Automotive

Bricks And Bones: Chapter 5: Female Perspective

Bricks And Bones: Chapter 5: Female Perspective Tony Borroz is attending the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 28th, 2017. This series, Bricks And Bones, explores the cultural significance, endearing legacy, and the nitty-gritty phenomenon of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
The prologue of this series here.
Chapter 1: Real Wrong here.
Chapter 2: St. Elmo’s Fire here.
Chapter 3: The Quiet Racer here.
Chapter 4: Hang Ten here.

Dale Coyne stands in stark contrast to the wisdom of Leo Durocher. He is as nice and personable as nine out of ten Midwesterners you meet, but he rarely finishes last. He is tall and perpetually grinning, seeming tubbier on TV than he is in person. He has a big round Irish face dominated by a huge smile and frequent nodding when he listens. He listens a lot, intently, to whomever is talking to him, whether it’s some awestruck kid or upset racer in his employ.
He comes across as the just the sort of boss you’d want: Fair as the day is long, but tough as an anvil.
Coyne is from Minooka, Illinois, and no, that’s not a joke name. It’s sort of south and west of Chicago, kind of by Joliet (ancestral home of Jake Blues). Minooka is, by sheer coincidence, the home of Nick Offerman, the actor that plays Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation. In some odd way, Dale seems as if he could be Ron Swanson’s fun friend; the jovial Yin to Swanson’s brooding Yang.
Steadfast Vision
Dale Coyne has been racing since the early 80s and has that air about him of forgetting more about racing than you will ever know. He is, to accurately use the term, a fixture in the series. Dale can do more with a nickel than Chip Ganassi can do with a Ben Franklin. And that is yet another charming facet of Dale Coyne, the racer.
He always can put a team together. He’s money conscious, yes, but no more so than any other team owner. I recall him saying one of the reasons he got out of the first gen IRL, and back into CART, is that at the time, the IRL was all ovals. “There are no small wrecks on ovals,” he said. “Whenever one of my guys wreck, the entire car is totaled, gone, a complete write-off. I just can’t afford to wreck that many cars.”
Another thing Dale has a knack for that everyone in the series admires: He’s a fantastic talent scout. He has this funny ability to find drivers, seemingly out of nowhere and largely unsung, that turn out to be either great talents or fantastic journeymen teammates. Dominic Dobson, Randy Lewis, Buddy Lazier, Paul Tracy, Roberto Moreno, Memo Gidley, Alex Barron, Ryan Dalziel, Cristiano da Matta, Katherine Legge, Bruno Junqueira, Justin Wilson, and Conor Daly all got their start in big time American racing with Dale Coyne. He’s like Sam Phillips at Sun Records, minus Elvis Presley but plus Paul Tracy.
Sebastien Bourdais. Photo: INDYCAR.

Female Touch
This year he’s running Sebastien Bourdais (who sadly crashed out in qualifying), James Davidson (Bourdais replacement), Ed Jones, and Pippa Mann. Davidson is some sort of crazed miracle worker, jumping into Bourdais car with only half an hour of practice under his seat before starting the 500. Ed Jones is, like 86% of Dale’s past drivers, a young up and comer. Pippa Mann, on the other hand, is no stranger to the speedway. She shows up every year and beats about a third of the field in qualifying with little to no practice.
This delights me to no end because it upsets the sclerotic old dinosaurs who grumble out horse manure about “women can’t” and other such chauvinistic crap that should have ended decades ago. My fondest wish is to be sitting in the stands when a woman finally wins the 500, and be sitting right next to one of these dingbats. Watching him faint will be the cherry on top.
Pippa Mann. Photo: INDYCAR.
Calm & Collected
Dale is married to, and I am not making this up, Gail Coyne. She’s as sweet as he is. Short, blond, nods while listening and, even better, is responsible for Sonny’s Barbeque (Dale’s main sponsor for most of this season). I’m not sure if she owns it, runs it, bought or whatever, but she understands barbecue, that’s for sure.
“Have you ever been to Florida,” she asks rhetorically. “Barbecue is like a religion to those people.”
“Like a religion to those people,” I jokingly respond, “shoot, it’s like a religion to me!”
She laughs as we dive deep into the sociology of soul food and barbecue specifically.
Whenever she talks, Dale listens attentively, and vice versa. They make a great couple, Dale and Gail do. They both radiate the same vibe: comfort and confidence. It must be a huge tension reliever to be a driver in that environment. No matter how tense things get, there’s Dale, all calm and cool with a seemingly bottomless well of experience. Even the way he stands seems to say, “don’t worry, I can handle this.”
Dale seems happy and content, because, in a certain way, he already “won.” He’s doing what he loves, has a great life, and Gail by his side. If that’s not winning, I don’t know what is, Leo Durocher’s opinion not withstanding.
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.
*To be continued. Bricks And Bones is an Automoblog original series with forthcoming installments during the days leading up to, and following the Indianapolis 500.
Cover Photo: INDYCAR.

