Swedish plant tools up for next 50 years

A Volvo agency rep, on the one hand, was excited by my emphasis in last weekend’s review that the new V60 sportswagon comes right out of the old Torslanda factory in Gothenburg, Sweden. That cheers longtime Volvo faithful, who aren’t certain where lies the future of the Swedish company.

On the other hand, said Malena Silva, while near the end of the column I correctly attributed a quote, “Our Swedish heart is beating strongly,” to Volvo North America CEO John Maloney, it wasn’t made clear that Maloney has since been replaced as CEO by Tony Nicolosi.

Okay, it is now.

The Torslanda plant, which has housed Volvo headquarters, has produced more than 6.8 million cars in its 50 years of operation.

Rolling off the line on opening of the factory in 1964 was the Volvo Amazon, followed shortly by the P1800 sports car, which today is a sought-after classic. Production of the Volvo 140 began in the fall of 1966.

Torslanda launched in 1974 a sensible, safe, sturdy model which would identify Volvo Car Corporation ’round the world for 20 years – the 240. In August 1979, I reviewed in The Post the ’79 Volvo 242GT, with which “thicker-than-standard front and rear stabilizer bars and stiffer springs have isolated most road harshness away from the steering feel.” A turbocharged version was added to the 240 line in the early 1980s and the 760 showed up in 1982.

Torslanda tooled up for an all-new vehicle in 1991 – the Volvo 850. It was the first Swedish-developed, front-wheel-drive Volvo ever, and was equipped with a transversely mounted 5-cylinder engine. Also produced at the factory were the 940 and 960, larger and more traditional models.

Torslanda entered the modern era at the turn of the century with production runs for the S70, V70 and the luxurious S80 sedan. Based on the S80 technology, the XC70 was added and continues in popularity today.

Torslanda paid heed to the sport utility vehicle craze with launch of the XC90 in 2002. Fifteen thousand orders had been received before the first one came down the line.

Manufactured today at Torslanda are the S60, V60, V70, XC70, S80 and XC90. A redesigned XC90 will be added later this year.

Torslanda factory rolls on four years after Zhejiang Geely Holding Group of China bought Volvo from Ford Motor Co.

'14 VW Jetta TDI shows 40 mpg at 65 mph

Forty-miles-per-gallon consistency in highway cruising is a highlight of the torquey, 2.0-liter, 140-horsepower TDI engine in the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta; a bonus is its ability to kick down and conquer those big hills to the west of the city.

The clean-diesel performance exceeds that of most gas/electric hybrids among competitively sized compact sedans.

Cross-shopping of diesels and hybrids may not be prevalent today.

“Most of our TDI customers are dedicated diesel followers,” said Denise Dennis, general sales manager at Tynan’s Volkswsagen in Aurora, from where I picked up the Jetta review model.

Volkswagen TDI diesel engines date back into the 1990s and the German automaker has dominated sales of clean-diesel, light-duty automobile sales since.

The Jetta and its larger sibling, the Passat, are far ahead of the pack among diesel-equipped vehicles.

Through the first three months of this year, 8,151 Jetta TDI diesels have been sold in the U.S., followed by 7,769 Passats. Others of the top 10-selling diesels are the BMW 3-series with 2,179 sales, the BMW X5 with 1,553, Chevrolet Cruze 1,509, Audi Q5 1,424, Volkswagen Golf 1,267, Porsche Cayenne 1,180, BMW 5-series 1,098 and Mercedes ML 1,088.

Quite a lot is offered by the Jetta TDI compact four-door for its sticker price of $28,960.

Heading the amenities are an easy-to-use touch-screen navigation system and premium package of Fender audio, rearview camera, power sliding/tilting sunroof, push-button start, power driver seat and 17-inch alloy wheels with Continental ContiProContact 225/45R17 tires.

It also has front/front-side/curtain protection airbags and height-adjustable front safety belts, SiriusXM satellite radio/Bluetooth connectivity/iPod cable, air conditioning, trip computer, heated leatherette front seats, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power windows and mirrors, intermittent wipers and a first-aid kit in the trunk.

The front-wheel-drive Jetta with clean-diesel technology operates smoothly and quietly; the clatter of the engines and smokey exhausts are only bad memories of diesels of the past. The TDI engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and carries an EPA estimate of 30/42 mpg.

An improved independent rear suspension lends good ride and handling to the Jetta.

The Jetta is one of the roomiest of compact models in rear-seat space and its trunk is a large 15.5 cubic feet.

In addition to the TDI diesel version, the ’14 Jetta is available in gasoline editions of S, SE, SEL and GLI models. Beginning prices are around $18,000.

The Jetta’s overall length of 182.2 inches is among the longest of the compact segment. Other measurements are 183.9 for the Dodge Dart, 182.6 for Toyota Corolla, 182.1 for Nissan Sentra, 181 for Chevrolet Cruze, 179.4 for Honda Civic, 178.5 for Ford Focus and 178.3 for Hyundai Elantra.

For 2014, the Jetta’s standard 5-cylinder gas power has been replaced with a more spirited 1.8-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine.

The original VW Jetta, in 1980, was 15 inches shorter and considered a subcompact. I drove one, a four-door notchback, over Memorial Day weekend in 1980; it was priced at $8,065, weighed only 1,900 pounds and boasted a short turning circle of 31 feet. Its wheelbase was 94.4 inches, same as that of a Chevrolet Chevette.

A look back

In early May 35 years ago, I reviewed in The Denver Post the 1979 Buick Electra Limited four-door sedan. Excerpts:

Even in its downsized form, the 1979 Buick Electra Limited is a very large automobile – on a wheelbase of 118.9 inches and 221.1 inches long. Only the Cadillac DeVille and Fleetwood are bigger among cars built by General Motors. Highest ratings for the Electra would be for its ride and handling, interior trim and fit, its luxury offerings and the steady response of its 350-cubic-inch V-8 engine with high-altitude emission system. Gas-mileage tests produced averages of 12.9 in town driving and 17.8 on the highway. Impressive optional items pushed the price of the Electra past $14,000 from a base of $8,402.15. Among the options are a CB-radio-clock package for $889 and an Astroroof for $998, automatic electric door locks, remote-control side mirrors with temperature on the left, custom wire wheel covers and white sidewall tires. Power steering, power brakes and power windows are all standard items. Trunk space is a wide 20.4 cubic feet and the fuel tank holds 25.3 gallons. With a weight of more than 3,900 pounds and automatic level control, the Electra’s ride is smooth, with little pitching or wallowing.

Denver sends Mustang to 50th festivities

Shortly before the Lexus IS250/350 sport sedan was chosen “Car of the Year” at last week’s Denver Auto Show, it was apparent that the event’s biggest attraction was the 2015 Ford Mustang.

The focus on the Mustang continued all over the country this past week, as Ford marked the 50th anniversary of the original pony car.

Jan and I sat in Lee Iacocca’s office in Beverly Hills last May with his assistant Norma Saken and listened to a just-recorded tribute to the iconic Mustang by Iacocca; the recording was released this past week as part of the anniversary celebration.

