Innehållsförteckning för February 2014 från MotorTrend

Retro has translated into big bucks for Chrysler, so there’s no blaming the company for offering new vehicles inspired by the past. Case in point: the Challenger R/T Shaker, an update to an already retro vehicle. Those who know their musclecars will no doubt remember the 1970 Challenger’s Shaker Hood option, which mounted a ram air scoop atop the carburetor that poked through the hood and shook with the engine. While Shaker kits for the modern Challenger have popped up in the aftermarket, Dodge has now made it a factory feature. Mounted on the R/T model’s 5.7-liter V-8, the Shaker-badged scoop is functional, routing air into a Mopar cold-air intake airbox where a high-performance conical air filter resides. There’s no ram-air effect, and Dodge isn’t claiming any increase in output…

It has the presence of a soldier at the ready—muscular, lean, ready to attack. Move closer and it remains as impressive. There was no shortage of opinions or ideas when it came to creating the 2015 Ford Mustang. The sixth-generation Mustang marks the 50th birthday for the iconic sport coupe, and nearly everyone within the company—and even more outside of it—wanted to share their thoughts with the 500 executives, designers, and engineers tasked with developing it. Suggestions came from everywhere, insiders told Motor Trend. All-wheel-drive models, wagon variants, diesel powertrains, and even a notchback were pitched. Many ideas were scrapped immediately with a polite “Thank you,” while others were considered and sometimes explored by the group known as Team Mustang. “About the only suggestion we didn’t get was for a…

The title of this story might seem like a cheap Old Testament gag, but this gen-two Genesis actually represents a departure. Hyundai no longer must beg for a place at the big kids’ table, hoping that premium features, refinement, and a low price might lure Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus buyers who didn’t care that valets wouldn’t park their cars in front. The plain-looking Genesis launched in 2009 alongside the swoopy Sonata that unveiled Fluidic Sculpture, Hyundai's first unique design. Now Fluidic Sculpture 2.0, previewed by the recent HCD-14 concept, arrives on the 2015 Genesis. Design chief Casey Hyun says it “tells its story with fewer lines and greater contrast of surfacing for a more voluptuous look.” Length increases 0.2 inch on a 3.0-inch-longer wheelbase, shrinking overhangs by 1.6 and 1.2…

We Like: 5.7’s guts, 1794 interior, huge back seat. We Don’t Like: 5.7’s thirst, cabin noise, numb steering. Six years ago, when the second-gen Toyota Tundra won our 2008 Truck of the Year, we noted, “Toyota is pulling no punches by introducing one of the biggest, strongest, and most capable vehicles in the segment.” American truck buyers agreed, buying more than 137,000 in the first full year of sale, a number that hasn’t been met since. Why? The segment has moved ahead while the Tundra has stayed stagnant. For 2014, all that changes. Though powertrains carry over, including the best-selling 5.7-liter, 381-hp V-8 and six-speed auto, the front fascia, fenders, and bed are all-new and the interior received a full makeover. While most judges praised the cabin’s quality and aesthetics,…

We Like: No-nonsense functionality, practical features. We Don’t Like: Droning CVT, budget fit and finish, uninspired driving dynamics. Based on the successful global Nissan NV200, the North American version received specific upgrades for the rigors of American customers and conditions in this market. The 1.5-liter turbodiesel inline-four and manual transmission being offered in overseas markets were dropped for a 2.0-liter I-4 and automatic transmission. The chassis was strategically strengthened, and the wheelbase was extended slightly as well. Unlike the Transit Connect, which is aiming to cast a broad net appealing to both commercial and consumer customers, the NV200 is marketed strictly as a workhorse. The single powertrain, wheelbase, and seating configuration defines the NV200’s intended role. Its leaf-spring rear suspension, narrow 185-width tires, and rear drum brakes are clearly aimed…

