Showing posts with label 2011 The Good 12. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011 The Good 12. Show all posts
Sunday, December 26, 2010

The Good 12 v4.0 Part 12 - Toyota Venza


TOYOTA VENZA


Wagons, depending on who's answering the question, are either truly, wonderfully cool or very, very objectionable. Despite the Venza's elevated height, an increasingly common feature of many new cars, the Toyota Venza is for all intents and purposes a station wagon. Oh, Toyota offers all-wheel drive. And the 4-cylinder engine is a big'un at 2.7 litres. The 2011 Toyota Venza V6 AWD weighs over 4000 pounds, for goodness sake.

Nevertheless, the Toyota Venza is a good ol' fashion station wagon. And who on Earth wants a station wagon when a good ol' fashion midsize family sedan'll do the trick? For starters, Canada. Canadians chose the Venza over its Toyota K-platform partner, the Camry, by a ratio of 2-to-1 in October 2010. Venzas are more spacious, better-looking, and far less ordinary than Camrys. The Venza's visual ebullience makes the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and Chevrolet Malibu appear downright apathetic. "Who cares if we look boring?", those sedans shout. "We do", shouts back a posse of Venzas.

See the way that character line develops above the rear wheel and connects to the taillamp? That line helps make the Venza look powerful. Notice how the greenhouse cuts a V into the D-pillar? That, in partnership with the Venza's full wheelarches, gives the Venza a sense of motion, even when parked. The Toyota Venza's arching roofline and sharply raked tailgate offer up a sense of coupeness ordinarily seen in sporty compact hatchbacks. Yeah, the Venza is cool - don't be ashamed to agree.

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Engines: 182 horsepower; 182 lb-ft of torque from a 2.7L 4-cylinder or 268 horsepower; 246 lb-ft of torque from a 3.5L V6

Base USD/CAD Price: $26,475 / $29,310

City Fuel Economy: 19-21 miles per gallon

Cargo Capacity: 30.7 cubic feet or 70.1 with rear seats folded

Sales Stats: Wagon-loving Canada has accepted the Toyota Venza with open arms, even making the Venza the 16th best-selling car in Canada in September when the Camry wasn't even in the top 20. In 2010, the Venza has pretty much been as popular as the Camry in Canada. In America, on the other hand, Venza sales amounted to 3551 in October, not small potatoes by any measure but also not worthy of the Best Sellers list. The Camry out-sold the Venza 7-to-1 in October.


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The Good 12 v4.0 Part 11 - Porsche Cayenne


PORSCHE CAYENNE


Like a frog turned into a prince, the Porsche Cayenne was once useful and dynamic but is now, in generation deux, useful, dynamic and handsome. The first-generation Cayenne's 2007 facelift did it no favours, but one never heard an argument against the Cayenne's shocking handling or wicked straightline performance. Now the 2011 Porsche Cayenne has added clean and classy looks to the mix. Performance, of course, was not left by the wayside.

This is the Porsche of SUVs, even if that does sound a bit too cliche. Yes, there are five doors, a roomy backseat, a lofty driving position, and an utter dearth of horizontally-opposed boxer engines. Apart from those very un-Porsche-like facts, the second-gen Cayenne makes Zuffenhausen rich and proud; not just rich.

Truthfully, the Porsche Cayenne's repertoire of winning attributes doesn't just relate to clean styling and gobsmacking down-the-road execution. Take a peek inside at Porsche's contemporary dashboard design. Gain an appreciation for the benefits of an 8-speed automatic: improved fuel efficiency with quicker acceleration. Consider the copious P-centric abbreviations: PTV, PASM, PDCC, PSM, PDK. The 2011 Porsche Cayenne is more than just a fast and handsome SUV for the Porschephile.

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Engines: 300 horsepower; 295 lb-ft of torque from a 3.6L V6 or 400 horsepower; 369 lb-ft of torque from a 4.8L V8 or 380 horsepower; 428 lb-ft of torque from a 3.0L V6/electric motor parallel hybrid

Base USD/CAD Price: $46,700 / $58,200

City Fuel Economy: 15-21 miles per gallon

Cargo Capacity: 23.7 cubic feet or 62.9 cubic feet with rear seats folded

Sales Stats: Although GoodCarBadCar.net excludes the Porsche Cayenne Turbo because it exceeds the $75,000 USD price barrier, the Cayenne's overall sales total is certainly helped by the 500-horsepower Turbo. The arrival of the second-generation Porsche Cayenne is responsble for Porsche's 141% U.S. SUV sales jump in October. Cayenne sales in Canada in October (103) were nearly triple that of the next-closest Porsche, the profoundly ugly Porsche Panamera.


