Power sells, but the trick is selling the right kind PREVIEW 2012


THE OKANAGAN SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2011


Building and selling cars in today’s eco- nomic climate is one thing. Forcing new tech- nology into the marketplace is quite anoth- er considering the risk-reward scenario. Billions of dollars spent on untested, un- proven and ever-changing markets. Despite the focus on electric cars and other forms of alternative fuel and all the money spent developing it, the simple fact is that if buyers have cheaper and more convenient options - especially when cash and credit are already tight - they’ll take that alternative just about every time.


The budding electric-vehicle market sounds tempting and even exciting, but the vehicles are pricey, don’t go very far on a charge and it can take several hours for a top- up and there’s the bigger question about


ACURA


where to top up when you’re away from home. For the short term, electric cars will be small and limited to short highway jaunts and in-city driving.


More relevant to the masses for the 2012 model year are the obvious fuel-economy strides made on the cars we’re more likely to buy: internal combustion and gas-electric hy- brids that blend gasoline engines with helper electric motors to seriously cut consumption. When it comes to internal combustion, au- tomakers have handled the fuel-economy challenge in four key ways; cutting the flab; going with smaller engines (and bolting on power adders where necessary, such as su- perchargers and turbochargers); adding transmission gears to increase an engine’s mechanical advantage and reduce the revs


Optional engine (hp): 3.5-litre SOHC V6 (280) l/100 km (city/hwy): 9.3/6.2 (I4, MT)


ZDX MDX


Quite likely the coolest extension of the Honda Pilot platform, the seven-passenger MDX is stylish, highly technical and functional, too.SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) is standard in the MDX and is one of the best systems in the business; 300-horsepower V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. It’s without a doubt one of the most stylish “soft-roaders” in its class while also being com- pletely practical, even though its fuel efficien- cy leaves a bit to be desired at 13.2/9.6 (city/highway) l/100 km.The standard all-wheel- drive might have something to do with that, or perhaps the hefty 2,070-kilogram base curb weight. The MDX carries over basically un- changed for the 2012 model year. Base price (incl. destination): $54,600 Base engine (hp): 3.7-litre SOHC V6 (300) l/100 km (city/hwy): 13.2/9.6


RL As the oldest member of Acura, the RL still


shows well even if its styling is not as in-your- face or unique as newer arrivals, including oth- er members from the Acura garage. Even though it runs with the same 3.7-litre 300- horsepower V6 found in other Acuras, includ- ing the lesser TL, The RL’s strong suit is that, as the top model, it comes with pretty much all of Acura’s best technologies. It also rides and drives better. Base price (incl. destination): $66,600 Base engine (hp): 3.7-litre SOHC V8 (300) l/100 km (city/hwy): 12.2/8.2


RDX


In a world that has seemingly gone mad adding turbochargers to engines, Acura is right there with a fancy four-cylinder compact tall wagon that seats five people. The 240-horse- power engine has smooth power delivery with no lag; standard all-wheel-drive gives the RDX plenty of traction on slippery roads and with prospective buyers.


The standard kit includes dual-zone climate control, power windows and door locks, a 360- watt six-disc audio system with XM satellite ra- dio and an MP3/auxiliary input jack. RDX oc- cupants are protected by front-, side- and side- curtain airbags, as well as rollover sensors to better shield passengers. Base price (incl. destination): $42,400 Base engine (hp): 2.3-litre DOHC tur- bocharged I4 (240) l/100 km (city/hwy): 11.7/8.7


TL Based on popularity, it would easy to think of


the TL is Acura’s flagship.It has about the same power as the top-of-the-line RL, much of the same technology and it’s even close to the same size with the same interior volume. And the TL costs $25,000 less. For 2012, Acura’s stylists have taken a scalpel to the car’s contro- versial proboscis, along with conducting nu- merous other modifications throughout the ve- hicle.The new nose is undeniably more attrac- tive and aerodynamic (by 5.4 per cent, claims Acura) and seems more in sync with the rest of the sheetmetal. In back, there’s a new bumper with built-in reflectors along with fresh taillights, trunk-lid trim and exhaust outlets. Changes to the TL’s base and optional power- plants involves swapping out the previous five- speed automatic transmission for a six-speed gear-changer for both the base 280-horsepow- er V6 and optional 305-hp 3.7-litre V6. . Base price (incl. destination): $41,400 Base engine (hp): 3.5-litre DOHC I4 (280) Optional engine (hp): 3.7-litre DOHC V6 (305) l/100 km (city/hwy): 10.4/6.8 (3.5)


