Autos Plus

autos plus

Sunday july 14 2013

Section

s e a r c h b u y s e l l l e a s e t r a d e cumberlink.com/autos

We’re so confident in our Low Everyday Pricing, We’ll BEat any other Chevy Dealer’s written offer by $250! Must be bona-fide written offer on in stock vehicles.

✔ Discounts up to $10,000! ✔ Leases as low as $129 per month! ’13 Cruze LS Lease FoR oNllY

’13 Malibu LS Lease FoR oNlY

129

$

STK# 130711

298

$ STK# 130771

Lease FoR oNlY

STK# 140002

STK# 130842

STK# 130380

199

$

10,000 OFF

$

*

’13 Equino Equinox LS

4x4 LT - Up To

299

$

Lease FoR oNlY

*

’13 Silverado erado Ext. Cab

’14 Impala 2Lt Lease FoR oNllY

173

$

*

’13 Volt

*

INClUDES TRADE IN BoNUS CASH, GM loYAlTY,AND BoNUS CASH

STK# 130773

*$3,000 due at signing / 36 month lease / 12K mi/yr *For Well Qualified leasees - Sales Tax not Included.

’12 Chevy Silverado #1303991 $24,599

’09 Malibu LT #1302621 $12,999

’10 Chevy Malibu LT #1305241 $12,999

’10 GMC Acadia SLT-1 #1300851 $25,499

’08 Toyota y Matrix XR #1303591 $8,999

’11 Toyota Camry XLE #1301681 $19,499

’11 Chevy Tahoe LTZ #665210 $44,499

’11 Chevyy Silverado S $ #1305891 27,620

’10 Chevy Colorado #665277 $20,999

’10 Mazda 3 Sport #1204591 $13,999

Let Us Show You How a Business Elite Dealer Can Benefit You and Your Business!

New ’13 Express Van 10’ Body ’05 Chevy Impala #1301691 $7,999

’12 Chevy Equinox LS #1304681 $21,999

* Rebates are subject to change without prior notice. Not all customers will qualify for all applicable rebates and incentives.

6445 Carlisle Pike Mechanicsburg

’12 Chevyy Captiv Captiva Sport por #665264 $19,499

’12 Chevy Impala LT #665269 $16,499

’10 Nissan Altima 2.5 #1305061 $14,999

See Our Entire Inventory at:

#130569, Sale Price

29,997

$

Additional Rebates May be Available.

* Taxes, Tags and Transfer Fees additional. You may choose Rebates oR new car financing as low as 0% up to 72 mos. on select models with financing approval.

766-0284 800-427-4505

autos plus

Sunday july 14 2013

Section

s e a r c h b u y s e l l l e a s e t r a d e cumberlink.com/autos

We’re so confident in our Low Everyday Pricing, We’ll BEat any other Chevy Dealer’s written offer by $250! Must be bona-fide written offer on in stock vehicles.

✔ Discounts up to $10,000! ✔ Leases as low as $129 per month! ’13 Cruze LS Lease FoR oNllY

’13 Malibu LS Lease FoR oNlY

129

$

STK# 130711

298

$ STK# 130771

Lease FoR oNlY

STK# 140002

STK# 130842

STK# 130380

199

$

10,000 OFF

$

*

’13 Equino Equinox LS

4x4 LT - Up To

299

$

Lease FoR oNlY

*

’13 Silverado erado Ext. Cab

’14 Impala 2Lt Lease FoR oNllY

173

$

*

’13 Volt

*

INClUDES TRADE IN BoNUS CASH, GM loYAlTY,AND BoNUS CASH

STK# 130773

*$3,000 due at signing / 36 month lease / 12K mi/yr *For Well Qualified leasees - Sales Tax not Included.

’12 Chevy Silverado #1303991 $24,599

’09 Malibu LT #1302621 $12,999

’10 Chevy Malibu LT #1305241 $12,999

’10 GMC Acadia SLT-1 #1300851 $25,499

’08 Toyota y Matrix XR #1303591 $8,999

’11 Toyota Camry XLE #1301681 $19,499

’11 Chevy Tahoe LTZ #665210 $44,499

’11 Chevyy Silverado S $ #1305891 27,620

’10 Chevy Colorado #665277 $20,999

’10 Mazda 3 Sport #1204591 $13,999

Let Us Show You How a Business Elite Dealer Can Benefit You and Your Business!

