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.