2019 Corvette ZR1: Supercar? Hypercar? Or Something Else?

2019 Corvette ZR1: Supercar? Hypercar? Or Something Else?

“The 2019 Corvette ZR1, a supercar that pushes Corvette’s performance legacy with the highest power, greatest track performance, and most advanced technology in its production history.” That’s what Chevy says. Are they right? Oh yes. Oh my yes . . . mostly. It’s that “supercar” that gives me pause. Is this thing fast? Very much so. Quick? Senselessly so. Grip? Like a barnacle. Stops? Like a train hitting a bank building. Supercar? Hmmmm . . .
What’s In A Name?
Supercar is an interesting moniker. It used to be the top of the heap. The highest step on the ziggurat. It used to go like this: Car, sports car (which I still believe is one word) supercar, and now, hypercar. Cars are just cars, simple and utilitarian with enough “performance” to make their average owner wish for more convenient public transportation. Sports cars lode-stone toward the True North of performance at the expense of everything else (except style, if it’s an Italian sports car). Supercars are, or were, the best (of the best) a given automaker had to offer. Hypercars added another step to the pyramid (something within the rules in any technological game) and added enough high-velocity tech to the go/turn/stop derby to nearly keep up with an F1 car.
Interesting Perspectives
The problem with these demarcations is that, performance-wise, things are always shifting upward. Something as mundane and forgetful as a Toyota Camry probably could have sat on the pole at Le Mans in 1950. What passes for a good example of a sports car today, say a Porsche Cayman, could have won Le Mans outright in 1955. When the first modern Corvette ZR1 came out a while back, it was a near world-beater. If it could not outright defeat something like a Ferrari 458 Italia or the latest big gun 911 variant, it could at least run with them. Now? That “old” ZR1 has been pushed out of the supercar category and into the sports car class.
The new ZR1? Oh, it’s good. Very, very, oh so good. But the competition is fierce. Cars like the Ferrari 812 and Porsche 911 GT eat sharks for breakfast and wolverines as an afternoon snack. Can the 2019 Corvette ZR1 match that, let alone beat it? Dunno, since no one has driven the new ZR yet, but I swear on the grave of Zora Arkus-Duntov the new ZR1 looks, reads, and seems imposing. Dauntingly so.
Photo: Chevrolet.
Power & Performance
Under the huge composite clamshell hood of the ZR1 lives an LT5 6.2L V8 engine, delivering the highest output ever for a Chevrolet production vehicle. The mill and blower combo in this new ZR1 puts out 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft. of torque. That’s a significant gain for the Corvette, and it’s all down to a new, more-efficient intercooled supercharger system and a dual-fuel-injection system, which employs primary direct injection and supplemental port injection. In case you’re interested, those figures definitely put it in the ballpark with Ferrari and Porsche and Aston Martin, but being in the ballpark does not make you Joe DiMaggio. You might be Pee Wee Reese good, but not Joltin’ Joe good.
That extraordinary plant is mated to your choice of two transmissions: either a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed, paddle-shift automatic. Yes, one of them is a slush-box, but if it’s like the same unit found on “lesser” Vettes, (it is) it actually is a pretty good choice, although a full-blown semi-auto box should have been on offer.
Photo: Chevrolet.


Styling & Design
The 2019 Corvette ZR1’s appearance has been described as “aggressive,” which is sort of like saying a switchblade looks pointy. This thing is “aggressive” the way a gila monster is aggressive; like it’s going to champ onto your arm and never let go. The ZR1’s styling is largely driven by what the wind tunnel says it should be, which makes total sense, given the terminal velocity this thing can hit. The styling is, however, rather childish in its execution. It still looks like a Vette, that’s for sure, but one with a body kit Dominic Toretto would pick.
The front end is entirely new and designed to channel cooling air for the drivetrain’s massive thermal loads. The 2019 ZR1 has four new radiators, bringing the heat-exchanger total to 13. The hood is open in the middle to clear the LT5 engine’s supercharger/intercooler assembly and made of carbon-fiber. This new bodywork/aero package plus that fire-breathing engine make for a top speed of over 210 mph.
The ZR1 comes with two aero packages: a standard rear Low Wing, which gives you the highest top speed (obviously) and an available, two-way-adjustable High Wing that offers maximum downforce (obviously X 2). The adjustable High Wing is part of the new ZTK Performance Package, which also comes with a front splitter with carbon-fiber end caps, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 summer-only tires, and specific chassis and Magnetic Ride Control tuning for greater cornering grip; plus an unending sense of regret that your Corvette has this hideous wing perched high off the back that would seem right at home on a slammed, stanced, totally rad, sick, and off-the-chain Honda Civic. Really Corvette people? Really? I know it makes (a ton of) downforce, but really?
Photo: Chevrolet.
Orange Fury
Speaking of questionable aesthetic choices: orange. Orange is one of those colors that few people are ambivalent about. Strangely, I am one of them, but boy howdy are the pictures of the new ZR1 orange. And I mean hit of Orange Sunshine LSD orange. Chevy calls the color Sebring Orange Tintcoat and it is, unsurprisingly, part of the Sebring Orange Design Package. The package also includes orange brake calipers, orange rocker and splitter accent stripes, orange seat belts, orange interior stitching, and bronze aluminum interior trim. No word on an orange-trimmed motion sickness bag.
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 goes on sale next spring and no, they didn’t mention the price. Would I buy one? Yes. A definite, hard maybe . . . with the low wing package.
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.
Photo: Chevrolet.
Photos & Source: Chevrolet.



