Automotive

Mercedes-AMG GLE 53: Looks Sharp, Smells Fresh

Mercedes-AMG GLE 53: Looks Sharp, Smells Fresh The Mercedes-Benz GLE receives a special treatment courtesy of Affalterbach.
An AMG-tuned six-cylinder produces over 400 horsepower and 380 lb-ft. of torque.
Interior highlights include red accent stitching and a special fragrance named “AMG#63.”
Did you know there are still straight six engines out there? There are, and not only that, but there’s an in-line six that AMG has monkeyed with. And the Germans saw fit to drop it into their new SUV, the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53. Yes, it works, but also yes, it features some rather interesting technology.
The GLE is just what the modern and well-off SUV buyer wants these days: big, roomy, safe, giving the appearance of off-road capability and, probably most importantly, brand recognition. That three-pointed star on the grille tells every other soccer mom and drama king who’s who in the parking lot.
And who is that? You! That’s right. But you still gotta check out this engine.
Tricks of The Trade
It’s a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder in-line plant, cranking out 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft. of torque. On top of that, a trick starter/generator, part of the EQ Boost system, briefly provides an additional 21 horsepower, plus 184 lb-ft. of torque. It also feeds the 48-volt on-board electrical system. Apart from that trick alternator, it’s all pretty standard, right? Oh no, check this: The GLE’s engine is both turbo and supercharged, and even the supercharger itself is weird. The blower is an electrically-powered affair – not the traditional belt-driven, off-the-engine arrangement – and its there more as an auxiliary compressor to build up boost pressure without delays until the turbocharger kicks in. Clever.
Quicker engine response and less turbo lag is the idea. Yes, it’s complex. And yes, I would bet that when something fails, it will be an absolute bear to fix. It will also put a big dent in your bank account, but let’s not worry about that now. Let’s just worry about this: zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds!
Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 under the hood. Photo: MBUSA.
Related: An in-depth look at the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE.
Transmission & Drivetrain Tech
Now, the even the more “mundane” stuff, in comparison to the engine’s forced induction trickery, is still pretty interesting. Gear selection is handled by an AMG-spec nine-speed automatic transmission. Even though it’s a slush box, Merc says the transmission is very responsive, and can be controlled by the steering wheel shift paddles so you can feel like Lewis Hamilton. From there, all that Germanic power hits the road (or gravel or mud or whatever) through an AMG Performance 4MATIC+ fully variable all-wheel drive system.
The rear axle is permanently driven, while the front axle continually calculates for optimum torque. Power is distributed from there accordingly.
Photo: MBUSA.
Steering & Suspension
As you’d expect, the suspension isn’t “normal” either. The Airmatic AMG Active Ride Control handles body movement and reduces rolling movements when cornering. The Airmatic setup includes adaptive adjustable damping (ADS+) and has three pre-selected modes: Comfort, Sport, and Sport+. The Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 maintains a constant ride height regardless of the vehicle load. However, in Sport and Sport+, the GLE 53 is lowered by 15 millimeters to reduce aero drag and fuel consumption. The handling and stability improves thanks to a lower center of gravity.
If the going gets bad, ground clearance can be upped by 55 mm at the touch of a button.
The steering is an electro-mechanical, speed-sensitive power rack and pinion design with two stages, Comfort or Sport. Braking is handled by 400 x 36 mm, internally-ventilated and perforated disks at the front, and internally-ventilated 345 x 25 mm disks at the rear.
One of the interior highlights is how the instrument cluster houses things like the AMG start-up menu with four selectable styles. Photo: MBUSA.
Interior Treatments: Smell The Roses
The Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 features black Artico and Dinamica seats with red contrast top-stitching and AMG markings. The top part of the instrument panel is also covered in Artico. Around the cabin, it’s a combination of brushed aluminum with additional red contrast stitching. An optional, folding third row seat turns the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 into a seven-seater.
And get this: there is an exclusive interior fragrance called “AMG#63” as part of the Air-Balance package. According to Mercedes-AMG, it is an inspiring, sporty scent to match the spirit of the performance brand. So jump in and take a whiff.
Pricing & Availability
The Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 will arrive in dealer showrooms by late 2020 with pricing to be announced at a later date.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Gallery

Photos & Source: MBUSA.

