Automotive

2019 Genesis G70: Korean Sport Sedan Goes Head-to-Head with Established German Marquees

2019 Genesis G70: Korean Sport Sedan Goes Head-to-Head with Established German Marquees Many people say the sport sedan is dead but Hyundai’s luxury subsidiary Genesis thinks otherwise. The 2019 Genesis G70 is the third and final sedan in the Genesis lineup, yet the third of six brand new models that are slated to debut by 2021.
But unlike the flagship G90 and midsize G80, the 2019 Genesis G70 is bred and engineered to deliver a sportier and more athletic driving feel. I found this interesting since the 2019 Genesis G70 has a longer wheelbase (111.6-inches) than the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Overall length is also on the larger end of the scale compared to the German marquees at 184.5-inches. This tells me the 2019 Genesis G70 will offer driver-focused performance without ruffling your tail feathers.
The Proof is in the Pudding
The new Genesis G70 was engineered by design and is equipped with the stiffest body structures in its class, according to the automaker.
“The foundation for any kind of car that performs well dynamically is an incredibly rigid platform,” said Albert Biermann, President and Head of Vehicle Performance, Hyundai Motor Group. “That translates not only to performance, but how it feels down the road as well as safety achievement levels.”
The strategic use of aluminum for the hood and strut tower reinforcement bars enables the G70 to have a lower center of gravity. The car also benefits from an integrated frame that drastically reduces the number of physical parts needed to reinforce the chassis.
“The proof is in how G70 handles on a spirited drive, whether that’s early on a Sunday morning on a hilly, country road or on a daily commute to the office,” Biermann continued. “We used high-strength steel, aerospace-grade adhesives, and strategic lightening with aluminum to create the ideal balance of stiffness and competitiveness.”
The result of all this is telepathic steering, sportier handling, and better driving dynamics. The rigid body structure and longer wheelbase also equates to a smoother ride.
Photo: Genesis Motor America, LLC.
Exterior Design
Genesis designed the 2019 G70 under the company’s Athletic Elegance ethos. The new saloon has the widest overall stance and lowest overall height in the segment. The kinetic form factor of the exterior panels was enough to return a sleek and aerodynamic 0.28 coefficient of drag. If you slap on the more aggressive 19-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires, the coefficient of drag is still a slippery 0.29.
So far, it seems Genesis created a recipe for a truly scintillating dish. Stiff and rigid chassis? Check. Aerodynamic body design? Check. So, what’s next?
Power to the People
The 2019 Genesis G70 can be configured with a 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected 4-cylinder gasoline motor with 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. of torque. This engine benefits from a smaller turbine wheel, motor-driven intake variable valve timing system, and a two-stage relief oil pump to improve low end torque and engine power.
The crème of the crop is the 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged and direct-injected V6 motor that churns out 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft. of torque. Curiously enough, both motors can be found in the Kia Stinger. The V6 motor is equipped with a single scroll, twin turbo system, integrated exhaust manifold cylinder head, a dual-stage variable oil pump, and the Mid Position Lock Continuously Variable Valve Train system (MPL CVVT) to improve engine response and efficiency.
Photo: Genesis Motor America, LLC.
Transmission Tech
Transferring power to the rear wheels is the standard eight-speed automatic with rev-matching and gear-holding technology. All-wheel drive is an option for either engine. A mechanical limited-slip differential is standard on the 3.3 (rear-wheel drive) and optional on the 2.0 (also rear-wheel drive).
What’s interesting is the availability of a six-speed manual transmission on the 2.0 turbo, rear-wheel drive. If you choose the manual, your G70 will also come with high-performance Brembo brakes, higher horsepower output (255 versus 252 for the automatic variant), a special exhaust, and additional weight reduction features.
Other go-fast and performance-enhancing goodies include launch control, a rack-mounted and motor-driven power steering system, and Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control so you can attack corners like Mika Hakkinen on steroids.
Availability
What we have here is an exciting and equally luxurious sports saloon that will give the Alfa Romeo Giulia, BMW 3-Series, and Audi A4 a serious run for the money. You can expect the 2019 Genesis G70 to arrive at U.S. dealerships this summer.
Alvin Reyes is the Associate Editor of Automoblog. He studied civil aviation, aeronautics, and accountancy in his younger years and is still very much smitten to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He also likes fried chicken, music, and herbal medicine.
2019 Genesis G70 Gallery

Photos & Source: Genesis Motor America, LLC.

