About: Autolove

Joe Mavilia is a syndicated columnist with more than 35 years in the automotive industry. He is a member of the Motor Press Guild and Automotive Press Association. His reviews have been published in print media including the Los Angeles Times, The Golden Transcript - Colorado, La Feria News - Texas, The Pasadena Weekly - California, and others around the country, including www.theweekenddrive.com where he is the West Coast Editor. Reviews and Opinion Columns may also be seen in Sunnews.org and The Country Journal every week in the Antelope Valley, CA. I hope they are helpful

Recent Posts by Autolove

2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 1.8T (1071)

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2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 1.8T (1071)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 1.8T that is a delightful car. It isn’t the1969 VW I used to get through college. Remember those years when the heat vents, that didn’t work, that ran along the floor that you opened manually by sliding an opening along the tube. It was absolutely basic but they did have a radio – two knobs and a few AM stations. What a trip, and speaking of trips it would drift into other lanes or off the road in a stiff wind. Not kidding.

Well that is the distant past and this new Beetle is nothing like Hitler’s legacy to the conquering ally’s and it is unimaginable that post war citizens of the world would even consider buying a German product. But then cute and inexpensive to buy and operate is a strong economic reason and was enough to stimulate demand of a near cult following.

Today this V-dub is amazingly solid and delivers a fantastically smooth ride as well as being fast. Not blistering acceleration but more than enough get up and go for the speedy freeway movement we have come to embrace in our busy day needs.

General Information: Parts – US/Canadian 15%, Mexico 40%, Engine – Mexico; Transmission – Japan. It is assembled in Mexico. Classification is Compact. Cars from Volkswagen: Jetta, Passat, CC, Beetle, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, e-Golf, Tiguan, Touarag, Jetta SportWagen, Eos and Beetle Convertible.

Handling & Performance:

A wide stance give this VW great stability and also powerful from a Turbocharged 4 cylinder engine. It did well on a quick trip over the Angeles Crest Highway giving way to none. Nice.

Styling:

VW’s unmistakable design not so different from my 1969 other than they put the engine up front and the trunk where we expect it to be and it is no longer a small car. Compact, yes but I see it as the biggest of little cars. I like it a lot. Many however will think of it as a ‘chick’ car confirmed by comments of approval from Carol and Frida and other ladies, I guess it is more attractive to our female friends.

Fit and Finish:

Assembly is light years better than the early years.

Cost:

Ok. It is worth the money for what it is but if small car economy is what you’re looking for there are much better choices.

Conveniences and comfort:

You don’t get a lot of trunk space and the legroom in the rear is nearly non-existent unless the front seats are all the way forward. And then you will only get a couple of kids in the back. Not a bad thing because you can have that discomfort in a Porsche for three times the money or even the Camaro or Mustang will be as bad. Or you can go with the MX-5 Miata without a back seat at all.

Consumer Recommendation:

Great for your kids’ first car or those remembering Woodstock in the 60s.

Recognized Competition:

Beetle Convertible $28,000, Chevrolet Camaro $32,000, Mazda Miata $25,000, MINI Cooper S $29,000.

Good News:

Nice ride, fast, fun to drive, low operating costs.

Bad News:

I had a problem with the radio that would for no apparent reason go dark and then for no more reason come back on. Obviously an anomaly that likely is not to be expected and easily fixed.

Standard Equipment:

1.8 liter 170 HP4-cylinder turbo engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, 17” alloy wheels, ABS braking system, stability control, crash response system, LATCH system, tire pressure monitor, power convertible top, AM/FM/HD radio with CD / MP3 and 8-speakers, Sirius XM satellite , Bluetooth, media device interface, keyless access with push button start, seathette seating, heated front seats, manually adjustable front seats, folding rear seats, leather wrapped steering wheel and brake handle, climate control, cruise control, mustifunction display with trip computer, power windows, power heated mirrors, variable intermittent front wipers with heated washer nozzles, and daytime running lights.

Gas Stats:

$2.29/ Gal avg. January 22, 2015

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

24 City and 32 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $28,475.

 

Ford F150

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Ford F150

Where Boyd Coddington is the grand daddy of custom rod builders there is the new generation of car guys who work to fulfill and realize their dreams. Here is a look at a young man and another look at a desire to innovate and add to the auto industry aftermarket.

Profiles in Life …

… A look at Jason Hulst

“Dum … da dum dum”

By Joe Mavilia

4Jack Webb in his roll as Joe Friday in the Dragnet series in the 1950’s.

This is the city. Los Angeles, California. It was a warm day and I was working the story desk out of Pasadena when I got the call from the boss to get the story on a young car designer. My name is Joe and it’s Friday.

