Friday, September 27, 2019

2020 Hyundai Kona Electric With 258 Mile Range


The 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric SUV, the brand's first compact electric crossover for the U.S. market, is on an all-new CUV platform and will offer an enhanced premium navigation system and a battery warmer system. Powered by a 201 horsepower permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor supplied by a 64 kWh lithium-ion battery develops 291 lb.-ft. of torque distributed to the front wheels. The battery system is liquid-cooled and operates at 356 volts. The Kona Electric has a 258-Mile EPA-estimated range, with the EPA-estimated MPGe of 132 city, 108 highway, and 120 combined. Kona Electric battery is covered by Hyundai’s 10-year, 100K mile battery warranty.

2020 Nissan Pathfinder, Murano, Armada On Sale Now


The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder seven-passenger SUV, with either 2-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive in S, SV, SL and Platinum trim levels is powered by a 284 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with Direct Injection Gasoline™ system and Xtronic transmission and standard maximum towing capacity up to 6,000 pounds starts at $32,675 (including $995 destination and handling).


The 2020 Nissan Murano, in its third generation and available in S, SV, SL and Platinum trim levels, is powered by a 260-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 connected to an advanced Xtronic transmission. The 2020 Murano is available in front-wheel drive or Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, starts at $32,525 (including $995 destination and handling).


The 2020 Nissan Armada full-size SUV, which adds a new 22" Wheel Package with 22x8-inch 14-spoke forged aluminum-alloy wheels and offers heated outside mirrors standard on all grade levels, is powered by a 390 horsepower 5.6-liter Endurance® V8 with standard 8,500-pound towing capacity in both 4WD and 2WD configurations. The 2020 Armada is available in SV, SL, Platinum and Platinum Reserve trim levels in 4x2 or 4x4 drive configurations, starts at $48,095 (including $995 destination and handling).

Thursday, September 12, 2019

All-New Cadillac CT4 Sedan Available To Order Later This Year


The all-new Cadillac CT4 sport sedan, built on Cadillac’s RWD sedan architecture with all-wheel drive available on all models, is powered by a 237 horsepower 2.0L Twin-Scroll Turbo engine, with three-step sliding camshaft technology along with Active Fuel Management and automatic stop/start, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Cadillac’s new 309 horsepower 2.7L Dual-Volute Turbo engine is available on Premium Luxury and is standard on the with CT4-V rated at 325 horsepower matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission with Electronic Precision Shift. Super Cruise driver assistance, available in calendar year 2020, enables customers to drive hands-free on more than 200,000 miles of compatible highways in the U.S. and Canada, using LiDAR map data, high-precision GPS, a state-of-the-art driver attention system and a network of camera and radar sensors. The driver attention system helps keep drivers engaged by detecting and signaling when drivers need to pay more attention to the road. The 2020 Cadillac CT4 will be available for ordering later this year. Pricing and additional information will be announced closer to the start of regular production.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS Concept


Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS, a fully-electric vehicle showing off the futuristic design for EQ models from Mercedes-Benz, has a combined output of over 469 horsepower accelerating this show car from 0-60 mph in under 4.5 seconds with a range of up to 435 miles (according to WLTP). Assuming a charging performance of 350 kW, the show car recharges the battery to 80% in less than 20 minutes.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

New 2020 Land Rover Defender Starting at $50,925 This Spring


The new 2020 Land Rover Defender, in S, SE, HSE, First Edition and Defender X trim levels with Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban accessory packs, is available in 90 and 110 body designs, with up to six seats in the 90 and the option of five, six or 5+2 seating in the 110.  U.S. customers will be able to choose between the P300 with a 296 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, or the P400 with a 395 horsepower inline six-cylinder Mild-Hybrid Electric Vehicle powertrain paired with an eight-speed ZF® automatic transmission and twin-speed transfer box, to provide a set of low-range ratios essential for towing or off-road driving when more control is required. The maximum towing capability is 8,201-lbs and a maximum static roof load is 661lbs. The Defender 110 will be priced from $50,925 (including $1,025 destination and delivery charges) in the U.S. and will go on sale in Spring 2020. The Defender 90 body style will be available later in 2020.

