Automotive

2018 Buick Enclave Premium AWD Review

2018 Buick Enclave Premium AWD Review

Buick’s largest premium crossover gets new upgrades for 2018. The second-generation Enclave raises the bar in the styling and technology departments, and is slightly longer than last year with additional legroom for rear passengers. We’ll see why it’s an appealing choice for a luxury three-row crossover SUV.
This week, we’ve been driving the 2018 Buick Enclave Premium AWD.
What’s New For 2018
The Buick Enclave gets a full redesign for 2018. In addition to a sizable list of improvements, Buick has introduced a new, top-of-the-line Avenir version. The Enclave’s wheelbase has grown, the roofline is lower, and the windshield is more angled. Vehicle weight has dropped and the use of LED lighting has increased.
Features & Options
The 2018 Buick Enclave Premium AWD ($50,315) comes standard with LED headlights, a power hands-free tailgate, keyless ignition, pushbutton start, heated power front seats, three-zone automatic climate control, and 18-inch wheels. The eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Premium trims get perforated leather seat upholstery, lane-change alert, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Premium trims also come standard with a 10-speaker Bose audio system, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, front/rear parking sensors, power third-row seats, and forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking.
Options on this Premium tester included the dual front and rear moonroof ($1,400), 20-inch aluminum wheels ($1,400), rear camera mirror ($825), White Frost Tricoat paint ($995), Trailering Equipment ($650), and an HD Cooling System ($495). Total MSRP including destination: $57,055.

Interior Highlights
Elegant yet subtle is how we would describe the interior, featuring a rich cockpit that blends technology with tastefulness. The cabin’s fit and finish excels and offers impressive comfort. We like especially like the upgraded perforated leather, the heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats. The electronic instruments and display screens appear in an expressive sweep across the dashboard, giving it a contemporary feel. We think Buick’s IntelliLink is among the most user-friendly infotainment interfaces, unlike many other luxury crossovers on the market.
We found the first and second rows had plenty of room for adults with good head clearance and leg space. Power front seats are supportive and comparatively firm. Out back, second-row bucket seats slide fore/aft to expand either leg or cargo space. The optional dual-pane sunroof even offered sizable headroom for taller passengers.
Out back, the Enclave’s second-row captain’s chairs pivot for easy access to the third row, which provide ample space for even six-foot adults to sit comfortably. The second row is a place you won’t mind spending lots of travel time. Cargo space is also a strong point for Enclave, with 23.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row, growing to 58 cubes with the seat folded away. Cargo capacity reaches up to 97.6 cubic feet when the second-row seat backs are folded down.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The Buick Enclave is powered by GM’s latest 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft. of torque. Engine output has grown by 22 horsepower compared to the 2017 model, though torque has declined slightly. It’s mated to a quick-shifting 9-speed automatic. Our Enclave Premium tester came with optional all-wheel drive.
Fuel economy has significantly improved, yet falls behind some competitors. All-wheel drive models get an EPA-estimated 17/25 city/highway and 20 combined.
Driving Dynamics
The moment we got up to highway speed in the Enclave Premium, we noticed the cabin was especially quiet and the ride was smooth despite uneven pavement. The 3.6-liter V6 is strong, accelerates quicker, and has improved driving dynamics over its predecessor.
We especially liked the shift quality of the 9-speed automatic transmission during the mountain driving we did this week. Shifts were smooth and the engine never had to hunt for the right gear. We used the steering wheel paddle shifters along with a semi-manual mode for maximum control and a more sporty driving experience. Overall, the new Enclave has road manners that will satisfy even the pickiest luxury car buyers. The suspension yields a suitable, yet taut and firm ride that feels controlled. Through even the tight mountain corners, there is very little body lean.
Conclusion
The 2018 Buick Enclave is a sassy but luxurious three-row SUV. Its strong engine and satisfying ride further enhance its appeal. The Premium trim offers plenty of luxury and comes with a host of features to keep families feeling comfortable and safe on the road.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Buick Enclave Gallery

2018 Buick Enclave Official Site.
Photos: Buick.

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Cadillac Tests Super Cruise Feature On Cross-Country Drive

