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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
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Greetings, one and all
I
am very excited to bring you our newest edition of Wheels, the News-Miner’s first industry-specific special section, designed to highlight multiple and varied product reviews for your benefit — cars, trucks, 4WDs, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmachines, side-by-sides — and anything else we find that has wheels.
2016 NISSAN Titan XD Crew Cab
We will publish Wheels every other Thursday and anticipate it becoming a much sought-after resource in all our efforts to not only find that perfect ride, but also to service and maintain it affordable. I’d love to hear from you. Let us know what you’d like us to take a look at going forward and we’ll see what we can find on it. Also, if you’d be so kind, I’d really appreciate it if you’d do me a real favor — as you visit any of these fine businesses in our section, and have a really great experience, shoot me an email or give me a call and let us know about it. (I’m even including my email address and phone number this time.) I’d like to add a section over the next few weeks of just that — real folks, getting great products and services at a great value. Vince E. Parker Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Multimedia Account Manager vparker@newsminer.com 459-7516
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
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Thursday, November 17, 2016
5
2017 Cruze embraces your reality By Warren Brown SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST
O
ur new location in this pleasant exurban community requires daily use of adjacent expressways for rapid access to needed urban destinations. “Rapid” is a term of art. Speed, or the considerable lack of it, depends on the time of day and the day of week. Interstate 66 and U.S. Route 29 can become parking lots. Anyway, we are learning much from our new travel routes. This locale, an employment and funding beneficiary of the federal and Virginia state governments, is one of the four regions in the country that comfortably can afford the current average new vehicle transaction price of $33,865. That was what Americans paid for new cars in April - 1.9 percent more than they paid for those vehicles a year earlier. “Comfortably” means affordability without endangering housing, medical, food or other financial needs, or assuming a six- or eight-year car loan. The average new vehicle price keeps climbing high . . . and higher. It cannot continue, which is why vehicle leasing, ride-sharing and hatchbacks - the latter once scorned by Americans in pursuit of “prestige” — are gaining popularity. Hatchbacks? Yeah, they make sense. You see them all over Europe and South America, where economic and transportation needs long ago trumped the desire to impress the neighbors. Here’s betting you’ll soon be seeing hatchbacks all over U.S. highways, too, largely thanks to Chevrolet’s understanding that what makes sense in many foreign markets could also work well in the United States. That includes hatchbacks and other modes of common-sense transportation. A morning weekday drive east
along I-66 is indicative. You see more high-end European vehicles than you would almost anywhere else in America, with the possible exceptions of New York, Los Angeles or Miami. But you mostly see practical, affordable brands — Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet, trucks and utility models of various sorts, often bought more to serve transportation needs than flighty egos. The Chevrolet Cruze hatchback, all new for the 2017 model year, fits well in that bunch. I sampled the Cruze Premier, which has the added benefits of larger-diameter wheels (18 inches), a full suite of advanced electronic safety technology and a hatchback architecture that can accommodate a Saturday’s worth of shopping at a Home Goods store. Understand what you are buying. The Cruze hatchback is for moving people and stuff and for doing so with maximum safety and reasonable economy - about 28 miles per gallon in the city and 38 miles per gallon on the highway using regular-grade gasoline. Equipped with a turbocharged (forced air), 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine (153 horsepower, 177 pound-feet of torque) and an optional (for this column) six-speed automatic transmission, the Cruze hatchback is not built for
zoom-zoom speed. It moves from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 10 seconds, which is about all the acceleration you need on a traffic-jammed I-66. I like the corporate thinking behind this one. It embraces reality. The cabin, where you will be spending most of your time, is a dual-toned, nicely done place. It is equipped with WiFi and various mobile/emergency communications needs. And it can be gotten, as equipped, for $27,680. Not bad.