2020 Hyundai i10 N Line Coming To Europe Next Summer


The all-new 2020 Hyundai i10, the brand's European city car that debuted in 2008 and is designed, developed and made in Europe, is also the fourth Hyundai model after the i30, i30 Fastback and Tucson to be launched with the high-performance sub-brand N Line version. The All-New i10 N Line offers a 100 horsepower 1.0-liter T-GDi 3-cylinder or 83 horsepower 1.2-liter MPi 4-cylinder engine mated to a five-gear manual transmission. The All-New i10 N Line will be available in Europe in summer 2020.

The BMW Concept 4


The BMW Concept 4, the new face of the 4 Series.

Volkswagen ID.3 1ST Fully Electric Vehicle


Volkswagen ID.3 1ST fully electric vehicle, offered in Basic, Plus and Max trim levels, is driven by a 201 horsepower permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor including power electronics and transmission, which have been integrated into the rear axle with a range up to 261 miles. With DC charging, it is possible to recharge enough energy to cover a range of 180 miles within 30 minutes. Volkswagen will offer a guarantee of eight years or 100,000 miles on ID.3 batteries. (All metric numbers have been converted.)

Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC 3rd Gen Plug-in Hybrid Coming Next Year


Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC EQ Power mid-size SUV with 315 system horsepower combining a 208 horsepower in-line 4 cylinder gas engine with Mercedes-Benz third-generation plug-in hybrid technology producing an increased all-electric range (NEDC electric range approx. 28-30 miles; EPA electric range TBA). The new on-board charger more than doubles the charging capacity from 3.6 kW to 7.4 kW. The redesigned Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e will go on sale in the U.S. in the first half of 2020. By the end of 2019, Mercedes-Benz will have more than ten plug-in hybrids available globally with an aim of over 20 model variants in 2020.

Porsche Taycan Fully-Electric Sedan Coming Soon



The Porsche Taycan fully-electric four-door sports sedan will roll out as the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo with the flagship Turbo S version able to generate up to 750 horsepower in combination with Launch Control and overboost for a zero to 60 mph of 2.6 seconds, while the Taycan Turbo can produce up to 670 horsepower for a 3.0 second zero to 60 time to a top speed of 161 mph. The EPA range estimate for North American market is pending for both vehicles. Driving modes available include “Normal”, “Sport”, “Sport Plus”, and “Range” and individual systems can be configured as required in the “Individual” mode. The Taycan is the first production vehicle with a system voltage of 800 volts instead of the commonly used 400 volts for electric cars. Less powerful variants of these all-wheel drive vehicles will follow this year, and the first derivative to be added will be the Taycan Cross Turismo at the end of next year. The Taycan was shown as the Mission E concept and discussed last Fall at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

2020 Ford Explorer Limited Hybrid Gets 28 MPG


2020 Ford Explorer Limited Hybrid is powered by a 3.3-liter hybrid engine mated to an all-new 10-speed modular hybrid transmission with up to 5,000 pound towing capacity. With an 18-gallon fuel tank the rear-wheel drive model has EPA-estimated range of over 500 miles with ratings of 27 mpg city/29 mpg highway/28 mpg combined and the four-wheel drive-equipped vehicle has a range of over 450 miles with ratings of 23 mpg city/26 mpg highway/25 mpg combined.

2020 Porsche Macan Turbo Starts At $84,950 In 4th Quarter


The 2020 Porsche Macan Turbo is now powered by a 434 horsepower 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine mated to a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and Porsche Traction Management all-wheel drive that boosts acceleration by 0.3-second versus the predecessor model enabling a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds to a top track speed of 167 mph, an increase of 3 mph. The same engine is also used in the Cayenne and Panamera model lines and replaces the 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 used in the previous Macan Turbo. Standard equipment now includes Porsche Surface Coated Brakes, which offer an improvement in both stopping power and aesthetics over the brakes of the preceding model. Porsche Active Suspension Management dampers are also standard equipment. Optional height-adjustable air suspension with optimized rolling pistons and new shock absorber hydraulics, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake are available as extra-cost options. The 2020 Macan Turbo is expected to reach U.S. dealerships in the fourth quarter of 2019. The starting MSRP will be $84,950 (including $1,350 for processing, delivery and handling).