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GM Breaks Ground On New Parts Processing Facility In Burton, Michigan

GM Breaks Ground On New Parts Processing Facility In Burton, Michigan General Motors Customer Care and Aftersales recently broke ground on a new ACDelco and Genuine GM Parts processing center in Burton, Michigan. The site, a vacant 141-acre lot near the intersections of Genesee and Davison roads in the City of Burton, is GM’s single largest investment in a warehousing and logistics facility in the United States in nearly 40 years.
The processing center will see a $65 million investment from the automaker.
Forward Looking
When it opens early next year, the facility will serve as the main induction point in the United States for ACDelco and Genuine GM service parts. Once there, the parts will be unitized and packaged, ultimately ending up in service departments and dealerships around the country for use on a variety of GM and other vehicles.
The Burton facility will also mirror many of the objectives proposed in GM’s most recent sustainability report.
“GM is executing a focused and disciplined strategy to improve our core business and position the company for the future, guided by our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion,” explained Tim Turvey, GM Global Vice President, Customer Care and Aftersales. “Our new facility in Burton will help us deliver that future.”
Upward Expansion
At over a million square feet of floor space, the facility will be more than double the size of the GM’s existing parts processing center. Once completed, it will have 84 shipping and receiving docks, up from 35 at the current facility. Close to 700 hourly and salaried team members will make up the staff. After the closure of the existing center on Davison Road in Burton, employees will transfer to the new location.
NorthPoint Development will build the facility and lease it to GM for an initial term of 12.5 years.
“Projects like this only become a reality when you have great teamwork and true collaboration, like we have with the City of Burton, the UAW, and NorthPoint Development,” Turvey said.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photo & Source: General Motors.

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Volvo Inaugurates First U.S. Manufacturing Plant, Doubles Down On Environmental Initiatives

Volvo Inaugurates First U.S. Manufacturing Plant, Doubles Down On Environmental Initiatives Volvo has inaugurated their first manufacturing plant in the United States, a new state-of-the-art production facility in Charleston, South Carolina. The plant is central for Volvo’s “Build Where You Sell” strategy, establishing a manufacturing presence in all three of the company’s major sales regions. Volvo says the new South Carolina facility nicely compliments the company’s three European plants – two manufacturing, one engine – plus three factories and an engine plant in China, and assembly plants in India and Malaysia.
“The opening of our first American factory is a very big deal,” said Anders Gustafsson, President and CEO, Volvo Car USA. “Our U.S. business is developing well, our cars have won prestigious awards, and the new South Carolina facility will be a big asset to both Volvo Cars and the community.”
Home Team
Volvo Cars is investing over a billion dollars in the South Carolina plant to create 4,000 new jobs during the coming years. The site includes an office building for up to 300 staff from R&D, purchasing, quality, and sales. Approximately 1,500 will be employed by the end of this year, just as production of the new S60 is beginning. The plant can produce 150,000 cars per year at full capacity.
“The Charleston plant establishes the U.S. as our third home market,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive, Volvo Cars. “The sedan segment and the SPA platform’s proven ability to boost profitability offer significant growth opportunities for Volvo Cars in the U.S. and globally.”
Photo: Volvo Car Group.
Environmental Focus
Volvo also wants at least 25 percent of the plastic used in every new model to come via recycled material from 2025 onward. Volvo has already unveiled a specially-built version of the XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid that looks identical to the current model, but has several of its plastic components replaced with recycled materials.
The vehicle’s interior has a tunnel console made from renewable fibres, plastics from discarded fishing nets, and maritime ropes. The carpet contains fibers made from PET plastic bottles and a recycled cotton mix from clothing manufacturers’ off-cuts. The seats also use PET fibers from plastic bottles; seats from old Volvo cars were even re-purposed for sound-absorbing material.
“Environmental care is one of Volvo’s core values and we will continue to find new ways to bring this into our business,” Samuelsson said. “This car and our recycled plastics ambition are further examples of that commitment.”
This purpose-built XC60 contains a number of recycled components. Photo: Volvo Car Group.
Collaborative Effort
Volvo is urging suppliers to work closely with automakers to develop a more sustainable approach to manufacturing.
“We already work with some great, forward-thinking suppliers when it comes to sustainability,” explained Martina Buchhauser, Senior Vice President of Global Procurement, Volvo Cars. “However, we do need increased availability of recycled plastics if we are to make our ambition a reality.”
Volvo is also pushing for climate-neutral operations by 2025, and in January, the engine plant in Skövde, Sweden became the company’s first such facility.
“That is why we call on even more suppliers and new partners to join us in investing in recycled plastics and to help us realize our ambition,” Buchhauser added.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Volvo’s South Carolina Plant Gallery

Photos & Source: Volvo Car Group.

