Automotive

Mazda6 Gets New Amenities In Mid-Cycle Refresh

Mazda6 Gets New Amenities In Mid-Cycle Refresh

Mazda, the Hiroshima-based auto manufacturer of cars great-to-banal, has just released some half-year updates to its bread and butter 6-Series lineup. This, doing things halfway through a year, is rather rare now, but lots of car makers used to do it with regularity. Ford’s Mustang, for example, came out as a half-year introduction; the first Mustangs being neither 1964s or 1965s, but actually were sold as 1964-1/2 Mustangs.
So what does Mazda bring to the Mazda6 menu halfway through 2017? For a start, lots of leather.
Features Galore
Unlike the previous versions of the Mazda6, the 2017.5 now comes with leather seating surfaces along with other trim changes for both the entry level Sport and mid-trim Touring models. You also get Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. The Mazda6 Sport comes with standard 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth seats, power windows, keyless entry, a backup camera, and an electronic parking brake (no more handbrake turns for you, young man).
The Mazda6 Touring, which is the mid-level trim for the range, comes with 19-inch wheels and “leatherette” seats. Touring models also come with Advanced Keyless Entry, dual-zone automatic climate control (nice!), rear HVAC vents, a 6-way power driver’s seat, and Smart City Brake Support (which is one of those low-speed automatic braking deals so you don’t look like a complete dork on hills and such). And there are automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers if you’re one of those forgetful types.
Navigation and heated front seats are now standard, and yes, the Mazda6 Sport has the newly available leather seats. If you’d like to upgrade the Touring package even further, there’s an available Bose/Moonroof/Satellite Radio Package, which carries on that fine Mazda tradition of cramming disparate features into one package option.
Photo: Mazda North American Operations.

Touring Packages
You can also add to the “normal” Touring Package with the Touring Premium Package. You get all the Touring goodies plus LED daytime running lights, self-leveling LED headlights, the Adaptive Front-lighting system, an auto-dimming interior rearview mirror (because you’re lazy), a Homelink garage door opener, heated side mirrors, and an auto-dimming driver’s side mirror. The Touring Premium package comes with your choice of black or Parchment leather seats and an 8-way power driver’s chair with adjustable lumbar support.
Sitting at the very top of the 2017.5 Mazda6 range is the Mazda6 Grand Touring. On top of all the previously mentioned perks, the Grand Touring comes with an Active Driving Display heads-up unit, LED interior lamps, LED fog lights, an LED signature grille surround, driver’s memory seat, 6-way power passenger seat, a car alarm, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for your base-level racing instincts, dark-painted alloy wheels to be cool, and a rear lip spoiler (also for the cool factor). Finally, the Grand Touring includes Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, High Beam Control, and Smart Brake Support.
If that’s not enough for you, tick the box for the GT Premium Package and you’ll get Mazda’s i-ELOOP regenerative braking technology, rear outboard heated seats, heated steering wheel, Nappa leather seats with contrast piping, bright finish metallic switches and handles, and a hand-stitched “chidori” steering wheel. There’s also tons of tech goodies strewn about, befitting a car of this new century.
Performance & Availability
Regardless of which trim level you pick, all 2017.5 Mazda6 cars come with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or, in Sport and Touring models, a 6-speed automatic. That 6-speed automatic is standard for the Mazda6 Grand Touring. Other niceties include improved sound insulation, G-Vectoring Control, and an available Machine Gray Metallic paint.
The 2017.5 Mazda6 is in dealerships as you read this. Here’s a handy little chart showing the available packages, costs, and colors:
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.
Mazda6 Sport 6-Speed Manual
$21,945
Mazda6 Sport 6-Speed Automatic
$22,995
Mazda6 Touring 6-Speed Manual
$24,195
Mazda6 Touring 6-Speed Automatic
$25,245
• Touring Bose/Moonroof/Satellite Package (Requires Automatic Transmission)
$1,325
• Touring Premium Package (Requires Touring Bose/Moonroof/Satellite Package)
$1,425
Mazda6 Grand Touring
$30,695
• GT Premium Package
$2,500
Premium Paint Colors
Machine Gray Metallic
$300
Soul Red Metallic
$300
Snowflake White Pearl Mica
$200
Photos & Source: Mazda North American Operations.

