Automotive

Rolls-Royce Phantom: Overstated Finesse or Elegance Pinnacle?

Rolls-Royce Phantom: Overstated Finesse or Elegance Pinnacle?

Who buys a Rolls-Royce these days? I guess somebody does, because they’re still being made and sold, but it also seems like their choice as a viable luxury and performance ride peaked many, many decades ago. In a lot of ways, driving a Rolls today is seen as gauche and extremely declasse. Back then, a Rolls was as subtle as anything else British. It was all about understated luxury, not about “look at me, I’m filthy rich” with an emphasis on filthy. So what is the new Rolls-Royce Phantom, and why would one consider buying it this day and age?
Perception Versus Reality
In their heyday, a Rolls was like a Savile Row suit or refurbishing the roof on the olde family manse that great-grand-Ma-Ma left to you. It was something that one, one of a certain peerage and lineage, did. But then the New Rich clocked to the idea that if you could buy the trappings of the Old Rich, you could, in theory and to some people, be perceived as having class. You could simply buy your way into the ornamentation of a title and not worry about the title itself.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards both bought fine old English mansions back in the 60s. John Lennon bought a Rolls and painted it all psychedelic as a rather nice ironic statement. Keith Moon bought a Rolls and drove it into the pool of his old English manse because he’s Keith Moon. Now, it’s all sheiks and minor princes and heirs from minor oil-soaked fiefdoms and the occasional rapper that seems to be Rolls-Royce’s stock in trade.
Photo: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC.
Architecture of Luxury
Admittedly, you’ll be getting something screwed together more like a bespoke luxury yacht than a car. Rolls’ attention to stuff like carpets and leather and wood and such has been well known for the better part of a century. The obfuscation of technical details is just as well known, but that, like so many things RR, is a thing of the past. Now, Rolls-Royce is owned by BMW and that, in a lot of very important engineering ways, has been good for the company.
The new Rolls Phantom sits on an all-aluminium spaceframe architecture. This all aluminium spaceframe will underpin every future Rolls; no future model will rely on the monocoque construction used by the “mass-manufacturers and some mass-luxury brands.” Oh SNAP! The new Roller is approximately 30 percent more rigid than the spaceframe architecture found on the outgoing Phantom VII. Naturally, all this stiffness results in “the Rolls-Royce experience” in ride, acoustic, and seat comfort, along with a particular exterior and interior presence.
All of this is part of RR’s new “Architecture of Luxury” and if you thought the builders from Crewe would leave it at that, you’re sorely mistaken. Rolls hits on that phrase relentlessly from here on out. This new focus is concentrated on making the new Phantom lighter and stiffer, with more efficient standards of production.
The new spaceframe rides on an air suspension and features state-of-the-art chassis control systems. Rolls-Royce says this results in “peerless, effortless ride and handling and optimal vibration comfort performance.” The front suspension is a new double-wishbone setup with a 5-link arrangement at the rear. This offers better control over lateral roll and shear forces, while delivering increased agility and stability. The new Phantom also gets four-wheel steering.
Photo: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC.

Sound Performance
As with all Rolls-Royce models, the new Phantom is as quiet as a drawing room, thanks to the 6mm two-layer glazing on the windows, more than 130kg of sound insulation, cast aluminium joints, and the use of other high sound absorption materials. There’s double skin alloy on areas within the floor and bulkhead of the spaceframe for better acoustic insulation from road noise.
Rolls has inserted dense foam with felt layers between panel skins for further sound insulation. They’ve even added sound deadening to the headliner, in the doors, and in the boot (trunk) cavity. They even spec’d new “Silent-Seal” tires that feature a foam layer inside to see to tire cavity noise and drop road noise by another 9db. All of this results in what Rolls calls “the most silent motorcar in the world.”
Performance & Technology
Motivating this boat is a new twin turbocharged V12 Phantom engine that puts out 900Nm (over 660 ft-lbs.) of torque and 563 horsepower. The 12-banger’s power is put to the tarmac through something called a Satellite Aided Transmission, married to a ZF 8-Speed gearbox.
And since it’s 2017 and not 1917, the new Rolls-Royce Phantom is dripping computer technology. Rolls refers to this as an “Electronic Architecture,” complete with an electronic nervous system that connects and controls all the various intelligent systems of the Phantom. Rolls says it’s the most advanced luxury motorcar available today and sure, why not. There’s the Alertness Assistant which is a 4-camera system with Panoramic View for all around visibility, including a helicopter view. There’s Night Vision and Vision Assist, Active Cruise Control, collision warning, pedestrian warning (should you actually care about the wellbeing of your lessers), cross-traffic warning, lane departure and lane change warning, and a 7×3 high-resolution heads-up display. WiFi hotspot? But of course, sir! The latest navigation and entertainment systems? Need you even ask, sir?!
Price? Well if you have to ask about that, perhaps you should run along with the other reach-me-downs and chuckaboos to the Mercedes-Benz or Jaguar dealership. That might be more befitting someone of your, a-HEM, station, sir. I said good day sir!
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.
Rolls-Royce Phantom Gallery

Photos & Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC.

