Personal car: 2004 Mazda6

When Mazda first introduced the 6 in 2002, the company was struggling.  With few bright spots in an otherwise boring and slow-selling lineup (the Miata and Protege, both of which were popular and at the top of their class), Mazda needed an intervention, and fast.  So, they brought a car over from Europe: the 2003 model-year 6 (which I’ve seen written as “6″, “Six”, “Mazda6″, “MAZDA6″, and “Mazda 6″).  The car began a dramatic turnaround for the company, winning Automobile Magazine’s Automobile of the Year award in 2004 and making Car and Driver’s coveted “Ten Best” list for two years in a row.  Its flame rekindled, Mazda cars started selling fast.  The 6 inspired a slew of new cars, including the best-selling Mazda3.

My dad had a 1994 Protege that he had literally driven into the ground: the bumper was falling off, the muffler dangled precariously, and the sunroof leaked like the Titanic after its run-in with that infamous iceberg.  Mechanically, though, the car was very reliable, so my mom eventually convinced him to trade-in, and trade-up.  I am very thankful that he made that trade.

When Lexus came out with the RX crossover hybrid, he jumped on that, too (much to my surprise, as he’s usually quite conservative).  So, the 6 became mine during my sophomore year of high school, and a long and happy relationship began.  Quite simply, I love my car.  It is quick, nimble, fuel-efficient, good-looking, and sporty. Mine is a 6s with the 3.0 liter V6 engine and a manual transmission, and boy, is it fun to drive.  Sometimes I take this car on drives with no destination in mind, and it is a great highway companion.  Mazda made sure that the 6 was smaller and lighter than the competition, and this is reflected in the car’s driving dynamics.  It can take a corner with the best of them.

I still get compliments on the car, and people are shocked to learn that it has nearly 100,000 miles on it.  Besides the usual wear-and-tear (both headlights burnt out, and the brakes/tires have been replaced numerous times), the 6 has been incredibly reliable and has never left me stranded or wishing for a new car.  I’ve added a few things – an upgraded air filter, sport clutch, and a Mazda factory BOSE sound system with a trunk-mounted subwoofer.  The sound system is excellent.  While I see quite a bit of them in Fort Collins, there are far fewer than the ubiquitous Accord and Camry.  My car makes me feel special and has turned me into somewhat of a Mazda maniac.   It has taken me across the country, to school every day, and up and down I-70 into the mountains more times than I can remember, without a hiccup.   I’ll continue to buy from Mazda many years into the future (a new 6 is on that list).

-Jon Norris

A small memo to car manufacturers

It seems like more and more these days, automobile manufacturers are trying strange and glorious tactics to entice buyers into showrooms.  We live in an age where V6 engines are “Ecoboosted” (Ford’s word, not mine) to produce better fuel efficiency and more power than any car of yore.  A 1977 Dodge Charger HEMI had a massive 6.8 liter small-block V8 engine that produced a then-astounding 340 HP and pulled the car from zero to sixty in just under six seconds.  That was considered a hot rod back then.  Today, Ford’s new Taurus SHO has a 3.0 liter Ecoboost V6 – less than half the size of the Charger’s small-block – that produces 400 horsepower using turbocharger and direct-injection technology, rocketing the car from zero to sixty in 5.1 seconds.  People, it’s a Taurus!

While most manufacturers are stepping up their game in a big way, using technology as the forefront for innovation, there are still a few that haven’t seemed to step up to the plate yet.  With that in mind, I’d like to offer some suggestions for any car manufacturer looking to up its game (Chrysler, while doing much better, should listen carefully):

First of all, cheap, rattling interiors are a thing of the past.  I had the chance to sit in a brand-spankin’-new $14,500 Ford Fiesta the other day and was amazed by its interior quality and the tight feeling of build quality, which bettered that of many older cars.  Things like soft-touch, nicely grained plastics, stitching along the dashboards and door panels, and soft spots where the hands go are all key for making a decent first impression.  Looking around some of my favorite sites (Insideline is always my first pick), I came across this. There are absolutely no excuses for build quality like this in a car costing upwards of forty grand.

