CHRYSLER Pacifica wins Utility Vehicle of the Year
Thanks to its always-innovative Grand Caravan and Town & Country models, Chrysler continues to lead the way when it comes to minivans. In order to maintain its dominance over this evolving segment, the manu- facturer dared to replace the venerable Town & Country with an all-new model: the Pacifica. This seems to have paid off for Chrysler, as the Pacifica became the very first recipient of the North American Utility Ve- hicle of the Year award at the latest Detroit Auto Show.
Compared to the Dodge Grand Caravan, which remains in production, the Paci- fica targets shoppers in search of a more luxurious vehicle by offering superior handling, enhanced comfort and an in- credibly quiet drive. Under the hood is a 3.6L Penstar V6 engine that’s paired with a new 9-speed automatic transmission. Perfect for family vacations and leisure activities of all kinds, the Pacifica can haul campers, boats and more with its 1,633-kilogram towing capacity.
The Pacifica’s interior finishing is impeccable
To maximize fuel economy, the Pacifica has debuted an all-new hybrid engine system that combines a 3.6L Atkinson cycle V6 with an electric motor and a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It has an estimated range of 911 kilometres on a fully charged battery and a full tank of fuel. The manufacturer recommends against hauling trailers to avoid damaging the vehicle’s mechanics — a rule that applies to nearly all hybrids currently on the market. A number of optional accessories are available for the Pacifica, including three large touchscreens (one in the front and two in the back), a Stow ‘n Vac central vacuum cleaner, and Stow ‘n Go foldable seats.
Three touchscreens are available for the Pacifica
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
HONDA continues its winning streak
Honda has been on a roll lately. At last year’s Detroit Auto Show, its Civic was named North American Car of the Year, while its Pilot was first runner-up for the title of North American
The new Ridgeline still incorporates previous features like the In-Bed Trunk and its ingenious dual-action tailgate. What’s more, the bed has been both lengthened and widened to facilitate the transportation of large items like ATVs and sheets of drywall. The Ridge-
line can carry up to 713 kilograms in the bed and has a 2,268-kilogram towing capacity. A NEW CR-V
Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Ridgeline is doing stellar as well, having recently won the North American Truck of the Year award
The CR-V unde- rwent a complete redesign this year. In addition to a sportier look, front and back LED
for 2017. RIDGELINE
The Honda CR-V
The Ridgeline’s In-Bed Trunk
lights were added to its exterior, giving it a more modern appea- rance. The wheelbase was exten- ded by four centimetres to offer more room for passengers, and the interior decor has been revi- sited to include higher-quality materials. Under the hood is a new 190-horsepower turbochar- ged 1.5L 4-cylinder engine.
Honda continues to do things differently when it comes to its only pickupmodel, once again making sure the Ridgeline’s driving experience and build stand out from the com- petition. The truck’s standard engine is a 280-horsepower 3.5L V6 with 262 lb.-ft. of torque. Its smart all-wheel drive system lets drivers choose between various modes such as normal, snow, sand and mud.
The Honda Ridgeline
The CR-V’s dashboard
HYUNDAI launches a new luxury line
V6 engines with 8-speed automatic transmission have been carried over from previous generations and are also available. ELANTRA SPORT One of Hyundai’s main newcomers this year is the Elantra Sport, powered by a 201-horsepower 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder en- gine. The launch of this compact sport model coincides with the redesign of the entire Elantra line, which now features a new hexa- gonal grille. Increased legroom and a more refined finish charac- terize the interior of the Sport edition. The standard-model Elan- tra comes equipped with a 147-horsepower 2.0L Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine. Engineers have also developed a solution to cut down on costs at the pump with the new 1.4L turbocharged 4-cy- linder Eco, which boasts 128 horsepower and 156 lb.-ft. of torque. IONIQ On the hybrid and electric front, Hyundai recently launched the all-new Ioniq, a compact hatchback that aims to compete with the Toyota Prius V and the Ford C-MAX. The Ioniq is available in three variations: hybrid, rechargeable hybrid, and electric. SANTA FE As for SUVs, Hyundai has refreshed the look of its Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport, giving them a more modern body design as well as LED headlights and new 17, 18 or 19-inch wheels.
Hyundai fulfilled a promise last year with the unveiling of its new Genesis luxury line. The cars featured in this new sub-brand aim to compete with similar German, Japanese and American models. The two first vehicles to sport the Genesis insignia are the G90 and G80 sedans, formerly the Hyundai Equus and Hyundai Ge- nesis, respectively. Compared to their predecessors, both the G90 and G80 sport a redesi- gned interior in addition to offering four-wheel drive capabilities. Un- der the hood, both cars are equipped with an all-new 365-horsepower 3.3L twin-turbo V6 with 376 lb.-ft. of torque. The 5.0L V8 and 3.8L
The Hyundai Elantra Sport
The Hyundai Ioniq
The Genesis G80
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