Mazda Suspends Dealer Orders

By Ryan Beene of AutoWeek

Mazda Motor Corp. on Friday suspended U.S. dealer orders for vehicles made in Japan, as it prepares to shutter plants again after a brief reopening.

The suspension affects the May allocation for Mazda's U.S. sales network, spokesman Jay Amestoy said. He said it was uncertain when dealer orders will resume.

Japan's automakers have been forced to close plants across the country following this month's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis that has damaged factories, disrupted parts supplies and forced rolling blackouts to conserve electricity.

Read:  Quake Slashes Global Auto Output

Mazda imports the Mazda2, Mazda3, MX-5 Miata, RX-8, CX-7, CX-9, and Mazda5 from Japan.

"This is just about when dealers would start to order cars for May's allocation," Amestoy said. "It's a timing thing."

Inventory in 'Decent Shape'
Mazda's plants in Hiroshima and Hofu were idled from March 14 through March 21 before resuming temporary production three days ago using parts in stock. The plants are scheduled to be idled again starting Monday.

Amestoy said the automaker is "in decent shape" with current U.S. stockpiles, though he declined to give details.

Compare: Mazda Mazda2 vs. Ford Fiesta vs. Honda Fit

"We're fairly comfortable at the moment," Amestoy said. "We have a good supply and mix of models, trims and colors."

The automaker's U.S. sales are up 3 percent through February in a market that has advanced 23 percent.

Mazda had a 94-day supply of vehicles in dealer stocks as of March 1, down from 123 days on Feb. 1, according to the Automotive News Data Center. A 60-day supply is considered normal.

Honda Suspensions
Honda Motor Co. this week suspended U.S. dealer orders for vehicles imported from Japan, including the Honda Fit, CR-V, Insight, CR-Z, Civic Hybrid and Acura TSX and RL. Nissan Motor Co. also said it would reduce its planned vehicle allocation volume for May by half. The other half will be released when Nissan confirms those vehicles will be ready.

Watch Video:  2011 Honda Fit

Toyota Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., haven't suspended dealer orders.

Unlike its bigger rivals, who assemble most of the vehicles they sell in the United States, Mazda imports the majority of vehicles it sells.

In 2010, imports accounted for about 83 percent of the brand's U.S. sales. The Mazda3 compact sedan, the brand's best-selling car, accounted for about 46 percent of Mazda's U.S. demand last year.

Dealers held a 102-day supply of the Mazda3 on March 1, down from the 160-day level of Feb. 1.

Dealers can still order the Mazda6 midsize sedan and Tribute crossover. The Mazda6 is built at the Auto Alliance International plant in Flat Rock, Mich., and the Tribute is assembled at Ford Motor Co.'s plant near Kansas City, Mo.

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The 10 Cheapest Cars to Own

Market price: $14,625
5-Year fuel cost: $7,825
5-Year insurance cost: $5,630
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,593

Depreciation: $8,405
Fees & taxes: $1,139
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,864
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $490
Maintenance: $1,613
Repairs: $1,627

Its design is unmistakably Mazda, but the Mazda2 isn't just a downsized Mazda3. Built on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, this sporty hatch takes corners with ease, and it has a full line of standard safety equipment — ABS, stability and traction control, and six airbags. Mileage is 29 city, 35 highway.

More From Kiplinger.com:
10 Best Cars of the Past Decade

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5 Smart but Staid Hybrids

What the Camry Hybrid possesses in quality, it lacks in attitude. Generally regarded as a comfortable, well-thought-out and capably performing car, the Camry Hybrid is one of the most tepid gas-electrics on the market. For its size and capabilities, the Camry Hybrid punches in at 31 mpg city/35 mph highway. If your aim is to blend in, this is one of the most comfortable and fuel-efficient ways to get the job done.

Watch Video:  2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Jacob Gordon is a freelance writer, a blogger for TreeHugger.com and a producer of TreeHugger Radio. He can be reached at mailto:jacob@treehugger.com?subject=.

View the original article here

David E. Davis Jr.: 1930 – 2011

James Tate began a career in automotive writing as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car magazine. Since then, his work has appeared in publications like Car and Driver, Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trend, European Car, Edmunds Inside Line, Kelley Blue Book, Stuff, and specialty publications. When not writing, Tate can be found fantasizing about vintage Porsche 911's.

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2011 Buick Regal Revealed

It's easy to be down on General Motors these days — everyone's doing it and, we'll admit, the company does seem to keep giving good cause for the negativity. And we'd be remiss not to mention that it's equally easy to dismiss a car coming from Buick, the company that you may think should now be called something else. Like, say, Pontiac. But the 2011 Buick Regal has something good going for it — and that is, it's a 2010 Opel.

Set to go on sale during the second quarter of 2010, the Regal will be available only with 4-cylinder engines: GM's 2.4-liter Ecotec direct-injection four and a (better) 2.0-liter turbocharged four, which pounds down 220 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Regal is set to compete with the likes of Acura's TSX and the Volvo S60, and there's even a manual transmission available on the turbo model. Also, if you intend to buy the new Regal when it first hits showrooms in 2010, you should know that it will be available only in CXL guise (that's GM speak for "top of the line"). Other trims will follow, of course.

You can have your Regal with Interactive Drive Control, which is much like Audi's Drive Select, adjusting throttle response, shock stiffness and steering effort across three ranges: Normal, Tour and Sport. Normal and Sport are self-explanatory, and you can think of Tour as comfort mode.

It's too early to guess on pricing, but you can expect the Regal to fit in somewhere around TSX range (that car starts at $29,310).

View the original article here

EDO’s testing of the new Tomioka Racing TD05 20g Turbo for 08+ WRX

As first project of 2011, we were testing the limit of factory top mount intercooler on a 2008 Subaru WRX. One of the most important concerns that the owner of the 2008 WRX had was if turbo upgrade was going to affect the fuel economy of the car badly. “I use the car for daily commute. So naturally I don’t want to increase my fuel expenses after the upgrade. But then again, I want to enjoy what the boxer engine has to offer with an upgrade,” the owner said.  The 2008 WRX already had aftermarket downpipe, cat-back and air intake but had never been tuned. The car on average had 22 miles per gallon (mpg) fuel economy on the current modification. Having heard all the concerns, Edwin Tang, owner and tuner of EDO Performance, suggested the Tomioka Racing TD05-20G turbocharger, set of power enterprise 800cc top-feed injectors, set of one heat range colder NGK Iridium spark plugs, Walbro 255LPH fuel pump and Tomioka Racing equal length  header with mild tune.

