Automotive

2019 GMC Acadia Review: A Nice Middle Ground For Families

2019 GMC Acadia Review: A Nice Middle Ground For Families 91Solid 2019 GMC AcadiaOverall ImpressionStylish and sleek.Plenty of safety features.Ideal for families on the go.ProsRide Quality Comfortable Cabin All-Wheel Drive Capability ConsLimited Cargo SpaceLacks Heated Steering WheelGMC came out with its smaller Acadia two years ago and it makes perfect sense. There is a market for a midsize SUV that will appeal to families who need a third row, but only need it occasionally. The 2019 GMC Acadia is offered with two engines: a more fuel-efficient four-cylinder, and a six-cylinder for those wanting a little extra power. GMC seems to have found the right balance when it comes to this new generation of the Acadia. And we recently jumped behind the wheel to see just how this new Acadia is holding up.
This weekend, we’ve been driving the 2019 GMC Acadia AWD SLT with V6 power!
What’s New For 2019
There are no major changes for this year, but a new Black Edition appearance package is now available for the SLT trim. It includes 20-inch machined aluminum wheels with black accents, plus a host of other blacked-out exterior treatments like the grille insert, mirror caps, and roof rials. Trim levels for the 2019 GMC Acadia include SLE, SLT, and the more luxurious Denali. Our test vehicle was an “SLT-1” trim with all-wheel drive.
For the 2020 model year, the Acadia receives a handful of new updates.
Features & Options: SLT-1 Adds Plenty
The 2019 GMC Acadia AWD SLT V6 ($41,100) comes standard with heated mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, tri-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a rearview camera. The seven-inch touchscreen allows for Bluetooth paining, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. OnStar, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, and a six-speaker audio system with a USB and auxiliary input are also included.
Our SLT-1 tester came with LED running lights, foglights, and a power liftgate with programmable height stops. On the inside, we had satellite radio, an upgraded driver information display, a household-style power outlet, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and heated front seats. Working towards the back, there are middle row captain’s chairs and rear floor mats. The remote start and the upgraded, eight-speaker Bose audio system with a subwoofer were among our favorite features.
Our tester included the aforementioned Back Edition package ($1,495) and a panoramic sunroof ($1,400). Total MSRP including destination: $45,970. By comparison, the 2019 GMC Acadia starts at $32,800.
2019 GMC Acadia.
Features & Options: Safety & Security
Our tester came with GMC’s Teen Driver system, a benefit for families who have a young adult learning how to drive. Once activated, the Teen Driver key fob limits certain features and prevents certain safety systems from being switched off. Parents can also see an “in-vehicle report card” that provides insight into the distance driven, maximum speed, number of over speed warnings, and other driving events. This is a feature we think families will find value in as they help their teens become safer drivers.
Interior Highlights: Nice But Missing Something
Check out the Acadia SLT-1 if you need three-row seating for occasional use. This model offers six-passenger seating with captain’s chairs in the middle. In the far back, there isn’t much room except for small kids or the occasional short trip for adults, but the middle row offers enough room. Up front, it’s comfortable and the heated seats help, but we were a little miffed it didn’t come with a heated steering wheel for this price point. Otherwise, the cabin feels somewhat upscale with leather and lots of soft-touch surfaces. GMC uses quality materials for the Acadia and the fit and finish is acceptable.
We liked the minimal number of knobs and buttons, making it easy to figure the radio and climate control out. However, the console is very high and it limits elbows room. It didn’t seem like a big deal at first, but we found ourselves constantly bumping into it this weekend. Our guests commented on it too as we drove to a late lunch. Outward visibility is good and the backup camera and parking sensors kept us out of trouble.
With its third-row seats up, the 2019 GMC Acadia has a limited cargo area at just 12.8 cubic feet. With the seats folded flat, maximum capacity expands to 79 cubic feet.
2019 GMC Acadia interior layout.
Related: On the road with the 2019 GMC Terrain Denali.
Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
A 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 193 horsepower and 188 lb-ft. of torque is standard on SL, SLE, and SLT-1 trim levels. It’s mated to a six-speed Hydra-Matic transmission with a 3.16 final drive ratio. Those wanting a more fuel-efficient Acadia should opt for this engine. EPA fuel mileage estimates come in at 21/26 city/highway and 23 combined with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available with the four-cylinder and impacts fuel economy only slightly (21/25 city/highway and 22 combined).
Our SLT-1 tester had the optional 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 310 horsepower and 271 lb-ft. of torque. It comes paired to a six-speed Hydra-Matic transmission as well, but with a 3.87 final drive ratio, which sent power to all four wheels in our case. Those who have a small trailer will want this engine. When properly equipped, the 2019 GMC Acadia tows 4,000 lbs. The 2.5-liter only hauls 1,000 lbs. by comparison.
EPA fuel mileage estimates on the thirstier V6 come in at 17/25 city/highway and 20 combined with all-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive models with the V6 have a rating of 18/25 city/highway and 21 combined.

