2019 VW Jetta SEL Premium Review: An Upscale, Fuel Efficient Package

2019 VW Jetta SEL Premium Review: An Upscale, Fuel Efficient Package 90Good 2019 VW Jetta SEL PremiumOverall Impression Fuel efficient.Nice interior amenities.Ideal for the daily commute.ProsQuiet RideSafety & Tech FeaturesPremium Audio SystemConsSmall Backseat Engine Power At Times If you’re not entirely sold on SUV and crossovers, and are thinking a sedan might be better for you, then check out the 2019 VW Jetta. The Jetta, now in its seventh-generation, gets a full remodel for 2019. With the redesign, it receives more safety technology, an option for a manual transmission, and a new SEL Premium trim, which we recently drove.
Here is our full review of the 2019 VW Jetta SEL Premium. 
VW Jetta: What’s New For 2019?
The sheet metal is new, front to rear, but the more significant changes apply to the underpinnings. The new exterior surrounds VW’s front-drive Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) architecture. The same structure has supported the VW Golf hatchback since 2015. MQB brings more rigidity to the Jetta’s chassis to help with handling, safety, and fuel economy. MQB also ushers in a longer wheelbase (+1.3 inches) and a roomier interior, particularly for rear passengers. 
All Jetta models receive the MIB II touchscreen infotainment system, with pinch and zoom capability. SEL and SEL Premium come with Car-Net Security & Service, a suite of features that provide additional peace of mind while also allowing owners the ability to remotely access their 2019 Jetta.
Related: A brief walk through the 2019 VW Jetta lineup.
Features & Options: Safety & Convenience Focused 
Our 2019 VW Jetta SEL Premium ($27,695) came with high-end features like leather seats, adaptive cruise control, an eight-speaker BeatsAudio system, and an upgraded infotainment system with an eight-inch display. Our tester also had satellite and HD radio, a fully-digital gauge cluster (Digital Cockpit), and an extra USB port. The SEL Premium trim comes with plenty of winter goodies like heated seats (front and rear), heated steering wheel and mirrors, and automatic wipers with heated nozzles.    
Safety items for the SEL Premium include lane keeping assist and automatic high-beam control. The latter activates the high beams above 37 mph on poorly-lit roads if no oncoming traffic is detected. We found the feature useful as we made our way home late the other night. Other safety features for the Jetta lineup include blind spot monitor with rear traffic alert and VW’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.
Lastly, our SEL Premium tester had 17-inch alloy wheels, 10-color interior ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof. Total MSRP as tested, including destination: $28,590. By comparison, the 2019 VW Jetta starts at $18,745. 
2019 VW Jetta SEL Premium.
Interior Highlights: Upscale Look, Personalized Feel
Volkswagen has given the new Jetta a more upscale look with soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. We especially liked the leather seats (with an attractive stitching), and the new ambient lighting in 10 different colors. The front seats are heated but also ventilated, which we used liberally on our drive with temps hitting the mid 90s in Denver recently. What we didn’t need was the heated steering wheel, but that will be welcomed this fall and winter along with the heated seats.
We enjoyed the other upscale goodies inside, like the 400-watt BeatsAudio premium sound system. It made our commute through the heavy Denver traffic far more pleasurable. Our Jetta SEL Premium tester also came with Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, allowing drivers to customize the instrument display to their preferences. The standard Driver Personalization system offers further customizing of the Jetta’s features, including driver seat memory settings, climate control, and radio presets among others. We didn’t have our tester for very long, so we didn’t input our preferred settings, but we believe this is something buyers will use and appreciate. 
In the back, Jetta’s longer wheelbase made it easier for our passengers as we traveled to lunch. However, like most compact sedans, it’s best when used primarily for kids and child seats. The rear seat offers 60/40 folding for cargo and the trunk brings 14 cubic feet of space. 
2019 VW Jetta SEL Premium interior layout.
Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
VW’s 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder carries over as the powerplant of choice for the new Jetta. It produces 147 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque. Our tester came with the eight-speed automatic, but a six-speed manual is available on lower trims. EPA fuel economy ratings with either transmission come in at 30/40 city/highway and 34 combined, although a start/stop system is standard for the automatic. In terms of fuel economy, the 2019 VW Jetta holds its own when compared to others in the segment. 
Driving Dynamics: Solid & Stable 
We especially like German-made cars because they have the Autobahn designed into their DNA. With no speed limits, their cars are built to be extra stable at higher speeds. The 2019 Jetta gave us confidence on I-70 leading out of Denver. With its new underpinnings acting as the foundation, the 2019 Jetta feels sturdier than the outgoing model. Drivers who find themselves in a lot of traffic each day will appreciate how composed the 2019 VW Jetta feels. The steering, for example, at highway speeds, becomes more firm, while at slower speeds assistance is increased for parking and turning corners. 
The small turbo engine spools up and delivers enough power, and did so for us as we passed slower cars even going uphill. We felt the 2019 VW Jetta could use a bit more power, especially when loaded with passengers and cargo, but for most situations power is adequate enough. We chucked the compact Jetta sedan hard around the tighter mountain curves to test the new architecture. Overall, body roll was minimal and the 2019 Jetta kept relatively flat. We even hit a few dirt roads and everything was smooth enough, considering the terrain. 
The 2019 VW Jetta is stable and composed on the open road.
Driving Dynamics: More Quiet Than We Remember  
The shifting action of the new eight-speed automatic is smooth and responsive, downshifting readily when we needed more power. We barely noticed the start/stop feature when we were at a light. We also noticed a reduction in wind, engine, and road noise in this new generation Jetta. Still, if that stuff bothers you, just crank up the 400-watt BeatsAudio system. That’s the best way to keep the noisy world out. 
Related: This infographic shows 40 wonderful years of the VW Golf.
Conclusion: A Good Choice 
At just under $30,000, the 2019 VW Jetta SEL Premium offers a good value for the money and plenty of standard features for the price. It’s fairly roomy up front and quiet and confident when on the road. It gets excellent fuel mileage so you will be stopping less at the convenience store to get gas. For a young family, the Jetta also is a good choice as a daily commuter.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his firsthand reviews are archived on our test drives page. Follow Denis on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2019 VW Jetta Gallery

