Cadillac Tests Super Cruise Feature On Cross-Country Drive

Nearly a century ago, Cadillac’s motto was “Standard Of The World” and they meant it. People around the globe believed it. Caddys were the kind of car Jay Gatsby or Al Capone or Nucky Thompson would tool around in and they would do so without any sense of compromise or modification or equivocation. For a very long while, Cadillacs were not the best American car you could get, they were simply the best car you could get. Period.
Multiple Ideas
Sadly, Cadillac hasn’t been able to say anything even close to that since gas rose above 25 cents a gallon. To American luxury car companies in general, and Cadillac specifically, a “good” car has two basic qualities: Comfort and presence. Everything else – stuff like efficiency, handling, performance – those aren’t even close to counting as much as feeling like your sitting on your couch while driving, and when you arrive at your destination, people notice that you have arrived.
So what now? Whither Cadillac? They’ve tried to keep up with all these annoying non-domestic trends like fuel efficiency and such. They’ve tried to keep up with the Germans and the Japanese. They’ve tried desperation Hail Mary passes like the Cimarron and the Catera. And failed. They’ve tried pragmatic all-American answers like the latest V-Series cars. And gotten it right (seriously, those things haul). But a sustaining through line, a common thread that leads to outright desirability year after year, seems to elude the “Standard Of The World.” Perhaps, just perhaps, now they’ve spotted a trend early and can jump on it and regain some of what was lost.
This trend is autonomous, or at least semi-autonomous driving. Now, and this is just my personal opinion, I don’t see why this is something to be desired. I’m one of those cerebrally-challenged gearheads that actually enjoys driving, so having the car do that for me doesn’t seem like much fun. Then again, if I were stuck in commuter traffic gridlock twice a day, I might reconsider my position.
Photo: Cadillac.
Hands Off Approach
Caddy’s dive into this semi-autonomous future is called Super Cruise. In a way, you could think of Super Cruise as another luxury feature that Cadillacs have always been drowning in. Super-comfy seats? Check. Auto-dimming rear view mirror? Check. Auto-high beams? Check. In a way, hands-free or semi-autonomous driving or whatever you want to call it could be seen as The Next luxury feature to have. Heading into the office to make your big presentation on The Bumstead Contract? Better go over it one more time; beep-boop, punch a few buttons and in the near future your Cadillac will keep on driving while you work.
And all this is just fine, theoretically, but, eventually systems like this will have to hit the roads in the real-world.
Cadillac has just taken that step for the first hands-free drive on the freeway using their Super Cruise technology, and, get this, they went from one side of the country to the other. This is no jaunt around the block, oh no. Twelve Super Cruise-equipped Cadillac CT6 vehicles departed from Cadillac House in New York City and drove to Los Angeles, California. The trip went through 16 states plus the District of Columbia, making stops in major cities across the country. It made for good PR and advertising plus as a proof of concept.
Photo: Cadillac.

Groundwork & Foundations
Super Cruise, which will be available this fall in the 2018 Cadillac CT6, is quite different from other driver assistance systems. Super Cruise utilizes a driver attention system and precision LiDAR map data to keep the car on path but the driver somewhat involved. Officially, Super Cruise is a “driver assistance feature” and not a fully autonomous system. But there’s no reason why, if this Super Cruise stuff works, that Caddy can’t expand on that foundation and move further along the path to fully autonomous driving at the flip of a switch.
So Caddy put a lot on this cross country jaunt of theirs and, impressively, they started at the deep end: The Super Cruise technology was demonstrated on New York City freeways. Given that driving on New York freeways, turnpikes, throughways, and other “roads” is like a cross between Frogger and Call Of Duty, I’ve got to hand it to Cadillac for not taking it easy on themselves. Just wait until some half-crazed, New York Rangers fan swerves across all five lanes directly in front of one of these Super Cruise equipped CT6s, jabbering out his window about the Stanley Cup Finals before diving off an exit ramp.
If Super Cruise can deal with that once every mile or so, then Cadillac will really have something.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias toward lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photos & Source: Cadillac.

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Letter From The UK: Saying Goodbye To An Epoch

