2011 Toyota Avalon
The overall mood in New York was more guarded than I had originally anticipated. While a steady stream of good news seems the norm over the past month, even for beleaguered Toyota and Lexus, too many press conferences began with the words, “2009 was a difficult year at…” for my liking.
Is it possible for the automotive industry as a whole to move on with what’s ahead and stop looking back? Undoubtedly last year was tough! But in the end, winners survive and losers take their rightful place in the history books. With that in mind, here are several of the current trends we see developing over the course of 2010.
Technology at Your Fingertips
Ford MyTouch
The technology found in our automobiles is equally as important as the vehicles themselves. For the most part, gone are the days of simple electronics. Round dialed analogue clocks with minute and second hands have been replaced with digital readouts. Some automakers, such as Infiniti, still employ the look of antiquity, but the inner workings are state-of-the-art.
The LCD and LED screens of today offer crystal clear viewing even from the backseat. DVD and Blu-ray disc players, Bluetooth® compatibility and touch screens are the norm for luxury vehicles and quickly making their way into moderately priced vehicles with each new model year. The upcoming 2012 Ford Focus is a prime example where small “eco-luxury” vehicles are taking us in the future.
MyFord Touch, MyLincoln Touch and MyMercury Touch driver connect technology, soon to be launched with the 2011 Ford Edge, offers the latest in voice-activated/touch screen connectivity. In years past, this level of computer to human interaction was only available to onscreen heroes such as Captain’s James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek fame. Now, anyone can “converse” with the onboard computer, giving commands or disseminating information in ways even the late Gene Roddenberry couldn’t have envisioned.
The latest in-car technology on display in New York highlighted all that is good about what we can expect from the next generation of automobiles. Internet connectivity, a large media hub, voice-activation for climate controls, audio and hands-free phone calls, 3D Navigation and ambient lighting control with personalized welcome messages are all part of My Touch. The future has arrived and it’s very user friendly.
Big is Still Fashionable
2011 Mercedes Benz RClass
In a world consumed with downsizing, it is nice to know big is still very much on the minds of automotive designers. Prime examples of this include the Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Infiniti QX56, Toyota Avalon, three versions of the Porsche Cayenne, a new Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid and the big where it counts Acura TSX Sport Wagon.
The Mercedes-Benz R-Class luxury crossover is available with 6 or 7-passenger seating. The R350 4MATIC features a 3.5L V6 producing 268 horsepower and 358 lb.-ft of torque. For a more earth-friendly approach to driving, you may want to choose the R350 BlueTEC 4MATIC. It powers with a 210 hp 3.0L turbocharged diesel engine.
The exterior look is one of uninterrupted side glass surrounding the passenger compartment. Flush roof pillars are trimmed to match the tinted window panels. Inside, 60/40 rear seating allows for maximized seating or storage space. Given the standard all-wheel drive, extra space is a real bonus when taking the new R-Class on an outdoor excursion with the family. Class and convenience merge to make this one of the finest “large” CUV’s in recent years.
Full-size is not just limited to the SUV and CUV market. New sedans such as the Hyundai Equus, Toyota Avalon and Acura TSX Sport Wagon demonstrate the value of big thinking in traditional car design. Based on the Europe-only Honda Accord Tourer, the Acura version for North American kicks it up a notch.
Featuring a 2.4L DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine, this wagon is designed for the active, upwardly mobile young family. Soccer, field hockey or football moms and dads with kids and a dog apply inside. Kudos goes to Acura for taking what is essential a utilitarian design and giving it a sense of style and desirability.
Small Thinkers Need Not Apply
What appears small at first is definitely not so with regards to engine horsepower and fuel economy. Ford not only takes the lead in connectivity electronics, they are also blazing the trail with EcoBoost engine technology. Three new efficient powerplants are set to deliver superior performance and fuel economy by the end of this year.
A potent new 1.6L 4-cylinder will launch in the European C-Max, an equally capable 2.0L 4-cylinder in the upcoming Ford Explorer and Edge, plus a 3.5L V6 engine in the Ford F-150. Fuel economy for the later is expected to be superb, with towing and acceleration similar to a V8. The secret to EcoBoost technology is a combination of direct injection, variable valve timing and turbocharging that delivers outstanding power and fuel economy.
More efficient turbochargers, super-precise control of the direct-injection fuel system, optimum gearing of the transmission and final drive will enable a smaller engine to run in what engineers call its “sweet spot” more often, said Dan Kapp, Ford’s director of powertrain research and advanced engineering.
“We are trying to get in front of the pack in leveraging EcoBoost for fuel economy,” Kapp said. “It’s going to be a trend in the industry, and we can’t rest on our laurels for one minute. We are going to keep wringing more efficiency out of EcoBoost.”
Additional automakers capitalizing on smaller engine sizes with bigger performance potential include Hyundai, Honda and Acura, Mitsubishi, General Motors and Scion with the new iQ and tC models due out soon.
Conclusion
Save the doom and gloom for a bygone era. The automobiles of today are stylish, responsive, fuel efficient and for the most part fun-to-drive. As change continues to grip the future of what to expect from our vehicles, the reality of what we can achieve is limited only by our imagination. We will have more on this topic as we get closer to the 2010 Paris Motor Show in late September. It should be another excellent show!