Category Archives: Automotive Industry

Cars slip to 31 percent in 2018 U.S. sales

Automotive Industry
Sales jump by Toyota Highlander offset much of Camry loss in 2018. (Bud Wells photos)

Sharp declines in sales of midsize cars, unprecedented in the U.S., marked the tally of light-vehicle sales for 2018.

The long-popular Toyota Camry, though retaining its longtime lead in car sales, dipped by almost 44,000 units from a year earlier.

On the bright side of the Toyota ledger is the Highlander, a midsize SUV crossover, which gained 29,000 sales in 2018 to 244,511for seventh place among all SUVs, just ahead of the Jeep Wrangler.

As the Camry remained atop its sales category, so, too, the Ford F-series continued its dominance in truck sales which began more than 40 years ago; for the second year in a row, the Toyota RAV4 edged the Nissan Rogue among SUVs and the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Pacifica repeated as top-selling minivans.

All midsize models suffered sales declines, most severely besides the Camry were the Nissan Altima at 45,000 fewer sales, the Chevy Malibu at 41,000, Ford Fusion at 36,000 and Honda Accord at 31,000.

Cars, which five years ago made up half the number of total sales, fell to 31 percent last year, leaving 69 percent to trucks and SUV/crossovers. In Colorado, the split is 25 percent to cars, 75 percent to trucks and SUVs.

Total light-duty car and truck sales in the U.S. in 2018 totaled 17,334,481, fourth highest ever. Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet led, each with over 2 million sales; biggest gainer over the previous year was Jeep, with an increase of 145,000.

The 2019 Cherokee Trailhawk is among hot-selling Jeeps.

Following are sales by make:

  • Ford 2,381,635;
  • Toyota 2,128,357;
  • Chevrolet 2,036,623;
  • Honda 1,445,894;
  • Nissan 1,344,597;
  • Jeep 973,227;
  • Subaru 680,135;
  • Hyundai 667,533;
  • Ram 597,368;
  • Kia 589,673;
  • GMC 556,449;
  • Dodge 459,324; (total Dodge/Ram 1,056,692); 
  • Mercedes-Benz 354,137;
  • Volkswagen 354,064;
  • BMW 311,014;
  • Mazda 300,325;
  • Lexus 298,310;
  • Audi 223,323;
  • Buick 206,863;
  • Tesla 182,400;
  • Chrysler 165,964;
  • Acura 158,934;
  • Cadillac 154,702;
  • Infiniti 149,280;
  • Mitsubishi 118,074;
  •  Lincoln 103,587;
  • Volvo 98,263;
  • Land Rover 92,143;
  • Porsche 57,202;
  • Mini Cooper 43,684;
  • Jaguar 30,483;
  • Alfa Romeo 23,800;
  • Fiat 15,521;
  • Maserati 11,263;
  • Genesis 10,312;
  • Ferrari 2,336;
  • Bentley 1,972;
  • McLaren 1,569;
  • Smart 1,275;
  • Lamborghini 1,128;
  • Rolls-Royce 1,080;
  • Aston Martin 984;
  • Lotus 168.

Following are sales by individual models:

CARS

  • Toyota Camry              343,439;
  • Honda Civic                 325,760;
  • Toyota Corolla             303,732;
  • Honda Accord              291,071;
  • Nissan Sentra               213,046
  • Nissan Altima              209, 146
  • Hyundai Elantra           200,415
  • Ford Fusion                  173,600
  • Chevrolet Malibu         144,542
  • Chevrolet Cruze           142,617
  • Tesla Model 3              138,000
  • Ford Focus                   113,345
  • Hyundai Sonata             105,118
  • Kia Soul                       104,709
  • Kia Forte                      101,890
  • Kia Optima                  101,603
  • Volkswagen Jetta         90,805
  • Toyota Prius                 87,590
  • Dodge Charger             80,236
  • Subaru Impreza             76,400
  • Ford Mustang               75,842
  • Nissan Versa                75,809
  • Dodge Challenger         66,716
  • Mazda                          364,638
  • Mercedes C class          60,409
  • BMW 3 series               59,489
  • Chevrolet Impala          56,556
  • Ford Fiesta                   51,730
  • Chevrolet Camaro        50,963
  • Lexus ES                      48,484
  • Chrysler 300                46,593
  • Mercedes E class          45.479
  • Volkswagen Golf         42,271
  • Nissan Maxima             42,237
  • Volkswagen Passat       41,401
  • BMW 5 series               40,658
  • Subaru Legacy             40,109
  • BMW 4 series               39,634
  • Ford Taurus                 36,088
  • Honda Fit                     35,300
  • Infiniti Q50                  34,763
  • Audi A4/S4                  34,566
  • Toyota Avalon             33,580
  • Mazda6                        30,938
  • Acura TLX                   30,468
  • Hyundai Accent             29,090
  • Subaru WRX                28,730
  • Toyota Yaris                27,209
  • Mini Cooper                 26,119
  • Audi A5/S5                  25,972
  • Mitsubishi Mirage        24,316
  • Tesla Model S              24,000
  • Chevrolet Spark             23,602
  • Kia Rio                         22,975
  • Lexus IS                       22,927
  • Mercedes CLA             22,556
The new midsize Ascent SUV boosted sales for Subaru. 

