Automotive

Free Performance Car Pumpkin Carving Patterns

Free Performance Car Pumpkin Carving Patterns

As the seasons change, fall colors blossom, tailgating excursions ensue, and trick-or-treaters set out for candy hauls of legendary proportions. Marking the fall decidedly is Halloween, a time of sweet treats, costume parties, and the mystery of why radio stations spin Jim Stafford’s Spiders and Snakes in the proceeding days.
It’s a 70s country hit detailing an idiosyncratic boy who, upon realizing the fairest girl in school has a crush on him, is unable to reciprocate the feelings. Granted, unrequited love is probably terrifying but that doesn’t make it a Halloween song.
Moving on . . .
Modern-Day Dragula
If you’re tired of carving the typical spooky kitty into your pumpkins, you might consider these free patterns of a 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE and Subaru WRX STI. The patterns, which only require a printer, steady hands, and a big orange pumpkin, were provided by GMPartsCenter.net, SubaruPartsPlus.com, and StoneyKins. These performance car patterns will look cool on the front porch with candles inside – at least that’s how Matt Mylan, Director at GMPartsCenter.net, puts it.
“A real life Camaro is technically much faster than a pumpkin, and a pumpkin can’t corner as well as a real ZL1 1LE, but, other than all that, a pumpkin with a Camaro carved into it is awesome,” he said.
The Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE is the is the fastest Camaro in history, as verified by its recent Nürburgring time. Under the hood is a supercharged, 650 horsepower LT4 engine, complimented by a literal treasure chest of aerodynamic and suspension technology. The MSRP for a Camaro ZL1 1LE is around $70,000. The MSRP for the average pumpkin is significantly less.
“For the price of a pumpkin spice coffee drink and an hour of spare time, you can have a brand new pumpkin with a Camaro carved into it that’s almost as good as the real thing,” Mylan said. “Almost.”

Spiders, Snakes & Subarus
Subaru fans will delight knowing their porch walkway is now a mini race track. One might not initially describe the WRX STI as “scary” but that probably depends on who you ask, given the car’s specs. The 2018 WRX STI is unlike any other in Subaru’s lineup with its turbocharged, 305 horsepower 4-cylinder engine. The Multi-Mode Vehicle Dynamics Control system with Active Torque Vectoring provides exceptional handling and performance.
“I guarantee you’ll scare the heck out of any adult that owns a Mustang, Camaro, or Challenger if you carve an STI into your pumpkin,” says Steve Ferreira, Director at SubaruPartsPlus.com. “When one passes you, you start to freeze, paralyzed by the fact that no one is going to save you from getting lapped.”
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE pattern.
2018 Subaru WRX STI pattern.

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Range Rover Sport Goes Plug-In Hybrid In 2019

Range Rover Sport Goes Plug-In Hybrid In 2019

Even though the new Range Rover Sport will be in dealerships by the start of the new year, Range Rover is already thinking ahead to 2019. That’s when the Range Rover Sport Plug-In Hybrid will arrive on these streets. For a certain segment of humanity (and it’s easy to picture Range Rover buyers being in that segment), living green is very important.
Now, probably, someone who buys a Range Rover will not be one of those “off-the-grid” types, living on garbanzo beans and recycling household waste for fertilizer, but that doesn’t mean the average Range Rover buyer doesn’t care.
Power & Performance
The 2019 Range Rover Sport will be the first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle produced by Jaguar Land Rover. Officially called the 2019 Range Rover Sport P400e, the new model offers ecologically conscious performance thanks to a 296 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Ingenium gasoline engine. It’s combined with a 114 horsepower (that’s 85 kW) electric motor. With a total of 398 horsepower and 472 lb-ft. of torque available for the permanent four-wheel drive system, 60 mph comes up in 6.3 seconds; the entire rig tops out at 137 mph. That maximum speed is both impressive, given this thing is as aerodynamic as the crate it’s shipped in, and also unimpressive, since ’round 140 ain’t all that fast.
But you know they probably have to limit that top speed or risk damaging something like the regen system or burning out an electric motor or something like that.
Electrified Capability
The electric motor is juiced by a 13.1 kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery that Land Rover engineers setup to maximize interior space and weight distribution. The longitudinally-mounted 2.0-liter Ingenium gasoline engine is paired with the 85kW electric motor, housed in the ZF automatic eight-speed transmission at the center of the vehicle, and alongside the 7kW on-board charger.
The Range Rover Sport P400e can run on just the batteries and not the dinosaur juice in the gas tank, with the all-electric range coming in at 31 miles. The company says “Land Rover customers can experience zero-emission off-road luxury with uncompromised all-terrain capability.” And that is probably true. It will be interesting to see if someone actually tries to get up 25 miles of bad logging road using just the EV drivetrain in this thing though.
The Range Rover Sport is comprised of an all-aluminum body, 39 percent lighter than the steel equivalent. The structure was subjected to extensive testing in something referred to as “optimization processes” by Jaguar Land Rover. This process included computer simulation and a 1,000 years of processor time. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.

