2011 Ford Edge: First Drive Review
As we previewed last Friday with a Madlibs-inspired snippet of edited road test, our driving impressions of the 2011 Ford Edge can now be released.
The 2011 Ford Edge five-seat crossover was launched in 2007 and has now sold more than 400,000 units. This is its first major update, and it is not only restyled but offers a new interior, many electronic and driver-control enhancements, and a completely new interior.
A sleeker blocky shape
The 2011 Ford Edge is considerably sleeker from the front and front-three-quarter view than its predecessor. When that first 2007 Edge was launched, Ford was spreading its corporate grille--with three chrome bars--across all its passenger vehicles.
The 2011 update pulls off the difficult trick of making the front end look lower and more streamlined by making the grille deeper but sweeping back the front light units, which are smaller.
Ford engineers also improved the Edge's aerodynamics, dropping the drag coefficient from 0.385 to 0.363. Their many tricks included cutting the size of the openings where air enters the engine compartment by 40 percent, but directing the underhood airflow better.
Somehow it all works. We can say conclusively that while we were lukewarm on the overall profile of the first Edge, we like this one.
Inside, the dashboard, instrument cluster, center stack, and console have all been redesigned. The plastics are nicer, most of them using soft-touch materials, and their shapes are less blocky.
The Edge Sport model has blacked-out grille inserts, a body kit, and other subtle visual cues, along with grey inserts and contrasting stitching on the seats--like the Mustang, as Ford points out.
Stepping smartly away from stop
We drove several 2011 Ford Edge models through the rolling country around Nashville, but not the one we were waiting for: the Edge with EcoBoost, powered by a direct-injected, turbocharged 2.0-liter four that puts out as much power as a V-6 with gas mileage at least 10 percent better.
That Edge will be shown at the end of the year, after the engine debuts in the 2011 Ford Explorer, and will go on sale early next year.
Instead, we mostly drove the standard 285-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6, which puts out 20 more horses than it did last year. This engine is mated to Ford's six-speed automatic, giving 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, though those numbers fall to 18 and 26 mpg when all-wheel-drive is specified (it adds roughly 175 pounds).
Specified with the trailer towing package, the 2011 Edge will haul up to 3500 pounds.
Frugal Shopper: 2010 Chevy Silverado Most-Discounted In August
If you're shopping for a large pickup like the Chevrolet Silverado, the time is still right to get a very sweet deal.
According to the pricing-intelligence firm TrueCar, which tracks transaction prices and can show you what kind of discount to expect locally, large pickups are the type of vehicle that remains most discounted. As a class they're discounted an average of 11 percent, and for the 2010 Silverado in particular shoppers are getting an average 23 percent below MSRP.
The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu was the most-discounted mid-size sedan, at about 20 percent off sticker. Other deeply discounted vehicles include the 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee (19 percent), Hyundai Sonata (17%), Ford Ranger (17%), and Mercury Grand Marquis (17%). The Grand Cherokee, as well as the Ford Mustang and Lincoln MKX—all vehicles being replaced by redesigned 2011 models—are also on the list.
Several vehicles—either due to incentives or deeper dealer discounts—are selling at considerably lower bottom-line prices than a month ago (calculated between July 9 and August 5). Among them: the 2010 Mercedes-Benz R-Class ($1,480 below last month), the 2011 Ford Flex (-$1,171), and the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport (-$1,150).
After full-size trucks, luxury cars, vans, and mid-size cars were also among the most discounted, at an average seven percent. But not all types of vehicles are looking like strong deals right now; subcompact cars (such as the Scion xB) were reduced by just two percent from MSRP, on average, while sports cars, mid-size SUVs, and small pickups were sold for just an average five percent below sticker.
And among brands, after hearing about some of the markdowns it probably doesn't come as much of a surprise that Chevrolet was the most-discounted brand in July, with its models selling at an average 16-percent off MSRP. Overall, Chevy had four of the most-discounted vehicles listed by vehicle category.
The 2010 BMW M6 remained the vehicle with the largest incentives—a whopping $12,500—while the Infiniti QX56 trailed with $7,000 of dealer cash. Also notably, GM is offering $5,000 off the Chevrolet Impala, and there's a $5,000 discount on the Chrysler-made Volkswagen Routan.
Look below for TrueCar's list of the most-discounted vehicles by class.
