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#<br> 8 speed manual transmission cars
devansh01 · 3 years
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The Best 7 Seater Cars in India
In a country which prides itself upon in its traditional culture & values, India has been a land of big families. However, cars that could accommodate these large families were few and far between until the 2010s when an explosion of 7 seater cars took the Indian market by storm. From MUVs to SUVs, car manufacturers have steadily improved their lineup of 7 seater cars to offer more for large families.
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Almost every manufacturer today offers a MUV or a SUV that can easily accommodate seven family members while transporting them in luxury. Gone are the days of cramming into a Maruti Suzuki Eeco or Omni to travel to the wedding. Today’s 7 seater cars are not only luxurious inside but are just as eye-catching as sedans on the outside. When you consider that you can buy a 7 seater MUV for the price of a sedan, there are some serious considerations to make.
In order to make your buying decision as simple as possible, we’ve curated the best 7 seater cars you can buy in India. This list is segmented into different budgets to help you choose the right MUV or SUV for your family.
Budget 7 Seater Car (₹5-10 lakhs)
When it comes to curating budget 7 seater cars in India, these usually are available at a price range of ₹5-10 lakhs (ex-showroom). These same cars are available for a lot less in the used car market. The budget 7 seater cars include new and used options for you to consider.
Renault Triber
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Renault seems to have adopted a ‘low cost, high quality’ approach to India and it appears to be working for the French manufacturer. After the Renault Kwid, the Renault Triber is their most popular model, and rightfully so.
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At a starting price of just ₹5.20 lakhs, the Renault Triber offers a lot of space and capability for its price. What will come as a surprise for many is that the Triber has a usable third row in its compact dimensions. The option of two additional airbags on top of the standard dual front airbags and ABS with EBD provides plenty of safety, making this compact MUV an ideal choice if safety is a priority. With a fuel efficient 1.0-litre petrol engine that offers 20 kmpl of mileage, the Triber is perfectly positioned as a great long distance family car.
Renault Triber Features
1.0-litre petrol engine producing 72 PS of power and 96 Nm of torque
Transmissions: 5-speed manual and 5-speed AMT automatic transmission
625 litre boot space (without third row)
8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Seating for 6-7 adults
Honda BR-V
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The first of the two Honda 7 seaters, the Honda BR-V is the MUV for those looking for more premium interiors on a budget. However, since the BR-V has been discontinued, your best bet to owning one is to buy it pre-owned.
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The Honda BR-V is an exceptionally practical car in this budget. The interiors inherit Honda’s high quality and premium materials that elevate the passenger experience significantly. The Honda BR-V serves well as a highway cruiser as it is equipped with a 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine with the option of a CVT automatic transmission. While the passengers enjoy the comfortable seats, you can enjoy driving the powerful Honda on the highway.
Honda BR-V Features
1.5-litre petrol engine producing 117 PS of power and 145 Nm of torque
1.5-litre diesel engine producing 99 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque
Transmissions: 6-speed manual transmission and CVT automatic transmission
223 litre (with third row) or 691 litre boot space (without third row)
Seating for 7 adults
Honda Mobilio
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The predecessor to the BR-V, the Honda Mobilio was Honda’s foray into the 7 seater MUV market. Featuring a front facade similar to the Brio and Amaze, the Mobilio offered plenty of space for 7 people.
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With the same 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines as the BR-V, you can expect the same highway performance from the Mobilio. The Honda Mobilio, however, doesn’t have an automatic transmission, which reduces the potential convenience of owning this car. Where you gain is in the significantly lower price you can find used Honda Mobilio cars as compared to used Honda BR-V cars. For the price of a hatchback, you can get yourself a 7 seater Honda Mobilio for your family.
Honda Mobilio Features
1.5-litre petrol engine producing 117 PS of power and 145 Nm of torque
1.5-litre diesel engine producing 99 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque
Transmissions: 6-speed manual transmission
223 litre (with third row) or 521 litre boot space (without third row)
Seating for 6-7 adults
2015 Toyota Innova
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The segment king for the last decade has been the Toyota Innova. However, in this budget, your choices would be limited to used Toyota Innova cars from 2015 and earlier. Even as a used car, the Innova presents excellent value for those looking for it.
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Toyota’s famed reliability is what makes the Innova such a great value proposition. The power and reliability of the 2.0-litre petrol and 2.5-litre diesel engine ensure the Innova is perfectly at home on long cruises. Combined with comfortable and premium interiors, make even an used Innova very attractive to own. It’s fair to say that the used Toyota Innova still poses a significant competition for MUVs under ₹10 lakhs.
Toyota Innova Features
2.0-litre petrol engine producing 130 PS of power and 181 Nm of torque
2.5-litre diesel engine producing 101 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque
Transmissions: 5-speed manual transmission
300 litre (with third row) or 760 litre (without third row) boot space
Seating for 6-7 adults
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
India’s value king has a MUV built specifically for this price bracket. The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga has been immensely successful in capturing the market vacated by the Toyota Innova.
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Despite its size, the lightweight construction and car-like driveability make it especially suited for the city. Combined with a usable third row and plenty of interior space, the Maruti Ertiga is perfectly positioned as a people mover for the city. The Ertiga comes equipped with a 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine, both of which are economical for city and highway use. The interiors of the Ertiga are also more towards comfort and practicality rather than premium. However, in this price bracket, the Maruti Ertiga offers a lot of value for those looking for a capable 7 seater MUV.
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Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Features
1.5-litre petrol engine producing 103 PS of power and 138 Nm of torque
1.5-litre diesel engine producing 89 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque
7-inch touchscreen infotainment display
Transmissions: 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmission
209 litre (with third row) or 550 litre (without third row) boot space
Seating for 6-7 adults
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jmaddox542 · 4 years
Text
New Post has been published on Jacksonville FL Real Estate
2016 GMC Sierra_1500 Jacksonville, Orange Park, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Nocatee FL PGG248937
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Onyx Black Used 2016 GMC Sierra_1500 available in Jacksonville, Florida at Duval Honda. Servicing the Orange Park, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Nocatee area. Used: New: 2016 GMC Sierra_1500 SLE – Stock#: PGG248937 – VIN#: 3GTP1MEC9GG248937
For more information on this vehicle and our full inventory, call us at 833-826-4702
Duval Honda 1325 Cassat Avenue Jacksonville FL 32205
This 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE in Onyx Black features:br**LOCAL TRADE** **BACK-UP CAMERA **NON SMOKER** **CLEAN VEHICLE HISTORY **CAR WASHES FOR LIFE ** 5 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE **1ST OIL CHANGE FREE **COMMISSION FREE SALES PEOPLE.brbrbr4D Crew CabbrRWDbrbrSLEbrbrbrPriced below KBB Fair Purchase Price!brbrbrOdometer is 30995 miles below market average!brbrAt Duval we want you to have confidence in buying an used vehicle. That is why we offer our Duval REAL DEAL No Bills for the Basics. This is a 3 Month Protection that includes 3 months of tire replacement / repair 3 months battery replacement 3 months brake replacement / repair and 3 months of light bulb replacement. Our 90 Day preowned car protection also includes A/C and we also offer a 48 Hour / 300 mile Return Policy. Buy Preowned with Confidence at Duval Honda. Prices are plus tax tag title $198 Electronic Filing Fee and dealer pre-delivery service fee in the amount of $899 which charge represents cost and profit to the dealer for items such as cleaning inspecting and adjusting new and used vehicles and preparing documents related to the sale. Call us today at 904-899-1900 or visit us on the web at www.duvalhonda.com.brbrbrAwards:br * 2016 KBB.com Brand Image AwardsbrbrReviews:br * Powerful and efficient engines; improved tech interfaces for 2016; versatile and comfortable interior; superior ride quality on Denali trim. Source: Edmunds Preferred Equipment Group 3SA|SLE Value Package|Trailering Equipment|6 Speakers|6-Speaker Audio System|CD player|HD Radio|Radio data system|Radio: AM/FM Stereo w/8 Diagonal Color Touch Screen|Single Slot CD/MP3 Player|SiriusXM Satellite Radio|Steering Wheel Audio Controls|Air Conditioning|Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control|Electric Rear-Window Defogger|Single-Zone Air Conditioning|110-Volt AC Power Outlet|Power steering|Power windows|Power Windows w/Driver Express Up & Down|Remote Keyless Entry|Remote keyless entry|Remote Vehicle Starter System|Steering wheel mounted audio controls|Universal Home Remote|Heavy Duty Suspension|Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel w/Cruise Controls|Manual Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column|Speed-sensing steering|Traction control|4-Wheel Disc Brakes|ABS brakes|Dual front impact airbags|Dual front side impact airbags|Emergency communication system: OnStar Guidance|Front anti-roll bar|Front wheel independent suspension|Low tire pressure warning|Occupant sensing airbag|Overhead airbag|Remote Locking Tailgate|Brake assist|Electronic Stability Control|Exterior Parking Camera Rear|Delay-off headlights|Fully automatic headlights|High-Intensity Discharge Headlights|Panic alarm|Theft Deterrent System (Unauthorized Entry)|Speed control|Heavy-Duty Rear Locking Differential|150 Amp Alternator|Auxiliary External Transmission Oil Cooler|Body Color Bodyside Moldings|Body Color Door Handles|Body Color Power Adjustable Heated Outside Mirrors|Body-Color Mirror Caps|Bodyside moldings|Bumpers: chrome|EZ Lift & Lower Tailgate|Heated door mirrors|LED Cargo Box Lighting|Power door mirrors|Rear step bumper|Rear Wheelhouse Liners|Thin Profile LED Front Fog Lamps|4.2 Diagonal Color Display Driver Info Center|Cloth Seat Trim|Color-Keyed Carpeting w/Rubberized Vinyl Floor Mats|Compass|Driver & Front Passenger Illuminated Vanity Mirrors|Driver door bin|Driver vanity mirror|Floor Mounted Console|Front reading lights|Illuminated entry|OnStar 6 Month Guidance Plan|OnStar w/4G LTE|Outside temperature display|Overhead console|Passenger vanity mirror|Rear reading lights|Rear seat center armrest|Rear Vision Camera w/Dynamic Guide Lines|Tachometer|Tilt steering wheel|Trip computer|Voltmeter|Wireless Charging|Front Power Reclining Bucket Seats|Heated Driver & Front Passenger Seats|Rear 60/40 Folding Bench Seat (Folds Up)|Split folding rear seat|Front Center Armrest w/Storage|Passenger door bin|Wheels: 17 x 8 Bright Machined Aluminum|Wheels: 20 x 9 Ultra Bright Machined Aluminum|Deep-Tinted Glass|Variably intermittent wipers|3.42 Rear Axle Ratio|**LOCAL TRADE**|**BACK-UP CAMERA|**NON SMOKER**|**CLEAN VEHICLE HISTORY|**CAR WASHES FOR LIFE|** 5 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE|**1ST OIL CHANGE FREE|**COMMISSION FREE SALES PEOPLE
- https://is.gd/TyZ7lM
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Road Tests: 2020 Toyota Supra
Vital Statistics
Engine: 3.0 liter
Horsepower: 335
Torque: 365 lb-ft.
