Yearly Archives: 2016

Mercedes GLS550 may be top SUV

A cardinal red Mercedes-Benz GLS550 adds beauty with the yellowing aspen leaves near the old Kinikinik store in Poudre Canyon. (Bud Wells photo)
A cardinal red Mercedes-Benz GLS550 adds beauty with the yellowing aspen leaves near the old Kinikinik store in Poudre Canyon. (Bud Wells photo)

The lengthy Poudre Canyon drive all the way to Gould, then north a bit, was the test track recently for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS550 4Matic.

Aspen leaves along the way were turning yellow and gold and orange; too early, though, to throw snow at the refreshed all-wheel-drive beauty. GLS is new name for Mercedes, replacing GL from previous years.

Destination was Bill Allen’s elk-hunting camp, where we loaded up Kathy Allen and bags and boxes for the return trip to Greeley. Bill Allen remained on the hunt through the week.

The Mercedes may be the best of the big guys of sport utility vehicles. The short, though impressive, list of full-size luxury SUVs with three rows include, besides the GLS, the Audi Q7, Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX80, Lexus LX570, Lincoln Navigator and the combination of Range Rover/Land Rover LR4/Range Rover Sport.

The GLS550’s climbs are effortless with the twin-turboed V-8 and 9-speed automatic. The 4.7-liter biturbo kicks out 449 horsepower (an increase of 20 from last year) and 516 pound-feet of torque – plenty of performance and all-wheel-drive, too. The new 9G-Tronic transmission kept rpm relatively low in most driving situations.

The climb to the top of Cameron Pass was done mostly in the Comfort driving mode, which is the default mode. For the long descent return, I opted for the more spirited Sport mode, including use of paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

That was the most effective use, exemplary I’d say, of the GLS’s electronic stability control/curve control/lane-keeping assist of any I’ve driven through the mountain country. Heading into several sharp curves with the cruise set at 50 to 60 miles per hour, the control system instantaneously braked and slowed the SUV’s speed by 10 mph while assisting the steering effort (guarding against understeer) either right or left, as the curves dictated.

Up to 12.5 inches of ground clearance is possible with the GLS’s retuned Airmatic air suspension.

Diamond-quilted Nappa leather seats are heated and cooled in the front row and heated in the second row. Third-row seating is among the roomiest and most comfortable of any in the full-size category. With all three rows of seats in place, rear cargo space measures 16 cubic feet; power-fold the third row and that expands to 49 feet. Narrow running boards on either side of the long vehicle are positioned so tight to the body underside as to leave little usable foot-step room atop the board.

A $5,400 Bang & Olufsen audio system, including 14 speakers and use of acoustic lens technology at each of the A pillars, enhanced the cabin. While enjoying the surround sound, the driver may chill or warm the cupholder and its drink.

The Mercedes’ overall  length of 201.6 inches is 1 ½ inches longer than the Audi Q7; it stands 6-feet high and weighs in at 5,300 pounds.

Newest feature on the amenity-laden GLS is a Remote Parking Pilot, an app when downloaded onto the owner’s smartphone permits the driver to exit the vehicle, and with use of the smartphone guide it without driver into or out of a tight parking space.

All this dressing pushed sticker price of the Mercedes to $110,565, from a base price of $93,850.

Acura NSX hybrid, QX30 spin Devil’s Thumb

New Acura NSX among most technologically advanced automobiles. (Bud Wells photos)
New Acura NSX among most technologically advanced automobiles. (Bud Wells photos)

Fifteen feet out of the parking spot aboard the Infiniti QX30 at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, the hollering, “Stop, Bud, stop,” stopped me.

“It’s leaking fuel,” I was told. That ended my plan for driving the premium compact crossover, one of 40 new cars and trucks delivered recently by auto manufacturers to the ranch near Tabernash to be driven by members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP).

The QX30 was one of those I most wanted to drive. It is a collaboration of Infiniti design and Mercedes-Benz engineering, with lots of mechanical likeness to the Mercedes GLA250. It is built in an Infiniti plant in Sunderland, England.

Soon after the QX slipped from my grasp, a second surprise came my way. I was motioned to the open driver’s door of the high-end 2017 Acura NSX by Allie Coulter, senior public relations specialist for Acura. The NSX is returning after an absence of 12 years to the U.S. market as a hybrid.

“Why a hybrid for the sports car?,” I asked Coulter at the beginning of our drive. She explained that the powertrain has three electric motors, including one at each front wheel, and a mid-mounted twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine; all that mated to a 9-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

“It becomes one of the most technically advanced cars on the road,” she said, “and, of course with the electric motors, it performs with zero-delay acceleration.”

