Car Reviews: 01/06/10

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Mercedes-Benz Planning New Sports Car Based On SLS AMG Platform

2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

2012 Tesla Model S

No longer a Lotus spinoff, the Model S is not only an all-new model based on an all-new chassis, it looks extremely good too. Long and sleek, classically proportioned yet uniquely modern, it appears that ex-Mazda designer Fritz van Holzhausen has created what is needed stylistically to woo premium buyers into the ultra-green camp. Will it dethrone Fisker’s Karma as best looking ultra-green super sedan? That’ll be a personal decision, but where the Karma is a plug-in series hybrid with an extremely sophisticated and efficient powertrain the Model S is purely electric and therefore zero-emissions thanks to its all-electric drivetrain.

Practically speaking the Model S is quite brilliant. Not only does it incorporate a hatchback for ease of access to the cargo bay that houses enough volume, with the 60/40 rear seats folded flat, to haul a surfboard, a 50-inch flat panel TV and a mountain bike, simultaneously, but it also boasts more luggage space up front where the engine of a conventionally-powered car would normally be. Instead of an internal combustion engine (ICE) and transmission there’s a compact electric drivetrain connecting to batteries located under the seats, just another benefit to going 100-percent electric. As for who will supply that motor, the battery pack, or what type of suspension setup it will include, or for that matter what the car’s specific dimensions will be, other than being about the size of a BMW 5-Series Touring (wagon), according to Tesla, and having a base weight of about 2,222 kilos (4,900 lbs), the company is either keeping hush-hush on the subject or doesn’t yet know.

While such details can be worked out, what’s exciting for Tesla is the market potential for such a vehicle, a point proven by fellow upstart Fisker that has reportedly already signed up 32 dealers to sell a lineup that will soon expand to include two models as well. Fisker intends to sell 10,000 of its Karma sedans per year alone, and its all-new Karma S hardtop convertible grand touring model will only add to that total, immediately vaulting the brand past storied luxury marques such as Aston Martin and Bentley.

With a total of 250 Tesla roadsters delivered so far, Tesla hasn't yet excited the mass-market dealer mentality all that much. But the prospective sales of 20,000 total Model S four-door sedans by the end of its first full year of sales, and its potential to pull in upwardly mobile environmentalists for aftermarket sales and service will have some high-end sellers salivating at the mouth with the thought of getting their hands on a franchise.

In order to make any electric car viable in the real world, range has to exceed mere commuting capability and extend into weekend jaunts to the country. To that end, the Model S should excel with a choice of three range packs that start at 257 km (160 miles), reach a median of 370 km (230 miles) and top out at 483 km (300 miles), the topmost model featuring 440-volt charging and the lesser models featuring 110- and 220-volt power sources respectively. A quick charge can be achieved in only 45 minutes, while a full charge will take up to 4 hours via a 220-volt plug; a connection to North America's 110-volt household current will take longer.

So what's Tesla's key strategy to achieve such strong sales numbers right out of the box? Simple. Zero emissions and reduced running costs aside, the luxuriously appointed sedan will start at only $56,400. What's more, in the US there will be the $7,500 Obama-break (tax-break), so in reality the new Model S will slot in below $50k at $49,900.

Due to new harmonized safety standards and no concerns about violating low-speed vehicle restrictions in certain provinces that have made it impossible to import vehicles like the Zenn city car or even drive Canada's own Dynasty electric, the Tesla Model S will find its way to Canada when it becomes available, a reality now that the Tesla's Roadster is available north of the 49th. While Tesla dealerships are in the works, interested parties can now import their cars through Tesla "regional centers" in Seattle and New York.

Of interest, only Canada and Norway create the majority of their electricity via renewable resources, such as run-of-river small hydro, wind, biomass, geothermal and solar energy. According to Tesla, recharging the current Roadster from the current Canadian grid would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 85-percent, on average, when compared to the emissions of an equivalent gasoline-powered vehicle. In British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec, where hydro-generated electricity is dominant, the reduction would be up to 98-percent.

Tesla isn't only known for environmental issues, mind you, but it's made a name for performance too. On that note, even the standard S will sprint to 100 km/h in 5.7 to 6.2 seconds, while the upcoming Sport version will hit the mark in "well under five seconds," says Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and previous co-founder of the PayPal online service.

So, with Q3 of 2011, its proposed date of arrival, a long way off, it gets us back to thinking about the credibility issue discussed at the onset of this review, and what stands in the way of this vehicle actually coming to market. Like with any startup, the issue is money. Musk, an especially talented spokesman, is looking to the Feds to pay the company’s way, at least for the production of this new model. Musk is hoping Washington will approve at least one of his company's pending loan applications, which include a $250 million grant under a 2005 clean-energy appropriation and a separate $450 million request from a 2007 authorization for EV ventures. With GM already making good on its loan payments there’s a better chance of this happening than there would have been previously.