Letter From The UK: Saying Goodbye To An Epoch

No one was more surprised than me when, just four days before the next big auto event, I decided not to go. As it turned out, I had made the right decision for the wrong reason. Others reported back there were too many car journalists and not enough vehicles to go around. A fifteen minute drive is way too insufficient to properly evaluate a car.
I am discontent. I decided not to go because I have become rather disillusioned with the whole business of car reviews. You see, I think a lot of the cars pouring out of the world’s manufacturing facilities are, frankly, as dull as ditch water.
Just Beyond Reach
It would be unfair of me to say they are bad cars; they are not. Mostly they are of exceptional quality with many safety features that were the stuff of science fiction not so long ago. Often they are smart and presentable but, and here’s the thing, they are not designed for drivers. For the most part, the driver might as well be piloting a motorised muffin. Stodgy is the word that comes to mind.
Perhaps I’m generalizing unfairly. Obviously there are still plenty of great cars around that will get the blood flowing and even make some people call for some new pants: The Ford Focus RS and the Audi TT both reinforce that point. The Ford is reasonably priced too, but many of the cars that truly excite are out of the financial reach of most of the car buying public who truly love the smells and sounds and sights of the open road.
Audi TT. Photo: DriveWrite Automotive.
Back To The Past
I do not think I am a lone voice crying “foul” into the wilderness either. I notice a lot of enthusiasts looking to the past for their driving kicks. They are buying up old cars in the full knowledge that emissions will be greater, fuel consumption higher, and comfort and reliability less assured. They buy them because it is a fun thing to do and that is what is lacking in the car industry today.
It’s all so damn worthy. Automakers lining up to offer products that tick all the boxes when it comes to saving the planet, which is fine, but they are forgetting to add the essential ingredient that delivers the true pleasure of driving. Adding subtle creases to the side of a mainstream SUV makes very little individual difference to a sector of the car market that all looks the same.
Take the Ford Edsel (and not many people did). It’s pretty ugly, true, and naming a car after a dead family member seems a little mawkish but you can’t miss it can you? If you put it in a line of traffic, especially here in the UK, it would look like a potentate’s barge being surrounded by canoes. And that’s my problem: Where’s the distinction now? Where are the different cars?
Some cars makers still have a go. Citroen, for example, seem to be going out of their way to make their vehicles more distinctive. By and large you can still tell a Citroen apart but even then, they are a bit lacking in the driving dynamics department. Sticking in France, Peugeot too had a go with the hugely enjoyable RCZ sports car. Fun, good to look at, handled well for a front-wheel driver, and it came with a faster, meaner, sibling, the RCZ-R. Sadly, after a while, the French spoilsports withdrew the model; couldn’t sell enough of them it seems. Making something good isn’t enough for the accountants.
In 1935, Edsel Ford founded the Ford Design Department to create cars that were as aesthetically pleasing as they were functional. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Double-Talk
The really sad thing is that the folk who truly know what I mean about a good drive are getting older. The younger demographic have no idea what that is; they just want to get around. The British public are also culpable. There is a sort of bovine acceptance. They seem happy with the over-hyped connectivity of the modern dashboard, judging by the number of people who are illegally using their smartphones and other devices whilst on the move.
The number of people killed on Britain’s roads has reached a five-year high, triggering fresh concerns over the use of mobile telephones and other distractions at the wheel and cuts to traffic police. It is the motor industry that has done this and now they are frantically developing anti-distraction measures. It’s senseless.
Sadly we are witnessing the dying embers of a fuel-burning epoch. Cars will never be the same. Sure, from time to time something special will come along but by and large, the car market will increasingly offer little boxes; little boxes that all look just the same and I honestly can’t be bothered. So my principle gripe still stands. In the rush to develop the “world” or “global” car, automakers have forgotten that some of us still like that handling feel, a dab of power, and at least some modest driving thrills.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Cover Photo: FCA US LLC.

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Class-Action Lawsuit Targets Ford, Bosch For Diesel Emissions Violations