“Awesome torque down low. Superb eight-speed automatic—it just surfs the torque wave.” One of the questions we ponder at any Motor Trend "of the Year" event is whether a vehicle is a game-changer. While that term—that little bit of corporate execu-babble—is overused and slightly sickening, it really is significant. For years, truck manufacturers did what was safe and didn't upset the status quo. But two years ago Ford rocked the boat with the twin-turbo V-6 EcoBoost. Last year, Ram rocked it again with air suspension and an eight-speed automatic. We were hoping GM would continue the trend and blow us away with something even bigger. We simply weren’t expecting Ram to do just that. The first hurdle the Ram 1500 had to clear was convincing our judges that it deserved…

The most flabbergasting aspect of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6 isn’t that it exists, but that it’s a production vehicle. As in, you can buy one. AMG has already built nearly 60 units so far this year. I just spent a week at the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria—home of the Geländewagen—and saw five 6x6s: three customer trucks, one for display, and the slate-colored beast you see here. Turns out that the gargantuan 6x6 is actually handbuilt on the same assembly line that produces every other G-Wagen. A workforce 1500 strong recently added a second shift because G-Wagen sales are through the roof, with 2012 the stout off-roader/military vehicle’s best full sales year since production started in 1979. As of November 2013, Mercedes had already sold more of…

“If a giant, hi-res, Internet-connected, updatable multitouch screen doesn’t tempt young people back into new cars, I’m not sure what will.”@MT_Reynolds Service life / 4 mo/11,015 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- AVERAGE FUEL ECON 86.4 MPG-E Not long after we received our longterm Model S, a message appeared on its large multitouch display: “Software Update: There is a new version of your Tesla Model S software.” How strange. This would take about two hours to download, it explained, and commence at 2:20 a.m. the next night. As I had no plans to drive the car before 6:30 a.m. (let alone 4:30), I clicked “OK” and…

“I defy anyone to find me a better manual gearbox in the midsize family sedan segment than the Mazda6’s.”@Ed_Loh Service life / 5 mo/8506 mi Avg CO2 / 0.72 lb/mi Energy cons / 125 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 25/37/29 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 27.0 MPG I noticed the emphasis on ergonomics the very first time I got behind the wheel of the Mazda6. The midsize family sedan segment is one of the most competitive classes on the planet, with manufacturers often staking claims to different core values—technology, efficiency, value, etc. Mazda clearly values the driver, and it shows in things such as the weighting of shifter and how well it falls under hand. The steering wheel,…

“There’s finely milled gold glitter dusted across the wood part of the Optima’s steering wheel. It’s very elegant.”@Emiliana505 Service life / 9 mo/12,160 mi Avg CO2 / 0.86 lb/mi Energy cons / 150 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $53.55 (oil change, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 22/34/26 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 22.5 MPG If you’re reading this, you’re probably a guy, because 90-plus percent of MT’s readership is male. And you probably don’t wear nail polish. (Yes, this is relevant to the Optima.) It takes a steady hand and a bump-free environment to apply polish without spilling it or smearing your nails. During a recent trip to Las Vegas, my friend Heather gave herself a full mani—that’s a base coat, two…

“The RDX is a perfect vehicle for anyone who cares only about the destination and not much about the journey.” Service Life 15 mo/28,406 mi Base Price $36,815 Options Technology Package ($3500: AcuraLink Telematics, Navigation, Acura/ELS Surround Sound System) Price as Tested $40,315 Avg Econ/CO2 21.8 mpg / 0.89 lb/mi Problem Areas None Maintenance Cost $357 (3-oil change, inspection; 2-tire rotation; 1-differential fluid change) Normal-Wear Cost $0 3-Year Residual Value* $21,367 Recalls 04/15/2013, NHTSA Campaign ID number 13V143000. Component: powertrain: automatic transmission *Automotive Lease Guide EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 19/27/22 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 21.8 MPG It’s hard to believe a year has come and gone with our long-term Acura RDX. In that time, I learned a lot. Without focusing on the idiosyncrasies I found annoying, this is a…

“Of the entire Lexus lineup,” said Junichi Furuyama, chief engineer of some of the most important projects brewing at Toyota’s luxury division, “there are only two models in the sporty and specialty segment: the IS F and the IS C.” The IS F is a fine example in the classic American practice of sticking a big V-8 in a car for which it was not necessarily intended. As well as this formula works in the IS F, it isn’t necessarily a sports car from the ground up. The IS C is sexy only in that it catches your attention the same way a bawdy blonde on the beach does—by going topless. So to fill this hole in the lineup, Lexus developed the RC, a sporty coupe from the beginning. The…

