Acura TSX Sport Wagon: A great blend of sportiness and practicality

By Bruce Caldwell
I don’t remember when the term station wagon became so negative. I didn’t get the memo or perhaps my dog that fits so well in station wagons ate it.

The need for station wagons hasn’t abated since their halcyon days in the fifties and sixties. Styles and more importantly, marketing approaches, have changed, but hauling passengers and/or stuff is still a necessity for many families.

The station wagon variant and nom de practicality I prefer is sport wagon. Sport wagons combine utility and smaller packages that favor fun and sporty handling/driving. The Acura TSX Sport Wagon is a great example of a well-balanced compact station wagon.

The Acura TSX is the brand’s entry level offering and the wagon is a recent addition. It adds versatility without diminishing the positive traits that make TSX sedans so popular.

Walkaround: The Acura TSX Sport Wagon is a handsome vehicle. We think it looks better than the TSX sedan. The design works well with the extended rear roof. We favor the rear _ view over the front angle. Stylish five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels and moderately aggressive tires fill the wheel wells and enhance the sporty look. Doors open and shut with the kind of solid, tight-fitting, precision that customers expect of Acura products. All the fit, finish, and quality elements are first rate.

Interior: The interior is perfectly executed. Acura interior designers masterfully blend quality materials for visual and tactile excellence. You can’t expect Bentley ambiance at this price point, but there are no disappointments.

The TSX Sport Wagon caters to the driver and front seat passenger. Adjustability/ergonomic features are great. Legroom is stretch out perfect. Seat travel is extensive, which is good, because rear seat legroom is snug with the front seats all back.

A thick contoured leather steering wheel is loaded with auxiliary controls. It has tilt and telescopic features to accommodate a wide variety of driving positions. There are small paddle shifters for use when the automatic transmission is in the Sport mode.

Our test car was the Tech model, which means it had the navigation system. The system works fine once you master its many functions. The Tech package also includes an upscale sound/entertainment/information system.

One other Tech package feature is a power tailgate. It’s handy, but not totally necessary given the tailgate’s compact size. The substantial rear opening provides access to a flat cargo area. The split rear seat increases capacity and flexibility. There’s additional storage under the rear deck and recessed cargo loops.

Under The Hood: Our TSX was equipped with the 2.4-liter 201 horsepower i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and the 5-speed automatic transmission. The engine was smooth and proficient for a 4-cylinder, but Acura V-6 engines have spoiled us.

The EPA rates the TSX at 22-city/30 highway. We got over 27 mpg on a trip to Port Angeles.

Behind The Wheel: Old school station wagons weren’t much fun to drive, but the new Acura TSX Sport Wagon drives and handles better than old school sports cars. The TSX is a great driving car on long trips and around town. The fine suspension and brakes combine with the previously mentioned excellent interior to provide a very pleasurable driving experience.

An Acura feature that deserves praise is the excellent wiper system. During the recent record rains we used the wipers at every speed from drizzle to downpour. These wipers get our top rating of five umbrellas.
Whines: Miscellaneous interior storage bins were on the small side. A massive owners manual overshadowed the decent size glovebox.

Bottom Line: The Acura TSX Sport Wagon is a great compact station wagon. It doesn’t have the capacity of a Brady Bunch wagon, but most people don’t have such large-scale needs. The TSX Sport Wagon combines the style, comfort, and handling of a sport sedan with the added space and versatility of a wagon. Regardless of what you label it, we call the Acura TSX Sport Wagon a winner.

Washington State Poised to Take its Place as Hot Rod Nirvana

SEMA Model Street Rod and Custom Bill Passes in Washington State Senate
 

Unfortunately, in some places, it remains extremely difficult to title and register homebuilt vehicles like customs, street rods, hot rods, and kit cars. Thankfully, SAN is on the case and actively promoting legislation that will alleviate that problem for the enthusiast community by streamlining the process. Its model language gets these rides out of the garage and onto the road — where they belong!

The most recent example of this legislation is right here in Washington. State  This year, Senate Bill 5585 was sponsored by State Senator Mike Carrell, a car guy himself. This much-needed piece of legislation would create a vehicle titling and registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles. Lawmakers in Olympia understand the need for SB5585 and the State Senate recently passed the bill in a unanimous 48 to 0 vote. The bill is now pending consideration in the State House of Representatives. As Senator Carrell said, “These folks have a passion for restoring old cars or building something new and one-of-a-kind out of parts gathered from a dozen different cars. This bill will establish constancy in state law and clarify previously unclear registration requirements.” Working with Senator Carrell and his staff, the SAN played a critical role in drafting amendments to the bill to accommodate Washington’s unique requirements.

