The owner of that Tesla Model S that caught on fire in Tennessee last week has written about the experience in a post on the Tesla Motors blog.
Juris Shibayama, MD was driving on the interstate at about 70 MPH when the incident occurred. He says there was a trailer hitch in the middle of the road (a rusty one, no less) that he didn’t see until it cleared the truck in front of him.
There wasn’t enough time for him to swerve out of the way, so he drove straight over the trailer hitch. He goes on to say he not only heard it hitting the car, but felt lift it lift the car into the air.
Initially, he thought he’d gotten through the incident okay, until about a minute later when the car display notified him that the vehicle needed service and might not restart. Still, he kept driving his Tesla Model S for another minute until the next message came up with a more insistent warning. “Please pull over safely. Car is shutting down.”
Shibayama did as directed and was in complete control of the vehicle the whole time. He was even able to get his stuff out of the car and then about ten seconds later he saw smoke coming from the front undercarriage of the car. Another two minutes, and the fire was visible.
How does he feel about Tesla after the whole incident?
“This experience does not in any way make me think that the Tesla Model S is an unsafe car. I would buy another one in a heartbeat.”
He also notes that, despite the fire damage to the exterior, the handles still popped out during the fire when he pressed the key fob to give firefighters access. Even the glove compartment was undamaged and he retrieved items from it when the fire was safely extinguished.
Since this is on the Tesla Motors blog, you know this wasn’t likely to end with Shibayama saying he feared for his life and would never set foot in another Tesla Model S, but it is still a heck of an endorsement. He could have said nothing, but he chose to come out and stand up for the company and its car.
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.
Did you know that currently there is no common SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) standard for towing capacity when it comes to light duty trucks like there is for horsepower or even MPG?
Because of this pickup manufacturers (without making any mechanical change) will sometimes up their towing limits when competing trucks are introduced.
We call this Magic Towing Dust and we investigated the safety of this practice. In the United States the all of the car manufacturers have agreed on a common standard for calculating MPG and horsepower.
This means car and truck buyers can rely on the manufacturer’s numbers and compare apples to apples and not apples to oranges
But when it comes to truck’s payload and towing – no such common standard exists.
This also means that truck manufacturers have as much Magic Towing Dust as they can sprinkle on a pickup.
Here are part 1 and part 2 of TFL investigates Magic Towing Dust.
2014 FIAT 500L 0-60 MPH Test and Quick Take Review
The 2014 FIAT 500L is a small Italian people mover that competes with quirky cars like the KIA Soul, Nissan Cube and even the MINI Countryman.
The 2014 FIAT 500L’s best feature is the 1.4L turbo-charged 4 banger that’s right out go the Fiat 500 Abarth.
This is a gem of an engine that could have been developed by Ferrari if Ferrari built small engines.
In another accurate, fun and informative TFLcar review, Roman and Nathan find out how fast the new 2014 Fiat 500L is from 0-60 MPH at a mile above sea level.
KIA announced in October that it would be marketing an all-electric KIA Soul in the United States and now they’ve given up some details on the vehicle.
The KIA Soul EV is due to go on sale sometime in 2014 and will mark their first all-electric, zero-emissions vehicle outside of Korea. They intend to promote the vehicle as part of their Clean Mobility program which is focused on making environmentally-friendly cars.
Although it’s the first all-electric vehicle to be marketed outside of Korea, it isn’t their first time out of the gate with EV technology. The KIA Soul EV will feature their second-generation technology based on what they learned from the Ray EV that was sold in Korea.
They’re shooting for a range of 120 miles per charge through a high-capacity 27kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. The KIA Soul EV will also recycle energy generated during coasting or braking back into the battery.
You’ll be able to plug it into a standard outlet and have your vehicle fully charged in about five hours for a completely drained battery using a 240v outlet or in as short as 25 minutes with fast charge.
The front-wheel drive KIA Soul EV prototypes are being built on a modified version of the existing 2014 KIA Soul with a 109 HP electric motor and 210 lb-ft of torque. They do 0-62 MPH in under 12 seconds and hit a top speed of 90 MPH.
The KIA Soul EV will have added safety to help make sure pedestrians are aware of the vehicle. It will be equipped with a Virtual Engine Sound System that will sound an audible alert whenever it’s going less than 12 MPH and anytime it’s in reverse.
