Automotive

Autonomous Driving Discussions Peak In Detroit As AutoSens Returns

Autonomous Driving Discussions Peak In Detroit As AutoSens Returns AutoSens, a global summit on autonomous driving, is underway in Detroit, Michigan. Following a successful outing at AutoSens Brussels, organizers have returned to the Motor City for the second time with a robust itinerary meant to facilitate discussions around the future of mobility. AutoSens covers nearly every aspect of autonomous driving, from the supply chain, infrastructure, and engineering challenges, to legal, financial, and ethical considerations.
Collaboration & Creativity
Attendees, speakers, sponsors, and participants will actively leverage each other’s expertise during the week-long event, which takes aim at the biggest challenges facing autonomous cars. Collaboration and creativity are the central themes of AutoSens, whereby professionals in the field are encouraged to share ideas and devise solutions to the obstacles facing autonomous driving.
“AutoSens, in short, is a global engineering forum for the people who work on vehicle perception systems,” explained Robert Stead, Managing Director, Sense Media, the parent company of AutoSens. “That might be designing a component, coding software algorithms, deciding on how to build a complete system, quality assurance, testing or any number of other functions important in developing efficient, affordable, and reliable systems to the high standards demanded by the auto industry.”
Photo: Alex Hartman for Sense Media.
Live Demonstrations
The first day – Tuesday May 15th – saw numerous autonomous vehicle demonstrations at Wayne State University. Attendees were able to ride in three different autonomous vehicles, from three different companies: a Lincoln MKZ outfitted with self-driving technology from Autonomous Stuff, a Chrysler Pacifica equipped with a special kit from Dataspeed, and a modified Tesla from Vision Systems Intelligence.
The demonstrations are a hallmark of AutoSens, both in Detroit and Brussels, and remain a favorite for attendees.
“It was a steady flow of people all day,” Stead said. “The Dataspeed and Autonomous Stuff cars were doing autonomous laps of the track using their high-resolution GPS and inertia measurement systems, and the Vision Systems Intelligence Tesla was doing rides on the road and showing off the kit inside.”

Fresh & Focused
On Wednesday and Thursday, May 16th and 17th, expert speakers will take the stage while panel discussions both days will cover a range of topics from safety and privacy to technical innovations. Speakers include representatives from Ford, General Motors, Toyota, and Jaguar Land Rover, and major suppliers like Bosch, Valeo, and Magna. Representatives from MIT, Carnegie Mellon, University of Washington, and the University of Michigan are also scheduled to speak.
“There will be fresh, cutting edge technical information,” Stead said. “It’s all about the engineering and having good, quality technical presentations that add to the science behind autonomous driving.”
Although networking is a major aspect of AutoSens, the event is not a trade show and organizers are keen to keep it that way.
“We want to show what the actual status quo is in the development of advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous vehicle technology,” Stead explained. “There is no hype, no marketing speak; it’s all about understanding the real challenges the engineers developing the systems are facing today.”
Photo: Alex Hartman for Sense Media.
Community Aspects
AutoSens is geared toward the engineering and technical communities, but one doesn’t necessarily have to be an engineer. Professionals in other fields who have clients in the automotive industry should consider AutoSens, and those in the car business, from the big city boardroom to the small town dealership, can benefit by attending.
“It’s a community and what AutoSens does is bring that community together twice a year, here in Detroit and in September in Brussels,” Stead said “We see a lot of the same faces coming back – it’s kind of like seeing the family twice a year – but it is growing and there are new people coming too.”
Location & Tickets
AutoSens runs now through May 17th at the Michigan Science Center near the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Tickets for AutoSens Detroit, including discount packages for females in the engineering community, are available now. The event’s full agenda can be found here.
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.