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Geely Holdings, Volvo Invest Heavily In Polestar

Geely Holdings, Volvo Invest Heavily In Polestar

Geely Holdings, parent of Volvo Cars, has announced a major investment in Polestar. The first production model was reveled in Shanghai as the announcement came. The $756 million dollar investment will bolster the early phases of Polestar’s product lineup and industrial footprint.
“The investment highlights the financial muscle and industrial and manufacturing expertise Polestar will have access to, and establishes the fully consolidated Volvo Cars subsidiary as a stand-alone electrified performance car company,” Geely Holdings and Volvo Cars said in a statement.
Central Station
The investment dollars will be put toward a new, state-of-the-art Polestar manufacturing hub in Chengdu, China. The investment and corresponding facility will be instrumental in shortening the time it takes to develop and launch Polestar vehicles. The intent is to gain both a time and technical advantage over competitions, especially as Polestar looks to innovate new technologies in both electrification and connectivity. Volvo Cars and Polestar say the investment allows them greater “synergies” when it comes to joint development and economies of scale.
Polestar Production Centre in China. Photo: Volvo Cars.
Forthcoming Models
The Polestar 1 is, uniquely enough, the first model scheduled for production in mid-2019. The pure electric coupe hybrid is promising 600 horsepower and class-leading range and efficiency. Much of the Polestar 1 (about half) is based on Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture; the rest is entirely new technology developed by Polestar engineers working within Volvo’s R&D department.
Polestar 2, a smaller variant, will enter production after the Polestar 1 and serve as Volvo’s first fully-electric car. The Polestar 2 is the first of five fully electric Polestar and/or Volvo vehicles planned between 2019 and 2021. The move comes following Volvo’s announcement this summer that from 2019, every vehicle in their lineup will have an electric motor.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Polestar 1 Gallery

Photos & Source: Volvo Cars.

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Letter From The UK: Classic Car Treasure Troves

Letter From The UK: Classic Car Treasure Troves

Like in many countries of the world, the British Sterling Pound currency is changing. Gone are our elegant paper bank notes, replaced now by seemingly indestructible plastic money that does not have that special “feel” only proper paper bank notes can have.
Goodbye Pound Coin
In general use, the British Pound is worth approximately $1.32. With the challenge of Brexit hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles, by the time we become the The Lonely Man of Europe in 2019, I suspect the Pound will be worth about 25 cents, that’s if you get anyone to buy it at all. (As a writer, I take Dollars by the way if anyone’s interested. Also Roubles, Yen, multiple other currencies, and livestock in lieu).
Now, a good few years ago, the old One Pound note was replaced by a small, insignificant round coin. This was a complete “gimme” to forgers who we learn have made and circulated some 47 million of the things. Mostly, we are none the wiser when spending.
The British Royal Mint slowly cottoned on to this forgery business and as of the 15th of October, the old gold-colored £1 coin (by the time you read this) will have ceased to be legal tender. It has been replaced by a slightly thinner and lighter twelve-sided coin with a security feature that makes this dodecagonal coin much harder to forge. This means any £1 coins from your last UK trip you have been saving for your next holiday visit to the rainy shores of Britain are now worthless.
Mystery of the Missing Coins
An interesting currency statistic has been thrown up by Mr. Edmund King, President of the Automobile Association, here in Britain. It appears up to £30 million in old One Pound coins might be lost down the cracks and crevices and secret places of our cars. That’s a lot of money to lose out on.
Even as I type, UK drivers are frantically executing one last comprehensive sweep of their cars, some with actual metal detectors. Feverish hands are groping through gloveboxes, cigarette ash trays, side door pockets, and on, under, and between the seats. The more foolhardy are poking into electric seat motors (always a rich seam of lost items) in the hope of discovering some of this golden treasure – before it’s too late.
Go through the glovebox, dig around the seats, and carefully search every nook and cranny of your car. You never know what long forgotten treasures lie within.

Classic Car Treasure
There are approximately thirty million cars on the road here and it is not unreasonable to suggest there might be a £1 coin in each of them. The older the car the richer the spoils one suspects. This is why a classic or vintage car might be a real treasure trove of cash or other goodies. Consider for a moment the sort of events that take place in cars. If you know where I’m going with this and are at all squeamish then look away now.
Imagine when your Mom and Pop where courting. I know it’s a difficult image to conjure up without feeling a bit icky but bear with me. They would cruise to the drive-in for a bit of serious necking and general rummaging where loose notes and coins could be easily liberated from pockets and purses during the match.
Why, there could be whole dollars still hidden away in those beloved classic vehicles and barn finds that turn up every day and who knows what else? Old pin-ups of Cheryl Tiegs under the seat squab, ancient and outdated prophylactics bought long ago more in hope than expectation, a rusting weapon, Tiddles, your Grandma’s missing cat, a plain brown envelope containing $10,000 in used notes mysteriously marked with the cryptic message “see that Jake gets this or else” and, no doubt, many other strange and wonderful things.
Now that the word is out that the contents of Britain’s cars are worth more than the vehicles themselves, I expect our homegrown car thieves will just take the cash in future, or whatever else might be under the seat.
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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2019 Volkswagen Jetta SEL Review: Good Value For The Money

