Adam's Autos

Welcome to Adam's Autos! "Where I rate autos to help YOU find an A-Rate ride!" Adam’s Autos is a creative medium dedicated to providing consumers with the appropriate information to make an informed new or used automotive purchase. Additionally, Adam’s Autos highlights and promotes local businesses, alongside a variety of today’s latest automotive trends and topics. I also discuss my own personal cars and projects. So fasten your seat belts! We're going for a ride!

Showing posts with label 2015 LA Auto Show. Show all posts

Friday, November 27, 2015

2017 Jaguar F-Pace - REVEALED

2017 Jaguar F-Pace

"Hi! My name is..."

"Better late than never" is exactly the phrase that could be applied to this vehicle. Jaguar has had an awkward hole in their lineup for some time now, and that has been in the SUV arena. Almost every luxury brand outside of Jaguar and Bentley had entered this segment, and now, both brands can say they have viable entrants in this segment now. The F-Pace is Jaguar's first true SUV, and from the looks of it, it is a solid effort overall.

Show Us What You're Made Of

Much of Jaguar's current design language can be seen in the F-Pace, including the F-Type's rear taillight design. It looks very handsome on this model, as does the interior. Giant touch screens and Jaguar's InControl infotainment system keep the F-Pace in step with the times, and the overall layout and materials used in the interior look to be top-notch, just as you'd expect from a modern, competitive luxury SUV. The body and several other components of this SUV are made out of aluminum, which will not only help reduce the weight of the car, but make it feel more agile and operate more efficiently. Most Jaguars as of late have been quite the driving machines, meaning expectations are likely high for the F-Pace. A variety of engines will be available, starting out with a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 making 340 horsepower, 332 pound feet of torque, and a 2.0 diesel four-cylinder making 180 horsepower and 317 pound feet of torque. A ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission is used with all engines, and the F-Pace is an All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) vehicle.

2017 Jaguar F-Pace Interior

When Will It Arrive?

I must say, I'm REALLY liking the looks of this new Jaguar. It's one of the most handsome SUVs I've seen in a long time, and it's much less awkward looking than the new Bentley Bentayga SUV, which will undoubtedly cost a lot more than this Jag. Depending on what the official performance numbers, reliability, and consumer satisfaction ratings are, this might just end up being a hit for Jaguar and earn a spot on my list of dream cars I would want to purchase in the future. Pricing for the F-Pace begins at $40,990 for the entry diesel model, and then there is an uplevel first-edition model that starts at $69,700. The F-Pace will arrive at Jaguar dealers by early 2016.

2017 FIAT 124 Spider - REVEALED

Hello, and happy post-Thanksgiving everyone! Welcome back to Adam's Autos! Today, as part my last couple posts about the 2015 L.A. Auto Show, we will take a quick look at two more new models that really caught my eye. This first of these being the new FIAT 124 Spider roadster.

2017 FIAT 124 Spider Convertible

An original FIAT 124 Sport Spider

What's Old Is New Again

To me, FIAT is a "love-it-or-hate-it" kinda brand. They have quirky styling that makes them either stand out in the eyes or some, or may make others flinch or grimace. And their reliability as of late has been sketchy to say the least. However, in an effort to keep up the brand's momentum, the Spider name is being revived as an entirely new model for the 21st century. And I must say, I do like the new styling. It is a perfect blend of new and old, and you can actually see where the character lines of the classic model have been seamlessly implemented into this new incarnation. If the 124 Spider doesn't sound special enough yet, FIAT will make the first 124 models in a special Azzurro Blue color and call them the "Prima Edizione Lusso", which may loosely translate to "FIAT 124 Spider First Edition."

2017 FIAT 124 Spider Interior; Quite similar to its Mazda Miata cousin.

Family Ties

Now, if you're thinking the new 124 Spider looks familiar, then you're right. That's because it is very heavily based on the recently-redesigned Mazda Miata convertible. Even the interior is just about the same except for the badge on the steering wheel and some trim pieces. But more importantly, what this means is that Mazda's sporty "Zoom-Zoom" driving dynamics should be very prevalent in this design, alongside a hint of Italian flavor. Or so FIAT claims anyways. It's definitely an interesting combo to think about, as the Miata has always been regarded as one of the most fun small roadsters to drive. Plus, there's just something about a convertible. I mean, who hasn't wanted one at some point? They have a particular charm about them...