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Bricks And Bones: Chapter 4: Hang Ten

Bricks And Bones: Chapter 4: Hang Ten Tony Borroz is attending the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 28th, 2017. This series, Bricks And Bones, explores the cultural significance, endearing legacy, and the nitty-gritty phenomenon of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
The prologue of this series here.
Chapter 1: Real Wrong here.
Chapter 2: St. Elmo’s Fire here.
Chapter 3: The Quiet Racer here.

To me, there are three high holy days on the racing calendar. The first is the Italian Grand Prix. Much like Eskimos having many words for snow, the Italians have their own singular word for racing fan: TIfosi. And Monza, the home of the Italian Grand Prix, is our cathedral where we worship.
The greatest drivers in the world have raced here, and every year the grand prix is a fine Italian opera played out at over 200 miles an hour.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is next. Held close to the summer solstice every year, it started out as a twice around the clock endurance grind, but now is more like a sprint race for maniacs. This is where sports car racing was perfected. This is where, up until the late 60s, street legal two seaters from Jaguar and Ferrari and Ford and Porsche slugged it out to see who was best over public roads, come rain or shine, day or night, every year.
The last high holy day is the Indy 500. The race is held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway located in the small Midwestern town of Speedway, Indiana. It seems rather simple at first. The track resembles an enormous cafeteria tray, essentially a rounded off rectangle. It is very wide, very smooth, and slightly banked. There are only four turns and all of them are left handers, how hard can it be? As it were, it is very hard largely due to one thing: Speed.
Aerial view of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Hurricane Force
A modern Formula 1 car, trimmed out and on a high-speed track like Spa or Monza can hit a top speed of 215 or so. A modern sports prototype at Le Mans can do about the same. A modern Indy car averages over 225 during the race. Averages. The corner entry speeds this year were flickering into the high 230s. The best analogy I have for high speed oval racing – a thing, bizarrely enough, invented by the Italians (okay, Romans) and made famous in the movie Ben Hur – is, curiously, big wave surfing.
Think of surfing, and most people see a place like Banzai Pipeline or Oahu’s North Shore. Pipeline is very Grand Prix like. Technical and fast, with waves in the 20 foot range, breaking directly over a bed of razor sharp coral. Getting it wrong means getting munched in a very spectacular and public way. Racing at Indy is like Waimea Bay. The waves are huge and powerful. Easily over 30 feet and as any surfer will tell you, the bigger the wave is, the faster it travels. If you even catch the wave at Waimea, which means enduring a fear inducing 20 foot elevator drop; you then have to make the bottom turn; a simple graceful arc to your right, or you get eaten alive by literally tons of ocean that cleans you off your board and, if you’re lucky, drives you straight down into the bottom and rolls and tumbles and smashes you for, potentially, the last 50 yards of your life.
Brian Kalama, full-blooded Hawaiian, son of the great Buffalo Kalama, lifeguard at Makaha, and famed big wave surfer put it this way: “the problem with big wave surfing is that when something goes wrong, it goes real wrong, real fast.” And that, in a nutshell, from a completely different walk of life, in 18 words, is racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: “the problem with racing at Indy is that when something goes wrong, it goes real wrong, real fast.”
Photo: INDYCAR.

