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The Goods Deliverin’ 2013 NISSAN NV August 23, 2012 Volume 1 • Issue 20 autonet.ca

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Page 1: DHT Auto Guide Aug. 23, 2012

The GoodsDeliverin’

• 2013 NissaN NV

• august 23, 2012 • Volume 1 • Issue 20

autonet.ca

Page 2: DHT Auto Guide Aug. 23, 2012

There is a saying that “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” which cer-tainly applies to many species, includ-ing various ones in the auto kingdom.

1996 Ford TaurusIt may have been the evolution of

the jelly-bean shape, but it went a bit too far and many attribute the mod-el’s downfall to the nameplate’s hiatus early in the new millennium.

1975 AMC PacerThe North American version of the

diminutive hatchback that was gain-ing popularity was described by some as a fishbowl, yet it became an icon of the ’70s.

1960 Edsel RangerProbably the prime example of cor-

porate failure, mostly due to market-ing downfalls, Edsels are still adored by some.

1996 Suzuki X-90This is what happens when design-

ers cross two fads — the two-seat

roadster resurgence with the sport-utility craze.

2002 Pontiac AztekGM initially tried to market the con-

troversial styling to outdoor enthusi-asts, but even the removal of the rug-ged body cladding wasn’t enough save it.

2007 Honda ElementFunctional as it may be, some of the

younger crowd at which the design is aimed can’t afford it, and the older crowd who can probably can’t look at it.

1989 Aston-Martin LagondaBefore companies began passing off

sleek sedans as “coupes,” some tried to stretch their attractive coupes and put a couple of extra doors on.

Ford Mustang II (1974-78)Many never warmed up to the radi-

cal redesign, but the lighter and more practical model was a sign of that time’s energy crisis.

2001 Chrysler PT CruiserIt made people reminisce of a sim-

pler time, even though it was a thor-oughly modern car — with thoroughly old-car problems, apparently.

2012 Nissan CubeP r o o f t h a t J a p a n e s e c u te n e s s

doesn’t always translate well when it crosses the ocean, the styling is either adored or reviled … there’s no in-be-tween.

– QMI Agency

Nissan NV delivers the goods

Summer and a Mustang...

GMC Terrain goes upscale with new Denalie trim level

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Mustang a joy of Summer

For me, the 2013 Mustang V6 convertible is one of those test cars that comes along only once or twice each year — a car you don’t want to give up.

Alas, the typical road test lasts only one week. So let’s enjoy our Mustang while we can, lower the power top and go crui-sin’ in the summer sunshine.

Ford s t yl is t s have don e a good job in allowing this car to stay true to its roots while at the same time modernizing it. I really like what they’ve done to

the front end — almost a Jaguar look to the new grille and head-lamps. Similarly, the rear has been restyled but keeps Mus-tang’s trademark three-piece taillights.

Traditionalists may not like the way the galloping steed logo has been moved from the centre of the grille off to one side (only on the convertible), but they may be mollified by the puddle lamp that shines the pony on the pavement when a door is opened at night. Cool.

T h e 3 .7- l i tre V6 is p l e n t y potent. With the optional 5.0-li-tre V8, Mustang can get a little rough and raucous, but the V6 is quiet, refined and makes this more of a cruiser than a rubber-laying street racer. And, believe

it or not, at 305 hp the V6 has 15 ponies more than the famous Boss 302 V8 of 1968-71.

The six-speed manual trans-mission is excellent, with short, can’t-miss throws and just the right touch and pedal travel to the clutch. No risk of stall-ing out here. Handling is great on the standard 18-inch wheels and tires.

H ig hw ay f u e l e c o n o my is good b ec ause the big V6 is barely turning 1,500 rpm at 100 km/h.

The front bucket seats are great, but there aren’t a lot of places to securely stow stuff — especially important in a car whose top lowers. The tiny door pockets are next to useless and there’s no handy place to put a

cellphone, or whatever, except in one of the cupholders.

The rear seat is tight for two adults, but what do you expect? ’Tis a Mustang, and it’s always been thus.

Th e sof t top go e s up an d down easily but doesn’t stow out of sight. On the plus side, this means it doesn’t take way trunk space, leaving a gener-ous (for the class) 2,566 litres for luggage. The down side, however, is that the lowered top acts like a wind brake, add-ing about 0.5 L/100km to fuel usage.

