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Saturday, November 27, 2010
First Test: 2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo
First Drive: 2011 Jaguar XF 3.0 Diesel S Portfolio
Refreshing or Revolting: 2011 Chrysler 200
One of the most ridiculed sedans in the U.S. market has been refreshed: the 2010 Chrysler Sebring.
Now called the 200, the 2011 Chrysler does as much as the automaker could possibly accomplish with just a refresh. The awkward proportions and short trunk lid remain, but some might argue the 200 is classier than the Sebring four-door it replaces.
The changes start in front, where nearly everything appears new. The headlights incorporate an LED light pipe usually reserved for more expensive vehicles. The grille isn't significantly different than before, though the foglight surrounds have a chrome strip and look cleaner. The hood, rearview mirrors, and 18-inch wheels are all new.
As long as you glance at the 200 from a straight-on front or rear view, the changes transform the Sebring. Jaguar XF-like LED taillights are joined by a chrome trim piece. Dual exhaust outlets are offered while a black bumper trim adds contrast to this 200's silver paint.
The quality of interior materials has been improved with the transition to the 200 nameplate. The layout of the center stack remains the same, but with new trim pieces and air vents. On the new steering wheel and throughout the interior, it appears the tortoise shell accents are gone.
What do you think about the 2011 Chrysler 200? Could Chrysler have done better with this refresh?
Last week, the 2011 Toyota Corolla was Refreshing/Revolting's featured car.
Photo order from top to bottom: 2011 Chrysler 200 front view, 2010 Chrysler Sebring front view, 2011 Chrysler 200 rear view, 2010 Chrysler Sebring rear view, 2011 Chrysler 200 interior, 2010 Chrysler Sebring interior.
First Test: 2010 Acura TSX Manual
MSRP: $29,310 - $34,850 More Details & Photos Body Style: SedanSum Up: V-6 BETTER BUY THAN TL. Motor Trend Rating:
This one is very close to what a modern sporty car should be. Just take 5-10 feet off the braking distance, 1-2 better MPG's and a pretty face.
See, Chrysler? It isn't too difficult to build a smallish sport sedan. MSIDUDE (11/11/10 01:56 PM)
The previous generation was better. arcustelum (11/11/10 02:09 PM)
i would like to see a type r with the 3.7 v6 making 7200rpm 310hp and ShAWD mjomaha (11/11/10 02:33 PM)
Like my Kizashi SLS way better then the TSX. It handles better and feels just as quick oh and looks way better and cost $4000 less. I think the Kizashi is a big win! valdaviper1 (11/11/10 02:36 PM)
this looks so bland..like a current gen(non 2011) kia optima..I wish they had better designers.. dpc166 (11/11/10 02:49 PM)
really? they just got around to testing a 2010? aren't the 2011's out already? it sucks Acura made the motors eat 91 octane because I would have bought one, but they turned my money away. I'm not spending 3.20 a gallon to get 23mpg. I'll buy a BMW if I wanted premium fuel. countrycoach (11/11/10 02:58 PM)
So it's ok for this car to not be fast in a straight line, but not ok for the GS? burtburt (11/11/10 03:11 PM)
I like this more than any other Honda/Acura on the market, and I hope they sell the wagon with the 6 spd. here in America. Also, countrycoach, while I do agree that they have been giving the Regal/GS a hard time, thats a forced induction car that marketed hard as a sports car. KTfast (11/11/10 03:49 PM)
I like it! It's the best looking of the current crop of Acuras, but I'm still not too sure if it looks better then the first gen though. himoses (11/11/10 03:57 PM)
I also like the looks, even if it is a little bland. It's like the Accord of yesteryear before it got all fat and bloated with random sheet metal creases and crapulent back ends. I wonder if the seats in this are better than the Accord. Is it just a slightly better performing Accord or what? This review kind of left me wanting more. uragan (11/11/10 01:54 PM)
This one is very close to what a modern sporty car should be. Just take 5-10 feet off the braking distance, 1-2 better MPG's and a pretty face.
