Jaguar F-Type Coupe First Review 2015

The F-Type signals the rebirth of Jaguar, and the convertible model has already rocked our world on several occasions. Here in Spain, I was to drive the coupe, a car which offered more performance than the convertible thanks to a stiffer aluminum structure and a new model, the F-Type R Coupe, with a 550-hp supercharged V8 engine

From Barcelona, Jaguar flew us to Lleida, a small city about a hundred miles east of the Mediterranean, and unremarkable but for two things. First, it had an airport at which were parked a dozen or so 2015 Jaguar F-Type S Coupes that we'd soon be driving. Second, Lleida is conveniently next to some of the best driving roads I have ever seen

F-Type S on the road

Out there the roads narrowed, the curves sharpened, and we put the car into its Dynamic Mode. Not only does Dynamic Mode prepare the car for spirited driving by enhancing throttle response, sharpening steering, and firming up the suspension, it also opens up the exhaust system to allow a full throated roar under full throttle, and a satisfying burble and pop when you let off the gas. Jaguar says the 380-horsepower 3.0-liter supercharged V6 can launch the F-Type Coupe from a standstill to 60 mph in a bit under 5 seconds. The 8-speed automatic shifts slickly, whether in its Dynamic self-shifting mode, or flicking the paddles to select your own gears

The first thing we noticed about the coupe was its stiffness compared to the convertible, particularly noteworthy considering that Jaguar says the convertible is already as stiff as a BMW 5 Series sedan. Rather than chopping off the roof of the coupe, Jaguar designed the car as a convertible, then added the roof for the coupe. The result is an extremely stable platform on which to build a high-performance car, with very little chassis flex

F-Type R at the track

The S was a nearly perfect driving companion on the twisting Spanish two-lanes, and while we could've driven these roads all day, we were anxious to make it to the racetrack, our midday stop and time with the F-Type R. Jaguar had also set up a low-speed wet handling course to demonstrate the F-Type's Torque Vectoring by Braking system, which uses the front brakes to guide the car through turns at the limits of traction

We started on the short wet course, driving poorly to get the front end to slide on the wet pavement. The system worked as advertised, selectively braking the inside front wheel causing the nose of the car to turn tighter, rather than to slide forward. It was an interesting exercise, and despite the artificial feel under these tightly controlled circumstances designed to showcase the technology, we never noticed the system in action on the road, or on the track

The tech demo was informative, but the 550-hp R Coupe felt out of place on the short track. The 3.3-mile long main circuit was a different story. As the laps accumulated, the Coupe's at-the-limit quirks showed themselves. Power was no problem, and the transmission's Dynamic Mode was as adept at picking the right gear, though the paddle shifters responded even quicker. The brakes were excellent and worth every penny. Yet the Jaguar didn't have quite the precision one would find in, say, a Porsche. The rear end was too eager to slide, the steering not quite precise enough. But these are minor quibbles. If the true test of a sports car is how it performs on a track, this Jaguar graduates magna cum laude, just a notch below the summa you'd get in a Porsche

On the road again

The next day, we set out in a Sapphire Blue Jaguar F-Type R Coupe on public roads that combined two-lanes snaking through the hills, narrow single-lanes that crawled through ancient Spanish towns, and high-speed straights and highways that led us back to Lleida. Our car lacked the carbon-ceramic matrix brakes from yesterday's track cars, but was otherwise the same

It was wonderful. While the Jaguar wasn't in its very best element on the racetrack -- where it was still pretty good -- it absolutely owned these Spanish roads. The exhaust popped and echoed off the hillsides, the road twisted and turned under us, and the Jaguar devoured it all. The V8 sounded as it made short work of the slower moving cars we encountered. Driving this car briskly is intoxicating, yet even in the slow sections the F-Type managed to be fun, drawing envious stares from passersby

F-Type Coupe: a real sports car

There are two takeaways from my time with the Jaguar F-Type Coupe. First, this is a real sports car. It's not a sporty coupe, it's not a grand tourer. It's a sports car, and Jaguar was willing to throw certain accommodations aside in the interest of making the car better to drive. It's stiffly sprung, it's sometimes a little loud, and it's tight inside, with merely adequate cargo space. But in exchange you get a car that's a blast and a half to drive, and one of the most fun cars you can buy today

