Join our guest host Nathan Johnson as he gives you a quick review of the 2009 Nissan Murano. The ‘09 Murano crossover has been redesigned, both inside and out. On the outside, there is a sportier and sleeker look while the interior has become a luxurious cabin, self-dubbed as a mobile suite.

There are several key selling points to the 2009 Murano. The power back lift gate is something you won’t find in other competitors at this price range. Then there is the 60/40 backseat split that has a power button for putting the seats back up as well as an easy-to-use lever to put the seats down. To polish off the aforementioned redesigned cabin, there is the dual sunroof. With all of the goodies, you’ll still come in under $40k for this crossover. A Murano like our tester has a base price of $29,480 and as-tested of $37,745.

We recently had a chance to test one of the latest small crossovers to hit the American auto market, the 2009 Nissan Cube.  While the Cube has been an iconic vehicle in Japan for almost a decade, this is the first time it has landed stateside.  The Cube  features styling that provides functionality while maintaining its own original identity.

True to Nissan style, the interior controls are well-thought out and easy to use. The interior design can be personalized from the dash to the lighting. For a better idea of how of you can give your Cube a more personal touch, check out www.nissancube.us. Thanks to the exterior boxy design, the interior provides good head space, with ingress/egress in both the front and back seats proving easy, even for those with ample height. Then the asymmetrical windows and side hinged cargo door gives an eye-catching design paired to utility function.

The 2009 Cube comes standard with Nissan’s 4-cylinder engine, producing 122 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 127 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm.  Both CVT and manual transmissions are available.  The CVT we tested got 28 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.

For starters, the Cube will be offered in three models: base, S, and SL.  However, in a few months, Nissan will be offering the Chrome model, which will be higher end with more customization options.  For the mid-range S model, like we tested, with a few personalizations will probably end up costing around $16,000, but base price starts at $13,990 for the ‘09 Cube.

With the growing hybrid trend in the automotive industry, it was only a matter of time before Cadillac got into the game with its large, gas guzzling, luxury SUV, the well-known Escalade.  The 2009 Escalade looks like the regular model, but the hybrid badges and messaging are plastered all over the vehicle.  Like its cousins, the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrids, the Cadillac Escalade uses the same 2 mode gas-electric drivetrain but shares none of the other commonalities like the aerodynamic front ends or light weight construction.  Some things though, remain the same in the hybrid ‘09 Escalade, like the styling and the cabin noise, but in this case, the bulk of the noise is from the switch from the gas and electric motors.

The engine in the hybrid Escalade is the 6.0-liter hybrid, producing 332 horsepower at 5,100 rpm and 367 lb-ft of torque at 5,100 rpm, mated to an electronically variable transmission.  This engine is only slightly less powerful than the Escalade’s regular 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 403 horsepower.  The fuel economy for the 2009 Escalade hybrid comes in at 20 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.  While those are not Prius numbers, it is still impressive for this three ton SUV, considering that the 200 pound lighter GM SUV hybrid models get the same 20 mpg numbers.

But with the savings on fuel, you may be wondering, “what will I pay for this hybrid”, since it still bears the Cadillac Escalade name and luxury.  Base price starts at $71,685 and our as-tested model was slightly more, coming in at $72,780

We recently tested the re-designed 2009 Subaru Forester. The ‘09 Forester boasts a new look, from the front to the back and also gained a few inches of ground clearance for those who like to explore off of the beaten path. Despite the new higher ground clearance, the Forester still has the lowest center of gravity in its class, where its main competitors are the ever-popular Honda CR-V and Toyota Rav-4.

This rugged SUV from Subaru comes with two engine options. We tested the 2.5 L 4-cylinder engine that produced 170 horsepower at 6,000 rpm 170 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm mated to a manual transmission. The other option is the 4-cylinder turbo engine from the WRX sedan, mated to an automatic transmission. Yes, that’s right, a turbo paired to an automatic transmission. Subaru, unfortunately, will not offering turbo motors with manual transmission in Foresters.

Everything about the 2009 Forester is practical, from the gas mileage, to the interior features and price. For an SUV, the Forester does not disappoint in its fuel economy numbers, getting 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The interior design has also improved with nice features like the over-sized sunroof and consideration for backseat passengers with the sliding cupholders and ample legroom. Lastly, and in the current economy, most importantly, the cost of the Subaru Forester can almost be called cheap, starting at a base price of $22,495 and an as-tested tag of $24,011.

Join us as we test the 2009 Land Rover LR2. Sibling to the LR3 and the Range Rover, the LR2 can be described as the baby of the family, both in price and size.

