Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2013 i MotorTrend

Developed “by enthusiasts for enthusiasts,” Mexico-based Vuhl has revealed the 05, a pure mid-engine, two-seat sports car set to go on sale in America in spring 2014. Vuhl says the 05 will sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 152 mph. Power comes from a 281-hp version of Ford’s 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, with 310 lb-ft of torque. In the 2013 Ford Focus ST, the turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 is good for 252 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. Did we mention the Vuhl is said to weigh just 1600 pounds? Only a six-speed manual transmission will be offered on the Vuhl 05, which has a quick ratio rack-and-pinion steering system and a body composed of RTM reinforced plastic (carbon fiber is available). The…

Fiat has exercised a third call option to buy an additional 3.3 percent of Chrysler from the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA), an independent retirement fund for UAW employees. Fiat estimates the acquisition will cost $254.7 million. Per the terms of Fiat’s takeover of Chrysler during the latter’s bankruptcy, Fiat is able to buy up to 20 percent of VEBA’s share in Chrysler every six months between 2012 and 2016, though never more than 16.6 percent at any one time. Fiat purchased 3.3 percent chunks of VEBA’s Chrysler shares in July 2012 and January 2013. Though Fiat is moving in a piecemeal fashion at the moment, the Italian automaker announced in September 2012 that it would like to buy out the rest of VEBA’s shares, which would bring Fiat’s stake…

Nissan has been the undisputed king of entry-level B-segment sales since 2008, and it has the Versa to thank for that. Keeping the sales success rolling is critical, so engineers and designers pulled out all the stops when crafting the Versa Note, the model’s renamed second-generation hatchback. Its exterior is one of the freshest for the segment. The trajectory of a squash player’s ball is said to have inspired the raked roofline. The slim silhouette, together with a low-drag floor, bigger front spoiler, a Nissan-first Active Grille Shutter (CVT-equipped models), taillight lips, and a bevy of air deflectors near the low-rolling-resistance tires and fuel tank, gives the Note a slippery 0.30 coefficient of drag. Size is slightly down for 2014. Length is cut by 6.1 inches, while wheelbase and width…

MOTOR TREND’S THE GOODS Ricoh GR $800 z Where To Buy: www.pentaximaging.com The GR packs DSLR functionality inside a small, lightweight, simply styled magnesium body. The 18.3mm F2.8 lens with large APS-C CMOS processor produces 16.2 megapixels of sharp, low-noise images, plus 1080p HD video. Tumi Tegra-Lite $595-$895 z Where To Buy: www.tumi.com Don’t let the chicness fool you. Each suitcase is made from Tegris (a rugged composite) and has a sturdy X-Brace 45 handle. They’re fully lined, spacious, and loaded with pockets. Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Phantom $4200 z Where To Buy: www.bellross.com It’s as low-key—yet still sophisticated and tough-looking—as a timepiece can get. The designers were inspired by stealth bombers. The 4mm stainless steel case and sapphire glass ensure this automatic watch is as capable as it…

Re: Mr. MacKenzie’s “The Immortal 911” Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate raw speed, technology, and advanced mechanical engineering, but I just don’t understand who buys a sports car, or a sportbike, that sacrifices involvement and sensation to get there? My point is perhaps nothing more than a statement of remorse that some iconic brands are reflecting a marketplace’s migration toward vehicles that provide more performance without requiring more skill of the driver. If I were a professional racer competing for the glory of Porsche and its technological sophistication, by all means give me an F1-style transmission. However, I happen to race for my own glory, which means I want a vehicle that reflects my skill. My Ducati Panigale S, indeed the best-looking bike I have ever seen, is not…

Jeep faces a peculiar challenge few other brands encounter: Zealots. No one cares if a Toyota RAV4 or Ford Escape can cross the Rubicon. In fact, most Ford and Toyota crossover owners wouldn’t know the difference between the Rubicon and a Rubik’s Cube. Jeeps, however, are judged off-road. Create a vehicle that can’t survive Hell’s Gate in Moab, Utah, and it’s a Jeep In Name Only. JINO is blasphemy in the Church of 4x4—just look at the persecution of the Compass. (It deserved some of it.) This is a tough standard, but the second coming of the Cherokee might sway more than a few true believers who bemoan the Fiat platform under any Jeep as a betrayal of epic proportion and a disservice to the Cherokee name. But, lo and…

