Were the WardsAuto judges mesmerized by the Dodge Dart's instrument panel? You can't blame them as the design is bright and sparks visual interest.

Buying a car is much like buying a house — if the curb appeal isn’t there, then you aren’t likely to look any further. Still, that hasn’t stopped consumers from buying some of the ugliest vehicles ever made. Pontiac Aztek, anyone?

Beauty is only skin deep, however, vehicle interiors can either rock your world or rock you to sleep. That is why WardsAuto Magazine regularly rates vehicle interiors and has its annual Ward’s 10 Best Interiors list for your delight. To get evaluated, a vehicle must have a new or significantly updated interior. That’s right — last year’s rehash won’t give you a chance to get listed this year.

The Ward’s 10 Best Interiors of 2012 (alphabetically by manufacturer):

• Audi A7 (Audi AG)
• Chrysler 300 Luxury (Chrysler Group LLC)
• Dodge Dart (Chrysler Group LLC)
• Chevrolet Sonic (General Motors Co.)
• Hyundai Accent (Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.)
• Hyundai Azera (Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.)
• Mazda CX-5 (Mazda Motor Corp.)
• Infiniti JX35 (Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.)
• Range Rover Evoque (Tata Motors Ltd.)
• Volkswagen Beetle (Volkswagen AG)

My thoughts? Just wow. Especially since several of the models featured are subcompact or compact vehicles, not known for offering elaborate interiors. Still, having spent some extra time with the Chevrolet Sonic, I must confess that for a vehicle in its range, GM certainly found a way to dress up its plastic surfaces.

“We saw a tremendously diverse group of interiors this year, and it’s obvious to us that auto makers are pushing their design staffs harder than ever for interiors that are beautifully appointed, well equipped and extremely comfortable,” said WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter.

The Chevy Sonic's instrument panel features a motorcycle theme.

So, what criteria does Ward’s editors follow when scoring and ranking these vehicles? A few things including ergonomics, safety, material selection, overall value and aesthetics. The judges also came up with what Wards calls the interior’s “human-machine interface” or how well vehicle information is communicated to the driver. Yes, having a brightly lit and clearly marked instrument panel can certainly help.

You’ll have to wait ’til April 30, 2012, to find detailed information online about the 10 winners. Or, you can check out your digital copy, provided that you have an active subscription. If not, sign up…the magazine is free.

The very first time I got inside of a Datsun was when my friend showed off his 1980 Datsun 200SX. Admittedly, I was jealous as the compact American car I was driving simply couldn’t hold a candle to his new ride. His car came with reclining bucket seats, a feature that American car manufacturers didn’t think to offer. It also came with other amenities its U.S. competitors charged extra for such as air-conditioning and, if I remember correctly, it was priced lower than comparably equipped cars.

Serving Emerging Markets

Datsun was, of course, known as Nissan in most other markets until about 1982 when Nissan supplanted the Datsun name in the U.S. and in Canada. That made sense as Nissan wanted to seamlessly integrate its car line. Nissan also trailed Toyota and Honda in U.S. sales, and still does today.

At a news conference in Yokohama, Japan, today Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn explained the reasons why Datsun was returning and where these cars will be marketed. He said that Nissan’s goal with Datsun is to attract young, first-time car buyers in the fastest growing emerging markets in the world. Three of those markets have been identified — Indonesia, India and Russia. What is clear that the Datsun brand will be globalized, but it won’t be available in mature markets such as the United States and Japan.

Entry-Level Models

Datsun will represent a family of low-cost vehicles, with the lowest end of these models selling for about half the price of its current low-priced Nissan products that now retail from $10,000. Thus, Datsun will represent the entry-level brand in emerging markets with the Nissan brand aimed at mid-range buyers. Infiniti will continue as Nissan’s top tier brand for luxury car buyers.

Two models will be introduced to the three specified markets in 2014 with subsequent models arriving each of the next two years. These models will be targeted to meeting local road conditions and buyer wants, with engines displacing at under 1.2-liters in Indonesia and with larger engines slated for Russia. Ghosn has said that Datsun’s initial models are already in development.

