Automotive

Chevrolet Announces Medium-Duty Silverado Line

Chevrolet Announces Medium-Duty Silverado Line

Recently at the State Fair of Texas, Chevrolet confirmed their new Class 4 and 5 Silverado trucks will be launching late next year. Both will be available in Regular and Crew Cab configurations with a wide range of GVWRs and wheelbases.
Like their stablemates in the Chevy truck lineup, the 4500 and 5500 series pickups will offer OnStar, 4G LTE connectivity provided by AT&T. The feature is designed to help fleet managers with safety and productivity.
“We are earning new business because we have more solutions to help businesses grow,” said John Schwegman, U.S. Director of Commercial Product, Chevrolet.
According to Chevrolet, commercial volume is up 48 percent since 2013, and domestic segment share has grown year-over-year for the last 13 consecutive months.
“The Silverado 4500 and 5500 will stand out because we’ve designed the trucks around how customers work,” Schwegman added.
All Silverado 4500 and 5500 models will be powered by a Duramax diesel and Allison transmission, in either a 4×2 or 4×4 layout. Dump bodies, rollbacks, freight boxes, and other specialized applications can be outiffed to the forthcoming Silverado 4500 and 5500 models. Complete specifications and pricing for the new Silverado medium-duty trucks will be released closer to launch.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides Detroit, Michigan.
Source: Chevrolet.

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Ford, Microsoft Dive Deep Into Augmented Reality

Ford, Microsoft Dive Deep Into Augmented Reality

100 years ago, designing a car was all paper and pencils, slide rules and French-curves, body bucks and modeling clay. About 40 or 50 years ago, vehicle designing drifted more toward computer modeling and other automated and detached methods. For all that CAD/CAM and 3-D shaping brought: ease of variability, iterative sizing, better proportioning, and things like that, it did, by and large, take car designers out of the real-world. It might have worked on paper or on a computer screen, but get that prototype car fleshed out in sheet steel sitting under natural light, and many unseen flaws would become all too apparent.
Reality Bytes
Ford designers have taken a step away from the CAD screens and, curiously enough, have also backed off the tried and true, old school clay-sculpting steels and rakes, and swapped in some mixed reality headsets and trick visualization software. This allows them to change design elements like side mirrors, grilles, interiors, and more at the click of a button.
Ford chooses to call it “mixed reality,” but what we’re really talking about here is generically referred to as “Augmented Reality.” Unlike the better known and over-hyped Virtual Reality (which has been the next big thing/revolution that will change the very fabric of society itself sometime next year since 1989), AR puts digital things in the real-world that you’re already seeing through special glasses or other head mounted displays.
Rescue Mission
A few years back I was working for a company that, among other fun things, did museum designs. We were working on a museum that was going to have an interactive Coast Guard rescue helicopter exhibit. One of the ideas was having a static Coast Guard rescue helicopter sitting inside, and then handing out Augmented Reality headsets to people as they got in the chopper. You’d put the headset on, you’d see the chopper and the museum and other guests around you, but you’d also see weather and the environment beyond the rescue helicopter. So if you were sitting in the pilot’s seat, outside the windows you’d see coastal Alaska and wind-swept seas, and the fishing boat you had to rescue. Even better, if you were sitting at the open helicopter door, working the virtual winch, you’d look out and down, and in addition to seeing the carpet on the museum floor, 100 or so feet below you’d “see” a fisherman waiting to be plucked out of the water.
I tested this out, sitting in an office chair one day, and the effect was downright creepy. It wasn’t completely as immersive as VR, but AR worked surprisingly well enough to make you feel you were in one of Igor Sikorsky’s finest, and there was a person on the verge of drowning. Ironically, the weakest link in building this was finding a disused Cost Guard helicopter that was cheap enough. Those things are amazingly expensive.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Point & Click
Another interesting coincidence, as far as Ford is concerned, is that one of the better purveyors of Augment Reality is, of all people, Microsoft. The Redmond, Washington-based concern has this hardware/software rig they call the HoloLens that, with a little bit of tweaking, can add Augmented Reality to seemingly any given situation. Ford designers have been working with Microsoft HoloLens technology for a year now at FoMoCo’s Dearborn studios.
HoloLens allows them to see possible design elements in a virtual sense as if they were part of the actual physical vehicle sitting before them. HoloLens allows them to investigate different shapes, sizes, and textures of vehicle characteristics in minutes and hours, rather than weeks and months using clay models. What would that lower body cladding look like in smooth finish instead of textured? Click, click, boom. Now you can see it. What if we change all of the trim pieces from black to a satin chrome? Click, click, boom. Now you can see it. And not just see it, but you can walk around the actual, physical car in real-space, in real-time.
Flexible Approach
The system works and tracks with you through the wire-free headsets. There’s a Windows 10 computer embedded in the headset and the whole shee-bang is untethered, wearable, and mobile; no tethering, no cables, no problem. Microsoft’s HoloLens allows designers to see projected holograms against photo-quality backdrops; on the street in the summer, at night in the rain, those sorts of scenarios. So now, if something doesn’t work, looks strangely proportioned, is lacking the needed surface tension, Ford’s designers can quickly reevaluate the design, make changes, and determine styling options much earlier in development. The HoloLens technology enables designers and engineers to better collaborate and understand the customer experience as well.
The headsets can even be synced so multiple team members can view a design simultaneously for easy collaboration. They can also record audio notes for team members working in other time zones or off-site to review.
“It’s amazing we can combine the old and the new – clay models and holograms – in a way that both saves time and allows designers to experiment and iterate quickly to dream up even more stylish, clever vehicles,” said Jim Holland, Ford Vice President, Vehicle Component and Systems Engineering. “Microsoft HoloLens is a powerful tool for designers as we continue to reimagine vehicles and mobility experiences in fast-changing times.”
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.