SB5585 provides guidance for registering and titling street rods and customs, including kit cars and replicas. When enacted into law, Washington enthusiasts will no longer arrive at their local DMV office and denied a means of putting their creations on the road. Moreover, the bill acknowledges that original parts may have “dried up” and that technological advancements have created improved materials. SB5585 allows for the use of non-original components and creates a titling criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. Another important cornerstone of the bill is that it exempts street rods and customs from a range of standard equipment requirements and emissions inspections. Vehicles classified under this class will be held to standards applicable to the designated model year, not those of 2011 and beyond. Finally, SB5585 also permits the use of “blue dot” taillights, a favorite among restorers of classic automobiles.

“This type of legislation is a top priority for SAN on behalf of the nation’s enthusiasts,” said Mike Dingell, director of the SEMA Action Network (SAN). “We want enthusiasts to express themselves by building their dream cars and to share them and enjoy them on America’s streets,” he continued. Versions of our model bill have been successful in helping hobbyists title their rides in 21 states to date and we are working to add more to that list. This year, similar SAN model titling and registration legislation is also pending consideration in New York, Texas, and New Mexico.

Jaguar Celebrates 50 Years Of it Iconic E-Type

This year marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most famous and desirable cars in automotive history — the Jaguar E-Type — arguably one of the most beautiful cars ever built. It stunned the motoring world when it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show 50 years ago with its sleek aerodynamic form and racing car engine.

"It's impossible to overstate the impact the E-Type had when it was unveiled," said Jaguar's current design director Ian Callum at this month's show in Geneva. He added that the design set a standard that will always be associated with Jaguar but that it was a burden at the same time because "I will never be able to do anything quite like it."
  
Click here to see a video video that includes  about 50 years of the E-Type's history.

Coupe Photo by John Gustafson
Convertible photo courtesy of japolink.com

Fred Meyer to install EV Chargers

Fred Meyer has announced that electric car-charging stations will be available at a handful of its Puget Sound-area stores this summer. The grocery chain is partnering with a San Francisco company called Ecotality to build the stations with a $115 million U.S. Department of Energy grant and another $115 million from investors.

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A spokesperson for the Portland-based retailer, said stores in Kent, Bellevue, Everett, Lake City and Alderwood were being considered as charging-station locations, along with a Maple Valley store yet to be built. Another handful of stores in he Portland area and others in strategic locations along the Interstate 5 corridor, are also set to get charging stations. The cost of using the stations hasn't been determined yet.

Ecotality will bring about 310 charging stations to 18 cities and metropolitan areas in the U.S. over the next year thanks to the grant. In other locations, the charging stations will be installed at Best Buy stores and BP stations.

The charging stations, which usually take four to six hours to recharge a depleted battery, are primarily for shoppers who want or need to "top off" their battery. Electric car owners are expected to do most of their battery charging at home, because the process is more time-consuming than getting gasoline at a gas station.

Ecotality will also be installing EV charging stations on the Port Orchard waterfront in the next 30-90 days.

Honda, Chrysler and Toyota Issue Recalls

Honda is recalling more than 35,000 model year 2006-2007 U.S. Civic hybrids sold in the U.S. to fix a problem with the electrical system that could cause the headlights to turn off or the engine to stall. The company said the voltage converter that relays power from the motor assist system to the vehicle's electrical components could fail.

Honda has received seven reports of stalling engines and 82 warranty claims connected to the problem. Dealers will replace the voltage converter at no charge. Owners can call Honda at (800) 999-1009 and select option four.

Toyota is also recalling about 22,000 trucks and SUVs to fix faulty tire pressure monitoring systems on some versions of the 2008-2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tacoma and Tundra. Toyota said the systems that monitor the vehicles' tire pressure did not comply with federal safety standards that require a warning light to illuminate on the dashboard at the minimum activation pressure and the systems need to be re-calibrated.

Owners will be notified of the recall at a future date and dealers will fix the tire pressure monitoring system. Owners can call Toyota at (800) 331-4331.

Chrysler's recall of about 20,000 Jeep Wranglers centers on steering issues. Chrysler Group LLC said its Jeep recall covers Wranglers from the 2010-2011 model years over potential loose fasteners to the front and rear axles. The issue could cause poor steering and handling or cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The Wranglers were built from mid-July 2010 through mid-September 2010. The recall is expected to begin in mid-March and dealers will tighten the fasteners. Owners can call Chrysler at (800) 853-1403.

Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet — Segment First Crossover Ragtop

I was invited to participate in a media drive of the all new 2011 Nissan Murano Cabriolet which took place this past weekend (March 4 & 5, 2011) in Del Mar, California.

Myself and Tom Orlando of Bullz-eye.com shared the wheel of the “segment first” ragtop, for a cruise around town, and then a spin to Nissan's Design America facility in San Diego. 

Look for a review in the upcoming, April issue of the Business Journal, which will have a special focus section on all things automotive, but in the meantime, check out the photos below.

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe offers performance, luxury, and razor-sharp style

By Lary Coppola

When I first saw the Cadillac CTS Coupe concept car at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, I thought it was absolutely breathtaking, and hoped financially troubled GM would actually build it. The brainchild of former GM product guru Bob Lutz had such a strong response everywhere it appeared, in an undeniably bold move for GM — just as the original CTS was — it decided to build the CTS Coupe to go head-to-head with the new crop of luxury coupes from German and Japanese automakers. Those include the Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe, Audi A5, Lexus IS 350 C, BMW 335i coupe, and Infiniti G37 coupe.

The radically edgy coupe is Cadillac’s first since the Eldorado, which ceased production in 2002. The CTS debuted in 2003 as a sharp-edged four-door sedan built on a new rear-wheel-drive platform — a departure for GM as radical the razor-edged design was in the heyday of jelly bean-shaped vehicles. Cadillac had been primarily front-wheel-drive for many years, utilizing a basic design pioneered by the Oldsmobile Toronado in the early 1970s.

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All new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers silky new V6 and lots more

By Lary Coppola

Everything about the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is new and improved — including the lowered price. There’s a powerful new DOHC V6, new suspension, more interior room, reclining rear seats, an optional Panoramic sunroof that extends over both rows of seats, and a front seat that folds flat to carry long things like 2x4’s, skis, and kayaks.

The design of the new Grand Cherokee actually began in Germany four years ago, when Chrysler was still Daimler-Chrysler, and some components are actually shared with the Mercedes ML SUV.

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Free iPhone App helps drivers beat the traffic

INRIX, a leading provider of traffic information and driver services, announced the immediate ability for consumers to save time and reduce frustration driving throughout Europe with the launch of a free app, INRIX Traffic!, for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Available for immediate download from the Apple App Store, INRIX Traffic! is a community-powered traffic app that uniquely helps drivers reduce the amount of time they waste stuck in traffic through a better understanding of current AND future traffic conditions. Initially available in local languages in France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg with more countries to be added later this year, INRIX Traffic! covers more than 300,000 km of motorways, city streets and secondary roads in 100 cities.

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2011 Ford Super Duty: Just what you expect — big and brawny

By Lary Coppola

Every time I see a Ford Super Duty pickup, Tim Allen’s infamous manly grunt comes immediately to mind. Whether for work or play, in all of its trim levels, this is serious machinery.

While the 2011 Super Duty is not exactly totally new, having undergone a major upgrade three years ago, the big news is the availability of a new, 6.7-liter, turbocharged Power Stroke® V-8 diesel engine, which was designed, engineered and built by Ford. It delivers best-in-class horsepower and torque at 390 and 735 ft.-lb. (at 1,600 rpm) respectively — 40 horses and 85 lb.-ft. more than the previous diesel.

There’s also an all-new 6.2-liter V-8 gas powerplant that also delivers a best-in-class 385 horses, and 405 ft.-lb. of torque – 85 more horses and 40 ft.-lb. more torque than the current 5.4-liter V-8 gas engine — combined with class-leading fuel economy and E85 compatibility.

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Nissan's funky New Juke... A little off center, but hey, it’s fun and capable

By Lary Coppola
Toyota may have started it with its odd-looking Scion XB, but if I didn’t know better, I’d swear Nissan was trying to corner the market on funk. First the boxy Cube, with its wrap-around picture window, and now the all-new 2011 Nissan Juke, which defines funk in a totally new way.


The Juke, which Nissan calls a “Sport Cross” is the smallest crossover on the market, and delivers fun and utility in an economical package. It should be hitting showrooms right about now.

While substantially smaller than Nissan’s compact Rogue crossover, it comes in eight model configurations: The Juke S, SV, and SL, with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive (AWD) available on all models. The transmission choices are a manual 6-speed or continuously variable automatic (CVT).
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2011 Ford F150 Raptor: Serious Off-Roader

By Lary Coppola

When I first saw the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, the first thing I wanted to do was emit a manly grunt ala Tim Allen.

