When handing out reviewing assignments, it’s always best to put the 25-year-old guy into a car that will give his friends plenty of opportunity to lambast him. Thus, Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek had the opportunity to review the 2009 Volkswagen Beetle convertible. OK, so maybe it’s not his cup of tea, but is the Beetle convertible a car worth checking out anyway? Find out in Bruzek’s video review.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
2009 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Video
Date Cars: The Guys
Do men care what kind of car a woman drives? If she pulls up for your date in a Chevy Camaro, would that significantly impress you? Would a minivan be a deal-breaker? These are the kinds of burning questions we had, so we sent Cars.com interns Emily Maters and Lauren Makholm to the 2009 Taste of Chicago festival to find out what men really think about their dates’ cars.
Domestic-Parts Content: Where the Automakers Stand
American-Made Index rates cars built and bought in the U.S. The percentage of domestic content used in each car plays a major role in the index; we use the domestic-parts content rating that’s been required on new-car labels since the mid-1990s. The top-placing Toyota Camry, for example, has an 80% domestic-parts content rating for the 2010 model. But where do automakers’ entire lineups rank against each other in terms of their vehicles’ domestic-parts content, particularly when you weight the cars by how many they sell?
It’s no simple task to determine — you’ll see some wrinkles below — but we took our best shot. Weighted for sales, here’s how the big players measure up in domestic-parts content:
GM: 69%
Ford Motor Co.: 64%
Chrysler Corp.: 60%
Honda/Acura: 58%
Toyota/Lexus/Scion: 44%
Nissan/Infiniti: 31%
Mitsubishi: 25%
Subaru: 20%
Mercedes-Benz: 16%
Suzuki: 12%
Mazda: 11%
Volkswagen/Audi: 9%
BMW/Mini: 5%
Jaguar/Land Rover: 3%
Porsche: 3%
General Motors, which fielded three models in this year’s AMI, leads the pack at 69%. Credit strong sellers like the Chevy Malibu and Pontiac G6 (both 80%). While we disqualified the G6 in the AMI — as it’s being discontinued along with the rest of Pontiac — we didn’t for this list because this one is only concerned with the overall level of domestic parts that automakers’ cars and trucks use. Ford comes in second, even though Volvo (which it owns) has a lineup with minimal domestic-parts content. That drags its parent down roughly 2 percentage points. Chrysler rounds out the top three at 60%. Interestingly, Honda ranks the highest among Japanese automakers, thanks in part to heavy-hitters like the Odyssey (80%), Accord (65%) and Pilot (70%). Toyota landed a record four cars on the AMI, but its aggregate parts content remains a less-impressive 44%. Why? Despite popular cars like the Camry (75% for 2009 model, 80% for 2010), Tundra (80%) and Sienna (85%), the automaker has more than a dozen models with domestic-parts content ratings south of 30%.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publishes a list each model year for domestic-parts content. To see where car companies stand, we weighted NHTSA’s 2009 domestic-parts content ratings against each model’s year-to-date sales through June. You’ll note that NHTSA doesn’t report every brand out there: A handful of brands, from Hyundai/Kia to Smart, haven’t yet been reported. We asked NHTSA why, and we’ll let you know when we get a response.
We aren’t the first group to compile this sort of ranking. The Automotive Trade Policy Council, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that represents the Detroit Three automakers, compiled aggregate domestic-parts content ratings in 2006. Back then, ATPC found Detroit automakers had sales-weighted parts content of 76%, while Japanese companies came to 48%.
Keep these figures in mind as you read the American-Made Index. The Camry may be the most American car this year, but when you’re looking at the domestic-parts content of an entire automaker, Detroit still comes out on top.
Yes, Electric Cars Will Reduce Carbon Emissions
There are a lot of benefits to electrifying automobile transportation, but one of the best to keep in mind when you’re getting into debates with your naysaying friends is that electric cars will greatly reduce carbon-dioxide emissions. And yes, they will do so even if the electricity they’re powered on comes from coal.
The website Dvice did a little basic math to demonstrate that even when their power comes from coal, electric cars have a 60% lower CO2 impact than cars that burn gasoline.
There are 250 million cars in this country, so, hypothetically, let’s say that overnight all those cars become EVs with 25 kWh batteries. For some perspective, the Chevy Volt will use a 16 kWh battery and the Tesla Roadster has a 53 kWh battery.
Each kWh takes a car two to three miles, so let’s be conservative and say the average driver would charge their car twice a week, or about 100 charge cycles per year. All told, Americans would use 600 billion kWh per year, which is only 15% of our current total production of 4 trillion kWh per year.
This is a modest increase when considering the enormity of running every single car on the electric grid, but it gets even better in terms of CO2 reduction. Each kWh produced by a coal-fired power plant creates two pounds of CO2, so our car-related CO2 footprint would be 1.2 trillion pounds.
Yes, that’s a lot, but burning just one gallon of gas puts out 20 pounds of CO2 from the tailpipe. In 2008, we burned 3.3 billion barrels of gas, for roughly 3 trillion pounds of CO2. Therefore, a switch to electric vehicles would create a 60% reduction in C02 emissions, even if we only burned coal to generate that power.