Photos: Volkswagen of America, Inc. (additional trim levels shown).



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2015 Aston Martin Vantage V12 S 2015 Aston Martin Vantage V12 S 5.9L V12 565hp 457ft. lbs. White

2015 Aston Martin Vantage V12 S 2015 Aston Martin Vantage V12 S 5.9L V12 565hp 457ft. lbs. White

$89,999.00 End Date: Monday Aug-12-2019 16:36:55 PDT Buy It Now for only: $89,999.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

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Automoblog Book Garage: The Complete Book of Porsche 911

Automoblog Book Garage: The Complete Book of Porsche 911 Porsche fans will appreciate this insightful book packed full of wonderful photos.
Author Randy Leffingwell takes us through the history of Stuttgart’s most famous car.
Our Book Garage series showcases what every gearhead and enthusiast should add to their library.  
Icon is a word thrown around all to easily these days. You find undeserving people in the music business baptized icons, half-baked actors christened icons and, as far as we’re concerned, souped-up econo-boxes now dubbed automotive icons. It dilutes the word if you overuse it like that. People call the Porsche 911 an icon, and in this case, they are 100 percent right. And in case you doubt it, you should pick up and read Randy Leffingwell’s tome, The Complete Book of Porsche 911: Every Model Since 1964.
A Big Bundle of Porsche Goodness
I live in an old house, a church, actually, that was built in 1906. One of the more distinguishing features, besides being church-shaped and having the dry-wood combustibility of a box of matches, is the front door. It’s this huge, red-painted oak situation supported by iron hinges most likely sourced from Minas Tirith. The whole thing must weigh as much as a VW Jetta being it’s four inches thick. It is, to use the parlance, impressive. It pivots open on iron hinges with a creaking and groaning and cracking of reports like something out of a vintage horror movie.
But the other day it didn’t.
I was going to do something prosaic like buy milk and when I went to open the door; it made it about 10 inches then softly thudded to a stop. I took another run at it, and again it softly thudded to a stop. I could just fit my head out to see what was up, and there was this huge yellow-padded envelope. Whatever resided within had enough weight and mass to stop the door like a wedged battle ax.
“The heck is that?” I mumbled to myself as I walked to the far side of the place, using a different door to leave. I got to the front, hefted the package up (thought it might contain a manhole cover), and tore it open to find a new copy of Leffingwell’s, The Complete Book of Porsche 911 – Every Model Since 1964. This is what was blocking my door. It’s not exactly a big book either at 345 pages. All I can think of is that its mass is down to the quality of the paper.
And the quality of the content.
The Complete Book of Porsche 911, Page 232. Photo: Randy Leffingwell.
Visual Delight
Everything about this book is well-thought-out and beautifully executed. From the inner front cover, which is done up in the same psychedelic warped checkerboard pattern that graced the seats of late 60s Porsches, to the carbon fiber style end cover. Visually speaking, the book’s two covers alone give you an idea of the framework within. Sprawling across the intervening pages is a well-told and very well-photographed story of a true automotive icon: The Porsche 911.
Most of the early photographs have this wonderful palladium tone to their black and white printing. At first I thought they were vintage shots from back in the day, then I realized there were modern buildings in the background. Apart from the occasional credit to a specific photographer or to Porsche Press, Leffingwell himself did the bulk of the shooting here. Bravo!
Related: Porsche versus the S&P: Can this classic sports car top the stock market?
From The Top
The photography follows, in part, because Leffingwell is best known as a shooter, although his writing is pretty durn good too. He starts further back; a little bit before the actual beginning of the 911, covering “Predecessors and Prototypes, 1948 – 1965” in the introduction. So stuff like 356s and speedsters and Gmund coupes lay the foundation for the glories to come. The 911 was a wickedly-simple and Germanic answer to a very basic question: How can we make the 356 better?
The answer, as any Porsche fan worth their sense of superiority can tell you, was this. Ditch the VW Bug floor plan, ditch the VW four-banger, start with a clean sheet of paper but use the same basic layout. The fundamentals that made the 356 such a blast to begin with should work here. Lightweight and low center of gravity; lose the agricultural suspension for a higher-tech torsion bar setup and, most importantly, keep the engine hanging out back.
The Complete Book of Porsche 911, Page 69. Photo: Randy Leffingwell.
50 lbs. of Pig Iron
Yes, like all other lovers of the 911, Leffingwell more or less glosses over that putting the engine way back there leads to some handling issues and deficiencies. I’m sorry, I should say “frightening handling quirks” that make 911s (especially the first generation) near deathtraps in hard cornering situations. Did you know that for the first 150 or so 911s, Porsche resorted to the quick “solution” of welding 50 lbs. ingots of pig iron to the front? They did. And it sort of helped, but that right there is evidence Zuffenhausen knew from the get-go that 90 percent of the time, these things were fantastic; and for the remaining 10 percent, they had handling issues.
But who cares!?
That’s one of the things that makes 911s, even modern ones, such a blast to drive. They’re really quick, stop like you wouldn’t believe, and every so often, you’re just hanging on for dear life. Leffingwell traces this throughout the entire history of the 911 across 10 well-researched, well-written, and very well-photographed chapters. The chapters roughly correspond to each of the eight generations of the 911, with the second gen cars of 1978 to 1989 getting two chapters.
The Complete Book of Porsche 911, Page 341. Photo: Porsche Press.
Quick At Heart
Racing? Yes, of course there’s racing. How could you write a book about the 911 and not mention how these guys were killer-fast right out of the crate. Beyond that, modifying them into 930s and 935s and such turned them into high-power mutants nearly impossible to catch or stay with, let alone beat. Half-mad tuners like Ruf get some cool shots and turns of the phrase. Every model gets a nifty data sidebar so you can see weight and dates and torque figures and all that stuff.
It would be easy, given the size and heft of The Complete Book of Porsche 911, to dismiss it as “just a coffee table book” but it is far from that. As wonderfully complete as it is photographed, it makes a fine addition to any gearhead’s library, even if you’re not that into 911s. If you are (and most of us are) it’s simply a must-have on its own.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz. 
The Complete Book of Porsche 911 by Randy Leffingwell 
Series: Complete Book Series
Hardcover: 328 pages
Publisher: Motorbooks; Revised edition (October 9th, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0760349800
ISBN-13: 978-0760349809
Product Dimensions: 10 x 1.2 x 11.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.2 lbs.
Price at the time of this writing: $19.99 (Kindle) or $49.95 (Hardcover) on Amazon.
About The Author
Randy Leffingwell wrote his first book, American Muscle, in 1989 while still on staff at the Los Angeles Times. Since then, he has authored another 47 titles for Motorbooks and its sister publisher Voyageur Press. Leffingwell is considered one of the top automotive historians today, and enjoys a close working relationship with a number of manufacturers. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.
The Complete Book of Porsche 911 Gallery 











