Verdict: 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X Limited

Our Winner Has Been the Sum of its Parts
From the June, 2010 issue of Motor Trend
/ By Scott Mortara
/ Photography by Jessica Germiller



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The Subaru Forester does everything well. That's the reason it was crowned our 2009 Sport/Utility of the Year, and after more than a year's service in the Motor Trend test fleet, that choice was more than reaffirmed.


The Forester never sat in our garage. It was the Swiss Army knife of the MT fleet:

Go anywhere, do anything, rarely a problem, and never a complaint-from the vehicle, that is. Whether loaded with photo or video gear, camping equipment, or family road trip supplies, the Forester was up to the challenge.


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Every SUV becomes a workhorse of sorts when in the MT test fleet, and the Forester was no exception. With its ample interior space, high clearance, and full-time AWD, it was a no-brainer to use this vehicle for support on comparison adventures. From the snowy peaks of Mammoth Mountain to the scorching desert floor of Death Valley, the Forester always proved the right choice for the job.


While there were no complaints from the car, there were a few from our staffers. The main issue was with the four-speed automatic transmission. In this day and age of seven- and eight-speed transmissions, a four-speed is an antique. Just one extra gear would make a world of difference in the entire driving experience of the Forester. On significant inclines, the transmission would constantly hunt between third and fourth gear, annoying occupants and reducing fuel economy. But once rolling down the highway or maneuvering around town, the

Long Term Update 4: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

Everybody loves this wagon
From the June, 2010 issue of Motor Trend
/ By Ron Kiino
/ Photography by William Walker



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"Since the A4 Avant is one of the most coveted vehicles of many staffers, I've been looking forward to finally getting some time in it," notes photographer Julia LaPalme. "After driving it for five days, I had mixed feelings about this wagon. One of the first things I noted was the excellent visibility. Audi did a good job minimizing the visual impact of the C- and D-pillars, especially with the extra window behind the D-pillar. The cargo capacity is impressive, as, from the outside, the vehicle appears quite small. I was able to fit two 3x3-foot bounce boards in the back without having to remove the cargo cover. Further, the back seats that fold down nearly flat are a nice bonus."



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While LaPalme considers both the visibility and cargo capacity plusses, she found the A4's blind-spot warning system a mixed bag. "The A4's blind-spot system, which warns of a vehicle (or object, as it seems) in the driver's blind spot by flashing a yellow light on the side mirror, took a little getting used to, as the lights are so bright. I thought I was seeing emergency vehicles in my sideview mirrors. It was startling. The other problem with this feature is it's rather conservative for driving in L.A. traffic. The warning lights will flash even when a car in the next lane is a car length behind, which is plenty of space to move over into. The warning lights have also begun flashing when I'm in a mid-lane change and nowhere near hitting another vehicle. Upon inspection of the manual, I found these driver-assist lights can be adjusted for brightness or turned off entirely."


Associate Web editor Kirill Ougarov spent some time in the A4 and logs, "I'm glad this A4 has the Audi Drive Select feature that lets the driver dial in steering and suspension settings to his own preferences. I'm a big fan of dynamic mode, which puts the A4 closer in feel to the 3 Series."

2010 Beijing Auto Show: Ford Start Concept

April 22, 2010



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When it comes to designing eco-friendly urban transportation, automakers have tried just about everything. They've drawn up bubble cars, autonomic pods, even semi-robotic unicycles. Ford however, has decided against cribbing from the pages of a sci-fi novel and opted for something far more conventional: a three-door hatchback. Specifically, the Start concept the automaker unveiled at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show.


“Our ambition was to design a car that transcends the practical realities of commuting in these mega cities, and goes beyond just dressing the technology,” said Freeman Thomas, design director. “We wanted to design a car you would also love.”


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There’s little not to love about the Start, Ford’s first concept in three years, and the first developed under the global auspices of the “One Ford” mantra. Although the Start shows traces of Ford’s “kinetic” design language, its rounded form is much more elegant. Angular edges are limited to both the shoulder lines and the slender, LED-powered headlamp and taillights. Thomas says the Start features “refined surface language” usually found on premium vehicles, and we’d agree -- from some angles, the Start almost resembles Audi’s new A1.


