Automotive

Automoblog Book Garage: The Art of the Classic Sports Car

Automoblog Book Garage: The Art of the Classic Sports Car

Tony Borroz, one of Automoblog’s featured contributors, grew up in a racing family. It’s always interesting when he recalls certain dinner conversations from his early years. Just as some families may watch a particular sports team, or enjoy activities like camping and fishing, Tony’s was one of white-knuckle horsepower, filled with spirited debates.
It was during those moments Tony’s love for sports cars and racing blossomed.
As they would debate (in an incredibly Italian fashion according to Tony) about who had the best chassis setup, or who was rolling out the fastest, most capable car that year, his life was shaped and his bent would forever be automotive. Think back to your own life – do you remember when you first fell in love with cars? The latest entry in our Book Garage series will easily rekindle that passion.
Specs & Stories
The Art of the Classic Sports Car: Pace and Grace documents the true sports cars of the automotive world; cars that unlike their “normal” counterparts, ride, handle, and sprint in remarkable ways. The question remains, however, what was the first sports car? This sparks a good, healthy debate among enthusiasts but if it’s one thing we usually agree on, it’s how these cars truly stand out. The book covers some of the most legendary sports cars from the likes of Jaguar, Chevrolet, Triumph, MG, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lotus, Alfa-Romeo, and BMW – their full specs are detailed and their stories told.
One of the best is when author Stuart Codling documents the Ferrari 250 California; how Enzo Ferrari faced a desperate postwar Italian economy to develop a truly marvelous 240 horsepower machine unlike anything else. The Art of the Classic Sports Car is a beautifully crafted, wonderfully photographed book that will either rekindle or reaffirm your love for cars.
Photography
James Mann is one of the world’s leading car and motorcycle photographers, with more than 20 years of experience shooting for enthusiast publications, the motor industry, and businesses around the world. His work has appeared within and on the covers of more than 50 books. Mann also photographed the British Auto Legends stamps for the Royal Mail.
Author
Codling has worked in motorsports for over a decade as a journalist and broadcaster, covering sports cars in the United States before joining F1 Racing, the world’s best-selling Formula 1 magazine. He has appeared as an F1 expert on TV and radio, has hosted for Renault F1, and contributes to both Autosport and Autocar.
The Art of the Classic Sports Car: Pace and Grace is available through Amazon and Motorbooks.
The Art of the Classic Sports Car Gallery

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How Motor Oil Prices Have Changed Over 80 Years (Infographic)

How Motor Oil Prices Have Changed Over 80 Years (Infographic)

During my time at Luxury Auto Mall of Sioux Falls, our Express Lube was a happening place. We were the only game in town with a $19.95 oil change, which included a multi-point inspection, window washing, and complete interior vacuuming. We kept a steady stream of cars during the week, with a nice peak coming on Saturday mornings.
It was, in many respects, the good old days. When we finally raised the price of our oil change, a few customers groaned but would remark “it’s a wonder you were able to keep it that low for so long anyway.”
Price Jumps
Our friends at GMPartsCenter.net put together a really interesting chart documenting the prices of motor oil for the last 80 years. The chart shows pricing for conventional motor oil on a per quart basis, the lowest available today being $4.25. The pricing data was tracked down through public library records, while the inflation adjustment was done using Bureau of Labor data.
“When we put this data together, we were amazed to see relatively flat pricing for motor oil between 1934 and 2007,” says Matt Mylan, Parts Director, GMPartsCenter.net. “However, for reasons that aren’t obvious, the price of a quart of conventional motor oil has nearly doubled in the last decade compared to the historical average.”
The jump between 2009 and 2017 is interesting, especially since, after adjusting for inflation, prices stayed around $2 per quart for most of the last 80 years. Mylan doesn’t have a solid explanation for why motor oil costs twice as much as it did ten years ago, or why it held steady for so long.
“I have some theories – a regulatory change, perhaps – but it really is perplexing,” he said.
Havoline Motor Oil advertisement published in Look magazine, July 19th, 1949, Vol. 13, No. 15.
Collector’s Items
The chart also reveals how motor oil containers have changed over the years, from graphics and logos, to what the actual containers were made from.
“In the early days, motor oil was often sold in 5 gallon cans – these cans were sometimes made from metal, and sometimes had cardboard sides with a metal spigot,” Mylan said. “It took many decades to get to the plastic quart bottles we use today.”
During my time as a Service Advisor, we would often imagine how our dealership might be affected by changes in the automotive industry. One of our technicians used to joke about saving current oil containers, saying they could be worth something, someday to a collector. This chart from GMPartsCenter.net shows us we may want to save that empty bottle of Valvoline after all.
“Lately, we’ve seen oil sold in pouches,” Mylan added. “Considering how much motor oil packaging designs have changed, this chart could look really different in another 10 years.”
The chart is below with more details on the inflation and cost of oil here.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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Audi Launches Sport Brand In New York