Second, this is just the beginning. More F-Type variants are in the pipeline, including rumored all-wheel drive and hybrid versions. Beyond that, expect to see even more highly focused F-Type models in the future. After all, there's still room for a GT model, for example, so if you're hoping that the F-Type will someday be the ultimate track car, don't lose hope. The F-Type has raised our expectations for the company's future products. Jaguar has surprised and delighted us with its new sports car. The challenge now is to just keep at it

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Dodge Charger: Retro Muscle in a Sleeker Package 2015

The Charger has been the full-size bread-and-butter sedan at Dodge since its revival for the 2006 model year, and the division expects this extensively freshened version to maintain sales momentum when it reaches showrooms next fall

All New Skin

Aside from new aluminum axles and axle housings, the chassis carries over from the current Charger. But the skin is almost all new-grille, headlights, hood, fenders, and rear fascia. The roof and rear doors are the only exterior panels that survive, though the base of the rearmost roof pillar has been pulled aft, giving the rear window a faster slope and visually reducing the rear overhang

The goal of the design team was to imbue the new Charger with a sleek skin that would make this big sedan look smaller and lighter, even though the 2015 dimensions are almost exactly the same as those of the current car. A concurrent objective was to preserve the Charger's four-door muscle car persona

It's fair to say the styling effort was successful. Unveiled at the New York International Auto Show, the new Charger sustains the powerful presence of the current car. Dodge cites the 1969 Charger as the inspiration for the 2015 redesign, from the heyday of the muscle car era even though those '69 models were coupes

New Wheels, Hemi Power

Other new exterior details include projector beam headlamps, LED fog lamps, a three-piece rear spoiler (standard on R/T models), center high-mounted stop lamp, and Dodge's "racetrack" LED taillight array. The wheels are also new for all four trim levels, with six different 20-inch styles, including a forged aluminum set, 20 x 9 inches

The car's muscular persona is backed by Chrysler's 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque-in R/T and R/T Road and Track models. The base engine continues to be the 3.6-liter V-6 (292 hp, 260 lb-ft), with 300 hp and 264 lb-ft available in SXT models with the Rallye Appearance Group option package. Both the Hemi and the V-6 are paired with Chrysler's 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic, new with the Charger's Hemi V-8 and the only transmission offered

With the V-6, the Charger is EPA-rated for 31 mpg on the highway, best in class, according to Dodge. All-wheel drive continues to be available, and features a new active transfer case that automatically disconnects the front axle when it's not needed. Dodge engineers claim this feature can improve fuel economy by up to 5 percent

Interior Upgrades

The all-new interior includes new seats, extensive soft touch material on the dash, center console, and door panels, with eight different trim packages, including cloth and leather upholstery choices

The sporty three-spoke steering wheel is new, backed by paddle shifters (optional). A new electronic feature delivers brisk shift times-400 milliseconds, according to Dodge, diminishing to 250 milliseconds in sport mode, which also holds the selected gear to redline. Sporty also applies to the electronic power steering, updated to provide three modes-normal, comfort, and sport-that vary effort to suit the driver's mood

As with almost any of today's new cars, new telematics abound. A standard 7-inch TFT (thin film transistor) programmable screen nestles between the speedometer and tachometer, with programmable info including Dodge Performance Pages. The new center stack embraces a 5.0-inch touchscreen (standard) or 8.4-inch version (optional), with a next generation radio and premium audio options, as well as the available nav system. Chrysler's optional U-Connect Access provides a variety of connectivity features, including a Wi-Fi hotspot and mobile apps

New safety features include lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist; adaptive cruise control capable of a full stop and speed resumption; and forward collision Warning-Plus, which will provide autonomous braking if the driver fails to respond to the situation

As noted, the freshened Charger will go on sale this fall as a 2015 model

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New York International Auto Show: Sedans in the spotlight 2015

There's no question that the auto industry is mad for crossover SUVs as the compact-sized variety is one of the fastest growing segments currently. But that's not to say that the traditional 4-door sedan has been consigned to the ash pile of history. At least that's the conclusion to take away from the New York International Auto Show, which played host to a bevy of new 4-door models

The most anticipated new sedan at the show was the all-new Cadillac CT6, a full-size sedan offered in either rear- or all-wheel drive positioned to take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. The CT6 not only ushers in new nomenclature for the car side of GM's luxury division, but also debuts a new lightweight architecture and a new family of twin-turbo V6 and V8 engines. It is a make or break product in Cadillac's bid for global parity among the top luxury cars. Cadillac's longtime rival Lincoln showed off an early look at its own new flagship sedan, the Continental Concept

