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fokohow · 4 years

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CADILLAC XT6: 10 THINGS TO KNOW

Here are 10 things you might want to know about the new 2020 Cadillac XT6.

Not only did I recently take advantage of a round trip between Montreal and Quebec City to familiarize myself with the XT6 SUV, I also experienced Cadillac’s online service (Cadillac Live) for an hour to discuss 10 things you should know in greater depth. Or what I thought I knew…

1 Hello, I’m listening!

Cadillac Online is a web-based conversation between you and a Cadillac expert. Please note that I do not write “sales consultant”. The expert will talk to you about all aspects of any Cadillac product except price. To negotiate, buy or lease, you will need to contact a Cadillac dealer.

The expert will be happy to pass the baton to the franchisee you already know, or he will suggest two or three based on your postal code. Either way, everyone knows everything about us these days…

2 Secret Fortress

They are several experts walking around, camera in hand, in what looks like a vast futuristic showroom where at least one of every Cadillac currently on the Canadian market is assembled. The exact location of the white cave is kept secret. All we know is that it’s somewhere in Ontario. Come to think of it, it may be the underground bunker used by Mike Myers to shoot his Austin Powers trilogy. Except that the expert I talked to didn’t look at all like Dr. Evil.

3 Very Special Agent

Her name was Amy. Originally from Saguenay, she has been working for Cadillac Online since the beginning of the digital initiative in March 2019. As soon as we connect, go ahead and ask all your questions. Amy is the one holding the camera and pointing it at the part of the vehicle you are interested in. You’re actually driving around the XT6 with her. You can see her (when she points the lens at her face) but she can’t see you, so you can store at the poolside, Amy won’t mind.

4 An invention from here

She told me that her conversations with potential clients can last three minutes (she is given a specific glue) or an hour and a half (probably the client really wants to talk that day). This unique service is available seven days a week, in both official languages, until one o’clock in the morning on weekdays.

Cadillac Live was created for Canadians, and then Americans followed suit in January of this year. Natalie Nankil, Senior Director of Communications for General Motors products, admits that the service is still “a little too well kept secret” but now that the pandemic has gotten people used to talking about Zoom and online shopping is on the rise, the virtual showroom’s popularity is expected to snowball.

5 From the place

The first aspect of the XT6 that Amy wants to highlight is its three rows of seats. Those in the middle easily disappear from the path to the folding seats, but you have to step over a high threshold and endure cruel padding for the buttocks. On the other hand, the high clearance smiled perfectly at my sombrero.

My laziness also loved the 50/50 seatbacks in the back seat that lower and raise at the touch of an electric switch. Standard, too.

In the Premium Luxury model, the cabin is clad in exotic wood, while in the Sport, the cabin prefers carbon fiber. On the outside, the two versions stand out mainly through the use of chrome or blacked-out edging, but only the Sport is available with the optional 21-inch soles.

6 Mission luxury

In addition to good old-fashioned buttons on the panel, console and steering wheel, a rotary joystick allows you to manipulate the 8″ center screen without smudging it with fingerprints. The 14-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system helps us better understand what Hubert Lenoir is saying. Plus, six USB jacks, one pair per row of leather thrones.

The XT6 comes with a host of driving aids, but the optional ones are just as numerous as the standard ones. What about the Super Cruise? You know, GM’s artificial intelligence that governs its semi-autonomous driving system (the equivalent of Tesla’s Autopilot and Nissan’s ProPILOT). The gizmo is currently available on the Cadillac CT5, CT5-V, CT4-V and Escalade 2021, but not yet for the XT6, and no one has been able to tell me when this gap will be filled.

7 A little publicity?

Built at the Spring Hill, Tennessee plant, the Cadillac XT6 first made its world debut at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show – the last in its long history to be held in January – and its Canadian debut at the Toronto Auto Show in February of that year. GM immediately positioned it between the XT5 and the Escalade.

During the last six months of 2019 when the XT6 went on sale, 46 units were sold in Quebec. Far, far behind the two leaders in the luxury mid-size SUV segment, the Lexus RX (940) and the Mercedes-Benz GLE (885). At least the little brother XT5 saved face with 788 contracts.

8 In the bowels

The 310-horsepower 3.6L V6 is certainly not exclusive to the XT6. Lift the hood of the XT5, a Colorado or Canyon, the Traverse/Acadia/Enclave trio (identical platform to the Cadillac) or even a Camaro LS or LT and there it is, all dashing. At the very least, it puts two cylinders to rest when the power of the V6 isn’t needed. Add to this good idea the 9-speed automatic transmission plus the four driving modes, and you can expect fuel consumption of between 9 and 12 liters per 100 km.

9 Confort sportif

The Sport model’s all-wheel drive (AWD) makes its occupants feel more agitated, while the firmness of the shocks continually yo-yoes with the nature of the surface encountered under the tires and the steering wheel, with its heightened sensitivity, wiggles a little more in the driver’s palms.

10 Figures

What does the 2863 mm wheelbase and 5050 mm length of the XT6 tell us? That they slightly exceed the dimensions of a class-leading Lexus RX. The 356, 1220 or 2228 liter capacity, depending on the number of reclining backrests, also looks good, as does the towing capacity of 1814 kg (4000 lbs). In short, starting at $61,098 (compared to $87,698 for the V8-powered Escalade), the XT6 is aimed above all at the followers of a brand whose prestige still overshadows the many assets of the vast competition. At least in their eyes… and certainly according to Amy!

#cars carsofinstagram CarsWithOutLimits carspotting carstagram carshow carsandcoffee carspotter carselfie carsovereverything

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perksofwifi · 5 years

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Specs Check: 2020 Porsche Macan vs. Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe vs. Range Rover Evoque

The four-cylinder Macan might be Porsche’s entry-level SUV, but its price point puts it right at the heart of the sporty, four-cylinder premium compact SUV segment. That Porsche badge brings a lot with it: a reputation for engineering excellence and a prestige earned over decades of building one of the world’s most iconic sports cars. But does it bring enough to beat stylish and similarly priced rivals from Mercedes and Land Rover: the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic Coupe and the Range Rover Evoque HSE R-Dynamic P300?

We’ve yet to get all three together, wheel to wheel on the test track, to find out for certain. But a quick look at the facts and the numbers gives us a pretty good idea of each vehicle’s relative strengths and weaknesses. Keep reading to find out how these three small luxury SUVs stack up.

Size and Design

In terms of size, the Macan sits between the slightly large GLC Coupe and noticeably smaller Evoque. Overall length is 184.3 inches, compared with the GLC Coupe’s 186.3 inches and the Evoque’s 172.1-inch length. At 76.1 inches, the Macan is the widest of the three, with the GLC Coupe measuring 74.4 inches and the Evoque 75.0 inches. The Macan’s overall height is 63.9 inches, making it almost an inch taller than the low-slung GLC Coupe, and 1 inch lower than the high-riding Evoque. The Mercedes and Range Rover have 5.7 and 8.3 inches of ground clearance, respectively, compared with the Macan’s 8.0 inches.

The GLC Coupe boasts the longest wheelbase (113.1 inches versus the Macan’s 110.5 inches and the Evoque’s 105.6) and thus offers the most room for rear-seat passengers. But it has less load carrying capacity than the Porsche at 17.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 49.9 cubes with the seats folded versus the Macan’s 17.7 and 53.0 cubes. Surprisingly, the Mercedes offers significantly less cargo capacity than the smaller Range Rover (at 21.5 and 50.5 cubic feet).

Visually refreshed for the 2019 model year, the Macan shares key styling elements with the rest of the Porsche lineup, including the four-point DRLs up front and the full-width taillight graphic at the rear. As with all modern Porsches, the sheetmetal’s form language—softly contoured yet with carefully controlled surfaces—subtly references the 911. It looks … like a Porsche.

Completely redesigned for the 2020 model year, replacing a vehicle that has sold almost 800,000 units worldwide, the new Evoque offers a smoother, sleeker, more reductive take on its predecessor’s pert proportions. Beautifully rendered and lovingly detailed, it looks as if it has been driven straight out of the design studio. Of the three, it’s the most modern take on the genre.

The GLC 300 Coupe shares the same basic front clip as the regular GLC 300, but it gets a sportier, single bar grille. From the base of the A-pillar back, however, the sheetmetal is unique. It’s difficult to make something as tall and bulky as an SUV look as svelte and sexy as a low-slung coupe. However, although the GLC Coupe carries off the idea with much more élan than its larger GLE Coupe sibling, from some angles it still looks slightly bloated and overblown.

Performance and Dynamics

All three SUVs are powered by 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Contrary to expectations, perhaps, the Macan’s engine is the least powerful of the three, developing 248 hp from 5,000 rpm to 6,750 rpm, compared with the GLC Coupe’s 255 hp at 5,000 rpm and the Evoque P300’s 296 hp at 5,500 rpm. The Porsche’s torque output of 273 lb-ft is identical to that of the Mercedes but shy of the 295 lb-ft the Range Rover’s engine develops.

But the headline numbers don’t tell the full story. According to manufacturer numbers, the 4,099-pound Macan is just as quick to 60 mph as the 4,028-pound GLC Coupe, taking 6.3 seconds for the sprint. And the Evoque, despite its superior power and torque, took a surprisingly lethargic 8.3 seconds to get to 60 mph during testing for our 2020 SUV of the Year evaluations. Claimed top speeds for all three are impressive for compact SUVs: 142 mph for the Porsche, 147 mph for the Mercedes, and 150 mph for the Range Rover.

The Evoque’s mass—our tester tipped the scales at 4,394 pounds—was undoubtedly a factor in its relatively sluggish performance on the track. The Macan, by contrast, punches above its weight, helped by the fact that its engine delivers its peak power for 1,750 rpm longer than the GLC Coupe’s engine and 1,250 rpm more than the Evoque’s, and that its seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission is more responsive than the nine-speed automatics in the other two vehicles.

