2013 Mazda CX-9 debuts before Australian show

Mazda will fully reveal the 2013 CX-9 SUV at the Australian International motor show in October. It appears that Mazda couldn't wait that long, as the company just released a few images of the redesigned people carrier, which now looks like the big brother to the CX-5.
It features the Kodo design language that we've seen at several auto shows, which lends it a sportier look than previous models. Mazda says it upgraded the interior design as well, though pictures weren't provided. Elsewhere in the cabin, the CX-9 uses Mazda's ominously named HMI (human machine interface), which is a voice-recognition system for navigation and entertainment. It will also feature safety systems such as lane-departure warning, forward-obstruction warning and high-beam control.
Like the previous version, the CX-9 will use Mazda's 3.7-liter V6 for power; last year's model made 273 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque.
The 2012 Australian International motor show opens to the press Oct. 18 and to the public the day after

Read More

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee Review Notes

EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: You get all the great Charger SRT8 stuff in this car—engine, suspension, brakes, steering, seats—along with a bright yellow Super Bee wrapper bound to attract welcome (and unwelcome) attention. My kid even shot a photo and put it on her Facebook page, and she's become fairly immune to hot cars showing up in the driveway, so that's saying something.
Pricing is about $7,000 lower than the last Charger SRT8 we had in the fleet, but that one featured the full navigation system, automatic climate control, blind-spot detection and active cruise control, among other features. I'd still prefer that car over this one, maybe with fewer bells and whistles, if for no other reason than I'd rather not drive around on a regular basis in this bright yellow skin. But if you've got it, flaunt it, I guess—and some people might prefer that.
To me, there's very little to not like about this or any Charger SRT8. The car is big, bad and beautiful, driving in a way that both throws back to the muscle cars of yore while planting its fat rubber tires firmly in the technology of the 21st century.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I have such great Super Bee memories as a kid, when my grandfather and his brothers had a large Dodge-Plymouth dealership on Detroit's east side. Those were great muscle cars, along with Cudas, Road Runners and the like. It's cool that Chrysler Corp. brought it back.
Anyway, the car: Hell of a buy for what you get in terms of performance. Hemi fun for less money you say? It's hard to argue with that. In fact, this is about the least-expensive way to an SRT product, or close to it.
It's fast and fun, and the Hemi growls beautifully. It's also comfortable for a car with this much motor. Also this large(ish) sedan offers quick steering and stout brakes. I would like to spend more time in one.
NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: The latest generation of Chargers feels like they've hit the gym and come back toned and built. This 2012 Dodge Charger SRT Super Bee model has an excellent chassis, solid steering with appropriate response and is surprisingly good in corners for a car this size. Really, it's a joy to drive a large, well-calibrated muscle car.
The real story is the monster 470-hp V8, which sounds great and growls but isn't obnoxious. It's strong, pulls you back in your seat during hard launches, and it's potent in cruising states on the expressway. The pedals have excellent feel, with the brakes providing nice feedback right away, complemented by smart throttle response.
The materials and layout of the cabin are first-class, with nicely done leather and accents in all the right places. Crack the windows and the Charger lets in a pleasing, billowing wind through the spacious cabin, which offers a large, old-school feel. It's like being in a big old-school car, and that's a good thing. Also, the sedan is surprisingly quiet, filtering out road and wind noise at an almost luxury level. You can hear then engine when you jab the throttle, which means they didn't go to far in refining this beast.
I like the Super Bee appearance, and these are the muscle cars people think romantically about. My choice, however, if I won the Mega Millions, would have been the blacked-out SRT machine. That would be a quiet assassin.
2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee
Base Price: $43,420
As-Tested Price: $43,570
Drivetrain: 6.4-liter V8; RWD, five-speed automatic
Output: 470 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 470 lb-ft @ 4,300 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,365 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 17/16.4 mpg
Options: 245/45 R20 BSW three-season tires ($150)

Read More

Smart Paris motor show concept previews next-gen cars

Mercedes-Benz's Smart division is bringing an electric-powered concept car to the Paris motor show.
The two-seat forstars previews the exterior styling set for the next generation of Smart models. Those include the third-generation fortwo and second-generation forfour, both of which are being developed and will be produced in co-operation with Renault. The French automaker will get its own uniquely bodied versions of the new cars.
The forstars concept uses the same rear-engine/rear-wheel-drive mechanical package as the for-us pickup concept shown at the Detroit show in January.
The forstars also hints at what Smart describes as a new sport-utility coupe model that is under consideration as an affordable rival to the likes of the upcoming Volkswagen CrossUp.
"The intention is there, but nothing is decided at this stage," a high-ranking Smart source said when questioned about the likelihood of the forstars making production. "We can't ignore the fact that SUV sales continue to grow and will likely continue to do so in the near future."
The German-based Smart, which has production facilities in France, first announced plans for a SUV in 2002 with the so-called formore. However, plans for the Mercedes-Benz C-class-based five-seater, which was to be built in Brazil, were abandoned during a reorganization of Smart before the concept vehicle was planned to debut at the 2005 Frankfurt motor show.
While considerably smaller, Smart's latest concept sets out to fill a similar market niche.
The forstars, named because its glass roof allows occupants to peer into the night sky, has styling similar to the for-us. Changes include a new front look featuring oversized headlamps aimed at adding visual aggression, a lowered windshield header and a forward-angled B-pillar. The glass hatch opens upward, while a power tailgate section lowers vertically next to the rear bumper to reveal a 35.4-inch-long cargo area.
The exterior, credited to a team of in-house designers working under Mercedes-Benz advanced design chief Steffen Koehl, retains the familiar two-tone, red-and-black theme that has been a signature of all Smart models since the launch of the original fortwo in 1998.
Details, such as the shape of the headlights and taillamps, recall the look on the Smart forvision revealed at the 2011 Frankfurt show and set to show up on the next-gen fortwo.
Helping to accentuate the sport-utility theme are large wheel wells filled with 21-inch wheels shod with 245/35 tires.
At 139.8 inches long, 67.3 inches wide and 67.0 inches tall, the forstars is 33.7 inches longer, 8.0 inches wider and 1.4 inches shorter than the current fortwo. It also rides on a wheelbase that has been extended by 23.7 inches, while the tracks have been widened by 7.6 inches at the front and 3.5 inches at the rear.
Mercedes-Benz sources say that the concept car's basic dimensions closely mirror those of the second-generation forfour, which is due out in 2014 and set to be produced in Renault's Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia.
Inside, there is a flamboyantly styled two- seat interior. Among the auto show gimmicks on the forstars is a projector mounted within the hood's air duct. It can be controlled from inside the car to project videos on nearby walls. Taking the place of the traditional rearview mirror is an iPhone, which slots into a dedicated holder and projects images captured by a rear-facing camera.
Power for the forstars concept comes from the same plug-in electric system introduced on the Smart fortwo Brabus electric drive. It uses a brushless electric motor mounted at the rear producing 80 hp and 96 lb-ft of torque, together with a 17.6-kWh lithium-ion battery that can charged via plug-in electricity and brake regeneration. Smart says the top speed is 81 mph.

