Well… we’ve seen this for the last several years already, that cars from the same manufacture have similar looking interiors. Personally I think that’s reasonable because all manufactures share parts bin among models in their lineup in order to reduce cost. However, I think recently Audi and BMW have taken this “laziness” or cost-cutting into an entire level altogether. In the following 3 pictures you can see the interiors for popular Audi models and BMW’s newest addition to their lineup, the F01 7-series and F10 5-series, as well as the current 3-series and 5-series.
From a quick glance it’s almost impossible to indentify which interior is for which model. All Audis have the up-right standup center stack that’s molded into the gauge cluster and angles toward the driver; the major controls, vents and navigation screens are all in the same region, they all have the trim pieces (whether it’s wood or metal) in front of the passenger seat on top of the glove box. Also, all Audis have similar looking gauge clusters.
If you think that’s bad then let’s take a look at BMW’s masterpiece… Can you even tell that those are two different interiors from two TOTALLY DIFFERENT cars? Just for giggles, take a look at the A/C vents for both interiors… Yup! They are the same, EXACTLY the same. As for the current 5-series and 3-series? I’ll let the picture do all the talking.
Oh, and don’t forget to compare the steering wheels too…
Let’s take a look at the 4 major luxury automakers’ flagship lineups:
Audi:
A8
A8L (long wheel-base)
S8 (performance)
BMW:
730d/Ld (not available in US)
740d (not available in US)
740i/Li (not available in US)
750i/Li
750i/Li xDrive (AWD)
760i/Li (V12)
ActiveHybrid7/ActiveHybrid7L (hybrid)
Lexus:
LS460/LS460L
LS460/LS460L AWD
LS460 Sport (sports tuned suspension)
LS600hL (hybrid)
From the model listing it seems like BMW and MB offer more engine choices than Lexus, however when we take a closer look we can see that Lexus offers more variety than the other two brands. The LS460 has both standard and long wheel-base, with AWD options are available for both and the sports-tuned suspension available for the standard wheel-base version. Also there is a range toping hybrid that offers V8 gas mileage and V12-like performance to compete with the other V12 flagships in the segment.
One can really make a case for either three brands of having the most complete flagship lineup in the segment (Audi is a non-factor in this discussion…) but let’s not forget that Lexus is only 20 years old so I think it’s incredible for them just to be able to be included in this discussion with the more established brands.
There are a lot of praises around the web after BMW unveiled the 2011 5-series, people are saying BMW has finally put Chris Bengle behind them and finally come out with a good looking and exciting design…
Well, sorry to rain on their parades but there is nothing “exciting” about the F10 (code name for the new 5-series), it is handsome at best, so is the current Lexus GS and just about everyone else in the same segment.
I’ll be the first to admit that I was one of the haters when the E60 first showed up, but I’ve warmed up to it over the years, especially after the face-lift with the updated tail lamp. Compare to the F10 it is more stylish, has more characters in design and in all honesty it is probably the most successful model under Bengle’s reign.
All in all, BMW puts out a “safe” design for the new 5er, it is inoffensive, handsome, straight forward but lacking the spice that its predecessor has.
Also, what’s up with BMW designers? Did they hang out with their Audi counterparts too much lately or what? The new 5-series is just shockingly similar as the 7er, which is really not a good trend imo (never the Audi S-M-L type of design fan). Say whatever you want about Lexus’ designs but at least Lexus designers actually put in effort to create four different looking sedans unlike their lazy European counterparts.
Recently I ran across a post on an auto enthusiast forum about how the lacking of the fold-down rear seat in the HS250h is the deal breaker. The poster argued about how other hybrids like the Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Insight, Nissan Altima, Saturn Aura, Toyota Camry and Toyota Prius all have it so it appears Lexus is “cutting back” for not including the feature. Well, I did some “googearch” in my own spare time and found out the following…
Toyota Camry Hybrid:
In a closer look, this is the amount of access room (or the lack of…) that one gets from the fold-down seat with the batteries in the trunk:
The Malibu Hybrid is a mild hybrid, which means it’s a joke comparing to Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) system… Saturn Aura Hybrid uses the same system as the Malibu hybrid.
Sure in the picture it appears to be the Malibu hybrid has tons of access with the fold-down rear seat but the reality is that the battery pack is much smaller comparing to the Toyota/Lexus systems. The reason is due to the GM’s hybrid battery pack only powers the motor/alternator for engine assist as well as restarting the engine from AUTO STOP mode and does not independently driving the wheels like the Toyota’s HSD.
