Automotive

2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Review

2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Review

For those wanting to get off the beaten path and away from civilization, the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road is a mid-size truck that will fit perfectly. Get the Tacoma Double Cab and you can take all your friends and have room for extra gear for the excursion. With the Long Bed, you can even load up a four-wheeler for the trip to the back country. If you just need a commuter truck, the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, or Honda Ridgeline will be a good enough alternative to a car.
This week we drove the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Double Cab Long Bed.
What’s New For 2017?
Last year, (2016) the Toyota Tacoma received an overhaul with a new V6 engine, refreshed interior, fresh styling, a new cabin structure, a new transmission, retuned suspension, and improved noise insulation. For 2017, Tacoma gets minor changes like power actuation of the crew cab’s sliding rear window, and the top-of-the-line TRD Pro trim level returns after a one-year hiatus. This model is a rugged truck for adventure enthusiasts.
Features & Options
The 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Double Cab Long Bed ($35,315) comes with a full rear seat, six foot bed, and turn signals in the mirror housings. There’s a 400-watt power outlet in the bed, and automatic transmission-equipped trucks gain smart entry, pushbutton start, and navigation via the Entune premium audio system’s 7-inch touchscreen.
TRD Off-Road models include a color-keyed rear bumper, textured black fender flares, and the absence of the Sport’s hood scoop. Off-road performance changes are what set this trim apart, with knobby all-terrain tires on 16-inch alloy wheels, the deletion of the front air dam, extra skid plates, a lockable rear differential, Bilstein monotube shocks, and an advanced off-road traction control system with multiple terrain settings and crawl control.
The optional Premium and Technology packages ($3,035) include a sunroof, automatic climate control, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, JBL speaker upgrade, and a subwoofer. This Tacoma tester also came with the V6 Tow Package ($650), Tonneau Cover ($650), and other TRD off-road goodies. Total MSRP including destination: $42,644.

Interior Highlights
The cabin in the Tacoma is comfortable enough for longer trips to the back country, and with its heated seats, dual-zone climate control, and premium JBL audio, it’s an enjoyable place to spend time. Although, when the Tacoma was upgraded last year, Toyota didn’t change the high floor and low roof. You need to watch your head getting into the cab and it can feel a bit cramped inside for taller drivers.
Our tester came with an attractive, all-black interior and lots of soft-touch materials throughout. It featured plenty of storage plus a convenient cell phone charging pad in front of the gear shifter. The front seats could use more adjustment capabilities as they offered minimal support, but the tilt/telescoping steering wheel makes it easier to find the right driving position.
The backup camera made things simple, especially with the Long Bed model as we navigated around. The Double Cab features a full-size rear seat (split 70/30) and flips up to reveal convenient underseat storage for valuables. The rear seat offers adequate room for two adults but would be cramped with three.

Engine, Off-Road, & Fuel Mileage Specs
The Tacoma TRD Off-Road is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with direct injection, making 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft. of torque. Our tester came mated to a 6-speed automatic; off-road capability was enhanced by a Multi-Terrain Select system (taken from the 4Runner). Drivers can set modes for mud, sand, rocks, and more, changing the throttle and braking. TRD Off-Road models include an automatic limited-slip rear differential and a locking rear differential.
EPA-estimated fuel economy is 18/23 city/highway and 20 combined mpg for a 4X4 with the automatic transmission.
Driving Dynamics
We drove the new TRD Off-Road on an ideal trail just west of Denver near Morrison. It was a good place to test the Tacoma’s true capability. The road turns from pavement to dirt and then a trail appears – and that’s when our afternoon of fun started. The Bilstein shocks handled the rough road with ease as we navigated up the mountain trail. The road turns uphill and a short steep climb requires us to slip the Tacoma into low range. A turn of the range-select knob on the dash to 4Lo quickly puts the truck into low range and an indicator lights up for confirmation.
An overhead knob reveals the Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control settings – each having five different settings depending on the terrain. We chose “3” on the Crawl Control option allowing us to remove our feet from the pedals. The Toyota Tacoma crawled up the steep hill and we steered it to the top without issue. We did it again going downhill with the same steady and effortless results. For those looking for a true off-road pickup, the Tacoma TRD Off-Road is an ideal candidate to get you away from civilization. It’s made to excel on primitive trails and rugged terrain.
How does the TRD Off-Road do on the highway and in the city? The ride is what you would expect from a vehicle with a serious off-road suspension. On the road and around town, the ride has the feel of a truck built to take on rugged terrain. It’s a focused vehicle, so it isn’t the smoothest, most comfortable option for the daily commute to town or when running errands. The optional Parking Sensor, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are musts with the Double Cab Long Bed pickup. It saved us a number of times from getting hit when we couldn’t see traffic and obstacles around us.
Conclusion
The 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Double Cab Long Bed is designed for adventure enthusiasts who want to get off the beaten path. Toyota’s reputation for durability and strong resale value put it at the top of the list in the mid-size truck segment. If you are transporting dirt bikes, 4-wheelers, snow machines, heading up the mountain to go snow skiing, or pulling a small camping trailer, this truck will meet your needs.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2017 Toyota Tacoma Gallery

