Tag Archives: Nissan Altima

Automobiles

2013 Nissan Altima Commercial: Dancing with the Cars [The Ad Section]

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By Don Klein

The Ad Section

The number one unwritten rule in advertising is Get Noticed, so score one for ad agency TBWAChiatDay for creating an automotive commercial that’s definitely different. But, unfortunately, that one is all it scored. This bizarre spot opens on a highly stylized couple in their driveway, facing the garage. They don’t need a car, because he’s the car. She climbs aboard his back like an awkward toddler and holds her arms in the nine-and-three steering position, but as soon as they start to back up, he bucks her off. Wait—is he a car or a horse? I’m already confused.

More befuddling is that, moments later, he’s a football player, assuming a defensive guard’s position to protect a kid on a skateboard from getting smooshed. For those of us who haven’t earned a black belt in charades, the announcer provides a clue: “Moving object detection.” The only detecting I detected was the guy looking over his shoulder, the same technology Karl Benz used on his 1886 Patent-Motorwagen. But if we’re pretending the guy is a car, I guess that means whatever the spot is selling has motion sensors, like dozens of other cars on the market.

Incident avoided, she’s now off his back as they move down a neighborhood road, side by side, in what looks to me like a tribute to Monty Python’s “The Ministry of Silly Walks.” They keep this up until getting to the freeway, where a motorcycle bears down on them. (Didn’t this guy get the tweet? There are crazy people on the 405! Stay away!) Since they’re all alone out there I would think they could easily hear a rapidly approaching, fully wound café racer, but maybe they have their invisible windows rolled up. No worries, though, as the biker passes safely because the still-unnamed car/horse/lineman/comedian has blind-spot detection. Phew. Moments later we learn the man-car also has lane-departure warning, as evidenced by its stealthy evasion of a huge semi. As the 18-wheeler barrels past them, the vehi-dude demonstrates an additional, if unnamed feature: automatic truck mooning. Haul this, you big bully!

Whatever it is that’s being advertised, the announcer says it has safety down to an art form, so I’m thinking maybe it’s a Volvo. But no, the waning seconds of the spot reveal that we’re being pitched the Nissan Altima. That’s right, folks—the same car that touted its tire-inflation warning system by showing a guy squirting cologne down his trousers has now taken the high road with this artsy allegorical ditty that’s sure to capture the desirable modern-dance enthusiast segment that all the mid-size sedans are battling for. I never saw it coming.

Award-winning ad man-cum-auto journalist Don Klein knows a good (or bad) car commercial when he sees one; the Ad Section is his space to tell you what he thinks …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Four for Boosting: ’14 Ford Fusion to Get 1.5-Liter EcoBoost Four-Cylinder

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By Austin Lindberg

When Ford introduces its global-market Mondeo to China at next week’s Shanghai auto show, the car’s powertrain roster will include an all-new 1.5-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. Astute observers may be asking why this new 1.5-liter turbo four exists when the blue-oval brand already produces a 1.6-liter turbo four. It’s simple: Ford has grand plans for China, where significant tax breaks are given to vehicles powered by engines that displace 1.5 liters or less. The Dearborn-based manufacturer expects Asian and Pacific markets to make up 30 percent of its global sales by 2020, with China making up a large chunk of that pie. Closer to home, this engine will be added to the Fusion‘s powertrain lineup for 2014.

Yes, it will be added to the Fusion’s powertrain lineup, rather than replacing the 1.6-liter. So for 2014, the Fusion will be available with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost four, a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four, a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, and the Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four used in the hybrid systems of the Fusion hybrid and Energi plug-in. The 1.5 will be available only with a six-speed automatic, while the 1.6 will be paired exclusively with a six-speed manual. This will allow Ford to allocate more 1.6-liter EcoBoosts to the Escape, where demand for the engine has surprised even Ford. (The crossover also offers the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter and the 2.0-liter EcoBoost.)

As far as the engine itself, Ford revealed very few details. It will be built at the company’s Craiova, Romania, production facility before being shipped to the U.S. and other markets this summer. Ford says that the 1.5 will “provide similar horsepower and torque performance” to the 1.6-liter, while delivering improved fuel economy. The new powerplant incorporates some features developed and introduced in the brand’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder, such as an integrated exhaust manifold that Ford claims will allow the engine to warm up more quickly.

