All posts by budwells

About budwells

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.

Ford Fusion Energi spurt tops Volt, Prius

The Chevy Volt plugs in on driver side. (Bud Wells photo)
The Chevy Volt plugs in on driver side. (Bud Wells photo)

While tallying six-month sales totals for hybrids and electrics early this week, I took possession for a few days of the 2014 Chevy Volt. Its arrival was good timing, for the Volt is one of half a dozen strong competitors among plug-in hybrid electric and battery electric models.

The Volt outsold the Toyota Prius plug-in electric in June; surprisingly, though, both the Chevy and the Toyota were outsold for the month by the Ford Fusion Energi.

For the first half of this year, the Prius Plug-in leads sales of that category with 9,300, followed by the Volt with 8,615, the FusionEnergi with 6,235 and the Ford C-Max Energi with 3,928.

Among battery-powered electrics which have no gasoline engines, the Nissan Leaf has outsold the Tesla Model S, 12,736 to 8,200 for the first six months of the year.

Despite a sharp drop in sales of the Toyota Prius Liftback in the past year, it continues to dominate totals in the regular gas/electric hybrid market, as it has since it was introduced 14 years ago.

The Prius Liftback has sold 63,037 hybrids through the end of June, far ahead of the next three, the Toyota Camry and Prius C and the Ford Fusion, each of which has sold barely over 20,000. The Prius Liftback at this time last year had sold 76,809 hybrids.

Of 8,123,389 new cars and trucks sold thus far this year in the U.S., 287,761 are hybrids, plug-ins and electrics. That is 3.5 percent of the market. The 287,761 combined sales total for the three “hybrid” categories is slightly below the total of 298,517 for the same period of 2013.

Following are sales totals for leaders among the three categories of hybrids and electrics:

 

Hybrids

Toyota Prius Liftback 63,037; Toyota Camry 21,771; Ford Fusion 20,800; Toyota Prius C 20,283; Toyota Prius V 14,481; Hyundai Sonata 11,349; Ford C-Max 9,522; Lexus CT200h 8,337; Toyota Avalon 8,099; Lexus ES 6,947; Honda Accord 6,888; Kia Optima 6,417; Lincoln MKZ 6,018; Subaru XV Crosstrek 4,243; Lexus RX450h 4,206.

 

Plug-in Electrics

Toyota Prius 9,300; Chevrolet Volt 8,615; Ford Fusion Energi 6,235; Ford C-Max Energi 3,928; Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid 481; Cadillac ELR 390; Honda Accord 180.

 

Fully Electrics

Nissan Leaf 12,736; Tesla Model S 8,200; Smart for Two EV 1,092; Ford Focus EV 896; Fiat 500E 726; BMW i3 694; Chevrolet Spark 636; Toyota RAV4 EV 546; Honda Fit EV 221; Mitsubishi i 97.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015 Chrysler 200 takes AWD to ranch mansion

The 2015 Chrysler 200S along the Inverness golf course in Arapahoe County. (Bud Wells photos)
The 2015 Chrysler 200S along the Inverness golf course in Arapahoe County. (Bud Wells photos)

Selling the qualities and features of the new model was rather easy for three Chrysler execs – Rick Denau and John Nulty from Detroit and Wendy Orthman from Chicago – at a gathering Wednesday evening of 20 invited automotive journalists at the old castle-like Highlands Ranch Mansion.

The praise being peddled was for the 2015 Chrysler 200; elsewhere, say Atlanta, Phoenix or Seattle, it might have received a few “ho-hum, another Chrysler midsizer” reactions.

It showed up here, though, a state as rugged as the look of the big mansion, with new exterior, an interior approaching the luxuriousness of the 300, a 9-speed automatic transmission and, prepared specially for our Rockies and our snow – all-wheel drive.

The AWD system is available not only with the V-6 version, also the cheaper 4-cylinder 200; same with the new 9-speed automatic, it is teamed with both the 4-cylinder and the V-6.

Provided to me for driving to the event and the return home was a granite-hued four-door, which also accommodated Stu Wright of Greeley as my copilot. Maybe a bit light on low-end acceleration, the 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine, with the help of the 9-speed, was a smooth performer at midrange.

A rotary-dial shifter sits in the center console within easy reach of the driver; it’s similar to the type introduced by Jaguar several years ago, though the Chrysler dial doesn’t recess flush into the console when the car is turned off, as does the Jag.