Nuts & Bolts
Bottom line: Welcome back, hatchback! This is a good one for young families. Spend the money on advanced electronic safety options. Ride, acceleration and handling: Ride and handling are suitable for most of us. Acceleration? Forget it. You’ll be stuck in traffic, anyway. If not, don’t forget that state troopers have those nice cruisers for a reason. Head-turning quotient: It looks good on any church or school parking lot. Body style/layout: The 2017 Cruze hatchback is a compact, front-engine, standard front-wheel-drive car with a rear hatch. It is based on the Cruze sedan, which remains available, gener-
ally at a lower price. The hatch was first tried, and received raves, in Europe. Engine/transmission: A 1.4-liter, inline, four-cylinder, 16-valve gasoline engine with variable valve timing, linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. Capacities: Seating is for five people. Maximum cargo capacity is 47.2 cubic feet. The fuel tank holds an estimated 16.7 gallons of regular-grade gasoline. Mileage: My real-world, traffic-jam highway mileage averaged 35 miles per gallon. Safety: Standard equipment includes ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes; four-wheel anti-lock brake protection; stability and traction control; post-collision safety system; side and head air bags. Note: A full suite of advanced electronic safety equipment is available, usually as an extra-cost option. It’s worth it. Buy. Prices: The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze hatchback Premier edition starts at $23,945, with a dealer’s invoice price of $22,987. Price as tested is $27,680, including $2,860 in options (mostly advanced electronic safety) and an $875 factory-to-dealer transportation charge. Dealer’s price as tested is $26,464.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
2017 Subaru Outback SUV New Outback merges luxury, typical Subaru performance By Ann M. Job FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
S
ubaru makes an upscale turn in its versatile 2017 Outback SUV with a new Touring model that includes ever y feature as standard equipment and adds an expensive-looking interior, so much so that the leather seats with ivory-colored contrast stitching would look at home inside a pricey Range Rover SUV.
The five-passenger Touring model also comes with the newest Subaru safety equipment, like lane-keep assist and reverse automatic braking that can stop the vehicle from backing up if rear sensors detect an obstacle behind. The Touring model’s leather-wrapped steering wheel is heated, as are the front seats with perforated leather, and it’s the only Outback where an onboard navigation system and the full suite of Subaru safety features are standard. The 2017 Outback is a recommended buy of Consumer Reports magazine, where reliability is predicted to
be average. It also earned five out of five stars for occupant protection in frontal and side crash tests from the federal government — the same top score the Outback has had since the 2013 model year. The five-door SUV has the highest base starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, of all 2017 Subarus — $26,520. That gets a buyer all-wheel drive, cloth seats and a 175-horsepower, four-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that a driver operates like an automatic, as well as useful features such as
keyless entry, cruise control and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity.. The top-of-the-line Outback Touring is positioned above the previous top Outback, and carries a lofty MSRP plus destination charge of $36,870 with the 175-horsepower four cylinder. The starting retail price rises to $39,070 with a 256-horsepower, six-cylinder engine that is also mated to a CVT. While reaching into luxury car territory, such prices still are competitive with many mid-size SUVs that have luxury appointments and all-wheel SUBARU » 7
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Continued from 6 drive. For example, an all-wheel drive 2016 Ford Edge SEL, which is about the same length as the Outback and has a similar 73-plus cubic feet of cargo space, is priced at $37,985 with leather seats, a 245-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder, blind-spot monitoring and rear traffic alert added on. Yet, the 2017 Outback with its naturally aspirated, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder engine and CVT is more fuel efficient than the Edge and many other mid-size SUV — and the 10th best in gasoline mileage among non-hybrid 2017 SUVs. The federal government estimates the 2017 Outback’s fuel mileage at 25 miles a gallon in city driving and 32 mpg on highways with the four cylinder. This is akin to the mileage of a 2017 Hyundai Tucson, which is a smaller SUV. The test Outback Touring model averaged 24 mpg on mostly on city streets for a noteworthy travel range of more than 440 miles on an
18.5-gallon tank. The Touring model doesn’t look dramatically different from other Outbacks despite the cosmetic updates of more outer chrome, new wheels, a dark gray grille insert and lower-profile roof rack. Nothing is changed in the suspension, engines or transmission, either, so the ride on pavement and off-road trails is typical of an Outback. The Touring has the same 8.7 inches of ground clearance and all-wheel drive for travel in inclement conditions, be it snow or tree debris from a rainstorm. Engine noise intruded in the interior, but only when the 2.5-liter, double overhead cam four-cylinder was pressed hard for power. The CVT behaved as if it was a regular automatic. The back seat is usable for five adults, and the Outback cargo floor is lower than that in most SUVs, which makes loading items easy. There have been three U.S. safety recalls involving 2017 Outbacks since May involving steering, brakes and a knee bracket designed to keep a driver properly positioned during a crash.
