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Highlights of the 2019 New York International Auto Show

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The auto industry takes to New York to showcase its very best.

The Big Apple lives up to its name with every major event done in a spectacular way. Fashion Week, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and New Year’s Eve in Times Square are among the annual occurrences that keep New York City on the world stage.

The New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) is yet another annual celebration and is especially noteworthy because it is both the oldest show of its kind in the U.S. and it unofficially closes the auto show season in North America. Indeed, beginning with Los Angeles in November, and extending to Detroit in January, Chicago in February and New York in early spring, we’re treated to a succession of new vehicle introductions. That’ll change next year when the Detroit show moves to June, but it may have little impact on what automakers show in Manhattan.

2019 New York International Auto Show
Top: Cadillac CT5. Left: Lincoln Corsair. Right: Genesis Mint Concept.

The 2019 NYIAS

The 2019 NYIAS is now open and showcases more than 1,000 vehicles at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan through April 28. The following are among the highlights of this year’s show, new vehicles worth checking out.

1. Lincoln Corsair. Ford’s luxury brand continues to ditch its forgettable naming convention for standard names. The previous MKC, a compact SUV, is giving way to the all-new Lincoln Corsair. The new model may share its underpinnings with the Ford Escape, but its sheet metal and interior are all its own, much in the vein where the Toyota RAV4 and Lexus NX share the same platform. The new Corsair comes with a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine or an available turbocharged 2.3-liter engine, the same as the Ford Mustang. Technology is at the forefront of this model, with such features as a power liftgate, adaptive cruise control, and a lovely Revel audio system available.

2. Genesis Mint Concept. We’ve expected Hyundai’s luxury brand to branch out beyond sedans and utility vehicles for some time. The marque’s first SUV goes on sale later this year with two others to follow. Once Genesis has its three sedans and three SUVs in place, we should see its first electric vehicle roll out. It may very well derive its look from the Mint Concept, a gorgeous coupe with scissor-style rear doors. Genesis pegs its range at just over 200 miles, which is average for the segment, but below that of the competing Tesla Model 3.

3. Cadillac CT5. Just as Lincoln drives away from its nomenclature, Cadillac embraces its own. That’s especially evident in the Cadillac CT5, a small luxury sedan and the replacement model for the previous ATS. You’ll find either a twin-scroll turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine or a potent twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine, with each paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Standard rear-wheel drive, available all-wheel drive, a 10-inch color display, and advanced driver assist technologies to punctuate this model, which goes on sale in the fall.

2019 New York International Auto Show
Top: Volkswagen Tarok Concept. Left: Toyota Highlander. Right: Hyundai Sonata.

4. Volkswagen Tarok Concept. Volkswagen doesn’t have a pickup truck presence in the U.S. market and that’s something this German automaker wants to rectify. How they’ll get it done isn’t clear with the midsize Amarok available in many markets, while the Tarok Concept takes center stage at the NYIAS. The Tarok reminds us that Volkswagen can easily take one of its small cars and transform it into a truck-like vehicle, much like they did with the Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup in the early 1980s. The concept has a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine and standard all-wheel drive. Its flip down rear seat supplies access to the truck bed, a style reminiscent of the Chevrolet Avalanche. Ford may supply VW with a truck, as the two automakers forge some type of alliance. But we think the Tarok or something like it will roll out, perhaps relaunching the small pickup market that was prevalent in the 1980s.

5. Hyundai Sonata. The Hyundai Sonata is a midsize sedan in a segment that has been steadily shrinking as the onslaught of crossovers builds. Although Chrysler, Ford and possibly Chevrolet are abandoning the segment, Hyundai doubles down with an all-new 2020 Sonata. Its fetching looks are apparent right up front as the LED accent lights run part way up the hood. It represents a strong response to critics who pilloried Hyundai for the perceived blandness of the outgoing model. Standard under the hood is a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. We expect a hybrid variant to follow.

6. Toyota Highlander. We can’t get enough of three-row crossover utility vehicles, which is why the 2020 Highlander is so important to Toyota. Especially in the face of new and very stiff competition in the form of the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. The all-new Highlander features a more athletic look, standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, V6 or hybrid powertrains, and a 12.3-inch color display. Speaking of the hybrid, Toyota claims a 17-percent boost in fuel efficiency. That’ll give this model an important edge in the market.

