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 »

2012 Porsche Cayman R

Race-ready sports car proves that less is more

By Nina Russin

2012 Porsche Cayman R

The Cayman originated as a hardtop sibling to the open-air Boxster, sharing the same “boxer” engine, and midship engine placement. This year, Porsche added an “R” model to the Cayman, which strips weight off the chassis by using more lightweight construction materials, eliminating the air conditioning and audio system.

By shaving 121 pounds off the chassis, engineers boosted engine horsepower to 330: ten more than the Cayman S or Boxster Spyder equipped with the same engine. Zero-to-sixty acceleration is 4.7 seconds using the six-speed manual transmission.

The Cayman R comes with special lightweight wheels and a sport-tuned suspension which lowers the chassis 20 millimeters compared to other variants. Special aero effects include a unique front and rear spoiler to make the car slipperier in the wind tunnel.

Base price is $66,300 not including a $950 destination charge. Options on the test car include automatic dimming mirrors ($690), Porsche’s connectivity and navigation system ($3455), bi-xenon adaptive headlamps ($1550), three audio packages ($795), custom wheels ($1815), floor mats and automatic climate control ($1760), bringing the MSRP to $79,285. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350

Third generation roadster gains muscle under the hood

By Nina Russin

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350

Two-seaters are by nature personal cars, purchased by drivers who value the experience of being one with the road. While I wouldn’t classify the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 as a sports car, it is certainly a vehicle for enthusiasts of beautifully crafted and styled automobiles.

The third-generation model which debuts for 2012 evokes memories of the iconic 190SL. The newest SLK shares the original SL’s long hood and short rear overhang. The design is considerably softer and more refined than the 1996 SLK, whose rather angular exterior always struck me as a bit unresolved.

Underneath the 2012 SLK’s hood is a more powerful V-6 engine, rated at 302 horsepower. Direct injection delivers gasoline directly into the cylinders rather than through the valves for enhanced throttle response and reduced parasitic fuel loss. The automaker estimates zero-to-sixty acceleration at 5.4 seconds.

A seven-speed automatic transmission enhances the coupe’s fuel economy even further by providing large overdrive gears for the highway. Despite the additional power, the newest SLK350 averages four miles-per-gallon more on the highway and one more in the city than the model it replaces.

Base price is $54,800 not including the $875 delivery charge. Options on the test car include a premium package which upgrades the audio system and adds seat and neck-level heaters ($2590); bi-xenon headlamps with washers ($1070); hard drive navigation ($2150); 18-inch AMG wheels and ground effects ($2500); a panoramic roof ($500); wind foil ($350) and ultrasonic park assist ($970); bringing the price as tested to $65,805. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

Full-sized sedan races on Sunday, commutes on Monday

By Nina Russin

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

Although Americans can’t take credit for inventing the full-sized sedan, they were instrumental in perfecting it. Before the era of sport and cross-utility vehicles, husbands drove their wives and children around in full-sized sedans.

The end of the Second World War ushered in a new era of American car design, during which the sedan was front and center. A country deprived on new car models for over half a decade swarmed into showrooms to discover sleek, muscular new machines that bore little resemblance to the cars of the early 1940s.

Models such as the fabulous Hudson Hornet, the Olds Rocket 88 and the original Chrysler 300 series were the early heroes of the newly formed NASCAR racing series. Skunk-works teams working late at night transformed plain vanilla sedans into the first muscle cars. They became instant classics.

The Chrysler 300 SRT8 takes its name and spirit from these sedans of the 1950s and 60s, with a dynamic profile and driver-focused interior. The division’s Street and Racing Technology team takes the formula a step further by adding an all-new hemi V-8 engine which accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in less than five seconds.

While its powerful engine is the sedan’s most obvious nod towards driving enthusiasts, it is not the only one. Formula-style shift paddles on a specially-designed steering wheel, on-board telemetry, and colossal Brembo brakes engineered to withstand the rigors of long days at the track make the 300 SRT8 a car which can go racing over the weekend and commute to the office during the week.

Base price is $47,170, not including an $825 delivery charge. The test car comes with a safety option package which adds blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and power folding mirrors with redundant signals ($1995). Other options include leather seating ($2500), an audio upgrade which consists of 18 speakers with a 900-watt amplifier ($1995), a dual-pane panoramic sunroof ($1295) and performance tires ($150). A $1000 gas guzzler tax brings the price as tested to $56,930. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Lexus IS 250C

Hardtop convertible for driving enthusiasts

By Nina Russin

2011 Lexus IS C

The IS 250C is the less expensive of two open-air IS models. Pricing starts at $41,060, plus an $875 destination charge. Power comes from a 2.5-liter direct injection V-6 engine rated at 204 horsepower. Direct injection delivers gasoline into the engine cylinders without passing through the valves. This reduces parasitic loss for better gas mileage, and also provides a cooling effect which enabled engineers to apply a very high compression ratio: 12.0:1.

