The Motor Mountain USA Jeep Wrangler on the Dalton Highway in Alaska.
In this episode of TFLcar’s Motor Mountain USA, Roman and Tommy Mica travel all the way from Boulder, Colorado to Alaska to take the infamous Dalton Highway to Atigun Pass, the highest drivable point in the great state of Alaska.
The Atigun Pass is a high mountain pass north of the Arctic Circle. It passes through the mountains at an elevation of 4,739 feet.
The Dalton Highway is a mostly dirt road that was built along a pipeline and is regularly used by truckers. Trucks have the right of way on the highway.
In this vast wilderness, cell phones don’t work – a CB radio is required in case there’s any trouble. For the trip, the boys took extra gasoline, extra food and some bear repellent just in case. The whole trip took over 4,000 miles from the starting point in Boulder.
One of the best ways of experiencing America first hand is hitting the open road with the windows and top down in the 2015 Jeep Rubicon Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock. The Motor Mountain USA (#MMUSA) team embarks upon an epic road trip by visiting the highest drivable roads of every state in the USA. Along the way Nathan, Roman, Tommy, Andre and Emme will visit locales less traveled and uniquely American attractions that make the United States one of the world’s favorite tourist destinations.
The Motor Mountain USA Alaska belt buckle is hidden along the Dalton Highway. Watch the video below for the location.
Today’s first question comes from a viewer who wants to know about our (possible) long term reliability choices and what our very own rides are.
Q: Hi TFL,
My name is Isaiah, from Minnesota, and I am a big fan of the various TFL series. I have been watching for a few years and as an avid car and truck fanatic, you videos have been helpful, fun, and just well done.
With that said I was just curious about a couple of things. In terms of all the vehicles that you test and review, would you guys ever do a video in terms of long term reliability? I know TFL reviews new cars, but if you looked back on some of the trucks and cars you have done, which ones are good to buy used or retain the best value (power, price, capability) or along those lines. I know Ford pushed the reliability factor when the 3.5 ecoboost engine came out, so how would that compare with the 11 ram and gm.
A second question, as automotive reviewers I know you push the positive on every vehicle, but what are your guy’s personal vehicle choices. Are you suv/truck people, or car? Brand preference? In other words, what do you actually put your money on? (Feel free to ignore that question if too personal, for whatever reason).
Thanks for doing what you guys do. I love TFL
2013 Lexus Hybrid vs 2008 MINI Cooper S MPG Mashup Challenge & Review
A: Hi Isaiah!
Great questions. As we rarely get a vehicle loan that lasts for over a week, we cannot theorize what kind of longevity the test vehicle may display. Also, we rarely get vehicles that have zero miles on them. Often, these vehicles have been hammered by other journalists, multiplying wear-and-tear beyond the average consumer.
Now, we do have a few vehicles that we can do a long-term evaluation on: our Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, Jeep Wrangler (used in MMUSA) and our Dodge Challenger Hellcat. These cars can be evaluated for extreme-use quality and long term reliability. I wish we had more.
As for our subjective point of view? Most of the TFL crew agree, Toyota’s overall quality is no myth.
N.
By the way, here’s our count on some of the automakers we (the TFL crew) own: Acura, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Jeep, Lincoln, Mazda, MINI, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen
—
This next question comes from a fan from Mexico. He wants to know about our international aspirations for testing cars and covering races. He’s curious about our popular tee shirts too.
Q: Hello Andre, Nathan and Roman.
My best wishes to you in this new year, I really appreciate the work you do and the current efforts you make in order to keep the show always fresh. Here on this side of the border I continue as the fan number one of TFLCar website, it is always exciting to wait for the latest videos.
Again I would like to recommend you make your show more international, why not to come to Mexico and test cars we have and you don´t or even cover the Baja 1000 or the WRC when it comes to Guanajuato, those are only examples of things you can do here.
I would like to have a TFLCar shirt.
Thanks
Abraham A
A: Mucho gusto Abraham!
You’re right, we truly desire the ability to review cars from around the world. We have traveled quite a bit. We covered auto shows in Germany, China, Canada and Switzerland; not to mention every major city in the United States. We have reviewed cars and viewed manufacturing plants in Italy, Spain, China, Puerto Rico, Canada, Germany, the Czech Republic and Iceland, among others.