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New Study: Consumers Trust Autonomous Cars Less & Less

New Study: Consumers Trust Autonomous Cars Less & Less Autonomous vehicles seem like a science fiction topic more so than an automotive one, but industry experts are plugging away, refining the technology and determining its role in society. That is the abbreviated version anyway. Those working on autonomous cars are, essentially, trying to make them viable, scalable, and ultimately profitable.
Autonomous cars usher in a flood of headline commitments from manufacturers and companies. The benefits of driverless cars – far more than the risks – are communicated, and it seems almost too Utopian at times. This is not to say autonomous cars don’t have benefits – they certinately do – and this is not to say autonomous cars won’t one day hit the road – they certinately will.
Yet how quickly they will, and how quickly society will realize those benefits is another matter.
And how does the public feel about all this? The short answer is not so good.
Photo: Alex Hartman for Sense Media.
Survey Says
AAA recently concluded a multi-year tracking study that examined how consumers feel about driverless cars. The study found that, despite the industry’s headline commitments and grand visions, 73 percent of Americans say they are too afraid to ride in an autonomous car. This represents a steady increase too – only late last year, the figure was 63 percent. The jump is likely attributed to the recent, highly publicized accidents involving autonomous technology.
“Despite their potential to make our roads safer in the long run, consumers have high expectations for safety,” said Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations. “Our results show that any incident involving an autonomous vehicle is likely to shake consumer trust, which is a critical component to the widespread acceptance of autonomous vehicles.”
Over 60 percent say they would actually feel less safe sharing the road with an autonomous car, especially if they were walking or riding a bicycle. Even millennials, a generation one might think would readily embrace them, are cautious. AAA’s study found that 64 percent of millennials are too afraid to fully trust autonomous cars, up from 49 percent just a year ago. This metric represented the largest increase of any generation surveyed.
An autonomous Hyundai Ioniq detects a pedestrian. Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Growing Trends & Increasing Concerns
AAA’s findings on safety being a primary concern for car buyers is supported by other studies. During AutoSens Detroit this year, experts attending the global summit on autonomous driving rigorously examined the challenges facing the technology. One of the themes was how to help the public trust the process of going from driving to being driven.
“While autonomous vehicles are being tested, there’s always a chance that they will fail or encounter a situation that challenges even the most advanced system,” explained Megan Foster, AAA’s Director of Federal Affairs. “To ease fears, there must be safeguards in place to protect vehicle occupants and the motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians with whom they share the road.”
“We have to manage expectations better, especially on the timing of when these vehicles will be part of our everyday lives,” added Cliff Banks, Founder and President of The Banks Report, an automotive retail publication. “We should be skeptical of the claims made by executives touting the technology.”
Ford conducting road tests with two autonomous Fusion cars. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Universal Language
With the release of the study, AAA is advocating for what they call a common sense approach to driverless cars. This includes a universal nomenclature and classification system, with clear definitions as to what the varying automated technologies are and how they work.
“There are sometimes dozens of different marketing names for today’s safety systems,” Brannon explained. “Learning how to operate a vehicle equipped with semi-autonomous technology is challenging enough without having to decipher the equipment list and corresponding level of autonomy.”
“I’m not sure anyone can properly define what an autonomous vehicle is yet,” Banks said. “Also, commercials from automakers such as Nissan and Cadillac touting their driver assist technology as hands-free creates confusion.”
Cadillac’s Super Cruise feature can automatically steer, brake, and keep the vehicle positioned on the highway in certain, optimal conditions. Photo: Cadillac.
Future Considerations
Previous testing of automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, self-parking technology, and lane keeping assist have shown great promise, according to AAA officials. These systems are becoming more common on today’s cars and are a precursor to autonomous driving. Still, the organization says this recent study reaffirms the need for ongoing, unbiased testing of such technologies. This remains key in earning the public’s trust and acceptance.
“Once autonomous vehicles hit the mainstream and become a normal part of the landscape, public acceptance will be a non-issue,” Banks said. “I’m sure people felt unsafe the first time they got onto any kind of moving device, whether it be a horse, a wagon, or a train or an airplane.”
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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Inside The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid & Plug-in Hybrid

