2012 NAIAS FAILS

When you bring a concept car or a production car to a big show like the North American International Auto Show, you really want to make a statement with that car and get as much good press as possible. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out and these are the cars we think fall into that category.

2013 Mopar 200 Super S was showed off at the Chrysler display in Detroit. Although I really do think the new 200 is a step above the Sebring, which isn’t that hard to do, I still feel that Chrysler needs to do more to improve its luxury status. Making a sportier Mopar variant isn’t what I had in mind.

Buick came out and showed off its new compact SUV named the Encore. We reviewed the Enclave and liked the direction the style is going. It’s not so much the style that made this a fail though. This is a small SUV; as small as the Nissan Juke. Why does Buick need this car? Is there a big demand for this car in this segment? If GM was looking to bring the platform into the family, they should have probably started off with a Chevrolet instead of a Buick, but we could be wrong. They might just sell well. Only time will tell.

Lincoln made a lot of hype about bringing the all-new MKZ concept to the Detroit Auto Show. We even saw a few teasers released by Lincoln that gave us hope. I’m just not digging the new design though; and it’s not just me. Lincoln needs to do something big to bring its name back and I’m afraid this just wasn’t it. It’s not just design, Lincoln needs to focus on who they want to compete with, and build competitive products, but they’ll never really be competitive with their front-wheel-drive platforms. They need to go all rear-wheel-drive or a true all-wheel-drive setup. They need to bring the enthusiasts in with a real halo car, whether that be a large luxurious RWD sedan, or a new sporty coupe based off the Mustang platform.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS Vivid Red

I’ve never really liked convertibles, and still don’t. It’s just something about the looks, and the fact that it almost always ruins a good coupe. I have had this dislike for a long time; Mustangs should be coupes. The Corvette should be a coupe. The 911 should most definitely be a coupe, and so on and so on. On the other hand, a true roadster or speedster that is born as a topless driving machine, I love. The Shelby Cobra, the Stirling Moss Edition SLR, and cars like the Ariel Atom and Caterham are cars that I have always admired and lusted after. Yes they don’t have a top, much like the convertibles I listed earlier, but the difference is that when you design a car as a coupe then chop the top to please a non-enthusiast buyer, you end up ruining the car in both performance and looks – in my opinion.

In 2001, a company that I knew only for their bikes, and I’m not a bike guy, came out with a true speedster concept that not only looked amazing then, but looking back now it would still be a modern and “out there” concept car. This car was called the GSX-R/4 by a company, you might have guessed by now, called Suzuki. Seeing this amazing little speedster led me to investigate the Suzuki brand as a whole, and man am I glad I did. Here in America, as with many car companies, we don’t always get the best the company has to offer. Suzuki didn’t sell much here in America back in 2001, and nothing worthy of an enthusiasts attention, unless you like 4×4, so my interest quickly dissipated. All the way into 2007 was more of the same with Suzuki. Great cars over seas and slim offerings in the US. Then comes the Suzuki SX4, Suzuki’s attempt to bring a fully Japanese built, sporty car to America. Granted the SX4′s 0-60 was 10 seconds and it looks like an egg, but despite this it had Suzuki’s iAWD (intelligent all-wheel-drive) system and a chassis built for rally racing. The SX4 was Suzuki’s first step in the right direction. T heir second was cutting ties with GM and Daewoo, and now their third big step toward getting an American car enthusiast like myself to buy a Suzuki product is the all new Kizashi.

Suzuki is so confident that the Kizashi will win over American car buyers, that they have put their money where their mouth is. The new campaign from Suzuki marketing is go test drive the Kizashi, then test drive an Audi A4 or Acura TSX. If you end up not buying the Kizashi, then Suzuki will pay you $100. Granted its more of a marketing campaign to announce who Suzuki really has their eyes set on, but it has gotten the enthusiast world buzzing about Suzuki. So what do we think?

