Automotive

2018 Buick Enclave: Product & Performance Overview

2018 Buick Enclave: Product & Performance Overview

Buick has introduced their all-new seven-passenger luxury SUV, the 2018 Enclave. According to Buick, its arrival ushers in new improvements and refinements that mark the “next evolution” of their brand. The General Motors family member bills their line as modern luxury but it certinately has not been easy.
Late last year, we sat down with Molly Peck, Buick’s Marketing Director to learn about their reinvention strategy.
Those considering the Enclave may be interested to know the third row alone offers 5.6 more inches of legroom than an Acura MDX, 4.5 inches more than an Audi Q7, and nearly three inches more than an Infiniti QX60.
“Enclave was introduced as a game-changer for the Buick brand and has since become one of our most successful and important vehicles,” said Duncan Aldred, Vice President, Global Buick and GMC. “It set the tone for a more progressive Buick, helping change perception for us and serving as the standard-bearer of what our products stand for: smart, stylish luxury.”
Styling & Design
Buick went with an athletic, yet balanced formula, giving the 2018 Enclave new proportions for a sharper, more aerodynamic look. Buick’s patented “front end design language” was inspired by the Avista and Avenir concepts, further complimented by what the automaker calls a “windswept” appearance. The roofline is lower and the windshield is sleeker for a more dramatic stance.
Lighting is not a light affair by any means, but a rather serious one. The 2018 Enclave is Buick’s first application of Evonik Acrylite technology and bi-functional LED projector headlamps and LED tail lamps. From a design perspective, it makes the Enclave stand out while the IntelliBeam headlamps available on Premium and Avenir models provide better visibility at night.
Photo: Buick.

Safety & Security
The 2018 Buick Enclave has a number of tools to help a driver feel safe and confident, including a rear vision camera, rear park assist, and seven air bags, including a front center side airbag. The latter deploys from the inboard side of the driver’s seat, positioning itself between the driver and front passenger. GM created this airbag specifically to protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes where the affected occupants are on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System Database found far-side impact crashes, which the front center side air bag is meant to mitigate, accounted for 11 percent of the belted front occupant fatalities in non-rollover accidents between 2004 and 2009, in vehicles 1999 or newer. These types of accidents also represented 29 percent of all the belted front occupant fatalities in side impacts. In other words, it’s a highly desirable and potentially life-saving safety device.
When fully equipped, there are 17 different radar, camera, and ultrasonic sensors to provide drivers with a full sense of safety and security. In our opinion, the 2018 Buick Enclave really excels in this particular area.
Photo: Buick.
Cargo Space
Like it does with safety and security, the 2018 Buick Enclave does wonders in the cargo capacity department. Behind the third row, there is 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space while the second- and third-row seats fold for a nearly-flat load floor. An optional power-folding third row makes things easy, while available second-row SmartSlide Seats allow occupants better entry/exit from the third row.
Finally, an underfloor storage area provides an extra 3.1 cubic feet of cargo space.
Power & Performance
The 2018 Buick Enclave is powered by a 3.6L V6 engine with stop/start technology, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. GM estimates around 300 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. of torque. All-wheel drive is available with an active twin-clutch rear differential – it’s also a switchable AWD system which will help drivers increase control, stability, and efficiency.
What’s really impressive is the 5,000 lbs. towing capacity, more than enough to haul a nice fishing boat. A Standard MacPherson strut front and five-link rear suspension provide a smooth ride and easy handling. Buick’s engineers opted for a longer wheelbase but were still able to cut over a foot off the turning radius from the prior generation.
Photo: Buick.

Pin Drop
The 2018 Buick Enclave features QuietTuning, an active noise cancellation system to help keep the cabin quiet and comfortable. Engineers honed the exterior design accordingly, and increased the sealing and sound-deadening materials throughout the vehicle. However, just in case the quiet is too much, a 10-speaker Bose Premium stereo is available.
Fresh Air
It’s one thing to have the little tree hanging from the rearview mirror, it’s another to have an entire ionizer in the vehicle. The 2018 Buick Enclave has such a feature that works by producing negatively charged particles that attract air-born contaminants and break down their structure, essentially cleaning the inside air. The system reduces and/or eliminates odors, bacteria, viruses, dust, debris, and pollen. This useful addition for allergy season requires no maintenance or filter replacement, and comes standard on Essence, Premium, and Avenir models.
Photo: Buick.
Special Treatments
Standard equipment on every 2018 Enclave includes keyless entry and push-button start, a hands-free power-programmable liftgate with a Buick logo illuminating the ground below, tri-zone automatic climate control, universal home remote, and six USB ports. Every Enclave is equipped with an OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, a frameless 8-inch diagonal infotainment display, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Pricing & Availability
When it arrives in dealerships this fall, the 2018 Buick Enclave will come in Enclave, Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims. The 2018 Enclave is the seventh new Buick in less than two years and is manufactured at Lasing Delta Township Assembly.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

Photos & Source: Buick

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2018-buick-enclave-product-performance-overview/