I like the sharp instrument display and the driver’s infor-mation centre that’s positioned between the big, round tach and speedometer. But the speedo is crammed with numbers for both km/h and mph and gets a little hard to read. Speed can be displayed digitally on the dig-ital instrument cluster (DIC), but then you can’t see the read-out that shows not only how far you’ve travelled but how long it’s taken, how much fuel you have used and how many litres you’ve burned per 100 km.

The DIC also has a track app — but readouts are only in miles per hour. It gives acceleration from 0-30, 0-60, 0-100 and times for the eighth and quar-ter mile. It’s cool, and for the record, Ford claims 5.5 seconds from 0-60 mph and 14 seconds for the standing quarter mile.

Also cool is an unusual satel-lite radio feature where a voice announces you’ve tuned in to, for instance, “The ’60s on 6,” so you know where you are without taking your eyes off the road — always a good thing.

I love the two-tone interior and, while grey would not be my choice for exterior colour, I have to say the metallic paint is worthy of a much more expen-sive car.

If I owned it, I’d deliberately avoid superhighways so the top could be down as much as pos-sible. A sunny day, a Mustang ragtop and ’60s tunes on the radio. Could life get any better than that?

As tested (before tax): $29,504

Freight/PDI: $1,550

Options on test car: leather seats ($1,500)

engine/transmission: 3.7L V6/ six-speed manual

Power/torque: 305 hp/280 lb.-ft.

Fuel (capacity): regular (61L)

F u e l e c o n o m y r a t i n g s (L/100km): 11.1 city, 6.9 hwy

Observed fuel economy: 9.4 L/100km over 640 km

Warranties: three years/ 60,000 km (basic), five years/ 100,000 km (powertrain)

Competitors: Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger

Strengths: price, performance, top-down style

Weaknesses: some instrumenta-tion, RWD not great in winter

FACT FILe

rePOrT CArD

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RATING OUT OF 5

autonet.ca/galleries

Top-down driving is a seasonal riTe for enThusiasTs, and The MusTang geTs an enThusiasTic ThuMbs-up froM This driver

2 0 1 3 M u s T a n g c o n v e r T i b l e p r e M i u M

• GLen WOODCOCk/qMi agenCyWith 15 more horses than the original Boss 302 V8, the V6 version of the 2013 represents few performance compromises.

TEST

DRIVE

[email protected]

Quick Look

REViEW

coVER7

4

3

autonet.ca/galleries

Auto ugly ducklingsA l l - t i m e u g l i e s t v e h i c l e s

TOP

10

• suppLiEd photosPontiac’s Aztek never hit big numbers with the outdoors crowd, and few drivers were willing to drive one around town.

The AMC Pacer became notorious.

The Aston-Martin Lagonda proves that ugly isn’t restricted to economy models.

iNsidEA u g u s t 2 3 , 2 0 1 2

autonet.ca

DHT Autos is published by the Daily Herald-Tribune, 10604 100 Street, Grande Prairie, Alberta,

Canada, T8V 6V4 • 780-532-1110

CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau •VP Western Operations Gordon Norrie • Publisher Peter Meyerhoffer • Associate Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief Fred Rinne •Sun Media Automotive Editor Joe Duarte

Page 3: DHT Auto Guide Aug. 23, 2012

[email protected]

Denali has become synonymous with premium versions of GMC’s “truck” offerings, so it’s not a surprise to see it applied to the diminutive Terrain for 2013.

The compact luxury 2013 GMC Ter-rain Denali crossover goes on sale in the third quarter of 2012 priced at just under $40,000. Factor in all-wheel drive (the base configuration is front-wheel drive) and a V6 (the base engine is a 2.4-litre four-cylinder) and the price tops out at just under $44,000.

The 3.6-litre V6 is new for 2013, using direct injection and variable valve tim-ing to boost horsepower to 301 (report-edly best in class). The engine upgrade also adds 19-inch chrome-clad wheels (up from 18). Other signature Denali design cues include a chrome grille and unique front and rear fascias

The unique Denali interior includes a soft touch dash, premium soft touch leather seating and door inserts, leath-er-wrapped steering wheel with smoke mahogany woo d accent s , an d the Denali logo embossed on seatbacks and steering wheel.

