In Defense Of The "Boring" Cars At The NYIAS: Part 1, The 2013 Toyota RAV4

Car Shows are not really necessary, not in this day and age. The automotive press has shrunken in size. Manufacturers could simply stage events, like Apple or Samsung, and car fans will turn up to see it on the Internet, blogs, news sites, and all kinds of social media.

But car shows are fun. Exotic or hand built cars bring in a lot of ticket paying visitors, while dealers, parts suppliers, and the press all catch up with the latest selling points and automotive technology and marketing. That last bit is key. Going to an automobile show to see the press events is a window to how the vehicles are marketed.

Car design is almost always driven by marketing. Even manufacturers that make cars that put an emphasis on performance, are driven by marketing. BMW's reputation as a performance vehicle, as well as Mazda's reputation as being fun to drive, are shaped by marketing. It's almost all marketing, so as a regular attendee to these shows, I have learned not to get too excited by any car. Most cars aren't collected. They are utilitarian and help compliment an owner's lifestyle or personality. As passionate as I am about cars, I try to block out the highly seductive advertising and promises that come with them.

A few weeks ago, before the New York show, I saw Jalopnik's first impression of the 2013 RAV4. Travis Okulski called it a “sleeping pill.” Zac Estrada simply called it "boring" when it rolled out in LA last fall. Based on Toyota's track record since the Celica and MR-2 were discontinued, I was inclined to agree. Toyota sells a lot of cars by being mechanically reliable, and by playing it very safe (mostly). In many respects, Toyota has become one of the most conservative car makers in the world. They make cars you want to drive for five years and then get a new one without skipping a beat. That's the twentieth century American car marketing and manufacturing model, right?

I never liked the RAV4 very much. The first two generations won accolades for being small and fuel efficient. Motor Trend even called the first generation the best SUV of 1997. It accomplished what the Suzuki Samurai and Daihatsu Rocky couldn't, which was to bring better reliability and comfort to micro SUVs, thereby firmly establishing the segment in the USA. And yes, the RAV4 is credited with being the breakthrough hit that allowed the compact SUV market to flourish in the USA. The Samurai and Rocky were very popular in Africa, Sotheast Asia, and the Caribbean, but it was the RAV4 that made it into big American cities. When you see a Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, Chevy Captiva, or Kia Sportage, you are seeing a vehicle that is following a path that the RAV4 began.

Quick bad analogy, but here goes. Citizen Kane is boring for most people, but it is historically significant. That's the RAV4. Sort of.

But a funny thing happened when I checked out the RAV4 at the New York show this past month. I liked it. I like it better than any previous generation of the product. I like it's Scion-like quirks, such as the asymmetrical placement of the cup holders, or the faux carbon fiber in the center stack. I like the faux leather on the dashboard (which Toyota calls SofTex). I like the six speed automatic transmission and part time AWD.

Sure, I know, we have the right to like anything. The young writers at Jalopnik have the right to call it boring. But I was looking at the new RAV4 as a vehicle that has a little something for everyone. It is a family vehicle, for sure, with a lot more interior room than the Camry just three years ago. And it has classic Toyota touches that I haven't seen in a Toyota for a while, like a row of switches and buttons low on the center stack (that reminded me of every generation of the Land Cruiser since the 80s).

It has a little bit of quirkiness. The wedge front end took me back to the 80s a bit (anyone remember the Corolla FX-16 or the third generation Celica with the headlamps sloped back? This wedge is way bigger, but it made me think of those). And the standard, running board / side skirt on the premium models seems functional, like kids will use it to help them stem into the vehicle. So it's both a ground effect and a practical part of the car. That's 80s, too, I think. It made me wonder if any of the Toyota designers made intentional design winks to the cars that Toyota's customers grew up in. I'd like to think so.

But obviously Marketing drives the RAV4. Who is it for? Young families that need more space than the Camry or Corolla, and want the higher ride height. But it can't be priced higher than the Prius wagon or Highlander. So it's the one Toyota that offers a ton of interior room for the money. That's notable. And that's why I think this latest RAV4 will be remembered fondly out of all the others that succeeded that small, plastic coated SUV 16 years ago. This is the bang for the buck choice in the Toyota lineup.

Heading to the 2013 NYIAS

Press Day One at the New York International Auto Show is tomorrow. I have said this in previous years. But I am really gonna try to do two blog posts tomorrow and two on Thursday. Jeep and Subaru are going to get posts. Who will the other two manufacturers be?

The GX1 is charged. The spare battery for the Galaxy Nexus is charged and packed. The tablet is charged. It's time to grab a large Dunkies, check out the cars, and play wannabe journalist.

And after eight hours on the floor, it will be time for a burger and pint at Smithfield. A fun day off. More content coming soon.