Class-Action Lawsuit Targets Ford, Bosch For Diesel Emissions Violations Uh-oh, this could get really messy. Ford Motor Company and Bosch are being sued after being accused of conspiring to make diesel engines that cheat in order to comply with US market regulations. The class-action lawsuit is being brought on behalf of F-250 and F-350 owners, alleging both companies worked together to conceal the particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions of F-Series Super Duty diesels built between 2011 and 2017, in violation of the Clean Air Act.
The suit further alleges that engine software provided by Bosch allowed Ford to adjust engine parameters to reach optimum emissions during EPA testing. Once on the road in real life, the engines emittied over 50 times the legal limit of greenhouse gases and particulate matter. This could be a very big problem for both companies.
Similar Scenearios
The lawsuit, filed January 10th in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Michigan, claims Ford’s performance, power, and towing capabilities for the Super Duty are only obtained by switching off or turning down emissions controls when the software senses the vehicle is not in an emissions-testing environment. By and large, this is pretty much the same thing that Volkswagen was caught doing. VW ended up on the wrong end of $30 billion worth of fines, according to the latest report from Reuters.
It is alleged that what Ford and Bosch did was also on that scale. On top of everything else, this news hits the streets just before the launch of a diesel-powered F-150 and with the North American International Auto Show in Detroit right around the corner.
Emission Controls
Curiously, this is not all a software-based cheat. For a variety of various engineering reasons (i.e. wanting to get more power and torque for its new range of diesel engines) Ford deviated from the typical exhaust layout. Normally, the exhaust for a modern diesel goes from the cylinders to a particulate filter, then to the catalyst and then, as a final stage, to a urea injection system to treat the exhaust before being vented out the tailpipe. In an effort to get more power, Ford fiddles with the order. The dirty exhaust gas went through the catalyst first, then through the particulate filter and then it got the urea injection treatment.
All that is well and good, except that after going through the catalyst, the plaintiffs and their lawyers say Ford outright bypassed the particulate filter and dumped the undercooked particulate gunk straight out the tailpipe, and into the air we breath.
“Ford also deceived consumers in calling its diesel Super Duty trucks “fuel efficient,” and that without manipulating its software to turn off emissions controls, Ford could not have achieved the fuel economy it promises,” the lawsuit reads.
2017 Ford Super Duty. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Multiple Counts
The lawsuit hits Ford and Bosch with 58 counts of violating state consumer laws, false advertising laws, deceptive trade laws, as well as violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The lawsuit further states that Ford did not act alone and colluded with Bosch to evade emissions requirements for the sake of profit. The suit ultimately says it was an “organized scheme.”
It’s worth noting the law firm bringing this to court, Hagens Berman, is the same firm responsible for emissions lawsuits against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, and Volkswagen. Hagens Berman went so far as to conduct their own independent testing of the suspected 2011 through 2017 Ford Super Duty trucks. That’s where they found the emissions of harmful pollutants including the NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions up to 50 times the legal standard. They also say that even in average stop-and-go conditions, emissions are routinely as high as five times the standard.
“Our firm is the only law firm that has developed a system of independent research, including a team of dedicated scientists road-testing vehicles to uncover the next instance of emissions fraud that has blindsided consumers,” said Steve Berman, Managing Partner, Hagens Berman. “Ford has joined the ranks of Volkswagen, Fiat Chrysler, Mercedes, and GM in its scheme to rake in profits for diesels that pollute at levels too high to even legally sell in the U.S., all while charging a $8,400 premium over comparable gas Super Duty models,”
“Bosch takes the allegations of manipulation of the diesel software very seriously. It is a well-known fact that these allegations remain the subject of investigations and civil litigation involving Bosch,” Alissa Cleland, Spokesperson for North America, Robert Bosch GmbH, tells Automoblog via e-mail. “Bosch is cooperating with the continuing investigations in various jurisdictions, and is defending its interests in the litigation.”
Cleland added: “as a matter of policy, and due to the sensitive legal nature of these matters, Bosch will not comment further concerning matters under investigation and in litigation.”
We reached out to Ford Motor Company. Our request was returned by Michael Levine, the automaker’s Product Communications Manager for North America.
“All Ford vehicles, including those with diesel engines, comply with all U.S. EPA and CARB emissions regulations,” he said. “Ford vehicles do not have defeat devices. We will defend ourselves against these baseless claims.”
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.

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Mercedes-Benz GLS Grand Editions Headed To Detroit