Still, we haven’t even scratched the surface when it comes to international rides. Between my love of small cars, Roman’s love of exotic cars, Andre’s love of high tech rides and all of our passion for trucks – there is a multitude of interesting vehicles for the TFL crew to review.
As for Mexico? You’re absolutely correct, we should head there to cover cars and races. It will be on our wish list for sure.
One day; maybe, we’ll take on the world!
As for TFL shirts, we’ll sell our next batch of shirts in the spring of 2016.
Thanks for the great questions!
N
Jeep-Renegade-Trailhawk
The last question comes from a fan who wants to see a Jeep Renegade review.
Q: What’s up TFL guys?!
Usually, I like your videos. I like how you follow a car from its preview at a car show (or is that a debut?) to its first drive at the launch and then to your real world and off road reviews in the Rockies. The one car I wanted you, (“the” Colorado off road reviewers) to review, the 2015 Jeep Renegade was never reviewed! What the hell?
I waited all year and nothing happened! Jeep, where have you gone!?
Can you please review one this year? I want to see the base model manual and Trailhawk reviewed. Can that happen? Can you ask Jeep to send them to you? I’m tired of the rest of the Jeeps, I just want you guys to review the Jeep Renegade IN Colorado!
By the way. I love the Motor Mountain USA series. I hope you do something like this in 2016 too!
Thanks guys.
Bill N
A: Great question Bill!
Every once in awhile, we receive a vehicle at the end of its loan-cycle from our local fleet reps. That is to say, a vehicle will make its way through several journalists before we get it. Usually, it all works out. In this case, we simply never had a chance to test the Jeep Renegade in our backyard in 2015.
Rest assured, we all think that every model of the Jeep Renegade is too important, and we need to do real tests here. We have a great relationship with Jeep and FCA and we will make direct requests to them for access to all things Renegade.
Regarding Motor Mountain USA (MMUSA), we still have a bunch of new episodes heading through 2016 too!
Thanks for the question!
N
Nathan and The Fast Lane Car team are here to answer your (reasonable) questions. Interesting and/or entertaining emails will be posted to this column. If it’s relevant in the automotive universe, there’s a chance we may know something about it. The author’s email address and name will be omitted – leaving your initials or nickname, your preference.
From day one, The Fast Lane Car has made it our policy to answer as many questions and comments as we can. We get thousands of emails and comments and feel that, as part of a tight-knit automotive community, having an open dialogue with you keeps things fresh and exciting.
Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism – Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. His words, good humor and videos are enjoyed worldwide.
The Scion FR-S hasn’t seen any changes or significant updates since the first 2012 model was introduced and sales have been dwindling since its grand entrance four years ago. But Toyota is not letting the tail-happy sports coupe slip silently into the night. The FR-S and its Japanese cousins, the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, are set to be refreshed following its official announcement at the Tokyo Motor Show mid-January.
Spy shots of a Scion FR-S prototype were published by Motor Authority in September and reveal some mild exterior changes and presumably a small bump in power. There is also speculation that the FR-S/BRZ twins will get some chassis updates in the form of a reinforced rear suspension sub-frame that will improve rear-end rigidity.
Now a special edition of the Toyota 86 has been revealed ahead its debut in Tokyo, named the GT 86 GRMN – an acronym that stands for Gazoo Racing Masters of Nürburgring. Built by Gazoo Racing – Toyota’s in-house motorsports group – only 100 units will be built and sold in Japan. The limited production rear-wheel drive compact hatch benefits from 216 horsepower and 160 lb-ft of torque, up from 200 horsepower and 151 lb-ft in stock trim. New intake and exhaust manifolds, and low-friction components are in part responsible for the uptick in power.
A lower center of gravity, bigger brakes, and a sports suspension tuned on the Nordschleife bring it all together. Toyota has also reduced the sportster’s weight by replacing the hood, roof panel, and trunk lid with carbon fiber equivalents and using Plexiglas for the rear window. More weight savings was accomplished by removing the rear bench seat and infotainment system. The dieting shaves 47 pounds for a new curb weight of 2,711 pounds.
