'Twas a Month Before Christmas

Huracán Drops in as Gallardo Goes

By Bill McLauchlan


Well, here’s a nice little bit of seasonal symmetry. Just a month before Christmas, on November 25th to be exact, the last Lamborghini Gallardo rolled off its assembly line in the Bolognese suburb of Sant’ Agata. With 14,022 cars produced over a 10-year life cycle, the Gallardo has been the most successful Lamborghini ever and helped lift the Italian marque to a whole new level on the luxury super sports car scene.

So it seems suitably timely for me to add a late entry to my wish list for special delivery by Santa this holiday season. You see, the automaker has just unwrapped a very special present in the form of the brand-new Huracán, successor to the iconic Gallardo.

This all-new little Lambo, like most of its company stable-mates, derives its name from the world of bullfighting. The fighting bull Huracán of the Spanish Conte de la Patilla breed was known for his outstanding courage and strong sense of attack.

That characteristic is evident in the new car’s shape, with a profile defined by a single line that merges the front with the cabin and the rear of the car. There are traces of family DNA in the head- and tail-light units too, which bring the bigger Aventador to mind. But perhaps the most dynamic visual impact of this low-slung beauty can be seen in its rear-quarter appearance.

Beneath those muscular panels is a new 5.2-litre V10 with 610 hp dispatched to all four wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Good enough for a top speed over 325 km/h and a zero to 100 km/h sprint in 3.2 seconds. Though there’s more power, torque and lower emissions compared with the outgoing Gallardo, the Huracán delivers better fuel economy, thanks to stop-and-
start technology.

The interior is dominated by an innovative cockpit. A 12-inch full-colour instrument panel provides all the information necessary to the driver, from rpm to navigation maps and infotainment features. All configured by the driver in different set-ups. Fine Nappa leather and Alcantara distinguish the trim aspects while the design of the dash area and central tunnel underline a new lightness in the interior. Superb craftsmanship imparts a feeling of the highest quality and sense of luxury throughout.

The Huracán will make its world public debut at the Geneva auto show next March. Delivery to the first customers is planned shortly after. But, if you’re reading this Santa, I’d be happy to find one wrapped in red ribbon come Christmas morning.



While we’re on the topic of the holiday time, I’m taking a break from writing this blog over the next few days. I’ll return on January 6th. My best wishes to all for a happy and memorable holiday season.

Peace of Mind Built into 2015 Chevy Tahoe

By Bill McLauchlan

Ever had your vehicle stolen? How about broken into and its contents ripped off? Speaking from personal experience it’s a gut wrenching experience – in my case the car was just 10 days old. Apart from any recovery or repair costs, associated insurance aggravation and inconvenience, part of the aftermath is a heightened sensitivity about where you park and whether it’ll be there when you return.

Well, Bucko, if that’s what’s troubling you, Chevrolet’s 2015 Tahoe offers a new level of security to put your mind at ease, in a vehicle designed to deter thieves who target vehicle parts.

© General Motors

Thwarting theft was a design focus of Chevrolet’s full-size SUV. New standard features include a steering column lock that deters push-away and tow-away theft – a significant portion of today’s stolen vehicle incidents; side cut keys that deter lock picking and more robust door lock cylinders and shields to prevent access with slim jims and other tools.

© General Motors

Also new are some creative and hidden storage features, such as a compartment behind the available infotainment screen; and third-row seats that are bolted down, all but eliminating theft of third-row seats (which are removable in the current generation full-size SUVs). In 2015 models, the second and third rows fold flat to make storing cargo easier.

Available on the Tahoe’s LT and LTZ trim is a Theft Protection Package, which brings glass breakage sensors, interior motion sensors, and an inclination/tilt sensor – all of which sound an alarm if the vehicle is lifted off the ground, attempted to be broken into, or if motion is detected within the vehicle when the alarm is armed. Additional features reinforce key control systems to make it more difficult to start or move the vehicle without an authorized key.

“We have engineered a layered approach to vehicle security,” said Bill Biondo, General Motors’ Global Vehicle Security lead. “We are making the new Tahoe a less attractive target to thieves and more secure for our customers.”

360 degrees of safety
Everyday safety is also taken care of by new technologies – including radar – that contributes to 360 degrees of crash avoidance and occupant protection. Standard and available features include forward collision alert, front park assist, lane departure warning, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control.