Photos, Video & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo: Product & Performance Overview

2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo: Product & Performance Overview

Look, the only reason I pay attention to Porsche Cayennes is because they are the profit centers that allow the Zuffenhausen company to make sports cars. I largely look upon them as necessary evils, so, what . . . am I supposed to get all excited over the new 2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo?
Let’s see here . . . the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 puts out 550 horsepower, 567 lb-ft. of torque; that’s nice. They say it’s quicker and faster than the previous gen, okay, duh! And, um, it’s got a top speed of 177 mph and does 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds? Holy sh-!
Man, that is one fast truck. Yeah, I know, “fast” is kind of what Porsche is famous for, but still, that’s pretty impressive for something that weighs – huh, that’s funny, they don’t mention weight. Probably a couple of tons, at least, which is both understandable and sad, but also impressive that Porsche can make this thing haul that fast.
Performance Tech
The 2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo is the third-generation of the Cayenne range and, in addition to that twin-turbo four-liter V8 engine that dispenses 550 horsepower, there’s a host of other goodies. There’s a 3-chamber air suspension, staggered tire sizes, and this new, high-performance Porsche Surface Coated Brake technology. The ’19 Cayenne Turbo also features rear-axle steering and electric roll stabilization.
The front and rear wheel sizes fall into the “frickin huge” arena with 285/40 at the front and 315/35 out back.
Porsche says the lightweight chassis of the new Cayenne Turbo makes for better driving dynamics when compared to the outgoing model. Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Design Language
Design-wise – both exterior and interior – it’s more a case of refinement and sharpening, than heading in any new directions. The front end shows off the LED main headlights of the Porsche Dynamic Light System, and the new Turbo further sets itself apart from lesser Cayennes with double-row front light modules. The wheel arches have been widened and feature painted trim to house the special 21-inch wheels. The twin tailpipes differentiate the Cayenne Turbo from its six-cylinder brethren.
On the inside, you’ll find interior design elements like center-mounted grab handles (a Cayenne motif), a high-definition 12.3-inch dashboard mounted screen, and an analog tachometer bracketed by two 7-inch HD screens. There’s a standard 710 watt Bose system, which is probably capable of seriously damaging your Organ of Corti. There are also 18-way sport seats, integrated headrests, and standard heating functions for all outboard seats and the steering wheel.
Engine Bay
Now, about that 4.0-liter V8! As I said, it puts out 550 horsepower and 567 lb-ft. of torque, which works out to be an additional 30 ponies and 14 lb-ft. on the previous Cayenne Turbo. Porsche Traction Management is, thankfully, standard, and the all-wheel drive system is hooked to a new, 8-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission. The plant’s turbochargers are nestled inside the V of the cylinders, which sounds like a thermodynamic and maintenance nightmare to me, but I ain’t a German engineer, so what do I know? Yes, this arrangement gets you lots of benefits, like shortened exhaust paths to the turbochargers and improved handling characteristics thanks to a lower center of gravity. But still, that’s an awful lot of heat generators wadded into a small space!
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