Datsun: A Good Name

When questioned about the viability of the Datsun moniker, Ghosn described it as a “good name” and has been part of the “strength of Nissan.” The CEO said that Datsun is part of Nissan’s heritage and that his company will make sure that it becomes a strong name.

Ghosn noted that Nissan is completely absent in the three markets where entry-level buyers shop. He pegged that segment at 43 percent in India, 42 percent in Indonesia and 43 percent in Russia. India is a particularly tough market to crack with Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors doing the best job of serving that country’s emerging working class. Will you drive a Datsun, then decide?

References

Datsun Will be Global Brand: Nissan CEO Ghosn

Nissan: Carlos Ghosn on the Return of Nissan

Photo courtesy of Nissan Motors.

A 3.2-liter Pentastar will likely join this larger V-6 engine.

Back when DaimlerChrysler ruled, a decision was made to replace Chrysler’s entire line of six cylinder engines, numbering seven at the time. That engine line up consisted of motors that had been around for years including a 4.0-liter straight six that was developed when Jeep was owned by the American Motors Corporation. Chrysler engineers set to work on a new engine, one that was lighter, more powerful and offered greater fuel efficiency than the ones it would replace. This aluminum head and block engine was originally known as “Phoenix” and later dubbed “Pentastar,” renamed for the symbol that has long represented Chrysler. With 283 to 305 horsepower offered depending on the application, this engine began finding its way under the hood of a variety of Chrysler products starting in early 2010 with the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

It has taken just 18 months for Chrysler to build 1 million copies of its newest V-6 engine with plants in Michigan and in Mexico working full-tilt to keep up with demand. These engines are now found in most every larger model including Chrysler’s minivans, its full-size sedans and beginning in 2013 in the Ram 1500. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 3.6-liter Pentatar is versatile, designed to power front-, rear- and all-wheel-drive vehicles.

New Pentastar

Although Chrysler has yet to confirm the news, a 3.2-liter version of the Pentastar engine will soon be built according to Automotive News. That engine is slated to appear in the 2013 Jeep Liberty, a compact SUV better suited to house a smaller engine. This next generation Jeep Liberty will also get a ZF-designed 9-speed automatic transmission, the first application of this gearbox in a Chrysler product. Chrysler now offers an 8-speed automatic transmission in its full-size Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 models.

Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has hinted that a smaller V-6 is in the works, noting at the Geneva auto show earlier this month the practicality of building that engine and pairing it with a ZF transmission. Chrysler also makes the current Pentastar engine available in its midsize Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger models, but it seems likely that these vehicles will eventually offer the smaller V-6 or perhaps go to a four cylinder only line up as the Ford Fusion will do beginning in 2013.

Michigan Made

The current Pentastar engine is made at the Trenton South plant in Michigan and in Saltillo, Mexico. The Trenton North plant is used exclusively for developing parts for the 3.6-liter Pentastar, but is only operating at 20 percent capacity. Likely, the new V-6 will be built at this underused plant, enabling Chrysler to keep up with demand. Trenton South and Saltillo each have a capacity to build 440,000 V-6 engines per year, but Marchionne has said Chrysler needs to build 1.2 million units annually to meet demand.

Chrysler also plans to make use of Fiat’s Multi-Air technologies, currently found in the 1.4-liter engine powering the Fiat 500 and soon to be seen under the hood of the 2013 Dodge Dart compact car. That engine offers better exhaust gas recirculation leading to improvements in power and fuel efficiency. The new Pentastar will most likely employ this technology with future editions of the larger engine offering the same.

References

AllPar.com: The Jeep 4.0 liter PowerTech Straight-Six Engine

Chrysler: New Pentastar V-6 Engine Set to Roll Out Across 13 Chrysler Vehicles

USA Today: Chrysler Makes Millionth Pentastar V-6 Engine

MIT: Detroit 2012: The Dodge Dart Is Back!

