Innehållsförteckning för December 2013 från MotorTrend

It sounds as if the Bugatti Galibier is DOA. When first announced under former boss Franz-Joseph Paefgen, the ultra-lux ultra-limo was slated to have an 800-hp, twin-supercharged version of the mighty Veyron’s quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16. When Paefgen retired and Wolfgang Dürheimer took over, the latter declared that 3-figure power ratings were for other cars. A massive rethink of the Galibier occurred and purported power was back up to Veyron levels, among other improvements. Enter the third CEO of Bugatti in three years: Wolfgang Schreiber, the engineer who made the Veyron project work in the first place. Since then, Bugatti has built slightly more than 300 hardtops, including the 1200-hp Supersport, and has built 90 of the expected 150 open-roof Grand Sports and 1200-hp Vitesses, the last 60 of which will…

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. No, I’m not talking about the Jacobin Reign of Terror, or anything to do with Charles Dickens. I’m talking about how the Motor Trend staff felt after wrapping up our 2013 Best Driver’s Car competition (powered by Peanut M&Ms). For most of us, it’s our most anticipated event of the year. Really and truly the best of times for certified performance-junkie fast-car types. The Porsche 911 had just pulled off the first ever back-to-back win in BDC history. That means that, in two competitions just 12 months apart, Porsche’s rear-engine magic ride had taken on and defeated 19 other competitors. In fact, the last car any of us had driven that would honestly give the 911 a run…

We screamed—there was some crying—we argued, and then we took a vote. What makes an SUV? Ask 10 people and you’ll get 11 answers, as no doubt some will change their minds midway through the explanation. There are of course hardcore purists/Luddites who scoff at anything without solid axles, a transfer case, manual locking hubs, leaf springs, and a windshield that folds flat. On the other end of the spectrum you've got the people who view the Mini Paceman as the ultimate expression of vehicular sport and utility. (You’ll have to keep reading to find out what we think of it.) The takeaway should be that today, the SUV marketplace is larger and more diverse than ever. With that in mind, nine judges headed up to the peaceful wilds of…

We Like: The edgy styling is replaced with a more mature look. We Don’t Like: Poor ride quality, weak engines, new but already dated interior. It’s no secret Mitsubishi has been struggling, but with its all-new Outlander, the automaker hopes to turn the tide. Nothing was left untouched, inside or out, and Mitsubishi tossed the book at its latest SUV, packing in every bit of tech it possibly could. For our competition, Mitsubishi sent a 2.4-liter AWD and a 3.0-liter AWD, both prey loaded. We did ask for one FWD, but none was available. The most notable change to the Outlander is the exterior styling. Gone is the face only a mother could love, replaced by a much more mature, conventional nose treatment. Some editors even remarked that the Outlander…

We Like: Value proposition, V-6 refinement, quiet cabin. We Don’t Like: Stubborn to downshift; midlevel dynamics. Wait, didn’t the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe participate in the 2013 competition? Well, yes and no. Last year’s vehicle was the two-row, five-passenger Santa Fe Sport, built in West Point, Georgia, and offering a 6A with your choice of two I-4s: a 2.4-liter making 190 hp and a 2.0-liter turbo dishing out 264 hp. The Santa Fe you see here, while bearing a striking resemblance to its smaller Sport sibling, replaces the slow-selling Veracruz and thus comes as a three-row, six- or seven-passenger crossover that hails from Ulsan, Korea, and uses a 3.3-liter, 290-hp DI V-6 paired to a 6A. So, one pod, two very distinct peas. One claim they do have in common…

As it goes wide open, the 4C’s sport exhaust makes a devil’s trombone of a noise. Do you even care? If I told you the Alfa Romeo 4C drives like a 1983 Dodge Diplomat on bald tires, would it really make a difference? Girls this gorgeous can be Miss Teen South Carolina dumb, because just look at her! I have teeth marks on my fist after a full day spent gawking. If the Fiat group had decided to slap “Dino 246” on the rump next to a yellow shield filled with a prancing horse, car enthusiasts the world over would still be nodding their collective heads yes. She’s a total dreamboat, my friends—I even dig the headlights. Before I get to how the 4C drives, let me tell you what…

