Showing posts with label Sedan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sedan. Show all posts

Friday, November 9, 2012

2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S - First Drive

DRIVE MAGAZINE -
The Carrera 4 is back with all-wheel drive delivering an assured sense of balance as you crank into a damp or snowy corner.

First came the rain and later the snow...foul weather to some, however good for our day in European country simply outside Graz. we have a tendency to weren’t there for the scenery or the wines, except for traction...rather, for the shortage of traction. And with sensible reason.
When Porsche launched the most recent 911 - the 991 - it created concerning common fraction of its 911 customers happy. the opposite third ar those, several in states with a lot of aggressive climates, UN agency demand associate all-wheel-drive 911.
Their wait is over. The “4” is back.

The 4 is, of course, the amount of wheels that get traction within the Carrera four. There ar many models, the quality 350-bhp version as a auto ($91,030) or rig ($102,930) or the 400-bhp S variant, once more closed ($105,630) or folding high ($117,530). Transmissions ar the 7-speed manual or the slick-shifting PDK, once more with seven ratios.
Porsche pegs 0-60 auto times within the traditional four at four.7 seconds for the manual, 4.5 if you are taking the PDK. The S choice cuts those numbers to four.3 and 4.1 seconds severally. high speeds ar the mid-170s for the four and mid-180s with the 4S.

Today’s realities conjointly counsel we have a tendency to show that mpg for the four auto is roughly 19-20 mpg town, 27-29 mpg road, the 4S managing 18-19 city/26 road.
What matters here, of course, is that the drive to all or any four wheels. whereas the fundamental elements of the system with its electronically controlled, multi-plate clutch, ar very little modified from the last Carrera four, the package that commands it's been altered.

Generally the front/rear force split begins at zero % front/100 % rear, that is natural for a 911 and optimizes fuel economy. Let the traction slip, thus to talk, which rear-mounted power will be delivered to the front wheels. In theory it might head to {100 %|one hundred pc|100%} front/0 percent rear, however essentially you see a Georgia home boy of concerning fifty four % front/ forty six % rear. That’s wherever the snow and its slickness came into play as we have a tendency to slithered through icy mountains in European country.
Most significantly, the system works terribly nicely. And you'll see it. a replacement gauge on the electrical device signals via bar graphs what quantity power goes front or back. This isn’t, of course, stump-pulling all-wheel drive, however the type that offers a automotive just like the 911 associate assured sense of balance as you crank into a moist or snowy corner.


Match the all-wheel drive to such electronic wizards as force vectoring or ABS and you'll with confidence rush a 911 Carrera four through the wet or white woods.
Other than the badging there ar few ways that to visually spot a Carrera four. Up front ar new intakes low and to the edges. There ar currently blacked-sill panels, whereas outback could be a rear light that spans the breadth of the automotive below the spoiler. truth technical school heads can notice the near-one-inch wider fender flares that cowl a rather wider track.

There’s a lot of, like Porsche Active Safety, a replacement glass sunshine-roof and automatic double declutching throughout downshifting of the manual.

But most significantly for that simple fraction of 911 patrons, the “4” is back.

Read More - 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S - First Drive

Thursday, November 8, 2012

2013 Toyota Avalon Test Drive

DRIVE MAGAZINE -
Toyota's premium sedan forsakes its forgettable past with more mojo, more style, and less weight, plus a hybrid option.

What's New: just like the 3 generations that came before it, this latest Avalon shares beaux arts and powertrain parts with the midsize Camry. however that is wherever the similarities to its predecessors finish. Despite a grille that appears am fond of it was raised straight from the 2013 Ford Fusion and a sloping roofline that appears like every range of latest models, the outside is sleek and eclipses the forgettable  styling of previous generations, upstaging the Camry within the method. Body dimensions are tightened, reducing front and rear overhangs. The track is wider front and rear, the roofline is down an in., the beltline is lower, associate degreed daring front-to-rear character creases lend an aura of action-readiness.

