Car Reviws |
| 2011 Lincoln MKX, an AW Drivers Log: Posted: 14 Dec 2010 03:00 AM PST  Lincoln The 2011 Lincoln MKX has a 3.7-liter V6 and makes 305 hp.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: This was airport transport, and it did it quite well, although the cargo area was jam-packed with four roll-aboard suitcases, one large duffel and a golf travel bag. But it all fit, and everyone was quite comfortable. The heated seats and quick-working heater were welcome when we returned from Florida, where the temp was 50 degrees higher. I like this car, along with its Edge sibling from Ford. The updated nav-radio-heater interface takes a bit of time to sort out. But once you know where all of the buttons are and what they do, not to mention what can be found on the touch screen and doesn't have a button at all, the car is just fine. Sometimes I think in trying to offer so many options, they sometimes gum up the entire operation, and I would rate this one as being very close to overload. And I'm not really sure I'd opt for the upgraded Lincoln here, especially at 47 large. The Edge SEL can be had for about $10,000 less. EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I liked this car, and the sticker at $47K is quite honestly less than I expected, a rarity these days. I even like the new Lincoln front end (perhaps another rarity). Lincoln needed a defining design element, and the front ends on its cars and trucks accomplish that. The truck drives well for the most part, with enough guts from the V6 and a nice, smooth transmission. The suspension strikes a decent balance between ride and handling (more toward the soft side) considering the weight you're hauling around. The interior materials are first-rate, and I love the center stack and its clean look. Of course, the reason it's clean is the MyLincoln Touch, and its radio, climate and navigation controls all use touch-sensitive buttons. They can, as Hart notes above, take some getting used to. I was annoyed at times, but I assume that would lessen over time. Overall, I think this is a fine alternative to a Lexus RX 350 or a Cadillac SRX. I'll say this: I'd take this all day over the last BMW X3 I drove. This blows that away. COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO-WRIGHT: I haven't been in an MKX in a while, and walking up to this trucklet in the parking garage, I didn't quite recognize it. But I like the look of the sheetmetal, and the color played well on this ride. Inside, it was nice to see the new MyLincoln Touch system, even if I am still getting used to it. I think the new layout looks much cleaner, and the controls are fairly easy to use--once you figure out where everything is. The controls on either side of the steering wheel are user-friendly and help you more or less keep your eyes on the road. The materials are all very nice, the seats are comfy and offer good bolstering, and there is good cargo space. I would like more legroom up front and the ability to lower the seats. I felt as if I was sitting on the vehicle at times, instead of inside it. The power liftgate was also a plus. The V6 offers good power on both the expressway and around town. But the steering felt heavy at times, and turning felt tight. The brakes are strong, and the MKX handled well in some snowy, windy conditions. Overall, this is quite a nice package. 2011 Lincoln MKX Base Price: $39,995 As-Tested Price: $47,070 Drivetrain: 3.7-liter V6; FWD, six-speed automatic Output: 305 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 280 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm Curb Weight: 4,251 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 22/23.6 mpg Options: Rapid Spec 101a, including illuminated front-door scuff plates, 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, adaptive HID headlamps, ambient lighting, premium leather-trimmed seats with tuxedo stripe and piping, heated rear outboard seats, rearview camera, rain-sensing wipers, heated steering wheel, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel with memory ($2,500); voice-activated navigation system ($1,790); adaptive cruise/collision warning ($1,295); THX II-certified audio system ($995); Wood package, including genuine wood accents on dashboard, door trims, steering wheel and instrument panel ($495) |
| 2010 Audi S4, an AW Long-Term Update: Posted: 14 Dec 2010 03:30 AM PST  Cheryl Blahnik The 2010 Audi S4
The long-term 2010 Audi S4 is the office favorite. It's been that way since we took delivery back in April. The only car that might upset the balance of power is our new Infiniti QX56 truck, which just arrived. But even that beast can't do what our Audi does. The last few weeks in the supercharged sedan brought us mundane tasks such as shopping, carting around family and going to press events. As the temperatures dropped, the Audi's heated seats and quick-warming cabin became our best friends. We logged about 2,000 miles in the past month, returning a solid 20 mpg. The lowest it went was 17 mpg, but a few staffers returned an impressive 23. The butter-soft six-speed is still one of the main talking points. It seems to get better with age. Even in rush-hour traffic, the easy clutch and smooth throws make this a great commuter. And then, when the mood strikes, it's a great apex carver. We replaced the windshield after a rock chipped it. The chip was out of view, and as the weather changed, it spread upward. Our insurance company had a mobile service come out to the office to do the repair, and after a few days of letting the epoxy cure, we were as good as new. We had winter tires installed at our local shop before the snow came in. The high-performance summer Dunlop Sport Maxx GTs would have been nearly useless in the frigid temps. The sticky compounds get hard, and the big, solid tread blocks just slide over the ice. Luckily, Dunlop was nice enough to send us some 19-inch SP Winter Sport 3Ds. The 3Ds are a good winter performance tire. They have sipes in the tread to redirect water and jointless tread bands for better handling. We'll be sure to keep you updated on how they do when the snow flies. AutoWeek has about five months left with the go-anywhere, do-anything Audi S4. For starters, we predict a lot more miles and a trouble-free winter. We'll also have to see how long it holds the crown as office favorite. Considering the QX56 and our upcoming BMW 5-series and Subaru WRX STI sedan, the champ has a lot to contend with. |
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