2011 Nissan Leaf

Remember the good ole’ days when all the best Christmas gifts came with batteries? For most readers that probably ended when game consoles went mainstream and replaced handhelds, notably the Game Boy. For 2010 Nissan’s going to bring back that great feeling of rechargability (yeah yeah) although this year batteries ARE included. The 2011 Nissan Leaf has 660 lb’s of batteries, making unwrapping quite difficult but is arguably the first EV  to be sold to the mass public in a very long time. Or as Inside Line puts it, it’s a “brand-new, purpose-built, mass-produced, battery-powered family car and, as such, the very first of its kind in the world.”

Lets get the trivia  out of the way: five-door, five-passenger city car wrapped in a modern Nissan Juke-like love-it or hate-it body style, (USA Today nails it with “Ugggggly”). Leaf has a front mounted engine, 107 hp, 208 lb-ft, top speed of 90 mph and a claimed 0-60 run under 10 seconds.  Overall, Nissan lists the Leaf at an MSRP of $32,780, $18K of which reportedly belong to the battery alone. None of these figures sound remarkable for any car until you realize you’re driving an EV in 2010. Considering it’s a city car one of the most remarkable figures belongs to the top speed and the range of 100 miles proving the Nissan Leaf to not just be another electric Smart or Ranger EV.

One hurdle in purchasing the leaf is of course, range anxiety, considering the range of 100 miles to be a third that of a conventional car. However, Nissan claims their special home charger (purchase and installation costs can be rolled into monthly payments) can turn a 220-volt outlet into a full charged car in under 8 hours. If you’re looking for a quicker charge, commercial 440-volt stations can have the job done in 30 minutes but consider the savings “at the pump” when running costs average about 70% less than a conventional gasoline car.

Most driving impressions are positive giving acclaim to the airy cabin, snappy response, and supremely quiet ride. “This quiet creates an adverse effect of making wind noise and road noise more noticeable at highway speeds…” Edmunds writes.  USA Today dismisses steering feedback as too slow: “Turn the wheel a lot for a little reaction.”

Set for a limited launch here in the States and Japan now (December 2010), followed by Portugal in January 2011, Ireland in February, the UK in March, with global availability set for 2012.  Range anxiety and slow steering aside, government rebates start at $7,500 here in the states and nearly everywhere it’s going to be on sale in the world will feature some kind of rebate. The kicker? For local customers its built right here in the beautiful sprawling metropolis of Smyrna, TN.

• Inside Line (First Drive)
• USA Today (Test Drive)
• Edmunds (Review)
• Wikipedia (wiki)
• AutoBlog (blog, First Drive)
• Jalopnik (blog, First Drive)
• The Telegraph (UK, Review)
• Car and Driver (Feature)
• Kelly Blue Book (Review)

]]> http://cars.vc/2011-nissan-leaf/feed/ 0 http://cars.vc/review-roundup-2012-audi-a7-sportback/ http://cars.vc/review-roundup-2012-audi-a7-sportback/#comments Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:12:04 +0000 ack154 http://cars.vc/?p=711

2012 Audi A7 Sportback

What’s that you say? Audi’s A8 luxo-barge too big for ya? Poor thing. And the A4 is too small and the A6 is too hum-drum for such a stylistic person? Audi’s hoping to fix that with a new addition to their lineup: the 2012 Audi A7 Sportback, a 5-door hatchback based on the Audi A6 with many of the gadgets from the A8 plus colossal trunk space.

When it hits the shores later this year as a 2012 model, the A7 Sportback will be in very rare company. Initially only offered with the companies superb 3.0 “TFSI” supercharged V6 (300HP, 324LB/FT’s) it will be powerful enough to compete with the Porsche Panamera V6 (296 HP, 294LB/FT’s) but with the addition of Quattro all-wheel-drive. It will have higher seating capacity than Mercedes’ CLS with 3-abreast the back though only two seat belts, the capability exists. The A7 Sportback will have massively more trunk space than the Jaguar XF sedan and yet won’t be nearly as much a eyesore as BMW’s Gran Turismo monstrosity.

When the A7 Sportback arrives in America later this year, it will be in rare company. Its single engine offering will be plenty for most and efficient enough for everyone. Audi has a history of making a splash with each example and the 2012 Audi A7 Sportback will prove no different. Or just wait for the S7 version to debut in Paris this fall.