What will really make this new little FIAT unique however, is its powertrain. Under the hood, a 1.4 liter turbocharged engine making 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque will reside. This is stronger than the Mazda Miata's four-cylinder which makes 155 horsepower and 148 pound feet of torque, meaning this FIAT might... Again: MIGHT just beat the Mazda at its own Zoom-Zoom game in the power department. Mazda has developed a somewhat bad habit lately of making very sporty-looking/driving cars without the proper power punch under the hood to match those looks (hint-hint Mazda, we're all still waiting). That being said, the Mazda's powertrain will be fine for most, and this one in the 124 Spider will please those who would like a little more kick in their daily commute without sacrificing good fuel economy. Official fuel economy numbers are not available yet, and no word on an Abarth model either (that's terminology for FIAT's high-performance models). Both a six-speed automatic and manual transmission will be offered.

While pricing for the 124 Spider is also unavailable at this time, we can expect to see this roadster arrive on a FIAT dealer lots this coming Summer 2016. I can't wait for that timeframe to roll around, as I'm quite looking forward to checking one out myself for a new car review and test drive.

Friday, November 20, 2015

2016 Cadillac CT6 and 2017 Cadillac XT5

Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't post about the latest upcoming Cadillac models. If you've been following the brand lately, you likely have seen how determined Cadillac is now about competing with the world's biggest luxury brands, such as Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. This means that a new take on the brand's now signature "Art and Science" design language was in order, and quickly ushered in to elevate products to a new level of luxury. And this is where the CT6 and XT5 come in. Both models follow closely in the footsteps laid out by the ATS and CTS that came before them, and also debut Cadillac's new naming system they will be using on future models. Sedans will now start with the letters "CT" followed by a number, where SUVs will be called "XT" followed by a number. The only vehicle to break this rule will be the Escalade, which will keep its name indefinitely, likely due to how iconic it is now (Lincoln also recently said the Navigator, the Escalade's biggest competitor, will never change its name either). Personally, I prefered it when all of the luxury brands out there used actual names for their cars instead of the letter/number combination names we have now because it made the models more memorable I feel. But hey, that's just me. It's a strategy that seems to have worked better for some brands than others, Cadillac being one of those brands fortunately.

As these are all new models, you can expect that these vehicles will use some of the latest high-quality, high-strength, weight-saving components such as aluminum body pieces. And additionally, you can expect some very savvy and innovative things to be taking place on the interior of these cars as well, such as alcantara/leather seating and dashboard pieces, a 32-speaker Bose premium sound system in the CT6, a revised Cadillac CUE infotainment system, and an array of new engine and transmission choices developed specifically for Cadillac applications. Auto-stop/start, where the vehicle will shut the engine off at a stop after a period of time has passed in order to save fuel, a plug-in hybrid model planned for the CT6, and twin-turbo power are just a couple of the features you can expect from General Motor's forthcoming lineup of engines, which build off of the award-winning, innovative designs of past powertrains GM has regularly used.

While pricing for the XT5 hasn't been announced yet, I would expect it to not be objectionably higher than the starting price of the current SRX crossover, which is what the XT5 is replacing (the 2016 Cadillac SRX starts at $37,605). And besides, the SRX is but one of many vehicles participating in a very competitive, growing market: the luxury crossover segment. Plus, it is one of Cadillac's most popular models as well, and you definitely do not want to alienate buyers in a segment that is as competitive as that one is these days. This is seen clearly in the XT5's design, which retains the overall shape and greenhouse of the SRX, but at the same time, is lighter, sleeker, and a tad bit longer than the model it is replacing. This should translate to a more stylish and roomy interior as a result, and better ride quality as well with its new suspension setup.

The new CT6 will start at $56,490, and will compete with the likes of the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and Audi A8. From what I've heard, drives like a much smaller car than it actually is. This would certainly be an awesome feat, as the CT6 makes use of 13 different kinds of unique materials in its design, and that sort of compliment was not one that was given too often to big Cadillac sedans of the past, no matter how opulent they were.

So overall, Cadillac has been on a roll lately with their designs, capturing attention from all around the world. The XT5 even debuted in Dubai before the L.A. Auto Show even got underway! If that doesn't clearly demonstrate where Cadillac's mindset is these days, I'm not sure what else will. I'm looking forward to seeing and driving these vehicles in person myself in the near future.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Presenting the 2016 Car & Truck of the Year! The Chevrolet Camaro & Colorado!

Congratulations is in order for GM's Chevrolet brand! As Motor Trend's 2016 Car and Truck of the Year awards went to the Camaro and the Colorado! Both models were recently revamped within the Chevy lineup, the Camaro for the 2016 model year and the Colorado was reintroduced as a 2015 model (alongside its GMC Canyon twin) after a production hiatus for a few years. Initially, Motor Trend noted that no one thought that the Camaro would last in the testing they did to determine the best of the best 2016 models. But to their pleasant surprise, it did, and proved to be a great improvement over the last generation model as well. This generation of the Camaro is lighter, more agile and innovative inside and out, and comes with 4-cylinder, V6, and V8 powertrain options, allowing there to truly be a Camaro for "everyone" this time around. I look forward to test driving and reviewing one for myself one day!

