2012 Mazda Mazda5: First Drive
There's a certain charming simplicity about the 2012 Mazda5. Yes, it's a minivan. Yes, it's a little lower, sportier, and more fun to drive. And yes, it's configured for the needs of small families—simple, lean, and value-priced.
You can easily open or close the non-power sliding doors with your thumb and forefinger; the hatch is easily closed and at arm's height for even shorter moms; and second- and third-row seats fold forward without a lot of straining or reaching.
From a few paces back, the Mazda5 looks like a well-designed 7/8-scale minivan—one that might park and maneuver a little easier, too. And it does. Get behind the wheel, and there's much more to love—excellent steering, top-notch poise and roadholding, and an all-around frisky feel on the road is some of it, along with a very affordable sticker price and a good list of features for the money.
To put it all into perspective, the Mazda5 is actually five inches longer than the original Dodge Caravan, but nearly two feet shorter than what are now called minivans, like the Honda Odyssey, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Toyota Sienna. In truth, each of those vehicles now nearly take up the space of the old boatlike station wagons they were intended to replace.
Modest but sporty
With modest but sporty underpinnings borrowed from the Mazda3 s models, the Mazda5 has the makings of a vehicle that's more fun to drive than the typical van. Under the hood is the familiar 2.5-liter four-cylinder 'MZR' unit that's also used in the Mazda6 and CX-7, and here it makes 157 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 163 pound-feet at 4,000 rpm. A six-speed manual gearbox is offered only in the base Sport model, while the five-speed automatic that's optional in the Sport is standard in the Mazda5 Touring and Grand Touring models. Underneath this front-driver is a MacPherson strut suspension setup in front and a multi-link, 'E-link' setup in back that helps provide stability under a wide load range.
While that's much the same as with the last-generation Mazda5, what has changed is its tuning. Mazda admits that with the former version, which was legendary for its responsiveness and almost edgy feel, passengers could feel a bit tossed around. In order to address that, without meddling too much with Mazda's fun-to-drive qualities, engineers softened damper response and roll stiffness slightly while stiffening bushings and raising spring rates, to yield just a little more roll and soften turn-in very slightly, while retaining that excellent body control.
Had Mazda not told us about it, we might not have known the difference, in all honesty, as the Mazda5 still feels so much sportier, more settled and communicative than anything else in the class. Even right up on the limit of adhesion, the Mazda5 has the body control of a small sport sedan; the body stays relatively flat, and there aren't any of the queasy body motions you get in left-right transitions in most crossovers. It takes a lot to upset its composure. Likewise, slam on the brakes at freeway speeds, even, and the four-wheel disc brakes stop the 5 quickly, with a firm, assuring pedal and none of the dramatic nosedive that other people-movers exhibit. And the Mazda5 has excellent quick-ratio hydraulic-assist steering (with an electric pump) that's weighted about perfect and unwinds out of tight corners better than most sporty front-drivers.
Chrysler Recalls 24,177 Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler Models
Chrysler has announced a recall of 24,177 Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles, mostly from the 2010 model year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, certain vehicles "may have been built with an improperly formed or missing brake booster input rod retaining clip", which could result in a brake failure and crash.The Detroit Free Press reports that Chrysler discovered the problem during routine quality checks; it has received no complaints from owners or word of injuries caused by poorly made or missing clips.
Affected vehicles include:
2010 Chrysler Sebring
2010 Dodge Avenger
2010 Dodge Nitro
2009 - 2010 Dodge Ram
2010 Jeep Commander
2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2010 Jeep Liberty
If you own a vehicle on the recall list, call 1-800-853-1403, and Chrysler will schedule a free replacement of the retaining clip. For further information, contact the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Chrysler, Fiat Outline Their Future
After a year of financial and political turmoil, and a shotgun marriage to Italy's Fiat Group, the new Chrysler is unveiling a five-year plan today that takes on a fast-paced, ambitious overhaul of the company's cars and trucks.
The joint management of the Fiat/Chrysler group has confirmed already today that the current Viper will disappear next summer, to be replaced in 2012 by a Fiat-derived model. Over the course of the rest of the day, Chrysler and Fiat will announce the production dates for a range of new vehicles, and the cancellation of many more current cars and trucks, for the six different brands that will be sold in the U.S. by Fiat and Chrysler by 2012.
