More and more news about another local MPV, specifically from Perodua reveiled. And now, the Perodua MPV D46T teaser is out. Below are some of the pictures. Seems that the figure getting clearer by day. Soon I believe that we can spot some of them on the road, doing the test drive.
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Remember the day when a luxury sedan was just a luxury sedan, a sports car was just a sports car, and an SUV was just an SUV? Nowadays, manufacturers are trying to make a vehicle that does everything. We have sports cars that cradle you with luxury features, crossovers that straddle the line between SUV and wagon, and luxury cars that have sports car characteristics. The Infiniti M35 fits right in the middle of the latter description, but so does the BMW 5-Series, Acura RL, and Audi A6, among others.
It’s hard to stand out in a class with blurred lines and so much competition, but that’s exactly what Infiniti intends to do with the M35 and M45 mid-size sedan.
We know Infiniti is no slouch when it comes to keeping their line-up fresh, and the M35 is no exception. For 2009, they upgraded last year’s 275 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 to produce 303 hp, and added two more gears to the old automatic transmission, for a total of seven. The M45 and AWD models (M35x and M45x) keep the same 5-speed automatic, however.
With a car that is both a luxury sedan and sports sedan, you usually get options to lean it one way or the other. Our review model was a M35 S, which means it’s equipped with the $1650 Sport package. This includes a tighter suspension, bigger wheels, stickier tires, sporty seats and trim, rear active steering for better stability, and “unique sport styling,” as they call it.
I had a lot of fun driving the M35; much more than I expected. The car is surprisingly responsive, and handled very tight for a big sedan. The 303 hp V6 under the hood produces plenty of power, which is usually right there when you need it. With the stability control turned off, it’s easy to break the rear wheels loose and have some fun sliding around corners, or ease up on the throttle and let the rear active steering and performance tires do their job, propelling you around turns like you’re on rails. Drive Shift (sport) mode keeps the RPMs high to ensure proper engine response when you need it, and the manual shift mode with rev-match blips the throttle on downshift to ensure you don’t lose revs in the lower gear. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was driving a sports car.
The interior doesn’t let you forget you’re in a luxury sedan, however. Big, comfortable, and infinitely adjustable front seats are heated and cooled, and rear seat passengers have plenty of room. The trunk is as big as most competitors’ trunks, which will fit everything but a bathtub. Standard features include auto on/off HID headlights that pivot when you turn around corners, a power moonroof, Bluetooth, dual climate, intelligent key, and driver-position memory. As with all new Infinitis, the M35 comes with magical self-healing clearcoat paint, which repairs light scratches by itself.
Our M35 came with a 14-speaker 5.1 Bose surround sound system, which is available with the Advanced Tech package. The two speakers embedded in the front seatbacks right behind your ears make any music sound life-like. The touchscreen hard drive navigation system is fast and good, although the maps were outdated, as with most nav systems. A standard RCA (red/white/yellow) connection and available iPod-integration jack (Tech package) give you choices to hook up media, but the lack of a standard 1/8” auxiliary jack leaves anyone using an MP3 player other than an iPod music-less; unless you opt for the 9.3 GB hard drive, which allows you to store your music in the car.
Also included in the Tech package is voice recognition and a rear view camera, while the Advanced Tech package adds Adaptive cruise control, that excellent sound system, and an interesting Lane Departure warning and prevention system. This technology detects when you’re leaving your lane without using your blinker, then beeps at you and applies brakes accordingly to nudge you back into your lane. While this is a great idea in theory, I have troubles seeing how it’s very useful. When I tested the system, I let go of the steering wheel and began to drift out of my lane slowly as if I fell asleep at the wheel. The brakes lightly applied themselves on one side of the car, which pulled slightly back into my lane, then began to drift off again. If I really fell asleep and didn’t wake up to the slight nudge back into my lane, I would have still run off the side of the road and into the ditch.
I have a few other minor complaints about the M35 which should be fixed. While I normally love cooled seats, these didn’t work very well. They made the small of my back very cold, and did almost nothing to the rest of the seat. The center stack controls, while mostly good, are a bit confusing and cluttered. The DVD slot in the center console takes up so much room that the storage space is almost useless. Finally, the rear-view mirror is mounted too high, causing me to scrape my knuckles against the course plastic every time I need to adjust the mirror. It’s worth noting again that there should be a standard auxiliary jack for those brave souls who haven’t bowed to the iPod monopoly, and own a different brand of MP3 player.