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2017 Acura MDX AWD Advance Review

2017 Acura MDX AWD Advance Review

Many consumers don’t think of the Acura MDX when searching for a new luxury SUV or crossover, but it’s definitely a model you need to put on your list. We think the improvements on the 2017 MDX make it one of the best-driving crossovers in its class. It’s all-weather capable and has a quiet, spacious cabin.
Over the weekend, we drove the 2017 Acura MDX AWD with the Advance trim.
What’s New For 2017
The Acura MDX receives a significant remodel, including a new hood, refreshed front and rear fascias, restyled front fenders, and new headlights. This year’s MDX is the first Acura to sport the new diamond pentagon grille.
Features & Options
The 2017 Acura MDX AWD Advance comes standard with 20-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights with auto high beams, heated side mirrors, an electronic parking brake, a power liftgate, a sunroof, and keyless entry and ignition. Inside, you’ll find heated, eight-way power-adjustable front seats (with power lumbar adjustment for the driver), driver-seat memory settings, a power-adjustable steering wheel, leather upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Technology highlights include dual dashboard displays (a lower 7-inch touchscreen and an upper 8-inch regular screen), Bluetooth, five USB ports, Siri Eyes Free, and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player, Pandora and Aha compatibility, and satellite radio. The AcuraWatch suite includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keeping Assist.
The Advance package adds front and rear parking sensors, LED foglights, automatic engine stop/start, a surround-view camera, a heated steering wheel, sport seats with premium leather; power lumbar adjustment for the front passenger, front-seat ventilation, natural wood trim, heated second-row captain’s chairs, second row sunshades, and two additional USB ports for the third row. Pricing was not available for our MDX tester.

Interior Highlights
The first thing we had to figure out was the new push-button transmission shifter, located on the center console. But, once we got it handled, it was a nice change from the big sifters in other SUVs. It frees up space on the console, and it’s easy to use with its distinct buttons and levers. The premium leather seats are plush and supportive, with low side bolsters that make sliding in and out easy. Much different than the Recaro performance seats in my last tester.
What we didn’t like is how the driver’s seat slides back automatically when the door is opened, and we had to readjust the seat each time we got in. A week isn’t long enough for this journalist to program the seats, so we had to deal with it. The cabin is roomy for this class and the fit, finish, and material quality is first rate.
Rear passengers are bathed in comfort too and the optional Advanced Package offers second row captains chairs that come heated for extra winter warmth. The third row seats are easier to get to with the captains chairs, but are good for kids and not adults as in most 3-row SUVs. The second and third row seats fold flat and with both seats folded, the cargo space reveals an underfloor storage area with room for items you need to hide away. It has a handy lid that can be moved out of the way.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
This MDX tester came with the 3.5-liter direct-injected V6, making 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft. of torque. It’s coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission that drives all four wheels. This MDX came with the optional SH-AWD system for all-weather capability. EPA ratings come in at 19/26/ city/highway and 22 combined mpg, using premium unleaded fuel. The start/stop feature gets you 1 mpg more, though it can be annoying.
Driving Dynamics
For driving enthusiasts, the MDX is one of the sportier crossovers when you get behind the wheel. The 3.5 liter V6 makes enough power to have fun when pushed hard. It offers up strong acceleration, rivaling some of its European competitors while still getting good fuel economy. We used the steering wheel paddle shifters in Sport mode, enabling the MDX’s 9-speed automatic to quickly shift up or down. When left in normal mode, acceleration is smooth and the nine-speed transmission keeps revs high at full throttle.
On the highway, the ride is comfortable, but we could feel higher frequency bumps through the larger 20-inch wheels at lower speeds. In the tight mountains corners, this tester had minimal body roll and the suspension soaked up larger bumps. During city driving, the MDX is easy to maneuver in traffic, but the automatic start/stop function still takes too long to react off the line after coming to a stop.
The cabin is quiet and kept us insulated from the city, thanks to an active noise-cancellation system, active engine mounts, acoustic glass in the windshield and windows, and extra insulation throughout the vehicle.
For those who live in cold climates, the MDX’s SH-AWD is an exceptional system that moves power front-to-back and side-to-side, depending on where you need traction. In the corners, the system transfers more power to the outside wheels in a curve (torque vectoring), similar to performance cars. This also makes a difference on dry roads where there may be loose gravel near the edge of the road but clean near the middle.
Conclusion
The 2017 Acura MDX gets improvements to make it one of the best-driving crossovers in its class. It’s all-weather capable and has a quiet, spacious cabin. Throw in the MDX’s long list of safety features, and you’ve got a top family contender in this class.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2017 Acura MDX Gallery

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2017 Acura MDX Official Site.
Photos: Honda North America.

