Eight Ideas That Transformed the Auto Industry in 2008

By Nina Russin
 

Refueling the Honda FCX Clarity

I like to think that difficult times bring out the best in people. Although 2008 was the toughest year the automotive industry experienced in decades, it was also an opportunity for engineers and designers to change the way we think about and drive cars. From alternative fuels to a car that stops itself, here are my top picks for the best new technologies of 2008.

1. The Car That Runs on Air

Although hydrogen fuel cells are nothing new, a fuel cell-powered production car is revolutionary. The Honda FCX Clarity runs on air, emits only water, and has three times the fuel efficiency of a modern, gas-powered hybrid car.

Power comes from an electric motor that runs on electricity generated in a hydrogen fuel cell.

The production model is the second-generation FCX: the original car was the first fuel cell-powered vehicle to meet all federal safety regulations, and to start and operate in sub-freezing temperatures.

Honda plans to lease about two hundred vehicles to customers in Southern California over the next three years. The biggest challenge to widespread distribution of fuel cell vehicles is infrastructure: the only FCX Clarity refueling stations and service facilities are in the Los Angeles area.
Honda is currently working on a home refueling station Plug Power Inc. The FCX Clarity has a range of 280 miles between fill-ups.

2. The Car That Stops Itself

The Volvo XC60 doesn’t roll out until 2009, but I had a chance to experience its innovative city safety technology at the manufacturer’s desert proving grounds in Phoenix, Arizona last summer.

The purpose of the technology is to prevent low-speed accidents. It will automatically apply the brakes at speeds up to nineteen miles-per-hour, if a collision is imminent and the driver fails to take action.

A laser sensor on the top of the windshield monitors objects and vehicles up front: it can detect objects within thirteen feet of the XC60’s front bumper. If the car’s on-board the computer determines that the driver is not responding, it automatically takes action.

The laser sensor works in both daylight and at night. Engineers expect that city safety will drastically reduce the number of low-speed collisions.

3. Wake-up Call

The driver monitor system on the Lexus 600h hybrid sedan prevents drivers from falling asleep at the wheel.

The system uses three cameras: two in front of the car that work with a radar sensor to monitor vehicles and objects ahead, and one in the steering wheel that monitors the driver’s face.

If the system detects that the driver has not looked ahead for a few seconds and there is a vehicle or object ahead, it alerts the driver with an audible alarm and flashing light. As the car gets closer to the object, the system can gently apply the brakes.

The on-board computer also reprograms the car’s power steering ratio, making it more aggressive, so the driver can steer around the obstacle.

4. Better Night Vision

Adaptive bi-xenon headlamps available on the Audi Q7 sport-utility vehicle help the driver see into unlit corners of the road at night. The system responds to steering wheel inputs: it sends a beam of light to the side of the road that the driver is turning towards.

Not only does adaptive lighting make it easier for drivers to navigate winding roads at night; they also protect pedestrians at intersections, who wouldn’t be seen with conventional headlamps.

5. No More Blind Spots

Both Audi and Volvo have introduced blind spot warning systems that help to prevent lane-change accidents. Audi’s side assist feature on the Q7 uses two radar sensors in the vehicle’s rear bumper: the sensors monitor vehicles within sixteen feet of blind spots to the sides and back of the vehicle.

If another car moves into this area, yellow LEDs in the sideview mirror illuminate. If despite this, the driver signals to change lanes, the LEDs become brighter and start to flash.

6. Clean diesel

Clean diesel isn’t a new concept in Europe, but it is in the United States, following federal legislation mandating its availability beginning in the fall of 2007. The reduced sulphur diesel produces fewer carbon dioxide emissions that gasoline, and offers a twenty-five to thirty percent increase in overall fuel economy.

Diesel cars got a bad rep in the States during the 1970s and 80s, due to products that performed poorly and had poor service records. New high-pressure diesel systems have similar throttle response to gasoline engines, and lack the annoying diesel tick that characterized the earlier models.

Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Audi all offer clean diesel versions of their popular gasoline models for sale in the states. The Mercedes-Benz ML 320CDI with its BlueTec diesel engine was a finalist in our 2009 Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year green car competition. The M-Class might have won, were it not for another clean diesel product that took the honor: the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Sportwagen.

7. Evolved Hybrids

With the first generation of gasoline/electric cars behind them, automakers are introducing new models that are more affordable, have better batteries, and can run further on pure electric power.

When Honda introduces the second-generation Insight next spring, it will make hybrid technology affordable to the budget-conscious buyer. While Honda hasn’t yet announced pricing, spokespersons promise that the five-passenger Insight will be its least expensive hybrid.

An eco drive assist feature allows the driver to modify engine, transmission and air conditioning controls to improve gas mileage. It also schools the driver on fuel-saving habits. A colored background behind the speedometer turns green when the driver is saving fuel, and blue when he is driving too aggressively.

The two-mode hybrid technology developed by General Motors, Chrysler and BMW gives big trucks the same fuel economy as small sedans in city driving. The system, that debuted on the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, runs on pure electric power at very low speeds.

At speeds over 25 miles-per-hour, electric motors allow the truck’s V8 gas engine to run on four cylinders for extended periods of time. The Tahoe Hybrid has an EPA rating of 21 miles-per-gallon in city driving: a fifty percent increase over the gas-powered model.

