2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T: The T Stands For Terrific

2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T: The T Stands For Terrific

Whoa, whoa, whoa – hold up here chief! What’s this? Has Porsche somehow come to their senses? Out of nowhere, they’ve rolled out the 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T and, without a sense of irony or deceit, say up front: “Less weight, more performance.” Praise Doktor Ferdinand! Blessed are his accelerations and his braking. Sanctified is his commitment to engineering and precision. Gearheads, we got a hot one!
More Than Words
The Weissach bunch say the 2018 911 Carrera T is “reinvigorating the concept of the puristic 911” and I, for one, am overjoyed about this direction because this is not just ad-speak from the Marketingabteilung. The 911 Carrera T (the “T” stands for Touring for some reason) has less weight, a manual transmission (huzzah!), and a shorter constant transaxle ratio. Wait, there’s more! A standard mechanical rear differential lock is also in the mix along with several hot rod, performance-boosting features that are not available on the standard (some might say lesser) 911 Carreras. You get the PASM Sport Suspension with the ride height dropped 0.39-inches (10 mm), a shortened gear lever for quicker throws, and optional rear-axle steering not available for the standard 911 Carrera.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America.
Light & Tight
Based on the 370 horsepower 911 Carrera Coupe, the Carrera T is focused on being light and sporty. The rear windshield and rear side windows are made of lightweight glass, while door opener loops on the inside replace the conventional door openers, harkening back to the 911 RS of old. Sound insulation? There’s still some here and there, but it has been significantly reduced. All of this adds up to the 911 Carrera T tipping the scales at 3,142 lbs., the lightest model in the 911 Carrera range. Yes, that is no where near the (right around) 2,000 lbs. 1973 911 RS, but modern times mean modern truths, like impact standards and airbags and door beams. But so be it. Light means right, and if I have to explain that to you, then I can’t even . . .
Exterior Treatments
Porsche also wants the new 911 Carrera T to look the part. This is no stripped down sleeper. The 2018 Carrera T is fitted with an aerodynamically improved front spoiler lip; the SportDesign exterior mirrors are painted Agate Grey. The vehicle’s side profile features big, 20-inch Carrera S wheels painted Titanium Grey, and a rather groovy stripe with the model designation. Speaking of that Agate Grey color, Porsche has also seen fit to splash it on the rear decklid louvers, the Porsche logotype, and model designation “911 Carrera T” (that’s the script for all you old school types). The Sport Exhaust System, which is standard (duh), comes with black tips.
Your color options are Lava Orange, Black, Guards Red, Racing Yellow, White, and Miami Blue, along with the trad metallic colors: Carrera White, Jet Black, and GT Silver. Obviously you should go with GT Silver since this is a German car. I’d normally say White, but Porsche is a newer German car company, so the old racing colors do not apply in Porsche’s case.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America.


Interior Appointments
The interior of the 911 Carrera T is fitted with black, 4-way electrically adjustable seats called “Sport Seats Plus,” complete with Sport-Tex centers. More the pity. All those motors and wiring add weight. I would love to see simple levers and such to adjust my seating position. The headrests are embroidered with a black “911” logo, which is a nice touch. And if you order the optional Full Bucket Seats, a first on a 911 Carrera, the rear seats are deleted. So order the Full Bucket Seats.
The standard GT Sport Steering wheel is trimmed in leather and fitted with a switch for driving mode selection. The gear lever is shortened and sports a red embossed shift pattern reserved for the 911 Carrera T. If you want to get all fancy, contrasting colors in Racing Yellow, Guards Red or GT Silver are new and can be had, along with additional accents for the seat belts, “911” logo on the headrests, door opener loops, and seat centers.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America.
Power & Performance
Way, way out back sits a twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six engine, putting out 370 horsepower and 339 lb-ft. of torque. Nice! Combine that plant with the manual transmission, shorter constant transaxle ratio, and the mechanical rear diff lock, and you hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. Top speed is 182 mph! If you want to, you can opt for the PDK semi-auto transmission, which will scoot you to 60 mph in 4 seconds using the standard launch control. The downside of the PDK (besides weight) is the top speed being “only” 180 mph.
You can order your 2018 911 Carrera T now, and it’s expected to reach U.S. dealers in March. Cost? Well (cough) the base MSRP is $102,100, which, you know, ain’t cheap. But who cares? Buy one! Buy one! Buy one! Then give us a ring at One Automoblog Towers in Detroit so we can, uh, “evaluate” your 2018 911 Carrera T for you.
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.
2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T Gallery











Photos & Source: Porsche Cars North America.



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Kia Offers Performance-Oriented Test Drives For SEMA Attendees

