Innehållsförteckning för March 2014 från MotorTrend

As you’ll read deeper in this issue (“Focusing on Evolution,” Page 96), the all-new Subaru WRX is a potent performer, but Subaru has already hit us again with the new WRX STI. Per expectations, the STI takes the already improved WRX formula and adds an extra kick of power and grip. The 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine carries over with 305 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. It’s matched to an improved six-speed manual gearbox. From the transmission, power goes to Subaru’s Driver Controlled Center Differential, which gets three performance modes and six manually controlled differential settings. All those electronic settings are augmented by a mechanical limited-slip feature that defaults to a 41:59 front-rear torque split. Power is handled at the front axle by a helical gear limited-slip differential and…

How much more damage would the fearsome Gojira have wrought on that miniature Tokyo cityscape had his atomic irradiation bestowed 10 percent more strength and anger? Would the difference be noticeable? Sure, but you might need sensitive equipment to detect it, such as the Nürburgring timing lights that recently tripped at 7:08.679 with Michael Krumm pedaling the latest automotive Godzilla. Bigger turbos and better breathing and ignition timing boost the new GT-R Nismo’s output by 55 hp and at least 17 lb-ft, while its chassis gets revised spring and shock tuning, slightly lighter wheels, and new tires. The fact that a pro racer shaved only 10 seconds off a 7-minute ’Ring time suggests you and I may have trouble noticing a dramatic difference, but let’s strap in and pretend. Shooting…

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A pencil tip moves across a sheet of paper, leaving a thin graphite line. Perhaps a millimeter across, it could be swiftly erased. Or it could become the spark for the greatest performance cars that have ever existed: perhaps Marcello Gandini’s 1966 Lamborghini Miura. Or Jean Bugatti’s 1937 Type 57 SC Atlantic Coupe. Very different designs, but both born of a mere line arcing across paper. For Alex Shen, studio chief designer at Toyota’s Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, California, the words describing the sports car’s styling concept came first—words like “sexy,” “honest,” “organic,” “kick-ass.” Followed by proportions—front/mid-engine, rear drive, just the right scale. And a wild guess at price—maybe $60,000? “It’s a Toyota,” says Shen. “It ought to be affordable.” Only then did lines start to appear. The…

Power. Can you ever have enough? That’s a question our predecessors spent a great deal of time discussing during the bad old days of the 1980s. These days, we Motor Trend scribes are often asking the opposite. Can a car have too much power? More than 99 percent of the time, the answer is hell, no—the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta might be the world’s single, overpowered example—but as the months and years roll on by, the embarrassment of riches that constitutes a comparison test like this one is, well, totally embarrassing. Allow me to illustrate my point: We have three four-door sedans that make 1657 horsepower combined. For the sake of hyperbole, that’s more power than a 1200-hp Bugatti Veyron Super Sport combined with the 455-hp Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. And we…

Cadillac is jumping into new teritory with its extended range electric (read hybrid) ELR. On one hand, the $75,995 base price seems a bit steep for a car with family sedan performance and looks that could let it pass for an ATS coupe. On the other, Volt customers have the highest income of anyone walking on a Chevy lot, so price might not be an issue. The ELR is rated at 37 miles of electric range. Sounds pretty good for the EPA’s equivalent of a half-gallon of gas, but maybe not so good when you consider that the half-gallon equivalent is carried in a 435-pound battery. During our test drive along Pacific Coast Highway, I was easily able to surpass the stated efficiency. But as soon as I turned up…

“Better exterior and interior styling, more interior room, and better fuel economy are just what the MDX needed.” EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 18/27/21 MPG BASE PRICE $45,185 PRICE AS TESTED $57,400 For 2014, Acura made numerous changes inside and out to the MDX. The exterior styling has been smoothed out, giving the MDX a cleaner, more mature look. The 3.7-liter V-6 from 2013 is replaced by a smaller and more fuel-efficient 3.5. The MDX’s interior keeps getting more refined, and the sea of buttons on the dash has been completely replaced. For all these reasons, and a few others, we added one to our long-term fleet. As with all Acura vehicles, you don’t get options, per se—you get unbadged trim levels that we treat as options. These include Technology…