0-60 mph: 4.4 seconds
1/4 mile: 12.8 seconds @ 111 mph
EPA: 24 mpg city / 31 mpg highway
Energy Impact: 12.7 barrels of oil/yr
CO2 Emissions: 5.5 tons/yr
This one certainly has been a long time coming, the all-new Toyota Supra. And we already feel sorry for it, Even though most folks have never even drove its predecessor, the new car has to live up to thousands of blog posts and twitter feeds longing for its return.. surely this new Supra will have a tough time being measured against all that hype…or will it?
Remember the Scion FR-S, aka, the Toyota 86? It was co-developed with Subaru. Two companies looking to mutually benefit from creating an inexpensive, back to basics rear drive sport coupe. Well, the 2020 Toyota GR Supra is a much loftier proposition, so Toyota needed a partner to match. 
Enter, BMW. Yes, as I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the all-new Supra shares an architecture with the BMW Z4 roadster. 
And, most enthusiasts will be happy to know an inline-6, which just happens to be a BMW specialty, returns. Yes, it’s no 2JZ, but Toyota did their own software for both the 3.0-liter and its 8-speed automatic transmission. Turbo-aided output is 335-horsepower and 365 lb-ft. of torque. 
But, don’t throw this off as a BMW clone. Actually, it was spearheaded by the same Toyota chief engineer that oversaw the FR-S/BR-Z; and in similar fashion, both Toyota and BMW started with a basic modular chassis, but went their separate ways from there, though the Supra is assembled on the same Austrian assembly line as the Z4. 
Engineered by Toyota’s GAZOO racing team, the Supra is truly a car in need of a track. Fortunately, the national press intro was right in our backyard at West Virginia’s Summit Point Motorsports Park. 
On track, a Macpherson strut front, and 5-arm multi-link rear suspension, along with adaptive variable dampers, keep the Supra well composed. 
Click things over to Sport mode, and it really comes alive; throttle response is heightened, shifts from the automatic become quicker, steering becomes sharper, the active rear differential gets more aggressive, and the artificially enhanced engine and crackly exhaust notes permeates the cabin a bit more. 
Rear drive of course, the electronically controlled active diff. can send the full amount to power to the outside wheel to give you the most drive off of corners; but it also works to help settle the rear under hard braking.   
Brembo brakes were more than up to the task of cutting speed in a hurry, to get through the Shenandoah Circuit’s many low speed corners. 
Plenty of power for coming out of turns; it almost feels like someone shoved a V8 into an 86. 
Manually triggering shifts, worked quite well, though not so well that we didn’t wish for a true manual. You don’t have to try too hard to find some oversteer out of corners; and while there was a little more softness and roll than we’d like, it just adds to the great overall feedback. 
With a claimed 0-60 of just 4.1-seconds it’s the fastest production Toyota ever; and not to worry, the exhaust sounds are nothing like a BMW, or any other Toyota really, more like something conjured up in a tuner shop. Our best run, 4.4 seconds, was only slightly off.
Launch control ensures you get the best out of it, and keeping the throttle pinned for the full ¼-mile resulted in a time of 12.8–seconds at 111 miles-per-hour. 
Body panels are a mixed-metaphor of aluminum and steel. It looks much smaller in person; racy enough without going full fast and furious. Some air passageways are functional, most are not. 19-inch wheels come shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sports. 
Away from the track, in normal mode, not unlike the 86, it’s a quite pleasant daily driver. Only big bumps cause any shutter. Seats are low, however, so you feel like you’re straining to see over the dash.
The BMW influence is strongest inside. Perhaps Toyota could have contributed a little more here, but that would have added a lot more onto the price. You do get a unique steering wheel and shifter; though operation of it is just like BMW. Seats are also distinctive and quite nice. And yes, that means there’s iDrive to contend with too.
Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 24-City, 31-Highway, and 26-Combined.  We averaged 29.3 miles-per-gallon on Premium. Making an average Energy Impact Score of 12.7-barrels of yearly oil use, with 5.5 tons of CO2 emissions. 
The Supra is a much more serious performance car than the 86; so, price is equally higher, starting at $50,920. By the way, a Z4 is almost 13 grand more.
For some, especially internet haters, nothing short of bringing back the last A80 would have satisfied them. But, if they’d give this 5th gen Supra a chance, they’d learn that like many of us Americans, despite the European roots, it has become something entirely different. So don’t think of the 2020 Toyota GR Supra as a continuation of what we had before, rather it’s an amazing melting pot of something uniquely awesome. 
from MotorWeek Entries https://ift.tt/2xInXmY via IFTTT
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jesusvasser · 6 years
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Why the Lamborghini LM002 SUV Might Be the Most Insane Car of the 1980s
In the 130-odd years of the automobile’s existence, there really hasn’t been anything quite like the wacky, wild, and wonderful Lamborghini LM002. Leave it to Lambo to out-crazy its own Countach with a gargantuan, V-12–powered, military-spec rock crusher that was as likely to be spotted on Rodeo Drive as in the deserts of Saudi Arabia. The Italian supercar maker only assembled around 300 of these monsters between 1986 and 1993, so when Lamborghini recently offered us another chance to drive in its wrapper-fresh black LM002, we jumped. Here are just a few wild LM002 facts that we learned during our brief experience:
The LM002 almost never happened. Initially envisioned as an honest-to-goodness military transport vehicle, the LM002 began life in 1977 as the much-maligned Cheetah concept. Rear-engined and packed with odd engineering, the Cheetah suffered from poor handling characteristics, leading any interested parties to pass on placing an order. A decade of further development eventually refined the design, moved the engine up front, and resulted in the LM002 we know and love.
Yes, it really does have a Countach engine. That’s no hyperbole—the V-12 under the bulging hood is indeed almost mechanically identical to the mill found under the contemporary Countach’s rear decklid. More specifically, it’s the 5.2-liter V-12 from the Euro-spec 1984 Countach Quattrovalvole, spitting out a heady 455 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. If this wasn’t enough, ultra-wealthy buyers could spec a 7.2-liter V-12 developed for offshore racing boats.
Who needs an automatic? Every LM002 left the factory with a dogleg five-speed manual transmission, sending power to either the rear or all four wheels, depending on what type of terrain the driver wished to conquer. There was one notable exception—Tina Turner had a tuning shop rip out the Lambo V-12 and manual for a Mercedes-Benz V-8 and automatic transmission for easier cruising.
That power isn’t just for speed. It’s actually a necessity. With more than 6,700 pounds to motivate, 455 horsepower feels more like 200. Contemporary tests returned a zero-to-60-mph sprint of 7.7 seconds, though, which seems respectable.
It was designed for warzones. Not wanting all that R&D to go to waste, the Rambo Lambo is exceptionally capable when the going gets dusty, muddy, rough, and rocky. It’s capable of attacking a 120-percent grade, and is particularly known for its skill in the sand dunes.
It almost went racing. It’s said two LMs were stripped out and tuned for even more power in order to run the Paris-Dakar rally, only to see the cash reserves run dry at the eleventh hour. One did end up competing in the Rallye des Pharaons in Egypt.
It’s shockingly luxurious. Aside from some glaring ergonomic issues, the interior is beyond reproach for mid-1980s standards. Every square inch is covered in either leather or wood, with the exception of the rubber, weather-sealed buttons and controls. Remember, this was decades before anything resembling infotainment was available, so luxury amenities were usually limited to the materials, the sound system, and maybe a champagne bucket.
It’s not easy to drive. This isn’t terribly surprising. Compared to the Countach, visibility is more than adequate, but the primary controls are unbelievably stiff in operation. All three pedals—throttle, clutch, and brake—require an extremely strong foot. That means you should abandon all any hope you might rev-match your downshifts, as pressing the throttle is like trying to make a snow angel in semidried concrete. The steering is high-effort as well. It doesn’t help that the wheel is essentially bolted directly to the dash, requiring an occasionally uncomfortable driving position.