The gas engine/electric motors combination produces 573 horsepower and 476 lb.-ft. of torque.

The sports car is being built in the U.S. at Marysville, Ohio. The NSX was imported to the U.S. from Jap

Smooth-operating Honda Ridgeline shows a bit tougher stance.
Smooth-operating Honda Ridgeline shows a bit tougher stance.

an as a gas-engine sports car from 1991 to 2005.

Pricing of the new one begins at $156,000. Addition of a carbon-fiber engine cover, carbon-ceramic rotors with red brake calipers, semi-analine red leather and alcantara seats and ELS Studio audio and technology package pushed sticker price to $189,000.

It sleekness and casino white pearl finish made the Acura NSX one of the most attractive models among the 40 cars at Devil’s Thumb. Acura is luxury division for Honda.

Having heard of much interest in the revived Honda Ridgeline, I drove one with Davis Adams, Honda PR regional manager, as my passenger.

Restyled somewhat along the lines of a traditional pickup, the unibody-constructed ’17 Ridgeline continues a very smooth drive and is more carlike than competitive makes

Angela Bianchi, a PR manager for FCA, introduces Fiat 124 Spider.
Angela Bianchi, a PR manager for FCA, introduces Fiat 124 Spider.

Tacoma, Frontier and Canyon. For some compact truck loyalists, “carlike” is not necessarily a desired attribute.

The Honda truck retains a storage tub beneath the floor of the bed and offers a new feature – exciters mounted on the back of the bedside panel liners function like the cone on a traditional speaker; anything audio-played in the cabin sounds in the bed, too.

The 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Convertible got a formal introduction following lunch at Devil’s Thumb. Angela Bianchi, product PR manager for FCA, showed off features of the little sports car, which though carrying the Fiat brand name is being built by Mazda on the same assembly line as the Miata – in Hiroshima, Japan.

The Fiat and the Mazda share a common wheelbase, yet the Fiat comes off the line somewhat distinctive, with a low-riding grille, hood bulges and a chrome finish around the windshield, all drawn from the old 124. The Fiat is 5 inches longer than the Miata in overall length, 100 pounds heavier and is equipped with its own 1.4-liter turbocharged engine.

I drove the 124 Spider in early July. It has returned to the U.S. market after an absence of almost 40 years.

VW AllTrack will be available only with 4Motion all-wheel drive.
VW AllTrack will be available only with 4Motion all-wheel drive.

I received a personal walkaround at Devil’s Thumb of the new 2017 Volkswagen Golf AllTrack, which will go on sale late next month. No drives of the new model were permitted. Darryll Harrison Jr., regional communications spokesperson for Volkswagen of America, said the AllTrack will be available only with 4Motion all-wheel drive, making it appealing for the Colorado market. It will be a competitor of the Subaru Outback.

Nick Browe, Ram 1500 brand manager for FCA (Fiat/Chrysler) Group, in the early afternoon caught my attention long enough to guide me into the Ram Rebel 4X4 pickup, a competitor of the new Nissan Titan XD. Browe rode with me and discussed many features of the Rebel as I maneuvered it somewhat spiritedly around the twists and climbs of the mountainous setting.

The 2016 Ram 1500 Rebel 4X4 out front of the Tabernash Tavern.
The 2016 Ram 1500 Rebel 4X4 out front of the Tabernash Tavern.

The Rebel, introduced last year at the Detroit Auto Show, sits high on a 140-inch wheelbase with stiffened Bilstein shocks and 33-inch Toyo tires, creating 11.1 inches of ground clearance. It is aimed at those who still believe a truck can be built for offroading.

The 395-horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine, with 410 lb.-ft. of torque, is tied to an 8-speed automatic transmission controlled from a rotary dial on the dash.

I rode in the great-handling 2016 Lexus GS F, the most powerful sedan ever for that Japanese luxury builder. The $90,000 four-door gains performance from a 467-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8 with 8-speed sport transmission.

General Motors, a major player in last year’s gathering at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, had only the Chevy Camaro available for view and drives this year.

Back then . . . . .1981 Ford Bronco

1981 Ford Bronco. (Bud Wells/1981)
1981 Ford Bronco. (Bud Wells/1981)

Thirty-five years ago this summer, I reviewed in The Denver Post the 1981 Ford Bronco sport utility vehicle. Excerpts:

Unusually high gas-mileage figures being associated with the 1981 Ford Bronco may just be true.

A 6-cylinder-powered Bronco with 4-speed overdrive transmission averaged 18.8 miles per gallon in a highway test I made. The Bronco is geared so high that at 55 miles per hour in overdrive it runs at only 1,650 RPM. The overdrive is a cruise gear not intended for climbing, and it requires plenty of downshifting.

