|
|
Every year, automakers spin the same groove. Now is the time to buy...Buy now when prices are low...
This time, however, they just might mean it. For smart shoppers who research features and price, now really is the best time in recent memory to buy a new car. Dealer lots across America are crammed; new 2004 and 2005 models are elbowing each other for show space, the result of which is an internal prize fight featuring redesigned models, low prices, great incentives and technological advances. As the 2005 model year advances, in fact, there are some notable shifts in the types of vehicles automakers are building:
Hybrid Power
Here come the hybrids, with frontrunner Ford Escape out already, to be followed in short order by hybrid SUVs from Toyota, Honda and GM. Look for more SUVs and trucks, as the largest fuel economy gains will be with the larger vehicles.
Minivan Mania
Minivans are cool again - at least some of them. Credit the Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Town & Country and Nissan Quest for the re-emergence of the ultimate family car. 2005 promises a new Honda Odyssey, and new minivans from GM.
Old Fashioned Cars
Domestic automakers, having maximized their SUV product line and looking at a shopper shift toward more practical benefits are focusing significant time and resources toward the car market, hoping to get back some of their lost market share. It will be tough, given the competition: the Accord and Camry, among others, aren't exactly ready to roll over. But lead by the Chevrolet Cobalt and the Ford Mustang, there are some promising new models poised to take on the segment leaders.
Detroit Delight
Quality is up. People are beginning to talk about their vehicles again. And, should their push in the passenger car market be successful, Detroit automakers may well reverse -- or slow down -- their shrinking market share fortunes. The battleground is in the passenger car segment; the winners will produce the most exciting vehicles with the best features, a quality build and a growing reputation for dependability.
We've put together a short list of early favorites from the class of 2005. The cars below are either already available, or will be by September:
Chevrolet Cobalt -- Pricing TBA
According to the new Chevrolet advertising theme, we're ready for an American revolution. But first they have to build the car. Whether or not it starts with the Cobalt remains to be seen, but first impressions are strong. A nicely designed Cavalier replacement, the Cobalt is being called a premium small car and will begin production at the Lordstown, Ohio plant late in 2004. The Cobalt will offer a selection of body styles, interiors (interiors were not available for viewing), Ecotec four-cylinder engines, transmissions, suspensions and wheels. The Cobalt will be built on the General Motors Delta Platform. All told, the Cobalt lineup includes two models, sedan and coupe, and a total of eight trim levels. The sedan model features base, LS, LT and SS trims, while coupe models are available in base, LS, SS and SS Supercharged trims. Pricing will be announced in late summer 2004. According to Lori Queen, GM vehicle line executive for small cars, the Cobalt sedan features styling with a European feel, and is intended to create a more refined experience in the sub-$20,000 vehicle segment. The coupe is sexier, and will usher in expanded agreements with aftermarket companies. According to Queen, GM "intends to be at SEMA in a big way" when it comes to developing the SS version of the Cobalt coupe. Queen and Chevrolet General Manager Brent Dewar cited the new wheels of the Cobalt as a step toward a refined and improved performance experience, with 17-inch wheels and tires on the SS model, and 18-inch wheels and tires on the SS supercharger model.
Chevrolet Equinox SUV $20,995 - $24,335
Finally, Chevrolet has a small SUV to take on the CR-Vs, Highlanders and Escapes of the world. In fact, the Equinox may well beat the competition handily -- as it offers more in terms of space, style and power than most of the competition. Built on the same architecture as the Saturn VUE, the Equinox has two models - the base LS and the upscale LT. It also offers more power than its competition - with a V-6 as the only available engine. Both LS and LT come with basic equipment and cloth interiors, with leather seating and steering wheel optional on the LT. There are a slew of package and stand alone options available on the Equinox.
