Road Reality » Sport

Update: Nissan commercial features new 2011 SV Sport model (w/video)

John Suit — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:00:19 +0000

After last weeks’ update involving pricing and changes to the 2011 Nissan Maxima, several members of the Maxima.org Internet forum have found a video on YouTube of a new commercial featuring the 2011 Maxima. It appears to be a Sport model, so those who watch closely can see the changes that were made for the new model year. Video after the jump.

by John Suit

Source: YouTube via Maxima.org

Pricing for 2011 Honda CR-Z Announced!

John Suit — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:03:15 +0000

Today, Honda has announced the pricing for its upcoming 2011 CR-Z. The new hybrid from Honda is supposed to bridge the gap between hybrid fuel economy and sportiness. From the performance figures I’ve seen, it’s leaning more towards fuel economy, but the inclusion of a manual transmission bodes well for the CR-Z. Standard features include automatic climate control and USB input for the stereo, with the upmarket EX trim level including things like a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a beefed-up stereo. GPS navigation will be an optional feature as well. Click past the jump for pricing, EPA mileages, and a gallery of high-resolution pictures of the CR-Z.

The fact that Honda is giving buyers things like automatic climate control, with the option of satellite navigation and BlueTooth audio, among other amenities, places this car in the new “inexpensive but well-equipped” class, where newcomers such as the Ford Fiesta are aiming. Looking closer, the price discrepancy between equally-optioned Fiesta and CR-Z is a few thousand dollars, meaning that perhaps those shopping for inexpensive might overlook the CR-Z.

Given all this, who is the likely buyer of the CR-Z? I’m guessing that it’ll be someone who is fuel economy-conscious, but also price-conscious, as the CR-Z comes in cheaper than a Toyota Prius, the current top-selling hybrid in the US. It’s also cheaper than its bigger, less sporty cousin, the Honda Insight.

The biggest problem I have with the CR-Z is that there a lot of cars getting as good or better gas mileage already, and at a lower price point. I, for instance, owned a 2008 Honda Civic sedan, equipped with the 5-speed manual transmission. I was getting close to 34mpg in the city, and around 38mpg on the highway, without concentrating on getting optimal fuel mileage.

See the below chart for Honda’s price structure and the EPA’s fuel mileage results:

			EPA³ MPG
Model	Transmission	MSRP¹	City/Hwy/Combined

CR-Z	6-Speed Manual	$19,200	31/37/34

CR-Z	CVT	$19,850	35/39/37

CR-Z EX	6-Speed Manual	$20,760	31/37/34

CR-Z EX	CVT	$21,410	35/39/37

CR-Z EX with Navi	6-Speed Manual	$22,560	31/37/34

CR-Z EX with Navi	CVT	$23,210	35/39/37

by John Suit

Source: Honda

Redesigned: 2011 Ford Edge

John Suit — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:00:27 +0000

Not content to revamp the rest of its product line, including the original Edge crossover, Ford has seen fit to redesign it for the 2011 model year. With 3 available engines, a new interior and exterior, the 2011 Ford Edge looks nice both inside and out. Ford has sold 330,000 Edges since it went on sale in 2006, and expects the new design to sell even better. Included in the 2011 redesign is the Sport model, which will combine more sporty performance with a distinctive interior and aerodynamics package. Continue reading for videos and lots of high-resolution images.

The new Edge will sport an EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine, the carryover 3.5-liter V6, and a 3.7-liter V6, the latter of which is found in the 2011 Ford Mustang. The new exterior is more aerodynamic, the glass is acoustically-treated, and the chassis is modified to transmit less road noise to the driver and passengers, all of which Ford hopes to keep the Edge at the top of its segment. In addition, the new Edge will sport MyFord Touch, Ford’s new in-car entertainment system, which will make it popular with tech-savvy customers.

Take a look at the videos and gallery below for lots of high-resolution pictures of the 2011 Ford Edge, and expect a full review once the new model hits dealership showrooms. From just the looks though, I’d expect the new Edge to be class-competitive, if not even class-leading.

Videos:

Gallery:

by John Suit

Source: Ford