Innehållsförteckning för September 2014 från MotorTrend

Mini was thinking light and fashionable for its latest concept, the Mini Superleggera Vision, a two-seater, topless vehicle that also happens to be eco-friendly. The automaker already has a two-seater coupe and roadster in its lineup (for the time being—we hear they might be on the way out), but the Superleggera Vision looks nothing like any past or present Mini. Without the stubby and compact proportions that define most Minis, the concept looks more like a classic Italian roadster with a long hood and a high beltline. That’s not surprising considering that Mini teamed with Touring Superleggera, a coachbuilder based in Milan, Italy, to build it. As its name suggests, Mini and Touring Superleggera used lightweight materials including aluminum and carbon fiber to construct the concept, which has hand-shaped sheetmetal.…

Motor Trend’s photographers have captured a prototype for the next MX-5 Miata testing in the foothills of Southern California. The car was seen driving with a caravan of other Miatas, including a current-generation model and a very early first-gen NA-chassis Miata (said to be VIN #15). Mazda development engineer and former Sport Compact Car engineering editor Dave Coleman was piloting the prototype, with engineers from Japan driving the other two cars. When approached by our photographers, Coleman offered no info on the car. Even without knowing Mazda’s secret plans, we can still learn plenty from these spy shots. The test mule is dressed in the current-gen car’s sheetmetal, but appears longer, especially in the hood and nose. The current Miata’s body panels appear to have been cut to fit the…

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 $27,945-$30,245 Body Type Sedan UNCHANGED The ILX enters 2015 without the hybrid powertrain, but the 2.0L four-cylinder 5A model is still joined by a six-speed-manual-only 2.4L four-cylinder. The ILX received a few updates for 2014, including a…

GT cars are not purists’ cars—they’re pragmatic cars. They’re designed as a compromise between performance and comfort, and they appeal to a different customer than does a sports car. The updated California T walks that tightrope better than ever. Its new twin-turbo V-8 is cleaner, more powerful, and more fuel-efficient, but more than that, it uses quick-spooling twin-scroll turbochargers and Variable Boost Management to reduce and hide turbo lag and restructure the power curve to feel convincingly similar to that of a high-revving, naturally aspirated V-8. The only casualty is the exhaust note, which sounds as though someone’s taken the 458’s soundtrack and turned off all the treble. In any other car, it would sound fantastic, but in a Ferrari, the absence of a wail or scream as the car…

“When I write about my attempt to drive full-time in Eco Mode, it can’t be anything but humorous.” Service life / 4 mo/4843 mi Avg CO2 / 1.05 lb/mi Energy cons / 182 kW-hrs/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $44,455 As-tested / $53,020 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 20/29/23 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 18.5 MPG The long-term Q50S has some really well-performing safety/guidance tech. And when they work together, it’s impressive. Mercedes, Acura, Subaru and others all have street versions of early self-driving tech. Our Q50S includes the $3500 Technology Package that pretty much amounts to an autopilot checkbox: It’s got intelligent cruise control, forward emergency braking paired with advanced forward collision warning, lane-departure prevention, and active lane control. The…

“Upon return to L.A. a visit to the dealer yielded an infotainment fix: The software was upgraded to version 29.00, resulting in all systems reverting to normal.” Service life / 3 mo/8544 mi Avg CO2 / 0.63 lb/mi Energy cons / 109 kW-hrs/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $27,290 As tested / $30,285 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 28/38/32 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 31.0 MPG This ’3 S comes with the slick MazdaConnect infotainment system, which is noticeably better than the interface in the previous ‘3, and one that incorporates AM/FM/satellite radio/CD/music apps and Bluetooth streaming, plus hands-free phone, navigation, and a helpful backup camera. All of this feels premium and distinctive in an inexpensive compact, and significantly ups the…

