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As luck would have it, the Consumer Guide test fleet contains both a 2013 Hyundai Azera and a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Limited this week. The former is Hyundai’s entry into the “near luxury” large-car segment; it competes against the Chevrolet Impala, Kia Cadenza, and Toyota Avalon. The latter is the ritziest trim level of Hyundai’s mainstream midsize car. We thought it would be enlightening to examine these stablemates side-by-side to see exactly what the Azera delivers over the Sonata.
Our Azera tester is essentially loaded. It’s equipped with the $4,000 Technology Package, which includes high-end features such as a panoramic sunroof, Infinity audio system, HID headlights, rear park assist, and power rear sunshade with manual side sunshades. The total sticker price? $37,225.
Our Sonata Limited is technically not the true top-of-the-line model—it has the 198-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, not the available 274-hp turbocharged 2.0 four. However, it is otherwise loaded. It’s equipped with the $2,900 Premium Package, which adds a panoramic sunroof, navigation system with backup camera, and Infinity audio system. Its sticker price checks in at $29,655. (The 2.0 Turbo version adds 18-inch wheels in place of 17s and tacks on another $1,750 to the bottom line.)
Peter Go’s 1/16-scale 1908 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost features incredibly delicate wire wheels and many other fine details.
If you’re a male of a certain age, chances are you built at least one model car kit in your younger days . . . maybe several. You got a kit from AMT, Monogram, or Revell and some paint and glue from Testors, put down some newspaper on the dining room table, and did your best. Maybe your finished product turned out good enough to occupy a spot of honor on your bedroom shelf, or maybe it ended up being fodder for firecrackers in your driveway.
Today, there are passionate groups of adult model-car builders who have taken a hobby that started as a 1960s fad and elevated it into a true art form. And the place to see the best of these miniature wonders in person is the GSL International Model Car Championship—a prestigious contest that was created back in 1979 for the upper echelon of automotive-modeling artisans. It’s essentially the Academy Awards of hand-built scale vehicles. GSL stands for “Greater Salt Lake” (the contest is held biannually in Salt Lake City, Utah), and this year’s running was the 24th edition. More than 300 models from 80 or so builders were on display in the Salt Lake Sheraton Hotel this past weekend.
2013 BMW M5
The well-optioned 2013 BMW M5 test car we just had through the Consumer Guide test fleet carried a sticker price of $103,995. Even for a 560-horsepower super-sedan, that’s a lot of coin. For that money, there had better be some special styling features inside and out to distinguish an M5 from a “garden-variety” 550i. The legendary GM stylist Harley Earl referred to exclusive design touches like these as a “visual receipt” for the purchase price of a vehicle.
BMW has done a nice job on this front with the M5. Check it out in the pics below:
The slim spokes of the optional 20-inch M light alloy wheels are good for showing of the dinner-platter-size drilled disc brakes and massive blue calipers. The striking color is called Sakhir Orange Metallic. More-aggressive front and rear fascias are exclusive to the M5.
A BMW 5-Series cabin is a classy place to start with, but the M5’s unique trim pieces heighten the high-performance feel.
Look! Tri-color steering-wheel-rim stitching! In the classic red/purple/blue “M” hues! How do they do that? It doesn’t help you go any faster, but it sure looks cool.
The 2014 Mazda 6 Grand-Am GX race car, powered by a production-based SKYACTIV-D clean-diesel engine, poses with its showroom-stock counterpart.
Consumer Guide recently sat down with Robert T. Davis, Mazda’s senior vice president of U.S. Operations, to discuss several topics, including the current state of the company’s grassroots motorsports efforts and the MazdaSpeed brand, the decision to offer the new 2014 Mazda 6 with a diesel engine, the challenges of marketing SKYACTIV fuel-efficient design technologies, and the development of the much-anticipated next-generation Mazda Miata.
Consumer Guide: Mazda has a much stronger grassroots-motorsports image than other manufacturers. Does that motorsports-based following translate to the more-mainstream vehicles?