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Lotus Evora GT430: Fastest Evora Yet

Lotus Evora GT430: Fastest Evora Yet

Hethel is at it again, with Lotus pairing down and refining their Evora even further with the Evora GT430. This one has gotten so far to the outside of what the existing structure can take, I wouldn’t be surprised if this will be the final iteration of the Evora line. To push the envelope any further, you’d basically end up with a race car-like ride devoid of stuff like seat padding and carpet and flywheels; so light that 90% of the people on the planet would stall the thing.
Oh sure, for morons like me, an Evora like that sounds pretty close to ideal, but Lotus is smart enough to know they’d only end up selling four of them.
Too Much, Too Little?
Of course, as fine as the Lotus Evora GT430 is, one terrible fact is becoming obvious. Have you noticed Lotus has been cranking out lots of variations on the Evora. Look, I don’t fault them, on the one hand. I’d be doing it too. The Evora is a great car, even in its mildest form, and is obviously flexible enough to be tuned to the stratosphere. But the other thing here is how the constant tinkering with the Evora might just say that’s all they got is the Evora. There’s no updated Elans for the 21st century, no Esprits at the top of the line. One could say this constant messing about with Evora points to a huge deficiency in the current lineup, but why dwell on negatives when we have the Lotus Evora GT430 to consider.
“The Evora GT430 is a landmark car for Lotus. Lightweight engineering and class-leading handling, paired with Lotus’ aerodynamic expertise, define the Evora GT430 as a legendary Lotus,” explained Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc. “It’s a truly beautiful car, meticulously finished in hand-crafted carbon, and employing the latest aerodynamics and lightweight materials. We expect the lucky owners to be blown away by its pure presence and staggering performance.” Photo: Group Lotus plc.
Power & Performance
The Lotus Evora GT430 follows in the tire tracks of the Evora 400 and Evora Sport 410, but that’s about the only thing it’s going to be following. Actually, the latter two will be the ones doing the following since the Evora GT430 is the most powerful road-going Lotus ever. In no small part this is thanks to Lotus lavishing scads of carbon-fiber components, and working the engine for even higher power output. The Evora GT430 is powered by the same 3.5-liter V6 supercharged and intercooled plant found in other Evoras, only now Lotus has massaged it into producing 430 horsepower.
And, just like the company’s founder Colin Chapman had a fetish for making things as light as possible, the latest Evora is anything but heavy. The Evora GT430 tips the scales at 1,258 kg (around 2,800 lbs. for you Americans out there). That light weight, coupled with the 430 ponies produced by the engine, results in . . . well, c’mon, you can see where this is going. And of course, since this is a Lotus, it’s going to handle better than 99.9 percent of the cars out there. All around, the new Evora GT430 delivers tremendous speed and performance; 0 to 60, for example, is dispatched in just 3.7 seconds and the Evora GT430’s top speed is 190 mph.
The Evora GT430’s six-speed manual transmission features a low-inertia, single-mass flywheel, to help ensure swift changes, while a Torsen-type limited slip differential gives better traction, and faster exit speeds, when cornering. Photo: Group Lotus plc.

Aerodynamic Advantages
Thanks to the exposed carbon weave sections of the new and specifically designed body panels, the Evora GT430 produces up to 250 kg of downforce through aerodynamic improvements. That’s around 550 lbs., and on a car this light, you’ll notice it in high speed bends. There are larger front apertures for cooling the brakes and radiator, there’s a new carbon fiber splitter, the air blades allow for better front end downforce, and louvers positioned on top of the front wheel arches cut front end lift and bleed off high pressure air from inside the wheel wells.
Out back there are aero ducts behind each wheel to cut pressure within the wheel arch, along with a bit of style that allows you to check out the wider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. There’s a big honking rear diffuser to provide a “sharp visual finish” but it is also functional. And, as you would expect, there’s a large, profiled carbon wing.
The removal of critical weight from the Evora GT430 results in a more responsive and agile car for the driver. Photo: Group Lotus plc.
Pricing & Availability
Want one? Of course you do! Well, better get in line yesterday because Lotus is producing only 60 copies of what it terms the “supreme Evora.” The price will be around 150,000 Euros, depending on taxes and exchange rates for markets like Germany, Italy, Japan, and such. The ordering window is currently open.
There is no direct mention of the Evora GT430 being sold in America, which, I will readily admit, is a worrying proposition. So you know, a little confirmation of the Evora GT430 showing up on these shores would be nice Lotus. You know what would be even better? Dropping a couple off at One Automoblog Towers in Detroit for test and evaluation. Talk to Carl Anthony, our Managing Editor about it. I think he’s the fellow that gets to sign for this sort of thing . . . our legal/psychiatric team won’t let me sign for stuff any longer.
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.
Lotus Evora GT430 Gallery

Photos & Source: Group Lotus plc.