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Google’s Android Auto is now available to anyone with an Android device. Android-based devices with Android 5.0 or later can download the Android Auto app and plug it into their cars for the full Android Auto experience, which is essentially Google’s answer to traditional in-car infotainment systems. Previously, drivers needed the Android Auto app and a compatible vehicle. “Whether your phone is connected to a compatible car display, or placed in a car mount on the dashboard, Android Auto brings your favorite apps and services into one place, making them accessible in safer and seamless ways,” Google says. “You can bring your music with you with apps like Spotify, Pandora or Google Play Music, and make calls or send messages with hands-free voice commands. And of course, get turn-by-turn directions to your next
destination with Google Maps.” Google recommends customers buy Bluetooth-supported car mounts. Android Auto, which Google first announced in 2014, is already available in vehicles from Chevrolet, Volkswagen, and Hyundai. Next year, Ford’s entire 2017 US vehicle lineup will come equipped with Sync 3—which adds compatibility with Android Auto and Apple’s rival service, CarPlay. At its I/O conference earlier this year, Google signaled a desire to change up how Android Auto works and make it easier for those with Android-based smartphones to get the smart car technology in their vehicles. Check out the full presentation in the video below. Android Auto 2.0, meanwhile, is rolling out now to more than 30 countries. Google also teased improvements to the app’s hands-free calling features, which should roll out at a later date. Distributed by The Associated Press
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Move to different climate shouldn’t cause performance issues By Ray Magliozzi
D
ear Car Talk: I own a 2003 Toyota Avalon that has 45,000 miles on it. I’m the original owner, and I live in Hawaii. My wife and I are thinking of relocating to the Pacific Northwest and there was no accident involved. are wondering if the change in I would appreciate your feedback weather temperature will do and thoughts. Aloha! -- Jackson anything to change the car’s performance.
The car runs really great, with no engine problems. Back in the ‘90s, I shipped my 1986 Chevy truck to my son, and a year later, there were all kinds of problems. One was that the engine would stall upon accelerating, which is scary when trying to zoom across a busy intersection. Another problem was when a mechanic reported that the engine fan was hitting the shroud, even though
Well, since you’re moving from the earthly paradise of Hawaii to a place where it’s cloudy and rainy 300 days a year, my biggest concern is that your Avalon is going to become depressed. You might need to start dropping Carzac into its tank. But I have no worries about the move, mechanically. I guess you’ll find out if the sunroof leaks, but in terms of the engine or drivability, the car won’t
miss a beat. The reason your old truck started having problems a year after you shipped it to your son is because ... you shipped it to your son. He probably drove it like an animal. And that stalling probably was due to the aging carburetor. But you’ll have no such problems with this car, Jackson. On the other hand, maybe you wrote to me hoping I’d talk you out of the move. In which case, use this answer: You’re going to have nothing but trouble with this car in the Pacific Northwest, Jackson. In fact, I predict it’s going to cost you $60,000 or $70,000 just to get the car acclimatized to its new environment. So stay put!
••• If you buy a used car, will you just be inheriting the previous owner’s problem? Click and Clack dispel this and other myths about used cars in the pamphlet “How to Buy a Great Used Car: Secrets Only Your Mechanic Knows.” Send $4.75 (check or money order) to Car Talk/Used Car, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. ••• Got a question about cars? Write to Car Talk in care of this newspaper, or email by visiting the Car Talk website at www.cartalk.com. c) 2016 by Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
SNOWMACHINE SERVICE SEMINAR SATURDAY! Stop by Compeau’s from 11am-1pm Saturday (Nov 19th) for our first ever Snowmachine service seminar with Rodney Vesper.
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Learn what you need to do to get that sled ready for trouble free riding this winter. Included in this seminar is: winter pre-check list, visual inspections, fuel systems, lubrication, cooling systems (both 2 and 4 stroke), suspensions, proper tools to carry, and general troubleshooting. Regardless of what brand sled you ride, you can always learn something new from the experts. The first 25 attendees will get a $50 Compeau Cash* certificate toward service. Don’t forget sign up to win a new Ski-Doo from BRP or lots of other door prizes from Compeau’s. PLUS: Learn all about what’s next in the snowmachine industry from Kyle and Dakota in our sales department from 2-3pm. Check out the new Ski-Doo Alaska Trapper 550, and the incredible new Gen 4 sleds, including the Summit and Renegade 850’s, the sleds that are changing everything. Don’t miss it!
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
2017 Ford Focus For real-life roads, Ford’s Focus is still sharp By Warren Brown SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST
A
s a young journalist, I thrilled at invitations from automobile manufacturers to drive exotic cars in exotic locations. But there always was a troubling disconnect.