The 3.5-liter V6 is plenty powerful, but if you crave more, you can opt for the M45 with 325hp and 336 lb-ft of torque in its 4.5-liter V8. In the near future, I expect the M line to adopt Infiniti’s new 3.7-liter V6 already seen in the smaller G37. This engine produces 330hp, which is higher than the 4.5-liter V8 in the M45, so I suspect that’s why it’s not already available in the M.
Overall, I think the 2009 Infiniti M35 is an excellent car, and does a great job at combining the comfort and convenience of a luxury sedan and the fun-to-drive factor of a sports car. Plenty of space inside and more than enough cargo room make it a capable family-hauler that can be taken on long trips, as well as prove to be fun on curvy roads. Starting at $46,000, the M35 is in the same range as most competitors, and provides loads of standard features and even more available packages for customization.
Competitors:
BMW 5-Series
Hyundai Genesis Sedan
Acura RL
Audi A6
2009 Audi Q7 3.6 Prestige quattro S-Line
For this review, I’m going to try and tame my urge to make intermittent comments about my general distaste for large, overpriced, and overweight SUVs. I really like Audis, and my experience thus far has been that they don’t make anything that I don’t like. It couldn’t be all that bad, could it?
After all, it’s undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best-looking SUVs on the road. Put it up against it’s siblings - the Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg - and it’s a freaking supermodel.
The 2009 Q7 is a pleasant drive, as I would expect it to be, and has your typical family-hauling SUV features and a few extras such as leather seating with heated front seats, dual-zone climate control (four-zone with the warm weather package,) bluetooth connectivity, lots of safety bits, navigation, HID headlights, 3rd row seating, a power liftgate, and Audi’s MMI interface. Many technology and luxury features come standard, and includes some features which aren’t available as an option on other SUVs.
The Q7 is bigger than some competitors, and therefore has plenty of space for cargo and passengers. The large size, however, combined with Audi’s superior build quality and solidness, adds to the weight of the vehicle, which tips the scales at over 5000 lbs. This decreases fuel economy and acceleration, which is partially remedied by the newly available 3.0-liter TDI engine which burns diesel. I hope gets the attention it deserves, and people begin to realize they can get hybrid-level fuel economy out of a diesel engine.
Despite its size, the Audi Q7 handles particularly well, and its suspension soaks up most bumps and potholes with ease. The Q7, which is classified as a large crossover SUV, is a pleasure to drive in-town in any weather, but I wouldn’t go too far off-road in it.
Our review model was a 2009 Audi Q7 3.6 Premium quattro Tiptronic S-line. The 3.6-liter V6 engine is the smaller of the two gasoline engines, and provides 280hp. We found this to be adequate for most, if a bit underpowered for the Q7’s weight of 5080 lbs. The power ran through a 6-speed automatic “Tiptronic” transmission to all four wheels. The other available engines are a 4.2-liter V8 providing 350hp, and a 225hp (369 lb-ft of torque) 3.0-liter FSI diesel engine which was just made available for 2009.
Our model was of the $5,900 “Prestige” trim, meaning it comes with the intelligent key, xenon headlights, voice control, rear view camera and sonar to assist in parking, navigation, Bose surround sound, and driver memory seat. Ours was also equipped with the optional $1,850 panorama sunroof which covers the front and rear of the vehicle, and the $1,150 warm weather package which includes four-zone climate control and window shades for the rear door windows and tailgate.
Last but not least, our Q7 tester was an S-line model, which includes bigger wheels, aluminum inlays, headlight washers, a modified front grille, S-line badging abound, a front, rear, and side body kit, and shift paddles for the 6-speed automatic. While the S-line makes it look more sporty and aggressive, I don’t really see the point, especially with the paddle shifters. Paddles aren’t going to trick you into thinking you’re driving a sports car, and ultimately serve very little purpose. Basically you’re buying a $3,000 appearance package.