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Understeer Versus Oversteer: Know Your Limits

Understeer Versus Oversteer: Know Your Limits The handling terms oversteer and understeer we instinctively know, even if we’ve never really put a name to them. You don’t have to be a dyed-in-the-wool track person to have experienced either of these conditions, but they do appear most readily at a track. There are two old jokes about oversteer and understeer. One goes like this: oversteer scares the passenger and understeer scares the driver. The second is this: oversteer is when you smash the rear of the car into something – understeer is when you smash the front into something.
Differing Definitions
Understeer and oversteer are actually technical terms, but there are other words that are synonymous with both. Understeer is often called “push” and sometimes referred to as “plow” or “plowing.” You will often hear phrases like, “I’ve got a wicked push entering turn 3,” or “the car just understeers through the whole back section of the track.” Oversteer is referred to as a car being “loose,” “free,” and/or “tail-happy.” As in, “I’ve got so much oversteer through turn 5, the car is really loose.” Generally speaking, understeer is about how the front is not working and oversteer is about how the rear is not working.
Understeer
Understeer is when a car corners less than what you are telling it to with the steering wheel. When a car is understeering, as you enter a corner, you turn the wheel, and you expect the car to turn into that corner, but rather than turning all the way into and through the corner, it actually does not turn in enough. Rather than cornering smoothly through a curve, your car heads more and more toward the outside of the corner, unless you do something about it. Most people respond to a situation like this by turning the wheel more; to essentially say, in mechanical terms, “No! I want you to be over there! Go over there! Go that way!” They turn the steering wheel more and more in the direction they want to go.

Unlikely Odds
90% of the time, this doesn’t work. 90% of the time you are understeering through a corner because you have entered the corner too fast. So fast, in fact, that the front wheels, which is where understeer comes from, become overwhelmed by your forward energy and cannot generate enough grip to give you cornering entry. Turning the steering wheel more and fighting with the car only makes understeer worse. It puts more and more energy into the front tires that have been unable to keep up with your forward momentum from the beginning. By and large, the best thing to do in a vast majority of understeer situations is to back off the throttle. You’re going too fast into the corner already, so slow down, get the car back underneath you, and then get back on the throttle.
TrackDays has this excellent resource on how to correct understeer, should you find yourself in that situation.
Oversteer
Oversteer is when a car corners more than what you are telling it to with the steering wheel. You enter a corner, turn your steering wheel x-amount, and the rear of the car comes out more than what it should. Oversteer is the rear of the car coming around as you corner – it’s your car wanting to essentially spin around. Oversteer is, for a gearhead actually, a fun handling state. Oversteer is, from a performance standpoint, a faster handling condition for a car to have, assuming you can balance it.
Having either too much understeer or oversteer is a bad thing. Any car, however, regardless of drivetrain layout, can and will understeer and oversteer moment to moment when cornering. It is your job, as the driver, to operate your car in a safe manner. This whole notion of a car being “unsafe at any speed” is codswallop. Sure, if a car is outright built wrong, or has not been maintained properly, or there is a mechanical failure, then it is unsafe. Mostly, it is up to you, yes you, the junior Mario Andrettis of this world, to drive in a safe manner.
Always maintain proper control of your vehicle.
Mindful Considerations
In an ideal situation, a car going through a corner describes a perfect circle, with the rear wheels exactly following the front wheels – like a train following a set of railroad tracks. That’s why you hear the phrase, “handles like it’s on rails” as praise for a given car.
Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus Cars, genius chassis designer, and all-around fantastic automotive engineer famously said, “the steering wheel tells the front end where to go, and your right foot tells the back end where to go.” He was, obviously, talking about rear drive cars. And what he was getting at has to do with the fact that, as you are entering, traveling through, and exiting a corner, a rear-wheel drive car, when driven at the limit of adhesion, will require you to manage what both the front and rear are doing simultaneously. You are the driver. Be in control. Drive it. Know your limits. Know the limits of your car. And do not exceed those limits. In all things automotive: balance.
Finally, we would recommend an additional resource from TrackDays. They recently spoke with six different pro race car drivers and gathered the best advice when it comes to being behind the wheel.
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.

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Orange Fury Ford Mustang Inspires Ice Cream Sandwich

Orange Fury Ford Mustang Inspires Ice Cream Sandwich

Y’know, sometimes, the gearhead world gets downright weird. This is one of those days. As I read the press release about this – this being Ford’s making of an ice cream sandwich that has some razor thin tie in with the beloved Mustang – I had to start over three or four times. One of those times I thought I might be having a stroke. But no, Ford is serious.
Okay, here we go.
Vanilla Whoopies
One of Ford’s bullet points reads as follows: “Sandwiches feature a zesty orange-flavored ice cream between two Vanilla Whoopies, covered in orange icing and an edible wrapper made from potato wafer paper with edible ink.”
Dude, seriously! I mean, take that sentence, and randomly insert commas, periods, and pauses and you’ve got some Beat Poetry that Lawrence Ferlinghetti would, like, totally dig. Man.
Anyway, what we got here is Ford trying to leverage National Ice Cream Day (no, I didn’t know there was one either) by teaming up with Coolhaus Premium Ice Cream (which, most likely has nothing to do with Rem Koolhaas, the Dutch architect (I hope)) to create the Mustang-inspired “Orange Fury” ice cream sandwich.
Photo: James Lipman.
Tasty Partnership
To make matters even more, I dunno, appealing or something along those lines, the Mustang-inspired Orange Fury ice cream sandwiches are a limited edition item. Which, honestly could be bad if these things taste good. I have no way of telling, since Ford didn’t see fit to send me a case. More’s the pity, since I live in the desert and any sort of ice cream sounds great right about now.
Ford goes on to tout their partnership with Coolhaus Premium Ice Cream by noting that Coolhaus is “the nationally celebrated sweet-treat brand known for unique, sweet-meets-savory flavors you can’t find anywhere else.” Which is interesting because of two things: One, that is a distressingly alliterative sentence, and two, I’ve never in my life heard of Coolhaus (although that name makes me think of sparse German architecture or history’s second-ever goth punk band).
Coolhaus limited-edition Mustang-inspired Orange Fury ice cream. Photo: James Lipman.

