Consumer Reports: Hyundai Genesis New Top-Rated Upscale Sedan, Bests Lexus ES 350 [Hyundai Genesis]

| среда, 7 октября 2009 г.

Plucky Korean upstart Hyundai has beaten rivals from Saab, Pontiac, Lexus, Toyota, Acura and Lincoln; the Genesis has just been named Consumer Reports’ new top-rated upscale sedan. Who knew Hyundai was the new Lexus?

Evaluated against the Lexus ES 350, Acura TL, Nissan Maxima, Pontiac G8, Lincoln MKS, Toyota Avalon, Buick Lucerne and Saab 9-5, the Hyundai Genesis sedan came out on top. Consumer Reports stated, “Its luxurious and spacious interior and
quietness far transcend its relatively modest price."

This backs up Ray’s Hyundai Genesis review, in which he said a lot of stuff about Kimchi, but also that the Genesis easily satisfied the needs of entry-level luxury buyers if they're willing to look past the badge snobbery.

Consumer Reports’ Press Release Follows:

Hyundai Genesis Outscores Competitors, Becomes Consumer Reports' top-rated "Upscale Sedan"

Genesis narrowly outpoints Lexus ES 350 to take top spot

YONKERS, NY - The Hyundai Genesis outscored four competitors to become Consumer Reports top-rated vehicle in the competitive "Upscale Sedan" category. The Genesis, which achieved an "Excellent" overall road test score, now outranks 12 vehicles from Lexus, Acura, Lincoln and others including the Lexus ES 350.

The Genesis' performance in CR's battery of tests solidifies the automaker's reputation as a builder of high-quality vehicles in several diverse automotive segments. Previously, Consumer Reports named two Hyundais, the Elantra and Santa Fe, as "Top Pick" vehicles in the small sedan and midsize SUV categories respectively.

"The Hyundai Genesis rivals high-end luxury sedans but costs considerably less," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut. "Its luxurious and spacious interior and quietness far transcend its relatively modest price."

The Genesis was tested against four other new or redesigned upscale sedans—the Acura TL, Nissan Maxima, Pontiac G8 and Lincoln MKS-for the February issue of Consumer Reports. Prices ranged from $33,660 for the Pontiac to $40,880 for the Lincoln.

Two other vehicles in the test group also earned Excellent overall road test scores, the TL and Maxima. The G8 and MKS achieved Very Good overall scores.

The eight other vehicles in the Upscale Sedans category including the ES 350, Toyota Avalon, Buick Lucerne and Saab 9-5, were all tested previously.

In addition to the five upscale sedans tested, CR also purchased and tested the Jaguar XF luxury sedan. Though it obtained a Very Good overall score, it still ranked near the bottom of the group of 12 luxury sedans that Consumer Reports has rated.

But the redesigned Honda Pilot has slipped from being one of Consumer Reports' top-rated three-row SUVs to midpack. The Pilot now ranks eleventh out of seventeen midsized, three-row SUVs that have been tested by CR.

Full tests and ratings of all six sedans appear in the February issue of Consumer Reports, which goes on sale January 6. The reports are also available to subscribers of www.ConsumerReports.org. (Road test vehicles of recently tested vehicles are also available free at CR's web site.)

The issue also contains a report on the conversion of a hybrid Toyota Prius to a plug-in hybrid. Consumer Reports chose a Hymotion L5 conversion kit sold by A123 Systems, which the company claims can yield more than 100 mpg. Fuel economy in CR's converted Prius jumped from 42 to 67 mpg overall for the first 35 miles of driving. At almost $11,000, the plug-in conversion clearly won't save consumers money overall. However, the technology itself proved viable.

The TL is the only vehicle in this month's test group that is Recommended by Consumer Reports.

CR only Recommends vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on CR's annual Car Reliability Survey of its more than seven million print and web subscribers, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.

CR doesn't have reliability data yet on the Genesis, MKS, Maxima, G8 and XF.

Spacious and well appointed, the rear-wheel-drive Genesis offers good value and is a compelling alternative to luxury vehicles costing thousands more. This car's forte is swaddling passengers in silence. The engine sounds polished and road noise is strikingly absent. The interior rivals those of the very best luxury cars, with its optional stitched-leather dashboard facing and consistently high-quality materials. The only real drawback is its ride, which can be unsettled at times and doesn't live up to the standards set by other luxury cars. The Genesis 3.8 ($36,000 Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price as tested) is powered by a 290-hp, 3.8-liter V6 that feels quick and smooth and delivers a decent 21 mpg in CR's own fuel-economy tests. The six-speed automatic transmission provides smooth, quick shifts. Braking is excellent.

The redesigned Acura TL is a nice car, with responsive handling, a slick powertrain and commendable fuel economy. But when compared with the previous TL, which was CR's Top Pick in this segment for years, the latest generation is not as impressive. Vague steering saps the fun out of its handling, the trunk opening is small, and other competitors have roomier rear seats. The base-model TL ($35,715 MSRP as tested) is powered by a 280-hp, 3.5-liter V6 that delivers excellent acceleration and a respectable 23 mpg overall on premium fuel. The five-speed automatic transmission is both quick and smooth. Brakes are excellent overall.

