The rebirth of Cadillac

A few weeks ago I had to choose a vehicle to drive into the city for the New York auto show. I looked at the key board and saw that the cars from the March sports sedans group were all available. It's not an awful day when you get to choose between a BMW 328i, Cadillac CTS, Mercedes-Benz C300, and Saab 9-3. Still, with all that available European hardware, I choose the CTS.

Who would have thought a car nut like me would take a Cadillac? But, when you think about it, the state of Cadillac has come a long way in five years. For example, in our test of the first-generation CTS, we praised its handling, comfortable ride, and quick acceleration. But we thought that the car lacked some features found in others in this competitive category, such as a telescopic steering wheel and adjustable lumbar support. Plus, it had uncomfortable seat-mounted seat belts. Certainly it was better than the old Catera but it wasn't among the best of the best.

The DTS is really the last "old style" Cadillac; it's a big, luxurious sedan aimed at buyers looking for a quiet and coddling ride. The DTS is typical of what many of us think of when we think of Cadillac: Not a sports car. Not now…not ever. Still, its score is good enough to be recommended. However, over the past five years or so, Cadillac has been greatly improving their cars. The SRX is a nice but cramped SUV. The STS has improved considerably but is still not in the same league at some of the top European models. The XLR lacks the quality needed in its market place. And although the Escalade has been a commercial success, it’s hardly one of my favorite modes of transport.

And that brings us back to the CTS. Most of us here at the Auto Test Center came of age when Cadillac's famed "standard of the world" moniker had long worn off. I'm sure someone could write a book about how Cadillac came to be the "aspirational" car, and then quickly morphed into GM making its cars bloated and overstuffed. The division’s rebirth with the CTS can bode well for the future, but it hinges on whether or not it proves reliable. This is, perhaps, the first time I'd consider putting a Cadillac in my driveway.

—David Champion

Ford Transit - Taxi of tomorrow?

The Ford Transit is a neat idea. At the NY Auto Show, Ford has it decked out in taxicab yellow; I think it looks like a cross between a Ford Fusion, Taurus X, and previous Land Rover Discovery. Senior Director of Consumer Reports Auto Test Division David Champion likens it to a big Honda Element. Also, says Champion, it seemingly "could take the place of an SUV or pickup truck for companies that do deliveries and other light-duty trade work." Plus, he adds, it's very likely that this new Dodge Sprinter-like model could make a tradesperson rethink whether or not they really need the weight (and poor fuel economy) of a full-sized van.

And if Ford uses the diesel engine offered in Europe, it could further boost fuel economy gains, not to mention the urban potential for a hybrid system.

—Mike Quincy

See the 2008 New York auto show coverage.

Detroit auto show - Personal picks

The Cars team reflects on the 2008 Detroit auto show, selecting their personal picks for the most memorable, significant, or simply favorite cars at the event.

Audi R8 V12 TDI:
Last week, I gushed over the brilliant Audi R8 V12 TDI concept (see blog). The intoxication of it has stuck with me like a bad cold...I can't seem to shake it. The look is mean. The headlights squint at you like Clint Eastwood. The engine looks like it should be in a museum of modern art. And while Audi also had a "standard" R8 on display, it was one of only a few cars people were waiting in line to sit in. This car could reside in my garage forever.—Mike Quincy

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1/Hummer HX:
These pure vehicles push American icons to new reaches. The ZR1 is history in the making. It is an amazing performance machine that will fuel my automotive fantasies for quite some time, and is certain to be chronicled for generations to come. The Hummer HX represents the long-rumored H4, a Jeep Wrangler alternative intended to provide an attainable entry to the off-roading brand, and, now it may also represent a potential production savior for a brand that has become the pariah of the Green movement. Make it affordable, with a traditional square back and a thrifty diesel, and watch the Hummer "jamborees" flourish. Granted, the Corvette and Hummer are quite  different vehicles, but each represents extreme fun, and who doesn't want more of that?—Jeff Bartlett

Fisker Karma:
Designed by custom car designer Henrik Fisker (who also penned the BMW Z8, one of my favorite cars ever), the Fisker shows that hybrids -- even futuristic advanced plug-in hybrids that will run all day on electricity -- aren't just for environmentalist ninnies. It looks great and reportedly goes fast. (A top speed of 125 mph and 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds are as fast as any mere mortal should need to go on land.) In short, it should give even the most jaded car enthusiasts an environmentally friendly hybrid they can lust after.