All three vehicles are built on different architecture formats. The Mercedes shares its bones with the rear-drive C-Class, and the Porsche is built on a small version of MLB, the curious Audi-sourced architecture that accommodates the brand’s trademark longitudinally mounted engine and front-drive/Quattro driveline. The Evoque rolls on JLR’s new Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA), a mixed-metal platform constructed of regular and high-strength steel, aluminum, and magnesium that’s designed around transverse-mounted engines and allows a lower-cost front-drive layout as well as all-wheel drive.

The Range Rover thus has more of its mass (59 percent) over the front axle than the other two. Relatively stiff suspension helps control excessive understeer, but even so, it’s not as enjoyable on a winding road as the better-balanced and better-riding Porsche. The Macan also benefits from a driveline that routinely funnels as much of the drive as possible to the rear axle—the exact opposite of the Evoque, which automatically cuts drive to the rear axle whenever it can to improve fuel efficiency. In between the two is the Mercedes, which also rides better than the Evoque but doesn’t steer with the same clarity as the Porsche, or grip as concisely through the corners.

Where the Range Rover beats the other two, however, is off-road. With more ground clearance and better approach and departure angles, the Evoque will confidently go further into the boonies than either the Porsche or the Mercedes. Order the Macan with height-adjustable air suspension (a $2,750 option), and ground clearance can be increased to 9.0 inches in off-road mode, 0.7 inch more than the Evoque. But it still won’t match the Range Rover’s approach angle (18.5 degrees versus 19.5 degrees), departure angle (25.3 degrees versus 30.6 degrees), or ramp over angle (18.8 degrees versus 20.7 degrees). And although it can wade through 13.3 inches of water—up from 11.8 inches for the standard steel-spring Macan—the Evoque can tackle pools up to 23.6 inches deep.

Efficiency: MPG and Range

Here’s where the nine-speed transmissions in the Mercedes and Range Rover pay off. According to the EPA, the GLC 300 Coupe is the most efficient of the three, rated at 21/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined.

The Evoque is rated at 21/26/23 mpg. Those numbers aren’t super impressive, given the P300 is a mild hybrid. Comprising a 14.7-hp belt-integrated starter-generator that harvests energy during deceleration phases and stores it in a small underfloor battery, the 48-volt system is claimed to deliver a 6 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, with the e-motor providing extra torque fill during regular driving. But the benefits are hard to determine, either on the road or at the pump.

The Macan works its engine harder, and it shows with EPA ratings of 19/23/21 mpg. But the Porsche has the biggest gas tank of the three, being fitted with the 19.8-gallon item that’s available as an option in Europe and other markets, giving a theoretical highway cruising range of about 455 miles. That’s still less than either the Mercedes (487 miles) or the Range Rover (460 miles), which are fitted with 17.4-gallon and 17.7-gallon gas tanks, respectively.

Price

With a base price of $52,250, the Macan is the cheapest new Porsche you can buy. For that you get the SUV that is far and away the driver’s choice of this bunch, but not much else. Although the Porsche does come with the best infotainment system of this trio, stuff that’s standard on the other two—even basics like heated front seats and keyless entry, never mind fashion items like 19-inch (Mercedes) or 20-inch (Range Rover) wheels—costs extra. In fact, if the Macan were specified to have a similar level of equipment as the $56,795 Evoque HSE R-Dynamic, which comes standard with high-tech goodies such as adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, you’d be looking at spending more than $67,000.

In terms of base price, the $50,995 GLC 300 Coupe easily looks like the value buy. But although you might get flashier wheels than the Macan, you don’t get an infotainment system with the same level of functionality. And when you look carefully at the standard equipment list, you’ll soon find you’d have to spend almost $58,000 for a GLC 300 Coupe fitted out to the same level as the $56,795 Evoque.

The post Specs Check: 2020 Porsche Macan vs. Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe vs. Range Rover Evoque appeared first on MotorTrend.

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/porsche/macan/2020/2020-porsche-macan-vs-mercedes-benz-glc-300-4matic-coupe-range-rover-evoque-hse-r-dynamic-p300/ visto antes em https://www.motortrend.com

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onwheelsxyz-blog · 5 years

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First Drive: 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe 2020 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 CoupeCosta Mouzouris / Driving INNSBRUCK, Austria The amount of snow near Innsbruck in late November was astounding. Along some mountain roads, it was piled three metres high, proving a nearly ideal setting to test the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe especially since lower elevations provided more temperate conditions, enabling an all-season test in a day.The new GLE Coupe has received a significant update, and has grown in the process. Wheelbase and overall length are 20 and 70 millimetres longer, respectively, than the current model, though wheelbase is still shorter than the GLE SUV, at 2,935 mm. Rear passengers get 35 mm more legroom, and theres more cargo space.Storage capacity in the cargo area is 655 litres, which expands to 1,790 litres with the rear seats folded; the latter is an increase of 70 litres compared to the outgoing GLE Coupe. This compares to 630/2,055 litres for the GLE SUV, so the sloping roofline does extract a cost in total luggage capacity. It also limits headroom for rear passengers; a six-footer like me just barely clears the headliner. The loading deck is 60 mm lower, and to further ease cargo loading the GLE can be lowered another 50 with the press of a button.The GLE Coupe gets a new 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six that produces 429 horsepower and 384 lb.-ft. of torque. This is an increase of 44 horsepower over the current GLE 43, though the torque figure is the same. The GLE 53 gets an additional boost in

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mercedesdealer-blog · 5 years

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The New Mercedes-Benz GLS Reaches Dealers

The new Mercedes-Benz GLS is the biggest and most luxurious SUV in Mercedes-Benz. It will reach Mercedes Dealer North San Diego and in Europe towards the end of this year.

Its dimensions have experienced an increase (length: +77 mm, width: +22 mm). The increase of the battle in 60 mm results in greater habitability, which is especially noticeable in the second row of seats. The three rows of seats with integral electric adjustment provide a lot of space and comfort to all occupants. The third-row seats can be retracted on the floor of the cargo space with the help of an electric drive. This allows expanding the volume of the trunk to a total of 2,400 liters. The second row can be folded down to configure a flat load surface. For the first time, a six-seater variant is offered with two individual comfort seats in the second row.

In the GLS 580, 4MATIC celebrates its world premiere an electrified V8 engine with an additional 48-volt mains, EQ Boost technology, and integrated starter-alternator. This group displays 360 kW (489 hp) and 700 Nm of torque, to which another 250 Nm of torque and 16 kW / 22 hp of power can be added briefly using the EQ Boost function. The integrated starter-alternator (ISG) assumes some functions of hybrid propulsion systems such as, for example, EQ Boost or recovery, and allows to reach fuel consumption levels that, until now, were reserved for models with high hybrid technology voltage.

The propulsion of the two diesel models of the GLS is carried out by the OM 656 six-cylinder engine in line with the current range of engines. Depending on the market launch date, this model will be available in two power levels, the GLS 350 d 4MATIC with 286 hp and 600 Nm and the GLS 400 d 4MATIC with 330 hp and 700 Nm of torque. In both versions, the powerful engine already meets the requirements of the Euro 6d standard, even in the demanding driving conditions established by RDE (RDE / Real Driving Emissions level 2). These rules and norms will enter into force on January 1, 2020, for the approval of new models, and one year later for all newly registered vehicles.

With the latest driving assistants

Like the GLE, the GLS is equipped with the most advanced generation of Mercedes-Benz driver assistance systems, designed to provide cooperative assistance to the driver. The new 4MATIC all-wheel drive is a guarantee of high road agility and outstanding performance outside the asphalt. The new GLS convinces in the field of aerodynamics with a coefficient of aerodynamic drag cx from 0.32. A notable novelty is a function for washing tunnels. With the press of a button, this comfort attribute is responsible for preparing the vehicle to enter the station.

The undercarriage is based on the 48-volt network provides excellent suspension comfort, great agility and maneuverability and notorious suitability for all-terrain. Like the GLE, the GLS is equipped with the most advanced generation of Mercedes-Benz driver assistance systems, designed to provide cooperative assistance to the driver.

The new 4MATIC all-wheel drive is a guarantee of high road agility, coupled with outstanding performance outside the asphalt. The new GLS convinces in the field of aerodynamics with a coefficient of aerodynamic drag cx from 0.32. A notable novelty is a function for washing tunnels, which is responsible for preparing the vehicle to enter the washing station with the press of a button.

Since the introduction of the M-Class in 1997, Mercedes-Benz manufactures high-end SUVs at its Tuscaloosa plant, in the State of Alabama (USA). The United States constitutes the largest sales market for this series, which also enjoys growing acceptance in China. Since 2006 a large format variant has been offered, the GL with space for seven people.

In 2015 a restyling was carried out, which accentuated the luxurious character of the second generation of the SUV more spacious with the star. At the same time, its name was changed to GLS. But that is not all. Like the S-Class saloon, the GLS is the leader of its segment in the United States market. Since the introduction into the market in 2006, more than 550,000 large-format SUV units (GL/GLS) have been sold.

As told by, biggest Mercedes dealer in California the flexibility of the interior is total. The second row of seats can be adjusted longitudinally by 10 centimeters, all the benches can be folded electrically and individually, and there is an easy access function to the third row (in which adults of more than 1.9 meters could be accommodated, according to Mercedes).

In terms of comfort, we can ask for screens, massage functions and a two-seater configuration for the second row of seats. The ride comfort is ensured thanks to the standard Airmartic air suspension (which also controls the height of the body regardless of the load) and can be raised to even higher levels if we order the E-Active Body Control undercarriage, which is capable to independently control the action of the suspension on each wheel, the Road Surface Scan, which 'reads' the road and prepares the suspension for its irregularities or the active stabilization Curve, which minimizes the swinging of the turns.