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2019 Honda Insight Production Launches In Indiana, New Investments Announced

2019 Honda Insight Production Launches In Indiana, New Investments Announced Honda has announced a $61.5 million dollar capital investment in Indiana and Ohio for electric vehicle manufacturing. The news comes as 2019 Insight production is officially underway at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC. The investment will support the Honda Electrification Initiative, in which the automaker will introduce electrified powertrains across its core models in the years ahead.
Honda says their goal is to have electrified vehicles represent two-thirds of their global sales by 2030.
“The new Honda Insight exemplifies our growing investment in the production of electrified vehicles in America and our associates in Indiana are proud to play a key role in this initiative,” explained Isao Matsuzaki, President of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC.
2019 Honda Insight. Photo: Honda North America.
New Methods
All Insight models for the North American market will be assembled at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC. The facility has already invested $32.5 million, and will undergo a 19,00-plus square-foot expansion to accommodate new in-house manufacturing methods, including the sub-assembly of the Insight’s front frame and associated components, like the radiator and cooling fan. Other new processes for Insight production include the installation of electrified vehicle systems such as high-voltage wiring, the battery unit, and power control system.
Honda Manufacturing of Indiana is one of five Honda automobile assembly plants in the United States with 2,400 associates and the ability to produce 250,000 vehicles annually. The facility already produces the Civic and CR-V, and employees are looking forward to building a third model.
“As the lead plant for Insight production globally, we are committed to delivering the quality and reliability that our customers expect,” Matsuzaki said.
A Honda Manufacturing of Indiana associate installs the Intelligent Power Unit into a 2019 Insight. Photo: Honda North America.
Collective Efforts
Three Ohio plants also contribute to the Insight’s powertrain. Honda Transmission Manufacturing of America in Russells Point, Ohio, has invested $29 million for production of the Insight’s twin electric motor unit. The Insight’s hybrid battery pack is assembled in Marysville, Ohio where Honda also produces the 2019 Accord Hybrid. Finally, the Insight’s 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine is produced at the company’s Anna, Ohio engine plant.
Expect the 2019 Honda Insight at dealerships later this year.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: Honda North America.

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VW Golf GTI TCR Concept Might Be Coming Soon

VW Golf GTI TCR Concept Might Be Coming Soon Volkswagen has unveiled the Golf GTI TCR Concept, something the automaker says is an expression of design, power, and performance. This special edition VW is a road-going version of the race car with the same name, and although it’s a concept currently, that is expected to change.
“At the moment, the Golf GTI TCR Concept – an athlete derived from racing – is a study,” explained Jürgen Stackmann, Sales, Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, during the unveiling at the recent GTI Meeting at Wörthersee. “But at the end of the year, we want to make this GTI vision come true.”
Power & Performance
The Golf GTI TCR Concept features a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 286 horsepower and 273 lb-ft. of torque (1,600 rpm). Power is sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a limited-slip differential. The front bumper channels air into two additional radiators.
Top speed is 155 but can be increased to 164 by removing the electronic limiter.
There is an electric adaptive damping system with three modes – normal, comfort, and sport – to increase ride and handling capabilities. Although VW’s press materials didn’t give any specific details, the automaker says the braking system consists of “special” calipers and pads.
Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Styling & Design
The new Golf GTI rides on 18-inch “Belvedere” forged aluminum-alloy wheels with an option for 19-inch wheels. A new side skirt extension runs through the rear and joins up with the diffuser and exhaust pipes. The interior is themed with soft microfiber and fabric covers, complete with contrast stitching on the steering wheel and shifter.
When the doors are opened, the TCR logo is projected on the ground, which is pretty slick.
Pricing & Availability
The plan is for the Golf GTI TCR Concept to enter production this year. VW did not disclose any pricing information.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
VW Golf GTI TCR Concept Gallery

Photos & Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

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2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Review