From: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/3JoLcsrYPp8/

Automobiles

Report: 2014 Ford Fusion to get 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder?

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By Steven J. Ewing

2013 Ford Fusion

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Just one year after launching the all-new 2013 Fusion, Ford is reportedly set to alter the sedan’s powertrain lineup with the addition of a new 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine. A member of Blue Oval Forums apparently got their hands on the ordering guide for the 2014 model year Fusion, and this 1.5-liter mill is set to be introduced with late availability.

This lines up with other news about the Chinese-market Mondeo being offered with a new 1.5-liter EcoBoost – a derivative of the 1.0-liter triple that will come to North America under the hood of the Fiesta (note: the 1.0 is also offered in the current Euro-spec Mondeo). In the Chinese application, the larger three-pot engine produces 177 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, which is very close to the current 1.6-liter inline-four’s output numbers of 178 hp and 184 lb-ft.

What’s interesting, however, is that the 1.6-liter engine will reportedly still be offered in the Fusion, but only with the six-speed manual transmission. The smaller 1.5-liter EcoBoost will only be mated to a six-speed SelectShift automatic, and will feature start/stop. This means that while the 1.5 is slightly down on power compared to the 1.6, it could easily improve fuel economy numbers, allowing the Fusion to regain the title of having the best mileage in the segment, likely besting the 38 miles per gallon of the Nissan Altima. Currently, the Fusion 1.6 is rated at 23 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.

Blue Oval Forums also states that the 2014 Fusion will get a number of other changes, including an optional heated steering wheel, cooled seats, summer tire options for select models, and a couple of new exterior paint colors.

A Ford spokesperson could not be reached for comment at this time, but stay tuned for updates as they become available.

2014 Ford Fusion to get 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Can Ford's New Fusion Knock off the Camry?

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By John Rosevear, The Motley Fool

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Photo credit: Ford Motor Company

Ford‘s new Fusion sedan has been turning heads since its launch late last year. It’s easy to see why: With its sleek flanks, Aston Martin-inspired grille, and luxury-car-like interior, it really stands out in a sea of blander-looking competitors.

And lately, it’s been drawing quite a few customers. For the year to date through March, sales were up 26% over the first three months of 2012, as the new Fusion continues to outshine its well-regarded predecessor.

But will the Fusion have what it takes to overcome America’s best-selling car, Toyota‘s ever-popular Camry?

Rapidly rising on the U.S. sales charts
Ford already has America’s best-selling vehicle, of course. Its F-Series pickup trucks have been the best-seller for decades, followed by the perennial runner-up, General Motors‘ Chevy Silverado pickup.

That’s unlikely to change, because pickups are big business here in America. But it’s after those two that the sales race gets interesting. So far in 2013, the next four biggest sellers are all midsized sedans: the Camry, Honda‘s Accord, Nissan‘s Altima – and Ford’s new Fusion.

The Fusion isn’t far behind the Altima, with 80,558 sales through March to the Nissan’s 86,952. But it has a ways to go to catch up to the Camry, which sold 100,830 through the first three months of the year.

Camry sales look strong, but they have been down 4% so far in 2013, thanks in part to the strength of the new Fusion. Does Ford‘s hot-looking sedan have a chance of catching up and dethroning the Camry?

Probably not, at least in the near term. Here’s why.

Why Ford can’t (yet) beat the Camry
Here’s the problem: Ford’s can’t (yet) make enough Fusions to outsell the Camry. The company cut its North American production facilities way back during its painful restructuring last decade. That was a good move, one that has led to strong profits now that many of its factories are working overtime.

But it has a downside. With plants already running around the clock, Ford can’t make many more Fusions than it is already making – at least, not easily. Ford U.S. sales chief Ken Czubay told reporters last week that strong sales and strong continuing demand for the Fusion in places like California and Florida could mean short supplies of the hot sedan in coming months.

Adding production means expensive investments in additional production lines, investments that Ford has been reluctant to make until it’s sure it can sell the extra cars (and until it’s sure that its suppliers will be able to keep up).

The good news is, with the Fusion, Ford is already preparing to step up production.

A $555 million investment to close the gap
Ford has already announced that it is adding a production line to build the Fusion at its Flat Rock, Mich., plant, where the Mustang is currently built. That isn’t a cheap move: Ford is spending $555 million to install …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Want to Buy a Ford Fusion This Summer? Good Luck!