New ’13 Express Van 10’ Body ’05 Chevy Impala #1301691 $7,999

’12 Chevy Equinox LS #1304681 $21,999

* Rebates are subject to change without prior notice. Not all customers will qualify for all applicable rebates and incentives.

6445 Carlisle Pike Mechanicsburg

’12 Chevyy Captiv Captiva Sport por #665264 $19,499

’12 Chevy Impala LT #665269 $16,499

’10 Nissan Altima 2.5 #1305061 $14,999

See Our Entire Inventory at:

#130569, Sale Price

29,997

$

Additional Rebates May be Available.

* Taxes, Tags and Transfer Fees additional. You may choose Rebates oR new car financing as low as 0% up to 72 mos. on select models with financing approval.

766-0284 800-427-4505

Autos Plus

E2 • The Sentinel

Dodge Charger: An American icon from the 1960s is bigger and stronger than its original incarnation and it still makes hearts beat faster and tires rotate quicker on the track and down your street. New for this year are an expanded adaptive damping suspension that allows for three-mode selectable suspension tuning; standard launch control that provides enhanced straight-line acceleration and eight new colors to make this full-size stand out from the crowd, as if it needed paint to do that. And if a base Charger isn’t enough to thrill bystanders and those behind the wheel, my test ride was an SRT8 version. The Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) brand uses a successful product development formula featuring five proven hallmarks: robust powertrains; track-worthy ride; handling and capability; superior braking; aggressive and functional exteriors and race-inspired interiors.

Bold and aerodynamic Built at Chrysler’s Brampto n A sse m b ly p l a n t i n Brampton, Ontario, Canada, my test Charger SRT8 looked bold from its aerodynamic roofline to its exclusive high-gloss black front grille, grille surround, Dodge crosshair next to the signature SRT badge and the 6.4-liter HEMI badges on each fender. The performance-sculpted hood featured an air exhauster for added engine cooling. Satin black hood graphics (charcoal gray on Pitch Black models) mirror the black deck-lid stripes with a solid wide center-line flanked by solid dual tracer lines. Standard rear decklid spoilers are matte black or matching body color on

By Mike Blake

the Pitch Black model. In the rear, the Charger SRT8’s signature “racetrack” taillamp design with 164 illuminating LEDs sits just below the rear spoiler. Round 4-inch dual exhaust tips are positioned inside of the rear fascia while the SRT8 decklid badge boldly shows the Street and Racing Technology DNA. A full-size sedan with a unitized steel body and aluminum hood, the beefy Charger SRT8 measures 200.3 inches long, 74.2 inches wide and 58.2 inches high on a 120.2-inch wheelbase while offering 4.3 inches of ground clearance. Charger SRT8 weighs in at a stout 4,365 pounds.

Three powerful engines The standard Charger is powerful on its own with a 292-horsepower-260 lbs.ft. 3.6-liter aluminum Pentastar V-6 engine, that is fuel-conscious at 19 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Performance package options increase horsepower to 300 and torque to 264 lbs.-ft. Power increases further with the R/T Chargers outfitted with the stellar 370 hp-395 lbs.ft. HEMI V-8 engine. And the upthrust continues with the SRT8 and its 470 hp470 lbs.-ft. 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 engine. The engine, built in the Saltillo Engine Plant, Saltillo, Mexico with Fuel Saver Technology, is linked to a 5-speed automatic transmission. Even with Fuel Saver, the gas guzzler tax is

Sunday, July 14, 2013

American muscle icon continues to perform, thrill bystanders

warranted with a 14/23 estimate. My week of tests yielded an average of 16.1 mpg on the recommended Premium 91 gas, but I did have a tendency to burn rubber whenever safe and applicable. Charger performs wheneve r c a l l e d u p o n , a n d smoked tires on its way to a 4.6-second zero-to60 mph sprint, finishing a quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds.