2019 Volkswagen Jetta SEL Review: Good Value For The Money 92Good2019 Volkswagen Jetta SELOverall ImpressionAmbient lights are a nice touch.Good value for the money overall.High performance variant would be nice.ProsSpacious CabinSolid Handling Smooth Transmission ConsEngine Power (At Times)SEL Needs Larger Wheel OptionsThe redesigned Volkswagen Jetta gets bigger for 2019 and it looks to be an improvement over the outgoing model. The new SEL Premium trim has more comfort and quality has not been sacrificed. Buyers get a taste of luxury-car life thanks to high-end features in the SEL we drove this week.
What’s New For 2019
The Volkswagen Jetta has been fully redesigned for the 2019 model year.
It gets more in-car and safety tech and a new SEL Premium trim. The new Jetta is slightly longer, wider, and taller than the outgoing model, with a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs. Jetta gets a new wraparound grille with LED headlights (standard on all trims) giving the small sedan a more aggressive look.
Features & Options: Mostly Tech & Safety
The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T SEL ($24,415) comes standard with an eight-speaker BeatsAudio system, an upgraded infotainment system with an eight-inch display, satellite and HD radio, a fully digital gauge cluster (Digital Cockpit), and an extra USB port. It also features heated V-Tex leatherette seats, rain-sensing wipers, heated side mirrors, and a power-tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof.
We were surprised the SEL only gets 16-inch alloy wheels, however.
Other safety items include adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, auto high-beam control, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. A 10-color adjustable ambient lighting system is standard as well. Total MSRP including destination: $25,265. By comparison, the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta starts at $18,545 with a manual transmission; $19,345 with an automatic.
Related: A brief walk through the 2019 Jetta lineup.

Interior Highlights: Comfortable & Warm
The Jetta’s all-new interior is more modern than the outgoing model with excellent build quality. The first thing we noticed was the larger, eight-inch screen and VW’s Digital Cockpit, a fully digital and customizable gauge cluster. Interior cubby space has increased, with larger door pockets and a larger center console bin for storing your valuables.
The 10-color ambient lighting is another interesting feature.
Jetta SEL gets a more premium look with new fabrics, new colors, attractive stitching, and the nicely-bolstered bucket seats are more comfortable. We made liberal use of the heated front seats that also bring extra winter comfort. Front-seat passengers benefit from more knee and shoulder room, and your rear-seat passengers will have increased legroom because of the longer wheelbase.
The trunk is a bit smaller, but the 14.1-cubic-foot capacity is still competitive for the class.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The VW Jetta continues to come with a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder producing a modest 147 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque. It comes mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission and acceleration is reasonably quick for the class.
EPA fuel mileage estimates come in at 30/40 city/highway and 34 combined, slightly better than last year. The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is on par, for the most part, in terms of fuel economy when compared to the competition.
Behind the wheel, the driving dynamics of the new @VW #Jetta will have you thinking you're in a more expensive German sedan.Click To TweetDriving Dynamics: Smooth & Quiet
The 1.4-liter engine powers up with the push-button start and pulls hard above 2,500 rpm. Handling capability is stable, and the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta rides smoothly on the highway. The Jetta is built for the Autobahn; its architecture conveys that on the mountain roads and tight curves. We felt completely confident at higher than posted speed limits on a curvy section of the Colorado interstate.
In the city, the new Jetta is highly maneuverable too. Visibility is above average in this small sedan, nice when driving through city traffic.
You will find the 147 horsepower engine has enough power for most driving situations. Although we are interested in seeing a high performance option for the new Jetta, on the open road we could power around slower traffic. We found the small sedan to be quiet inside too. We didn’t detect much road or engine noise as we cruised around this week.
The new eight-speed automatic is smooth and responsive, downshifting readily when we needed more power. Overall, the new automatic’s shifting is well-suited to the engine’s power. And the start/stop feature (limited to the automatic) is smoother than most.
Mounted in a lightweight, two-piece steel subframe, the Jetta’s strut-type front suspension has lower control arms and long-travel coil springs. At the back, a torsion beam rear setup with telescopic dampers offers an ideal balance of ride comfort, handling, and weight reduction.
Conclusion: Good Value For The Money
The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta SEL offers plenty of luxurious features and is still a good value for a small sedan. The new Jetta is roomy and quiet, offering a smooth-shifting automatic. Behind the wheel, the driving dynamics will have you thinking you’re in a more expensive German sedan.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2019 Volkswagen Jetta Gallery

Photos: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

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Building Your McLaren Speedtail: Like Savile Row With Horsepower!