“Highest single-tank mpg so far: 43.7. All it took was 65-mph cruising, sporadic A/C use, and a gradual, advantageous elevation decline.” Service life / 13 mo/30,528 mi Avg CO2 / 0.57 lb/mi Energy cons / 98 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $125.74 (3-oil change, inspection; 2-tire rotation; 1-cabin-air filter) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON:29/37/32 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 34.3 MPG Items of displeasure noted over the last months: I can’t rest my left elbow comfortably on the door’s armrest, and the electric power-steering assist has trouble in parking lots. My seating position uses maybe half of the available seat travel, yet my elbow finds the hard, plastic storage pocket instead of the padding located a few inches farther back. If I’m in a…

“I love the optional $70 cargo tray. It’s a must for any owner serious about using the Forester off-pavement.” @nate_martinez Service life / 5 mo/7990 mi Avg CO2 / 0.78 lb/mi Energy cons / 135 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 (oil change) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY / HWY / COMB FUEL ECON: 24 / 32 / 27 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 25.0 MPG Huh? Go to a dealer and not be charged a cent? What sorcery is this? Oh, wait, it’s just what comes with any new Subie. As my dealer, Pacific Subaru, explained during my 7500-mile visit, in our region my first four services are completely free. That means 30,000 miles of no-cost maintenance. Brilliant. My steed received minor upkeep: Its…

"With all its luxury, smooth ride, and safety features, I’m sad to see the JX35 go. You’ll be hard-pressed to find as comfortable a ride that will seat seven." Service Life / 14 mo/28,896 mi Base Price / $42,500 Options / Premium Package ($4950: 8-in center touch screen, navigation, around view monitor), Technology Package ($3100: intelligent cruise, lane keeping, remote start, blind-spot monitoring), Deluxe Touring Package ($2550: 20-in wheels, moonroof, heated 2nd-row seats), Theater Package ($1700: dual 2nd-row screens, wireless headphones) Price as Tested / $54,800 Avg Econ/CO2 / 18.6 mpg / 1.04 lb/mi Problem Areas / None Maintenance Cost / $464.43 (3-oil change, inspection; 2-tire rotation; 1-cabin: air filter, engine: air filter) Normal-Wear Cost / $0 3-Year Residual Value* / $28,496 Recalls / ABS software, fuel transfer tube, passenger…

“We are limiting the number of cars we build, so why do an SUV?” Nissan calls it the SSC, for Sport Sedan Concept, but you can just call it a preview of the next Maxima—the so-called “four-door sports car." Officially, the SSC is a design exercise that demonstrates the next generation of Nissan design, but expect the new Maxima to look like a toned-down version of this car. Look closely at the SSC’s details, and you'll see this car isn't a pure concept. A number of current Nissan styling cues can be seen in the SSC, but with a futuristic twist. The boomerang headlights and taillights are still there, but they’re much more exaggerated now, and full of LEDs. Nissan’s new trademark grille pumps up the “V-motion graphic” you might…

The IDx Freeflow (gold) and Nismo (white) concepts were designed from their inception in interactive collaboration with a group of 100 Gen-Z teenagers. They were not random teens, but car-loving ones, as evidenced by their encouragement of design themes evocative of the Datsun 510. They reportedly identified the 510 as an icon of the brand, especially in Peter Brock racing stripes. The other key attributes demanded by this group were comprehensive connectivity and a high degree of customization. Toward that end, the car features a spaceframe architecture with lightweight body panels that can be swapped for varied looks. Different headlamp designs are plug-and-play interchangeable. While the teens apparently did not demand rear drive, that’s what Nissan planning chief Andy Palmer sees when he looks at the IDx, and he asserts…

Chairman, Ferrari The day we met, Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo was able to announce that his firm’s new strategy is bearing financial fruit. The automaker isn't selling a greater number of cars, but it’s making more profit. Which gave him an easy and topical answer to this perennial question: Will Ferrari ever follow Porsche, Bentley, Mase-rati, and Lamborghini to build an SUV? “No,” came the monosyllabic reply. A pause and a smile. “Not while I am here. We have the FF. And we are limiting the number of cars we build, so why do an SUV? Today, we have five models: three V-8s (the California, 458 Italia, and 458 Spider) and two V-12s. Plus the limited and special series the LaFer-rari and 458 Speciale. They’re all complementary—different Ferraris for…

