaFerrari looks fully prepared to carry the torch that has passed through four previous generations of Ferrari supercar. Powered by the HY-KERS system developed alongside Ferrari’s Formula 1 racing efforts, the LaFerrari incorporates a 789-hp, 6.3-liter V-12 internal combustion engine paired with a 120-kW (161-hp) electric motor. (A second electric motor powers the car’s ancillary components.) Coupled with Ferrari’s F1 dual-clutch gearbox, Ferrari claims a sub-3-second 0-62-mph time and a sub-7-second 0-124-mph sprint. There’s no word on top speed, but Ferrari says that, with a Fiorano lap time of less than 1:20, the LaFerrari is 5 seconds quicker around its home track than the Enzo and more than 3…

With the roof removed, the Aventador roadster has more of a T-top opening, thanks to twin triangular hoods that carry the sloping silhouette rearward and hide both passive and active rollover protection. A thin spar between these hoods meets a window that can be lowered to increase engine noise and cabin turbulence. The windshield’s kinked frame recalls the shut line of the front trunk, in which the two-piece roof is stored. Installation and storage of the two 13.2-pound panels require precise choreography, but once in place, the roof doesn’t just block sun and rain. Lamborghini claims it increases the roadster’s torsional rigidity from 16,225 to 17,700 lb-f/degree. Additional reinforcements in the rocker panel area of the carbon-fiber monocoque make it nearly impossible to notice any flexion during spirited driving. For…

When you read “plug-in hybrid,” you probably think of Volts, Prii, and the like. You don’t think about 900-hp supercars. That changes now. We’ve known for some time that the McLaren P1 would be wildly powerful, but now we have the facts. Combined system output for the plug-in hybrid will be 903 hp and 664 lb-ft. According to McLaren, 727 hp and 531 lb-ft will be provided by a twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V-8. Additional thrust will be donated to the accelerative cause by a McLaren-built electric motor mounted to the back of the engine and producing up to 176 hp and 192 lb-ft. All that power is shunted to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. All said and done, McLaren says the P1 will hit 62 mph in fewer…

Believe it or not, some midsize sedan buyers view these four-doors as exciting signs of hope, evidence that the fun isn’t over just because kids and jobs now consume 23 hours of the day. Despite their prevalence—at least that of the Accord and Camry, which sold more than 300,000 and 400,000 units in 2012, respectively—the three family sedans here are injected with a shot of sport aimed at enlivening the daily doldrums of commuting, errand running, and passenger hauling. If you can zip from light to light a little quicker or take the freeway on-ramp a bit more aggressively—anything to brighten your day—why not, right? With that in mind, we gathered the all-new Mazda6 and Honda Accord Sport, as well as the best-selling veteran, the Toyota Camry SE, to see…

MAZDA6 OK, let’s address the elephant in the room: the Mazda6 GT's hefty $31,190 as-tested price. Had we had our druthers, we would have gotten a $25,290 Touring fitted with a $350 rear lip spoiler. Truth is, none of the GT’s exclusives—leather, bi-xenon headlamps, paddle shifters, et al.—gave it an advantage on the scorecard. And since the Touring and GT are dynamically identical, we were willing to overlook the GT’s hefty price tag. The Mazda’s performance stats, however, were completely relevant. Outpacing the Accord’s acceleration numbers by a couple tenths (0-60 in 7.4, quarter mile in 15.7 at 88.6) and splitting the others’ handling figures (0.84 g lat accel, 27.1 at 0.63 figure eight), the Mazda’s objective results placed at or near the top. Subjectively? It quickly earned reserved parking…

Sometimes, you find yourself in unlikely situations. Just the other day I was chasing rally champion Walter Röhrl around the feverishly gorgeous Portimão Circuit outside of Lagos, Portugal. Mr. Röhrl was in a 911 Carrera S, and I was behind the wheel of the brand-new Porsche Cayman S. Emphasis on chasing, because it sure wasn’t racing. My chances of running down Walter were on par with Wile E. Coyote catching the Road Runner, if Coyote were missing a paw. However, there was a moment, brief and fleeting, entering turn three where it really felt like the mid-engined Cayman and my meager skills were about to run down a legend. Röhrl told me later as I sat in the 911’s passenger seat, “The Cayman turns in faster than the 911. Of…

