Automotive

2019 Honda Pilot Elite Review: Good For The Family

2019 Honda Pilot Elite Review: Good For The Family Families looking for a three-row SUV will definitely want the 2019 Honda Pilot on their list. Pilot has the interior space for growing families; it comes with all-weather capability, seating flexibility, and cargo-carrying ability. The Pilot gets a few tweaks for the new year, making it better for those needing an eight-passenger vehicle.
We spent the long holiday weekend traveling to see family in the top-of-the-line, 2019 Honda Pilot Elite.
What’s New For 2019
The Honda Pilot gets a minor styling update and a smoother-shifting nine-speed transmission. The Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety features is now standard for all trims. New tech features, including a revised infotainment touchscreen, were standard on our Pilot tester. For 2018, the Honda Pilot received additional family-friendly features.
Features & Options: More Than We Can Count
The top-trim, 2019 Honda Pilot AWD Elite ($48,020) comes loaded with heated mirrors, remote start, keyless entry, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated and cooled front seats, heated second-row captain’s chairs, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and one-touch slide-and-fold second-row seats. Through an eight-inch touchscreen, HondaLink and CabinControl integrate features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The Wi-Fi hotspot, satellie radio, and 10-speaker premium audio system are among the most useful infotainment features. The terrain management system, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors are among the most useful features while driving.
Our Pilot Elite came with a power lift gate, universal garage door opener, rear-seat window sunshades, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, and second-row USB charging ports. Other features included LED fog lights, 20-inch wheels, roof rails, automatic wipers, power-folding mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, and a wireless charging pad.
Total MSRP, including destination, for our 2019 Honda Pilot Elite: $49,015. By comparison, the 2019 Honda Pilot LX starts at $31,450.
The roof rails make it easy to bring your hobbies and passions with you for a weekend excursion.
Interior Highlights: Lots of Room
The front is roomy and comfortable, and when you get the memory functions set, you will always have the ideal driving position. The view from the front is commanding, even for shorter members of the family with its high seating position. The seats are well bolstered, with good definition on the top Elite trim.
The push-button shift lever is a space-saver and gives more room for the deep cupholders. There’s also a shallow bin for a smartphone right next to a high-power USB port. A sliding lid covers the deep center console.
Second-row seating is a pair of comfortable captain’s chairs on the Elite model, with a floor-mounted tray in-between with cupholders. A one-touch power button moves the second-row seats and slides them forward. The floor is low enough for kids to easily climb back to the third row, although it might be a tight climb for tall adults. Once you are back there, however, there’s an amazing amount of head and legroom due to the exterior design.
Behind the third row, there’s 18.5 cubic feet of cargo-carrying ability, plus a reversible cargo panel for muddy shoes after the soccer game. Behind the second row, there’s 55.9 cubic feet, as much as many SUVs have behind the first row; and behind the first row, there’s a massive 109 cubic feet to carry cargo.
Related: The 2019 Honda Pilot provides minivan capability without being a minivan.
Those who travel for work should have enough room in the Honda Pilot for luggage.
Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
All Pilot models are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a nine-speed transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters. All-wheel drive is standard on the Elite.
EPA fuel mileage ratings come in at 19/26 city/highway and 22 combined mpg. When compared to similar vehicles, the 2019 Honda Pilot Elite is near the top in terms of fuel economy.
Driving Dynamics: More Power Than Expected
The 2019 Honda Pilot feels confident on the road and will keep families safe with all the standard safety technology. The V6 engine is powerful enough for even mountain driving at altitude. Press on the pedal and there’s plenty of juice for all driving situations, even loaded with people and cargo.
We took the Pilot up I-70, into the mountains on the way to Blackhawk, and it was remarkably agile on the dirt roads and around the tight curves. With the standard all-wheel drive on the Elite trim, this SUV is a winner on mountain roads and slippery surfaces. It can even manage light towing and mild off-road trails for more adventurous families.
Honda has improved the nine-speed automatic. It now has less low-speed indecision and offers smoother shifts at low speed and low load. At full throttle going up hill, it shifts decisively, but you can also manually control shifts with the steering wheel paddle shifters.
Like most SUVs, the Pilot is no sports car, but it feels more nimble than most. In the city, Pilot will change lanes confidently as handling is above average for the segment. It’s also easy to see cars around you with its large side mirrors.

Conclusion: Good For Families
The 2019 Honda Pilot offers a roomy interior for growing families who need to move lots of stuff. Fuel economy is better than many rivals and the driving dynamics are superior, especially if you drive rougher roads.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2019 Honda Pilot Elite Gallery

Photos: Honda North America.

