Flashy muscle cars are recession’s hot ticket

One of the oddest recession statistics involves lipstick: In a twist of economic psychology, lipstick sales invariably rise in recessions. Now it seems the same may apply to Detroit-based V8 muscle cars.

For the month of October, sales of muscle cars were up almost 50 percent compared with last year, according to data from Automotive News. Sales of all sports cars were up almost 24 percent.

Some of that may be because the Chevrolet Camaro came on the market this spring, so it has added to the total. General Motors, which makes the Camaro, says that it has sold 47,000 Camaros so far in 2009.

Counting all types of cars, overall sales were about the same as last October.

Is it possible that these muscle cars reflect glimmers of economic hope among car buyers? While consumers have bought 25 percent fewer cars overall so far in 2009 compared with 2008, muscle-car sales increased by a similar percentage. And a greater proportion of buyers are choosing sports cars overall. Sales of all sports cars declined barely half as much as overall car sales.

We think that most muscle and sports cars are fun to drive, which might account for why they often rank at the top of our owner satisfaction ratings where CR subscribers are asked if they would buy the same car again. This year the top-scoring model was the Dodge Challenger. (Many of us didn’t find the Challenger particularly engaging to drive, but it can be fun in its own way.)

So like lipstick, consumers facing a recession may just want to buy something affordable that makes them stand out and feel a little better about themselves. 

 —Eric Evarts

2009 SEMA Show: Our favorite modified Chevrolet Camaros

Ford may have been the featured automaker at the SEMA show this year, but this was also, very much, the year of the Camaro. And that’s understandable. While the customizing crowd has had several years now to play around with Ford’s latest reincarnation of the Mustang, first introduced in 2005 and refreshed for 2009, the Camaro is freshly minted. Last year, the Las Vegas Convention Center was chock full of examples of the then new Dodge Challenger. But this year, you could practically walk one end of the million square feet of SEMA to the other stepping only on new Camaros, without ever setting foot on the floor. But we wouldn’t recommend it.

Here’s a quick look at some of the more notable examples we saw.

Lingenfelter LS7 Chevrolet Camaro

For those who live by the motto "Too much is never enough," Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE) has teamed up with Hotchkis Sport Suspension to create this 750-hp Camaro SS. Powered by a supercharged, 7.0-liter Corvette Z06 LS7 V8, the Lingenfelter Camaro also gets Hotchkis springs and anti-sway bars, a custom body kit, upgraded brakes, and various other modifications.

Jay Leno Camaro

Chevrolet showed five Camaro concept vehicles at SEMA, including a twin-turbo, 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 model built for comedian/car collector Jay Leno. With 425-hp on tap, Chevy says Leno’s Camaro delivers the power of a Camaro SS with the fuel economy of a V6. The engine is matched with a six-speed manual transmission. Other modifications include a larger capacity radiator, custom exhaust system, lowered suspension, upgraded brakes, and a body kit with functional brake cooling ducts.

Camaro Synergy

Another Chevrolet concept, the Camaro Synergy features a new color, Synergy Green, that will be offered on a special-edition model in 2010. (Think of it as Chevy’s answer to the Plum Crazy Dodge Challenger.) It also features a variety of accessories offered by Chevrolet dealers including 21-inch custom wheels, a body kit, hood stripes, and a rear spoiler. Other modifications include equipment Chevy says they may offer in the future if there is sufficient public interest, including a lowered suspension, Brembo brakes, and interior trim matching the exterior color.

Yenko Camaro

The son of a Pennsylvania Chevrolet dealer, Don Yenko started modifying Chevys in the 1960s, and he became a legend for transplanting 427 cubic-inch engines into Camaros and other Bowtie-wearing coupes. General Marketing Capital Incorporated now owns the rights to the Yenko name and brand, and it showed a prototypes of a new Yenko Camaro. Based on a Camaro SS, the Phase 1 Yenko gets a 600-hp, 7.0-liter supercharged LS7 V8 matched with a six-speed manual transmission. Other modifications include upgraded brakes, high-flow exhaust system, and 22-inch Yenko-specific billet aluminum wheels. Cosmetic touches include Yenko striping and badging, and obligatory "sYc" logos on the seats and floor mats. Like the original Yenko cars, plans call for a Phase II and Phase III versions with more power and performance.