There’s a battery kill switch from the factory. In case you need to leave your LM002 in the marina parking lot for a month or two, a bright red battery kill switch is installed on the floor to the left of the driver’s seat. There’s also an assortment of other buttons that have labels like “Winch” and “Stop.
There’s finally factory support. One of the biggest headaches with owning an LM002 after it went out of production was the availability of parts, specifically the lack thereof. Before Lamborghini opened its Polo Storico restoration division, replacement parts and tires were basically nonexistent, requiring creative solutions and careful operation. Now the factory is there to help.
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eddiejpoplar · 6 years
Text
Why the Lamborghini LM002 SUV Might Be the Most Insane Car of the 1980s
In the 130-odd years of the automobile’s existence, there really hasn’t been anything quite like the wacky, wild, and wonderful Lamborghini LM002. Leave it to Lambo to out-crazy its own Countach with a gargantuan, V-12–powered, military-spec rock crusher that was as likely to be spotted on Rodeo Drive as in the deserts of Saudi Arabia. The Italian supercar maker only assembled around 300 of these monsters between 1986 and 1993, so when Lamborghini recently offered us another chance to drive in its wrapper-fresh black LM002, we jumped. Here are just a few wild LM002 facts that we learned during our brief experience:
The LM002 almost never happened. Initially envisioned as an honest-to-goodness military transport vehicle, the LM002 began life in 1977 as the much-maligned Cheetah concept. Rear-engined and packed with odd engineering, the Cheetah suffered from poor handling characteristics, leading any interested parties to pass on placing an order. A decade of further development eventually refined the design, moved the engine up front, and resulted in the LM002 we know and love.
Yes, it really does have a Countach engine. That’s no hyperbole—the V-12 under the bulging hood is indeed almost mechanically identical to the mill found under the contemporary Countach’s rear decklid. More specifically, it’s the 5.2-liter V-12 from the Euro-spec 1984 Countach Quattrovalvole, spitting out a heady 455 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. If this wasn’t enough, ultra-wealthy buyers could spec a 7.2-liter V-12 developed for offshore racing boats.
Who needs an automatic? Every LM002 left the factory with a dogleg five-speed manual transmission, sending power to either the rear or all four wheels, depending on what type of terrain the driver wished to conquer. There was one notable exception—Tina Turner had a tuning shop rip out the Lambo V-12 and manual for a Mercedes-Benz V-8 and automatic transmission for easier cruising.
That power isn’t just for speed. It’s actually a necessity. With more than 6,700 pounds to motivate, 455 horsepower feels more like 200. Contemporary tests returned a zero-to-60-mph sprint of 7.7 seconds, though, which seems respectable.
It was designed for warzones. Not wanting all that R&D to go to waste, the Rambo Lambo is exceptionally capable when the going gets dusty, muddy, rough, and rocky. It’s capable of attacking a 120-percent grade, and is particularly known for its skill in the sand dunes.
It almost went racing. It’s said two LMs were stripped out and tuned for even more power in order to run the Paris-Dakar rally, only to see the cash reserves run dry at the eleventh hour. One did end up competing in the Rallye des Pharaons in Egypt.
It’s shockingly luxurious. Aside from some glaring ergonomic issues, the interior is beyond reproach for mid-1980s standards. Every square inch is covered in either leather or wood, with the exception of the rubber, weather-sealed buttons and controls. Remember, this was decades before anything resembling infotainment was available, so luxury amenities were usually limited to the materials, the sound system, and maybe a champagne bucket.
It’s not easy to drive. This isn’t terribly surprising. Compared to the Countach, visibility is more than adequate, but the primary controls are unbelievably stiff in operation. All three pedals—throttle, clutch, and brake—require an extremely strong foot. That means you should abandon all any hope you might rev-match your downshifts, as pressing the throttle is like trying to make a snow angel in semidried concrete. The steering is high-effort as well. It doesn’t help that the wheel is essentially bolted directly to the dash, requiring an occasionally uncomfortable driving position.
There’s a battery kill switch from the factory. In case you need to leave your LM002 in the marina parking lot for a month or two, a bright red battery kill switch is installed on the floor to the left of the driver’s seat. There’s also an assortment of other buttons that have labels like “Winch” and “Stop.
There’s finally factory support. One of the biggest headaches with owning an LM002 after it went out of production was the availability of parts, specifically the lack thereof. Before Lamborghini opened its Polo Storico restoration division, replacement parts and tires were basically nonexistent, requiring creative solutions and careful operation. Now the factory is there to help.
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jonathanbelloblog · 6 years
Text
Why the Lamborghini LM002 SUV Might Be the Most Insane Car of the 1980s
In the 130-odd years of the automobile’s existence, there really hasn’t been anything quite like the wacky, wild, and wonderful Lamborghini LM002. Leave it to Lambo to out-crazy its own Countach with a gargantuan, V-12–powered, military-spec rock crusher that was as likely to be spotted on Rodeo Drive as in the deserts of Saudi Arabia. The Italian supercar maker only assembled around 300 of these monsters between 1986 and 1993, so when Lamborghini recently offered us another chance to drive in its wrapper-fresh black LM002, we jumped. Here are just a few wild LM002 facts that we learned during our brief experience:
The LM002 almost never happened. Initially envisioned as an honest-to-goodness military transport vehicle, the LM002 began life in 1977 as the much-maligned Cheetah concept. Rear-engined and packed with odd engineering, the Cheetah suffered from poor handling characteristics, leading any interested parties to pass on placing an order. A decade of further development eventually refined the design, moved the engine up front, and resulted in the LM002 we know and love.
Yes, it really does have a Countach engine. That’s no hyperbole—the V-12 under the bulging hood is indeed almost mechanically identical to the mill found under the contemporary Countach’s rear decklid. More specifically, it’s the 5.2-liter V-12 from the Euro-spec 1984 Countach Quattrovalvole, spitting out a heady 455 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. If this wasn’t enough, ultra-wealthy buyers could spec a 7.2-liter V-12 developed for offshore racing boats.
Who needs an automatic? Every LM002 left the factory with a dogleg five-speed manual transmission, sending power to either the rear or all four wheels, depending on what type of terrain the driver wished to conquer. There was one notable exception—Tina Turner had a tuning shop rip out the Lambo V-12 and manual for a Mercedes-Benz V-8 and automatic transmission for easier cruising.
That power isn’t just for speed. It’s actually a necessity. With more than 6,700 pounds to motivate, 455 horsepower feels more like 200. Contemporary tests returned a zero-to-60-mph sprint of 7.7 seconds, though, which seems respectable.
It was designed for warzones. Not wanting all that R&D to go to waste, the Rambo Lambo is exceptionally capable when the going gets dusty, muddy, rough, and rocky. It’s capable of attacking a 120-percent grade, and is particularly known for its skill in the sand dunes.
It almost went racing. It’s said two LMs were stripped out and tuned for even more power in order to run the Paris-Dakar rally, only to see the cash reserves run dry at the eleventh hour. One did end up competing in the Rallye des Pharaons in Egypt.
It’s shockingly luxurious. Aside from some glaring ergonomic issues, the interior is beyond reproach for mid-1980s standards. Every square inch is covered in either leather or wood, with the exception of the rubber, weather-sealed buttons and controls. Remember, this was decades before anything resembling infotainment was available, so luxury amenities were usually limited to the materials, the sound system, and maybe a champagne bucket.
It’s not easy to drive. This isn’t terribly surprising. Compared to the Countach, visibility is more than adequate, but the primary controls are unbelievably stiff in operation. All three pedals—throttle, clutch, and brake—require an extremely strong foot. That means you should abandon all any hope you might rev-match your downshifts, as pressing the throttle is like trying to make a snow angel in semidried concrete. The steering is high-effort as well. It doesn’t help that the wheel is essentially bolted directly to the dash, requiring an occasionally uncomfortable driving position.
There’s a battery kill switch from the factory. In case you need to leave your LM002 in the marina parking lot for a month or two, a bright red battery kill switch is installed on the floor to the left of the driver’s seat. There’s also an assortment of other buttons that have labels like “Winch” and “Stop.
There’s finally factory support. One of the biggest headaches with owning an LM002 after it went out of production was the availability of parts, specifically the lack thereof. Before Lamborghini opened its Polo Storico restoration division, replacement parts and tires were basically nonexistent, requiring creative solutions and careful operation. Now the factory is there to help.
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robertkstone · 6 years
Text
March Mayhem Semifinal: 2019 Chevrolet Blazer vs. 2019 Nissan Altima
Military air traffic isn’t uncommon while visiting the Honda Proving Center. Fighter jets zip by, and bombers lumber across the sky from the many nearby Air Force and Navy air bases. But we don’t often get a show like we got while comparing the Blazer and Altima.
MotorTrend’s March Mayhem is here! As part of our quest to find the best family car, we invited eight vehicles to compete in a winner-take-all bracket. After defeating their direct competitors in the first round, the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer RS AWD midsize crossover faces off against the 2019 Nissan Altima SR midsize sedan in the semifinals.
Quarterfinals:
Chrysler Pacifica vs. Honda Odyssey HERE
Subaru Ascent vs. Chevrolet Traverse HERE
Chevrolet Blazer vs. Honda Passport HERE
Nissan Altima vs. Toyota Camry HERE
Semifinals:
Chrysler Pacifica vs. Subaru Ascent HERE
Chevrolet Blazer vs. Nissan Altima
Two F/A-18 Super Hornets stole our attention as they practiced dogfighting. Each Hornet danced through the air, twisting, turning, and falling as each pilot attempted to point the jet’s nose at the other. After a few minutes, with no clear winner to us on the ground, they formed up and zipped north back to base.
