2013 New York Auto Show – Part III

Mercedes-Benz

B-Class Electric

The B-Class will be the first all-electric from the Mercedes brand in the U.S. when it arrives in early 2014. It won’t be the first front-wheel drive, as the CLA-Class will get here this Fall.

On paper, the B-Class resembles nothing more than the Ford C-MAX (188 or 195 horsepower). With a 134-horsepower motor it might seem that the B-Class will not be very lively, but without a final curb-weight we can’t predict its acceleration. Diesel B-Class models in Europe weigh about 3150 pounds, but the battery pack and U.S. spec bumpers and other homologation may increase that significantly. The 228 pound-feet of torque on the other hand should launch it pretty well from a dead stop.

The little wagon shape may not be ideally suited for the U.S. market’s tastes, but it is suited for placement of a large battery in the floor while still leaving a decent luggage space.

Mercedes is estimating a range of 115 miles on a full charge. This will, of course, vary with weather, traffic and driving style. Obviously, a lot of time stuck at traffic lights shouldn’t affect range, unless you need the heater or air conditioning. Cold temperatures will also reduce range regardless of heater use. The B-Class Electric will use regenerative braking to recapture some braking energy.

If the battery becomes totally discharged, it can be temporarily rejuvenated by placing ground unicorn horn and kitten tears in a small  reservoir  under the hood. [Not true. – Ed)

CLA45 AMG

The CLA-Class was revealed during the Detroit Auto Show in January. Now, New York gets the smoking, tattooed, tough older brother. The CLA45 AMG uses the same 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as his smaller, more polite brother, the CLA250. But the CLA45 AMG turns the boost up to 11, well, actually 26.1, psi. This results in 355 horsepower, what MB rightly claims is the highest specific (for the engine size) horsepower for a production engine. That is quite a jump from the 208 horsepower in the CLA250.

Now crazy, high output turbo four cylinders are hardly a new thing. In fact they go back to the Eighties. Gear-heads can quote the 291 horsepower in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo’s 2.0 liter, or the 305 horsepower in the WRX STI.

Year	Vehicle	Engine	Boost	Horsepower
1980	Lotus Esprit	DOHC 2.0 4-cylinder	9 psi	210 HP
1984	Dodge Daytona Turbo	SOHC 2.2 4-cylinder	6.5 psi	142 HP
1984	Ford Mustang SVO	OHV 2.3 4-cylinder	14 psi	175 HP
1985	Porsche 944 Turbo	SOHC 2.5 4-cylinder	11 psi	217 HP
1985.5	Ford Mustang SVO	OHV 2.3 4-cylinder	15 psi	205 HP
1986	Shelby GLHS	SOHC 2.2 4-cylinder	12 psi	175 HP
1989	Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX	DOHC 2.0 4-cylinder	12 psi	180-195 HP
1992	Dodge Daytona R/T	DOHC 2.2 4-cylinder	11 psi	224 HP*
1995	Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX	DOHC 2.0 4-cylinder	12 psi	210 HP
2002	Subaru WRX	DOHC 2.0 flat 4-cylinder	13.5 psi	227 HP
2008	Chevrolet Cobalt SS	DOHC 2.0 D.I. 4-cylinder	15 psi	260 HP
2014	Mercedes CLA45 AMG	DOHC 2.0 D.I. 4-cylinder	26.1 psi	355 HP

Obviously, if this much power were sent through the front wheels alone the steering wheel would twist the driver’s arms off and the car would cram itself in the ditch the first time the driver floors it, so 4Matic All-Wheel Drive is standard as it is on many new AMG cars. The CLA45 AMG also uses a dual-clutch 7-speed transmission. Functioning like an automatic, its innards more closely resemble a manual, with much quicker shifts and less power loss than a traditional automatic transmission. It also boosts “RACE START,” a feature that makes launching the tiny hotrod without bogging down or turning the tires into ash fully automated. Mercedes claims 0 to 60 MPH in 4.5 seconds.

Mitsubishi

Mirage

At the opposite end of the performance spectrum, Mitsubishi’s big news was the reintroduction of the Mirage as a 3-cylinder 74 horsepower economy car capable of class-leading 37 city/44 highway miles-per-gallon. Mitsubishi is not without experience in three-cylinder engines, as the Smart ForTwo available now in the U.S. uses a Mitsubishi three-cylinder.

With the best fuel economy of any non-hybrid, the Mirage doesn’t need much more, but it has a decent list of equipment and a very tight turning circle (30.2 feet). Pricing has not been set.

The two trims include DE and ES. The DE has standard power windows, locks, mirrors, 4-speaker radio and compact disc player, electric power steering assist, keyless remote entry, intermittent front wipers, rear wiper, tilt steering, and seven airbags. ES models add alloy wheels, fog lights, cruise control, steering wheel audio controls, bluetooth and a keyless push-button start.

Porsche

2014 911 GT3

A whole new Porsche 911 doesn’t come along very often, maybe about every seven years. So when it does, Porsche is sure to stretch out the excitement as long as possible. The latest installment in the new 911 family (991 Series) is the meanest so far: the 911 GT3. With a 475 horsepower version of the 3.8 liter flat-six, the GT3 keeps to tradition and pushes all of it out through the rear wheels.

The GT3 has the first active rear steering system of any road-going Porsche. Similar in theory to systems in Japanese cars since the 1990’s, it will steer the rear wheels in the same direction as the fronts at high speed to enhance stability and raise cornering limits. At lower speeds, the rear wheels will turn the opposite direction to make the turning circle tighter and more responsive. The 2014 911 GT3 will be priced starting at $131,550. 

991 Series 911 Timeline

911, 911 S – November 2011

911, 911 S Convertible – January 2012

911, 911 S Carrera 4 (all-wheel-drive) – November 2012

911 GT3 – March 2013

911 Turbo – Still to Come

1964 Porsche 901

Marking the 50^th anniversary of the 901, Porsche unveiled it, again! 901? That was the original name, before someone discovered that name was reserved by Peugeot (including all three digit numbers ending in “01”). Here Porsche transports a man and woman from 1964 to unveil the original.

Rolls Royce

Wraith

The world’s most luxurious car company introduced a two door with serious attitude. Sporting suicide doors and a 624 horsepower, twin-turbo V12, Rolls utilized a smoke machine during the Wraith’s North American unveiling.

A power trunk lid that opens and closes by remote control or via a button is expected. The doors also have a power feature. And an umbrella.