Weekly Automotive Articles

2016 Lincoln MKX: Flaunting Looks and Power

Freshly redesigned, the 2016 Lincoln MKX flaunts a new look, a more spacious passenger compartment, higher quality interior upholstery and trim, and a new turbocharged engine. With these changes, Lincoln's midsize crossover SUV is now equipped to stand up against direct comparisons with the industry's best, even when outfitted in its most basic trim level.

Further, its sleek new styling looks just as good in front of an upscale restaurant as it does parked among family ferries at soccer practice. The standard 18-inch alloy wheels nicely enhance the muscular profile, but it looks even better with the 20-inch wheels fitted to our tester. While some will decry the Lincoln MKX as being too closely related to its Ford Edge cousin, we'll patiently remind them Ford offers some of the most tech-laden models available today.

Thus, it comes as little surprise to find such niceties as voice controls, active noise cancellation, and an 8-inch touchscreen hosting Ford's outstanding Sync 3 infotainment interface included among the roster of standard features. Start listing options and you'll find amenities such as automated parking, a hands-free power liftgate (with a foot sensor under the rear bumper), smart headlights, intelligent cruise control, a reconfigurable virtual instrument panel, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and rear cross traffic alert.

Go full-boat and spring for the Black Label MKX, and you'll get such high-end touches as a simulated suede headliner, upgraded leather upholstery, LED headlights, and a 19-speaker surround-sound audio system. The people behind the four-pointed star have made a concerted effort to ensure the 2016 Lincoln MKX is wholly competitive within its segment.

For the record, we are huge fans of the optional 22-way power-adjustable front seats. Heated, cooled, and outfitted with a massage function, even the squirmiest passengers readily find comfort within their embrace. To make configuring the seats easy, all of their controls are presented on the 8-inch touchscreen in the center stack. Rear-seat legroom is acceptable for the class and three adults can ride back there quite comfortably. The cargo compartment is good for 37.2 cubic feet of capacity with the rear seats deployed, and 68.8 cubic feet with them folded.

Pricing starts at $38,260 for the front-wheel-drive MKX powered by the 3.5-liter V-6 engine. Our all-wheel-drive test MKX Premiere model was powered by the optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 EcoBoost with 335 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The first time we nailed the throttle to execute a passing maneuver, we were very pleasantly surprised to discover the 2.7-liter engine's ready ability to consign other traffic to the MKX's rearview mirror. Happily, even with all its sophistication, the new MKX is also a true "Hot Rod Lincoln."

The MKX acquits itself commendably when changes of direction are required too. Yes, a BMW X3 will out-corner the MKX, but the Lincoln maintains its dignity on serpentine lanes. Further, in normal day-to-day driving, the MKX is exceptionally quiet (remember the active noise cancellation feature we mentioned earlier?). And, in addition to committed roadholding, the adaptive suspension system delivers a smoothly luxurious ride.
Not only is it delightful under those driving situations, but given smart cruise control, lane keep assist, and the quiet interior we just spoke of, the MKX also becomes a near-insatiable devourer of miles on the highway. As good as it is at everything else, long-distance travel is the 2016 Lincoln MKX's killer app.

-- Lyndon Conrad Bell, Motor Matters

Manufacturer Photo: Engine choices for the 2016 Lincoln MKX include the optional 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged Ti-VCT EcoBoost V6, which is rated at 335 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 380 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm on premium fuel. The standard 3.7-liter V-6 is rated at 303 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 278 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. Both engines are mated to a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission with push-button shift.

Ford Escape: Significant Updates for 2017

Compact crossovers make a good choice for many drivers. Their size hits the sweet spot -- big enough to hold people and cargo, small enough to be easy to drive. And, if you live in a Snowbelt state, available All-Wheel Drive makes winter travel far less stressful. Escape is Ford's entry in this space, and also its best-selling SUV.

Three trim levels are offered for the 2017 Escape: S, SE, and Titanium, with prices starting at $23,600. Three options brought our Titanium tester sticker price to $33,380.

Last year, Escape became the first Ford product to roll out the new SYNC 3 infotainment system. This year, Escape is the first of its line mates to include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration with the optional SYNC 3 system, as well as a vehicle interaction app. The latter allows owners to locate, lock, unlock, and start their vehicle via their smartphone. The biggest knock on the former infotainment interface (MyFord Touch) was that it was more complicated than need be: SYNC 3 is an improvement. The level of connected content is high and it's easier to do what you want. But, like many similar systems, it often takes longer to do it than it would with conventional controls.

