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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Letter From The UK: The Audi R8 Experience

Letter From The UK: The Audi R8 Experience


Picture this: A small brown field mouse breaks cover and arrives at a junction of grass and hard surface. It is a beautiful day; there are very few people about and the countryside is quiet. Somewhere nearby a bird sings in the trees. The mouse reaches out a tentative paw but suddenly pulls back just as a howl fills the air and an Audi R18 e-tron Quattro flashes by in a fury of heat and noise.
The mouse has almost learned the first lesson of motor racing the hard way: never try to cross the Mulsanne Straight on a Le Mans practice day!
From Race To Road
It was a sad day when the German brand announced they were withdrawing from the World Endurance Championship at the end of 2016. Audi’s consistent success at the legendary Le Mans 24 Hour event is reflected by the brand’s consistent success on the road. And it is on the road that Audi produced another success story.
In June 2007, a road-going sports car that honored their racing heritage, and which was destined to garner awards and praise across the world – and from me – arrived. The Audi R8.
Based on the earlier concept designed by Frank Lamberty and Julian Honig, the R8 was introduced to the waiting world in 2006, and deliveries began the next year with immediate success. Less raucous than some other supercars, the R8 is civilized and comfortable with a subtle soundtrack, superb throttle response, and the sort of scorching performance that slots the vehicle easily into the supercar sector.
Photo: Audi AG.
Craftsmen Built
The Audi R8 is still hand-built, mostly by craftsmen whose skills are regularly monitored to ensure the high standards they achieve are maintained. The Audi R8 started life with a 4.2L V8 nestled behind the driver. It was later joined by a desirable Spyder version, both of which were subsequently offered with a stonking V10 engine for even more power. A sports suspension with a dynamically tuned spring and damper combination provided that desirable Audi driving experience.
In 2012, the Audi R8 LMS, essentially a racing version of the street car, won its class at the 24 hour race at the Nürburgring without a single mechanical problem; the only car to do so.
Fascinating Facts
 The Audi R18 e-tron Quattro was the first hybrid Audi Le Mans race car with its partially electrified hybrid drive. The e-tron Quattro is a four-wheel drive car with hybrid (KERS type) technology powering the front wheels and a diesel engine driving the rear wheels.
Did you know that just one kilometer with the R8 during testing on the Nurburgring Nordschleife is the equivalent of fifteen kilometers on public roads? That’s how much demand is made on the cars.
Just 120 of the factory’s best employees qualify to work on the prestigious R8 assembly line. More than half of R8 workers are over 40. It is said the easiest way to spot them is to look for the gray hair. The factory calls them “silverliners.” Obviously, not to be confused with male mountain gorillas known as silverbacks!
In Latin, Audi means “hear” and the German word for hear is “horch.” Audi’s founder was August Horch.
In 1938, crash tests were first carried out by Audi. These tests gave the company an idea about how cars would behave in case an accident occurred. Without realizing it, the company had set a precedent for all other car manufacturers.
In 1932, Audi joined forces with three other companies to form Auto Union – a name that was to have legendary success on the racetracks of the time. The original four companies of Auto Union are represented by the overlapping rings of the Audi logo.
This Audi AG press image shows a beautifully restored 1939 Auto Union Type-D Twin Supercharger model.