The 2010 Chevrolet Volt that goes on sale next fall is an extended-range electric car that runs up to forty miles on pure electric power. After that, a gas-powered generator recharges the lithium-ion battery pack on the go, giving the Volt a range of up to four hundred miles between fill-ups.

8. Plug-in Mini

The Mini E that debuted at the 2008 LA Auto Show has a range of up to 156 miles, and relatively short recharge time: about two hours.
Power comes from a lightweight lithium-ion battery pack. The Mini E accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in 8.5 seconds.
Mini will deliver the first 500 Mini E cars to customers in New York and Los Angeles, beginning in December.

2008 Los Angeles Auto Show

By Nina Russin

Honda Press Conference

Auto shows are as much about swagger as substance: a person could go blind from the proliferation of smoke and mirrors. This year’s LA auto show was lighter on bravado and heavier on news, as automakers faced what will at best be remembered as a challenging time in the business.

General Motors pulled its press conference a week before press days. The rest of the media preview remained in tact, with a conspicuous absence of champagne and cheese cubes.

Nissan president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, expressed industry-wide concerns in his keynote speech to the Motor Press Guild Wednesday morning:

“October was the worst month for US auto sales in twenty-five years,” he stated. “We are clearly in uncharted territory…”

“Everyone is hoping that pent-up demand is building and consumers will soon start buying again, but we really don’t know when that will happen. We have to in the meantime adapt in function of these threatening circumstances, balance short- and long-term objectives in order to maintain viability and a future.”

Greening of America

Manufacturers seem to agree that environmentally-friendly vehicles that use sustainable fuels are driving the current market. Even though gas prices have dropped, customers haven’t forgotten the summer of four dollar-per-gallon fuel. As purse-strings tighten, buyers are looking beyond window stickers, to the long-term costs of owning a vehicle.

As has been the trend, Japanese automakers are sticking with hybrid technology in the short term, and looking towards fuel cells within the decade. Europe believes clean diesel is the way to go, though BMW bucked the trend with its 7 Series hybrid concept.

Honda and Toyota, both long-term advocates of hybrid powertrains, stayed the course. Honda unveiled the Insight concept: a compact car that offers many of the same features as the Civic hybrid, but with a lower sticker price.

Honda’s FC Sport combines Formula One racing technology with the automaker’s next-generation fuel cells in a three-passenger sports car.
The Lexus RX 450h is a more powerful, refined version of the sport-utility vehicle it replaces, with a 295-horsepower engine and 3500-pound towing capacity. An optional remote-touch navigation system includes a new causal language voice recognition feature.

A wide-angle side view monitor uses a camera under the passenger side window to eliminate blind spots in that area. The newest Lexus will also feature Toyota’s pre-collision system that applies the brakes in the event of an imminent collision, and adaptive headlamps that follow the steering wheel to light corners in the road.

Ford hopes to give the upstage the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry hybrids with its two newest alternative fuel midsize sedans: the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids. Both use an Atkinson cycle version of the new 2.5-liter four cylinder engine, and have a range of 700 city miles between fill-ups.

Ford’s Sync system now includes a 911 alert, that automatically notified emergency medical personnel if the vehicle’s airbags deploy. Volvo’s blind spot information system comes to the new Fusion as well, alerting the driver about vehicles passing through blind spots to the rear of the car.

Hyundai Goes Blue

Hyundai joins the legion of alternative fuel brands with a full hybrid version of the next-generation Sonata. The 2010 Sonata uses a parallel hybrid drive system and lithium polymer battery technology.

The Sonata hybrid is part of a new environmental initiative that Hyundai calls Blue Drive: the objective is a fleet average of thirty-five miles-per-gallon by the year 2015. Hyundai also unveiled a crossover concept powered by a turbocharged gasoline direct injection engine.

Long-term Hyundai Blue Drive technology includes plug-in hybrids and fuel cell cars.

Green Diesel

The Green Car Journal awarded the Volkswagen Jetta TDI this year’s Green Car of the Year award. Readers may recall that the Jetta TDI Sportwagen was our pick for 2009 Green ALV.

“Hybrids have dominated the discussion of environmentally positive vehicles in recent years,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com.

“The highly fuel efficient, 50 state emissions certified Jetta TDI shows that advanced clean diesel has arrived and is poised to change this dynamic. With its affordable price point, refined ride and handling, and high fuel economy, the Jetta TDI shows that hybrids now have a strong competitor in the marketplace.”

Audi, which invented the turbo-diesel technology it shares with sibling-brand, Volkswagen, recapped its recent mileage marathon: a coast-to-coast drive in four of the automaker’s turbo-diesel models: the A3, A4, Q5 crossover, and Q7 sport-utility vehicle. A turbo-diesel version of the Q7 arrives stateside next April.

Zoom-zoom With a Conscience

The 2010 Mazda3 four-door sedan meets partial zero-emission vehicle standards with a 148-horsepower four-cylinder engine. The new engine utilizes variable valve timing to maximize fuel economy and performance.

There are two front-wheel drive models: the four-door i, with a five-speed manual transmission, and the four-door s, with a six-speed manual.

Buyers can opt for a five-speed automatic transmission instead. Both manual and automatic models average 33 miles-per-gallon on the highway.

Mazda will roll out the five-door hatchback model closer to production.