The Maxima is a quick car, but it doesn't add much over the less costly Nissan Altima overall. While it's pleasant, it falls short in some ways. Handling is responsive, but at low speeds the steering is overly light. The car is quiet and the ride is decent. But the new coupe-like silhouette compromises visibility, trunk room, and rear-seat comfort. The Maxima 3.5 SV ($33,700 MSRP as tested) is powered by a 290-hp, 3.5-liter V6 that gives the car quicker acceleration than some V8s. Expect 22 mpg overall on premium fuel. The continuously variable transmission works very well overall; it's also the only one available. The Maxima's brakes are very good overall.

As a bargain sports sedan that can challenge the performance of models from BMW and Mercedes, Pontiac's G8 is a success. It handles and rides as well as the best cards in its class. The G8 GT's acceleration is very impressive, with a zero-to-sixty time of 5.7-seconds. But the downside of that is poor fuel economy-at just 17 mpg overall on regular fuel. The G8 GT ($33,660 MSRP as tested) is powered by a huge 361-hp, 6.0-liter V8 engine that makes it blisteringly quick. The smooth six speed automatic transmission with a tall sixth gear makes highway cruising relaxed. The brakes are very good overall. (A 256-hp, 3.6-liter V6 with a five-speed automatic is also available in the base G8, but CR didn't test it because a more powerful V6 with a six-speed automatic will arrive in 2010.)

In the tradition of large domestic luxury cars, Lincoln's MKS is built for pampering, not for spirited driving. Handling lacks agility, and the engine is too noisy for a car in this class. The interior amenities and finishes are pleasant, but the MKS feels too much like the Ford Taurus, on which it is based, to justify its luxury price tag. The MKS ($40,880 MSRP as tested) is equipped with a 273-hp, 3.7-liter V6 engine that performs well, but is not as quick or smooth as its competition in this class. CR measured its fuel economy at just 20 mpg overall on regular, which is not impressive. The six-speed automatic transmission is not as slick as most in this class. Brakes are very good overall.



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2010 Triumph Rocket III Roadster

| вторник, 6 октября 2009 г.

2010 Triumph Rocket III Roadster
The 2010 Triumph Rocket III Roadster is the perfect motorcycle for riders that like to wear their attitudes on their sleeves. Available only in black, this beast boasts a a 2.3 liter three-cylinder beast good for 146 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque. Add in Brembo brakes with ABS, a set of 43-millimeter upside-down forks, twin Kayaba shocks and you’ve got some power between your legs.



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Ford GT designer, Camilo Pardo, leaving the Blue Oval

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Filed under: , ,



AutoWeek is confirming rumors that Ford GT designer, Camilo Pardo, is parting ways with Ford after a 24-year relationship. While no details were disclosed, Pardo confirmed he is leaving the Blue Oval and said the specifics are still being ironed out. Pardo is probably best known for designing the GT40 concept car which spawned the production Ford GT.

While employed at Ford's advance design studio, Pardo also worked on the Thunderbird and the Lincoln LS among other things. It's rumored that he hasn't done much vehicle design work for Ford recently, being relegated to smaller tasks such as side view mirror shaping. Such a pity, although we have no doubt that this talented artist and designer will land on his feet in short order. We had a brief meeting with Camilo during last year's Ford GT National Rally II and you can scope out the images from that day in the gallery below.


[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

Ford GT designer, Camilo Pardo, leaving the Blue Oval originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009 Preview: Suzuki Swift hybrid plug-in concept

| суббота, 3 октября 2009 г.

Posted by Autoblog

2010 Suzuki Swift hybrid plug-in concept – Click for high-res image gallery

The Suzuki Swift is a competent subcompact that the Japanese marque sells both in Japan and Europe. In the latter, the little hatchback is available with a…



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Physics Professor: Hey U Guyz…This Electrical Field Boosts Engine Efficiency

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Electrorheology is a pretty complicated looking word. It doesn’t even look like it’s spelled correctly, although it is. I checked. It’s equally difficult to define, even after I looked it up online. But I’ll attempt: Electrorheology is a phenomenon whereby particles of a liquid become more or less viscous upon the application of an electric field of very low current.

A Temple University physics professor has developed a simple device which could improve automotive fuel efficiency by 20 percent using electrorheology. The device creates an electric field that thins fuel, so that smaller droplets are injected into the engine. That leads to more efficient and cleaner combustion.

Six months of road testing in a diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz showed the device improved mileage from 32 mpg to 38 mpg. The device can apparently be used with diesel, regular gasoline, kerosene, and even biodiesel.

If this kind of technology is used in the trucking industry, it could save tens of billions of dollars and have a major impact on the economy by lowering the costs to deliver goods and services.

(via GizMag)



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Big Drop Expected For December Auto Sales [Carpocalypse Now]

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Most obvious prognostication ever. [Detroit News]



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Will The Nissan GT-R Blend? [Novelties]

| четверг, 1 октября 2009 г.

The widely popular and oftentime misunderstood webshow, Will It Blend?, tests the world's most powerful blender against the claimed "world's fastest production car," the Nissan GT-R. So, will it blend?