See, Chrysler? It isn't too difficult to build a smallish sport sedan. MSIDUDE (11/11/10 01:56 PM)
The previous generation was better. arcustelum (11/11/10 02:09 PM)
i would like to see a type r with the 3.7 v6 making 7200rpm 310hp and ShAWD mjomaha (11/11/10 02:33 PM)
Like my Kizashi SLS way better then the TSX. It handles better and feels just as quick oh and looks way better and cost $4000 less. I think the Kizashi is a big win! valdaviper1 (11/11/10 02:36 PM)
this looks so bland..like a current gen(non 2011) kia optima..I wish they had better designers.. dpc166 (11/11/10 02:49 PM)
really? they just got around to testing a 2010? aren't the 2011's out already? it sucks Acura made the motors eat 91 octane because I would have bought one, but they turned my money away. I'm not spending 3.20 a gallon to get 23mpg. I'll buy a BMW if I wanted premium fuel. countrycoach (11/11/10 02:58 PM)
So it's ok for this car to not be fast in a straight line, but not ok for the GS? burtburt (11/11/10 03:11 PM)
I like this more than any other Honda/Acura on the market, and I hope they sell the wagon with the 6 spd. here in America. Also, countrycoach, while I do agree that they have been giving the Regal/GS a hard time, thats a forced induction car that marketed hard as a sports car. KTfast (11/11/10 03:49 PM)
I like it! It's the best looking of the current crop of Acuras, but I'm still not too sure if it looks better then the first gen though. himoses (11/11/10 03:57 PM)
I also like the looks, even if it is a little bland. It's like the Accord of yesteryear before it got all fat and bloated with random sheet metal creases and crapulent back ends. I wonder if the seats in this are better than the Accord. Is it just a slightly better performing Accord or what? This review kind of left me wanting more. LexuslvrGmlvr (11/11/10 04:06 PM)
I'm pretty sure they made this test just to taunt the Buick Regal in some way form or fashion. cp_09malibuV6 (11/11/10 04:07 PM)
This and the Accord Coupe are Honda's two best models. They still look great and offer excellent driving dynamics. I hope their next iterations don't screw with this formula. mcd0234 (11/11/10 04:10 PM)
Timely review for me at least. I am seriously thinking about getting one of these. I actually don't mind the grill on this model - that doesn't mean I love it though. Most importantly, at around $33k I get a very well equipped car that is fun to drive as far as price compatible sedans go and is available with a manual. Of course, I narrowed down my choices to cars that are available with a manual so it severely limited my choices, regardless I am leaning this way when I buy my new daily driver in Jan (also looking at 1 series though too as I have configured it to about $35k, yet the lease price is about $40 less per month even with it being $2k more than this TSX). LexuslvrGmlvr (11/11/10 04:14 PM)
@countrycoach well to be sort of fair this is simply the base model and not the top of the line full out sports sedan that the GS is gunning for. chrisfam (11/11/10 04:41 PM)
Yep, they just should have done a Buick Regal vs Acura TSX article. I'm sure there was a reason to review this car so close to the Regal review. I wouldn't buy either, too slow. unoo (11/11/10 05:15 PM)
@ arcustelum
the point of the TSX was to have a fun, sporty, sedan with a 4 cylinder engine. I think the first gen TSX was a great car. A turbo would have been a better fit then the v6. If Hyundai can make a 274hp 2.0L turbo then Acura should have no problem making a 300hp 2.4L turbo. SH-AWD would be a nice feature to reduct torque steer with the added power but it would add weight to an already chubby car. Viccus (11/11/10 05:26 PM)
Is this an advertisement? What a dumb article about an ugly car with absolutely nothing new or revolutionary!
Waste of my time! rkhamseh (11/11/10 05:34 PM)
@countrycoach: To be fair, the GS also has a turbocharged motor putting down 270+ with a ton of torque. And to follow up with LexuslvrGmlvr said, this Acura is not gunning for a top spot. subie_rulzz (11/11/10 06:11 PM)
maxima does everything better, I mean honestly ..... v8vader (11/11/10 06:26 PM)
skid pad seems low for a sporting car. a turbo and awd for the wagon, please- then i'll take another look. lasvegascolonel (11/11/10 06:52 PM)
Like others have said, it is bland styling and not overly powerful, but U.S. manufacturers could learn a thing or two and offer American sedans with manuals...there are a few, buy very few. I like Nissan products and bought an Infiniti 7 speed auto for my wife, but I drove the 6 speed manual coupe and it was great. I guess any vehicle with a stick is going to be more fun than the same vehicle with an automatic. monsterized (11/11/10 07:41 PM)
I just worried about how next-gen TSX would be. What a relief!! I've just focused in a MDX-based small sedan, but I was wrong. TSX looks excellent. I want to drive it for felling high, later I´ll picture installing some König wheels and apply a special pearlescent color.. WOO HOO!! MrIncognito (11/11/10 08:59 PM)
Regarding the GS, the Acura's power band is not optimized for drag racing, so 0-60 times won't tell the whole story (7000 RPM peak HP). A revvy engine with a great transmission is a very fun combination. Still the Acura beats the standard CXL to 60 by half a second depite being down all the HP, so it's not likely that the heavier Buick will have too much of an advantage in actual performance.