Inside The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid & Plug-in Hybrid Even in this day and age of commercially-available electric vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf, sales of hybrid vehicles rose steadily by 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017. This represents a 12.4 percent rise in total sales with 368,137 hybrid vehicles sold last year.
It is interesting to point out traditional hybrids are the most popular among the three types of green cars including EVs or electric vehicles and PHEVs or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
This is the primary reason why Hyundai is hard at work in improving the safety, comfort, practicality, and driving enjoyment of the 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid. The Korean automaker is also updating the features of the 2019 Ioniq Electric to make it one of the most desirable EVs that money can buy.
Hybrids Just Want To Have Fun
From a performance perspective, the biggest caveat of hybrid vehicles is the lackluster and anesthetized driving experience. The standard CVT transmission in most hybrid cars is partly to blame, but Hyundai addressed this matter by bolting on a six-speed EcoShift DCT dual-clutch transmission in the 2019 Ioniq Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid.
The new transmission features low-viscosity oil and low-friction bearings to offer a mix of fuel economy and sporty responses. The driver can also select between two transmission modes: ECO and SPORT. The former will optimize the gear selection to deliver better fuel economy while the latter will hold lower gears longer to give you a sportier driving experience.
Want more control? SPORT mode will also ensure the gasoline engine remains ON while the electric motor will offer power assist when you need it most. Both the Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models are also equipped with paddle-shifters if you feel the need to shift all six gears at your behest.
2019 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid. Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Power To The People
The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, and Ioniq Electric are all equipped with a compact and highly efficient battery and electric motor. All models come with a lithium-ion polymer battery that is 20 percent lighter than non-polymer variants with lower battery memory sensitivity, better charge and discharge efficiency, and a high maximum output for better responsiveness.
The batteries are located underneath the rear seats to offer an interior volume of 122.7 cubic feet, which is more than the Toyota Prius according to Hyundai. The new Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid and Ioniq Electric is still able to offer a generous interior volume of 119.2 cubic feet despite being equipped with a larger battery system than the Ioniq Hybrid.
The new Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid is powered by a Kappa 1.6-liter, direct-injected four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle motor that cranks out 104 horsepower and 109 lb-ft. of torque. The electric motor is rated at 44.5 kW which helps supplement an additional 60 horsepower of shove.
The electric motor on all Ioniq models is a permanent magnet synchronous unit that is smaller and lighter than conventional motors. It features a rectangular-section cooper wire to decrease the thickness of the core components by up to 10 percent.
2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electric. Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Charge Me Up
All 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electric models are now equipped with a Level-3 DC fast-charging system and SAE Combo Level-3 DC 100kW fast charger. This means you can juice up the lithium-ion polymer battery up to 80 percent in just 23 minutes. I bet your high-end smartphone can’t do that, huh??
For added convenience, the charging system also comes with an integrated In-Cable Control Box (ICCB) that allows you to use a standard household socket.
Hyundai is also working closely with ChargePoint to offer a wider vehicle charging network with more than 32,000 locations in the United States. Still in a rush? The charging network also includes more than 400 Express DC fast-charging sites so you can juice up your Ioniq in about the same time it takes for you to wolf down a succulent 72-ounce steak.
Safe In The Heat of The Moment
The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq comes equipped with a bewildering array of active and passive safety features. The rigid and lightweight body is achieved by utilizing advanced high-strength steel to minimize cabin distortion in a collision.
Advanced safety features are numerous, and include Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, and Blind-Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. New for 2019 is Driver Attention Alert and High Beam Assist.
Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Economy & Efficiency
The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid with a more powerful 44.5 kW electric motor has an all-electric range of 29 miles and 119 MPGe in EV mode. This vehicle can easily run 52 MPG in hybrid mode. The new Ioniq has a 0.24 coefficient of drag, among the best in a mass-produced vehicle.
The 2019 Ioniq Hybrid is equipped with a less powerful yet still potent 32 kW electric motor that produces an additional 43 horsepower and 125 lb-ft. of torque for a combined output of 139 horsepower and 58 MPG, which is the highest fuel economy rating of any non-plug-in vehicle sold in the USA, according to Hyundai.
If you happen to be considering an EV for your next vehicle, you should take a closer look at the 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electric. It offers pure electric power courtesy of a 28.0kWh lithium-ion polymer battery and 88kW electric motor that produces 118 horsepower and 218 lb-ft. of torque. This EV has an estimated range of 136 MPGe.
No matter which Ioniq model you choose, it is safe to assume that fuel consumption is the least of your concerns.
Sea of Voices
Since you’ll be spending a lot of time driving your 2019 Hyundai Ioniq, the car comes equipped with a high-definition seven-inch TFT information cluster. The display changes to a revolving digital speedometer with an analog-type tachometer if you engage SPORT mode.
Further enhancing driver and passenger convenience is “natural-language server-based voice-recognition technology.” This package comes standard on all 2019 Ioniqs equipped with a navigation system. Also available is Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Blue Link, and wireless charging for Qi-compatible devices.
Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
New Look
The Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid features a hexagonal grille, vertical C-shaped LED daytime running lamps, low-beam LED headlamps, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Ioniq Hybrid can be distinguished with standard Bi-Xenon HID headlamps and C-shaped LED positioning lamps and two-tone 15-inch or 17-inch alloy wheels.
Finally, the 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electric has a sleeker grille design, HID Xenon headlamps, LED tail lamps, and 16-inch Eco-spoke wheels.
All 2019 Ioniq models will be available this summer.
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. 
Photos & Source: Hyundai Motor America.