Toyota Prius:
Toyota Prius is a hatch back, which allows it to have more room in the trunk area. As you can see from the picture, in that area of interest, the cabin is also much taller comparing to the Camry hybrid.
Honda Insight:
Honda Insight almost has the identical shape as the Toyota Prius, so the reasons above can also be applied here.
Following are the performance specs released by the manuactures for both cars:
Lexus LFA/MB SLS AMG
Power Rating:552 HP / 563 HP Torque Rating:354 lb-ft / 430 lb-ft Curb Weight:3,263 lbs / 3,571 lbs Engine Type:4.8L V10 / 6.3L V8 Engine Placement:Front-mid / Front-mid Drive Type:RWD / RWD 0 – 60 Acceleration:3.6 sec / 3.7 sec Top Speed:202 mph / 197 mph Price:~ $375,000 US / ~250,000 US
As you can see, these two cars match up pretty well on all aspects, including mechanical setup, performance and weight (The SLS is heavier by ~300 lbs). The only difference seems to be AMG prefers the high displacement, high torque V8 but Lexus went with the small displacement, high revving (redline at 9000 rpm) V10.
If that’s not enough to convince you that this is the match-up made in heaven, how about this: The MB SLS AMG is the first car ever developed solely from the ground up by MB’s performance department – AMG. The Lexus LF-A on the other hand is the first supercar from Toyota and many would argue that it is the first true exotic from any Japanese automakers. With that in mind when both cars go on sale in 2010 (or 2011…) we can expect to read all about their head-to-head comparison from all the major automotive publications. So…
Being one of the advocates who support Lexus to build the LFA super car prior of the premier I was literally staring at my monitors all day on 10/21 because I want to know about the car as soon as any information is out. I couldn’t hold my joy when I first saw the leaked pictures and videos because this car is everything that I imagined it would be and that interior is simply gorgeous. However, I must say that when I saw the released specs, my heart has suddenly dropped because although the performance puts the LFA well in the thick of the current super cars, it is just not as “magnificent” as it should be. The worst has yet to come, after learning that the MSRP of the LFA could be around the $400k range instead of the previous speculated $250k I became a bit disappointed at Lexus’ first ever super car, if not at Lexus…
After hours reading the reviews, visiting auto enthusiast sites and watching video I finally realized what’s my beef with LFA: I just simply couldn’t justify the sticker price and that is a first to me about any Lexus products. Lexus to me is a tier-one luxury brand that offers the same if not better products and service as their competitors but with better values, so naturally I was expecting the same from the Lexus super car. I was hoping that the LFA will be a $400k-caliber car with a $250k sticker but in my opinion we got a $250k-caliber car with a rumored $400k price.
I am not going to deny that this car is definitely an automotive technological marvel with executions such as: 65% of the engine is Titanium, it makes 114hp per liter, weighs 3200 lbs and 65% of the car are Carbon Fiber. Also not to mention that gorgeous and well designed interior which has been universally praised regardless how people think about the car. But it’s just a bit of a bummer that all those incredible achievements and technologies didn’t translate into “crazy” performance specs. I mean yes, talking about the couple tenth difference in 0-to-60 acceleration is silly, sure, the LFA stacks up very well with other super cars and of course I will reserve my final judgment until I see the full test result. However, for Lexus to charge $400k (same price range as all other well established exotic manufactures) on something that is not truly extraordinary is just something I couldn’t understand.
After I was able to gather my thoughts and think about the LFA from a more logical and less objective point of view, I have to say that this is a nice first effort from Lexus to enter the super car arena just like how they did with the IS F. It won’t “crush” the competitors but at the same time it’ll hold its own among other super cars. Also, by producing only 500 units, Toyota/Lexus will be able to avoid the questions such as “Does this car really worth the price?”, smart move I guess.
At last, I would like to summarize my thoughts on the Lexus LFA with one sentence:
This car will be the best thing since sliced bread if Lexus has priced it around $200k.
Now, stop reading for a second, look at the test results again and try to come up with a winner OBJECTIVELY. when you are ready, read on.
Okay, so the BMW is cheaper (by 10 grands according the as-test price and good luck on finding a S4 that’s below $50k on the lot), handles equally well, is lighter, has better steering feel and is only a tad slower than the S4… But the Audi S4 still ends up as the winner? I mean, seriously, WTF?