KEY 5M 5-speed manual 6A 6-speed automatic 6-sp auto-cl man 6-speed auto-clutch manual 7-sp twin-cl auto 7-speed twin-clutch automatic BMS blind-spot monitoring system rear cam rearview camera FWD front-wheel drive AWD all-wheel drive RWD rear-wheel drive S standard O optional N/A not available IntelliChoice five-year retained value data may apply to common vehicle variants, not an average of all model variants. ALL-NEW New inside and out, with possible powertrain changes MAJOR Mid-cycle change updates, minor powertrain changes MINOR Special editions, significant new features UNCHANGED Minor trim/package changes, new colors Acura ILX Base Price $27,795-$30,095* Body Type Sedan UNCHANGED The ILX adds new standard features including heated leather front seats, a multi-angle rearview camera, and 17-inch alloys. All else remains the same, including its styling; 150-hp 2.0-liter engine; and punchier 201-hp…

“Softer than the last-gen? Maybe. But we’re going to beat the hell out of this thing over the next 365 days.”@MT_Shaffer EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 19/25/21 MPG BASE PRICE $41,595 PRICE AS TESTED $44,395 There was plenty of “Mallfinder” cackling about the Pathfinder during the off-road evaluation section of our Sport/Utility of the Year testing last August. Nissan made the unpopular-among-enthusiasts and hugely decision to leave the truck-based body-on-frame configuration behind for the softer Altima-based unibody setup, making the 2013 Pathfinder a polarizing update to one of the automaker’s most important nameplates. Nevertheless, our humble photo department was lacking in spacious workhorses to haul our gear from shoot to shoot, so we invited a Pathfinder to spend a year with us traversing the Golden State on-and off-road. While the…

“Looking at our Altima’s low-positioned center stack screen makes me long for the higher-placed screen of a 2005 Altima or 2013 Accord.” Service life/ 9 mo/17,314 mi Avg CO2 / 0.70 lb/mi Energy cons / 121 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $204.92 (2-oil change, inspection, rotate tires; 1-cabin-air filter, engine-air filter) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 27/38/31 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 27.9 MPG The 2013 Nissan Altima represented a full redesign, but you don’t really sense the car’s newness when taking a look at the center stack. Sure, as I described in a previous update, the instrument cluster is great. Why else would Nissan use the same system with minor tweaks on the $42,000 Infiniti JX luxury crossover? I can’t say that I…

“Compact in exterior dimensions, light on its feet, and easy to see out of, this Rio is one of the easiest cars in the world to drive.” Service life/ 9 mo/21,862 mi Avg CO2 / 0.56 lb/mi Energy cons / 98 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $74.66 (2-oil change, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 29/37/32 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 34.4 MPG Outside of my neighborhood, I need to steer the car from a T intersection onto a road posted at 45 mph, though the locals appear to set their own speed limits. If the flow of traffic calls for a quick burst into my lane, I have to remember there are brief flat spots in the powerband down low (below 3000 rpm),…

Generating a multitude of smiles at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Jaguar Project 7 offers an interpretation of what an F-Type racer could look like. Inspired by the D-Type race car and sketched by Jaguar designer Cesar Pieri, the Project 7 was built in just four months. The name Project 7 refers to the seven overall victories Jaguar has won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, three of which were won with the D-Type. Channeling the D-Type, it features a cut-down windshield and a fairing behind the driver’s seat ahead of a large rear wing, and there’s no convertible top. The car is even painted in a blue-and-white livery borrowed from the 1956/1957 D-Type racers. The front fascia features larger air intakes, a larger front splitter, and…

A Volkswagen source recently let it slip that it’s seriously thinking about filling a perceived gap between the Passat and Phaeton. Your initial reaction might be to scratch your head and ask why, but the more you know about Volkswagen’s modular toolkits, the more sense such a car makes. Going forward, almost every car the Volkswagen group decides to build will be based on four highly scalable and configurable platforms: MQB (front drive, transverse engine), MLB (front drive, longitudinal engine), MSB (rear drive, longitudinal engine), and NSF, which is short for New Small Family, aka emerging-market cars. Certain cars, such as the Bugatti Veyron and the Porsche 911, will remain on their own unique platforms. The overwhelming majority of VW’s cars are built on either MQB or MLB, and those…