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon Awakens

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon Awakens

Well, here it is. After being teased, rumored, speculated upon, and guessed about, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is finally here. And I, like anyone else with a soul, the first thing I thought was: “Holy sh-how much horsepower does this thing put out?!?”
No kidding, no joking, the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon puts out 840 horsepower at the wheels. 840!
Perspective Power
For reference, a 2017 Indy car puts out around 700 horsepower. A NASCAR stocker puts out 725 horsepower. A world Rally Car puts out 315 horsepower. A Le Mans prototype will put out around 900 horsepower, but that’s combined output for both the internal combustion engine and the hybrid drive system. The current Ferrari F1 car puts out around 1,000, but that’s also the combined total of the internal combustion engine and hybrid drive system.
So I will repeat myself: The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon puts out 840 horsepower at the wheels. 840! And Dodge will sell the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon to literally anyone. Anyone. No background check. No psychological profile assessment. You got a ominous twitch in your left eye, my friend? Don’t matter. Anyone. For the love of Horace and John, even me. Me!
The Challenger SRT Demon is equipped with a set of Nitto NT05R street-legal, drag-race tires, a first for a production car. The 315/40R18 tires were specifically designed for the SRT Demon, with a new compound and sidewall construction. The drag radials give the SRT Demon a 15 percent larger tire contact patch and more than twice the grip of the Challenger SRT Hellcat. The sticky drag tires are mounted on lightweight 11×18-inch wheels, with each tire measuring 12.6 inches wide. Furthermore, a unique rear knuckle reduces negative camber by 0.5 degrees, “standing up” the tire and increasing the size of the tire contact patch. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Record Numbers
At 840 horsepower and 770 lb-ft. of torque, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is the most powerful muscle car ever thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Demon V8 engine. Let that sink in. Next time some old gearhead tells you about “the good old days” and how crazy muscle cars were in the late 60s, remember this Dodge has almost 900 horsepower. To my direct knowledge, right off the showroom floor, things like Superstock Darts were in the mid-500 range. This thing puts out 340 horsepower on top of that.
Not only is this the highest horsepower V8 production engine ever produced, and I mean ever, the Demon is also the first production car to have a certified front wheel lift from a dead stop. And by lift, I mean it was measured at 2.92 feet, and by certified I mean certified by Guinness World Records. This is a car that, from the factory, directly off the showroom floor, can pull a friggin’ wheelie!
The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon was designed to cover the quarter mile as quickly as possible. To do this, it combines both mechanical and electronic tuning for maximum launch grip while still maintaining directional control. The Bilstein Adaptive Damping shocks have been tuned for drag racing, shifting as much weight as possible on the rear tires at launch for maximum traction, and improving rear tire grip by 11 percent. Weight shift in the Challenger SRT Demon is aided by softening up some key suspension components like the springs and sway bars. Photo: FCA US LLC.

Lightning Quick
Want to know the ET this thing pulls at the strip? This: 9.65 seconds at 140 miles per hour as certified by the National Hot Rod Association. That is slightly faster then the aforementioned Superstock Dart, and I guarantee the Demon is both heavier and better equipped than a Superstock Dart. Oh, and this makes the Demon the world’s fastest quarter-mile production car. Not a La Ferrari, not a Porsche 918, not a Veyron, a Dodge. A Dodge.
However, if you’re thinking of taking your new Dodge Demon down to the strip on Grudge Night so you can finally make Steve from accounting shut up, forget about it. The Challenger SRT Demon was deemed too fast for the drag strip and officially banned by NHRA.
The Demon is also the world’s fastest production car with 60 mph coming up in 2.3 seconds and 0-30 happening in a single second. A single second! 2.3 seconds to 60 is quicker than Formula cars I’ve driven. It’s faster than my old pro-rally car by a long shot. 2.3 is retina-detaching fast. Throw away the stop watch, and measure it in G-force, and the Demon pulls at 1.8 g, or about 60% of the space shuttle at launch. That is, in case you’re curious, the highest g-force acceleration of any production car.
The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon will be available 14 exterior colors: B5 Blue, Billet Silver, Destroyer Grey, F8 Green, Go Mango, Granite Crystal, Indigo Blue, Maximum Steel, Octane Red, Pitch Black, Plum Crazy, TorRed, White Knuckle, and Yellow Jacket. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Big Breath
The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon also has the largest functional hood scoop of any production car at 45.2 square inches. Dodge calls it the Air-Grabber induction system, but sadly, unlike the Air-Grabbers of old, this one is not variable, nor does it feature those totally wicked teeth like a P-41 Warhawk. It’s more like the big gaping maw from the fiberglass hoods of the Superstock Darts and Coronets.
All 45.2 square inches of that Air-Grabber induction system are very, very functional in feeding what can only be considered a leviathan of an engine. The forced-induction system reads like it was puled off a World War II fighter plane.
The Air-Grabber hood is sealed to the air box, which is also fed from the driver’s side Air-Catcher headlamp and an inlet near the wheel liner. Combined, those sources give the Demon an air-flow rate of 1,150 cubic feet per minute, 18 percent greater than the Hellcat. The additional air inlets help reduce the temperature of the intake air by more than 30 degrees compared to the Hellcat, which improves throttle response. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Engine Within An Engine
The supercharger is a larger 2.7-liter displacement blower that gives an increased boost pressure of 14.5 psi and a higher rpm limit of 6,500. The supercharger alone displaces 2.7-liters. That is nearly a third bigger than the engine in a Miata, and that’s not even the engine! That’s what feeds the engine.
The Demon’s supercharger features an innovative SRT Power Chiller liquid-to-air intercooler system, a factory-production car first. The liquid-to-air intercooler set up has an After-Run Chiller that keeps cooling the supercharger/charge air cooler after the engine is shut off, another factory-production car first.
The Demon’s mill is designed to run on 100+ high-octane unleaded fuel or 91 octane on demand. Now, you don’t have to be J. Robert Oppenheimer to put 2 and 2 together here and figure out that all of the shocking performance figures are probably coming from a tank full of 100+ high-octane unleaded fuel, and not the lower grade stuff, but still, it’s nice of Dodge to at least give you the option of not having to swing by the local air base to gas up.
The Demon engine has been certified to the SAE J1349 industry standard for its horsepower and torque ratings. While the Demon engine shares similar traits with the Hellcat engine, it does have 25 major component upgrades including the supercharger, pistons, rods, valve train, and fuel injection system. The engine also meets all applicable legal emissions regulations. Photo: FCA US LLC.