Photo: Chrysler Group, LLC

The Tata Nano is the world’s cheapest car and by cheap we mean two things: its low, low price point and its build quality. The former describes a car that has retailed for under $2,500; the latter describes the materials used to keep the price within range of the typical Indian consumer. Seating four passengers, the Nano has received some updates for 2012 including improved fuel efficiency, an upgraded interior, best in class air-conditioning and new exterior colors.

As before, the Nano is powered by a 624cc two-cylinder engine that is paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. This engine produces 37 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 52 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm. To say that this car is underpowered is an understatement, but for the emerging Indian market the Nano makes driving this car a reality for hundreds of millions of Indians.

Current Pricing

The 2012 Tata Nano standard is priced from Rs.1.40 lakhs, which is the equivalent of US$2,678 based on today’s exchange rates. The Tata Nano CX retails for $3,253 and the Nano LX goes for $3,750. Since it first went on sale, Nano sales have fallen short of projections. Still, the automaker has demonstrated its interest in offering a vehicle to millions of Indians whose normal mode of conveyance is a motorcycle.

Tata Nano Dimensions

The Tata Nano is 122 inches long, 59 inches wide and 65 inches tall. This model sits on an 87.8-inch wheelbase. Weighing just 1,323 pounds, the 2012 Tata Nano offers an independent, lower wishbone, McPherson struts with gas filled dampers and anti-roll bar for the front. An independent, semi-trailing arm with coil spring and gas filled shock absorbers are used in the rear. Front and rear drum brakes, and 12-inch tubeless radial tires are among the other specifications for this model.

Its extremely low price makes the Tata Nano affordable for many, but this car also has many accessories to choose from for owners who wish to customize their cars. Mud flaps, Disney decals, front bumper protectors, side rub rails, alloy wheels, exhaust tips, and front and rear body kits are available after the sale.

U.S. Market

Will the Tata Nano ever be sold in the United States as had previously been promised? Tata hasn’t committed to the American or European markets yet although the Indian automaker has begun to sell the Nano in Sri Lanka and in Nepal. If a model does appear here it will have to go through extensive and expensive conformity testing first, an expense Tata Motors may not be willing to incur in today’s tough economic climate.

Photo: Tata Motors

In 2008, it sounded like a good idea: bring a pair of small, diesel-powered pickup trucks to the market and fill a void that no other automotive manufacturer was willing to fill. That’s the story of Indian car manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra, which had promised to sell its trucks in the United States, contracting with Global Vehicles U.S.A., Inc., to distribute these through GV’s dealer network.

EPA Approval

After numerous fits and starts, Mahindra received EPA approval to sell its trucks, powered by 2.2-liter four cylinder engines paired with six-speed automatic transmissions. Almost immediately after the EPA rated these trucks at a paltry 19 mpg city, 21 mpg highway — far below the promised 30 mpg highway Mahindra had said they would get — the company unilaterally canceled its deal with G.V., setting off a series of lawsuits and accusations.

Ward’s Auto [subscription required] has reported that the Mahindra may never sell vehicles in the United States, following word that the EPA has stated that it hasn’t received the required documentation to allow 2012 models to be sold stateside. Without EPA approval, Mahindra can’t move forward with its plan to circumvent G.V. The case, which hasn’t been settled, may now be moot as Mahindra hasn’t followed through with the EPA or met a similar requirements from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Dashed Expectations

Mahindra has dashed the hopes of prospective dealers and customers alike. That hope was based on an unfulfilled promise of segment-leading fuel economy. The EPA mileage ratings for these trucks trail most small trucks including the soon to be discontinued Ford Ranger which gets 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway with one of its gas models.

With the U.S. market apparently shuttered, Mahindra will most likely turn its attention to bolstering its Indian market as well as helping its latest acquisition, SsangYong Motors of South Korea. Quite possibly, Mahindra could enter the U.S. market by selling SsangYong vehicles, but even those efforts could be blocked if plaintiffs believe that some unfinished business with Mahindra must be settled first, including franchise fees that haven’t been refunded.

