Automotive

Lamborghini Urus SUV Race Car? No, Really

Lamborghini Urus SUV Race Car? No, Really The Lamborghini Urus SUV Race Car ushers in a new Motorsport program
The Urus racer is 25 percent lighter than its production counterpart.
You know Lamborghini is making an SUV now, right? It’s called the Urus and, besides it being a questionable move in every way but financial (they’ll sell them by the boatload, just watch), Lambo has come up with an idea that’s even goofier than making their own truck.
An all-Lambo SUV racing series.
No, they’re serious.
Squealing Tires & Mangled Carbon Fiber
At first, I thought this was some sort of monumentally sick joke. Then I slipped into a deep existential dread that a sports car company (even though it’s a sports car company as fundamentally compromised as Lamborghini) would even contemplate a truck racing series. But now, the more I think about it, the more this could turn into a real hootin’ hollerin’ good time!
Think of it: if they play it right, and only allow entries to be driven by housewives from Orange Country and plastic surgeons from Scarsdale, the on track action (and by action, I mean non-stop mistakes, over-driving, and completely preventable shunts) could be hysterically entertaining.
That tried and true combination of high power, high center of gravity, and high self-regard could equal squealing tires, concussive thumps, and mangled carbon fiber from the green flag till the checker.
Related: Lamborghini Urus: Everything wrong at just the right time.
Lamborghini Urus SUV Race Car. Photo: Automobili Lamborghini.
Filthy, Stinkin’ Rich
At the 2018 World Finals, for their single make racing series, Lamborghini Squadra Corse unwrapped the Urus ST-X Concept. Their, uh, vision is a ride imagined for a single-brand racing championship that combines both a race circuit and an off-road track. Lambo made no mention if this “vision” was the result of Hunter S. Thompson levels of peyote ingestion combined with a frightening lack of sleep, but it sure sounds like it.
The new racing series will debut in 2020 both in Europe and the Middle East (lots o’cash floating around there). The competitors will race on specially-prepared and FIA-approved circuits, with the whole rich guy “arrive and drive” formula in place. Just hop in your Gulfstream Jet (you bourgeoisie jerk) fly to, oh, probably Dubai or some such place, and Lambo will have the complete package, including the car and technical support, all ready and waiting for the entire race weekend.
Related: Lamborghini Squadra Corse unveils their unicorn.
Photo: Automobili Lamborghini.
Engineering & Performance
The Urus ST-X Concept has, of course, been thoroughly worked over. As fun as it would be to watch them do this with a showroom stock machine, Lambo isn’t that senseless. The Urus ST-X Concept comes with all the FIA-approved safety elements you would expect. There’s a steel roll cage, fire suppression system, and an FT3 fuel tank not found in the production model.
Visually, this thing is all Lamborghini and about as subtle as shotgun blast. The Urus ST-X Concept is laid out in a matte Verde Mantis (i.e. screaming green) livery and the hood is in naked carbon fiber. The air intakes are larger and optimized for cooling the V8 twin-turbo plant. Said mill puts out 640 ponies and 627 lb-ft. of grunt.
Rear wing? Sure, why not? New hexagonal racing exhausts, and 21-inch single-nut aluminum alloy wheels, fitted with Pirelli tires, complete the visuals.
Compared to the production model, the Urus ST-X Concept drops 25 percent of its all up weight. Combined with an increase in torsional stiffening via the roll cage and a “raised set-up,” the Urus ST-X Concept is ready for the track. Or so says Lamborghini.
Photo: Automobili Lamborghini.
Heavy Metal Noise
Chances are the entire thing will be a circus sideshow, rather than some sort of racing to improve the breed situation. So why not go full circus? Grab a Kardashian or two (there seems to be a lot of them) a few rap moguls, burned out stadium rockers (what’s Sammy Hagar up to these days?), bone saw wielding Sheiks, and a few hedge fund managers and turn ’em loose!
Let’s go full on Ben-Hur!
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
Photos & Source: Automobili Lamborghini.