Ice Cream Van
Apparently Ford went so far as to gin up a Coolhaus ice cream truck equipped with 2018 Mustang decals, fill it with Orange Fury ice cream sandwiches, and tool it around New York City for four days. This was all part of National Ice Cream Day and a cross marketing thing advantageous to both companies (I’m guessing). Your cost? Absolutely free my friend! Do you think they’d charge you to advertise to you?
You can also get the Orange Fury ice cream sandwiches at the Coolhaus shop in Culver City, California as well. It would seem all this Orange Fury ice cream sandwich stuff has to do with the new Orange Fury exterior color available on the 2018 Ford Mustang.
“I typically focus on things like color research, leather seats, and hand stitching, so this was definitely a bit different for me,” said Barb Whalen, Color and Materials Design Manager, Ford Motor Company. “It was fun applying some of those same design philosophies into helping Coolhaus create an ice cream flavor that really embodies the new Orange Fury color.”
Photo: James Lipman.
Edible Wonders
The technical specs for the Orange Fury ice cream sandwich break down like this: First, there are two Vanilla Whoopie cookies covered in orange icing that boarder the insides of the Orange Fury ice cream sandwich. Said insides consist of a scoop of the one-of-a-kind Orange Fury ice cream. The whole shootin’ match is wrapped in a unique, Mustang-printed edible wrapper made from potato wafer paper and edible ink. Sure, to adults like you and me, concepts like an “edible wrapper” might seem rather novel, but ask any five-year-old and they’ll tell you that all wrappers are edible.
“We couldn’t be happier that one of the original American classics chose Coolhaus, a new American classic, as a way to add excitement to their latest innovation,” said Natasha Case, Coolhaus CEO & Founder. Coolhaus Oompa-Loompas Glowbo, Fluffet, and Poofer could not be reached for comment.
The 2018 Mustang, regardless of color choice or availability of ice cream sandwiches, is due to reach showrooms this fall.
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.
Source: Ford Motor Company.

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Favorite Car Movies By Decade

Favorite Car Movies By Decade

When the weekend arrives, our Automoblog team members sometimes enjoy relaxing at home with Netflix. Our more adventurous staffers, like Tony Borroz, duck out in the middle of the day to catch a matinee. Indeed, we enjoy both cars and movies, and when they combine, it’s a win/win for us.
Just the other day, my buddies and I had a spirited debate on which installment of The Fast and the Furious was the best. While we could not reach an exact consensus, we did determine the entire series was worth binge watching over a long weekend.
Mustangs & Movies
Our friends at CJ Pony Parts are big movie buffs too. They recently celebrated 30 years in business, making them one of the most established retailers in the world for Mustang parts and accessories. The CJ Pony Parts crew created a list of their favorite car movies through the years, complete with a detailed infographic. Some of the movies they recommend we haven’t seen in awhile!
The CJ Pony Parts movie graphic examines the cars in these cinema classics, along with unique trivia about the movie itself. One thing we found really interesting is how one of the Mustang GTs from the 1968 film Bullitt was found in a junkyard. Fans of Steve McQueen are well aware of his passion for cars; last December, we showcased a book about McQueen’s love for anything with wheels in our Book Garage series.
Why Does It Always Have To Be Snakes
Another favorite on this list is Gone In 60 Seconds, although while we prefer the 2000 version, CJ Pony Parts notes the original motion picture from 1974. We favor the “new” version for a number of reasons, none of which have to do with Angelina Jolie. Okay, so that’s not entirely true. Obviously, Eleanor is the apple of our eye in the 2000 remake, but lines like “snake gonna have to slither his a** all the way to the bus stop in the morning,” “the snake is crawling up my a** man,” and “the snake gonna swallow my sh*t whole man,” are truly memorable. Actually, that entire scene where the Hummer pushes the police car down the parking ramp to the lyrical graces of DMX is awesomeness at its finest.
Here’s another great line: “If his unpleasant wounding has in some way enlightened the rest of you as to the grim finish below the glossy veneer of criminal life, and inspired you to change your ways, then his injuries carry with it an inherent nobility. And a supreme glory. We should all be so fortunate. You say poor Toby. I say poor us.”
Chevy Cinema
The most recent entry on this list we didn’t really care for, however, heartthrob (did I just say that?) Ryan Gosling restored the film’s signature Chevy himself. So that’s worth bonus points. CJ Pony Parts admitted they didn’t care about the story line either; they just wanted to see that 73 Chevy in action. Okay, so it’s not that bad of a movie and it’s not that we dislike Gosling. As everyone else did, we saw The Notebook with our wives and girlfriends but didn’t (we so did) cry.
The aforementioned movie graphic is below, courtesy of CJ Pony Parts. What is your favorite car movie? Let us know on Twitter: @Automoblog.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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2019 Audi A7: The Sportback With Two Turbos & 900 Ambient Lights