Autoblog - “Audi has made much of its headway over the last few years by being a design leader, and that torch has clearly been passed to the A7, a car that boldly presumes to challenge the long-held stereotype that Americans don’t buy hatchbacks – especially one with a premium price point. ”

Car and Driver – “This is clearly a luxury car with sportiness playing second fiddle”

Popular Mechanics – “While Audi has Mercedes-Benz firmly in its sights with this new five-door hatchback, it’s also making a style statement. But it’s doing so in the understated way that Audi has adopted as a trademark. Not as ostentatious as the newly updated Mercedes CLS”

Car Magazine (UK) – “So what exactly is the new Audi A7? It’s Audi’s answer to the Mercedes CLS, a luxury saloon that thinks it’s a coupé. Unlike the CLS… the Audi has an opening hatch instead of a saloon boot. Think A5 Sportback but on a bigger scale.”

What Car? (UK)- “The A7’s cabin is packed with as much treasure as a pirate ship. ”

Pistonheads.com – “There’s no doubt about it, getting behind the wheel of a well-spec’ed A7 is a definite ‘feel good’ experience.”

Autoexpress (UK, video) – “Besides the R8, we think it’s one of the best looking models in [Audi's] range.”

2011 Ford Edge Sport

With over 400,000 units sold its almost safe to say that the Ford Edge, first introduced as a 2007 model, surpassed all sales expectations. Born at the intersection of high gas prices and the end of disposable income the crossover that has launched Ford and its subsidiaries into the badge-engineering game, but for crossovers.

Unveiled in February at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, the 2011 Ford Edge showed the styling path Ford was travelling down with the 3-bar grill and squinty headlights than previous generations. The new generation features a slew of new trim levels: SE, SEL, Limited and Sport but the big story several new engine variations available. Ford’s new EcoBoost range including the 2.0L inline-4, 3.7L direct-injected V6, and the power-house… the 3.5L twin turbo’d V6 with direct-injection. The 3.5L, the one you want, offer’s “V8 performance with V6 fuel economy” so the marketing boffins at Ford would have you to believe. The perfomance isn’t exactly breath taking, a la “V8 performance,” but the economy surely isn’t all that impressive. Up to 25 mpg shows that 355HP can push you around in quite a hurry while still carrying you quite a distance on a gallon of fuel.

Most reviewers were torn on the “love-it or hate” looks with too many curves but found the rounded edges did have one benefit: interior room. One important aspect to many crossover buyers who may be cross-shopping many crossover’s with SUV’s will be surprised to find out that 6-foot adults can sit comfortably in all outboard positions. View the video provided by Ford or the review’s below and read about all the interesting Sony electrics integrated into Ford’s newest generation Sync.

• Autoblog (blog, First Drive)
• Car and Drive (First Drive)
• Automobile Mag (First Drive)
• Inside Line (First Drive)
• Autobytel (First Drive)
• LeftLaneNews (blog, First Drive)

2010 BMW 5-Series

Power, handling, comfort and luxury are all associations one could make when shopping for the 2011 BMW 5-series, BMW’s mid-range sedan. This 5th generation of the BMW sedan slots above the BMW 3-series but only slightly below the 7-series having been designed on the same chassis as the se7en. BMW has done away with the majority of the Bangle design, most notably, the “Bangle-Butt.”

Comfort in the 5-series including the HVAC, audio, system functions and Sat/Nav system is handled mostly by the iDrive system. Now in its fourth-generation iDrive has been improved and is much more intutive, less distracting and easier to control than the previous generations.

Power in the 5-series is handled by either a naturally-aspirated inline-6 with 258HP (528i), a turbocharged inline-6 pushing just over 300HP (535i) or a twin-turbo 4.4L V8 producing 400HP (550i) allowing a sprint to 60 in just 5.0 seconds. Two transmissions are offered, this being German and all, a 6-speed manual and an 8-speed automatic for fuel economy… obviously.

Interesting technologies in the mid-level BMW include the aforementioned iDrive system, adaptive cruise control which can maintain a constant speed based on other cars speed, lane departure warning system, head-up display, park distance control which displays a sort-of birds-eye view of the car, is visible on the Sat/Nav screen and blind spot protection lights an indicator in the outside mirrors to let you know you’re merging into traffic. As part of the continuing BMW Efficient Dynamics campaign the car’s battery gets recharged during braking using brake-regeneration without even a hybrid system.