Suspension & Aerodynamics
The new 3-chamber air suspension is combined with the Porsche Active Suspension Management system. The active shock absorbers allow for a wider range of spring rates when compared to the previous setup, so the ride and handling is improved in both the comfort and performance settings. There are six selectable ride heights and the ground clearance can be manually adjusted to suit the off-road terrain.
There are also five new driving programs to fit a variety of conditions, the default being the on-road program; the four other modes are Mud, Gravel, Sand, or Rocks. All of the power delivery stuff, the drive modes, chassis settings, and differential locks can be selected and adjusted accordingly.
And even though the new Cayenne Turbo is relatively box-like, Porsche has seen to aerodynamics with things like the adaptive roof spoiler that actually helps shorten braking distances. The aforementioned Porsche Surface Coated Brake technology helps too. The design has a tungsten carbide layer applied to the otherwise-normal cast-iron discs for better braking performance and wear resistance.
The new 2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo will be up for orders come December, with dealer deliveries happening in the Fall of 2018. Cost? That would be $124,600, which, let’s face it, is really, really expensive.
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.
2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Gallery

Photos & Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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Letter From The UK: An Autonomous Fairy Story

Letter From The UK: An Autonomous Fairy Story
Between these very virtual pages you will find dissent. Some esteemed colleagues are looking toward a bright new autonomous future, forged in the white heat of automotive technology. Others, like road knights of old, prefer the six-speed stick shift on the floor and two human eyes on the road ahead. I am firmly in the old-school group. Fortunately, in this regard at least, I am a couple of thousand miles away from the heart of Automoblog and the futurists can’t get to me.
Survey Says
Right now the autonomous lobby has the floor. With all the recent announcements – including one every five minutes from Elon Musk (who I firmly believe is actually Ernst Stavro Blofeld in disguise) about the massive investments in driverless cars, it is nice to know there is one company that, in a way, sides with me. Mazda.
This is an auto outfit that plays by its own rules. They make some good cars and they don’t seem to be swayed by trends particularly. The Japanese car giant believes that driving is an ability people want to keep. As any gearhead will tell you, it is a skill that can be fun as well as functional, and many motorists don’t want to lose it and find themselves in a convoy of conveyances all chattering away to each other and getting nowhere fast.
A survey across the European Union commissioned by Mazda has shown quite clearly a very large majority of drivers still want to drive themselves, even with self-driving technology available. In fact, a scant 29 percent actively welcome the arrival of autonomous vehicles. This flies in the face of all that we are told. I’m not paranoid (although I am pretty sure they are on my case) but it indicates to me a sense that, in order to gain total control over the roads, governments would rather like us to believe that this technology will save us from ourselves.
Photo: Mazda North American Operations.
Safety First
Many think as I do that auto technology should act, at best, as an aid to safety, available when needed to avoid accidents but with the driver in control of the driving process. This keeps the exhilaration of the act and retains the freedom of the road. Much of this technology is already here and available on our cars anyway. Subaru’s “Eyesight” for example, is brilliant. Most of us have no objection to an extension of this if it saves lives. What gets to folk is the “hands off” approach we are being encouraged to accept. I truly doubt experienced drivers will readily relinquish control to this level.
One surprising aspect of the Mazda survey is how there is no evidence of greater support for self-driving cars in any younger age demographic across Europe generally. For research purposes, the age groups were split: 18 to 24, 25 to 34, and 35 to 44. No group stood out in favor, when it is usual for youth to be more readily accepting of new technology. What does that tell you? Driving is about much more than just getting from A to B. There is danger that simply going for a drive, like Frank Zappa cruising for burgers just for the hell of it, could become a forgotten pleasure.
Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
What Does The Future Portend?
Of course, I am maybe getting a little ahead of events. Although there is a powerfully global and by-and-large well-meaning lobby for the drive to driverless, it seems to me the reality of it is still a long way off. Sure, there are public road tests underway but I can’t see it coming to fruition in this decade. There are just too many variables on our roads, and the one thing autonomous technology does not have that we puny humans still possess is that sixth sense; that sixth sense that all is not well. Any practised driver will tell you this.
It is even possible to envisage a scenario whereby car manufacturers will quit the research while they’re ahead on the basis that, ultimately, it simply won’t be worth their while. Mazda clearly isn’t sure. I wonder.
In the official, authoritarian world that dislikes the idea of driving for pleasure and debases the role of the car in our family lives, the question has to be asked of autonomous, or indeed any other technology: just because they can, have they stopped to think whether they should?
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite

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These New Guinness World Records Set By BMW Are Pretty Cool

These New Guinness World Records Set By BMW Are Pretty Cool Here’s something you don’t see very often! On December 11th, 2017, BMW driving instructor Johan Schwartz drifted an all-new BMW M5 sedan 232.5 miles around a skid pad at the BMW Performance Center in Greer, South Carolina. The feat, not surprisingly, set a new Guinness World Records title, under the category of “greatest distance vehicle drift in 8 hours.” Schwartz surpassed the prior record by over 140 miles.
A second Guinness World Records title for the “longest twin vehicle drift (water assisted)” was also set.
Another Shot
Schwartz has been here before, setting the Guinness World Records title for the “longest continuous vehicle drift” on May 11th, 2013. That day, he drifted an unmodified 2013 BMW M5 sedan for 51.278 miles but his record was broken shortly thereafter. However, Schwartz was determined to give it another shot, but not without some serious engineering. BMW teamed with Detroit Speed to develop a unique dry break fuel system, capable of refueling the M5 mid-drift.
“We knew if we were going to recapture the world record for longest sustained drift and set the bar as high as possible, we would need to find a way to keep the M5 going without stopping to refuel,” Schwartz explained.

Fighter Jet Formula
The fuel system’s design mimics how fighter jets and other airplanes refuel in the air. On five occasions during the eight hour drift, a previous generation M5, similar to the one Schwartz used to set his original record, entered the skid pad. BMW Performance Center Chief Driving Instructor Matt Mullins matched Schwartz’s drift, while Detroit Speed’s Matt Butts handled refueling. Butts, suspended with a safety tether from the second vehicle’s rear window, was able to straddle the space between both vehicles and complete the refueling.
“Although we practiced the refueling several times before the Guinness World Records title attempt, there was very little margin for error,” Butts recalled. “We’re excited to have played a part in Johan and BMW recapturing this record.”
“In the end, the refueling system worked flawlessly and the M5 performed as expected,” Schwartz added.
Once the first Guinness World Records title was secured, BMW then landed the record for the “longest twin vehicle drift (water assisted)” – that record being co-owned by Schwartz and Mullins.
“It was a big win all around,” Schwartz said.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

Photos & Source: BMW of North America.

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10 Best 1980s Era Collectible Cars

10 Best 1980s Era Collectible Cars

When you think of a classic car, which vehicle pops into your mind? Is it your grandfather’s 1940 Ford? Perhaps a turquoise ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible? How about a ’69 Hemi Road Runner? Or maybe your idea of a classic is the infamous Back to the Future DeLorean? Whatever your answer, it is most likely driven by the generation in which you grew up.
In the old car hobby, it’s an accepted fact the cars of our youth are the ones we desire to collect. At present, Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are riding the collector car wave, snatching up vehicles from the 1950s, ‘60s, and early ‘70s.
In 2017, Boomers are between 53 and 71 years old. With access to funds for discretionary spending, many are buying the cars from their teenage years. The other side of that equation is that Boomers are also reaching the end of their life spans and the next generation (Generation X, born between 1965 and 1976) is entering the hobby. It should be no surprise Gen-Xers, who were teens through the 1980s, are seeking to collect the cars whose posters adorned their bedroom walls. Baby Boomers didn’t think they would live to see the day these so-called “malaise era” cars would be desired by anyone, but history is proving otherwise.
As Generation X matures and gains the means to purchase their four-wheeled dreams, what are they looking for? Here are ten ‘80s era vehicles we’re seeing at classic car auctions and shows.
Alfa Romeo Spider
The movie studio that made The Graduate should charge Alfa Romeo an annual commission. The movie, released in 1967, made such an impression that, to this day, people remember the little red convertible driven by Dustin Hoffman. Part of what makes the Alfa Romeo Spider memorable is how this car, introduced in 1966, kept its basic styling through end of production in 1994. Adding to the car’s appeal is that, by 1981, there were almost no affordable convertibles available in the market. For collectors who want the romance of an Italian convertible, this charming two-seater has lots going for it. We witnessed one sell at auction earlier this year for $15,000.
COLLECTOR’S HINT: Look for a 1982 or later car with Bosch fuel injection for improved drivability.
1955 Giulietta Spider from Alfa Romeo Heritage. Photo: FCA US LLC.
American Pickup Trucks
Look around you as you drive down the highway: 50 percent or more of the vehicles on the road today are classified as light trucks. While SUVs and minivans fit that definition, it’s the good ol’ pickup that most people still think of when you say “truck.” Their popularity has not been lost on the Big Three, who will happily charge you $50,000 or more for a fully loaded model. If you long for simpler times for your pickup, look into the Chevys, Fords, and Dodges of the ‘80s. While ‘50s and ‘60s era trucks have soared in value, collectors are just starting to pay attention to the newer ones. Watch out for trucks that have lived a hard life; there are some out there which have been pampered. We saw several clean ‘80s Chevrolet pickups sell recently for around $15,000.
COLLECTOR’S HINT: Skip the frills. Collectors want regular cab, short bed, two-wheel drive trucks. Get that and you’ll have an easier time when you’re ready to sell.
Buick Grand National
To the Baby Boomers, the muscle car era started with the ’64 GTO, and ended in the early ‘70s when insurance premiums drove buyers away. But big engine, hot shot cars never go out of style. Buick decided to show the world they still had it with the Grand National. This was no multi-carb V8; instead, a turbo V6 put down the power in a very high-tech 1980s way. For teens in the ‘80s who may have lusted for their dad’s Buick Grand Sport, the Grand National was a perfect, and reasonably-priced substitute. A popular online auction site sold several earlier this year for less than a loaded Honda Civic: around $17,000.
COLLECTOR’S HINT: Find a one-owner car, as you’ll almost be guaranteed it was taken care of.
Only 547 examples of the 1987 Buick GNX were built. Photo: GM Media Archive.

