Loaded Kia Cadenza Sedan Blows Away the Competition!

2014 Kia Cadenza
You gotta like it when an auto maker steps up with a statement car like the 2014 Kia Cadenza. Not long ago, we were calling Kia an upstart among car brands, a comeback story filled with hopes, dreams and ambition. Now Kia has a flagship sedan aimed squarely at the Acura TL, Buick LaCrosse, Nissan Maxima, Lincoln MKZ and Toyota Avalon.

That from the Kia Soul company, the little rig that starts at less than $17,000 and is to Kia what the Beetle is to Volkswagen, says Kia chief designer Peter Schreyer. And just as the Bug company went all Passat on us, Kia has the Cadenza, a $37,995-$44,995 premium sedan bulging with a 293-horsepower, direct-injection V-6, standard leather upholstery, navigation system, rain-sensing wipers, fancy 18-inch wheels and power folding mirrors.

This is the formula Kia has been working with for the past decade or so: give the buyer more for less and in a sexy package.

You can decide on the looks, though I like them, from the stylish shapes in the doors to the LED lighting up front. But the facts say that almost none of the cars targeted by the Cadenza have a standard 12-speaker stereo, or a no-cost rear-view camera. The Avalon in base trim comes close to the Cadenza starter, but not quite.

Then if you go upstream to the most expensive Premium Cadenza ($44,995), only the Avalon matches the Kia’s rear heated seats. Among this set of sedans, only the Avalon and MKZ also come with “smart” cruise control at no extra charge. You could make the argument that a $45,000 Cadenza is delightfully well-equipped: power expandable leg cushion, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, panoramic sunroom, high-grade leather upholstery, a power rear window curtain – the list is numbingly long and meant to be.

The Kia types don’t blanche at the brass of this latest step up the automotive rung. And they most certainly want you to make a list of what their vehicles have that the competition lacks.

But just throwing features into a tin can with pretty shapes would mean nothing if Kia hadn’t spent the better part of the last decade reinventing itself. That started with the basics, too.

Take safety. The Soul and Rio are Top Safety Picks of the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, meaning they have scored well in the demanding crash tests done by the research arm of the U.S. insurance lobby. The Optima, too, is a Top Safety Pick, as are the Sportage and Sorento. So Kias are robust and they come equipped with the latest safety gear.

In the Cadenza, that means eight standard airbags and a numbingly long list of active safety equipment, from the usual such as anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, to a brake assist system that helps you avoid rear-enders in panic stops.

The smart cruise control is a radar-based system that automatically maintains the distance between you and the car in front. Blind spot detection, similarly, uses radar to warn you about traffic where you might not normally see it and a windshield-mounted camera spots when you’re drifting over the line and warns you. Adaptive lighting, also on the pricier Cadenzas, steers your headlamps around a corner as you do.
 Now cool as these gizmos sound, they are standard fare in $40,000 luxury cars, even $40,000 luxury cars from Kia. Nothing special in and of themselves. Except all of them haven’t been sold in one Kia before, not in one car at a price that is highly competitive with the best in the segment. Though to be fair, only the base version of the Maxima ($37,880) starts at a higher sticker than the Cadenza in Kia’s target group. So the Cadenza is well-equipped but still not cheap.

Reliable? Research says Kia still has some work to do. In the latest J.D. Power and Associates three-year Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), the Kia brand finished well below average. But then, so did BMW, Mini, Infiniti, Mazda and Volkswagen. On the other hand, in the most recent Consumer Reports reliability report, the Kia brand finished 10th overall and slightly above the average.

If the Cadenza is any indication, fit and finish issues will not emerge as a trouble spot. The materials in the Premium version, in particular, are first-rate. The gaps between panels and components are as tight as anything in the industry, too. The whole package looks and feels as expensive as the price tag.

And the car behaves on the road on a par with its main rivals, too. Perhaps even a little sportier than most. Loads of power, too.

Yes, the Kia brand remains a work in progress, but the Cadenza suggests that the progress, while slow, is steady. This company clearly has a plan to overtake and beat down the best in the business. For those rivals not paying attention, this could be painful.

Tech specs
2014 Kia Cadenza
Type: Premium sedan
Price range: $37,995-$44,995 (freight $1,455)
Engine: 3.3-litre V-6
Horsepower/torque: 293 hp/255 lb-ft
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Drive: Front-wheel
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 11.2 city/7.4 highway; regular gas
Alternatives: Acura TL, Buick LaCrosse, Nissan Maxima, Lincoln MKZ, Toyota Avalon

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2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD diesel arrives to U.S.

The new 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD is a fuel-sipping diesel that has been forbidden fruit here in the U.S. until now. When will it arrive? 

Volkswagen has released details on the new 2014 Golf GTD and reveals the new diesel GTD “Grand

Turismo Diesel” will be even more fuel efficient than before. The newly designed Golf GTD will be more powerful, fuel-efficient and lower-emitting than ever before. Up until now the hot diesel hatch has only been available in Europe and not here in the U.S. Will we see the hot diesel here in North America?

