Born at Wray, Colo., graduate of Sterling High School, attended Northeastern Junior College, began work at Sterling Journal-Advocate in 1956, began work at The Denver Post in 1968, resides at Greeley, Colo. Bud and wife Janice are parents of three sons and two daughters.
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Scott Ehrlich, whose family ties to the automotive business in northern Colorado go back almost 70 years, is in San Francisco this week to receive the Colorado Time Dealer of the Year award for 2015.
Ehrlich operates Toyota, Nissan and Volkswagen dealerships in Greeley, a Toyota store in Fort Morgan and Kia in Longmont.
Ehrlich is the second Greeley dealer to win the award back-to-back; Bob Ghent, Chevrolet and Cadillac dealer in Greeley, earned the honor for 2014.
Ehrlich will be among winners from other states in the U.S. to receive the award at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo in San Francisco, which runs Thursday, Jan. 22, through Sunday, Jan. 25. The award is sponsored by Time, in association with Ally Financial.
After opening an auto repair shop in LaSalle in 1946, Ehrlich’s father Swede expanded and eventually established a Datsun dealership in Greeley in 1963. Datsun took on the name Nissan in the early 1980s. Scott Ehrlich began working at his father’s business while in school and by 1996 had become general manager.
The 2015 Lexus IS250 AWD in New Year’s Day snow. (Bud Wells photos)
Even with the added grip of all-wheel drive, we sometimes churned and skidded through the deep, soft snow during the New Year’s holidays aboard the 2015 Lexus IS250 AWD sedan.
Jan and I on New Year’s Day drove to Sterling to check in with my sis, Norma, and brother-in-law, Dave Wagner. The streets there were covered with relatively deep snow, the same as the northern Colorado area we’d left earlier in the morning.
The Lexus’ AWD system, in adverse conditions, can allocate engine torque from 30/70 between front and rear axles to 50/50 for improved traction and control.
The sleek and sporty IS250, offering the four-wheel grip option, helped Lexus finish 2014 exceptionally strong, posting a one-year sales record for the luxury division. Only Lexus’ entry-level ES sedan and the popular RX crossover sell more units than does the IS.
Lexus’ sales in ’14 totaled 311,384, third-best in the U.S. among all luxury builders. BMW led with 339,738 sales, followed by Mercedes-Benz 330,591, Lexus, then Audi 182,011, Cadillac 170,750, Acura 167,843, Infiniti 117,330, Lincoln 94,474 and Volvo 55,000.
The IS250 is little changed for 2015. It was restyled a year ago and, with a 3-inch longer wheelbase, created additional rear-seat legroom.
Under hood is a small 2.5-liter V-6, producing only 204 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque, tied to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Its tepid pace can be improved upon just a bit by moving the drive mode dial knob from Normal to Sport, then using paddle shifters at the steering wheel for better response. Pushing a “snow-mode” button will lessen torque on takeoff for minimal spinning of tires.
Still, though, for performance more fitting of a Lexus, buyers can opt for the more expensive IS350, which generates 306 horsepower from a 3.5-liter V-6.
The interior of the IS250 is quiet, and its well-bolstered leather seats are comfortable. Wood trim adds a feel of luxury. There is no storage space in the center console and the cupholders are positioned so far back in the console that they’re awkward to use. A 6-inch shelf in front of the display screen atop the center stack is handy for placement of incidentals; of course, then the lower portions of the screen are blocked from view. A small trunk provides 13.8 cubic feet of space.
The center stack and instrument panel for IS250.
Fuel-mileage average of 22.2 was at the low end of the IS’s EPA estimate of 20-27, due in part to the fact it was driven much of the time over ice and snow-covered streets and highways.
A base price of just over $39,000 for the IS250 jumped to sticker value of $46,395 after the addition of a luxury package of navigation, backup camera, heated and ventilated front seats, LED headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, power tilt/telescope steering wheel and blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.