Safety features include forward col-lision alert and lane departure warn-ing using an industry-first single cam-era crash avoidance system to detect potential problems and visually and audibly warn drivers of an imminent collision). A blind zone warning with rear cross traffic alert uses radar and alerts the driver visually on either the

side mirrors or the standard rearview camera, respectively, and also sounds an alert.

Other standard technology and con-venience features include a voice-con-trolled infotainment system with Blue-tooth integration, Stitcher on-demand radio mobile app, and a programmable power lift gate.

The Denali model also includes fea-tures not found on other Terrains: eight-way power front passenger seat, for example, as well as dual-flow damp-ers for the front suspension to contrib-ute to a smoother ride.

dOwnsizEd DEnAli

MSRP range: $39,830-$43,805.Freight/PDi: $1,530notable options: navigation system, cargo area cover, cargo net, luggage containment crossbarsConfiguration: front engine, front- or all-wheel driveAvailable engines (hp/lb.-ft.): expected 2.4L 4-cyl. (182/172), 3.6L V6 (301/272)Available transmissions: six-speed automatic with sequential shiftFuel economy ratings l/100km: estimated 9.2 city/6.1 hwy (Fwd 2.4), 10.1/6.9 (Awd 2.4), 12.4/8.1 (Fwd V6), 12.9/8.6 (Awd V6).Warranties: expected three years/ 60,000 km (basic), five years/ 160,000 km (powertrain)Competitors: Acura RdX, BMw X1, Buick Encore, infiniti EX, Land Rover Evoque, Mer-cedes-Benz GLK

FACT FilE

2 0 1 3 G M C T e r r a i n D e n a l i

QUIC

K LOO

K

• SUPPliEDThe popular GMC Terrain will be available with Denali upgrades for the 2013 model year.

Page 4: DHT Auto Guide Aug. 23, 2012

Mustang a joy of Summer

For me, the 2013 Mustang V6 convertible is one of those test cars that comes along only once or twice each year — a car you don’t want to give up.

Alas, the typical road test lasts only one week. So let’s enjoy our Mustang while we can, lower the power top and go crui-sin’ in the summer sunshine.

Ford s t yl is t s have don e a good job in allowing this car to stay true to its roots while at the same time modernizing it. I really like what they’ve done to

the front end — almost a Jaguar look to the new grille and head-lamps. Similarly, the rear has been restyled but keeps Mus-tang’s trademark three-piece taillights.

Traditionalists may not like the way the galloping steed logo has been moved from the centre of the grille off to one side (only on the convertible), but they may be mollified by the puddle lamp that shines the pony on the pavement when a door is opened at night. Cool.

T h e 3 .7- l i tre V6 is p l e n t y potent. With the optional 5.0-li-tre V8, Mustang can get a little rough and raucous, but the V6 is quiet, refined and makes this more of a cruiser than a rubber-laying street racer. And, believe

it or not, at 305 hp the V6 has 15 ponies more than the famous Boss 302 V8 of 1968-71.

The six-speed manual trans-mission is excellent, with short, can’t-miss throws and just the right touch and pedal travel to the clutch. No risk of stall-ing out here. Handling is great on the standard 18-inch wheels and tires.

H ig hw ay f u e l e c o n o my is good b ec ause the big V6 is barely turning 1,500 rpm at 100 km/h.

The front bucket seats are great, but there aren’t a lot of places to securely stow stuff — especially important in a car whose top lowers. The tiny door pockets are next to useless and there’s no handy place to put a

cellphone, or whatever, except in one of the cupholders.

The rear seat is tight for two adults, but what do you expect? ’Tis a Mustang, and it’s always been thus.

Th e sof t top go e s up an d down easily but doesn’t stow out of sight. On the plus side, this means it doesn’t take way trunk space, leaving a gener-ous (for the class) 2,566 litres for luggage. The down side, however, is that the lowered top acts like a wind brake, add-ing about 0.5 L/100km to fuel usage.