The Tomioka Racing TD05-20G turbocharger is rated at 400 horsepower. It’s a bolt-on turbocharger with 640 cfm air-flow rating. It’s quite an upgrade from the factory 2008 WRX turbocharger.  “The bigger 20g turbo coupled with the high flow exhaust manifold, 800cc injectors, and 255LPH fuel pump should easily overwhelm the factory top mount intercooler. We shall see how it will hold,” Edwin concluded. The next night, the owner of the WRX dropped off the car for the upgrade.

A stock 2008 WRX published peak engine horsepower is at 224 HP.  Conservatively, 17% of power will be lost when measuring power to the wheel. So realistically, a 2008 Subaru WRX wheel horsepower is at 186. Edwin decided to do a quick tune on the WRX with its current aftermarket catback, downpipe and air intake. With peak boost at 14.63 psi, the peak wheel horsepower was at 221 with peak torque at 225.8. Things were about to get serious on the next round.

First to go was the factory turbocharger, pulling the factory turbocharger and comparing it to the Tomioka Racing TD05-20G, the factory turbo was like its little brother. Despite its larger size, the clean polish on the compressor housing exhibited factory turbocharger characteristics and it sure looked very low profile for a 400HP rated turbocharger. While the turbocharger was being loosely fitted, attention shifted to the fuel injectors. The 800cc fuel injectors surely dwarfed the factory injectors. Twice the size and flow rate of factory injectors, the owner was right to concern on the new WRX fuel economy. But his worry would have to wait until the car was finished tuning.  Next, the one step colder iridium spark plugs were installed and it was time to put back the top mount intercooler. It is always a bolt-on package with Tomioka so the top mount intercooler fit flawlessly on the new and larger turbo. With that, under the hood modification was completed. It was time to move to under the car.

Next on the list was the Equal length manifold. The Tomioka Racing Equal length exhaust manifold looks superior to the factory header in every way and it is. The larger primary tube design increases exhaust flow to the smooth merge collectors making for nice smooth transitions on the way to the large diameter three bolt up-pipe. Tomioka uses a 3 bolt up-pipe flange to avoid blowing out the lower gasket as is a common occurrence with the two bolt up-pipes. Tomioka also includes a roll of heat wrap to keep all the exhaust heat where it should be and not in the nearby oil filter or oil pan. With the equal length exhaust manifold a Subaru will lose its “boxer rumble” slightly, but it will make up for it with a substantial in the gain in power.

Last but not least, the fuel pump was upgraded to 255LPH (Liter per Hour) fuel pump. The install is a little more complicated than the earlier WRX’s but the experienced technician at EDO had no problems getting it installed properly.

With the installation completed, it was time to tune and release the full potential of the EJ25 engine. It was known that the TD05-20G would spool slower than the factory turbocharger and Edwin needed to limit the lag in spool. Tuning was going very well, at one point the WRX broke the 300whp mark, but the stock intercooler was showing signs of fatigue trying handle the increase in horsepower.  The final numbers, peak boost was at 19.36 psi with peak wheel horsepower at 299.7 and torque at 305.7. As expected the WRX was lagging in its spool rate with the larger 20G. It was an increase in lag of 200 rpm which we shall see its effect on the road.  Overall, the WRX gained both power and torque across the entire RPM range.

Dyno tune was completed and it was time to test the new WRX on the road. The biggest concern was finally answered. The final number on the fuel economy was 17 -19 miles per gallon on combined city and highway driving.  The owner didn’t feel as bad losing 3-5 mpg after a 78 horsepower gain. “The car was making more power and didn’t really feel the lag from the larger turbo,” the owner concluded.

After all the modifications, the 2008 WRX still looked stock under the hood. The owner of the WRX has plans to achieve close to 400 horsepower with this turbocharger. The WRX already has all the fuel and exhaust components in place to achieve that goal. There is a list of stock parts will have to be replaced to achieve that  power gain, the intercooler,  gear set, and cooling are just to name a few. This car and turbo have a lot of potential left so stay tuned for its progress!

This entry was posted on Monday, March 28th, 2011 at 9:34 am and is filed under Racing News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze — Review

The 2011 Cruze is the best small car Chevrolet has ever produced. It combines a pleasant and roomy interior with nimble road manners and class-leading fuel efficiency. Buyers will have to get used to paying more for a small car, but the Cruze’s strengths and wide array of features should soften the blow.

View Pictures:  2011 Chevrolet Cruze

With names like Chevette and Cavalier in its past, Chevrolet doesn't exactly have a strong track record in the compact-car market. Chevy's last compact, the Cobalt, was an improvement, but it still couldn't face the likes of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

For 2011, Chevrolet is upping the ante in the small-car game with the Cruze 4-door sedan, a car that is improved over the Cobalt in almost every way. But with a higher price than the Cobalt, can the Cruze be a hit? Based on our test drive, it should be.

Model Lineup
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is offered in five trims: LS, 1LT, 2LT, LTZ and the fuel-efficient Eco. Standard equipment on the LS includes cloth upholstery, air conditioning, interior air filter, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, height-adjustable front seats, 60/40 split folding rear seat, power windows, power locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD stereo, XM satellite radio, auxiliary input jack, trip computer, automatic headlights and P215/60R16 tires on steel wheels with wheel covers.

The 1LT adds power mirrors and floor mats, while the 2LT gets leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, heated front seats, 6-way power adjustable driver's seat, iPod adapter, Bluetooth cell phone link, remote engine starting and alloy wheels.

The Eco trim features unique 17-inch alloy wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires and an aerodynamics package that includes active shutters in the front fascia that close at speed to improve fuel economy.

The top-of-the-line LTZ adds rear disc brakes, rear park assist, automatic climate control, cruise control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, sport suspension and P225/45R18 tires.

The Cruze's list of standard safety features is impressive. It includes 10 airbags (front, front side, front knee, curtain side and rear side), a tire-pressure monitor, anti-lock brakes, traction control and electronic stability control.

Under the Hood
The 2011 Cruze is offered with two engines from GM's Ecotec family. The base LS comes with a 1.8-liter four cylinder producing 136 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque at 3800 rpm. Standard in the other models is a new turbocharged 1.4-liter making 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque from 1850 to 4950 rpm. Both engines are offered with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability. Fuel-economy ratings are not yet available, but Chevrolet says the Eco model with the manual transmission will get 40 mpg highway. Look for other versions to hover around 36 or 37 mpg highway and to hit high 20s in the city.