The engine is Ford’s 300-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) inline-6-cylinder.

The ’81 model continues a smooth, soft ride with a Twin-I-Beam front axle and coil springs in front.

A new feature this year is an automatic locking hub device in which the driver can shift the front hubs from free-wheeling to four-wheel-drive and back again at the transfer case without leaving the cab.

The model I tested was purchased in March by Dan Pivonka, an Atwood farmer, from Leon Atkins Ford of Haxtun.

Seating position is high in the front bucket seats. A key wll lower or raise the rear window, the spare tire swings away from the back and the tailgate drops down to the level of the cargo floor.

The sticker price of $13,394 included air conditioning, AM/FM 8-track stereo, tinted glass, electric rear defroster, skid plates and boat hitch.

Sales hot as Jeep celebrates 75th

Jeep Cherokee green finish dates to Jeeps of World War II. (Bud Wells photo)
Jeep Cherokee green finish dates to Jeeps of World War II. (Bud Wells photo)

The olive drab shade of green on the outside drew most comments as I spent some time recently in the 2016 Jeep Cherokee Latitude 4X4.

As observers drew close and reacted to the badge on the side, “1941, 75 Years,” many, at least of the older generation, got it – the 75th anniversary of Jeep, born in the early days of World War II.

Though today’s Wrangler is a more recognizable descendant of the first Jeeps, the Cherokee in that color scheme stirs the memories and respect for the iconic four-wheeler. Jeep calls the color recon green.

Jeeps, whether Wrangler or Cherokee or Grand Cherokee, are the hottest-selling vehicles on the U.S. market today. Jeep this month has passed the 500,000 mark in U.S. sales for the year thus far.

Besides the green finish and 1941 badging, adding distinction to the new Cherokee I drove were bronze-painted aluminum wheels, 75th edition cloth/mesh bucket seats and orange interior accents.

The Cherokee, which returned to the Jeep lineup in 2014, is compact in size, measuring 182 inches in overall length, on a wheelbase of 106 inches.

The Cherokee  rides fairly comfortably and is a very capable offroader, with performance from a 271-horsepower, 3.2-liter V-6 engine and 9-speed automatic transmission.

Jan and I added 240 miles to the Jeep one afternoon when we delivered a Ford Flex to Jim and Cristi Powell in Yuma; Jim’s a professional photographer and the Flex and its spacious cargo area fill his needs.

The drive helped lift the Cherokee’s overall fuel mileage to 25 miles per gallon; its EPA estimate is 19/26. The Jeep isn’t particularly powerful on acceleration. If you want power, get a Grand Cherokee SRT.

The 9-speed tranny and V-6 power (base engine is a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder), along with the 75th anniversary niceties, raised sticker price on the Cherokee to $36,765. Also included are panoramic sunroof, backup camera, stop/start system, remote start, power liftgate, heated front seats and heated steering wheel. It rides on Continental ProContact 255/60R18 tires.

Following is a brief timeline for Jeep’s 75 years:

 

1941 – Willys-Overland awarded first contract from Army for 16,000 units of little reconnaissance car.

1941 – U.S. enters World War II after Dec. 7 attack of Pearl Harbor.

1945 – World  War II ends; Willys produced 368,000 Jeeps and Ford 277,000.

1947 – Jeep pickups go on sale in ¾-ton and 1-ton size.

1953 – Kaiser Manufacturing buys Willys-Overland.

1954 – Willys introduces the CJ-5, one of the most popular Jeeps ever.

1960 – Jeep CJ models get a competitor, the Scout from International Harvester.

1965 – Ford shows off the Bronco SUV, another competitor to the Jeep.

1969 – American Motors buys Kaiser-Jeep.

1972 – Quadra-Trac full-time 4WD is unveiled by Jeep; each wheel can operate at its own speed.

1976 – The CJ-7 replaces the CJ-6 for Jeep in North America.

1977 – Four-door version of Jeep Cherokee introduced.

1978 – Jeep Wagoneer Limited becomes first domestic SUV with leather interior.

1987 – Chrysler Corp. purchases American Motors (AMC) from Renault; the prize was Jeep.

1992 – Grand Wagoneer production ends after 30 years.

2001 – Production begins on Jeep Liberty, which became successor to the original Cherokee.

2006 – Carlike Patriot and Compass are introduced.

2007 – Four-door Wrangler Unlimited goes on sale; in recent years has attained some of highest resale values in U.S. market.

2012 – Production ends for the Liberty; which was succeeded by the resurrected Cherokee name.

