news & features January-February 2015 MOTORSPORTS A NASCAR at PIR ................................................................5 November 2014 results recap; 2015 season dates and tickets. SPECIAL EVENT B The 2nd Annual Arizona Concours d’Elegance ..........12 Upcoming event details, features, celebrities, forums and marques. NEW VEHICLE INTRODUCTION C 2016 Kia Sorento ............................................................14 Redone for 2016, this highly popular SUV is put to the test during heavy weather in the High Sierra around Lake Tahoe. By Joe Sage NEW VEHICLE INTRODUCTION D 2016 Chrysler 300 ...........................................................18 The Chrysler 300, a huge hit for years, evolves into gen three, build - ing upon the high points while expanding the lineup. By Joe Sage NEW VEHICLE INTRODUCTION D 2015 Ram ProMaster City vans......................................20 The van market is red hot right now, and FCA follows last year’s large van launch with a highly utilitarian smaller model. By Joe Sage SPECIAL EVENTS E January collector car auctions.....................................22 Dates, times, places and something to watch at each of six events. VEHICLE IMPRESSION Rolls-Royce Ghost ..............................................................26 VEHICLE IMPRESSION 2014 BMW M235i .................................................................28 NEW VEHICLE INTRODUCTION F Daimler Sprinter vans part 2..........................................30 Extreme capability meets extreme adaptability. By Joe Sage SPECIAL EVENT G Goodguys 17th Southwest Nationals ..........................32 VEHICLE IMPRESSION 2015 Acura MDX AWD.........................................................37 SPECIAL EVENT H Silver Auctions Arizona in the Fall results..................38 Our most affordable and fun local auction, now three times a year. VEHICLE IMPRESSION 2015 Ford Expedition Platinum 4x2 ..................................40 VEHICLE EVENT I Active Lifestyle Vehicle Awards 2015 ..........................42 Annual Phoenix event crowns winners in eight categories. VEHICLE IMPRESSION 2015 Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe V6..........................................45 SPECIAL EVENT J Los Angeles Auto Show ................................................46 Highlights from the first of this year’s big international auto shows. VEHICLE IMPRESSION 2015 Dodge Charger SXT ...................................................50 NEW VEHICLE INTRODUCTIONS K Toyota Camry, Sienna and Yaris...................................52 Toyota squeezes features and updates into three different cate - gories of vehicle, and we squeeze in three drives. By Joe Sage TECHNOLOGY Eco-Motive Dual-Fuel H-motor...........................................54 departments FROM THE PUBLISHER : START YOUR ENGINES ...........................4 AUTO NEWS UPDATE .........................................................................6 THE INSIDE TRACK : BRIEFS AND RUMORS .................................56 UPCOMING FEATURES.....................................................................58 COVER: This beautiful classic Mercedes-Benz gullwing coupe at Bonhams represents the high end among six collector car auctions held each January in Scottsdale and Phoenix. Visit all six—you will find something for anyone. Photo by Joe Sage. START YOUR ENGINES : FROM THE PUBLISHER MAGAZINE ou’ll find cars in this issue covering quite a range—from the under-$15k Toyota Yaris Yto this issue’s range-topper without even pausing to doublecheck, the Rolls-Royce PUBLISHER / Ghost II. If you do doublecheck, you’ll find the $263k Rolls-Royce easily exceeded, many EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Joe Sage times over, by any number of vehicles up for sale at a half-dozen events during Arizona’s CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Becky Antioco David Boldt world-renowned collector car auction week. How does something in the millions sound? Nick Calderone Tyson Hugie Any number of rarities will cross the block at those prices. Jennifer Johnson JP Molnar Vincent Nguyen Jim Prueter But you can get by for much less. And unlike most of those multi-million-dollar auc- Tim and Kristin Sharp tion gems, you can actually slip behind the wheel and hit your favorite roads in new cars Jan Wagner Kevin A Wilson or 2014, NASCAR altered the format of the Chase hoenix International Raceway will for the Sprint Cup, with the Quicken Loans Race for the Sprint Cup to emphasize winning, via an again host two NASCAR Sprint Cup For Heroes 500 weekend November 12-15, which such as a Dodge Charger SXT with almost 300 hp, priced under $30,000 and getting CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: F P Randall Bohl Steven Fabian elimination-style competition. As the final Eliminator Ser ies race weekends for the 2015 season. will be broadcast on