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 »

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

Mid-sized sedan gets a green connection

By Nina Russin

Kia Optima Hybrid

It was exactly one year ago that Kia unveiled its first gasoline/electric hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show. I’m thinking back to the model reveal as I drive the Optima Hybrid sedan across the Sonoran desert between Phoenix and Los Angeles for the 2011 show.

While other automakers struggle to tread water after the industry-wide implosion of 2008, Kia seems to be on a roll. Looking at the interior of the Optima Hybrid, it’s easy to understand why. Value has been core to Kia’s mission since arriving stateside in 1994 and remains so today. MSRP on the Optima Hybrid is $26,500, not including the $750 delivery charge.

For the price of a mid-level sedan, Kia offers its premium grade, with Bluetooth interface, a rearview camera display and dual-zone climate control. Kia’s UVO infotainment system, developed in conjunction with Microsoft, is also standard.

Power comes from a 2.4-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine, which works in concert with an electric motor. Kia partnered with LG Chem of South Korea to develop a lithium polymer battery, which is lighter and more compact than nickel metal-hydride units.

A technology package on the test car adds navigation with Sirius traffic updates, an Infinity premium audio system, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, high-intensity discharge headlamps, leather seating, heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror with Homelink and a compass ($5000). Price as tested is $32,250. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Los Angeles Auto Show

Automakers focus on green cars and connectivity

By Nina Russin

Kia's GT Concept at the 2011 LA Auto Show

The Los Angeles Auto Show’s star continues to rise, despite financial unease within the car industry. A continuing focus on green transportation solutions has piqued the interest of the international press, helping the show to attract numbers comparable to North America’s three other major shows: Detroit, Chicago and New York.

While the focus on alternative and hybrid vehicles remains strong, automakers at the 2011 LA Auto Show seemed as, if not more concerned with user interfaces inside the vehicle. Cadillac’s new CUE system rolls out in the all-new XTS sedan, followed by the ATS and SRX later next year. Infiniti takes a personal touch in its new JX seven-passenger crossover, with a concierge service that provides 24-hour access to a live assistant.

Hyundai and Kia continue to upgrade their proprietary infotainment systems- BlueLink and UVO- while Ford, which pioneered the field with Sync, introduces the next generation My Ford Touch system on the all-new Escape and refreshed Flex.

At the conclusion of the two-day press preview, Ford captured Nielsen’s Green Marketer of the Year award, while the 2012 Green Car Journal Green Car of the Year went to the Honda Civic Natural Gas model. 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 »

Chevrolet Volt Roll-Out Expands to Arizona

Extended range electric car now available in Phoenix dealerships

2012 Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet is extending availability of the new Volt to include dealerships in Arizona, beginning with Phoenix. About 2500 of the brand’s 3000 US dealerships are signed up to participate in the Volt program. Cars are currently rolling into Phoenix stores. Tucson and other parts of the state will follow.

The Volt combines an electric engine and gasoline motor, but in a different manner than hybrids currently on the market. The sedan will operate in pure electric mode at all speeds for up to 35 miles. When the charge from the lithium-ion battery pack gets low, the vehicle automatically switches over to gasoline power, extending the vehicle’s range by another 344 miles according to the manufacturer.

Recharging time for the battery ranges from four hours utilizes 220-volt current to 10 hours if the vehicle is plugged into a 115 volt outlet. The cost of a recharge is about $1.50 regardless of the type of current used. The battery pack carries an eight-year/100,000 mile warranty.

Chevrolet rates the car’s net horsepower at 149, with 273 foot-pounds of peak torque. Because electric motors develop peak torque at very low engine speeds, the sedan has excellent low-end acceleration: zero-to-sixty takes less than nine seconds.