BMW M3
Bavarian Motor Works (better known as BMW) built THE yuppie-mobiles of the 1980s. Yuppies (Young Urban Professionals) rejected their parent’s Cadillacs, Lincolns, and Imperials, but these German sport-luxury vehicles fulfilled their automotive lust. The BMW 3 Series was a sales success all through the 1980s. Its ultimate configuration, the M3, had it all: higher horsepower, better handling, aero add-ons, and fancier interiors. While the M3 model continues today, the original came out in 1985.
Those who were youngsters at that time may be driving a new Bimmer now, but their collector interest brings them back to the M3s they wanted as teenagers. Prices have jumped, with good late ‘80s M3s selling for $60,000 and it’s predicted prices will continue to climb.
COLLECTOR’S HINT: These cars were raced. Check the body and suspension for damage or poor repairs.
Chevrolet Z28 / Pontiac Trans Am
GM tried to stay in the muscle car game in the 1980s but was fighting a losing battle with more stringent fuel economy and emission standards in effect. Their pony cars, the Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Firebird, soldiered on. Their performance submodels, the Z28 and Trans Am, stayed in the marketplace, even if it was stripes and spoilers that set them apart more than underhood grunt. For those who reminisced about the muscle car glory days, these malaise-era cars were poor substitutes. But given how little competition was in the marketplace, sales remained respectable. Today, there is strong nostalgia for both. The Camaro, which returned in 2010, and the Firebird, which died when GM pulled the plug on Pontiac, still have lots of fans for whom any version of a Z28 or Trans Am is a desirable car. Recent auction sales put their prices squarely in the mid-teens.
COLLECTOR’S HINT: Make sure the Z28/Trans Am is not a fake, and that it left the factory as represented.
1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Sport Coupe. Photo: GM Media Archive.
Datsun / Nissan 280ZX
With today’s success of the Japanese auto manufacturers, it’s difficult to remember a time when “Japanese car” was shorthand for cheap throwaway transportation. Datsun (made by Nissan) changed the game big time with its introduction of the 240Z sports car in 1970. For the first time ever, people lusted for an Asian car. The Z-car continued throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, but got bigger, heavier, and slower. As we’ve seen with some of our other examples, the original cars (in this case, the 1970 to 1973 240Z) have soared in popularity and value. Young adults who bought the revamped 280ZX in the 1980s might want to buy a 240Z, but don’t want to spend the money. The 280ZX they had (or wanted) becomes the default collectible.
Prices have been low, but are starting to climb: a nice one sold recently for $16,500.
COLLECTOR’S HINT: The T-tops were prone to leak; check the floorboards for rust.
DeLorean DMC-12
What can be said about the DeLorean? That one of Detroit’s most successful executives labored tirelessly in an all-out effort to produce a world-class sports car? Or that gross mismanagement, poor business decisions, and drug-infused intrigue doomed the venture? Perhaps both statements are true. But similar to Benjamin Braddock and his Alfa, it’s Marty McFly and Doc Brown who fatefully cast their DeLorean into movie immortality in Back to the Future. Folks who can’t tell a Chevy Corvette from a Chevy Chevette squeal and point when they see a DeLorean.
Values for used ones languished for years; but fans of all things 1980s (the movie was released in 1985) have driven up demand. Recent prices have averaged in the mid-$20s, but one sold this summer for $39,000. You’ll have to travel back in time if you want a cheap one.
COLLECTOR’S HINT: Be sure that everything works and that it’s all there, as spare part availability may be sketchy.
Replica Delorean DMC-12 Time Machine in San Francisco. Photo: Ed g2s via. Wikimedia Commons.

Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS
To Baby Boomers who prefer their vehicles from the land of pasta, pizza, and prosciutto, nothing sings the aria like a Ferrari. The classic Ferraris of the 1950s and 1960s had V-12 engines mounted in front, driving the rear wheels through a car-length driveshaft. When Ferrari switched to (gasp!) mid-mounted V6 and V8 engines, the traditionalists said “no thanks.” For years, the market agreed: values of the 308 GTB (Berlinetta or hardtop) and GTS (Spider or convertible) stayed below $20,000.
Then a funny thing happened: prices for all Ferraris skyrocketed. 60s era Ferraris, which wouldn’t sell at $100,000 were now trading hands for $700,000. The 308 GTS (made famous on the TV show Magnum, P.I.) was still the affordable Ferrari, but prices rose to $75,000 or more. The market has cooled a little bit; several recent sales for nice 308s were around $50,000.
COLLECTOR’S HINT: On any Ferrari, up-to-date maintenance is key. Ask for records to show when the timing belt was last replaced.
Ford Mustang GT
Ford Mustang sales have always been rather steady. Sure, there was that Mustang II from the ‘70s that most Blue Oval fans prefer to forget. The introduction of the Fox Body Mustang in 1979 was a success for Ford, which continued through the end of this generation in 1993. What really rang the bell for enthusiasts was the launch of the 1982 GT and its 5.0 engine. Performance fans had a car they considered a world-class competitor in an affordable, American-made package. The truth is, desire for these V8 1980s Mustangs has never waned. What has changed is that teens who wanted one before getting their licenses are looking for them now in their adult years and driving the demand. Clean ones are out there, but expect to pay a minimum of $10,000.
COLLECTOR’S HINT: Too many were modded and rodded almost beyond recognition. Only buy an unmodified car that has been maintained.
1982 Ford Mustang GT. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Mercedes-Benz 450/380/560 SL
The Mercedes-Benz SL models (“Sportlich Leight” in German, translated as “Sport Light”) were introduced in 1954 and have been in continuous production since, so there is a long history with these two-seaters. The R107 version was introduced in 1972 and stayed in production through 1989. It was one of the most popular high-end European models of the ‘80s, sold as the 450SL, 380SL and 560SL, depending on the displacement of its V8 engine. They were all convertibles, all had automatic transmissions in the U.S., and came with a folding soft-top, a removable hard-top, or both.
The complexities of the modern SLs have some collectors yearning for the simpler cars, and nice ones are starting to creep up in price. Supply is good because many were bought as 3rd or 4th cars and German craftsmanship has kept many on the road. A 450SL sold at auction this summer for $15,000. Beware of higher mileage cars which may sell for as little as $5,000, but they are no bargain in the long run.
COLLECTOR’S HINT: Both soft and hard convertible tops are a plus, but make sure they’re in good shape. If over 100,000 miles, ask about the engine’s timing chains.
Richard Reina is a Product Trainer at CARiD.com and lifelong automotive enthusiast.
Cover Photo: DeLorean Motor Company.