Recall Alert: 2005-2006 Subaru Baja
Subaru is recalling 15,633 Baja sport-trucks from the 2005 and 2006 model years for faulty fuel systems. A fuel hose may crack leading to a fuel leak. Fuel leaks can lead to fires if near any kind of ignition source.
Dealers will replace all necessary parts free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in September. Owners can contact Subaru at 800-782-2783.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Toyota Offering Five-Year Leases to Comply With Cash for Clunkers
Toyota is one of the few automakers we’ve heard of that will offer five-year leases, created just for the program. The 60-month leases are available for the Yaris, Corolla, Camry, RAV4 and Tacoma. One sample offer for a Yaris lease lists a headline-grabbing monthly payment of $79 per month for 60 months. The money you’d have to pay up front is $5,229, but if you deduct the $4,500 Cash for Clunkers credit, you’d end up paying $729 up front.
How much would it cost you to buy a Yaris in the same scenario and own it outright at the end of the term? Financed at 2.9% for 60 months, with that same down payment, it would be $125.03 a month, not including tax or destination.
The lease also allows you to drive only 12,000 miles a year. Offers vary by region.
BMW Puts $4,500 Behind Diesel Models
It’s not likely that many folks would shop at a BMW dealership looking to cash in on the Cash for Clunkers program, which is why the company has launched a new incentive to promote its two fuel-efficient diesel models. A $4,500 “eco-credit” will go toward the purchase of either a new BMW 335d or an X5 xDrive35d, on top of current financing offers, and with no trade-in required.
A 335d starts at $43,900, so according to the government program’s rules, it could qualify for either $3,500 or $4,500 in federal funds when exchanged for a clunker, no matter how many options it was loaded up with. The 335d is also eligible for a $900 tax credit. The 335d gets combined mileage of 27 mpg, versus a gas 335i’s 20 mpg, while still delivering a thrilling driving experience. We found a few modestly equipped 335d models in Cars.com’s inventory for $45,225. Add all the above incentives, and those would end up costing $35,325. Read our full review of the 335d here.
The X5 starts at $51,200 and thus would not be eligible for the government incentive (program rules say any vehicle with an MSRP over $45,000 can’t be bought using Cash for Clunkers), but with BMW’s eco-credit it would cost less than a base X5 xDrive30i. The diesel incentive offer runs through August.
Mazda Adding $500 Cash for Clunkers Bonus
Is the government’s $3,500-$4,500 Cash for Clunkers rebate not enough to get you to buy a new car? Well, we’ve already outlined 10 great cars to spend the federal funds on, but today Mazda is making sure it gets consideration, too. The company is adding a $500 cash incentive for those taking advantage of the legislation, and that’s on top of all current incentives.
That means that on the all-new 2010 Mazda3, which only has financing offers — 3.9% for 60 months through July 31 — you’d get $500 cash back, dropping the MSRP of $15,045 to $10,045 if you qualify for the full Clunker rebate. The base Mazda3 with a manual transmission has a combined mileage of 28 mpg, so it would qualify for $4,500 under the program no matter what you’re trading in. (Clunkers have to get 18 mpg combined or worse to qualify, and new cars have to get 10 mpg better to qualify for the full $4,500.) The automatic version gets 27 mpg combined, meaning your clunker would have to get 17 mpg to qualify for the full $4,500. These are the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid models in Mazda’s lineup.
Other noteworthy deals can be had on the 2009 Mazda6. The redesigned sedan is sporty, with plentiful backseat room and a giant trunk. Plus, it has low financing of 2.9% for 60 months, plus $1,500 cash back. Add another $500, and that takes the $18,550 starting price to $13,050, assuming the $3,500 clunker rebate. Combined mileage for the four-cylinder Mazda6 is 24 mpg.
2010 Acura RDX Gets New Grille, Price, Front-Wheel Drive
Acura’s new company face, a big shield fixed into the grille, has landed on the RDX for 2010. It was the last model in the lineup to get it, and we have to say, it could have been left alone. Other design tweaks to the lower bumper and headlights are more welcome and add a beefier look overall. The backside gets some work, too, but it’s harder to see the changes there. The dual exhaust pipes are now hexagonal instead of circular, and the license plate frame is slightly smaller.
Inside, hardly anything gets touched, and the engine is the same 240-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder. The biggest changes come in terms of trim levels. The RDX now comes in a base, front-wheel-drive model in addition to the previous all-wheel-drive version. There are technology packages available for both. Pricing for the front-wheel-drive model is $32,520, with all-wheel drive starting at $34,520. The 2009 RDX with all-wheel drive started at $33,895. What do you get for the extra $600 and change besides the new grille?
Basically, the base models still come with leather, a moonroof, dual climate control and Bluetooth. The standard seven-speaker stereo system now comes with iPod integration and a USB adapter.
Gas mileage remains the same for the all-wheel-drive model, at 17/22 mpg city/highway. Front-wheel-drive versions will save 2 mpg, getting 19/24 mpg city/highway. Premium gas is required.
