Accelerate Mpls

Like so many people, I wonder what Lincoln is all about these days. Most models seem like gussied up Fords. It has gotten to the point where I wonder if Lincoln can really compete with the imports. Can it even compete with the domestics?

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Ford introduced the refreshed 2013 Taurus sedan last week at the New York Auto Show. Sporting new wheel designs, a refreshed front fascia, and a new center stack, the new Taurus features Ford’s latest technology. Below is our video walkaround.

Last week the High Gear Media team invaded the Javits center in New York City. We were amped up on coffee and pretzels walking the show floor covering the latest in car news. Below is our video walkaround of the 2013 Ford Taurus SHO featuring….ME. Enjoy.

Cop cars: No one really wants to see them in the rear view mirror, and yet everyone seems to slow down and gawk when someone else is pulled over.  For a long time, the Ford Crown Victoria, known as the Police Interceptor, has been the police vehicle of choice; with a body on frame design and rear wheel drive these cars were street tanks.  Pulling bent frames, replacing panels, rebuilding and replacing rear ends has become commonplace for police departments.  In all reality, we knew the current Crown Victoria would not soldier on forever and reality has finally set in for the Crown Vic.  Currently, the Chevrolet Impala and Dodge Charger are both being sold for police duty but Ford’s Crown Victoria is still the reigning champ when it comes to the number of police vehicles on the road. But, current Dodge Charger police vehicles walk all over the current Crown Victoria in performance.

New Caprice PPV

Last October, Chevrolet showed off the upcoming Caprice PPV (police patrol vehicle).  This vehicle is based off the Zeta platform, the same platform the now dead Pontiac G8 was based off of.  GM is utilizing the long wheel base version of this platform currently being used in the Caprice in the Middle East market.  GM says that this vehicle will only be sold for police use.  They interior has been modified for police duty, including the seats which are designed to accommodate utility belts.  The center stack is designed to allow a computer to be installed along with the high technology needed. A large touch screen is optional and will take up almost the entire center stack. In the rest of the vehicle, the trunk measures 18.5 cubic feet.  For power, the engine will initially be a one choice E85 capable 6.0 liter. V8 pushing out 355 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque channeled through a six speed automatic to the rear wheels.  After about, a year a V6 should join the engine line up.  Of course, all the heavy duty upgrades will be implemented such as brakes, alternator, transmission and other bits, all upgraded for police use.

Interior of the new Caprice PPV

New Ford Police Interceptor

Last week, Ford unveiled the replacement for the Crown Dinosaur, which happens to essentially be a police duty Taurus.  Of course, this will not be called the Taurus, rather it will be known as the new Ford Police Interceptor.  Like the consumer Taurus, the new Police Interceptor will come in either front wheel or all wheel drive with the same base 3.5 liter, V6 pushing 263 hp and 250+ ft-lb of torque, or the optional Ecoboost V6 pushing out 365 hp and 355 ft-lb.  The base V6 routes the power to the two front wheels while the optional Ecoboost will route the power to all four wheels.  Ford has said that a police vehicle needs ‘cop brakes, a cop motor and cop suspension’.  Apparently, the new Taurus either met these requirements or has had the necessary upgrades to meet the demands.  Additionally, the seats are new and, like the Chevrolet PPV, they are designed to let an officer sit comfortably with their utility belts on.  The trunk measures in at 20.1 cubic feet.  Ford is boasting about how the new Police Interceptor can withstand a 75 mile per hour rear impact: an industry first.  Ford also promised that another Police Interceptor model would be unveiled later this year.  That model would be a utility vehicle of some sorts most likely based off the upcoming new Explorer or the Flex, both of which are variations on the Taurus platform.

Interior of the new Police Interceptor

Current Generation Dodge Charger Police Package

A new Dodge Charger should be unveiled sometime later this year as the new 2011 Charger is scheduled to start production in November.  As the current Charger is gaining traction in the police vehicle market, you can be assured the next generation Charger will have a police package available.  The current Charger uses the 5.7 liter Hemi V8 pushing 368 hp and 410 ft-lb through a five speed automatic transmission.  The interior does not have seats specifically designed for the officer like the new offerings.  The next Charger will, undoubtedly, have more specific police officer focused interior amenities.

Carbon Motors E7

There is also an oddball player that is scheduled to enter the market.  Carbon Motors is set to bring a new type of police vehicle to market named the E7.  This is a all new car coming from an all new company.  The vehicle will utilize a 3.0 liter turbo diesel engine putting out 250 hp and 400 ft-lb with all the power being pushed to the rear wheels.  Some are claiming this vehicle might be capable of 30 mpg on the highway.  This car is the definition of high technology for the police, featuring a touch screen computer in the dash, LED police lights and suicide rear doors.  The back seat will be fully washable as it is made of hard plastic instead of vinyl like the competition.  Carbon Motors is claiming over 12,500 orders for the E7 (which is a codename while the car is in development) from 350 law enforcement agencies across the U.S..  The vehicle is scheduled to be produced in Connersville, Indiana.