No less important to Jaguar/Land Rover Group is the remake of the mid-size Jaguar XF, which will share the aluminum-intensive approach introduced in the compact XE. In addition to hitting the show floor in New York, the car also bowed in London as part of a high wire act

In the mainstream market, the Nissan Maxima has also been redesigned and will again stress its performance-oriented suspension and drivetrain under the 4-door sports car positioning, Chevrolet's much needed remake of the Malibu midsize sedan showed off completely new skin and a package that promises more rear legroom, while Kia took the covers off the next installment of its popular Optima midsize family car. At a more entry-level price point, Scion gave us a two-fer: The iA is that division's first 4-door sedan, and it bowed alongside the all-new iM hatchback

Other non-SUV offerings include a new Chevrolet Spark hatchback, Smart hosted the American debut of its new Fortwo city car and McLaren flaunted the high-performance 570S Sport two-seater

And even though sedans dominated the New York Auto Show headlines, there were some significant SUV introductions, too. Making their world debuts were the Mercedes-Benz GLE — a replacement for the current ML — a redone Mitsubishi Outlander and perhaps most important of all, the all-new Lexus RX, a remake of the iconic crossover SUV that created the segment

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Honda Fit EXL First Review: One Size Fits All 2015

Small cars usually mean big compromises when it comes to balancing comfort, roominess, efficiency and sticker price. Since its introduction, the Honda Fit has been at the top of the list in offering an efficient package with an affordable MSRP that's also fun-to-drive. The 2015 Honda Fit EXL builds on that reputation by making the new model more substantial in looks, trim and equipment while offering better fuel economy at a price surprisingly close to the previous generation

The big enabler in Honda's ability to offer more without a huge bump in price is the shift in the car's production from Japan to a new plant in Mexico. The lower costs in both labor and transportation are at the heart of the big improvements on offer

Shorter, yet roomier

The 5-door Fit retains its cute bug eye styling, but in a slightly larger package that adds a sweeping character line to the side. This line not only gives the car a sense of forward motion, but its deep draw also makes the flanks of the car less slab sided and more muscular, which is important in a car that rides on a 99.6-inch wheelbase and measures 160 inches overall. While the wheelbase has grown by 1.2 inches and width by 0.3 inches, overall length is actually 1.6-inches shorter. The all-new platform underneath the car not only takes advantage of the extra wheelbase, but also repositions the 50/50 split rear seat to help boost that row's legroom by nearly 5 inches

These new dimensions add to the feel of a more substantial vehicle. The front passengers have more elbow room and the rear seat offers the kind of space found in cars a class or two above. The 2015 Honda Fit also retains the previous model's center-mounted fuel tank, which pays huge dividends when it comes to hauling stuff. This allows for a low rear cargo deck and a folding rear seat as flexible as a circus contortionist. Fold the seat forward and the bottom cushion nests into the footwell allowing for a fold-flat cargo area. The bottom cushions can also be lifted up and secured against the seatback providing a tall load space behind the front seats and finally, the front seats can be reclined all the way back and form a bed with the rear seats for the so-called "Refresh" mode

New Engine, Better Fuel Economy

Using direct injection, the all-new Earth Dreams 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 130 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque (up 23 horsepower and 8 lb-ft) driving the front wheels. Honda offers a choice of a CVT (with paddle shift-controlled steps for a sporty driving experience) and a 6-speed manual transmission. The CVT delivers 33 mpg city, 41 highway and a combined 36 mpg on the EPA cycle, a boost of five mpg in city and combined and six mpg highway over the previous model, which was equipped with a conventional 5-speed automatic. The manual transmission is rated at 29 mpg city, 37 highway for a combined of 32. These gains are more modest at a respective two, four and three mpg

Along with the new powertrain, Honda redesigned the suspension with a new strut-type setup in the front and an H-bar torsion beam in the rear. The slightly wider track and new suspension reinforces the feel that this car is more substantial than the model it replaces. Steering is light, quick and responsive; the car exhibits little in the way of roll. Because of the longer wheelbase, the ride is compliant for a car with such a short overall length