The 2010 RDX is heading to dealerships now. A full price breakdown and more pictures are below.
Pricing
- RDX: $32,520
- RDX SH-AWD: $34,520
- RDX with Technology Package: $35,620
- RDX SH-AWD with Technology Package: $37,620
Destination: $810
Cash for Clunkers Postponed To Monday
The government website that lists details on the CAR Allowance Rebate System (informally known as Cash for Clunkers,) has been updated this morning. While the site had said the program would start “around July 24” it now says the program will start on July 27, or Monday.
Many dealers locally are already advertising the federal incentive, and one at least one automaker, Hyundai, is advancing its dealers funds to cover the federal incentive. The company says Clunker sales made up 7 percent of sales in the first week of July.
We’d suggest consumers call their local dealers and ask if they’re already registered with the program and accepting trade-ins if they decide to go car-shopping this week.
We have been covering the program extensively since day one, and have a number of resources that can be found in our Guide to Cash for Clunkers.
Update: According to a Pittsburgh TV station, the program was delayed due to the government's computer system crashing.
Reader Review of the Week: 2009 Ford Flex
Franz from Bryan, Ohio, purchased a 2009 Ford Flex after finding that it met a long list of criteria. Surprised at the luxury the Flex offers, Franz nevertheless found fault with a few aspects of the Flex, including its less-than-stellar gas mileage. Read the full review to find out more, then post your own review here.
“I was looking for a vehicle that would fit all my needs: stylish, not plain, plenty of room for carrying passengers as well as cargo, good performance and decent gas mileage.
“Ford did a great job with the Flex, but before I bought one I had no idea how much of a luxury vehicle they were. I bought a 2009 SEL with everything except Sync and navigation (wish I would have bought Sync, though). The vista roof is great for passengers and the seating is comfortable. It is roomy enough for hauling students around to events as well as for my family on long trips.
“Gas mileage is all right with an average of 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, but honestly it should be higher. There is plenty of power under the hood to make the Flex get up and go when needed, but using it really affects your gas mileage.
“Handling could be a little better, but it is adequate for daily driving. The Flex is a heavy vehicle. You will feel it in the turns, but it is not top heavy at all, so that is a bonus.
“Since I bought mine, all my friends have ridden in it and love it. One even ran out and bought one for himself. They are great and I am very satisfied with the Flex overall.”
Thursday, July 23, 2009
MIT Working on EV Rapid Recharging
If you’re a student at MIT, you’re not like every other college student in the country. No, you get to develop a prototype rapid-recharging electric vehicle. And that’s not all -- the power needed to make such a system work has to come from your university’s own power plant.
Still, the concept isn’t pie-in-the-sky academic research. Rapid recharging is the holy grail of electric vehicles. Their limited range and 3-12 hour recharging times make them impractical for long trips and relegate them strictly to second-car or commuter-car status.
The students expect the prototype — a gutted 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid — to be up and running by 2010. They also say the engine itself isn’t the cost issue and rightly point out that electric vehicles should be cheaper to maintain for owners.
Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles (Engadget)
Toyota to Liquidate California Plant
According to a Japanese news agency, Toyota is pulling up stakes at its Fremont, Calif., factory, known as NUMMI. This is the plant that was jointly run by Toyota and GM before GM’s bankruptcy filing this summer. The Detroit-based automaker decided NUMMI — where it built the Pontiac Vibe alongside the Toytoa Corolla and Tacoma — was not integral to its future. NUMMI employs 4,700 people and is the only U.S. Toyota plant with UAW employees.
This would shake up Toyota’s U.S. manufacturing plans, as the company doesn’t build the Corolla or Tacoma anywhere else in the country. The Corolla is also built in Canada and Japan. Toyota recently built a plant in Mississippi that is sitting empty. It was scheduled to build the Prius hybrid, but those plans were put on hold after demand for the car fell along with gas prices.
Toyota could shift Corolla and Tacoma production there.
Update: Toyota previously moved Matrix production to Canada. The Wall Street Journal is also reporting that negotiations have begun for Toyota to pull out of NUMMI.
Update 2: L.A. Times also confirms the closing, mentions this is the last California auto plant.
Report: Toyota to end venture with GM in Calif. (Detroit News)
Picks Best Cash for Clunkers Deals
Have you done your research and decided now’s the time to trade in your old clunker for a shiny, new car? Well, Cars.com knows there’s a dizzying array of choices out there — we’ve ranked them by make and model, mileage, car and truck — and come up with a list of 10 vehicles worthy of the government’s hard-earned money.
We made our selections based on a number of factors, including reliability, gas mileage, safety and, of course, overall price.
2010 Hyundai Accent Blue, 36 mpg
For the 2010 model year Hyundai is updating its lowest priced model, the Accent, in a number of ways. Chief among them is a new trim level called Blue that gets 28/36 mpg city/highway. That’s up from 2009’s best Accent mileage of 27/33 mpg.
All other Accent models — like the SE shown above — also get mileage bumps of one to two mpg and Hyundai has added an “eco” indicator to all 2010 models that lights up when you’re driving efficiently.
