Test Drive: Lexus LS 460 F Sport AWD Starts At $85,780

 
The Lexus LS 460 F Sport AWD with its 386 horsepower 4.6 liter V8 engine mated to an 8 speed transmission is a sportier version of the new fifth generation Lexus luxury sedan aimed at taking on the German all-wheel drive sedans head on with a price that starts at $85,780 (including $895 delivery, processing & handling fees). The F designation is inspired by Fuji International Speedway which translates to performance, and, in this case, attractive luxury performance. The F Sport model sits 10mm lower than the other LS models, has a more aggressive-looking exterior, sport tuned air suspension, special sporty heat and cooled seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters and aluminum trim, Brembo six-piston caliper brakes and 19” forged wheels. I tested the LS F Sport AWD pre-production all-wheel drive prototype which was a dream to drive. 

The Lexus LS 460 F Sport AWD drive took me around Atlanta with elegance and pride to a variety of special venues. My seasoned critical friends who rode in the backseat were impressed with the roominess, comfort, numerous ventilation outlets, two pulldown ceiling mounted lit vanity mirrors and the view of the front dashboard's expansive 12.3-inch, split-screen, high-resolution multi-media display on the front dashboard showing off numerous functions from radio to climate controls. My front seat passenger could not believe how the split climate controls actually made a difference, while the driver side was cool, the passenger seat area was much warmer. The incredibly quiet cabin, chrome-plated gas and brake petals, choice of heated or cooled seats and steering wheel warmer along with the automated trunk opener and trunk closer button were some of what-seemed-like endless features, along with auto-folding mirrors that pulled in when the car was parked. Also, on that list, was the choice of ride functions, ECO, normal and sport. In ECO mode, the throttle response and engine power output are moderated for increased fuel efficiency.

The long distance test was my drive from Atlanta to Augusta, Georgia, for the 2013 Masters golf tournament and back to Atlanta, about 300 miles round trip on the well-kept smooth highway 20. The LS 460 F Sport does draw attention, like from an inquisitive highway patrol officer who pulled up to my rear bumper at highway speed to check out the vehicle, luckily without pulling me over for a closer view. The all-wheel drive may have been helpful in getting out of the rain drenched grass and gravel Augusta National parking lot. The real test was the Sunday evening drive home after spending an amazing two days following the world's best golfers around. The comfort of the cabin and seats combined with an over-the-top audio system made the two-and-half hour commute an enjoyable, tireless breeze that could have continued.

Bottom line: This is the highest end Lexus sedan, surpassed only in price by the LS 600h L, that caters to a gadget-hungry, performance pamper-seeking driving connoisseur who wants an all-wheel drive and prefers a Japanese over a German car. The Lexus LS 460 F Sport AWD is a lot of car for under $86,000.

Lexus ES 350 To Be Made In The U.S.A. Starting In 2015

The Lexus ES 350 will be the first Lexus vehicle produced in the United States with Toyota investing $360 million in its Georgetown, Kentucky plant that will generate 750 new jobs to manufacture about 50,000 Lexus vehicles a year bringing the plant's total annual production capacity to more than 550,000 vehicles. It will be the first time the ES will be assembled outside of Japan and production will start in 2015.

Lexus has been manufacturing its popular RX luxury compact SUV in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, since 2004.

Test Drive: 2014 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring FWD At $30,340

Test driving the Mazda CX-5 was like trying to review a movie that had already won all the big awards - was it deserving and does it meet my forty-plus years of refined driving idiosyncrasies? Answer: YES for this 2014 CX-5 Grand Touring front wheel drive model. And, the toughest critic of all, my wife, was sold on it, too.