Rivian
Upstart automaker Rivian presents two models in New York.

Best of the Rest

Many more manufacturers rolled out new models and a few concepts to boot at the 2019 NYIAS. An all-new Toyota Yaris joins the Highlander on Toyota’s stage, a model based on the Mazda2. Hyundai is showcasing its all-new Venue crossover, while Nissan has a new Versa sedan. As for the Versa Note, we believe this hatchback won’t be back.

One manufacturer with plenty to show in New York is Mercedes-Benz. The German luxury marque has both the standard and sporty versions of its small CLA35 sedan on hand along with the GLC Coupe and the GLS-Class SUV. You’ll also find models from new manufacturers, including Karlmann King, Mullen Technologies, and Rivian.

In all, New York has something for everyone with present and future technologies evident as well. The show is open on Easter Sunday.

See Also — 9 Bright Stars at the 2016 New York International Auto Show

Photos copyright the respective manufacturers.

Toyota: 2019 Corolla Hatchback Returns

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Corolla hatchback debuts at the 2018 New York International Auto Show.

2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback.
2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback.

For 50 years, the Toyota Corolla has faithfully served as the budget vehicle of choice for millions of drivers the world over. Toyota has offered this compact model as a coupe, sedan, hatchback and wagon, but in recent years we’ve seen only the sedan, at least in North America.

Beginning in 2019, a Corolla hatchback will join the sedan. Yes, there currently is a Corolla hatchback, but it isn’t the same model — rather it is the Corolla iM, formerly the Scion iM.

2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

The all-new 2019 Corolla hatchback is a derivative of Toyota’s new global architecture, leaping ahead of the current sedan in “newness” and sportiness. Indeed, Toyota says the hatchback will feature a revised sport-tuned suspension. Further, the hatchback will get a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Toyota announced the 2019 Corolla hatchback prior to the start of the New York International Auto Show this week. That show launches with two media days on March 28 and 29, then opens to the public on March 30. The New York show is open on Easter Sunday and concludes on April 8.

2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

As for the new model, the following is what we know about the hatchback:

1. Sleek design.

The hatchback will offer a similar front fascia to the sedan, but the overall canvas is comprised of sweeping lines and distinct edges. The new model is lower, wider and longer than the Corolla iM, with a wheelbase that’s 1.5 inches longer than the outgoing model.

2. Peppy engine.

Toyota hasn’t released the performance numbers for the new engine, but we do know that it is a high-compression engine with both direct and port injection. This combination typically yields an engine that’s more powerful, cleaner and efficient than comparable older designs. What’s especially terrific here is that Toyota hasn’t abandoned the manual gearbox, despite low demand for the same.

3. Improved technology.

The new hatchback will come in two trims — SE and XSE. Standard tech features include the latest telematics system with Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa Connectivity. Other features include an eight-inch color touchscreen, six speakers, Siri Eyes Free, Bluetooth, a USB port and auxiliary audio input. Upgrades include an eight-speaker JBL audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio and navigation.

4. Driver assist.

Manufacturers continue to build in additional driver assist safety features into more models or at least make them available on some trims. Toyota has been at the forefront with its own Toyota Safety System package. For 2019, the Corolla hatchback will come with the second generation of this suite, dubbed TSS 2.0. Here, you’ll find automatic high beams, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, full-sized range dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist and an all-new lane tracing assist. Notably, the latter works in conjunction with dynamic radar cruise control to keep the hatchback centered as it “reads” white or yellow lane markings. Further, you’ll find the usual blind-spot monitoring on the XSE and available on the SE. Certainly, the Toyota safety package with the 2019 Corolla hatchback should attract buyers.

At the Auto Show

There are a few things about the Corolla Hatchback we still don’t know, including performance numbers and price. We expect additional information forthcoming at Toyota’s press conference which, incidentally, will introduce the next-generation RAV4, its most popular model. We’ll update this page once that information is made known.

As for availability, the 2019 Corolla hatchback goes on sale this summer. Lastly, as for the sedan, we believe it will also receive an update, perhaps arriving by early next year.

See Also — Highlights of the 2018 Toyota Camry

Photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Rolled Aluminum Producer Novelis Expands NY Plant

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Ford Super Duty benefits from Novelis aluminum.