The engine has excellent throttle response: zero-to-sixty acceleration is 8.4 seconds according to the manufacturer. The down side of the high compression engine is its premium fuel requirement. Running the car on regular unleaded fuel could produce detonation and engine damage.

A six-speed automatic transmission includes formula-style shift paddles on the steering wheel. The paddles enable the driver to choose gears manually for more aggressive performance on challenging roads.

The IS 250C runs on 17-inch alloy rims and all-season tires. The wheels are large enough to provide an ample footprint, but the tires have enough sidewall to offer a comfortable ride on uneven road surfaces.

Options on the test car include a hard drive navigation system and Mark Levinson audio upgrade ($4015). Lexus Enform, which comes with the option, adds connection to a remote call center which can provide turn-by-turn directions.

A cargo net and trunk mat add $64 and $73 respectively, bringing the price as tested to $46,087. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Infiniti M35h

Hybrid sedan for driving enthusiasts

By Nina Russin

2012 Infiniti M35h

Although hybrid vehicles are by no means a new idea, engineers continue to develop new performance matrices using the combined attributes of gas engines and electric motors. Unlike the first generation of hybrid sedans, fuel economy improvements in newer models sometimes take a back seat to power. This isn’t to say that the hybrid cars don’t outperform their gasoline-powered counterparts in terms of gas mileage; rather that they may well out-accelerate those cars as well.

Infiniti’s new M35h sedan is a case in point. Because electric motors develop maximum torque at extremely low speeds, the gasoline-electric M produces neck-snapping acceleration off the line, worthy of a top fuel car. The fact that it also averages 32 miles-per-gallon on the highway as compared to the gasoline-powered M’s 26 is an added bonus.

The closest hybrid technology to the M35h is probably Porsche’s, as seen in the Cayenne Hybrid. In both cases, the vehicle can operate at extremely high speeds on pure electric power. In the case of the M35h, top speed in electric mode is 62 miles-per-hour, with a range of 1.2 miles before the gas engine cuts in.

Base price on the M35h is $53,700, not including an $895 destination charge. The test car comes with a premium package which adds semi aniline leather seats, a Bose 5.1 surround-sound audio system, wood accents, a suede headliner and power rear sunshade ($3800). A technology package includes Infiniti’s hard drive navigation system with XM real time traffic and weather updates, climate controlled front seats and a heated steering wheel ($3350). A trunk mat and first aid kit cost $200, while an 18-inch wheel package adds $650. Illuminated kick plates priced at $360 bring the total cost as tested to $62,955. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Acura TL Advance

New model gets a refreshed exterior and fuel economy enhancements

By Nina Russin

2012 Acura TL

The TL is one of three sedans Acura builds, positioned between the high luxury RL and smaller TSX sport sedan. The 2012 TL, revealed at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show is the third iteration of the model, which originally debuted in 2004. Designers refreshed the exterior with a new grille, front fascia and headlamps, a new rear bumper and revised tail lamps.

 A new six-speed automatic transmission provides better fuel economy but adds some appealing performance characteristics as well. A double click downshift feature can drop up to two gears during aggressive driving. The feature formerly available only on the all-wheel drive model is now standard on the front-wheel drive TL as well.

This year, Acura offers two platforms: a 280-horsepower front-wheel drive sedan and the 305-horsepower all-wheel drive model. The test car is the front-wheel drive advance grade. The advance option package upgrades the standard 17-inch wheels to 18-inch rims, adds blind spot monitoring and ventilated front seats. A technology option includes hard-drive navigation with voice activated controls and a premium audio system. Navigation includes real time weather and traffic updates and rerouting.

MSRP is $41,535. An $885 delivery charge brings the price as tested to $42,420. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Buick Enclave AWD Premium

Luxury for the real world

By Nina Russin

2012 Buick Enclave

The Enclave is Buick’s full-sized crossover vehicle, with seating for up to eight passengers. While the 2012 car is basically a carryover, Buick has eliminated the CX and CXL badges. Four available trim levels for 2012 include the base 1SB, mid-grade 1SD, mid-grade with leather 1SL and 1SN premium.

Hill-hold assist, a safety feature which hangs onto the brakes to prevent the car from sliding backwards on steep grades, is now standard. So is electronic pedal override: a new technology which reduces engine power if the driver inadvertently depresses the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time.

Power comes from a 3.6-liter V-6 engine rated at 288 horsepower and six-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can choose between front or all-wheel drive.

The test car is the all-wheel drive premium grade, priced from $45,080. MSRP does not include the $810 delivery charge. Standard convenience features include leather trim, first and second-row captain’s chairs, remote keyless entry and start, a premium audio system with satellite radio, Bluetooth interface, heated and cooled seats.

Standard safety features include six airbags, stability control and OnStar emergency crash response. Adaptive headlamps, which swivel according to steering inputs to light dark corners of the road, are also standard.

A navigation and rear seat DVD option adds real-time XM traffic and weather updates ($3185). A power sunroof with a second-row glass roof panel costs $1400, while metallic red paint adds $395. Twenty-inch chrome rims are a $300 option, bringing the price as tested to $51,170. Read the rest of this entry »