The story you are about to read is true and not even the names have been changed. It was 11 AM and I was early for my lunch meeting with Jason Hulst. As I got into my press car I wondered about what kind of young man I’d be meeting. The freeway traffic was uncharacteristically light. The sky was clear blue with patches of white clouds. It was one of the nicer days in LA. It was noon when I arrived at the Disney Studios in Burbank and I was to meet Mr. Hulst in the parking lot. Me, I’m 5’ foot 9” and Jason towers over me. I wondered if he noticed me being uncomfortable looking up all the time. We walked to the Riverside Commissary where we sat down to lunch and some conversation with this California born kid.

“Son I need the facts, just the facts,” I told him, as we enjoyed a pleasant lunch. The commissary setting instantly launches you back in time. The décor and photos on the walls speak of the 1950s. That’s when Walt Disney’s dream exploded when he displaced orange groves to build Disneyland in Anaheim.

Jason works in animation for Disney where he does Prop Designs. The Story is written, the Story Board department does the Layout of set background, Characters are designed and then Jason designs all the moving stuff that interfaces with those Characters. I couldn’t help but think, what an appropriate place for an aspiring car designer to work his day job. Art is, after all, a perfect way to actually see what the mind conceives.

A custom rod is really a caricature of the original from the “good old days.” Icons like Bob’s Big Boy, carhops and countless other images of the 50s, 60s and 70s pop out from the dusty corners of your mind. That’s when mostly older guys, like me, with money have a dream to restore a favorite car from their youth.

The dream necessarily is where it all starts. But making that dream come true takes a few ingredients, including several talented people, money (and generally lots of it) and about nine months in Jason’s experience. But what’s a dream worth, right?

Finding the right team of professionals to make it all happen the way you envision is not all that easy. And once you find the right team, it is still kinda like having a baby, and the birthing process includes a lot of labor. But the finished product is unbelievably beautiful, even for those who aren’t in love with the automobile.

Anyway, Jason shared how he had grown up, like many of us, with a dad to look up to and influence his life. Jason credits his drive to his dad who never sat still in his quest to become a custom rod builder. After 15 years as a motorcycle cop in Torrance, California (they rode Harley’s back then, which is why we call them the good old days), Paul Hulst packed up his young family and moved to Merlin, Oregon (a suburb of Grants Pass). That move gave birth to his dream of setting up a business to help others realize their dreams of owning a custom rod.

Jason was ten, and the years that followed would shape his desire to work with his dad doing what they both had learned to love. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design from Oregon State, Jason attended the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Transportation Design. Perched high above the famous Rose Bowl in the Arroyo Seco of Pasadena, it is a setting that has inspired great designers like: Bryan Nesbitt (PT Cruiser), recently promoted from head designer at Chevrolet to Executive Director Opel Design in Germany; Grant Larson (Porsche Boxster); Freeman Thomas, Chrysler design V.P. and co-designer with J Mays of the Audi TT and new Beetle (J Mays is now V.P. of Ford Design); Ken Okyama of Pininfarina (2003 Enzo Ferrari); Frank Stephenson, head designer for Ferrari; and Chris Bangle, head designer for BMW, just to name a few.

I learned that Jason and I have a few things in common. He lives on a street in Pasadena where I grew up. He has a Harley Davidson motorcycle. One of his professors at Art Center, Merkel Weiss, is a colleague of mine. Both men speak highly of each other.

After graduation from Art Center, Jason took a job in Tokyo – but after a few months he learned, like Dorothy, that “There’s no place like home.” He returned to the States and says, “I started working for Disney Imagineering and did that for over three years. While there I designed the “Rocket Rod” ride at the park. Not long after I designed the New “Autopia Cars” that consisted of three totally new designs.” I’m impressed Jason, go on, what else did you do for them? “Well” Jason continued, “on each of the projects I was responsible to develop all presentation sketches, 1/5 scale models, direction of the full size mock-up all the way to the final opening of each ride.” Jason then learned about the job in Animation from his good friend and another of his professors at Art Center, Bruce Berky.

Jason is a part of the new generation blessed with unique technology to make the impossible possible. Today’s movies are examples of what can be done because of computer art and animation. And let’s face it; Jason’s generation cut their teeth on all kinds of computers. From games and joysticks to serious business computers and computer aided design programs. His dad’s generation did things by the seat of their pants. Jason says, “just nine years ago when I walked into class at Art Center, layout was done the old fashioned way, by hand.” Today Jason scans his hand-made drawings into his computer where they will be digitally enhanced. I bring a pen and paper to our meeting; he brings his laptop. Know what I mean?

The process of building a custom rod goes from the customer approving Jason’s design drawings – (a 4-6 week process) to the bank and then back again with lots of money to get the show on the road. Then Paul (his dad) gets the rest of his team together, including chief fabricator, Andy Peterman. Unlike having a baby, the process can take more than nine months depending on the extent of the restoration and the problems they run into … like a rusty floor that falls out in the cleaning process.

