AUGUST 26, 2015

(Jaguar)
Jaguar calls its F-PACE crossover "The Ultimate Practical Jaguar Sports Car." We call it "The Ultimate Inevitability." It makes its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Automakers, every last one of them. Editor-In-Chief's Note: J.D. Power says that 20 percent of new vehicle owners have never used sixteen of the 33 technology features in their cars. The 2015 J.D. Power Driver Interactive Vehicle Experience Report evaluates the typical owner's experience in the first 90 days of ownership of a new car or truck. What does this survey really say? That the auto manufacturers are loading up vehicles with expensive technology in a technological arms race that adds cost upon cost and to what end? Bragging rights at the auto shows? We're talking billions of dollars here in the most egregious case of technology for technology's sake that this industry has ever seen. But then again this business has been burdened with rational thought only for fleeting moments in time throughout its history. And this isn't an "age" thing either in case you're wondering, because Millennials don't bother - or look to - the center stacks of their cars for technological sustenance. They have their smart phones and tablets for that. When will this absurdity stop? Not anytime soon, you can count on that. -PMD

(Lincoln images)
The all-new 2016 Lincoln MKX is finally hitting the dealerships. The MKX is the first Lincoln to offer Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection; it also earned an overall 5-Star crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. But the big news? The new, available 2.7-liter EcoBoost® V6 has 335 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque. An exclusive Revel® audio system will also be available in the all-new Lincoln crossover.

Editor-In-Chief's Note: This week our "Quick Take" has us in a 2015 BMW M3 Sedan with a six-speed manual gearbox. Having had lengthy access to a previous generation V8-powered M3 Coupe, I was prepared to be a little underwhelmed. After all, contrary to Bimmer purists, I absolutely loved the V8-powered M3. It had a bad ass, outlaw vibe about it that I never grew tired of, and it sounded so good when you hammered it that it was addictive. But then again, I didn't expect that the True Believers at BMW were going to phone it in when it came time to do an M version of their iconic 3 Series - even if it was supposed to be a more efficient machine - and true to form, this new M3 didn't disappoint. It's lighter - and lighter on its feet - and it's quicker, too, with the responsiveness of the 425HP twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine being truly remarkable. (I'd say amazing but I hate the overuse of that word, because this just in: everything in modern life truly isn't.) But the M3 is fast and loads of fun, and the suspension, steering and brakes are all exemplary, perfectly suited to the car and its mission (although with our crumbling roads the M3 will test your enthusiast commitment to that mission. Hopefully there are places and roads out there where the M3 can shine. Around here you have to pick and choose the roads carefully and even then it's a crap shoot). The M3 comes alive when you hammer it, yet you can trundle along in the urban slog in low-profile mode when you need to as well, which comes in handy with the realities of everyday driving. About the only thing negative I have to say about the new M3 is its cost. Now granted, you don't need the carbon ceramic brakes for $8,150, but we drove an outstanding machine a few weeks ago - the Chevrolet SS - and it stickered for $47,640. I'm not saying the SS is on the same level as the M3 by every measure, but for all practical purposes it's pretty damn close. And that's not being said in an apologetic manner either. The M3 is a formidable machine, but then again so is the SS. And for around $34,000 less, as much as I like the BMW, I'd take the SS all day long. -PMD
2015 BMW M3 Sedan: $81,425 ($62,000 Base Price; Mineral White Metallic, $550; Metallic; Black Extended Merino Leather; 3.0-liter, Direct-injected, BMW M TwinPower Turbo Inline 6-cylinder with variable valve control (Double-VANOS and Valvetronic) with 425HP and 406lbs-ft of torque; 6-speed manual gearbox, Optimized aerodynamics including Air Curtain in front apron and Air Breather (Aqualung?) behind front fenders with integrated M side gill and M3 badging; M Drive and M Dynamic mode; M Compound 4-wheel ventilated anti-lock disc brakes (ABS) Dynamic Brake Control; Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Brake Fade Compensation, Start-off Assistant, Brake Drying and Brake Stand-by features with M Dynamic Mode; Xenon Adaptive Headlights with dynamic auto-leveling, Corona headlight-rings and Cornering Lights; Power-adjustable, heated, body-color side-view mirrors with automatic-cleaning function; Shadowline exterior trim; 10-way power heated front M sport seats with 4-way lumbar support and driver's seat memory; M door-sill finishers, M footrest and M gear shift lever; Automatic climate control; Automatic-dimming interior rear-view mirrors; 3-spoke, power, leather-wrapped, multi-function M sport steering wheel; USB audio connection and hands-free Bluetooth including Audio Streaming; iDrive system with on-board computer, touchpad controller and eight programmable memory buttons; BMW Navigation system with high-resolution screen, Voice command and Advanced Real Time Traffic Information; AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with HD radio; Executive Package - Heated steering wheel, Comfort Access keyless entry, rear view camera, Retractable headlight washers, Park Distance Control, Head-up Display, Satellite radio with 1-year subscription - $4,300; Lighting Package - Adaptive full LED lights, Automatic high beams - $1,900; M Carbon Ceramic Brakes, $8,150; Adaptive M suspension, $1,000; 19" Black Wheels (437 M), $1,200; Harman Kardon Surround Sound, $875; Enhanced BlueTooth and Smartphone in, $500; Destination charge, $950)
Adherence to Brand Image: The new BMW M3 is everything the "good" BMW represents (as opposed to the "bad" BMW, which acts like a crazed, niche-chasing car company that wants to be all things to all people). In other words, the M3 is Dead. Solid. Perfect. -PMD