Visually, the 86 GRMN gets a prominent bumper, front air dam and splitter, vented hood, a huge wing on the back, a new rear bumper with a single round exhaust port, and wider alloy wheels. Occupants are treated to Recaro bucket seats with two-tone black and red upholstery, and red seat belts.
Base price for this special edition Toyota 86 starts at 6.48 million yen, or nearly $54,000 USD.
The almost identical Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ epitomize the light and affordable rear-wheel drive sports car. In this TFLcar 0-60 mph mashup review, find out if the BRZ with an automatic transmission is faster than the FR-S, which has a 6-speed manual.
Bringing a vehicle from the drawing board to production is a lengthy and involved process that takes three years and an incredible capital investment. Of course, technology and consumer demands change much quicker, making it difficult to anticipate what consumers will want in their next vehicle purchase.
Predicting what the future will look like in 5, 10 or even 20 years down the road isn’t an exact science. While guessing future events can be somewhat murky because of our rapidly evolving world, insights can be learned by looking at what’s trending. Ford researches five areas for trends are that may lead to how the future is shaping up. Insights learned from observing these micro-trends bring to light Ford’s strategy, product developments, mobile innovations, and customer experiences.
“In our four years of researching and compiling consumer trends, never have we seen optimism, resilience and self-reliance figure so prominently,” said Sheryl Connelly, Ford global trend and futuring manager. “It gives us hope for what the future holds, and we see that same creativity and enterprising spirit driving innovation in every part of our business at Ford.”
We interview Sheryl Connelly, Ford’s in-house futurist and author of the company’s Looking Further with Ford 2016 Trends report. An annual report that goes looks outside the auto industry to help Ford understand what’s happening globally in social, technological, economic, environmental and political arenas.
“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X
The following ten micro-trends were identified and collectively cover themes of inspiration, ingenuity and a strengthened sense of self-identity.
Embracing Heroes
Consumers are more likely to click and share positive, feel-good stories over sensationalized, negative headlines that fill mainstream media. Studies have shown that 73 percent of adults across the globe are more likely to share positive news stories on social media than negative ones. Now several major news media sites have sections dedicated to uplifting and inspirational stories: Monday Matters on Huffington Post, Uplifting News on Reddit, and Feel-Good-News on the U.K.’s Mirror.
Swiss Army Life
Better living today is not about having more things; it’s about living smarter by pushing to get greater use out of fewer things. There is an increasing demand from consumers to seek out goods that are versatile, durable, and built with quality. Of the adults polled in the U.S., 76 percent are looking to buy a new car and keep it at least 10 years. Makes sense since the average age of a passenger car is 11 years. http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/average-age-of-us-car-and-truck-fleets-hit-record-high-levels/2000007742/
Time Poverty
The average American spends 4.7 hours per day on his/her smartphone and 48 percent of U.S. adults say that staying on top of social media is starting to feel like a full time job. 85 percent of U.S. adults agree that the expected response time for electronic communications is getting shorter and shorter. Work is also getting increasingly demanding – 50 percent of U.S. adults under the age of 35 feel compelled to check their work email during their off hours. Now we have “text neck” – a condition that occurs from hunching over one’s smartphone too long – has been added to the long list of medical problems bearing down on our connected society. Experts say this poor posture can reduce lung capacity by as much 30 percent if left untreated long-term.
The EZ Life, Brought to You by the Connected Concierge
Ford sees the rise of “full-service” technology, as products shift to become more anticipatory and self-sufficient. With the growing support of artificial intelligence, they can redirect responsibilities to technology that learn and adapt to our needs – expanding our sense of hope and possibilities for a better life ahead. Examples already in play are the Apple Watch, Fit Bit or any type of wearable, connected electronics.
Why this trend matters to Ford – Humanity and technology intersect in many different ways. If the Dearborn mobility company can find meaningful ways to use advanced technology to better assist drivers, and society as a whole. Ongoing development in artificial intelligence to learn and anticipate consumer needs is aimed at giving people more time and energy to focus on things that matter most.
