2012 Volvo C30 R-Design

Polestar tuning gives three-door hatch a performance boost

By Nina Russin

Photo courtesy of Volvo Cars Corp.

When I drove the first Volvo C30 in 2008, I liked the car so much that my husband and I decided to buy one. My husband, who is the primary driver, has used the C30 to commute across paved and dirt roads on the Gila River Indian reservation, through Phoenix summer monsoons, extreme heat and crazy dust storms.

The turbocharged five-cylinder engine is as fuel efficient as it is powerful, with excellent performance at altitude. The six-speed manual gearbox shifts crisply, with a light clutch pedal which is easy to engage in stop-and-go traffic.

Although the C30 is too small to hold a bicycle, the hatchback can easily accommodate some moderate-sized camping gear, luggage, skis and snowboards. I sat in the second row seats for short trips around town and found them quite comfortable. Access and egress is surprisingly good for a three-door car. After four years, we have yet to have any mechanical or electrical problems, and a modest amount of routine maintenance.

This year, Volvo sweetens the C30 with two offerings: an R-Design package and Polestar performance tuning. The R-Design option dresses the exterior up with special alloy wheels, a unique grille, 3-1/2 inch dual exhaust tips, and a rear spoiler.

Inside R-Design cars get special blue-faced gauges, two-tone leather upholstery, and a leather and aluminum steering wheel. The package also includes some chassis tuning, stiffening up the suspension and modifying steering response for aggressive driving.

Volvo’s racing partner, Polestar, offers a re-flash for the onboard computer which adds 23 horsepower and 37 foot-pounds of torque to the five-cylinder engine. The tuning enhancement increases turbo boost and modifies the throttle map beginning at 3000 rpm. It also affects wide-open throttle, taking .3 seconds off the car’s zero-to-sixty time. The re-flash doesn’t affect emissions, nor does it decrease the C30’s 24 mile-per-gallon fuel economy.

Base price for the 2012 test car with R-Design is $27,450, excluding the $875 delivery charge. A platinum package adds active bi-xenon headlamps, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers and headlamps washers, electronic climate control, power moonroof, daytime running lamps, an audio upgrade with Sirius satellite radio and a cargo cover ($4400).  An interior air quality monitoring system costs $1700, which the Polestar performance enhancement adds $1295, bringing the price as tested to $35,720. Read the rest of this entry »

Extended Drive: 2013 Lexus GS F Sport

Sedan raises the bar for driving enthusiasts

By Nina Russin

2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport

Last fall, Lexus revealed its newest generation GS midsized sport sedans with three variants: base V-6, hybrid, and F Sport. Over time, the Grand Sport has evolved from a pleasant but rather bland product to a car truly worthy of weekends at the race track.

The F Sport package enhances performance from the sedan’s naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter engine and six-speed automatic transmission with 19-inch alloy wheels and low-profile tires, adaptive suspension tuned for aggressive driving, four-piston front disc brakes, rear spoiler and a 16-way adjustable bolstered driver’s seat.

The package adds $5,690 to the GS $46,900 base sticker price. Granted, it’s quite a chunk of change, but the option truly brings out the sedan’s character, as a supremely refined and well balanced chassis.

Driving the sedan on the track at Los Vegas Motor Speedway last November the GS glided through a series of challenging chicanes like a ballerina. The car almost steers itself.

This week I put several hundred miles on the GS F Sport, on a road trip between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, as well as some time on the Bush Highway east of Phoenix.

In addition to the F Sport package, the test car is equipped with blind spot monitoring ($500), ultrasonic park assist ($500), navigation with Lexus Enform, real-time weather and traffic updates ($1735), a handling package with dynamic rear steering ($1700), cargo net and trunk mat ($169). Delivery adds $875, bringing the price as tested to $58,069. Read the rest of this entry »

2013 Acura RDX

Five-passenger crossover becomes a leaner, meaner machine

By Nina Russin

2013 Acura RDX

If the recession of 2008 taught us anything, it’s the wisdom of downsizing. This year Acura embarks on a new corporate strategy, focusing more on smaller, less expensive vehicles. The all-new RDX crossover vehicle is one pillar of this strategy. A new compact sedan called the ILX is the other.