2015 Ford F-150.
This aluminum Ford F-150 will soon be joined by an all-new Super Duty.

“Vehicle lightweighting” is one of those industry buzzwords that doesn’t easily roll off the tongue. Outside of the auto industry, few people are familiar with the term. But if you mention “Ford F-150” then the recognition is instantaneous — nearly everyone knows the current generation model has a weight-saving aluminum body.

Well, like all other manufacturers the Ford Motor Company relies on suppliers to provide them with the materials to form vehicle bodies. Most manufacturers use steel body panels and plastic front and rear fascias. Carbon fiber is also used, but in very limited quantities, while aluminum is now in greater use than ever before.

Automotive Market Served Well

Novelis is the leader in all things rolled aluminum products and also has the distinction of being the largest recycler of aluminum in the world. On the automotive front, the company supplies aluminum to Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, as well as to Ford. Coca-Cola, LG, and Samsung are among other companies making use of Novelis aluminum.

Increased demand for aluminum is part of automakers’ overall sustainability strategy, an effort to reduce vehicle weight and lessen the impact on the environment. To that end, Novelis has opened a third cutting edge automotive finishing line at its plant in Oswego, New York.

The latest line was installed to assist the production of durable, lighter and safer vehicles, representing a $120 million investment to expand the high-strength aluminum alloy supply for Ford F-Series trucks. As a result of this expansion, the company has extended its stand as the preeminent automotive aluminum sheet supplier in North America.

“As a result of our investments across the globe, Novelis is able to offer our automotive customers unique advantages and benefits through automotive lines such as this one in Oswego,” said Steve Fisher, President and CEO, Novelis. “Automakers are seeking alternative materials to cut vehicle weight while maintaining strength and safety requirements. With investments in Asia, Europe and North America, Novelis has the global footprint, assets and expertise to meet the needs of automakers in every major auto-producing region.”

Benefitting the 2017 Ford F-Series

Novelis says the third and newest automotive finishing line will produce aluminum sheet for the body and cargo box of the all-new 2017 F-Series Super Duty lineup, enabling Ford to reduce the overall vehicle weight by up to 350 pounds. As a result, the new truck is expected to deliver improved hauling and towing capabilities.

“Novelis works closely alongside our automotive customers to meet their precise and exact demands,” said Marco Palmieri, SVP and President, Novelis North America. “The passion for excellence among our employees in Oswego and throughout North America has made possible this latest automotive expansion. It is a testament to our commitment to help our automotive customers bring to market the lightweight vehicles of the future.”

Expanded Footprint, More Jobs

Over the past five years, Novelis has expanded its ability to serve the North American automotive industry by installing and commissioning three automotive finishing lines in Oswego, adding at least 460 jobs. The current $400 million investment also includes the world’s largest closed-loop recycling program, which processes roughly 25 million pounds of automotive aluminum scrap per month.

Besides its plant in New York, Novelis has a strong presence in Ontario, Switzerland, Germany, and China, and claims to be the only manufacturer of high-strength, military-grade aluminum with a presence in all three major auto-producing continents. Lastly, Novelis says its automotive aluminum can now be found in more than 180 vehicle models currently produced by automakers.

Related Reading

Aluminum Comes to the Ford Super Duty

Aluminum Tough: 2015 Ford F-150

2014 Ford F-150 Will Feature An Aluminum Body

Ford F-150 photo copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

Cadillac House Serves Coffee, Not Cars

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Grabbing a cup of joe in a setting featuring art and fashion collections is not a new concept to New York. Only this shop also offers a rotating assemblage of Cadillac models in an effort to raise brand awareness.

coffee beans

The next time you’re in New York, you may want to visit a certain coffee house where luxury cars are on display, but are not available for purchase. In particular, you’ll need to head to Tribeca in Manhattan to find the Cadillac House, where a concoction of coffee, art, and fashion is brewed to subtly woo people to GM’s luxury brand.

Cadillac House New York

Dubbed the “Cadillac House” and located on the first floor of the company’s headquarters at 330 Hudson Avenue in Manhattan, the coffee shop is yet another approach the automaker is taking to win new customers to the brand.

“We have tried to tell people what you’re supposed to feel from the Cadillac brand,” explained Cadillac’s brand director, Melody Lee, to Bloomberg. “But what we hadn’t quite fully established was an environment that you could walk into.”