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Review Why did Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climb Mount Everest? Because they could. Why did Jeep build the new Grand Cherokee Trackhawk? Because they had the Hellcat engine sitting there at their disposal and too much time on their hands. Does stuffing a 707 horsepower, supercharged V8 into the nose of the new Grand Cherokee make sense? It does if you want the ultimate all-wheel drive vehicle that will launch you to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
But it comes at a hefty price. This weekend, we drove the insane 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk!
What’s New for 2018?
Yep, you read that right. Jeep just stuffed a 707 horsepower V8 under the hood of the Grand Cherokee, called the Trackhawk, for performance enthusiasts. It’s more performance-focused than the existing 475 horsepower SRT. Other changes include a seven-inch touchscreen, now standard.
Features & Options
The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk ($85,900) comes with plenty of standard equipment, including an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, upgraded interior trim, and all the Grand Cherokee’s available safety equipment: adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision mitigation with automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning.
It also features keyless entry, a CD player, satellite radio, rearview camera, parking sensors, leather seating with a power front passenger seat, heated front seats, a power tailgate, and remote start.
Options on this Trackhawk tester included a 19-speaker Harman Kardon stereo ($1,995), 295/45ZR20 BSW 3 Season tires ($895), and 20-inch Black Satin Aluminum wheels ($995). Total MSRP including destination: $90,880.

Interior Highlights
The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk comes richly equipped with materials and textures that match luxury rivals, such as real wood trim on the dashboards and doors. Extra comfort comes in the way of heated and cooled front seats, heated steering wheel, and heated second row seats. A sleek silver carbon treads along the instrument panel and doors, and the big console even has illuminated audio ports. Uconnect infotainment systems, with thier simple interfaces, rank among the best in our opinion.
Up front, drivers and passengers get wide cushions with good bolstering for more spirited driving. The cabin is spacious enough for five adults, with good legroom all around. Six-footers have ample headroom, and the Grand Cherokee’s big doors open wide so climbing in and out is easy.
Cargo volume with the rear seats up is 36.3 cubic feet, which is more than enough space for your groceries or some camping gear. The seat backs recline 12 degrees, and then flip down with a lever for more cargo space.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
Powering the Trackhawk is the Charger/Challenger Hellcat-sourced 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi, developing an insane 707 horsepower and 645 lb-ft. of torque. Trackhawk sees several suspension and drivetrain changes to handle all that power too. It gets new springs, active Bilstein dampers, a reworked version of the eight-speed automatic transmission, a new single-speed transfer case, and a revised rear limited-slip differential.
The yellow performance Brembo brakes peek out around the custom 20-inch black aluminum wheels.
The powerful SUV gets an EPA-estimated 11/17 city/highway and 13 combined mpg. We aren’t sure what we actually averaged this weekend – we had our foot in the pedal the whole time.

Driving Dynamics
The first thing we noticed behind the wheel were the hood vents that signal the supercharged engine underneath. Forward visibility is good because the sloped hood and fenders make it easier to see the corners. The big square sideview mirrors transmitted minimal noise into the cabin from the wind, but our ears were enjoying the throaty growl from under the hood.
For an all-wheel drive SUV of this size, the Trackhawk is more than fast; it’s scary-fast. On the highway, you’d be hard-pressed to feel any difference in the ride expect for the 20-inch wheels and massive performance tires – that did give it a slightly firmer ride over the bumps, but otherwise things were mostly smooth.
How can you drive a high-performance vehicle like this without mashing the pedal down? You can’t! How do you not get a speeding ticket? We had our head on a swivel all weekend looking for local law enforcement. The Trackhawk’s massive power crackles from the quad-tip exhaust, and the supercharger’s whine it just too entertaining to pass up.
We made liberal use of the large Brembo brakes that responded quickly when we needed to bring all that power to a stop. We aren’t sure there are many who need this much power, but for those that can afford $90,000, the Trackhawk will provide more entertainment per pound than anything on the road.
Conclusion
The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is an over-the-top, high-performance SUV designed for a select few. Why would you want one? Because you want something insanely unique and can afford it. There’s nothing else like it!
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Gallery

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Official Site.
Photos: FCA US LLC.

