2022 NYIAS: The Show Finally Opens Its Doors To Electric Vehicles

April 22, 2022 in Automobiles

Well that took long enough. 10 years after the sale of the first Tesla Model S, the dealer association that runs the New York International Auto Show has finally accepted our electric future. It was inevitable. Of course, Tesla is never invited to any auto show, nor would it need to show off its cars in a traditional show. Tesla, for now, is still big and attractive enough to sell its cars its own way.

Tesla aside, the NYIAS has fully pivoted away from big oil and towards full electrification. The impression I got in a lot of the discussions and presentations was that big oil wasn’t trying to stop this massive shift in energy sources for cars and trucks. It’s as if big oil is just running a “prevent” defense on the flight from gasoline while shifting to renewable energy themselves. And while the automotive industry doesn’t attract the best technology or marketing people, they can see the public demand for EVs become real and permanent. For the old dealers, it seems that they don’t have to waste any time choosing a side. Dealerships are doing really well these days, and a good salesperson can sell gasoline-powered cars until retirement. For the new generation of auto sales and marketing people, EVs are the only game in town.

This year’s edition of the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) was the first in three long years. There was a wonderful relief to be back at the show as an invited non-credentialed media guest. But it was apparent that the number of presentations, attendees, and even the amount of security was lower in this return. Having said that, there was still a good number of New York car debuts, if you keep track of all the new cars that have ben released in recent months. Setting aside big names like the Ford Bronco, Mach-E and C8, the show saw the New York debuts of the Nissan Z, Subaru Solterra, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Hyundai Ionic 5, Kia EV6, Nissan Ariya, Ford F-150 Lighting, Volkswagen ID Buzz (the Bus), and Toyota GR (Gazoo Racing) Corolla without an event or presentation for any of them.

This week was also the first time the New York show got to see the Nissan Ariya in motion (it did sit at the Formula E race weekend in July 2021). And while not officially in production, New York saw a bonus electric car debut with the INDI ONE. Where is it made? When can we drive it? Why does it market to gamers and Tik Tok users? Why do the LED lights inside and out look like the strip light kits you can get on Amazon? All those questions remain unanswered.

Here are some photos from my miles of walking at the Jacob K Javits Center:

There were more things to do at the show this year despite it being smaller overall. Hyundai offered indoor rides of their beautiful Ionic 5 electric hatchback / wagon. Jeep was back with their Camp Jeep for the 16th time, with a new, taller “mountain” (which really made the ride down a thrill, like a slow roller coaster). Toyota had their safety road course again, featuring at least five different models. In the Javits lower level, there was an EV ride track featuring at least 6 manufacturers, including INDI and VinFast. Toyota had their game show trivia show again (which might be loudest booth at the show), and Subaru was back with their maze-like National Parks themed booth with an impressive LED display floor.

The list of manufactures opting not to appear the New York show grew as Honda / Acura weren’t there. Honda has a new HR-V that city people will surely like, but they will wait to market it. Now I was going to write that BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche and Volvo were no-shows again. But that’s not accurate. Volvo was showing their electric XC40 and C40 on the lower level. BMW had their i4 on the EV ride track, also on the lower level. The Mercedes EQV and Audi e-Tron GT were nominated for multiple World Car awards, so the cars were there, as was the BMW iX4, another nominee. Lamborghini was technically there, with the latest Huracan, the Tecnica. And outside the show, things got interesting. BMW hosted a party after the first press day that quite a few automotive journalists weren’t invited to. I saw Lamborghini activity outside the show, as well as Land Rover / Jaguar. Companies might not be investing in the show, but they know hosting events around it has value. Are auto shows dying? I think they are diminishing in importance. But the New York show is supported by ticket-buying attendees who are always eager to see cars. Embracing electric cars was a very wise move. At $17 per adult ticket, the show should have another successful year.

I think the automotive press agrees that the new car presentations, aside from the Kia Niro and VinFast lineup, were all forgettable. Kia and Hyundai refreshed their big 7-seat family SUVs. Jeep made the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer a foot longer and introduced an inline 6 motor that all the Wrangler fans would love as an option. Chevrolet wanted to talk about the electric Silverado a little. Ford just wanted to show the F-150 Lighting and Mach-E in action, which will make a big impression on the show-going public. Nissan let the new Ariya and Z do their talking. Same with Volkswagen and their ID.Buzz. Same with Toyota and their soon to be sold-out GR Corolla. And that was about it. I will remember some of those cars, especially if I one day own an Ariya or Mach-E.

But it was the food that was more memorable. You can check out my food photos in the gallery above.