Chrysler 300 $22,970 - $32,370
This is the type of vehicle you run your hand along, feeling the lines and the corners. You wash this kind of car slowly, enjoying the sculpted metal and chrome accents. Climb into the 300C, and you'll feel a little more mature. A little more successful. You'll feel a little more powerful. They've got a winner here, unless they cheapen it to fit a lower price or fit and finish isn't up to par. With a long hood, short deck and aggressive profile, the 300C has a premium feel to it. On the outside, the vehicle's look is dominated by angular lines and a large, over-sized grille. Some thought and inspiration went into building this vehicle -- and it shows -- with a unique look that promises to grow old gracefully. It's impossible, of course, to tell road manners and power without driving it, but the 300C will offer HEMI power in a rear-drive configuration.
Dodge Magnum $21,870 - $29,370
It looks like a custom hot rod wagon. Time will tell if it will drive like that, or just another overpowered car on the street. Nice touches included the false floor in the back area, the multi-purpose interior material and the sturdy, quality seats. On the road, the Magnum will undoubtedly deliver power, and that wide stance indicates performance. Like the 300C, the Magnum will offer a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 in rear-wheel drive. The Magnum is designed for people who know what a HEMI is, practical people who use vehicles for more than commuting. The seats fold flat -- and there's a lot of room when they do. This may be the result of the low-slung roof. Another practical touch is the wide opening hatch -- it looks cool, and opens all the way over the vehicle -- exposing a large entry area. If the Magnum is a hit, look for a reprise of the classic American wagon - with hybrid option, of course.
Ford Escape Hybrid $26,330 - $28,005
The first hybrid SUV on the market got the brass band and the ticker tape, and with waiting lists around the country should stay popular for a while. Critical questions will be whether owners get comparable value for the $3,000 price hike, and whether the Ford hybrid system comes through as dependable. Like Toyota's Prius, the Escape Hybrid is a full hybrid, able to run on either its gasoline engine and/or the electric motor depending on which delivers the most efficient fuel performance.
The Escape will be available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations. Acceleration will not be compromised, according to Ford, and cargo capacity will remain the same as the standard Escape. According to Angela Coletti, Ford spokesperson for the Escape hybrid, the vehicle will deliver V6 acceleration performance. The Escape hybrid is what she terms a "no compromise" vehicle, able to function on-road, off or in a typical towing scenario. Emissions ratings are targeted to be SULEV and PZEV, which translate into virtually zero emissions.
Ford Five Hundred Pricing TBA
Due out as a replacement to the Ford Taurus later this year, the Five Hundred is a chunk of a car - as if they pounded it out with a hammer and chisel - with, reportedly, plenty of room on the inside. Designed to provide an alternative to SUVs, the Five Hundred offers a more SUV like step-in. Power arrives from the 3-liter V6 which yields 200-hp. and 200-lb.-ft. of torque. The two transmissions are a huge leap from normal sedan gearboxes - FWD Five Hundred's get a 6-speed automatic or Continuously Variable Transmission while AWD models use only the CVT, which draws on pulleys and a belt to infinitely modify the transmission's gear ratio. Other features include fully independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and large 17- or 18-in. wheels and tires. Dual-stage frontal airbags are standard, while optional seat-deployed side-impact and curtain rollover airbags are optional. The overall design is conservative, as Ford seeks to present the Five Hundred as an elegant, capable, roomy, and luxurious sedan. Emphasis is put on the largest-in-class trunk (with room for eight sets of golf clubs) and vast rear-seat space.
Ford Mustang $19,995 - $24,995 (est.)
While Ford executives will point to the sales figures (140,000 last year) as proof that the Mustang has always been a great seller with a strong following, there was, nonetheless, a fading love for the car that has been a part of the American highway landscape for 40 years.
The Mustang simply stopped conjuring visions of the open road.
Designed after classic pony cars of the 1960s, the fastback roofline and trapezoidal rear windows echo 1965-66 Shelby Mustangs, and up front, the shark-like headlamps and grille suggest 1967-68 ponies. It is an inspired design that echoes glory days of the past in a contemporary design that will not feel out of place on the road. It's not a classic car - it's the remaking of a classic. And if it handles with the same inspiration of its design, the Mustang will likely bring back the passion and the unadulterated fun of a good rear-wheel kick in the pants.
The most notable performance improvement will be the 4.0-liter 60-degree, single overhead cam V-6 engine that manages 202 horsepower. This replaces the current 3.8-liter 90-degree pushrod engine.