Kia Offers Performance-Oriented Test Drives For SEMA Attendees

Kia jumped into SEMA this year in a big way by offering attendees a chance to experience the new Stinger GT. The sportback, due next month, was tested extensively on the Nürburgring circuit. Kia’s performance car offers a rigid, stiff chassis, an advanced 8-speed automatic, and a number of aerodynamic advancements to reduce wake turbulence and move air over the vehicle. With the available 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 Lambda II engine, the Stinger arrives with more power than the Audi S5 Sportback, BMW 440i Gran Coupe, and Infiniti Q50.
Meaningful Experiences
While at SEMA this year, attendees can actually feel the Stinger’s capabilities as professional Formula Drift drivers take them through a unique autocross course outside the Las Vegas Convention Center. The drivers will be doing drift and other handling demonstrations in the new Stinger as attendees ride along. Following that, attendees can take the wheel of the Stinger GT to experience the autocross course firsthand, as well as a 0 to 60 launch. Such demonstrations are always a lot of fun – we enjoy them when we get the chance ourselves – and for Kia, this year’s SEMA show is particularly meaningful.
“We are so thrilled to show off what Kia has become at SEMA because 2017 is a momentous year for our Kia brand,” explained Justin Sohn, President and CEO of Kia Motors America. “We ranked number one in quality for the second year in a row in JD Power’s Initial Quality Study, we are top three in Consumer Reports reliability, and we are now introducing the all-new, 2018 four-door Stinger Sports Fastback, Kia’s fastest ever and our first performance vehicle.”
Stinger GT Wide Body. Photo: Kia Motors America.
Stinger GT Wide Body
In addition to the drive demonstrations, Kia is displaying three different vehicles at SEMA. The first is the Stinger GT Wide Body, inspired by ’70s era GT cars. Kia teamed with West Coast Customs for this beautiful pearl blue rig which includes a lowered suspension, 21-inch Keen forged wheels, and quad-port exhaust tips. Inside, the Stinger GT Wide Body features custom blue leather seat piping, a distinct hand-stitched gray leather dash panel, and an alcantara-wrapped steering wheel.
Stinger GT Federation
The second of three vehicles is another take on the Stinger, billed as the GT Federation. This Stinger variant features a number of aftermarket performance parts and accessories, and signals Kia’s intent on making such parts available. The exterior accent kits by Air Design USA include a rear spoiler, rear diffuser, and redesigned hood vents. A K&N cold-air intake and a low-restriction, quad-tipped Borla exhaust are also characteristic of this Stinger variant. These accessories add another 15 horsepower to the V6 Lambda II engine.
Stinger GT Federation. Photo: Kia Motors America.


Cadenza Obsidian
Last but certainly not least: a special Kia Cadenza Obsidian with a lowered suspension, stiffer springs, and custom 20-inch gloss-black Keen wheels. Attendees will notice the Cosmic Copper trim, black metallic paint, and ultra-dark ceramic window tint. Inside, the Cadenza Obsidian has a hand-stitched suede dashboard top panel, butter-soft brown leather seats with suede inserts, and brown suede door panels. Kia also worked with West Coast Customs for this Cadenza variant.
SEMA Information
The SEMA Show runs until November 3rd at the Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration begins at 7:30am with the exhibits and New Products Showcase going until 5 and 6pm, respectively. More information regarding hours, floor plans, and special events can be found on the SEMA Show’s website.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. 
Stinger GT Wide Body Gallery








Stinger GT Federation Gallery











Cadenza Obsidian Gallery








Photos & Source: Kia Motors America.



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Letter From The UK: A Car of Our Own

Letter From The UK: A Car of Our Own


“This is Meg. Meg is our car.” This statement appeared on a Twitter feed near to me, accompanied by a photograph of a five-year-old Ford Focus. Meg is very clean and takes pride of place in their driveway. Meg, it is clear, is as much a part of the family as the dog or a difficult child. To be fair to Meg and her family, I personally have a bit of an issue with assigning gender and human attributes to machinery. My late Mother-in-Law (who was, against type, a very nice woman) insisted on calling her car “Lulu” on the basis that the licence plate kind of looked a bit like that.
Crushes & Complexities
There’s nothing new about this: Hark back to earlier days to hear British car enthusiasts – usually men wearing cravats – referring to their classic car as “her” or even “the old girl,” a sobriquet otherwise used solely as a replacement for “the wife.” Fortunately, this practice has been driven out of use by the complex assignment of gender these days. My own car, which I bought new for cash, is going on six-years-old (note that I refuse to use the word “birthday”). At best, it gets called “the Citroen,” otherwise it is “the car.” I have no plans to change it because it does all that I require and does it well, not because I love it like a brother.
It seems to me that we use the internet as an alternative universe. We can do and say things that would make us look silly out in the “real world” where we actually reside. Thus, in a way, the real world becomes another universe of itself and not just the place that we live in. It’s strange how we exist in this parallel way.
These days, and we got this idea from the USA by the way, we use our special internet universe to possess new cars we are unlikely ever to call our own. We do this by means of the Personal Contract Purchase or PCP. It seems like a neat idea but, as some people are finding out, it isn’t always as clear cut as it seems. Lose your job through no fault of your own and see what happens. You may have been there already.
A vintage E-Type might qualify for the title of “old girl” or any other equivalent label. Earlier this year, Jaguar Classic debuted its first “Reborn” Jaguar E-Type at the Techno-Classica Essen show. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.
Downward Spiral
Looking at all the new or nearly new vehicles on Britain’s roads today, you would think we are a robust and economically sound nation. Indeed, the figures show the UK has seen modest economic growth this year, but as far as the motor industry is concerned, appearances can be deceptive. Sales are slowing. The car market has been over-trading lately, riding on the wave of financial innovations like PCP.
In fact, UK car manufacturing fell in September, with year-on-year output declining minus 4.1 percent, according to recent statistics by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. 6,500 fewer cars rolled off production lines than in the same month of 2016, in line with slower growth across European Union markets, but it was substantial double-digit losses here in our internal market which has driven the overall decline. Domestic demand in the month dropped, contributing to an overall year-to-date production decrease of minus 2.2 percent. This rather indicates the PCP market skews the outlook.

Warning Signs
Here I quote the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders head honcho, Mike Hawes, verbatim:
“With UK car manufacturing falling for a fifth month this year, it’s clear that declining consumer and business confidence is affecting domestic demand and hence production volumes. Uncertainty regarding the national air quality plans also didn’t help the domestic market for diesel cars, despite the fact that these new vehicles will face no extra charges or restrictions across the UK. Brexit is the greatest challenge of our time and yet we still don’t have any clarity on what our future relationship with our biggest trading partner will look like, nor detail of the transitional deal being sought. Leaving the EU with no deal would be the worst outcome for our sector so we urge government to deliver on its commitments and safeguard the competitiveness of the industry.”
Right now at least, “No Deal” seems the likeliest outcome. We’ll see.
Vauxhall’s Luton Plant manufactures the Vivaro, a multi-use commercial van. According to Vauxhall, the Luton Plant produced 60,820 Vivaros in 2015. Currently, the plant employs about 1,200 people. Photo: Vauxhall.