Risky Roulette
The corner entry speeds, not to mention the cornering speeds themselves, are so high, the smallest mistake – being off line by inches, say, or brushing a competitor no harder than two shopping carts bumping – can lead to appalling consequences. Sebastien Bourdais, who I mentioned in an earlier chapter, was off by no more than 18 inches, the distance between your knife and fork on the dinner table, and that was enough to send him into the outside wall like a horizontally thrown lawn dart at 230 miles per hour.
Racing at Indy is so simple, it should be easy, but the speeds are so high that making a 90 degree left turn is like rolling the dice against the devil himself. Now add 32 other speed-crazed mutants with a competitive streak that would make a test pilot blush, very large right feet, and even larger, er, attachments, and the equation of simply keeping up, let alone winning, is magnified ten-thousand fold.
Head Case
This is all done in cars with open wheels and open cockpits whose main structural components are cloth and glue. The buffeting from the wind in traffic is enough to spin you halfway to Oz and back. The levels of grip at the limit are only slightly better than those found on roads outside Anchorage in February. And all the while your head – you know, the part where your brain is kept, the part where all that is you is; all thoughts, all hopes, all dreams, all memories; where all of your fondest desires and deepest fears live – are hanging out in a 230+ mile an hour breeze just waiting to get clocked by someone else’s wheel or tire or shrapnel from a crash that never even involved you in the first place.
That is the Indy 500.
2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, Alexander Rossi. Photo: INDYCAR.
Raw & Relentless
That is just what is at stake, and it will go on for two-hundred laps, turn after turn, for over three hours without respite or let up. There are no time outs. There is no halftime break. There is only the green flag then 500 miles between you and fame and victory and a long drink of cold milk on a fine May afternoon in the middle of Indiana farmland. It is a simple stage with simple rules where all that is True and Good in us vie against all that is False and Poor. This is the Indy 500. And it is Pure and it is Righteous. Hallelujah!
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.
*To be continued. Bricks And Bones is an Automoblog original series with forthcoming installments during the days leading up to, and following the Indianapolis 500.
Cover Photo: INDYCAR.

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Bricks And Bones: Chapter 3: The Quiet Racer

Bricks And Bones: Chapter 3: The Quiet Racer Tony Borroz is attending the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 28th, 2017. This series, Bricks And Bones, explores the cultural significance, endearing legacy, and the nitty-gritty phenomenon of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
The prologue of this series here.
Chapter 1: Real Wrong here.
Chapter 2: St. Elmo’s Fire here.

It’s Thursday, cold and threatening with rain. The immense track is largely quiet, just spots of activity here and there. We wander through Gasoline Alley, all the garages quietly busy with preparations for something happening soon enough. For the first time in a long time, I get a smell of ethanol, sickly sweet, decaying flowers; it makes me inhale deeper.
Apart from Pippa Mann, all long blond hair and a bright smile that seems to be saying “I’m quicker than most of the boys here,” none of the drivers are around.
Until I get to the last garages, and there’s Ed Carpenter.
Hometown Hero
You can tell what Ed Carpenter looked like when he was say, 12: just like he looks now, only shorter. He’s one of those guys that always looks like a kid, and if he didn’t have a day’s growth of beard, you’d think he was a college sophomore. Healey knows him, so we walk right in, and I get introduced and shake. His hands are warm and papery and he clamps down like a flesh covered vice. It’s a hazard of the profession. All race car drivers have a grip strength somewhere right around the bite force of a crocodile.
Carpenter is one of these odd throw-backs to what drivers were like 50 or 60 years ago. He is a local kid, born and raised in Speedway. He has the affect of a Mercury astronaut; quiet, personable, and gives you a feeling that you don’t have to scratch that deep to find a bottomless well of self confidence behind the wheel of a car. His smile is huge and genuine, and sort of reminds me of Mark Donohue; like an honest talking schoolboy who excelled at getting away with practical jokes. Carpenter is the nephew of the Georges (a branch of the track owning Hullman family) so yeah, that did give him a leg up, and opened more than a few doors. But that will only get you so far in the racing business. Sooner or later, you will have to produce, and Ed Carpenter did.
By his own admission, he’s not very competitive on road courses, so he’s turned into a high speed oval specialist. Indeed during qualifying he was the fastest Chevy powered car out there, qualifying 2nd over all.
Photo: Ed Carpenter Racing.
Fine & Dandy
“How’s the car,” Healey asks, the implication being that he is surrounded by Hondas, and the next Chevy is his teammate J.R. Hildebrand four spots back; then even more Hondas and then the first of the mighty Penske-Chevrolet runners, Will Power in ninth.
“Oh good. We’re fine,” he said, and that’s what stops me hard. It’s the way he said “we’re fine,” that I notice. It was a simple and declarative statement, sort of like the response to his favorite color. I have noticed, over the years, there is one kind of driver to watch out for at the Indy 500. Usually, amidst all the hub-bub and noise, among all the racers that are going fast and being interviewed on TV, there will always be a few racers, and usually just one, up there at the front of the pack: head down, quietly going about their business, clocking lap after lap after lap, and doing it quickly.
And with that simple “we’re fine,” I realized Ed Carpenter is that racer.
Photo: Ed Carpenter Racing.

