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Every Body Needs A Seat Belt

A Newspaper-Delivered Consumer Automotive Publication

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DECISIVE

The Best Source for Cultural and Consumer automotive News

Winter 2012

Urban Automobiles of the Year! >

Hyundai Veloster Range Rover Evoque > Toyota Prius Plug-in

v

We Drive > Buick Verano > Honda Civic > Honda CR-V > Lexus GS 350 F Sport

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速

E v E N t h E w o o d G o ES aG a i N St

the grain.

2012 CADILLAC CTS SPORT SEDAN PREMIUM COLLECTION. Going your own way has always been a rewarding journey, but perhaps never this breathtaking. Not content to use the expected wood found in most luxury cars , we sought out an exotic Sapele wood known for crafting fine guitars. No wonder the interior stirs so many emotions. Each new standard leads to another.

See how it all connects at cadillac.com/newstandards

©2011 General Motors. All rights reserved. Cadillac® CTS®

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Next gear searches the information ®

superhighway — with your voice.

The Best Source for Cultural and Consumer automotive News

Volume 3 | Issue 4 | winter 2012

Next gear plays your local radio

On the Cover: 2012 Urban Automobiles Of The Year

features:

station 1000 miles away from home.

06 Hyundai Veloster

The 2012 Urban Car of The Year represents a significant departure from the auto industry’s normal way of doing things—in more ways than one. Take a closer look at Hyundai’s ‘reverse halo car”.

Next gear allows you to listen to your

favorite musician’s anthology without

08 Toyota Prius Plug-in

The 800-pound gorilla in any discussion of hybrid automobiles, the Toyota Prius just got even better. Now it can be recharged from any electrical outlet. But that’s just one of the reasons it was voted Urban Green Vehicle of The Year.

The newest Range Rover gloriously epitomizes style. That it is also highly fuel efficient, a handy size for driving around town, and still as capable as its name suggests it ought to be

departments: 13 14

Index to Advertisers Cover II: Cadillac – Cadillac.com

Next gear is …

13: Long Term Review - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta 14: Long Term Review - 2011 Volvo S60

Pages 1 – 3: Toyota – Toyota.com Page 12: Pennzoil – Pennzoil.com

© 2011 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

10

Range Rover Evoque

stopping for gas.

‌ staying ahead of everything else on the road.

Introducing the completely redesigned 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid.

A 200hp, 43 MPG 1 rated, hybrid mobile app.2 Loaded with the available Toyota Entune™ 2 multimedia system, offering you in-car apps like iHeart Radio, Pandora and voice-activated Bing Search. Add an estimated 627 miles1,3 between fill-ups and it’s everything you love, nothing you expect.

Prototype shown. Production model may vary. (1) 2012 EPA ratings for Camry LE Hybrid 43 city / 39 highway. Actual mileage will vary. (2) Be sure to obey traffic regulations and maintain awareness of road and traffic conditions. Select Entune™ apps use a large amount of data and you are responsible for all data charges. Not all apps and data services are available at launch. See Toyota.com/entune for more info. (3) Estimate based on EPA city rating of 43mpg and 17 gallons of gas. Topography, road and car conditions not considered.

©2011 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

toyota.com

OnGadgets FirstLooks

first first first firstfir 2012 Buick Verano

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas

Judging the 2012 Buick Verano is a tricky proposition. Because of its tidy size, the temptation to gauge the newest small Buick against a performance yardstick is strong. However, given the marque’s longstanding penchant for quietness and luxury, one would be remiss in evaluating the Verano strictly in terms of speed and handling.

Think quiet, comfortable, nicely equipped, and in a size that should make it easy to live with in the city. Then stir in handsome, plus comfortable on the road. Evaluated against those parameters, the new Buick Verano excels.

Its engine is a 180-horsepower, direct-injected, 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder capable of generating 171 ft.-lbs. of torque. With it, the 2012 Buick Verano is satisfying off the line—if not exactly quick. The Buick’s six-speed automatic transmission is geared to help this, while also enabling the front-driver to return 22 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway.