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Bricks And Bones: The Indy 500 Is Pure Righteousness: A Prologue

Bricks And Bones: The Indy 500 Is Pure Righteousness: A Prologue Tony Borroz is attending the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 28th, 2017. This series, Bricks And Bones, explores the cultural significance, endearing legacy, and the nitty-gritty phenomenon of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Conflicting Emotions
I’m sitting in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport, between here and there, between desert and farmland, between my glowering past and my immediate future. I am calm, but my mind seems to be screaming out in a thousand different directions at once. Everyone seems to be saying I should be feeling happy or excited or sad or tired or respectful or lonely, but I’m all of those things and none of them all at the same time.
At the moment I am still. Waiting through this interminable layover, waiting for my connecting flight between here and there.
Frequent Fear
My mind, and a notional team of psychiatrists would imply that, in my given emotional state outside of “work” (which this is), peace and serenity would be good goals to pursue. Instead, I am anxious to stuff myself into an alloy tube controlled by overworked, overtired, yet overpaid former-military hotshots; worked by over-glorified wait staff that seem to have no compunction these days from physically and emotionally abusing you for the slightest infractions like airborne Stassi martinets.
Powerful Prelude
I should be still . . . be still . . . be still; seek out an extended period of immobility, but right now, what I am most anxious for is speed, and lots of it. I need to wad myself into an alloy tube and be blasting through the thin air at .84 Mach. I am going to need velocity and quickness, pace, and swiftness.
I am going to The Indy 500.
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.
*To be continued. Bricks And Bones is an Automoblog original series with forthcoming installments during the days leading up to, and following the Indianapolis 500.
Cover Photo: 1915 Indianapolis 500, courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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Report: General Motors is under fire for accusations of diesel-emissions test cheating

Report: General Motors is under fire for accusations of diesel-emissions test cheating It seems the crackdown on cheating diesel emissions tests isn’t over and moves on to General Motors.

What’s going on?
Just when you thought the dust (soot?) was beginning to settle in the wake of Volkswagen’s TDI diesel-emissions cheating scandal, aka “dieselgate,” a class-action lawsuit was just filed against General Motors for similar accusations.
Like rubbing salt in the wound, this adds another layer of legal troubles for General Motors, following its largest recall for faulty ignition switches. So far, GM paid out roughly $2.5 billion in penalties and settlements.
What’s the suit about?
According to AutoBlog, the lawsuit alleges that more than 705,000 Duramax diesel-powered Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups from 2011 to 2016 model years produced two to five times more NOx pollutants than legally allowed. The lawsuit itself is seeking refunds or reimbursement for lost vehicle values and punitive damages.
GM spokesman, Dan Flores, declared the accusations as “baseless,” citing the trucks’ compliance with US Environmental Protection Agency emissions requirements. Flores also emphasized the trucks’ ability to meet California’s strict diesel standards.
It should also be noted that the Duramax trucks come equipped with urea-injection systems. Those system inject Diesel Exhaust Fluid into the catalytic converter to significantly reduce NOx emissions.
The never-ending story
General Motors is the fifth automaker to undergo scrutiny for its diesel passenger vehicles. They join Volkswagen, Daimler, Peugeot, Renault, and FCA. The latest lawsuit against GM is not much different. Further detailed allegations point to the use of emissions test “defeat devices.” That forces the truck’s engine computer to run at a different state than in real-world conditions under testing, thus falsifying results.
More as it develops…
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutoBlog

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BREAKING: The new BMW 8-Series is back after a 17-year hiatus and this is it in concept form

BREAKING: The new BMW 8-Series is back after a 17-year hiatus and this is it in concept form After many rumors and teasers, BMW finally revealed its hotly anticipated 8-Series coupe revival in concept form….and just look at it!