We're following the news from Auburn Hills here and at MotorAuthority.com. During the day, we'll recap the important product announcements from Chrysler, and update you from their seven-hour press conference:
Chrysler Gets Mobile TV, Again: This Time It’s For Grownups
Chrysler announced today that it will be the first automaker to offer in-car mobile TV with a full channel lineup. The new service, FLO TV Auto Entertainment, will bring up to 20 channels for a monthly fee that's low in comparison to existing satellite services.
For a couple of years now, Chrysler has offered the Sirius Backseat TV option—available as part of the Uconnect Studios package on a number of Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles.
But as we reported last month, when we tested the Backseat TV system in the Chrysler 300C SR8, even though it's very well integrated with the vehicles' entertainment and nav systems, it's not quite what you might think. The system's offerings—for $6.99 a month on top of satellite radio service—are slim and child-oriented, with just three channels of programming, all geared for the little ones. Technically it's just two and a half channels: Disney, Nickelodeon, and then a 'Cartoon Network Mobile' feed of shorts.
Now, Chrysler has struck a deal to bring a range of programming—not just kidstuff—into its vehicles with the Mopar mobile TV option. Available beginning in December, the system will include "something for everyone," with up to 20 channels, according to a Chrysler release, including CBS Mobile, NBC 2Go, CNBC, Comedy Central, FOX News, MSNBC, MTV, and Nickelodeon.
The system isn't a factory option like Sirius Backseat TV; instead it's a dealer-installed package that can be added to 2008-2010 vehicles with the factory-option DVD entertainment systems. Models it's offered on include the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Nitro, Ram 1500, and Ram 2500 / 3500.
Mopar also offers dealer-installed headrest or seat-top DVD systems, to which the TV service can be added.
The cost for the system will be just $629 plus installation, and it includes a one-year subscription. After that the cost of a subscription would likely start at around $9 per month.
The big catch in all of this: The FLO TV service relies on as-yet spotty high-speed data coverage, as opposed to satellite coverage, so don't expect much coverage on a road trip, though. It's mainly offered in select metro areas at this time. On the other hand, TheCarConnection.com has found Sirius' services to be good just about anywhere there isn't a lot of tree cover, steep terrain, or tall buildings.
FLO TV is essentially the same service being offered on various mobile devices as AT&T Mobile TV and Verizon V Cast TV. Both services use the Qualcomm-owned high-speed digital media network that has recently been expanding rapidly into the frequencies previously used by TV.
The new option will be shown for the first time at next week's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
For Meals On Wheels, Hungry Bears Prefer Minivans
If you're eyeing your next vehicle with the classic American family road trip in mind—perhaps a visit to your favorite national park out West—you might want to consider this: Hungry bears overwhelmingly prefer minivans for their next fix.
For reasons not fully understood, at one of the country's most popular national parks, your chances of a bear breaking into your Dodge Grand Caravan minivan are far greater than if you'd chosen a Dodge Journey crossover, for instance.
According to an article in the Journal of Mammalogy, researchers looked into selective foraging habits of black bears in Yosemite National Park and found that, at least there, bears are more likely to target minivans.
The researchers restricted the study to a small portion of the park that has apple orchards and is the most visited by people. Using EPA vehicle classifications, the crew divided vehicles up by body style. Analyzing data by vehicle type based on the 908 bear break-ins in that area from 2001 to 2007, the researchers found that minivans were far more likely to be targeted.
While 29 percent of bear break-ins were to minivans, only seven percent of the vehicles present were minivans. Trucks and sports cars also had a slightly higher ratio of break-ins relative to supply—possibly due to unsecured cargo beds or soft convertible tops.
A few hypotheses were suggested to explain the bears' preference, one of them being the scent of food from minivans due to spills from children. A second hypothesis was better supported—that families were more likely to leave caches of food in minivans, but records from the break-ins included whether food was present and that didn't provide a strong correlation. A third hypothesis suggested that maybe minivans were easier to break into, with bears easily able to pop windows open and twist sheetmetal.
Finally, the researchers suggest that the break-ins favoring minivans could actually just be learned behavior from a few habitual offenders. "Although we have yet to determine why bears choose minivans, our results demonstrate the black bear's keen ability to adapt to novel food resources and the unpredictable consequences of having bears and people coexist."