Indeed, Cadillac has taken to Gotham in a big way since it established its headquarters there in early 2015. Last year, Cadillac revealed a multi-season affiliation with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), backing the emerging New York Fashion Week: Men’s show.

Retail Lab and Joe Coffee

In April, Cadillac in cooperation with the CFDA opened the Retail Lab, a custom retail shop located on the ground floor of its headquarters. The shop features a rotation of designers who are provided with a unique opportunity to learn from the industry’s best while they’re supplied with space to learn the business in preparation for taking it to the next level.

You won’t be able to walk into the Cadillac House before June 2. Once opened, customers will find themselves surrounded by contemporary art, yet another area of non-automotive involvement for the brand. Art curated by Visionaire, the creative firm and magazine, plays an integral part of the ambiance for the cafe.

Joe Coffee, a well-known family-oriented enterprise with shops in New York and Philadelphia will supply the beans. “Joe” has earned a reputation for serving highly curated coffees, initially working exclusively with domestic and international roasters, before launching its own roasting operation in Brooklyn in 2013.

Cafe Hours, MOFAB, and More

Once opened, the Cadillac House will serve coffee Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and again Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Cadillac isn’t the only luxury moniker utilizing an off-beat venue to indirectly hawk its wares. Last year, Infiniti backed the launch of MOFAB — the Museum of Food and Drink in Brooklyn. The Japanese luxury trademark even has its own exhibit, “Driven by the Senses,” where it invites visitors to get inside an Q50S before taking them through a virtual ride of four individual cities, stopping at noteworthy restaurants offering a behind-the-scenes look at how they prepare certain dishes.

With the luxury market growing and the competition strengthening, manufacturers are looking for every edge possible in a bid to win consumers. In Cadillac’s case, selling cars is not part of the equation, while creating an environment to positively reflect this 114-year-old brand is.

Recent — Key Facts Surrounding the Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance

Wikimedia photo courtesy of Arnaud Gaillard.

Great Leap Forward: Cadillac to New York

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Big Apple relocation for Cadillac in the works.

Cadillac New York.
Cadillac’s New York headquarters will be among historic buildings like this one.

Fresh on the heels of its announcement that its upcoming full-bodied, top-of-the-range flagship Cadillac sedan would be be built in Detroit — starting in the fourth quarter of 2015 — GM announced this week that it will detach Cadillac from its main operation. As a separate business unit, Cadillac will also establish its headquarters in New York, in an effort to “further global growth” as noted by GM President Dan Ammann.

(See: Grand Cadillac to be Built in Detroit)

Cadillac Detachment, Not Completely

Splitting a luxury make from its main manufacturer isn’t unprecedented. Indeed, Cadillac’s new president, Johan de Nysschen, was formerly with Infiniti. Nissan’s luxury brand is now headquartered in Hong Kong, with the global parent located in Yokohama, Japan. GM isn’t losing control over Cadillac, rather it is giving its own luxury brand the chance to extend its wings. Technical and other operations will remain in Detroit.

“Cadillac’s mission is to reinstate the brand to a pre-eminent position among global luxury brands, a bold challenge requiring a distinct and focused new organization,” Ammann said. More than a division or brand, Cadillac is becoming a center of excellence for our company.”

That potential reinstatement follows years of decline where the once self-proclaimed “standard of the world” became a luxury afterthought from the 1970s to the early years of the new millennium. New product and a revised focus on the brand has brought forth the CTS line followed by the ATS, XTS and other updated and new models. Cadillac does not yet have the panache of a Jaguar or BMW, but it has been making much progress.

Going Global

The Cadillac leadership council is led by de Nysschen and is also composed of five other executives including Jim Bunnell, vice president of sales and service and Andrew Smith, executive director of design. Additional team leaders will be announced in the future.

Cadillac now serves 40 countries and sells more cars in the United States than anywhere else. That should eventually change as global growth of 28 percent last year and 10 percent this year is being led by China, where yearly sales are up 75 percent through August.

New York, New York

Dozens of GM employees will be given the opportunity to relocate to New York, but some may choose to remain in Michigan. To fill required positions, Cadillac would then seek fresh talent to help elevate the brand moving forward.

Cadillac’s headquarters will be located in modern loft offices in Soho, lower Manhattan. About the innovative location de Nysschen said, “it allows our team to share experiences with premium-brand consumers and develop attitudes in common with our audience. New York’s well-heeled populace are a natural customer base for the Cadillac brand.