Good news for U.S. buyers

 

According to sources from Volkswagen who spoke with Edmunds at the Geneva Auto Show in March, Volkswagen is seriously considering bringing the new Golf GTD to the U.S. market. A Volkswagen source said, "Sales of our diesels have been rising in the U.S. and there's been a wide push internally to include more diesel variants of more models for buyers here.

This is good news for U.S. buyers as the new hot diesel hatch will be not only fuel-efficient, but it will be powerful and fast. The VW source went on to say, “This time that might mean the GTD comes to the U.S., which would be critical to the image of diesels because this will be fast and will sound fantastic." Volkswagen has just released details on the new 2014 Golf GTD and it gets even more power than before.

The 2.0-liter EA288 engine has been redesigned

The new sporty 2014 Golf GTD will have 14 more PS, 30 Nm more torque, 0.9 l/100 km less fuel consumption and a 25 g/km improvement in CO2 emissions. The new model will be powered by a completely redesigned 2.0-liter turbocharged TDI engine that will produce 135 kW / 184 PS (182 hp), and up to 380 Nm torque (280 lb ft). That will make the new GTD one fast hatch with more neck-snapping amounts of torque. The maximum torque of 380 Nm is available at a constant range from 1,750 to 3,250 rpm.

The new Golf GTD will be fast. The hot hatch will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 7.5 seconds. In fourth gear, Volkswagen says the diesel Golf will accelerate from 80-120 km/h in a safe 6.0 seconds. Its top speed of 230 km/h (142 mph) tells us that this will be a true sports car. It will also come with a sport suspension that has been lowered 15 mm and 17-inch Curitiba sport wheels and 225 performance tires. Volkswagen says it will put the new hot diesel hatch in the performance range of “high-class and high-priced” sports cars.

The new GTD will be fast and fuel-efficient

To go along with the impressive performance, the new GTD will have even more impressive fuel-efficiency. Volkswagen says the diesel hatch with the new TDI and standard gearbox will consume just 4.2 liters of fuel per 100 km for the European cycle and CO2 emissions of just 109 g/km. That should translate to around 50 mpg here in the U.S.

The new hot hatch will also feature a standard stop/start feature for the first time. Volkswagen will offer an optional automatic dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) that will get a low fuel consumption value of 4.5 l/100 km (CO2: 119 g/km). In both gearbox versions, the new Golf GTD conforms to the Euro-6 emissions standard that takes effect in 2014.

The new 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD will be available in Europe later this year and will likely launch here in the U.S. next year as a 2015 model. The U.S. model will be produced at the new plant recently announced for Golf production in Mexico. Pricing has not been announced, but the new diesel GTD will come at a premium price beyond the current TDI models which start at just over $24,000.

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Chrysler Recalling 430,000 Jeeps

2013 Jeep Wrangler / Photo courtesy of Chrysler Group

Chrysler Group announced two separate Jeep recalls affecting three models yesterday.

The first recall affects 254,396 Compass and Patriot models from the 2010-2012 model years built between May 6, 2008 and July 20, 2012. According to the NHTSA, there may be a glitch with the vehicles’ computers, wherein the side curtain air bags or seatbelt pre-tensioners may not work, increasing risk of injury in an accident.

Chrysler will correct the software to fix the computer glitch. The number for this recall is 101.

The second recall affects 180,131 2012-2013 Wrangler models with the 3.6-liter V6 engine and an automatic transmission built between Jan. 23, 2011 and Feb. 23, 2013. Due to unintentional contact between the power steering line and transmission oil cooler, a hole may form that could result in the loss of transmission fluid. This could lead to a loss of transmission function, increasing the risk of an accident.

To fix the problem, Chrysler will replace the power steering return tube assembly. The recall campaign number is N28.

In two separate media releases, Chrysler says that there have been no accidents or injuries reported related to either the Patriot/Compass or the Wrangler recall. Both recalls are expected to begin in July. Owners of affected vehicles may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753 or NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236 for more information.

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2014 Subaru Forester Review

The 2014 Subaru Forester makes up for its odd looks with functional space. Subaru stretched the wheelbase by almost an inch from the previous generation, and the overall length is up by 1.4 inches. Rear-seat legroom picks up almost 4 more inches, while the cargo space grows by 6.4 cubic feet. (Subaru / June 7, 2013)

Subaru, long the bastion of all-wheel drive and rugged practicality, is an automaker on a hot streak. And the all-new 2014 Forester crossover shows every sign of becoming another sales hit.

Subaru's profits have hit record highs this year, and May was the best sales month in the automaker's history. Over the last decade, the brand's market share has more than doubled, according to auto information company Edmunds.com.

Subaru has been pushing to become a truly national company, said Thomas Doll, president of Subaru of America. Previously, Subarus sold well in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest, where buyers relished a durable, all-wheel-drive coach that could climb snow-covered mountains.

"Our strength was regional," Doll acknowledged.  In areas where all-weather traction has little appeal — say, Southern California — Subaru struggled to become more than a niche player. Mediocre fuel economy, hampered by all-wheel drive, didn't help.

The company found salvation in the continuously variable transmission. CVTs gave the automaker marked gains in fuel efficiency, starting with the 2010 Outback and Legacy mid-size models, and continuing with the compact Impreza in 2012 and now the Forester for 2014.