Articulating headrests and a tilt/telescoping steering column make it easy to get comfortable inside, and Ford has upped the number of inboard stowage spots for 2017. With 6 footers in front, same-size folks will fit (snugly) behind them. Escape's rear-seat legroom measures 37.3 inches; that's an inch less than the current Honda CR-V, and a skosh more than the Toyota's RAV4 -- two perennial rivals in this class. The rear seatbacks fold flat to expand Escape's cargo capacity from 34 cubic feet to 68 cubic feet, which is about average for this class, trailing CR-V and RAV4.

Liftover height in back is low. And, if you're approaching the tailgate with arms full, you can open the tailgate with the sweep of a foot -- provided that you've checked that option on your Titanium trim Escape.

The roster of available driver assist technologies expands this year to include lane departure warning and intervention. It's included in the Titanium Technology package ($1,995), along with an enhanced self-parking system, xenon headlights, auto high-beam control, rain sensing wipers, and a heated steering wheel. Standalone options include the navigation system ($795), a panoramic sunroof ($1,495), and adaptive cruise control ($595).
A six-speed automatic transmission links to one of three engines. Standard on Escape S models is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder. It makes 168 horsepower, 170 lb.-ft. of torque and is only available with front wheel drive. EPA estimates for fuel economy are 22 mpg city, and 31 highway.
A new, 1.5-liter four-cylinder replaces the former, 1.6-liter four under the hood of Escape SE and Titanium models. The EcoBoost (turbocharged, direct injection) four checks in with 179 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. Gas mileage is predicted to be 23/30 (FWD), 22/28 (AWD). Also available on both SE and Titanium level Escapes is another, larger EcoBoost mill. The twin-scroll 2.0-liter four is rated at 245 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque, and is expected to return 22 mpg city/29 highway (FWD); 20/27 (AWD).

Performance in the 1.6-liter four is about average for the segment, but adequate for all normal driving duties. Fuel economy is slightly behind last year's version. SE and Titanium buyers seeking more giddy-up may want to consider the upgrade to the 2.0-liter EcoBoost ($1,295). Given the increase in horsepower (+66) and torque (+98), the 2.0-liter four is, unsurprisingly, much quicker, transforming Escape into a lively performer.
If you plan on pulling a trailer, the trio of powerplants has noticeably different ratings. The base engine has a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, which is identical to the rating in both RAV4 and CR-V. Ford's 1.6-liter EcoBoost raises the ante to 2,000 pounds. Finally, the EcoBoost 2.0-liter can be equipped to pull up to 3,500 pounds -- impressive, given the engine's displacement, and more than the 3.0-liter V-6 that was available on the last-generation Escape.

Overall, Escape is one of the more engaging drivers in the segment. It handles confidently and rides comfortably. Ford's on-demand AWD system apportions torque to the front and rear wheels as needed, to maximize traction. Software and sensors process data from 25 external sources, assessing road conditions and driver input. The system corrects for both oversteer and understeer, and it works in wet or dry road conditions. Available Torque Vectoring Control and Curve Control improve handling and stability on winding roads.

-- Dan Lyons, Motor Matters

Manufacturer Photo: The Ford Escape is significantly updated for model year 2017 with more of what Escape customers said they wanted -- the latest driver-assist technologies, connectivity and two new fun-to-drive and efficient EcoBoost engines. The 2017 Escape features available SYNC Connect mobile access and driver-assist technologies such as adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, a lane-keeping system, and Enhanced Active Park Assist -- all packed in a vehicle that's been redesigned from the inside out.

2017 Kia Cadenza: A Full-Size Contender

In the old days big sedans ruled the road. If you were rich you drove a Fleetwood Cadillac. Upper middle class? Your car was a Buick Roadmaster.

Back then, customers seeking a family vehicle bought a big Ford, Chevrolet or Plymouth sedan -- or perhaps the station wagon version. Now crossover sport utility vehicles have taken over. But manufacturers have not forsaken large cars. The 2017 Kia Cadenza fits the modern definition of a full-size car. The Cadenza and others like it today offer power, fuel economy, comfort and safety that could only be imagined decades ago.