No, I haven’t been in the new S4 yet but based on my experienced in the new A4 Quattro, countless times in the 335i and this sentence from the comparo write-up:
“We still prefer the more natural feel of the BMW’s steering to the S4’s responsive but slightly over-boosted setup.”
I would think the 335i would end up as the winner, by a narrow margin nevertheless but still… I mean the only strong suit of the S4 seems to be more “confident” due to the AWD setup, but what happen to that “true driver’s car” banner the automotive editors always like to wave? What about that thrill that only the RWD cars can provide? So is InsideLine openly admitting here that technology > the enthusiasts? Aren’t all the automotive editors should be enthusiasts? Isn’t that the reason they always knock on the Lexus because it’s not always about the numbers, it’s about the “feel”?
Seriously, Edmunds IL, WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING?
Oh and by the way… Audi, what are you thinking when you priced the S4? Who the heck is going to pay for a $60k S4 when anyone can special order a M3 for $56k? GEEZ!
It puzzles me everytime when people say Passat is the “driver’s car” of family sedans and other aren’t… I mean, all the sedans are products of compromise, some are compromised more than others, that’s it, to say that the Passat is a “drive’s car” while others aren’t is just ridiculous in my humble opinion.
I understand that most of us can only afford one car so we want the best balance of comfort, practicality and performance (I am in the same boat). Then my question is, if that’s the case, why would I want to get a VW? There are true RWD sports sedans out there that costs less than a comparable VW and performs better, for example:
VW CC VR6 Sport FWD: $39,015
VW CC VR6 4Motion AWD: $40,115
(I picked VR6 because that’s the only model that comes with the V6, VW doesn’t offer V6 for Passat anymore)
Then there are those who just want a comfortable and yet reliable A-to-B commuter. Based on the simple comparison I did they have even less reasons to pick VW over the other family sedans:
VW Passat: $27,600
Toyota Camry SE: $25,840
Honda Accord EX: $26,805
Nissan Altima 3.5 SE: $25,680
Mazda MAZDA6 S Sport: $24,330
(I picked the V6 models to compare with the turbo-charge 4 banger Passat just for giggles, we all know that the I4 models cost even less than the prices shown above…)
Personally I couldn’t be happier when I heard this new and it is a long time coming for me. Why you might ask? Because believe it or not, I was almost one of the “victims” due to this problem…
It was about 2 and half years ago (early 2007) when I was still in Florida, it was a Saturday morning, I remember that I brought my IS to the dealer for the 15,000-mile service and the dealer provided me with an ES350 as loaner. My friend and I then decided to take it to Orlando because I had to get a haircut and we also wanted to do some grocery shopping. On the way there near the exit of the Universal Studio I had to overtake a tractor trailer so floored the gas pedal, boy, was that a wrong decision or what…
All of the sudden I felt like the the pedal was stuck and I couldn’t get it back, with the speed climbing fast and the car in front of me approaching (lucky for me that I had A LOT of distance between me and the car in front) it was second nature for me to slam the brake. However, with the pedal fully “to the metal” the brake really didn’t do me much good, the acceleration slowed down for a while but went back up pretty quickly. At that exactly moment I seriously thought that I was going to die and my friend was looking at me like WHAT THE f*** IS GOING ON… after couple seconds I finally gathered my thoughts so I put on the emergency brake, shifted the gear to neuture and gradually moved towards the shoulder. Once I was completely stopped at the shoulder I then got under the steering wheel and found that the gas pedal was stuck behind the floor mat.
When I returned the car to the dealer I told my service rep about what happened he was so shocked, it took him couple seconds to react and ask me if I was all right (he was probably thinking that a law suit is coming…). I told him I was ok and let him know that they should take this seriously because it might fully well happen to another customer.
Given what has happened to me personally I am just glad that Toyota finally noticed the problem and decide to solve it once for all. What I can’t understand is what took them so long?
In all respect to Longo Lexus there event was great as I heard but I would rather go to a real race track like Willow Springs, Button Willow, even Laguna Seca but 1/8 mile drag is a real joke, you couldn’t find a 1/4 mile drag track.
Now MFEST……..
Mfest3 had a great track day at Spring Mountain Motorsports and that is something we all should look up to and do in the Lexus World, not this bull$hi7 of 1/8 mile, I’m talking about taking your car, from a ES300 – IS-F and testing your skills and car on a true race track.
