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A case for the Eclipse Cross | Autoblog Podcast #508

On this week's podcast, Mike Austin joins David Gluckman to new cars they're driving and supercars that have just dropped. Mike also stands up for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross in the face of some negativity, and the episode wraps up with the traditional doling out of Spend My Money buying advice. The rundown is below. Remember, if you have a car-related question you'd like us to answer or you want buying advice of your very own, send a message or a voice memo to podcast at autoblog dot com. (If you record audio of a question with your phone and get it to us, you could hear your very own voice on the podcast. Neat, right?) And if you have other questions or comments, please send those too. Autoblog Podcast #508 Topics and stories we mention Our long-term Mazda Miata Honda Civic Hatchback Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Geneva Motor Show coverage Used cars! Rundown Intro - 00:00 What we're driving - 02:15 Eclipse Cross and Geneva Show recap - 16:45 Spend My Money - 43:58 Total Duration: 56:27 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Feedback Email – Podcast at Autoblog dot com Review the show on iTunes Podcasts Geneva Motor Show Honda Jeep Mazda Mitsubishi 2017 Geneva Motor Show honda civic hatchback mitsubishi eclipse cross

Automakers want to stop the EPA's fuel economy rules change, and why that's a shortsighted move

With a Trump Administration looming, the EPA moved quickly after the election to propose finalizing future fuel economy rules last week. The auto industry doesn't like that (surprise), and has started making moves to stop the EPA. Ford CEO Mark Fields said he wanted to lobby Trump to lower the standards, and now the Auto Alliance, a manufacturer group, is saying it will join the fight against cleaner cars. The Alliance represents 12 automakers: BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, VW, and Volvo. Gloria Bergquist, a spokesperson for the Alliance, told Automotive News that the "EPA's sudden and controversial move to propose auto regulations eight months early - even after Congress warned agencies about taking such steps while political appointees were packing their bags - calls out for congressional action to pause this rulemaking until a thoughtful policy review can occur." The EPA was going to consider public comments through April 2017, but then said it would move the deadline to the end of December. That means that it can finalize the rules before President Obama leaves office. The director of public affairs for the Consumer Federation of America, Jack Gillis, said on a conference call with reporters last week when the EPA originally announced its decision that it is unlikely that President Trump will be able to roll back these changes. Gillis also said on the same call that any attempt by the automakers to prevent these changes would be history repeating itself. "These are the same companies that fought airbags, and now promoting the fact that every car has multiple airbags," he said. "These are the same companies that fought the crash-test program, and now are promoting the crash-test ratings published by the government. So, it's clear that they're misperceiving the needs of the American consumer." There are more reasons the Allliance's pushback is flawed. Carol Lee Rawn, the transportation program director for Ceres, said on that call that the automotive industry is a global one, and many automakers are moving to global platforms to help them meet strict fuel economy rules around the world.

2019 Mazda CX-5 debuts with turbocharged engine and near-$40K price tag

We've seen a couple different leaks concerning the 2019 Mazda CX-5, but now Mazda finally has official word on what's coming our way. One exciting development is the addition of the 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine on higher trim levels. It's great to see Mazda sharing that engine to other models after originally debuting in the larger CX-9. In the CX-5, it makes 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque on 93 octane. To get the boosted engine, you'll have to opt for one of the two new trim levels Mazda has added for 2019: Grand Touring Reserve or Signature. Of course, with higher trim levels and more powerful engines come higher prices. The Signature trim comes in at a whopping $37,885 including destination charges. For 2018, the highest trim level available was the Grand Touring, and that car costs $30,640. Mazda adds a bunch of new features for the expensive Signature trim, though. You'll get brown leather seats, real wood trim, a uniquely stitched leather steering wheel, 360-degree view camera, a frameless auto-dimming mirror, LED lighting throughout the interior and dark silver 19-inch wheels. These options are in addition to the new and still luxurious Grand Touring Reserve trim level. This trim has heated and cooled seats, a heated steering wheel and power folding mirrors as its highlights. For comparison, the Grand Touring Reserve with the turbocharged engine costs $35,865. Making the CX-5 more luxurious wasn't the only aim for 2019 — Mazda also gave it a new version of its G-Vectoring Control handling system. The updated G-Vectoring (now called G-Vectoring Control Plus) helps when the driver is unwinding the wheel by "adding a hit of braking to the outside front wheel," according to Mazda. This, in addition to some suspension refinements, are supposed to make for a smoother and better ride. Specifically, Mazda says it re-tuned the suspension to reduce friction and adjusted the steering geometry to achieve more natural feeling handling. Sweating over these small handling and feel things is why we typically end up liking the driving experience of Mazda vehicles. Mazda increased prices on the CX-5 across the board, too. The Sport trim is $1,600 more than before, with other trims following suit at similar increases. We'll see how the changes affect the sporty and now more expensive crossover when we get our hands on a 2019 model. For now, you can build them on Mazda's website, and Mazda says they'll be available sometime this fall.