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2020 Acura RLX Redesign, Engine, Hybrid

Premuim sedan from the Acura are in prepare for the launch of the year 2020. A lot of information that has been circulating about this car but the plumpness is still limited to rumors, we also have some information about the redesign of the rumor and the estimated release date of this car, the Lexus GS and Infiniti Q70 will become competitors of this car . Engine performance will be back on the increase and will be the excess of the latest generation of Acura RLX.

2020 Acura RLX Redesign

An inner layout regarding every one of the 2020 Acura RLX will probably be modern and stylish. Acura will supply this specific special RLX variety that has a good deal of more functions and in addition techniques. The computer software about leading good quality parts is a necessity for this kind of Acura RLX product. Touchscreen display, USB 2. 0 ports, Wi-Fi, higher-quality speakers and High-definition stereo will give an incredible entertainment sensible working experience meant for you. Your dash panel can possess a fantastic exceptional modern day day fashion and style and design together with the actual stylish accomplishing. All the cabin rental connected with the unique ground breaking 2020 Acura RLX will in all probability be exceptionally handy. Every one of the security measures with this premium sedan happen to be on the very same time terrific.

Any exterior and also an indoors over the real completely new generation Acura RLX could have really several modifications and further enhancements. Only for this Acura RLX special product or service, Honda can make use of a crossbreed serps. It could give an awesome effectiveness in addition to fuel efficiency. This alters within a phrase of type plus serp might be susceptible to have this progressive Acura RLX for the purpose that a brand new genuinely modern day high-quality automobile. A whole good deal extra specifics in regards to this forthcoming RLX style is unquestionably gonna be talked about in this article. The many commencing model and in many cases fashion for the reason that of every one of the 2020 Acura RLX nonetheless use regarding the really same strategy for the reason that in this recent model. However, it could possess some enhancements. Acura RLX has received 2.5-in . of flooring clearance and include some kind of cut down sideline. The certain fully new light components will likely be useful for this situation moreover to a whole physique. It will eventually lessen this unique Acura RLX physique excess bodyweight. Commonly the new Acura front lights, at the same time as any taillights, could have any brand-new type. Ordinarily, Acura works with the real Guided lighting technological innovation. It gives a fantastic light at the same time as eye-sight for almost any issues. Newer chrome specifics are going to be found on that body-build. Moreover, it look considerably classier in comparison with commonly the precursor. The actual Acura RLX will almost certainly fresh grill pattern to your front side.

Engine Performance

Men and women will see several electrical motor choices for this type of brand new 2020 Acura RLX product. The individual pretty 1st power plant is usually a 3.5-liter V6 hybrid electrical motor. That is definitely undoubtedly constructed with an electric generator. It serp produces 385 horsepower additionally to 382 fat of torque. That subsequent motor uses a brand new 3.5-liter and V6 many-cylinder powerplant. It generates 315 hp and 272 lbs about torque. In the actual motors personal outstanding fuel efficiency to the city streets and roadways.

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The 2019 Audi e-tron Will Make You Change Your Mind About EVs