Audi Launches Sport Brand In New York

Quite suddenly, Audi pulled out of world endurance racing last year. This was sad for a number of reasons. They were essentially the team to beat at Le Mans for more than a decade. A number of clever people, as well as me, wondered where all the engineering talent and go fast goodies were going to end up.
Now we know: say hello to the Audi Sport brand.
Ongoing Fallout
The sadly sordid background of how this windfall of street performance goodies appeared in the first place is well known, but not really talked about. Audi is a division of Volkswagen. And a little while back, VW got caught with their hand in the cookie jar-oh who am I kidding? VW got caught blatantly cheating like a Nixon White House aide on the emissions from their diesel engines. VW got hit hard by a huge fine and was also forced to buy back all of the offending diesel cars, and replace them or refund the customer’s money.
VW’s commercial viability was suddenly as shaky as a brick house in San Francisco.
To arrest this nearly out of control fall before it resulted in a smoking crater on the desert floor, the non-indicted/fired/retired members of the VW board stood on the monetary brakes with both feet. New VW microbus? Gone. VW involvement in the World Rally Championship? Over. New up-market push? None for VW, thank you very much, leave that to our other brands. Kicking butt and taking names at Le Mans? Auf Wiedersehen Audi! But out of this gray, Germanic cloud of corporate “Wir haben uns verschraubt!!!” the gearheads of this world will now get some tasty, tasty goodies for their street Audis.
The 2018 Audi RS 5 on display at the 2017 New York Intentional Auto Show. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Motorsports Montage
At the 2017 New York International Auto Show, Audi of America rolled out the new Audi Sport brand. Audi Sport represents the best from the fabled four rings in track-tested performance. Audi Sport models aim to offer the perfect balance of driving dynamics, innovation, and quality. Over the next two years, eight new Audi Sport models are scheduled to launch in the United States.
The Audi Sport line will be part of the company’s line up in addition to the Audi R and RS factory hot rod models. The Audi Sport brand now extends to customer racing, Audi Sport collection, performance parts, and corporate motorsports. Yes, corporate motorsports. Audi isn’t running at Le Mans any longer, but they still run factory backed GT teams at places like Sebring and such.
2018 Audi RS 5. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.

Powerful Stable
The Audi Sport vehicles hitting the streets are very impressive. In addition to the newest R8 and the RS 7 models, there will be the upcoming 2017 R8 V10 Spyder. The all-new 2018 TT RS is considered part of the Audi Sport line up and, for the first time in America, the 2017 and 2018 RS 3 is launching this summer. In the first six months of 2018 the RS 5 Coupe will also debut.
The RS 5 features an all new 2.9-liter TFSI V6-biturbo engine that cranks out 450 horsepower and 443 lb-ft. of torque, scooting from 0 to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds.
Like I said, Audi Sport is also taking over responsibility for the customer racing programs. Audi Sport has developed an all-new R8 LMS GT4 race car for 2017 that was directly derived from the production R8 V10 coupe. Audi Sport says the R8 LMS GT4 is “the ideal race car for amateur campaigners in terms of purchasing price and cost of ownership.” Which is good to hear, because racing has never been exactly cheap. The new R8 LMS GT4 will roll out for its first race at the Nürburgring 24-Hour this spring – talk about diving in the deep end.
“As the halo for the Audi brand, the R and RS models embody the same history and credibility of their racecar counterparts that have won at the track, with the design and functionally that is suitable for daily use,” reads a recent press release from the automaker. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Exclusive Treatments
Along with all this hardcore racing stuff, Audi also announced the introduction of Audi Exclusive. Audi Exclusive is sort of a boutique kind of thing – well-healed customers can order a near-limitless number of ways to personalize their vehicles. You know, special colors and interiors and stuff like that. Audi Exclusive offerings are available on the A6, A7, A8, R8, and RS 5 model lines, and the Audi Collection is an (ugh!) lifestyle brand enhancement deal that offers premium items from the Audi brand.
All of this, the fast, the good, and the fashionable, will be available at Audi Sport Dealers. More than half of Audi dealers in America are now in the program with Audi Brand Specialists, specific Audi Sport training, and showrooms featuring unique Audi Sport displays.
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 Audi RS 5 Gallery

