Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2013 i MotorTrend

Carbon Motors Corporation made a splash in 2008 when it revealed a purpose-built police car with all the latest technology and no compromises. Then the start-up was mostly quiet until a last flourish earlier this year before disappearing altogether. According to most reports, the company was quietly going about its business and working with the Department of Energy to secure an Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing loan over the past few years. That apparently came to a screeching halt in early March when the DOE denied the $310 million loan. When the 3-year lease on the Connersville, Indiana, factory that Carbon planned to use ran out at the end of March, the company packed its things and left town without a word. Since then, the company has taken down its website…

As we predicted, the Maserati Ghibli made its debut just ahead of the Shanghai auto show in April. Despite showing a complete-looking car, Maserati is still guarded with details about its new luxury sedan. The car is roughly the size of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and, like its Quattroporte sibling, rides on a modified form of the Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger platform. Maserati has confirmed only three engine choices thus far. A twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, derived from Chrysler’s Pentastar V-6 family and shared with the Quattroporte, is available in two guises likely in the mid-300 hp and mid-400-hp ranges. Buyers seeking a little extra fuel economy can also opt for Maserati’s first diesel engine, a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 that isn’t likely to come Stateside. We wouldn’t be surprised if the Quattroporte’s 3.8-liter,…

You're looking at a lamb in wolf’s clothing. Let us explain why we're shamelessly modifying a classic idiom here. The bad news first: Since we tested the Lexus IS 250 F Sport before pricing was released, we can’t attest to the value proposition. And as the IS 250 doesn’t reinvent itself mechanically over the 2006-2013 model, its newness has worn off. So, symbolically, the holdover 2.5-liter V-6 and basic mechanicals are the lamb. Now, the good news. The design plays a big role in an attempt to shake things up in the world of sporty luxury sedans. The cabin’s modernization brings a familial but fresh take to the center stack and console. Neat electrostatic switches (a first for the brand, says Lexus) manage the dual-zone automatic climate control’s temperature settings,…

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF SOCIAL MEDIA? A Ford GT crashes into your headquarters late one afternoon, causing editors, photographers, writers, and execs to run outside to see what all the fuss is about before whipping out their smartphones. That’s exactly what happened 10 days before this issue went to press. Where was the first place to see the carnage? Instagram. Since launching the @MotorTrend Instagram account last year, we've gotten more than 37,000 followers. Check our daily photo uploads there, or on our other social feeds.…

Audi R8 The car accelerates so quickly I’m actually braking for TURN 1, which I don’t usually do. We’re just going too bloody fast. TURN 9 wasn’t as frightening as it normally is. Usually cars are just going nuts, bouncing off the bump stops. But the R8 was very well-behaved. It has more travel than it looks like, or good bump stops. It may be very progressive, but I think it’s mostly in the shocks. • There’s an obvious sensation of low polar moment as you enter the corner. The car is not working very hard to come down to the apex—it likes it. What’s disconcerting is that, if you stay off the power long enough, what you’ll get is a big rotation. Dramatic slides will slow you down. A…

If you have an ounce of gasoline in your veins, you know all about the Bugatti Veyron. You know it has a quad-turbo 16-cylinder engine that makes more than 1000 hp. You know it will accelerate to 60 mph in about 2.7 seconds, go faster than 250 mph, and costs well over a million bucks. You know the Veyron is the ultimate hypercar, that there is no fully street legal automobile in the world—airbags and catalytic converters and all—that is faster and more powerful. You know it’s one of the most extraordinary cars ever built. VW Group chairman Ferdinand Piëch stunned the world when he announced the hyperbolic Veyron concept that had appeared at the 1999 Tokyo show would become a real production car. Equally stunned were the VW engineers,…

“I love quick cars that also get good fuel economy. The GLI has a 6.5-second 0-60 and, thus far, has returned 25.3 mpg.” @RonKiino Service life / 5 mo/12,196 mi Avg CO2 / 0.77 lb/mi Energy cons / 133 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 (oil change, rotate tires, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 24/27/32 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 25.3 MPG I took the GLI on its first adventure, a round-trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas with my wife and daughter. When I told my wife we’d be taking the GLI, she just gave me the “are you serious?” look, being that the VW is a smallish sedan and we’d be taking all our stuff and a ton of gear (stroller,…