With lane change assist, a warning aid helps the driver avoid crashes with vehicles in the next lane. Radar technology coverage is one lane over from both side mirrors and extends back approximately 70 meters from the side mirror. An orange vehicle symbol in side mirrors illuminates to alert the driver against changing lanes.

An available Safety Alert Seat feature offers directional vibrations to alert the driver about potential crash threats, giving a driver a better sense of the direction of a potential threat than beeping that can compete with other noises in the vehicle.

The Tahoe also offers the segment’s only front-seat centre air bag, in bucket-seat models. That air bag is engineered to provide additional protection for drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes, where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.

© General Motors

If a Tahoe is stolen its standard OnStar system can help by blocking the ignition circuit, pinpoint its location or help law enforcement in pursuit by electronically reducing power to slow the vehicle for recovery.

The new 2015 Tahoe (and its Suburban sibling) are scheduled to arrive in dealerships in the first quarter of 2014.

Kia's Sporty Side Shows in a Concept for Detroit

By Bill McLauchlan

Hold onto your hats Kia fans! The up-and-coming Korean car company will take a sporting turn when it takes the wraps off a new concept car at next month’s 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Conceived at the automaker’s U.S. design studio in Irvine, CA, this stunning 2+2 sports car is intended to turn heads while delivering superb driving enjoyment on both road and track.

Kia’s rise over the last five years or so has been nothing short of remarkable, driven by progressive styling, great bang for the buck, laudable and modern build quality and, in the case of the nice little Forte Coupe, fun to drive. Kia has now been in the Canadian market for 15 years and its current model range offers practically something for everyone – from the entry-level, budget friendly Rio line to the rear-drive, near-luxury $37,795 Cadenza.

If they don’t work for you, there’s the quirky-looking Soul, just named Best New Family Car (under $30,000) for 2014 by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). It also might interest you to know that an all-electric Soul is currently under development for sale in Canada. I’ve already mentioned the visually appealing sporty Forte Coupe, but if practicality is driving your interest you can also choose from Forte sedan and 5-door models. All three carry base-model sticker prices from less than $16,000 to just under $20,000. Slotting in between the Forte line and the Cadenza is the Optima at around $22,000 and a Hybrid version at a tad under $30,000.

If SUVs are more to your liking, Kia offers Rondo, Sportage and Sorento choices – the latter also garnering recognition from the AJAC experts, voted as Best New SUV/CUV ($35,000 to $60,000) for 2014.

While the current top-line Cadenza is aimed squarely at similarly-sized and equipped Buick, Chevrolet and Toyota sedans, Kia has just raised its sights even higher. A new premium K900 rear-drive sedan (above) made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show last month, poised to challenge the full-size, rear-drive luxury sedan segment. It should make its way into Dealer showrooms by next Spring with a suggested list price in the $60,000 to $80,000 range.

So, with its product portfolio nicely filling out, the only gap seems to be in something truly sporty, thus this intriguing new concept for Detroit. The photo at the top of this page gives us some idea of what it will look like but Kia is keeping technical details close to its vest. Stay tuned for more glimpses in the weeks ahead.

Cadillac begins shipping ELRs

By Bill McLauchlan

It’s been a while getting into production since it first hit the auto show circuit as a concept model back in 2009 but, today, Cadillac began shipping its 2014 ELR electric luxury coupe to dealerships across the continent.

Photo by John F. Martin for General Motors

Cadillac claims the ELR is the first application of Extended Range Electric Vehicle technology by a full-line luxury automotive brand, blending a dramatic design and industry-leading extended-range technology for a driving experience both sporty and environmentally friendly.

Its driving range, which combines battery-only electric power with a range-extending gasoline-powered electric generator provides total driving range exceeding 300 miles (480 km). The extended range technology is uniquely tuned for Cadillac in the ELR. Most daily commutes will require no gasoline and emit no tailpipe emissions.

Today’s event marked the return of Cadillac production at the ELR’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant after a two-year hiatus. The last model built there was the Cadillac DTS large sedan from 2006 to 2011. The first vehicle produced for sale at Detroit-Hamtramck was a Cadillac Eldorado, which came off the line on Feb. 4, 1985. Currently, the Chevrolet Impala, Malibu and Volt are manufactured alongside the new ELR.