The LR2 uses the same engine that is found in Volvo’s XC90 and S80, the aluminum 3.2 L V6 that produces 230 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 234 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. The engine is paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual control options. Even with the power, you still get decent fuel economy, getting around 19 mpg in mixed driving, 16 mpg in the city, and 23 mpg on the highway.

The LR2 fits the bill for someone who likes adventure but also needs a vehicle that can serve as an everyday driver. The price is reasonable, as the value-buy of the Land Rover line, starting at a base of $35,375 and an as-tested price of $41,400.

Take a quick spin with us as we test the 2009 Acura TSX. The ‘09 TSX does not feel like your typical entry-level luxury car but has an aura more like its sophisticated sibling, the TL sedan. For the feel and look of a much more expensive car, you can enjoy luxury at an affordable price because the TSX starts at $28,960 and topped out at a reasonable as-tested price of $32,060

The new TSX is the picture of refinement, both performance and design-wise. Despite the additional 160 pounds to the 2009 model, the TSX is still agile with incredibly precise steering. The motor gets the job done with 201 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 172 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm. The fuel economy is surprisingly good for a sports sedan, getting 30 mpg highway and 21 mpg city. On the exterior, you may recognize the new grille that’s also found on the TL and RL. Inside, the cockpit design is new and aggressive. No more touch-screen for the nav-display but there is now a centralized wheel for control. The navigation also comes with real time traffic and weather reports.

The only gripe we had with the 2009 TSX was that the shifting in manual mode had to be done with the paddles mounted to the steering wheel, without an option to shift on the gear selector. However, with everything Acura does right with the TSX, our complaint is easy to overlook. Despite losing a little edge that the Prelude and Integra fanboys crave, the TSX will most certainly grow on them.

The all-new Mazda6 is a breath of fresh air in a market that is saturated with the standard Camrys, Accords, and Altimas. The 2009 Mazda6 combines sexy styling, creature comforts, and performance into a package you wouldn’t expect from your typical sedan. The Mazda6 is much larger than its predecessor, coming in with almost seven additional inches, four of which give the back seat passengers more legroom. The new styling is athletic, with a wide stance, optional HID headlights, muscular fender flares, and a trunk that looks like it has a built-in spoiler. The chassis is also stiffer, to accommodate the sportiness that comes from the 3.7L V6.

.

We tested the Grand Touring model with the six-speed automatic transmission paired to the 3.7L V6 engine that produces 272 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and 269 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm. The Grand Touring model, with an as-tested price of $28,26, includes many of the amenities we have come to rely on like navigation, a sunroof, and a quality sound system but you can also select creature comforts that are usually only found in near luxury vehicles like blindspot monitors, rain-sensing wipers, and auto-dimming mirrors. Overall, with the styling, performance, price, and luxury-esque perks, the Mazda6 is sitting comfortably at the top of its class.

Join us as we test the 2009 Nissan 370Z on the roads of Red Rock Canyon and at Spring Mountain Motorsport Park. The design of the 370Z is a throwback to its smaller 240Z roots and its sibling, the GT-R, coming in 4 inches shorter than the outgoing 350Z and one inch wider on the rear track while the lines, air intakes, and front spoiler resemble that of the recently released GT-R. The weight has also decreased by 95 lbs thanks to the aluminum hood, doors, and back hatch.

You may be familiar with the 370Z’s 3.7L engine because it’s basically the same engine used in the Infiniti G37 coupe. The V6 is mated to either a 7-speed automatic with Synchro Rev-Match or a 6-speed manual transmission and gets 332 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque at 5,200. Fuel economy for this sports coupe is respectable, coming in at 18 city mpg and 26 mpg highway thanks to VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift). Base price starts at $29,930 but with the sport and navigation packages, the Z can end up at the as tested price of $37,460.

Ride along as we take a first drive in the Cadillac CTS-V at the Monticello Raceway in New York. The 2009 CTS-V represents the most powerful American sedan ever made, with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, producing 556 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 551 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Base price for the CTS-V, that can beat the BMW M5 around the track, starts at $59,995, compared to the M5 that starts at $83,900.

Watch our video of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V on the track to hear the supercharged engine and to learn more about the performance features.

For more commentary about the new 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, please visit the Cadillac CTS Forum.

Recently there has been a lot of speculation as to whether the next new MINI Cooper would be focused around fuel economy and building a greener MINI or maybe some sort of SUV. Within the fuel economy hopefuls there were basically two camps, the diesel camp and the hybrid camp. BMW, MINIs parent company has fuel efficient diesels on the shelf and plans for hybrid gas/electric BMWs have already been announced so a greener MINI had to be just around the corner. Well MINI showed their hand this morning with the announcement of a 100% electric plug-in MINI named the MINI E where the E stands for electric.