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2017 Toyota Tundra Official Site.
Photos: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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The Evolution of Automotives: Part 1: Creative Engineering

The Evolution of Automotives: Part 1: Creative Engineering

Automoblog’s Katie Kapro examines how imaginative thinking and creative risks have influenced the modern automobile in this three-part miniseries.
The 21st Century is an age of automotive loyalists. You can hardly go into a garage without hearing some level of discussion about American cars versus Japanese cars versus German cars. Everyone has a favorite, and if you ask them about it, you’ll get a bullet list of reasons why their choice is superior.
However, that was not the case in the early days of the automobile.
Humble Origins
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Europeans were the undoubted champions of quality automobiles. The first Mercedes-Benz, built in 1901 by German designer Wilhelm Maybach, is credited with being the first modern motorcar. It had all the right elements: relative lightness, power, and speed. Its 35 horsepower engine weighed only 14 pounds per horsepower and reached up to 53 miles per hour. Its only downfall was being extremely expensive to build and in turn, prohibitively expensive to purchase.
By contrast, in 1901 through 1906, the first American-built Oldsmobile had only three horsepower and sold for $650. As a result of this tension between quality and affordability, all automotive technological developments of the 20th Century focused on making vehicles more attainable for the everyday Joe. Now, just over 100 years later, cars have replaced horse-drawn carriages, trains, and all other modes of transportation by a huge margin. In 1900, only 8,000 Americans owned cars; today over 220 million cars hit the road for the morning commute. If history proves anything, it’s that 20th-Century Americans were very skilled at turning failure into success.
Farm To Freeway
In 1908, Ford introduced the Model T, lovingly called “Tin Lizzie,” and changing the industry and nation for good. Between 1913 and 1927, Ford produced and sold more than 15 million Model Ts. Tin Lizzie didn’t come out of the blue; Ford paved the way with the Model N and earlier, a motorized, horseless-buggy-of-a-thing called the Model A. These stepping stones gave the company valuable income to support further growth and industrialization.
Once the Model T proved itself to be an affordable purchase for the American common man, it took hold of the collective imagination. The Model T took automobiles from a plaything for the uber rich to a practical piece of machinery that would change the way the nation runs.
The Model T evolved to have many other functions as related to modern transportation at the time. This 1925 Model T variant, for example, served as a prisoner transport vehicle for law enforcement. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
The Digital Age
From the earliest days, car buffs have never been shy about finding creative solutions to practical problems. Car not fast enough? The answer is nitrous, obviously. Almost anything can be fixed with a tinker here and a tweak there. Back in the day, lots of Model T owners purchased aftermarket kits to turn their cars into trucks; the kits essentially extended the frame of the car and beefed-up the rear. Voila, truck.
It didn’t take long for the creative thinkers of the era, many of whom were farmers, to take things one step further and adapt their car-trucks into the most practical of all farm machines: the motorized tractor. Reviews of the Tin Lizzy tractor adaptation were mixed at best, but it won over enough farmers who were hoping to save a few bucks that several companies began producing and selling conversion kits.
First assembly line in Highland Park, Michigan, circa 1913. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Creative Engineering
The line of thinking that brought us the Model T tractor — unabashed creativity mixed with practical ingenuity — is precisely the attitude that is pushing automobiles to the brink of technological development today. The only way to know if a car can plow a field is to try it. And the only way to know if your car engine can be improved upon is to give it a go.
Before the advent of computerized engine control units, vehicles were less efficient in part because it was so much harder to measure what was going on under the hood. How do you optimize emissions if your whole system isn’t fine-tuned? It’s worth noting that, in addition to overall efficiency, ECUs optimize performance in other ways like fuel economy and responsiveness — none of which would be possible if some car guy (or girl) somewhere hadn’t scratched their head and thought, “hmm, I wonder what would happen if I put a computer in my car?”
The Road Ahead
As we move forward in time with our vehicles at our sides, history begs just one question: what’s next? While there’s no definitive answer, one thing is for certain: the future is only as interesting as we make it.
Katie Kapro spent her childhood handing her dad tools under his Datsun. She loves thinking about the social aspects of motoring, and dreaming about the future of automotives. Follow her work on Twitter: @kapro101
Cover Photo: From the collections of The Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company: The first transcontinental car race from New York to Seattle was held in 1909 and Henry Ford’s Model T emerged victorious. The trip took 22 days and 55 minutes at an average speed of 7.75 mph.