Hydrogen-powered cars have mostly fallen out of the public eye as hybrids and battery-powered cars improve and gain acceptance, but automakers are still working on the technology. Toyota is the latest to take a crack at the niche market with the Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) concept. A production-spec FCV is scheduled to arrive in U.S. showrooms and will be Toyota’s first commercially available FCV with a target price of about $50,000. The latest version of the FCV concept has two 70 MPa (10,000 psi!) hydrogen tanks. Combined with Toyota’s Fuel Cell Stack rated at 100 kW, the FCV concept should provide about 310 miles of range. The system can even act as an electric generator for a home, providing more than a week’s worth of electricity for an average Japanese…

You’d be forgiven for thinking Subaru dragged me out to Iceland to illustrate just how green its first-ever hybrid is. Nearly three-quarters of the island country’s power comes from renewable resources, mostly hydro- and geothermal with a smattering of wind. But no, Subaru claims the new XV Crosstrek Hybrid is the most capable small hybrid SUV on earth. Subarus have long surprised me with their competancy in bad conditions and off the pavement. What better place to demonstrate the capability of Subaru’s first Hybrid than the land of ice and snow? Sitting within the transmission housing between the CVT and the output shaft is a small electric motor that provides an additional 13 hp and 48 lb-ft of torque. Total output rises to 165 hp at 6000 rpm and 163…

“This was very collaborative, and everyone wanted to do what was right.” The turf war between designers and engineers can be epic. Generally, designers want to change everything, and engineers don’t. The two groups make up the yin and the yang of automotive creation. But for the 500 people on Team Mustang tasked with creating a new version of the original ponycar, the relationship was more collaborative than combative. Dave Pericak once worked in the design studio as a feasibility engineer, testing out ideas that looked good on paper but might not pass muster in metal. That experience, he says, along with a large Magic 8 Ball on the conference table in his office, helped foster what many people in the group referred to as a “special relationship.” “The studio…

Hugh Jackman fans were heartened by his recent denial of the rumored $100-million deal to make four more “X-Men” installments. Enough already, Hugh. Your “Les Mis” and “Boy from Oz” performances have shown us you’re capable of so much more than ripped abs and ripping claws. The same, it turns out, can be said of Oz’s rip-snorting automotive action hero, the Holden Commodore. In its star turn as the Pontiac G8, it was all falsie hood scoops and diffusers, fat tires and wheelspin, with an interior as foreign and hard to operate as a boomerang. Its revival/reboot as the Chevrolet SS really demonstrates the range of these Down Under-developed Zeta bones. As mid-cycle enhancements go, the transition from VE to VF-generation Commodore was a doozy. The major hard points, doors,…

We Like: The redesigned interiors and smooth, quiet ride. We Don’t Like: For an all-new truck, there isn’t anything groundbreaking. For 2014, Chevrolet stepped up its game in the truck segment with the all-new Silverado 1500. Chevrolet says it’s “new from hood to hitch,” so we invited it to compete in Truck of the Year. Chevrolet claims there are “hundreds of improvements” to the all-new Silverado. Here are a few of the key points: three all-new engines, one V-6 and two V-8s; a refined interior that’s quieter, more comfortable, and tailored to truck customers; revised steering, suspension, and brakes; and improved ride and handling. The first new engine is a 4.3-liter V-6 with 285 hp and 305 lb-ft. Then there’s the 5.3-liter V-8 with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft, and…

We Like: Incredible amounts of power are available at low rpm. We Don’t Like: The stiff ride when the bed is empty. Absolute power tows absolutely. It’s an adage well-known by people who have to do heavy hauling. The 2014 Ram 2500 and 3500 dualie certainly arrive with no shortage of power, allowing editors to tow the most in this showdown: 21,000 pounds. The two trucks gave us a look at two different engines from Ram. The 2500 had the 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 under its sculpted hood, and the 3500 dualie, which could barely squeeze through a tunnel leading to the test track, was powered by a 6.7-liter inline-six Cummins diesel. Both provided excellent power, with the Hemi creating 410 hp and the Cummins kicking out 850 lb-ft of torque.…