SUVs

  • Toyota RAV4              427,170
  • Nissan Rogue               412,110
  • Honda CR-V                379,013
  • Chevrolet Equinox        332,618
  • Ford Escape                 272,228
  • Ford Explorer               261,571
  • Toyota Highlander        244,511
  • Jeep Wrangler              240,032
  • Jeep Cherokee              239,437
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee    224,908
  • Subaru Outback             178,854
  • Subaru Forester             171,613
  • Jeep Compass              171,167
  • Honda Pilot                  159,615
  • Mazda CX-5                150,622
  • Chevrolet Traverse       146,534
  • Subaru Crosstrek          144,384
  • Hyundai Tucson           142,299
  • Toyota 4Runner             139,694
  • Ford Edge                    134,122
  • Hyundai Santa Fe         117,038
  • GMC Terrain                114,314
  • Lexus RX                     111,641
  • Kia Sorento                  107,846
  • Chevrolet Tahoe           104,153
  • Volkswagen Tiguan      103,022
  • Jeep Renegade             97,062
  • Dodge Journey             94,096
  • Buick Encore               93,073
  • Chevrolet Trax             89,916
  • GMC Acadia                88,621
  • Honda HR-V                85,494
  • Nissan Murano             83,547
  • Kia Sportage                82,823
  • Audi Q5                       69,978
  • Mercedes GLC/K         69,727
  • Nissan Pathfinder         67,550
  • Dodge Durango             65,947
  • Acura RDX                  63,580
  • Lexus NX                    62,079
  • BMW X3                     61,351
  • Chevrolet Suburban      60,633
  • Cadillac XT5                60,565
  • Volkswagen Atlas        59,677
  • Ford Expedition            54,661
  • Ford EcoSport              54,348
  • Acura MDX                 51,512
  • Buick Enclave              49,647
  • Toyota C-HR               49,642
  • Infiniti QX60               47,370
  • Hyundai Kona              47,090
  • Mercedes GLE             46,010
  • GMC Yukon                45,982
  • BMW X5                     45,013
  • Mitsubishi Outlander    41,818
  • Mitsubishi Outlander S 39,153
  • Audi Q7                       37,417
  • Subaru Ascent              36,211
  • GMC Yukon XL          34,802
  • Volvo XC60                 32,689
  • Nissan Armada             32,650
  • Volvo XC90                 31,609
  • Buick Envision             30,152
  • BMW X1                     29,060
  • Lincoln MKX               28,573
  • Mazda CX-9                28,257
  • Kia Niro                       28,232
  • Lexus GX                    26,724
  • Lincoln MKC               26,241
  • Infiniti QX50               25,389
  • Cadillac Escalade         24,815
  • Range Rover Sport       24,282
  • Mercedes GLA             24,136
Ford F150 has been best-selling truck in America since the 1970s.

TRUCKS

  • Ford F-series                909,360
  • Chevrolet Silverado      585,581
  • Ram                             536,980
  • Toyota Tacoma             245,659
  • GMC Sierra                  219,554
  • Chevrolet Colorado      134,842
  • Toyota Tundra             118,258
  • Nissan Frontier             79,640
  • Nissan Titan                 50,439
  • GMC Canyon               33,492
  • Honda Ridgeline          30,582

VANS

  • Dodge Grand Caravan  151,927
  • Chrysler Pacifica          118,322
  • Honda Odyssey             106,327
  • Toyota Sienna              87,672
  • Chevrolet Express        81,239
  • Ford E-series                47,936
  • Mercedes Sprinter        29,787
  • GMC Savana                19,684
  • Kia Sedona                  17,928

84 new cars and trucks averaged $50,602

Automotive Industry
The all-new 2018 BMW X2, a subcompact SUV reviewed in April, carried sticker price of $50,920, closest of all to average price. (Bud Wells photos)

Sticker prices on 84 new cars, trucks and SUVs driven and reviewed by Bud Wells in 2018 in The Denver Post and Greeley Tribune averaged $50,602. This is slightly below the $50,967 average for 98 new ones driven the previous year.

Ten years ago, average sticker price of new vehicles I drove was around $40,000. Since then, there has been a price to pay for the many wonderful automotive innovations, such as lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, stop/start systems, 8/9/10-speed transmissions, smartphone, Android, CarPlay, voice control, backup camera, more turbocharging, etc.

The press car fleets made available to me by automobile manufacturers are typically fully loaded models, in order that the appeal of the latest options catches attention of consumers.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, with 707-horsepower Hellcat engine, topped $90,000 in price.

Three models exceeded $100,000 in price in ‘18 – the Mercedes-Benz S450 4Matic at $141.845, BMW M5 AWD $129,795  and Lexus LS500 at $101,675. 