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2018 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo: Not Some Video Game

2018 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo: Not Some Video Game

BMW just rolled out the all-new 6 Series Gran Turismo, and no, it has nothing to do with the PlayStation game. Well, not much anyway. It’ll probably end up in some future iteration of the game, but for now, BMW’s 6 Series Gran Turismo is only available in the real world with no reset button.
Lots of car makers throw around the phrase “all-new,” but in the case of BMW’s 6 Series Gran Turismo, it’s accurate. The 6 Series Gran Turismo aims to fill a niche the first gen 6 Series filled.
Position Player
Namely, that spot in the BMW lineup which is neither sports car or sedan, nor a coupe with sporting pretensions like Audi’s 5 Series. The 6 Series Gran Turismo is a big, long distance tourer, not a sports car. The 6 Series Gran Turismo has more sporting style and on road presence than a mundane sedan, hence why the 6 Series Gran Turismo is halfway between both of those automotive ideals.
The 6 Series Gran Turismo is the ride you get if you’re the just signed NBA all star. It’s your car if you are the plastic surgeon in town. Who’s the top real estate broker on the West Side? It’s you baby! And you drive a 6 Series Gran Turismo. Or at least BMW wants you to think so. However, the 6 Series Gran Turismo isn’t a sports car. Those kind of confuse you. And it’s not a sedan, cause those are too stodgy for the NBA all star/plastic surgeon/top real estate broker on the West Side sort of crowd. Nope. The 6 Series Gran Turismo is all about style and presence and, sure, there’s performance thrown in, because, well, this is a BMW.
When viewed from the side, the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo really shows its elongated proportions. Notice a single crease in the upper section of the side sends light directly to this area of the body. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Style Wonders or Blunders?
The Bavarians say the 6 Series Gran Turismo has “unparalleled progressive appeal and practicality.” The market will say whether that’s true or not, but that’s what BMW is going for, and that’s what they state from the outset. They say it has a “sense of sporting elegance.” They say it’s graced by a “generously-sized, flexible-use interior, striking looks, ride comfort, and a luxurious and spacious feel,” all of which is true, I guess.
BMW also says the 6 Series Gran Turismo has “stretched proportions, dynamic lines, and a muscular look.” Which is also true, but is also subjective. The consensus is the reason the last 6 Series is no longer on the road is because of its alleged stretched proportions, dynamic lines, and muscular look. Let’s face it, BMW fell off the styling wagon when they hired Chris Bangle, and they have been struggling to get back on ever since they fired Chris Bangle. The 6 Series Gran Turismo might be a styling success, but at this point, I’d say toss a coin, because BMW has burned a lot of bridges in that department.
However, the 6 Series Gran Turismo does have all of the traditional BMW styling bits and pieces present. It has the signature “Hofmeister kink” of BMW coupes of the past. It has the BMW twin-kidney grill up front. The whole design vibe is one of long, wide, and low, sort of like what Pontiac was advertising in the 1960s (did I just say that?!).
BMW increased the use of aluminum and high-strength steels for the body and chassis components. The doors, trunk, and tailgate are made from aluminum. The engine cross-member, spring struts, and rear trailing arms are among the chassis components made from lightweight metal. A steel/aluminum compound construction, galvanized hot and cold-formed steel plates with a zinc/magnesium coating are all used to improve stiffness, passive safety, and reduce weight. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.