Driving Dynamics: Sporty But Secure
Getting behind the wheel brings an almost car-like feeling, more so than an SUV. The 2019 GMC Acadia will leave you feeling confident and secure as you navigate down busy streets and highways. The Acadia borders on sporty in terms of its looks, but the ride quality is more toward comfort. The imperfections in the road are soaked up and sent away before they get to you, courtesy of the front MacPherson strut and five-link independent rear suspension.
Driving Dynamics: Easy To Maneuver
The optional V6 plant is a good choice if you are carrying more people and cargo during the week or on weekends. The 2019 GMC Acadia handles well on busy highways, and we pushed it hard up I-70 in the mountains at altitude west of Denver. After the 2017 redesign, the Acadia dropped nearly 700 lbs. and the handling benefits as a result. As the V6 responded, we could easily maneuver the Acadia and take away the open spots between cars.
All-wheel drive is a must for those living in cold climates, and we are confident in the Acadia’s ability to push through snow. Our tester came with a mode-select knob on the console that engages sport, towing, or off-road modes. Switching between two-and four-wheel drive can help save fuel on good-weather days. However, we had a late spring snow storm here in Colorado. We were glad to have an all-wheel drive Acadia when dealing with the snow.
2019 GMC Acadia Denali.
Conclusion: Opt For All-Wheel Drive
The 2019 GMC Acadia is a solid, capable midsize SUV for families that need three-row seating occasionally. The optional V6 packs a punch and, given the negligible differences in fuel economy, we would option our Acadia with all-wheel drive. On the inside, things are comfortable enough that you won’t feel tired on your commute after a long day at work.
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 GMC Acadia Gallery

Photos: GMC (additional trim levels shown).

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Chevrolet Debuts 2019 Corvette ZR1 Convertible

Chevrolet Debuts 2019 Corvette ZR1 Convertible

The new Corvette ZR1 is, to paraphrase Muhammad Ali, a baaad car. It is, no exaggeration and no foolin’, a car that can flat out stomp ones that don’t have the words “Ferrari” or “Porsche” or “McLaren” applied to their trunk lids. If you are not driving one of those cars and find yourself up against a ZR1 in almost any capacity, don’t even try. The ZR1 will eat you. Now imagine how much more fun you could have as a ZR1 owner if you dropped the top?
Value Added
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 convertible is the first ZR1 drop-top since 1970. That is, to say the least, a long time. Much has changed in the automotive world, and Chevrolet, thankfully, has adapted and grown with those changes. The current model Vettes are fast, nasty, well thought out, and technically sophisticated sports cars. There are no more “yeah, but” equivocations coming from Corvette owners. And the ZR1 piles on even more power, torque, and aero goodies to drive that point home all the harder.
Both the coupe and convert versions of the ZR1 go on sale next spring and while not exactly inexpensive, neither of them cost what a Ferrari or Porsche or McLaren cost. How much? The ZR1 coupe will cost you $119,995, while the drop top will start at $123,995. Like I said, not exactly inexpensive, but still . . .
Photo: Chevrolet.
Top-Down Motoring
The differences between the hard and soft tops are actually pretty negligible. Everything you get in the coupe you get in the convertible. Gone are the days of extra bracing here and there to make up for lost rigidity in an already flexi-flyer (I’m looking at you, first round of Gen 4 convertibles!). The strength and design of the latest Corvette’s aluminum chassis means the only structural changes in the drop-top are modifications for the folding top and repositioned safety belt mounts. The top is a fully powered job that can be operated remotely or while driving up to 30 mph, which, you know, looks so boss when your leaving the drive-in. “But it adds weight,” you mumble. Au contraire mon frère! In fact, the difference in curb weight between the ZR1 coupe and convertible is less than 60 pounds. Most of that added weight is down to the folding top hardware. Very impressive.
The convertible gets the full aero kit, including the standard, stanchion-mounted Low Wing. If you have all the restraint of a Vin Diesel fanboy with a Liberace fetish, you can spring for the ZTK Performance Package (an extra $2,995) with that absurd (yet adjustable) High Wing, front splitter, and carbon-fiber end caps. The ZTK also gets you Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and Magnetic Ride Control.
Photo: Chevrolet.

Power & Performance
The convertible is powered by the same LT5 6.2-liter supercharged engine, putting out 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft. of torque. Transmissions are the same: either a seven-speed manual or a paddle-shift eight-speed automatic. Chevy’s testing shows 60 mph in under three seconds (gulp!), a quarter mile in the high 10 range (not bad), and a top speed of 212 mph. And that’s when you opt for the eight-speed automatic.
The blower on the LT5 is the same intercooled unit found on the coupe that displaces 2.65-liters on its own. It generates more boost at slightly slower speeds than before, and reduces heat for lower intake temperatures for optimal performance. And yeah, both ZR1s have thirteen radiators.
And finally, there is a new, patent-pending exhaust system to offer “the most aggressive sound ever for a production Corvette.” Essentially it’s a Jekyll and Hyde set up. It’s a bi-modal exhaust system with four distinct modes and sound levels: Stealth, Tour, Sport, and Track. In Stealth mode, the ZR1 is quieter than the Z06, while in Track mode it is “significantly louder.”
Decisions, Decisions
So, you know, from a performance standpoint, the choice is yours. Do you want the coupe or the convertible? Because they’ll both turn the same lap times. Which is all that really counts. Both the 2019 Corvette ZR1 coupe and convertible will be on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show through December 10th.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photos & Source: Chevrolet.