2014 – Jeep tops 1 million units annually in global sales for the first time.

2015 – Production rolls along in Italy of the new subcompact Renegade, of which I wrote, “It’s Italian-built with an all-American name and a nose like a Chinese pug.”

Jaguar’s 1st SUV extends focus on Colo.

Jaguar F-Pace joins impressive luxury compact field. (Bud Wells photo)
Jaguar F-Pace joins impressive luxury compact field. (Bud Wells photo)

The 2017 F-Pace showed up at my place recently; it’s Jaguar’s first-ever SUV.

To drive it was exciting, and the experience reinforced my belief that Jaguar’s planners from the United Kingdom in recent years have focused in on our relatively small state of Colorado.

For years, those imported, rear-drive Jag sedans were slush-sliders when it came to winter time in the Rockies, then three years ago, lo and behold, Jaguar surprised the automotive world by unveiling all-wheel-drive systems for the XJ and XF sedans.

In warmups to that 2013 unveiling in New York, David Pryor, Jag’s director of marketing, called us, seeking assurance that luxury car drivers from Colorado would be made aware of the new player in four-wheel circles. Of course he called, for Colorado leads the nation in demand for all-wheel-drive equipped luxury sedans; New York is second.

“A dealer you know, Jack TerHar, was among those who had pushed us for some time to develop all-wheel drive for our large luxury sedans,” Pryor told me. And since then, Colorado’s three Jaguar dealerships – Sill-TerHar Motors in Broomfield, Stevinson Imports in Littleton, and Red Noland Auto Group in Colorado Springs – have benefited from AWD sedans in their showrooms.

Jaguar testing all-wheel-drive in Sweden four years ago. (Jaguar photo)
Jaguar testing all-wheel-drive in Sweden four years ago. (Jaguar photo)

The British focused once again on Colorado this summer, choosing luxurious Aspen for a national unveiling of the new F-Pace and the XE compact sports sedan. The introduction of those two expands Jaguar’s lineup to five models for the first time in its 80-year history.

As I crawled into the driver’s side of the new F-Pace last week, the spaciousness claimed in promotional material from Jaguar didn’t seem to measure up. It was a bit tight. It reminded me that the F-Pace is a luxury compact, not a midsizer or full-sizer. For other qualities, the F-Pace will compete very adequately with such outstanding luxury compacts as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Porsche Macan.

Within only a few miles from my driveway, I realized what an excellent performer the UK engineers have put together. The F-Pace sounds like a sports car, it drives like a sports car.

The performance comes from a 340-horsepower, 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 engine tied to an 8-speed automatic transmission with dial shifter. In routine driving, engine torque is sent to the rear axle; for greater traction, particularly in inclement weather, torque is routed to all four wheels in its AWD system. “The F-Pace is an all-weather Jaguar sports car, life-proofed for five people and their belongings,” said Ian Callum, director of design for Jaguar. Dynamic, normal and eco modes lend throttle response and shifting characteristics to the likes of the driver.

The F-Pace rides on a relatively long 113-inch wheelbase. Its cargo space of 33.5 cubic feet is among the roomiest in the luxury compact class, and its tailgate can be automatically opened by swinging a foot beneath the rear of the vehicle.

Soft leather seating, heated and cooled in front and heated in the rear, and a large sunroof are interior highlights. The rear seats recline electrically. Confusing on first drive are memory driver seat controls positioned where power window switches normally are placed (the window switches are far forward on the window sill). Open a front door after dark and on the ground below is cast a circle of light with Jaguar emblem.

Overall fuel-mileage average was 22.2; the F-Pace EPA estimate is only 18/23.

The Jaguar F-Pace Prestige model carried a base price of $50,100 and increased to $56,195 with addition of automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitor, the heated and cooled seats and satellite radio.

Among standard equipment are rearview camera, heated steering wheel, stop/start system, navigation and Continental CrossContract Sport 255/55R19 tires.

The F-Pace is built in Soliihull, England.

Pacifica maintains Chrysler minivan pace

The Chrysler Pacifica Touring model is priced at $33,000. (Bud Wells photo)
The Chrysler Pacifica Touring model is priced at $33,000. (Bud Wells photo)

A 9-speed automatic transmission headed a long list of standard equipment on a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Touring minivan driven recently. Tied to a 287-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine, the Pacifica carried an EPA estimate of 18/28 miles per gallon.

The Pacifica showed up reasonably priced at $33,475. Its only options included eight-passenger seating, power liftgate and blind spot/cross path detection.

The Pacifica, introduced three months ago to replace the long-popular Town & Country minivan, is gaining sales enough to keep Chrysler/Dodge vans atop the sales category.

