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Motoring

GM’S NEWEST BOLT EV TAKES ECOLOGICALLY FRIENDLY ROAD TRIP

Test-drive stories by NITISH S. RELE –motoringtampabay.com

“Join us on a road trip in the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV!”

So Chevrolet invited automotive journalists to join a road test of GM’s newest electric car. The itinerary called for us to embark from downtown Miami for Malibu Farm at Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach. Then we’d leave for our final destination: Babcock Ranch, the most connected-to-the-future U.S. town in the making.

What could be a better update on the state of U.S.-made EVs and new communities being created with sustainability in mind? Our drive — solely on electric power — would take us about 180 miles to the northwest across the Florida peninsula to solar-powered Babcock Ranch in Lee County.

For the trip, Chevy provided an attractive cayenne orange Bolt EV with Premier trim. Imagine going 259 miles (up 59 from the Bolt’s predecessor) and more on a full one-time electric charge in a ride. Plus, the four-door, five-passenger Bolt EV is an ultra-smooth and cool hatchback package with superb handling and overall balance.

The four-door sedan’s driving force comes from an electric motor propelled by a huge under-floor lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 66 kWh. It produces 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The Bolt is mated to a single-speed gearbox with a sport mode switch to liven up handling.

Regenerative braking allows the vehicle when coasting or slowing down to capture kinetic energy that would be lost. It converts the energy into useable electricity to recharge the battery. Charging options include a standard 120-volt Level 1 power cord, but it takes an hour to recharge enough to go four to five miles. Instead, opt for the 240-volt Level 2 charging package, which can recharge enough battery life for 25 miles or so in an hour (cost to install ranges from $750 to $1,000).

The first stop, at the Eden Roc, brought breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. It also provided a taste of how delicious sustainability can be, at the hotel’s delightful farm-to-table Malibu Farm restaurant.

You want fresh, organic and mostly local-sourced food? Then this day-to-evening bistro is your place during a visit to Miami Beach. In addition the casual and lively restaurant offers two-hour pizza-making classes. Thank you, chef Alex Kuzin, for your expertise and guidance in helping us make our first pizza ever!

With the half-dozen Bolts fully charged, we took off for The Hyatt Naples, about 125 miles away. We dodged heavy Miami traffic before passing through the Everglades on the east-west Alligator Alley. The ride is remarkably cooperative, soaking hurdles with dexterity, sure-footedness and poise.

The next day, the group drove another 50 miles north toward Punta Gorda for the 18,000-acre Babcock Ranch, the first solar-powered community in the country. Barely open two years now, planners hope ultimately to attract 50,000 residents after a total buildout of 2,000 homes. “We look to become multi-generational and celebrate outdoors,” said Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of developers Kitson & Partners.

Eight builders are producing new homes from $175,000 to $1 million. On the site is a restaurant, general store, physician offices, gym/fitness center, pre-school, and pioneering grocer Publix.

The power source for the environmentally friendly development lies a couple of miles north of town center at the Florida Power & Light Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center. It sits on more than 440 acres, the equivalent of 200 football fields.

The 75-megawatt solar facility uses 340,000 ground-hugging solar panels that can provide renewable energy for at least 15,000 homes. Each of the 10 battery units stores 1 megawatt of power and discharges for four hours, which makes it the largest solar-plus-storage system in the country.

Needless to say, one of the five car charging stations in the town square juiced up our Bolt before heading home to Tampa.

The trip proved the Bolt is blazing automotive trails, offering speedy acceleration with ample power and numerous creature comforts. It’s no Tesla to be sure, but it’s a car of the future you can comfortably live with today. At $35,620 after the $1,875 federal credit, it’s a bargain.

2020 LEXUS NX 300 TOUTS SPIRITED DRIVING

Leave it to Lexus to shine in the compact luxury crossover segment. The NX 300 is a blast to drive, responding with quickness in any driving situation while loaded with luxury and tech goodies expected. Zero to 60 is an impressive seven seconds in this lively ride, which continues mostly as is from 2019.

Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline-4 cylinder gas engine cranking out 235 horsepower @ 5600 rpm and 258 pounds-feet of torque @ 4000 rpm. It is mated to a standard 6-speed auto gearbox. Showing off a brawny, hunkered-down posture, the NX 300 sports a massive spindle mesh grille flanked by LED headlights, and daytime running lights while chrome accents deck up its lower rear bumper. As soon as we stepped into the airy and well-appointed cabin, the gated automatic shifter caught our attention. A 4.2-inch TFT LCD screen displays audio, fuel consumption, mileage, outside temperature, odometer and tire pressure readings. Some niceties include dual auto a/c, 8-way power driver and front-passenger seats, 60/40 rear seat, power tilt/telescopic steering column (new for 2020), updated analog clock and dark umber trim. Metallic accents on window and cruise control switches convey a cool appearance. The mouse-like Remote Touch can be used to toggle navigation, climate, audio and phone controls for the 10.3-inch screen.

Standard safety features include dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag, driver knee airbag, front-passenger cushion airbag are standard along with side-impact door beams, four-wheel antilock brakes, electronic brake distribution and brake assist, vehicle stability and traction control, rearview camera, push-button start, three-point seatbelts with pretensioners, and front and rear crumple zones. These are complemented by a pre-collision system that detects pedestrians and bicyclists, lane center and departure assist and dynamic cruise control, all part of the no-cost Lexus Safety Sense.

