By Jeff Voth, CarNews Media
2008 Land Rover Range Rover SportThe automotive industry stands at a crucial crossroad that could determine that fate of several of the world’s largest carmakers. A sluggish economy and soaring fuel prices are forcing many prospective car buyers to reassess their needs, and the effect on the auto industry has been staggering. If the industry fails to keep up with the changing landscape, it means certain death. But to head blindly into uncharted territory is equally dangerous for an industry already in turmoil.
As a maker of automobiles, what do you do when consumers no longer want your trucks and SUVs? Closing factories is an answer Wall Street is certain to approve. But ultimately, you still need people to buy your products. The simple answer, though in most cases the hardest to enact, is to start selling more small cars and midsize sedans. With this solution in mind, here are some of the biggest winners and losers in this year’s race to increase the manifest destiny of the automobile.
Winner:
Mazda Mazda3
The Mazda3 hits all of the right notes by bringing together a muscular, sport-inspired exterior and a roomy, well-appointed cabin. Available as both a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback, the Mazda3 delivers admirable agility and performance from a fuel-sipping 2.3-liter 156-hp engine. The Mazda3 sport package includes front and rear fascia, side skirts, 17-inch alloy wheels, and fog lamps. A TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) and side air bags are stock on all Mazda3 models, and the Sport model ups the ante with curtain-style side airbags. Small is the new large, and the Mazda3 is a winner.
Loser:
Ford Expedition
The 2008 Ford Expedition is available in two versions: a standard-length Expedition and the stretched EL ("extended length"), which includes a foot-long wheelbase extension and more room in the already-vast cabin. The vehicle has plenty of muscle, thanks to Ford's 5.4-liter, 300 hp Triton V-8. Both versions also include a standard six-speed automatic transmission and a maximum towing capacity of 9,200 pounds. While this full-size SUV may include a host of expensive refinements (such as an optional rearview camera, power liftgate, and the new King Ranch trim), the Expedition is exactly the kind of vehicle that most consumers are shying away from. With gas prices so high, this Expedition is better left uncharted.
Winner:
Ford Fusion
Ford's mid-size sedan fills the gap between the smaller Focus and the larger Taurus. Adorned with a bold, three-bar grille and projector-beam headlamps, the five-seat Fusion is available in three trims—the base S, SE, and SEL—and two engines, a 2.3-liter four-cylinder or 3.0-liter V-6. The inline four delivers 160 hp and ties to a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. The V-6 has 221 hp and uses a six-speed automatic. For added safety, curtain-style air bags, antilock brakes, and a TPMS are standard on 2008 editions, and a Reverse Sensing System is available. Cold fusion may one day hold the key as an alternative energy source, but for now this Fusion is a white-hot ticket.
Loser:
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
This SUV resembles a streamlined Range Rover but rides on a modified LR3 platform. It's designed for everyday driving as well as off-road duty with on-demand 4WD. The plush cabin makes room for five, with twin sport buckets in the first row and a folding bench for three in the back. Like the standard Range Rover, the Sport shows two V-8 engine choices, with naturally-aspirated and supercharged modes. The 4.4-liter natural plant nets 300 hp, while the 4.2-liter supercharged unit speeds to 390 hp. Each model includes a six-speed automatic gearbox with CommandShift mapping. Unfortunately for the celebrity in each of us, driving a luxury SUV is no longer the fashion statement it once was.
Winner:
Lexus RX 350
2008 Lexus RX 350This crossover SUV from Lexus is built upon a front-wheel drive chassis derived from the company’s line of luxury sedans. It provides an expansive five-seat passenger compartment and a rear cargo bay. Many safety systems are in place, including curtain-style air bags tucked above the front and rear side windows. The cabin piles on premium gear, like power seats, mirrors, and windows. RX 350 gains the 3.5-liter VVT-i Lexus V-6 for 270 hp through an electronic automatic transaxle. The list of available options includes leather upholstery, a navigation system with Bluetooth and voice activation, Mark Levinson DVD audio, and a backseat video system. Lexus continues to anticipate a changing market and the RX 350 is another winner in the company's long line of successes. A hybrid version, the RX 400h, is also available.
Loser:
BMW 7 Series
BMW's full-size 7 Series luxury/performance sedans roll with powerful engines. There's a V-8 for the 750i and stretched 750Li and a V-12 in the 760Li. The V-8 displaces 4.8 liters and delivers 360 hp. The 12-cylinder engine for the 760Li is a 6.0-liter aluminum plant that makes 408 hp and features BMW's Valvetronic system plus fully variable bi-VANOS camshaft controls. Both engines tie to a six-speed automatic with shift-by-wire technology. The line-capper Alpina B7 totes a 4.4-liter V-8 tuned for 500 hp, with paddle shifters tied to the six-speed automatic. Big, bold, and out of touch with reality, it's being replaced in 2009. Could a hydrogen model actually make it to market?
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