Mercedes-Benz GLS Grand Editions Headed To Detroit If you’re a movie company executive or some sort of prince sitting on a literal ocean of oil, or an up-and-coming rapper, the Mercedes-Benz GLS Grand Edition is for you. I guess it’s also for you if you’re the sort of person that desires to live in a tract McMansion, and are still jealous over your neighbor’s gold scores. But what gives? What makes the Mercedes-Benz GLS Grand Edition so Grand in the first place?
Well there’s some stuff here and there that does distinguish it from its lesser brethren, but there are also a couple of glaring mistakes.
Two Strikes
First mistake: Grand. Isn’t that a Pontiac branding thing? Don’t they make Grand Ams and all that? Boy, somebody from Stuttgart better check in with the lawyers at PMD or using this “Grand” terminology . . . what’s that? Oh, right, right. Pontiac is out of business. Maybe that’s not a good sign. Maybe using self-aggrandizing terms like “Grand” isn’t a good move, selling too much sizzle and not enough steak, as it were.
Second mistake: Brown. Now, brown’s a great color and all that, and it does work well on interiors (brown leather and such) but brown as a paint color? Big mistake. And that’s the color I see on all the press photos from Mercedes-Benz for the GLS450. Yes, it will (better) come in other colors, which is great, because I distrust someone who thinks brown is a good color for a car. Brown cars never look clean. Not even Jay Leno can help you there.
Mercedes-Benz GLS450 4MATIC Grand Edition. Photo: MBUSA.
Safety & Performance
So what makes the Mercedes-Benz GLS Grand Edition so grand? First off, it’s all about the design direction. The Mercedes-Benz GLS aims to merge luxury with notable levels of comfort, along with nimble chassis dynamics (or as nimble as a huge box of an SUV can get), along with fully integrated safety systems. I have no doubt about their commitment to and execution of safety. Mercs are great in that respect. Built like bank vaults. Always have been, always will be.
The Grand Edition will be available for both engine-based models of the GLS, the GLS450 4MATIC and GLS550 4MATIC SUVs. That translates into a 4.5-liter V6 and a bigger block 5.5-liter V8. The GLS450 4MATIC puts out 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque; the GLS550 4MATIC is rated at 449 horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque.
Mercedes-Benz GLS550 4MATIC Grand Edition. Photo: MBUSA.
Lap of Luxury
The features that make the Grand Edition so exclusive focus on interior and exterior design elements. The very lavish interiors feature Porcelain and Espresso Brown and designo Nappa leather seats. The chairs also get an exclusive diamond quilting and special Budapest-design piping. And no, I have know idea what on Earth Budapest-design piping is or counts as, but Hungarians are interesting folks, so maybe the piping will be interesting too?
The interior uses open pore brown ash wood trim with light stripes and Nappa leather on the dashboard. The Grand Editions also come with standard ambient lighting and Espresso Brown velour floor mats. Mercedes-Benz goes perilously close to the edge of making the interior of the GLS Grand Edition look like a waterbed store from 1977, but thankfully they don’t tumble over.
On the outside, the GLS450 4MATIC comes with 20-inch, 10-spoke two-tone wheels and an advanced LED Intelligent Light System, while the big-block GLS550 4MATIC comes with 21-inch wheels and Active LED headlamps. Both are finished with special “Grand Edition” badging.

Not So Special Edition
Special “Grand Edition” badging . . . sigh, that’s how it all starts. And this is just a word of caution to Mercedes-Benz, because honestly, they don’t strike me as being a stupid car company, but stuff like special “Grand Edition” badging is what American car companies tried to pull during the height of the Malaise Era to make otherwise pointless cars seem special. Wanna make that Chevy into a Caddy, put in leather seats and slap on a crest with some ducks on it. Sales of the Mustang II less than what you’d like? No worries, just give it a hideous trim package and call it the Cobra II! I know this goes without saying, but do not do that Mercedes-Benz. You’re better than that, and we, the customer are better than that and we all know it.
Photo: MBUSA.
In Person
If, for some reason, you want to let the world know just how special you are, then perhaps, just perhaps, the Mercedes-Benz GLS Grand Edition is the ride for you. The Detroit show is right around the corner (that would be the North American International Auto Show), so expect to see the Grand Edition’s official reveal then. It will be available and in dealers by mid-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: MBUSA.

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Honda Insight Prototype To Debut In Detroit

Honda Insight Prototype To Debut In Detroit
Hey, remember the Honda Insight? It was that oddly shaped little two-seater that was the first production hybrid in America (sorry Toyota) that silently slipped away only to be replaced by a rather Prius-esque shaped thing. Well, it’s back, and this time around, 99 percent of the oddities and problems are ironed out and Honda is starting to make a pretty big deal about it.
The Honda Insight Prototype will take to the stage for the first time at this year’s North American International Auto Show, in beautiful (but cold) Detroit.
Prototypes & Precursors
Yes, Honda calls it a prototype, but they seem serious about bringing it to dealers by 2019. They call the Honda Insight Prototype a “precursor to the all-new 2019 Honda Insight.” So be it. Honda says the 2019 Insight will be an upscale and stylish five-passenger sedan, situated above the Civic in Honda’s car lineup. The future Insight will use Honda’s latest generation of their two-motor hybrid system.
The 2019 Insight will take an entirely new approach with styling versus the second-gen Insight from 2009. The ’09 was a 5-door, 5-passenger design with increased space and utility, and was one of the market’s more affordable hybrids. What’s also true is that Jeremy Clarkson hated the things, and not because it’s a green hybrid (Clarkson’s about as green as a Harkonnen). No, he disliked the Insights because the build quality was shabby. When was the last time you heard that about a Honda?
Funny thing is, I heard the same thing from other people. A car-friend of mine rented one on a business trip. He’s a Mercedes/German car guy and a person of very high standards, and he was floored by how cheap everything was. He said it was especially galling, given that it was a Honda.
Honda Insight Prototype. Photo: Honda North America.
Green Desires
Fast-forward to the North American International Auto Show and the 2019 Insight which will be unveiled there. The 2019 Insight is said to take an entirely new approach to styling, packaging, premium features, and overall performance that many mainstream car buyers require these days. Honda says it will be a “hybrid vehicle without any inherent compromise.”
“You won’t have to be an electrification advocate to appreciate the new Insight – it’s a great car in its own right, independent of what’s happening under the hood,” said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., Senior VP of Automobile Sales and GM of the Honda Division in America. “The all-new Insight embodies Honda’s approach to creating electrified vehicles without the typical tradeoffs.”
Arcangeli went on to say that “at the 2017 North American International Auto Show we announced our Honda Electrification Initiative with the intention to make two-thirds of Honda’s global vehicle sales electrified vehicles by 2030. With the Insight launching later in 2018 as the fifth electrified vehicle brought to market over the past year, we’re demonstrating our commitment to that goal.” Two-thirds? Impressive. Honda plainly sees where the economic, regulatory, and ecological winds are blowing and show no signs of being caught flat-footed.