Bag Of Tricks
And the goodies continue on down the drivetrain. The Demon is the first-ever, factory-production car with a TransBrake for more powerful and quicker launches. This is an old drag racer trick that allows you to lock the driveline south of the engine, build up the revs and all that sweet, sweet torque and then let’er go in one big BWOOMFF. Also to that end, the Demon is the first production car with Torque Reserve to supply augmented levels of power and torque at launch.
And this, this has got to be my favorite goodie for the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon: First production car with front passenger seat delete. That’s right, no passenger seat. Just me and 840 of my closest equine friends out to drain the color from the faces of BMW owners at the next stop light.
Availability
The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon will be a limited-edition, single model year production run of 3,000 cars for the United States and 300 Canada. Dealership deliveries begin this fall so get in line now. Now-now-now-now-now! Oh, and get this: The car is covered by a full factory warranty.
And if you are one of the few, the happy few who obtain the new 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, Dodge is also going to throw in a session at Bob Bondurant School of High-performance Driving. Take them up on this offer. Really.
Production of the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon begins later this year at FCA’s Brampton, Ontario Assembly. Currently, this monster of a car is on display at the New York International Auto Show, April 14th through the 23rd at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.
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 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon Gallery

Photos & Source: FCA US LLC

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2018-dodge-challenger-srt-demon-awakens/

2018 Infiniti Q50 Revealed In New York

2018 Infiniti Q50 Revealed In New York

Infiniti will reveal the enhanced Q50 for the first time in North America at the 2017 New York International Auto Show. The vehicle goes on sale globally during the second quarter and will be available in the United States later this summer. The automaker focused on a number of improvements to heighten the driver experience.
“The new Q50 features a refreshed exterior and interior design, as well as innovative technologies designed to empower and support the driver,” reads a recent press release from Infiniti.
Driver Treatments
Infiniti focused on detail with the Q50, evident in the stitching and soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. This specific craftsmanship extends to the seats which offer more spinal and back support, and a new steering wheel with molded placements for a driver’s thumbs. A full range of connectivity and infotainment through INFINITI InTouch Services is standard.
Safety & Security
The 2018 Infiniti Q50 has a number of active safety technologies including Direct Adaptive Steering, Active Lane Control, Intelligent Cruise Control, Distance Control Assist, Backup Collision Intervention, and Blind Spot Warning and Intervention. Other safety features include Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Forward Emergency Braking, and Predictive Forward Collision Warning.
Power & Performance
The 2018 Infiniti Q50 has a nice array of powertrain options, depending on personal tastes. The main engine is the 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo from the automaker’s exclusive VR powertrain family. Other options include a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, a Direct Response Hybrid, and a high-output version of the 3.0-liter for the Red Sport 400.
The Q50 is Infiniti’s best-selling model and has, since it first arrived in 2013, sold nearly 210,000 units globally. As a brand, Infiniti is seeing steady and solid growth, achieving over 230,000 last year in global sales – a 7-percent year-over-year increase and a new record for the automaker. The Q50 accounted for one third of the brand’s total sales.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
2018 Infiniti Q50 Gallery

Photos & Source: INFINITI Motor Company Ltd.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2018-infiniti-q50-revealed-in-new-york/

BMW Teams With Virgin Hyperloop One For Dubai Hyperloop Passenger Capsule.

