Saturday Road Test – VW e-Golf SEL – “Dad, what’s a gas station?”

 

2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium

Drive Right by That Gas Station

By Ron Amadon

DAMASCUS, MD. – No sooner had VW announced an electrification initiative that is “second to none” promising more than 30 electric new vehicles by 2025 than an e-Golf appeared in the road test driveway.

Volks expects “pure electric” automobiles will eventually account for about 25 percent of its total sales volume. Diesels, well, that’s another matter.

For 2016 VW introduced a lower priced e-Golf, the SE. No navi, parking sensors or auto dimming rear mirror. The center dash info screen is 6.5 inches compared to the 8 touchscreen on the upscale SEL model. But it does offer a new infotainment system that gets along nicely with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and VW MirrorLink smartphone connectivity. At the Consumer Electronics Show, VW displayed an e-Golf with a 9.2 inch screen.

The test car was a top-of-line SEL Premium. VW advertises a range of 83 miles while the Kia Soul electric goes 93 miles and the Nissan Leaf 84 miles. The test car came in an attractive Pacific Blue, an appropriate color since the e-Golf is, for now, sold only in in select cities on the two coasts and Washington, D.C.

Standard was a 7.2-kw charger that take about four hours to achieve full battery charge using a 240 volt Level 2 charging source. You will want to use one since recharging using standard household current can take 20 hours if the battery is just about out of juice. It is also worth a mention that charging stations are starting to sprout up in many locations in the greater Washington, D.C. area.

With a Level 3 DC fast charge, the battery will reach an 80 percent charge in about a half hour. Punch up the Eco or Eco+ modes and you can go further at the sacrifice of some acceleration.

One nice touch worth talking about. Designers put the batteries under the floor, so they do not eat up luggage and cargo capacity. In fact, it is identical to the non-electric Golf, or a robust 52.7 cubic feet with the back seats folded.

Drive wise, VW has certainly achieved its goal of coming out with an electric Golf that drives like any other Golf, and that is a good thing. Except, of course when you start up and only a light tells you you’re good to go and not the engine. For there is no engine, of course.

There is enough power here to keep up with traffic, handling is excellent, and virtually everything inside is the same with the exception of the gauge where the tach is normally housed. Instead, this one tells the driver how much power he or she is using and the how effective the regenerative braking is.

A 115-hp electric motor and 199 lb-ft of torque makes your trip to work a gas station free event, except for a stop for the morning fog lifter.

But with predictions that low gas prices will be around a while, plus the ever present “range anxiety,” sales of all electric cars have yet to take off.

The Electric Drive Transportation Institute puts sales at about 3 percent of all cars so far this year. Even seasoned “car guys” that I have talked to say they keep a close eye on how many miles can be driven before the juice is juiced as it were. Surveys show that many electric car owners also own something else for longer weekend trips.

Yet I still believe that as driving range continues to increase with new technology and better batteries, we will see more and more electric cars on the road. For instance, the upcoming Chevrolet Bolt is said by its maker to offer a 200 mile driving range.

There is a great deal of interest in electric cars. An older gent who drives a big Ram pickup, asked, “What was that little car you had the other day?” Told it was an all-electric hatch, he wanted to know all about it.

Price wise, frugal shoppers might want to check out the SE model that starts at $29,815. The SEL Premium carries a base of $35,595. Add in $820 for transportation and you are looking at what, for some, might be a hefty $36,415. That is without any tax credits it should be pointed out.

The SEL Premium will get you the bigger infotainment screen, LED headlamps, navi, among other upgrades from the SE.

If you have a relatively short commute and your company has a charger of two, the electric Golf makes for a dandy commuter car that will only get better over time.

 

Auto News for July 29 – Mercedes Pulls Ad – Elvis in a BMW?

 

Consumer Reports has asked the Federal Trade Commission to take a look at a Mercedes ad talking about the automated driving features of its new E Class sedan. CR and other consumer groups maintained the ad was misleading in its depiction of driver-assist systems, something Mercedes has denied. But Automotive News quotes a company spokesman as saying the ad has now been pulled from circulation.