A Car of Our Own
So this in turn suggests the PCP bubble could burst. The deals are getting, on the face of it, better, and ways of shifting cars from the showroom more inventive. Can it last? The car market is a transient thing and very much governed by the disposable income of the population, and the prospects for a secure job environment are looking increasingly shaky.
Are we reaching the stage where nobody will ever have a car like Meg to call their own? Or are we going to go the other way and keep the cars we really do own for longer? That’s my plan. “The Citroen” stays with me until one of us breaks down. Meanwhile, I am resisting the temptation of being over-familiar and calling it “Claudette.” The family prefers the more alliterative Maxine. “This is Maxine. We own Maxine outright.”
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite



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Peace, Love & The VW Light Bus

Peace, Love & The VW Light Bus The iconic VW Light Bus returns for the 50th anniversary of Woodstock.
Features the designs and paintwork of original artist Dr. Bob Hieronimus.
The classic VW Bus, i.e. the Type 2, started out in America as a surf mobile. Yet the same reasons surfers loved the thing – cheap, reliable, you can sleep in it waiting for your swell and such – appealed to a another growing segment of the counterculture: Hippies. From Hattiesburg to The Haight, the young and disaffected, those who tuned in, turned on, and dropped out, took to the VW Bus like ducks to water.
If ever there was a perfect vehicle for a given demographic, this was it.
Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation
Fifty years on and we, as a society, are still coming to grips with the immutable fact hippies were Right. Peace is better than war, love is better than hate, pollution is bad for all of us, greed destroys us, equality applies to everybody, women, people of color, and gay people too. 50 years ago, Mike Lang and a bunch of other hippie promoters thought it was high time to have the concert to end all concerts. They picked upstate New York for some reason, and predicted 100,000 kids would show up.
They were wrong. Very, very wrong.
Half a million kids showed up and, despite what all the up-tight straights predicted, most had a very good time. And, seemingly, about half of those people showed up in VW Busses. And most of those were highly decorated. For example, the Light Bus. Although pretty run-of-the-mill when it comes to painting, decoration and overall tone, the Light Bus, a 1963 Standard Microbus, became a symbol of the Woodstock Art and Music Fair after an Associated Press shot of the van circulated in newspapers and magazines across the country.
Then the van appeared in the liner notes of the soundtrack to the movie about Woodstock. In its own little way, The Light Bus became A Thing.
VW Light Bus. Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
They picked upstate New York for some reason, and predicted 100,000 kids would show up. They were wrong. Very, very wrong. Click To TweetTime Machine
Volkswagen of America and the greater Volkswagen community realized this, and decided to remake the Light Bus in time for all the anniversary celebrations. The original painter of the bus, Dr. Bob Hieronimus (no, dude, dig: he’s literally a Doctor now and his name is literally Hieronimus, and if someone does not call him Hieronimus Bob on a regular basis, then I am very bummed) did up the original in 1968 after an invitation from the van’s owner, who, surprise-surprise, was using it to haul his band to the festival.
This “new” Light Bus represents three years of work by Hieronimus and Canadian documentarian John Wesley Chisholm. They wanted to recover and recreate the original ahead of Woodstock’s milestone anniversary. However, the duo decided on a replica after looking for six months to find the original to no avail. My bet says it’s now a chicken coop on Kesey’s farm outside of Eugene, Oregon.
The replica Light Bus hit the public eye at the Orange Country Transporter Organization (O.C.T.O.) Winter Meet in Long Beach, California. Bonus points for calling your car club O.C.T.O. After hanging out in Long Beach, the Light Bus hits the road for a cross-country tour leading up to Woodstock’s 50th anniversary.
“It’s a time machine that takes people to the past, through the present, and to the future,” Chisholm said.
“The bus is really about being one people on one planet,” Hieronimus added. “On every side of the bus is a story – many stories – and the stories all point to unification, working together, and a higher consciousness, which is what Light really is all about.”
Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
With A Little Help From My Friends
Hieronimus and Chisholm ginned up a successful Kickstarter campaign and acquired an exact model of the original Light Bus. From there, they began the painstaking restoration process. Hieronimus Bob and a team of five artists took six weeks just to recreate the original paintings. Like the original, this Light Bus is enveloped with Hieronimus’ hand-painted symbols and psychedelic shapes that captured a unique moment of American culture.
Volkswagen of America got wind of the project and fully supported the search and restoration. Shortly thereafter, a team of VW fans jumped in to assist the duo.
So keep an eye out all you Real Americans, you Silent Majority. They’ll be coming to your town, reeking of “incense,” hair so long ya can’t tell the boys from the girls; bare feet, love beads, strange clothing, and “music” that’s part of the Communist conspiracy to drag us down to the level of the lesser races.
“It’s a living room on wheels that you can outfit any way you want, and transports you and your family, however you define family, wherever you want to go,” Chisholm said.
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. 
VW Light Bus Gallery




















Photos & Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.