We Like: Frugal yet capable I-4, vehicle refinement. We Don’t Like: High price, lack of storage up front. When the Sprinter entered the van market in 2001 (first as a Freightliner, later as a Dodge), its Eurocentric styling, excellent V-6 turbodiesel, and overall refinement quickly made it a standout. But competitors are coming: the Ford Transit and the Fiat-sourced ProMaster. Between the approach of new competition and the amount of time since the Sprinter last received any upgrades, it was due for a refresh. The new Sprinter receives a revised exterior, redesigned interior, and a new engine: a 2.1-liter turbodiesel I-4. And despite the difference in power between the still-excellent V-6 and I-4 (27 hp and 59 lb-ft), the four-cylinder was a pleasant surprise. It has plenty of power, enough…

Over the last 10 years, the biggest change in the compact/midsize truck category is that it has gotten a lot smaller. There once were 11 compact trucks sold in the United States, and as of 2014, that number is down to two. All the while, we have seen global pickups introduced that we cannot get in the U.S.: the Volkswagen Amarok, global Ford Ranger, and global Colorado being a few of the standouts. However, that soon is going to change, as Chevrolet is bringing a version of its global Colorado to the U.S. and Canada for the 2015 model year, going on sale in fall 2014. Instead of seeing this as a rehashed truck from another market, though, it’s more accurate to view it as a scaled-down Silverado, as few…

“Luxury, meet sport. The purple people eater is ready for Michigan.”@autocritic EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 21/31/24 MPG BASE PRICE $43,020 PRICE AS TESTED $45,860 If you’re going to write about cars from Detroit, you should drive a Cadillac. And if you’re going to drive a Cadillac, drive the ATS, the newest nameplate in the Cadillac family and a legitimate BMW 3 Series fighter. It’s the sport sedan the Crest and Wreath has always needed, and we’re happy to see it in our parking lot. We were excited when the 2014 Cadillac ATS was delivered to Motor Trend’s Detroit headquarters as a long-term test vehicle. We had selected the ATS featuring the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that creates 272 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Our Performance Collection model gives…

“How good is the 2013 Audi Allroad? Our Epic Drives video team used it to chase a Bentley ContiGT W-12 and never asked to switch.”@ArthurStAntoine Service life / 7 mo/10,334 mi Avg CO2 / 0.83 lb/mi Energy cons / 145 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 (oil change, tire rotation, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 20/27/23 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 23.3 MPG The Allroad’s air conditioning works so well that I’ve actually heard Los Angeles valet-parking attendants sing its praises. The voice-activated navigation and phone-dialing systems function almost without error. Also deserving high praise are the seats: I’ve driven nonstop for hours without so much as a fidget. Negatives are few. At low revs, such as when accelerating from stoplights, the…

“The GLI is not long for our garage. I continue to be impressed by the VW’s well-rounded nature and am dreading the day I give up the keys.”@MT_DubDub Service life / 12 mo/26,200 mi Avg CO2 / 0.80 lb/mi Energy cons / 139 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 (2-oil change, inspection; 1-rotate tires; 1-pollen filter) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON:24/32/27 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 24.2 MPG I may sound like a brainwashed VW fanboy, but little about the GLI bothers me. The one exception to my admiration is the vague, squishy brakes. The problem with the braking is not one of performance, but of feel. At normal speeds, the pedal exhibits little feel and has very little resistance as you depress…

Inspired by Nissan’s radical DeltaWing Le Mans race car, the BladeGlider could be the most outrageous concept car at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. But there is one big difference between the two. While the DeltaWing employs a turbocharged, 1.6-liter gas engine, the BladeGlider is driven by lithium-ion batteries and two in-wheel motors—a pure electric powertrain. Nissan bosses say this concept hints at an upcoming production version. A big claim, for sure, but Nissan is serious. If the company’s bean counters give the OK, we could see the concept on the road within 3 years. So what is the BladeGlider all about? “The goal was to revolutionize vehicle architecture,” says Francois Bancon, product strategy general manager. “To change the way we think about cars, and to see how zero emissions…