If in the market for a compact luxury crossover with a forceful engine, decent gas mileage and plentiful creature comforts, the NX 300 fits the bill. The F Sport trim factor adds even more pizzazz to the ride!

LEXUS NX 300 (AWD)

MAZDA3 MAKES FOR AN EXHILARATING DAILY JAUNT

It’s always been an exciting and well-composed ride for us. In fact, all Mazdas are. What makes the Mazda3 special is its amazing agility, response and grip. After a major overhaul, the 2020 sedan/hatchback maintain their status quo with the direct-injection Skyactiv technology, which uses a torque boost via a high compression ratio for stretching fuel economy. A 2.5-liter inline-4 cylinder engine develops 186 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 186 pounds-feet of torque @ 4000 rpm. Power reaches the front wheels through a 6-speed manual or an automatic gearbox. A MacPherson strut front and a torsion beam axle rear works well to absorb unpleasant road bumps or curves. Steering response with the electric power rack-and-pinion is swift, accurate and perfectly weighted.

Up front, a matte-finish grille with the Mazda insignia is surrounded by horizontal LED headlights and daytime running lights. Other automakers could benefit from borrowing the simple command control center to operate the 8.8-inch navigation/infotainment screen. Rich-looking leather upholstery on the seats, steering wheel and shifter knob gives the cabin a rich ambiance. Other nice conveniences include six-way power driver seat, heated front seats, push-button start, dual-zone auto a/c, 60/40 fold-down rear seat with hidden armrest and cup holders, head-up display, power windows and door locks, paddle shifters, sun roof, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and AM/FM.

Dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag, front knee airbags, stability and traction control, hill launch assist, active front-head restraints, four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, rearview camera, radar cruise control, lane keep assist and departure warning, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert and tire pressure monitoring system are standard. The G-Vectoring Control Plus (enables driver to handle emergency situations or untoward road conditions with more accurate steering inputs) comes at no extra cost. And the i-ACTIV AWD works along with G-Vectoring to control torque distribution between front/rear wheels.

Base-priced at $27,900, Mazda3 is a compact car, so we will excuse the tight rear seat for passengers or the meddling noise at highway speeds. But this impressive fuel-sipper is reasonable, well-balanced, stylish and a blast to take out for a trip or as a daily ride.

MAZDA3 (PREMIUM)

TOYOTA TACOMA PERFECT FOR GOING ON THE ROAD OR OFF-ROADING!

THE RIDE: Four-door, five-passenger 2020 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 Limited double cab midsize pickup.

DOWN THE ROAD: You want robust acceleration, remarkable handling and steering feel? Then the power train in this pickup will leave you with a smile on your face. Its all-wheel-drive capabilities ensure sure-footedness on the toughest of roads.

TECH & PERFORMANCE: A 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 engine, which is mated to a revised 6-speed auto transmission, puts out 278 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 265 pounds-feet of torque at 4600 rpm. Suspension is handled competently via an independent coil spring double wishbone front and a leaf spring rear. The electric power rack-and-pinion steering has a solid and communicative feel, making the pickup easy to place at sharp curves. Tow capacity is a laudable 6,400 pounds.

LOOK & FEEL: Slim projector-beam headlights with LED daytime running lights surround a silver hexagonal grille with chromed surround, hood scoop, power-out mirrors and door handles. You can’t help but notice the lofty and brawny hood. TACOMA stamped in all caps in the rear is an instant giveaway that this is indeed Toyota’s midsize truck. Climb into the cabin and you won’t find a reason to complain about seating space. Traditional gauges for speedometer, tachometer, fuel and engine oil pressure are easy to read. The center stack of audio and climate knobs is within the driver’s convenient reach. A dial on the dash offers the option of 2WD, 4L and 4H. There also is an adjustable tie-down cleat 6-foot-long bed to easily haul your purchases from the neighborhood home store. For 2020, a 10-way power driver’s seat with height/thigh adjustments is available, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other customary amenities include dual a/c, leather tilt/telescopic steering column and shifter, adaptive cruise control, 8-inch (up from previous 7) touchscreen for nav, phone and audio controls, power windows/door locks, push-button start, four-way front-passenger seat, 60/40 rear seat with under-seat bin, wireless phone charger, easy lower-and-lift lockable/removable tailgate and overhead console.

SAFETY FIRST: Dual front airbags, side curtain airbag, front knee airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, stability, traction and trailer sway controls, rearview camera, smart-stop technology, daytime running lights and tire pressure monitoring system come at no cost. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 includes a pre-collision system that detects pedestrians, lane departure assist and dynamic cruise control.

OUT THE DOOR: $41,865, plus tax, tag, delivery and destination charges; price as tested is $42,430.

BY THE NUMBERS: Tires, P265/60/R18; wheelbase, 140.6 inches; length, 225.5 inches; weight, 4,425 pounds; fuel capacity, 21.1 gallons; city, 18 mpg; highway, 22 mpg; Web site, www.toyota.com

WHY DIG IT: So, why should you buy the Tacoma? Well, it’s not a full-size pickup but serves the purpose of one with commanding cargo and towing capability, and adequate fuel efficiency while delivering a no-frills ride, even off the beaten path!

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