None of this was ever supposed to happen. Not the Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG, and certainly not a five-day road trip from Copenhagen, Denmark, to the Swedish Arctic Circle with 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Justin Bell and little old me. A generation ago, Lamborghini dropped the Countach’s V-12 engine into a failed military vehicle and called the result the LM002. The Sant’Agata concern sold 328 of them in an 8-year period. Very few OEMs have bothered with a 12-cylinder SUV since then. Audi had its special-order-only Q7 V-12 TDI (now out of production), and BMW once shoehorned its LMS 6.0-liter V-12 into an X5 as a publicity stunt. Recently, Bentley and Lamborghini have been toying with the idea of selling 12-cylinder SUVs—the W-12-powered Bentley EXP 9F and the Aventador-engined…

“The crying shame is that Volvo won’t sell the even better-looking s60 wagon in the U.S. They claim there’s no interest. Pity.” Service life / 6 mo/9417 mi Avg CO2 / 0.92 lb/mi Energy cons / 160 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 (oil change, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 20/29/23 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 21.1 MPG January 30, 2012, was the start of our big video effort on YouTube. Suddenly, we went from what almost seemed like a hobby to full-time, full-scale, five videos per week production. For me, this translated into a bunch of time spent on winding back roads following freakishly close to a car with a camera mounted to its trunklid. Because of the production calendar, it’s hard…

“The JX continues to average just over 18 mpg, at the low end of its EPA ratings. not surprising, considering the daily city driving it does.” Service life / 6 months/14,203 mi Avg CO2 / 1.07 lb/mi Energy cons / 185 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $128.78 (oil change, rotate tires, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 18/23/20 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 18.2 MPG Over the last couple months, our Infiniti JX35 has been driven quite a lot. Sad to say, all this wear and tear is starting to show. One of our editors recently brought the vehicle back from his holiday trek, only to report that the Infiniti’s back hatch would not stay open while in the power operating mode. He could…

Turbocharged, AWD, and a renewed focus on BRZ-like handling define the next WRX. There are two constants in the lineage of the Subaru WRX: It will be rally-ready, and the next model will look nothing like the last. The WRX Concept embodies both those maxims. Officially, Subaru calls this concept a design study, and it’s edgier than any past model. We see a clear influence from the Nissan GT-R. No technical specs have been released, except to say it will be turbocharged and all-wheel drive, which is to be expected. Subaru had said it would use a turbocharged version of the BRZ’s 2.0-liter boxer engine, which is currently used in some Japanese-market vehicles and makes up to 280 hp. We’re sure the engine will make more power than the current…

It wasn’t that long ago McLaren was known for exactly one road car, the famous F1. Now, the company is promising a car a year. The new P1 will be followed shortly by a new sports car that will slot below the 12C, codenamed P13. We’re told it will be another two-seat sports car, but designed to be more practical than the 12C—McLaren’s example of “practicality” is that the P13 will have a trunk. The company predicts the car will be its highest-volume product, and it will sell an anticipated 2000 to 2500 cars per year globally. McLaren says to hit that volume, the P13 will be aimed at top-end Porsche 911s, at least in terms of price. The company is worried about cannibalizing 12C sales, so we expect the…

DESPITE THE FORD ATLAS F-150 concept’s all-steel construction, rumors still persist about a switch to aluminum. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors and Space X, contributed to the rumor mill at the Detroit auto show: “From what I’ve heard, they’re using 7000-series aluminum, which is the right step. It’s very strong and light—it’s the same alloy we use to build rockets. There are many different alloys you can use, and a lot of manufacturers use 5000-series aluminum, but 7000 is twice as strong. It can’t be traditionally welded; it must be bonded or mechanically joined or friction welded.” All those methods are production-viable. Friction welding seems most likely, but, regardless, the retooling needed to switch from steel to 7000-series aluminum would require massive investment. When queried about Audi, another pioneer…