Drive Modes
The Range Rover Sport P400e has two driving modes to best suit your luxury transportation needs. The default mode is called Parallel Hybrid, which combines the gasoline and electric drive. You can further optimize the battery charge or fuel economy by utilizing one of two charge management functions while in Parallel Hybrid mode. One is the SAVE function which prevents the battery charge from dropping below a pre-selected level.
The other mode is called Predictive Energy Optimization. Predictive Energy Optimization, or PEO is used by entering a destination into the navigation system. The navigation system will then use built-in GPS altitude data for the selected route, and combine the electric motor and gasoline engine to maximize fuel economy. Pretty slick. The Electric Vehicle or EV mode enables you to run solely on the electric motor using energy stored in the battery.
Exclusive Features
Other niceties found on the Range Rover Sport P400e include Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 technology. Terrain Response 2 has a unique calibration to logically and accurately distribute torque from the electric motor to all four wheels. Terrain Response 2 gives greater control during low-speed, off-road maneuvers and provides maximum torque from zero rpm.
A new cabin air ionization system, called Nanoe, is a nice feature for passengers. The suite of driver assistance features on the new Range Rover Sport has been “restructured to be even more intuitive for customers.”
Cost? Who knows at this point, but with the upcoming Range Rover Sport topping out at around $140,000 and the plug-in EV coming in on top of that model, don’t expect the 2019 Range Rover Sport P400e to be inexpensive.
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 & Source: Jaguar Land Rover.

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2018 Nissan Maxima Arrives With More Tech, New Colors

2018 Nissan Maxima Arrives With More Tech, New Colors

The Maxima is Nissan’s flagship sedan and for 2018, the vehicle adds a handful of new options. The 2018 Nissan Maxima comes in five grades: S, SV, SL, SR, and Platinum. Standard equipment includes Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, and Automatic Emergency Braking.
Nissan’s patented V-Motion grille is also present on the 2018 Maxima.
Power & Performance
The heart of the Maxima is a 3.5-liter VQ-series V6 with 300 horsepower. It’s attached to an Xtronic transmission with D-Step shifting logic. Nissan says this provides “rapid shifts at high throttle openings” for a more “performance-oriented” feel. Ride and handling is refined through the 4-wheel independent suspension and monotube rear shock absorbers.
Look & Feel
The 2018 Nissan Maxima is characterized by its wider front end and muscular stance, much of which centers around the aforementioned V-Motion grille. The LED daytime running lights further compliment the body lines. The color selections were tweaked a bit with a new Carnelian Red paint added to the mix.
The more sporty Maxima SR features 19-inch wheels and tires.
The available Ascot leather seating surfaces with diamond-quilted inserts add luxury points. Additional convenience points come by way of two available rear USB charge ports.
Photo: Nissan North America.
Technology & Connectivity
The 2018 Maxima benefits from a host of available tech magic, including NissanConnect. The system features navigation on an 8-inch display with SiriusXM radio and SiriusXM Travel Link. Through NissanConnect, owners can start their Maxima remotely via their smartphone or locate it should it be stolen.
Available safety features include Intelligent Cruise Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Warning, and Intelligent Driver Alertness.
Pricing & Availability
The 2018 Maxima is now at Nissan dealerships nationwide; we have included a pricing chart below. The 2018 Nissan Maxima is assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee, while the engines are produced in nearby Decherd.
Carl Anthony in Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
2018 Nissan Maxima Starting MSRPs
Maxima S
$33,020
Maxima SV
$35,020
Maxima SL
$37,440
Maxima SR
$38,280
Maxima Platinum
$40,690
Photos & Source: Nissan North America.

