Automotive

2017 Los Angeles: The 755-hp 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 zooms into LA

2017 Los Angeles: The 755-hp 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 zooms into LA Chevrolet landed the most powerful, road-going Corvette yet for the first time in America at the 2017 Los Angeles International Auto Show.
What’s going on?
The 2017 Los Angeles International Auto Show is what’s going on! And Chevrolet just unveiled history’s most powerful production Corvette ever for the first time on American soil. Meet the all-new, completely bonkers 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Originally unveiled in Dubai earlier in the month, the new ZR1 is based on the current generation C7 Corvette and is essentially a successor to the previous C6 generation’s ZR1 form 2009, a car that already boasted ridiculous performance back then.
Now, just imagine that car, except with 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of twist and wrapped in the C7’s latest body.

Yup, you read correctly.
The C7 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 bests the C6 ZR1’s performance by 117 horses and 111 torques. The new ZR1 is propelled by Chevrolet Performance’s latest LT5 motor, the company’s most powerful production engine yet. It is based off of the Z06’s 6.2-liter LT4 V8. But now, it features an all-new supercharger that’s more efficient with airflow. It continues to be intercooled, offering a total 52 percent more air displacement volume than the Z06 LT4’s setup. General Motors also fitted its first duel-injector fuel delivery system, offering both port and direct injection for optimal fuel atomization.
The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 could be equipped with either a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed paddle-shift automatic, making it the first ZR1 to offer such. Chevrolet didn’t reveal official performance figures just yet, except that they were able to crack a top speed of 210 mph. But to put things in perspective, the last-generation Corvette ZR1 took only 3.3 seconds to hit 60 from a standstill with a top sprint of around the 200 mph mark.
So figure since the new ZR1 has a heck of a ton more power, the new car should be considerably faster in getting to the top.

There’s a wind-tunnel-designed bodykit that can provide up to 950 pounds of downforce at speed.
Being a performance benchmark for not just Corvette lineup, but Chevrolet in general, the ZR1 also boasts even more impressive speed numbers all around than the outgoing model. This comes thanks to significant reengineering of the ZR1’s bodykit, designed specifically for boosting grip with the help of downforce at speed. But the improved aerodynamics aren’t just for downforce, but air-cooling efficiency as well.
For example, the front bumper’s design is specifically shaped to channel air into the engine bay for the intercooler and better overall cooling of the whopping 13 heat exchangers in total in the ZR1. You read correctly. There’s a total of 13 different individual types of radiators for keeping various parts of the car cool. There’s also an signature air duct on the hood, giving the ZR1 a very unique look when compared to other Corvettes, while also being functional.
The extra airflow also contributes to the ZR1’s on-track reliability–by keeping things cool, the ZR1 is able to sustain higher speeds and more aggressive driving for greater extended periods of time.
Laying the power to the ground is a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 supper tires (part of the ZTK Performance Package) while the Magnetic Ride Control gains specific tuning bespoke to the ZR1.
And rounding it all off is a new available Sebring Orange Package–a special exterior color and interior trim arrangement tailored just for the ZR1. It comes with, as you guessed, many items colored in Sebring Orange. Ranging from leather-trimmed seats with orange sueded microfiber inserts, to a Napa leather-trimmed steering wheel.
Chevrolet didn’t announce pricing just yet. But when the last Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 ended production after 2013, it last started at $113,595. Expect the new C7 ZR1 to cost around, if not slightly more, than that figure.
– By: Chris Chin
2017 LA – 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Photo Gallery

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2017 LA: 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS showcases new design direction

2017 LA: 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS showcases new design direction Mercedes-Benz reveals the next-generation CLS at the 2017 Los Angeles International Auto Show.
What’s going on?
The Mercedes-Benz CLS was revolutionary from a design aspect. Although it didn’t invent it, the CLS is strongly associated with leading the resurgence of the concept of the “four-door coupe,” dating back to the original car in 2003. Based on the E-Class sedan, but with a much sleeker, low-slung, and stretched out roofline, mimicking that of a coupe, the CLS-Class proved that practicality didn’t have to come at the expense of good looks.
Now, Mercedes-Benz upped their own ante by revealing the all-new, third-generation CLS at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show.