Read More

Chevy D-Series passes through three generations before auction

To say that every car has a story is not only a bit cliché, but also patently untrue. The beige Toyota Camry that you passed on your way to work today was born an appliance, and will die an appliance. But every once in a while, a story crosses our desks that has a little something extra.
The tiger-hunting Rolls-Royce is one such car, and so is our intrepid intern's prized Packard. This story is about a 1918 Chevrolet D-Series V8 Touring, and a Pennsylvania family.
The D-Series cars were born when Chevy chief William Durant decreed that the company should take a break from low-cost, high-volume cars and build a new V8. In 1917 the D-Series featured a 288 cubic-inch V8 making 55 horsepower. It breathed through a Zenith two-barrel carburetor. The Chevy V8 cost $1,385 when new, quite a sum at the time.
One of those Chevys, a 1918 model year, was sold to man named John Becker of Lititz, Penn., who bought it for his son Elam. Six years later it was dubbed the “Honeymoon Car” after Elam and bride-to-be Grace took the car to Washington D.C. to get married. In 1928 it was put into storage when Elam bought himself his first new car.
The 1918 Chevy V8 sat there, for 21 years until 1949 when Elam had it restored. The Beckers displayed the car at various events and shows, sometimes dressing in period-correct clothing.
Fast forward to 1974. The Beckers were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and drove the car to the Hershey Fall Meet one last time before passing the car on to their son Warren and his wife Ruth. Warren and Ruth have enjoyed the car for the past 38 years and now finally, it's time to say goodbye.
The 1918 Chevy will go up for auction without reserve at RM's October auction in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It's expected to sell for about $40,000.
The lot includes the original bill of sale from Nash, Studebaker and Chevrolet agent John F. Longenecker, along with vintage documents for batteries, parts and other maintenance trips. It also comes with a selection of photographs from the car's 94-year history.
The car has patina from the 63 years since the last restoration, and it's finished in a great shade of hunter green. Check out www.rmauctions.com for a few more shots of the car and to find bidding info. We're sure it would make a great addition to any Chevy collection.

Read More

2012 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door Review Notes

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: The mildly redone 2012 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring sedan is a handsome car from the outside. The deep blue color matched well with the beige leather interior. The wheel package looks about right for the car. I like the styling on the front, even though it's a bit smiley. At the rear, Mazda now uses half-clear, half-red taillights. They look a bit too tuner to me and I think that's because of the two-color scheme. I'd like either all red or all clear, if it was my money.
The interior is plush with leather trim, power and heated seats, power windows and locks, and steering wheel controls. The upgraded radio is from Bose, which always sounds good.
The cabin is a comfortable place to be. Most of the road noise is blocked out and at idle it's extremely quiet—quiet enough that I double-checked the tach to make sure it was running.
I think the i moniker and Grand Touring trim make this one of the least sporty Mazda 3s, and you can really feel it in the steering. It seems lighter than the last 3 I was in. The suspension is a bit better, absorbing most of the blows while still giving a little feedback.
Mazda, like BMW, has its manual mode shifting in the up-is-downshift format, as it should be. And flicking the shifter left, then up for a downshift feels surprisingly rewarding. The downshifts come fast from the new Skyactiv transmission, but upshifts aren't nearly as quick. I'm sure it's for fuel mileage, and it returned almost 34 mpg on my fill-up, so I think it works.
The engine could use a little bump in power. The last Mazda 3 I drove had the more powerful and less fuel-efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 167 hp opposed to this 3's 155 hp from the Skyactiv engine. That car felt lighter on its feet, in my opinion.
If I was shopping for a Mazda 3, my advice would be to go for the Mazdaspeed 3. But for those looking for fuel economy and a decently entertaining small car, the 3 with the Skyactiv drivetrain is worth a look.

2012 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door

Base Price: $23,095
As-Tested Price: $24,970
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter I4; FWD, six-speed automatic
Output: 155 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 148 lb-ft @ 4,100 rpm
Curb Weight: 2,950 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 33/33.6 mpg
Options: Technology package including blind-spot monitoring, Sirius satellite radio, perimeter alarm, rain-sensing front wipers, bi-xenon headlights with auto leveling, pivoting adaptive front lighting and auto on/off headlights ($1,400); compass auto-dim mirror with homelink ($275); interior lighting kit ($200)

Read More