2013 Lincoln MKZ Is Styled

With the latest Ford Fusion receiving unanimous praise for bringing high end styling to the mainstream sedan category, the upscale Lincoln MKZ sibling had big shoes to fill. The MKZ designers certainly dreamt big with the latest version resulting in a bold yet possibly polarizing design. Upfront small headlights are part of a restrained horizontal grille that is a step forward from recent baleen whale Lincoln designs. However, the new MKZ looks the best from the 3/4 angle rear as a thin full width LED bar  serves as the taillight while a compact trunk and a thick C-pillar gives the sedan great visual appeal. The rear fender design is excellent.  From the side the sedan has a set back design with a large rear window giving the impression of a hatchback such as the last generation Mazda 6 offered.

Smaller horizontal grille is a great improvement over recent Lincolns

From the profile the area around the C-pillar is a bit awkward

But the rear 3/4 design is excellent, the rear fender shape is amazing

Full width LED bar serves as the taillight

The large retractable glass roof is large

The interior is a huge upgrade over the current MKZ but looks much like the Fusion

Second Generation Mercedes-Benz GL Achieves Design Harmony

There are only a few categories of vehicles where boxy design is appreciated; full size SUVs, Japanese subcompacts like the Scion xB, and delivery trucks. The GL occupies the first transportation category and the second generation GL continues to be the modern interpretation of its Geländewagen fore bearer. Following the Scion xB route Mercedes has given its latest GL more curves to give it a fresh design which is a reasonable direction considering that you can't make a box any edgier. In fact the new GL appears to finds a perfect harmony between traditional boxy SUV styling of the G class and Range Rover and the smoother surfaces of the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne.

Upfront a prominent grille of the last generation remains while SL style headlights fit the SUV better than they do the roadster. At the back the taillights are a curvier version of the first generation. From the side the GL remains a familiar sight while gaining 3-D surfacing compared to the flat and vertical original version. Inside the new GL features an upgraded interior similar to the one on the new ML class. Figure the GL to be powered by the now familiar 4.6 turbo V8 in the GL550 configuration and by the BlueTec diesel in the GL350 BlueTec. A 500+ horsepower GL63 AMG version is likely as well. 

The Boxier First Generation For Reference

Acura tries its hand at a flagship once again

Acura is a unique brand in the luxury arena as it has never offered a V8 for sale in its cars even with Acura and Honda racing programs successfully running high performance V8s for years. For years Acura has attempted to create a true flagship without V8 power with mixed results. The Legend was wildly successful as the first Japanese luxury vehicle sold in America even with a V6 powering the front wheels. However its replacement the RL has never had the same success and the last generation RL spent the last few years having trouble clearing double digit monthly sales, in fact it was outsold by the Audi R8 last year. When the latest RL came out it was greeted with praise from the automotive precess that was not reciprocated by the consumer which found the RL offering little benefits against its cheaper TL sibling. The RL is negligibly larger than the TL and uses the same powertrain.

In two days Acura will once again attempt to challenge Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes with its new flagship rumored to be called the RLX. Acura promises that the RL replacement will have the interior space of the 7 series while having more nimble handling like that of the 5 series. Once again Acura will not offer a V6 option. However, this time around Acura's refusal to use a V8 shouldn't hurt as much as fuel economy concerns have forced its competition to offer V6 engines as well. Acura also believes that its trick hybrid all wheel drive system with two motors on the rear axle will give performance equivalent to a V8. Such a set up should be good for around 400 combined horsepower with claimed 4 cylinder fuel economy. Hopefully Acura delivers on this promise better than Lexus did with its V8 hybrid that promised V12 performance with V6 fuel economy while delivering V8 performance with V8 fuel economy.

It appears that the latest RLX should return some of the Legend's former glory in the luxury arena, some would prefer the name to make a comeback as well, but it is still tough to see the RLX matching up with the A8, 7 series, LS and S class. On the other hand the RLX should be a much better competitor to the A6, 5 series, GS and E class which are mostly sold with six cylinder engines as well nowadays.