I like the sharp instrument display and the driver’s infor-mation centre that’s positioned between the big, round tach and speedometer. But the speedo is crammed with numbers for both km/h and mph and gets a little hard to read. Speed can be displayed digitally on the dig-ital instrument cluster (DIC), but then you can’t see the read-out that shows not only how far you’ve travelled but how long it’s taken, how much fuel you have used and how many litres you’ve burned per 100 km.

The DIC also has a track app — but readouts are only in miles per hour. It gives acceleration from 0-30, 0-60, 0-100 and times for the eighth and quar-ter mile. It’s cool, and for the record, Ford claims 5.5 seconds from 0-60 mph and 14 seconds for the standing quarter mile.

Also cool is an unusual satel-lite radio feature where a voice announces you’ve tuned in to, for instance, “The ’60s on 6,” so you know where you are without taking your eyes off the road — always a good thing.

I love the two-tone interior and, while grey would not be my choice for exterior colour, I have to say the metallic paint is worthy of a much more expen-sive car.

If I owned it, I’d deliberately avoid superhighways so the top could be down as much as pos-sible. A sunny day, a Mustang ragtop and ’60s tunes on the radio. Could life get any better than that?

As tested (before tax): $29,504

Freight/PDI: $1,550

Options on test car: leather seats ($1,500)

engine/transmission: 3.7L V6/ six-speed manual

Power/torque: 305 hp/280 lb.-ft.

Fuel (capacity): regular (61L)

F u e l e c o n o m y r a t i n g s (L/100km): 11.1 city, 6.9 hwy

Observed fuel economy: 9.4 L/100km over 640 km

Warranties: three years/ 60,000 km (basic), five years/ 100,000 km (powertrain)

Competitors: Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger

Strengths: price, performance, top-down style

Weaknesses: some instrumenta-tion, RWD not great in winter

FACT FILe

rePOrT CArD

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR

NEWSLETTER

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VALUE FOR $

FUEL ECONOMY

STYLING

COMFORT

PERFORMANCE

OVERALL

RATING OUT OF 5

autonet.ca/galleries

Top-down driving is a seasonal riTe for enThusiasTs, and The MusTang geTs an enThusiasTic ThuMbs-up froM This driver

2 0 1 3 M u s T a n g c o n v e r T i b l e p r e M i u M

• GLen WOODCOCk/qMi agenCyWith 15 more horses than the original Boss 302 V8, the V6 version of the 2013 represents few performance compromises.

TEST

DRIVE

[email protected]

Page 5: DHT Auto Guide Aug. 23, 2012

nissan nV deliVers the goods

If you’re planning on moving house (or anything large for that matter), you’d best be looking at a Nissan NV — the full-sized cargo van introduced by Nissan for the 2012 model year.

Now I know the concept is not new — North American manu-facturers have been building full sized vans for well on half a cen-tury — but this is the first one created by a Japanese maker, specifically for the North Ameri-can market.

Like all such full-sized vans,

with the exception of European versions like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (and others not mar-keted in North America), the NV is based on a full-size pickup platform — the Nissan Titan, in this case. It carries the designa-tion 2500, to indicate its “three-quarter ton” capacity of 1,425 kg (and we needed every one of those kg on a couple of trips) and it also has the HD moniker to indicate it is more of a com-mercial vehicle than a personal one. It also comes in 1500 and 3500 HD versions to mimic the designations of the more estab-lished U.S. vans.

An d that ’s a goo d p oint . I would not buy an NV unless I had a specific commercial need for it. It’s nice to borrow one for

our summer moving experience, an d though i t doe sn’t move things as easi ly as a U-Haul truck, it is much easier to drive and park. About the only think I miss is a rearview camera to allow me to line up the van’s rear doors to the porch at our temporary rental unit. (We’re having a new house built and no, I won’t be using an NV or some-thing similar to relive the expe-rience.)

The high roof helps with items such as the king-sized mattress and some of the larger and bulk-ier pieces of furniture, but the much smaller Ford Transit Con-nect we had the previous week-was infinitely more manageable at loading and unloading: the NV really does have quite the

step up, though it’s made eas-ier by grab handles on the door frames.