The new S-Class gets the preposterously named Magic Ride Control to go along with goofy Magic Vision Control and silly Magic Sky Control, but not for long. Seems the VP who insisted on prefixing new Benz tech with the word “magic” has left Stuttgart. As in he retired from Daimler. Word on the street is that “Magic” as a marketing device was hugely unpopular at Mercedes, but that one particular powerful gentleman insisted on using it. And now he’s gone. No word on any sort of a rename, yet, though we hope Magic Vision Control gets busted down to Windshield Wipers.…

J Mays knows all about the product renaissance happening in the shadow of the Blue Oval. He’s helped lead it. And now that Mays has returned to the mother ship in Dearborn, Michigan, after spending years in his inspirational homeland of Europe, he must continue to push Ford’s design further. Successes, in particular with Ford’s Fusion, Fiesta, and Focus, are just the beginning, Mays told Motor Trend recently. There is always something else around the bend, such as the 2015 Ford Mustang that arrives next year, marking the ponycar’s 50th anniversary. “I can’t speak about the Mustang in particular—it is just too early,” Mays said. He did confirm that the new Mustang is on track. Ultimately, more than 8 million previous Mustang owners will judge how well he and his…

You know the old adage: If you want something done right, do it yourself. Sure, where small automakers are concerned that upends the economies-of-scale paradigm taught in biz school, but if this new hot hatch sells and earns money as well as it drives, Mazda may just prove it’s making DIY work. Here’s Mazda’s argument against the conventional wisdom: By designing the third-generation Mazda3 on a clean sheet, with no “economies of scale” parts-bin pieces, every inch of the car could be genetically engineered to express Mazda’s zoomy personality, with no recessive “Volvo for Life” or “One Ford” genes to water things down. And engineering the whole car around Mazda’s full suite of Skyactiv technologies compounds the efficiency of each. To wit: A new firewall made room for an exhaust…

Mechanically, the Q50 is similar to the G37 sedan it replaces. It’s built with a bit more high-strength steel and the rear suspension has been redesigned, but the drivetrain and unibody are largely the same. The biggest difference between the two cars is the amount of technology added on to move the Q50 into the future. The G Series has been the bread and butter of Infiniti’s lineup. Like the 3 Series and C-Class, it represents not only the volume-seller, but the most popular entry into the brand as well. With Infiniti’s new naming structure, everything’s a Q-something; the hope is the Q50 will produce even bigger numbers and attract younger customers. Our Q50S came from Infiniti fitted with optional Direct Adaptive Steering, a full steer-by-wire system. Before you write…

“‘Big White’ is always nice to come back to after spending time in something else.”@kougarov Service life/ 7 mo/14,410 mi Avg CO2 / 0.91 lb/mi Energy cons / 157 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $93.22 (oil change, rotate tires, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 19/31/23 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 21.4 MPG With nearly 15,000 miles on the odometer, our 2013 Chrysler 300S has been thoroughly broken in and every potential annoyance has been discovered. I’ve grown used to all but one of them, and that lone exception is the shifter. The vaguely T-shaped unit has an incessant tendency to go either too far or not far enough to select the desired gear, typically ending up in N instead of D, and…

“The loud pops and bangs from the exhaust are downright comical, and match the Mini’s constantly amusing character.”@carloslago Service life/ 5 mo/8779 mi Avg CO2 / 0.67 lb/mi Energy cons / 116 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: 26/35/29 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 29.0 MPG I’ve settled into a quick and easy startup ritual in the Coupe. It involves hitting the Sport and traction control buttons between the shifter and dash simultaneously with an upside-down peace sign. Now the Coupe is in Dynamic Traction Control, which lessens stability control intervention but still limits wheelspin. This setting is crucial because when the traction system is on, applying throttle mid-corner means annoying intervention, or…

“The rear bumper guard is a must-have accessory; the trunk’s one-touch seat-folding handles are a godsend. Why doesn’t every CUV have them?”@Nate_Martinez Service life/13 mo/26,961 mi Avg CO2/0.73 lb/mi Energy cons/128 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems/None Maintenance cost/$202.20 (2-oil change, inspection; 1-tire rotation) Normal-wear cost/$0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 26/32/29 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 26.4 MPG We recently wrapped up a comparo that pitted very fuel-efficient compact sedans against one another. It included driving hundreds of miles in a single day. While racking up mileage in the sedans, I was reminded how some high-efficiency powertrains aren’t the smoothest operators. The general lack of composure had me longing to be back in the CX-5’s driver’s seat, mostly so my neck wouldn’t be sore. Although anemic, Blue’s naturally aspirated four-cylinder regularly approaches its…