[TrueCar]
| Top 2010 Models by Vehicle Categories for August | ||
| Vehicle Categories | 2010 Models | % Below MSRP |
| Large Truck | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 23% |
| Midsize Car | Chevrolet Malibu | 20% |
| Midsize SUV | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 19% |
| Small Truck | Ford Ranger | 17% |
| Large Car | Mercury Grand Marquis | 17% |
| Small Car | Ford Focus | 16% |
| Large SUV | Chevrolet Tahoe | 15% |
| Van | Chevrolet Express Cargo | 14% |
| Luxury SUV | Lincoln MKX | 14% |
| Minivan | Kia Sedona | 14% |
| Luxury Sport Car | Chevrolet Corvette | 14% |
| Sport Car | Ford Mustang | 13% |
| Small SUV | Jeep Patriot | 13% |
| Luxury Car | Lincoln MKZ | 12% |
| Subcompact Car | Toyota Yaris | 11% |
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Four Nissan, Toyota SUVs Offer Lackluster Rollover Protection
Several popular mid-size SUVs from Nissan and Toyota—the 2010 Nissan Xterra, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Toyota 4Runner, and Nissan Pathfinder—have earned only lackluster rollover ratings in the latest round of testing from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
But these ratings, just released from insurance-funded testing authority, don't say anything about the vehicles' propensity to roll over (unlike those from the federal government); rather, they gauge the likelihood of serious injury and the amount of structural protection that a vehicle will provide in the event of a rollover.
In the IIHS rollover (roof crush) test, a metal plate presses against a particular area of the roof that's crucial for resisting rollover injuries, and the peak force is measured before deforming five inches. That's then represented as a ratio to the vehicle's weight. In order to earn a top 'good' score in the IIHS test, a vehicle needs to achieve a strength-to-weight ratio of at least 4.0. Current federal standards require a ratio of 1.5, but a new standard to be phased in by 2016 will require twice that.
Overall, the 2010 Nissan Xterra, Toyota FJ Cruiser, and Toyota 4Runner earned 'acceptable ratings
The 4Runner was the best in this bunch, able to withstand 3.87 times its weight; the Toyota FJ Cruiser took 3.47 times its weight, while the Xterra managed 3.28.
Meanwhile, the heavier 2010 Nissan Pathfinder could withstand just 3.07 times its weight, earning a 'marginal' rating in the test. Earlier in the year, the 2010 Nissan Frontier pickup, with which it's closely related, earned a top 'good' rating.
Since rollovers are still more likely for SUVs as a vehicle class—even with electronic stability control, there's more of a chance that the vehicle might be 'tripped' by a curb or soft shoulder—rollover protection should be even more of a concern when shopping for a next vehicle.
A number of vehicles in this class—including the Jeep Liberty, Dodge Nitro, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Venza, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Journey, Ford Flex, Kia Sorento, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain—have earned top scores in the roof test, and only the Honda Pilot, Mitsubishi Endeavor, and Honda Accord Crosstour have managed lower scores in this so-called 'Midsize SUVs' category.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2011 Chevrolet Spark: A Few More Details Emerge
General Motors has been very tight-lipped so far regarding details of the production-spec 2011 Chevrolet Spark minicompact.
Now, it looks like GM's Service and Parts Operations folks, who release an annual VIN decoder guide—for use by insurers, law-enforcement agencies, DMVs, dealerships, and the like—have spilled the beans in some respects.
A powertrain list shows confirms several new engines for the U.S.: a 1.0-liter, iron-block DOHC four-cylinder, as well as a 1.2-liter DOHC four. It's unlikely that either of these engines will feature gasoline direct injection.
Also, the list of vehicle lines shows the 2011 Chevrolet Spark available in Base, LS, and LT trims, and the decoder shows them to be assembled in Changwon, South Korea.
The new minicompact, a global car but mainly designed in South Korea by GM Daewoo, will likely arrive sometime in the first half of calendar-year 2011.
Chevrolet showed an especially sporty version of the Spark as a concept at the 2010 Detroit auto show, though with the Chevrolet Aveo due to move to a more upscale, sporty position for 2012 it's likely the production 2011 Spark will be a more basic commuter device. Don't be surprised if the Spark bows at a price that's considerably lower than the current Aveo's base of $12,685.
[Autoblog]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
GM SEC Filing Reveals Partial Details On IPO
GM today filed registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission for its proposed Initial Public Offering (IPO). The announcement reveals the stock to be sold will consist of both common stock held by "certain" of its stockholders and issuance of Series B mandatory convertible junior preferred stock.