As I read up on the 458 Speciale during my fight to Bologna, Italy, I had to stop and wonder for a minute. I evaluated the “regular” 458 Italia extensively during our 2011 Best Driver’s Car competition—a competition it won unanimously—so I feel confident in saying that it is one of the best-driving vehicles on the planet. How on earth were the speed gurus at Ferrari going to make it any better? Simple, really: Ferrari has been improving exceptional sports cars for decades, and, boy, did it ever continue that tradition with the 458 Speciale. That tradition, of course, harkens back to the 360 Challenge and 430 Stradale, the extreme editions of Ferrari’s mid-engine, rear-drive V-8 sports cars that came before. As with the Challenge and Stradale, Ferrari has changed…

About a quarter mile into my first stint in the 2015 Subaru WRX, I thought, “Wow, this ride really is firm—like Mitsubishi Evo firm.” Just minutes before, during the media presentation, WRX car line manager Todd Hill had detailed how Subaru engineers stiffened and strengthened myriad suspension pieces, including spring rates that were 39 percent higher up front and 62 percent stiffer in back. But I didn’t expect this level of rough-riding firmness. Hill was also quick to point out how the starchy suspenders, as well as the more rigid bushings, are what make this new WRX a flat-handling weapon. And lest I forget, the structure, now with a larger percentage of high-strength and hot-stamp steels, received 40 and 30 percent bumps in torsional and bending rigidity, respectively, all of…

“Our initial verdict was right: The 2014 IS 250 handles well, but needs more power to make the most of it.” @MT_Evans Service life / 3 mo/4278 mi Avg CO2 / 0.90 lb/mi Energy cons / 157 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 21/30/24 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 21.5 MPG My 2014 IS 250 represents a big improvement over the previous car, but many of its under-pinnings are the same. The 204-hp, 2.5-liter V-6 makes just 185 lb-ft of torque, or roughly the same total output as the naturally aspirated four-cylinder under the hood of a Honda Civic Si. In the lower gears, the transmission’s ratios are aggressive and help the IS 250 feel peppy enough off…

“I have yet to master driving the historic Arroyo Seco without setting off the lane departure warning beep. Game over.” @MT_Royer Service life / 4 mo/8298 mi Avg CO2 / 0.75 lb/mi Energy cons / 130 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 24/29/26 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 26.0 MPG Safety upgrades to the Outlander are a mixed bag. The Forward Collision Mitigation System is an excellent feature that uses radar to judge the distance and relative speed of a vehicle in front of you. It can help cut down on those scary moments when you realize almost too late the traffic ahead is stopping. So far, the FCM’s warning beep has been enough to get my attention.…

“Just got back from a long drive in the Ram. Comfy, fast, and great mpg on the hwy. Awesome road trip vehicle!” @TruckTrendAH Service life / 7 mo/14,344 mi Avg CO2 / 1.27 lb/mi Energy cons / 220 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $61.56 (oil change, tire rotation, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 15/21/17 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 15.3 MPG We brought the Ram in for its first service after the truck’s computer notified us that it was time for an oil change. There were three service bulletins on the truck, all of which related to software. The techs fixed the passive entry switch on the door handle (we never noticed a problem), updated the memory seat software (no problems there),…

“I’ve become well-versed at tipping the mirrors and using the backup cam to slip the CR-V into just about any spot.” @BrianNVance Service life / 14 mo/26,978 mi Avg CO2 / 0.73 lb/mi Energy cons / 127 kW-hr/100mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $220.66 (3-oil change, tire rotation, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 23/31/26 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 26.5 MPG The CR-V seems as if it was born to park. It squeezes into laughably tight strip mall spots, shores up perfectly square to curbs, and swiftly maneuvers through any of Los Angeles’ massive 10-tier, subterranean parking garages. You’d almost swear this was Honda’s top priority when conceptualizing the fourth generation of its small ’ute. Those parking maneuvers are easily executed with a well-boosted…

The BMW M performance brand is going back to its roots and signaling clear change for the future. The 2015 BMW M3 sedan and M4 coupe both shed some serious pounds, offer more power, and promise a continued focus on motorsport thanks to extensive development time at the Nürburgring. Powering the 2015 M3 and M4 is a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six making 425 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque—11 hp and 111 lb-ft of torque more than the old 4.0-liter, V-8-powered M3. Those of you bemoaning the loss of the high-revving, naturally aspirated V-8 shouldn’t miss too much, because the new I-6 will spin to 7600 rpm. BMW says peak torque is made from 1850 to 5500 rpm. Two transmissions will be available in the M3 and M4: a six-speed manual…

