Automotive

7 Wildly Awesome Jeep Concepts For The 2017 Easter Jeep Safari

7 Wildly Awesome Jeep Concepts For The 2017 Easter Jeep Safari

The Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah is the cultural oasis of the off-road community. Each year, thousands of off-road enthusiasts descend upon Moab to tackle the trails, canvass the outdoors, and soak in the sights. To mark the 51st anniversary of the event, the Jeep and Mopar brands will showcase some of their most unique concepts.
“It’s truly a labor of love for the Jeep team to develop exciting, capable concept vehicles each year for Moab and the Easter Jeep Safari,” said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA Global.
This year’s concept collection employs both production and prototype Jeep Performance Parts. Mopar develops and builds the individual parts, ensuring each one can stand up to the rigors and challenges of off-road use. Jeep owners often seek these parts and accessories out to increase the capability of their vehicle.
“These concept vehicles are a perfect example of how off-road enthusiasts can use Jeep Performance Parts to personalize and enhance the already outstanding Jeep capability, allowing them to face the toughest trails in the world,” said Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA – Global.
The concepts this year range and vary quite nicely in terms of performance and technology. Some of them have really slick designs, others have powerful engines; a couple have stellar lighting setups. Here are the seven concepts appearing at the 2017 Easter Jeep Safari.
Jeep Grand One
The Jeep Grand One celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Grand Cherokee with a modernized take on the classic 1993 ZJ. The Grand One Concept features custom 18-inch lace-style wheels and high-clearance fender flares. The wheelbase is extended while subtle wood grain decorates the body. Inside, the original Grand Cherokee is alive and well, with ’90s-inspired materials and touches, including a classic car phone.
Just in case anybody calls while you are on the trials . . .
And covering the trails should be of little concern with the Jeep Grand One’s 33-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires and 2-inch suspension lift. The front and rear axles are equipped with selectable locking differentials too. A 5.2-liter V8 engine, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, provides the necessary power.
Jeep Safari
Jeep Safari Concept. Photo: FCA US LLC.
When hitting the trails, its always more fun with family and friends. The Jeep Safari Concept realizes this through a unique cabin design that gives rear passengers a commanding view. This Wranger-based machine is ultra modern too, with a translucent hard-top roof panel and two-level aluminum cargo rack with incorporated drone. A raked windshield, boatsided rocker panels, LED headlamps, and custom LED tail lamps and parking/turn lamps finish off the Safari Concept.
Notice the “windoors” with zipper openings? Those are crafted from lightweight aluminum and clear vinyl, and hinge like a cabinet during entry and exit. Inside, the two rear bucket seats are rotated outboard, making it easier for rear seat occupants to see out. The modern treatments continue with an instrument panel-mounted iPad.
Getting to any off-road destination is easy with front and rear Dana 44 axles equipped with selectable differential lockers. Overall body length was reduced to make the Safari more agile with its 2-inch lift. The concept vehicle includes 35-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires on custom 18-inch wheels, full-length skid plates, steel front and rear bumpers, on-board air system, upgraded brakes, and a cold air intake.
The Jeep Safari is powered by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, paired to a five-speed automatic transmission.
Jeep Quicksand
Jeep Quicksand Concept. Photo: FCA US LLC.

Those who want to combine the likes of classic Mopar muscle with Jeep off-road capability will find themselves right at home with the Jeep Quicksand Concept. Perhaps the most noticeable element is the “peekaboo” cutout in the hood – underneath is a Mopar 392 Crate HEMI engine with eight-stack injection, mated to a six-speed Getrag manual transmission.
The downturned open headers add to that vintage hot rod feel.
Another Wrangler-based concept, the Jeep Quicksand features a longer wheelbase, with a trimmed front and rear body, and a chopped hard top and windshield. While flying down the trails, the top and windows provide that sense of “wind through your hair” freedom – or if not that, it’s a great way to hear the engine! What’s also unique is the staggered tire setup never done on any Jeep concept prior. The Quicksand features 32-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires in the front and 37-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires in the rear.
The interior is simple with red accents, two front low-back bucket seats, flat aluminum door panels, tilt-out windshield glass, and a chrome roll bar. Higher tech tools include a Warn winch in the front Moon tank and a recovery rope in the rear.
Jeep Trailpass
Jeep Trailpass Concept. Photo: FCA US LLC.
This little trail butterfly is based on the new Jeep Compass and features a 1.5-inch lift, 18-inch wheels, and Continental TerrainContact all-terrain tires. Other exterior features include Gloss Black side mirror caps, a custom hood graphic, side stripes, tinted headlamps and tail lamps, and a Mopar/Thule roof basket with roof bag and traction mats.
On the inside, Jeep Trailpass occupants are treated to custom Katzkin leather seats and armrests, body-color bezel accents, and all-weather floor mats. The powertrain consists of a 2.4-liter Tigershark engine and nine-speed automatic transmission.
Jeep Switchback
Jeep Switchback Concept. Photo: FCA US LLC.
The Jeep Switchback Concept hits the ground running with front and rear Dana 44 axles, a 4-inch lift with Remote Reservoir Fox shocks, heavy-duty cast differential covers, 10th Anniversary steel front and rear bumpers, Rubicon winch, and a cold air intake. The Switchback grips the trails with 17-inch concept wheels and 37-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires.
The axle-back exhaust is a nice touch.
The exterior features are nicely crafted from the hood and half doors to the hard top and roof racks. Jeep Performance Parts on the exterior include high-top fender flares, Mopar black fuel door and tail lamp guards, swing gate hinge reinforcement, and oversized spare tire carrier. Those who hit the trails in the evening or during bad weather will appreciate the Switchback’s incredible lighting system. This Jeep is complete with a concept LED off-road windshield light bar, concept LED off-road A-pillar lamps, LED tail lamps, and LED headlamps and fog lamps.
The inside is trimmed with Katzkin leather seats, body-color bezel accents, concept sport bar grab handles, and Mopar all-weather mats. The floor is actually made from a spray-in bed liner material. The cargo area also has a storage rack stocked with first aid and roadside safety supplies.
The Jeep Switchback Concept is powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
Jeep Luminator
Jeep Luminator Concept. Photo: FCA US LLC.