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2020 Camry TRD & Avalon TRD: Toyota’s Idris Elba

2020 Camry TRD & Avalon TRD: Toyota’s Idris Elba Limited-edition Camry TRD and Avalon TRD are a first for Toyota.
Both feature a track-tuned chassis, cat-back exhaust, and matte-black 19-inch alloy wheels.
Look, sometimes, all you want is good, dependable, solid transportation. The problem with that though is how good, dependable, and solid can be so boring. Nobody ever said, “Hmm, Idris Elba, or Jim, the balding middle-aged guy from accounting? I’ll go with Jim!”
Which brings us to the automotive equivalent of Jim: Toyota’s Camry and Avalon, and Toyota’s efforts to make them a little more like Idris.
Engine & Exhaust Notes
TRD, that’s Toyota Racing Development, had a go at these blandest of offerings (if you ignore the minivans, and I hope they do, because a TRD minivan might just work). However, if the specs are to be believed, the TRD Camry and Avalon might actually perform better.
Both are powered by Toyota’s 301 horsepower DOHC 3.5-liter V6, mated to an eight-speed automatic with sport mode and paddle shifters. There’s a specially-tuned, cat-back dual exhaust that breathes better and helps with performance. They also say it provides a throatier idle and acceleration sound. Okay.
Testing & Validation
TRD worked the chassis over with thicker underbody braces for increased torsional rigidity. The coil springs are unique to both vehicles and lower the ride height by 0.6 inches. The shock absorbers also get a tune to better manage vertical and roll movements. Specifically, the Camry TRD’s coil springs and front and rear sway bars stiffen things up by 44 percent in the front and 67 percent in the rear, according to Toyota.
For TRD models, the front brakes are larger, with 12.9-inch diameter rotors and dual-piston calipers.
TRD thrashed the things around the Toyota Arizona Proving Ground, TMC Higashi-Fuji Proving Ground, and MotorSport Ranch in Texas to prove the point. As a result, everything adds up to improve control, agility, and steering. From there, Calty did the styling, tweaking the aero elements, like the front splitter, side skirts, trunk lid spoiler, and rear diffuser.
2020 Toyota Camry TRD. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Carmy TRD Treatments
The Camry TRD’s matte-black 19s are a half-inch wider than stock. They also tip the scales at 3.1 lbs. lighter, each, than the outgoing models. Good for unsprung weight, good for handling. The Camry also gets standard Bridgestone Potenza 235/40R19 summer tires, taking away even more of that plain vanilla.
The Camry TRD has a gloss black front grille with a mesh insert and black exterior badging. Available two-tone colors include Supersonic Red, Windchill Pearl, Celestial Silver Metallic, and Midnight Black Metallic. On the inside there’s lots of red. The red-stitched TRD headrests, the leather-wrapped steering wheel, and even the seatbelts are red.
There are unique TRD floor and trunk mats, and the seats come in Black Sport SofTex with fabric inserts. The shift knob even comes with an embossed TRD logo, to further complete the cake decorating aspects of the Camry TRD.
Related: 2018 Toyota Camry XSE is not your average Camry.
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Avalon TRD Treatments
The Avalon TRD also gets heated Black Sport SofTex front seats with Ultra-suede inserts and the same red accents, floor and trunk mats, and embossed TRD logo. The wheels on the Avalon are also matte-black 19 x 8.5-inchers that shave an impressive 18 lbs. of unsprung weight. The Avalon TRD will be available in the same colors as the Camry TRD.
Pricing & Availability
No word on pricing just yet, but they will be in dealers by this time next year.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
Photos & Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid: Space Age Technology, Logical Fashion