2019 Audi A7: The Sportback With Two Turbos & 900 Ambient Lights The 2019 Audi A7 is loaded and that’s putting it modestly. Even the slightest glance at this sportback is hardly brief. Audi throws around the latest automotive buzz words: precision, simplicity, and functionality among others. Toss in phrases like “award-winning” and “lighting innovations” and it’s either a hard-sellers’ wet dream or one tremendous car.
Benefit of the doubt says tremendous car. Is it?
What makes the 2019 Audi A7 worth more than a passing glance?
Power & Performance
Driver’s who like meat on the bones will appreciate the new 3.0-liter TFSI V6 engine. Gone is the belt-driven supercharger in favor of a twin-scroll turbocharger. As a result, the 2019 Audi A7 blasts out 355 horsepower, 369 lb-ft. of torque (1,370-4,500 rpm), and hits 60 in 5.2 seconds. The new valvelift system and four individual drive modes don’t hurt either.
Audi’s evergreen quattro all-wheel drive is in the mix with a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic.
The Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle system is stored under the A7’s rear cargo floor. On-board powertrain software uses route data and information from the vehicle’s sensors and forward-facing camera to determine the system’s output level. Power is supplied from the 10Ah battery to a belt alternator starter, while a conventional pinion starter handles cold starts only.
Chassis & Suspension
While the steering-rack’s placement provides better handling, a lighter front five-link suspension is employed for a more comfortable ride. A 20 mm lower Sport Suspension is available for Premium Plus and Prestige models.
19-inch, 10-Y-spoke wheels with all-season tires are standard, contrasting the optional 20-inch five-double-V-spoke silver wheels. Prestige models offer available 21-inch, five-V-spoke-star design (gray polished) wheels with summer tires.
Lighting Treatments
When Audi says “lighting innovations” they mean it. Two other lighting arrays are available for the new A7 aside from the standard LED headlights/daytime running lights combo. Premium Plus models receive HD Matrix-design LED headlights/daytime running lights and dynamic front turn indicators. Prestige models have the same but with Audi’s laser light function, denoted by a blue X in the lower portion of the headlight.
Automatically controlled at 43.5 mph, Audi says laser lights are 30 percent more energy efficient than standard LEDs.
Up front, the narrow headlights extend from the wider and lower Singleframe grille. The twelve adjacent lighting segments of the HD Matrix-design headlights, separated by narrow spaces, mimic the binary digits 0 and 1. Inside, an available ambient lighting package provides over 900 color combinations because why not!
2019 Audi A7 in Triton Blue paint. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Tech Treatments
The MMI touch response system replaces the rotary dial and the conventional buttons from prior models. Haptic and acoustic feedback lets drivers hear and feel a “click” when triggering a function. The upper 10.1-inch display (8.8-inch on Premium models) controls the infotainment, while the lower, 8.6-inch screen displays climate, comfort, and convenience commands. MMI stores up to 32 “shortcuts” for easier access to the most-used items.
MMI Touch responds either by using an integrated smartphone-style keypad, handwriting, or voice commands. With the latter, drivers speak requests like “where is the closest coffee shop” to which the A7 responds.
The 2019 Audi A7 is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, using the vehicle’s antenna to charge the driver’s phone inductively. Audi’s virtual cockpit with Google Earth imagery and a full-color heads-up display are available.
Three-zone automatic climate control, panoramic sunroof, and heated eight-way power front seats are standard.
Safety & Security
The 2019 Audi A7 offers a comprehensive suite of standard and available safety systems, each benefiting from a zFAS central controller. This system obtains information from up to 24 different sensors, therefore creating a digital picture of the A7’s environment to better assist individual safety features.
S Line Package
Dress up for the ball with this available package. Styling details include a titanium-black diffuser insert, illuminated door sills and fender badge, and the Sport Suspension. Airflow to the radiators and around the wheels improves due to the front bumper’s larger air inlets.
Pricing & Availability
Premium models begin at $68,995, Premium Plus at $73,395, and Prestige at $77,295 (including destination charges). Expect the 2019 Audi A7 this fall. Two turbos and 900 ambient lights later, seems like we have one solid Sportback on our hands.
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.
Photos & Source: Audi of America, Inc.