Pricing for the base 2013 Acura RDX front-wheel drive model starts at $34,320. MSRP does not include the $885 delivery charge. The all-wheel drive variant with the technology option package is priced from $39,420.

The new RDX maintains the active lifestyle focus of the original, with some new features which make loading and carrying gear easier. Pandora and SMS text messaging features appeal to tech-savvy customers, who want a deeper interface between their smartphones and the car’s infotainment system. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Audi A6 3.0 Quattro

Sport sedan with the versatility for active lifestyles

By Nina Russin

2012 Audi A6

A few minutes behind the wheel are all it takes to dispense with those preconceptions. Audi’s midsized sport sedan is a remarkable piece of work: as fast as it is fuel efficient, with an interior versatile enough for athletes. The trunk is cavernous. While sedans are rarely bicycle friendly, the A6 is. Designers added tie-down loops on the cargo floor to make securing large items easier.

A three-liter supercharged V6 engine accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in 5.3 seconds. But thanks to direct injection technology and an eight-speed automatic transmission, the A6 averages 28 miles-per-gallon on the highway. Average fuel economy for my 100-mile test drive was 25 mpg, three miles-per-gallon better than the EPA estimate.

Available Audi Connect turns the sedan into a mobile hotspot, with Google Earth, Google Maps and Google search. If there’s an endurance athlete on the planet who isn’t addicted to some version of Google mapping, I haven’t met him. The system also provides instant access to news, traffic alerts, and road construction updates.

Base price for the A6 is $49,900, excluding the $875 destination charge. A premium option package on the test car adds the Audi Connect, navigation, 18-inch wheels, four-zone automatic climate control, Bose surround-sound audio system, front seat ventilators, xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lamps and the S-line exterior ($6880).

A sport package upgrades the wheels to 19-inch rims, adds a three spoke steering wheel with formula-style shift paddles and sport suspension ($1500). Two additional options, LED headlamps ($1400) and blind spot monitoring ($500) bring the price as tested to $61,530. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Volvo XC60 R-Design and XC70 with Polestar

Motorsports affiliate gives Volvo’s crossover vehicles a performance boost

By Nina Russin

Volvo XC60

Volvo’s active lifestyle focus and commitment to humanistic design are two reasons I feel a special connection to the automaker. My husband and I have owned three Volvos, including a C30 currently parked in our garage.

Before its demise, Saab had the reputation of attracting niche performance enthusiasts, whereas Volvo was the volume leader, focusing on safety in lieu of sportiness.

Volvo sought to shed its sedate image, beginning in 1995 with a series of R cars. The R cars looked like standard issue Volvos, but they were a lot faster. One encounter with the 850 T-5R was all most drivers needed to rethink their misconceptions about Volvo performance.

Unfortunately, the R cars remained a well-kept secret, despite their availability in the United States until 2007. If Volvo hoped to conquest performance enthusiasts from German and Japanese automakers, it was going to have to get more aggressive.

So it did. Beginning in 2009, Volvo began working with its motorsports partner, Polestar, on factory performance packages for its production models. Those products launched in North America last year. Today, owners of C70, XC70, XC60 and C30 models can add power with Polestar performance tuning.

Polestar recalibrates the car’s on-board computer for quicker throttle response and more turbo boost. The re-flash also modifies spark timing and fuel delivery, so the vehicle maintains its original fuel economy and remains emissions legal.

Buyers who want to push the performance envelope a step further can purchase R-Design models, which add unique styling, wheels, suspension tuning and brake components. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Audi TTS Roadster

Turbocharging boosts power and efficiency

By Nina Russin

2012 Audi TTS Roadster

The TT is Audi’s two-passenger sports coupe and convertible. In addition to the base models, driving enthusiasts can choose from two performance variants: the TTS, which has a more powerful version of the turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and the race-inspired TT RS, powered by a turbocharged five-cylinder engine.