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Letter From The UK: The Workhorse And The Thoroughbred

Letter From The UK: The Workhorse And The Thoroughbred


In South West England, there is an area of outstanding natural beauty known as the Cotswolds. Nestling in bucolic countryside, ancient small villages built from honey-colored stone exist among hidden vales and byways where, at this autumnal time of year, Mother Nature is turning the trees from verdant green to rustic gold. Deep in the heart of this rural idyll lies Chedworth Roman Villa. This wonderful sympathetically restored house and grounds has given us an insight into how wealthy ancient Romans lived.
Visitors can see where the conquerors bathed and where they ate, how they heated their apartments, and can marvel at amazingly complete mosaic floors that all those centuries ago felt the slap of Roman sandals. We can truly walk in the footsteps of history.
Unexpected Outcomes
This is not all the Romans did for us. They also gave us roads. The UK was criss-crossed with cobbled arterial routes painstakingly built by Roman engineers and, no doubt, slave labor. Can you imagine what this was like? Britain was mostly forested in those days and those forests were filled with dangers; bears and wolves and angry, aggrieved woad-daubed Britons.
Some of these roads still exist today and one of them bypasses Chedworth Villa. The arrow-straight Fosse Way is today a two-lane blacktop. It is dangerous now for a different reason and regular users will often see the final resting place of cars in the adjacent hedgerows and ditches, usually because the driver’s determination exceeded his ability.
I wonder if those cohorts of Roman Legionaries, wearily tramping along the slick-wet cobbles, ever thought that, far into the future, an Australian and an Englishman could be seen nestled inside a blue missile, overtaking two heavy lorries at warp speed. The Australian is driving: his jaw set firm as his foot buries the pedal to the metal, grimly determined to coax out the blistering pace as meanwhile the Englishman sits quietly beside him and watches his past life flash before his eyes.
It’s all right. I didn’t die. I lived to tell you the tale of . . .

The Workhorse
The Mitsubishi Shogun is, at least in the UK, the last of its kind. An ageing dinosaur that has served, with distinction, many motorists and country dwellers in need of a true four-wheel drive automotive leviathan. It is huge and it has not changed for years, eschewing trendy features and swooping modern designs; it remains at heart a workhorse. It has all the aerodynamics of 1½ house bricks; it has a gruff 3.2-liter four-cylinder engine with 197 horsepower and a chunky 325 lb-ft. of torque.
I absolutely love it. If I offered a “Car Of The Year” award, it would win hands-down and I’ll tell you why:
If the occasion arose whereby you needed to take yourself, your family, a dog, a full-size grandfather clock, and your actual grandmother up the side of Mount Kilimanjaro in a blizzard, this is the vehicle you would need. In terms of off-road ability, it is up there with the best from the likes of Land Rover. It is robust yet simply engineered with a full compliment of high and low range gears and lockable differentials.
On the road, it has a modicum of pace and, on a drive around a tortuous country route, it surprisingly excels. I was able to maintain consistently high speeds. It is comfortable; sure, there is some wind noise from the massive mirrors but, at speed, the engine is hushed and the beast just eats up the miles. Despite the fact the rather thirsty engine is dated, Mitsubishi was able to lower the CO² emissions a bit – so there’s that.
We spent seven days with the mighty Shogun (and didn’t want to give it back) and one memorable day it took me to the outskirts of the quiet and peaceful Cotswold country town of Tetbury, where I was to be introduced to . . .

The Thoroughbred
A morning spent in the company of the McLaren brand is always something to look forward to. I was there to drive the new 570S Spider which, as you can see from my images, is stunning. Compared to the 570S Coupé, the Spider adds a neatly integrated, retractable hardtop that when lowered and automatically stowed between the passenger cage and the engine, delivers an immense driving experience – if your hair can cope.
There are no performance compromises because the Spider has, at its heart, the McLaren fiber MonoCell II chassis. It does not suffer any reduction in strength or stiffness in convertible guise, or indeed require any additional structural actions. The 3,799cc V8 maintains the same electrifying pace, dynamic excellence, and impressive refinement shared by its siblings. With 562 horsepower (hence 570S), it is arguably the most affable and easy-to-drive of the McLaren range, and it is more than enough for British roads, I can confirm.
Not being a small fellow I fell into, rather than climbed into, the driving seat. The Australian, no lightweight himself, rode shotgun on the outward leg of our run. Astonishingly easy to get to grips with, the Spider and I were soon as one. The cockpit is snug but very comfortable once seated and the driving position is, well, perfect. The steering changes direction at the merest hint of driver input.



The Yearning
The Australian and I were both in awe of the performance, with 62 mph from rest arriving in a scant 3.2 seconds. Remember, this is the baby of the family. In-gear performance was even more startling and we could really feel the downforce at work, but we both agreed there was something missing from the experience. With the hard top in position, it is possible to lower the rear glass window for fresh air and to harken to the aural delights of the V8 symphony, but therein lies the disappointment.
Certainly it is loud yet strangely sonorous; it lacked that excitement, that thrill, you get when a powerful engine is truly on song. On the overrun and downshifts, where were the pops, crackles, and bangs that we get with, say, the Jaguar F Type? At a basic UK starting price equivalent to $218,000 USD, we just craved for more drama.
Exiting the vehicle was even more ungainly than the entry. Not being in the first flush of youth, I had to extricate my long, elegant limbs in the manner of a real spider trying to get out of a porcelain bath. It wasn’t pretty and I had to insist, with added dire threats, that no photographs were taken.
Personal Decisions
Without a doubt the McLaren 570S Spider is a remarkable automotive engineering achievement. It has beauty in spades and is one of the finest cars it has ever been my privilege to drive, and I’ve driven plenty. The performance defies description and yet the experience left me wanting that indefinable “something more.” For around $160,000 less, I could instead own a Shogun. So dated and outmoded in so many ways, it nevertheless offers a lofty view of the motoring world around us. It will go anywhere and do everything. A thoroughbred does one thing and does it really well, but when there’s a life to live, it’s to the workhorse that I would turn.
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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2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD Review

