HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
(Image courtesy of Dodge)
For those out there who still relish serious horsepower in this land of whisper-jet electric cars and clown cars with exhaust pipes the size of soda straws, Dodge has just released the power numbers for its new, supercharged, 6.2-liter HEMI® Hellcat-powered 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT, and they are staggering: 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. The monster Challenger SRT with the Hellcat engine comes standard with two key fobs - red and black. The red key fob is the only key that can access the full 707 horsepower; while the black key fob limits the driver to a reduced engine output of "only" 500 horsepower. Take that, well, everybody. The bad-ass Dodge will start arriving in dealerships in the third quarter of 2014. Watch the video here.
(Images courtesy of Ford)
The new 2015 Ford Focus ST made its global debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the United Kingdom on June 27th. The new Focus ST features more aggressive styling than the previous generation, with a lower, wider stance; a new sculpted hood; slimmer headlamps and rectangular fog lamps. The sports bodywork also includes body‑colored side skirts and diffuser elements on either side of the exhaust, and a rear roof spoiler optimized for aerodynamic performance. All new Focus ST models feature twin-hexagonal center tailpipes. Refinements for the upgraded 2015 Focus ST include: Redesigned front and rear fascias; HID headlamps (standard with ST2 and ST3 trim levels with Recaro seats); Standard LED signature lighting; standard 18-inch Rado Gray alloy wheels; Available new 18-inch alloy wheel design with red painted brake calipers; A new exterior color - Magnetic Metallic - replaces Ingot Silver; Two over-the-top stripe choices now available – Satin Black and High Gloss Red - stripes come with matching mirror skull caps. “Since its debut, Focus ST has been bringing our fun-to-drive DNA to the hot hatch segment with a uniquely Ford blend of driving dynamics, performance and style,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “Now, with improved dynamics, an updated suspension, new styling and a more sophisticated cabin, we expect the 2015 Focus ST will remain the hottest hatch worldwide.”
The Focus interior has been redesigned for a more intuitive layout, with a clearer visual connection between key components and significantly fewer buttons in the cabin, according to Ford. An additional bank of three gauges – an ST exclusive – is situated in a central instrument pod and displays turbocharger boost pressure, oil temperature and oil pressure information. A new, flat-base sports steering wheel with a soft-feel leather covered rim, a satin chrome-topped gear lever and ST pedals are also included, along with satin chrome door grab handles and aluminum scuff plates with illumination.
The car’s sport seats are a joint development between Ford and Recaro. The new Focus ST will be available in ST1, ST2 and ST3 trim levels. ST1 seats feature gray/charcoal/anthracite black fabric; ST2 adds partial leather with base and side bolsters available in four colors – Tangerine Scream, Performance Blue, Smoke Storm or Race Red; ST3 seats have full charcoal black leather finish. Driver-assist, convenience and connectivity technologies include Ford SYNC®. 2015 Focus ST drivers will have access to a host of new functions developers can integrate as they modify their apps to communicate with enhanced SYNC® AppLink™. Android and iOS smartphone owners can download more than 60 AppLink-enabled apps from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
The Focus ST sports suspension features all-new front springs and sport shock absorber tuning front and rear to deliver even sharper dynamic performance, according to Ford. The electric power-assisted steering has also been revised to provide the Focus ST driver with improved steering feel. “We are proud Ford has long enjoyed a reputation for producing performance hatchbacks with superb driving dynamics, and the new Focus ST further ups the ante,” said Nair. “The engineering enhancements to the suspension and steering deliver greater responsiveness, agility and precision – all of which will reward the performance enthusiast with an exhilarating driving experience.” Ford’s 2.0-liter EcoBoost® engine uses turbocharging, twin independent variable camshaft timing and high-pressure direct injection to deliver a peak output of 252 horsepower at 5,500 rpm, while torque peaks at 270 lb.-ft. at 2,500 rpm. The engine is paired exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission with a performance-oriented, short-throw shifter. The gear ratios – exclusive to ST – deliver rapid acceleration in lower gears and comfortable cruising at speed.
