2011 Ford Explorer

Friday, January 13th, 2012 at 4:46 am  
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2011 Ford Explorer

2011 Ford Explorer

The 2011 Ford Explorer got several new changes which made it a completely different vehicle. There are three trims that you can choose from that include the Explorer Limited, Explorer XLT, and as always the base Explorer. Each comes with the 3.5 liter V6 engine that is mated to a six speed automatic transmission with expectations that they will soon be adding the turbo four cylinder EcoBoost in the lineup. For the drivetrain, the Explorer is available in either front wheel drive and all wheel drive and can seat up to seven people.

A couple of things that we see good about this new design is that the interior is a lot better in the standard of quality, many of the new features are up to date with technology, and that the ride is much nicer.

A few of the thumbs down items are that the cargo room and third row have less space than before that might make long trips a little less enjoyable.

The 2011 Ford Explorer is considered to be a large crossover SUV that the standard equipment includes 17 inch steel wheels, integrated blind spot mirrors, privacy glass, cruise control, a six way power driver seat that has manual recline, steering wheel that tilts and telescopes, the MyFord advanced trip computer, and a stereo system that has six speakers, CD player, and auxiliary audio jacks.

The XLT model will get you 18 inch allow wheels, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors, foglamps, cloth upholstery that is upgraded, leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob, satellite radio, and keyless entry.

The powertrain options for the 2011 come standard with the 3.5 liter V6 that puts out 290 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque. Front wheel drive and a six speed automatic transmission are what comes standard as well. For the four wheel drive (which is optional) comes with Ford’s Terrain Management System that is a selectable four mode system that helps make your traction optimal when going through different conditions. Also included are the hill start assist and hill descent control.

A few of the new safety features include inflatable second-row seatbelt airbags that promise to help improve the safety for those smaller occupants.  Overall, it drives very nice, gets great fuel mileage for its class and keeps a lot of what made it so popular in the first place. For this review, the 2011 Ford Explorer has made some great strides.

GMC Terrain Review

Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at 12:36 am  
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GMC Terrain ReviewGMC Terrain Review

In this GMC Terrain review we’ll go over the 2012 GMC Terrain. It comes out with a higher base price but has several exterior features that stand out as well as the standard rearview camera and lots of passenger space.

The 2012 GMC Terrain has rugged truck like features that are always a plus and comes with many new standard features
make it feel more useful on the inside. All of this along with the increased passenger space, a sliding second row seat to increases leg and cargo room. The price is a little bit higher but as we mentioned that it comes with more standard features but most weren’t liking the performance of the four cylinder or the v6 that is optional.

You can get the Terrain in two different types of trim levels, the SLT and base SLE. You can get these in either a front wheel drive or all wheel drive with the four or six cylinder engines. If you opt for the AWD or V6 models you’ll see some decrease in fuel mileage.

Some new things for 2012 include the 2.4 liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine that runs on E85 ethanol. The GMC IntelliLink will let your smartphones integrate into the stereo system so you can stream music and a touch screen CD stereo is standard. A backup camera is now standard as well and the picture shows up on the stereo’s screen. The lane departure and forward-collision warning system are both optional.

Direct injection is used in both the four cylinder and V6 engines and when Eco mode is activated (by a dashboard button) it changes the settings in the drivetrain in the four cylinder to help you get the most fuel efficiency possible.

Side impact airbags are for the front seats and side curtain airbags are for both rows. There’s also four wheel disc antilock brakes, traction control, and a electronic stability system. These are just a few of the safety features included in the 2012 GMC Terrain. We hope you enjoyed this quick little GMC Terrain Review.

 

 

 

Detroit: Mercedes-Benz brings the matte in from the cold

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 11:19 pm  
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Mercedes-Benz CLS550 4Matic in matte silver

Some things are at the fringe because they belong there. The tastes are too peculiar, the style too strange for the masses. But once in a while something emerges from the fringe into the mainstream because it deserves to be, because people learn to like it. Like matte paint finishes.

Long the purview of aftermarket tuners rejecting the glitz of the gloss, matte finishes are slowly finding their way onto automakers’ show stands and into dealership showrooms. Hyundai broke new ground at the Detroit Auto Show this week in announcing the availability of the new Veloster Turbo in flat grey, but the Korean automaker isn’t the only one offering the anti-shine treatment direct from the factory and displaying it on the floor of Cobo Hall.

Through its Designo program – a range of over-and-above options provided by AMG – Mercedes-Benz offers a selection of matte finishes for some of its higher-end (though not necessarily AMG-tuned) models. The palette currently includes white (like the CL63 in the gallery below), flat silver (like the CLS550 pictured above), dark grey and black, but is being expanded to include additional colors (and wider availability), starting with brown and hopefully extending to some of the shades Maserati and its sister brands have been displaying lately.

The results may not be to everyone’s liking – and may not be well suited to every car – so don’t expect them to replace the go-to metallic paintjobs typically selected for such vehicles, but we’re glad to see this particular trend coming in out of the cold and into the showroom.

Related GalleryMercedes-Benz CLS550 4Matic (matte silver): Detroit 2012 Photos


Spy Shots: Long-wheelbase BMW 3 Series spotted in the wild

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 11:19 pm  
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BMW 335Li

A few images of the new Chinese-market long-wheelbase BMW 3 Series have made their way to the web. The vehicle’s profile clearly shows a few extra inches of room for rear passengers, though the additional space between the front and rear wheels doesn’t infringe too heavily on the sedan’s design.

With a slightly longer rear door and expanded rear cabin, the BMW 335Li is designed for buyers who would rather be driven than drive. That’s a big plus for the chauffeur-oriented Chinese luxury vehicle market. From what we hear, the vehicle is headed toward an official debut at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show in April.

In addition to more rear legroom, the BMW 335Li will likely feature a new 8.8-inch freestanding control display mounted atop the vehicle’s dash. An auto start-stop system is expected to debut on the vehicle to help increase fuel economy, and a blind-spot awareness system is expected to be standard equipment, as well. Head over to the F30Post.com forums for a better look at the elongated 3 Series.


Video: This is the quickest Mercedes-Benz ever

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 11:19 pm  
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Renntech Mercedes-Benz SLR

Behold what could very possibly be the world’s quickest Mercedes-Benz. The good people at Renntech managed to get their hands on a Mercedes-Benz SLR, and quickly set to nudging the power to obscene levels.

According to DragTimes.com, the vehicle boasts 160 horsepower over stock form, which puts the final output in the neighborhood of 680 ponies at the rear wheels. Throw in a set of Hoosier drag slicks and you have a vehicle capable of dashing to 60 in a scant 2.2 seconds. That’s plenty quick, and the vehicle doesn’t give anything up as it heads toward the quarter mile.

In the video after the jump, shot at Palm Beach International Raceway, the Renntech Mercedes-Benz SLR pulls through the quarter mile in 9.76 seconds at 140.8 mph. As best we can tell, that time makes the vehicle the quickest Mercedes-Benz in the world. Let us know if you know of a quicker Silver Arrow out there. In the meantime, hit the jump to check out the disturbingly fast SLR for yourself.


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