Mindful Goes Mainstream
Mindfulness is stress reduction technique, more commonly known as meditation and used by Buddhist monks for centuries. Lately it has grown in popularity and has made its way into homes, schools and the corporate life. Studies show that the practice of mindfulness can reduce the impact of stress that comes with complicated and demanding lifestyles. The solution is to be less mind full and more mindful – thereby allowing us to the find the time and space to breathe, reflect and regroup.
The positive effects of mindfulness are important to Ford when it comes to designing a vehicle’s interior. Getting from point A to B is okay, but self-expression and escapism are ultimately important aspects to consumers when shopping for a vehicle. The interior layout, design and human comfort features of a car or crossover are given serious consideration. Consumers want connected mobility in their cars, but customizable comfort must also be part of the package.
In Awe of Aging
Life expectancy is getting higher and higher as our overall quality of life improves. For seniors who have already passed the century mark, it is not uncommon to be healthy, active and still have a sharp mind. Improvements in health care, nutrition and medical science are pushing today’s seniors to be healthy, meaningful and dignified during those golden years. Thus, our expectations are changing as the reality of being around a lot longer becomes more than just a dream. Some believe that living past the age of 120 is a reality today and the first person to reach the age of 150 has already been born.
Why this trend matters to Ford – In a world where mobility is a human right, aging should not be a handicap. The freedom and autonomy that comes from owning and operating your own vehicle can directly impact the quality of life for aging consumers. Ford engineers are designing ways to make it easier for this growing population to stay mobile and active.
Fit for Misfits
Expressing one’s individual style is becoming more popular. Today people are more tolerant of ideas that go against the status quo. As a result, connections between mainstream brands and consumers are falling by the wayside as people seek unique, more personalized and meaningful ties.
Why this trend matters to Ford – the company recognizes today’s marketplace is not a one-size fits all community. Personalization and customization will be offered in new ways and across new platforms – even virtual ones.
Waste Not, Want Not
Globally, 90 percent of adults agree society has an obligation to reuse materials and reduce the amount of trash going to the landfills. In a high-consumption society, innovators are getting creative with extracting value from stuff nobody wants. This sustainability trend promises to push the boundaries of people’s imagination and resourcefulness.
What Ford is doing – in Dearborn and at their Research and Innovation Lab in Palo Alto, California, Ford has been researching for years seeking innovative and scalable ideas to transform renewable resources and recycle waste material into products that have a strong degree of durability and reasonable manufacturing cost. Soy-based polyurethane foam is used in every vehicle built in North America, which reduces petroleum production by more than 5 million pounds and carbon dioxide emissions by more than 20 million pounds annually. Ford is the only automaker to use REPREVE – a recycled fiber made from plastic bottles. By using this material, more than 11 million plastic bottles were diverted away from the landfills in 2015 alone. Another example is the collaboration between Ford and H.J. Heinz Company exploring the use of tomato fiber to develop a more sustainable bio-plastic material for use in wiring brackets and storage bins. The researchers are looking for ways to recycle and repurpose peels, stems and seeds from more than 2 million tons of tomatoes, which Heinz normally sends out for composting, into strong, lightweight car components.
Buying Into the Flexible Economy
The workplace is rapidly changing and seeing a rise of freelance models and sharing economy platforms. Business models are adapting to maximize resourcefulness while allowing for greater flexibility and fulfillment. This carries over to workers who are finding new ways to make their investments supply additional revenue from goods that were sometimes idle, such as cars, homes and tools. The rise in popularity of sharing programs, such as AirBnB, Uber and ZipCar, are examples of this growing dynamic.
Why this trend matters to Ford – As work dynamics change, so do expectations of mobility. A growing freelance and remote workforce requires rethinking conventional commitments, learning to cater to a rising demand for more independence and multimodal modes of transportation and ownership.
Retail Revolution
Retail is no longer simply about product, it’s about experience. 48 percent of U.S. consumers say they will buy more from a retailer who personalizes their shopping experience. Thus, retailers are finding new ways to inspire meaningful connections with consumers.