Lets start with inside our Vivid Red Kizashi GTS. The only optional add-on in this car are premium floor mats and body side molding accents. This is because the Kizashi is packed full of standard features that would break the bank in cars that Suzuki has its sights set on. What you get as standard equipment on this GTS include things like dual zone auto climate control, 10-way power drivers seat, steering wheel audio controls, leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter, cruise control, power tilt and slide sunroof, and an amazing stereo! The 425 watt Rockford Fosgate system has 10 speakers including a trunk mounted sub, iPod and MP3 USB port, Bluetooth hands free calling, wireless audio streaming, and a CD player. Crank this sucker up and you’ll be impressed with this factory stereo. The seats are premium cloth and as far as cloth seats go, these are great. You still get good support and a comfortable seating position. The materials used throughout the interior of the Kizashi feel premium and Suzuki did a great job making sure the touch points were spot on. Obviously, a car like the A4 is going to have a better quality interior, but not by a substantial amount. The trunk in this mid-sized car inevitably surprised everyone we showed it to. Despite the exterior looks, which make this car appear much smaller than it actually is, the interior and trunk are very spacious. Many people were not happy with the exterior looks of the car when it was first introduced, mainly complaining about the difference in design from the last concept to final production. This never bothered me because I never have high hopes with car companies bringing concept design into production. Despite this, the car does look sporty with flared fenders and an integrated trunk spoiler, 18 inch alloy wheels, short overhangs in the front and rear, and even the fake dual exhaust outlets in the rear it all works together and really does it for me.

Our test car came with the six-speed manual transmission hooked up to the 2.4 liter engine pushing 185 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque. We test drove the SLS Kizashi a few weeks before with the six-speed CVT (continuously variable transmission) which only gets 180 horsepower out of the same engine. With the CVT setup, I was really disappointed in the performance of the car. It still had a great, if not better, interior with the leather seats, but just didn’t feel like it had any get-up-and-go, even in manual mode shifting with the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Fortunately, all is cured by giving us the transmission we want in any car, the six-speed manual. All of the sudden, the car feels more responsive and quicker. This leads you to taking corners with more passion and enthusiasm, which in turn shows of the great chassis and suspension that Suzuki has developed in this car. Even in the face of a front-wheel-drive setup, the Kizashi kept its composure and never felt like the front wheels couldn’t handle the job of power and turning. There was never a feel of abundant torque steer or understeer to upset our backroad joyrides, although with much more horsepower to the ground, we might not get the same result. Even if you don’t want to drive with the entusiasm that we most often do, this car soars down the highway with ease. Minimal wind noise and road noise make it easy to enjoy the drive, and knowing your getting close to 30 miles per gallon makes it that much better. Even with our driving, city and highway, we averaged just over 23 mpg.

Kizashi is a Japanese word for “Something great is coming” and we agree with one small difference. That something great is here! Stacking the Kizashi up to its competition seems like a no brainer to me. Our test car clocked in at $24,599, loaded, and getting anything close to it would be stretching your pocket into the high $30k range. In fact, the top of the line SLS that we drove with the leather and CVT topped out at just over $28k. You just can’t beat it on price. Unless your into big name recognition and badge prestige, there is no real reason you’d pick an Audi or Acura over the Suzuki. I actually like the fact that Suzuki still isn’t a well known brand and when you tell people what you are driving they look at you with a look of confusion. “You mean that car your racing around in is a Suzuki?” “What’s a Kizashi?” It always leads into my favorite part about owning a car you love, “lets go check it out!” I can’t wait to see what Suzuki has up it’s sleeve next. I know they are bringing the Swift to the United States, but further into the future, if Suzuki keeps on its path, we really will be looking at something great.

[Gallery not found]

ChevyTMS at Texas Motor Speedway

We got an invite to the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway by our friends at Chevrolet. Although the race was rained out and the conditions were not the best, we managed to have a great time just hanging out with the folks from Chevy and some NASCAR greats!
We started the day in the Village of Champions where Chevy had set up shop. We played some fun games and checked out the cars even getting to race some laps of TMS – okay in a simulator. Next, we were treated to a small personal Q&A with three NASCAR drivers including Jamie McMaury, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart. After the Q&A, it was time for a quick bite to eat, provided by Chevy. Then, the long journey to the pits! Not much was going on as it was drizzling the whole time. Everything was covered up and the only thing on the track were trucks trying, hopelessly, to dry it off. Walking up and down pit lane was still a cool experience though, as we got the opportunity to see cool sights like the Wall of Champions and the Garages behind the pits. After our exhausting journey back the the Chevy tents, we sat down and relaxed and talked with a few others fans out there until we heard the inevitable news that the race would be postponed until tomorrow.
All in all, we had a great time and this was my first time to visit TMS. Can’t wait till my next opportunity and hope to actually get to watch the race!

