2011 BMW X3 Review
2011 BMW X3 Review
BMW's X3 compact SUV . It's also bigger (3.4 inches longer and 1.1 inches wider), better looking, and more fuel-efficient. The trade-off: The engine in the xDrive28i has less oomph (20 horsepower less) than the only engine offered in the outgoing X3.
The new X3 xDrive35i is relatively expensive, with a starting price of $41,925. It comes with a powerful 3.0-liter, 300-horsepower, turbocharged six-banger engine, however, that matches or bests the top horsepower rating of any of the X3's main competitors.
The X5's other rivals offer only seven- or six-speed automatics.
The mileage rating is exactly the same for the xDrive35i, except that highway mileage rises to 26 mpg.
Among the X3's main rivals, only the four-cylinder-powered Audi Q5 2.0T, with an average mileage rating of 22, does better. The Volvo XC60's mileage rating matches the X3's, but its average drops to 20 mpg with AWD and 19 mpg with a turbocharged engine. The Audi Q5 3.2 is rated to get 20 mpg, and the Mercedes GLK350 is rated to average only 18 mpg, whether with rear-wheel drive or AWD.
The 2011 BMW X3 has higher fuel economy ratings, more standard features and more interior space than previous models, making it an all-around stronger contender.
For the 2011 model year, BMW has taken the luxury compact X3 back to the drawing board and returned with a SUV that the industry admires. “The original BMW X3 ‘Sport Activity Vehicle’ debuted in 2004, and was one of the pioneers of the luxury small crossover craze, influencing brands like Acura, Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz to follow in their footsteps. Here's the good news: That all changes with the 2011 BMW X3.
Other Compact SUVs to Consider
Instead it offers rear-wheel drive with an all-wheel drive option. The result, reviewers say, is that the EX is extremely fun to drive. Reviewers like the Q5’s car-like ride and handling, as well as its luxurious interior.
Details: BMW X3
All-wheel drive is standard on both trims. The 2011 model is bigger than the outgoing model, and has a new suspension and transmission, more passenger room and more cargo space.
The 2011 BMW X3 has been fully redesigned. Highlights include an optional turbocharged engine, a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, crisper exterior styling, revised suspension tuning and an updated interior design with the latest iDrive electronics interface.
Thankfully, BMW softened the suspension and upped the power in successive years. An optional adaptive suspension allows the driver to select from three different modes calibrating suspension, throttle, transmission and stability control settings.
The xDrive28i ostensibly replaces last year's xDrive30i, and offers slightly less power, but also a slimmer entry fee. Both models get a new eight-speed transmission, which rows through gears in a quiet fury to reach cruising speed. Overall, BMW's refinements make the X3 a prime contender in the small luxury crossover SUV segment.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2011 BMW X3 is a five-passenger compact luxury crossover SUV available in two trim levels: the xDrive28i and the xDrive35i.
Standard features on the 28i include 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, foglights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, eight-way power front seats, a tilt-and-telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette (premium vinyl) upholstery, automatic climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth, BMW's iDrive electronics interface and a 12-speaker audio system with a CD player, HD radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod interface.
The Sport Activity package varies slightly for each model, but includes 18-inch wheels, sport front seats, roof rails and a sport transmission with paddle shifters. The Technology package offers a rearview camera with top view, front and rear parking sensors, Bluetooth streaming audio and a hard-drive-based navigation system with voice commands and real-time traffic. Opting for the Dynamic Handling package gets you adaptive suspension dampers, variable-ratio steering and three driver-selectable drive modes. A Cold Weather package adds heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel.
A 3.0-liter inline-6 engine powers both 2011 BMW X3 models. BMW estimates the x35i's fuel economy at 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway.
Standard safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes, automatic brake drying (useful in rainy weather), front airbags, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, active front-seat head restraints, stability control, and hill descent control. In Edmunds testing, the xDrive35i stopped from 60 mph in a short 116 feet.
2011 Infiniti EX35 Review
The 2011 Infiniti EX35 gets a new transmission. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Standard on the Journey are a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, heated front seats, sunroof, wireless cell-phone link, and hard drive for storing digital-music files. Lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, power-folding rear seat backs, and a navigation system are among the options offered on the Journey.
