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RAV4, Renegade Rule February Compact and Subcompact Crossover Sales Report

By
John Inama
-

Toyota RAV4 Jeep Renegade

The Toyota RAV4 weathered a strong month from the Honda CR-V to take the compact crossover sales crown for February, while the Jeep Renegade leaped ahead of the Subaru Crosstrek in subcompact crossover sales.

The RAV4 had a strong month across the board, with an 18 percent increase over February 2015 and a 12 percent increase for the year. It beat out the CR-V by less than 300 sales, as the Honda bounced back from a disappointing January with a year-over-year increase of more than 30 percent.

CR-V sales are still slightly down for the year thanks to its weak January showing, with a two percent drop over 2015. Only the GM twins – the Chevrolet Equinox and the GMC Terrain – join the CR-V with an overall sales drop from last year.

2017 Ford Escape | LA Auto Show
2017 Ford Escape

Ford’s Escape also had a strong month to take third place, while last month’s second-place winner, the Nissan Rogue, dropped to fourth.

Jeep’s evergreen Patriot and Compass continue to sell well despite their aging platform. The Patriot’s sales are up 28 percent for the month and six percent for the year, while the Compass is hovering around a 40 percent increase for both the month and the year.

Hyundai’s all-new Tucson is stomping all over the previous-generation’s sales, with increases of 89 percent for the month and 82 percent for the year.

Compact Crossover Sales

Feb 2016 # Jan 2016 # Feb ’16/Jan ’16 % Feb 2016/2015 YTD 2016 # YTD 2016/2015 %
Toyota RAV4 25,523 21,554 18.4% 16.3% 47,077 12.7%
Honda CR-V 25,250 19,208 31.5% 13.2% 44,458 -2.3%
Ford Escape 23,854 19,219 24.1% 14.1% 43,073 5.1%
Nissan Rogue 21,561 19,762 9.1% 0.7% 41,323 11.5%
Chevrolet Equinox 19,825 18,574 6.7% -8.7% 38,399 -7.0%
Jeep Cherokee 15,017 15,347 -2.2% 7.0% 30,364 4.0%
Subaru Forester 12,239 11,904 2.8% 6.8% 24,143 6.5%
Jeep Patriot 10,637 8,273 28.6% 3.0% 18,910 6.0%
GMC Terrain 8,232 8,835 -6.8% -24.2% 17,067 -13.4%
Dodge Journey 7,979 8,456 -5.6% 3.0% 16,435 11.0%
Mazda CX-5 7,579 7,063 7.3% 1.8% 14,642 9.3%
Hyundai Tucson 7,336 5,218 40.6% 89.6% 12,554 81.8%
Jeep Compass 7,203 5,089 41.5% 54.0% 12,292 37.0%
Kia Sportage 5,860 4,803 22.0% 72.0% 10,663 65.0%
VW Tiguan 3,245 2,528 28.4% 78.4% 5,773 75.4%
Mitsubishi Outlander 2,121 1,543 37.5% 80.5% 14,134 0.8%

 

2013_buick_encore_actr34_fd_1203122_717
Buick Encore

Over in the subcompact crossover market segment, the successful Renegade leaped ahead of the Crosstrek to lead for the month and the year.

The Renegade is too new to compare to 2015, but the Crosstrek’s sales were slightly off for the month and are down slightly for the year.

Buick’s surprise hit, the Encore, took third and outclassed its sister car, the Chevrolet Trax, even though the Trax outpaced it in percentage increase.

Sandwiched between the GM siblings is the Honda HR-V, which had a strong month but, like the Renegade, it’s too new to compare to 2015.

Subcompact Crossover Sales

Feb 2016 # Jan 2016 # Feb ’16/Jan ’16 % Feb 2016/2015 YTD 2016 # YTD 2016/2015 %
Jeep Renegade 6,757 6,362 6.2% NEW 13,119 NEW
Subaru XV Crosstrek 6,129 6,448 -4.9% -4.3% 12,577 -2.7%
Buick Encore 5,873 4,920 19.4% 19.3% 10,793 28.7%
Honda HR-V 4,940 4,177 18.3% NEW 9,117 NEW
Chevrolet Trax 4,814 3,746 28.5% 26.0% 8,560 51.2%
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2,591 2,233 16.0% 8.2% 4,824 3.5%
Nissan Juke 1,863 1,510 23.4% -14.7% 3,373 -19.4%
Mazda CX-3 1,793 1,375 30.4% NEW 3,168 NEW
Fiat 500X 1,547 1,018 52.0% NEW 2,565 NEW
MINI Countryman 581 504 15.3% -38.1% 1,085 -35.5%

 

Check out this TFLcar video for everything you want to know about the 2016 Toyota RAV4:

2017 Kia Sportage SX – Taking Risks and Keeping Sporty [First Drive]

By
Andre Smirnov
-
2017 kia sportage sx turbo awd
2017 Kia Sportage

How to stand out in a crowded and ultra-competitive segment? This is the challenge that the 2017 Kia Sportage is facing. This compact crossover is going up against the likes of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape, and the Chevy Equinox – just to name a few. This segment continues to increase in popularity as more consumers move from sedans and into the crossovers. The Sportage in definitely an important vehicle for Kia.