Merlin would be impressed with these guys, not because their shop is in Merlin, Oregon but because they too are magicians. The finished product is simply a beautiful work of art and truly magic to those who have a love affair with cars.

Well, this story has many happy endings counted one custom car at a time. And this generation of young men and women were born to take the art of their parents to the next level. Paul’s legacy to his son was to instill a sense of the value of hard work and the resultant benefits. By example Jason learned to appreciate the joy of a job well done. I told him, “son this could be a life sentence, and I expect to watch his progress closely.” He walked me to my car and we shared pleasantries and said our farewells. I looked at my watch – it was three PM. I didn’t look forward to the rush hour drive back to Pasadena, but that’s Los Angeles and you’ve got to take the good with the bad.

Jason pled guilty to several counts of “passion for automotive design.” He and his dad agree the fruits of their labor will live on well beyond them, because their finished product is…

… just the beginning.

2015 Kia Soul EV (1068)

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2015 Kia Soul EV (1068)

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2015 Kia Soul EV. Last week Merkel Weiss gave his thoughts about ALL Electric vehicle technology. Now I have tried to add my experience on the road for real.

Well! Where do I start? To begin with I love Kia as a car company and the other silver lining on an otherwise dark cloud noted below is that All-Electric has a place in the industry. That place is local transportation. So if you don’t travel long distances this is a fantastically cost effective car.

That being said when you drive this kind of car it gives you a whole new understanding of GREEN, which is way overrated in my opinion.

As to longer distance travel the technology and infrastructure is simply has not developed enough to make it a convenient mode of transportation. Necessarily you are dependent on rapid Charge Stations for extended range. I applaud car companies for trying but Kia says this EV has a 100 mile range and even if that were totally true here’s my tale of woe to explain a commute of 50 miles to my destination. It was great until I needed to return home. I had plugged in to the 110 Volt outlet while at work and 6 hours later I only had increased my range from 25 miles to 42 miles. Obviously not enough to get back home 50 miles away.

The closest charge station for a recharge was a Comfort Inn a quarter of a mile from my next stop at the bank. I thought this is great. But quickly my bubble was burst. The charge station was there, but no one knew anything about it except its location in the parking lot. I called the help phone number and they too were of little help. Now I’m getting frustrated. But it gets worse. I went to the department of Water and Power in Glendale 2 miles away. Surely the power company would know everything there is to know about electric vehicles. I asked 5 people around the facility and they didn’t even know where the charge station was. “Sparky” said, “I think it is on the lower level of the parking structure”. I couldn’t find it and gave up.

I decided to stay locally with a friend over night to recharge so I could get home the following day. On my way there, I noted Bristol Farms was listed as a charge station. I called and they had no idea if it even worked. The manager said it was installed many years ago and no one knew anything about it, but thought it was in the parking structure somewhere. Okay, I quit.

I plugged in at my friend’s house at 4 PM and by 7 AM the next morning it was charged to a range of 91 miles. Surely that would get me home right? Well I barely made it, with a range of 8 miles remaining which means at the rate the charge was being used I would only be able to travel another 4 miles to completely dead.

For what it’s worth, Tesla sells their all electric car for $70-110,000 and a neighbor who owns one says he cannot go from San Diego to LA on a full charge, or about 125 miles. He says they have a higher range option at a cost of $20-30,000. When gasoline began to drop in the past month or so, Tesla stock plummeted even faster. Surprise, surprise.

General Information: It is assembled in Korea, Classification is Midsize. Cars from Kia: Cadenza, Forte, Forte Koup, Forte5, K900, Optima, Rio, Rio 5-door, Sedona, Sorento, Soul, Soul EV and Sportage.

Handling & Performance:
Other than its quiet operation it handles the same as any other car. Power is good but the range is not. A ten to twenty-five mile commute would be just fine.

An issue that needs consideration is the long charge times required. I found it required 20 hours from complete empty to provide a 74 mile range. I couldn’t find a charge station with fast charge facilities but I’m told from company representatives a quick charge would take about a half to an hour. So a charge station is almost useless unless it has a quick charge capability.

My recommendation to Electric Car manufacturers is to list Quick Charge facilities on board since that would be the most useful for road trips. It takes under 10 minutes to refuel traditional gas powered cars and these days that is required every 3-400 miles. Until charging is as easy as filling your gas tank I have to believe consumers will reflect my experience and opt for a gas powered car.

Styling:
New age design and ‘cute’ as a neighbor saw it.

Fit and Finish:
Assembly is very good which is typical of Kia products

Cost:
Purchase price is a bit high at $35,000 as equipped. From my calculations and research of operating cost it would appear the cost to charge is about 15 cents per kw hour. This EV has storage for 27 kw hrs thus it would cost $4.05 for a complete charge. So as a comparison to a gas powered car that gets 25 mpg and gas cost say at $3.00 a gallon 100 miles would be about $12.00 or an $8 savings for this EV.