Capable road performance Charger is smooth on the road with a capable independent front suspension and five-link independent rear, and SRT8’s adaptive Bilstein shocks adjust to tighter handling when automatically asked. Charger is tall and you do get some slight wobble near the roof during quick maneuvers, but the SRT-tuned rack and pinion steering with hydraulic power assist is precise and responsive. Cornering is steady, even at higher speeds and the Goodyear Eagle RS-A2 tires (245/45R20 all-season) hold the macadam well, drifting when asked. Optional Goodyear F1 Supercar tires would provide even better trackworthiness. The cabin is luxurious, high-tech, sporty, racecarinspired and bold. Charger seats five and accommodates with 38.6 inches of front headroom with 37.9 inches in row two – an inch less with a sunroof; 41.8 inches of legroom in row one and 40.1 inches for the second seats; and 59.5 inches of front seat shoulder room, while rear shoulder room is 57.7 inches. Knee clearance in row two is 3.9 inches and the luggage compartment provides 16.3 cu. ft. of space.

Submitted photos

Above: The 2013 Dodge Charger is bigger and stronger than its 1960s counterpart. Below: The racecar-inspired cabin is packed with entertainment and tech features. The cabin is packed with entertainment, tech, information, comfort and intuitiveness, and more than 65 advanced safety and security features are included. Charger is available in nine trims, starting with the base SE at $25,995 with eight-speed automatic transmission, and 31 miles per gallon on the highway. The Charger R/T is estimated at 25 mpg highway and starts at $29,995 and there are three additional upscaled R/T trims. My test Charger SRT8 and its 470 horses had a base price of $45,250, which exceeded the SRT8 Super Bee sticker by $3000. My test ride looked cool, mean, muscular and confident in Phantom Black Tri-Coat Pearl exterior paint for $500 more. Billet Silver, Bright White, Granite Crystal, HEMI Orange, Jazz Blue, P itch Black, Plum Crazy and TorRed

would have been standard no-cost paints and Redline 3-Coat Pearl would have been a $500 add-on. High Performance Laguna Leather seats added $1495; the power sunroof added $1095; adaptive cruise control with Adaptive Speed Control and Forward Collision Warning added $795; the Harman Kardon audio package with 19 GreenEdge speakers and a Logic 7 amp added $1995, the gas guz-

zler tax added $1000 and destination charges added $995 for a sticker-as-tested of $53,125. Visit www.CarlisleEvents. com for more on the automotive hobby. Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He’s been a “car guy” since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

If it lasted forever, it wouldn’t be called an event. The Mercedes-Benz Summer Event.

2014 E350 4MATIC® SPORT SEDAN

2013 ML350 4MATIC® SUV

2013 C300 4MATIC® SPORT SEDAN

2013 GLK250 33MPG HWY! BlueTEC® DIESEL SUV

$619

$369

$429

30-month lease with $5313 down. $0 security deposit. Ends 7-31-13.

27-month lease with $4063 down. $0 security deposit. Ends 7-31-13.

30-month lease with $4674 down. $0 security deposit. Ends 7-31-13.

LEASE FOR

PER MONTH

36-month lease with $4464 down. $0 security deposit. Ends 7-31-13.

LEASE FOR

PER MONTH

LEASE FOR

PER MONTH

LEASE FOR

PER MONTH

Now’s the time to get your hands on the Mercedes-Benz you’ve always wanted. Get exceptional offers at the Summer Event on the stylish C-Class; the versatile GLK-Class; and the luxuriously protective M-Class, all 2013 IIHS Top Safety Picks. It’s also your chance to experience the striking new 2014 E-Class. But hurry—these cars aren’t made to sit still, and neither should you. See Sun Motor Cars today. MBUSA.com/SummerEvent

As always, we also have a large inventory of pre-owned Mercedes-Benz models too!

Mercedes-Benz BEST OF THE BEST Dealer Recognition Award FIVE YEARS IN A ROW

Courtesy pickup and delivery & car wash for service customers. Family owned & operated for 30 years. Sun Motor Cars • 6677 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg PA 17050• Toll Free 877-316-3030 • mercedes.sunmotorcars.com

Autos Plus

E2 • The Sentinel

Dodge Charger: An American icon from the 1960s is bigger and stronger than its original incarnation and it still makes hearts beat faster and tires rotate quicker on the track and down your street. New for this year are an expanded adaptive damping suspension that allows for three-mode selectable suspension tuning; standard launch control that provides enhanced straight-line acceleration and eight new colors to make this full-size stand out from the crowd, as if it needed paint to do that. And if a base Charger isn’t enough to thrill bystanders and those behind the wheel, my test ride was an SRT8 version. The Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) brand uses a successful product development formula featuring five proven hallmarks: robust powertrains; track-worthy ride; handling and capability; superior braking; aggressive and functional exteriors and race-inspired interiors.