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD Review  



Wagons are a hard sell in the United States because of the lingering images of those huge, boxy ones from the 60s with their rear seats facing backwards. We aren’t sure why American automakers ever thought that was a good idea. Volvo has introduced a new V90 wagon for the U.S. market with two rows and plenty of storage for families. It’s a rare breed with no competition.
We recently drove the 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD.
What’s New For 2017
The 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country wagon is an all-new vehicle. Volvo’s V90 Cross Country is basically the S90 sedan in wagon form. It gets an increased cargo area, a raised ride height, and standard all-wheel drive.
Features & Options
The 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country ($55,300) comes with a lengthy list of standard features including adaptive LED headlights, a hands-free power lift gate, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 10-speaker audio system. Extras include full LED headlights, headlight high-pressure cleaning, aluminum roof rails, roof spoiler, skid plate, wheel arch extensions, hill decent control, blind spot detection, and cross traffic alert. 
As you would expect, the V90 is loaded with other safety features including a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, collision mitigation with emergency braking, and lane departure warning and intervention.
The Convenience package ($1,950) added an automated parking feature, a 360-degree camera, heated washer nozzles, and ambient interior lighting. A rear air suspension system ($1,200), a heads-up display ($900), and a premium Bowers & Wilkins audio system ($3,200) were separate add-ons. Total MSRP including destination: $64,640.





Interior Highlights
The interior isn’t much different from that of the S90 we reviewed earlier this year. The cabin offers quality craftsmanship and materials, an elegant design, and front seats that are among the most supportive in any class. A 9-inch touchscreen serves as the central command for the navigation, phone, climate control, and audio functions. We had a fall snow storm hit the mountains west of Denver this week, allowing us to fully experience the heated steering wheel, heated seats, and high-pressure headlight washers, which kept our view clear at night.
Our tester came with a dark brown interior with dark walnut wood inlays, complete with chrome and metal accents wrapped across the big dash. The cabin will compete with the rival’s best examples from Germany.
The seats in the V90 Cross Country are wrapped in fine Nappa leather with lots of support and adjustments. The power side support and cushion extension make it conducive for long trips. We thought the driving position was more upright than usual, allowing a better view of the road. The “Start” knob on the center console fires up the engine, while the Sensus Touch feature controls the 9-inch touchscreen.
Back seats are appropriately contoured and well-cushioned, providing excellent support, though our taller passengers this week said there wasn’t much head clearance. They also had issue climbing into the back, saying it wasn’t the easiest task. Seat backs fold forward, increasing the luggage area’s capacity from the sedan’s 13.5 cubic feet of trunk space to 25 cubic feet for the new V90 wagon.







Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The V90 Cross Country is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is both supercharged and turbocharged. It produces 316 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque, and comes mated to an 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. EPA estimates come in at 22/30 city/highway and 25 combined mpg with the vehicle’s standard all-wheel drive system. 
Driving Dynamics
Like the S90 sedan, we didn’t think a smaller 2.0-liter displacement engine could move this big wagon, but the super and turbocharged engine had enough power for all driving situations. The V90 offers a satisfying experience and performance is adequate for a large family hauler. It offers up a comfortable and controlled ride, and when equipped with the optional air suspension, that comfort is maintained. The wagon also stayed level as we traveled twisty mountain roads this week.
Overall, the interior is a quiet place with its tight construction and active noise cancellation to keep any engine growl and city noise outside the cabin. The 8-speed automatic delivered a wide spread of gear ratios as we traveled up I-70 at elevation. At highway speeds, the V90 wagon delivers an efficiently relaxed experience. Finally, we put the all-wheel drive to use in about four inches of fresh snow that hit the mountains. The V90 powered through the slick mountain roads with complete composure and we didn’t detect any wheel slip.
Photo: Volvo Car Corporation.
Conclusion
The 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country is better equipped than many luxury sedans, with plenty of cabin comforts and technical features. Safety is another reason to take a look at this family wagon as Volvo is known for safety. It also offers up all-wheel drive to make it an all-weather capable vehicle.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country Gallery






































We trust Edmunds.com to give us the best, up to date, and TRUE pricing of what people are really paying for their cars. Get a free dealer quote at Edmunds on this car:


Volvo V90 Cross Country Official Site.
Photos: Volvo Car Corporation.



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Viaduct Elegy: Chapter 3: Streamlined Brutale