It’s wide and low, yellow and black, and absolutely menacing to look at, even if it doesn’t have an actual engine underneath its hood. Or an interior, for that matter. The car sitting here in a stark white Michigan photo studio is just a styling buck, a body with wheels and tires designed to give us the visual impression the Z06 will make when it hits Chevy showrooms in late 2014. Fortunately, Tadge Juechter, chief of Corvette development, and key players from the styling, aero, and powertrain groups are on their way to talk me through the things I can’t see, along with the things I can. Before the big guns get here, I’m given a several-page press release—a Z06 manifesto of sorts—to prime me on the basics. Some of…

It’s like watching in-car footage from Le Mans. From the Jaguar’s seat, the pavement darts left and right up the hill. Small, decisive turns on the suede cloth-trimmed steering wheel line up the apexes, and the glory of that supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 plays after each one. There’s a faint V-12 howl, too. Through the rearview mirror, the massive wing has the Aston Martin perfectly framed. You see traces of the GT3 race car in the nose: the black lipstick around the grille, the brake-cooling ducts peeking out of the lower fascia. It’s bearing down, quick. The proximity is appropriate. Even aside from the motorsport-inspired design and hardware (both have carbon-ceramic brakes, adjustable dampers, and Pirelli P Zero Corsas), the similarities between these two run deep. The factories responsible are…

The minivan’s got to be the most shameful car in the world. I say so because people will go to great lengths to avoid driving one. That’s why a new type of vehicle popped up about a decade ago: the car-based, three-row, unit-body SUV. Basically, these midsize SUVs are mini-vans cut to look like trucks. You’re familiar with them, of course: the Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, and Nissan Pathfinder, the last of which we can’t resist referring to as the Mallfinder. Then, of course, there’s the hugely successful Toyota Highlander, the third generation of which is the subject of this review. Toyota moves well above 10,000 of them per month, and would like to increase that number to 140,000 units per year. But for the domestic task at…

“If there’s one thing I can’t live without, it’s a functioning seat heater. Thankfully, the 300’s was fixed under warranty.” Service life / 11 mo/20,680 mi Avg CO2 / 0.92 lb/mi Energy cons / 160 kW-hr/100mi Unresolved problems / Dash rattle Maintenance cost / $135.60 (2-oil change, inspection; 1-rotate tires) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 19/31/23 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 21.9 MPG With Big White’s year in the MT garage drawing to a close and its odometer showing just over 20,000 miles, it was time to swing by the Chrysler dealer for a second oil change. A couple days before I took the 300 in, I noticed that the driver’s-side heated seat wasn’t staying on, so I had the technician take a look at that, too. What…

“The ATS averaged 27 mpg on the trip from Detroit to Memphis and back. Not bad.” @autocritic Service life / 2 mo/4132 mi Avg CO2 / 0.74 lb/mi Energy cons / 128 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 21/31/24 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 26.3 MPG The Cadillac ATS is turning out to be a great touring car. In less than two months’ time since it was delivered, we’ve put more than 4000 miles on it. All that wheel time has revealed that this car is very livable for two adults and two dogs ranging in weight from 25 to 105 pounds, though the cage for the smaller dog was a tight fit. (The bigger dog got to…

“The Gran Coupe still calls for a quart of oil every now and then—it’s had three quarts in 11K miles.” Service life / 9 mo/11,716 mi Avg CO2 / 1.24 lb/mi Energy cons / 216 kW-hr/10 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON:17/25/19 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 17.1 MPG Drive 800 miles round-trip in a day just to attend a 5-hour meeting? Why not? I spend far too much time driving a desk these days, and it was a great opportunity to put some miles on the Gran Coupe. With light traffic, the run out of the L.A. basin was a breeze. North of the turnoff to Route 198 I managed to hitch onto a fast-moving (of all things) Honda…

“Time to take Pathfinder in for an oil change and some Band-Aids.” @MT_Shaffer Service life / 8 mo/21,004 mi Avg CO2 / 0.95 lb/mi Energy cons / 164 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / Fuel-captether Maintenance cost / $306.73 (2-oil change, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 19/25/21 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 20.5 MPG We pass cars around a lot at MT. Some-one needs to move? They’ll swap for the Sprinter Van. Want to impress someone? Make sure the Tesla is charged. When a photog needs to carry a few people and lots of gear, and wants to fit in most parking spaces, the Pathfinder it is. This last example happens frequently. I promised that during our year with the Pathfinder I would report on how it…