LOS ANGELES--Although the Element has been a disappointing seller, Honda plans to offer a second generation of its quirky crossover rather than treat it as an experiment.
The company is hitting a key demographic with the Element that it does not reach with the vehicle's platform sibling, the CR-V, said John Mendel, American Honda Motor executive vice president.
"Our specialty vehicles give a little spice to the brand," Mendel said in an interview. "It's all about platform usability. And the Element is part of that strategy."
Honda to develop a second generation of the Element.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)He said internal data shows that no one cross-shops the CR-V and Element. "In the showroom you couldn't get most Element buyers to even sit in a CR-V," Mendel said.
Element buyers like its flexibility and storage capability, which make it ideal for stowing mountain bikes, surfboards, and ski equipment, he said. The CR-V is aimed more at young families.
As a result, Honda will derive another outside-the-box vehicle from CR-V underpinnings to replace the Element.
Mendel declined to say when it will arrive, whether it will look like the current Element, or even whether it will be named Element.
The Element went on sale in 2003. Other than a mild reskin in 2007, it has remained unchanged.
Honda initially hoped to sell 75,000 units annually. But after its first year, when 67,478 were sold, the Element never managed to break 60,000. Honda sold 26,447 last year, and sales in 2009 are down 46 percent to 13,458 through November.
By contrast, the CR-V is the segment leader. At the peak year of 2007, Honda sold nearly 220,000.
(Source: Automotive News)
BMW cranks even more power out of the twin turbo-charged engine in its Z4.
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The BMW Z4 sDrive35i is an excellent sports car, but BMW's engineers, who must experience self-critical dreams every night about how much smoother a valve could be or whether changing the timing of a spark by a millisecond might improve combustion, couldn't leave it as is, coming up with the 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is, a higher performance version of BMW's roadster.
Like the sDrive35i, the new roadster uses a twin turbo 3-liter straight six, but BMW fitted it with a new twin turbo unit to crank up the horsepower from 306 to 335, with torque up from 295 pound-feet to 332. This engine tweaking gives the sDrive35is acceleration to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds.
Beyond the engine work, BMW tuned the exhaust to give a more pleasing, sports car sound. Baffles and mufflers combine to give the car what BMW describes as a "deep rumble with a focus on the low frequency sound range." People will be surprised when they see a little roadster following that exhaust note as it works its way up the street.
The sDrive35is also gets BMW's seven speed Double Clutch Transmission, a manual with two computer-controlled clutches. The driver can choose an automatic mode or shift manually, but doesn't have to push a clutch pedal. The result is no power loss at the wheels during shifts.
You can even get the car with some M equipment, including an adaptive suspension that uses electronically controlled shock absorbers to counteract roll and keep the tires gripping pavement. That's a lot of tech in a little car.
BMW will show the Z4 sDrive35is at the upcoming 2010 Detroit auto show.
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CNET)
As 2009 rolls to a close, we look back at the cars we've reviewed over the last year to see which one should earn our Tech Car of the Year award. From our survey of the 100 or so cars we've reviewed, we're pleased to see that the adoption of cabin tech by automakers is becoming more prevalent and ever more sophisticated, with features such as hard-drive-based navigation with traffic reporting becoming common.
Among the cars we've seen, we picked out five that show the most innovative technology. These cars use technology to enhance the cabin and driving experience, and push the automotive technology envelope. Please vote for the car you think should be the 2009 Tech Car of the Year, and discuss it in the comments. The Car Tech staff jury members will place their own votes, and we will announce the winner on January 11, just before the Detroit auto show. Voting closes on January 4, 2010.
Nominees
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CNET)
Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system, along with an active suspension system, makes the Q5 handle like a car, maintaining grip and composure during high-speed cornering. A new navigation system, powered by a Nvidia graphics chip, extensively renders urban areas in 3D.
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CNET)
BMW spared no technology in its effort to make the X5 SUV worthy of an M badge. The result? The heaviest vehicle we've ever rotated through a turn. Throw in a navigation system with satellite imagery in the maps, and we've got a tech leader.