Under Iacocca’s direction, as an executive with Ford Motor Co., the 1965 Mustang was unveiled on April 17, 1965.

Kia’s display area dressed up by K900

Another star of Denver’s auto show was the 2015 Kia K900, an all-new rear-drive luxury sedan, which went on sale this month. The large, sleekly styled four-door looked almost out of place in the display area of Kia, known for 20 years for small, economical automobiles.

The K900 is impressive enough on the auto show circuit that it has been named by AutoTrader.com to its list of “Must Test Drive” vehicles.

AutoTrader.com said the K900 showed “unexpected amenities, outstanding design and tremendous value within its segment.”

Pricing of the Kia V-8, which went on sale this month, begins around $60,000.

Larry Miller staff lends day of service

Employees of six Larry H. Miller dealerships in Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs are volunteering in their communities during the fifth year of a Miller Day of Service, an annual event honoring the late founder of the dealerships near his birthdate.

The team which volunteered at the Coalition for the Upper South Platte in Colorado Springs on Friday raked and reshaped the ground surface, reseeded native vegetation, mulched and installed log erosion control structures to the Waldo Canyon area, ravaged by fire in 2012.

A second team will volunteer Friday of this week at the Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver, unloading, sorting and packaging food donations. A third team Friday will assist Boulder County Parks & Open Space with clean-up after the September 2013 flooding, including piling and hauling trash and debris, building fences and planting trees and shrubs.

V60 wagon lends hope for Volvo continuance

Questions regarding the future of Volvo have rolled all over the roadway the past three or four years since China’s Zhejiang Geely took ownership of the Swedish firm.

A bit of an answer was delivered to my doorstep last week in the form of the 2015 V60 Sportswagon.

It’s a sleek, low-slung, front-wheel-drive compact wagon offering great handling and good economy; an all-wheel-drive version will be available. The new V60 is 8 inches shorter and 300 pounds lighter than the long-popular XC70 wagon.

Turbocharging and direct-injection boost performance of the V60′s 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine and 8-speed automatic transmission to a rating of 240 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, and an EPA estimate of 25/37 miles per gallon (I failed to get near the 37-mpg mark).

The 8-speed goes far beyond the former 6-speed in delivery. Move the shifter into the gate to the left of Drive, the Sport mode, and the paddleshifting sequences are immediate and smooth up or down the gears, after a momentary lull on takeoff.

Keeping the turbo revved high with a tap of the paddle to a gear lower, the wagon shows outstanding, flat cornering and impressive maneuverability.Adding economy to the V60 is an automatic stop/start system which shuts down the engine at stoplights, restarting on release of the brake. My overall fuel-mileage average with the wagon, of which more than half its miles were on the highway, was 28.7 mpg.

With Stuart Wright as a passenger, I drove the V60 to the Colorado Convention Center for the opening day of the Denver Auto Show last week. A like model was spotlighted in the Volvo display area.

Power blue metallic finish enhances the structure, from its blunt nose and long hood to the roof that slopes to Volvo’s trademark elongated taillights. It rides on 19-inch, polished diamond-cut wheels with Pirelli Cinturato 235/40R19 all-season tires.

V60 occupants are gripped by deeply bolstered, leather-covered seatbacks, an interior highlight. Up front, of course for a Volvo, is the floating center stack. Legroom is somewhat tight and footroom even more restrictive, especially in exiting, in the rear seating area. Cargo capacity is only 15.2 cubic feet; fold the rear seats, though, and it expands to 43 feet.

The review model is the V60 T5 Drive-E model, the E representing the fuel-efficiency. Don’t be confused by the T5 for a 4-cylinder-powered vehicle. Under the hood of the AWD version will be a turbocharged inline-5-cylinder block. Also available will be a T6 R-design, powered by a turbocharged 6-cylinder.

Power-folding side mirrors (when car is locked or unlocked) were among optional items which pushed sticker price of the V60 Premier Plus model to $42,225 from a base of $35,300. Also on the added list were a lowered sport chassis, paddle shifters, the 19-inch wheels, heated front seats and metallic paint.

Sensus navigation, up graded audio, sunroof, push-button start, dual-zone climate control and rain-sensing wipers were other features.

Volvo, known traditionally for structural integrity, includes on the V60 a rearview camera, blind-spot and lane-change alert and a City Safety system which can apply braking if it detects excessive speeds on approaching an object, as well as standard airbags.

Scandinavian-based Volvo has endured a period of uncertainty since its purchase by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group of China, so introduction of the new Swedish-built wagon is refreshing. Geely bought Volvo from Ford Motor Co. in 2010. Volvo supporters insist that the new owners maintain the level of quality for which the carmaker has been recognized.

“This is an exciting time of transformation for Volvo and shows our Swedish heart is beating strongly,” said Volvo Cars of North America President and CEO John Maloney. “The V60 signifies our first step in a gradual move toward powerful, highly efficient, 4-cylinder engines across the entire portfolio of our vehicles.”

Volvo was founded in Sweden in 1924 by Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson; their first car, the 1944-cc Jakob, was in production three years later.Sales in the U.S. began in 1955, when the Volvo PV444 cars arrived in Los Angeles. In 1956, Volvo sold 5,047 cars here.

In 1958, Volvo invented the three-point safety belt, considered one of the most important safety features of all time.

Some of its better-known cars, after coming to America, were the P1800 coupe of 1961 and the 240 series, beginning in 1974. Some of those 240s, now 20 to 40 years old, are still seen about the streets of Denver.

Volvo, bought by Ford Motor Co. in 1999, was re-sold in 2010.

This is what Ford's doing for Mustang's 50th anniversary

Ford is building a limited-edition Mustang GT to honor the pony car’s 50th anniversary.

The company will only build 1,964 special cars, honoring the year the Mustang first went on sale.

The 50 Year Limited Edition will come in one of the two colors of Ford’s logo: white or blue. Buyers can choose a manual or automatic transmission.

There are special chrome highlights around the grille, windows and tail lights. The Limited Edition will also be the only 2015 Mustang with a faux gas cap badge on the rear, where the original cap sat.

Limited Edition cars will be among the first built when 2015 Mustang production begins later this year.

Ford is showing the Limited Edition at the New York auto show, which begins this week. Pricing wasn’t announced.

Truck unvelings add status to Denver Auto Show

Oh, such an assortment of automotive marvels parked inside the Colorado Convention Center.

It’s the Denver Auto Show, for which two days remain.

A pleasantly disposed woman, I noted, seemed content to wander among the Ford display area at the Charity Preview Party Tuesday night, as other members of her family scurried about the huge hall. Was the attraction the 2015 Mustang, or maybe the small coffee bar? I would inquire.

Do you drive a Ford, I asked.

“No.” A Toyota, or a Lexus?

“No.”

“Six months ago, I bought the first 2014 Quattroporte sold by Sill-TerHar Maserati in Broomfield,” said Jan Scheimer, of Colorado Springs. “It is a wonderful car.” She could be an apt judge of that, for she also owns a Mercedes-Benz S550.