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By Adam Levine-Weinberg, The Motley Fool

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Ford continues to knock the ball out of the park with its second-generation Ford Fusion. The new Fusion, which debuted to great fanfare last fall, has quickly become one of Ford’s best-selling models. I have been bullish on the new Fusion’s potential since last August, and the early sales results have still outperformed my expectations.

The 2013 Ford Fusion (courtesy of Ford)

However, sales gains may have peaked for the time being, due to capacity constraints, which were highlighted Tuesday morning by Ford’s management on the company’s sales conference call. Fusion inventories are already very tight in many parts of the country, and are likely to get even slimmer during the spring and summer car-buying season.

From an investor standpoint, excess demand is a high-class problem to have. Lean inventories will allow Ford to sell as many Fusions as it can make without resorting to discounts. Furthermore, dealers may be able to cross-sell other Ford models to customers who come into dealerships thinking about purchasing a Fusion. Lastly, Ford will bring a second factory online to produce the Fusion beginning this summer, which will provide a foundation for further sales gains.

Increasing sales
Last month, I pointed out that Ford was gaining on competitors in the large and growing midsize car segment in 2013. The U.S. midsize segment has been dominated by the big three Japanese automakers — Toyota Motor , Honda Motor , and Nissan — for many years. However, the Fusion outsold the Nissan Altima in both January and February, catapulting Ford into third place.

In March, Fusion sales rose once again, setting an all-time monthly record with 30,284 sales. If not for the capacity constraints mentioned above, Ford could have sold more vehicles. Supply was very tight in big markets like California and south Florida, where Fusions sat on dealer lots for an average of about 15 days (the industry norm is approximately 60 days). Fusion production at Ford’s Flat Rock plant is expected to begin around July, so Ford should be able to meet full demand by sometime this fall. Until then, supply is likely to be tight, which means there won’t be many discounts, and selection will be limited for car buyers.

Be careful
While the Fusion’s popularity is great news for Ford shareholders, there are still reasons to be cautious about the stock. Despite Fusion‘s strong showing, Ford fell back into fourth place in the midsize segment in March, as Nissan Altima sales rebounded to 37763 units. (In fact, Nissan jumped all the way to first in the midsize segment last month, edging out longtime segment leader Toyota Camry by 100 units.) Nissan’s gains were probably due to higher incentive spending; according to TrueCar, Nissan’s incentives averaged 9.9% of the average transaction price last month, up sequentially from 9.6% in February. By contrast, incentive spending fell sequentially from 8.8% of ATPs in February to …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Automobiles

March 2013: Records Are Made To Be Broken Edition

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By John Neff

Marriage SC Marriage is what it is

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They say records are made to be broken, and the auto industry broke more than a few last month. Sales for the month of March added up to a number of all-time best months for automakers, like Nissan (+0.39 percent to 126,623) and Subaru (+13.32 percent to 36,701). General Motors reports it had its best March in five years (+6.45 percent to 245,950), Audi (+14.4 percent 13,253) achieved its second-best sales month ever, and some individual models like the Ford Fusion (+6.0 percent to 30,284 units) and Explorer (+32.5 percent to 17,509 units) also set new sales records.

Most automakers made out on the positive side of things, and many that didn’t had excuses.

Indeed, even with one fewer selling day in March 2013 versus March 2012 (27 vs. 28), most automakers made out on the positive side of things, and many that didn’t had excuses. Lincoln, for instance, down 22.47 percent to 6,825 sales, was still hampered last month by quality concerns with its new MKZ sedan that suppressed availability. That car’s production, however, is now where it should be, so Lincoln’s numbers should look much better for April. Likewise, Kia saw sales fell 14.57 percent to 49,125, largely due to production constraints on the new Forte. Mitsubishi, meanwhile, which fell 26.17 percent to 5,286 units, is down a few discontinued models compared to last year, but word on the street is that more help is coming, including a new-for-2014 Mirage subcompact.

Also worth noting is how intense the sales battle has become in the midsize sedan segment. Long dominated by the Camry, Toyota’s family sedan was knocked off its pedestal last month by the Nissan Altima, which posted 37,763 units sold to the Camry’s 37,663. The Honda Accord was right there with 36,504 sales, and the Ford Fusion crept into the mix with its 30,284 units sold. We’ll be watching this segment as the year progresses to see if Toyota will keep its crown or lose it to the Altima, Accord, or maybe even the dark-horse Fusion.