“If you’re going to make a navigation/infotainment screen that big for displaying information, you’d better damn well use all the space for displaying information.” Service life / 10 mo/20,044 mi Avg CO2 / 0.89 lb/mi Energy cons / 154 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $165.03 (2-oil change, inspection; 1-tire rotation) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON:19/27/22 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 21.9 MPG In this day of over-the-top vehicle technology, I cannot believe this is still happening. What am I talking about? The information displayed on the infotainment screen—or lack thereof. The screen in the RDX has more than enough room to fit the entire name of the artist or song, but it doesn’t, which leave the right side of the screen blank. Why? The…

“Our long-term Nissan GT-R Black Edition goes home tomorrow. In 13 months, Team Motor Trend put 27,000 miles on Godzilla.” @edloh Total mileage / 12 mo/26,938 mi Base price / $97,820 Options / Black Edition Package ($9,500), GT-R Logo Floor Mats ($280) Price as tested / $107,600 Avg CO2 / 1.28 lb/mi Energy cons / 222 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $766.70 (3-oil change, inspection; 1-cabin-air filter, engine-air filter) Normal-wear cost / $2526.92 (4 OE Dunlop tires, mounting, balancing) 3-Year Residual Value* / $51,514 Recalls / None EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 16/23/19 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 15.2 MPG *Automotive Lease Guide Throughout its 13-month loan, our GT-R Black Edition was in constant motion—whether as a participant in signature events like our Best Driver’s Car (November…

When the 911 Turbo debuted in 1974, it quickly earned a reputation for being challenging to drive and delivering monstrous performance. Big turbo lag meant all-or-nothing power delivery. Hardcore enthusiasts loved it, even though it was tough to live with. Over the years, the performance climbed and gained refinement. We recently talked with Dr. Erhard Mössle, head engineer on the 911 Turbo, not only about how fast the new 991-based Turbo will be, but also how it’s more efficient and more usable. MT: What are the design goals of a 911 Turbo? What defines it? Dr. Mössle: To define the Turbo, our target was to move it away from the normal 911. We wanted it more differentiated. We had to have the special aerodynamic package and the wider rear end…

Given that the Chevrolet SS now serves as Chevy’s entry in NASCAR, it’s fitting that the production version was unveiled at Daytona International Speedway shortly before its Sprint Cup Series debut. There may be little in common between Jimmie Johnson’s Daytona 500-winning ride and what you’ll soon see at your local dealer, but it’s refreshing to see a RWD sport sedan serve as the Bow Tie’s entry rather than a bland FWD midsizer. While in Daytona for the triumphant unveiling, we spoke with Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America, and tried to get more details on future plans for the all-new SS. When asked about a ZL1 or maybe a V-6 engine variant, the answer was "No, not at this time; we have to wait and see how…

The BMW X4 concept previews the automaker’s fifth addition to its X lineup, its second Sports Activity Coupe, and its latest attempt to create a new market niche. Since the X4’s name has an even number, the crossover fits with other BMWs with coupelike appeal, from the upcoming 4 Series line to the X6. BMW says the X4 concept combines features from traditional two-door coupes and crossovers like the X1, X3, and X5. The first SAC, of course, is the X6, which BMW first introduced back in 2008. Sales of the X6 numbered 1264 units during the first quarter of 2013, up compared with the same period last year but below every other BMW model except the Z4. The production-spec X4 will be produced at BMW’s U.S. plant in Spartanburg,…

For the third time in 10 years, Ford and General Motors are joining forces to develop next-generation automatic transmissions. We got some indication of the two companies’ intent of this partnership with the announcement of the signing of a memorandum of understanding in September 2012. The new nine- and 10-speed automatics will be developed for both FWD and RWD applications, suggesting any work on a jointly developed eight-speed may be superseded by the new nine- and 10-speeds. GM just debuted its first production eight-speed automatic (an Aisin unit) in the 2014 Cadillac CTS. The joint development reportedly enabled development of the new transmissions at a lower cost than either company could do individually. Hardware between the Ford and GM transmissions will reportedly be nearly identical to keep costs down, but…