Potential Happenings
I watch him and Healey chatting away as I think to myself, “shoot, this guy’s gonna win the whole thing, isn’t he?” There are no sure things in racing. Never. And although I would not bet, or say unequivocally that Ed Carpenter is going to win this thing, he is suddenly very much in my consciousness. Carpenter could win the Indy 500. He could do it, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all.
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.
*To be continued. Bricks And Bones is an Automoblog original series with forthcoming installments during the days leading up to, and following the Indianapolis 500.
Cover Photo: Ed Carpenter Racing.

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Bricks And Bones: Chapter 2: St. Elmo’s Fire

Bricks And Bones: Chapter 2: St. Elmo’s Fire Tony Borroz is attending the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 28th, 2017. This series, Bricks And Bones, explores the cultural significance, endearing legacy, and the nitty-gritty phenomenon of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
The prologue of this series here.
Chapter 1: Real Wrong here.

I was fully intending to write a story on a completely different subject, but St. Elmo’s got in the way. I am, in all honesty, slightly tipsy as I write this. St. Elmo’s is a place that encourages such things. Besides, as Ernest Hemingway famously said, “write drunk, edit sober.”
In 1902, a restaurant and bar opened up in downtown Indianapolis called St. Elmo’s. It is one of those places with overdone booths, lots of paneling, and a mosaic tile floor in front of the enormous bar.
During prohibition the place had to have been a speakeasy. It’s right out of central casting in that respect, and so is the entire staff. Over-dressed in stiff formal shirts, they all seem comfortable and unflappable. Our waiter, Brett, is a comic book good looking fellow – graying at the temples, 1,000 watt smile, consistently personable – and a fantastic waiter.
Wall of Fame
Why, you might ask, am I wasting your precious time and management’s delicate space in this publication talking about a restaurant? Because St. Elmo’s, since time immemorial, has been the place to eat if you are a driver, team owner, or a rich mechanic. The walls (which should be outfitted with mirrors so the hoi polloi of Indianapolis can watch themselves while they are eating) are lined with pictures of famous drivers and of the track from days gone by.
“There’s Mario,” I think to myself, noticing a four-by-four foot formal portrait. Autographed, of course. Foyt, Unser, Unser (again), Unser (little Al), Vukovich, and more black and white shots of the starting field than I can count. I see a few of the newer drivers’ shots here and there. Lyn St. James, former Indy 500 racer comes strolling in. Unnoticed by the gathering crowd, she draws my attention like a magnet. Shorter than I expected, she’s still frighteningly cute and charismatic and capable of driving a car 50% faster than I will ever be able to; everything a boy like me would like.
Bill Healey and I are sitting at our table in the bar section, chatting with Brett before he puts our order in.
Bill, with the casual ease of one local to another asks, “anyone been in?”
“Anyone” in this case, meaning drivers or recognizable team personnel.
“Oh sure,” Brett said. “Mario was in just a little while ago,” he continues, looking around as if he’s wondering where one of the most prominent people in the history of auto racing had wandered off too. When I mention Bill is an old friend of Mario’s (Andretti bought Bill’s grandparent’s home in ’65 when he moved to Speedway from Nazareth, Pennsylvania) Brett goes all agog. They start trading stories for a few before Brett goes and puts our order in.
Soon he returns with Elmo’s signature dish: Shrimp cocktail.
The Signature “Elmo Cola” is a local favorite. A glass-bottled Coke or Diet Coke is mixed with the St. Elmo exclusive “Infusion,” made with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, imported Italian Luxardo Maraschino Cherries, and Madagascar Vanilla Beans. It’s served with the restaurant’s famous Drunken Cherries. The Infusion can be ordered straight up, on the rocks, as a Manhattan, or an Old Fashioned. Photo: St. Elmo Steak House.