“New socks and new tires. Simple switches that make a world of difference sometimes.” Service life / 7 mo/8580 mi Avg CO2 / 0.78 lb/mi Energy cons / 136 kW-hrs/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $43,020 As tested / $45,860 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON:21/31/24 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 24.8 MPG Flat-out speed and power are not the Outlander’s strong suit, but every driver of any car should possess (for safety’s sake) the ability to accelerate quickly I’ve driven some sad cars in my day, so I know the dreaded feeling when you’ve got no power, but when riding solo I’m happy to report the Outlander has no problem getting up to speed and continues to accelerate well past the…

“Our long-term GL is about to go back. What will I miss most? Ride? Handling? Torque? Nope. Massage seats.” Service Life / 16 mo / 34,811 mi Base Price / $63,305 Options / P02 Package ($5850: COMAND w/nav, memory seats, soft-close doors), Active Curve System ($2900), Driver Assistance Package ($2800: adaptive cruise, blindspot monitoring), Lighting Package ($1290: bi-xenon headlights, high-beam assist), 2nd-row entertainment system ($1950), Almond Beige leather ($1620), Diamond White metallic paint ($1515), tri-zone climate control ($1450), Parking Assist Package ($1290: parking sensors, surround-view cameras), driver and front passenger massaging seats ($1100), 20-in wheels ($750), heated/cooled front seats ($570), trailer hitch ($550), 2nd-row power seatback release ($400), heated steering wheel ($225), special order ($250), adaptive damping ($800) Price As Tested / $88,615 Real MPG Avg C02 / 1.05 lb/mi…

The Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept was first announced at the North American International Auto Show in January, resplendent in 24 coats of deep red lacquer, but without an engine or technical specifications. Those came as a bomb dropped at the Geneva show, when Infiniti announced that it had shoehorned the Nissan GT-R’s twin-turbo V-6 engine, along with a seven-speed transmission and an all-wheel-drive system, into the Eau Rouge. Finally, it would seem, a four-door GT-R is upon us, a concept born in the minds of hot rod enthusiasts a split second after the GT-R was announced in 2007. But that’s not the case, says Peter Smith, Infiniti deputy program director in charge of the Eau Rouge concept. “We don’t want to make a four-door GT-R. It needs to be…

In a blog titled “All Our Patent Are Belong To You [sic],” Tesla CEO Elon Musk explains how his handling of patents has evolved throughout his career to a point where he’s convinced that open-sourced info is not only good for Tesla, but for the future and viability of electric vehicles as a whole. As such, he’s decided to release Tesla’s patents to anyone who wants to use them. “Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport,” Musk wrote, stating that his company “will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology.” He then recounts his first company, Zip2, and his obsession to obtain patents. Now, he feels patents “stifle progress” and considers them a “lottery ticket to a lawsuit.”…

The racing world lost one of its greats with the passing of three-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Jack Brabham, who died May 19 at his home in Australia at the age of 88. In addition to being one of the sport’s star drivers, Brabham was also an engineer and team owner. Brabham competed during Formula 1’s golden age, and won the drivers’ championship in 1959, 1960, and 1966. He was the first driver to be knighted for services to motorsport, and one of only two Australian drivers to have won the F1 drivers’ title. Brabham began racing midget cars on dirt tracks in his home country. Brabham won his first two titles piloting a Cooper-Climax, one of the last front-engine F1 cars. His third championship came after nearly deciding…

Twenty years ago, in the August 1994 issue of Motor Trend, we tested four sports cars whose averaged stats read like this: 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, quarter mile in 13.9 at 102.3 mph, 60-0 in 116 feet, and lateral acceleration of 0.92 g. The cars? Porsche 911 Carrera, Acura NSX, Chevrolet Corvette, and Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. Legendary nameplates, to say the least. For the day, they were heady cars touting heady stats. Today, numbers like theirs are still heady, but are associated with nameplates with a bit less panache and histories not quite as storied (save for the bantam Brit, maybe). I’m referring to the sporty runabouts on these pages: the 2014 Honda Civic Si, 2014 Mini Cooper S Hardtop, 2015 Subaru WRX, and 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI. Whereas the…