Those luxury vehicles are far to the back of the big show spread, and to walk from Ford, at the front door, all the way through, is to peruse the best and the shiniest of 550 new cars and trucks.

Among them are the Jeep Cherokee, selected SUV of the Year by members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press; the Chevrolet Silverado, chosen Truck of the Year, and the Lexus IS250/350, named Car of the Year.

The auto show will open its doors at 10 a.m. this morning and again at 10 on Sunday morning.

“This year’s show is high on energy, high on impact and high on technology. From clean to green, to mean and lean, there’s something for everybody,” said Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association.

Truck news is always well received in this part of the country and Chevrolet drew interest by unveiling the High Country edition of its Heavy Duty 2500/3500 series to compete with the Ford King Ranch and Ram Longhorn. A new Power Wagon and an innovative 1500 light-duty EcoDiesel pickup are being shown by Ram. Ford, along with its 50th anniversary Mustang, is focusing on the 2015 F-150 with aluminum-alloy body, bed and cab parts that will shed 700 pounds in overall weight.

The new Corvette Stingray, revealed a year ago in Detroit, rivaled the Mustang for most immediate attraction among showgoers.

Among highlights:

Indoor offroading – Camp Jeep’s traction tests of climbs, descents and obstacles aboard one of the tough 4-by-4s.

Deceptive – What can compare with the big 550-horsepower launch from the small stature of the Nissan GT-R.

Storyteller – Jack TerHar, who last year talked of Jaguar stylist Ian Collum in showing the Jaguar F-Type convertible, this week discussed his meeting with Jaguar owner Ratan Tata and his statement that “I listen with my ears, and hear with my heart, ” in unveiling the F-Type Coupe.

Good catch – The halibut, shared with General Motors executives, at the Oceanaire Seafood Room two blocks from the convention center.

Grilled – The most prominent nose is that of the Audi A8L TDI, or is it the spindle look of the Lexus GX460?

Light touch – The park lights for the 2015 Chrysler 200 have been placed along the forward edge of the front fender wells.

Wheels – How about those titanium-finished beauties on the Audi R8.

A natural – Mention of $1.69 per gallon natural-gas prices at the CNG display.

Great pumpkin – The new Dodge Dart GT finished in header orange clear coat.

Standout models – Jenna, who said at the Ford display, “I’m for sure a Mustang girl,” and Candlelynn, who said the only thing she likes better than promoting Subarus is hiking with her two young sons.

WHAT: The 2014 Denver Auto Show

WHERE: Colorado Convention Center

WHEN: Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, April 13, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

HOW MUCH: $10 for adults; $5 for kids ages 6 through 12 (and free for those younger)

Saturday Drive can also be viewed online at DenverPost.com/budwells. Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.

Denver Auto Show ends Sunday, April 13

Doors open at 10 a.m. today (Sunday) at the Colorado Convention Center for final viewing of the 2014 Denver Auto Show. More than 500 new cars, trucks and SUVs are on display.

The five-day attendance count is expected to surpass 100,000 by the time the doors close at 6 p.m. today.

The auto show is owned by the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association, coloradodealers.org, and produced by the Paragon Group, paragoneexpo.com.

WHAT: The Denver Auto Show

WHEN: Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, April 13, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Colorado Convention Center

HOW MUCH: $10 for adults; $5 for children 6 through 12 (those younger are admitted free).

Inside the Showroom can also be viewed online at DenverPost.com/budwells. Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.

Cherokee Limited 4×4 : Up to date, but not quite up to speed

The Jeep Cherokee, absent from the U.S. auto market since 2001, is back. But it is a more luxurious, fuel-efficient version of its former self. You can boo, or celebrate the changes.

If you are a devotee of the original Cherokee, introduced in 1974 as a sportier version of the truck-based Jeep Wagoneer, you might boo. That is especially true if you are comparing the subject of this week’s column the Cherokee Limited 4×4 equipped with Chrysler/Fiat’s Active Drive I all-wheel-drive system and a base 2.4-liter, inline four-cylinder gasoline engine (184 horsepower, 171 pound-feet of torque).

Booing is in order. The thing is a slug, afflicted with egregious downshifting when instant acceleration, as when changing highway lanes, is demanded. That engine performs better with gradual acceleration. It even feels smooth and likable when treated gently. But such behavior is more wimp than Cherokee.

You give up power in return for fuel economy with the four-cylinder model, which, even with four-wheel drive, gives you a respectable (for a sport-utility vehicle) 21 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Going with available front-wheel drive gives you more miles per gallon 22 in the city and 30 on the highway.

But who buys an SUV, one with the rugged heritage of the Jeep Cherokee, with the primary objective of saving fuel? Most people buy that kind of vehicle for power and, at least, moderate off-road prowess. If you are in that group, you should order the Cherokee with the optional 3.2-liter gasoline V-6 engine (271 horsepower, 239 pound-feet of torque).

Both the V-6 and four-cylinder engines are linked to Chrysler/Fiat’s all-new nine-speed that is correct, nine-speed automatic transmission. But the V-6 works much better than its four-cylinder sibling with that arrangement.

An advisory: If you live in a moderate climate, one usually free of snow and “wintry mix,” and if you seldom venture off-road, it makes more sense to buy the front-wheel-drive version of any selected sport-utility brand. Front-wheel-drive models are usually less costly to buy and operate than those with all-wheel drive or dedicated four-wheel drive, which means you save money both on the purchase and at the pump.

But if you are looking for a compact luxury SUV with moderate off-road capability and good power, consider the new Cherokee Limited 4×4 but with the V-6 engine and Chrysler/Fiat’s Trail Rated four-wheel-drive system, replete with a rock-climbing and hill-descent modes. The best of the four-wheel-drive arrangements offered for the new Cherokee, it is recommended here for folks who intend to explore beyond pavement.

Otherwise, the front-wheel-drive and Active Drive I systems the latter especially useful in rain or snow on paved roads are just fine.

Active Drive I easily moved me through the final tantrums of winter 2014 that is, through what I hope are its last fits of wind, sleet and snow. The Cherokee handled with mind-calming confidence in that mess. I would have no complaints about it at all were it not for the disconcerting behavior of its four-cylinder engine in attempting highway acceleration and climbing uphill.

Instant-acceleration problems aside, the Cherokee Limited 4×4 was comfortable to be in and mostly pleasant to drive. The new interior, featuring premium leather-covered seats and faux-wood accents, all expertly put together, is attractive. There are multiple storage units including a covered binnacle atop the instrument panel and hidden compartment for valuable items in an optionally equipped fold-flat front passenger seat.

But the crowning glory of the new Cherokee’s cabin is the 8.4-inch touch screen used to operate Chrysler/Fiat’s Uconnect infotainment system. I fell in love with this option the common-sense design and usefulness of its onboard navigation system, the clarity of its rearview camera, its ability to facilitate the use of everything from cellphones to seat heat.