And if you want to see how the pros do it, follow Jalopnik's NYIAS coverage. Go put them in your feed / Currents / Flipbook, whatver. They are the best mainstream car blog out there.

Volkswagen Unveils Two More MQB-Based Cars

Volkswagen will plenty of new products to show at this year's Paris Auto Show in September. And all of them are based on its new MQB global platform for front wheel drive cars.

First up, the third generation SEAT Leon. With it's sharp angles inside and out, it might just be the best looking Seat since the company was fully acquired by the Volkswagen group in 1990. The interior, in particular, shows a strong Audi influence. Audi has been very successful in mirroring shapes and motifs between exteriors and interiors since the 1999 Audi TT. With the Leon, the angles of the all LED headlamps and taillights are reprised in the interior dash and vent angles. It's really well done.

But alas, SEATs are not sold in North America (nor are Skodas, which will have a similar MQB offereing soon). So Volkswagen fans and enthusiasts who want the newest German front wheel drive hatchback experience must wait for the Mark VII Golf. Fortunately, the wait is over. Production of the Mk7 begins next month in Puebla, Mexico, Wolfsburg, Germany, and other plants worldwide.

The 2013 Golf Mk7

In a cost cutting move, it seems entry level models will feature a torsion beam rear suspension. But since the MQB platform is designed to accommodate multiple suspension systems, premium models will ride on superior multilink rear suspensions.

I have driven both the Mk5 and Mk6 Golf, and I appreciate its smoothness and active safety features (namely electronic stability control, which intrudes at almost every turn, much like my Hyundai Elantra Touring). I have hopes that the MQB platform will continue to grow, because I really want to see Volkswagen build the next Bulli microvan.

Volkswagen Group Announce Unified FWD Platform

Volkswagen has announced the platform that will serve as the foundation for most of their cars, from the tiny Up!, to the Audi A3, to the Skoda Octavia, to the VW Bulli. It's called MQB, or "Modular Transverse Matrix."

Simpy put, the next 30 to 40 front wheel drive models being produced by the Volksgaen group will ride on a unibody platform that has universal engine mounts and a driver pedal box located in the exact same location for every vehicle. 

However, almost everything else in the unibody can be adjusted to support a wide variety of body types and car lengths. Everything from seat height, to ground clearance, to body style can be changed within the MQB platform. So unlike recognizable global platforms on our streets today (the Subaru Impreza/Forester and Ford Focus/Escape come to mind), identifying MQB cars will not involve examining cabin widths, engines, or wheelbases. It will simply boil down to three questions: What is the drive train? Who makes it? And when was it produced? If the car is front wheel drive, produced by the Volkswagen group, and released after August 2010, then it rides on the MQB platform.

MQB was announced in 2011 and the first cars to be built upon it are already on the street. They are the VW Jetta and second generation Beetle. The next MQB product is now ready - the third generation Audi A3.

The MQB platform promises to reduce both costs and weight. The floor and roof of MQB vehicles can, in the near future, be made of aluminum, further reducing weight and improving fuel economy. Volkswagen says that the reduced cost will allow for a greater variety of options packages for consumers. Seats could have mor types of upholstery available. Fog lights could become standard equipment. LED lighting inside and out will soon become commonplace. And consumers will want information and navigation consoles, just like the Audis and Lamborghinis today. Rear facing cameras could also become standard equipment in all MQB cars.

Notable cars that will soon adopt MQB include the second generation Skoda Yeti, the Volkswaen Polo Mark VI, the Golf Mark VII, and the Bulli minibus, which is expected to hit North American streets in 2014.

The key trait in MQB is the distance between the front axle and the driver pedals will be the same for every vehicle in the platform. Volkswagen has been modernizing its manufacturing facilities for about 10 years now, and the new platform is one of several that it will use worldwide (there will be two luxury rear wheel drive platforms for the premium brands to use, such as Lamborghini and Bentley).

The platform reduces the number of different parts that connect the engine compartment to the firewall and passenger cabin. Volkswagen says it will simplify global manufacturing and reduce costs, and allow the use of any of VWs new aluminum engines. We know them well. The direct injection gasoline. The TDI (diesel). A new plug in hybrid. Two natural gas engines. A biodiesel. And now, an electric motor that VW wants to offer in the Up!, Golf, the Audi A3, and possibly, the Bulli.

I'll be at the 2012 New York International Auto Show in April, and I hope to see more examples of the global MQB platform. Volkswagen has lofty goals to sell about twice the number of cars it currently manufacturers worldwide. MQB is necessary in order for VW to achieve those goals.