Smart Hot Rod

Smart, which produces the only micro-car currently sold in the US, is adding a Brabus edition to its line-up. The German tuning specialist, best known for its work with Mercedes-Benz, is spicing up the smart fortwo exterior with special wheels and ground effects, special headlamps and dual exhausts.

The Brabus smart has the same three-liter engine and five-speed automated manual transmission as the base model, but adds a sport-tuned suspension.

Inside, the Brabus edition adds perforated gas and brake pedals, ambient lighting, a special shift and handbrake lever. The Brabus coupe starts at $17,990; pricing for the cabriolet begins at $20,990.

Kia’s Got Soul

The 2010 Kia Soul is a boxy crossover similar in feel to the Scion xB. Like the xB, the Soul encourages customization, with four available trim levels, ranging from a value-priced base model, to the sport grade, with eighteen-inch wheels and ground effects.

There are two available engines: a 1.6-liter block rated at 120-horsepower, and a 140-horsepower two-liter block. Both cars come standard with a five-speed manual transmission. Buyers who chose the bigger block can opt for a four-speed automatic at no additional cost.

Inside, the five-passenger Soul has fourteen storage zones, a state-of-the-art audio system with MP3, iPod, Bluetooth, and satellite radio capability. An optional audio upgrade adds a 315-watt external amplifier.

Buyers can use a dedicated web site to order their cars, choosing from a variety of interior and exterior colors and options.

Nissan Cube

Nissan adds its take on the box with wheels in the 2009 Cube: a five passenger crossover with a small footprint and tall, square cargo bay. Powered by a 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, the Cube is an environmentally friendly package with an estimated thirty mile-per-gallon fuel economy.

The Cube comes in three grades, with a range of accessories for those who like to customize. A wrap-around rear window brings more ambient light inside the Cube, as compared to its Scion competitor.

New Z

Nissan also unveiled the newest Z sports car. The 370Z coupe rolls out in January, followed by the roadster for the 2010 model year. The new Z is slightly shorter than the outgoing model, with a more powerful V6 engine.

Engineers enhanced the coupe’s torsional rigidity for better handling and performance, and took almost a hundred pounds out of its overall weight.

Buyers can opt for a six-speed manual or new seven-speed automatic transmission with manual gear selection: both deliver slightly better fuel economy than the current model.

As with its predecessors, the new Z is a driver-oriented car with a race-inspired cockpit, low center of gravity and extremely low coefficient of drag. Base price will be about $30,000, making the 370Z one of the best values in the sports car market.

2009 Nissan Frontier 4X4 CC SE

Mid-sized pickup truck geared towards active lifestyles
By Nina Russin

2009 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab

The Nissan Frontier is a value-packed offering for drivers who like to venture off-road and tow the occasional trailer. The crew cab four-by-four model approaches the functionality of the full-sized Nissan Titan, in a smaller, more practical package.

Value-conscious buyers can opt for the base XE king cab model with rear-wheel drive, that retails for $17,460, not including a $695 destination charge. The four-wheel drive SE grade tested starts at $21,540.

Power comes from a four-liter V-6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission. A control on the center stack allows drivers to shift between rear-wheel, four-wheel high and low modes on the fly. The four-wheel high gears give drivers extra traction on ice and snow, while the low gears provide the extra torque necessary for off-road trails.

Geared to Active Lifestyles

Nissan’s design studio is located in San Diego, giving its staff good access to people who spend lots of time out of doors. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Xterra sport-utility vehicle and Frontier pickup.

Both have the versatility athletes look for without a lot of comfort and convenience features they might not want to invest in.

The cargo bed on the Frontier is a perfect example: it comes from the factory with a waterproof bedliner and cargo tracks with tie-down cleats for securing large cargo. An optional bed extender that slides along the cargo tracks can divide the cargo bed into two sections, or make it longer.
A low liftover height makes it easier for women to load up the back.

Optional cargo trays and modular storage units make the bed as functional as the back of many sport-utility vehicles.

Easy to Take Off-Road

Engineers located all of the sensitive underbody components inside the frame rails: the Frontier has just under nine inches of running ground clearance. They also modified the V-6 engine that the Frontier shares with the Maxima, Altima, Murano and Quest, giving it a longer, smoother torque curve.

The five-speed automatic transmission includes a large overdrive gear to boost highway fuel economy: about nineteen miles-per-gallon on the four-wheel drive model. Its forty-five hundred pound curb weight and its two-box design hurts the Frontier’s overall gas mileage. Sixteen mile-per-gallon fuel economy is at the low end for vehicles in its segment.

The engine reaches peak torque at fairly low speeds, giving it excellent acceleration in the twenty-to-fifty mile-per-hour range. The Frontier can tow up to 6500 pounds: double our ALV minimum requirement.
The durable engine block requires minimal maintenance: it includes a timing chain in lieu of a belt, a forged steel crankshaft, and spark plugs rated up to 105,000 miles.

Front tow hooks and a full-sized spare are important features for anyone who drives off-road. Buyers can opt to add hill descent control and hill start assist, enhancing directional control on steep grades.

Nissan added a Pro-4X grade to the Frontier line-up last year, with enhanced off-road features. It adds skid plates under the fuel tank and oil pan, trail-rated tires, high-pressure shocks, and a limited-slip rear differential.