2014 Lexus IS 250 F Sport
Lexus is rolling out a redesigned IS sedan for 2014, with new styling, new safety and infotainment features, and a slightly longer wheelbase. To illustrate the exterior design changes between the old and the new, we fired off some quick-and-dirty snapshots of a 2013 and a 2014 IS 250 F Sport at the 2014 IS press event.
2013 Lexus IS 250 F Sport, front 3/4
The nose of the 2014 IS gets a more-aggressive look via larger air scoops and the addition of Lexus’ bold “spindle” grille. The checkmark-shaped inserts below the headlights are LED daytime running lights.
2013 Lexus IS 250 F Sport, nose
The 2014 IS’s bigger, wraparound taillights pick up the swooping curve of the rocker-panel bodyline.
2013 Lexus IS 250 F Sport, rear 3/4
The wider taillights and outward-sloping bodylines give the 2014 IS a wider look.
2013 Lexus IS 250 F Sport, tail
In addition to the Viper, the SRT lineup consists of (left to right) the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Chrysler’s Ralph Gilles is a busy guy these days. He is both the president and CEO of the SRT brand and Motorsports and the senior vice president of Product Design. Consumer Guide recently sat down with Ralph for a conversation about the relaunch of the Viper and the SRT brand in general.
Consumer Guide: It seems like the new Viper has moved upscale with this new generation. Is that where that market is going? Is there still a place for a raw, bare-bones sports car?
The SRT Viper is plenty wild straight off the factory floor, but if it’s still not enough, Mopar offers plenty of aftermarket performance and dress-up goodies.
Most automakers have aftermarket parts divisions, but few put theirs as front-and-center as Chrysler does. At the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, Chrysler’s Mopar brand was out in force, with a separate section set aside and plenty of wares on display. For Dodge, SRT Viper, Fiat 500, and Jeep fans, it’s kid-in-a-candy-store time. Check out the pics below. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Chicago Auto Show is predominantly about new and upcoming production vehicles that can be bought at your local dealership, but the show also gets its fair share of concept vehicles, one-off custom cars, and TV and movie cars. Here are three Hollywood-inspired machines that we came across at this year’s show. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This post-apocalyptic 2013 Dodge Charger is one of the vehicular stars of the upcoming SyFy network TV show “Defiance.” The Dodge Challenger pictured on the banner will be featured in the corresponding video game.
Off-road tires, auxiliary lights, a grille guard, fender-mounted “exhaust headers,” and a hood scoop with a futuristic “supercharger” toughen up the Charger’s already-aggressive looks. The weathered finish looks like it’s the product of 40 years’ worth of exposure to the elements, but it’s actually a vinyl wrap.
2014 Ford Fiesta ST RallyCross car
Ford Motor Company is showing off its commitment to high-performance compact and subcompact cars by displaying a new Fiesta ST RallyCross race car and the Focus TrackSTer, a one-off custom Focus ST, during the press days of the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.
Fiesta ST RallyCross car
Constructed by Swedish rally-car company OlsbergsMSE, the 2014 Fiesta ST RallyCross car is a purpose-built racing machine that puts out well over 500 horsepower. Ford is pumping up its presence in the Global RallyCross Championship series and in X Games competition, and the Fiesta ST will be competing in a full schedule of these events in 2013. Ford is also continuing its relationship with highly marketable drivers Tanner Foust (a two-time GRC champion), Brian Deegan, and Ken Block, all of whom will pilot Fiesta STs for the 2013 GRC season.
Focus TrackSTer
Built to show off the aftermarket performance potential of Ford’s high-performance compact “hot hatch,” the Focus TrackSTer is the product of a collaboration between Ford Racing, Ken Block, and Los Angeles-based automotive tuner fifteen52. It’s a 2013 Ford Focus ST that’s been thoroughly hot-rodded with plenty of Ford Racing performance parts, along with components from Mountune and StopTech.
This 1906 Buick is 107 years old. When it was new, it shared the roads (or what passed for roads) with horse-drawn carriages. Even if antique cars aren’t your cup of tea, it’s a real treat to soak in the details of a car like this in person.
Here is our second installment of the amazing machines on display at the 2012 Holiday Motor Excursion this past December. If you missed Part One, you can find it here. Enjoy! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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2014 Kia Sorento
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