New
Vehicles 2008
by Steve Schutz, MD
October is historically new car
introduction season — though the nature of the automotive
business these days is such that manufacturers launch new
vehicles year round — so
I’d like to spend this column running down the new
cars and trucks that I think would be most interesting
to the average San Antonio Medicine reader
(whoever that is).
At $115,000, the R8 is priced like the Porsche Turbo Carrera
and Aston Martin Vantage, but its true competition is the
more attainable Porsche 911. Current 911 owners will find
a lot to like in the R8, which looks terrific inside and
out, and has the moves to match. Will the R8 become the
new choice for neurosurgeons and cardiologists? Only time
will tell, but without question this is a great sports
car.
2008 marks the acceleration of Audi’s lineup expansion,
undertaken to better compete with Mercedes and BMW. Based
on the upcoming 2009 A4, the A5’s job is to take
on the BMW 3-series and Mercedes CLK coupes. My sense is
that the A5 will be more luxurious than the BMW, but more
masculine than the Mercedes.
BMW 1-series
With their Mini brand selling so well, one wonders why
BMW feels the need to offer a sub-$30,000 coupe, but here
it is. The base 130i includes a 230HP 3.0L in-line six,
while the 135i gets the 300HP turbo version of the same
motor. BMW will cringe, but it may turn out that the 1-series
closest competitor is the 3-series.
Buick Enclave
Finally, a Buick that can legitimately take on Lexus. The
Enclave crossover offers seating for up to eight, a hushed
cabin, buttery smooth ride, and — it’s about
time — a true sense of style. Lexus, it’s time
to update the aging RX350 and GX470.
Cadillac CTS
Like the Enclave, the CTS is a breakthrough vehicle
for GM that shows a new ability to compete with
industry benchmarks, in this case the 3-series
BMW. Its exterior is very attractive — best
in class, in my opinion — and inside the materials
and layout are also first rate. A potent pair of V6
engines complete the package, and a V8 is on the way.
The CTS is a clear winner for GM.
Chrysler Town and Country
The first product launch since German DaimlerChrysler
became American private equity-owned Chrysler LLC is
a big one, the critical Town and Country mini-van.
With the 5th generation T & C, Chrysler intends to reinvigorate the market
segment it invented, modernizing the design and adding
clever options like the Swivel ‘n Go system that
allows the two rear rows to face each other with a table
in between. I just wish we could call them vans. There’s
nothing “mini” about any of the minivans
on the market today.
Ford Taurus
As a part of his “back to basics” business
plan, new CEO Alan Mullaly, formerly of Boeing,
has sold Aston Martin, put Jaguar and Land Rover
up for sale, and brought back the Taurus. Granted
the new Taurus is just a tweaked Ford 500, but the
thinking behind the name change is sound: lose the
interesting hobbies, stop changing names so often,
focus on core products, and (maybe) save the company.
Honda Accord
Bigger and cushier than before, the Accord nevertheless
retains all the “reliable appliance” goodness
that has always defined it. New for 2008 is a
more assertive design and cooler interior, both of
which borrow heavily from the Civic. The new Toyota
Camry is a superb sedan, but the Accord will give
it a run for its sales leader money.
Infiniti G37 Coupe
The original G35 coupe taught Infiniti that luxury
buyers would welcome an upscale version of the Nissan
350Z, especially if it looked better and had more
interior space. With an all new coupe for 2008 the
original Lexus fighter took no chances, fixing the
tooplasticky cabin and modernizing the sheet metal.
Oh, there’s more power too.
Jaguar
XF
Talk about pressure: this beautiful sedan is charged with
saving Jaguar. Period. If looks and style have anything
to do with it, the XF will succeed. Those important attributes
will be helped by luxury market leading sales and service
satisfaction, so Jaguar is as well positioned as it can
be. This will be an interesting year for this automotive
icon.
Mercedes C-class
Looking to all the world like a shrink wrapped S-class,
the new “C” packs plenty of visual personality
to go
with its three pointed star (now placed
in the grille on Sport models, as well
as its customary position standing up on
the hood in other versions). With worthy
challengers hitting it from all angles — see Cadillac CTS above — the
C-class needs every bit of its new duds and
engines to compete. I bet Mercedes yearns for the
days when this class included the C-class and 3-
series…and nothing else.
Smart
ForTwo
So small you can “perpendicular park” it — that
is, legally park it perpendicular to the curb — the
Smart car
will doubtless be limited mostly to zipping
around town running errands, but as a conversation
piece it’ll
be hard to beat. Just don’t get
hit by a Ford F350.
Volvo V70/XC70
Based on the all-new 2007 S80, the V70 and XC70 wagon
twins represent Volvo’s sweet spot in the automotive market,
appealing to upscale soccer moms in desirable zip codes.
The new model builds on that appeal, with a comfortable
but oh-so Scandinavian interior, extra passenger and luggage
space, and — surprised? — additional
safety features including blind spot
protection, and pre-collision warning
and braking.