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2018 Toyota Yaris Hatchback: Sporty, Convenient, Affordable

2018 Toyota Yaris Hatchback: Sporty, Convenient, Affordable

The Yaris still plugs along as Toyota’s North American entry level/sometimes sporty hatchback. It is aimed directly at recent graduates (both college and high school) or the rest of those newly out on their own. It is small, cheap to buy, cheap to run, and since it’s a Toyota, reliable as an anvil.
The 2018 Yaris hatchback will soon be here, and Toyota just announced retail prices and features for the entry level car. Let’s get the bottom line out of the way first, and then we can talk about the comfort and convenience features along with all the other techno-goodies.
Basically, the Yaris comes in three-door and five-door body styles in two grades, L and LE, and there is also the five-door SE, which is said to be more “sporty.” Manual boxes are only available on the three-door L and the five-door SE.
Affordable Ranges
Cost wise, the 2018 Toyota Yaris hatchback starts with the L grade and will run you from $15,635 for the three-door with a manual transmission, up to $16,760 for the five-door with an automatic. In the middle there’s the LE grade Yaris, starting at $17,285 for the three-door with the slush-box transmission and $17,660 for the five-door version thereof. And at the top of the range is the “sporty” (Toyota’s words, not mine) Yaris SE. The SE starts at $18,260 for the five-door with a manual transmission and rises up to $19,060 for the five-door automatic.
So the whole Yaris model range fits between a 15-and-a-half to 20k bandwidth that should ensure Toyota can sell these things as fast as they can make them. And although the Yaris is touted as “a great value for buyers on a budget” it is not a stripper devoid of things like heaters and glove boxes. The Yaris actually has pretty close to a full suite of techno and safety goodies that all buyers have come to expect these days.
Safety & Security
The 2018 Yaris features Toyota Safety Sense, which is a triple shot of driver assist gizmos including Toyota’s Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, and Automatic High Beams. Yes, to me these are all poor excuses for having your former Drill Sergeant dad yell “PAY ATTENTION!!!” at you in your formative driving years, but that’s a conversation better left between me and my team of court appointed therapists.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Hipster Tech
Since Toyota barely veils that the Yaris is aimed at Millennials, and since any guy in the marketing department with a handful of brylcreem in his hair and a Pall Mall dangling from his lip can tell you the kids these days “dig” their music, the 2018 Yaris is crammed with lots of music tech.
Both the L and LE now come standard with the same Entune Audio system available on other Toyota models. For those of you not “with it” or “hip,” Entune consists of a 6.1-inch touchscreen display, CD player, MP3/WMA playback capability, an auxiliary audio jack input, and a USB 2.0 port with iPod connectivity and control. There is also advanced voice recognition, hands-free phone capability, phone book access, music streaming via Bluetooth, and Siri Eyes Free. All this gets blasted into your ears from six speakers mounted throughout the cabin.
The range topping SE model heaps on even more tubes and wires and ones and zeros and Mr. Spock tech. Naturally the SE comes standard with Entune Audio Plus with the Connected Navigation App. It’s pretty much like the Entune package in the L and LE models, but on this go-round, you get a 7.0-inch high resolution touchscreen display along with all the other alphabet soup yadda-yadda of AM/FM, MP3/WMA, USB, iPod, and all that. Added to the package for the SEs is SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three-month complimentary SiriusXM All Access Trial and Gracenote album cover art (“KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD!!!”), HD Radio, and traffic and weather updates in major metro areas, which sounds nice. All this gets pumped out through the same six speakers, however, so that might be a bit of a hitch.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Interior Touches
On the inside, the 2018 Yaris receives a standard tilt, three-spoke steering wheel with audio controls, and both the L and LE models get the same sport analog instrumentation currently found in the SE. The “sporty” instrument cluster includes a speedo, tach, fuel gauge LCD display with odometer, tripmeters, clock, outside temp, current/average fuel economy, distance to empty, average speed, and shift position. There is also an ECO-driving indicator and warning messages for automatic transmission Yarises (Yari?).
Exterior Finishes
Colors? You want colors? The Yaris comes in eight exterior colors including two new shades: Blue Eclipse and two-tone Blue Eclipse with a Black Sand Pearl Roof, which sounds both attractive and fancy-schmancy all at the same time. Other colors are Super White, Classic Silver Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Black Sand Pearl, Ruby Flare Pearl, and the two-tone Ruby Flare Pearl with Black Sand Pearl Roof. On the inside buyers get fabric choices of combined Black and Gray on L and LE models, and all-Black on the SE.
Did you know the Yaris is designed and assembled in France? I didn’t, but it does explain why it sort of looks like a cross between some weird little French heap and a 300 horsepower rally car. The 2018 Yaris will be in Toyota dealerships this summer.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photos & Source: Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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Toyota Land Cruiser Seizes World’s Fastest SUV Title