2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid: Space Age Technology, Logical Fashion The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid offers up to 90 MPGe.
Subaru’s new “StarDrive Technology” powers the Crosstrek Hybrid.
The vehicle makes its official debut at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show.
Here is the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, the first-ever Subaru plug-in hybrid vehicle. Wait, can that be right? Subie has never made a plug-in hybrid until now? Yup, that is right. Well it’s about time, for one thing, and they could have put a hybrid drive in a more practical package, for another.
If you were being logical, the Subaru Crosstrek is the only true “SUV” choice. But I get it, fashion statements must be made; the hierarchy at the school drop off zone must be maintained, so that’s why people drive stuff like Range Rovers and BMW X-Types. If you’re being logical, you need not look any further than the Crosstrek.
And now that they’re making a hybrid version, you can ignore the perceived need to buy a Prius.
Space Age Technology
Subaru’s new StarDrive Technology integrates the electric motors, the evergreen 2.0-liter boxer engine (with direct-injection), the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, and a Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission. StarDrive Technology (totally bitchin’ sci-fi name, isn’t it? “Mr. Spock, prepare to engage the StarDrive!”) uses two electric motors; one works as the engine starter and hybrid battery generator.
The second powers the Crosstrek in hybrid and electric modes, and charges the batteries during regenerative braking. The new, electronically-controlled brake system distributes braking force between the regenerative brakes and the mechanical ones to improve efficiency and extended battery life. Nice!
The instrument panel houses a 4.2-inch color LCD screen for monitoring real-time power output and battery regeneration. The multi-function display, perched above the center stack, incorporates both driving and charging screens.
The Crosstrek Hybrid employs a high-capacity, lithium-ion battery, beneath the cargo area, for an EV range of 17 miles. Photo: Subaru of America, Inc.
What’s Good: Solid Range & Towing
And no, this ain’t no Harry Hairshirt, hipper than thou granola-mobile. Subaru dials up the fun (a little). To wit: The Crosstrek Hybrid can reach 65 mph in full electric mode, and it clocks in a full second faster, zero to 60, than the standard Crosstrek. Huzzah! Efficiency suffers? Au contraire, mon frère: Up to 90 MPGe with a total range of 480 miles, and an EV range of 17 miles running on the lithium-ion battery alone.
The Crosstrek Hybrid shares a number of goodies with its “normal” Crosstrek siblings. It has the same Linerartronic CVT with X-MODE and Hill Descent Control for slippery, off-pavement conditions. The Hybrid has 8.7-inches of ground clearance (nice!) and can tow and 1,000 lbs. And the standard, “performance management” SI-DRIVE system adapts the throttle characteristics to your liking between “Intelligent” and “Sport” modes.
Standard Active Torque Vectoring improves control and handling.
The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid offers 43.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Photo: Subaru of America, Inc.
This ain't no Harry Hairshirt, hipper than thou granola-mobile.Click To TweetTech & Safety: With That 70s Flair
Naturally, there’s a bunch of tech stuff on-board. Standard features include an eight-inch multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, push-button start, automatic climate control, and two rear USB ports. The standard All-Weather Package comes with heated front seats, windshield wiper de-icer, and heated exterior mirrors. The steering wheel (leather-wrapped, natch) includes audio, Bluetooth, and SI-DRIVE control switches.
The safety gizmos include Steering Responsive Headlights to illuminate curves as you steer (just like Citroens from the 1970s!). Reverse Automatic Braking is there in case you nearly back over something and LED High Beam Assist helps you light up everything without blinding oncoming traffic. The Pedestrian Alert System provides an audible warning to pedestrians when you’re traveling below 20 mph.
Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology package is standard on all Crosstrek Hybrids. Photo: Subaru of America, Inc.
Pricing & Availability
The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid arrives at the end of the year, priced at a rather reasonable $34,995. Destination charges, according to Subaru, may vary depending on where you live. The Crosstrek Hybrid also qualifies for HOV permits states like California and New York.
Given the Crosstrek is Subie’s third-best-selling model in America since its debut six years ago, the Japanese company didn’t want to mess it up.
Hence why this hybrid version is nicely refined and well thought out.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Gallery

Photos & Source: Subaru of America, Inc.

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Inside Brembo’s Hybrid Material Braking System For The 2019 Corvette ZR1

