2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Special Vehicle Team transforms Ford’s full-sized pickup into the ultimate off-road machine

By Nina Russin

Ford F-150 Raptor

If the definition of an active lifestyle vehicle includes getting jiggy on two wheels and eating mouthfuls of dirt, the Ford SVT Raptor may be the ultimate ALV. The automaker drew from its trophy truck experience to make a vehicle that can go off-road racing out of the box.

The difference between the Raptor and the race-prepared trucks it’s based on is that the Raptor is street legal. The test car, equipped with a luxury package, is actually pretty comfy for the daily commute.

While high-tech features such as Ford’s sync voice-activated controls proliferate through the interior, the off-road technology is pretty old fashioned. I don’t say this to be disparaging. Anybody who’s followed a Baja race knows that checkpoints can be few and far between. The drivers that win have tied-and-true technology that works, and after miles of pre-running, know how to make the best of it.

The Raptor chassis is significantly wider than the stock F-150 to accommodate large wheels and a wider suspension. Fox racing shocks become stiffer as they travel into compression to avoid bottoming out. High-profile tires serve the same purpose.

The suspension is soft, so it can glide over obstacles without beating up the driver.

Base price on the F-150 4X4 is $38,020, not including a $975 delivery charge. Options on the test car, including the Raptor package, custom paint, luxury interior, rear back-up camera, Sony navigation radio and a trailer brake controller bring the price as tested to $49,395. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 GMC Terrain FWD SLE-1

Five-passenger SUV delivers 32 miles-per-gallon on the highway

By Nina Russin

2010 GMC Terrain

These days, finding the right new car without breaking the bank is a formidable challenge; especially for families with active lifestyles.

Buyers who haul trailers require serious towing capability on top of a versatile cargo area. Fuel economy is important, since it impacts cost of ownership.

The GMC Terrain is designed to fill all of these squares, with seating for up to five passengers, and a choice of two fuel-efficient engines. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine on front-wheel drive model averages 32 miles-per-gallon on the highway. A 264-horsepower V6 is slightly less efficient, but can tow up to 3500 pounds, meeting our ALV standards.

Base sticker price for the front-wheel drive SLE-1 with the four-cylinder engine is $24,995 including delivery. The base car comes with most of the comfort and convenience features buyers need, and a few they might not expect.

A rear-backup camera display in the rearview mirror makes it easier to park. Standard XM satellite radio includes a three-month complimentary subscription. OnStar is standard on all models: the system automatically notifies police and emergency medical personnel if the airbags deploy.

Other standard features include a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, air conditioning, auxiliary and USB ports, remote keyless entry, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The Terrain received five-star federal crash test ratings for both frontal and side crash tests (four stars for rollover). It also received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award for 2009.

Rugged exterior styling gives the Terrain familial resemblance to GMC’s larger trucks: the Acadia, Envoy and Yukon. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

New engine technology raises the bar for luxury sedans

By Nina Russin

2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

Rarely is a new car engine a game changer, simply because current technology is so good. Despite that, the Ford EcoBoost engine, available in the all-wheel drive version of the Lincoln MKS, goes to the head of the class. The engine is so powerful, smooth and fuel efficient that it raises the bar for every car in the segment.

Twin turbochargers give the EcoBoost V-6 engine power and performance comparable to a V-8. Thanks to its low compression ratio, the EcoBoost can run on regular gas, though premium is recommended for optimum performance.

According to EPA statistics, the engine averages 25 miles-per-gallon on the highway: a mile-per-gallon better than the Duratec V-6 on the front-wheel drive MKS. Not only does the EcoBoost produce 82 more horsepower and 80 more foot-pounds of torque than the Duratec, it compensates for parasitic fuel economy loss from the all-wheel drive.

Engineers have configured the turbochargers to be virtually invisible to the driver, with no turbo-lag. The six-speed automatic transmission is equally seamless: paddle shifters on the steering wheel allow the driver to change gears manually for more aggressive performance.

Because of the turbochargers, the engine develops peak torque as low as 1500 rpm: just off idle. As a result, the MKS can soar up hills and entrance ramps into high-speed traffic. Its power and nimble handling make the MKS feel like a much lighter and smaller car than its 4300-pound curb weight would suggest.

Since the EcoBoost engine is smaller than the Duratec V-6, it’s lighter and more compact, making it easier to package under the hood, and reducing overall curb weight. Since all-wheel drive adds weight to the MKS chassis, weight savings under the hood are important.