The two-door version of the biggest Mini uses all the same mechanical bits under a sharper, more angular skin that looks a bit more Doberman than traditional English bulldog. To reinforce its rapid intentions, Mini made the Countryman’s optional sport suspension standard fare. The All4 is available only in the Cooper S trim, meaning the punching-above-its-weight 181-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter I-4 is the only engine choice. The little engine that does can be had with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. Mini only had the automatic available for our drive, but the transmission is surprisingly adept for cruising along or snapping from gear to gear. The small engine feels soft at the very bottom of the rev range, but really gets the Mini dancing once the turbo is blowing.…

Tag Heuer Carrera Collection $2500-$16,900 • Where to buy: shop-us.tagheuer.com It’s been 50 years since Jack Heuer created his iconic Carrera line, a range of timepieces engineered specifically for racing drivers and auto enthusiasts. Each watch is shockproof, waterproof, and made of top-quality materials. Carrera Calibre 1887 Automatic Chronograph HPI Ken Block Ford Fiesta $865 • Where to buy: hpiracing.com Like Ken Block’s gymkhana antics? Then you’ll probably like HPI’s 1/8th-scale, meticulously detailed, four-wheel-drive, all-electric remote-controlled model that’ll fly, speed, and spin like KB’s Fiesta. GoPro Hero3 Black Edition $400 • Where to buy: gopro.com With Wi-Fi connectivity, remote controllability, a 12-megapixel camera, and 4K video recording resolution, the Hero3 Black Edition is the coolest and most capable action camera on the market. Arai Helmets $550-$5000 • Where to buy:…

It’s said to be inspired by the golden age of automotive design, and when it goes into production late this year, it will be the most powerful Rolls-Royce currently on offer. As we learned at the 83rd Geneva motor show, the rakish, fastback coupe known as the Wraith is striking to look at, too. Though technically based on the chassis of the “entry-level” Ghost, the Wraith’s specs are worked over quite a bit. With a 7.2-inchshorter wheelbase, 0.9-inch-wider rear track, lower ride height, and increased power over Ghost, the Wraith is designed to be a Grand Touring car that hints at more driver involvement, but never at the expense of luxury and isolation. The familiar BMW-designed, 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V-12 has been massaged to 624 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque—significant…

The SLS is an interesting beast. When I first saw the car, my initial reaction was, “Damn, they did good with this one.” Then I drove it, and my reaction was, “Damn, what did they do to this car, and who’d they build it for?” The styling says distinguished gentleman, while the driving experience says 20-something tuner kid. The 2013 SLS GT gets a 20-horsepower bump to 583, while torque remains unchanged at 479 lb-ft. AMG’s SpeedShift seven-speed dual-clutch transmission gets a few updates, as does the adaptive suspension, giving you Sport and Sport+ only. The extra power doesn’t change straight-line performance, but the figure-eight numbers dropped by a couple tenths to 23.9 seconds at 0.87 g (avg) with a lateral acceleration of 1.04 g (avg), the best we’ve seen…

TOYOTA CAMRY SE The SE accounts for about 40 percent of Camry sales, which equates to around 160,000 units annually. That’s nearly five times as many 6s as Mazda sold last year. SE drivers are treated to the same 2.5-liter, 178-hp, 170-lb-ft I-4 that powers most Camrys not wearing V-6 or Hybrid badging, but the six-speed automatic (the only tranny offered) comes with paddle shifters and an S mode that delivers quicker shifts and downshift throttle blips. Nice. The chassis receives firmer springs and dampers, stiffer lower front-control arms, strut tower and trunk-mounted braces, and 17-inch alloys wearing 215/55 rubber. Outside, there are SE-specific side skirts, mesh upper grille, black headlamp bezels, and rear spoiler. Inside, a three-spoke steering wheel and thicker bolstered sport seats round out the package. Problem…

