2012 BMW 650i Coupe Review

 

By David Colman
For: Do-It-All Nature, Space, Grace, Pace
Against: Exterior Rear View Mirrors Too Small
If you need a sportscar and a high performance sedan, look no further than Bimmer’s 650i. Granted, it’s a tad pricey at $101,675. But if you perceive it as 2 cars in 1, you’re on the right reasoning track. If you’re willing to alot $50,000 for each purpose the 650i fulfills, then you’ve saved yourself from buying an extra car. Let’s examine this genteel beast from the sportscar perspective first. Are 400hp and 450 lb.-ft. of torque enough to slake your thirst for V8 twin turbo power? They should be, considering the 650i will turn 107mph in 13.4 seconds through the quarter mile, and post a 0-60mph time of 5.1 seconds on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 150mph. If that isn’t serious sportscar territory, than nothing is.
But what about the handling? In a word, superb. BMW’s Driving Dynamics Control (DDC) system, which is standard on this car, allows you to dial up just the right amount of steering feedback, suspension control, throttle response and traction control permissiveness you need when pushing the performance envelope. An easily accessible button on the standard “Fine Line Oak Wood” center console allows you to bump the default DDC setting from Comfort to Performance or Performance+. If you hold the button down for 10 seconds in the Performance+ setting, you disable Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), putting your enthusiasm and talent in control of the situation. You’ll want to be exceptionally careful in this DSC-deleted Performance+ mode, because many of the safety net override systems are disabled, making it possible to lose control of this heavy and powerful vehicle if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Even though it weighs 4,380 pounds, the 650i feels much more agile than its weight would lead you to believe. That’s because a number of optional systems work in consort seemingly to defy the limits imposed by mass and gravity. Leading the way is Integral Active Steering ($1,750) which really translates into 4-wheel-steering. As you enter a turn, the rear wheels cock slightly in the direction of the turn to augment the adhesion of the huge 20 inch diameter alloys and Dunlop Sport Maxx run-flat DSST tires (245/35/20 front, 275/30/20 rear) which are standard on this model. At 37mph, rear wheel steering turn entry enhancement ends. Further aiding handling agility is the ingenious Active Roll Stabilization ($2,000), which tailors anti-sway bar tension according to need. The faster you drive, the stiffer the sway bars become.
Now let’s examine this coupe’s contribution to family harmony. Although access to the rear seats is by definition limited in any 2-door vehicle, this BMW does its best to make back seat usage feasible and comfortable for all concerned. An oversized latch on the top of the front seats allows back seaters to tilt their way into the plush pair of rear lounge chairs. Even better are the exquisitely crafted front 20-way power Multi-contour chairs, complete with Nappa leather covering and optional ($500) 3-stage heaters. The commodious 16.1 cubic foot trunk, unencumbered by the need to house a spare tire thanks to the run=flat Dunlops, will hold enough baggage to take three adults and their suitcases across country. And what a fine trip it promises to be. On the open highway, the twin turbo V8 settles into a relaxed gate that nets you 23 MPG. Slip the Dynamic Driver Control system into Comfort+ mode, and the 650 metamorphoses from a backroad burner to a freeway cruiser extraordinaire. The optional Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound Package ($3,700) provides an endless array of entertainment options, from 1 year of free Sirius Radio to iPod and USB integration. So if you need a concert hall on wheels with the ride comfort of a ‘60s Cadillac, then give this Bimmer a close look. Because it’s the very same car that will run with a Turbo Porsche on any backroad of your choice.