In relation to handling, TheAutoChannel.com reports that, “what is most appealing about the 550i though is its road manners.” Allowing those superb road manners are an overall length gain of the body with a 3-inch longer wheelbase and slightly wider track but then it would be bigger since its based on its big brother. The 5-series comes in sevreal variants: a four-door sedan, wagon, Gran-turismo body-style and expect a sporty M5 to follow.

2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo

A German sedan with 500 horsepower is nothing new; nor is a twin turbo or controversial Porsche new to the automotive landscape. But what happens when all those traits combine? You get the Porsche Panamera Turbo, a 500 horsepower twin-turbo V8, 4-door Porsche controversy not-withstanding. Porsche purists cried and moaned when the car was released hoping Porsche wouldn’t follow the same route they took with the Cayenne. Well, after releasing an SUV some say a sedan was the next logical step to compete with Porsche’s other German rivals from Mercedes, BMW and Audi.

And compete they will with the quickest 4-door production sedan accelerating from 0-60MPH in 3.4 seconds. That’s quicker than any AMG Mercedes sedan, BMW M sedan, and even the venerable Cadillac CTS-V sedan, the quickest American-made 4-door sedan, which is powered by the supercharged V8 from the Corvette ZR1.

Reviewers all found something to complain about with the Porsche Panamera Turbo but no one claimed it was underpowered. U.K.’s CAR Magazine claims Porsche missed an opportunity by claiming the car’s design focus oriented it too much towards comfort and not enough on lightness. Road & Track magazine attempts to explain the styling  as the “elephant in the room” referring to the “ungainly roof and awkward slope of its hatch,” neglecting to mention the Panamera’s “elongated 911″ appearance the Porsche styling designers were aiming for. Overall, however, the reviews were generally positive complementing the speed and the cocooning interior most of all. Check out the reviews, videos and gallery below and decide for yourself before you buy!

Reviews:

Autoweek (an AutoWeek Drivers Log)
Car and Driver (Review)
Popular Mechanics (Test Drive)
Road & Track (Road Test)
Motor Trend (First Drive)
Edmunds.com (Road Test)
National Post (Canada, Road Test)
Times Online (UK, Jeremy Clarkson Drive)
AutoBlog (blog, First Drive)
AutoGuide (First Drive)

Video Reviews:

iMotorMag (UK, YouTube)
Fifth Gear (UK, YouTube)
AutoCar (UK, YouTube)
Drive Time (Review, YouTube)

2010 Mercedes-Benz E63

When a 4-door sedan has an optional “performance Package” you know it means business. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 is the mid-level rocket-ship performance sedan in the Mercedes portfolio slotting slightly above the C63 entry-level sedan and slightly below S63 top-of-the-line sedan. All share the same door count, sub-4.5 second 0-60 acceleration time, similar AMG refreshes and the same AMG 6.2L V8. When installed in an E63 the 6.2L’s specific output is pegged at 518 HP or a 10 HP increase over the outgoing 2009 model.

AMG breathes new life into each E63 with an emphasis on improving the overall driving dynamics, and it shows. Each sedan retains the air suspension but only in the rear while replacing the front bags with steel springs in increasing the track to improve overall handling. The transmission is still a slush-box 7-speed but features a wet-disc clutch in lieu of a torque converter and a mighty switch on the center console with options for Controlled Efficiency, Sport, Sport+ and Manual, very un-Mercedes-like words.

Even more unbecoming of a Mercedes is the Performance Package which raises the speed-limiter to 186 MPH (up from 155) as well as the ceramic brakes option (cleaning your wallet of another $8800) but they’re squeal and fade free. Reviewers find this car to be the “end of horsepower wars” since its so powerful and enjoy the spectacular chassis dynamics. Read on to find out how the E63 compares to the rest of the 4-door uber-sedans.

• Automobile (First Drive)
• Car and Driver (First Drive)
• Motor Trend (First Drive)
• MBWorld.org (Review)
• AutoGuide.com (First Drive)
• Jalopnik (blog, First Drive)
• Inside Line (Full Test)

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia

A brand new dual clutch 7-speed automated-manual transmission, triple exhaust outlets, body by Pininfarina, F1-spec traction control system, and 9000 RPM’s pulled from a mid-ship mounted 4.5L direct injected Ferrari V8. This list of standard specifications of the Ferrari 458 Italia offer an exitic brainstorm of what the new entry-level mid-engined Ferrari is like. Built to replace the long-running F430, the newest member to the Ferrari lineup seperates itself from the entry-level California.