Building Your McLaren Speedtail: Like Savile Row With Horsepower! The McLaren Speedtail was recently revealed to future owners at a private event.
The Speedtail is the first of 18 new cars under the company’s Track25 business plan.
It’s the fastest car in the automaker’s history. Now it’s arguably the most personalized.
I think this all started with the McLaren F1. I remember buyers could get their name woven into the carbon fiber, if they so desired. You know, something along the lines of “This McLaren F1 made especially for Sir Manfredjinsinjin” or something like that. And now things have gone to a whole new level with the McLaren Speedtail, the direct successor to the P1 and the spiritual successor to the stunning F1.
Only The Finest
You know Savile Row, right? That’s the street in London where the world’s best tailors work. You can be shaped like a flour sack with a rope tied in the middle, and Savile row tailors will make you look like James Bond. That’s what McLaren is doing, in a certain way, with their upcoming Speedtail hypercar.
No, they’re not going to alter the structure or size of the car for you (that’s definitely a one size fits all deal), but they will let you choose more than just the color.
Literally Everything Is “Bespoke”
This is all very high-touch, extremely personalized service that only the very rich demand these days. And McLaren ain’t kidding around. The mechanical package of the Speedtail is cast in stone and won’t be messed with. Which is as it should be. McLaren knows what they are doing and, performance-wise, the 250-mph hypercar seems to be a dead on bull’s eye.
The story here is that well-heeled buyers of the Speedtail can specify every aspect with regard to the look and feel of their individual car. And much like fashion houses, McLaren has three design “collections” curated by their Colour and Material design team. The three collections are Urbane, Visionary, and Dynamic.
What, like you didn’t think this was going to get pretentious quicker than the Speedtail could hit 60? By the way, the McLaren Speedtail hits 186 mph in 12.8 seconds.
Related: There was once a McLaren made entirely out of Legos.
McLaren Speedtail in the Stratosphere theme. Photo: McLaren Automotive.
Urbane & Visionary Collections
Urbane is a collection of three themes offering a discriminating and sophisticated feel, with calm exterior hues and subtle, cool interior tones. Take the Stratosphere, for example, in the Urbane collection. Stratosphere accentuates the exterior highlights of the car’s aerodynamic bodywork, set off with bespoke, brushed light blue anodized aluminum brightwork. The cabin blends the metallic light blue driver’s seat with light grey passenger seats.
Even the badging goes to the Nth degree with the Stratosphere option.
The Visionary collection offers up the Astral theme, a nod to the UK’s nautical heritage. The navy blue dominated interior with nubuck, bespoke navy passenger seats, and a full aniline leather navy driver’s seat (also bespoke) are among the highlights. The exterior of the Astral theme features, for some reason, an orange and silver pinstripe? Also on the exterior: gloss 1K visual carbon fiber and 18 carat white gold with TPT inlay badging.
Just don’t leave the doors open for very long.
@McLarenAuto is not going to alter the structure or size of the car for you (that's definitely a one size fits all deal), but they will let you choose more than just the color.Click To TweetMcLaren Speedtail in the Astral theme. Photo: McLaren Automotive.
Dynamic Theme & Additional Tailoring
Dynamic, which goes for modern, sporty, futuristic, and sumptuous is epitomized by the Bloodline theme. Bespoke red on the exterior, with gloss black diamond cut wheels and silver brake calipers. Inside the driver’s seat is full aniline bespoke red, while the passengers sit on semi aniline bespoke white seats. The steering wheel clasp, paddle shifters, window and door bezel surround are highlighted in TPT carbon quartz white.
Then comes the really personalized, Savile Row custom-tailored parts of the McLaren Speedtail. Body and interior panels finished in satin 1K or gloss 1K with interwoven gold visual carbon fiber or anodized aluminum, which is pretty crazy, if you think about it. Interior options include nubuck and aniline leather, TPT carbon control surfaces, 18 carat white gold, and TPT carbon badging. Electro-chromatic glazing tints do away with the need for sun visors.
Related: The McLaren Speedtail is an angel in the outfield.
McLaren Speedtail in the Bloodline theme. Photo: McLaren Automotive.
Orange & Black Is The New Black
No, in case you’re asking, you don’t do this by checking a bunch of boxes on the order sheet. As a Speedtail buyer, you get your own Bespoke Liaison Manager to help bring your vision to life. Your Bespoke Liaison Manager is your personal connection to McLaren Special Operations to help you work on selecting colors and materials.
But honestly, none of this matters to me. I am a simple man, of simple automotive tastes, and I will take my McLaren Speedtail in Papaya Orange with a black interior, just like Bruce would have.
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.
McLaren Speedtail Interior Gallery