The 2019 Audi e-tron Will Make You Change Your Mind About EVs The 2019 Audi e-tron boasts a maximum range of over 300 miles.
Special drive modes give the e-tron an advantage over rough terrain.
Interestingly, the more conventional styling is what makes it stand out.
The 2019 Audi e-tron made its debut in San Francisco in September. It’s a conventional-looking SUV with none of the styling quirks associated with electric cars. The Audi e-tron is sure to give the Tesla Model X and Jaguar E-PACE/I-PACE a serious run for the money, and I say that with no hint of sarcasm.
It’s quite refreshing for an electric vehicle to look like a normal car. The new Audi e-tron SUV might share the silhouette of the Q5, but there are subtle hints that set it apart. For example, the semi blanked-out octagon front grille and the four horizontal slats on the edge of the headlights, which resemble a smartphone’s battery charging bars.
One thing is for sure, though: the styling of the 2019 Audi e-tron is best appreciated in the flesh.
Move Over Tesla Model X!
I am a big fan of Tesla and Elon Musk. It’s one of those stories where the underdog came out the winner. Musk and Tesla EVs were able to change how consumers perceive the styling, performance, and features of an electric car. I also think the Tesla Model X is one of the best sport-utility vehicles currently in production.
But when the 2019 Audi e-tron arrived, it suddenly became clear. Not because Tesla now has a solid and proper competitor, but Audi was able to beat their Germans contemporaries in the fully-electric SUV segment, ahead of say the Mercedes-Benz EQ C. But what really surprises me with the new Audi e-tron is the restraint.
Remember when the Audi R8 was unveiled at the 2006 Paris Motor Show? It was unlike anything I have seen before. The R8, back then, looked like a spacecraft of alien origin. There was no hint of restraint in the styling.
On the flipside, the new Audi e-tron looks pretty much like a normal, everyday-driven SUV. And that’s a nice thing to have in an EV, right? I know some people enjoy the attention as they drop their kids at school or soccer practice in a Tesla Model X (what with those unusual yet magnificent falcon doors). However, the Audi e-tron will allow you to simply move on without gathering unsolicited stares.
2019 Audi e-tron. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Aerodynamic & Electrified Performance
No, you don’t get falcon doors on the 2019 Audi e-tron. But you get state-of-the-art virtual side mirrors. This feature is more than just a gimmick. Chopping off the side mirrors on both sides actually allows the e-tron to slice the wind more effortlessly. The system utilizes small cameras and door mounted displays in place of conventional mirrors. The bad news is this feature is only available in Europe and a few other markets, but it’s still a neat party trick.
The beating heart of the 2019 Audi e-tron is comprised of two electric motors. The combined output is 355 horsepower and 414 lb-ft. of torque (265 kilowatts and 561 Newton meters by comparison). The electric motors can increase power and torque output in Boost mode for eight seconds. In that span of time, the Audi e-tron is churning out 402 horsepower and 490 lb-ft. of torque.
Those numbers are not enough to beat the Tesla Model X, right? Even if the 2019 Audi e-tron can scoot to 60 mph in around 5.5 seconds, the base Model X 75D can achieve the feat in 4.9 seconds. The Tesla is admittedly faster and more performance-oriented. But if you think again, you don’t need supercar-amounts of power to have a good time inside an electric SUV.
What really surprises me with the new @Audi e-tron is the restraint.Click To TweetPhoto: Audi of America, Inc.
Superior Driving Range
Powering the pair of asynchronous motors is a lithium-ion battery pack rated at 95 kWh, enough for a maximum range of 310 miles (498 kilometers) when fully charged. The battery pack can be charged using either a 150 kWh DC fast-charging station or 9.6 kW AC 240-volt residential charger. The former refills the batteries with 80 percent juice in 30 minutes while the latter charges the battery pack overnight.
Road trip? No sweat. The Audi e-tron supports more than 500 Electrify America fast-charging networks nationwide. The network currently spans 40 states and 17 metro areas with more coming in the next couple of years.
This means the 2019 Audi e-tron can take you further than a Tesla Model X 70D for a lower starting price. The base Audi e-tron Premium Plus also gets a surprising amount of kit, including 20-inch wheels, a top-view camera system, full LED exterior and interior lighting, 12-way heated and cooled power front seats, plush leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and a Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system with 16 speakers.
Not bad for $74,800 right?
Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Quattro Electric Drivetrain & Audi Drive Select
The new Audi e-tron also earns the distinction of having the first Quattro all-electric drivetrain. The system will digitally link the front and rear axles. Together with a torque vectoring feature, the drivetrain provides grip on all types of road surfaces.
In the meantime, Audi Drive Select is responsible for motivating the e-tron over rough and muddy roads. The system can raise the suspension to give the vehicle 35 millimeters or 1.4 inches of additional ground clearance in off-road mode. Select “RAISE” mode and the suspension lifts another 15 millimeters or 0.6 inches.
I don’t know many people brave enough to drive the Audi e-tron on a rougher patch of off-road trail, but it’s nice to know it can.
Energy Recuperation
The reason why the new Audi e-tron can achieve phenomenal mileage is the brilliant power recovery system. The 2019 Audi e-tron can recharge the battery pack in a variety of ways. Coasting recuperation will activate each time you lift off the throttle. The system also charges the battery via the brake pedal. The e-tron can choose either the electric motors or the friction brakes to stop the vehicle. If the system chooses the former, the electric motors will basically function as alternators to charge the battery pack.
You can even choose the manual recuperation system using the shift paddles. It all sounds terribly complicated and mind-numbingly high-tech, but isn’t this what Audi is usually about anyway?
Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Luxurious Appointments
The 2019 Audi e-tron’s interior is typical Audi. The dashboard and door surrounds are flanked with soft-touch and premium materials. The center console is dominated by a large pair of MMI displays similar to the Q8. In the meantime, traditional dials on the instrument console are replaced by the Audi Virtual cockpit with an ultra-high resolution 1920 x 720 display screen.
The interior can accommodate five, benefiting from dual-pane windows, undercarriage sealing, and a plethora of soundproofing materials. The result of all this (combined with the excellent 0.28 Cd of the slippery body) is a hushed ride even at high speeds.
The 2019 Audi e-tron, behind all this technology, is still a family SUV. For example, it offers 28.5 cubic feet of storage in the cargo area. Not enough? Fold the rear seats down to get 57 cubic feet of storage. There is also a storage compartment under the cargo floor to stow away a tool kit and a mobile charging cable. Oh, and the tailgate opens electronically when it senses your foot is under the rear bumper as well.
In Person
If you’re seriously considering the 2019 Audi e-tron, remember it’s best appreciated in the flesh. It will be on display from November 30th until December 9th at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. On November 28th, Audi is releasing a teaser of the e-tron GT concept, an all-electric high-performance sports 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.
2019 Audi e-tron Gallery