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Global Summit On Autonomous Driving Returns To Detroit

Global Summit On Autonomous Driving Returns To Detroit AutoSens, a global summit on autonomous driving, is returning to Detroit, Michigan starting on May 15th. Attendees, speakers, sponsors, and participants will leverage each other’s expertise during the event, which includes autonomous vehicle demonstrations, technical sessions, a full panel of expert speakers, and dozens of networking opportunities.
The event will happen May 15th through the 17th at the Michigan Science Center near the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
“AutoSens, in short, is a global engineering forum for the people who work on vehicle perception systems,” explained Robert Stead, Managing Director, Sense Media, the parent company of AutoSens. “That might be designing a component, coding software algorithms, deciding on how to build a complete system, quality assurance, testing or any number of other functions important in developing efficient, affordable, robust, and reliable systems to the high standards demanded by the auto industry.”
Strength In Numbers
Collaboration and creativity are the central themes of AutoSens, whereby professionals in the field are encouraged to share ideas and devise solutions to the biggest challenges facing future mobility.
“This is a fiercely competitive market, but all companies can benefit from a forum with a free exchange of ideas,” Stead said. “Of course people don’t come and give away all their trade secrets, but so often engineers across the supply chain are facing similar challenges, and by working together to solve some of those core problems, they can spend more time focusing on the real value-add IP at the cutting edge of research.”
Although networking is a major aspect of AutoSens, it’s not a trade show. Attendees will be in the middle of the action, surrounded by people immersed in the technology daily.
“The difference between AutoSens and many other events on this hot topic of self-driving cars is that the AutoSens attendees are the actual engineers who are building the systems that will make it all possible,” Stead continued. “They know first-hand what technologies work well, what the bottlenecks are, and what the future capabilities will be.”
Michigan-based Dataspeed demonstrates their ADAS Kit at AutoSens Detroit 2017. The company’s ADAS Kit takes control of the throttle, brake, steering, and shifting to assist in the testing of sensors and other elements related to autonomous vehicle applications. Photo: Carl Anthony for Automoblog.net.
Diverse & Encompassing
AutoSens also addresses supply chain challenges, regulations, testing and validation environments, and the various human factors involved in implementing autonomous driving. The human aspects are among the event’s defining moments. At AutoSens Brussels in September, Stead recalls an attendee who noted it was refresing to “take the gloves off for a couple of days and do good science with other engineers.”
“I think that sums it up pretty well,” he said. “It’s also a lot more fun if everyone has an open mind – I’ve been to events where it’s all about hard sales, or when all the technical folks are tight-lipped about what they are working on and it really doesn’t make for a great event. We are lucky to have some great Chairmen and Advisory Board members who set the tone.”
AutoSens Brussels attendees chat during a brief coffee break. There are numerous opportunities to network during the duration of the conference. Photo: Sense Media, © Bernal Revert/BR&U.
Something For Everyone
Even though AutoSens is geared toward the engineering and technical communities, one doesn’t necessarily have to be an engineer. Professionals in other fields who have clients in the automotive industry can benefit from AutoSens. Those working in the car industry, from the big city boardroom to the small town dealership, can benefit by attending.
“To be clear, this is a technical meeting with engineering presentations on leading edge research, but it’s also an accessible agenda top-and-tailed with plenary sessions that give some context to the deeper technical content,” Stead said. “Overall, I think any non-technical folks who are interested in what’s really going on in the autonomous vehicle technology space or need to know about it for their jobs will get some great value.”
Stead says there is no need to be shy and questions are always welcome.
“You’ll find the attendees, even if they are doing research on a niche technical area, will be very open to explain what it’s all about to those who are not so experienced,” he added.
During AutoSens Brussels, Senior Applications Engineer Edel Cashman (right) from SensL Technologies demonstrates how the company’s sensors can be utilized for LiDAR applications. Photo: Sense Media, © Bernal Revert/BR&U.
Schedule & Agenda
On Tuesday May 15th, autonomous vehicle demonstrations will be conducted at nearby Wayne State University. Tuesday will also see a number of workshops, expert-led sessions, and roundtable discussions in the evening. On Wednesday and Thursday, May 16th and 17th, more expert speakers will take the stage while panel discussions both days will cover a range of topics from safety and privacy to technical innovations.
Two receptions are planned, including one at HopCat, a local Detroit favorite known for their enticing menu items.
“I’ve been missing the Crack Fries at HopCat,” Stead joked.
Speakers include representatives from Ford, General Motors, Toyota, and Jaguar Land Rover, and major suppliers like Bosch, Valeo, and Magna. Representatives from MIT, Carnegie Mellon, University of Washington, and the University of Michigan are also scheduled to speak.
Workshops include one on LiDAR – led by Dr. Mark McCord and Steve Vozar, co-founders of Cepton and May Mobility respectively – and one on image processing led by Dr. Rania Hussein, Electrical Engineering Lecturer at the University of Washington Bothell.
“We record all the presentations so they are available for attendees afterwards,” Stead said. “If there’s a clash of two presentations you want to see, you can catch up in high-resolution, picture-in-picture format later via AutoSens TV.”
Photo: Sense Media.
Tickets & Attending
Tickets for AutoSens Detroit, including discount packages for females in the engineering community, are available now. The event’s full agenda can be found here.
“I’m looking forward to coming back to Detroit immensely,” Stead said. “We made some great friends last year and are really looking forward to building on those relationships.”
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.