Base price on the EcoBoost MKS is $47,760, not including an $825 destination charge. Adaptive park assist on the test car can automatically parallel park the car ($535). Adaptive cruise control automatically maintains a preset distance from the car in front, enabling the driver to use cruise control in urban traffic ($1310).

Navigation is part of a convenience package that also adds an audio upgrade, rearview camera and dual-panel moon roof ($3500). Sirius travel link provides real-time traffic and weather updates. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR

Midsized sedan gets refreshed styling for 2010

By Nina Russin

2010 Nissan Altima Sedan

The Nissan Altima is a bread-and-butter sedan that’s remarkably un-bread-and-butterish. Designers pulled elements from the 370Z lexicon to give the Altima enduring style that makes sense in the Nissan family.

For 2010, the Altima gets a redesigned front end: a slight hood bulge and more aggressive grille give the exterior a more youthful appearance. Nissan’s updated navigation system comes with a 9.3 gigabyte hard drive for downloading music. XM traffic and weather updates minimize delays on crowded freeways.

Buyers can chose from two engines: a fuel-efficient four cylinder with 32 mile-per-gallon highway fuel economy, or a more powerful V-6 that gives driving enthusiasts something to look forward to on the weekend.

A speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering system provides positive on-center response at speed, while producing enough assist for parallel parking in tight spaces. Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel antilock braking stop the car on a dime, even on rain or snow-covered roads.

Base price on the 3.5 SR is $24,520, not including a $720 destination charge. A premium package on the test car adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, Bluetooth interface, satellite radio, a USB port, auto-dimming rearview mirror, a four-inch display in the dash, and air conditioning vents behind the center console ($2380).

A sport package dresses up the exterior with a rear spoiler, replaces the standard halogen headlamps with brighter bi-xenon beams, and adds dual-zone temperature controls ($2370). The technology package which includes the hard-drive navigation system costs $1780. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan Journey

Sport sedan for driving enthusiasts

By Nina Russin

Infiniti G37 Sedan

The G37S melds the stylish exterior of the G coupe with four-door practicality. Its performance and handling is pure sports car.

In the early days of open-wheel racing, race cars had two seats: one for the driver, and a second for the riding mechanic. The G37S strikes me as a race car with seating for three riding mechanics.

Power comes from a 3.7-liter V-6 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission. The driver can shift manually using the shift lever or formula-style paddles on the steering wheel.

Large vented disc brakes stop the car on a dime, while standard 17-inch alloy wheels provide a wide, stable footprint at speed. Read the rest of this entry »

Pedestrian Detection Debuts in Volvo S60

New sedan automatically brakes for pedestrians

2011 Volvo S60

The 2011 Volvo S60 rolls out this fall, with a ground-breaking safety system that will make the streets safer for pedestrians. Pedestrian detection is the newest component of Volvo’s city safety technology. City safety, which debuted in the XC60, automatically applies the brakes if the driver fails to see a vehicle stopped ahead.

Pedestrian detection takes city safety one step further by applying the brakes if a pedestrian moves in front of the car. The system uses a radar sensor in the car’s grille and a camera in front of the rearview mirror to monitor for pedestrians.

The radar device detects objects within a sixty degree range: about five degrees to either side of the headlamps. If the on-board camera identifies the object in front of the car as a pedestrian and the driver fails to slow down, the vehicle automatically applies full braking.

At this point, the detection system cannot recognize bicyclists or small animals. Volvo engineers are currently working on expanding system capabilities to protect these groups as well.

Pedestrian detection can bring cars travelling under twenty miles-per-hour to a complete halt, and slow vehicles moving at higher rates of speed by as much as 22 miles-per-hour.

Volvo’s research indicates that eleven percent of all traffic fatalities in the US are pedestrians. Pedestrian detection has the ability to prevent or greatly mitigate pedestrian injuries caused by inattentive drivers.

2010 Honda Element EX 4WD

Dog-friendly accessories makes travel safer for man’s best friend

By Nina Russin

Dog-Friendly Honda Element

The Element is Honda’s toolbox on wheels for active lifestyles. Last fall, product planners added a “dog-friendly” edition for the upscale EX grade. The idea is to make travel more comfortable for dogs, with a rear kennel that keeps animals safe in the event of a collision.