Conveniences and comfort:
Most of the conveniences we have become accustomed to in the 21st Century are available. However, I was afraid to turn on the heater since I didn’t want to chance being stranded somewhere on the highway. So I bundled up to keep from freezing in 30 degree temps at the time and headed out.

Charging can be via general household 110 V outlets but it also has a 6.6 kw on board charge port for those ‘quicker charge’ stations. (I didn’t find one). If every gas station were equipped with a “Quick Charge” facility it would be far more attractive.

Consumer Recommendations:
Include Kia in your car search, but consider seriously whether All Electric will work for you. Check out Charge facilities. My experience was not good.

It is clear to me that some gas powered cars as reported by the EPA get up to 47 miles per gallon so as these numbers grow the demand for all-electric will diminish even more and charge stations will be abandoned to make the experience even more troublesome.

Recognized Competition:
Kia Soul EV $36,000, Chevrolet Spark EV $28,000, Nissan Leaf $33,000, VW e-Golf $36,000, Mitsubishi i-MiEV $24,000, BMW i3 $46,000.

Good News:
It’s a Kia, nice styling and ride and all-electric benefits.

Bad News:
All-electric limitations.

Standard Equipment:
27 kw Hr Lithiam Ion Polymer Battery 109 horsepower 81.4 kWAC Synchronous Electric Motor, 6.6 kW on board charger port, DC fast charge port, regenerative braking system, 16” Alloy wheels, front, side and side curtain airbags, LATCH child safety system, power ABS braking system, stability management and control system,tire pressure monitor, electronically powered A/C and heat pump HVAC,navigation with 8” display with UVO EV services listing, Sirius XM satellite radio, USB and AUX input jacks, Bluetooth wireless technology, energy usage monitor, leather seating, heated and ventilatted front seats, heated rear outboard seats, 60/40 split folding rear seats, push button start with smart key, tilt and telescopic steering column, park assist system front and rear sensors, rear cameral display, fog lights, heated power folding mirrors with turn indicators.

Gas Stats:
$2.49/ Gal avg. January 10, 2015
www.fueleconomy.gov
For more information.

Pricing:
MSRP $35,700.

2015 Dodge Charger SXT (1070)

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2015 Dodge Charger SXT (1070)

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2015 Dodge Charger SXT Premium 4-door sedan. Over the history of the automobile changes have had a great deal to do with the improvement of the industry. One of the newest alliances is Fiat and Chrysler Group. Referred to as FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) the influence of Fiat is good right off the git-go. Fiat is ranked 7th in the world behind Toyota, GM, VW, Hyundai, Ford and Nissan.

In this lineup of major manufacturers of autos the most impressive is Hyundai that is experiencing rapid rise in acceptance of their products. But only time will tell the final story in who will remain at the top of the heap.

General Information: Parts – US/Canadian 67%, Mexico 20%, Engine – Mexico & Transmission – USA. It is assembled in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Classification is Large. Cars from Dodge: Avenger, Challenger, Charger, Dart, Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey and SRT Viper

Handling & Performance:
Smooth ride generally and that is aided by a new 8-speed automatic transmission. It is a rear wheel drive model that I tested but an All-Wheel is available. It is fast and like most muscle cars will appeal to performance car lovers. Some say the RWD is guilty of a bit of over-steer but I didn’t notice anything I couldn’t handle.

Rain Brake Support is featured and may improve braking performance in wet conditions. It will periodically apply a small amount of brake pressure to remove any water buildup on the front brake rotors. It only functions when the windshield wipers are in the LO or HI mode, it does not function in the intermittent mode. When Rain Brake Support is active, there is no notification to the driver and no driver interaction is required.

Styling:
Exterior and interior has taken on some of the flair brother John (auto expert and Ferrari owner) expects of Ferrari class cars. Not so hard to understand since this car is inspired by Ferrari, which is owned by Fiat. Most agree it is much improved over previous models. The seats are soft and comfy and I felt up to a long ride. There is ample legroom in the front and rear and they’ve provided average trunk space in class. Overall – Nice car.

Fit and Finish:
Very good.

Cost:
Affordable and good for a large sporty sedan

Conveniences and comfort:
The basic features are well covered but I always recommend some options including back up camera, blind spot and cross path detection, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and ‘Lane Keep Assist’. According to NHTSA’s data 37% of all transportation fatalities in USA are caused by running off the road.

These features to me provide a reduced stressful driving experience since the sensors continue to think when our attention drifts or we’re distracted. They usually come with a host of other features you may or may not be interested in.