Savory Sensations
Yes, St. Elmo’s is a steak place. A very, very good steak place as it turns out, but they are, for some unexplained reason, known far and wide for their shrimp cocktail. I am not a big fan of shrimp in general, or shrimp cocktail for that matter, but hey, this is what the restaurant in Indy that all the drivers go to is known for, so of course I’m going to try it.
“This is Kosher, right,” I ask Brett as he approaches with a chilled silver bowl.
“Kosher as can be!” he says without missing a beat, adding a face imploding wink that is all dimple and smiles. As he sets the bowl of four shrimp drowning in cocktail sauce down, I notice he is not wearing a wedding ring. A given percentage of the women in Indy must have dated this guy, I think to myself, with an inward sigh known only to those of us who are not cartoonishly handsome.
“Gentleman, you have been warned,” Brett said before turning smartly and moving away.
Moment of Truth
He is, of course, referring to the cocktail sauce itself. It is famously high octane stuff. I can see chunks of horseradish floating within. I spear a shrimp, set it on the small side plate, and chop off a chunk with the absurdly tiny shrimp cocktail fork provided. “Wow,” I think to myself, “pretty good.” I immediately segment off another chunk.
Before I have completely swallowed it, my eyes tear slightly, and I feel my pupils snap closed to the size of pinheads. My sinuses feel like a domed NFL stadium with the doors open; light, airy, with a slight breeze entering from the south/southwest. Briefly I can see through time. It’s like shrimp flavored with napalm and sugar. Without hesitation I eat the rest of shrimp #1 and move directly onto #2. It goes without saying the steak was fantastic. Shoot, the baked potato was fantastic. And don’t get me started on the bread.
Brett comes and goes from time to time. We chat. Where are we sitting (meaning at the track for the race)? How many races has Healey gone too (all of them his entire live since he was a baby)? Where am I from (the middle of the desert)?
“Come back anytime,” Brett said, and he either means it or is so good at his job he can lie with complete conviction.
Inside the 1933 Lounge at St Elmo Steakhouse, 127 S. Illinois St., Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo: St Elmo Steakhouse.
Quintessential Indy
I pick up the check. I owe Healey. He’s bought me so many dinners over time, that alone should be enough. But Bill is also responsible for lining things up for getting me into the 500 itself. Bill knows people. When your grandparents sell their house on 16th to a young Italian racer in 1965, you know people. When your uncle has a place two houses down, also on 16th, and was a track guard during World War II, you know people. When your lifelong friends with Clint Brawner, you know people. When A.J. Watson calls you out in a crowd at the supermarket, and comes up to shake your hand, you know people. When the house I am currently sitting in and writing this is within 2 blocks of 16th and Georgetown Road, you know people.
You also know that when you come to the races, and someone asks, “where should we go for dinner,” that St. Elmo’s is, and always will be, the answer.
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.
*To be continued. Bricks And Bones is an Automoblog original series with forthcoming installments during the days leading up to, and following the Indianapolis 500.
Cover Photo: St. Elmo Steak House.

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Ford Mustang Tops Classic Car Searches

Ford Mustang Tops Classic Car Searches

If you had to guess, what would you say the most searched for classic car is? Chevy Camaro? Dodge Challenger? If you said Ford Mustang, then you are absolutely right. According to a report by ClassicCars.com, the Ford Mustang is the most searched for car in the United States.
The Mustang ranked first in 13 states, followed by the Chevy Impala which ranked highest in seven states. The Chevy Camaro came in third in five different states while the Chevy Corvette, Dodge Charger, and Ford Thunderbird were top in three states.
By The Numbers
Overall, domestic cars recorded the highest searches in 49 states, with Ford and Chevrolet evenly split, ranking first in 20 states. While muscle cars accounted for the bulk of the searches, there were a few exceptions. In West Virginia, the most searched for vehicle was Chevy 3100, and in Oklahoma, a Ford F1, proving trucks in those states are highly sought after. The Mercedes-Benz 250SE was the most popular in Connecticut, while the Buick Skylark was the most searched for in Maine. Among European models overall, the Volkswagen Bus was highest with 240,656 unique searches in 2016, while the Datsun 280Z led the Japanese models at 157,265 unique searches.
By comparison, Mustang registered 3,736,942 unique searches in 2016.
“Owning pristine collector vehicles – particularly domestic performance and muscle cars – continues to be a passion for many Americans, from the most seasoned collectors to enthusiasts making their first purchase,” said Roger Falcione, President and CEO of ClassicCars.com.
Silver Screen Machines
The reasons why classic American cars are so highly sought after are numerous, but Falcione has a theory.
“Two vehicles on our list – the Ford Fairlane and Dodge Charger – play prominent roles in The Fate of the Furious, which recently topped $1 billion box office sales worldwide,” he said. “That can attest to the international interest in American performance and muscle cars.”
ClassicCars.com is continually building its presence as a respected source of collector car news, information, and data, with an unparalleled selection of for-sale vehicles. According to the site, there are 330,000 daily searches and three million unique monthly visitors.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

Graphic & Source: ClassicCars.com.
Cover Photo: Ford Motor Company.

