Three blokes just talking about cars. And tonight we talk about one other bloke in particular…Jeremy Clarkson. Jeremy, YOU BIG OAF!! We are saddened for all that took place and saddened that it appears to be the end of an era with regards to the great British motoring show: Top Gear. But the show must go on. Read more…
The big news for the Challenger is the 2015 SRT Hellcat. The supercharged Hemi that lurks beneath the Hellcat’s hood is every bit as mind blowing as one would expect, producing 707 hp. Certainly Dodge has decided its too-big-to-be-a-ponycar needed to take the brute force approach since its size distances it from being the relatively agile cars that the Mustang and Camaro are. Fortunately for Challenger fans the dated interior has been ditched in favor of a newly sculpted dash and various color combinations that make the Challenger less of dreary chamber. Sadly, the pistol grip shifter has been returned to the parts bin. Other available engines include the 3.6L Pentastar V6 (finally coupled to an 8-speed automatic), 5.7L Hemi V8, and 6.2L Hemi V8. Unlike the Chevy and Ford, a manual transmission is offered only with the V8’s. And, setting itself apart from stalemate Charger Hellcat, the Challenger actually lets you shift through the gears with a manual transmission as you attempt to make use of those 707 supercharged horses.
Renegade. The name may come from Jeep’s past, but it just as well could describe the nature of the brand’s newest and smallest offering. The first Jeep to be imported to the United States, rather than built here, the Renegade dares to take the brand into new places. The Renegade’s base engine is a turbocharged 1.4L 4-cylinder coupled to a manual transmission. A larger 2.4L and a 9-speed automatic are also available. Hard core Jeep fans may scoff at the origins and FIAT-based architecture, but others may find the Trailhawk version appealing for its off road capability with a 4WD low setting as well as snow, sand, mud, and rock selectable terrain settings. Experience open air freedom with the Renegades two-piece removable ‘My Sky’ roof panels.
We know and love the FIAT 500 minicab in most of its iterations whether it be in frugal Pop trim or hot hatch Abarth guise. Problem is the brand’s dealerships have, up until now, had to make do with that lovable car and the awkward and clumsy 500L. In an effort to remedy this issue FIAT is bringing us the 500X. Marketed at as crossover (really, does simply offering AWD and hatch qualify this to fit that category?) this 4 door hatch is much prettier than the 500L and truer to the original 500’s character. The 500X offers a 1.4L turbo as standard and, unlike other crossovers like the Chevy Traxx and the Mazda CX-3, allows the buyer to opt to shift their own gears and push a clutch pedal. We suspect most customers will choose the 2.4L Tigershark mated with a 9-speed automatic. It should be interesting if this bigger spin on the 500X will increase traffic at FIAT ‘studios’.
We could have setup a full camera crew and spent a day at the Volvo display diving into the impressive details of the upcoming XC90 crossover SUV, but that will have to wait until this fall when we can get our hands on one of these stunning luxury rides from Volvo. If it seems like Swedish manufacturer has been a bit quiet these past few years you’re not alone, and we can hardly blame them considering the challenges of new ownership and the inability to borrow from a corporate parts bin for any aspect of their new XC90. But after our first chance to sit in and poke around the tastefully restrained yet modern design, we can confidently say Volvo fans are in for a treat. Beautiful textures, materials and technology make up possibly the most inviting cabin we’ve seen come along in years–certainly at the sub-$60k starting price. Couple that to impressive advancements in powertrain offerings, including a 2-liter four cylinder that is both turbocharged and supercharged and can be paired with a plug-in hybrid system to produce 400hp, and you’ll see why Volvo might have been too busy to draw attention to itself the past few years. Color us impressed and put this on your must watch list this year.
In our opinion, the Mazda6 needed no updates to stay competitive in the midsize sedan segment, but Mazda isn’t satisfied with simply remaining competitive; it wants to leave no doubt that it’s the driver’s choice in whatever segment it competes. As a result, the 6 will enter the 2016 model year with a host of refinements to interior and exterior design, as well as upgrading to the company’s latest infotainment system. That’s the same system that we’ve praised in our experience with the smaller Mazda3. Coupled with reductions in NVH and continuing to earn a 40mpg highway EPA rating, the 6 shooter looks poised to remain our default recommendation in the family sedan segment.
We have complained for more than a year at Mazda’s reluctance to provide buyers a choice of transmissions on the top-line 2.5-liter four cylinder versions of its fantastic 3 sedan and hatch. Well, we’re thrilled to report someone finally heard us, because for 2015 you can save a grand and shift for yourself with an excellent 6-speed manual as standard equipment. We drove one not long before attending the NAIAS and found it predictably excellent, and wanted to highlight the good news for you at the Mazda stand at the North American International Auto Show.
The last time Jaguar offered a compact sport sedan it was dubbed X-type. Banish any thoughts of that all-wheel drive only sedan, which featured retro styling and take a look at Jaguar’s new 2016 XE. This sedan sports modern rear-wheel drive proportions with taut athletic styling. Aimed at German rivals such as the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-class, this all new Jag features lightweight aluminum architecture and nearly 50:50 weight distribution. Offered with rear-wheel drive and AWD, initially the car will utilize the marque’s existing supercharged 3-liter V6, which produces 340 hp. and 332 ft-lbs of torque, which should be good for a run to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. There’s no evidence that the XE will offer a manual transmission, but it will offer an 8-speed automatic with Jaguar’s signature retractable rotary shifter. Enthusiasts won’t be able to help but notice that the same engine is offered in the F-type with a manual transmission, so we can hope Jaguar will give buyers the luxury of choice in the way they shift their transmissions. For now, we wait with anticipation to see just how good this promising sedan is.
For anyone who thought Mazda’s CX-5 was as small as SUV’s needed to be, there is a surprise in the CX-3. Small crossovers, such as the Buick Encore, prove there is room to go smaller in the segment. The CX-3 draws on styling cues first presented by the fresh Mazda3 and Mazda6. SKYACTIVE-G is Mazda marketing lingo attached to the brand’s 2.0-liter gasoline engine that will be mated to a standard 6-speed automatic transmission. All wheel drive is optional and features a front wheel slip warning system that detects slippage of the front wheels and redirects the car to the intended direction based on initial driver input. Sounds to us like Mazda is spending a lot of investment in technology to make an all wheel drive car handle like it is rear wheel drive. It all sounds promising, but Americans will have to wait until fall to try the system out for themselves.
Mazda didn’t debut anything at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, but that doesn’t mean there was nothing to see at the Mazda stand. We couldn’t wait to spend some time snooping around the upcoming 2016 MX-5 Miata. It’s dimensions feel like they are tidier than ever with a truly small scale making it feel almost comical when standing next to it. But sink into that simply bolstered seat, tile the wheel into adjustment and you can imagine the backroads unwinding in front of the impossibly low hood on a beautiful summer morning. It’s 2.0-liter four cylinder still doesn’t have final power figures but it’ll be enough to push this lightweight package around with haste. Just how lightweight is something else we don’t yet know. Keep checking Automotive Trends for our full review as soon as we can get our hands on one later this summer.