Bluetooth phone and audio streaming are standard, as are an auxiliary input for an iPod, satellite radio, dual zone climate control, and keyless ignition. Internet enabled apps are ferried by Buick’s IntelliLink system, which also responds to voice commands.

2012 Buick Verano pricing starts at $23,470 (including destination charges).

What if we told you there is an energy source available to power your car both cheaper than gasoline and cleaner burning?

Well, it’s absolutely true.

Powered by the cleanest burning internal combustion engine ever certified by the EPA, the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas uses the same basic 1.8-liter inline four cylinder engine found in gasoline-powered Civic models — modified to cope with the higher temperatures and increased output of Natural Gas. Standard features include air conditioning, power accessories, cruise control, and a four-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system capable of streaming music wirelessly from portable devices via Bluetooth or a wired USB connection. To ease concerns about refueling, the optional Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System hosts a database of publicly accessible Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refueling stations across the United States.

Honda sold the first natural gas burning Civic back in 1998. To date, the company is the only mainstream manufacturer mass-producing a natural gas automobile. With the introduction of the all-new 2012 Honda Civic, the manufacturer decided to go all-out to make the Natural Gas Civic model a viable player in the green car marketplace.

The 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas starts at $26,905 with destination charges.

4 | decisive auto | www.decisivemagazine.com

irst firstlooks 2012 Honda CR-V

2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport

A leader in its segment, the CR-V set the standard among compact crossover utility vehicles. When it came time to redesign Honda’s best selling SUV, the company turned to its owners for guidance. They said they wanted more value, fuel economy, and technology so Honda responded with the all-new 2012 model.

Termed the “super CR-V,” the new model does include impressive standard features like a rear back-up camera, a must for any SUV, and a feature usually paired with a navigation system, making it costprohibitive.

The fourth generation offers an all-new Real Time All-Wheel Drive system, a change possibly driven by the fact that 65 percent of CR-Vs are purchased with the technology, according to executives at the launch in San Diego, California.

Powered by a 185 horsepower, 2.4-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine, with 163 lbs–ft. of torque, power is soft but the CR-V makes up for it with an estimated city/highway fuel economy of 23/31 mpg.

To enhance fuel economy, all CR-Vs include the Eco Assist feature with an intuitive color visual cue. The backlit instrument cluster fades from green to blue depending on the driver’s energy saving, or wasting, driving.

For convenience, a 60/40 split, fold down rear seat is now standard, as is Bluetooth phone interface. The CR-V maintains its best-in-class cargo room and the rear window has been enlarged for better visibility.

Pricing on the base 2012 LX model starts at $23,105.

Accelerating briskly on the test track in the 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport, the mellifluous resonance of its 306-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 fills the cabin with an intoxicatingly pleasing aria.

Flicking the steering wheel to avoid the first obstacle, you’re rewarded with a significantly greater degree of directional change than you anticipated. In other words, you moved the wheel a little — aided by the optional Dynamic Rear Steering system — the car shifted a lot.

Out on the street, serenely surrounded by cars with considerably less performance potential, the Lexus blends seamlessly. Plush leather adorns the instrument panel, steering wheel, shift lever and seats. While the crispness and clarity of the optional 835-watt, 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system is impeccable.

In the center of the dash, the 12.3-inch touch screen multi information display’s user interface is outstandingly intuitive and houses the readouts for the Lexus Enform suite of in-car apps. With this system, the GS becomes a venue in the cloud computing system, with access to services like Bing, Facebook, Pandora, Yelp, and Open Table.

The 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport serves up high style, high performance and high tech very generously.

Pricing has yet to be announced.

winter 2012 | www.decisivemagazine.com | 5

OnGadgets RoadTest

Hyundai Veloster Written by Lyndon Conrad Bell

2012 Urban Car of The Year

I

n what has to be one of the most remarkable turnarounds in automotive history,

Hyundai has virtually reinvented itself. Back in 1985, Hyundai’s first car in the U.S., the Excel, attracted a lot of attention with its sub-$5000 base price and handsome Italian styling. Buyers responded enthusiastically, buying nearly 170,000 copies of the car in its first year on the market.