While I like many things about the Q7 SUV - great looks inside and out, plenty of space, pleasant to drive, high quality, and lots of tech and luxury features - there are a few other things I didn’t like so much. The GPS was outdated and didn’t include some roads that have been here for a couple years, and you couldn’t use the GPS while moving. This is a pet peeve of mine. The center console is very small for such a large vehicle. There is only one cup holder in view, until you fold up a flap on the center console, which can get in the way at times. There is no standard auxiliary jack for MP3 players, which is an annoyingly common problem with Audis. Finally, the climate control system was confusing, and God-help-us, we never figured out how to turn the damn thing off. An “Off” button would have really helped. Ultimately, my biggest problem with the Q7 is that there was nothing about it that really stood out. Nothing that said “buy me instead of the Mercedes” like most Audis (other than the significantly better looks.)
Our model came in a hefty $60,375, and was almost fully loaded. You can get into a 2009 Q7 3.6 V6 for as low as $43,500. If you want to step up into the V8 model, you’ll have to fork over a minimum of $59,220 - which includes the high-end Prestige package. Getting into a 3.0 TDI model will start at $50,900.
Overall, the 2009 Audi Q7 is a capable people-carrier with plenty of luxury amenities, and a great in-town or long-distance cruiser. The V6 is a bit slow under acceleration, and both gas engines are thirsty; the V6 gets a combined 16 mpg, and the V8 guzzles at a rate of 15 mpg. I’m hoping the diesel version catches on here in the States. Although the numbers weren’t available at the time of this review, the increase in fuel economy will be significant.
Competitors:
Infiniti FX
Acura MDX
Mercedes GL-Class
Volvo XC90
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April 2009 new car sales in the U.S. market were down once again, a drop of 34.4% over April 2008. Moreover, nearly 40,000 fewer new vehicles were sold in April compared to March 2009, even with one more selling day for April.
Take Ford: As the Blue Oval continues to map out its future, one where they’ll likely pass its chief rival, General Motors, sometime this year or next, the company was quick to emphasize the acceptance of their all-new mid-size sedans — the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ and the hybrid variants offered with the first two models. According to Autodata, Ford sales were off 31.5%, but the company sold more midsize vehicles than expected while also picking up market share. Best news of all, Ford passed Toyota in sales for the month.
Chrysler continues to struggle as its current bankruptcy state and pending relationship with Fiat unfolds. Although Mitsubishi posted the worst month over month loss of any full line manufacturer at 55.9%, Chrysler showed the biggest drop amongst the Big Six, falling 48.1% for the month. That bad news hasn’t stopped Chrysler from touting its good news which included both the Dodge Challenger and Chrysler Town & Country seeing a sales increase over the previous month while the Jeep Wrangler saw its sales increase by 7% over April 2008. Chrysler was also one of the most vocal in claiming that the market may have finally stabilized.
Among the other manufacturers offering their reports the following good news could be found:
The months ahead are a big question mark for all manufacturers as future sales hinge on two events: an economic recovery as well as a “cash for clunkers” program now being considered by the U.S. Congress. An improvement in the former and the implementation of the latter could go far to stimulate sales, perhaps bringing about a sustained recovery.
Related Reading — Sales Data Shows Promise Amid The Gloom
For years, manufacturers such as Lexus, Acura, and Cadillac have tried to beat, or at least take some share away from the BMW 3-Series’ firm grip on the luxury sports sedan/coupe market. None, however have come as close as the Infiniti G35. Some say the G35 even surpassed the 3-Series. I for one loved the G35 Coupe. Fun to drive, great handling, great looking, and the best exhaust note this side of $60K.
But when BMW hit back with the 335i, Infiniti had to come up with something even better - and they did. For 2008, Infiniti released the G37 Coupe. Styling similar to the G35 Sedan which was (at the time) recently redesigned, the G37 contains a larger 3.7-liter version of the excellent V6 powerplant which powered the previous model. Now sporting a naturally aspirated 330hp, Infiniti is back in the game.
We had the Infiniti G37x Coupe - the “x” means that it’s equipped with Infiniti’s Intelligent AWD system. The system keeps the car in RWD until it senses slip, which will allow it to send up to 50% of its power to the front wheels. Our G37x was fully-loaded, equipped with the $1,150 Technology Package, $3,000 Premium Package, $2,200 Navigation Package, $330 illuminated kick plates, and the $1,650 upgraded 18-inch wheels. The Premium package added stuff like a moonroof, upgraded audio, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and Bluetooth, while the Tech package adds Adaptive Cruise Control, Adaptive front lighting, and front pre-crash seat belts. The Navigation package included a hard drive-based nav system, voice recognition, rear back-up camera, and a 9.3-GB hard drive music system.
