Author: Gerardo Orlando (Page 31 of 33)

First Drive: 2012 Nissan Versa

July 28, 2011 /

Seattle is usually spectacular in the summer, as the gray skies and drizzle is replace by clear and crisp summer days. So I was pleased to hear we’d be driving the redesigned 2012 Nissan Versa in the Great Northwest in July. The weather cooperated for the most part and I was able to test the pre-production vehicles in both city and highway settings while taking in some of the sights around Seattle.

Exterior

Nissan has completely redesigned the 4-dour Versa for 2012, while the update for the 5-door hatchback will come a little later. The new Versa is the first Nissan model to sport the new front grille for sedans, which is a huge improvement over the previous Nissan grille. That combined with the stylish headlights completely changes the look of the vehicle. It’s more polished and elegant that its predecessor, giving off the impression of a more expensive sedan. The previous model had a more vertical feel to it, while the new Versa has a much more aerodynamic look.

The lines of the new Versa are clean and sophisticated, and this will appeal to small car buyers who are turned off by the edgier designs from competitors that are common in the compact segment. I was impressed by the look of the car from all angles as I walked around it.

Interior

The interior was roomy and comfortable. The interior comes in two colors, charcoal and sandstone, and both fit nicely with the new exterior design. Again, consumers who prefer a more elegant vehicle over an edgy design will be pleased with the new Versa. It’s also very roomy in the back seat and has best in class trunk space, making it very practical for buyers who expect to have passengers and cargo.

Performance

The Versa features a continuously variable transmission (CVT), so you won’t feel gear changes as you’re driving the vehicle and accelerating. The new Versa sports Nissan’s second-generation CVT design, improving fuel mileage over the previous model by 5 MPG. The Versa now gets 30 MPG City, 38 MPG Highway and 33 MPG combined. Nissan official stressed that the combined mileage was tied for best-in-class, as the CVT provides great mileage performance in city driving. It also features a new 1.6-liter engine with 109 horsepower @6,000 rpm and 107 lb-ft of torque at @4,400 rpm.
I liked how the Versa felt, particularly in city driving where the CVT performed nicely. It has competitive power for vehicles in this class and solid handling.

Overview

The 1st generation Versa was introduced in 2006 and was the U.S. segment share leader for the in 2010. The small car segment is growing rapidly as more buyers look for fuel economy, and with this update we can expect the Nissan Versa to continue to be a sales leader in this space. Consumers will have many choices as more brands enter this space, and the new design will appeal to many consumers drawn to a more elegant look. It will appeal to many younger buyers and consumers looking for a commuter vehicle.

The Versa has the lowest standard MSRP of any vehicle in this space at $10,990 for the S MT. This entry-level model has few options and has a manual transmission instead of the CVT but is equipped with standard air conditioning and a radio. The S CVT starts at $12,760, the SV CVT starts at $14,560 and the SL CVT starts at $15,560, and you can add a Tech Package with Navigation, XM radio and USB for an additional $700.

Car Reviews, Cars, Lifestyle, On Location

First Drive: 2012 Hyundai Genesis

July 20, 2011 /

2012 Hyundai Genesis

I traveled out to the Hyundai America Technical Center in Michigan to drive the new 2012 Hyundai Genesis. The drive event took place on a beautiful summer day as you can see from the photos and I had the opportunity to drive a couple of different models of the new Genesis, mostly around the scenic country roads around Ann Arbor.

The Genesis has been a big hit for Hyundai, due in large part to its elegant styling and its impressive value proposition. The Genesis has experienced 24 months in a row of year-over-year sales increases. In their presentation to the media, Hyundai executives stressed how the Genesis appeals to affluent buyers who were also practical and frugal. The “millionaire next door” profile fit many buyers of this vehicle. They aren’t the aspiration-type buyers who stretched their budget to show off a BMW or a Mercedes. Rather, they want to show off how many luxury features they could get from a new Hyundai for thousands less than what one would pay for their German competitors.