This Wrangler-based Jeep concept has it all: off-road capability, high-tech features, and lots of lights. Hence the name, Jeep Luminator. The vehicle’s sophisticated lighting system was jointly developed with the Automotive Lighting division of Magneti Marelli. And they thought of everything needed to light up the trails in proper fashion: magnetic underbody rock lights, 7-inch LED projector bi-function headlamps, unique LED tail lamps, A-pillar-mounted LED spot lights, and upper bumper LED auxiliary lighting.
The fog lamps actually “corner” and are dictated by the steering angle.
The Jeep Luminator’s hood houses a scanning LED light bar module with active spot and dynamic following technology. This tool works as a spotlight to warn drivers of potential hazards while navigating the trials. The rear lighting setup is equally advanced. The center high-mount stop light, for example, acts as a scouting/trail lamp with four-color LEDs for trail rides: complete stop (red), 1-3 miles per hour (amber), 3-25 mph (green), or white when rear flood lighting is needed.
High-tech features include the roof-mounted solar panel, a drone landing pad with a lighted drone, and an interactive touchscreen display on the driver’s side rear window with GPS and internet capability.
Jeep CJ66
Jeep CJ66 Concept. Photo: FCA US LLC.

Think of this fireball as the Frankenstein of Jeeps. The Jeep CJ66 recipe calls for a Jeep Wrangler TJ frame and a 1966 Jeep Wrangler CJ universal Tuxedo Park body. Sprinkle in Wrangler JK elements and serve vigorously with a Mopar 345 Crate HEMI Engine Kit.
Like its Quicksand brethren, the CJ66 has plenty of muscle with its 383 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI and six-speed manual transmission. A Mopar 345 Crate HEMI engine cover shelters the powerplant while a Mopar cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust increase overall performance.
Front and rear Mopar Dana 44 Crate axles, 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, 17-inch beadlock wheels, and a 2-inch lift will make short work of any off-road obstacles. An advanced two-way air system lets drivers air tires up or down, depending on the desired pressure.
The color is called “Copper Canyon” and is accented by a matte black “CJ sixty six” stripe on the hood. Other exterior treatments include oversized fender flares, Mopar 10th Anniversary Wrangler JK Rubicon Bumper Kits, skid/front bumper plates, and rock rails. The CJ66 is also equipped with Mopar LED amber fog lamps and a Mopar Warn winch.
While it will attend the 2017 Easter Jeep Safari, this is not the first time the CJ66 has been in public. The concept Jeep actually made its debut at the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas last November.
The Jeep CJ66 Concept features a custom-built roll cage and Dodge Viper style seats. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Jeep Mania
Do you have a favorite on this list? It’s hard to pick one, but we are kinda partial to the Luminator and CJ66. Maybe something on this list will make it into production after the 2017 Easter Jeep Safari? It’s hard to say, but Jeep is using the occasion to gain insight from the many off-road fans in attendance.
“We look forward to the reaction and feedback from enthusiasts and our most loyal customers as these new Jeep concepts are put through their paces on the trails in Moab,” Manley said.
If you are heading to the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, make sure you take lots of pictures and tag us on Twitter – we definitely want to hear about your adventure. The 2017 Easter Jeep Safari begins on April 8th and runs through the 16th.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photos & Source: FCA US LLC.

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Nissan GT-R Track Edition: Godzilla Descends On NYC

Nissan GT-R Track Edition: Godzilla Descends On NYC

The Nissan GT-R. The ultimate Skyline. The preferred ride of Brian O’Conner. The Japanese Corvette. Godzilla. This is, to a lot of people, the definitive expression of Japanese automotive technology. The flagship for the entire country. And, apart from Acura’s NSX, it’s hard to argue with that.
The Nissan GT-R encapsulates a lot of the predilections of Japan’s auto industry and Japanese culture.
Standing Apart
It is very high tech. It does a lot with a little. It is amazingly reliable. It is very, very thought out and refined. It is, in strange ways, practical. It is styled and finessed like a Bonsai tree. The GT-R is about as Japanese as Kobe beef or an upset Hello Kitty with a Samurai sword. This, however, is not even that. This is not “just” a GT-R, this is the GT-R Track Edition, and it’s a whole new beasty.
The GT-R Track Edition is the third model in the GT-R lineup. The Track Edition slots between the “T” (touring) and “R” (racing) models. The GT-R Track Edition was conceived to deliver a higher level of performance than the GT-R Premium, but not be as bat guano crazy as the line’s flagship 600 horsepower GT-R NISMO. The GT-R Track Edition cranks out 565 horsepower, which is the same as the GT-R Premium.
Over 600 horsepower would have been fun, but oh well.
The Nissan GT-R’s front end retains the automaker’s signature “V-motion” grille, which enhances engine cooling versus the previous GT-R design. Furthermore, the reinforced hood provides additional stability during high speed driving. Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Performance DNA
The new GT-R Track Edition is set apart from its brethren by such performance-oriented features as the body’s additional adhesive bonding, which increases rigidity versus the GT-R Premium model. This is in addition to the normal spot welding, but sadly in place of fully seam welding the entire car. The suspension gets unique NISMO tuning that reduces weight and adds additional roll stiffness over the GT-R Premium. You also get NISMO-spec tires on the new GT-R Track Edition.
Speaking of the GT-R NISMO, the GT-R Track Edition gets the NISMO’s front fenders along with 20-inch NISMO forged aluminum-alloy wheels, and a special dry carbon-fiber rear spoiler. On the inside there’s a unique red and black color treatment with high-grip, Motorsports-inspired Recaro seats. “Motorsports-inspired?” Why not just throw in some real Motorsports-sourced Recaro seats?
All 2017 Nissan GT-Rs are built on an exclusive Premium Midship platform, which I’m guessing is Nissan-speak for a British “mid” engine; i.e. the engine sits behind the front axel line. This sort of set up allows Nissan to use a unique independent rear transaxle ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system. That places the transmission, transfer case, and final drive at the rear of the vehicle for better weight distribution for maximized handling.
Takumi Legend
The Nissan GT-R Track Edition’s power plant is a 565 horsepower, hand-assembled twin-turbo VR38DETT 3.8-liter V6 engine. All GT-R engines are hand-assembled in a special clean room by highly trained techs. They even give them a special Japanese name: Takumi. There’s an aluminum plate added to the front of each mill with the name of the Takumi, a nice touch. Torque is rated at 467 lb-ft., which is pretty good for an overhead cam six. The bad air goes out the back via a titanium exhaust system that’s standard, and probably very expensive.
The GT-R’s mill is mated to a paddle-shifted, sequential 6-speed dual clutch transmission, which, at the touch of a button, can be selected to shift at race car-like speeds. There’s also high performance differential oil standard in the diff case.
The aluminum plate at the front of each engine reveals the name of the Takumi engine craftsman. Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Audible Attributes
There is a standard Bose audio sound system with Active Noise Cancellation and Active Sound Enhancement technologies to filter out unwanted noise, and retain excitement during spirited driving. Which does fit with the character of the car, but it is also, to my mind, rather sad. You want to know how to make an engine sound right? Make it sound right from the beginning. Don’t mess around with fancy tech gimmicks like speakers and active noise cancellation.
Build the engine right from the get-go. Work the intake and exhaust tracts. Tune that exhaust they way any decent racing car company would, and it will sound fantastic . . . you know, like Porsche and Ferrari and Alfa Romeo have been doing for decades.
And this points out what is the “failing” (if you could call it that) of the GT-R. It is a $29 answer that 25 cents could have fixed. Nissan, like Japan itself, loves to throw high tech at any given problem. Why solve a problem in three steps when you can solve it in 103? Why make a car go fast and handle right with a high horsepower, naturally aspirated engine and rear-wheel drive, when you can make a car go just as fast with a twin turbo plant, all-wheel drive, and more computing power than the space shuttle?
“The new GT-R Track Edition gives buyers a specialized model, one true to GT-R heritage and available only by special order,” said Michael Bunce, Vice President, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. “Building on the major upgrade to every GT-R for 2017, the Track Edition is an amazing package inside, outside, and under the skin.” Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Waxing Poetics
But let’s get down to brass tacks here. The starting MSRP for a GT-R Track Edition is $127,990. And that is more than a loaded Corvette ZO6. And yes, you can say a Corvette is a blunt tool and the GT-R Track Edition is a precision instrument. You can say the GT-R Track Edition is a flint-knapped scalpel and the Corvette ZO6 is a meat axe in comparison. And you’d be right. But you’d also be right to say a Corvette ZO6 would chew up a GT-R and spit out the pieces.
But hey, it’s your money, and if you’re a fan of all things Japan, and really got a Jones for a GT-R Track Edition, please, be my guest and buy one of the things. I know you’ll enjoy it, and in many ways they are very hard to argue with. You best get in line, however. The GT-R Track Edition is by order only and will be available later this summer. The vehicle officially debuts at the New York International Auto Show, April 14th through the 23rd, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.
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.
2017 Nissan GT-R Track Edition Gallery