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New Study: Interest Growing For Electric Vehicles, Range Anxiety Still A Concern

New Study: Interest Growing For Electric Vehicles, Range Anxiety Still A Concern The American Automobile Association or AAA has revealed their top green vehicle picks, and released a survey that shows Americans are warming up to electric vehicles. What’s particularly striking is how 20 percent – or close to 50 million Americans are looking to buy an electric vehicle as their next car. That’s a 15 percent jump from 2017.
“Today, electric vehicles have mainstream appeal,” said Greg Brannon, Director of Automotive Engineering, AAA. “While concern for the environment is still a major motivator, the AAA found that U.S. drivers are also attracted to the lower long term costs and advanced technology features that many of these vehicles offer.”
Advantages, Disadvantages & Concerns
One of the biggest motivators for buying an electric vehicle is fuel cost. Although electricity is not free, you pay less money to charge the batteries in an EV compared to buying gas for a conventional car. Did you know Americans spend an average of $2,000 to $4,000 on gas each year? You have more money in your pocket if you shift to an electric car.
“Gas prices are some of the highest we have seen since 2014, and we expect these to increase as we head into the summer travel season,” Brannon said. “As the gas prices increase, more consumers will be looking to go electric.”
Photo: Kia Motors America.
Advantages
Zero emissions. Electric cars do not emit smog or toxic gases. You are doing the environment a huge favor each time you drive an EV over a gasoline-powered vehicle.
Less maintenance. Conventional cars require periodic maintenance. This includes the requisite oil changes, tune ups, brakes, tires, air filters, and cleaning products that accumulates to thousands of dollars over the life of the car. Modern electric vehicles like the Tesla Model S are reputed to have only 18 moving parts, which is surprising considering normal vehicles will have an average of ten thousand moving parts. You simply pay less money on maintenance if you choose an EV.
Zero noise pollution. Electric vehicles are meek and quiet compared to gas-guzzling V8s.
Blazing performance. The 2017 Tesla Model S P100D in Ludicrous mode can hit 60 mph in a mind-boggling 2.27 seconds. Electric vehicles are capable of unleashing a genuine rush of torque from zero rpm, which equates to a mesmerizing and exhilarating driving experience.
Photo: Tesla Motors.
Top Concerns
Range anxiety. Electric cars are fast, but lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries are exhausted quickly if you push hard. Even though the new Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf have a range of 220 and 151 miles respectively, range anxiety is a concern for 87 percent of EV shoppers.
AAA concluded 63 percent of potential EV buyers cited not enough places to charge as a detractor while 58 percent expressed concern about running out of charge. Automakers like Kia and Hyundai have proposed new innovations to make charging more accessible to the general public. Last year, a grouping of automakers proposed a high-power charging network for Europe.
“The AAA provides over 30 million emergency roadside events every year, and the number of times an EV owner runs out of charge would be counted in many decimal places,” Brannon said. “Plan your trip accordingly and use public charging when available.”
Lengthy charging times. Even though more Americans are more eager to buy an electric vehicle, the number and location of charging points is also a concern. There are now more than 16,000 charging stations scattered across the U.S. but charging times are a different issue.
A majority (68 percent) of respondents feel a charging time of no more than 30 minutes is reasonable. The new Nissan Leaf can be fully charged in 7.5 hours using the latest 7kW chargers, but you can get an 80 percent charge in as little as 40 minutes using a commercial rapid charger.
“Consumers are accustomed to the time it takes to fill their fuel tanks currently,” Brannon added. “They understand electric charging may take longer, but the idea of waiting more than 30 minutes for a charge when out on the road is not appealing to consumers.”