Suspension standardization vindicates the swoopy promise of the flat solid, there is many space fore and aft, and a hybrid joins the lineup for the primary time, victimisation an equivalent Toyota Hybrid natural process Drive offered within the Camry. The design, engineering, and development all happened within the U.S. Assembly is afoot at Toyota's Georgetown, Ky., facility.

Tech Tidbit: The Avalon Hybrid transaxle is formally a unendingly variable sort, per Toyota. However, whereas its operation is analogous, the transaxle case homes a planetary gear mechanism, for combining engine power with the electrical motor. The hybrid will run on wattage, however just for a mile, at low speed.

Driving Character: Previous Avalons appealed primarily to drivers World Health Organization thought cornering ought to be preceded by associate degree environmental impact statement. With improved chassis and firmer suspension, the new Avalon attacks corners, changes direction pronto, and limits rock and roll body motions—in distinction to the sea boat dynamics of earlier generations. The V6 provides brisk acceleration—Toyota forecasts vi.7 seconds to sixty mph. And with paddle shifters, the six-speed automatic delivers prompt gear changes. The hybrid, for its half, is not slow (0 to sixty in eight.2, per Toyota) and its operation is completely clear.

Favorite Detail: the inside appointments of the new Avalon lineup qualify as each tasteful and opulent, with soft materials, 2 grades of animal skin upholstery, and designer color combos. A delicate however distinctive component is that the stunning done-by-hand sewing that distinguishes the dashboard and seats. it is the quite thoughtful bit that reinforces the owner's purchase call whenever he or she opens the door.


Driver's Grievance: as a result of it enhances fuel economy, electrical assist steering mechanism can before long be universal. The road feel it conveys, however, varies wide from one vehicle to a different. that is true of the new Avalon. In V-6 models, steering effort will increase with speed, however remains numb. The hybrid version could be a very little a lot of informative, and Toyota engineers admit that there is a distinction in system electronic standardization. however each versions leave one thing to be desired.

The Bottom Line: when 3 generations of sentimental obscurity, the Avalon got some serious styling for 2013 and athletic moves to travel with it. The engineering team claims associate degree overall gain of twelve % in torsional rigidity, and curb weight reductions of up to a hundred and fifty pounds, a praiseworthy action in sight of steady escalating crash standards. The addition of a hybrid version offers the Avalon bragging rights due to its forty city/39 main road Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy, and a possible vary of 680 miles that exceeds the endurance of most human bladders.

Like its predecessors, the most recent Avalon was designed around Camry beaux arts parts, however it's bigger—based on interior volume, the Environmental Protection Agency classifies it as an outsized car—with adult-size commodiousness front and rear. Add handsome interior treatments and quiet operation and enticing valuation, and therefore the Avalon's charm expands well on the far side its previous limits.

On Sale Date: December 1

Price: $31,750 to $42,160

Competitors: Buick LaCrosse, Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Azera

Powertrains: 3.5-liter V-6, 268 hp, 248 lb. ft., 6-speed automatic; 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, 156 hp, 156 lb. ft., plus AC synchronous electric motor, 141 hp, 199 lb. ft. (combined system hp: 200), CVT.

EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): V-6, 21/31; Hybrid, 40/39

Read More - 2013 Toyota Avalon Test Drive

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Nissan Altima 2.5 SL Sedan review

DRIVE MAGAZINE-
EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: during this fifth-gen Altima, Nissan takes the automotive one more step nearer to the flagship Maxima, enough that it once more begs the question: Why is there a Maxima, particularly once the Altima is that this good? The new 2013 Nissan Altima ostensibly offers everything one would possibly need during a munificently sized midsize sedan, from an expensive and jazzy look (love the raised fenders bracketing the hood) to a full array of natural philosophy and interior appointments that rival the instrumentation in sister luxury brand's Infiniti models. The seating position alone is price sampling—it puts you during a great place for driving and looks confirming and cozy at identical time.