In terms of affordability, however, I've got to name the Honda CR-Z as my runner up. It marries hybrid efficiency to sports-car fun just like the Fisker. It isn't as advanced, and it is limited by being a two-seater. But it has the fun-to-drive element sorely lacking in Honda's last mileage champ, the Insight. And best of all, most car shoppers should be able to afford it.—Eric Evarts

Jeep Renegade/Cadillac CTS coupe:
This was my 15th time attending the Detroit auto show and, overall, it was a relatively boring event. There were no outrageous introductions such as a Chrysler minivan landing on stage, no retro chic surprises like the Volkswagen New Beetle, or first-time viewings of highly anticipated significant vehicles.

That said, I'd have to go with styling features that caught my eye. The Jeep Renegade concept, for example, was eye candy that I hope someday becomes a modern beach buggy. Forget the electric drive. Cash-strapped Chrysler is busy enough trying to survive. Not to mention the paradox of"go anywhere" marketing and getting stuck with an empty battery. A much more realistic and closer to production styling statement was the Cadillac CTS coupe. Even though I'm not much of a coupe fan, it looked spectacular.—Gabe Shenhar

Honda CR-Z:
I really liked the Honda CR-Z. With styling that is a dead-ringer for the old (and beloved CRX), the CR-Z's possible hybrid powertrain looks to vault this little runabout to the top of the fuel economy mountain... just like the original CRX. Honda is also disciplined at keeping weight low and suspension tuning interesting, so I imagine driving one will be a ball. Let's hope it's affordable.—David Champion

Toyota Venza:
Over the course of the show I was consistently drawn back to one car: the Toyota Venza. But not because I'm wowed by its styling, price, powerplant, or features. It's because I have no idea where it will fit in the Toyota lineup. Between the RAV4, Highlander, Avalon, and even the base Sienna, how many 5-passenger people movers are needed from one manufacturer? This odd vehicle certainly drew my attention each day... and the resulting quizzical stares as I tried to determine its niche.—Jon Linkov

Also read Cliff Weathers' pick for best in show.

See our complete coverage of the 2008 Detroit auto show. And discuss the event in our auto show forum. 

                                                                                                           

                   

Consumer Reports track tour video

Last year, Consumer Reports invited journalists to attend a media day at the Connecticut-based Auto Test Center. Timed to correspond with the launch of the April annual auto issue, the media event was an opportunity for print, Web, and broadcast journalists to learn about the latest survey findings and research to be published. Further, it was a chance to witness a demonstration of the process that each test vehicle goes through at the 327-acre facility.

While the CR team is working now on the 2008 April issue, AutoBlog has posted a video shot at last year's chilly event. In the video, you can see Senior Director David Champion and his engineering staff explain the test procedures, as well as see them demonstrated. The weather wasn't perfect that day, but the video does give a good taste of the hard work the team puts in evaluating each and every vehicle tested by Consumer Reports.

Click here to watch the video.

Learn more about how Consumer Reports tests cars.

—Jeff Bartlett

BMW Hydrogen 7 - Behind the wheel

During my visit to the LA Auto Show, I was fortunate enough to drive a hydrogen-powered BMW 7 Series. Unlike hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles, it uses the hydrogen to power its regular internal-combustion engine.

The hydrogen solution is still debatable, but it is considered by many to be the ultimate clean fuel since it uses a widely available resource. And despite division over the merits of hydrogen, most automobile companies are betting on it in one form or another. Even a casual stroll of shows this season it is clear that automakers are investing serious engineering resources and money into developing hydrogen-powered test vehicles.

First impressions
The Hydrogen 7 is hybrid/flex-fuel/bi-fuel car that can run on both hydrogen and gasoline. This switch can be done on the fly by simply pushing a button on the steering wheel. Otherwise, the cabin is very similar to the regular 7 Series. Trunk space is very limited (smaller even than in a 3 Series) and acceleration seems a bit lethargic. Another noticeable difference was a slight pinging at low speeds when using hydrogen. The car always starts consuming hydrogen and once the catalysts are up to working temperature, the car can then be switched over to gasoline without any noticeable hesitation. The 6.0-liter V12 engine produces only 265 hp and 287 ft-lb of torque, which is not much for a vehicle that weighs about 5,000 pounds. Those figures explain the rather slow takeoff and the effort needed to merges in to traffic. The Hydrogen 7's performance is a stark contrast to typical BMWs, which have long been known for their wonderfully smooth and powerful engines. On the plus side, the car itself is quiet and drives adequately in dense traffic.