2017 LA: The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS. Photos - Mercedes-Benz

It’s beautiful. What’s new about it?
I know, we think so as well. Like previous iterations of the CLS, the latest model remains based off of the E-Class sedan. It features a new design as well, one that’s much cleaner with less curves, folds, and creases, as the outgoing model. It also resembles some of the latest design cues we’ve seen on existing greats like the S-Class and E-Class Coupe. For instance, the new CLS incorporates Merc’s latest corporate “diamond” grille, a feature bespoke only to Mercedes-Benz’s coupe offerings. The frameless doors also remain, as does the high-arched waste line.
“The new CLS is a design icon as the archetype of the four-door coupe. In line with our hot & cool design philosophy, we have reduced its DNA to an extremely puristic level while emotionally charging its beauty,” said Gorden Wagener, Daimler AG’s Chief Design Officer.
On the inside, the CLS now employs the same digital, 12.3-inch LCD displays in place of traditional gauges, similarly to the latest E-Class sedan and coupe, and S-Class sedan and coupe. Also carrying over are other fancy bits found on the aforementioned cars, such as the 64-color adjustable ambient lighting, and a dashboard that offers enough timber to build a house.
Returning to the inline-six
What’s a huge party piece for the CLS however is its engine. For the first time in almost 20 years, Mercedes-Benz is making an all-new gasoline inline-six, which made its debut on the latest CLS. displacing 3.0-liters, it’s rated at 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of twist, with a special electric “boost” function that offers an additional 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of twist.
The CLS 450 comes with the choice of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Mercedes-Benz didn’t publish any official performance numbers as of yet, but we imagine the CLS 450 won’t be a slouch by any means.
New suspension too
Also aiding the CLS 450’s introduction as a new car is a revised suspension setup, consisting a four-way multilink arrangement at the front, and a signature Mercedes five-way multilink rear setup. AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension is optional to help balance out body control and handling, but the CLS 450 already promises to be wonderful to drive.
Pricing isn’t yet available, though we can expect that information to surface closer to the CLS’s launch date in Fall of 2018.
– By: Chris Chin
2017 LA: 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS Photo Gallery

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Special Edition GMC Yukon Revealed Amid Luxury & Ice Cream

Special Edition GMC Yukon Revealed Amid Luxury & Ice Cream

GMC showcased the 2018 Yukon Denali Ultimate Black Edition ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The new Yukon Denali offers black-painted 22-inch wheels with chrome inserts, polished exhaust tips, chrome mirror caps, carpeted floormats, and a unique Onyx Black exterior paint. GM’s “special editions” are a reoccurring theme throughout the company, especially for Chevrolet, where the popular trims extend beyond SUVs and to the 1500 series and HD trucks.
“The Yukon Denali has always made a bold and powerful statement, and the Ultimate Black Edition takes that expression to a new level,” explained Stu Pierce, Senior Marketing Manager, GMC Trucks and Full-Size SUVs.
Essential Equipment
Buyers automatically get the Open Road Package, which consists of a nine-month trial of Sirius XM and NavTraffic, power sunroof, rear-seat entertainment system, and the Enhanced Security Package. The latter includes door and liftgate lock shields, glass breakage sensors, interior motion detectors, a self-powered horn, and vertical movement sensors. Power-Retractable Assist Steps and Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Automatic Braking finish off the package.
Inside, the Yukon Denali Ultimate Black Edition is trimmed in Mastique Ash for added richness and luxury. Under the hood resides a 6.2-liter V8 mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission.
2018 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate Black Edition. Photo: GMC.
GMC In LA
GMC partnered with Little Damage, a Los Angeles ice cream shop, to celebrate the debut of the new Yukon. During the course of the Los Angeles Auto Show, attendees can enjoy a special “Ultimate Black” flavor with Denali chrome chocolate chips in the charcoal cones Little Damage is famous for.
If they move this unique ice cream flavor like GM moves SUVs, expect the employees at Little Damage to be busy. 2017 has been GMC’s strongest year of Denali sales ever. Although GMC offers the trim on other vehicles, the Yukon and Yukon XL dominate the portfolio at 50.7 percent and 61.2 percent respectively. Earlier this year, the one millionth Denali sold since the premium trim was first introduced for the 1999 Yukon.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
2018 Yukon Denali Ultimate Black Edition Gallery

Photos & Source: GMC.