R.I.P., Saab

Last month, Spyker's attempt to take full control of Saab fell through, and the company was subsequently forced into bankruptcy. It was hoped that a Chinese firm named Youngman would be able to purchase the car maker, but that eleventh hour deal fell through as well. It's game over.

And so the story ends for Saab. The car maker was unique and one of the first to master practical front wheel drive as well as winterized accessories that are common on nearly all luxury cars today (heated mirrors, heated seats, winterized fuel injectors, etc.).

This week is particularly sad, as the manufacturer is forced to put over 100 cars from its private collection up for auction. Yes, even the Subaru B-9 Tribeca clone, the 9-6x is up for bids, which are due tomorrow.

I remember spotting Saab's final design chief, American-born Jason Castriota, at the 2011 New York International Auto show. He was in a fine gray suit and purple shirt and tie, showing off his baby, the PhoeniX concept. The PhoeniX is a beautiful design descendant of the Ursaab (92001), the first Saab automobile. I wonder if he knew his design would be the last.

The Saab PhoeniX Concept (Spring 2011)

Subaru Impreza And WRX To Split Into Two Platforms

We Subaru fans must have seen this coming following the April debut of the 2012 Impreza. While we applaud the longer, roomier, smoother, and hopefully, more marketable Impreza for young singles and families, the new Impreza strays away from the rally car architecture from which it was born.

And so, the Impreza and WRX will go their separate ways this fall. It is for the best, I think. While I really like the current generation Impreza. It is for the best, as Subaru just can't continue to neglect or alienate its performance fans. Subaru means different things to different people. In New England, it is the only car some people want to drive. But in the hills of New Jersey and Pennsylvania and the desert roads of Nevada and Southern California, the WRX and STi are the only cars some people want to show off, modify, and burn rubber in.

So the Subaru roadmap looks lik this: The third generation Impreza will continue to be sold worldwide in its WRX and STi versions only. The fourth generation Impreza will arrive on the streets of Japan, Australia/NZ, Europe, and North America this November. Both cars will continue to be built in Subaru's plant in Ota (Gunma), Japan.

As for which new platform the all new WRX will ride on, no one knows. Subaru has a history of releasing concept cars to a hungry press and fan base, which end up being models for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) only. At this weekend's Frankfurt Auto Show, Subaru is revealing its latest car, the XV Crossover. There has been speculation that it could be the platform for the next generation Impreza. But one look at the car, plus a visit to the Subaru Australia site reveals that the XV is what we Americans call the Outback Sport. It's a raised Impreza with slighty more rugged bumbers and fender flares, plus a roof rack, which has proven to be a sales hit thanks to its sub $20K sticker price. So for the record, the XV is a taller fourth generation Impreza.

Meanwhile Subaru is readying its new coupe, based on its joint project with Toyota, the FT-86 (which is it's Toyota chassis code, maintaining a naming convntion that goes back to the 1970s). That coupe might be sold under the Scion brand in North America as the Scion FR-S. Subaru will sell a varient called the Subaru BRZ, which is making its debut at the Frankfurt show this weekend. It is unknown if the BRZ will be sold globally, or if will exlcude North America in order to bolster Scion sales. 

The Subaru fanboys and fangirls waiting for the next all new WRX will just have to wait, which they should be used to, given that the first generation WRX was on the market for nearly eight full years (1992-2000). Besides, the current generation has been refined just enough to compete well against the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. It's still a great car, and it has the full support of the Subaru tuner community, led by aftermarket performance component manufacturers such as Cobb Tuning.

Third Generation Subaru Forester Press Photos

Ok, it looks a lot like the Mitsubishi Outlander. That bugs me a little. It seems to have a ton of headroom (either that, or that's a wicked short driver). But overall, I think it is a very good car. Surely it's better than the Toyota Rav4, with the better interior, better suspension, and more practical rear hatch. I love the rear wishbone suspension, just like the Tribeca and new Impreza. That makes for better handling and a little extra cargo space.

But I will miss the boxy look of the current Forester. It was the all-wheel-drive alternative to the Scion xB (bB). This looks more like a family vehicle. At least the hood scoop on the turbo model is less pronounced on the new Forester. Not sure if my girl will let me get a turbocharged Suby, even if the scoop is more subtle. Hood scoops are a turn off. However, I think she will find the power seats with heaters very nice, not to mention the iPod jack. The highlight of the new Foreseter is the interior. It's beautiful - light years ahead of the current Forester. And the cargo and passenger room is tremendous. If I do get the chance to buy a car within the next 4 years, this Forester is on my short list.

Foresters are still made in Subaru's factory in Gunma, Japan. And they are on their way. Expect to see them on the streets this spring.

I expect the base model to cost around $19k. The LL Bean edition will be around $25k. Turbo models with the limited package top-out around $27k.

