Automotive

2019 Cadillac XT4 Review: Affordable Luxury For Younger Buyers

2019 Cadillac XT4 Review: Affordable Luxury For Younger Buyers 90SOLID 2019 Cadillac XT4 Premium Luxury Review Overall Impression Responsive engine.Easy for loading cargo.Ideal for younger buyers.ProsAffordable Roomy Cabin ConsInterior Quality Vs. Competition Options Quickly Drive Up MSRPThere’s another new entry into the compact luxury SUV segment, as Cadillac gets into the mix with the XT4. The smaller XT4 joins the midsize XT5 and the three-row XT6, along with the larger Escalade to complete Cadillac’s SUV and crossover lineup. The 2019 Cadillac XT4 is attractively priced, but you can load it up with extras that aren’t offered on the base trim. All-wheel drive is available too, making this a capable all-weather performer.
This week, we’ve been driving the 2019 Cadillac XT4 in the Premium Luxury trim.
What’s New For 2019
The 2019 Cadillac XT4 is an all-new vehicle from the ground up aimed at younger buyers. It’s no surprise a team of young designers at GM were responsible for the overall design of the XT4. The vehicle is built on a compact SUV architecture with a new turbo engine and seats five. Trim levels include Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport.
Features & Options: Connectivity & Safety
The 2019 Cadillac XT4 AWD Premium Luxury ($41,795) comes standard with 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, power-adjustable front seats, simulated leather upholstery, keyless entry and ignition, remote start, and dual-zone climate control. Infotainment is handled by an eight-inch touchscreen, Near Field Communications for easy Bluetooth connections, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There are four USB outlets (including one Type-C) and a seven-speaker sound system with satellite radio.
The Premium Luxury trim receives automatic wipers, auto-dimming mirrors, a power liftgate, rear cargo shade, driver-seat memory settings, and ambient interior lighting. The Premium Luxury trim also adds safety aids like front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and a seat that vibrates to alert the driver. The latter is known as the Safety Alert Seat, which gives vibrating pulse patterns on the left and/or right side of the lower bolster to alert the driver of potential dangers. Threats from the front and rear trigger pulses on both sides of the seat.

Related: Cadillac enters the “Goldilocks zone” with the new XT6.
Features & Options: Loaded Up
This Premium Luxury trim came loaded with the Comfort and Convenience package, giving us a massaging function for our front seats, and hands-free operation of the power liftgate. The Technology package includes a digital gauge cluster, heads-up display, a telescopic steering steering column, and wireless device charging, among other features.
The Driver Awareness package offers additional safety with low-speed frontal collision mitigation, a following distance indicator, and lane keeping assist. The Enhanced Visibility package adds a suite of cameras, including one that displays in the rearview mirror, as well as an automatic parking feature.
Other options included a sunroof, navigation, and a Cold Weather package, which added a heated steering wheel and heated front and rear seats. Total MSRP including destination: $54,785. By comparison, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 starts at $35,790.
2019 Cadillac XT4 interior layout.
Related: Will the Cadillac CT5 become the ultimate American sport-luxury sedan?
Interior Highlights: Some Room For Improvement
Stepping inside the XT4 reveals an attractive cabin with quality materials, and a fit and finish you would expect from Cadillac. But the overall feel is less impressive versus other luxury brands. The driver’s seat comes with eight-way power adjustments, memory settings, and two-way lumbar for extra support. Our tester came with additional comfort features (heating, ventilation, and massage) to help ease the stress of a long drive.
We think the Technology package with its digital gauge cluster, heads-up display, wireless smartphone-charging pad, front cornering lamps, and cabin air ionizer is worth the cost ($1,650). The eight-inch infotainment system comes with Cadillac’s CUE software. The touchscreen sits slightly tucked into the dashboard and fits nicely. We thought the informant system was reasonably easy to use via a console-mounted knob.
The rear seating area is quite roomy for a compact luxury SUV in this class, and the XT4’s cargo floor is spacious. Behind the rear seat, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 offers 22.5 cubic feet of space; folding it down gives you 48.9 cubic feet of space. We were able to carry extra cargo (and groceries) this week with the seats folded flat.
With the rear seat folded, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 provides 48.9 cubic feet of cargo space.
Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The 2019 Cadillac XT4 comes standard with a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque when mated to a nine-speed automatic. Cadillac designed the engine to have a nearly flat torque curve for better response, something we noticed on our drive. Our XT4 tester came with twin-clutch, decoupling all-wheel drive, a nice option to have in colder climates.
EPA fuel mileage estimates with all-wheel drive are 22/29 city/highway and 24 combined. Even with GM’s cylinder deactivation feature (Active Fuel Management) we didn’t get anywhere near that. However, we were pushing the small SUV hard at altitude. By comparison, front-wheel drive models come in at 24/30 city/highway and 26 combined.
Driving Dynamics: Few Bumps Here & There
The Premium Luxury trim features a strut-type front suspension and five-link independent rear suspension, which on the open road, is fairly smooth. However, with the available 20-inch diamond alloy wheels, the ride on rougher roads – like the dirt ones in the mountains west of Denver – will be a bit jarring. We could feel plenty of vibrations and sharp impacts into the cabin. We would be curious to see how the XT4 Sport trim with its Active Sport Suspension and Continuous Damping Control handles on a similar road.
Unfortunately, that suspension upgrade is not available on the Premium Luxury trim.

Driving Dynamics: Smooth & Seamless Enough
However, for most urban commuters, this should not be an issue. On the open road, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 provides a smooth ride, and the cabin offers a quiet place to spend time during those long commutes. Although a new SUV for Cadillac, the XT4 offers an enjoyable and comfortable driving experience, especially with its numerous safety and connectivity features. We made use of the on-board 4G LTE Wi-Fi several times while we had this XT4 tester.
The on-board Wi-Fi is a feature many younger buyers will appreciate (and even we did being a bit older!).
With its 237 horsepower, the XT4’s turbo engine matches most competitors in terms of its ability to get you moving. The 2019 Cadillac XT4 feels lively around town, and when merging onto the highway we had no issues. Those looking for a little more fuel economy will want a front-wheel drive XT4.
Conclusion: Affordable & Capable
The 2019 Cadillac XT4 makes for an affordable entry point into the compact luxury SUV segment; as long as you don’t get carried away with the multitude of available options. They can add up quickly. And with all-wheel drive, the XT4 is a capable all-weather commuter too.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his firsthand reviews are archived on our test drives page. Follow Denis on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2019 Cadillac XT4 (Premium Luxury Trim) Gallery

Photos: Cadillac.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2019-cadillac-xt4-review-affordable-luxury-for-younger-buyers/

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

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

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

The post Report: The end of the Volkswagen Beetle and Scirocco might be near again appeared first on egmCarTech.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/report-the-end-of-the-volkswagen-beetle-and-scirocco-might-be-near-again/

Memory Lane: Remembering Gilles Villeneuve

Memory Lane: Remembering Gilles Villeneuve

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

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

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/memory-lane-remembering-gilles-villeneuve/

Hyundai Santa Fe: The Second Endurance

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

Photos, Video & Source: Hyundai Motor UK.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/hyundai-santa-fe-the-second-endurance/

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.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2018-gmc-terrain-some-anonymity-for-not-much-coin/

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.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2017-honda-civic-type-r-sets-nurburgring-lap-record/

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.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/letter-from-the-uk-the-audi-r8-experience/

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.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2017-chrysler-pacifica-gets-new-touring-plus-trim/

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.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/bonhams-announces-18th-annual-aston-martin-sale/