What’s going?
The BMW 8-Series is back baby and Munich’s finest just unveiled a concept for the world to see on the Interwebs. Set for a debut at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este show, the new 8-Concept previews a new large, grand tourer luxury coupe from Bavaria. And we couldn’t be any more excited.
The original BMW 8-Series ended production in 1999. Since then, the BMW 6-Series revival took the role of providing buyers with a large, 2+2 grand touring coupe option. But the 6-Series just wasn’t enough and it wasn’t the same, especially with competitors from Mercedes-Benz, like the S-Class Coupe. Lexus also has the new LC500, which laid even more pressure on BMW to make a larger, grand tourer.
“The BMW Concept 8 Series is our take on a full-blooded high-end driving machine,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW Group Design’s senior vice president. “It is a luxurious sports car which embodies both unadulterated dynamics and modern luxury like arguably no other. For me, it’s a slice of pure automotive fascination.”
BMW’s new flagship

Due for a full launch in 2018, the BMW 8-Series Concept is in near-production form, meaning what you see here is what you’ll likely get when it hits showrooms. There will be some changes to meet regulatory and safety requirements.
Overall, the new BMW 8-Series takes inspiration from the Vision Future Luxury Concept showcased at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show. Other tidbits also resemble styling cues from the Pininfarina-styled Grand Lusso Coupe Concept. There are also some hints of BMW i8 in the 8-Series Concept, particularly with the rear three-quarter panel and shoulder line. Altogether, it is very pleasant for the eyes.
The same sentiments carry over for the insides. Both suave and contemporary, the complete interior comes jam-packed with technology. A total of three massive digital screens are visible, hinting at the use of gesture and touchscreen interfaces. We can’t imagine the steering wheel will pass safety requirements. But the rest of the interior appears to also be nearly production ready.
Spearheading razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury
BMW didn’t specify what powers the new 8-Series Concept. But we imagine it involves some sort of internal combustion engine, mated to some transmission, driving the rear or all four wheels.
It might be a while until we learn of such details. So stay tuned for that.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: BMW
2017 BMW Concept 8 Gallery

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2018 Acura TLX Arrives With New Styling, A-Spec Option

2018 Acura TLX Arrives With New Styling, A-Spec Option

The Acura TLX, refreshed for 2018, goes on sale June 1st. Acura says it’s more sporty and alluring to better indicate the brand’s new design direction. In addition to a little nip here and a little tuck there, expect an all-new TLX A-Spec variant with new premium features. Acura has also added AcuraWatch as standard equipment on all TLX models, plus the current suite of advanced safety and driver-assist tech.
What’s In A Name?
Before we dive into the minutiae here, let me just say that “TLX” is a pretty horrid name for a car. It’s not even a name. It’s three, seemingly random letters affixed to the car and left at that. What does it stand for? Total Luxury Experimental? Tricky Looking X-ray? No, what it stands for is, “we’re completely bereft of ideas and have no style.”
So, for 2018, Acura’s TLX gets a mid-cycle face lift. You get some sheet metal that’s been updated here and there, a few new bits and bobs, a new engine variant, but overall, not much to distinguish it from the previous versions. That will come soon, when a full update hits the street. For now, the 2018 TLX gets a redesigned dual-screen user interface, a new 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay compatibility.
2018 Acura TLX V6 A-Spec models. Photo: Acura.
Vehicle Treatments
The design refresh for 2018 highlights Acura’s diamond pentagon grille, and takes other design cues from the Acura Precision Concept. Acura says it “boasts an alluring new style,” but ultimately that will be up to the buying public to decide. The hood is more sharply sculpted along with the front fenders for a more aggressive and sporty front and rear. They point out the “signature 5-lamp Jewel Eye LED headlights,” which is a silly name for a fussy over-design. There are also new alloy wheels, so that’s a plus.
All TLX V6 models get a new rear diffuser with exposed dual-exhaust outlets. The Technology Package adds a chrome side sill garnish, comfy leather seats with high-contrast stitching and piping, and a power-operated driver’s seat thigh extension. The Advance Package has new features such as trapezoidal LED fog lights, a Surround View camera system, a built-in wireless charging pad, and white LED ambient interior light piping. The steering wheel is heated along with the rear outboard seats. You also get power-folding side mirrors and a new body-colored decklid spoiler.
2018 Acura TLX V6 A-Spec. Photo: Acura.