Photos & Source: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

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2018 Toyota Camry Hits The Scene

2018 Toyota Camry Hits The Scene

I’m not sure if Toyota is trying to be funny here, but it seems like they are. They literally write the words: “All-New 2018 Toyota Camry Gains Emotionally-Charged Design and Performance Experience” in their press release for the car.
Has no one told them the Camry is the automotive equivalent of imitation mayonnaise? It’s not even real mayonnaise, it’s fugazi mayonnaise. It aspires to be this bland white stuff suburbanites slather onto Wonder bread. “Emotionally-Charged Design and Performance Experience?”
It’s as emotionally charged as a Perry Como concert and they expect me to believe it’s like an Iggy and The Stooges show in Detroit circa 1971? Are they mental?
Sensible Choices
Yeah, yeah, near as I can tell, they’re on the verge of going boi-oi-oing here. Look, don’t get me wrong. The Toyota Camry is good, solid, practical transportation. It’s what your great aunt Winifred ends up buying, not The Little Old Lady From Pasadena. It’s the automotive parallel of a no-salt saltine. A Toyota Camry is not a bright red, shiny, super-stock Dodge that will detach your retinas upon letting go of the clutch. Quite the contrary, the Camry is sense and sensibility. It’s muted beige paint in a world of ecru gone wild.
It is also not a bad choice if you want a good, reliable car that gets you from A to B in comfort and safety with solid efficiency. If you don’t really care about cars all that much, the Toyota Camry is the car for you.
Architectural Design
The new Camry utilizes what Toyota refers to as TNGA, or Toyota New Global Architecture. Essentially TNGA is the new platform that everything Toyota will be based off of. It’s the way Toyota will design, engineer, and package its vehicles going forward.
Toyota extended the Camry’s wheelbase by two inches, which made it easier aesthetically to drop the roof and hood height. This also lowered the center of gravity and created a wider, more planted vehicle. From here, packaging benefits continue to flow. The driver’s seating position is lower and near the center of the car, for example. The steering column can be adjusted over a wider range, and the hood, cowl, and dashboard height have all been dropped for better outward visibility. Visibility is also aided by the reworked A-pillar and side mirror placement.
When it came to design, there were three primary goals: a distinctive, low center of gravity for a firm, wide stance; a practical-yet-emotionally styled cabin profile, and a sporty and upscale look both inside and out. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Driving Dynamics
Chassis-wise, things have gotten stiffer for the Camry, which is always a good thing: Make the body stiffer and, therefore, let the suspension do its thing better. The new Camry has increased the use of ultra-high-tensile steel and has implemented a new molding technology to deliver this enhanced structural rigidity. There’s a new double wishbone rear suspension system out back for responsive handling, well-defined steering, and great ride quality. They’ve even reworked the engine mounts with a new, four-point mounting system for better road manners and to reduce unwanted noise, vibration, and harshness in the passenger compartment.
That said, kudos to Toyota for at least thinking about bringing driving dynamics to the forefront of the new Camry. Toyota wants the new Camry to “highly impress” the driver with its handling capability and composure. Does it? Dunno. Car’s not out yet, but here’s the deal Toyota: Grab a new one off the line and deliver it to 1 Automoblog Tower in Detroit, and we’ll run the bejeebers out of it on the tracks and AutoX’s and late night runs into Ontario, and well let you know if we’re “highly impressed” with its handling capability and composure.
Toyota says customers will “notice the dramatic improvements within the first few seconds of driving” the 2018 Camry.
“In order to create something that stirs people’s soul, we’ve laid out the concept of a new sedan that provides fun and excitement behind the wheel,” said Masato Katsumata, Chief Engineer, 2018 Toyota Camry. “In developing the next-generation Toyota Camry, we were able to start with a clean slate, which allowed us to create a true driver’s car.” Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Power & Performance
Motivational power comes from your choice of three engines: either a new 3.5-liter V6, an all-new 2.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine, which comes mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission, or a next-generation Toyota Hybrid System.
The (hysterically named) 2.5-liter 4-cylinder “Dynamic Force Engine” focuses on higher torque, higher power, and lower fuel consumption. Toyota has reworked the combustion chamber for higher tumble air flow, which results in faster and cleaner burning of the air/fuel mixture. With the focus on torque, it’s unsurprising that the engine is a long-stroke and high compression ratio layout that also features multi-hole direct fuel injectors, a variable cooling system, and an improved Variable Valve-Timing layout.
Toyota says the Dynamic Force Engine (snicker) is 40 percent more thermally efficient, which makes it one of the best in the world in this segment.
The Toyota Camry is sold in more than 100 countries and is the most popular mid-size sedan in the world. Introduced in Japan in 1982, the Camry was Toyota’s first mass-produced vehicle with a transverse engine design. It continues to be affordable and reliable and thus, distinguishes itself from other sedans accordingly. It is arguably a benchmark in its segment and a pioneer in its own right. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Interior Treatments & Tech
There’s a whole slew of other stuff sprinkled onto and into the new Camry like so many Chocolate Jimmies on a sundae. There’s Toyota Safety Sense-P suite of safety features, there’s 10 standard airbags, Toyota’s Star Safety System, there’s enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, an Anti-lock Braking System, Smart Stop Technology, and even a standard backup camera.
The front seats have improved ergonomics and the rear seats are more refined. There’s Toyota’s latest Human Machine Interface (which I thought was a Kraftwerk album), a 10-inch color Heads-Up Display (HUD), a seven-inch multi-information display within the instrument cluster, an eight-inch audio/navigation display, and an HVAC control panel all of which say six things: Money, money, money and tech, tech, tech.
There’s enough multimedia toys to make you feel like you’re in a rolling version of Nam Jun Pak’s garage sale. A Toyota Entune 3.0 multimedia system with navigation, App Suite Connect, Connected Navigation Scout GPS Link with Moving Maps, or Dynamic Navigation system (in the V6 models), wireless map updates, available Remote Connect, Service Connect, available WiFi Connect, and even a JBL premium audio system with enough speakers and amps to render you as deaf as Felix Pappalardi.
Look, I fully understand not everyone wants a new Ferrari 812 Superfast or an AMG wagon with enough power to blast a six pack into lunar orbit. Those cars are for crazy people people like me. You might be sensible type and not suicidal. You want good, solid, reliable, and efficient transportation. You want a Camry and this one promises to be the best yet.
The 2018 Toyota Camry will be available in four grades: LE, XLE, SE, and XSE.
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.
2018 Toyota Camry Gallery

