Automotive

Toyota Research Institute Joins Study On How Autonomous Cars Will Impact Workforce

Toyota Research Institute Joins Study On How Autonomous Cars Will Impact Workforce The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is contributing $75,000 to the American Center for Mobility (ACM) for an analysis on how autonomous cars will impact driving-related jobs. ACM’s study, Preparing the Workforce for Automated Vehicles, is being conducted by Michigan State University in collaboration with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
“TRI is committed to advancing automated vehicle technology in ways that improve society and individual well-being, and we need to better understand the impact this may have on future jobs and employment,” said Dr. Gill Pratt, TRI CEO and Toyota Motor Corporation Fellow. “Our participation in this study can help address the societal effects in a meaningful way.”
Careful Examination
Officials say the research will provide key insight into the types of jobs that will be affected and to what degree. The study will also identify the skills and education needed for a more automated future. One of the study’s main objectives is to consider a “training template” for commercial drivers, especially in the areas of freight and package delivery, and taxi and ride-hailing.
“If autonomous vehicles become the norm, then truck drivers, taxi drivers, bus drivers, and Uber or Lyft drivers certainly will be impacted – and not in a good way,” Cliff Banks, President of The Banks Report, an automotive retail publication, told us in a special feature on autonomous cars in May. “I’ve watched Uber or Lyft drivers walk up to a house and help an elderly person down the stairs. Can an autonomous vehicle do that?”
Forward Looking
Toyota Motor North America was recently announced as a founding member of the Partnership for Transportation Innovation and Opportunity, a collaboration committed to exploring how autonomous vehicles will impact American workers as well as identifying opportunities to address future challenges. TRI is also in the process of constructing an autonomous vehicle test track in Michigan.
Preparing the Workforce for Automated Vehicles is expected to be published later this year.
“Industry involvement is paramount as we undergo this study, especially when we consider the implications on talent and how the potential needs of employers will shift,” said Soraya Kim, ACM’s Chief Innovation Officer and the study’s leader. “We thank TRI for their continued commitment and for being a partner to get this important work done.”
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Source: Toyota Research Institute, American Center for Mobility.

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2019 Honda Insight: The 55 MPG Beast

2019 Honda Insight: The 55 MPG Beast The 2019 Honda Insight hybrid is here, and it offers a whole lot of practicality and reliability with a familiar Honda face – none of that goofy, “look at me driving my car from Mars styling” (cough, Prius, cough) – and it gets you 55 MPG in the city.
Fifty-Five? Holy Sh-
Features & Trim Levels
It is, indeed, a relatively normal looking car. I’m not sure why the first gen hybrids, Priuseseseses and such, had to go with such goofy styling, but all I can assume is that now the car buying public is used to what a hybrid is, and Honda figures they’ll be more comfortable buying them regardless of the wrapper.
Honda says the 2019 Insight has an EPA rating of up to 55 mpg in the city, lots of premium features, and starts at $22,830. Which strikes me as very inexpensive for what you get in the three different trim levels: LX, EX, and Touring. All trim levels come standard with multi-element LED headlights, push-button start (racy!), and the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assist technologies.
Other Insight EX goodies include the eight-inch display/audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Insight Touring adds leather seating surfaces, an eight-way power driver’s seat, Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
But let’s face it, Honda figured out how to make near-perfect automotive interiors back in the 80s. All the cool, discussion worthy stuff here lies under the hood, or unseen altogether.
2019 Honda Insight: Photo: Honda North America.
Power & Performance
The 2019 Insight is motivated by a third-gen Honda two-motor hybrid drivetrain. A 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC Atkinson-cycle inline-4 engine does the heavy lifting, and features a 40.5-percent thermal efficiency rating. That ICE is mated to an electric propulsion motor, cranking out 197 lb-ft. of torque. The whole shootin’ match adds up to a total system output of 151 horsepower.
Honda points out how this two-motor design allows the Insight to run without the need for a conventional automatic transmission. Hmmm, I bet tearing the drivetrain apart on one of these guys would be interesting and fun.
Honda further tweaks the energy regeneration system through the use of steering wheel-mounted Deceleration Selectors. These work similar to transmission paddle shifters, and allow you to toggle between three different levels of regenerative braking performance. Grab the left selector to increase regenerative braking, and the right to reduce it. Honda says the system not only increases battery charging via regeneration, but also helps reduce strain on the brakes themselves, letting the driver tailor their regenerative braking level for different conditions.
And yeah, that’s cool and all that, but why don’t you people make an Si variant where the paddles allow you to tailor performance? Just a thought.
Photo: Honda North America.
Drive Modes & Battery Placement
The full hybrid powertrain on the Insight uses power from all systems – the gasoline engine and electric motors – to accommodate the driving conditions you might find yourself in, moment to moment, and can seamlessly shift through three distinct drive schemes.
In EV Drive, the Insight is powered completely by its electric drive motor, drawing power from the battery. In Hybrid Drive, the gasoline engine drives a generator that supplies electrical power to the drive motor and, in certain circumstances, Engine Drive operation connects the gasoline engine directly to the drive wheels, the way Gottlieb Daimler intended.
The battery for the 2019 Insight lives under the rear seats, housed in something called a “compact intelligent power unit.” The clever packaging solution allows the Insight to offer an impressive 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space. You can fold the rear seatback for long loads (with a 60/40 split in EX and Touring trims), and there’s a grand total of up to 97.6 cubic feet of interior space.