Viaduct Elegy: Chapter 3: Streamlined Brutale Viaduct Elegy is a four-part series from Automoblog feature columnist Tony Borroz, who broke the law in preparation for writing it. He is a Seattle native and author of The 2018 Indy 500 Notebook and Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Tony grew up in a sportscar-oriented family, but sadly, they were British cars. 
Finally, finally, finally they are tearing down the Alaskan Way Viaduct, a colossal, monumentally-ugly, seismically-catastrophic piece of transportation “infrastructure” that has been a scar on the face of Seattle for the better part of a friggin’ century.
And yesterday I walked on it at sunset with an old friend, apparently breaking the law.
Viaduct Elegy: Chapter 3: Streamlined Brutale
Chapter One: “Walking With Blaine” here. 
Chapter Two: “The New Colossus” here.
In a number of ways, the original builders of the viaduct were up against a no-win situation. They had to design and build an elevated roadway between a city’s downtown high-rises and its waterfront views. No matter which way you look, it’s a mess. Looking from the city, you see vast expanses of concrete and, at best, a gunner slit view of what should be an amazing vista of flooded fjords and snow-capped mountains.
Looking at Seattle, you see a cityscape with a gray scar across its face.
Into The Void
If they had tried to pull this a decade later, it would have been called brutalist, a form of architecture, not without its merits, known for stark, no-frills designs dictated by function over appearance with raw construction materials and mundane functions left exposed if not outright adored. The designers of The Viaduct were of a slightly earlier era, and tried to go for what Americans think of as art deco; speedlines here and there, rounded corners. They wanted something modern that proclaimed a fast-moving city of the near future, but what they got was like a cross between art deco/Streamlined Moderne and a Wehrmacht flak tower.
The proportions were strange from the get go. Rather than evenly spacing the road decks, both are crammed into the top third of the structure, making it look top heavy. The relatively open bottom section just floats there, a void lacking in form, asking to be filled in, but with what? The first story and a half of the outward facing buildings can see under The Viaduct, but they are perpetually in shadow – not something you want to encourage more of in Seattle in, say, February.
It’s a view attenuated and flagged off by a literal mass of concrete that’s two miles long.
The Alaskan Way Viaduct was an elevated freeway in Seattle that supported State Route 99. The double-deck freeway ran north and south, along the city’s waterfront for 2.2 miles, east of Alaskan Way and Elliott Bay, and between the West Seattle Freeway in SoDo and the Battery Street Tunnel in Belltown. Construction consisted of three phases from 1949 through 1959, with the first section opening on April 4th, 1953. Photo: Seattle Municipal Archives.
They wanted something modern that proclaimed a fast-moving city of the near future, but what they got was like a cross between art deco/Streamlined Moderne and a Wehrmacht flak tower.Click To TweetSounds of Fury
The poor people on the second, third and sometimes fourth floors of those buildings had a view right out of a Terry Gilliam movie shot in Volgograd. If you’re lucky, you’d get to stare out of your office window for, in some cases, as little as three feet and then see nothing but concrete. What once was a view of Elliott Bay was now a view commensurate with an elevator shaft. And those were the lucky ones. The unlucky ones looked directly out onto two, and then three lanes of onrushing, southbound traffic mere feet away from where they stood.
Before the advent of double and triple pane glass, the unrelenting cacophony of noise must have been maddening.
I have been in these offices on many, many occasions, and to say it’s unsettling would be an understatement. It’s like sitting in a conference room directly on the edge of the main straight at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. You’re sitting there, mid-meeting with a bunch of suit and tie swells when wooOOOOMPH-SSSHHHHhhhhhh!! a fully-loaded semi truck blows by you doing a mile a minute, spraying road grime and muck, and rotten rainwater all over the place, adding another accretion layer of grit and dirt, the color of a soil-covered battleship, onto the window.
Aerial view of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, circa 1970s. Item 76337, Forward Thrust Photographs (Record Series 5804-04), Seattle Municipal Archives.
The poor people on the second, third and sometimes fourth floors of those buildings had a view right out of a Terry Gilliam movie shot in Volgograd.Click To TweetConcrete Jungle
Oh, you thought the lower deck would be dry?
Nice thought, champ.
The expansion joints, even when new, left too big a gap when cold, allowing sheets of rainwater on the upper deck to pour through. This made driving southbound a surreal experience of constantly swirling moisture and tire spray, punctuated by momentarily blinding waterfalls. In many ways, driving on the lower deck was worse than the upper one. The lower deck was perpetually damp, with puddles and slick spots even on sunny days. It was always gloomy and dark. There were notional lights, double florescent jobs that you’d seen in suburban garages, but they were placed once every quarter mile. And most of them were burned out when The Bay of Pigs happened.
You want an office with a view? Not if you were on the first through fourth floors of a waterfront building in Seattle you didn’t
It was supposed to be modern, and it wasn’t. It was supposed to be aesthetically pleasing, and it wasn’t. And to top it all off, it was supposed to be functional, and it wasn’t. It failed in every way it could fail. It was a disaster just waiting to happen . . .
Viaduct Elegy: Chapter Four: A Disaster Waiting To Happen will be published here on Automoblog on Friday, February 22nd, 2019. In the meantime, follow Tony Borroz on Twitter: @TonyBorroz. For more historic photos of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the city of Seattle, visit the Seattle Municipal Archive’s Flickr page. 



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2019 Lexus GS F Review: The Lion of The Lexus Den

2019 Lexus GS F Review: The Lion of The Lexus Den 96Awesome2019 Lexus GS FOverall Impression The GS F goes against the typical Lexus grain.Competes with Germany's top performance cars.ProsPowerful EngineRide & HandlingLuxurious InteriorConsRemote Touch “Mouse"Limited Rear Passenger SpaceWe pulled next to a Ford Mustang at a light. The driver looked over and smiled. When it turned green, I punched the 2019 Lexus GS F, pulling away from the pony car in an instant. We could see him in the review mirror, a look of surprise on his face. The new Lexus GS F is a lot quicker than it looks.
This sedan doesn’t just come with a random sports package and some exterior badging. It’s a true performance car from Lexus. They have infused a performance attitude into every fiber of the GS F.
The GS F borrows performance parts from the RC F coupe and they fit just fine. The sedan gets the high-performance V8 from its RC F stablemate, along with revised braking and suspension systems. The 2019 Lexus GS F competes in a tough segment too, with the BMW M5, Mercedes-AMG E 63, Cadillac CTS-V, and Audi RS 7.
What’s New For 2019
A limited-production, 10th Anniversary Edition is new for the 2019 model year.
Features & Options: Tech & Safety Driven 
The 2019 Lexus GS F ($84,350) stands head and shoulders above lesser GS models because it gets infused with some extra goodies. For example, a torque-vectoring rear differential, an adaptive, performance-tuned suspension, sport steering, Brembo brakes, and special aerodynamic enhancements are each included. 
Other standard features include auto-dimming mirrors, xenon headlights, automatic high beams and wipers, LED running lights, and keyless ignition and entry. Once inside, drivers are treated to power-adjustable front seats with memory functions, leather upholstery, and a power-adjustable steering wheel. Safety features include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane keeping assist.
On the technology front, the standard Remote Touch infotainment interface features a 12.3-inch display. Our tester came with the Lexus Enform app suite, which offers an array of subscription-based and connected services. Other technology features include navigation, voice controls, a USB port, and a 12-speaker sound system complete with a CD player and satellite radio.
Finally, our GS F included the heads-up display ($900), and an ungraded, 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system with a six-CD changer ($1,380). Total MSRP including destination: $87,985. By comparison, the 2019 Lexus GS F starts at $84,450. 