Manufacturing & Availability
The Insight will be manufactured at Honda’s Greensburg, Indiana plant, alongside the Civic and CR-V. It will join the Clarity series (Clarity Fuel Cell, Clarity Electric, and Clarity Plug-in Hybrid), and the 2018 Accord Hybrid as part of Honda’s green fleet. The Insight will be arriving at dealerships nationwide early 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.
Photos & Source: Honda North America.

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The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC: Mama Mia!

The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC: Mama Mia! All-wheel drive, zero-emission racer features Nissan’s latest electric vehicle technology.
Nissan plans to build six LEAF NISMO RC vehicles to deploy around the world for fans to see.
Now that’s what I’m talkin about! Being kind to Mother Earth is all well and good, but you want to sell electric vehicles? Make them fun! The best way to make a car fun is to go out and race it, and this, the LEAF NISMO RC from Nissan, looks as much fun as a big electric go kart.
Sign. Us. Up!
First Of Its Kind – Kinda
The new electric racer from Nissan has more than double the max power and torque than its predecessor had. Wait, there was a predecessor? How come I didn’t know about this? How come we didn’t get one in at One Automoblog Towers for testing? Ha, alas, but this new one? Mama mia!
Power & Performance: Two Is Better Than One
The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC is powered by two electric motors, one at each end of the chassis. Combined, the motors produce 240 kilowatts and send an astounding 472 lb-ft. of torque to the wheels. And yes, since this is an EV, all that torque starts at zero RPM. Curiously, the drivetrain tech comes from the new Nissan Leaf, including the high-capacity lithium-ion battery and the power inverters.
The all-wheel drive system gives the LEAF NISMO RC the cornering ability to match all that torque. The power is managed independently to each axle, providing torque to whichever tire has the most grip. The battery pack sits amidships, and the electric motors and inverters are ideally placed over the front and rear tires.
This is a race car, so of course, Nissan has lightened things wherever they could. A full carbon-fiber racing monocoque structure means it tips the scales at just 2,700 lbs. Impressive, given how heavy batteries can be. This breaks down to a zero to 60 time of just 3.4 seconds. Think of how much guilt-free fun that could be!
The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC on display during its unveiling in November in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Styling & Design: Looking The Part
Since this is not just a race car, but a Japanese race car, the whole thing looks like something Brian O’Conner would drive to a Neon Evangelion cosplay convention in the Ginza. Nissan talks about the “more aggressive exterior,” and I ain’t gonna argue. The hood is long, the grille is that ugly signature V-motion deal, and the front end has been totally restyled. It’s all silver and black with NISMO red accents, aping the look of the company’s Formula E car.
The front and rear sections of the three-piece bodywork are removable but the windows are fixed in place. LED headlights and tail lights adorn both ends and there’s an adjustable rear wing. The whole thing is as ugly, and no doubt as effective as a Sten Gun.
Careful where you point it.
Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
In Person
Nissan will be showing off the LEAF NISMO RC at Formula E races and major auto shows. A smart marketing move considering the growing popularity of Formula E. Nissan plans to build six LEAF NISMO RC vehicles to deploy around the world for fans to see.
All this sounds good, but what’s really missing here Nissan is a street version of the LEAF NISMO RC. Yes, yes, I know. Marketing plans, blah-blah-blah, corporate image, yadda-yadda-yadda – I don’t care: Sell me one. With license plates. Please?
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: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