Built on the same basic platform as the Volt, but with a big dollop of design, technology and the fun of luxury coupe driving added to the mix, the ELR is tasked with fitting seamlessly into the same modern brand image as Cadillac’s CTS, XTS and other offerings. Let’s hope Caddy has done its homework this time around. The last time it shared a small-car structure with Chevrolet we got the horrid little Cimarron, a less-than-desirable luxury clone of Chevy’s original Cavalier.

High-flying Leaf Hits a Hundred 
As Cadillac’s crisply styled little ELR rolls off the production line for its start in life, another all-electric model has rolled up some impressive numbers of its own. Steve Marsh, a Kent, Washington, resident recently celebrated passage of a rather unique milestone – 100,000 all-electric miles (161,000 km) driven in his Nissan Leaf.

In early 2011, Marsh bought a Leaf for his 130-mile (210 km) round-trip daily commute. Since then, he has covered that extensive total using no gasoline, creating no tailpipe emissions and, by his own estimation, saving thousands of dollars.

“With a daily commute of about 130 miles, I’ve saved more than $9,000 (US) compared to my old gasoline-powered car,” said Marsh, who credits his West Coast state’s strong charging infrastructure. “With plenty of public charging options, as well as a charger installed at my office, my Leaf is a perfect car for my commute.”

A financial controller for a seafood company, Marsh made the decision to go electric and by the little Nissan based primarily on the car’s low cost of ownership – a benefit that more than 40,000 North American Leaf drivers are now enjoying.

An Inside Look at Coming Car Interiors?

By Bill McLauchlan

As you’d expect, new car models and the latest concept creations are the stars at any big auto show. In that respect the glittering hardware on display at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show was no different.

But sometimes you get an interesting glimpse of future product direction by checking out the booths where component manufacturers and other industry suppliers blow their own horn.

Take, for instance, Faurecia, one of the world’s top suppliers of vehicle interior structures. Among other things it develops and produces instrument panels and centre consoles, cabin designs, door panels and decorative components (paint, film, wood, aluminum, etc.). At the LA Show, it offered up some tantalizing visions for the near future of automotive interiors and seating that are ready for the road.

The Faurecia exhibit turned heads with what it called Performance 2.0. A demonstrator filled with new ideas for design and surfaces and new levels of comfort, connectivity and lightweight materials, all conceived for affordable mid-size cars – the market most favoured by mainstream consumers. Several of the demonstrator’s features respond to just a light touch or a simple hand gesture to help make driving easier and simpler – attributes sure to be a welcome prospect for any motorist coping with stiffening fingers or other forms of limited upper body mobility.

A quick look at its instrument panel illustrates how this interior approach is built for lightness, with an exceptionally slim design and high-tech systems.

One is a retractable head-up display (HUD), placed above the steering wheel, that furnishes a transparent view of critical driver information. It replaces conventional gauge groups. In this neat application a small projector module remains flat and hidden away when the car is parked, tilting up only when the engine is started.

Another larger retractable screen is an eight-inch interactive touch-screen placed where an infotainment system might otherwise have been situated and is available for navigation as well as other functions. Below this central retractable screen, icons appear for interaction with air blowers and connections to infotainment features, which light up only when needed.

The demonstrator also suggests that the next wave of control technology will simply be a wave. In this instance, a mere hand gesture makes the glove box, rotate out and open.
The dash vents are an interesting touch, too. Rather than utilizing today’s typical adjustable fins, this design uses large, open, driver-oriented decorative vents to the left, right and above the steering wheel, along with two defroster vents. The decorative vent on the passenger side displays graphics during the day and is backlit at night. Natural fibres are used extensively throughout the entire panel to reduce weight, as is wireless connectivity in the centre console where reduced wiring and harness requirements allow even more weight reduction.

As for the console itself, an armrest atop it spirals out and opens with just a single touch. Which then reveals a wireless charging area for smartphones. It also enhances smartphone use by coupling it with the vehicle’s own antenna to expand connectivity for the phone. And content displayed on an iPhone stored in the console can be shown on the centre retractable screen for the front-seat passenger and streamed to a wirelessly charged 10-inch tablet mounted on the back of the driver’s seat.