COMPETITION
Premium-Compact SUVs are luxury SUVs that are compact in size.
With rear-wheel-drive and a more wagon-like profile, the EX35 isn’t your average people and cargo hauler. if Goldilocks drove, she might consider it just right. North America sees the EX in 3.5-liter trim (hence EX35), but Europe and Japan get a zippier EX37 with Infiniti’s larger V6, while China gets an EX25 with Infinit’s smaller V6.
For the 2011 model year, the Infiniti EX35 finds itself grille to grille with some of the brightest in the business.
Any breakthroughs?
Then there are the other techno-fab pieces like the Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Departure Prevention systems, Full-speed Intelligent Cruise Control, Distance Control Assist, and finally the Blind Spot Warning system.
When you compare the EX with big brother FX, you get the impression that the EX came out on top when the genetics were being sorted out. With our Infiniti and its rear-wheel-drive setup (all-wheel-drive is optional), we didn’t even make an attempt at some of the rough terrain that is South Florida.
Chrome trim strips frame the greenhouse, and blacked out B, C and D-pillars help to minimize the size that comes with adding various safety items like air curtains and seat side-curtain airbags. The overall look is finished off nicely with 19-inch split-spoke wheels mounted with Bridgestone Potenza sport tires. The liftgate is equipped with a curved expanse of glass covered by a rear window shade. Once again, Infiniti shows that it is at the top of its game as far as interior design is concerned. Infiniti has managed to avoid going to the spinning control dial as seen in Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW and, yes, Hyundai vehicles. Large, living room chair-style front seats kept us firmly tucked in during our tracking through twisties. Cargo space in the “way back” was accommodating for 18.6 cubic feet with the 60-40 split seats in the upright and locked position. Following Infiniti’s (and Nissan’s) economy of scale, the EX shares underpinnings with its sistership, the G sedan. But with the EX 5.6 inches shorter in overall length at 182.3, than the G’s 187.9-inches, it is able to bring forth a sporty car feel that actually makes it a fun driver.
Our EX RWD weighed in at 3,795 lbs., and according to the EPA, managed to tick off 17 city and 24 highway miles per gallon during government testing. From a handling standpoint, the EX is equipped with a subframe mounted double-wishbone setup that has high-performance dual-pass shock absorbers with a 26mm stabilizer bar in front. A speed-determined variable-power assist handles steering.
The EX was quite the performer throughout our week of constant cruising. Once again, the thought “Infiniti G wagon” came to mind.
Infiniti’s 2011 EX35 captures the spritely feeling of a small car with the luxury and technology of a land yacht.
Lumping the Infiniti EX35 in with other “small cars” is a bit of a stretch. The Infiniti EX35 is not exactly small, since it measures about 15 feet long and weighs 3,764 pounds. Like the Infiniti M37x, the EX35 has that cocooning cockpit feel. You slip in and the car just feels right. The lighting inside, especially the “electroluminescent” gauges, have that extra luxury look that makes the car worth the higher price tag (our test car is priced at $46,605 but the base price is $35,150 – or much closer to the X3.)
The exterior styling is not as pronounced as the M37x we tested.
Pick a speed, any speed
We’re jumping right to the driving experience here, because that is the real draw with this sporty hatchback. It now has a 7-speed transmission. Truth be told, switching from a 5-speed to a 7-speed might be a technical improvement. The real reason the Infiniti EX35 begs you to drive fast is due to the cockpit feel.
2011 Audi A8
Those who know him consider him peculiar. Well, those who resent him, that is.
Those who want to know him might say "eccentric" instead. They'd mean "sexy, in a dangerous way."
He just considers himself…a bit more…discerning than most men in his position. And yes, he's quite aware there aren't many. Men in his position, that is.
So, for example, his suits are not Armani. They are not Zegna. They are, in fact, made for him by hand, by a reclusive (and surprisingly young) tailor whose name, and location, he does not feel inclined to reveal. Friends wonder, because the lining of each jacket and vest is so unusually bright, flashing when he turns suddenly…but they'll never ask.
His watch is, in fact, a Rolex. But not one you can buy. Not since before the First World War.
And then there is the car.