Unlike what we’d witnessed, our military often practices dissimilar combat training, when two wildly different jets practice against each other.
What’s this have to do with the Blazer and Altima? Simple: When buying a car, many people choose from dissimilar vehicles that meet their needs in different ways. You can learn a lot from comparing vehicles within their segments. Sometimes, though, you can learn a lot more by crossing those segment lines.
Clearly, the biggest difference between the Altima and Blazer is their design philosophies. It’s hard to overlook the inherent packaging advantages of a midsize crossover compared to a midsize sedan, but the Altima puts up a good fight. Its trunk opening is wide, and the trunk itself is deep; two massive hockey bags, for example, would fit next to each other—but the lack of a center pass-through for sticks could be seen as a flaw the Altima and many sedans have. The Nissan’s rear seats do fold forward, but that obviously reduces how many passengers you can carry. The sedan’s biggest advantage here is its low step-in height, making it easier for children to climb in by themselves.
As we saw in our quarterfinal round, the Blazer isn’t the most spacious crossover in its class, but its back-seat package easily equals the Nissan’s, and its cargo area is significantly larger. Four hockey bags could be squeezed in the Chevy’s trunk, and although there isn’t a center pass-through, either, sticks and other long items can slide between the rear bench and interior walls. Children might have a harder time climbing up into the Blazer or other crossovers, but the higher hip-point makes it easier for an adult to reach in to buckle up those young ones.
You used to be able to rely on sedans out-driving crossovers and SUVs, but after driving the Nissan back to back with the Chevy, we might be witnessing a changing of that guard. Sure, both were comfortable, quiet, and plenty powerful at city speeds and on the highway, but they differentiated themselves on the proving center’s winding road. The Blazer handles surprisingly well for a front-drive-based crossover. Its chassis is buttoned down and refined, and steering is light and accurate—it was at least equally as engaging (and likely faster) than the Altima on the winding track.
Maybe that’s meaningless to most buyers, but those same dynamic qualities that make the Blazer such a performer on the winding track also make it better in emergency lane change scenarios. In simulated emergency situations, the Chevy was rock solid and drama free, its electronics working unobtrusively to keep all four tires grounded and the nose pointed in the right direction, helping the Blazer clear the test without so much as brushing a cone. With all-wheel drive manually engaged (it’s permanently “on” in nearly every other CUV), the Blazer is even more stable. The Altima, on the other hand, was easily upset in our emergency tests. Its chassis is less composed and its electronic stability systems less sophisticated, making it harder to control compared to the Blazer.
Instrumented testing reveals the Altima to be slightly quicker than the Blazer, but there’s no denying the seat-of-the-pants superiority of the Blazer. The Nissan’s (and most sedans’) clearest advantage over the Chevy is in fuel economy; the Altima’s turbocharged variable-compression four-cylinder helps it net an EPA-estimated 25/34/29 mpg compared to the Blazer V-6 AWD’s 18/25/21 mpg. That’s a substantial difference, though with today’s gas prices, that might not be a big factor for most people. If oil prices soar and family budgets tighten, that 8-mpg difference in the combined cycle will be a deal breaker for some and spur others to opt for smaller engines, like the Blazer’s front-drive-only 2.5-liter I-4.
At the end of our bout of dissimilar training, one insight became abundantly clear: There’s a reason American families have been abandoning sedans for crossovers, and that reason isn’t necessarily styling or ride height. As the Chevy Blazer proves, midsize crossovers are incredibly versatile—serving as a one-size-fits-all magic bullet for an average family—and they can be both better to drive and more engaging than a comparable sedan. Quite simply, with fuel economy the main exception, everything the Altima does well, the Blazer does better. And with that, the Chevy Blazer midsize crossover advances to the finals.
2019 Chevrolet Blazer AWD RS 2019 Nissan Altima SR VC-Turbo BASE PRICE $44,695 $30,045 PRICE AS TESTED $48,270 $31,060 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan ENGINE 3.6L/308-hp/270-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve V-6 2.0L/248-hp/280-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4 TRANSMISSION 9-speed automatic Cont variable auto CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 4,274 lb (59/41%) 3,416 lb (61/39%) WHEELBASE 112.7 in 111.2 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 191.4 x 76.7 x 67.0 in 192.9 x 72.9 x 57.4 in 0-60 MPH 6.1 sec 6.1 sec QUARTER MILE 14.7 sec @ 95.5 mph 14.5 sec @ 98.9 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 126 ft 119 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.83 g (avg) 0.89 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 27.1 sec @ 0.65 g (avg) 26.5 sec @ 0.68 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 18/25/21 mpg 25/34/29 mpg ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 187/135 kW-hrs/100 miles 135/99 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.94 lb/mile 0.68 lb/mile
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Car of the Month: 2020 Toyota GR Supra
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Perhaps no new car has been more widely anticipated by enthusiasts than the 2020 Toyota GR Supra. This sleek 2+2 coupe has been teased and promised for years, and it is finally here. However, the new Supra’s design and engineering did take a somewhat non-conventional path.
To reduce the financial risk of launching a relatively low volume model, Toyota sought out a development partner, much like they did with Subaru in designing the Scion FR-S/Toyota 86/Subaru BR-Z. In the case of the Supra, that partner turned out to be from the other side of their world. 
Enter Germany’s BMW. It’s a fact, the all-new Supra shares an architecture with the BMW Z4 roadster. Both cars also share powertrains, in this case BMW’s 3.0-liter inline-6 and 8-speed automatic. But, before you say “clone”, each brand did their own tuning and the Supra six outputs a robust 335-horsepower. 
The Supra project was actually spearheaded by the same Toyota chief engineer that oversaw the FR-S/86/BR. In similar fashion, both Toyota and BMW started with a basic modular chassis, but went their separate ways from there, though the Supra is assembled on the same Austrian assembly line as the Z4.  
With engineering by Toyota’s GAZOO racing team, the Supra is truly a car in need of a race track, where it equates itself quite well. Even under stress, the Macpherson strut front, and 5-arm multi-link rear suspension, along with adaptive variable dampers, and Brembo brakes, keep the Supra well composed. Rear-wheel drive of course, an electronically controlled active differential can send the full amount to power to the outside wheel to provide the most drive off of corners. It also works to help settle the rear under hard braking. Manually triggering shifts, worked quite well, though not so well that we didn’t wish for a true manual transmission. 
Away from the track, in normal mode, not unlike the 86, it’s a quite pleasant daily driver. Only big bumps cause any shudder. 
Exterior body panels are a mix of aluminum and steel. The car looks much smaller in person, appearing racy without going full fast and furious. 19-inch wheels come shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sports.  
The BMW influence is strongest inside with a very familiar, Bavarian-style control layout. That means there’s iDrive to contend with too. Toyota did add a unique steering wheel and shifter. Seats are also distinctive and quite nice.  
For our complete road test of the 2020 Toyota GR Supra, be sure to catch MotorWeek episode #3845 that begins airing July 12, 2019. For a listing of the public television stations that broadcast MotorWeek, go to motorweek.org and click the “About The Show” tab at the top. MotorWeek is also seen Tuesday evenings and throughout the week on the MotorTrend cable network. 
While some may still wish that Toyota had gone it alone, many of this Supra’s strongest attributes can be directly attributed to BMW’s experience in building world class performance cars. Toyota chose it’s Supra partner well, for the unique result is a sport coupe that was well worth the wait.  
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eddiejpoplar · 6 years
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The 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet Is Spectacular
ATTICA, Greece—Here in the cradle of Western civilization, things are grim. Last year the country emerged from a bailout by other European countries that totaled more than $350 billion, and while comparatively speaking things are looking up, the unemployment rate in this part Greece is still over 20 percent. Aside from the presence of graffiti everywhere, there isn’t much evidence of young people. A double tennis court over here has been abandoned, as has a playground over there, with a pair of basketball goals that nobody appears to have used in a year.
Buildings, including a beautiful little church, are empty and unkempt. Every construction worker in the state appears to have gone on strike at exactly the same moment, leaving a plethora of unfinished houses, stores, and apartments. Long-legged, suicidal dogs wander the streets.
Everything, even the gorgeous Aegean Sea, seems to have a slightly gray cast. Oh, there are bright spots, alright, and our new $170,810 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet was one of the brightest, getting looks of mild contempt and only an occasional thumbs-up from drivers, who seem saddled with the most boring collection of cars in one place since there was an East Germany. Truckers bear down on us, swing wide on turns. We feel stinkin’ rich, and not always in a good way, as we drive along in our gleaming Carrara White Metallic Cabriolet with a black top, which we chose instead o the colors featured in the photos here because we though we’d be less conspicuous. We were not.
Greece will bounce back—there’s a lot of pluck in those bloodlines—and we have a car to tell you about. Which we kind of already had in our report on the 2020 Porsche 911, the eighth generation of an icon. Even though it sort of looks like generation 7.5, it’s virtually all new, and there’s plenty to talk about with the Cabriolet.
The top, for instance. It’s a multilayer cloth piece whose magnesium structure folds in three sections to store completely under the rear deck; the little ballet takes but 12 seconds. Then you can call up a rear windscreen that eliminates wind buffeting and makes normal conversation possible, even at speed. Top up, the insulation attached to those panels muffles road noise, including, unfortunately, the exhaust note from the 3.0-liter, 446-horse flat-six.