2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe


The new 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe, with a 2.4 in shorter wheelbase than its SUV sibling, is powered by a 429 horsepower 3.0- liter six-cylinder in-line engine with 48-volt technology, variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all- wheel drive mated to a AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9-speed automatic transmission. The GLE 53 Coupe has "Slippery", "Comfort", "Sport", "Sport+" and "Individual" drive programs and "Trail" and "Sand" off-road-specific settings.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 Coming Late Next Year


The new 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 is powered by a 302 horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 8-speed transmission feeding the variable AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Acceleration from 0-60 mph takes 5.1 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. The standard RACE START function remains active while the accelerator is kept fully depressed. The Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual AMG DYNAMIC SELECT drive programs enable a variety of driving experiences. The 2021 AMG GLB 35 will celebrate its World Premiere at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month, and will go on sale in the U.S. by late 2020.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Volkswagen Automotive Legend Ferdinand Piëch Passes Away




Austrian engineer and automotive executive Ferdinand Karl Piëch, grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, former head of Audi, chairman of the executive board (1993-2002) and chairman of the supervisory board (2002-2015) of Volkswagen Group, passed away August 25th at the age of 82 (pictured left in 2009). Piëch gained notoriety for the development of many vehicles including the Porsche 911, Audi Quattro and Bugatti Veyron. Piëch was named the Car Executive of the Century in 1999, was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2014, and in his personal life fathered 12 children with four different women. It was an honor meeting such a car legend at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV Goes Further On A Charge


The 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV will now offer an EPA-estimated 259 miles of range on a full charge, a 21-mile increase over previous model years. Actual range will vary based on several factors, including temperature, terrain, battery age and vehicle use and maintenance. The 2020 Bolt EV will arrive in dealerships later this year with a starting MSRP of $37,495 (including destination and freight charges, excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees).

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

2020 Honda Civic Si Arrives Next Month


The 2020 Honda Civic Si Sedan and Si Coupe (above), powered by a 205-horsepower 1.5-liter, direct injected and turbocharged in-line 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, get front and rear styling updates, new more refined LED headlight designs, and a revised final-drive ratio for more responsive acceleration. Honda Sensing®, now standard equipment on Civic Si Sedan and Coupe, includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System™ incorporating Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist System and Road Departure Mitigation incorporating Lane Departure Warning.  The 2020 Honda Civic Si Sedan and Si Coupe arrive to dealers September 6th with a starting $25,930 MSRP (including $930 destination charge).

Audi RS 6 Avant Arrives Next Year


The Audi RS 6 Avant, powered by a 591 horsepower 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine mated to a standard eight-speed Tiptronic® transmission with optimized shift times and new launch control function, is coming to the U.S. market. The standard Audi drive select system offers comfort, auto, dynamic, efficiency and the individually configurable RS-specific RS1 and RS2 drive modes, which can be activated directly using the “RS MODE” steering wheel button. The Audi drive select setting influences the engine and transmission management, the power steering, the suspension, the dynamic all-wheel steering, the quattro® sport differential and the engine sound. The Audi RS 6 Avant will arrive in the U.S. in 2020.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Bugatti Centodieci


The new special-edition Bugatti Centodieci (Italian for 110) features a 1,600 horsepower 8.0-liter W16 engine which takes it from 0 to 62 mph in 2.4 seconds, to 124 mph in 6.1 seconds and to 186 mph in 13.1 seconds to an electronically cut off top speed of 236 mph.

2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Arrives in 4th Quarter


The 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, powered by the new third generation 260 horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel engine, starts at $38,585 (including $1,695 destination charge) with a towing capability of 12,560 pounds and goes on sale early in the fourth quarter of this year. The 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is available across all models and configurations, including a first-time offering in the Ram Rebel. The 2020 Ram 1500 is backed with a five-year /100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty.