BMW Teams With Virgin Hyperloop One For Dubai Hyperloop Passenger Capsule. They’ve rolled out the prototype design for a Dubai passenger capsule that will run in the desert fiefdom’s Virgin Hyperloop mag-lev high-speed “rail” system. I guess this means they’re serious, they being Hyperloop One, the United Arab Emirates as a country and, somehow, BMW, but when I see the words “passenger capsule” I am less than reassured.
“They” keep plugging away on this whole notion of a “hyperloop,” a vacuum tube, high-speed transit system using magnetic levitation/propulsion as the scheme to get from A to B. Sounds good. I like the idea, in general, and the engineering is quite fun.
Obstacles & Partnerships
It seems like the two biggest hurdles are land and money. Tearing up people’s property is never a good sales pitch, and building a hyperloop is not going to be cheap, but you know who has lots of empty land and bags of money? Dubai! So if you can overlook the problems with foreign workers and labor rights, religious freedom, freedom of expression, forced disappearances and torture, women’s rights, LGBT rights, and a horrendous zero tolerance drug policy, Dubai looks good!
Or at least it looked okay to Hyperloop One and BMW.
Virgin Hyperloop One says they are the only company with a fully operational hyperloop system. And yeah, that Elon Musk guy might quibble with that, but they are backed by some serious money from DP World, Caspian VC Partners, Abu Dhabi Capital Group, GE Ventures, and SNCF, yeah, the French TGV guys. BMW’s involvement is through their BMW Group Designworks creative consultancy biz. They’ve worked with Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Intermarine, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), and they also did some really swoopy airplane interiors, so that fits in here too.
Virgin Hyperloop One is currently negotiating the next stage of development (Phase 2) with the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai. The goal is to build the world’s first hyperloop transportation system in the UAE and Middle East. Photo: BMW of North America.
Challenges & Opportunities
Once Virgin Hyperloop One, the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai (RTA), and BMW Designworks get their ducks in a row, the passenger capsule (shudder) will scoot from Dubai to Abu Dhabi (about 90 miles) in as little as 12 minutes via electromagnetic propulsion through a vacuum tube, reaching speeds up to 670 mph. They make no mention of the Gs you’d pull, either accelerating or when hitting the brakes, but let’s just go with this for now, shall we?
The main challenge for the Designworks team was creating a relaxing and engaging interior without any windows. Also, they say, “… a current requirement for passengers to be seated throughout the journey.” Ya don’t say? What, like passengers could stand?
Anyway, they’ve actually done this before, with a proposed design for an airliner’s interior sans windows. It worked pretty well as I remember, but nobody bought it. So, BMW’s Designworks had a crack at a very restrictive environment, or what could be that way, in a submarine-esque sense, and turned it into a “more personal and uplifting sensory experience that can be both memorable and enjoyable.”
Or, to be more blunt about it, they had to figure out how to stuff people into a windowless vessel and blow it down a tube at airliner speeds without anyone croaking or going crazy.
Photo: Hyperloop One.
Personal Attention & Cultural Influences
That sounds like a noble goal and all that, so how do you do it? First through multidirectional, personally-controlled lighting, digital displays, and premium comfort. This creates a sense of individualized space for each passenger. For example, in first class (what, you thought this would be a single class system) adjustable leather seats feature touchscreens with brightness and color settings, allowing you to shift the light from blue to pink to set your mood. The seats come with integrated heating and cooling and, thanks to the built-in displays, personalized entertainment.
BMW Designworks says this could “create a more sophisticated and user-centered spatial experience that transcends the typical utilitarian notion of public transportation.” Could? Your confidence is everso inspiring.
BMW Designworks also took inspiration from traditional Arabic patterns to create intentional cultural references. That’s an old trick, like how they used to decorate the China Clippers with scenes of the far off and mysterious “Orient” to get you in the mood. The overall design is secured in the cultural traditions of the UAE while alluding to the country’s achievements and ambitions.

Worldwide Implementation
Look, I’m a rare guy in the gearhead world. I actually like public transportation in general and, in this case, high speed “rail” in particular. I love driving, but a lot of people don’t, and public transportation is a great way to get those people off the roads and out of my way. I like the idea of this hyperloop deal, and you’ve got to test the prototypes somewhere, so why not the Dubai to Abu Dhabi run?
After they work out the kinks, they can install version 2.0 over here or anywhere else in the world.
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. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.

Photos & Source: BMW of North America, LLC., Hyperloop One.
Video: Hyperloop One.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/bmw-teams-with-virgin-hyperloop-one-for-dubai-hyperloop-passenger-capsule/

2018 Honda Accord 2.0T Touring Review

2018 Honda Accord 2.0T Touring Review Honda hasn’t given up on the sedan market like other American automakers, as the popular Accord four-door has been completely redesigned for 2018. Is it enough to keep up with the hot SUV and crossover segments? We wanted to find out.
What’s New For 2018
The 2018 Honda Accord is all-new, more upscale, and more refined. Built around a new chassis that utilizes more high-strength steel, it’s wider and lower than before, and it looks more stylish. Inside, it’s roomier and quieter.
This past weekend we drove the top-of-the-line, 2018 Honda Accord 2.0T Touring.
Features & Options
The 2018 Honda Accord 2.0T Touring ($35,800) is bathed in soft leathers, wood dash accents, interior noise cancellation, LED headlamps, and advanced safety features. There is a slick 8.0-inch touchscreen, leather accents, power-adjustable front seats, 10-speaker premium stereo, and navigation.
Other standard equipment includes Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port for charging and streaming audio. The Touring also gets heated seats, satellite radio, upgraded cloth upholstery, moonroof, blind-spot monitors, another USB port, and a chrome grille.
The Touring offers heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heads-up display, wireless cellphone charging, one-touch Bluetooth connectivity, and paddle shifters.
The top Touring trim also equips the Accord with 19-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers, chrome exterior trim, illuminated door handles, automatic wipers, front and rear parking sensors, adjustable driving modes, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Total MSRP including destination: $36,690.