R8 At The Movies
Producers of the original Iron Man cast the R8 as the ideal sports car for high-tech billionaire hero Tony Stark. The R8 space frame was so well-built it changed the ending of the film. The stunt directors originally planned to collide the R8 with Iron Man’s adversary, and flip it over. But it wouldn’t flip. The filmmakers tried a different stunt, but the Audi R8 still prevailed!
Snug behind the driver and helping to provide perfect balance and road holding sits the heart of the R8 – the engine. There’s a choice of power plants originally derived from the engines that helped Audi win Le Mans. The first generation (2007-2015) had a 4.2L V8 with 430 horsepower or a feisty 5.2L V10 delivering 532 horsepower. Today, the R8 features two V10 engines, one with 540 horsepower and a plus version with a muscular, free-revving output of 610 horsepower.
Yet each one remains reliable and refined. From beginning to end, the development of the Audi R8 is about the evolution of the look of the car and the revolution that goes on inside the car.
Photo: Audi AG.
Life In Your Car
Every once in a while, a car comes along that inspires those who see it. Some cars are just made to drive: a triumphant combination of tried and tested four-wheel drive, highly developed engineering, and the care and attention of the people who built it. The Audi R8 is just such a car and it is visiting me again this summer. Be still my beating heart – and yours be still as well as you listen to that particular sound of power.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Photo: DriveWrite Automotive.



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2017 Chrysler Pacifica Gets New Touring Plus Trim

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Gets New Touring Plus Trim

So I have been sick, and also dealing with daily life for a bit, but now back in the saddle, I check my work folder, and what do I find? A story to be written about an expansion to the Chrysler Pacifica minivan lineup. I stare at that word: Minivan. And I am reminded of the Hebrew prophet Job who said: “If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you made me your target?” (Job 7:20)
A minivan? A minivan! A minivan. Minivan.
Able-Bodied
Look, I understand. There are perfectly reasonable, understandable, relatable, and other-ables for getting a minivan. I won’t go into those. You know all those. They are the knowns that gnaw at your soul as you shake your head at the thought of getting a sports car. And for that, I pity you. However, if you are . . . uh, obligated to getting a minivan, the Pacifica is very much worth considering. First off, the Pacifica is from Chrysler. And Chrysler are the folks who invented the minivan. So if anybody is going to know what works and what doesn’t in a minivan, it’ll most likely be Chrysler.
The other thing is how Chrysler loaded it with the sort of goodies, niceties, and well-thought-out features that help the Pacifica attain its sole goal in life: Safety and practicality.
Photo: FCA US LLC.
Workaday Wonder
Consider the latest addition to the 2017 Pacifica lineup, the Pacifica Touring Plus. Check this option package, and you get a power liftgate, three-zone automatic temperature control, a premium fascia, projector headlamps, LED tail lamps, fog lamps, second- and third-row sunshades, and a universal garage door opener. Okay, so a “premium fascia” isn’t focused on the practical, but it’s not a sin to look good either.
The Pacifica also brings gasoline and hybrid powertrains to minivans as well as more than 100 available safety and security features. There is also the all-new Uconnect Theater rear seat entertainment system to keep the little nippers at bay, and a full array of comfort and convenience technologies. If you order 18-inch wheels and the 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen system on the Touring Plus model, you will also receive a single overhead DVD player at no charge.
The Chrysler Pacifica Touring Plus joins the LX, Touring, Touring-L, Touring-L Plus, and Limited. The Touring Plus is in dealer showrooms now, with a starting MSRP of $32,360. So, sure, if you have to get a minivan, for whatever reason, the new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Touring Plus is worth a look.
Photo: FCA US LLC.

People Ready
Minivans are, by a far margin, the most practical vehicles you can choose. They offer the maximum amount of interior volume while simultaneously taking up the least amount of square footage on the road. They can haul a lot of people, including a whole sports team worth of kids. They can haul stuff like Ikea furniture. They can haul people and their stuff. Like an entire Pee Wee hockey team and their gear. The once boxy design is now even aerodynamically efficient. They cannot, however, haul your soul at inspiring speeds with angelic agility through a mountain pass on an early morning – but that’s okay. We’ll give the Pacifica a break on that.
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: FCA US LLC.