After its quarterly earnings were announced, Ford shares closed down 8 percent yesterday after it indicated it expects a slowdown in sales. And that heated the debate over whether the bubble that produced month after month of record sales for most automakers has burst. Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jones told CNBC’s “Power Lunch” he thinks we are in the 11^th inning of a 14 inning ballgame with auto makers having to beef up incentives to get customers into their showrooms. Auto Trader believes July sales will be down 2 percent.

Kelley Blue Book predicts July sales will fall 1 percent following a weaker than anticipated sales month in June. It notes that first half sales rose to 8.6 million units, which was the highest first half volume since 2001. “The new-car market currently appears to be reaching its peak in terms of sales, and now there is a better chance that 2016 won’t be another record year, as year-over-year comparisons for the remainder of 2016 will be tough,” said Tim Fleming, analyst for Kelley Blue Book.  “After a record new-car sales total in the United States in 2015, Kelley Blue Book’s full-year forecast for 2016 now calls for sales in the range of 17.4 million to 17.8 million, which would range anywhere from a slight year-over-year decline to a 2 percent increase.”

We will know more next week when the industry reports on July sales.

But someone is doing well. AutoNation, the country’s largest auto retailer, has reported record second quarter net income.

The first known national ad promoting a car appeared at the end of July 1898 in the Scientific American magazine. It was for the now forgotten Winton Motor Carriage with the headline “dispense with a horse.” Americans did just that, and by 1906, 57 car companies spent over a half-million dollars advertising in 12 national magazines. Today, joining auto manufacturers in advertising the latest models are many of the country’s more than 21,000 new car dealers, according to the Census Bureau.

 

It was March of 1958 when Elvis Presley first fell in love. The object of his affection, to the dismay of many young ladies, was a 1957 BMW 507 roadster. Now in the care of BMW Group Classic, the car has received a complete restoration over the course of the past two years. The restored BMW 507 “Elvis Presley” roadster is making its public debut at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California on Sunday, on August 21. Presley acquired the car shortly after his Army service.

 

Auto News for July 28 – More Proof That Sales Are Slowing

Weaker than expected sales in the U.S. and China means Ford will disappoint some on Wall St. with its second quarter earnings. The automaker announced this morning that second quarter profit came in weaker than expected and earnings per share came in at 49 cents when the markets were expecting 60 cents per share. Net income was off 9 percent. “We remain committed to delivering another full year of strong profitability, even as we addressed some new risks and market challenges around the world,” said Mark Field, President and CEO. Ford officials indicated the strong sales of the past are starting to slow. Automakers are expected to increase incentive spending in the months ahead as sales slow and that may affect the old bottom line.

NPR’s popular “Car Talk” is coming to an end – sort of. NPR announced that it will stop offering reruns of the show after September 30, 2017. The decision came, NPR said, after consultation with key station personnel, programmers, researchers, listeners and the show’s own staff. “We are in a moment of transition for weekend programming across the public radio system. This coming year, one of the top priorities of the programming team at NPR will be to focus on creating new weekend programming to extend value of “Only A Game”, “Weekend Edition”, “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!”, and “Ask Me Another” – all foundational to a strong weekend schedule,” said Anya Grundamann, Vice President of Programming at NPR. Listeners will be able to hear weekly podcasts of the show after September 30, 2017, and individual stations will have the option of continued broadcast of the show that had its start some 30 years ago. New episodes ended back in 2012 with the retirement of hosts Tom and Ray Magliozzi. Tom Magliozzi died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease in 2014.

Consumers who buy Porsches are the most satisfied new car owners, according to the annual J. D. Power APEAL survey. Porsche ranks highest overall in APEAL for a 12th consecutive year, with a score of 877 index points. BMW ranks second with 859, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz rank third in a tie at 852, and Land Rover, Lexus and Lincoln rank fifth in a tie at 843. Volkswagen (809) ranks highest among non-premium brands, followed by MINI (808), Kia (807), Ford (803), Ram (803) and GMC (802). General Motors received six segment-level awards, followed by Hyundai Motor Company with five and BMW AG and Volkswagen AG with four each. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Toyota Motor Corporation each have two models that rank highest in their respective segments. Factory installed navigation systems remain a challenge for vehicle owners, Power said. Engine/transmission is the only category to decline (-1 point) this year, linked to  transmission smoothness when shifting, as penetration of 8- and 9-speed automatic transmissions increases.      Vehicles equipped with blind spot monitoring and low speed collision avoidance had overall higher scores than those without those features.