Second, every car these days should come standard with a five or six speed automatic.  Fuel-robbing, “dumb” four-speeds are very 1989.  Subaru has some of the best manual transmissions in the business but is criticized heavily for still having standard four-speeds across its model lineup.  Five and six speed transmissions make the most out of an engine, and many cars these days even have infinite gears thanks to CVT technology.

Speaking of manual transmissions, what gives?  Why does every manufacturer think that Americans are becoming boring things with only a need for basic transportation?   The last generation BMW 5-series was a small, sleek, aggressive car with a standard stick shift.  The 2011 is overweight, overpriced, and lacking a stick shift altogether.  Same for the Honda Accord, Mazda6, and almost any Acura that I can think of.  The list goes on and on.  There are still plenty of us out there that desire a fun driving experience.  Please, please, please stop fattening up and sucking the life out of each new generation of car.  Going along with this, the horsepower race that is currently going on is getting very tiring.  One car sets the bar, others follow – then, the bar is raised again, others follow suit, and the trend continues.  I don’t need over 300 horsepower in my Toyota Camry – 200 will do just fine.

Oh, and probably the most important thing here - no wood is better than fake wood!

-Jon Norris

Mazda introduces small 2 to the US Market

3, 5, 6, and now 2.  Mazda has just introduced its smallest car yet into the United States market, the Mazda2.   The tiny-car craze, pioneered when Mini and Scion first brought their small cars here in the wake of high gas prices, has yet to die down.  Many manufacturers already have small cars in the market (Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, etc.) that deliver high levels of efficiency and very affordable prices, making Mazda  a little late to the party.  However, the manufacturer’s fun-to-drive reputation means that the 2 will be dynamically superior to many of its major competitiors.

Mazda will offer the 2 in two different trim levels: the $14,990 Sport and the $16,500 Touring, which adds Bluetooth, upgraded interior materials, contrast seat piping, a 6-speaker stereo system, and alloy wheels.  Options are limited to a four speed automatic (a five speed stick is standard) and several different exterior modifications.

The 2 is pleasant to look at and Mazda has done a nice job of making the car more expensive to look at than the price tag.  Mazda’s new “smiley face” grill is there, but looks better on the 2 than it does on the grinning Mazda3.  I like the subtle grooves and creases in the sheet metal, which look especially good in black.  The interior appears to be very basic but looks on par with most cars at this price point.  A small 2.0L DOCH four-cylinder powers the lightweight 2, generating 110 hp.  While this isn’t much, the engine has a very small car to power, so it should be adequate.  Gas mileage is rated at 28 city/38 highway.

Mazda is pricing the 2 at a slightly lower price point than the competition and keeping options simple in hopes the car will speak to the values of consumers shopping at this price point.  Still, Ford’s new Fiesta rings in at under $20,000 when fully optioned, and that car has such niceties as heated leather seats, navigation, and Ford’s exclusive Microsoft SYNC system for hands-free music browsing, calling, and navigating.  Mazda is risking alienating customers who can’t spend but want technology and innovation in their small cars.  If fuel-efficiency is all a customer has in mind, spending a little more to get a new Honda CR-z or Toyota Prius – cars that offer more and feel more solid all-around than those in the 2′s small-car category – makes for an interesting dilemma.

Having said that, the 2 is still a very competitive car for the money.  In white, I think it looks a lot like Jack Skellington, King of Halloween from A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Happy Halloween, everyone.

-Jon Norris

Worldwide hit “Top Gear” coming to USA

While the hit show Top Gear is located in Great Britain,  it has been such a hit worldwide that you have to wonder why the producers haven’t moved elsewhere (no offense to Great Britain). Thousands of shows are filmed across different locations; as the show gains a larger and large following, having different production stations makes sense for everyone.  Good news: on Sunday, November 21, BBC will air its first episode of Top Gear USA on the History Channel.  The show will be here for at least two seasons, but is expected to be very popular and last a while longer.

 

Top Gear creator Jeremy Clarkson stands next to a 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 during early filming of Top Gear USA on the salt flats of Utah. A Corvette ZR1 (see my previous blog post) can be seen to the left.