It's not a Mercedes S-Class – the car almost everyone in his position sees as proof of their success. It's not a BMW 7-Series – the car a few of his friends have chosen to show that they're still young and vibrant enough to enjoy speeding.
No, he's driving that new Audi. The flagship one. The A8, they call it. The new 2011 one. No one has seen very many of them, but he has one already, in a deep, mirror-glossy black.
It looks a lot like him. Buttoned-down and conservative? No, not really. Somehow, it looks dangerous, like it's only pretending to be buttoned-down and conservative.
The lines, for instance. It looks a bit like the old Audi A8. Everyone has seen a few of those around over the years, though they were never as numerous as the damned old Mercedes or the overweight big Bimmers with their overweight owners.
Only, like him, the Audi is somehow trimmer this year. It's lost weight and put on muscle. It's no smaller than the old one – bigger if anything – but it looks more capable of violence. It looks like the old A8 after a year of hard training. The deep character lines cut in the doors. The tightly-drawn sills hugging close to the road. Yes, it looks a bit like its master – capable of bench-pressing like a linebacker, but also doing gravity-defying handstands in an advanced yoga class. The car doesn't look like a brute. It looks like a black belt.
And there is, of course, that front fascia. The enormous grille, with its thin chrome cross-bars, and those LED-lined headlights with their aggressive squint. In the rearview mirror, it looks like it's going to eat you.
Those few who have been inside (all women. Make of that what you will) have seen that it's remarkably sumptuous. It seems to be designed with a nautical theme inside, with a selection of woods that goes beyond the old traditional walnut. Here, there are blonder colors, gorgeous coffee-dark leather, and a wide shift-lever that resembles the throttle from a motor yacht. The front seats seem to adjust infinitely. They massage ten different ways. They are heated and cooled.
The controls look, at first, like something out of an alien spacecraft. The MMI interface, which controls every entertainment and climate function through a series of menus on a nav screen that rises neatly from the center of the dash and hides when it isn't needed, looks too complicated to understand. It even has a touchpad, like a laptop. But, it turns out, it's actually intuitive to operate. His guests have learned it quickly, and he seems to work it efficiently, his eyes barely leaving the road.
The back seats (and here the women's eyes seem to soften just a bit at the mention) are, if anything, even more luxurious. They recline. They have their own climate controls, and are heated and cooled as well. Power footrests rise from the seats in front. A writing desk rises from the center console.
And there is that stereo. Extraordinary. Nineteen speakers, including a pair of tweeters that hide away in the corners of the dashboard and rise, balanced on little black stalks, when the car is started. (This, he will never confess, is his favorite feature). That stereo can render any music perfectly, whether it's a Mahler concerto or a devastating club mix he seems to have that, well, no one can find in any club.
Yes, it's luxurious car. But all men of his stature have those.
There is something about this one that, like its owner, seems secretive and, maybe, a little threatening.
All sedans in this price range have adjustable suspensions and performance profiles.
Most of them are jokes the engineers play on the blowhards who buy most six-figure sedans.
Go ahead, climb into any one of them and select the sporty mode, or the comfort mode, and see if you actually feel anything change. Of course, you don't.
But in his Audi, there is something to the system. Audi Drive Select, as it's called, has four profiles – normal, comfort, dynamic, and individual. In normal mode, the Audi feels almost like a BMW 7-Series. It's a bit sporty, but has a deep reservoir of road grip, thanks to its Quattro all-wheel-drive system. In comfort mode, it's as posh and gentle as any S-class. But when he throws it into dynamic, the damn thing becomes a beast.
It gets only 372 horsepower from its 4.2-liter V8, but it makes the most of every one of them. The steering is taut and firm. That Quattro system gives it so much firm grip that he can throw it into maneuvers that seem impossible in such a heavy car, and it will follow a precise line every time. It's like the big car shrinks around him when he throws into dynamic mode, and it's suddenly capable of extraordinary athleticism none of its rivals could ever match.
It makes you wonder what he's set the individual mode to do. But no one knows.
Yes, he's an eccentric man. Mysterious. Maybe a little intimidating. He's obviously phenomenally wealthy, with expensive tastes, and a hint of violence in his bearing. There aren't even whispers about what he does for a living, because everyone is afraid to voice their thoughts out loud.