Special Treatments
The 6 Series Gran Turismo comes in two basic trim levels: The Sport design, which is standard, and the optional Luxury Package. The Sport design emphasizes the car’s more dynamic elements with such niceties as high-gloss black, 19-inch V-Spoke light-alloy wheels, chrome window surrounds, standard Sport Seats with power adjustable side bolsters, an Anthracite headliner, and a SensaTec upholstered dashboard on the inside.
The Luxury Package boosts the car’s elegant character with chrome kidney grille bars, front and rear bumper trim finishers, and power adjustments for the rear seat.
M Sport Enhancements
On top of all that, there’s an M Sport Package. Now, this is not to be confused with a full-blown M version of the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo; this is design oriented and emphasizes “sporty character.” There’s an M Aerodynamic kit with larger air intakes, side skirt trim, and diffusor-style rear apron. Shadowline exterior trim and 19-inch (or 20-inch) M Double-Spoke Wheels are available as an upgrade. The interior of the M Sport variant includes a leather steering wheel, aluminum pedals, and exclusive floor mats. There’s Black Dakota Leather with contrast blue stitching and piping. You can also add the optional Dynamic Handling Package with Integral Active Steering, the Adaptive Drive two axle air suspension, Active Roll Stabilization, and Dynamic Damper Control.
Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Power & Performance
Speaking of running gear, there’s lots of tech, and I mean by the boat load, shoveled into the 6 Series Gran Turismo. The 6-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine is paired with an 8-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission with shift paddles. The aerodynamics have been fully optimized, and the whole shebang features weight-saving construction aimed at making the big BMW coupe a sporting performer with a high level of efficiency.
That engine features an aluminum construction with enhanced thermodynamics. The turbos are of a TwinScroll design, the fuel is delivered via direct injection, there’s BMW’s VALVETRONIC variable valve lift control, and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing. There’s even new engine encapsulation to reduce noise and accelerate warm-up. The 3.0-liter 6-cylinder plant generates 335 horsepower with a peak torque of 332 lb-ft. between 1,380 and 5,200 rpm. 0-60 mph? 5.1 seconds. Which is good, given this thing must weigh at least two tons (BMW does not give a weight figure).
The adaptive suspension with Dynamic Damper Control and Active Roll Stabilization are there to deliver ride comfort and sporty performance. There’s a two-axle air suspension system with electronically controlled dampers. Owners can set the car’s ride height manually with ground clearance being raised by 0.78 inches at the touch of a button. A 0.39 inch drop in ride height happens automatically at speeds over 75 mph.
The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo is the first BMW with standard Active Driving Assistant. The technology features a multitude of driver assist functions through the use of cameras, radars, and ultrasonic sensors that monitor the vehicle’s surroundings. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.

Tech Extravaganza
The entire rest of the car is drowning in tech goodies too: for example, the iDrive systems and Touch Controllers and Control Displays and large touchscreens, and other computer controlled tech gee-gaws. I wouldn’t be surprised if you can choose the color of the LED glove box light from your smartphone, and Lord help you when any of that stuff breaks and you’ve got to fix it.
No, it’s not a traditional BMW sedan. And no, a big no, it’s not a sports car. Yet, it will probably fill the garages of the NBA all star/plastic surgeon/ top real estate broker on the West Side sort of crowd. The all-new 2018 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo, available exclusively as a 640i xDrive model, will be available this fall starting at $69,700 plus $995 for destination.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
2018 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo Gallery

Photos & Source: BMW of North America, LLC.