Ah, yes, this Cherokee also came with a bevy of advanced safety options blind-side warning, lane-departure monitoring, rear parking proximity and forward crash-proximity warning all of which I find increasingly useful the older I get.

I like this new Cherokee. It just makes better sense with a V-6.

Last Corvette retrieved from sinkhole at Kentucky museum

The mangled remains of a powerful Corvette barely recognizable to its former owner were pulled from the depths of a sinkhole at a Kentucky museum Wednesday, completing weeks of painstaking work to retrieve eight classic cars that were gobbled up by the gaping hole.

The 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 Corvette was buried in dirt and rocks, deep beneath the surface of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. The mood was somber as the crumpled car, which boasted 700 horsepower thanks to performance enhancements, was pulled to the surface.

“It looks like a piece of tin foil,” said Kevin Helmintoller, of Land O’ Lakes, Fla., who donated the car to the museum last December. “I’m still glad I’m here, because I would have never believed it was this bad. I’m not positive I would have recognized it.”

At around the time it was donated, the car was appraised at $125,000 because of the performance modifications, said museum spokeswoman Katie Frassinelli.

The cars looked like toys piled in a heap amid dirt and concrete fragments after the 40-foot-wide-by-60-foot-deep sinkhole opened beneath a museum display area in mid-February. It happened when the museum was closed, and no one was injured.

The other cars that took the plunge were a 1962 black Corvette, a 1993 ZR-1 Spyder, a 1984 PPG Pace Car, a 1992 White 1 Millionth Corvette, a 2009 white 1.5 Millionth Corvette, a 2009 ZR1 Blue Devil and a 1993 Ruby Red 40th Anniversary Corvette. The eight cars are widely believed to have a total value exceeding $1 million, the museum said.

The museum owned six of the cars, and the other two the ZR-1 Spyder and ZR1 Blue Devil were on loan from General Motors.

Sinkholes are common in the Bowling Green area, which is located amid a large region of bedrock known as karst where many of Kentucky’s largest and deepest caves run underground.

With the retrieval now complete, the next task is to assess which cars are repairable.

“They seem to run the gamut from very minor or superficial damage to catastrophic damage,” said Monte Doran, a spokesman for Chevrolet, which will oversee restoration of the cars in Michigan.

The first car hoisted out in early March the ZR1 Blue Devil suffered only minor damage that included cracks on lower door panels, a busted window and a ruptured oil line. Workers got that car running, and cheers went up as the engine revved.

The mood turned more dour as the damage became progressively worse as each car was pulled out.

The white 1.5 Millionth Corvette recovered recently was flattened by the weight of debris. The ZR-1 Spyder and the PPG Pace Car, also among the final cars retrieved, sustained considerable damage as well, Frassinelli said.

All eight cars will be on display at the museum through August.

The decisions about which ones to repair and which are too damaged to fix will be heart-wrenching.

“That’s going to be a fairly difficult discussion,” Doran said.

Whether repair crews can retain the authenticity of each classic car will be a big factor, officials said.

“It would be fairly easy to go find another white 2009 Corvette and take as many parts off that car and put them onto a new structure with the VIN number of this (original) car,” Doran said. “You start splitting the line of did we restore the 1.5 millionth car or did we build an all-new car.”

Cars considered too badly damaged won’t go on the scrap heap.

“I’m sure that we’ll continue to display them as is. It’s now a part of museum and Corvette history,” Frassinelli said. “It’s interesting to people. They aren’t going into storage somewhere.”

The museum has remained open, except for the area where the sinkhole occurred, and the publicity has led to an attendance boost. Attendance in March was up 56 percent from the same month a year ago, Frassinelli said.

Publicity surrounding the massive sinkhole has led to an attendance boost at the museum.

Repairs to the museum, which is near the factory where the iconic Corvettes are made, are expected to be completed by early August, ahead of the museum’s late summer Corvette Caravan a celebration marking the museum’s 20th anniversary. Thousands of Corvette enthusiasts are expected to converge in their models of the classic American sports car.

Toyota recalls about 6.4 million vehicles globally

TOKYO Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 6.39 million vehicles globally for a variety of problems spanning nearly 30 models in Japan, the U.S., Europe and other places.

No injuries or crashes have been reported related to the recalls announced Wednesday. But two reports of fires are linked to one of the problems, a defective engine starter that can keep the motor running.

Some vehicles were recalled for more than one problem. The recall cases total 6.76 million vehicles for 27 Toyota models, the Pontiac Vibe and the Subaru Trezia, produced from April 2004 through August 2013.

The Pontiac Vibe, which is a General Motors Co. model, is also involved because Toyota and GM made cars at the same plant in California and the recalled model is the same as the Toyota Matrix. It was recalled for a problem with a spiral cable attached to an air-bag. It is unrelated to a separate GM recall over ignition switches linked to at least 13 deaths.

Subaru is partly owned by Toyota, and the model was the same as the Toyota Ractis.

For the recall, Toyota also reported problems with seat rails, the bracket holding the steering column in place, the windshield-wiper motor and a cable attached to the air-bag module.

The recalls affect a large range of models, including the Corolla, RAV4, Matrix, Yaris, Highlander, and Tacoma.

By region, the latest recall affects 2.3 million vehicles in North America, 1.09 million vehicles in Japan and 810,000 vehicles in Europe. Other regions affected by the recall include Africa, South America and the Middle East.

Toyota was embroiled in a massive recall crisis in the U.S. starting in late 2009 and continuing through 2010, covering a wide range of problems including faulty floor mats, sticky gas pedals and defective brakes. In response, it has become quicker to recall cars and

Last month, the Japanese automaker reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department to pay a $1.2 billion penalty for hiding information about defects in its cars. It earlier paid fines of more than $66 million for delays in reporting unintended acceleration problems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration never found defects in electronics or software in Toyota cars, which had been targeted as a possible cause.

The focus in the U.S. auto industry has recently shifted to another major recall problem, this time with defective ignitions in compact cars made by GM.

Toyota, GM recalls push US to near-record pace

Big U.S. recalls by General Motors and Toyota have put the auto industry on a record pace as companies try to avoid bad publicity and punishment from an increasingly aggressive government.

On Wednesday, Toyota announced it was recalling nearly 1.8 million vehicles in the U.S. to fix a spate of problems, including air bags that might not inflate. It’s part of a worldwide recall of 6.4 million cars and trucks.

So far this year, automakers have recalled about 9 million vehicles in the U.S. If that pace continues, the nation would break the record of 30.8 million recalled vehicles set in 2004.

Most of the recalls are from Toyota and General Motors, two automakers that are under government scrutiny and facing bad publicity and allegations that they concealed safety issues.

Toyota’s latest recalls were announced before the company even developed specific repairs. They come two weeks after the Justice Department skewered the Japanese automaker for covering up problems that caused unintended acceleration in some cars starting in 2009. Toyota agreed to pay $1.2 billion to settle that case, but federal prosecutors can resurrect a wire fraud charge if the company fails to comply with the terms of the settlement.