Interior Highlights: Luxurious & Comfortable
Stepping inside the GS F reveals special treatments not offered on the standard trims: aluminum pedals, carbon fiber trim, and sport seats we think offer up exceptional comfort and support. The additional Alcantara leather throughout the cabin gives it a sportier feel than other Lexus products, especially around the dash. The dash is characterized by its horizontal lines and cool ambient lighting at the perimeter. Yet, it offers the typical Lexus luxury we think beats even the best German sport sedans.
The fit and finish overall is top-notch. We thought the extra-padded leather panels in rich shades and smooth wood trim really add character to the interior. The giant, 12.3-inch high-resolution display sits ready for commands from the Remote Touch “joystick” on the console. In the back, there’s solid head room for taller passengers but knee room is lacking. Although the rear doors are big, making it easy for adults to climb in and out.

Interior Highlights: Sweet Symphony
The GS F goes against the typical Lexus luxury grain by piping engine and exhaust notes into the cabin. The 5.0-liter V8 powerplant gives out a throaty growl unlike any other model produced by Toyota’s luxury brand. We found ourselves jumping hard on the gas just to hear that sweet-sounding engine. The 10-way power seats, which we put to the test this week, are comfortable, supportive, and have more bolstering for hard cornering.
The color heads-up display helped keep our eyes on the road and it was a good thing as we pushed the GS F hard this week. We got the attention of a few local law enforcement officials who seemed to know I was coming!
Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The 2019 Lexus GS F is the quickest sedan the brand has ever built because of the 5.0-liter V8. The engine has 467 horsepower and 389 lb-ft. of torque, backed by an eight-speed, Sport Direct-Shift automatic with steering wheel paddle shifters. The 5.0-liter V8 uses forged connecting rods and titanium valves that allow a 7,300-rpm redline. 
With both direct and port injection, this V8 gets an EPA-estimated 16/24 city/highway and 19 combined mpg. 
This is attainable only if you can keep your foot out of it. Good luck with that.

We got the attention of a few local law enforcement officials who seemed to know I was coming!Click To TweetDriving Dynamics: Fast As Lightning 
The ride is smooth enough, considering the GS F gets a sport-tuned suspension with stiffer shocks and springs. But it’s hard to drive the GS F without stopping on the gas! The first time we pushed on the naturally-aspirated V8 and heard the engine and exhaust notes, we wanted to have that thrill over and over again. It’s heard like sweet background music through two speakers, one front, one rear, as it’s piped in.
Lexus says the GS F sprints to 60 in just 4.5 seconds. You know it’s quick when you look down and you’re going 92 mph before you even get on the highway!
On the open road, when weren’t seeing how it handled the corners (where the torque vectoring makes the sedan respond beautifully), the GS F is a comfortable cruiser. The eight-speed automatic is crisp, smooth, and responsive, although it can’t match the German competition’s dual-clutch gearboxes. The big, 19-inch staggered wheels gripped the pavement and the Brembo performance brakes (15-inch front and 13.5-inch rear) help corral all those horses under the hood.

You know it’s quick when you look down and you’re going 92 mph before you even get on the highway!Click To TweetConclusion: A Serious Contender 
The 2019 Lexus GS F S offers a rear-drive platform that’s pushing the limits for the Japanese automaker. It has the character of a true performance car with the luxury you would expect from Lexus. Our experience says Lexus is serious about competing with the top performance cars around the globe.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2019 Lexus GS F S Gallery






































Photos: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.



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2020 BMW 7 Series: The Big Boss Gets The Flagship Overhaul