[Journal of Mammalogy, via LA Times]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Infiniti, Mercedes, and Lexus Lean On Incentives To Move Sales
Even luxury auto brands who once scoffed at the domestics' unseemly hood-slammin', dollar-dealin' pleas are now leaning on big incentives in hopes of reducing swelling inventories. Mercedes incentives averaged $4,185 this February according to Edmunds, an amount nearly double the brand's amount from February one year ago. Lexus incentives rang in at $3,402 per vehicle, four times its average incentive from one year ago.
Underscoring the obvious, Edmunds' Jessica Caldwell claims that "everyone is fighting for market share because there are fewer buyers in the marketplace." Edmunds data includes cash rebates, dealer cash, APR programs, and leasing subvention (automaker-subsidized leases, resulting in cheap monthly payments that come back to haunt the automaker when the lease term expires). Analyst Art Spinells of CNW Marketing Research claims that roughly half of all current leases are subvented.
None of us are very surprised to see bleeding brands like Chrysler offer up incentives (on top of incentives, on top of incentives) like their recent Employee Pricing Plus Plus, which can end up shaving $7,000-plus off the price of a lingering 2008 model Chrysler vehicle. Plus a HEMI V-8 for no additional charge if you buy a Dodge Ram before the end of March (didn't you know March is Dodge Truck Month?).
But when even toney luxury brands struggle to sell cars to affluent consumers who often weather market twists and turns without much pain, it doesn't paint a good picture for market health in 2009.
[source: Automotive News]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Chrysler’s Plan for the Future: More Government Loans
Chrysler's Congressionally mandated plan for its turnaround has hit the Web--and new vehicles are a part of the plan, so long as Chrysler gets another $2 billion in federal cash.
In the plan -- pasted in below here for you to digest, since you're now a stakeholder -- Chrysler is asking for another $2 billion in loans to add to the $7 billion it's already been loaned by you, me and Uncle Sam. That $9 billion package, the company says, will be repaid with interest--but not starting until 2012.
The vehicles that will flesh out the turnaround plan are largely a mystery. That's in part because Chrysler is leaning on newly announced partner Fiat to fill out the small-car end of its lineup. Those vehicles are yet to be decided, while the alliance itself has yet to be nailed down in legalese. Next in the Chrysler plan: a raft of extended-range electric vehicles similar in concept to the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, and based on Chrysler's ENVI green-car powertrain that's been shown in various Dodge and Jeep and Chrysler vehicles. Other improved powertrains, like a new V-6, will round out the innovations yet to be named.
The actual named vehicles yet to come in the Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge lineup include a new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, set for a debut at the 2009 New York auto show; a new unibody Dodge Durango, likely built off the Grand Cherokee in Jeep plants; a new Chrysler 300 and a new Dodge Charger, both revamped from the current underpinnings and both due next year.
There's more to come from Chrysler and from GM as the duo tries to convince Washington of their viability plans. Stay tuned.
Chrysler LLC Viability Plan Submitted Today to The U.S. Treasury Department
Chrysler LLC viability plan to be finalized by March 31 deadline
Chrysler to complete its aggressive restructuring started in 2007 and 2008
Chrysler viability plan is conservatively based and newly reflects an average annual 1.8 million-unit reduction in the Company's expected annual U.S. SAAR through 2012
Chrysler's viability plan is built around a robust product plan, including 24 launches in 48 months and the introduction of electric vehicles to help meet current federal fuel economy standards
The Company's submission demonstrates standalone viability which could be enhanced through a strategic alliance
Dealers, suppliers and 2nd lien lenders' concessions have been implemented or fundamentally agreed upon
A tentative agreement has been reached with the UAW that complies with the terms and conditions of The U.S. Treasury Department's loan agreement
Due to unprecedented economic decline and a drop in current and forecasted U.S. SAAR, the Company adds $2 billion to its original $7 billion loan request
Payback of Chrysler LLC's working capital loans with a premium would begin in 2012
Auburn Hills, Mich., Feb 17, 2009 - Chrysler LLC today submitted its viability plan to the U.S. Treasury Department, outlining the Company's plans to: enhance its product lineup; complete its ongoing aggressive restructuring; and achieve cost reducing concessions from stakeholders. The Company's plan is required to be finalized by March 31. The submission outlines significant progress towards meeting the terms of the U.S. Treasury Department's loan agreement related to achieving competitive costs and increasing fuel economy.