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Volvo Establishes Investment Fund For Tech Start-Ups

Volvo Establishes Investment Fund For Tech Start-Ups Volvo is launching a new investment fund for technology start-ups around the globe which have high potential. The new Volvo Cars Tech Fund will invest in “strategic technology trends that are transforming the industry, such as artificial intelligence, electrification, autonomous driving, and digital mobility services.” The first investment includes a California-based technology firm developing advanced sensors, underlining Volvo Cars’ continued presence in Silicon Valley.
Emerging Technologies
Volvo says recipients will benefit by being able to more efficiently validate their technologies while accelerating the time it takes to bring said technologies to market. Moreover, start-ups may have the opportunity to benefit from Volvo’s already established global network of automotive and technology partners. The Volvo Cars Tech Fund is part of a continued push for innovation by Volvo and will be instrumental, the company says, in its digital transformation.
“We seek to invest in companies that can provide us with strategic access to new technologies, capabilities, and talent,” explained Zaki Fasihuddin, Chief Executive Officer, Volvo Cars Tech Fund. “By supporting promising young firms at the forefront of technological development and providing them with both capital and strategic value, we aim to strengthen our leading role in the industry’s technological transformation.”
“We work closely with promising technologies and when we see value creation potential, we can now also invest to help accelerate the venture,” added Mats Moberg, Board Member for the Tech Fund and Vice President for R&D at Volvo Cars.
More Information
Those wanting to apply are encouraged to do so at Volvo’s official site for the fund. Volvo notes they are particularly interested in mobility apps and services, distributed ML/AI and storage, safety and security, networking and connectivity platforms, fusion and HD mapping, sensors, and drive computing.
Photo & Source: Volvo Car Group.

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2019 Infiniti QX50 Features World’s First Production Variable Compression Engine

2019 Infiniti QX50 Features World’s First Production Variable Compression Engine

Infiniti has pulled the wraps off the 2019 QX50 ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Infiniti says the new crossover combines “world-first technologies, standout design, and unrivaled interior space.”
“The 2019 QX50 is the most important vehicle we have ever launched, and it embodies everything the brand stands for: Beautiful design, advanced technology and empowering performance,” said Christian Meunier, Infiniti Global Division Vice President. “As a luxury mid-size crossover, it’s the right vehicle at the right time in one of the world’s fastest growing segments.”
Power & Performance
The 2019 QX50 will be powered by the world’s first production variable compression ratio engine. Infiniti announced the engines in the summer of 2016 after working on the technology for 20 years. The QX50’s 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine adjusts its compression ratio to maximize performance and efficiency. The mindset behind the design is that it combines turbo power with diesel efficiency. Infiniti says this “challenges the notion that only hybrid and diesel powertrains can deliver high torque and efficiency.”
Solid Foundation
An entirely new front-wheel drive platform supports the 2019 QX50, and although Infiniti didn’t say specifically, we imagine this architecture is instrumental for the VC-Turbo engine’s capability. The platform was designed with an emphasis on refinement, rigidity, and interior room. Infiniti did not immediately provide dimensions, only saying the interior space is unmatched in the segment.
Photo: Infiniti Motor Company Ltd.
Exterior & Interior Design
The 2019 QX50 strikes a balance between aerodynamic efficiency and Infiniti’s “Powerful Elegance” design language. The body lines are noticeable and sleek; the vehicle does have quite a bit of character. Inside, the automaker promises top grade materials and craftsmanship, a calm, connected ambiance, and driver-focused technologies, including a complete ADAS suite. Infiniti notes the importance of having a human element in the details and says the new QX50 is designed accordingly.
Pricing & Availability
Infiniti did not include either in their press materials.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
*ADAS is an acronym for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
Photos & Source: Infiniti Motor Company Ltd.