Live Updates from Twitter: http://twitter.com/txgarage

Headed to TMS hope the rain stops at some point … #ChevyTMS

So close yet so far! #ChevyTMS @GMTexas http://twitpic.com/1gkr6r

Made it in! Ready to get crackin! #ChevyTMS

Yup me too! RT @1wisechick I want to take this home with me! #chevytexan #chevytms #tms #NASCAR http://yfrog.com/0d5ouvj

#ChevyTMS the Traverse cargo challenge! We got a free hat! http://twitpic.com/1gl1ux

#ChevyTMS did ok a the race Simulator 33.6 sec around TMS! Fun times!

@SuzukiAuto got the #Kizashi out at #TMS … If NASCAR won’t race I’ll take this on the track! http://twitpic.com/1glvwl

RT @GMTexas LOL! RT @mikedmerrill: Dear 8lb 6oz baby Jesus, don’t let it rain out NASCAR 2day! #ChevyTMS (via @garf)

#ChevyTMS Jamie McMaury on the stand! http://twitpic.com/1glm5b

#ChevyTMS Ryan Newman is here! http://twitpic.com/1glmb6

#ChevyTMS tony stewart coming up in a few!

#ChevyTMS Tony Stewart is here! Cool guy! http://twitpic.com/1glqz3

#ChevyTMS having lunch. About to hit the pits

#ChevyTMS in the pits at The Wall of Champions http://twitpic.com/1gmrow

#ChevyTMS the drizzle won’t stop… Having fun but doesn’t look like we’ll be racing. http://twitpic.com/1gmrnh

Our Mega Photo Gallery from ChevyTMS:
[Gallery not found]

2010 Buick Enclave

When I was young, I bought some of those x-ray glasses out of the back of a magazine. Although my parents tried to warn me, I insisted that they would work, plus they looked really cool. After weeks of waiting, checking the mail every day when I got home from school, the package finally showed up. I rushed to my room and ripped open the box throwing all the packing all over my room. As I pulled the glasses out and put them on my face, I felt an immediate sense of dissatisfaction. I ran around the house looking at everything I could thinking they have to work, yet they wouldn’t look through a thing. Not only did they not work as advertised, they were also cheaply made and broke within the first few days of having them. It has been a long time since I’ve felt this kind of dissatisfaction, that is until this week.

This week, we took delivery of the all new 2010 Buick Enclave CXL-2 AWD. So I know what your thinking, “How can you compare a seven-passenger SUV to x-ray glasses?” Well, we’ll start out with the initial excitement and looks of the car. Last week, we drove the new 2010 Equinox and loved it. We have also driven the Acadia and loved that as well. The Enclave is built on the same platform as the Acadia, but the Enclave is the most expensive vehicle that GM builds on that platform. So forgive us for thinking that we get the great interior and gadgets from the 2010 Equinox, but more luxuries, and the great practicality and ride of the Acadia for a seven-passenger SUV.

The looks of this big SUV are right in line with what Buick needs to do to attract more buyers and keep the brand alive. Along with the new LaCrosse and the upcoming Regal, Buick seems to be doing a fantastic job in the design department. The curvy and swoopy lines of the Enclave almost make it look like a smaller crossover than it really is. The optional 20 in wheels that we had on our test car really fill the wheel wells and give this car a great, big stance. From the stylized headlights and the waterfall grill to the aggressive arches and taillights in the rear, it is apparent that this is a beautiful car. As far as SUV’s go, we got more looks in this thing going to the grocery store or stopping at the gas station than any others.