U n l i k e t h e s m a l l e r Fo r d , the Nissan has just two seats (though a passenger version is coming) so everything behind the driver and front passen-ger is either bare metal or cov-ered in some heavy duty rub-berized mat. There are some wooden panel pieces, too but I think they’re just there to keep users from snagging wires to the various lights and such. It would have been nice to have tie-downs to keep cargo secured to walls but, honestly, we just jammed everything in to keep it from moving around, and we didn’t break anything, which was a small wonder to us. There are enough metal creases and hollows to easily attach bungee cords for those things you have to keep upright.

Storage cubbies above the occupants’ heads and pockets in the rear doors keep everything close to hand. Also handy are the slide-out drawers under the seats, which can house things like work gloves and tape meas-ures to keep them fairly handy when exiting and entering the cabin. Larger items such as lap-top computers or tool-belts can fit into the large bin between the seats and there are cubbies here and there to keep smaller items such as access cards and cell-phones from flopping about or being covered over by assorted clutter.

Standard power comes from a four-litre V6, with our test van fitted with the 5.6-litre V8. Yes, it uses a lot of fuel, but we gladly hand over the cash so we can move more stuff without incur-ring suspension or frame dam-age as we’re hopping curbs to get as close to doorways as pos-sible. Power is transmitted by a five-speed automatic transmis-sion.

It all adds up to a thoroughly capable work horse when you need it . And maybe that’s it primary customer — the com-pany who caters to the one-time needs of people like me.

As tested (before tax): $38,368Freight/PdI: $1,730options on test vehicle: V8 engine ($1,150)Configuration: front engine, rear-wheel driveEngine/transmission: 5.6l V8/ five-speed automaticPower/torque: 317 hp/ 385 lb.-ft.Fuel (capacity): regular (106l)Fuel economy ratings: not ratedobserved fuel economy: 19.2 l/100km over 369 km city (under full load)Warranties: three years/ 60,000 km (basic), five years/ 100,000 km (powertrain)Competitors: Chevrolet express, Ford e-series, Mercedes-Benz sprinterstrengths: full-sized cargo han-dling, rear-door manipulation, lots of storage solutionsWeaknesses: economy, big vehi-cle

FACT FILE

REPoRT CARd

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RATING OUT OF 5

autonet.ca/galleries

It’s not for everyone, but the nIssan nv cargo van does a fIne job haulIng heavy loads In safety and comfort

2 0 1 2 n I s s a n n v 2 5 0 0 h d s v

• JoE duARTE/qmi agencyThe Nissan NV — available in 1500, 2500 and 3500 models — shows plenty of commercial cargo-carrying capability.

TEST

DRIVE

[email protected]

Page 6: DHT Auto Guide Aug. 23, 2012

200 a perfect summer Cruiser

It’s a sunny day in Vancou-ver, and the top is down on my 2012 Chrysler 200 Convertible S. This is what paradise feels like. There are few places in the world equal to the west coast of Canada when the sun is shining and temperatures soar past 25 C. To top it off (pun intended), not a drop of rain is expected for the next three days. Glorious!

The 2012 Chrysler 200 Con-vertible S represents the pin-nacle in a lineup of models that also includes the LX, Touring and Limited. What separates the “S” package from the rest is what you would most likely

expect — spor tiness. Stand-ard inclusions take the elegant nature of the Chrysler 200 Con-vertible and provide it with a lit-tle attitude.

Powe r c o m e s f ro m a 3 .6 -l i t r e P e n t a s t a r V 6 e n g i n e matched with a six-speed auto-matic transmission. Perform-ance numbers indicate 283 hp at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm. Driven around town, it responds with poise and grace. Punch it, and the V6 lunges ahead with author-ity, offering a different side to its generally dignified personality.

The independent front and rear suspension offers a smooth and progressive driving expe-rience. Around town, it feels a little lazy, but not in a negative way. The idea here is to get you to relax and enjoy the sensation

of wind your hair and sunshine on your skin.

Brakes are four wheel disc with ventilated front and solid rear rotors. Stopping power is aided with ABS, ESC, Trac-tion Control and Brake Assist. Polished cast aluminum 18-in. wheels with painted pockets are standard on the “S” model.

Inside, a perforated three-spoke leather steering wheel offers cruise control and stereo adjustment, as wel l as inte-grated cellphone access where applicable. Chrome trimmed white on black round gauges are easily read, so too the three round knobs control l ing the HVAC system.