We journalists would arrive a day or night before the drive, which often would be arranged to run against the
rush hour of the host location. The idea was to provide us the luxury of enjoying the luxury cars without traffic jams. We could concentrate on the design and engineering of the subject automobiles without paying much attention to reality, which is that few of the world’s roads are traveled by exotic cars because few of the world’s motorists can afford them. That reality is seen daily on highways such as Interstate 66, where models such as the subject of this week’s review, the 2017 Ford Focus S
sedan, abound. It is a well-constructed compact car — safe and fuel-efficient, affording 30 miles per gallon in the city and 42 miles per gallon on the highway using regular-grade gasoline. It has been around since 1998 and is a common sight on streets as diverse as those of the District of Columbia, London and Moscow. Technology has kept the little Focus updated. But it has been aggressively matched in that endeavor by the South Koreans, who have loaded with value and likability models such as
the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte. The Japanese, of course, understand the global market and have countered with affordable rides such as the Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris. But the little Focus keeps rolling on primarily because it is designed to safely and efficiently get you where you are going at a base price — $18,175 — that makes the car reasonably accessible. Accessibility and reliability trump the romance of “fun to drive” here, FOCUS » 13
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
FOCUS
Continued from 12 although the Focus is a nice, tight compact car that can be had with performance credibility if purchased as a Focus ST or RS. But most people who buy it are looking for the basics of reliability and economy and thus will get it in one of the more popular trim levels of S, SE, SEL or Titanium. The Focus also is available as an electric and hatchback SE EcoBoost. The Focus S is basic personal transportation. You don’t buy it to impress. Nor do you get it to zoom past the competition. You get it to get there. Period. And the little car does a very decent job of doing that. It is equipped with a 2-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine delivering 160 horsepower and 146 poundfeet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard. A six-speed automatic is optional. Spend the extra money on the automatic. It will be worth it in one of the Washington area’s traffic jams. I found the Focus S to be a good little get-about, although somewhat
13
The Focus S is basic personal transportation. You don’t buy it to impress. Nor do you get it to zoom past the competition. You get it to get there. Period. And the little car does a very decent job of doing that. disconcerting after spending weeks in models that have jettisoned pieces such as ignition keys and locks in favor of push-button ignition. The Focus can be had with lots of modern safety technology. But it does appear to be getting a bit long in the tooth. Still, it makes sense as a basic transportation car, particularly in S trim. It remains a “buy” here.
Bottom line
The 2017 Focus S, practically unchanged from the 2016 model year, is safe, reliable and, depending on traffic patterns, enjoyable basic transportation. Ride, acceleration and handling:
It gets decent marks in all three areas. Head-turning quotient: It has the styling signature of the larger Ford Fusion, which clearly has “borrowed” styling cues from the Aston Martin, which once was a Ford property. Body style/layout: The Ford Focus is a compact, front-engine, frontwheel-drive economy car available as a sedan or hatchback. An electric version is also for sale. Engine/transmission for Focus S: It comes with a 2.0-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder gasoline engine with variable valve timing (160 horsepower, 146 pound-feet of torque). A five-speed manual transmission is standard. A six-speed automatic is optional. Capacities: Seating is for five peo-
ple. Cargo capacity is 13.2 cubic feet. The fuel tank holds 12.4 gallons of gasoline. Regular grade is fine. Mileage: I averaged 36 miles per gallon mostly in highway driving. Safety: Standard equipment includes ventilated front disc brakes, rear drum brakes; four-wheel antilock brake protection; traction and stability control; post-collision safety system; side and head air bags. Pricing: The 2017 Ford Focus S starts at $18,175 with a dealer’s invoice price of $17,357. Price as tested is $21,190, including $2,140 in options (automatic transmission, cosmetics and other items) and an $875 factory-to-dealer shipment charge. Dealer’s price as tested is $20,266.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Samsung to buy Harman for $8 billion in bold autos gambit By Jungah Lee and Hooyeon Kim BLOOMBERG