Photos & Source: Audi of America, Inc.

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2018 Nissan Rogue Sport: Pricing & Package Overview

2018 Nissan Rogue Sport: Pricing & Package Overview The Nissan Rogue is Yokohama’s number one selling model in America. Nissan says the Rogue is “right-sized” and that the Rogue Sport both fits that description and comes with lots of tech and safety goodies for a modest price. Although nobody is going to mistake it for a serious off-roader, the 5-passenger Rogue Sport is designed for “everyday urban adventures”
The prices were just released for the 2018 models, and they’re still right in the middle of the “I can afford that” target.
Making The Grade
The Rogue Sport, which is already on dealer lots as you read this, joined the Nissan crossover and SUV lineup at the end of 2017. It arrives for 2018 with a few nips and tucks and tweaks and improvements, so think of this as more of a refinement process than a radical re-do. The Rogue Sport still comes in front-wheel and all-wheel drive and has three grade levels: S, SV, and SL.
SV Technology Package
The SV Technology Package is new for 2018, although more or less the same stuff could be had in the previously available SV Premium Package. The SV Technology Package now includes all the stuff from the proir SV All-Weather Package as well: gizmos like heated seats, remote start, Intelligent Climate Control, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, fog lights, leather-wrapped shift knob, and heated outside mirrors. Sounds like a handy package for a lot of this country in the winter.
SL Premium Package
In addition, the SL Premium Package now includes the all tidbits of the previous SL Platinum Package. So your 2018 Nissan Rogue SL Premium Package comes with Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Lane Intervention, and Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection. The list of available technology in general reads like a delivery invoice at a Best Buy store: RearView Monitor, Siri Eyes Free, NissanConnect with Navigation and Mobile Apps, seven-inch color touchscreen display, and a USB connection port among others.
Power & Performance
On the drivetrain front, the Nissan Rogue Sport is motivated by a 141 horsepower, 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder. The engine is mated to an Xtronic transmission with an Eco Mode switch. The whole ride is underpinned by a four-wheel independent suspension.
Proper Considerations
All of this is aimed right at the Rogue’s target market of younger, urban buyers that want a slightly smaller, sportier, and more affordable crossover. Nissan feels these buyers are looking for more space than a compact sedan, but still want maneuverability and a “fun-to-drive feel.” Here’s a look at the models and drivetrains and their not at all unreasonable costs:
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format.
Rogue Sport S FWD
$21,640 MSRP
Rogue Sport SV FWD
$23,240 MSRP
Rogue Sport SL FWD
$26,290 MSRP
Rogue Sport S AWD
$22,990 MSRP
Rogue Sport SV AWD
$24,590 MSRP
Rogue Sport SL AWD
$27,640 MSRP
Photos & Source: Nissan North America.