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 27 selling days in March 2013 and 28 selling days in March 2012, so there is a difference between the change in monthly sales volume and the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company. Also, brands are combined and reported as companies only if their sales figures are released jointly.

March 2013: Records Are Made To Be Broken Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

2013 Honda Accord

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The sea change among mid-size sedans has caught some napping. The Chevy Malibu’s lost some sense of direction, as has the Toyota Camry, while the Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima all have gained ground with attractive designs and expertly packaged features. The 2013 Honda Accord cleaves the group of mid-sizers… …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at The Car Connection

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Ford's New Models Are Hitting Their Stride

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By Adam Levine-Weinberg, The Motley Fool

On Friday, Ford reported strong February sales, with total deliveries up 9% year over year. One thing that was particularly notable about the report was that Ford achieved very strong sales of the Escape crossover and Fusion midsize sedan, two major products that were refreshed last year. While Ford generates most of its profit from the F-Series line of full-size pickups, the Escape and Fusion are critical products for Ford as it tries to diversify its product lineup. This is because the crossover and midsize car segments are two of the largest segments in the U.S. auto market (with the midsize segment recently becoming No. 1).

Month in review
Ford’s F-Series trucks had another strong month in February, with sales up by 15% to 54,489. However, the Escape and Fusion were the real stars of the show. Escape sales grew 29% to 24,110, while Fusion sales grew 28% to 27,875. The Fusion’s gains were particularly remarkable given that the car’s February 2012 sales were already a record high for the month.

Both strong performances came after similarly good results in January. Escape and Fusion both generated record January sales this year, with Fusion up 65% to 22,399 vehicles. It seems that car buyers are shrugging off Ford’s recent quality control problems: The new Escape was recalled four times in 2012, while the Fusion was recalled twice. Fortunately, there have been no new recalls for either model since early December, which should reassure customers.

Fusion gaining traction
While the Escape and Fusion results were both very impressive, the Fusion’s growth is probably more important at this point. The midsize car segment was the largest in the U.S. last year, and it has long been dominated by the Japanese automakers. Toyota has built a massive following for its Camry midsize sedan, which has been the segment leader for a long time. The Honda Accord has also performed well and typically takes the second spot.  In 2012, the Fusion was the fourth-best-selling midsize car in the U.S., with 241,263 units sold. The Camry led the segment with 404,886 sold, followed by the Accord with 331,872, and the Nissan Altima with 302,934.

In 2013, Ford has vaulted over Nissan into the third spot in the midsize market: Fusion outsold the Altima for the second straight month in February. While Nissan’s February Altima sales total of 27,725 put it only 150 vehicles behind Fusion, it is still impressive that Ford has quickly closed what was a 20% gap in 2012. Moreover, the Honda Accord‘s grip on the No. 2 slot is becoming tenuous; the Accord outsold the Fusion by only 124 units last month. The Toyota Camry maintained a significant lead with 31,270 units sold, but Fusion has certainly come within striking distance of the category leader.

While the overall numbers for Fusion sales are impressive, they do not tell the full story. As Ken Czubay, Ford’s vice president of U.S. sales and service, stated on the …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Automobiles

Video: Check out this sneaky NYPD cop car disguised as a yellow cab

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By Jonathon Ramsey

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That’s no ordinary New York City yellow taxi in the image above; it’s a police cruiser for the New York City Police Department dressed up like an NYC yellow taxi. Captured in a short video on a Manhattan street corner, it is escorting an NYPD van behind it.

They don’t just use Crown Vics, either: NYC The Blog has video from two years ago of a motorist being pulled over by a Nissan Altima taxi. The blog also lets you know how to tell an undercover police cab from a proper taxi by comparing the license plate number to the medallion number on the cab’s roof – not that it would do you any good in your rearview mirror, though.

When the post was written two and a half years ago it was said that there were only eight such taxis prowling the naked city, and that their plates all began with “T800.” That’s not the case with the taxi in the video below, so we wouldn’t be surprised if the number has grown and now there are even more people in more places keeping an eye on you.