Consumer Recommendation:
All the competition noted are close in all respects. Ford Taurus is also close but not listed because Ford does not make their product available to the press for review so I can’t include in my review. I can only be fair if I drive the competition.

Recognized Competition:
Dodge Charger SXT $30,000, Chevrolet Impala $33,000, Toyota Avalon $33,000, Nissan Maxima $35,000.

Good News:
Good pricing, 31 HWY mpg, attractive comfortable ride.

Bad News:
n/a

Standard Equipment:
3.6 liter 300 horsepower V6 engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, 4-wheel ABS power disc brakes with rain brake support, stability and traction control, electric power steering, hill start assist, tire pressure monitor, auto headlights, keyless entry and go with push button start and remote start, sentry key theft deterrent system, 8.4” touchscreen, Uconnect, AM/FM/SXM/Bluetooth with integrated voice command, 6-speakers, 2-12 volt power outlets, auto dual zone climate control.

Gas Stats:
$2.25/ Gal avg. January 17, 2015
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

19 City and 31 Highway MPG

Pricing:
MSRP $29,995.

Joe…I enjoy your write-ups

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Joe:

I enjoy your write-ups in the Country Journal from time-to-time and wanted to offer up that I recently took possession (3-year lease) of a Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell vehicle.  Odd to live in Agua Dulce (no Hydrogen stations) and drive this car, but I work in Burbank (station very close by), so it works out.  Anyway, the car has proven rather interesting, and very functional (perhaps not what most people expect to hear about a “hydrogen car”), and I thought you might be interested in checking it out sometime for consideration of the topic in general in the future.  Mercedes, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and I’m sure others, have produced Fuel Cell vehicles, and California is ramping up development of fueling stations, so it’s on the verge of becoming more mainstream.

But, I ramble.  If you’d like to explore the topic and chat sometime, let me know…

Brian

2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid (1065)

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2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid (1065)

Overview:
This week we’re reviewing the 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid Small SUV. But it is not all that small but rather a comfortable 5 passenger utility vehicle. This is subaru’s first gasoline/electric hybrid model. And although I am always pleased with Subaru products and know from past experiences that this will be a good vehicle, I am not a real fan of Hybrid cars generally.

My feeling about Hybrid’s is that technology changes will make the hybrid a forgotten innovation in time. And although, there is no evidence that Hybrid’s are not economical to maintain, the jury is still out in my opinion. Especially important is that there are many non-hybrid cars on the market today that do just as well on fuel consumption without all the added equipment requirements of the Hybrid. More devices and parts just has to be a consideration when thinking of buying a hybrid. Simple is better.

As you likely know, all Subaru’s are all wheel drive on all models and that gives added assurance of good road handling characteristics from a company that should, and I believe is, the best when it comes to AWD. It is totally transparent and it is safe to say if that’s standard on all models they are bullet proof. Of all the rebuttals bitches and complaints of consumers I could find regarding Subaru cars, none complained about the running gear.

General Information: It is assembled in Japan. Classification is: Small SUV. Cars from Subaru: BRZ, Forester, Impreza, Legacy, Outback, Tribeca, WRX, XV Crosstrek.

Handling & Performance:
This SUV handles well and has enough power (160 hp engine with electric motor) for 99% of driving situations. Only one complaint, if I can call it a complaint, is that when you come to a stop or are in stop and go traffic the engine starts and stops and restarts as you let your foot off the brake pedal. It is annoying, but as you adapt to this hybrid anomaly you’ll get over it. . . I think. It is however comforting to see the engine turned off while waiting at a railroad crossing or long traffic light. It’s kind of like when you tell the kids to turn off the lights. There’s just something about wasting anything that is against our nature……. generally.

Styling:
Nice looking. Nice appointments. Nice sized 5 seater small SUV.

Fit and Finish:
Very good.

Cost:
In the range of most in class with added benefit it is AWD standard.

Conveniences and comfort:
A comfortable ride and the usual standard features that I consider customary and ordinary in today’s world, like Bluetooth hands free use that is a must on all cars.

Consumer Recommendation:
There are those who complain about rattles and engine noise, wind noise etcl, but ‘me thinks they protest too much’. I drive a different car every week and the complaints I read are real opinions but over the past 22 plus years of driving lots of them I take the bitching with a grain of salt.

Recognized Competition:
Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid $26,000, Honda CR-V $25,000, Hyundai Tucson $24,000, Jeep Compass $26,000 Mazda CX-5 $25,000, Chevrolet Equinox $29,000, Hyundai Santa Fe $31,000, Kia Sportage $28,000, Nissan Rogue $29,000, Mitsubishi Outlander $25,000, Jeep Patriot $26,000.

Good News:
AWD standard on all Subaru’s, good pricing, good fuel economy, smooth ride.

Bad News:
Start / Stop engine is annoying.

