December 1, 2009

Hello, Driving Range fans. This time around we will be checking out the new Ford Taurus, another electric car and a new player in the supercar arena. 

New Vehicles 
2010 Ford Taurus – Ford had a winner with the original Taurus back in the early nineties with record sales and profitable dealerships. Later that decade things weren’t as rosy and the nameplate died for a while then resurfaced again for the rebadged Five Hundred sedan and Freestyle crossover (Taurus X). With the nomenclature shuffle now over, Ford has finally come to the table with a respectable, new Taurus. Although not a stunner, the exterior styling strikes a handsome pose with its low roof, high beltline and large wheels (up to 20 inches) filling out the four corners. Kudos go to the well-appointed interior as well with the high centre console and integrated dash, creating a comfortable, yet highly functional and ergonomically friendly layout. Although the basic underpinnings are those of the Volvo S80, an extensive amount of work has gone into the suspension design to ensure ride and handling characteristics tend toward sporty rather than plush. All accounts indicate that Ford has indeed built this Taurus to be more of a driver’s car than any previous generation of the mark. Certainly, if you consider the high output SHO version, with its 365 hp, 3.5-litre, twin-turbo V6 engine, all-wheel drive and even sportier suspension, it's hard to disagree with Ford’s marketing of the Taurus as a true sport sedan.  All three trim levels (SE, SEL, Limited) share the same basic 3.5-litre V-6, six-speed automatic and front-wheel-drive system. The top two editions have a paddle-shifted automatic as standard equipment and on-demand, all-wheel drive as an option. The goodie list includes radar cruise control, a blind-spot warning system, Sync, voice-controlled navigation and massaging front seats. Of course, leather seating, higher-end sound systems and other options can be had at additional cost. So, it looks like Ford has another solid offering in the new Taurus. Whether it will see the sales success of the ’92 to ’96 version remains to be seen.  
 
Available – now – MSRP incl. destination charge but before tax and extras – $31,450 (SE) to $49,730 (SHO) (less $2500 for current delivery allowance incentive).
Engines – 3.5 L V6 – 263 hp, 249 lb-ft torque  and 3.5 L twin-turbo V6 - 365 HP, 350 lb-ft
Fuel consumption – V6 – 11.6 L/100km – 24 mpg (city), 7.2 L/100km – 39 mpg (highway) 
             TT  - V6 - 12.3 L/100km – 23 mpg (city), 8.0 L/100km – 35 mpg (highway)  


The Green Scene
Mitsubishi i MiEV – As we have seen over the past few years, the hubbub over electric cars has been increasing and gaining greater recognition from the media. This is mostly due to the fact that there are a lot more manufacturers developing these zero-emission vehicles. Mitsubishi is one such company. Their i MiEV (I-My-Eve) four-door electric vehicle is a four-seat hatchback that is capable, according to Mitsubishi, of travelling up to 160 kilometres on a single charge with the ability to reach a top speed of 130 kph. Charging from a typical 110 volt household outlet takes about 14 hours. Utilizing a 220 volt household supply takes half as long and proper quick-charging stations designed with a 3-phase, 200 volt system would supply an 80 percent charge in just 30 minutes. The latter is the ideal scenario but requires charging stations in the numbers close to what we currently see for regular gasoline service stations. These quick-charge stations could also be purchased by the vehicle owner as well and set up at home. An ambitious proposal perhaps, but doable, eventually.

With the current rates for electricity, the overall cost of running the i MiEV is about two-thirds cheaper to operate than a gas-powered subcompact and if you are diligent and charge this car during off-peak hours, the cost drops to one-ninth. From an environmental-benefit perspective, if you take into account the CO2 emissions produced by power plants used to generate the electricity to charge the car, the overall CO2 output is only one third of the pollutants of a comparable subcompact.

The four main electrical components of the i MiEV are the Lithium-ion batteries, the drive motor – 63 hp, 133 lb-ft of torque, the charging unit and the inverter (to convert household AC power to DC – so the batteries can accept it). Early days of electric vehicles saw the use of lead-acid batteries but since the mid-nineties, Lithium-ion has been the battery technology of choice due to their better charging capacity and more compact size. Mitsubishi and others are still working diligently to further develop battery capacities so longer journeys and less-frequent charging can be accomplished.                 

Mitsubishi plans to start selling the i MiEV to the general public in Japan in the spring of 2010. No word on when that will be the case here in Canada but a partnership with the British Columbia government will see demonstrations and evaluations on the streets of that province by the end of this year. The downside of new technology like this is its cost to consumers. Mitsubishi has not announced official pricing yet, but estimates the amount to be around the $40,000 (Canadian) range before any possible incentives (government or otherwise). Not cheap, but the price is expected to go down to about half that amount in five to seven years time provided the demand is there. Let’s hope.


If Only
Lexus LFA – If you thought Lexus was only in the business of producing luxury cars and the odd sport sedan, think again.  Vying for a spot at the pinnacle of automotive excellence, the new Lexus LFA clearly plans to give the Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches of the world a run for their money. A lot of money in fact. At an estimated $400,000 (US) this new supercar entry (of which only 500 will be produced) will be sitting in the driveways of a select few. Sporting a 552 hp V10, a 6-speed automated manual, a luxurious, yet sporty cabin and a sleek, aerodynamic design wrapped around wide, 20 inch wheels, the LFA can scat to 62 mph in a mere 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 202 mph. Definitely supercar territory. Extensive use of carbon fibre and other lightweight components keep the LFA’s weight in check, assisting in excellent driving dynamics. High-tech carbon ceramic brakes slow things down in a hurry when the need arises. Add one more to the dream garage list.