Continue reading Check out this sneaky NYPD cop car disguised as a yellow cab

Check out this sneaky NYPD cop car disguised as a yellow cab originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Motorsports: Nissan unveils Altima-based V8 Supercars [w/videos]

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

2013 Nissan Altima V8 Supercars with drivers

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Good as it is, when we think about the Nissan Altima, the words “V8” or “supercar” are not in our vernacular, but Nissan Motorsports is looking to change all that. After unveiling the race version of its Altima sedan intended for the Australian V8 Supercars series back in October, the four race teams and their cars were revealed yesterday ahead of a preseason test session this weekend.

Two of the Altima racecars will be sponsored by Jack Daniels while the other two will wear Norton (as in Norton Anti-Virus) black-and-yellow livery. The season officially kicks off on March 1, and we’ll get to see the V8-powered Altima on US soil from May 17-19 when the V8 Supercars series hits the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Scroll down to watch a couple videos and a press release issued for the team introductions.

Continue reading Nissan unveils Altima-based V8 Supercars [w/videos]

Nissan unveils Altima-based V8 Supercars [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Quick Spin: 2014 Mazda6 i Sport

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By Seyth Miersma

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2014 Mazda6

In an automotive landscape dominated by platform sharing, technology exchange and any number of other cross-fertilization/cost-saving/amortization exercises, it’s actually pretty rare that we get to drive a new car that is as “all-new” as this, the 2014 Mazda6. With brand-spanking new Skyactiv architecture throughout – engine, transmission, body and chassis all included – this 6 represents a new era of flexible production and cutting edge running gear for the happily lithe car company.

Our own Jonathon Ramsey did a cracking job of running the Mazda6 through its First Drive paces a few months ago, and sufficiently impressed upon us just how good looking a car this is for the midsize sedan segment. Suffice it to say, now, then, that this is easily the most interesting (and quitewhat’ possibly the most beautiful) midsize sedan in the segment today. However, as Mr. Ramsey reviewed a fully contented example of the 6 – one equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission – we took advantage of Mazda’s North American launch event of the car to suss out the base Mazda6 i Sport, complete with its six-speed Skyactiv manual gearbox. This may not shock you, but the stripper’s pretty good, too.

Driving Notes

  • We’ll get right down to the meat of it: The manual transmission is far-better than the average do-it-yourself gearbox in this segment. Throws of the gearlever are light, short, and easy to put home with confidence. The clutch pedal, similarly, is very low-effort, but with a broad catch point that’s simple to operate in every driving situation we encountered. This isn’t a hewn-from-billet shifting experience, naturally, but it is a manual transmission that can be used with satisfaction in spirited driving, or mindlessly on the shopping run. The transmission is just perfectly suited to the power delivery of the smooth 2.5-liter motor, too.
  • The Sport trim car we tested had zero options – quite a rarity in the media fleet. Still, we found the cabin to be pretty accommodating and comfortable. The most noticeable interior bits on this base-level are the all-cloth seats and the old school head unit where the touch-screen display usually lives. The seats were fine – soft to the touch and seemingly resilient, with just a bit of gloss and texture to make them feel upscale without the cowhide. The head unit, meanwhile, while perfectly functional (and sure to be embraced by the luddite set in our comments section), was both drab and old-fashioned looking. Naturally the instrument panel was designed to accommodate a touch screen – this is the 21st Century, after all – so its lack hampers the design. For one thing, the lack of color and brightness afforded by the display makes the dash look sort of dark and dreary by comparison.
  • So, just how inexpensive is the base model Mazda6 i Sport? The literal answer is $21,675 after the $795 destination fee has been added on. That’s pretty good, we thought. The relative answer is, of course, slightly more complicated. In a tooth-and-nail segment like this one, you’d expect pricing among the heavyweight players to be very close, and it is. Still, the new 6 is almost the class-leader. Comparing optionless, base-model MSRPs, plus destination charges, we find this: Toyota Camry is $23,030, Nissan Altima is $22,550, Honda Accord is $22,470 and Ford Fusion is $22,245. Volkswagen’s most basic Passat is just $21,640 though – about a night at the movies with your wife (not the kids) cheaper than the Mazda.
  • Mazda is in zero danger of loosing its ballyhooed zoom-zoom appeal by way of this 6 – the handling experience is impressive. While we were perhaps a bit less bullish about the car’s nimbleness on our test drive through some very hilly, winding Texas Hill Country roads than when cruising through the French countryside (again, see our First Drive), we still found the thing to be pretty tossable. Reactions to steering inputs, especially, were impressively fast for a car this big and long. The steering experience itself was a bit weightless, with not enough of a transition from on-lock to off-lock feeling of heft, but still very accurate and easy to modulate in a quick corner. Suspension response was admirable, too, on fast switchbacks. For all of that, the cruising ride didn’t suffer, though road and tire noise on the freeway was higher than we’d like.
  • Mazda will doubtlessly sell a lot of examples of this new Mazda6 based on its stunning sheet metal and high-levels of content in the middle/high trims. Good to know that the base car is still pretty sweet then; and still a pleasantly differentiated product in a segment filled with one-upmanship.