Toyota Land Cruiser Seizes World’s Fastest SUV Title

The Land Cruiser has been one of Toyota’s signature SUVs for over 60 years. The trusted machine is well equipped to handle the rigors of harsh climate, rugged terrain, and the family’s baseball practice, swim meet, “hurry we’re going to be late” type of schedule.
For the latter, Toyota’s Land Speed Cruiser might be the ticket. The 2,000 horsepower beast recently clocked in at over 230 mph with former Toyota NASCAR driver Carl Edwards at the wheel. The feat was enough to earn the Land Speed Cruiser the “World’s Fastest SUV” title.
Record Breaker
The Land Speed Cruiser, which debuted at the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, was originally a factory Land Cruise – that is until a team of ambitious engineers at Toyota’s Motorsports Technical Center (MTC) got their hands on it. Toyota was looking to break the previous record of 211 mph and did so handily; a GPS-verified and video-documented 230.02 mph registered before the vehicle ran out of pavement.
What’s scary is had there been more cement, the Land Speed Cruiser would have gone faster. According to MTC Manager, Chuck Wade, Toyota’s principal was to simply make an ultra-powerful Land Cruiser and see how fast they could make it go.
“This was an aspirational goal that inspired us all,” added Steve Appelbaum, National Engagement Marketing Manager, Toyota Motor Sales.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Power & Performance
The Land Cruiser’s production 5.7-liter 3UR-FE V8 engine provided an excellent baseline for the MTC team. Volley-ball sized Garrett turbochargers were added, generating up to 55 PSI of boost. To handle the additional force, a more robust piston and rod setup was employed, along with a specifically fabricated intake manifold. A custom racing transmission relayed the 2,000 horses to the ground.
Toyota says building the engine was the easy part, whereas the aerodynamics and overall stability were the challenges. To handle such high speeds, MTC lowered the Land Speed Cruiser to mitigate turbulent air under the vehicle. The frame was reworked to better accommodate the suspension geometry, and was narrowed by three inches to fit the wider Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.
Toyota’s Arizona Proving Ground (TAPG) provided the team an optimal place to develop the high-speed SUV. In order to break the record – both effectively and safely – everything needed to be perfect for Edwards.
“I wanted the Land Speed Cruiser to provide the confidence you need, as a driver, to keep pushing even when the world around you becomes a high speed blur,” said Craig Stanton, Toyota Test Driver.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Ignition & Lift Off
Edwards met the MTC team at Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. The locale features a two-and-a-half-mile runway, ideally suited for something of this magnitude. On the first run, Stanton had the go and hit 198 mph, an impressive number in its own right. Edwards jumped in and cracked 200, but found himself short on pavement stopping the beast.
“We made some setup adjustments, and it not only accelerates and shifts more smoothly, but it also enhanced stability,” Stanton said.
Edwards then pulled out all the stops (literally) and pushed the Land Speed Cruiser to its 230 mph record.
“At 225 mph, the thing was wandering a little bit,” he recalled. “All I could think was that Craig said, ‘No matter what, just keep your foot in it,’ and we got 230 mph.”
Daily Inspiration
It’s not likely this muscled-up Land Cruiser will appear at the local Toyota dealership – and if it does, I will see you down there as I am buying one. Still, impressive machines like this derive much of their uniqueness from the everyday vehicles we drive. The “normal” Toyota Land Cruiser provided the essential foundation for this super powerful one – and if you have a Land Cruiser, that’s a pretty cool thought. It would make me smile knowing that as I drove the kids to the mall, picked my wife up from her hair appointment, and loaded the groceries.
“We achieved success by employing the kind of innovative solutions and unyielding determination that have long represented the core of Toyota’s soul,” Appelbaum said.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
NASCAR Driver Carl Edwards. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Photos & Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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2017 Ford F-150 Raptor: Ground Control