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Seven Female Drivers Set For Formula E Test In Saudi Arabia

Seven Female Drivers Set For Formula E Test In Saudi Arabia The 2018 Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix takes place on December 15th.
The additional test session was encouraged by the local promoter.
Saudi Arabia lifted a ban on women drivers last June.
Formula E is interesting. It’s a good way to advance electric vehicle tech and it keeps us entertained with lots of racing action. Sure, it’s still working out some of the technical kinks, but racing series are always in that position. And now, Formula E has gone and done something very interesting by having seven female racers competing in an open test session in one of the most unlikely of venues: Saudi Arabia.
According to Reuters, at least seven female drivers will take part in the Formula E test on December 16th, the day after the season-opening race on the streets of Ad Diriyah, near Riyadh.
A Different Culture
Saudi Arabia is about as progressive concerning women’s equality as rural Portugal in 1409. We would have said screw these guys ages ago if they weren’t sitting on top of an ocean of our oil, but they are. So we generally turn a blind eye to these fundamentalist creeps literally flogging you, by law, for spending time with the opposite sex, being gay, bringing liqueur chocolates into the country, and driving if you’re a woman.
Wait, scratch that last one. As of a little while ago, women can finally get a driver’s license in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Still, here we are; in a country dependent on the internal combustion engine for its wealth and power that looks at 51 percent of its population as little more than sentient property, now having an electric vehicle race with a whole bunch of women drivers.
The Real Deal
And no, in case you’re feeling contrarian, this is not just some kind of a stunt. And no, these are not some also-ran paid hacks sitting in the cockpit. So in there with the likes of Gary Paffett and Sebastien Buemi and Felipe Massa we see names like, oh, Dutch racer Beitske Visser, IndyCar racer and Formula Atlantic triple winner Katherine Legge and another Indy racer, Simona de Silvestro.
The women confirmed for the Saudi Arabia test include Colombian Tatiana Calderon, an official test driver for the Sauber Formula One team. She will be running for the DS Techeetah team. Visser will be with BMWi Andretti Motorsport, wtih Legge and Jamie Chadwick testing for the Mahindra and NIO teams respectively. Swiss racer de Silvestro will test for Venturi and Spaniard Carmen Jorda for the Nissan e.dams team.
I was in Long Beach when Legge won in Atlantics there. It was her first race ever in the series, and she won right out of the gate. I just happened to be in the paddock with her boss, garrulous Australian Kevin Kalkhoven, when she crossed the line. I thought the guy was going to die from the sheer joy of it all. It’s also worth noting that Legge handles adversity with a disarming level of cool.
Katherine Legge.
Legge Walks Away
In 2006, the rear wing failed on her car going through the kink at Road America at an ungodly velocity. She slammed into the wall and reduced the car down to the bare tub in a fraction of a second, tumbling end over end. She came to rest upside down. When the safety crew righted the tub, she popped out, took off her helmet, shook out her hair, waved to the crowed, and beamed her huge smile.
Then my phone rang.
“Did you see that?”
It was my dad. “Did you see that,” he repeated.
“You watching the IndyCar race,” I asked, rhetorically.
“Yeah, but did you see that?”
“You mean Katherine Legge’s accident just now?”
“Yeah, that! My god, I’ve never seen anything like that! And that was a gal driving – a gal!” [My dad was a touch on the chauvinistic side.] “I thought he-er she was dead! I mean dead. I’ve never seen anything like that! And it was a gal!”
2018 Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix track map.
Fast & Furious
Speaking of fast, Simona de Silvestro. When she first raced Indy cars, she seemed to have two modes: Running up front or (literally) on fire. She’s fast, but used to have a tendency toward recklessness of the flaming variety. Seriously, the first three accidents I saw her in ended up with the car on fire. She’d just shrug and walk away, more pissed than anything.
Curiously, there’s also “locals” like Amna Al Qubaisi (from the UAE) running in this Saudi test session on the streets of Ad Diriyah (all FormE races are on street circuits). She was the first Arab woman to qualify for the Formula 4 Championship. “How did you get started in racing?” would be my first question to Mz. Amna Al Qubaisi.
Talk about playing on a tilted field.
New Times Ahead?
This racing business is stacked against women to a sickening extent, even though that is slowly changing. Chauvinistic doesn’t begin to describe it – shoot, women weren’t even allowed to set foot into Gasoline Alley at Indy until 1971! I, for one, am ready to see more women get involved in this sport at all levels. And if it gets a bunch of easily threated whiny little boys all upset, then too bad.
And if it has to start in places as unenlightened as Saudi Arabia, then I’m fine with that too.
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.

