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Updates from April, 2012

  • New York is a vibrant city that is alive even as the rest of the world sleeps. The auto show is similar in many respects. While it may not have quite the cachet of, say, the Detroit or Frankfurt shows, there is always something to tease and a lot to please. Highlights ranged from the Terrafugia Transition, a street-legal airplane, to the latest Dodge Viper, shown above.

    Related

    Here’s a look at what I saw:

    Graeme Fletcher for National Post

    Acura RLX Concept is a stylish sedan that features lightweight construction and the next generation of the company’s Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system (SH-AWD).

    Acura RLX Concept
    This is a concept in name only if Acura’s past auto show teases are anything to go by. The stylish sedan features lightweight construction and the next generation of the company’s Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system (SH-AWD). It uses a hybrid powertrain to drive all four wheels while providing the power of a V8 and the economy of a much smaller engine. The front wheels are powered by 3.5-litre direct-injected V6 that’s teamed with seven-speed twin-clutch transmission.

    The rear wheels are driven by a pair of electric motors that have the ability to torque vector — powering up the motor driving the outside wheel while reducing the power to the inside wheel helps turn the car into the corner. The gasoline/electric combination puts a net system output of 370 horsepower at the driver’s disposal.

    There will also be a front-drive version of the RLX that uses active rear-wheel steering to improve the  car’s handling characteristics. The production version will be launched in September 2013.

    Dodge SRT Viper
    With the dulcet tones only a V10 can produce, the 2013 SRT Viper wheeled on stage to a sea of dropped jaws. This fifth-generation model is simply stunning, painted in a brilliant red that has a lustre so deep it looks as though one can dip a finger into the paint. The mid-engine 8.4L V10 puts an estimated 640 hp and 600 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. The new Viper rides on a reworked version of the previous car’s al dente chassis — torsional rigidity increases by a whopping 50%. A new driver-selectable two-mode suspension system with both street and track settings is available, while the braking is provided by enormous Brembo brakes. In a move for the better, the Viper now earns electronic stability control to go along with the anti-lock brakes.

    Inside, the materials and layout take a big step forward. A new seven-inch customizable instrument cluster display gives the driver a wide range of custom and personal options including an additional digital speedo-meter that sits just below the tachometer. And, if that engine’s sweet siren is not enough to entertain, the Viper will be offered with an 18-speaker harman/kardon sound system.

    Graeme Fletcher for National Post

    The 2013 Lexus ES arrives wearing the company’s new face, the sedan looking like a smaller version of the recently released GS.

    Lexus ES
    The 2013 Lexus ES arrives wearing the company’s new face, the sedan looking like a smaller version of the recently released GS. It also earns a totally new powertrain, LED daytime running lights and a roomier interior. The wheelbase is up 45 millimetres, while the overall length grows by 25 mm. As for power, the ES 350 stands pat with its 3.5L V6 and six-speed automatic transmission.

    The bigger news is the addition of a hybrid model — the ES 300h. It features a 2.5L four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine, electric motors and a lithium ion battery, essentially the same drivetrain employed in the Camry Hybrid. As is the norm at Lexus, the ES offers four driving modes — Normal, Sport, Eco and EV. The last one allows the ES 300h to run for short distances relying on battery power alone. Inside, the cabin takes a big step forward and now includes the second-generation Lexus Remote Touch controller, which gives the driver fast and easy access to all key phone, media and navigation functions.

    Graeme Fletcher for National Post

    Arriving in September, the long-awaited 2013 Porsche Cayenne turbodiesel will be priced at $64,500, which is, sadly, almost $10,000 more than it will retail for in the United States.

    Porsche Cayenne
    Porsche revealed the long-awaited 2013 Cayenne turbodiesel. Sharing a derivative of the 3.0L V6 employed in the Audi Q7, it produces 240 hp and a phenomenal 406 lb-ft of torque. This is enough to propel the heavy 2,000-kilogram Cayenne to 100 kilometres in a claimed 7.6 seconds — which is about the same as the base Cayenne — but with considerably better fuel economy. Arriving in September, it will be priced at $64,500, which is, sadly, almost $10,000 more than it will retail for in the United States.


    Graeme Fletcher for National Post

    The 2013 Toyota Avalon is one of 19 new or updated products to be released under the Toyota/Lexus/Scion banner this year.

    Toyota Avalon
    The 2013 Toyota Avalon is one of 19 new or updated products to be released under the Toyota/Lexus/Scion banner this year. The new mid-sized sedan is the first from the company to be designed, engineered and built entirely in North America. The Avalon’s design embody’s Toyota’s new kinetic design language. It really is a different direction for the ultra-conservative brand. The flowing lines and sleek greenhouse are fronted by an expressive grille. At the rear there are LED tail lights, discreet spoiler and twin tailpipes. The Avalon will be offered with 17- or 18-inch wheels.