I found ample power during this four-cylinder version, and tho' the CVT will run up the facility (rubber) band, if you retain the automotive in Sport mode it moderately mimics a stepped automatic that the motorboating is not quite thus evident. Still there, however not thus dangerous. Steering feels weighty, creating the general automotive appear heavier than it's, however that tends to lend a sense of heft one would possibly go together with luxury things and high-end build quality. thus that is OK. The suspension feels to a small degree on the soft facet, leaning toward smoothing the bumps vs. stiffer handling, however it isn't too so much gone. sounds like an inexpensive compromise.


What i might adore, and it looks unreasonable given the four-cylinder and CVT, square measure paddle shifters on the steering column. I usually cycle through gears even in automatics, and with this Altima there is nothing on the far side sport mode and clicking off the Overdrive button on the shift handle to permit for management of the tranny. It's quite boring.

In addition, there must be how to dial back the sensitivity of the blind-spot detection and a few of the opposite warnings, lest they become unnoticed for crying wolf too usually. Even once you are nearly a automotive length prior a automotive within the adjacent lane, the blind spotter alerts once you signal a lane amendment. when a short while, I came to believe specifically on the light blind spot telltale lights within the A pillars and stopped worrying regarding the warning beeps. Not ideal.

Overall, this new Altima is another Brobdingnagian intensify for Nissan's bread-and-butter midsizer. i think it'll act in market, providing all this instrumentation, performance, fuel economy and close to luxury for an honest value.


NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: The next-gen Altima is basically a whole package. I see why the automotive has been such a historically sturdy marketer for Nissan, because the fuel economy is solid, there is a premium atmosphere and therefore the value is truthful.

The cabin is quiet, well-laid out and has pleasing materials. The animal skin and plastics gift well, and during this sample, the black interior appearance sharp and close to luxury. One odd feature: the radio controls have a weird, virtually sticky feel to them. Otherwise, the seats square measure comfy, the control panel is easy, elegant and straightforward to browse and therefore the driving position is great.

Nissan takes a measured approach to the design. It will look totally different, significantly with details just like the head- and taillights, however there is nothing forceful here. Personally, the garment fixtures did not match my style, however it is a modern look that will not offend.

The driving expertise is serene and economical. The four-cylinder is satisfactorily powered , and therefore the CVT is okay for everyday experiences. It tense the engine moderately well, and that i cut ahead of a slower van to merge onto Associate in Nursing superhighway with simply enough power. Fast? Not extremely. however I did not even need to suppose filling it up, because the needle barely captive throughout my weekend stint.

Oh, and therefore the trunk is large. I stuck a cooler back there and had many space for different junk. and I had to ferry a cake across city, and therefore the well-sorted Altima did not even smudge the topping.

SENIOR on-line EDITOR RORY CARROLL: 1st things 1st, this a pair of013 Nissan Altima 2.5 terrorist group could be a terribly nice automotive. It's well put-together, comfy and fuel economical. The seats square measure the wide and spongelike, good for recent men or anyone World Health Organization spends plenty of your time on the road. The dash and therefore the interior overall square measure moderately clean and unlittered. it is not distinctive or fascinating in any method, however it isn't notably dangerous either.

The CVT is miserable, however i am idea the bulk of individuals buying Associate in Nursing Altima will not care. below full throttle, there is a buzz from the within of the dash that won't quite annoying. It's undoubtedly sudden during a automotive that appeared to be moderately well created overall.

Oddly, the blindspot warning system appeared to not work once sleuthing some cars, tho' I wasn't ready to understand why. Speaking of technical school, I regret not having had the chance to do Google's send-to-car system that appearance terribly promising.

The styling is extremely conservative, however the colour is astounding. Pairing the blue, bronze paint with brown upholstery, this automotive would look way more pricey.

This new Altima could be a Brobdingnagian improvement over the outgoing automotive. the matter that Nissan has with the Altima is that its competition has improved such a lot additional. At $21,500 to right around $30,000, the Ford Fusion, Hyundai classical music and Kia Optima all create a way additional compelling case for themselves. i am unable to imagine selecting the Altima over a brand new Fusion that looks way more special and fascinating to Maine. In fact, i might have a tough time selecting the Altima over a well-equipped Ford Focus.