Tata Debut

With Mahindra out of the way, India’s other big player — Tata Motors — could still get to the U.S. market. Tata had promised to bring a U.S.-spec Nano to America, but nothing definitive has been set. That car, which sells for less than $2,500 in India would mostly likely sell for three times or more that price in the United States to meet stringent safety and pollution regulations. Still, at $7,500 to $8,500 each, a basic Nano would retail for about $2,500 less than the next lowest priced car in America.

See Also — Mahindra Dilemma a Lesson in Dashed Expectations

Next generation Defender to be shown in Frankfurt.

The 64th annual Frankfurt International Motor Show this September promises to be a blockbuster event, with major automakers from around the world showcasing their new designs. Land Rover, part of the Jaguar Land Rover group owned by Tata Motors, will unveil its next generation Defender concept, dubbed DC100, in Germany. However, the automaker has not promised to bring this vehicle to North America, withholding a model that has been absent since the late 1990s.

Undefended Defender

To be sure, the Defender was never a huge seller on the left side of the pond. That vehicle was sold in the United States from 1993 to 1997, except for 1996 as Land Rover could not meet that era’s federal emissions standards. The model was dropped when the company could not fit 1998 models with required airbags or meet tougher side impact requirements.

Land Rover is teasing us with the next generation model, which is due out in 2015. The picture included here is the sole photo released in advance of its mid-September debut, a vehicle first introduced in 1990. This vehicle stems from the Ninety and One Ten models which were directly descended from the original Land Rover released in 1948.

Design Challenges

Gerry McGovern, Director of Design, Land Rover said this about the concept vehicle, “Replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world; it is a car that inspires people worldwide. This isn’t a production-ready concept, but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century.”

Likely, Land Rover will be testing customer reaction to the new design before deciding what to build, not whether to build. The Defender will live on as least expensive Land Rover, but where and how it will be marketed remains to be seen.

Current Models

All Land Rover models are still built in the United Kingdom. Besides the Defender, the automaker builds the LR2 (Freelander 2), LR4 (Discovery 4), Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and the Range Rover Evoque. In 2008, the Ford Motor Company sold both Land Rover and Jaguar to Tata Motors, the entity known as the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) group, headquartered in Gaydon, United Kingdom. Under Tata, JLR has continued to be managed separately although the possibility that one or both brands may some day build vehicles in India remains.

Reference — Land Rover: Land Rover Confirms All-New Defender Concept for Frankfurt Motor Show 2011

India's Tata Nano may some day be sold in the USA.

Mini-compact cars or A-segment models, are the smallest cars on our roads. Available in Europe, Asia and in many emerging markets, these vehicles are also known as “city cars” and usually seat two to four passengers and are often powered by a three cylinder engine.

Smart ForTwo

In North America, only one model fits the “city car” bill and that is the Smart ForTwo, a two passenger microcar introduced to the U.S. market in January 2008. The Tata Nano is another such car, introduced in India in 2008 and expected one day to be made available in Europe and abroad. The Nano seats four passengers and has the distinction of being the cheapest priced car in the world, selling for under $2,500 in India.

Other models categorized as “city cars” include the Fiat Panda, Hyundai i10 and the Toyota Aygo. In Japan, such models are known as “kei cars” which includes some models which would probably be categorized as subcompacts or B-segment models if they were sold in North America or Europe.

Market Demand

Although drivers are increasingly weighing their new car choices in the face of higher gas prices, demand for A-segment cars remains poor. Sales of the Smart Fortwo, priced from just under $12,000 surged in 2008, but fell off when gas prices tumbled later that year. Higher gas prices and generous incentives by parent Daimler AG aren’t helping to move the Smart which has the disadvantage of seating just two people and having token storage space.

Another concern about mini cars is safety. Though traction control, stability control, airbags, side curtain airbags and rigid body structures can help, there is no getting around it that when a minicar is t-boned, the occupants do not fare well at all. The ForTwo boasts a rigid safety cage and may be best suited to handle a crash, but its occupants will still feel the brunt of whatever accident befalls them. Around most cities this issue doesn’t loom so large, unless you have the misfortune of being hit by a New York City cabbie.