Standard Equipment:
2.0 liter 160 horsepower 4-cylinder engine, electric drive motor integrated into standard CVT automatic transmission, auto engine start/ stop, alloy wheels, climate control, 4.3 inch multi-function display, leather wrapped steering wheel, keyless entry with push button start, front side and side curtain and driver knee airbags, standard raised roof rails, AM/FM stereo with single disc in-dash CD player, bluetooth streaming audio, 6 speakers and USB / Aux ports, heated front seats mirrors and front wiper de-icers,.

Gas Stats:
$2.87 / Gal avg. November 15, 2014
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

29 City and 33 Highway MPG

Pricing:
MSRP $25,995.

2015 Dodge Challenger SXT Plus (1067)

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2015 Dodge Challenger SXT Plus (1067)

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2015 Dodge Challenger SXT. This is a car that draws attention and that is a testimony to this retro era category of muscle car. We knew back in the 50s and 60s which cars were special in design and would be destined to be sought after in the future.

Retro cars or what is referred to as classic or vintage cars are just that – car designs that have stood the test of time. Today’s test car looks the same as it did in 1968. People who grew up with the car revere it for nostalgia but those born after 1968 like the design for the same reasons folks liked it over 40 years ago. It is just as good looking today to our youth as it was to us back then. At a Christmas eve gathering of family and friends the teens to 30-somethings gathered around the Challenger admiring it.

If you want to take a trip down memory lane of the cars of the 1950s and 1960s just take a trip to Cuba, because that is all they have. For the past 55 years, locals have played the role of Dr. Frankenstein, pulling components from old Fords, Chryslers and Chevrolets, and even creating custom parts to keep their vintage cars on the road.

General Information: Parts – US/Canadian 61%, Mexico 27%, Engine – Mexico & Transmission – USA. It is assembled in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Classification is Midsize. Cars from Dodge: Avenger, Challenger, Charger, Dart, Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey and SRT Viper

Handling & Performance:
Fast, fun and it touches the senses with that deep rumble of the exhaust reminiscent of muscle cars of those early days. Today’s cars are built with more interest in quiet, and in fact they muffle it to near silence. And that’s okay because the rumble then was more a reaction to performance to improve power and fuel economy. Necessity was the mother of invention then as it is today. But this 2015 model of the Challenger gets 30 highway MPG where that 1968 would have been doing great to get 7-10 MPG. At least that is my recollection… but at 20 cents a gallon for gasoline you could afford to waste a little petro.

Styling:
Vintage, classic, retro and they didn’t have to do a thing to improve the look. Of course it is constructed of less steel and more plastic and likely will not rattle ever. The insulation will absorb the loud exhaust and road noise so some of the experience will be lost. Now that is a good thing.

Fit and Finish:
Fit and Finish is great because assembly is easy these days and a great improvement over cars of the past. The reason, of course, is because computers make the components fit perfectly. Nice.

Cost:
Priced as I had imagined.

Conveniences and comfort:
The list of standard features is long and mostly all those things that I would want on my personal car. Some features that were optional on this test vehicle that I would want include Adaptive Cruise Control, forward collision warning and blind spot detection. Those groupings will add about $1,800 to the price tag.

Consumer Recommendation:
The real comparison of those listed below centers around the first three. These are classic muscle cars and own the category in this class. The others are good cars too and a great deal of fun to drive.

You can add Cad CTS Coupe too at about the same pricing and they are super impressive cars to drive. They are elegant, comfortable and fast but significantly more money.

Recognized Competition:
Dodge Challenger SXT Plus $30,000, Chevrolet Camaro $30,000, Ford Mustang $30,000, Hyundai Genesis Coupe $26-34.000, Cadillac ATS Coupe $38-50,000, Infiniti G Coupe $40-53,000.

Good News:
Great classic styling with good fuel economy, comfortable ride, and nice features.

Bad News:
n/a

Standard Equipment:
3.6 Liter 305 horsepower V6 VVT engine, TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission, performance brakes, sport suspension, stability control, traction control all speeds, power steering, hill start assist, rain brake support, ready alert braking, 18” alloy wheels, cruise control, rear park assist system, rear back up camera, keyless enter and push button start / stop, theft deterrent system, speed sensitive power door locks, power windows, front, side and side curtain front and rear air bags , 7” display, Uconnect 8.4 A AM/FM/SXM/BT, Sirius XM satellite radio with 6-speakers, 276 watt amplifier, integrated voice command with Bluetooth, Media hub for SD, USB, and Auxilliary outlets, heated and ventillated front seats, heated leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, power 6-way driver and 4-way lumbar adjust, dual zone climate control, auto headlights, fog lights, daytime running lights, LED aplit tail lights, rear spoiler, power mirrors with manual fold away.