Here are the specifications for the ’15 Lexus IS250 AWD sedan:
Capacity 5-passenger
Wheelbase 110.2 inches
Length 183.7 inches
Width 71.3 inches
Height 56.3 inches
Curb Weight 3,461 pounds
Track 60.4 inches front, 61 rear
Ground Clearance 5.3 inches
Turn Circle 35.4 feet
Drivetrain All-wheel-drive
Engine 2.5-liter V-6
Horsepower/Torque 204/185
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Steering electric power
Suspension double-wishbone front and multilink rear
Fuel mileage estimate 20/27
Fuel mileage average 22.6
Fuel Tank 17.4 gallons, regular unleaded
Wheels 18-inch
Tires Bridgestone Turanza 255/35R18
Cargo Volume 13.8 cubic feet
Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles basic, 6/70,000 powertrain
Competitors Acura TLX, Cadillac ATS, BMW 328ix, Audi S4, Volvo S60
Assembly Plant Tahara, Japan
Parts Content N.A.
Base Price of Lowest Model $36,550; Base Price of Review Model $39,085; Destination Charge $925; Sticker Price $46,395.
The 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE. (Photo by Bud Wells)
No matter how I drove the 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid during a week in December – in town or out on the highway – it seemed to average 38 to 40 miles per gallon.
That’s how it should be, I guess, for its EPA estimate is 40 mpg in town driving and 38 on the highway.
The Camry was the third-best-selling hybrid in the country for 2014, behind two other Toyotas. The Prius Liftback was the runaway sales leader, as it has been since it was introduced 15 years ago; it sold 122,776, followed by the Prius C with 40,570 and the Camry hybrid with 39,515 (an 11percent drop).
Sales of gas/electric hybrid cars slumped 8.8 percent in ’14, slipping from 495,771 sales in 2013 to 452.152 in the past year. This, even though the overall car/truck market jumped 6 percent last year.
Toyotas, including luxury division Lexus models, captured 62 percent of the hybrid market in the past year.
Following are the top 15 sellers of gas/electric hybrids in the U.S. for 2014:
Toyota Prius Liftback 122,776
Toyota Prius C 40,570
Toyota Camry 39,515
Ford Fusion 35,405
Toyota Prius V 30,762
Hyundai Sonata 21,052
Ford C-Max 19,162
Lexus CT200h 17,673
Toyota Avalon 17,048
Lexus ES 14,837
Honda Accord 13,977
Kia Optima 13,776
Lincoln MKZ 10,033
Lexus RX450h 9,351
Subaru XV Crosstrek 7,926
Introduction of the new BMW i3 and sharp gains by the Nissan Leaf and Ford Fusion Energi boosted total sales of plug-in electric vehicles to a 23 percent rise in the past year. A total of 118,682 plug-ins were sold, compared with 96,516 in 2013.
Following are sales of the top 10 plug-in electrics for ’14:
Nissan Leaf 30,200
Chevrolet Volt 18,805
Tesla Model S 16,550
Toyota Prius Plug-in 13,264
Ford Fusion Energi 11,550
Ford C-Max Energi 8,433
BMW i3 6,092
Smart for Two EV 2,594
Ford Focus EV 1,964
Fiat 500E 1,503
The combined total of gas/electric hybrids and plug-in electrics took 3.4 percent of the total U.S. new car market for 2014.
In my December driving, the Camry hybrid posted an overall average of 38.5 mpg; I’d averaged 34.9 with a similar model in 2011 and 37.1 in 2012.
The five-passenger, front-wheel-drive Camry hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and electric motor with a continuously variable transmission. Performance is smooth; only a bit of shudder is felt on shift of electric to gas power in low range. Acceleration is strong through midrange.
The hybrid setup beneath the Camry hood.
For even more efficiency than the normal driving mode, the press of an Eco button will cut down the level of throttle input and reduce fan speed of the air conditioner. This takes away from the Camry hybrid’s normally satisfactory performance.
The hybrid weighs 100 pounds more than the Camry gas version due primarily to the battery pack stored beneath the floor at the rear. That pack also takes away cargo space, which measures 13.1 cubic feet in the hybrid, 15.4 in the gas model.
The Camry is one of the more comfortable and better-handling hybrid four-door sedans.
