Automotive

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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BREAKING: The all-new eighth-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom raises the bar for pure automotive opulence

BREAKING: The all-new eighth-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom raises the bar for pure automotive opulence One of the world’s leading icons in automotive opulence transitions into its next-generation. Where’s the Grey Poupon?

What’s going on?
The Rolls-Royce Phantom VII has been with us since 2003, bearing a backbone based on the BMW 7-Series and enough sheetmetal to build a new city. That means today, in 2017, it’s sustained its current guise for 14 years, a very long time for any automotive life cycle.
But no need to despair! Rolls-Royce just introduced an all new, next-generation Phantom VII.
Built to fulfill Sir Henry Royce’s original quest to build “The Best Car in the World,” with the Rolls-Royce Phantom in 1925, this latest version fully embodies this philosophy. It once again raises its own bar of setting the benchmark for pure, unadulterated, automotive luxury.
Fancy. What’s cool about it?
Given Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ corporate pairing with BMW AG, this latest Phantom starts life as a BMW 7-Series platform, like the outgoing one. However, engineers designed the chassis to a new philosophy, the “Architecture of Luxury.” This basically translates into the Phantom’s use of a revised all-aluminum space frame body. This means it ditches the classic “monocoque” design. It’s lighter, but also 30 percent stiffer.
Combined with Rolls-Royce’s new “Magic Carpet Ride” adaptive air suspension, the new Phantom sounds it’s set to become the world’s most comfortable car as well.
What powers it?
In keeping with tradition, the Phantom gets a six-and-three-quarter (6.75L) engine. But that’s all that’s traditional as it’s BMW-based 6.75L V12 with two turbochargers to produce 563 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque as early as 1,700 rpm. Channeling that power to the wheels is a new ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic.
As with luxury these days, technology complements
As with any other car expected to cost as much as a really nice house, there’s plenty of tech to accompany. Using BMW’s parts bins, the Phantom comes with many passive and active safety systems such as Night Vision, radar-guided cruise control, pedestrian detection, lane departure assist and warning, and more. That’s on top of being the world’s most expensive moving WiFi hotspot and home theater.
How much will it cost?
Do we really have to answer this question for you? The official starting price wasn’t announced. But c’mon, it’s a Rolls. It’ll certainly cost more than a ham sandwich. Way more.
– By: Chris Chin
The all-new Rolls-Royce Phantom Photo Gallery

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Letter From The UK: Selling Out

Letter From The UK: Selling Out

Recently, European Union antitrust authorities approved the proposed acquisition of GM’s Opel/Vauxhall automotive business by the PSA Group, which manufactures Citroen, DS, and Peugeot models. This merger applies to the Vauxhall manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom that produce two of the top ten most popular vehicles currently on sale in Britain – the Astra and Corsa.
It doesn’t bode well.
This deal, first announced a few months ago, will position PSA Group as the second-largest automotive company in Europe and will serve as the basis of the Group’s profitable growth worldwide, we are told. It is expected to be formalized later this year.
Proud Achievement?
Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA is quoted as saying:“We are proud to join forces with Opel/Vauxhall and are deeply committed to continuing to develop this great company and accelerating its turnaround. We respect all that Opel/Vauxhall’s talented people have achieved as well as the company’s fine brands and strong heritage. We intend to manage PSA and Opel/Vauxhall capitalizing on their respective brand identities. Having already created together winning products for the European market, we know that Opel/Vauxhall is the right partner. We see this as a natural extension of our relationship and are eager to take it to the next level.”
On the face of it, that all sounds fine and dandy but, as seems likely, when the deal is completely finalized, the UK should rightly be concerned the next word out of Tavares’ mouth will be “rationalization.”
The transaction will allow, they say, substantial economies of scale and synergies in purchasing, manufacturing, and R&D. Annual synergies of €1.7Bn are expected by 2026, of which a significant part is expected to be delivered by 2020. These huge savings will have to come from somewhere. This is the part where I mention Brexit.
According to a recent press release, PSA Group delivered 1,580,000 units during the first half of 2017. Sales increased in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Eurasia, and the India-Pacific regions. Market share gains transpired for all new models, including the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUV and Citroen C3 in Europe. Photo: PSA Group.
High Costs
Overshadowing this huge financial deal is the specter of you-know-what. Right now the discussions over the UK’s departure from the EU look pretty sketchy. The British car industry should rightly be concerned. Inevitably, new vehicles from this conglomeration will progressively convert to PSA platforms over the coming years, and that could well sound the death knell for Vauxhall manufacturing plants.
John Colley, Professor of Practice at Warwick (UK) Business School and noted expert on mega-mergers, has been quoted as saying: “Carlos Tavares, Chief Executive of Peugeot Citroen (PSA), has little choice but to close the UK Vauxhall plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton to make the Opel (German brand) acquisition work. The cost of closing the high-cost German plants will be at least triple that of the UK plants. Not only will they (PSA) have to placate the powerful German unions who have a right of deal veto, but redundancy costs are around three times the level of the UK.”
Astra Sports Tourer production at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port facility. Photo: Vauxhall.