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Mazda6 Gets New Amenities In Mid-Cycle Refresh

Mazda6 Gets New Amenities In Mid-Cycle Refresh

Mazda, the Hiroshima-based auto manufacturer of cars great-to-banal, has just released some half-year updates to its bread and butter 6-Series lineup. This, doing things halfway through a year, is rather rare now, but lots of car makers used to do it with regularity. Ford’s Mustang, for example, came out as a half-year introduction; the first Mustangs being neither 1964s or 1965s, but actually were sold as 1964-1/2 Mustangs.
So what does Mazda bring to the Mazda6 menu halfway through 2017? For a start, lots of leather.
Features Galore
Unlike the previous versions of the Mazda6, the 2017.5 now comes with leather seating surfaces along with other trim changes for both the entry level Sport and mid-trim Touring models. You also get Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. The Mazda6 Sport comes with standard 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth seats, power windows, keyless entry, a backup camera, and an electronic parking brake (no more handbrake turns for you, young man).
The Mazda6 Touring, which is the mid-level trim for the range, comes with 19-inch wheels and “leatherette” seats. Touring models also come with Advanced Keyless Entry, dual-zone automatic climate control (nice!), rear HVAC vents, a 6-way power driver’s seat, and Smart City Brake Support (which is one of those low-speed automatic braking deals so you don’t look like a complete dork on hills and such). And there are automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers if you’re one of those forgetful types.
Navigation and heated front seats are now standard, and yes, the Mazda6 Sport has the newly available leather seats. If you’d like to upgrade the Touring package even further, there’s an available Bose/Moonroof/Satellite Radio Package, which carries on that fine Mazda tradition of cramming disparate features into one package option.
Photo: Mazda North American Operations.

Touring Packages
You can also add to the “normal” Touring Package with the Touring Premium Package. You get all the Touring goodies plus LED daytime running lights, self-leveling LED headlights, the Adaptive Front-lighting system, an auto-dimming interior rearview mirror (because you’re lazy), a Homelink garage door opener, heated side mirrors, and an auto-dimming driver’s side mirror. The Touring Premium package comes with your choice of black or Parchment leather seats and an 8-way power driver’s chair with adjustable lumbar support.
Sitting at the very top of the 2017.5 Mazda6 range is the Mazda6 Grand Touring. On top of all the previously mentioned perks, the Grand Touring comes with an Active Driving Display heads-up unit, LED interior lamps, LED fog lights, an LED signature grille surround, driver’s memory seat, 6-way power passenger seat, a car alarm, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for your base-level racing instincts, dark-painted alloy wheels to be cool, and a rear lip spoiler (also for the cool factor). Finally, the Grand Touring includes Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, High Beam Control, and Smart Brake Support.
If that’s not enough for you, tick the box for the GT Premium Package and you’ll get Mazda’s i-ELOOP regenerative braking technology, rear outboard heated seats, heated steering wheel, Nappa leather seats with contrast piping, bright finish metallic switches and handles, and a hand-stitched “chidori” steering wheel. There’s also tons of tech goodies strewn about, befitting a car of this new century.
Performance & Availability
Regardless of which trim level you pick, all 2017.5 Mazda6 cars come with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or, in Sport and Touring models, a 6-speed automatic. That 6-speed automatic is standard for the Mazda6 Grand Touring. Other niceties include improved sound insulation, G-Vectoring Control, and an available Machine Gray Metallic paint.
The 2017.5 Mazda6 is in dealerships as you read this. Here’s a handy little chart showing the available packages, costs, and colors:
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.
Mazda6 Sport 6-Speed Manual
$21,945
Mazda6 Sport 6-Speed Automatic
$22,995
Mazda6 Touring 6-Speed Manual
$24,195
Mazda6 Touring 6-Speed Automatic
$25,245
• Touring Bose/Moonroof/Satellite Package (Requires Automatic Transmission)
$1,325
• Touring Premium Package (Requires Touring Bose/Moonroof/Satellite Package)
$1,425
Mazda6 Grand Touring
$30,695
• GT Premium Package
$2,500
Premium Paint Colors
Machine Gray Metallic
$300
Soul Red Metallic
$300
Snowflake White Pearl Mica
$200
Photos & Source: Mazda North American Operations.