Toyota’s actions come as rival GM recalls 2.6 million small cars for defective ignition switches the company links to at least 13 deaths. Of those, 2.2 million are in the U.S. As that crisis unfolded, GM announced recalls of another 3.4 million U.S. vehicles.

GM is facing a Justice Department investigation, and last week its new CEO was grilled by Congress over its handling of the ignition recalls. It also faces fines of $7,000 per day for missing a deadline to answer questions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, said automakers historically have been quick to fix safety problems when faced with government investigations and bad publicity.

“The manufacturers as a whole look through their inventory of defective vehicles and recall some of the ones that they had passed over before,” he said.

After highly publicized cases in the past, such as Toyota’s unintended acceleration problems and Ford’s trouble with Explorers and Firestone tires in the late 1990s, automakers at first quickly issued recalls. But recalls dropped off as the bad publicity faded, Ditlow said.

But this time may be different because of the Justice Department’s investigation of Toyota and the prospect of criminal charges against GM and some of its employees in what lawmakers have called a cover-up of the ignition switch problem.

“That can be a real game-changer,” Ditlow said. “There’s nothing that changes corporate behavior as much as criminal prosecutions.”

Jessica Caldwell, senior analyst for the Edmunds.com auto website, said things changed when NHTSA got more aggressive with fines and enforcement against Toyota in 2009 and 2010. “But the GM recall has compounded the fact that they have to be more proactive,” she said.

The high number of recalls could also be attributed to the use of common parts across an automaker’s entire vehicle lineup, she said. When something goes wrong, more parts have to be replaced.

Through Wednesday, GM had recalled about 5.6 million cars and SUVs in the U.S. this year, while Toyota was at 2.85 million.

Automakers in the U.S. are required to notify NHTSA and recall cars within five days of discovering a safety defect. But corporate committees that govern recalls can take a long time to determine if a faulty part is a safety defect. That means recalls can take longer than the five days, Ditlow said.

But now companies appear to be finding defects and acting faster. Ditlow said he expects smaller recalls in the future as companies move quickly to fix parts and limit the impact of a problem.

Toyota’s U.S. recall announced Wednesday includes the following vehicles in the U.S.:

1.3 million vehicles with faulty electrical connections that could cause air bags to deactivate. Included are the 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2008-2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Tacoma, 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe. If the air bags deactivate, they could fail to deploy after a crash. The Vibe, which is made by General Motors Co., is included in the recall because Toyota designed and engineered it for GM when the two companies shared a factory in California. GM says 40,500 Vibes will be recalled.

472,500 small cars with defective springs in the front seat rails, which could prevent the seats from locking in place. Included are the 2006-2010 Yaris hatchback, 2007-2010 Yaris sedan and the 2008-2010 Scion XD.

Toyota said no injuries or crashes have been reported related to the recalls. The company is working on remedies. Dealers will replace the defective parts for free when parts are available.

The recall is one of Toyota’s largest since 2009 and 2010, when the company issued a series of recalls totaling more than 10 million vehicles for various problems including faulty brakes, sticky gas pedals and ill-fitting floor mats.

The ignition switch recall is GM’s largest individual recall this year. The switches can unexpectedly slip out of the “run” position, shutting down the engine and cutting off power-assisted brakes and steering. They also can deactivate the air bags. Parts are expected to start arriving at dealerships on Friday.

Microsoft preps Windows Phone apps for car dashboards

The battle for the technological car dashboard of the future is about to heat up. Following demos from Android and from Apple, Microsoft is also developing a platform — Windows in the Car — that will put the company’s smartphones, content and apps front and center of the driving experience. But hopefully in a way that isn’t too distracting.

First demonstrated at one of the sessions at its BUILD developers conference, Windows for the Car would use the same customizable tile interface that will be familiar to anyone who owns a Nokia Lumia handset or has recently upgraded to Windows 8/8.1 on their PC.

Just like Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Open Automotive Alliance or OAA (essentially Android for the car), Microsoft’s system would offer drivers access to their music libraries, turn-by-turn directions via Here and Bing maps and search, voice calls and text messaging. Although it is very much a work in progress, Microsoft doesn’t really need to play catch up.

Until this year, Microsoft was the brains behind the Ford Sync — the company’s in-car informatics and telematics system that offered a selection of mirrored ‘car-safe’ versions of smartphone apps and responded to voice commands.

For those worried that competing mobile operating systems are going to become an issue when choosing their next car, there is some good news.

The Microsoft system uses MirrorLink to connect to a car’s screen and for pushing information between connected devices. MirrorLink is an existing technology and one already supported by a host of car companies, from the aforementioned Ford to BMW.

That means that if Microsoft does bring its system to market, it could work with older vehicles, and new cars would be able to support it as well as either Apple or Google’s platform too.

Mercedes boosts horsepower of entry-level roadster

Mercedes has unveiled the SL 400, the new model designed to replace the SL 350 in the brand’s line-up. The entry-level roadster, which will have 27 hp more power than its predecessor, will be available in Germany starting at $133,676.

The Mercedes SL 400 is equipped with a twin turbo V6 engine with 333 hp, compared to 306 hp on the SL 350. The roadster accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and boasts a top speed of 250 km/h. Average fuel consumption is 7.3 L/100 km, or the equivalent of 172 g of CO2 emissions per kilometer.

Unlike on the SL 350, the Frontbass audio system and the Magic Vision Control smart windshield wiper system both come standard on the SL 400.

Plush '15 GMC Yukon restyled

I race into Denver Auto Show Week this morning aboard the redesigned 2015 GMC Yukon.

Few SUVs compare with the plush comfort and cavernous interior of the Yukon. A prominent rear spoiler which houses a relocated rear wiper dominates a more upright back end for the SUV.

The new Yukon’s 5.3-liter V-8 engine, which through cylinder deactivation will cruise the highway and coast in town on four cylinders, received a 10 percent boost to 355 horsepower. It is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The ’15 Yukon will be among attractions at the Denver Auto Show, which opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Colorado Convention Center. More than 500 cars and trucks of 2014 and 2015 model years and some concepts will be on display.

Show hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, noon to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6 through 12; those younger than 6 are admitted free. Active and retired military personnel with appropriate military ID will be admitted free Wednesday evening. Thursday is senior day; those 65 and older will be admitted for $5.

A private-party kickoff and fashion presentation, the sixth annual Charity Preview, is planned for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the convention center.

A prelude today will be the Green Car Parade of hybrids, clean diesels, electrics and natural-gas vehicles at 1 p.m. at the State Capitol Circle Drive. The 20 vehicles will participate in a parade drive to the convention center at 3 p.m. today.

Among the Yukon’s highlights is its next-generation, touch-screen IntelliLink infotainment system with navigation, Bose sound with nine speakers, satellite radio, five USB ports and rear-seat entertainment setup.

The navigation system was consulted as Jan and I, in a 5 p.m. rush hour near DIA, sought a convenient route to an address in Broomfield. As we keyed in the address, the system kept reverting to other Broomfield locations. “Try the voice command,” suggested Jan, and I pushed the voice button, stated very clearly the destination and within 15 seconds the screen lit up with directions.