Manufacturing & Pricing
The 2019 Insight will join Honda’s lineup of electrified vehicles, alongside the Clarity series – Clarity Fuel Cell, Clarity Electric, and Clarity Plug-In Hybrid – and the new Accord Hybrid. The 2019 Insight is manufactured at Honda’s Greensburg, Indiana plant, while the 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle two-motor system, intelligent power unit, and hybrid battery pack is produced in Ohio.
Below is a handy chart that shows you the breakdown for the 2019 Honda Insight.
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. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz
Trim
MSRP
MSRP Including $895 Destination
EPA Fuel Economy Ratings(city / highway / combined)
Insight LX
$22,830
$23,725
55/49/52
Insight EX
$24,060
$24,995
55/49/52
Insight Touring
$28,090
$28,985
51/45/48
Photos & Source: Honda North America.

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Letter From The UK: Brexit & Car Industry Repercussions

Letter From The UK: Brexit & Car Industry Repercussions The Saturday just past, June 23rd, was a significant milestone for the United Kingdom. It was on that very date two years ago that the British public – or at least those who could be bothered to get up off the couch and go vote – elected to leave the bloated political arena that is the European Union.
Since then we have endured 24 months of increasingly nasty and often false promises and threats and the automotive industry is at the heart of it. The appalling division this nightmare has engendered can be compared to that which has taken place in the USA since President Trump was sworn in.
The difference is that, in America’s case, the divisive issue is a person, in the case of the UK it is an ideal.
Brave New World
In the shining light of a new dawn in American politics, the election of Donald Trump could be seen as a stunning repudiation of the establishment. How successful he has been will depend upon who you ask; there is no middle ground it seems.
Similarly, over 40 years ago the British people were sold a new economic deal that made total sense, although there was no mention of political union. Depending upon who you ask, the EU is either a great success or it is an ideological empty bucket with a hole in it through which tax payer money pours. The envisioned brave new world of mutual respect has, since that fateful day two years ago, crumbled into the sort of bickering you expect in a school playground.
On the one side a weak and vacillating British government, on the other a bunch of un-elected arrogant stuffed shirts. It’s a disaster and one of the biggest headaches is what to do about the car industry.

Abandon Ship
In the halls of power it is all about who is in control and wearing the biggest hat, which is of no help whatsoever to importers and exporters. We are due to leave the Union in March 2019. With so much to decide you would think it would be in the interests of all involved nations to get it sorted out, but no. Is it any wonder that car makers and all the ancillary manufacturers and producers involved in the building of cars have not a clue about which way to jump.
It does not help when companies like BMW threaten to leave the UK entirely. Well, they are a German company so they would say that, wouldn’t they? The fact is that Great Britain is a strong market for BMW cars and their other badges, Mini and the prestigious Rolls Royce. Why is it reasonable they would do something like that?
It gets worse. Instead of looking ahead and arriving at positive decisions you get this: The very pro-Europe Dutch government have chosen to make threats. They have issued advice to all businesses in The Netherlands warning their exporters that they may lose free trade access under existing deals “if a large part of your product consists of parts from the UK.”

Rules of Engagement
You see, after Brexit, component parts made in the UK will no longer count towards the ‘rules of origin’ and ‘local content’ under international trade rules. To qualify for EU free trade deals, normally at least 55 percent of a product’s parts must come from an EU country. In the case of automobiles this could count against them. Ford, for example, makes a huge number of engines here, some of which are exported for the production of their products in Europe.
Not only does Britain make whole cars for export, we also provide car parts in huge quantities. If we are not in the EU our exported goods could attract trade tariffs of the type the American President is currently threatening.
Of course there are ways around these issues. Norway for example has a different deal with the EU that works for them; it wouldn’t work for the UK but it demonstrates that it is possible to get a deal. Reasonable people can see this but, of course, politicians are rarely reasonable.
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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Inside The 2017 Ford GT’s Brembo Braking System

Inside The 2017 Ford GT’s Brembo Braking System

The 2017 Ford GT is the fastest production vehicle the blue oval has ever produced. With a precise power-to-weight ratio, five different drive modes, and advanced aerodynamics, the car is worth more than a passing glance. The GT’s engine, a 647 horsepower high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost, is simply the cherry on top.
Or maybe that’s the GT’s top speed of 216 mph?
Either way, getting up to speed isn’t a problem, but what about getting stopped?
Ideal Proving Grounds
Brembo is, for all intents and purposes, accustomed to stopping rocket ships. The company’s high-performance braking systems are found on some of the world’s most powerful racing machines, like Formula One and Indy cars. With more than 300 championships in racing already, Brembo’s technology is unique in that it’s first proven on the track, then brought to the street. The proving and validation environment a track provides, and what can be learned in such situations, will inevitably transition to everyday roads.
For example, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles utilizes Brembo’s expertise on two of their most powerful vehicles, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. General Motors recently worked with Brembo on a new braking kit for select models, including Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 series trucks. The kit upgrade better handles the thermomechanical changes consistent with pulling a trailer or moving a large payload.
Now Ford is in the mix, outfitting their GT supercar with Brembo brakes.
“Our group has been working with the Ford engineering team simultaneously on the Ford GT race cars that are competing and winning now, and have carried those lessons learned over to the Ford GT street model,” explained Dan Sandberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, Brembo North America.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Tech & Personality
The production GT will have carbon ceramic (CCM) rotors with dedicated high performance brake pads on the front and the rear. The CCM discs are exceptionally light and function better at high temperatures.
“Lightweight technology wins on the track and the street,” Sandberg said. “The two-piece CCM brakes on the Ford GT deliver a 50 percent weight savings over typical cast iron braking systems.”
In the rear, the unique-to-Brembo, electro-mechanical parking brake (EPB) is worth noting. The EPB function is delivered by a stand-alone black anodized aluminum caliper, governed by Brembo software. The Brembo EPB operates both automatically and via a button, eliminating the cables associated with traditional parking brake systems. Ford GT customers can select from an array of caliper colors too. Each one displays the Brembo lowercase “b” logo in black.
“The consumer choice of five caliper colors makes every Ford GT a personal design statement,” Sandberg added.

Brembo Ford GT Front CCM Brakes
Brembo six-piston, monobloc, fixed bridge, radial mounted aluminum calipers.
394 mm x 36 mm rotors.
Low fluid displacement design improves pedal feel and stiffness.
Exposed fluid lines on calipers allow for increased cooling.
Optimized cooling system designed by Ford and Brembo maximizes CCM performance.
Brake ducts fixed to calipers articulate with the steering for maximum cooling.
Brembo Ford GT Rear CCM Brakes
Four-piston monobloc aluminum calipers with 360 mm x 32 mm CCM rotors.
Rear calipers radially mounted and optimized for stiffness.
Rear brakes also have the specialized cooling ducts for the CCM rotors and pads.
Brembo Electro-Mechanical Parking Brake (EPB):
The EPB caliper is managed by Brembo software, embedded in the ESC unit.
Eliminates additional and unnecessary parts and cables.
Brembo Ford GT Racing Brakes
Lightweight aluminum six-piston Brembo calipers with 380 mm x 34 mm cast iron rotors on the front.
Four-piston calipers with 355 mm x 32 mm rotors on the rear.
Much of the brake cooling geometry hidden in the Ford GT race car carries over to the street version.
The Chip Ganassi No. 68 Ford GT driven by Joey Hand, Sébastien Bourdais, and Dirk Müller won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016 on Brembo brakes.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photos & Source: Brembo North America, Ford Motor Company.

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2018 Buick LaCrosse Receives Light Electrification Update

2018 Buick LaCrosse Receives Light Electrification Update

“The Buick LaCrosse expands its technological credentials by adding eAssist light electrification for the 2018 model,” says Buick in the most vague way possible, meaning that one of their more popular cars now comes in a hybrid.
The term “light electrification” is a pretty good way to go, because although this is a hybrid, it’s not a full blown one like a Prius.
Electric Approach
What Buick, a brand both beloved in America’s heartland and China, is doing with their electrified LaCrosse here is combining an electric motor with the crossover’s 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine to deliver “quiet, refined, and spirited efficient performance backed by the value and customer experience expected of Buick.” Okay, all good so far. Nothing wrong with adding some batteries and an electric motor or two (look at what happened when Ferrari did it), but how does this all play out in the LaCrosse?
Buick’s new eAssist system (yes, that’s how they spell it) pairs the four-cylinder engine with a compact lithium-ion battery pack to offer benefits usually found on fully electric vehicles. So the LaCrosse dials in such goodies as torque-assisted launch, energy-saving regenerative braking (which can also enhance braking performance), and an exceptionally smooth stop/start system. Buick loves this new eAssist system so much it will be the standard powertrain for the 2018 LaCrosse when it goes on sale this fall.
Efficient Packaging
When installed in the LaCrosse, the eAssist differs from previous Buick eAssist implementations by being more sophisticated, powerful, and compact. It gives a 9 percent increase in overall torque, allowing drivers to get the responsiveness expected from a full-size sedan. Also, the newest eAssist system is noticeably smaller and unobtrusively packaged, so you still get to use the LaCrosse’s fold-down rear seat and abundant trunk space. Option-wise, the new standard 2.5 liter four-cylinder/eAssist drivetrain complements the popular V6 plant that remains untouched, and will still be available on select trims.
Other updates on the 2018 Buick LaCrosse include more packages with available all-wheel drive and an all-new nine-speed automatic transmission for the V6 models. By mid-2018, Buick will have five models available with the new advanced transmission. Customer demand is very high for Buick’s intelligent all-wheel drive and active twin clutch gearbox, so that will now be available on the Essence trim.
Buick’s signature QuietTuning is achieved in a number of ways. This chart shows some of the specific areas engineers focus on. Photo: Buick.

Inner Workings
Now, the nitty-gritty, techno-details on this whole eAssist deal. The short version is that eAssist combines a compact electric motor powered by a 24-cell, air-cooled 0.45kWh lithium-ion battery pack with the 2.5-liter four-banger gas engine. This combo is designed to enhance efficiency and maintain refined performance.
All of this gets to the tarmac with five major components.
First, there’s the Motor Generator Unit or MGU. The MGU replaces the conventional alternator and acts as an electric motor to provide more power when needed. The MGU is also an electric generator that provides the energy stored in the lithium-ion battery pack. Next there is the entire Electric Assist scheme, the software controlling what switches on or off, and when. The MGU’s electric motor provides extra power for smooth launches while in the Auto-Stop mode. It also funnels additional torque to the engine when the Electric Assist wizards think it’s needed to optimize overall performance and efficiency.
With hybrid systems, there’s also some cool tricks you can do with the braking. In the case of the 2018 Buick LaCrosse, regenerative braking is part of the act. When you hit the brakes or start coasting, some of the energy you normally give away as heat is, in the case of the Buick, converted to electricity through the graces of the MGU and stored in the lithium-ion battery pack.
Speaking of that lithium-ion battery pack, in our case here, it’s an 86V unit, which has been revamped and repackaged to be more compact. It takes up less space, meaning more room for people and stuff. The energy kept waiting in the lithium-ion battery pack powers the electrical system when the entire vehicle it is in Auto-Stop mode. The lithium-ion battery pack also gets power to the MGU to help with the aforementioned smooth launch while in Auto-Stop mode, or additional torque to the engine as the ones and zeros see fit.
The stop/start technology contributes to added fuel savings by turning off the engine when you are in Auto-Stop mode. So, when you are at a stoplight or in heavy traffic, for example, the LaCrosse will shut off the four-banger, and run things on batteries alone. It will then restart the engine when your foot lifts off the brake pedal.
Aerodynamics & Availability
The 2018 Buick LaCrosse also gets a host of aero improvements to help with efficiency. There are upper and lower active aero shutters in the front fascia. These close under certain driving conditions to help maximize aerodynamics and contribute to improved fuel economy; e.g. when you’re going fast enough, they close, since enough air is getting forced over the radiator anyway. Buick makes no mention of cost, but that will most likely be revealed as we get closer to the fall release date of the 2018 LaCrosse.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photos & Source: Buick.

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2018 GMC Yukon Denali: The Ultimate Expression of Professional Grade

2018 GMC Yukon Denali: The Ultimate Expression of Professional Grade

In the ongoing, half-century long slugfest between Chevy and Ford over who has the better truck, the fortunes of the fight swing from one pugilist to the next. One company tries something new, and their opponent hits them for its deficiencies; one company doesn’t change, and the other hits them for being too traditional.
For 2018, GMC (the trucks only end of General Motors) is really hitting on their whole notion of “Professional Grade.”
Recognizable & Functional
The 2018 GMC Yukon Denali showcases three main areas they’re pushing: the new, GM-centric, Multi-Dimensional Grille, a Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic transmission, and a long list of work-oriented standard features. The new grille, in addition to a more chic look, also hides a number of practical features such as greater airflow to the radiator. There are active aero shutters located behind the grille that close in certain conditions on the highway, reducing aerodynamic drag and enhancing efficiency.
The new look of the grille comes from how GMC designers evolved the current Denali grille through a multi-dimensional sculpted lattice in a layered manner. This same theme is seen in other current and newer GMC models like the Acadia and Terrain. The new grille is bracketed by HID headlamps and LED Signature Lighting.
“It’s a more exciting and sophisticated design, while remaining instantly recognizable as part of the GMC Denali family,” said Matt Noone, Director, Global GMC Exterior Design.
Photo: GMC.
Aggressive Yet Smooth
Now, about that 10-speed transmission. This is a growing trend, not just in the truck market (although there’s plenty of representation in that arena as well) but across a broad range of vehicles. Until engineers can figure out a way to make Continuously Variable Transmissions handle high torque and power loads, get used to seeing auto-boxes with many, many ratios contained within.
In the case of GMC’s 2018 Yukon Denali, the new 10-speed slush box pulls the engineering knowledge of GM’s previous transmissions into a new level of performance. There’s a wider, 7.39 overall gear ratio spread, and in comparison to the previous Yukon Denali’s eight-speed box, the new 10-speed allows for a lower numerical top gear ratio that nets you greater efficiency. This new transmission has optimized gearing along with proprietary controls to allow the 6.2L V8 engine to deliver both smooth operation and aggressive response.
Power & Performance
And speaking of that 6.2L engine, it tops the extensive list of standard features for GMC’s 2018 Yukon Denali. Said plant cranks out 420 horsepower with direct injection and GM’s Active Fuel Management, or cylinder deactivation in lighter driving conditions. In other words, a good solid mill for any truck or SUV to have under its hood.
The new Yukon Denali also has Magnetic Ride Control, standard 20-inch wheels, and available 22-inch wheels (if you want to be the flashy guy on the job site), an automatic locking rear differential, and four-wheel-disc brakes with Duralife rotors (does anyone make drums any longer?). Other standard and available features include StabiliTrak electronic stability control, tow/haul mode, trailer sway control, auto grade braking, and hill start assist.
“The foundational elements of exclusive design, premium touches, and uncompromising capability have made Yukon Denali an icon for nearly 20 years,” said Duncan Aldred, Vice President of Global GMC. The first Yukon Denali appeared in 1999. Photo: GMC.

Interior Treatments
Speaking of the interior, the 2018 Yukon Denali is becoming more and more like a mobile office. There’s an infotainment system with navigation that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The standard 8-inch diagonal screen features a customizable display that works with the standard heads-up display. Active Noise Cancellation makes the interior quieter too.
There are multiple USB ports and accessory power outlets, including a 110-volt, three-prong outlet so you can plug in, charge, and run everything from your smartphone to a tablet to a coffeemaker (for all I know). There’s also wireless phone charging, heated and ventilated driver and passenger seats, heated second-row seats, and a hands-free programmable power liftgate. OnStar? Oh, you bet this pick-em-up-truck’s got OnStar.
Packaging & Availability
So, get used to seeing that new front end design on lots of GMC vehicles. The Denali trim package being offered on the Yukon and Yukon XL accounts for way more than half of all Yukon sales. The XL features a longer wheelbase (14 inches) for greater third-row legroom and more than double the cargo area behind the third-row seat. The XL is in case you want to go large, but either way, the 2018 GMC Yukon Denali goes on sale this fall.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photos & Source: GMC.

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2018 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced Review

2018 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced Review The Toyota Prius Prime Plug-in Hybrid-Electric (PHEV) was new last year, and is already outselling the Tesla Model S, Model X, Chevy Volt, and Bolt. The car is catching on with consumers because Toyota is a leader in hybrid technology and a trusted brand.
We have seen those advantages first-hand this week, as we are driving the top-of-the-line, 2018 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced.
What’s New For 2018
The Prius Prime is unchanged for the 2018 model year.
Features & Options
The range-topping 2018 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced ($33,100) is packed with a long list of tech features. It comes with a power driver’s seat, an 11.6-inch central touchscreen, upgraded multimedia system, premium synthetic leather (SofTex) seats, automatic headlights, keyless entry, satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging.
The Advanced trim also comes with extra technology features like premium audio, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, heated steering wheel, auto-dimming mirror, heads-up display, a smartphone app with a charge management system, remote climate control, rain-sensing wipers, and a semi-automated parking function.
Total MSRP including destination: $33,995.

Interior Highlights
The Prius Prime feels modern inside, and the first thing we noticed was the giant 11.6-inch touch-tablet that controls just about everything. It’s fairly intuitive and you get used to it pretty quickly by simply playing with its many features. The new Prius Prime offers seating for four and comes standard with bucket-style seats in the rear. The front seats are heated and trimmed in a SofTex synthetic leather that’s close to leather upholstery.
Passenger space is typical to what you’ll find in most compact cars, with overall volume being a tad less here than its other Prius stablemates. The raked roofline does cut into head space for taller passengers, but it doesn’t impact visibility from the driver’s seat much.
Prius Prime offers up 19.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which is above average for a compact car but less than the standard Prius hatchback’s 27.4 cubic feet. The cargo hold is less due to the Prime’s rechargeable battery, which is mounted in the rear of the car. The 60/40 split-folding back seat adds extra cargo-carrying ability, however.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The Toyota Prius Prime is powered by a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and a hybrid synergy drive system featuring a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. The hybrid system’s net power is 121 horsepower (90 kW). It comes mated to an electronically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT). The combination drives the front wheels.
The Prius Prime gets an EPA-estimated 54 combined mpg on gas only, and 133 MPGe electricity plus gasoline, making it one of the most fuel-efficient plug-in hybrids available. It has an all-electric driving range of 25 miles and when fully fueled and charged, the Prius Prime has a range of 640 miles.
Unlike battery-electric vehicles, the Prius Prime does not need a special home charger which will save owners thousands. On a 120 volt circuit, the Prime can charge to 100 percent in about five and a half hours. Homeowners that use a dedicated 240 volt circuit will be able to recharge in about two hours.

Driving Dynamics
Aside from the annoying drone of the continuously variable transmission winding up under power, the Prius Prime can be fun-to-drive with its surge of electric acceleration. It was especially enjoyable as we zipped around Denver with ease because of its compact size.
The Prius Prime doesn’t offer the greatest acceleration when getting up to highway speeds, but it shines in the fuel mileage department. We noticed more cabin noise than the traditional Prius, likely because of its harder tires designed for maximum mileage. But the engine noise from the 1.8-liter plant is well suppressed.
We took the compact hybrid up in the high country as we headed up I-70 into the mountains west of Denver, and found it to have ample power. In the tight mountain corners, the Prius Prime didn’t lean over too much; the city-hauler hugged the curves fairly well.
Conclusion
The Prius Prime more than doubles the range of the past Prius Plug-in Hybrid, while offering more standard equipment and technology. Those looking for a fuel-efficient commuter should consider the 2018 Toyota Prius Prime. It offers consumers one of the best overall values of any vehicle on the market.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Toyota Prius Prime Gallery

2018 Toyota Prius Official Site.
Photos: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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2019 Ram 1500 “Classic” To Sell Alongside All-New Model

2019 Ram 1500 “Classic” To Sell Alongside All-New Model A new addition – or perhaps existing family member – is coming to the Ram truck lineup. A “Classic Badge” is planned and will be sold alongside the all-new 2019 Ram 1500. The truck maker will offer both the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic (known internally as the “DS” model) and the all-new Ram 1500 (internally as “DT”) at its North American dealers through 2018.
“As we launch the all-new 2019 Ram 1500, we didn’t want to walk away from a key part of the light-duty truck market,” explained Mike Manley, Head of Ram Brand – FCA. “Ram will continue to produce the 1500 Classic targeted at entry and commercial buyers.”
Ram says the 1500 Classic carries a number of segment-exclusive features in areas “most important to truck buyers.” The truck maker points to their link-coil rear suspension and RamBox bedside storage system that allows for easier cargo hauling. The all-new 2019 Ram 1500 was subjected to an extensive redesign before hitting the market, something we learned about in-depth earlier this year.
The 2019 Ram 1500 endures quality and durability testing on the company’s Road Test Simulator in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Packages & Trim Levels
The Classic will be available as a Regular Cab with an 8 or 6 foot, 4 inch-bed; Quad Cab with a 6 foot, 4 inch-bed; Crew Cab short bed (5 feet, 7 inches), or a Crew Cab with an optional 6 foot, 4 inch-bed. The Classic comes with three powertrian choices (4×2 or 4×4): the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, 5.7-liter Hemi, and the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel, although Ram says the diesel will not be available until later on.
The Classic has three new packages: Chrome Plus, offered for the Tradesman, which includes chrome bumpers, 17-inch wheels, and keyless entry; the Tradesman SXT, which also includes chrome bumpers, plus a five-inch radio display, fog lamps, dual exhaust for the Hemi models, and 20-inch wheels; finally, the “Express Black Accent Package” for the Express trim adds a number of blacked-out elements, including the wheels, headlight bezels, and badging.
Tradesman, Express, Big Horn/Lone Star, and SSV (Special Services Vehicle) make up the available trim levels.
Manufacturing & Availability
The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic is built at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Warren, Michigan. Since opening in 1938, the facility has produced more than 12.5 million trucks. Regular Cab and some Crew Cab Classic models will be built at the Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant in Saltillo, Mexico.
Expect the Ram 1500 Classic at Ram dealerships in the fourth quarter of this year.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: FCA US LLC.

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Iconic Lamborghini Miura SVR Restored By Automaker’s New, Special Division

Iconic Lamborghini Miura SVR Restored By Automaker’s New, Special Division Like seemingly every other high end car maker in the known universe, Lamborghini has gotten into the factory restoration business. They call it Lamborghini Polo Storico, and no, I have no idea what the Polo is about (I checked and it has nothing to do with Ralph Lauren). And I’ve got to say, good choice of cars to start with Lamborghini: A Miura SVR.
Family Tree
Lambo’s Miura needs no introduction for you cognoscenti out there. The Miura, named after a famous breeder of Spanish fighting bulls (indeed, it was a Miura, Isolero, that gored and killed the great Manolete in 1947); the “normal” ones are interesting enough: transverse mid-engine V12, glorious styling courtesy of Gandini, all that kind of stuff. Then Ferruccio tweaked it a little, and made the Miura P400, then the P400 S, then the P400 SV, the SV Jota (which should have been the final version) and at the top of the hill, performance and rarity-wise, the P400 SVR.
This particular Miura, chassis number 3781, engine number 2511, and body number 383, started out as an S version and was originally painted in Verde Miura with black interior, or green over black. It was originally delivered to the Lamborauto dealership in Turin, on November 30th 1968, after being displayed at the 50th Turin Motor Show. After changing hands a staggering eight times by 1974, it was bought by a German guy, Heinz Straber. Straber took it back to Sant’Agata to have it converted into an SVR race car.
This job was turned around after a rocket-fast 18 months of work (18!!).
Lamborghini Miura SVR as restored by Lamborghini Polo Storico. Photo: Automobili Lamborghini.
Traveling Abroad
Then the ownership trail got seriously odd. In 1976, the car was sold to a Japanese fella by the name of Hiromitsu Ito, who took it home to Japan. Lambo says that, once there, it caused “quite a sensation,” which is an understatement of the first order. The Miura SVR was the inspiration for the Circuit Wolf manga comic book series. The fabled Miura SVR, a race car evolution of the Jota, was developed by Lamborghini test driver Bob Wallace and, after Wallace totaled his Jota in an accident, ceaseless customer demand led Automobili Lamborghini to build a few Miura SVJ models and a single Miura SVR, which turned out to be chassis 3781.
Then 3781, which served as the “model” for the vehicle used in the Circuit Wolf comic book, was used as the reference model for the Kyosho toy version.
Which brings us up to more or less the present day, when Lambo got the thing back, returned to its former splendor by the Polo Storico specialists. Fittingly, it was then exhibited during an event organized in its honor at Nakayama Circuit in Japan.
“The full restoration took 19 months and required a different approach to the way we normally work,” explained Paolo Gabrielli, Director of the Polo Storico and Lamborghini Head of After Sales. “The original production sheet wasn’t of much help, as we relied mostly on the specifications from the 1974 modifications. The challenge for the Polo Storico team was even more daunting as the car arrived in Sant’Agata in pieces, although the parts were all there, and with considerable modifications.”

Handle With Care
Lamborghini Polo Storico, based at the company’s HQ in Sant’Agata Bolognese, is the specialized unit dedicated to the restoration and certification of Lamborghini models that have been out of production for at least 10 years. So it functions as Lambo’s version of Ferrari’s Classiche or Lancia/Abarth’s White Book programs.
Polo Storico is also in charge of preserving archives and records, and with managing the supply of original spare parts for classic cars, which will come with a sigh of relief for Diablo owners looking for fuel injection control computers (seriously, go look it up if you want a good laugh). Lamborghini says they are committed to producing enough original spare parts to cover over 65 percent of their models.
Expect to see more spectacularly-restored Lamborghinis emerging from the Polo Storico shops, but I have to say, it will be very hard to top this one.
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. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz
Lamborghini Miura SVR Gallery

Photos & Source: Automobili Lamborghini.

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