Gas Stats:
$2.65/ Gal avg. December 27, 2014
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

19 City and 30 Highway MPG

Pricing:
MSRP $29,995

Electric Power for Electric Automobiles in 2015 (1069)

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Electric Power for Electric Automobiles in 2015 (1069)

Overview:
This week is a prelude to my upcoming review of the Kia Soul EV for 2015.

Merkel Weiss gives us an automotive engineer’s take on the subject of Electric Power for the Automobile.

High Performance 21st Century Design Directions by Merkel Weiss 1-1-15

Now that we’re permanently entrenched in the era of the return of electric drive in automobiles, it’s clear that battery design is going to be the new engineering Holy Grail. The energy density is the Kilowatts (KW) of stored energy per Kilogram (Kg) unit of battery weight. As we push for more and more energy density, the battery materials are necessarily more and more exotic. Currently we’re getting comfortable with Lithium polymer batteries, apparently without notice that several Fisker Karma and Tesla Model S sedans have burned down from battery pack fires. I’m confident that we’ll eventually get past this hiccup in battery production quality. We still have a significant learning curve in order to get where we want to be, on some level on a par with gasoline model vehicle range of about 300-400 miles per refill. These new battery materials promise to be more and more volatile.

One particular promising direction appears to be super-capacitors. These are electrical energy storage devices much like a battery except that where batteries generally prefer to release their stored energy slowly and then recharge slowly, super-capacitors like to release the stored energy quickly. This makes it a pretty good auxiliary power unit for launch of an electric drive vehicle. Although they are far from perfected at this time, the technology appears promising in the near future. Since electric motors have full torque at very low speed, they’re only limited by how much electrical energy can be rapidly dumped from storage. This is in direct contrast to rotating engines where the torque delivery is limited to being proportional to the crankshaft rpm.

This coming year in Formula One Racing brings some new innovative changes that will have the effect of increased efficiency on street cars in a few short years. The hybrid drive system is aided by a turbocharger which recovers heat and flow energy from the engine exhaust and converts it not only to an intake charge pressure boost (as usual) but also to electrical energy, stored in the battery pack. For this purpose, the turbo has its own electric motor/generator which could also serve to completely eliminate turbo lag.

These are several examples of how electronic engine optimization is stepping up. It’s no longer a simple management system, but now an entire integrated hybrid drive system which recovers kinetic (motion) energy from wherever it can be found, converts it to electrical energy, stores it for future use, and then delivers it back to the drive system.

Transmissions will have many more gears in the future, perhaps as many as ten. CVTs (continuously variable transmissions) will be common and the days of old geezers shifting gears will be gone forever, replaced by ever more efficient gear changes that are microseconds in length and unnoticeable in character. Just a note here: I love to shift gears, and I love the increased durability of a manual gearbox. I especially like the way I can control the rate of power takeup, a feature not possible on any self-shifting
box.

Steering columns between the front wheels and the steering wheel will be gone soon. They’ve always been extra weight and a packaging problem, not to mention a serious crash liability for manufacturers. The steering wheel will be backed by a rotary servo which in turn will translate motion to the electric servo on the front rack and pinion steering. Who needs actual road feel anyway? It’s only a distraction. The first car to have this steer-by-wire feature, the Infiniti G50 is already on the road. Infiniti calls it DAS, Direct Active Steering.

Shortly, brake systems will delete the mechanical and hydraulic components altogether, and the ABS systems will simply do full duty in their place. The new system will be cheaper, lighter and more efficient as well.

Repair of all these on-board electronic devices will take a new kind of automotive repair technician, one that is not yet in place. We can only hope that he is more competent than the previous generation. Things will certainly be more complex, more expensive and more disposable. These are my best projections. The only thing that I can say for sure is that drivers don’t need complex systems to replace simple ones. It just seems to be the direction that things are going.

David Hale – Acton resident and car guy

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An article written by you was printed in the little “Acton Country Journal”. They printed one before about the retro Dodge Challengers and once again they show a picture of a new model with the caption of “1968 Challenger”. I’m sure a car guy like you wouldn’t make this mistake, so I think since your name is on the article, you might want to provide them with a proper picture.

I own a 2008 SRT8 and owned a 1970 RT. I don’t agree with the line that they” look the same”. They are both great looking cars, but they don’t look the same. Similar, a great Resurrection, but not the same.

 

David Hale

Acton resident and car guy

2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited FWD (1066)

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2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited FWD (1066)

Overview:
This week we’re reviewing the 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited FWD SUV. The automotive industry is ever changing and most of it for the good of the company and the industry.