"On behalf of the men and women of our extended family, we thank the Administration and the Congress for the opportunity to continue the process of requesting federal loans to assist Chrysler LLC in the restructuring necessary to achieve long-term viability," Chrysler LLC Chairman and CEO Robert L. Nardelli said. "We fully understand the need to adapt to significantly reduced annual U.S. sales and to national concerns over energy security and climate change.
"We believe that Chrysler LLC will be viable based on the updated assumptions contained in this submission, and that an orderly restructuring outside of bankruptcy, together with the completion of our standalone viability plan, enhanced by a strategic alliance with Fiat, is the best option for Chrysler employees, our unions, dealers, suppliers and customers. Today, our people are eager to re-establish Chrysler as an iconic American company and, in the process, repay the U.S. government and taxpayers for their faith in our future. We believe the requested working capital loan is the least-costly alternative and will help provide an important stimulus to the U.S. economy and deliver positive results for American taxpayers. This plan will ensure the continued provision of health care and pension benefits to our active employees and retirees, while continuing to protect hundreds of thousands of middle class, quality American jobs at Chrysler, our dealer network and our suppliers."
To help meet customer needs and increased federal fuel economy standards, Chrysler plans 24 vehicle launches in 48 months, and announced electric technology as a primary strategy for developing fuel-efficient, low emission vehicles, including an electric-drive vehicle in 2010. The viability plan shows compliance with current federal fuel economy requirements as set forth in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Going forward, Chrysler supports the development of a uniform national standard that reflects the input of all constituents.
To reduce costs, dealers, suppliers and 2nd lien lenders' concessions have been implemented or fundamentally agreed upon. A tentative agreement has been reached with the UAW that complies with the terms and conditions of The U.S. Treasury Department's loan agreement. Once realized this tentative agreement would provide Chrysler with a work force cost structure that is competitive with the transplant automotive manufacturers.
Since Chrysler LLC's original $7 billion submission, there has been an unprecedented decline in the automotive sector. The continued lack of available credit affects consumers and dealers, leading to reduced wholesale orders for Chrysler. Due to this continued lack of consumer credit, we are revising our Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) forecast in the plan submitted today, which is conservatively based and reflects the reality of a declining automotive industry. We are now projecting a SAAR level of 10.1 million units for this year, (which is a 40-year low for our industry) and an average SAAR level of 10.8 million units for 2009-2012. This is a reduction from our original December submission of 7.2 million units, or an average 1.8 million units annually during the four years. For Chrysler, this represents a sales decline of approximately 720,000 units, (or an average 180,000 units per year) assuming a 10 percent market share. For Chrysler, this results in approximately $18 billion in lost revenue and a $3.6 billion decline in cash inflows during the four years.
Based on this, we will require incremental financial support to continue our orderly and effective restructuring and are therefore now seeking an incremental $2 billion in addition to the remaining $3 billion that was within the scope of our original December 2 plan submission.
Chrysler LLC Viability Plan Highlights
Strategic Alliance
Chrysler has signed a non-binding agreement to pursue a strategic alliance with Fiat that represents significant strategic and financial benefits to stakeholders. The written and oral testimony Chrysler submitted to the U.S. House and Senate in 2008 stated the Company's intent to seek the benefits of global partnerships and alliances. The proposed Fiat Alliance would enhance Chrysler's viability plan and would provide the Company with access to competitive fuel-efficient vehicle platforms, distribution capabilities in key growth markets and substantial cost-saving opportunities.
Products
Chrysler's product line is a key component of its Viability Plan. In 2010, the Company will launch four highly successful platforms: a new Jeep Grand Cherokee, a new Dodge Charger, a new Dodge Durango and a new Chrysler 300 (the most awarded car in automotive history since its launch in 2005). The Chrysler 300 launch will be followed by a new, bolder Dodge Charger and an all-new unibody Dodge Durango.
In 2008, Chrysler offered six vehicles with highway fuel economy of 28 miles per gallon or better. For 2009, 73 percent of Chrysler LLC's vehicles show improved fuel economy compared with the prior year's model. Fuel economy will continue to improve in 2010 with the introduction of the all-new Phoenix V-6 engine, which will provide fuel efficiency improvements of between 6 to 8 percent over the engines it replaces. A two-mode hybrid version of the Company's best-selling vehicle, the Dodge Ram is scheduled for 2010. The first Chrysler electric-drive vehicle is also scheduled to reach the market in 2010. It will be followed by other electric-drive vehicles, including Range-extended Electric Vehicles, in the following years in order to further reduce fuel consumption.