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2017 Lexus IS 350 AWD Review

2017 Lexus IS 350 AWD Review

The Lexus IS 350 hasn’t had a major overhaul since its introduction in 2014, but the car is still relevant in the small luxury sedan segment. For 2017, it gets a few exterior and interior tweaks before its major makeover in two years. It still has a very comfortable cabin, superior ride quality, and all-weather capability.
This week, we drove the 2017 Lexus IS 350 V6. It had full-time all-wheel drive, the F Sport package, and other luxury items that made it extra comfy.
What’s New For 2017
The front end gets revised styling consisting of a new grille, headlights (LEDs), and air intakes, while the back of the sedan gets upgraded with different taillights and exhaust tips. The IS 350 comes with additional standard safety features, including forward collision warning and mitigation. A few minor cabin tweaks finish up the changes.
Standard Features
The 2017 Lexus IS 350 AWD ($43,535) comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission, two gears less than other models. Other standard equipment includes keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone climate control, a sunroof, premium vinyl upholstery, a 10-speaker stereo system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.
Optional Packages
Our tester came with the optional Navigation/Mark Levinson premium audio package ($2,835) with 5.1 surround; 835 Watts and 15 speakers. An F Sport package ($2,715) included unique exterior and cabin trim, 18-inch F Sport 5-spoke wheels wrapped in all-season tires, heated and ventilated seats with unique trim, adaptive variable suspension, and a backup camera. It also came with a blind spot monitor with rear traffic alert ($600) and a heated outside review mirror.
Total MSRP including destination: $51,515.

Interior Highlights
The 2017 Lexus IS 350 has the upscale cabin you would expect from the luxury division of Toyota. The quality of materials and fit and finish is right up to snuff with the best luxury sedans in the world. Its design is a strength in this segment, and it’s much less business-like than the European competition. The cabin has the visual effect of making you think you’re in a car costing two times the price.
The cabin is on the smallish side, so it can feel a bit cramped for larger adults. The IS 350 will technically seat five adults, but having three in the back will need to be for short trips. The F Sport seats are comfortable for commuting, but could use more bolstering for longer trips. The 7.0-inch infotainment screen contains the Lexus app suite, called Enform, but Lexus uses the mouse type controller for navigating the infotainment screen. It’s still not a favorite of ours.
The trunk is 13.8 cubic feet, more than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class but less than the top-selling BMW 3-Series.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The 2017 Lexus IS 350 AWD is powered by a smooth, 3.5-liter direct and port injected V6 engine, making 306 horsepower and 277 lb-ft. of torque. It comes mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission (two gears less than the turbo model) and steering wheel paddle shifters for driving enthusiasts.
EPA fuel mileage estimates are 19/26 mpg city/highway, and 21 combined.
Driving Dynamics
The 3.5-liter V6 is ultra smooth and with its 306 horsepower and 277 lb-ft. of torque, it’s respectably powerful. We took it up I-70 into the higher elevations west of Denver and it had enough power to have some fun. We used the steering wheel paddle shifters to manually row the 6-speed automatic, and it bumps up the fun-to-drive meter considerably.
The IS 350 with the F Sport package also improves the driving dynamics, and we had an enjoyable time throwing this luxury sedan around a mountain curve or two. The F Sport package brings an adjustable suspension and a sharper throttle and transmission when you put it in Sport+ mode. It unlocks the car’s potential, and makes the 6-speed automatic shift quicker. With its full-time AWD, the IS 350 is all-weather capable, making it a year-round commuter too. We would consider the IS 350 a capable sports sedan, but it’s not a true performance sedan like its German counterparts.
Conclusion
The 2017 Lexus IS 350 has a lot going for it with its upscale cabin, standard safety features, and smooth V6 engine. The IS 350 delivers a quiet, comfortable, and luxurious sedan experience. Though AWD models give up two gears in the transmission to their rear-wheel drive counterparts, it does broaden the sedan’s appeal for those who live where things often get slick.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2017 Lexus IS 350 Gallery

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2017 Lexus IS 350 Official Site.
Photos: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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This New Quantum Computer Science From Volkswagen Will Blow Your Mind