Future Product

Besides the top-of-the-range and as yet unnamed ultra-luxury sedan, Cadillac’s portfolio will expand to keep up with its European rivals, particularly its German competitors: Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi. All three have been working diligently to bring new products to the market and have promised to expand their own model lines further.

Cadillac has yet to identify what all-new models it will bring to the market, but there are several holes to be filled in the utility segment where the Germans currently dominate. Right now, the compact SRX and the full-size Escalade serve that segment, but there is room for a midsize crossover utility vehicle rivaling the Buick Enclave’s size. GM has promised that there will be no rebadged model for Cadillac, as the Buick, GMC and Chevrolet versions of this CUV are essentially alike.

An absence of roadsters, convertibles and electrified vehicles also means that Cadillac has much more room to grow. GM will need to invest billions of dollars to help Cadillac win more market share, but in doing so it stands to reap tremendous profits. That’s good news for a company long dependent on pickup trucks and SUVs to fund its operation, vehicle segments that will be squeezed as the higher fuel economy mandates kick in.

Photo credit: 26-28 Wooster Street 71 Grand Street by Beyond My Ken Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Better Than Ever: 2015 Volkswagen Golf

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2015 Volkswagen Golf

The seventh generation Volkswagen Golf will be larger, more spacious and lighter than the current model, coming in as a more fuel efficient one too. It will be based on Volkswagen’s modular transverse matrix, best known as MQB, a platform that will enable the German car manufacturer to build a variety of vehicles from one layout.

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf goes on sale in 2014 and will be built at Volkswagen’s Puebla, Mexico factory. Three versions of the ’15 Golf are planned including two gasoline and one diesel engines.

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen expects fuel savings of up to 15 percent over comparable sixth-generation models, quite a feat for a vehicle that gains size, yet loses weight to achieve measurable savings. The new model is 2.2 inches longer, 0.5 inches wider and sits 1.1 inches lower than the current Golf. Weight savings will show up in many different areas including through Volkswagen’s choice of high- and ultra-high strength steels to weight savings gained inside from the seats, the climate control system and even to the subcompact hatchback’s electrical system.

The standard engine is a 1.8-liter turbocharged four cylinder gasoline engine. The Golf TDI Clean Diesel will gain an all-new 2.0-liter common-rail direct injection engine. The sporty GTI will get a gasoline engine, reportedly the EA888 engine heading to Audi.

MQB Architecture

Volkswagen has bet the house on its MQB architecture, an arrangement that pushes the front wheels forward to provide improved design balance. Its engines are either new or updated to reflect current innovations such as changes to exhaust headers, smaller diameter main bearings and crankshaft modifications that make use of four counterweights instead of the current eight. These particular changes are reflected in the TDI engine.

Loathe to break with the current Golf’s success, Volkswagen nevertheless has made significant changes inside the 2015 Golf that can only be characterized as ergonomically smart. For instance, the wide center console has been tilted slightly toward the driver. Touch screens are equipped with a proximity sensor, enabling drivers to update functions in much the same way they do with smart phones — with a swipe of the hand. A DVD-based navigation system with 3D display is introduced with the new model.

Volkswagen says that the new Golf will be feature soft touch plastics throughout the cabin along with chrome, aluminum and piano black surfaces. Other changes include moving the cruise control to the steering wheel from the column stalk and making use of white lighting on buttons and switches to set the mood.

Safety Features

At least six airbags will be standard with the 2015 Volkswagen Golf. A new safety feature, an automatic post-collision braking system, automatically brings the hatchback to a stop in a bid to help reduce residual kinetic energy. Drivers can override the system too as desired.

Additional details about the next generation Volkswagen Golf will be released next year. Volkswagen, like many other manufacturers, likes to serve up a two-year advanced model year preview of a new vehicle in the Golf. That doesn’t mean you’ll see the new vehicle this year, but it does indicate that the Volkswagen Golf will get an early jump on the 2015 model year, perhaps while competitors are scrambling to keep up. They’ll have their work cut out for them too as the upcoming model has already won its first “car of the year” award.