Many in this country may not know that Mercedes parent company produces heavy duty trucks in Europe. And now Daimler has concluded that batteries will improve to the extent that it will be practical to produce a heavy duty electric powered truck from the start of the next decade. It expects batteries will be about 250 percent more powerful by that time, making the endeavor more practical

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auto News for July 27 FCA Changes Sales Calculations – Reports Earnings

Fiat Chrysler said its streak of 75 consecutive monthly sales increases actually ended nearly three years ago, and announced it is changing the way it calculates those sales. The automaker said it would not have to restate any earnings. Among other changes would be new ways to account for the sale of a vehicle one month, and the dealer having to take it back the following month, when, for instance, a customer could not obtain financing. The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission are looking into the reporting practices that have been challenged by some dealers. FCA has said the dealer actions are without merit. It also said its research indicated that “competitors have used broadly similar approaches in compiling month sales data.”

Fiat Chrysler reported its second quarter operating profit, before interest and taxes rose 14 per cent and earnings per share topped Wall Street expectations. Bloomberg reported that earnings were hurt by the recall of vehicles with the defective Takata airbags. It also said FCA’s full year forecast indicated it expects a slowdown in the final six months of 2016 due to slow demand for its small and mid-sized sedans. Jeep demand is expected to remain strong, along with the company’s Ram pickups. It is taking steps to increase Jeep production, and will invest nearly $1.5 billion in its Sterling Heights, Michigan plant to build the next generation of Ram pickups.

Volkswagen has won preliminary approval from a federal judge in California for its proposed settlement with regulators and owners of vehicles with the 2.0-liter diesel engine. Final approval may come in mid-October. The settlement covers 475,000 owners who would be able to choose whether to have their cars fixed so they would meet pollution standards or agree to a buyback. USA Today noted that VW has yet to win approval from the EPA and the California Air Resources Board for its plan to fix the vehicles.

Porsche announced it will skip the 2017 Detroit auto show to concentrate on what it considers more important markets for its products – the shows in Los Angeles and New York.

Eighty two percent of those surveyed by KPMG said they would be wary or never buy from an automaker if their car had been hacked. This as automakers continue to make heavy investments in autonomous and connected car technology. “Unlike most consumer products, a vehicle breach can be life-threatening, especially if the vehicle is driving at highway speeds and a hacker gains control of the car. That is a very scary, but possible scenario, and it’s easy to see why consumers are so sensitive about cyber security as it relates to their cars,” said Gary Silberg, KPMG’s Automotive Sector Leader. He said auto companies need to take action to make cyber security a strategic imperative to ensure they are doing everything possible to protect the drivers of their vehicles.

 

Auto News for July 26 – Recalls But No Answer

It is one thing for an automaker to announce a recall, but it is something else to get owners to bring their vehicles in for repair. J.D. Power said about 40 percent of vehicles recalled in 2013 through 2015 have not been brought back to dealers for repairs. And that is a lot of vehicles, some 45 million, Power said. Owners of newer vehicles are more likely to have recall work done compared to those with older cars and trucks. The groups with the highest recall completion rates are powertrain (71%), electrical (62%) and hydraulic brakes (66%). Airbags and suspension issues have the lowest completion rates at 47% and 48% respectively.

The Kia Soul and the Mazda3 are among best cars for teenage drivers, according to a study from U.S. News & World Report. It said the vehicles have advanced safety features, new technologies for novice drivers, top crash test scores and excellent long-term value. Also making the list were the Chevrolet Sonic, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Nissan Murano.