CLUB LEXUS needs to learn from MFEST, Luxury4play (Gold Rush Rally), ModBall, etc
about what the car community and what a high performance car is about, 1/8 mile was an insult.
For the Moderators – Yes, If you delete my post, I know WHY?
You guys need to stop being the illuminati of Clublexus and let a real discussion happen for once
For some fellow Club Lexus members- Stop being snotty, respect other brands, I have never seen so much hate for others that I have seen on Clublexus and that is factual.
Thank You
I have been gone from Club Lexus for awhile but this is my return message, see you at the next meet!
Above was a post on the Club Lexus Forums, the poster was previously a Lexus owner whom recently moved to a BMW. He decided to go to a FREE Lexus-oriented event sponsored by a Lexus dealership and organized by Lexus owners/enthusiasts with his BMW buddies in their Bimmers. The event was hosted at a local track which registered Lexus owners get to track their cars FOR FREE and the organizers also provided free food. The BMW owners were welcomed by the event organizers and were provided with free food just like any other Lexus owners but they were nicely turned down when they requested to track their Bimmers.
Since it was stated ahead of the event that only Lexus owners are allowed to track their Lexus vehicles I really don’t know what’s there to argue. Also, given that this is a 100% FREE event I really don’t see how should there be anything to complain about. Sure you might get a better track experience when you pay $150 for a track day but again, THIS EVENT IS FREE. I am sure the organizers and sponsors have put a lot of time into this to make it as enjoyable as possible for everyone so for you BMW spoiled brats:
If you can’t learn to appreciate others’ effort and hard work then the best you can do is SHUT THE HELL UP!
Recently GM rolls out a new series of commercials called “May the best car win”, in those commercials pretty much GM is comparing their vehicles to their competitors and trying to convince the consumers that they are the better car. One particular commercial caught my eyes because it is just full of deception which will easily paint the wrong picture for those people who aren’t too “savvy” about the automotive industry.
Long story short, here are what GM claimed in the commercial:
Camry – 32 MPG Hwy / Malibu – 33 MPG Hwy
Corolla – 35 MPG Hwy / Cobalt – 37 MPG Hwy
Tundra – 18 MPG Hwy / Silverado – 22 MPG Hwy
RAV4 – 28 MPG Hwy / Equinox – 32 MPG Hwy
For the record, GM did not use any incorrect data when comparing to the competitors but they also didn’t paint the whole picture because they are trying to swing the advantage to their corner. In my opinion that is a very bad thing to do in commercials so please allow me to clear things up:
1. GM claimed that Camry returns 32 MPG on highway to Malibu’s 33 MPG
What GM failed to mention: The Camry has a combined city/highway cycle of 26 MPG which is the same as the Malibu. Also, the FE of the Camry hybrid is 33/34/34 which is much better than Malibu hybrid’s pathetic 26/34/29.
2. GM claimed that Camry returns 35 MPG on highway to Cobalt’s 37 MPG
What GM failed to mention: The Corolla has a combined city/highway cycle of 30 MPG which equals the Cobalt’s most fuel efficient XFE model. The Cobalt XFE is pretty much a stripper and an extra fuel efficient model in the Cobalt lineup but Toyota does not offer such a thing for the Corolla. The regular Cobalt returns 24/33/27, which is inferior in every way when comparing to Corolla’s 26/35/30.
2. GM claimed that Tundra returns 18 MPG on highway to Silverado’s 22 MPG
What GM failed to mention: GM did not state that only the Silverado HYBRID returns 22 MPG on highway, the regular gasoline versions return 14/19/16 for the 6.0L V8 and 15/20/17 for the 4.3L V6. The Silverado V6’s FE numbers is just down right pathetic when comparing to Tundra 4.6L V8’s EQUAL 15/20/17. The Tundra 5.7L V8 does return 1 less MPG in the city than the 6.0L V8 Silverado (18 vs. 19) but at the same time the Tundra also has 14 more HP and 26 more lb-ft of torque.