A quick break down of the specs we know as they currently stand-

Ford Crown Vic -

239hp and 287 ft-lbs, RWD, 20.6 cubic ft trunk, rear leg room 38 in, 4127 lbs

Chevrolet PPV-

355hp and 385 ft-lbs, RWD, 18.5 cubic ft trunk, rear leg room 43.2 in, 4075 lbs

New Ford Police Interceptor-

263hp (365hp) and  249 ft-lbs (350 ft-lbs), FWD (AWD), 20.1 cubic ft trunk, rear leg room 38.1 in, 4015 lbs (4368 lbs)

Current Dodge Charger-

368hp and 410 ft-lbs, RWD, 16.2 cubic ft trunk, rear leg room 40.2 in, 3900 lbs

So, what we have here is a new war of the cop cars.  While I do not doubt the Carbon Motors E7 will come to market, I wonder at what cost.  The vehicle is technology laden and that is probably going to be its largest issue.  The Taurus is a heavy car and adding all wheel drive adds complexity to the drivetrain.  Long term, the all wheel drive will add cost to the ownership for police departments along with those twin turbos.

I think that many markets in the snow belt, such as the Northeastern part of the U.S. and Minnesota, Detroit, Illinois and others, will embrace the optional all wheel drive in the Taurus and that the rest of the market share will most likely shift to the Chevrolet PPV.  The next generation Dodge Charger will undoubtedly sell some police units and I am sure the Carbon E7 will sell, but it is too early to tell in what numbers.  According to Ford, the police market gobbles up nearly 60,000-70,000 vehicles per year!  My sources tell me that the PPV, with the V8 costing approximately $17,000-$18,000 to the fleets, you can take about $1,000-$2,000 off that price when the V6 launches.  Time will tell who wins this war but without a question, it will be interesting to watch.  Leave your thoughts in the comments.

2011 Audi A8

The Minneapolis Auto Show has finally arrived.  I must admit that I look forward to the show every year.  The show is not large compared to others and, in reality, many concept cars go to the larger shows and skip us.  The reason I like our show is it is local and I am on my own time.  I can go with my friends with no scheduled agenda.  The big shows like Chicago and Detroit are a lot of fun but this is just different having a show near home.

The show was busier then I expected.  I talked to quite a few people that noted how the attendance numbers were up from last year already on the second day of the show.  The economy is in a slightly better place and car sales are starting to pick up and the attendance at the show is reflecting it. I am guessing that Ford was a major sponsor this year as many new Taurus’s were strewn about outside of the entrances.  I overheard several consumers commenting on how they liked the look of the new Taurus and most didn’t even know what it was.

Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Concept

Some of the highlights included the special edition Synergy Green Camaro and the Silverado ZR2 Concept truck from Chevrolet.  Though many General Motors concept cars were missing, I was surprised to see the Cadillac Converj concept at the Cadillac Stand.  Ford had the new 2011 Edge along with the new 2011 Fiesta Sedan.  The updated 2011 Shelby GT500 Mustang was on the show floor with the hood open and, although the doors were locked, it was what was under the hood that was important.  Audi had the mighty R8 5.2 in a copper brown color with carbon fiber side blades.

2010 Audi R8 5.2

Some things I noted about the show: BMW, Porsche Infiniti were all absent.  While a few talked about Porsche, I’m not sure anyone noticed Infiniti was gone and the largest complaint of the show that I heard was “Where’s BMW?”  I spoke with one of the local BMW dealerships and they said that their research indicates that they do not sell enough cars by being at the auto show to warrant the expense. This absence just gave the competition such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz a chance to have BMW owners sit in their cars.  Another anomaly was Nissan.  They found it important to have the GT-R with a base price of $80,790 but not to have a 370Z, which starts at $29,990.  I was told that the reason was, “That is what they sent us…”.  Not a terribly good answer in my opinion.

Ross Testing the Man Step

I personally think many manufactures should take notes more from Ford.  They have been building terrific booths at the shows lately.  They engage the consumers and have a lot to look at, and I am not just talking product.  There are interactive games such as foosball and driving simulators not to mention the computers filled with information.

Overall the show was better then last year.  With more manufacturers in attendance and consumer attendance up, the atmosphere was a bit more upbeat.  The Minneapolis Auto Show’s tag line is “Your License to Dream” and I believe that is exactly what this show did for many consumers this year and with the products coming in the next year, I am sure next year will be even better for consumers.

2011 Hyundai Sonata

The midsize sedan segment is one of the most competitive and is the largest volume class of vehicle.  The perennial kings of this segment have for a long time been the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.  The Ford Taurus once played in this segment but then faded away.  The Hyundai Sonata has been making moves and gaining market share for years now.  Each revision getting better and more refined.  Having sold over 1.2 million Sonatas, it is safe to say Hyundai is getting the swing of things.

