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TRUCKS COMPARED: CHEVY, FORD, RAM

SEPTEMBER 2013 INTELLIGENCE. INDEPENDENCE. IRREVERENCE.

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C A R A N D D R I V E R M A G A Z I N E vol. 59, no. 3

in this issue

F E AT U R E S

0 9 . 2 0 1 3

03

036NEW CARS ISSUE

Our report on the state of autodom, c. 2014, starts here.

042PREVIEW

CADILLAC CTS

Cadillacs new mid-size sedan is elegant, ambitious.by Kevin A. Wilson

058COMPARISON TEST

THREE MILD HOGS

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, Ford F-150 Lariat, and Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn.by Daniel Pund

068CAR MEETS ROAD

JAGUAR F-TYPE

V-8 S

Come, children, and be charmed by Jaguars rst true sports car in a generation.Of7R@NONaV[V

098FIRST DRIVE

MERCEDES-BENZ

S-CLASS

The class valedictorian will now be heard.by Aaron Robinson

112COMPARISON TEST

ROLLING COAL

Just how diesel-tough are the Chevy Cruze 2.0TD and Volkswagen Jetta TDI?by Jared Gall

118THE FALLEN

REST IN PIECES

Sayonara, Suzuki. Farvel, Fisker.by John Phillips

ON THE COVERThe choice new-vehicle garage, in various shades of red.]U\a\T_N]UfOf ?\f?VaPUVR

048ROAD TEST

CHEVROLET

CORVETTE STINGRAY

Weve got to make sure evildoers never get their hands on one of these weapons-grade Vettes.Of1\[@UR_ZN[

0 9 . 2 0 1 3

04 in this issue

caranddriver.com

. D R I V E L I N E S

039TESTED ACURA MDX

(Staid) looks can be deceiving.Of7R@NONaV[V

041BENTLEY FLYING

SPUR

Softer and speedier, the Flying Spur gets less wordy but more expensive. Of7N_RQ4NYY

047FIAT 500L

Keeping Fiats party rocking with two extra doors.Of.YReN[QR_@a\XY\`N

078LAND ROVER

RANGE ROVER

SPORT

Does everything but the laundry.Of2QQVR.YaR_ZN[

081TESTED LINCOLN

MKZ 2.OH

Have you driven a Ford . . . lately?OfA\[f>bV_\TN

090MASERATI GHIBLI

Named after a desert gust, this sedan is the exotic automakers most mainstream play.Of/R[

lexus.com/IS #LexusIS

*Source: Car and Driver (June 2013)

2014 IS 350 F SPORT shown. 2013 Lexus.

350THE ALL-NEW F SPORTISCAR AND DRIVERS TOP PICKOVER THE BMW 335i M SPORT AND THE CADILLAC ATS 3.6*

geico.com | 1-800-947-AUTO (2886) | Local Of ce

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0 9 . 2 0 1 3

007

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TR

AT

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LEXUS IS OR ISNT

As someone from the days of real car styling, I have to say

Lexus stole from a 50-year-old Plymouth. Compare the front end

from the Lexus IS to the 1961 Fury.STAN PINA

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

I am the very happy owner of a 2011 E90 335i. Whenever the car goes in for service, we are given an F30 328i as a loaner. I dislike everything about the F30 except the engine. My wife has declared the F30 the worst car she has ever driven. (This is a woman who once owned a _àfRN_5fb[QNV@\[NaN`\ÙRX[\d`something about bad cars.) So, with the F30, BMW has managed to alienate both its original demographic and the demographic it was trying to entice into its cars. Nice move, guys.

MIKE STUCKER

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS

Lets be honest. Not many people are going to buy the Lexus sports sedan. It has all the sex appeal ofand appears to have been designed to attracta baleen whale. It should have had 10 points deducted simply because it is so fugly!

GARY JOHNSON

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

I am glad you have Jared Gall on your àN.`N#S\\a$V[PU]R_`\[dU\\SaR[has his car choices limited by headroom, 6dN[aa\X[\dU\dURa`V[NYYf\b_aRàcars. It is amazing how some cars my #S\\a!V[PUS_VR[Q`PN[aV[N_R[\aeven close for me.

SEAN MARTIN

RICHARDSON, TEXAS

Nice try, Gall. We know what your

handwriting looks likeEd.

LETTER OF THE MONTH

A reader recently commented on f\b_[RdàN]U\a\`N[Q6d\bYQlike to help clear up this debate so as to free up future column inches for more pathetic bitching by shallow nincompoops. Aaron Robinson looks like he badly needs a hug; John Phillips looks like Darth Vader after the mask has been removed; and Eddie Alterman is, and I cannot believe I am the only one to see this, Clark Griswold Z\ZR[aÒRS\_RUV`_àunsuccessful attempt to plug in the Christmas lights.

CHRIS VERNIER

SUMNER, WASHINGTON

The results of the three-way comparo H@]\_a`@RQN[7b[R JP\[_Zwhat Ive suspected: You will remove the keys to my E46 330i [with the] Sport package from my cold, dead hand . . .

MATT NICHOLSON

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

COVER YOUR BASES

I cant believe you guys sent me my June 2013 issue with a bunch of sedans on the cover when your newsstand cover featured the beautiful new Camaro Z/28! When I contacted customer service, they basically said its the same magazine (no empathy). When I asked them to send the issue with the Camaro on the cover as part of my subscription (discount it o my sub), they never responded. How can you guys do that? I love the Z/28, and Im a subscriber!

JOSE LOPEZ

MIAMI, FLORIDA

So did you have two Lexus IS350s, or did you decide to make the cover car a dierent color? I thought a couple of years back you committed to not change [car] colors. What gives? And Ive subscribed for nearly 20 years, so I think you should print this if only for that fact.

JUSTIN HAASE

KASSON, MINNESOTA

What, no conspiracy theory? We

borrowed a red IS350 for the cover and

used a silver IS350 with the options we

wanted in the comparison testEd.

E D D I E A LT E R M A N.EDITORS LETTERbackfires0 9 . 2 0 1 3

.008

Sic your dogs on us at: [email protected] or join: backres.caranddriver.com

4R[aYRZR['6[QVaUN_Qa\ORYVRcRaUNa f\bN_R` aVYYUNcV[TV``bR `\]R_NaV[TaUR0NQVYYNP0B2` fàRZ. `` \ZR\[RdU\` aVYYUN `'NÙV[T\[ZfC0?RcR[6PN[\]R_NaRVadVaU\ba]_\OYRZ`2VaUR_f\b_àNV `V[P_RQVOYf` ab]VQ\[Q_bT`\_O\aU

RICHARD LEWIS

GURNEE, ILLINOIS

Try all three!Ed.

6dN`[aVZ]_R``RQa\`RRaUR9Reb`6@ "/:D "VN[Q0NQVYYNP.A@\[aURP\cR_\Sf\b_7b[R V``bR6VZZRQVNaRYfdR[aa\`RRaUR_R`bYa`\SaURP\Z]N_V`\[aRàN[QVaab_[RQ\baQ_bZ_\YYaUNaaURA\f\aNNURZ9Reb`d\[6ZT\[[NS_NZRaUV`V``bRN[Q`NcRVaS\_aUR[ReaaVZR6RcR_aUV[XaUNaCar and DriverVÒVN`RQ:fN]\Y\TVR`

OWENS NORMAN

WINDSOR MILL, MARYLAND

Each issue is worth

framing. Especially this

oneEd.

LIGHTS OUT

@\dVaUaUR0NZN_\_RN_R[QN]]_\]_VNaRQS\_aUR0$CRaaRHA_N[`1NZ[7b[R J 6TbR`àUR0NZN_\R[TV[RR_`dR_RY\\XV[TS\_V[`]V_NaV\[

backfires0 9 . 2 0 1 3

010 .