Unfortunately, the one aspect of its name the Hyundai Excel lived up to was its ability to excel at being unreliable.

Perseverance is key to achieving success, and persevere Hyundai has.

Over time, the company mastered reliability and quality, while still managing to keep its cars affordable. From its newly realized position of strength, Hyundai is now going out on a limb, and taking a few chances.

And so, we arrive at Hyundai’s new Veloster.

Without question, the single most intriguing aspect of the Hyundai Veloster is its styling. The car simply looks like nothing else out there — and in a good way. Those exaggerated wheel arches, the body-colored door handles and rear-view mirrors, the way the roof looks like a motorcycle helmet, the hunkered down profile; the Veloster is, quite literally, an attractive car. People stop, stare and openly ask questions about it.

The motorcycle theme is carried over to the interior of the car too. The center stack is shaped to look like the gas tank on a sport bike, with the

start/stop button at the bottom set up to resemble the gas cap. The grab handles on the doors mimic the skeletal structure of a sport bike’s frame and, if you look carefully at the way the dash flows, you’ll see the surrounds for the door handles mimic handle bar grips.

The seven-inch monitor in the center stack hosts Pandora Internet radio, and Gracenote is there to help manage your music collection. The monitor will also display the output of a video game console — which can be powered by the 115-volt power outlet in the Veloster. Additionally, Bluetooth is standard equipment and includes voice recognition technology. Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system is also standard equipment, providing text messaging, turn-by-turn navigation, and point of interest searches, all by voice.

Its Geo Fence feature enables the owner to establish boundaries within which the car can travel. If the Veloster is taken outside of the boundary area, the owner of the Hyundai gets a text message. Blue Link will also

6 | decisive auto | www.decisivemagazine.com

help recover the vehicle if it is ever stolen.

And yes, if you lock yourself out, Blue Link can help you get back in.

The Veloster’s name is a combination of the words “Velocity” and “Roadster”. Frankly though, the car is neither a roadster, nor is its capability for velocity exceptional. Still, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster is an absolutely wonderful car around town. It’s smooth, easy to drive, steers and stops well, and its tidy size makes it easy to park.

The Veloster’s 1.6-liter direct injected engine is a paragon of efficiency over performance. The engine produces 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 123 ft-lbs of torque at 4,850 rpm. Transmission choices include a dualclutch six-speed transmission, or a traditional sixspeed manual. The engine winds freely, though with only 123 ft-lbs of torque on tap, you do have to be deft with the co-ordination of the gas pedal and clutch pedal to set the car into motion with the shift-ityourself transmission. It can be done smoothly, but you have to manage your torque carefully.

The Hyundai’s electric power steering is responsive, but like so many electric systems, the tactile response is a bit muted. Still, if you pay attention, it keeps you informed. Body roll is discernable in corners, though minimal.

With Veloster, Hyundai is once again demonstrating it is possible to deliver style on a budget. With its combination of good looks, a strong feature set, and a comfortable and ergonomically correct interior, the Veloster, in many ways, sets new standards in its price class. And, it’s the 2012 Urban Car of The Year.

2012 Hyundai Veloster pricing starts at $17,300.

winter 2012 | www.decisivemagazine.com | 7

OnGadgets RoadTest

Toyota Prius Plug-in Written by Lyndon Conrad Bell

2012 Urban Green Vehicle of The Year

T

he poster child for responsible motoring,

Toyota’s Prius is easily the 300-pound gorilla in any collection of fuel-efficient vehicles extant. And while Chevrolet beat Toyota (now there’s a phrase you won’t read very often) to market with a plug-in hybrid (no matter what the marketing department says, Chevrolet’s Volt is a hybrid — OK?) any experienced gambler will tell you the odds-on favorite in the plug-in hybrid sales race is the Toyota.