Photos & Source: Audi of America, Inc.

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Cadillac Super Cruise: The Next Gen Cruise Control System

Cadillac Super Cruise: The Next Gen Cruise Control System

The short story here is that Cadillac has a new “smart” cruise control system called Super Cruise. The long story is that, although that’s a pretty cool name, it’s actually the name of something aerospace engineers have been chasing for a long while now.
In the aerospace world, supercruise (in the aero parlance) is a specific set of engine performance standards that, in short, allow a plane to fly at supersonic speeds without engaging the afterburners.
This is, unsurprisingly, a very tough thing to do, and despite some very bright people working at Rolls Royce and Pratt & Whitney and Tumansky, they (and by “they” I mean Pratt & Whitney working on the F-22 program) only got it figured out around a decade ago. Cadillac’s Super Cruise (two words) is, sadly, not a thing that will help your huge American luxo-barge cruise down the interstate at roughly 700 miles an hour. Give or take.
Precise Network
Super Cruise is Cadillac’s hands-free driving technology for the highway. Caddy says that Super Cruise, unlike other driver assistance systems, will utilize two different approaches: A driver attention system and precision LiDAR map data. Super Cruise will first roll out in the 2018 Cadillac CT6 this fall. Obviously this is in response to the growing inevitability of both self driving cars, and the fact that Tesla, a direct competitor to Cadillac in many ways, has a near-self driving car of their own already on the market.
The Super Cruise system is added on to the network of cameras and radar sensors already in place on the CT6. The system aims to bring comfort and convenience for both long distance drives as well as daily commutes. It also adds automatic lane-centering to the CT6’s set of driver assistance/active safety gizmos to enable automatic control of both speed and steering during highway driving.
The most forward facing half of the Super Cruise scheme is the Driver Attention System. This portion of the system uses an inconspicuous infrared camera located on the top of the steering column, focused on the driver to monitor head position and track where the driver is looking while using Super Cruise. Cadillac points out how they are the only manufacturer to monitor driver attention to the road while their smart cruise control system is employed.
“Super Cruise is a more technologically advanced hands-free driving solution, which in terms of capability, integration, and validation is uniquely focused on customer convenience and safety,” said Johan de Nysschen, Cadillac President. Photo: Cadillac.