Disadvantages
Battery replacement. While EVs require less money to maintain, the batteries will eventually need replacing. Most EV manufacturers are currently offering an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on their batteries. But if you are planning to own your EV for longer, the cost of replacing the battery is a huge concern. The battery pack in a Chevrolet Bolt is estimated to cost $205 per kWh, which is no small deal!
Uninspired styling. Early EVs can only be described as unconventional or plain ugly. However, the AAA survey concluded fewer drivers are concerned with style, color, or appearance. In fact, 34 percent are not worried about style while 33 percent are not particular when it comes to the brand.
“This is an interesting shift,” Brannon said. “As consumers look to advanced technology available on a car, brand becomes less of a deciding factor.”

AAA Top Green Vehicle Award
In 2018, the following earned AAA’s Top Green Vehicle award. The full survey and complete list of winning vehicles can be found here.
Chevrolet Bolt EV Premier
The Bolt is equipped with a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery good for an average range of 238 miles on a single charge. This EV comes with an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty and a bumper-to-bumper limited warranty of three years or 36,000 miles.
Nissan Leaf SL
The Leaf is reputed to be the world’s best-selling electric car. It has a range of 151 miles and offers 40 percent more range than the previous generation Leaf. This EV is also accompanied by an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.
Tesla Model X 75D
Backed by the technological vision of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the Model X 75D is the first-ever electric vehicle designed to accommodate the whole family (yes, including the dog). It hits 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, faster than most sports cars.
So, would you buy an electric vehicle for your next car?
“EVs are the future,” Brannon concluded. “Americans are beginning to realize that, as well as the automakers that are investing billions in development of electrified options.”
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.
Cover Photo: Honda North America.

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Aston Martin V12 Vantage V600: The Golden Eyes

Aston Martin V12 Vantage V600: The Golden Eyes Back in 1998, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage V600 was (briefly) the most powerful car you could buy. And now, 20 years later, the Gaydon outfit has seen fit to resurrect the idea of the V600 with the limited run V12 Vantage V600. Impressive? Yes. Heavier than it should be? Also yes. Overthought styling? Of course, this is an Aston Martin. Worth it? Mos def!
Golden Eyes
Q by Aston Martin, the veddy British carmaker’s everso unique personalization service, accepted a customer commission for a limited run of 14 new Aston Martin V12 Vantage V600s. There will be seven coupes and seven roadsters produced, all 14 of them designed and handcrafted without compromise. AM calls it the Triple V, for some pretentious reason, but never fully explains why. My guess is that it has a V12, is called the V600, and is built on the previous-gen ‘VH’ Vantage.
The 2018 Aston Martin V12 Vantage V600 merges the modern performance, safety, and comfort features into what Aston calls a “muscle sportscar.” I’m not sure what that is but, honestly, sounds like something Detroit would say to convince you a Camaro is a real sports car (I also like how AM did it old school and called it a sportscar, one word).
Or, to put it another way: The V12 Vantage V600 is the ultimate analogue Vantage.
Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
Power & Performance
Propelled by an upgraded version of Aston Martin’s already imposing six-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine, the Vantage V600 cranks out 600PS (effectively 600 ponies). Said mill is mated to a seven-speed manual transmission. I’ll say that again: a seven-speed manual transmission! Aston Martin says it “provides an engaged driving experience.” Ya think?
The thing is held up via a front and rear, dual independent wishbone suspension with three-stage adaptive damping that yields a beautiful ride in all conditions.
Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
Exterior & Interior Treatments
To say the V12 Vantage V600 has a commanding road presence and aggressive styling is sort of like saying Mike Tyson comes across as slightly angrier than the Dalai Lama. The exterior is full-carbon fiber, and on the V600, utilizes a re-imagined side-strake referencing the 90s version. The big bulging on the hood hints towards the powerful engine contained within – guess that’s why they call them “power bulges” huh?
The gaping grille provides maximum air flow to the car’s engine, which is probably working right at the limits of thermal efficiency. At the back end there’s an all-new carbon fiber diffuser and an attention-getting quad exhaust system. Also setting the V600 apart from the rest of its siblings are bespoke center-lock forged and machined aluminum wheels.
The inside is accented, trimmed, and flourished with carbon fiber and dark anodized aluminum. The seats are lightweight and have an all-new perforation pattern. The center console is also carbon fiber and features bespoke driver information dials. The center armrest is even hand-crafted saddle leather.
Availability
If you’ve got the wherewithal (i.e. many, many, many Benjamins) the Aston Martin V12 Vantage V600 is available per your request with deliveries taking place in the third quarter of 2018.
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.
Photos & Source: Aston Martin The Americas.