Inside Brembo’s Hybrid Material Braking System For The 2019 Corvette ZR1 The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 arrives this spring as the most powerful Corvette in history. The LT5 6.2-liter supercharged V8, complete with 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft. of torque, boasts an intercooled supercharger system with 52 percent more displacement than the Z06’s LT4 supercharger. The aerodynamic features, including two different rear wings, help the ZR1 achieve tremendous downforce and a top speed in excess of 210 mph.
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 is lightning quick and getting it moving isn’t an issue, but what about controlling it? That’s where Brembo comes in with a uniquely designed “hybrid” braking system.
Special Treatments
Many of today’s performance and muscle cars are equipped with Brembo brakes: The Ford GT, Dodge Challenger and Charger Scat Packs, Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE, Subaru WRX STI Type RA, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata all utilize a Brembo setup to amplify their individual performance attributes. And now the 2019 Corvette ZR1.
“Consumers have very high expectations for modern performance cars, not only for straight line speed, but for all driving attributes – including braking,” explained Dan Sandberg, Brembo North America President and Chief Executive Officer. “All of the work Chevrolet did to maximize the acceleration and cornering potential of the ZR1 would be useless if the car didn’t also have a brake system that could perform equally as well, lap after lap.”
Front six-piston monobloc calipers with carbon ceramic discs (394mm x 36mm), and rear four-piston monobloc calipers (390mm x 32mm) with two-piece, carbon ceramic discs comprise the ZR1’s Brembo system. The front and rear brake pads include new formulations from Brembo’s R&D Center for better stopping power and pad wear. The size of the fixed aluminum calipers hasn’t changed from the Corvette Z07, but the brake rotors and friction materials are enhanced to handle higher thermomechanical loads. This attribute is vitally important and separates the ZR1 from the rest of Brembo’s portfolio.
“While Brembo carbon discs are also found on other supercars, the ZR1 discs have a specialized heat treatment for improved energy and thermal management,” Sandberg said. “These specialized brake discs are paired with Brembo monoblock aluminum calipers and a unique Brembo-developed friction material found only on the ZR1.”
Photo: Chevrolet.
Hybrid Theory
The ultimate challenge was designing the ZR1’s braking system to handle both the track and the street. Each environment presents its own individual demands for a performance car. Brembo has long held the “from racing to the road” mantra, and Brembo’s engineers were again tasked with putting that belief into the ZR1’s braking components. The maxim stems from the idea that what is accomplished on the track can be transitioned to the street. In the case of the Corvette ZR1, it’s most wonderfully seen in the actual substance used to construct the brakes.
“Internally, our engineers like to call the new brake pad material our “hybrid” material, meaning it is a hybrid between traditional road materials and our racing friction materials,” Sandberg revealed. “While the pads on the Z07 are a great performer, these Brembo hybrid pads offer a higher level of friction output and can operate in a higher temperature range, giving the driver confidence in the brakes lap after lap.”
Photo: Chevrolet.
Dedication & Innovation
The beginnings of Brembo’s story are humble enough: Emilio Bombassei, father of the group’s current president, put together a small mechanical workshop near Bergamo, Italy in 1961. They conducted business with vehicle and motorcycle manufacturers in Europe, but in 1975 were approached by Enzo Ferrari. He needed a braking solution for his Formula 1 racers. As the old adage goes, the rest is history. Yet, that “do-it-yourself” mindset is still prevalent at Brembo’s facilities today, just like it was in 1961 at Bombassei’s shop.
“The pads mentioned earlier are a good example of where Brembo’s desire to remain at the forefront of technology forced us to try something new,” Sandberg said. “When we started developing the ZR1, the global marketplace didn’t offer a friction material that matched our performance targets, so we set out to develop our own.”
Brembo operates in 15 countries on 3 continents, with 24 production and business sites, and about 9,000 employees, 10 percent of whom are engineers and product specialists active in R&D. As the automotive industry moves toward electrification and autonomy, the entire scope of how cars are designed, engineered, and manufactured will change. According to Sandberg, innovation will be the key in addressing those challenges successfully.
“Today’s cars are evolving dramatically from product cycle to product cycle, and customers want to see advancements in safety, performance, efficiency, and sustainability with each successive model,” he said. “We continue to look for technologies that will complement the car of the future, all while retaining the unique character and brand identity of Brembo.”
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.
Source: Brembo North America.
Cover Photo: Chevrolet.

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BMW X7 Enters Pre-Production In South Carolina

BMW X7 Enters Pre-Production In South Carolina BMW recently announced that pre-production versions of their upcoming X7 are rolling off the assembly line in Spartanburg, South Carolina. This is an all-important test to make sure the line is working as it should, that the pre-production vehicles bolt together as planned, and all is well and good in BMW land.
The BMW X7 is a uh . . . just what is a BMW X7?
Sports Activity Vehicle
The X7 is the Bavarian car company’s top-of-the-line, extra-huge, extra-boxy SUV/crossover/thingo. It’s about the size, weight, and shape of the Brandenburg Gate and BMW calls it a Sports Activity Vehicle or SAV, a terminology applied to other vehicles in their lineup. Essentially, it’s the BMW crossover version of the 7 Series sedan: The biggest thing you can buy with a roundel on the hood. Actual volumetric specs are not given, but the photos seem to indicate this thing is large enough to haul any one family and all their stuff. It’s brutalist architecture on wheels.
BMW says the production version of the SAV (gag) should be out by the end of 2018. Before we get there, however, the X7 will undergo multiple tests in “partially extreme conditions.” I thought extreme was a nominal state, it either is or isn’t. But I guess BMW, or the engineers responsible for the X7, are fine with “partial” extremes.
Precise Processes
Since the X7 pre-production models are using the same assembly line as the X5 and X6, the production of these pre-series models serves to make sure everything works as it should, and to optimize future series production. BMW has a specially trained team of production engineers to make sure everything is completely integrated into the line. As you would expect, this is a long and exacting process that has to be just right in general, and things get particularly fastidious since we’re not just dealing with engineers here, we’re dealing with German engineers.
First the pre-production models are built at BMW’s Spartanburg plant. Then they are handed over to development department specialists, and the fun really starts. All the bits and pieces are certified for homologation and production. The approved bits, pieces, sub-assemblies, and then the entire pre-production X7 is subjected to a set of diverse testing routines, such as endurance drives through Death Valley and the snow covered slopes of Scandinavia. During all this, the pre-production model is fitted with a camouflage wrap, even while it is still at the plant. The striking, striped, dazzle camouflage is designed to conceal the new SAV’s final look as far as possible.
Photo: BMW Group.
Under Wraps
All car companies do this, but what I want to ask is why BMW is mentioning how important this is when there are pictures all over the place of the new X7. Maybe someone from the pre-production engineering team should ring up the marketing group and see what’s up. Anyway, once the pre-production crew makes sure all the t’s are crossed, i’s are dotted, tolerances are confirmed, and calipers are safely tucked away, BMW’s Spartanburg plant will be all set to start cranking X7s out like so many sausages.
Full Scale
The X7 is the fifth model produced at the BMW Spartanburg plant, where all X models are built. Spartanburg is BMW’s largest plant in the world and cranked out more than 411,000 vehicles in 2016. BMW says 70 percent of the vehicles produced in Spartanburg are exported to 140 countries across the globe, making BMW the largest vehicle exporter in the USA in terms of export value. I assume BMW means “largest vehicle exporter” in reference to automobiles, because Boeing exports a ton of vehicles, and since their entry level model starts at over 100 million dollars, I bet they beat BMW in terms of “export value.” That said, if there’s a real call for what BMW makes at Spartanburg, the annual production capacity is around 450,000 vehicles, more than enough to handle worldwide demand.
“We are proud to produce the BMW X7 here in Spartanburg, the home of our X models. This is a very special vehicle and our employees are looking forward to yet a further member of the X family,” said Knudt Flor, Head of the BMW Group Spartanburg plant. “Together with the BMW X7, a total of five BMW X models will be exported from Spartanburg to all four corners of the globe.”
Technical details for the new X7 will be announced later this year.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format.
Photos & Source: BMW Group.