The 4th generation Sportage attacks competition with bold and polarizing styling. This is a bit of a risk. It’s still unmistakably a Kia and features a higher mounted grille and swept-back headlights. The rear has a stand-out tail light design, a standard roof spoiler, and dual exhausts on the turbocharged SX models.

2017-kia-sportage-rear-tail

The 2017 Sportage continues the fight with a slightly longer wheelbase and overall length. This translates to more interior space and utility: more legroom and 18 percent more cargo volume behind the rear seats (30.7 cu-ft to be exact).

The Sportage power comes from a choice of two engines: a base 2.4-liter direct-injected motor or a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit. The naturally aspirated motor is good for 181 hp at 6,000 rpm and 175 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, while the turbo comes in two flavors. The engine puts out 237 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm for the AWD car and 240 horsepower at 6,000 rpm in FWD trim. The torque rating 260 lb-ft at 1,350 rpm in both variations. All powertrain combinations are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Kia chose not to use a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The company thinks that many people still appreciate a traditional automatic transmission.

2017-kia-sportage-awd-dynamax

I had a chance to drive both variations of the 2.0-liter turbo. The FWD Sportage SX feels significantly quicker under full throttle than its AWD counterpart. The AWD system adds a mere 99 pounds to the curb weight of the SX. Still, the new car is no lightweight. The curb weight can vary from 3,305 pounds for a bare-bones LX FWD model to 3,997 pounds for a fully loaded SX AWD. I drove the latter, and it is a lot of heft to move around.

The weight of the fully loaded crossover none-withstanding, the new Sportage can be fun in the tight and twisty canyons of Southern California (where I was). Punch the mode button into “Sport”, the steering weight and feedback increase, the transmission and throttle mappings get sharper, and the Sportage is ready to dance. It does lean into corners, not helped by the giant panoramic sunroof that adds weight up high. It has a slight tendency to understeer, but the clever Dynamax AWD system helps to bring the car through the corner. The FWD Sportage feels more nimble in the corners, it’s lighter on its feet.

Kia was able to increase fuel economy across the board. The 2.4-liter Sportage with front wheel drive gains 2 mpg to 23 city / 30 highway / 26 combined. The turbocharged AWD car is rated at 20 city / 23 highway / 21 combined. Some competitors, such as the Mazda CX-5, can claim higher efficiency numbers.

The Sportage still brings a solid value proposition. The well-equipped 2017 Sportage SX 2.0T AWD comes in just under $35,000. This includes an interior that is one of the best in the segment. The materials, design, fit, and finish are all high quality. The third generation UVO3 infotainment system now has a higher resolution touch screen that allows for swipes and pinch-zoom. Apple Car Play and Android Auto will both be available.

The 2017 Kia Sportage goes on sale this month (March 2016).

2017-kia-sportage-led-lights

In the end, Kia built a more refined and more spacious Sportage that maintains high value for the money. This should gain some sales against the tough competition.

Check out this video of the new Sportage and learn how it behaves on the road.

Camry, Altima Lead February Midsize Sedan Sales [Sales Report]

By
John Inama
-

2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The Toyota Camry continued to lead all other midsize sedans in sales for February, topping the monthly and yearly sales charts.

Despite seeing a slight decrease from February 2015 of 1.6 percent for the month and an overall decrease of less than one percent, the Camry led by around 4,000 sales and leads by about 9,000 for the year.

In second place for the month and the year is the revamped Nissan Altima, which is also starting the year down in sales from 2015. Monthly sales were only off by a half percent, but for the year the Altima is down eight percent.

2016 Nissan Altima SR

The Honda Accord and the resurgent Ford Fusion took the third and fourth spots, respectively. Both cars’ sales for the month and year are nearly a mirror image of each other, with the Accord having a slight lead in all categories.

The all-new Chevrolet Malibu continues its surge out of the gate, as does the Hyundai Sonata.

Further down the list, it looks like the party’s over for the Chrysler 200. After spending most of last year with high year-over-year sales thanks to the lackluster model it replaced, the 200 is down significantly for the month and for the year.