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2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke Diesel By The Numbers

2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke Diesel By The Numbers Race tracks are interesting places. You’d think all the conversations would be about race cars, but that’s not usually the case. Normally, you’re only talking about the race cars when they’re in the paddock or the race is going on. Surprisingly, once the cars are out on track, the paddock conversation usually turns to things of a much more prosaic nature: where’s a good restaurant, so-and-so got a new RV, and the number one topic of conversation, tow vehicles.
Power & Performance
You might think dyed-in-the-wool track rats wouldn’t care about trucks all that much, but they are vitally important. So when Ford says their new F-150 with the Power Stroke diesel can haul 2,020 lbs. of payload and drag 11,400 lbs. of trailer, race car, and spares up and over a mountain pass, I know a bunch of busted-knuckle, speed-addicted, unwashed gearheads are going to be very excited. This will be the first-ever F-150 Power Stroke diesel, expected to get an EPA-estimated 30 mpg on the highway.
Ford is not even close to joking around with their new F-150, as both the above figures for payload and towing are best-in-class. And the new Power Stroke has best-in-class power figures at 250 horsepower and a stump-pulling 440 lb-ft. of torque. The F-150’s Power Stroke diesel has the same engine technology as the Super Duty’s larger 6.7-liter Power Stroke. All of that peak torque comes at a low-low 1,750 rpm, with a pretty much pool-table-flat torque curve on up through the rpm range.
The new V6 diesel has the same compacted-graphite iron block and forged-steel crank found in the 2.7-liter EcoBoost for added strength, durability, and weight reduction (Ford is on a big time weight loss kick these days). Engine response is up and turbo lag is down thanks to a high-efficiency, variable-geometry turbocharger. A common-rail fuel injection system further optimizes performance and overall efficiency, while the high-pressure (29,000 PSI!) injection system enables smoother, quieter operation with reduced emissions. Dual fuel filters were added for improved break-in, and a cast-aluminum oil pan and two-stage oil pump are utilized to reduce parasitic loss and further improve fuel efficiency.
Ford conducted testing along the Davis Dam in Arizona. The Power Stroke F-150 trucks climbed 13 miles at a 6 percent grade in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees. They were required to maintain a consistent power output during the tests. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Towing & Transmission
Now, about all that towing capacity. According to Ford, a lot of it flows from the high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body they introduced in 2015. Dropping 700 lbs. of overall weight allows the addition of cool tech that improves towing and payload capability, as well as giving you greater fuel economy. FoMoCo also tweaked such ancillary items, like adding a mechanical, engine-driven fan and dual radiator shutters for better high-temperature and high-altitude performance.
The F-150 engine control system backs off the fan load in more moderate driving and towing conditions through a viscous coupler, closing down the two radiator shutters for improved aerodynamic efficiency and reduced parasitic engine loss. Ford says owners will notice more power, even in harsh conditions, with this design.
“We know that competing diesels with electric cooling fans have to dial back on power under extreme heat and altitude, so we decided on a viscous-controlled mechanical fan that has the capacity to move much more air across the radiator and intercooler in extreme conditions,” explained David Ives, Ford Diesel Engine Technical Specialist.
Transmission-wise, the 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel is mated to a standard SelectShift 10-speed automatic. Ford says it maximizes shift points and the gear ratios allow for optimal power, low-rpm torque, and greater overall efficiency. The transmission even allows you to non-sequentially select the right gear ratio too.

Availability & Configurations
Ford dealers are taking orders now with deliveries beginning this spring. Final fuel economy estimates will also come this spring. Retail customers can choose the Power Stroke engine option on Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum edition SuperCrew trucks, with either a 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed, or in a SuperCab truck with a 6.5-foot bed. The engine is available in both 4×2 and 4×4 configurations as well.
So look at that, you can haul the entire team – crew, (long suffering) significant others, fans – and take your cars and all your spares to the track in one nice, comfy package.
Interested? Of course you’re interested. How else are you going to tow your Formula Vee from Schenectady to Heartland Park?
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.
Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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Volkswagen, NVIDIA Showcase Deep Learning Vehicle Platform At CES