2. GM claimed that RAV4 returns 28 MPG on highway to Equinox’s 32 MPG
What GM failed to mention: GM actually has a case here because the 4-cylinder Equinox is hands down better than the 4-cylinder RAV4 is almost all aspects when comes to FE (22/28/24 for RAV4, 22/32/26 for Equinox). However, the V6 RAV4’s 19/27/22 has the Equinox V6’s 17/25/20 beat in city, highway AND combined cycle.
ffpower says: This Aston Martin is kind of interesting, from some angles it looks like one of the best looking 4-door coupe, if not the best, up to date but from other angles it looks down right weird… Don’t know what to think about it just yet but one thing for sure is: The more of these 4-door coupes the merrier.
BMW X1
ffpower says: Another BMW product that answered the question nobody asked… I’ll just take the 3-series wagon and call it a day.
Mazda MX-5 Superlight
ffpower says: Mazda just turned a great track car into an ultimate track car, where can I sign up?
Lexus LF-Ch
ffpower says: This is one aggressive compact hatchback, especially coming from a conservative company such as Lexus but I am sure the production model will be tone down a bit. This will provide Lexus the much needed boost in the European market and hopefully it’ll find its way to the other side of the pond.
Audi A5 Sportback
ffpower says: A handsome car but damn it Audi, all your cars look alike, this is getting bored fast…
Recently I got into a debate with a friend about whether or not Honda/Acura has been a disappointment in the last several years, so it got me thinking… How far exactly did Honda/Acura fall compare to its status and reputation back in the late 80s and 90s, I mean Honda used to have the best value in terms of price and performance back in the 90s, they also didn’t look bad at all. When Acura and Lexus first started as the two first Japanese luxury brands they were head-to-head all the way till the mid-90s. The first and second generation Acura Legends were magnificent cars, the interior fit-n-finish can rival some high end cars today such as the LS460. However, Lexus has really pulled away in the last 10 years…
I know a lot of people are still in their 90s cave pretending that Honda was still the poor man’s BMW it used to be and that’s exactly what Honda wants you to do, they are riding on past reputation. However, the truth is that their cars all got bigger, interiors got cheaper and Acuras got a whole lot uglier. They used to have “fun” cars at relatively obtainable price like the CRX, Integra and S2000 but not anymore. They hung the NSX out dry for more than 10 years without any major update before killing it, when the NSX first debut it’s the first Japanese supercar that can rival the European exotics but by the time it goes out, many sports sedans can give it a serious run for its money…
Also, Honda has always said they will make Acura a first-tier luxury car company, however, everything that they are doing or did contradict to the goal. No V8 and RWD? Sure I agree that due to the fuel economy restriction it’ll be less likely for people to opt for high displacement V8s in the future. Personally I think supercharged/turbocharged V6 is the way to go, but that wouldn’t stop those people who is willing and able to pay for the V8 luxury car and there will ALWAYS be a group of people like that. In a way, here in America people associate V8 with luxury and there are still people who wouldn’t even sniff at a car if it doesn’t have 8 bangers under the hood. By the way, let’s take a step back drop the V8 discussion for a while, but how is Honda planning to make Acura first tier without a true flagship? Huh?
Ok, maybe Honda is doing better on the other fronts, such as the green technology like hybrid you say, after all they are one of the first companies to offer a mass produced hybrid, the Insight. The truth is that the new Insight is so terrible that it’s the first car Jeremy Clarkson has ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so he didn’t have to drive it any more… The Honda Insight returns a worse fuel economy than the 2nd generation Prius but is only $2000 cheaper than the new Prius, the fit-n-finish and material use make the car felt like a tin can and the rough idle and transition between gasoline and electric make you feel you are riding a lawn mower. Don’t believe me? Read up the reviews for the new Honda Insight then you be a judge yourself.
So to summarize, Honda can’t do performance, can’t do luxury and can’t do green… It just amazes that there are still people yapping about how Toyota is “boring” and Honda makes “drives’ cars”. I got two words for those people…
BMW has released the Vision Efficientdynamics Concept ahead of the Frankfurt Auto Show which is powered by 3 power sources: a 1.5L turbo diesel that makes 163 hp with peak torque of 214 pound feet, a compact electric motor that delivers 51 hp and 214 lb ft of torque, and a second electric motor that provides 162 lb ft of torque, continuous output of 80 hp, with short bursts of up to 139 hp which drives the front wheels. BMW also gave this car a very dramatic exterior design by utilizing lively color combinations, busy lines and uneven surfaces.
Combining the great fuel economy (BMW acclaimed 63 mpg on the combined EU test cycle) and impressive performance (0 60 sprint in less than 4.8 seconds, with top speed electronically limited to 155 mph) all of the sudden BMW has put itself into the elite group of being the innovator for “green performance”.