Check out the full sales chart below:

Midsize Sedan Sales – February 2016

Feb 2016 # Jan 2016 # Feb ’16/Jan ’16 % Feb 2016/2015 YTD 2016 # YTD 2016/2015 %
Toyota Camry 32,405 26,848 20.7% -1.6% 59,253 -0.8%
Nissan Altima 28,320 22,156 27.8% -0.5% 50,476 -8.0%
Honda Accord 25,785 20,765 24.2% 19.3% 46,550 9.2%
Ford Fusion 25,442 19,877 28.0% 11.9% 45,319 6.8%
Chevrolet Malibu 21,418 14,746 45.2% 53.3% 36,164 39.9%
Hyundai Sonata 17,470 15,209 14.9% 24.9% 32,679 24.0%
Kia Optima 9,630 8,413 14.5% -16.9% 18,043 -14.0%
Chrysler 200 6,597 5,200 26.9% -58.0% 11,797 -61.0%
Subaru Legacy 4,454 4,473 -0.4% 2.6% 8,927 8.6%
VW Passat 4,380 3,586 22.1% -30.6% 7,966 -36.8%
Mazda Mazda6 3,617 2,572 40.6% -28.6% 6,189 -29.9%
Buick Regal 1,608 2,653 -39.4% -4.8% 4,261 71.7%

 

Check out this TFLcar first drive review video of the revamped 2016 Nissan Altima:

2017 Bentley Mulsanne: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know [Video]

By
Michael Curtis
-

Bentley Mulsanne | 2016 Geneva Motor Show

At the 2016 Geneva Auto Show, Bentley introduced the 2017 face-lift of its flagship luxury sedan, the Mulsanne. The Mulsanne’s power unit is a 6.75 liter V8 that puts out 505 bhp and 752 lb-ft of torque. With this new 2017 Mulsanne, most of the design changes are in the front fascia and the interior design.

The front fascia has had a couple of noticeable changes. Most obvious is the new grille, which has been widened by roughly three inches. Additionally, Bentley has decided to go back to the vertical veins which resemble some of their older models. Perhaps the only grille more impressive than the Bentley’s is the one that sits in Flavor Flav’s Mouth.

2017 Bentley Mulsanne EWB front

Another design change made to the Mulsanne are the new headlights. Featuring a “jewel like” design, Bentley spokesperson Brett Boydell says that Bentley is really trying to make a statement with this car. Bentley wants this car to have a dominant presence on the road. The widened grille and bespoke headlights are designed to help achieve a dominating presence.

Moving to the interior of the car, Bentley has focused on creating an environment that pleases both the driver and the passenger. Brett says that the Mulsanne is designed like a true grand tourer. However, the extended wheelbase version focuses a lot of attention towards the rear seats.

 

The rear seats have been created to resemble those of a private jet. The aircraft style seats recline and offer an adjustable leg rest to adapt to the customer’s comfort needs. The bespoke British sedan also offers its customer new technology to allow for both a productive and comfortable ride, such as 4G cell service and in-car Wi-Fi. Bentley has also included an eight inch touch screen infotainment system with 60Gb of on-board solid-state storage for media and entertainment.

All of this comfort and luxury does come at a price, however. Mr. Boydell says the car at the Geneva show would sell for roughly £270,000 or $376,000 in freedom units. However, the base model will start at only £220,000 which is roughly $307,000 for those of us in the states.

For the full interview from the 2016 Geneva Auto Show look below:

 

Koenigsegg Regera: The World’s Fastest Hybrid at Geneva Auto Show [Video]

By
Brian Waring
-

Koenigsegg-Regera

Say hello to the Toyota Prius’s newest competition, the Koenigsegg Regera. Based on a heavily modified Agera chassis, the Regera mates an 1,100-hp 5.0L twin-turbo V8 to a 700-hp, 4.5kWh battery pack mounted in the center of the car for proper weight distribution. Combined, the pair is good for 1,500 hp and 1,475 lb-ft of torque… that’s more power than the new Bugatti Chiron, and it only comes in rear wheel drive. Since the Regera first appeared as a concept car, it has undergone many alterations before it became the car you see in front of you.

Acceleration figures include a claimed 0-62 mph time in under 2.8 seconds, 0-180 mph takes less than 11 seconds, and the company states 0-252 mph can be accomplished in just over 20 seconds for those who have the nerves to try. Instead of a regular transmission, Koenigsegg has fitted the hypercar with its “Direct Drive” system, which launches the car in pure electric mode. Once underway, at about 20 mph, the hydraulic coupling starts to close and the crank-mounted motor starts contributing to the bottom end of the torque curve.

Koenigsegg Regera | 2016 Geneva Motor Show

To keep the car well-behaved at speed, it is equipped with all sorts of aero enhancements to keep it from lifting off. Among them are the foldable top-mounted rear wing, ginormous side scoops, front diffuser, and active aero flaps on the underbelly of the car. To accommodate for the weight distribution of the battery pack, the Regera’s front tires are actually wider than the rears.