Small Enough for City Driving

The mid-sized Frontier rides on a 126-inch wheelbase . It fits easily in the average parking slot, and is more maneuverable on crowded urban highways than a full-sized truck.

The solid rear axle has a harsher ride than a fully-independent suspension, but it improves the truck’s handling when towing a trailer.

Standard four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel antilock braking stop the truck in a firm, linear fashion. Sixteen-inch wheels and tires provide a big enough footprint on and off-road. Buyers can dress up the exterior by upgrading to eighteen-inch alloy wheels.

A tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel gives drivers a better forward view. Manual seats on the test truck have surprisingly good lower lumbar support.

Speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering makes the Frontier maneuverable in parking lots, and gives it a positive on-center feel at speed.

Forward and rear visibility are surprisingly good. The wide B-pillar on the crew cab creates a large blind spot next to the driver which I found annoying. The side mirrors don’t compensate for it well: I had to look through the rear side window for oncoming traffic before changing lanes.

Practical interior

The standard cloth trim on the SE grade is attractive and easier to clean than leather. I was surprised by how good lower back support was on the manually adjustable seats.

All four doors have molded-in bottle holders. Both rows of passengers have access to large cupholders: in the floor console and in back of the center console bin. Rubber inserts are an annoyance: they cling to bottles and often end up outside the truck.

Two-twelve volt outlets allow the driver and front passenger to recharge portable electronic devices on the go. There are plenty of small compartments around the two front seats for stowing compact discs, cell phones and PDAs.

A two-piece glovebox holds maps and paperwork: the bottom section locks, providing secure storage for a wallet at the trailhead.

The standard audio system includes an AM/FM radio and single-slot CD player. Buyers can upgrade to a Rockford /Fosgate system that adds satellite radio, MP3 jack, Bluetooth compatibility, and a six-disc player.

Both front and rear passengers get overhead reading lamps. Designers put handles on both the A and B pillars, easing access and egress for smaller passengers. Crew cab doors are hinged at the front: the rear seats are quite easy to get in and out of.

An optional sunroof brings additional ambient light inside: a boon for second-row passengers. The second-row seats have ample head and legroom in the outboard positions. The middle seat is workable for short trips or holding a child safety seat.

Standard Safety

The SE grade comes standard with front airbags, active front head restraints, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Vehicle stability control is available as part of an option package that also adds hill descent control and hill start assist. Side curtain airbags are a stand-alone option.
Nissan builds the Frontier at its Smyrna, Tennessee assembly plant.

Likes: A mid-sized truck designed for active lifestyles. The cargo tie-down system in the cargo bed makes the Frontier easy to load up with bicycles and other large cargo. Nissan includes everything the driver needs to go off-road out of the box.

Dislikes: Poor overall fuel economy. The large B-pillar creates a blind spot on the driver’s side that the mirrors don’t compensate for.

Quick facts:

Base price: $25,960
Price as tested: $28,785
Horsepower: 261 Hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 281 lbs.-ft. @ 4000 rpm
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Standard
First aid kit: N/A
Towing: Yes
Off-road: Yes
Fuel economy: 15/29 mpg city/highway
Comments: Base price does not include a $745 delivery charge.

2009 Mercury Mariner Premier FWD

Stylish sport-utility vehicle gets a new, fuel-efficient engine.
By Nina Russin

The compact Mercury Mariner is the stylish sibling to the Ford Escape: a

2009 Mercury Mariner

Peter Horbury design that reflects his European flair. This year, the Mariner gets a power boost, thanks to a new inline four-cylinder engine that replaces last year’s 2.3-liter unit.

A six-speed automatic transmission gives the new engine better fuel economy as well: about twenty eight miles-per-gallon on the highway. Like the Escape, the Mariner comes with Ford’s safety canopy as standard equipment. The tethered airbag keeps both rows of occupants in place in the event of a rollover collision.

The peppy Mariner is a great package for small families who need a tall, versatile cargo area for carrying gear, as well as eight inches of ground clearance for winter travel. Though the front-wheel drive Mariner doesn’t meet our active lifestyle off-road standards, it’s fine for graded dirt roads.

Mercury’s standard keypad entry system is ideal for families sharing the car: it allows passengers to use a numeric code in lieu of a key to unlock the doors. A capless fuel filler door eliminates a piece of hardware that frequently gets lost.

The capless seal eliminates a frequent refueling problem: drivers replace the filler cap improperly and get a confusing “check engine” light on the dash. The capless setup seals the filler neck to prevent vaporized gas from leaking and setting a trouble code in the car’s computer.

The test car is the upscale premier grade that retails for $24,425, not including a $725 delivery charge. An optional power moonroof, audio upgrade, navigation system and seventeen-inch wheels bring the price as tested to $29,340.

Refined powertrain

The new 2.5-liter engine is notable for not doing what most four-cylinder powerplants are guilty of: it doesn’t act anemic on the low end, and the transmission doesn’t hunt excessively during hard acceleration or on hills. In fact, the engine feels very much like a six-cylinder, but with better gas mileage.

The Mariner’s gauge cluster includes a tachometer for drivers who want to keep the revs down to conserve fuel. Ford is a major supporter of the current eco-driving initiative.

