Autoblog

Going high-tech, the 4x4 way

Matt DeLorenzo — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Technology, Jeep, Land Rover, Luxury, Off-Road

Is It An Off-Road Adventure Or Just A Walk In The Park?

I remember having to get out and lock hubs and shift into neutral to engage low range.

Coming off press previews of the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover and the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee that involved some heavy-duty off-road rock climbing, I'm simply amazed at the capabilities that these vehicles possess. But even more impressive (or troubling depending on your perspective) is the relative ease with which you can operate these vehicles in seemingly impossible terrain.

Not that I'm a hardcore off-roader, but I've been in my share of 4x4's over the years and remember having to get out and lock hubs, shift into neutral to engage low range and learning that the accelerator and brake pedals can be your best friends or worst enemies in either moving along or getting hopelessly stuck.

Thanks to the wonders of electronics, advanced transfer cases and electric limited slip differentials, instead of manipulating levers or locking hubs, one merely has to punch a button or turn a knob to engage the right strategy to deal with whatever conditions encountered on the trail.

Matt DeLorenzo is the former editor-in-chief of Road & Track and has covered the auto industry for 35 years, including stints at Automotive News and AutoWeek. He has authored books including VW's New Beetle, Chrysler's Modern Concept Cars, and Corvette Dynasty.

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Going high-tech, the 4x4 way originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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These are a few of my favorite (and least favorite) things

Matt DeLorenzo — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Design/Style, Infotainment

New Cars Continue To Amaze And Dismay

The Ford Fusion's sleek shape proves midsize cars need not be boring.

Automakers face a huge challenge in creating cars that have to meet a dizzying array of emission, safety and fuel economy regulations and at the same time meet or exceed the expectations of potential customers. Usually the makers who succeed are the ones who are able to surprise and delight drivers with unique designs, technology and features.

It's a hard job since some of these great ideas can simply amaze or, if poorly done, merely annoy. As cars become more uniform in performance and function, manufacturers will look even harder for that special something to stand out from the crowd.

So here are a few things in the current crop of new cars that have surprised, delighted, and yes, annoyed.

Continue reading These are a few of my favorite (and least favorite) things

These are a few of my favorite (and least favorite) things originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The case of Heather Peters and the Honda Civic Hybrid sets an alarming trend

Paul Eisenstein — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Honda

What are you going to do, sue? Good luck.

This week's Superior Court verdict suggests there's little to no recourse for consumers.

As Autoblog readers likely have already learned, a Superior Court judge in California has tossed out a judgment issued by a small claims court earlier this year awarding nearly $10,000 to Honda Civic Hybrid owner Heather Peters. She had taken the Japanese maker to court claiming it used misleading advertising promising the sedan would get significantly better mileage than proved true in the real world.

In overruling the lower court, Superior Court Judge Dudley W. Gray II wrote that, "Federal regulations control the fuel economy ratings posted on vehicles and advertising claims related to those fuel economy ratings."

Well, um, no. That was my understanding, too, until I had the chance to pursue the matter with the EPA a couple years back. In fact, I was told, the law simply sets an upper limit. If the tests determine a new model gets 50 mpg - as with Peters' Civic Hybrid - that's the most a maker can advertise or use on the Monroney window sticker. But should a manufacturer like Honda realize through its own tests that the vehicle's real-world mileage might be noticeably less they can mark it down to whatever they think is valid.

Of course, who would do that? With mileage now one of the top things on the consumer's shopping list, who can blame a manufacturer for wanting to put the prettiest lipstick on a gas hog. And this week's Superior Court verdict suggests there's little to no recourse for consumers who only discover that fact after they've given it a big smooch.

Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading The case of Heather Peters and the Honda Civic Hybrid sets an alarming trend

The case of Heather Peters and the Honda Civic Hybrid sets an alarming trend originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDITORIAL: Attention Wall Street Journal - Ford does not use Toyota's hybrid system!

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Green

2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

In a recent op-ed piece published in The Wall Street Journal, Alan Reynolds of the Cato Institute starts by making a few decent points about fuel taxation and fuel economy rules. Unfortunately, he undermines himself with some blatant errors and misinformation. In discussing how Detroit automakers will deal with new fuel efficiency requirements, he makes the all-too-common mistake of referring to Ford's hybrid system as licensed from Toyota ("Similarly, Ford has the Toyota-licensed hybrid Fusion and will soon produce the European Ford Fiesta in Mexico").