Exterior styling will be based on the 2012 KIA Track’ster concept including projection type headlamps, LED positioning lamps, LED rear combination lamps, and aerodynamic 16″ alloy wheels.
The inside will feature a unique instrument cluster and center stack with 8″ display screen. It will also include lots of environmentally friendly materials like Bio Plastic, Bio Foam, and low volatility organic compounds.
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.
Honda is rapidly reworking some design issues throughout their fleet (the Honda Civic has been reworked a few times in a few years) and now they have this nifty sketch of the Honda FCEV Concept. Honda says it’s a potential styling direction for their next fuel-cell vehicle. It certainly looks better than their past effort. The Honda FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) Concept will debut at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show on Nov 20th.
“The Honda FCEV Concept demonstrates the company’s vision for the future of personal mobility and our commitment to developing advanced alternative fuel vehicles,” said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “As we work toward the introduction of our next-generation fuel-cell vehicle in 2015, our long-term experience with fuel-cell technologies will help us pave a way towards a zero-emissions future.”
I was lucky enough to drive a Honda FCX Clarity and thought it had serious potential for production. That was until the reality of the complexity of creating hydrogen fuel hit me. Honda has proven that a vehicle can be driven daily with hydrogen powering up batteries. Now, it’s up to the egg-heads to find a way to make cheap hydrogen fuel. Until that’s accomplished, this whole thing is academic.
Well, at least the Honda FCEV Concept looks cool. Who knows, maybe this sketch points the way to a (much) better looking design language throughout the Honda fleet.
I doubt it.
Check out this review of the surprisingly awesome Honda Accord Sport!
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.
Part 6 of the outrageous Gymkhana series was released today. No cities were hurt in the making of this video. An airfield was host to the “Ultimate Gymkhana Grid” obstacle course. Ken Block pilots a highly modified 650 horsepower Ford Fiesta ST rally car through a series of loops and turns. They whole thing looks a little like a video game, which was brought to live. A nice connection to the “Need For Speed – Rivals” video game.
Block shows supreme car control, coming within inches of barriers, backhoes, Lamborghini police cars, guys on Segways, and other objects. Gymkhana Six is a refinement of previously displayed tricks. All of it is skillfully combined together into a single run.
The sporty and practical Dodge Durango is based on a stretched version of the uni-body platform of the award-winning Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is a really good start.
The 2014 Durango SUV/crossover looks better with a different, rather sinister-looking front end and revised rear styling with Dodge’s race-style LED taillight design. It has a new, responsive eight-speed automatic transmission with a segment-first rotary shifter and efficient paddle shifters for manual operation. The automatic replaces the one offered with either five or six speeds.
STATS
Starting Retail Price
As Tested Price
HP / Lb-Ft
2014 Dodge Durango Citadel V8 AWD
$46,185
$46,185
360 / 390
EPA Rating MPG
As Tested MPG
Rating: BUY IT!
14 / 22 Combined 16
The updated interior has a new instrument panel. A third row 50/50 split seat that’s suitable for adults, at least on short trips, accompanies supportive front bucket seats and second-row seats, which fold and tumble for more cargo room, but are rather flat unless you get the optional “captain’s chairs.”
The Durango comes as the SXT, Rallye, Limited, R/T, and Citadel models. It rides on a 119.8-inch wheelbase and is 201.2 inches long overall. It weighs from 4,756 to 5,397 pounds, making it one of the larger SUV/crossovers.
List prices range from $29,795 for the base rear-drive model to $43,395 for the top-line Citadel model with all-wheel drive (AWD). I tested the Citadel AWD HEMI V-8 version, which has additional cost for big power.
The built-in-Detroit has two AWD systems, one for the V-6, the other for the V-8.
Getting in or out of any Durango model calls for extra effort because the step-up is rather high, but occupants then sit high for good visibility in the roomy interior.
The cargo floor is wide, but also rather high. Cargo room is just adequate with the third-row in its normal position. But it’s generous with the rear seats flipped forward. Second- and third-row seats fold to provide a flat load floor that Dodge says lets one haul “a 6-foot couch with room for a coffee table.”Also, a fold-flat front passenger seat is standard on models not equipped with the ventilated seat option. There’s a fairly large, hidden covered cargo compartment below the load floor.