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Letter From The UK: The Meaning of Crossover

Letter From The UK: The Meaning of Crossover

Initially, my idea was to discuss and update Britain’s exit from the European Union (or Brexit as it has come to be known) and its affect on the UK car industry. Unfortunately nothing much has happened. Car manufacturers wait in exasperated anticipation while UK and EU politicians and their bully boy un-elected flunkies argue, throw their toys about, and run home crying. So instead, this week we have advertising, something else that sets my teeth on edge like fingernails scrapping down an old school blackboard.
Black Friday. We have it here too and, America, it’s your fault. Being British of course we do not fight over goods; we do not battle for that last LCD flat screen, no: We queue nicely and wait our turn to buy stuff that was probably to be found cheaper, somewhere else, prior to Black Friday. The fault lies firmly at the feet of advertising executives. In their increasing desperation to come up with new and inventive ways to sell things, advertising is getting more and more silly. Take the “crossover” car.
Cross Over
That’s what the chicken did. It’s what artistes do when they cravenly change music genres to achieve commercial success, much to the disapprobation of their fellows who failed to think of it first. It also now identifies a type of vehicle but I have no idea why.
It is frankly, daft. In British terms, a crossover is just a tall hatchback or a small SUV, depending upon who you listen to. It is in fact just a small car, inflated. Initially, I suppose, the idea was to give the impression that these motors were somehow more rugged. It patently was not true then and it is not true now. They don’t have any more ability or power and can maybe only boast a little more space than the regular small hatchback upon which they are mostly based. It is a case of style over substance.
In days gone by, car advertising was straightforward. One knew where one stood. It described the virtues of the vehicle. It told us by way of the magic of moving pictures how a particular car could improve our lives by dint of its automotive features, performance, sexiness, service intervals, and economy. Everyone was happy. The auto facts were presented. Motoring journalists plied their trade in the large halls and small bars of the world, supporting a generally robust industry.
This vintage Packard advertisement explains how the new models for 1953 have higher compression V8 engines and power steering. Packard says the new Clipper provides “big-car value at medium-car cost” because of the engineering within. As all Packard ads did at the time, it concludes with “ask the man who owns one,” meaning the brand’s reputation is best communicated by those who drive them every day.
The Influencers
Times have changed and with it, the scope of the car ad. Dusty old journalists with pipes and leather patches on their threadbare tweed jackets have given way to bright young things referred to as influencers and vloggers because every car maker in the world wants to sell to the youth of today. Even the new Aston Martin Vantage (which does not look anywhere near as elegant as its predecessor) is, by the company’s own words, aimed at younger buyers.
Young people, with no discernible creative ability other than being able to walk and talk at the same time, shoot video on a bog-standard DSLR and upload it to YouTube and are now actively being employed and paid to shoot cars in moodily visual locations without explaining how they work. And that it seems is enough. We do indeed live in a transient internet world.
TV advertising now shows us beautiful, blemish-free youth cavorting merrily in these very average “crossover” cars as if the vehicle could really make your life better in any way that matters. The message comes through the TV screen with all the subtlety of a one-ton anvil in a Roadrunner cartoon. It is obvious, it is blatant, and it seems to work. The crossover is now the most popular automotive sector in the UK. There is no longer any need to describe the engineering virtues of the vehicle, just the nebulous lifestyle connotations.
This writer is probably as guilty as the rest. Like everyone who works in today’s motor industry, I too am an influencer but only in that I help to promote products and businesses. Mind you, you don’t want me on video; that would be like getting Gabby Hayes to sell your wagon. Car advertising is changing and we change with it, at least for now, because who knows what the future holds.
Millennials are seen enjoying a late model Fiat 500X. A 2013 Adweek feature penned by David Gianatasio explains that Fiat, in an attempt to gain traction in the United States, targeted younger consumers via social media. However, Gianatasio notes many U.S. Fiat dealers felt that strategy lacked a “broad-based” approach and cites Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne telling Automotive News in 2012 the initial advertising campaign was a “poorly executed plan.” Adweek ultimately concluded that Fiat “excelled at peripheral marketing programs while ignoring the bigger brand-building picture.” Photo: FCA US LLC.
Cross Over To Common Sense