“Pay attention and plan ahead, and you absolutely can’t run out of gas (electricity).” @MT_Reynolds Service life / 3 mo/8178 mi Avg CO2 / N/A Energy cons / 39 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 88/90/89 MPG-E AVERAGE FUEL ECON 86.1 MPG-E On my first long-distance trip (to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca), I stopped at the Supercharger station in Harris Ranch along Interstate 5 and plugged in. After a few minutes, another Model S arrived, and its driver and I got to talking. “Where you heading?” he asked. “Monterey,” I replied. “I can make it there, but I decided to charge again at the Gilroy station first.” My new friend responded, “I’m heading to Gilroy, too, then…

“Despite the frustrations associated with run-flat tires, the Coupe still manages to makes me smile every time I drive it.” @carloslago Service life / 7 mo/11,421 mi Avg CO2 / 0.68 lb/mi Energy cons / 119 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 28.4 MPG After visiting family in Santa Barbara, I fired up the Coupe and found the TPMS light illuminated. Uh-oh. Fortunately, the center infotainment display shows you what tire is low and gives you driving guidelines: max speed of 50 mph and only for a “limited” distance. Worse, I had already ordered new rubber from Tire Rack, as the current set was showing wear—the victim of…

“The S60’s light-hearted Scandinavian take on luxury is a welcome change of pace from the thick, Germanic approach. More like this, please.” Service Life 12 mo/17,977 mi Base Price $34,645 Options Premier Package ($2200; moonroof, leather, power passenger seat); Climate Package ($700; heated front seats, interior air-quality system); trunk spoiler ($375); 17-in wheels ($250) Price as Tested $38,170 Avg Econ/C02 22.2 mpg/0.87 lb/mi Problem Areas None Maintenance Cost $0 Normal-Wear Cost $0 3-Year Residual Value* $19,085 Recalls None *Automotive Lease Guide EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 20/29/23 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 22.2 MPG That was a year? I still remember picking up our long-term Volvo S60 T5 AWD at the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Deer Valley, Utah, like it was yesterday. Volvo decided to throw a little late July shindig…

The Frankfurt auto show is one of the biggest in the world, and automakers spare no expense as they fight for the media and the public’s attention. We’ve collected five of the hottest and most outrageous show-stopping concepts from this year’s event, each with a completely different take on the future of the automobile. Volvo Concept Coupe “Show-stopper” and “Volvo” don’t typically appear in the same sentence, but the Concept Coupe certainly did the deed. Inspired by the classic Volvo P1800, the Concept Coupe is a showcase of future Volvo technology and styling. It’s powered by an all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels and an electric motor driving the rear wheels, a setup coming in future Volvos. Combined, the engine and motor produce 400 hp…

The A3 e-tron is the first in a line of new plug-in hybrid vehicles from VW Group. In a media handout at the recent Frankfurt auto show, Volkswagen Group laid out its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) rollout plan for the next several years across its three highest-profile brands, Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche. The chart calls for seven specific new vehicles set to launch beginning in 2014: four Audis, two Volkswagens, and one Porsche. It doesn’t give exact dates or an order by which they’ll be launched, but some of that is relatively easy to predict based on current product cycles. The company with the most alternative powertrains on the docket is the one that, until recently, had canceled its hybrid and EV development. Audi’s not only back in the game, but…

While the current-generation Passat has achieved its fair share of awards and recognition (including being named our 2012 Car of the Year), many had one bit of criticism of the model: the base version’s 2.5-liter, inline five-cylinder engine. Even with claims of a hereditary connection to the heady V-10 found in the Lambor-ghini Gallardo, the little I-5 was often derided for its lack of low-end grunt and moaning engine note. As the Rodney Dangerfield of modern powertrains, it just couldn’t get no respect. That 2.5 carries on halfway through the 2014 model year as the Passat’s entry-level engine, featured alongside the new 1.8-liter turbocharged I-4 that will ultimately succeed it. Essentially a destroked version of VW’s new EA888 2.0-liter turbo, the new 1.8T makes the same horsepower as the soon-to-be-discontinued…