Ready & Alert
For example, the Driver Attention System senses if the driver has turned away from the road ahead for too long. If so, it will “prompt” the driver to pay attention. Curiously, if those first prompts do not get you to immediately refocus on the road, the Super Cruise system will continue to do the “safely steer” thing until a further escalation of alerts prompts you to resume supervision of the car.
Sadly, this is not a collection of ah-oogah horns and warning claxons sourced from WW II destroyers, which personally I would find kind of fun. No, in the case of Caddy’s Super Cruise, a steering wheel light bar guides the driver to look at the road or take back control of the wheel. Escalating levels of alerts include visual indicators in the instrument cluster, tactile alerts in Cadillac’s Safety Alert Seat, and audible alerts, if necessary. Sadly, the “tactile alerts in Cadillac’s Safety Alert Seat” do not involve direct application of high voltage shocks to your tuchus.
Oh, and here’s a fun little bit from Caddy: “In the limited event of an unresponsive driver, the Cadillac CT6 utilizes the full capability of onboard driver assistance technologies to bring the car to a controlled stop and contact OnStar to alert first responders, if necessary.” Okay, first, thank you, second, I hope it never comes to that, and third, how fun would it be to get out on a lonely road late at night and “test” this portion of the system?
2017 Cadillac CT6. Photo: Cadillac.
Cameras & Sensors
The other half of the Super Cruise system, the LiDAR map data, is pretty technically sweet.
LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging, and is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (i.e. variable distances) to anything that it’s aimed at. In the case of Caddy’s Super Cruise, that means anything in front of the car, but in the case of the American military (which is where LiDAR comes from, natch) it means anything that is down range from that missile/gun/attack helicopter/etc. that is about to get blown to Mars.
Cadillac says this is the first assisted driving technology that will use precision LiDAR map data and real-time cameras, sensors, and GPS. Basically it works like this: Data from on-board cameras, GPS, and radar sensors is used to govern steering, braking, and acceleration. On top of that, the Super Cruise system inserts more information using a LiDAR-scanned map database.
Pinpoint Accuracy
All of this combined enables it to function, but only in areas where appropriate road conditions are detected. In other words, the system is “smart” enough to know that even if the map says the road is clear and four lanes wide, it will default to what its sensor suite definitively says is out there. So no more of this “GPS says take a left and drive over the bridge” only the bridge ain’t there no more and splash-gurgle-gurgle-gurgle you drown.
Cadillac went so far as to make their own precision LiDAR maps for every mile of limited-access highway in the United States and Canada. This, combined with improved GPS accuracy, means the system is four to eight times more precise than traditional GPS alone. Super Cruise will allow hands-free driving – it is not fully autonomous, but Cadillac feels it’s the next best thing.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photo: Cadillac.
Photos & Source: Cadillac

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2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: 707 Horsepower Kid Hauler

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: 707 Horsepower Kid Hauler

Okay, so this should be the final installment of Dodge’s nutzoid Hellcat drivetrain we’ve previously seen installed on the Challenger and Charger. In a way, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has all the bases covered: They got your two-door coupe with the Hellcat Challenger, the practical sedan with the four-door Hellcat Charger (I know, Chargers should have two doors, and it pains me to write that), and now the ultra practical SUV with the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.
Impressive Power
In a lot of ways, the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is just like a top of the line Grand Cherokee, only with a monster mill shoehorned under the hood. So trivial details like infotainment systems, the number of ways you can adjust the front seats, how many coolers you can fit in the way-back, and all that should still be the same or at least remarkably similar. Besides, that stuff is so boring to begin with – and me, like any other gearhead, will want to focus on the juicy, fast bits.
First, the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is the most powerful SUV ever made. The supercharged 6.2-liter V8 plant delivers 707 horsepower and 645 lb-ft. of torque, capable of moving the 2018 Trackhawk to very high speeds. Which, indeed, it does. 60 mph comes up in a meager in 3.5 seconds, you’re doing the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds, and topping out at 180 mph. Impressive numbers to be sure, but did I mention you’re doing this in a friggin’ Jeep?!
The supercharger has a drive ratio of 2.36:1, boasts a maximum speed of 14,600 rpm, and is sealed with a premium synthetic oil. The supercharger is fed in part by a cold-air scoop in the lower front fascia, replacing the driver’s side fog lamp. Finally, a new low-temperature cooling system, consisting of a pump, reservoir, heat exchanger, and lines keep the charge air cool during more agressive driving. Intake air temperature is kept below 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) while allowing up to 30,000 liters of air flow per minute.
The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk’s supercharged engine was manufactured with a specific focus on material composition. Only the most durable components were utilized. For example, its cast iron block features water jackets between the cylinders for optimal cooling. A forged-steel crankshaft with induction-hardened bearing surfaces was made to withstand firing pressures of nearly 1,600 psi (110 bar) – the equivalent of five family sedans standing on each piston, every two revolutions. The unique, specially tuned crankshaft damper has been burst tested to 13,000 rpm. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Transmission & Braking
Jeep says the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission and driveline components have been re-engineered to handle additional torque output with upgrades all around. And all that is good, cause that’s a lot of power, and snapping a driveline like a twig makes an awful sound. The TorqueFlite’s software takes into account variables like engine torque gradients, kick-down events, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, grade changes, friction detection, and downshift detection to determine the appropriate shift map.
But, okay, so you say you want to stop? Easy. The 60 to 0 mph braking performance happens in a scant 114 feet. There’s an all new Brembo braking system that includes the largest-ever front brakes on a Jeep. To which I say: No kidding Sherlock! The largest-ever? They’d have to be, since this thing weighs more than a half-loaded boxcar. A complete stop in only 114 feet from freeway speed? That’s a minor miracle. Brembo must have designed them with St. Peter.
The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is equipped with a specialized Jeep Quadra-Trac four-wheel-drive system, which includes an electronic limited-slip rear differential and a single-speed active transfer case. The new, full-time active transfer case uses forged steel chain sprockets and a wider chain for increased durability. The differential features a revised housing design, revised ring-and-pinion tooth geometry, and a new four-point axle mounting scheme for better load distribution, additional torque capacity, and overall durability. Photo: FCA US LLC.