Within the current General Motor's portfolio, I would have to say that the Colorado/Canyon trucks are some of my favorite vehicles! They are a breath of fresh air in a segment that was dying off quickly. The Toyota Tacoma has long been the class leader in the compact truck segment, and it was just refreshed for 2016 itself in an effort to protect its crown. Ford doesn't produce the Ranger anymore (although word is this may change soon), and the next best competitor, the Nissan Frontier, was last redesigned in 2005! 10 YEARS AGO! Maybe that gives you a better idea of what condition that segment was in. With an abundance of new technology and style to boot too, the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon are poised to bring a new variety of customers to showrooms who may want truck utility, but without the full size of a Silverado or an F-150. I've even been tempted to consider trading my car in on one recently! Alas, they are VERY pricy for being considered "compact trucks"... But still, they are some great vehicles regardless.

General Motors has long been one of my favorite companies in the auto industry. And it's good to see them putting such immense efforts into their new products these days. Last time I can remember two fully new GM products winning car and truck of the year at the same time was back in 2007, when the then all-new Saturn Aura and Chevy Silverado won. So having two cars from the same company, let alone brand, win major awards in one year is just a greater testimony to GM's commitment to quality and their customer base!

2017 Lincoln MKZ: The Ultimate Foreshadower Officially REVEALED

If there is any current Lincoln model that has been met with overwhelming success, it is the MKZ. Consumer Reports says it's one of the most well-executed Lincoln products in recent memory. And I would tend to agree, and it's a key model for a brand that is still trying to figure out where exactly it belongs in the, quite frankly, overcrowded luxury market. Without its signature Town Car in their lineup anymore, and outside of the Navigator, prior to the newer MKZ's introduction, there wasn't much in Lincoln's lineup that would have tempted a BMW or Lexus owner to cross-shop the brand. Old-school designs and ride quality were just a couple of factors that led to new Lincoln products quickly feeling dated almost right as they drove off of the dealer lot.

That is all changing now (albeit very slowly), as the Continental, another famous model in the history of the Lincoln brand, is due to be resurrected soon to replace the mundane MKS sedan that never really impressed anyone. And on top of that, Lincoln was nice enough to give us a revised MKZ sedan for 2017, alongside its Ford Fusion cousin that will also be restyled. This revised model continues to follow the brand's modern design themes inside and out, but now debuts the new Lincoln corporate nose that will also adorn the new Continental once it hits the streets within the next year or so. It also gets an updated powertrain: A 3.0 twin-turbo V6 making 400 horsepower and 400 pound feet of torque, making the 2017 MKZ the most powerful Lincoln ever produced. Overall, while some initial reactions have been mixed, I must say I quite like the execution of this refreshed design, and the MKZ has definitely impressed me thus far. As I previously mentioned, it's better than anything Lincoln put out in the past. Plus, with Ford's new Sync 3 infotainment system replacing the frequently problematic MyFord(Lincoln) Touch system used in older models, I have no doubt the MKZ will continue to pioneer the future of the Lincoln brand, with some added help from the new Continental of course.

2017 Buick LaCrosse: Officially REVEALED!

Here it is! The 2017 Buick LaCrosse, officially unveiled at the 2015 L.A. Auto Show! As you can see, it appears as if the LaCrosse has not only grown in length, but also luxuriousness, and it rides on an all-new platform as well. My grandparents own a 2011 Lucerne and my mother has a 2013 Regal, and prior to that she had a 2006 Buick Terraza minivan, and a 2007 Lucerne CXS as well that had GM's famous Northstar V8 in it. So you could say we are quite the Buick fans in my household. I'm looking forward to seeing this new LaCrosse hit the roadways in 2016, as it now follows Buick's revised design language debuted on the Avenir concept car earlier this year. If you haven't seen that concept car yet, check it out! It's quite striking, and if it signals what else is to come from Buick in the next several years, we're in for quite a treat! Buick has been on a roll in recent years. They've even revived their signature "tri-color" red, white and blue emblem on this new LaCrosse, which means that logo is likely making a return to the U.S. market. It's only been used in the Chinese market in recent years.

Things are continuing to heat up at Buick! Keep an eye on this brand.

2015 LA Auto Show

The "pre-game" for the 2015 LA Auto Show is happening NOW! And we're already getting a pretty good glimpse at some of the upcoming new or refreshed 2016 and beyond models that will be hitting dealer lots soon. Expect to see some posts about the show here, on Adam's Autos!