Families with children will find the available captain’s chairs with pass-through helpful, as two car seats can stay latched into the second-row seats. And there’s an easy pass-through for passengers to walk between the “chairs” to reach the third row.
Clever features are found throughout the Durango. For instance, an instrument panel switch remotely lowers the third-row headrests when they’re not in use.
Power comes from either a stout 3.6-liter, dual-overhead camshaft V-6 with 290 horsepower (295 in the Rallye) and 260 pound/feet of torque or a muscular 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with 360 horsepower and 390 pound/feet of torque—and dual exhaust outlets.
The V-6 only needs 87-octane fuel. Dodge recommends 89-octane for the V-8, although it says 87-octane gas is “acceptable.”
The V-8 has Fuel-Saver technology that seamlessly shuts off four cylinders when less power is needed but also seamlessly goes intoV-8 mode when more power is demanded. An “Eco Mode” optimizes the shift schedule and throttle sensitivity and cuts fuel delivery when the Durango is coasting. Eco Mode is automatically engaged upon startup. A button on the center stack lets drivers disengage this mode if livelier performance is wanted.
Dodge says the V-8 provides “best-in-class” towing of up to 7,400 pounds.
Despite its economy features, the V-8 only delivers an estimated mediocre 14 miles per gallon in the city and a decent 23 on highways with rear-drive and 14 and 22 with (AWD). The V-6 provides 18 and 25 with rear-drive and 17 and 24 with AWD.
Fuel tank capacity is 24.6 gallons. That gives the Durango V-6 with rear-drive an estimated highway driving range of 615 miles on one tank of fuel.
The Durango is enjoyable to drive, with quick steering, an all-independent suspension, nearly 50/50 weight distribution and new lineup of 18- or 20-inch wheels. Aggressive shock and spring rates and large sway bars handle body roll in hard turning maneuvers.
Also helping keep the Durango hug the planet on and off road are electronic stability and all-speed traction-control systems.
The best-handling model is the R/T, which sits slightly lower than the other models and has wider 50-series tires on 20-inch wheels. It also has dark-tinted headlight bezels, body color front and rear lower fascias, wheel flares, grille and sill moldings.
The ride is supple, and the brake pedal has an assuring linear feel. It controls the four-wheel anti-lock brakes, which have a brake-assist feature for surer stops.
The upscale, quiet interior has quality materials that fit well together, and there are 5- or 8.4-inch touchscreens with Uconnect Access and navigation with 3D mapping.
An optional new dual-screen Blu-ray video entertainment system has screens mounted on the back of the front power seats. I first saw that setup on a top-line Jaguar XJ sedan several years ago.
Standard safety items include air bags, side curtains and a backup camera with a rear-park assistance system.
I suggest getting the available forward collision warning with crash mitigation, adaptive cruise control with a stop feature, Blind-Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection to prevent close calls in, say, crowded parking lots. Here’s betting you’ll eventually thank me for that recommendation.
My test Durango Citadel had a standard power sunroof and a handy power tailgate.
The rather sexy new Durango excels in most areas and is no dull family vehicle. The V-6 is probably best for many families who don’t do lots of towing, but it’s hard to resist the thundering HEMI V-8.
On the TFLcar scale of:
Buy it!
Lease it!
Rent it!
… or Forget it!
I give the 2014 Dodge Durango Citadel HEMI a Buy It!
Check out this fun TFL car video with the 2014 Dodge Durango R/T:
The new LEDs are the craze and look nice.
Now this is what the new Durango should have always looked like.
Dan Jedlicka joined the Chicago Sun-Times in February 1968 as a business news reporter and was named auto editor later that year. He has reviewed more than 4,000 new vehicles for the Sun-Times–far more than any newspaper auto writer in the country. Jedlicka also reviewed vehicles for Microsoft Corp.’s MSN Autos Internet site from January, 1996, to June, 2008. For more of Dan’s thoughtful and insightful reviews please visit his web site HERE.
The 2026 Kia K4 hatchback gives interested buyers another option in a time where hatches have been losing ground to crossovers. Here are all the details!