Safety innovations for the GMC are forward-collision alert, land-departure warning and blind-spot detection which lights up as a tiny car and a star in the side mirrors.

The truck-based Yukon carries outstanding towing credentials, as well as wide cargo space; folding the third row of seats flat into the floor opens 51 cubic feet of space. Both the second and third rows can be power-folded into the floor.

Adding sunroof, 20-inch wheels, trailering package and two-speed transfer case to all the other amenities raised the Yukon SLT’s sticker price to $64,520; that’s right up there with the high-end Denali model.

The Yukon’s EPA fuel-mileage estimate is 16/22; it averaged 19.3 miles per gallon in overall driving.

Priced out of Porsches, Range Rovers? Try these instead.

One imagines that the people behind WhatsApp, the messaging service bought by Facebook for $19 billion, are doing some new-car shopping. A payday like that promises major automotive upgrades. Throw out the Saturn and bring on the flashy Ferraris.

Those of us with no Silicon Valley deal in the works may have to set our sights lower. But don’t give up on your dream of Sunday drives on winding back roads just yet. With a little creative purchasing, you can still satisfy that itch for a car as fun as a Porsche or as posh as an Infiniti. Call them satisfying downgrades.

RANGE ROVER VERSUS TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE

If you can’t afford this: $84,225 Range Rover.

Consider this: $36,040 Toyota Highlander XLE.

How they stack up: Buyers love the Range Rover because of its dashing looks and go-anywhere personality. Owners imagine themselves traveling through the Sahara, though most Range Rovers are used as suburban people movers. The new generation is built on an aluminum frame, seats five, and is agile and comfortable on asphalt. It’s also gob-smackingly expensive. The Toyota Highlander is the definition of a people mover, a milquetoast SUV with three rows of seating and as much personality as a hamster. Until now, anyhow. The all-new, third- generation machine has gone macho, with a brooding, masculine front end and overall swaggering attitude. The 2014 model is wider and longer, with a jazzed-up interior. It’s also available as an all-wheel-drive.

Drive comparison: The base Range Rover gets 340 horsepower out of its supercharged 3-liter V-6. That’s more powerful than the Toyota’s 3.5-liter V-6, which has 270 hp. Yet the Highlander handles itself admirably, charging up steep freeway hills and maintaining a balance of comfort and handling. My all-wheel- drive model, $38,700 as tested, even braved off-road duty on snow-covered gravel roads. Its biggest failure is the sluggish six-speed automatic, which can’t match the swiftness and intuitive nature of the Range’s eight-speed ZF automatic.

You’ll give up: The Range Rover’s phenomenal off-road ability. And while the Highlander gleams like never before, there’s no mistaking the Range Rover for anything but a luxury item.

Yet you’ll get: A very smartly styled interior. The Highlander is full of clever storage spaces and details that make life easier. There’s a long shelf that runs under the dash, designed for mobile phones and sunglasses. It even has a pass-through to accommodate chargers. The navigation system also bests the Range’s.

Bottom line: A Toyota that apes some of the Range Rover’s mannish swagger.

INFINITI Q70 3.7 VERSUS KIA CADENZA

If you can’t afford this: $49,500 Infiniti Q70 3.7

Consider this: $35,100 Kia Cadenza

How they stack up: Comparing an Infiniti mid-size sedan to a full-size Kia may seem odd. Yet after driving these two models back to back, the similarities stand out more clearly than the differences. Both are meant to coddle you with the latest electronics and dandy interiors. The Infiniti Q70 (previously known as the M sedan) is fleeter and more sport-oriented, though the Kia has the better-looking design. Kia is on a luxury upswing, and its ability to target every convenience you’ll find in other luxury vehicles makes a company like Infiniti especially vulnerable. Infiniti’s vehicles just don’t stand out in the crowd like a BMW or even a new Lexus. Upgrade to the $42,400 Cadenza Limited, and you get an outrageously equipped vehicle, including panoramic sunroof, adaptive headlights, ventilated seats, rear window sunshades, heated steering wheel, smart cruise control and blind spot detection. Much of that stuff necessitates special packages on the Q70, adding some $11,000.

Drive comparison: Kia has finally figured out how to tune a suspension. The Cadenza moves over washboard surfaces smoothly, leaving passengers unruffled. Yet it will happily lean into a curve. What the front-wheel-drive won’t do is keep up with rear- wheel drive Q70 in a race. The Infiniti’s 3.7-liter V-6 outguns the Kia’s 3.3-liter V-6, 330 horses to 293 hp. The Q70 is also much stiffer, which will please performance-oriented drivers, if not their passengers.

You’ll give up: Nameplate recognition. Infiniti isn’t the most desirable luxury carmaker these days, but some people will make a face when they hear the name Kia.

Yet you’ll get: An exterior and interior that both feel remarkably fresh. That’s one good-looking sedan.

Bottom line: Kia has benchmarked sedans like the Infiniti within an inch of its life.

PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4 VERSUS SUBARU WRK STI

If you can’t afford this: $91,980 Porsche 911 Carrera 4

Consider this: $34,495 Subaru WRX STI

How they stack up: Porsche’s latest-generation 911 4 is a civilized beast; easy to drive around town and savage on curvy roads. Subaru, meanwhile, is releasing its latest generation of the WRX STI, the brand’s swing-for-the-fences sports car. Both the Porsche and Subaru have all-wheel-drive and use torque vectoring to help corner. Both are fast. And both are born to burn down back roads.

Drive comparison: The Porsche gets 350 horses out of the flat six. The STI has a turbocharged four-cylinder and makes do with only 305 hp. Yet in many ways the STI feels more alive on the road. The suspension is tuned to be race-car stiff, and you’ll feel every ripple or crack on the surface of the road. Ask ridiculous things of it turn right now, at this silly speed! and it complies. You feel like you’re part of the car. And the only transmission offered is a manual.

You’ll give up: The comfort and overall usability of the 911. The Porsche is sweet when it needs to be, and the interior is a glory. The Subaru has no interest in being sweet, ever, and the ride beats you up. The interior is sad-looking plastic.

Yet you’ll get: Street credibility from the type of kids who play “Gran Turismo” video games and guzzle Monster energy drinks.

Bottom line: Take the WRX STI to any narrow back road, and you’ll have at least as much fun as you would in the 911.

Designing the Volkswagen Jetta SEL for a trusted market

It was conceived in Germany. The United States and Canada contributed 11 percent of its parts. Mexico gave 40 percent including its turbocharged 1.8-liter in-line four-cylinder gasoline engine.

Japan sent the six-speed automatic transmission, which also can be operated manually. The whole thing subsequently was assembled in Puebla, Mexico, and shipped to the United States as the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SEL sedan with a “candy white” exterior and two-tone “ebony” and “cornsilk” leatherette passenger cabin.