Interior gallery themes (left to right): Stratosphere, Astral, Bloodline.
Photos & Source: McLaren Automotive.

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Porsche Versus S&P: Can Sports Cars Top The Stock Market?

Porsche Versus S&P: Can Sports Cars Top The Stock Market? A RimBlades USA study examines the value of classic Porsche models against the S&P.
The 1956 356A 1600 Speedster and a 1997 993 Turbo are among the Porsche cars considered.
How did theses and other classic Porsches perform against the S&P? The results might surprise you.
Here’s one of those nifty stories about how much you would have made or lost buying and selling a particular kind of car versus the stock market. In this case, it’s Porsche versus the Standard & Poors 500 stock index. Stories like this come up every so often, and they actually go pretty far back. I once read a study that tied the Dow Jones into a woman’s hem lines in the 20s and 30s.
So something might or might not track with stock values, but the real question is can you make money off the car you just bought?
Solid Gold Volvos
I was hanging out with my friend Carl The Mechanic at his shop many moons ago. I got there just as a customer was paying up and leaving. He was glowing over some new Volvo station wagon with a bunch of factory performance stuff, concluding: “I have to buy one! The money I’ll make selling it will pay my kids college tuition.”
After he left, Carl looked at me and said, “why don’t people understand you never make money with cars, you only lose money?”
Some Exclusions Apply . . .
Obviously this is not true across the board. If you buy something rare now, chances are, it’ll be worth more in the long run. Stuff like Ferraris and certain kinds of Lamborghinis and such, yes, over a fairly long period, decades at a minimum. But most cars, nah. You should always buy it because you like the car and will enjoy owning it. If you make money off it later, then so much the better.
So what does the latest data show us when Porsche takes on the Standard & Poors 500?
“The good news is that a 918 Spyder’s value is headed in the right direction,” said Adam Dangleman, Director of RimBlades USA. “The bad news is selling your classic Speedster isn’t adding much to your retirement savings.”
Porsche 918 Sypder. Photo: Porsche AG.
Porsche Versus The S&P: Stocks Outpace Sports Cars
RimBlades USA looked at four specific Porsche models in their study: a 1956 356A 1600 Speedster, a 1997 993 Turbo, a 2004 Carrera GT, and a 2015 918 Spyder. And guess what? None of them really worked that well as an investment. Only the 918 outpaced the S&P, and not by much.
When you look at the graphic below, you see how things are kind of wonky. First off, they use “auction value” for what any of these cars are worth today, calculating that against the S&P gain or loss since the car was new. What is an auction value? It’s not the sale price of a car, I can tell you that. Auction sale prices are notoriously quirky, to put it mildly.
All you need is two or three real estate developers or pharma salesmen with fat waistlines and even fatter wallets to get it into their heads that they just have to buy their (4th) wife that cute little Goggomobil at the Mecum auction, and next thing you know, you’ve got a Goggomobil TS Coupe going for used Aston Martin money, when a year ago they could be bought for the down payment on a minivan.