Here’s what anyone on the press day could have gotten. Lincoln had espresso and lattes, which I think they have had since the brand was given a thorough new look in 2014. Nissan handled the “coffee break” duty in lieu of lunch. They had big, sweet and doughy doughnuts, hot chocolate with rectangular marshmallows as big as Lincoln keyfobs, a tasty sweet and salty trail mix bar (for the new Pathfinder Rock Creek), lattes and virgin cocktails from Curious Elixers out of Tucson. And VinFast took the afternoon reception duties with simple cocktails and small plates.

But it was the Infiniti booth that has reclaimed its place as the place the press wanted to stay in for a while. In previous years (2013-2017 come to mind), they served red and white wine in the afternoon to lure in members of the media to hang out, sip the wine and recharge their lithium-ion batteries. The press day schedule didn’t list Infiniti as provider of breakfast, lunch, or anything else, but they served food from 9am until they ran out. Incredible. What did they have? They had breakfast sandwiches, like sausage egg and cheese on an english muffin, or lox, capers, cucumbers and cream cheese on an everything bagel. They had an excellent supply of Saratoga sparking mineral water. They had various hors d'oeuvres, including a little potato doughnut and a tiny beef filet on a flatbread chip. They had premium wine. For the red they had the 2019 ‘Artemis’ cabernet sauvignon by Stag Leap. And for white they had the 2020 chardonnay by Cakebread Cellars. Three days later, I noticed the same wines for sale at my local elite wine seller, PJ Wine, priced at $70 and $40, respectively. By my under $26 standards, this was premium Napa wine. And I estimate by 4pm on press day, the wine was gone. The loud parties at the high tables supported this. I heard a lot of alcohol fueled laughter.

But maybe it wasn’t the wine. Maybe it was the whisky. That’s right, there was a featured offering that was not only great, they had enough of it to last into the second press day. It was a trio of Japanese whiskys (yes, the Japanese distilleries are trying to enforce that spelling without an e, just like Scotland). Nothing special. There was no Hibiki. But I got a re-introduction to these whiskys. It seems I don’t have to desire top of the line Japanese whiskys at all. These three will do. They were Suntory Toki, Mars Iwai, and Nikka Coffey. I have long seen Japanese whiskys as finely made scotch-style elixirs. And that’s generally true. But with this sampling, I learned that Japanese whisky is more than that. They can fall on a wide range on the whiskey spectrum, with some whiskys tasking like bourbon, scotch and Irish whiskey.

I think this was a perfect introduction to Japanese Whisky. Toki is the ground floor. Sip it, or shake it into a Toki highball (which takes some skill). Mars Iawai has some poor reviews online, but I think the whiskey snobs miss the point. Iwai is really good at what it sets out to do. It is a young whisky that brings some bourbon character to the Japanese distillery scene. It’s totally mixable, and it’s good enough to drink neat thanks to hints of pear and general good balance. Plus, it is cheap ($30), unaffected by the supply shortages at the high end. I’d love to see Mars release whisky that has spent more time in the barrel.

The third whisky was probably the best, Nikka Coffey. Not only the most complex, flavor-wise, but also the most aged. If I had room on my bar cart, I’d get all three! But if I had to choose just one, I’d get the Iwai. Maybe it can make a good old fashioned. Maybe I’ll post about that.

So this wasn’t an auto show at all! It was a good food sampling in a socially-distanced, high ceilinged hall. Until next year!

Volkswagen Bulli Microbus To Enter Production In 2012

May 02, 2011

Volkswagen wowed the crowds with the Bulli concept, and now it will become a production car, probably going on sale in 18 months. It won't be electric, at least not at first. I think we can expect the Jetta's engines - a gasoline I4 and a turbo diesel I4 - to power this very cute homage to VWs air-cooled past. It will be built alongside the Jetta in VWs plant outside of Puebla, Mexico.

Family Friendly Rally Cars: The 2012 Ford Focus & 2012 Subaru Impreza Hatchbacks

May 02, 2011

Perhaps I should go easy on the third generation Ford Focus. It might not be as family friendly as the fourth generation Subaru Impreza. With its tiny back seat and swooping, mobile phone like center stack, it is the sporitiest Focus yet.

But I should back up a bit. What do I mean by "rally car?" There are a few requirements that separate a genteel, front wheel drive hatchback from one that shares its chassis with race cars. So here goes.