2014 Mazda6 i Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Nissan Altima Vs. Volkswagen Passat: Compare Cars

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Family-sedan shoppers no longer have just a few choices; these days it’s not just a Camry-versus-Accord world. Look to the latest Sonata, Optima, Fusion, Malibu, Legacy, and 6, and you’ll see a full slate of serious contenders, all with slightly different personalities. Two of the newest mid-size sedans, the Nissan Altima and Volkswagen Passat…
Source: FULL ARTICLE at The Car Connection

Automobiles

Hyundai Sonata Vs. Kia Optima: Compare Cars

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Relative newcomers to the mid-size sedan segment, the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima haven’t taken long to rise to the top of the class. In just a few generations, the pair have gone from distant finishers to highly ranked competitors that now rank in sales alongside vehicles like the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord and Ford Fusion—and for good…
Source: FULL ARTICLE at The Car Connection

Automobiles

Volkswagen Passat

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The Volkswagen Passat is a large front-wheel-drive sedan aimed at the heart of the passenger-car market, right at best sellers like the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Honda Accord. It’s assembled in the U.S. at a new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The current Passat is positioned more for value than sophistication or tech advancements. Over…
Source: FULL ARTICLE at The Car Connection

Automobiles

Ford Opens AppLink API to Developers, Announces Raft of New Sync-Compatible Apps [2013 CES]

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By Alexander Stoklosa

Ford Developer Program

Ford is going app crazy at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, introducing a bevy of new Sync-compatible apps and announcing that it is opening its AppLink code to developers. Taking a cue from the mobile-device industry, Ford is letting app developers get their hands on the company’s AppLink—Ford-speak for the basic code necessary for making iOS or Android apps compatible with the Sync infotainment system‘s voice and button controls. In even simpler terms, AppLink is the conduit that allows drivers to manipulate phone-based apps via Sync’s in-car controls—the apps themselves don’t actually “live” in the car’s hardware. 

By opening up AppLink to developers, Ford is hoping there will be a rush to introduce many more Sync-friendly apps. But it won’t be a complete free-for-all; Ford might be furnishing its code to the outside world, but the results still need to pass Ford muster. That means that all AppLink-compatible apps created or converted under the Ford Developer Program will need to successfully complete a review process before being approved for use in Sync-equipped vehicles. Developers need only to register with Ford to participate in the creative process; Ford provides the software developer kit with the necessary code, tech support, and access to a wider developer community.

As for the metric carload of newly Sync-compatible apps, here they are:

Wall Street Journal (live and on-demand radio content)
USA Today (listen to articles and headlines; play, pause, skip, move within stories)
Kaliki (reads select newspaper and magazine articles aloud, subscription free)
Amazon Cloud Player (streams personal music collection from the cloud)
Aha Radio (on-demand music, internet radio, podcasts)
Rhapsody (on-demand music, internet radio)
Greater Media (live-stream radio)
Glympse (location-sharing)
BeCouply (date-night suggestion tool)

These apps join a library of other mobile-device-based apps like NPR, Pandora, and more that already can manipulated via Sync controls.

2013 Consumer Electronics Show full coverage

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

The Question: 2013 Honda Accord Touring or 2013 Infiniti G37 Journey for $500/Month? [Lease Throwdown!]