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New Study: July 4th Most Dangerous Day On U.S. Roads

New Study: July 4th Most Dangerous Day On U.S. Roads

July 4th is a time for celebration as we enjoy our independence and thank our many veterans who have served. This year, it’s most likely a weekend full of camping, cookouts, and fireworks. It’s also a deadly time of year, unfortunately, as a new study shows July 4th is officially the most dangerous day to drive in the United States.
The study, conducted by Geotab, a telematics and GPS vehicle tracking company, looked at the fatality and traffic data over a 10-year period to see how U.S. states differ when it comes to road safety.
Startling Figures
Every year, over 30,000 people are killed in traffic related accidents in the United States; a truly staggering number when looking at the brass tacks. In any other transportation industry, say airlines for example, those numbers would not be tolerated. Such figures question the need for automated driving and advanced vehicle perception technology, the development of which we monitor at this publication. However, until autonomous vehicles come fully to fruition, information and careful, responsible driving will be our best assets for safety behind the wheel.
Geotab’s study also notes that specific days of the year, and even certain states, are more dangerous than others. Holidays like Labor Day, Halloween, and New Year’s Day, where alcohol consumption is present, have a higher rate of fatal accidents. The findings followed an analysis of road traffic, crash, and fatality reports, including the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and Traffic Volume Trends published in December 2016. Using this data, Geotab calculated a Fatal Crash Rate for each day and U.S. state, made up of the total number of fatal road accidents per billion miles driven by cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
Danger In July
Over a 10-year span, July 4th carries an average of 119 deadly crashes with a Fatal Crash Rate of 14.9, making it the most dangerous day on U.S. roads. Given that many July 4th parties involve alcohol, drivers are more likely to be under the influence; fatal crashes on the 4th involving alcohol are a staggering 47 percent. The grim news doesn’t stop there, unfortunately. On average, 28 percent of all road crashes are related to driving under the influence with that number rising significantly during holidays: New Year’s Day and Halloween are two of the worst at 41.6 and 41 percent respectively.
In addition to alcohol consumption, smartphone usage is becoming problematic behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,477 people were killed and 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015. During daylight hours, approximately 660,000 people are using cell phones while driving at any given moment.

Statistics & Solutions
Fatal Crash Rate measures the number of motor vehicle crashes involving a fatality, rather than measuring the total number of fatalities. For instance; 13 million crashes occurred in the U.S. in 2015, of which 1.7 million resulted in an injury with an estimated 2.4 million people injured. Of the 1.7 million crashes, 32,166 had fatalities claiming the lives of 35,092 people. This data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration is bleak and again, begs the urgency of safer vehicles with autonomous and connected technology.
“The future of connected vehicle data will enable Geotab to produce more services to help improve road safety and vehicle operating efficiency,” said Colin Sutherland, Executive Vice President, Geotab. “Access to vehicle data is key to our capability to contribute our open platform that will further enhance research in connected vehicles.”
Until the technology can catch up to the tragedy, the best bet is to be cautious and safe. Drive the posted speed limit, keep your vehicle maintained, put the phone away, get plenty of rest before traveling, and avoid alcohol.
“A big component of road safety is good decision making,” said Joe Campanella, Executive Vice President, Business Development, CARCHEX and advisory Board Member for Mothers Against Drunk Driving – Maryland. “Drinking and driving truly don’t mix, and so if you’ve had a drink – even one – you should find a safe mode of transportation.”
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Click the image to open the full interactive version (via Geotab).

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Report: The 2018 Buick Regal TourX will MSRP for under $30,000

Report: The 2018 Buick Regal TourX will MSRP for under $30,000 The latest lifted Buick Regal TourX seeks to steal Subaru Outback buyers.