The review model in my possession was the SE; also available are a less expensive LE and a high-end XLE. The SE was sticker-priced at $32,233, including an easily controlled Entune audio system with navigation and Bluetooth, power moonroof, remote start capability and illuminated door sill enhancement.
The cheapest model of the gasoline-powered Camry is $3,000 less than the lowest-priced hybrid version.
Here are the specifications for the ’15 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE:
Capacity 5-passenger
Wheelbase 109.3 inches
Length 190.9 inches
Width 71.7 inches
Height 57.9 inches
Curb Weight 3,585 pounds
Track 62.4 inches front, 62 rear
Ground Clearance 6.1 inches
Turn Circle 36.7 feet
Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
Engine 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with electric motor
Horsepower/Torque 200/156 combined
Transmission Continuously variable
Steering electric power
Suspension sport-tuned front and rear strut
Fuel mileage estimate 40/38
Fuel mileage average 38.5
Fuel Tank 17 gallons, regular unleaded
Wheels 17-inch
Tires Michelin P225/45/R17
Cargo Volume 13.1 cubic feet
Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain
Competitors Hybrid models of Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata
Assembly Plant Georgetown, Ky.
Parts Content N.A.
Base Price of Lowest Model $26,790; Base Price of Review Model $27,995; Destination Charge $825; Sticker Price $32,233.
The 2015 Dodge Charger SXT AWD sedan. (Bud Wells photos)
Dodge on and off over the years has built a strong performance image for its Charger.
It’s been based on Hemi V-8s and rear-wheel-drive power.
Let me tell you, though, with 8 to 10 inches of snow in the streets and frigid air hovering around minus-2 – you can forget all about that.
Another side of the 2015 Dodge Charger emerged as I drove it through all that snow last week.
We were in the new Charger SXT all-wheel-drive edition.
The new Charger at The Other Side restaurant in Estes Park.
This SXT is the family sedan side of the Charger, with an excellent AWD system, Pentastar V-6 and 8-speed automatic transmission. It performed very well for the deep snow and subzero cold we maneuvered through in northern Colorado, with Michelin all-season tires.
The 292-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 moves the Charger about with ease and the 8-speed automatic is controlled electronically, with a large T-grip handle like those of linkage connection of the past. There are no paddle shifters, though manual mode is available with a quick move of the shifter handle.
The AWD system gripped and churned well, with minimal slip or slide. It’s an effective active transfer case which, innovatively, disengages the front axle when all-four grip is not needed – an effort at improved fuel mileage. The system automatically engages in cold weather, when slip is detected or when wipers are on in wet weather.
The AWD model carries an EPA estimate of 18 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on the highway; my overall average slipped to 20.8 due to all the cold, snow and ice.
A new electric power steering system has replaced the old electromechanical power type. It has three driver-selectable steering modes – eco, comfort and sport – contributing to a more nimble response that, on occasion, belies the car’s large size.
This is a car with a 120-inch wheelbase, 198 inches overall and 4,150 pounds. It is 7 inches longer in wheelbase than the Ford Taurus AWD and 9 inches beyond that of the Buick LaCrosse AWD.
The Charger’s exterior has been refreshed for 2015, with crosshair grille, chiseled and scalloped bodysides. A “racetrack” LED taillight spreads across the entire rear width of the body, similar to that which showed up on the Dodge Durango a year ago.
The full-sized four-door boasts a roomy interior, with wide cloth-covered seats (heated in front), lightly bolstered for long-distance comfort. The heated seats are extremely popular; I seldom use them, though, and would have traded them for a heated steering wheel in a minute. Legroom is sufficient in the rear seat and a good-sized trunk measures out to 16 cubic feet.
Adding to the V-6-powered, AWD-equipped Charger SXT’s family appeal is a large 8.4-inch touch-screen infotainment system with navigation maps from Garmin. Bluetooth syncing is part of the package. The screen is easily used, as are the redundant dials beneath the screen.
Base price on the SXT AWD is $32,995; the sticker totals $35,485 with the addition of ivory tricoat pearl paint, the navigation, backup camera and SiriusXM travel link. Automatic headlamps, remote start and dual-zone temperature control are among a long list of standard items.