The overdrive gear on the automatic transmission makes it possible to maintain speeds over seventy-five miles-per-hour, with the engine revving below 2500 rpm. While the engine will reach speeds close to peak torque during wide-open throttle, it’s feasible to accelerate up to highway speeds while maintaining considerably lower engine speeds.

Engineers revised the car’s front and rear spoilers to reduce its coefficient of drag: aerodynamic improvements reduce wind noise as well. New fuel efficient tires, a joint venture between Mercury and Michelin, reduce road noise, making it easier for passengers to converse on the highway.

A new rear stabilizer bar reduces roll during hard cornering, while the fully-independent suspension produces a car-like ride. Power rack-and-pinion steering provides plenty of assist on the low end, while maintaining a positive on-center feel as speed. A thirty-six foot turning radius makes it easy to do the occasional U-turn in traffic.

Standard four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel antilock braking stop the Mariner in a firm linear fashion. Traction control with roll stability control prevents the wheels from spinning out on slippery surfaces, and protects occupants against rollover accidents on uneven roads.
An audible back up warning system alerts the driver about objects to the rear that may be below his line of vision.

Upscale interior

The Mariner’s two-tone interior has a decidedly urban edge, with two-tone fabric and leather trim. Colored ambient lighting in the floor and center console brightens up the interior at night.

As with many Mercury products, the Mariner appeals to women buyers with ergonomics suited to smaller drivers. The steering wheel is relatively small, yet includes redundant Bluetooth, audio and cruise controls to minimize driver distraction.

Both front passengers have easy access to the center stack, with dual-zone climate controls, hard and touch-screen audio controls, and the navigation system. A split-screen design displays navigation maps together with radio channel information and song lists. Digital indicators show both inside and outside ambient temperature.

Ford’s Sync system that allows the driver to use vocal commands for the car’s navigation and audio functions is standard. USB and MP3 ports at the base of the center stack allow drivers to download tunes into the hard drive, or simply broadcast media player music through the Mariner’s speakers. A twelve-volt powerpoint on the center stack recharges electronic devices on the go.

Ample bins and cubbies throughout the interior provide storage for maps, purses and small electronic items. There are two cupholders on the floor console, and two on the center console bin lid to service both rows of passengers. All four doors have map pockets but not bottle holders.

Second-row passengers should find adequate legroom in all three seating positions, since there is no floor tunnel. The optional moonroof brings extra ambient light into the second row. Both first and second-row passengers get overhead reading lamps.

Versatile cargo area

Second-row seats fold flat to extend the cargo floor for larger items. While it’s not a difficult operation, folding the seatbacks flat requires flipping the seat bottoms forward and removing the headrests. It puts the Mariner on the cusp in terms of our bicycle-friendly standards.

Smaller drivers will appreciate the Mariner’s low liftover height that makes it easier to slide large items in back. The rear glass can open separate from the liftgate for stashing small items. A storage area under the cargo floor keeps valuables out of sight. A standard tonneau cover hides items stored in the regular storage area.

The Mariner’s spare tire is mounted under the truck. The arrangement maximizes cargo space, but it’s harder to reach the spare during an emergency.

Standard roof rails make it easy to add an overhead rack for carrying large items. 

The fuel-efficient Mariner is on display at Mercury dealerships nationwide.

Likes: The new 2.5 liter engine and six-speed automatic transmission provide ample power with excellent fuel economy. The passenger cabin is nicely configured for five adults, with features such a Sync, available satellite radio and navigation, that will appeal to tech-savvy buyers.

Dislikes: Folding the second-row seats flat requires several steps, including flipping the seat bottoms forward and removing headrests. The spare tire under the chassis is hard to reach.

Quick facts:

Make: Mercury
Model: Mariner Premier FWD
Year: 2009
Base price: $24,425
As tested: $29,670
Horsepower: 171 Hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 171 lbs-ft. @ 4500 rpm
Zero-to-sixty: N/A
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Standard
First aid kit: N/A
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Towing: No*
Off-road: No
Fuel economy: 20/28 mpg city/highway
Comments: The six-cylinder Mariner equipped with the towing prep package meets our minimum 3500-pound towing standard.

2009 Range Rover Sport HSE

Luxury sport-utility vehicle for performance enthusiasts
By Nina Russin

2009 Range Rover Sport

The Range Rover Sport bridges the gap between the manufacturer’s off-road heritage and the on-road performance its urban-dwelling owners have come to expect. While the Sport is capable of climbing a Mayan and fording a river, it’s unlikely that most buyers will take their sixty-five thousand dollar trucks down the Rubicon trail.

Rather, drivers who aspire to active lifestyles are attracted to Range Rover’s authentic off-road capability. And while they have no intention of getting jiggy on two wheels, these buyers appreciate the brand’s exceptional capability in deep snow, on ice, and on the occasional graded dirt road.

But they also want to have fun in good weather. To answer that call, Land Rover engineers modified the popular Range Rover HSE to include two powerful V-8 engines: one naturally aspirated, and one supercharged.

Optional twenty-inch alloy wheels with high-performance Brembo brakes give the Sport a fatter footprint to stay stable in the corners, and stop on a dime. Sport and manual shift modes cater to more aggressive driving styles.

Serious off-road capability

Drivers who enjoy off-road driving will find plenty to love in the Range Rover Sport.

