Is there a pulse at Lincoln?

The rebirth of Lincoln. Those four words alone are some of the most daunting that anyone at Ford Motor Company can hear. Unlike the boys across the street at GM (with the refreshed Cadillac lineup) Ford has been struggling much more. Now, I do realize it takes a long time to relaunch an existing brand while attempting to incorporate a new image into what is perceived as a ‘boring’ brand, but even still, Cadillac did it better. I believe there are a couple main reasons why Cadillac has succeeded in the marketplace and Lincoln has not. But first, here are the similarities that Lincoln must first notice before they try anything new.

1. Both brands are trying to capture a younger audience, one that is obsessed with smartphones and technology. They also need to regain strength (did they have any in the first place?) of the enthusiast community, something Cadillac has done with flying colors.
2. Cadillac and Lincoln are both sub-brands of a larger manufacturer, a bigger corporate company with money to spend (at least as of right now).

So now that the similarities have been cleared up I think it is time for the most important difference between the two. Cadillac was already riding with an image of ‘cool’ or ‘swagger’ even when the cars they were building were less than cool. Musicians and oftentimes enthusiasts gushed about Cadillac’s of yore, not as much with Lincoln. Image is the name of the game in this segment.

Now people scoff at Lincoln’s new marketing campaign, with actors featured in their cars. But while Lincoln probably wants you to take their commercials seriously, at this point in Lincoln’s life, it needs to become profitable and as the phrase goes ‘any publicity is good publicity’. So while it might not be the reaction Lincoln was hoping for, at least people are talking about the brand.

In the end, though, can Lincoln pull it off?

I think the biggest chain around Lincoln’s neck right now is funding. Ford needs to throw money at the problem. Better marketing, more polarizing design, sportier cars, better cars. That will solve most problems in any business. Now it is just a matter of whether Ford has the cajones to get this revolution started.

Watch out Cadillac.

 Cadillac pulled a complete U-Turn when it went from cars like this 2002 Eldorado (this is my car, I can rip on it!) to cars like the prime example below, a 2016 CTS-V. I can honestly get behind cars like these especially when they are pushing 640 horsepower! See? Get the enthusiasts excited!
(both credit to allcarseveryday)

Tesla? Are you there?

I do realize that Tesla is still quite a small car company. They don't have the capital or knowledge that other manufacturers have built up over the years. And its first ground-up car, the Model S was a huge hit for a company of this size. But I do want to note this. Tesla is not invincible. Clearly they are having trouble building and releasing new cars. For years now, Tesla has been talking up its new crossover the "Model X". It is supposed to be revolutionary, just as the Model S was, with such details like gull-wing doors and an electric drive-train, as well as a cheaper sub $40,000 model. But the rumors have been persisting for quite some while with no real action from Tesla. The Model S was released in 2012. That is way to long fora company with one car to go with out a newer model. And sure Tesla came out with the P85D, but couldn't they have capitalized on that more? I know they like to do things differently...very differently, but advertising is proven to work. The release of a 691 horsepower sedan should be news, and it wasn't at all outside of the automotive community. I commend Tesla for doing what it has with the Model S, however every bit about the line-up is getting long in the tooth, including the Model S. If Tesla can't come up with a new car in the next year or so, the world will lose interest in a car company that once had promise.
Please Tesla.
Don't pull a Fisker.

The 2015 Tesla Model S P85D (allcarseveryday)

R36 GT-R. Hybrid powertrain?

GT-R's have long been the cornerstone of the affordable exotic (yes, I know the Corvette is cheaper but it is much more accessible). The current generation, the R35, has been out since 2008. It wowed the media and fans all over the world with its 480 horsepower twin-turbo V6. Since then, the car has only gotten more powerful, now also available in a 616 horsepower NISMO guise. However, 2008 was a long time ago in car years, and the GT-R is due for a full refresh. So here's the elephant in the room. Will the next GT-R be a hybrid or plug-in vehicle?
Absolutely.
I can without a doubt say the next GT-R will be a hybrid. Nissan has come close to milking the TT V6, and the next GT-R will have to match or (most likely) better the current GT-R's horsepower. They don't have many more options except for hybridization. What's more, they aren't new to the subject, the Leaf was one of the first ZEV's on the road back in 2011. Acura did it with the NSX, Ford did it with the GT, Porsche with the 918, McLaren with the P1, and Ferrari with the LaFerrari. This is where the realm of exotics and supercars is going, and Nissan needs their slice of the pie.