Jeep is a brand of American automobiles that is a division of Chrysler Group LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Italian multinational automaker Fiat S.p.A. Today it is referred to as FCA US LLC. The Chrysler brand is also joined by Dodge, Jeep and Ram. The trail of changes gets a little foggy as Chrysler has been bought and sold in recent years. You may recall in 1998 Chrysler merged with Daimler Benz to form DaimlerChrysler and I think it was the best thing that ever happened to one of the oldest big three American auto makers. Daimler moved the bar of quality up and Chrysler benefitted greatly and thus consumers. Those consumers fell in love with the brand all over again. That improvement has spilled over to all related brands like this Jeep.

A comment this morning from friend and neighbor, Carol, was that the Cherokee now looks like every other SUV and no longer looks like a Jeep. She got me thinking and she is spot on. It is true that other than the traditional Jeep grill Cherokee looks like any other SUV out there today. Some will like that while others, particularly Jeep devotees, will not appreciate the change. I’m guessing the change is to please the majority of consumers who, at the end of the day, dictate the look of our cars. So we get what we endorse with our dollars.

However, Patriot and Wrangler models have retained the Jeep look and Jeep lovers will appreciate that.

General Information: It is assembled in Toledo, Ohio, USA. Classification is: Small SUV. Cars from Chrysler: Chrysler 200, 300 and Town and Country. Models of Jeep: Patriot, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Wrangler Unlimited and Compass.

Handling & Performance:
This Jeep is a delight to drive. It has a solid feel and confident ride. Jeep has always been known for its’ off road performance but now you have a choice to have a models like Cherokee, Grand Cherokee or Compass for a more elegant look and feel. I have tested older models off road at Jeep Jamboree venues. I was impressed with what they can do off road. Today, however, it looks as though the company is ever more interested in looking good ON-Road as well as off. So some of the models available are still Jeeps. We’ll see where that goes in the future.

The power plant is a 4-cylinder engine mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. A V6 is optional. I found the 4-cylinder more than adequate and it does it while delivering 31 mpg highway fuel economy. Nice.

One final note about performance and handling. I have come to appreciate the Lane Assist feature. We all are subject to distraction as hard as we try not to allow this dangerous driving reality. Lane assist helps you to stay aware and alert while on the highway. If you drift or attempt to change lanes without activating your turn signal the car will resist crossing to another lane.

Styling:
Jeep continues to retain its historic look. To me a few upscale models will not destroy the image that is out of doors active people. Car companies are into making money like any business and the new look must have been necessary to also appeal to more potential consumers.

Fit and Finish:
Early cars of half a century ago were not the best and that was even more obvious in Chrysler products of those days. The company has matured and benefited from Daimler and hopefully Fiat as well in the future. I really like the first class interior on this Jeep.

Cost:
Competitively priced with cars in class.

Conveniences and comfort:
Super comfortable ride and all the bells and whistles are available for a price. My test vehicle had options that added $4,500 to the MSRP of $28,000.

A few of the option I love and wouldn’t go without include keyless operation with push button start and for those in cold climate the Remote Start feature is wonderful. It allows you to start the car from the warmth and comfort of your home so the car is warmed up and cozy when you get in. The Steering Wheel and seat can then be warm when you get in.

Uconnect® Systems keep you connected, while maintaining your focus on the road. See this link for all the details too numerous to name here: http://driveuconnect.com

Consumer Recommendation:
For me the options are worth the price of admission. Things like Adaptive (smart) cruise, blind spot warning, rain sensing wipers and lane sensing departure warning are all great technological wonders that I’d opt to have.

Recognized Competition:
Jeep Cherokee $24-31,000, Honda CR-V $24-32,000, GMC Terrain $27-37,000, Mazda CX-5 $22-29,000, Nissan Rogue $23-30,000, Buick Encore $24-31,000, Kia Sportage $22-30,000, Subaru XV Crosstrek $22-28,000, Volkswagen Tiguan $26-39,000, Chevrolet Equinox $25-33,000, Hyundai Tucson $22-28,000.

Good News:
Competitive pricing, really comfortable, well appointed, first class look and feel and great fuel economy.

Bad News:
n/a

Standard Equipment:
2.4 liter inline 4-cylinder engine, 9-speed automatic transmission, 18” polished aluminum wheels, LED daytime running lights and tail lamps, heated power mirrors, windshild wiper de icer, front airbags front and rear side and side curtain airbags and front knee airbags, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes with brake assist, electronic roll mitigation, traction control, brake stability control, hill start assist, remote keyless entry with push button start, remote start, dual zone climate control, integrated voice command with Bluetooth, Uconnect radio with Sirius XM, audio jack inputs, heated front seats, power 8-way driver seat, heated leather wrapped steering wheel with mounted controls on tilt and telescopic column, 7” color display, power windows and locks and Jeep cargo management system.

Gas Stats:
$2.68 / Gal avg. December 19, 2014
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

22 City and 31 Highway MPG

Pricing:
MSRP $28,195.

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