First of all, rally cars are based on road cars, not the other way around. Rally cars are a stroke of worldwide marketing genius. Take a car -a small hatchback that might be the first car of a young couple- strengthen the chassis, lighten the car, increase the power and ground clearance, and go racing in dangerous environments -on asphalt, gravel, and dirt. Under the contemporary rally car standards, there are minimal requirements for a car that can be converted into a rally racer. It must have a four cyllinder engine. It should weigh under 3,000 pounds before modification. Ideally, it should have a wide stance, with a low center of gravity. And also ideally, it should have rear wheels pushed as close to the corners as possible.

The car that successfully linked the sport of rally racing, manufacturers, and automobile marketing was the 1968 Ford Escort Mk I, which won what becme the WRC in 1970. It was a rear wheel drive car with a V6, but that would change as both the sport and the industry changed. Just 14 years later, the Escort driven worldwide would be front wheel drive, and would set a long standing record as the best selling car worldwide for several years. It would be accompanied by cars such as the Audi Quattro, Peugeot 200 series, Toyota Corolla and Celica, Subaru Impreza, Citroen models, and the Mitsubishi Lancer.

In 1998, the Escort was repaced by the Focus, and Ford kicked things into high gear. Customers had more choices of body styles and engines. But there was a catch. Like the Escort before it, there was an international version, and a slightly less agile and exciting North American version. A combination of customer demand and economic conditions prompted Ford to synchonize and globalize most of their products. Ford sent the US market a few international products over the years, notably the Freestyle crossover wagon. Ford fans will remember that some things would never be globalized, such as the muscle cars for the Australian market, the Falcon coupe and sedan. But Fors has been able to globalize its most popular products: the subcompact Fiesta, the compact Focus, the midsize Mondeo (Fusion), and soon, the C-Max minivan, and next generation Kuga (Escape). That's five global models under the "One Ford" banner.

Ford has not only embraced the economic practicality of global platform integration and manufacturing, but it has also embraced the reality of peak oil. If Ford keeps its promises, over half of its new cars sold will be fully electric in 20 years. A way off, but if that holds it will be a significant shift. And Ford is putting its money where its mouth is, with plans to offer EV versions of the Fiesta and Focus in North America over the next few months.

The electric Focus. Please make it available, Ford.

So the US has finally gotten the global model of the Focus 5-door hatchback. How is it? Well, without having driven it, I can report that the Focus is closer to the concept of a four door sports car than it has ever been before. With a tight, swooping cockpit, soft touch materials in the dash and center stack, layers of technology, and very firm, Volvo-like leather seats available, the Focus feels like a premium car from the driver's or passenger's position. Less so for the rear passengers. The back seat is smaller this time around for the Focus. A six foot passenger like me would be very cramped. Rear passenger room was sacrificed for style, as the roofline drops beautifully into an egg-like rear section, with speared tailights and an available rear spoiler. Audio system is by Sony. The user interface is what Ford brands as MyTouch. It includes the latest generation of Microsoft Sync, now with video playback support and the ability to stream Pandora internet radio. Everything is fed through an 8 inch touchscreen that supports Sync, bluetooth phone piggybacking, navigation, a driver's log, car information center, and all in-car entertainment. Instrument illumination appears to be LED, and a digital display climate control is available. Very nice all around.

Engine wise, gone is the very good aluminum block EcoTech engine, which generated 140 horses. In is a new 2.0 liter, direct injection engine generating 155 horses, which consumes less fuel per mile. And coming soon is a 1.6L EcoBoost turbocharged power plant, which will produce 200HP in a future, rally inspired ST model. I like the Japanese philospohy of a front wheel drive car not generating more than 170HP, but 200HP, if balanced and throttled correctly, might be a blast in the Focus ST.

Suspension is the expected MacPherson in the front and multilink in the rear, with a stiff stabilizer bar and firm springs. Much like my Hyundai Elantra Touring, the Focus has fuel saving electric power steering. But unlike my Touring, the Focus gets a six speed automatic, dual clutch transmission, making it even more fuel efficient. A Focus Platinum (the primium model right now), with all the electronics options, leather heated seats, sunroof, and the standard 2.0L engine and six speed automatic, should get about 24MPG in the city and 34MPG on the highway. If the customer drops an extra $2,000 for the SFE powertrain, then 38-40MPG on the highway is obtainable. But we should focus on the non SFE models (pun intended), since those are the models that will sell the most.

So comparing the new Focus to my 2009 Elantra Touring, I would say that it has no advantage in terms of steering and suspension. Both are identical and fun to throw into turns. But the Focus is lighter, has 17 more horses, and probably squeezes one or two extra miles per gallon. The Elantra beats the Focus for interior comfort, as it has a longer wheelbase, a smoother ride, and about double the amount of rear legroom. And the Elantra Touring qualifies as a rally car, since it has wheels pushed to the corners, and the turbodiesel verion has been driven in the Targa Tasmania rally down under the past two years.