TSX


As Acura’s entry model, the TSX is smaller than the TL and is based on the European Honda Accord. As the TSX in North America, it’s sportier than our Honda Accord with sharp- er styling and handling.TSX is a five-passen- ger vehicle with enough width to fit three adult- sized riders in the back. The overall shape is highlighted by aggressive sheetmetal with prominently bulging fenders. Anonymity is clearly becoming a big no-no these days in- side the Honda/Acura design studios.The base 2.4-litre four-cylinder is rated at 201 horsepow- er and torque maxes out at 172 pound-feet. Only the 2.4 TSX sedan offers a six-speed manual transmission as an option (the five- speed auto with paddle shifters is standard). The sedan’s optional 280-horsepower 3.5-litre V6 is only available with the automatic. Base price (incl. destination): $33,800 Base engine (hp): 2.4-litre DOHC I4 (201)


The uniquely positioned ZDX is perfect for sophisticates willing to purchase a vehicle that’s far outside the mainstream and pay a premium for limited utility.That’s also what its direct com- petitors, the BMW X6 and Infiniti FX, have tried to accomplish. Beyond the front doors, the roofline swoops dramatically downward, seam- lessly blending with an elongated hatchback that abruptly folds into the back bumper. The front doors are made coupe-like long, which is intentional since they help mask two smaller rear-seat openings, the door handles of which have been cleverly camouflaged beside the rear-most roof pillar. The roof itself is actually a continuous glass surface extending from the windshield to the farthest edge of the hatch opening. Base price (incl. destination): $56,900 Base engine (hp): 3.7-litre SOHC V8 (300) l/100 km (city/hwy): 12.7/8.8


AUDI A3 Why is it that small cars seem to skimp on


comfort and amenities? Although it doesn’t hold true in Europe, the notion likely extends from the North American bigger-is-better philoso- phy.So, if you’re ready to gives up the bulk but not the comfort, the A3 is a good place to be- gin the search for up-level craftsmanship in a compact package. As such, the standard kit in- cludes 17-inch wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, climate control, leather-wrapped seats and steering wheel, and stability control that helps keep the littlest Audi pointed on its intended path when the roads are slippery. Base price (incl. destination): $35,750 Base engine (hp): 2.0-litre DOHC I4, tur- bocharged (200) Optional engine (hp): 2.0-litre DOHC I4 diesel


(140) l/100 km (city/hwy): 10.4/6.9 (2.0, MT) A4/S4 The thing about Audis, and the A4 in partic-


ular, is the crisp styling, tight proportions and tailored interiors that would please fashion-con- scious Europeans.Easy to use? Its somewhat unnatural operation is another story altogeth- er with scattered buttons and controls and start- up procedure that requires all four limbs to: hang onto the steering wheel; depress the clutch; depress the brake; and press the key fob into the dash (or flip the e-brake switch). Since the platform is based on the architecture developed for the A5 coupe, some shared de- sign details include the gauge cluster and con- trol panel as well as the string of LEDs under- scoring the headlights.The transmissions range from a continuously variable unit in the very base front-drive model to a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic for the all-wheel- drive models.The S4 comes with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed paddle-shift manual. Base price (incl. destination): $39,300; $44,300 (Avant); $54,500 (S4) Base engine (hp): 2.0-litre DOHC I4, tur- bocharged (211, sedan/wagon) Optional engine (hp): 3.0-litre DOHC V6, su- percharged (333, S4) l/100 km (city/hwy): 8.9/6.5 (2.0, FWD)


A5/S5


Shoppers interested in the BMW 3-series coupe or convertible really have no choice but to stop in at the Audi dealership to have a look at the A5. The car is just that good looking. In particular is a wavy beltline that gives the A5 its sumptuous curves, a look more commonly as- sociated with much pricier machinery such as the Jaguar XK-series.Compared to the A5, the sporty S5 looks even more muscular with its own grille and front, side and rear skirts, two dual-tipped exhaust outlets and larger lower air-intake grilles. Under the stylish sheetmet- al, engineers placed the engine closer to the center of the vehicle to create a better front/rear weight balance. Standard features include three-zone air conditioning, power windows, mirrors and locks, rear parking aids and pow- er front driver’s seat. Base price (incl. destination): $48,200 (coupe); $62,000 (S5 coupe); $60,200;(cabri- olet); $70,100 (S5 cabriolet) Base engine (hp): 2.0-litre DOHC I4 (211) Optional engine (hp): 4.2-litre DOHC V8 (354, S5 coupe); 3.0-litre DOHC V6, supercharged (333, S5 Cabrio) l/100 km (city/hwy): 9.5/6.5 (2.0, MT)