The engines planned for the Mercedes-Benz GLS 2020 include diesel and electrified gasoline options. Access to the range will be made through the GLS 350 d with 286 hp, which will share prominence among the diesel with the GLS 400 d (330 hp). The only gasoline propeller (at least initially), the GLS 580, is a V8 that bears the 'surname' EQ Boost.

There is even a new washing tunnel assistant that activates the front chamber to make access easier, raises the height of the body for better cleaning or deactivates automatic windshields and folds the mirrors to avoid unwanted damage.

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#NewAclassmercedes #SprinterServiceCenter #NewGLEMercedes

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rkcarnews-blog · 5 years

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New Post has been published on https://www.rkcars.my/2020-mercedes-benz-gle-580-debuts-with-mild-hybrid-v8-power/

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 580 Debuts With Mild Hybrid V8 Power

At the heart of the GLE 580 4MATIC is the powerful, electrified V8 biturbo gasoline engine with a 48-volt on-board electrical system and integrated starter generator. This sophisticated powerplant offers an impressive output of 483 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. In addition, the GLE 580 4MATIC is capable of producing an extra 184 lb-ft of torque and 21 horsepower through EQ Boost over short periods. The integrated starter generator (ISG) is responsible for hybrid functions such as EQ Boost and energy recuperation, resulting in fuel savings previously reserved for high-voltage hybrid technology.

The innovative ISG eliminates the need for a belt drive for ancillary components at the front of the engine, which reduces its overall length. The slim design of the engine, together with the physical separation of the intake/exhaust, creates space for a close-coupled exhaust after treatment.

The 48 V on-board electrical system serves not only high power consumers, such as the water pump and air-conditioning compressor, but also the integrated starter-generator (ISG), which also supplies energy to the battery by means of highly efficient energy recuperation.

The GLE 580 4MATIC also boasts the latest technological innovations from Mercedes-Benz including the variable 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. The revolutionary Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system with Voice Control and natural language understanding is further enhanced with the newly available MBUX Interior Assistant. This update allows for intuitive operation of different comfort and MBUX functions by movement recognition.

In addition to its powerful exterior design, the new GLE offers an entirely redesigned interior with a dual 12.3” digital instrument cluster and touchscreen display, increased space and legroom for passengers and integrated grab handles on the center console.

Starting at $76,800,* the GLE 580 4MATIC features an extensive list of standard equipment including AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping, leather upholstery, and exterior AMG Line, and it is optionally available with 22” wheels.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLE 580 4MATIC joins the GLE 350, GLE 350 4MATIC and GLE 450 4MATIC models, and will go on sale in the U.S. in late 2019.

*Above price excludes $995 destination and delivery.

#Debuts #GLE #Hybrid #MercedesBenz #Mild #Power #V8

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componentplanet · 5 years

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Car of the Year: ExtremeTech’s Best Cars for 2020

How do you pick the right Car of the Year when so many cars are so good? You can choose the car you’d drive if you had Wall Street money (Flash: Porsche 911 Named Car of the Year Again). You can award the vehicle that drives over boulders (Flash: Jeep Gladiator Honored). You can call on your must-be-Motown roots (Flash: Corvette Wins Car of the Year Again), especially this year when the Corvette is a legit choice. But in the hands of others, that mindset also gave us the Chevrolet Vega, the Mustang II, the Chevrolet Citation, and the second coming of the Ford Thunderbird in 2002.

What about us? At ExtremeTech, we’re looking for a highly competent car that is forward-looking on technology, safety, and driver assists: a car that has still-desirable features and tech when it comes off lease and goes to the next owner at three our four years of age. Seventy percent of cars sold each year are previously owned. As for criteria, we have no price cap; some pubs say no more than 2.5X the average new car price, which average price in November was $38,400 according to KBB.com, excluding incentives, but we’d expect a lot more technology in a $100,000 car than a $25,000 car. Our preference is the car be available to buyers by the beginning of the year, not vaporware. Plus, it should be fun to drive on top of the technical merits. Here’s the 2020 ExtremeTech Car of the Year and, in alphabetical order, the rest of the top 10.

Seen-it-all journos give the 2020 Car of the Year Hyundai Sonata the thumbs up.

Car of the Year: 2020 Hyundai Sonata

In yet another Year of the SUV, where seven in 10 sales go to SUVs, crossovers, and pickups, the best new vehicle is a sedan: the 2020, eighth-generation Hyundai Sonata. Really. Sonata. Only once you have a) seen how good-looking the 2020 model is, b) gone through the list of standard safety technology and c) driven the Sonata can you fully understand the very neat trick Hyundai pulled off.

For starters, the following Hyundai SmartSense driver-assist features below are standard on all four trim lines of every 2020 Sonata (and the last is standard on the trims above SE that account for 85-90 percent of Sonata sales):

Stop and go adaptive cruise control (Hyundai’s term: “advanced smart cruise control”)

Forward collision warning, auto emergency braking, pedestrian detection (“forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection”)

Auto high beams (“automatic high beam assist”)

Lane keep assist (steers the car back from the lane edges)

Lane centering assist (“lane follow assist”)

Driver drowsiness detection (“driver attention warning”)

Dynamic backing guidelines for the (federally mandated) rearview camera

(SEL, SEL Plus, Limited:) Blind-spot detection (“blind-spot collision avoidance assist”) / rear cross-traffic alert (“rear cross-traffic avoidance assist”)

This is every bit of driver assistance tech you’d expect on any 2020 car, even high-end cars.

Hyundai Blind Spot View Monitor (BVM) shows what’s in your blind spot (also beeps, flashes).

There’s more driver assistance, if you want it: On the top two trim lines, Hyundai has Level 2 self-driving called Highway Drive Assist. It works well. On the top line, Sonata Limited, Remote Smart Parking Assist self-drives your car into and out of a parking space or garage with you out of the car, for about 30 feet worth of self-drive parking. Also on Limited is a Blind Spot View Monitor (photo above) that shows left and right rear video views in the instrument panel, twice as wide as what you’d see from the side mirror, and you still get warning chirps and lights. All in a mainstream car, not a Lexus or Mercedes.

There’s also phone-as-key (just what it sounds like) called Hyundai Digital Key using NFC (near field communications). There’s also a separate NFC proximity card that opens and starts your car and costs about $20 (not $250) for a physical wireless remote key if you lose it. Hyundai Digital Key works with Android phones, and would work with iPhone if Apple allowed NFC for more things than Apple payments. Hello, Apple?

Hyundai knows navigation is a tough sell on lower-cost cars, so it makes standard Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and an 8-inch color touchscreen. Plug in your own phone for navigation. On the upper SEL Plus, Hyundai makes optional a 10.25-inch center display and onboard nav, and it’s standard on Limited because everything comes standard on Limited.

Sonata Limited cockpit.

A performance Sonata, the N Line, follows in 2020 (announced), then most likely a hybrid Sonata (widely expected) that will provide e-power to the rear wheels and give the Sonata all-wheel-drive without creating a space-robbing transmission tunnel for mechanical rear-wheel-drive. Of the top-selling sedans perceived as midsize, the No. 1 Toyota Camry will offer AWD in the spring after 27 years as front-wheel-drive only, No. 2 Honda Accord is front-drive only, No. 3 Nissan Altima got AWD with the 2019 model, and the Sonata is on the verge of being the No. 4 seller as soon as the current fourth- and fifth-place Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu hurry up and kick the bucket (never mind that they are very good sedans).

You get all this core safety (the bullet list above) in the Sonata for $26,430 including freight, or $28,830 for the SEL that has BSD, ten grand under the average selling price of a new car today. The Sonata Limited, maxed out with every option-that-is-actually-standard, sells for $34,530: The Car of the Year, loaded, at four grand under the price of the average new car sold today.

Hyundai’s new equipment-and-options scheme is nice: Features are fixed (no options offered) on entry and premium lines. The least expensive trim has no extra-cost options because shoppers are buying a low payment plan, such as a Sonata SE lease for $219 or 1.9 percent purchase financing; in late December, in some areas, it’s as low as a $99 lease or 0 percent APR 72-month loan. The middle trims offer options. At the top trim, most buyers want every option, so they’re all baked in. And the Sonata is made in America: Montgomery, Alabama, to be specific. Auto manufacturing is transforming the New South in Alabama, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Mississippi, and if the jobs aren’t in Michigan, they are in the US of A.

While the Sonata’s length of 192.9 inches says midsize, the interior volume of 120.4 cubic feet (104.4 feet passenger, 16.0 feet trunk) says full-size in EPA numbers (120 cubic feet and above). In every way, our Car of the Year is a cut above. And Hyundai is poised to pick up the slack as US-flagged automakers cut their sedan lines. Thirty percent of 17 million new vehicles is still 5 million sedans.

Anybody can make a great $75,000 car. It takes genius to engineer a great car for $30,000. Hyundai did it and that’s why the Sonata is the ExtremeTech Car of the Year for 2020.

Below, the rest of ExtremeTech’s top 10 cars for 2020:

BMW X5: An SUV that’s a kick to drive just about anywhere.

BMW X5: Safe, Fast Fun Has Its Price

If you want one higher-end vehicle that does it all – ultra-composed highway cruising with the family or back-roads carving on your own, carpooling or towing 7,200-pound trailers – that’s the 2019 BMW X5 midsize SUV. This the most balanced vehicle in the BMW lineup and offers more of the good stuff and good-life stuff – driver assists, entertainment, safety technology – albeit for a price. It rides well, handles well, and just feels good to be in. It’s the second year of the fourth-generation X5 that debuted as a 2019 model.

