Cars.com’s Joe Wiesenfelder explains the three generations of GM interior quality, which would be reason enough to check out this video. In addition, though, you get a tour of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, a vehicle he finds to be vastly improved compared to its previous incarnation. While not the sleek, hip car all the kids will be talking about, GM shows its stylized side in this new design.
In a closer look at the 2010 Honda Insight, Cars.com’s Joe Wiesenfelder takes a look at the backseat and cargo space of the new hybrid. Wiesenfelder points to some distinct design choices that make the vehicle more functional and driver-friendly than some of its hybrid predecessors. As he puts it, “There are advantages to building a hybrid from scratch.”
Lexus debuted its dedicated hybrid, the 2010 HS 250h, at the 2009 Detroit auto show. The automaker plans for the vehicle to be the most affordable luxury hybrid on the market. If that distinction sounds like several contradictions in terms, Cars.com’s Joe Wiesenfelder explains why this may very well be a savvy move for Lexus, while also checking out backseat legroom, interior finish and other key components.
One of the major stories from the 2009 Detroit auto show was the debut of the Honda Insight, which will supposedly be the lowest-priced hybrid on the market. Then Toyota came in with the 2010 Prius, which has an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 50 mpg, making it far and away the most fuel-efficient car out there. The race for king of the hybrid segment is on, and Cars.com’s Kelsey Mays and Joe Wiesenfelder have the first take on where each vehicle stands.
Now that Chrysler has its bailout money, the automaker is trying to go back to business as usual. Though its factories are set to “off,” the automaker unveiled a few new concepts at the 2009 Detroit auto show. Hidden beneath those drab displays was a diamond in the rough: a new trim level for the Dodge Challenger.
Dubbed the R/T Classic, the new Challenger will be available in February for a just-announced price of $33,280 (destination tacks on another $725). That’s $3,460 more than a standard R/T. They're not at dealers yet, but you can order one now.
The 2009 Detroit auto show was all about cars of the future. Well, the future’s here for Fisker, which showed off its 2010 Karma, a plug-in electric vehicle with a solar-paneled roof. Cars.com’s Joe Wiesenfelder takes a tour of the $80,000 car in this video, and he’s thoroughly impressed by the size, space and — to keep the vehicle audible — the speakers that can broadcast the sound from a jet engine.
Lincoln recently unveiled the 2010 MKT, and now it’s opening the doors to pricing and packaging. The Lincoln MKT will start at $44,200, excluding a $795 destination charge, which would set price of entry at $44,995 for the base front-wheel-drive model. The MKT goes on sale this summer.
To get Ford’s first implementation of its new 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged EcoBoost engine, you’ll have to dole out another five grand ($49,200), which also adds all-wheel drive. An Elite Package – which includes features like adaptive cruise control, voice-activated navigation and a blind spot detection system – will cost you another $5,000, with or without EcoBoost.
There are still options after the Elite Package and EcoBoost; all in all, the MKT can cost north of $60,000. The MKT is the second-most expensive Lincoln after the Navigator.
This is a lot of money; a similarly equipped Buick Enclave is $3,000 less. No, we couldn’t believe the Enclave was that much either when so equipped. Lincoln would like us to compare the MKT to the Audi Q7, which starts at $46,900 for a seven-seater, but prestige-wise Lincoln and Audi are on different planets for most shoppers. A fair compromise is to compare the MKT to the Acura MDX, which is still cheaper by around $3,000. A similarly equipped Ford Flex is $8,000 less than the Lincoln.
More than 30 cars debuted at this year’s 2009 NAIAS in Detroit. After wading through three-row SUVs, concept touch-screens, economical four-door sedans and enough hybrid/electric/plug-in cars to make your head spin, I fell in love with a roadster — the 2009 BMW Z4 roadster, to be exact.
A recessed brake light at the top of the trunk is a slick touch, while the interior fit and finish is pretty close to flawless. Creased hood lines, an upgraded grille and seamless flow from front fender to door handle give it a performance stance the previous model lacked. All-around? This was my favorite production car in Detroit this year. I can’t wait to get my hands on one in Chicago … in summer.
Please leave your remarks in the comments section; a full set of photos is below. Feel free to use the full-screen mode on the photo browser.
Our crew was a bit surprised at how many new production models were shown in Detroit this year. What was even more surprising was how good most of them were. Of course, a few losers wormed their way into the hall as well. Check out our wrap-up below.
2010 Ford Taurus
David Thomas: Winner
The exterior is massive. It looks so big, yet it’s very handsome too. The wheels have a concept-car look to them. Inside I wasn’t as impressed, with a dash that seemed to be on the same level as the Fusion’s, but the doors were quite nice, with upscale padding. It's not as big in back as it probably should be.
Kelsey Mays: Winner
I second Dave’s backseat impressions — there just isn’t as much room back there as the prior Taurus had. The trunk is as voluminous as ever, though. Up front, it looks like Ford is slowly replacing the grainy-looking textures that afflicted the outgoing Taurus, not to mention the Flex and a few other current models. The front seats are comfortable, and the gauges look terrific.
Mike Hanley: Winner
Ford addressed the areas of the Taurus that were most in need of attention with the redesigned 2010 model, giving it a sleek, contemporary exterior and a high-grade cabin that'll make full-size-sedan shoppers take a second look.
Joe Wiesenfelder: Winner
I've rallied behind this car since it came out as the Five Hundred. Now, Ford is finally addressing the biggest drawback: interior quality. No one's more disappointed by the backseat than I, because the brilliant space efficiency in the old version was one of the things I valued. Not to say it's small, by any means. I hope it rides softer than the Lincoln MKS.
In a change from last year's Detroit auto show, there were fewer concept debuts than production-model introductions this year. There were still a number of interesting concepts that emerged at the show, however, and Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder have weighed in on which ones hit the mark and which fell flat.
Audi Sportback
Mike Hanley: Winner
The Audi Sportback sedan concept follows in the footsteps of models like the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class with its coupe-like profile, but I'm a bigger fan of Audi's execution, which has a clean, chiseled look. There are enough production-ready elements in this car — especially in the cabin — that it wouldn't be a stretch for Audi to build this car.
David Thomas: Winner
Could the front of this car be any bigger? In person, the front is just massive. It’s a rather distinctive look even as it incorporates Audi’s overall design theme. And it’s much better than the Volvo concept.
Joe Wiesenfelder: Winner
Whole thing's enormous. More like the BMW X6 SUV than the Mercedes CLS. Actually, it knocks off the BMW CS concept from the spring 2007 Shanghai Motor Show. But that looked great, and BMW shelved it. I'll take this replacement, happily.
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