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Bonhams Announces 18th Annual Aston Martin Sale

Bonhams Announces 18th Annual Aston Martin Sale

Bonhams, that ever so upper-crusty British auction house looks to carry on its rather profitable relationship with Aston Martin, that ever so upper-crusty British car maker. For nearly the past two decades, the two have paired up to hold a single marque auction of the finest Newport Pagnell automobiles currently being pried from the grasp of their lucky owners.
No, in case any of you metalheads out there are wondering, Bonhams, the auction house, has no relation to Bonham, the late drummer for Led Zeppelin.
Although I do admit that would be both rather cool and rad, it is not the case. Bonhams (the auction house) is so very, very proper and British and reserved. And John Bonham was none of those things other than British.
DB2 Drophead Coupé
At any rate, the fine old British auction house will be setting up shop this month at the Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell, the spiritual and for a time, literal home of Aston Martin. Newport Pagnell is right in the middle of The Midlands and, location-wise, about as British as Downton Abbey. Indeed, it is this old location that many of the cars coming up for auction were built. The cars on the list are very impressive indeed.
For starters, there is a stylish 1953 DB2 Drophead Coupé. The British pronounce it like that, cooPAY, unlike us yanks, who say COOP. This would be the second of the DB series, and although not as recognizable as the DB5 that Sean Connery tooled around in, it is a plenty desirable car. It’s also a convertible (what the English refer to as a “Drophead”) of which Aston made very few of.
Aston Martin Vantage GT12. Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
Vantage GT12 Coupé
The most modern car to cross the blocks will be a special edition 2016 Vantage GT12 Coupé. Aston Martin only made 100 of these performance-focused road-going Vantage GT12s, and this is the only one produced in an outstanding Viridian Green paint. It sort of seems like a shade seen in a tropical jungle; a “special colour” created by bespoke service, Q by Aston Martin. Get it? Q? Like James Bond’s armorer played by Peter Burton/Desmond Llewelyn/John Cleese/Ben Whishaw? Uh? Get it?
Get used to it – Aston really has been playing up this whole James Bond connection stuff lately. Anyway, the 2016 Vantage GT12 Coupé cranks out a little over 591 horsepower and is expected to hammer between £350,000 – £450,000. Or around 500K in real Yankee dollars.
Aston Martin DB6 Volante. Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
DB6 ‘Mark I’ Volante
There is also a 1968 DB6 ‘Mark I’ Volante up for sale. One of the rarest post-war Aston Martins, it was extensively refurbished by Aston Martin Works at the factory in 2012. Since then, the car has only covered 1,000 miles and is estimated to sell between £700,000 – £900,000, or around a million bucks, give or take. This car, the convertible DB6, premiered at the 1965 London Motor Show, and also debuted the ‘Volante’ name, another Aston Martin designation for a convertible. Only 140 of these ‘Mark I’ DB6 Volantes were ever produced, making this “a highly sought-after collectors model,” which is a great example of “British understatement.”
There will also be a DB5, along with a number of graceful DB6s from the 1960s. Although the 6s were better performers than the DB5s, they never had that 007 cache’ so they are a relative bargain. In much the same way that gold is relatively “cheaper” than platinum.
Aston Martin V8 Sportsman Estate. Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.


V8 Sportsman Estate
Bonhams will also be auctioning off a very rare V8 Sportsman estate car. An estate car is yet another one of these peculiar British things that’s sort of like a two-door station wagon. Very well-healed gentlemen (read that as filthy rich nabobs) would get these things made up every so often so they could use them on their farm, or to go pheasant hunting or things along that line. Think of the automotive equivalent of the elbow pads on a tweed jacket, and you sort of get the idea.
This particular V8 Sportsman estate car is very rare indeed, being one of only three created.
Sale Date
Don’t have the space in your garage or checking account? Bonhams points out there will also be an auction of a wide range of Aston Martin related memorabilia. So who knows, you might be able to snag a steering wheel that was once touched by Roy Salvadori or something? The 18th annual Aston Martin Sale will be held by International auction house Bonhams on Saturday May 13th 2017. If you have the crust, you can see the full catalogue and register to bid at the auction web page.
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.
Aston Martin DB5. Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
Photos & Source: Aston Martin The Americas.