The Charger serves a younger buyer than does its stablemate, the Chrysler 300. They’re identically sized. Buyers of the Charger, with its performance image, are 10 years younger on average than buyers of the luxurious 300.
The Charger was introduced in the fall of 1965 as a ’66 model and continued production through 1977. Its most popular models were the good-looking, coke-bottle shaped 1968, ’69 and ‘70s. The Charger name was used on a Dodge Omni 024 compact from 1982-87, then discontinued until the 2006 model on the chassis of the Chrysler 300.
Here are the specifications for the ’15 Dodge Charger SXT AWD:
Capacity 5-passenger
Wheelbase 120.2 inches
Length 198.4 inches
Width 75 inches
Height 58.2 inches
Curb Weight 4,157 pounds
Track 63.4 inches front, 63.8 rear
Ground Clearance 4.9 inches
Turn Circle 38.7 feet
Drivetrain All-wheel-drive
Engine 3.6-liter V-6
Horsepower/Torque 292/260
Transmission 8-speed automatic
Steering rack/pinion, electric power assist
Suspension front high upper A arm, rear multilink, coils all around
Fuel mileage estimate 18/27
Fuel mileage average 20.8
Fuel Tank 18.5 gallons, regular unleaded
Wheels 19-inch
Tires Michelin Pilot P235/55/R19
Cargo Volume 16.1 cubic feet
Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/100,000 powertrain
Competitors Ford Taurus, Buick LaCrosse, Toyota Avalon, Chevrolet Impala, Cadillac ATS, Hyundai Genesis, Kia Cadenza
Assembly Plant Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Parts Content U.S./Canadian 67%, Mexico 20%
Base Price of Lowest Model $28,990; Base Price of Review Model $32,995; Destination Charge $995; Sticker Price $35,485.
The 2015 Acura TLX AWD sedan in Vail. (Bud Wells photos)
“Happy New Year,” I shout from the driver’s seat of the 2015 Dodge Charger AWD to readers of my automotive columns.
I opened year 2014 aboard the Nissan Rogue all-wheel-drive compact crossover and ended it this week in the full-sized Charger sedan. In between, I drove 67 other new cars and trucks.
The decision for my favorite car of the year, the 2015 Acura TLX AWD sedan, came to light during a drive to Vail and back. Fashioned so elegantly with a much sleeker design than the two old bodies it replaced, those of the TL and TSX, and with a 9-speed automatic transmission and push-button shifts, the TLX made a hit with me. A 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 with Sport mode and paddle shifters kept pace, often on the inside fast lane, with no problems on the I-70 climb up the mountains.
Truck of the year? It is the 2014 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4X4 with 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 and 8-speed automatic transmission, carrying an EPA highway rating as high as 28 miles per gallon. This one boasts a torque rating of 420 lb.-ft., a standout in the half-ton field. An optional electronically controlled air suspension will, with the push of a button, adjust the height of the pickup.
Other highlights among my automotive drives for 2014:
Weighting game – Ford, on a cold, windy November morning, showed off its new aluminum-bodied F-150 pickup at a parking lot in Broomfield. It is 700 pounds lighter than last year’s steel bodies, and time will tell the durability of the new skin. For me, a big impression was the ease with which Ford’s little 2.7-liter V-6 engine moved the full-size truck.
2015 Honda Fit was least-expensive car driven in past year.
Cheapest – The little 2015 Honda Fit 5-door EX, which carried Jan and me to Shanahan’s in southeast Denver on Labor Day weekend to join our kids and their mates for an excellent dinner, at $18,225 (the car, not the dinner). The Fit offers lots of quality for reasonable price. Another cheapie was the Nissan Versa Note at $21,015 with heated seats and rearview camera.
’15 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe boasted 550 horsepower.
Most expensive – The 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe, with 550-hp supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 and 8-speed automatic transmission, at $102,825, nosed out the 2014 Audi A8L TDI, $99,445 with massaging front seatbacks and Bang & Olufsen advanced sound system.