V6 only for Acura's flagship

A Four Door Ford Mustang

The following two facts are true, Road & Track is reporting that Ford will be build a four door version of its popular Mustang for 2014 and that today is April 1st. The end result is not too bad at all and perhaps begs the question whether Ford should actually build a four door Mustang to take on the Dodge Charger. Even if this April Fool's joke doesn't sway Ford to add extra doors to the Mustang it should have Ford thinking about building a V8 powered rear wheel drive sedan. Ford actually already builds such a sedan in Australia called the Falcon and in its highest performing application it is powered by a supercharged version of the Mustang GT's V8 with 450 horsepower. With Ford's recent focus on offering its products globally there is a possibility that the next version of the Falcon would be sold in other countries aside from Australia. However, there is also a more likely possibility where the next generation Falcon is replaced by a Taurus derivative. Here is to hoping that Ford utilizes the next generation Mustang platform to create a Falcon for Australia and the USA or at least a true Cadillac competitor for Lincoln. With Ford struggling to differentiate Lincoln from the Ford models they are based on a rear drive MKS would go a long way in doing so.

Click to see more photos of how a four door Mustang would look like

If the next generation Falcon stays rear wheel drive it has a chance of coming to America

Is BMW about to abandon its I6?

With the next M3 around the corner, engine rumors are heating up and those with inside sources are saying that BMW will use a V6 , the rest of us have You Tube videos to analyze. There are three reasons why BMW would want to switch to a V6 from its traditional inline six cylinder layout: two improve performance, for marketing reasons, and to make Audi fans say I told you so (as in Audi used a turbo V6 in its RS4 many years ago). Clearly the first two reasons are significantly more likely to be true. The new V6 which would likely place the turbos between the cylinder banks could allow for better turbo response and the V6 configuration could make for a shorter engine. Using the V6 instead of an upgraded inline six seen in the 335i also gives the marketing folks the ability to differentiate the M3 from its lesser 3 series siblings. Words such as groundbreaking, bespoke and unique can be used to justify the M3's pricing premium. A different engine removes the 135i (with chip tuning) vs. 1M debate and dilemma and allows for a significantly bigger price cushion between a 335i and an M3. Not as strong of an argument as a high RPM V8 on the current M3 but the next best solution keeping while keeping the fuel economy in mind.

In reality both reasons probably play a role if the next M3 does come with a V6 and not a familiar I6 but only BMW knows what the ratio of importance between marketing and performance is.

Will the next M3 feature a smaller version of the M5's V8

Or an updated version of the tried and true I6?

New Styling Element Spreads like Wildfire

A blast from the past styling element is the new trend in the auto industry, and this might not be a good thing. It is showing up on compacts, sedans, vans, hybrids, super cars and everything in between and the results are a mixed bag. We are talking about the A-pillar quarter glass not seen since the days of vent windows of the 1960s. The modern version doesn't provide fresh air but looks to be a necessity in the world of big wheels, wide pillars and sleek rooflines. While some cars like the Lamborghini Aventador, McLaren MP4-12C, Volkswagen Touareg, and Toyota Prius V are able to employ the benefits of the A-Pillar without compromising their design others are not so lucky and end up ruining their design. What's scary is that it appears that the quarter window is growing in size with every new generation, the Honda Fit is a good example of this. If designers don't slow down the quarter glass will turn into a half glass or worse.
 

The "vent" quarter window prevents the SX4 from having any chance at a cohesive design

The Fit has one large "quarter" glass at the A-Pillar

The MP4-12C keeps its quarter glass small and doesn't hurt the design

The Prius V integrates its quarter window decently well

Thankfully this is not sold in America

This quarter window blends in with other creases in the Aventador

Rumor: EPA Adjusts 328i's Impressive Fuel Economy Ratings

As the old adage goes, if something is too good to be true it probably is. When BMW announced the new F30 328i with the 2.0 liter turbo four cylinder it announced a new powerplant with 240 horsepower and a competition beating 24 city and 36 highway fuel economy rating when paired with the 8 speed auto. This made the new 3 series a sports sedan with the fuel economy of a compact. However, the folks at Bimmerfest are reporting that the EPA has/will adjust the 328i auto ratings to a more believable 23 city and 33 highway. Numbers that are still very good but not nearly as magical. While EPA's official fueleconomy.com is still reporting the old figures, BMW's own website says that the 328i auto will only achieve 23/33 mpg.

So the million dollar question becomes, how did this fuel economy fiasco occur? While the EPA ratings appear government official, the reality is that the agency only independently verifies only about 15% of all of the ratings that it publishes. Testing every single model on sale would certainly run up the tax payer bill. The manufacturers submit the ratings according to their own testing (using the EPA protocol) and then the agency audits some of the ratings to keep everyone honest. It appears the 328i automatic got audited and there was a discrepancy.