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2017 Volvo S90 T6 AWD Inscription Review

2017 Volvo S90 T6 AWD Inscription Review

When you think of full-size luxury sedans what often comes to mind is the German automakers who perfected the segment. But there’s a new player in the class and it’s not who you might think. The Volvo S90 is a new model for 2017 with fresh exterior styling and an overhaul inside. The new sedan’s cabin is trimmed with high-quality wood and metal accents. 
Over the weekend, we drove the redesigned 2017 Volvo S90 T6 AWD Inscription model.
What’s New
The 2017 Volvo S90 is an all-new midsize luxury sedan that replaces the S80 in the Swedish automaker’s lineup.
Standard Features
The 2017 Volvo S90 T6 AWD Inscription ($52,950) comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power sunroof, LED headlights with corner illumination, keyless entry, rear park assist, rearview camera, power-folding rear headrests, Sensus Connect touchscreen, a 10-speaker 330-watt audio system, and satellite radio.
Optional Packages
The S90 Inscription ($3,300) gets softer Nappa leather, four-zone climate control, a cooled glovebox, Apple CarPlay, USB media hub, leather dashboard panels, rear sunshades, walnut wood inlays, 12.3-inch display, 19-inch alloy wheels, and heated and ventilated front seats with power side support and cushion extension.
The optional Climate pack ($1,950) includes heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, heated wiper fluid nozzles, and heads-up display. The Vision package ($1,950) includes auto-dimming side mirrors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera.
The Convenience pack ($1000) includes parking assist, front parking sensors, a power trunk lid, a compass embedded in the rearview mirror, and Homelink programmable buttons for the garage doors. This tester also came with a Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system ($2,650) and 20-inch Inscription alloy wheels ($750).
Total MSRP including destination: $66,105.





Interior Highlights
Stepping into the 2017 Volvo S90 reveals a contemporary, bright, and clean cabin with seats that are some of the best in class. Our tester came with a light cream interior with walnut wood inlays – chrome and metal accents wrapped across the big dash. The cabin will compete with the rival’s best example from Germany.
The seats in the S90 Inscription are wrapped in fine Nappa leather with lots of support and adjustments. The power side support and cushion extension make it conducive for long trips. We thought the driving position was more upright than usual, allowing a better view of the road. 
The large 12.3-inch touchscreen serves as the central command for navigation, phone, climate, and audio functions and is easy to use and see. We had a cold snap that hit Denver and the heated steering wheel, heated seats, and wiper nozzles came in handy.
The rear seats offer plenty of room for taller adults and they get the same level of luxury as front passengers with the heated leather. The rear seatbacks fold forward, with a pass-through included for extra cargo-carrying ability. Cargo volume totals 17.7 cubic feet, including an underfloor compartment. The S90’s trunk measures 13.5 cubic feet, which is a bit small for this class.







Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The new Volvo S90 is powered by a super and turbocharged 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine, generating 316 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. A first-rate Aisin 8-speed automatic transmission drives all four wheels in this luxury model. EPA fuel mileage estimates are 22/31 mpg city/highway, and 25 combined with all-wheel drive. All models include engine stop-start technology.
Driving Dynamics
We didn’t think a smaller 2.0-liter displacement could move this luxury sedan, but the super and turbocharged engine had more power than expected. The S90 offers a satisfying driving experience and performance is adequate in most driving situations. A shift gate allowed us to change gears manually and throttle response is quick with the T6, courtesy of its supercharger.
The S90 T6 AWD offers up a comfortable and controlled ride, but we did experience some bobbing as we traveled over the dirt road leading to our house. This was likely the result of the Inscription’s bigger 19-inch wheels. Overall, the interior is a quiet place with its tight construction and active noise cancellation to keep any engine growl and traffic noise outside the cabin.
The 8-speed automatic helps make the S90 feel especially perky with its wide spread of gear ratios as we pulled away from stop lights. At highway speeds, it delivers an efficiently relaxed experience.
Conclusion
While you may not think of Volvo as a luxury sedan maker, the new S90 could change that as it delivers the comfort and quality materials expected in this segment. And it costs less than most comparable German sedans. The Inscription trim is extra luxurious with no shortage of cabin comforts or technology.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2017 Volvo S90 Gallery

















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2017 Volvo S90 Official Site.
Photos: Volvo Car Corporation.