It's a terribly nice automotive, however it looks a few half-step behind the leaders during this extremely competitive phase.

2013 Nissan Altima a pair of.5 SL Sedan

Base Price: $28,830

As-Tested Price: $30,590

Drivetrain: a pair of.5-liter I4; FWD, ceaselessly variable transmission

Output: 182 HP @ six,000 rpm, one hundred eighty lb-ft @ four,000 rpm

Curb Weight: three,187 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 31/30.8 mpg

Options: Technology package as well as Nissan navigation system with seven-inch color show and turn-by-turn navigation integration into Nissan advanced drive assist show, wheel navigation system controls, blind spot warning, moving obstacle detection, lane departure warning ($1,090); rear spoiler ($395); splash guard ($145); floor mats ($130)

Shop for a brand new Nissan Altima at shopautoweek.com
Read More - Nissan Altima 2.5 SL Sedan review

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

2013 Maserati Quattroporte

DRIVE MAGAZINE-
Maserati’s luxury sedan gets slimmer design and more powerful Ferrari-sourced V-8.

Maserati desires a much bigger slice of the luxurious phase and therefore the Italian automaker’s approaching 2013 Quattroporte sedan, set to be formally unveiled  early next year, throughout the 2013 Detroit motorcar Show, goes to play an important role in these enlargement plans. Lighter and a lot of powerful than the outgoing model, the new Quattroporte are hopped-up by a Ferrari-sourced four.7-liter V-8 engine with output within the region of 450 bhp. the only real transmission selection can doubtless be a ZF 8-speed (two gears quite this 6-speed) automatic case, with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.

It’s conjointly extremely doubtless that Maserati can add AN nonobligatory all-wheel-drive system for the primary time to the Quattroporte range—perhaps one taken from either the Ferrari FF supercar, or probably a more cost-effective system sourced from the Chrysler parts-bin. Overall curb weight is predicted to drop, although the chassis remains steel versus the lighter aluminium structures employed by some competitors. Emissions levels are reaching to be reduced, as a results of the new Quattroporte’s lower overall weight and a lot of economical engine.
Italian style on a bigger Scale.


The one issue the recent Quattroporte still had lots of was vogue, even eight years when its introduction back in 2004. rummage around for the new model to continue the general styling theme set by its forerunner. “Some of the weather characterizing the previous model are by design maintained: the front grill, the 3 aspect vents, the triangular C pillar,” aforementioned Lorenzo Ramaciotti, head of Maserati style Center. “At an equivalent time new vogue and purposeful options were introduced: the robust belt line that runs through the whole aspect of the automobile giving the new Quattroporte a glance and feel that's quickly muscular and chic with frameless doors and 3 aspect windows.” The cabin options a luxurious mix of Italian animal skin, at the side of extremely usable (and overdue) interior upgrades sort of a giant touch-screen within the center of the dashboard. 


Maserati is wanting to use the Quattroporte, that ought to proceed sale within the initial or second quarter of next year, jointly of the key models to spice up annual sales to fifty,000 units. That’s a large figure for a corporation that, throughout a lot of of its long and illustrious history, has typically found itself teetering on the monetary brink. The automobile Grand Cherokee-based Kubang sport-utility and a smaller sedan, possibly dubbed the Ghibli, ought to spherical out the enlarged Maserati lineup over succeeding number of years.

Read More - 2013 Maserati Quattroporte

Monday, November 5, 2012

2014 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe

DRIVE MAGAZINE -
BMW targets the smaller end of the luxury scale with its latest Gran Coupe sedan.

BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi area unit on the point of launch a good vary of latest vehicles aimed directly at the smaller facet of the posh automobile market. With the upcoming arrival of the Mercedes CLA sedan, beside a brand new Audi A3 sedan, that is about to switch the previous sport-wagon sold-out stateside, it absolutely was obvious BMW would supply a lot of variations of the updated 1-Series lineup. The 2-Series granny automobile featured here in these creator illustrations is anticipated to supply BMW levels of luxury and driving dynamics in a very a lot of compact package. In fact, the German carmaker has opted to form special model designations for automobile and convertible variants supported sedan platforms. this is often why the most recent 3-Series sedan is about to become the 4-Series once it makes the transformation to automobile and convertible.