MPG – 40.1 by 2014 Volkswagen Jetta TDI diesel, 35.6 by the 2014 Nissan Versa Note and 35.1 by the Honda Fit.
Hybrids – 46.4 by the 2014 Ford Fusion Energi plug-in, 38.9 by ’14 Honda Accord Hybrid and 38.5 by ’15 Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Guzzling – In cold and snow of February, with brief warm-ups on a couple mornings, the 2014 Nissan Titan and its 5.6-liter V-8/5-speed automatic transmission averaged 13.4 mpg.
Most horsepower – 550 from the 5-liter supercharged V-8 in Jaguar’s 2015 F-Type R Coupe, which will run 0 to 60 in 4 seconds.
Surprise transaction – Christmas Eve a year ago, it was 100-year-old O’Meara Ford buying a Volkswagen store from Doug Moreland. This time, a week before Christmas, it is John Elway swapping his Chevy store on South Colorado Boulevard for the Don Massey Cadillac dealership in Lone Tree. This gives Elway a luxury marque to go along with his other Chevy store on south Broadway and his Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram business in Greeley, and Massey, owned by Sonic Automotive Group, lands the Chevy property on South Colorado Blvd., adjacent to Mercedes-Benz and BMW locations, formerly owned by Mark Murray, bought by Sonic in 2013.
Falls flat – An August test of the 2014 Ford C-Max Energi plug-in would have been perfect – a drive to Coors Field in Denver for the Colorado Rockies’ retirement of Todd Helton’s No. 17 jersey. A flat tire, though, threw a wrench into that. The C-Max has no spare tire, as the car’s large battery pack fills the rear area where a spare would normally be stored. In place of a spare, it has a sealant compound in a canister and an air compressor to inflate the tire. The kit can be used only to seal punctures within the tire tread, not in the sidewall. So, Jan’s C280 4Matic sedan got us to Denver for the big show.
Extremes – Delivered to me back-to-back last January were the 5,850-pound Infiniti QX80 and the 2,500-pound Nissan Versa Note. Sit them side by side and the little Nissan falls short of the luxury make by 3 ½ feet.
Cold ride – In a 2014 Dodge Durango R/T in February, it was 11 below when we left home, still 11 below with 11 inches of snow when we arrived in Sterling for the funeral of Delbert Davis, an uncle of Jan’s.
Warm touch – Heaters beneath the head restraints in the 2014 BMW 435i retractable hardtop convertible blow warm air on the necks of front-seat occupants in cold weather. This feature was introduced several years ago by Mercedes-Benz.
Great catch – Halibut shared with General Motors executives at the Oceanaire Seafood Room two blocks from the Colorado Convention Center on opening night of the Denver Auto Show in April.
Velocity yellow was suitable for ’14 Chevy Corvette.
Best color – Velocity yellow tintcoat on the 2014 Corvette C-7 coupe in August.
Best book – “The 100-Year Deal,” the 100th anniversary volume published by the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. It includes a reprint of The Colorado Car Book, which I produced in 1996.
The redesigned 1980 Ford Thunderbird, left, beside an original ’55 model. (Bud Wells photo)
Thirty-five years ago this week, I reviewed in The Denver Post the 25th anniversary 1980 Ford Thunderbird and the original ’55 model. Excerpts:
The stylish new 1980 Ford Thunderbird marks 25 years since introduction of one of the most prestigious model names in automotive history.
The year 1955 was a glamorous one for cars. When the ‘55s hit the showroom floors they were the most colorful and powerful, and displayed the most significant styling changes, of any one-year changeover before or since (to that time).
Every carmaker joined the move, but the big scene-stealer was the first Thunderbird, a little two-seater convertible with a removable hardtop. The 52-inch-high ’55 T-Bird was a sports car for those wanting something different. Built on a 102-inch wheelbase with an overall length of 175 inches, it was powered by a Y-block 292-cubic-inch-displacement V-8 engine with 193 horsepower. Base price was $2,695.
To provide better rear visibility, the famed porthole was designed into the hardtop of the ’56 T-Bird and tailfins were added in 1957.