The engine is attached to an eager new eight-speed PDK transmission, with a seven-speed manual due shortly after the Cabriolet’s introduction in late summer or early fall. Headroom is plenty up front even for those over six feet. In the back, the tiny twin rear seats are best left to grocery sacks, helpful since there’s only 4.5 cubic feet of cargo room up front.
On the road, the improved rigidity is evident, and proven by the fact that the Cabriolet now is offered with the Sport Suspension package previously limited to the coupe. For $5,450, the package gets you the Sport Exhaust, the Sport Chrono package, black tailpipes, and that PASM Sport Suspension, which stiffens everything up and drops the overall height by 0.4 inch. The differences between the chassis’s Normal, Sport, and Sport+ settings is perceptible, although the exact measure of the dynamic spread would be better taken on a track. We kept the chassis and suspension set to Normal for the bulk of our drive, which helped dampen the multiple bumps and potholes—it appeared the road-maintenance crews were at reduced capacity, too.
All that aside, we could find very little wrong with the Cabriolet, except for the problem we’ve had for years with the 911: We can’t afford one. Our test car went from $126,100 to the aforementioned $170,810 with a liberal addition of options that ranged from Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control ($3,170) to Rear Axle Steering ($2,090) to the killer Burmester stereo. The latter is a $5,560 option, compared to the entirely adequate $1,600 Bose system that’s also offered. If you want all-wheel drive, base price jumps to $133,400. We sampled the all-wheel-drive 4S model, and it offers a bit of increased stability; if you live in a climate where the roads are often slick, it’s probably a good investment.
But 911s have never been cheap, and when you remove the top the price goes up even more. Despite this, nearly a third of the 911 customers prefer to go topless. If we’re not on a track? Us, too. Nicely done, Porsche.
  2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S and 4S Cabriolet Specifications
ON SALE September PRICE S, $126,100; 4S, $133,400 ENGINE 3.0L DOHC 24-valve twin-turbocharged flat-6; 443 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 390 lb-ft @ 2,300 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 2-door, 2+2-passenger, rear-engine RWD or AWD coupe EPA MILEAGE 20/26 mpg (city/hwy, est) L x W x H 177.9–178.4 x 79.7 x 50.7–51.2 in WHEELBASE 96.5 in WEIGHT 3,537–3,650 lb 0–60 MPH 3.5–3.7 sec (est) TOP SPEED 190 mph (est)
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jesusvasser · 6 years
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The 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet Is Spectacular
ATTICA, Greece—Here in the cradle of Western civilization, things are grim. Last year the country emerged from a bailout by other European countries that totaled more than $350 billion, and while comparatively speaking things are looking up, the unemployment rate in this part Greece is still over 20 percent. Aside from the presence of graffiti everywhere, there isn’t much evidence of young people. A double tennis court over here has been abandoned, as has a playground over there, with a pair of basketball goals that nobody appears to have used in a year.
Buildings, including a beautiful little church, are empty and unkempt. Every construction worker in the state appears to have gone on strike at exactly the same moment, leaving a plethora of unfinished houses, stores, and apartments. Long-legged, suicidal dogs wander the streets.
Everything, even the gorgeous Aegean Sea, seems to have a slightly gray cast. Oh, there are bright spots, alright, and our new $170,810 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet was one of the brightest, getting looks of mild contempt and only an occasional thumbs-up from drivers, who seem saddled with the most boring collection of cars in one place since there was an East Germany. Truckers bear down on us, swing wide on turns. We feel stinkin’ rich, and not always in a good way, as we drive along in our gleaming Carrara White Metallic Cabriolet with a black top, which we chose instead o the colors featured in the photos here because we though we’d be less conspicuous. We were not.
Greece will bounce back—there’s a lot of pluck in those bloodlines—and we have a car to tell you about. Which we kind of already had in our report on the 2020 Porsche 911, the eighth generation of an icon. Even though it sort of looks like generation 7.5, it’s virtually all new, and there’s plenty to talk about with the Cabriolet.
The top, for instance. It’s a multilayer cloth piece whose magnesium structure folds in three sections to store completely under the rear deck; the little ballet takes but 12 seconds. Then you can call up a rear windscreen that eliminates wind buffeting and makes normal conversation possible, even at speed. Top up, the insulation attached to those panels muffles road noise, including, unfortunately, the exhaust note from the 3.0-liter, 446-horse flat-six.
The engine is attached to an eager new eight-speed PDK transmission, with a seven-speed manual due shortly after the Cabriolet’s introduction in late summer or early fall. Headroom is plenty up front even for those over six feet. In the back, the tiny twin rear seats are best left to grocery sacks, helpful since there’s only 4.5 cubic feet of cargo room up front.
On the road, the improved rigidity is evident, and proven by the fact that the Cabriolet now is offered with the Sport Suspension package previously limited to the coupe. For $5,450, the package gets you the Sport Exhaust, the Sport Chrono package, black tailpipes, and that PASM Sport Suspension, which stiffens everything up and drops the overall height by 0.4 inch. The differences between the chassis’s Normal, Sport, and Sport+ settings is perceptible, although the exact measure of the dynamic spread would be better taken on a track. We kept the chassis and suspension set to Normal for the bulk of our drive, which helped dampen the multiple bumps and potholes—it appeared the road-maintenance crews were at reduced capacity, too.
All that aside, we could find very little wrong with the Cabriolet, except for the problem we’ve had for years with the 911: We can’t afford one. Our test car went from $126,100 to the aforementioned $170,810 with a liberal addition of options that ranged from Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control ($3,170) to Rear Axle Steering ($2,090) to the killer Burmester stereo. The latter is a $5,560 option, compared to the entirely adequate $1,600 Bose system that’s also offered. If you want all-wheel drive, base price jumps to $133,400. We sampled the all-wheel-drive 4S model, and it offers a bit of increased stability; if you live in a climate where the roads are often slick, it’s probably a good investment.
But 911s have never been cheap, and when you remove the top the price goes up even more. Despite this, nearly a third of the 911 customers prefer to go topless. If we’re not on a track? Us, too. Nicely done, Porsche.
  2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S and 4S Cabriolet Specifications
ON SALE September PRICE S, $126,100; 4S, $133,400 ENGINE 3.0L DOHC 24-valve twin-turbocharged flat-6; 443 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 390 lb-ft @ 2,300 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 2-door, 2+2-passenger, rear-engine RWD or AWD coupe EPA MILEAGE 20/26 mpg (city/hwy, est) L x W x H 177.9–178.4 x 79.7 x 50.7–51.2 in WHEELBASE 96.5 in WEIGHT 3,537–3,650 lb 0–60 MPH 3.5–3.7 sec (est) TOP SPEED 190 mph (est)
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jonathanbelloblog · 6 years
Text
The 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet Is Spectacular
ATTICA, Greece—Here in the cradle of Western civilization, things are grim. Last year the country emerged from a bailout by other European countries that totaled more than $350 billion, and while comparatively speaking things are looking up, the unemployment rate in this part Greece is still over 20 percent. Aside from the presence of graffiti everywhere, there isn’t much evidence of young people. A double tennis court over here has been abandoned, as has a playground over there, with a pair of basketball goals that nobody appears to have used in a year.
Buildings, including a beautiful little church, are empty and unkempt. Every construction worker in the state appears to have gone on strike at exactly the same moment, leaving a plethora of unfinished houses, stores, and apartments. Long-legged, suicidal dogs wander the streets.
Everything, even the gorgeous Aegean Sea, seems to have a slightly gray cast. Oh, there are bright spots, alright, and our new $170,810 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet was one of the brightest, getting looks of mild contempt and only an occasional thumbs-up from drivers, who seem saddled with the most boring collection of cars in one place since there was an East Germany. Truckers bear down on us, swing wide on turns. We feel stinkin’ rich, and not always in a good way, as we drive along in our gleaming Carrara White Metallic Cabriolet with a black top, which we chose instead o the colors featured in the photos here because we though we’d be less conspicuous. We were not.
Greece will bounce back—there’s a lot of pluck in those bloodlines—and we have a car to tell you about. Which we kind of already had in our report on the 2020 Porsche 911, the eighth generation of an icon. Even though it sort of looks like generation 7.5, it’s virtually all new, and there’s plenty to talk about with the Cabriolet.
The top, for instance. It’s a multilayer cloth piece whose magnesium structure folds in three sections to store completely under the rear deck; the little ballet takes but 12 seconds. Then you can call up a rear windscreen that eliminates wind buffeting and makes normal conversation possible, even at speed. Top up, the insulation attached to those panels muffles road noise, including, unfortunately, the exhaust note from the 3.0-liter, 446-horse flat-six.
The engine is attached to an eager new eight-speed PDK transmission, with a seven-speed manual due shortly after the Cabriolet’s introduction in late summer or early fall. Headroom is plenty up front even for those over six feet. In the back, the tiny twin rear seats are best left to grocery sacks, helpful since there’s only 4.5 cubic feet of cargo room up front.
On the road, the improved rigidity is evident, and proven by the fact that the Cabriolet now is offered with the Sport Suspension package previously limited to the coupe. For $5,450, the package gets you the Sport Exhaust, the Sport Chrono package, black tailpipes, and that PASM Sport Suspension, which stiffens everything up and drops the overall height by 0.4 inch. The differences between the chassis’s Normal, Sport, and Sport+ settings is perceptible, although the exact measure of the dynamic spread would be better taken on a track. We kept the chassis and suspension set to Normal for the bulk of our drive, which helped dampen the multiple bumps and potholes—it appeared the road-maintenance crews were at reduced capacity, too.
