AutoGuide Now for the Week of December 22

AutoGuide Now for the Week of December 22
Aston Martin On Ice Returning Next Year
2015 Mazda CX-5 Consumer Review
Fiat Trademarks 124, 124 Spider
Honda Files Patent for Steer-by-Wire System
2016 Cadillac CTS-V Rips to a 200 MPH Top Speed

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You may be in "holiday mode," but the editors at AutoGuide.com sure aren't. We each have a new car to test this week and are looking forward to spilling all the details about them.

2015 Nissan Micra – Mike Schlee, Road Test Editor:

"Over the next week I'll try to answer the burning question 'can you survive the holidays in a $10,000 car?' That's right, I'll be driving the 2015 Nissan Micra that retails for a paltry $9,998 up in Canada. Isnit a great deal? Or are there too many compromises?"

2015 GMC Yukon XL – Colum Wood, Editor in Chief:

"What would Santa drive? Well, this year's he's behind the wheel of the GMC Yukon Denali XL. . . just don't tell my kids. Yes, this monstrous SUV will serve as my family transportation over Christmas for our annual road trip to the in-laws. Is it good for kids? Can it fit all of the presents. And most importantly, does it come with TVs? Follow me on Twitter to find out."

2015 Acura RLX Sport-Hybrid – Luke Vandezande, Managing Editor:

"I'll be spending the next two weeks driving Acura's RLX Sport Hybrid. It's the largest and most powerful sedan that Honda's luxury arm offers with a total system output of 377 hp thanks to a 3.5-liter V6 and three electric motors. With any luck, I'll have the chance to test how well the hybrid all-wheel drive system handles snow."

2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited – Stephen Elmer, News Editor:

"I'm going to be taking a look at the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited this week, with a focus on towing. I'll be hitching up a trailer to the Jeep, to see how it handles hauling duty. Is this a toy that you can own to tow your toys? Or is this off-roader better left without extra weight on the back. Watch for the review to find out."

2015 Subaru Forester – Sami Haj-Assaad, Features Editor:

"When it comes to winter weather, I can always believe in Subaru. The Forester I'm testing for the next week may not be the exciting XT model but it still sports all-wheel drive, a fuel efficient CVT and now comes with a suite of technology called EyeSight. We'll see how well that camera based safety equipment works in the snow, and maybe even compare it to a few other competitors."

Aston Martin On Ice Returning Next Year

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The Aston Martin On Ice event will return to Colorado next year.

After a successful inaugural event this year, Aston Martin On Ice will return to Crested Butte in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains in early 2015. The ice drive event provides attendees the opportunity to check out the British automaker's latest sports cars during a three-day program that includes a 10-acre surface constructed over some 250 man hours. According to Aston Martin, the exclusive tracks in Colorado "are all precisely tailored to Aston Martin's exacting requirements and are meticulously built and maintained by the brand's team of experts before and throughout the ice driving activity, which will take place over two three-day sessions in February next year."

The tracks will consist of a braking/cornering exercise loop, a slalom, a skid pad and a full circuit. Participants will be able to test and hone their car control in a series of braking, cornering and handling exercises with the guidance of an expert driver.

"After a hugely successful first year we are returning with an On Ice program that will once again deliver a genuinely thrilling experience in Colorado's breath-taking high country," said Julian Jenkins, President of Aston Martin the Americas. "Combining extreme driving, in an extreme environment, with typically sumptuous Aston Martin luxury living, the 2015 On Ice activity is sure to be amongst the highlights of our year."

Discuss this story at our Aston Martin forum

2015 Mazda CX-5 Consumer Review

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It's no secret that the Mazda CX-5 is a favorite among the AutoGuide.com staff.

Last year we embarked on a long-term test of Mazda's first entrant into the growing small CUV segment and for the most part we came away impressed. Furthermore, the CX-5 finished a close second place in an eight vehicle compact crossover shootout last summer.

But that was then and this is now. Over a year later, how does the CX-5 stack up in everyday life? Some have said that the praise heaped on the CX-5 has as much to do with its sporty drive characteristics that appeal to our auto-obsessed staff, as it does its practicality. What would someone who isn't particularly concerned with sporty driving dynamics think of the crossover?