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor: Ground Control

You know the Ford F-150 Raptor, right? It’s sort of like what would happen if an F-150 and a Mustang had a baby, and then the baby took tons of steroids. Yeah, that truck. And look, I’m not a truck guy. To me, trucks are what you use to haul your car to the track for a race weekend, but in the case of the Raptor, I might make an exception.
The Raptor is a big brute of a guy, and shortly after it arrived, it featured a big honkin’ brute of an engine. But, fuel economy standards and all that made Ford yank that mill out, and replace it with – please sit down – a 3.5 liter turbocharged V6.
But fear not, red-blooded Americans! The new Raptor is still frighteningly fast, even (especially) off-road, but with the new engine, you spend less money on gas.
Power Transfer
Along with the new engine specs for this go-round, Ford also upgraded pretty much every detail they could get their hands on, and today we’re going to look into this electro-mechanical gizmo Ford calls the “Terrain Management System.” It’s a cutting-edge transfer case, according to Ford, that combines all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive capabilities so the Raptor can handle practically any situation. Spirited off-roading, foul weather driving, its got you covered thanks to four preset traction control modes: sport, weather, four-high desert, and four-low locked off-road driving.
This is all controlled either automatically through the Terrain Management System, or manually via the 4×4 switch. The transfer case has an electronically controlled clutch that reacts on-demand to deliver outstanding performance and confidence whether on road or off. This specifically fabricated transfer case employs an electronic shift-on-the-fly system with mechanical locks to attack “all types of terrain for serious off-road performance.”
And no, Ford is not kidding. They raced the new fore/aft box through nearly 2,500 miles of off-road competition testing.
“Raptor’s transfer case provides the best of both worlds, with the natural benefits from all-wheel drive, such as increased traction in rain and snow, as well as extreme off-road capability that comes with a mechanically locked system,” said Tony Greco, Ford F-150 Raptor Program Manager. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Combined Performance
Characteristically, truck four-wheel drive systems come in two varieties. There are on-demand systems that use a clutch to send the torque to the front driveline, which is sort of how all-wheel drive setups work, or they use electronic shift-on-the-fly systems with mechanical locks to couple the front and rear driveshafts.
Ford pursued enhancements to the daily driving experience of the Raptor while keeping the truck’s off-road performance in play. With the clutch-based attributes of the transfer case, you can travel on-road with the 4×4 auto setting, which delivers the benefits of four-wheel drive without damaging components or binding the driveline.
The dual-mode transfer case manages the distribution of power between the front and rear wheels, obviously, but the key is the clutch-based, on-demand all-wheel drive capability for everyday driving. This includes an all-weather mode, along with a mechanically locked, durable four-wheel drive system for poise and control in severe off-road driving environments. With the non-sequential 10-speed transmission and that high-output EcoBoost engine, the new Raptor can deliver its 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft. of torque way more efficiently, either on road, or way out in the boonies.
The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor in the 49th running of the SCORE Baja 1000. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Validation Testing
Did I mention Ford didn’t just cook up this new idea, but they cooked it up and actually raced it? Oh, yes I did, but dig the specifics: The Terrain Management System was put through 2,500 miles of competition testing in the 2016 Best in the Desert series. The darn beast completed the 850-mile SCORE Baja 1000 with nary a hitch, and, this is the cool part: Greg Foutz Motorsports team members drove the truck back to their headquarters in Arizona another 400 miles. How’s that for reliability under stressful conditions?
The concise version here is that although the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, delicious as it is, changed engines, it gave up absolutely nothing in performance – shoot, it actually got better. The video below from Ford Performance explains more.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

Photos, Video & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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Report: The end of the Volkswagen Beetle and Scirocco might be near again

Report: The end of the Volkswagen Beetle and Scirocco might be near again Two of some of Volkswagen’s most iconic models have a questionable fate for the near future.
What’s going on?
Some new information surfaced regarding the fate of some iconic Volkswagen models surfaced recently. After AutoCar scored a chance to speak with a VW board member, the outlet learned that the Beetle and Scirocco may be no more for the near-future.
In grave efforts to try and recuperate losses from the Dieselgate scandal, Volkswagen’s on a driven quest to overhaul its lineup and future plans. The potential result of this is that Volkswagen might have to axe the Beetle and the Scirroco once more.
“The Beetle and Scirocco are representatives of an emotional and appealing class of vehicles,” said VW board member, Arno Antilitz, “…but it [VW product planning] is not always about continuing cars from one generation to the next.”
…but the Beetle and Scirocco were just resurrected!

Yes! The current Beetle launched as a 2012 model year car. The current Scirocco, although not available in the US, debuted in 2008. So both cars are nearing the end of their production lifespan.
But Antilitz noted while both the Beetle coupe and the Scirocco might end soon, the Beetle Convertible will continue production until the end of its production cycle.
Rumors of the Beetle coming to an end have also been floating around for quite some time.
Where’s Volkswagen going?
According to some of the latest reports, Dieselgate really changed things for Volkswagen. As a result, VW plans to focus more on production electric vehicle programs and the continuous growth for SUVs and crossovers. Some of these efforts are already taking form, as seen with the Volkswagen Atlas SUV.
Current predictions suggest the Volkswagen Beetle should come to an end sometime in 2019.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutoCar

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Memory Lane: Remembering Gilles Villeneuve