Here are the official pictures of the Forester XT Turbo from Subaru of America.

Daimler About to Get Hosed in Chrysler Sale

No one could save this marriage. Certainly not Dr. Z.

Daimler purchased Chrysler for over $30 Billion in the summer of 1998. Today, news arrives that the first bid for Chrysler is being prepared. The total? $4.5 Billion. So the pending bids should be in the $4 - $6 Billion range as well.

Not good for Daimler, but they have decided to cut and run, as they say. Analysts said it was a bad marriage from the start. I verbally said it was a bad marriage. Like other bad marriages (Pepsi's ownership of KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut; AMEX's ownership of Lehman Brothers), this ended with a thump (but a far, far bigger thump than the others).

In a just world, the workers would own most of the shares of Chrysler, and we could have the most fair ownership structure in what's left of the US automotive industry. Ford and GM saw the future well before Chrysler did - expansion of manufacturing to Australia and China. But Chrysler owns a solid Jeep brand, and a resurgent Dodge brand. Both market strongly to male buyers, but interestingly have drawn female buyers to their products in impressive numbers (the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Caliber, for example, are popular with women). There can still be a niche for this family of products.

Chrysler is 'damaged goods' today. But 50 years ago, it was one of the most prestigious and

successful brands in the world

. And 40 years ago, it was the leader in muscle cars (especially the Plymouth marque) in an era of prosperity that came to abrupt halt in 1973. The Pontiac GTO and Oldsmobile 442 are legends. But Plymouth had the Valiant (the boxy 67 coupe was amazing), Barracuda, Fury, Satellite, and Duster, not to mention the outrageous Superbird. Plymouths played major roles in movies (Duel) and novels (Christine). Anyone who loves the sixties will probably tell you that 66/67 was the peak of all the decade had to offer, including cars. Times change, and we must all change with them, or risk being thrown out.

Yeah, I know that sounds very Capitalist, but I assure you I am a Democratic Socialist (who likes cars).

Breaking the cover on the new Subaru Impreza, Part I

Well, Edmunds and Motor Trend have leaked official photos of the third generation Subaru Impreza. The car will be officially unveiled on Thursday April 5th at the New York International Auto Show. The current generation is one of my favorite cars on the road thanks to its unusual styling and rally-inspired full-time all-wheel-drive system (on manual and turbo models only). But the automatic transmission is dated and sluggish, and the interior, while sports car material, lags-behind the cleaner, contemporary cockpit of the Legacy and Outback siblings. A serious redesign was needed. And the initial offering coming this fall is a mixed bag.

Still built in Japan, the Impreza will offer solid mechanics. The suspension has been upgraded. The engine is the same, reliable 2.5-liter flat-4 that drives the Forester and most Legacy and Outback models. With the optional turbocharger, it generates 225HP. However, those who cannot drive stick, including myself, will have to wait for an upgraded gearbox. The dated 4-speed transmission will be carried over to 2008, and it is not practical for use with the turbocharger. So for full-time AWD, you must order the manual tranny.

Subaru's strategy is to dramatically increase sales of the most affordable and practical model, the 2.5i automatic. It will compete against the Volkswagen Rabbit, Golf, Mazda 3, Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Lancer, and Toyota Matrix, which all start under $18,000. The high beltline and increased headroom should make it more appealing, especially for those who are turned-off by a low-riding sports car. The 2.5i Impreza will use the current part-time AWD system, which is shared with the base Forester, Legacy, and Outback. With the exception of the rally-style underbody spoiler in the rear, the exterior styling is more conservative this time around. The compact, chrome grill and low-profile headlights remind me of the 5th generation Toyota Camry, Mazda 3, or even the Nissan Murano crossover.

Subaru enthusiasts are all asking the same thing: "Chrome?" Even the Camry Sports Edition trades-in its chrome grille for one in matte black. So Subaru still does not have a unified grille or face design across its 5-vehicle range. Subaru calls this grille the "mustache" grille, and it is is used by the Outback and Legacy in Europe, as well as the 2008 Tribeca and Impreza. But the Forester and North American Legacy and Outback get something else entirely. On the positive side, the famed Stars of Pleiades emblem on the new Impreza will be extra-large compared to all other Subies. It is no longer the badge for a cheap, inferior car.

The interior is the most significant improvement, and it is a welcome change. It features bigger guages, slightly fewer seams, an available navigation system, and a sculpted dashboard similar to Subaru's flagship, the B9 Tribeca.

So this first-year Impreza is going to try to appeal to everyone who is open to driving a hatchback. No word if the Outback Sport (based on the Impreza) will still be offered in 2008. My guess is that it will be dropped and customers will be encouraged to opt for the Forester if they want a compact car with raised suspension.