Neurolingusitic programming (NLP) experts profess that people prioritize the senses which they use to interpret the world with the main three being visual, auditory and kinesthetic. So by appealing to all the senses you can create a product that will be a success. The Mazda CX-5 appeals to all the senses by looking and sounding great and feeling solid and luxurious. It also hits the important automotive criteria - my 5 P's - price, performance, purpose, pampering and proximity (to the dealer). Proximity may or may not be an issue to the buyer but keep in mind you do have to get the car serviced somewhere to keep the warranty valid. Pampering covers ride, comfort and features. Mazda has successfully blended 4 of my 5 P's into their so-called Skyactiv Technology, which they say "combines breakthrough innovation and state-of-the-art engineering and is applied to engines, transmissions, body and chassis systems - all lighter, more efficient, with increased responsiveness" or more simply put, Mazda has a practical fuel efficient vehicle that satisfies a wide range of buyers' tastes and needs.

Originally introduced with a 155 horsepower 2.0 liter engine at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, Mazda now offers the CX-5 with an all-new 184 horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine for the Touring and Grand Touring models giving them nearly 19 percent more horsepower and 23 percent more torque. The more powerful CX-5 debuted at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. I test drove the 2014 CX-5 Grand Touring front wheel drive model with an exterior Meteor Gray Mica color and black leather trimmed interior with the $1,625 Grand Touring Tech package and two optional add-ons, a $100 rear bumper guard and $200 retractable cargo cover bringing the total MSRP to $30,340 (including the $795 delivering, processing and handling fee).

My 600 mile week long test drive included two round trips from Los Angeles to Palm Springs darting in and out of traffic on Southern California freeways that included the hilly 60 freeway and some unavoidable bumper-to-bumper, start-and-stop traffic. My 600 miles in the CX-5, mainly on the highway, achieved more than 30 miles per gallon and was comfortable for me, the driver, and my passenger for the 2 hour plus commute. The 14.8 gallon fuel tank capacity in the front-wheel drive CX-5 model that I tested would have taken about 400 miles had I let run to empty.

My objective in every review is to determine whether I would buy this car, specifically, I wanted to see if the CX-5 would be the ideal vehicle for downsizing from a larger SUV by providing enough space with much-improved fuel economy and it did. My first impression was the beautiful lines and look (visual), the quality sound of the door closing and great Bose sound system (auditory) and, maybe, most of all, the solid feel behind the wheel (kinesthetic). The ride felt firm, not floaty, which helps carsick-prone passengers avoid feeling nauseous. On that note, when you get your new CX-5 or any vehicle with voice activated features, learn the instructions on your own before subjecting passengers to ongoing misinterpreted voice commands. The telematics were intuitive with a quick cellphone bluetooth sync.

The 34.1 cubic feet behind the second-row seats took luggage for 3 people that included a folded wheelchair and walker for my mother who could easily enter and exit the CX-5's 2nd row seat because of the low step and good accessibility. Visibility was much better than expected and the rear camera reverse feature was excellent. The ergonomics were good with intuitively-placed steering wheel controls and the 5.8-inch in-dash touch screen providing access to Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity as well as iPod audio playback. The nine-speaker 225-watt Bose sound system came through crystal-clear with a variety of listening choices like digital AM and FM radio, Sirius and Pandora. My KNX buddy Frank Mottek sounded even better.

Bottom Line: Mazda has sold 17,811 CX-5 vehicles in the first three months of 2013 after a record sales month in March. The 2014 CX-5 Grand Touring front wheel drive model at a $30,340 MSRP with its IIHS Top Safety pick and virtually every vehicle tech feature that you could want or need, fully deserves all the accolades as a fuel efficient city and highway multi-purpose crossover that still has the benefit of a firmer ride with confident handling and plenty of cargo space.

2014 Hyundai Equus Premium Luxury Sedan

The redesigned 2014 Hyundai Equus premium luxury sedan powered by a 429 horsepower 5.0-liter Tau DOHC V8 engine mated to an  8-Speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC, has a new 19-inch turbine-blade alloy wheel design, thinner front grille chrome bars, new front fascia, a 7-inch Thin-film Transistor LCD center cluster display for Signature models, a large 12.3-inch, fully-digital TFT LCD center cluster display for Ultimate models, and a larger, standard 9.2-inch center instrument panel LCD display. Fuel economy is estimated at 15 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. Hyundai will continue to offer “Your Time, Your Place” at-home vehicle demonstrations, “At Your Service” valet service appointments and an interactive owner’s manual app for Apple iPad.