No Compromise
Given that governments come and go, any promises made by the British Administration are unlikely to be taken too seriously. Also, with wearying familiarity, the bullish leader of the Unite Trade Union in the UK has already said it “will not accept any job losses” if the sale goes ahead, urging the UK government to think again on its policy towards the European single market as the uncertainty is now clearly impacting on the future of flagship UK companies, such as Vauxhall. That will do until the real mess gets here.
As far as Great Britain is concerned, the whole shooting match is chaos and no doubt will remain so until the real mess arrives further down the line. Although the UK government is committed to Brexit on the basis that in a national referendum, a majority of the public demanded we get out of the EU, their hearts are plainly not in it. And it is possible to catch a whiff of the hot, fetid breath of failure; in short, it is not going well.
At a time like this, the last thing British industry needs is more uncertainty. The EU is taking a hard line that is likely to be followed by the PSA Group. In the longer term, the future of our Vauxhall car manufacturing does not look good.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Cover Photo: Vauxhall.

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2018 Jaguar E-PACE: Fashion Statement or Full-Bodied Capability?

2018 Jaguar E-PACE: Fashion Statement or Full-Bodied Capability?

Jaguar’s 2018 E-PACE SUV/crossover/thingo has made its “official” debut, so now we can start talking about it. Yes, yes, I know. This thing has been all over various forms of media for months now, but Jag insists on mining as much exposure as they can, so here it is. Again.
Jaguar, following the lead of Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and even Maserati (somehow!) realized that thar’s gold in them thar suburbs! And decided the best way to mine it was to make their own SUV/crossover. Jaguar is very certain about what the E-PACE is: “a compact performance SUV.”
Fashion Statements
Which means, in Jaguar’s eyes, you could take this thing off-road. Hey, stop laughing! I think Jaguar is serious, although I doubt you’ll see this thing traipsing through Moab or having a go at King of The Hammers or even blasting around my cousin’s property in Washougal. No, let’s face the real facts here. The Jaguar E-PACE is aimed squarely at those that aspire to be recurring cast members on The Real Housewives of Orange County/New Jersey/etc. And really, how can you blame Jag at this point. If people are willing to throw tens-of-thousands of dollars your way to make a vehicular fashion statement, you’d be dumb as a carmaker not to pick it up.
So what, exactly, are we dealing with here in the Jaguar E-PACE? The E-PACE (yes, in all caps, just to be extra annoying) is a five-seat compact SUV. Jag says the E-PACE “packs the design and performance of a Jaguar sports car into a practical and connected all-wheel drive vehicle.” No seriously, that’s a direct quote. I was at an auto show once, and a Hummer salesman said to a prospective woman buyer that an H1 Alpha Hummer “handles like a big Miata.” He said this directly in front of me and about 6 fellow members of a rally club I was in. We literally started pointing and laughing as the prospective woman buyer quickly exited and, get this, the Hummer salesman actually tried to debate with us over the handling qualities of an H1 Alpha Hummer. He was serious and, somehow, so is Jaguar when it comes to the E-PACE.
Sure, the E-PACE is the smallest and newest member of Jaguar’s SUV offerings, and therefore must handle better than Jag’s F-PACE SUV, but c’mon: “packs the design and performance of a Jaguar sports car into a practical and connected all-wheel drive vehicle?” Best of luck with that Nigel. I guess it is worth pointing out that when it comes to the big brother F-PACE, Jaguar did get that one right enough to win World Car of the Year. So perhaps this isn’t that bad of a ride overall; just don’t tell me it’s a Lotus 7 that can also run the Baja 1000 while taking the kids to Montessori. I got eyes ya know.
The chassis for the 2018 E-PACE is based on the sophisticated Integral Link rear suspension developed for the Jaguar F-PACE. The Integral Link architecture separates lateral and longitudinal forces to provide responsive steering and handling with impact absorption for greater refinement. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC.