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Most Driver Friendly States of 2018

Most Driver Friendly States of 2018 It’s officially 2018 and that means our annual resolutions are in order. Be it losing weight or advancing in a particular career, a new year always represents a clean slate. One resolution worth making is a commitment to travel more. Doing so might actually help your other resolutions. According to WebMD, not having a break from work will take its toll. They cite a 2005 study from the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin that found women who neglected regular vacations were two to three times more likely to be depressed compared to women who took them.
And men, we should be mindful too. WebMD points to a study that followed over 12,000 men for nine years. Those who neglected vacations were at a higher risk for heart attacks. That said, if your goal is to get away and travel more in 2018, then it’s for the best. The National Council for Home Safety and Security put together a list of the most driver friendly states in 2018, which was published on their official site, Alarms.org. Their findings will help you plan a relaxing, safe, and cost effective getaway.
Cheapest Gas
One of the biggest factors when traveling is fuel cost, but it might be worth taking a tour of the southern United States to really maximize your tank. Alarms.org finds gas below the Mason-Dixon Line requires less from your wallet because of a greater concentration of oil refineries and lower gas taxes. Overall, Alabama has the cheapest gas per gallon at an average of $2.26, followed by Mississippi and South Carolina, both at $2.27, Texas at $2.29, and Oklahoma between $2.29 and $2.30. This means a visit to The Alamo in San Antonio or the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Alabama will be more affordable.
There’s Myrtle Beach to catch some sun, and the Rock & Blues Museum in Clarksdale to get your music fix. Both can be reached for less money at the pump than attractions in other states.
Best Driving Records
Safety is always a concern so it might be worth seeking out a vacation spot where motorists are more cautious. Alarms.org researched states with the lowest fatal crash rates, calculated on the number of road fatalities and fatal crashes, adjusted for average daily traffic counts. Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Minnesota took the top three spots, followed by Massachusetts and Wisconsin. Alarms.org says there isn’t a single identifying characteristic they could find that made these states the safest, although they theorize it might have something to do with winter.
“Most of the states with safer highway ratings are in the north and have lower average temperatures,” Alarms.org writes in their study. “Perhaps colder temperatures and hazardous weather conditions prompt residents to drive more slowly and carefully than those in warmer states.”
This means (hopefully) a trip to Minneapolis to see Super Bowl LII or to Lambeau Field to watch the Packers should be a safe one. If on the way, you are passing through The Mitten and have car trouble, us Michiganders will gladly help. Alarms.org finds Michigan has the lowest average car repair costs in the country. Also, go Lions.

Most Scenic Drives
While Alarms.org admits this is subjective, they give some solid suggestions. Topping the list is the Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia and North Carolina. Blue Ridge Parkway, which spans 29 counties and nearly 470 miles, is known for its stunning views of the surrounding Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains. Others on the list include the Cades Cove Drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire.
While it may not necessarily make any lists on this topic, we have always enjoyed our drives from Phoenix, Arizona to Los Angeles, California on Interstate 10. The desert can be really peaceful and beautiful, especially in the early evening.
Happy Trails
Wherever you go in 2018 and whoever you go with, we wish you safe and enjoyable travels. We hope you have an opportunity this year to take a vacation with your loved ones. Here’s to a healthy and prosperous 2018.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation and studies Mechanical Engineering at Wayne State University.