Samsung Electronics Co. is spending $8 billion to buy its way into a burgeoning market for automotive technology alongside Apple Inc. and Google as the smartphone business wanes. The South Korean company is making its largest-ever overseas acquisition with an offer for Harman International Industries Inc., angling to become the go-to supplier of everything from in-car entertainment to connected-auto services. It comes days after Samsung Group heir-apparent Jay Y. Lee formally ascended to the board of the electronics firm, a move that may shore up his influence over the family-run conglomerate’s prized asset. Adding U.S.-based Harman will lift Samsung into the top ranks of auto technology suppliers and give it existing relationships with BMW, Volkswagen and General Motors. While Harman became a legendary name in high-end audio equipment, it’s pushed deeper into automotive supplies and now gets 65 percent of sales from the sector. Samsung’s $112-a-share offer was 28 percent above Harman’s closing price of $87.65 in New York on Friday. Harman surged 26 percent to $110 at 11:37 a.m. Monday. With the deal, Samsung hope to marry its fast microprocessor and software technology with Harman’s infotainment and vehicle systems to offer carmakers more advanced connectivity, said Young Sohn, Samsung’s
president and chief strategy officer, in a phone interview. “This is not about cost synergies,” Young said. “It’s about taking advantage of what Harman has built. The car will be transformed by connected technology.” The deal is the first since Jay Y. Lee joined the board and shows that his management style is different from his father’s, said Park Kang-ho, an analyst with Daishin Securities Co. “He is an aggressive deal maker,” the analyst said. “In the longer term, Samsung is thinking that life after smartphones is electric vehicles.” The Korean company joins a growing list of global technology companies moving into automobiles. The companies see cars as an industry that hasn’t yet been remade by software and online technologies. Outside of Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors, the efforts haven’t yet reached customers. Google has for years been working on self-driving software but still doesn’t have a product on the market. Apple went on a hiring spree to add staff to build its own car before recently re-calibrating the initiative to focus more on software, leading to job cuts. Uber Technologies joined the fray over the past year, hiring engineers and making acquisitions to build its own autonomous car technology. Samsung itself has bought a stake in Chinese electric-car maker BYD and at one point considered an offer for sections of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’s parts unit, a deal said to have
broken down just weeks ago. With the Harman purchase, it’s taking a different approach that’s more in keeping with its history has a component maker. Rather than designing a car or building a self-driving system, Harman’s technology focuses on the growing number of services available as automobiles get connected to the internet -- navigation, multimedia entertainment, security systems and analytics tools. Sohn reiterated the company’s focus on a conference call Monday. “Samsung will not get in the business of manufacturing cars,” Sohn said, while highlighting how the partnership will increase connectivity and introduce new Internet of Things technologies into vehicles. This transformation of the auto into a full-service mobile device adds up to a potential goldmine. Revenue from the data streams and connectivity components could become a 180 billion-euro ($200 billion) market by 2020, McKinsey & Co. estimates. “Samsung may have figured that it can’t become the biggest player in the car component business by itself, so it needs a big brand to get into the market,” said Greg Roh, an analyst at HMC Investment Securities Co. For Samsung, establishing a foothold in automotive technology offers the company a chance to shed its reliance on a smartphone market undergoing its worst downturn on record. The company is the world’s biggest supplier of displays and memory for mobile devices — replicating that
dominance in autos will inject new life into the business. It’s now struggling to put the embarrassing death of the fire-prone Note 7 behind it, while searching for its next leg of growth. Samsung said Harman is the market leader in connected car solutions, with more than 30 million vehicles equipped with its connected car and audio systems and telematics. Telematic devices allow in-vehicle access to specific services, including car parks and anti-theft security. The Stamford, Connecticut-based company has an order backlog for the auto market of $24 billion as of June 30. “Harman has a scale and premium in the car-infotainment and audio businesses, so it would definitely help Samsung move faster. But it alone is not enough for Samsung to become the leader in this space,” said Roh. The audio company can trace its roots back to the 1950s, when Sidney Harman teamed with Bernard Kardon to make high-fidelity audio equipment. The company would later acquire brands including JBL and Infinity, among other audio equipment makers, and become a leader in high-end car stereo systems. It also owns the Bang & Olufsen brand for cars after acquiring the business last year. Evercore is serving as financial adviser to Samsung, while JPMorgan and Lazard are advising Harman, according to the statement. Shares of Samsung fell 2.8 percent to 1,553,000 won at the close in Seoul before the announcement was made.