This New Quantum Computer Science From Volkswagen Will Blow Your Mind Volkswagen is making incredible scientific breakthroughs when it comes to the development of electric vehicle batteries. It seems like something out of a science fiction movie. The automaker has, for the first time, succeeded in simulating “industrially relevant molecules” using a quantum computer. VW has successfully simulated molecules like lithium-hydrogen and carbon chains, and are already working on more complex chemical compounds.
What does that mean exactly?
Tailor-Made Designs
VW wants to eventually simulate the chemical structure of a complete electric vehicle battery on a quantum computer. It seems mind-blowing but all this super science has a distinct purpose: the development of high-performance electric vehicle batteries. VW is creating what they call a “tailor-made battery,” or a configurable, production-ready “chemical blueprint.”
VW’s press materials on this topic are focused on the hard science, but reading between the lines one can see the intent. VW will leverage cutting edge science to create a better automobile – in this case, electric ones. And the timing seems right, given how a recent survey from AAA found car buyers are warming up to electric vehicles.
“We are focusing on the modernization of IT systems throughout the Group,” explained Martin Hofmann, Chief Information Officer, Volkswagen Group. “The objective is to intensify the digitalization of work processes – to make them simpler, more secure and more efficient and to support new business models.”
“We intend to acquire the specialist knowledge we need for this purpose now,” added Florian Neukart, Principle Scientist at Volkswagen’s CODE Lab in San Francisco, California. “We are convinced that commercially available quantum computers will open up previously unimaginable opportunities.”
Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Essential Foundations
With newly developed algorithms, VW has already “laid the foundation” for simulating and optimizing the aforementioned chemical structures of electric vehicle batteries on a quantum computer. In time, the quantum algorithm could simulate the chemical composition of a battery on the basis of different criteria: weight reduction, maximum power density, or cell assembly, for example, and even provide a design that could be more easily produced.
VW believes this will help advance the battery development process, a time-consuming and resource-intensive endeavor for any automaker.
“This is why we are combining our core task with the introduction of specific key technologies for Volkswagen,” Hofmann said. “These include the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, as well as quantum computing.”
Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Collaboration & Applications
Data scientists, computer linguists, software engineers, and other IT experts from VW are working together in San Francisco and Munich to better understand the potential of quantum computing. Various applications in which quantum computing could be beneficial for the automaker are being closely examined.
“We are working hard to develop the potential of quantum computers for Volkswagen. The simulation of electro-chemical materials is an important project in this context,” Neukart said. “In this field, we are performing genuine pioneering work.”
VW is collaborating with Google and D-Wave who provide the VW teams with access to their systems. In late 2017, VW and Google began a partnership with regard to quantum computing.
“Quantum computing technology opens up new dimensions and represents the fast-track for future-oriented topics. We at Volkswagen want to be among the first to use quantum computing for corporate processes as soon as this technology is commercially available,” Hofmann said at the time. “Thanks to our cooperation with Google, we have taken a major step towards this goal.”
VW will present their research at the CEBIT technology show in Hanover, Germany starting on June 12th.
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: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

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2019 BMW X5: Whatever You Do, Don’t Call It An SUV

2019 BMW X5: Whatever You Do, Don’t Call It An SUV Don’t call it an SUV people, it’s a Sports Activity Vehicle, at least if you believe BMW. The new for 2019 BMW X5 is here, and it is, in addition to being an SUV (sorry) also a BMW, so that means it’s also much quicker than you’d expect.
Tipping the scales at over 5,000 lbs. the 2019 BMW X5 will never be presented as a featherweight canyon carver. It is, however, a very competent way to get you, some of your friends, and a bunch of gear down the road (or even a little off-road) pretty quickly.
Depending on which engine you choose, the new X5 can get from full stop to 60 mph in either 5.3 or 5.6 seconds, which is great, given the weight and shape of this beast.
Engine Selections
That performance is all thanks to the engines the X5 can be equipped with: A twin-turbo straight six in the X5 xDrive40i or a blown V8 in the X5 xDrive50i. The 3-liter straight six (not a four-liter, despite the 40i badging) is said to rev like the blazes by BMW. I’ll wait and see on that, but, thanks to the twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection tech, the six-banger has a maximum output of 335 horsepower and 330 lb-ft. of torque.
Like I said, zero to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds.
The big 8 features turbochargers positioned in the “V” between the cylinder banks. Again, the naming is strange because the V8 displaces 4.4-liters, even if it’s mounted in the xDrive50i. BMW says that newly designed heat plates are there to ensure effective thermal shielding for the crankcase and cylinder head, but I’ll believe that when I see one of these things with a quarter-million miles on it.
Mounting turbos and such within the V always makes me nervous, thermally speaking.
Anyway, the V8 mill puts out 456 horsepower with peak torque at 479 lb-ft. All of which is impressive and all of which adds up to a zero to 60 mph time of 4.6 seconds.
Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Transmission & Driveline Tech
Each engine is mated to a new version of the Bavarian’s eight-speed Steptronic transmission, with a wider ratio spread and new control electronics for overall efficiency. Downstream is BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system with a locking rear differential.
The latest generation of the BMW xDrive system is able to split drive torque between the front and rear wheels with even greater precision and speed, and, for added efficiency, full power can be directed to the rear wheels only.
Right. It’s for “efficiency.”
The standard wheel and tire set up is 19-inch light-alloy wheels, while the M Sport brings 20-inch, twin-spoke wheels to the party. 21 and 22-inch wheels are available.
Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Laser Focused
All of this new stuff rides in an X5 that is 1.6 inches longer than its predecessor, 2.6 inches wider, and one inch taller. Despite styling issues (the ghost of Chris Bangle still haunts these design corridors), the 2019 BMW X5 has more space for passengers and their stuff. The new X5 comes standard with Adaptive LED headlights and now adds something called, I’m not kidding here, “BMW Laserlights.”
BMW Laserlights feature blue x-shaped elements that split up the hexagonal light sources inside the regular twin headlights.
Interior Treatments
The instrument panel is wide with sweeping horizontal lines and electroplated trim emphasizing the width of the interior. The same finish can be found on the large trim finisher and surrounds and the center console. The fully-digital instrument cluster and the center display are new; the center console hosts the iDrive Controller, the newly designed transmission selector, and all other driving-related controls.
There’s new Vernasca leather upholstery available in five colors and the heated sport seats come with standard electrical adjustments. Optional multi-function seats with massage and ventilation are also available.
The stereo is a fat Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System with 20 speakers and a 1,500-watt output. Rear-seat entertainment comprises a pair of 10.2-inch full-HD touchscreen displays, a Blu-ray- compatible DVD player, two USB ports, an HDMI socket, and two headphone jacks.
So shut up back there!