They wonder what sort of man chooses the A8 when the S-Class and the 7-Series are the socially expected answers. The answer seems to be – someone with a secret capacity for inventiveness, cunning, and, perhaps, ruthless fun. Someone to be feared, or to the most daring women in his circle, enjoyed.
Someone...eccentric. And perhaps a bit more discerning than most men in his position
Those who want to know him might say "eccentric" instead. They'd mean "sexy, in a dangerous way."
He just considers himself…a bit more…discerning than most men in his position. And yes, he's quite aware there aren't many. Men in his position, that is.
So, for example, his suits are not Armani. They are not Zegna. They are, in fact, made for him by hand, by a reclusive (and surprisingly young) tailor whose name, and location, he does not feel inclined to reveal. Friends wonder, because the lining of each jacket and vest is so unusually bright, flashing when he turns suddenly…but they'll never ask.
His watch is, in fact, a Rolex. But not one you can buy. Not since before the First World War.
And then there is the car.
It's not a Mercedes S-Class – the car almost everyone in his position sees as proof of their success. It's not a BMW 7-Series – the car a few of his friends have chosen to show that they're still young and vibrant enough to enjoy speeding.
No, he's driving that new Audi. The flagship one. The A8, they call it. The new 2011 one. No one has seen very many of them, but he has one already, in a deep, mirror-glossy black.
It looks a lot like him. Buttoned-down and conservative? No, not really. Somehow, it looks dangerous, like it's only pretending to be buttoned-down and conservative.
The lines, for instance. It looks a bit like the old Audi A8. Everyone has seen a few of those around over the years, though they were never as numerous as the damned old Mercedes or the overweight big Bimmers with their overweight owners.
Only, like him, the Audi is somehow trimmer this year. It's lost weight and put on muscle. It's no smaller than the old one – bigger if anything – but it looks more capable of violence. It looks like the old A8 after a year of hard training. The deep character lines cut in the doors. The tightly-drawn sills hugging close to the road. Yes, it looks a bit like its master – capable of bench-pressing like a linebacker, but also doing gravity-defying handstands in an advanced yoga class. The car doesn't look like a brute. It looks like a black belt.
And there is, of course, that front fascia. The enormous grille, with its thin chrome cross-bars, and those LED-lined headlights with their aggressive squint. In the rearview mirror, it looks like it's going to eat you.
Those few who have been inside (all women. Make of that what you will) have seen that it's remarkably sumptuous. It seems to be designed with a nautical theme inside, with a selection of woods that goes beyond the old traditional walnut. Here, there are blonder colors, gorgeous coffee-dark leather, and a wide shift-lever that resembles the throttle from a motor yacht. The front seats seem to adjust infinitely. They massage ten different ways. They are heated and cooled.
The controls look, at first, like something out of an alien spacecraft. The MMI interface, which controls every entertainment and climate function through a series of menus on a nav screen that rises neatly from the center of the dash and hides when it isn't needed, looks too complicated to understand. It even has a touchpad, like a laptop. But, it turns out, it's actually intuitive to operate. His guests have learned it quickly, and he seems to work it efficiently, his eyes barely leaving the road.
The back seats (and here the women's eyes seem to soften just a bit at the mention) are, if anything, even more luxurious. They recline. They have their own climate controls, and are heated and cooled as well. Power footrests rise from the seats in front. A writing desk rises from the center console.
And there is that stereo. Extraordinary. Nineteen speakers, including a pair of tweeters that hide away in the corners of the dashboard and rise, balanced on little black stalks, when the car is started. (This, he will never confess, is his favorite feature). That stereo can render any music perfectly, whether it's a Mahler concerto or a devastating club mix he seems to have that, well, no one can find in any club.
Yes, it's luxurious car. But all men of his stature have those.
There is something about this one that, like its owner, seems secretive and, maybe, a little threatening.
All sedans in this price range have adjustable suspensions and performance profiles.
Most of them are jokes the engineers play on the blowhards who buy most six-figure sedans.
Go ahead, climb into any one of them and select the sporty mode, or the comfort mode, and see if you actually feel anything change. Of course, you don't.