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

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2020 Cadillac XT5: Caddy’s Best-Seller Gets A Whole Lotta Updates!

2020 Cadillac XT5: Caddy’s Best-Seller Gets A Whole Lotta Updates! The 2020 Cadillac XT5 benefits from a number of revisions for the new model year.
Interior themes focus on comfort and luxury; tech features on connectivity and safety.
A new turbo engine is on offer for 2020, although the 3.6 V6 remains an option as well.
Did you know the Cadillac XT5 is the brand’s best-selling model worldwide? That shouldn’t be all that surprising, given the popularity of SUVs, especially luxury ones, and Caddy’s inroads into the Chinese market. So with that as a background, you can see why Cadillac opted for only a revamp on their sales leader, and not a full-on redesign. Still, the refresh is as comprehensive as they come. Cadillac says over 40 different items were updated for the XT5 for 2020.
Here is a look at what to expect when the XT5 hits the dealership.
What Are The 2020 Cadillac XT5 Trim Levels?
For the new model year, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 comes in four trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury (a redundantly named trim level if nothing else), and Sport. The Premium Luxury emphases bright trim and contemporary décor, while the Sport goes darker and more aggressive. As you would expect, Luxury and Premium Luxury are oriented towards comfort, and provide a “retreat from road disturbances” as Cadillac says. The Sport, by contrast, has quicker steering and more aggressive chassis tuning and stuff like that.
Luxury and Premium Luxury models get 18-inch wheels standard, although a new 20-inch wheel is available. The XT5 Sport gets the 20-inchers standard. Across the range, you’ll find a new grille design, available in two textures, and an available Platinum package for more tech.
2020 Cadillac XT5 Premium Luxury. Photo: Cadillac.
And Speaking of Tech . . .
Caddy has no problem loading in as much as the bean counters will allow, and infotainment and driver assistance technologies take center stage. The new XT5 now has over 20 available safety and driver aids as a matter of fact. The XT5’s “user experience interface” receives an upgrade, as does the rotary controller with more comprehensive jog functionality. Please note this complements the conventional buttons and touchscreen, but does not do away with them entirely. This is a great move. Hörst du German auto manufacturers?
When Cadillac says user experience interface, they mean the eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, various apps, and an available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. One-touch phone pairing with Near Field Communication is there, but this is slowly becoming standard, especially on high-end rides like the XT5.
2020 Cadillac XT5 touchscreen display. Photo: Cadillac.
Related: Affordable luxury for younger buyers: on the road with the 2019 Cadillac XT4.
Interior Treatments
This is a Cadillac, so of course the comfort and convenience goodies will make you feel like you’re driving a suite at the Hilton. There are new interior “themes,” each incorporating a richer selection of authentic materials and coordinating décor. There’s also a new Jet Black/Kona Brown theme that includes premium leather seats, door trim, and armrests. Further accents come by way of new designs for the center console and cup holders (natch).
Best of all, there’s a new Bose Performance Series sound system.
2020 Cadillac XT5 cargo area. Photo: Cadillac.
2020 Cadillac XT5: Power & Performance
The engine bay for the XT5 gets a new choice for 2020. The 2.0L Turbo is now standard for Luxury and Premium Luxury; the existing 3.6L V6 remains standard for the Sport, but is still an option on the Premium Luxury. Both engines are mated to a nine-speed automatic, controlled via the next generation of Cadillac’s Electronic Precision Shift technology.
The turbo found on the 2.0L is a trick, twin-scroll setup with a unique three-step sliding camshaft. Cadillac says the design optimizes performance across the rev band. Don’t say VTEC, although that’s essentially what it is. Bottom line here is an okay 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque. The six-banger, on the other hand, puts out 310 horsepower and 271 lb-ft. of torque thanks to direct injection and camshaft phasing. There’s also Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and automatic stop/start to help fuel economy.
If you opt for the 2.0L Turbo, you’ll also get a new, electronically-controlled braking system replacing the conventional vacuum-assisted system. Would you look at that. Caddy finally got out of the 1950s!
Pricing & Availability
The 2020 Cadillac XT5 will be available later this summer. We expect a starting price right around $44,000. The new XT5 is produced in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
2020 Cadillac XT5 Gallery

Photos & Source: Cadillac.