A-Spec Highlights
The 2018 TLX V6 A-Spec aims to be the performer of the bunch. Styling-wise, the A-Spec gets a unique matte-black diamond pentagon grille with a dark chrome surround. There’s a more aggressive lower front fascia with a broad center air intake flanked by round LED fog lights. The A-Spec wears exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels in Shark Gray paint with 245-series tires.
These fit nicely with the flared side sills, giving a more athletic and planted stance. Out back, there’s a gloss-black decklid spoiler, smoked LED taillights, rear fascia with a lower diffuser, and 4-inch round dual exhaust finishers. The side window surrounds are matte-black, and there’s A-Spec badging on the front fenders and rear decklid.
On the inside, the A-Spec gets more aggressively bolstered front seats with high-contrast stitching and piping, plus red LED ambient light – I’m guessing for that U-Boat look to go along with the red driver’s meter highlights. The headliner is black as is the pillar treatment, all of which contrasts with the brushed aluminum-look instrument panel garnish. A-Spec buyers also get an exclusive, thick-rimmed steering wheel with A-Spec badging.
2018 Acura TLX V6 A-Spec. Photo: Acura.
Performance & Pricing
Overall grip is up thanks to Michelin Primacy 245/40R19 tires. The electric power steering system and damper settings have been retuned. If you go for the SH-AWD on your A-Spec, you’ll get a quicker steering ratio, stiffer spring rate, and a rear stabilizer bar for improved body control. The new 2018 TLX 2.4L starts at $33,000 while the V6 models start at $36,200; the TLX V6 A-Spec starts at $42,800. The charts below from Acura show more details.
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.
2.4-liter TLX:
Newly styled front fascia, hood and front fenders
Restyled Jewel Eye™ LED headlights with auto on/off and auto high beam
LED daytime running lights and turn signals
Dark Burl/Acoustic wood interior appliques
ODMD 2.0 user interface with capacitive touchscreen
Apple CarPlay compatibility
Android Auto compatibility
Sirius XM 2.0
Full-color TFT driver’s meter
New 17″ 10-spoke alloy wheels
AcuraWatch™ suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies (now standard)
2.4-liter Technology Package (adds to TLX 2.4L):
Navigation
HD Radio with Digital Traffic
3.5-liter V6 (adds to 2.4-liter TLX):
New rear fascia design with chrome accents
Exposed dual exhausts outlets
Rear diffuser
3.5-liter V6 TLX Technology Package (adds to TLX V6):
Navigation
HD Radio with Digital Traffic
New seat styling with high-contrast stitching and piping
Driver’s seat power-operated thigh extender
Chrome side sill garnish
NEW: 3.5-liter V6 TLX A-Spec (adds to TLX V6 Technology Package):
   A-Spec exclusive exterior styling and trim
   A-Spec exclusive interior styling and trim
   Round LED Fog Lights
   New 19″ split 5-spoke alloy wheels
   Flush-mounted front and rear parking sensors (+2 front sensors)
   Gloss black rear decklid spoiler
   Increased front seat bolstering
   Red driver’s meter highlights
   Red LED ambient light piping – 10 locations
   Wireless charging pad
   Ventilated front seats
3.5-liter V6 TLX Advance Package (adds to TLX V6 Technology Package):
Surround View Camera System
Trapezoidal LED fog lights
Flush-mounted front and rear parking sensors (+2 front sensors)
Body-colored decklid spoiler
New 18″ 15-spoke alloy wheels
Power folding side mirrors
Heated steering wheel
Heated rear outboard seats
Heated windshield
White LED ambient light piping – 10 locations
Wireless charging pad
Ventilated front seats
2018 Acura TLX Pricing and EPA Ratings
Model
Trim Name
Trans
EPA Ratings2(city, highway, combined)
MSRP1
TLX

TLX 2.4L
8DCT3
23 / 33 / 27
$33,000
TLX 2.4L with Technology Package
8DCT
23 / 33/ 27
$36,700
TLX V6

TLX 3.5L
9AT
20 / 32 / 24
$36,200
TLX 3.5L with Technology Package
9AT
20 / 32 / 24
$39,900
TLX 3.5L A-Spec
9AT
20 / 30 / 23
$42,800
TLX 3.5L with Advance Package
9AT
20 / 32 / 24
$43,750
TLX 3.5L SH-AWD
9AT
21 / 30 / 24
$38,200
TLX 3.5L SH-AWD with Technology Package
9AT
21 / 30 / 24
$41,900
TLX 3.5L SH-AWD A-Spec
9AT
20 / 29 / 23
$44,800
TLX 3.5L SH-AWD with Advance Package
9AT
21 / 30 / 24
$45,750

2018 Acura TLX Gallery

Photos & Source: Acura.