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The Good 12 v4.0 Part 10 - Porsche Boxster Spyder


PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER

Porsche's Boxster is great. It has been since the first generation was introduced in 1996 with barely 200 horsepower. Porsche improved the Boxster's performance year after year, particularly when the 987 Boxster became available with over 300 horsepower in 2009. Even with the sometimes-attractive hardtop Cayman, Porsche had never done for the Boxster's looks what it had done for the Boxster's engines and dynamics.

That is, until the Porsche Boxster Spyder came along and broke the hearts of everyone who couldn't afford the less practical $60K Porsche roadster. Appearing long and low and wide, the Boxster Spyder evokes early Porsches like no slowly-evolving 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera can. The swollen rear deck proffers a race car vibe you'll be keen to accept once your rear is firmly ensconced in the driver's seat. Indeed, more than almost any other car on sale today, the Porsche Boxster Spyder's excellent exterior design writes a prophetic story that's bound to come true the first time its new owner drives through the winding Texas hill country.

Besides, Porsche didn't just improve their roadster's styling when they turned it into a Boxster Spyder. Horsepower is up, weight is down, suspension is dropped, aerodynamics are slicked, and steering is quicker and more communicative. The regular 2011 Porsche Boxster seems almost normal by comparison.

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Engines: 320 horsepower; 273 lb-ft of torque from a 3.4L boxer 6-cylinder

Base USD/CAD Price: $61,200 / $72,900

City Fuel Economy: 19-20 miles per gallon

German Rivals: As a model within the Porsche Boxster/Cayman range, the 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder is competing with the regular Boxster and Cayman sports cars plus the tasty S versions of those two Porsches. But you can't discount the stylish Audi TT, a former Good 12 winner, the gorgeous hardtop convertible BMW Z4, a strong candidate for The Good 12 last year, and the Mercedes-Benz SLK, particularly the raunchy SLK55 AMG.

Sales Stats: The Porsche Boxster Spyder is a niche version of what is already a niche-market car. Boxster sales in Canada won't reach 200 units in 2010. In all of 2009, Porsche Cars North America only sold 1909 Boxsters, a 36% decline from 2008 levels. American sales in 2010 aren't going to reach 2008 levels, either.


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The Good 12 v4.0 Part 9 - Nissan Juke


NISSAN JUKE

Fun to drive, funky to look at, and functional to live with, the 2011 Nissan Juke is by no means everyone's cup of tea. The Juke is downright dazzling from some angles, and the acquired taste that is its front end will immediately send some potential buyers into a tizzy while making others dizzy. Truly memorable vehicles are the ones not everyone had a penchant for, the sort of vehicle so unperfect for certain people that it's completely perfect for others. 

GoodCarBadCar.net's already been clear on the Nissan Juke's driving manners: they're terrific. But the nimble Juke isn't just a sporty alternative to the Rogue and other small SUVs and crossovers, it's a high-value answer to an often surprisingly expensive equation. Priced from $18,960, the Juke is a quick and light-on-its-feet substitute for the increasingly boring flock of staid and pervasive small car-based cute-utes clogging North American highways. 

To the Nissan Juke's credit, it's small, really a whole lot smaller than you expect it'll be. This comes with demerits, the obvious one being a somewhat claustrophobic rear seat. Fortunately, the Juke's corners are easily sighted, its quick steering helps position it smartly on twisty roads, and you won't feel like you're forced into driving a school bus just because you desire an elevated seating position. Many will find that, despite idiosyncrasies, the Juke is the closest thing to a phantasmagoric automotive experience.

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Engines: 188 horsepower; 177 lb-ft of torque from a 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder

Base USD/CAD Price: $18,960 / $19,998

City Fuel Economy: 24-27 miles per gallon

Torque Vectoring: Nissan's fantabulous torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system continuously monitors vehicle speed, the speed of the wheels, lateral g forces, yaw rate, your selected gear, and the steering angle in order to perfectly distribute torque to the front or rear axle, and even the appropriate corner. 50% of the Juke's available torque can be sent to one individual rear corner.

Sales Stats: It's early days, but in the first recorded month of Nissan Juke sales, Nissan Canada found 83 buyers and Nissan USA an astounding 2103. The Juke is intended to be a niche player beneath the Nissan Rogue, a sidebar to the Nissan Sentra. If October 2010 was anything to go by, the Juke could have more mass market appeal than previously thought.