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Automoblog Book Garage: Day One

Automoblog Book Garage: Day One
During my tenure with 605 Magazine, I interviewed blues artist Hadden Sayers prior to his scheduled performance in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At one point in our conversation, he remarked that being a blues star was exactly like being a rock star, only without the fame, girls, and money. We laughed but Sayers taught me something valuable that day; something that has served me well throughout my career.
You do things because you love them and because you are passionate about them. The blues are like that. So are automobiles. But really, anything can be that way, if we let it.
Living The Dream
Day One reaffirms why I continue to invest the way I do in my automotive career. The book reminds me why I’ve no longer diversified my writing (against the advice of some) and penned strictly for this publication, in addition to helping manage and lead it. I do it because I love cars and I enjoy telling people about them. And as we begin a new year, books like Day One can inspire us no matter our chosen career fields, no matter our pursuits and passions.
In the foreword, Joe Oldham recalls the day he received his first red GTO convertible loaner. He calls it a life-defining moment when the Pontiac rep handed him the keys at that Los Angeles press event. Driving it along the Pacific Coast Highway would only reinforce that life-defining notion. Oldham’s passion (and guts) eventually landed him at Magnum Royal Publications in 1965, right at the dawn of the muscle car era.
“How did a dumb kid from Brooklyn wind up with such a cool gig,” he writes. “If you were a car guy, as I was from the time I was a little kid, it was a dream job.”
Bold Tones & Big Cars
Oldham shares being mentored by Marty Schorr, the author of Day One, then Editorial Director of Magnum Royal Publications. Since Hi-Performance CARS made its revenue from newsstand sales versus advertising, their obligation was to the reader paying for the publication. And honesty was the policy, especially if a given car had faults or was overly hyped in its marketing. It was less politically correct than rival publications, instead being written by, as Oldham puts it, the “wiseass outlaws from New York.”
Shorr keeps that brutally honest tone in Day One, walking us through his firsthand experiences with some of the greatest cars ever manufactured. Schorr tells us the inside stories of the cars we love and fantasize about owning. Some of our favorites in the book include Pontiac’s 1962 and 1963 lightweight Super-Duty 421 street and Swiss Cheese models, Chevrolet’s 1963 big block 427 Mystery Motor, Ford’s 1963 Galaxie fastback, the Cotton-Owens Hemi Coronet, and Plymouth’s original 1968 Hemi Road Runner.
Oldham passed away in October. In remembering his longtime friend, Schorr gave a fitting tribute, saying he was always impressed by Oldham’s knowledge and skill. In many respects, the title of this book – Day One – is fitting. It’s a new year and that means new promises. Guys like Oldham looked at the world in this sense when it came to pursuing what they were most passionate about: it wasn’t one day, but rather day one.
Day One: An Automotive Journalist’s Muscle-Car Memoir is available through Amazon and Motorbooks.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation and studies Mechanical Engineering at Wayne State University.
Author
Martyn L. Schorr has a history with high-performance cars that dates back to the beginning of Ford’s Total Performance era over fifty years ago. He rode with Carroll Shelby and was at the press conference in New York
for the debut of the Lola-built Ford GT that became the GT40. Schorr drove the GT40 on the streets of New York City and accompanied Mickey Thompson to Bonneville in 1969 to set a book full of records. Schorr is the author of Total Performance and Motion Performance, both published by Motorbooks.
Day One Gallery

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Separating From Social Media In 2018