Paddle shifters offer all sorts of quick-gear capabilities with the nine speeds; in addition, a Sport mode button will turn the 200 into a rear-axle-favored setup, as up to 60 percent of torque is directed to the rear. The Sport mode also increases throttle response, quickens shifts and lessens the normal traction control. In regular mode, however, the all-wheel-drive system will actually disconnect the rear axle when torque is not needed, a fuel-saving move.

Highlighting the interior are well-bolstered cloth-and-leather seats and an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen with high-end audio and navigation, though I found the nav less than specific on a couple of occasions while heading into the southeast metro area Thursday morning. The new 200 sedan offers storage beneath the console, similar to the style adopted by Volvo.

Two other nice interior touches are blue backlighting for the instrument panel gauges and info/entertainment center and the Detroit skyline embossed on the mat at the bottom of the storage area. A second cavernous storage compartment is revealed beneath sliding cupholders in the center console.

Catching my attention in late afternoon, as we stood around the 200s outside the mansion, was Denau’s mention of the fact that sticker price on one of the Chryslers was $3,000 below that of a comparably equipped Ford Fusion AWD. Wait till the Ford boys hear that. The Fusion with available AWD and the Subaru Legacy, for which every one is built that way, are prime competitors of the new 200.

The Highlands Ranch Mansion was home to the Lawrence Phipps Jr. family for more than 40 years. (Bud Wells photos)
The Highlands Ranch Mansion was home to the Lawrence Phipps Jr. family for more than 40 years. (Bud Wells photos)

With AWD standard for the 200S model, options pushed the sticker price to $34,065 from a base of $28,695. Among amenities are heated steering wheel, heated front seats, backup camera, blind-spot and cross-path detection, 19-inch black aluminum wheels and remote start.

Here are the ’15 Chrysler 200’s specifications:

Wheelbase 108 inches; Length 192.3 inches; Width 73.6 inches; Height 54.9 inches; Curb Weight 3,475 pounds; Track 62.1 inches front, rear; Ground Clearance 5.8 inches; Turn Circle 39.2 feet; Engine 3.6-liter V-6; Horsepower/Torque 288/262; Transmission 9-speed automatic; Fuel mileage estimated 18/29, average 27.1; Fuel Tank 15.9 gallons; Wheels 19-inch; Cargo Volume 16 cubic feet; Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/100,000 powertrain; Competitors Ford Fusion, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen CC, Toyota Camry; Assembly Plant Sterling Heights, Mich.; Parts Content U.S./Canada 73%; Base Price of Lowest Model $21,700; Base Price of Review Model $28,695; Sticker Price $34,065.

 

 

 

 

2014 Mazda Miata loses top in 12 seconds

 

The 2014 Mazda MX-5 Miata retractable-top convertible. (Bud Wells photo)

 

The 25th anniversary edition of the Mazda Miata, only 100 in number, will arrive in early September, About the same time, Mazda plans to begin providing quick glances to a totally redesigned 2016 Miata. In the meantime, amid the confusing release of those next two models, the ’14 version recently came my way.

What’d you think of it, someone asked recently after my farewell column in the Post. I had featured a photo of the 2014 MX-5 Miata convertible, though said little about it, as I mainly reminisced in the farewell.

The two-seater Miata, jet black in exterior finish, is a Grand Touring model with a power retractable top, and here’s what I thought about it: Driving anywhere in Colorado on a summer night is a great time for testing it. Loosen the center latch at the windshield header, push a button and the top drops into the trunk in barely more than 12 seconds. The cool breeze and open look are invigorating.

The rear-wheel-drive Miata, on a wheelbase of only 91.7 inches, is a good handler with independent double-wishbone front and multilink rear suspension. Its turn circle is only 30.8 feet. It is nimble, accelerates fairly quickly with lots of noise from its 158-horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission.

Unlike most competitors, which use a paddle shifter to the left of the steering wheel to downshift and one on the right to upshift, the Miata has an odd-looking paddles and thumb presses system. Pull the paddle on either side to upshift and thumb-press either side to downshift. It’s easy enough to use, after a few blocks of low-speed stop-and-go situations.

Inside, the finish is in spicy mocha brown. The seats are positioned very low; of course they are, for, even with the top in place the Miata measures only 49 inches in overall height. They’re low and narrow and bolstered, and most accommodating to a driver of modest stature.