2012 BMW 650i Coupe

• Engine: 4.4 liter V8, Direct Injected and Twin Turbocharged
• Horsepower: 400hp at 5,500rpm
• Torque: 450lb.-ft. at 1,750rpm
• Fuel Consumption: 15 MPG City/23 MPG Highway
• Price as Tested: $101,675
• Star Rating: 9.5 out of 10 Stars

Read More

2012 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Review

 

By David Colman
For: Alfa Flair, Build Quality, $ Value
Against: Underpowered, R/T Not Immediately Available
Okay, let’s get the important stuff out of the way upfront. No, it doesn’t have a Slant Six under the hood, a push button automatic on the dash, or Tinker Bell script reading “Dart” on the rear fender. The new Dart is the first offspring of the US government-brokered shotgun marriage between Chrysler and Fiat. Fiat, which owns Alfa Romeo, supplies the Dart with a stretched Alfa Giulietta platform. Chrysler, which owns Dodge, supplies the USA build facility, heritage nameplate, and dealer network. The result is a marriage made in heaven – an Alfa Romeo for the price of a Dodge!
The first Darts go on sale in July, 2012. Eventually 5 different models will be available. The range begins with the SE, with disc brakes at all 4 corners, 10 air bags, and a base price of $15,995. One step higher in the pecking order is the $17,995 SXT model, with such upgrades as 17 inch wheels, power mirrors and door locks, and keyless entry. A sportier Rallye model, with dual exhausts and black chrome headlamps, retails for $18,995. The Limited version – which we drove – adds Garmin Navigation with a 7 inch dash-mounted touch screen, 10 way power seats, and rear view camera monitors, for $19,995. A 2.0 liter “Tigershark” motor producing 160hp and 148 lb.-ft. of torque powers all 4 models. A 1.4 liter, turbocharged, 168hp motor is optionally available for $1,300. Dodge will also introduce a more powerful R/T Dart later in the model year. The $22,495 R/T will benefit from a 2.4 liter “Tigershark” powerplant producing 184hp and 171 lb.-ft. of torque.

To convert an Alfa Giulietta platform to Dart duty, Dodge widened the tub 2 inches and added 10 inches in length. The chassis is constructed from 68 percent hi-strength steel, and the car is built in the United States. A series of baffles and underbody streamlining panels insure that the Dart’s coefficient of drag (Cd) is just 0.285. Body panel gaps are remarkably tight, and wind noise inside the cabin is nil.
The Dart feels spacious and airy. Everything about the interior seems to belie its sub-$20,000 base price. The instrument binnacle, for example, is double seam-stitched, and surrounded by an ethereal neon border that glows reassuringly at night. The backs of the seat belt receptacles are padded with felt to keep them from scratching the finish on the center console. The navigation system is a joy to use, with bold graphics, and navigational directions displayed on the instrument panel directly in front of the driver. The main video panel on the dash supplies such ancillary information as the posted speed limit of your current position next to your GPS-calculated current speed. In other words, you’ve got no excuses for fibbing to the officer about your lack of speed limit awareness. As soon as you pass a new speed limit sign, the system magically resets itself to the new reality. Watching it do so is uncanny.
The 160hp “Tigershark” is more of a minnow than predator when you step on the gas. Even rowing the 6-speed Powertech ATX automatic gearbox through the ratios won’t make up for a decided lack of grunt, with only 148 pound-feet of torque on tap. Order the $1,300 optional in-line turbo 4, with 168hp, or wait for the coming R/T package, because the base engine is a bit overstressed when brisk acceleration is required.

 

As you might expect from its Italian (Alfa) heredity, handling is a forte of the Dart. The Dodge chassis consists of McPherson strut front, and multi-link rear independent suspension, with flashy 17 x 7.5 inch alloys at each corner mounting Continental ContiProContact 225/45R17 radials. This refined chassis-tire combo generates surprisingly high levels of adhesion. In sweeping turns, the Dart takes a set which it holds resolutely throughout the corner. There is almost no sway, no lean, nor any ride discomfort. Simply put, the suspension calibrations are spot-on.
As a whole, the new Dart verges on sensational, with such unexpected value for price that you’ll have to drive one yourself to find out just how good this resuscitated new/old nameplate really is.
2013 Dodge Dart

• Engine: 2.0 liter in-line 4
• Horsepower: 160hp
• Torque: 148 lb.-ft.
• Fuel Consumption: 27 MPG City/39 MPG Highway
• Price as Tested: $22,780
• Star Rating: 9 out of 10 Stars