 

The shows will be filmed in Discovery TV’s newest studio in Hollywood, California, making this a truly American Top Gear.  The show has a very loyal following in the United States thanks to its quirky, interesting, and fun-to-watch episodes.  The show’s presenters – Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, are comedic (and very opinionated) geniuses.  The show has won numerous awards, including an Emmy Award in both 2004 and 2005.  The American version will feature three hometown actors, Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust and Rutledge Wood, and will focus on cars available to consumers in the USA only.  Ferrara plays a large role in FX Networks’ hit “Rescue Me” and has been featured on Comedy Central for his stand-up comedy several times.

Yesterday, the History Channel unveiled a new trailer promoting the show on the web.  The trailer features several American muscle cars.  The network is also featuring a customized “Top Gear” Tesla roadster (a California-made automobile) in an expensive, state-of-the-art booth at this year’s SEMA show in early November.  The Las Vegas-based SEMA auto show is said to be the world’s largest.

If anything, this show will give me yet another reason to postpone the important things for whatever is on the History Channel.  It is one of my favorites.

 

Spectacular Trail Ridge Road (and a car I’d love to drive on it)

Colorado’s Trail Ridge Road (US Highway 34) in Rocky Mountain National Park is the highest continuous road in the United States. More than eight miles lie above 11,000′ and its highest point is 12,180′.   I drove throughout the entire stretch of road this summer from Estes Park to Grand Lake and the views were absolutely spectacular.  Much of the route is above treeline, giving you an open view for miles ahead of the Never Summer Mountains and various valleys.  There are few places in the world where it seems like you are so far into the wild from the safety of your own vehicle.  We also ran into a massive herd of elk on the way.   If civilization is pressing in on you and an adventure is in store, Trail Ridge Road is an excellent choice.

The road itself is nicely paved and well maintained by CDOT, the Colorado Department of Transportation.  It absolutely begs to be driven on, and the tight curves and steep declines demand both a well-tuned car and a skilled driver to be driven correctly (and by correctly I mean with a little fun mixed in).  An engine needs air to breathe, so as the air thins with elevation a motor will lose around 20 horsepower for every 1,000 foot gain in elevation.  Extremely fast cars will feel only fast on this road, while slow cars will struggle to make it up.  What’s the perfect car to drive up this road?  Well, it needs to be spectacular (like the scenery), powerful, and lightweight, and it needs to handle well.  A nice exhaust note to echo off the mountaintops would be a plus as well.  What could this car be?

I think I’ve got it….

Perfect.

Jon Norris

2011 Dodge Charger: Meaner and Better

Chrysler/Dodge is living on the brink – bankruptcy, government takeover, bailouts, and acquisitions by Italian automaker Fiat have helped keep the company afloat.  A heap of cut-rate products (cars like the Avenger, Sebring, and Caliber are less than mediocre) nearly killed them, but the 2005-2010 Charger has been a bright spot for the struggling automaker.  Still, sources keep telling me that both brands, Dodge in particular, have aggressive plans for the future – plans that include returning to profitability once again.

At the start of this for Dodge is the introduction of an all-but-all-new Charger.  The chassis and top engine option remain, a 5.7 liter Hemi V8 that will have at least 400 horsepower.  Everything else, though, has been changed.  The lackluster base engine in previous Chargers has been replaced with Chrysler’s new corporate 3.6 liter V6 dubbed “Pentastar”.  Chrysler finally has a base engine that is competitive in terms of power and efficiency with rival engines, and the Pentastar V6 will power everything from the Charger and all-new Chrysler 300 (expect it in early 2013) to the Grand Caravan minivan, Durango SUV, and Ram pickup truck.  Transmissions, brakes, wheels, tire options, and other mechanical items are new as well.  Overall, the Charger promises to be quicker, more agile, and more efficient than the current iteration.

The most obvious change is in the Charger’s styling, which retains some elements of the original but looks edgier and more muscular.  A more aggressive front end with narrower “angry eye” headlamps is complimented in the back by trendy new full-length taillights that ditch traditional bulbs in lieu of 164 LEDs.  Twin trapezoidal tailpipes with chrome exhaust finishers and large chrome wheels ad class and masculinity to the new design.  I have yet to see an interior shot, but the new Jeep Grand Cherokee has an interior worthy of a Mercedes-Benz, showing a renewed commitment to interior quality by Chrysler/Dodge.  The previous Charger’s interior was lackluster and cheap, but you can expect the new one to be the opposite.  It will also have a modern and sophisticated in-car entertainment system (akin to Ford’s Sync system by Microsoft) and new safety features.  Expect high-end options like blind-spot monitoring, self-parking, and a backup camera to be available on R/T and SRT-8 models (the R/T is pictured here – models include the SE, SXT, R/T, and SRT-8).

