Reviews

Dec 22 2011

2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco

2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco
General Motors rolled out the Eco for the 2011 model year, building on the fuel-sipper program it pioneered with the 37-mpg Chevrolet Cobalt SFE. But with the Cruze, GM engineers went to greater lengths to improve fuel economy, and they’ve made some further changes for 2012.

We’ll get into an analysis of the tricks that makes the Cruze Eco special, but first let’s emphasize what GM didn’t do to punch up the Eco’s mileage. This is a car without any hybrid technology, not even a mild hybrid system like the eAssist system GM deployed on the Buick LaCrosse and has planned for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco. There’s no start-stop system to aid Cruze Eco’s 28 miles per gallon city fuel economy rating. In fact, the Cruze Eco’s turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder doesn’t even use direct injection to make its 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque.

Source: AutoBlog

Dec 12 2011

First review for 2013 Scion FR-S

The FR-S is offered with a choice of six-speed transmissions, both built by Aisin. The manual gearbox is a short-throw unit with Reverse to the left of first gear, accessed only after lifting a collar on the shift lever. The automatic transmission is a modified version of the eight-speed gearbox used on the Lexus IS F, minus two cogs. It is a traditional wet torque converter design, but its software has been engineered to mimic the response of a dual-clutch gearbox. Its three electronic modes (Normal, Sport and Snow) are controlled via a switch on the center console. For improved manual control, there are also F1-patterned paddles mounted on the steering wheel, while a limited-slip differential is standard on the rear-wheel drive coupe, regardless of transmission choice.

Source: AutoBlog

Dec 7 2011

2013 Mazda CX-5

2013 Mazda CX 5
The 2013 CX-5 is, effectively, the replacement for the Tribute – Mazda’s badge-engineered version of the Ford Escape. The Tribute never really fit within Mazda’s lineup, especially in recent years as the Japanese automaker has begun to furiously hone its styling and engineering directions. That said, there’s a brand-new Ford Escape coming for the 2013 model year, and Mazda quickly put its foot down to kill any rumors that the CX-5 is in any way related to the Ford. Sure, they’re similar in size, but the company executives insist that every single part of the CX-5 is brand-new and Mazda-specific.

Hyperbole aside, at 178.7 inches long, 65.7 inches tall and 72.4 inches wide, the CX-5 is nearly identical in size to the redesigned 2012 Honda CR-V, but because of its more aggressive design, the Mazda looks decidedly more compact. To further that point, know that the CX-5 rides on a wheelbase that is a full three inches longer than the CR-V. Just by looking at the two CUVs, it’s not immediately noticeable. Sport (read: Base) and Touring models come standard with 17-inch wheels, while Grand Touring models (what you see in the pics) ride on handsome 19-inch alloys that fill out the large wheel wells nicely.

The CX-5 uses the full suite of Mazda’s Skyactiv technologies, and while most people think that just refers to the 2.0-liter inline-four underhood, it’s actually much more involved than that. While the powerplant in the CX-5 is the Skyactiv-G gasoline engine, it’s mated to the buyer’s choice of a pair of new Skyactiv-branded transmissions – a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic – and the whole package is wrapped in a lightweight Skyactiv chassis. Speaking of lightness, Mazda has vowed that each new model will weigh roughly 220 pounds lighter than its predecessor. We could compare the CX-5 to the Tribute, but honestly, the larger CX-7 crossover is a more direct competitor. Depending on equipment levels, the CX-5 can weigh as much as 575 pounds less than its older, ever-so-slightly larger sibling.

But back to the Skyactiv-G engine. Here, it’s good for 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque – not breathtaking numbers by any means, and actually one of the least-powerful powerplants in its class. But thanks to an impressive 14:1 compression ratio, Mazda doesn’t need to rely on turbocharging or downsizing in order to get decent performance. Fuel economy is also a huge win for the Skyactiv powertrain, too, with manual-equipped CX-5 models expected to deliver a best-in-class 33 miles per gallon on the highway and 26 mpg in the city. Adding the automatic transmission drops the highway number to 32 mpg, and equipping the CX-5 with all-wheel drive reduces overall economy to 25/30 mpg.

Source: AutoBlog

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