Electric Cadillac Acid Test.
This week, our "Quick Take" has us in the 2014 Cadillac ELR, Cadillac's extended-range electric vehicle. And let's get this out of the way up front: It's way overpriced. Way. Overpriced. Did I mention that it's overpriced? Okay, onward. The ELR shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Volt, but there's no mistaking that this is a Cadillac all the way. Based on the Converj concept vehicle from 2009, the ELR is sleek and aggressive looking, carrying Cadillac's strong, sculptural design cues from nose to tail. It feels solid and substantial (okay, maybe a bit heavy), but I like that in a luxury vehicle. And the interior is particularly tasteful, with a combination of wood, leather and microfiber suede surfaces - and all the features and blah, blah, blah that you would expect in a car in this category. (Although I must say I wasn't expecting the "vibrating pulse patterns" on either side of the seat bolster that caused a vague tingling in my thighs at various times. Once I figured out that it was the Safety Alert Seat and not a medical event, I was sort of able to adjust to it. I'm not sure if it's actually a help or a nuisance, but whatever.) There are some drawbacks, as others have noted. The backseat is a joke, and the trunk opening is exceptionally small, to the point that I found myself cramming my stuff in the passenger seat instead (which of course set off the seat belt chime because it thought my groceries were a person!). The ELR features a full driving range of 340 miles, the first 37 of them coming from the 16.5-kWh lithium-ion battery. From the pure electric mode, the ELR then seamlessly switches over to the Ecotec 1.4L gasoline engine. THIS IS THE REASON TO GET THE ELR. THERE IS NO OTHER REASON. You either buy into the elegance of the electric battery/gasoline backup system, as offered by the ELR (and the Volt) - or you don't. To the cynics who say it's just a gussied-up Volt, I say, it isn't, but fine, get a Volt then. The point here is that the technology in both the ELR and the Volt is a true game-changer. And I'm not sure why, but that message is not being delivered or received. Personally, I. Would. Love. One. -WG
2014 Cadillac ELR: $82,135 ($75,000 Base Price; Ashen Gray Exterior; Kona Brown w/Jet Black Accents Interior, $2450; Lithium Ion Battery Propulsion; ERev electric drive unit; 1.4-liter internal combustion engine; Regen on demand; Selectable drive mode (normal/sport/mountain/hold); Adaptive Sport Suspension System; Stabilitrak stability control; Full leather seats with 20-way adjustable front seats, includes 10-way power seat adjust, 4-way power lumbar, 4-way manual adjust head restraints and 2-way manual thigh support; Full-speed range adaptive cruise control with auto collision preparation and intelligent brake assist, $1995; Luxury Package - 20" ultra-bright machined aluminum wheels w/midnight silver premium paint, IntelliBeam headlamps, rear cross traffic alert, side blind zone alert - $1695; Destination Charge, $995)
Adherence to Brand Image: So is the ELR a Cadillac? Absolutely. But it is absolutely getting screwed royally by Cadillac marketing. As Peter said in today's Rant, "no major corporation in automotive history has done so little with so much."
Editor-in-Chief's Note: I wonder what would have happened if the Volt wasn't a Chevrolet at all, but a Cadillac instead. GM could have made a much bigger splash if the ELR had come first - and if they didn't blow the pricing - and then trickled down the technology to Chevrolet prices. That's hindsight, however, which counts for exactly nothing. I did like the ELR, a lot. It's handsome in the flesh, the interior is gorgeous, and in spite of its heaviness, it was fun to drive. And the technology is indeed seamless. But I found the ELR to be an exercise in frustration, because the car is too good for GM to have blown the opportunity as badly as it has. If GM were to right this situation, I would replace the two-door ELR with a sleek, four-door sedan. And I would remake the Volt into something much more contemporary, because it has grown dated and tired looking. But I remain unconvinced that GM is capable of righting its extended-range electric fleet in the market at all. Clear thinking seems to be in short supply down at the Silver Silos, especially when it comes to marketing. - PMD