Beyond these facts and a few accompanying pictures, Chrysler is keeping details for the new Charger under wraps for now.  The pictures look good, though, and the facts that are available at this time seem promising.  The new Charger will be quicker, more efficient, better (meaner, that is) looking, and more advanced.  In police car form it is also guaranteed to scare you more than ever before.

A Personal Car Review: 2010 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited

The new-for-2009 Forester ditches the wagon style looks in exchange for a more SUV-like appearance (technically, the car is classified as a Compact SUV).  The SUV has won many awards and is continuing to sell very well.  In fact, Subaru set a U.S. sales record in 2009 with 216,652 vehicles sold overall; the Forester and Outback were the top sellers.  The Gunma, Japan based company predicts even stronger U.S. sales for 2010.

My mom recently ditched the minivan and we added a 2010 Forester to our garage.  It fit her criteria well: not too big, 4WD, safe, fuel efficient, and rated as very reliable.  I’ve gotten the chance to drive her car a few times, and since it is a new 2010 model I though that a personal car review would be helpful.

Her Forester is an Camellia Red Pearl 2.5XT Limited model, which retails for $29,190.  The Forester comes in four trim levels, with two engine options: the 2.5X and 2.5X Premium ($20,000 – $24,560) have a 2.5 liter, 170-hp Subaru Boxer 4-cylinder engine with either a manual or automatic transmission.  Upper level models include the 2.5XT and 2.5XT Limited ($27,440 – $29,190).  Limited models include features like heated black leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, climate control, automatic windshield wipers, larger, polished wheels, and other luxuries.  My mom is usually good with directions, but still opted for the navigation system, a part of the $1,350 Technology Package that includes iPod integration, an 8-speaker audio system,  a year-long subscription to Sirius Satellite Radio, a 40GB hard drive for in-car music storage, and upgraded interior illumination (all of which is a steal for the price).  XT models like ours are identified by a hood scoop for cooling since they carry a turbocharged Boxer 4-cylinder, producing 224-hp and an equal amount of torque across a very flat torque curve.

The Forester looks nice, but it is a little dull from some angles.  Still, the clean styling has some classy and sporty touches and won’t offend anyone.  The interior is comfortable and very spacious – I’ve never been inside a car with more headroom.  The seats have power adjustments and the wheel tilts and telescopes, so I found a good driving position with no trouble.  Starting up the car is a treat, and the accompanying greeting (“Welcome to Subaru”) and cool gauge sweep are nice touches.  Interior illumination is a high point of this car and should be high on any buyer’s options list.  It includes electroluminescent white-on-blue gauges, red control illumination, blue illuminated footwells upon entry and exit, blue illuminated rear cupholders, and a single blue light in the ceiling that casts a soft blue glow across the center console.  While it sounds tacky, the lights are a soothing hue, don’t distract the driver, and give the interior an expensive look.  The rear seat is spacious and comfortable, with a squishy, elbow-friendly center armrest, fold-out illuminated cupholders, and a reclining feature.  The seats themselves look nice, too, with double-stitched seams, although the leather doesn’t feel expensive.

The Forester’s cargo area is spacious as well, with more space behind the rear seats than its closest competitors, the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.  A retracting cargo cover comes standard.

My initial impressions of the interior were positive – it looks nice and is very airy and open (and the sunroof is huge!).  While the switchgear feels good and overall build quality seems solid, some of the plastics and the thin headliner give the Forester a cheap feel.  There were also a few rattles during my drives, which were especially noticeable in the otherwise quiet interior.

Driving the Forester was a fun experience and made me a firm believer in Subaru’s legendary all-wheel-drive system.  The car feels buttoned down and rides smoothly in all conditions, inspiring supreme confidence in any driving situation.  It feels safe to drive and communicates with the driver more like a small car than an SUV.  While this is partly due to a rigid frame and structure, thanks is given to the engine as well, which is smooth and has the typically pleasing flat-four growl of any Subaru Boxer.  Although the Forester has an antiquated 4-speed automatic (a 5 or 6-speed is the norm these days), the transmission is quick to respond and the Forester feels light on its feet at any speed, with very little turbo lag.  The car leaps from street to street and has plenty of passing power at highway speeds.  The brakes feel good, too.  Overall, this car is very fun to drive.