Not much was changed for the 2009 model, except for the addition of a seven-speed automatic transmission which replaces last year’s five-speed. Infiniti has also incorporated their new self-healing clearcoat paint to the G37. Don’t go around keying your G37, but the claim is that small scratches in the clearcoat (not the base coat underneath) will heal themselves after a day or two, which will keep your car’s finish nice and clean over time and eliminate those pesky hairline scratches found in all cars a few years old. You might want to contact Nissan about what type of polish to use and how to wash the car as to not ruin that clearcoat.
Also new for the 2009 G37 is the addition of the sedan, which is upgraded from last year’s G35 line, and a long-awaited convertible model later this year.
Infiniti might just be onto something here. The G37 Coupe hits a nice balance between a sports coupe and luxury car. It looks great, but if you’re a long-time reader you’ll know I was disappointed at Infiniti’s decision to design it more like a G35 Sedan with 2 doors, and less like the gorgeous Infiniti Coupe Concept shown at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. The interior is designed well, with sporty curves and aluminum accents abound.
Driving is where the G37 shines. Under the hood you’ll find a responsive and powerful 330 horsepower V6 engine that gets you from 0 to 60mph in just over 5 seconds, and provides an intoxicating exhaust note, which is one of the best sounds out of an exhaust you can get for under $40K. The downshift rev matching feature is cool, and when you get it just right, the throttle blip when downshifting sounds great. The G37 is fun to drive and has excellent grip around turns with its AWD powertrain, but allows to to break loose the rear tires for a couple seconds before the traction control nannies you back into a straight line.
Steering is tight and balanced, and rivals the BMW 3-Series. I never noticed anything about the suspension, which shows that it’s perfectly balanced for both a sporty drive and luxury ride. Comfortable and very bolstered seats keep you in place around turns, and allow lots of adjustability. I also liked that the entire instrument cluster moves when adjusting the tilt & telescoping steering column, which helps to ensure the gauges aren’t blocked by the wheel no matter your height.
The technology on-board was plentiful, such as the adaptive cruise control, which eases the pain of a slow driver in the passing lane. Adaptive front lighting pivots the headlights around turns to increase visibility. The GPS is fast, and allowed easy control over the system which could be controlled via buttons, or touch screen. The on-board iPod integration is nice, but should also have a standard auxiliary jack for other devices.
Ultimately, the G37 is priced below its competitors, offers the same or more power and luxury amenities, making it an overall great value for a sport coupe or sedan.
Limited interior space hampers the G37 Coupe from hauling more than 2 adults, and the trunk is rather small. Storage space is also at a minimum, as the center console and glove box are both tiny. Regarding media, there is no standard auxiliary jack for MP3 players, only a connector for your iPod and RCA jacks for a video feed. The main controls for navigation, media, and car settings also need some work, as it can be confusing to navigate through the menus.
My main complaint about the car is the transmission. While a 7-speed automatic is otherwise fine for this car, it has problems deciding how it wants to act. It never seems to shift at the right points, and doesn’t adjust to driving style. Too many times I steeped on the throttle and had to wait a few seconds before it kicked in; it doesn’t always have power there when you need it. You can remedy this by switching to the manual mode and shifting yourself, but you shouldn’t have to do that. If that’s the case, then just get the manual transmission, which I imagine would better fit this car anyway. Lastly, at high revs the engine gets windy and complains, which could be fixed with some extra sound dampening under the hood.
The 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe is an evolutionary upgrade from last year, and continues to prove an excellent value for those in the market for a sport/luxury coupe or sedan. Here’s the skinny:
You can get a comparable BMW 3-Series - which would be the 335i xDrive Coupe - with AWD, 300 horsepower (30 less than the G37,) same fuel economy, starting at $44,100. The same Infiniti G37 AWD Coupe starts at $38,700. Don’t get me wrong, the 3-Series is a great car, but at least drive both before you make the decision, and don’t let the brand name factor skew your decision.
