Table of Contents

Preface...... vii Chevrolet Corvette...... 41 2014 Corvette: 460 hp, 30 mpg, 1 g, $52,000...... 41 Acura MDX...... 1 All-aluminum frame of GM’s 2014 Corvette 2014 MDX re-engineered to pass IIHS test, saves 99 lb...... 45 reduce NVH...... 1 Ductile iron/gray iron rotor from Sanluis Rassini New Acura MDX boosts fuel economy, is larger, debuts on new Corvette...... 48 lighter, has fewer buttons...... 4 Carbon fiber, new aluminum structure lighten One HVAC system covers three zones on 2014 2014 Corvette Stingray...... 49 Acura MDX...... 6 Gesture recognition gets a thumbs up...... 52 Acura NSX...... 9 GM intros first ‘smart’ materials app on Inside the latest iteration of Acura’s NSX 2014 Corvette...... 53 Concept...... 9 Chevrolet Cruze...... 54 Acura RLX...... 10 2014 Chevrolet Cruze diesel debuts in Acura shows new flagship concept...... 10 Chicago...... 54 Alfa Romeo 4c...... 12 Chevrolet Impala...... 56 4Cs show future of Alfa Romeo...... 12 2014 Impala: Slick outside, big inside...... 56 BMW i3...... 14 Chevy offers two MyLink systems...... 59 BMW’s 2014 i3 bets big on the electrified Chevrolet Spark EV...... 61 future...... 14 2014 Spark EV pioneers dc quick charging BMW i3, the inside story: what it’s made of, with new SAE Combo Connector...... 61 how it’s made...... 18 BMW and Boeing to collaborate on Chevrolet SS...... 64 carbon-fiber materials...... 21 2014 Chevrolet SS brings winning dose of V8 Cutting costs of carbon composites...... 22 rear-drive muscle...... 64 Cadillac CTS...... 26 Ferrari LaFerrari...... 66 2014 Cadillac CTS stretches into D-segment...... 26 LaFerrari replaces Enzo as Ferrari’s top model...... 66 Aisin leads GM into 8-speed territory with 2014 automatic...... 29 Big Picture: Ferrari LaFerrari...... 67 GM’s new twin-turbo V6 boasts BMW-beating Fiat 500e...... 70 output, brilliant packaging...... 30 Fiat and Chrysler unveil 2014 battery-electric Cadillac XTS...... 33 500e...... 70 Engineering the 2014 Cadillac XTS Vsport for Fiat 500L...... 73 410-hp twin-turbo V6...... 33 Fiat’s 2014 500L brings ‘glassy’ style to the Cadillac ELR...... 36 North American MPV market...... 73 Big Picture: Cadillac ELR...... 36 GMC Sierra...... 75 Chevrolet Camero Z/28...... 39 Upgraded 2014 GM pickups underwhelm Potent 2014 Camaro Z/28 engineered for competitors...... 75 track-day heroics...... 39 New interior for 2014 full-size GM trucks...... 78

v Honda Accord...... 80 Nissan Rogue...... 129 Honda flexes new powertrain muscle...... 80 2014 Rogue is first Nissan to use Nissan-Renault platform...... 129 Infiniti Q50...... 85 Infiniti’s new Q50 offered as V6 or hybrid...... 85 Opel/Vauxhall Adam...... 132 Jaguar F-Type...... 87 GM’s new 1.0-L turbocharged triple aims for benchmark NVH...... 132 2014 Jaguar F-Type is calibrated for sonic delight...... 87 Porsche 918...... 134 Jeep Cherokee...... 89 Porsche’s electrifying performance focus...... 134 Jeep Cherokee relaunched on Fiat-Chrysler Big Picture: Porsche 918 Spyder...... 136 Compact U.S.-Wide platform...... 89 Ram 1500/HD...... 139 Kia Cadenza...... 91 Chrysler aims for first 30-mpg full-size Kia moves upscale with 2014 Cadenza...... 91 pickup with 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel...... 139 2014 Ram HD trucks get 6.4-L Hemi, chassis Kia Forte...... 93 upgrades...... 141 NVH among major improvements in New heavy-duty Ram trucks feature Cummins redesigned, feature-rich Kia Forte...... 93 diesel upgrades...... 144 Kia Soul...... 96 SRT Viper...... 147 Kia’s urban tall wagon gets more urbane...... 96 New Viper has enhanced interior and added Land Rover Range Rover Sport...... 99 feature content...... 147 New Range Rover joined by Sport...... 99 Subaru Forester...... 150 Range Rover Sport switches to aluminum 2014 Subaru Forester includes Premium Lightweight Architecture...... 101 direct-injection turbo...... 150 Lexus IS...... 103 Subaru XV Crosstrek...... 152 2014 Lexus IS grows to better compete with Subaru introduces a different kind of BMW 3 Series...... 103 hybrid...... 152 Mazda Mazda3...... 105 Toyota Corolla...... 154 New driver assistance segment firsts for 2014 Mazda3...... 105 Longer, lower, wider, more aero, and stylish Corolla unveiled...... 154 Mercedes-Benz B-Class...... 108 Toyota engineers put a shine into the 2014 Mercedes extends electric range...... 108 Corolla...... 157 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class...... 110 Toyota Highlander...... 160 Mercedes’ new CLA trims Cd to record 0.22...... 110 Toyota reveals forthcoming Highlander 2014 CLA45 AMG gets 355-hp 2.0-L engine...... 113 with increased rear room...... 160 Mercedes readies new 4Matic for transverse Toyota Tundra...... 161 fwd architecture...... 115 Toyota Tundra gets first major redesign Mercedes-Benz E-Class...... 117 since 2007...... 161 Driver assistance expands on 2014 E-Class...... 117 Volkswagen Golf/GTI...... 163 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class...... 119 First MQB-based car for U.S. is 2015 Mercedes unveils production compact VW GTI...... 163 crossover...... 119 VW and BASF develop all-plastic front-end Mercedes-Benz S-Class...... 121 carrier for new Golf...... 166 Mercedes anticipates the future with new Volkswagen XL1...... 168 S-Class...... 121 Hyper-efficient VW XL1 drives to Big Picture: Mercedes-Benz S-Class...... 126 production...... 168

vi 2014 Passenger Car Yearbook