    The cabin picks upon the expressive theme, featuring soft materials, three full colour screens and all the mod-cons including paddle shiters, 10 air bags, heated/cooled front seats and heated rear seats. It also features adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic warning. As for the powertrain, Toyota simply said the Avalon will be powered by a V6 engine and an automatic transmission. The one thing Toyota did reveal was that the Avalon will feature Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes.

    Graeme Fletcher for National Post

    The 2013 Venza arrives with a new grille, available LED daytime running lights and fog lights, along with smarter-looking tail lights.

    Toyota Venza
    The 2013 Venza arrives with a new grille, available LED daytime running lights and fog lights, along with smarter-looking tail lights. As before, it will be offered with four- and six-cylinder engines that power the front or all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

    The show also hosted the world premiere of the designed-for-North America Toyota Avalon. Stay tuned for details.


    8:00 am on April 5, 2012
     

  • Detroit • While the exhibit floor at this year’s show is packed with pickup trucks, none of them are new. Instead, the focus is on revamped SUVs. Some, such as the fourth-generation Nissan Pathfinder, is all new in a traditional large truck format. But, among the new nameplates, it’s the exception. The rest are smaller SUVs aimed at younger family buyers and also at ageing Baby Boomers who are downsizing.

    Related

    For 2012, there wasn’t a single cargo bed among the three finalists for North American Truck of the Year. Instead, this annual award category was populated only by SUVs — the BMW X3, Range Rover Evoque and Honda CR-V. This year, Land Rover took top honours with its all-new Evoque. This is the first time Land Rover has won the North American Truck of the Year award. Decided by a group of 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada, Truck of the Year is chosen based on the following categories — value for the dollar, innovation, handling, performance, safety and driver satisfaction.

    ACURA
    This small SUV prototype shown here is the second generation of the Acura RDX. This five-passenger crossover is looking to not only add an updated fascia to market but also a new engine, transmission and all-wheel-drive system. Scheduled to launch this spring, the new engine will be a 3.5-litre V6 engine that produces 273 horsepower— 33 more than the outgoing model. The RDX also gets a six-speed automatic transmission with a new lock-up torque converter and a new, lighter all-wheel-drive system. The RDX exterior gets a longer sculpted hood with lines that draw the design out on a longer frame and wider track. This feature also translates to larger door openings, increased passenger room and more cargo space. Also new will be Amplitude Reactive Dampers, a power rear tailgate and a new motion adaptive electronic power steering system. On the tech side, look for a new three-view rear camera, advanced navigation system and up to 15 gigabytes of music storage.

    BUICK
    Buick rolled out the Encore, an all-new compact SUV that Ed Welburn, head of GM design, says is a cross among utility, luxury and practicality.  The Encore taps into the young person’s need for luxury and the Boomers’ need for downsized practicality, says GM. Nicely styled, though small, it will seat five people and their cargo.

    However, the Encore will also strive for fuel efficiency with a standard Ecotec 1.4L turbo four-cylinder and six-speed automatic transmission. Inside, the cabin is very Buick with a mix of dark and light tones accented with ice-blue ambient lighting and bright wood-grain trim. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel will be available.

    The Encore is not due in showrooms until the first quarter of 2013.

    INFINITI
    The all-new Infiniti JX35 has been unleashed here with a very specific mission — to do battle in the seven-passenger luxury SUV segment. To that end, it’s been well armed; firstly with a classic crossover look and interior appointments that feature premium materials and smart innovations. Infiniti claims the JX’s design offers extra legroom in all three rows while still leaving ample cargo space behind the third row. Innovative features include a multi-mode middle seat that opens to the third row without having to remove a child seat from the second row.

    New technical innovations include an industry-first Backup Collision Intervention system, which also works with the Blind Spot Intervention protocol. This system not only warns but can also engage the brakes to avoid a collision. Offered with both front-wheel drive and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, the JX is driven by a 3.5L DOHC V6 mated to a sport-tuned CVT. The engine is rated at 265 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque.

    LEXUS
    Large and luxurious, the Lexus LX 570 has debuted an updated outside look along with new interior features such as mahogany wood trim. Showing a new front spindle grille, new 20-inch alloy wheel design and upgraded interior, this eight-passenger SUV is meant to deliver luxury driving on-road and off.