If you’re in the market for a small SUV, the Forester is not-to-be-missed.  It is a lot of car for the money and has an impressive combination of utility and sportiness.  Strap a couple of snowboards to the roof rack, and you’ve got a car that’s high on my list of post-graduate, first-car-purchase rides.

‘Augmented Driving’ iPhone App

These days, cars are becoming more like robots than ever.  They can be optioned with an incredible array of safety features, and many of them can gain full control of the car in an effort to prevent accidents.  Features like lane departure intervention (which automatically keeps your car in line), pedestrian safety control (the car will brake to avoid collisions), and blind spot monitoring are becoming increasingly popular among automakers and consumers.  For the time being, though, most affordable cars don’t have these features, and they can add thousands of dollars in options to the base price of even expensive ones.

Leave it up to Apple to meet the demand.  Recently unveiled, the iPhone’s new “Augmented Driving” app by imaGinyze uses the phone’s video camera and other technologies to provide lane-departure warnings, collision warnings, traffic warnings, and real-time information including speed, direction, temperature, and distance information.  It can also track speed limits and alert drivers if they are traveling too fast.  Although many reviewers have said that it can be difficult to set up and use, the app is a steal at $2.99.  When I first read about it I was guessing that the price would be much higher.

Obviously, the system doesn’t intervene and take control in a panic situation – this is  still the driver’s job (and really, cars shouldn’t have to intervene).  But it is very cool  and looks more expensive than its price.  Details are clear (in part thanks to the      iPhone’s screen) and the features look nice.  It is also a textbook example of how quickly technology changes.  Six or seven years ago, basic safety systems like stability and traction control were optional on expensive cars and not found on others.  Today these systems are required on all cars.   Safety features that only last year seemed reserved for luxury cars are now available for all.  As technology continues to change, existing technologies become cheaper: in the near future we’ll all have cars that can take control of themselves.  For now, if you’ve got an iPhone, this application is not to be missed.  No word yet on Android functionality, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it soon.

Videos of this app in action can be seen here.

My Favorite Cars

Cars are an inherently controversial subject.  Some people see them as unnecessary, even harmful, while others love them.  Some are completely indifferent to most cars. However, everyone has their favorites.  Whether or not that’s a mixed group of favorites or a single car depends on whom you ask, but at the very least everyone has at least one car that they’d gladly give their left arm for (or the right, if they’re a lefty).

I present to you,  then, a list of my top 5 favorite cars, each with an accompanying reason and in no particular order.  For a few of them, pictures alone could easily do the talking.

5) Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superlegerra

Why? The name is cool, I love that green color, and it sounds incredible.  The Superlegerra is an exotic among exotics.

4) 2002 Ferrari F50 GT

Arguably Ferrari’s most purpose-built track car ever, the F50 GT was so specialized that just three of them were sold to the public. This makes the F50 GT the most exclusive Ferrari ever.  This $1.43 million dollar, 750 horsepower rocket went from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and had a top speed of 235 mph.  Until just this year, it was the fastest Ferrari ever conceived.

3) Ken Block’s 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

DC Shoe Company Founder and extreme thrill-seeker Ken Block has had many tuned STI’s (DC sponsors his Subaru racing team), but this one takes the cake.  I’m a fan of WRX STI cars in general – they are fast, well built, and offer all-wheel-drive.  However, Block’s has over $200,000 worth of modifications.  A base 2009 STI costs $40,000 – this one stickers for nearly $300,000.  All of that makes this four door, hatchback shaped car quicker than the aforementioned Lamborghini Superlegerra.

The car was featured on Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory on MTV pulling some epic stunts, and Rob himself even has a miniature version (here’s a link to the episode; skip to the 16th minute).  Plus, all-wheel-drive means that it can do all of that in the snow – for a snowboarder/mountaineer like myself, this car is the ultimate form of freedom.