Consumers nationwide, even in warmer climates, responded by pushing up the automaker's sales 26% in 2012 compared with the previous year. This year, the company expects to hit a record sales goal of 380,000 vehicles.

The new Forester, which starts at $22,820, should help meet that goal. The compact crossover has been a staple for Subaru since the company introduced it to the U.S. market in 1998. The segment has evolved impressively since, with rivals such as the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 adding refinement and efficiency to the practicality that has been the hallmark of the class.

This fourth-generation Forester has proved a hit with consumers since it began selling earlier this year, no small thanks to a fuel efficiency rating that's improved from 21 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway to 24 and 32, respectively.

Over 130 miles of testing, we averaged 22 mpg in mostly city driving.  The CVT gearbox on our loaded $32,220 Forester 2.5i Touring was mated to a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder boxer engine. It's largely a carry-over from the previous Forester and puts out 170 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque.

But competitors offer smoother transmissions than this one, which kept the engine droning more than your typical automatic. The unwelcome noise underscored the fact that the Forester remains more rugged than refined.

Buyers who prefer the control of a manual transmission will find one in the base Forester, with six speeds. But the stick shift, with a vague feel that made it hard to avoid grinding gears, had all the charm of a daylong migraine. The lifeless clutch pedal felt equally awkward.

The Forester's power plant performed better, with the base 2.5-liter providing ample if not overwhelming power. A lower curb weight than most peers' helped the Forester feel spry.

Ample torque gives the Forester strong power off the line, so most buyers won't need to opt for the additional power offered by the turbocharged engine in the Forester 2.0XT, a direct-injected four-cylinder making 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Subaru's sales numbers back this up; the company says only about 7% of buyers so far have opted for the turbo.

Wrapping all these mechanical bits is an entirely new exterior, with mixed results. The previous Forester had a sleeker, almost handsome look; this new model has a face like it got a whiff of bad milk. Clearly Subaru hoped for a more aggressive profile, but designers threw in too many mismatched angles.

The Forester makes up for its odd looks with functional space. Subaru stretched the wheelbase by almost an inch from the previous generation, and the overall length is up by 1.4 inches. Rear-seat legroom picks up almost 4 more inches, while the cargo space grows by 6.4 cubic feet.

An upright seating position and plenty of glass give driver and passengers lots of visibility. It's a safe place to sit. The 2014 Forester recently picked up a "top safety pick plus" designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. All models come with seven air bags, anti-lock braking systems and three-point seat belts for all three rear passengers.

Our Forester Touring also had a new safety system from Subaru that it calls EyeSight. This $2,400 option uses a pair of cameras mounted on either side of the rearview mirror, scanning the road ahead. The system rolls together multiple safety features, including adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning. EyeSight automatically hits the brakes when a driver fails to react, and reduces throttle input if a lead-footer speeds toward a stationary object.

Space and safety aside, other elements of the Forester's cabin seemed below par for our loaded $32,220. Flat seats lacked support, and the touch-screen navigation and radio controls were often counterintuitive. Overall, the interior had a basic feel that took Subaru's form-over-function ethic too far, even with options such as heated leather seats and a premium Harman/Kardon sound system.

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2014 Chevrolet Cruze Available in Diesel? - Review

Entering its fourth model year, the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze faces new competition in the compact sedan segment. An all-new Toyota Corolla, a freshened Honda Civic, and the very popular Hyundai Elantra are all tough competitors for Chevy's popular Cruze. But it remains a strong and comfortable contender, with lots of interior room, good safety ratings, and a variety of trim levels that offer unexpected luxury at the top end.

For 2014, the big news is a new engine option: the first diesel fitted to a GM passenger car in 28 years. But this is no clanking, smoky Seventies diesel. It's a fully modern turbocharged four-cylinder "clean diesel," with three different types of exhaust after-treatment fitted to it. That means you won't smell a thing standing next to it--and the Cruze Diesel meets all the same, tough emissions standards as any other car. In real-world use, it often comfortably exceeds its EPA combined fuel-efficiency rating of 33 mpg.

When it was launched four years ago, the Cruze represented a huge advance over its predecessor, the unloved and heavily discounted Chevy Cobalt sedan. Its handsome exterior has aged well, but it was the interior that was the biggest improvement. The Cruze's cockpit uses rich materials and available two-tone color treatments to give a look that's equal in design and material quality to that of a much pricier mid-size sedan. Other contenders have added soft-touch materials as well, but the Cruze remains a car that impresses passengers.

Indeed, the interior room is almost that of a small mid-size sedan--and it's especially close to Chevy's new Malibu, which actually got smaller inside in its latest version. Four adults can travel comfortably (five somewhat less so), and the trunk is huge. The one factor that feels somewhat old is that everyone rides fairly close to the floor, an adjustment for drivers and passengers used to the more upright seating positions of utility vehicles.