This sounds like a job for Amanda. Quickly becoming a semi-regular feature on AutoGuide, our general consumer reviews put my wife Amanda into a mainstream car to garner her impressions as someone who appreciates automobiles from a purely practical standpoint. On one of her previous reviews, an AutoGuide commentator requested her impressions on the Mazda CX-5 so here we are.

The Specs

Unlike most compact CUVs, the CX-5 is available with a choice of two different four-cylinder engines. Sport models come equipped with a 155 HP 2.0-liter four cylinder engine, while Touring and Grand Touring versions get the more powerful 184 HP 2.5-liter unit. Both engines are available with either front- or all-wheel drive. Base, front-wheel drive CX-5s can be had with a six-speed manual transmission while all other versions come exclusively with a six-speed automatic.

At a weight of 3,560 lbs., the CX-5 is lighter than a Ford Escape and right on par with the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Amanda's all-wheel drive, automatic CX-5 with the larger engine is officially rated at 24 MPG city and 30 MPG highway. During a snowy week behind the wheel, she averaged 22.6 MPG thanks to endless commutes in thick traffic caused by foul weather.

Rear seat room in the CX-5 is generous offering up 39.3 inches of rear legroom. Behind the seats resides 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space; again, class competitive. Pricing for the Mazda CX-5 begins at $22,375 after destination charges for base Sport models. Amanda's Grand Touring AWD with the technology package came in at $31,475.

How does it Drive?

Amanda found power delivery to be good in both city and highway driving. The CX-5 drove very smooth and she found it easy to maneuver. Parking in tight spaces wasn't an issue thanks to a good turning radius and easy to see back-up camera.

The Grand Touring CX-5 comes equipped with larger 19-inch wheels wrapped in winter tires. Although winter tires do hurt fuel economy to a degree, the tradeoff for sure footed traction during an unexpected, sizable snow storm was worth it. Never getting upset or sliding around, Amanda appreciated the capability of Mazda's all-wheel drive system, but didn't quite feel the same confidence in it as she did with Subaru's system in similar conditions last year.

The View from Inside

The seat and mirrors were easy to adjust for Amanda and she found initial comfort and sightlines to be quite good. Although the CX-5 is still relatively new, the interior design looks plain and outdated to her. Same goes for the GPS. The display to her looks like an old video game.

From a usability perspective, all of the CX-5's controls were easy to find and simple to operate. There's enough space in the backseat to accommodate all but the tallest passengers and seat comfort for rear passengers is good for this class as well.

What She Liked

Amanda still really likes the looks of the CX5, just not in the Blue Reflex Mica paint like her test vehicle. The overall proportions and clean lines work for her as she finds it to the right size for her needs.

The GPS system drew praise for how easy it is to use. She especially likes that it remembers the last cities it visited, which saves time the next time she had to use by not needing to retype the whole word again. It also recalculates quickly when off route. Her only issue with it, aside from the graphics, is the fact it lost signal quite a few times during the week.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Mazda CX-5 Review

The CX-5 is also glove friendly which was a big plus for Amanda during the cold week she had the CUV for evaluation. The steering wheel buttons and infotainment unit are both easy to operate without bare hands.

What She Didn't Like

Like the Mazda3 she drove last year, the front seats are her biggest issue with the CX-5. She found the backrest of the seat bothered her the longer she drove the vehicle. Over the week she found it increasingly uncomfortable and would complain of neck and back pains when arriving home from work. The seat doesn't fit her petite frame right and no amount of fidgeting with the adjustments would get it in an acceptable position.

She also wasn't a fan of the gauge cluster's menu setup. Although it may seem like a small detail, the digital speedometer and clock both can't be shown in the gauge cluster at the same time. Her final small gripe has to do with the push-button keyless entry on the CX-5s door handle. There is a significant delay from pushing the button to the doors actually unlocking.

The Verdict

Overall, Amanda is still impressed with the CX5 as it's attractive, easy to drive and easy to operate. But, there's one issue that would be a deal breaker for her: the driver seat. Her advice for anyone thinking of buying a CX-5 is to go spend some time behind the wheel of the vehicle and see if seat comfort is an issue. If it's not, then she recommends the CX-5 as a solid purchase in the growing compact crossover segment.