All that aside, we could find very little wrong with the Cabriolet, except for the problem we’ve had for years with the 911: We can’t afford one. Our test car went from $126,100 to the aforementioned $170,810 with a liberal addition of options that ranged from Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control ($3,170) to Rear Axle Steering ($2,090) to the killer Burmester stereo. The latter is a $5,560 option, compared to the entirely adequate $1,600 Bose system that’s also offered. If you want all-wheel drive, base price jumps to $133,400. We sampled the all-wheel-drive 4S model, and it offers a bit of increased stability; if you live in a climate where the roads are often slick, it’s probably a good investment.
But 911s have never been cheap, and when you remove the top the price goes up even more. Despite this, nearly a third of the 911 customers prefer to go topless. If we’re not on a track? Us, too. Nicely done, Porsche.
  2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S and 4S Cabriolet Specifications
ON SALE September PRICE S, $126,100; 4S, $133,400 ENGINE 3.0L DOHC 24-valve twin-turbocharged flat-6; 443 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 390 lb-ft @ 2,300 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 2-door, 2+2-passenger, rear-engine RWD or AWD coupe EPA MILEAGE 20/26 mpg (city/hwy, est) L x W x H 177.9–178.4 x 79.7 x 50.7–51.2 in WHEELBASE 96.5 in WEIGHT 3,537–3,650 lb 0–60 MPH 3.5–3.7 sec (est) TOP SPEED 190 mph (est)
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jesusvasser · 6 years
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Escaping L.A. and Hitting the Desert in the 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt
Every so often, I end up having a boring, watered-down weekend doing nothing but lying on the sofa like Homer Simpson and binging random stuff on Netflix. After a while though, these sessions feel more like a mid-life crisis waiting to happen rather than relaxing respites from daily life, and I find myself begging for just an ounce of excitement. I’m tempted to cruise around town, or maybe hit Starbucks, but those are just temporary reprieves. What I need is to see something different, something less familiar. Luckily, I’ve been given the task of supervising a 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt for the weekend, and if anything could inspire me to get off the sofa, it’s a muscular green pony on 19-inch black wheels with a rock-star personality and a loudmouth exhaust.
My weekend companion ran a cool $52,890, a price that included the optional Recaro leather-trimmed sport seats, electronics package, and magnetorheological dampers. All the cool kids know that the reincarnated Mustang Bullitt is only available with a six-speed manual and to me, that’s one of the biggest highlights of the car. Not that I’d choose an automatic if it were available as it is in other Mustangs, but having that mechanical connection to the naturally aspirated Coyote V-8 engine is simply enrapturing, and allows you to better and more immediately conjure its boisterous sound with every press on the gas pedal. And with 480 horsepower from its 5.0-liter engine, the Bullitt doesn’t lack for thrust.
To confine a muscle car­—or any car for that matter—with a manual transmission to the clogged arteries of L.A. is a sin, and as mentioned, the idea of playing it safe and staying close to home to do the typical stuff didn’t sound thrilling. On these grounds, I devised a plan to leave the concrete jungle behind and make a run for the desert. A quick search on Google Maps and I had my destination, a place remote enough to make the drive long, and memorable enough to make the trip worth it: the desert town of Borrego Springs, some 160 miles to the east. I intended to leave on Sunday, leaving Saturday to warm up to the Bullitt on the gritty streets of “El Lay.”
A note about the manual shifter: No novice should be scared to operate this one. There’s plenty of torque in first gear to make getting off the line a snap using only the clutch, the and gearchanges themselves are so fluid and natural that it’s nearly impossible to miss a gate. That the Bullitt features rev-matching on downshifts is caramel drizzle on this particular slice of cheesecake. But as I was shifting gears via the gorgeous cue-ball shifter and autographing the asphalt of San Pedro with a Michelin Pilot Sport 4S signature, something far more profound happened than several slick shifts. I had developed a rapport with the Highland Green Mustang, an understanding of what it wanted to do, and I thought I heard a whisper—it’s hard to hear over all the ruckus coming from the dual exhausts—calling me to the desert. Today.
Fueling up on my way out of town, I performed a quick walk-around to inspect the tires. In the middle of my inspection, two men in a truck slowed down, their eyeballs glued to the Bullitt. I stopped what I was doing and stared back with a slight grin on my face; before I could get in and start it up, one of them stuck his head out the window and gleefully asked, “Is that the new Bullitt!?” In response, I simply strapped myself into the driver’s seat—the well-bolstered Recaros put you in a perfect upright driving position—fired up the sonorous V-8, nodded, and pointed the Mustang east.
Whenever I encounter the pandemonium of Southern California freeways, I equate the experience to Little Red Riding Hood being chased by a pack of wolves. After six years living in SoCal, I’ve learned that ill-advised and erratic drivers are a part of the deal, and have made some proper adjustments to my own driving code and style to compensate. Plus, on this day I could deal with any vultures impeding my path to desert serenity with a well-aimed Bullitt.
The traffic on State Route 91 was miserable, and immediately put the pony in a choke hold. To ease the frustration of driving a manual in dense traffic and minimize downshifting to first gear, I started driving in what I dubbed “Pac-Man mode.” I scored points by jumping into the open pockets of the traffic maze, imagining each one contained a power pellet that boosted the volume of the deafeningly loud, 12-speaker B&O audio system. I then made it to Interstate 15 South and traffic that called more for a Tetris style of driving, where I fit myself in wherever I could. When I finally reached Temecula Parkway en route to State Route 79 South, the pretend games were over, and the real game was just getting started.
I drove past myriad campgrounds, RV resorts, vineyards, and ranches lining the two-lane road, and while the first leg was congested with other adventure-seekers, after 10 miles or so I had the blacktop all to myself. I settled into a cruise, occasionally stirring the Mustang into an acceleration run just to work the shifter up and down through the gears. Third and fourth were where I stayed much of the time, though, as there the engine felt relaxed but ready, and it sounded the best there besides—especially in the exhaust’s Sport+ mode, which takes the sound from aggressive to positively maniacal.
I made few stops on my way to Borrego Springs, and I made sure to pause and take in an overlook (elevation: 2,300 feet) with a view of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. A pair of visitors were just driving away as I arrived, but they quickly turned around when they saw me snapping photos of the Mustang. One of them stepped from their SUV and—in what was a theme for the trip—excitedly asked, “Excuse me, but is that the Bullitt?” He wanted to know what I thought, and I told him the truth: it’s fantastic.
As I drove down Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs, I stopped for a bite at Carlee’s restaurant before exploring the Borrego Botanical Garden and gift shop next door. The sun was beginning to sink below the horizon when I made my way to Galleta Meadows to take in the massive sculptures. Being out there, away from the smog and honking horns and the ever-buzzing city, allowed me to collect my thoughts and reflect on what it all means to me. I’d divulge more detail, but it seems prudent to stop there, as to do so would spoil the adventure itself. As Wilfred Thesiger wrote in Arabian Sands: “For me, exploration was a personal venture. I did not go to the Arabian desert to collect plants nor to make a map; such things were incidental. At heart I knew that to write or even to talk of my travels was to tarnish the achievement.”
On Sunday, I stepped out of my apartment to find the Bullitt covered in the early morning dew. A cranky neighbor mumbled a negative remark about the car, but I simply started it up, lowered the windows, and rolled away, letting the V-8’s burble provide my response. It felt right to keep to my original schedule and head again into the desert toward Borrego Springs—there would be no Netflix binging that day, either.
Follow me on Instagram: @ekvision003
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eddiejpoplar · 6 years
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Escaping L.A. and Hitting the Desert in the 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt
Every so often, I end up having a boring, watered-down weekend doing nothing but lying on the sofa like Homer Simpson and binging random stuff on Netflix. After a while though, these sessions feel more like a mid-life crisis waiting to happen rather than relaxing respites from daily life, and I find myself begging for just an ounce of excitement. I’m tempted to cruise around town, or maybe hit Starbucks, but those are just temporary reprieves. What I need is to see something different, something less familiar. Luckily, I’ve been given the task of supervising a 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt for the weekend, and if anything could inspire me to get off the sofa, it’s a muscular green pony on 19-inch black wheels with a rock-star personality and a loudmouth exhaust.
My weekend companion ran a cool $52,890, a price that included the optional Recaro leather-trimmed sport seats, electronics package, and magnetorheological dampers. All the cool kids know that the reincarnated Mustang Bullitt is only available with a six-speed manual and to me, that’s one of the biggest highlights of the car. Not that I’d choose an automatic if it were available as it is in other Mustangs, but having that mechanical connection to the naturally aspirated Coyote V-8 engine is simply enrapturing, and allows you to better and more immediately conjure its boisterous sound with every press on the gas pedal. And with 480 horsepower from its 5.0-liter engine, the Bullitt doesn’t lack for thrust.
To confine a muscle car­—or any car for that matter—with a manual transmission to the clogged arteries of L.A. is a sin, and as mentioned, the idea of playing it safe and staying close to home to do the typical stuff didn’t sound thrilling. On these grounds, I devised a plan to leave the concrete jungle behind and make a run for the desert. A quick search on Google Maps and I had my destination, a place remote enough to make the drive long, and memorable enough to make the trip worth it: the desert town of Borrego Springs, some 160 miles to the east. I intended to leave on Sunday, leaving Saturday to warm up to the Bullitt on the gritty streets of “El Lay.”