All you need is two or three real estate developers or pharma salesmen with fat waistlines and even fatter wallets to get it into their heads that they just have to buy their (4th) wife that cute little Goggomobil at the Mecum auction.Click To TweetJumping To Conclusions
Also, two of the three Porsche cars, the 1997 993 Turbo and the 2004 Carrera GT haven’t been around long enough to smooth out the ups and downs of the collector market. In the mid-70s, dealers couldn’t give muscle cars away, and now they are selling for ridiculous six-figure prices.
Give both of those cars another 20 years or so, and then we can talk about their “inherent value.”
Curiously, the 1956 356A 1600 Speedster doesn’t do so well either. Given how those things have skyrocketed in price over the last decade, the fact it hauls in only half of what you would have gotten from the S&P index over the same time is kind of oddly impressive. Also, yes, we here at Automoblog Towers noticed that the picture RimBlades USA has on their graphic is of a 356 Coupe and not a Speedster.
Related: Happiness is a state of mind: a day spent with the Porsche GT3 RS.
1956 Porsche 356 A Speedster. Photo: Porsche AG.
Blowing Bubbles
The only one of the quartet that does make money is the 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, and even then it’s around $75-thou. Even more importantly in the case of the 918 is the timeframe. For one, it’s too short, for another, the stock market has been a little nuts lately for a bunch of really scary reasons you don’t have to be Alfred P. Sloan to figure out. And, even more concretely, the three year time span is relevant because we’re in the secondary market bubble portion of the sales life of a very specific supercar.
The secondary market bubble is when the first owners of a highly desirable car finally sell it onto the secondary market, allowing those that were not in line to, at last, buy the car they’ve been lusting after. When you’re in the secondary market bubble, the selling price is usually much more than the MSRP ever was.
Then that price will slowly drop to more reasonable levels as more and more of that model hit the secondary market (good ol’ supply and demand) along with the “shiny and new” element also fading away.
Porsche 911 Speedster Concept. Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
The only one of the quartet that does make money is the 2015 @Porsche 918 Spyder.Click To TweetFuture Considerations
But like I said, don’t buy a car because you think it’s going to make you money, but because you’ll enjoy owning it and driving it. And personally, I could have any of these cars and would enjoy driving them very much.
“Playing the stock market always has some ups and downs,” Dangleman said. “But if you invest in a Porsche, you’re at least guaranteed a consistently great driving experience.”
Except for the Carrera GT. Those things are evil handling killers, even by Porsche standards.
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.

918 Spyder Cover Photo: Picture Book, Stefan Bogner, Delius Klasing (DK) of Germany, 2015.
Methodology
Here is how RimBlades USA calculated the final figures in this study:

Start with the original MSRP of each vehicle.

Take that and consider an investment into an S&P fund on January 1st of the car’s model year.

Take the 2018 value, or the price it fetched at auction, for each vehicle.

Subtract the MSRP from that number. There’s the return on the car.

Using the DQYDJ S&P Periodic Investment Calculator, determine the return of the MSRP investment that would have been deposited January 1st of the specific year.

The chart represents the returns on the S&P investments as of January 1st 2018.

Calculations do not include maintenance, taxes, or insurance costs.

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Fiat 500: Still Influencing Design & History 60 Years On