Even if the performance is similar, there's a big difference in the fun to drive factor, which is why the Acura gets more energetic reviews.
I would love to see a type-S, but I would prefer a turbo 4 - get the power to ~230 HP and torque up to 200 lb-ft and it should feel a lot quicker without causing too many torque steer problems for the FWD. 737Driver (11/11/10 09:06 PM)
In terms of looks alone...
MSIDUDE is correct...the last generation TSX was much nicer than this one (classy and refined...heck, they still look good!). You've managed to make this current TSX "Camry-like". Somehow, you found a way to make this car bland. Absolutely amazing.
Note to Acura: Your vehicles were once all great looking...now they're just plain ugly and/or bland. You've lost your edge...really too bad... LT1Boy (11/12/10 12:00 AM)
Needs more power. acuras4ever (11/12/10 01:58 AM)
honda civic
Auto show season is back, and Honda is hitting the road. First stop, L.A.(11/19/10), then Detroit (1/10/11), then NYC (4/22/11). Be sure to tune in, things could get interesting.
that's honda civic's status on facebook now! ,,, could that mean that honda will launch the new civic in LA motor show???! i hope so! syj (11/12/10 05:38 AM)
This speed demon crushes the Regal- Acura knows how to make a REAL sports sedan.
Since when is 130ft a good stopping distance for a 3300lb sports sedan? Wow. kego53 (11/12/10 06:01 AM)
I like this car. Instead of the v6 they should put a performance version of their turbo charged 4 cylinder in it and offer it as an R series in both sedan and wagon iterations.
Having had a german vehicle, which was very expensive to maintain after 70k miles I welcome the Honda/Acura reliability factor in this quotient gladly. Even so, 7 sec. to 60 and a 15 sec. quarter mile is not shabby. Its more than quick enough for the majority of American drivers who in fact still haven't found the turn signal lever in their cars and who insist on "farding" while driving and at stop lights totally ignoring the change to green and who insist on blocking the left "passing" lane on our interstates. Why should such self centered, egotistical bums be allowed to drive anything other than a Yugo? gxpbecker (11/12/10 06:29 AM)
I cant say I like what Acura did with the new Noses of thier lineup. Even if this car had the 300+hp V6 the bland look of it will just suck all the excitment out. I love the previous gen looks, but i just cant give my heart to the new ones, esp with the competition. skyguy (11/12/10 06:41 AM)
Nice job, Honda. Too bad it requires premium fuel and gets mediocre mileage. zr2s10 (11/12/10 08:14 AM)
If I were to get one of these (which I can't) I would take that beaver tooth off the front, paint it to match the rest of the grill and put it back on. That would make a world of difference. And does this offer a v6? If not I would never buy one, it's against my right foot religion. I'm already doing penance for the only 4 cylinder I've owned.... Which I got rid of after 3 months BTW. Toooooooooo Sloooooooowwwwwwwwwwww. 2 more mpg was not worth the lack of low end grunt. lions208487 (11/12/10 09:58 AM)
This car certainly looks better in person than in any photo, and I would love to see Honda have SHaWD as an option on their V6 model.
My fav Acura's are the NSX (or course), CL Type R, and Integra Type R. Why Acura strayed so far away from those designes is beyond me, but I wish they would add some smoother yet edgy design back into their upcomming line up. Would love to see the CL make a comeback. true_enthusiast (11/12/10 12:51 PM)
Honda needs to just stop making cars. They suck at it.
I remember the good old days... *sigh* 92Vectra1.6i (11/12/10 02:32 PM)
The ONLY current Acura that I have any desire for. Thank God it hasn't been ruined although I'm sure a butt ugly replacement is on a Honda drawing board !! I hope its' debut is a long way off !! hilltoons (11/12/10 06:38 PM)
Still a nice car, but the original generation (2004-08) was much better. Lighter, better looking inside and out and no steering numbness.
There's a reason the first generation TSX won 3 Car And Driver "10 Best Cars in the World" Awards. It was great. Buy one Certified Pre-Owned! auto-enthu (11/13/10 12:17 AM)
Nice car.
I'd like to see SHAWD available on TSX, though. jdlinder1 (11/13/10 09:18 AM)
country coach -- this N/A engine is .5 secs faster to 60 than the turbo CXL! there is something wrong with that. stop being such a fanboy Joe_Skeptical (11/13/10 10:11 AM)
Why test the 2010 model just as the 2011 models are about to be released? Syncho (11/13/10 08:17 PM)
HONDA JUST DOES NOT GET IT. They make durable, high performing cars that are efficient--but they are to put it kindly--not very attractive.