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Subaru Ascent Makes Debut In Los Angeles

Subaru Ascent Makes Debut In Los Angeles

Fellow gearheads, I’m afraid we’re just going to have to face facts: Sooner or later, every car maker on the planet is going to offer a three row SUV/crossover/thingo for sale. In this case here, Subaru – maker of some of the world’s great rally cars – recently debuted their Ascent SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
When Life Hands You Lemons
I think (and this is just a working hypothesis at this point, so bear with me) automakers, over time, realized nobody in America bought station wagons any more. So they got us to buy minivans, until those things became the very symbol of automotive sclerosis, then they figured out how to sell us SUVs (largely based on our fears of being able to handle stuff combined with wanting to look cool), and then they somehow were able to morph SUVs into these now-ubiquitous crossover-thingos that are little more than over-inflated station wagons. It’s the circle of automotive life, er, marketing.
So of course automakers far and wide are going to make and sell these things as fast as they can. I mean, if your dad owned a lemon grove and it was a hot day and you saw all the other kids selling lemonade, what would you do, not make money?
So, naturally, Subaru wants to make money. And, from a certain point of view, they’ve already been doing this for a while. They’re married to All-Wheel Drive the same way Audi is. They’ve made quite good and functional AWD station wagons for a while now. For a brief period of time they even made an SUV, this weirdly styled thing called a Tribeca (what it had to do with lower Manhattan is beyond me). And their Crosstrek, to me, hits a sweet spot between off-road capability and city livability. Which is all background to saying hello to the new, soon to be hitting the streets, 2019 Subaru Ascent.
The 2019 Subaru Ascent is built on the company’s Global Platform, which consists of “optimized cross sections and highly stiffened joints between structures.” This is to enhance stability and comfort while reducing noise. Further, the Ascent’s new platform integrates the latest version of Subaru’s ring-shaped reinforcement frame design for occupant protection. Photo: Subaru of America, Inc.
Family-Oriented Amenities
Subaru calls the Ascent the “family-focused SUV” which is a stunningly obvious declaration. The Ascent, like most its brethren, is designed to haul lots of people and a bunch of their stuff. The Ascent, with a 113.8-inch wheelbase, is obviously the largest Subaru has ever built. Everything about it seems focused on getting people and things down the road.
It has a whopping 153.5 cubic feet of passenger volume to accommodate a seven- or eight- passenger configuration. The rear doors open out 75 degrees so you can cram even the bigger kids into the third row. It has eight USB charging ports sprinkled throughout the cabin and a 120-volt power outlet for the rear, so you and the entire fam can bop down the road without having to interact with one another, praise Maxwell.
You want more America? Of course you do. How about 19 standard cup and bottle holders? Nineteen baby! How about not one, not two, but three standard automatic climate control zones to ensure all passengers stay comfortable and, most importantly, quiet. No more incessant whining all the way to Wally World and back about it being too cold. How about lights? You want interior lighting? Step right up. Second row reading lights? Check! They’re standard. Third row reading lights? Yup! Standard on Premium, Limited, and Touring trim levels. Ambient and footwell lighting? Of course!
The front chairs are right out of a La-Z-Boy showroom with power adjustments, lumbar support, and a length adjustment function for the driver’s seat cushion. Front and second row seats can be heated as part of the All-Weather Package for Premium models. Certain trims even get you a heated steering wheel while the Touring models offer ventilated front seats.
Photo: Subaru of America, Inc.

Power & Performance
Now, let’s talk about the week link in the chain: The Ascent is propelled down the road by an all-new turbocharged, 260 horsepower Boxer engine mated to a Lineartronic CVT transmission. Look, Subie engines are great. Pretty much everyone seems to agree on that. But you can only squeeze so much grunt out of that small of an engine and haul so many heavy loads – you know stuff like an SUV full of fat Americans towing a tent trailer.
I would hope that Subaru is working on newer, bigger, more powerful engines to drop into the Ascent. And while they’re at it, if that same big block plant could also drop right into an STi wagon of some sort, that’d be great. Thanks.
And I wasn’t kidding about towing a tent trailer. The 2019 Ascent has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 lbs., which is impressive. Subaru also says the 2019 Ascent can go 500 miles on a tank of gas. Of course the Ascent is packed with tech goodies like standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and other safety features, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi.
Pricing & Availability
The new U.S.-built (in Lafayette, Indiana!) Ascent will be offered in four trim levels: Base, Premium, Limited, and Touring. The Subaru Ascent (nice name, by the way) will be in dealers by early summer 2018. No word on price, but I predict it will be more than you first expected, but still not very high in comparison to the competition, because Subaru.
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: Subaru of America, Inc.

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New Pandora Station Captures The Essence of Truck Life