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1917 Mitsubishi Model A Being Built By West Coast Customs

1917 Mitsubishi Model A Being Built By West Coast Customs

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is celebrating their centennial anniversary, and to mark the occasion, they have teamed up with West Coast Customs. Mitsubishi will re-create their original Model A, but on the brand’s most technologically advanced platform, the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV).
West Coast Customs will build a more advanced Model A but keep the 1917 look intact.
Humble Beginnings
The 1917 Mitsubishi Model A ushered in Japan’s now global automotive industry. As the first vehicle fashioned with Mitsubishi’s three-diamond logo, the Model A and its original 22-car production run is still a significant moment for the automaker.
“We’re proud to be a 100-year-old brand with a rich heritage in the automotive landscape,” said Francine Harsini, Senior Director, marketing at MMNA. “The Mitsubishi Model A is the vehicle that paved the way for many other unique and exciting models over the years and we’re excited to re-design it with West Coast Customs.”
West Coast Customs CEO and Founder, Ryan Friedlinghaus underscored how much they are looking forward to building the centennial vehicle.
“Team members in every department of West Coast Customs are super excited to be involved with this build – truly a piece of automotive history,” he said. “We are incredibly honored to have been chosen to take on this iconic build for Mitsubishi that celebrates the centennial anniversary of the company’s first mass produced vehicle.”
High-Tech Heritage
The Outlander PHEV was chosen as the baseline becasue it represents the height of Mitsubishi’s heritage. The automaker points specifically to the the four-wheel drive technology they developed and honed on the international rally circuit. The vehicle is powered by a 2.0-liter gas engine, two electric motors, and Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system.
“The Mitsubishi Model A will feature all the distinctive aspects of the 1917 vehicle, but will be built on the PHEV platform and offer the latest in automotive technology,” Harsini added.
The anniversary Mitsubishi Model A is being built at the West Coast Customs facility in Burbank, California. The build will be featured on a Tuesday evening episode of Inside West Coast Customs on Velocity (check local listings).
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. 
Photo & Source: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.



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Nissan Rogue Trail Warrior Project: Oh. My. Word.

Nissan Rogue Trail Warrior Project: Oh. My. Word.

Great jumpin Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel, are you kidding me? You have got to be kidding me! No, Nissan is not kidding. This is an SUV with friggin’ tracks! Okay, it’s just kind of a show car deal, and not a factory option, but it is made up from available off the shelf parts.
So you could kinda buy this? And drive it around town? Cool! Okay, well, yeah, no, you can’t.
Tank You Kindly
Turns out those tracks are simply listed as “snow/sand tracks,” which I can understand. It does raise the question of how I would get to either the snow or sand in the first place, because, what, am I supposed to trailer this thing and then use it? Also, I know that you can, in some instances, actually drive tracked vehicles on the road without a problem. Don’t ask.
Okay, here, it works like this: When I was in college, I knew this guy, Jeff, who owned a half-track. Yeah, I know, strange. But anyway, from what I gather, you can run rubberized tracks on almost any tracked vehicle, up to and including tanks, and not chew up the pavement the way steel tracks do. The track set up on this Nissan Rogue Warrior Trail Project looks to be semi-rubberized with cleats so you might (might) be able to get away with just driving it around. By the by, Jeff was seriously in the market for an used tank to play with. He was heir to a lumber fortune, and had plenty of woods and stuff to go crashing around in. He had a friend with a tank (a World War II Sherman I recall) and said it was amazing to drive.
Literally nothing stood in your way or slowed you down. Not even fully grown fir trees.
Anyway, the Nissan Rogue Warrior Trail Project features not only a full snow track system, but also a special camo exterior wrap. I’m not a big fan of this kind of camo. Yes, I know it works, but I’m more partial to the old-school wavy patterns rather than the newer “digital” schemes.”
Photo: Nissan North America.
Armageddon Ready
The Nissan Rogue Warrior Trail Project is based on the redesigned 2017 Rogue crossover, which is Nissan’s best-selling model, so it’s a good place to start. Nissan says the Rogue Warrior Trail Project, or NRWTP – pronounced nurWART in military parlance (if this were a DoD thing I bet) – takes “family adventure ready Rogue design to the next level.” Yah think? I bet it also really gets those full on prepper types (you know, the morons that are anxiously awaiting some sort of societal level catastrophe so they can finally be “right”) all in a lather too.
The NRWTP is a special one-off project created solely for this year’s New York International Auto show. Nissan points out that of the two dominating features of the NRWTP (say it with me now: “nurWART”), the first is arguably the exterior design treatment that combines a custom camouflage body wrap (sadly not painted) and a matching khaki-painted track system and military-style yellow glassworks; headlights windshield and side glass, etc.
And then there are the snow/sand tracks.
Photo: Nissan North America.