For more information on the latest Chevrolet Camaro, see our road test and video.

—Jim Travers

Also see from the 2009 SEMA show:
Better than expected, future looks greener
Tire testing and the transformation of the tire industry
New iPhone apps for auto diagnostics
World's fastest Honda Civic circa 1976
All shades of green project cars
Surfrider Toyota Camry hybrid CNG
Kustomizing the Toyota Prius
Hot rodders turning green
Auto aftermarket prepares for show time in Las Vegas

Camaro driving tip: Skip the drive thru

Most of us don’t have the foresight or sufficient time to include a trip through the drive-through ATM in our new car test-driving regimen. But after a quick stop at the ATM for coffee money this morning on the way to work, I’m suggesting prospective Chevrolet Camaro buyers might want to give it a try. (Watch our Camaro video review.)
 
For openers, lets talk about windows. The Camaro’s don’t open much. They’re low, like the rest of the car, and don’t provide a lot of room for unfolding an arm. Or reaching the ATM buttons. Or even seeing them.
 
Visibility in general is not a Camaro strong suit, but when you can’t see the ATM you’re sitting next to, it takes a lack of a view to new heights. Or lows. I had to crane my neck just to see where the machine spat out my receipt, let alone reach it. And forget about opening the long, wide door to make things easier. There’s no room for that, either.
 
None of this is likely to be enough to be a deal breaker for anyone considering a new Camaro, nor should it be. Our Camaro SS has plenty of virtues, from it’s strong, smooth, 425-hp V8 to its combination of good handling and decent ride for a musclecar. But if your motoring plans ever include a drive-through ATM or stop for a cheeseburger and bucket-sized beverage, you might want to wait to see if Chevy introduces a convertible model.
 
As for me, I’ll just skip the drive-thru for my coffee. Passing 20 ounces of hot Columbian Supremo through that window is just asking for trouble.
 

—Jim Travers

See our full Chevrolet Camaro review and ratings (available to online subscribers.)

2009 Annual Auto Reliability Survey: A high price doesn’t mean it’s reliable

Paying more for a new car doesn’t guarantee that it will be reliable. Inexpensive small cars and midsized family sedans are the most reliable vehicles according to our 2009 Annual Auto Survey, which is based on our subscribers’ experiences with 1.4 million vehicles.

Twenty of out of 37 small cars and 21 out of 41 family cars have above-average predicted reliability. Minivans are at the bottom of the list, but there are not as many minivan options. See how the other vehicle categories fare below.

Car type	% of models rated average or better
Family cars	91%
Small cars	84%
Small SUVs	83%
Upscale cars	78%
Compact pickups	74%
Midsized SUVs	74%
Full-sized pickups	68%
Luxury cars	67%
Sporty cars	62%
Upscale/luxury SUVs	55%
Large SUVs	50%
Minivans	43%

When it comes to buying a new car, you do not need to spend top dollar. It pays to do your research and find the model that meet Consumer Reports’ stringent requirements to be recommended, as well as your budget.

For more details on our 2009 Annual Auto Survey including the full list of most and least reliable new cars by vehicle type, see our reliability report. Also, check out our guide to car reliability for more details on new and used car reliability as well as owner satisfaction.

—Liza Barth 

Auto X Prize Finalist: Amp Sky

In meeting several Progressive Auto X Prize finalists this week, it was clear that there are many ways to approach the $10 million challenge to develop a marketable car that can achieve a 100 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe). On hand at the New York City event, Advanced Mechanical Products (AMP) shared their smart strategy for producing electrified cars: convert existing production models.
 
The general concept behind the Amp Sky, and eventually an undisclosed Chevrolet model, is to replace the internal-combustion powertrain with a battery-electric system. And the key here is that Amp is matching the original configuration pound for pound, therefore retaining the weight and weight distribution of the original donor car. The benefit is that General Motors has spent hundreds of millions developing the car, including brakes, suspension, and steering systems. By sticking within basic factory specs, the “Amplified” vehicles should perform in a similar manner and ease future servicing.
 