But in his Audi, there is something to the system. Audi Drive Select, as it's called, has four profiles – normal, comfort, dynamic, and individual. In normal mode, the Audi feels almost like a BMW 7-Series. It's a bit sporty, but has a deep reservoir of road grip, thanks to its Quattro all-wheel-drive system. In comfort mode, it's as posh and gentle as any S-class. But when he throws it into dynamic, the damn thing becomes a beast.
It gets only 372 horsepower from its 4.2-liter V8, but it makes the most of every one of them. The steering is taut and firm. That Quattro system gives it so much firm grip that he can throw it into maneuvers that seem impossible in such a heavy car, and it will follow a precise line every time. It's like the big car shrinks around him when he throws into dynamic mode, and it's suddenly capable of extraordinary athleticism none of its rivals could ever match.
It makes you wonder what he's set the individual mode to do. But no one knows.
Yes, he's an eccentric man. Mysterious. Maybe a little intimidating. He's obviously phenomenally wealthy, with expensive tastes, and a hint of violence in his bearing. There aren't even whispers about what he does for a living, because everyone is afraid to voice their thoughts out loud.
They wonder what sort of man chooses the A8 when the S-Class and the 7-Series are the socially expected answers. The answer seems to be – someone with a secret capacity for inventiveness, cunning, and, perhaps, ruthless fun. Someone to be feared, or to the most daring women in his circle, enjoyed.
Someone...eccentric. And perhaps a bit more discerning than most men in his position
2011 Audi a8 Nice One Car
2011 audi a8
2011 audi a8
2011 audi a8
2011 audi a8
He just considers himself…a bit more…discerning than most men in his position. And yes, he's quite aware there aren't many. Men in his position, that is.
So, for example, his suits are not Armani. They are not Zegna. They are, in fact, made for him by hand, by a reclusive (and surprisingly young) tailor whose name, and location, he does not feel inclined to reveal. Friends wonder, because the lining of each jacket and vest is so unusually bright, flashing when he turns suddenly…but they'll never ask.
His watch is, in fact, a Rolex. But not one you can buy. Not since before the First World War.
And then there is the car.
It's not a Mercedes S-Class – the car almost everyone in his position sees as proof of their success. It's not a BMW 7-Series – the car a few of his friends have chosen to show that they're still young and vibrant enough to enjoy speeding.
No, he's driving that new Audi. The flagship one. The A8, they call it. The new 2011 one. No one has seen very many of them, but he has one already, in a deep, mirror-glossy black.
It looks a lot like him. Buttoned-down and conservative? No, not really. Somehow, it looks dangerous, like it's only pretending to be buttoned-down and conservative.
2011 Audi S4 By Stasis Engineering
Those of you who have been with us for some time might know that the Audi S4 might be one of our favorite cars on the market. It combines pure speed and aggressive handling with comfort and everyday practicality. If you had to pick one car for the rest of your life, the S4 wouldn’t be a bad call.
Despite its near flawlessness, Stasis Engineering has decided to rework the four-door Audi and make it that little bit more hardcore. Normally we would despise this sort of thing, but after all, it is SEMA.
A little background of Stasis before we get started with the tuned up S4. STaSIS Engineering is dedicated to providing automotive performance to the mainstream market. They specialize in performance-enhancing brakes, suspension, driveline, and engine products. Basically, these products are as close as you’re going to get to real racing car equipment.
Despite its near flawlessness, Stasis Engineering has decided to rework the four-door Audi and make it that little bit more hardcore. Normally we would despise this sort of thing, but after all, it is SEMA.
A little background of Stasis before we get started with the tuned up S4. STaSIS Engineering is dedicated to providing automotive performance to the mainstream market. They specialize in performance-enhancing brakes, suspension, driveline, and engine products. Basically, these products are as close as you’re going to get to real racing car equipment.
2011 Audi S4
Audi R4 roadster
The Audi R4 is an EV roadster that will share its chassis with the next generation mid engine sports cars from Porsche and will be powered by a a purely electric drive train with with two motors placed at the front and two more at the rear axle fed go juice from a next generation Lithium ion battery pack, just like the E-Tron concept. With over 300 HP the R4 should be good for a 4.8 second 0 to 60 MPH run and will have a range of up to 155 miles.