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Chapter 2: Talking With Bob At Lulu’s

Chapter 2: Talking With Bob At Lulu’s The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me is a gasoline-fueled narrative by automotive journalist Tony Borroz. It details the joys, thrills, and even the uncertainties of the car-obsessed lifestyle. In advance of the book’s release, we are previewing the first few chapters. Chapter one here.
I’m in downtown Palm Springs (at least I think it’s downtown, is there a downtown?) at a place called Lulu’s with my old friend Bob. Crossing that border, going either way, always seems to result in some shift of mood. Either crossing into Arizona on I-10 or into SoCal going the other way, things modulate. As I crossed over, other drivers seemed to both speed up and get less aggressive. It’s never out of your mind, when you’re in Arizona, that there are a lot of people wearing gun belts. People seem to have this affect of always being under threat, ready for anything.
“Don’t cross me” seems to be the attitude, body language, and implication, if not outright stated. I once had a guy reach for his gun on me when I moved his shopping cart out of the way at the Fry’s Grocery.
But this does not seem like a very strong possibility here in Palm Springs. Palm Springs is simultaneously an odd and an alluring place. It’s about as Southern California as you can get without a beach. Everyone seems polished, for a start. Everyone, or nearly everyone, boarders on Hollywood-good-looking. Which is not that surprising, since Palm Springs was started, or at least put on the map, as a Hollywood Colony, a nice getaway spot for the weekend, before The War. It has that sense that everyone you see, at least everyone who is white or acceptably ethnic, is somehow Connected.
As I crossed over, other drivers seemed to both speed up and get less aggressive.
Setting The Scene
It’s a nice balmy desert evening in January by the time Bob and I are making our way through the semi-cavernous interior of Lulu’s. Lulu’s is like an architectural representation of Palm Springs itself. Who knows what it was when it was first built, because by now sweetie, this place has had more work done than Joan Rivers. On top of that, it’s polished, lit just so with very expensive looking lights, slathered with “art” of a nondescript modernist bent, decorated in colors a toddler would love, and menu’d with fare that is 50 percent weird stuff (calamari croquembouche with a fennel semi-demi-glaze drizzled in raw balsamic goat sweat) and 50 percent normal diner food (burgers, fries).
And, since this is Palm Springs, about a third of the people you see are gay. The other thirds are Hollywood types, usually an older rich guy with his bit of fluff for the night, and then even older Hollywood types. Palm Springs is where a lot of gay people go both from SoCal and from up in the Bay Area. Supposedly the place gets really full around holidays, Christmas and Thanksgiving and such. It makes sense. Who wants to spend time with a family that, up until recently, was pretty damn likely to disown you.
Rocket Man
Bob is gay. He’s an older, refined sort of fellow that I worked with for a number of years at Boeing. He has a clipped and direct way of speaking; looking squarely at you, always clearing his throat to speak, precise in his diction and word choice. You could think that’s because he used to be a writer (at least that’s what he was when I met him at Boeing) but it’s actually his mom raising him to be a gentleman at all times. He’s that kind of Old School Guy.
He understands what is expected. He knows what one does not say at a time like this. He can also turn that off in an instant to make stunningly adult jokes that leave everyone in convulsions. Bob is good company and it always turns out to be a good conversation. In addition to being a plane guy (you had to be, working in the aerospace industry) Bob is very, very much a car guy. It used to be Porsche 911s (he owned a string of them) that he was constantly working on and modifying, but recently he got a first-gen Mercedes SLK. “I’m older now,” he said by way of explanation.
He had been around the industry long enough to have seen, if not been part of, a lot of outright failures.
Grand Visions
Tonight’s first topic of conversation: the modern aircraft industry, natch. Bob, being an older chap, is starting to show some weariness concerning things that fly. He had been around the industry long enough to have seen, if not been part of, a lot of outright failures. If things turned out the way the aircraft industry said it would, by now, there would be super-sonic transports zipping all over the place and landing at airport transportation hubs built on top of skyscrapers in downtown Chicago. But, they didn’t, so here sit Bob and I talking about current failures.
“Well Airbus sure screwed it up with the A380,” he says with a wry chuckle.
The A380 is that huge double-decker plane that, if you listened to the Airbus marketing guys, was going to dominate all overseas routes and literally be the only way to fly if you were on a long haul hop from Australia to Dubai. Bob was, of course, referencing the recent news that Airbus was on the verge of canceling any further production of the A380 because no one was buying them. Then Air Emirates handed them a lifeline and put in an order.
“Seriously, they thought that would work,” scoffed Bob. “They take forever to get people on and off of. They require larger gates. [That’s a huge deal.] And the fuel costs are outrageously high. But there’s Boeing, plugging along with making dual-engined wide-bodies that can fly from Hartsfield-Jackson to Gatwick in a single hop on 30 percent less fuel. Who the hell does Airbus think they’re fooling? What, airlines want to spend more money? Never in my life, I can tell you that!”
Bob’s right. There are many, many things I learned working in aerospace. I picked up stuff on composites and the logistics of bombing the living crap out of a city and why you design planes to have the engines literally drop off in some situations. I also learned a lot about why people buy airplanes. Why do rich people buy airplanes? Convenience. The same reason we own cars: because taking the bus or getting a cab is pretty inconvenient in most cases.
Goodbye Sky Lounge and hello to cramming as many people as you can fit into a tube without them going totally Malthusian on the flight crew.
Jumbo Jets & Big Rigs
Why do airlines exist? To make money. Period. Remember all that mid-century stuff about how airliners of the future would be like flying bar-lounges where the Roger Sterlings of the 21st Century would hang out, make the big deals, and get drunk as skunks? Yeah, that didn’t happen, did it? Airlines are not in the travel business. They are not in the business of making your flying experience one of luxury and being pampered by a miniskirted sky-trollop. No. Airlines are in the people moving business. And, like any other business, they are there to make money. First and last and always. So goodbye Sky Lounge and hello to cramming as many people as you can fit into a tube without them going totally Malthusian on the flight crew.
Bob recently got to fly first class, and he noticed, as I had noticed in the recent past, that flying first class today is what flying, period, was like years ago. To be treated with dignity and respect and like a living, breathing human being; you’ve got to pay for it now. Nearly triple, actually. The sad trajectory here is that airlines will keep squeezing us, literally, as much as they can until their is such a passenger revolt, or the FAA forces them through regulation to stop treating us like pigs in a semi trailer bound for a rendering plant.
Of course, talking about planes quickly led us to talking about cars. Specifically, Bob and I were both fascinated by the impending arrival of self-driving cars. Of course we both look at the entire concept with dread and repugnance, but auto firms seem to want to make it happen, and a certain portion of the populace think it’s a good idea.
“But you know,” Bob said, “that’s not where they’re going to really work.”
“How do you mean?”
“Look, the most logical place to get all this self-driving car tech figured out and first implemented is with self-driving semis,” he grinned.
It suddenly made perfect sense, like someone telling you “turn it to the left to get the screw off.”
“Yeah, that would work. It’s using an industrial setting as a technical proving ground,” I agreed.
“And, most semi truck driving is on long, more or less straight stretches of freeway. There’s little variation in routes. And getting stuff from A to B is easier than people who change their minds, want to stop for lunch and all that stuff,” he pointed out.
“The only problem is going to be . . . ”
“Teamsters,” we both said in unison.
“Jeez, can you imagine their response when Elon Musk tries to tell them their jobs are going to be obsolete,” I asked, shaking my head.
“Oh. They’ll weld him into an oil drum and dump him into Monterey Bay before dinner,” Bob smiled. “This is the problem with tech guys. Half of the time they answer questions nobody really asked, and the other half of the time, they don’t fully grasp who they are going to seriously piss off with their bright ideas.”
It suddenly made perfect sense, like someone telling you “turn it to the left to get the screw off.”
What Women Want?
I told Bob about when I was working at Microsoft, and this guy was putting together a presentation for digital currency and how it can be used and all that stuff. At one point, his presentation said something about “we will soon have a completely cashless society” and I half-stifled a laugh. He looked at me incredulously. “What? You don’t think we can do it?” Oh, I know you can do it. It’s just if you think there’s going to be a “cashless society” I know of some thoroughly legitimate businessmen in the waste disposal industry in northern New Jersey you should talk to.
It was like a light bulb went off over his head, I told Bob. He had literally never thought about the possibility that some people actually like to deal in cash. And there’s a whole portion of society that needs to have things be on a cash-only basis. I think I kind of ruined the poor guy’s presentation for him.
Naturally, talk of self-driving-anything lead to Bob’s next thesis for the night: women want appliance cars.
Now, at this point, it’s worth mentioning that Bob is, in a lot of ways, an old school kind of guy. And on top of that, he’s an old school gay guy. Not that he’s misogynistic, just like a lot of post-war gay guys, he never seemed to be interested in women as people. Call it a low grade, but not negatively realized prejudice.
I don’t agree with Bob on this, or idea that “women want appliance cars” but I can see where he’s going. It dovetails with the self-driving car thing. I don’t think that women want appliance cars – I think a certain portion of the population, male or female, want cars that function as nothing more than appliances.
Call it a low grade, but not negatively realized prejudice.
Necessity Versus Passion
The thesis, in more egalitarian terms, works like this: An even larger portion of the public either have no need for cars, or, if they do, see them as little more than the machine you use to get from here to there. This is the machine that makes my toast, this is the machine that heats my food, this is the machine that gets me to my job, then to the club after work.
For people that think like this, and Bob and I both feel there is a growing number of them, a self-driving car seems ideal. These are, we both postulated, 90 percent of the people who buy Kias and Hyundais and other near-entry level “fashion” cars. Cars that look of the moment, styling-wise, that have a lot of cool features you expect in a new car, but will also be a device that, when the time comes to ditch it, you will do so with about as much thought as junking an old microwave.
This is the future demographic for self-driving cars. Neither Bob nor I am outright opposed to this future, but we also agreed that just as long as they stay the hell out of our way when we’re out for a Sunday morning drive, it will be a good thing for us gearheads.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.