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Eddie Alterman

MANAGING EDITOR Mike Fazioli

FEATURES EDITOR Jeff Sabatini

SENIOR EDITORS Tony Quiroga, Jared Gall

EDITOR, MONTANA DESK John Phillips

TECHNICAL EDITORS K.C. Colwell, Eric Tingwall

COPY CHIEF Carolyn Pavia-Rauchman

ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR Juli Burke

COPY EDITOR Jennifer Harrington

INTERACTIVE DESIGN DIRECTOR Sam Conant

INTERACTIVE DESIGNER Nicole Lazarus

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Marc Urbano

VIDEOGRAPHERS Jim Marr, Mark Arnold

VIDEO ASSISTANT Aaron BrzozowskiOVERSEAS CORRESPONDENTS

Jethro Bovingdon, Ray Hutton, Juergen Zoellter

EAST COAST BUREAU Justin Berkowitz

WEST COAST BUREAU John Lamm

GERMANY ONLINE BUREAU Jens Meiners

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Csaba Csere, Fred M.H. Gregory,

John Pearley Huffman, Bruce McCall,

P.J. ORourke, Steven Cole Smith,

Steve Spence, Tony Swan, Basem Wasef,

Ted West, Kevin A. Wilson, Dweezil Zappa

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Mark Bramley, Bryan Christie Design, Jim Fets,

Robert Kerian, Aaron Kiley, James Lipman,

Charlie Magee, Sean McCabe, Chris Philpot,

Roy Ritchie, John Roe, Michael Simari

EXECUTIVE ONLINE EDITOR Erik Johnson

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too long. There are at least six bridges to make that crossing free, one with a great view of Yankee Stadium. As the TV ad says, Dont be a dummy, save the money!

JAY SCHLEIFER

WELLINGTON, FLORIDA

Kudos on an excellent June 2013 issue, marred only by the Google Maps article,

Volkswagen XL1 to everyones attention [Anti-Veyron, June 2013]. It (and others like it) is the future. As car nuts, we should embrace the XL1 for what it is designed to do. Everyone needs to rethink their part of the total equationbuying this type of car gives the manufacturers of high-performance cars more leeway to build the supercars we love. If we dont, the next Ferrari might be a 1.0-liter, one-cylinder thumper.

MICHAEL THOMAS

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA

CROSSED UP

In Crossover [June 2013], the CX-5 rear seat is described as cramped compared with the other vehicles in the test. The Forester earned praise for its roomy rear NPP\ZZ\QNaV\[`FRaV[aUR[NY_R`bYa`table, the CX-5 earned four points for the Rear-Seat Space and the Forester earned three points. So, which car has a more spacious rear seat?

VLAD VAYSMAN

READING, PENNSYLVANIA

Rear-seat space is calculated from interior

measurements, but thats not always the

best indicator of what a back seat actually

is like to live with. So, we put two and

three people back there (in succession)

to determine our subjective Rear-Seat

Comfort score. While the Foresters

back-seat measurements fall short of the

CX-5s, the Subaru feels more spacious and

comfortableEd.

6[aUR7b[RV``bR7R@NONaV[VZR[aV\[`driving in northern Michigan during the Crossover comparison test. Sabatini marvels about driving in the Huron National Forest and around the Au Sable River, which he proclaims to be Michigans longest river. Please enroll Sabatini in Geography 101. The Au Sable is not even one \SaURa\]cRY\[TR`a_VcR_ `V[:VPUVTN[

WAYNE SCHLOOP

PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN

Note to self: Dont believe Sabatini when he

makes claims about lengthEd.

GOOGLE ME THIS

I enjoyed Sabatinis jaunt through New York via foot, subway, and Bentley [June 2013]. But paying $7.50 to go from the Bronx to Manhattan on the Triborough Bridge? You guys have been in Ann Arbor

which fell far short of your usual high standards. Interpreted either as slapstick or an honest inquiry into Google Maps presented humorously, it was a failure and a waste of magazine space. Sabatini uses a single trip to determine public transit sucks (eloquent!), and declares that Driving in Manhattan [in a borrowed Mulsanne] is a sport. Along the way, he

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012 backfires.PUBLISHER AND

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

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CHAIRMAN

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:fgpi`^_k)'(*#?\Xijk:fddle`ZXk`fej#@eZ%8cci`^_kji\j\im\[%

insults people crammed into subway cars, a busker, Apple Inc., an old lady, dog-walkers, New York drivers, the Public Works department, and, apparently, a woman he rubbed up against in the `bOdNf@NONaV[VQR[VaRYf[RRQÙV`middle-class-liberal card revoked!

LOWELL NELSON

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

HOME ON THE RANGE

I have received several copies of your magazine over the last few months, most of which I have glanced through and then tossed out. I just happened to read the diesel SUV comparo in the June 2013 issue, and Va[VÙRQZR\S\_T\\Q6` a\]]RQ_RNQV[TC/D years ago for pretty much the same reason I now write about: editorializing and overt opinions in reviews. The thinly veiled disgust, or lets just say hatred of diesels at the hands of Aaron Robinson, is plainly obvious. The real reason U.S. buyers are ill informed about diesels? Pithy rhetoric and complaints about stinky pumps and old technology by asshats like Robinson are a good start. Im quite serious, cancel my subscription. The automotive opinions of soft-handed techie metrosexuals are of no value to me.

ROB THOMAS

WAKEFIELD, RHODE ISLAND

Well cancel it as soon as I get a refund for

the new Matchbox Twenty albumEd.

I own seven cars and my daily driver is an Audi Q7 TDI. In my humble opinion it is aUR[Rà]R_S\_ZV[TUN[QYV[TN[Qdriving diesel SUV. It was troubling that you did not include the Q7 TDI in the comparison test, but outrageous to state: 6[SNPaaUV`TNaUR_V[T\ScRcRUVPYR`Vàn all-inclusive roundup of every single entry in the most hotly contested compression-ignition segment in the U.S. That statement is simply not true, and by not including the Q7 you are misleading the public by stating that you have included all the alternatives. Not sure why this happened, but my opinion

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*Human thermal sensation to air movement frequency, Yizai Xia, Rongyi Zhao and Weiquan Xu (2000)

2013 Delta T Corporation dba the Big Ass Fan Company. All rights reserved.

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.0 9 . 2 0 1 3

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of your journalism has been diminished `VT[VPN[aYf

REID HOTALING

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA

The Q7 missed the cut because its a three-

row SUV, and our test consisted of two-

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LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA

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0CAR^bV]]RQ.PP\_QQVQ[aNYY\dS\_N[

NTT_R``VcRYNb[PUdUVPUUb_aVaàVZR

/baaURZN[bNYcR_`V\[PN[ORYNb[PURQ

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:f7b[RV``bRN__VcRQ.9Reb`6@ "ORNaN/:D "VV[NP\Z]N_\6ÙbQQR_RQ.SRd]NTR`YNaR_N:NgQN#a\]]RQN[.PP\_Q;\[RRQa\]NfaU\`ROVYY`6UNcR^bVaZfW\OORPNb`RVaV`T\V[Ta\V[aR_SR_RdVaUZfQ_V[XV[T6aVòvahF\b_RNYVgRf\b]baNA\f\aN]_\QbPaV[S_\[a\SN/:DF\b]baN:NgQN`RQN[V[S_\[a\SaUR.PP\_QAUR`b[V``RaaV[TV[aURRNà]VT`N_RfV[TN[QaUR;?.ZRZOR_ÙV]Vàb_[V[TV[Va`Tb[`6aVòvah!

MICHAEL ESTEN

BETHESDA, MARYLAND

QUAYLE HUNTING

DUNa6QQ\QVR_R[aYf'@]RYY]\aNa\P\__RPaYf

KENNETH KIRKLAND

AMES, IOWA

Mean StreetsWHY ARE SOME COUNTRIES SO

FAR BEHIND IN TRAFFIC SAFETY?

by Justin Berkowitz

I F YOU D O DR I V E in the Dominican Republic, you should be aware that the utmost caution and

defensive driving are necessary, warns the U.S. Department of State in the generally cautious travel section of its website. Except when its talking about North Korea, this is about as strong a rebuke as our calm diplomatic corps typically mus-ters. But the warning should be bolder, as the Dominican ?R]bOYVPUN`aURUVTUR`a_NaR\Sa_NPSNaNYVaVR`V[aURd\_YQ

4Y\ONYYfa_NP NPPVQR[a` XVYYadVPR N` ZN[f ]R\]YR N`does malaria. At more than 1.2 million deaths per year, crashes are among the 10 leading causes of death worldwide. With populations and relative incomes booming in low- and middle-income countries, these numbers will only rise. Its obvious, then, why international institutions like the World 5RNYaU

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upfront edited by J A R E D G A L L

0 9 . 2 0 1 3

017

Its Not Just Drivers and Passengers At RiskAt least half of the people killed worldwide by motor vehicles arent actually in a car, according to the WHO, which is why were talking about total road fatalities and not just drivers and passengers. As you move up the national income ladder, the fatality stats shift from people outside the car to the occupants onboard.

