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Tenafly’s Newest Addition…

It’s First Responder Friday and Tenafly’s got a new rig in town! In a small town in Bergen County, New Jersey, the Tenafly Volunteer Ambulance Corps (TVAC) provides emergency medical services to the 14,000 residents who call this town home, and the countless passersby who visit, since 1992.

Previously using two Ford E350 ambulances from the early 2000’s, TVAC needed an upgrade to their decade-plus old fleet- enter the 2014 Horton 623T, codenamed 42. Built on an International Terrastar 108 chassis, the Horton 623T features a MaxxForce 7 turbodiesel V8 engine, designed to meet the needs of medium-duty commercial and emergency vehicles. The MaxxForce 7 features up to 300 horsepower and 660 lb.-ft. of torque, with high-pressure common-rail fuel system, compacted graphite iron block and dual sequential turbochargers to deliver optimal performance.

TVAC Lieutenant of Operations (and Autocracy cofounder!) David Novick says, “the new 42 is modern & up-to-date, uses better technology and has alot of safety upgrades that have been implemented over the years to help keep both the medical personnel and patient safe”.

Vehicle features include a Maxxforce diesel engine, 19.5″ rims & tires, walk through cab access, rear dock bumpers, privacy windows, Roadmaster front & rear stabilizer bar, Vanner 20A 1050-DC charger inverter, HOPS (Horton Occupant Protection) System, Intelliplex Multiplex electrical system and Kussmaul 20A super auto eject shoreline.

Emergency features are plentiful, with a Whelen LINZ6-TAZ86RR custom rear light bar, Whelen “M” series lighting, wig wag headlights, LED docking lights, ICC marker lights, Whelen M9 series scene lights, below body ground lighting, Medium duty chassis air horns, Whelen 295SLSA1 siren and Sho-Me/Able 2 30.222 undercover siren.

Inside the patient compartment, Tenafly’s new ambulance comes complete with (2) 110V interior outlets, (2) IV hangers, (3) 12VDC interior outlets, a CO detector, (2) fire extinguishers, CPR seat, Cool Tech II HVAC system, (3) oxygen outlets, child safety seat, SSCOR aspirator, UV lamp in A/C system duct, report light, sound proofing/acoustic package, Avonite countertops, recessed stair chair pocket and (2) Perko power vents.

Dealer Spotlight: Lamborghini Paramus

Introducing Dealer Spotlights – a new thing we’re going to be doing at The Autocracy, where we go to premium brand dealers or locations that have a unique variety of vehicles and share information about them and the products and services they provide. Here is our first Dealer Spotlight, Lamborghini of Paramus.

As the only authorized Lamborghini dealer in New Jersey, Lamborghini of Paramus proudly offers a vast selection of new and selected pre-owned cars as well as service, parts and merchandise. Established in 1969, Lamborghini of Paramus has been around just 6 years less than the Lamborghini brand itself. Lamborghini was founded in Sant’Agata Bolognese Italy in 1963, and since then, they’ve produced some of the greatest looking, most highly detailed sports cars over the last century.

Some select models in their inventory include an Arancio Argos Pearl 2013 Aventador with under 5,000 miles, a Nero Noctis 2012 Gallardo with 6,000 miles and the pièce de résistance, a white 1990 25th Anniversary Edition Countach with just over 12,000 original miles. Renowned for their excellent customer service and close proximity to New York City, Lamborghini of Paramus invites you to stop in – located on Route 17 South in Paramus, New Jersey – and check them out online.

Jaguar F-Type Project 7

Jaguar has one of the most famous racing pedigrees of automative manufacturer history – so, it’s only fitting they give us something true to their roots: the F-Type Project 7.

We took a visit to Prestige Jaguar of Paramus to see what that was all about. Reminiscent of Jaguar’s D-Type race car, the F-Type Project 7 has the same tail fin that adorned the car that won the 1955 and 1956 Le Mans races.