Though the description has changed, large cars still offer amenities that attract a loyal cadre of buyers. They like the heft, feel, passenger and trunk space, as well as the perceived safety of size, though smaller cars now do as well in government and private crash tests as their bigger brethren.

Modern full-size cars come with front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, with state-of-the art safety equipment, handling, power and fuel economy. The new 2017 Kia Cadenza competes against other front-drivers like the best-selling Chevrolet Impala, Toyota Avalon, Buick LaCrosse, Ford Taurus and Hyundai Azera.
To qualify as full-size under the U.S. government's standards, a car must have more than 120 cubic feet of interior room. That includes passenger and trunk space. The new Cadenza checks in with a total of almost 124 cubic feet.

That gives it ample comfort for five passengers, especially in the front bucket seats and outboard back seats. Even the fifth passenger in back is not cramped, though her or she must tolerate a small floor hump and a lumpy seat cushion.

According to Kia, while the Cadenza has the same overall length as the outgoing model, it's slightly wider and lower in height. The wheelbase has been stretched slightly, contributing to nearly a half-inch of increased legroom for rear passengers. And, the interior cockpit is designed to provide a more harmonious human-machine interface with ergonomically intelligent design, intuitive controls, and a suite of enhanced convenience features.

The new 2017 Cadenza comes in three trim levels: Premium, which starts at around $32,890; Technology, $39,890, and the tested Limited, $44,890.
Under the hood lurks a 3.3-liter V-6 engine with direct gasoline injection that delivers 290 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque. Power goes to the front wheels through a Kia developed eight-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode controlled by paddles on the steering wheel.

The combination gives the Cadenza more than ample acceleration and freeway passing power. Plentiful insulation delivers silent running. There's a hefty feel to the steering. Though not as crisp as with a midsize sport sedan, handling is secure and competent.

The 2017 Kia Cadenza Limited has some luxury credentials, fully equipped with such state-of-the-art equipment as lane departure warning and assist, rear traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, surround view monitor with backup camera, blind spot warning, head up display and rear parking assist.

Comfort and convenience items include Nappa leather upholstery, dual zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, navigation and infotainment systems with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charger, panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, rear and side window sunshades, and memory driver's seat, outside mirrors and steering wheel.

Given the chance, your father would dump his old Oldsmobile in a heartbeat for the new Cadenza.

-- Frank A. Aukofer, Motor Matters

Manufacturer Photo: The all-new 2017 Kia Cadenza boasts precisely crafted cabin, cutting edge technology for connectivity and driver assistance, a stronger body structure, and powertrain enhancements for a more premium experience behind the wheel. A revised version of Kia's 3.3-liter V6 engine has been retuned for improved fuel economy. With an estimated 290 horsepower on tap, the engine sends power to the front wheels via Kia's first FWD-based eight-speed automatic transmission.

Car Factories Go Green to Save Green

It just makes sense: car companies that want to be known for producing eco-friendly cars build them at eco-friendly factories.

Kia has planted five million trees and initiated other green initiatives at its manufacturing plants around the world. Trees soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and the five million trees Kia has planted promise to soak up the equivalent of 107.5 million tons of CO2 a year.
The greening of Kia factories includes its U.S. facility in West Point, Ga., where the Sorento SUV and Optima sedan are produced. The interior of the Kia Soul EV is 10 percent biodegradable plastic, bio-foam, and bio-fabric. Unlike plastics based from oils, bio-based materials are derived from eco-friendly materials.

Recycling reduces waste, along with energy consumption. Since 2009, Ford has mandated 25 percent recycled content for all its models, and uses more than 30 fabrics to meet that requirement; the company uses about one million yards of recycled fabric each year. Fabric in the Ford Focus EV is made from recycled water bottles.
Ford also uses soy-based bio-foam in seat cushions, head restraints, and headliners. Soy foam costs less to produce than traditional petroleum-based materials, uses less petroleum to produce, and produces about 15 percent less carbon dioxide emissions. All good.

Jeep uses soy-based acoustic foam in Cherokee models. The foam is lighter and less expensive than oil-based foam, which benefits both production cost and fuel economy.