Inner Space
The release of the Cruze marks a shift upmarket for Chevrolet small cars. The base price of the Cruze is $16,295, compared to $14,990 for the outgoing Cobalt. The interior environment of the Cruze is much nicer than the Cobalt and light years ahead of the Cavalier. It also has more standard equipment, including six more airbags and a telescoping steering wheel.

More than that, though, the layout and materials impress. The fit and finish of the various surfaces is exemplary, and there are more soft-touch surfaces than one would expect in a small car, especially on higher line models. Still, there are some signs of cost-cutting. The steering-wheel face isn't as sturdy as it should be, and there is still plenty of hard plastic used. When all is said and done, however, buyers will be pleased with the Cruze's ambience.

Small-item storage is adequate. It includes a small, rubberized cubby at the base of the center stack, two cupholders on the center console, a smallish center console bin and room for bottles in the door pockets.

Front-seat space is impressive. The driver's seat pushes back far enough for even very tall drivers to have enough legroom, and headroom is more than adequate. There aren't enough seat adjustments for our tastes, but that's typical for this class of car and the tilt/telescoping steering wheel aids driver comfort.

The rear seat also has pretty good space for a compact car. A 6-foot adult can fit behind a 6-foot adult with some room to spare. Headroom is adequate but tight for taller riders. Long-trip comfort is compromised by short cushions. The rear seats fold 60/40 with the pull of a lever to make the trunk's generous 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space — which would be good for a midsize car — that much roomier.

On the Road
The Cruze has an impressive ride and great balance. Handling borders on sporty, with light but direct steering, little body roll in corners, and a willingness to change directions quickly. While the Cruze doesn't use an independent rear suspension like the Honda Civic, it adds a Watts link to the torsion-bar rear setup from the Cobalt. This absorbs lateral forces, allowing Chevrolet engineers to tune the suspension to better handle vertical, forward and rearward motions. The system is also compact, allowing lots of trunk space. The result is a car that handles bumps well and carves nicely through turns.

Chevrolet made the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla available during the media test drive, and the Cruze fared well by comparison. Handling is much more controlled and stable than in those cars, especially the Corolla. While the Civic has a more sophisticated rear suspension, it is tuned softer and has more body lean. The Cruze is also quieter on the road than both cars, thanks to a concerted effort by Chevrolet engineers to reduce noise. Power doesn't feel quite as willing, though.

Chevrolet is aiming to improve fuel economy with its pair of small-displacement 4-cylinder engines. Both make similar horsepower, but the 1.4-liter turbo produces more torque and gets better fuel economy.

The 1.4 was the only engine available for testing. While power has certainly been sacrificed, the 1.4-liter turbo provides enough punch for most everyday needs. There is some minor turbo lag from a stop, and passing can be labored. Zero to 60 mph takes about nine seconds, which is fair, but not fast. While this engine would certainly benefit from direct injection, which would increase power and fuel economy and reduce turbo lag, that is an expensive feature for a low-priced car. We predict, however, that the 1.4 will get direct injection in the future.

The Cruze would also benefit from a more powerful engine option, a la the 2.0-liter 260-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder in the Cobalt SS. That car was an impressive handler, and a Cruze SS would be even better. At this point, though, the Cruze has more chassis capability than engine oomph.

Right for You?
As America continues to downsize in the wake of 2008's gasoline spike, compact cars are growing in popularity and gaining refinement and features. The Cruze is a poster boy for this movement, and it also offers more room than most compacts, as well as better fuel economy. The lack of a hatchback body style will limit its utility, but the Cruze is as much car as many drivers need.

(As part of an automaker-sponsored press event, Chevrolet provided MSN with travel and accommodations tofacilitate this report.)

Kirk Bell has served as the associate publisher for Consumer Guide Automotive and editor of Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine. A Midwest native, Bell brings 18 years of automotive journalism experience to MSN, andcurrently contributes to JDPower.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.

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Should You Lease Your Next Car?

By Matthew de Paula of MSN Autos

After a several-year slump, automakers are getting back into the lease game in a big way. And there are some sweet deals to be had, such as zero-percent financing and up to $750 cash back in some cases.

However, good bargains don't mean you should run out and lease a new car, truck or SUV. Leasing isn't for everyone.

The same factors that determined whether leasing made good financial sense before the Great Recession still hold true today: It is only a good option for those who don't drive more than 15,000 miles annually and who want a new vehicle every few years. Other drivers are usually better off buying.

"Leasing can be expensive and it carries unknown risks," says Jeff Bartlett, deputy online autos editor at ConsumerReports.com.

Lessees basically pay for how much companies think the car will depreciate, not for actually how much they do depreciate; and a car depreciates the most during its first several years, which is the length of a typical lease. There are penalties for driving more miles than allotted and for excessive wear and tear.

Bing: Car-Lease Deals

But in these times of economic uncertainty, some buyers who normally wouldn't lease may find that committing to a 36-month term could be more advantageous than taking out a five- or seven-year loan.

"A lot of people are in a very transitional mode," Bartlett says. "Some people are relocating for jobs, relocating because they lost jobs. There are changing needs that are very dynamic."

So while experts agree that leasing can be more expensive in the long run than purchasing a vehicle — leases force you to always have a car payment ready and to perpetually pay for depreciation — the shorter time span of a lease contract could be a boon for those unsure of what the future holds more than three years out.

For example, someone who loses a job or moves in a year or two will have less of a financial burden with a 36-month lease. Even if that means struggling to meet payments for a while, it might still be better than worrying about selling a car, which may not be worth the principal remaining on the loan.

Considering that scenario, and because there are lease deals to be had at the moment, those who previously would not have considered a lease might do well to look into the option. Again, leasing isn't for everyone, but you won't know until you check it out. To help put things into perspective, here is an overview of recent trends in leasing and the impact they could have on you.

The Perfect Storm
Two key factors have combined to create an environment rife with good lease deals right now: a shortage of good used cars and low interest rates, says Jesse Toprak, vice president of industry trends at TrueCar.com, a new-car pricing guide based in Santa Monica, Calif. "Just three years ago we would've seen interest rates, even for the subsidized programs, to be at least 5 percent or more. And now there are many lease specials that have interest rates that are the equivalent of 1 percent or less."

Banks and other finance companies can offer consumers such low rates because the interest rate the Federal Reserve charges them to borrow money is now at practically zero percent. In other words, banks aren't paying a lot to borrow funds, and are passing those savings on to qualified consumers.