GUINEA BISSAU: 31.2

THAILAND: 38.1

NIGERIA: 33.7

BURKINA FASO: 27.7

IRAN: 34.1

SWEDEN: 3.0

SWITZERLAND: 4.3

SAN MARINO: 0.0

GERMANY: 4.7

NORWAY: 4.3

UNITED KINGDOM: 3.7

ICELAND: 2.8

NETHERLANDS: 3.9

DENMARK: 4.7

IRELAND: 4.7

ISRAEL: 4.7

IRAQ: 31.5

OMAN: 30.4

CHAD: 29.7

MAURITANIA: 28.0

UGANDA: 28.9

LESOTHO: 28.4

SOUTH AFRICA: 31.9

3

7

64

5

1

2

FEDERATED STATES OF

MICRONESIA: 1.8

MALDIVES: 1.9

ANDORRA: 3.5

MALTA: 3.8

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

PV: 37%

O: 18%

P: 28%

C: 3%

M: 14%

EUROPE

M: 12%

C: 4%

O: 7%

PV: 50%

P: 27%

AFRICA

M: 7%

C: 5%

P: 38%

PV: 43%

O: 7%

SOUTHEAST ASIA

O: 36%

PV: 15%

M: 33%

C: 4%

P: 12%

WESTERN PACIFIC

C: 8%

O: 8%

M: 36%

P: 25%

PV: 23%

3

4

5

6

7

upfront

caranddriver.com

0 9 . 2 0 1 3

018 .

DA N G E R Z O N E

explained by intuition. Why, for example, is the Dominican Republics number so absurdly high while its neighbor, Jamaica, appears as safe as the U.S.? Iran may be a theocratic dictatorship, but its relatively PNYZN[QNbR[a5\dP\bYQVaOR_RP\_Q-ing more road deaths than Iraq, which is raked by civil war? And why wouldnt the worlds poorest countries, such as Ethiopia and Mali, be the least safe?

6[`]RNXV[TdVaURe]R_a`NaaURD5

MAKE IT A PENNZOIL CHANGE.

P E N N Z O I L U LT R A I S T H E

INSIDE EVERY SRT VIPER.

*Based on Sequence VG Sludge Test using SAE 5W-30. Viper comes factory lled with Pennzoil Ultra 0W-40. 2013 SOPUS Products. All Rights Reserved. SRT and Viper are registered trademarks of Chrysler Group LLC.

The Corvette, CTS-V, new Chevy SS, and even the HHR SS have all endured GMs rigorous 24-hour test at its Milford, Michigan, proving grounds. When the Z/28 enters the crucible later this year, engineers will be comparing it with the ZL1s results, shown here:

upfront

caranddriver.com

0 9 . 2 0 1 3

022 ..

S I B L I N G R I VA L RY

S TA N DA R D I Z E D T E S T I N G

ZL1 TEST: 8 DAYS 2210 MILES 760 LAPS89 MPH AVERAGE LAP SPEED

7590 DEGREES AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

When Chevrolet unveiled the Z/28 last spring, Mark Stielow,

its program engineering manager, assured us that the car could burn through a full tank of fuel on a track without overheating any criti-PNYbVQ`5RX[RdaUV ÒRPNb`RUV àRNZUNQQ\[RVa_R]RNaRQYf/baaURG%` a_bRaRàV`yet to come: While all cars undergo countless months of abuse and a mind-bending battery of tests over millions of miles of development before hitting showrooms, GM treats its UVTU]R_S\_ZN[PRZ\QRY à\`\ZRaUV[TRea_N6SVa` NPN_that owners might take to the track, engineers subject it to dUNaaURfPNYYaUR!U\b_aRà

AUNa` `\ZRaUV[T \S N ZV`[\ZR_ NàUR ! U\b_` N_R[aP\[aVTb\b`.PP\_QV[Ta\.N_\[9V[XaUR0NZN_\` YRNQQRcRY\]-ment engineer, the testing typically happens in sessions lasting up a\S\b_U\b_`]R_QNf.aRNZ\SNO\baQ_VcR_`V[PYbQV[T0\_cRaaR?NPV[TARNZcRaR_N[`?\[3RYY\d`N[Q7\U[[f

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1-877-461-2631 or buy online

upfront

caranddriver.com

0 9 . 2 0 1 3

024 ..

U N D E R T H E B I G T O P

T Y R A N N Y

illustrations by CHRIS PHILPOT

Garage BannedSOMETIMES IN RACING, AN IDEA IS SO GOOD

IT GETS OUTLAWED. by K.C. Colwell

W H EN I T COM E S to motorsports, if youre not innovating, youre [\a dV[[V[T

Tripped UpWHY YOUR TRIP COMPUTER ISNT GIVING YOU AN ACCURATE

MPG READING, AND HOW TO FIX IT. by Csaba Csere

CALIBRATION STATION

On your next long trip, stop next to a mile marker and reset your trip odom-eter. One hundred or more miles later, stop once again and note how your

odometer compares to the road mileage. Then, at your next ll-up, reset your trip computer and ll your tank according to this procedure: 1) Fill at the maximum ow rate until the pump clicks off. 2) Wait 10 seconds, then continue lling at the minimum ow rate until the nozzle clicks off again. 3) Repeat this procedure two more times. Ideally, you should do this using the same pump at the same station. Even with a calibrated odometer, a single ll-up has too many variables for an accurate calcula-tion. But if you log at least three lls like this, you should have sufcient data to divide your corrected-odometer miles by the indicated pump gallons to obtain an accurate mpg. Compare that mpg gure to what the trip computer reports and youll have your correction factor.

I N OU R A PR I L 2 013 IS SU E , we took the EPA to task for its

unrealistic fuel-economy assessments of hybrids. But is it possible that the EPA isnt the only one prevaricating about fuel econ-omy? This is a subject near and dear to your NbaU\_2cR_faVZR6YYb]Zf$/:D335i, I record the gallons used, the odometer reading, and the trip computers mpg _R]\_a4VcR[ aURcNTN_VR` \S YYV[T NTN`aN[Xa\ReNPaYfaUR`NZRYRcRYNaRNPUYYb]some variability is understandable. But, in fRN_` \S Q\V[TaUV`6cRS\b[QaUR /:D` trip computer has always read higher than the mpg calculations based on the fuel used and the corrected odometer readings. Over aURP\b_`R\S !ZVYR`N[Q"#YYb]`aUR Z]T V[NaV\[ _N[TRQ S_\Z % a\ #Z]THDUVYRCar and Drivers long-standing policy is to report mileage to the nearest dU\YR[bZOR_QbRa\\b_YNPX\SP\[QR[PRV[ UVTUR_]_RPV`V\[ Tb_R`dR_R ZNXV[Tan exception for this study. Bear with us.]

driversseat

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T H E C O L U M N I S T Supfront

caranddriver.com

0 9 . 2 0 1 3

030 ..

ast month, we tested the new Range Rover, and I deployed C/D` Y\[TaR_Z ;V``N[=NaU[QR_N`N]U\a\PUN`RPN_DRQ_\cRO\aU@BC`N`SN_b]:\[aN[N` /VaaR__\\a:\b[aNV[`N`VZZNab_VafR[P\b_NTRQNYaU\bTU\b_N`PR[a`dR_R_RYVNOYfàfZVRQOf`[\dNa#SRRa.a\[R]\V[adR_N[b]\[aUR_RZNV[`\SNUbTRSNYYR[ ]\[QR_\`N ]V[R OY\PXV[T NaUV_Q \S N ZbQQfad\a_NPXAUR _VTUa `VQR \SaUR _\NQQ_\]]RQ\NQVàN[PRORàZRN`b_RQOfaUR3..\]V[RQ]U\a\T_N]UR_?\f?VaPUVRDRRcR[abNYYfV[PURQaURcRUVPYRà\`NSRafObaVaZNQRZR^bRN`fDRQUNcRORR[NY\aORaaR_\VSO\aU@BCÙNQ[a\cR_aURV_YVcR``d\YYR[V[a\adV[àbQVR`V[[NcNYN_PUVaRPab_R

AUR_à=NaU[QR_6Q_\cRdN`N&%&@2Nba\ZNaVPS_\ZdUVPU6`]\aaRQNO\OPNaa_\a-aV[TQ\d[N0NYVS\_[VNY\TTV[T_\NQAUNa\YQ@BCdRVTURQ"!]\b[Q`YR`àUN[\b_ =NaU[QR_6a_\QR\[NdURRYON`R[RN_YfV[PUR`Ù\_aR_6adN`V[P_RQVOYfZ\_RaUN[ad\SRRaÙ\_aR_N[Q$V[PUR`[N__\dR_6SdRQORR[]VY\aV[TaUNa\YQTV_YdRQUNcRgV]]RQ]NàaUNaàbZ]dUVYR`[N]]V[T]U\a\`\SaURcNYYRfORY\d

