Drew Dowdell

19 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

It is overused but an Alpha chassis sedan is pretty much the definition of a sport sedan. 

Would you say the same about the C-Class with the base 4-cylinder? 241hp at 5500 RPM.

The Q60, with a 208 hp Turbo-4?

The XTS V-Sport with 410hp and AWD?

Just because they're rear-wheel drive doesn't make them a sport sedan.  The Maxima is faster and has FWD and a CVT. The K900 is rear wheel drive and is a boat.

So I guess what I'm asking is... what about the Alpha makes it a sport sedan? (I'm not taking Dfelt's side here on the application of it on the CT5, I haven't driven it yet).  Suspension tuning is changeable and not platform specific. 

Have to look at these things with price in mind, it's an adjustment I have to make when I literally step out of a Corsair and then into a Venue.  Compared to the Kicks and Ecosport, this has a superior interior. The Soul and Renegade (which is meant to get muddy) are about on the same level.   The Renegade has some better engine choices and AWD available. The Ecosport... well... here's how a conversation with my Aunt who was renting one went: "I see you got an Ecosport as your rental. How do you like it?".... "Well.... I don't".

Her daily is a '16 Outback. 

The 90s shifter looks very Saab-like.

1 hour ago, ccap41 said:

In 2018, Chevy sold 7,572 more Vettes than CTS, fwiw. 

So you're really going to try and say the CTS/CT5 is not a sport sedan outside of V trim? 

Lots of things are called sport sedans that aren't. Toyota has been referring to the Avalon as a sport sedan for a number of years now.  The term gets over-used. 

 

 

1

1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

Current Edge dates to 2015, had a minor MCE for 2019.   The Nautius is basically a carryover from the MKX, updated w/ the new Lincoln front fascia..the dash in it looks dated compared to the Corsair, Aviator and Navigator. 

Recession-era design.

2 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

The Nautilus just came out for 2019, but still has the old Ford-style dash from the MKX...wonder when it will get a refresh to look more like the newer CUVs. 

2 hours ago, dfelt said:

Could easily see a interior refresh maybe next year as a model 2021 for 2020, otherwise I figure it will stay for the next 5 to 7 years and then on the new model get redone to match the family.

As soon as the Edge moves to the new Explorer platform, so maybe not for another year or so.  MKC got a one year only makeover, so if Ford really wants to push the models out, they could have the new Edge and Nautilus waiting in the wings (cough) already. 

Arguably, one of the most important reveals at the New York Auto Show is the Hyundai Venue. The Venue is Hyundai’s smallest crossover slotting in just below the Kona.  With a price starting somewhere in the $17k - $18k range, it will also likely be the most prolific of the cars unveiled this week.   The Venue’s main competition is the Nissan Kicks, Kia Soul, Jeep Renegade, and Ford EcoSport.

Outside, the Venue sits perky and upright, it will be the shortest length crossover on the market when it goes on sale in the fall.  In spite of its diminutive size, it manages to look more premium than it is. It’s about 5 inches shorter than the Hyundai Kona which sits just above it in Hyundai’s lineup.

It has a deep set grill with a complex crosshatch pattern that gives an expensive look. The split light clusters add visual height to the front, making it look more truck-like.  There are a contrasting color roof and mirror covers. I like the looks of the alloy wheels too. In back, a good size hatch opens to 19 cubic feet of cargo room that expands to 32 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.  Hyundai even put some work into making the tail lamps display a unique Z pattern.

Inside, the Venue really shines. The upright dash is covered in a soft rubberized material. The seats have a denim-like look to them and they offer a good seating position for the driver. There are options on the upper trim to have the front and rear seats heated.  Front legroom seemed a little tight, and I would need to move the seat back far enough that an adult probably couldn’t sit behind me.  Rear seat legroom is tight, and I struggled slightly to get in and out.  The rear seat is rather flat and park-bench-like. It is unlikely that if you are any taller than my 5’10” that you will be comfortable with the headroom.

All of the controls are in easy reach. The primary HVAC controls are three large simple round dials. An 8-inch touch screen sits high on the center stack and only pops up about an inch over the dash.  My experience with Hyundai’s infotainment systems has been mixed, but the car was off when I visited, so I didn’t get the chance to try it. Either way, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard, so as long as you’re happy with those, it should just work.