Bold and aerodynamic Built at Chrysler’s Brampto n A sse m b ly p l a n t i n Brampton, Ontario, Canada, my test Charger SRT8 looked bold from its aerodynamic roofline to its exclusive high-gloss black front grille, grille surround, Dodge crosshair next to the signature SRT badge and the 6.4-liter HEMI badges on each fender. The performance-sculpted hood featured an air exhauster for added engine cooling. Satin black hood graphics (charcoal gray on Pitch Black models) mirror the black deck-lid stripes with a solid wide center-line flanked by solid dual tracer lines. Standard rear decklid spoilers are matte black or matching body color on

By Mike Blake

the Pitch Black model. In the rear, the Charger SRT8’s signature “racetrack” taillamp design with 164 illuminating LEDs sits just below the rear spoiler. Round 4-inch dual exhaust tips are positioned inside of the rear fascia while the SRT8 decklid badge boldly shows the Street and Racing Technology DNA. A full-size sedan with a unitized steel body and aluminum hood, the beefy Charger SRT8 measures 200.3 inches long, 74.2 inches wide and 58.2 inches high on a 120.2-inch wheelbase while offering 4.3 inches of ground clearance. Charger SRT8 weighs in at a stout 4,365 pounds.

Three powerful engines The standard Charger is powerful on its own with a 292-horsepower-260 lbs.ft. 3.6-liter aluminum Pentastar V-6 engine, that is fuel-conscious at 19 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Performance package options increase horsepower to 300 and torque to 264 lbs.-ft. Power increases further with the R/T Chargers outfitted with the stellar 370 hp-395 lbs.ft. HEMI V-8 engine. And the upthrust continues with the SRT8 and its 470 hp470 lbs.-ft. 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 engine. The engine, built in the Saltillo Engine Plant, Saltillo, Mexico with Fuel Saver Technology, is linked to a 5-speed automatic transmission. Even with Fuel Saver, the gas guzzler tax is

Sunday, July 14, 2013

American muscle icon continues to perform, thrill bystanders

warranted with a 14/23 estimate. My week of tests yielded an average of 16.1 mpg on the recommended Premium 91 gas, but I did have a tendency to burn rubber whenever safe and applicable. Charger performs wheneve r c a l l e d u p o n , a n d smoked tires on its way to a 4.6-second zero-to60 mph sprint, finishing a quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds.

Capable road performance Charger is smooth on the road with a capable independent front suspension and five-link independent rear, and SRT8’s adaptive Bilstein shocks adjust to tighter handling when automatically asked. Charger is tall and you do get some slight wobble near the roof during quick maneuvers, but the SRT-tuned rack and pinion steering with hydraulic power assist is precise and responsive. Cornering is steady, even at higher speeds and the Goodyear Eagle RS-A2 tires (245/45R20 all-season) hold the macadam well, drifting when asked. Optional Goodyear F1 Supercar tires would provide even better trackworthiness. The cabin is luxurious, high-tech, sporty, racecarinspired and bold. Charger seats five and accommodates with 38.6 inches of front headroom with 37.9 inches in row two – an inch less with a sunroof; 41.8 inches of legroom in row one and 40.1 inches for the second seats; and 59.5 inches of front seat shoulder room, while rear shoulder room is 57.7 inches. Knee clearance in row two is 3.9 inches and the luggage compartment provides 16.3 cu. ft. of space.

Submitted photos

Above: The 2013 Dodge Charger is bigger and stronger than its 1960s counterpart. Below: The racecar-inspired cabin is packed with entertainment and tech features. The cabin is packed with entertainment, tech, information, comfort and intuitiveness, and more than 65 advanced safety and security features are included. Charger is available in nine trims, starting with the base SE at $25,995 with eight-speed automatic transmission, and 31 miles per gallon on the highway. The Charger R/T is estimated at 25 mpg highway and starts at $29,995 and there are three additional upscaled R/T trims. My test Charger SRT8 and its 470 horses had a base price of $45,250, which exceeded the SRT8 Super Bee sticker by $3000. My test ride looked cool, mean, muscular and confident in Phantom Black Tri-Coat Pearl exterior paint for $500 more. Billet Silver, Bright White, Granite Crystal, HEMI Orange, Jazz Blue, P itch Black, Plum Crazy and TorRed