Audi R4
Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2011 Reviews
The Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T model comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, 12.6-inch disc brakes, a front strut brace, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, steering wheel audio controls, power windows, AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3, air conditioning, projector beam headlamps, trip computer, cruise control, Bluetooth, iPod connectivity, active head restraints, front/side/curtain airbags, ABS, and electronic stability control.
The Premium edition gains a power driver's seat, 360-watt Infinity audio with 10 speakers, push-button start, auto-dimming mirrors, a tilt-and-slide power sunroof, and navigation system.
Available for $26,750, with a six-speed manual only, is the 2.0T "Track" model. It has all the same mechanical upgrades as the Track model, but lacks the premium leather seats, Xenon lights, and navigation.
A six-speed manual is standard, while upgrading to the Shiftronic pushes the price to $26,500.
Lastly, the "Track" V6 model comes with 19-inch gunmetal finish alloy wheels, Brembo brakes with 13.4-inch rotors and four-piston brakes, track-tuned suspension, and Torsen-type limited-slip differential. Unlike the 2.0T, the Track model is available with a Shiftronic automatic, in addition to a regular manual.
The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a solid value, providing rear-wheel drive sports car abilities for a lot less than the competition. The Genesis Coupe is Hyundai's sportiest vehicle yet, but struggles to find its place in the exciting, fast-paced world of sports cars.
Other Sports Cars to Consider
Within the class of Affordable Sports Cars, only the Mazda RX-8 and Mitsubishi Eclipse offer seating for four and everyday usability. Shoppers seriously considering the 2011 Hyunda Genesis Coupe should shop it against Muscle Cars, like the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang.
Details: Hyundai Genesis Coupe
The Genesis Coupe 2.0T is available in base, Premium and R-Spec trims.
The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe features improved interior materials, including padded door armrests, softer leather for the leather-wrapped steering wheel and more chrome accents for the instrument panel. Though it shares its name with the larger Genesis luxury sedan, the Genesis Coupe is a considerably different type of car. It follows the basic formula for a high-performance coupe with its sleek styling, rear-wheel drive and a pair of small backseats. Thankfully the Genesis Coupe has the goods to back it up. With either power plant the Genesis Coupe provides some of the best handling you'll find in a sport coupe, with precise steering and plenty of cornering grip.
The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a performance coupe available in six trim levels: 2.0T, 2.0T R-Spec, 2.0T Premium, 3.8 R-Spec, 3.8 Grand Touring and 3.8 Track.
The base 2.0T comes standard with 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels, keyless entry, tilt (but not telescoping) steering column, air-conditioning, full power accessories, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, trip computer, Bluetooth and a CD/MP3 stereo with USB/iPod connectivity and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.
The 2.0T Premium loses the R-Spec's performance hardware and instead comes with a sunroof, automatic headlights, power driver seat, keyless ignition/entry, auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic climate control, an upgraded audio system plus a navigation system.
Powertrains and Performance
The rear-wheel-drive Hyundai Genesis Coupe is powered by either a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine (in 2.0T models) or a 3.8-liter V6 (in 3.8 models). For the 2.0T, Hyundai offers either a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic with manual shift control. For the 3.8 models, there's the manual or a six-speed automatic, also with manual shift control.
EPA estimated fuel economy for the 2.0T is 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined with the manual transmission.
Safety
The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe comes standard with stability control, antilock disc brakes with brake assist, front-seat side airbags, active front head restraints and full-length side curtain airbags.
The front seats are superbly shaped for both enthusiastic driving and long-distance cruising.
Driving Impressions
On the road, the 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is notably impressive for its excellent body control, responsive steering and sophisticated ride quality.
2012 Passat also be available with a 2.0-liter turbocharged
The Volkswagen Passat will be redesigned for 2012. There's a lot in store for the 2012 Passat. Buyers can choose between a five speed manual and a six-speed automatic transmission. A six-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission (DSG) is standard. Now 50-state emissions legal, the 140-hp TDI makes the Passat the only mainstream family sedan available with a diesel.
The 2012 Passat is facing a kind of perfect storm of skepticism from long-time fans of the brand. Volkswagen has wasted no chance to tell the world that the company's newest sedan will be custom-tailored to the American market, with styling and packaging tweaks designed to set the vehicle apart from its European counterpart. That trend kicked off with the 2011 Jetta – a vehicle that sacrificed interior materials and suspension refinement to meet a lower price point while growing larger to accommodate American tastes.