Now that we have taken care of the looks, on to the interior. Here in the interior of the car is really where all my gripes about this car begin. Keep in mind our test car bleeds your wallet for a total of $49,655 (including destination charge). When you first look at the interior of this car, you dont get an overwhelming sensation of cheapness. No, it takes a few times stopped at stoplights and really feeling the materials used and focusing on the clutter and disarray encompassed in the dash. The first thing that bugged me was the technology in this car. Yes, it has the standard slew of interior tid-bits; including navigation, XM radio, rear DVD entertainment system, OnStar, rear audio controls, heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats, bluetooth connectivity, and steering wheel mounted controls. With all these features, how could we complain about the technology within the Enclave? Simple, it’s all old technology, at least compared to the significantly cheaper Equinox we drove just the week before. The technology in this $50k car is the same old stuff you would expect to find in a 2007 Equinox, not a new luxurious and beautifully designed SUV.

Okay so the technology is a bit old, and that could be forgiven by most drivers seeing as how it all still works, but what about those materials and clutter? First off, the seats look good and in our test vehicle were a tan leather. They looked fat and comfortable, and although it wasn’t like sitting on rocks, they just were not as comfortable and soft as we would have liked. The headrests, on the other hand, were hard as rocks. The top of the dash was made of what looks like a decent soft touch material, but wasn’t. Under that, you had a light woodgrain – plasticky – material, and if you know me, I’m not a fan of cheap looking woodgrain in luxury cars. Beneath the woodgrain, you have a plastic material made to look like brushed aluminum and in between both is a hard black plastic material and the analog clock with a plastic chrome strip around it. Under those is a big slab of hard black plastic that encompassed the infotainment system, which I can attest to the fact that it doesn’t hold up well to a few Texas summers before it starts warping. Then you have another, clear plastic, material that covers the gear selection on the shifter. This was probably the cheapest feeling material in the entire car. Move over to the steering wheel and you find leather wrapped grips with woodgrain along the top and bottom, although this woodgrain doesn’t match the woodgrain on the dash. Moving to the rear of the seven-passenger SUV, you get a fantastic look at the uncarpeted floor; looking at, instead, the area where the seats roll forward and backward.

Space in the Enclave is nothing to thumb your nose at. This is a true seven-passenger SUV, unlike some stretched SUV’s that only small children could fit in the rear two seats. Although all this space comes at a price; weight. Although you get the bigger 3.6 liter v6, it still feels underpowered when you are trying to merge onto the highway. The fuel economy ratings for the vehicle is set at 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway, although with mostly highway driving we struggled to climb over 17 mpg average.

I’ll continue to say that this is one of the best looking big SUV’s out today. And comparing it to a pair of x-ray glasses might be unfair because yes, the Enclave works. I just dont think it works as a $50k luxury SUV. I think Buick, and GM in general, is moving in the right direction with style. They are making cars that people are not just okay with, but eager to be seen in everyday. Where I still see GM struggling though, is interior quality and overall ride. They have made great advancements in the quality of their interior with the Equinox and the Camaro, but they need to keep that in the forefront when trying to build a luxury vehicle. It really felt like they spent all their time designing the outside and forgot the interior. Although the car did disappoint, it wouldn’t take much to really bring this SUV to where it needs to be. All I can say for now is that if you need a good seven passenger SUV that has good looks and is a good price, pick up a GMC Acadia and save yourself about ten grand.

Stats as Tested:

2010 Buick Enclave CXL-2 AWD

• Exterior: Cocoa Metallic
• Interior: Cashmere W/Cocoa Accentes
• 3.6 liter SIDI V6
• 288 Horsepower @ 6300 RPM
• 270 lb.-ft of torque @ 3400 RPM
• 6-Speed Auto Transmission
• Curb Weight 4780 lbs.
• 20” Chrome-Clad Aluminum Wheels
• Power Sunroof with 2nd Row Skylight
• $49,655.00 as tested price

There are some things in life, things you have the opportunity to experience, that can change your perspective and desires. When you first hit that age where you notice girls and become infatuated with your first love, for example. Or the day your first child is born and you know above all else that because of you this beautiful baby has a life. I ran into one of these life changing situations the other day, where I know, no matter what I do, I can never go back.