Rather frequently in the car business we encounter new cars that aren’t bad, but aren’t especially engaging, either. This is more or less how we characterized the last E-Class, a car with a nice interior, a somewhat controversial exterior, good engines, and not a lot of personality. The new car is still somewhat polarizing on the outside, but it’s finally showing signs of life. I refer mostly to the chassis, the most improved aspect of the car from the driver’s seat. We chided the old E-Class for a soft suspension that didn’t handle bumps well, and heavy, numb steering. The folks in Stuttgart apparently came to the same conclusion, because the updated chassis is much better. The ride is firm in a characteristically German way, but impacts are muted to…

Numbers have never really been my friend. I remember the shame of coming home from school one day in seventh grade with my first-ever D, thanks to math. Freshman algebra did me no favors, either, requiring more before- and after-school tutoring than I care to admit. The same could be said about geometry in sophomore year and trigonometry in junior year. Hell, I passed stats in college just by the skin of my teeth—the second time around, that is. Numbers haven’t been particularly kind to the 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club or 2013 Scion FR-S, either. Both cars have small horsepower and torque figures, low cylinder counts, and not particularly blistering performance numbers. If the Internet is to be believed, both of these cars are stupid, and if you’re considering…

Developed in 1946 as an alternative to a traditional tractor, the Unimog has been and remains perhaps the most capable production vehicle you can buy. There are three big reasons why. The first is its portal axles, which were developed for the Unimog. Instead of the axle bolting to the center of the wheel, it enters near the top and is geared down to the hub, greatly increasing the Unimog’s ground clearance. Both differentials also lock. Second, the frame effectively twists. Each solid axle can rotate up to 30 degrees in either direction. This allows the Unimog to have 3 feet of wheel articulation per axle, while keeping all four tires on the ground. The engine and transmission are attached to the frame in only three places on rubberized mounts.…

“Does the 528i truly represent Efficient Dynamics? Yes, but only barely—and there are a couple other cars that would more comfortably wear that slogan.” Service life / 12 mo/26,014 mi Avg CO2 / 0.77 lb/mi Energy cons / 134 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 Average Fuel Econ / 25.1 mpg Now that our long-term BMW 528i has traveled more than 26,000 miles and we have all our track test numbers in hand, we’re finally in a position to address this car’s big question: Is it really both Efficient and Dynamic? Let’s start off with a look at its mileage. At right is a graph of the 528i’s cumulative mileage since its arrival. As you can see, in our hands, it’s basically…

“i wasn’t going to finish first, but when i passed that Camry, i knew i wasn’t going to be last.”@MT_Royer Service life / 11 mo/16,243 mi Avg CO2 / 0.71 lb/mi Energy cons / 123 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $315.01 (2-oil change, tire rotation, inspection; 1-engine-air cleaner) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 27/36/30 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 27.3 MPG One Sunday I got the idea to tear up the mountain roads in my backyard with the Subaru. Why should expensive sports cars have all the fun? Starting in La Cañada-Flintridge, I headed up the hill into the Angeles National Forest. The Subaru had no problem making the steep initial climb. The hatchback felt light during the ascent, and I didn’t get…

After what feels like the world’s longest gestation period, the production-ready 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C was unveiled at the Geneva motor show, and will make its way to the U.S. before the end of this year. The car hasn’t changed much from the Geneva concept two years ago. The only obvious changes to the production-spec, rear-drive, mid-engine 4C are the addition of street-legal headlights, taillights, and door mirrors. Power comes from an all-aluminum 1.8-liter turbocharged I-4 related to the engine in the Giulietta. Under the hood of the Giulietta, the turbo-four cranks out about 230 hp, though the hotter 4C will debut with 240 hp (and 258 lb-ft). The Alfa’s engine will be mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission and drive the rear wheels with an estimated 9-lb/hp weight-to-power ratio.…

DESPITE A PROMISING warning sticker spotted under the hood of the new Silverado, we don’t expect to see a diesel engine option anytime soon. A peek behind the fuel-filler door reveals no provision or space for a Diesel Exhaust Fluid fill port. The Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon, on the other hand, might have a diesel option in the U.S. A source informs us that the plant where the all-new Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon midsize truck will be built is currently tooling up a line to build diesel engines. If true, it could mean a diesel Colorado/Canyon for the U.S. market. It would likely be one of the two four-cylinder turbodiesels offered in the truck globally, either a 2.5- or 2.8-liter engine. The smaller is good for 150 hp and 258 lb-ft of…