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Land Rover “Draws” Massive Defender Outline At 9,000 Feet In The French Alps

Land Rover “Draws” Massive Defender Outline At 9,000 Feet In The French Alps So Land Rover has been in the truck-making game for 70 years now. That’s an impressive string, especially when you consider what the British automotive industry went through in the late-70s, early-80s. But here we are, and as you would expect, Land Rover decided to celebrate.
And how did they celebrate this milestone? By making a giant Defender in the snow of the French Alps, of course. No, it doesn’t make much sense to me either, but it’s still kind of cool. The giant Land Rover snow art was made in anticipation of World Land Rover Day, April 30th, which will be exactly 70 years since the original Landy was first shown at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show.
Vertical Limits
In La Plagne, France, which is southwest from Chamonix, snow artist Simon Beck, who somehow has a job creating geometric art on foot, confronted sub-zero temperatures to produce the outline of a Defender 820 feet across, 9,000 feet up in the French Alps. Yeah, the idea is kind of nutty, and the details make it even more so. To create the high-altitude Defender, Beck walked for 20,894 steps through the French Alps. That adds up to a total of 10.2 miles.
“Making my snow art requires endurance, accuracy, and strength – all attributes shared with the Defender. Its iconic shape is so simple and recognized across the world; this must be the most recognizable piece of art I’ve ever made,” related Simon (although that sounds like he was reading something a marketing weasel handed him).
And I get what they were going for here, but if it was me in place of Simon Beck, I would have made them trace it out on a sandy beach in Hawaii or some place warm like that.
Snow artist Simon Beck at work. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.
Humble Beginnings
Of course, the thing about doing this in the first place is that it ties back to how Land Rover got its start. You’ve heard the phrase, “I sketched it out on the back of a napkin?” That’s pretty close to how Land Rover got going. It all started when Rover’s Engineering Director, Maurice Wilks, first sketched the shape for the original Land Rover in the sand of Red Wharf Bay, England. See guys: Sand. Hawaii would have been much better.
Anyway, Maurice proposed the idea to his brother, Spencer, who just happened to be Landy’s Managing Director. Spencer liked it, christened it the “Land Rover,” which over time turned into the modern day Defender.