Here are the bullet points from the announcement. To view the full press release scroll down.

• MINI E to be shown in November at LA Auto Show
• Pilot Program offered to select companies and consumers in California, New Jersey, and New York.
• 500 cars available at initial introduction
• Price not announced.
• Should be available in the US in January 2009
• Cars available on a one year lease.

About the technology in the MINI E

• Powered by a 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor
• Single-stage helical gearbox
• 100% emission free
• Lithium-ion battery technology
• Battery packs in place of rear seats, MINI E 2 seater only
• Range of 150 miles on single charge
• Charged at home via special wallbox supplied with car. Just plug your MINI in.
• Wallboxes fully recharge batteries after two-and-a-half hours
• 0-60 in about 8.4 seconds
• Top speed limited to 95 MPH

Specs for the new 2009 MINI E in PDF Format: 2009 MINI E Specs PDF

More commentary is in the MINI Forum

[View with PicLens]

Full press release from MINI

The BMW Group will be the world’s first manufacturer of premium automobiles to deploy a fleet of some 500 all-electric vehicles for private use in daily traffic. The MINI E will be powered by a 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor fed by a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery, transferring its power to the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox nearly without a sound and entirely free of emissions. Specially engineered for automobile use, the battery technology will have a range of more than 240 kilometers, or 150 miles. The MINI E will initially be made available to select private and corporate customers as part of a pilot project in the US states of California, New York and New Jersey. The possibility of offering the MINI E in Europe as well is currently being considered. The MINI E will give its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19 and 20, 2008.

The MINI E’s electric drive train produces a peak torque of 220 Newton meters, delivering seamless acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 152 km/h (95 mph). Featuring a suspension system tuned to match its weight distribution, the MINI E sports the brand’s hallmark agility and outstanding handling.

By introducing the MINI E, the BMW Group is underscoring the resolve with which it works towards reducing energy consumption and emissions in road traffic. The BMW Group is drawing on its unique technological expertise in the field of drive systems to develop a vehicle concept enabling zero emissions without renouncing the joy of driving. Putting some 500 cars on the road under real daily traffic conditions will make it possible to gain widely applicable hands-on experience. Evaluating these findings will generate valuable know-how, which will be factored into the engineering of mass-produced vehicles.

The BMW Group aims to start series production of all-electric vehicles over the medium term as part of its Number ONE strategy. The development of innovative concepts for mobility in big-city conurbations within the scope of “project i” has a similar thrust, as its objective also includes making use of an all-electric power train.

The energy storage unit: cutting-edge lithium-ion technology engineered specifically for use in the MINI.

Based on the current MINI, the car will initially be available as a two-seater. The space taken up by back-seat passengers in the series model has been reserved for the lithium-ion battery. When in use in the zero-emissions MINI, the battery unit combines high output with ample storage capacity and a small footprint with power ratios that are unrivalled in this field of application so far. The lithium-ion storage unit will have a maximum capacity of 35 kilowatt hours (kWh) and transmit energy to the electric motor as direct current at a nominal 380 volts. The rechargeable battery is made up of 5,088 cells grouped into 48 modules. These modules are packaged into three battery elements that are compactly arranged inside the MINI E.

The energy storage unit’s basic components are based on the technological principle that has proven itself in practice in power supplies for mobile phones and portable computers. The MINI E’s lithium-ion battery can be plugged into all standard power outlets. Its charge time is strongly dependent on the voltage and amperage of the electricity flowing through the grid. In the USA, users can recharge a battery that has been completely drained within a very short period of time using a wallbox that will ship with every MINI E. The wallbox will be installed in the customer’s garage, enable higher amperage, and thus provide for extremely short charging times. Wallboxes fully recharge batteries after a mere two-and-a-half hours.

Driven by electricity: reliably, affordably and free of emissions.

A full recharge draws a maximum of 28 kilowatt hours of electricity from the grid. Based on the car’s range, a kilowatt hour translates into 5.4 miles. Besides the benefit of zero-emissions driving, the MINI E thus offers significant economic advantages over a vehicle powered by a conventional internal combustion engine as well.

The heavy-duty battery delivers its power to an electric motor, which transforms it into thrilling agility. Mounted transversely under the MINI E’s bonnet, the drive train unleashes its full thrust from a dead standstill. This provides for the car’s fascinating launch capability. The MINI E’s intense driving experience is augmented by its dynamic deceleration potential, which is also directly coupled to the accelerator pedal. As soon as the driver releases the gas pedal, the electric motor acts as a generator. This results in braking force, and the power recovered from the kinetic energy is fed back to the battery. This interaction ensures extremely comfortable drives – especially at medium speed with constant, but marginal, variation. In city traffic, some 75 percent of all deceleration can be done without the brakes. Making substantial use of this energy recuperation feature extends the car’s range by up to 20 percent.