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By Justin Berkowitz

2013 Honda Accord Touring vs. 2013 Infiniti G37 Journey Lease Throwdown
Honda Accord Touring Vs. Infiniti G37 Journey
$500 typical monthly payment, $0 down $500
$18,000 total payments, 36 months $18,000
$34,220 sticker price $38,145
278-hp V-6, 6-speed automatic powertrain 328-hp V-6, 7-speed automatic
5.6 seconds
14.1 seconds		 acceleration:
0-60 MPH
1/4-mile		 5.3 seconds
13.9 seconds
21/34 EPA city/highway fuel economy, mpg 19/27
Brought the six-cylinder Accord back to the 10Best list for 2013. C/D trophy case Rarely wins comparison tests, but only loses to the most acclaimed car.
Refinement, power, spaciousness, and visibility. strengths Acceleration, handling, steering—you know, driving.
It can feel a little nose-heavy, so we prefer the four-cylinder and a stick. weaknesses Thrashy engine, cramped back seat, and a harsh highway ride.
Leasing is a well-defined, risk-free commitment. why lease instead of buy? So you can drive the replacement soon after it comes out.
Frugal and responsible. I want my co-workers to think of me as . . . Different and edgy. Not psycho, just edgy.
Why’d he spend BMW money on a Honda? My co-workers will actually think . . . Why’d he spend BMW money on an Infiniti?
Avoided. That’s why I have lane-departure warning. drifting should be . . . Enjoyed early and often.
Rearview camera, heated seats, voice-activated nav, or adaptive cruise control. go ahead and ask me about my . . . 14-second quarter-mile or the platform shared with the Nissan 370Z.
The Crosstour, a.k.a. the Medusan Ambassador. if i like it but need more space i’ll trade it in on . . . The jacked-up FX35 station-wagon version of my car.
Is a politically correct word for “ostentation.” styling . . . Should reference Japanese calligraphy.
It’s a nearly flawless entry-luxury car. get it instead of the other one because . . . It’s a true sports sedan.

From the February 2013 issue of CAR and DRIVER magazine


Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

2012 – Don't Call It A Comeback Edition

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By John Neff

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Best Year Since 2007, F-Series And Camry Remain Top-Sellers

Most automakers probably wish the party that was 2012 would keep right on going into 2013, because the past year was was very good for the auto industry in terms of sales. With December sales now reported, the final seasonally adjusted sales rate of the year is 15.38 million vehicles. Automotive News reports that 14.49 million light vehicles were sold in all, which is up 13 percent compared to 2011 and marks the third straight year of growth over 10 percent.

Of the major brands, Chrysler was the biggest winner with a 39.13-percent rise in sales compared to 2011, followed closely by Volkswagen with a gain of 35.06 percent. Of the big, big brands, however, Toyota led all with a rise of 27.12 percent on sales of 1,838,338 units. Honda followed with a gain of 12.69 percent on 1,266,569 sales. Both Japanese automakers can now be said to have fully recovered from both natural disasters that disrupted their production and supply lines, as well as recalls from previous years that had damaged both their brand images and reputations for sterling quality.

Perhaps it would be quicker to talk about the brands that didn’t perform well, as that group is much smaller. Coming in under a red flag were Cadillac (-1.71 percent), Jaguar (-2.16 percent) and Lincoln (-4.08 percent) – all luxury brands and each missing out on reporting a sales gain by relatively small margins. At the bottom of the barrel, however, is Mitsubishi, which found itself with sales falling 28.09 percent compared to 2011. Suzuki was also down, 4.73 percent to be exact, despite some speculating the fire sale of its remaining inventory would lead to an improvement in sales for the brand, which announced it was exiting the US market back in November.

Lastly, let’s go over some particular stats to give you a better picture of last year’s winners.

  • Best-Selling Brand: Ford (2,168,015)
  • Best-Selling Luxury Brand: Mercedes-Benz (295,063 *includes Sprinter)
  • Best-Selling Vehicle: Ford F-Series (645,316)
  • Best-Selling Car: Toyota Camry (404,886)
  • Best-Selling CUV: Honda CR-V (281,652)
  • Best-Selling Minivan: Dodge Caravan (141,468)
  • Battle of the Pony Cars: Chevrolet Camaro (84,391, -4.4%) beat Ford Mustang (82,995, +17.8%)
  • Top Five Midsize Sedans: Toyota Camry (404,886), Honda Accord (331,872), Nissan Altima (302,934), Ford Fusion (241,263), Hyundai Sonata (230,605)
  • Top Five Minivans: Dodge Caravan (141,468), Honda Odyssey (125,980), Toyota Sienna (114,725), Chrysler Town & Country (111,744), Nissan Quest (18,275)

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 307 selling days in 2012 and 307 selling days in 2011, so there is no difference between the change in yearly sales volume and the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company. Also, brands are combined and reported as companies only if their sales figures are released jointly.