Everything available to the smartphone online can be displayed on the back tablet, which uses a gesture-based interface and a totally wireless connection. The technology identifies the phone owner’s playlist and can interact with it on the retractable screen. The driver’s head-up display, meanwhile, shows only the information required to operate the vehicle, consisting of turn signals and electronic readouts traditionally shown on gauges.

Along with state-of-the-art, sculpted, seamless (rather than conventional cut-and-sew methods) seating incorporating lightweight plastic and an advanced foam process, it promises a lightweight car full of high-end convenience and easy operation. Just the thing to help midsize car buyers feel like they’re experiencing luxury and comfort once found only in premium vehicles.

Keep Those Christmas Gifts Under Wraps

Ontario Police Chiefs Remind Us to Lock it OR Lose it!


By Bill McLauchlan

It never ceases to amaze me how often I encounter vehicles practically begging to be stolen or broken into. You’ve probably run across them yourselves. Cars idling unattended, keys in the ignition, while the driver runs into a store “just for a minute” to pick up a pack of smokes or maybe even a couple of lottery tickets … now there’s a gamble with the potential for a costly outcome.

Another saddening sight, especially at this festive time is seeing cars in mall parking lots or at the curbside, with shopping bags, gift packages or even personal items like iPhones, purses and other goodies sitting on the seats, just waiting to be picked off by light-fingered looters.

That’s why Ontario’s Police Chiefs are warning motorists about the dangers of identity theft resulting from unlocked vehicles or the leaving of valuables in plain view during the launch of the Province’s annual Lock it OR Lose it Campaign. The campaign is a pro-active crime prevention program that encourages drivers to take precautions to protect their vehicles and vehicle contents from theft, particularly during the hectic holiday season. “ (Police) want motorists to be aware of the dangers involved in leaving vehicles unlocked or valuables in plain sight,” said Deputy Chief Andrew Fletcher of the Halton Regional Police Service, just west of Toronto. “We are especially concerned about the opportunity for identity theft resulting from the theft of unlocked vehicles or valuables.”

During the Lock it OR Lose it Campaign, police officers will be on the lookout for parked vehicles to confirm they are locked and that no valuables have been left visible. Officers place a small notice on vehicles checked indicating what safety precautions were neglected and offer simple prevention tips for drivers to protect their vehicles against theft. The notices also congratulate drivers who have secured their vehicle.

In addition to the possible loss of valuable seasonal purchases, Dubin urged motorists not to keep personal documents such as vehicle ownership, liability pink slips, credit card invoices, and passports in vehicles when unoccupied. Criminals look for such documents so they can assume identities, secure credit card accounts, and even take out a mortgage against victims’ property without their knowledge. Those unfortunate souls might not realize they’ve been victimized until it’s too late, costing them time and money to rectify the damage.

“The insurance industry remains a strong supporter of the Lock it OR Lose it Campaign. We know it works,” said Rick Dubin, Vice-President, Investigative Services, Insurance Bureau of Canada. “While we are seeing declines in auto theft, motorists should remain vigilant. Fewer motor vehicle thefts mean criminals look for new ways to commit crimes. Identity theft offers opportunities for criminal activities.”

The number of stolen vehicles has dropped dramatically recently, with 4,500 fewer motor vehicle thefts in 2012 than there were in 2011, and a 57 percent drop from a decade ago. Despite this positive trend, Ontario’s law enforcement leaders and our community partners are concerned that in 2012 there were 12,739 incidents of identity theft and identity fraud reported to police, a five percent increase over those reported in the previous year.

Something to think about as you prepare to hit the shopping centres this weekend.

Clearing up your New-Car Features Questions

By Bill McLauchlan

Most of us have been there at one time or another. You stretch out or bend down, reaching for something, and a muscle spasm locks up your lower back in a searing stab of pain.
It feels almost impossible to straighten up, you can barely walk and lowering yourself to sit down is a slow, excruciatingly painful process. Trying the latter makes getting in or out of your car a bit of an ordeal, at any age. Fortunately, with a little time and/or treatment, things loosen up and you’re back to normal.

Even so, it’s something that hints at what may be waiting down the road as our body begins its inevitable downhill run into old age. In terms of our driving life, Philipp Meyer expressed it well in his 2009 novel American Rust by noting what it means to get old when he wrote: You don’t look forward to pleasure so much as easing pain.”

