As purveyors of fine automobiles, we sometimes forget that every aspect of design and production is thoughtfully considered prior to manufacturing and assembly. In this video, Maserati design chief Marco Tencone presents the 2014 Maserati Ghibli from a visual artistic design standpoint in a way that only he can, having headed the team that conceptualized it.
For a detailed performance and test drive evaluation, read more from Edmunds here.
-mark steckman, editor
Acura is about to unleash the priciest campaign in the brand’s history — and its first from agency Mullen — with the lofty premise that it’s “Made for mankind.”
Gary Robinson, manager-Acura national advertising and brand, called it “the biggest launch in Acura history in terms of scope and dollars … double what we spent on the RDX.” Acura spent $39 million on the national launch of the RDX in 2012, according to Kantar Media.
MDX ads intend to elevate brand image on par with Mercedes and BMW.
But it’s not just the budget that’s eye-popping. The opening 60-second TV commercial, which breaks July 7, may give pause to viewers who remember Infiniti’s “Rocks and Trees” campaign from Hill Holliday nearly a quarter-century ago. Seeking to highlight the “synergy between man and machine,” the first 60-second TV spot features dreamlike images of people climbing large trees, scuba-diving in underwater caves and an astronaut gazing at light from a nearby galaxy. The MDX isn’t shown until the last 20 seconds.
Backed by an ambient piano track, a voice-over says: “Man is a determined creature. No matter the circumstance, opposition or even understanding, there is an inherent calling to seek, push, improve, transcend. It’s a perpetual process, a necessity of the human spirit, that inspired our own evolution. Because if your quest is to build the world’s smartest luxury SUV for mankind, you must hold yourself to the standard of mankind.” The tagline: “Made for mankind.”
“I suppose maybe some of the things we’re doing seem far-out, but it’s really based very much on a pretty simple idea,” said Peter Rosch, Mullen’s Los Angeles-based exec creative director. “This core belief Acura’s had from the beginning about bringing together man and machine, creating a synergy and the belief that no automobile is really doing its job if it’s not making the most out of mankind.”
Mr. Rosch conceded that some of the “fantastic reality” depicted might cause a “couple of head scratches.” But he said Acura and Mullen are taking aim at consumers they call “the enlightened” — tech-savvy risk-takers who play by their own rules, such as Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.
Both the creative strategy and “Made for mankind” tag were part of Mullen’s presentation to Acura in March, when it won the account from incumbent RPA.
The goal is to shake the American Honda brand’s perception as an in-betweener on a par with Volvo, Buick and Lincoln and elevate it to the level of Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. “We know there will be people who think that the MDX isn’t luxury enough,” Mr. Robinson said. “We need to create a new feeling around it, to create an aspiration, to compare it to the [BMW] X5.”
According to the Automotive News Data Center, Acura ranked fourth in luxury-auto sales in 2012, behind Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus.
(credits: adage.com; video: autoguide.com)
Check out the video teaser, and then mark your calendar for early 2014 to place your order.
-mark steckman, editor
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tony Kanaan has finally won the Indianapolis 500.
Kanaan drove past Ryan Hunter-Reay on a restart Sunday with three laps to go, then coasted across the finish line under yellow when defending race winner Dario Franchitti crashed far back in the field.
It was a hugely popular victory at the speedway, where Kanaan had endured so much heartache. The Brazilian had led 221 laps coming into the race, more than any other non-winner besides Michael Andretti and Rex Mays, yet had never taken the checkered flag. He finished second in 2004 and twice finished third.
Now, his face will go on the Borg-Warner Trophy. Kanaan is an Indy 500 champion, coming through on a cool day of thrilling competition that smashed the record for most lead changes and most leaders. The crowd of some 200,000 roared when it realized that Kanaan had finally broken his Brickyard curse.
On the final lap, Kanaan lifted the visor on his helmet and appeared to dab at his eyes. When he pulled into Victory Lane, he planted a kiss on his wife, Lauren, and dunked an entire bottle of milk over his head.
The leaders came to the finish line all bunched up around Kanaan, saluting the longtime IndyCar stalwart who had longed to add the one missing piece to his resume. That was about as slow as anyone had driven all day. The average speed was 187.433 mph, another Indy record.
Rookie Carlos Munoz finished second with a brilliant IndyCar debut, followed by series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti and Justin Wilson. Helio Castroneves, trying to become the fourth driver to win four Indy 500s, ran up front much of the day but settled for sixth.
Kanaan and Andretti charged to the front during a wild first half of the race.
Kanaan quickly moved through the field from the outside of the fourth row while Andretti started on the outside of the front row and spent the first 29 laps playing leapfrog with Kanaan as the standard-bearer for his family bids to end the “Andretti Curse.” The family hasn’t captured the fabled Memorial Day weekend race since his grandfather, Mario, won in 1969. Michael Andretti has been to Victory Lane twice as a team owner with the late Dan Wheldon in 2005 and Dario Franchitti in 2007, but never won the race as a driver.
Marco Andretti was second in 2006 in the second-closest finish in the race’s history.
Franchitti, the defending race winner, and Castroneves began the day in pursuit of their fourth victory. Only A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser have won the Indy 500 four times.