The 2020 X5 offers three engines: a 335-hp inline-six and a 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds, a 456-hp V8 (0-60, 4.6 seconds) and for 2020 an X5 M50i with a 523-hp V8 (0-60, 4.1 seconds). Near-perfection has its price: $59,895 for a rear-drive X5 (a whopping seventeen large over the compact X3), to $83,000 for the base X5 M50i (meaning parts from the BMW Motorsport bins), to $133,825 for the X5 M Competition, an all-Motorsport vehicle, fully optioned.

The six-cylinder X5 comes standard with dual 12.3-inch displays, LED headlamps, front/rear parking sonar, Active Driving Assistant (blind spot detection/rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, forward collision warning/city collision mitigation, and daytime pedestrian protection). You pay extra for adaptive cruise control (BMW’s standard “dynamic cruise control” sounds like ACC but really it’s cruise control), for the satellite radio tuner chip (it’s in packages starting at $1,050), and for nine of the 11 paint colors that add $550-$1,950. You may want things like laser headlamps, the rear air suspension, or ultra-premium audio, because why not? You must get the Driving Assistance Professional package ($1,750) with adaptive cruise control, lane centering, auto lane change (just flick the turn signal and it happens if it’s safe), and steering/traffic jam assistant.

A well-equipped X5 will run you $70,000-$75,000. Compared with the equally luxe, equally new Mercedes-Benz GLE, the Bimmer is more fun to drive. Compared with the Audi Q7, Audi still has a great interior but trails otherwise because it’s a five-year-old platform with a 2019 facelift.

Price, mid-engine design makes the Corvette a sports car for the young again.

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: Mid-Engine Magic

Corvette songs peaked in the sixties, give or take Prince and “Little Red Corvette,” and even that was 1982. Now Corvette culture is back, this time without gold chains, as the 2020 C8 (eighth-generation) Vette arrives. The engine is finally mounted behind the driver, something Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov dreamed of in the 1950s. There’s a seven-speed double-clutch transmission. The 491-hp V8 engine has variable valve timing, gasoline direct injection, and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) to make the car a responsible citizen that also hits 60 mph in 2.9 seconds with the Z51 package. A turbocharged, overhead-cam, hybrid – yes, hybrid – engine is reportedly in the offing for more fuel efficiency and more power, more power because the electric motors act as additional turbochargers that have zero lag.

The new Corvette offers magnetic ride control shocks – MR, or magnetorheological dampers – that can be sporty or soft. Testers who’ve had the C8 Corvette on the track find it quicker than the C7 Corvette of 2014-2019, and easier to drive. Amazingly, the list price (excluding freight) starts just over $61,000 with freight, $7,500 more for the hardtop convertible. Bring on the Porsches and Ferraris. Most people will pay more and the $100,000 Corvette is an easy possibility. The online configurator is addictive: You want orange seat belts, or Tension Blue, or Torch Red? That’s $395, please, if you don’t want black. You’ll discover front lift with memory, $1,495, that remembers via GPS up to 1,000 speed bumps and steep driveways and lifts the front end 2 inches before you get there. Hey, that’s cheap compared with replacing the front spoilers.

Hyundai Palisade: Upscale ride, cockpit, design. Less than $50,000.

Hyundai Palisade: So Good, So Affordable

If not for the Hyundai Sonata, the Hyundai Palisade might well be Car of the Year. The Palisade is the BMW X5/Mercedes-Benz GLE for $20,000 less, all of them with outstanding interiors and a raft of safety features and driver assists, and very different price points. With the Palisade, a slew of safety features come standard on all trim lines. The three rows fit seven (middle row captain’s chairs) or eight (bench), with semi-passable room in row three for adults. The 291-hp V6 and eight-speed automatic are plenty quick, if not in BMW’s league. (The $20K extra has to go for something, such as less body lean.) Hyundai Drive Assist gives you Level 2 autonomy, meaning the car drives itself on highways as long as you keep your hands lightly on the wheel most of the time.

We loved the Blind View Monitor on the premium trim line, Limited, with its 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Rear-side-facing cameras bring up a view to the left or right rear. depending on which directional signal is activated. That’s on top of a blind spot warning light in the side mirror, a pleasant chirp from the speakers, and what was a Hyundai/Genesis first, blind spot warnings in the head-up display. You can’t have too much of a good thing, especially for older drivers who can’t, or younger drivers who won’t, turn their heads to check traffic. (Editor’s note: Ignore the Consumer Reports early review that calls Palisade Blind View Monitor “clever … but some of our drivers considered this feature a mere novelty while others thought it could be distracting.” No way. It’s a feature that makes blind-spot detection even more useful.)

A loaded Palisade comes in at less than $48,000. The Palisade resets expectations on what you must pay for a great family-size SUV. Shop this (and sibling Kia Telluride, below) if you’re looking at best-seller Ford Explorer or Lincoln Aviator for that matter, as well as Chevrolet Traverse. It’s competitive with Audi/BMW/Mercedes SUVs as well.

The Jaguar I-Pace is the electric sports car SUV that doesn’t require paved roads.

Jaguar I-Pace: Charm of the Un-Tesla

If you want a sports car that’s quick, comfortable, great-looking, and comes with a $7,500 tax credit, that’s the Jaguar I-Pace. Most of all, it’s exclusive: Jaguar was bringing only about 3,000 to US shores for 2019, which is also about what demand is for a vehicle that’s snug in back relative to the Tesla Model S, Model X, or Model 3 and with a more modest range, 234 miles on the EPA test cycle or 292 miles for Europe’s WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure). To push range over 300 miles, you need several hundred more pounds of battery, and that hurts performance. And range. The US needs more cars like the I-Pace, our ExtremeTech Car of the Year a year ago, to make EVs sexier and more desirable.

At the $70,000 base price, it’s a great deal, as high-performance SUVs go. Or high-performance hatchbacks, which the I-Pace also closely resembles. Some people find it annoying when they spend a lot of money on a Black Sapphire Metallic BMW X4 and find the same X4 next to yours in the company parking lot, even if the other one is Carbon Black Metallic or Jet Black. (BMW sells a lot of black cars.) Won’t happen with the Jag.

Midsize Kia Telluride has all the right stuff, at a sub-$50K price (loaded).

Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride is a fraternal twin to the Hyundai Palisade. Engineers say every body and interior panel is different. But the drivetrain is the same, the EPA numbers are the same at 21 mpg combined city/highway, pricing is similar, and interior finish is first-class on both. The Telluride has four trim lines (LX, S, EX and SX), while the Palisade three (SE, SEL, and Limited). Entry models are about $33,000, both with full-range adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-centering steering, rear parking sensors, and a trailer stability system.

The Telluride (only) comes standard with blind-spot detection/rear cross-traffic alert and safe exit assist (alert sounds if you open a road-side door with traffic approaching). So if you shop the entry model, the Telluride is a better choice than the Palisade. Both offer a blind spot monitor (display) in the instrument panel, with Kia’s taking up the middle of the screen and Hyundai’s taking up the left-side circular speedometer or right-side tachometer, depending on whether the alert is on the left or right side. Kia has a traditional console shifter; Hyundai uses buttons that set aside more space for cupholders, phones, and keys. Fully optioned, the top trim line is about $47,500. (A Ford Explorer can hit $65,000.)

Subjectively, reviewers say the Kia looks ruggeder, in part with the rectangular grille shape and the Telluride name. The ride is about the same. The Telluride in the fall was outselling the Palisade by 20 percent, and Telluride was Motor Trend’s SUV of the Year; both are candidates for the NACTOY (North American Car and Truck of the Year) utility vehicle award to be announced Jan. 13. Either way, the two are shaking up the market, with the Telluride marketed as a sporty/rugged vehicle and the Palisade emphasizing a luxe interior. To us, the biggest difference is Telluride has blind-spot detection even on the entry trim line.

The midsize Lincoln Aviator is the best of the new Lincolns, hitting all the right notes.

Lincoln Aviator: Ford’s Luxury Brand Takes Off

The Lincoln Aviator represents the resurrection of the Lincoln Motor Company, which for more than a decade breathed Cadillac’s exhaust fumes. The midsize Aviator builds on the Ford Explorer (the best-selling midsize SUV in recent years) with luxury touches that resonate with buyers who, unlike X5 shoppers, don’t yearn for the chance they might one day want to autocross a 2.5-ton vehicle. Still: The Aviator, with a 400-hp twin-turbo V6, hits 60 mph in close to 5 seconds; the Aviator Grand Touring PHEV adds a 100-hp electric motor and batteries good for 18 miles. Inside, the cockpit is rich, refined, and tasteful. High-end trims get 28-speaker Revel audio and 30-way massaging seats. Or maybe it’s the other way around. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra created short musical chords that take the place of harsh beeps on other cars.

Standard safety is good: Co-Pilot 360 comprises forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot detection, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beams. But standard safety could be better: The Aviator line that runs $53,000 (Aviator) to $90,000 (Aviator Grand Touring Black Label) does not include, on lower trims, Co-Pilot 360 Plus with full-range adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and self-parking (parallel and perpendicular). The Aviator (formerly MK-something, MKT we believe), flanked by the bigger Navigator (always called Navigator), the smaller-midsize Nautilus (formerly MKX), and the compact Corsair (formerly MKC), is finally gaining momentum. For a Lincoln to advance from best-of-the-year for 2020 to models that are best of every year, it needs to work on quality control (the Aviator/Explorer rollout was messy) and give thought to some sporty variants.

Mazda CX-5: the definitive class-above compact SUV.