Driving Dynamics
The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk features the Selec-Track system, with Auto, Sport, Track, Snow, and Tow modes. Depending on a driver’s needs and the terrain ahead, the individual modes alter the four-wheel-drive system, transmission, paddle shifters, electric power steering, and suspension.
Jeep says their new baby has “world-class on-road driving dynamics” and honestly, even though I’m not clear as to what that means exactly – that phrase is subjective on so many levels – I’m willing to go with it. Functionally, the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is a big truck-like thing, so I’m sure any upgrade from solid beam axles to leaf springs will count as “world-class on-road driving dynamics.”
The vehicle also has a 7,200 lbs. towing capacity.
The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk featuers a short- and long-arm (SLA) independent front suspension with coil springs, Bilstein adaptive damping suspension (ADS), upper- and aluminum lower-control arms (“A” arms), aluminum knuckle, aluminum clevis, and hollow stabilizer bar. The rear suspension is a multi-link design with coil spring, Bilstein ADS, aluminum lower control arm, independent upper links (tension and camber), plus a separate toe link, and a hollow stabilizer bar. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Functional Design
The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is not a total sleeper though. For starters, the fascia has been redesigned and optimized for better airflow and cooling while there’s a new, unique quad-tip exhaust system. Also new are standard 20 x 10-inch titanium wheels that show off the distinctive yellow aforementioned Brembo brake calipers.
Jeep says the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has more than 70 safety and security features. A lot of those are what you’d already expect (seatbelts, crumple zones etc.) and a bunch are also what you would expect today (Adaptive Cruise Control, Advanced Brake Assist, Blind-spot Monitoring, and the like).
The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk was designed with a “driver-focused” interior in mind. Premium and soft-touch materials decorate the cabin, from the unique Light Black Chrome finishes to the carbon fiber spears. The 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen houses the Trackhawk’s exclusive Performance Pages. They show an array of timers and gauge readouts, including a new dynamometer screen to measure horsepower, torque, and gear changes. A new snapshot function allows owners to save their dynamometer data to a USB. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Top Priorities
The 7-inch instrument cluster with a centered tachometer, a 200-mph speedometer, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Trackhawk Performance Pages are all nice touches. But really, who cares about all that stuff? You don’t. I don’t. None of us do. What we really care about, what would draw us to the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in the first place, is that big ol’ whompin’ stompin’ ‘Murican V8 engine.
Everything else is number two or lower.
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 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Gallery

Photos & Source: FCA US LLC.

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Volvo Showcases 2018 XC60, Announces New S90 Features