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T H E C O L U M N I S T Supfront

caranddriver.com

0 9 . 2 0 1 3

032 ..

his has happened to me twice. I embark on a search for an

obscure vehicle that has become the unre-ZVaaV[TeNaV\[\SZfQR`V_RN`RN_PUaUNa6

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into the wee hours of sleepless nightsand then its \cR_ V[ ad\ dRRX` 1\[R 3V[VÙRQ AUR _à aVZR N

S_VR[Q` [ReaQ\\_[RVTUO\_V[@fQ[RfQRPVQRQa\\\NQN[VPR.bà_NYVN[`]RP&$0U_f`-YR_0UN_TR_WbàN`ZfR]VP^bRàORTN[S\_\[R\SaU\`RR`\aR_VPZb`PYRPN_ÀUR[aUV`]Nà3RO_bN_f6YNb[PURQdUNa6aU\bTUad\bYQORN[\aUR_]_\a_NPaRQ`RN_PUTVcV[TZf`RYSNTR[R_\b`#Z\[aUdV[Q\da\TRaVaQ\[RN[Q\[YfQNf`YNaR_dN`dV_V[TN_\b[QT_N[Qa\aUR/_VaVÙ6`YR`S\_N&!B@._Zf1\QTRD0"!NZObYN[PR

5R_R` aURÙ\_aONPXà\_f'6[7b[R&ZfdVSRAV[NN[Q6UVaaURÙ\_R`\S3_R[PU;\_ZN[Qf V[ND\_YQDN_66 WRR]DRPNZ]RQNa0N_R[aN[N[Q_\NZRQaURONaaYRRYQ`dUR_ROb[XR_`N[QO\ZO]Va`N_RàVYYRcVQR[aDRQ_\cR\[

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2014 2005

W E V E A L S O C A L L E D O U T

T H E M O S T P O P U L A R M O D E L A N D I T S

S A L E S P E R C E N TA G E W I T H I N E A C H

S E G M E N T.

2014 MARKET SHARE BELOW IS HOW EACH BRANDS SHARE OF THE COMING YEARS SALES SHOULD SHAKE OUT, WITH GAINS AND LOSSES OVER 2013 SHOWN IN PARENTHESES. THE ORDER IS RANDOM. WE HAVE NOT PRESENTED THIS INFO IN A VARIETY OF BRIGHT COLORS OR AS AN ARC BECAUSE WE COULDNT HANDLE A TRIPLE RAINBOWAND NEITHER COULD YOU. NC = NO CHANGE.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? HERE IS YOUR COLOR-CODED KEY TO EVERY CAR AND L IGHT-DUTY P ICKUP/UTIL ITY/VAN SEGMENT IN THE AMERICAN MARKET. DONT LET IT FREAK YOU OUT.

CATEGORIES AND THEIR COLORS: CONVERTIBLES/ROADSTERS

COUPES/THREE-DOOR HATCHBACKS

WAGONS/FIVE-DOOR HATCHBACKS

VANS/MINIVANS

SUBCOMPACT SEDANS

COMPACT SEDANS

MID-SIZE SEDANS

LARGE SEDANS

COMPACT UTILITIES

MID-SIZE UTILITIES

LARGE UTILITIES

MID-SIZE PICKUPS

FULL-SIZE PICKUPS

FORD MUSTANG (12.6%)

FORD MUSTANG (13.0%)

CHRYSLER PT CRUISER ( 12.9%)

CHRYSLER 200 ( 13.3%)

TOYOTA PRIUS ( 1 1 .9%)

CHEVROLET CAMARO (10.6%)

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (15.4%)

CHEVROLET AVEO (60.9%)

TOYOTA COROLLA ( 16.5%)

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (18.0%)

TOYOTA COROLLA

( 13.1%)

NISSAN VERSA

(41 .5%)

TOYOTA CAMRY (15.6%)

1.1%

4.3%

7.5%

1.7%

5.6%

5.3%

5.3%

8.7%

0.4%

10.6%

14.2%

1.4%

18.1 %

14.9%

8.2%

TOYOTA CAMRY

(13.1%)

SMART0.06% (NC)

TOYOTA10.89% (-0.56)

SCION0.43% (+0.01)

L INCOLN0.7 1% (+0.16)

MINI0.44% (NC)

MAZDA1.95% (-0.03)

MITSUBISHI0.43% (+0.01)

LEXUS1 .80% (+0.08)

ACURA1 .21% (NC)

ROLLS-ROYCE0.003% (NC)

MERCEDES-BENZ2.17% (+0.09)

NISSAN7.42% (-0.14)

FORD14.13% (-0.50)

HONDA7.79% (-0.15)

BMW2.07% (+0.12)

SUBARU2.32% (-0.04)

ASTON MARTIN0.01% (NC)

036

D OU B L E R

AIN

BOW

0 9 . 2 0 1 3 C A R a n d D R I V E R . C O M

TOTAL NUMBER OF SALES OUR FRIENDS AT AUTOPACIF IC FORESEE NEARLY 16 MILL ION NEW-VEHICLE SALES FOR 2014. THIS IS A ROUGHLY 500,000-UNIT IMPROVEMENT OVER 2013, AND JUST ABOUT 1 MILL ION SHORT OF THE MARKETS PRE-APOCALYPSE PEAK.

2005: 16 ,951 , 300

TH I S DOU B L E R A INBOW is not intended to induce the joyous weeping associated with Stendhal syndrome. Its a color-coded look at how Americans car- and truck-buying habits have changed in the midst of global economic woes and an increasing emphasis on fuel economy. The bottom rainbow represents the market at its 2005 peak; the arc above it projects how !dVYY`aNPXb].[NYfaVP`_Z.ba\=NPVP]_\cVQRQaURS\_RPN`a

L O O K F O R M O R E S TAT I S T I C A L

M O N K E Y S H I N E S T H R O U G H O U T

T H I S S E C T I O N .

2014: 15,820,400

CHEVROLET IMPALA (26.0%)

FORD ESCAPE ( 16 .3%)

CHEVROLET IMPALA ( 17.8%)

FORD ESCAPE ( 13.0%)

FORD EXPLORER (8.9%)

CHEVROLET TAHOE (20.9%)

CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER (9.5%)

TOYOTA TACOMA (23.6%)FORD F-150 (36.3%)

TOYOTA TACOMA (63.9%)

FORD F-150 (33.7%)

CHEVROLET TRAVERSE ( 13.6%)

13.4%

4.1%

6.0%

12.4%

15.2% 5.1%

4.3%

11.6%

14.9%

1.3%

4.2%

McLAREN0.004% (NC)

VOLVO0.53% (+0.1 1 )

F IAT0.51% (+0.12)

TESLA0.08% (NC)

VOLKSWAGEN3.07% (+0.18)

LAND ROVER0.35% (+0.02)

BUICK1 .37% (+0.05)

GMC2.80% (-0.01)

JEEP3.16% (-0.01)

KIA4.02% (+0.15)

BENTLEY0.02% (NC)

CHRYSLER2.45% (+0.19)

PORSCHE0.31% (+0.03)

CADILLAC1 .40% (+0.04)

HYUNDAI4.98% (+0.06)

INFINITI1 .01% (+0.19)

MASERATI0.03% (+0.01)

ALFA ROMEO 0.12% (+0.12)

CHEVROLET12.68% (-0.1 1 )

DODGE3.87% (-0.36)

LAMBORGHINI0.004% (NC)

LOTUS0.002% (NC)

FERRARI0.01% (NC)

AUDI1 .12% (+0.13)

JAGUAR0.13% (+0.03)

RAM2.15% (+0.05)

A L L TH

E W

AY?

037

038

NEW CARS for 2014.


T H E L I S T C O N T I N U E S PA G E 0 4 0

SEGMENT KEY:

CO N V E RT I B L E S /R OA D ST E R S

CO U P E S / T H R E E- D O O R H ATC H BAC K S

WAG O N S / F I V E- D O O R H ATC H BAC K S

VA N S / M I N I VA N S

S U B CO M PAC T S E DA N S

CO M PAC T S E DA N S

M I D - S I Z E S E DA N S

L A R G E S E DA N S

CO M PAC T U T I L I T I E S

M I D - S I Z E U T I L I T I E S

L A R G E U T I L I T I E S

M I D - S I Z E P I C K U P S

F U L L- S I Z E P I C K U P S

ACURA RLX

92NEW AUDIS WILL BE DRIVEN OFF DEALER LOTS FOR EVERY 100 ACURAS SOLD IN 2014.