Audi will introduce a new A4 allroad this fall with more power and features. The 2.0-liter turbo four remains the one and only engine offered but it picks up 32 horsepower for a total of 252 @ 5,000–6,000 rpm with 273 lb-ft of torque at 1,600-4,500 rpm. It will be married to a seven speed S tronic dual clutch automatic with paddle shifts. There is also a new Quattro all-wheel drive system that varies torque distribution front to rear and 1.3 inches of increased ground clearance over the A4 sedan. Drivers will be able to select five operating modes, comfort, auto, dynamic, individual, and offroad. Audi cited a 0-60 run of 5.9 seconds. Inside there is a 12.3 inch display, full color head up display, and an available 19 speaker, 755 watt Bang & Olufsen sound system that creates a “life-like” musical experience, Audi said. The one and only Audi wagon to be offered here will start at $44,000 on up to $52,400 for the top of the line Prestige model.

Porsche announced it will hire more than 1,400 workers in and around its Stuttgart, Germany facility to produce its first all-electric sports car. Seen as a direct challenge to Tesla, the sports car may debut in 2019.

Auto News for July 25

Just five more months of shopping days until Christmas folks!

 

As a follow up to the Saturday road test allow me to introduce the Infiniti QX30. It is said to bridge the gap between “premium compact rivals and larger crossover models” and will be available in six trim levels. A 2.0 liter turbo four will be the standard engine with 208 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It was designed by Mercedes parent, Daimler, and is produced in Germany while the crossover will be produced in Sunderland, U.K. The 2.0 will be linked to a 7-speed dual clutch automatic. There was no mention of another power plant. It is 13 inches shorter than the QX50 or exactly the same length as the Volks Tiguan. Infiniti said prices would start at under $30,000 for a base model. It will appear in showrooms shortly.

Penske Automotive said 13 of its dealerships have been named as among the Best 100 to work for by Automotive News. It is the fifth consecutive year that some of the Penske dealerships have been honored.

Like black cars? So do lots of owners in the U.K. according to a new survey. It was favored by those driving “Executive” cars and convertibles. Philip Nothard , retail specialist at cap hpi commented: “Black is without doubt the new white. White had become the color of choice over the past few years but black seems to be back with a vengeance. Black represents a safe choice for motorists as, along with silver and grey, these so called safe colors consistently maintain their value when sold as used.”

You probably would not link the WWF with Toyota. But they have formed a partnership to promote biodiversity conservation, raise environmental awareness and accelerate the move toward a “zero carbon society.”

Gas prices continue to tumble, down 16 cents a gallon from last month’s average of $2.315 and off a rather large 57 cents from last year’s average, according to Gas Buddy. The nationwide average is now $2.15 a gallon, but many places are reporting prices of under $2, down to as low as $1.89 a gallon for unleaded regular.

 

 

 

 

Saturday Road Test – Infiniti QX50

 

Infiniti QX50

A Welcome Update

By Ron Amadon

DAMASCUS, MD. – While checking the specs on Infiniti’s smooth riding QX50 I snickered when I found that it has All-Wheel Drive with “Snow Mode.”

Why this stands out is that the National Weather Service said we are entering into a prolonged period of perhaps record setting heat and humidity that will feel like 100 to 105 degrees. Actual air temperatures will be well into the 90’s.

Why this is relevant is that six months ago to the day, those same forecasters were telling us to prepare for a major blizzard. They were right. It dumped more than 30 inches of the white stuff on the road test driveway.

While very few vehicles will take you through just shy of three feet of snow, the QX50 will make that summer vacation trip to the lake, ocean, or your new best friend’s swimming pool a very relaxed experience.

Even more so for those riding in the second row. Infiniti extended the wheelbase of the QX by three inches, and that was enough to add a welcome 4 inches to rear seat knee and legroom.

Propulsion came from a 3.7-liter V6 with 325hp @ 7,000 rpm and 267 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm matched to a 7 speed automatic with manual shift mode and Downshift Rev Matching. They worked in harmony not seen at many political conventions. Premium gas is recommended with an EPA estimate of 20 mpg overall, just 17 in the city and 24 on the highway.

Interstate merging was a breeze and the six quiets down nicely once cruising speed has been achieved and you should reach a mile-a-minute in less than six seconds. Then it is time to enjoy the long list of features on this crossover.