Volvo captured everyone’s attention with the Coupe Concept at the Frankfurt auto show. We stopped by to ask about it, and learn more about some of Volvo’s future plans now that it’s back on track. MT: The Volvo Concept Coupe: It’s purely a concept, no? LK: Well, actually, no…yes and no. It’s purely based on SPA, our Scalable Platform Architecture. We wanted to put a car on it and see how it really works, and it works, which is always good. It has the proportions, it has the engine technology in it which we are going to use, four-cylinder turbo engines combined with electrification. There are a number of design elements which we will see back, which we will show for the future. So it is, let’s say, a reflection…

Think of the $182,050 911 Turbo S as a Carrera 4S with an additional 160 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque (228 more with overboost), courtesy of two variable-geometry turbos. Resulting acceleration is, as you might suspect, thrilling: A quarter-mile run should be comfortably in the 10s, a rare space for production vehicles. But as incredible as that might be, the engine’s tractability is more impressive. Turbo lag isn’t noticeable, and the engine pulls strongly in apparent disregard of rpm and gear selection. Even with this newfound forward thrust, the wheel and tire sizes curiously don’t change from the 4S—nor do the tires—but the Turbo’s width and rear track grow 2.8 inches and 1.5 inches wider, respectively. A rear steering system cuts 1.6 feet off the 4S’ turning circle by…

We Like: Landed-gentry power, prestige, ambiance. We Don’t Like: Surging power delivery, cockney-proletarian infotainment system, hobby-horse ride. That these racy-looking, supercharged fun machines didn’t advance to the finals speaks volumes about our collective diligence and restraint, as the roads that are most fun to rip through in a 510-hp, fat-tired thrill-mobile are found on the longer finalist loop. Those hoping to round off the shoulders of the Rovers’ Michelins were quick to highlight its many virtues in our various categories: fetchingly styled all-aluminum bodywork—design points; eight-speed transmission, active anti-roll bars (standard on V-8s, part of a $1300 Extra Duty package on our V-6), and standard air suspension—engineering excellence points; an optional third-row seat, Terrain Response 2, and all that Born Free/Daktari heritage—intended-function points. A greater number of dissenters found too…

Not too long ago, if you walked into a BMW showroom and wanted an entry-level family car, your choice was a 3 Series, either sedan or wagon. Today, you have your choice of a sedan, a wagon, and now the GT. But that’s not all. You also have the X3, and, if you can wait, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is coming. Every car listed above is based on the same platform and components, just organized in a slightly different way. The 328i GT xDrive is powered by almost the same 241-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 found in the 328 sedan and wagon, as well as the 428, X1, X3, 528, and even the Z4. The only available transmission in the GT is an eight-speed automatic connected to an all-wheel-drive system.…

“The Forester feels and looks like I can take it anywhere, any time. Challenge accepted.” @nate_martinez EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 24/32/27 MPG BASE PRICE $30,820 PRICE AS TESTED $33,320 Two years, two CUVs. Yes, I might have a thing for chaperoning our long term small ’utes. Well, the time has come to take on another, and I couldn’t be more enthused. Ideas and questions flowed from my brain to my notebook as soon as the key to our 2014 Forester hit my desk. It’s a rugged, all-wheel-drive CUV, so where should I take it? What cool pictures can I snap? Will I like it? I imagine some perfectly framed shots: a profile view atop a rocky hill, easy-peasy with 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Muddied Nikes on the…