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

GM Says Goodbye To More Than Steering Wheels In New Self-Driving Report
General Motors has filed a Safety Petition with the Department of Transportation for its fourth-generation self-driving Cruise AV. The petition says the Cruise AV would be the first production-ready vehicle to operate safely with no driver, steering wheel, pedals, or manual controls when it hits the road next year. Such vehicles are classified as Level 5 automation by the Society of Automotive Engineers, meaning the car itself can perform all the necessary tasks that constitute driving.
But still. No steering wheel?
Safe & Clean
Like many proponents of automated driving, GM wants a world where self-driving vehicles either significantly reduce or eliminate fatal car crashes. On a similar note, many autonomous driving advocates also support electrification. It’s not a random happening that autonomous cars are proposed on and engineered into hybrid and electric platforms. The idea is if we can make a safer society, why not a cleaner one as well.
GM recently published their 2018 Self-Driving Safety Report which details this initiative. The report states each year close to 1.25 million people die in car crashes around the world, 40,000 in the United States alone. Human error is a factor in 94 percent of these crashes. With regard to emissions, GM says vehicles today release almost 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.
Powerful Partnerships

GM takes a “together we can” approach, saying the promises of autonomy can only happen when places like Silicon Valley and Detroit come together. Indeed, my work and vantage point in the automotive industry supports this. From a high level perspective, Silicon Valley has the software and programming expertise; here in Detroit, we have the industrial manufacturing experience that allows us to physically produce the automated car.
We also have the Red Wings. That has nothing to do with autonomous cars. I just like the Red Wings.
GM believes at the core of this partnership is safety. The automaker’s System Safety program, detailed in the report, pulls experiences and disciplines from other fields, including aerospace, pharmaceutical, and the military. The Cruise AV takes inspiration from fighter planes and deep-space satellites, using elements from both to help safely implement its autonomous capabilities.
This past June, GM produced 130 self-driving Chevy Bolt EV test vehicles. The fleets were equipped with GM’s latest autonomous technology, and joined more than 50 other Bolt EV test vehicles already in use. Photo: General Motors.
Deep Principles
The 2018 Self-Driving Safety Report is like that supplemental textbook for a given college course. Even though GM-specific, it gives a solid overview on how autonomous cars come together. It shows how the Cruise AV is engineered, how the car’s “brain” functions, and how the physical components, from LiDAR to radar operate. Some may enjoy the sections on how GM utilizes Comprehensive Risk Management and Deep Integration in the interest of safety.
“Throughout the design, development and testing processes, our Comprehensive Risk Management approach thoroughly identifies and addresses risks, and validates solutions to address them,” the report reads.
Further Education
AutoSens, a global summit on automated driving, is returning to Detroit in May. The conference provides a place for engineers, researchers, and other industry professionals to address the challenges and opportunities associated with autonomous driving. What is discussed in the 2018 Self-Driving Safety Report is examined at AutoSens, which is why, although GM-specific, it’s a good read for those wanting to know more about autonomous driving.
You can find GM’s report in PDF format here.
Read it if you want something to do this weekend. Or you can wait until cars drive themselves and read it on the way to work. You can put your feet up on the dash while you do. No steering wheel in the way.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
Photos & Source: General Motors.

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Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo Arrives

Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo Arrives

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

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

Photos & Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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2018 Buick Enclave Premium AWD Review

2018 Buick Enclave Premium AWD Review

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

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

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

2018 Buick Enclave Official Site.
Photos: Buick.

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Cadillac Tests Super Cruise Feature On Cross-Country Drive

Cadillac Tests Super Cruise Feature On Cross-Country Drive

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

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

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Letter From The UK: Saying Goodbye To An Epoch

Letter From The UK: Saying Goodbye To An Epoch

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

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

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