Archive for December, 2011
First Drive: 2012 Mazda BT-50
Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by admin.
By James Stanford
Meet the Mazda BT-50, another “ute” from Australia, closely related to the new Ford Ranger. Both come out of the same lines of the same factories, but they have unique interiors, exteriors and suspension tuning.
While we hear a fair amount of criticism from frustrated Americans who would love to buy a Ranger, the BT-50 doesn’t bring out the same kind of passion, partly because Mazda isn’t as well-known for its commercial vehicles, but it could also have something to do with Mazda’s styling as well.
The BT-50 is not your average-looking ute. Mazda gave it all the curves of a futuristic coupe, and it’s a little confronting. But it would be foolish to dismiss the Mazda for its looks because it is a lot tougher than it looks.
This platform is new from the ground up, and the BT-50 has instantly become one of the best work trucks around. It’s one of the bigger ones in its class. The dual cab is 211 inches from nose to tail and 71 inches tall, but it is relatively narrow, at 73 inches wide, so it also appeals to many Asian customers who need to get it through narrow spots. You can get it as a chassis cab if you want a flat tray or go with the steel box, which measures 61 inches wide, 61 inches long, 20 inches deep and 45 inches between the wheel arches.
You can get it as a regular cab, extended cab, and dual (or crew) cab, the latter of which has room for five. There is a choice of two- and four-wheel-drive models with an on-demand system four-wheel drive system with low range and an electronic rear-locking differential.
The ground clearance is 9.3 inches for the 4×4, and it has 31 inches of wading depth, which we tested out through a creek near the Australian capital of Canberra. It made it through easily. As for the 4×4 capability, the BT-50 easily handled some steep and slippery tracks with ease.
A gas four-cylinder is available in some markets; the Australian BT-50s are diesel-only, and buyers can choose from a 2.2-liter four-cylinder or a 3.2-liter five-cylinder. Both are common-rail units with a variable-geometry turbocharger and are available with a six-speed manual or a torque converter-type automatic with six speeds.
We didn’t get to try the small engine, but we do know it makes 147 horsepower at 3,700 rpm and 277 pounds-feet of torque between 1,500 rpm and 2,500 rpm. The 3.2-liter manages a more respectable 197 hp at 3,000 rpm and 347 pounds-feet of torque between 1,750 rpm and 2,500 rpm. Like the Ranger, these engines come from the Ford Transit family with some revisions.
Our utes were empty, but this engine handled 1,540 pounds in the Ranger without a worry. The BT-50 has a payload capacity of up to 2,802 pounds and can tow a very respectable 7,385 pounds. For the full specs on the three cabs and their capacities in pdf format, click here: Download BT50 Specs-1 (1).
The suspension is a rigid axle with leaf springs at the back and double wishbones and coilovers at the front. Combine that with a far stiffer ladder frame and new liquid-filled chassis mounts, and the BT-50 can handle big loads, yet it is also relatively civilized on the road.
As to ride, it's not quite as comfortable as the Ranger’s. Mazda says its engineers opted for alternate bushings, anti-roll bars and shock absorber damping rates to give the truck a sportier and firmer feel — some might even call it more car-like. As a result, the truck handles a little better on smooth surfaces, but it feels more jittery and slightly less controlled on rougher surfaces as it picks up all the bumps and imperfections from the road. It does handle extremely well for a workhorse ute, though, and the rack-and-pinion steering feels sharp and precise.
Mazda decided to make the interior more car-like as well. The cabin looks every bit as good as a premium Mazda passenger car, and the quality is top notch. It is extremely quiet in there, too. Sure, you hear some diesel clatter, but it is still quite serene, and there is no need to raise your voice to chat with backseat passengers.
Like the Ranger, the BT-50 has heaps of headroom and legroom for all occupants, and there are tens of cubby holes for all your gear, including spots beneath the floor in the rear passenger footwells, much like the full-size Ram 1500s. We especially like that the rear seats fold up and down to allow for extra practicality.
Safety was given a high priority, and the BT-50 comes standard with front and side curtain airbags and electronic stability control. Mazda Australia also offers two approved bull bars that work with the airbag sensors. It proved their strength with footage of a test in which the BT-50 hit a specially made kangaroo crash-test dummy at 60 mph. There wasn’t much left of the hefty dummy, which weighed the same as a male adult kangaroo, but the bull bar and front end of the Mazda was in perfect condition.
Will buyers in the U.S. see the BT-50 anytime soon? Not likely, but it’s good to know there is a little truck out there that could be imported by Mazda if the small-truck segment in the U.S. were to surge.
Continue Reading
BMW M’s Fastest (Current) Car Is The M3 CRT
Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by admin.
Located near Chemnitz, in what used to be East Germany, the Sachsenring race track is best known as the home of the German motorcycle Grand Prix since 1998. It’s also used by the German magazine Autobild to test cars, often in multi-vehicle shootouts. One recent BMW M-Series-only Autobild test, uncovered by Bimmerpost, ran the M3 CRT against…
Continue Reading
2012 Hyundai Elantra, Accent Earn Four-Star NHTSA Ratings
Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by admin.
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra and Accent received an overall rating of four out of five stars in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's crash-test rating system.
The Elantra's composite score is composed of a three-star frontal, four-star rollover and a five-star rating for the combined side pole and barrier tests. The side barrier test is an area where other vehicles have shown weakness with the safety agency's testing format. The side pole test simulates a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver's side.
The Accent received four stars in frontal, rollover and combined side-impact tests, though NHTSA highlighted a particular safety concern with the Accent. During the side-impact barrier test, the left rear door intruded. The intrusion wasn't factored into the side-impact rating, however.
In crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2012 Elantra received a Top Safety Pick award, meaning the vehicle received a Good rating (the agency's highest rating) in front, side, rear and roof-strength crash tests. The 2012 Accent had a Good rating in the roof-strength and the frontal crash tests, but an Acceptable rating in the side-impact test.
Continue Reading
Year-End Deal Reality Check: Chrysler Group
Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by admin.
Chrysler's had a very successful year overall, with sales up 25% through November. Part of that has to do with the automaker's redesigned and refreshed vehicles, and part of it has to do with Chrysler's seemingly eternal and robust incentive spending. The end of the year is no different. Under Chrysler's cross-branded “Big Finish 2011” sales event, there are plenty of attractive financing and cash-back deals to be had.
Starting with the Chrysler brand — which has the most aggressive incentive offers – there are 0% financing deals on the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country and 2012 Chrysler 200 sedan for 60 months and for 60 to 72 months on all 2011 Chrysler brand models. The Town & Country ($1,250), 200 ($2,500), 300 ($1,500) and 200 convertible ($1,000) also have generous cash-back offers.
At Dodge dealers, shoppers will find 0% financing for 72 months or $3,000 cash back on the refreshed 2012 Dodge Avenger. The 2012 Dodge Challenger has $1,500 cash back, and the 2012 Dodge Durango has $1,000 cash back when you finance through Ally Bank.
The only standout Jeep deal is on the soon-to-be-discontinued 2012 Jeep Liberty. The midsize SUV gets 0% financing for 60 months or $3,000 cash back.
The Fiat brand has some attractive lease offerings for its 2012 500. A new “Sign & Drive” promotion offers no money down on a base Fiat 500 and a $199-a-month lease for 42 months and 42,000 miles.
The above offers end in early January.
Continue Reading
This Is What It’s Like Driving A 1,500-HP Corvette Down The Highway
Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by admin.
We’ve seen what 1,500 horsepower unleashed in the C6 Chevrolet Corvette can do at the drag strip, as well as at the Texas Mile, but now here’s a video showing what it’s like driving with that much power down a highway. The video shows the driver of a twin-turbocharged Corvette dropping the hammer at around 50 mph and accelerating…
Continue Reading
Year-End Reality Check: Mazda
Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by admin.
The end of the year means dealers are trying to move old product to make room for next year’s new cars, trucks and SUVs; it also means more deals for new-car shoppers. According to Mazda, ‘Tis the Season of Saving. The automaker’s annual year-end sale program offers well-qualified shoppers 0% financing and no payments for 90 days on select 2011 and 2012 Mazda vehicles.
Model-year 2011 vehicles that qualify include the Mazda2, Mazda3 hatchback and sedan, Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9. Also eligible are 2012 versions of the Mazda2, Mazda5, Mazda6 and CX-9. For example, qualified shoppers can purchase the redesigned-for-2012 Mazda5 small minivan for $19,345 and get 0% financing for 60 months and forgo payments for 90 days.
The sale ends Jan. 3.
Continue Reading
Hyundai Lets You Race The Veloster In Times Square… Virtually: Video
Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by admin.
As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, New York City residents will be waiting to see the famous Times Square Ball drop. However, this year, a brand new motor racing series will make its debut in the city. Well, a virtual one at least. Hyundai has launched an interactive racing game called “HYUNDAI RACE” on its prominent Times…
Continue Reading
Reader Review of the Week: 2012 Ford Fusion
Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by admin.
Lowell from Niagara Falls, N.Y., is a new owner of a 2012 Ford Fusion. After looking for a replacement for his 2001 Mercury Sable wagon, Lowell considered several Ford vehicles — including the Escape and Focus — but settled on the Fusion because of its quiet and comfortable ride. This reader holds out hope that Ford will build a proper station wagon one day, however. Continue reading the full review to find out more. Once you're done, write a review about your own car here.
“I originally planned to purchase a 2012 Ford Focus because I need a car that gets good gas mileage. I was skeptical of the quirky PowerShift automatic transmission and didn't like the radical 'tuner' design of the 2012 Focus, so I test-drove the Fusion instead. I really needed another station wagon to replace my 2001 Mercury Sable, but alas, Ford no longer makes a practical, economical wagon. (I asked about importing a European-spec Focus wagon, and the dealer laughed.)
“The Escape has dismal gas mileage and a poor safety rating, so I bought the Fusion. I am very pleased with my choice. My only complaint is that a car with a trunk doesn't hold nearly as much as the 'greenhouse' area of a wagon. However, I am enjoying a very comfortable, quiet ride and unexpectedly good gas mileage that matches our 2001 Ford Focus. The Fusion feels substantial and is easy to drive, although I won't be able to load it up at Home Depot like I did with the Sable wagon. Someday, station wagons just might return.”
Continue Reading
Lamborghini Gallardo Burns To The Ground In Prague: Video
Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by admin.
News of a supercar on fire somewhere in the world is becoming almost commonplace these days. The latest is news of this bright orange Lamborghini Gallardo, which went up in flames on a road in Prague, the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. While it’s unclear what was the cause of the fire, the video below shows that the biggest…
Continue Reading
Guilty Pleasure: Ford Fiesta Mark I
Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by admin.
Last week, I was torn between the Pinto Cruising Wagon and the early Fiesta Ghia for the week’s Guilty Pleasure, and went with the Pinto because millions of Yurpeans still love the early Fiesta. That makes this pleasure less guilty… or does it? The Fiesta was Ford’s first real postwar shot at a genuine “world car,” and the intent in…