Audi R8 LMS GT2 For $375,000 By Year End


The Audi R8 LMS GT2, now available for customer orders, powered by a 640 horsepower naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine mated to a seven-speed S-tronic® dual-clutch transmission, accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and reaches a top track speed of 204 mph. The new race car is priced between Audi Sport’s GT4 and GT3 models at $375,000 (338,000 euros) and can now be ordered. Audi Sport will deliver the first race cars before the end of 2019.

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Starts At $59,995


The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray a starting price of $59,995 (including $1,095 Destination Freight Charge), the 2LT trim package will start at $67,295 and the top-level 3LT trim package on the 2020 Corvette Stingray will start at $71,945. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray goes into production at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly in late this year.

Dodge Charger Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition Coming in 2020


The new Dodge Charger Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition, 3.5 inches wider due to wider wheels and tires, is powered by a 717 horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Hellcat V-8 engine with production limited to 501 units, mirroring the 1969 production total, Vehicles will start to arrive in early 2020.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Acura Type S Concept


The Acura Type S Concept sets the stage for re-introducing Type S performance variants to the Acura line-up after a decade hiatus, and will heavily influence the character of the upcoming, second-generation TLX Type S.

2020 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Starts At $163,250


The new 2020 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid and Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe are powered by a 541 horsepower 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine combined with a 134-horsepower electric motor to generate a total system output of 670 horsepower with the electric motor sitting between the gasoline engine and the eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission, and delivering 0-60 mph acceleration in 3.6 seconds, to a top track speed of 183 mph. A 7.2 kW onboard charger is standard equipment and Sport Exhaust and Rear Axle Steering are both available as options. The upgraded charger enables a complete recharge of the 14.1 kWh battery in as little as 2.4 hours when using a 240-volt connection with a 50-amp circuit.

The (non-S model) 2020 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe combines the same 3.0-liter single-turbo V6 and electric motor as the standard Cayenne E-Hybrid, producing total system output is 455 horsepower. The standard Sport Chrono Package, delivers 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds to a top track speed of 157 mph.

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid will start at $163,250 (including $1,350 for processing, delivery and handling), the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe at $165,750 and Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe at $87,750 when they reach U.S. Porsche dealerships in the first quarter of 2020. 

2020 Nissan Maxima Starts At $35,145 Now


The 2020 Nissan Maxima, now on sale in S, SV, SL, SR and Platinum models, is powered by a 300-horsepower 3.5-liter VQ-series V6 engine mated to an Xtronic transmission and starts at $35,145 (including $895 destination and handling charge). Nissan Safety Shield 360 includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist and Rear Automatic Braking. Maxima also offers available Intelligent Cruise Control, and Traffic Sign Recognition. Maxima’s Intelligent Driver Alertness technology is standard on all grade levels.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Karma SC1 Vision Concept


The Karma SC1 Vision Concept integrates a new infotainment architecture with 5G connectivity and a humanized communication system with touch, voice, eye and graphical interfaces. With eight radars, six Lidar sensors, and half dozen external cameras, the SC1 Vision Concept is ready for autonomous driving.

2020 Nissan Versa Starts At $15,625 Now


The all-new 2020 Nissan Versa compact sedan, in its third generation and now on sale, powered by the next-generation 122 horsepower 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine starts at $15,625 (including $895 destination and handling charge). The 2020 Versa, lower, wider and longer, is offered in S (5-speed manual or Xtronic transmissions), SV (Xtronic) and sporty SR (Xtronic) models. Fuel economy is rated at 32 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, 35 mpg combined (Xtronic models).

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

All-New 2020 Audi S7


The all-new 2020 Audi S7 with seating for up to five passengers features a new 444 horsepower 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged TFSI® V6 engine mated to a eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission with quattro® all-wheel drive works in tandem with the electric compressor to help eliminate turbo lag and enable immediate throttle response. The all-new 2020 Audi S7 starts at $84,895 (including $995 destination charge). The S7 offers Audi virtual cockpit, four-zone automatic climate control, top-view camera system with Virtual 360 view and Bang & Olufsen® 3D Premium Sound System.