Exterior

The 2012 Genesis offers an aerodynamic yet elegant look that fits nicely in the luxury segment. It’s a refresh of the 2011 model, so the exterior styling has been updated without major changes. The new LED headlamp accents add a nice touch, and the front grille and front bumper have been updated to create a powerful and aggressive stance. New 17-inch and 19-inch wheel designs are also available, and I particularly liked the 19-inch wheels. You can see from the photos above why this vehicle is doing so well in the luxury market, particularly when you consider the costs savings versus its competitors.

Interior

The interior offered everything you would expect from a luxury sedan. The entire feel of the interior exudes comfort and luxury, and the leather seats were particularly soft. Many luxury features are standard in the 3.8 base model, while a Premium Package and Technology Package are available in the 3.8 and come included in the 4.6 and 5.0 models. The overall feel is a classic design with modern accents that will appeal to professionals and others looking for a luxury experience. I was also struck by how quiet the Genesis was as we cruised around.

Performance

With the 2012 model, Hyundai provided the Genesis with some impressive upgrades under the hood, introducing Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) for the 3.8-liter V6 and a new 5.0-liter V8, representing the most powerful Hyundai engine to date. The new Genesis also features a new 8-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic. At 333 HP, the new V6 has 43 more horsepower than the previous V6, with 291 lb-ft of torque and fuel mileage of 19 city/29 highway. The new V8 features 429 HP and 376 lb-ft of torque, with fuel mileage of 16 city/25 highway.

I drove the 3.8 V6 model first, followed by the 5.0 V8. Both offered solid power and a great ride. The V8 certainly offers more of a kick and it makes a great sound when you punch it on a straightway, but I suspect many buyers in the target market will be more than happy with the power and feel of the V6. I was able to test both of them on a wide variety of roads and my impression of the power and handling were consistently positive. The ride was very smooth even on bumpier country roads, while the suspension offered the level of grip you would expect from a luxury sedan.

Overview

The MSRP on the base 3.8 Genesis starts at $34,200, going to $39,000 with the Premium Package and $43,000 with the Technology Package. The 5.0 V8 has an MSRP of $46,500. This tells the story of the sales increases for the Genesis as it’s available for thousands less than other vehicles in its class. When you drive the vehicle you get an appreciation for the value proposition. Take it for a text drive and you might end up saving yourself a lot of money while getting all the luxury you need.

Cars, On Location

New things from Ford

June 25, 2011 /

We joined Ford this past weekend in Dearborn with bloggers from all over the country to see what Ford has in store for the future. How does a car company deal with changing times and new trends? All companies have to react to the changing world around them and marketplace developments, but spotting trends early can be a big advantage if a company is nimble enough to capitalize on these trends.

Some of the subjects addressed included Living Green, Aging Population and Youth Influence and Global Convergence of Design. Malcolm Gladwell kicked off the event with a keynote speech that addressed the issues of change. Gladwell is always entertaining, but I learned much more when we got to see up-close some of the real trends Ford is addressing and how they are directly impacting products.

Other companies may have been first with green initiatives like electric cars and plug-in hybrids, but Ford is pushing very hard in these areas and we’ll see new vehicles in 2012. Ford has teamed up with well-known conservation and green advocate Ed Begley Jr. who gave us a compelling presentation on what was coming from Ford in this area. Some of the changes are not obvious. One interesting innovation involves soy-based foam which is being used in the seats of cars. This foam is biodegradable and offers a great alternative to petroleum-based foam products.

We got to spend time with J Mays in the Ford Design Center and I was blown away by what they can do now in the design process. Everything is digital, and now they can see and test everything on a massive digital high def screen that covered the entire wall in a large room in the design center. Digital version of the car concepts can be places in all sorts of digital settings so the designers can see what the car can really look like in real life, all the way down to how different types of light would reflect off of different paint jobs, Even the promo “photographs” are now digitally created which saves on time and money.