Ch r ysl e r d o e s a gre at jo b of accenting the interior with bright metal throughout, plus white stitching on the seats.

This is a convertible you can take to the finest places and feel right at home with any European or Japanese mid-luxury compet-itor.

Wedgewood Hotel & Spa is a celebrated member of the Relais & Chateaux family of exquisite hotels and restaurants. The ele-gant 14-storey, 83-room hotel, established in 1984, is the cre-ation of its owner Eleni Skalba-nia. It is her personal, hands-on approach and attention to detail that keeps Wedgewood at the top of everyone’s list, includ-ing many A-list celebrities who return year after year.

Checking into the hotel, I am quickly escorted to my Deluxe Suite for inspection. The two-room, 620 sq.-ft. suite shows an elegant touch with private TV sitting area, couch and work desk, plus a high dry bar. The bedroom offers a king-size bed, Roman marble stand up shower and separate soaker tub. The glass doors to my balcony opens to the sights and sounds of Rob-son Square in downtown Van-couver.

Dining takes place under the watchful eye of Executive Chef Lee Parsons at the award-win-ning Bacchus restaurant. The setting is luxurious with rich dark wood, a large bar area and windows that actually open up to the street. Later in the evening, I dine on French inspired cuisine that incorporates the very best of B.C.’s rich local ingredients. A musical serenade is provided by the talented piano man.

The Spa at The Wedgewood H ote l , o p e n e d in 20 0 3 , h a s been awarded the Best Day Spa in Vancouver and it is easy to understand why as I experience firsthand the 60-minute Sig-nature Thai Fusion Massage. I think it’s time for a drive!

Alert valet attendants bring the car around and I am soon heading through Vancouver on an indirect course to Stanley Park, the Capilano Highlands and Grouse Mountain. Is this the perfect setting for a convertible such as the 2012 Chrysler 200 Convertible S? I think so.

As tested (before tax): $44,995Options on test vehicle: Deep cherry red crystal pearl coat ($150), media centre 730N ($950), hardtop ($2,600)Freight/PDi: $1,500Configuration: front engine, front wheel drive.engine/transmission: 3.6L six cylinder/ six-speed automaticPower/torque: 283 hp/260 lb.-ft.Fuel (capacity): premium (64L)F u e l e c o n o m y r a t i n g s (L/100km): 11.0 city, 6.8 hwyObserved fuel economy: 9.2 L/100km over 250 kmWarranties: five years/100,000 km (basic)Competitors: BmW 1 series, ford mustang, mazda mX-5, mini cooper convertible, Volkswagen eosstrengths: interior comfort, out-ward appearance, smooth rideWeaknesses: slow hardtop

FACT FiLe

rePOrT CArD

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR

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TELL US WHATYOU THINK

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VALUE FOR $

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STYLING

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RATING OUT OF 5

autonet.ca/galleries

Comfort and ConvenienCe is king is this highway friendly Convertible, but the s adds an extra element of fun

2 0 1 2 C h r y s l e r 2 0 0 C o n v e r t i b l e s

• JeFF vOTh/qmi ageNcyWith 283 hp available, the Chrysler 200 Convertible packs a punch one wouldn’t expect from a sleek ride like this.

DEST

INAT

IONS

JeffvOTh

[email protected]

Where TO sTAyWeDgeWOOD hOTeL & sPA845 hOrnby sTreeT vAnCOuver, bC v6Z 1v1 WWW.WeDgeWOODhOTeL.COm

Page 7: DHT Auto Guide Aug. 23, 2012

multi-generational genesis

Is the 2013 Hyundai Gene-sis Coupe aimed at youngsters, young-at-hearters or those head-ing into a mid-life crisis? We turn to our oldest and youngest crit-ics to draw up conclusions.GLEN: The new Genesis Coupe

is less like the company’s old front-drive 2+2 Tiburon, and more like the rear-drive sporty cars it was designed to compete against — Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro.

Nowhere is that more evident than in th e avai lable p ower-trains where both the 2.0L turbo four and the 3.8L V6 get signif-icantly more giddy-up. Horse-power ratings are now 274 and

348 respectively using premium fuel, but drop slightly to 260 and 344 if you burn regular gas.