To appeal to a broader segment of the public, a rear seat was added in 1958, sales tripled, and it was named “Car of the Year” by Motor Trend. The Birds continued to grow in size and by 1976 the car was 225 inches long with a curb weight of 5,100 pounds.
A sharp increase in fuel mileage and the best design since the early T-Birds highlight the smaller 1980 Thunderbird.
The comfort level in the high-seated ’80 model is unmatched in previous T-Birds. It is on a wheelbase of 108 inches and weighs 3,270 pounds. Handling is good with the McPherson struts, coil springs and variable-ratio rack-and-pinion steering.
The big boost in gas mileages comes with an automatic overdrive transmission, available with the Thunderbird’s optional 302-cubic-inch V-8 engine (standard is a 255 V-8). An electronically controlled keyless entry system locks and unlocks the doors and unlocks the decklid by depressing calculator-type pushbuttons in a programmed five-digit sequence.
The XSE is a sportier version of the 2015 Toyota Camry. (Bud Wells photo)
“The sportiest Camry yet,” Toyota says of its new 2015 XSE sedan.
It does have a stiffened sport suspension and 18-inch wheels; in reality, though, it’s simply another model that reinforces Camry’s rank as one of the finest of family four-doors.
I remember years ago driving a Toyota Supra Turbo – that one was sporty. I wrote of it, “This 320-horsepower, 6-cylinder dynamo will get you from Franktown to Castle Rock in about five blinks. I’m talking wide-awake blinks, of course; sleepytime driving isn’t permitted in a car of this type.”
The front-drive Camry today is the best-selling sedan in the U.S.
Adding appeal to the XSE’s ruby flare pearl finish are a wide black-mesh grille and redesigned headlights and taillights. The Camry’s overall length of 190.9 inches is within a half-inch of matching those of the Ford Fusion and Mazda6.
Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, Toyota’s 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine turns out decent, smooth performance. Standard offering for the Camry is the 178-hp, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, which earns an EPA mpg estimate of 35 on the highway.
I averaged 26.8 mpg with the V-6, which is rated at 21 in town and 31 on the highway. The V-6 operates adequately and quietly in low-range demands. The XSE rides on Michelin P225/45R18 tires.
Positions of the brake and accelerator pedals near the same level gave me opportunity twice on the highway to experience Toyota’s Smart Stop technology. As my foot touched both pedals at cruising speed, the vehicle’s speed quickly dropped 15 miles per hour from an immediate cut in engine power along with the light touch of the brake. It is noticeably effective, designed to help bring the vehicle to a stop. The feature is standard on the Camry for 2015. Smart Stop engages in the event of simultaneous brake and gas pedal applications, with immediate reduction of engine power to idle.
Inside, the Camry dashboard is stylish with the look of a leather overlay, stitched in red, and the seat inserts are of microsuede with good comfort. Touchscreen usage for a 7-inch display set is fairly simple and reaction is quick; audio channel listings are larger than many of those in competitive makes. The system includes navigation with traffic and weather, a USB port and Bluetooth.
The rear seating area is very roomy and the trunk is of 15.4 cubic feet, enough to hold family luggage.
The Entune premium audio, rearview camera, blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning and automatic high beams pushed price of the Camry XSE to $35,668 from a base of $31,370.
Here are the specifications for the ’15 Toyota Camry XSE V-6:
Capacity 5-passenger
Wheelbase 109.3 inches
Length 190.9 inches
Width 71.7 inches
Height 57.9 inches
Curb Weight 3,480 pounds
Track 62.4 inches front, 62 rear
Ground Clearance 6.1 inches
Turn Circle 36.7 feet
Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
Engine 3.5-liter V-6
Horsepower/Torque 268/248
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Steering electric power
Suspension sport-tuned front strut, multilink rear
Fuel mileage estimate 21/31
Fuel mileage average 26.8
Fuel Tank 17 gallons, regular unleaded
Wheels 18-inch
Tires Michelin P225/45/R18
Cargo Volume 15.4 cubic feet
Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain
Competitors Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Chrysler 200, Chevrolet Malibu
Assembly Plant Georgetown, Ky.
