2016 Ford Mustang Convertible

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auto news

by wheelbase media

Paul Drinkwater/CNBC via AP

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The 2017 Wrangler will get some aluminum parts, but keep its steel body and frame

Jay Leno premiered his new (obviously) car-themed show on CNBC last Wednesday.

Jay’s back... with his cars Maybe you caught him commandeering Jimmy Fallon’s monologue last Tuesday night, but even if it wasn’t mentioned, that bit was Jay Leno’s plug for his new car-oriented basic cable show, aptly titled “Jay Leno’s Garage.” The show premiered last Wednesday on CNBC. It’s currently scheduled as an eight-part series that will run every Wednesday at 7 p.m. The former host of the “Tonight Show” host once paid the bills as a mechanic, but gradually became infamous for his auto collection, which now numbers more than 300 and has to be housed in three different buildings. (Jay’s actual Big Dog garage is located in Burbank, CA, fittingly near Bob Hope Airport.) The cars and motorcycles run the vintage spectrum from the very beginning (a 1909 Baker Electric) to the most modern (he just bought a brand new Tesla Model S electric-powered car... funny how things come around isn’t it?). At 65, he still puts in more than 200 stand-up gigs a year across the nation. You never know what Jay will wind up The new show actually started out in 2006 riding on his show. on YouTube, winning a Primetime Emmy award and racking up more than 1.4 million subscribers before Leno began shopping it around to cable networks. A one-hour special aired on CNBC in August of last year, leading to the new weekly series. Unlike fellow funnyman (and obsessive car collector) Jerry Seinfeld’s web-only “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” Leno’s show is all cars. Only as a nod to CNBC’s stock market-fixated audience did Leno agree to do a segment in which he assesses the investment appeal of various automobiles. And yes, there are celebrity stopby’s. (On the premier issue, Jay got to drag race comic/actor/car guy Tim Allen.) But really, “Jay’s Garage” is for grease-on-your-hands gearheads. Last Wednesday’s show focused on American muscle, with a peek at a top-secret GM car powered by a Ferarri engine and a tribute to the Shelby GT350 Mustang. “Why do people like to do burnouts?” Jay asks in a voice-over. It’s a rhetorical question, of course. “Look, if you don’t know, stop watching the show right now, all right?” Jay and CNBC, however, are hoping there are enough burnout-lovers that will keep watching.

Own a piece of Ferrari As reported a few weeks back in these peach-colored pages, Ferrari owner Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) had dreamt up a dollar-figure worth for its Ferrari brand stock in advance of an Initial Public Offering this month. Now freed from the clutches of FCA, Ferrari will be offerring 10 percent of the company to the public in the form of common stock. Most of the remaining 90 percent will be held by the Agnelli family that formerly controlled Fiat and Ferrari, while 10 percent will be held by Piero Ferrari, the son of founder Enzo Ferrari. Will the resulting stock sell off come close to chariman Sergio Marchione’s $11.2 billion estimate? Stay tuned.

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Ferrari 360 convertible

Wrangler’s expansion plans If you’re keen on Jeep’s iconic off-roader, we have some good news to impart. The next-generation Wrangler that launches for the 2017 model year will be considerably lighter, due to a switch from steel to aluminum for the doors, hood, fenders and tailgate. The Ohio-built Wrangler, however, will retain its steel body and frame, which are considered essential to the vehicle’s popularity. A revised (as in torquier) 3.6-liter V6 will be joined by a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel option (likely the same engine that’s available in the Grand Cherokee and Ram pickup) for 2018. An eight-speed automatic transmission will also connect to both powerplants. Finally, the long-rumored and clamored-for Wrangler pickup will join the regular- and extended-length soft-/hardtop models, but a launch date hasn’t been decided.

It’s time for a new Juke, but if Nissan strays too far from the original’s charm, the plan might not work. Just look what happened to the Scion xB.

Upcoming changes to the Juke One of the surprise hits for Nissan has to be the small Juke. It is, however, no surprise to anyone who has driven this mad little wagon. They will attest to its fun and funky nature and single out the Juke’s turbocharged 188-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine as being a major part of the driving enjoyment. The optional allwheel-drive also makes for fun times when attacking crummy roads. As Nissan readies the second-generation Juke for the 2017 model year, We hear that it will be built on an all-new small-vehicle platform developed in conjunction with Nissan’s partner Renault of France. However, Jukes will continue to be assembled in England. Rumors persist that the engine will be a non-turbo unit, since the current engine requires premium fuel and isn’t particularly miserly. We like the turbo engine, so we hope Nissan figures out how to keep it around.

TEST DRIVE

Continued from page 3 Engines aside, the main, mechanical news for the sixth generation Mustangs is the overdue debut of an independent rear suspension (IRS). The addition of IRS means the subtraction of midcorner drama, when you hit a bump at speed. The chassis feels composed and rides well. Lacking a hard top, the convertible is, of course, less stiff than the hardtop, and less than perfect pavement will coax noticeable cowl shake jiggle out of the chassis. Owing to the difference in engine weight, EcoBoost Mustangs figure to be somewhat lighter than V-8 versions, and hence better balanced. Raising or lowering the top is a simple matter of twisting a center latch and pressing a button. It’s easy and quick. A toggle switch on the center stack accesses selectable drive modes (normal, sport, track, snow), each of which has corresponding adjustments for throttle response, steering effort, transmission mapping and stability control settings. “Sport” sharpens the car’s reflexes (not as much as track) and is a nice choice for a little corner carving. The snow setting will help, but in particularly messy, winter conditions — as with all rear-wheel-drive cars — the

preferred setting is “Park.” The interior is a nice blend of modern style and twin-cove retro. The main dash display is crisp and clear. Controls are in easy reach. MyFord Touch and SYNC are the primary portals for controlling many functions, along with conventional switchgear on the center stack. Viewing the stack reminds me of a vision chart at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Starting at the top, it’s easy to see everything. But by the time you get to the bottom row, you need to memorize the labels to pass the test. The metallic toggle switches (four-way flasher, traction control, drive modes, steering feel) and even the start button are just plain hard to read, and so a potential distraction while driving. Mustang’s front bucket seats are comfortable, and the steering wheel telescopes and tilts for a custom fit. Rear seats are +2 size; small kids may fit, provided that the front passengers aren’t tall. Otherwise, it’s supplemental storage space, which is otherwise in short supply inside. Trunk capacity is 11.4 cubic feet. The option sheet is a mix of packages and stand-alone items, covering the gamut from performance/safety to information/entertainment. Your eyes and ears will both appreciate Equipment

PHOTOS courtesy of FORD MOTOR CORP.

2016 Ford Mustang Convertible

THE SIXTH GEN CHANGES.

TRANSLATE NICELY. TO THE CONVERTIBLE..

Test drive this vehicle at these preferred dealerships: Jack Byrne Ford 1003 Hudson River Rd., Mechanicville, NY 12118 518-664-9841 jackbyrneford.dealerconnection.com Orange Ford 799 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12206 518-489-5414 www.orangemotors.com Group 201A. This bundle includes blind spot monitoring with cross traffic alert, a Shaker 12-speaker sound system with HD radio, and memory settings for driver’s seat, mirrors and ambient lighting. Mustang’s sixth generation changes translate nicely to the convertible model. Sleek styling, a nimble chassis, wide ranging motor choices and the latest technol-

ogy make for a much more modern look sand feel for Ford’s pony car. A regular contributor to the Times Union for more than 20 years, Dan Lyons is the award-winning author of six books, and photographer of 165 calendars. Read Dan’s recent reviews online anytime at Timesunion. com/vehiclereviews.