Rates aren't likely to rise much this year, either, Toprak says. "We don't really see economic growth gaining traction, and that's one of the measures that the Fed looks at before deciding to bump up interest rates."

Read:  Consumer Reports Top Picks

But interest rates are only half the story. The other key contributor is a vehicle's residual value, which is a prediction of what a new car will be worth at the end of a lease. Lenders use these values to define the down payment, monthly payment, term length and, in some cases, even the interest rate. The higher the residual value, the lower the down payment and monthly payment on the lease.

Residual values are improving for many vehicles partly because used cars are in relatively short supply right now, says Eric Lyman, director of residual value solutions for ALG in Santa Barbara, Calif., which calculates residual values and other analytical data. "In 2009 we saw used car volumes [i.e., the number of used cars available for public consumption] down a little over 4 percent, year over year. In 2010, they were down 6 percent versus the prior year."

This dearth of used cars is driving their values up, which in turn is driving residuals for new cars higher.

The reason used cars are in short supply is largely because automakers tightened production output over the past several years to brace for the economic downturn.

View Slideshow:  2011 Best New Car Resale Values

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Chevy's New Colorado Pickup Revealed

By Dale Jewett of AutoWeek

Chevrolet's next-generation midsize pickup is a bit larger, with just a hint of the departed Avalanche, based on a concept truck revealed on Monday ahead of its debut at the Bangkok Motor Show.

The new Chevy Colorado goes on sale in Thailand later this year, so the concept is right-hand drive. But the development program is for a global vehicle, so we're likely to see many elements from the Thailand truck show up on the U.S. version of the Colorado and its GMC counterpart, the Canyon.

Watch Video:  2010 Chevrolet Colorado

The show Colorado is a two-door with an extended cab and all-wheel drive. Under the hood is a 2.8-liter turbodiesel, which might not make it to the U.S. version. The show truck rolls on 20-inch wheels.

And here's the Avalanche shoutout — a body-color hoop frames the back of the cabin and flows into the truck bed. The bed is covered by a body-color hard tonneau. A full-width LED taillight unit runs across the back.

The interior gets a Chevy-heritage dual-cockpit design. The instrument panel includes a seven-inch LCD screen forcontrolling audio, navigation and hands-free phone functions.

Compare: Chevrolet Colorado vs. Toyota Tacoma vs. Nissan Frontier

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10 Car-Selling Don'ts

Like fall, spring is a traditional new-car season. But before most people can buy a shiny vehicle just off the production line, they must first sell the outmoded one sitting in their driveway. And that can be easier said than done. Not everyone is familiar with the subtleties of selling a car, truck or SUV. If you're not careful, it can be little more than an opportunity to lose an awful lot of money. Even seasoned pros make costly mistakes. Here are 10 things not to do if you want to get the most money from what you're selling, no matter the car or the circumstances.

Bing: Selling Your Car

No matter how friendly the salesperson or how much money you spend, one thing is for sure: The dealer will never give you what your used car is worth. Commercial resale margins for used cars are notoriously thin, and it's always in the dealer's best interest to lowball you, even if it decreases the chances of a sale. You'll almost always get more on the open market. The only exception is if you're fabulously wealthy and don't mind giving up thousands of dollars for the sake of convenience.

Read:  MSN Autos Top Value Picks

It may sound obvious, but a clean car is easier to sell than a dirty one. The logic is simple: People like buying new things, and few people want someone else's lived-in, worn-out garbage. We're not just talking a simple wash and wax here, either. Go for the works: paint cleaning and polishing, interior shampooing, the works. If you do it yourself, it's free — that is, pure profit — and if you pay someone, it's rarely more than $100. Either way, presenting a clean car makes it easier to convince people that your vehicle is worth what you claim it is.

Read:  Keeping Up Appearances

This one is a personal choice. Some people sell their cars with a laundry list of needs, while others fix everything under the sun before moving on. The key, however, is moderation. No one wants to buy a car and immediately send it to the mechanic, but you shouldn't go overboard. Err on the side of safety and driver enjoyment, but don't spend money on things few people will notice, like early filter replacements or unnecessary fluid flushes. When in doubt, ask your mechanic.

Read:  Mechanic Mishaps

The old saw holds that the three most important words in real estate are location, location, location. In car sales, it's advertising, advertising, advertising. Take time composing your ad. Avoid listing in little-read places like your local newspaper's classified ads. If you're selling a special-interest model, seek out enthusiast forums, whether in print or on the Internet, and run picture-heavy listings. Build an online photo gallery and include the link with every ad. The key is remembering that somewhere out there, someone desperately wants your car. You may just have to work to find that buyer.

MSN Autos: Used Car Research Tools

These days, most private used-car sales take place on the Internet. The Internet is a visual medium, so it makes sense to cater to people's curiosity: Photograph your car thoroughly, and shoot more pictures than you think you need. If you don't have the camera skills to make your car look good, ask a friend who does. The goal here is to answer a potential buyer's questions before he sees the car in person, and to eliminate wasting everyone's time.

Bing Images: Used Cars

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Quake Delays Launch of Prius Wagon

By Hans Greimel of AutoWeek

Toyota Motor Corp. has delayed the Japan launch of its new wagon-style Prius wagon in the wake of the parts shortage triggered by this month's earthquake.

The company had planned to start selling the car in Japan by the end of April. But that date has been pushed back, spokeswoman Mieko Iwasaki said.

She was unable to say when the new launch date would be. But the setback isn't expected to affect the car's arrival in the United States and Europe later this year, Iwasaki said.

Read:  Quake Hits US Output, Supply

The delay makes the Prius wagon among the first new model launches to be thrown off track by the March 11 earthquake. Toyota cited the company's production shutdown, disarray in Japan's automotive supply chain and damage to its local dealer networks as reasons for the move.

Toyota is planning two versions of the Prius wagon: A two-row five-seater for the United States and a three-row seven-seater for Europe. Japan is expected to get both variants.

Toyota has shut down all 18 domestic assembly plants through at least March 26. Many parts makers are still struggling to come back online after being damaged in the quake or are having trouble delivering parts due to transportation snarls.

Read:  Prius V: Toyota Goes Even 'Greener'

Among the damaged plants is a key factory supplying batteries for Toyota hybrid vehicles, including the Prius. The plant, operated by Primearth EV Energy Co. in quake-stricken Miyagi prefecture, can supply enough nickel-metal hydride battery packs for 300,000 cars a year.