Mazda CX-5: So Good in So Many Ways

How often does one model surpass half an automaker’s sales? That’s the Mazda CX-5 compact SUV, with 151,000 of Mazda’s 300,000 US sales in 2018, a runaway success since the second generation arrived as a 2017 model. It’s nimble, seats four or five very comfortably, and now has a Grand Touring Reserve and Signature models with a 250 hp turbo engine and even nicer cockpit trim. Every mainstream automaker flaunts the term “class above,” but it’s Mazda that actually delivers. (Okay, the Hyundai Palisade/Kia Telluride in this story as well.) Fit and finish are first-rate and several Mazdas, including the CX-5, are cited among Consumer Reports’ most reliable vehicles.

Vehicle development engineer Dave Coleman says, “Mazda makes slow cars that are fun to drive fast.” Meaning there’s more fun pushing a normally powered car to its limits on a back road than carefully modulating the throttle on, say, an X3 to find you’re always holding back to avoid being 20 mph over the limit and having to lean hard on the brakes going into a curve. Mazda sweats the details on how the driver blends with the seat, even how his or her head bobs going over bumps or in turns, all to in the name of jinba ittai, or making horse and rider as one. The first time you hear jinba ittai, you wonder if this is more marketing BS. Over time, you realize this is what Mazda is about, and why a comparatively small company slays so many dragons.

The entry CX-5 Sport with cloth seats, blind-spot detection, 187 hp, and front-drive is a sporty runabout at $25,000, while the top-of-the-line Signature AWD adds adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist (but not lane centering, because Mazda wants to keep it a driver’s car), suede seat inserts, and gorgeous wood dash panels for $38,000. Now that it’s winter, you can mount winter tires and test Mazda’s belief that nobody does better predictive all-wheel drive.

Ram 1500: Big display, 48-volt power boost.

Ram 1500/Ram HD: 48-Volt eTorque Boosts Power

Redesigned for 2019, the Ram 1500 offers a very good ride, the ability to carry or tow big loads, and a wide range of engine choices. Most interesting is eTorque, a mild-hybrid option on V6 and V8 engines that uses a 48-volt battery pack and a belt-drive electric motor (which doubles as a generator) for brief bursts of extra power, or torque. In city driving, eTorque engines boost fuel economy by almost 20 percent. There’s also a V6 EcoDiesel that is matching V8s on power and towing capacity. Inside, the cab is roomy, has lots of storage, and useful tech features, including an available 12-inch portrait display and the easy-to-use UConnect interface and navigation system. The Ram’s coil-spring suspension improves the ride over leaf-spring pickups and the top-line Limited has a four-corner air suspension that emulates the ride of an upscale luxury sedan or SUV.

Naturally, there’s an array of cab types (regular with one row of seats; quad with two rows and snug rear legroom; and crew with two rows and the same 41-inch legroom as the front seat), bed lengths (5’7″, 6’4″, 8′), trim lines (seven), engines (V6 and V8 gas with and without eTorque, V6 diesel, Cummins inline-six diesel), an off-roader (Rebel), heavy-duty versions (2500 HD, 3500 HD), and rear- or four-wheel-drive. The most common driver assists – blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist – are offered as options, and some features such as adaptive cruise control are only available on higher trim lines. All this made the Ram 1500 America’s third best-selling vehicle in America, albeit behind the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado.

The Subaru Forester compact SUV: Different from the rest, and better.

Subaru Forester: Solid, Safe, On and Off Paved Roads

The fifth-generation Subaru Forester that debuted in 2019 remains true to its roots: rugged, reliable, standard all-wheel-drive, and easily cleaned inside and out with a fire hose (first remove the golden lab), or so the faithful claimed, except now the rubber floor mats are carpet. And there’s a lot of safety, standard, via Subaru EyeSight, a system using stereoscopic cameras. For 2020, lane centering assist comes standard, in addition to full-range adaptive cruise control and forward-collision warning/mitigation braking. DriverFocus tracks head movement and sounds an alert if you appear distracted; usually, it’s right.

Compared with our top ten Mazda CX-5, the Forester occupants sit more upright and have more legroom, and there’s more cargo room in back. The CX-5 is more fun to drive, while the Forester’s higher ground clearance make it better off-paved roads. The Mazda, even with the non-turbo four, is quicker, while the Forester easily gets fuel economy in the 30s. Both are great in the snow, especially on winter tires.

Hell freezes over: The Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Avalon. Hold on to your dentures.

Honorable Mention

With almost 300 different models on sale, there are plenty of just-about-as good cars, SUVs, and pickups. All are standouts overall, with very good technology. They include:

Audi A4. The best compact, upscale sport sedan, in a field crowded by BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Infiniti Q60, Lexus IS, Volvo S60, etcetera. Plenty of tech, as you’d expect.

Ford F-150. No. 1 selling vehicle (nearly 1M this year). Ford’s turbo (EcoBoost) V6 makes buyers forget V8s. Sync works well.

Honda Accord. The longstanding benchmark in midsize sedans has fought off challengers before and rivals higher-end cars for cabin quality.

Honda Odyssey. Write this on your hand when you shop: No 200- to 205-inch inch SUV carries as many people in comfort, in all three rows, as a minivan. The 2020 Odyssey has its extensive HondaSensing safety suite and blind-spot detection (which is not part of the suite) standard on all but the low selling-entry trim line. It’s the best choice for a family. If you need all-wheel-drive, the Toyota Sienna is the only choice currently (a very good choice), and if you do a lot of around-town carpooling, the upscale Chrysler Pacifica PHEV covers the first 18 miles on battery power.

Hyundai Kona. A solid upscale subcompact crossover. Want the same size from Hyundai, only less expensive? Check out the just-shipped Venue, a Nissan Kicks competitor.

Mazda CX-30. CX-30 finds room in the foot of length between the aging CX-3 and never-grows-old CX-5.

Porsche Macan. The compact SUV is a gem, priced to match, and with great technology. It is the best-selling Porsche.

Subaru Crosstrek, now in gas or gas-hybrid.

Subaru Ascent. A very, very good midsize SUV the second time around. A decade ago, Subaru couldn’t click with the similarly sized B9/Tribeca SUV. This time, magic happened.

Subaru Crosstrek. The go-anywhere AWD (of course) subcompact hatch with a sporty flair, solid off-paved-roads driving, and the excellent optical driver-assist system, EyeSight. Now has a hybrid option.

Tesla Model 3. Forget the Tesla hype machine for a moment: Tesla knows EV batteries best. The Model 3 is a smash sales success compared with every non-Tesla EV.

Toyota Avalon. The best big, midprice sedan for those who don’t want SUVs. Really a good car, and not just for retirees. There’s a hybrid (of course) and a performance model (OMG!) TRD Avalon sedan.

Toyota Camry Hybrid. Camrys are great, Toyota hybrids are great. Perfect when you need more room than a Prius and don’t want a RAV4 (a great small SUV which comes in hybrid).

Toyota Prius. Year in, year out, the standard-bearer among small hybrids. People have (almost) stopped asking how long the batteries might last.

Toyota Yaris. Yes, that’s a lot of Toyotas on this list. Except the best subcompact sedan is actually the Mazda2, rebadged.

Volvo XC60. In a crowded field of upscale compact SUVs, the Volvo stands out for safety and a classy cockpit.

Now read:

2020 Hyundai Sonata Review: Car of the Year? (It’s That Good)

Are Tesla Cybertruck, Mustang Mach-E Moving the Needle Toward EVs?

Buick Throws in the Towel on Cars in the US

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/303740-car-of-the-year-extremetechs-best-cars-for-2020 from Blogger http://componentplanet.blogspot.com/2020/01/car-of-year-extremetechs-best-cars-for.html

#Car of the Year: ExtremeTech’s Best Cars for 2020

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motorsporthq · 5 years

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2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE First Drive: Ahead by a Length

Toronto, ON – Known as the ML on its birth in 1997, the model we know today as the GLE began life under much more modest circumstances. It was the first Mercedes vehicle manufactured in the United States. Now, the 2020 version represents the 4th generation of the midsize utility vehicle. While it was difficult to qualify the ML as a luxury product in its infancy, the German automaker has…

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perksofwifi · 5 years

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2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class First Look: GLE Mini-Me

The redesigned 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class rounds out the brand’s compact car family for the U.S. market. Larger and roomier than its predecessor, the 2021 GLA-Class promises more headroom and rear seat legroom for added practicality despite the vehicle being shorter in overall length. From a design perspective, the smallest Mercedes-Benz SUV gets a significant makeover, looking more like a smaller version of the GLE-Class instead of a raised hatchback. Despite having a taller greenhouse, the 2021 GLA-Class has a lower drag coefficient at 0.28 versus its predecessor’s 0.30.

Available in front- or all-wheel-drive configurations, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 will come with a 2.0-liter turbo-four with 221 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque paired to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. An Off-Road Engineering package will be standard in all-wheel-drive-equipped models and will come with an Off-Road drive mode that distributes power 50:50 between the axles, calibrates the anti-lock brakes for easier off-road driving, and changes the way the engine delivers power. Hill descent control is also added as standard. An updated suspension design, which now features more components made of aluminum, promises improved ride and handling.

Those looking for more power should look to the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLA 35, which features the same 2.0-liter turbo-four rated to 302 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gets unique gearing, faster shifts, and a launch control feature. A performance-oriented all-wheel drive system comes standard, and takes into account everything from driving speed to steering angle for optimal torque distribution. Meanwhile, the stability control system gets a Sport setting for enthusiastic driving. The GLA 35 receives Sport+ and Individual drive modes but misses out on the Off-Road mode that comes standard on the all-wheel-drive GLA 250.

In addition to more power, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 comes standard with the AMG sport suspension tuned for improved handling. Adaptive dampers are optional and add three modes to the suspension settings. For added torsional rigidity, the GLA 35 gets an aluminum plate under the engine and two additional braces on the front underbody. Large four-piston, 13.8-inch front and single-piston 13.0-inch rear brake pads come standard for better stopping performance. A uniquely tuned variable steering system has been tuned for more direct turn-in and can be set to one of two modes. Rounding out the upgrades to the GLA 35 is a multi-mode AMG exhaust system that should sound awesome in its loudest setting.

