2011 Kia Sorento EX V6

Compact crossover is Kia’s first car built in the USA

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Sorento

The original Kia Sorento that debuted for the 2003 model year was a sport-utility vehicle engineered for off-road performance. This January, an all-new Sorento rolls into Kia’s 650 US dealerships: a compact cross-utility vehicle marketed towards young families with active lifestyles. Its unibody chassis is similar to a passenger car, whereas the former model was built on a truck platform.
 
The new chassis is longer and lower: longer to accommodate an available third-row seat, and lower to enhance highway performance. Kia remains true to its value pricing strategy: the base four-cylinder front-wheel drive model starts under $20,000.

Both the four-cylinder engine and available V6 come with an all-new six-speed automatic transmission. Cars equipped with the V6 meet the ALV 3500-pound towing standard.

All-wheel drive, available with either engine, enhances wet weather performance by transferring engine torque to the wheels with the best traction. Standard hill descent control and hill-start assist improve maneuverability on steep grades.

New West Point, Georgia manufacturing plant

The Sorento is the first Kia built on American soil. Kia‘s West Point, Georgia manufacturing facility represents a one billion dollar investment, giving the automaker a comparable US presence to Honda and Toyota. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Lexus HS 250h

Luxury hybrid sedan

By Nina Russin

2010 Lexus HS 250h

When the Toyota Prius migrated from the fringes of the automotive market into the mainstream, it proved to manufacturers that producing hybrid cars could be highly profitable. Since then, Lexus has introduced a hybrid version of almost every model: halo cars that meld environmental friendliness with performance.

This year, Lexus introduces its first hybrid-only model: the HS 250h. The new HS bridges the gap between the Prius’ extended gas mileage and Lexus’ hybrid performance cars. While the new sedan’s average fuel economy of 35 miles-per-gallon lags behind the Prius, it is significantly higher than comparable gasoline-powered models.

The HS 250h is a poster child for other sustainable technologies, such as the use of bioplastic material throughout the interior. The interior fabric is created from plant sources: the first automotive application of its kind. About thirty percent of the vehicle’s interior and trunk are built from ecological plastic, which engineers claim reduces carbon emissions about twenty percent over the car’s life cycle.

Knowing that its audience is technology-savvy, the HS comes with a multi-media package that includes voice recognition, Bluetooth interface, satellite radio, and USB iPod connectivity. A mouse device on the center console controls the optional navigation system. With displays including points of interest, traffic, weather, sports and stocks updates, the navigation screen has more interactive graphics than most video games.

An all-new telematics system, available by subscription offers automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle location, emergency assistance and roadside assistance.

Given that the HS has the most environmentally-friendly, technologically advanced interior of any Lexus vehicle, one question remains: what is the new hybrid sedan like to drive? Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Audi S5 Quattro

Stylish sport coupe for driving enthusiasts

By Nina Russin

Audi S5

The S is the performance grade of the Audi A5 coupe. Last year, the A5 edged out the Lexus IS F to win our Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year award in the luxury category. Athletes loved the A5’s styling and exceptional handling.

The S5 replaces the V6 engine on the Audi A5 with a 4.2-liter V8, giving it stronger acceleration. Zero-to-sixty times are 4.9 seconds for models with the six-speed manual gearbox, and 5.1 seconds with the Tiptronic.  Given that the less powerful A5 is a wonderful car, the S5 becomes ‘wonderful squared.’

Styling is classic Audi: a long bullet-shaped hood and snub rear end, with the automaker’s signature trapezoidal grille. Strings of LEDs below the xenon headlamps function as daytime running lamps, and punctuate the front end. A strong beltline gives the profile extra muscle. Large wheel arches frame 19-inch wheels with low-profile tires. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Suzuki Kizashi SLS

Suzuki introduces its most luxurious sport sedan

By Nina Russin

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

Suzuki is the compact car king, having grown from a niche player to the eleventh largest automaker globally. High sales volumes in Japan and India have propelled Suzuki ahead of Mazda, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Value-packed offerings such as the SX4 and Grand Vitara kept Suzuki in the black last year. It is the only Japanese manufacturer that maintained profitability throughout the recent slump.

As successful as Suzuki has been within the compact segment, the automaker struggles with attracting upscale buyers. Five years ago Suzuki introduced the Italian-designed Forenza and Reno in an effort to open that door: a strategy that ultimately failed.