Interior Highlights
The top Touring trim gets soft-touch plastic, leather upholstery, faux-leather door inserts, and convincing wood trim on the dash. The eight-inch touchscreen sits smartly atop the dash with a sharp display and layout. We thought the infotainment system was a bit confusing at first, but did get used to it eventually. We also thought the memory-adjust driver’s seat was a bit annoying, having to adjust it each time we got in the car. The driver’s seat is lower with the redesign, however, for more headroom. The seats, in general, are taller and have more bolstering.
We found the new Accord ideally suited for four people. Five works only for short distances. The rear seats are deep, nearly one inch lower than before, and the doors open wider for easy access. The increased wheelbase allows more legroom in the rear, more than 40 inches, enough for six-footers.
We noticed how quiet the sedan is with active noise cancellation to redirect road noise and the on-board wheel resonators (a piece of material wrapped around the center of the wheel to swallow tire noise.) The trunk is massive with 16.7 cubic feet of cargo space, and with a wider opening than before.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivers adequate performance, but it’s the handling and ride that make the new Accord stand out. The Touring gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder making 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft. of torque. The Honda-made 10-speed automatic is standard.
EPA fuel mileage estimates come in at 22/32 city/highway and 26 combined mpg.
Driving Dynamics
The ride in the new Honda Accord feels more feels upscale, almost like a luxury car compared with the outgoing model. We took it on curvy mountain roads and it’s much more enjoyable to drive. The new 2.0-liter turbo four is quick, smooth, and connected to the 10-speed automatic making it sportier than other sedans.
The steering wheel paddle shifters add to the fun-to-drive experience, but the gear selector on the console is a bit different. It offers a series of buttons that takes some getting used to because they are unconventional, but did become easier to use with familiarization. You need to always look down to see which shift configuration you are in.
The Accord’s adaptive dampers make the newly-redesigned sedan feel composed and confident on mountain roads, while being relaxed on the open highway. The standard Honda Sensing safety suite kept us more observant to the busy traffic with lots of warnings and lights.

Conclusion
Overall, the redesigned 2018 Honda Accord 2.0T Touring moves the needle forward in the sedan segment. There’s more strengths than drawbacks making it an easy recommendation for consumers looking for a spacious, comfortable, and upscale four-door that’s not an SUV or crossover. The new Accord delivers exceptional handling, a smooth ride, a comfortable cabin, improved styling, and it’s loaded with safety features and delivers good fuel economy.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Honda Accord 2.0T Touring Gallery

2018 Honda Accord Official Site.
Photos: Honda North America.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2018-honda-accord-2-0t-touring-review/

Inside The 2019 Lexus ES: Can It Compete With Germany?