Safety in a Small Package

Even though the Fit is Honda's entry level model, it offers a wide range of safety features including the Lane Watch system found on larger models that projects an image of the right side of the car in the center screen when the right turn signal is activated. The Fit also offers such features as a rearview camera, Hill Start Assist and a motion adaptive electric power steering that helps initiate turn-in in the proper direction when the vehicle stability assist detects oversteer or understeer

With Lane Watch and backup cameras come either a 5.5-inch standard screen or on upmarket EX and EXL models, a 7-inch touchscreen. The screen is nestled in a dash covered with soft-touch materials, which also extend to the door panels. The interior has an upscale aura not usually associated with cars in this class. The outgoing model features only two trim levels, base and Sport/Sport Navi, while the 2015 Honda Fit starts with an LX model, with EX, EXL and EXL with Navi. The LX includes such new features for the base car as a rearview camera, the 5.5-inch screen and automatic headlamps. Pricing starts at $15,525 for a manual LX (the CVT is $800 more), an increase of just $100 over the previous base model. The EX, which replaces the Sport trim, is only $225 more and starts at $17,435 for the manual and $18,235 for the CVT with added content that includes the 7-inch screen, more powerful engine, auto headlamps and review camera. The EXL model, which is only offered with the CVT is $19,800, while the EXL Navi is priced at $20,800, just slightly more than the previous Sport Navi, which cost $19,970

With the 2015 Fit, Honda has raised the bar in a segment that has some pretty tough competition in the Nissan Versa Note, Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2. It's no longer a question of settling for less, but rather settling for the best

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the beautiful Volvo XC40

The XC40 is a Volvo of many firsts. The first is that this is the first Volvo to be based on the EV-ready modular platform it co-developed with owner Geely. It’s called CMA, and it already sits under the Lynk & Co. 01. Naturally CMA will go on to underpin other “40-series” cars – like the as-yet-unrevealed, unconfirmed V40 to rival the VW Golf.
The XC40 is also Volvo’s very first crack at a small SUV – an Audi Q3, to the XC60’s Q5 and XC90’s Q7. Lots of the tech (and styling) from other new-era Volvos is present and correct, which means much active safety, headlights modelled on the heavy, bashy things in Thor’s toolbox and a big portrait touchscreen inside. Where, incidentally, Volvo boasts of a “radical new approach to storage”, which means inductive charging and a removable waste bin in the centre console.
As for engines, at launch you can have a petrols or diesels with four cylinders (three power outputs for the former, two for the latter), but Volvo’s three-cylinder petrol, a hybrid and full EV will join the range later. Before 2019 we’d guess, by which point Volvo’s pledged all of its new releases will have some form of e-motor.
And the XC40 is the first car to be offered with the ‘Care by Volvo’ subscription service, which gives you the car plus a load of “digital concierge services” like the use of another, different Volvo for up to 14 days a year (need seven seats for the weekend? They’ll let you borrow an XC90). Insurance, tax and maintenance are included in the flat, monthly fee, which we’re told is the same price wherever you live and however old you are. Only a couple of models get it at launch, and it’s £629-per-month for two years.

Mind in Britain, Care by Volvo will only be available within the M25, at least to begin with, and we miss out on a few key benefits. For example, elsewhere in the world customers can have online shopping delivered direct to their cars, or share their car with friends for a couple of hours using an app that doubles as a ‘digital key’. We can’t. Yet.
Volvo says it makes “having” (not owning, note) an XC40 “as hassle-free as having a mobile phone”. Hopefully without the new software updates that invalidate all your old apps and make it unusable for three hours.
Buy the car outright and prices start £27,905. That buys you base petrol power, front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox. All-wheel drive and autos are available as you scale the spec tree, which goes beyond £40k for an all-wheel drive T5 ‘First Edition’.
But as even the cheapest XC40s get the big touchscreen, digital dials, LED headlights and dual-zone climate control, you won’t need to spend that much to get a decent one. Orders are being taken now, and deliveries start next year. Interested?

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NEW NISSAN Qashqai £18,795

Exterior

Most SUVs, especially smaller ones, are about style above all else, and this is an area in which the Qashqai excels. The front end features crisp lines and bold details, the LED running lights and the deep, angular grille being the highlights. Things are just as fresh at the rear end, with swooping LIGHT clusters and muscular rear haunches. This is one very handsome car. Entry-level Visia cars miss out on alloy wheels, but they still look reasonably swish.