Fiat 500: Still Influencing Design & History 60 Years On A vintage Fiat 500 will be displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in 2019.
The tiny, yet affordable car helped put Europe on wheels following World War II.
MoMA’s exhibit includes the 500 as one of the world’s more significant design works.
Last year, on its 60th birthday, the Fiat 500 joined the permanent collection of the MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art, in New York. MoMA acquired a 500 F series, arguably the most popular 500, manufactured between 1965 and 1972. Fiat’s “great little car” became a cornerstone for Italy with its 18 horsepower, 500cc engine.
The top speed of 59 mph propelled the 500 into homes all across Europe. Counting each version (Sport, D, L, and R) more than four million were produced between 1957 and 1975.
Youthful Identity
MoMA added the Fiat 500 F series to their collection last year, citing the car’s design and history. According to MoMA, the 500 stands as an example of artistic imagination, remaining elegant and sporty throughout its 60 years. Despite six decades of change in fashion, industry, and society, MoMA believes the 500 kept its youthful identity.
In other words, the 500 isn’t going out of style anytime soon.
“The Fiat 500 is an icon of automotive history that fundamentally altered car design and production,” explained Martino Stierli, The Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design at MoMA. “Adding this unpretentious masterpiece to our collection will allow us to broaden the story of automotive design as told by the Museum.”
Photo: FCA US LLC.
The Value of Good Design
The Fiat 500 F Series will be on public display for the first time, starting on February 10th, as part of The Value of Good Design. The collection is a historical examination of the things we use daily, many so rudimentary to our everyday life we likely overlook them. For example, the exhibit includes domestic furnishings, appliances, ceramics, glass, electronics, sporting goods, and toys.
The Value of Good Design examines the period between the late 1930s through the 1950s. This period, in the words of MoMA, championed well-designed, affordable contemporary products. Artistically, MoMA says the 500 embodies the principles of mid-century modernist designs.
“500 is an icon of Italian style that never went out of fashion,” added Luca Napolitano, Head of EMEA Fiat and Abarth brands. “That over the decades gained fans all around the world because of its key features and strong personality.”
Related: Fiat throws it back to 1957 with this special edition.
Fiat 500 Abarth racing around a track circa 1965. Photo: FCA US LLC.
The New Domestic Landscape
Interestingly enough, this is not the first time Italian design was the subject of a MoMA exhibit. Italy: The New Domestic Landscape in May of 1972 featured 180 household objects and 11 environments commissioned by the Museum. Items on display included furniture, lighting fixtures, flatware, and dishes.
Each were selected on their ability to illustrate the “various intellectual design positions” in Italy from 1962 to 1972. The exhibit included two parts, Environments and Objects, arranged according to current attitudes toward the task of design at the time.
“Italy has assumed the characteristics of a micro-model where a wide range of possibilities, limitations, and critical problems of contemporary designers throughout the world are represented by diverse and sometimes opposite approaches,” explained Emilio Ambasz, MoMA’s then Curator of Design in the Department of Architecture and Design.
The press release from May of 1972 describes more about the exhibit, which Fiat contributed to. It’s five pages, but it’s an interesting read.
Photo: FCA US LLC.
Economic & Social Recovery
Where the Fiat 500 is most pivotal, historically, is in how nations rebuilt after World War II. The little car is an example of economic recovery and technological advancement in the years following the Second World War. Richard Reina of CARiD Auto Parts says “bubble cars” rose to prominence because of the social and economic landscape at the time.
As a result, tiny car production from manufacturers like BMW, Messerschmitt, and Fiat increased.
“European factories had been bombed; companies struggled to get back into operation,” Reina explained. “At a time when steel and fuel were still scarce commodities, these bubble cars were an all-weather option for those on a budget.”
Ultimately, the @fiat 500 then was an inexpensive, stylish, and reliable car accessible to ordinary citizens.Click To TweetPhoto: FCA US LLC.
Less Is More
Ultimately, the 500 then was an inexpensive, stylish, and reliable car accessible to ordinary citizens. That is still true today, with the 2018 Fiat 500 starting at $16,245. The styling, though modernized, is still reminiscent of the 500’s early days. Roberto Giolito, Head of FCA Heritage, says as much in Fiat 500: The Design Book.
“We limited ourselves to perfecting certain elements and making the values rooted in the design more explicit, rejecting any possible excess,” he revealed. “Above all, we avoided any measures that could be considered re-styling, a term that is very widespread in the car world but not always permeated by a positive connotation.”
Giolito later adds, in reference to the 500’s interior, that good design does not always need “remodeling” to stay relevant. This sentiment is clear in the Fiat 500 today, just as it was in 1957.
“Since 1957, Fiat 500 has always brought colors and smiles to everyday lives on the roads of the world, becoming an ambassador of the ‘Bel Paese’ and an icon of style and design ‘made in Italy’,” Napolitano said.
In Person
The Value of Good Design at the Museum of Modern Art runs from February 10th to May 27th. The exhibit will be interactive, with visitors encouraged to judge for themselves on what warrants value in good design.
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.
Classic Fiat 500 Gallery

Photos & Sources: FCA US LLC., Museum of Modern Art, Fiat 500: The Design Book, Rizzoli International Publications, Inc., New York, 2016.

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2020 Range Rover Sport Redesign, Concept, Release Date

One of the greatest crossover SUV that will be in attendance for the year 2020, 2020 Range Rover Sport will come up with very good engine updates and the news that circulated this car will be one of the SUV that will get a lot of attention to him. What is the plug-in hybrid will be available in this car, for the moment we do not have information that is so right about this car.

2020 Range Rover Sport

As for the car’s competitors include the BMW X5, Lexus GX, and Volvo XC90, you will probably have a lot of options that are very much to the SUV that will come later in the year 2020.

2020 Range Rover Sport Interior and Exterior

How about the redesign exterior, the 2020 Land Ranger Rover Sport shouldn’t get any improvements this time and it really should retain its sporty and clean look. The front finish wears a familiar electric-razor styled grille and narrow headlamps. Depending on the trim degree, the new Range Rover Sport will likely be presented with wheels inside a dimension from 19- to 21-inches.

The new concept interior from the 2020 Range Rover Sport seems extremely classy and quality with wonderful wood inserts and leather surfaces. It comes standard with two rows of seats when the third row is optional on HSE and larger trim levels except around the SVR model. The Assortment Rover Sport is obtainable in a number of trim ranges: HSE, HSE Dynamic, SE.

Engine Performance

No adjustments are expected to the rest of the engine line. Range Rover Sport from the USA is at present presented having a 3.5-liter supercharged 350 horsepower and V6 engine, a 3.0-liter turbocharged 254 horsepower and V6 diesel engine, 5.0 liter and 500 horsepower and supercharged V8 engine plus a 5.0 Liter and V8 supercharged and 5.0 liters. Search to the up to date Range Rover Sport to debut as well as the Assortment Rover up to date later this 12 months.