Waxing Poetics
If you’re a fan of the go-anywhere Brit, there’s no need to hike up into the Alps to join the celebrations. Land Rover is inviting fans to join the World Land Rover Day fun via an online broadcast from the UK at 3:00 pm EDT on April 30th. Programming will feature the significant people who created “the world’s most-loved 4x4s.” That, of course, made me cough the word “JEEP!” very loudly, but okay, people still like Land Rover. Let’s not gild the lily too much, shall we chaps?
Anyway, that online broadcast will also take an in-depth look at the band’s most innovative technologies, from the original Series Land Rover and Defender origins, up to the introduction of the Range Rover in 1970 and the Discovery in 1989.

Continued Celebrations
The U.S. market will get in on the fun by celebrating World Land Rover Day at its new 12-acre headquarters in Mahwah, New Jersey. There will be a gathering of people and products of historical significance for the Land Rover brand. Members of the winning 1993 American Camel Trophy U.S. team will be reunited with the vehicles that competed in that year’s rally in Malaysia.
In addition, a North American Spec Range Rover Classic from the first year Range Rover was sold in America will be on hand, along with several examples of the North American version of the Defender sold here from 1992 to 1997.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
70 Years of Land Rover Timeline
1948       Land Rover Series I launched at the Amsterdam Motor Show.
1953       Long Wheelbase version of the Series I is introduced.
1956       Oxford and Cambridge teams complete on London to Singapore expedition in Series I.
1958       Land Rover Series II unveiled with more refined design.
1970       Original two-door Range Rover (the Classic) goes on sale.
1971       Land Rover Series III launched.
1972       Range Rover crosses Darien Gap on 18,000-mile Trans-America expedition.
1976       1,000,000th Land Rover built.
1979       A Range Rover wins the inaugural Paris-Dakar rally (and again in 1981).
1981       Land Rover begins legendary partnership with Camel Trophy.
1981       Four-door Range Rover released.
1989       Land Rover Discovery, the third Land Rover model, goes on sale.
1990       Original ‘Landie’ relaunched and renamed Defender.
1994       Second generation Range Rover launched.
1997       All-new Freelander is unveiled with innovative new technology: Hill Descent Control.
2001       Third-generation Range Rover with all-round independent air suspension revealed.
2003       Inaugural G4 challenge sees 16 teams traverse USA, South Africa and Australia.
2004       Range Stormer Concept previews performance Range Rover and three-door body.
2004       Discovery 3/LR3, the third-generation Discovery, launched at New York Motor Show.
2005       All-new Range Rover Sport unveiled.
2006       Freelander 2/LR2 launched. The first Land Rover to be manufactured at Halewood.
2007       LRX concept car previews design language of a new luxury compact SUV.
2009       Fourth generation of the Land Rover Discovery introduced.
2010       Range Rover Evoque, the world’s first luxury compact SUV, makes global debut.
2012       Fourth-generation Range Rover introduced – the first all-aluminum SUV.
2013       New generation of Range Rover Sport unveiled at New York Motor Show.
2014       Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division is officially launched.
2014       Range Rover Sport SVR debuts, the fastest, most agile, most powerful Land Rover.
2014       Discovery Vision Concept previews design vision for new family of Discovery vehicles.
2014       Launch of Discovery Sport, a new premium compact SUV with 5+2 seating.
2015       Trio of end-of-line Defender editions revealed with biggest sand drawing in UK.
2015       Exclusive Range Rover SVAutobiography long wheelbase launched in New York.
2015       Evoque Convertible becomes world’s first luxury compact SUV convertible.
2015       One-of-a-kind Land Rover ‘Defender 2,000,000’ sells for £400,000 at charity auction.
2016       Last Defender rolls off the production line.
2016       All-new Discovery with world-first remote Intelligent Seat Fold technology launched.
2017       Land Rover launches the fourth Range Rover, the Velar.
2018       Limited Edition Range Rover SV Coupé debuts at Geneva Motor Show.
Photos & Source: Jaguar Land Rover.

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New Chevy Silverado HD To Arrive Next Year

New Chevy Silverado HD To Arrive Next Year Chevrolet announced the new Silverado HD will debut next year as a 2020 model. The forthcoming HD will be the third entirely new Silverado in just 18 months, joining the 2019 Silverado 1500 and Silverado medium-duty series trucks. The automaker believes the new Silverado portfolio will drive growth and sales.
“With a completely new, expanded range of Silverado models on the horizon, we expect to see even more truck buyers in Chevrolet showrooms,” explained Alan Batey, Global Head of Chevrolet. “All three Silverado models offer a wide range of choices, as no two truck customers are alike.”
According to Chevrolet, the new Silverado HD is undergoing rigorous performance testing, with the validation metrics for durability having increased. Silverado HD prototypes will be road-tested later this year in an effort to meet the market’s demands and expectations.
“Chevrolet has built more than 85 million trucks in 100 years and we have applied that accumulated truck expertise to the new Silverado range,” Batey said. “Every Silverado is built to be long-lasting and dependable, as many customers need their trucks to earn a living or to do what they enjoy most when they’re off the clock.”
The first production models are scheduled to roll off the assembly lines in Flint, Michigan during the third quarter of 2019. Chevrolet says complete product and pricing information will be available closer to that time.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photo& Source: Chevrolet.