Jaguar reveals vision for all-electric concept car with virtual reality PCMag.com
Jaguar this week unveiled its first all-electric concept car—with a twist. More than 300 VIP guests (including James Corden, Miranda Kerr, and Gavin Rossdale) strapped on VR headsets to watch a virtual revealing of the I-PACE Concept Vehicle. Powered by HTC Vive headsets and Dell Precision workstations, participants experienced the car being built piece-by-piece around them, speeding toward them across a desert, and
appearing to fall to Earth from space. “The I-PACE Concept represents the next generation of electric vehicle design,” Ian Callum, director of design, said in a statement. While the company’s sole concept vehicle awaits its global debut at next week’s Los Angeles Auto Show, the unique “social VR” unveiling allowed Jaguar to share its vision “across the globe in the most immersive way possible,” Callum said. The I-PACE Concept is the “start of a new era,” according to the luxury
car maker, which tipped a production preview next year, ahead of a 2018 consumer launch. It’s possible to register at jaguarusa.com if you want to be one of the first I-PACE owners. A smart sports car and performance SUV in one, the five-seater boasts two electric motors with a combined output of 900 horsepower, plus a 90kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Using a public 50kWh DC rapid charging network, it takes just over two hours of charging for an estimated 220 miles of range. “This is an uncompromised electric
vehicle designed from a clean sheet of paper: we’ve developed a new architecture and selected only the best technology available,” Wolfgang Ziebart, technical design director at Jaguar Land Rover, said. “The I-PACE Concept fully exploits the potential EVs can offer in space utilization, driving pleasure, and performance.” The virtual reality experience— available on the Viveport app store through a dedicated Jaguar mobile app—also allows folks to explore inside the vehicle, uncovering hidden details.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
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2017 Acura MDX Acura scales up in looks, standard safety features By Ann M. Job FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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c ura’s most popular vehicle, the MDX luxury sport utility, has a more upscale look and more standard safety features for 2017. The roomy MDX, which is the only Acura with three rows of seats, offers new amenities, too, such as two captain’s chairs for seating in the second row instead of a bench seat or showy, 20-inch wheels. It’s also among the lowest-priced three-row luxury SUVs, with a base MDX with front-wheel drive starting at $44,890 — $565 less than a comparably equipped 2016 MDX. This model year also includes standard safety technology that was part of an extra package last year: lane-keeping assist, front collision warning, lane departure warning and road departure mitigation. The easy-to-drive and accommodat-
ing MDX is a recommended buy of Consumer Reports magazine, which predicts reliability of the 2017 MDX will be average. In addition, the 2017 MDX earned the top safety score — five out of five stars — in federal government frontal and side crash tests. The MDX is an upscale version of Honda’s largest SUV, the Pilot. Both vehicles use the same underlying platform and share the same 3.5-liter, non-turbocharged V-6. But the MDX engine generates more horsepower — 290 — and all MDX models have a fuel-efficient nine-speed automatic transmission. In fact, the federal government’s combined city/highway ratings of 22 miles per gallon for front-wheel drive MDX models and 23 mpg for all-wheel drive models are among the best of three-row SUVs. The test vehicle, an MDX Advance, which is middle trim, averaged 23.7 mpg. The driver didn’t try to maximize fuel mileage, and the V-6 delivered
strong power to capably propel the MDX up long highway grades, even at higher altitudes. Peak torque of 267 foot-pounds comes on at 4,700 rpm. The MDX also saved fuel by automatically turning off the engine when the vehicle was stopped at traffic lights or otherwise idling with the driver’s foot firmly set on the brake pedal. It also automatically turned off certain engine cylinders when they weren’t needed, such as when the SUV was coasting —an action so subtle no passengers noticed. The MDX maneuvers solidly and gives passengers a feeling of security. The test vehicle, which included allwheel drive, premium leather sport seats, sunshades on the rear side windows, heated steering wheel, real wood interior trim and 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, rode comfortably on nearly all kinds of pavement, and drivers can select among three suspension settings. Steering, however, was a bit vague feeling.
The MDX interior was impressively quiet. Wind noise, in particular, was much more muted than expected, even on blustery days. The MDX capably hauls people and cargo and can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Seats in the three rows can be adjusted for more legroom. Maximum cargo room is a full 68.4 cubic feet, and the cargo floor is up a ways from the pavement, so everyone rides high and has good views out. It doesn’t come with a traditional shift lever. Instead, a driver presses buttons in the center console to go from park to drive and must pull back on a lever in the console to move the transmission into reverse. It takes a bit of getting used to. The arrangement of two display screens in the center of the dashboard worked fine when one screen displays the navigation system’s map and the other screen shows radio stations, but both screens display destination entry menus that seem redundant.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thursday, November 17, 2016
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