2020 Range Rover Sport Release Date and Price

The release date of this car is still unclear, Range Rover yet want to talk too much about the news about the release date of 2020 for the Range Rover Sport, and for the price, 2020 Range Rover Sport will likely hover around $66.750.

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Goodbye Keys! Hello Hyundai’s Fingerprint Technology

Goodbye Keys! Hello Hyundai’s Fingerprint Technology Hyundai’s technology allows drivers to unlock and start their vehicle with their fingerprints.
An on-board security system helps determine the driver’s actual prints to prevent theft.
The technology is another example of how consumers want a vehicle to fit their lifestyle.
It sounds like something out of science fiction. Like those movies where the crew, in order to open the hatch to the spaceship’s next corridor, place their hands on a blue-lit screen. Hyundai is now using that Hollywood magic with “smart fingerprint technology,” set to debut in the first quarter of next year.
Smart fingerprint technology allows drivers to unlock the doors and start the vehicle with a single touch.
What a time to be alive.
How It Works
The Santa Fe is the first to receive Hyundai’s new wizardry, one of our favorite SUVs today interestingly enough. To unlock the vehicle, place a finger (even your middle one?) on the door handle sensor. The encrypted fingerprint information is verified, then sent to a controller inside the vehicle. If the prints match the doors unlock. Once inside, starting the vehicle is done by touching the ignition, which uses its own fingerprint scanning sensor.
If the prints match, the engine fires up.
If the prints don’t match? Does the vehicle transform into a Bumble Bee style cyborg and defend its perimeter? It would be cool and would likely deter thieves, but unfortunately, no. And it’s not entirely foolproof either.
Hyundai’s fingerprint technology allows drivers to unlock and start their vehicle without using traditional keys. Photo: Hyundai Motor Company.
Security Protocol: Detecting Imposters
Hyundai says by using “capacitance recognition” they are able to address fake fingerprints. Capacitance recognition detects differentials in the electricity levels in various parts of our fingertips. The approach helps weed out forgeries and fake fingerprints. According to Hyundai, the technology’s chance of misrecognizing another person’s print is only one in 50,000.
Hyundai also says this is five times more effective than conventional keys, including smart keys. Valid point. But what if you’re the one? The one who gets their beloved Santa Fe stolen by fingerprint hackers while getting groceries? Might we suggest a steering wheel club just to be safe?
The good news though? The system operates through the “real-time learning” of fingerprints, in support by a “dynamic update” system. Perfect. A vague but just techy enough description that it must certainly work. According to Hyundai, this means the fingerprint system continually improves its “success rate.”
What a time to be alive.
With “dynamic updates,” the fingerprint system continually improves its success rate, according to Hyundai. Photo: Hyundai Motor Company.
If the prints don't match? Does the vehicle transform into a Bumble Bee style cyborg and defend its perimeter?Click To TweetThe Personalization Trend
Hyundai’s fingerprint technology is really cool but not overly surprising. Given that buyers today enjoy how vehicles can be increasingly personalized, such technology only makes sense. After all, this is the very basis of dashboard touchscreens today. They allow the vehicle, from the ambient lighting to the radio presets, to be configured in a personal way.
Memory seat positions and various drive mode settings for the powertrain? Infotainment and connectivity systems? Much the same, each existing as more ways to tailor a vehicle to individual tastes. Examine now, for instance, what you like about your vehicle? Chances are it has something to do with how it fits your own personal preferences.
Unless you drive a hooptie. But even then.
“In the future, Hyundai Motor plans to further expand the application of the technology to allow the adjustment of temperature, steering wheel position, and many other features which will be tailored to driver’s preferences” said Albert Biermann, President and Head of Research & Development, Hyundai Motor Company. “This will ultimately offer quality driving experiences to each and every Hyundai customer.”
Photo: Hyundai Motor Company.
@Hyundai's fingerprint technology is really cool, but not overly surprising.Click To TweetFingerprint Technology In 2019
Hyundai’s fingerprint technology will debut in select markets in early 2019, gradually expanding to others. Although they don’t say where exactly or when they will expand to other markets. Hyundai does say, however, they are planning to implement other customizable technologies like this across their lineup. By doing this, Hyundai believes they can strengthen their position in the future mobility market.
In the meantime, we’re stuck with our stupid keys. Figures.
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: Hyundai Motor Company.

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