The Mustang will also be offered as a GT, which gets a new 4.6-liter V8 producing 300-horsepower. Both vehicles offer a choice of a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. Officials have said that the GT's pricing will be less than $25,000.
Interior improvements include three design themes, including a color-configurable (125 possibilities) instrument panel, prominent dual chrome-ringed gauges, and chrome-ringed air vents. The Interior Color Accent Package is charcoal with red leather seats, red door inserts and red floor mats. Ford also claims to have significantly improved sound dampening, which provides a quieter, more relaxed driving experience.
Lexus RX 400h Hybrid SUV -- Pricing TBA
The Lexus 400h -- basically an RX330 with hybrid power -- comes out later this year with a hybrid system similar to the Prius' Synergy Drive but with expanded battery capacity. The 400h should be able to generate around 270 horsepower; other power and capacity stats should stay about the same.
The RX400h may not be the first hybrid SUV to market, it will be the first hybrid vehicle to also have the upgraded Vehicle Dynamic Management (VDM) system, an improved vehicle control system that will anticipate the onset of a skid or slide. Lexus estimates that the RX400h will generate about 270 horsepower, and that the EPA emissions rating will be SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle). The design of the RX400h will be very similar to the RX330, except for brushed aluminum interior highlights and a slightly styled nose. If pricing is competitive with traditional internal combustion engines, popularity is likely assured. Even if there is a greater-than-the-tax-credit discrepancy in price, the profile for hybrids should still be raised especially in the luxury market.
Scion tC $15,950
You would be hard-pressed to find a better value than the Scion tC. With its re-tuned Camry engine, glass panorama roof and quality interior materials, it may only be a matter of time before this new Scion evolves into a Toyota, or a Lexus. For now, however, buyers outside the Scion demographic will be faced with the choice of removing the badging, living with a Scion hip vibe or admitting defeat and buying something else. Notably, there are only two factory-installed options, the automatic transmission at $845 and the side and roof air bag system for $650. There are, however, 40 different options, ranging from a $4500 supercharger kit good for 200 horsepower to a different chrome and leather set up. Special Toyota Racing Development (TRD) high-performance items for the Scion tC include 18- and 19-inch wheels, a lowering kit, struts and shock absorbers, rear anti-roll bar, a high-performance clutch, a quick shifter, a stainless steel muffler, and a shift-point indicator light kit.
New Models for 2005
Aston Martin DB9: $155,000 - $168,000
Buick LaCrosse: Pricing TBA
Buick Terraza Minivan: Pricing TBA
Cadillac STS:$40,300 - $46,800
Chevrolet Cobalt: Pricing TBA
Chevrolet Uplander Minivan: Pricing TBA
Chevrolet Equinox SUV: $20,995 - $24,335
Chrysler 300: $22,970 - $32,370
Chrysler Crossfire Roadster: $34,085 - $49,120
Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible: $19,405 - $27,565
Dodge Magnum Wagon: $21,870 - $29,370
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti: Pricing TBA
Ford Five Hundred: Pricing TBA
Ford Freestyle Wagon: Pricing TBA
Hyundai Tucson SUV: $17,000 - $22,000
Lotus Elise: $39,985
Maserati Quattroporte: Pricing TBA
Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class: Pricing TBA
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Sports Car: Pricing TBA
Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI: $49,075
Mercury Mariner SUV: Pricing TBA
Mercury Montego: Pricing TBA
Mini Cooper Convertible: $21,449
Land Rover LR3: Pricing TBA
Lexus RX 400h Hybrid SUV: Pricing TBA
Pontiac G6: Pricing TBA
Pontiac Montana SV6: Pricing TBA
Saab 9-2X: $22,990 - $26,950
Saab 9-7X SUV: Pricing TBA
Saturn Relay Minivan" Pricing TBA
Scion tC: $15,950
Suzuki Reno:$13,000 - $15,000
Toyota Highlander Hybrid Hybrid SUV: Pricing TBA
Volvo V50: Pricing TBA
---Story by Brian Chee
|