Unlike other products designed for the same purpose, it has an incredibly compliant ride in challenging conditions, and incorporates key technologies that make off-road driving as safe and effortless as possible. An information screen on the instrument panel shows the position of all four wheels, and all off-road controls are within easy reach of the driver’s right hand.

An electronic parking brake engages using a small lever on the center console, and disengages when the driver steps on the gas, so he can use the brake to steady the car when one or more wheels are off the ground.

The driver can shift between low and high gear ranges while the vehicle is moving, to transition from graded dirt roads to trails.

The terrain response system uses a rotary knob on the center console to modify engine throttle, gearing, suspension, hill climbs assist and downhill descent control for five conditions: general, grass and snow, mud and ruts, sand, and rock crawl. When I said that the Range Rover could scale a Mayan ruin, I wasn’t kidding.

I can also say from experience that it can ford a very deep stream and suffer no ill effects except a dirty exterior. The engine bay and interior stay completely dry.

Range Rover’s antilock braking system is designed to function off-road as well as on paved surfaces. The anti-roll mitigation keeps the truck upright on precipitous grades.

Powerful on-road performance

The test car’s naturally aspirated V-8 engine has enough low end power to launch fifty-five hundred pounds of sheet metal in a hurry. The naturally aspirated model accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in just over eight seconds.

All of this comes at the expense of fuel economy: no surprise considering the car’s weight and two-box design. EPA estimates are 12/18 miles-per-gallon on the city and highway respectively. I averaged about sixteen miles-per-gallon during my week-long test drive. FYI, the manufacturer recommends premium fuel.

A four-wheel independent air suspension gives the truck a much more compliant ride than its body-on-frame construction would suggest. The suspension automatically lowers the chassis at high speeds for better performance, and raises it up at low speeds to increase ground clearance: about 8.9 inches.

The ZF rack-and-pinion steering system is robust enough to survive a few rock bumps on the trail: it gives the truck a very reasonable turning radius of thirty-seven feet.

The standard park distance control system uses audible signals to warn the driver about objects in his blind spots. Since there are large areas to the side and rear of the truck below the driver’s sight-line, the system makes parking much easier.

Luxurious interior

While most buyers will appreciate the Range Rover’s leather upholstery, I’d like to see cloth as an option. The leather gets hot in extreme heat, and it’s harder for us active types to keep clean.

Having said that, the seats are quite comfortable with plenty of lower back support. Land Rover’s two-stage seat heaters are the best I’ve found. Living in Phoenix, I don’t need them for warmth, but they’re almost like having a physical therapist in the car. My latissimus dorsal muscles always emerge from the experience as very happy campers.

Most of the controls on the car are intuitive and easy to reach: a three gauge cluster with digital trip meter in the center, and the dual-zone climate controls, audio system controls and navigation system in the center stack.

A small, two-piece center console bin holds electronic devices. The two-part glovebox is quite large: the bottom bin can easily hold a small purse or pack.

The steering wheel includes redundant audio and Bluetooth controls to minimize driver distraction.

Window buttons are the only controls I don’t like on the car. They’re located at the front corner of each window: not the easiest spot to reach, and too close to the window opening. A driver focusing on the road could easily jam a finger.

There is enough legroom in the rear seats for small adults, though taller people may feel cramped. The second-row is wide enough to seat three across.

The center seat position folds down to create an armrest or work surface. Separate vents and a 12-volt power point are located in back of the center stack.

The seats fold flat in two stages: the seat bottom flips forward, and then the seatback folds down using a lever to the outside. It’s not necessary to remove the headrests, but they must be all the way down for the seatbacks to clear the  bottom cushions.

The Range Rover has a fairly high liftover height because it’s a tall car. Shorter drivers may have a hard time loading large cargo in back. Tie-down loops on the floor make it easier to secure big items. There is enough room in back with the second-row seats folded flat to fit a bicycle.

The Range Rover Sport doesn’t come with roof rails: a surprising omission considering the target audience. Towing capacity is 7716 pounds for a braked trailer: over double our minimum ALV standards.

Base price on the Range Rover Sport is $58,375, not including a $775 delivery charge and $100 fee for California emissions. Land Rover builds the Range Rover Sport at its assembly plant n Solihull, United Kingdom.

Likes: Authentic off-road capability with refined, powerful on-road performance. City dwellers with a love of adventure will find the best of both worlds in this luxury sport-utility vehicle.

Dislikes: Window controls are difficult to reach. The Range Rover Sport doesn’t come with roof rails.

Quick facts:

Make: Range Rover
Model: Sport HSE
Year: 2009
Base price: $58,375
As tested: $65,150
Horsepower: 300 Hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 315 lbs.-ft. @ 4000 rpm
Zero-to-sixty: 8.2 seconds
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Standard
First aid kit: N/A
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Towing: Yes
Off-road: Yes
Fuel economy: 12/18 mpg city/highway

Beating the Post-Warranty Blues

By Nina Russin
 
The downturn in the economy has everybody thinking about ways to save money, including keeping their cars longer. In addition to saving on car payments, older cars cost less to insure and in some cases, less to license.

The flip side of keeping a vehicle past the warranty period is containing repair costs. Since new car dealerships depend on their service departments as a primary source of income, the cost of service is generally higher than at independent shops.

The question is: how does the car owner find a facility with qualified technicians and reliable service?