Mazda MX-5, 2010

Mazda MX-5
MX-5 (still called the Miata by purists) is in its third edition as the best-selling sports car in history. Since its debut in 1989, more than 850,000 Miatas have sold, and a lot more will likely sell considering the upgrades — some substantial, some subtle — for the 2010 model.

The new edition is available with a manual-folding soft top with a heated-glass rear window or a power-folding hardtop, and there are 10 trims. It all ups up to a sure-thing to continue the sports car’s legacy.

Mazda MX-5

The Weekly Driver’s Ratings

First Impression: My weekly driver, the grand touring soft top model, arrived a few days before Halloween. Its exterior color, Competition Yellow, was ideal for the week. The tone is more orange than yellow and it’s striking, for good or bad. Lots of onlookers commented on my pumpkin on wheels.

Acceleration (6)
With its low-to-the-ground profile and classic two-seat sports car feel, the MX-5 seems fast. Better described, it’s brisk. The six-speed manual transmission has short throws and gearing is firm, which adds to the fun.

Mazda MX-5

Braking/Steering/Handling (9)
With 17-inch tires, a small, tight turning radius, little lean and “stop-on-a-dime” quality brakes, what’s not to like? It’s a sports car that commands the road and can’t get enough of it.

Cargo Room (4)
It’s a coupe, so how much cargo space should be expected? There’s a small trunk, for sure, and a lockable glovebox. And there are storage boxes “hidden” behind the back of each seat. Not bad for a two-seater. One downside: The position of the cupholders can interfere with shifting.

Controls/Gauges (6)
The controls are well-placed. Gauges are clearly marked and easy to read.

Details (6)
It’s plastic throughout the cockpit, but it looks sharp. The Grand Touring edition (my weekly driver) had leather trim and it added class. The aforementioned hidden storage bins added a savvy touch.

Front Seats (6)
I’m 6-feet, 185 pounds and I fit OK in the Mazda MX-5. But anyone taller would likely want for more leg room and definitely more head room when the soft top is up. The Mazda MX-5 isn’t spacious, but how many coupes are?

Fuel Economy (6)
A few major web sites got less than the EPA city and freeway mpg estimates of 21 mpg and 28 mpg. But my averages were within a few tenths of the numbers. Premium fuel is recommended.

Quietness (5)
Is there a quiet sports car? It’s not supposed to be part of the equation, is it? The Mazda is on par with other sports cars. In short, it’s noisy. But sports car owners aren’t looking for a luxury sedan. With the top down, though, the Mazda MX-5 may be quieter than with its top up, and that’s an oddity shared by other sports cars.

Rear Seats (0)
There aren’t any.

Ride Quality (6)
The suspension package helps as do the 17-inch tires, but sports cars feel bumps and whatever else the road has to offer. That’s part of the fun of sports cars.

Total (54 out of 100 )

Class — Sports car

Primary competition — Honda S2000, Nissan 370Z.

For standard equipment/option package information, visit: www.mazdausa.com.

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price — $26,410.

Price As Driven — $29,310.

Mileage Estimates — 21 mpg (city), 28 mpg (hwy).

Warranty — Bumper-to-bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles; Roadside assistance, 3 years/36,000 miles.

What Others Are Saying:

“The 2010 Miata is a dream, especially for sports car enthusiasts on a budget. It’s quick, agile, great on gas and reliable too.”

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Mercedes-Benz Planning New Sports Car Based On SLS AMG

2010 Mercedes SLS AMg

The Porsche 911 better look out because Mercedes-Benz is reportedly working on a new sports car based on a shortened version of the 2010 SLS AMG’s platform targeted directly at it. The new Mercedes-Benz sports car will copy the SLS AMG’s aluminum construction but will lose the funky gullwing doors.

Instead, conventional front-hinged doors will be adopted in an effort to bring costs down. The new model will also pick up AMG’s next-generation V-8 engine, a 5.5-liter unit with direct-injection and turbocharging technologies and an output of around 500-horsepower. Acceleration times for the 0-60 mph dash are expected to fall around the 4.5 second mark.

The new sports car is tipped to be called the SSK AMG and is due for launch in 2014--an open top roadster version is an almost certainty.

The decision to build more standalone AMG models is to help establish the Mercedes-Benz in-house tuner as a separate sports car manufacturer that could eventually rival other smaller players in the supercar arena such as Pagani and McLaren.