2020 BMW 7 Series: The Big Boss Gets The Flagship Overhaul The 2020 BMW 7 Series is the epitome of flagship styling and comfort.
An extensive offering of new technology includes a night vision system. 
Expect more powerful engines and a plug-in hybrid option. 
I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t the new 8 Series the BMW flagship? Not a chance. The 2020 BMW 7 Series is coming to town, and it’s here to show other BMWs who the real boss is. The new 7 Series is a far cry from being a just another traditional luxury-sport sedan. Although previous models were more oriented towards comfort than outright sportiness, the 7 Series never lost that “ultimate-driving-machine” mentality.
In fact, the 2020 BMW 7 Series is proof that luxury, elegance, and prestige is still on the agenda. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Fresh Face For The New Year
There is no denying that massive front grille. It is 40 percent larger than the kidney grille of the previous-generation 7 Series, and it looks remarkably similar to the one found on the massive BMW X7. It even comes with self-adjusting vanes that open automatically when the engine demands more cooling.
In order to further emphasize the taller and wider front, the 2020 BMW 7 Series gets a redesigned hood that extends to the top of the new grille. The lower part in the front bumper receives large air deflectors in place of conventional air intakes. However, those air deflectors are not useless pieces of styling ornamentation. They actually guide oncoming air to the brake air ducts and air curtains. The latter are located behind the front wheels to minimize turbulence around the wheel openings.
The 2020 BMW 7 Series is also one of the first BMW models to receive optional laser headlights. Yes, there are lasers in the front of the new 7 Series. According to BMW, lasers are 1,000 times more powerful than humdrum LED lights. This explains why BMW resisted the urge to equip the new 7 Series with larger headlights. Instead, they settled for slimmer units to give the vehicle a more stern and muscular fascia.
The 2020 BMW 7 Series features a larger kidney grille. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Yes, there are lasers in the front of the new @BMW #7Series.Click To TweetMore Powerful Engines
This is one of the most interesting parts about the 2020 BMW 7 Series. Although the new 7 Series receives a familiar choice of motors, all of them produce more power and torque; definitely not a bad thing to have in a German luxury car.
The base 740i receives a free-revving, 3.0-liter inline six with twin-scroll turbocharging and direct injection. The engine is good for 335 horsepower and 330 lb-ft. of torque. The latter is available from a low 1,500 to 5,200 rpm. This is enough for a sprint to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. The 740i xDrive can achieve the feat in 4.8 seconds.
But if you’re one of those 7 Series owners who demand more, the 4.4-liter V8 in the 750i is ripe for the picking. The twin-scroll, turbocharged engine is good for 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft. of torque, which is 80 more horsepower than the previous model. The twin-scroll turbochargers are nestled in the 90-degree angle between the two banks of cylinders.
When equipped with xDrive, the 750i rushes to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds.
2020 BMW 7-Series. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Although the new @BMW #7Series receives a familiar choice of motors, all of them produce more power and torque; definitely not a bad thing to have in a German luxury car.Click To TweetRevised V12 & Hybrid Powertrain
Of course, what good is a new 7 Series without a new V12 motor to compliment it? The revised 6.6-liter V12 benefits from mono-scroll turbocharging and an all-aluminum construction. This enables the fire-breathing V12 to churn out an amazing 600 horsepower and 627 lb-ft. of torque. This allows the BMW 760i xDrive to sprint from zero to 60 mph in only 3.6 seconds.
The 2020 7 Series is also available as a plug-in hybrid. I have no idea why you should choose this variant, but BMW saw fit to install a six-cylinder motor instead of the previous turbocharged four-banger. Along with a new high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor, the BMW 745e can dash to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The total combined power output for the 7 Series hybrid is 389 horsepower and 442 lb-ft. of torque. No word yet on the all-electric driving range, but I sincerely hope it’s more than 14 miles.
All engine variants are coupled with an eight-speed automatic. All-wheel drive or xDrive is standard across the range except for the base 740i.
Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Of course, what good is a new @BMW #7Series without a new V12 motor to compliment it?Click To TweetMore Flexible Suspension
The 2020 BMW 7 Series utilizes a double-wishbone front axle and a five-link rear axle in concert with an adaptive suspension system. BMW says the rear suspension is unique because it employs dual elastic bearings and specially-tuned “elastokinematics” for excellent directional stability. The adaptive system comes with electronically-controlled dampers and two-axle air suspension with automatic self-leveling. The air supply of the suspension is controlled individually for each wheel, meaning the new 7 Series will remain balanced even if it’s unevenly loaded.
Further, with the Driving Experience Control switch, you can adjust the damper settings manually based on your preferences. You can opt for a more comfortable or sporty ride and even raise or lower the suspension. For example, it can be raised by 0.8 inches at the touch of a button on bumpy road surfaces or steeply-angled driveways.
Softer Steering
The optional Integral Active Steering is something worth adding to the 2020 BMW 7 Series. BMW says the system combines the electro-mechanical and variable ratio steering of the front wheels with rear axle steering. Ultimately, this means the larger 7 Series is easier to maneuver. For example, at lower speeds, only small steering inputs are necessary becasue the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels to cut the turning radius.
By contrast, at higher speeds, the rear wheels follow the same direction as the front wheels, allowing the new 7 Series to better follow the course set by the driver.
Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Bristling With Technology
I was expecting the 2020 BMW 7 Series to come with everything (including the kitchen sink) and I’m not disappointed. On the safety front, the new 7 Series is standard with the Active Driving Assistant Package. The package includes collision and pedestrian warnings, automatic city braking, lane departure warning, and blind spot detection. On the other hand, ticking the option box for BMW’s Driving Assistant Professional adds active cruise control, lane keeping assist, collision avoidance, and automatic lane changing with evasion assistance.
Extended Traffic Jam Assistant is also part of this upgraded safety package. This system handles acceleration and braking and can, with the help of navigation, adjust the speed of the 7 Series for unexpected bends, turns, junctions, and roundabouts. In addition, the camera-based traffic sign recognition system uses navigation data to determine upcoming speed limits.
The 2020 BMW 7 Series receives a heads-up display and night vision. The latter relays a real-time video image to the Control Display showing people, large animals, and other heat-emitting objects. Any objects detected are additionally illuminated using the headlights’ marker light function.
The interior is home to a bevy of soft-touch materials and coordinated design details. Premium Dakota leather is standard while Nappa leather with extended quilting is optional. The 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch control screen are standard as well. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Pricing & Availability
The 2020 BMW 7 Series goes on sale this spring with a starting MSRP of $87,445. There are a number of additional options and packages available, each of which are detailed in the table below. Stand alone options include a remote start, 19 and 20-inch wheels, front massaging seats, and a rear seat entertainment system among others.
Like I said, the new 7 Series is a far cry from being a just another traditional luxury-sport sedan.
Alvin Reyes is the Associate Editor of Automoblog. He studied civil aviation, aeronautics, and accountancy in his younger years and is still very much smitten to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He also likes fried chicken, music, and herbal medicine.
2020 BMW 7 Series: Options & Packages
 Individual Package
Package Contents
M Sport Package
(740i, 740i xDrive, 750i xDrive and 745e xDrive) – includes M Sport exhaust(750i xDrive only), a choice of 19 inch or 20 inch wheels and tires, M Sport steering wheel, specific aerodynamics, Shadowline exterior trim, Anthracite headliner, M door sills and foot rest and a choice of interior trim.
Autobahn Package
(740i, 740i xDrive and 750i xDrive) – includes Integral Active steering and Active Comfort Drive with Road Preview.
Premium Package
(740i, 740i xDrive and 745e xDrive) – includes Power rear Sunshade and rear side window shades, Heads-Up display along with a choice of Nappa Leather interiors.
Executive Package
(740i, 740i xDrive, 750i xDrive and 745e xDrive) – includes Panoramic Sky Lounge LED Roof, Front ventilated seats, Instrument panel with Nappa leather finish and ceramic controls. Additionally on the 750i xDrive, this package includes Power rear sunshade & rear side window shades.
Cold Weather Package
(740i, 740i xDrive, 750i xDrive and 745e xDrive) – includes Remote Engine Start, Front and Rear Heated Seats and Heated Front Seat Armrests and Steering Wheel.
Interior Design Package
(740i, 740i xDrive, 750i xDrive and 745e xDrive) – includes wood grab handles, Rear Seat Belt Cover in wood trim, Rear Center armrest with wood trim, Luxury Rear Floor Mats and Alcantara Headliner in Coordinated Upholstery Color.
Luxury Rear Seating Package
(All models) – includes Rear ventilated seats, rear comfort seats, Heated steering Wheel with Front & Rear Heated seats and armrests, Rear Massaging seats and 7 inch Touch Command Tablet.
Driving Assistance Professional Package
(All models) – includes Extended Traffic Jam Assistant for limited access highways, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Active Lane Keeping Assistant with side collision avoidance, Steering and Traffic Jam Assistant, Automatic Lane Change, Evasion Assistant & Cross-traffic front alert.
Rear Executive Lounge Seating Package
(750i xDrive and M760i xDrive) – includes Electric Reclining individual rear Seats and Footrest (on passenger side), Executive Lounge Rear Center Console, rear Entertainment Professional.
2020 BMW 7 Series Gallery