Remember the Alfa Romeo 8C that began Alfa’s halting return to the U.S. market? Well, forget it. That quarter-million-dollar beauty was a cynical attempt to cloak aging hand-me-down hardware in a pretty wrapper—one of myriad sins for which this 4C atones. And we’re promised it spearheads a lineup that will include eight cars sold through 300 dealers by 2018. There's been plenty of gushing, glowing hyperbole about the 4C suggesting it was co-developed by the ghosts of Enzo Ferrari, Colin Chapman, and some bean counter who gets credit for finagling a base price of $55,195 for a car with a hand-laid and autoclaved carbon-fiber tub. Aluminum subframes add even more cost, and while parts-sharing with mainstream models saves a few bucks, the 4C earns full bargain-supercar cred. To determine just…

“I really enjoy driving the 328d. The strong torque, the sporty handling, the comfortable ride, and the great seats make for a pleasing drive.”@CarlosLago Service life / 4 mo/7973 mi Avg CO2 / 0.66 lb/mi Energy cons / 101 kW-hrs/100mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $43,875 As tested / $59,200 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 31/43/35 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 33.5 MPG You have to wonder about BMW’s longstanding ad tagline. Just how is a diesel wagon supposed to be an ultimate driving anything? Even more curious: Why do I enjoy driving it so much? It’s puzzling. Quick, it isn’t. Sure, the turbo 2.0-liter makes 280 lb-ft, but it’s saddled with power-sapping all-wheel drive and 3901 pounds of car. Yet…

“Bikes, bags, people, pets—with nearly 70 cubic feet of room behind the front seats, the Forester carries it all, no problem.”@nate_martinez Service life / 14 mo/24,962 mi Avg CO2 / 0.76 lb/mi Energy cons / 132 kW-hrs/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 (3-oil change; 2-rotate tires, inspection; 1-engine-air filter) Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $30,820 As tested / $33,220 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 24/32/27 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 25.6 MPG My friend and colleague, Carol, decided we should participate in CicLAvia, an event that temporarily rids L.A.’s city streets of vehicles. We folded the Forester’s rear seat’s 60-percent portion and stuffed two bikes inside the 68.5-cubicfoot hold. We strapped another bike into the rack’s optional Yakima carrier ($170). The accessory worked well, and…

“The Lexus IS 350 F Sport may not be the fastest IS, but it’s far and away the most fun to drive.”@MT_Evans Service life / 1 mo/4675 mi Avg CO2 / 0.88 lb/mi Energy cons / 152 kW-hrs/100mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $43,995 As tested / $48,389 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 19/28/22 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 22.1 MPG Part three of our Lexus IS long-term program is finally here, and we’ve saved the best for last: We’ve replaced the IS 350 AWD with the sporty IS 350 F Sport. While it represents the current performance pinnacle of the IS line, the F Sport package is about cornering, not accelerating. It makes no more power than the standard IS…

Google has revealed designs for its first autonomous car prototypes. Unlike the Toyota Prius and Lexus RX self-driving vehicles the company has been testing for the past several years, these prototypes are purpose-built for autonomous driving. Google’s autonomous car prototypes sport a bubble-like profile with practically no overhangs front or rear. In a blog post, Chris Urmson, the director of Google’s Self-Driving Car Project, said, “The vehicles will be very basic—we want to learn from them and adapt them as quickly as possible—but they will take you where you want to go at the push of a button.” That no-frills approach is clear on the outside and extends to the cabin, as there’s merely a single bench seat with three seat belts, a screen that shows the route, space for…