2020 Honda Pilot Black Edition On Sale Now


The 2020 Honda Pilot, now on sale, offers new top-of-line Black Edition trim for $50,715  (including $1,095 destination and handling) which comes in Crystal Black Pearl paint and includes Black Edition badges on the grille and tailgate. Pilot Black Edition also includes black-painted 20-inch alloy wheels, and blackout treatments for the grille, headlight trim, side trim, door handles, window trim and fog light accents. Inside, there is red accent lighting for the dash, doors and center console, with red accent stitching on the front and second row captain’s chairs, door panels and steering wheel. The Black Edition logo is embossed on front seats and floor mats, and the front and second-row seats also get a red accent to the perforated leather seating surface. The 2020 Pilot LX with standard 2-wheel drive starts $32,645 with the Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive systems as standard equipment. The all-wheel drive Pilot LX at $34,645 and adds Honda’s exclusive i-VTM4® torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system.

2020 Cadillac XT5 Coming Late Summer


The 2020 Cadillac XT5 is powered by a new 237 horsepower 2.0L Turbo engine, standard for the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims and complementing the existing 310 horsepower 3.6L V6, which remains standard on Sport and available on Premium Luxury. Both engines are mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission controlled via the next generation of Electronic Precision Shift. Updates for 2020 include two new high-definition instrument cluster display options, higher-resolution display for HD Rear Vision Camera and HD Surround Vision, enhanced Automatic Parking Assist with Braking, new Rear Pedestrian Alert and available Night Vision. The 2020 Cadillac XT5 is available late Summer.

All-New 2020 Audi S6


The all-new 2020 Audi S6 is powered by a new 444 horsepower twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine mated to an eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission with a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds, starts at $74,895 (including $995 destination charge). The first-ever electric power compressor offered by Audi in the U.S. pre-empts turbo lag, enabling immediate responsiveness and powerful acceleration in any driving situation.

2020 Hyundai Accent With Improved Fuel Economy


The 2020 Hyundai Accent is powered by a new Smartstream 120 horsepower G1.6 Dual Port Injection engine mated to a Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission producing a much-improved EPA estimated fuel economy of 33 mpg city, 41 highway, 36 combined. The 2020 Accent features include standard rearview camera with dynamic guidelines and Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (Limited trim only). Pricing of 2020 Accent SE starts at $15,195 and all of the upgraded models will arrive in dealer showrooms this Summer.

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coming Late This Year


The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, the first-ever production mid-engine Corvette, is powered by the next generation 495 horsepower 6.2L Small Block V-8 LT2 engine, a naturally aspirated V-8 paired with Chevrolet’s first eight speed dual-clutch transmission producing 470 lb-ft of torque when equipped with performance exhaust. The fastest 0-60 time of any entry Corvette ever at under three seconds when equipped with Z51 Performance Package. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray goes into production in late 2019 and the entry 2020 Stingray will start under $60,000. Additional pricing and packaging information will be shared closer to launch.

Lotus Evija Electric Sportscar Coming Next Year


Lotus Evija, with a maximum of 130 to be built, is the first Lotus with an electrified powertrain that produces a pure electric driving range target of 250 miles. With 1973 horsepower, the hypercar has a 0-62 mph time of under three seconds to a top speed of over 200 mph. It's the first new model since Geely took control of Lotus in 2017.

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

2020 BMW 840i Starts at $91,795 In September


The 2020 BMW 840i and 840i xDrive Gran Coupes are powered by a 335 horsepower 3.0 liter inline 6-cylinder Turbo engine that weighs 13 lbs less than its predecessor that's mated to a eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and starts at $88,895 (including $995 destination charge) for the new 2020 840i Coupe, $91,795 for the 840i xDrive Coupe. The 840i Convertible starts at $98,395 and the 840i xDrive Convertible at $101,295. The BMW Live Cockpit Professional in the 2020 BMW 8 Series combines the latest-generation of the iDrive, featuring a high-resolution digital 12.3” instrument cluster display behind the steering wheel and a 10.25” center display diagonally across. Production for all 2020 8 Series models begins this month with market launch in September.