Cheapest driven was the 2018 Honda Fit at $18,390; other lower prices included $24,970 for Volkswagen Golf TSI, $25,337 for Toyota Corolla, $25,625 for VW Jetta SEL and $26,220 for Kia Forte.

Following are the cars driven in 2018, listed alphabetically, and their sticker prices:

  1. Acura MDX A-Spec $56,195;
  2. Acura RDX SH-AWD $45,900;
  3. Alfa Romeo Giulia $49,340;
  4. Audi allroad $56,650;
  5. Audi Q7 2.0-liter quattro $62,100;
  6. Audi SQ5 Prestige quattro $65,545;
  7. BMW 430i xDrive  Gran Coupe $53,885;
  8. BMW 740e Plug-in $99,845;
  9. BMW M5 AWD $129,795;
  10. BMW X2 $50,920;
  11. BMW X3 $57,620;
  12. Buick Envision Premium 49,925;
  13. Buick Regal TourX wagon $41,550;
  14. Chevrolet Cruze Diesel $30,125;
  15. Chevrolet Equinox $37,745;
  16. Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss $57,285;
  17. Chevrolet Traverse 3LT Leather $45.090;
  18. Chevrolet Trax LT AWD $28,345;
  19. Dodge Challenger GT AWD $37,670;
  20. Fiat 500X Adventurer $29,015;
  21. Ford EcoSport $29,500;
  22. Ford Expedition 3.5 EcoBoost $81,265;
  23. Ford F-150 Supercrew turbodiesel $54,600;
  24. Ford Mustang Bullitt $51,465;
  25. Ford Mustang GT $53,160;
  26. GMC Acadia Denali $52,170;
  27. GMC Canyon 4X4 $46,480;
  28. GMC Sierra Denali Crew Cab $67,340;
  29. GMC Terrain Denali $44,370;
  30. Honda Accord $36,690;
  31. Honda Fit $18,390;
  32. Honda Insight Touring Hybrid $28,985;
  33. Honda Pilot Elite $49,015;
  34. Hyundai Sonata Limited $33,460;
  35. Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 Coupe $65,705;
  36. Infiniti QX50 Essential $49,685;
  37. Infiniti QX60 $60,670;
  38. Infiniti QX80 $82,695;
  39. Infiniti QX80 $91,950;
  40. Jaguar E-Pace AWD $54,190;
  41. Jaguar XF Sportbrake wagon $84,245;
  42. Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk $40,245;
  43. Jeep Compass $34,860;
  44. Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk $90,880;
  45. Kia Forte EX $26,220;
  46. Kia Niro Plug-in $35,575;
  47. Kia Sorento SRX AWD $48,020;
  48. Kia Stinger GT $39,250;
  49. Land Rover Discovery $81,395;
  50. Lexus GX460 $72,485;
  51. Lexus LS500 $101,675;
  52. Lexus RX350L: $58,190;
  53. Lincoln Navigator Black Label $98,145;
  54. Mazda6 Signature $36,435;
  55. Mazda MX- 5 Miata Club $35,240;
  56. Mercedes-AMG E53 $92,105;
  57. Mercedes E400 Cabriolet $89,735;
  58. Mercedes GLE450 4Matic prototype $72,195;
  59. Mercedes S450 4Matic $141,845;
  60. Mercedes Sprinter 2500 Crew Van $60,425;
  61. Mini Cooper Countryman $39,700;
  62. Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross $31,715;
  63. Nissan Armada $63,095;
  64. Nissan Frontier SV Crew Cab $33,560;
  65. Nissan Leaf $38,510;
  66. Nissan Rogue Sport $28,760;
  67. Nissan Titan $50,720;
  68. Ram 1500 Longhorn Crew Cab $66,700;
  69. Ram 1500 Rebel Crew Cab 4X4 $59,150;  
  70. Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab turbodiesel $80,115;
  71. Subaru Ascent $42,920;
  72. Subaru BRZ tS $34,355;
  73. Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring $37,005;
  74. Subaru Forester Touring $35,270;
  75. Subaru Outback Touring $38,820;
  76. Toyota Avalon Hybrid $44,870;
  77. Toyota Camry XSE $38,220;
  78. Toyota Corolla $25,337;
  79. Toyota Sequoia $60,219;
  80. Volkswagen Golf GTI $31,165;
  81. Volkswagen Golf TSI $24,970;
  82. Volkswagen Jetta SEL $25,625;
  83. Volvo V60 wagon $52,395;
  84. Volvo XC40 $45,835;

2019 Ram tests snow in drive to Montrose

Auto Reviews, Automotive Industry

The 2019 Ram 1500 Longhorn is parked along the low-level Blue Mesa Reservoir of the Gunnison River. (Jan Wells photos)

With snow blowing and almost dark at 4:30 p.m. on a Sunday, first day of daylight saving change, we turned off  U.S. 24 and headed west on U.S. 50, climbing Monarch Pass enroute to Gunnison.