The Accent Blue will also be the base trim of the Accent line, costing “around $10,000” according to Hyundai. It goes on sale this fall.
One other new feature is an iPod/USB port on all trims.
Podcast: 2010 Ford Taurus
This week, Ask.cars.com editor Joe Bruzek joins senior editors Joe Wiesenfelder and David Thomas to discuss the new 2010 Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO. They break down why the new Taurus isn’t your father’s Taurus, and why it might not deliver what you expect it to. They also answer some Ask.cars.com questions.
Download the podcast via iTunes here or via web browser here.
Hyundai Genesis Tops J.D. Power's Vehicle Launch Index
A successful vehicle launch can make all the difference for automakers’ financial prospects, so getting those first eight months right is critical. That’s why J.D. Power and Associates formed the Vehicle Launch Index: To quantify the success of all-new and redesigned models during those crucial months following a launch.
Out of 27 models, the 2009 Hyundai Genesis topped the list this year, with a VLI score of 689 on a 1,000-point scale. It was followed by the 2009 Ford F-150 (673), 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan (663), 2009 Nissan Maxima (636) and 2009 Subaru Forester (631).
The VLI examines several factors dealing with commercial success and quality, including turn rate, revenue produced, dealer gross profit, how much is spent on incentives, credit quality and residual value. J.D. Power also takes into account its quality and design studies, including the Initial Quality Study and Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study.
The Genesis has enjoyed heaps of praise following its launch, including being named Cars.com’s New Car of the Year. So it’s certainly not hard to understand how it nabbed the VLI’s top spot. Even so, the car hasn’t set the sales world on fire.
Tesla Opening Seattle, Chicago Stores in Weeks
Tesla, maker of a $100,000 electric roadster and an upcoming all-electric premium sedan, announced today that new retail outlets in Seattle and Chicago will open July 25 and Aug. 7, respectively.
Both locations will offer rides in the Tesla Roadster during their grand openings. Earlier this summer, Tesla opened outlets in London, where it will build right-hand-drive cars, and in Manhattan.
We assume that with the purchase of a storefront in Chicago, the company will replace the huge pest-control billboard that graces the building next door, which is visible from the highway as shown here in a Google image. Because we commute past it every morning, we can assure you there’s no Tesla signage in place yet and the building looks pretty much as it does in the picture.
What Would You Think of a Guy Who Drove This?
Cars.com had a question for the women at the 2009 Taste of Chicago festival: What would you think of a guy who picked you up for a date in this car? Ranging from a minivan to a Smart ForTwo, our examples spurred a lot of heated discussion about what a guy’s car says about him on that first date. Also, the words “Italian stallion” are dropped in this video. Now you have to watch it just to find out the context, right?
Chrysler to Double Cash for Clunker Incentive
Over the past few years, Chrysler hasn’t been shy about rolling out headline-grabbing incentives. Many may recall the company’s $2.99 gas deal amid the $4-a-gallon summer of 2008. Today, the company announced it will match any Cash for Clunkers funds buyers qualify for from the government for the purchase of any qualifying 2009 Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep model. That means total cash back could be as high as $9,000.
On top of the $3,500 or $4,500 shoppers get in exchange for turning in their old car for a higher-mileage new one, Chrysler will add the equivalent amount from its own coffers.
The fact that Chrysler’s coffers still exist only because of government intervention likely isn’t lost on many.
For buyers who don’t care about the politics of such a campaign, the savings are significant. On a low-end car like a Jeep Patriot — with a starting MSRP of $17,540 — the savings of just a $3,500 cash-back incentive is better than you’d typically find. Prior to this new deal, a 2009 Jeep Patriot had only a $1,000 cash-back offer, plus an additional $1,000 in owner-loyalty cash. So even if you were already a Jeep owner, you’d still be getting a better deal now.
To get the largest, $4,500 credit, your trade-in would have to get 15 mpg combined, which is unlikely. If your clunker’s mileage is that low, however, the final adjusted price for a 2009 Patriot using this new incentive deal — plus the government funds — could be as low as $8,540. If you only qualify for the more likely $3,500, it would be $10,540.
The program starts tomorrow and runs through Aug. 31.
To see if your old car qualifies as a Cash for Clunkers trade-in, check out Cars.com’s Guide to Cash for Clunkers.
To see which new Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models are eligible for the government incentive, check out our list of eligible models here.
In case you’re wondering: A 1986 Jeep Cherokee comparably equipped to a modern Jeep Patriot got 23 mpg combined using today’s adjusted EPA numbers. A 2009 Jeep Patriot also equipped with a four-cylinder, manual transmission and two-wheel drive? 25 mpg.
2010 Cadillac SRX: First Drive
As part of GM’s rebirth, a number of its brands have fresh new product hitting dealerships relatively soon. For Cadillac, the redesign of the SRX is vital to its future. While sales of its big sedans and Escalade SUV are flailing, the luxury crossover market is booming. Enter the new SRX, which is an SRX in name only. It’s smaller than the long, wagon-esque SRX of the past five years, and it’s ready to do battle with crossovers from Lexus, BMW, Volvo, Audi, Mercedes and Land Rover. But will it beat them? Any of them?