Parts Content N.A.
Base Price of Lowest Model $23,795; Base Price of Review Model $31,370; Destination Charge $825; Sticker Price $35,668.
The 2015 Chrysler 200C AWD at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. (Bud Wells photos)
Today, I review a ’15 on 12-13-14.
It’s the Chrysler 200C all-wheel-drive midsize sedan, which posted the hottest sales gain in the auto industry last month.
Whether the numerically based lead of the column is liked, or disliked, it is the last one this century. Three years ago, in the fall of 2011, an opportunity arose when I wrote, “Two-doors continue to roll my direction, and I have a ’12 for you on the morning of 9-10-11.” It was the 2012 Honda Civic Coupe. The year 2015 will be a step beyond linking up consecutively with months (which, of course, end with 12) and date numericals. Something else will come to mind, I’m sure.
To put Chrysler’s AWD system to some use, we drove it to 9,500-feet-high Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park where 17 inches of snow was on the ground. That’s 17 more than was in the lower lands of northern Colorado.
The all-wheel-drive option makes the 200C a nice entry in Colorado country. Few midsize sedans offer grip at all four wheels – Toyota Camry doesn’t, nor does Honda Accord. It is available on the Ford Fusion and Subaru Legacy, and the Volkswagen Passat has recently added 4Motion. It is more common on luxury models.
The 200C handled easily the little bit of ice we encountered near the parking lot of Bear Lake. The new AWD system, when called upon, instantly splits torque between the front and rear wheels for optimal traction. When front-wheel-drive performance is sufficient, the system disengages power to the rear axle, gaining increased fuel efficiency.
A powertrain highlight is Chrysler’s 9-speed automatic transmission, tied to its 295-horsepoower, 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine. A rotary dial on the center console, something like that used by Jaguar, has replaced the traditional shifter for the 200. It simplifies the shift process and is enhanced by paddle shifters at the steering wheel. Using the paddles in manual mode, the driver controls limitless gearing possibilities among the nine speeds. A Sport mode increases throttle response, quickens shifts and lessens the normal traction control.
The 200’s rotary dial shifter
The Pentastar, smoothed by the 9-speed, seems to work very hard and noisily under stressful acceleration demands. A bit more oomph is needed on occasion. And that may soon be at hand. One afternoon while the 200 was in my possession, a daily Internet newscast from Detroit (Tom Worobec, Automotive News) informed me that Chrysler plans to turbocharge the Pentastar V-6 later in 2015.
This, if added to the 200C, will make it a leader among the midsize sedans.
Overall driving, including the climb to Bear Lake, averaged 26.9 miles per gallon.
With improved soft-touch, high-end materials, the 200’s cabin has gained a spot on Ward’s 10 Best Interiors List for the year. The upgraded 200C has power controls for both front seats; a complaint with lower-end models is that the front-passenger seat is positioned very low and there is no height adjustment. A large storage bin has been carved out in the center console, and another wide opening has opened beneath the center portion of the dash, designed somewhat like those in Volvos for a number of years.
A heated steering wheel is among interior niceties; the heat into the steering wheel can be set to turn on automatically when a temperature drops to a certain cold level.
A peek through the Chrysler 200C steering wheel.
An impressive Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system, navigation, adaptive cruise, automatic high beams, park assist, premium leather heated and cooled seats and lane-departure system helped push sticker price of the Chrysler from a base of $30,425 to sticker of $35,900.
Base engine for the Chrysler 200 is a 184-hp, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder.
Sales of the 200 sedan last month totaled 14,317, a 156 percent increase over the previous month. It has been years since a Chrysler midsize model has sold that many units in a month. It outsold the Chevy Malibu, Subaru Outback, Kia Optima and Volkswagen Passat for the month.