MT POLL We asked our readers: Which compact sedan should be offered as a coupe? MOTOR TREND'S THE GOODS BioLite CampStove $130 • Where to buy: biolitestove.com Going green will be a whole lot easier with the CampStove at your campsite. A tiny thermoelectric generator converts the fire’s heat into energy, which powers a fan that invigorates the flame and two USB ports that charge devices. Cannondale Trigger 29ER 1 $5000 • Where to buy: cannondale.com Meet the bike that aims to get you over anything, anywhere. Cannondale’s latest and greatest super-stiff Trigger model weighs only 30 pounds, rides atop 29-inch wheels, and employs an adjustable Fox Dyad Shock and the brand’s innovative Lefty Supermax Fork. The nastiest trails have met their match. Casio G-Shock Mudman GW9330B-1 $350 • Where…

Groovy, Man When I read your anti-hippie comments in “First Drive: Subaru Forester” in the April 2013 issue (“Fourth Time’s a Charmer”), I was repulsed. So much so, I almost spilled my Organic Herb Macchiato all over my thrift-shop-purchased skinny jeans. I have been a subscriber since before it was cool, but now I want to cancel. Not via mail like all the corporate slaves, but with a telegram. So retro. Regardless, because the local granola emporium does not pay enough to buy one, I will not be purchasing a Forester. How dare they call it that when its fossil-dissolving engine kills forests. Your magazine is absolutely ridiculous in assuming all these things when mainstreamers like Lieberman can’t comprehend my soul-freeing lifestyle. By the way, I, of course, sent this…

Is there a more peculiar automotive segment than that of the entry-level, full-size sedan? Loved by comfort-seeking retirees, client-shuttling businessmen, and family-hauling parents alike, the full-size sedan means many things to many people. To us, the full-size segment should mean comfort, interior space, and lots of features. As a step up from the popular midsize market, these sedans are aimed squarely at those who can’t quite afford (or don’t want to pay for) a full-fledged luxury platform. The last time we visited this space, we pitted the Toyota Avalon (the very same one we have here, in fact) against the new Hyundai Azera and the aging Nissan Maxima. The result of that comparison (April 2013) was a photo finish between the Hyundai and the Toyota, with the Avalon winning by…

Former F1 racer Pierre-Henri Raphanel, Bugatti’s official test driver and one of the world’s bravest men, says the only thing preventing the Veyron from going beyond 270 mph is tire technology. Raphanel, who’s probably spent more time on the far side of 250 mph than any driver in history, says tires were the major concern during his record-breaking 268-mph run in the Veyron Super Sport at Ehra-Lessien in July 2010. VW engineers told him they thought the tires should be fine. But they couldn’t be sure. In testing Michelin had run the Veyron’s massive meats on its tire dyno at 270 mph—the fastest it can spin—for 20 seconds, then at 250 mph for 20 seconds. It repeated that cycle two more times. Then the tires exploded. Heat, mass, and centrifugal…

Specs-wise, the 2013 Cadillac XTS4 and the newly released 2014 Acura RLX almost are twins. Each sedan is powered by a midsize, 24-valve V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic. The Acura’s wheelbase is a mere half-inch longer than the Caddy’s, while exterior dimensions are within inches of each other. (The XTS is a bit longer and wider.) Comparably equipped, both cars wear stickers just above $60K. Yet in execution and character, the Cadillac and the Acura turn out to be surprisingly different machines, each offering a decidedly separate take on what a sport-luxury four-door should be. So which one best delivers? With a full battery of track-test results in hand, executive editor Ron Kiino and yours truly spent a full day gunning them back-to-back through the serpentine mountain byways above…

“So far I’ve gotten several ‘That’s a Kia?!’ comments. Yes, it looks that good.” @Emiliana505 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 22/34/26 MPG BASE PRICE $27,575 PRICE AS TESTED $35,275 When the 2011 Kia Optima joined the MT long-term fleet last year, the sedan’s styling immediately made a positive impression, but we wondered if it had the substance to back up its good looks. It did, and now we’re welcoming a nicely loaded 2013 Optima SX into the fold. After two years in subcompact cars, I’m looking forward to stretching my legs in a midsize sedan with lots of creature comforts. The Optima was all-new for 2011, and not much has changed in two years, besides a new SX Chrome Limited trim and the elimination of the EX Turbo trim. We…