Not so much because the Plug-in Prius is a better car than the Volt, but more so because Toyota’s hybrid has the momentum of 10 years of sales success behind it. Introduced in 1997, by 2010, two million units of Toyota’s Prius had been sold worldwide. The model passed the one million sales mark in the U.S. in April of 2011, and the third generation Prius — the car upon which the Plug-in Prius is based — sold a million units worldwide in only two years.

Clearly people like the Toyota Prius.

Unless you’ve been sequestered in a jury someplace for the past ten years, you know a hybrid uses an electric motor as well as a gasoline engine for motivation. While most hybrids generate electricity from their gasoline engines and from recapturing energy expended during braking and coasting, a plug-in hybrid can recharge its batteries using current from a household electrical outlet.

Given the Prius Plug-in’s ability to travel approximately 15 miles on

electricity alone, it is conceivable an individual with a commute of less than 15 miles (and a charging station at their place of employment) could drive back and forth to work everyday without using any gasoline at all. Because of this, Toyota says the Prius Plug-in will achieve the equivalent of 87 miles per gallon in combined driving.

Toyota did make a few changes to the standard Prius formula to create the Prius Plug-in. The most significant change is the switch in battery technology. Rather than the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack Prius has always employed, the Prius Plug-in uses a lithium-ion battery pack. Connecting the Prius Plug-in into a standard household 120v outlet will recharge the fully depleted battery pack in about three hours. A 240v system (like the one an electric laundry dryer uses) will recharge the battery pack in about an hour and a half.

On the equipment side of the equation, available highlights include a Head-Up Display, LED headlamps, SofTex (leatherette) interior seat trim,

8 | decisive auto | www.decisivemagazine.com

an eight-way adjustable power driver’s seat, a JBL premium audio system, smart cruise control, a hard disc based navigation system, and Toyota’s Entune Plug-in Hybrid Application for smart phones.

Toyota’s Entune multimedia system also incorporates smartphone apps into the comfort and convenience capabilities of the car. With Entune, the Prius Plug-in can leverage the services of mobile applications such as Bing, OpenTable, and MovieTickets.com. Travel-related services, such as live weather, traffic, refueling locations and price information, stock market and sports news are all piped into the Prius Plug-in via Entune. The system enables the accessibility of music options such as iHeartRadio and Pandora as well.

While all of that’s more than enough to keep even the most fervent technophile thoroughly engaged, driving enthusiasts will be underwhelmed by the Prius Plug-in motoring experience. Described succinctly, when it comes to driving, the Prius Plug-in is competent but not particularly thrilling. The electric steering system, while accurate, provides very little feedback. Acceleration is leisurely; merging into freeway traffic is best done strategically and with careful planning. Braking distances are more than reasonable and winding mountain roads are negotiable in the Toyota. But if you see a sports car coming up behind you, do everyone a favor — use the first available turnout.

That said, given Prius’ reputation for reliability, fuel efficiency and resale value, if driving pleasure isn’t high up on your list of priorities, you could do a lot worse than adding a Toyota Prius Plug-in to your roster of transportation options.

Pricing for the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in starts at $32,500.

winter 2012 | www.decisivemagazine.com | 9

OnGadgets RoadTest

Range Rover Evoque Written by Arv Voss

2012 Urban Truck of The Year

L

and

Rover’s Range Rover Evoque,

based on the futuristic and stylish

remains remarkably true to its original concept design.

LRX

concept vehicle,

The Evoque is more car-like in both its

appearance and drivability, while also possessing the characteristic off-road capabilities and

prowess of its larger siblings.

Evoque is available in two body configurations - that of a three-door coupe, which starts at $43,995. or a five-door version, that more closely resembles a sedan, with a beginning price of $44,995. The two body styles are available in three levels of trim: Pure – the closest true expression of the LRX concept vehicle; Prestige – the most luxurious execution of the Evoque; and Dynamic, the most overtly sporting Evoque example. The Evoque’s exterior styling features new interpretations of classic Range Rover design elements. The Evoque displays a dynamic profile with its rising beltline, muscular shoulder character line running the length of the vehicle, and a unique and distinctive rearward taper to its floating roofline. The sculpted corners aid in reducing the car’s visual front and rear overhangs.