As the race reached the halfway mark, Team Penske roared to the front.
Will Power spent a stint in the lead before teammate A.J. Allmendinger, making his Indy 500 debut, picked his way through the field before falling back because of a problem with his safety belts. Allmendinger is a former open-wheel star who spent time in NASCAR before losing his ride after a failed drug test. He was given a second chance in the Indianapolis 500 by Roger Penske — the same Sprint Cup team owner who had fired him.
{click here for the rest of the article originally published at CBSCleveland.com}
(credits: associated press, cbscleveland.com)
My, how far we have come. Thirty years ago, the sport-utility market was dominated by rough-hewn utilitarian beasts known as Bronocs and Blazers. These were big SUVS, built on the full-size truck platforms of their respective manufacturers—Ford and Chevrolet. You often saw them parked at trailheads, the inevitable dings and scratches in the body panels considered by their owners to be the offroad equivalent of the Heidelberg dueling scar, a mark that denoted class and honor.
Jeep was in that mix as well, but as SUV mania spread into suburbia in the 1990s, it clearly understood it needed to serve two masters. The manufacturer deftly kept its crucial offroad credibility intact through the Wrangler, but to serve a newly emerging SUV owner who wanted more creature comforts, it renamed the Cherokee the Grand Cherokee and began moving that to a higher-demographic customer. The tactic worked, and all these years later both models remain strong sellers.
The Grand Cherokee was last redesigned just three short years ago, but in this market, you don’t stay atop the heap by resting on your laurels. As one Jeep engineer told me recently at the press preview in Texas, “It’s all about continual improvement.” Even though the company sold 700,000 units last year, designers got to work on a new Grand Cherokee because focus groups with current owners told them they had to concentrate on fuel economy and better offroad capability. And, yes, these owners also wanted the new Grand Cherokee to reflect the latest technology as well.
The Grand Cherokee is now considered a premium brand, one that commands a premium price. So, it should come as no surprise that the new 2014 redesign displays all the bells and whistles (and cost) of just such a product.
All of which is to say, the hunter or angler looking for relatively inexpensive transport to the duck blind or trout stream will not be happy to learn that the price of the least expensive trim level—the Laredo—begins at $28,795. The Limited, which is the volume leader, will start at $35,795, and the top-of-the-line Summit will set you back $47,995.
This pricing is a result of Jeep’s thorough understanding of its target demographic—outdoorsmen who want true 4×4 capability (which the Grand Cherokee delivers in spades), but a higher degree of interior comfort as well as a far more refined appearance. Like any truck, the Grand Cherokee offers a seemingly infinite array of options and features, and as you move farther up the trim level lime, you will see an extensive option list that lets the owner cosset himself in luxury and comfort. This owner will also find a deep list of user-friendly technology (including cloud-based voice texting) that allows him to stay connected no matter where he goes.
I’m not going to run through all the features, but I do wish to touch on a few of the major highlights.
Engine/Powertrain: The Grand Cherokee retains its proven 5.7-liter V8 and 3.6-liter V6 engines. But to get the fuel economy its owners demand, both engines are now mated to a far more efficient 8-speed electronic automatic transmission. V6 models are expected to deliver 17 mpg city/25 mpg in two-wheel drive, 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway in 4WD. V8 engines show improvement as well–14 mpg city/22 mpg (4×2), 14 mpg city/20 mpg/highway (4×4). But the big numbers come from Jeep’s all new 3-liter EcoDiesel V6 (a $2,300 option). It is expected to get 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway (4×2) and 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway, all the while generating 240 hp and 420 pounds-feet of torque, which is why the diesel Grand Cherokee boasts a tow rating of 7,400 pounds.
This is a sophisticated diesel, one that’s clean (50-state certified) and quiet. You won’t notice any of the vibration normally associated with V6 engines because engineers have created a new cylinder firing order that smooths things out so much the usual balance shaft has been eliminated. It’s also a certified rock crawler (if you’re so inclined), as I learned on a steep slick-rock offroad course. The rock Jeep chose on a ranch in the Hill County looked more like what you’d see at Moab. Indeed, as I inched forward, I felt that age-old thrill of a roller coaster’s initial ascent before the inevitable drop on the other side. But this diesel-transmission combination yields a very low crawl ratio—44.1:1 in low-range 4×4–that lets it slowly, surely, and safely–walk up the hill.
4WD Systems: The Grand Cherokee features three 4×4 systems: Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II. Quadra-Trac I is essentially an on-demand AWD system. Power is delivered to the rear wheels, but when wheel slip is detected, the system automatically transfers power to the front wheels as well. Quadra-Trac II is similar, but offers a two-speed transfer case for true low-range offroad operation. Quadra-Drive II is a full-time 4WD system with an electronic limited slip differential that lets the engine divide power front and back as well as side to side for maximum traction exactly where it’s needed.
Air Suspension: The Quadra-Lift air suspension system lets the driver choose from among five settings, ranging from normal ride height (8.7 inches of ground clearance) to as much as 11.3 inches of ride height for offroad use. (It should be noted that if you intend to take the vehicle on a challenging offroad trail, it’s best to remove the front air dam to achieve maximum clearance.)