I had the opportunity, thanks to my friends at Burnout Radio and GM, to experience the wrath of the all new Corvette Grand Sport. This may seem like an insignificant opportunity compared to love and fathering a child, yet it was just as life altering. Although I have driven and been around Corvettes before in my life, there has always been nagging details that prevented the car from being a great sports car. It has had the power since the introduction of the LS motors and the C5 corvettes, and has always had the looks. But this Grand Sport was different. It’s not just the power, but the way it’s put to the road. It’s not just the looks, but the way the looks make you feel. The interior of the car is finally a nice place to be and when the RPM’s rise above 3500 and the butterfly valve in the exhaust open up, the noise sends thrills up your spine.

Being in and around this car all day only begs one last question. How can I live the rest of my life without this car?

Enjoy the short video of our “launch controlled” 0-60 and also enjoy some fantastic photos of the car parked in front of Lake Ray Hubbard. Check out http://burnoutradio.com for their full review and video of the Grand Sport and many other cars! And keep checking us out here at txGarage for more Texas car enthusiasts.

2010 Ford F-150 Truck of Texas

The Texas Auto Writers Association gathered together last weekend for their annual truck event known as the Texas Truck Rodeo. This year it was held in San Antonio where the trucks and SUV’s would be put through the test at the Knibbe Ranch.
Every year, the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) names the Truck of Texas after this event and for the past six years that truck has been the Ford F-150. This year was no different with the new Ford F-150 taking the big prize yet again. For 2010, the F-150 didn’t just get a new look, it got an all around new package. The interior is a nice place to be whether you are roaring down a highway or driving through an open field. The powertrain has been tweaked giving the new F-150 a boost in fuel economy by as much as 12% over the prior year model. The title for Truck of the Year seems to be well deserved for Ford’s hard work on the F-150 year after year.

Ford also earned the number one spot for Luxury Truck of the year with the 2010 Ford F-150 King Ranch. With its upscale and quiet cabin with plush leather seats, it isn’t hard to see why. This truck combines everything you would want in an upscale luxury car – including heated and cooled seats, navigation, cruise control, leather wrapped everything, and wood grain trim – with everything you would want out of a truck – including 310 horsepower, 4×4 capabilities, 8,200 pounds of towing capacity, and easy maneuverability. So if you are looking for a great truck around the 46k plus range, the King Ranch is for you.

Ford also took home awards for the 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost (Full-Size Crossover Utility Vehicle of the Year), the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Supercab (Full-Size Pickup Truck of the Year), the 2010 Ford Expedition King Ranch (Full-Size Sport Utility Vehicle), and the 2010 Lincoln MKX (Mid-Size Crossover Utility). They also claimed the Truck Line of Texas award and claimed the award for Outstanding Feature with its Ford Work Solutions.

So was there anything left to give out after Ford grabbed up its eight awards? Well yes, GM racked up two awards with one vehicle. The 2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8 Liter Turbo beat out the competition for Luxury Crossover Utility Vehicle of the year and took an overall victory with Crossover Utility Vehicle of the year. The 2010 SRX 2.8L Turbo is a great 2.8L V6 turbocharged to 300 horsepower with a 6-speed transmission. The powertrain hooks up to an All-Wheel Drive system and 4-channel electronic stability control system with rollover mitigation. It also has luxuries like front and rear ultrasonic parking assist, power liftgate with memory height, adaptive remote start, 10 speaker Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound system, navigation, rearview camera, and a laundry list of more. This CUV with its Cadillac sleek looks and premium luxury most definitely deserved these awards.

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTEC also brought home two awards winning the Sports Utility Vehicle of Texas and Full-Size Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle of the Year. This premium 7 passenger SUV is all Mercedes, the pinnacle of luxury. Coming in at a price just under $60,000 the only complaint I’ve heard about this luxury SUV is that its Navigation system and radio don’t split screen. The BlueTEC has a 3.0 liter V6 producing 210 horsepower with a 7-speed automatic transmission affording you 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.