New Pandora Station Captures The Essence of Truck Life

My father’s 1987 Chevy Silverado was as pivotal to my younger years as anything else at the time. We would load the lawn mowers up to cut my grandmother’s grass, stopping at Dairy Queen afterwards. The Super Pig (KSUX 105.7) would provide the soundtrack on those hot summer days. With the windows down, a Misty Slush in my hands, and a good country jam on the radio, it was just another quintessential Iowa summer.
Stories & Songs
My Chevy truck story is one of thousands, but the commonality that runs though each is the inspiration behind the Chevy Truck Centennial. The 100-day commemoration, announced recently at the State Fair of Texas, brought with it two special edition trucks, branded merchandise, and the Truck Legends customer loyalty program. Now a new Pandora station, Chevy Truck 100, has launched in conjunction with the centennial celebration. Country music fans know the love many of their favorite artists have for the Silverado, including Luke Bryan, who says his family always had Chevy trucks on the farm.
“At its most basic level, every song tells a story, while the very best songs also make an emotional connection with the audience,” explained Record Producer and Songwriter, Frank Rogers. “For artists, many of us grew up riding in a Chevy truck, making it a natural way to tell the story of our experiences.”
2018 Chevy Silverado Centennial Edition on display at the 2017 Luke Bryan Farm Tour, Baldwin City, Kansas. Photo: Carl Anthony for Automoblog.net.
How Country Boys Roll
Interesting enough – for me anyway – country songs in general make me think of Chevy trucks. When I was learning to drive, I did so inside the cab of my father’s 87 Silverado. And aside from me blowing a few stops signs (much to my father’s sudden alarm), not much changed. Even though I was driving, we still loaded the mowers up, we still passed through the Dairy Queen, and still cranked the country tunes on 105.7. Even if the song doesn’t mention a Chevy truck, I instantly think of a bowtie anyway.
“Our customers have created millions of memories associated with our trucks, be it working in the field or job site, cruising with friends or camping with families,” said Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet Marketing Director. “That connection with generations of people is a defining characteristic of Chevy trucks, and something few other brands can match.”
I firmly believe the Ram and F-150 are solid machines, but for GM to hold a presence in this way is literal gold in a competitive truck market. Where I grew up in Iowa, it was Chevy all the way. In my high school, a Chevy truck was what you aspired to drive. Yes, we had buddies in high school who were all about the Ford and Dodge trucks, but they spent more time defending their position than us Chevy guys did.
Sure, my career in the automotive industry has taught me things like this are subjective; you can travel to other areas of the country and find pockets of F-150 and Ram enthusiasts. It’s just that, where I come from, a small, rural Iowa farming community, it was the bowtie or nothing. When the girls wanted to hang out at the bowling alley on Saturday night, they rode with the Chevy boys. When the fellas wanted to shoot fireworks off in the country for the 4th, the one with the Silverado was obligated to drive. My first love was a Chevy girl. She joked that if I ever insisted on a Ford, I would need to get accustomed to the couch following our wedding. It’s just the way it was. It was the natural order of things.
“For our fans, a reference to a Chevy truck is something they can instantly relate to, helping make the story relevant to their life as well,” Rogers added.
Photo: Chevrolet.
Memorable Playlist
Chevy is asking enthusiasts and fans to provide their input on the new station and share their favorite songs about Chevy trucks. The station is up and running as we speak with a good variety and mix. I’ve been jamming to Tracy Lawrence, Tim McGraw, and even Bobby Goldsboro’s Summer (The First Time) from 1968. I haven’t heard that in ages, not since my days on AM radio. The Suzy Bogguss hit Drive South was a nice surprise too. That one, from 1992, reminds me of those quintessential Iowa summers.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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2018 Mazda MX-5 RF Goes Nationwide

2018 Mazda MX-5 RF Goes Nationwide The 2018 Mazda MX-5 RF (better known as the new “Miata” with the trick roof) will finally hit dealers across the nation by the end of this month. I’ve actually seen two of these little guys in the past week up here in the Pacific Northwest, and I have to say they’re quite attractive, especially when in motion. This also gives Miata, er, MX-5 fans something they have long been slavering for: a coupe option.
Say What?
I never really understood this, but when I was living in San Francisco, the local roadster club I was in was obsessed with getting removable hardtops for their Miatas. It was the coolest thing you could do, style-wise. Here we were in an area of the world seemingly made for top-down sports car driving nine days out of ten, and what do guys want? Hardtops. So, the current gen MX-5 RF should do great business in the Bay Area.
Chicago Style
With the top up, the RF has a classic, fastback style, and with the top “down” . . . well, okay, it’s doesn’t actually go all the way down, it does this Targa-like thing. Which is good. It looks nice, blows your hair around, lets you hear and smell what’s going on around you, but you know, sadly, not a full-blown convertible. At any rate, here we are in Chicago, The Windy City, City of The Big Shoulders, Hog Butcher to The World for the Chicago Auto Show, and this is where Mazda announces the pricing and packaging for the 2018 MX-5 RF. This follows, since the Chicago Show was where the first Miata debuted in 1989 (feeling old yet?).

Technology & Available Equipment
This is the second year of production for the MX-5 RF, which stands for retractable fastback, and for this go-round, all MX-5s receive some noteworthy upgrades. For example, we have the newly standard heated cloth seats in MX-5 Club. As a guy who is currently looking for a good interior shop to install aftermarket seat heaters in his 1994 R-Package, I can only see this as a good and sacred thing. Advanced Keyless Entry comes standard on all models, along with new color options and leather-trimmed seats (also heated) as part of the Brembo/BBS Package.
Both the Club and Grand Touring versions come with standard LED headlights, various infotainment technologies, and a nifty seven-inch display. There are two USB inputs, a Bose nine-speaker audio system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and plenty of safety features like blind spot detection. And all that is nice and fine and true, but believe me, when you start to wring out a little sports car like this on a winding road, all that stuff falls away from “what is needed.” And “what is needed” a Miata has in droves.
Photo: Mazda North American Operations.
Power & Performance
All new Miatas, er, MX-5s, come with a fast to redline SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine that sends 155 horsepower to the rear wheels via a standard 6-speed manual transmission. And given that these things weigh in at, what, 2,200 lbs, that’s enough motive power. There is an available 6-speed automatic that people say is actually pretty good. It has those slick flappy paddles and all that, but I haven’t driven one yet, so don’t ask me if the auto-box is a good option.
As far as the RF Club is concerned, manual transmission models come with a limited-slip rear differential (saWEET), a front shock-tower brace, and Bilstein dampers. The aforementioned Brembo/BBS package includes (in addition to the heated leather seats) forged, lightweight BBS wheels, body sill extensions, and a rear bumper skirt. Not to put too fine a point on this, but this is the package to get. To quote my father: “When you have the option, always get the hotter version.”
If minimalist performance is not your thing, then perhaps I can interest you in the more luxurious MX-5 Grand Touring. The Grand Touring comes with body-color exterior mirrors, automatic on/off headlights, rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control, heated leather seats (naturally), navigation, an Adaptive Front-lighting System with High Beam Control, and a Lane-Departure Warning system. For 2018, Auburn Nappa leather is available fine sir.