At the time of this writing, a small neighbouring country is threatening to block the progress of vital trade talks in the next round of Brexit negotiations because of some local issue. That’s the thing about “communities.” When push comes to shove, we revert to the defence of our realm. Never mind the big picture; never mind the European car industry is all at sea with huge sums of money and very many jobs hanging in the balance. We await an outcome whilst third rate apparatchiks haggle over political trivialities. That’s why the whole thing has stalled.
If these people do not get off their collective euro-butt, stop scoring points, and being devious and disingenuous, and decide instead to “cross over” the line of common sense about the things that really matter, then all the advertising and all the influencing in the world won’t save the car industry. Or Europe.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Cover Photo: From American Motors Corporation: The Rise and Fall of America’s Last Independent Automaker by Patrick Foster. We featured the title in our Book Garage series on April 3rd, 2016.

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Aston Martin Heads To Geneva With “One Or Two Surprises”

Aston Martin Heads To Geneva With “One Or Two Surprises” Aston Martin is gearing up for the 88th Geneva International Motor Show with an all-new stand and location. The automaker notes it will be their “biggest-ever presence at the opening event of the European automotive show calendar.” Aston Martin’s spacious new home is stand #2229, located in Hall 2 of the Palexpo Exhibition Centre. At the heart of the display, and making its global debut, is the new Vantage turbocharged V8 sports coupe.
Performance-Oriented Exhibit
Naturally, the Vantage road car is joined by Aston Martin Racing’s new Vantage GTE race car, currently in its final stages of development. It makes its world debut at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in May but will be in Geneva for the show.
Joining the road and race Vantage siblings is the V8-powered DB11 Coupe together with the recently launched DB11 Volante. It’s the first time both derivatives of the DB11 and the new Vantage have been shown collectively. Together they provide a vivid demonstration of Aston Martin’s “Second Century” product strategy.
“Geneva is a highlight of the industry calendar and a motor show with a rich history and great atmosphere,” commented Andy Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aston Martin. “It’s an indication of Aston Martin’s growth that we have adopted a new stand location for 2018: one that affords us the extra space we need to display our growing range.”
Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
Motorsports & Surprises
The Aston Martin Red Bull Racing F1 show car will also be on display in Geneva. On March 6th, the first of the press days, the car will be accompanied by Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal, Christian Horner and Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey.
“I’m certain motorsport fans will be thrilled to see the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing F1 car and Aston Martin Racing’s all-new Vantage GTE World Endurance Championship challenger,” Palmer added.
It’s entirely possible Aston Martin may have something up their sleeve once the Geneva International Motor Show begins on March 6th.
“It’s always a proud moment to see the fruits of the company’s efforts on show in one place, but this year’s Geneva show promises to be extra special,” Palmer said. “Who knows, we may even have one or two surprises in store.”
Photos & Source: Aston Martin The Americas.

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New Mazda6 To Debut At Los Angeles Auto Show