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Michigan Based Company Building The Promised Autonomous Future

Michigan Based Company Building The Promised Autonomous Future

In 2009, I was coming home from a sales meeting in Minneapolis-St.Paul with my co-workers from Sioux Falls Ford. We sustained a rear impact in a road construction zone on I-35; the truck that hit us was traveling too fast and didn’t see us stopped in traffic. The blunt force caused us to side swipe the vehicle ahead of us as we plummeted towards the ditch.
Thankfully, nobody was seriously hurt but the experience has always stuck with me. I still get nervous when cars come upon me quickly.
Challenges & Promises
With autonomous vehicles on the horizon, there is a not only a promise, but a strong possibility accidents of this nature – of any nature – will cease. Yet, there remains an elephant in the room. My emotions on autonomous driving are mixed but I am optimistic, believing the people working on such technology have their hearts in the right place. So I will be enthusiastic and favorable in describing this elephant as small, but an elephant in the room is still an elephant in the room.
AutoSens has officially kicked off here in Detroit, Michigan, an insightful event dedicated to autonomous driving and vehicle perception technology. The occasion will serve as a meeting point for engineers, connecting them to one another in a setting that showcases the latest academic research, industrial R&D, and OEM insights. AutoSens is taking place at the M1 Concourse, an ideal location with its 1.5-mile racetrack and showroom facilities.
Photo: Carl Anthony for Automoblog.
Reservations & Relief
There are lots of challenges facing the successful implementation of autonomous driving, as AutoSens will examine, those challenges can only be addressed when the engineers invested in this technology are in the same room. The technical and logistical challenges of autonomous driving are many, but this one is quite high on the list. Here’s that elephant in the room: what if it doesn’t work; what if my car doesn’t react in time? What if that sensor fails, that camera breaks, and what if my car crashes anyway?
I was fortunate enough to demo a fully autonomous car at AutoSens. Without any reservation, I felt safe. I didn’t feel like we were going to hit the wall on the track at the M1 Concourse. I chatted with the other attendees in the car and marveled at how well it accelerated, braked, and handled. The driverless car was a new Ford Fusion, outfitted with the latest autonomous technology from Dataspeed Inc., a Rochester Hills, Michigan company.
Hazy Shades of Winter
I sometimes believe if I asked Mattel’s famous Magic 8-Ball what the autonomous world is going to look like – you know, the better infrastructure, zero accidents, the whole nine – the little triangle would bounce back saying “reply hazy, try again” or “cannot predict now.”
And that children’s toy from the 1950s would be right. We just don’t entirely know what’s going to happen, but Dataspeed’s mission is straightforward, despite the uncertainty. “We bring you the future you were always promised” reads their vision statement, inspired by Founder Paul Fleck’s cousin Mary, the victim of a terrible traffic accident. With safety at the forefront, Fleck formed Dataspeed in 2008 in the epicenter of the auto industry.
“We are in the heart of it all,” said Tyffany Baird, Director of Marketing, Dataspeed Inc. “This is the automotive capital of the world and it’s the best place we could possibly be.”
When it comes to making autonomous vehicles function safely in the real world, Michigan’s four seasons make it an ideal proving ground.
“We have varying weather conditions here, from rain and clouds to snow,” Baird said. “We have the ability here to go beyond simulation to provide a real-time test and solution.”
Photo: Carl Anthony for Automoblog.