For 2014, the Cruze now has three engine options: turbocharged 1.4-liter and conventional 1.8-liter gasoline engines, and the 2.0-liter turbodiesel. The smaller (but pricier) engine in most LT and all LTZ models is by far the better choice. It's smoother, more refined, more fun to drive, and more fuel efficient too. It can be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, but most buyers will opt for the six-speed automatic. The 1.8-liter four is the cheaper base engine, but it's noisy and coarse when pressed.

You'll get the best gas mileage from the Cruze Eco model with the smaller engine and the manual; it's rated at 33 mpg combined. That Eco model has some additional weight reductions and aero tweaks to achieve that figure; the rest of the gasoline lineup ranges from 27 to 30 mpg combined.

The diesel puts out 151 hp but a strong 264 lb-ft of torque, and it's mated to a different and beefier six-speed automatic transmission. Like all turbocharged engines, there's a slight lag as the turbo spools up when you stomp on the accelerator. After that, however, the diesel Cruze surges forward and gathers speed without any fuss. The diesel clattering noise you might expect isn't evident inside the car, but standing next to an idling Cruze diesel, you'll know exactly what's under the hood. And its 15.6-gallon fuel tank could give you as much as 700 miles of range at highway speeds.

On the road, the Cruze rides well, and the gasoline models are some of the quietest highway cruisers in the class, damping out wind and road noise and absorbing road shocks well. It's not the sportiest compact car--leave that to Mazda or Ford--but its absorbent suspension and quiet cabin will keep most passengers happy. The ride can be on the firm side, especially in the fuel-efficient models with low-rolling-resistance tires.

Inside, the Cruze is a good option for taller drivers. There's lots of headroom, due to that low seating position, and the front seats adjust over a lengthy range, accommodating long-legged occupants well. Only in back does its compact size betray you: The Cruze is just too narrow for three adults in the rear.
The Cruze has done well in previous years on crash-safety test ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Last year Chevy added new safety equipment, including a rear-view camera system as part of a Technology Package. It also offered an Enhanced Safety Package that includes Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Side Blind-Zone Alert, and parking assist--features restricted to high-end German luxury sedans not so many years ago.

Chevy's MyLink system offers voice commands and touch-screen control to operate connected smartphones. Included on the 2LT, LTZ, and Eco models, and optional on 1LT Cruzes, it also lets you stream music via Pandora or Stitcher through your smartphone's data connection, and includes album art and playlist info from Gracenote.

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General Motors announces the 2-year free maintenance program

General Motors announced that it is offering a free maintenance program for two years or 24,000 miles on new 2014 Chevrolet, Buick or GMC cars, trucks or crossovers.

The maintenance program includes free oil and filter changes, rotation of tires and 27-point vehicle inspection and a free car wash. The program covers up to four service visits in the 24-month period, and is fully transferrable to subsequent owners.

“This new plan will kick off our customers’ ownership experience on the right foot and [will] keep our strong sales momentum going,” GM CEO Dan Akerson said.

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Meet the brand new 2014 New Nissan Micra

Some car designs are irredeemably feminine, but they still have a strong, unique character. The previous generation Nissan Micra (March in some markets) was one such car. 

With its oval headlamps, the simple, compact front looks and the nearly semi-circular roofline, the previous generation Micra was a bit effeminate, but undeniably cute.

The current generation Micra, launched in India in 2010, lost much of that ‘stand-out in the crowd’ looks. There was an attempt at bringing in some of the design elements from the previous-gen, but it was over-focused on practicality and less exciting in terms of design. Don’t get me wrong, the current generation Micra is a good car, it is just not very eye-catching.

A mid-generation facelift has been overdue. So Nissan’s plan to launch a refreshed version of the Micra soon is very welcome news. 

The new, refreshed Micra has seen the most number of changes at the front. All the three body panels (two side and bonnet slab) and the front bumper have been changed and the result is a more aggressive and completely new frontal looks. The bonnet grille gets a honey-comb pattern and there is the new V-theme built into the chrome sash that adorns the grille just below the Nissan logo. This theme extends onto the V-shaped ridge on the bonnet and the airdam below the grille.

The headlamps feature a new design now, though the peeled back, bug-eyed overall appearance continues. A curved bottom edge and the kink on the outer corners of the headlamps give them a new look. The lamps’ combination has also accordingly changed. The bumper is now larger and bulges forward even more, swallowing almost all of the facelifted Micra’s increased length of 45 mm. The top variants of the Micra will now also feature a triangular foglamp with chrome housing.

The rest of the Micra’s exterior design has been retained. The roofline, the straight shoulder line, the door design and the door mirrors are all the same as the previous generation’s. However, the rear of the facelifted Micra gets some changes including a new bumper and a new set of tail-lamps with a line of LED brake lights. The overall design of the tail-lamps remain the same.

 The exterior design changes finally gives the current generation Micra a bit more character and uniqueness. There is also the feel of a more premium build quality that comes through. This is a very essential trait for the Micra given the fact that the affordable small car from group brand Datsun is due out by early next year.

 Interiors

 

The exterior facelift leaves a bigger impression on you than the changes to the interior, but some additions in the cabin have improved the Micra’s appeal. The new piano black panelling with polished aluminium side panels for the centre stack immediately grabs your attention when you get into the car. 