would have been standard no-cost paints and Redline 3-Coat Pearl would have been a $500 add-on. High Performance Laguna Leather seats added $1495; the power sunroof added $1095; adaptive cruise control with Adaptive Speed Control and Forward Collision Warning added $795; the Harman Kardon audio package with 19 GreenEdge speakers and a Logic 7 amp added $1995, the gas guz-

zler tax added $1000 and destination charges added $995 for a sticker-as-tested of $53,125. Visit www.CarlisleEvents. com for more on the automotive hobby. Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He’s been a “car guy” since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

If it lasted forever, it wouldn’t be called an event. The Mercedes-Benz Summer Event.

2014 E350 4MATIC® SPORT SEDAN

2013 ML350 4MATIC® SUV

2013 C300 4MATIC® SPORT SEDAN

2013 GLK250 33MPG HWY! BlueTEC® DIESEL SUV

$619

$369

$429

30-month lease with $5313 down. $0 security deposit. Ends 7-31-13.

27-month lease with $4063 down. $0 security deposit. Ends 7-31-13.

30-month lease with $4674 down. $0 security deposit. Ends 7-31-13.

LEASE FOR

PER MONTH

36-month lease with $4464 down. $0 security deposit. Ends 7-31-13.

LEASE FOR

PER MONTH

LEASE FOR

PER MONTH

LEASE FOR

PER MONTH

Now’s the time to get your hands on the Mercedes-Benz you’ve always wanted. Get exceptional offers at the Summer Event on the stylish C-Class; the versatile GLK-Class; and the luxuriously protective M-Class, all 2013 IIHS Top Safety Picks. It’s also your chance to experience the striking new 2014 E-Class. But hurry—these cars aren’t made to sit still, and neither should you. See Sun Motor Cars today. MBUSA.com/SummerEvent

As always, we also have a large inventory of pre-owned Mercedes-Benz models too!

Mercedes-Benz BEST OF THE BEST Dealer Recognition Award FIVE YEARS IN A ROW

Courtesy pickup and delivery & car wash for service customers. Family owned & operated for 30 years. Sun Motor Cars • 6677 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg PA 17050• Toll Free 877-316-3030 • mercedes.sunmotorcars.com

Autos Plus

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Chevrolet Impala LT: Nearing the end of its ninth generation, the Chevrolet Impala continues its successful and popular reign as the Bowtie badge’s full-size sedan. As a new generation of the vehicle will be unveiled for 2014, the 2013 Impala is currently America’s top-selling large sedan (as this vehicle was being tested). One of America’s first muscle cars, Impala began life as a trim level in the Bel Air line in 1958, and confirmed its muscle with a 340 hp power plant. When Impala set out as its own nameplate in 1962, it revved up with 409 horses and became a popular vehicle on the street and at the dealerships. After a couple of hiatuses from production, Impala returned in 1999 and has been a top seller again. To help sell this last-ofthe-generation full-size sedan, Chevrolet is offering a Luxury Edition Package on LT retail and fleet models for 2013. It includes front leather seating surfaces, heated driver and front passenger seats, a full year of SiriusXM Satellite Radio and other comfort and convenience features.

European design cues Built in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, Impala is constructed with two-sided galvanized steel (except roof), and quiet steel. Measuring a full-size 200.4 inches long, 72.9 inches wide and 58.7 inches high on a 110.5-inch wheelbase, Impala weighs 3635 lbs. Impala’s signature grille, angular rear deck, dual exhaust outlets and 17inch machined aluminum wheels (on the LT), give the sedan a clean, European and upscale demeanor. Its forward stance and high rear are enhanced by power adjustable body-color mirrors, halogen composite headlamps with automatic lamp control, body-color moldings and dual stainless steel exhaust.