“It’s refreshing to see all the integrated interior storage bins, but often I’m searching two or three before finding where I put my phone.” @BrianVance Service life / 6 mo/10,167 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 25.1 MPG I’d like to share my gratitude with Honda for stuffing this rig with so many storage possibilities. They let the cup runneth over when it comes to the internal storage capability. The driver-side door alone offers no fewer than three cubbies in which to store your smart phone or wallet. Swing to the right, and you’ll see more places to secure…

“I’M WILLING TO BET THAT SUCH PERCEIVED TRANSGRESSIONS FROM THE BOOK OF 911 WILL SOON BE FORGOTTEN, OR FORGIVEN, BY ALL BUT THE MOST DIEHARD PORSCHE FUNDAMENTALISTS.” It’s 28 years since I first drove a Porsche 911. I still remember the wonderful clarity of the steering and the clattery rasp and razorsharp throttle response of the air-cooled flat-six. I remember, too, how the chassis felt strangely disconnected on less-than-perfect roads, the front end bob-bob-bobbing like a speedboat skipping across a lake, while the rear end rumba’d like a Rio showgirl at Carnivale. But most of all, I remember being faintly disappointed. Don’t get me wrong: I wish I now owned that very car—a white Carrera 3.2, no wing, standard fenders, black-center Fuchs wheels. It remains, for me, the quintessential mid-’80s…

During a special-edition taping of Motor Trend’s “Wide Open Throttle” live at the New York auto show, our special guest, SRT boss Ralph Gilles, said SRT will soon have “an answer for the Z/28.” Sad to say, the conversation moved so quickly, we were unable to press Mr. Gilles for details. We surmise that Chrysler feels the big Challenger isn’t as competitive against the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro as it should be. One way to rectify that situation is a more hard-core, track-focused car. Remember that Ford had the Boss 302 (no longer on sale), and Chevrolet makes both the Camaro 1LE and now the new Z/28 — and it sounds like Gilles wants to make his upcoming car much rawer. We figure the Z/28-fighting Challenger will have a…

ANNIVERSARY GIFT The LP720-4 is a special edition of the Aventador with more power and unique bodywork. The 6.5-liter V-12 now makes 710 hp (720 PS, hence the name), a 20-hp gain. The new nose and tail are said to improve aerodynamic efficiency by 50 percent, high-speed stability, and engine cooling. Lamborghini says the car will hit 62 mph in 2.9 seconds, though the last Aventador we tested did it in 2.8. Only 100 copies of the LP720-4 50 Anniversario will be built.…

Could the Cherokee’s future include a diesel engine? It’s possible, but first the brand will be watching the sales performance of the Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel (June 2013). Jeep president Mike Manley tells us the diesel engine for the Cherokee would likely “be some variant of a European diesel that we have for this vehicle, probably a 2.2-liter [I-4] or something like that, rather than a V-6 as in the Grand Cherokee due to packaging” differences. If a 2014 Cherokee EcoDiesel model comes to the U.S., it isn’t likely to arrive for a couple years. A greater priority for Jeep might be the upcoming launch of a three-row Grand Wagoneer. Manley says there’s room above the Grand Cherokee Summit for the Grand Wagoneer. That model will share the Dodge Durango’s chassis,…

For decades, Americans missed out on the small and fun cars that defined Ford in Europe. But it seems the company now is sending them en masse. Hot on the heels of the Focus ST is the Fiesta ST, a rowdy, unflappable, and hilarious little car. It’s the ST formula distilled—and that is a very good thing. There are new dampers, stiffer springs, and the requisite drop in ride height. A torsion beam with greater roll stiffness helps induce tail-out antics, while new steering knuckles and revised camber give the wheel greater control. There are discs all around, and the bucket seats have thick bolsters. The turbo 1.6 makes either 180 or 197 hp and 177 or 214 lb-ft of torque depending on overboost, when the turbo breathes as much…

A few hours before the start of the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, China, Infiniti Motor Company president Johan de Nysschen sat down with us to explain why his company became the title sponsor of the Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team and how the relationship informs Infiniti’s new direction. MT: What does Infiniti’s increased stake in Formula 1 mean for us? JD: We need to see our involvement in Formula 1 from a global perspective. In the U.S., Infiniti is already well-entrenched, very well-known, with a big customer base, so it was less crucial that Formula 1 be the medium we use for the U.S. There are many followers, of course, of Formula 1 in the U.S., but it’s clearly not the mainstream. That for us was not…