This year, Suzuki tries a different strategy, with its introduction of the mid-sized Kizashi sport sedan. Designed from a clean sheet of paper, the Kizashi rolls of Suzuki’s an all-new Sagara, Japan assembly plant. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Lincoln MKT

Crossover vehicle is a showcase for new technology

By Nina Russin

2010 Lincoln MKT

From an engineering stance, the MKT may be the best car Lincoln has ever built. Ford’s new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine produces ample power while maintaining good fuel economy, thanks to variable camshaft timing and progressive twin turbochargers. The six-speed automatic transmission is buttery smooth. All-wheel drive automatically shifts engine power to the wheels with the best traction, giving the MKT exceptional ride and handling.

Unfortunately, the MKT is not a perfect car. There are some significant problems with ergonomics on the interior. An extremely thick D-pillar produces large blind spots to the rear. Although the optional blind spot monitoring system eliminates the problem, I can’t excuse an easily correctible design flaw. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Nissan Sedans

Maxima, Altima, Sentra and Versa get refreshed styling and technology updates

By Nina Russin

2010 Nissan Altima sedan

Virtual imaging has been a blessing and a curse for the car world. On the plus side, design teams can take concepts from the drawing board into production faster. The drawback of virtual imaging is that designs have, in many cases lost the human touch.

The Nissan Xterra is a perfect example of how important humanism is to car design. The design team didn’t conceptualize the Xterra in the studio. They did it by spending time with athletes in and around San Diego, and observing their lifestyle needs.

The same type of humanism infuses Nissan’s sedans. The 2010 models offer many new features active buyers crave.

A good example is the $400 navigation system available on the 2010 Versa and Sentra. The value-priced option interfaces with onboard infotainment: it includes a touchscreen and is available with a rearview camera.

Renewed focus on sedan lineup

Sedans are Nissan’s bread and butter.  The upscale Maxima, best-selling Altima, compact Sentra and value-priced Versa compete against some of the highest volume vehicles in the car market: the Toyota Camry and Corolla, Honda Accord and Camry among them.

The recent economic slump has shrunk the pool of prospective customers, making it more difficult to conquest customers away from other brands. Nissan’s strategy has been to give the sedans refreshed styling and some important technology updates for the coming year.

All four models have redesigned front ends, including new headlamps, grilles and hoods. The redesign gives Nissan sedans a more cohesive appearance, enhancing their brand identity. Designers refreshed the vehicle interiors with new upholstery and updated instrument panels.

All sedans except the Versa come with standard vehicle dynamic control: one of the most effective accident avoidance technologies. A new Nissan quality assurance program includes updated computer systems in assembly plants, positioning the workers within eye level of the vehicles to reduce accidents and manufacturing flaws, and an enhanced vehicle inspection system. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Chevrolet Equinox AWD 2LT

Latest Equinox will turn heads in Crossover Category

By Jim Woodman

2010 Chevrolet Equinox

For all of General Motors’ woes over the past couple years, you’d find it hard to believe they’re closing the gap on the Japanese and European imports. Even more surprising in the increasingly popular crossover category – which combines minivan, SUV and wagon attributes – is how the Chevrolet Equinox has become a serious contender.

While I’ve always wanted to support American manufacturers, and have purchased the Ford Explorer in the past, I’ve never put Chevrolet on my short list when car shopping. For a variety of reasons, GM cars always seemed late to the game and inferior from a materials and craftsmanship perspective.

For those who’ve been equally unimpressed with GM, and Chevrolet in particular, you may want to put away your biases and take a look at the completely remodeled 2010 Equinox.

Bold and Handsome Exterior

For one, the 2010 gets a very bold and handsome exterior with beefier fenders than its predecessor and eye-catching styling around front headlights and tail lights. The new Equinox is a very good-looking car. Read the rest of this entry »

Volvo Supports Distracted Driver Laws

Automaker supports federal legislation to control cell phone use in cars

Volvo tests its new autobrake system

Within the past three years, two triathletes in my neighborhood were hit by cars. One almost died. In both cases, the cyclists were obeying the traffic laws, but the car drivers were temporarily distracted.

This week, a two-day summit in Washington DC addresses distracted driving; specifically legislation that would control the way drivers can use cell phones in their cars. Although it is not a summit participant, Volvo is supporting federal legislation through full-page newspaper ads and a YouTube video.

“With the proliferation of cell phone use and text messaging while behind the wheel, distracted driving is on the rise and is a leading cause of traffic accidents,” said Doug Speck, president and CEO of Volvo Cars North America. “Reasonable laws that help focus a driver’s attention on the road will help reduce collisions, just as laws to enforce seat belt use have helped save lives.”

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, seven states currently outlaw the use of cell phones without a hands-free device while driving: eighteen states prohibit text messaging. Both activities are barred in DC.

Volvo is currently developing an auto-brake system specifically to protect pedestrians. To learn more about Volvo safety research, visit the company web site.