BMW Concept X4 Is Preview To 2014 Production Model

The BMW Concept X4 is a preview of the future of the BMW X family that blends the BMW SAV with a BMW Coupe following the X6 but in a new vehicle class. The BMW X4 has a body length of 183 inches, a width of 75.4 inches and a height of 63.9 inches with  21 inch light alloy wheels. The X4 Sports Activity Coupe production model is scheduled to roll out of the U.S. BMW Spartanburg factory in 2014.

March 2013 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors sold 245,950 vehicles in the United States in March, up 6.4 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales increased 4 percent, fleet sales were up 12 percent and the fleet mix was 27 percent of total sales. Year-to-date total GM sales are 664,963, up 9.3 percent.

Ford Motor Company sold 236,160 vehicles in March, a 5.7 percent increase over March 2012 for the best sales results since May 2007, and year-to-date Ford has sold 598,483 vehicles, an 11 percent gain over the first quarter of 2012.

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. reported March 2013 sales of 205,342, up 1.0 percent over the year-ago month. For the first quarter, TMS reported sales of 529,444, up 8.7 percent on an unadjusted raw volume basis.

Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 171,606, a 5 percent increase compared with sales in March 2012 and the group's best monthly sales since December 2007. Year-to-date sales are 428,352, an 8 percent increase over 2012.

Nissan North America reported March U.S. sales of 137,726, up 1 percent from last year's total and marking the best month in NNA history. Nissan Division also posted its highest volume month ever, with 126,623 deliveries, up 0.4 percent. Infiniti deliveries totaled 11,103, up 9 percent from last March. Year-to-date sales are 318,281, down 1.3 percent from the quarter of 2012.

Hyundai Motor America March sales of 68,306, down just two percent versus the best volume month Hyundai ever recorded last year.  The first quarter of 2013 was the best in Hyundai's history with sales of 164,330, a drop of less tha half a percent from the first quarter of 2012. 

Kia Motors America reported March sales of 49,125, down 14.6 percent from March of 2012. Year-to-date sales are 126,932, down 8 percent from the first quarter of 2012.

Volkswagen of America reported sales of 37,704 in March, a 3.1 percent increase over prior year sales and best March since 1973. Year-to-date sales are 98,178, a 4 percent gain over 2012. Separately, Audi reported March 2013 sales of 13,253 vehicles, a 14.4 percent increase over the previous March record set last year. Year-to-date Audi sales are 34,186, up 16 percent over the first quarter of last year.

Subaru of America reported 36,701 vehicle sales for March 2013, which represents the best-ever sales month for the company and a 13 percent increase over March 2012. Year-to-date sales for Subaru total 92,527, a 15 percent increase over the same period in 2012 and the best first quarter in company history.

Mazda North American Operations reported March U.S. sales of 32,028 vehicles, a decrease of 1.1 percent versus last year. Year-to-date sales of 78,283 through March are down 4.6 percent versus last year.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported March sales of 33,149 vehicles, an increase of 11.2 percent from the same month a year ago.  Year-to-date, the BMW Group (BMW and MINI combined) sales of 78,957 is up 4.3 percent over the first three months of 2012.  

Mercedes-Benz USA reported record March sales of 24,646, a 6.5 percent increase over March 2012, resulting in year-to-date sales of 69,187, up 12.5 percent.  Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter for the month totaled 27,104, up 6.3 percent, and year-to-date up 12.4 percent at 75,214.

Porsche Cars North America announced record March sales of 3,487 vehicles, an increase of 41 percent. For the year so far, PCNA has delivered 9,650 vehicles, an increase of 34.8 percent, marking the best first quarter in PCNA history.

Sales will be updated as manufacturers report.

2014 BMW 328d Diesel Coming This Fall

The new 2014 BMW 328d, available in rear wheel drive and all-wheel xDrive, will have a 180 horsepower 2.0-liter TwinPower diesel 4-cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission when it arrives in U.S. showrooms this Fall. The 328d Sedan will accelerate from 0 – 60 mph in just over seven seconds and is expected to achieve fuel economy of 32 mpg city/45 mpg highway/37 mpg combined. The options list will include Luxury, Sport and Modern Lines as well as M Sport with detailed specifications and pricing available closer to launch.