Except for commercial uses, trucks in America generally are never used to their full capabilities, but serve a few basic purposes — like hauling stuff for weekend projects or towing RVs and boats. And while engineering has taken the rough edges off most trucks, driving them daily usually means compromising on ride quality, tolerating a huge turning radius and parking issues, along with awkward handling compared to your average car.

This is truly a guy’s truck — and not for wussy guys either. But in spite of it’s manly appearance, to truly appreciate the Raptor’s capabilities, you’ll need to drive it fast over rough terrain, because flat out is how this truck is engineered to be driven.

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2011 Honda Fit: Fun to drive and practical too

By Lary Coppola

I confess that cars like the Honda Fit aren’t my usual or preferred fare to drive or review, but that said, the Fit is a sporty subcompact that I found surprisingly fun to drive, as well as both practical and economical.

Originally debuting as a 2007, the Fit was redesigned for the 2009 model year, resulting in a more upscale appearance, with higher quality materials and seats inside. It also benefitted from a new 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine giving the Fit slightly more horses and torque, while chassis and suspension upgrades improved the overall ride and handling. Larger standard wheels didn’t hurt either.

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Redesigned 2011 Dodge minivan gets new V6, and “sporty” R/T trim

By Lary Coppola

Chrysler is acknowledged as the creator of the modern minivan, and the company has re-staked its claim as leader of that market segment with major upgrades to the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country family haulers. The overlap between the Chrysler and Dodge minivans is gone as well. Clearly defined marketing strategy aims Dodge at the under-30, under $30,000 crowd, while steering bigger spenders toward the Chrysler nameplate, which starts at about $31,000 and goes up.

Behind the new Ram-like grille, sits a smooth, gutsy 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, which is now standard across both the Dodge and Chrysler lines, and replaces the previous three V-6 engine choices — none as powerful as the Pentastar. And the upgrades are targeted where buyers will notice it most — on upgraded materials in massively improved interiors.

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Old and New Collide at Silverdale City Automotive

By Lary Coppola

What’s old is new again at Silverdale’s newest auto dealership, Silver City Automotive. Silver City Automotive is unique from the run-of-the-mill dealerships because its added a touch of nostalgia to the pre-owned car buying experience.

Owned by longtime car dealer Rick Hern, who for most of his career has been associated with his family’s business, the Courtesy Auto Group in Poulsbo, a visit to the dealership will take you on a stroll through years gone by. Experience the atmosphere of a 1950’s era soda shop, complete with hot dogs, pop corn, and classic memorabilia.

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Redesigned Kia Sorento SUV more car-like than ever

By Lary Coppola

The Kia Sorento has been completely redesigned from the ground up for 2011, resulting in a much more car-like vehicle than before. That’s because the previous-generation Sorento was built on a rugged body-on-frame truck chassis, while the 2011 Sorento rests on a modern, lightweight, rattle-free unibody frame.

The Sorento is larger in every way than the prior version, offering 15-percent more cargo room than its predecessor, and is now available as a three-row crossover that seats seven.

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2011 Jeep Liberty: An off road star — as you would expect

By Lary Coppola
The Jeep Liberty is one of the best, most capable vehicles in its class, with Jeep’s legendary off-road prowess and tall, angular styling reminiscent of the popular 90-era Cherokee. It rides smoother than the Cherokee, while maintaining the ruggedness by which Jeep has always been defined.


Jeep has refined the Liberty, adding premium options, such as available full-time all-wheel drive in addition to the standard part-time system. Both are aided by Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control.
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2011 Infiniti G25 a tough competitor

By Lary Coppola
The introduction of Infiniti’s G25 sedan shouldn’t come as a big surprise. While its powerful G37 has been a big seller, the 2.5-liter V6 G25 expands Infiniti’s presence to the entry-level luxury segment by offering a challenging new alternative to the BMW 328i and Lexus IS 250, as well as some domestic models. It shares the same dynamic exterior, interior and chassis as the G37 Sedan, but with a smaller displacement engine and better fuel economy.


It’s aimed directly at people who want a luxury sedan, but might not require the higher levels of luxury and performance provided by the more powerful, and more expensive, G37 — specifically women, male and female buyers at both ends of the age spectrum, and empty nesters.

Featuring both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, three sedan models are offered: the base G25, starting at $30,950 the G25 Journey priced at $32,350, and the all-wheel drive G25x, which stickers at $33,950. And pricing is where Infiniti shines, significantly undercutting both Lexus and BMW on similarly equipped IS 250 and 328i models. Read More