Trim Levels
xLine and M Sport variants are also part of the mix for 2019. The standard xLine model uses lots of matte aluminum, in the underbody, roof rails, and side window surrounds. The pearl-effect chrome “accentuates the off-road character of the all-new 2019 BMW X5.” Sure, whatever.
The M Sport spec gets you wheel arch trim, bumper trim, rear underbody protection, and side skirts painted in body color, complimented by matte aluminum kidney grille bars. Oh and roof rails and side window surrounds in high-gloss black.
Yeah, that’s the M Sport. Not exactly the fire-breathing M you and I were hopping for.
Pricing & Availability
The new BMW X5 will arrive in November with pricing expected closer to that time. To date, more than 2.2 million X5 vehicles have been sold globally, with one third of those being in the United States.
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.
2019 BMW X5 Gallery

Photos & Source: BMW of North America, LLC.

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Mercedes-Benz Launches New Subscription Based Vehicle Service

Mercedes-Benz Launches New Subscription Based Vehicle Service The “Mercedes-Benz Collection” has officially launched, a program that allows subscribers to switch between different types of vehicles depending on their needs or lifestyle. The service, a collaboration between Mercedes-Benz USA, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA, and Mercedes-Benz dealers, is available now in two cities: Nashville and Philadelphia.
Emerging Trends
Mercedes-Benz says they are “testing the waters” with the program for now. In time, it’s possible it will expand to more cities, as the current pilot program is meant to embrace a growing trend among consumers.
“We’re always looking to stay ahead of our customers’ needs and wants, as well as to bring new people to the brand,” explained Dietmar Exler, President and CEO, MBUSA. “We know there is a market opportunity for people who would like the ability to move in and out of vehicles, depending on what they need or want at a particular point in time, or who don’t want to own a vehicle right now.”
“Customer appetites are changing when it comes to how they access products and services, and our financial and mobility services are evolving to fit those demands,” added Geoff Robinson, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC.
Benefits & Perks
The program consists of three tiers – Signature, Reserve, and Premier – with prices ranging from $1,095 to $2,995 per month after a one-time activation fee of $495. Subscribers can then choose from all the available vehicles in that tier, sedans, coupes, cabriolets, roadsters, and wagons among them.
The monthly fee includes insurance, 24/7 roadside assistance, and maintenance. A concierge staff will deliver the desired vehicle, washed, with a full tank of gas, and even take away the prior vehicle. Mercedes-AMG models are also available in each tier and there are no mileage restrictions.
Photo: MBUSA.
How It Works
The Mercedes-Benz Collection app can be found in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. After it’s downloaded, subscribers go through a brief application process which consists of a driving and credit history check. In most cases, the application is processed and the subscriber is contacted within one business day.
Vehicle requests received by noon can typically be fulfilled the next day.
“We are working to provide one of the most diverse offerings in the market today and expect to learn a lot from this pilot,” Robinson said. “Adding Mercedes-Benz Collection’s subscription services to our product portfolio is a natural fit.”
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Source: MBUSA.

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