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Porsche Introduces Augmented Reality Glasses for Vehicle Servicing & Repair

Porsche Introduces Augmented Reality Glasses for Vehicle Servicing & Repair Virtual reality is the biggest thing in the gaming industry. But it seems Porsche has a unique and more practical solution that utilizes augmented reality to fix your car. Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) will start rolling out Tech Live Look to all 189 Porsche dealerships in the United States. The system consists of smartglasses to provide live interaction with remote experts located hundreds of miles away.
If this sounds like the new wave of the future, then you’re right on target.
What Is Augmented Reality?
Glad you asked. Without sounding like a computer boffin with unruly hair and spectacles the size of the London Eye, augmented reality is being developed to enhance or improve the way humans interact in the real world.
We got a good taste of augmented reality with Google Glass back in 2013. It was basically an optical head-mounted display, shaped to resemble a humble pair of eyeglasses. Think of it as your smartphone being projected in your eyes. You can open, read, and respond to emails, search for directions on Google Maps, or chat with your buddies on social media using voice commands.
You still with me? Good. We covered a similar story on Tech Live Look last year. After conducting a series of successful pilots in 2017, the system went live at three Porsche dealerships recently. The goal is to have 75 more dealers go live by the end of this year with the remainder to follow by 2019.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
How Does Tech Live Look Work?
The system works like a carefully balanced orchestra. Dealer technicians will wear smartglasses to connect to the augmented reality software while fixing your Porsche. Remote experts from far away can see in real-time a high-definition video feed of what the technician is working on courtesy of the glasses.
But what if the technician gets puzzled by, say, an issue with the electric power steering? Instead of leaving the floor and tolling away at the computer or phone in the office, the Porsche technical support team (located in Atlanta) can simply press a couple of buttons to project step-by-step technical bulletins, repair procedures, and schematic drawings on the display in the technician’s glasses. This means faster repair times and better efficiency.
The technician can also open and view documents while working on the vehicle. This is better than browsing the pages of the service manual with dirty hands, and it sure beats making multiple phone calls, sending emails, and making on-site visits to identify and diagnose the issue for repair.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Customer Focused
With the Tech Live Look system in full swing, PCNA is looking to dramatically shorten service resolution times – by up to 40 percent.
“By solving issues faster, our dealer partners can get their customers back into cars with less disruption. And our overall service quality increases as we share expertise more efficiently between our experts and dealer technicians,” said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “Tech Live Look is the kind of digital innovation Porsche values because it raises the quality of the customer experience.”
Porsche’s Tech Live Look is the first such application at scale in U.S. auto repair, and won a best-in-class award from the annual Field Service USA conference back in April.
There is no other way to put it. Tech Live Look is one of the coolest things to ever happen in auto repair.
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. 
Photos & Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.



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Bricks And Bones: Chapter 9: A Wide Face

Bricks And Bones: Chapter 9: A Wide Face Tony Borroz attended the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 on 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.
Chapter 5: Female Perspective here.
Chapter 6: The Fearless Spaniard here.
Chapter 7: Speedway Legends here.
Chapter 8: Barrel Roll here.