Track Attack
Those would be DOMINATOR Tracks, yes all caps, and yes, yelling “DOMINATOR!” might be acceptable in this case. They come courtesy of American Track Truck, Inc., which is a hysterical name, and even funnier if you say it out loud, over and over again as fast as you can. The tracks clock in at 48 inches long, 30 inches high, and 15 inches wide, all of which are very impressive measurements. They directly replace the Rogue’s regular wheels and tires although the suspension and wheel wells were modified slightly to simply fit the track system into place.
Otherwise, says Nissan, all drivetrain components, including the 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder engine, along with the Xtronic transmission are standard factory gear.
Photo: Nissan North America.
Performance Tech
Said mill is rated at 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft. of torque, which should be more than enough for climbing snow banks, sand dunes, or intimidating the bejeebus out of hybrid drivers. Seriously. This is one of those rare instances where too much power is a bad thing. You can, potentially, end up throwing snow or sand or dirt all over the place and simply dig yourself in deeper and deeper. And honestly, if you get stuck in a vehicle with tracks, well I don’t have much sympathy for you son.
Other goodies found on the Nissan Rogue Warrior Trail Project include custom fender flares, an ARB Gear Basket, a big honkin’ LED light bar, and a Warn 4K winch.
“If you want to stand out from the crowd during a day on the slopes or the beach, this is the vehicle to take,” said Michael Bunce, Vice President, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc., in the greatest understatement since Erwin Rommel said, “In a man to man fight, the winner is he who has one more round in his magazine.”
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.
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Photos & Source:  Nissan North America.



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2018 Chevy Corvette Carbon 65 Edition: More Than Just Trim