Signature MINI agility in a new guise.

Weighing in at 1,465 kilograms (3.230 lbs), the MINI E has an even weight distribution. Minor modifications made to the suspension ensure safe handling at all times. The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system has been adapted to this model’s specific wheel loads.

The MINI E’s brake system comes with a newly developed electric underpressure pump. Its Electrical Power Assisted Steering (EPS) is the same as the one used in mass-produced MINIs. Both brake and steering assistance react to driving conditions and are thus extremely efficient. Even the air conditioning’s electrical compressor only operates if desired or necessary.

Design: unmistakably MINI, undoubtedly new.

At first glance, the MINI E is obviously an iteration of the brand. But its design, which is the blueprint for the zero-emissions two-seater, has been complemented by a number of visual cues that point to its revolutionary drive concept. All of the units produced for the pilot project will have the same paintwork and bear a serial number on their front fenders.

The MINI E’s coachwork sports an exclusive combination of metallic Dark Silver on all panels but the roof, which is clad in Pure Silver. What distinguishes the zero-emissions MINI is a specially designed logo in Interchange Yellow, depicting a stylized power plug in the shape of an “E” set against the silver backdrop. It has been applied to the roof, in smaller dimensions to the front and back, to the charger port lid, the dashboard trim, and – combined with the MINI logo – to the door jamb, in slightly modified form. The color of the roof edges, mirror housings, interior style cues and seat seams will match the logo’s yellow tone as well.

Moreover, the central gauge and the battery level indicator behind the wheel of the MINI E, which replaces the MINI’s rev counter, feature yellow lettering against a dark grey background. The battery level is displayed in percentage figures. The central gauge includes an LED display indicating power consumption in red and power recuperation in green.

MINI E customers will be part of a pioneering mission.

A 500-unit, limited-production MINI E series will be manufactured through the end of 2008. The project will thus attain an order of magnitude that clearly exceeds the size of currently comparable test series. Putting the MINI E on the road on a daily basis will be a pioneering feat to which both the drivers and engineers of the first zero-emissions MINI will contribute as a team.

MINI E customers will join forces with BMW Group experts to assist in the project’s scientific evaluation. MINI E engineers accord high importance to staying in touch with the drivers on a regular basis, as this will help them analyze driver behavior besides vehicle characteristics in order to gain the most accurate and realistic picture of the demands placed on a vehicle with a purely electrical drive in the select usage areas.

Special charging station and full service for every MINI E.

The cars will change hands based on a one-year lease with an extension option. Monthly lease installments will cover any required technical service including all necessary maintenance and the replacement of wearing parts. At the end of the lease, all of the automobiles belonging to the project will be returned to the BMW Group’s engineering fleet where they will be subjected to comparative tests.

The MINI E’s lithium-ion battery can be charged using a wallbox provided to MINI customers. Only lockable garages or similar buildings will qualify as homebases and power stations for the MINI E.

Maintenance by qualified specialists.

The electric drive’s high-voltage technology requires that maintenance work be done by qualified personnel using special tools that are not included in MINI service partners’ standard toolboxes. In light of this, a service base will be set up on both coasts, staffed by service engineers that are specially trained to perform maintenance and repair work on the MINI E’s electrical components. In the event of drive malfunction, these experts will provide professional support at the customer’s local MINI dealer or the service base’s specially equipped workshop. Technical inspections will take place after 3,000 miles (just under 5,000 kilometers) and at least after six months.

Production in Oxford and Munich.

The MINI E has already gone through the major phases of product development for mass-produced vehicles and passed numerous crash tests on the way. Aspects investigated besides passenger protection were the impact of collision forces on the lithium-ion battery and finding a non-hazardous location for it in the car. The MINI E’s energy storage unit emerged completely unscathed from all of the crash tests mandated by US standards, which are especially high.

Production of the approximately 500 cars will take place at the company’s Oxford and Munich sites and is scheduled for completion before the end of 2008. MINI’s UK plant will be responsible for manufacturing the entire vehicle with the exception of the drive components and the lithium-ion battery, with the brand’s series models rolling off its assembly lines concurrently. The units will then be transferred to a specially equipped manufacturing complex situated on BMW plant premises where the electric motor, battery units, performance electronics and transmission will be integrated.