So what does all of that financial gobbledygook mean? It means the "new" General Motors is about to become a publicly traded company on the open market, and that the federal government will recoup some more of its investment in the company.
The question now becomes how GM's stock will do once sales of stock open up, especially with a new CEO at the helm. The appointment of Dan Akerson in place of Ed Whitacre is thought to have delayed the IPO filing. Whether that move will help or hurt the IPO is yet to be seen, though the change at the top does not appear to be listed as one of the many "risk factors" for potential investors in the preliminary prospectus filed today.
The total amount of stock offered in the sale hasn't been released, as GM says it will be determined by "market conditions and other factors at the time of the offering." Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan, BofA Merril Lynch, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Securities, RBC Capital Markets, and UBS Investment Bank will handle the IPO.
[GM]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2011 Kia Sportage: An IIHS Top Safety Pick
The 2011 Kia Sportage has been recognized as one of the safest new vehicles on the market; it's earned Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
In order to be named a Top Safety Pick, a model must earn top 'good' ratings in frontal, side, and rear crash tests, as well as the agency's new rollover (roof crush) test—and have electronic stability control.
While the Sportage wasn't actually tested, the IIHS applied results from the 2010 and 2011 Hyundai Tucson, which is nearly identical structurally. And as interior trim and door pieces can often make the difference between a 'good' and 'acceptable' score, there's apparently more in common between these two vehicles than Kia or Hyundai would like us to believe. Though Kia and Hyundai are run as separate companies in the U.S., and their respective models are typically built at separate plants, the two brands come from the same South Korean automaker.
The Sportage (and Tucson) can take 4.43 times its body weight in a designated area of the roof before it deforms a specified amount. That easily surpasses ratio of four the IIHS requires to earn a 'good' rating, and is much better than the federal government's current requirement of just 1.5 (a requirement of about three times body weight will be phased in).
The new 2011 Sportage is hardly Kia's only safety bright spot. The model joins the 2010 Forte sedan, 2010 Soul hatchback, and 2011 Sorento crossover in earning that top recognition from the Institute.
In the same Small SUV category, the 2010 Honda Element, Jeep Patriot, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan also carry the Top Safety Pick designation.
[IIHS, via Kicking Tires]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2010 Kia Sportage: An IIHS Top Safety Pick
The 2011 Kia Sportage has been recognized as one of the safest new vehicles on the market; it's earned Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
In order to be named a Top Safety Pick, a model must earn top 'good' ratings in frontal, side, and rear crash tests, as well as the agency's new rollover (roof crush) test—and have electronic stability control.
While the Sportage wasn't actually tested, the IIHS applied results from the 2010 and 2011 Hyundai Tucson, which is nearly identical structurally. And as interior trim and door pieces can often make the difference between a 'good' and 'acceptable' score, there's apparently more in common between these two vehicles than Kia or Hyundai would like us to believe. Though Kia and Hyundai are run as separate companies in the U.S., and their respective models are typically built at separate plants, the two brands come from the same South Korean automaker.
The Sportage (and Tucson) can take 4.43 times its body weight in a designated area of the roof before it deforms a specified amount. That easily surpasses ratio of four the IIHS requires to earn a 'good' rating, and is much better than the federal government's current requirement of just 1.5 (a requirement of about three times body weight will be phased in).
The new 2011 Sportage is hardly Kia's only safety bright spot. The model joins the 2010 Forte sedan, 2010 Soul hatchback, and 2011 Sorento crossover in earning that top recognition from the Institute.
In the same Small SUV category, the 2010 Honda Element, Jeep Patriot, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan also carry the Top Safety Pick designation.
[IIHS, via Kicking Tires]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Ford Boasts Improved Resale Value For 2010 Ford Taurus
After a year on the market, Ford notes that its redesigned 2010 Ford Taurus is getting far more money at auction—a full 39 percent more—compared to the 2009 model of the same age.
According to Ford, the 2009 Ford Taurus was selling at a discount compared to the 2009 Toyota Avalon, but now they've switched, with the 2010 Ford Taurus, comparably equipped, selling at about $2,500 more than the 2010 Avalon.
Of course, in all fairness, Ford neglects to say that Toyota redesigned the Avalon for 2011, and Ford had redesigned the Taurus for 2010, so Ford is at a bit of a natural advantages comparing apples to oranges.
The 2010 Ford Taurus redesign is undeniably better-looking, but it hasn't been received well on all counts. The model ends up sacrificing rear-seat headroom for its stylish new lower roofline, and it isn't as roomy overall as the model it replaces—although The Car Connection, in addition to the look, appreciates the higher-quality feel of the interior, advanced tech features such as Sync, and available all-wheel drive and high-performance Taurus SHO model.