Like an 8-way adjustable powered driver’s seat with 2-way powered lumbar support that was very welcome on longer drives. This feature should be on more vehicles.

Sounds you say? Great ones came from the Bose 11-speaker audio system that will still play your CD’s, DVD’s, and has MP3 playback capability.

Parking in tight quarters was made easier by the Around View Monitor with front and rear Sonar Systems. Sales to Navy officers should boom.

There was a long list of standard equipment, columns of them in fact, along with $8,090 worth of options. That included the expected safety equipment in a Technology Package while a Deluxe Touring Package brought forth, among other items, 19-inch wheels up from 18, automatic leveling headlights, power up-folding second row seats and even a coat hanger back of the driver’s seat head rest.

Maple wood accents added a touch of luxury to the interior, but some passengers did not believe that was actual wood. Fit and finish were in line with the QX’s price. XM Navi with traffic and weather information appeared on a smallish 7-inch touch screen.

While there was little feedback through the leather wrapped steering wheel, suspension settings come out on the sporty side of the ledger, no small thing in a vehicle with a hefty curb weight of 4,020. Road imperfections were nicely handled and only gully wompers were noticeable inside.

Size wise, at 188 inches long, the Infiniti is two inches longer than the new Jaguar F-Pace, and four inches longer than the Porsche Mcan.

With shipping added on, the QX carried an MSRP of $44,935.

I applaud Infiniti for doing such a great job updating what in base form is an older design. Exterior design wise it fits into kind of a funky market where observers will have a hard time categorizing it as either a crossover, a smaller Sport Utility or almost a (here’s that nasty term again) wagon!

The point is that in a world where many crossovers and utes look a lot alike, the QX stands out a something different. And in a nice way.

 

 

 

 

Auto News for July 22 – A Record Number of Breakdowns!

AAA said it came to the aid of 32 million drivers last year, and that is a record number with more battery, flat fire and key problems than ever before. Vehicles fewer than five years old in particular experienced a high proportion of tire and key related issues than older vehicles. AAA said that suggests that the trend toward eliminating the spare tire and moving to electronic keyless ignitions may have “unintended consequences.”

“Sleek, low profile tires are highly susceptible to damage, electronic keyless ignitions can zap battery life and despite advanced warning systems, more than half a million drivers ran out of gas last year,” said Cliff Ruud, managing director of AAA Automotive Solutions.

The auto club said that tire inflator kits can only remedy some flat tire situations. And despite low fuel warning alerts and range estimations, a higher proportion of drivers are using these systems to push the limits between fuel fill ups.

Don’t ask me why, but drivers are most likely to request assistance on Mondays and least likely to request assistance on Sundays. Also AAA said more than four million drivers were locked out their vehicles last year.

One more AAA note. It said gas prices have hit their lowest July level in a dozen years even during the peak summer travel season. Prices have dropped in 39 out of the last 40 days the auto club said yesterday. Mainly, Saudi Arabia has held down prices to keep their share of world markets.

GM said it would cost up to $550 million if has to fix Takata airbag inflators in up to 4.3 million pickups and Sport Utility Vehicles. It is hoping to convince regulators that the air bags are safe. The estimate came in a report to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

GM will recall some 290,000 Chevrolet Impalas because installed airbags may not recognize that some seats actually have people in them. Named in the recall are model years 2009-2010. It said damage to an air bag fuse could result in a loss of all air bags and seat belt pretensions, according to the Detroit News.

Saab may not have made it but Volvo wants us to know it is doing rather well. Volvo reported a strong first half with operating income more than tripling. First half sales rose 10.5 per cent internationally.

And McLaren is celebrating its fifth anniversary with record sales of 1,654 cars in 2015, a number that is expected to double this year. It rang up a third consecutive year of profitability. All good news for a company that produces some first class GT cars that are just incredibly fun to drive.

(Yes, I like them. I admit it.)