Memory Lane: Remembering Gilles Villeneuve

Over 28 years ago, on a rainy and cold October day, I was in attendance when Gilles Villeneuve won his first F1 race. To the delight of the cheering crowd, he did it on his home course in Montreal, which would later be renamed in his honor. Thousands upon thousands of spectators were jumping with joy when the checkered flag came down and the red Ferrari 312T3 number 12 was the first to cross the finish line.
The miserable weather didn’t matter anymore. The only thing that counted was Gilles had won.
“Seasoned” Champion
I began following his career when he was racing snowmobiles. He raced Skiroule machines. They had been designed after Bombardier’s success with Ski-doo. Skiroule was eventually sold to the Coleman Company, famous for its camping gear. Gilles became the Snowmobile World Derby champion in 1974.
One summer, he did some drag racing with his Mustang, but going in a straight line bored him. He attended the Jim Russell Racing School to obtain his professional license. Despite driving an older Formula Ford car he purchased after mortgaging his house, much to the dismay of his wife, he won seven out of the ten races he entered. It was enough to win the regional championship in the process.
The following year, he moved to Formula Atlantic. It was raining heavily when he won his first race in 1975. In 1976, he was crowned North American champion by winning all but one race during that season. And the sole race he didn’t win, he came in second. He tried to jump to Formula 2 in Europe, but a contract didn’t materialize, so he returned to Formula Atlantic.
My brother and I used to go see him race on weekends. The two-day spectacle included the preliminary races to Formula Atlantic which showcased the Honda Civic, Formula Ford, TransAm, and Can-Am. Gilles also did some Can-Am races for Wolf Racing.
Finding Home
In 1976, there was a celebrity Formula Atlantic race that included F1 stars. Gilles won the race. In doing so, he impressed James Hunt, one of the participants who would become the F1 champion that year. James Hunt recommended the Formula Atlantic champion to McLaren, for whom he was racing, and it was the beginning of Gilles Formula 1 career. He lied about his age for fear of being considered too old to be an F1 racer.
Although promising at first, things didn’t pan out with McLaren nor with Wolf Racing; the other team that was interested in Gilles for their F1 effort and for whom he had driven Cam-Am cars. Walter Wolf recommended Gilles Villeneuve to Enzo Ferrari. The Commendatore took an immediate liking to Gilles Villeneuve whose stature reminded him of Tazio Nuvolari. Ferdinand Porsche called Nuvolari the greatest driver of the past, the present, and the future. Mr. Ferrari decided to give Gilles a chance and eventually signed him to a contact.
Despite a poor showing in the beginning, problems with the Michelin radial tires, and calls from the Italian press to get rid of him, the Commendatore kept him on Scuderia Ferrari, much to the delight of supporters like me. Mr. Ferrari grew to love Gilles like a son. He said of Gilles, “with Villeneuve, you win, even if you lose.”
Photo: Ferrari S.p.A.

Track & Television
My brother and I kept going to the local races after Gilles Villeneuve had made it to F1. Paul Newman was a team owner, then. I’ll never forget an accident during a race when one of his cars plowed head on into a concrete barrier at full speed. Paul Newman stood nearby, anxious. After what felt like an eternity, they extricated the driver from the wreckage. His legs were mangled. We later learned that he had eventually been flown to Switzerland for medical care, but his legs had to be amputated.
We watched Gilles’ races on television too. He was called the wet weather master for a reason. One simply has to watch the start of the 1979 Watkins Glen race to see how he maneuvered on a wet racetrack. He started fourth on the grid and before the first turn he was in first position. He credited his snowmobile racing days for his ability to handle slippery surfaces and driving conditions where visibility was minimal.
Thanks to the web and people who post videos, you can see footage of his racing prowess. Gilles once said he couldn’t hurt himself, but he could hurt the car. That’s how confident he was. Who can forget the duel between René Arnoux in his Renault twin-turbo and Villeneuve in his Ferrari at the 1979 French Grand Prix? It was unbelievable racing. That same year, he was voted fastest F1 driver by his peers who included mechanics and team directors.
Living On
When that fatal day happened in 1982, when he hit a slow car during a practice run, a little piece of us also died. Seeing pictures of him by the fence as track officials try to revive him breaks your heart. He was 32. But sadness gives way to rejoicing for all that he has accomplished – he was voted best Ferrari driver ever by Motor Sport Magazine. His son went on to become Indy (CART) Champion and F1 Champion.
So, with a new F1 season underway, I remember you, Gilles Villeneuve. Thank you for all the excitement you have provided your fans. I’m glad I was able to see you race in person and to be there when you won your first Grand Prix. Your memory lives on.
Michael Bellamy is the author of our Memory Lane series. He enjoys driving his 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC and until an untimely collision claimed it, his 2001 Ford F-150 7700.
Cover Photo: Ferrari S.p.A.