There is also the addition of steering mounted controls for the music system. The seat upholstery has been changed to a more plush beige velour fabric that offers more comfort and grip at just the right places. The door inserts too use the same fabric. The overall fit and finish quality seems to have improved marginally, but the dashboard plastic quality remains the same. The rest of the interior remains the same as the pre-facelift model.

The refreshed Micra’s overall length has increased by 45 mm, but that has not translated into an increase in the wheelbase. So, there is no increase in the space available inside the car. But, that is no reason to complain, because the Micra was always quite spacious, with considerable legroom at the rear. 

We test drove a mid-trim variant of the facelifted Micra and the amount of equipment available is quite good, with many of the features being standard across variants. Nissan engineers have supposedly worked on improving the NVH (noise, vinration and harshness) levels to improved comfort levels in the cabin. While the cabin felt quieter in the petrol variant, there didn’t seem to be much of an improvement in the diesel variant. If the music system had offered speed-sensing auto volume control, maybe the cabin noise level wouldn’t have been that obvious. The only other gripe is that the steering wheel that has been carried forward from the predecessor feels puny. 

Performance 

The new facelifted Micra features the same two engines in the same state of tune. The 3-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine has seen a slightly bumped up peak power level (80 PS) in some other markets, but here it continues to offer the same 76 PS of peak power at 6,000 rpm and 104 Nm of peak torque from 4,000 rpm. The diesel engine is also the same 4-cylinder, 16-valve, 1,461cc mill that generates 64 PS of peak power and maximum torque of 160 Nm from a low 2,000 rpm.

The only difference is that now the petrol version of the Micra is also being offered with an automatic transmission. The same CVT gearbox used in the Sunny XTRONIC CVT has been put to work in the Micra. This continuously variable transmission continues to be set at a high ratio of 7.2 and has been paired with the 1.2-litre engine to offer higher fuel efficiency than the 5-speed manual transmission version. Nissan claims that the new petrol CVT powertrain offers a mileage of 19.34 kmpl (Nissan internal estimates, not ARAI rated), whereas the manual transmission variant offers a mileage of 18.44 kmpl. 

One of the outcomes of that strong focus on fuel efficiency, especially in city driving conditions, is that the Micra CVT feels quite dull on the highway. Stomp the throttle and there is considerable gearbox whine, though there are no shift shocks as the transmission progresses from one notional gear slot into the next. The response from the engine seems delayed and then seems restrained intentionally. In sport mode, the response is better, but the efficiencies are most likely to be much lower. 

The diesel version is offered with the same 5-speed manual transmission and this combination is still rated to offer 23.08 kmpl in test conditions. 

Bottomline 

There are three variants (trim levels, including one CVT variant) of the petrol engine, and four variants of the diesel engine to choose from. 

The facelift has improved the overall appeal of the Micra. Standard equipment levels including some safety and comfort features will certainly boost the value proposition too. Hopefully, Nissan will keep any price increase on the new versions to a minimum. Currently the prices for the Micra range from Rs 4.3 lakh to Rs 6.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The 2014 Micra will be available at Nissan showrooms by the end of this month. 

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Sneek Peek: 2014 Toyota Corolla

Toyota Toyota's redesigned 2014 Corolla aims for a more distinctive look than the current car, with a front end and headlights that borrow their angular looks from the recently-launched Camry sedan.

 Toyota Motor Corp. has unveiled the new sporty design for the 11th generation of its Corolla compact car, a long-delayed revamp for a model that has fallen behind its competition in styling and technology.

The 2014 Corolla, scheduled to reach U.S. showrooms this fall, will be a key to Toyota’s efforts to regain momentum and market share in the U.S. Toyota’s overall U.S. sales are up 5.2% for the first five months of 2013 compared with a year ago, but that is slower than the growth in the market overall, and Toyota’s market share has slid to 14.2% from 14.5% a year ago.

 The Corolla unveiled Thursday is a foundation of Toyota’s global sales, and a pillar of its corporate image. During the 1970s, the Corolla helped to establish Toyota’s image in the U.S. and many other markets for building efficient, highly reliable cars. Toyota has sold some 40 million Corollas, and now boasts that it is the “best-selling car nameplate on the planet.” The Corolla has become to Toyota what the Beetle is to Volkswagen and the Model T was to Ford Motor Co.

However, since the modern Corolla was last redesigned for the 2008 model year, its rivals in the compact segment have come out with cars that have sportier looks, more comfort and entertainment features, and get better mileage. The current 2013 Corolla LE, with a dated four speed automatic transmission, is rated at 29 miles a gallon in combined city and highway driving. Honda Motor Co.’s HMC +1.03% Civic is rated at 32 mpg. The Ford Focus, with a six speed transmission, is rated at 31 mpg, and the Hyundai Motor Co. KR:005380 -1.19% Elantra has a 32 mpg rating.  Bigger Corolla borrows styling cues from the Camry

The new Corolla aims for a more distinctive look than the current car, with a front end and headlights that borrow their angular looks from the recently-launched Camry sedan. The 2014 Corolla is about 3.9 inches longer than the current car, and 0.63 inches wider. Back-seat passengers get more room as a result, Toyota says.