2014 Mitsubishi Mirage 5-door Goes On Sale This Fall

The all-new 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage 5-door subcompact powered by a 74 horsepower 1.2-liter three-cylinder DOHC engine is expected to achieve fuel economy of 40 mpg combined/37 mpg city/44 mpg highway. For better collision protection Mitsubishi engineers have strengthened the all-new Mirage 5-door by incorporating Mitsubishi's RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) impact-absorbing safety cell technology with an impact energy-absorbing front end along with use of high tensile steel in key areas throughout the platform.

World Car Awards: Golf, Boxster/Cayman, F-Type, Tesla

2015 Volkswagen Golf - 2013 World Car Of The Year

 

 
The World Car awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs. The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.

2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid, 2014 Infiniti Q50 This Summer

The new 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid utilizes a supercharged 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder and an electric motor powered by a compact Lithium-ion battery pack located under the 3rd row seat with an estimated net system 250 horsepower that is projected to get acombined city/highway 26 miles per gallon, a 24 percent increase over standard QX60 models. The Infiniti QX60 Hybrid is projected to be priced about $3,000 above the 3.5-liter V6 equipped models.

The all-new 2014 Infiniti Q50 sports sedan offered with a choice of a 3.7-liter V6 or new Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid system in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive will have an introductory starting M.S.R.P. for pre-orders of $36,450 in the U.S., $900 lower than the base M.S.R.P of the 2013 Infiniti G37 Sedan.

Both vehicles are set to go on sale at Infiniti retailers in the United States later this summer.

2014 Dodge Durango Coming In The 3rd Quarter

The new 2014 Dodge Durango, available in five trim levels: SXT, Rallye, the new for 2014 Limited, R/T and Citadel, has a standard 290 horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine paired with the new standard eight-speed transmission and an available 360 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with cylinder-deactivation that seamlessly alternates between four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is in demand to optimize fuel consumption.

The new eight-speed automatic transmission with rotary shifter and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters improves fuel economy up to 9 percent while enhancing performance and smoother shifts. The V-6 engine Durango can tow up to 6,200 pounds and with the V-8 engine up to 7,400 pounds. Production is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2013.

Subaru WRX Concept

The Subaru WRX Concept is a turbocharged AWD sports car that features a carbon-fiber roof to reduce weight and is lower and wider for low center of gravity. A look to the future for the WRX.

2014 Scion tC Goes On Sale In June

The new 2014 Scion tC sports coupe has a 179 horsepower 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine with either a six-speed manual transmission or an updated six-speed automatic that can change gears nearly twice as fast as the previous model for both upshifts and downshifts. The tC will have the all-new Scion Standard Display Audio with a 6.1-inch LCD touchscreen, auto-off headlamps and an auto-up and down driver's window. The 2014 Scion tC will arrive in dealerships in June.

Volvo S60, V60, XC60 new R-Design Models

The new Volvo S60 sedan, V60 wagon and XC60 SUV R-Design versions have a 325 horsepower T6 engine with the Advanced Quick Shift transmission optimization software that improves the speed of each gear change, a new feature available on all T6 engines and activated when the transmission is set to sport mode or when using paddle shifters. The new Volvo S60 and XC60 R-Design will be available in all markets that sell the standard versions of these models. Volvo expects that around 10 percent of buyers will choose the R-Design version. The V60 wagon R-Design just made its global debut and the new standard version Volvo V60 will come to the U.S. market in early 2014.