One area where city cars may gain some traction is in car rentals, specifically in car sharing services such as Zipcar. Strategically placed around the city or near college campuses, these services allow drivers to rent a car for a few hours or a few days, at a minimal cost. A-segment cars are a good match for these services unless, of course, you’ll be hauling a lot of groceries or need to drive very far.

See Also — Tata Nano Launches, But At What Cost?

Sources: Tata Motors and Smart USA

Singing Praises

Yes, we’re sometimes guilty of advancing this very same practice ourselves, but we are not about to bypass some of the most notable news as 2010 auto sales data is scrutinized. Indeed, Subaru is one of the most successful brands in America — selling more cars year after year even as most competitors are just now recovering from the market slump which began in 2008. Lessons should be learned by this smaller, but still influential Japanese automaker who success in the face of adversity is laudable.

Subaru now sells more cars in the U.S. than BMW and Mercedes, riding on a crest of popularity fueled by its line of fuel efficient all wheel drive vehicles. Led by the Outback, Subaru enjoyed its best year ever in 2010, beating its previous best year, 2009 by 21.8 percent.[1] The Forester is now this automaker’s second best-selling model and, along with Legacy, has accounted for the brand’s surge in 2010.

Mazda finished strong in December with sales up by 10.5 percent for the year. Approximately 40 percent of the automaker’s sales are with the Mazda3, it’s popular compact model. Two other big performers for 2010 were a pair of crossovers, the CX-7 and CX-9, sales for both models jumped by more than one-third for the year.[2]

Sad Swedes

If you were a Swedish automaker, then you know how challenging a year it was for you. Both Volvo (down 12.2 percent) and Saab (down 37.3 percent) registered sales decline in a year when premium models began to sell well. Could it be that a change in management is partly to blame?

In February, GM closed on its deal to sell Saab to a Dutch company and this summer Volvo was sold to a Chinese company. Uncertainty plagued Saab for months as the smaller of the two Swedish automakers was on death’s door until its 11th hour rescue.[3] Volvo’s future wasn’t as dire, but the Ford Motor Company was certainly eager to unload the company.

Porsche Prowess

Perhaps the best indicator of the willingness of wealthier drivers to part with their money was the rise in sales of Porsche. The German sports car brand had an uncustomary drop in sales in 2009 and rebounded with an increase of 28.6 percent for the year.[4] Jaguar and LandRover were both up too finishing up 11.6 and 21.1 respectively. The combined company was up 18.1 percent, giving parent Tata Motors a chance to celebrate.

Among the remaining automakers reporting December and 2010 sales were Mitsubishi and Suzuki. Mitsubishi road a strong December to finish up by 3.1 percent while Suzuki narrowed its deep losses from earlier in the year to finish down by 38 percent. Both automakers have lost a lot in the past few years, but neither one seems ready to exit the highly competitive U.S. market despite their lagging fortunes.

For the year, total U.S. auto sales were 11,588,783 models sold up 11.1 percent over 2009′s 10,430,752 according to Autodata Corp. Sales are still off by one-third compared to what was achieved as recently as 2007.

References

[1] Philadelphia Business Journal: Record-breaking Sales for Subaru in 2010

[2] Bloomberg: December Sales: Mazda

[3] The Telegraph: Spyker Makes Revised Eleventh-hour Offer to Save Saab

[4} Atlanta Business Chronicle: Porsche Sales Spike 29% in 2010

New models, including the Lincoln C, may soon be marketed to consumers who are expected to embrace smaller and more fuel efficient models in the years to come.

It is time now for our annual forecast of auto trends for 2010 and the intervening years. Yes, you guessed it: how can anyone predict what lies ahead given the tumultuous year that just ended? Frankly, we agree which is why this forecast is based just as much on speculation as it is on cold, raw data.

Focus On 2010

The first few months of 2010 will bring into sharp focus much of what is coming for the remainder of the year. Indeed, several new product introductions are just months away from making their debut, important cars which will help redefine their respective brands and boost sales. Those cars include that all electric Nissan Leaf, the subcompact European designed Ford Fiesta, and GM’s world car – the compact Chevrolet Cruze.