Here are the specifications for the ’15 Chrysler 200C AWD:
Capacity 5-passenger
Wheelbase 108 inches
Length 192.3 inches
Width 73.6 inches
Height 58.7 inches
Curb Weight 3,473 pounds
Track 62.1 inches front, 62 rear
Ground Clearance 5.8 inches
Turn Circle 39.8 feet
Drivetrain All-wheel-drive
Engine 3.6-liter V-6
Horsepower/Torque 295/262
Transmission 9-speed automatic
Steering variable-assist power
Suspension strut front, multilink rear
Fuel mileage estimate 18/29
Fuel mileage average 26.9
Fuel Tank 15.8 gallons, regular unleaded
Wheels 18-inch
Cargo Volume 16 cubic feet
Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/100,000 powertrain
Competitors: Ford Fusion, Acura ILX, Volkswagen Passat, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Camry
Assembly Plant: Sterling Heights, Mich.
Parts Content: U.S./Canadian 67%, Mexico 16%
Base Price of Lowest Model: $21,700; Base Price of Review Model: $30,425; Destination Charge: $995; Sticker Price: $35,900.
The ’15 X4 is coupelike with four doors. (Bud Wells photos)
It’s a beautiful finish, in melbourne red metallic, which adds $550 to its cost.
Impressive, too, is its interior, white nevada leather with red contrast stitching, and that’s an extra $1,450.
It is BMW’s new 2015 X4 crossover hatchback, which looks like a coupe, even with its four doors. It is styled like the bigger X6, which was introduced seven years.
Of the X6 when I reviewed it in The Denver Post of July 4, 2008, I said, “Its new look is hot as a firecracker.”
The BMW X6 was first reviewed back in ’08.
The same holds true now for the new X4, still a hot coupelike look, even in December.
Interestingly, the X6’s review model back in ’08 was $63,700, just $100 higher than sticker price on the ’15 X4, which is a size smaller. Price bumps along the way have pushed the total on a well-equipped X6 into the $80s.
From the driver’s seat of the X4, the results for pushing the Sport driving button are under-hood performances fitting of a BMW – tightened steering, stiffened suspension, more responsive shifts, capped by paddle-shift capability. Three other modes are Eco (mild), Comfort (normal) and Sport-plus (blast-off).
Driver controls for the BMW X4 crossover.
A twin-power turbocharged, direct-injection 3.0-liter, inline-6-cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission provides the multilevel power modes. It generates 300 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque.
BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system uses dynamic stability control to send torque to the outside rear wheel when cornering to improve traction, turn-in and directional stability.
The inline-6 with the 8-speed carries an EPA estimate of 19/27 miles per gallon. My overall fuel mileage average was only 21.5; I didn’t often call on the Eco mode. An optional power source for the X4 is from a 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, also tied to the 8-speed.
The X4 is built on the chassis of BMW’s X3 SUV and is much the same size. The X4 is a half-inch longer than the X3 and its roofline is 1.5 inches lower than that of the X3. Its roofline slopes back to the trailing edge of the tailgate; that and its low-slung structure create shallow vision out the rear window.
Among interior highlights are M leather steering wheel and M door sill finishers. The rear seat is split 40/20/40, and cargo space behind is 17.7 cubic feet. Rear-seat footroom is somewhat tight.
A few of the many options are heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, blind-spot detection, automatic high beams and stop/start system.
Bob and Gerri Sweeney with “The 100-Year Deal” at the Denver Press Club. (Jan Wells photo)
“What a deal,” said an exuberant Bob Sweeney when his name was drawn as recipient of a copy of the just-published Colorado Automobile Dealers Association’s 100th anniversary history book.
The 336-page, coffee-table-type book, “The 100-Year Deal,” was handed to Sweeney and his wife, Gerri, during the annual holiday party of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press at the Denver Press Club. Sweeneys are publishers of The Villager newspaper in Greenwood Village.
Included in the group of 40 persons at the party were writers, bloggers and photographers of automotive interest, along with several automobile manufacturer representatives.
Andre Smirnov, president of the automotive press association, directed the dinner party. Tim Jackson, who for 10 years has headed the state’s dealer association, drew Sweeney’s name from a collection of names of all those in attendance.
In addition to celebrating the 100 years of the Colorado car dealers association, the volume includes a reprint of The Colorado Car Book (1996) by Bud Wells.
For more information regarding the book, or to order it, visit cadaat100.org. The book is priced at $59.95.