Limited to only 250 units (and only 50 in the US), the F-Type Project 7 features the same 5.0-liter supercharged V8 from the regular F-Type, though this one has a bit of a power boost to the tune of 575 hp. That makes it the most powerful and fastest production car Jaguar has offered. Other accoutrements include carbon-ceramic brakes and a fixed rear spoiler. Check out Jaguar’s video above and make sure you turn up that volume!

Quick Facts:

Price: $165,995

Powertrain: 5.0-liter supercharged V-8, 575 hp, 516 lb-ft; RWD, 8-speed automatic

Weight: 3550 lb

REVIEW: 2016 Honda Accord Touring

We’ll just put this right out front – this is not your grandfather’s Accord anymore. As one of the United States’ top selling vehicles year over year, how do you improve something that’s already great? With new sporty looks & other visual tweaks for 2016, I think Honda’s got the job under control.

We took a drive in Honda’s 2016 Accord Touring sedan, thanks to our friends at Honda of Tenafly. With a powerful 3.5-liter V6 producing 278 horses, the get-up-and-go factor on this lightweight, mid-sized sedan is prevalent – getting up to 60mph in under 6 seconds. With a smooth shifting 6-speed-automatic transmission (only available on V6 models), the Accord Touring was a treat to drive. Although the Accord Touring comes standard with 19″ sport black-accented wheels, the ride was not very rough, all while taking turns like a champ.

The interior is complemented with leather-trimmed seats and a leather wrapped steering wheel, audio system with 7 speakers, a 7-inch touchscreen audio display with Honda’s Satellite-linked Navigation, Voice Recognition & Multi-View Rear Camera. Technology and other creature comforts include SMS Text Messaging functionality, USB audio interface, push-button start, Honda LaneWatch (camera mounted on passenger-side mirror), heated front and rear seats. Also included in the Touring is Honda’s Sensing Package, which has features like Collision Mitigation Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Road Departure Mitigation.

On the outside, the car has 19″x8″ sport alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto-high beam, LED fog lights, rain sensing wipers, heated power door mirrors with turn indicators, LED taillights, remote start, front and rear parking sensors and rear decklid spoiler.

Overall, this was a stellar car and it definitely makes our recommended vehicles list. With the styling & power of a sports sedan and the comfortable ride of a luxo-barge, it combines the best of both worlds. If you’re looking for a fun sedan with plenty of room, that’s both fuel and budget efficient, you’ve found your match – at just under $35,000.

Pros: Great deal of technology and safety features, smooth ride, quick acceleration, great styling cues

Cons: Great deal of technology, torque steer

QUICK FACTS:

Base Price: $34,680 || Price as Tested: $34,680

Vehicle Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, five-passenger, 4-door sedan

Engine: 3.5-liter, 6-cylinder, 278-hp, 252 lb-ft torque || Transmission: 6-speed automatic, with sport mode

Curb Weight: 3,605 lbs || Length/Width/Height: 192.5/72.8/57.7 inches

0-60: 5.6 seconds || EPA City/Highway Fuel Economy: 21/34 MPG

RATING: 8.3/10

Exterior: 9

Interior: 7

Acceleration: 8

Braking: 9

Ride: 8

Handling: 8

Gearbox: 8

Audio: 8

Tech: 9

Value: 9

We’d like to thank Herbie Rosario and Arthur McCracken at Honda Of Tenafly for getting us into the 2016 Honda Accord Touring. For all of your Honda needs, go check out Honda of Tenafly in Tenafly, NJ and online at www.hondaoftenafly.com. Make sure you tell them Greg and Dave sent you!

Your Weekend Car Show Roundup: May 2-3

Every week, we’ll bring you a roundup of the best shows around New Jersey (and other locations to be announced shortly). Know of car shows near you? Let us know!

Corvette & GM Car Show 2014

May 2:

Whiskey Cafe Car Show (every Saturday from May-September from 5-10pm)

4th Annual Park Ridge Recreation Committee Car Show (12-4pm)

Cars and Coffee High Octane South Jersey (every Saturday, 8:30am-until the last car leaves)

May 3:

41st Annual Corvette & GM Show & Swap Meet (9-3pm)

Prestige BMW Cars & Coffee (8:30-11am)

64th Annual NJ Antique Automobile Club of America Car Show (9-3pm)

3rd Annual PBA Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show

Come out to the Northern Valley High School in Demarest, NJ for the 3rd Annual PBA Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show. We’ll be there!