New Mazda6 To Debut At Los Angeles Auto Show

The “new” Mazda6 will roll out for its first reveal at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. It’s not entirely new, just re-engineered and refined, which all car companies say about mid-cycle refreshes. But in this case, the new Mazda6 is indeed a rather refined and sharpened car.
KODO Design
Mazda has been making a big deal of late about the Japanese craftsmanship they put into every one of their products. And for a lot of car companies, something like that would be little more than marketing codswallop. In Mazda’s case, it’s actually true. Mazda sweats this refined stuff – things like stitching on leather steering wheels and compound radii on dashboards – all the time. I once met the guy who was in charge of designing the exhaust system for the first genration Miata, and he told me he listened to tapes of various sports cars revving up and down on his commute to and from the Hiroshima factory for the better part of a year to figure out the Miata’s exhaust note. And that was in 1989, and Mazda shows no signs of slowing down in the least.
Fast forward to 2017 and Mazda says they will be rolling out the new(ish) Mazda6 sedan at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. The Mazda6 is the flagship of their passenger car lineup and the development team had the goal to “enhance the daily lives of people who love cars.” Yeah, I know, automakers can get rather pretentious with this stuff, but that doesn’t mean Mazda is joking about it. The upcoming Mazda6 will incorporate premium details and new engineering concepts and technologies based on what Mazda calls its “human-centered design philosophy.” And, the more I look at this car, the more I believe them. It’s as clean and austere as a Danish couch form 1965, but there’s a curious humanity about it.
The Feels
Mazda says the whole idea behind the 6’s styling is covered by the term “Mature Elegance,” which, yeah, I know, sounds like a dating app for the over-50 crowd. Mazda is, of course, not joking about that either. The design team worked to advance the quality feel of both the interior and exterior. Mazda says this results in “a look of greater maturity and composure.” But I also think they were right in using the word “feel” because the gradual curves on the Mazda6, both inside and out, really invite you to slide a hand along all those arcs for a very long time.
And the materials Mazda uses now really back this up. A new high-grade interior features Sen Wood, a type of Japanese ash that is often used in traditional Japanese instruments and furniture, for an enhanced premium feel. Mazda says the overall design is more “distinctive, premium, beautiful, and dignified, as befits the flagship of Mazda’s passenger car lineup.” I’m not going to argue with that.
Photo: Mazda North American Operations.

Power & Performance
The powertrain lineup for the upcoming Mazda6 implements a bunch of new technologies, such as cylinder deactivation for the SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine for fuel efficiency on long hauls. The turbocharged gasoline engine with direct injection has been added to the lineup in North America. This plant first showed up in the bigger CX-9 crossover, and Mazda says it produces torque on par with a 4-liter V8.
We’ll be the judge of that, and we here at One Automoblog Towers would love to give the blown big block Mazda6 a brisk run around the neighborhood just to be sure.
And since this is 2017, the Mazda6 is festooned with enough high tech gee-gaws to keep a satellite in orbit. For a start there is a wider range of safety technologies on hand. These are said to help the driver identify potential risks and reduce the likelihood of crunching the car or the people inside it. Mazda Radar Cruise Control can now bring the car to a standing stop and take off again when the vehicle in front moves away, which sounds pretty impressive. Also notable is Mazda’s latest 360 Degree View Monitor. All this new stuff works in concert with the car’s previously introduced safety features.
Press Conference Reveal
Mazda will be showing some other interesting cars at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but so far, all they’ve provided is a list and no definite details. A press conference is planned for November 29th at 10:30 am PST. Below is everything that will be on their stand if you happen to be in SoCal and want to swing by and check it out for yourself.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias toward lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Mazda Exhibits at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show
Models Scheduled for Sale
New Mazda6 sedan (World premiere)
Updated Mazda CX-5 (North American premiere)
Currently Available Models
Mazda3, Mazda CX-3, Mazda CX-9, Mazda MX-5 RF
Reference Exhibits
Mazda VISION COUPE next-generation design vision model (North American premiere)
Mazda RT24-P prototype race car with Mazda Team Joest livery and driver lineup
Mazda MX-5 (Global MX-5 Cup spec)
Mazda MX-5 Halfie (A half production car/half racecar demonstration model)
Technology Exhibits
SKYACTIV-G 2.0 (gasoline engine)
SKYACTIV-G 2.5T (turbocharged gasoline engine)
Photos & Source: Mazda North American Operations.

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Aston Martin Vantage: Styling Wonder or Blunder?

Aston Martin Vantage: Styling Wonder or Blunder?