Volvo Showcases 2018 XC60, Announces New S90 Features

Volvo Cars gave us a double shot at this year’s New York International Auto Show when it debuted the all-new 2018 XC60 and rolled out the 2018 S90 with new features and pricing details. The all-new XC60 is Volvo’s mid-sized version of the award winning XC90 SUV; the 2018 S90 arrives with a longer wheelbase and a 400 horsepower T8 Twin-Engine Plug-In Electric Hybrid variant.
Million Seller
The 2018 XC60 replaces the current version which has been a big seller for the Swedish automaker. The outgoing model had a nine year production run and sold over 1 million globally, 30 percent of Volvo’s total sales. So, replacing a sales winner is always a tricky thing, but Volvo thinks it has the answer with the all-new 2018 XC60.
Hammer Time
The XC60 brings the current elements of Volvo’s new design language, including Thor’s Hammer LED headlamps, soft Nappa Leather, and a 9-inch center touch screen to the mid-sized SUV market. Yeah, I’m not joking, “Thor’s Hammer LED headlamps.” That is literally what Volvo calls them, and in the Swedes case, they are not referring to the Marvel hero, but to the literal god they used to worship that Stan Lee cribbed into a comic book character.
Photo: Volvo Car Corporation.
Power & Performance
The T8 Twin Engine Plug-In Electric Hybrid XC60 will offer up 400 horsepower. I’m figuring that’s 400 ponies in total (gas engine + hybrid drive), but it’s still nothing to sneeze at. There is also a gas-powered T6 turbo-and-super charged engine, cranking out 316 horsepower and a T5 turbo engine that will deliver 250 horsepower. All of them seem like good choices.
Safety & Security
There are the standard and now expected safety geegaws loaded onto the XC60. Volvo’s signature City Safety system is in place and Steer Assist has been added. A new feature called Oncoming Lane Mitigation employs the new Steer Assist to lessen the chances of a head-on collision. Steer Assist is also incorporated into Volvo’s Blind Spot Indication System (BLIS (ugh!)) to reduce the risk of lane-changing collisions.
Another “assist” thingo is Pilot Assist. This is Volvo’s advanced, semi-autonomous driver assistance system, which takes care of steering, acceleration, and braking on well-marked roads up to 80 mph. Pilot Assist is available in the new XC60 as an option.
Photo: Volvo Car Corporation.

S90 Treatments
The new Volvo S90, on the other hand, enters its second year of production featuring mainly enhancements, rather than an entirely new design. A longer wheelbase is now standard, adding 4.5 inches of legroom. In addition to more room, the back seat was completely redesigned so passengers can travel in luxury and elegance. There are also new electric rear and side shades, I’m assuming to block out any unwanted views of the masses.
The panoramic sunroof is standard.
Motivational power is provided from one of three engine choices: A T8 Twin Engine Plug-In Electric Hybrid propulsion system with 400 horsepower, a gas-powered T6 with a turbo and super charger creating 316 horsepower, and a T5 turbo engine registering 250 horsepower.
There’s now an updated Sensus Connect Touchscreen interface for the S90 that first debuted in the XC60. Safety features include Oncoming Lane Mitigation, BLIS (ugh again!) with steering assist, and an updated City Safety system. Volvo says pricing for the 2018 S90 T5 Momentum will start at $48,100, while the S90 T6 starts at $54,100. The T8 Twin Engine Plug-In Electric Hybrid starts at $63,650.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photo: Volvo Car Corporation.
Photos & Source: Volvo Car Corporation

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Letter From The UK: Is It All About Brexit?