Location:
162 Knickerbocker Road, Demarest, New Jersey

REVIEW: 2013 Tesla Model S

As gearheads, we get excited about the firing of an ignition in a Lamborghini, the exhaust note on a Porsche and the smell of gasoline in the morning. These are things we truly enjoy — hearing, seeing and smelling the movements on internal-combustion engine equipped cars. When you hear “electric car”, you think of ones that have died off a couple of years ago or you think of short-range, lower-priced cars that just can’t keep up with today’s technology. Well–that’s all changed. We bring to you, our loyal readers of The AUTOcracy, the 2013 Model S. *Cue dramatic music.*

(gallery at the bottom)

Driving this car is like driving a dream — if that’s possible. The eery silence of the motor when you accelerate to 70 or the fact that you can get to 70 in under 5 seconds alone by being held back in your seat due to the sheer power of the Model S is emphatically satisfying. With 7000 lithium-ion cells, the 85-kwH battery pack weighs more than 1300 pounds and is five feet wide, eight feet long, and a third of a foot thick. With a standard charger, the battery can be recharged in about 10 hours, however, with the Supercharger hardware (which was included with our car), you can get a 150-mile recharge in 30 minutes from any one of the Supercharges located across the US.

With the base Model S starting at $62,000, additional options and battery sizes can increase the price to just into the 6-digit range. Our Model S had an as-tested price of $106,350 with options such as a panoramic all-glass roof, black performance interior with carbon fiber trim, active air suspension, dual rear facing seats (allowing for up to 6 passengers, plus driver), supercharger hardware, a carbon fiber rear spoiler and beautiful 21″ performance Carbon Gray wheels. The driver-friendly interior was accented with comfortable black leather seats, and dominated by a massive 17″ capacitive touchscreen with media, communication, cabin, and vehicle controls — it’s amazing that there were almost no buttons in this car. It also had the Tech and Sound Studio package. The Tech package includes GPS navigation system with onboard maps and free map updates for 7 years, keyless entry, high-def backup camera, Xenon headlights, LED cornering lights, power rear liftgate, GPS-enabled Homelink system, memory seats, ground lighting under door handles and electrochromatic side mirrors. The Sound Studio package includes XM satellite radio, a 580-watt 12-speaker Dolby ProLogic 7.1 sound system, and storage space for more than 3,000 songs.

With a 4-year/50,000 mile warranty and an 8-year/Unlimited-mile battery warranty, you’re in good hands. There was just one drawback that we saw in the car — and that was the loose steering under heavy acceleration. Hitting the gas to merge onto the highway, we would have to compensate for steering. But, that’s it. The 99,000 other amazing things about the Model S trump that one minor issue, which I can’t seem to remember what it was anymore.

Driving the Tesla Model S, truly was a treat. From pulling onto Route 208 in North Jersey and getting ripped back into the seat by the monstrous response time and torque or the massive touchscreen in the center console that controls literally everything — it was amazing. The silence of the motor and the smoothness of the ride was just so comfortable, it’s understandable why this is one of our most favorite cars. Having been presented with numerous accolades and high ratings from other journalists, this car holds a lot of promise and benchmarking for the future.

Pros: an incredible amount of technology both inside the car and on the car itself; acceleration was superior to almost anything comparable; storage/trunk space was plentiful — due to the lack of an engine, there are two trunks; giant touch screen dash made everything easy to read and easy to reach; great looks.

Cons: Under heavy acceleration, the car would pull in either direction, where we would have to compensate steering.