Pricing & In Person
The 2018 Mazda MX-5 RF starts around $25,000, topping out in the mid-to-high $30,000 range. And dollar for dollar, they are very hard cars to argue with. You can see them on display at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show now through the 19th at the McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
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: Mazda North American Operations.

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From CTS To ZL1: The Story of GM’s Fastest Track Car

From CTS To ZL1: The Story of GM’s Fastest Track Car Here at home, it’s really something to catch a game at Comerica Park. Nothing beats watching one of our beloved Tigers launch a ball over the Chevrolet Fountain. Everyone cheers, water flies into the air, and a fierce growl emits from the loudspeakers. Buildings, both new and old, of a scarred but great city surround the park and look down on the field. It’s enough to make anyone love the game, yet it goes deeper.
Pizza Pie & Performance Cars
There was once a young man who played for the Tigers. He grew up to own them. Detroit can and will change things – it makes things that seem impossible possible. It’s the very nature of this place and it’s hard to explain exactly how it happens, but it does. For all the hardships this city endured, for as bad as things have been, that line extends the other direction in equal fashion. Only here could a minor leaguer become a sports franchise owner in a single lifetime. But he wasn’t the only thing here that started in an unlikely place and ended up someplace special.
A Camaro is often parked on the Chevy Fountain. Fitting. Because only here – only in Detroit – could your grandfather’s Cadillac become an extremely fast performance car.
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Photo: Chevrolet.
More Than Meets The Eye
Chevy’s muscle car had disappeared for eight years until a cyborg superhero imprinted himself on the legendary machine. Donning a new body style, Bumble Bee gave us every reason to get excited about the car’s return in this sleek variation. Granted, Bumble Bee defeated Barricade (a Ford Mustang funny enough) in a classic Camaro skin, but that legacy inspired the Chevy team when designing the fifth generation.
“We went back to what made the car popular from the beginning, which were the certain design ques, like the long dash to axel, the long hood, the strong rear shoulders, and the horizontal lamps,” explained Al Oppenheiser, Camaro Chief Engineer. “We kept the DNA from the original Camaro and we modernized it.”
The fifth generation Camaro debuted to much acclaim, winning 2010’s World Car Design of the Year title. That same year, Camaro landed a Best-in-Class Ideal Vehicle Award from AutoPacific. The bar was certainly raised but moving it higher for the sixth generation meant actually dropping one critical thing.
“The fifth generation was saddled with a lot of comments on how heavy it was, so we took what worked in the fifth generation from a design standpoint and we sent it to the gym if you will,” Oppenheiser said. “For this new generation, we decided the biggest thing we wanted to do was lighten the vehicle up and make it stronger and faster than the fifth generation.”
And this is where one storied GM marque arrives to help another.
“We were able to come up with our Cadillac architecture which allowed us to take anywhere from 225 to 390 lbs. out of the car from what it was in the fifth generation,” Oppenheiser continued. “The architecture of this generation is based on the same as the Cadillac CTS, so it allowed us to use a lot of new, lighter weight materials that are stronger than the traditional steel that was in the fifth generation.”
The 2014 Camaro Z/28 featured a hand-assembled LS7 427 cid engine that delivered 505 horsepower and 481 lb-ft. of toque. The Z/28 also had specific cooling systems and a fully integrated aerodynamic package. Photo: Chevrolet.
Drawing Board Mentality
Oppenheiser and his team examined and analyzed the competition, determined to separate the Camaro from the performance car pack. Once the stronger, more versatile Cadillac architecture was in place, the team went after the suspension, then the engines; and all the way through the entire car, top to bottom, front to rear.
“When we started out, we did so on a clean sheet of paper for what the sixth generation was going to be,” Oppenheiser explained. “We planned out the whole portfolio, from the new 2.0-liter turbo, all the way up to the 650 horsepower LT4 engine in a ZL1 1LE.”
Even with the promising Cadillac architecture some inherent challenges existed. The Camaro team didn’t want to add mass – that’s what they wanted to get away from, but weight became an immediate concern again when the decision was made to offer both a coupe and convertible. Oppenheiser describes this as the car’s “wide bandwidth,” which is great in terms of expanding the available offerings, but demanding in terms of engineering.
“When you throw a convertible in there, you have this big matrix of things that you want to put in the car from a performance standpoint,” he said. “So we designed the convertible at the same time we designed the coupe, which allowed us to save by not having to add a bunch of extra, special pieces to a convertible.”
The 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE made its world debut at the Chevrolet Experience Center on Friday, February 24th, 2017 at Daytona International Speedway. Camaro Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser (right) gives four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon a detailed walk around the car. Photo: Steve Fecht for Chevrolet.
Fine-Tuning & Finesse
As development continued, details were poured over and the small stuff sweated. Every person working on the sixth generation Camaro, be it in the design department, or the marketing and media relations office, were dialed-in and engaged. The collective whole found ways – sometimes little ones – to help this new Camaro become what it wanted to be. Meanwhile, performance engineers were busy tuning the exhaust note.
“We spent six months doing that,” Oppenheiser said. “We literally spent six months tweaking the back pressure and tweaking where it opens up the valves at certain RPMs just to get that perfect Camaro feel.”
With the exhaust note tuned to perfection, it was time to hit the pavement and put some real test miles on this new and favorable sixth generation. And indeed the miles racked up on the initial test properties, affectionately referred to as “mules” by the Camaro team.
“It was basically a CTS that we started putting Camaro DNA into,” Oppenheiser explained. “I challenged our whole team: this thing has to transform into a Chevrolet Camaro from a Cadillac, but when we started driving it around, it definitely felt like a CTS.”
Slight modifications were introduced on the test mules, like lowering the chair height and raising the beltline; the aforementioned long dash to axel concept was expanded upon, and the seating position adjusted accordingly.
“All of a sudden you started feeling like, you know what, we’ve done it, this is now a Camaro,” Oppenheiser said. “Now we’ve got the basic platform to start from, we have the DNA in the car, now let’s make it perfect and push the limits.”
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE laps the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Photo: Chevrolet.
Over The Fountain
Camaro holds its rightful place but it’s also living somewhat in the Corvette’s shadow, GM’s iconic and now immortal performance car. And that will (probably) always be as long as both remain under GM’s roof. But there’s that element here in Detroit – that passion brewing under the surface that allows a minor leaguer to surpass the ranks of the majors, and right into the annals of history. This was Mr. I. and in no uncertain terms, it is also Mr. O.
“When I came into General Motors 32 years ago, I told everybody that I wanted to be the Corvette or the Camaro Chief; I am fortunate to be here and I love every day, “Oppenheiser said. “The one thing I always dreamed about was if we could have a car that could be called the fastest car GM ever made on the track, it would be great.”
And that happened this summer when the 2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE sailed around the Nürburgring’s 12.9-mile Nordschleife in 7:16.04. That proved it was the fastest Camaro ever on the famed German track, but more importantly, the fastest car in GM’s history. Oppenheiser admits he knew the 2019 ZR1 was coming but wanted that moment in time preserved for the hard working people on his team. Even if that moment was short-lived.
“I thought it was fantastic because of the pride from everybody that touches the Camaro from design, manufacturing, engineering, finance, and marketing,” he said. “Everybody walked around just a little bit taller all summer last year because of how well we did on this car and how well it performed.”
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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Inside The 2019 Toyota TRD Pro Lineup