2018 Chevy Corvette Carbon 65 Edition: More Than Just Trim

Sweet jumpin’ Zora Arkus-Duntov! Is the Vette really 65 years old? Really? Man, either I’m showing my age, or I’m just too enamored with the current gen of Chevy’s plastic fantastic to realize or care that the first Corvette hit the scene when Eisenhower was president. Yes, the first Vette had rather uninspiring performance.
And yes, at various other times over that 65 years, “uninspiring performance” was a term used more often than Chevy would have liked (cough-disco era Corvettes-cough!). However, that is never something you’ll hear uttered about the current generation.
Literal Sense
The C7 Vette is a flat out world beater of a car. I had two friends, and I mean dyed-in-the-wool Euro car guys who traded in BMW M3’s within minutes of test driving C7s. I mean they’re that good. If you’re a gearhead, I would not counsel you away from a current Corvette. If, and while I’m on the subject, if you’re a gearhead aged less than, oh, 40, I would counsel you away from a current Corvette. It’s not that I don’t think you could handle it, it’s that insurance companies don’t, and you would literally be paying through the nose. And yeah, I mean that as literally.
When my brother was in grad school many, many moons ago, he bought a 1965 Corvette to go AutoX-ing with, and as I recall, Allstate would literally come over to his place on Comm. Ave., stuff the 20s up one nostril, and extract them out the other just to make the point. He said it was worth it though.
Photo: Chevrolet.
What’s In A Name?
It’s actually pretty straightforward. The Carbon 65 Edition is a trim and semi-performance add-on available on all 2018 Grand Sport 3LT and Z06 3LZ models. The package is limited to only 650 numbered vehicles globally, which goes well with the “65” in the name. Lots of visible carbon-fiber exterior elements cover the “Carbon” part of the moniker. There is also a new Ceramic Matrix Gray exterior along with special interior appointments, including a new carbon-fiber-rimmed steering wheel.
“Corvette is one of the most storied names in Chevrolet and sports car history, with a heritage few can match,” said Paul Edwards, U.S. Vice President, Chevrolet Marketing. “The new Carbon 65 Edition honors that legacy, while offering customers another unique, special-edition model that personalizes the ownership experience.”
Hold up, hold up, fine, but, let me just break this down:
“Corvette is one of the most storied names in Chevrolet . . . history.” Yes, okay, I can agree with that. “Corvette is one of the most storied names in sports car history.” Yes, I can agree with that too. ” . . . with a heritage few can match.” Riiiiiiight. Except for Ferrari and Porsche and Maserati and Aston Martin and Jaguar. You sure did put the Ford T-Bird in its place though.
Photo: Chevrolet.

Exclusive Treatments
If you opt for the Carbon 65 Edition package (order code Z30) you get the Ceramic Matrix Gray exterior. If you go for the Carbon 65 package on a drop top, said top will be blue. The Carbon 65 package has exclusive fender stripes and door graphics for a little bit of added flash, while the wheels are black with machined grooves paired with summer-only tires* (pay attention to that asterisk, I’ll get back to it in a sec). Grand Sport buyers get Cup-style wheels and Z06 buyers get Blade-style wheels. The brake calipers are painted blue and the carbon-fiber ground effects, hood section, and roof (on the Coupe models) or tonneau inserts (for the Convertible models) are more visible.
Speaking of visible, there’s also a new carbon-fiber spoiler to gawk at on all models, and carbon-fiber quarter intake ducts on the Coupe. Honestly, I’m not sure why you would limit them to only being on the coupe, but there it is. The wheel center caps feature a carbon logo and there’s carbon flash badges too.
There’s a jet black suede-wrapped interior with blue stitching (which sounds rather handsome), a carbon-fiber steering wheel, and gloss carbon-fiber trim throughout. The chairs are Competition Sport seats, a nice performance add on that will hold your butt more securely and, of course, Carbon 65 Edition sill plates.
Photo: Chevrolet.


Proper Consideration
Remember that asterisk I told you to pay attention to? Here’s what the GM presser says: “Do not use summer-only tires in winter conditions, as it would adversely affect vehicle safety, performance, and durability. Use only GM-approved tire and wheel combinations. Unapproved combinations may change the vehicle’s performance characteristics.”
Really? Ya think?
Are there really knuckleheads out there lacking in cranial horsepower to think you could take a Corvette Grand Sport, let alone a Z06, out for a little jaunt in January in the Upper Peninsula, say on summer tires and live to tell about it? Guess so, or the GM lawyers wouldn’t have to warn us.
Personally, I’d skip the Carbon 65 Edition and go with just the normal Grand Sport in Nassau Blue with an Arctic White stripe, but I’m sort of traditional that way. In case you have your heart set on one, the Corvette Carbon 65 Edition package will run you an extra $15,000. It will be available this summer along with the rest of the 2018 Chevy Corvette lineup.
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: Chevrolet.



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