All 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class models will come standard with forward collision warning and front automatic emergency braking. The Driver Assistance package adds steering assist, lane change assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear automatic emergency braking, evasive steering assist, cross-traffic function for the front automatic emergency braking system, and a speed limit assist that can change based on the current speed limit in the area.

Mercedes’ MBUX interface will come standard with two 7.0-inch displays, including one touchscreen on the center stack. You can also opt for two larger 10.25-inch units with built-in navigation and a digital personal assistant à la Google or Siri. The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 will get special graphics to distinguish it from the GLA 250 and will come standard with the 10.25-inch screens. An AMG Track Pace feature, which allows you to see lateral and longitudinal acceleration, pedal position, and steering angle on the main touchscreen, will also be included in the GLA 35’s infotainment system. Popular race tracks like the Nürburgring and Spa Francorchamps have also been loaded into the system.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class goes on sale in summer 2020. Expect the GLA 35 to follow afterwards.

The post 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class First Look: GLE Mini-Me appeared first on MotorTrend.

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/mercedes-benz/gla-class/2021/2021-mercedes-benz-gla-class-first-look-review-specs-photos/ visto antes em https://www.motortrend.com

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mobileautorepairpros · 5 years

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Road Tests: 2020 Kia Telluride

Vital Statistics

Engine: 3.8 liter

Horsepower: 291

Torque: 262 lb-ft.

0-60 mph: 7.3 seconds

1/4 mile: 15.5 seconds @ 93 mph

EPA: 19 mpg city / 24 mpg highway

Energy Impact: 14.3 barrels of oil/yr

CO2 Emissions: 6.5 tons/yr

Look around you, it’s the 1990s all over again; gas prices are reasonable, big American-built SUVs are everywhere, and politicos are trying to impeach a president. So, what better time for Kia to introduce their biggest SUV yet, the telluride.

If you recall the Kia Borrego, Kia’s last big ute, it arrived at exactly the wrong time, 2008. Gas prices were pushing $4.00 a gallon, and people were actually trading in their behemoths for smaller, more fuel efficient rides; Hybrids even!! Well, obviously we have short memories here in America, and we’re back to buying big SUVs. So, unforeseen events aside, this 2019 Kia Telluride now looks to be arriving at just the right time.

Built in the traditional big, boxy SUV fashion, means there’s no sloping, hatchback-like roofline to rob interior space; and plenty of greenhouse to look out of, no matter which of its 3-rows you’re occupying.

It’s not quite Tahoe size; with 196.9-inches of overall length, riding on a 114.2-inch wheelbase, but it’s pretty close.

Looking high, wide, and substantial from the rear, it’s highlighted by inverted “L” LED tail lights and silver skidplate-like bumper trim.

There’s a very good level of luxury inside, as all materials and finishes, including available leather and simulated wood, are stellar. And there’s even grab handles integrated into the center console, just like the Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Plush seats and plenty of space for people and provisions, even behind the 3rd row, with 21.0 cubic-ft. In 2nd-row guise, there’s 46.0 cubic-ft., and with all seats folded, 87.0.

Standard for the middle row, is a 3-passnger bench, but of course Captain’s chairs are available. Both allow for good access to the 3rd row, where true adult size space awaits.

For better or worse, connectivity is at the top of everyone’s wish list these days, and highlights here, are a standard 8.0-inch and available 10-inch touchscreen with full smartphone integration and UVO telematics.

Safety features are up there too, as the Telluride is fully competitive, with Kia Drive Wise Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems available, and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian detection standard.

Under-hood space is occupied by a slightly detuned version of Genesis’ 3.8-liter V6. Output here is 291-horsepower and 262 lb-ft. of torque.

With uni-body construction and a front-wheel-drive architecture, the Telluride rolls down the same Georgian assembly line as the Kia Sorento on which it is loosely based. Max tow rating is an identical 5,000-lbs., and all will come with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Compared to V8 rivals, it’s a little sluggish off the line, and it needs some revs before it really starts to feel powerful. Nevertheless, it behaves solid and purposeful for a respectable 7.3-seconds that it takes to hit 60.

Shifts from the 8-speed automatic are very smooth, and the full ¼-mile is relatively drama and stress-free. Our best time, 15.5-seconds at 93 miles-per-hour.

Steering is exact with good feel, and the Telluride felt capable and confident through our cone course, if not overly sporty. It’s big and heavy, but there’s surprisingly little body roll; and it still has the benefit of crossover bones with a 4-wheel independent suspension aided by torque vectoring, versus the clunky feel of many full-framed competitors.

While not intended as a serious off-roader, the Telluride does have some legit credentials for backroads exploring. No specific off-pavement mode for the optional on-demand all-wheel drive system, but you can lock it into distributing the power evenly between all four wheels for mud and inclines, while Down Hill Brake Control helps modulate steep descents.

Plus, there’s up to 8-inches of ground clearance with a self-levelling suspension.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 19-City, 24-Highway, and 21-Combined for all-wheel-drive; 20-City, 26-Highway, and 23-Combined for front-wheel-drive. We averaged 25.2 miles-per-gallon in our all-wheel-drive tester. The Energy Impact Score is only about average, at 14.3-barrels of annual petroleum consumption, with 6.5-tons of CO2 emissions.

Pricing starts at $32,735 for LX trim, ranging to SX, at $42,535. Even with 2-grand added for all-wheel drive, like most Kias, it still undercuts rivals in bang for the buck.

So, with the 2020 Kia Telluride, Kia has not only created their biggest and most appealing utility yet, but they’ve aimed it squarely at the heart of the American three-row SUV market. It may not be a true game changer, but the Kia Telluride is surely a new force to be reckoned with in making a smart choice for a big family SUV.

from MotorWeek Entries http://bit.ly/2E9NI2Y via IFTTT

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blagblogpress · 6 years

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Fantastic SUV! 2019 Mercedes AMG GLE Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 2019 Review Cutting edge family SUV has some extreme gathering traps – however it gets the essentials right What's it about? The 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 will be the leader SUV in the GLE go and is fitted with pretty much every possible techno deceive you can consider – including a 'bend' work that will stop the children getting nauseous on twisty streets. It likewise has an engaging (and supposedly viable) 'bob' mode, a gathering trap that musically shakes the vehicle here and there on its air suspension. In principle it'll help when the vehicle gets impeded in sand or mud (the vertical pushing helping footing), yet the truth will leave tenants and bystanders smiling from ear to ear, rough terrain or halted at traffic lights. This fourth-age Mercedes-Benz GLE is all-new and will be accessible in Australian showrooms from April 2019. Greater and more costly than the top-selling average sized Mercedes GLC, the new GLE is likewise offered with seven-seats. Notwithstanding, it is littler than the GLS which has an a lot greater boot and which will supplanted later in 2019 with an all-new model. At the season of composing the cost for the top-spec 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 had not been secured but rather is required to go for around $150,000, excluding on-street costs. The section level GLE 300d will begin at around $110,000 while the mid-spec GLE 400d will part the center. The last two models are both diesel. Expect elite AMG 53 and AMG 63 models to follow in 2020, with more expensive rate labels to coordinate. Given these Mercedes SUVs will cost more than $66,331, the extravagance vehicle assessment or LCT will be incorporated into the previously mentioned value gauges. The choices list for the Mercedes-Benz GLE will be the length of your arm. There will standard suspension, movable air-suspension, with E-Active Body Control with air suspension the burger with the parcel. The last is relied upon to be a costly additional, anyway it enables the vehicle to do its bouncey move, so the show-horse esteem is invaluable. There's a discretionary framework that incorporates a couple of cameras to filter the street before the SUV and change the suspension on the fly for super-smooth solace levels. An all-new bend cornering capacity is intended to lessen influence and tilt through corners, went for fighting off sickness for the individuals who get squeamish when the street gets stunning (read: kids). It's an odd framework practically speaking and feels strange when you're cruising along however does what it claims. Ultra-amazing calfskin, kneading front seat capacities and a tub-pounding 26-speaker Burmester sound framework will likewise be discretionary. Like all Mercedes-Benz vehicles and SUVs (however not vans and utes), the guarantee covers ordinary vehicle issues for as long as three-years, with no kilometer limit. - - - - - #SaudjaMotocar Help Us For Better Subscribe our channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmoip5oiNN6y32ZoSXqHbLg?sub_confirmation=1 Music from NCM Epic Music Ender Guney : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEioEoqyFPsOiW8CepDaYg

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robertkstone · 6 years

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2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i First Test: Catch My Tail

A staffer who recently spent time in the 2019 BMW X5 sent me the following Slack message: “I love the tailgate. Love it!” Pro tip for new parents: Apparently it’s great for changing diapers. That rear hatch and tailgate combo is relatively rare (check out Land Cruiser and Land Rover Discovery), though it’s been around since the X5’s birth two decades ago. Standing out is a good thing in the super crowded luxury crossover segment. But does the fourth-generation X5 stand out in any other way?

How about being quicker than its peers? With a stronger 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline-six making 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque (35 hp and 30 lb-ft more than the outgoing model), the new X5 launches from 0 to 60 in just 5 seconds flat. It barely beats the new 2019 Porsche Cayenne we recently tested by a tenth of a second. Both reach the quarter mile in 13.7 seconds at about 100 mph. Quite impressive, especially considering that the BMW tipped our scales at 4,854 pounds, which is 178 pounds heavier than the Porsche (which coincidentally churns out similar power from its single-turbo V-6 rated at 335 hp and 332 lb-ft).