Letter From The UK: Is It All About Brexit?
UK Car Production Down: But Is It All About Brexit?
I receive many messages in my burgeoning email inbox. Some of them I don’t want to read because they bear no relation to what I actually do. I do not, for example, want to buy electrical parts from China, perfumes from Paris, and I don’t want to meet attractive girls from foreign lands. Well, in a sort of typically male lecherous sense I do, but the marriage contract and the prospects for my future health don’t allow for it.
I also get a lot of mail every financial quarter from motor manufacturers shouting from the rooftops that the last three months have been their best yet in terms of sales and profits; this includes European car makers like Volvo and Volkswagen. They must be doing this by means of economies of scale or something because, if the UK motor industry is anything to go by, business is not looking rosy.
Worrying Statistics
Figures recently released show that UK car production once again declined in March, with demand falling by -13.3% year on year as the domestic market continues to slow down. Exports also declined, down -11.9% due to fluctuations in demand in some global* markets. In addition, some manufacturers were impacted by the adverse March weather* conditions which negatively affected production operations.
Overall, output in the first quarter of 2018 fell -6.3%, with 440,426 cars leaving production lines in total this year. Almost 80% of these were exported, and while demand from overseas customers fell, this was dwarfed by the -14.1% decline in manufacturing for the UK market.
The UK’s vehicle and component manufacturers are important contributors to the UK economy and are responsible for 13% of all the country’s export in goods. For every one British pound generated by the motor industry, three pounds are delivered to the economy via adjacent sectors such as logistics, retail, and finance. Overall this is estimated to be 10% of UK Gross Domestic Product.
An industry executive is reported as saying, “A double digit decline in car manufacturing for both home and overseas markets is of considerable concern. Following recent announcements on job cutbacks in the sector, it’s vitally important that the industry and consumers receive greater certainty, both about future policies towards diesel and other low emission technologies, and our post-Brexit trading relationships and customs arrangements. Maintaining free and frictionless trade is an absolute priority – it has been fundamental to our past success and is key to our future growth.”
True enough; but is it the whole story or do other factors also impinge on our national prosperity? I think they do.
In this September 2014 photo, recently manufactured Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles await shipping. According to a CNN Money report, dated April 16th 2018, the company is cutting manufacturing jobs in Birmingham citing Brexit as one of the reasons. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.
The Big Picture
Further up the page I have set an asterisk against two words. One is ‘weather’ and is something none of us can do anything about, especially in this country when we can get four seasons in one day. The other is ‘global’ in the sense that we, as a productive nation, cannot possibly allow for unknown variables like the state of the economies outside of the European bloc. Inevitably, if, say a Far Eastern economy is suffering then it stands to reason that we will sell less to them. Conversely, if a country is successful with its internal economy they may buy less from us unless we are truly competitive. That’s just basic economics. Swings and roundabouts.
Yet, I wonder if that is the whole picture. Yes, the uncertainty surrounding the British exit (hence Brexit) from the European Union is a major factor. The Eurocrats continue to be difficult and intransigent and the UK Government continues to be weak and vacillating. Is it any wonder the British Public are concerned about their long-term prosperity and that the UK car industry, like Yossarian, doesn’t have a clue which way to jump: but I also think it doesn’t end there.
Volkswagen’s Transparent Factory or “Die Gläserne Manufaktur” in Dresden, Germany serves as the automaker’s Center of Future Mobility. The facility offers tours, exhibitions, and test drives for attendees with a focus on electrification. The e-Golf has been made here since April 2017 and will be joined by other electric models according to Volkswagen. Photo: Volkswagen UK.
The Public Purse
Sales of diesel cars have been very badly hit thanks to the adverse, and rather unfair, publicity yet the sales of petrol, hybrid, and electric cars have not risen to the same extent, something that would seem to be a reasonable assumption. The fact is, despite some aggressive price cutting and attractive leasing options, the British public are keeping their cars for much longer (my own car is six years old and I’m very happy with it) because they either do all that is required of them or the people are simply losing interest.
Running a car is expensive here. Fuel prices, insurance premiums, and all manner of taxes make owning a vehicle a costly luxury. Certainly many young people on starter wages can’t afford it. Other needs are taking precedence. I don’t have any evidence to back any of this up but, call me crazy and send me off to the funny farm, in the back of my mind I do wonder if the car industry isn’t killing itself. I know, I know, but I’ve put it out there now.
Changing Tides
From doing what I do (when not browsing listings of young ladies who desire my company above all else) I’m hearing the message: cars are getting boring. In the mainstream, affordable world that most of us live in they are all the same. Ask me the question, ‘which crossover shall I buy’ and my answer now will be ‘any of them,’ because they are all essentially identical. This one handles better than that one but has a smaller trunk and does five miles less to the gallon and so on: Yadda, Yadda, Yadda . . .
The most boring aspect of all is autonomous cars. To a gearhead these robots, these things, are anathema. It simply is not possible to get interested in them unless you’re fascinated by guidance systems.
Wherever you lay the blame; on economies or government or Brexit or an apathetic public, there is a danger that cars are losing their allure as status symbols or objects of desire. Once, in Great Britain, if you owned a Jaguar or a Mercedes it said that you had arrived. You had status in the community. Things are so different now and nobody much cares. They’re just cars.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Cover Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.