THE VOLKSWAGEN CrossBlue concept from Detroit is nearly production-ready, and we expect it to be built in VW's new Tennessee plant, sans the diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain. A V-6 is expected in production, with a direct-injected, turbocharged example possible. It will ride on VW's new MQB (new Golf) architecture, upsized and reinforced to handle the extra weight, with a choice of front drive or 4motion all-wheel-drive and (hopefully) the concept's six-speed dual-clutch transmission. In other news, we're told the new turbocharged, 1.8-liter four-cylinder now ramping up production in Mexico will replace the 2.5-liter inline-five cylinder engine as the brand's base engine. No output has been specified, but 180 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque is a good guess. Detroit's Passat Performance Concept previewed a likely production example to get more…

A few weeks ago, Ram president and CEO Fred Diaz stood in front of the 2014 Toyota Tundra and quietly stared. Toyota had revealed the new Tundra a few hours earlier at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show. This was the first time Diaz, who had unveiled the Ram ProMaster utility van that same day, had the chance to size up some of his competition. He took mental notes as the truck spun quietly on the small display stage. He noted that it’s always good to see what everyone else is doing. “You don’t want to underestimate anyone,” Diaz said. Diaz didn't look too worried. But maybe he should be. The Tundra is thoroughly updated, and will soon battle the Ram 1500, the full-size pickup named the 2013 Motor Trend Truck…

In any sport, the best matches start with each team having an equal chance of victory. In the 1914 fight of the bull Veneno versus Jose Sanchez Rodriguez, the bull came out on top. So when it came time for Lamborghini to name its ultra-exclusive model, the killer bull was an obvious choice. Lamborghini will build only three copies of the Veneno, with two delivered to the U.S. and one to the Middle East. The rare bull is based on the Aventador, but with an entirely new body. The reworked skin focuses on aerodynamics for optimized performance. Lamborghini has drawn inspiration from prototype race cars, presumably those of other companies, since it hasn’t raced in anything other than production car-based classes in nearly two decades. The all-RTM CFRP (resin-transfer-molded carbon-fiber…

Sure, AMGs are great at going straight, but the in-house tuner recently had a change of heart and decided its cars should go around corners well, too. You don’t use a sledgehammer to carve a statue—something a little more sophisticated is required. AMG confidently predicts the top-shelf E63 AMG S-Model sedan will hit 62 mph in 3.6 seconds, though engineers have claimed as low as 3.4. If it can, it’ll be the quickest sedan we’ve ever tested. It certainly feels up to the task. The 577-hp, twin-turbo, 5.5-liter V-8 roars like a thunderstorm over a battlefield, and its 590 lb-ft of torque (non-S Models get 550 hp and 531 lb-ft) fling you forward like a rail gun. And thanks to that all-wheel-drive grip, it’s nearly as smooth as the rail…

Seven-speed manual? Too slow. GT3 is PDK only. We all want a GT3, but very few of us have the means to acquire one. Luckily, Porsche has given you the perfect fuel for your “I hate it because I love it but can’t have it” engine. The next-generation GT3, one of the greatest driver’s cars in the world, will come with only two pedals. You read that right: The performance purist’s Porsche is PDK only. Clearly Porsche has decided that performance trumps purity when it comes to its highest-performance naturally aspirated 911. Besides the dual-clutch seven-speed transmission, the GT3 will use active rear-wheel steering, a computer-controlled rear differential with torque vectoring, and a liberal amount of aluminum in the unibody and body panels. The torque vectoring and rear steer technology…

HONDA ACCORD SPORT Now, I could just tell you the Accord Sport is a furlong ahead of the Camry and a nose behind the Mazda, but what fun is that? With a 2.4-liter “Earth Dreams” I-4 (Take that, Mazda “Skyactiv”) and the group’s only CVT automatic, the Honda entered the arena as the most powerful (189 hp), but also the heaviest (3324 pounds), the widest (72.8 inches), and the most cavernous (103.6 cubic feet of passenger volume and 15.8 cubic feet of cargo volume). Inside and out, the Accord is a sizable sedan, though it’s still a smidge shorter in length and height than the Mazda and Toyota, respectively. That’s surprising, given that the Honda feels the biggest. But that’s only when it’s standing still. Floor the throttle, and the…