Powerful Platforms
The Ford Fusion at AutoSens was equipped with Dataspeed’s Advanced Driver Assistant Systems (ADAS) Kit. As the Fusion went around the track at the M1 Concourse, it smoothly and comfortably accelerated, while braking gently into the corners – it was completely seamless. Dataspeed’s ADAS Kit is a development platform, allowing control of the throttle, brake, steering, and shifting, to assist in the testing of sensors and other elements as they relate to autonomous vehicle applications.
“By our kit allowing an engineer to have that kind of control over those components, they can skip all of that,” Baird explained. “We have done that for them, so they can get right to testing whatever it is they want to test, be it everything from LiDAR to emergency braking.”
Technical Prowess
Let’s say I am a researcher and I am developing a particular sensor or algorithm, or maybe even an entire autonomous vehicle system. I contact Dataspeed where the ADAS Kit is installed, including the drive-by-wire hardware, power distribution system, and vehicle network interfaces, so I can continue developing my sensor, algorithm, or autonomous system. Through the implementation of Dataspeed’s kit, I am able to save time and conduct much more efficient testing on what I am developing.
“It can be a custom built design for testing sensors, cameras, GPS, or LiDAR – we have multiple interfaces that our hardware will work with,” Baird said. “It is always up to the engineer regarding what their specific application is, and from there, we accelerate that testing for them.”
Dataspeed’s ADAS Kit is compatible with the Ford Fusion and Mondeo (2017 or newer) and the Lincoln MKZ (2013 or newer). Power features include 12 programmable relay channels and a 600W true sine wave inverter. Interfaces include CAN, dSPACE, RTMaps, and ROS. Dataspeed provides a host of hardware and software with the ADAS Kit, including the throttle, steering, shifting, and brake-by-wire controller modules, wire harnesses, USB joystick, and updates for a year with a maintenance agreement.
“We allow engineers to test what they need on an actual autonomous vehicle, instead of just simulating that in an office environment,” Baird added.
Photo: Carl Anthony for Automoblog.
Faith & Optimism
My autonomous trip around the track at AutoSens proved eye-opening and profitable. Much of the technology is over my head – I wish I could dive into the brains of those engineers – but I am learning. Learning not only how the technology works but that it does, in fact, work. I am hoping for the best with regard to the forthcoming autonomous world, and I want to believe it will deliver on all of its promises, from infrastructure to zero traffic accidents. I have encouraged, as best I can, readers of this publication to not give the autonomous system an entire heap of blind faith, but rather to remain optimistic and prudent in their approach to the technology.
I find it works, at least for me. And after my time on the track with AutoSens and Dataspeed, that elephant in the room is now a little bit smaller.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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2018 Subaru Forester Product & Performance Overview

2018 Subaru Forester Product & Performance Overview

Subaru, the Japanese manufacturer of all things practical, dependable, and inexpensive, no matter the weather, just rolled out the latest details for the 2018 Forester. They also revealed a new trim package, The Black Edition Package, which seems rather snazzy. All in all, this looks to continue the car subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industry’s winning streak since the Forester is Subaru’s best-selling model.
Which is surprising, given the number of Outback station wagons you see in the Pacific Northwest.
Essential Details
Subaru’s 2018 Forester lineup breaks down like this: The 2.5i is available in four trim levels: standard, Premium, Limited, and Touring. All Foresters are at least powered by a 170 horsepower, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine. A 6-speed manual is standard with an optional Lineartronic CVT. And yes, if you find automatic transmissions just a little bit creepy, a continuously variable transmission is really going to give you the willies. They do, however, work.
Just don’t ask me how they work.
If you opt for the Forester 2.0XT, which is available in both Premium and Touring trims, you get a 250 horsepower, 2.0-liter intercooled, turbocharged 4-cylinder boxer plant, and obviously, this is the one we like best at 1 Automoblog Towers. All Foresters come standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, because, duh, it’s a Subaru. All-wheel drive is what they do. It is, in many ways, what separates them from the likes of Nissan and Toyota and makes them really great rally cars right out of the box. Not that we would encourage you to go rally racing down a lonely logging road at insane velocities in the middle of the night, in a rain storm while your navigator whimpers out route instructions.
Oh no. Not us. We’d never encourage you to do that.
Premium Trim
The base level 2018 Foresters start at a reasonable $22,795. The 2018 Forester 2.5i Premium, which Subaru says is “nicely appointed” starts at $25,695. For that, you get a panoramic power moonroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, X- Mode with Hill Descent Control (on models with a CVT), automatic HVAC controls, body color rear roof spoiler, and a 10-way power driver’s seat. There is an All-Weather Package available that includes heated exterior mirrors, heated front seats, and windshield wiper de-icer – that’s standard on Premium and above.
2018 Subaru 2.5i Forester Black Edition. Photo: Subaru of America, Inc.
Black Edition
The new Forester 2.5i Black Edition package is essentially an upgrade from the Premium model. The Black Edition comes with a Lineartronic CVT featuring X-Mode, Hill Descent Control, and LED Steering Responsive Headlights. You also get 18-inch black alloy wheels, fog lights with black accent trim (of course), black finish exterior badges and mirrors (natch), and a front grille with a blacked-out wing motif and chrome frame.
You get a choice of 4 exterior colors: Crystal Black Silica, Dark Gray Metallic, Crystal White Pearl, and Ice Silver Metallic. There is also exclusive black cloth upholstery seats with simulated leather bolsters. The center dash panel has a silver metallic and black gloss finish. The steering wheel and shift handle are leather-wrapped and highlighted with silver stitching, and the interior door handles have a chrome finish. The Black Edition comes standard with the All-Weather Package, rear cargo tray, and Welcome Lighting.
The upgrade is available exclusively on Premium trims and will set you back $1,150, which isn’t bad.
Limited Trim
The Forester Limited upgrades you to a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever handle. There’s perforated leather-trimmed upholstery along with a 10-way power driver’s seat and power lumbar support. Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are standard along with Welcome Lighting.
If you go for the Limited version and tick the EyeSight option, you get High Beam Assist, LED Steering Responsive Headlights, Automatic Low & High Beam Height Adjustment, and Reverse Auto Braking. No, I don’t know what half of those actually do, nor do I fully grok why I would want them, but they’re kind of thrown in with the package.
Cost? The 2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited starts at $29,395.
2018 Subaru 2.5i Forester Black Edition. Photo: Subaru of America, Inc.