The 2016 Ford GT (VIDEO) (allcarseveryday)

Porsche 918 (allcarseveryday)

2016 NISMO GT-R

You may NOT use these pictures.

2015 Chicago Auto Show-Review

The 2015 Chicago Auto Show comes to a close today. I visited McCormick Place last weekend, and shot videos and pictures of all of the great cars there. Notable highlights include the new Acura NSX, Ford GT, Porsche 918, MB AMG GT, the Bleugatti again, and more. This year was great for new cars that are iconic, while they weren't released in Chicago they still traveled here. The biggest reveal in my opinion at Chicago was the new 2016 Honda Pilot, which, judging by the exterior is much better. This was one of the better Chicago Auto Shows I've been to.

VIDEOS

2016 Honda Pilot
2016 Honda HR-V
2015 Ford Edge
2016 Lincoln MKX
2016 Ford GT
2016 Chevrolet Volt

Anyway, here are some pictures from the event.

The 2016 Ford GT (allcarseveryday)

The 2016 Ford GT350R (allcarseveryday)

The 2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat (allcarseveryday)

This is a 2015 Dodge Viper painted in every shade it is available in. (allcarseveryday)

The first Ferrari California T I've seen! (allcarseveryday)

And oddly, the third 918 I've seen...(allcarseveryday)

The 2016 Cadillac CTS-V (allcarseveryday)

Here is an old friend! #bleugatti! (allcarseveryday)

Aventador Roadster (allcarseveryday)

2015 Lamborghini Huracan (allcarseveryday)

2015 Nissan GT-R NISMO (allcarseveryday)

You may NOT use any of these pictures.

Luxury Brands: Which one is the best?

I am not a BMW fan-boy. Nor am I a Honda lover, a Mercedes enthusiast, or Lexus expert. I am impartial (mostly) when it comes to brands. For today, I am going to decide which of the luxury brands is the best. Clearly, these are my opinions and what I say here may or may not influence what you buy. But hear me out. I'm going to start by saying that I think some American and Japanese luxury brands are a tough sell considering they are mass production cars with some extra chrome trim. Exaggeration, yes, but German brands do not do this nearly as much as domestic and Japanese brands. So there, straight off the bat I decided that the Germans make better luxury vehicles. Your Lexus may be comfortable, your Acura edgy, or your Hyundai Equus has more features than a German at a more affordable price. But as for the industry right now there is no better alternative than an Audi, BMW, or Mercedes. The one domestic exception I am willing to make is Cadillac, which pulled a turn around and makes genuinely good cars again, albeit that they do share parts with other plebeian models. BMW is trying to return to its sports car roots, whether it is successful or not is dependent on the driver--but they sell cars--and lots of them. Mercedes-Benz leads comfort and technology. After years of chasing Bimmer, Benz finally found where it belongs. Now Audi, which is the most well-rounded, a combination of the best traits of the above brands into one car. Were it my money, Audi keys would most likely be in my hand. 

Don't get me wrong, Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti are all generally good cars. More reliable too. But if you are looking for that 'premium' or 'exclusive' label, German is the only way to go.

The 2015 BMW M4 (photo via allcarseveryday)

A first gen Audi R8 with the F82 M4. (photo via allcarseveryday)

2014 Audi RS7 (photo via allcarseveryday)

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (photo via allcarseveryday)

A rare find, this being a 2012 Lexus LFA. It has a rev-happy V10. (photo via allcarseveryday)

Dubai Police add Lexus RC F to exotic car fleet

As most of you probably know, the Dubai Police are very into cars. Among the ones already decked out in police livery, such as a Bugatti Veyron and MB SLS AMG, the cops now own a brand new Lexus RC F to catch criminals Seems a little excessive, but hey-Dubai has lots of exotic cars they might have to chase. Always best to be prepared.

Photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dpk_photos/16418578831/">David_Kerwood</a> / <a href="http://foter.com">Foter</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">CC BY-SA</a>

Salesmen: Are they truly manipulative?