“Just ran the numbers. Payments on our $89,000 long-term GL would be the same as my rent. In fairness, it is as big as my apartment.”@MT_MikeFebbo Service life / 9 mo/22,273 mi Avg CO2 / 1.05 lb/mi Energy cons / 160 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $899.72 (2-oil change, AdBlue top-off; 1-change brake fluid) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 19/26/22 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 21.1 MPG Another family road trip is in the books. This time, it was 1600 miles for a wedding in the Reno area with my wife and toddler. Since much of the family flew in, I became one of the dedicated chauffeurs and our GL the limo of choice. The three rows offer adequate comfort for the seven…

In Sport, it’s still among the best-handling sedans in its segment and very rewarding to drive. “The 328’s steering is great, except when the entire steering rack fails and has to be replaced. Thank goodness for the warranty.”@MT_Evans Service Life 14 mo/23,693 mi Base Price $35,795 Options Premium ($3600: Power front seats, moonroof, keyless entry); Technology ($2550: navigation, head-up display); Sport ($2500 18-inch wheels, sport suspension, sport seats) Price as Tested $50,845 Avg Econ/CO2 25.7 mpg / 0.75 lb/mi Problem Areas Power steering, parking sensors Maintenance Cost $0 Normal-Wear Cost $1389.90 (New Pirelli Cinturato P7 RFT Tires) 3-Year Residual Value* $28,982 Recalls None *Automotive Lease Guide EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 23/34/27 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 25.7 MPG Though we’ve been charged with bias toward BMW products, a review…

Steve Saleen is back in charge of the company bearing his name after a rocky period during which he left, started SMS Supercars, then repurchased his old company out of bankruptcy and merged the two. Now that things have settled down, he’s focusing on the essentials: building a successor to the iconic S7. Looking to produce an American alternative to cars such as the McLaren 12C, Ferrari 458 Italia, and Lamborghini Gallardo, Saleen says the car will launch within two years. To get it done that quickly, the new car will be based on the stillborn S5S Raptor concept car originally shown in 2008, but heavily updated and upgraded. The S5S Raptor concept was envisioned as a smaller, less expensive successor to the S7. It featured a mid-mounted and supercharged…

After the reveal of the Jaguar C-X17 crossover concept, we sat down with Jaguar design director Ian Callum and Jaguar Land Rover Vehicle Line director Kevin Stride. On the day Jaguar showed the concept to the press, and then publicly was coy about whether it will make production, Jaguar made a far more significant announcement. The company will launch a new all-aluminum BMW 3 Series rival two years from now. To be exact, Jaguar said the all-new aluminum architecture under the C-X17 will be going into production in a sport sedan to be launched in 2015. And the company isn’t being modest about its ambitions. “It will be the most efficient, advanced, and refined premium sports sedan ever seen in the C/D segment,” the company said in a press release.…

The newly refreshed X5 doesn’t look remarkably different from the outgoing X5. The revamped lines of the three-row sports-activity vehicle—BMW’s term—have softened a bit, and it looks smaller. The current design language has taken some of the aggression out of the car, while somehow managing to make it look more expensive. The interior has garnered more attention than the exterior. The dash has been moved forward and slanted away from occupants, allowing for a more airy cabin. The dash now sits over your shoes rather than your knees. The second and third rows feel tight, but keep in mind the X5 is 10 inches shorter than a Mercedes-Benz GL. The materials and workmanship are top-notch. While its four-ringed rival is going with more natural wood finishes, BMW planks are as…

MOTOR TREND'S THE GOODS @MT_TheGoods Lego Technic Grand Prix Racer $130 • Where to Buy: www.lego.com At 2 feet long and made of 1141 pieces, this car isn't a puny toy. Put it together to create a V-8 engine, independent suspension, and an adjustable wing. It can also be rebuilt into a race truck. Sonos Play: 5 $400 • Where to Buy: www.sonos.com You’ll get big sound from this small package. Its five speakers—two mid-range drivers, two tweeters, and one subwoofer—are powered by five amplifiers. Use Sonos’ app to control everything easily. Electric FW02 PU $350 • Where to Buy: www.electricvisual.com Electric’s first watch doesn’t mess around. The six-hand Japanese quartz chronograph has a 44mm stainless steel case, rotating bezel, and a rubber band with stainless-steel insert. Sony…