2) 1968 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500

Thanks to the movie Gone In 60 Seconds, the GT500 easily makes my list.  With no power steering and no modern electronics like traction control to sterilize the driving experience, it is easily the most manly car on this list.  Just you, a radio, a clutch, and a (loud) small-block V8 under the hood. There’s a poster of one in my living room.

1) 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/4

This gorgeous classic is my favorite old-school supercar.  The timeless styling still looks modern and pleasing to the eye today, making it hard to imagine just how futuristic and stunning this car was to consumers in 1964.  Most of today’s remaining gems sell for nearly $1 million at auctions – here is an example of that (chassis #09337).

What are your favorite cars?  Leave a comment and let me know.

2011 Ford Mustang – Return of the Five-point-oh!

The original Ford Mustang was a huge hit and arguably one of the most influential and classic cars of all time.  The car’s original launch in 1965 was Ford’s most successful product launch since the Model T and created an entirely new class of vehicle – the “pony car”.

My mom’s first car was a green 1968 Ford Mustang much like this one.  She has told me through many interesting stories that everyone loved her car and wanted one of their own.  If you’ve ever seen Gone in 60 Seconds, a terribly acted but nevertheless very fun movie to watch, you know that the 1967 Shelby GT500 (in the movie, her name is Elanor) is one of the most classic and beautiful cars of all time.  Indeed, the Mustang was a true icon – all the way up until Ford ruined it in the 80′s.

1967 Shelby GT500

How Ford could take the beautiful and inspiring GT500 and turn it into the abomination of the 80s is beyond me and any critic I’ve ever come across.  However, despite the fact an embarrassing amount of Mustangs were now being found on rental lots, Ford did do something right.  The 1982-1992 Mustang may have looked entirely too much like a Ford Taurus, but it did retain Ford’s iconic 5.0 Liter V8, which had been in use since early after the Mustang’s introduction.  Unfortunately, even that was scrapped in the new 1994 Mustang.  The pony car had seriously lost its way, and for ten years and several uninspiring redesigns enthusiasts and critics wept at what the good old ‘Stang had become.

2005 Ford Mustang

In 2005, Ford rolled out a completely new Mustang that rekindled the flame.  Gone were the wimpy looks and lackluster specs – Ford gave the Mustang a healthy new V8 engine and made it desirable once again by combining a mix of retro styling cues with modern ones.  Critics and reviewers like Edmunds.com praised the car, calling it “the perfect blend of style, performance, comfort, and fun”.  Road & Track magazine even called it “the best Mustang yet”.  The only issue with this new Mustang was that the most affordable model continued to offer a slow V6 with an ancient and very inefficient iron-block design – a design that hadn’t changed much for twenty years.

For 2011, Ford addressed every single issue and has created the best Mustang yet.  The 5.0 liter V8 is back, and the styling has been updated again to help the newest ponycar keep up with aggressively styled competitors like the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger, all while keeping the retro/modern theme.  Every single article and review that I’ve read has heaped nothing but praise on this new Mustang, placing it above the competition in every single instance.  The new styling is badass, the new engine sounds awesome, and the new interior is refined, sporty, and made with high quality materials.  What’s more, Ford has created what Motor Trend magazine calls “the best handling pony car ever”.  In fact, the magazine recently compared a Mustang 5.0 GT to a BMW M3, which is one of the most revered track cars in history.  The article states that “the Mustang GT was never good enough to challenge Bavaria’s finest – until now”.  You can see this video below, courtesy of Motor Trend.

This new Mustang is the most desirable one since the originals, from the cheapest V6 version all the way up to the GT500.  The 2005 to 2010 V6 versions of the Mustang were a joke, but the new V6 is modern, fuel-efficient, and as fast as the previous version’s V8 GT.  It is one of the best performance bargains on the market today.  $23,000, 0-60 in nearly five seconds flat, 32 miles-per-gallon, and handling/braking to match a BMW? Are you kidding me? [Click for Motor Trend's V6 Mustang video] So much praise makes for little wonder as to why Ford just posted a $2.6 billion profit, their best in over six years.  I love cars, I love America, and I love the new Mustang – more than the Camaro, more than the Challenger, and more than any previous version of our iconic pony car.  Ford has clearly done their homework, and I congratulate them.  This is engineering done right.