The U.S. version of the 2011 Sonata was shown at the LA Auto show.  The car is radically different then the current generation.  With a fluid design and crisp lines, the new Sonata looks terrific.  The cars overall shape somewhat mimics the higher end Volkswagen CC four door coupe styling.  An up swept character line runs from behind the front wheel well through the door handles, and through to the top of the taillights.  The car’s overall stance is somewhat sporty and aggressive.  The rear trunk has a slight spoiler built in.  The rear tail lights look like a mash up of a BMW 3 series and the brand new 2011 Infiniti M.

The interior of this new Sonata is going more up scale.  The hvac controls are similar to those found in new Fords and Volvos.  Do not worry about the lower roofline in the rear, rear headroom has decreased by a mere 0.4 inches.  Hyundai worked with the headliner and put the rear seat cushions slightly lower to keep the headroom.  The car is actually 130 pounds lighter then the outgoing model.  Hyundai accomplished this weight decrease with the increased use of aluminum in the frame and high strength steel for some of the body parts.

Three trim levels will be available, GLS, SE, and Limited.  The SE and Limited trim levels will have a chrome grille.  The GLS model will have a body color grille.  The new Sonata will be available at launch with a one choice 2.4 liter direct injection four cylinder.  This engine will push out 198 hp and 184 lb-ft to the front wheels through either a six speed automatic or a six speed manual.  Those who opt for the SE model, which is going to be the sportier model, will get dual exhaust along with paddle shifters, and 2 more hp along with 2 more lb-ft of torque.  Hyundai did announce a turbo four cylinder and a hybrid model are both coming but did not release details.  No V6 is being offered (for now).  Hyundai was heard saying the V6 in midsize cars will go the way of the dinosaur.  While final numbers are not in yet, Hyundai expects the Sonata to be rated at 23/35 mpg with the automatic transmission.  That is 2-4 mpg better then the competition.

So what just happened?  Well Hyundai is setting the stage to try and over take the crown from Toyota and Honda in the midsize segment.  With a base price under $20,000, the new Sonata just became the best value and fuel efficient non hybrid in the midsize class. Pretty much, when no one was looking Hyundai got serious.  Your move Toyota and Honda.

For years people have been begging Ford to bring the same quality vehicles they are selling in Europe to the U.S.  Ford has listened and is doing just what was asked.  The 2011 Fiesta is heavily based on the European version, which is a highly regarded car in Europe.  Many people worried that the U.S. version of the Fiesta would be changed drastically by becoming watered down.  Fear not, slight changes were made due to differing safety standards, but over sixty percent of the European Fiesta made it to the U.S. version.

The Fiesta will be powered by a 1.6 liter DOCH I-4 to the front wheels.  The engine is estimated to provide 119 hp and 109 ft-lbs while achieving an estimated 40 mpg.  Two transmissions will be offered.  The first being a 5 speed manual and the second, a class exclusive six speed dual clutch transmission.  Ford’s dual clutch transmission will go under the “PowerShift” moniker.  The transmission is “sealed for life” and never requires any maintenance.  When asked if the clutches could be replaced, Ford did say yes.

2011 Ford Fiesta Sedan- note the chrome 3 bar grille

2011 Ford Fiesta Light Pipes

The Fiesta will come in both sedan and five door hatch forms.  The hatch will have a grille similar to the European model while the sedan will get a chrome, three bar grille.  The three bar grille aligns with other U.S. models such as the Focus, Taurus, and Fusion.  The grille in both the sedan and the hatchback are the exact same size, theoretically making them interchangeable.  The fog lights from the European Fiesta have been replaced with light pipes such as those on the new Taurus SHO.  The Fiesta will be the most customizable Ford to date, with tons of optional dealer installable accessories that are not bug shields.  Everything from body wrap graphics to wheel packages will be optional in order to make your Fiesta unique.

The Fiesta is composed of over fifty percent high strength steel.  This makes for a lighter, safer car.  Ultra strong boron steel is used in several critical areas.  Boron steel is even stronger than high strength steel.  Fiesta will boast class leading safety with features such as standard electronic stability control, seat belt pretensioners, rear door child safety locks, and Safety Canopy (side curtain air bags essentially).  Ford made sure to mention, “Fiesta is proof that a small car can deliver big safety.”  Fiesta offers a segment-exclusive driver’s knee air bag, developed to help reduce lower leg injuries in the event of a frontal collision and to work together with other safety features.

Many class exclusive features will be available on the Fiesta.  Everything from keyless entry and push button start, to Ford’s SYNC will be offered.  Also unique within the segment will be a tilt and telescoping steering wheel.  Standard will be Ford’s innovative EasyFuel capless fuel filler.  Ford did make one major change on the interior which is somewhat disappointing.  The U.S. Fiesta will only be available with manual climate control.  I understand meeting a price point, but the European Fiesta has available automatic climate control.  Worse yet, the controls felt somewhat cheap.

The features and technology in this vehicle is definitely class leading.  I would say the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit were just put on notice.  With 15 class exclusive technologies and the estimated 40 mpg fuel economy rating, the new Fiesta will be a force to be reckoned with.

Optional Leather Interior Package