We knew the day would come. The mighty SLS AMG has reached the end of its run, and it’s going out with a bang. Only 350 copies of the SLS AMG GT Final Edition (a mixture of coupes and roadsters) will be built, which means they probably all will have been spoken for by the time you read this. The first-ever car built from the ground up by AMG leaves this world a better car than it entered, pumping out 20 more horsepower from its naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 than when it debuted. We’re sad to say that, by all accounts, the 6.2-liter V-8 will be leaving us as well. Its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, though, will live on in other products, such as the upcoming “baby” SLS. Aesthetic and functional…

The simplest way to explain how the all-new Audi S3 drives is to tell you that it drives very much like every other Audi S model, which is to say it drives very well, but with a slightly cold and calculating demeanor. To be more specific, the new S3 packs powerful acceleration and tremendous grip into a generally stylish and practical package. Audi says it could hit 60 mph in under 5 seconds, making it slower than the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG, but faster than a number of cars in the next segment up. Like the CLA45, standard all-wheel drive provides more grip than most buyers will ever need. Unlike the CLA, the Audi has a richer interior, usable rear seats, and a decently large trunk. Behind the wheel, the S3…

#MTBDC I, like most readers, love the unattainable fantasy cars you get to drive. However, when I saw that all but the Ford Focus ST came in at over $100K, I had two thoughts. First, how do you get a Porsche Cayman over $100K? Second, it is time to rename the article “1% Cars for the 1% Income Bracket.” Happy to see that you included one car that members of the Motor Trend staff can afford. BRUCE MACFADDENVia the Internet Whoa, whoa, whoa! Who said we could afford the Focus?—Ed. As usual, I enjoyed the 2013 Best Driver’s Car article (November 2013), although it should be more aptly named “2013 Best Race Car Driver’s Sports Car.” After reading it over, I felt more like it came down to which sports…

Technically, this car has been on sale for quite some time. Peddled as the K9 in South Korea from May 2012 forward, it’s called Quoris in international markets including Russia, Peru, and the United Arab Emirates. It has been renamed K900 for the United States because of course it has. It’s tagged to compete against pride-of-the-industry luxury sedans such as the Lexus LS 460, Mercedes-Benz S550, BMW 740i, and Audi A8, not to mention its platform-cousin the Hyundai Equus. If you judge everything to be better when bigger, Kia is off to a good start. Numerical ascension aside, Kia is once again looking to raise its profile. It’s never done anything like the K900. Few vehicular templates are more ambitious to execute than the full-size, rear-drive luxe sedan. If an…

For the last few years, not that many trucks have qualified for Truck of the Year. We knew it was temporary, and that new trucks would make a comeback. It seems 2014 is the first wave of this revival. Because of that, the 2014 Truck of the Year event represents the largest group of contenders we’ve ever had. There are four categories: ½-tons, heavy-duty trucks, small work vans, and full-size vans. The all-new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra have new engines, interiors, and styling, plus the all-new High Country model. Ram introduces the EcoDiesel 3.0-liter turbodiesel for the 1500. Toyota’s Tundra has body and cabin refinements, and the 1794 Edition makes its debut. There are two heavy-duties as well, both from Ram, with the new 6.4-liter V-8, suspension changes, and…

We Like: Great styling, quiet interior, modern cabin. We Don’t Like: Stiff suspension; capability merely catches up. Of all the contenders at this year’s Truck of the Year, the Sierra could have earned the Most Improved award, even more so than its sibling Silverado. While the Chevrolet and GMC pickups use the same three new Ecotec3 engines, with Active Fuel Management, continuously variable valve timing, and direct injection, the Sierra has styling that distinguishes it from the Silverado—the most differentiated looks the two have had to date. We sampled the 4.3-liter V-6 in a shortbed regular cab and the 6.2-liter V-8 in a crew cab Denali—the two extremes in GMC’s Sierra line. The judges were impressed with both for different reasons. Even the base truck received plenty of the Sierra’s…