Start calling around now if you’re interested. Only 80 examples of the Regera will be produced and almost half of them have already been ordered, with four of them being sold before anyone even saw the car. Prices for the world’s most extreme hybrid start at around $2.1 million. Ok, so maybe the Prius doesn’t have much to worry about.

BMW Alpina B7, 600 HP: Give Me More, Please [News]

By
Derek Mau
-

The BMW 7 Series is a tour de force of technology, luxury, and German car performance. For those who crave more — more fancy gadgets, more comfort, and more speed — be ready to pay more money. BMW has teamed up with German tuner, Alpina, to create the BMW Alpina B7.

BMW Alpina B7 at Geneva Motor Show

The 4.4-liter twin turbo V8 has been uprated from 445 horsepower to a clobbering 600. Torque from the monstrous V8 jumps to 494 lb-ft starting at 2,000 rpm and peaking at 590 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm. These numbers are strong enough to catapult the B7 into supercar territory with a 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds. Heavens know how far up the speedometer this Bavarian luxury cruiser finally top out.

The suspension and chassis have been tweaked, and the all-wheel drive system tuned to handle the extra power. Drivers get to play with Launch Control when those times are called upon to silence the neighborhood ricers.

BMW Alpina B7 at Geneva Motor Show

The interior is redone with plush leather that is a dream to sink into and nicer trim pieces. A custom digital instrument cluster, which changes based whether the executive-level sedan is in Comfort or Sport mode, is a visual reminder for the driver.

Watch this drag race between a Chevrolet Corvette and BMW Alpina B6.

New Super- and Hypercars of the Geneva Motor Show and the Sexy Women Who Love Them! [Video]

By
Derek Mau
-

2016 Geneva Motor Show | TFLcar.com

The Geneva Motor Show is upon us once again and the hype around the visionary concepts, incredible supercars, and the next wave of European-spec cars has already begun. Roman travels to Geneva and sends us a sampling of what we can expect to see at the Palexpo convention center in Switzerland.

This is the hallmark automotive show for the European and world market that is the stage for some huge announcements.

Porsche 911 R at Geneva Motor Show

Porsche 911 R developed by Porsche Motorsport and built for the purist. The “R” stands for racing is focused on the core philosophy of driving fun. Start with a bare-bones interior, insert a lightweight GT3 RS motor, tune the rear-wheel steering suspension for maximum performance, and the revelation that this is a serious driving machine comes to mind.

lamborghini centenario | geneva motor show

Lamborghini is celebrating its hundredth birthday of its founder with an exclusive hypercar that has no less than 760 horsepower. The Lamborghini Centenario features some striking bodywork on top of a V12 engine tuned 10 percent higher than an Aventador and capable of a 2.8 second rush from zero to 62 mph and a top of speed of 217 mph.

aston martin db11

The Aston Martin DB11 is built on a brand new chassis that is propelled by a 5.2-liter twin turbo V12, and wrapped in a stunning design. The engine delivers 600 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 516 lb-ft of torque starting from 1,500 rpm. Zero to 60 mph is covered in 3.9 seconds, finishing with a maximum speed of 200 mph. It’s the tenth car in a lineage that started with the DB1 in 1948.

2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e vs Ram 1500 HFE EcoDiesel Mashup MPG Review [Video]

By
Derek Mau
-

2016 BMW X5 40e plug-in hybrid

All the major automakers are working creating more fuel-efficient versions of their stable of cars, trucks, and SUVs. BMW’s plan is to create hybrid drivetrains for every model it sells. The latest is the X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid, which gets an estimated 24 mpg overall — 3 mpg better than the 3.0-liter turbocharged model.

The Fast Lane had a Ram 1500 diesel in for testing during the same time as the X5, so the idea of an mpg challenge quickly came to mind. The Ram 1500 uses a new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine that delivers 240 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels by way of an 8-speed transmission. Fuel efficiency for the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel amounts to 21 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined.

The plug-in hybrid drivetrain in the X5 consists of a 2.0-liter TwinPower turbocharged 4-cylinder paired with an 111 horsepower electric motor integrated into the 8-speed transmission. Total system output is 308 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. In all-electric mode, the all-wheel drive X5 xDrive40e has a range of approximately 15 miles and a top speed of 75 mph — although don’t expect to get 15 EV miles at that speed.

In this TFLcar ‘mashup’ video, BMW X5 xDrive40e and Ram 1500 EcoDiesel are tested on a 100-mile loop. Watch the video below to see if the luxury SUV from Bavaria and a diesel-powered domestic truck live up to their manufacturer numbers, and which is better at using less fuel.

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