Selec-Terrain: In addition to the air suspension, the Grand Cherokee’s Select-Terrain traction-control system lets you pick from five different settings to best match the vehicle to the terrain on which it is traveling.
Selec-Speed Control: A new feature for 2014, Selec-Speed control incorporates the pre-existing Hill-Descent Control with a new Hill-Ascent Control, both of which allow the SUV to climb and descend steep grades with little input from the driver. In essence, it determines how much throttle and brake are needed.
So, does this dog hunt? Absolutely. It truly can handle demanding offroad trails (if you can stand the inevitable scratches). The sophisticated 4WD and suspension systems take a lot of the guesswork out of trail management. That may offend offroad purists who pride themselves on gutting out a tough section of trail by instinct and experience, but the “Quadra” systems were really designed for sportsmen whose primary interest is getting to a deer stand or trout stream. To them, it’s more about the destination rather than the journey. But wherever you decide to hunt or fish, you will arrive in style.
credits: fieldandstream.com
Just the Facts:
SANTA ANA, California — In one of the more dramatic conversions of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Callaway Cars has transformed the sports car into a shooting brake.
The Callaway AeroWagon Concept is projected to be a 200+ mph automobile, although Callaway did not provide any drivetrain specifications.
Callaway said the AeroWagon option is expected to be priced under $15,000 when it debuts in the fall. Pricing on the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has not been announced.
“Callaway plans to manufacture the body package providing an openable hatch that would result in a unique style and increased interior space, positioning the Corvette in the elite class of two-door shooting brakes,” the company said in a statement on Thursday.
The option will be available through Callaway dealers in the U.S.
The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray was the darling of the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The idea of a hatchback Corvette isn’t new. GM built a Corvette Nomad concept in 1954 as well as a similar looking Pontiac Trans Am Type K concept in 1977.
Edmunds says: The amazing 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray looks good in any form.
credits: Edmunds.com
One of the main reasons The Weekend Test Drive exists, is our love for automobiles; those daily drivers, weekend show cars, and even those only in concept form only. Over the past decade, numerous manufacturers have revisted nostalgic nameplates to use as a foundation for new concept models, with some making finally making it to the dealership for sale, and others not. Here is one from Chrysler that appeared earlier this quarter at the NAIAS and that we at The Weekend Test would love to see hit the streets in 2014.
Commemorating 50 years since the original Chrysler Turbine vehicle, Brandon Faurote and the Chrysler Design team modernized it into the Chrysler 300 that makes its first appearance at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. It was on display from January 14th through 27th.
credits: chrysler 2014
the weekend test drive | february 23, 2012
After running fast all weekend, Danica put in a lap of 196.43mph resulting in 45.81 seconds around Daytona International Speedway. The effort won her pole position, becoming the first woman in the history of Cup to qualify first for a race.
Watch the Daytona 500 live from Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida on Sunday February 24, 2013 at 1pm on FOX and listen on the radio on the Motor Racing Network.
video credit: TheOfficialNASCAR
Toyota recently announced that it will conduct two separate safety recalls involving a total of approximately 1.02 million vehicles in the United States for problems with potentially defective airbags and windshield wipers. Worldwide, the two recalls affect a total of nearly 1.3 million vehicles.
Airbag recall
The first recall is the largest, affecting some 752,000 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix small cars from the 2003 and 2004 model years.
Toyota said that the airbag modules for the supplemental restraint system in certain Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles may have circuits susceptible to internal shorting. A short could create an abnormal flow of current, increase heat and damage the chips. The potential result is that the front airbags and/or front seat belt pretensioners could deploy without warning.
According to a Toyota spokesman’s statement to the Associated Press that was reported in The Detroit News and other media outlets, there have been 18 injuries in the U.S. related to the airbag issue, along with two crashes.
Wiper recall
The second recall involves 2006 through 2012 model year Lexus IS luxury sedans. The problem here is defective windshield wipers that may become inoperable. In the U.S., the safety recall involves 270,000 Lexus IS sedans.
Here, the issue is that the front wiper arm may not be sufficiently tight. Heavy snow that builds up on the windshield could restrict wiper movement to the extent that one or both wipers could become inoperative.
According to Toyota, there have been no reported injuries or accidents involving the defective wipers.
What Toyota will do
Owners of 2003 and 2004 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix small cars and 2006 through 2012 Lexus IS luxury sedans involved in the safety recalls will receive letters via first-class mail “in the near future.” They will be instructed to take their vehicles to any authorized Toyota or Lexus dealer for repairs, which will be performed at no charge.
In the meantime, owners of vehicles involved in the safety recalls with any questions or concerns may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 and Lexus at 1-800-255-3987. Information is also available at www.toyota.com/recall and www.lexus.com/recall.
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credit: This article originally appeared at The Car Connection.
If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to run an extreme high performance automobile on rural dirt roads, the below 2 minute video is well worth a watch. The driver/owner must have either more money than Oprah, or a very solid insurance policy. Take a look for yourself.
credit: taxtherich100
the weekend test drive 