The 2-Series granny automobile, and attainable money supply

Okay, you may be curious why a BMW sedan supported subsequent 1-Series would wear the 2-Series (i.e. coupe/convertible) designation. smart question. For starters, bear in mind that the 1-Series in 5-door hatchback format isn't getting to be sold-out within the U.S. market. however subsequent automobile and convertible supported this new platform (known internally because the F20) most positively can. And since the granny automobile version is meant to possess coupe-like lines on a sedan body, it is smart for the model to stay with the 2-Series name. we have a tendency to hope that each one is smart.

More necessary to most BMW fans is that the 2-Series granny automobile goes to supply a spread of engines that embrace turbocharged inline-4s and silky-smooth inline-6s. Power are going to be routed to the rear wheels, and transmission selections area unit probably to incorporate a 6-speed manual and 8-speed transmission. However, it’s attainable the granny automobile would possibly solely supply AN automatic shell, with the manual reserved for the automobile and convertible

We’re hoping BMW sees acceptable supply AN money supply granny automobile model, particularly since the lifetime of the last M1 automobile sold-out within the U.S. was therefore temporary. If it returns, and that we suppose it'll, BMW is probably going to fit a turbocharged inline-6 with upwards of 350-hp beneath the spirited hood. the whole 2-Series vary can break cowl next year, throughout the 2013 urban center automotive vehicle Show.
Read More - 2014 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Caught Testing: 2013 Audi R8 GT

DRIVE MAGAZINE -
Revised aerodynamics and more power coming to Audi’s mid-engine sports car.



The next Audi R8 GT has been noticed carrying a Frankenstein mixture of the outgoing version’s front and rear fasciae, combined with new aero additions that hint the new model can have additional significantly additional H.P. once it arrives next year. noticed whereas tearing round the Nürburgring raceway in European country, this blue take a look at automotive isn't equipped with the revised front grille and new semiconductor diode headlights and taillights found on the remainder of the recently updated R8 vary. We’re 100-percent positive the Ingolstadt-based creater|carmaker|auto manufacturer|auto maker|manufacturer|maker|manufacturing business} can make all of those minor cosmetic changes by the time the GT reaches production. Revisions to the bodywork of this example – together with a bigger rear spoiler and new hood with an oversized air extractor – do supply some tantalizing clues regarding what may be lurking below the GT’s skin.

600 H.P.

It’s all speculation, for the instant, however extremely in all probability Audi can tune the GT’s five.2-liter V-10 engine from its current output of 560 bhp, to one thing within the region of 600 bhp. Audi’s dual-clutch S Tronic 7-speed automatic drive conjointly replaces the somewhat intractable single-clutch R Tronic 6-speed used antecedently. The mechanical changes can pit consecutive R8 GT directly against cars just like the new Aston Martin beat out, and soon-to-be introduced Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series. 


Audi worked onerous on the previous GT once it came to eliminating performance-sapping weight. style changes sort of a diluent hood and screen, in conjunction with a carbon-fiber decklid, helped trim weight and increase handling art and straight-line speed. we have a tendency to bemoaned the very fact that GTs sold  stateside did while not the carbon fiber-backed sport seats, intrinsical roll cage, and polycarbonate car window found in European-spec models. It stays to be seen however nice the main points variations remain monetary unit and U.S. versions of consecutive R8 GT. 


You can simply spot the roll cage fitted to the present take a look at automotive, in conjunction with bright-red brake calipers stimulation what seem to be carbon ceramic rotors. The latter were nonmandatory on the previous GT, however don’t be shocked if Audi makes then normal on the most recent version. Nothing comes for gratis, of course, therefore expect the lighter, quicker and even additional fascinating 2013 R8 GT to possess a base value of over $200,000 once it arrives within the U.S. next year.


Read More - Caught Testing: 2013 Audi R8 GT