Separating From Social Media In 2018 In the age of social media, more and more are posting about their travel adventures. Perhaps you have noticed this too? Or maybe you are among those posting about travel? A 2015 Adweek article by Kimberlee Morrison notes that 76 percent of users upload their vacation photos to social networks. Morrison also points out how those planning a vacation will often like or follow pages related to their upcoming travel.
Furloughs & Woes
A March 2017 Forbes feature by Jimmy Rohampton suggests Millennials look to social media to not only plan their vacation, but what to actually do when they arrive. Rohampton cites Morrison’s article, saying Millennials often dream about traveling while on social media. This could be looked at in two ways, the simplest being, as Rohampton mentions, that Millennials are not accustomed to living in a time without the internet. If they want to vacation, they use the internet to research popular spots, book flights, reserve hotel rooms, and so on.
The other side is as presented in the Ford 2018 Trends Report, where nearly half of the respondents between 18 and 29 say social media makes them doubt themselves. That finding appears under the report’s “Mending the Mind” category, which also reveals 65 percent of those 18 to 29 feel more stressed today than a year ago. Could the constant social media streams be a factor? And could that depression manifest itself through escape fantasies disguised as seemingly harmless travel plans?
According to the World Health Organization, more than 300 million people suffer from depression globally. On average, more women are affected than men.
Proper Considerations
We look hard at Millennials here, but any generational cohort can fall into this; consider today’s travel postings on social media yesterday’s columns on the topic in the newspaper. As a Generation Xer, I can relate, although I tend to gravitate toward music to let my stress go, but things like this are relative. If I cranked up Lithium, Sirius XM 34, to show my rebellious nature, I’m hardly different than someone in the Swing Era who spent their evenings in the company of Glenn Miller, Cab Calloway, and Benny Goodman. The thought of dancing to those loud orchestras in a fine suit with a beautiful dame!? Jackleg degenerates the whole of them!
But seriously, members of my generation are on social media too. And if Millennials are fantasizing about travel when using social media, than it’s likely other generational cohorts are too. Given that we know the link between social media and depression, are we surfing through, looking at photos of the beach and wishing that were somehow our own reality? Or photos of other people and wishing we were them? If the answer is yes, it might be time for a social media break in 2018 with, of all things, a vacation. A vacation from social media.
Generational Megaphones
My only personal social media presence is through Facebook. That is to say was through Facebook. Like many, I enjoyed keeping up with my my friends, seeing who was getting engaged, or who was expecting a child, or which car they were going to tinker with next. Through Facebook, I could keep with with them as they lived their lives.
Then the darker side.
As one photographer friend of mine puts it, everything bad in this world is given a microphone through social media. Don’t fit in at school and are different? Now the world is closing in, one heartless comment at a time. Struggling to make ends meet and fighting to stay afloat? One swipe down the news feed and it’s like everyone’s grass is infinitely greener, even if they overly polish that white picket fence to convince others it’s really white. Don’t subscribe to a certain religious, cultural, or political viewpoint? Well. Look out.

Historic Theaters & Shopping Bins
My breakup with social media has taken some time, admittedly. The wheels began turning in late 2016 when I attended a show at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. About halfway through Chris Janson’s set, I realized my face was buried in Snapchat the entire time. I was at the greatest venue in country music, but spending more time looking at my phone sending pictures than enjoying the concert. The thing is, most everyone else in there my age was doing the same thing. It was only the older country fans who were watching the stage, their hands devoid of any cellular device.
At that point in time, I was more concerned with what my friends thought of my stellar seats. I pictured telling my grandchildren one day, “I had the best seats in the house but didn’t really see Janson perform Buy Me A Boat or any other song.” When people asked me how the show went, I felt slightly wrong telling them it was awesome, since I spent half of it on Snapchat. Imagine telling those on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in 1969 their Bic lighters were about to be replaced by something called an Android. Imagine the responses you might get. “Here, watch Jefferson Airplane and Joe Cocker through this handheld screen.”
Another critical moment came on a recent “Christmas shopping date” that involved Meijer and Hot Wheels cars. Random, I know. You know you’re from Michigan when you take her to Meijer to look at Hot Wheels. The date was a blast and we ended up digging through a bin with hundreds of Hot Wheels inside. Literally hundreds. A treasure trove of goodness. People passed by with their carts, looking at us like we were crazy, but you haven’t seen anything until you see a Michigan girl dig through a bin of toy cars with nicely manicured nails.
We found a Corvette Z06, Pontiac Firebird, Ford Raptor, and a Dodge Charger. I posted a picture of our impressive horsepower finds on my Facebook page and almost immediately regretted it. Even though it was a run to Meijer, something us Michiganders do on the daily, a level of intimacy was lost. When we are tempted to broadcast everything on social media, it can leave few memories for ourselves.

Making The Cut
But Carl, you need social media to be successful and to network and to find jobs. No you don’t. People were successful long before the digital age. Entire industrial empires from Ford to Boeing to Standard Oil were built before computers. Automoblog, like many other publications, has the usual social media channels for marketing and promotion, but I do not run them. We have a dedicated staff member responsible for our social media. Despite holding a partnership here and our Detroit desk, I don’t know the password to our Instagram account. I don’t want to.
Here at home, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is the highest paid player in the National Football League and he has not a single social media account. Jennifer Lawrence, star of the popular Hunger Games series, tells People “if you ever see a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter that says it’s me, it most certainly is not.” Actress Kate Winselt believes social media forces young women to mold themselves into something they are not so they will be accepted. Perhaps this is partly why the World Health Organization finds depression is more common in women?
What continues to alarm is how we may be looking through our feeds to escape our circumstances; that is worrisome. And like many others, I have fallen victim to that too. But not anymore. In 2018, my resolve is to not live through a social media lens. If I travel, I will focus simply on the beauty of the scenery rather than trying to upload photos of it. Sould I see a show, I will enjoy the music rather than a trying to post a quick video to my story. If I go on a date (let’s hope), I will have the freedom to enjoy that intimacy, without worrying how many “likes” I get.
“I like having privacy,” Stafford told ESPN Staff Writer Michael Rothstein in August. “I like having a personal life.”
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation and studies Mechanical Engineering at Wayne State University.
Via Adweek: Social Media and Travel Go Hand in Hand.
Via Forbes: Does Social Media Make Millennials Want To Travel More?
Via ESPN: Meet the Matthew Stafford known only by his inner circle.
Via People: 15 Celebs Who Are Really, Really Not Into Social Media.