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Welcome To The Club: Younger Generations Embrace Classic Cars

Welcome To The Club: Younger Generations Embrace Classic Cars Recent data shows Gen Xers and millennials are taking more of an interest in classic cars.
Muscle cars are the most desirable, with the Camaro, Corvette, and Mustang topping the list.
Despite the onset of autonomous vehicles, younger generations still appreciate going for a drive.  
“There’s an adage in Detroit,” writes author Tom Glatch in The Art of Mopar. “You can sell an old man a young man’s car but you can never sell a young man an old man’s car.”
Glatch describes how Dodge was an old man’s marquee sinking in a sea of youthful baby boomers in the 1960s. Although a vibrant spokeswoman, a brilliant designer, and a powerhouse car would later turn the tides. The 2015 film, A Faster Horse examines what Lee Iacocca and his team were doing across town at Ford with the Mustang, often in secret. A bold, unconventional model was needed if the car business should survive this new era on the horizon.
The muscle car era in the United States is well documented, but it began rather unassumingly. Pontiac Chief Engineer John Z. DeLorean, with Bill Collins and Russ Gee, bolted a 389 ci V8 onto a Tempest chassis prototype for the GTO. It took them 20 minutes. The muscle car era was born. The rest is history.
But history lives on.
Welcome To The Club
Today, the muscle and performance cars adored by baby boomers are finding traction with younger generations. Data from Hagerty shows for the first time ever, more Gen Xers and millennials are seeking classic vehicle values and insurance quotes via the company’s valuation tool. According to Hagerty, Gen Xers and millennials are now outpacing baby boomers and pre-boomers in this area by a 53 to 47 percent margin. Given current trends, millennials, who comprise the nation’s largest generation, will become the hobby’s biggest group within five years.
“This shift was inevitable given the combined size of these generations,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. “It’s great to see younger generations are just as crazy about cars as their parents and grandparents. We say ‘welcome to the club.'”
“I’m at the end of the baby boomer generation and I think it’s the same reason we had,” explained Ray Guarino, Co-Host of MotorMouth Radio on WHPC 90.3 FM, Garden City, New York. “It’s the nostalgia; the family ties we had with a car or car brand; and the overall cool factor the cars had at the time.”
1965 Ford Mustang fastback in front the Ford Pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Most Popular Models: Trucks Find Favor Too
While 1960s American iron (read: Mustang, Camaro, Corvette) enjoy a shared popularity among all generations, Hagerty’s data reveals both distinct and interesting differences. For example, the Ford Model A, which replaced the long-standing Model T, is the most popular car for pre-boomers born before 1946. Among millennials, however, the vehicle Edsel Ford himself championed falls to 38th place.
“History has shown that each generation embraces different cars but they also shun certain ones from the past,” Guarino said. “I know when I was a teenager, I didn’t want a Model A or a Packard or a Cord. I mean, those were old guy cars. But today I could see myself cruising in a Packard.”
Trucks and SUVs hold their own with younger enthusiasts especially. The C/K Series Chevrolet pickups of the 1970s and 80s are among the most desirable. Overall, Gen Xers and millennials are 35 percent more likely to opt for a classic truck or SUV versus pre-boomers and boomers.
“Vintage pickups offer a very affordable way into the hobby for a lot of collectors. It makes sense that as you move from older to younger enthusiasts you see pickups move up the list in popularity,” said John Wiley, Valuation Analyst for Hagerty. “Vehicles like the first-generation Ford Bronco stand out because they are very easy to maintain, and are easy to customize for those who like to add their personal touch.”
“I think we could definitely have more conversation on the appeal of vintage trucks,” Guarino added. “You’re starting to see a lot more of them at the auction and during cruise night.”
1987 Chevrolet C10 Silverado half-ton with a 305 cubic-inch (5.0L) Small-Block, fuel-injected V8. Photo: General Motors.
Related: Three proven ways to indulge your classic car hobby on a budget.
Video Games Influence The Trend
European and Japanese classics have their appeal too, but like the Model A, they are subject to specific generational tastes. For example, pre-boomers are three times more likely to seek information on British cars than millennials. German cars, however, remain equally popular across generations. Millennials have an appreciation for Japanese cars more so than any other generation.
Wiley says this is because millennials saw more of them on the road than prior generations.
“They also saw them in video games like Gran Turismo in 1997,” he explained. “The video games more familiar to Gen-X, such as Pong (1972), Pac-Man (1980), and even early driving games like Out Run (1986) did not feature Japanese cars.”
Turning Wrenches
As for why American muscle cars hold an almost universal appeal, the answer might be rather simple. Older muscle cars are powerful, affordable, and easier to work on than more modern vehicles.
“It comes down to the fact they look good and go fast,” Wiley said. “They have also been produced in relatively high numbers which means there are good examples in all budget ranges.”
“I can still work on my Pontiac; take it apart and rebuild it a thousand times and the metal is still good,” Guarino added. “With an autonomous car or an electric vehicle, that technology is new enough that we really haven’t reached the point of repairing them, let alone restoring them. I can see why people lease cars now because it’s getting harder to work on them.”

People Still Love Driving
Despite the onset of autonomous vehicles, not every young person is anti-driving. It’s possible the benefits touted by autonomous driving proponents lead to a false conclusion. Somehow, every member of the younger generation now perceives the car as a utilitarian device only. While some studies do show interest in driving is declining, others paint a different picture. Last year, for example, a Hagerty survey found that 78 percent of Gen Xers and 81 percent of millennials are passionate about driving.
Those findings are on par with baby boomers at 79 percent.
“It is important to separate commuting from driving when you are talking about the future of the automotive industry,” Wiley said. “This data proves that enthusiasm for cars and driving is not going to die with the baby boomer generation like some have speculated in the past.”
Evolving Ownership Models
Some of that speculation further stems from the automotive industry’s evolving ownership models, described by Guarino as “more hands-off.” Although rates are expected to increase this year, leasing remains a popular option for consumers. Automakers like Ford, General Motors, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz are experimenting with subscription-based ownership methods. The idea is to create an ownership structure that better accommodates the tastes and desires of a new generation.
“We’re always looking to stay ahead of our customers’ needs and wants, as well as to bring new people to the brand,” said Dietmar Exler, President and CEO, MBUSA. “We know there is a market opportunity for people who would like the ability to move in and out of vehicles, depending on what they need or want at a particular point in time, or who don’t want to own a vehicle right now.”
And not owning a vehicle in the traditional sense may explain why younger generations are seeking out classic cars.
“Our data shows that some of the most passionate driving enthusiasts are also the most open to the idea of autonomous driving, ride-sharing services, and even subscription-based ownership models for new cars,” Wiley said. “But, they are equally passionate about making sure they will always have the ability to take a fun car out for a pleasure drive beyond their daily commute. There is a lot more room in the garage and the budget if owning a daily driver isn’t essential.”