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2 Millionth Duramax Rolls Off The Line In Ohio

2 Millionth Duramax Rolls Off The Line In Ohio

Moraine, Ohio is a small, Midwestern community. As of the 2010 census, the population was just over 6,000 residents. The area is known for famous eateries like the Treasure Island Supper Club and Dixie Dairy Dreem, and its commitment to family parks and recreation.
It’s also known for the Duramax engine, a now legendary name forever etched in the hearts of GM truck enthusiasts.
Family Culture
General Motors, DMAX, Ltd. and I.U.E.-CWA Local 755 employees recently celebrated the building of the 2 millionth Duramax 6.6L engine. The milestone arrives following solid growth at DMAX, Ltd. where employment has risen the last few years. DMAX, Ltd. currently houses the 554 hourly and 114 salaried employees of the I.U.E.-CWA Local 755.
“This is a testament to the dedication of our workforce to continue to produce a great product,” said Carl Kennebrew, President, IUE-CWA Local 755. “We have a culture here at DMAX that is based off of teamwork and a family environment.”
Powerful Personas
Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra HD trucks utilize the aforementioned Duramax diesel; the engine is a vital cornerstone for both trucks in terms of performance and capability. Duramax engines also power some Navistar commercial trucks, Gale Banks vehicles, and even marine applications. Recently, the redesigned Duramax hit the market with an increase in power. The next-generation 6.6L turbo-diesel boasts an SAE-certified 445 horsepower (332 kW) at 2,800 rpm and 910 lb-ft. of torque (1,234 Nm) at 1,600 rpm.
“The Duramax Diesel has powered GM’s heavy-duty pickups to numerous quality, reliability, durability, and truck of the year awards,” said Cathy Clegg, Vice Presndent, GMNA Manufacturing and Labor Relations. “These awards would not be possible without the hard work of the men and women of the IUE and DMAX.”
Groundbreaking for the DMAX, Ltd. plant began in 1998, with the first engine rolling off the line on July 17th, 2000.
“When we started this project, who would have expected we would achieve 2 million engines,” said Shinichi Suzuki, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer, DMAX, Ltd. “The most important thing is not that the 2 million engines have been manufactured, but that they have been sold by the effort of the entire team.”
Kennebrew agreed.
“Everyone is dedicated to the vision of our company,” he said. “I’m so proud of our members and their continued drive to be successful.”
2017 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 HD. Photo: General Motors.

Giving Back
Recent investments at DMAX, Ltd. include a $60 million investment for emissions improvements in 2014. This was followed in 2015 with an $82 million investment for productivity improvements. The subsequent investments at DMAX, Ltd. have been returned to the greater community.
“We have invested both dollars and volunteerism into several local organizations, specifically the Moraine Foundation, which channels all local charitable activities and the promotion of STEM-related opportunities through the West Carrollton HS–FIRST Robotics Club,” said Pat Curtis, DMAX, Ltd. Plant Manager.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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2018 Chevy Equinox Employs New Aerodynamic Tools

2018 Chevy Equinox Employs New Aerodynamic Tools

Aerodynamics are, in a word, important. They are, counter intuitively, very important in things like trucks and SUVs. Trucks and SUVs are potentially so bad to begin with aerodynamically speaking, that by tweaking them here and there, many beneficial gains can be made.
The sad, baseline fact to deal with here is that trucks are pretty boxy, and boxy is not good. How many birds do you see shaped like bricks? Exactly, none. How many trucks do you see shaped thusly? Exactly. Pretty much all of them.
Efficient Directives
Now, yes, of course, aerodynamic efficiency is a problem for anything that plows through the air. And any vehicle can pretty much benefit from paying attention to it. But trucks and SUVs are often so bad that almost any gains here usually reap big rewards, especially when it comes to fuel efficiency.
And Chevy has, for decades now, a real bee in its bonnet about fuel efficiency. Getting really good over the highway fuel numbers is something the bow-tie brigade has been obsessing over for a while now. So as sales of SUVs rise, corporate average fuel economy falls, and that really sticks in Chevy’s craw. So to counter that, Chevy had a go at tweaking the upcoming 2018 Equinox to make it more slippery.
Or at least that was the brief that landed on the desk of the Design and Aerodynamic team working on the all-new 2018 Chevy Equinox. They had to make the compact SUV a balance of style, function, and efficiency.
To this end, Chevy crows that the 2018 Equinox offers “an EPA-estimated 32 mpg on the highway” for front-wheel drive models. Now, a few caveats and observations here: 1 – That’s the highway MPG figure; 2 – that’s for the front wheel drive models; 3 – a lot of that efficiency can be done via gearing alone. Look, you don’t have to be the reincarnation of Archimedes to know that if you put a high enough top gear in the box and get the timing so the engine can turn over correctly at freeway speed, you’re going to get amazing gas mileage.
But that’s not what Chevrolet did here. At least not all they did here.
“Working closely with the aerodynamics team, we were able to craft a final design that is the ultimate win-win scenario,” said Jeff Perkins, Equinox Design Manager. “Together we reached the aerodynamic goals intended to give the new Equinox an efficiency-enhancing edge on the highway with the sculpted look and cargo space we set out to achieve.” Photo: Chevrolet.
Sizes & Shapes
The Design and Aerodynamic teams undertook great care in making a refined vehicle shape that still provides the main proportions of an SUV. In other words, the 2018 Equinox still looks like a big station wagon or a small half-track, depending on your taste.
Curiously, the Equinox’s overall length was cut by 4.7 inches, which should hurt aero efficiency (longer and skinnier is better at slipping through the air versus shorter and wider). Chevrolet did this more in the interests of making the Equinox easier to park and maneuver. The Equinox team spent more than 500 hours in GM’s full-scale wind tunnel working on the exterior.
Their efforts ultimately reduced wind resistance by 10 percent over the previous model. Impressive.
Underbody panels on the front-wheel drive variants of the 2018 Chevy Equinox improve airflow beneath the vehicle. Photo: Chevrolet.

Aerodynamic Tools
They also pulled a few tricks out of the hat, such as new, electronically controlled upper and lower grille shutters to make things slicker. The shutters close in certain conditions on the highway, when less engine cooling is needed, to divert more air around the vehicle and reduce drag. There is also a larger rear spoiler that helps reduce trailing turbulence for less wind resistance.
The taillamps even incorporate a series of shrewdly integrated vortex generators for better air separation at the corners of the D-pillars. GM designers call them “air trips,” but any aerodynamicist worth their Masters Degree will recognize them as vortex generators. There are also new air deflectors by the tires that achieve the same aerodynamic benefit as a conventional air dam, but without the risk of gronking the air dam on a curb when parking. GM says the new air deflectors are there as to not compromise the Equinox’s sculpted design, but sure, whatever, not gronking it on the curb is a better idea.
The 2018 Chevy Equinox is in dealer showrooms now.
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.
2018 Chevy Equinox Gallery

Photos & Source: Chevrolet.

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