A note about the manual shifter: No novice should be scared to operate this one. There’s plenty of torque in first gear to make getting off the line a snap using only the clutch, the and gearchanges themselves are so fluid and natural that it’s nearly impossible to miss a gate. That the Bullitt features rev-matching on downshifts is caramel drizzle on this particular slice of cheesecake. But as I was shifting gears via the gorgeous cue-ball shifter and autographing the asphalt of San Pedro with a Michelin Pilot Sport 4S signature, something far more profound happened than several slick shifts. I had developed a rapport with the Highland Green Mustang, an understanding of what it wanted to do, and I thought I heard a whisper—it’s hard to hear over all the ruckus coming from the dual exhausts—calling me to the desert. Today.
Fueling up on my way out of town, I performed a quick walk-around to inspect the tires. In the middle of my inspection, two men in a truck slowed down, their eyeballs glued to the Bullitt. I stopped what I was doing and stared back with a slight grin on my face; before I could get in and start it up, one of them stuck his head out the window and gleefully asked, “Is that the new Bullitt!?” In response, I simply strapped myself into the driver’s seat—the well-bolstered Recaros put you in a perfect upright driving position—fired up the sonorous V-8, nodded, and pointed the Mustang east.
Whenever I encounter the pandemonium of Southern California freeways, I equate the experience to Little Red Riding Hood being chased by a pack of wolves. After six years living in SoCal, I’ve learned that ill-advised and erratic drivers are a part of the deal, and have made some proper adjustments to my own driving code and style to compensate. Plus, on this day I could deal with any vultures impeding my path to desert serenity with a well-aimed Bullitt.
The traffic on State Route 91 was miserable, and immediately put the pony in a choke hold. To ease the frustration of driving a manual in dense traffic and minimize downshifting to first gear, I started driving in what I dubbed “Pac-Man mode.” I scored points by jumping into the open pockets of the traffic maze, imagining each one contained a power pellet that boosted the volume of the deafeningly loud, 12-speaker B&O audio system. I then made it to Interstate 15 South and traffic that called more for a Tetris style of driving, where I fit myself in wherever I could. When I finally reached Temecula Parkway en route to State Route 79 South, the pretend games were over, and the real game was just getting started.
I drove past myriad campgrounds, RV resorts, vineyards, and ranches lining the two-lane road, and while the first leg was congested with other adventure-seekers, after 10 miles or so I had the blacktop all to myself. I settled into a cruise, occasionally stirring the Mustang into an acceleration run just to work the shifter up and down through the gears. Third and fourth were where I stayed much of the time, though, as there the engine felt relaxed but ready, and it sounded the best there besides—especially in the exhaust’s Sport+ mode, which takes the sound from aggressive to positively maniacal.
I made few stops on my way to Borrego Springs, and I made sure to pause and take in an overlook (elevation: 2,300 feet) with a view of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. A pair of visitors were just driving away as I arrived, but they quickly turned around when they saw me snapping photos of the Mustang. One of them stepped from their SUV and—in what was a theme for the trip—excitedly asked, “Excuse me, but is that the Bullitt?” He wanted to know what I thought, and I told him the truth: it’s fantastic.
As I drove down Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs, I stopped for a bite at Carlee’s restaurant before exploring the Borrego Botanical Garden and gift shop next door. The sun was beginning to sink below the horizon when I made my way to Galleta Meadows to take in the massive sculptures. Being out there, away from the smog and honking horns and the ever-buzzing city, allowed me to collect my thoughts and reflect on what it all means to me. I’d divulge more detail, but it seems prudent to stop there, as to do so would spoil the adventure itself. As Wilfred Thesiger wrote in Arabian Sands: “For me, exploration was a personal venture. I did not go to the Arabian desert to collect plants nor to make a map; such things were incidental. At heart I knew that to write or even to talk of my travels was to tarnish the achievement.”
On Sunday, I stepped out of my apartment to find the Bullitt covered in the early morning dew. A cranky neighbor mumbled a negative remark about the car, but I simply started it up, lowered the windows, and rolled away, letting the V-8’s burble provide my response. It felt right to keep to my original schedule and head again into the desert toward Borrego Springs—there would be no Netflix binging that day, either.
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robertkstone · 6 years
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2018 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo First Test
By its very definition, no one wins when you compromise. This is especially true if you’re a discerning car enthusiast looking for a one-size-fits-all approach to your family car. More often than not, the cars that are most practical aren’t particularly fun to drive, but sportier options are neither roomy nor efficient. That equation gets even more complicated once you bring efficiency, fuel costs, and climate change–causing emissions into the equation. Thankfully, it seems some problems are easily solved by throwing money at them—the 2018 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is the ultimate be-all, end-all family car for the evolved (and let’s get this out of the way early—wealthy) car enthusiast.
Practicality
You’re not going to be able to sell your significant other on a family car if it isn’t practical. Riding on the Volkswagen Group’s MSB platform, the Panamera Sport Turismo shares everything forward of (and beneath) the B-pillar with its non–Sport Turismo sibling. Behind that B-pillar is a revised roofline, ending in a tidy-looking tailgate. The already-roomy rear seat benefits from the extra airiness provided by a larger rear cargo area, and cargo volume in the trunk balloons from 14.3 to 18.3 cubic feet.
The fold-flat back seat is tilted back a bit to improve headroom for taller passengers without ruining the roofline (as was the case with the first-generation Panamera); legroom, although not limolike, is perfectly acceptable for most taller occupants.
Front occupants are well taken care of, too, with comfortable seats, near-SUV levels of visibility, and a large, easy-to-use Porsche Connect infotainment display. Its sole miss—not enough cupholders or storage cubbies for family considerations.
Sportiness
Just like a Jeep has got to live up to the badge on its hood, a Porsche does, too. This family-friendly hybrid station wagon delivers in spades there. Developed using technology and know-how from Porsche’s 918 Spyder hypercar and Le Mans–winning 919 Hybrid, the Panamera Sport Turismo pairs a 330-hp 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 with a 136-hp electric motor wedged between the six-cylinder and Porsche’s latest PDK eight-speed twin-clutch automatic. Its total system output is a not-insignificant 464 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. That’s more power and more torque than the twin-turbo V-8-powered Panamera GTS.
Paired with Porsche’s standard torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, our electrified Panamera station wagon was shockingly (sorry) fast at the track. With its 14.1-kW-hr battery topped off and launch control enabled, the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and on through the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds at 112.7 mph.
Our 60–0 brake tests revealed the brakes to be softer and more prone to fade than we’ve typically seen from Porsches. Its best stop of 109 feet was followed by increasingly longer stop distances. We suspect the Panamera E-Hybrid’s regenerative brakes trying to scavenge for electricity is the culprit. At any rate, Porsche offers carbon-ceramic brakes on the E-Hybrid, which ought to improve performance considerably.
Despite its 5,016-pound curb weight, this Panamera has no trouble dancing through a corner or two. Aided by the optional rear-axle steering system (at a fairly reasonable—for a Porsche—$1,620), this Sport Turismo lapped our figure-eight course in 24.4 seconds at 0.79 g, and it averaged 0.96 g on the skidpad.
On the road, the Panamera E-Hybrid is, in a word, fascinating. Given the complicated dance going on between the Porsche’s gas engine, electric motor, eight-speed transmission, regenerative brakes, and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, you’d think the car would be constantly fighting itself. Instead, the systems are all in sync.
The stark differences between each of the Panamera’s four drive modes were probably the most interesting to me. With its battery full, E-Power mode is the default setting. Despite its modest 16 miles of electric range in this mode, this plug-in hybrid does a remarkable job at mimicking the experience of a traditional full-size electric vehicle, like a Tesla Model S. Aided by the PDK, the Panamera’s electric motor makes the most of its 136 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. On electrons the Sport Turismo feels decently quick, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 5-ish seconds. The gas engine only fires up in E-Power if you press the throttle past its kick-down point or once you deplete the battery, when the Panamera will change into Hybrid Auto mode.
Hybrid Auto seems to be the best of both worlds between full-electric E-Power and performance-optimized Sport and Sport Plus modes. In Hybrid Auto, the Panamera still prioritizes efficient electric driving, but it’ll quickly fire up its V-6 when power is needed or to charge the battery. You can also manually fire up the engine to either save the battery’s state of charge or to charge the battery using the gas engine. Again, the most remarkable thing here is how unremarkable it all is. Save for the tach swinging up and down as the gas engine unobtrusively turns on and off, the drive experience is pure Porsche.
That’s especially true in Sport and Sport Plus modes. The most amazing thing to me is how linear this car accelerates considering all the variables in the powertrain—you get a punch in the gut from the electric motor and all-wheel-drive system off the line, and then the Porsche’s V-6 picks up as the motor begins to lose steam. The result is a car that pulls strongly up near its 6,800-rpm redline before the transmission slingshots you into the next highest gear.
As we saw at the track, the long-roof Panamera hybrid is happy to dance, too. Like the last Panamera, the Sport Turismo drives far smaller than it is on twisty roads, thanks in part to its optional rear-wheel steering system. It’s easy to overdrive the car at first because of how quickly it turns in, but once you’re used to the car, it settles into a corner beautifully. If we’re nitpicking (and to be clear, I am), the Panamera’s sole weakness is that its steering feel borders on gummy in fast, back-to-back bends.
Efficiency
And now we come to the reason why the Panamera E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is the ultimate family car for the moneyed among us—simply put, no other vehicle (save for maybe a Tesla Model S P100D) is as fast, fun to drive, practical, and efficient as the electrified Panamera wagon.