Looking back on a couple of those muscle spasm episodes myself I know from experience it’s one thing to lower your bum into the driver’s seat cushion. But it gets no easier from there. Next you have to lift your feet and twist your body to get fully seated then shift your weight around to settle into a more or less comfortable position. And let me tell you folks, it ain’t any better getting out once you’re reached your destination.

That started me thinking about how we all age differently and how as we go through the assessment process in our next new-car purchase there are several “smart choices” we can make that can accommodate current needs or pay off down the road if physical conditions change for the worse.

© Wieck Media

Obviously, regardless of our age and health, any vehicle under consideration these days should have scored well in federal crash tests, have front, side and curtain airbags, and be equipped with anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control – the latter to help maintain control in slippery turns and compensate for the slower reaction times of an older driver.
But there are other more subtle things to think about. Is the car you’re considering a 2-door or 4-door model. Style preferences aside, bear in mind that a 2-door body has longer doors – needed to allow access to the rear passenger seats. But that makes them heavier, calling for more muscle to open and close than is the case on a 4-door body. If the car is parked on a hill or slope that extra weight won’t make light work for anyone with upper body muscle stiffness, or is affected by arthritis in the hands or finger pain and stiffness.

John F. Martin for Chevrolet

Next comes the door opening itself. Does it allow easy entry and exit? Is there sufficient headroom and is the door sill low enough to accommodate a limited range of leg motion?
Then take a look at the seats. There should be good support from mid-thigh to the buttocks area to ease access and egress. Leather upholstery can also help smooth entry and exit, though fabric-covered seat material can help keep hold the body more securely in position during hard cornering situations or in emergency maneouvering. Power seats, six- or eight-way adjustable, not only help with entry/exit but also allow easy adjustment to alleviate hip or leg pain, arthritis or numbness and tingling in the legs. Another benefit with power seat adjustment is in helping deliver a good line of sight above the steering wheel, especially for shorter stature drivers. Heated power seats (often with lumbar support) can also help to sooth back pain too.

Adjustable foot pedals are also good to look for. With them, a comfortable position is possible without the needing to slouch down and compromise driver visibility. They also help keep you a safe distance from the steering wheel in the event of an airbag deployment. And, again, they can help smaller drivers sit and see better as well as aiding those dealing with leg or hip pain, diminished leg strength or limited knee flexibility.

© Wieck Media

With proper seating taken care of, it’s time to turn your attention to the steering wheel. A tilt/telescoping version also helps with entry/exit, especially for bigger-bodies drivers. It can also help maintain a safe separation between chest and front airbag for smaller-stature motorists and help others find a comfortable position to ease possible neck and shoulder pain. A thicker wheel rim also means you don’t need as much hand and wrist strength to grip and handle typical driving conditions.

Keyless entry is another good feature to have as, apart from its convenience, it does away with any finger pain or joint stiffness needed to turn a key. Same goes for power side mirrors, more so if they’re treated to reduce night time glare. If they’re heated so much the better, as there’s no need to scrape off ice. Likewise, the larger they are the better to help with body turning issues associated with merging, blind-spot checking or backing up. Speaking of reversing, a large rear window and rear-view camera can also be a big help in aiding visibility for anyone having trouble looking over their shoulder.

Buick News Photo

Keep your eyes open, too, for big, easy to manipulate secondary control buttons, high-contrast instrument displays with big, clear letters and numbers, all of which make it easy to take in quick information and allow more confident, less distracted driving. A cautious word to the wise, though, regarding the growing trend to touch screen displays. Their positioning usually on the centre console, and multiple flat-pad layout tends to make function choices hard to do without taking one’s eyes off the road, not good at night or if eyes have a problem with quick focus changes. Still on the subject of buttons, an ignition-start push button is good to have, if twisting a key is difficult or painful for stiff fingers or arthritic hands.

© Wieck Media

One recent development, found on some Ford and BMW models is an automatic tailgate that opens with the swipe of a foot beneath the rear bumper. Convenient if you’re holding an armful of grocery bags and needs no strength to operate. Also in the recent development category are parallel parking assistance, front and rear radar-based collision and braking systems, adaptive cruise control, night vision capability, lane deviation systems and more. They can be expensive or maybe not even available on vehicles within your budget range. But worth consideration if they are.