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CNET)
Toyota may have turned the Prius into the iconic hybrid, but Ford's Fusion Hybrid is just a better all-around car. The hybrid system gives this midsize sedan excellent mileage, while letting it run under electric power at speeds up to 47 mph. Ford's cabin tech is anchored by Sync and Sirius Travel Link, and gets pushed up a step further with the driver-configurable ecology-oriented instrument cluster.
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CNET)
The new Prius might have made this list of nominees, if it weren't for the all-new Lexus HS250h. This car uses Toyota's hybrid system to get excellent mileage while showing that a luxury car doesn't have to be a full-size sedan. It makes use of a number of driver aid technologies, and incorporates Lexus' newest cabin tech suite.
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CNET)
Lincoln's new flagship sedan was a contender last year, and makes the list this year because of significant improvements. Along with its excellent Sync, Sirius Travel Link, and THX audio features, Lincoln gave it a high-tech engine in the form of the twin turbo direct injection V-6. Add to this adaptive cruise control and an automatic parking system that actually works, and the MKS shows up as a tech heavyweight.
The problem with big cars with lots of horsepower is that, unless you live near the Utah Salt Flats, you never get to actually use all that potential. And going fast in a straight line isn't lasting fun. But a small car with good handling and a torque-y engine can lead to hours of enjoyment on winding roads. That's where the Mazdaspeed3 comes in.
This hot hatchback offers tight, quick handling appropriate for tackling mountain roads with switchbacks, while its small, turbocharged engine pours on the twist. The tech features in the cabin are only moderate, but Mazda employs a clever implementation of navigation.
Driving enthusiasts and long-time city dwellers scoff at automatic parallel parking systems, but when it works as well as the one in the Lincoln MKS, well, you just have to marvel at the technology. This new MKS not only has the excellent cabin tech and luxury appointments of the previous year's model, but Lincoln added new tech features, such as the parking system, to really put this car over the top. Couple all that with the new Ecoboost engine, and it's a near technological masterpiece.
Lincoln's new MK naming convention may seem a little austere, but the luxury and tech in the new MKT is anything but. When you spend some time driving a car, and find you don't want to get out of it at the end of the journey, that speaks well for the car's comfort. We could hardly get enough of the MKT's THX audio system, the automatic high beams, and the adaptive cruise control. It is a little thirsty for our tastes, but 355 horsepower from the Ecoboost engine makes this cruiser get up and go.
There are a lot of ways to put together a top 10 list, but for this one, we looked at what you want. Digging through our server logs, we found the Car Tech pages you viewed the most over the past year. Most of these products are cars, but there is a surprise on the list. And while hybrids prominently got a lot of attention, you are also interested in high performance. Of course, products we've reviewed recently aren't as likely to be on the list, as they haven't had time to gather clicks, but we aren't terribly surprised by the results, either.
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Ford)
Remember when the bottom dropped out of the economy and everyone was screaming for small, inexpensive, and fuel efficient cars? Well, they're here; and they're in Los Angeles.
Small cars ruled the roost at the 2009 LA Auto Show, with marquees such as the Ford Fiesta, the Mazda Mazda2, and the VW Up Lite attracting a lot of attention and stealing the spotlight from bigger more powerful cars.
Check out our gallery of small cars at the 2009 LA Auto Show for a closer look.
The Porsche Boxster Spyder borrows design elements from a bygone era.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Sport car companies enjoy the luxury of pushing design to the extreme, putting issues such as passenger comfort and cargo area aside. At the Los Angeles Auto Show we found a selection of new car designs that are as beautiful as they are impractical. Porsche showed up with a convertible that makes it more difficult to lower the top than in its other models. Lotus' newest car may be more accessible than its previous models, but you will still need the moves of a break-dancer to get inside. And the second generation of the Spyker C8 Aileron takes car design into the world of art.
Check out all these cars, and a special eco convertible, in our slideshow.
Mazda's midsize sedan enters a crowded market, and doesn't do much to distinguish itself. Beyond a couple of cool features, the Mazda6 generally stays behind the tech curve. Navigation is only available at the highest trim level, and real iPod integration isn't available at all. There's a little bit of Zoom in the tuning, but not the full Zoom Zoom promised by Mazda. The company is going to have to try harder to beat the likes of Nissan, Honda, and Toyota.