In place of a four-speed automatic, Toyota says it will give the 2014 Corolla a continuously variable transmission that in certain versions of the car will mimic the shifting sensation of a seven-speed automatic transmission. A Corolla LE Eco model should get more than 40 miles a gallon on the highway, Toyota said. The 2014 Corolla’s four-cylinder standard engine will have the same 132 horsepower as the outgoing model. Toyota didn’t release final mileage estimates or pricing for the 2014 Corolla.

The current Corolla is among the oldest entries in a competitive segment, but the car has continued to sell comparatively well, albeit with more reliance on sales to rental car fleets. The Corolla was the 10th best selling vehicle in the U.S. in May, ahead of the Focus and the Elantra.

Toyota could face a challenge if it tries to significantly raise the price of the 2014 model compared with the 2013, which starts at just over $17,000—about $1,000 less than the cheapest Honda Civic.

Edmunds.com, a car shopping information website, says that for 35% of the Corolla sales last month that involved a trade-in, the car traded as an older Corolla. About 27% of Corolla shoppers also looked at a Honda Civic, according to Edmunds data. But only 11% of Civic shoppers checked out the Toyota model.

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Nissan NV200 hits New York City streets ahead of schedule

Beauty is to be found on the inside of the Nissan NV200 “Taxicab of Tomorrow.” The box-like little van is officially tagged as New York City’s next taxicab, and the first examples are due to enter service in October of this year. We hopped aboard for a sneak peek at what New Yorkers, not to mention tourists visiting the Big Apple, can expect in future taxicab rides.

New Yorkers’ idea of a luxurious ride is a taxicab that doesn’t stink. That’s according to Peter Bedrosian, Nissan’s product planner for the upcoming NV200 New York taxicab, which goes on-duty this October. Nissan’s taxi-related research clinics found that, amongst other features, New Yorkers desperately want a clean cab, one that is free of funky odors.

In that regard, the Nissan NV200 “Taxi of Tomorrow” is off to a sweet-smelling start. The model we recently rode in, for a short loop on the streets of Manhattan, still had its new car/new cab smell. Credit goes to the antimicrobial and breathable rear seats, along with a carbon-lined headliner designed to absorb odors. Time will tell whether or not the NV200 remains this fresh once it enters regular service, of course.

That happens later this year, on October 31, to be exact. From that point onwards, and for the next 10 years, the NV200 is slated to be the official New York taxicab. As older cabs are retired – at a rate of roughly 2,500 per year – the NV200 will gradually take their place.

The rear seat of the Taxi of Tomorrow holds three passengers, much like most of the current fleet. What sets them apart? Anti-microbial fabric keeps odors away while loads of legroom keeps passengers comfortable — even in rush hour traffic.

 Based on Nissan’s NV200 utility van, the New York taxi variant has undergone a grueling amount of testing and evaluation ahead of its launch. Nissan even recreated a ‘New York City style’ road at its proving grounds in Stanfield, Arizona.

The inspiration for this stretch of punishing asphalt came from an actual New York road, located near JFK airport. Nissan’s engineering team found this was a particularly rough patch, with plenty of bumps and large undulations that would unsettle a taxi – not to mention the increasingly queasy occupants.

Nissan’s engineers have confirmed this particularly ‘inspiring’ road has since been paved over. Could this be some sort of taxicab cover-up? Might Nissan be filling potholes in the middle of the night, purely to protect top-level taxicab engineering secrets?

Um, no. Our apologies to any cab conspiracy theorists out there.

Ride like the city is yours! A panoramic glass roof on the latest taxi will allow for breathtaking views of the city, making that old Crown Victoria seem even more like an ancient relic.

Ride like the city is yours! A panoramic glass roof on the latest taxi will allow for breathtaking views of the city, making that old Crown Victoria seem even more like an ancient relic.

If Nissan had anything to hide, all would soon be revealed during our ride-along in the NV200. Dual sliding doors make getting in and out easy, as does a low and flat floor – which, incidentally, also makes the NV200 much easier to clean after each shift.

Lights at the back of the NV200 (on either side of the rear window) signal when the cab is vacant, and a ‘walking man’ icon alerts other drivers and bicyclists that someone is getting in or out of the cab. The doors glide easily and, once inside, there is a ton of legroom. The width of the rear bench seat can comfortably accommodate three adults, at least for a short cross-town ride. There is also room for one passenger up front. When that front seat isn’t in use, however, it can be folded down and the back functions as a work table for the driver.

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Start your car with the new GM smartphone app

The smartphone just morphed into a car-key fob.

General Motors announced Wednesday that it will make key-fob functions available on a free smartphone application starting with all 2014 model-year vehicles that have OnStar capability.

People who download the application will still need to carry key fobs to start their cars.

The application has already been available to OnStar subscribers, who pay $19 to $28 a month for the safety, security and navigation service. The free version of OnStar’s Remote Link application provides reduced functionality of the version that paid subscribers get, GM said.

The free version allows users to honk their horn remotely as well as lock, unlock and remotely start their vehicles, as long as their vehicles have remote starting capability, GM said.