Today I visited some local dealerships, mainly the Toyota and Maserati/Fiat dealers. I saw the first white Alfa Romeo 4C in the United States, and that was all good and well, however,  I would really like to talk about salesmen. Salespeople for car dealerships get a bad rep. I like to think they aren't as bad as everyone makes them sound. Today, though, I might revoke that statement. Somewhere along in a conversation with a saleswoman at Toyota, we got to talking about timing chains/belts. I had done some research and noted that my 2007 Toyota Camry (4 CYL, 5 speed auto) had a timing chain. I then proceeded to say how I will need to replace it sooner rather than later at about 100K miles. She then told me that that year Camry didn't have a timing chain, but rather a belt. I felt inclined to argue, but thinking she works as a saleswoman that she must know what she is talking about. At home I really looked into it, and realized she just had no idea what she was talking about.
Instead of saying she didn't know she chose to feed me her misinformed information. It's a shame really. I definitely will reconsider ever listening to salespeople again, and I hope you take heed, also.

Thanks,
allcarseveryday

2 gas and 1 hybrid-these three Camry's are all timing CHAIN driven.

(photo via allcarseveryday)

2015 Honda Accord VS 2015 Nissan Altima-Script

As many of you know, I make popular comparison videos on YouTube (@allcarseveryday). Since i do the work of making the videos, I thought it would be good to share my creations across all platforms. Here is the script (with final standings at the bottom) of my first video-the 2015 Honda Accord VS 2015 Nissan Altima. (To see the video click here.) Otherwise, enjoy the article!

To continue the Family Sedan Comparisons, the winner of the Passat versus the Altima is pitted against the stellar Accord. In this case the 2015 Altima overtook the ’15 Passat by a mere 3 points, so it moves on to face its new competitor. Both sedans were new for 2013, the Accord got rave reviews from the press for returning to the Honda basics, after the dull previous generation. Also fresh for 2013 was the Altima, Nissan’s bet at taking sales from class leaders Camry and Accord. I compare the base models of both cars, the ’15 Altima using a 2.5 liter four pot and the Accord using the 2.4 liter 4. The vehicles pictured in the video aren’t always the base cars, for example I had an Accord sport on hand, even though it’s not the LX model being used for specs. Another thing to note; I use a numerical points value system to assess the cars on a scale from one to ten, the ratings are revealed at the end of the video. The LX Accord starts at $21,995. It comes with a standard 8-inch high resolution screen, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, Pandora capability and AM/FM/CD audio system with four speakers, among other features. Standard here is a 6 speed manual, a CVT will cost extra. Which leads us to why the Accord is less expensive than the Altima 2.5. The Nissan comes standard with a Continuously Variable Transmission, one of the best in the business, if you can call a CVT good. It opens at $22,300, and includes Advanced Drive Assist, which is a 5.5 inch LCD screen inset into the gauge cluster to portray information. The Altima also gets keyless entry, push button start, and speed sensitive windshield wipers, along with other basic features. Here the Altima presents a better value, with more standard features for only slightly more money, considering Nissan also threw in the CVT. Moving on to safety, the cars are very close in NHTSA testing. The Altima got a five star rating for front and side impacts, a four star rollover rating, and an overall five star rating. The Accord bests it with perfect five star scores in all four of the previously mentioned categories. Safety has always been an Accord strong suit, so the better ratings were to be expected. The Accord comes standard with vehicle stability assist which is basically when oversteer or understeer happens, it will brake and send or cut power to certain wheels to keep the car in line. The Honda also has brake assist, and a tire pressure monitoring system, traction control and a full array of airbags. The Altima comes with vehicle dynamic control, which is where the car prevents wheel slippage using the ABS system. It helps in severe weather and in keeping control of the car. Altima also comes with traction control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and the full smattering of airbags. Nissan brags about its TPMS in that it montors each wheel’s pressure separately and as a low tire is being filled, the Alty will honk to signal it is at the correct inflation. This seems gimmicky but is actually useful when you just want a quick stop. It also seems like something that can break easily. On to acceleration and performance. The Accord reaches 60 mph in 7.1 seconds on its way to a 15.3 second quarter mile. This is decently fast. The Altima is identical at 7.1 to sixty, but slower at speed. It ran the quarter in 15.5 seconds. However, it looks better doing it. It features bold styling for a family car, especially when compared to Camry and Accord. Typically, manufacturers don’t want to offend anyone with styling for big volume models, but Nissan took a slight gamble with the Altima, and I think it pays off. The Accord gets updated styling, but nothing revolutionary. That’s not to say it doesn't look good, in fact I think it is classy, more so when you see the old Accord. But, as most of you will see, the Altima is the better looking car. I am aware that styling is a subjective category, so believe what you will about each car. If the Accord appeals to you more, so be it. Honda’s smaller 2.4 liter makes a little more power at 185 horsepower, while the 2.5 liter mill under the Altima’s hood makes 182. The difference is marginal and should not make a difference in overall standings. Same with the trunk cargo capacity, the Accord has 15.8 cubic feet against the Nissan’s 15.4. Two of the biggest selling points for a family sedan are reliability and miles per gallon. The Accord and Altima both got better than average ratings, in reliability according to Consumer Reports, where they have an edge on domestic competitors. Where the cars separate is mpg. The Accord gets a middle of the pack rating at 24/28, which sort of pales when confronted with the Altima’s 27/38 rating. I would like to point out though, that when fitted with the optional CVT, the Accord achieves a 27/30 rating, which is still 8 mpg short in the highway rating. That is a lot of difference even with the CVT, not the transmission we’re comparing. So the Accord will most likely be dinged in points there. Here are the final standings, which speak for themselves (see attached picture).