Related: Do consumers trust autonomous cars? The answer might surprise you.
Slices of American Pie
Quality garage time may be another (and perhaps the most substantial) reason why younger generations are taking more of an interest in classic cars. In American culture, there is an ever-present image of a father and son working in the garage. These moments are forever ingrained into American life. Moments where fathers are dispensing advice to their children beyond how to properly care for an automobile. Entire generations have put into motion the ideals they absorbed with their elders in the family garage.
Perhaps in today’s social-media-obsessed, smartphone-driven world, the longing for a classic car is a return to better days? Perhaps younger generations still want to partake in the hobbies and interests of their elders? Many times those interests included automotive pursuits. Maybe it’s about curiosity or wanting to make something that is uniquely their own; in this case, a cool car.
Whatever the reasons, they are as good as any.
“I try to look at everything from the position of where did I come from,” Guarino said. “My friends and I bought clunker cars and built them up and threw different engines in them. We literally built our rides.”
Carl Anthony 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. Before returning to school to digest math for hours on end, he simultaneously held product development and experiential marketing roles in the automotive industry. 



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Viaduct Elegy: Chapter 4: A Disaster Waiting to Happen

Viaduct Elegy: Chapter 4: A Disaster Waiting to Happen Viaduct Elegy is a four-part series from Automoblog feature columnist Tony Borroz, who broke the law in preparation for writing it. He is a Seattle native and author of The 2018 Indy 500 Notebook and Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Tony grew up in a sportscar-oriented family, but sadly, they were British cars. 
Finally, finally, finally they are tearing down the Alaskan Way Viaduct, a colossal, monumentally-ugly, seismically-catastrophic piece of transportation “infrastructure” that has been a scar on the face of Seattle for the better part of a friggin’ century.
And yesterday I walked on it at sunset with an old friend, apparently breaking the law.
Chapter One: “Walking With Blaine” here. 
Chapter Two: “The New Colossus” here.
And Chapter Three: “Streamlined Brutale” here. 
Viaduct Elegy: Chapter 4: A Disaster Waiting to Happen
. . . and then one day, in a sainted land by The Bay, the Earth began to shake.
The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake flattened the Cypress Street Viaduct in Oakland, California and killed 42 people in the process. I heard the same people who designed and built the Cypress Street Viaduct in Oakland were the same people who made the Embarcadero Freeway in San Francisco and The Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle.
San Francisco glanced across The Bay, took one look at the smoking rubble that used to be the Cypress Street Viaduct in Oakland and said, “Right. We’re tearing ours down.” And they did. In eleven months, the San Francisco version of The Viaduct was completely removed. A bright, sunny, broad concourse of streets called The Embarcadero took its place.
The Alaskan Way Viaduct was an elevated freeway in Seattle that supported State Route 99. The double-deck freeway ran north and south, along the city’s waterfront for 2.2 miles, east of Alaskan Way and Elliott Bay, and between the West Seattle Freeway in SoDo and the Battery Street Tunnel in Belltown. Construction consisted of three phases from 1949 through 1959, with the first section opening on April 4th, 1953. Photo: Seattle Municipal Archives.
Ring of Fire
And here we are in Seattle, thirty years later, and The Alaskan Way Viaduct is still standing. This, this right here, is why Seattle is still a backwater town run by greedy rubes. San Francisco saw an immediate and clear danger to its citizens and took care of it in less than a year. Seattle had the same situation, almost the exact same situation, and it took them three decades to come up with a “solution.”
No wait, Seattle had it worse. Have I mentioned The Viaduct is built on a landfill? I didn’t mention it, and it is. The entire old downtown (Pioneer Square) of Seattle sits on rubble, jacked up 15 feet from the original ground level. It was a drainage and sewer problem that inspired a story of greed, willful stupidity, ineptitude, and poor planning. Known to be a sure-fire, bullseye of a bad deal in an earthquake from the start, Seattle still built and kept a seismically unstable roadway functioning for thirty years.
Seattle sits right on top of the third worst earthquake zone in the Pacific Rim of Fire. Tokyo and the Japanese home islands are number one. Los Angeles and San Francisco are tied for 2nd place (although it could be said that SF is worse, since it is directly on top of the San Andreas fault). And then there’s Seattle and the entirety of Puget Sound. The only thing that makes this surprising to some people (even the citizens and city planners of Seattle) is that quakes don’t happen all that frequently around here. That’s actually worse, from a seismic perspective.
And it is especially bad for Seattle, the downtown waterfront, and Pioneer Square in particular.
Pioneer Square, facing south from Smith Tower, in June of 1929. Photo: Item 3454, Engineering Department Photographic Negatives (Record Series 2613-07), Seattle Municipal Archives.
Day After Tomorrow
When the big one hits – and we haven’t even had a minor one for two decades – a major portion of one of the largest cities on the west coast will be razed from the face of the Earth. Flattened. No two ways about it; it’s not even up for debate. Pioneer Square is mostly unreinforced masonry and brick buildings, perched 15 feet above the real ground level. Our entire waterfront, from the Port of Seattle to Battery Street, is landfill. The big one will hit. The ground will liquefy. Like a massive vacuum, the waterfront will drop ten feet or so. The seawall will collapse and Puget Sound will pour in. Pioneer Square, as a whole, will shift back to its original street level nearly instantaneously.
And that’s when the brick walls will collapse.
This whole process will take less than a minute and will, effectively, level around 30 city blocks at a stroke.
It will be bad. It could, conceivably, stop Seattle from functioning as a city, for more than a year. Maybe even longer.
As far as The Viaduct is concerned, Seattle thinks it has this problem solved. Whereas both of those other little towns, Oakland and San Francisco, solved their problems within months, Seattle, after much thought, careful consideration and many, many studies came up with their solution three decades later: a tunnel!
That’s right.
Aerial view of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, circa 1970s. Item 76337, Forward Thrust Photographs (Record Series 5804-04), Seattle Municipal Archives.
Seattle Squeeze
Taking inspiration from Boston’s “Big Dig” (no, really) Seattle thought the best way to remove The Viaduct yet keep a north/south route was to bore a tunnel through the landfill. Whereas San Francisco made a broad, airy, sun-drenched Embarcadero that effortlessly caters to walkers and bikers and cars and trucks and light rail within a year, Seattle decided the better option was to make a tunnel that can accommodate four lanes of traffic. Four.
For the secondary north/south route in one of the most congested cities in the country.
Oh, and it will be a toll road too! They are going to charge you to drive this new tunnel roadway. And here’s the kicker: “This will not adversely affect surface traffic,” they claim. Seattle, after thirty years of screwing around with this, will drop the available lanes from six to four, charge you, then has the nerve to say traffic will actually improve for the entire region.
Imagine if your boss said, “We’re cutting your pay, and we’re charging you to cash your paycheck now, but don’t worry! It’ll actually be better for you!”
Ivory Towers
I was thinking over all of this – the design, the building, the maintenance, the modifications, the slow death of the road itself, the ugliness, the rampant greed and stupidity, all of it – as I walked over the crumbling road surface one sunny, January day. I lifted my eyes from a pothole the size of a toilet and looked up; up to a group watching us from high above on the balcony of their multi-million dollar condo in a new, repulsive building that wasn’t there a few years ago.
“This is all their fault,” I jokingly said to Blaine, pointing upward.
He laughed that same rueful laugh that all Seattleites have been laughing since the second boat of colonizers showed up.
“Yeah . . . sunset’s nice though.”
Follow Tony Borroz on Twitter: @TonyBorroz. For more historic photos of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the city of Seattle, visit the Seattle Municipal Archive’s Flickr page. 