The proposed Fiat alliance would further help the Company achieve these standards as Chrysler gains access to Fiat's smaller, fuel-efficient platforms and powertrain technologies. The alliance would enable Chrysler to reduce its capital expenditures while supporting the company's commitment to develop a portfolio of vehicles that support the country's energy security and environmental objectives.
Restructuring Actions
Chrysler LLC has aggressively restructured operations to significantly improve cost competitiveness while improving quality and productivity. Through year end 2008, Chrysler has:
Reduced fixed costs by $3.1 billion
Reduced its work force by 32,000 (a 37 percent reduction since January 2007)
Eliminated 12 production shifts
Eliminated 1.2 million units (more than 30 percent) of production capacity
Discontinued four vehicle models
Disposed of $700 million in non-earning assets
Improved manufacturing productivity to equal Toyota as the best in the industry as measured by assembly hours per vehicle according to the Harbour Report
Achieved lowest warranty claim rate in Chrysler's history
Recorded the fewest product recalls among leading automakers in 2008
The following additional restructuring actions are planned in 2009:
Reduce fixed costs by $700 million
Reduce one shift of manufacturing
Reduce total manpower by 3,000 people
Discontinue three vehicle models
Take out 100,000 units of capacity
Sell $300 million additional non-earning assets
Management Concessions
Chrysler will fully comply with the restrictions established under section 111 of EESA relative to executive privileges and compensation. In addition, the Company has suspended the 401k match, incentive bonuses, merit increases and has eliminated retiree life insurance benefits.
Dealer Concessions
Chrysler will achieve cost savings/improved cash flow through a number of initiatives including: reduced dealer margins, elimination of fuel fill, reduction of service contract margins.
Union Concessions
The signed term sheets for the UAW Labor Modifications and VEBA modifications fundamentally comply with the requirements set forth in the U.S. Treasury Loan and once realized would provide Chrysler with a work force cost structure that is competitive with the transplant automotive manufacturers. This agreement is subject to ratification.
Supplier Concessions
The Company has initiated the dialogue with its suppliers and believes that it will be able to obtain substantial cost reductions from suppliers that will result in achieving targeted savings. Chrysler supports the supplier associations' proposals, which would provide a government guarantee of OEM accounts payables.
2nd Lien Debt Holders Concessions
Chrysler anticipates that the holders of the 2nd Lien Debt will agree to convert 100 percent of their debt to equity. Chrysler's Viability Plan includes expectations to further reduce its outstanding debt by $5 billion. In addition to strengthening the Company's balance sheet for the long term, this reduction will also provide immediate cash flow via interest savings of between $350 million and $400 million annually.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Canada Picks New Dodge Ram as "Best New Pickup Truck"
Take that Texas; Dodge strikes back at Ford's recent win of the Truck of Texas mantle by earning the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada's "Best New Pickup Truck" award for its all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. The Dodge Ram beat out the 2009 Ford F-150, itself new for '09, after an "intensive week of vehicle evaluations" conducted by journalists at AJAC's annual Test Fest on Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Naturally, Dodge is pleased with the win. Reid Bigland, president and CEO of Chrysler Canada, said: "we thank AJAC for this recognition which confirms that the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 is the best pickup truck in Canada." Too bad it seems Texans might not necessarily agree, as U.S. sales of the new Dodge Ram are crucial for a struggling Chrysler. And just how significant is a win way up near the 49th parallel as trucks pile up on lots down in the United States?
Bully for you, Dodge--we love the revolutionary new coil-spring suspension on the rear axle of your 2009 Dodge Ram, not to mention a great interior with sumptuous leather hides, smart storage nooks, and classy trim. TCC feels "the quality level and design of the interior are among the best in any pickup." Our testers also report greatly improved ride and handling--with no penalty in capacity or towing ability--in comparison with the leaf-spring axles in both competitors, the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado.
But ouch, those hokey names for truck competitions. If it's not the Truck of Texas Rodeo, it's a Test Fest up in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Are pickup owners all about a theme party, or are truck makers and fans resorting to splashier names as truck sales slip?--Colin Mathews
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