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Hyundai Santa Fe: The Second Endurance

Hyundai Santa Fe: The Second Endurance I was enamored with Sir Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance Expedition in middle school. Our history class covered a unit on famous explorers and the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition easily captured mine and my classmate’s imagination. How exhilarating, yet so undeniably terrifying to have been stranded on Earth’s most barren place. Antarctica.
The photos of the ice-locked Endurance are still stunning to this day. And how the crew maintained morale, and conditioned their survival to their eventual rescue is nothing short of a miracle.
“We were aware of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s story and as a company felt a resonance with his courage and pioneering spirit,” said Scott Noh, Head of Overseas Marketing Group, Hyundai Motor Company.
Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Hyundai. All views and opinions expressed here are my own. Check out our advertising guidelines to see why we’d never steer you wrong.
Captain’s Log
To honor this monumental voyage and make history again on Antarctica, Hyundai teamed with Patrick Bergel, Shackleton’s great grandson. Bergel piloted a wicked looking Hyundai Santa Fe, traveling from Union Camp to McMurdo and back again, successfully completing the journey his great grandfather began over 100 years ago. This is the first instance where a passenger vehicle has traveled across the continent, and back again. At first glance, it doesn’t seem Bergel fits the family mold, especially as a technology entrepreneur.
“I’m not a polar explorer; I’m an indoor guy, so it was a big cultural shift,” he said.
During the 30-day trek, Bergel covered 3,600 miles of icy, unforgiving terrain as temperatures dipped to negative 28. At times it was dangerous because nothing was as it appeared.
“When you’re driving through a total white-out you start hallucinating, seeing things that aren’t there,” Bergel said. “Our brains often confused us into believing we were going uphill rather than down.”
Photo: Hyundai Motor UK.
Fractures & Cracks
Vehicle durability was another factor given the conditions. The Hyundai Santa Fe piloted by Bergel featured a low gear ratio of 1.5:1 for maximum performance in the snow. The suspension, links, mounts, and axle shafts were all rebuilt, although no modifications to the engine or its computer were made.
“People who have a lot of experience in Antarctica know what it does to machinery: basically, anything and everything falls apart,” explained Gisli Jónsson, Chief Developer, Arctic Trucks. “Even the big machines crack up and break apart.”
Jónsson has numerous Antarctic expeditions under his belt, including a record breaking double traverse, totaling nearly 6,000 miles in one season. Jónsson has encountered about everything, but Hyundai’s mission was an entirely new endeavor for the seasoned traveler.
“This was the first time a full traverse has ever been attempted, let alone doing it there and back,” he said.
Jónsson remains an authority on driving in Antarctica and lead Hyundai’s expedition. The journey was carefully plotted on GPS and dangerous areas were identified and reviewed with experts at Union Glacier before departure. New paths were mapped across floating ice caps that had never been subjected to a wheeled vehicle. The team later encountered a giant crevasse field where vehicles were roped up so if one fell, it could be recovered.
“We had one scary moment there – but we managed to get through okay,” Bergel said.
“A lot of people thought we would never ever make it and when we returned they couldn’t believe we’d actually done it,” Jónsson added.
Photo: Hyundai Motor UK.
Family Legacy
Having tried to reach the South Pole, Shackleton was beaten by Roald Amundsen in 1911. Thus, crossing Antarctica was now the primary objective and the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition was planned accordingly. Aboard the Endurance just a year later, Shackleton would have his opportunity but the unpredictable terrain would trap and ultimately claim the ship. Shackleton and five men sailed 800 miles over open, stormy seas to South Georgia, where a successful rescue was conceived.
“Getting to the South Pole was a special moment. The fact that this was a place my great grandfather tried to get to more than once and I was there, it felt like a genuine connection,” Bergel said. “It was quite something to have been the first to do this.”
Photo: Hyundai Motor UK.
Magnificent Creations
One of the highlights of the journey was the scenery, which very few people will ever see. The team traveled from Union Glacier to the South Pole then followed the Leverett Glacier and the Trans-Antarctic Mountains, to the Ross Ice Shelf, and McMurdo. Seeing Mount Erebus was particularly special.
“My great-grandfather was the first to climb Erebus and I’d seen pictures of it as a child,” Bergel said. “It is quite spectacular, with plumes of smoke coming out, and it was pretty special to be driving and see it come out of the cloud.”
Passing the Trans-Antarctic Mountains was when reality set in.
“That was the point at which nobody in a wheeled vehicle had been beyond,” Bergel added.
Preserving Memories
Seeing things like this – a team of people trekking across the most isolated part of the world – gives me hope and inspiration. It’s easy these days to lose that – just login to the nearest social media account if you’ve already forgotten what pandemonium and commotion are. The world needs more of this kind of adventure; this kind of exhalation. The world needs more Hyundai Santa Fe models with big tires blowing through snow like no tomorrow . . . man, I always liked the Santa Fe anyway, but now . . . but now . . .
Hyundai made a film that chronicles the expedition and highlights some of the remarkable moments experienced by the team. The Shackleton Returns website is fascinating too, with more details on the journey, Shackleton’s background, and performance specs on that oh so sweet Santa Fe.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