Bentley EXP 100 GT - The Future


Bentley EXP 100 GT has a battery electric powertrain for a predicted 434 mile range. The battery system will power four motors that offer a 0-60 mph time of less than 2.5 second to a top speed of 186 mph. Biometrics are embedded throughout the Bentley EXP 100 GT to track eye and head movements, even blood pressure.

2020 Buick Enclave Starts At $41,195 Later This Summer


The 2020 Buick Enclave seven-passenger SUV, powered by a 310 horsepower 3.6L V-6 engine, starts at $41,195 (including destination freight charge, excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees) and will arrive in dealerships later this summer.  A new 8-inch diagonal touchscreen comes standard on all trim levels with available new HD Rear Vision Camera and HD Surround Vision systems and a new, four-way power lumbar seat adjuster with a driver and front passenger massage feature that is standard on the Premium and Avenir models.

MINI Cooper SE - Purely Electric


The new MINI Cooper SE purely electric premium small car, based on the MINI 2-door hardtop, is powered by a 181 horsepower lithium-ion battery that enables a range of 146 to 167 miles though US EPA estimated range figures not yet available. The electric model is about 319 pounds heavier than the MINI Cooper S 2 door hardtop with Steptronic transmission. The new MINI Cooper SE is available in the US with three trim levels; Signature, Signature Plus, and Iconic, which each include a specific combination of exterior finish, light alloy wheels, seat upholstery and interior fittings. The purely electrically powered MINI accelerates from zero to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds; its top speed is limited to 93.2 mph.

Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 Coming By Yearend


The new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 compact sports car is powered by a newly developed 382 horsepower four-cylinder 2.0-liter engine mated to the new AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT-8G dual-clutch transmission with eight gears. Active, fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive distributes the power to the rear axle on a wheel- selective basis using AMG TORQUE CONTROL. The 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 will go on sale in the U.S. by the end of the year.

All-New 2020 BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe Coming In November


The new 2020 BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe, the third generation X6, offers a 335 horsepower 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine mated an  eight-speed Sport Steptronic transmission in the sDrive40i and xDrive40i and 523 horsepower 4.4-liter eight-cylinder TwinPower turbocharged engine in the M50i versions. MSRP pricing starts at $65,295 (including $995 destination charge) for the new 2020 X6 sDrive40i, $67,595 for the X6 xDrive40i and $86,645 for the X6 M50i. An available factory trailer package is rated for up to 7,200 lbs towing. The X6 is longer in overall length by an inch, wheelbase  by 1.6 inches and is 0.6 inches wider, while height has been reduced by 0.7 inches. The standard Active Driving Assistant on the new BMW X6 includes Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Collision Warning, Frontal Collision Warning and Pedestrian Warning with City Collision Mitigation (which now also alerts the driver if cyclists are detected) Cross Traffic Alert Rear, and Speed Limit Information. Production begins in August with market launch in November.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Lee Iacocca, A Car Legend, Passes Away At 94


Lee Iacocca, passes away at 94. Iacocca worked his way up at Ford Motor Company, creating the Mustang, becoming President in 1970, leaving Ford in 1978, then joining Chrysler Corporation as President in 1979 and a year later adding the title of Chairman, reviving the company twice, until his retirement in 1992. A car legend whose name you could always remember how to spell - I Am Chairman Of Chrysler Corporation America.

Click here to view this 1992 KWHY-TV The Business Channel interview which ranks among the top of the thousands I conducted over 40 years.