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Geely Holdings, Volvo Invest Heavily In Polestar

Geely Holdings, Volvo Invest Heavily In Polestar

Geely Holdings, parent of Volvo Cars, has announced a major investment in Polestar. The first production model was reveled in Shanghai as the announcement came. The $756 million dollar investment will bolster the early phases of Polestar’s product lineup and industrial footprint.
“The investment highlights the financial muscle and industrial and manufacturing expertise Polestar will have access to, and establishes the fully consolidated Volvo Cars subsidiary as a stand-alone electrified performance car company,” Geely Holdings and Volvo Cars said in a statement.
Central Station
The investment dollars will be put toward a new, state-of-the-art Polestar manufacturing hub in Chengdu, China. The investment and corresponding facility will be instrumental in shortening the time it takes to develop and launch Polestar vehicles. The intent is to gain both a time and technical advantage over competitions, especially as Polestar looks to innovate new technologies in both electrification and connectivity. Volvo Cars and Polestar say the investment allows them greater “synergies” when it comes to joint development and economies of scale.
Polestar Production Centre in China. Photo: Volvo Cars.
Forthcoming Models
The Polestar 1 is, uniquely enough, the first model scheduled for production in mid-2019. The pure electric coupe hybrid is promising 600 horsepower and class-leading range and efficiency. Much of the Polestar 1 (about half) is based on Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture; the rest is entirely new technology developed by Polestar engineers working within Volvo’s R&D department.
Polestar 2, a smaller variant, will enter production after the Polestar 1 and serve as Volvo’s first fully-electric car. The Polestar 2 is the first of five fully electric Polestar and/or Volvo vehicles planned between 2019 and 2021. The move comes following Volvo’s announcement this summer that from 2019, every vehicle in their lineup will have an electric motor.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Polestar 1 Gallery

Photos & Source: Volvo Cars.

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Letter From The UK: Classic Car Treasure Troves

Letter From The UK: Classic Car Treasure Troves

Like in many countries of the world, the British Sterling Pound currency is changing. Gone are our elegant paper bank notes, replaced now by seemingly indestructible plastic money that does not have that special “feel” only proper paper bank notes can have.
Goodbye Pound Coin
In general use, the British Pound is worth approximately $1.32. With the challenge of Brexit hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles, by the time we become the The Lonely Man of Europe in 2019, I suspect the Pound will be worth about 25 cents, that’s if you get anyone to buy it at all. (As a writer, I take Dollars by the way if anyone’s interested. Also Roubles, Yen, multiple other currencies, and livestock in lieu).
Now, a good few years ago, the old One Pound note was replaced by a small, insignificant round coin. This was a complete “gimme” to forgers who we learn have made and circulated some 47 million of the things. Mostly, we are none the wiser when spending.
The British Royal Mint slowly cottoned on to this forgery business and as of the 15th of October, the old gold-colored £1 coin (by the time you read this) will have ceased to be legal tender. It has been replaced by a slightly thinner and lighter twelve-sided coin with a security feature that makes this dodecagonal coin much harder to forge. This means any £1 coins from your last UK trip you have been saving for your next holiday visit to the rainy shores of Britain are now worthless.
Mystery of the Missing Coins
An interesting currency statistic has been thrown up by Mr. Edmund King, President of the Automobile Association, here in Britain. It appears up to £30 million in old One Pound coins might be lost down the cracks and crevices and secret places of our cars. That’s a lot of money to lose out on.
Even as I type, UK drivers are frantically executing one last comprehensive sweep of their cars, some with actual metal detectors. Feverish hands are groping through gloveboxes, cigarette ash trays, side door pockets, and on, under, and between the seats. The more foolhardy are poking into electric seat motors (always a rich seam of lost items) in the hope of discovering some of this golden treasure – before it’s too late.
Go through the glovebox, dig around the seats, and carefully search every nook and cranny of your car. You never know what long forgotten treasures lie within.