Years ago, there was a movie starring David Bowie called Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. In addition to starring Bowie, Tom Conti, and a bunch of other people, the main antagonist was played by Ryuichi Sakamoto. In the reviews, Ryuichi Sakamoto was referred to as “Japan’s David Bowie,” because, like Bowie, he was a musician and composer who was just getting into acting. One of the people interviewed about the movie, a Japanese film journalist, described Sakamoto as “having a wide face.”
It would seem this is a Japanese term meaning, roughly, that the person is very famous.
As I looked down from my perch in the press building at Takuma Sato in the winner’s circle, all huge smiles and waving, my first thought was, “Takuma Sato now has a very wide face.”
Neck & Neck
It was a very enjoyable, thrilling, and fascinating race. Sato, or Taku or Taku-san as his fellow racers call him, became the first Japanese driver to ever win the Indianapolis 500. He did it with style, grace, and astonishing amounts of speed. It some ways, this was rather surprising. Sato has been a fixture on the IndyCar circuit for a while now, and before that, on the Grand Prix circuit. He had only won a single IndyCar event. He was, and how can I put this diplomatically, a bit of a nutcase. Sato was known for being brave and quick and seemingly fearless. He was also known for taking chances and trying gonzo passing maneuvers that rarely worked, usually taking out one or more competitors in the process.
Towards the end of this year’s 500, he was at the front of the field. And in the final laps, it boiled down to a two man race between Sato and Helio Castroneves – three time Indy champion and former Dancing With The Stars winner. Castroneves, a Brazilian, is outgoing, effusive, and animated to an extreme. Most Brazilians have that rep, but Castroneves is like that on top of your usual Brazilian ebullience. He is also a racer. Always fast and competitive, Castroneves races with a flair and style on top of his outright speed that makes him highly entertaining to watch. When he wins, he is known for climbing out of his car and scaling the nearest catch-fence, pumping his fists, and screaming for joy at the fans.
Takuma Sato moments after winning the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500. Photo: Chris Owens.
Hot Laps, Hot Mic
With just a handful of laps to go, it was either going to be Taku-san or Castroneves. Either way it was going to be history-making. If Sato could do it, he would be the first Japanese winner. Indeed the first Asian, period. If it was Castroneves, he would join an elite group of racers who have won the Indy 500 four times. In 100 Indy 500s, only three men have won four times: A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr., and Rick Mears. So no matter what happened, this would be historic.
Or, Sato would go all gonzo again and crash and take both of them out. Or Castroneves would let passion drive his right foot and crash and take both of them out. Neither of those happened, thankfully. Castroneves tried a couple of moves on Sato going into one, but none of them worked. And down the straights, Sato’s Honda-powered Andretti Racing entry had more speed than Castroneves’ Chevy.
As he took the checkers, Sato, wanting to share his joy and thank the team, keyed the radio button on his steering wheel. Unfortunately, it was not the “closed channel” button to just Michael Andretti and the rest of the team. It was the “open broadcast” button and it was sent out to the entire world.
Sato was screaming like a kid at Christmas who just got every toy in the catalog. Although he is rather outgoing and known for having a huge grin continually plastered on his face, this was Sato in a full joyous explosion of sentiment. At the awards banquet later that night, Tony Kanaan, a former teammate of Sato’s, and a Brazilian only slightly less outgoing than Castroneves, announced he had already downloaded Taku-san’s on air celebrations as the Sato-specific ringtone on his phone.
Photo: David Yowe.


Nice Guys Finish First
The rare thing about Sato is how all the other drivers seem to genuinely like the guy. Everybody, even Castroneves who desperately wanted win number four, seemed just as happy as Taku-san was. I heard more than once, from journalists, team owners, mechanics, and fellow racers that “it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.” And they were all sincere. And they were all right. Takuma Sato is just one of those nice people you run into a few times each day, only he happens to be a racer, and now a winner of the Indy 500.
Given the Japanese society’s predilection for popularity, fads, and expansive love of fame, everyone said Japan was going bonkers within moments of the news. And Taku-san pretty much lost it on the podium. The traditional drink of milk from an old-time glass bottle was four huge swallows, followed by dumping the remaining contents directly onto his head while grinning and laughing. It was the image of the race. It perfectly captured how Takuma Sato felt. At that moment, I had a mental image of his face on billboards in Tokyo and Nagoya and such. Huge grin. Unbridled delight.
“Taku-san now has a very wide face,” I thought.
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: Shawn Gritzmacher.



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Dallas Organization Addressing Transportation Woes For Low-Income Individuals

Dallas Organization Addressing Transportation Woes For Low-Income Individuals

I often take my personal vehicle for granted because automobiles in my line of work are so common. I think nothing of it as I jump in my vehicle to run errands, attend meetings, and go see friends. I think nothing of it when, during an auto show, I visit with consumers about trim packages and performance capabilities of a particular model.
However, this is something Josephine Castillo, a Dallas area resident, is not accustomed to. Lacking the freedom reliable transportation provides is a battle she knows all to well.
Empty Nest
Castillo is bright and bubbly, chatting with me one sunny afternoon as she clocks out from her job at a nearby call center. While she is proud of her long history in customer service, the self-described “parenting, grandparent” speaks with a particular warmth regarding the four grandchildren she is now raising; ages 10, 8, 3, and 4. Castillo derives strength from them, especially as she finishes her bachelor’s degree in Christian studies through Grand Canyon University.
“I am the first in my family to attend college, so there is a lot of new beginnings here, but I was nervous when I started,” she said. “I dropped out of school growing up, and even though my mother tried to keep things together as best she could, I still had a broken home.”
Castillo then recalls her battles with empty nest syndrome in 2013, an event sometimes experienced by parents when their children leave home for the first time. Despite her best efforts, she fell into a deep depression which later lead to the loss of her job, car, and residence.
“I don’t know, I guess it just hit me really hard,” Castillo said. “I got so sad I just couldn’t get myself out of bed.”
To make matters more pressing, by the time 2014 arrived, Castillo was now, through a series of difficult circumstances, the primary caregiver for her grandchildren. Little by little, she climbed her way out of debt.
“I was on the train, on the bus, going to work, taking the classes to become a certified adoptive parent, and taking the kids to daycare,” Castillo recalled.
On the Road Lending’s car loan program helps clients who need affordable, reliable cars – one of the most essential components for building a strong life. Photo: John B. Sutton, Jr., Sutton Photography.
Limited Access, Maximum Stress
When Castillo was volunteering with the Salvation Army, she learned about On the Road Lending, a Dallas-based organization that provides affordable loans for reliable, late-model cars. Although Dallas has a substantial mass transit system, especially in terms of light rail, less than 15 percent of the jobs in the area are reachable through it. In Dallas County alone, where On the Road Lending is located, 68 percent of households have subprime credit, about 550,000 families. Furthermore, about 10 percent of the vehicles (around 489,000 cars) in North Texas have failed emissions testing, and are predominantly registered to low-income families.
“Access is critical to everything in life. We have to get to our jobs, get our kids to school, go to the store, get to the doctor, or see friends,” said Michelle Corson, Founder and CEO, On the Road Lending. “If you are trapped without a reliable car or you are trying to make mass transit work, it creates a tremendous amount of stress.”
In 2015, The Atlantic penned a commentary about how mass transit is failing those who need it most, from mechanical problems and fare increases, to excessive wait times and limited access. Those resolved to using public transit often combat these shortcomings daily. Corson, with her finance background, created On the Road Lending to tackle social concerns like this.
“I saw transportation was an issue in Texas, and even though we have the largest mass transit system in the U.S. in Dallas in terms of linear rail miles, very few people use it,” Corson said. “I thought we could provide a way for low-income families to buy a good car if we created an impact investment loan fund where we could enable them to purchase something better at a lower cost.”
Meanwhile, Castillo struggled to get around and maintain life with the children now in her care. One thing they enjoyed most was going to church as a family, but she did not have the luxury of a leisurely Sunday drive. Getting to a morning service was near impossible.
“We might be able to get there on the bus, but maybe not back; or becasue of the particular day a church activity fell on, we could only make it halfway, then have to walk, if we even made it at all,” Castillo recalled. “When we couldn’t be there it really took a drain on us becasue we were missing out.”
On the Road Lending CEO, Michelle Corson (left) is deeply involved with clients. “We are constantly amazed at how resilient our clients are in the face of a lot of adversity,” she said. Photo: John B. Sutton, Jr., Sutton Photography.