Godzilla could out run the Porsche 911 Turbo on it's home turf, but can it outwit the world's most powerful blender or will it be outgunned and finally laid to rest by the BlendTec Total Blender? Watch and find out.

[via YouTube]



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Nissan Helps Develop A Smart-Key Phone: Unlock and Start Your Car With A Call

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I’m a bit of a futurist; I like to speculate about new technologies. And I’ve always though that eventually, all of your tech needs will be filled by one device, probably all merged into a phone. Already this has happened to the majority of eletro-fobs: your phone can also be your music player and your camera and your internet access. Eventually you’ll be able print full sized A4 paper from your phone via an extendable arm and you’ll be able to project high quality video onto a wall via a mini projector. Maybe eventually we’ll have credit card swipes or RFID readers in our phones that would help speed along business transactions.

Nissan’s developed a technology along those lines with Sharp and NTT DOCOMO that will allow you to lock and unlock your car via your phone. It seems pretty simple, just squeeze your key-fob into a phone. The phone apparently works on Nissan’s two-way communication Intelligent Key system and would allow you to not only lock and unlock the car door, but also start and stop the engine. Pretty cool. It should be available starting in 2009.
Check out the video:



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Geneva 09' Preview: Hyundai HED-6 Concept Rendering Released

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hyundai_hed_6_concept.jpg
Hyundai has released an official sketch of the HED-6 Concept that will be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The HED-6 was designed at Hyundai's European Design headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany and provides a new look for Hyundai's SUVs. The concept features a muscular design with its hexagonal grille, angular style lines and piercing back-swept front headlamps, with the bold look completed by 21-inch, mirror-polished alloy wheels.

The HED-6 is powered by a 175 horsepower 1.6-liter GDi turbocharged engine.



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1982 Honda Accord LX [Down On The Street]

| среда, 30 сентября 2009 г.

Welcome to Down On The Street, where we admire old vehicles found parked on the streets of the Island That Rust Forgot: Alameda, California. Here's a little car that's nearly extinct in rust-prone areas.



We saw a '77 Accord in this series not long ago, and it was startling how many readers had never seen a first-gen Accord on the street. Now we're going to look at an example of the early 2nd-gen Accord, which was still quite small (2,076 pounds) and was the first Accord to be built in North America. Horsepower was up to 76- yes, those weight and power numbers would be considered laughably small nowadays, though these cars drive just fine- and Honda's rep for reliability was really getting entrenched in the American consciousness by this time.


The price back in 1982? $8,449 for the LX, or $1,050 more than the base Accord hatch. Clearly, the cachet of the LX badging wasn't enough to stop some vocab-challenged vandal from keying "ASS" into the hood paint.




First 400 DOTS VehiclesDOTS FAQ



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Nice Price Or Crack Pipe: Armored Mercedes-Benz S500 For $76,000? [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe]

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75% of readers think that $45,000 is just too much for a 1957 Triumph TR3, no matter how original it might be. But how about a crime-boss-grade bulletproof Benz for 76 grand?

We've got no idea what the going rate for a bombproof, bulletproof '93 S500 with 155K miles might be, so this car might be the best deal to come along since Adnan Khashoggi was offering Ollie North a buy-one-get-one-free deal on SA-7 missiles… if you're a full-time member of the penumbral economy, that is. The eBay listing doesn't provide any details pertaining to armor specs, which would seem to be relevant information to an up-and-coming syndicate enforcer; does "bomb proof underneath" mean that it'll stand up to an antitank mine detonating below, or will some rinky-dink black-powder IED packed with lug nuts mean a promotion opportunity for your second-in-command? These are important questions to this car's intended demographic. But hey, maybe that price is a steal regardless. What do you say?
[eBay Motors, thanks to Jon for the tip!]

Is 76 grand a warlord-friendly price tag for the bulletproof S-class?
( polls)



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No Surprise: Ford halts RWD programs

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Filed under: ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ford Interceptor concept

Ebb and flow. That's the way the petroleum market works, and if history holds true - and it normally does - then fuel prices are set to go up... again... and then some. So it's no surprise that Ford, GM and Chrysler - not to mention its competitors from across the Pacific - all brought out plenty of fuel-sipping models at this year's Detroit Auto Show. Nor is it surprising that J Mays, Ford's design chief, is telling the world that FoMoCo's rear-wheel-drive plans have been nixed.

"We've got other priorities," Mays told Automotive News/Autoweek, referring to both Ford and Lincoln's plans for a RWD sedan. "We're going down a path right now that is all about fuel efficiency."

The original plan - which began a year ago and was already under review in the middle of 2008 when gas prices were peaking - was to work with Ford's Australian arm to develop a new, large RWD platform that would be shared with the U.S. market. The new sedan was due in 2013, but as the landscape changed, Ford decided to eliminate the plan altogether. Mays says he was looking forward to the project, but he seems resolute with the shift to efficiency. We say: now's the time to start working on a small, RWD shooting brake with a 1.4-liter EcoBoost four.


[Source: Autoweek]

No Surprise: Ford halts RWD programs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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