By Mike Blake

Powered by 300 horses Impala retains its power from the past with an efficient 300-horsepower, 262 lbs.-ft. of torque, 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 engine. Working in tandem with a six-speed transmission, the E85 FlexFuel capable system is EPA-estimated at 18 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway. Using only unleaded, my mixed-use tests yielded an average of 23.1 mpg. Impala serves as a comfortable family sedan and also as a muscular fun drive. Steadily sprinting a zero-to-60 mph dash in 7.1 seconds and completing a quarter-mile run in 15.6 seconds, Impala took to the streets with decent start-up speed and that translated on the interstates with reliable passing performance. Quiet inside for driver and passengers, Impala is smooth on uneven road surfaces thanks to independent front MacPherson strut coil-over-spring suspension with twin-tube dampers and gas-charged valving, coil springs and hollow 30-mm stabilizer bar; and an independent tri-link coil over strut rear with twin-tube dampers, variable-rate coil springs and 16-mm solid stabilizer bar. In quick maneuvering on the track and S-curve roads, Impala’s steering was lethargic, understeer made quick-corrections necessary at speed and slight body roll was apparent, but stopping efficiency was notable and confidence behind the wheel never wavered.

The Sentinel • E3

Full power, full size and full of class

Cabin filled with tech and safety The cabin was decked out with leather and a carload of electronics. Sightlines were good and interior spaciousness was pampering with 39.4 inches of front headroom and 37.8 inches for second-seaters; legroom is 42.3 inches in row one and 37.6 in row two, and shoulder room offered 58.7 inches for front seaters and 58.6 in the back seats. Plastic materials lessen the luxury feel, but the electronics are abundant and the instrumentation is visible and coherent. The cabin was upgraded (see below) with a premium 8-speaker audio system, auxiliary input jack for portable devices such as an iPod, Bluetooth connectivity and dual-zone climate control. Impala puts safety first and has been awarded perfect crash test scores of five stars in front-impact and driver side government crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. Its safety features include six standard air bags -- dual-stage frontal, and thorax side-impact, driver and front passenger, and head curtain sideimpact airbags, Passenger Sensing System, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, four-wheel ABS disc brake system, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, seat belt pretensioners, traction control and an enhanced structure to absorb crash energy and provide a protective “safety cage” around occupants. The 2013 Impala base LS model starts at $22,685 plus freight and minus cashback incentives. This is down as much as $3,000 from last year’s prices. The LT trim starts at $27,385 plus freight and the LTZ starts at $31,225 plus freight. My test LT added the following to the LS package: Remote vehicle starter system; dualzone climate control and a/c and a flip-and-fold flat rear seat. Victory Red exte-

Submitted photos

Above: The Canadian-built Impala features a signature grille and angular rear deck. Below: The cabin sports leather seats and an abundance of electronics.

rior paint and Ebony leather interior were included, as were 17-inch machined aluminum wheels. The $2985 Luxury Edition Package added heated front seats with 8-way power adjustments for diver and 6-way power for front passenger, Bose® premium 8-speaker audio system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heat-

ed, power-adjustable outside mirrors and Universal Home Remote, for operating up to three radio-frequency-controlled devices. The LT Sunroof package was not available with the Luxury Package, but a cargo net in the trunk added $50, all-weather rear floor mats added $60 and freight charges added $825 for a

price-as-tested of $30,405. Visit www.CarlisleEvents. com for more on the automotive hobby. Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He’s been a “car guy” since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class is in class of its own by ANN M. JOB associated press

It’s easy to look down on Toyota Prius drivers — if you’re driving the newest and most special MercedesBenz G-Class sport utility vehicle. The unusual-looking G63 AMG, which includes modest design changes made on all G-Class models plus more luxury touches and a more powerful V-8, puts passengers at such seat heights that they tower over minivans, most pickup trucks and, yes, Priuses though gas mileage is another matter entirely. If the test drive was any indication, plenty of Prius drivers speed up to try to keep the tall, boxy G-Class from getting in front of them in traffic and blocking their views. Alas, the Priuses, ubiquitous on some California thoroughfares, are no match for the attention-grabbing, powerful G-Class. Even the old Hummer SUVs that fuel-conscious drivers loved to hate years ago didn’t have the awesome 544 horsepower and whopping 560 foot-pounds of torque that come with the top-of-the-line G63 AMG. This translates into a federal government fuel economy rating of 12 miles per gallon in city driving and 14 mpg on the highway, though the test G63 AMG managed just 10 mpg in city driving and 12.1 mpg in mixed city/ highway travel. With just 1,330 sold in the United States last year, the swaggering G-Class vehicles are not seen much on our roads. But their road presence, the intoxicating exhaust sounds of the biturbo V-8 in the 2013 AMG and the sumptuous alcantara-