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Toyota Invests In Mississippi Plant, New Facilities & Jobs Planned

Toyota Invests In Mississippi Plant, New Facilities & Jobs Planned With spring in the air, all sorts of plants are beginning to grow and that includes plants of the automotive manufacturing variety. This is the case in Blue Springs, home to Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, where the automaker has committed $170 million for production of the new Corolla using a platform called “Toyota’s New Global Architecture” or TNGA.
The plant currently produces 170,000 vehicles annually and employs over 1,500 people.
Essential Foundations
TNGA improves Toyota vehicle performance in virtually every category while advancing and streamlining the company’s product development process. The monies will be used for a complete overhaul and replacement of the current production lines, a move Toyota officials say enables the facility to stay competitive globally.
“We will be able to respond quicker and be more flexible in order to meet market demands down the road,” explained Sean Suggs, Toyota Mississippi President. “Toyota knows that you have to put in the effort to get the results, and this is just the beginning of that effort.”
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Continued Growth
Toyota says the investment will create 400 plus new jobs over the course of the next year. This recent commitment is the latest in Toyota’s effort to invest $10 billion in its U.S. facilities over the next five years, and brings the current total to $4.27 billion. Toyota’s total investment in the U.S. over the past 60 years is $25 billion, with more than a billion of that going to Mississippi since 2007.
“For more than a decade, Toyota has been a valued corporate partner to Blue Springs and the state of Mississippi,” said Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. “Toyota’s commitment to building a sense of community is illustrated by the company’s continued investment in its operations and philanthropic efforts throughout the region.”
“I’m very proud of our team members and the partnerships we have developed across the state,” Suggs added. “These jobs will support production of the all-new Corolla, and we are excited to build more of them for our loyal customers.”
A new visitor and training center is planned for Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Visitor & Training Center
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi also held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new visitor and training center designed by local architecture firm JBHM. The 15,000-square-foot facility will include meeting and training spaces for up to 120 people with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology. A 5,000-square-foot area with interactive exhibits that showcase Toyota’s Production System and Mississippi’s economic development are also planned.
The visitor and training center will open to the public in November 2019.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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Subaru of America Delivers Nine-Millionth Vehicle To Arkansas Doctor

Subaru of America Delivers Nine-Millionth Vehicle To Arkansas Doctor Subaru of America, Inc. recently hit a milestone, selling their nine-millionth vehicle in the United States. Adventure Subaru in Fayetteville, Arkansas earned the distinction after delivering a new Crosstrek to Dr. Hershey Garner. At the dealership, Garner was greeted by Don Nelms, owner of Adventure Subaru, along with staff and Ali Daniel and Brian Wilson from Subaru of America.
The celebration came as a surprise for Dr. Garner and his wife Denise, who are loyal Subaru customers. The good doctor proudly owns a 2005 Baja but admits he was taken by the new Crosstrek.
“I’ve been waiting for the right Subaru to come along and found the perfect one on Adventure Subaru’s website, the 50th Anniversary Edition Crosstrek,” he said. “It has all the features I was looking for, and the color and size are the perfect fit.”
Community Pillars
Dr. Garner has specialized as a radiation oncologist for over 30 years and supports Circle of Life Hospice by filling in as a staff physician. Denise Garner has served on the board of Feed Communities, one of Adventure Subaru’s Share the Love local charity recipients. The Garners were presented with several gifts and a charitable donation on their behalf to Feed Communities.
The couple champions public radio and donated the music room at the local NPR-affiliate KUAF.
Adventure Subaru is also active in community outreach and environmental stewardship and has been a certified Subaru Eco-Friendly Retailer since 2012.
Photo: Subaru of America.
Continued Growth
The Crosstrek is coming off its best March ever for sales with an 88.2 percent increase over the same month in 2017. March also marked the first time that Crosstrek has topped 13,000 units in a single month, marking Subaru of America’s 49th consecutive month of 40,000 plus vehicle sales.
All 2018 Crosstreks are powered by a revised version of the company’s 2.0-liter Boxer engine that creates 152 horsepower. The Crosstrek delivers 23 in the city, 29 on the highway, and 25 combined miles per gallon according to the EPA ratings.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: Subaru of America.

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