MSRP starts at $41,000. Buyers are eligible for a $7500 tax credit, and may be eligible for state tax incentives as well. Standard features include keyless ignition with push button start, a remote vehicle starter, Sirius XM radio, OnStar and eight airbags. Options include leather seating, a Bose audio upgrade, a rearview camera with park assist and two aluminum wheel options. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Lexus CT 200h Premium

Compact hybrid sedan is eco-friendly

By Nina Russin

2011 Lexus CT 200h

Like the HS, there is a focus on sustainability which extends beyond the car’s fuel-thrifty powertrain. Eighty percent of the vehicle is recyclable. Recycle marks on the front, rear and tailgate trim make it easier to dismantle and recycle the car. A new interior fabric called NuLuxe resembles leather, but is actually made from recyclable materials.

Power comes from a four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine which operates in concert with two electric motors: an 80 horsepower drive motor and a second motor which triggers the engine starter and functions as a generator to recharge the battery pack. Together the gasoline engine and electric motors yield 134 horsepower. The CT 200h accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in 9.8 seconds.

Buyers can choose between a standard and premium grade. Pricing for the premium grade (tested) begins at $30,900 excluding an $875 delivery fee. Options on the test car include a premium audio upgrade  which also adds an electro-chromic rearview mirror ($1125), LED headlamps ($1215), leather seating ($1330), a cargo net ($75) and illuminated door sills ($299), bringing the price as tested to $35,819. 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 »

2011 Toyota RAV4 Limited

Compact crossover vehicle seats up to seven passengers

By Nina Russin

2011 Toyota RAV4 Limited

The RAV4 was one of the first vehicles to combine the versatility of a sport-utility vehicle with car-like ride and handling. The name stands for “recreational active vehicle:” a phrase which should resonate with readers of this web site. Buyers can choose between two or three rows of seating, depending on how many passengers they need to carry.

The newest model is available with a choice of four-cylinder or V-6 engines and front or all-wheel drive. The six-cylinder engine costs a little more, but achieves fuel efficiency close to the four. Given the means to afford the premium, I’d recommend it for the extra power and performance it offers.

The V-6 RAV4 comes with a five-speed automatic transmission, as opposed to a four-speed box with the four-cylinder model. This accounts for the larger engine’s enhanced fuel economy. In addition to adding a large overdrive gear, the five-speed automatic minimizes shift shock during hard acceleration.

Buyers can choose from three grades: a base model, Sport, and upscale Limited. The front-wheel drive Limited starts at $26,835, not including an $810 delivery charge. The V-6 engine is standard, as are 17-inch alloy wheels with a full-sized spare. The spare tire is mounted on the rear door, where it’s easy to reach.

Comfort and convenience features include a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with redundant audio controls, dual-zone automatic climate control, a fold-flat feature for the second-row seats, satellite radio and keyless start.

A premium option package on the test car adds leather upholstery, upgraded audio system, Bluetooth interface, heated front seats, power moonroof, eight-way power driver’s seat and a 120-volt power outlet ($3480). The test car also includes a towing prep package which I’d recommend against, since the RAC fails to meet the ALV minimum 3500-pound towing standard ($160). Carpeted floor mats cost $199, bringing the MSRP to $32,179.

A new extra value package discount reduces the MSRP by $2000, bringing the price as tested to $30,179. Read the rest of this entry »

ALV of the Year Announces 2012 Winners

Audi, Jeep, Mazda, Subaru and Volkswagen dominate a competitive field

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

The Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year announces the winners of its eighth annual competition, following the finals at Local Motors in Phoenix, Arizona on October 21. ALV is the only car-of-the-year program to combine the input of nationally-recognized automotive journalists with elite and area athletes to determine which cars and trucks best meet the needs of buyers with active lifestyles.

“This was our first ride-and-drive program in Phoenix, and it has significantly raised the game for cars entered in the competition,” said program co-founder, Nina Russin. “For the first time, we had a serious off-road course on which to evaluate those particular categories. The number of athletes participating in the event increased threefold. Thanks to the commitment of the ALV jury panel, the team at Local Motors and the athlete team captains, I believe that the Active Lifestyle Vehicle program has come into its own.” Read the rest of this entry »