Inside The 2019 Toyota TRD Pro Lineup Toyota Racing Development, more commonly known as TRD, has created architectures, engines, and parts for a variety of Toyota vehicles. TRD supported off-road legend Ivan “Ironman” Stewart for three decades on his path to multiple championships and race victories in Baja, U.S. off-road desert, and short-course off-road races. TRD most recently celebrated CJ Greave’s 2017 Pro 4 Championship in The Off-Road Championship Series (TORC).
And now, coming to a driveway near you – or perhaps your own – the 2019 Toyota TRD Pro Series.
Shock Therapy
The 2019 TRD Pro Series will encompass the Tundra, 4Runner, and Tacoma, and all feature new colors, unique exterior treatments, and a variety of off-road goodies designed and tested by TRD engineers. Of those goodies, the 2.5-inch Fox Internal Bypass shocks stand out the most. Tuned specifically for each vehicle, the aluminum-bodied Fox shocks offer generous but appropriate damping for a wide variety of situations, be it high-speed desert running, low-speed rock crawling, or simply driving around town.
Toyota points out the difference between the Fox Internal Bypass shocks and traditional ones, saying the latter usually have external bypass tubes on the body to fine-tune damping pressure. By contrast, the Fox design incorporates the bypass zones inside the shock. These multiple bypass zones offer a more cushioned and plush ride for normal driving, but can get progressively stiffer through the shock stroke to prevent bottoming out.
The front shocks combine high-temperature fluid and nitrogen gas pressure to improve ride, soften hard bumps, and provide better protection for the seals. Moving to the rear, the piggyback reservoirs house additional oil to increase damping performance while driving through demanding terrains.

Tacoma TRD Pro
If there is one truck that embodies the TRO Pro mantra, it’s the Tacoma. On the TRD Pro version, the Fox front shocks employ 46mm pistons and eight bypass zones, five for compression and three for rebound. The shocks are paired with TRD-tuned springs for an additional inch of lift, while a larger front sway bar promotes sharper steering. In the rear, the Fox shocks have 11 bypass zones, seven for compression, four for rebound, and are paired with the aforementioned piggyback reservoirs. The Tacoma also features “progressive-rate” leaf springs.
Other highlights include a front skid plate with red TRD lettering, cat-back exhaust, an Entune Premium JBL Audio system, Rigid Industries LED fog lights, and Goodyear Wrangler Kevlar All-Terrain tires (P265/70R16). The optional Desert Air Intake system, a snorkel-like device that runs up the passenger side pillar, allows the engine to take air (likely to be less dusty and dirty) from above the windshield.