INDUSTRY MAN George Ingram, on a Hawaiian vacation in this picture, is braving 40 degrees Fahrenheit with 30-mph winds whipping around Haleakala Volcano on the island of Maui. Fun tidbit about our reader: He’s a retired Chrysler man, with 21 years of service as a product planner. George writes, “My responsibilities over those years included the Dakota pickup, Ram Van/Wagon, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Minivan, Pacifica, Telematics and Audio Systems, and Mexican market vehicles. While a product planner, I subscribed to many of the automotive industry magazines and have always preferred Motor Trend over the others, as evidenced by my current subscription.” Good to know there’s someone out there who’s departed the auto industry and isn’t sick of us (yet).…

*That is until the arrival of the next-generation Porsche 911 Turbo S, which will have 560 hp and by all accounts be capable of interstellar travel. It doesn’t get much faster than these two. The Audi R8 and Nissan GT-R tear relentlessly at the pavement with four driven wheels and an uninterrupted supply of thrust courtesy of twin-clutch transmissions. Want a quicker all-wheel-drive car? Your options are the Lamborghini Aventador ($400,000) and Bugatti Veyron (add a million)*. The GT-R, then, with its 545 hp and $116,710 price, would seem a bargain. A Track Pack adds brake cooling ducts, retuned shocks, higher spring rates, and a rear seat delete, on top of the forged wheels borrowed from the Black Edition. New for the R8 this year is a twin-clutch transmission and…

Our primary problem with the TDI is we remember its predecessor. “My father always used to say that when you die, if you’ve got five real friends, you’ve had a great life.”—Lee Iacocca. We just missed the five-friend cut, so would having four real chums make us eligible for a very good life? Gathered before us is a collection of diesel-powered midsize SUVs that manages to strike an even keel between capable off-roader, luxurious long-hauler, and excellent all-weather family transporter/urban warrior. It’s quite the specific niche. Two newbies lead off: The Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel and Porsche Cayenne Diesel are the fresh faces whose base vehicles debuted in 2011 but didn't deliver a diesel engine for a few years. Then there’s the Volkswagen Touareg TDI, the pack’s longest-running contender. Its…

“Gonna have to fight for wheeltime in the Audi Allroad. MT staff is eyeing mix of comforts, SUV-like talents, and sporty moves.” @ArthurStAntoine EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 20/27/23 MPG BASE PRICE $40,495 PRICE AS TESTED $61,995 The appeal of an SUV is not lost on me. I’ve owned a bunch, including models from GMC, Land Rover, and Jeep. The “smallest” of them was my Wrangler, but even then I enjoyed sitting tall in the saddle, a reassuring bulk of truck-bred steel shouldering me through the morass of Los Angeles traffic. Not so pleasant, though, was the sight of a gas station. The thirsty fill-ups, the ultra-whirling dollar digits…oh, the humanity. But now into my care (and MT’s long-term fleet) comes an SUV of a different color—Audi’s A4-based 2013 Allroad…

“Driving up to the Central Coast for a weekend-long camping trip, the JX averaged 19.2 mpg.” Service life / 8 mo/15,999 mi Avg CO2 / 1.05 lb/mi Energy cons / 183 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $356.23 (2-oil change, inspection; 1-tire rotation, cabin-air filter, engine-air filter) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 18/23/20 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 18.4 MPG We finally racked up enough miles on our Infiniti JX35 to trigger the maintenance minder for its second oil change, oil filter, and tire rotation. Originally this notice popped up on the infotainment screen at 11,250 miles, but after careful examination of the service schedule, we decided to adjust the service intervals from Schedule 1 (more severe driving conditions) to Schedule 2 (less severe). This…

“Volvo’s real problem is getting the word out that the S60 is a credible alternative to A4, 3 Series, C-Class and ATS.” @MT_Loverman Service life / 8 mo/12,325 mi Avg CO2 / 0.89 lb/mi Energy cons / 158 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 21.8 MPG YOU LEARN a great deal about a car when it’s just you and your favorite road on a Sunday morning. The first thing to strike me is just how good the T5’s chassis is. Light, nimble, eager to leap into corners—“tossable” is the appropriate word. Then there are those lovely seats, which I think are the best in the segment. We’re talking better than…