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Tesla Model 3 - Stunning - Says An Owner of 2


Stunning - the one word that describes the Tesla Model 3 all-electric sedan - according to an owner of two 2018 long range rear-motor Model 3s. This Tesla owner who previously owned numerous luxury vehicles and raced high performance cars, can't stop raving about his Model 3 that cost him around $56,000 (including California tax and registration fees and after receiving the Federal tax incentive). Extras included the $2,000 Red Multi-Coat paint and the $6,000 Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features which Tesla will later upgrade to a 100 times more powerful computer with regular software updates. The over-the-internet upgrades occur at least once a month, one has already boosted range and power by 5 percent.

Autopilot enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically for other vehicles and pedestrians within its lane, while Full Self-Driving is automatic driving from highway on-ramp to off-ramp including interchanges and overtaking slower cars, automatic lane changes while driving on the highway, Autopark in both parallel and perpendicular spaces, and, believe or not, Summon where your parked car will come find you anywhere in a parking lot, currently to be upgraded at no cost.

Stunning - the relaxation of highway driving with the aforementioned features and the automatic stop-and-go in traffic, the cabin's quietness, clear display screen, large trunk, and, of course, the all-glass roof which especially benefits rear seat passengers adding immense visual space to the generous interior legroom. He feels much more refreshed after long trips due to the absence of typical vehicle vibration and engine noise.


Registering about 11,000 miles since buying his red Model 3 in November, he's very satisfied averaging about 260 miles per charge which is about 80 percent of the posted 325 miles due to driving style and terrain. The batteries charge from empty to full overnight on a home charger or 30 minutes for $20 at a commercial charging station.

The only cautionary words from this very happy Tesla owner is that there's no AM radio, possibly because of electric motor interference, and the Model 3 is wider that you expect, something I found out from scuffing the curb with the right rear wheel while turning a corner. The 41 PSI tire pressure creates a road feel that can bother some passengers.

(The standard range Tesla Model 3 gets an estimated 220 miles and the price starts at $35,000.)

Saturday, June 29, 2019

2020 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid


The 2020 Chrysler Pacifica minivan, available in Touring, Touring L, Touring L Plus and Limited trim, is powered by a 287 horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 gasoline engine mated to the TorqueFlite nine-speed automatic transmission. The 2020 Pacifica Hybrid, with a choice of Touring, Touring L and Limited packages, delivers more than 80 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in electric-only mode, has an all-electric range of more than 30 miles and a total range of more than 500 miles from a dual-motor eFlite electrically variable transmission paired with a specially modified version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 gasoline engine. More than 100 standard and available safety and security features, include 360-degree Surround View Camera, ParkSense Parallel/Perpendicular Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go and Forward Collision Warning-Plus. Other features include the Uconnect 4 systems with a standard 7-inch or available 8.4-inch touchscreen, a Uconnect Theater entertainment system with two 10-inch seatback touchscreens and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and available 4G Wi-Fi.

2020 Chrysler Voyager Minivan


2020 Chrysler Voyager minivan, with standard seven-passenger seating and 3.5-inch digital information display, replaces the Pacifica L and LX models, and is powered by a 287 horsepower Pentastar V-6 gasoline engine mated to a TorqueFlite nine-speed automatic transmission. Voyager’s available SafetyTec Group includes ParkSense rear park assist with stop, Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection. Through six generations of the vehicle, the company has sold more than 14.6 million minivans globally since 1983.

2020 F-Series Super Duty Tremor Off-Road Package Coming Later This Year


The 2020 F-Series Super Duty Tremor Off-Road Package, available for XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum F-250 and F-350 Super Duty, is powered by an all-new 7.3-liter gas V8 or third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel and can be specified for 4x4 single-rear-wheel SuperCrew trucks with a 6.75-foot box. Unique to Tremor is a new rock-crawl mode, which is optimized to operate in 4x4 low and is enabled by the standard TorqShift® 10-speed automatic transmission. Tremor trucks equipped with the 7.3-liter gas engine have a 53:1 crawl ratio while those equipped with the 6.7- liter diesel engine have a 44:1 crawl ratio. Super Duty gets Trail Control™ which functions in any mode like cruise control for off-road driving. The Tremor Off-Road Package will be available when the 2020 Super Duty launches later this year.