Interior

If you thought the Qashqai looked swish on the outside, you’ll be just as impressed by the interior. All the materials have a plush, high-grade feel, particularly on the main touch-points, and the design is modern and attractive.IMPORTANTLY, though, this hasn’t come at the expense of ergonomics. The various switches and buttons are logically placed and clearly marked, and the touch-screen infotainment system (standard on the top two trims) has sharp graphics and clear, logical menus. What’s more, the high driving position that SUV buyers love has plenty of adjustment, so life is very comfortable at the wheel. The limited rear visibility is the cockpit’s only real weak point.

Practicality

Even when compared with its best rivals, the Qashqai has no trouble on this score. The rear seats have plenty of headroom and legroom, making life very comfortable for four gangly adults, and five will cram in at a push. The 430-litre BOOT rivals those of the best cars in the class for capacity, and it also has some really clever features. We particularly like the two movable boards, which help give you a perfectly level load floor when the back seats are folded, and which can be slotted in vertically as well as horizontally, to stop small items sliding around. These boards are standard on all trims except entry-level Visia.

Ride and handling

On the road, the Qashqai’s focus is very much on comfort, with good bump absorption at low speeds and fantastic smoothness and stability at moderate and high speeds. Despite the Qashqai’s civilised character, the handling is also impressively neat. The body stays impressively flat in corners so you don’t get thrown around in your seat, and the car always feels grippy, stable and predictable. You can change the weight of the steering by selecting one of two modes, too. The Sport mode has an artificially heavy feel, but in Normal mode, the weighting feels just right and gives crisp responses.

Safety

All Qashqai models come with six airbags and stability control as standard, while Acenta Premium models have a few more clever safety features and Tekna models have more still. The Qashqai has also achieved the maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests.

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Nissan Versa Note SR 2015

Expanding the scope of its lineup at both ends of the spectrum, Nissan introduced a pair of new models for the subcompact Versa Note 5-door hatch in Chicago. Boasting a higher visual profile, the 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR caters to younger enthusiasts. The automaker also announced the new Versa Note SL, that adds more sophistication with standard features not often seen in cars of its size

The Versa Note SR's cosmetic changes are evident up front, where a unique fascia and grill treatment is set off by dark headlamp surrounds and standard fog lights with black and chrome accents. The package also uses body-color side spoilers and revised side-view mirrors with integrated directional signals while the rear is topped by a spoiler. The Versa Note SR rides on 195/55 all-season tires on 16-inch high-contrast alloy wheels

Inside, the Versa Note SR has a Euro-inspired motif that includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel, seats covered in faux suede with orange accents, a new tri-dial Fine Vision instrument cluster with trip computer and a Piano Black center dash with bright trim. Opting for the SR Convenience Package adds Nissan's trick Divide-N-Hide Adjustable Floor, the NissanConnect system with a 5.0-inch color display, RearView Monitor, Bluetooth Streaming Audio, Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant, USB connection port, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and NissanConnect Apps with smartphone integration for Facebook, Twitter, Pandora as  well as iHeartRadio and TuneIn Radio

Using the same 16-inch wheels, the Versa Note SL passes on exterior changes to focus on improving the cabin. It comes standard with all of the SR Convenience Package content as well as variable intermittent front wipers, heated front seats, Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition and the Easy-Fill Tire Alert. Like all 2015 Versa Note variants, it also features a multifunction steering wheel that incorporates a new Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System

The 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR and Versa Note SL will arrive in dealers this spring along with the existing Versa Note S MT, S Plus CVT and SV CVT models. Pricing for all will be announced closer to the on-sale date

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1965 PONTIAC GTO

1965 PONTIAC GTO

Current value: $85,500

The early Pontiac GTOs are best known as the original American Muscle Cars, and they are some of the most amazing vintage cars on the market today. The 1965 Pontiac GTO was sold with a racing car option, and can go from zero to 60 MPH in 6.1 seconds which remains respectable compared to equivalent cars from its class from the same timeframe. The original GTO would go on to see six different generations of the car built by Pontiac before the manufacturer discontinued the original car line in 1974. The GTO was sold as both a two-door hardtop as well as a convertible, and featured a number of large V-8 engines to power the vehicle over its production life. All of the GTOs produced from this era were rear-wheel drive cars, and they remain a favorite for car collections.

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