That’s what I wanted to find out.
Before heading out for an afternoon of SRX driving, I sat down to lunch with executives from Cadillac. I felt pretty good in my knowledge of the segment and the SRX’s competitors. I’ve recently driven the Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Land Rover LR2 and BMW X3. The only model in the segment I haven’t thoroughly tested is the redesigned Lexus RX 350, which outsells everything. So when the GM folk said the model they directly targeted with the SRX was the RX, my stomach lurched.
Still, I understand what they’re saying. They’re trying to offer near-luxury comfort at a good price with attractive styling. And the SRX is a looker. Somehow, it’s bold without being over-the-top, and it even features a grille that’s smaller than what you’d find on almost every other Caddy. Wise move there. The rear is also quite handsome, with taillights that form fins sticking out from the body of the car.
On the performance side, the SRX certainly doesn’t lean toward the sporty nature of the Audi or BMW; it’s much more aligned to cushy comfort, which is the RX’s place in the segment. Even riding on its optional 20-inch wheels, the SRX soaks up rough roads — like the stimulus-spurred construction zones of northern Illinois/southern Wisconsin on which we drove.
The afternoon was spent in quiet isolation from the road, as both my passenger and I noted the near absence of road and wind noise. However, that was pretty much the only standout performance attribute. Steering, handling and power were all just about adequate, which isn’t what you’d expect from the makers of the CTS sport sedan. I don’t think 90% of people who test-drive the SRX will note the somewhat dull steering and handling, but even the most passive driver probably won’t like how slow the heavy SRX feels with its base V-6 engine which gets 18/25 mpg city/highway with front-wheel drive and 17/23 mpg city/highway with all-wheel drive. When accelerating from 35 mph to 50 mph in the all-wheel drive model, there was a noticeable hunting of gears coming from the six-speed automatic. It wasn’t confidence-inspiring and really got me down on the model as a whole. While most of the competition’s base engines aren’t exactly thoroughbreds, the X3, Q5 and XC60 all feel significantly faster. An optional turbocharged V-6 will go on sale later this fall, while the V-6 I tested hits dealerships in a few weeks.
The SRX’s interior was also hit-or-miss. If your eyes stick to the top of the dash, with its hand-stitched appearance; the gauge cluster, with its dazzling LCD display; or the center stack infotainment center, you’ll feel like you’re in the nicest crossover ever made. Let your gaze fall to the lower dash and its chunky gray plastic, or the doors and their two tiers of plastic pockets, and the luxury atmosphere quickly dissolves.
Because the SRX ($33,330) starts a few thousand dollars less than the RX and others in this segment, a lower level of luxury is acceptable, but I think the SRX is hovering close to the edge here — especially when the Lexus has upped its game in terms of luxury accoutrements, and even Volvo’s new XC60 outdoes the Cadillac in terms of high-end feel for nearly identical dough.
What about the good? There’s plenty to praise Cadillac for in the new SRX. Chief among them is a very usable, flexible rear cargo area. There’s a rail system that allows for a cargo separator to slide around, blocking off a variety of areas depending on how much cargo needs to be corralled. A large under-floor bin can hold a propane tank in place, according to company representatives. Otherwise, it’ll simply hold a lot of grocery bags.
The optional pop-up infotainment system features new software, but it mimics what you find in the CTS sedan. Navigation and other graphics are a tad sharper, and all in all it’s one of the most comprehensive systems you’ll find from any automaker.
Cadillac also gets a win for its terrific-looking gauges. In the center of the speedometer is an LCD screen that offers a ton of information about the car, from trip-computer settings to whether rear passengers have unbuckled their seat belts.
On a personal note, my favorite part of the SRX’s interior is a pair of faux crystals that reside on either side of the speedometer. They light up when the corresponding right or left turn signal is activated. It looks like you’re driving Superman’s SUV, and I almost bought one right then and there just for that.
Perhaps — like those light-up crystals — the gauges, cargo area, soft ride, exterior design or infotainment system will persuade a large number of shoppers in this segment to pony up for the SRX. Otherwise, I think it’s going to get tired of staring at competitors’ taillights.
Additional Photos
Toyota Uses Giant Solar Wi-Fi Flowers to Buzz Prius
Toyota has devised a unique marketing strategy to generate buzz around the 50 mpg 2010 Toyota Prius. The company recently set up five 18-foot-tall flowers in Boston’s Prudential Plaza that provided free Wi-Fi to anyone who wanted to lounge in the vicinity.
The electricity for the Wi-Fi supposedly comes, in part, from the solar panels attached to the petals and stems of the flower sculptures. The exhibit — called “Harmony Between Man, Nature and Machine” — will next turn up in New York and then move on to Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco before ending its tour in L.A.
For a car as distinct and engrained in our culture as the Prius, it’s a good move by Toyota to hype its most efficient Prius model yet — plus everyone likes free Wi-Fi.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Data on Distracted Driving Was Suppressed by NHTSA
In 2003, researchers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration were worried that the proliferation of cell phones was creating a severe threat on U.S. roadways and proposed a long-term study of 10,000 drivers to determine if cell phone use posed a public safety risk.