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2020 Hyundai Palisade: If The B-52 Were An SUV

2020 Hyundai Palisade: If The B-52 Were An SUV The 2020 Hyundai Palisade makes its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
With seating for eight, it will likely be a top choice for larger and/or growing families.
But it ain’t super pretty to look at. Yes, it has a lot of on-board technology. But that front end!
Okay, SUVs are The Thing, I get that. Everybody has to make SUVs, I get that too. And everybody has to make a range of SUVs, up to and including big giant ones. I get that also. However, those are reasons, not an excuse. But this, the 2020 Hyundai Palisade?
There’s no excuse for this.
Sure, it’s as functional as a hammer, but boy, this thing is ugly.
Left Swipe
In the Air Force, people refer to the B-52 as the BUFF, Big Ugly Fat Fellow (change that “Fellow” out for another word that begins with “F” and isn’t polite to say on a family website such as Automoblog). And that, sadly, describes most of the 2020 Hyundai Palisade. Sure, it’s not ugly from every angle, but it is Big and Fat from every angle.
And that front end? Egads! It’s like someone from Lexus said, “Beat that!” and the design team from Hyundai said, “Hold My Beer.” I swear to Mireuk, the Palisade’s front end would look better after you ran it into a bridge abutment. I will say I really like the name Palisade though. It’s kinda classy and reminds me of that Freddy Cannon song written by Gong Show creator and alleged CIA hit man, Chuck Barris.
That’s the bad news, overall, but what’s the good news? First off, you know this thing is going to work. Hyundai calls it a mid-sized SUV, but taping in at over 16 feet, I’ll defer to my own eyes in this case. It looks immense and bulky and ungainly, which mean there’s lots of room inside.
Related: The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is functional and much better looking.
2020 Hyundai Palisade front end. Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Interior Treatments: Convenience & Accessibility
The interior aims to combine a sense of “relaxation and comfort” in a “serene environment” for eight (count em) eight passengers. Premium quilted Nappa leather is on offer and the instrument panel is layered in smooth wood grain. The second row seats move forward and out of the way via a button for access to the third row. The third row itself has power-folding/unfolding and reclining seats.
Second-row captain’s chairs are also available for the 2020 Hyundai Palisade, if you want to go that way.
There’s a conversation mirror for the driver to clearly see passengers in the rear. This is a nice way of saying, you can keep the little nippers occupied and monitored using standard equipment.

Interior Treatments: Tech-Focused
There’s a Blind View Monitor as part of the standard Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist system. It gives you a nice side view whenever you hit the turn signal. The multimedia stuff is, as one would expect, comprehensive. There’s a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch fully-digital TFT center cluster with various view modes.
Hyundai put in their latest navigation system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a Qi wireless charging pad. Two Bluetooth devices can be connected simultaneously while every Palisade has a total of seven USB outlets. And, of utmost importance: 16 cup holders!
It reminds me of that Freddy Cannon song written by Gong Show creator and alleged CIA hit man, Chuck Barris.Click To TweetPhoto: Hyundai Motor America.
Power & Performance: Snow Mode Included
All this heft is powered by a not-small and not-all-that-bad of an engine. An Atkinson-cycle 3.8-liter V6 (dual CVVT/ direct-injection) putting out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft. of torque. The power is delivered to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic with both two-wheel and HTRAC four-wheel drive options.
Gear selection is a shift-by-wire affair, meaning it automatically puts the vehicle into park when the engine is off and the driver opens the door.
The HTRAC system also has a Snow Mode, with an electronic, variable-torque-split clutch and active torque control between the front and rear. In other words, Snow Mode regulates front and rear torque distribution, left and right wheel slip, engine torque, and shift patterns according to available traction levels.
Normal, Sport, and Smart modes are in addition to Snow Mode.
Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Pricing & Availability
Pricing was not announced, but that should be coming down the pike pretty soon. The 2020 Hyundai Palisade could be a good, solid, if ugly choice for your (family) hauling needs. Expect it at dealers next summer.
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.
2020 Hyundai Palisade Gallery

Photos & Source: Hyundai Motor America.

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