The Second Chapter in Volvo's New Design Story

By Bill McLauchlan

Last September, Volvo took the wraps off its Concept Coupe design representing the world’s first insight into the Swedish automaker’s new design direction under Senior Vice President of Design, Thomas Ingenlath (below).

In a sleek shape evocative of Volvo’s iconic P1800 coupe from the 1960s, it showed one interpretation of how the proportions and versatility of Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture platform, that will underpin all medium and large cars in the company’s future, could look.

At the time of its introduction, the Concept Coupe was said to be the first of three design studies.

The next chapter in the new design story (seen above) showcases how the company’s famous safety technology as well as a contemporary Scandinavian active lifestyle could be integrated into the new architecture. The word going around then was that the Concept’s front end styling cues, especially in the grille and headlamps treatment, is what we can expect the coming 2014 replacement for Volvo’s current XC60 SUV to look like. This second example of the three design studies is our best peek yet at how the new SUV would fit into the new platform’s overall theme.

Watch for it to make its world debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) next January in Detroit, though full details are expected to be made public a week earlier. We’ll have all the latest news for you then.

New Ridgeline on the Horizon

By Bill McLauchlan

An all-new Honda Ridgeline pickup truck will roll down Canadian roads in less than two years and, today, Honda shared a sketch expressing the new truck’s styling direction. The automaker also confirmed production of the current Ridgeline built Alabama, will conclude in mid-2014.

  PRNewsFoto/American Honda Motor Co. Inc.

Like the innovative first-generation model that was voted 2006 Truck of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) and earned 2006 North American Truck of the Year honours after its spring 2005 debut, the next-gen Ridgeline is being designed and developed at Honda’s Los Angeles and Ohio R&D centres.

“The next generation Ridgeline will build on Honda’s role in creating new value with a new take on advancing form and function in the truck segment,” said Dave Gardner, vice president of sales and marketing for Honda Canada Inc. “With a clear path forward, Ridgeline will play an even more important role in our future product portfolio and strengthen an already class-leading lineup of light trucks.”

The Honda Ridgeline broke new ground in the Canadian pickup market with its unique design featuring a spacious five-passenger cabin, smooth ride and handling, and half-ton truck capability. The first truck of its kind to be built on a closed-box unibody platform, the Ridgeline introduced innovative new features to the pickup segment, such as its large In-Bed Trunk® and dual-action tailgate.

Though the Ridgeline will be built in the U.S., Honda has produced more than six million cars and trucks in Canada since 1986 at its two manufacturing facilities and builds engines at a third manufacturing plant in Alliston, Ontario, and has sold more than 3.7 million cars and light-duty trucks.


Finalists Announced for N. American Car/Truck of the Year

General Motors dominated the finalists for the 2014 North American Car of the Year title, taking two of the three spots. It also took one of the three spots for 2014 North American Truck/Utility of the Year.

Forty-eight automotive journalists from the United States and Canada voted for the Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Mazda3 as finalists for the 2014 North American Car of the Year.

© GM                      Cadillac CTS

© GM                Corvette Stingray

The journalists chose Acura’s MDX, the Chevrolet Silverado Pickup and Jeep Cherokee as finalists for the 2014 North American Truck/Utility of the Year.

© GM                                                                                                                                       Chevrolet Silverado

The awards – first given in 1994 – are unique in North America because, instead of being given by a single publication, web site, radio or television program, they are given by automotive journalists representing all of those outlets in two countries.

The awards recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

To be eligible, vehicles must be “all new” or “substantially changed”. Early in December jurors sent their ballots to Deloitte & Touche. The accounting firm kept the finalists secret until today.

At a news conference at the Automotive Press Association luncheon in Detroit Diane DeFrancis, a partner at Deloitte, handed two sealed envelopes over to Joann Muller, one of the NACTOY judges and the Detroit Bureau Chief of Forbes Media, who announced the verdict.

Now there will be a second round of voting on the three car and three truck/utility finalists. Those ballots also go to Deloitte officials, who will keep the results secret until the winners will be revealed January 13th at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit
.
The list of eligible vehicles originally included 28 cars and 18 truck/utilities. In September the jurors voted to focus on 12 cars and 12 truck/utilities and those vehicles were on the ballot. They were: 
North American Car of the Year
BMW 4 Series
, Cadillac CTS, 
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, 
Chevrolet Impala
, Infiniti Q50, Jaguar F-Type, 
Kia Cadenza
, Lexus IS
, Mazda3, 
Mazda6, 
Mercedes-Benz CLA and 
Toyota Corolla.