Tundra TRD Pro
The older brother’s TRD-tuned springs provide an additional two inches of front lift while front wheel travel increases more than 1.5 inches; rear wheel travel improves by over two inches. The Tundra TRD Pro’s front shocks feature 11 bypass zones, seven compression, four bypass, to keep the truck more composed during aggressive off-road driving. The rear Fox shocks have 12 bypass zones, eight compression and four bypass. Like the Tacoma, the Tundra’s rear shocks employ the aforementioned piggyback reservoirs.
The 18-inch BBS forged-aluminum, five-spoke satin black wheels cut un-sprung mass 3.35 lbs. per wheel (13.4 lbs. total) to improve cornering response and overall ride quality. The new wheels are wrapped in Michelin P275/65R18 all-terrain tires. Similar to the Tacoma, Rigid Industries again supplies the LED fog lights, and the TRD-themed skid plate returns as does the exhaust system. The “TRD Pro” stamping on the Tundra’s rear quarter panels is a nice touch.
The 2018 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro on display at the Chicago Auto Show, McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
4Runner TRD Pro
The 4Runner receives a one-inch lift and nearly an additional inch of wheel travel in its TRD PRO skin. The front shocks employ 46mm pistons and include seven bypass zones, four compression and three rebound. In the rear, there are eleven bypass zones, seven for compression and four for rebound, with the piggyback reservoirs again being utilized. The 4Runner’s “roost shields” help protect the inverted rear shock.
Those hitting the trail will certinately appreciate the roof rack and skid plate. For said trails, the 4Runner TRD Pro features a one-inch wider track with Nitto Terra Grappler A/T tires (P265/70R17).
The 2018 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro on display at the Chicago Auto Show, McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Availability & In Person
The 2019 Toyota TRD Pro lineup will arrive this fall. In the meantime, the vehicles are on display at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show now through the 19th at the McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
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.
2019 Toyota TRD Pro Gallery

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

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2019 Range Rover Models Blend Performance With Efficiency

2019 Range Rover Models Blend Performance With Efficiency

Expect to see prototypes of the 2019 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport P400e plug-in hybrid during the Los Angeles Auto Show. The vehicles represent a combination of “sustainable performance” and “effortless capability” according to Jaguar Land Rover. It’s the first time the models have been shown in North America. It’s also the first time those who prefer the flagship Land Rover SUV can opt for a zero-emissions variant.
Power & Performance
The new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport P400e combine a 2.0-liter four-cylinder Ingenium gasoline engine, an electric motor, and a 13.1kWh lithium-ion battery. The Ingenium plant creates 296 horsepower while the electric motor registers 114 horsepower. Combined system output is 398 horsepower and 472 lb-ft. of torque with an electric only range of 31 miles.
The Land Rover Terrain Response 2 system is calibrated to “precisely distribute” maximum torque from the electric motor at zero rpm to all four wheels. Jaguar Land Rover says this provides better control during low speed, off-road maneuvers. All 2018 Range Rover models come with air suspension to raise the vehicle for more aggressive off-road driving.
Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.
Drive Modes
Customers can choose two different modes: Parallel Hybrid, the default mode, combines the gasoline and electric powertrains. To help maximize efficiency, drivers can enact a “SAVE” function to prevent the battery from dropping below a certain level. Predictive Energy Optimization works in tandem with the navigation to increase efficiency. Once a destination is entered, the vehicle utilizes GPS altitude data for the route and combines the gasoline and electric motors accordingly.
The second mode is simply called “Electric Vehicle.” This means the Range Rover is running solely on the electric motor with the battery’s stored energy.
Construction
The new Range Rovers are lighter than their counterparts – 39 percent to be exact. Both the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport P400e utilize an all-aluminum body which accounts for the weight loss when compared to a steel equivalent. Jaguar Land Rover notes the “extensive optimization processes” for the vehicle’s architecture, saying the processes were some of the most ambitious in the company’s history. The development of the all-aluminum body required intense computer simulation and a 1,000 years of processor time.
Multi-dimensional optimization tools were also used to minimize weight while simultaneously delivering outstanding stiffness and refinement, according to Jaguar Land Rover. Aerodynamic advancements are seen specifically with the flush glazing, the D-pillar’s sharp separation, and rear lights. This combination helps create a drag coefficient of 0.34.
Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.

Configuration & Charging
The 2.0-liter Ingenium gasoline engine is longitudinally mounted, with the 85kW electric motor housed inside the ZF eight-speed automatic. The transmission resides at the vehicle’s center with the 7kW on-board charger. The inverter, also near the center of the vehicle, turns DC voltage from the battery pack into AC current to supply the electric motor.
The prismatic cell lithium-ion battery is rear-mounted and beneath the trunk floor. The access area for the charge point is behind a panel on the grille. The P400e is available with three types of cables – it includes a home charging lead, which connects to domestic power supplies. When rapid charging, a full charge takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes at home using a dedicated 32 amp wall box. The battery can be fully charged in about 7 hours and 30 minutes using the 10 amp home charging cable supplied as standard.
Manufacturing & Availability
This probably goes without saying, but the 2019 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport P400e plug-in hybrid will offer a lot for drivers. In addition to what we have discussed here, there is a state-of-the-art four-wheel drive system, a host of available advanced driver assistance features, and Executive Seating, which means wider seat frames and additional foam for more comfort.
Both vehicles are designed and engineered by Jaguar Land Rover in the United Kingdom, with production at the company’s Solihull facility. The 2019 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport P400e plug-in hybrid are available now for order; the first deliveries are expected from the end of 2017, depending on the market. Since it launched in 2004, more than 732,000 Range Rover Sports have been sold.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photos & Source: Jaguar Land Rover.