Hyundai is offering the Venue in just two trims, SE and SEL, and a single engine option, a 1.6 liter 4-cylinder. This engine will produce an estimated 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. Like the Soul and Kicks, there is no all-wheel-drive option offered.  Power is sent to the front wheels either via a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission.  Hyundai is hoping to get an EPA combined rating of 33 mpg. 

Tiny crossovers have become the 1990's hatchback of the twenty-teens. The Venue, Kicks, Soul, Renegade, and others offer crossover versatility in a city-sized package. Unlike those old hatchbacks which could be penalty boxes, my overall impression is that the Venue isn’t a car you buy just because it is cheap, but because you actually like it. It is a handsome, perky little package that looks more premium than it really is and offers a host of standard and optional safety features that some lack in the segment. Given that the Venue is likely to take the title of the most affordable crossover and do it while looking this good puts Hyundai in a great position.

Read our other First Impressions from the New York International Auto Show below:

First Impressions: 2020 Lincoln Corsair

First Impressions: 2020 Ford Escape

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On 4/20/2019 at 2:36 PM, daves87rs said:

In my Cobalt, only a little bit.

IN my Equinox,, it starts chugging gas like college kids at a frat party....

See, this is my experience too in my Encore.  The A/C seems to be causing more drag on the engine than in other cars. Using A/C is the difference between up to a 4mpg difference for me. 

I just did a Pittsburgh - DC - NJ - NYC - Philly - Pittsburgh trip.  On some of the legs, it was cool enough outside that I was able to just use the vents and manually turn off the A/C. My fuel economy went up to 34mpg on those legs.  When I had to use A/C, it would drop to around 30.   This is off the DIC of course. 

I kept it at the speed limit pretty much the whole trip as I already know that my MPGs drop a lot above 70 mph.

This is pretty disappointing, but glad they still did it. 

It would be too high a price for me.

One of the most anticipated releases of the New York International Auto Show was the 2020 Lincoln Corsair.  The Corsair is the replacement for the Lincoln MKC, and with that, Lincoln has only two MK vehicles left in production, the MKT which is surprisingly still in production, and the MKZ which may go away once the Ford Fusion dies out.  Lincoln upgraded the MKX to Nautilus for 2019. That same year, the MKC got a refresh to look more like the rest of the Lincoln lineup for the 2019 model year only and that was an evolutionary step to the Corsair we see today.

To say that the Corsair is a step up from the MKC is probably an understatement. Though similar in exterior form, the Corsair wears its styling in a much more confident fashion.  It is more upright and assertive a look than the outgoing MKC. While the Corsair shares a platform with the 2020 Ford Escape (My first impressions of the 2020 Escape here), this isn’t a simple badge job as all the sheet metal is different, and though they share the same wheelbase, the Lincoln is longer and wider than the Ford.  While originally derided as derivative, the big Lincoln grille is really coming into its own as a signature look. I’m glad that Lincoln has kept at it and not listened to critics of the look. The full-width tail lamps also are a continued improvement, this time reminding me of the Lincoln Continental.  The overall look is a much more cohesive design than the MKC which could look like a design compromise from some angles.

The Corsair deserves the award for “Most Improved Interior”.  While the MKC was never a bad design, it hasn't aged well and still had some recession-era components. This new interior looks well above its class.  While I detected some areas of cost-cutting on door panels and lower trim, nothing seemed out of line for the class and the excellence of the styling will let most people overlook it.  I am a big fan of Lincoln’s interior styling direction and they are greatly outpacing crosstown rival Cadillac in that department. There is the “stuck on iPad” look of the infotainment system, but such is life in most vehicles these days. The infotainment system runs Sync3 which I’ve had good experiences with in the past. Lincoln’s toggle button shift control and the pod of buttons that reaches out from the dash feels almost like a 1950’s steampunk spaceship (that is a compliment).  Front seating position seems just right and the leg room in the 2nd row is what I would expect from this class. It’s adjustable too, as the second row can slide 6 inches fore and aft to give more cargo room or more legroom as needed. I clock in at 5’10” and found there to be more than enough headroom.  Lincoln’s 24-way adjustable seats take a while to get set up, but once you do, they feel great.