North American Truck/Utility of the Year
Acura MDX
, BMW X5, 
Buick Encore, 
Chevrolet Silverado, 
GMC Sierra, 
Hyundai Santa Fe LWB
, Jeep Cherokee, 
Kia Sorento, 
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
, Nissan Rogue, 
Subaru Forester and 
Toyota Tundra.

A Lasting Affair That Began in a Motel

By Bill McLauchlan

Yesterday I brought you the inside skinny on the forthcoming 2105 Mustang, due to go on sale next April as Ford marks the 50th anniversary of the car’s first public appearance.
That got me thinking about how it all began for the hugely popular nameplate as it closes in on a half-century of continuous production.

I suppose you could say, like many an offspring in those days, the Mustang was conceived in a motel. I kid you not. Life began back in 1960 when some senior Ford executives, chaired by Lee Iacocca, gathered for a weekly get together at the Fairlane Inn Motel in Dearborn, Michigan.

Among the subjects under discussion was how to compete with Chevrolet’s Corvair Monza. Iacocca felt young buyers liked its sporting image, something his company’s frumpy Falcon didn’t possess. The outcome was an order to come up with an affordable competitor for the Monza.

The seed was planted with the Mustang I, a two-seat prototype turned out in 1962 but it didn’t get any further. A year later I clapped eyes on its successor, the Mustang II, a four-passenger running prototype that Ford demonstrated prior to the U.S. Grand Prix at the Watkins Glen circuit in upstate New York. It, too, was a non-starter.

Meanwhile, in mid-’62, a Product Planning Committee had assembled in a courtyard at Ford’s styling centre to assess seven full-size mockup designs. One of those, by designer Joe Oros and his staff, was anointed as the chosen one. Tagged with the “Cougar” label, this mockup presented two different styling treatments in one – the right side was Falcon-like but the left side featured everything the Committee was looking for.

So, a fresh design started the gestation period but now it had to evolve into a car. Engineering was given a clay model and told to come up with a car to sell for no more than $2,500 in base trim.

As Ford’s new baby grew its Engineering midwives drew on existing components to help keep costs down. Engines, suspension, brakes, differentials, etc came mainly from the Falcon nursery with a sprinkling of Falcon Spring, Comet Caliente, Fairlane and Galaxie parts added to the mix.

Finally, on April 13, 1964, eighteen months after Oros’ design was accepted, the Mustang came into the world publicly at the New York World’s Fair. On the same day, though it wouldn’t officially go on sale until April 17th, the wraps came off in dealer showrooms nationwide and some four million people came through the doors to order 22,000 Mustangs. Ford had fathered a healthy hit.

© Wieck    Former airline Captain Stanley Tucker of St. Johns, Nfld. bought the first production Mustang, never meant for public sale.  

Eight months after its birth, the 250,000th Mustang was sold with more than a million sales in its first two years. Since then it has racked up more than nine million sold as it moves gracefully into its middle-age years.

© Wieck

Parnelli Jones' Boss 302 dominated on track in 1970.   

Underlining its on-going popularity the Mustang, complete with retro design cues, has matured from those early days with varying degrees of success. It made its race track debut within a month of its introduction as pace car for the 1964 Indianapolis 500. Many will fondly remember the handsome 2+2 fastback that first appeared for the ’65 model year. I well remember watching the legendary Boss 302 Mustang trounce the opposition during the 1970 Trans-Am series with Parnelli Jones and George Follmer taking six wins from 11 races in their Bud Moore-prepared cars. Then there were the famed Shelby Mustangs created for racing but sold in street versions, the GT350 introduced in September 1964 (Hertz even ordered 1,000 of them as rental cars in ’65) and the GT500 that appeared in 1967 before production halted a couple of years later.

A less than successful stage in life, however, developed when the Pinto-based Mustang II (below) was spawned for the 1974 model year, a mousy-looking, tawdry and smaller concession to the demands of rising fuel prices, emission regulations and a waning interest in muscle cars. Fortunately, those days are well behind the current Mustang generation.