With the 2014 Kia Forte sedan now in the picture, the Korean automaker has reinvented its compact sedan twice within the last five years. While that may seem excessive, the cutthroat compact car segment is like the fashion world. You might only be 27 years old, but that translates to 59 in model years. With the 4-year-old Forte losing relevance, Kia had to act fast. Luckily, it already had a winning formula, thanks to the current-gen Optima midsize sedan, which is the brand’s best-selling model to date. The Optima has earned lots of brownie points for its sleek styling, performance, and smorgasbord of premium features, and the 2014 Forte doesn’t deviate from that formula. Defined by curvaceous body lines, the familiar tiger nose grille, sweeping head- and taillights, and a…

There are many dangerous roads in America. Deadman’s Curve, popularized by Jan and Dean’s fictional lyrics, refers to an actual kink near Whittier Drive on Sunset Boulevard. And then there’s the infamous intersection along California’s rural Highway 46 where James Dean apocryphally muttered “That guy’s gotta stop.” Donald Turnupseed didn’t, sending Dean and his Porsche 550 Spyder into eternity. But those two are nothing compared with a 600-foot one-lane road outside of Ruckersville, Virginia. Each year, between 50 and 70 cars and trucks are utterly destroyed there. Since the road’s completion, the total carnage amounts to one car for every 6 inches of its length. And yet, no one has ever been hurt on that road, and it would be an accident if the cars didn’t crash. The Insurance Institute…

“I love hatchbacks, but the GLI’s superior chassis and dynamics (and bigger back seat) make it my choice over the GTI.”@RonKiino EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 24/32/27 MPG BASE PRICE $24,740 PRICE AS TESTED $30,095 Back in March, 2012, we compared the Volkswagen GLI with the Honda Civic Si and Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS, to name the best manual-transmission sport sedan for around $25,000. As you may know, the GLI won, delighting us with “the most rewarding, most refined driving experience, and the best packaging.” One of the few GLI traits we didn’t appreciate was its inability to defeat stability control. For 2013, though, VW has wised up, offering the GLI with an ESC-off button. With that in mind, and given the fact that it won a heated comparison, we…

“Honda’s Bluetooth system works great—most of the time. Two minor user interface issues led to an annoyed driver and passengers.” @carloslago Service life / 4 mo/7899 mi Avg CO2 / 0.77 lb/mi Energy cons / 134 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $74.04 (oil change, tire rotation) Normal-wear cost /$0 EPA CITY / HWY / COMB FUEL ECON: 23/31/26 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 25.2 MPG Long drives provide ample time to prod the intricacies of a modern vehicle’s infotainment system, and while enduring California’s Interstate 5, I noticed a peculiarity with the CR-V’s. It kept saying, “Pants has been connected.” That’s partly because I’ve named my iPhone 4 “pants,” so that whenever cars interact with it via Bluetooth they provide some mildly amusing prompt: “Connected to…

“The NV had many jobs while it was here, and it never once complained. it was just really, really thirsty and a little clumsy.” Total mileage / 12 mo/25,616 mi Base price / $29,430 Options / technology package ($950: nav system, XM satellite radio, bluetooth, integrated backup camera); tow package ($460: trailer towing mirrors, front tow hooks, class-IV trailer hitch, 7-pin connector prewiring); side/curtain airbag package ($390: front/side/curtain airbags) Price as tested / $31,230 Avg CO2 / 1.39 lb/mi Problem areas / None Maintenance Cost / $252.75 (5-oil change, inspection; 1-tire rotation, cabin-air filter) Normal-Wear Cost / $0 3-year residual value* / $13,337 Recalls / Oil cooler 0-ring and stud (R. 1115) *Automotive Lease Guide EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON N/A AVERAGE FUEL ECON 14.0 MPG When the NV arrived on…