And not only is the X5 quicker than the Audi Q7 3.0T and the 2017 Jaguar F-Pace S, but it ties SQ5 to 60 mph. The last two are lighter and more powerful. We’re eagerly waiting for the chance to test the new Mercedes-Benz GLE.

The X5’s “power feels quite linear,” road test editor Chris Walton noted. “Quick, fast, and very consistent.” He also praised the eight-speed for super quick shifts. That gearbox has been revised with new gearing, including a shorter first gear.

The BMW’s weight is likely the main culprit for its 60–0 mph stopping distance of 119 feet, which is a few feet more than both Audis and the Jag. The Porsche is the overachiever in this group, coming to a halt in an astounding 105 feet. We should point out that our test car is among a small group of early-build “xLine” trim units fitted with optional M Sport brakes that include lighter aluminum calipers (four pistons for the fronts, two pistons for the rears) and larger rotors (15.6 inches up front and 14.6 inches at the rear). BMW has since made those brakes exclusive to the M Sport package ($5,850), which includes adaptive dampers and a long list of creature comforts.

Despite not having the full stockpile of M Sport ammo, the X5 completed a respectable figure-eight lap in 25.8 seconds—eight tenths behind the lighter Cayenne with wider and stickier tires. “You’re constantly reminded that this thing is ‘taut’,” testing director Kim Reynolds noted. “Very easy to turn in and have the tail rotate too much.”

Fun stuff, but most customers will likely focus less on its tail-happy nature and more on its taut handling. Our tester was equipped with the optional air suspension ($1,000) that adjusts ride height based on speed, drive mode, and a switch on the center console. The overall ride is smooth and controlled, and we found that the suspension handled highways and L.A.’s potholes quite well. Road and wind noise is minimal, but acoustic glass is also available ($3,000) for those who desire an even quieter cabin.

After the X5 impressed the test crew, it worked its magic with our MPG team, as well. The EPA rates the 2019 X5 xDrive40i at 20/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined, but its EQUA Real MPG figures came in at 23.2/28.2/25.2 mpg. We have yet to MPG test the Cayenne or 2020 Mercedes GLE 450 4Matic, but the BMW’s EPA ratings are higher than both. A 2020 X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid is due soon for those looking to further decrease their carbon footprint, and there’s still no decision on a diesel powertrain for the U.S.

The 2019 X5 starts at $61,695 and can easily get pricey. Our X5’s as-tested price totaled $73,980 thanks to three packages and a handful of à la carte options. Our First Look and First Drive reviews thoroughly cover the X5’s long list of new technology (and its new off-road package), including the next-gen iDrive infotainment system that now features touchscreen capability and improved layout. BMW’s Gesture Control, which allows you to control some infotainment functions by moving your hand in front of the screen, seems better, but it still needs more tweaking; holding your phone close to the dashboard, for example, inadvertently activates the system. Wireless Apple CarPlay is fantastic, but it was a buggy, occasionally disconnecting from my phone and freezing apps like Spotify. Could it be an issue with my month-old iPhone XR? Maybe. But hopefully BMW and Apple can figure it out. Another gripe? The optional running boards. They hit the mark on looks but are a functional nuisance. Many passengers found themselves rubbing their legs or pants against the boards while exiting. We’d skip those.

These small gripes don’t overshadow the X5’s decent handling, sharp interior, and comfortable ride. That the Porsche, Audi, and Jag will struggle to catch its tailgate is a nice surprise.

2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i BASE PRICE $61,695 PRICE AS TESTED $75,820 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV ENGINE 3.0L/335-hp/330-lb-ft turbo DOHC 24-valve I-6 TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 4,854 lb (50/50%) WHEELBASE 117.1 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 194.3 x 78.9 x 69.0 in 0-60 MPH 5.0 sec QUARTER MILE 13.7 sec @ 100.5 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 119 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.88 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 25.8 sec @ 0.71 g (avg) REAL MPG, CITY/HWY/COMB 23.2/28.2/25.2 mpg EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 20/26/22 mpg ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 169/130 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.87 lb/mile

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crosbyru-blog · 6 years

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Mercedes pads roomier '20 GLE with range of engines, semi-autonomous tech

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE is not your father's GLE. The redesigned midsize crossover boasts a roomier interior, a range of engines, a high-tech all-wheel-drive system and suite of semi-autonomous technologies. It will debut at the Paris auto show in October and go on sale in the U.S. next year. Pricing was not disclosed. The 2020 GLE marks the fourth generation of Mercedes' midsize crossover, originally named the M class. Mercedes renamed it the GLE in 2015 when it introduced a freshened model under a new naming convention for its cars and light trucks. U.S. sales of the GLE have dropped 11 percent this year in a midsize luxury crossover segment that has grown 2.5 percent.Supersized The redesigned GLE moves to Mercedes' Modular High Architecture, or MHA, platform. {{title}} {{abstract}} Read more > {{/content}} It will feature a new suspension system powered partly by the 48-volt battery and developed by Mercedes-Benz. It is the only system on the market where the spring and damping forces can be individually controlled at each wheel, the automaker says. This means that it not only counteracts body roll, but also pitch and squat. The GLE will be launched with several engine offerings for the U.S., including a 2.0-liter inline-four turbo engine on the GLE 350 and GLE 350 4MATIC that produces 255 hp and 273 pound-feet of torque. The 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbo engine in the GLE 450 4MATIC produces 362 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque. The engine in the GLE 450 4MATIC is supplemented with an integrated electric motor system, known as EQ Boost, that assists the combustion engine by adding up to 21 hp for short periods. EQ Boost also assists when accelerating, making it possible to drive without the combustion engine turned on, and supplies the battery with power via high-efficiency recuperation. By doing so, it makes fuel savings possible that were previously the exclusive domain of high-voltage hybrid technology, Mercedes noted. GLE 350 / GLE 350 4MATIC GLE 450 4MATIC Length 194.3" 194.3" Width 84.9" 84.9" Height 70.7" 70.7" Wheelbase 117.9" 117.9" Engine 2.0 liter I-4 Turbo 3.0 liter I-6 Turbo with EQ Boost Performance 255 hp, 273 lb-ft 362 hp, 369 lb-ft Transmission 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic 0-60 mph: 7.0 secs. / 4MATIC: 7.1 secs 5.5 est. Top speed: 130 mph 130 mph Competitors: BMW X5 xDrive 340i, Audi Q7, Lexus RX 350 Bigger and smarter The 2020 GLE has a longer wheelbase than its predecessor. This creates more space, especially for passengers in the rear. Legroom in the second row has increased by 2.7 inches to 41.1 inches. Headroom in the rear has increased by 1.3 inches to 40.4 inches. The 2020 GLE includes an adjustable second row, and a third row is available as an option. The Audi Q7 rival is equipped with the next-gen Mercedes-Benz User Experience, or MBUX, multimedia system that has improved speech recognition capabilities, artificial intelligence and predictive learning abilities. The 2020 GLE offers a suite of safety features, including a driver assistance system that can recognize and respond to traffic jams or slow-moving traffic before the driver notices. If there is a danger of a collision with oncoming traffic when turning, the GLE will brake when traveling at low speeds. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/autonews/BreakingNews/~3/7UGrMiTzFZI/mercedes-pads-roomier-20-gle-with-range-of-engines-semi-autonomous buy here pay here https://www.buyherepayherebirmingham.xyz/mercedes-pads-roomier-20-gle-with-range-of-engines-semi-autonomous-tech/

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runridedive · 6 years

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Driven by Electric Intelligence

The world is rapidly changing as megatrends transform our lives. Consequently, business models are changing as disruptors break-down norms. “The great transformations that the automotive industry is currently undergoing pose great opportunities to shape the future in lasting ways. One thing is clear, the proven recipes for the success of yesterday, will not be the recipes for the success of tomorrow,” says Johannes Fritz, Co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

“At Mercedes-Benz, we believe that the key ingredient to achieving success in the future is to best connect the dots in this new era. We have clustered the challenges of this new era, and developed the CASE corporate strategy as our intelligent response,” Fritz continues.

CASE is an acronym for the fields of networking (Connected), autonomous driving (Autonomous), flexible use (Shared & Services) and electric drive systems (Electric). CASE forms an integral part of Daimler AG’s vision to shape intuitive electric mobility.

Mercedes-Benz Cars already plays a leading role in all four areas today. For example, all activities in the area of connectivity are focused on the digital brand Mercedes me, which gives customers access to an extensive and personalised range of services by app, website or straight from their car.

On the way to autonomous driving, Mercedes-Benz has for years been a key driver of development and has repeatedly set the benchmark. To this end, the Mercedes engineers use what is known as sensor fusion. The data from different sensors, such as cameras, ultrasound and radar, are intelligently combined and analysed. With smart vision EQ fortwo, the smart brand is also demonstrating what driving without a steering wheel could look like in the future of car-sharing.

The inventor of the automobile is already playing a leading role in the field of Sharing & Services. The mobility services used by over 14.5 million people range from free-floating car-sharing (car2go) and private peer-to-peer car-sharing (Croove), through ride-hailing (mytaxi) to the mobility platform (moovel).

GLC350e

The Mercedes-Benz three-lane drive system strategy across all vehicle segments

Mercedes-Benz is taking a holistic approach to powertrain electrification as this is an important component in the mobility of the future. Apart from the EQ (Electric Intelligence) brand and EQ family of vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is also developing a holistic ecosystem includes a comprehensive electric mobility offering. This extends from intelligent services and energy storage units for private and commercial customers to charging technologies and sustainable recycling.

On the road to emission-free driving, Daimler AG is steering a three-lane drive system strategy in order to implement maximum environmental compatibility across all vehicle classes – with an intelligent mix of the latest combustion engines and partial electrification through 48-volt technology, tailor-made plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles with battery or fuel cell drive systems.