What’s going on?
The 2018 Buick Regal TourX debuted with its standard four-door sibling at the 2017 New York International Auto Show to replace the outgoing model.
Now, CarsDirect.com reports the new Regal long-roof should start around $29,995. This means the Regal TourX undercuts more premium options such as the BMW 3-Series Wagon and the Audi A4. On the flip side, this also means the Regal TourX offers more value per dollar.
What’s included with the base 2018 Buick Regal TourX?
To boot, the base Regal TourX comes pretty well equipped with 18-inch aluminum wheels, Buick’s touted active noise cancelling, a seven-inch infotainment screen system, heated mirrors and more. But all come with the same 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic, sending power to a full-time twin-clutch all-wheel drive system across the board.
Right off the bat, the Regal TourX’s power already sets it ahead of its direct competition, the Volkswagen Alltrack and the Subaru Outback. Additionally, the Regal TourX offers quite a bit more space than both the Alltrack and is roughy on par with the Outback.
So it’ll be interesting to see if the Regal TourX has what it takes to sway buyers in its direction.

2018 Buick Regal TourX

Lots of standard and optional additions
The Regal TourX comes pretty jampacked with standard equipment. As usual, more options and packages are available for choosing, reading the price. Some examples include a panoramic roof for $1,200, and a Driver Confidence Package featuring blind-spot detection, rear park assist, and an auto-dimming mirror for $1,240. The top-spec model TourX, the TourX Essence 1SL, starts at just $35,945.
CarsDirect.com predicts the middle-level TourX Preferrred 1SB should be the one most commonly available at dealers. Starting at $33,575, its the model most displayed in the TourX’s advertising campaign.
Should you option out your TourX all the way, chances are however, you won’t crest over the $40,000 mark too far if at all. In comparison, the Volvo V60 starts at $37,415 and the BMW 3-Series Wagon, at $43,000.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: CarsDirect.com
2018 Buick Regal TourX Gallery

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2017 Nissan Titan: Homegrown Hero

2017 Nissan Titan: Homegrown Hero

Hey, did you know Nissan made full-size pickups? Yeah, of course you did. I know it too, but it sure seems like they don’t get much notice, do they? If it’s not for the big three ‘Murican trucks – Chevy/GMC, Ford, and Ram – it seems to be Toyota grabs all the attention, leaving poor Nissan by the wayside.
This is unfortunate because the Nissan Titan is not to be ignored.
Big Warranty & Lots of Space
Nissan has just added the King Cab body configuration to the lineup, meaning you can now choose from three models: Crew Cab, Single Cab, and the new King Cab. The King Cab is available for both the half-ton and the XD and features a 6.5-foot bed, along with a rear-hinge door that opens wide for easy access to the second row. All 2017 Titan and Titan XD models, along with the new King Cab, are backed up a 100,000-mile / 5-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, which is nice to know, since trucks usually get thrashed on the job site.
The King Cab is offered in 4×4 and 4×2 drive configurations and comes in three grades or trim levels: S, SV, and PRO-4X. PRO-4X is 4×4 only. The new King Cab is pretty much just what it says on the tin: Room, lots and lots of room. There’s seating for six (with or without cowboy hats), wide-opening rear doors and, if you carry more stuff than people, an available “rear seat delete” option. Turns out, underneath where that back seat would be, there’s a flat floor so you get the security of in-cab storage space for your stuff.
Photo: Nissan North America.
Power & Performance
Like the Crew Cab and Single Cab, the new King Cab gives you the choice of either the 5.6-liter Endurance V8 or a Cummins 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel. If you opt for the half-ton Titan King Cab, you can choose between 4×4 and 4×2 drivetrains. The standard plant is the 390-horsepower 5.6-liter Endurance V8, mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. The King Cab has an available maximum towing capacity of 9,420 pounds (enough grunt to yank a McDonald’s a couple of feet to the left) with a maximum payload capacity of 1,640 pounds when properly equipped.
That Cummins mill slams out 310 horsepower and 555 lb-ft. of torque. Nissan refers to that torque figure as “hefty” which is both adorable and an understatement. All you gearheads hauling your cars to the track, the Cummins is your engine of choice. That turbo diesel is matched to a heavy-duty 6-speed Aisin A466ND automatic transmission, and the whole she-bang offers an available maximum towing capacity of 12,510 pounds (when properly equipped). Impressive, no?
Photo: Nissan North America.

