Vehicles Blog

Updates from January, 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:

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  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
   

• Tokyo • Nissan is going to inject extra energy into its product lineup with the announcement here that Nismo — a Japanese performance-tuning enterprise that has operated (until now) outside the Nissan family — will be embraced within the corporate structure.

  Photo Gallery: 2011 Tokyo Motor Show

  2011 Tokyo Motor Show: Honda’s new technology put to the test

  2011 Tokyo Motor Show: Cars we won’t see in Canada

  Nismo has been tweaking Nissan products for 30 years and has become a very successful brand, especially here in Japan. For example, this past racing season, Nismo teams won every racing series it entered. Now, Nissan chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn wants that DNA injected into his company’s product lineup and is building the firm a new facility adjacent to Nissan’s research and development operations to make that goal a reality.

  To demonstrate what the closer relationship can do, Ghosn introduced the Nismo Juke concept, a hint of what future Nismo-massaged vehicles will look like.

  Ian Forsyth, Nissan Canada’s director of corporate planning and business strategy, says plans for Nismo include a range of vehicles — and he adds that he is looking “real seriously” at putting the Juke version in his dealers’ showrooms. Forsyth says the focus of Nismo will not just be tuner and performance parts, but complete vehicles such as the Juke concept. Such vehicles will be integrated into the product portfolio, taking performance and driver experience to new heights without going to the extreme, all-or-nothing level of Mercedes-Benz’s AMG models, for example.

  This approach is in tune with the changes made to the Juke, a sporty compact crossover that’s already creating its own market segment with more than 232,000 units sold globally. Shinji Sasaki, chief designer in Nissan’s global design centre and the creator of the current Maxima sedan, was charged with giving the production Juke some Nismo flavour. He says the changes made to the vehicle reflect the direction he will be taking with other Nismo versions of Nissan products. Specifically, Sasaki says exterior changes that improve a vehicle’s aerodynamics and stability at speed will be one part of a Nismo makeover. Inside the cabin, controls, gauges, seats and other elements will be upgraded to make them more driver-oriented, enhancing the driving experience by adding a more sporty flair. And, naturally, engines will be tweaked to a higher level of performance.

  In the case of the Nismo Juke concept, its aerodynamic efficiency — and overall look — has been improved with a body kit that includes a new grille pattern, revised lower fascias front and rear, wider fenders and side sill skirts. The tailgate spoiler has been modified by the addition of side elements to control airflow more efficiently, while the shape of the exterior mirrors has been altered to enhance aerodynamic performance and reduce front and rear lift without increasing drag.

  The chassis has been lowered and stiffened using parts that will be available from an expanded Nismo parts catalogue. The new macho exterior is completed with the addition of stylish 19-inch alloy wheels. Nismo tuning experts have also worked some magic on the 1.6-litre direct-injection turbo gasoline engine, resulting in more power and higher response and performance.

  Inside, Sasaki points out several changes that better interact with the driver’s senses. The tachometer, for example, has a gauge face and needle that are illuminated in red because, he says, “that instrument is very important to the driver.”
  The look and feel of such items as the steering wheel, pedals, gauges, shifter knob and door trim have been redesigned to provide a greater sense of involvement for the driver. The special racing-style front seats are trimmed in soft charcoal suede with contrasting red stitching for a very sporty look.

  Nismo president Shoichi Miyatani says the changes his team plans to make to future products will bring “new levels of individuality to mainstream Nissan cars such as the Juke. The future for Nismo is to develop premium sport designs for an ever-widening range of customers. Our forthcoming range of cars will be just as accessible and innovative as every Nissan product, but with added Nismo energy they will be even more fun to own and drive.”

  Andy Palmer, executive vice-president of product planning, marketing and communication for Nissan, said in a roundtable chat here that the rebirth of Nismo is an exciting step forward for his company. “Nismo will go global,” Palmer promises. “It is a genuine racing asset — race car company meets car company — and its genuine DNA will be put into our production models.”

  Palmer says the global sales success of the Juke proves consumers are looking for something different. “We can’t make enough of them.” As for the vehicle’s polarizing styling, he adds, “I’m cool with the fact some people hate it.”

  Nissan will continue to stay true to its roots, Palmer says, executing innovative products and design such as the Juke and the zero-emissions Leaf, while also building products that generate excitement, such as the scorching hot GT-R supercar. “I can’t think of another Japanese automaker that could bring you both those types of vehicles, the Leaf and the GT-R.”

  And that commitment won’t change, Palmer says. “Not while I’m in this chair. Nissan products will not be boring during my watch.”

  Pointing to the Nismo Juke, Palmer says it’s an answer for customers looking for a vehicle that’s beyond the norm. “It’s energetic, distinctive and highly desirable.”

  Other Nissan introductions here also included a Nismo concept version of the Leaf, as well as a trio of futuristic exercises. The ESFlow is an electric two-seater that can accelerate to 100 kilometres an hour in less than five seconds. The Townpod EV is a look at future crossover design, with interior space features that will suit business or family needs. Finally, the PIVO3 is the latest generation of a series of small, electric concepts.

  This three-seater features a centre-positioned driver’s seat, with the passenger seats located on either side. Its technological features include a system that lets the car find its own parking spot, then returns to pick you up when summoned by a smartphone. Mechanically, the PIVO3’s four-wheel steering enables it to turn around in less than two metres — truly a boon for drivers having to cope with the intense traffic here.