    For 2013, there are new LED daytime running lights, a new headlamp design and new larger fog lamp bezels. Tail lamps are also updated, while the rear licence plate surround gets a revised look and the tow hitch cover is more integrated. Both front and rear bumpers are refreshed and the side mirrors get integrated turn signals. Inside the eight-passenger cabin, the driver gets a new Easy Access seat (that moves with you), while the wheel and driver’s seat automatically retracts when the engine shuts off. Front seats get improved cooling ability and a series of cameras in the front grille and under the passenger outside mirror let the driver check hard-to-view areas. By pressing a button on the dash, the driver will get multiple views on the navigation screen. In addition, when off-road, the system remains active at less than 12 kilometres an hour in a simultaneous split-screen mode.

    NISSAN
    The Pathfinder, Nissan’s best-known nameplate, takes its North American bow here — as the fourth generation of this well-known SUV. Though it’s still being called a concept, the all-new look and style of the sweeping Pathfinder body lines must be production bound. In fact, it’s probably the lack of a completed interior that resigns it to concept status. However, the Pathfinder is slated to go on sale at Canadian dealerships this fall, so Nissan will just have to be ready with its interior appointments. What we do know about the inside is that it will continue to offer three rows of seating, cargo/people flexibility and room for seven passengers. Also new in the Pathfinder will be a next-generation CVT and V6 engine that together are expected to increase combined city/highway fuel economy by 25%. A new four-wheel-drive system is being called “intuitive” and Nissan says that the Pathfinder’s towing capacity will be competitive within its segment.

    Also debuting from Nissan is the e-NV200 Concept. Based on the popular Nissan NV200 multi-usage vehicle, which is available in Japan, Europe and China (it certainly looks to be the little brother of the NV commercial van), the e-NV200 Concept is a full electric vehicle. Unlike the larger NV, Nissan is suggesting that this smaller electric van may well be of equal use to businesses or families. Certainly, it will offer the typical flexible, roomy interior of a van ­— while also being clean and green. The e-NV200 Concept shares its major drivetrain components with the Leaf. Its power is supplied by a lithium ion battery composed of 48 compact modules and a high-response 80-kW AC synchronous motor that generates 207 lb-ft of torque.


    5:00 pm on January 13, 2012
     

  • Detroit • An upbeat mood permeated the exhibit floor in Cobo Hall, a welcome change from the gloomy atmosphere of recent shows here. Asian manufacturers were sharing the moment despite the hit many had endured last year from Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, plus the added whammy of severe flooding in Thailand. Sales are bouncing back — and so is the automakers’ optimism. Their reinvigorated drive was reflected in the unveiling of several new products that are expected to grab the interest of buyers in the months ahead. Here are the highlights:

    Related

    Acura
    The biggest splash among Acura’s unveilings was the much-anticipated NSX concept, which shows the direction the brand is heading as it develops a replacement for its original NSX supercar, which faded from the lineup in 2005.

    However, Acura also took the wraps off its most affordable model — the ILX. This entry-level compact luxury sedan is being touted as the new gateway to the brand, featuring attributes that are expected to appeal to younger buyers with aspirations to move upscale, such as its fresh exterior styling, affordability and attention to environmental issues. When it makes its debut this spring, it will be offered with a choice of three engines — a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, a high-performance 2.4L four coupled to a six-speed manual transaxle and a hybrid powertrain using a 1.5L gasoline-fuelled engine and electric motor — Acura’s first hybrid. It will be built exclusively in the United States.

    Honda
    The ninth generation of the Accord will be a trimmer model — shorter in length and lighter in weight, but still offering the same interior space as the current iteration. The 2013 Accord sedan and coupe, arriving this fall, will also be more fuel efficient, utilizing engines from Honda’s new Earth Dreams lineup introduced at the recent Tokyo Motor Show. The 2.4L 181-horsepower direct-injected four-cylinder will be the first application of these new technologies and it will be coupled to a six-speed manual or an available continuously variable transmission. The new Accord will also offer the first application of a new two-motor plug-in hybrid powertrain that, says Honda, will be capable of driving 15 to 25 kilometres in city driving on electric power alone. The Accord Hybrid will be launched next winter. A re-engineered 3.5L V6 will also be available, matched to a six-speed manual or a new six-speed automatic transmission.