The changes made to Gene-sis Coupe tell you all you need to know about Hyundai and why it is such a success story. After jus t four years , the C oup e’s unique RWD platform is the old-est in the Korean manufactur-er’s lineup, but with the engine upgrades, plus some advanced technology and revised interior and exterior styling, it feels like a brand new car.DANIEL: Although everything

you say about this new Genesis Coupe is true, it’s important to remember that at the end of the day, this vehicle has the same basic purpose as the Tiburon — to provide drivers with a sporty-out-of-the-box coupe that won’t break the bank.

While the price does near the $40,000 mark for your top-of-

the-line V6 model, you can still get one for well under $30,000, and even the “cheapy” version offers all kinds of bells and whis-tles.

Compared to your 3.8GT test model, the Genesis Coupe I’m testing has a smaller engine under the hood and one less pedal in the footwell, but there’s no doubt this thing can move like nobody’s business. I love Hyundai’s turbocharged “four,” and I’m also a fan of the still-for-giving suspension that makes the vehicle a great daily driver.GLEN: It is a great daily driver,

but only for the driver and one passenger. The tight rear seat is pretty well next to useless. That said, the trunk is a reasonable size for this class — 332 litres — and the rear seatbacks fold flat to expand cargo space.

There’s no denying the 3.8 is fun to drive, but with a 56/44

weight distribution I’m not sure how well this car wil l handle Canadian winters.

However, the V6 sure does send great music out the twin tailpipes when you wind it up — something that I doubt is as pleasing with your turbocharged four-banger.DANIEL: I agree once again

— one of those rear seats can barely hold my friend’s petite wife, a n d get t in g in a n d o ut is somewhat of a chore. More memories of Tiburon ....

I like the overall look of the vehicle, and one of the exterior styling touches makes this vehi-cle easier to see out of, as the beltline swoops slightly down-ward aft of the B-pillar, which improves visibility a notch.

The cockpit is a pleasant place in which to park myself, as it has a high-quality feel through-out, lots of leather, and plastic pieces that don’t look plasticky. A turbo-boost gauge and pad-dle shifters add to the sporty demeanour, but the eight-speed automatic feels a little like over-kill, as the top three gears are really just to improve fuel econ-omy while cruising on the high-way.GLEN: Speaking of fuel econ-

omy, my average is 10.4 litres per 100 km, which ain’t great.

I like this car as much as you do, and the six-speed stick is OK, but not as snick-snickety precise as that in the competing Ford Mustang.

However, if I were a younger guy, like you, it’s a car I could buy and live with.DANIEL: When it comes to

cars like these, I’d say it’s most important to be young at heart. The new Genesis Coupe will work equally as well (or not so well) for an assortment of people, regard-less of age, sex, size, or financial situation. Hyundai did a good job, all things considered.

Trim levels: 2.0T Premium, 3.8GTAs tested (before tax): $31,699, $36,999Options on test vehicle: auto-matic transmission ($1,800, 2.0T)Freight: $1,565Configuration: front engine, rear-wheel driveEngines: 2.0L turbo 4-cyl., 3.8 V6Transmissions: eight-speed automatic with sequential shift (2.0T), six-speed manual (3.8GT)Power/torque: 274 hp/ 275 lb.-ft. (2.0T), 348/295 (3.8GT)Fuel (capacity): premium rec-ommended (65L)F u e l e c o n o m y r a t i n g s (L/100km): 10.4 city/ 6.4 hwy (2.0T), 11.5/7.3 (3.8GT)O b s e r v e d f u e l e c o n o m y (L/100km): 11.0 over 537 km (2.0T), 10.4 over 591 (3.8GT)Warranties: five years/100,000 km (comprehensive)Competitors: Chevrolet Camaro, Fo rd M us t a n g, Mit sub ishi Eclipse, Nissan 370Z FR-S, Sub-aru BRZ.

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hyundai attempts to appeal to both the young and young-at-heart with its stylish, competitively priced coupe

2 0 1 3 h y u n d a i g e n e s i s c o u p e

• DAnIEL BARROn/QMI AGeNcyThe new Genesis Coupe is less like the company’s old front-drive 2+2 Tiburon, and more like the rear-drive sporty cars it was designed to compete against — Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro.

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