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Chevy Gets Red Dirt Rich With Luke Bryan Suburban Concept In Vegas

Chevy Gets Red Dirt Rich With Luke Bryan Suburban Concept In Vegas

“I’ll be down here, knee-deep in the Muckalee,” Luke Bryan says in arguably the most notable composition on his 2015 album, Kill the Lights. Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day, often stylized as “H.F.E” by fans, suggests nothing beats the great outdoors, especially when your significant other comes along. H.F.E is a genuine, heartfelt response to phrases like “don’t you want to get out of here” or “there is a lot more opportunity in the city.”
Flint River Pay
On a basic level, it’s a catchy song; as the guitar notes build, it’s a perfect one to pluck away to air-style. On a basic level, the lyrics are merely about a guy that loves the outdoors. Yet, to those invested in rural life, Bryan’s Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day is an anthem; the lyrics are the embodiment of that great, down-home American dream shared among generations; the lyrics remind us that dream, no matter the odds, is worth fighting for.
It’s pulling those old, dusty work gloves off, walking in and seeing a truly beautiful partner making dinner as little ones race across the room at lightning speed yelling “daddy.” It’s bracing for impact as they leap through the air. It’s checking on neighbors, tending to fences, worrying about crops; it’s cheering for that promising high school prospect on Friday night and going before The Lord on Sunday. In the H.F.E life, money isn’t what makes you rich.
“If you live in that hunting, fishing, loving every day mentality, you’re going to be a little more stress-free,” Bryan said. “And your quality of life will be a little better.”
Luke Bryan Suburban Concept. Photo: Chevrolet.
Stripping It Down
Chevrolet’s latest Suburban concept aims to capture the H.F.E lifestyle during this year’s SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Bryan was on hand to introduce the Suburban, now displayed alongside other Chevy vehicles, crate engines, and performance parts at SEMA. Bryan’s Suburban concept was engineered for outdoor getaways, something the singer regularly does with his family and kids. Chevy designers actually interviewed Bryan to learn what the ultimate outdoor vehicle might look like.
“I’m a longtime Suburban owner,” Bryan commented. “This partnership is a natural fit for me and this unique Suburban represents everything I and my family want for our outdoor adventures.”
“This concept is all about maximizing the Suburban’s space and utility for a family that truly enjoys hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities,” added Todd Parker, Chevrolet Design Director.
Photo: Chevrolet.