 

 

Auto News for July 21 – Catch a Tesla bus? GM’s great quarter

Elon Musk wants Tesla to branch out into heavy duty trucks and buses as part of his long term “master plan” for the company that also includes solar energy and ride-sharing. He said plans are already in the works for trucks and buses with more to be revealed next year. And he is still backing the merger with solar panel installer, Solar City. But some analysts are skeptical, noting that Tesla has been not been meeting production targets adding that Musk gave no indication when the company might start turning a profit.

“This was an outstanding quarter for GM,” said Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “Our results were generated by strong retail sales in the U.S., record sales in China and a continued emphasis on improving the performance of our operations worldwide. We’ll continue to focus on driving profitable growth and leveraging our technical expertise to lead in the future of personal mobility.” Here are some of the key results. Earnings in the second quarter came to a record $2.87 billion while earnings per share topped analyst’s expectations at $1.81. Forecasters were looking at $1.52. GM raised its full year earnings per share prediction but said Britain’s decision to leave the European Union could cost GM $400 million and leaves in doubt the automaker’s goal of breaking even in Europe this year. GM was aided by strong sales here at home and in China and a recovering European market.

Also reporting quarterly results was Daimler, the parent of Mercedes Benz. Thanks to demand for its trucks and buses, the company reported a higher second quarter operating profit. A key barometer, earnings before interest and taxes, topped analyst’s expectation, something that should please shareholders. The company is standing by its previous forecast that full year earnings will top those of last year.

Elsewhere:

The California Highway Patrol has ordered more than 580 Dodge Charger Pursuit police cars to replace aging vehicles in its fleet. The new cruisers will be delivered over the next two years. It is interesting to note that the majority of the cars will be delivered with the 3.6-liter V-6 engine. It did order a small number of cars with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8.

 

 

Auto News for July 20 – A Fly Fishing Bentayga

Here’s an option for your new Bentley Bentayga that you probably never thought about. It is a complete fly fishing outfit featuring four rods stored in special tubes trimmed in Saddle leather with linen cross-stitching and located on the underside of the parcel shelf. A pair of nets in matching leather bags are stored in a carpet-trimmed hard pocket built into the side of the boot. At the heart of the Bentayga Fly Fishing by Mulliner are three individual, Saddle-leather-trimmed units: a master tackle station; a refreshment case; and waterproof wader-stowage trunk. The interior of the refreshment case is trimmed in linen leather, and contains up to three metal flasks and a set of Mulliner fine-china tableware, as well as a separate food storage compartment. With a quilted leather finish on top, it can also be removed entirely and used as additional seating. Price? It would be tacky to ask.

A tiny British all-electric car is claiming a new quarter mile record run of just 9.86 seconds, easily topping the old mark for that class of 10.25 seconds. Backers say the city car, now called the “Flux Capacitor,” packs the equivalent of 800 horsepower and can hit 113 mph in just 6 seconds. The car was originally built as an Enfield 8000, a brand I had never heard of, and sported just 8 horsepower. Now it burns rubber has you can see in the picture.

In Baltimore last night, a man playing Pokemon Go while driving his van crashed into another vehicle. And not just any vehicle, but a parked police car. Video from the scene shows the van driver emerging from his vehicle saying, “That’s what I get for playing this dumb a – – game.” Fortunately, there were no injuries and the officer was out of his cruiser at the time of the accident. Charges are pending against the van driver.

Okay, first of all you would never expect an automaker to announce a research agreement with a tequila maker. But that what Ford did. It will team with Jose Cuervo to determine if a waste product in the making of tequila can be used to produce bioplastics made from biomass as opposed to petroleum. The material may be used in vehicle interior and exterior components such as wiring harnesses or storage bins for example.

Three states, New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts have filed suit against Volkswagen over the diesel emissions scandal. They allege that top officials at the automaker were aware of the emissions cheating devices and that VW started working on them as far back as 1999. They said substantial penalties must be imposed on the Volkswagen companies, above and beyond the amount they have to pay to make American consumers whole. VW recently agreed to a $14.7 billion settlement with regulators and owners here in the U.S.

VW said it was regrettable that some states have decided to sue for environmental claims now, calling those claims “nothing new” and matters that the company has been addressing with federal and state authorities.