THE LISTDetails of each brands

2014 lineup begin here and

run through all the drives, tests,

and Tech Tidbits in this issue.

Signicant changes get their own

entries; trim updates, unchanged

models, and discontinued

vehicles are noted at the

end of each section.

Acura

ILX: Frugal shoppers will

appreciate that the base 150-hp

ILX now comes standard with

heated leather seats, a power

drivers seat, a noise-canceling

system, a rearview camera, and

17-inch wheels.

MDX: see test

RLX: Introduced earlier this

year, the 14 RLX is all-new and

larger than its predecessor. Packed

with the latest in electronic safety

devices, the RL replacement is

offered in front- and four-wheel

drive and is powered by a 310-hp

V-6. Later this year, a 370-hp

hybrid will debut with expected

EPA ratings of 30 mpg city and 30

highway. This powertrain presages

the system that will power the

upcoming NSX supercar.

Minor trim changes: TL

Unchanged: RDX, TSX,

TSX Sport Wagon

Dead: ZDX

$300,000 blow-dryer boasts the same

ingredients as the coupe: a 565-hp V-12,

copious carbon ber, and a six-speed

automatic.

Vantage: The V-12

Vantage is supplanted by the V-12

Vantage S, with 565 horsepower

and 457 pound-feet of torque,

gains of 55 and 37, respectively.

The S also introduces a quicker

steering rack, an exhaust system

derived from the One-77s, and a

205-mph top speed, which is a

desperately needed increase of

15 mph if you live absolutely

nowhere on earth. Unfortunately,

Aston replaced the manual

gearbox with a seven-speed

automated manual. To

compensatebecause, hey, its all

about compensationthe V-8

Vantage S is now available with a

three-pedal transmission.

Minor trim changes:

DB9

Dead: Virage

A4: Horsepower rises from 211 to 220

on Audis 2.0-liter turbo engine. Other than

that, nothing but trim and package changes.

A5: Coupes and cabriolets get the

same uprated 220-hp version of Audis

2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo.

A6: The A6 2.0T is upgraded to 220

horses, too, but the big news is the diesel-

powered A6 3.0 TDI. Its 3.0-liter V-6 makes

240 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of

torque while delivering 24 mpg in the city

and 38 mpg on the highway.

A7/RS7/S7: The last word in low-roof

Audi hatches is the 560-hp RS7. On sale this

fall, the S8-spec 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 will

send the RS7 to 60 mph in a claimed 3.7

seconds. Like its non-peacocking brother, the

A6, the A7 gets the same 3.0-liter V-6 diesel

option for 2014. All A7s have ve seats

instead of four; the S7 still has four.

A8: The A8 also gets the diesel

treatment, courtesy of the aforementioned

V-6. Available exclusively as a long-

wheelbase model, the A8L TDIs fuel

economy rings in at 24 mpg city and 36

highway.

Q5/SQ5: At the bottom of the Q5

lineup, the 2.0T model gets the corporate

bump to 220 horsepower. The mid-level Q5

3.0T benets from a few minor trim changes.

A new SQ5 model tops the lineup with 354

horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque

from its supercharged 3.0-liter V-6. Audi

claims a zero-to-60 time of 5.1 seconds.

RS5 cabriolet: A convertible

version of the 450-hp RS5 made its

debut in 2013 and continues on

next year.

R8: As predicted in this

space last year, the 2014 R8 gets

a mid-cycle revision with subtle

exterior changes. Keeping the

R8 fresh, however, is an optional

S tronic dual-clutch automatic

that replaces the clunky single-

clutch R tronic transmission. The

six-speed manual is still available.

A new V-10 Plus model brings 550

Aston Martin

Rapide S: With its slack-jawed grille, the

Rapide S looks like a bit of a mouth breather,

a transgression immediately forgiven when

you eye its curves. Plus, this $202,775 sedan

is up 80 horsepower, to 550, and its V-12s

wail will give you shivers.

Vanquish: Astons range-topper,

new last year, loses its head to become the

Vanquish Volante convertible. This circa-

Audi

A3/S3: A new A3 sedan built

on a platform shared with the seventh-

gen VW Golf makes its debut this spring as

a 2015 model. Europeans get a

variety of A3s, but we only get a

handsome, roughly $30,000

sedan that is likely to be powered

by a 140-hp 2.0-liter turbo-diesel

and a 210-hp 2.0-liter gas engine.

Front- and four-wheel-drive

models will be offered. Early next

fall, the S3 sedan will go on sale

with a high-output, roughly

300-hp version of the 2.0-liter gas

engine. A two-door convertible

A3/S3 is unconrmed but is a

possibility, too. OP

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039

Acura MDXTESTED Quicker, quieter, more fuel ecient. Mushy

and indistinct exterior styling. by Je Sabatini

Like a jack-o-lantern in mid-November, the 2014 Acura MDX looks softer and lumpier than the ute it replaces. Less menacing, too, its dual exhausts having been castrated in the rede-

sign. But Acura assures us this third genera-tion of its three-row SUV doesnt concede anything to models previous. In fact, the new one allegedly laps the Nrburgring eight seconds faster than its predecessor.

Touch! Clich, too. While nobody from Acura

would divulge an actual lap time, we hit 60 miles per hour in 6.4 seconds and ran the quarter in 14.9 seconds. Thats two-tenths quicker in both measures, despite the new models smaller-displacement V-6. Rated at 290 horsepower, the 3.5-liter V-6 is down 10 horsepower compared with last years engine but now employs direct injection and cylin-der deactivation. Thats good for a 3-mpg gain in EPA combined mileage. We averaged 19 mpg overall, a 2-mpg improvement over the MDX we tested in 2010.

New MDX outruns old thanks to a serious diet. Weighing in at 4336 pounds, our top-of-the-line, $57,400 MDX Advance with Enter-tainment package and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive was 326 pounds lighter than the last loaded MDX we put on the scale. Acura has revised the SH-AWD sport-mode calibra-tion to boost the amount its outside rear wheel is overdriven in corners, but that didnt lead to any improvement on the skidpad. The new model pulled the same 0.85 g we saw on the last MDXs trip around the circle. Braking fared better, with the 2014 model stopping in $%SRRaN[Q\R_V[T` b]R_V\_]RQNYSRRY

The new MDX is quieter at both idle and freeway speed, too, which is not a bad thing. Yes, a front-wheel-drive model is available S\_ aUR _`a aVZR N[Q aUR [Rd 6[aRT_NaRQDynamics System has a com-fort mode for those feeble-armed drivers who want their fairy-tale pumpkin carriage to all but steer itself to the ball. Put the new MDX in sport mode, however, and you wont have to worry about making it home by midnight.

We miss the previous MDXs brawnier look. But the new version is quicker, lighter, and more fuel efcient. Not a bad trade-off.

SPE CI F IC AT IONS

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 5-door wagonPRICE AS TESTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $57,400BASE PRICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $43,185ENGINE TYPE: SOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection DISPLACEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 cu in, 3471 ccPOWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 hp @ 6200 rpmTORQUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267 lb-ft @ 4500 rpmTRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting modeDIMENSIONS

WHEELBASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111.0 inLENGTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193.6 inWIDTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77.2 inHEIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66.7 inCURB WEIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4336 lb

C/D T E ST R E SU LTSZERO TO 60 MPH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.4 secZERO TO 100 MPH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.1 secZERO TO 110 MPH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.5 secROLLING START, 560 MPH . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7 sec1/4-MILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.9 sec @ 95 mphTOP SPEED (governor limited) . . . . . . . . . . 114 mphBRAKING, 700 MPH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 ftROADHOLDING, 300-FT-DIA SKIDPAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.85 g FUEL ECONOMY

EPA CITY/HWY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18/27 mpg C/D OBSERVED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 mpg

TEST NOTES: The 1-2 shift is always automatic, but manually controlling the upper gears yields quicker acceleration.

040

THE L I S

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NEW CARS for 2014.


3.6%OF CADILLAC CTS SALES IN 2013 WILL BE WAGONS. THE COUPE SHOULD FARE FAR BETTER, WITH 23.6% OF AN ANTICIPATED 39,000 CTS SALES.

AUDI SQ5

horsepower (25 more than the standard

V-10) and a track-rm suspension, helping

the R8 encroach on Italian supercar territory.