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Chevrolet Introduces Centennial Edition Trucks, Kicks Off 100-Day Celebration

Chevrolet Introduces Centennial Edition Trucks, Kicks Off 100-Day Celebration

This week at the State Fair of Texas, Chevrolet commemorated a century of truck production by announcing a 100-day commeration, two new special editions, and the Truck Legends customer loyalty program.
“The Chevy Trucks Centennial is a huge milestone for us, and is equally important to our customers,” said Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet Trucks Advertising and Marketing Director. “That’s why we will be celebrating 100 years of Chevy Trucks over the course of the next 100 days.”
Along with the special edition trucks and customer loyalty program, Chevy is also releasing new, branded merchandise through ChevyGearUSA.com and planning a Centennial Celebration on December 16th.
2018 Centennial Editions
The 2018 Silverado and Colorado Centennial Editions feature design elements from Chevy trucks of yesteryear, in particular the Centennial Blue paint, vintage bowtie emblems, and throwback badges.
“The Silverado and Colorado Centennial Editions were a collaboration between Chevrolet Design, Engineering, and Marketing, to commemorate the history of Chevy trucks,” said Rich Scheer, Chevrolet Trucks Director of Exterior Design. “Both vehicles offer our most enthusiastic fans a way to demonstrate their love for Chevy trucks and celebrate the Chevy Trucks Centennial with us.”
The Silverado Centennial Edition is available on the LTZ Z71 crew cab. The Colorado Centennial Edition is offered on Z71 crew and extended cab variants. Silverado Centennial Editions will arrive in October, with Colorado Centennial Editions following in November. A special 1967 C-10 show vehicle commemorating the 100-year milestone will be displayed during the State Fair of Texas through October 22nd; it will then head to SEMA in late October.
The 1967 C10 Centennial SEMA Truck has a similar design when compared to the 2018 Centennial Edition Silverado and Colorado. Photo: Chevrolet.
Truck Legends Nationwide
The Truck Legends program recognizes customers who own a Chevy truck with more than 100,000 miles, or who have purchased or leased more than one new Chevy truck in their lifetime. Chevy Truck Legends was launched as a Texas-only pilot in September 2016, but has grown to a community of more than 5,400 Chevy truck enthusiasts. Truck Legends members have opportunities to receive front row seats at concerts, passes to Major League Baseball events, and previews of new Chevy models.
Superb Celebration
The 100-day Centennial Celebration will conclude with an official Chevy Trucks Centennial Celebration event on Saturday, December 16th at Texas Motor Speedway. Attendees can meet celebrities like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and experience the latest Chevy vehicles. The event is free but space is limited to invitation only. Truck Legends members will be the first to receive more information on the celebration and invitations.
“It’s important that we share this celebration with our loyal customers who have helped us achieve this accomplishment,” Piszar added.
2018 Chevy Silverado Centennial Edition on display at the 2017 Luke Bryan Farm Tour, Baldwin City, Kansas. Photo: Carl Anthony for Automoblog.net.

Performance Milestones
The first Chevy trucks – the half-ton Light Delivery and the One-Ton – hit the market in 1918. Both featured an open chassis behind the windshield. This allowed customers the option to build a specialized body to better match their profession. The 1918 Chevrolet One-Ton truck featured a four-cylinder engine rated at 36 horsepower with a top speed of 25 mph. By contrast, the current Silverado 1500 offers three different engines: a 4.3 V6, 5.3 V8, and a 6.2 V8. The latter creates 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft. of torque.
Prior to 1918, Chevy built specialized trucks but only to serve their factories. To date, General Motors has sold over 85 million trucks with a bowtie.

Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Centennial Edition Highlights
Silverado
LTZ Z71 trim; Crew Cab
Front and rear heritage bowtie emblems
100 year door badge
Spray-in bedliner with heritage bowtie emblem
Accessory floor liners with heritage bowtie emblems
Centennial Blue exterior paint
22” painted wheels with chrome inserts
22” all-terrain tires
Chrome tow hooks
Chrome bowtie on steering wheel
Colorado
Z71 rim; Crew Cab and Extended Cab
Front and rear heritage bowtie emblems
100 year door badge
Spray-in bedliner with heritage bowtie emblem
Accessory floor liners with heritage bowtie emblems
Centennial Blue exterior paint
Body-Color rear bumper and front grille surround
LT Optional 18” wheels with monochromatic cap
Chrome tow hooks, belt molding, mirror caps and door handles
Centennial Edition Gallery

Photos & Source: Chevrolet.

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