Ford also has switched to what's called a 3-Wet paint process, which gets its name from applying primer, base coat, and clear coat while each layer is still wet. That process saves close to 25 percent of time it takes to paint a vehicle, reducing assembly line costs. Equally important, the process results in significant reductions of CO2, along with reductions in volatile organic compounds, known as VOC.

Nissan works with the City of Detroit to plant trees in parks, schoolyards, and along neighborhood streets and roadways. Since 2012, in association with the non-profit group "Greening of Detroit," the program has planted more than 70,000 new trees. Nissan also donated a Titan truck to help with the project.

Earlier this year Nissan switched to solar power for its factory in Sunderland, UK. The Nissan solar farm is made up of 19,000 photovoltaic panels, installed alongside 10 wind turbines. Nissan makes its Leaf EV and its batteries in the U.S., making this a green car produced by green energy. Nissan also has a wind farm at its factory in Mexico.

Volkswagen also uses solar power for its factory in Chattanooga, Tenn., where the Passat is produced. It covers 33 acres with nearly 34,000 solar modules and produces more than 13 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power a year, enough to power 1,200 homes. General Motors uses solar energy to power EV charging stations for employees and visitors to its facilities, including at the GM Shanghai headquarters complex. And a bike-sharing program allows more than 19,000 employees to commute to, and get around inside, the sprawling 330-acre Warren Technical Center in Michigan. GM also has a program to work with suppliers to design parts with less scrap waste, and ship them in containers with less cardboard waste.

Going green is more than a fad. It's helping sustain the bottom line along with the environment. That's a win-win for all of us.

-- Evelyn Kanter, Motor Matters

Manufacturer Photo: Nissan makes its Leaf EV and its batteries in the U.S., making this a green car produced by green energy.

Volkswagen also uses solar power for its factory in Chattanooga, Tenn., where the Passat is produced. It covers 33 acres with nearly 34,000 solar modules and produces more than 13 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power a year, enough to power 1,200 homes.

Savvy Car Selling Via Social Media Sharing

How would you like to be the star of your own one-minute action-packed video car chase? That's just one of the new ways automakers are luring you into the showroom to check out their new models, or at least make you more aware of their brand.

Jaguar doesn't have the production volume or the advertising budget of the big guys from Detroit, Germany, Korea, and Japan, so it's geared up social media and virtual reality to spread the message of the brand's revitalization. It must be working. Bloomberg calls Jaguar "the hottest car company in the U.S." right now, for its hot new models including the new XE compact sport sedan and F-Pace SUV.

The action video was a feature of a recent Art of Performance multi-city tour, which also gave attendees the chance to test drive the all-new XE compact sport sedan. Video clips of participants "virtually" driving a Jaguar are interspersed with a "canned" adrenalin car chase, including dramatic rollovers and fiery crashes.

Jaguar Land Rover marketing VP Kim McCullough says approximately 10,000 people participated, and more than half shared their action videos with friends and family, garnering more than a million views. That's far more "reach" than a traditional TV commercial or print ad could get, and for far less money.

McCullough says more than 90 percent of XE and F-Pace SUV buyers are new to Jaguar, and that they're younger buyers than in the past. "We're changing the perception from great heritage, but our best days are behind us, to relevant with cutting-edge models for a new generation of buyers," she says.

An admitted "car nut," she drove the legendary Mille Miglia vintage car rally in Italy earlier this year in her own personal model which dates back from the days when Jaguar ruled the racecourse, a 1954 Jaguar XK120.
McCullough also is marketing the quality of the new models, with a new program that allows owners to write reviews and personal experiences on the Jaguar website. People are "two-and-a-half times more likely to buy when they see a positive review," she says. Just ask the restaurants reviewed on Yelp and hotels and attractions reviewed on TripAdvisor.

McCullough was one of the panelists at a recent marketing seminar sponsored by Automotive News in New York City. Another was Bodil Eriksson, VP of marketing and communication for Volvo, another small brand re-inventing itself with new products and a new focus on leveraging social media to get its message across.

Eriksson's game plan is to piggyback on what manufacturers with bigger budgets are doing. Buying one 30-second commercial on the Super Bowl "would be one-quarter of our annual ad budget." Her tactic was to launch what she described as an interception, a Twitter campaign during the game, asking people to name somebody worthy of getting a free Volvo. It generated 55,000 Tweets, and five lucky winners, whose stories are now being marketed, too.