But NOT SO FAST, BMW fanboys and wagon jumpers! Have you forgot about the Toyota FT HS concept?
Sure, if you just look at the skin deep the two are nothing alike, the Bimmer has two electric motors with a 1.5L turbo diesel and the exterior design is way busier than the FT HS. Also Not to mention the colorful combination in order to throw people off thinking that this “concept” is originated by BMW and BMW alone.
However, if you are able to get past the skin deep level and look at the bigger picture, what is this BMW “Vision Efficientdynamics” concept all about? Ultimately it is about a fuel efficient hybrid vehicle that’s also a highly capable sports car with a futuristic design inside and out. Toyota has demonstrated all these aspects with their FT HS concept back in 2007 at the NAIAS. Granted the FT HS has a much cleaner design for the exterior than the Bimmer but in my opinion the ideas are the same for both cars.
Not to take anything away from BMW for coming out with a clean, fuel efficient and yet sporty car (EXCELLENT combination) but I wouldn’t go as far as to say that it is “original” just because it has a busy color combination while Toyota has already came up with a very similar concept almost 3 years ago.
Recently I read an article on Yahoo! Finance which talks about why Toyota is slow moving in developing EV and bring it to the market. Here are some highlights of the article:
“Why is Toyota waiting on electric cars?” asked Tadashi Tateuchi, a former race car designer turned electric-car evangelist.
Electric technology could help determine winners and losers in the auto industry of the future, but Toyota has been highly skeptical of electrical vehicles.
“The time is not here,” Masatami Takimoto, Toyota’s executive vice president, said during a factory tour this year.
Electric cars “face many challenges,” he said, adding that “to commercialize pure E.V.’s, we need a battery that far exceeds the current technology.”
If Toyota is right, its competitors will have spent billions on a technology that will be slow to take off.
Moreover, he said, battery production technology is no more complicated than that of semiconductors, which are already mass produced.
“Toyota could launch an electric car tomorrow if it wanted to,” Mr. Tateuchi, the former race car engineer, said. Regretting his gas-guzzling creations, he founded the Japan E.V. Club 15 years ago to urge automakers to produce zero-emission cars.
“Toyota tells people the age of electric cars is not yet here,” he said. “That’s not true.”
Some experts predict that the auto market will soon be divided among competing technologies. “Small electric cars will be used for short distances within cities, with hydrogen cells powering big buses,” the Development Bank of Japan forecast in 2008.
Others say that once automakers commit to mass production and drive costs down, electric cars could dominate the market. That could require Toyota to speed up its electric car plans, they say.
“You don’t see many competing technologies survive in a key market for very long,” said Mr. Shimizu, the Keio University professor.
And more often than not in the history of innovation, a change in the dominant technology means a change in the market leader.
“Electric cars are a disruptive technology, and Toyota knows that,” Mr. Shimizu said. “I wouldn’t say Toyota is killing the electric vehicle. Perhaps Toyota is scared.”
First of all I would like to remind professor Hiroshi Shimizu that no, battery is NOT like semiconductors because battery actually has to store energy, release energy, restore energy and repeat that process hundreds of thousand times if not more. Also, the kind of battery we are talking about here is a bit different than the batteries that he was used to so simply saying that the battery technology is sufficient enough for EV is not a responsible statement. So I would like to suggest that professor Shimizu should probably stay at what he does best and leave the technical aspects to the professionals.
Second, those who think Toyota is “scared” by EV are totally out of their minds. They need to understand that mechanically an EV is more simple than the regular ICE vehicles and as long as there is a break through in the battery technology any current 1st tier car manufactures can make EVs without any difficulties. Also, those who think EV’s time is here is also crazy, look at that Mini E POS that BMW brought us… It costs $50,000, has a range of 100 miles and needs AT LEAST 3 to 4 hours to charge. Yeah sure it’s a great city commuter but based on those numbers how can one say that the EV is ready for the general population?
I predict the EV wouldn’t be mainstream for at least another decade. What’s going to happen is that the hybrid will continue to get better and better mileage as the battery technology improves. At a point the electric engine will become the main source and ICE will become secondary, pretty much the opposite of today’s hybrids. When that happened then we can start talking about how relevant the EV is for mass production and become mainstream.