Sincere Framework
Through On the Road Lending’s character-based model, Castillo was able to obtain an affordable loan for a 2013 Nissan Quest. It’s reliable with enough room for her grandchildren, but without On the Road Lending, owning such a vehicle would have been impossible for Castillo. Through character-based lending however, she had a second chance.
“Credit scores developed and became a way that lenders could evaluate risk quickly,” Corson explained. “We had a suspicion that credit scores might not be the best predictor of a person’s ability to be a responsible borrower.”
On the Road Lending’s model examines other factors, such as how long a person has been employed or lived at their current residence. The model even covers how willing an applicant is to own their past mistakes, and includes a personal essay as one of the requirements.
“I want to be a person of integrity and a person of my word,” Castillo said. “I used to quit things in a heartbeat; I used to run from things, but I want to set a new example and have a good name.”
Photo: John B. Sutton, Jr., Sutton Photography.


Essential Relationships
Corson was close to the automotive business for 15 years, while Chief Operating Officer, Mary Burnett once owed three dealerships. Both Corson and Burnett leveraged their knowledge of the car business to build a network of dealerships across Texas. One of the most vital is Toyota of Richardson, a large Toyota store in the Dallas/Ft. Worth region which serves about 80 percent of On The Road Lending’s clients.
“They understand what our organization is all about and they are very kind to our clients, which is of the utmost importance to us,” Corson said. “They recognize that our clients don’t have a lot of time to spend at the dealership and that many are very vulnerable.”
When Burnett and Corson first visited Toyota of Richardson, they were impressed with the level of customer service. The dealership is known for its transparency and community roots going back over 30 years. The average employee has stayed there for over a decade, with many pushing the 15 to 25 year mark. After visiting dozens of dealerships in the area, Corson and Burnett took an instant liking to Toyota of Richardson.
“They explained to me their overall mission and gave me some insight into their clients and expectations for partnering dealers,” said Brian Pacheco, Sales Director, Toyota of Richardson. “The program is designed to empower individuals by providing knowledge and encouragement, along with the means of reliable transportation, to better their life and the lives’ of their family.”
On the Road Lending clients are often single parents, domestic violence survivors, immigrants, refugees, veterans, working families, and first-time buyers. Photo: John B. Sutton, Jr., Sutton Photography.
Genuine Involvement
Like Corson and Burnett, Pacheco was also concerned with the number of people who either had a high mileage, unreliable vehicle, or no vehicle at all.
“We are working to provide reliable transportation and quality financing options to individuals that would have previously resorted to “buy-here, pay-here” lots and other situations that result in predatory lending,” he said.
On the Road Lending’s character based-model is a natural pairing with Toyota of Richardson’s sales approach.
“We train our staff on being straightforward and honest, and we pride ourselves in hiring quality people to interact with our customers,” Pacheco said. “The staff here have taken a personal interest in the well-being of On the Road Lending clients, and our salespeople commonly talk about how grateful the clients are and how rewarding it is to be part of the process.”
“We have nothing but good things to say about their entire organization,” Corson added.
Photo: John B. Sutton, Jr., Sutton Photography.
Serenity & Solutions
Currently, On the Road Lending is active in Texas but is potentially expanding to 20 additional markets by 2022. Those who wish to inquire about loans may do so through the organization’s website.
“Very few people understand that transportation is a huge issue for lower-income families,” Corson said. “We are working hard to raise awareness, as well as to provide a practical solution for people that is both immediate and lasting.”
“I had to make some changes in my life but they helped me, they really helped me,” Castillo said. “Having a reliable car has eliminated so much stress, especially for little things like running to the store to get a loaf of bread.”
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.