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The Hyundai LAFESTA Is An Alright Car, But The Marketing Could Use Some Work

The Hyundai LAFESTA Is An Alright Car, But The Marketing Could Use Some Work Hey all you go-gettin’ red hot Chinese Millennials, Hyundai has got the car for you: LAFESTA (all caps)! This is a Chinese-market-only sedan that comes with enough marketing gibberish to choke a horse and enough sloganeering to make the Zhongxuanbu nod in quiet approval.
The vehicle made its debut recently at Auto China 2018 and here is what Hyundai had to say: “At the 2018 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition Hyundai premiered the LAFESTA. A car with a powerful driving performance packaged in stylish design.”
Then they added: “LAFESTA is a landmark addition to the aggressively expanding Hyundai line-up in China.”
Seriously, the press release is riddled with sayings like that.
Pop Quiz
Can you pick which ones were written by Hyundai Motor Company for the Beijing show:
1 – “LAFESTA embodies Hyundai’s new design philosophy, Sensuous Sportiness.”
2 – “Long live the 23rd of August, the great celebration of the LAFESTA.”
3 – “LAFESTA targets young generation looking for smart performance.”
4 – “All the best on the occasion of November 7th, followed by the slogan LAFESTA forever.”
If you thought numbers 2 and 4, you would be wrong, those are Romanian Communist Party slogans. Numbers 1 and 3, however, are direct quotes. Can this marketing strategy work? Even in a sellers market like China? I dunno, but we’re going to find out, because Hyundai is not slowing down.
LAFESTA, which, yeah, is the word for festival, or party, although Hyundai specifies they nicked it from the Italians. That’s an obvious nod to making the point of: SPORTY-SPORTY-SPORTY! Buy our car all you young hip sportsters in China! LAFESTA, according to the Korean auto manufacturer, is a “high-performance sporty sedan designed to meet the dynamic and passionate demands of a new mainstream generation from the 80s and 90s.”
See! See!
Photo: Hyundai Motor Company.
Power & Performance
The LAFESTA is a coupe-styled sedan with a fairly modern powertrain and a slew of innovative driving assistance systems. It’s propelled by a 1.6 turbo GDi engine that puts out an unspecified amount of power and torque. That giant, throbbing mill is mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmmission for efficient gear changes.
The inside is said to be spacious and made from quality materials. The overall cockpit environment is driver-focused and designed to be engaging. Safety? Set your mind at ease, my friend: “the LAFESTA features the most advanced and safest driving assistance systems. Further details will be disclosed in due course.”
See? Doesn’t that make you feel safer already?
Jumbled Jargon
And that is about it for deets on the (maybe) 2019 Beijing Hyundai LAFESTA, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Did you think we were done with the slogans? No we are not comrade.
Read this: “Beijing Hyundai today reiterated its new Chinese market strategy slogan ‘Quality Hyundai, Smart Future’, which was first announced last year in its 15th anniversary in the Chinese market, as the company sets about to develop and embrace the new generation, rapidly developing in the Chinese market.”
Does that make sense to you? Is it supposed to make sense? Is there some sort of entraining rhythm to the gibberish that will eventually make me shoot Bobby Lembeck in the forehead? I don’t know, but there it is: “Quality Hyundai, Smart Future.”
Here’s what I want to know: What if this marketing plan (such as it is) actually works for Hyundai in China? Will they try and use it over here? On Us? Sheesh, that’s a bleak thought. But now you know, if you start seeing things like “Pringles Now, Happytime Tomorrow” or “Chevy Man, Chevy Strong” you can’t say I didn’t warn you.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.