Classic Car Treasure
There are approximately thirty million cars on the road here and it is not unreasonable to suggest there might be a £1 coin in each of them. The older the car the richer the spoils one suspects. This is why a classic or vintage car might be a real treasure trove of cash or other goodies. Consider for a moment the sort of events that take place in cars. If you know where I’m going with this and are at all squeamish then look away now.
Imagine when your Mom and Pop where courting. I know it’s a difficult image to conjure up without feeling a bit icky but bear with me. They would cruise to the drive-in for a bit of serious necking and general rummaging where loose notes and coins could be easily liberated from pockets and purses during the match.
Why, there could be whole dollars still hidden away in those beloved classic vehicles and barn finds that turn up every day and who knows what else? Old pin-ups of Cheryl Tiegs under the seat squab, ancient and outdated prophylactics bought long ago more in hope than expectation, a rusting weapon, Tiddles, your Grandma’s missing cat, a plain brown envelope containing $10,000 in used notes mysteriously marked with the cryptic message “see that Jake gets this or else” and, no doubt, many other strange and wonderful things.
Now that the word is out that the contents of Britain’s cars are worth more than the vehicles themselves, I expect our homegrown car thieves will just take the cash in future, or whatever else might be under the seat.
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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2019 Ram 1500 MSRP: Complete Pricing Chart By Trim Level

2019 Ram 1500 MSRP: Complete Pricing Chart By Trim Level The 2019 Ram 1500 debuted at NAIAS earlier this year with some impressive technology and performance specs. As the trucks are being shipped to dealers, Ram has announced pricing for each trim level, with the starting MSRP coming in at $31,695, plus a $1,645 destination fee. Overall, the new Ram 1500 has a wide range of offerings.
The 2019 Ram 1500 MSRP chart is below.
By The Numbers
The Tradesman Quad Cab 4×2 comes in at the aforementioned $31,695, contrasted with the top-tier Limited Crew Cab 4×4 V8 at $57,390. Tradesman, Big Horn, and Rebel pricing reflects the standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with the eTorque mild hybrid powertrain (late availability). The optional 5.7-liter HEMI with the eight-speed automatic transmission is $1,195, while the eTorque-equipped HEMI is $1,995 (late availability).
Laramie, Laramie Longhorn, and Limited pricing reflects the standard 5.7-liter HEMI, while the eTorque-equipped HEMI is an additional $800 (late availability). The chart below sorts everything out nicely.
The 2019 Ram 1500 is built at the Sterling Heights (Michigan) Assembly Plant.

Photo & Source: FCA US LLC.
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2019 Jaguar I-PACE Debuts In Geneva, Pricing & Specs Announced

2019 Jaguar I-PACE Debuts In Geneva, Pricing & Specs Announced Okay, here it is. After seemingly endless hyping, Jaguar’s all-electric I-PACE has finally been revealed. In a certain way, it’s sort of the Jag version of a Tesla Model X: it’s an SUV that drips style and exclusivity. And, this is a very strange thing to say about a Jaguar, it’ll be cheaper than a Tesla. Following its public debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, Jaguar said the new I-PACE will be priced from $69,500 before federal and local government incentives.
Interesting Fashions
When Jag finally rolled out the I-PACE for all the world to see, they did so in a rather modern, yet bizarre fashion, via a webcast from Graz, Austria (where the I-PACE is built). It was hosted by . . . by . . . wait, who are these people? British comedian and actor, Jack Whitehall (dunno who he is), TV presenter Jonny Smith (dunno who he is, but that missing ‘h’ and superfluous ‘n’ makes him suspect), and American tech guru iJustine (who, again I have no idea, but people with mononymes worry me and anyone who puts a friggin’ i’ in front of their name on purpose, I can’t even).
If that’s not enough, Jaguar enlisted small children, using a pair of nine-year-olds, Lola and Hudson, to explain the I-PACE’s technology to Whitehall. Jag refers to them as “vehicle experts.” Who are these people?
A “Smart Settings” program uses artificial intelligence algorithms to learn driving habits and tailor the I-PACE to individual preferences. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.
Charging & Performance
The tech behind it is, in some way, rather standard state-of-the-art EV technology circa 2018. There’s a 432 “pouch” cell battery pack. I take it Jag means there are 432 individual batteries grouped together to form one big energy store. This lithium-ion battery pack puts out 90kWh which is good enough for an estimated range of 240 miles. Acceptable. Jag says you can get an 80 percent battery charge in around 40 minutes using a 100kW DC rapid charge facility. If you juice it up at home with a 230V/32A AC wall box (7kW), it will take you over ten hours, and just over twelve for a full charge.
Coventry really massaged the battery itself with a batch of range-optimizing technologies, like a battery pre-conditioning system that warms or cools the battery and cabin to optimal temperature while plugged in and charging.
Jaguar designed the electric motors in-house, using a trick concentric design with driveshafts passing through the motors themselves for compact packaging. One motor is at each axle for a full-on, all-wheel drive setup to increase traction. And yeah, since this is an EV with all that juicy, juicy torque, the I-PACE can hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. About as quick as a new Camaro, ha-ha!