The study never happened, though, and hundreds of pages of research and data warning of the danger posed by drivers multitasking behind the wheel were kept off the public record. Officials now say it was partly because the U.S. Congress had warned the agency not to lobby states about hands-free laws.
Consumer advocacy groups like the Center for Auto Safety filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, and now the full body of research has been made available.
The findings are nothing new today. The research reiterates that cell phone use while driving poses a safety threat: A driver on the phone is four times more likely to get into an accident, the same as a driver with a .08 blood-alcohol level. It also noted that hands-free headsets do nothing to help drivers focus on the road, as studies showed that drivers using the sets were just as distracted and at risk for an accident as those who held the phone.
At the time of the study, the Transportation Department estimated that 6% of drivers were on the phone at any given time, but they now think that number has doubled. This is not reassuring, because in 2002, when there were far fewer cell phones around, researchers estimated 240,000 accidents caused by cell phones, including 955 fatalities.
For their part, the transportation officials at the time said the data was “incomplete” and “inconclusive,” and that more research was needed. The question for current Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is what to do about the growing number of distracted drivers. Of course, most regulation has come at the state and city level, with no intervention from the federal government.
U.S. Withheld Data on Risks of Distracted Driving (The New York Times)
GM Says Camaro SS Transmission Problem Fixed
Earlier, we reported that some 2010 Chevy Camaro SS models were having transmission failures. GM now says it’s figured out the root of the problem in the output shaft of the six-speed transmission, but it hasn’t revealed specifics.
GM says the transmission trouble is confined to a limited number of vehicles, and that it usually occurs during standing starts when hard acceleration pushes the engine to 5,000-6,000 rpm. Only a dozen owners reported the problem.
GM says the issue has been resolved at the Oshawa, Ontario, plant where the SS is made, and that no recall will be issued.
Toyota Not Profitable in North America
While the mainstream media has focused on the ills of Detroit automakers, Toyota hasn’t been fairing much better in the first half of 2009. In fact, a sales slump has put the company in a precarious position. Yoshimi Inaba, Toyota USA’s CEO, told reporters yesterday that the company is no longer profitable in North America.
The news is a shock strictly in terms of the transparency coming from Toyota, not in terms of the company’s performance. A sales drop of 38% in the first half of 2009 compared with the same period last year would hurt any automaker, and Toyota is not immune to some of the same factors that have hurt GM and Chrysler.
Two factories — a joint venture in California and a recently built but still unstaffed plant in Mississippi — are question marks right now. Inaba said the company will make decisions on both at some point, but at this time capacity certainly doesn’t warrant either.
The executive also mirrored comments made by others in Toyota’s highest ranks, suggesting that future product will be more exciting in terms of styling and performance.
“Toyota is a good car but not exciting,” Inaba said. “Those are the comments we usually [or] always get."
I don’t think anyone’s going to argue with that statement.
Toyota says it's no longer profitable in North America (Detroit News)
2010 Ford Lineup 20% More Efficient; Turbo Four-Cylinder Confirmed
Today, Ford took the wraps off its 2010 model lineup and made some pretty significant announcements, despite most models not seeing major changes. The biggest news that will grab headlines is the fact that the 2010 Ford lineup is 20% more fuel-efficient than the 2009 lineup. And this is without dropping any large vehicles from the lineup.
Significant chunks of that mileage improvement come from the Ford Fusion family of cars, including the 2010 Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ. The base Fusion and Milan, for example, see their combined mileage increase from 23 mpg to 25 mpg. Even a base 2010 Mustang now gets 21 mpg combined, compared with 20 mpg in 2009. The V-8s also add 1 mpg. The Edge crossover also adds 1 mpg in combined mileage. Even the 2010 F-150’s V-8 adds 1 more mpg to its highway or city rating, depending on transmission.
Big news on the new-product side of things is confirmation from Ford of a new turbo four-cylinder engine.
“A new 2.0-liter, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine will go on sale in the 2010 calendar year. It is the first EcoBoost engine to include Twin-Independent Variable Cam Timing and will deliver a 10-20 percent fuel-economy improvement versus larger-displacement V-6 engines without compromising performance,” according to Ford’s press release.
The thinking here is that this engine could be fit not only into cars, but also crossovers like the Edge and the upcoming Explorer, which will have been transformed from a truck-based SUV into a crossover. For enthusiasts, the smaller footprint of a turbocharged four-cylinder means it could also be added to compact cars like the redesigned Focus that’s planned for the coming years. There’s also the question of whether it would be offered in the Mustang.
J.D. Power Releases 2009 APEAL Study
The reasoning behind J.D. Power and Associates’ Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout study is to find out “how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive” for each customer.
The overall winner in the 2009 APEAL study was Porsche, which maintained its dominance in the top spot for the fifth straight year. Rounding out the top five were several other luxury brands: Jaguar, Cadillac, Audi and BMW.
Individual categories included one decent upset: In the Midsize Premium Car category, the Hyundai Genesis beat out both the BMW 5 Series and the Jaguar XF. Other winners of interest included the Dodge Challenger, Volkswagen CC, Ford Flex and Nissan Maxima — all relatively new models.