A fan in back keeps the animals cool, while a ramp that stows under the kennel eases access and egress for older dogs who suffer from hip dysplasia. Washable covers on the rear seats and rubber floor mats make it easy to hose down the interior. It’s a great feature for buyers who load mountain bikes into the car, or runners who carry a little dirt from the trailhead with them. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Nissan 370Z Touring

Affordable sports car with iconic styling

By Nina Russin

2010 Nissan 370Z

There’s a synesthetic relationship between the Nissan 370Z I’m driving and Sonny Rollins, playing on the radio. While a person can learn to appreciate jazz as an art form, loving the music is intuitive.

The 370Z is, in a similar sense, its own animal. Nissan enthusiasts love the Z for its timeless design and contemporary performance. Despite its exotic appearance, the Z remains one of the most affordable and versatile sports cars on the market. Relocating the rear strut on the current model has made the cargo area even larger and more practical for buyers with active lifestyles.

Beyond this, there’s an aura about the Z: an internal logic that makes the coupe different than any other sports car. Both its design and performance are distinctly Nissan, with one foot planted on the road and the other on the track. Features such as the rev-matching manual transmission and formula-style shift paddles make the Z as much of a driver’s car as competitors that are significantly more expensive.

Nissan unveiled the current model for 2009: 2010 models are essentially identical, with a couple of new convenience features and a new exterior color. All grades now get heated mirrors and a micro-filter to reduce allergens inside the cabin. Nissan revised the available navigation package and added black cherry to the list of exterior finishes.

The 370Z coupe comes in two grades: the base enthusiast and upscale touring models. The touring version has a MSRP of $36,130, not including a $720 destination charge. Floor mats and illuminated kick plates on the test car add another $315, bringing the price as tested to $37,165. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Lexus GX 460 Premium

Mid-sized sport-utility vehicle with off-road capability

By Nina Russin

2010 Lexus GX 460

The Lexus GX fills the middle ground between the full-sized LX 570 and smaller RX. Like the LX, the GX is a body-on-frame truck, with full-time four-wheel drive and towing capability up to 6500 pounds.

The current model rolled out last Fall, replacing the original GX 470. The 4.6-liter V-8 engine on the new car is more compact than the 4.7-liter engine it replaces, though it out-performs it. The smaller engine saves a little weight, helping to extend fuel economy by thirteen percent.

Three rows of seating hold up to seven passengers. The second-row seats move fore and aft up to four inches to increase legroom. The seats fold flat 60/40, easing access and egress to the third row, or extending the cargo floor.

Despite its off-road and towing capability, the GX is first and foremost a premium vehicle. The $65,754 MSRP on the test car positions it on the brink of the high-luxury segment. Features such as heated and ventilated leather seats, adaptive air suspension, three-zone climate control and a Mark Levinson audio system appeal to buyers who want to take the comforts of home with them.

Last Fall, I drove the 2010 GX 460 at a media program in the San Diego area. This week, I got the chance to test drive the premium grade on a road trip through Indiana and southern Ohio.

Base price on the test car is $56,765, not including an $875 delivery charge. The Mark Levinson audio upgrade is a seventeen-speaker, 7.1 surround-sound system with navigation, Lexus Enform telematics, satellite radio and real-time traffic and weather updates ($3930).

Lexus’ pre-collision system automatically primes the brakes and tightens seatbelts if sensors determine an accident is imminent. The same option includes dynamic radar cruise control, which maintains a preset distance from the car in front. Crawl control, in the same option package, modulates the throttle and brake on extreme off-road trails to maintain five preset speeds ($1,720).

A dual-screen rear entertainment system can play two movies at the same time or one widescreen feature ($2400). The final option, a cargo net, costs $64. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Volkswagen CC Sport

Sporty coupe styling with the practicality of a sedan

By Nina Russin

Volkswagen CC

The CC is Volkswagen’s four-door coupe: combining a sporty aerodynamic profile with the practicality of a sedan. Buyers can choose from two engines: a turbocharged four cylinder block rated at 200 horsepower, or a 280-horsepower V-6. Buyers who opt for the larger engine can add all-wheel drive.

This year the automaker is introducing a new DSG automatic transmission as an alternative to the six-speed manual. The direct shift gearbox is an automated dual-clutch system that offers the crispness of a friction-based gearbox without the clutch pedal. Drivers can either use the automatic mode or manually select gears with the shift lever.

The test car is the base sport model, priced from $27,760, not including the $800 delivery charge. The DSG transmission adds $1100 to the base price, bringing the price as tested to $29,660. Read the rest of this entry »