About the time this driver began to tire, the car’s tank did, too. It is only 12.7 gallons in capacity and, with the Miata’s EPA estimate of 21/28, this will extend only 250 to 325 miles between refreshing fuel stops.

The addition of a $1,300 premium package of antitheft alarm, keyless entry, Bluetooth, Sirius satellite radio and xenon headlights pushed sticker price for the Miata to $32,735. Among standard equipment are Bose audio with seven speakers, heated leather-trimmed seats, leather shift knob, automatic air conditioning, dual front and side airbags and trip computer.

Here are the ’14 Miata’s specifications:

Wheelbase 91.7 inches; Length 157.3 inches; Width 67.3 inches; Height 49 inches; Curb Weight 2,593 pounds; Track 58.7 inches front, 58.9 rear; Ground Clearance 4.6 inches; Turn Circle 30.8 feet; Engine 2.0-liter 4-cylinder; Horsepower/Torque 158/140; Transmission 6-speed automatic; Fuel mileage estimated 21/28, average 25.7; Fuel tank 12.7 gallons; Wheels 17-inch; Cargo Volume 5.3 cubic feet; Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain; Competitors Volkswagen Beetle, Mini Cooper, BMW Z4, Nissan 370Z; Assembly Plant Hiroshima, Japan; Parts Content Japan 95%; Base Price of Lowest Model $23,720; Base Price of Review Model $30,550; Sticker Price $32,735.

The MX-5 Miata made its global debut on Feb. 9, 1989, at the Chicago Auto Show. More than 900,000 have been sold around the world since.

 

Half-year car sales in the U.S.

CARS:

Toyota Camry 222,540; Honda Accord 185,278; Nissan Altima 176,453; Toyota Corolla 174,354; Honda Civic 167,097; Ford Fusion 165,498; Chevrolet Cruze 145,338; Ford Focus 120,956; Hyundai Elantra 112,497; Toyota Prius 107,101.

SUVs:

Honda CR-V 154,692; Ford Escape 152,890; Chevrolet Equinox 120,831; Toyota RAV4 116,952; Ford Explorer 104,460; Nissan Rogue 99,302; Jeep Grand Cherokee 89,613; Jeep Wrangler 85,737; Jeep Cherokee 80,432; Subaru Forester 74,400.

TRUCKS:

Ford F-series 365,825; Chevrolet Silverado 240,679; Ram 203,860; GMC Sierra 93,191; Toyota Tacoma 75,149; Toyota Tundra 57,987; Nissan Frontier 35,943; Honda Ridgeline 7,906; Nissan Titan 6,416.

 VANS:

Dodge Grand Caravan 72,066; Chrysler Town & Country 69,876; Honda Odyssey 63,297; Toyota Sienna 62,291; Ford E-series 54,326; Chevrolet Express 39,514; Ford Transit Connect 19,799; GMC Savana 16,269; Nissan NV 13,287; Mazda5 7,215.

 

Back then . . . . ’79 Mazda RX-7

Mazda RX779

From 35 years ago this summer, I remember the rough shift of the automatic transmission from first gear to second in the 1979 Mazda RX-7 sports car with rotary engine, loaned to me by Buckingham Imports, 334 Havana St., Aurora. Excerpts from the review back then:

The addition of an automatic transmission to the 1979 Mazda RX-7 took none of the allure from that popular sports car. It’s not as quick as a stick on getaway, though it’s easier driving in the city, and at about 25 miles per hour or 3,500 rpm the automatic begins to run right along with the 4-speed. The ride offered by the two-seater is above average for a sports car, and handling is outstanding. Weight distribution is the key, as the compact rotary engine is mounted far back in the engine compartment behind the front axles. It was at its best on the hills and curves of the highway between Castle Rock and Franktown. Mazda’s use of rotary engines was cut by poor ratings of the Environmental Protection Agency five years ago. The present rotary, free of most vibrations, averaged 15.6 miles per gallon in town driving and 20.6 on the highway. The 2,400-pound RX-7 is on a wheelbase of only 95 inches and is 169 inches in overall length. With its narrow track, turning circle is only 31.5 feet. Its window sticker of $9,739  included the automatic transmission, air conditioning, removable sunroof, AM/FM stereo radio with power antenna, alloy wheels and electric remote hatch release. Officials of Toyo Kogyo, the Japanese builder of the Mazda, compare the RX-7 to the 1947 MG-TC, the ’53 Corvette and the ’70 Datsun 240-Z. I don’t know about that.