Big Feedback As a subscriber since 1968, I must say I am disappointed with the inaccuracies in the “Evolution of an Icon” feature (June 2014). The “Gen 6” column refers to a 283-cubic-inch inline-six. The 283 was the small V-8. The sixes ranged from a 235 in ’60 to a standard 230 with optional 292 in ’66. The “Gen 7” column claims that “front disc brakes became available in 1971.” They actually became standard in ’71. And the photo is marked as a 1968 model. It is either a ’69 or ’70—it is hard to tell the difference in a small picture. It is also interesting to note that the name “Suburban” used to be a body style that was either a large, limo-sized sedan or station wagon-type vehicle. DeSoto…

“Holy hell does this thing make a beautiful shriek!” It was strange that when we arrived at the factory in Maranello for the briefing on the LaFerrari, Franco Cimatti, Ferrari technical director, started with the car’s seat position and visibility. Never mind it’s the most powerful Ferrari ever. Never mind it’s the first hybrid Ferrari ever. Never mind its carbon-fiber tub is baked in the same autoclaves that bake the Formula 1 cars, and it's made by the same team. Never mind its name translates to “The Ferrari.” It begins to make sense the following day, when we arrive at the 1.9-mile Fiorano test circuit. The LaFerrari looks deceivingly small in the parking lot. Sharing wheelbase FIRST DRIVE | Ferrari LaFerrari and length with the Enzo, it’s longer than the…

“The Candy White paint looks great against the black top, and the alloy wheels say ‘Notice me!’’’@Emiliana505 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 24/34/28 MPG BASE PRICE $28,495 PRICE AS TESTED $28,730 THE MT STAFF has consistently held the Volkswagen Passat in high regard, so much so that we named it our 2012 Car of the Year. The engines on our 2012 long-term Passats were an adequate 2.5-liter I-5 and a turbodiesel we adored, and we noted that we were looking forward to a new direct injected and/or turbocharged four-cylinder in the near future. Well, the future has arrived. Our new long-term Passat revs a 1.8L turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder making 170 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, and I’m eager to put it to a year’s test on the mean streets…

“The CTS could be my favorite Cadillac. It’s compliant and luxurious, with handling that’s firm and fun.” Service life / 5 mo/10,005 mi Avg CO2 / 0.97 lb/mi Energy cons / 169 kW-hrs/100mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $59,995 As tested / $60,990 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON:16/24/18 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 20.0 MPG Every morning on my way to work there’s a happy place where I can let it all hang out in the Cadillac CTS Vsport. You might have a favorite expanse of asphalt, a hairpin on-ramp, or twisty section on your daily route where you can really open up your vehicle and let it fly. Mine starts with a wide sweeper on entry. Then it’s hard on the…

“Whether I’m stuck in traffic or on a long road trip, the MDX’s comfort makes it the perfect place to spend any amount of drive time.” Service life/9 mo/19,667 mi Avg CO2 / 0.94 lb/mi Energy cons / 164 kW-hrs/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $363.16 (2-oil change, tire rotation, inspection; 1-rear diff fluid change) Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $57,400 As tested / $57,400 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 18/27/21 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 20.6 MPG I spend a lot of time commuting from home to the office and back—on average, three hours a day. If I’m not in a comfortable vehicle, the time spent behind the wheel can feel like an eternity. Fortunately I have the Acura MDX. For me, the MDX’s seats are…

The standard cloth seats were supportive, comfortable, and easy to clean. “The Accord looks and drives as its Sport name suggests. My biggest gripe: no available nav.” @RonKiino Service Life / 13 mo / 22,856 mi Base Price / $24,180 Options / Continuously variable transmission ($800) Price As Tested / $24,980 Real MPG Avg C02 / 0.68 lb/mi Problem Areas / None Maintenance Cost / $209.42 (2-oil change, inspection; 1-tire rotation) Normal-Wear Cost / $0 3-Year Residual Value* / $13,739 Recalls / None *Automotive Lease Guide REAL MPG CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 25/33/28 AVERAGE FUEL ECON 28.4 MPG When Honda announced it would offer a Sport variant as part of the ninth-generation Accord lineup, we were eager to get one for a long-term loan. Why? Well, after a couple generations…