Lane #1: Electric pioneer Mercedes-Benz builds on CO2-free mobility

Mercedes-Benz is pursuing a holistic approach to powertrain electrification. The company is also developing the EQ brand into a holistic ecosystem which, alongside the electric family of vehicles itself, also comprises a comprehensive electromobility offering. This extends from intelligent services and energy storage units for private and commercial customers to charging technologies and sustainable recycling.

The Mercedes-Benz EQC (combined power consumption: 22.2 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, provisional figures)1 is the first series-produced model to be launched under the EQ brand. With its seamless, trailblazing design and colour highlights typical of the brand — both inside and out — the mid-size SUV is a pioneer for an avant-garde electric look while representing the design idiom of Progressive Luxury.

The EQC is truly the Mercedes-Benz among electric vehicles, with its unmatched quality, safety, comfort and dynamic performance. The electric motors at the front and rear axles have a combined output of 300 kW with the sophisticated operating strategy enabling an electric range of more than 450 km according to NEDC (provisional figure)1. The EQC symbolises the start of a new mobility era at Daimler and is set to be produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen from 2019, for delivery to South African customers in 2020.

With the Concept EQA (length/width/height: 4285/1810/1428 mm; wheelbase: 2729 mm), Mercedes-Benz demonstrates how the EQ strategy can be translated to the compact class. Featuring one electric motor on the front axle and one at the rear, this electric athlete has a system output of over 200 kW. The drive characteristics can be altered by varying the permanent all-wheel drive’s front to rear torque distribution. The Concept EQA shows which drive programme has been selected on a unique virtual radiator grille. In combination with the intelligent Mercedes-Benz operating strategy, the Concept EQA achieves a range of around 400 kilometres, depending on the battery capacity installed.

EQ also offers comprehensive services with Mercedes me, and makes electromobility convenient and suitable for day-to-day motoring. “The Mercedes-Benz EQ brand and technology encapsulates all the electric know-how of Mercedes-Benz Cars. By 2022, Mercedes-Benz will offer more than ten purely electrically driven vehicles in every production series,” says Selvin Govender, Marketing Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa.

S560e

Lane #2: The extensive range of plug-in hybrids is further expanded

Plug-in hybrids represent a key technology on the road to a locally emission-free future for the motor vehicle. This is because they offer customers the best of both worlds; in the city they can drive in fully electric mode, while on long journeys they benefit from the combustion engine’s range. To underline the important role of hybrids in the process of electrifying the car, the plug-in models from Mercedes-Benz will in future bear the EQ Power technology badge.

Because the strengths of plug-in hybrids come to the fore in larger vehicles and on mixed route profiles, Mercedes-Benz is opting for this powertrain concept from the C-Class upwards. The strategic hybrid initiative is decisively facilitated by Mercedes-Benz’s intelligent, modular hybrid concept: designed to be scalable, it can be transferred to a large number of model series and body styles as well as left and right-hand-drive variants.

Following the C 350 e*, GLE 500 e 4MATIC*, GLC 350 e 4MATIC*, GLC 350 e 4MATIC Coupé * and E 350 e*, the new S 560 e* (*combined fuel consumption: 3.3–2.1 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 78–48 g/km, combined electrical consumption: 16.7–11.0 kWh/100 km), and successor to the S 500 e, is already the eighth plug-in model that Mercedes-Benz is bringing to market.

The hybrid drive system in the S 560 e combines the 270 kW (367 hp) of the V6 petrol engine with an electric output of 90 kW. The third-generation hybrid transmission evolved on the basis of the 9G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission. The torque converter, clutch and electric motor are housed in the innovative hybrid drive unit. The compact design was achieved by integrating and connecting the separating clutch, torsional vibration damper and torque converter lockup clutch within the rotor of the electric motor. The torque converter with its powerful and highly efficient hydraulic circuit offers the customary smoothness when pulling away in hybrid mode.

“The hybridization and electrification of our vehicles’ drive systems through our EQ portfolio will significantly reduce the CO₂ emissions of our vehicles on the road to emission-free driving. Accordingly, Daimler AG is investing approximately one billion Euros in battery production, and over 10 billion Euros in new EQ products over the next few years,” Govender continues.

Concept EQA

Lane #3: High-efficiency internal combustion engines

Mercedes-Benz attaches key importance to the optimisation of modern, internal combustion engines in its road map to sustainable mobility. In particular, the economical, clean and highly popular diesel engine makes an important contribution to the further reduction of fleet consumption. The new four-cylinder OM 654 diesel engine marked the début of a groundbreaking family of engines from Mercedes-Benz. It is the first passenger car diesel engine to use the stepped-bowl combustion process – named after the shape of the combustion bowl in the piston.

The innovations also include the combination of aluminium engine block and steel pistons as well as the further-improved NANOSLIDE® cylinder wall coating. The new four-cylinder OM 654 celebrated its world première in the E 220 d (combined fuel consumption: 3.9 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 102 g/km) from the new E-Class in spring 2016. The new engine consumes around 13 percent less fuel than its predecessor in a comparable vehicle.

The new petrol engines featuring six or four cylinders point the way into the combustion engine’s future: They include trailblazing technologies such as the starter alternator (EQ Boost), 48-volt on-board electrical system and electrical booster compressor (six-cylinder).

The new, systematically electrified, in-line six-cylinder engine comes to the starting line in the S 500, which has an output of 320 kW (435 hp) and 520 Nm (combined fuel consumption: 6.6 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 150 g/km). Over a short period, EQ Boost, a feature of the integrated starter alternator, makes a further 250 Nm of torque and 16 kW of output available. Compared with the similarly powerful S 500 predecessor featuring a V8 engine, it has been possible to reduce the CO2 emissions of the engine by around 22 percent.

Next to make its début is the new generation of the four-cylinder petrol engine (M 264) with a power-to-swept-volume ratio of well over 100 kW per litre. The use of a belt-driven starter alternator with a 48-volt on-board electrical system also marks a further step towards the electrification of the drive system and facilitates functions such as boost, coasting with the engine off and recuperation.

Like the six-cylinder engine, the new eight-cylinder engine celebrated its première in the S-Class. The new twin turbo assembly is among the world’s most economical V8 petrol engines and consumes up to six percent less fuel than its predecessor. In efforts to lower the fuel consumption, four cylinders of the new V8 are deactivated simultaneously under partial load thanks to the CAMTRONIC valve-lift adjustment system.

The new V8 generates 345 kW (469 hp) and 700 Nm and it is available as the Mercedes-Benz S 560 (combined fuel consumption: 8.5–7.9 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 195–181 g/km) and Mercedes-Maybach S 560 (combined fuel consumption: 9.3–8.8 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 209–198 g/km).

EQ in Motorsport: Mercedes-AMG F1 W09 EQ Power+

The F1 W09 EQ Power+ is improved in every area over its predecessor and will become the fastest Mercedes Formula One car in history. As the most advanced machine ever conceived by Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, the 2018 car aims to write its own chapter in that long racing heritage while at the same time pushing the technological boundaries of motorsport.

Christened Mercedes-AMG F1 W09 EQ Power+, the new car proudly carries the “EQ Power+” designation which was launched to the world on last year’s car. As part of the naming strategy of Mercedes-AMG, “EQ Power+” stands for the brand’s future performance hybrid models. The Formula One team is proud to have led the way that was followed by the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE show car revealed in Frankfurt last year.

The EQ Power+ designation places the F1 car and its state-of-the-art hybrid power unit at the forefront of the future Mercedes-AMG line-up, showcasing how F1 technology is accelerating the future of motor racing and automotive technology in general.

“The goal has been clearly defined: EQ is to become the most desirable electro-technology brand in the automotive sector. With technologies and innovations that go well beyond the vehicle portfolio, EQ makes entry into the world of electric mobility as easy as possible for customers. As the only premium vehicle brand to be ranked in the top 8 of Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2018, the top vehicle brand in both the business and consumer categories of the Sunday Times Top Brands 2018, and the reigning Generation Next coolest motor vehicle brand, we at Mercedes-Benz are confident that we are on-track to realize this goal for EQ,” concludes Govender.

Major progress towards emission-free driving

As a premium manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz aspires to develop products that are environmentally compatible in their market segments. Daimler AG has set itself the target of reducing the use of primary raw materials for electric drives by 40 percent by 2030. Apart from the economical use of resources, the reconditioning of components and the recycling of the raw materials used play an important role too. This holistic approach also includes the use of vehicle batteries in stationary energy-storage devices.

All available means have to be used for this. From the environmentally and socially compatible reduction in the use of raw materials to production and process technologies that are easy on the environment to recycling or remanufacturing: the company adopts a holistic approach and considers vehicle emissions and resource consumption over the entire lifecycle right from the start.

Only an analysis of the vehicles’ entire lifecycle provides a realistic picture of the electric drive’s lifecycle assessment (LCA). This reveals that the lifecycle assessment (LCA) of the plug-in hybrids is already positive with respect to CO2 emissions. Despite the much higher expenditure during the production phase, the plug-in hybrid can substantially reduce CO2 emissions over its entire lifecycle and, in the best-case scenario, accounts for around 45 percent of the total emissions. This more than compensates for the extra investment of CO2 emissions during production.

Mercedes-Benz forecasts that battery-electric models are set to account for 15-25 percent of total unit sales by 2025; depending on customer preferences and the development of the public infrastructure. The battery facility currently under construction in Tuscaloosa (United States of America) forms part the global battery production network comprised of eight factories located in Kamenz, (Germany), Stuttgart-Untertürkheim (Germany), Sindelfingen (Germany), Beijing (China), and Bangkok (Thailand) that allows Mercedes-Benz to react flexibly and efficiently to market demands and requirements.

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