GAH! Whoa, wait! Hold up here a second! Look, I know a car company has to grow and progress and all that sort of thing, but Aston Martin, I think you might want to really give some thought to where you’re heading. And no, I’m not just talking about the color they’ve chosen for the new Vantage, that’s enough of an eyesore. No, I mean the overall design.
Vantage Point
Aston Martin’s main stock in trade for a very long time has been style. Not style at the expensive of performance, but style in concert with performance. If you just went by pure performance, why would you buy an Aston Martin over something like a Ferrari, for roughly the same amount of doe-rae-mi? You wouldn’t, really. Aston Martins are okay, numbers-wise, but not outstanding. What pushes a lot of people over the top is how an Aston Martin looks. They’re sort of the automotive equivalent of the really good looking guy in a Savile Row suit. He seems like marriage material ladies, then he opens his mouth and you realize he won’t be in the running for the Lucasian Chair at Oxford any time soon. And that’s okay. I understand wanting a certain level of style in your life. And, frankly, the numbers on the new Vantage ain’t that bad.
The front splitter on the new Aston Martin Vantage directs air underneath, where a system of fences channel it. The design of the rear diffuser creates an area of low pressure air that helps prevent rear wheel turbulence. Preventing such turbulence is important when it comes to having the air exit centrally from beneath the rear of the car. Photo: Drew Gibson, Aston Martin The Americas.
Power & Performance
The most important figures here are the max speed of 195 mph and the 0 to 60 sprint in 3.6 seconds. Okay numbers, but, you know, a Ferrari 488 GTB would jump all over it with both feet. This performance all flows from a new alloy 4-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine. The plant is set low and well back in the chassis, making for an optimal center of gravity and 50:50 weight distribution. Said mill puts out 503 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 505 lb-ft. of torque. The dry weight is a not all that inconsiderable 3,373 lbs.
All that power and torque heads to the rear wheels only (thank you) via a rear-mounted ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and transaxle. It employs a suite of integrated electronic systems, like Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Torque Vectoring for maximum grip and fun. This is also the first Aston Martin with an E-Diff Electronic Rear Differential.
Aston Martin says the new Vantage has a “formidable” power-to-weight ratio. Photo: Drew Gibson, Aston Martin The Americas.

Solid Architecture
The new Vantage chassis is similar to the bonded aluminum structure first seen on the DB11. 70 percent of the structure’s components are new for the Vantage, improving overall balance, strength, rigidity, and weight efficiency. There’s a solidly mounted rear subframe for an enhanced understanding of what the rear tires are doing (most likely locking up and shooting you forward like a golf ball from a tee). Speaking of tires, those are new Pirelli P Zeros developed specifically for the Vantage. There’s also Aston Martin’s latest Adaptive Damping System that incorporates Skyhook technology with Sport, Sport Plus, and Track modes at the flip of a switch.
Technology Central
And, since the new Vantage costs about as much as a one bedroom condo in Detroit, it features a high level of standard equipment. Keyless start/stop, a tire pressure monitoring system, Parking Distance Display, Park Assist, and front and rear parking sensors are all there. The entertainment system, controlled via a centrally mounted eight-inch LCD screen, includes the Aston Martin Audio System, Bluetooth streaming, iPod, iPhone, and USB playback, along with satellite navigation and Wi-Fi.
Drivers will find plenty of stowage space behind the seats or with the double-tier storage areas. Photo: Drew Gibson, Aston Martin The Americas.
Styling Blunder?
All this is well and true and good as a high performance sports car should be. It’s the styling that leaves me and the rest of the kids at One Automoblog Towers ruefully shaking our heads. Oh sure, Aston Martin crows about the Vantage, using words and phrases like “spectacular” and “bold and distinctive design language” and “sculptural forms” and “athletic, predatory stance” and “muscular flanks and broad haunches express the agility and . . .” stop, just stop. We get it. Just speaking for myself, it seems kind of ham-handed and lacking in subtlety. The headlights are way squinty, the front end seems half thought out, there’s a bunch of go-fast kicks and flips and aero bits and pieces that I’m sure help with performance, but look like something from a Fast and Furious movie.
And look, we get that styling is subjective and some people will actually be okay with what Aston Martin is doing here. And others will just be fan-boys that will genuflect at anything and everything that comes out of the shops at Gaydon. But really, Aston Martin should haul this back in before they turn into this decade’s Chris Bangle-sized punch line.
The new Vantage is currently on sale with a retail price starting at $149,995. Deliveries are scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2018.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias toward lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Aston Martin Vantage Gallery

Photos & Source: Aston Martin The Americas.

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