Photos & Source: BMW of North America, LLC.



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Ford Raptor Coloring Book Provides Family Fun (And It’s Free)

Ford Raptor Coloring Book Provides Family Fun (And It’s Free)

The older I get, the more I sometimes miss childhood. And it’s funny, becasue when I was a kid, I could not wait to grow up. Naturally, I was going to do whatever I wanted, eat whatever I felt like, and I was never, under any circumstances, going to take a nap. Adults, in my young mind, had all the fun; why my parents, teachers, and neighbors said “oh, don’t be in a hurry to grow up” was always beyond me.
Raptors & Crayolas
A few years ago, a friend mentioned her collection of adult coloring books, a newer but increasing trend with proven therapeutic benefits. She said it was a way for her to balance adulthood with her inner child. A recent Raptor coloring booklet from Blue Springs Ford Parts has us thinking it’s time to get a box of crayons for around the office. The coloring booklet is free and features two profile shots of the Ford Raptor, and two of the truck canvassing rough terrain.
What color will your Raptor be? This is one of the pages from the new Raptor coloring booklet released by Blue Springs Ford Parts.
Good Therapy
In 2005, Dr. Tim Kasser, Professor and Chair of Psychology at Knox College and student Nancy Curry co-authored Can Coloring Mandalas Reduce Anxiety. Their research showed adults who color before a stressful event may reduce any anxiety stemming from said event. Both Dr. Kasser and Curry say coloring is a healthy activity and can provide adults a welcome break from the computer or e-mail account. The Raptor booklet from Blue Springs Ford Parts can also be enjoyed by the whole family.
“I know one thing – my kids love it,” explained Kyle Harris, Director at Blue Springs Ford Parts. “Every kid I know loves trucks, and every truck enthusiast I know loves the Raptor.”
The free Ford Raptor coloring booklet is available now. Blue Springs Ford Parts is a top-rated retailer of OEM Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury replacements parts, with online ordering offered 24 hours a day.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. 
Cover Photo: Ford Motor Company.



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Google, VW Partner For Quantum Computing Initiatives

Google, VW Partner For Quantum Computing Initiatives


Google Kooperation . . . what does that even mean? Did I read that right? I mean, it is early in the morning. It’s only 11:36 (ah, the writers life), but I am reading a press release from Volkswagen and Google or . . . oh wait, I see. It’s a partnership deal between the two industrial/tech giants to apply quantum computing to cars. And not just how cars are built, but how they operate. Google Kooperation. Makes total sense now.
Okay, so what we basically have here is Google, at the behest of Volkswagen, turning the power of quantum computing on to various problems faced by any car maker. Quantum computing is a fairly new thing, and although portends to be radically different and more powerful than conventional computing, is relatively easy to understand.
The Matrix
Regular computing is based on a fairly simple principle: Differentiation. Computers work on differentiating between two states: Is it on or off; is it a one or zero. This binary state, although seemingly limited at first glance, can do amazing things if you have a simple adding machine (a difference engine) do them really quickly. Calculating with only ones and zeros allows you to do things like take high-definition photos, send them wirelessly to a social media site, and then make a voice-to-voice phone call, all using the same machine that fits in the palm of your hand. You can also do more prosaic stuff with binary computers, like slingshot space probes through the rings of Saturn with millimeter accuracy.
Quantum computing, on the other hand, does away with this simple either/or, one/zero, on/off way of looking at things. A quantum computer may adopt the states of zero, one, or, and this is the very cool part, a mixture of the two states simultaneously on the basis of the laws of quantum mechanics. Therefore, the computing power you used to have stepping from a zero to a one has now risen exponentially, since a quantum computer can carry out each calculation step with all states at the same time. Quantum computers are not superior to classical computers for all problems. They are very much superior when using algorithms to solve some complex problems. Complex problems like pharmacology research, information loading, self-driving cars, and really interesting stuff like learning about and exploiting traffic flow in dense urban environments.
“Quantum computing technology opens up new dimensions and represents the fast-track for future-oriented topics. We at Volkswagen want to be among the first to use quantum computing for corporate processes as soon as this technology is commercially available,” explained Martin Hofmann, Chief Information Officer, Volkswagen Group. “Thanks to our cooperation with Google, we have taken a major step towards this goal.” Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Real-World Applications
So, VW has partnered with Google to turn the power of quantum computing into what, exactly? How can this make for a better car? At the moment, Volkswagen and Google are looking at three main areas (none of which are SkyNet/Terminator oriented, thankfully). The first is traffic optimization. Essentially, this means figuring out ways to keep you moving forward at a decent speed, regardless of how many other vehicles are on the road. They are building on prior successful research, using traditional modeling to see if quantum computing methods can now account for additional variables. If this works, and so far it seems to be, travel times will drop. This data can also be applied to stuff like urban traffic guidance systems, electric charging stations, and even parking.
Secondly, Volkswagen expects this quantum approach to provide new information for vehicle construction, i.e. better metals and composites and such, along with how they are used in given areas of the vehicle. Battery research, particularly for the development of high-performance batteries for electric vehicles, is another area quantum computing would address.
Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.