Inside The 2019 Lexus ES: Can It Compete With Germany? The latest Lexus ES recently debuted at Auto China 2018 in Beijing. That placement is significant, insofar as it is another example of just how important the Chinese market is for everyone these days. But it is also important because the ES has long been Lexus’ bread and butter in the performance sedan world.
Waxing Poetics
The Lexus ES is the Japanese car giant’s version of the BMW 3 Series, and very close in design goals to the vaunted M3. Apart from all the stuff that people negatively say about it – it’s soulless, it lacks personality, it’s not German etc. – the ES is a very good performance sedan option. Now, obviously, t’me this whole notion of “performance sedan” is borderline oxymoronic, but I understand that some people are okay with back seats and four doors and all that.
I empathize. And, with empathy, I can say that buying a Lexus ES never seems to be a bad choice.
2019 Lexus ES. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Stance & Style
The new ES is longer (by 2.6 inches), lower (by .2 inches), and wider (by 1.8 inches) than before. The wheels are pushed nearer the corners for a two-inch longer wheelbase and wider tracks front (by .4 inches) and rear (by 1.5 inches). Sure, that will make a car look cooler, but that will get you grip in each direction: forward, side-to-side, and backward.
The seventh-generation ES has a “fast” roofline to emphasize its lower stance and slick aerodynamics. The rear goes for clean and sharply chiseled, with wraparound LED taillamps. The F SPORT models (Lexus’ answer to BMW’s M Division) have a rear spoiler, additional rear badging (natch), and a dark lower valance for a more sporty aspect. Also new are three different wheel designs: a standard 17-inch and two 18-inch wheels for the ES 350 and ES 300h, while the ES 350 F SPORT gets standard 19-inchers.
The new ES still has a bunch of those high reflectance, color-tint over chrome colors that I find quite striking. There are two new shades, Moonbeam Beige Metallic and Sunlit Green. F SPORT models get an exclusive Ultra Sonic Blue Mica 2.0 color.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Interior Treatments
The interior of the new ES is actually pretty flashy. The driver’s focus is kept on the road by placing the center display screen, instrument panel, and available heads-up display in a tight arrangement and in the driver’s field of view. Front passengers get an open and spacious environment, and despite the sleeker exterior roofline, rear passengers get plenty of comfort thanks to a lower hip point and a carefully configured headliner.
The cabin trim is an all-new kind of metallic finish developed to mimic the look of a traditional Japanese sword. They call it “Hadori” aluminum trim, and it has this groovy wave pattern to give it a three-dimensional appearance. The standard ES 350 and ES 300h will offer materials like Matte Bamboo, Linear Dark Mocha, and Linear Espresso wood to give the ES a hand-crafted appearance luxury buyers expect.
Tech & Safety
Contained within all this cool Japanese swordplay interior is enough tech and entertainment junk to keep a toddler occupied. The seventh-generation ES offers up Apple CarPlay, Siri Eyes Free voice control, and Amazon Alexa. There’s on-board Wi-Fi as part of the optional navigation system that includes a 12.3-inch wide dashboard display.
There’s also tons of on-board superfluous safety stuff that most blockheads will need.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Chassis & Suspension
The chassis is just as modern and high-tech as one would expect. Pinned to the new GA-K chassis platform are various grades of high-tensile steel to reduce weight, an all-new multi-link rear suspension, and rack-mounted electric power steering. F SPORT models offer an Adaptive Variable Suspension with adjustable dampers at each corner with 650 levels of damping.
Power & Performance
All ES 350s are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that develops 302 horsepower and 267 lb-ft. of torque, both a bump from previous models. The ES 350 gets a new eight-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission that uses an ultra-thin torque converter and a multi-plate lock up clutch to efficiently transfer power to the front wheels (sadly).
The ES 300h comes with Lexus’ fourth-gen hybrid drive system, combining an Atkinson cycle 2.5-liter four-banger with a lighter, more compact, more power dense electric motor and self-charging hybrid system. Add those up, and you get 215 total system horsepower and a preliminary estimate of 44 mpg combined.
Pricing & Availability
The 2019 Lexus ES goes on sale this September with pricing info due closer to that time.
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. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
Photos & Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/inside-the-2019-lexus-es-can-it-compete-with-germany/

2018 Audi TT RS: Most Powerful TT Yet

2018 Audi TT RS: Most Powerful TT Yet

Remember when the Audi TT hit the scene? It was hard not to notice it, and the worst charge that could be leveled against it, was that the Audi TT was “inoffensive.” Say what you want about it, at least it stood out from the crowd of sport coupes. But now, Audi’s TT looks like this. It’s all angles and sharp lines and comes across as some sort of distant echo of what a Korean car company will do next year.
Unfortunately, the all-new 2018 Audi TT RS is a rather fast car.
I say unfortunately, because it’s always hard to ignore, if not outright covet fast cars. Even if they’re ugly. Okay, so maybe implying the 2018 TT is ugly is a bit of a stretch, but it sure ain’t beautiful.
Eye Of The Beholder
Audi says this about how their new car looks: “The design of the new TT RS features the same timeless lines of the original TT coupe coupled with reinterpreted sporty elements that harken back the vehicle’s racing heritage.” Yeah, no. It looks nothing like the original TT. The first Gen TT was all curvilinear forms and arcs; rounded planes where all over the surfaces.
This new thing? It says “generic sports coupe” from almost every angle. Besides those four rings on the grille, how am I supposed to tell if this is an Audi? At any rate, this is all subjective, but what underpins this crumpled-paper-look exterior makes for a pretty impressive car.
The 2018 Audi TT RS features 19-inch, five-arm design Galvano silver wheels with summer performance tires. Also available are 20-inch, seven-spoke-design, Galvano silver forged wheels with summer tires. Other styling elements include standard LED headlights with LED daytime running lights. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Power & Performance
Nestled beneath the hood sits a new 2.5-liter TFSI five-cylinder engine. Sadly, this is not the same amazingly strong and powerful five-banger that Audi handed over to the Rorhls and Moutons of this world (and also stuck in the first gen S6, an overlooked, yet fantastic ride). Nope, this is an all-new plant but it makes the 2018 Audi TT RS the most powerful production TT ever.
The all-new five-pot produces 400 horsepower and 354 lb-ft. of torque at all four corners. Audi ladled on the lightweight aluminum to reduce internal friction and increase power delivery, so max torque is available between 1,700 and 5,850 rpm. Mmmmm, broad-shouldered.
The new engine is less than 20 inches in length, which strikes me as being really short and compact. It also tips the scales 57 pounds lighter than the previous generation’s engine. They shaved off more than 40 pounds alone by making the upper portion of the oil pan from magnesium and the engine block from aluminum. The crankshaft is also lighter and smaller than its predecessor.
Couple this engine with a traction control system specifically calibrated for the new TT RS and you get a 0 to 60 sprint mph in 3.6 seconds. Top (track) speed is 155 mph. Or, if you’re like us here at Automoblog, you go with the optional Dynamic plus package and that top end is moved all the way up to 174 mph. Rumor has it that our Editor-in-Chief and Founder Chris Burdick is able to get from the Brandenburg Gate to Wannsee and back in less than an hour in the new TT.
The 2018 Audi TT RS features the automaker’s distinctive engine sound. At the rear of the vehicle sit two large signature oval tailpipes – or the optional RS sport exhaust with black oval tailpipes. The unique 1-2-4-5-3 ignition sequence, which allows the ignition to alternate between adjacent cylinders and those further apart, gives the TT RS its signature sound. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.