The Smart ForTwo didn’t exactly wow our reviewers, but it did take the prize for top subcompact, beating out the Scion xD and Honda Fit.
The one area where Detroit dominated was in the Large Pickup category, where the Chevy Avalanche and Ford F-150 took the top slots, with the Dodge Ram coming in third.
J.D. Power gathered information from 80,900 owners or lessees of new 2009 models for the study, including questions on more than 90 vehicle attributes.
Most Appealing Cars and Trucks (J.D. Power & Associates)
Family Vehicles Selling Again
When the economy and car sales started tanking last summer, I pointed out that a major economic indicator was that family-friendly vehicles were seeing their sales flatline. In June, despite still-negative numbers from all manufacturers, crossovers both large and small — and even some SUVs — saw sales start to pick back up.
Overall, Ford had a pretty good June, with sales down just 10% compared with June 2008. Its Flex crossover, which was slow to take off, had its best sales month ever, hitting sales of 4,784. The Ford Escape — which handled itself well during the bout of high gas prices last summer — had a positive uptick of 1.9%, sporting impressive sales of 15,385. How badly did gas prices hurt the SUV market last year? So badly that the large Expedition posted positive sales in June 2009 compared with its woeful June 2008, up 7.1%.
Even though GM is in bankruptcy and its June sales were down 36% compared with June 2008, sales were up 10.4% for the GMC Acadia and 26%.3 for the Buick Enclave three-row crossovers. Their newest sibling, the Chevy Traverse, which went on sale earlier this year, outsold both with 7,289 units sold. None of GM’s traditional SUVs saw a sales uptick, however.
Honda and Toyota saw drops in overall sales of more than 30%, mainly due to Accord, Camry, Civic and Corolla sales being cut nearly in half versus last June, as buyers sought out high-mileage cars when faced with soaring gas prices. However, Honda’s Odyssey minivan saw a rebirth in sales fueled by low-financing offers. It was narrowly edged out of the top 10 of best-selling models with 14,670 units sold, which is an 11.8% increase. The Honda Pilot SUV also gained 7.7% in sales volume.
Toyota’s Sienna minivan and Highlander crossover weren’t as lucky, with the Sienna dropping a profound 39.1% in sales, while the Highlander dropped just 3.8%. The Sienna is an aging model, however. The all-new Venza crossover saw nearly record sales, ringing up 4,521 for June, which makes up for any loss in Sienna sales.
What does this mean? Frugal families are spending again on practical, utilitarian transportation. With incentives spending near a record high, they’re likely getting good deals, too. Hopefully, this is one economic indicator we can see continue to improve.
Higher-Mileage Trims on the Rise
Call them super-saver cars. More than ever, automakers are offering specially branded, fuel-efficient trim levels, but buyers should beware: Those models may compromise performance, have fewer features or require spending a little more to get those mpg savings. In addition, they may be harder to find than their best-selling siblings.
Take, for example, the 2010 Ford Fusion. Its impressive 23/34 mpg city/highway EPA rating only applies to the automatic base model, the Fusion S. The midlevel SE and better-equipped SEL are rated at a lower 22/31 mpg with the same four-cylinder engine and automatic transmissions.
Why the difference in mileage? Ford spokesman Alan Hall said the Fusion S saves gas by using lower-resistance tires and specific transmission calibrations, and by being lighter because there’s less equipment in that trim.
It’s certainly not the only example. Honda’s Odyssey minivan gets an extra 1-2 mpg with cylinder deactivation, but it’s a feature offered only on more expensive trims. Chevrolet boasts a 33-mpg Malibu, but to get that you’ll have to pony up for the six-speed automatic transmission.
Some brands even roll these alterations into high-efficiency trim levels. Last year, Ford marketed an SFE, or Superior Fuel Economy, version of its two-wheel-drive F-150 pickup. With specific axle-ratio tuning and low-resistance tires, it’s rated at 21 mpg on the highway. GM offers XFE — or eXtra Fuel Economy — versions of several models that have similar modifications to squeeze out a few extra mpg.
“It’s something that’s relatively easier to do,” independent auto analyst Erich Merkle said. “From a marketing perspective, why not? Put a different rear [axle], different tires, tweak the aerodynamics a bit,” he said. “You promote it as its own model series. So it’s not real costly to do it. It’s pretty reasonable, from an economic perspective — certainly less costly than hybrids.”
It’s not a new trick -- Honda marketed high-efficiency trims for the Civic through several generations -- but it’s on the upswing. For car shoppers, however, it can prove onerous, with ads touting high mpg ratings for cars that in reality can be difficult to come by. Case in point: Within 100 miles of our Chicago offices, just 10 of the 250-plus 2010 Fusions listed for sale on Cars.com were the Fusion S whose 34 mpg rating is much touted by Ford. Of the 1,188 new Chevy Cobalts for sale within 50 miles of our offices, only a dozen carried the 37-mpg XFE designation.
“The higher-contented model is generally the higher [buyer] mix,” Hall said. “But, you know, once again there is a market for an entry-level car.”