Read More

2012 Infiniti QX56 4WD Review

By David Colman
For: Whopper V8, Airy Cabin, Finely Crafted Finish
Against: High Climb-In, Small Sunroof
Only ex-tank commanders or moonlighting semi drivers will find this QX to be beautiful. But if beauty is as beauty does, then a lot of potential buyers who need to tow trailers or haul lots of people will also discern the inner beauty of the QX. Let’s start with trailer towing, a task for which this Infiniti is ideally suited. Since it’s based on Nissan’s rugged Titan truck platform, and powered by a 5.6 liter V8, you’ve got enough horsepower (400hp) and torque (413 lb.-ft.) to pull 8,500 pounds of deadweight. Infiniti assists this task by including an integral Class IV tow hitch, and 7-pin wiring harness (with cover) in the basic specification of the QX. Standard self-leveling rear suspension also aids the drayage process. The 7 speed automatic gearbox keeps the engine working at top efficiency, with manual override and rev matching available via the console mounted stick. Normal dry weather operation calls for 2WD selection, with 4WD offered for extra traction in inclement conditions. The 4WD setting consists of both high and low range all-wheel-drive.

 2011 Infiniti QX56 – Drive Time Review. This video is brought to you by Steve Hammes

If it’s human haulage you’re after, you couldn’t do better than the QX without buying a school bus. Like many other SUVs, this one has 3 rows of seats (accomodating , but unlike most others, all 3 rows are eminently accessible and comfortable. Order the optional ($2,900) Theater Package and you’ll turn your QX into a mobile entertainment center that offers 2nd row occupants a pair of 7 inch DVD screens, and wireless headphones with which to follow the action. Best of all, the Theater Package also includes remote tip-up controls for the 2nd row seats to ease entry for passengers in the 3rd row. Of course no one boarding this magic bus has it any better than the 2 front seat riders. The QX features standard 10 way front seat adjustment for the driver, 8-way ditto for the passenger, and 2-way lumbar support for both front seats. In addition, the combination leather/wood steering wheel rim is heated, and the wheel itself tilts and slides at the push of a button. The driver’s command position offers excellent forward, side and rear vision.
If you’re after the most sybaritic and plush QX experience, you’ll want to check the option box for the Deluxe Touring Package, which adds $4,100 to the bottom line. To replace the standard leather seats and Tuscan Burl trim, the Touring Package substitutes semi-aniline leather on the seating surfaces and door panels, and Mocha Burl wood. So equipped, the QX cabin verges on palatial, with enough soft leather to supply a shoemaker for a year, and enough lustrous wood to panel your den.

 The QX drives smaller than it is. Despite weighing close to 3 tons, this biggest Infiniti of them all responds with surprising finesse when you chase apexes, reverse direction, or park. Its turning radius is a relatively modest 41.6 feet. Nimbleness also results from fitting the QX with an optional wheel/tire combination consisting of 22 inch, 9 spoke forged alloy rims, mounting 275/50R22 Bridgestone Dueler H/T tires. These giant rollers are expensive, at $2,300 for the set, but worth the extra cost because they do so much to improve the QX’ agility quotient.

2011 Infiniti QX56 Road Test and Review. This video is brought to you by Roadfly

One optional package you can live without is the $3,000 Technology Package, which includes Intelligent Cruise Control, and Blind Spot and Lane Departure warning systems. The cruise control locked up solid on one long freeway run and refused to operate or turn itself off until rebooted at a rest stop. If you are so inattentive as to need Blind Spot and Lane Departure notification, maybe you shouldn’t be climbing behind the wheel of this imposing SUV.

 

The raison d’etre of the QX is to supply oodles of power and comfort for long distance cruising, effortless towing, or maximum troop reallocation. While it won’t win any beauty or mileage contests, it’s better at its given chores than anything else you can buy in this price range.
2012 Infiniti QX56 4WD

• Engine: 5.6 liter DOHC, 32 Valve V8
• Horsepower: 400hp
• Torque: 413 lb.-ft.
• Fuel Consumption: 14 MPG City/20 MPG Highway
• Price as Tested: $75,340
• Star Rating: 8 out of 10 Stars

Read More