Front Crash Prevention Systems Better Than Ever: IIHS

Front Crash Prevention Systems Better Than Ever: IIHS
Top 10 Best Mazdas of All Time
Honda Project 2&4 Concept Previews Track Day Special
Hyundai N Performance Brand to Launch With Wild New Concept Car
Jaguar F-Pace Confirmed for September Debut at Frankfurt
Ford Ranger Slated for Return to US in 2018

Posted:

Vehicles that offer automatic braking are on the rise and the systems are better than ever according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The IIHS put 19 different new vehicles (photo from previous testing) with front-crash avoidance systems to the test and fourteen of the models were given a Superior rating, while the other five earned the title of Advanced. To get the Superior rating, vehicles must have an autobrake system that "can avoid a crash or substantially reduce speeds in both tests," while for Advanced, the vehicle must "have autobrake and avoid a crash or reduce speeds by at least 5 mph."

These systems work with a combination of lasers, radar or cameras, to detect objects in front of a vehicle. If a crash is deemed imminent, the vehicle will grab the brakes automatically to avoid a collision or at least mitigate the effect of the crash. A Basic rating is also handed out to vehicles that feature forward collision warning systems that do not effect the brakes.

The Superior rating was handed out to the 2016 Acura ILX, MDX, RDX and RLX; 2016 BMW X3; 2015 Chrysler 300 and its twin, the 2015 Dodge Charger; 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (both Collision Prevention Assist Plus and Pre-Safe Brake equipped versions), CLA (both Collision Prevention Assist Plus and Distronic Plus equipped versions) and E-Class; and the 2016 Mazda 6 and CX-5.

In the Advanced category, we have the 2016 Volkswagen Golf, Golf SportWagen, Jetta and 2015 Volkswagen Touareg. The BMW X3 is rated an Advanced with the camera-only system called City Braking Function, while adding the camera- and radar-based system bumps it up to Superior.

While most of these systems are available as options, Mercedes is the first automaker to offer a Superior rated system as standard equipment on its vehicles. That doesn't mean you need to buy a luxury car to get an advanced automatic braking system though, as the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Mazda6 and CX-5 are all moderately priced vehicles with Superior auto braking available.

This technology is on the rise too, with the IIHS saying that 27 percent of all vehicles available for 2015 offer some type of autonomous braking, doubling the amount available back in 2012. Forwrd collision warning, which does not automatically brake for you, is now available on over half of all vehicles available in 2015.

Loading, please wait...

Top 10 Best Mazdas of All Time

Posted:

It Just Feels Right; Passion for the Road; Get in. Be moved; Zoom-Zoom; Driving Matters.

These are the various slogans Mazda has used over the years to convey that the manufacturer's cars are fun to drive. Although not every vehicle to roll off a Mazda assembly line has been a joy to operate (I'm looking at you, first-generation Mazda MPV), the little automaker from Japan has had a disproportionate number of fun-to-drive vehicles in its lineup since Day One.

So what's the best of the best? Here is our Top 10 list of the best Mazdas ever made, and no, they are not all rotary-powered.

10. Mazda Carol (1962-1970)

Although the Mazda R360 was the company's first real production car, the four-seat P360 Carol is the one that really put Mazda on the map. Designed for the special Kei class of automobiles in Japan that enjoy tax and insurance benefits, the P360 Carol was small. It measured just 117.7-inches in length and weighed a mere 1,157 lbs. That allowed a tiny 358-cc four-cylinder engine to be shoved in the rear of the car.

Although the car looked fairly normal from the front, the rear window of the car was actually set at an inverted incline, giving it a very distinct profile. If a bit more power was needed, there was also the P600 Carol offered for a few years in the early 1960s.

9. Mazda B-Series Rotary Pickup (REPU)

In 1974, Mazda was rotary crazy and decided to install one of these engines into its B-Series pickup truck. Although the idea of a low-torque engine in a workhorse pickup truck may sound crazy, the REPU was intended to be more of a sport truck than a heavy lifter.

The 13B two-rotor engine was equipped in trucks featuring a few changes like an upgraded dash and wider fender flares. The easiest way to tell this truck apart from regular B-Series pickups was the not-so-subtle "Rotary Power" badging painted across the truck's tailgate.

8. Mazdaspeed6/Atenza

For two years in the mid-2000s, Mazda offered a special version of the company's mid-size sedan that was more than just a trim and paint upgrade. Called the Mazdaspeed6 in North America, the regular Mazda6 engines were ditched in favor for a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine making 274 hp.