NBC. over 30 MPG. Or several other imports and domestics in the $40s to $60s or so. Christina Lawrie Chris Marzonie race, PIR’s season finale would determine the final four The fall race at PIR has been a fixture on the Brenda Priddy Jan Wagner There’s not a vehicle at Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams, Gooding, RM, or Russo and Steele drivers who would race for the Championship in Miami. MARCH 2015 NASCAR AT PIR NASCAR schedule since 1988. Continuing a long- DESIGN & PRODUCTION: AdZone Arizona auctions that we would not welcome in our own garage. But so many of these so often THURSDAY NOV 6 2014: Eighteen-year-old Nick PIR’s spring event weekend, headlined by standing tradition, this will be the semi-final race ADVERTISING SALES: 480-948-0200 end up in a showroom or in storage. At Silver Auctions, you can also get by for much Drake led every lap in the Casino Arizona 100 on the the Camping World 500, will be about two in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. way to his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series West vic- weeks later than last year, on March 12-15. less, with a majority of cars just about anyone can reasonably bid on—and drive home. ARIZONA DRIVER MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BIMONTHLY BY ADZONE ARIZONA LLC tory at PIR. With teenagers running throughout the top The move to mid-March promises great PIR SEASON TICKETS To help whet your appetite for the classics, we bring you highlights from the Goodguys Arizona Driver Magazine 10, veteran points-leader Greg Pursley wrapped up the weather, and it coordinates better with Season tickets for the 2015 season at PIR start at Southwest Nationals, held in Scottsdale. And to help orient you to the new models, we PO Box 13387 - Scottsdale AZ 85267 Series Championship with a finish in ninth. Spring Break for most Arizona K-12 school $99. Tickets are available online at Phoenix Race - present the winners of the Active Lifestyle Vehicle awards for 2015, held in Chandler, as www.arizonadrivermagazine.com FRIDAY NOV 7: Erik Jones dominated from the pole districts, making NASCAR an easier fami- way.com, by calling 866-408-RACE (7223) or in per - [email protected] well as a selection of especially interesting entries at the recent LA Auto Show. in the Lucas Oil 150 NASCAR Camping World ly entertainment option. The race week- son at the PIR ticket office. ‘LIKE’ US ON FACEBOOK Truck Series race on Friday night. Officials delayed end also falls during Spring Break for ASU, A season ticket includes admission to all NAS - Our travels this issue take us to South Carolina to drive Mercedes-Benz and Freight- Arizona Driver Magazine, Arizona Rider Magazine, and ultimately shortened the race from 150 laps due to the University of Arizona, NAU and Grand CAR races during both event weekends, with liner-badged Daimler Sprinter vans (sneak-peeked in the prior issue); Arizona Flyer Magazine and Arizona Boater Magazine a power failure in the region. Leading 114 of 126 laps, Canyon University. great savings over individual ticket prices. Sea - to Reno and Lake Tahoe for challenging High Sierra weather in the are registered tradenames of AdZone Arizona LLC. Jones made his way through the night under a full Phoenix has hosted an NSCS race every son ticket holders also have the exclusive oppor- 2016 Kia Sorento; and to Texas for the third-gen Chrysler 300 and Arizona Driver Magazine is a member of: moon and won for his second straight time here. spring since 2005. The new March dates tunity to purchase parking passes, pre-race pit the new Ram ProMaster City lineup of smaller vans. Phoenix Automotive Press Association SATURDAY NOV 8: Brad Keselowski, a second-place mark the fourth change of PIR’s spring time passes and Budweiser ROLL-BAR passes at dis- Motor Press Guild runner nearly all afternoon, flew by Kyle Busch on the slot. PIR has hosted the second race of the counted prices. Other benefits exclusive to sea- Enjoy the ride. Northwest Automotive Press Association beginning of the last lap of an unexpected green-white- NASCAR season in each of the prior four son ticket holders include the first opportunity to Joe Sage Rocky Mountain Automotive Press upgrade or change seat locations each year and Texas Auto Writers Association checkers finish to steal victory in the DAV 200 NAS - years. This year, it will be the fourth. Publisher/ Executive Editor Midwest Automotive Media Association CAR Nationwide Series race. Chase Elliott, 18-year- The spring race weekend is scheduled the opportunity to purchase additional race tick- Photo: Brenda Priddy old son of 1988 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Bill to be broadcast on FOX. ets at the discounted season ticket holder price. Elliott, finished fifth to become the youngest Nation - A new feature for PIR season ticket holders for wide champion in series history and the only