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid Coming Late This Summer

The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid will have a supercharged 2.5-liter gasoline engine, 15 kW electric motor and advanced Nissan Intelligent Dual Clutch hybrid control system and get 26 mpg fuel economy (estimated combined city/highway) with a 526-mile driving range. The Pathfinder Hybrid will be priced at around $3,000 above the standard 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine-powered Pathfinder models. Also announced was the next generation 2015 Nissan Murano based on the recently introduced Resonance Concept which will include a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro SS, ZL1, Z/28 Coming Later This Year

2014 Camaro Z/28

The restyled 2014 Chevrolet Camaro line represents the most significant redesign since the introduction of the fifth-generation Camaro as a concept car in 2006. The Camaro SS has a 6.2-liter 426-horsepower LS3 engine. The 2014 Camaro Z/28 (above) has the lighter, naturally aspirated 500 horsepower 7.0-liter LS7 V8 engine first introduced in the Corvette Z06 and is mated to a Tremec TR6060 manual transmission. The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 features a revised exterior design and is three seconds faster per lap and weighs 300 pounds less than the 580 horsepower 6.2-liter LSA supercharged engine in the Camaro ZL1. The Camaro Z/28 features 19-inch diameter wheels and tires, which reduce unsprung weight by 42 pounds per car compared to the 20-inch wheels standard on Camaro SS and ZL1. The 2014 Camaro will arrive at Chevrolet dealers later in 2013.

2014 Camaro SS

2015 Volkswagen Golf Coming In Early 2014

 
The seventh-generation 2015 Volkswagen Golf is 2.2 inches longer, 0.5 inches wider, 51 pounds lighter and as much as 15% more fuel-efficient than the car it replaces. The Golf will be powered by a 170 horsepower 1.8-liter turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder TSI engine or a new 150 horsepower 2.0-liter common-rail, turbocharged, direct-injection diesel engine which is 10 more horsepower than the current engine. The GTI will also use an uprated version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged TSI engine expected to generate about 210 horsepower and, like the current GTI, the engine will drive the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or six-speed DSG transmission.

For the first time, Volkswagen is using touchscreens with a proximity sensor, allowing drivers to change functions with a swipe of the hand, just like a smartphone. The base radio has a 5.8-inch touchscreen and the new navigation systems are DVD-based with a 3D display.

2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive Arrives In Early 2014

 
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive, based on the conventionally powered B-Class which made its market debut in 2011, is powered by an electric motor with more than 134 horsepower and a 0 to 60 mph time of less than ten seconds. The maximum speed is electronically limited to 100 mph, to get the range to around 115 miles. The B-Class Electric Drive battery can be recharged at any standard domestic power outlet. In the USA, the charging time for a range of about 60 miles is less than 2 hours at 240 V/40 A. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive will only be introduced with battery electric drive in the U.S. and will be available in the U.S. from early 2014 with the European launch to follow. Move over Nissan Leaf if the price is right.

2014 Acura MDX Coming This Summer

The all-new third-generation 2014 Acura MDX seven-passenger luxury SUV, on a completely new platform, is powered by an all-new 290 horsepower direct-injected 24-valve 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management™ mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with Sport Mode and Sequential SportShift Paddle Shifters. The new MDX will be offered in both Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ and, for the first time, a more affordable front-wheel-drive model that gets an EPA rated at 20 city/28 highway/23 combined miles per gallon.

Measuring 193.6 inches in overall length, the 2014 MDX is 2 inches longer than the current model riding on a 111-inch wheelbase that's up 2.75 inches from the previous model. The 2014 Acura MDX will be available in four grades: MDX, MDX with Technology package, the MDX with Technology and Entertainment packages, and the top-of-the-line MDX with Advance and Entertainment packages. The Alabama-made 2014 Acura MDX is scheduled to go on sale at U.S. Acura dealers nationwide this summer with pricing details announced closer to launch.

Looks like the New York Auto Show is the SUV show with the new 2014 Acura MDX, 2014 Toyota Highlander, 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2014 Infinti QX60 Hybrid, 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid and 2014 Jeep Cherokee all making debuts.

2014 Kia Forte Koup Goes On Sale In 4th Quarter

The all-new two-door 2014 KIa Forte Koup EX comes equipped with a 173 horsepower 2.0-liter GDI four-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and the SX has a 201 horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injected turbocharged four-cylinder engine that may be mated with either a standard 6-speed manual or optional 6-speed automatic featuring steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Sales are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2013, and pricing will be announced closer to the Koup’s launch.