But Mazda wasn't done there. Sending power to the ground was an all-wheel-drive system that could route up to 50 percent of the engine's torque to the rear wheels. Also included in the Mazdaspeed6 was a six-speed manual transmission and unique styling in the front and rear.

7. Mazda RX-3/Savanna

Based on the Mazda Grand Familia/808, the Savanna/RX-3 were sportier options that used rotary engines in place of the standard four-cylinder units. Available as a coupe, sedan or wagon, the RX-3 was smaller than the RX-2, but in some markets shared the RX-2's 12A two-rotor engine. Otherwise, it made due with the smaller 10A two-rotor engine.

Like almost every rotary-powered Mazda, the RX-3 was used extensively in racing and achieved a lot of success.

6. Mazda RX-8

What may well be the last of the rotary cars from Mazda, the RX-8 was a well-balanced dream. Introduced for the 2004 model year, the RX-8 came with a 1.3-liter two-rotor engine that was originally rated at 247 hp.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Rotary Powered Vehicles

Unlike the Mazda RX-7 that it succeeded, the RX-8 did not feature a turbocharger but did come equipped with four seats. The RX-8 also had rear half doors that helped back passengers get in and out of the car.

But the real charm of the RX-8 was the way it drove. Capable of ripping to 9,000 rpm, combined with amazing steering and a well-balanced chassis, the RX-8 was incredible to drive down twisting mountain roads.

5. Mazda Eunos Cosmo

Introduced in 1990, the Eunos Cosmo was a luxurious grand touring flagship. Available only with a four-speed automatic transmission, the rear-drive 2+2 coupe could be had with a choice of turbocharged rotary engines.

Sitting at the top of the food chain was a 2.0-liter three-rotor engine that produced a healthy 300 hp and 297 lb-ft of torque. Just as impressive, the Eunos Cosmo could be had with GPS navigation and a color touchscreen interface … in 1990!

Fast, smooth and luxurious, the Cosmo's high price tag was only matched by its incredible thirst for fuel.

4. Mazda Autozam AZ-1

Kei cars are meant to be no-nonsense, practical commuter cars that help consumers in Japan avoid potential taxes and insurance premiums. But none of this mattered for Mazda when the brand introduced the Autozam AZ-1.

Actually built by Suzuki, the AZ-1 was a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-door coupe that was more sports car than commuter. Powered by a 63-hp turbocharged three-cylinder engine, the AZ-1 only weighted 1,587 lbs. For a little more style, there was also a Mazdaspeed version of the car that added a limited slip differential, upgraded suspension and a more aerodynamic body kit.

The Autozam AZ-1 was like a baby Honda NSX for those who couldn't afford the Honda supercar.

3. Mazda Cosmo L10A/L10B

This is the car that started it all for Mazda when it comes to rotaries. After an extensive prototype testing period, production of the rear-wheel-drive coupe began in 1967. Initially, the car was powered by 1.0-liter two-rotor engine making 110 hp.

When the Series II version of the Cosmo came along, power increased to 128 hp. That may not sound like a lot, but the Cosmo Sport only weighed around 2,000 lbs. Like most Japanese sports cars of the time, the Cosmo featured a slippery shape, complete with aerodynamic headlights.

2. Mazda MX-5 Miata

What hasn't been said about the MX-5 Miata? Around since the 1990 model year, the MX-5 has become the best-selling roadster of all time and just entered its 26^th year of production. Spanning four generations, the MX-5 Miata has always been about open-air motoring that maximizes fun.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

The formula has remained simple. A peppy four-cylinder engine sending power to the rear wheels in a lightweight, lightly sprung roadster body.

With countless special editions over the years, it's hard to pick a favorite model. But the Mazdaspeed MX-5, the only factory-equipped turbocharged model, holds a special place in many fans' hearts. The MX-5 has achieved iconic status the world over. The fact this car is only listed in the No. 2 position on the list will probably cause a lot of outcry.

1. Mazda RX-7

To be listed above the MX-5 Miata, a car needs to be truly special. The RX-7 was such a car. Introduced in 1978, the RX-7 enjoyed a 25-year production run, which is impressive enough for a sports car. But, the RX-7 spent all of those years equipped with an engine that defied conventional wisdom and the mainstream.

Using various renditions of the brand's rotary engine in either naturally aspirated or turbocharged form, the RX-7 didn't just survive as a sports car, it thrived. With a weight and balance advantage over many similarly powered competitors, the RX-7 was an amazing handling machine that could out run many more expensive machines on the racetrack.