According to Japan’s The Mainichi Daily News the sales of Lexus’ first ever dedicated hybrid hit 10,000 units in the first month of its release, shattered the original sales goal, 500 per month, by a wide margin:
Orders for Lexus’ first dedicated hybrid, the HS250h, reached 10,000 units in its first month, smashing its sales target of 500, parent company Toyota Motor Corp. said.
The waiting list for the HS250h is now six months long. Advance orders stood at 3,000 units.
The hybrid sedan can reach 23 kilometers to the liter, a fuel efficiency on par with that of Toyota’s Vitz compact. The basic model has a sticker price of 3.95 million yen.
This news got me thinking… Most people were putting put down this car when it was first released, especially the so called “enthusiast” or “purist” crowd, including most automotive journalists. Why? Because the HS250h does not run the 0-60 “in the 4s” nor does it pull a lot of Gs in the skidpad like some of their beloved sport sedans. Simply put, this is a “boring” car, it looks boring, drives boring and probably even smells boring according to those people.
However, I’ve alway been think otherwise. There are way too many people out there who don’t care about how fast to 60 the cars can run or how many G the cars can pull, they just want a simple luxurious, fuel-saving A to B commuter. Guess what, the HS250h is just a perfect car for that purpose and this report is the best evidence to show that Lexus really knows their customers and knows them well.
After posting the Mini E – A $50,000 Useless POS article I’ve gotten into several more discussion about the Mini E last week. To summarize, the majority of the supporters like the idea about the Mini E due to two reasons:
It’s a great commuter car to commute within the city
Who needs the Mini E for road trips, there is always the second car or rental for that purpose
Here comes my counter points…
Yes, this is a perfect commuter car if you live in the city, work in the city, don’t go far out of the city, and don’t have a life out of city… As for who needs the Mini E for road trips, let’s see… The Mini E costs about $1,000/month to lease so I can tell you right now that based on my current salary if I get a Mini E it will be my only car. As for getting a rental car for road trips, does anyone volunteer to pay for my rental car next time when I am going to Napa Valley?
…
Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Don’t get me wrong here, I really don’t hate the Mini E or EV in general. As matter of fact, I am totally on board if the Mini E costs 1/5 of its current cost which means either $10,000 or $200/month to lease. Because in that case a middle class family can easily afford other cars for longer trip purpose.
However this thing is at $50,000 or almost $1,000/month if you lease…
So now that leads us to the root and ask the most basic question:
What does BMW want to achieve for releasing these Mini Es at a price that will cost the customers almost $1,000/months?
According to Autoblog, BMW is coming out with a hybrid version of the X6 which features with twin electric motors and 4.4-liter V8 engine that will put out 478 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque :
According to what appear to be leaked specs from BMW, the X6 Hybrid will scoot to 60 in about 5.5 seconds while returning a 20-percent fuel mileage improvement over the standard X6 with its twin-turbo V8. To set the hybrid apart from its standard sibling, BMW will bestow the new fuel-saver with a power dome hood (musclecar elements on a hybrid – HA!) and a bespoke metallic blue hue.
Faster yet will be the upcoming 7 Series Hybrid, which will reportedly be able to cover the run to 60 in under five seconds flat via the 459 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of torque provided by its V8-based hybrid powertrain combination. BMW predicts an X6 Hybrid-matching 20-percent increase in fuel efficiency from its 7 Series Hybrid.
Well, let’s see…
The the X6 xDrive 50i has a combine FE of 15 MPG and 750Li is at 17 MPG, according to my little own calculation with 20% better that’ll put them at at 18 and 20.5 MPG, respectively. Just for comparison purpose, the LS600hL returns a combine FE of 21 mpg and the acceleration is on part with the X6 hybrid at 5.5 seconds.
So Here’s the question to the German fanboys who have been claiming the LS600hL is pointless because it doesn’t offer extreme gas saving and doesn’t perform any better than the regular LS:
What do you say now when your beloved BMW also came out with not just one but TWO pointless vehicles?
Before I get to my explanation on why the Mini E is an useless POS let me share with you some of the fact first:
The Gross Capitalized Cost of the electric Mini is $50,713.64, in order to be Mini’s lab mice for a year the cost is $928.63 per month (tax included).
It takes more than 30 hours to get a full battery charge from a 110-volt outlet and still 2.5 hours of recharging with a high-voltage device.
The range is 100 miles, which means if you want to get out of Metro Los Angeles, you are in trouble…
This is strictly a two-person car, the back seat is occupied by the batteries.