The 8 kgs of hydrogen is kept in liquid form in a tank just behind the rear seat. That amount yields a range of around 120 miles. Unlike the current group of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles—which store their hydrogen in a compressed form at 5,000 or 10,000 psi—the Hydrogen 7 holds its hydrogen in a liquid state at -253 degrees Celsius (-423 degrees Fahrenheit). Unfortunately, even with its double-walled tanks and insulation, the hydrogen slowly evaporates. And if the car remains parked for 10 to 12 days, the hydrogen is completely depleted. When running on hydrogen, the emissions are mainly water, although there are traces of CO2 and NOX as a result of burning engine lubricants.

One unforeseen issue I had with the car during my stint with it was the inability to park it inside a garage. The BMW representative insisted that the vehicle had to be parked outdoors at all times. This became the subject of many interesting conversations with parking valets, who were intrigued by the technology but were worried about being part of another Hindenburg tragedy.

Refueling with liquid hydrogen is the biggest challenge when driving the car. After all, where does the liquid hydrogen come from and where are the filling stations? These same issues affect fuel-cell vehicles, as well. Currently, most hydrogen is obtained from natural gas but it can also be generated from splitting water using renewable electric energy. 

In sum, the Hydrogen 7 has some drawbacks, including a small trunk and not being able to park in a garage. However, it allows the flexibility of using hydrogen (when/where it's available) or gasoline. Likely, we'll have to wait decades for a hydrogen infrastructure to catch up to the petroleum-based transportation system, which also applies to a lesser extent to electric vehicles. Plus, we can add these drawbacks to the list of other negatives:

• The prohibitive cost of developing the technology and the vehicles.
• Skeptic public with potentially explosive and unfamiliar fuel.
• Lack of fueling infrastructure and production obstacles.

Still, these are similar to the hurdles early automobiles had to deal with at the dawn of the 20th century. Back then, the horse was king, roads were little more the dirt cart tracks, and there were no gas stations or oil companies. A major difference is that today's cars are really good when compared to a horse and the current alternatives are not quite there yet. BMW's approach may be an interesting interim solution between a hydrogen-powered world and the current oil-based transportation system.

Final thoughts:
I used to live in the LA area before moving to Connecticut, and I had almost forgotten the vast volume of traffic that is constantly moving around the LA freeways. At lunch time on a Saturday morning, I was struck in stop-and-go traffic, seven lanes wide (no car pool lane) for no apparent reason except for just an extreme volume of vehicles. Now, I love cars -- probably more than most people -- but it struck me that even if everyone was driving a hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicle, this volume of stationary cars is such a waste of time and energy, regardless of whether or not the energy is renewable. It goes against my grain to say it, but something must be done in the future to expand telecommuting, public mass transit, or other ways to reduce congestion. Simply building wider freeways is not a responsible option.

—David Champion

Also read:
Want to lease a fuel-cell car?
The Honda approach to fuel cells
How the fuel-cell cars compare

Senate proposes 35 mpg on all vehicles

The U.S. Senate has proposed legislation that would require automakers to increase fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon on all cars and light trucks nationwide by the year 2020. The bill also requires an improvement in fuel economy by 4 percent each year after for the next 10 years.

The proposal by Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) would create, for the first time, fuel economy standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks. It would also give the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) flexibility to configure the CAFE program to achieve high fuel standards while "ensuring the stability of the automotive industry." The domestic auto industry has been anything but stable recently amid elevated fuel prices, making this political wiggle room an expected place for negotiations.

This bill is aimed at reducing the impact of global warming and U.S. oil dependencies on foreign countries. The committee still supports researching alternative fuels, but Inouye says it is possible to enhance current fuel technologies and not limit consumer choice in automobiles.

"This is a good step in the right direction," says Consumer Reports' Auto Test Senior Director David Champion. "However, the increased cost of gas will likely move the market for more fuel-efficient vehicles quicker than this legislation."

The "Big 3" car manufacturers may be the hardest hit by this proposed bill, because most of their top sellers are SUVs and pickups, whereas import brands tend to build more cars. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers trade group--representing DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, Toyota, and others--has been outspoken in their criticism of this move, with a spokesperson Gloria Bergquist quoted at detnews.com as calling the goals "unattainable."

Currently, there are different mpg standards for cars and trucks. The standard car mpg is 27.5 and for light trucks it's at 22.2 mpg. This week, the average national gas price is $3.05, according to the Energy Information Administration.

For more information on fuel-efficient vehicles and alternative fuels, see our fuel economy guide.  And for the latest national, and regional, gasoline price averages, monitor the Gas Prices category in the Cars blog.