The reality is that Ford independently developed its own hybrid system at the same time Toyota was masterminding its own. The basic architecture of both systems is the same and both are based on the concepts developed and patented by TRW engineers in the late 1960s. When Ford introduced the Escape Hybrid, Toyota went after the Blue Oval for infringing on its patents. Ford had patents of its own on the technology that Toyota was using. Eventually, the two companies reached a cross-licensing agreement that gives both companies the right to build their own systems. Such cross-licensing agreements are common in these kinds of cases, but Ford did not use the Toyota hybrid system. The only other company that uses Toyota's system is Nissan for its Altima hybrid, and they actually buy hardware from Toyota. We continue deconstructing Reynolds' arguments after the jump

Gallery: Review: 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid

[Source: Wall Street Journal]
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading EDITORIAL: Attention Wall Street Journal - Ford does not use Toyota's hybrid system!

EDITORIAL: Attention Wall Street Journal - Ford does not use Toyota's hybrid system! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM responds to Boston Globe critique

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 07:10:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., GM

Earlier this month, an editorial writer for the Boston Globe wrote a piece entitled the 'Folly of automakers' in which he lambastes Detroit's big-two-point-five, and specifically GM, for producing too many large SUVs and generally ignoring the trend towards smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

GM, not content with being denigrated in public, wrote a retort, which was not published in the Boston Globe, due to their policy of not printing op-ed responses. However, the Miami Herald, who also published Derrick Jackson's column on the automakers, did allow a portion of GM's response to be published in their 'letters to the editor' section.

As is often the case, the General wanted their side of the argument voiced in its entirety, and so, GM's Fast Lane Blog enters from stage left.

General Motors' veep of Global Communications, Steven Harris, took Jackson's column to task, pointing out that reading four columns about the auto industry does not an analyst make and going so far as to list off all of GM's accomplishments towards reducing fuel consumption and America's reliance on foreign oil. Most of his points are well made, although their claim of making more 30-MPG vehicles than any other manufacturer can be debated, as real world experience has shown that the EPA's estimates are "optimistic."

Our interest is mainly centered on the argument and how each party makes their case. Your thoughts, as always, are welcomed.

[Source: Boston Globe, GM Fast Lane Blog]

GM responds to Boston Globe critique originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Sep 2006 07:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flint dissects GM and Nissan/Renault joining

Joel Arellano — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 09:18:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., GM, Nissan

With Kerkorian's proposal of a General Motors and Nissan/Renault merger still sending shockwaves throughout the auto-sphere, auto curmudgeon Jerry Flint steps up to the podium to give his thoughts on 'Global Motors'.

Flint immediately sees a conflict between the automakers over who would be top dog. He sees no 'merger of equals' here any more than the DaimlerChrysler union was and, worse for GM, the world would not expect Ghosn to take a back seat. GM would be run by Ghosn and Nissan/Renault, not Detroit.

He also doesn't see the money savings in the merger, which analysts state is the long-term goal. Which manufacturing plants, for example, would be closed? In France? Detroit? Germany? And how would the brands be dealt with? Rebadge Tennessee-built Nissans as Chevys? Close the French design staff and have GM's designers in Germany develop new Opels? Even before these questions are answered, the involved automakers would need to deal with GM's union contracts and legacy costs that make the original Nissan/Renault merger look like a cakewalk.

Flint concludes his thoughts on Toyota Motor Co., which many merger advocates point to support their idea. The world's second largest automaker continues its relentless march towards Number One and no automaker has come close to stopping it, especially not any domestic ones. Would a Nissan/Renault/GM company be able to even slow down the Japanese juggernaut? Flint points out that it took years for Nissan/Renault and DaimlerChrysler to begin profiting from their mergers, and there are carcasses aplenty of other former mergers (e.g., GM/Fiat; Studebaker/Packard, etc.) littering the ground of history. By the time Global Motors would resolve its issues, Toyota could be unassailable.

Your thoughts on Flint's thoughts?

Related:
Kerkorian: Merge GM with Nissan/Renault?
Toyota buys GM and other improbables
General Motors, more cuts now, says Kerkorian's advisor
Armchair management: what would you do to solve GM's problems?

[Source: Forbes]

Flint dissects GM and Nissan/Renault joining originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jul 2006 09:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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