Shopping for a Shop

The best time to find a repair shop is before the car needs service. Look for a facility close to home or work: some shops may have shuttle services to help customers get to and from their jobs.

If possible, try to get a recommendation from a friend or colleague who uses the shop. Call the service manager and schedule a time to meet. Avoid visiting the shop early in the morning or late afternoon, since technicians will be busy helping customers who are dropping off or picking up their vehicles.

Find out what types of cars the shop specializes in, and how long it has been in business. Ask the service manager about the shop’s policy for giving customers estimates.

A technician may not be able to anticipate all repair costs before he takes a look at the car. However the service manager should provide a written estimate for parts and service before starting the job.

How Shops Determine Service Costs

Shops use service manuals to determine costs for various services. The manual lists the amount of time it takes a skilled technician to perform a given repair. For example, a water pump replacement might take about forty-five minutes.

Ask the service manager its hourly rate for service. Often, independent service facilities have a lower hourly service rate than new car dealerships. Find out how long the shop will guarantee a repair for, and what the shop will do for the customer if a repair fails.

The mark-up on car parts is typically a hundred percent. A good technician should return any parts he or she has replaced, so the customer can see why the equipment on the car failed.

Repair Tools

New cars require specialized diagnostic equipment, including exhaust gas analyzers, scan tools that interface with on-board computers, oscilloscopes and sensitive digital-volt-ohm meters.

Shops that do air conditioning service also need recycling equipment for the refrigerant. Tire and wheel specialists will need alignment racks, and diagnostic equipment for antilock brake systems.

Make sure that the shop has all of the necessary tools and equipment for the types of service it performs. The service bays should be relatively clean, and the shop should have a ventilation system that cycles out toxic fumes from car exhausts.

Hand tools are extremely expensive: a good technician will keep his tools clean and organized.

ASE Certification

The National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence, also called ASE, tests and certifies automotive technicians in various aspects of car repair. The purpose of these tests is to ensure that technicians have the education and experience necessary to work on new cars.

In order to become ASE certified, a technician must have a minimum of two years experience working in his or her specialty, and be able to pass a written exam in that area. Tests cover a variety of repair topics, such as tune-ups, brakes, air conditioning, and body repair.

ASE provides technicians with certificates listing the tests they have passed. Shops that employ ASE certified technicians usually display the ASE logo outside or in the customer service area.

Ask the service manager which of the technicians are ASE certified, and find out their areas of specialization. Certificates from additional training programs indicate that technicians are current on emerging technology.

Cleanliness Counts

It doesn’t need to be fancy, but a customer waiting area should be clean. A dirty waiting room indicates that the shop doesn’t care about its customers, or perhaps its technicians as well.

Putting It All Together

Even if a repair shop meets all of these requirements, it’s a good idea to check online, and make sure that no customers have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau or local chamber of commerce.

If possible, schedule the car for a routine maintenance procedure such as a tune-up before bringing it in for a major repair. Did the shop perform the necessary repairs in a timely fashion, and was the written estimate provided accurate? Was the service staff courteous and professional? Was the service manager willing to explain the services performed, and answer any questions after the fact?

Some shops wash customer cars before returning them from service. If the shop doesn’t have the resources to do this, the vehicle should be as clean when it comes back to the customer as it was going into the shop.

A good repair shop helps customers get the most out of their cars by recommending periodic diagnostic work that detects small problems before they become big ones.

Today, most new cars will run up to 100,000 miles with little to no service. But since loan payments last five years or more, buyers find it challenging to keep their vehicles after they are paid off.

A good, independent service facility saves money on repairs, and keeps the car running reliably after the factory warranty period is over.

2009 Chevrolet Z06 Corvette

Five hundred horsepower model celebrates Corvette’s racing heritage.
By Nina Russin

A pumpkin-colored Corvette has arrived in my driveway, just in time for

2009 Chevrolet Corvette

Halloween. It seems kismet, since I didn’t have a costume planned. I love to dress up in horsepower.

Describing the Corvette as a second skin may strike some readers as odd, but that’s what the car is to me. I started out my journalism career writing for Corvette magazines. As a result, I’ve logged more miles behind the wheels of Corvettes than any other car, including ones I’ve owned.

The Corvette that has arrived in my driveway is the Z06: a high performance grade that pays tribute to the car’s racing heritage. The 6.2-liter engine in the standard Corvette coupe produces 430-horsepower: the 7-liter block in the Z06 cranks out 505, with 470 foot-pounds of torque that comes on at 4700 rpm.

My recommendation to first-time drivers is to keep the revs below peak torque. Getting too jiggy with the Z06 can easily lead to an out-of-car, out-of-body experience.

Some history

The name, “Corvette,” comes from a type of small, nineteenth century warship. The original Corvette was Chevrolet’s answer to the European sports cars than flooded America after World War II. It was the automaker’s first fiberglass-bodied car, and also the first to have an engine that produced one horsepower per cubic inch.

The Z06 designation dates back to 1963, when it was a competition package for the new Sting Ray coupe. The option cost $1818, which was a lot of money to tack onto a car that retailed for just over four thousand dollars.

But it added some important components for racing enthusiasts: bigger brakes with better cooling ducts, a heavy duty front stabilizer bar, stiffer-than-heck springs and shocks, and a long distance fuel tank that held just over thirty-six gallons of gas.