GM global connected consumer president Mary Chan called it a “freemium” business model, which allows many users to get the application for free while a smaller percentage choose to pay for increased functionality.

Right now, about 320,000 paid OnStar subscribers regularly use the application, and 1.5 million have downloaded it.

The application, which must be downloaded during a free OnStar trial period, will be free for five years in the U.S. and Canada.

GM said it would be available this week for buyers of 2014 model-year vehicles that have OnStar.

“This is really about connecting with the consumer. We’re talking about a feature that customers told us is important to them,” GM chief infotainment officer Phil Abram said. “We think that adding this value to them will help us sell more cars and trucks.”

The new feature comes as GM is placing a bigger bet on the future of OnStar. The automaker recently struck a deal with AT&T to offer high-speed Internet services to most of its 2015 model-year vehicles, a service that is likely to require monthly payments.

GM CEO Dan Akerson has instructed his team to squeeze more value out of OnStar, which has about 6.5 million subscribers.

Chan declined to reveal pricing for the 4G service but said GM is in discussions with AT&T about the possibility of allowing AT&T smartphone service subscribers to wrap their car’s 4G payments into their phone bills.

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Toyota recalls 242,000 hybrids for brake design flaw

Toyota Motor Corp is recalling about 242,000 gas-electric hybrid vehicles worldwide, including the bestselling Prius model, due to a brake design flaw, the automaker said on Wednesday.

Toyota is recalling the Prius produced between March and October 2009, and the Lexus HS 250h made between June and October 2009, spokeswoman Shino Yamada said.

The recalled vehicles could experience greater stopping distances when braking because of a mechanical design flaw in a brake part, Yamada said.

That part, the brake pressure accumulator, could crack with fatigue and release nitrogen gas into the brake fluid, she said, adding that no accidents, injuries or deaths have been reported as a result of the defect.

Toyota is recalling 113,550 Prius vehicles in Japan. In the United States, it is recalling 81,570 Prius cars and 5,030 of the HS 250h, Yamada said.

The company will exchange the faulty part with a new one, which will take around three hours, she said.

In 2010, Toyota, an leader in gas-electric hybrid technology, recalled 433,000 hybrid vehicles including the Prius and HS 250h because of a braking software glitch.

In a gas-electric hybrid vehicle, a battery captures energy from the brakes to supplement the combustion engine, boosting overall mileage, particularly in stop-go city traffic.

As of end March, the company had sold about 5.1 million hybrid vehicles globally, including 3.6 million Prius vehicles, since it went on sale in December 1997.

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Dodge Moves Journey Production from Mexico to Michigan in 2016

The Dodge Journey has been built in Toluca, Mexico, in part to allow for export to South America and Europe. Pictured is the 2013 Journey.

Chrysler Group is planning to build the next generation of the Dodge Journey in metro Detroit instead of Mexico, according to a published report that cites suppliers as the source.

The Journey will move to Chrysler's Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly plant, where it will be built alongside the next-generation Chrysler 200 sedan, according to analysis firm AutomotiveCompass.

A spokeswoman for Chrysler would not comment on the report.

Both vehicles would be built on the same CUSW platform that also underpins the Dodge Dart and upcoming Jeep Cherokee. The Chrysler 200 is due in January 2014, while the next-generation Journey isn't due until 2016. The Cherokee goes into production at Chrysler's Toledo North Assembly plant next month.

Chrysler's 2009 product plan called for up to eight vehicles to share the CUSW platform, including the Dodge Avenger. Automotive News reported last year that the Avenger would not be renewed in favor of the Chrysler 200.

The Journey has been built in Toluca, Mexico, in part to allow for export to South America and Europe, where it is rebadged and sold as the Fiat Freemont. Current trade agreements mean that producing the Freemont in the United States would translate to higher sticker prices for the vehicle in Europe and South America.

Moving the Journey would concentrate production of Chrysler's CUSW vehicles in three assembly plants: Sterling Heights, Toledo North, and Belvidere, Ill. Their close proximity could allow suppliers to feed production of common components on CUSW vehicles to all three plants, reducing costs.

Chrysler's Toluca plant also builds the North American version of the Fiat 500. However, Automotive News reported earlier this year that Fiat would consolidate production of its next-generation Fiat 500 in its plant in Tychy, Poland.

If both products move, it would leave the highly regarded Toluca plant without a product after 2016.

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Sneak Peak: 2016 Jeep Wrangler

Over the years off-road vehicles have changed, as more drivers like the thought of being able to go on the muddy stuff or uneven surfaces, although most of the time they still spend it on the tarmac. Because of this some of the big players in the business have had to adapt to this and gone more down the luxury route, all except Chrysler and their Jeep brand.

What we love about these vehicles is that they have improved over the years in terms of styling and technology beneath the skin, but still have that same rawness that made them so great all those years ago.

The most recent offerings are the 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara and the Rubicon, and while these have done rather well, what of the next-generation models? As of yesterday we did not know for definite how long it would be before we knew when to expect the all-new model, but thanks to a recent 2013 job ad, the next-gen 2016 Jeep Wrangler has now been uncovered.