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The Good 12 v4.0 Part 8 - Jeep Wrangler


JEEP WRANGLER

The 2011 Jeep Wrangler - a vehicle many consider a handful of compromises too many - is more of an all-in-one vehicle than anything else on the market today. Listen to this list of demands and try and think of any other vehicle capable of even coming close to matching the requirements. First off, the vehicle needs to be priced low. Hundreds of models are crossed off the list. Next up, the vehicle needs to be a convertible. Now the choices are very limited. Torque would be nice. So would seating for four. The image needs to be right, too: nothing girly or cheesy or trendy.

Oh, and off-road capability is a must.

There is one such vehicle meeting these requirements on the market in North America. It happens to be priced very low. The convertible top, or should we say tops, are easy to manhandle. Wranglers aren't road racers, but power is plentiful. Rear passengers don't have acres of space, but your friends will feel so cool when you're driving down Rodeo Drive and their hair is blowing in the wind. The Jeep's image, of course, is set in stone. And yeah, Wranglers do alright when the pavement ends.

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Engines: 202 horsepower; 237 lb-ft of torque from a 3.8L V6

Base USD/CAD Price: $22,045 / $21,595

City Fuel Economy: 15 miles per gallon

4x4: Wrangler ground clearance can be as high as 10.3 inches. Approach angles range from 40.8 degrees to 44.6; departure angles from 37.4 to 40.6. Wranglers are less than 13 feet long and barely more than six feet wide, capable of squeaking through the narrowest portions of most any trail. Every 2011 Jeep Wrangler is fitted with a Dana 30 front axle and a heavy-duty Dana 44 rear axle.

Sales Stats: In 2010, the Jeep Wrangler has routinely been on the Best Sellers lists both in Canada and the United States. Canadian year-to-date sales of the Wrangler were up 61% at the end of October. In America, 2010 sales will top 90,000 by New Year's Eve.


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The Good 12 v4.0 Part 7 - Infiniti G25


INFINITI G25


There's something about typical family sedans which fail to identify with the driver. Transmissions are designed to mask the feeling of a shift. Engine sounds are muted. The steering wheel takes whatever information was delivered to the tires from the road and filters it down to a hint of a pothole. Power is delivered from your right foot through the pedal to the front wheels with a memorable lack of emotion. 

The Infiniti G25 is not your typical family sedan. For one thing, even as a premium-badged car, the Infiniti G25 uses a smaller, less powerful V6 than you'd find in that typical mainstream family sedan. The G25, you see, requires revs. Power from those revs is sent to the rear wheels, leaving the front wheels just one task, to steer the car. Rather than disconnecting the driver from reality, the G25 wants a friendship built, a relationship between itself, the car, and the driver. That'd be you. 

Priced like an up-optioned mainstream V6 sedan, the G25 is a luxury sports sedan. It's far less powerful than it's big brother, the G37, but more than powerful enough. The G25's innards are attractive, its exterior even more so. Not only does the 2011 Infiniti G25 cost substantially less than traditional luxury sports sedans, it's also more fuel efficient and more rational in tough times. G25s are luxury cars for people who don't want to pay for luxury cars; sporty cars for people who know better than to assume "sporty" equals "high levels of horsepower".

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Engines: 218 horsepower; 187 lb-ft of torque from a 2.5L V6

Base USD/CAD Price: $30,950 / $36,390

City Fuel Economy: 19-20 miles per gallon

IPL: If outright performance is a must and you remain interested in Nissan's luxury brand, the newly-launched Infiniti Performance Line is more your taste. The IPL G Coupe generates 348 horsepower. The performance-inclined will enjoy a stiffer suspension, sportier steering rack, and improved brakes. A noticeable bodykit sets the IPL G Coupe apart visually.

Sales Stats: The V35 generation of Infiniti's G lifted the spirits of Nissan's luxury division and made Infiniti seem justifiable once again. Infiniti Canada sold 422 G sedans, coupes, and convertibles in Canada in October, enough to place the G25/G37 family fourth in class behind the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. October 2010's results from the United States put the Infiniti's 3927 sales behind only the Cadillac CTS and BMW 3-Series. The Good Car Guy called for the lesser-engined G to be imported to North America for thousands of additional sales as far back as September 2009.