Ford's observation might ring true for a vehicle that still looks very new, but the real test will come after the vehicles are two to three years old or more. Residual value experts ALG still rate the 2010 Ford Taurus at just two stars out of five, indicating that they predict it will depreciate at a higher than average rate.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Your Local DMV: License To Drive, Or License To Ill?
For most of us, the lines, the crowds, and the oppressive waits in a visit to the local DMV office are aspects of being a driver we grudgingly accept. Once every year or two (or several years, if we're lucky or deal only with dealerships), we head there to renew our license, take a test, or fill out forms for a vehicle bought or sold.
But, as pointed out by Smart Money magazine, there are some other more harmful aspects of our DMV system, and the way they're often set up by their respective states. Frankly, the dirt dished by the authors makes your local DMV look like a sieve for personal data, a weak point for privacy and vehicle records and, at times, more than a little bumbling.
According to the authors of this list, recently updated but originally published in 2007, your DMV could be allowing accident- and flood-damaged vehicles, as well as VIN-cloning from stolen vehicles, to slip through; letting cars change hands without a title; patching together sometimes-conflicting state laws; aiding identity theft; allowing vanity plates that might leave you a target for crimes; letting convicted drunk drivers back on the road; turning your kids loose, with license in hand, before they're really ready; and issuing fake IDs.
What's more, DMV workers in California and Florida have been arrested for inside jobs, says Smart Money.
The ten tips—or rather, causes for alarm—are borrowed and adapted from "1,001 Things They Won't Tell You: An Insider's Guide to Spending, Saving, and Living Wisely," by Jonathan Dahl and the editors of SmartMoney.
The lesson here? Smart Money doesn't have streamlined advice, but for the vehicle-title issues we'd recommend you follow common-sense rules with your identification and vehicle records, and don't rely only on your DMV to screen out bad vehicles. Use a title-check service such as CarFax or Experian AutoCheck to help spot indications of a forged title, odometer rollback, or flood damage.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Wrong Place, Wrong Time: NYC Data Provides Tips For Pedestrians
Don't take the sidewalk on the left side of the street; be especially careful in the evening hours; and you might want to skip the intersection entirely.
Those are among the most noteworthy tips for pedestrians gleaned by study findings released by NYC transportation planners and commissioned by the city's Transportation Department.
Also among the most interesting points, as reported by the New York Times: Men are much more likely to hit a pedestrian while driving, and jaywalkers are actually less likely to be hit. At least in New York, that is.
Altogether, more than 7,000 crashes were studied, all occurring in New York City from 2002 to 2006 and all resulting in either the death or serious injury of a pedestrian.
The study showed some interesting trends: Most notably, that men were behind the wheel in 80 percent of accidents that resulted in serious injury or death of a pedestrian (in a city where 57 percent of vehicles are registered to men), and that jaywalkers were statistically less likely to be in an accident than law-abiders. The caveat is that when jaywalkers were hit by a car, they were more likely to be killed or seriously hurt.
The results, which are finely detailed by intersection, will help the city in reengineering its street grid, with some important changes like countdown clocks at pedestrian crossings, and removing parking spaces next to some pedestrian crosswalks.
There are a few lessons to learn from the data, and some of it goes against what we might have been taught in grade school—such as, the study authors recommend, you take the sidewalk in the direction of traffic, as left-hand vehicle turns were particularly deadly for pedestrians.
And taxi drivers? They're not the danger to the streets and avenues that TV shows like Seinfeld and Friends have led you to believe. About 13 percent of serious pedestrian crashes involved taxis or livery vehicles—in a city of cabs.
You might want to be especially vigilant in November and December as well. With the short days and holiday rush, the rate of pedestrian accidents spikes each year.
In New York, the 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. window was especially deadly. That's also the case nationally; according to data from the federal government's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 48 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur between 6 p.m. and midnight. Friday and Saturday nights are also worst on a national level.
On a national level, men are also more likely to be hit than women. Over three decades, around 70 percent of fatalities have been men. Alcohol also has a role, perhaps. More than 50 percent of those killed at night had blood-alcohol concentrations at or above 0.08, versus 25 percent during the day.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, pedestrian deaths decreased nationally by 42 percent from 1975 to 2008, and since then pedestrian deaths have fallen from 17 percent of all motor-vehicle-crash deaths down to 12 percent.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