“I can’t believe how quickly I got used to the power of this EcoBoost. I get into other vehicles and they feel slow in comparison.”@TruckTrendAH Service life / 12 mo/28,155 mi Base Price/ $41,760 Options / Sony Navigation Radio ($2470), Lariat Chrome/Plus Packages ($1445), Power Moonroof ($995), Leather Bucket Seat w/Console ($975), Ecoboost 3.5L V-6 ($895), 3.55 Electronic Lock Axle ($470), Tailgate Step ($375), Drop-In Bed Liner ($350) Price as tested/ $49,735 Avg fuel economy/ 14.4 mpg Problem areas/ None Maintenance cost / $208.35 (3-oil change, tire rotation, inspection; 1-engine-air filter) Normal-wear cost / $0 3-year residual value*/ $39,200 Recalls/ Passenger occupant sensor, reverse indicator EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 15/21/17 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 14.4 MPG *Automotive Lease Guide Lots of interesting things happened between the time the F-150…

After shifting gears and conquering the dirt with the SVT Raptor, Ford is giving the street truck market another go. Ford calls it the F-150 Tremor, and it’s neither a Lightning nor an SVT. What it is is a clever juggling of existing options to create a new model you couldn’t otherwise order no matter how clever you got with the build sheet. Just check the specs: single cab, short bed, 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6, 4.10 rearend, and FX trim level. Despite the unique combination, it’s still a solid business case for Ford. All the parts, from the drivetrain to the flow-through center console to the standard FX Appearance Package, come straight out of the existing parts bin. The only unique element appears to be the hockey-stick stripes. It may…

America’s first modern clean-diesel light-duty pickup truck, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, will produce 240 hp at 3600 rpm and a hefty 420 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm. The 3.0-liter turbocharged DOHC 24-valve V-6 features a Honeywell turbo huffing up 24.6 psi of boost, and is built by VM Motori in Ferrara, Italy. Fuel-economy figures have not yet been released, but we are assured they will rank comfortably ahead of all other light-duty pickups, the current benchmark for which is the Ram 1500 HFE at 18/25. The Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel, in which this engine first debuted, carries EPA city/highway ratings of 22/30 mpg for RWD, 21/28 with 4WD. What we do have is a tow rating. Ram says a RWD, regular cab truck with the eight-foot bed will tow up…

Volkswagen is preparing several new crossovers for sale in the U.S., ranging from a seven-seat American-built model down to a little Mini Countryman competitor. The seven-seat crossover was previewed by the CrossBlue concept at the Detroit auto show this year. At 197 inches long on a 117-inch wheelbase, and with a space-efficient transverse engine, the new vehicle is designed to provide more size and space at lower prices than the Touareg. Because the vehicle is built on VW’s MQB platform, it can accept a wide range of powertrains, from V-6 AWD to diesel and hybrid. Important for the U.S. will be a narrow-angle V-6. VW originally said that the V-6 wouldn’t fit in the MQB platform, but when we asked about the new turbo versions of the V-6 that have…

Instagram Safari We go on an Instagram photo safari this month, starting with Motor Trend’s account and choosing one Instagrammer whose images we find particularly compelling. We then asked that person to recommend someone to follow and why. Six rounds, we end up with Turkish fighter jets. @MotorTrend “We picked @lohdown because, well, he is the boss and he kicked off Motor Trend’s Instagram account. He doesn't just post car pics, but lots of interesting eats, activities, and #hashtags.” Michel Neven @ambiorixxx “I chose Mehmet Sert (@sert_mehmet) because he publishes unbelievable impressive pictures of Turkish nature—National Geographic-level.” Mehmet Sert @sert_mehmet “My favorite ig account is Sinan Vanli (@svanli). I like his perspective and the way he contrasts the colors. And he is a motorcycle rider.” Ed Loh @lohdown “@petrolgirl…

Going Big How is the Chrysler 300 “cramped” inside while having larger interior space dimensions than virtually every other vehicle in the test (“Full On,” July 2013)? Are your conclusions objective, or skewed to make a more readable article? I doubt anyone who has been inside the car would give much credit to your conclusions. FREDERIC MCCOYPleasant Ridge, Michigan These cars are all spacious, and dimensionally, the 300’s rear seat is largest (Impala is larger in front, and overall). But the Chrysler’s high, intrusive tunnel has a cramping effect not accounted for in the numbers, and it makes that middle seat the least comfortable by a fair margin.—Ed. I just finished your article, “The Big Test,” July 2013. First thing I noticed was that you used varying lines of vehicles…i.e.,…