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The Good 12 v4.0 Part 6 - Ford Mustang V6


FORD MUSTANG V6


Remember when a V8 wasn't deemed necessary for the BMW M3? Those times can be remembered fondly. Look back to the moment when a smooth inline-six was considered downright lovely in a Jaguar XJ; no V8 required. Do you recall the moment when you first noticed the 4-cylinder turbo in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo FQ-400 was wanting for power? There was no such moment.

Times, they are a'changin'. He who loveth not a good V8 is sneered upon in the automotive enthusiast world. But at GoodCarBadCar.net, he who accepts not a V6 with V8-like power and V6 efficiency lacks logic and understanding. The 2011 Ford Mustang, like the 2010 Ford Mustang before it, is casually handsome, like a perfect pair of jeans and a crisp white t-shirt. Tucked and trimmed in all the rear's right places with a menacing front end and a low-slung stance, the latest Mustang's exterior speaks loudly. Fortunately, for the first time in history, the V6 Mustang is not a disappointment. Powerful enough to reduce the intensity of V8 GT fantasies, the Ford Mustang V6 is now the smart choice.

No other car this cheap is this powerful and economical. This is the entry-level Mustang, remember, the one regular people can afford. You could have a 4-cylinder Honda Accord or... this. You could have a Toyota Prius or... this. You could have a heavily-optioned Ford Fiesta SES or... this, a muscle car with more than 300 horsepower and more than 30 miles per gallon.

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Engines: 305 horsepower; 280 lb-ft of torque froma  3.7L V6

Base USD/CAD Price: $22,145 / $22,999

City Fuel Economy: 19 miles per gallon

The Old GT: Before Ford replaced the Mustang GT's 4.6L V8 with the stonkin' 5.0L V8 in the 2011 model year, the 4.6L Ford Mustang GT was making 315 horsepower. That meant the 2010 Ford Mustang GT was pushing around 11 pounds with every horsepower. The new, much less expensive 2011 Ford Mustang V6's power-to-weight ratio is only 2.4 ounces worse than the brutish V8's.

Sales Stats: In Canada, not a traditionally strong sporty car buying market, the Mustang finished off the Chevrolet Camaro with months to spare in 2010. In fact, through ten months of 2010, Ford Mustang sales were up 21.9% on the Camaro. South of the border, the Camaro had pulled out in front early on in the year, forcing the Mustang into second place. The trend reversed in October, however, with Mustang sales up 11% to 5317 and Camaro sales down 38% to 5013.


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The Good 12 v4.0 Part 5 - Ford F-150


FORD F-150


Before Ford decided to completely revamp the F-150's engine lineup, GoodCarBadCar.net placed the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor in The Good 12. This year, however, Ford has developed a new range of engines for the F-150: delightfully powerful yet appropriate for the times in which we live.

The 2011 Ford F-150 isn't just a hunk of steel covering one of two excellent V6s or one of two exquisite V8s. Available in a range of bodystyles of various dimensions, the F-150 can be found in the right length for your garage. Moreover, the planet's most popular pickup  can be had as a decently-equipped work truck, a suitable family-oriented mid-range truck, or a luxurious truck fit for kings. Or just about anything in between. 

In any case, the Ford F-150 looks terrific. Gone are the days when cramming a couple people into the confines of a pickup truck was an exercise in punishment. The F-150's interior, depending on trim, verges on glamourous. Space is abundant. If your requirement is one vehicle genuinely capable of genuinely doing it all, the F-150 is the ultimate version of the bee's knees.

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Engines: 302 horsepower; 276 lb-ft of torque froma 3.7L V6 or 365 horsepower; 420 lb-ft of torque from a 3.7L turbocharged V6 or 360 horsepower; 380 lb-ft of torque from a 5.0L V8 or 411 horsepower; 434 lb-ft of torque from a 6.2L V8

Base USD/CAD Price: $22,415 / $19,999

City Fuel Economy: est. 14-17 miles per gallon

Capacities: The 2011 Ford F-150 can tow up to 11,300 pounds. Its box can be filled with up to 3060 pounds of junk. Inside, six individuals can be belted and buckled..

Sales Stats: The Ford F-Series - a name that takes in lower-volume heavy duty Ford trucks, too - is North America's best-selling vehicle. Ford sold over 413,625 in the United States in 2009, an off year. Through the first ten months of 2010, Canadian sales of the Ford F-Series were up 24.2% to 84,630.


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The Good 12 v4.0 Part 4 - Fiat 500


FIAT 500

When talk of the Fiat 500's arrival in North America was discussed in the light of a $20,000 MSRP, GoodCarBadCar.net's interest was keen yet limited. Strip 40% off that price - a price that didn't make sense in the first place - and Fiat is offering North America a sporty, seductive, and supremely stylish hatchback alternative to cars like the suddenly less exciting European-derived Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2.