The 2019 Ram 1500 Longhorn Crew Cab 4X4 was my review vehicle, one I’d anticipated. Some automotive assessments have rated the Ram as best new half-ton on the market. As good or better than Ford? Yep. Chevy? Yep. GMC? Yep. We’ll see.

To go with its more aggressive, forward-leaning front end, FCA designers have added 4 inches to the Ram’s overall length, a half-inch to the width and have trimmed 225 pounds from its curb weight. Finished in Delmonico red, the truck’s “Ram” in center of large grille spells out its identity. The second row of seats gained most of the added space. The review model contains a pickup bed of 5-foot-7 length; a 6-foot-4 box is optional. On a wheelbase of 144.6 inches, the Longhorn is 232.9 inches long.

Temperatures dropped into the 20s as we drove in several inches of snow toward the top of Monarch in a line of five or six vehicles at 25 to 30 miles per hour, each of us following the taillights of the car ahead. The lead car, an SUV whose driver had no lights to follow, slid off to the side of the slick roadway at one point before recovering, then another of the cars ahead spun off momentarily.

The Ram never slipped, all the way to Gunnison. The 1500 is equipped with a 395-horsepower, 410-torque, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine with cylinder deactivation, 8-speed automatic transmission engaged from a rotary gear selector on the instrument panel. Beneath the dial are transfer-case choices of 2-high, 4-automatic, 4-high and 4-low.

For driving in the strong winds and snow-covered roads, I set the transfer case in 4-high, locked the transmission in 4th gear with its Gear Limit buttons, and occasionally dropped it to 3rd.  By gearing down, I seldom needed to touch the brakes and maintained control and more-firm footing with the Ram.

A drive on dry roads the following day gave me opportunity to test the Hemi V-8’s smoothness and power along the curves and climbs of the roads beside the Blue Mesa Reservoir of the Gunnison River on the way to Montrose.

With its coil springs all around, the Ram 1500 offers an outstanding ride. The review model, with the optional four-corner air suspension, raises payload to 2,300 pounds and tow capacity of 12,750 pounds. The raising and lowering by the air suspension and deployable running boards accommodate very well the accessing and exiting of the vehicle’s passengers.

The drive home on a third day was north to Grand Junction, then back east on I-70 through Glenwood Springs and Vail and home. For the 712 miles, the Ram delivered an average of 19.4 miles per gallon. That is the highest mpg I’ve achieved with a 5.7 Hemi, I’m sure. EPA estimate for the 2019 Ram is 15/21. Base engine for the Ram is a 305-hp, 3.6-liter V-6.

The Ram’s $66,700 sticker price covers not only the abundant performance and a lighter, stronger high-strength steel frame, but a large, luxurious cabin, including filigree leather (stitched), Longhorn logos on seats and floormats, 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, 19-speaker Harmon Kardon surround sound, heated and ventilated front and rear seats.

The Flower Motor Co.’s Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram store in Montrose.

Also, a panorama sunroof, remote-release tailgate, trifold tonneau cover, parallel and perpendicular park assist and safety innovations of forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot with cross-path detection.

Kathy Erbacher, a former newspaper colleague, joined Jan and me for evening dinner at Ted Nelson’s Steakhouse in Montrose. Erbacher was a feature writer for special sections at The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News before moving to Montrose, where she continued her newspaper work with the Daily Press.

Earlier in the day in Montrose, we visited the Flower Motor Co., which is one of three family-owned dealerships which have operated more than 100 years in Colorado and are now overseen by fourth generation. The other families are O’Meara and Schomp/Wallace in Denver.

Siblings Fritz, Fred, Noreen and Fletcher Fowler operate two dealerships, the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and the Subaru in Montrose. Fletcher and Fritz Fowler recently purchased the Steamboat Springs Dodge Ram business. It was in 1908 when brothers Sid and Joe Hartman acquired the Ford agency in Montrose, then switched to Dodge Brothers in 1915. More than 100 years later, the fourth-generation descendants continue with Dodge and its affiliated brands.

Zach Pitcher prepares to drive his 2019 Subaru Outback, with 2-inch lift, from the showroom.

The Flower family recently celebrated 50 years as a Subaru dealer, and lays claim to the oldest existing Subaru dealership in Colorado.

We enjoyed, at the Subaru store, visiting with Zach Pitcher of Montrose when he showed up to accept from general sales manager Jazz Janda the keys to his just-purchased 2019 Outback, which had undergone a 2-inch-lift conversion in the Flower Subaru shop. Janda said Flower purchases the lift package, including special roof rack and wheels and tires, in addition to the suspension lift, and does the installation. The package adds about $6,000 to the cost of the Subaru.

 

Colo. Time winner is Mary Pacifico-Valley

Automotive Industry

Mary Pacifico-Valley

Mary Pacifico-Valley, who at age 19 began basic duties with Rickenbaugh Automotive and 30 years later became owner, has been named Colorado Time Dealer of the Year for 2019.