Offering one of (if not the) most powerful naturally aspirated production V8′s and pushes an astonishing 562 HP at redline or 9000 RPM. And whether you like it or not, its attached to an automated-manual F1-style 7-speed transmission. Interestingly, according to Ferrari (and many other luxury/sports marques) purists complaints don’t represent the actual buying public so a proper manual won’t be offered. Owners will, however, be satisfied knowing body panels are crafted using aerospace technology allowing impossibly thin paneling.

Being a modern Ferrari, reviewers seem to be mostly impressed by the 458′s technological aspects rather than styling or performance. Read on to some of the reviews to see how the chassis aerodynamics are a particular area of interest.

• Automobile Mag (Review)
• Car and Driver (First Drive)
• Motor Trend (First Drive)
• Popular Mechanics (Test Drive)
• Autocar (YouTube)
• evo Magazine (YouTube)
• Fifth Gear (YouTube)

2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

Everyone’s doing it these days: creating track-day cars to fill a new market. Track day cars aren’t quite full blown race cars but they’re a hard sell as a grocery-getter model either. Once touted as the “least expensive 200 MPH car,” the Bentley Continental . Bentley’s Continental line has been around for quite some time (released in 2003) and has offered no less than five variants including the original GT, the convertible GTC, the slightly upmarket GT Speed, its drop-top sibling the GTC Speed, and most recently the Supersports. As keen readers will be able to note after any model introduction comes a convertible variant so following this springs release of the Continental Supersports comes the Supersports Convertible.

Bentley’s Continental Supersports Convertible sports 621 HP and 519 LB/FT of twisties available beginning at 1650 RPM from the W12 motor. Acceleration to 60 happens in just 3.9 seconds (down from 4.3 from the GTC Speed) and to 100 MPH in 8.9 seconds. Interestingly, the Continental Supersports can deliver enough G’s (1.29) of force around a skidpad to rip your face off helped partly from the wheels weighing only a skant 22 LB’s each. MSRP for the convertible starts at $280K but all seems worth it when you consider this is the fastest 4-seat convertible money can buy.

Reviews for the Continental Supersports Convertible are quite positive. Everyone of the test drivers were impressed by how well it handled its “bulk” given the car’s 5400 LB curb weight. “Nicely weighted” steering, “superb brakes,” and comfort that could only be associated with a Bentley are the common superlatives ringing between the reviewers. Catch some of the reviews below including some of the Supersports coupe.

Supersports Convertible

• Autoblog (blog, First Drive)
• Yahoo! Cars (UK, First Drive)
• Car and Driver (Review)
• Left Lane News (Review)

Supersports Coupe

• Popular Mechanics (Test Drive)
• Telegraph.co.uk (Review)
• CNet Cartech  (blog, First Take, YouTube)
• Motor Trend (Review)
• Top Gear (UK, Road Test, YouTube segment)

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The new super sports car from Mercedes-Benz and AMG dazzles with its unparalleled technology collection: an aluminum space-frame bodyshell with gullwing doors; an AMG 6.3-liter, front-mid V8 engine with a top force of 563 hp, 479 lb-ft of torque, and dry sump lubrication; seven-speed dual-clutch in a transaxle design; a sports chassis with aluminum double-wishbone suspension; and a curb weight of 3,573 pounds. It’s a combination that guarantees dominant handling mechanics. The car’s ideal weight arrangement between the fore and aft axles (47 to 53 pct respectively) and its low point of gravity punctuate the striking sports car concept. The Gullwing shaped car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and has a maximum velocity of 196 mph (electronically restricted).

The identifiable figure of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG dazzles with its lustful sportiness and reinterprets the exciting design of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, one of the brightest arrangements of the Mercedes-Benz marque. With its undiluted organisation, the new SLS AMG reflects the teachings of modern sports car design: The nearly 6-foot-long bonnet, the low glass positioned far backward, and the abbreviated backside with the long rear spoiler represent dynamism, as do the abundant wheelbase, the wide track, and the ample wide wheels. The proportions are set by the stubby overhangs and the design of the super car, with a low-slung, front-mid engine mounted substantially backwards and a dual-clutch transmission in a transaxle configuration. The stylistic detail is without question the gullwing doors, which bestow the SLS AMG with unequaled attractiveness and make an uncomparable statement in this vehicle segment.

Edmunds (Review)
Left Lane (First Drive)
Motor Trend (First Drive)
MSN Autos UK (First Drive)
UK Telegragh (Review)
Jalopnik (First Drive)