Minor trim changes: Allroad, Q7,

RS5 coupe, S4, S5/S5 cabriolet,

S8, TT/TT roadster, TTS/TTS

roadster

Unchanged: S6

Dead: TT RS

Bugatti

Unchanged: Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport/

Vitesse

Bentley

Continental: Commemorating

Bentleys six Le Mans wins are six paint-and-

trim special editions for various models. Also,

the convertible GTC is now available in Speed

spec. Top speed is 202 mph, zero-to-60 is in

the neighborhood of four seconds, the

suspension is stiffer, ride height is lower, and

the double-puffed W-12 makes 616

horsepower, up from 567 in regular GTCs. A

quarter-mil and ones yours.

Flying Spur: see drive

Mulsanne: New options include

electrically operated rear privacy

curtains and a Comfort specication

with airplane-style sleeper

headrests, loose pillows stuffed

with duck down, and a pair of

footrests. You can now order a

six-piece Schedoni luggage set to

match your car. Oh, and the rear

doors now incorporate armrest

storage bins to accommodate the

detritus of todays wealthy.

Yknow, loose diamonds and such.

Buick

LaCrosse: A refresh brings a larger

grille, a new front fascia with automatic

shutters in the lower inlet, and LED lighting.

An Ultra Luxury package ups the ritziness,

TECH T IDBIT

TWO OVER S IXInstead of cramming a V-8 into its new CTS mid-size sports sedan, Cadillac tooled up a twin-turbo version of its 3.6-liter DOHC V-6. A new aluminum block is fortied with six-bolt cast-iron main bearing caps and a structural oil pan. Each turbo bolts directly to an aluminum head cast integrally with an exhaust manifold, and dual intercoolers live on top of the heads. Variable intake- and exhaust-valve timing and direct injection carry over. Peak output is 420 horsepower at 5750 rpm and 430 pound-feet of torque at 3500 rpm, gains of 99 horses and 155 pound-feet over GMs naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6.

BMW

M5: Production of the 2014

M5 began in July 2013, bringing

with it a new Competition package

that includes a 15-hp increase, 20-inch

wheels, suspension tweaks, rened steering,

and a sport exhaust. New LED taillights and a

revised steering wheel and grille round out

the M5s updates.

M6: Available in coupe, convertible,

and Gran Coupe body styles, the 2014 M6

should be in showrooms as you read this. A

manual six-speed is available on all M6s as a

no-cost alternative to the seven-speed

dual-clutch automatic. A Competition

package similar to the M5s is now available.

X5: New for 2014, the latest X5 arrives

with a choice of two gasoline engines: a

300-hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six or a

4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 with 445

horsepower. Both are coupled to an eight-

speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel

drive is available with the six-cylinder. A

diesel-powered X5 will arrive in 2014, and an

M version should follow soon after.

2-series: This replacement for the

1-series coupe and convertible should arrive

early next year, at least in coupe form. The

convertible ought to follow by the fall. You

might rightly expect it to be powered by the

engines offered in the 3-series.

3-series: A station wagon returns to

the 3-series lineup. It is offered with the

turbocharged four- and six-cylinder gas

engines of the 3-series sedan and comes

standard with four-wheel drive. A new

180-hp, 280-lb-ft 2.0-liter four-

cylinder turbo-diesel is new to the

sedan and wagon lineups. The

3-series GT hatchback, an early

2014 model, carries on unchanged.

The M3 is on hiatus until it returns

as both a sedan (M3) and a coupe

(M4) in the fall of 2014.

4-series: Replacing

the 3-series coupe, the 4-series

comes packing either the four- or

six-cylinder turbo engines from the

3-series lineup. The 4-series is lower, longer,

and wider than its 3-series predecessor, yet is

reportedly 100 pounds lighter. Cabriolet and

Gran Coupe versions are sure bets.

5-series: A 255-hp, six-cylinder

turbo-diesel joins the lineup, powering the new

535d. The twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 in the 550i

and 550i xDrive gets a 45-hp boost to 445.

The ve-door GT, now available as a rear-

driver, gets the updated gas engines.

6-series: The 2014 6-series

models began hitting showrooms in June,

including 640i versions of the convertible,

coupe, and Gran Coupe. Four-wheel drive is

available on all three 6-series body

congurations, as is an M Sport Edition.

Minor trim changes: X3, X6, Z4,

7-series

Unchanged: X1, X6 M

Dead: M3, 1-series

041

Bentley Flying SpurSofter and speedier, the Flying Spur gets less wordy

but more expensive. by Jared Gall

Bentley is soft on China. To dif-ferentiate the former Conti-nental Flying Spur, now known simply as the Flying Spur, from the two-door Con-

tinental GT, Bentley softened the sedans suspension. This move was also intended to broaden the Spurs appeal among its likely customers in emerging markets such as China, where we drove it.

The Flying Spur hasnt gone completely pillowy. On the spectacular road that climbs from Beijing to the Great Wall, the Spur acquitted itself nicely.

Nowadays, the Wall is perhaps less use-ful for keeping out foreign invaders than keeping in Chinese drivers, who have, on average, about 17 minutes worth of experi-ence. Incidentally, Westerners can now buy a drivers license at the airport.

What better place to drive a barge with a 6.0-liter W-12 making 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet, then? Thats the same power as the Continentals uplevel GT Speed model. Like the Conti, the Spur sees its six-speed automatic replaced by ZFs eight-ratio box, and it adopts a rearward power-distri-bution bias, sending 60 percent of the power aft in normal conditions.

With Pirelli P Zeros at each corner, the Spurs impersonation of a Mongol catapult V`NdYR``6a`S_\[aN[Q_RN_NV_`]_V[T`N_R10 and 13 percent softer, respectively, than its predecessors, and the anti-roll bars and bushings are squishier, too. Yet, with adjust-able shocks standard, the Spur remains

surprisingly nimble, a virtue on roads marked by unpredictable obstacles.

Rickshaw dawdling around a blind cor-ner? The Flying Spurs helm responds quickly once you turn past a bit of on-center slack. Theres a tad more body roll than the previous car exhibited, but its not excessive. The car even feels a little playfulquite an accomplishment for a 5450-pound four-wheel-drive hunk of imperialist hegemony.

There are no surprises inside, just typi-cal Bentley beauty. Sumptuous quilted leather, achingly beautiful woods, and knurled knobs are everywhere. Bentley is raising the Flying Spurs base price about $15,000 to $206,225 because capitalism has become the worlds universal language.

SPE CI F IC AT IONS

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 45 passenger, 4-door sedanBASE PRICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $206,225ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 48-valve W-12, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection DISPLACEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . 366 cu in, 5998 ccPOWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 616 hp @ 6000 rpmTORQUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 590 lb-ft @ 2000 rpmTRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting modeDIMENSIONS

WHEELBASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120.7 inLENGTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208.5 inWIDTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77.8 inHEIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58.6 inCURB WEIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5450 lbPERFORMANCE (C/D EST)

ZERO TO 60 MPH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1 secZERO TO 100 MPH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5 sec1/4-MILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.3 secTOP SPEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 mphFUEL ECONOMY

EPA CITY/HWY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/20 mpg

Cadillac

CTS: see preview, page 42

ELR: Yes, this is essentially a reskinned

Chevy Volt, but, oh, what a lovely new skin it

gets. The Caddy ups output by 58 horses and

22 pound-feet over the Chevy, and its

suspension has been worked over with bits

from GMs Opel subsidiary. Weight is a

frightening 4070 pounds; range is limited to

300 miles.

XTS: The new 410-hp, 3.6-liter twin-

turbo V-6 joins a powertrain lineup

previously consisting of only the naturally

aspirated 3.6.

Minor trim changes: ATS

Unchanged: CTS, CTS-V,

Escalade/ESV, SRX

Dead: Escalade EXT/hybrid

Chevrolet

Camaro: The new Z/28 is more

expensive than the more powerful ZL1 but

proves its worth with track paraphernalia

such as standard carbon-ceramic brakes,

air-conditioning delete, and a radio that plays

through a single speaker to save weight. The

C6 Corvette Z06s naturally aspirated 7.0-

liter V-8 provides at least 500 horsepower,

and an aero package produces big downforce

at triple-digit speeds. All Camaros, except the

ZL1, receive a face lift with softer lines and

single-lens taillights.

Caprice PPV: Updates for 2014 add

things cops like, including a column-

mounted shifter and a surveillance mode to

black out the instruments. Also, there are

things civilians would like, such as a seven-

inch MyLink touch screen and Bluetooth.

and a new safety-tech suite matches those of

the luxury leaders. And, yes, Shaq still ts.