The TTS roadster is notable for its all-season capability, thanks to quattro all-wheel drive, and a three-layer soft top which insulates the driver and passenger against temperature extremes. Optional heated front seats make it possible to drive with the top down on crisp, fall days.

 The rear window is glass, making it more durable than plastic which tends to yellow with age. The glass is also better insulated and larger, for enhanced rear visibility.

While it is relatively easy to engineer a coupe for high torsional rigidity, a cabriolet is a much tougher challenger. Cowl shake can be the bane of open-air cars. To Audi’s credit, the TTS roadster is as responsive to driver input as the coupe.

By using a combination of high strength steel and aluminum, engineers have created a chassis which is both rigid and lightweight. Zero-to-sixty acceleration is slightly slower than for the coupe, but 5.1 seconds is nothing to sneeze at.

Under the hood, the two-liter turbocharged engine develops peak torque, 258 foot-pounds, at speeds as low as 2500 rpm: a mild tip of the throttle. A dual clutch transmission offers the performance of a manual gearbox with the convenience of automatic shifting. The driver can also choose gears manually using formula-style shift paddles on the steering wheel or the gearshift lever.

Base price for the Audi TTS roadster is $50,000, excluding the $875 destination charge. Pearl black paint on the test car adds $475. The test car has two additional options: a navigation system ($2070) and heated front seats ($450). Price as tested is $53,870. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Infiniti FX50 AWD

Five-passenger performance crossover is ready for take-off

By Nina Russin

2012 Infiniti FX

This is why I don’t particularly care that the new Infiniti FX performance crossover is a bit fuel thirsty. As any endurance athlete knows, it’s important to feed the beast. And considering what the vehicle is capable of, 17.8 miles-per-gallon isn’t too bad.

The FX50’s V-8 engine develops almost 400 horsepower and 369 foot-pounds of torque. Accelerating from zero-to-sixty feels like bungee jumping off a cliff.

Mammoth wheel arches house the crossover’s standard 21-inch alloy wheels. Other performance highlights include a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual gear selection and downshift rev matching, four-piston front calipers, speed sensitive steering and dual exhausts. The exhaust note during hard acceleration is symphonic.

The five-liter V-8 is one of two available engines for the Infiniti FX. Buyers of a more practical bent can opt for the 3.5-liter V-6, which comes with the same transmission.

Base price for the FX50 all-wheel drive model is $59,350, excluding the $895 delivery charge. There are three options on the test car: a technology package which adds intelligent cruise control, lane departure warning, adaptive front lighting and rain-sensing windshield wipers ($2900); illuminated kick plates ($300); and a sport package including real-time damping control, rear active steer, front sport seats, a driver’s seat with power bolster adjustment and some unique exterior trim ($3100). MSRP is $66,545. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Acura TSX Technology

Sport sedan adds spice to the daily commute

By Nina Russin

2012 Acura TSX

The TSX is the entry luxury offering in Acura’s lineup, competing against the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, Lexus IS and Infiniti G series. Buyers can choose between an inline four or V-6 engines, with a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual gearbox.  The V-6 engine is available only for the sedan. Acura’s TSX sport wagon comes with the inline four-cylinder engine.

Shift paddles on the steering wheel gives the driver the option of selecting gears manually for more aggressive performance. A sport mode holds onto gears longer to keep the engine in its power band.

An available technology package adds an upgraded surround-sound audio system, hard-drive navigation with real-time weather and traffic updates, and dual-zone climate control. Base price for the four-cylinder TSX sedan with technology is $32,910. An $885 destination charge brings the price as tested to $33,795. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Cadillac SRX Premium

New V-6 engine gives mid-sized crossover extra punch

By Nina Russin

2012 Cadillac SRX

The SRX is the smaller sibling to the full-sized Escalade sport-utility vehicle. While the SRX can’t match the Escalade’s cargo and towing capability, the smaller package has a lot of appeal for buyers who want a more nimble chassis with a passenger car-like ride.