On the Chrysler Careers website there is a job listing for someone to help develop their next off-road 4×4 vehicle. We have to wonder how close to the final production version of the 2016 Jeep Wrangler will be to that of the Wrangler Stitch Concept, which you can see for yourself below.

2016 Jeep Wrangler expectations – While the all-new model is a long way off, we do have a few ideas as to what to expect. The next-generation Jeep Wrangler would need to lose a little more weight, although could make use of some tougher materials, such as advanced high-strength steels and some of the body parts being made from lightweight aluminum.

You may also get a better ride if rumors of air suspension used on some of Chrysler’s SUVs are true. The reason for this is so that it offers a higher ground clearance while off road, and then the ability to lower the suspension when on the gray stuff to allow for improved aerodynamics.

There’s also the possibility of a Jeep Wrangler diesel model, we just wonder if these changes will keep the loyalists happy?

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Mazda 6 Arrives - Watch Out Accord and Camry

2014 Mazda 6 brings sport and luxury to the middle-class competitors

Mazda has been living up to its tagline, "Zoom. Zoom.," for years. Long known as the sportier of the Japanese manufacturers, this engineering powerhouse has a knack for designing cars that are simply fun to drive. Take for example, the well-known Mazda Miata. It's not the fastest sports car in the world, but the Miata offers more fun-per-dollar than any of its pricier competitors.

The same has been true of the Mazda 6 sedan, ever since its debut in 2003. The 6 was clearly gunning for Camry and Accord customers, right out of the blocks. But unlike the sleepier Toyota and Honda offerings, Mazada's four-door offered sleek styling and a performance experience – within the budget of average family sedan buyers.

Redesigned for 2014, the new Mazda 6 retains its sportier and sleeker edge on the competition. However, Mazda has clearly stepped up its attempt to reach luxury buyers. The new Mazda 6 is larger, and it looks and feels more like a luxury sedan than a cost-effective sport sedan.

Like its predecessor, the new 6 retains its sporting soul and good looks. This car is fun to drive, great on gas (38 mpg highway), and incredibly good-looking. The more mature Mazda 6 has grown to better accommodate backseat and front seat passengers, too. No complaints from six foot plus back seat riders and the trunk can handle the golf bags to boot.

Inside, Mazda's step upscale includes a litany of luxury options. Standard features include Bluetooth connectivity, a backup camera, voice command recognition, and more. Those with deeper pockets could splurge on the Bose Centerpoint audio and the Mazda navigation system with traffic updates. Like its competitors, a host of safety and security features come standard on the new Mazda 6.

Labeling this car a "6" is now a misnomer; the six-cylinder engine is no longer an option. Sending two cylinders to the grave of federal mileage standards, for 2014 all models come with a 2.5 liter 184 horsepower four cylinder. Now for the good news, it acts nothing like the four cylinders from just a few years ago. Running quietly most of the time, the engine propels this comfortably-sized four door from 0-60 in just 7.0 seconds, very acceptable for a 3,300 lb car.

With a six-speed transmission that butters through its gears like luxury sleds twice its cost, the Mazda's forward thrust is complete. However, what speeds up must slow down. Behind this Mazda's 10 spoke rims lie four disc brakes, which slow the car from 60 to 0 in an impressive 117 feet.

In summary, Mazda has tweaked almost every component on its new Mazda 6. This sporting sedan offers family-budget buyers a luxury looking and feeling vehicle. It delivers plenty of space for five adults, competent mechanics and an exhilarating driver's personality – all while delivering 37 mpg highway.

Best of all, the 6 starts at about $20,880, though it drives and feels more like a $40,000 Infiniti. If you are looking for fun factor-per-dollar--or for any sedan value--you'd be hard pressed to find a better buy.

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Nissan Pulls Off its Ads From Facebook Following Violence Content Effort

Facebook has lost several advertisers following a campaign that caught the attention to pages on the social media site which promoted violence against women. A significant friend that Facebook lost from the automotive world happens to be Nissan, who also followed the other companies by pulling its advertisements from the social media site, which could possibly prove to be more damaging in many ways. As per Nissan spokesman David Reuter, the carmaker has decided to temporarily stop their ad on Facebook until the site assures them that the company’s ads would not be appearing on pages with offensive content.

According to Times article, Nissan as well as other companies were prompted to pull off their ads due to urges from a group of female activists, which was led by Women, Action and the Media and The Everyday Sexism Project. They sent more than 5,000 emails to Facebook’s advertisers apart from 60,000 Tweets in protests to the ads. As per Facebook’s current system, ads follow users to whichever pages they visit, which could also possibly include posts with offensive content. They also said that Facebook still remains a significant part of Nissan’s digital advertising strategy.

Reuters also said that the carmaker intends on working with the social media site to resolve the issue. “I expect we will work through those specific challenges quite quickly,” Reuter told The Times. Nissan’s own Facebook page has nearly 6 millions likes and is still up. In a company blog, Facebook said that it’s “systems to identify and remove hate speech have failed to work as effectively as we would like, particularly around issues of gender-based hate.” The social media site also issued a statement saying that it has “no tolerance for hate speech or content that is threatening, or incited violence, and we will not tolerate material deemed to be directly harmful to anyone.”
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