With the Saturn Sky, Amp removes the engine, transmission, and differential, replacing those components with about 900 lbs. of Valence lithium-ion batteries and motors. The result is a weight balance within one percent of the original car. Amp claims their changes retain similar crash performance as the original car. To keep the transformation discreet, Amp routes the electric powertrain information to the existing instrument panel. Aside from badging and lack of exhaust pipes, one would be hard pressed to identify a parked Amp Sky from a gasoline-fueled model.
 
The two rear-mounted motors can accelerate the car “quicker than the original.” Published company estimates for 0-60 mph times range from six to eight seconds. Top speed is 90 mph. Based on usage, Amp figures 150-mile range per charge – much farther than the average commuter drives daily. Recharging fully drained batteries would take 3.5 hours, though a typical day may require just 1.5 hours from a 220-volt outlet. The company estimates its MPGe rating to be 125.
 
Amp is accepting preorders on the Sky, and the conversion cost is $25,000 plus a donor car. The batteries and motors are warranted for three years, 36,000 miles, and the company predicts the batteries will retain 80 percent of capacity at 100,000 miles.
 
 —Jeff Bartlett

Learn more about the Automotive X Prize competition. And find out more about driving green in the Consumer Reports special fuel economy section.

Just In: 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The evening I drove our 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring PRHT (which stands for Power Retractable Hard Top, obviously) home was one of those warm September nights, the kind where summer tries hard to hold off fall from coming. On what I thought would be a short trip, I dropped my wife off at the neighborhood book club and turned to head home. But I couldn’t. I just kept driving with the top down, not going very fast or very far, listening to the exhaust note, letting the stars shine in.

So, I can understand how Yutaka Katayama, “Dr. K” of Datsun/Nissan Z-car fame, created something of a stir when he said that the 370Z was “very heavy” and “very expensive.” According to Autoblog, he’d “like to have a sports car like a Miata,” since it’s closer to the elemental 240Z he championed than the current-day Z is.

A CR Top Pick for “Fun to Drive” for multiple years, the Miata recently had a light freshening. We bought one to see what the freshening brought and to find out if the quick-folding hard top adds some top-up calm to the Miata’s interior.

Despite the Miata’s carefree image, our loaded car goes beyond cheap fun. Adding the Premium Package (HIDs, electronic stability control, transponder key, Sirius) to a manual Grand Touring requires you to also buy the Suspension Package (Bilstein shocks, limited- slip differential). All of this set us back $31,150. Another sour note: the only way you can buy stability control on the Miata is to get a loaded Grand Touring version with the Premium Package.

We’ll see if the Miata keeps us smiling as we accumulate break-in miles.

—Tom Mutchler 

Sneak peek: 2012 Infiniti M35 Hybrid

Infiniti has announced plans to add a hybrid to the M line for the 2012 model year. In what will be Infiniti’s first production hybrid vehicle, the M35 Hybrid will be based on the redesigned 2011 M, and it will join the M37 and M56 six- and eight-cylinder models. Infiniti’s entry into the hybrid market will help the company better compete against Lexus in the premium hybrid market, as well as bolster the company’s green image

The hybrid system will use a twin clutch installed between the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine and single electric motor. The battery pack is a laminated lithium-ion design that Infiniti claims will offer twice the power as a same-sized, traditional Nickel-Metal-Hydride pack. Nissan is hedging its bets on Li-Ion technology with its partnership with NEC, the Renault-Nissan agreement with Better Place, and the upcoming Nissan Leaf pure EV. Details on driving range and performance will be announced closer to its on-sale date.

The current M is one of our top-rated luxury sedans with a powerful engine, agile handling and comfortable ride. We look forward to testing the redesigned 2011 model when it goes on sale in the spring of 2010. The M35 hybrid will hit dealerships a year later.

—Liza Barth  

Tokyo preview: Toyota / Subaru FT-86 sports car

Today, Toyota took the wraps off the long-rumored sports car it’s building with cooperation with Subaru. The FT-86 concept will be formally unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show on October 24th.
 
The FT-86 is engineered and styled by Toyota, but it uses a Subaru horizontally-opposed engine for a lower center of gravity and will be built by Subaru. (Toyota owns 17 percent of Subaru.)
 