Why don’t automakers institute those mileage changes across an entire model line? Because efficiency requires tradeoffs. More-efficient drivetrain tuning, from transmission gearing to final drive ratios, can take a toll on acceleration. Also, high-efficiency trims often exclude weight-adding options, like four-wheel drive.
James Smith, president of the Society of Automotive Engineers and an engineering professor at the University of West Virginia, explained.
“There’s this tradeoff going on,” he said. “If someone wants a vehicle that’s peppy, and this vehicle is not peppy enough, they’re not going to buy it. These manufacturers are trying to build vehicles that have a broad-spectrum appeal.”
“Every time they make a change, some of which are strictly cosmetic, you got to go back and tweak all the stuff,” Smith said. “It’s not trivial. It’s expensive; it takes time. And the question is, what’s the vehicle used for?”
Merkle acknowledged similar drawbacks, but said he expects fewer trim-specific tweaks and more model-wide ones – for example, all four-cylinder Fusions getting 34 mpg — as government-mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards push automakers to raise mileage across entire lineups. His concern, he said, is that when that happens buyers won’t have a choice between higher-mileage or better-performing trims. In short, CAFE may sacrifice the broad appeal that Smith discussed.
“There are some limitations” with high-mileage trims, Merkle said. “It’s not necessarily that you can have your cake and eat it too. You have to select one or the other. My concern is that with CAFE, the consumer may not necessarily have that choice.”
Buick LaCrosse to Get 30 MPG Highway
GM announced today that its all-new LaCrosse will get 30 mpg on the highway thanks to the direct-injection four-cylinder from the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain. Via webcast, GMC-Buick vice president Susan Docherty said that makes it the “most efficient premium sedan” in its segment — including cars like the Acura TL, Lexus ES 350, Lincoln MKZ and Toyota Avalon, she later added.
The four-cylinder, which makes 182 hp, will come only on the base LaCrosse CX, with the midlevel CXL and top-dog CXS getting 255-hp or 280-hp V-6s. All three engines have six-speed automatics. GM estimates EPA certification of about 20/30 mpg city/highway for the four-cylinder, chief engineer Chris Meagher said. Once the four-cylinders hit dealership lots, it could be responsible for 25% of all LaCrosse sales, GM says.
Pricing for the four-cylinder model hasn't been announced, but the 2010 LaCrosse CX with the V-6 starts at $27,085; given the $1,500 cost difference between the same two engines on the Chevy Equinox, we’d estimate the four-cylinder will start in the $25,000 range. All three recommend regular unleaded gasoline, vehicle line director Jeanne Merchant said; several would-be competitors sip premium. Here’s how the trims stack up:
- LaCrosse CX four-cyl.: $25,500 (est.), 20/30 mpg
- LaCrosse CX V-6: $27,085, 17/27 mpg
- LaCrosse CXL V-6: $29,645, 17/27 mpg
- LaCrosse CXL V-6 AWD: $31,820, 16/26 mpg
- LaCrosse CXS V-6: $33,015, 17/26 mpg
- 2009 Toyota Avalon: $27,845, 19/28 mpg; regular fuel
- 2010 Lincoln MKZ: $34,115, 18/27 mpg (17/24 mpg w/AWD); regular fuel
- 2009 Lexus ES 350: $34,470, 19/27 mpg; premium recommended
- 2009 Acura TL: $34,955, 18/26 mpg (17/25 mpg w/AWD); premium required
Lexus Takes Over Top Spot in Initial Quality Study
Lexus has regained its top spot from Porsche in this year’s Initial Quality Study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, with Cadillac, Hyundai and Honda rounding out the top five.
Two very important studies that come from J.D. Power every year include one dealing with the first three years of ownership, which offers a glimpse at how well a car will hold up over that time period, and another being the Initial Quality Study, which asks questions about the first three months of ownership.
There’s always vigorous debate — especially in our comments — about the IQS study and its real value to car shoppers. We’ll just weigh in with the fact that the more information with which you can arm yourself, the better. Plus, many newer models won’t be listed on the three-year dependability study.
For the full list, click below. For J.D. Power's full report, go here.
J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS)
Cash For Clunkers Bill Passes Senate
Late yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed a bill including “Cash for Clunkers” legislation that offers up to $4,500 in cash vouchers to qualifying new-car buyers.
Similar bills have passed in Europe and spurred car sales soon after passing. This U.S. version has been watered down to include only $1 billion in funding instead of the original $4 billion. That means after the bill goes into effect — likely in August — the funding will only last until Oct. 1.
We will have much more on the bill later today, but a brief synopsis is below.
Cars
Passenger cars from the 1984 model year or later with a combined mpg rating of 18 or less are eligible. Owners could get a $3,500 voucher if they trade for a new car rated at least 4 mpg higher or $4,500 if they buy a car that gets 10 mpg more. The traded-in vehicle must be in working condition and owned by the recipient for at least a year.
SUVs, Pickups, Minivans
Cash-for-clunkers bill passes, offers up to $4,500 for a new car (USA Today)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