If the Focus chassis is anything like its Peugeot and Citroen competitors, then it should be a thrilling ride. Hopefully, I can drive one soon and give a driving impressions review.

Now onto another four door sports car that might be in danger of losing that title, the fourth generation Subaru Impreza hatchback.

I would argue that the Impreza and BMW 3 series are the two greatest four door sports cars ever sold in the US (Audi A4, Mitsubishi Lancer, BMW 5 series, Porsche Panamera and Maserati Quadraporte fans will certainly disagree). Consider that the Impreza never became a midsize car. It did grow from subcompact to compact size, like the BMW 3 series. But the Impreza's basic formula never changed. It always was a lightweight, 4 or 5 door car with all wheel drive, independent suspension, a very low center of gravity, and a flat four (boxer) engine - not too dissimilar to what used to power early BMWs or Porsches.

From its introduction in 1992, the Impreza has been a contender on the rally circuits and the streets. It's a favorite of the tuner crowd in cities, as well as left of center folks in New England. It's a rare automobile that somehow took the place of the Saab 900 as the ultimate "Liberal's" car (perhaps the Forester is even more so). Driving an Impreza was and is an act of rebellion. It's a cult car. And it's a car that, again, like the BMW 3 series, has demonstrated the evolution and refinement of a successful automobile platform.

Here are some of the Impreza's greatest hits.

The 1992 US TV commercial staring a young, adorable Jeremy Davies:

A fully tuned, second generation Impreza WRX STi beating a Lamborghini in a European urban drag race:

The infamous crash of Alec Osenbach behind the wheel of a tuned, 350HP Impreza WRX at over 140MPH at the first annual Subifest in 2006. Amazingly, his injuries were minor:

US rally car driver Ken Block successfully jumps an Impreza rally car 170 feet.

Subaru introduces the third generation Impreza (2007-2012) with a jab at Volkswagen:

And the crowning stunt for the third generation Impreza, Travis Pastrana successfully jumps a rally spec car 269 feet in Long Beach, CA:

I like the third generation Impreza. I like the LED taillights and the four wheel wishbone suspension (unheard of in a car of that size and price). The STi Spec C is a triumph. I love the 2.5L boxer engine, the most successful engine in Subaru's history.

However, the enthusiasts and auto press was very clear about this Impreza - it's chassis had fallen behind to the Mitsubishi Lancer in terms of handling, character, and weight distribution. The stock Impreza 2.5i weighed in at 3,100 pounds. Also, the DVD navigation offered in the current car, from what I understand, is sub optimal. Subaru reliability and safety has never been better. But something had to change.

And so, Subaru, which ran the two previous Impreza generations for six years each, had to cut the third generation short in its fifth year of sales. Call it an intervention.

At the 2011 New York International Auto Show almost prcisely four years after the debut of the third generation Impreza, Subaru unveiled the fourth generation sedan and hatchback. The new car can be summed up in one phrase: do over. Instead of making the car bigger, Subaru only lengthened the wheelbase and added crucial rear seat legroom. Instead of modifying the venerable 2.5L boxer engine, Subaru has given the next Impreza the smaller, more fuel efficient 2.0L boxer already being used in the European Forester. And it is an all new platform, weighing 200 pounds lighter, at 2,900 pounds. If there's anything enthusiasts want more, it's a stock Impreza that weighs less than 3,000 pounds.

The first thing most Impreza fans will notice is the sub-A pillar on the front doors. This was added to increase visibility in turns and to lengthen the front doors. It's a feature we have seen on a few new cars lately, namely the Honda Fit, Honda Civic, and second and third generation Toyota Prius. When I see that triangle of glass, I immidatey think 'family car.' But now that I've had over a week to admire the new Impreza, it is actually growing on me. It helps the car look longer than it actually is. And the front fascia is one of the best Subaru has designed in a long time (the best since the Dr. Zapatnas facelift, I think).

From the rear, the new Impreza has a bit of a Toyota Matrix look [photo], with a big rear bumper piece that adds utility, and can also be swapped out for a different design in the future should Subaru desire it. The rear doors have a sub-C pillar that complement the front door design. The fender flares are muscular and modern. And the car combines nice angles and seams in an attractive egg-like shape. I'm liking this new design.