    Hyundai
    We knew it was coming, but Hyundai made it official here — the Veloster is getting a boost for 2013. A twin-scroll turbocharger has been bolted onto the slick little coupe’s 1.6L four-cylinder engine, adding a much-needed 46% increase in power (201 hp in all) and bumping torque to 195 pound-feet starting at 1,750 rpm. With a curb weight of 1,255 kilograms, it’s lighter than two of its prime competitors, the Honda Civic Si Coupe and the Volkswagen GTI three-door. It will be available with a choice of a standard six-speed manual gearbox or an available six-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

    In addition to adding more power, Hyundai has tweaked the suspension to a sportier level, increased the size of the ventilated front rotors by 20 millimetres to improve braking and swapped the standard steering rack for one with a quicker ratio, resulting in crisper response. The Veloster Turbo goes on sale this summer.
    The sporty rear-wheel-drive member of Hyundai’s “fun team” also gets some extra muscle for 2013. As part of its mid-cycle freshening, the Genesis Coupe has been given a new look up front, with a restyled front fascia, grille, headlamps and fog lights plus a new hood. New LED tail lights light up the back end, while LED daytime running lights will be available as an option.

    The big changes, however, are under that new hood. The base 2.0L four-cylinder gets a twin-scroll turbocharger, replacing the current single-scroll unit, and a new intercooler that’s 53% larger. The changes boost horsepower by 30 ponies to 274 and torque is now an impressive 275 lb-ft at just 2,000 rpm. The added power, however, doesn’t impact fuel economy — in fact, it has improved, says Hyundai, with ratings of 10 litres per 100 km in the city and 6.4 litres per 100 km on the highway. The optional 3.8L Lambda V6 has also gained additional power, thanks to the addition of a direct-injection system, which adds 42 hp over the current iteration for 348 ponies in total, plus a 29-lb-ft boost in torque to 295. And, like the four-cylinder, the upgrades in technology and power have also improved fuel efficiency.

    Both engines will be offered with a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or an all-new eight-speed automatic with a Shiftronic manual mode activated through paddle shifters. The 2013 Genesis Coupe will be available in early spring.

    Scion
    The history of Toyota’s participation in motorsports with such models as the 2000 GT, Sports 800 and Corolla GTS (also known as the AE86) has provided the inspiration for Scion’s latest addition to its lineup — the FR-S sports car. This 2+2 coupe, which has been developed jointly with Subaru, is powered by a 2.0L horizontally opposed, high-compression four-cylinder coupled to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

    The newly developed Subaru boxer engine, which has been fitted with Toyota’s new D-4S injection system featuring both direct and port injection, kicks out 200 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. The low positioning for the flat engine, combined with the car’s light weight (1,225 kilograms) and compact size (4,230 millimetres in length), gives the rear-wheel-drive FR-S ideal balance — just the ticket for impressive dynamic credentials. It arrives in showrooms in the spring.

    Sharing the stage was a competition version of the FR-S, which will be driven in the 2012 Formula DRIFT series by veteran Ken Gushi. The car, a joint venture between Scion Racing and the performance products firm GReddy, packs 600 tire-shredding horses under its hood.

    Toyota
    There’s a new sibling in the Prius family of hybrids — the Prius C (for city). It’s basically Prius Lite, a smaller, lighter but impressively efficient five-door hatchback particularly suited for urban use. Its combined fuel consumption rating is just 3.7 L/100 km, says Toyota. The C’s length is 485 mm shorter than the standard mid-sized Prius — 3,995 mm overall. It’s also 246 kg lighter. The powertrain consists of a 1.5L four-cylinder and a 45-kilowatt electric motor that combine for a total output of 99 hp.

    This new subcompact also opens the door for young buyers on a budget to gain access to hybrid technology, with a starting price in Canada of less than $21,000. It should arrive in showrooms in March.


    4:32 pm on January 13, 2012
     

  • Detroit • The role of the “concept” show car used to be so simple. Invariably outrageously sculpted, the concept car was intended to wow audiences into an automaker’s display area so they might then be tempted into one of the company’s less striking but eminently more practical production automobiles. Jet cars, motorcycles with car engines, phantasmagorical off-roaders with gun turrets and not even a hint of on-road practicality were all rendered with the same final destination — the museum or the scrap heap.

    Related

    Then Dodge had the audacity to actually produce the Viper, a totally off-the-wall roadster we all assumed was just the musing of another testosterone-fuelled stylist yet to have his, er, cojones chopped off by the realities of the real world. The world of concept cars was forever changed.

    Now there are concepts just for display purposes, still others looking for public acceptance so that their backers will develop the testicular fortitude to produce them and still others that are concept in name only, the only difference between them and what will hit showroom floors in a few months being the location of the badge and the colour of the inlays in their alloy wheels. Hell, this year, Chevrolet even introduced the “virtual” concept car — two whose final styling it plans to palm off on the social media network as some sort of mass-market focus group trial by Internet.