Moving to the inside, the Evoque’s interior takes the strong, clean ar-

chitecture and quality materials of a traditional Range Rover and applies them in a sportier, more contemporary fashion.

Designers have also taken inspiration from the forms of the LRX concept’s interior, capturing the center console’s slope, and the simplistic, graceful lines of the instrument panel.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director explained, “The luxurious, contemporary feel of the cabin is the perfect complement to the concept car exterior. The exquisite materials and craftsmanship, and the pure, elegant design, tell you that this is a true Range Rover interior, but one with a more sporting flavor.”

Two Meridian audio systems are available, with up to 17 speakers for the true audiophile. The hard drive based system features USB, video and iPod functionality, as well as Bluetooth links to phones and media players.

10 | decisive auto | www.decisivemagazine.com

The touchscreen voice control is a “Say What You See” approach to telematics. A surround camera System is available with five cameras – two in the front, two sides and one rear – for both on and off-road scenarios.

All Evoques ride on an all-new, fully independent suspension, and all are based off of Land Rover’s mid-sized platform, which is heavily modified. All are equipped with a four mode Terrain Response System except the Dynamic models, which employ a fifth sensing mode. The electronic steering system is new, and there are other endearing features for those with off-roading in their blood – things such as: Dynamic Stability Control; Hill Descent Control; Electronic Traction Control; Hill Hold; Roll Stability Control; Trailer Stability Assist; Gradient Release Control; and Adaptive Dynamics with Magneride.

Every 2012 Range Rover Evoque depends upon a 2.0-liter, Direct Injected, turbocharged inline four-cylinder with Twin Variable Valve Timing for power. The efficient engine is also powerful, delivering 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm along with an impressive 250 pound feet of torque in a range from 1,750 to 4,000 rpm.

The engine is positioned longitudinally up front, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters and Normal, Sport and Manual shift modes. Motive force is transferred to all four wheels as needed via a Permanent Intelligent All-Wheel Drive with Traction Control and Haldex coupling with specific Land Rover Tuning.

2012 Range Rover Evoque pricing starts at $41,145.

winter 2012 | www.decisivemagazine.com | 11

HERE’S TO THE PURSUIT OF:

Only g iving advice I'd take.

In this shop, we've recommended Pennzoil for the 13 years I've been here. As a mechanic, I don't feel co nfident putting something in someone e lse's car that I wouldn't use in my own. So here's to the pursuit of treating every car like it was mine. ®

FEVIU VILLARREAL ASE Certified Master Mechanic, Moto X Enthusiast

For 100 years we’ve been helping people with their pursuits. One more reason more people trust Pennzoil® than any other oil*. pennzoil.com

Not just oil, Pennzoil.

*Based on a survey of licensed drivers conducted by a leading research firm January 2005–December 2010. ©2011 SOPUS Products. All rights reserved.

®

LongTerm

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel

Driving our Long Term Jetta TDI Clean Diesel long-term test car, it’s difficult to believe there was ever a time when engines like these weren’t available to us in America. The Jetta’s powerplant runs so smoothly, and its fuel economy is so good, it seems almost sacrilegious to ever have denied drivers anywhere the opportunity to have one.

But before the advent of low sulfur diesel fuel on the U.S. market, diesel was primarily the fuel of long distance truckers or any vehicle that needed to pull heavy loads in general (think heavy duty pickup trucks, bulldozers and earth movers). Because diesel engines produce so much torque, they were previously called upon primarily to do hard work. Nobody ever thought of using diesel engines for fun too.

Thing is, the same thing that makes diesel power so perfect for heavy work makes it a lot of fun when applied to a lightweight car like our longterm Jetta TDI. Yes, the turbocharged and direct injected (TDI – get it?)