It seems unlikely that the Fiat Cinquecento, as it's called in Torino, will be able to rain on the Mini Cooper's parade as a cut-price Italian rival. Because of pricing and power, the Fiat and Mini seem now to play in their own respective niches. It may be true that Mini stole some of Fiat's thunder a decade ago, but the Fiat's ability to compete as a true economy car, not just as a premium small car, should secure legions of buyers. How, and why?

Handsome as an Armani suit, as classy as Versace eyewear, and as flashy as a Gucci clutch, the Fiat 500 is distinctly Italian yet egalitarian in a way no Lamborghini, Ferrari, or Maserati has ever been. The original (and better-looking) Cinquecento was the Italian version of the Volkswagen Beetle: a car of the people. Like that Volkswagen and the original Issigonis-designed Mini and the 1964.5 Ford Mustang, the Fiat 500 repudiated class barriers and became a chic addition in the driveways of the rich and famous as well as the reliant and friendless.

The new Fiat 500 hasn't taken over Europe nor will it become a Camry-rival in America. But beyond its historical significance and appealing style, the Fiat 500 is a tremendous car to drive. You and your friends will sit comfortably in a shockingly roomy and tastefully decorated interior with plenty of features and loads of accessories. Style will not require sacrifice.

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Engines: 101 horsepower; 98 lb-ft of torque from a 1.4L 4-cylinder

Base USD/CAD Price: $15,500 / $15,995

City Fuel Economy: 30 miles per gallon

500C, Abarth & Electric: Europe's Abarth 500 adds more than 30 horsepower, the Esseesse version will do 0-60 mph in less than seven seconds. The 500C is a droptop Fiat 500, as you'd guess. Rumours abound of an electric 500 for 2012, as well. All should make it to North America.

Sales Stats: As of this scribbling, Fiat hasn't sold any 500s in North America, so there aren't any Sales Stats available. Fiat wants to sell 50,000 500s annually in the United States. Sales of the more expensive Mini Cooper should be around 50,000 in the United States this year; about 4500 in Canada. Mini sells a convertible and Clubman wagon version of the Cooper as well as performance versions of all three.


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The Good 12 v4.0 Part 3 - Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon


CADILLAC CTS SPORT WAGON


There are people who buy cars based purely on the vehicle's capacity to haul. If Vehicle Exhibit A can secure five people and 40 cubic feet of cargo, then Vehicle Exhibit B's 35 cubic feet of luggage space won't suffice. There are vehicles, even in The Good 12, designed to carry more people and more stuff than the car you see here. Most don't look half as good as the 2011 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, however. And most don't drive like the CTS, either.

In fact, most vehicles aren't this rare. General Motors always knew that the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon's maximum audience was teeny-weeny-tiny. Even among wagons, an exclusive segment at the best of times in the United States, the CTS is considered off-the-wall. I mean, c'mon, it's a Cadillac. A Cadillac wagon. It's a Cadillac wagon, for crying out loud. Who thinks this stuff up?

Fortunately, the ignorance of others contributes to the CTS's excitement. There's a one-in-a-bijillion chance your neighbour's going to be driving the same thing. True, the same could be said of the Renault Le Car you bought in college, but the CTS is actually a cool car. 58 cubic feet of cargo capacity ain't enough for you? How 'bout when all those cubes are married to 304 rear-wheel-driven horsepower and a sublime chassis? 

When there are new vehicles available for purchasing as interesting and, dare I say, obscure as the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, there are no excuses for he or she who acquires a Lexus ES350 or Acura TSX V6. Try and stay cool.

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Engines: 270 horsepower; 223 lb-ft of torque from a 3.0L V6 or 304 horsepower; 273 lb-ft of torque from a 3.6L V6

Base USD/CAD Price: $38,265 / $44,130

City Fuel Economy: 18 miles per gallon

V-Series: Priced from $62,290, the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon's 6.2L generates an absurdly wonderful 556 horsepower. Brembo brakes, 19-inch wheels, magnetorheological dampers, and a six-speed manual transmission are all present and accounted for in what may be the planet's most stirring station wagon.

Sales Stats: Overall Cadillac CTS sales were up 25.4% in Canada through the end of October 2010. During the same period, CTS sales in the USA jumped 15.1%. In October, Cadillac USA sold 4242 CTS sedans and wagons; Cadillac Canada sold 228.


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