Both the 2.0T and 2.3T from the MKC carry over, though the 2.3 has been tweaked slightly to add a bit more torque (Now 280 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque) and both come with an 8-speed automatic. Neither engine is a bad choice and should move the Corsair along with zest. A plug-in hybrid variant is coming. All-Wheel drive is optional on the 2.0 and standard on the 2.3.  The AWD system is able to decouple the rear axle in order to save fuel and recouple it when traction is needed. Up to 100% of the torque can be directed to the rear. Hopefully, the 8-speed automatic and decoupling AWD will improve the only average fuel economy of 20/27 city/highway that the MKC gets, but if not, at least there will be better performance.

Corsair will likely start around $35,000, which makes it a better value than the smaller and less powerful Cadillac XT4 that starts around the same price. It will also likely be a better value than anything coming from Europe.  The most direct competition, in both size and price, will come from the Acura RDX, Infiniti QX50, and Lexus NX. I expect the Corsair to do well against them.

The Corsair will be in dealerships by the Fall.  

The Lincoln Corsair Gallery has been updated with shots from the show floor.

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Does anyone else notice a big drop in fuel economy when using the air conditioning? For people with automatic climate control do you ever manually turn off the air conditioner? 

1 minute ago, smk4565 said:

Well this is 2.5 liter vs 1.6.  I just don’t see why they didn’t pick one and run with it, hybrid as an option and N line as an option.  3 choices in a Sonata is enough.

You have a point there.

1 minute ago, smk4565 said:

I understand how it and torque work.  You usually back the NA V6 with less torque than the 2.0T when Cadillac used to have those 2.  If the 1.6T is better drivability then just make the standard engine.  I am not arguing one is better than the other, I just think it senseless to offer 2 engines so close in power output.

You're mixing things up.  I prefer larger displacement engines to small ones of similar output.  5-10 lbft here and there don't really matter.

17 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

"over 275hp" doesn't sound like anything impressive.. 

It's better than the Altima, Accord, Passat, Arteon, Regal, and Malibu.  Only the Camry and Regal GS have more. Maybe Maxima too if there is price overlap. 

But we may be finally moving into an era where torque is king again and we can finally get away from these relatively useless HP numbers. 

Ford unveiled the 2020 Escape ahead of the New York International Auto Show and yesterday I finally got my chance to check it out. 

The Escape’s overall shape has lost some of its edge. It is now more rounded and car-like born out by the fact that it is longer, lower, and wider than the current model.  From certain angles in the front, it almost looks to be a Tesla, an association I’m sure Ford won’t mind me making. In back, it has lost almost all of its character. Scrape the badges off and I couldn't tell you what manufacturer this car came from.

Inside is a mixed bag. The dash is laid out in a simple organized fashion and I like how it no longer juts out at you as the outgoing model does.  The screen is well placed and easy to reach. My experiences with Sync3 in the past have been good, so I expect that will carry over into this Escape. The rear seat room is good for the class, though the rear seats do sit lower than I would like.

Where I’m let down is in the quality of materials. Everything seems to be made of hard plastic. The door panels in the rear were especially tupperware feeling. One strange item is the unusual placement of the engine start/stop button, down and behind the steering wheel almost as if they were intentionally making it hard to reach. I did back to back comparisons with Ford’s competition at the show and I would put the new Escape near the bottom of the list on interior quality. It is even a step backward from the current Escape.

The Escape will have four powertrain choices, a 1.5-liter turbo, a 2-liter turbo carried over from the previous generation, and making a return is the hybrid version, powered by a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder. A plug-in hybrid will also be available, but only in front-wheel drive form.  The most interesting of these engines is the 1.5 liter. It is a 3 cylinder EcoBoost producing 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. It is capable of running on just 2 cylinders during times of light load. I liked the 1-liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost in the Ford Fiesta, and if this new 1.5 liter runs the same, that would be a good thing. Driving impressions will have to wait till later this year when the Escape goes into production.

Overall I think this Ford could and should do better on the interior quality. A 3-cylinder turbo may be a hard sell no matter how good the mileage is and Ford will have an interesting time convincing customers of that. 

You can read more about the 2020 Ford Escape from the release article below.

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5 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

420hp! 

That's one little rocket of a car. 

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/new-york-auto-show/a27192602/2020-mercedes-amg-a45-engine-most-powerful-four-cylinder/

It will be interesting to see if they can do that in a single-turbo car and keep the lag down. They haven't kept the lag down on the existing 2.0 yet. 

My bet is they'll use the electric turbocharger in combination with a regular turbo. 

Reports out today:

Sonata going to get a hybrid version and an N-Line version with over 275 HP. 