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Ford Enters New “Territory” In Chinese Market

Ford Enters New “Territory” In Chinese Market China, now the world’s largest automotive market, is a goldmine for ambitious manufacturers. As “tier 1” cities like Beijing and Shanghai implement license plate restrictions to mitigate congestion, demand is rising in the country’s smaller cities. Since these cities are less likely to have such restrictions, it may explain the rising demand.
But what exactly are Chinese consumers wanting in their next automobile?
By The Numbers
Registered vehicles in Chinese cities with no license plate restrictions is expected to jump to about 23.7 million in 2020, up from 10.8 million in 2010. By contrast, registrations in restricted cities is expected to fall to 1.6 million in 2019, from a peak of 2.2 million in 2010. The data is according to IHS Markit’s latest China Provincial Forecast.
And like in the United States, SUVs are all the rage.
Last year, the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility noted that China’s midsize SUV segment experienced an annual growth rate of 38 percent between 2012 and 2016. As a result, Chinese manufacturers are packing the market with SUVs, although one Michigan-based automaker wants a bigger piece of the pie.
Joint Collaboration
Meet the Ford Territory, an entry-level, midsize SUV, developed in partnership with Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC).
“The Territory is a breakthrough for Ford in China in terms of our ability to successfully compete with Chinese automakers for millions of customers that we do not currently serve,” explained Peter Fleet, President, Asia Pacific and Chairman & CEO, Ford China. “Territory is a key proof point for how we will grow in China.”
Officials say the collaboration combines JMC’s market insights with Ford’s expertise in vehicle design, engineering, and manufacturing. Ford’s testing centers in Nanjing, China and Melbourne, Australia helped tune the suspension and reduce NVH levels.
“We brought Territory to market with speed, high quality, and cost efficiency,” Fleet said.
Ford Territory interior layout. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Performance & Technology
A gasoline engine, 48V mild hybrid with Miller-Cycle technology, or a plug-in hybrid are among the powertrain options for the Ford Territory. Ford says each will be “efficient” but provide no details on how said efficiency is achieved. Based on the latest data, it seems hybrid powertrains will be the top sellers.
Tech features include a Mandarin voice-command function and FordPass Connect with embedded modem.
Family Affair
The Ford Territory joins the EcoSport, Kuga, Edge, Explorer, and Everest in the automaker’s SUV lineup. The vehicle is part of Ford’s China 2025 plan to launch over 50 new vehicles in the country by then. JMC’s Xiao Lan plant is responsible for production; expect the Ford Territory on sale early next year.
“It will be affordable for young families and new buyers across China, not just the coastal mega-cities,” Fleet added.
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.
Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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Forget Paper Towels: Here’s How To Clean Your Car With a Power Tool

Forget Paper Towels: Here’s How To Clean Your Car With a Power Tool Recently, I received a tool from Dremel called the Versa Power Cleaner as part of their #ConquerTheCleanup campaign. The Versa is a handheld, high-speed cleaning device that can be used with spray, foam, gel, or liquid cleaners. Enthusiasts who refer to their car as “my baby” will appreciate the Versa Power Cleaner and wonder how they ever lived without one.
For example, it saves your wrists when it comes to polishing wheels and tires.
But it has a number of uses around the homestead as I found out: bathroom soap scum? Check. Grease on the backyard grill? Check. Dirty patio furniture after being in storage all winter? Check?
As part of the #ConquerTheCleanup campaign, I put the Dremel Versa Power Cleaner to the test: first on my vehicle and second in my apartment.
Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Dremel. All views and opinions expressed here are my own. Check out our advertising guidelines to see why we’d never steer you wrong.
Handy & Dandy
When I think of innovation and technology, I always think broadly. Cars, airplanes, artificial intelligence, and other big tech concepts come to mind. But this little Dremel is a pretty marvelous piece of engineering and innovation. It can do just about anything and it’s cordless. The Dremel Versa Power Cleaner offers 2,200 rpm of rechargeable power and four interchangeable cleaning pads.
White Foam Eraser Pad: Use this multi-purpose pad for harder surfaces like a counter top, glass, baseboards, and non-stainless steel appliances. This pad has micro-abrasive characteristics so using it on a softer surface could result in scratches – for example, it’s not recommended for wood, copper or stainless steel.
Brown Abrasive Heavy-Duty Pad: This pad is for that long-embedded grime and grit. It can handle a number of tough metal items from lawn furniture to uncoated cookware.
Blue Microfiber Non-Scratch Pad: This pad is the “go-to” for most things around the house. Pots, pans, kitchen appliances, outdoor tools and equipment – you name it, this pad can do it.
Black Nylon Bristle Brush: Like the brown pad, this is for those heavier jobs. For car enthusiasts, this is the attachment to use when cleaning tires. For anything that would take an excessive amount of elbow grease, this brush is the ticket.
Some (Actually Hardly Any) Assembly Required
Assembling the Dremel Versa Power Cleaner is really easy, and the individual pads attach with what appears to be very durable Velcro. The “backing pad” holds the cleaning pad in place, which attaches in just a few seconds to the Versa itself.
The nicest accessory is the rubber splash guard, which has two positions: extended and retracted. When extended, the splash guard will keep the spreading and spraying of water and/or cleaning solution to a minimum. If there is an area that is harder to reach, just pull the splash guard up to retract it. If necessary, the splash guard can be removed entirely.
Before going to work, I fully charged my Dremel Versa Power Cleaner. Dremel recommends having it charged each time before using it, and advises not to run it while plugged in.
I find it easier to clean the exterior of my vehicle versus the interior – meaning I tend to neglect the interior and, as a result, it keeps getting worse. By this point, paper towels and normal rags won’t do the trick.
The Versa vs. Those Dirty Interior Panels
I have plenty of applicator pads and soft towels for the exterior of my vehicle, but what I lack is a way to make my interior shine like the exterior. This is where the Dremel Versa Power Cleaner really “shines” and where I found it to be the most useful.
For example, the lower panels directly inside my vehicle get hit with my shoes (and my passenger’s shoes) during exit and entry. It doesn’t take long for that part of the interior to get really dirty, especially during the series of rain storms we have experienced in Detroit recently.
Try an experiment: from the driver’s seat, look down and to the left. Just above the floor mats is an entire section of your interior that is likely to be covered with dirt and grime. Those areas can be neglected, especially if you quickly run your car through the wash because you don’t have time.
As you can see from the gallery below, my lower interior panels were looking pretty gross (top photos) but the Dremel Versa made short work of the weather stains and blemishes (bottom photos).