We Like: Carlike handling and feel; eager EcoBoost engine. We Don’t Like: Excessive road/interior noise. Ford’s international compact cargo-hauler gets a major makeover for 2014, with more carlike Kinetic Design language inside and out, all-new powertrains, and a new torsion beam rear suspension setup that improves handling dynamics. Our test vehicle was equipped with the optional 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 shared with the Escape SUV and Ford Fusion. The engine’s 178 hp and 184 lb-ft had no problem propelling the Transit Connect’s 3500-pound weight and didn’t mind a payload, either. The Transit Connect’s seating position, driving manners, and overall feel were by far the most carlike of this year's contenders. The dash and control layout, including the love-it-or-hate-it MyFord Touch, is instantly familiar to anyone who’s spent time in Ford’s recent…

We Like: Surprising power/acceleration with Pentastar, useful cargo space. We Don’t Like: Driving position, nervous handling compared with Sprinter. The Ram ProMaster is the brand’s answer to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in the company’s post-Daimler era. Based on the proven Fiat Ducato platform, the van received chassis reinforcements and some powertrain changes for North American duty. Whereas all Ducato models in Europe are equipped with a diesel engine, the ProMaster’s standard engine is the company’s familiar 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, producing 280 hp and 260 lb-ft in this application, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Coming later in 2014 is a 3.0-liter, 174-hp, 295-lb-ft turbodiesel I-4 mated to a six-speed single-clutch automated manual, dubbed M40. Our gas-powered ProMaster blew the two Sprinter testers into the weeds in acceleration, being nearly 4 seconds…

It’s a pity it costs so much to launch an auto brand name, because e-Setta (an electric play on the classic bubble-car Isetta) was reportedly considered, and might’ve proved an easier sell for BMW’s new Earth-hugging electrics. Instead, the 285 (of 340) BMW dealers signed up to sell BMW i cars will need to work hard to dissuade folks from expecting to have their baby-carbon-footprint cake and eat up twisty byways, too. “But, Mr. Technical Director,” you’re musing, “Why is that, when the i3 weighs just 2850 pounds, has a super-low center of gravity and a 50/50 weight distribution, is rear drive, and comes standard with 19-inch rolling stock?” Admittedly this technological moonshot seems 100 percent BMW on paper, but I have a hunch it’s no Ultimate Driving Machine. I…

“Took our car in for service and got the powerwheels version as a loaner. Love the GLK, wish it were the diesel.”@MT_MikeFebbo Service life / 11 mo/26,185 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 I recently did some soft-roading in the long-term Truckster, and when I say soft-roading, I mean stuff that someone might try and tackle in a car. A normal car’s ride height would have sufficed, but I was on surfaces ranging from deep gravel to silt-covered compacted dirt. None of this should sound challenging, but throw in some climbs and tight…

“A swap to Continental ContiSportContact 3 summer tires couldn’t muster 0.90 g. Next up: Pirelli P Zero Nero GT.”@RonKiino Service life / 7 mo/13,161 mi Avg CO2 / 0.67 lb/mi Energy cons / 116 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $86.38 (oil change, tire rotation, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 26/35/29 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 29.0 MPG At the 10,000-mile mark, the Accord Sport’s Maintenance Minder light came on, alerting that the car required an A1 service: an $86.38 oil change, tire rotation, and inspection. The first service is a good time to fix any loose trim pieces or remedy nagging squeaks and rattles, but the Accord has thus far been rock-solid. To see if I could improve the Sport’s already solid…

“Like the CL-Class to the S-Class, the Coupe is for those who looked at the standard Mini and said, “Nah. I want to pay more to carry less.”@carloslago Service life / 9 mo/14,076 mi Avg CO2 / 0.70 lb/mi Energy cons / 121 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 27.8 MPG The Coupe’s defining characteristic has to be that roof, which shows very proudly that form has preceded function. There are many practical downsides. It cuts into forward visibility so much that I often have to duck to see stoplights. Rearward visibility is likewise cramped and worsens when the spoiler is deployed. People who’ve mistaken the Coupe…