Nominated by Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), Pacifico-Valley will be one of 51 dealers from around the country honored at the National Automobile Dealers  Association Show in San Francisco on Jan. 25, 2019. One of the 51 will be named national
Time Dealer of the Year. The award is sponsored by Ally Financial.

Pacifico-Valley is only the third woman from Colorado to be honored over the past 50 years. Barbara Vidmar of Pueblo was Colorado Time Dealer in 2006 and Lisa Schomp of Schomp Automotive in Denver was honored in 2007.

A 1975 graduate of Westminster High School, Pacifico-Valley started her career at Rickenbaugh in Denver a year later. “I would phone customers with friendly reminders for service updates and repairs, and work with salespeople to ensure they kept in contact with their customers,” she said. She quickly advanced to tire department manager, service office manager, then to controller, and eventually to general manager.

She was one of the few women in the country to lead a dealership group when she became full owner and president of Rickenbaugh Automotive Group (Cadillac/Volvo), which today also includes an Infiniti store in Dacono.

Along with a busy work schedule, Pacifico-Valley went back to school and earned a B.A. in business administration in 1984 and an M.B.A. in finance and accounting in 1990 from Regis University in Denver; she currently is a member of the university’s board of trustees. She attributes her success to sheer determination, education and always placing customers at the top of the organizational chart.

She is involved in organizations that are helping shape the future of Colorado, from local neighborhood development to statewide advocacy, including the Golden Triangle Association, Downtown Denver Partnership and the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry.

Pacifico-Valley received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 from the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She is married to Dennis Valley.

Colorado Time Dealer Award winners: 

  • 2019 – Mary Pacifico-Valley
  • 2018 – Todd Maul
  • 2017 – Bill Hellman  Jr.
  • 2016- Bob Penkhus
  • 2015- Scott Ehrlich
  • 2014- Bob Ghent
  • 2013- Jay Cimino
  • 2012- Mike Shaw
  • 2011- Doug Moreland
  • 2010- Jack Terhar
  • 2009- John Medved
  • 2008- Don Hicks
  • 2007- Lisa Schomp
  • 2006- Barbara Vidmar
  • 2005- Jeffrey Carlson
  • 2004- Jim Morehart
  • 2003- Lee Payne
  • 2002- John Schenden
  • 2001- Dean Dowson
  • 2000- Kent Stevinson
  • 1998- Fred Emich
  • 1997- John Clatworthy
  • 1996- Lloyd Chavez
  • 1995- Jim Reilly
  • 1994- Herrick Garnsey
  • 1993- Roland Purifoy
  • 1992- Jim Suss
  • 1991- Doug McDonald
  • 1990- Bob Markley
  • 1989- Bob Fisher
  • 1988- Harry Dowson
  • 1987- Joe Luby
  • 1986- R.W. Dellenbach
  • 1985- Hugh Tighe
  • 1984- Florian Barth
  • 1983- R.S. Doenges
  • 1982- Jack Maffeo
  • 1981- Nate Burt
  • 1980- Dwight Ghent
  • 1979- Tony Fortino
  • 1978- George McCaddon
  • 1977- Gene Wilcoxsen
  • 1976- Ralph Schomp
  • 1975- Al O’Meara
  • 1974- Charlie Williams
  • 1973- Vern Hagestad
  • 1972- Dick Deane
  • 1971- Gene Markley
  • 1970- Russ Lyon

Jeeps climbed high with Marchionne

Auto Reviews, Automotive Industry

Sergio Marchionne

Reviewing the 2018 Jeep Compass this week is opportunity to mention the death of Sergio Marchionne, the chief executive of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles who died unexpectedly July 25. Marchionne took charge of Fiat and Chrysler nine years ago when the latter was struggling to survive.

Focusing on Jeeps, Dodge Ram pickups and SRT performance models, he soon rebuilt the stature for No. 3 of the U.S.’s Big Three and made them a formidable competitor for the other automakers.

The greatest achievement for the bold Italian-born leader was with the Jeep Division.

Jeep leads all makes in sales of SUVs in the U.S. Through June, Jeep has sold 133,492 Wranglers, 113,719 Cherokees, 109,313 Grand Cherokees, 87,510 Compasses and 50,439 Renegades. Jeep’s 6-month totals of 495,022 is a 22 percent increase over the 406,291 at the same point a year ago.

Still, with sales of almost a half-million in the first half of the year, Jeep doesn’t have all areas of the market covered. It lacks a three-row SUV, since halting production of the Commander in 2010.

Rumors are that Jeep will unveil a three-row SUV within the next couple of years. Whether to create it or not will now be a decision for Mike Manley, who has succeeded Marchionne as CEO of Fiat Chrysler, and who has headed the Jeep Division of FCA for the past seven years.

Gloss black roof is distinctive for new Jeep Compass. (Bud Wells photo)

As for the Compass, Jeep planners two years ago combined it and another fairly lackluster model, the like-sized Patriot, into a restyled, high-tech-equipped compact 4X4 under the Compass moniker. The new one is enjoying one of the sharpest sales gains in the industry right now.