That accounts for about 27 percent of Toyota's battery capacity. Primearth, a joint venture between Toyota and Panasonic, has two plants in central Japan that supply additional batteries.

Those plants, located in Shizuoka prefecture between Tokyo and Nagoya, are operating.

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Edo Performance expanding service to cover standalone ECU service, Aim Dash and Datalogging

We are glad to welcome Mitch Pederson to the Edo Performance team. Mitch is the premier tuner of stand-alone engine management systems in SoCal and he will be handling the tuning and installation of:

- AEM EMS (Subaru STI Box), custom application, Vipec, Motec systems

- AiM Dash and Datalogging

- Sensor Management (MAP, Brake Pressure, Temp, Shock Pots, etc)

- Track Side Data Analysis

Mitch brings more than 10 years of applied engineering and tuning experience to the team. We will be posting more of his tuning videos here at EDO!

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 20th, 2011 at 11:20 am and is filed under Tuning. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe — Review

Between looks and performance, Cadillac’s new coupe has what it takes to lure new customers. It rides and handles well and, has plenty of power, and when it hits the road, it will be the hot new thing. The CTS may not have quite the pedigree of the BMW 3-Series, but with this new coupe, the gap is closing.

Any automaker that wants to sell a coupe in today's highly competitive market has to get it right from the get-go, stirring the passions of potential customers by creating a car that looks great and performs well. Cadillac's new CTS coupe does just that. It is a virtual copy of the slick-looking concept car that wowed attendees at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And, as we discovered on a recent drive, it handles like a champ.

Model Lineup
The 2011 Cadillac CTS coupe is offered in three trim levels, each with rear- or all-wheel drive. The base version comes standard with vinyl upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, OnStar with one-year subscription, a tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and climate controls, 10-way power adjustable front seats, a split-folding rear seat, keyless access and starting, a Bose AM/FM radio with 6-disc CD changer, XM Satellite Radio, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic headlights, fog lights, sport suspension, a limited-slip differential and P235/50VR18 tires on alloy wheels.

In Performance Collection trim, which adds $4,440, the CTS coupe gets leather upholstery, adaptive xenon headlights that point into turns, remote starting, heated front seats, memory for the driver's seat and mirrors, an iPod adapter, a Bluetooth wireless cell phone link, a universal garage door opener and a Bose 5.1 surround-sound audio system with a USB port and a hard drive.

Premium Collection trim adds $8,945 to the base price and comes with interior ambient lighting, a rearview camera, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated power tilt/telescoping steering wheel with memory, wood trim, a sunroof, a navigation system and the Bose surround-sound system.

Standard safety equipment includes dual front airbags, front side airbags, side-curtain airbags, a tire-pressure monitor, active front head restraints, anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist, traction control, electronic stability control and rear park assist.

Under the Hood
Initially, the CTS coupe is offered with only one engine: General Motors' direct-injected 3.6-liter V6. The engine makes 304 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission, the later with manual shift capability. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway with the manual and 18 mpg/27 mpg with the automatic. Due later in the model year is the CTS-V coupe, which will come with the same 556-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 as in the CTS-V sedan.

Inner Space
Inside, the CTS coupe is very much like its sedan and wagon siblings, and it's one of the sharpest in the General Motors portfolio. The attractive dashboard features hand-sewn accents on the instrument panel, doors and center console. The top of the dashboard is black, so it has a 2-tone look if any color other than black is chosen for the upholstery. Wood and chrome trim add to the decidedly high-end look.

The available navigation system pops up from the top of the center stack. It comes with a 40-gigabyte hard drive with space for music storage. It also has a flash drive that allows pausing and rewinding of radio stations. That's a cool feature for those of us who have grown accustomed to DVRs. The controls are concentrated in a tight bunch on the center stack, and it will take owners a while to get used to the positions of the various buttons.

Front-seat occupants have plenty of legroom, though headroom can be compromised by the available sunroof. Plenty of seat and steering-wheel adjustments allow most drivers to tailor a natural driving position, but like other CTS iterations the seats are overly hard, detracting from comfort on long trips. Fourteen-way adjustable Recaro bucket seats are offered to add to the coupe's sporty appeal.

The penalty for the coupe body style comes in rear headroom and trunk space. While there is just as much rear legroom as in the sedan, the low roof and fast rear window line make the 2-passenger rear seat habitable only by children or shorter adults. While the trunk is fairly useful, it's a bit small. It has only 10.9 cubic feet of cargo room, but the split-folding rear seat opens up for considerably more space.

On the Road
Cadillac is going after big names with the CTS coupe, including the Audi A5, Infiniti G37 coupe and, most pointedly, the BMW 335i coupe. With that kind of competition, the CTS coupe had better handle well. The good news is that this two-door delivers, offering even better handling than its already accomplished four-door counterpart.

Compared with the sedan, the coupe has a 2-inch wider rear track (the distance between the rear wheels), increased rear suspension stiffness and additional structural stiffness in the roof, rocker panels and center pillars. All this creates more torsional stiffness than the sedan and helps keep the car planted securely to the pavement.

After spending some time at the helm, we can honestly say this coupe is a pleasure to drive. The car responds willingly to driver inputs. It transitions well in quick changes of direction, takes a nice set in turns and tracks through them better than the sedan. The available 19-inch summer tires aid grip, but they'll need to be changed in the winter. Cornering is impressively flat, and the steering is fairly quick and communicative, if a bit light in the driver's hands. The brakes are strong and easy to modulate.

Cadillac has achieved a fine balance between a smooth ride and sporty handling; often the two are mutually exclusive. With a softer front suspension than the sedan, the coupe actually handles bumps better. The rear is stiffer, though, so sharp ruts can pound through in the back.

The direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 is the same engine that powers the CTS sedan and Chevy Camaro. It delivers willing power in any situation; it launches well, accelerates quickly from 30 to 50 mph and has plenty of passing punch. Cadillac is not publishing a zero-to-60 mph time, but we estimate that it will make the run in less than six seconds.

Our one complaint involves the exhaust note. It is too docile. We'd like a bit more burble, which one might expect in an American coupe.

Cadillac didn't make the 6-speed manual transmission available for testing, but the automatic is well-matched with the V6. It responds quickly and offers manual shifting capability through the shifter or a pair of steering-wheel buttons. We like the fact that the manual shifts can be performed at any time, whether you're in Drive or Sport mode, but we're not happy with the steering-wheel buttons. These plastic buttons, on the back of the steering wheel, are hard to reach during performance driving, and they just seem like an afterthought. A pair of metal shift paddles would be much more sporting.