QUICK FACTS:

Base Price: $87,400 || Price as Tested: $106,350

Vehicle Layout: rear-motor, rear-wheel-drive, 5+2-passenger, 5-door sedan

Engine: AC permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor; 85 kWh lithium-ion battery; 420hp & 440lb-ft tq. (equivalent) || Transmission: 1-speed direct drive automatic

Curb Weight: 4,785 lbs || Length/Width/Height: 196.0/77.3/56.5 inches

0-60: 4.2 seconds || EPA City/Highway Fuel Economy: 88/90 MPGe

RATING: 9.7/10

Exterior: 10

Interior: 9

Acceleration: 10

Braking: 10

Ride: 10

Handling: 10

Gearbox: 10

Audio: 9

Tech: 10

Value: 9

We’d like to thank Stephen Martinique at Tesla Garden State Plaza for getting us into the beautiful Model S. For all your Tesla needs, go check out Tesla Garden State Plaza in Paramus, NJ and online at http://www.teslamotors.com/gardenstateplaza. Make sure you tell him Greg and Dave sent you!

REVIEW: 2013 Lincoln MKS

When thinking of Lincoln’s largest family sedan, we would typically think of the Town Car. The MKS has revamped Lincoln’s lineup as their top sedan and has done it in style. With Lincoln’s MKS, they’ve expanded their market to appeal to a younger audience as well. We stopped at Town Motors in Englewood and picked up our Lincoln for the day and definitely left with all positive thoughts.

Our Lincoln MKS had a very smooth ride and felt very luxurious. For a big sedan it did not drive like a “boat” as one would expect. The non Ecoboost engine had plenty of power under the hood which made me think that the Ecoboost engine would be a great experience. If you are someone in search for a sedan with plenty of features and space, this is the one for you.

Pros: Spacious trunk and back seat, well powered even without the EcoBoost, great design, a lot of features for what you pay.

Cons: Navigating the entertainment system proved to have some challenges, similar to the MKZ.

QUICK FACTS:

Base Price: $42,870 || Price as Tested: $53, 565

Vehicle Layout: Front-engine, AWD, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

Engine: 3.7L V6 || Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic w/ Paddle Activation

Curb Weight: 4391 lbs || Length/Width/Height: 205.6/85.5/61.6 inches

0-60: 6.2 seconds || EPA City/Highway Fuel Economy: 18/27 mpg

RATING: 8.0/10

Exterior: 8

Interior: 8

Acceleration: 7

Braking: 8

Ride: 8

Handling: 8

Gearbox: 8

Audio: 8

Tech: 9

Value: 8

We’d like to thank Ted Siebold of Town Motors in Englewood, NJ for getting us into the 2013 Lincoln MKS! For all your Lincoln needs, go check out Town Lincoln in Englewood, NJ and online at http://www.townmotors.com. Make sure you tell them Greg and Dave sent you!

REVIEW: 2013 Lincoln MKZ

When you think of Lincoln, you probably think of the Town Car (commonly driven by the elderly) or the Navigator (commonly driven by soccer moms). With Lincoln’s new MKZ, they’ve expanded their market to appeal to a younger audience.We stopped at Town Motors in Englewood and picked up our Lincoln for the day, drove it around Northern New Jersey and simply put, we loved it.

Our MKZ came with the Ecoboost I4 which produced 240 horses and had a brutish 270 pound-feet of torque which propelled the car to 60 in just over 7 seconds. The MKZ came equipped with heated mirrors, LED headlamps and taillights, 10-way front driver’s and passenger’s seats, Ford Motor Company’s SYNC with MyTouch system, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, power moonroof, keyless entry with external keypad, and push button start with push button gear selection as well. Our test vehicle also had Equipment Group 101A which includes the rear view video camera and reverse sensing system.

The finishings of the Special Edition vehicle include a silver exterior with charcoal leather interior and a walnut wood trim.

We thought that even though the car has a 4-cylinder engine, it accelerated like that of a 6-cylinder. (The MKZ is available with a V6 engine also). We LOVED that Lincoln brought back the push-button gear selection, reminiscent of cars from the 50s and 60s. The only thing we weren’t so fond of in the car was the entertainment system and dash controls — with the touch screen and the sliding your finger over the volume bar proving to be a little cumbersome, but a lot of the other features in the car made up for it. At a base price of just under $36,000, you get a great amount of equipment in a reliable, luxury American car.