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.
Structurally-Speaking
The structure of the SUV is made of riveted and bonded aluminum (glued and screwed) that’s light and stiff to the point of having a measured torsional rigidity of 36kNm/degree – the highest of any current Jaguar vehicle, even the F Types!
The battery lives centrally between the two axles which helps give the I-PACE a 50:50 weight distribution. The front suspension is a double wishbone deal with an Integral Link setup out back. The suspension is a standard Active Air Suspension which probably rides like a Rolls and costs about as much as a satellite to fix.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.
Design Language
Design-wise, this Jag is actually rather pretty. For an SUV. It has a short, low hood, an aero-enhanced roof design, and curved rear window. The cab-forward design and squared-off rear makes for a coefficient drag of just 0.29Cd. The Active Vanes in the grille open when cooling is required and shut when things are cool enough. The I-PACE also has tons of storage inside (since EVs don’t have traditional engines). The rear luggage compartment in the way back offers 25.3 cubic feet of space, going all the way up to 51 cubic feet with the second row seats folded flat.
On Sale & In Person
The I-PACE will be available during the second half of this year in S, SE, and HSE trim. The vehicle is currently on display at the Geneva International Motor Show, now through March 18th.
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.
2019 Jaguar I-PACE Gallery

Photos & Source: Jaguar Land Rover.
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Chevy Designers Address Everyday Life With 2018 Equinox

Chevy Designers Address Everyday Life With 2018 Equinox

You know what? Some people are just pigs! I know gearheads so clean and neat they don’t want you eating near their car, let alone in it. But you’re not like that, are you? Or most of you. Most drivers, and by that I mean especially American drivers, use their cars as mobile offices, diners, beauty parlors, and daycare centers.
Chevrolet is way ahead of you. Rather than teach everyone some manners, they decided to go the other direction and start making interiors that are easier to clean and more stain resistant.
Market Research
Chevy did something a little dangerous: they started paying attention to people on “The Internet.” They did this with the best of intentions. The design team for Chevy’s 2018 Equinox noted (correctly) that people have a tendency to over-share stuff on social media. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, the whole lot of them is clogged with people showing you what they’re eating for lunch. That burrito the size of a Dachshund? Well that just dropped onto the dash, foot well, and/or front seats of their car immediately after that selfie.
Very smart of Chevy. They realized this goldmine of free, real-world user data could be leveraged into more usable interiors.
The design team working on the 2018 Equinox’s interior followed “real” people, including other designers and lifestyle influencers. They observed color and fabric trends and common consumer problems, like dark-wash denim staining other fabrics in the vehicle, such as the seats.
“By following real people and absorbing the little things in life that help or hinder them – such as photos posted of muddy paws, spilled drinks or stains on the seats – we learned more about how we could make the new Equinox easier to live with and enjoy every day,” said Mara Kapsis, Color and Trim Designer for the 2018 Equinox.
With the 2018 Equinox, Chevy designers pushed for a fashion-forward interior with materials that compliment everyday use. Photo: Chevrolet.
Fashion & Function
So, being the bright young spark she is, Kapsis made the 2018 Equinox interior from a durable, denim-like seat fabric that’s easy to clean but offers exceptional wear resistance. The interior team also came up with a new treatment that resists staining and scuffing for the available leather seats on the 2018 Equinox.
“The fabric is very durable, while the color and even the pattern help hide dirt and stains,” Kapsis added. “It’s also very easy to vacuum and clean, which saves owners time and helps keep the interior looking great year after year.”
Fashion forecasting was also taken into account. The design team needed to predict color trends about three years past the 2018 Equinox’s launch. In addition to having an interior that’s easy to live with, the 2018 Equinox has increased cargo space, the latest connectivity gadgetry, even more available safety features than before, and an all-new range of turbocharged engines, including the segment’s first diesel.
If all this piques your interest, or you’re just a suburban parent that’s this close to losing it about having to clean up that mess one more time, you’ll be interested to know the 2018 Equinox is on sale now and starts at $24,525.
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 & Source: Chevrolet.

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