By slapping the Compass’ shifter into manual mode, pushing the accelerator lower and keeping the revs higher, its 2.4-liter engine and 9-speed automatic transmission offer improved performance, and do it smoothly, quietly and mostly satisfactorily.

I’ve been driving the Compass Limited 4X4; its 2.4 4-cylinder develops 180 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque, is offroad-capable with locking differential and a dial on the center console to contend with snow, sand and mud, in addition to the normal all-wheel drive.

A gloss black two-tone roof added a distinctive touch to the silver metallic exterior finish on the Compass, which resembles the Cherokee with its grille and the Grand Cherokee with its four-door structure. To mention roof with Jeep always reminds me of the ill-fated SkySlider roof offered on the Jeep Liberty some years back. That feature was beset with operational failures.

The current roof, so good-looking, also contains dual-pane panorama sunroof. Among other features of the Limited model are LaneSense and forward-collision warning, leather-covered seats (heated in front), heated steering wheel, automatic high-beam control, rain-sensitive wipers and power liftgate.

A large UConnect infotainment screen accommodates GPS navigation and audio with SiriusXM/Bluetooth and capability for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

My overall fuel-mileage average with the Compass was 24.4; it carries a 30 miles-per-gallon highway estimate. It rides on Continental ProContact 225/55R18 tires.

Cargo space behind the rear seats in the two-row, five-passenger SUV is 27.2 cubic feet, which expands to almost 60 feet with the rear seats folded.

The well-equipped Limited model carried sticker price of $34,860. The Sport, least-expensive Compass 4X4, begins at around $23,000. Other models are Latitude, Altitude and Trackhawk. They’re assembled in Toluca, Mexico.

Reviewer’s one week in Lotus’ 70 years

'BACK-THEN' Articles, Automotive Industry

The Lotus Esprit S2 reviewed in July 1980. (Bud Wells photo)

Lotus this month (July 2018) celebrated its 70th anniversary at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, England.

Most of us recognize the Lotus marque, one of the most iconic in the world of sports cars and racing.

Few, though, have driven one.

It was a week in July 1980 that I got a turn, one Lotus among the more than 2,000 cars I’ve driven and written about over the years.

It was an ’80 Lotus Esprit S2, built in England, and provided to me by Bill Stewart’s Royal Carriage at My Garage, 455 Broadway, in Denver.

It was late afternoon when I walked into the garage and Stewart handed me the keys. How do you sit in a car that’s only 43 inches high? You don’t. You almost lie down in the leaned-back racing-type seat with built-in headrest. As two-seaters go, this one was tight but somewhat comfortable. The only discomfort came in getting in and rolling out of it.

I drove to Greeley, where my oldest son, Kurt, would soon begin his senior year at the University of Northern Colorado, then headed out U.S. 34 to the east. I detoured onto some country roads, on through Fort Morgan and to Sterling, where a month earlier we had returned to devote time to automobiles and book-publishing, in addition to my newspaper work.

The Lotus was a brilliant performer on the country curves. It was very fast. Its manufacturer said it would hit 35 miles per hour in 1st gear, 55 in 2nd, almost 80 in 3rd, 105 in 4th and 130 in 5th. It was the fastest I’d driven a car until some years later, when the big guys such as Bentley Arnage, Jaguar XJ Super V-8 and Cadillac CTS-V began coming my way.

I well remember, with the help of brother-in-law Dave Wagner Jr., the return trip to Denver a week later. After passing Hudson, the clutch began to fail (did I mention the car was built in England?) and we limped it in to Stewart’s Royal Carriage, where his shop would put the speedster back in running order.

Price tag on the Lotus was $30,000. The only models I drove with higher tags back then were an ’81 Maserati Merak SS at $42,637, an ’80 Porsche 928 at $39,024 and an ’81 Mercedes 300SD turbodiesel at $35,345.

The Lotus’ inline-4-cylinder engine, slanted 38 degrees, was of 120-cubic-inch-displacement with twin overhead camshafts and Zenith twin carburetors. The engine compartment was reached by lifting the rear hatch and unbuttoning a tonneau cover.

An interesting feature of the Esprit was its two fuel tanks, with filler tubes on either side of the car. A balance pipe leveled the fuel between the two tanks, and it was necessary to service both sides for an absolutely full supply. The Lotus averaged 20 to 25 miles per gallon, with capacity of 17.7 gallons.

The 2,300-pound Lotus was on a wheelbase of 96 inches; it was 168 inches in overall length, 73 inches wide and had ground clearance of 6 inches.

The interior was of custom leather, brown suede, electric windows and a Blaupunkt AM/FM radio.

The Lotus company was begun in 1948, when Colin Chapman built his first competition car in a small London garage.

In addition to 2018 marking the 70th anniversary of Lotus’ birth, it also denotes 50 years since Graham Hill took the Formula 1 championship in the Lotus Type 49 and 40 years since Mario Andretti won his world championship in the Lotus Type 79.