The sports car will be rear-wheel drive and seat four. The engine will produce between 200 and 250 horsepower and use a six-speed manual gearbox. (No word on an automatic, yet.) Subaru’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 170 hp in the Impreza, and between 265- and 305 hp in the turbocharged WRX and WRX STi, respectively. Toyota says the engine will be “at least” 2.0 liters. Subaru builds both turbocharged and non-turbo versions of a 2.0-liter engine overseas.
 
The FT-86 will be 163-inches long, 69 inches wide, and just shy of 50 inches tall -- about the size of a Nissan 370Z, with a slightly longer wheelbase of 101 in.
 
Toyota announced it would also unveil a new Prius plug-in for the Japanese market at the upcoming show. Larger batteries will improve the car’s fuel economy and enable an electric-only range of up to 12 miles at low speeds. But the gas engine will help propel the car under most circumstances, similarly to the current production Prius. Toyota claims the batteries can be charged in three hours on 100-volt current and half that on 200 volts.
 
—Eric Evarts

Test complete: Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Let’s get this straight: The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is not a coupe version of the Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan. Instead, the Genesis Coupe is more like a very grown-up Tiburon with rear-wheel drive. We paid $28,375 for our Grand Touring model with a 306-hp V6 and a six-speed manual transmission. Simply put, it’s a lot of car for the money.
 
The Coupe is a sporty car with a stiff ride and handling like no other Hyundai we’ve ever experienced. For example, the steering is direct and communicative. On our track, the car was agile and very fun to drive. The most notable flaws were the manual transmission that makes the car jerk if you shift too quickly from first to second gear, and the stiff ride that can get grating on a long trip. The interior is nicely finished with leather, but – like most coupes – there’s not much room in the back seat.
 
Take a look at the video to see how it performs on our track. Online subscribers can read full test results and compare it to competing models, such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Subaru WRX, and Nissan 370Z.
 
—Jake Fisher

Personal Picks: Sporty and muscle cars part 4

Here, we complete the staff's personal insights into the October-issue sporty car test group that included the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Subaru WRX, and Nissan 370Z. (Links go to model overview pages where online subscribers can find the full road tests, specs, Ratings, and videos.)

Read the first, second, and third installments for other perspectives from our auto editors and engineers.

Jon Linkov: Maybe I’m just getting old and grumpy, or because my wife is expecting our first child, but I find myself leaning farther and farther away from the sports-car daily driver than in years past. A quick, comfortable sedan that flies under the radar of the local revenue-enhancement officer is what I look for nowadays.

So while all of these sporty cars may deliver visceral fun, they just don’t do it for me as daily drivers. The coupes were either too large and awkward (Camaro and Challenger) or too harsh and full of compromises (370Z, Genesis, Mustang). This point was made clear on a recent 30-mile drive on grooved roadway in the 370Z, which was accompanied by a cacophony of tones I never want to experience again. But at the same time, I believe the Z and Mustang would feel really at home on a racetrack, and that I would enjoy greatly.
 
The cars that could potentially pry my money from my white-knuckled fist would include the Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STi. I like the Subies for their standard all-wheel drive and hatchback body style, though the five-speed manual in the WRX is short one cog for highway travel.
 
But all things being equal, finances and mileage would lead me to the well of the four-door Volkswagen GTI, where I could drink deeply in its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, hatchback versatility, 25-mpg overall fuel economy, and relatively affordable price. With the cost savings I could always visit the tuner world for a little more performance and still have money left over for taxes, insurance, and diapers.
 
Jim Travers: Add me to the list of my colleagues who like the Mustang GT best. Boring, I know, but what can I say. Those colleagues are right.
 
It’s far less boat-like than the Challenger. It has, in my opinion, an even better-sounding V8. And it’s easier to see out of than the Camaro. I know the others have independent rear suspensions and are newer designs, but I simply find the Mustang is more fun to drive.
 
Like the Camaro, it’s not very nice to offer friends a ride in the Mustang’s backseat, but unlike that Chevy, at least I can bring along my own head.
 
And speaking of my own head, I’ve always had a soft spot in it for convertibles, and therein lies another part of the Mustang GT’s appeal. It’s available as a ragtop, even if you have to give up some body stiffness to enjoy it. As a bonus, there’s plenty of room for everybody’s heads, big hair and all.