2.0-liter inline four in our VW makes a mere 140 horsepower, but it also makes 236 ft-lbs of torque. This makes our 2011 Jetta TDI Clean Diesel scoot away from traffic signals with authority and particularly commanding at elevated speeds.

On the highway, running in its sweet spot, (which is very easy to maintain thanks to its six-speed automated manual direct shift gearbox), passing power is more than abundant. You just drop the transmission down a gear; squeeze the throttle a little harder and the Jetta surges forward, riding a solid wave of torque.

Our Jetta’s autobahn heritage shines through on the highway in other ways too. Around town, and at startup, you do hear just a tiny hint of diesel clatter from the engine. (I hasten to add it’s nowhere near as much as in older diesel-powered cars—but if you listen closely, it’s there.) At speed on the highway however, the engine is as quiet and smooth as an inline six, and pulls like one too.

That it does all this while running cleaner than many gasoline powered cars and besting all but the absolutely most efficient of them in fuel economy (we’re averaging a solid 37 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving, and recently saw 44 miles per gallon on a long highway run) is quite remarkable. And we have yet to see a single puff of black smoke emerge from its tailpipe. The car has thoroughly justified its 2011 Urban Wheel Award for Urban Green Vehicle of The Year. With three months left to go in our Jetta’s tenure we’re already lamenting the rapidly approaching day when the handsome little VW’s tailpipe will face us for the last time; as it goes off to some lucky buyer on the secondary market.

fall 2011 | www.decisivemagazine.com | 13

alert! get ready to rotate this magazine:decisive begins after next three pages

Written by Lyndon Conrad Bell

LongTerm

2011 Volvo S60 T5 Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep

Written by karen Payton

Since our last installment in the tale of our beautiful long term 2011 Volvo S60’s tenure with us here at Decisive Auto, there has been a tragedy. One that brings us to ask you to ponder the question; how much attention do you pay to the safety features when buying a new car? Of course, given Volvo’s richly deserved reputation for building safe cars, we suppose venturing onto the street in our S60 was practically a dare to other drivers to see just how safe our Volvo could be.

And so it was that earlier this winter, the driver of a Nissan Pathfinder took our Volvo up on that challenge by slamming into its rear end on a wet road as the S60 and me sat innocently at a traffic signal behind a Jeep Liberty wearing a rather menacing tow bar on its rear end. Yes, you can see where this is going, and you’re absolutely right.

The crash energy from the assault of the Nissan (thanks to the low coefficient of friction our S60 was forced to deal with as a result of the first rain of the season) forced our Volvo’s pretty face into a confrontation with the Jeep’s tow bar. And while our Volvo emerged from the altercation with both a smashed rear end and a face like a boxer with a few missing teeth, inside the car I was shaken, but not stirred. Safely cradled within the host of occupant protection features our Volvo brought to the situation, I was cheerfully released from the hospital after an overnight stay for observation.

Our brave Volvo on the other hand, had sacrificed itself in its efforts to protect me. The rear crumple zones in the trunk behaved exactly

as they were designed to do when they transmitted the force of the Nissan’s transgression around the perimeter of the passenger cell and away from me. Then, when the S60’s front end was forced into the Jeep’s tow bar, it all worked again—this time in reverse—even though the Nissan had already compromised the system.

It all happened so fast I barely had time to register the event, but the vigilance of our Volvo was solidly on point. Thanks to the diligent efforts of an engineering team in Gothenburg, Sweden, I’m comfortably recounting this incident today from my desk, as opposed to what could very well have been an extended hospital stay.

While we take the “test” part of our long-term test program very seriously here at Decisive Auto, this is one aspect of the Volvo S60 we’d never planned to actively explore. Finding yourself suddenly the “meat” of an auto accident sandwich— crushed between two trucks—is a very serious situation. I’m so glad I was in my beautiful, brawny and brave 2011 Volvo S60 T5 when it happened to me.

14 | decisive auto | www.decisivemagazine.com