My picks, and winners, at auto show

Automotive Industry

My selections for Car/Truck/SUV of the Year at the 2018 Denver Auto Show at the Colorado Convention Center were the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Ford F250 Super Duty and Volvo XC60, respectively.

When the winners were announced, though, in voting by members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, I missed on all three. Top awards went to the Toyota Camry, Nissan Titan King Cab 5.6 and the Dodge Durango SRT.

In defense of my picks, the Volvo XC60 has been chosen top crossover and SUV all over the country and was selected World Car of the Year. It is a trifecta of crossover success for Volvo, along with Volvo’s big XC90 and its new, small 2019 XC40. All three were displayed at the five-day Denver Auto Show.

I was very impressed with the handling of the Alfa Romeo Giulia luxury sport sedan over Cameron Pass and down to Walden, and coming from the hills of Italy, it proved particularly tuned to the spirited mountain driving of the Colorado Rockies.

For RMAP voters to select the Nissan Titan 1500 for the second year in a row was surprising to me; the dominance of the Ford Super Duty with its 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbodiesel engine producing 925 lb.-ft. of torque and 440 horsepower was convincing.

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Ford F250 Super Duty

Volvo XC60

Toyota Camry

Nissan Titan King Cab

Dodge Durango SRT

Outback carries Subaru into 50th celebration

Auto Reviews, Automotive Industry

The 2018 Subaru Outback Touring model visited NCAR above Boulder. (Jim Colwell photo)

Jim Colwell and I, in the 2018 Subaru Outback Touring wagon, made the climb up to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) above Boulder for lunch on a Wednesday morning.

Subaru this year is observing its 50th anniversary in the U.S. In the spirit of the celebration, I chose to drive the durable Outback, for more than any other model, it saved Subaru at a low point 20 years ago and led it to where it is today – seller of more than 600,000 new cars and SUVs a year in the country and second-highest brand in sales in Colorado.

Jim Colwell studies boxer-6 engine under hood of Outback. (Bud Wells photo)

I knew Jim as “Mr. Colwell” when he was my freshman English instructor at Sterling High School many years ago. Though we’ve exchanged e-mails regarding some of my auto columns in recent years, we’d not seen each other since the last day of school at SHS in late May 1952.

In addition to the drive to Boulder and NCAR, the Subaru and I made business stops in Loveland and Erie. The descent down NCAR Road in the early afternoon gave opportunity for short tests of the Outback’s 6-speed manual mode and paddle-shifting, somewhat of a departure of its continuously variable transmission, as it simulates shift points like a traditional tranny.

The CVT, in standard mode, performs smoothly tied to the Outback’s 3.6-liter, horizontally opposed (flat) 6-cylinder engine, which develops 256 horsepower. The highway driving from Greeley to Loveland to Boulder to Erie and back home resulted in fuel mileage of 25.1; the Outback’s EPA estimate is 20/27.

C-shaped headlights offer a new exterior touch for the 2018 Outback. Inside, heated front and rear seats in perforated brown leather are among highlights. The front passenger seat will power-slide fore and aft, but not up and down.

Heading the wagon’s strong safety technology is Subaru’s patented EyeSight, including cameras mounted near the top of the windshield to monitor approaching obstacles. Automatic precollision braking, adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assistance are among added safety controls of the system.

I remember the first Outback, introduced in 1995 as a variant of the Legacy wagon. With its boxer engines and sturdy all-wheel-drive structure and heavy side cladding, it endured among a rush of SUVs and more modern crossovers, and found favor with lots of outdoors persons. It caught on “big time” in Colorado, as its all-wheel drive challenged our rugged terrain and inclement weather.

Subaru’s first model was the little 360 in 1968. (Subaru)

Subaru of America was founded on Feb. 15, 1968 by American businessmen Malcolm Bricklin and Harvey Lamm. Its first car model was the little 360, priced at $1,290 with a 25-horsepower engine and top speed of 69 miles per hour.

For 2018, Subaru is offering each of its models with a special 50th anniversary edition, including heritage blue paint, anniversary edition badging, black interior upholstery with silver stitching and contrasting silver seatbelts.

Colwell and his wife, Claudia, are retired in Boulder following his distinguished career as an education director, ironic in the fact he dropped out of Brush High School as a 16-year-old. Born on a ranch east of Brush, he left school in 1943 and spent a year working at Hill Army Air Field in Utah before returning to Brush and finishing high school in ‘45.

He taught at Sterling after earning a journalism degree at the University of Denver in 1949 and his M.A. and lifetime teaching certificate from the University of Northern Colorado in 1951.

After two years in Sterling, he served in the U.S. Air Force in Japan and was assistant command education director in Tokyo in 1955-56. He also achieved Ph.D. and A.M. in American Studies at Yale, and studied at Heidelberg University in Germany, where he met Claudia. His career included education directorships at the University of Colorado, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, University of Maryland/European Division.  He also advanced from a private rank in the U.S. Army Air Forces in the 1940s to brigadier general, USAF Reserve, in 1987.