Poor MPG in the Winter? Not meeting manufacturer ratings? Problem solved.

Now that winter has finally rolled around, it's time to have the MPG talk.
Every year, the Internet gets flooded with "my car's mpg has gone down!" "why am I getting less fuel economy?" and the occasional "wtf? my car's mpg isn't what the manufacturer says!" Well, before we all contact our lawyers, let's look at what could actually be happening. For those of you who know little about cars, this may be new to you. For the rest, you may have heard some of these ideas. But either way, it is good to refresh.

Here are some possible reasons why your car isn't getting what it used to, or why it doesn't meet manufacturer ratings:

1. It could just be the cold weather. Simple as that. The car has to work harder to heat itself up to operating temperature because it is so cold. Also, many people get in their car and crank the heat, os now the engine has to warm itself and the passenger cabin. This runs through fuel like you wouldn't believe. Let your car warm up before driving or turning the heat on.

2. Cold weather also deflates tires. Make sure your tires are at the correct PSI (pressure per square inch). Don't know what the correct PSI is? Look in the driver door jam for a stick that will tell you the correct inflation pressure. If you are unable to find this, fill the tires to the universal 32, and check the owner's manual for the correct number when you have time.

3. If your car has a turbo, and you have a heavy right foot, your MPG will be far below manufacturer ratings. Turbo's force more air into the combustion chamber, and you will need more fuel to mix with the air. If you drive eco consciously or you are not a speed racer, your turbo engine should be fine. (I'm designating a whole new blog post on turbo's verus naturally aspirated, subscribe for more).

4. Hybrids. We love to hate them. They do usually get good fuel economy though, and in the end the world needs them. However, this type of vehicle has the least consistent fuel economy, basically ever. If you own a hybrid, your mileage will never be the same. Some get way more than expected, others much less. If you own a Ford Hybrid (later models years: C-Max Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid) that was rated at 47/47 MPG city/highway, your car achieves less. Ford has since updated its ratings.

5. If you own a Ford hybrid vehicle or Hyundai, these late model cars have infamously not been able to achieve their manufacturer specs. While both companies have righted the issue, Hyundai owners (possibly Ford?) that have overrated cars can get a cash settlement from a class-action lawsuit, if I remember correctly.

Drive safely,
allcarseveryday

Extra weight could also be reducing your MPG.

Make sure you have no junk in your trunk!

(Photo via allcarseveryday)

2015 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT-FOR SALE

With the Vantage line sailing into its final years in production, Aston Martin has produced many new variants with increased performance and price to retain public interest in the brand and model. First came the V12 Vantage S, and now we have the band new V8 Vantage GT--decked out in racing livery green and all. Motoring around local dealerships, not only did I see the first GT in my books, it is one of the first GT's in America. And get this. It's for sale. The dealer was excited that it was one of the first for sale in the country. Well, I snapped some pictures, and got enough footage for a video of this rare car. Soon I will upload a video on YouTube documenting the car, for fun and anyone that is looking to buy (I'll post the link soon). For now enjoy the picture while you wait for the video-see it on allcarseveryday.

 

 

 

2015 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT (allcarseveryday)

 

2015 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S (allcarseveryday)