As crossovers continue to grow in market strength, some feared minivans might be phased out. “Not so,” said Rick Deneau of FiatChryslerAutomobiles. . “We are seeking a fresh approach with a new name with the Pacifica to maintain our market share domination.”

Of 313,556 minivans sold thus far this year by Honda, Toyota and Chrysler/Dodge, 50.2 percent have carried the Chrysler/Dodge emblems. Dodge Grand Caravan has sold 84,140, Toyota Sienna 79,959, Honda Odyssey 75,889, Chrysler Town & Country 54,826 and Chrysler Pacifica (introduced three months ago) 18,742.

The Pacifica is longer and taller than the Town & Country and its track is 68.3 inches, compared with 65.6 for the T&C. A rotarydial shifter has replaced the dash-placed shifter of the past. As for step-in height into the middle-seating area, the Pacifica is of lower step-in than the Toyota Sienna by an inch or a bit more.

Kids, with the push of a button, can trigger the sliding side doors of the Pacifica, and the van offers a vacuum in a rear corner which, with its hose, can reach all areas of the interior.

This is my second drive the new minivan. We drove 1,300 miles five months ago toNewport Beach, Calif., at the luxurious Pelican Hill Resort for unveiling of the Pacifica. While there, we were given opportunity to drive the van from San Diego to Newport Beach.

Mazda CX-9 visits bison ranch

The Mazda CX-9 crossover at Terry Bison Ranch on Colorado/Wyoming line. (Bud Wells photo)
The Mazda CX-9 crossover at Terry Bison Ranch on Colorado/Wyoming line. (Bud Wells photo)

Heading north on I-25 in the 2017 Mazda CX-9 last Saturday afternoon, with Kim Parker of Greeley and Keith Brumley of Eaton in the rear passenger seats and Jan, of course, riding shotgun, I slowed and parked to the side of the highway with other motorists and waited out a light-hailstorm.

It would be a shame to dimple this newly restyled CX-9. From its rounded back end with sharply sloped rear window to its big hood up front, it is a showpiece among full-size crossovers; well, showpiece, that is, except for, ahem, its big nose. The trapezoidal grillepiece juts out some 4 inches from the Mazda’s front; some describe it as “shark-like,” others as “hawk-like.”

The roomy CX-9, regardless of its schnoz, offers comfort aplenty with its three rows of seating; it has been a favorite of mine. My first drive of one was in its launch year, 2007, on a cold, icy New Year’s Eve and I was impressed with the grip of its all-wheel-drive system.

Saturday’s drive in the ’16 model was as far as the Colorado/Wyoming line, where we turned in to the Terry Bison Ranch, joining Brent and Tina Wells of Windsor, Bill and Kathy Allen of Greeley, Dale and Sandy Wells of Johnstown and Kurt and Tammy Wells of Littleton for an evening dinner.

Rattlesnake Jake Martin, the honky-tonk piano player inside the Senator’s Steakhouse liked that we were from the Greeley area, talking of years ago when he was a pen rider for the Farr Feedlots here.

Departing the Terry Bison Ranch Saturday night, we headed the CX-9 east to U.S. 85, and the nighttime drive on a two-lane road provided a busy on-off test for the Mazda’s automatic high-beam control, in which the lighting remained on bright until dimmed by oncoming traffic.

The headlight feature was one of many upgrades which the Signature all-wheel-drive model provided the CX-9, such as auburn-colored Nappa leather seats with aluminum and rosewood interior trim, second-row seats that would slide fore and aft and recline, 8-inch color display for navigation and Bose audio with Bluetooth, rearview camera, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist. Sticker price was $44,915.

V-6 power is no longer offered for the CX-9; the 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine with 6-speed automatic transmission in sport mode pushed the 4,300-pound crossover along with satisfactory low-end and midrange torque. The 4-cylinder is unusually quiet and smooth at idle. The little engine develops 227 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque with use of regular octane gas, while horsepower increases to 250 with a tankful of premium fuel. The Mazda rides on Falken P255/50R20 tires.

Overall fuel mileage of 23.9 was right in the middle of the CX-9’s EPA estimate of 21/27.

The CX-9’s third row of seats is comfortable and usable. Cargo space behind, though, is only 17 cubic feet. Flatten the third row and that expands to 48.3 cubic feet.

The Mazda CX-9 competes with the Chevy Traverse, Ford Flex, Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.

 

Camaro celebrates 50th in Detroit cruise

The 2017 Camaro 50th anniversary models will include the ZL1. (Chevrolet)
The 2017 Camaro 50th anniversary models will include the ZL1. (Chevrolet)

Fifty years to the month after the Camaro was revealed to the public, Chevrolet will commemorate the muscle car’s 50th anniversary celebration during the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit.