Regal: A new 2.0-liter turbo four-

cylinder engine raises maximum

horsepower from 220 to 259 and peak

torque from 260 to 295 pound-feet.

Balance-shaft changes and various

structural upgrades improve smoothness.

Both the base Regal and the Regal GS now

offer four-wheel drive. Like the LaCrosse,

the Regal gets LED lighting, an updated

interior, and a raft of new tech features.

Unlike the LaCrosse, its basically an Opel.

Minor trim changes: Enclave,

Encore, Verano


Cadillacs new mid-size sedan is elegant, ambitious.by Kevin A. Wilson / photography by Roy Ritchie

042

P RE V I E W

NEW CARS for 2014.


A FINE LINE

CADILLAC CTS

YOU KNOW THAT FINE LINE BET W EEN CONFIDENCE AND ARROG ANCE? That distinction you see every time Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel stand on the same F1 podium? Ask Cadillac people about the third-generation, 2014 CTS, and they V_adVaU N[Q RcR[P_\`` aUNa YV[R [RN_Yf N` \SaR[ N` Q\ aUR4R_ZN[ ZN[bSNPab_R_`theyre targeting. AURO\Nà`N_R[aT_\b[QYR``ZV[Qf\bAURPN__à`RR[\[aUR;RdF\_XÙ\dàN[Qin April and the one described on paper is bigger but promises to be lighter than its predecessor; it looks more RYRTN[aObaa\bTUR_aUN[ORS\_R(N[QVa\R_`N`bVaR\S]\dR_a_NV[àUNaP\cR_Z\_RT_\b[Q

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NEW CARS for 2014.

current 5-series is no longer the segments dynamic champ. Or it may be that GM remains BMW-obsessed. With the compact ATS squaring up with the BMW 3-series, the CTS undergoes a growth spurt to 5-series size that adds 4.2 inches to its length while the roof sits nearly an inch lower, even as it gets just a skosh narrower. Starting with the Alpha architecture that underpins the ATS, Cadillac stretched the wheelbase 5.3 inches (1.2 inches longer than on the current CTS) and widened the track by 1.9 inches and 0.8 inch in the front and rear, respectively, versus the ATS. That yields a roomier in - ter ior, especially in the back seat where the _àad\TR[R_NaV\[`\SaURPN_SRYYQRPVQRQYfÙ\_a\SP\Z]RaVa\_`ZVQ`VgR\R_V[T`

The range expands as well, with a base turbocharged 2.0-liter at the bottom end replacing the unloved base 3.0-liter, todays naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6 in the mid-

dle, and a new twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-6 in the Vsport model. The Vsport puts a plug in the big gap between todays 321-horse six and the 556-hp supercharged V-8 in the carry-over CTS-V.

Cadillac says theres not enough demand a\WbàVSf\R_V[TNZN[bNYa_N[`ZV``V\[V[the mainline CTS, though cast-magnesium paddle shifters appear even on base cars. The 272-hp 2.0-liter turbo sees a torque boost to 295 pound-feet (from 260 in the ATS) and mates to the same six-speed auto-matic thats in the ATS; the sixes are the

044

P RE V I E W

045

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046

THE L I S

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NEW CARS for 2014.



65VIPERS WILL BE SOLD FOR EVERY THOUSAND CORVETTES THAT FIND OWNERS IN 2014.

Ferrari

LaFerrari: There are 950 horses

onboard, 789 of which come from a 6.3-liter

V-12, the rest from an electric motor. There

are threats of zero to 60 in less than three

seconds and a top speed eclipsing 217 mph.

Were spotting curb weight at 3200 pounds.

If the LaFerrari didnt have such absurd

specications, we might get hung up on that

atrocious name.

Unchanged: California, FF,

F12berlinetta, 458 Italia, 458 Spider

SRT VIPER TA

the market, the gas Spark has

been saddled with a continuously

variable transmission in place of

the four-speed automatic.

SS: Four years after the G8

tragically sank with the rest of the

Pontiac brand, GMs rear-wheel-

drive sports sedan returns as a

Chevy. The SS comes in one spec

with the outgoing Corvettes

6.2-liter V-8 and a six-speed

automatic. Output of 415

horsepower and 415 pound-feet

of torque should propel the SS to

60 mph in less than ve seconds.

Minor trim changes:

Equinox, Express,

Silverado HD, Sonic, Suburban,

Tahoe, Traverse, Volt

Dead: Avalanche, Corvette Z06/ZR1

Chrysler

300: The high-performance 300 loses

the 8 badging and is now referred to as 300

SRTthe change in nomenclature applies to

all SRT-badged performance variants from

Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep. The more

pedestrian 300s will continue on as they are,

save for a minor reshufing of trim levels.

Minor trim changes: 200

Unchanged: Town & Country, 200

convertible

SRT Viper: Its still not a Dodge in 2014,

but lumping the Viper in with its former family

makes the most sense to us. After a year on

dealer lots in generic base and zootier GTS

forms, SRT has added a TAshort for Time

Attackspecial edition that cuts weight; makes

use of a stiffer, track-friendlier suspension

setup; and gets stronger Brembo brakes.

Minor trim changes: Challenger,

Charger, Dart, Grand Caravan,

Journey

Unchanged: Avenger

Fiat

500E: As a car thats already slow, or,

perhaps more kindly, better suited to cities

than the open road, the 500 makes a natural

host for an electric drivetrain. The 500E,

available only in California, can cover 87

miles on a charge according to EPA testing,

but its quicker than the gasoline-fed 500.

The 24-kWh battery pack intrudes on the

trunk and rear seat, making already small

spaces even smaller.

500L: see drive

Minor trim changes: 500, 500C,

500 Abarth, 500 Turbo

Dodge

Durango: The refreshed-for-2014

three-row SUV gets the Chrysler Groups

eight-speed automatic, an 8.4-inch Uconnect

touch-screen infotainment setup, and a

handful of new safety features. It also

receives Dodges corporate-look taillights

and an even-more-chiseled jawline.

City Express:

Lets play the SAT

analogy game: The

Chevrolet Nova is to

the Toyota Corolla as

the Chevrolet City

Express is to the .

If you answered Pagani Huayra,

try again. If you said Nissan

NV200 dork van, youve

uncovered GMs most egregious

rebadging since the Geo era. The

small commercial box has a

four-cylinder engine, a CVT, and

seriously awkward proportions.

Colorado: An Americanized

version of Chevrolets new

mid-size pickup arrives here in

the middle of 2014 as a 2015

model. No word yet on how our

truck will differ from the global

model, but were condent of

this: It will have cup holders.

Corvette Stingray:

see test, page 48

Cruze: see comparo, page 112

Impala: Sneaking up on us like a

massive coronary, the new Impala narrowly

missed overall victory in our recent six-car

comparo. It combines the classic large-car

attributeslimo-like rear-seat space and a

cavernous trunkwith sharp styling and

surprising athleticism. That is, if you opt for

the 3.6-liter V-6.

Malibu: There was nothing wrong with

the new-for-2013 Malibu that a set of

Dagmars couldnt x, but theres already a

face-lifted model for 2014. The newer Malibu

wears more-aggressive (and more-

attractive) front and rear clips and has

sculpted front seatbacks to address

complaints about insufcient legroom. The

base 2.5-liter engine has been upgraded

with variable intake valve lift and stop-start,

for gains of one mpg in both city and

highway cycles.

Silverado: see comparo, page 58

Spark: Chevys gerbil-sized hatch can

now be had with an electric motor in place of

the gas engine if you live in California or

Oregon. Range is a claimed 82 miles, and it

should hit 60 mph more than three seconds

quicker than the combustion version. To give

the electric car every possible advantage in

047

SPE CI F IC AT IONS

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagonBASE PRICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,900ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled SOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, port fuel injection DISPLACEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 cu in, 1368 ccPOWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 hp @ 5500 rpmTORQUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 lb-ft @ 2500 rpmTRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed manual, 6-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shifting modeDIMENSIONS

WHEELBASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102.8 inLENGTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167.3 inWIDTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69.8 inHEIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65.7 inCURB WEIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32503300 lbPERFORMANCE (C/D EST)

ZERO TO 60 MPH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.08.2 secZERO TO 100 MPH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.521.7 sec1/4-MILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.416.5 secTOP SPEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 mphFUEL ECONOMY

EPA CITY/HWY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2425/33 mpg

IT S L IKE I SUCKED ON AN AIR HOSE.