  
  

  

  
  11:38 am on December 1, 2011
   

• Yokosuka, Japan • The earthquakes and tsunami in Japan earlier this year has that country re-evaluating its sources of electricity — and those concerns are helping kick-start development of electric vehicles as an additional resource to the nation’s power grid.

  The battery that powers the all-electric Nissan Leaf is a significant storage unit for electrical energy. In fact, Nissan says the battery’s six kilowatts of power is sufficient electricity to supply the needs of a typical household for two days. It’s also capable of storing photovoltaic energy generated by wind and/or solar panels through its power control system.

  
  The Japanese automaker is actively working with the government here to develop the concept of tapping into electric vehicles such as the Leaf as a viable part of the power supply grid. With Nissan expecting to sell 1.5 million electric vehicles annually by 2016, this supplementary power source could play a role in enhancing electrical infrastructures around the world, assuming various regulatory issues can be resolved.

  This new chapter in the Leaf story was only part of an extensive global media briefing held at Nissan’s Oppama proving ground this week prior to the opening of the Tokyo Motor Show. The company pulled the covers off several technological innovations it’s working on. Some features we’ll be seeing soon; others may be farther down the road. For example, in an effort to make recharging more convenient for Leaf owners, Nissan engineers have developed a wireless charging system. Simply park the car over the pad, which recharges the battery through electromagnetic induction— no plug-in is required. Engineers say the charging efficiency of the wireless unit is about 80% to 90%, similar to a plug-in charger.

  While the Leaf is grabbing all the EV attention at the moment, Nissan continues to work on developing a practical fuel cell stack, which its engineers say will be the solution for long-range use of electric vehicles. They showed off a third-generation, in-house-developed cell that features 2.5 times the power density of the previous unit, yet is 50% smaller in size. Weight has been reduced to 40 kilograms from 120 kg and its cost to produce has been reduced significantly. This new, compact fuel cell stack will still cost about $200,000 to produce, but that’s about 10% of the price tag on the original iteration. Engineers working on the project are confident those cost figures can be reduced further. In fact, they’re currently working on developing fourth and fifth generations of the stack and promise these new units will be very different from the model just introduced — and more cost-efficient. Interestingly, Nissan’s fuel cell technology connects directly to the powertrain used in the Leaf, so there’s no need to develop an electric motor system specifically for use in its fuel cell-powered vehicles.

  Efforts to develop new environmental technologies and reduce carbon dioxide emissions — as well as global dependence on non-renewable resources — are only part of Nissan’s story. The company is also committed to developing new safety technologies. It has set a goal of cutting in half the number of fatal and serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015, with the ultimate objective of reducing that number to substantially zero. While that may sound like a lofty target, there has already been significant progress. In 1995, there were 15.3 fatal and serious injuries per 10,000 units of Nissan vehicles in Japan. That total has already been cut in half (it was 7.2 in 2009) and the prospect of reaching close to zero seems to be attainable. In the United States, the record is similar, with the number of fatalities per 10,000 units reduced to 1.63 from 3.14.

  Much of the credit for these improvements in vehicle safety can be attributed to Nissan’s Safety Shield concept, which includes nine technologies — lane departure prevention and lane departure warning, distance control assist and forward collision warning, around-view monitoring system, blind spot warning and intervention systems, plus backup collision intervention and rear moving-object detection.

  Now that suite of safety technologies is about to expand. For example, an acceleration suppression system will soon be available that overrides misapplication of the pedals. In other words, when someone accidentally stomps on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal as they pull into a parking stall, the system will apply the brakes and stop the car before it hits the bricks. This technology really works. Creeping up to a foam wall, I was told to mash the gas pedal. I put it to the floor and the car moved forward, then halted abruptly with about 15 to 20 centimetres to spare. The system also works when backing into a parking spot.

  Another nifty new system I experienced is what Nissan calls a predictive forward collision warning. Basically, the car sends a forward radar signal that not only detects the vehicle in front, but also the vehicle ahead of that — the signal is channelled under the vehicle immediately in front. If the lead vehicle, which typically can’t be properly seen, suddenly changes speed or stops, the system will issue a series of warnings. An icon is displayed on the dash, there is an audible signal and the seat belts tighten. In a hands-on test, it worked to perfection. I followed a big SUV, which completely blocked my view ahead. The car ahead of it suddenly stopped and the SUV swerved to avoid a collision. I, on the other hand, would have barrelled into the rear of the stopped car had I not already been warned that trouble was brewing. I was able to make an avoidance manoeuvre with ease. However, the system, which has a forward range of about 150 metres, does not apply your vehicle’s brakes — that’s still left to the driver. Expect to see this feature available on Infiniti models soon.

  One can also expect to see greater use of cameras as multi-sensing systems in future Nissan products, and not just in the high-end Infiniti lineup. Nissan is developing front and rear camera systems that not only provide a typical view, but also integrate other safety features such as pedestrian avoidance (at speeds up to 30 km/h), lane change and blind spot warnings, rear-view warning of objects and persons (especially little ones) and forward collision avoidance warning. By integrating single cameras front and rear with these technologies, costs are reduced enough that these safety features can be available on models further down the lineup, rather than limited to the upscale vehicles.

  
  

  

  
  2:29 pm on November 30, 2011