Celebration and tours of the Lansing Grand River plant in Lansing, Mich., where the Camaro is built, are planned for Thursday, Aug. 18, and Chevrolet’s Woodward Dream Cruise on Saturday, Aug. 20, will include rare and milestone examples from the Camaro’s six generations, including the all-new 2017 Camaro ZL1 and 1LE models.

It was in mid-August 1966 that the first-produced Camaro was shown to the public, and the much-anticipated Chevy went on sale a month later. To fully appreciate the car’s 50th, forget the fact that the Camaro wasn’t even built from the end of the 2002 model year to the start of ’10 model. It has come back so strong since that it is truly an iconic part of Chevrolet’s more than 100-year history.

The 2016 Chevy Camaro SS Coupe. (Bud Wells photo)
The 2016 Chevy Camaro SS Coupe. (Bud Wells photo)

In planned recognition of the Camaro’s 50 years, I drove recently the 2016 Camaro 2SS Coupe with its 6.2-liter V-8 of 445 horsepower and 445 torque. Mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, it performs very satisfactorily, with low-throated sound adding emphasis to its acceleration.

Like Chevy’s more spirited Corvette sports car, the SS version of the Camaro offers Active Rev Matching technology, which, engaged by paddles on either side of the steering wheel, blips the throttle to match engine rpm to the wheel speed for a seamless downshift.

The transmission has also General Motors’ long-used “skip-shift” feature, which under normal acceleration will guide the manual shifter from 1st to 4th to save fuel. Yet, a good share of drivers kick up the rpm, which permits a much more rewarding sequence from 1st to 2nd, and saves no fuel.

The Camaro’s exterior, styled in a chopped look, is finished in hyper blue metallic paint, with a white stripe down the middle. Settle into the heavily bolstered sport seat and enjoy not only the performance with its magnetic ride control, but the high-tech audio and navigation systems. Twice while driving I heard the ringing of a phone, pushed the phone-icon button, and once the message center indicated the call was intended for Brian, on a second ringing another day, voice control told me, “You have a call,” then messaged me to “Call Dave at work.”

The Camaro’s driver mode selector offers choice of four custom-tailored styles of performance; I used Sport mode most often, gaining throttle response and steering tightness to my satisfaction. Other modes include Tour, Track and Snow/Ice. If you’re dealing with snow and ice, I’d suggest parking the SS and driving the family crossover.

The Camaro carries an EPA fuel-mileage rating of 16/25 miles per gallon; my overall average was 18.7.

From a base price of $41,300, the SS Coupe’s sticker totaled $45,910 with the addition of magnetic ride control, dual-mode performance exhaust, MyLink audio system, cargo net and white pearl center stripe.

The most powerful beast I ever drove under the Camaro name was the 2012 ZL1 with 580 horsepower from a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 and 6-speed manual transmission.

Shifts and throttle response from a revised short-throw shifter were smoother than most performance models, though the 445-hp SS I drove recently was noticeably easier to handle than the 580. One of the easiest-driving Camaro was a 1979 Berlinetta with a 350 V-8 and automatic transmission.

The original ’67 Camaro convertible. (Chevrolet)
The original ’67 Camaro convertible. (Chevrolet)

Among 50-year Camaro highlights:

1966 – The Camaro, a direct response to the success of Ford’s pony car, Mustang, was announced by Chevrolet Division’s General Manager Pete Estes. Beginning price for the Sport Coupe was $2,466.

1969 – Sales numbers jumped in ’69, with the Camaro selling 243,085 units off the lots. Part of the success was due to refreshed styling, and it is considered one of the most beautiful cars of all time.

1980 – Chevrolet  said goodbye to the old 250 inline-6 and replaced it with a 3.8-liter V-6.

1989 – Chevrolet dropped the Sport Coupe name, brought out the RS, and fitted it with either a V-6 or a throttle-body-injected 5.0-liter V-8.

1993 – The first year of the fourth-generation showed off a new design direction, as the car was sleek, smooth, and extremely streamlined as opposed to the boxier, more cut third generation.

1997 – The year marked 30 years of the Chevrolet Camaro, and the celebration came in the form of a special edition car modeled after the Brickyard 400 pace car with white and orange package on the Z28 and SS.

2002 – In the final model year before Chevy killed the Camaro, the company created the 35th Anniversary Editions, which were convertibles that had bright red paint with white checkered flag decals. 2010 – After watching Ford continue to excel with the Mustang in the Camaro’s absence, the fifth-generation car finally hit showrooms in ’09 as a ’10 model.