Kicking The Dust Up
The Luke Bryan Suburban Concept is powered by GM’s evergreen 5.3 V8 with direct injection, continuously variable valve timing, and active fuel management. The 355 horsepower engine creates 383 lb-ft. of torque, supported by a six-speed automatic transmission and a Chevrolet Performance cold-air intake. The 5.3, a member of the Chevrolet Small Block family for over 60 years, rarely needs an introduction. It’s part of the reason why owners continue to set their watch to Chevy trucks.
“Chevy has been part of our family and a part of our work life on the farm for as long as I can remember,” Bryan explained. “If you were a Bryan, you drove a Chevy.”
The Luke Bryan Suburban Concept includes modified 22-inch wheels, 35-inch tires, a locking rear differential, and six-piston front Brembo brakes. The suspension is lifted and accompanied by a lower skidplate extension. The 8,000 lbs. towing capacity, roof-mounted equipment carrier, fishing rod holder, and swing-out tailgate will nicely accommodate those who journey into the wild.
“There’s plenty of room for all their gear, along with added amenities that make the journey more enjoyable,” Parker said.
Photo: Chevrolet.
SEMA Information
The Luke Bryan Suburban Concept will be on display at Chevrolet’s SEMA exhibit through Friday, November 3rd. The SEMA Show is held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration begins at 7:30am with the exhibits and New Products Showcase going until 5 and 6pm, respectively. More information regarding hours, floor plans, and special events can be found on the SEMA Show’s website.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. 
Luke Bryan Suburban Concept Features
Unique lower fascia.
Roof-mounted fishing rod holder.
Swing-out tailgate with spare tire mount.
Roof-mounted light rack by Baja Designs.
Chevrolet Accessories: roof rack cross rails.
Chevrolet Accessories: mesh grille (custom finish).
“Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” exterior badges.
Chevrolet Accessories: black Chevrolet bowtie emblems.
Chevrolet Accessories: Bluetooth Bullfrog music system by KICKER.
Chevrolet Accessories: Thule Canyon roof basket with optional extensions.
Hunter Bronze exterior color with Dark Carbon accents and camo graphics.
Fully trimmed seats with Argon piping and Platinum camo-pattern perforated inserts.
Luke Bryan Suburban Concept Gallery





Photos & Source: Chevrolet.



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Honda Aims To Keep Best-Selling Status With 2018 CR-V

Honda Aims To Keep Best-Selling Status With 2018 CR-V

The 2018 Honda CR-V is here, and it almost goes without saying this thing is to Honda’s SUV lineup what the Accord is to their cars: a license to print money. Honda sells a ton of these guys. I mean by the boatload. The CR-V is America’s best-selling SUV for the past 20 years and with prices ranging from a reasonable $24,150 to the not-even-close-to-exorbitant $34,050, it looks like Honda will keep that title.
The 2018 Honda CR-V gives drivers premium features, with convenient in-vehicle connectivity experiences through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Pandora.
Power & Performance
The 2018 CR-V returns with the same responsive and fuel efficient 1.5-liter DOHC direct-injected and turbocharged inline 4-cylinder that debuted in 2017. With 190 peak horsepower on tap and paired with a creepy, yet logical continuously variable transmission (CVT) and Honda G-Shift control logic, the 1.5-liter, front-drive CR-Vs bring home the highest EPA fuel economy ratings in the compact SUV class. You can also get a bigger 2.4-liter DOHC, direct-injected inline 4-banger, putting out 184 peak horsepower, also paired with a CVT, in the LX trim level.
Honda says the 2018 CR-V is designed to be fun-to-drive, yet quiet and comfortable. Okay, sure, but this thing ain’t a Civic Type R, okay? The chassis is well thought out, however, with a MacPherson strut front suspension, a multi-link rear suspension with a floating subframe, fluid-filled suspension bushings, front and rear stabilizer bars, and dual-pinion, variable-ratio electric power steering. So the new CR-V should make short work of twisty country roads, broken urban streets, and everything in between.
Photo: Honda North America.
Interior Treatments
The inside of the 2018 CR-V is described as spacious, with the best rear seat legroom in its class along with a large, flexible cargo area. 2018 also brings upgraded materials throughout, a soft-touch instrument panel, and intricately stitched seats. Also on offer is the latest in-vehicle connectivity and audio tech, with the available 7-inch touchscreen Display Audio interface. The Android operating system features a physical volume knob as well as an available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System, developed in cooperation with the Garmin GPS people.
Other niceties include remote engine start, dual-zone climate controls, heated side mirrors, a space-saving and convenient Electric Parking Brake, rear USB charging ports, 4-way power adjustments on the front passenger seat, and a driver’s seat with 8-way power adjustments and 4-way power lumbar support. The front seats are heated, of course.
Photo: Honda North America.


Safety & Security
Safety stuff? But of course! This is a Honda, so of course there’s tons of safety tech gee-gaws strewn throughout the CR-V. The 2018 CR-V has Honda Sensing as standard equipment on EX and higher trims. Honda Sensing features Collision Mitigation Braking with Forward Collision Warning and pedestrian sensing capability. Also included is Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control with low-speed follow and Lane Keeping Assist.
Seriously dude, if you end up pranging one of these, you should really consider taking buses and taxis for the rest of your life. Seriously.
Here’s a nice little chart that shows you all of the 2018 Honda CR-V’s trim levels, drivetrains, and economy figures along with the prices. The 2018 Honda CR-V is in dealerships now.
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.
TRIM
TRANSMISSION
MSRP
EPA Fuel Economy Ratings(City / Highway/ Combined)
CR-V 2.4 LX (2WD)
CVT
$24,150
26/32/28
CR-V 2.4 LX (AWD)
CVT
$25,550
25/31/27
CR-V 1.5T EX (2WD)
CVT
$26,950
28/34/30
CR-V 1.5T EX (AWD)
CVT
$28,350
27/33/29
CR-V 1.5T EX-L (2WD)
CVT
$29,450
28/34/30
CR-V 1.5T EX-L (AWD)
CVT
$30,850
27/33/29
CR-V 1.5T EX-L with Navi (2WD)
CVT
$30,450
28/34/30
CR-V 1.5T EX-L with Navi (AWD)
CVT
$31,850
27/33/29
CR-V 1.5T Touring (2WD)
CVT
$32,650
28/34/30
CR-V 1.5T Touring (AWD)
CVT
$34,050
27/33/29
2018 Honda CR-V Gallery








Photos & Source: Honda North America.



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5 Really Cool 2017 SEMA Show Reveals

5 Really Cool 2017 SEMA Show Reveals

The SEMA Show kicked off today at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Considered by many as the premier automotive specialty products event, this year’s show will provide a number of educational seminars, product demonstrations, and networking opportunities. Last year, more than 70,000 attended and the New Parts Showcase featured nearly 3,000 recently introduced parts, tools, and components. As the event ramps up this week, here are some of the most interesting reveals.
Scorpion All Terrain Plus Tires
Pirelli unveiled their latest truck and SUV tires for North America, the Scorpion All Terrain Plus. According to Ian Coke, Chief Technical Officer, Pirelli Tire North America, the new tires combine the company’s latest innovations to maximize performance and traction.
“This tire combines our advanced compound and design technology with an aggressive appearance to provide light truck and SUV owners with a durable, high performing driving experience through a wide range of challenging on or off-road conditions,” he said.
Identifying features include deeper tread grooves and conical stone ejectors. The first make for steady, balanced traction in snow and mud, while the latter forces small stones from the tread. Planned fitments include vehicles like the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and Toyota Tacoma among others. The new tires replace the prior Scorpion ATR design and will arrive in the first half of 2018.
Pirelli officials say the tread elements of the new Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires have a higher resistance to cutting and chipping. Photo: Pirelli.
John Cooper Works Tuning Kit
The new kit gives Mini fans a retrofit exhaust system, software programming to boost power, and other aftermarket components. With the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit, the Cooper S and Cooper S ALL4 on Clubman and Countryman models go from 189 to 208 horsepower; torque jumps to 221 ft-lb., available between 1,350 and 4,600 rpm. The kit’s Bluetooth actuated exhaust system allows drivers to switch between two modes, Sport and Sport+.
“The John Cooper Works Tuning Kit provides reduced exhaust gas back pressure, in combination with adapted engine software, to deliver the sporty responsiveness MINI owners have come to love across the John Cooper Works variants,” a statement from Mini reads.
The upgrade can be purchased and installed at any local dealer in the United States when it arrives in January. Those wanting a more performance-oriented feel can opt for JCW Chrome or Carbon Fiber tailpipes.
Mini Ice Blue special edition Cooper S Hardtop. Photo: Mini.


Q60 Red Alpha Concept
Infiniti and AMS Performance are displaying the fruits of their Red Alpha collaboration, regarded by both brands as something that brings together their individual engineering strengths. The Q60 Red Alpha Concept offers a 19 percent horsepower gain and 29 percent torque increase; it is equipped with a multitude of Q60 parts engineered by AMS Performance, including special intercoolers and intakes.
“The combination of Infiniti’s luxury performance vehicles with AMS Performance’s ability to build some of the fastest aftermarket turbocharged import vehicles allows us to unlock the driver’s full potential with the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400, a concept we’ve dubbed ‘Red Alpha,’ said Martin Musial, President, AMS Performance.
Other performance parts include the Dry Media Filters, High Flow Exhaust Downpipes, a Red Alpha Catback Exhaust System, proprietary Red Alpha ECU Calibration, High Capacity Overflow Tank, and a High Capacity Red Alpha Center Heat Exchanger. Infiniti notes that many of these products, currently on display at SEMA, will soon be available for purchase.
Infiniti Q60 Red Alpha concept. Photo: Infiniti Motor Company Ltd.
Civic Type R Crate Engine
The Civic Type R is Honda’s most powerful namesake in the United States with its impressive 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo engine. The plant creates 306 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 295 lb-ft. of torque, available from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. Through Honda Performance Development’s Honda Racing Line program, the engine is available to U.S. grassroots and professional racers for verified, closed-course applications. Prior to this announcement, Type R crate engines were only available in Europe and Asia.
“The engine and the Civic Type R are a direct manifestation of Honda’s racing spirit, experience, and heritage,” a statement from Honda North America reads. “More so, the sale of the Civic Type R crate engine builds upon Honda’s long-term commitment to the support of grassroots racing.”
The Honda Racing Line program will sell the K20C1 turbocharged crate engine to racing enthusiasts in the U.S. for $6,519.87, excluding shipping cost. Interested parties can apply through the Honda Performance Development website.
2017 Honda Civic Type R Engine with Intercooler. Photo: Honda North America.
BMW M Performance Parts
BMW is showcasing the array of M Performance Parts for the 2018 M5, regarded by the automaker as the quickest, most technologically advanced M-vehicle to date. The car is motivated by a 4.4-liter V8 with M TwinPower Turbo technology for a whopping 600 horsepower and 553 lb-ft. of torque. With BMW’s new 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, 60 mph arrives in a mere 3.2 seconds.
Some of the most interesting M Performance Parts for the new M5 are found in the aerodynamics department. There is a newly designed front attachment, a carbon fiber rear spoiler, side sill attachments, and a rear diffuser. The “carbon fiber rear spoiler Pro” will be available in July, along with front kidney grilles, air breather side grilles, and carbon fiber mirror caps. All M Performance Parts are meant to uphold BMW’s functional requirements in terms of aerodynamics, cooling, and weight reduction.
Also on display is the 2018 BMW M3, 30 Years American Edition, which celebrates 30 years of the M3 in the United States. The car was designed by BMW Group Designworks and built through BMW Individual.
2018 BMW M5 with M Performance Parts. Photo: BMW of North America.
SEMA Information
The SEMA Show runs until November 3rd at the Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration begins at 7:30 am with the exhibits and New Products Showcase going until 5 and 6pm, respectively. More information regarding hours, floor plans, and special events can be found on the SEMA Show’s website. If you see something interesting, thought-provoking, or otherwise cool, drop us a line on Twitter with a photo: @Automoblog
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. 
Cover Photo: SEMA.
 



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