A6 (New for 2012!) Audi has retooled its popular A6 sedan to


provide a better looking package and signifi- cantly more room for all aboard.To accomplish the latter, the distance between the front and rear wheels was upped by 7.6 centimetres. Despite this increase, the car’s shortened front and rear bodywork results in about the same overall length as the 2011 version. Another as- pect of the A6’s diet plan is a new body struc- ture, shared with the also-new-for-2012 A7 fast-


on the highway; and new engine technology such as direct fuel injection and start-stop, which shuts off the car when it’s not moving. Each provides incremental gains in fuel econ- omy, but when all are implemented, the gains are worth more than the sum of their parts. And this has become normal business in the car biz, to the point that the money spent developing fuel-saving tech is not generally affecting the price of new vehicles, aside from modest year-over-year increases. We say gen- erally, because the price of entry-level cars is on the rise, ironically due to buyer econom- ics as they downshift into smaller, cheaper and more fuel-efficient cars. But, they’re also dramatically better cars than they were a few years ago, some with spectacular design touches – and sexy sells, every time.


2


The challenge is in the luxury leagues where cutting cylinders and power in the in- terest of fuel economy makes the big pric- etags tough for buyers to swallow, since the industry has conditioned us to believe that more cylinders will cost you more, and in the luxury leagues it can be tens of thousands of dollars more.


So, is high-powered fun a thing of the past? Oddly, there’s quite a bit more fun in a cou- ple of categories as horsepower levels – which are often tied to efficiency improvements–- dramatically climb. The 2012 Camaro ZL1, for example is pegged at 580 horsepower, granted those “fun” examples seem fewer and farther between, even as the average V6 now makes 300 horsepower. In that context, fun is all around us.


Audi A6


back/hatchback, which adopts a greater use of aluminum body panels and suspension com- ponents for a claimed 30-kilogram reduction. Interior styling changes include a stunning wrap-around-style dashboard that deserves to be displayed in a modern-art museum. Base price (incl. destination): $59,300 Base engine (hp): 3.0-litre DOHC V6, super- charged (310)


l/100 km (city/hwy): 11.3/7.4 A7 (New for 2012!)


monitors traffic to the side and rear of the ve- hicle and flashes a light in the appropriate mir- ror when another vehicle enters the driver’s blind spot. Base price (incl. destination): $59,500 Base engine (hp): 3.0-litre DOHC V6, super- charged (280)


Optional engines (hp): 3.0-litre DOHC V6, turbo-diesel (225); 3.0-litre DOHC V6, super- charged (333)


l/100 km (city/hwy): 13.6/9.3 R8


The A7’s proportions and hunkered-down stance are just about perfect from any angle without any sense that the roofline and rear deck were attached as an afterthought, which is the case with some other hatchbacks. It’s a hatchback that looks like a sedan, plain and simple.The A7 owes its existence to the forth- coming Audi A6 sedan that also arrives for 2012. For now, the A7’s sole powerplant is a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 that comes straight from the A6 and produces 310 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque.Audi’s Euro-only 245- horsepower V6 turbo-diesel is not on the menu, but a 4.0-litre V8 will likely be offered as part of the S7 package to arrive later in the model year. Base price (incl. destination): $70,100 Base engine (hp): 3.0-litre DOHC super- charged V6 (310) l/100 km (city/hwy): 11.4/7.4


A8/A8L Even though the second-generation A8 was


growing some grey whiskers, it still set bench- marks for interior quality and luxury. For the 2011 model year, Audi delivered a fitting re- placement for its executive-class limousine, and it begins with an all-aluminum space frame (a skeleton that supports the bolt-on body pan- els) that’s lighter and stiffer.The A8 comes in regular and in an extra-long L model, which adds rear-seat-passenger stretch-out room. Notable is the vehicle’s pneumatic suspension: a computer is always changing the system to best absorb bumps on the road.There are no conventional springs of any kind, and you can even raise the long-wheelbase A8 to get through deep snow. Base price (incl. destination): $101,200 (4.2); $173,500 (4A8 W12) Base engine (hp): 4.2-litre DOHC V8 (372) Optional engines (hp): 6.3-litre DOHC W12