2012 – Chevy brought out the ZL1 trim, powered by a tuned, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 that was used in both the Cadillac CTS-V and the Corvette ZR1. At 580 horsepower, it was the most powerful Camaro ever made.

2016- Chevy plans 50th anniversary party for Camaro.

Hybrid sales continue decline; NX gains

The stylish 2016 Lexus NX300h hybrid crossover. (Bud Wells photos)
The stylish 2016 Lexus NX300h hybrid crossover. (Bud Wells photos)

It’s a reflection of continued low fuel prices, spurring sales of pickups and SUVs, say proponents of gas/electric hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully battery electric vehicles, which dropped 8 percent in sales during the first six months of 2016.

Overall sales of cars, SUV/crossovers and light-duty pickups through the end of June totaled 8.6 million, an increase of 1.3 percent.

Total sales of gas/electric hybrids have taken a sharp drop during the first six months of this year, falling to 161,334 sales from 190,970 at the same time a year ago, a decline of 15.5 percent.

Plug-in hybrid sales, led by Chevrolet Volt and Ford Fusion Energi, jumped to 29,920 sales through the end of June, an increase of 61.7 percent over the same period a year ago. The introduction of four new plug-ins – BMW X5, Audi A3, Hyundai Sonata and Volvo XC90 – helped the jump in percentage.

Sales of battery electric vehicles slipped slightly for the six months, from 35,435 a year ago to 34,245 this year, affected by a severe decline in sales of the Nissan Leaf. The Tesla S declined this year to 11,700 sales from 11,900 a year ago, though dominated the category when adding the 6,900 sales of its new Model X. All Tesla figures are only estimates provided by the company.

Of the approximately 40 gas/electric hybrids on the market, only three showed gains through June – the Lexus 450h from 3,185 to 4,730, Toyota Highlander hybrid from  1,758 to 2,706, the Lexus NX hybrid from 1,215 to 1,366. The Toyota Prius Liftback, which has led hybrid sales for 15 years, showed a drop of 10.5 percent, and a newly arrived hybrid entry, the Toyota RAV4, has moved into second place in sales.

The 2016 Lexus NX300h, in its second year of production, was in my hands earlier this month. The sharp-looking NX is styled similarly to the bigger RX, with a somewhat smaller grille jutting out front of a sloping hood. The NX is 5 inches shorter than RX in wheelbase, 10 inches shy in overall length and 600 pounds lighter.

The NX300h is powered by a 2.5-liter V-6 engine, electric motor and nickel-metal hydride battery pack;  a $1,590 addition for all-wheel drive ties a second electric motor to the rear axle. The engine/electric motors work with a continuously variable transmission. Acceleration is relatively slow off the line.

The NX, with an EPA estimate of 33/30 miles per gallon, averaged 32.4. It rides on Yokohama Geolandar 225/60R18 tires.

The elegantly finished Lexus interior is comfortable, with heated and cooled front seats, a heated leather-covered steering wheel, dual-zone climate control with rear vents and a power moonroof.

Pushing the crossover’s sticker price to $47,818 were premium sound system and navigation, blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert, power liftgate and push-button start. Base price for the NX300h is $41,310.

Perennial hybrid sales leader is the Toyota Prius Liftback; this is the ’16 Prius Two.
Perennial hybrid sales leader is the Toyota Prius Liftback; this is the ’16 Prius Two.

The top 25 hybrid sellers thus far this year are Toyota Prius Liftback with 48,475; Toyota RAV4 with 19,251; Toyota Prius C 11,573; Ford Fusion 11,487; Toyota Camry 10,280; Hyundai Sonata 9,979; Toyota Prius V 7,315; Ford C-Max 7,043; Lexus RX450h 4,730; Lexus CT200h 4,515; Lexus ES 4,230; Toyota Avalon 3,943; Lincoln MKZ 3,868; Kia Optima 2,827; Toyota Highlander 2,706; Subaru XV Crosstrek 1,688; Lexus NX 1,366; Honda CR-Z 1,205; Infiniti Q50 1,048; Honda Civic 707; Infiniti QX60 690; Chevrolet Malibu 620; Buick LaCrosse 505; Nissan Pathfinder 397 and Volkswagen Jetta 269.

Eleven of the top 17 on the preceding list are Toyota/Lexus products.

The top 10 sellers of plug-in hybrids for the past six months are Chevrolet Volt with 9,808; Ford Fusion Energi 7,235; Ford C-Max Energi 3,225; BMW X5 plug-in 2,577; Audi A3 plug-in 1,942; Hyundai Sonata plug-in 1,350; Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid 1,166; Volvo XC90 plug-in 1,006; BMW i8 620 and Cadillac ELR 496.