But those models will also find much competition in their respective categories, which means that these and other models must have defining characteristics which help set them apart from the pack. The Leaf, for instance, will beat Coda Automotive and the Chevy Volt to market, but it’ll soon be battling with similar cars from Toyota, Mitsubishi, BYD, and elsewhere within the next 12-18 months. Nissan will need that head start because by 2015, mostly every major car manufacturer will be selling pure electric cars or a slew of next generation hybrids. (see Business Week: Introducing the Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle)

Next week’s NAIAS will unveil a bevy of new models and concepts including an all new Cadillac model. We believe that vehicle will be the code named XTS, the large sedan scheduled to replace both the STS and DTS. If not the XTS, look for an all new Escalade to debut, a close cousin of the Buick Enclave. Cadillac’s CTS line, by the way, will be completed this summer when the coupe and various V versions of the line hit the market, giving America’s top selling luxury brand much to crow about.

Lincoln C Concept

Lincoln has been on a roll lately, most recently introducing its stylish MKT crossover to the market while welcoming EcoBoost technology. But Lincoln will not be stopping there: the brand will likely drop several aged models including the Navigator and Town Car over the next few years while bringing to market a car that has already been shown on the auto show circuit: the Lincoln C.

Yes, it is small and it is underpinned by the same platform powering the Ford Focus, but that is where the similarity ends. The Lincoln C will help the brand bring to market a true competitor to the BMW 1-Series with the midsize MKZ also seeing improvements over the next few years to compete against the BMW 3-Series. Yes, it will likely be called the MKC, furthering Lincoln’s naming convention adopted a few years earlier. (see USA Today: Lincoln Concept car makes entrance at Detroit auto show)

Redefining, Expanding Buick

But let’s get back to new models which we’ll see over the coming months. The Buick Regal will be here before you know it, a car based on the Opel Insignia. This model is important for a number of reasons: it helps fill out Buick’s limited line up and it gives Pontiac loyalists one more reason to return to Buick-GMC dealerships now that the Pontiac brand is dead. By the first quarter of next year, the German built Regal will be built in Canada, reducing the costs associated with importing that model.

Kia has been enjoying a surge in popularity much like its Korean cousin Hyundai. But the most significant change for the brand will be UVO, its hands-free entertainment system based on Microsoft technology. Yes, Ford SYNC will have some competition as the Hyundai-Kia juggernaut was one of the first automakers to jump in when Ford’s exclusive one-year contract with Microsoft ended last year. SYNC helped fuel Ford sales and will likely do the same for Kia. (see The Truth About Cars: Kia Uvo Syncs to Ford’s Level)

Honda is not exactly a design leader, but they continue to build high quality vehicles with some of the best resale values of all. Next year, an all new Odyssey minivan will hit the market, as Honda fights back against the all new Toyota Sienna. But it is the automaker’s green car technology which will really make a difference for the brand going forward, as a modified Insight hits the market in the near future with hybrid and pure electric technology following on many models across the Honda and Acura line.

Chrysler Makeover Pending

If Chrysler lasts long enough, the beleaguered automaker may be able to set the market on its side by what it has in the product planning pipeline. The all new Jeep Grand Cherokee will show up this year, helping its SUV brand remain relevant and offer the lone bright spot for the company. But by year’s end, the Fiat 500 will be built in Mexico for select Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge dealers, a car that will give customers reason to show consider Chrysler in the first place.

Yes, much of what will represent the three Chrysler brands in the years to come will be based on Fiat technology which means that come 2015, most Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge products will be underpinned by its Italian benefactor. That is, if Chrysler can make it through the next 12-18 months in one piece.

Asia Comes Calling

Things get a bit more murkier when it comes to cars from India and China, two countries whose combined population make up 40 percent of the world’s consumer market. Both markets are still relatively young, underfunded, and technology deficient, but that’s beginning to change. As China’s Geely Automotive purchases Volvo and Tengzhong closes on Hummer, they’ll follow on what India’s Tata Motors has already done through Jaguar and Land Rover: purchase Western technology.

