Newmarket Wheels, June 23, 2016

Page 1

W1 Aurora Banner

|

Newmarket Era

|

Georgina Advocate

|

East Gwillimbury Express

SALES • LEASING • SERVICE QUICK LANE • PARTS

15815 Yonge Street, Aurora Thursday, June 23, 2016

Fuel-sipping

ROAD TEST

Lorne Drury

ROAD TEST

Sonata Hybrid a great ride

Metroland Media Conventional wisdom says it’s not a matter of if, but when oil prices begin to climb again. Until then, great products like Hyundai’s 2016 Sonata Hybrid will be a tough sell as consumers pay less attention to fuel economy than they do when prices skyrocket. That’s a shame because the gaselectric Sonata Hybrid is a vehicle that can provide outstanding fuel economy and at the same time perform no different driving wise than the regular gasoline-powered Sonata. This is the second generation of Hyundai’s intermediate hybrid five-passenger sedan. Unlike the regular Sonata that is built in the U.S., the hybrid and a new-for-2016 plug-in Sonata hybrid are assembled at the Asan plant in South Korea. Hyundai has improved fuel efficiency in this new version of the Sonata Hybrid by using a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder that replaces the 2.4-litre engine in the outgoing model. It is combined with a 38 kW electric motor inside the six-speed automatic transmission housing where it replaces the torque converter. Many of the manufacturers have names for their hybrid systems and Hyundai’s is Blue Drive. The 2.0-litre engine in the Blue Drive system produces 154 hp and 140 lb/ft of torque, while the electric motor adds 51 hp and 151 lb/ ft of torque for a combined 193 hp. For 2016, the Sonata Hybrid has a number of design elements that

1-888-263-3849 1-800-465-0411

Jim Robinson

Metroland Media

A wolf in compact crossover clothing

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is spacious, five-passenger mid-size sedan that offers sub 6.0 L/100 km fuel economy.

differentiate it from the traditional Sonata. Features such as a unique front grille, front and rear bumpers, front fenders, front and rear lights, chrome side moldings, badges and new wheels set it apart from the gasoline-powered Sonata and help it achieve an amazing coefficient of drag of 0.24, best in class, according to Hyundai. A key feature of the Blue Drive system is a new lithium-polymer battery pack that is 13 per cent more powerful than the outgoing

one with a capacity of 1.62 kWh. More importantly, the battery now sits below the trunk floor, meaning more rear seat legroom and a 10 per cent increase in cargo volume to 380 litres. It also allows for 60/40 split folding rear seats that open up even more cargo volume when required. For 2016, the Sonata Hybrid comes in three flavours, Hybrid, Limited and Ultimate, starting at $29,649. This compares with a starting price of $24,749 for the GL base model in the gasoline

version. That’s nearly a $5,000 price differential and one that many consumers wouldn’t consider with the cost of fuel as it is today. Buyers tend to think with their wallets and until fuel prices start to climb, it will be difficult to persuade them that this is a good deal. But for those who put fuel economy above performance and require a midsize sedan, the Sonata Hybrid makes a lot of sense. The cabin is a pleasant place, Turn to page W5

LEFT: Power driving the front wheels comes from a 2.0-litre DOHC 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine (154 hp, 140 lb/ft of torque) and an electric motor (51 hp, 151 lb/ft) for a combined 193 hp. RIGHT: These special alloy wheels have slotted spokes to prevent air from going into the wheel wells.

When Porsche announced it was going to build a compact CUV, more than a few eyebrows were raised, but it proved to be a wise decision. The Macan, as Porsche predicted, is now its largest selling vehicle in the model lineup. Starting out with a base S and toptrim Turbo, this spring saw the addition of the GTS designed to slot in between the two. The GTS features more power, re-engineered suspension and a serious connectivity enhancement for starters. The 3.0-litre direct injection twin-turbo V6 is based on the engine in the Macan S, but with GTS specific tuning for 360 hp and 369 lb/ft of torque. The all-wheel-drive is similar to the Macan Turbo with a sevenspeed dual clutch transmission that actuates an electro-hydraulic, multi-plate clutch to variably engage the front axle depending on traction needs. Fuel consumption is rated at 13.8/10.3/12.3L/100 km city/highway/combined. The Macan GTS accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 159 mph with the optional Sport Chrono Package fitted. Tow rating for the GTS is 750 kg (1,653 lb) unbraked and 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) braked. Air suspension, including Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), is standard on the Macan GTS that provides adjustable ride height and damper stiffness. It optimally tunes the car for virtually any driving condition. Macan GTS specific suspension tuning also includes a 10 mm reduction of standard ride height, compared to the Macan Turbo, further lowering the centre of gravity. For this kind of power and handling, performance braking is critical with 360 mm front rotors with six-piston calipers and 330 mm single piston calipers at the rear — all painted red. Turn to page W2

It’s the summer of C-Class. Don’t wait. For a limited time enjoy a finance rate of 0.9% for 60 months on ALL 2012, 2013, and 2014 C-Class models.* Limited time offer includes

0.9%

*

financing for 60 months on select 2012-2014 models.

Buy a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle and benefit from: • Reassurance: 150-point certification inspection • Warranty: standard Star Certified warranty up to 6 years or 120,000 km • Confidence: complete vehicle history report • Security: 24-hour special roadside assistance • Peace of mind: five day/500 km exchange privilege

Mercedes-Benz Newmarket, 230 Mulock Drive, Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 9B8, 905.853.6868, www.newmarket.mercedes-benz.ca © 2016 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. *0.9% financing only available through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services on approved credit for a limited time. Available for up to 60 month finance on model year 2012-2014 Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned C-Class models excluding AMG (less than 140,000 km). Down payment may be required. Vehicle license, insurance, registration and sales taxes are extra. Dealer may lease or finance for less. Offer may change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers. See your authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer for details or call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Relations Centre at 1-800-387-0100. Offer ends July 3, 2016.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Newmarket Wheels, June 23, 2016 by York Region Wheels - Issuu