Photos, Video & Source: Hyundai Motor UK.

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2018 GMC Terrain: Some Anonymity For Not Much Coin

2018 GMC Terrain: Some Anonymity For Not Much Coin

Have you ever noticed how many GM SUVs and vans there are on the road? It seems like the bulk of bigger SUVs are from The General, and it also seems like most municipalities buy GM when it comes to their service vehicles.
If I was one of those rich oligarch guys you see in movies driving a convoy of Ranger Rovers or something else sleek, black, tinted, and flashy, I think I’d go for a fleet of GMCs instead.
Blending In
As much fun as it is to show off what an insufferably rich jerk you are, and how much security you have, there’s another form of security these types are overlooking: Anonymity. You think the CIA and other law enforcement agencies want to stand out? Of course not. That’s why they all seem to tool around in GM SUVs and such, especially in the movies.
So, if you are an oligarch on a budget, or just getting wise to the whole concept of hiding in plain sight, then I’ve got good news for you: GMC just announced the prices for their Terrain line of midsized SUVs, and they are as inexpensive as they are anonymous. When it goes on sale this summer, pricing for the all-new 2018 Terrain will start at $25,970 and end up at a tick above $40k, which is actually pretty reasonable when you think about it.
The 2018 GMC Terrain SLT (left) and Denali (right). Photo: GMC.
Performance Tech
GMC says the all-new Terrain presents greater sophistication and flexibility to adjust to customers’ needs, and that it’s packed with more available features and advanced safety technologies than before. There are three all-new turbocharged engines for the 2018 GMC Terrain too. First off, there’s a 2.0L that will be available from the get go and, later on, customers can order a 1.5L or a 1.6L turbo-diesel. That new 170 horsepower, 1.5L turbo plant is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, meaning things should be smooth from the flats and up long grades.
The diesels of course being the go-to choice for preppers, TEOTWAWKI-types, and doomsday hopefuls.
And it’s not just engines either. There’s a host of standard premium features such as a driver-controllable Traction Select system, LED daytime running lamps as well as taillamps, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a flat-folding front passenger seat. The latter is handy for longer cargo and those runs to the lumber store.
Photo: GMC.

Creature Comforts
The Terrain Denali, which is the full-zoot, all the comfort and convenience features an oligarch could want model, gets a standard 252 horsepower, 2.0L turbo engine along with 19-inch “ultra-bright” machined aluminum wheels. LED headlamps, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel – which will be great in northern winters – and a hands-free power programmable liftgate are included. Yes, that’s my question too: What can you possibly program in a liftgate? Don’t those things live in only one of two states: Open and closed? Well, whatever, you can program this one.
The Terrain Denali also gets a standard 8-inch diagonal infotainment display with navigation, plus a Bose premium seven-speaker audio system for your tunage. There’s a gigantic batch of “connectivity technologies” (as GMC puts it) including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a standard in-vehicle OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Standard safety features include Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Park Assist, and Safety Alert Seat.
2018 GMC Terrain Denali interior. Photo: GMC.
Price Points
Pricing breaks down thusly, with the Terrain SL FWD at $25,970, on up to the SLE Diesel AWD ringing up at $34,315. The high end is, of course, the Terrain Denali that starts at $38,495 for the FWD model and tops out with the Denali AWD at $40,245. Between those two are the Terrain SLT models, with the SLT FWD costing you $32,295 and the SLT Diesel AWD setting you back $36,890.
So there you go, upcoming oligarchs on the move, or soccer moms on a budget: The GMC 2018 Terrain. It works, there’s dealerships all over the place, it’s pretty anonymous but stylish, and reasonably priced.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
2018 GMC Terrain SLT. Photo: GMC.
Photos & Source: GMC.