and leather-clad interior make these vehicles unforgettable. They rank as the highestpriced SUVs from Mercedes. The base, 2013 G550 with 388-horsepower V-8 has a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $113,905. The starting retail price for a 2013 Mercedes G63 AMG is $135,205. All 2013 G-Class models come standard with sevenspeed automatic transmission, trendy light-emitting diode running lamps, blind spot assist and front and rear parking sensors with rearview camera. Competitors include the 2013 Porsche’s Cayenne SUV, which has a starting retail price of $50,575 with 300-horsepower, six-cylinder engine and goes to $146,975 for a Cayenne Turbo S with 550-horsepower, twin turbo V-8. Note that the 2013 Cayenne S Turbo is rated by the federal government at 15/22 mpg. Another competitor in the high-end, high-power, luxury SUV segment is the 2013 Lexus LX, which has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $82.425 with 383-horsepower, naturally aspirated V-8. Government fuel ratings for the LX are 12/17 mpg. But where the Cayenne and LX look like the more mainstream SUVs on today’s roads, the G-Class retains an old, utilitarian and quirky appearance. The G-Class isn’t rounded and aerodynamic, for example. It has upright side windows and an upright windshield that with a small amount of glass area, comparatively. The metal pillars at the sides of the windshield are much narrower than those in other SUVs, so

they don’t block views the way they do in other SUVs. But the upright side windows also mean it can take some getting used to seeing reflections of the driver, passengers and dashboard appear on the side window glass in certain daylight and at night. There is a big climb up to get inside, so the test G63 AMG’s side rails, set next to the pretty, shiny and illuminated door sills, got lots of use, as did the big handles at each doorway. E a c h o f t h e l ea t h e rtrimmed front seats had more than eight controls, including bolster and lumbar controls, to make them eminently comfortable. Passengers sit upright, in chair-like fashion, so frontseat legroom is an amazing 52.5 inches. Back-seat cushions were shorter than expected, but there was good support, a nearly flat floor and 41.9 inches of legroom. The G-Class does not offer third-row seating. And, despite the fact the test G63 AMG topped out at more than $137.000, it did not include rear-seat entertainment. The G63 AMG had awesome engine sounds that were readily heard inside the passenger compartment because dual tailpipes — two on the left side of the vehicle and two more on the right — protruded from just below the step rails at the back of the rear doors. These side exhausts were shiny silvercolored and provided a racecar look that’s not expected on an SUV. The big, 5.5-liter, double overhead cam, biturbo V8 bristled with power and came to life quickly. But this V-8 also managed slower, city traffic well without re-

Associated Press

The attention-grabbing G63 AMG ranks among the highest-priced SUVs from Mercedes.

In Focus 2013 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG BASE PRICE: $113,0000 for

G550; $134,300 for G63 AMG.

PRICE AS TESTED:

ENGINE: 5.3-liter, double overhead cam, biturbo, 90-degree V-8. MILEAGE: 12 mpg (city), 14 mpg (highway).

$137,505.

TOP SPEED: 130 mph.

TYPE: Front-engine, fourwheel drive, five-passenger, large sport utility vehicle.

LENGTH: 184.5 inches.

quiring the driver to tap the brake pedal often. The 25.4-gallon gasoline tank didn’t take long to empty, however, and premium is required. There is a 5.3-gallon reserve tank as well. The seven-speed tranny shifted smoothly in leisurely travel. Upshifts were noticeable during aggressive driving, and the driver can select sport mode, manual without

WHEELBASE: 112.2 inches.

a clutch pedal or eco, which automatically shut down the engine at stoplights to save fuel. With 20-inch wheels and wide tires, the test G63 AMG transmitted vibrations and impacts sizable potholes to the passenger compartment. The G-Class is, after all, a capable and durable off-roader, with a healthy amount of ground clear-

CURB WEIGHT: 5,622 pounds.

BUILT AT: Austria. OPTIONS: Designo package (Mystic Red exterior paint with designo black leather interior) $2,300. DESTINATION CHARGE: $905.

ance, three differential locks and a low range transfer case for rugged terrain. Four-wheel drive is always engaged. A couple items surprised, though. The rearview camera did not include graphic lines on the display screen showing where the vehicle was being steered. And the driver’s window did not have automatic power up capability.