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Above: The 500L has ve seatbelts and comfortably seats four people. Below: This curious creature appears to have two mouths, four eyes, a mustache, and a vehead.

Fiat 500LKeeping Fiats party rocking with two extra doors. by Alexander Stoklosa

048

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NEW CARS for 2014.


Attention freedom-lovers: Weve got to make

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WEAPONS GRADE sure evildoers never get their hands on one of these new Corvettes.

by Don Sherman / photography by Robert Kerian

049

050

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C7s tech arsenal includes an electronically P\[a_\YYRQYVZVaRQ`YV]QVR_R[aVNYNR_\Qf-[NZVPYR``\[`YRN_[RQS_\Z_NPV[TZN[bNYa_N[`ZV``V\[_RcZNaPUV[TN[QN]NaR[aRQZRN[`\S`R[`V[TaV_RaRZ]R_Nab_Ra\[Rab[RaURPUN``V`6[`VQRaURP\PX]VaV`P\Z-]_RUR[`VcRYf b]T_NQRQ N[Q aUR `\__f 0#ObPXRa` UNcR ORR[ _R]YNPRQ dVaU d\_YQPYN``RVTUadNfNQWbàNOYRQ_VcR_N[Q]N`-senger thrones.

:\QRYRQNSaR_=\_`PUR&ObPXRaàUR`R`RNa ` Q\[a UV[QR_f\b_ `YVQR V[a\ NP\PX]Vathats aggressively driver oriented. An instru-ZR[aPYbàR_a\ ZNXR;V[aR[Q\ WRNY\b` N[RVTUaV[PUPR[a_NYa\bPU`P_RR[N[QN`R[`V-OYRZVe\SP\[a_\YX[\O `N[QObaa\[ `_R`VQRon the action side of a vertical partition. The ]N``R[TR_TRa `NP\ZSf]YNPRa\`VaNP\b]YR\S T_NO UN[QYR` N[Q aRZ]R_Nab_RP\[a_\Y

TECH T IDBIT

SEVEN UP!In sync with the launch of the Corvettes seventh generation, supplier Tremec found a way to cram a seventh gear inside the Stingrays manual transaxle, adding only 8.8 pounds and 1.7 inches of length. Two distinct gearsets for the TR-6070 provide wider ratio spacing for base Corvettes and tighter spreads with the Z51 option, both of which favor fuel efciency over acceleration. In fact, the 0.42:1 or 0.48:1 seventh gears, respectively, are tall enough to propel this sports car to 300 mph without exceeding the engines redline (at least in theory). A non-contact Hall-effect sensor monitors shift-rod motion to enable a new active rev-matching feature. When its switched on, this system blips the throttle during shifts to give amateur stick jockeys the coordination of a grizzled H-pattern master. Thanks, Tremec, for helping to save the poor, defenseless manuals!

0 5 1

decisive bite, linear response, and easy mod-ulation. But where the Stingray really excels is in cornering tests. Posting a 1.08-g score on GMs black-lake circle puts the C7 in league with the Z06 and ZR1 on track tires and well beyond the reach of the current Porsche crowd.

The Michelins dont deserve all the credit for the Corvettes superhero grip, though. The rear weight bias, twist-resistant structure, and 19- and 20-inch forged-aluminum wheels (an inch larger in diameter and part of the Z51 package) also help. Add to that a secret weapon: coordi-

nated chassis controls. Turning the center-console mode selector to the track setting arms the chassis militiastability control, YVZVaRQ`YV]QVZNT[RaVPQNZ]R_`N[Qa_NP-tion managementfor combat. After sens-V[TV[NaV\[]_R``b_RdURRY`]RRQ`YNaR_NY

g, and engine torque, a new tire-tem-perature algorithm tells the troops

that the tires are hot and ready. AUR YVZVaRQ`YV] QVR_R[aVNYdecouples the rear wheels to enhance steering response and stability while minimizing understeer. With the application of throttle at a corners apex, the QVR_R[aVNY ]_\T_R``VcRYf Y\PX`

quicker than the Grand Sport, and faster than any Porsche Boxster or Cayman weve tested. The foes to avoid at stoplights are the new Jag F-type packing a supercharged V-8 and the Porsche 911S, both of which smoke the Stingray to 60 and through the quarter-mile by 0.2 to 0.3 second.

Direct fuel injection and new combus-tion chambers not only give new life to the small block, they also make the thing sound like the Battle of Gettysburg. With the two-dNf ZbR_` V[ Y\d_R`a_VPaV\[ Z\QR N[Qthe tach needle crowding the 6500-rpm red-line, the new Stingray V-8 blasts out shock N[QNdR

052

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tail twitch that challenged even seasoned racers has left this building.

Those with track aspirations should def-initely wait for the competition seatwhich will be available by the end of the yearbecause the touring buckets outside bolster delegates the job of restraining the drivers left leg to the door panel, an unfriendly sur-face thats ill-suited to the task. One long lapping day will wear out that trim, your knee, or both of those vital components.

2cR_f[Rd0\_cRaaR]_\R_`RcR_Z\_RVYYbà_V\b`]R_S\_ZN[PRTb_Rà\XRR]]NPRwith competitors and customer expecta-tions. What the C7 adds is accessibility. Theres no demon hiding under the dash waiting to bite a driver interested in dialing up race mode and mashing the pedals, no penalties for attempting to explore the cars colossal performance envelope. The $2800 Z51 package (dry sump, larger-diameter wheels, bigger front brakes, lubricant coolers, more-aggressive gear ratios, and

as the demand for lateral traction dimin-ishes and forward thrust surges.

The traction-management systems role is to astutely trim engine output with micro ignition-timing and fuel-delivery adjustments that ensure that the rear tires receive all the torque they can handlebut not so much that they slip and allow the tail to scurry wide. Most of this work is intangible and inau-dible. All the driver knows is that the Stingray sticks and the exhaust note NaaR[` dUR[ aUR ]\dR_a_NV[ N[Q aURchassis collaborate.

Lapping a black-lake gymkhana and the Milford road course provided the oppor-tunity to test this cross-car coordination. What the new electrically assisted steering lacks in feedback from the pavement, it makes up with crisp response and reassur-V[T]_\T_R``VcRR\_a.cRS\YQV[P_RN`Rin rigidity between the smaller (14.1-inch) wheel rim and the steering rack eliminates N[fPUN[PR\SY\àZ\aV\[ORadRR[f\b_[-gertips and the front wheels. The shift knob V`NÙ\_aUN[QVTUaS_\ZaUR`ZNYYdURRYand no gear-change grunting is required this time around thanks to improved syn-PU_\` N QbNYZN`` fdURRY N[Q N [Rd rev-matching system. Resisting the urge to heel-and-toe your way into a tight bend is the toughest part of letting this technology help you attack a track or two-lane.

Out here on the Milford road course, driven hard, theres a bit of body roll, but, thanks to authoritative damping, the chassis always plays nice, never disrupting the mis-sion with feints or funny business. The Z06

TECH T IDBIT

FEAT OF CLAYCorvette supplier Molded Fiber Glass adopted new recipes for various underbody parts to meet C7 weight targets. First, ultra-thin clay platelets replace the hollow calcium-carbonate spheres previously used as ller material in molded panels. The nano platelets are 100 times thinner than the spheres while maintaining stiffness in the dash, re wall, wheelhouse, and trunk areas. Second, carbon bers supplant glass bers in some areas. Lastlyand to help suppress cabin noiseMolded Fiber Glass substituted foam material for the end-grain balsa-wood cores previously used in Corvette oor panels. Per part, weight savings ranges between 10 and 12 percent.

RYRPa_\[VP QVR_R[aVNY N[Q aUR $&"magnetic-ride control with perform-ance traction management are all you need to turn a Stingray cruiser into a track-master.

On the road, the car is just as predict-NOYRN[QS_VR[QYfAUR#]R_PR[aàVR_structure provides an excellent founda-tion for more-supple damper settings, eliminating the C6s trash-can com-portment over broken pavement. Tread noise still penetrates the thin composite `XV[N[QaUR_VQRV`_ZRcR[V[a\b_V[Tmode, but there is nothing to complain about in the comfort category.

In fact theres little at all to complain about. The steering-spoke mouse com-ZN[QV[T aUR _RP\[Tb_NOYR PYbàR_demands more patience than mature Cor-vette fans will muster, but anyone not in need of a Jitterbug phone should enjoy the half hour of driveway time required to tour the Stingrays electronic-display menu. Also, the hockey-stick-format t

car and driver

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