Twenty-first century ZO6

The new Z06 Corvette is the most powerful model available from the factory, with the exception of the 638-horsepower ZR-1 supercar.

The coupe’s fiberglass body panels ride on a aluminum and magnesium unibody chassis. Its curb weight is 3180 pounds, almost forty pounds less than the standard car.

Like its namesake, the new Z06 has huge brakes: six-piston calipers with drilled rotors in front, and four-piston calipers in the rear. It rides on eighteen-inch wheels in front and nineteen-inch rims in the rear, with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires. The tires are so low profile that they have to be run flats: it’s impossible to tell when they are low on air.

The Corvette has an extremely short wheelbase. At 105.7 inches, its footprint is just four inches longer than a Volkswagen Rabbit. Over the years, engineers have reduced inertial weight on the car’s front and back end to make it a better balanced, more drivable car.

Four-wheel double-wishbone independent suspension produces a firm ride in keeping with the car’s competitive nature. Power rack-and-pinion steering is exceptionally positive, with excellent on-center feel.

Taming the beast

The Corvette is a polarizing car. It’s not particularly easy to drive, and its performance appeals to a particular type of customer. Although it has all the amenities of a luxury coupe including leather seats, satellite radio, automatic climate control, and keyless start, driving the Z06 isn’t the easiest way to get to the corner grocery store.

The Corvette has an extremely stiff clutch, and maintains the same computer aided gear system that it has had for over a decade. A cog comes out when the driver shifts into first gear forcing him to shift into fourth.

The mechanism improves the car’s federal fuel economy rating to avoid a gas guzzler tax. Over time, engineers have shortened the interval during which the cog is deployed to allow aggressive shifts from first to second. But it’s an annoyance when one simply wants to mosey along in daily traffic.

The Corvette’s aggressive chin spoiler hangs up on every driveway ramp it encounters. I’m always amazed that I don’t knock these off on test cars: I attribute that to the durable and somewhat flexible rubber the spoiler is made of.

Passengers sit deep in the car’s frame to maintain a low center of gravity for high-speed stability. Designers have eliminated aggressive side bolsters which made access and egress from former models even more difficult. Still, it’s not the easiest car to get in and out of.

Bang for the buck

Despite these idiosyncrasies, I’m a big Corvette fan. One reason is that it’s a lot of car for the money. Although seventy-two thousand dollars isn’t cheap, the Z06 costs significantly less than most vehicles in its competitive segment. And when it reaches its sweet spot in the hundred miles-per-hour plus range, the experience is hard to beat.

With four-hundred seventy foot-pounds of torque, it doesn’t take long to get up to speed. The Corvette Z06 accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles per hour in 3.7 seconds.

Over the past decade, engineers resolved the nose-heavy handling of earlier models, The current ZR1 has a perfect front-to-rear weight balance, and corners like it’s on rails.

Top speed, according to the engineers, is just under two hundred miles-per-hour. Not having access to the same stretch of Nurburgring that they did, I’m not about to push the car’s limits.

Usable cargo space

While it isn’t the most practical car on the market, the Corvette is a lot more livable than some of the sports cars it competes with. It’s a hatchback, with enough room in back to hold a weekend’s worth of luggage. I’ve stuffed all of my camera equipment and two people’s luggage in back with room to spare.

Being a two-seater, there’s no way to extend the cargo floor to hold longer items like bicycles. Nor would I recommend taking the Corvette off-road, although it can creep down ungraded roads without doing too much damage to the underbody. And while it has enough horsepower and torque to tow a house, there are trucks much better suited for that job.

Miracle baby

It amazes me that Chevrolet has continued to produce the Corvette: the marque is fifty-five years old. The Corvette is a halo car: more of an image-maker than a money maker. So how has it survived the scrutiny of corporate CFOs?

The answer has to do with trickle-down technology. Components developed for the Corvette trickle down to other GM vehicles, some of which may come as a surprise. For example, full-sized Chevrolet trucks share the Corvette’s aluminum engine block.

And I’d like to think that at the end of the day, even the most callous corporate exec can’t help but appreciate the Corvette’s history. When chief engineer, Zora Arkus Duntov introduced the Corvette’s first small block V8 engine in 1956, the car reached 150 miles-per-hour in a test run at Daytona.

The Corvette went on to win numerous twelve-hour races at Sebring, and be a top contender at LeMans. With the exception of Carroll Shelby’s legendary Cobras, no other American car of its era was such a serious contender on the European circuit.

I’m a history buff myself, and I feel that history every time I get behind the wheel of a Corvette. Maybe that’s why I’m quick to forgive its foibles, though I’d be happy to see the computer aided gear system go the way of the typewriter.

Likes: An extremely well-balanced, powerful car that can go to the track on weekends, and double as a daily driver.

Dislike: Computer-aided gear system makes shifts from first to second gear more difficult.

Quick facts:

Make: Chevrolet
Model: Corvette Z06 coupe
Year: 2009
Base price: $72,405
As tested: $82,065
Horsepower: 505 Hp @ 6300 rpm
Torque: 470 lbs.-ft. @ 4800 rpm
Zero-to-sixty: 3.7 seconds
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: N/A
First aid kit: N/A
Towing: No
Off-road: No
Bicycle friendly: No
Fuel economy: 15/24 mpg city/highway.