Turbo Tactics
Things get interesting around the blower of the 2018 TT. For starters, it’s a large BorgWarner turbocharger. Curious that Audi went with BW in the first place, but also curious they went with a single, “large” unit. This was Audi’s practice back in the Groupe B days, and while it does simplify things, it can cause substantial turbo lag. The big BorgWarner turbocharger shoves air into the combustion chambers at up to 19.6 psi (or 1.35 bar, if you measure that way).
No wonder this thing cranks out 400 ponies, huh? To combat the dreaded turbo lag there’s the Audi valvelift system. The AVS changes the duration of the exhaust valve opening, depending on the throttle and engine speeds, meaning it sends more air outbound to keep the turbo spinning happily.
Transmission & Drivetrain
Gear selection is handled by a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission. The 2018 TT RS now offers a launch control program that allows a “heightened level of acceleration” via an automated clutch release. A “heightened level of acceleration” . . . that’s a laugh riot, ain’t it?
The 2018 Audi TT RS has a fully integrated Audi drive select system with four discrete drive modes: comfort, auto, dynamic, and individual. Each mode allows you to change gear shift points, steering, throttle response, and damper control.
Obviously, the TT RS comes standard with Audi’s signature quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. And, just like the days of old, when Audi was kicking butt and taking names on the world rally stages of the early 80s, the quattro system constantly adjusts the distribution of torque to maximize grip and control. I’ve personally messed with quattros with the left rear in gravel, while the right front was in a puddle the size of a kiddie-pool. The thing took off with such ferocity it elicited Elisabeth Kübler-Ross levels of mortal reflection.
The available RS fixed sport suspension for the 2018 Audi TT RS, included in the Dynamic plus package, offers a stiffer ride for enhanced performance. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Suspension & Braking
Out back there’s a four-link rear suspension and at the nose, a McPherson front suspension with forged aluminum lower control arms. Magnetic ride shock absorbers are standard. The steering rack is designed so the steering ratio becomes increasingly direct as you turn to provide more precise road feedback.
Stopping is accomplished via two optional brake systems on the new TT RS. The standard setup is an eight-piston monobloc brake caliper affair with 370mm ventilated and cross-drilled discs at the front. If you really want to stop, there are available front carbon-ceramic brake discs with Anthracite Gray painted calipers as part of the Dynamic plus package. The carbon-ceramic brakes are more than 8 lbs. lighter than the traditional cast-iron rotors and offer increased resistance to brake fade.
That is, from a technical and performance standpoint, a lot to like in a car. Even if you can’t get past the styling, you’ll probably end up passing most everything else on the bahn anyway. The 2018 Audi TT RS launches this spring with an MSRP of $64,900.
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: Audi of America, Inc.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2018-audi-tt-rs-most-powerful-tt-yet/

2017 New York: The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon unleashed--Quick Rundown

2017 New York: The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon unleashed--Quick Rundown It’s the most powerful muscle car ever and is so freakin’ fast, it’s banned by the NHRA.

What’s going on?
The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. That’s what the hell is going on (see what I did there?). And Dodge finally unleashed the beast this evening ahead of the New York International Auto Show Press days.
We’re not going to muck about: it’s absolutely bonkers. There’s a lot you need to know, but here’s a quick rundown of what’s important:
Engine
6.2L HEMI Supercharged Demon V8
Horsepower: 840 (on racing gas)
Torque: 770 pound-feet

Transmission
A seriously beefed-up ZF-sourced eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic
Performance
0-30 mph: 1.0 second
0-60 mph: 2.3 seconds
Quarter-mile: 9.65 seconds at 140 mph
There’s plenty more to know. But these are the most pertinent specs of the latest Dodge Challenger SRT Demon.
Stay tuned for more!
– By: Chris Chin
2017 New York – Dodge Challenger SRT Demon Gallery

The post 2017 New York: The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon unleashed–Quick Rundown appeared first on egmCarTech.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2017-new-york-the-dodge-challenger-srt-demon-unleashed-quick-rundown/