Function doesn’t necessarily follow form, however, as stylists made an effort to improve the car’s aerodynamics. Many surfaces, including the windshield, side window glass, and center stop lamp, are flush with the body, while an underbody aero pan further reduces the Start’s drag. The interior is as equally stylish and functional -- the floating dual-cockpit dashboard lends a sporty look, but a conceptual infotainment system, billed as “MyFord Mobile,” incorporates a multi-function touch screen to simplify the center stack.


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While the Start’s form allowed Thomas’ team to flex their creative muscle, the mechanicals beneath the car are firmly rooted in reality. Ford’s teased the idea of an EcoBoost three-cylinder, but this is our first look at such an engine. The turbocharged, 1.0-liter I-3 utilizes a cast-iron block, but a cylinder head and sump fabricated from cast aluminum. Ford won’t talk power figures, saying only that early tests suggest it can produce power on par with its 1.6-liter I-4, which is rated at 120 horsepower in North America. Power is routed to the front wheels via an ordinary five-speed manual transaxle.


Ford says the EcoBoost three-cylinder would allow the Start to emit well under 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer. That’s not a crucial figure here in North America, but it is in Europe, where Ford sells the similar-sized Ka. We doubt the Start is destined for production anytime soon, but look for the turbo-three to land in some small European Fords in the near future.

BMW Concept Gran Coupe

The Future of BMW Design: One Part Gran Turismo, One Part Sports Car
April 23, 2010



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With its Concept Gran Coupe, BMW aims to demonstrate its future design direction. According to the press release from the automaker announcing the car, which was revealed at a special event in Beijing, the Gran Coupe "presents the vision of a four-door with the exclusivity of a Gran Turismo and the fascination of a high-performance sports car." The concept is also supposed to show BMW's adherence to its core values, listed as "dynamic performance and high-quality elegance," as its design pushes ever forward.


BMW head designer Adrian von Hooydonk says the Gran Coupe is the logical successor to the four-door CS Concept unveiled in Shanghai three years ago. "Cars for this market should have four doors," he says. "If it has four seats, it should have four doors, as the Chinese put a lot of emphasis on family and friends."

But, "This is not a concept only for China - this is an international concept," von Hooydonk adds. "It will be a driver's car, despite having rear seats. It is more athletic than the 7 and 5 Series. The driving dynamic will be different."

BMW Design DNA follows two slogans: "One family, different characters" and "Rooted in history, moving forward in design." To this end, the design team focuses on three elements: Proportions, Surfacing and Details, and historical characteristics like the Hofmeister kinked side glazing, shoulder crease and finely tuned surfacing.


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The brand's classic design staples are included in the Gran Coupe, which include a long wheelbase, domed hood, a setback greenhouse, coupe-style roofline, and short front overhang. The concept also has what BMW somewhat confusingly calls a "flat silhouette" that, when combined with coupe-like proportions, aims to evoke a high-performance aesthetic.


The LED, double round headlights work in combination with BMW's modern interpretation of its hallmark kidney grill (for sportier cars, the more dramatic headlamp eyebrows will be used to give the car a focused appearance). The grill sits flat on the nose, which itself carries an extension that aims to create a "forward-pointing dynamic." Air inlets stretch into the side section, which BMW says gives the front a wide appearance.

The side boasts flowing lines that stretch 16.4 feet, the entire length of the vehicle. The lines reach across the frameless doors and shape the flared wheel arches. Wrapped with 245/40/20 and 275/35/20 Michelin Primacy rubber, the wheels boast relief-milled spokes that extend into the middle of the rim. At 4.6 feet tall, the Gran Coupe is almost four inches shorter than the new 5 Series, according to BMW. Von Hooydonk says the wheelbase is not from a 7 Series, but wouldn't give any more detail other than that the Gran Coupe has a long wheelbase, but is wider, lower, more fluid, and has a lower roofline.

The Hofmeister kink appears as the roof tapers off into the rear. Out back, BMW says only the curved, L-shaped lights and tailpipe trim are visible at first. The third brake light uses LEDs and sits right at the kink in the roof, illuminating the entire width of the rear window.

No word yet on whether the Concept Gran Coupe will see production in revised form -- von Hooydonk demurred on all questions regarding its production future, telling inquirers to ask development chief, Dr. Klaus Draeger -- but given BMW's recent niche-busting ways, we wouldn't doubt it for a moment.