Power & Performance
The E-PACE comes in Standard, S, SE, and HSE specifications along with the R-Dynamic (which is the sportiest version available). Both of your engine choices are 2.0-liter four-bangers, bafflingly dubbed “Ingenium” powertrains. Someone in the marketing department clearly needs more supervision. Anyway, said engines are gasoline fueled, turbocharged mills delivering either 246 horsepower or 296 horsepower, which is pretty good for that few of liters and cylinders. I’d really love to see Jag drop that into a 2,500 lbs. roadster, but that probably won’t happen.
Jag also notes the E-PACE has “sports car-inspired design” which is, honestly, a crying shame to read from the same company that created the immortal beloved E-Type. Anyhoo, the “sports car-inspired” stuff includes a sports-style gear shifter which is kind of odd since the gearbox is a ZF 9-speed automatic transmission. Jaguar’s adaptive shift system monitors your preferred driving style and tailors itself accordingly. For example, the system reduces shift times during more intense driving but can switch into a more economical mode; this is all dependent on your tastes as a driver.
The Active Driveline AWD system can transfer almost all the engine torque to either the front or rear axles in extreme conditions. During steady state cruising, Active Driveline disengages the AWD system, sending power only to the front axle, reducing parasitic losses. The system can re-engage AWD seamlessly within just 300 milliseconds (0.3 seconds) when a change in driving conditions is detected. During cornering, the Active Driveline software analyzes yaw rate, throttle position, steering angle, and lateral acceleration in order to pre-emptively distribute more torque to the outside wheels when needed for neutral and predictable handling. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC.
Suspension & Safety Tech
Coventry did not exactly scrimp on the suspension and drivetrain bits though. The suspension architecture is purposefully lightweight and all-wheel drive is the only power delivery choice we have. There are no two-wheel drive versions available, and I got to give Jag props for that.
Jag does point out the E-PACE’s torque vectoring is via the braking system, which still counts, but is a cheap way to accomplish the job. The Torque Vectoring system uses the brakes to imitate the effect of a torque-vectoring differential, balancing the distribution of engine torque between all four wheels during cornering. This improves grip and overall control, which will help drivers in a number of situations.
The 2018 Jaguar E-PACE also offers an array of driver assistance technologies, including Dynamic, Roll, and Electronic Stability Control, Trailer Stability Assist, Hill Start Assist, Emergency Brake Assist, and Corner Brake Control. The front and rear seats also feature seatbelt pre-tensioners that assist in minimizing movement during a collision while two ISOFIX points are fitted to the outer rear seats.
From the demanding Nürburgring circuit and high-speed Nardò test track to the deserts of the Middle East and North Africa, the E-PACE has been put to the test in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Jaguar engineers have braved freezing temperatures and high altitudes to ensure the E-PACE can withstand a lifetime of use in the hands of the most active and demanding customers. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC.

Connectivity Features
Even though it’s not the biggest Jag SUV to be had, you still get seating for five. You get enough connectivity gizmos that it should keep your kids happy and quiet. The E-PACE has streaming for up to eight devices thanks to an optional 4G Wi-Fi hotspot. There’s an InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch touchscreen that connects you to smartphone applications via Jaguar’s InControl App function.
The driver gets a big honking 12.3-inch full color TFT display and Heads-Up Display system for “added convenience.” Yes, I guess not knowing how fast you’re going would count as being an “inconvenience.” There’s a gizmo dubbed “Available Configurable Dynamics technology” that delivers Jaguar dynamics (whatever that counts as) allowing you to personalize throttle, steering, and transmission settings, which honestly sounds pretty cool.
The 2018 Jaguar E-PACE is also available with a choice of two premium audio systems developed with Meridian, just in case you can’t drive without your favorite tunes. The second of the two systems, an 825-watt Surround Sound ordeal with 15 speakers, would be our personal choice.
The interior focal point is a wraparound cockpit with the passenger grab handle forming the boundary of the driver console – a design concept inspired by the Jaguar F-TYPE. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC.
Pricing & Availability
Cost for the E-PACE ranges between $38,600 to $53,550, which seems to hit a real sweet spot in comparison to the competition. That starts a little bit more than a fully loaded minivan that your brain says you should get, but your gut is screaming that you fend off any and all dowdy parental trappings as if they were hungry sharks. No, no. You’ve got pretensions to uphold as you deliver your twins, Tyler and Twyla, to lacrosse and/or dance classes. You will not be sullied by a minivan. The Jaguar E-PACE goes on sale at the beginning of 2018.
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 Jaguar E-PACE Gallery

Photos & Source: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC.

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