Why this trend matters to Ford – As consumer retail behaviors and expectations rapidly evolve, Ford is rethinking its own consumer experience – both an automotive company and a mobility company. On the automotive side, Ford is looking at new ways to simplify and streamline the shopping experience for car buyers through the use of beacon technology. Beacons are low-energy, Bluetooth enabled sensors fitted to vehicles that push educational pop-up notifications to smartphones of consumers who have opted-in to a dealer’s Wi-Fi network and downloaded a Ford shopping app. Experiments with multimodal transportation and an on-demand Dynamic Shuttle service pilot program are two ideas in action that will contribute data and findings to Ford’s future mobility endeavors.
In this, the first episode of the new TFLcar series DiffLock, Tommy Mica goes to John’s 4×4 in Boulder, Colorado to get a light bar mounted to the TFL 1995 Jeep Wrangler Sahara YJ.
While the general procedure to install the light bar is relatively straightforward, there could be some tricky parts, especially when it comes to removing the Torx screws. Ross Houk from John’s 4×4 gives some tips and tricks to remove those screws when they’re rusted in place.
The light bar gives the old Wrangler a classic look, complete with yellow smiley face covers over the KC lights.
The Wrangler should be familiar to TFLcar fans. It has been featured in many videos, including going head-to-head off-road against the Motor Mountain USA 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock. It also took on the Cliff Hanger challenge in TFLcar’s 2015th video celebration.
DiffLock is a new TFLcar series of videos that will air every other week. In these videos, Tommy will highlight affordable off-road adventures and modifications that will help almost anyone who wants to get into off-roading on a budget.
Check out the full video below to see the Wrangler gets some new lights:
Savannah, GA, – Now there’s a not so mini MINI available for your driving pleasure. It comes two ways: available as the 2016 MINI Cooper Clubman or MINI Cooper S Clubman. Both models serve up seating for five, with 6 doors (split rear doors) and plenty of cargo space.
The MINI Clubman draws its motive force from a 1.5-liter inline 3-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine that makes 134 horsepower at 4,400 rpm along with 162 pound feet of torque at 1,250 rpm. The Cooper S variant is powered by a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo motor that delivers 189 horses at 5,000 rpm while also developing 207 pound-feet of torque at 1,250 rpm. The engines of both new Clubmans are mounted forward in a transverse orientation, driving the front wheels.
Energy is delivered to the driving wheels via either a standard Getrag 6-speed manual gearbox or an optional automatic transmission – a 6-speed auto for the Cooper Clubman, and an 8-speed Steptronic automatic, available with F1-style paddle shifters for the Cooper S Clubman.
Both MINI Clubmans provide a refined and firm, European road feel, with a standard adjustable driving mode system, which allows directing the technically sophisticated drivetrain to match the driver’s motoring mood. Sport mode tightens steering and adjusts the throttle profile for a more aggressive driving scenario. Switching to ‘Green’ mode yields more fuel-efficient motoring, with optimized fuel delivery, tweaked shift points and a coasting feature that disengages an automatic transmission when lifting off the throttle.
The Clubman models are both unmistakably recognizable as a MINI while displaying their British heritage and delivering world class handling attributes. The Clubmans represent one of eight available MINI body styles. The MINI Clubman’s new streamlined body is aerodynamically sculpted, and is longer and wider, with sleek, distinctive proportions and stretched silhouette that aren’t just for show. New vertical air curtains on the outsides of the lower air inlet channel direct air around the wheels to a pair of breathers on the other side aid in reducing drag while and creating a smoother, more efficient ride. The handy split rear doors are power operated and open wide at the touch of a switch in each handle allowing for loading and unloading bulky items into the 17.5 square foot boot, which increases to 47.9 square feet with the rear seats folded down.
The surprisingly spacious interior consists of a premium cabin with a new center console design. It is well appointed, with five high-end leather upholstery options, such as Chesterfield leather with diamond pattern stitching. Subtle ambient lighting enables the creation of varying cockpit moods with 12 settings and 255 color tones. A dual-pane panoramic sunroof is optionally available, that adds nearly 11 square feet of glass, enhancing the view for both front and rear passengers.
MINI Connected is standard fare in the Clubman, featuring a high-resolution 6.5-inch or optional 8.8-inch display, designed to seamlessly integrate technology into the MINI – from popular apps like Spotify® & Pandora®, to hardware like GoPro® and more.