Homegrown Hero
The new King Cab Titan was developed, planned, designed, engineered, and is even manufactured right here in the U.S. of A. with contributions from teams in Tennessee, California, Michigan, Arizona, and Mississippi. The trucks are put together in Canton, Mississippi and the V8 engines come from Decherd, Tennessee. The Cummins diesel mills are assembled in Columbus, Indiana. Pricing for the 2017 Nissan Titan lineup is included in the handy graphs below. The trucks are on sale now and available at Nissan dealers nationwide.
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.
MSRP for the 2017 Nissan Titan King Cab:
TITAN S King Cab 4×2
$32,550
TITAN SV King Cab 4×2
$35,930
TITAN S King Cab 4×4
$35,580
TITAN SV King Cab 4×4
$38,960
TITAN PRO-4X King Cab 4×4
$43,290
MSRP for the 2017 Nissan Titan XD King Cab 5.6-liter Endurance V8:

TITAN XD S King Cab 4×2
$33,560
TITAN XD SV King Cab 4×2
$37,960
TITAN XD S King Cab 4×4
$36,590
TITAN XD SV King Cab 4×4
$40,990
TITAN XD PRO-4X King Cab 4×4
$45,440
MSRP for the 2017 Nissan Titan XD King Cab Cummins 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel:

TITAN XD S King Cab 4×2
$40,110
TITAN XD SV King Cab 4×2
$44,010
TITAN XD S King Cab 4×4
$43,640
TITAN XD SV King Cab 4×4
$46,540
TITAN XD PRO-4X King Cab 4×4
$50,490
2017 Nissan Titan Gallery

Photos & Source: Nissan North America.

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2018 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced Review

2018 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced Review The Toyota Prius Prime Plug-in Hybrid-Electric (PHEV) was new last year, and is already outselling the Tesla Model S, Model X, Chevy Volt, and Bolt. The car is catching on with consumers because Toyota is a leader in hybrid technology and a trusted brand.
We have seen those advantages first-hand this week, as we are driving the top-of-the-line, 2018 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced.
What’s New For 2018
The Prius Prime is unchanged for the 2018 model year.
Features & Options
The range-topping 2018 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced ($33,100) is packed with a long list of tech features. It comes with a power driver’s seat, an 11.6-inch central touchscreen, upgraded multimedia system, premium synthetic leather (SofTex) seats, automatic headlights, keyless entry, satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging.
The Advanced trim also comes with extra technology features like premium audio, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, heated steering wheel, auto-dimming mirror, heads-up display, a smartphone app with a charge management system, remote climate control, rain-sensing wipers, and a semi-automated parking function.
Total MSRP including destination: $33,995.

Interior Highlights
The Prius Prime feels modern inside, and the first thing we noticed was the giant 11.6-inch touch-tablet that controls just about everything. It’s fairly intuitive and you get used to it pretty quickly by simply playing with its many features. The new Prius Prime offers seating for four and comes standard with bucket-style seats in the rear. The front seats are heated and trimmed in a SofTex synthetic leather that’s close to leather upholstery.
Passenger space is typical to what you’ll find in most compact cars, with overall volume being a tad less here than its other Prius stablemates. The raked roofline does cut into head space for taller passengers, but it doesn’t impact visibility from the driver’s seat much.
Prius Prime offers up 19.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which is above average for a compact car but less than the standard Prius hatchback’s 27.4 cubic feet. The cargo hold is less due to the Prime’s rechargeable battery, which is mounted in the rear of the car. The 60/40 split-folding back seat adds extra cargo-carrying ability, however.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The Toyota Prius Prime is powered by a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and a hybrid synergy drive system featuring a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. The hybrid system’s net power is 121 horsepower (90 kW). It comes mated to an electronically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT). The combination drives the front wheels.
The Prius Prime gets an EPA-estimated 54 combined mpg on gas only, and 133 MPGe electricity plus gasoline, making it one of the most fuel-efficient plug-in hybrids available. It has an all-electric driving range of 25 miles and when fully fueled and charged, the Prius Prime has a range of 640 miles.
Unlike battery-electric vehicles, the Prius Prime does not need a special home charger which will save owners thousands. On a 120 volt circuit, the Prime can charge to 100 percent in about five and a half hours. Homeowners that use a dedicated 240 volt circuit will be able to recharge in about two hours.