    Nonetheless, the bottom line is that a concept car must thrill show goers, professionals and consumers alike. And at this year’s North American International Auto Show, the car that did that best was the return of Acura’s evergreen NSX. Never mind that it was the worst-kept secret of the entire show — or that it is unlikely that even the wheels will change before the revitalized supercar goes on sale later this year. And pay no mind to the Hybrid badge on its side, Honda making much of the fact that the car’s 3.5-litre V6 is backed up by an electric motor. The reason crowds of normally sanguine autojournalists flocked to Acura’s booth is that the NSX is just so hot — as in Ferrari, Lamborghini and, yes, even Audi R8 hot. If the new one is at all as technically competent as the original, Acura dealers are going to have to start booking appointments to prevent showroom overcrowding.

    Acura had another so-called “concept” on the floor in the form of the ILX, essentially Acura’s newest entry-level sport sedan. Far funkier than Honda’s stillborn Civic, if Acura futzes with the ILX’s styling at all, it would be very silly indeed.

    Another “concept” almost assuredly heading for production, albeit much later (possibly in 2014), is Volvo’s XC60 Plug-In Hybrid. Though the Swedish-cum-Chinese automaker is late to the hybrid game, it is throwing the entire gamut of fuel-conserving technology hardware into the electrified XC60. First, the four-cylinder engine is a small 2.0L turbocharged unit (à la Ford EcoBoost) with a whopping 280 horsepower. It drives the front wheels through an eight-speed transmission for even more miserly fuel economy. A 70-hp electric motor, meanwhile, drives the rear wheels (making the XC an all-wheel-drive, through-the-road hybrid) and combines with the gas motor for a very impressive 350 hp.

    All that horsepower doesn’t mean poor fuel economy, however. Volvo’s PHEV features three driver-selectable modes — Pure, Hybrid and Power — that allow the driver to tailor the XC60’s performance/consumption balance on the fly.

    Pure is an all-electric mode good for 102 MPGe (miles per U.S. gallon gasoline equivalent) and 50 kilometres of range thanks to a 12 kW-h lithium ion battery. Hybrid combines gas and electric motors for minimal consumption, said to be in the range of 4.7 L/100 km. And Power, as the name suggests, combines the full effect of the 280-hp gasoline and 70-hp electric motors to scoot to 100 kilometres an hour in less than six seconds, fuel economy be damned. Volvo may be late to the party, but the XC60 is an impressive first effort.

    Not (yet) scheduled for production — but it probably should be — is Lexus’ fantastic LF-FC roadster concept. A 2+2 coupe worthy of comparisons with BMW’s 650i and even Mercedes’ SL, the LF-FC is daring in a way we haven’t seen in a long time from a Japanese luxury automaker. The “spindle” grille’s lines are exaggerated to good effect, the side sightlines are classic Euro coupe and the rear end features tail lights that look they should be on an F-16. The LF is a hybrid, although Lexus will not detail the powertrain. We are, of course, hoping for big horsepower to accompany its projected parsimony. Inside, there’s more of the connectivity that’s making the rounds of the Detroit auto show, with an iPad-like tablet built into the Lexus’s centre console.

    Less likely for production but no less comely is the Smart-for-us pickup. Of course, North Americans like their pickups writ large, but the Smart topless roadster is just too cute to ignore, even if the bicycles stored in the display model’s rear bed seem to dwarf the micro car. The for-us is also electric powered, with a 73-hp motor said to accelerate the micro car, er, pickup to 100 km/h in approximately five seconds. Don’t go to your local Mercedes dealers asking when you can buy one — there are no plans for production.

    Yet another twist in the concept format was Chevrolet’s introduction of two cars — the Tru 140S and the Code 130R — it hopes to design by consensus. The 140S is a classic coupe, albeit one with a whole bunch more Italian influence than anything we’ve seen out of Detroit in a very long time, while the 130R looks a little like an original M3 that’s been seriously butched up with massive fender flares and a big trunk-mounted rear wing. Both look to be powered by conventional 1.4L turbocharged Ecotec motors. Less conventional is that Chevy is looking to social media input to further solidify design and content. I’m not sure about this “focus-grouping” of the young; had GM asked me the same questions in my youth, the 130R would have ended up with about a bazillion horsepower, no trunk and speakers the size of a house. Be careful what you wish for.

    But, for the ultimate in futuristic design at the Detroit auto show, you have to head to the displays that cultivate the industry’s future automotive stylists, namely design schools such as the College for Creative Studies and the Lawrence Technological University. Both offer coming designers a forum to display their wares for the established automotive world to see. I can tell you that Lincoln, for one, should take some of their futuristic designers very seriously. With youth comes enthusiasm and, Lord knows, Ford’s luxury brand could use some of that.


    2:19 pm on January 13, 2012