 

Colorado sales hit record in ‘17

Automotive Industry

Jaguar doubled sales in Colorado in 2017. (Bud Wells photo)

Toyota, Subaru, Volkswagen, Ford, Nissan, Jeep and Honda were biggest gainers in new car and light truck registrations in Colorado in 2017, compared with the previous year.

Figures compiled by Experian Automotive for the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (CADA)) showed that 211,132 new cars and trucks were registered in Colorado in 2017, exceeding the previous record of 207,836 in 2000, 17 years ago.

“Trucks, including SUVs, did it,” said Tim Jackson, CADA president.  “Colorado leads the nation as a whole in light-truck registrations versus passenger cars with a record 71.8 percent, or almost three-fourths of all vehicles sold in the state.

Toyota led Colorado car/truck registrations with 31,991, followed by:

  • Subaru with 25,508;
  • Ford 24,566;
  • Honda 15,921;
  • Chevrolet 15,465;
  • Jeep 14,897;
  • Nissan 12,372;
  • Ram 8,120;
  • Hyundai 6,889;
  • Volkswagen 6,593;
  • GMC 6,163;
  • Kia 5,218;
  • Mazda 4,702;
  • Lexus 4,183;
  • Audi 3,910;
  • Mercedes-Benz 3,585;
  • BMW 3,371;
  • Dodge 3,352;
  • Acura 1,707;
  • Buick 1,638;
  • Infiniti 1,415;
  • Volvo 1,077;
  • Cadillac 1,061;
  • Chrysler 1,001;
  • Lincoln 955;
  • Mitsubishi 947;
  • Land Rover 944;
  • Tesla 853;
  • Mini 821;
  • Porsche 806;
  • Jaguar 473;
  • Fiat 238;
  • Maserati 132;
  • smart 48.

Toyota increased registrations by 3,245 during the past year, followed by Subaru with a gain of 1,864; Volkswagen 1,455; Ford 1,227; Nissan 1,091; Jeep 880 and Honda 860. Jaguar led all brands in percentage of increase, having registered 223 new cars/trucks in 2016 and jumping to 473 in 2017, an increase of 112 percent.

 

 

Challenger, Camaro, Mustang still at it

Auto Reviews, Automotive Industry

2018 Challenger GT – 2016 Mustang – 2012 Camaro ZL1 (Bud Wells Photos)

Warmed up after an ice-driving event near Winter Park a few days earlier, two spirited sport-model autos were sent my way – the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti all-wheel-drive sedan and the 2018 Dodge Challenger GT all-wheel-drive coupe.

The flashy 2018 Dodge Challenger GT, with all-wheel drive. (Bud Wells photo)

 

Shod with Bridgestone Blizzaks, the Challenger probably owns a second or two of grip advantage over the Giulia, with its Pirelli winter set; regarding handling qualities, though, the Alfa perhaps will exceed the Dodge’s capabilities.

The Challenger competes aggressively with the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro, just as the three did way back in 1970, when they were among the best of the pony cars.

The GT designation means the Challenger is equipped with all-wheel drive, V-6 engine, an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect. It’s a 305-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 with 268 lb.-ft. of torque and an 8-speed automatic transmission. AWD is not available with the more powerful Challengers.

What the GT does for the Dodge is lend it an edge in consideration of winter driving. All three – the Camaro, Mustang and Challenger – are rear-wheel-drive-based two-doors. So, for Challenger to add the AWD option, even in V-6 form, is a boost in winter-laden states such as Colorado. Neither Mustang or Camaro offer it.

The Ford Mustang, orange, too, this one in 2016. (Bud Wells photo)

The Ford Mustang outsold the other two in 2017, with 81,866, and the Camaro edged the Challenger, 67,940 to64,537.

All three perform powerfully with V-8 blocks beneath the hoods.

Last summer, I spent a week with the 2017 Challenger SRT Hellcat, which performs with 707 horsepower from a supercharged, 6.2-liter Hemi. It is a blast to drive, with performance-tuned suspension noticeable at high speeds. The most powerful Camaro I’ve driven was the 2012 ZL1 with 580 horsepower from a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 and 6-speed manual transmission. A year earlier, I had enjoyed the 2011 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, for which supercharging its 5.4-litier aluminum V-8 produced 550 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque.

The ’18 Challenger GT is finished in go mango tangerine orange, with body side stripes, rear spoiler, granite crystal painted wheels, nappa leather and alcantra suede seats, Harman Kardon premium sound and 18 speakers. Sticker price is $37,670.

The Chevy Camaro ZL1 visited fire scene at Last Chance in 2012. (Bud Wells photo)

The Alfa Romeo Giulia luxury sport sedan carries a sticker or $49,340. Performance is from a 280-hp, 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. I reviewed a similar model seven months ago in a drive to Walden and Laramie, Wyo.

The Alfa, which competes with Audi, BMW, Volvo and others, is built in Italy and well-suited to driving in Colorado’s imperfect terrain. Alfa Romeo Automobiles is a subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.