So while there won't be any driving reviews published for a while, we do know a few appealing aspects. It's lighter. It has a smaller boxer engine, that finally features a timing chain instead of a timing belt. It gets 30% better fuel economy, while retaining a wonderful part-time all wheel drive system. Tall adults can now fit into the back seat. And Subaru has partnered with Harmon Kardon to improve the audio system and (hopefully) factory navigation system. The guages are still trademark Impreza orange-red. And the car is winterized, as always, with wiper deicers, heated side mirrors, and heated seats, all of which should be standard on the 2.0i Premium model. And the price will be about $50 more. So this 5-door, with navigation, bluetooth, and satelitte radio, should come delivered around the $23K mark.

Subaru knows that it can't keep the Impreza a cult car forever. Subaru was the only auto brand in the USA besides Ford and Hyundai to see a record sales increase in 2010. The Impreza has to compete against the Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus. I'll return to this car later with a review of whether or not it delivers the classic Impreza feel and fun factor to a potentially larger market. Subie owners really love their cars. Subaru wants millions more to join their club.

Hyundai Brings Another Global Car To The US

April 30, 2011

Hyundai America CEO, John Krafcik, deserves a ton of credit. He's leading the company in bringing a new generation of Hyundai vehicles to the US (some of which will be built in the US). They are more reliable, more fuel efficient, and more stylish than anything Hyundai has sold in the US before. And while econoboxes are not usually things to get excited about, each new Hyundai model introduced since January 2009 has outsold its class competition, especially the midsize Sonata sedan, and now the compact Elantra sedan. The Chevy Malibu, Chevy Cruze, and even the Toyota Corolla have been left in the dust.

And Krafcik is boldly playing with the house money. He has had to bring global models to the US as part of Hyundai's new strategy launched in 2007. But he has not shied away from including the very European looking hatchback and wagon versions of those cars. In 2001, Hyundai had two global cars in the US lineup. They were the Tiburon (called the Coupe worldwide) and the Elantra GT hatchback (whch looked a lot like a retro Saab 900 hatchback, had a very Saab-like dash, and was powered by Hyundai's first trustworthy engine, the iron block Beta II). Now it is 2011, and Hyundai has six global models sold in the USA: the Genesis Coupe, Elantra Touring (i30cw), Sonata (i40), Tuscon (i35x), and now the Veloster, and Accent (i20).

Sales are way up. Hyundai's reputation has been born again awesome. And the only other car company currently on a winning streak is Ford, which not coincidentally, is rolling out outstanding global models to all their markets. The days of Australia and Europe getting all the cool Fords is over.

And so the Hyundai Elantra Touring, the i30cw in all other contienents, has a direct relative alongside it in the North American Hyundai lineup, the all new Accent (known as the i20 worldwide). The Accent is a breakthrough in the subcompact class. It's the first subcompact with a GDI (gasoline direct injection) engine. It is also the first subcompact to include a six-speed transmission (and it's standard). Together, that translates into 30MPG in the city and 40MPG on the highway, for a estimated 33-34MPG combined on regular 87 octaine gasoline.

Unlike the Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta, which have crude torsion beam rear suspensions, the Accent has a small multilink rear suspension setup, like its big brother the Elantra Touring. That translates into a stickier and firmer ride. And the new Accent's 1.6GDI engine generates as much horsepower as the Elantra Touring's old Beta II engine - 138HP. So the Accent isn't underpowered at all. In fact it has more standard horsepower than all of its competitors, including the Chevy Sonic, Nissan Versa, Ford Fiesta, and Honda Fit. Only the Dodge Caliber has an option for a more powerful engine.

We can expect the all new Accent to be a major sales hit for Hyundai. But I will be watching the hatchback version closely. With it's tall, European style taillights and tinyC pillars, I am curious to see if the hatch will catch on with American buyers. We know the Elantra Touring has become a sales hit in Canada. Will the Accent hatch also be popular with the Canucks only? Or will it continue to revive hatchbacks in the USA (like the Honda Fit and Volkswagen Golf have done).

Hyundai is doing today what Honda did in the US 40 years ago. It is winning new customers to the brand, and giving them the option of hatchbacks, a very un-American body style, until recently. Volkswagen, Subaru, and Honda have been consistant in offering hatchbacks in the USA over the last 35 years. Now Ford and Hyundai seem to be firmly on board (with BMW soon to follow). Perhaps the scales have been tipped. Perhaps with the price of gasoline never to dip below $3.00 again, Americans have finally embraced the practical, spacious, stylish hatchback. We will be watching the Accent 5-door closely. It should outsell the Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta, and might even help chase the Smart Car out of the US market.

Breaking the cover on the new Subaru Impreza, Part I

March 29, 2007 in Automobiles

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.