On the last day we had the opportunity to drive a bunch of Ford vehicles in different settings on the test track in order to learn about various Ford vehicles and initiatives. The events were fun and I learned quite a bit. I started with the F-150 drag races and managed to win my heat. I definitely enjoyed the feeling of flooring the truck from a dead stop on a straightaway!

The most revealing exhibit involved the all-new Ford Explorer. Ford had a series of dirt hills and other obstacles built so we could put the new Explorer to the test in off-road setting. They were showing off the vehicle’s Terrain Management System and I came away very impressed. The system takes the guesswork out of 4WD capabilities. Drivers can pick from four settings – Normal, Mud, Sand and Snow. It was a breeze going up and down steep dirt hills.

It was definitely an eye-opening weekend, so we’re expecting some big things from Ford over the next couple of years.

Cars

Preview of TK’s Fourth of July Party at 5 Star Island

June 24, 2011 /

party girls

Some people really know how to throw a party and also have the means to do it. Thomas Kramer (also known as TK) has been hosting spectacular parties at his 5 Star Island Mansion for years, and he’s planning a huge bash for the Fourth of July. All of his parties feature tons of beautiful women and party girls and a much smaller group of successful men, and part of the proceeds for this party will go towards relief for the earthquake victims in Haiti. You can go to World of TK for more information on how to purchase tickets for this exclusive event or donate directly to the Haiti victims.

We’ve posted some photos from TK’s last party at 5 Star Island where our current Featured Model, Rose Chiauzzi attended, and below you can see a video prepared by TK’s staff for the last party. With a spectacular location, amazing guests and great music, everything is possible!

I spoke with TK this week to ask him about the upcoming Fourth of July party and I started with the selection of the charity. He explained, “I’m working closely with Michael Capponi, and part of the proceeds of whatever ticket sales we have will go to Haiti and the people in the camps, and that’s our main objective, to address the immediate needs of the earthquake victims.” TK hosts numerous charity events at 5 Star Island through his Thomas Kramer Foundation, saying that “it’s made for parties and events” so he takes advantage of that for charitable causes as well.

The party will be held on 5 Star Island, which we visited recently with the Bullz-Eye Bikini Team. TK told me how back in the 90s this island was used as a “waste bin” by Miami Beach until he bought up most of the homes on the island and began the process of transforming it into one of the most luxurious and exclusive residential areas in South Florida. TK is also known for his development South Pointe, which helped to transform South of Fifth neighborhood of South Beach with high-rise luxury apartments.

I asked TK what guests can expect at his Fourth of July party, and he said, “The greatest group of beautiful girls you’ve ever seen in bikinis all over this world! So far about 250 female guests are attending.” Women get in to all of his parties for free, but they need to apply for tickets. TK explained the importance of the ratio of having many more women compared to the small number of male guests make these parties. “That’s part of my whole pitch. I’m having people flying in from Saudi Arabia, Germany, London and from all over the world for my parties because they know the ratios are quite favorable for the boys at my events. I just don’t let anyone in like night clubs and that’s why I do events at my house.”

He also explained the importance of networking and how the parties he throws are more than just a great time. He’s sees his work and his lifestyle as intricately intertwined – “It’s a mindset. For me, it’s all one. You don’t divide it. My main work is networking. Instead of traveling through the world, nonstop, like most executives, I have the world come to me. With honey you catch bees, and that’s what I’m doing.”

This of course, is an added benefit for the people who purchase tickets to his events. Not only are they surrounded by beautiful women in the ultimate party atmosphere, the networking opportunities with the other guests are significant. “I have the highest average of billionaires per party than anyone else in the world.” He went on to explain: “I’m asking for a competitively high donation because I just want to have a certain group of people partying with my girlfriends and friends. And I don’t want to lower the standards and make the hurdle to low. You want less people and therefore higher quality and more beautiful girls, and the 30 to 40 guys you are going to meet here are something you aren’t usually going to be able to mingle with in such an intimate location.”

You can still >purchase tickets to this event and probably have the best Fourth of July you can remember. If you can’t make it, check back here for photos of videos from the party!

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