FAST FACTS

Engine: 2.5 L four-cylinder engine, 184 HP, 185 lb-ft.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel economy (US): 24 MPG city, 30 MPG highway, 22.6 MPG observed
Fuel economy (CDN): 9.9 L/100 km city, 7.9 L/100 km highway, 10.4 L/100 km observed
Price (US): Starts at $22,375 after destination charges for base Sport. Grand Touring AWD with the technology package came in at $31,475 as tested.
Price (CDN): Starts at $24,890 after destination charges for base GX. GT AWD with the technology package came in at $37,185 as tested.

Discuss this story on our Mazda CX-5 forum.

Fiat Trademarks 124, 124 Spider

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Fiat's future product plans for North America are likely to include something called a 124 in both closed cabin and convertible variants.

The company filed trademark applications for both names with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on December 12 for "automobiles and their structural parts and motors and engines." Fiat is expected to release a sports car that will share its platform with the upcoming ND Mazda MX-5 that up until now has been referred to in media reports as the Fiat Roadster.

Previously the co-development program for the new Mazda MX-5 was expected to birth a new sports car from Alfa Romeo. Fiat's filings with the USPTO suggest that it plans to offer its version of the new sports car in both coupe and convertible body styles.

From the mid-1960's to the mid-1980's Fiat sold a 2+2 sports car under the 124 Sport Spider nameplate with a body designed by Pininfarina. From the mid-60s to the mid-70s, Fiat also sold a mid-size sedan called the 124.

Honda Files Patent for Steer-by-Wire System

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Honda is developing a fixed position steering wheel that senses the driver's hands sliding rather than rotating to change the vehicle's direction.

The wheel uses piezoelectric sensors to monitor pressure and movement as the driver's grip and slide across its surface. The system interprets those movements and translates them into steering directions that turn the front wheels. Honda filed a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on December 11. In the filing, Honda cites reduced vehicle weight and simplified component packaging as some of the potential reasons it is developing the technology. Honda representatives did not respond to a request for comments on the patent filing.

But Honda isn't the first automaker to tinker with steer-by-wire systems. The Infiniti Q50 currently uses one, though Nissan's luxury brand still implements a rotating steering wheel.

Systems that don't rely on traditional rack-and-pinion designs for turning allow vehicle engineers a greater degree of freedom in where they place vehicle components within a car. Systems like what Q50 uses and what Honda is developing will also play a significant role in large scale adoption of autonomous (self-driving) cars. Infiniti currently offers one of the automotive industry's most advanced adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems that is capable of semi-autonomous highway driving.

Honda's application also said in its filing that the fixed wheel could sit at an offset to its axis, reducing the likelihood that the driver's view of the gauge cluster would be obstructed.

Discuss this story at our Honda forum

Hat tip to Dennis!

2016 Cadillac CTS-V Rips to a 200 MPH Top Speed

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Cadillac just officially announced the brutal new CTS-V ahead of its official debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.

Wasting no further time, here's what you need to know about the car. It packs a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that is a close relative to the LT4 in the Corvette Z06. It pushes a monstrous 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels exclusively through an eight-speed automatic transmission and is capable of traveling at up to 200 MPH, cementing it as the most powerful production car to ever wear a Cadillac crest. This is the new luxury sledgehammer that Cadillac is hoping to swing at nameplates like the BMW M5.

"V-Series represents the very best of the Cadillac brand – the pinnacle of our design and technical capabilities," said Johan de Nysschen, Cadillac president. "The new CTS-V is the most compelling example of Cadillac's product substance and brand trajectory. The new CTS-V soars into the stratosphere of the most exhilarating luxury cars."

Featuring launch control, Cadillac says the car will reach 60 MPH in 3.7 seconds and is designed to be both a fully track capable vehicle and a comfortable luxury cruiser. That mixture is made possible in large part by GM's third-generation magnetic shocks and traction control system that offer four drive modes: tour, sport, track and snow. The car also comes standard with an electronic limited-slip rear differential.

The new V-Series sedan also comes with significantly upgraded brakes and a much stiffer chassis not to mention a revised suspension and specially designed Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

Cadillac also gave the new CTS-V a carbon fiber hood, unique front and rear fascias, wider fenders to accommodate its larger 19-inch wheels and a front splitter. Similarly, the interior comes with highe-end touches like matte-finish carbon fiber trim and suede inserts along with optional Recaro sport seats, although the standard front buckets are already impressive with 20-way adjustability. Just like the Corvette, Cadillac is integrating a performance data recorder that will keep track of lap times, performance data and video footage.