Sales of the Volt for the six months increased by 74.5 percent, from 5,622 to 9,808, while the Fusion Energi gained 68.6 percent, from 4,290 to 7,235.

The top 10 sellers of battery electric vehicles through June are Tesla Model S 11,700; Tesla Model X 6,900; Nissan Leaf 5,793; BMW i3 2,880; Fiat 500e 1,983; Chevrolet Spark 1,779; Volkswagen e-Golf 1,455; Kia Soul EV 613; Ford Focus EV 446 and Smart for Two EV 366.

“Tesla sales are behind the automaker’s goals and they will have to increase significantly in the second half to meet stated expectations,” according to Jeff Cobb of hybridCARS.

Dominating sales of light-duty diesel vehicles through the first six months of the year are the Ford Transit Van with 27,468 and the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel pickup with 25,298 sales. Chevrolet Colorado has sold 3,202; Jeep Grand Cherokee 2,014; Range Rover Sport 1,668; GMC Canyon 1,419; Range Rover 1,346 and BMW X5 1,255.

Light-duty diesel sales were once dominated by Volkswagen products; that ended almost a year ago with the emissions cheating scandal involving VW. Though a partial settlement in the case has been announced, there is no indication when VW will be able to sell new diesel-powered vehicles.

 

 

Infiniti QX60 stirs quiet Poudre

The 2016 Infiniti QX60 AWD in Poudre Canyon. (Bud Wells photo)
The 2016 Infiniti QX60 AWD in Poudre Canyon. (Bud Wells photo)

Beautiful and quiet it was one morning recently along Colo. 14 in Poudre Canyon; the rafters on the river appeared in greater numbers than the motorists.

The lack of highway traffic added to the appeal of testing the slick-looking 2016 Infiniti QX60 all-wheel-drive luxury midsize crossover.

The QX60 is Infiniti’s best-selling model and for 2016 has undergone improvements in its suspension and steering. It seems a worthy competitor to the Acura MDX, Audi Q7 and even the Lexus RX350.

Jan, observing a wedding anniversary with me that day, commented on the nice ride after only a few miles into the canyon; the QX60’s stability was also effectively tightened with the new, updated shocks and springs.

The Infiniti is a good handler. A new electronic power steering system is tuned for more instant response to driver input at the wheel.

Performance is just average from the SUV’s 3.5-liter V-6 with 265 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft. of torque, and its continuously variable transmission. A rotary-dial drive-mode selector gives the operator a choice of four modes – Standard, Sport, Eco and Snow.

A chance to sit on the river’s-edge patio and watch the rafters float by lured us to the Mishawaka restaurant for lunch.

On the road again, we drove up the canyon as far as the old Sportsman’s Lodge, then turned back.

When I turned onto the Stove Prairie Road, heading for Masonville, the day became one of excellence for an automotive reviewer. With the narrow road and its twists and dips and ups and downs at hand, I moved the Infiniti’s shifter into manual mode, bypassing the CVT.

I drove the next 15 miles in 2nd and 3rd gears, only occasionally easing into 4th. This lends tight control of the QX on the cornering and climbing, with little need for braking.

Our entire drive that day covered 160 miles and the Infiniti averaged 22.1 miles per gallon. Its overall average for the week was 20.5. That is low, for its EPA estimate is 19/26.

The Infiniti offers three rows of seating. Of the little cargo space behind the third row of seats, a portion of it is grabbed by a subwoofer for the easy-listening sound of the Bose Acoustic Wave system with 14 speakers.

Adding to the smooth-looking exterior of the QX60 are a bold mesh grille and wraparound headlights. Stylish wheels adorn the Bridgestone Dueler 235/55R20 tires.

The QX60 AWD’s base price is a competitive $44,400, but an inordinately long list of optional equipment pushes the sticker total to a pricey $59,345.

Among the add-ons are pearl paint for $500, a technology package including second and third-row moonroof with power sunshade and heated second-row seats, the theater entertainment package, premium-plus package with navigation 8-inch touchscreen display and around-view monitor, and premium option with heated steering wheel and remote engine start.

All the products for Infiniti, Japanese luxury car builder for Nissan, became identified by new nomenclature a couple of years ago.

The Q50 four-door models are formerly those with G37 identification. Q60s are coupes and convertibles, Q70s are the former M37s. SUVs and crossovers carry QX designations. The former EX37 is now QX50, the JX35 is the QX60, the FX37 and FX50 are QX70s and the full-size SUV, the QX56, is the QX80. Infiniti said its lineup, with the Q and QX designations, is more easily identified by the public.