See Also — Volkswagen Golf R Delivers 256 Horsepower

Photo copyright Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Hurricane Sandy Toll: 250,000 Damaged Vehicles

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Hurricane Sandy will go down as one of the costliest storms to ever hit the United States mainland, a primarily northeastern tempest that raked New Jersey and New York in October 2012, with damage felt from North Carolina to Maine. Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed, while more than one-quarter of a million vehicles were also damaged, many beyond redemption.

Hurricane Sandy Flood Vehicles

Unfortunately, salvaged vehicles are sometimes reconditioned and sold to unknowing car shoppers across the country. Sandy-damaged cars have been reported from North Carolina to Maine, and include light-duty vehicles from Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. To date, some 250,500 vehicles sustained Sandy damage according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Of those, New York and New Jersey have accounted for 210,000 claims.

The figures offered are both an indicator of the gravity of the damage sustained and the long time it has taken to record these losses. Indeed, the NICB expects that the numbers will continue to rise as additional claims are received and processed by insurers.

Consumer Disclosure

flood damage SandyThe NICB data is for insured losses and includes claims for minor damage to body surfaces, as well as to cars that were submerged and deemed total losses. Many flood-damaged vehicles are repaired and resold, including some that have been written off by insurers.

Flood vehicles can be bought and sold, provided that both buyer and seller are aware of the vehicle’s status. However, the NICB asserts that full disclosure is not always the case, with some buyers certain to be defrauded.

Telltale Signs

Last November, Auto Trends warned consumers about flood-damaged cars, noting several steps that car shoppers should take to avoid getting ripped off. Begin by researching the vehicle’s history and then examine its interior for signs of water damage, pulling up the carpeting and turning on the heater. Other clues can be found by checking the ignition and lights, keeping an eye out for residue and rust. You may also want to take the car to a mechanic for a thorough inspection.

As always, any consumer that believes that he has been defrauded should file a complaint with the police, the state office of the attorney general and the Better Business Bureau.

Raising Awareness

The NICB’s tally at publishing includes 15 states and the District of Columbia. Sales of flood-damaged cars, however, can take place across the country, as unscrupulous individuals seek to traffic damaged vehicles where the awareness of the problem is low.

See Also — Should I Repair or Replace My Car?

Tested: Ford Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility

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A day of test driving in Queens, NY.

Ford Police Interceptor

The next time you’re pulled over for reckless driving, make sure
that you tell the officer you admire his new ride.

 

Last week, Auto Trends reported that Ford’s two new police pursuit vehicles were ready for duty. These vehicles — the Police Interceptor sedan and Police Interceptor utility — are based on the full-size Taurus sedan and the Explorer crossover SUV respectively. However, unlike its previous police pursuit offering, the Crown Victoria, both vehicles have been specially designed with law enforcement personnel in mind. Indeed, what we have here are a pair of vehicles outfitted strictly for those who have been called to “protect and serve,” two very capable models that cannot be purchased by the general public and are now showing up in police fleets across the United States and Canada.

Following our earlier article about Ford’s Crown Victoria replacements, Ford put out the invitation to drive its new cruisers. Yours truly made a one-day trip to New York at Ford’s expense, to test drive each of the new vehicles as well as the Crown Vic in the parking lot in front of Citi Field, the new home of the New York Mets. Three sections of this lot were transformed into a track course with cones and other markers strategically placed. After putting each of these vehicles through the paces I can confirm to you that the Crown Victoria replacements can handle pursuit duty and do so by offering more power, a safer and improved cabin environment within a modern design.

(See Also — New Safety Tech Accompanies 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe Pursuit Vehicle)

Leaving on a Jet Plane

My whirlwind trip started at 7:15 a.m. when I left for the airport. Exactly 12 hours later I crossed my home’s threshold, enduring extensive travel delays up and back as LaGuardia was socked in by fog and Raleigh was surrounded by thunderstorms. Our plane endured a one-hour tarmac delay before being cleared for take off. I arrived in New York more than two hours late, but was promptly picked up by a moonlighting member of New York’s bravest, a six-year veteran of the city’s fire department. On the second-floor of CitiField in a conference room, Ford officials were in the middle of a meeting with about two dozen media types from Fox News, AAA New York, Road and Track magazine and other outlets including Alex Kalogiannis of AutoKinesis. Ford engineers were on hand to answer questions before we were taken outside for our first meet up with the two Police Interceptors.