2012 – Don’t Call It A Comeback Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Mazda Announces Pricing, Fuel Economy for 2014 Mazda 6 Sedan

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By Alexander Stoklosa

2014 Mazda 6 sedan

The redesigned 2014 Mazda 6 is now on sale, and, just in time, Mazda has revealed final pricing and fuel-economy data for the sleek-looking and sweet-driving sedan. At launch, the Mazda 6 is available only with a 184-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder and either a six-speed manual or six-cog automatic transmission; the stick-shift model is EPA-rated for 25 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway, while the automatic gets 26/38. (A 2.2-liter diesel engine option arrives later this year, but official pricing and efficiency info for that powertrain are forthcoming.) Back to the gas-powered Mazda 6—it is available in three trim levels (i Sport, i Touring, and i Grand Touring), and pricing starts at $21,675 for a manual-equipped, entry-level i Sport. Full pricing below:

  • i Sport: $21,675 + $1615 for automatic), standard equipment includes push-button start, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, 17-inch aluminum wheels, auxiliary and USB inputs; the optional automatic transmission is bundled with Bluetooth, a 5.8-inch color touch screen display, a backup camera, and text-message receipt/delivery functionality.
  • i Touring: $25,290) adds to i Sport a standard automatic transmission, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, dual-zone automatic climate control, leatherette sport seats, a six-way power driver’s seat, and 19-inch aluminum wheels; an optional $2000 Touring Technology package adds navigation, an 11-speaker Bose audio system, proximity key, automatic headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated side mirrors, and Smart City Brake Support auto-braking safety system.
  • i Grand Touring: $30,290, adds to i Touring a moonroof, rear lip spoiler, HID headlights, leather sport seats (heated in the front), an eight-way power power driver’s seat, four-way power passenger’s seat, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, platinum-silver 19-inch aluminum wheels, and the Smart City Brake Support system as standard; two option packages are available—the first ($900) includes adaptive cruise control and forward-collision warning systems, and the second (coming later this year, price not yet available) brings lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam control, and Mazda’s i-ELOOP capacitor-based brake energy recuperation system

Mazda’s pricing for the new 6 places it firmly in the thick of the mid-size-sedan segment, with a base price that falls below those of its manual-equipped competition, including the Ford Fusion and the Honda Accord. The manual 6 also undercuts the least-expensive (and automatic-only) Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, Kia Optima, and Toyota Camry, but the least-expensive Mazda 6 with an automatic costs slightly more than those four sedans.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Official: IIHS says these are the safest cars of 2013

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By Seyth Miersma

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2013 Honda Accord V6 Coupe - red - front three-quarter view

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has revealed its annual list of Top Safety Picks, an award that highlights automobiles it says offer “superior crash protection.” A new and still more significant award, the Top Safety Pick+ honor, is given to those vehicles that earn good ratings for occupant protection in four out of five areas of measure. And while some 117 vehicles were given the TSP seal of approval for 2013, just 13 passed muster for TSP+.

To be fair, IIHS only evaluated 29 vehicles with its new testing procedures for TSP+ (we’d expect that the number of qualified cars will rise substantially for 2014). Luxury and Near Luxury midsize cars were the first groups evaluated, followed by midsizers in the Moderately Priced Cars category – unsurprisingly, it’s only midsize cars that you’ll find among the class this year.

Only two luxury sedans made the list of 13 for 2013: the Acura TL and Volvo S60. The other 11 cars on the list included entries from domestic, Japanese and German car makers: Dodge Avenger, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord (sedan and coupe), Kia Optima (but not its close kin, the Hyundai Sonata, strangely), Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy and Outback, Suzuki Kizashi and the Volkswagen Passat all made the grade.

Scroll down below for the full IIHS press release, and some more information about the methodology behind the institute’s new Top Safety Pick+ testing.

Continue reading IIHS says these are the safest cars of 2013

IIHS says these are the safest cars of 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog