2018 Nissan Rogue Sport: Pricing & Package Overview

2018 Nissan Rogue Sport: Pricing & Package Overview The Nissan Rogue is Yokohama’s number one selling model in America. Nissan says the Rogue is “right-sized” and that the Rogue Sport both fits that description and comes with lots of tech and safety goodies for a modest price. Although nobody is going to mistake it for a serious off-roader, the 5-passenger Rogue Sport is designed for “everyday urban adventures”
The prices were just released for the 2018 models, and they’re still right in the middle of the “I can afford that” target.
Making The Grade
The Rogue Sport, which is already on dealer lots as you read this, joined the Nissan crossover and SUV lineup at the end of 2017. It arrives for 2018 with a few nips and tucks and tweaks and improvements, so think of this as more of a refinement process than a radical re-do. The Rogue Sport still comes in front-wheel and all-wheel drive and has three grade levels: S, SV, and SL.
SV Technology Package
The SV Technology Package is new for 2018, although more or less the same stuff could be had in the previously available SV Premium Package. The SV Technology Package now includes all the stuff from the proir SV All-Weather Package as well: gizmos like heated seats, remote start, Intelligent Climate Control, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, fog lights, leather-wrapped shift knob, and heated outside mirrors. Sounds like a handy package for a lot of this country in the winter.
SL Premium Package
In addition, the SL Premium Package now includes the all tidbits of the previous SL Platinum Package. So your 2018 Nissan Rogue SL Premium Package comes with Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Lane Intervention, and Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection. The list of available technology in general reads like a delivery invoice at a Best Buy store: RearView Monitor, Siri Eyes Free, NissanConnect with Navigation and Mobile Apps, seven-inch color touchscreen display, and a USB connection port among others.
Power & Performance
On the drivetrain front, the Nissan Rogue Sport is motivated by a 141 horsepower, 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder. The engine is mated to an Xtronic transmission with an Eco Mode switch. The whole ride is underpinned by a four-wheel independent suspension.
Proper Considerations
All of this is aimed right at the Rogue’s target market of younger, urban buyers that want a slightly smaller, sportier, and more affordable crossover. Nissan feels these buyers are looking for more space than a compact sedan, but still want maneuverability and a “fun-to-drive feel.” Here’s a look at the models and drivetrains and their not at all unreasonable costs:
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. 
Rogue Sport S FWD
$21,640 MSRP
Rogue Sport SV FWD
$23,240 MSRP
Rogue Sport SL FWD
$26,290 MSRP
Rogue Sport S AWD
$22,990 MSRP
Rogue Sport SV AWD
$24,590 MSRP
Rogue Sport SL AWD
$27,640 MSRP
Photos & Source: Nissan North America.



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GM Says Goodbye To More Than Steering Wheels In New Self-Driving Report

GM Says Goodbye To More Than Steering Wheels In New Self-Driving Report
General Motors has filed a Safety Petition with the Department of Transportation for its fourth-generation self-driving Cruise AV. The petition says the Cruise AV would be the first production-ready vehicle to operate safely with no driver, steering wheel, pedals, or manual controls when it hits the road next year. Such vehicles are classified as Level 5 automation by the Society of Automotive Engineers, meaning the car itself can perform all the necessary tasks that constitute driving.
But still. No steering wheel?
Safe & Clean
Like many proponents of automated driving, GM wants a world where self-driving vehicles either significantly reduce or eliminate fatal car crashes. On a similar note, many autonomous driving advocates also support electrification. It’s not a random happening that autonomous cars are proposed on and engineered into hybrid and electric platforms. The idea is if we can make a safer society, why not a cleaner one as well.
GM recently published their 2018 Self-Driving Safety Report which details this initiative. The report states each year close to 1.25 million people die in car crashes around the world, 40,000 in the United States alone. Human error is a factor in 94 percent of these crashes. With regard to emissions, GM says vehicles today release almost 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.
Powerful Partnerships
 
GM takes a “together we can” approach, saying the promises of autonomy can only happen when places like Silicon Valley and Detroit come together. Indeed, my work and vantage point in the automotive industry supports this. From a high level perspective, Silicon Valley has the software and programming expertise; here in Detroit, we have the industrial manufacturing experience that allows us to physically produce the automated car.
We also have the Red Wings. That has nothing to do with autonomous cars. I just like the Red Wings.
GM believes at the core of this partnership is safety. The automaker’s System Safety program, detailed in the report, pulls experiences and disciplines from other fields, including aerospace, pharmaceutical, and the military. The Cruise AV takes inspiration from fighter planes and deep-space satellites, using elements from both to help safely implement its autonomous capabilities.
This past June, GM produced 130 self-driving Chevy Bolt EV test vehicles. The fleets were equipped with GM’s latest autonomous technology, and joined more than 50 other Bolt EV test vehicles already in use. Photo: General Motors.
Deep Principles
The 2018 Self-Driving Safety Report is like that supplemental textbook for a given college course. Even though GM-specific, it gives a solid overview on how autonomous cars come together. It shows how the Cruise AV is engineered, how the car’s “brain” functions, and how the physical components, from LiDAR to radar operate. Some may enjoy the sections on how GM utilizes Comprehensive Risk Management and Deep Integration in the interest of safety.
“Throughout the design, development and testing processes, our Comprehensive Risk Management approach thoroughly identifies and addresses risks, and validates solutions to address them,” the report reads.
Further Education
AutoSens, a global summit on automated driving, is returning to Detroit in May. The conference provides a place for engineers, researchers, and other industry professionals to address the challenges and opportunities associated with autonomous driving. What is discussed in the 2018 Self-Driving Safety Report is examined at AutoSens, which is why, although GM-specific, it’s a good read for those wanting to know more about autonomous driving.
You can find GM’s report in PDF format here.
Read it if you want something to do this weekend. Or you can wait until cars drive themselves and read it on the way to work. You can put your feet up on the dash while you do. No steering wheel in the way.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
Photos & Source: General Motors.



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Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo Arrives

Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo Arrives

You know, despite the fact the styling refresh only succeeds in making the Panamera half as ugly, and that this thing has way too many modifiers in its name, you know the new Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is going to go like mad and, somehow, get you pretty impressive mileage too. What it is, at the heart of it, is Porsche’s stab at making a high performance sedan to compete against the Mercedes AMG E-Class, Audi S6, and BMW M5. Four doors, seating for four (five in a pinch), SUV-like space, and enough power and handling and power (in that order) to scorch lesser cars.
What’s Porsche going for here? Are they really hoping to carve out a piece of the Big German Sedan market for themselves, or just going after diehard Porsche owners who need something more than a 911 (I know, who could possibly need anything but?) but will only consider owning rolling stock from Zuffenhausen.
Power & Performance
The new 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo packs, as one would expect, not just stratospheric performance numbers, but enough technology to put a refrigerator in orbit. Around Saturn.
The vehicle combines a 550 horsepower, 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and a 136 horsepower electric motor for a total output of 680 horsepower and 626 lb-ft. of torque. Which means, even though this thing is pretty porky, it’s also pretty fast. 60 mph comes up in 3.2 seconds, the quarter mile is done in 11.6, and it tops out at 192 mph. Like other Panameras, there’s an eight-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) dual-clutch transmission that sends power to the standard, active all-wheel drive system via Porsche Traction Management.
The technology put into the electric motor and the drive system/energy store is as impressive as you would expect coming from a bunch of German engineers. The electric motor is powered via a liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery, which is pretty nifty. The battery pack’s energy capacity is 14.1 kWh, and the whole lot will take 12 hours to fully charge via a common 120 V, 10 amp connection. If you go with the optional 7.2 kW on-board charger instead of the standard 3.6 kW unit, charging time drops to less than 3 hours with a 240 V, 40 amp connection. And all of the battery’s charging needs can be controlled via something called Porsche Communication Management or via the Porsche Connect app.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Features Galore
In addition to all the upgrades found on the latest non-hybrid Panameras, Porsche Advanced Cockpit, Porsche InnoDrive, adaptive cruise control, and rear-axle steering are found of the hybrid version. However, a new roof spoiler is unique to the hybrid. The adaptive spoiler flips through three different angles, depending on the driving situation and selected vehicle settings, to generate additional downforce on the rear axle.
Other performance features include Porsche Active Suspension Management, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport which incorporates Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and Power Steering Plus. The Sport Chrono Package is also included.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.


Interior Highlights
Also, this top-of-the-line Panamera offers a slew of advantages over earlier models. The raised roof line of the Sport Turismo makes for easier entry and egress to the rear seats, along with better head room. The luggage compartment benefits from the wide opening tailgate and a lower loading height for better cargo accessibility. There’s 15 cubic feet of storage space total and the backrests of the rear seats can be folded down together or individually. If you fold the rear seats flat, you get a total luggage space of 45.7 cubic feet.
A rather nifty addition is the auxiliary air conditioning unit that cools or heats the passenger compartment prior to driving, which must seem like a miracle to Panamera owners in Minnesota in February or Panamera owners in Arizona in, well, any given month of the year.
This high-tech performance does not come cheap. Porsche’s stated MSRP for the 2018 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo comes to $3.9 billion dollars and . . . oh wait, that’s NASA’s budget for the Cassini-Huygens mission. Sorry. The 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is available for order now and should show up at dealers by next spring for the low, low price of $188,400.
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.
Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo Gallery








Photos & Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.



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2018 Buick Enclave Premium AWD Review

2018 Buick Enclave Premium AWD Review  

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





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





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











2018 Buick Enclave Official Site.
Photos: Buick.



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Cadillac Tests Super Cruise Feature On Cross-Country Drive

Cadillac Tests Super Cruise Feature On Cross-Country Drive

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


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



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Letter From The UK: Saying Goodbye To An Epoch

Letter From The UK: Saying Goodbye To An Epoch


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


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



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The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC: Mama Mia!

The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC: Mama Mia! All-wheel drive, zero-emission racer features Nissan’s latest electric vehicle technology.
Nissan plans to build six LEAF NISMO RC vehicles to deploy around the world for fans to see.
Now that’s what I’m talkin about! Being kind to Mother Earth is all well and good, but you want to sell electric vehicles? Make them fun! The best way to make a car fun is to go out and race it, and this, the LEAF NISMO RC from Nissan, looks as much fun as a big electric go kart.
Sign. Us. Up!
First Of Its Kind – Kinda
The new electric racer from Nissan has more than double the max power and torque than its predecessor had. Wait, there was a predecessor? How come I didn’t know about this? How come we didn’t get one in at One Automoblog Towers for testing? Ha, alas, but this new one? Mama mia!
Power & Performance: Two Is Better Than One
The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC is powered by two electric motors, one at each end of the chassis. Combined, the motors produce 240 kilowatts and send an astounding 472 lb-ft. of torque to the wheels. And yes, since this is an EV, all that torque starts at zero RPM. Curiously, the drivetrain tech comes from the new Nissan Leaf, including the high-capacity lithium-ion battery and the power inverters.
The all-wheel drive system gives the LEAF NISMO RC the cornering ability to match all that torque. The power is managed independently to each axle, providing torque to whichever tire has the most grip. The battery pack sits amidships, and the electric motors and inverters are ideally placed over the front and rear tires.
This is a race car, so of course, Nissan has lightened things wherever they could. A full carbon-fiber racing monocoque structure means it tips the scales at just 2,700 lbs. Impressive, given how heavy batteries can be. This breaks down to a zero to 60 time of just 3.4 seconds. Think of how much guilt-free fun that could be!
The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC on display during its unveiling in November in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Styling & Design: Looking The Part
Since this is not just a race car, but a Japanese race car, the whole thing looks like something Brian O’Conner would drive to a Neon Evangelion cosplay convention in the Ginza. Nissan talks about the “more aggressive exterior,” and I ain’t gonna argue. The hood is long, the grille is that ugly signature V-motion deal, and the front end has been totally restyled. It’s all silver and black with NISMO red accents, aping the look of the company’s Formula E car.
The front and rear sections of the three-piece bodywork are removable but the windows are fixed in place. LED headlights and tail lights adorn both ends and there’s an adjustable rear wing. The whole thing is as ugly, and no doubt as effective as a Sten Gun.
Careful where you point it.
Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
In Person
Nissan will be showing off the LEAF NISMO RC at Formula E races and major auto shows. A smart marketing move considering the growing popularity of Formula E. Nissan plans to build six LEAF NISMO RC vehicles to deploy around the world for fans to see.
All this sounds good, but what’s really missing here Nissan is a street version of the LEAF NISMO RC. Yes, yes, I know. Marketing plans, blah-blah-blah, corporate image, yadda-yadda-yadda – I don’t care: Sell me one. With license plates. Please?
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
Photos & Source: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.



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Seven Female Drivers Set For Formula E Test In Saudi Arabia

Seven Female Drivers Set For Formula E Test In Saudi Arabia The 2018 Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix takes place on December 15th. 
The additional test session was encouraged by the local promoter. 
Saudi Arabia lifted a ban on women drivers last June.
Formula E is interesting. It’s a good way to advance electric vehicle tech and it keeps us entertained with lots of racing action. Sure, it’s still working out some of the technical kinks, but racing series are always in that position. And now, Formula E has gone and done something very interesting by having seven female racers competing in an open test session in one of the most unlikely of venues: Saudi Arabia.
According to Reuters, at least seven female drivers will take part in the Formula E test on December 16th, the day after the season-opening race on the streets of Ad Diriyah, near Riyadh.
A Different Culture
Saudi Arabia is about as progressive concerning women’s equality as rural Portugal in 1409. We would have said screw these guys ages ago if they weren’t sitting on top of an ocean of our oil, but they are. So we generally turn a blind eye to these fundamentalist creeps literally flogging you, by law, for spending time with the opposite sex, being gay, bringing liqueur chocolates into the country, and driving if you’re a woman.
Wait, scratch that last one. As of a little while ago, women can finally get a driver’s license in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Still, here we are; in a country dependent on the internal combustion engine for its wealth and power that looks at 51 percent of its population as little more than sentient property, now having an electric vehicle race with a whole bunch of women drivers.
The Real Deal
And no, in case you’re feeling contrarian, this is not just some kind of a stunt. And no, these are not some also-ran paid hacks sitting in the cockpit. So in there with the likes of Gary Paffett and Sebastien Buemi and Felipe Massa we see names like, oh, Dutch racer Beitske Visser, IndyCar racer and Formula Atlantic triple winner Katherine Legge and another Indy racer, Simona de Silvestro.
The women confirmed for the Saudi Arabia test include Colombian Tatiana Calderon, an official test driver for the Sauber Formula One team. She will be running for the DS Techeetah team. Visser will be with BMWi Andretti Motorsport, wtih Legge and Jamie Chadwick testing for the Mahindra and NIO teams respectively. Swiss racer de Silvestro will test for Venturi and Spaniard Carmen Jorda for the Nissan e.dams team.
I was in Long Beach when Legge won in Atlantics there. It was her first race ever in the series, and she won right out of the gate. I just happened to be in the paddock with her boss, garrulous Australian Kevin Kalkhoven, when she crossed the line. I thought the guy was going to die from the sheer joy of it all. It’s also worth noting that Legge handles adversity with a disarming level of cool.
Katherine Legge.
Legge Walks Away
In 2006, the rear wing failed on her car going through the kink at Road America at an ungodly velocity. She slammed into the wall and reduced the car down to the bare tub in a fraction of a second, tumbling end over end. She came to rest upside down. When the safety crew righted the tub, she popped out, took off her helmet, shook out her hair, waved to the crowed, and beamed her huge smile.
Then my phone rang.
“Did you see that?”
It was my dad. “Did you see that,” he repeated.
“You watching the IndyCar race,” I asked, rhetorically.
“Yeah, but did you see that?”
“You mean Katherine Legge’s accident just now?”
“Yeah, that! My god, I’ve never seen anything like that! And that was a gal driving – a gal!” [My dad was a touch on the chauvinistic side.] “I thought he-er she was dead! I mean dead. I’ve never seen anything like that! And it was a gal!”
2018 Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix track map.
Fast & Furious
Speaking of fast, Simona de Silvestro. When she first raced Indy cars, she seemed to have two modes: Running up front or (literally) on fire. She’s fast, but used to have a tendency toward recklessness of the flaming variety. Seriously, the first three accidents I saw her in ended up with the car on fire. She’d just shrug and walk away, more pissed than anything.
Curiously, there’s also “locals” like Amna Al Qubaisi (from the UAE) running in this Saudi test session on the streets of Ad Diriyah (all FormE races are on street circuits). She was the first Arab woman to qualify for the Formula 4 Championship. “How did you get started in racing?” would be my first question to Mz. Amna Al Qubaisi.
Talk about playing on a tilted field.
New Times Ahead?
This racing business is stacked against women to a sickening extent, even though that is slowly changing. Chauvinistic doesn’t begin to describe it – shoot, women weren’t even allowed to set foot into Gasoline Alley at Indy until 1971! I, for one, am ready to see more women get involved in this sport at all levels. And if it gets a bunch of easily threated whiny little boys all upset, then too bad.
And if it has to start in places as unenlightened as Saudi Arabia, then I’m fine with that too.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.



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

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





Interior Treatments: Tech-Focused
There’s a Blind View Monitor as part of the standard Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist system. It gives you a nice side view whenever you hit the turn signal. The multimedia stuff is, as one would expect, comprehensive. There’s a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch fully-digital TFT center cluster with various view modes.
Hyundai put in their latest navigation system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a Qi wireless charging pad. Two Bluetooth devices can be connected simultaneously while every Palisade has a total of seven USB outlets. And, of utmost importance: 16 cup holders!
It reminds me of that Freddy Cannon song written by Gong Show creator and alleged CIA hit man, Chuck Barris.Click To TweetPhoto: Hyundai Motor America.
Power & Performance: Snow Mode Included
All this heft is powered by a not-small and not-all-that-bad of an engine. An Atkinson-cycle 3.8-liter V6 (dual CVVT/ direct-injection) putting out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft. of torque. The power is delivered to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic with both two-wheel and HTRAC four-wheel drive options.
Gear selection is a shift-by-wire affair, meaning it automatically puts the vehicle into park when the engine is off and the driver opens the door.
The HTRAC system also has a Snow Mode, with an electronic, variable-torque-split clutch and active torque control between the front and rear. In other words, Snow Mode regulates front and rear torque distribution, left and right wheel slip, engine torque, and shift patterns according to available traction levels.
Normal, Sport, and Smart modes are in addition to Snow Mode.
Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Pricing & Availability
Pricing was not announced, but that should be coming down the pike pretty soon. The 2020 Hyundai Palisade could be a good, solid, if ugly choice for your (family) hauling needs. Expect it at dealers next summer.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
2020 Hyundai Palisade Gallery























Photos & Source: Hyundai Motor America.



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