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The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS450 Can Change Your Mood. Literally.

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS450 Can Change Your Mood. Literally.

Mercedes-Benz rolled out their latest CLS at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. It has more of everything: tech, safety, performance, comfort, the whole lot. But wait, what’s this? This is very out of the ordinary! It is being propelled by a inline six cylinder? Wow, haven’t seen a new one of those in a long while. I wonder what’s in store, besides lots of torque?
The Mercedes-Benz CLS, which is one of those “coupe” things that has four doors (I see what you’re trying to pull here), has been around since 2003. So whatever bugs were there from the get-go, Merc has probably crunched them by now.
Six Shooter
The real interesting part is that straight six. In broad strokes, the new plant gets something called EQ Boost and a 48 volt on-board electrical system. EQ Boost is a new, “systematically electrified” system that piggybacks onto the conventional aspects of the engine. EQ Boost integrates the starter, which is now a starter/generator hybrid unit, with the 48 volt on-board electrical system to add power as the CLS’s umpteen computers see fit. EQ Boost is available on both the CLS450 and CLS450 4MATIC. The plant puts out 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque on its own, and if it calls for the EQ Boost, that will kick in an additional 21 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque over short periods. Not bad, not bad.
So EQ Boost is sort of like a half-hybrid set up. Mercedes-Benz does not mention other batteries or separate battery packs, but does note the EQ Boost can assist, for example, when accelerating. They even say it makes driving without the combustion engine possible. For some reason, Merc calls this EV-only thing “sailing,” which speaks to me of serious schnapsleiche in the marketing department.
Other than the EQ Boost equipped inline six, the CLS presents new goodies like a consistent interior color scheme, widescreen digital instrument cluster, and some outstandingly goofy junk called ENERGIZING Comfort (all caps – more schnapsleiche in the marketing department). The latter focuses on wellness (no, really).
The new CLS has a four-link front and five-link rear suspension. An air suspension system with adjustable and adaptive damping is optional. Photo: Mercedes-Benz USA.
Interior Treatments
When it comes to the interior, Mercedes-Benz really seems geeked out on colors. The ambient lighting lets you choose from 64 (!) colors and even features lighting inside the air vents. Yes air vents. Why? Because that way, when you change the temperature setting of the air conditioning, it briefly changes the color of the air vent lights to show the temperature is being made warmer (red) or cooler (blue). How did we ever get along without this?! The CLS450 is equipped with a wide-screen, high-resolution central display that is more than 12-inches diagonally. If that’s not enough, two more 12.3-inch displays are available. There are three display configuration styles the driver can choose from, depending on preference, mood, or to suit the interior appointments: Classic, Sport, or Progressive. So what.
“The new CLS is a design icon as the archetype of the four-door coupe,” said Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer, Daimler AG. “In line with our hot and cool design philosophy, we have reduced its DNA to an extremely puristic level while emotionally charging its beauty.” Photo: Mercedes-Benz USA.
Energy Efficient
The ENERGIZING Comfort system is there to link various “comfort systems” in the vehicle into one, harmonious package. The system uses the functions of the climate control, including fragrancing (and yes, Mercedes-Benz made up the word fragrancing), the seats (heat, ventilation, massage), the surface and steering wheel heating, as well as lighting and musical atmospheres. This allows, and I’m not kidding, a “specific wellness set-up tailored to the mood and need of the customer.”
Thankfully there are no pink bunnies involved.
Six ENERGIZING programs can be selected: Refresh / Freshness, Warmth, Vitality, Joy, Comfort / Well-Being, and Training with three training modes – muscle relaxation, muscle activation, and balance – each with several exercises. Rumors have it that Mercedes-Benz is working on more ENERGIZING programs including Swedish Heavy Metal, Talk Radio Anger Bear, Haight-Ashbury, and Dryer Lint. Mercedes-Benz says well-being and performance levels are enhanced. I’m not sure about that, but I can tell you my laughing was seriously enhanced reading about it. Was I right when I said outstandingly goofy junk or what?
Photo: Mercedes-Benz USA.
All Is Well
The new CLS is equipped with the latest generation of driving assistance systems, including route-based speed adaptation and driver support. Also included are Active Brake Assist, and the occupant protection system PRE-SAFE, including PRE-SAFE Sound which “prepares human hearing for the anticipated accident noise when there is a risk of a collision.” I’m assuming that PRE-SAFE Sound is a recording of a matronly lady quietly repeating, “Es ist in Ordnung mein Kleiner. Bald wird es einen Anschlag geben, aber du wirst in Sicherheit sein. Alles ist gut. Alles ist gut.”
Also thrown into the mix is Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Steering Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, and Active Lane Keeping Assist. In other words, you get more assistance than a military contractor come tax time.
Availability
Look, there is a ton of other stuff here. The Mercedes-Benz press release runs on for nearly three-thousand words and reads like a Neichze-ian screed about the coming uber-auto. Through all of this, one thing is extremely clear: The third generation Mercedes-Benz CLS is an exceedingly well thought out, well engineered, and well screwed together car. Following its debut at the LA Auto Show, the new CLS will arrive in the United States in the fall of 2018.
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 Mercedes-Benz CLS450 Gallery

Photos & Source: Mercedes-Benz USA.

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