Right for You?
Coupes are for singles or couples who want to be stylish and drive something different. On these counts, the CTS coupe certainly fits the bill. Not only does it have the looks to turn heads, it's a blast to drive, with handling that rivals German competitors. We'd like to see a couple more sporty touches, like a rumbling exhaust note and proper steering-wheel shift paddles. The CTS coupe can fit four in a pinch. The small rear seat will fit two kids, but they won't be easy to buckle in and even they will lack headroom if they are teenagers.

Kirk Bell has served as the associate publisher for Consumer Guide Automotive and editor of Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine. A Midwest native, Bell brings 18 years of automotive journalism experience to MSN, andcurrently contributes to JDPower.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.

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Gas Mileage Myths

By Jim Motavalli of The Daily Green

Gas price sign

Do Americans care about fuel economy as the average price for a gallon of gasoline hovers at $3.50 and tops $4 in some parts of the country? You bet they do, though they also have a fair number of misconceptions about how to squeeze a few more miles out of every drop.

The Consumer Federation of America's most recent survey says that if we had a 50 mile-per-gallon car fleet today, we'd save more oil than there the entire proven reserves in the entire Gulf of Mexico. And people care about that. According to Jack Gillis, author of The Car Book and a CFA spokesman, 87 percent of respondents said it is "important that the country reduce its consumption of oil," and 54 percent said it is "very important."

The Most Fuel-Efficient 2011 Cars

An amazing 65 percent support a mandated transition to a 50-mpg fuel economy standard by 2025-a figure that presumably includes even some Tea Party supporters. That's a tough standard, some 15 mpg better than the ambitious goal set by the Obama Administration (35 mpg by 2016). (Though the Prius, the most fuel-efficient car on the road, gets 50 mpg today.)

8 Facts and Myths About Warming Up Your Car in Winter

"The expectations of American consumers are reasonable and achievable," Gillis said in a conference call." He said that using such available and on-the-shelf technologies as cylinder deactivation and engine cutoff when stopped (the so-called "mild hybrid" popular in Europe) we could make five to 10 percent economy improvements.

10 No-Brainer Ways to Save Money on Gas

CFA says that Asian carmakers, compared to the U.S. competition, are offering twice as many vehicles with 30 mpg or better. "It's shocking that so few of today's cars get more than 30 mpg," he said. I agree. I'm test-driving a $17,000 Hyundai Elantra Blue that gets 35 mpg on the highway, and that kind of economy is routine for Asian carmakers.

Mark Cooper, CFA's research director, said that in five years of the group's polling, the public's views have stayed remarkably consistent: They want less dependence on Middle Eastern oil and higher fuel-economy standards.

7 New Electric Cars Available in 2011

Cooper pointed out that Gulf oil is a big player when it comes to U.S. reserves, but is "inconsequential" in terms of world supply. The U.S. has just three percent of world oil, though most people think we have a much bigger piece of the pie. When informed of this unpleasant fact, Cooper said, the percentage that thinks it's "very important" to reduce oil dependence goes up significantly (from 54 percent to 68).

People care about fuel economy, but they're misinformed about how to actually achieve it. The federal government's fueleconomy.gov site (very useful to check cars' mpg) just published the "Top Ten Misconceptions about Fuel Economy." Here are a few (the ones I like).

7 Of the Best Fuel-Efficient SUV Crossovers

It takes more fuel to start a vehicle than it does to let it idle.
People are really confused about this one, and will leave a car idling for half an hour rather than turn it off and restart. Some kids I know started an anti-idling campaign in the suburbs and are shaming parents into shutting down their cars. Idling uses a quarter to a half gallon of fuel in an hour (costing you one to two cents a minute). Unless you're stalled in traffic, turn off the car when stopped for more a few minutes.

Vehicles need to be warmed up before they're driven.
Pshaw. That is a long-outdated notion. Today's cars are fine being driven off seconds after they're started.

Click to enlarge picture

With the proper maintenance a 10- or 15-year-old car such as this 2000 Cadillac Seville should have like-new mileage.

As a vehicle ages, its fuel economy decreases significantly.
Not true. As long as it's maintained, a 10- or 15-year-old car should have like-new mileage. The key thing is maintenance: An out-of-tune car will definitely start to decline mileage-wise.

Replacing your air filter helps your car run efficiently.
Another outdated claim, dating back to the pre-1976 carburetor days. Fuel-injection engines don't get economy benefits from a clean air filter.

Aftermarket additives and devices can dramatically improve your fuel economy.
As readers of my story on The Blade recall, there's not much evidence that these "miracle products" do much more than drain your wallet. Both the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Reports have weighed in on this. There are no top-secret 100-mpg bolt-ons out there.

Using premium fuel improves fuel economy.
You might as well write a check to BP if you believe this. Only use premium if your car specifies it.

Content provided by The Daily Green

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Imports @ UCI 2011 Car Show

This past weekend we heard UCI’s (University of California, Irvine) car club “Imports@UCI” was holding their 5th annual car show!

UCI has always had a great import car culture! Back in early 2000 to 2004 we’d often meet at UCI with our groups of Honda’s, Acura’s, and BMW’s.  Now it’s 2011, 7 years since I’ve last been to any UCI event or meet, I figured there had to be much change to UCI’s car culture.  To my delight there was more then the usual Honda’s, Acura’s, and BMW’s.  There was lots of friendly people and an all around good time vibe going.

Despite the weather there was a great turnout!  Lots of awesome cars, great sponsors, free food, free nos, the ladies from Drifting Pretty, and much more!

We’d like the thank Imports@UCI for putting together a great event.

Can’t wait for UCI’s next car show ^_^!

Check out more pictures @ EDO Performance’s Facebook.

Don’t forget to “Like” us!

Tags: car meet, domestic, drifting pretty, dtm, import car show, jdm, nos, socal, taiko, UCI

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 26th, 2011 at 1:06 pm and is filed under Meets and Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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2011 Mercedes R-Class — Review

The 2011 R-Class is the most comfortable Mercedes for carrying six or seven passengers, especially if they are adults. It also has plenty of room for cargo, but the price is high and the gasoline engine is not fuel efficient. The diesel engine offers a useful mix of usable power and improved fuel economy; however, it, too, comes at a premium.