This year, the engineers at GM have added some pizzazz to an already appealing package with a new direct injection V-6 engine rated at 308 horsepower. Peak torque, 265 lbs-ft, is available at 2400 rpm, so the driver can easily accelerate without sacrificing gas mileage. An eco feature alters shift points on the six-speed automatic transmission to further enhance fuel economy. Using the feature on my 150-mile test drive, I averaged 21 miles-per-gallon: two mpg better than the EPA estimate.

The upscale premium grade priced from $45,975 comes loaded with every conceivable convenience option except the DVD entertainment system, which adds $1395. That, plus an $875 destination charge brings the price as tested to $48,245.

As luxurious as the SRX is, the crossover vehicle is also practical, with up to 3500 pound towing capacity, standard roof rails, a bicycle-friendly cargo area and a storage area under the cargo floor. Standard adaptive xenon headlamps swivel according to steering input to light the way on dark suburban streets. Navigation is also standard, as is a rearview camera. Camera images and navigation maps appear on an eight-inch screen which rises from the dash when the driver turns on the ignition. The large graphics are heaven to my less-than perfect eyes.

A digital display in the gauge cluster tells the driver the speed limit of the road he’s traveling on, as well as giving driving range, fuel consumption, instant and average fuel economy and trip meter readings.

Keyless entry and start saves the driver from digging into his pocket for a fob, adding a measure of safety for those who drive alone after dark. Read the rest of this entry »

First Drive: 2013 Lexus GS

Mid-luxury sport sedans get a fresh dose of attitude

By Nina Russin

2013 Lexus GS 350

The Lexus GS sport sedans undergo a complete make-over for 2013, beginning with three gas-powered variants that roll out in February, followed by new hybrid models. Lexus product planners hope that the fourth generation car, with revised styling, more interior space and enhanced performance will conquest fifty percent of buyers from its competitors, including the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6. That bold statement is indicative of renewed confidence, following several months of uncertainty due to last summer’s devastating tsunami in Japan.

Gasoline models roll out first, powered by a direct injection V-6 engine rated at 306 horsepower, with 277 foot-pounds of torque and six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid sedans which follow combine 286 horsepower Atkinson cycle V-6 engines, electric motors two-stage automatic transmissions. Net horsepower is 338: on par with a 4.5-liter V-8 engine.

GS 350 buyers can choose between base (premium), luxury and F Sport grades. The premium grade model comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, ten-way power seats, bi-xenon headlamps, leather upholstery, keyless access and start. The upscale luxury grade gets 18-inch wheels, adaptive front headlamps, tri-zone climate control and semi-aniline leather seating.

2013 Lexus GS 450h

An adaptive variable suspension, standard on F Sport models, automatically adjusts shock damping according to road conditions. The driver can chose between normal and sport mode, which makes the shock damping more compliant for everyday driving, or stiffer for high-speed control. Lexus’ proprietary dynamic handling technology adjusts wheel camber and caster to minimize the effect of oversteer. The performance grade also gets nineteen-inch alloy rims with summer tires, a unique grille and special front and rear bumpers.

Available all-wheel drive enhances wet weather performance by transferring power to the wheels with the best traction. The normal 30/70 power balance can change to 50/50 if the rear wheels start to spin out.

Zero-to-sixty acceleration is 5.7 seconds for the rear-wheel drive model according to the manufacturer; six seconds for the all-wheel drive model. Average fuel economy is about 28 miles-per-gallon for the gasoline cars and just over 30 mpg for the hybrids. All-wheel drive models lose about two miles-per-gallon on the highway. Because the engines have extremely high compression ratios, both the gasoline and hybrid cars require 91 octane gasoline. Read the rest of this entry »