The 4 Series coupe is what BMW calls the former 3 Series coupe. It’ll probably take some time before its name can leave your tongue without hesitation, but the new coupe is faster and lighter than the one before it, while benefiting from the strengths of the 3 Series sedan on which it’s based. Why the name change? We’ll get to that, but first, the car itself. Like its predecessor, the 4 shares most of the sedan’s construction—powertrains (a turbo 2.0-liter I-4 and likewise compressed 3.0-liter I-6), wheelbase, and interior layout—and it’s available in rear-or all-wheel drive. Transmission choices are a six-speed manual or the 3’s optional sport eight-speed automatic with its more aggressive calibration and steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. Three trims are available: Luxury, Sport, and M Sport. The…

The rumble of the new 2014 Range Rover Sport is so powerful, it can make sheep move out of the way. That’s a handy attribute if you’re driving through the Welsh countryside, where sheep outnumber people three to one. It’s also where I got my first chance to sit behind the wheel of this Rover. Even on the wrong side of the road, the 2014 Range Rover Sport feels right. Redesigned from the frame up, Land Rover has turned its sportiest SUV into the preferred family-hauler for those who like to show they demand the very best in SUVs. The Range Rover Sport still has its iconic and stately looks. The sharp angles and blocky sections from the previous generation have been rounded out and correctly proportioned. The old design…

Brought To You By: Anyone paying attention for the last several years has probably noticed that early January has become exceptionally busy for the automotive community. Similar technologies revealed at the Detroit Auto Show were shown off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Between the automotive aftermarket, phone companies and what’s offered by automakers themselves, the car has practically become a consumer electronics device. Whether you’re in the market for a new ride, or just updating what you have, you now have countless choices for staying connected on the road. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN AND WHERE IT MAY END UP, EMBEDDED TELEMATICS The connected car movement kicked off with the introduction of General Motors’ OnStar system in the mid-1990s. These first embedded telematics systems feature embedded cellular radios…

“Finally, a four-cylinder Accord sedan with legitimate sportiness. Can you say 0.88 g on all-season tires?!”@RonKiino EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 26/35/29 MPG BASE PRICE $24,180 PRICE AS TESTED $24,980 After several months with our long-term Volkswagen GLI, which I appreciated for its high fun-to-drive factor, I realized hauling two small kids (and all their crap) meant I needed to upsize. Enter the bigger, but not quite as sporty, Honda Accord Sport. With a dual exhaust, a rear decklid spoiler, 18-inch alloys, a CVT auto with paddle shifters, and a 189-hp I-4 that revs to nearly 7000 rpm, the Accord Sport lives up to its name. That direct injection 2.4-liter, by the way, makes an extra 5 hp and 1 lb-ft of torque compared with non-Sport I-4/CVT Accords, thanks to…

“Like living with a supermodel, the relationship with the Gran Coupe is proving a needy one. It needs gas frequently and, already, oil.”@Angus_MacK Service life/5 mo/4631 mi Avg CO2/1.20 lb/mi Energy cons/209 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems/None Maintenance cost/$0 Normal-wear cost/$0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 17/25/19 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 16.1 MPG I still steal a glance at the Gran Coupe’s low-slung profile every time I walk away from it, but that glamour comes with a price. Like gas. Though I averaged 24.1 mpg on one 260-mile leg of a trip to Phoenix, the 4417-pound curb weight takes its toll in in city driving. I’ve seen as low as 9.9 mpg. The 18.5-gallon tank is frustratingly slow to fill. The low oil level warning flashed on at 2600 miles, and…

“Even with two passengers and lots of gear, the 163 lb-ft of torque was ample for on-ramp merges with highway traffic.”@BrianNVance Service life/ 9 mo/17,173 mi Avg CO2 / 0.73 lb/mi Energy cons / 127 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 26.6 MPG On a trip to southern Utah, photo colleague Mike Shaffer insisted on driving for the entire three-day journey, allowing me to enjoy the comfort of the CR-V from the passenger seat. The starboard side offers me my own climate control, a two-mode seat heater, and a swing-down armrest. Staying at speed at the higher altitude meant keeping the CR-V transmission in lower gears and revving the…