The Mercedes-Benz R-Class is a hard vehicle to classify. It has the size of an SUV, the looks of a minivan and the carlike unibody structure of a crossover. But it's not really any of them. It's roomier than your typical crossover, doesn't have sliding side doors like a minivan, and drives like a car, not a wonky SUV.

No matter how you categorize it, though, one fact remains the same: The R-Class has been the roomiest and most comfortable European-made people-mover since it was introduced to the public as a 2006 model year vehicle.

For 2011 Mercedes gave its impressive family hauler a face-lift. But don't worry, it didn't change anything else. The R-Class is still the poshest people-mover on the block.

Model Lineup
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class is offered in two trims, the R350 4MATIC and the R350 BlueTEC 4MATIC. Standard equipment in both iterations includes faux leather upholstery, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats, a 60/40 split-folding second-row seat, an AM/FM stereo with 6-disc CD changer, a universal garage door opener, self-leveling rear air suspension, automatic headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Standard safety equipment consists of dual front airbags, front side airbags, side-curtain airbags for all three rows, a tire-pressure monitor, active front head restraints, rear park assist, anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist, traction control and electronic stability control with trailer stabilization. The R-Class also comes with Mercedes' Pre-Safe system, which activates emergency brake assist to help avoid a potential accident and readies the airbags, seatbelts and even the sunroof for a crash.

Under the Hood
The R350 4MATIC is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the R350 BlueTEC has a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel engine that makes 210 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both engines route their power through a 7-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted manually via a pair of steering-wheel paddles. Fuel economy is rated at 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway for the gasoline engine and 18 mpg/24 mpg for the diesel.

Both versions come standard with Mercedes' 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. In the R-Class, it is a full-time system that sends 45 percent of the power to the front wheels and 55 percent to the rear wheels at all times.

Inner Space
Inside, the R-Class is all about room and comfort. It can be configured to seat four, five, six or seven passengers. The second row can be ordered with a three-passenger bench seat that splits 60/40, or with a pair of bucket seats. A two-passenger third-row seat is optional. The second-row seats offer enough headroom and legroom for even tall passengers, though the middle seat isn't contoured for the best comfort. Many crossovers have useful second-row seats, but few offer a third row that is as comfortable as that in the R-Class. It has enough room to fit a pair of adults without complaint, although the short seat bottoms will limit long-trip comfort. Getting in and out is a breeze, except for the third row, of course.

The R-Class is also about cargo space. Both the second- and third-row seats fold flat to create a large, 85-cubic-foot cargo area — about as much as an Acura MDX or Land Rover LR4. Opening up all that space can be a bit complicated, though. When the second-row buckets and center console are ordered, the console must be removed and stored. Depending on how far back the front seats are set, the second-row headrests may need to be removed. When folded, the third-row seats also hook into the second-row seats, so the second row must be moved into the right position. It all takes about a minute to configure, which isn't that bad, but other crossovers have much easier folding procedures.

For those who want to carry both passengers and cargo, the R-Class has 42.2 cubic feet of cargo space when the third-row seats are folded, which is as much room as a small hatchback. Maxing out passenger capacity limits cargo space to 15.2 cubic feet, which is still as much as a good-size trunk.

Up front, the ambience is typical Mercedes, though a bit downscale from vehicles like the E-Class or S-Class. The standard upholstery is faux leather instead of real leather, but there is burl walnut trim, the new gauges have an attractive watch-face look, and the materials have a solid, soft-touch feel.

Mercedes' COMAND system operates the communications, navigation and entertainment functions. Unlike in other Mercedes cars, there is no central knob. Instead, there's a 5-way controller inconveniently located to the right of the navigation screen on the center stack. Using the COMAND system can be complicated, and reaching across the dashboard will grow tiresome for most drivers.

The R-Class also offers a bevy of entertainment features. An available hard-drive-based navigation system holds up to 4 gigabytes of music files; an iPod interface and SIRIUS Satellite Radio are available; an optional Harman Kardon 7.1 surround-system cranks the tunes; and back-seat occupants can be entertained by DVD screens in the backs of the front headrests. Many of these features are offered in the $4,000 Premium package.

On the Road
From behind the wheel, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class has the traits of a crossover. It drives like a car, with a stable and composed feel. It's not sporty, though, as there is some notable lean in turns and the large size means it needs some time to gather itself in quick changes of direction. Compared with the minivans that buyers may cross-shop it against, though, the R-Class is more composed and easier to maneuver.

In the Mercedes tradition, the ride is smooth, and only the sharpest ruts upset passenger comfort. Steering is light and a little slow but direct, and the brakes are predictable and easy to modulate.

The 3.5-liter gasoline engine provides ready but not excessive power from a stop. Zero to 60 mph arrives in 8 seconds. The engine works fairly well with the 7-speed automatic transmission; shifts are smooth, if a bit tardy when passing punch is needed. Unfortunately, fuel economy is poor. The gas engine's mileage numbers are more of what you'd expect from a V8, not a V6.

If you want better mileage, opt for the 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine. It provides even more willing power from a stop, but midrange and highway response aren't quite as brisk. Zero to 60 mph takes 8.6 seconds. Fuel economy is much higher. Given the savings at the pump, we'd opt for the diesel. Properly equipped, both engines can tow up to 3,000 pounds.

New for 2011 is Blind Spot Assist, which monitors the sides of the vehicle and warns drivers (via lights in the side mirrors) that vehicles are traveling in the blind spots. The system also sounds a warning if the driver signals for a lane change when a vehicle is traveling in that lane. The system works as advertised, but drivers should take care not to rely on it and should pay attention to the lights in the mirrors instead of tuning them out.

Right for You?
If you want European luxury with the ability to transport up to seven people, the Mercedes-Benz R-Class is the roomiest and most versatile vehicle available. But it's pricey and it still lags behind a minivan for the ultimate in useful space. Mercedes doesn't sell many R-Classes in the U.S., and the 2011 update doesn't change the vehicle in any appreciable way. Perhaps if it gave the R-Class sliding side doors, it would be more popular.

(As part of an automaker-sponsored press event, Mercedes-Benz provided MSN with travel and accommodationsto facilitate this report.)

Kirk Bell has served as the associate publisher for Consumer Guide Automotive and editor of Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine. A Midwest native, Bell brings 18 years of automotive journalism experience to MSN, andcurrently contributes to JDPower.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.