Volkswagen, NVIDIA Showcase Deep Learning Vehicle Platform At CES
It looks like Volkswagen is serious about all the stuff they’ve been saying. Yes, there will be a new minibus. Yes, they are going EV in a big way. Yes, they are very serious about technology integration. After the disaster – financial, reputation-wise and such – that was dieselgate, VW knows they have to turn things around, and from this year’s CES show in Las Vegas, they fired the first shot.
The brief sketch here is that Volkswagen and NVIDIA (the company that makes really hot graphics cards for your gaming rig) have teamed up to work lots of AI into VW’s future vehicle lineup. Specifically, VW and NVIDIA are using AI tech for “co-pilot capabilities.”
Creating A Buzz
The companies shared their vision for how AI will form a new generation of “intelligent” Volkswagen vehicles at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Further, for those diehard gearheads that don’t really care about hgh-tech stuff (you know who you are, the ones with grease permanently under your fingernails), VW decided to push this future vision by showing how it will integrate into the new I.D. BUZZ, the re-do of the iconic MicroBus. The I.D. BUZZ, which is aimed straight at hipsters, eco-focused moms, Trustafarians and the like, will be a full-on electric vehicle, permeated with AI technology. It will also be self-driving.
VW calls their AI system for the I.D. BUZZ (I so hope they lose that name before it rolls out) the Intelligent Co-Pilot. The Intelligent Co-Pilot will include convenience and driver assistance systems, and process sensor data from both inside and outside the vehicle. Intelligent Co-Pilot can also be enhanced throughout the life of the vehicle via software updates, just like your smartphone. VW and NVIDIA say deep learning will enable the I.D. BUZZ to accurately assess situations and analyze the behavior of others on the road, so it can “make the right decisions.” This sounds like a nice, preemptive way of saying “it won’t crash all that much.”
Volkswagen I.D. Buzz Concept. Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Fully Electric, Zero Emissions
It turns out that NVIDIA has already worked on systems like this, meaning this is not just some random corporate cross-promotion or activation to ruin our lives further. NVIDIA is building on their NVIDIA DRIVE IX Intelligent Experience platform. That’s an AI-enabled system with goodies like facial recognition for unlocking the vehicle, driver alerts for bicycles, gesture recognition, natural language understanding for voice control, and “gaze tracking” for driver distraction alerts.
And of course, everybody is talking about autonomous driving and VW and NVIDIA are in on the party. Not only will the I.D. BUZZ launch VW’s electric car operations, it is also the platform they will use to gradually introduce autonomous driving, starting in 2020. VW, seeing the writing on the wall (i.e. diesel is all-but-dead, efficiency must go up, and emissions must drop to zero before 25 percent of the world drowns etc.) is planning on more than 20 fully electric vehicles by 2025.
Solid Foundations
These new VW models are based on the MEB architecture and focused on zero emissions and digital mobility. The MEB architecture will also be beneficial for packaging the different components so they don’t compromise interior room. For example, by using a battery that is integrated flat in the chassis floor, and a compact drive system, the VW vehicles are expected to offer a spacious and flexible interior.
VW is so in love with the MEB system they say it will also be used for vehicles with conventional drive layouts. All of the VWs based on the MEB architecture are expected to offer the latest driver assistance systems as a way to pave the way for autonomous driving, naturally.
“Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the car,” said Dr. Herbert Diess, Chief Executive Officer, Volkswagen. “Autonomous driving, zero tailpipe emission mobility, and digital networking are virtually impossible without advances in AI and deep learning.”
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.
Photos & Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

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Chevy To Reveal Silverado Class 4 & 5 Trucks In March

Chevy To Reveal Silverado Class 4 & 5 Trucks In March Chevrolet will reveal the new Silverado Class 4 and 5 chassis cab trucks at The Work Truck Show 2018, set for March in Indianapolis, Indiana. The event, produced by The Association for the Work Truck Industry, is the largest of its kind in North America, and a fitting venue for Chevrolet to make their announcement. This year, more than 11,000 truck fleet operators, dealers, and equipment distributors are expected at the Indiana Convention Center for the show.
Configurations
The forthcoming Silverado medium-duty trucks will be available in regular or crew cab, and in either a two-wheel or four-wheel drive layout. There are different GVWR capacities and wheelbases to accommodate the wide range of use scenarios the trucks are likely to see. Perhaps not surprising is the appearance of the Duramax engine and Allison transmission, a combination Chevrolet has used for going on 20 years. Although power figures have not been released for the medium-duty Silverado, the current L5P Duramax puts out 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft. of torque.
The medium-duty Silverado will come with OnStar and built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi. Fleet managers can take advantage of additional tools, including a number of telematic solutions. Ed Peper, U.S. Vice President, General Motors Fleet, explained how the Silverado 4500 and 5500 will be the top models in GM’s commercial truck portfolio.
“We’ve designed them to be among the best in the industry in maneuverability, serviceability, visibility, quietness and comfort, diesel fuel economy, and more,” he said.
In Person
The Work Truck Show runs March 6th through the 9th and full product specs will be given during that time. The medium-duty Silverado will enter production near the end of the year.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

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