(500) l/100 km (city/hwy): 12.0/7.9 Q5


Near perfect proportions put the Q5 at the head of the class for five-passenger tall wag- ons. The Q5 is built to take in the likes of the BMW X3 and the Acura RDX with great looks and build quality and finely crafted interiors. The platform, much of the suspension and dashboard design are shared with the A4 sedan and A5 coupe. There’s plenty of style inside a roomy cabin


that exhibits the kind of understated elegance that has helped make Audi a desirable BMW al- ternative. Base price (incl. destination): $42,700 Base engine (hp): 2.0-litre DOHC I4 (211) Optional engine (hp): 3.2-litre DOHC V6 (270) l/100 km (city/hwy): 10.6/7.7 (2.0)


Q7


Audi’s seven-passenger tall wagon embraces utility ahead of economy, and looks darned good doing it. Coming off a 2011 model year where the Q7 underwent body modifications and received new engines, changes for the 2012 model year are limited to wheel updates and new tech options.Techies will love the avail- able radar-based lane-warning system that


If you want to look like a million bucks while only spending $150,000, this is your car; new R8 V10 GT coupe is the rich-enthusiast’s pick. Is there anyone out there who doesn’t love the R8, even after four years of being on the market? The proportions are spot on, and with the soft-top Spyder, it becomes a nominee for Ultimate Tanning Machine. The roof stows in just 19 seconds, letting in the glorious engine noise.Aside from the obvious, the Spyder also loses the coupe’s “side blades” that direct air into the mid-mounted powerplant. And instead of a back window that displays the engine, the Spyder has a body-colored cover with pods that flow nicely into the seatbacks. Zero-to-100 km-h is in the 4.5-second range for the V8. Base price (incl. destination): $136,000 (R8


4.2); $175,000 (R8 5.2); 150,000 (R8 Spyder 4.2);$189,000, (R8 Spyder 5.2);$230,000 (GT) Base engine (hp): 4.2-litre DOHC V8 (430) Optional engine (hp): 5.2-litre DOHC V10 (525/560)


l/100 km (city/hwy): 19.1/11.3 (V8) TT What’s quicker than an R8 and is half the


price? The new TT-RS coupe makes a great Porsche fighter, too. A 211-horsepower four- cylinder engine keeps the base price attrac- tive; optional 265-horse turbo model; turbo 2.5 in the RS makes 360 which is 144 horsepow- er per litre. The new TT-RS coupe widens the eyeballs and then flattens them with a 360-horsepower turbocharged five-cylinder engine and a six- speed manual transmission.The best Cayman is rated at 320 horses and even the base Porsche 911 is rated at 350. The 1,500-kilo- gram TT-RS (about 45 kilograms more than a base Corvette) is a smorgasboard of perform- ance parts that support zero-to-100 km-h blasts in the low four-second range and a top speed of 280 km-h. To put that in perspective, the twice-the-price R8 with its V8 engine is good for about 4.5 seconds. Base price (incl. destination): $50,000 (coupe); $52,900 (roadster); $69,100 (TT-RS) Base engine (hp): 2.0-litre DOHC I4, tur- bocharged (211)


Optional engines (hp): 2.0-litre DOHC I4, tur- bocharged (265); 2.5-litre DOHC I5, tur- bocharged (360) l/100 km (city/hwy): 9.1/6.4


BMW 1 Series Getting into a BMW is actually pretty afford-


able thanks to the two-door 1 Series; new 1M hangs with the larger and more powerful M3. Base 230-horsepower inline six-cylinder is no slouch; single-turbocharged six-cylinder makes 300 horsepower; M-version uses roughly the same engine, but with an extra 35 horses.The 300-horse mill propels the 1 Series to 100 km- h from a standstill in a bit more than five sec- onds with the standard six-speed manual trans- mission. Base price (incl. destination): $38,000 (coupe); $43,400 (convertible); $55,600 (1M) Base engine (hp): 3.0-litre DOHC I6 (230) Optional engine (hp): 3.0-litre DOHC I6, tur- bocharged (300/335) l/100 km (city/hwy): 10.7/6.9 (base 3.0)


3 Series (New for 2012!) BMW is setting a course for major fuel-econ-


omy improvements with the 2012 3 Series, but at the same time the automaker stubbornly re- fuses to lessen the car’s performance quotient,


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23