12/01/2016

2017 Honda CR-V Turbo Power Promotional videos and features

Turbo Power Promotional

2017 Honda CR-V: Now with Turbo Power! A new take on an old favorite. The rumors are true: Honda is bringing the volume knob back to its touchscreen infotainment systems. We swear it.



In fact, the company even invited members of the media to Eastern Market in Detroit to physically twist and turn the knurled dial in a pair of all-new 2017 Honda CR-Vs.

Turbo Power Promotional

Our apologies for burying the lede; it’s just that, amid the excitement of Honda’s volume-knob news—and envisioning our reduced frustration when no longer having to use Honda’s current finicky touch-sensitive volume slider control—we nearly forgot about the many other improvements the company made to its redesigned compact crossover/SUV. Longer, taller, and wider than its predecessor, the 2017 CR-V has a swept-back front fascia, swollen front and rear fenders, and Volvo V90–style taillights that accentuate the crossover’s Kardashian-like rear haunches turn up the styling volume compared with the previous CR-V. It’s not exactly pretty, but the new CR-V certainly looks more interesting than before.

Although seating is still limited to five, a 1.6-inch-longer wheelbase and improved packaging allow rear-seat riders to enjoy 40.4 inches of legroom—2.1 inches more than the previous CR-V afforded and 1.9 inches more than in the Honda Accord sedan.

Meanwhile, rear cargo space behind the CR-V’s flat-folding 60/40-split bench seat grows by 2 cubic feet. At 39 cubic feet with all seats in use, the CR-V’s cargo volume now equals that of the bigger, mid-size Ford Edge.

Up front, the CR-V sports an instrument panel and a steering wheel that mirror those found in the Civic. A logical center stack includes simple HVAC controls and the all-important volume-knob-equipped infotainment system.

As before, the gearshift lever protrudes from the lower dashboard, while a spacious, reconfigurable center console provides plenty of stowage for odds and ends.

The 2017 Honda CR-V is available in LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, all of which come standard with LED daytime running lights, automatic climate control, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and a continuously variable automatic transmission. While the base LX model is motivated by a retuned variant of last year’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that now makes 184 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque (down by one in each measure), all other models use Honda’s new 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four. First seen stateside in the Civic, the little turbo engine has been massaged to produce 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque in the CR-V, increases of 16 horsepower and 17 lb-ft.

Honda anticipates that turbocharged EX, EX-L, and Touring models will account for about 75 percent of the new CR-V’s sales. Although EPA numbers aren’t yet available, the company promises best-in-class fuel economy for the turbo, which, together with the EX model’s long list of additional standard features, should provide plenty of enticement to move up from the LX. That EX standard-equipment list includes a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, dual-zone climate control, a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, a proximity-key system with remote start, push-button ignition, a sunroof, and a long list of standard safety features such as collision mitigation braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights.

Meanwhile, those looking for even more toys can step up to the CR-V EX-L, which brings to the table leather seats, two memory settings for the driver’s seat, a power passenger seat, and an optional navigation system. Making the stretch to the top-dog CR-V Touring moves navigation to the standard-items list as well as full-LED headlights and ambient LED interior lighting, plus a power liftgate that can be opened via foot-activated sensor.

Honda hasn't yet revealed pricing for the 2017 CR-V, but we do know that every version gets that all-important volume knob. Try it out yourself when the new crossover reaches Honda dealerships in December.

2017 Ford Fiesta - Magnificent Compact!!

New 2017 Ford Fiesta Review New 2017 Fiesta steps upmarket with new crossover and Vignale models - we take a look around it and speak to the exterior designer Ford has taken the wraps off one of this year’s biggest new cars – it’s an all-new, seventh generation Ford Fiesta, set to go on sale in 2017.



The Fiesta has been the best-selling new car in Britain seven years in a row, and even this year the ageing sixth generation model has surpassed the 100,000 registrations notch.

However, competition in the supermini market sector is hotting up. A new Volkswagen Polo is due next year, and brand new versions of the Nissan Micra and Citroen C3 are already on sale. As such, the new Fiesta is needed to continue the success story.

The new model is the most grown up version of Ford’s small hatchback yet, and the more premium outlook ought to be reflected in the price tag. Ford is set to ditch of some entry-level trim lines, and we expect the new Fiesta to start from around £14,000.

It’s a larger, roomier car with a more upmarket interior. This time round, Ford will expand its supermini’s horizons considerably with the launch of a compact crossover model called the Fiesta Active, as well as a luxurious Vignale model.

We've taken an early look at the new Fiesta in Germany. The first thing you’ll notice is the new design. According to George Saridakis, exterior design director at Ford of Europe, the car’s styling is “more evolution than revolution, with a more mature approach”.
Saridakis added: “It’s simpler and less fussy than the previous Fiesta, with a narrower daylight opening [windows] to make it look more elegant.”

It’s still instantly recognisable as a Fiesta, but the new car is 71mm longer and 12mm wider than its predecessor. Styling cues such as the swept-back headlights, simple bonnet and split wraparound tail-lamps at the rear help to accentuate the car’s extra width, but there’s a functional reason at the heart of the slight increase in size.

The previous Fiesta wasn’t the roomiest supermini on sale, but with a 4mm longer wheelbase – partly to house larger 18-inch wheels that are now available – Ford claims it has freed up an extra 16mm of knee room.

Space is helped by fitting slimmer front seats, and the new Fiesta is definitely more spacious in the rear than the old car, with competitive levels of head and legroom.
Ford hasn’t yet revealed how big the new Fiesta’s boot is, but Saridakis confirmed to Auto Express that it’s “within a few litres of the outgoing car”. That means we can expect a luggage capacity of around 290 litres, while access will be easier, thanks to a wider tailgate opening. The new Fiesta is also more spacious in the front, but here the space has come from redesigning the cabin layout.

The interior is the opposite of the exterior,” said Saridakis, adding that “It’s a revolution in design terms”. In place of the current vertical centre stack with its excess of buttons, the new Fiesta features a wider dash with more horizontal elements, and the infotainment system is all new. With all of the main functions apart from the climate controls operated through the touchscreen, there’s almost half the number of buttons on the centre console, which will make it much simpler to use.

Quality has definitely taken a leap upmarket, and the Fiesta has a more refined feel inside. But there will also be more customisation options available for the new car, with features such as the mirror caps and roof available in contrasting colours. Buyers will be able to specify different coloured trim inserts for the interior, too.

The Fiesta will be available in Style trim for fleet customers only, while private buyers get the choice of Zetec, ST-Line, Titanium, Vignale and Active guises available with various personalisation packs. There are three and five-door bodystyles as well, although the Active crossover only gets the latter option. The car also comes with what Saridakis calls a few different “faces”.
Lower-spec cars feature the basic front end, while ST-Line gets a much sportier look with a different mesh for the bespoke grille and a deeper front bumper that “draws its inspiration from the Focus RS hot hatch”.
ST-Line trim was only introduced earlier this year on the outgoing Fiesta, but it’s already been a sales success, so it’s no surprise that Ford has chosen to differentiate it further. Above th