Welcome to the global world of automotive development, production and retail. It lays to waste conventional wisdom about the national origin of products, as well as much of the nationalist pride attached to that misconception. It also speaks to other truths the increased use of and need for global trade; the real need for improved education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and foreign languages and cultures; and the increasing obsolescence of traditional trade unions.

I know. You thought this was going to be a car review. It is, featuring the aforementioned VW Jetta SEL, a front-wheel-drive compact family sedan targeting the world’s working and middle classes. It is a car that serves its intended audiences well. But that is beyond the point.

VW’s job was to deliver an affordable automobile with maximum content to buyers long suffering from stagnant wages, unemployment and threats of unemployment people also weighted with the illusion that they deserve and can have anything, especially in a car. That task was extremely difficult with currency exchange rates and trade-union wages and work rules in Germany. It also was problematical with many labor rules and wage scales in North America. So, how to do it?

VW used a formula being used more and more by its global competitors: Design and develop in a trusted home market. Outsource engineering and parts production to proven and highly competent but lower-cost foreign partners. Assemble in a hungry-for-work, competent, low-wage environment. Deliver a fully equipped (onboard navigation with rearview backup camera, heated seats, premium sound system, advanced safety engineering) 2014 Jetta SEL sedan to target markets for $27,345 thousands of dollars below what many European, Japanese and North American rivals charge for a similarly equipped automobile.

You might hate the politics. But car companies aren’t terribly interested in politics left, right or center. Their main concern is making money, which they can do by delivering a product to as many consumers as possible with the content and pricing those people find attractive. In 2011, VW tried to price the Jetta more attractively by stripping content. That worked for consumers who don’t care about turning in earth-scorching zero-to-60-mph acceleration times, diving into corners on sharp turns, or doing the other mostly silly things that capture the fancy of too many people who review automobiles.

But perception in the car business is everything. And with bad reviews proliferating on the 2011 Jetta, VW officials knew they had to try something else. So they went global, which was a safe bet because of the inherently selfish nature of consumers, which is this:

Many consumers might moan and groan about shipping jobs to foreign countries; they might wring their hands and lift their voices in anger and angst about the demise of trade unions and the triumph of corporations. But they will wear their union jackets and sweatshirts to Wal-Mart, or while shopping for a good deal on a Hyundai, a Kia or a made-in-Mexico Volkswagen. Most of them are not the least bit concerned about looking for the union label.

They want a safe, reliable, reasonably fuel-efficient car at what they deem a good price, and that is what they get in the new Jetta SEL. The turbocharged (forced air) direct-injection engine is new for 2014, and with 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque it easily outclasses the normally aspirated 2-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine (115 horsepower, 125 pound-feet of torque) still being used in the base and S versions of the Jetta sedan. The upper versions of the Jetta SE, SEL and TDI now come with interiors featuring high-quality materials, attractive design and sensible layout in addition to desirable options such as seat heat and onboard navigation.

All of the Jetta models mentioned will get you to where you want to go safely, reliably, and easily within the posted speed limits of most local, state and national highways and byways.

I don’t care where it comes from. The Jetta SEL gets a “buy” here.

Tesla to appeal changed New Jersey car regulations

Electric-car company Tesla Motors has filed notice it intends to go to court to appeal New Jersey’s ruling that would stop it from selling its vehicles in the state within two weeks.

The notice, filed last week to the state appellate division, seeks to overturn regulations imposed by the state Motor Vehicle Commission that require new-car dealers to have franchise agreements before they can be licensed.

Those regulations, proposed last fall and implemented last month, effectively will prohibit Tesla from using its direct-sales model. The company, based in Palo Alto, California, has been selling cars at two locations in New Jersey for about two years. Its electric cars retail for around $60,000 before incentives.

Tesla’s filing says the Motor Vehicle Commission exceeded its authority when it amended the regulations and was under pressure from the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers, an industry group that represents new-car dealers. The deadline for dealers to be relicensed originally was Tuesday but was extended to April 15.

Tesla contends that forcing it to operate under a franchise agreement would be self-defeating.

“Franchise dealers have an inherent conflict of interest in selling electric vehicles,” the filing says. “In order to do so effectively, they would need to enthusiastically tout the reasons why electric vehicles are superior to gasoline vehicles. This is not something that they are going to do since gasoline vehicles represent virtually all of their revenue.”

The head of the New Jersey dealers’ group, Jim Appleton, criticized Tesla’s attempt to change the regulations and said in a statement that Tesla’s business model stifles competition and limits car buyers’ access to warranty and safety recall services.

“No one wants to see Tesla out of business in New Jersey,” Appleton said. “But the (New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission) must fairly and equitably enforce the law and Tesla should be required to play by the same rules as everyone else.”

Tesla says in the filing that it was negotiating with state lawmakers earlier this year over the regulations when Republican Gov. Chris Christie and the Motor Vehicle Commission “abruptly changed course” and adopted the amendments.

A Christie spokesman didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment on Wednesday, but administration officials disputed Tesla’s claims last month.

2014 Toyota 4Runner keeps rugged charm

Thirty years after its U.S. debut as a utilitarian, four-wheel drive truck with a fiberglass cover on the back, the Toyota 4Runner remains a different kind of family sport utility vehicle.

Sure, the 2014 4Runner has seats for up to seven passengers and can be stocked with navigation system, leather-trimmed seats and satellite radio some things never envisioned for the old 4Runner. And now, a rearview camera is standard, while exterior styling has been refreshed for 2014.

But Toyota’s long-running 4Runner hasn’t totally given up its rugged, ways.

The truckish body-on-frame construction remains. The 4Runner’s two-wheel drive is rear-wheel drive not the front-wheel drive that’s favored for many lighter-duty SUVs. Four-wheel drive 4Runners include standard low gearing and locking differential to handle really treacherous terrain offroad. Ground clearance of at least 9 inches puts passengers high above it all on the way to campgrounds, allowing the 4Runner to straddle rocks and get through waterlogged trails without vehicle damage.

Best of all, perhaps, the 2014 4Runner is rated well above average in predicted reliability by Consumer Reports magazine.

The 4Runner also was one of the top three mid-size SUVs in dependability in the latest J.D. Power and Associates study that looked at 3-year-old vehicles.

No wonder Toyota reports nearly 2 million 4Runners are still on the roads.

Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $33,680 for a 2014 4Runner SR5 with five-speed automatic transmission and two-wheel drive.

The lowest starting retail price, including destination charge, for a 2014 4Runner with four-wheel drive is $35,555. All 4Runners come with a 270-horsepower V-6.

Major competitors include the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder, which comes with a 260-horsepower V-6 and has a starting retail price of $29,810 with two-wheel drive and $31,410 with four-wheel drive. The Pathfinder comes with a continuously variable transmission that a driver operates like an automatic.

Another competitor, the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $30,190 with 290-horsepower V-6, eight-speed automatic and two-wheel drive. Starting retail price for a Grand Cherokee with four-wheel drive is $32,190.

The mass movement of American families to softer-riding, pavement-traveling crossover SUVs hasn’t stopped the 4Runner in its tracks. In fact, U.S. sales rose a bit last calendar year to 51,625, and sales were up another 1.8 percent in January and February from the year-earlier period.