Artificial Intelligence
The last area VW mentions is machine learning. The Germans are rather vague in this area, stating “machine learning is a key technology for the development of advanced AI systems.” AI, for those that don’t know, means Artificial Intelligence. Some people willingly embrace the entire concept of AI, while others really get the heebee-jeebees when it comes to this stuff. Within this context, it’s easy to see where Volkswagen is heading, at least in the near term.
Leveraging AI, in other words, having some form of it, will make self-driving cars a much easier nut to crack. If the car can think for you, it can watch the road ahead, realize what is stationary and moving and, more critically, realize what is a threat and what is not. The AI embedded in the ones, zeros, and half-bits in-between can sense, evaluate, and know what to do when a kid chases a ball in front of your self-driven VW.
Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Forward Looking
Volkswagen and Google aren’t announcing anything here other than they are starting to work on this. There is not some scientific culmination happening next week, nor has a huge quantum super-computer taken worldwide control of bagel production and distribution, and every day is Everything. Bagel. Day. and you will enjoy it. What Volkswagen and Google are saying is, in a nutshell, “these are the problems we are trying to solve, and this is how we think we can solve them.”
Good. Because the momentum is quite clear. Self-driving cars will be on the roads. Traffic will continue to be bad. Electric vehicles are coming. The question for any automaker is how to deal with that inevitability. Volkswagen and Google think the answer – or some of the answers – will be found in quantum computing.
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: Volkswagen of America, Inc.



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2019 Corvette ZR1 Revealed: Most Powerful Vette In History

2019 Corvette ZR1 Revealed: Most Powerful Vette In History

Chevrolet introduced the highest-performing Corvette in history over the weekend with the unveiling of the 2019 ZR1. Chevy says the new Vette sets a performance benchmark with its unparalleled track presence, powerful engine, and other advanced technologies.
“I’ve never driven a Corvette like this before, and nobody else has either, because there’s never been one like this before,” said Mark Reuss, Executive Vice President, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, General Motors. “Its unprecedented performance puts all other global supercars on notice that the ZR1 is back.”
Power & Performance
Supercharging has been synonymous with the Vette for nearly a decade, beginning with the sixth-generation in 2009. The new Corvette ZR1 continues that trend with an engine that boasts an intercooled supercharger system with 52 percent more displacement than the Z06’s LT4 supercharger. The ZR1’s LT5 6.2L supercharged V8 is the most powerful production Chevy engine yet, complete with 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft. of torque. The engine also features GM’s first application of the “dual-fuel-injection system,” which employs direct injection (primary) and port injection (secondary).
The engine is paired to either a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission, the latter being a first for the ZR1. Top speed, interestingly enough, is over 210 mph – but it’s not just the engine that makes that happen. The 2019 Corvette ZR1 is nothing short of an aerodynamic masterpiece.
2019 Corvette ZR1. Photo: Chevrolet.
Aerodynamic Art
The newly designed front fascia serves to redirect air for engine and drivetrain cooling. There are four new radiators for a total of 13 heat exchangers, while the carbon fiber “halo” hood provides an opening for the supercharger and intercooler assembly. Two different aero packages enhance the new ZL1 on the track, the first being the standard rear Low Wing. This provides 70 percent more downfornce than the Z06’s base aero package and returns the highest top speed. The second is an available two-way-adjustable High Wing for maximum downforce – about 60 percent more than the Z06’s Z07 Performance Package – to return the quickest lap times.
All variants of the new ZR1 feature a Chevrolet-first, downforce-enhancing front underwing. All wings have a design similar to the Corvette Racing C7.R racecar, meaning they are integrated with the chassis for strength and stability.
“As the highest-performing Corvette ever, the ZR1’s design supports its capability in every way,” explained Kirk Bennion, Exterior Design Manager. “The new wings, for example, help generate more downforce without adding drag, enhancing road holding and top speed.”
The adjustable High Wing is part of the new ZTK Performance Package, which also includes a front splitter with carbon-fiber end caps, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 summer-only tires, and Magnetic Ride Control.
2019 Corvette ZR1. Photo: Chevrolet.
Interior Treatments
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 in the photos is decorated with the Sebring Orange Design Package. Naturally, the package outlines a number of items in orange, including the brake calipers, rockers, and seat belts, among others. Drivers will also find unique orange stitching, bronze aluminum trim, and leather seats with suede microfiber inserts; optional are the heated and vented Napa leather seats.
Pricing & Availability
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 goes on sale next spring. Pricing has not been announced.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. 
2019 Corvette ZR1 Gallery





Photos & Source: Chevrolet.



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