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Bricks And Bones: Chapter 8: Barrel Roll

Bricks And Bones: Chapter 8: Barrel Roll Tony Borroz attended the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 on 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.
Chapter 5: Female Perspective here.
Chapter 6: The Fearless Spaniard here.
Chapter 7: Speedway Legends here.



Watching the Indy 500 from my perch in the top floor of the press center was interesting. At first, I was surprised at how professional all the drivers were. They dropped the green flag and they all snarled off into turn one with seemingly little drama.
It was sort of like standing by the barrel of an enormous shotgun that was fired every 40 seconds or so.
Quiet Sunday
For the longest time, the laps just clicked off. Nobody did anything stupid. There were no gonzo dives for the inside, no low percentage moves that were doomed to failure. The racing was just as clean as could be. The first round of pit stops were largely the same way. My spot was directly behind Simon Pagenaud’s pit box and a little off from where Hélio Castroneves was. It was amazing to watch the Penske pit crews do their jobs with flawless precision.
The press center is a four story building right next to The Panasonic Pagoda, the tall timing and scoring tower. The top is a glass box that can easily accommodate 125 members of the press. There are screens everywhere, and we got the direct audio feed from race control so we knew when they’d throw yellow flags, and when they’d go back to green.
About half the press stayed at their desks – long rows of tables with power and data hook ups – either banging away on laptops or staring at the TV feed on the screens. The rest of us were lined up along the windows, watching the cars, now broken up into packs of 8 or 10, blasting down the straight, over the yard of bricks, and into turn 1 doing 230 or so. Then as the cars zoomed out of sight, we would all turn to the screens and watch until they came back around again.
Photo: Doug Matthews.
Airborne Assault
This was our rhythm until, on lap 53, backmarker Jay Howard either drifted up into the gray exiting turn 1, or was pushed up there by Ryan Hunter Reay (it depends on who you ask). He slithered up into the outside wall, then slowly slid back down the track directly into the path of oncoming traffic. The main pack had already blown by us, so everyone in the media center was watching the screens when a minor screw up turned into a very bad day.
Howard’s car, now damaged beyond control in the initial impact, slid back down the track and nearly missed Tony Kanaan’s #10 Honda powered entry. This caused a collective exhalation from the assembled press. But now Howard’s car was pretty much in the middle of the track, grinding to a halt directly in front of the oncoming Scott Dixon who was powerless to do anything but ram Howard at around 225 mph.
Everyone in the press room let out a “ohhhh-ahhhhAAAAAHHHHH-OH!” as Dixon impacted Howard’s car and was flat out launched like a low angle mortar round. Dixon, a highly personable and perennially grinning Kiwi, arced through the air, reaching an apogee of around 25 or 30 feet. Helio Castroneves appeared on the scene doing well over 200 miles an hour, and dove for the last open space, which was directly under Dixon’s car, mid-parabola.
Scott Dixon (front left) in the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500. Photo: Bret Kelley.


Tumble & Fall
Dixon’s car was in a corkscrewing tumble by the time he was on his way down, starting to do a neat full barrel roll as Helio scooted under. His downward arc was a perfect illustration of geometry and physics until all hell broke loose. Dixon clipped the inside catch fence, started to tumble, and came down half-sideways/half-upside down onto the inside wall, directly onto his open cockpit.
This caused the assembled press to fall into what I can only describe as inchoate screaming as Dixon’s car literally ripped itself in half. The press room seemed to explode with monosyllabic gibberish. We were all educated racing journalists. We all knew, usually first hand, what the cost of this sport could be.
Now it was very hard to know where to look. Shrapnel was flying everywhere. The entire rear end of the car – the transaxle, rear suspension, brakes, uprights, wheels, and tires – all sheered completely off and slung back towards the outside wall in a terrifying kinetic twist, narrowly missing oncoming cars. Dixon’s car continued its high speed tumble, each bit of rotation shedding more and more pieces. Finally, the car came to rest, sitting upright, rendered down to the tub, and with the left front suspension and wheel still attached. The engine, which everyone at first thought had been sheered off, had actually been compressed forward by one of the multiple impacts, tamping it fully into the fuel tank, which miraculously remained intact and did not rupture.
As the car came to rest, the safety crews were already rolling up and, astonishingly, Scott Dixon unbuckled his belts and climbed from the cockpit. What can only be described as a roaring silence filled the press room. Had the car rotated another 10 degrees at most, it would have struck the top of the retaining wall flat on, and no doubt torn Dixon apart or decapitated him or both.
Scott Dixon. Photo: Scott Dixon Official Facebook Page.
Miracle In Indy
Our stunned silence gave way to wild urgent question of those closest to you; “what did you see? what did it look like?” As the multiple replays rolled on, everyone was gasping and shaking their heads and muttering to themselves and one another. The replays showed that not only had Dixon really clobbered the inside wall, but his car had grabbed the debris fence like a giant hand, sweeping it aside like a curtain.
Dixon was checked and, somehow, released without any significant injuries minutes after the accident. Miraculous doesn’t even begin to describe this outcome. Every time I see the replay it seems like there are a dozen times Scott Dixon should have died. I looked at an older, grizzled sportswriter standing next to me and asked, “what’s the Powerball lottery up to?”
“What!?” was his incredulous response.
“If I was Dixon, I’d by a lotto ticket on the way home tonight,” was my 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.
Photo: Scott Dixon Official Facebook Page.



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