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2017 Ford F-150 Raptor: Ground Control

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor: Ground Control

You know the Ford F-150 Raptor, right? It’s sort of like what would happen if an F-150 and a Mustang had a baby, and then the baby took tons of steroids. Yeah, that truck. And look, I’m not a truck guy. To me, trucks are what you use to haul your car to the track for a race weekend, but in the case of the Raptor, I might make an exception.
The Raptor is a big brute of a guy, and shortly after it arrived, it featured a big honkin’ brute of an engine. But, fuel economy standards and all that made Ford yank that mill out, and replace it with – please sit down – a 3.5 liter turbocharged V6.
But fear not, red-blooded Americans! The new Raptor is still frighteningly fast, even (especially) off-road, but with the new engine, you spend less money on gas.
Power Transfer
Along with the new engine specs for this go-round, Ford also upgraded pretty much every detail they could get their hands on, and today we’re going to look into this electro-mechanical gizmo Ford calls the “Terrain Management System.” It’s a cutting-edge transfer case, according to Ford, that combines all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive capabilities so the Raptor can handle practically any situation. Spirited off-roading, foul weather driving, its got you covered thanks to four preset traction control modes: sport, weather, four-high desert, and four-low locked off-road driving.
This is all controlled either automatically through the Terrain Management System, or manually via the 4×4 switch. The transfer case has an electronically controlled clutch that reacts on-demand to deliver outstanding performance and confidence whether on road or off. This specifically fabricated transfer case employs an electronic shift-on-the-fly system with mechanical locks to attack “all types of terrain for serious off-road performance.”
And no, Ford is not kidding. They raced the new fore/aft box through nearly 2,500 miles of off-road competition testing.
“Raptor’s transfer case provides the best of both worlds, with the natural benefits from all-wheel drive, such as increased traction in rain and snow, as well as extreme off-road capability that comes with a mechanically locked system,” said Tony Greco, Ford F-150 Raptor Program Manager. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Combined Performance
Characteristically, truck four-wheel drive systems come in two varieties. There are on-demand systems that use a clutch to send the torque to the front driveline, which is sort of how all-wheel drive setups work, or they use electronic shift-on-the-fly systems with mechanical locks to couple the front and rear driveshafts.
Ford pursued enhancements to the daily driving experience of the Raptor while keeping the truck’s off-road performance in play. With the clutch-based attributes of the transfer case, you can travel on-road with the 4×4 auto setting, which delivers the benefits of four-wheel drive without damaging components or binding the driveline.
The dual-mode transfer case manages the distribution of power between the front and rear wheels, obviously, but the key is the clutch-based, on-demand all-wheel drive capability for everyday driving. This includes an all-weather mode, along with a mechanically locked, durable four-wheel drive system for poise and control in severe off-road driving environments. With the non-sequential 10-speed transmission and that high-output EcoBoost engine, the new Raptor can deliver its 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft. of torque way more efficiently, either on road, or way out in the boonies.
The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor in the 49th running of the SCORE Baja 1000. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Validation Testing
Did I mention Ford didn’t just cook up this new idea, but they cooked it up and actually raced it? Oh, yes I did, but dig the specifics: The Terrain Management System was put through 2,500 miles of competition testing in the 2016 Best in the Desert series. The darn beast completed the 850-mile SCORE Baja 1000 with nary a hitch, and, this is the cool part: Greg Foutz Motorsports team members drove the truck back to their headquarters in Arizona another 400 miles. How’s that for reliability under stressful conditions?
The concise version here is that although the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, delicious as it is, changed engines, it gave up absolutely nothing in performance – shoot, it actually got better. The video below from Ford Performance explains more.
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.

Photos, Video & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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