Locked & Loaded
With the White Foam Eraser Pad and a few sprays of traditional interior cleaner, I was able to nix the excess dirt and grime that builds up on those lower interior panels in a hurry. Normally, I would have to scrub with a towel but it is much easier letting the Versa do the work – I just guided it up and around the curves of the panel. From there, I did the passenger side interior panels, dashboard, and center console.
On my driver’s side door panel, I had a particular spot of dirt (who knows how it got there) too ingrained for regular towels. Like I did with the lower panels, I hit the area with a few spays of interior cleaner and simply guided the Dremel tool over the surface. It easily removed the dirt stain within a few seconds.
The Dremel Versa Power Cleaner works well on harder, plastic surfaces. In this case, with the White Foam Eraser Pad, I was able to remove a stubborn spot of dirt on my door panel. However, say you spill coffee or soda on your center console? This handy tool would make short order of any nasty stains left over from a cold brew.

The Versa vs. The Stovetop
After my vehicle’s interior, I decided to tackle another area I often overlook: my stove. I figured what else could I power-buff to shininess that I have been ignoring? My nasty stove immediately popped into my head.
The burners on my stove have (or should say had) these caked-on brownish rings around them. At this point, they are so far into the surface that scrubbing by hand is honestly a waste of time. That won’t work. And so the extent of my stove cleaning is to simply run a soapy rag over it, removing any immediate residue and calling it a day.
I started with the Blue Microfiber Non-Scratch Pad which removed about 70 percent of the grit. But my stove proved harder than my vehicle, so to eliminate the rest of the grime, I actually switched to the Brown Abrasive Heavy-Duty Pad. Sometimes, you have to bring out the heavy equipment.
If there was ever a cleanup for the Dremel Versa Power Cleaner to conquer, my stove was it. Nasty!
Miracle Worker
With both pads, I went slowly with the Dremel Versa Power Cleaner, even holding it over the troublesome spots for a moment to really let the pad work. The slower you go, the more effective it is on something like a neglected stove. I used Bar Keeper’s Friend but regardless of what cleaning solution you pick, definitely use the splash guard in the extended position. Otherwise, you will launch the solution across your kitchen.
I wiped the residue off my stove and tossed the Versa back on the charger. Total time to clean my stove: five minutes. And I don’t think it was even this clean when I moved in.

Dremel Versa Power Cleaner Uses & Pad Suggestions:
Grill Exterior (Non-Scratch)
Car Wheel Hub (Bristle Brush)
Stove and Countertops (Eraser)
Inside the Oven (Non-Scratch)
Pots/Pans (Heavy Duty) (Eraser)
Shower Glass Door and Tubs (Eraser)
Shower Tile Grout and Sink Faucets (Bristle Brush)
Metal Patio Furniture – Rust Removal (Heavy Duty)
Pricing & Availability
The Dremel Versa can be purchased at Home Depot, Lowes, Menards or on Amazon for an MSRP of $49.97. More information on the Versa Power Cleaner is available through Dremel’s website.
Point of Consideration
When fully charged, the Dremel Versa Power Cleaner runs for about 15 to 20 minutes, which should be long enough to do most jobs. Extended use will require additional charging time. A full charge, according to the owner’s manual, takes about two hours.
Fun Fact
To save your sense of fashion, it can even shine your shoes. Use the Eraser pad.
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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