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Nissan Takes On Detroit with New Cargo Van

James Tate began a career in automotive writing as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car magazine. Since then, his work has appeared in publications like Car and Driver, Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trend, European Car, Edmunds Inside Line, Kelley Blue Book, Stuff, and specialty publications. When not writing, Tate can be found fantasizing about vintage Porsche 911's.

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The 10 Cheapest Cars to Own

Market price: $14,625
5-Year fuel cost: $7,825
5-Year insurance cost: $5,630
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,593

Depreciation: $8,405
Fees & taxes: $1,139
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,864
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $490
Maintenance: $1,613
Repairs: $1,627

Its design is unmistakably Mazda, but the Mazda2 isn't just a downsized Mazda3. Built on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, this sporty hatch takes corners with ease, and it has a full line of standard safety equipment — ABS, stability and traction control, and six airbags. Mileage is 29 city, 35 highway.

More From Kiplinger.com:
10 Best Cars of the Past Decade

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Who Makes the Best Cars?

By the Editors of Consumer Reports

Honda and Subaru still make the best vehicles overall, but Ford posted the largest gain in the past year, improving in its road test and reliability scores. General Motors and Volvo also improved in both areas. On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz is the only manufacturer whose scores dropped in both measures.

Our automaker report cards reflect the performance, comfort, utility, and reliability of more than 270 vehicles that we've recently tested. Here are other highlights from this year's analysis:

Honda, Subaru, and Toyota are the top three automakers for the third year in a row. Most of their vehicles do well in our tests and are relatively trouble-free.Newer GM models have performed well in our tests, but the company still fields a few lackluster cars that drag down its overall score. Reliability has improved, but it's still not stellar.Chrysler came in last, with the lowest average test score by far. But the company, now run by Italian automaker Fiat, is currently overhauling its lineup. Newer models, such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Ram have done better in our tests than older models, and we're encouraged by our early looks at upcoming redesigns. Chrysler's reliability needs to improve for the automaker to be competitive.European cars perform well in our tests, but many have confusing controls and inconsistent reliability. Volvo is the only European make with an above-average reliability score.

Each automaker's overall score is based on a composite of road test and predicted-reliability scores for all of its models that we've tested. The road tests comprise more than 50 tests we perform, covering performance, safety, fuel economy, comfort, and convenience. Reliability scores come from our Annual Auto Survey. We also show the percentage of each carmaker's tested vehicles that we recommend. We revised our methodology this year, now giving equal weight to reliability and test scores. Previously, test scores carried more weight. So the overall scores are not directly comparable with last year. We also had insufficient data on one brand we included last year, Mitsubishi.

Asian Makes Lead the Pack
Honda, including its Acura division, has had the best reliability record of any manufacturer and has made mostly good to outstanding vehicles. The subcompact Fit, midsized Accord, and Acura MDX SUV have been at or near the top of their categories for years. In fact, no Honda product scores less than average in reliability. But some new Hondas have been unimpressive, including the CR-Z and Insight hybrids, which didn't score well enough in our tests to be recommended. The redesigned Odyssey, still our top-ranked minivan, dropped a few points in our testing.

Subaru, which has the highest average road-test score, makes only about a half-dozen models, but almost all do well in our road tests and are reliability stalwarts. The Forester is a top-rated small SUV, and the Legacy, a good-performing sedan, has improved with each generation. Only one model, the sporty Impreza WRX, has below-average reliability.

Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models remain solid choices overall, but some newer Toyotas have slipped in interior fit and finish, with the Sienna minivan and Venza wagon being two recent examples. Two Toyotas, the subcompact Yaris and the FJ Cruiser SUV, have shown superb reliability but scored too low in our road tests for us to recommend them.

Hyundai's overall road-test score is a bit higher than last year's and could further improve with the impressive new models we are now testing.

Ford Rules Detroit
Ford has outpaced its crosstown rivals in reliability in recent years. In our road tests, we have been impressed by current Fords such as the Fusion, Flex SUV, and Mustang. Even the new small Fiesta drives nicely. But the Ford Escape and Edge SUVs are nothing special, the large Ford Taurus has limited visibility, and the touch-sensitive controls in some new Fords and Lincolns are difficult to use.

Newer GM vehicles such as the Buick Enclave and LaCrosse, and the Chevrolet Equinox and Traverse, have done well in our road tests and have average reliability. The new Chevrolet Cruze performed well in our tests, but reliability remains to be seen. The below-average reliability of some Cadillac and GMC models hurts the automaker's overall score, as did subpar older models such as the Chevrolet Impala sedan, Colorado pickup, and the outgoing Aveo subcompact.

Europe Is Mixed
If front-seat comfort, fit and finish, and driving dynamics were all that counted, European cars would rule the roost. As it is, subpar reliability hounds some European brands. Volkswagen's brand reliability has improved of late, but Audi's spotty reliability brings the combined automaker's score down. If the new Jetta sedan, with its low-grade interior and mediocre fuel economy, is an indication of where Volkswagen is headed, it's going in the wrong direction. Mercedes-Benz and BMW, with below-average reliability, are near the bottom of our ranking. Their SUVs, especially, had reliability problems, according to our survey, despite being good performers. And although the BMW 1-Series has an excellent road-test score, it is hobbled by terrible reliability.

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EDO’s 10th Year Anniversary Celebration

For ten years now, EDO Performance has been bringing the automotive performance community some of the best parts, service and prices. Well now it’s time to celebrate our 10th anniversary open house! EDO Performance would like to invite the Southern California automotive performance community to come by our shop in Huntington Beach for a full day of fun! Although we specialize mostly in Subaru, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, we would like to extend this invitation to cars of all makes and models.

The open house will be on Saturday, April 30th at our shop in Huntington Beach, located at 16182 Gothard Street, Unit P. We will be dedicating the entire parking lot to the event and filling it with plenty of activities!
* Event begins at 10am to 3pm
* FREE 1 raffle ticket with flyer present at the registration booth (click here to print the flyer)
* Food and refreshments (Hot dogs, chips and drinks for everyone!)
* Music plays by DJ Robert
* Hot models and photography session
* Fun games
* Vendor Booths and Displays
* Raffles with lots of prizes to giveaway
* Free installations with purchase
* Fender roller rental

On that day, we will be giving a great discount for part purchase and giving out lots of EDO T-shirts & gifts!

So come and join us for a full day of fun to celebrate EDO’s 10th anniversary. Hope to see you all there!

Tags: 10th Year Anniversary, EDO Performance

This entry was posted on Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 1:33 pm and is filed under Meets and Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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