Police Pursuit Market

  • Up to 55,000 vehicles sold annually
  • Recent demand has dropped to 35,000 vehicles
  • Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge Ram compete
  • Chevrolet offers Impala, Caprice sedans & Tahoe utility
  • Dodge offers Charger sedan, Ram truck, Durango utility
  • In 2011, Crown Vic accounted for 70% of the market
  • Ford now has a V-6 only fleet
  • Ford offers all-wheel-drive standard
  • Fastest sedan belongs to Ford
  • Fastest utility belongs to Dodge
  • Ram 1500 is lone police-rated pickup truck

That meeting offered several highlights about these vehicles that fleet buyers will want to know. Firstly, both models share a common platform, enabling tires to be transferred from one vehicle to the other with ease. The advantage here is clear — departments can order both vehicles and will find that maintenance is virtually the same. Ford expects that demand will be about 60 percent for the sedan and 40 percent for the utility, but is prepared to serve a 50-50 split as its early orders are trending.

Secondly, all-wheel-drive is standard. Although front-wheel-drive is available, Ford expects very few orders for these models. And for good reason too — vehicle control is superior with the Police Interceptors, a fact that quickly became evident on the track. Some departments may still want front-wheel-drive, but I must tell you that after driving the all-wheel-drive models, they’ll definitely want to reconsider.

So Long, Body-on-Frame

Ford’s police pursuit vehicles are a clean departure from the Crown Victoria. Whereas the Crown Vic was rear-wheel-drive, V-8 powered and featured a body on frame design, the new vehicles are all-wheel drive, powered by a family of V-6 engines paired with six-speed police-duty automatic transmissions and featuring a unibody design. When Ford set out to build its next-generation cruisers, its police advisory board was looking for a vehicle closer in specification to the Crown Victoria. However, Ford thought that interest in a new breed of vehicles would change that mindset, and offered up several mules of the new cruiser for testing. Those test models won the heart of its police advisory board leading to the production of the new models.

All three tracks at Citi Field were clearly outlined with cones and other markers, enabling drivers to tackle each one with confidence. An initial ride and drive with an instructor was followed by two loops by each media driver, with the Crown Victoria tested first followed by the Police Interceptor utility. An initial hard acceleration was followed by a series of twists and turns, with several places to brake or ease up on the accelerator. The differences between old and new quickly became apparent as the police-tuned suspension minimized body roll, stability control helped to keep the interceptors planted and the police-spec brakes brought these cruisers to a sure stop. The Crown Vic performed well, but was outclassed by the utility and even more so by the sedan.

The second track was a repeat of the first, with the new sedan going head to head with the old sedan. The Crown Vic fishtailed slightly as we navigated the sharpest turns, the Police Interceptor stayed centered as the engine intervened to cut power. The most significant differences, however, were seen on the third track, a slalom, as the Crown Victoria labored to handle that course while the Police Interceptor sedan sailed right through it. Indeed, with the Crown Victoria, I nailed one cone with the left rear wheel, while the replacement sedan stayed on course.

Take Aways

Body dimensions and styles aside, there are several important points about each new police pursuit vehicle that law enforcement departments will recognize. Get behind the wheel of either new cruiser and the seats offer improved support with better bolstering, 6-way power adjusting and lumbar support. The Crown Vic’s seats are okay, but would likely wear on any police officer who must sit behind the wheel for a full shift. Utility belt cutouts with the new seats help too.

Other notables include adjustable pedals, a quick shifting transmission shifter, a simplified door panel, Ford Sync and a host of safety features including blind spot warning. Departments can also choose up to 17 colors, upgrade the interior and select any number of special packages. Choose the utility and Ford places a permanent divider behind the rear seat to create a secured and larger storage area. Special safety lighting is embedded with the headlamps, along the vehicles sides and in the rear. The utility model features red and blue lights on the inside of the liftgate for when the vehicle has been stopped and that door has been opened in place.

Clearly, the current crop of models on the market offer an improved selection for police departments everywhere. Carbon Motors may have a market-ready model available in two or three years, but the competition from the Big Three will be a fierce one with Ford proving that it intends to defend its presence by offering two police pursuit models that beat its previous industry leader.

Further Reading

On the Way: 2016 Ford Taurus

Blue Light Special: Ford F-150 Police Responder

Photo courtesy of the Ford Motor Company.