--Liza Barth   

Personal Picks: Upscale sedans

Upscale sedans is one of my favorite groups of cars. While these models are not as expensive as the top-of-the-line hardware from the best and brightest car companies, they represent a balance of performance, style, and luxury at a not quite bank-breaking price. Who am I kidding: I can't justify my buying one of these, but they're closer to my budget realities than the premium Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, or Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans. The so-called "affordable luxury" class (sounds like car PR-speak to me) is priced starting at the upper end of the family sedan market, meaning these models may not be as out of reach as you'd think. This month's magazine test category ranges roughly from $27,000 to $41,000. There are several stand-outs here, but let's go beyond the Ratings (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers) to get down to the models that really appeal to us.

Here is the first installment of the staff's "Personal Picks" from the June issue. --Mike Quincy.

Rick Small: In this group, the Infiniti G35 really stands out as a sporty and fun car to drive. It has great road feel and a firm but sporty ride that isn't punishing. The powerful V6 delivers strong performance, sounds great, and is quicker than many V8s. Fuel economy is decent considering the high level of performance. The AWD model is a little less sporty to drive and uses a bit more fuel. I would go with the RWD model and get a set of good snow tires for the winter. The Lexus ES350 is refined and quiet but doesn't even try to be sporty. I also like the Acura TL; it has a good combination of luxury and sport.  For my tall frame (I'm 6' 4"), the TL has more room and a better driving position than the G35. The Nissan Maxima is very roomy but I would go with the Altima and save some money. Likewise, a Honda Accord EX V6 comes close enough to the Acura TL for less money.

David Champion: The RWD Infiniti G35 is just like a luxury roadster, with great handling and steering, reasonable amount of room, comfortable interior, good fit and finish, awesome power, and good mpg.

Gabe Shenhar: Out of this group, there isn't much of a question that I'm going with our Top Pick, the Infiniti G35. I won't elaborate on it anymore since enough ink and paper (as well as fuel and rubber) has been spent on its merits. But, somehow, I 'm missing something when driving the G35.

What is it? Perhaps it's that extra measure of steering feel and ride control and compliance that may speak to driving connoisseurs. That's why out of the larger set of cars in this category, my personal pick is the BMW 3 Series -- most likely the 328i. It's such a terrific driver's car that's enjoyable, yet docile. I'd probably go for the optional Sports Package for the sharper steering response and negligible loss of ride comfort. When you're in the mood, the straight-six engine pulls strongly and provides a perfect soundtrack. The agile handling, communicative steering, unfazed body motions on fast bumpy corners, and awesome powertrain (even with the automatic) can really start my day on a good note.

I realize I'll be giving up the head snapping 5.4 seconds 0-60 mph sprint of the more powerful G35, but let's be honest here: I'm WAY past the age of drag racing. I'd rather live with the more gradual throttle response of the BMW. Plus, it has a more comfortable ride and better fuel economy. But I'm justifying and there is no need to. Ultimately, when it comes to sports sedans, it's often a choice you make with your heart rather than your head.

A car guy's Father's Day

Seeing as June 18 is Father’s Day, I asked the male engineers what would be their ultimate automotive-related Father's Day gift. (Don’t worry: next Mother’s Day we’ll do the same for the female engineers here at the track.)

I asked the men to be creative and not be restrained by price…in other words, if a $165,000 Ford GT on eBay would be the ultimate gift, I wanted them to say so and explain why. Maybe it's an old car, or maybe it's a new car…maybe it's a trip to Le Mans…whatever.

Here are their choices (in no particular order):

Rick Small: “Since I have already built my dream car, an ERA Cobra, I would really like a loaded Nissan Murano, which is a fun, sporty and practical ride and can still tow my boat on occasion.”

Gabe Shenhar: “Last year for Father’s Day, my kids got me a radio-controlled Ford Focus rally car, just like the one Collin McRae drove in World Rally Championship. I initially had a ball playing with it, but guess who’s playing with it now? My two boys...

“For this year, especially with the ‘money is no object’ clause, I think I'd go with the Porsche 911 Carrera S that we’re now testing. This is an outright sports car that can be driven with gusto, yet comfortable and accommodating enough to be a daily commuter. It’s so much fun to drive, and not only when you're driving hard; the handling, the sound, the throttle response, the steering and brake feel are just wonderful. With the two rear seats, my kids can come along for the ride. The front trunk can take a weekend suitcase for an impromptu getaway with my wife, such as a trip to the Nürburgring.”

David Champion: “My ultimate Father’s Day gift would be to drive an original Ford GT40 or the latest GT around Le Mans race track.”