© Wieck
Mustang II for 1974 lacked original model's popular appeal.

The waves made by the Mustang have resounded well beyond the automotive world, too. It quickly became a film star, appearing in various early James Bond movies including Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever and, perhaps most memorably, when driven by Steve McQueen in Bullitt. It also featured in chart-topping songs such as the Wilson Pickett classic Mustang Sally.

Born to meet a new demand developing in the marketplace the Mustang did just that. But the marketplace can be a fickle lover. That its affair with the Ponycar has endured for half a century is remarkable in itself. And, with an all-new 2015 love child due for delivery in a few months, Ford is betting it’ll be just what the public wants as their family transport.

In Nice Shape for a 50-year old

By Bill McLauchlan

Wouldn’t it be something if all we 50-somethings could look as good as the all-new 2015 Mustang that made it debut today?

Try as we might to shed a few strategic pounds here, make a cosmetic nip and tuck there, plug a bald spot with a timely transplant or hit the gym to tone the old chassis, we’ll never do as good a job of it as Ford has done with this sixth-generation version. There’s an all-new shape, yes, yet it’s still unmistakably Mustang.

And, for the first time ever, today’s global roll-out in six cities on four continents brings the hugely popular Mustang to a wider array of buyers in Europe and Asia.

Commenting on the clean-sheet design of the newcomer, Moray Callum, Ford executive director, design, The Americas, said: “You only get one chance to make a first impression and when you see this car you immediately see a Mustang strong and true.”

Photos: Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.

And there’s a lot to like. The long sculpted hood and short rear deck evoke memories of the original mid-60s Ponycar but with a contemporary execution. A lower, wider stance, reduced roof height, plus wider rear fenders and track give it a solid, down-to-earth feel. The Fastback looks sleeker thanks to a more steeply raked windshield and rear glass. Distinctive tail lamps with sequential turn signals adorn the rear and a modern treatment of the traditional Mustang front end and grille round out the external picture.

Under that long hood, three engines now offer a broader power choice: a more powerful 5.0-litre V8 upgraded with internal improvements to produce over 420 horsepower; a 3.7-litre V6 putting out at least 300 hp; and an all-new fuel-efficient 2.3-litre Ecoboost unit makes use of a turbocharger to deliver the performance Mustang drivers expect – with output projected at more than 305 hp.

Smoother shifts come via an updated manual gearbox while a reworked automatic transmission gets new steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.

Underpinning it all are totally new front and rear suspension layouts, bringing the expected benefits in handling, steering and ride quality. An added new attraction is something that will appeal to any driver’s youthful exuberance. The feeling of freedom and confidence instilled by the new running gear can be amplified by a feature to control how the Mustang behaves. On a twisty back road (or a weekend track day if you really like to wring it out), with available Selectable Drive Modes, the driver can tap toggle switches on the centre console to quickly adjust steering effort, throttle response, sharpen transmission shifts and assist stability control settings to create just the right ride to suit the moment.

Each 2015 Mustang has a badge on the instrument panel
that includes the galloping Pony logo and the words
"Mustang – Since 1964" to mark its 50th birthday.

For those less adventurous souls (dare we say older?) who just want to sit back and relax for the daily drive there are equally satisfying developments. Convertible drivers will appreciate a quieter cabin and more upscale air provided by a standard multi-layer insulated cloth top. Both body styles benefit from the new rear suspension and added body width that bring improved shoulder and hip room for passengers, and a more usefully shaped trunk space. Large, clear instrumentation puts critical information right in front of the driver in the roomier cabin, while improved ergonomics and tactile switches and knobs offer better control – all attributes that can help out tired old eyes and arthritis-impaired hands.

And, of course, the 2015 Mustang brings along many of Ford’s innovative technologies for enhanced information control and connectivity. Such as SYNC, MyKey, available Track Apps, MyColor gauges, the new Shaker Pro audio system and several driver-assist features including blind-spot information and adaptive cruise control.

“From day one, we knew if we were going to build a new Mustang, we had to do it right,” said Dave Pericak, chief engineer. “We built a new Mustang from the ground up that is quicker, better-looking, more refined and more efficient, without losing any of the raw appeal that people have associated with the Mustang for half a century.” I doubt any of us could make a similar claim about ourselves.