The HeavenZ oF CarZ: January 2009

Saturday, January 17, 2009

EURO FOCUS

Europeans have always been willing to pay a premium for small, sporty, fuel-efficient cars, whereas Americans have traditionally associated small with inexpensive. That is why Europeans have a new-generation Ford Focus, while U.S. buyers only have a tweaked version of the first-generation model. But Ford plans to change that: Some time in 2010, we will get essentially the same car that's popular with European drivers.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
Since becoming private, Chrysler has become as secretive as the old Kremlin when it comes to disclosing information about its plans. If Chrysler can ride out the current downturn, we will see a new version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee (current model pictured) in the future. At one time, the Grand Cherokee was a big money-maker for Chrysler. The sport utility market may be shrinking, but Chrysler needs another home run with this Jeep.

Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger

CHRYSLER 300 AND DODGE CHRGER
Despite all the attention given to fuel economy, there is still a market for big cars like the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger (image is of the current model). All that Chrysler will admit is that it's working on updates for these two rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Our best guess is that the company will de-emphasize the hemi V-8, tone down the styling and try its best to improve fuel efficiency without unduly sacrificing performance. Perhaps Chrysler will figure out a way to package these vehicles with the advanced two-mode hybrid system it briefly offered in its big SUVs (Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen) before closing the factory late last year.

CHEVY VOLT

CHEVY VOLT
General Motors' plug-in hybrid differs from today's hybrids in that drivers will be able to recharge the batteries with an electrical outlet instead of letting them recharge while the car runs on gasoline. Another difference: The Volt's gasoline motor does not power the drive wheels; instead, after the vehicle exceeds its 40-mile range on batteries only, the gasoline motor turns a generator to recharge the batteries that feed the electric drive. The lithium ion batteries for this vehicle still remain a challenge in cost and volume manufacturing, but GM is promising it can make first deliveries, in limited numbers, by November 2010.

DODGE VIPER SRT 10

Base MSRP: $89,520

0-60: 3.5 seconds

HP: 600

Torque: 560 lbs.-foot

Chevrolet corvette ZO6

Base MSRP: $73,925

0-60: 3.7 seconds

HP: 505

Torque: 470 lbs.-foot

Friday, January 16, 2009

Cadillac CTS Wagon and Coupe; Cadillac SRX

Crossover
The second-generation Cadillac CTS sedan is a formidable competitor against the best small sport sedans from Germany and Japan. General Motors is wisely expanding the CTS lineup with coupe and wagon versions. The wagon (pictured) comes first, this spring; the coupe will follow some time in 2010. The wagon will offer many of the same performance and luxury features as the CTS sedan, including rear wheel drive and available all wheel drive, as well as two versions of GM's 3.6 liter V-6, with 255 or 304 hp. Also on its way in the second half of this year is a brand new Cadillac SRX crossover, a mid-size luxury crossover on GM's new global SUV architecture, replacing the slow-selling original version. The standard engine in the SRX, a three-liter V-6; a turbocharged 2.8 liter V-6 is optional.

Chevrolet Camaro

The last Camaro left the factory in 2002, but GM is bringing back a new model that offers a little something for everyone. The base car comes with a 300 hp double-overhead cam V-6 with direct fuel injection, and it promises highway fuel economy in the high 20s. The V-8 versions will pack 400 or more horsepower. All versions of the Camaro come with independent rear suspension. Camaro coupes will arrive this spring, while the convertible is still a year or more away.

Ford Mustang and Shelby GT 500 Mustang

The 2010 Mustang (pictured), arriving this spring, does not stray far from timeless Mustang styling, and it shares most of its mechanicals with the current version. Yet the design language is sleeker, sexier and tighter. Ford also put a lot of effort into refining the interior. The carryover V-6 has has just 210 horsepower, but be on the lookout for Ford to eventually offer a peppier motor for buyers who like the Mustang image but want fuel economy, too. For performance fans, the available 4.6 liter V-8 pounds out 315 hp; if that's not enough, the Shelby GT 500 Mustang debuting this spring has 540 ponies under the hood.

Ford Fiesta

Underneath the stylish exterior of the new Ford Fiesta, a vehicle smaller than the Ford Focus, are components of the Mazda2. Versions of the Fiesta--in three-door and five-door hatchbacks--are already on sale in Europe. Americans will get a sedan and hatchback in early 2010. The Fiesta promises to be the best small car Ford has ever made in North America.

Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids

Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids

Politicians and environmentalists love hybrids, but only one model, the Toyota Prius, has been a big commercial success. Ford Motor will try to gain more traction in the hybrid space with two new models--the Ford Fusion Hybrid (pictured) and Mercury Milan Hybrid--as part of the update for these sedans, due this spring. Both vehicles promise 41 miles per gallon in city driving and 36 on the highway. These are family-sized sedans, not pipsqueak vehicles like the Mercedes Smart. In fact, the Smart is less efficient in city driving (33 mpg) than the new Ford hybrid sedans, though it bests them by five mpg on the highway

2008 Mazda Tribute

Number Sold Jan. to Aug. 2008: 9,200
Base MSRP: $19,135
EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 24
Vincentric True Cost of Ownership:$41,848
Second Look Features: Tinted rear windows; power driver's seat; cruise control; roof rack; optional towing package; auto-dimming rearview mirror; rear seat DVD entertainment system.

2008 Mitsubishi Outlander

Number Sold Jan. to Aug. 2008: 9,296
Base MSRP: $19,990
EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
Vincentric True Cost of Ownership: $47,325
Second Look Features: Roof rack; leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; cruise control; reclining rear seats; optional third-row seat increases seating capacity to seven; hands-free phone capability.

Dodge Ram 2500 Quad

Amount below MSRP: $4,770
MSRP: $40,680
Invoice Price: $35,910
Actual transaction price: $35,910

Audi Q7 SUV

Audi Q7 SUV

Amount below MSRP: $4,750
MSRP: $59,375
Invoice Price: $55,272
Actual transaction price: $54,625

Cadillac Escalade SUV

Amount below MSRP: $4,454
MSRP: $59,390
Invoice Price: $55,003
Actual transaction price: $54,936

2009 Honda Odyssey

EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 20 mpg
Base MSRP: $26,255
Safety Features: Three-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; active front seat head restraints; pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle.
Appealing features: Third-row seat accommodates up to three passengers or folds completely flat into the floor; DVD entertainment system with nine-inch screen.

2009 Acura TSX

2009 Acura TSX

EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 25 mpg
Base MSRP: $28,960
Safety Features: Side curtain airbags for all outboard seating passengers; front five-mph bumper and rear 2.5-mph bumper that won't bend in fender-bender accidents; rear head restraints for all seating positions.
Appealing features: Leather-trimmed seats; thicker leather-wrapped steering wheel with fingertip controls; dash-mounted electronic compass.

2009 Acura RL

2009 Acura RL

Base MSRP: $46,280
EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 18 mpg
Safety Features: Front- and rear-impact absorbing crumple zones; front head-restraint system with adjustable front headrests for height and tilt; side-curtain airbags for front and outboard seats.
Appealing features: Hands-free phone connectivity; DVD-audio stereo entertainment; genuine wood-instrument panel trim.

2009 Subaru Forester

Base MSRP: $19,995 (cash incentives of up to $2,000 direct to the customer)
EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
Safety Features: Seat-position sensor on the driver's track detects if the driver is sitting too close to the air bag, in which case the system delays deployment of the airbag's second stage; front-seat side-impact airbags for thorax-area protection.

2009 Subaru Tribeca

Base MSRP: $29,995 (up to $3,000 on 2008 models)
EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 18 mpg
Safety Features: Standard curtain side air bags for front and second rows; roll sensor system that detects a potential vehicle rollover and deploys side curtain airbags.

No. 2: Audi A3

Number Sold Jan. - Aug. 2008: 3,447
Base MSRP: $25,930
EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 24 mpg
Vincentric Five Years True Cost of Ownership: $54,041
Second Look Features: Dual-zone automatic climate control; 17-inch wheels; optional leather upholstery; 12-way power driver seat; dual-pane sunroof; navigation system; windshield washer nozzles.

2009 Mitsubishi Outlander

Base MSRP: $20,230 (cash incentives of up to $1,000 direct to the customer)
EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
Safety Features: Passenger airbag occupant-sensing deactivation; driver and passenger head restraints that reduce neck injury.

2009 Saturn Vue

2009 Saturn Vue

Base MSRP: $22,075 (10% employee discount on all 2008 and select 2009 models)
EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
Safety Features: Driver and passenger head restraint whiplash protection system; dual front-seat-mounted airbags; front and rear head airbags.