"We want to spark a conversation. We are looking for stories to tell," she says, "beyond the storied Volvo safety features." What's next? Expect more traditional and new media campaigns about the story of Scandinavian design, along with stories of our love of the open road, whether that's driving a Volvo in Sweden or in the U.S.
You'll also be hearing more about Volvo's first-ever U.S. factory, now being built in South Carolina, with a planned opening in the second half of 2018.

Personally, I so hope Volvo will be sharing time-lapse photography, virtual tours, etc. If she hasn't already thought of it, I also hope Eriksson will launch another virtually free Twitter campaign to give away the first vehicle off the new assembly line, or raffle it for charity. It's all about capturing the attention of a media-savvy audience in creative new ways.

-- Evelyn Kanter, Motor Matters

Manufacturer Photo: At the Art of Performance video clips of participants "virtually" driving a Jaguar are interspersed with a "canned" adrenalin car chase, including dramatic rollovers and fiery crashes. Participants shared their action videos with friends and family on social media, garnering more than a million views. Attendees also test drioe the XE compact sport sedan.

Volvo Car of the Year for Women

The 2016 Volvo XC90 has been selected as "Women's World Car of the Year." The organization of 20 women motoring journalists are from 18 different countries.
When a group of women automotive writers (myself included) traveled to Sweden to present the award to Volvo, the President and CEO of Volvo, Hakan Samuelsson, noted, "We are here today to acknowledge a very important segment of our customer base."

While it was the first time Volvo has hosted a press event just for women, Samuelsson suggested it would not be the last, "Our design concepts are just one aspect of where we are headed."

Besides having a legacy of safety, Volvo has a history of considering women in the design of their vehicles.
The Volvo YCC ("Your Concept Car"), shown at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show, was developed by a female team and built specifically for women.

In developing YCC, Volvo surveyed female drivers and found that they found caps annoying. As a result, YCC's windshield washer tank and gas tank were covered by a capless ball valve. The car also featured run-flat tires (like those of wheeled armored vehicles) so that women could avoid changing a tire on the side of the road and drive safely to a garage.

The fashion statement came in with the textile parts (such as seat pads or the door sides) that could be easily removed to change interior colors and textures. And what seemed to garner the most press was the fact that the headrests had indentations for ponytails!

While the 2016 XC90 does not have removable seat pads or headrests with ponytail cutouts, it does include a lot of female intuitive features. And the fact is, that while the judges at WWCOTY are from very different cultures, we all agreed on the XC90 as Car of the Year.

For example, Ylle Rajasaar from Estonia, said, "Volvo XC90 has made a great leap, compared to its predecessor, In addition to top-notch safety, the car's infotainment system is elegant and intuitive."

Odiel Mennink of the Netherlands noted the XC90 was one of the biggest cars available to drive in Holland. And that's apparently a good thing. She said, "It is the ideal family and business car -- it's comfortable, stylish, fashionable, and has great value."

Size rated as a big plus. Geraldine Herbert, from Ireland, offered, "The seven-seat cabin is MPV-like in its versatility. Space in the front two rows is plentiful and unlike rivals, space in the third row is just as good."

Another noteworthy point among voters was design, price, and clever technology. Sevil Okumus from Turkey noted, "It's young and modern, and it doesn't have an attitude."
Sue Baker from the UK agreed. She felt the XC90 was a standout. She explained, "It has select design and a dynamic drive. It's a capable car with clever ideas incorporated."

California-based Lou Ann Hammond, chief editor at drivingthenation.com, offered, "The XC90 embodies safety, technology, and infotainment that the consumer of today wants to purchase."

She added, "Next year a plug-in hybrid will be offered in the United States that will make the XC90 an even more compelling acquisition."

I chose the Volvo XC90 for Women's World Car of the Year for not only everything mentioned above, but also because I'm impressed by how Volvo is evolving: They are creating technology that is intuitive and designing cars that are sexier, all while keeping a clear focus on the future of the industry.

-- Holly Reich, Motor Matters

Manufacturer Photo: Volvo's award-winning XC60 offers a full spectrum of luxury, convenience, and cutting-edge technology features while continuing its leadership of safety.

The removal of the front passenger seat allows for full forward vision creating a uniquely spacious environment. The XC90 can be equipped with an integrated booster cushion for a child on the center position in the rear seat.