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2017 Honda Civic Type R Sets Nürburgring Lap Record

2017 Honda Civic Type R Sets Nürburgring Lap Record

Okay, three things here: 1) Honda’s latest hotrod Civic, the Type R, set a time on the Nürburgring of 7 minutes 43.80 seconds, which is a very fast time indeed; 2) That is a record time for any front-wheel drive car; 3) Nürburgring records are not to be trusted.
Okay, so maybe number 3 is a bit arch, but there is a growing opinion on racing websites and sites maintained by track-tards of one stripe or another that Nürburgring lap times, especially ones claiming to be “records” are to be considered suspect.
Ring of Fire
The reasons for this suspicion are many, but they all break down to the fact that a time on the ‘Ring is more or less done on the honor system. And in the past, various manufacturers have been rumored to be using special compound, one use tires, and monkeyed up ECUs that were far from factory stock and the like so they could set a quick time and get some free PR for a while. All that said, 7 minutes 43.80 seconds is a really quick time for a lap of the Nürburgring, especially for something with all the handling faults of a front driver.
The new Type R will be launching in two months, so this is a very well timed bit of record setting. At 7 minutes 43.80 seconds, that lap is an advance of nearly 7 seconds over the previous-gen Type R, although Honda graciously points out that was the European market Type R, which was hotter than the North American version. And overall, the new benchmark lap time beat the previous record by over 3 seconds. Naturally there’s a video of the lap, which we have included below.
The 2017 Honda Civic Type R in action on the Nürburgring. Photo: Honda North America.
Power & Performance
Honda chalks up the record, first and foremost, to the new engine in the 2017 Civic Type R. After all, they are called the Honda Motor Company for a reason. Said plant is a 2.0-liter VTEC TURBO engine turning out 306 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. Which, let’s face it, is a lot for such a little mill. No specs were given on the amount of boost being produced, but they’ve got to be squeezing the bejeebers out of that little four-banger. It is also worth noting this engine makes the new Civic Type R the most powerful Honda ever sold in America. Also of note, the lump is made right here in the U. S. of A. at Honda’s Anna, Ohio engine plant.
That 2.0-liter VTEC engine is hooked up to a six-speed manual transmission with new, lower gear ratios to improve acceleration, which is what this thing is going to be all about, because something tells me top speed is not going to be stratospheric. Oh, and speaking of outright speed, the new Type R’s aerodynamic package is there to deliver stability and balance.
Weight Reduction & Suspension Tech
Honda says the all-new Civic Type R is over 35 lbs. lighter than the previous-generation model, again from the European market, which are lighter than “ours” anyway. Honda does not say what the all up weight is, which is a pity, and also makes me wonder even more about that lap time.
The new Type R, has an all-new multi-link rear suspension for enhanced stability under braking and for reducing the total roll movement. This makes for further late braking into corners and helps to achieve higher cornering speeds during the lap. Again, obviously focusing on the car’s strengths – braking, cornering, and acceleration – since it’s not going to top out like a McLaren. The new Type R features a wider track and tires and a longer wheelbase, with that new multi-link suspension out back. The new R also boasts a 38 percent gain in torsional stiffness.
“The cornering speed achieved in the new Type R is higher because the car features a wider track and tires, a longer wheelbase, a new multi-link suspension in the rear, and optimized aerodynamics that improve stability,” said Ryuichi Kijima, Lead Chassis Engineer. “With improved cornering performance, we can increase the speed throughout the lap, helping the new Type R to achieve a much quicker lap time.” Photo: Honda North America.

Caveats & Quickness
And speaking of equivocating and hedging of ones bets and raising of eyebrows, check this out from Honda’s press release: “The pre-production development Civic Type R that achieved the lap time was technically representative of production specification. A full floating roll cage was installed for safety reasons, but did not provide any additional rigidity to the body frame. The extra weight of the cage was compensated for by the removal of the Display Audio system and rear seats. The car was using street legal, track-focused tires.”
Let me just break that down a little: “Pre-production development” sure, but that’s not the same as “production” is it? “Technically representative” Really? That doesn’t sound like a loophole you could drive a track record through, nope. “Full floating roll cage . . . did not provide any additional rigidity.” Horse manure! “The removal of the Display Audio system and rear seats,” which weigh how much, in total in comparison to the weight of a full roll cage? And my personal favorite: “street legal, track-focused tires.” If I have to explain why that last one is just as big of a loophole as “technically representative” . . .
Anyway, those cavernous caveats aside: 7 minutes 43.80 seconds. That’s quick. Real quick. Dial up your own Type R in Forza on your Xbox and see if you can hit those marks, because I couldn’t.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

Photos, Video & Source: Honda North America.

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