They need to find a designer with TALENT that can design a car that can looks as well as it runs.
A good designer could put Honda at the top of the heep. They would have affordable, durable cars that LOOD GOOD. Right now they have cars that are affordable and durable--but not attractive.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thread of the Day: What's the Most Heated Automotive Rivalry in History?
Thanks to the magic of the World Wide Web, enthusiasts around the globe are free to argue, err, conduct virtual discussions and debates about every topic imaginable. Discussions on the great auto rivalries of the world merely moved from bars, garages, and snail mail to the computer screen. In your eyes, what's the most heated automotive rivalry of all time?
Our Thread of the Day starter began his thread with three picks: "Mustang vs. Camaro," "Ferrari vs. Lamborghini," and "Mercedes-Benz vs. BMW." Give your top rivalry pick in the comments section below.
Thanks to MSIDUDE for today's TOTD!
Read More... [Source: Automotive News & Auto Blog | Car Industry News & Blogs ~ Wide Open Throttle - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]
Revised Opel Corsa Gets Astra-Like Face, Thrifty Diesel Option
General Motors introduced a significantly revised Opel and Vauxhall Corsa small car earlier this year, updating everything but its exterior appearance. Now, for the 2011 model year, designers have finished the job, gifting the compact hatchback a few small cosmetic tweaks.
Although GM is keen to talk up the new cosmetic cues, the new Corsa is quite similar to the old fourth-generation Corsa, which launched in 2006. Arguably, the biggest difference from the previous car lies with the front fascia, which has been tweaked to resemble that of the larger Astra. The main grille itself is shorter and wider, as is the the lower section of the bumper. Fog lamp nacelles have been crafted in a vertical fashion, and the headlamps now sport projector lenses, dark surrounds, and a distinct lower character line.
Out back, revisions are much more subtle than those applied up front. Designers applied minor tweaks to the Corsa's hatchback, shrinking its rear spoiler and altering the shape of the rear window opening. Another revision involves the rear bumper, which now hides the exhaust tip and muffler from view.
Inside, the Corsa's fabrics and materials have been revised, but the majority of the cabin design is carried over from the 2010 model. A new, textured dashboard is also thorwn in, and can be ordered in three different colors to help add a bit of contrast within the interior. Buyers can also opt for a new touchscreen navigation system, which was previously unavailable in the small, B-segment Corsa model.
While GM updated the Corsa's engine portfolio last year, it did see fit to add yet another option for the 2011 model year. The latest offering is a small, 95-horsepower, 1.3-liter turbodiesel I-4, which is dubbed ecoFlex. True to its green-sounding name, the diesel was designed for optimum fuel efficiency -- paired with a start/stop system and a six-speed manual transaxle, the engine is able to achieve 67 mpg combined on the European test cycle.
Prices have yet to be announced for the revamped 2011 Corsa, but the car is expected to arrive at Opel and Vauxhall dealers across Europe in January 2011.
Source: GM
Read More... [Source: Automotive News & Auto Blog | Car Industry News & Blogs ~ Wide Open Throttle - Posted by 1800autosearch.com]
2012 Mazda5 to Start at $19,990
The 2012 Mazda5 may have received a complete makeover for the new model year, but those renovations aren't shackled with a significant price increase. In fact, MSRP for the mini-minivan starts at $19,990 (including destination), roughly $595 more than the previous 2010 Mazda5.
That figure nets shoppers an entry-level Sport model. No option packages are available, but even base 5s receive the larger 2.5-liter I-4, ABS, stability and traction control, 16-inch aluminum wheels, a six-speaker audio system with an auxiliary input, three-row side curtain air bags, and cruise control. A six-speed manual transmission is standard and available only on the Sport trim, although a five-speed automatic is optional, running buyers roughly $1100.
Mazda5 Touring models, which start at $21,990, receive a glut of additional standard features, despite seeing a price hike of $500. The touring trim throws in features like the five-speed automatic, 17-inch wheels, fog lamps, side sill extensions, rear spoiler, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity at no extra charge. A Moonroof and Audio package throws in Sirius satellite radio, an in-dash six-disc CD changer, and a power moonroof for an extra $1140.
Those features, however, are standard on the 2012 Mazda5 Grand Touring model, which stickers for $24,670. Other standard features include a xenon HID headlamps, automatic headlamp control, heated door mirrors and front seats, leather seating trim, rain-sensing wipers, and leather-trimmed seating.
Despite the 2012 model year connotation, look for the new Mazda5 to arrive at Mazda dealers nationwide in January 2011.
Source: Mazda
Read More... [Source: Automotive News & Auto Blog | Car Industry News & Blogs ~ Wide Open Throttle - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]