Lotus Evora Sport 410 GP Edition: Mario, Your Car is Ready

Lotus Evora Sport 410 GP Edition: Mario, Your Car is Ready

Ooo baby! Would you look at that! The all-new Lotus Evora 410 GP Edition, decked out in black and gold. All bridled and saddled and ready to go. My desire is very strong for this version of this car, which I would not normally say. For starters, I’ve always had a problem with the Lotus Evora. It’s that +1 seating option in back of the two front seats. Yes, yes I do realize that Lotus has made 2+2s in the past. The Lotus Eclat, for example. And I also fully recognize that cars like the Lotus Eclat are, by and large, horrible mistakes.
Especially for a company like Lotus.
Colorful Expressions
Also, I try to stay away from black with gold color schemes. I loved it, absolutely loved it when Colin Chapman painted his cars in John Player Special cigarette livery and handed them over to people like Emerson Fittipaldi to club Jackie Stewart with. But then the cheap imitators latched onto it, and next thing you know, black with gold was being applied to everything from “theme” custom vans to those horrid black and gold Pontiac Trans Ams, and handed over to that equally horrid quarter-talent Burt Reynolds.
Ruined it, just ruined it.
All that said, I would really like to get my hands on one of these, at least for a week or a weekend, or if not forever. From what I gather, the Lotus Evora, despite design compromises, is a pretty fun car to drive. It is, as many people have told me, “like a little bit bigger Elise with a much bigger engine.” Which sounds just great. And most of the people who told me were Elise owners, not Evora owners.
This particular Evora model is the work of Lotus Exclusive, the fine folks from Hethel that work on the higher end, bespoke stuff. The Evora Sport 410 GP Edition indeed honors Team Lotus’ iconic John Player Special F1 color scheme that was raced between 1972 and 1986 – from the crushingly effective Lotus 72 and the gorgeous and truly groundbreaking Lotus 79, to the momentarily fast Lotus 98T. Seriously, that 98T was the car they coined the term “grenade engine” for. They could squeeze around 1,200 to 1,300 horsepower out of that 1.5 liter engine for about two laps then kaBLAMMMO! Ayrton or Elio or whoever would splatter it all over the tarmac from Estoril to Jacarepaguá.
The 98T was a great car for qualifying, but sadly, only had the life expectancy of a random guy in a red shirt on the Starship Enterprise.
Photo: Group Lotus plc.
Feather Dusting
Other than the paint job, the Evora Sport 410 GP Edition is pretty much just like every other Evora you could buy, but it comes with all the lightness goodies as standard. It scales out at 2,910 lbs. which is fairly light these days (” . . . but could still be lighter!” I hear the ghost of Colin Chapman shriek). All that wonderful, wonderful lightness is accomplished by looking after all the little details. The Evora uses the now-standard Lotus practice of a hydroformed aluminum architecture, which delivers very high torsional rigidity at very low weight. And, as one would expect, the Evora also has carbon fiber everywhere. From the front splitter on the nose to the revised front access panel, roof section, tailgate, rear quarter panels, and the rear diffuser out back, it’s carbon fiber, carbon fiber, carbon fiber.
Other weight savers include the lithium-ion battery for 23.8 lbs., the ultra-lightweight forged wheels for 15.9 lbs., and a new lightweight windscreen surround for 7.5 lbs. They all total up to 132 lbs. of overall weight reduction.
Not only does this make things lighter overall, but it also lowers the center of gravity. So you get better ride and handling and less mass. And that lead Lotus to recalibrate the suspension and revise the total chassis setup, improving wheel geometry and the dampers. The ride height has been dropped by 5 mm so you get better body and roll control for even sharper, more direct handling.
Photo: Group Lotus plc.

Power & Performance
The Evora Sport 410 is powered by an integrated water-to-air cooled, supercharged, 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine, cranking out 400 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 301 lb-ft. of torque at 3,500 rpm. This gives you a nice, broad RPM powerband to play with. Said mill is joined to a standard six-speed manual gearbox, which features a low-inertia flywheel and a Torsen-type limited slip differential for greater traction in the corners. There’s an optional six-speed automatic transmission with a dedicated ECU for fast changes and sequential gear selection via lightweight aluminum paddles mounted to the steering wheel.
Besides your right foot, all that power is controlled via a trio of user selectable ESP driving modes: Drive, Sport, and Race. There’s also an “Off” mode, but to me, that doesn’t really count as a mode. The ESP driving mode thingy proportionally increases throttle response, lowers traction thresholds, and removes understeer recognition. The ESP allows progressive degrees of driver control before the system intervenes. So rather than Drive, Sport, Race, and Off, you could also think of it as Nun, Mom, Nanny, and “Absolutely no adult supervision whatsoever!”
Pricing & Availability
And now, the bad news . . .
Lotus is only going to make a global production run of 150 vehicles per year of the Evora Sport 410, and here’s where it gets really bad: The MSRP, excluding taxes, is $104,200 and $110,000 for Lotus Evora Sport 410 GP Edition. Shoot. Ah well, used Elise prices are still pretty reasonable though.
Oh, and if by Mario you thought I meant a character from a pixelated Nintendo game, I will find you, and our conversation will not be long, and it will not be pretty.
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: Group Lotus plc

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/lotus-evora-sport-410-gp-edition-mario-your-car-is-ready/