An optional Park Assistant utilizes sensors to size up a potential parking spot to ensure that the MINI will fit. Then, the system will partner with the Park Distance Control to take over and steer the car into place with precise prompts for the driver when to brake, apply the gas and shift between forward and reverse.
Safety features include options such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Dynamic Stability Control and Head-Up Display, which add to peace of mind and convenience.
There are more than 50 million ways to configure MINIs, and as with all MINIs, the Clubmans provide a 3-year/36,000 mile no cost maintenance program from boot to bonnet, and a four-year/50/000 mile limited warranty.
The MINI has been motoring about for more than 50 years, often criticized and considered an unsafe vehicle by the likes of Ralph Nader – but what does he know. Created by Sir Alec Issigonis and introduced August 26, 1959, the classic MINI is still an incredibly popular little car after 50 years. Hypothetically, only 10,000 were sold here in the U.S. over an 8-year period, but today, more than 12,000 are registered — they must be multiplying somewhere, even if they’re not related to the Rabbit — take that Ralph and VW. In essence, the MINI was an “engineered” car, rather than a “styled” car, or car by “design, hence its immense popularity and perpetuity. Love for, and acceptance of, the original MINI has been shared over its legendary lifespan by common folk and royalty alike. Its heritage is neo-European.
During the national press introduction, my driving partner and I had the opportunity to experience both the Cooper and Cooper S Clubman. We began our test drive with the MINI Cooper Clubman with the 6-speed manual gearbox. It wore a British Racing Green exterior with a silver top and a Black Pearl cloth/leatherette interior. The base price was set at $24,100., while the final sticker came to $30,750. Our MINI Cooper S came with the 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters and Chesterfield leather interior. The exterior wore a Pure Burgundy metallic finish topped by a gray metallic roof. It’s base sticker read $27,650, while options bumped the final tally to $39,550.
SUMMARY:Despite the fact that the new MINI Cooper and Cooper S Clubman is longer (wheelbase and overall length), wider and taller than the Cooper and Cooper S 4-door hardtop, they still handle with the characteristics of a Go Kart, bringing a smile to the countenance of all onboard during spirited maneuvers, while providing greater versatility and functionality. The new Clubman has increased in length by 10.9 inches, with a 4-inch longer wheelbase and a 2.9-inch increase in width than the standard four-door MINI Cooper that adds to its stability.
The configuration is slightly different than the earlier version of the Clubman – rather than the previous model’s “suicide” third door, the new model is a traditional four-door with dual doors that open wide from the center. Currently, there’s only the one four-door body style with the dual rear cargo doors, and only the Cooper and Cooper S trim levels, but a high-performance John Cooper Works edition is anticipated down the road. There will likely also be all-wheel-drive examples for those in more frigid climates.
The ride quality is firm, riding on run-flat tires, but not objectionable. The steering is spot on and instantly responsive. Acceleration is certainly more than adequate, but due to the Clubman’s increased weight over the regular four door MINI it doesn’t seem as quick. A more robust engine and exhaust note would be a welcome addition, increasing the sporting flavor of what is now a more refined and sophisticated MINI, suitable for long distance travel in comfort.
For those who desire an increased level of performance, an optional Sport package is available, but most Clubman buyers probably won’t be going autocrossing. There are however other options available for You-ification.
On the TFLcar scale of:
Buy it!
Lease it!
Rent it!
… or Forget it!
I give the 2016 MINI Cooper & Cooper S Clubman a Buy It! for a practical and extremely fun to drive MINI with added versatility.
2016 MINI Cooper and Cooper S Clubman Specs:
2016 MINI Cooper Clubman
2016 MINI Cooper S Clubman
Base Price
$24,100
$27,650
Price as Tested
$30,750
$39,550
Engine
1.5L inline 3-cylinder TwinPower Turbo
2.0L inline 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo
Power
134 bhp @ 4400 rpm
189 bhp @ 5000 rpm
Torque
162 lb-ft @ 1250 rpm
207 lb-ft @ 1250 rpm
Transmission
6-speed manual or 6-speed Steptronic automatic
8-speed Steptronic automatic
Drivetrain layout
Transversely mounted front engine, front wheel drive
Curb weight
3,015 lbs. (w/automatic)
3,235 lbs.