Touring Trim
The top-of-the-line Forester Touring models are priced from $33,090, but for that, you get all the goodies Subbie makes. You get 18-inch alloy wheels and body colored exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals. The interior is either Black or Saddle Brown with a 10-way power driver’s seat with two-position memory. Keyless Access with Push-Button Start and heated steering wheel? Check, check, and check. Reverse Automatic Braking and High Beam Assist headlights are standard on Touring models too. Oh, and as an added performance feature, all 2.0XT Touring models come with Active Torque Vectoring, first introduced on the WRX and WRX STI.
And, no matter which Forester model you choose, you’ll get a SUBARU STARLINK Multimedia system providing hands-free connectivity and entertainment services. More information, including option packages and pricing, is included in the charts below.
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 FORESTER
Model/Trim
Transmission
Applicable Option Code
MSRP
MSRP + destination and delivery
2.5i
6MT
‘01
$22,795
$23,710
2.5i
CVT
’01, ‘02
$23,795
$24,710
2.5i Premium
6MT
11
$25,695
$26,610
2.5i Premium
CVT
12, 13, 14, 15, 16
$26,195
$27,110
2.5i Limited
CVT
21, 22, 23
$29,395
$30,310
2.5i Touring
CVT
31, 32
$33,090
$34,005
2.0XT Premium
CVT
11
$29,495
$30,410
2.0XT Touring
CVT
31, 32
$36,090
$37,005

2018 FORESTER OPTION PACKAGES

CODE 01 Standard Model 2.5i
N/A
CODE 02 Alloy Wheel Package- includes 17-in. machine finished alloy wheels, roof rails and front passenger window Auto Up/Down
$600
CODE 11 Standard Model- 2.5i Premium 6MT or 2.0XT Premium CVT
N/A
CODE 12 Standard Model- 2.5i Premium CVT
N/A
CODE 13 All-Weather Package
$500
CODE 14 EyeSight®+ All- Weather Package + Blind Spot Detection/ Rear Cross Traffic Alert
$1,695
CODE 15 EyeSight® + All-Weather Package + Blind Spot Detection/Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Power Rear Gate
$2,145
CODE 16 Black Edition
$1,150
CODE 21 Standard Model- 2.5i Limited
N/A
CODE 22 Navigation + Harman Kardon® Audio Amplifiers + Speakers
$1,350
CODE 23 EyeSight® + Navigation + Harman Kardon® Amplifiers + Speakers
$2,945
CODE 31 Standard Model- 2.5i Touring and 2.0XT Touring (Black interior)
N/A
CODE 32 Standard Model- 2.5i Touring and 2.0XT Touring (Saddle Brown interior)
N/A

Photos & Source: Subaru of America, Inc.

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