Lexus won out for the Mid-Size Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle with its 2010 Lexus R450h. The “h” of course is for the hybrid drivetrain that now produces 295 hp (27% better than last year). Everything has been re-looked at on the RX, including the sheetmetal used. The sheetmetal used on the 2010 RX is slipperier than before with a 0.32 coefficient of drag. They also updated the interior including an “iDrive” like information center called “Remote Touch”. This is something Lexus has needed to really compete in the luxury market.

The 2010 Subaru Outback claimed the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle title. The Outback has grown over the years but always remains true to its nature, a 4×4 off-road machine. Probably the first to be able to claim the rights of being a Crossover Utility Vehicle the Outback has always been a great ride. The 2010 is larger, more fuel efficient, and higher up than its predecessors. You have the choice between a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder boxer engine with a 6 speed manual transmission pushing 170 hp or a 3.6 liter 6 cylinder boxer engine with a 5 speed automatic transmission pushing 256 hp. Both come with Subaru’s great all-wheel drive system as standard.

Now we have Chrysler getting into the mix with an award for the 2010 Jeep Patriot Limited 4×4. The Jeep won in the Compact Sport Utility Vehicle class. Although no one knows the future of the Jeep brand or what the Patriot might look like with some Fiat infusion, we can say that the 2010 is worth a look. The 2.4 liter inline 4 makes 172 hp and gets 23mpg city and 28 mpg highway; not bad at all. We also get to see the two trucks picking up awards for Chrysler. The 2010 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab TRX4 took home the Mid-Size Pickup Truck award and the 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 took the Heavy Duty Pickup Truck award.

Last but not least, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner Trail Edition picked up an award for Mid-Size Sports Utility Vehicle of the Year. We first saw the 2010 4Runner at the debut at the State Fair of Texas media day. I knew from that day this was going to be a great new SUV, especially for the younger audience. Features like “party mode” allowing the 4Runner’s sound system to be concentrated toward the rear of the vehicle for tailgating parties is just one of the many details Toyota has looked at while making the new 4Runner. The reason the Trail Edition made it to the top of the list for Texas is for the cleaver off-roading capabilities of the 4Runner.

For more information on the Texas Truck Rodeo check out the TAWA site:

Saturn Line Up

Penske and GM both issued statements today about the fallout of their deal for Saturn. Penske withdrew its plans to purchase Saturn citing they had problems getting a third party to supply Saturn with cars. After the pull out GM announced that it would not be seeking other buyers for the brand and would begin preparing dealers with the new terms. We don’t yet know how long MG will continue to feed Saturn with cars, not too much longer we assume. 

It is sad to see that the deal turned out this way as we were genuinely excited to see what Penske could do with its own car brand.

Saturn Sky

When the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky first hit the show rooms I was more than ecstatic. Finally, we are bringing some small sporty life into American cars, I thought. The Pontiac lineup and the Saturn lineup were showing signs of revival and these cars spotlighted that revival. Now in 2009, with the bankruptcy of GM and the ever failing car market the Kappa platform that these cars are built on has ceased production. Saturn has been sold to Penske and no one really knows the fate of Pontiac so with the lower than expected sales of these fun little cars there has been no real push to keep them around.

It’s a shame, in my opinion, that these cars seemed to not catch on. The Saturn Sky often referred to as the baby Vette is a beautiful car with a very sporty look and feel and was quite fun to drive. The almost retro styling of the Solstice and the new to 2009 hard top Solstice were exactly what Pontiac needed to revive the sporty nature they had lost after years of cars like the Sunfire and the Grand Am.

[ad#cj-2]

I really think they will have a big following in the used cars markets with all the aftermarket toys and companies willing to shove V8’s under the hood they appeal to a lot of enthusiast track day racers.

I still have hope, first for Saturn with Penske as the new owners they all but have to bring a racing car to the market. As I showed in my “Plea to Saturn and Penske” they should have some sporty vehicle to choose from. Second I’ll try and reserve some hope for Pontiac. There have been some companies put forth offers to GM to buy out Pontiac, each getting the same answer from GM “Pontiac is not for sale.” In their official bankruptcy filing GM only says that they are keeping Pontiac as a limited production brand. Will they bring it back from the dead with a whole new limited production line of sporty cars? It seems like a reach, but you never know.

[ad]