3 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

It is an 11 hp loss for a 14 lb-ft gain.  I guess we’d have to see a torque curve comparison to see the difference but these engines are awfully close in power.  I find it a hard sell for a salesperson to convince a buyer to pay extra for the turbo that has less horsepower and mpg, because consumers will understand the numbers not that the turbo might feel a little more responsive.

Now if it was a 2.0 turbo I could see the benefit.

It just shows that you still don't understand how horsepower works after all these years. 

29 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

Yes but I can’t imagine it is that much of a difference in acceleration times and not enough that typical Sonata buyers are going to notice.

0-60 doesn't really matter in this class either. What matters is responsiveness. 

The turbo torque comes on at a crazy low rpm. With the right gearing it will feel quicker.

22 hours ago, smk4565 said:

How does the optional engine have less horsepower and fuel economy than the base engine?

Other than that it looks great inside and out.

Peak horsepower doesn't matter. Deep torque curve does.  If the 8-speed does its job, it should still feel plenty fast with the 1.6T

4 minutes ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

Can't wait. Probably going on Monday. Are U there now?

 

Yup. I'll be back there tomorrow

This looks way better in person.  Again, GM cars don't seem to photograph well but look good in person. 

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

Rivian auto's, any other electric auto, CT5, concepts are my choices.

Would love to know if the front seat in the Rivian is all the way back, how much legroom is there in the auto in the back seat area. Would love a picture.

They're not letting people into the Rivian at the moment. I'll see tomorrow, but it's unlikely. 

• New XT models with 260-horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER engine
• Debut of Onyx Edition XT trim level with unique exterior and interior
• Tablet-style high-definition SUBARU STARLINK 11.6-inch touchscreen
• New Hands-Free Power Gate
• Available segment-exclusive DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System
• Standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology with Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control and new Lane Centering

The 2020 Outback delivers the optimal blend of SUV capability and car-like ride and handling with standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Active Torque Vectoring, Vehicle Dynamics Control and X-MODE with Hill Descent Control. The 8.7 inches of ground clearance for all Outback models is greater than that in many SUVs, yet the Outback maintains a comfortably low step-in height for both front and rear passenger entry.

For the first time since 2009, the Outback lineup offers a turbocharged engine. Standard on XT models, the 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER engine delivers robust all-around performance with 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. Meanwhile, the standard naturally aspirated 2.5-liter BOXER, with direct injection and nearly 90 percent of its parts new, delivers 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.

All 2020 Outback models are paired with a CVT featuring an 8-speed manual mode function with steering wheel paddle shifters. The 2.4-liter turbo delivers a 3,500-lb. towing capacity, the most of any Outback in history, while the 2.5-liter provides more than a 600-mile range on a single tank. Manufacturer’s estimated fuel economy is 26/33 mpg city/highway for the 2.5-liter and 23/30 mpg city/highway for the turbo.

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Guys, this is a super busy show this year.  I'm going to have to focus on just a few vehicles to feature for closeups.  What do you want to see more of the most?

The all-new Sonata embodies Hyundai’s Sensuous Sportiness design language with a sophisticated four-door-coupe look

• Hyundai’s third-generation vehicle platform enables improvements in design, safety, efficiency and driving performance
• Hyundai First: Sonata’s Digital Key allows the vehicle to be unlocked, started and driven without a physical key, via a smartphone
• Hyundai First: Hidden Lighting Lamps turn chrome when off and lit when on

Hyundai today introduced its all-new 2020 Sonata at the New York International Auto Show, marking the North American debut of Hyundai’s longest-standing and most successful model. The eighth-generation Sonata is unlike any of its predecessors, showcasing Hyundai’s Sensuous Sportiness design philosophy, an all-new Smartstream G2.5 GDI engine and segment-first technology that can be personalized. Production of the 2020 Sonata starts in September at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and retail sales begin in October.

Customers can choose between two Smartstream gasoline powertrains: a 2.5 GDI and a 1.6 T-GDI engine, both mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The new Smartstream G2.5 GDI engine, with high-efficiency combustion, cooled EGR and an optimized ITMS cooling system, boasts a generous 191 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 181 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm, plus an expected combined EPA estimated fuel economy of 33 mpg. Meanwhile, the new Smartstream G1.6 T-GDI has 180 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 195 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,500–4,500 rpm and is expected to achieve an EPA estimated 31 mpg combined, thanks to its world-first Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) system.

Production of the 2020 Sonata starts in September 2019.

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