EPA-estimated fuel economy
25 / 35 mpg (city/hwy)
24 / 34 mpg (city/hwy)
Top speed
127 mph
142 mph
0-60 mph
8.9 seconds
6.9 seconds
The 2016 MINI Cooper S is a small, sporty car that’s great on twisty roads as Roman and Tommy discover in this TFLcar VLOG Review.
Arv Voss is a Northern California based freelance motoring Journalist and member and past officer of several noted Automotive Journalist organizations who contributes regularly to a number of national and international media outlets. He reviews not only cars, trucks and SUVs, but motorcycles and unusual wheeled vehicles as well.
The 2016 Chevrolet Volt promises to be a solid option for those looking for an electric vehicle with the range of a conventional vehicle. Like its predecessor, when the battery runs out of juice, a small gasoline engine starts up and acts as a generator to charge the batteries and provide power to the engine.
Unlike a traditional hybrid, the engine never propels the vehicle, it just charges the batteries. This allows for all-electric operation for most short trips, but still allows for long highway runs. When this happens, though, it burns gasoline like any other conventional car.
TFLcar’s Andre Smirnov and Brian Waring recently took a 2016 Volt on a 100-mile test loop to see just how fuel efficient it would be once the batteries lost their energy. The car was filled with gas, ran on the loop at the 75 mph speed limit, then re-filled.
The Volt is powered by a two-motor system that makes 149 hp and 294 lb-ft of torque and is about 100 pounds lighter than the first generation drive unit. The engine is an all-new, all-aluminum, direct-injected 1.5-liter four-cylinder that no longer requires premium fuel and makes 101 horsepower.
The range is 420 miles and although there are no typical city and highway mileage figures, the Volt does have two ratings, 106 mpg-e for the electric motors and 42 mpg for the engine/generator.
The as-tested price of the Volt is $40,825 before tax credits, but the Volt’s MSRP starts at $33,170.
Andre bet that the Volt would get at least 75 mpg; Brian bet it would be less. At stake is a free lunch, the best truck stop hot dog money can buy. So who gets the free lunch? Check out the full video below.
2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon on the Rubicon trail with the trailer
More Jeeps have found their way onto rental company’s lots this year compared to last year, which helps the brand’s sales numbers but could also tarnish its image.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Jeep’s fleet sales have risen sharply from 2014 based on sales through October. Rental sales are up 57 percent and overall fleet sales are up 11.2 percent, representing almost 80,000 vehicles.
The report also indicated that dealer inventory for six Jeep models are at 70 days, which is above the industry average of 62 days, despite this being a record year for car sales. The Wrangler is the only model below average.
Brands like Jeep often sell more fleet cars to bolster their sales numbers so they can report increases every month. Sales numbers are another form of marketing, as strong sales numbers can increase consumer interest in a brand or vehicle.
2015 Jeep Cherokee Latitude 4×4
A Fiat-Chrysler spokesman told the Journal that rental sales for the Cherokee weren’t reported in 2014 but instead were reported in 2015, which is a possible reason for the sharp increase in rental sales.
Other brands have also increased their fleet sales. Cadillac, Mitsubishi and Hyundai have also increased rental sales, and many companies are using rental sales to help passenger car sales as crossovers and SUVs take more sales away from cars like the Toyota Camry.
Subaru and Honda, however, are reluctant to sell to rental fleets as it might dilute the brand’s image and affect resale value.
When automakers release their monthly sales reports, they don’t differentiate between consumer and fleet sales, which can skew the numbers for companies with higher fleet sales. According to the Journal article, rental contracts are often completed in August. The rental registration data was compiled by R.L. Polk, and they don’t publicly disclose their data.
Do you think that rental sales hurt a brand’s or a vehicle’s image? And do you think the automakers should disclose their fleet sales data each month? Start the conversation in the comments below.
Check out this TFLcar video of the Motor Mountain USA 2015 Jeep Wrangler on a search for a plane crash site:
While TFL hasn't reviewed too many Subarus in the past few years, I just seized the opportunity to buy a bargain of a WRX for my next long-term daily driver.