The 16 miles of range the EPA rates the Panamera E-Hybrid’s battery at is accurate, and provided you have access to a Level 2 charger, it only takes about three hours for the Porsche’s battery to charge back up. Even with its small 14.1-kW-hr battery (and while only charging every other day), I managed to drive 122 miles on the battery pack and electric motor alone, according to the Panamera’s trip computer. Driven as a hybrid with the battery pack depleted, I averaged a hair over 23 mpg, 1 mpg better than the Sport Turismo’s 22-mpg EPA combined rating.
At 22 mpg, the Panamera E-Hybrid Sport Turismo ain’t exactly a Prius—but that’s just the point. No vehicle in its peer class, including heavyweights like the Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 4Matic or BMW 740e xDrive, so capably balances performance with efficiency. Yeah, at $118,150 it’s expensive, but considering it’s a capable sports car, family hauler, and relative efficiency, shouldn’t it be?
Ultimately the importance of cars like the Panamera E-Hybrid goes beyond how fast and efficient it is—performance hybrids like this Porsche help change the public perception of electrified vehicles. As the world slowly shifts to battery electric vehicles, cars like the Panamera Sport Turismo E-Hybrid will act as the stepping stone by showing the world that you really can have your cake—and eat it, too.
2018 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo BASE PRICE $105,050 PRICE AS TESTED $118,150 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door wagon ENGINE 2.9L/330-hp/331-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6 plus 136-hp/295-lb-ft electric motor; 464 hp/516 lb-ft combined TRANSMISSION 8-speed twin-clutch auto CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 5,016 lb (48/52%) WHEELBASE 116.1 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 198.8 x 76.3 x 56.0 in TEST DATA ACCELERATION TO MPH 0-30 1.2 sec 0-40 1.9 0-50 2.8 0-60 3.7 0-70 4.9 0-80 6.3 0-90 7.8 0-100 9.7 0-100-0 13.9 PASSING, 45-65 MPH 2.0 QUARTER MILE 12.3 sec @ 112.7 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 109 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.96 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 24.4 sec @ 0.79 g (avg) TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 1,200 rpm EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 20/25/22 mpg ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 169/135 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.88 lb/mile
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robertkstone · 6 years
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Jeep Wrangler: 2019 Motor Trend SUV of the Year Finalist
WE LIKE Drives better, rides better, easier to take apart
WE DON’T LIKE Soggy V-6 torque, loud interior
“With the roof open and the wind in your hair, early Beatles playing on the radio, it takes you back to that golden childhood you never really had,” Kim Reynolds said, stepping out of the Jeep Wrangler Sahara. “It’s a bit like driving a classic car.”
The Wrangler generated a lot of philosophical thought among the judges. After all, how do you judge a vehicle that’s nothing like anything else on the market—an actual SUV in the purest (purist’s) sense?
“Icon is a much-abused term, but it’s difficult to describe the Jeep Wrangler any other way,” Angus MacKenzie said. “This is an SUV whose style is substance; the Wrangler looks the way it does because of what it does. The advancement in design is in the minutiae, the tiny details that make it more useable, more capable.”
Same goes for engineering excellence, which manifests in features like the detachable anti-roll bar on the Rubicon model or the removable side panels on the Sahara. “The genius of this Jeep is that it can be configured to suit the off-roading ambitions of neophyte and expert alike and deliver an experience that will reward them both,” MacKenzie said.
Even icons aren’t perfect, though. We found the V-6 engine coarse and underwhelming, particularly when paired with the long-geared manual transmission. Both the hardtop and softtop models couldn’t keep out road noise. And your friends will hate the Wrangler’s pinched second-row ingress and egress.
Mark Rechtin captured the dichotomy: “This is the ultimate retro-modern vehicle. No other legendary car does this, not the 911, not even the Mustang. The Wrangler retains all the original crudeness, noise, and ruggedness—just with updated technology and so much more capability and function and ease of use.”
READ ABOUT 2019 SUV OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS:
BMW X2
BMW X3
BMW X4
Cadillac XT4
Ford EcoSport
Ford Edge
Hyundai Santa Fe
Infiniti QX50
Jaguar E-Pace
Jeep Cherokee
Lexus RX L
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Nissan Kicks
Subaru Ascent
Toyota RAV4
READ ABOUT 2019 CAR OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS:
Buick Regal
Ford Mustang
Ford Transit Connect
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Elantra
Honda Clarity
Kia Forte
Lexus ES
Lexus LS
Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
Nissan Altima
Toyota Avalon
Toyota Corolla Hatchback
Volkswagen Jetta
2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4×4 Unlimited Sahara 4×4 Unlimited Rubicon 4×4 Base Price/As tested $39,540/$47,355 $39,890/$54,045 $43,040/$56,100 Power (SAE net) 285 hp @ 6,400 rpm 270 hp @ 5,250 rpm 270 hp @ 5,250 rpm Torque (SAE net) 260 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm 295 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm 295 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm Accel, 0-60 mph 7.4 sec 8.1 sec 8.0 sec Quarter-mile 15.8 sec @ 83.6 mph 16.3 sec @ 82.6 mph 16.2 sec @ 83.2 mph Braking, 60-0 mph 150 ft 140 ft 145 ft Lateral Acceleration 0.63 g (avg) 0.68 g (avg) 0.68 g (avg) MT Figure Eight 31.3 sec @ 0.48 g (avg) 29.5 sec @ 0.56 g (avg) 29.9 sec @ 0.56 g (avg) EPA City/Hwy/Comb 17/25/20 mpg 22/24/22 mpg 22/24/22 mpg Vehicle Layout Front-engine, 4WD, 4-pass, 2-door SUV Front-engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Front-engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission 3.6L DOHC 24-valve V-6 /6-speed manual 2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4 /8-speed automatic 2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4 /8-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 4,355 lb (51/49%) 4,541 lb (51/49%) 4,755 lb (52/48%) Wheelbase 96.8 in 118.4 in 118.4 in Length x Width x Height 166.8 x 73.8 x 73.6 in 188.4 x 73.8 x 73.6 in 188.4 x 73.8 x 73.6 in Energy Cons, City/Hwy 198/135 kW-hrs/100 miles 153/140 kW-hrs/100 miles 153/140 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 0.98 lb/mile 0.85 lb/mile 0.85 lb/mile
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robertkstone · 6 years
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Ford Mustang: 2019 Motor Trend Car of the Year Contender
WE LIKE The sound, styling, and acceleration
WE DON’T LIKE How it handles, price-value equation
Not many vehicles have the visceral feel of the Mustang GT.
Both the Bullitt and convertible versions we tested are powered by Ford’s famous 5.0, each tuned to deliver its own unique and vicious roar. Chris Theodore waxed nostalgic: “I swear the Bullitt’s exhaust note exactly matches the soundtrack from the movie.” In the convertible, you don’t need to put the top down to enjoy the V-8’s burble; it’s loud enough for everyone in the area to enjoy—or scorn.
You don’t need to drive the new Bullitt edition hard to enjoy it—rowing the stick shift at a normal pace is far more pleasurable than one would expect. And the convertible’s optional 10-speed automatic quickly snaps through the gears under full load.
The engine’s robust power output makes both models straight-line brutes, but things change when the road starts to twist. On the winding track, the Mustangs fell apart with poor body control and a rear end that has a mind of its own. As Angus MacKenzie puts it, “both [the Bullitt] and the convertible feel clumsy with heavy-handed nanny interventions when driven hard. Switch everything off, and both cars are very hard to balance, very easy to spin.” Mark Rechtin had the convertible collapse into limp-home mode in less than two laps of the circuit.
Although the Bullitt is engineered as a back-road blaster, “the ride on this car is just so awful,” Christian Seabaugh said. “It’s choppy and rough, even on perfectly smooth pavement.”
When taking their handling manners into account, along with some chintzy interior components and $50,000-plus price tags, our pair of Mustangs don’t excel in enough of our criteria.
READ ABOUT 2019 SUV OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS:
BMW X2
BMW X3
Ford EcoSport
Ford Edge
Hyundai Santa Fe
Infiniti QX50
Jaguar E-Pace
Jeep Cherokee
Lexus RX L
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Subaru Ascent
2019 Ford Mustang GT (Convertible) Bullitt Base Price/As tested $45,850/$56,725 $47,590/$51,385 Power (SAE net) 460 hp @ 7,000 rpm* 480 hp @ 7,000 rpm* Torque (SAE net) 420 lb-ft @ 4,600 rpm* 420 lb-ft @ 4,600 rpm* Accel, 0-60 mph 4.2 sec 4.6 sec Quarter-mile 12.5 sec @ 114.5 mph 12.9 sec @ 112.5 mph Braking, 60-0 mph 111 ft 105 ft Lateral Acceleration 0.96 g (avg) 0.98 g (avg) MT Figure Eight 24.3 sec @ 0.82 g (avg) 24.3 sec @ 0.81 g (avg) EPA City/Hwy/Comb 15/24/18 mpg* 15/24/18 mpg* Vehicle Layout Front-engine, RWD, 4-pass, 2-door convertible Front-engine, RWD, 4-pass, 2-door coupe Engine/Transmission 5.0L DOHC 32-valve V-8/10-speed automatic 5.0L DOHC 32-valve V-8/6-speed manual Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 4,038 lb (53/47%) 3,866 lb (54/46%) Wheelbase 107.1 in 107.1 in Length x Width x Height 188.5 x 75.4 x 54.9 in 188.5 x 75.4 x 54.3 in Energy Cons, City/Hwy 225/140 kW-hrs/100 miles 225/140 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 1.08 lb/mile 1.08 lb/mile * Engine output tested on Premium fuel, EPA results tested on Regular
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