Such is the legacy of the RX-7 that still to this day do rumors continue to pop up that Mazda will revive the nameplate sometime in the future.

Discuss this story on our Mazda Forum

Loading, please wait...

Honda Project 2&4 Concept Previews Track Day Special

Posted:

Honda is teasing a new track-ready concept that it will debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Honda Project 2&4 was the winner of an internal global design contest run by Honda, and represents Honda's new push to build more exciting cars.

The car features an open air cabin-less design which Honda says combines the "freedom of a motorcycle and the manoeuvrability of a car." It appears to be an open wheel single-seater with a mid-engine layout. Power will come from the same 999cc V4 engine that powers the new RC213V-S motorcycle, making 101 hp.

Whether or not this car will ever make it to production is unknown, though Honda is currently on a push to bring more performance to its lineup, so a limited production run it certainly not out of the question.

The Honda Project 2&4 will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Discuss this story at our Honda Forum

Loading, please wait...

Hyundai N Performance Brand to Launch With Wild New Concept Car

Posted:

Hyundai plans to launch its new N sub-brand of performance vehicles at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The new push into the performance world will be lead by the unveiling of Hyundai's Vision Gran Turismo Concept, the latest in a long line of concept cars that will only be available in the popular Gran Turismo video game. Hyundai says that the wild looking concept car will be a teaser of what is to come from the N sub-brand.

Alongside the Vision GT Concept (teased above), Hyundai will also be showing off an early version of its upcoming World Rally Championship race car based on the i20, which it plans to compete with starting in the 2016 season.

Finally, Hyundai's RM15 Concept, which is a mid-engine Veloster with a 296 hp 2.0-liter turbo engine, will also be on display. Hyundai says that the concept is "undergoing further developments to apply high-performance technology to Hyundai Motor cars in many exciting ways."

Hyundai will debut all of these car at the Frankfurt Motor Show on Tuesday, September 15.

Discuss this story at our Hyundai Forum

Loading, please wait...

Jaguar F-Pace Confirmed for September Debut at Frankfurt

Posted:

The Jaguar F-Pace will officially be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Revealing some more details on the British automaker's new SUV, Jaguar promises that the F-Pace "will bring new levels of dynamic ability to the brand when it goes on sale in 2016, after debuting at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September."

Teased numerous times and even shown in concept form, the F-Pace is developed on Jaguar's Lightweight Aluminum Architecture and is designed to handle with precision and control without sacrificing ride comfort. Jaguar revealed that the F-Pace will have a sophisticated double wishbone front suspension while the rear is an Integral Link suspension.

Incorporating technology from the Jaguar F-Type, the new SUV features a similar electric power-assisted steering system that offers drivers greater feedback and control compared to a hydraulic system. It will also feature the same torque vectoring by braking technology that was first developed for the F-Type with a torque on-demand all-wheel-drive system.

"We haven't made any compromises or exceptions: the new F-Pace had to be a true Jaguar and had to deliver the dynamics DNA," said Mike Cross, chief engineer of vehicle integrity at Jaguar. "We've tested ride and handling to the limit, and the result is that the new F-Pace is as engaging and rewarding to drive as it is comfortable and quiet. As soon as you get into the vehicle you know immediately that it's a good place to be."

Discuss this story at our Jaguar F-Pace Forum

Loading, please wait...

Ford Ranger Slated for Return to US in 2018

Posted:

The Ford Ranger is being resurrected for the U.S. market according to a recent report.

According to sources familiar with Ford's plans, the American automaker has begun contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers that will bring production of the Ranger to a Michigan Assembly Plant in 2018. If everything gets approved, the Ford Ranger will replace production of both the Focus and C-Max, which will likely be heading to Mexico.

The Ford Ranger was the best-selling compact pickup truck in the U.S. from 1987 to 2004. Retail sales of the Ford Ranger were discontinued in the U.S. in 2011 while fleet sales lasted until the 2012 model year.

The compact pickup truck market has grown in recent years with the introduction of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Currently, the Ranger is built in South Africa, Argentina, Thailand and Nigeria for 180 overseas markets. Ford hasn't been importing the Ranger due to the 25-percent tax on foreign-built pickups, better known as the "chicken tax."

[Source: Detroit News]

Discuss this story at our Ford Ranger Forum

Loading, please wait...

Car Reviews

Wednesday, 26 August 2015