Mahindra will become the first automaker from India or China to sell its vehicles here when turbo diesel pick up trucks arrive. Those trucks will be followed by an SUV next year, with Tata promising to get into the mix by selling a western spec version of its super cheap Tata Nano.

Other cars from Chinese makes will eventually hit our shores, including Berkshire Hathaway financed BYD, but those models might be delayed as long as the US car market remains depressed. Consumers will not embrace a new brand if tried and true models offer everything they want in a car with a history of top build quality. (see CNN Money: Why Warren Buffett is investing in electric car company BYD)

Less Is More

The most obvious trend over the next three to four years has nothing to do with new models from new manufacturers or even hybrid or electric cars. Rather, it will be the introduction of smaller, lighter motors into engine bays, including families of four cylinder powerplants. Yes, that two ton sedan once featured a V8 with V6 power the latest standard.

But, car manufacturers in a bid to meet new fuel economy quotas will stuff I4 engines with direct fuel injection and turbochargers in a whole host of vehicles beginning this year with the Buick LaCrosse.

While the V8 won’t completely disappear it will be offered in limited numbers, as will V6 engines that will no longer be offered on most midsize and smaller cars. And transmissions of at least six gears will become the norm, offering yet another way for automakers to squeeze additional mileage from their cars.

Photo Credit: Ford Motor Company

On and off road, the LandRover LR2 can get you there no matter how tough the weather conditions may be.

Sixty years after the first Land Rovers began to ply their way across rural England, the iconic British automaker has rolled out the LR2, a compact SUV which successfully balances off road utility with around town practicality and good looks. Replacing the entry-level Freelander, the LR2 is part of the recent model nomenclature trend used by Land Rover to identify some of its models.

Off Road Workhorse

The LR2 accomplishes what many other vehicles equipped with standard full time all wheel drive cannot do, which is to cross shallow brooks, traverse rocky terrain, and ascend steep slopes. Standard hill descent, roll stability, and dynamic stability control features are part of a larger braking and control system which constitutes Land Rover’s capable Terrain Response System, maximizing traction and control for a variety of conditions including sand, mud, ruts, snow, gravel, and grass.

The exterior of the LR2 faithfully upholds its Land Rover lineage thanks to its eggshell-shaped grille, clamshell hood, side gills, and ample wheel arches. Interlocking bi-Xenon pivotal headlights are a contemporary feature designed to adjust to outside conditions automatically. Turn on the windshield wipers and the LR2 independently senses moisture, activating the headlight wipers for you.  Front and rear fog lights are additional important safety features that come standard on the LR2, while seven airbags protect occupants including a driver-side knee airbag.

Capable I6 Engine

The LR2’s 24-valve 3.2L I6 engine produces 230 horsepower and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that features manual shift control. Together, they help the Land Rover achieve 22 mpg on the highway which compares favorably with similar models from Lexus, BMW, and Volvo.

Inside, the LR2 cabin is overflowing with technological sophistication and luxury appointments. Seating five, the LR2 offers many of the same touches found in larger Land Rovers. The 14-speaker Alpine surround sound audio system is a passenger pleaser, as is the front dual panel sunroof with built-in blinds and the rear skylight. Interior trim appointments include perforated leather seating surfaces with twin-stitched side bolsters and dark eucalyptus trim.

Not Enough Storage

The storage area behind the rear seat is quite limited and the standard sunroof/skylight arrangement negates a roof rack option. One option to expand carrying capacity is to choose the towing package, quite suitable to tow a boat or camper weighing up to 3500 lbs.

When fully equipped to include various option packages such as cold climate (heated front seats, heated windshield, and heated windshield-wiper jets) and technology (SIRIUS satellite radio, phone integration system, etc.), a fully equipped Land Rover LR2 is priced in the neighborhood of $40,000, with taxes, tags and destination charges extra.

Affordable British Luxury

If you are looking for a luxurious, but economical SUV the Land Rover LR2 should be considered.

Photo Credit: LandRover

See Also — Tata Expects To Begin Nano Production This Year