Do you obsess over how much energy your car’s engine creates, and worry about the fuel being destroyed for your driving pleasure? (Why are you reading this magazine?) Actually, one of this universe’s immutable laws is that energy can never be created or destroyed. But it can change forms. Most cars lug around a tankful of potential energy disguised as gasoline (or diesel, E85, propane, etc.). Fed into a typical engine, the fuel is converted to a lot of waste heat and vibration energies, during what’s conceded in the auto biz as a hopelessly energy-inefficient but necessary-evil process. Oh, and the process produces some usable mechanical energy, too. The gas engine is the people’s choice in the U.S., but it only goes so far in the grand scheme of weaning…

We Like: Potent powertrains, sporty, carlike ride. We Don’t Like: Limited interior room, low value proposition. If there’s one thing BMW’s X1 isn’t, it’s late to the party. While the Range Rover Evoque, our SUOTY winner two years ago, got the ball rolling in the compact luxury sport/ute segment, the BMW X1 was built to go head to head with competition that hasn’t yet arrived in the U.S. (Audi Q3) or anywhere for that maer (Porsche Macan, Mercedes GLC). Not only that, the base X1 is now the cheapest BMW sold Stateside, making it the current entry point to a brand that prides itself on driving fun. Good thing the X1 has just that in spades. Per Reynolds: “This reminds us that, when BMW doesn’t have the budget to spend…

We Like: Mind-blowing performance, good looks. We Don’t Like: Of five versions of the Q5 available, we could only sample this one. The Q5 has been one of Audi’s best-selling vehicles since its introduction in 2008. For 2014, the Q5 got a full makeover, but its interior and exterior changes are minimal and subtle. The big news is all the engine variants Audi is offering: the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque; the 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder with 240 hp and 428 lb-ft; the 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 with 272 hp and 295 lb-ft; a hybrid 2.0-liter four with 245 hp and 354 lb-ft; and the 3.0-liter supercharged S with 354 hp and 347 lb-ft. We expected a lot from the SQ5, which was the only variant…

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“What sports car feature does my new long-term Mazda6 have that’s unavailable on the Nissan GT-R? A six-speed manual transmission. #booya”@EdLoh EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 25/37/29 MPG BASE PRICE $24,240 PRICE AS TESTED $24,540 We’re doing something a bit different with our long-term loan of the Mazda6. Mazda North America Operations agreed to give us a two-fer for the year: Six months in mid-grade Mazda6i Touring, equipped with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder and six-speed manual trans. After six months, we’ll swap into the Mazda6 Grand Touring, with the same engine, a six-speed automatic, and loads more kit. Our 6i Touring rang up at $24,540, of which $300 was the gorgeous Soul Red paint job. Given the level of standard kit, it feels like a pretty fantastic deal. Sharp-looking 19-inch…

“I can’t say enough positive things about the Chrysler 300’s adaptive cruise control. If only it worked in sub-25 mph traffic.” @kougarov Service life / 9 mo/17,664 mi Avg CO2 / 0.92 lb/mi Energy cons / 160 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 21.1 MPG The Bluetooth component of the 300’s Uconnect 8.4N system is well-thought-out. Pairing a phone and managing the phone list is easy and intuitive—not nearly as common among automakers as it should be. There are separate device lists for phone and audio, which is nice, but the system can trip you up if you try to connect to a non-favorite device and connect…

“The TPM light was a reminder that a tire valve stem on the left rear was in need of attention. Once that was fixed, the light quickly shut off.”@BrianNVance Service life / 11 mo/22,302 mi Avg CO2 / 0.73 lb/mi Energy cons / 128 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $147.35 (2-oil change, tire rotation, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 23/31/26 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 26.4 MPG Any given day of the week has me expecting lots of versatility from the CR-V. The default expectation is for it to be a jack-of-all-trades that can morph its abilities to whatever task is at hand. Many of these chores are within the realm of what most SUVs owners would expect of their vehicles, but…