Does the Passat share a similar fate? That lead many onlookers (ourselves included) to conclude that in creating its new mid-sized sedan, Volkswagen had simply supersized the Jetta.
There's no denying that the 2012 Passat is cut from the same design cloth as the 2011 Jetta. The look is right at home on the larger Passat, with its slightly aggressive headlights, three-bar grille and scowling hood. No matter where your eyes rest, they're bound to fall on a line that runs nearly uninterrupted around the entire vehicle. Base models wear 16-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, though 16-, 17- and 18-inch alloy rollers are also available depending on the trim specification. For 2012, Volkswagen has built almost four additional inches into the Passat, and most of that length has found its way into the rear foot well. One of the biggest highlights of the 2012 Passat interior is its sound system. Volkswagen teamed up with Fender to create a nine-speaker audio system that pushes 400 watts of power. Volkswagen has worked to slim its option sheet to just 16 buildable combinations down from 128 possibilities, and as a result, long-time Passat fans will find a few notable omissions. Buyers will no longer be able to enjoy a wagon version of the vehicle. Additionally, the 2012 Passat is only available with three engines. Those include a 2.5-liter gasoline five-cylinder with 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque as well as a 3.6-liter gasoline V6 with 280 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of twist.
The Passat will also be available with a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel four-cylinder with 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. We're happy to report that Volkswagen has left some quirkiness in the Passat line by offering the 2.0 TDI engine with both the DSG and a six-speed manual option.
We were able to spend time in both a 2.5-liter, automatic-equipped Passat and its 2.0-TDI, DSG counterpart in mixed driving. Though the big German sedan weighs in between 3,300 and 3,400 pounds depending on engine and transmission choices, neither engine has a particularly hard time moving the Passat in any conditions. The five-cylinder gasoline engine offers similar power to four-cylinder options in both the Camry and Accord, and as such, there's enough grunt on hand to keep the vehicle on pace with the rest of traffic. VW says that while the EPA hasn't finished its fuel economy evaluation for the Passat, the company expects the 2.5-liter powered sedan to see 21 miles per gallon in the city and 32 mpg on the highway in manual guise and 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway with the autobox of our tester. Those numbers put the base entry around three mpg behind the Hyundai Sonata on the combined scale and 1.5 mpg behind a comparably equipped Honda Accord.
As a result, the TDI-equipped Passat feels and drives like a sedan you want to spend time in. As in the Jetta TDI, the 2.0-liter engine is quiet both inside and out, producing marginally more engine noise than its petrol counterparts. We encountered just over 40 mpg combined during our time behind the wheel of the Passat TDI.
Volkswagen hasn't announced pricing for the 2012 Passat just yet, but the company says that it's aiming for a price point in the low-$20K range with topped-out models landing in the lower- to mid-$30K range.
Volkswagen's Passat replacement, still called the Passat, grows to large-midsize, will sticker for as little as $20,000 and gets an optional 2.0-liter turbodiesel. VW's spin on the Accord-sized and -priced 2012 Passat is that it represents "accessible German engineering." It's a key component in VW's quest to sell 800,000 cars and sport/utilities in the United States by 2018.
VW, exclusive of Audi, sold about 260,000 cars and sport/utilities here last year, and expects to sell about 300,000 here in '11.
To appeal to a wider audience, mostly Toyota, Honda and Hyundai owners, VW is replacing the smallish-midsize Passat with an Accord-sized 191.7-inch long four-door sedan on a 110.4-inch wheelbase. VW claims best-in-class rear-seat legroom. Strictly speaking, the new Passat doesn't share its platform with anything else sold in North America, though VW has commonized its transverse-engine models (which is just about everything) into the MQB component set.
Base engine will be the unimpressive 170-horsepower 2.5-liter inline five, the Jetta's volume engine, supplied out of Mexico. Just like the 2.0-liter base '11 Jetta, the '12 Passat will start with a low-priced version featuring the 2.5-liter five, for about $20,000, "a breakthrough price for VW," one executive says.
Assembly begins in VW's new Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant later this year.
Fast cars pictures
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