Some people argue that the Mini E is perfect for a “city commuter” for those who live in the city and don’t get out much. Well, first of all let me say that I feel sorry for those folks, you guys are really missing out; second, there are too many better ways to spend $50k on a “commuter” than on this POS Mini E. Do you know what $50k means? It means I can get a Prius as my “commuter” and sill have enough cash left to get me a pretty fun weekend car like Genesis Coupe, Miata, used E46 M3 and guess what, a REGULAR AND MORE FUN TO DRIVE Mini Cooper S!!!
After failed to solidify that argument the same people will come teach you about how the stupid high cost is all legit because that is an early-adopter/prototype price, not an inherent flaw with an electric car. Well guess what, I say let the Hollywood tree-huggers to spend their “hard earned” money on that; after all, hey want to save the world right?
However, the funny part is electric vehicles are actually less complicated than the ICE vehicles, there is nothing special about it except the batteries. The reason that the current EVs are not feasible is due to the range and cost, and the reason for that is simply because the BATTERIES AREN’T READY!! Given that’s the case there is no need to “prototype” the batteries on a car, they can run that all day long in a lab or any simulated environment.
The Mini E is just a big publicity stunt so Mini (or rather BMW) can say “Hey look at me, I got something green too”. It’s funny and also sad that some people actually bought into that hype and trying to lecture people this is the price to pay in order to have a feasible EV.
The bottom line is that if you can justify paying $50k for a 100-mile-range two-seater with no back seat to only “commute” within the city then I guess more power to you. Other than that this Mini E is simply a $50,000 useless POS.
There are a lot of praises around the web after BMW unveiled the 2011 5-series, people are saying BMW has finally put Chris Bengle behind them and finally come out with a good looking and exciting design…
Also, what’s up with BMW designers? Did they hang out with their Audi counterparts too much lately or what? The new 5-series is just shockingly similar as the 7er, which is really not a good trend imo (never the Audi S-M-L type of design fan). Say whatever you want about Lexus’ designs but at least Lexus designers actually put in effort to create four different looking sedans unlike their lazy European counterparts.
Following are the performance specs released by the manuactures for both cars:
Being one of the advocates who support Lexus to build the LFA super car prior of the premier I was literally staring at my monitors all day on 10/21 because I want to know about the car as soon as any information is out. I couldn’t hold my joy when I first saw the leaked pictures and videos because this car is everything that I imagined it would be and that interior is simply gorgeous. However, I must say that when I saw the released specs, my heart has suddenly dropped because although the performance puts the LFA well in the thick of the current super cars, it is just not as “magnificent” as it should be. The worst has yet to come, after learning that the MSRP of the LFA could be around the $400k range instead of the previous speculated $250k I became a bit disappointed at Lexus’ first ever super car, if not at Lexus…
According to the 
It puzzles me everytime when people say Passat is the “driver’s car” of family sedans and other aren’t… I mean, all the sedans are products of compromise, some are compromised more than others, that’s it, to say that the Passat is a “drive’s car” while others aren’t is just ridiculous in my humble opinion.
Toyota, under the advisory of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
Recently I got into a debate with a friend about whether or not Honda/Acura has been a disappointment in the last several years, so it got me thinking… How far exactly did Honda/Acura fall compare to its status and reputation back in the late 80s and 90s, I mean Honda used to have the best value in terms of price and performance back in the 90s, they also didn’t look bad at all. When Acura and Lexus first started as the two first Japanese luxury brands they were head-to-head all the way till the mid-90s. The first and second generation Acura Legends were magnificent cars, the interior fit-n-finish can rival some high end cars today such as the LS460. However, Lexus has really pulled away in the last 10 years…
BMW has released the Vision Efficientdynamics Concept ahead of the Frankfurt Auto Show which is powered by 3 power sources: a 1.5L turbo diesel that makes 163 hp with peak torque of 214 pound feet, a compact electric motor that delivers 51 hp and 214 lb ft of torque, and a second electric motor that provides 162 lb ft of torque, continuous output of 80 hp, with short bursts of up to 139 hp which drives the front wheels. BMW also gave this car a very dramatic exterior design by utilizing lively color combinations, busy lines and uneven surfaces.
But NOT SO FAST, BMW fanboys and wagon jumpers! Have you forgot about the Toyota FT HS concept?