Pros: The new style for 2013, acceleration with the Ecoboost, comfortable and spacious, individual buttons for gear selection, great audio system and had a lot of storage compartments.

Cons: Navigating the entertainment system proved to have some challenges.

QUICK FACTS:

Base Price: $35,925 || Price as Tested: $40,950

Vehicle Layout: Front-engine, AWD, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

Engine: 2.0L, 240hp, 270 lb-ft., I-4 EcoBoost || Transmission: 6-speed SelectShift Automatic with Paddle Shifters

Curb Weight: 3874 lbs || Length/Width/Height: 194.1/83.3/58.1 inches

0-60: 7.1 seconds || EPA City/Highway Fuel Economy: 18/26mpg

RATING: 8.4/10

Exterior: 9

Interior: 8

Acceleration: 8

Braking: 9

Ride: 9

Handling: 9

Gearbox: 9

Audio: 8

Tech: 7

Value: 8

We’d like to thank Ted Siebold of Town Motors in Englewood, NJ for getting us into the 2013 Lincoln MKZ. For all your Lincoln needs, go check out Town Lincoln in Englewood, NJ and online at http://www.townmotors.com. Make sure you tell them Greg and Dave sent you!

REVIEW: 2013 Volkswagen CC

One of Volkswagen’s slogans is: “Better engineering for you.” With that said, Volkswagen has been using “better engineering” to make their cars faster, lighter, more fuel-efficient and safer. Their sole purpose is to make all these things happen at once while producing something fun to drive. We were able to take advantage of the opportunity to drive the 2013 Volkswagen CC thanks to East Coast Volkswagen in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Bi-Xenon headlights with LED day time running lights

Touchscreen radio with Bluetooth

6-speed DSG automatic with tiptronic and sport modes

Very spacious trunk

Similar to push button start, in the CC, the key is the button.

V-Tex Leatherette seating

We have many friends that drive Volkswagens and hardly ever hear a bad word about the car or brand name. Going into this test drive we had pretty good expectations, and having never driven a CC before, we came out of it pleasantly surprised. From the design of the car to the smooth ride, the CC was very impressive.

With a 2.0L turbocharged I4 and 200-hp, the CC made its presence known on the road. Going from 0-60 in 6.9 seconds, the 6-speed DSG automatic transmission with Tiptronic and sport mode made the shifts very easy and smooth.

The CC had very bright Bi-Xenon headlights and nicely designed LED day time running lights as well as LED tail lights. The Premium VIII sound system with HD Radio which included 8 speakers, 6-disc CD changer and an SD memory card reader had very good sound quality and was very easy to use.

Pros: Acceleration in the car was great–the turbo makes a huge difference. The trunk was very spacious and we liked the idea of pushing in the VW emblem to open the trunk lid. The touch screen radio was very modern and easy to use. The sport mode was a lot of fun to use as it shifted through gears just like a manual transmission.

Cons: Even though the base model CC comes with many options, we feel for the price it should come with just a couple more.

QUICK FACTS:

Base Price: $30,965 || Price as Tested: $32,535

Vehicle Layout: Front-engine, FWD, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

Engine: 2.0L, 200-hp, 207-lb-ft. I4 || Transmission: 6-speed DSG Automatic

Curb Weight: 3329 lbs || Length/Width/Height: 188.9/73/55.8 inches

0-60: 6.9 seconds || EPA City/Highway Fuel Economy: 21/32mpg

RATING: 8.1/10

Exterior: 9

Interior: 9

Acceleration: 9

Braking: 8

Ride: 7

Handling: 8

Gearbox: 9

Audio: 8

Tech: 7

Value: 7

We’d like to thank Maritza Acosta and Damian Coppola at East Coast Volkswagen for getting us into a CC — we thought the car was awesome! For all your VW needs, go check out Volkswagen in Englewood Cliffs, NJ and online at www.eastcoastvw.com. Make sure you tell them Greg and Dave sent you!