The test 4Runner, a top-of-the-line Limited 4X4 model, instantly reminded passengers of earlier SUVs.

Were it not for optional-for-$1,500 motorized running boards that automatically slid out from under the door sills when needed, many passengers would have had to work to scramble upward and get inside. Once settled onto cushioned seats, everyone had good views onto the roofs of cars and through the windows of nearby trucks and SUVs.

Even the two third-row riders third-row seating is a $1,365 option had decent-sized side windows, though the windows did not open and seats were just a few inches from the floor.

The biggest exterior design change for 2014 is a new look at the front of the 4Runner. It borrows from Toyota’s smaller FJ Cruiser SUV.

The ride is somewhat old style, with passengers feeling vibrations as tires went over broken road surfaces, and there was some truckish bounce on dirt trails.

Steering is less than precise but acceptable for an offroader. The turning circle isn’t great, at 37.4 feet, but it’s better than that of the Pathfinder.

Don’t expect great gasoline mileage. With a hefty 4,800-pound weight, less than aerodynamic shape and an older-style five-speed automatic, the 4Runner is rated at just 17 miles per gallon in city driving by the federal government. Highway travel carries a rating of 21 mpg or 22 mpg, depending on whether the 4Runner is a 4X2 or 4X4. The test vehicle did worse than the ratings, getting just 15.1 mpg in city traffic and just over 19 mpg on the highway.

By comparison, the Pathfinder SUV is rated at 19/25 mpg.

Engine sounds were heard all the time in the 4Runner, and the powerplant became loud during hard acceleration.

Torque peaks at 278 foot-pounds at 4,400 rpm, and shift points were noticeable.

One complaint was an annoying whistle that came on as the vehicle reached about 40 mph. The whistle emanated from the side outside mirrors, and it made no difference if the nearby side windows were up or down. The only thing that stopped the whistle sound was putting a hand between the mirror and the SUV body to break the wind flow.

On the plus side, the newly designed center stack in the 4Runner protrudes for easy reach. Buttons and knobs are large, and there also can be controls buttons on the steering wheel.

Also new: Brightly illuminated Optitron gauges in front of the driver.

Maximum cargo capacity, with seats folded, is a good 128 cubic feet.

Headroom in the third row seemed tight even for a 5-foot-4 passenger. Toyota reports 34.3 inches of third-row headroom, which is less than the 36.5 inches in the third row of the Pathfinder.

A full 41.7 inches of legroom is available in the front seats. This is about a half inch less than the 42.3 inches of front-seat legroom in the Pathfinder.

Climbing into the third row takes a bit of work. The tester had a tilt-and-slide manual mechanism for the second-row outboard seat only on the curb side of the SUV.

The federal government reports the 2014 4Runner earned four out of five stars in frontal crash testing. Side crash test results were not available.

New cars in US to have reversing cameras by 2018

True autonomous cars might still be some years away, but thanks to a new law, there is one piece of technological kit that will be standard on all cars sold in the U.S. very soon – the reversing camera.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a final rule requiring rear visibility technology in all new vehicles with a curb weight of less than 10,000 pounds by May 2018.

It means that from that date, a reversing camera with a dashboard color display — until now an optional extra on mass-market cars and a standard feature only on luxury marques such as Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover and Lexus models — will become the norm.

The NHTSA is concerned about accidents that occur due to a lack of visibility at a vehicle’s rear — an issue for all modern cars but particularly for SUVs where an elevated ride height creates serious ground-level visibility problems.

“Rear visibility requirements will save lives, and will save many families from the heartache suffered after these tragic incidents occur,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator David Friedman. “We’re already recommending this kind of life-saving technology through our NCAP program and encouraging consumers to consider it when buying cars today.”

On average, there are 210 fatalities and 15,000 injuries per year caused by backover crashes. NHTSA has found that children under 5 years old account for 31 percent of backover fatalities each year, and adults 70 years of age and older account for 26 percent.

Therefore it is hoped that the new law will help reduce these figures dramatically. The NHTSA believes that once the technology is mandatory, and the majority of vehicles on the road feature a reversing camera, between 58 and 69 lives could be saved each year.

BMW confirms range-topping X7 SUV is going into production

BMW’s new seven-seat off-roader will be built in the US and will be hitting the streets in 2016.

The announcement was made during an event to celebrate BMW’s increased investment in its Spartanburg, South Carolina US production plant — a facility where pretty much all of BMW’s existing SUVs — the X3, X5, X5M, X6 and X6M are already built.

However, the company clearly feels there is sufficient capacity at the plant and in the market for yet another X-car.

Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG Norbert Reithofer said: “With the BMW X7, we are developing another, larger X model, which we will produce at our U.S. plant for our world markets — once again underscoring our commitment to the U.S.”

The new model, which will go head to head with the full-sized Range Rover, the Mercedes-Benz GL and the Audi Q7, is expected to only be offered with permanent all-wheel drive and with a choice of six- and eight-cylinder engines. It is also expected to arrive in 2016 with enough seats for seven. All of which suggests that BMW is targeting the US more than Europe with the new model.

All of which means that 2016 is going to be a very busy automotive year for the SUV segment. As well as the X7, Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini and Bentley have all scheduled 2016 launches for their own off-roaders.

They look set to be joined by Jaguar. The company has confirmed to Autocar that a production car based on the C-X17 is currently in development. Seen as more a sports car with a high driving position than a genuinely utilitarian 4×4, it will attempt to compete with the recently launched Porsche Macan.

An ambitious target but an understandable aim as it would be unlikely for Jaguar to try to compete with Land Rover, seeing as both brands are part of the same parent company.

New cars in US to have reversing cameras by 2018

True autonomous cars might still be some years away, but thanks to a new law, there is one piece of technological kit that will be standard on all cars sold in the U.S. very soon – the reversing camera.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a final rule requiring rear visibility technology in all new vehicles with a curb weight of less than 10,000 pounds by May 2018.

It means that from that date, a reversing camera with a dashboard color display — until now an optional extra on mass-market cars and a standard feature only on luxury marques such as Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover and Lexus models — will become the norm.

The NHTSA is concerned about accidents that occur due to a lack of visibility at a vehicle’s rear — an issue for all modern cars but particularly for SUVs where an elevated ride height creates serious ground-level visibility problems.

“Rear visibility requirements will save lives, and will save many families from the heartache suffered after these tragic incidents occur,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator David Friedman. “We’re already recommending this kind of life-saving technology through our NCAP program and encouraging consumers to consider it when buying cars today.”

On average, there are 210 fatalities and 15,000 injuries per year caused by backover crashes. NHTSA has found that children under 5 years old account for 31 percent of backover fatalities each year, and adults 70 years of age and older account for 26 percent.

Therefore it is hoped that the new law will help reduce these figures dramatically. The NHTSA believes that once the technology is mandatory, and the majority of vehicles on the road feature a reversing camera, between 58 and 69 lives could be saved each year.