Driving Dynamics
Aside from the annoying drone of the continuously variable transmission winding up under power, the Prius Prime can be fun-to-drive with its surge of electric acceleration. It was especially enjoyable as we zipped around Denver with ease because of its compact size.
The Prius Prime doesn’t offer the greatest acceleration when getting up to highway speeds, but it shines in the fuel mileage department. We noticed more cabin noise than the traditional Prius, likely because of its harder tires designed for maximum mileage. But the engine noise from the 1.8-liter plant is well suppressed.
We took the compact hybrid up in the high country as we headed up I-70 into the mountains west of Denver, and found it to have ample power. In the tight mountain corners, the Prius Prime didn’t lean over too much; the city-hauler hugged the curves fairly well.
Conclusion
The Prius Prime more than doubles the range of the past Prius Plug-in Hybrid, while offering more standard equipment and technology. Those looking for a fuel-efficient commuter should consider the 2018 Toyota Prius Prime. It offers consumers one of the best overall values of any vehicle on the market.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Toyota Prius Prime Gallery

2018 Toyota Prius Official Site.
Photos: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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2019 Ram 1500 “Classic” To Sell Alongside All-New Model

2019 Ram 1500 “Classic” To Sell Alongside All-New Model A new addition – or perhaps existing family member – is coming to the Ram truck lineup. A “Classic Badge” is planned and will be sold alongside the all-new 2019 Ram 1500. The truck maker will offer both the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic (known internally as the “DS” model) and the all-new Ram 1500 (internally as “DT”) at its North American dealers through 2018.
“As we launch the all-new 2019 Ram 1500, we didn’t want to walk away from a key part of the light-duty truck market,” explained Mike Manley, Head of Ram Brand – FCA. “Ram will continue to produce the 1500 Classic targeted at entry and commercial buyers.”
Ram says the 1500 Classic carries a number of segment-exclusive features in areas “most important to truck buyers.” The truck maker points to their link-coil rear suspension and RamBox bedside storage system that allows for easier cargo hauling. The all-new 2019 Ram 1500 was subjected to an extensive redesign before hitting the market, something we learned about in-depth earlier this year.
The 2019 Ram 1500 endures quality and durability testing on the company’s Road Test Simulator in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Packages & Trim Levels
The Classic will be available as a Regular Cab with an 8 or 6 foot, 4 inch-bed; Quad Cab with a 6 foot, 4 inch-bed; Crew Cab short bed (5 feet, 7 inches), or a Crew Cab with an optional 6 foot, 4 inch-bed. The Classic comes with three powertrian choices (4×2 or 4×4): the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, 5.7-liter Hemi, and the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel, although Ram says the diesel will not be available until later on.
The Classic has three new packages: Chrome Plus, offered for the Tradesman, which includes chrome bumpers, 17-inch wheels, and keyless entry; the Tradesman SXT, which also includes chrome bumpers, plus a five-inch radio display, fog lamps, dual exhaust for the Hemi models, and 20-inch wheels; finally, the “Express Black Accent Package” for the Express trim adds a number of blacked-out elements, including the wheels, headlight bezels, and badging.
Tradesman, Express, Big Horn/Lone Star, and SSV (Special Services Vehicle) make up the available trim levels.
Manufacturing & Availability
The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic is built at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Warren, Michigan. Since opening in 1938, the facility has produced more than 12.5 million trucks. Regular Cab and some Crew Cab Classic models will be built at the Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant in Saltillo, Mexico.
Expect the Ram 1500 Classic at Ram dealerships in the fourth quarter of this year.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: FCA US LLC.

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Iconic Lamborghini Miura SVR Restored By Automaker’s New, Special Division

Iconic Lamborghini Miura SVR Restored By Automaker’s New, Special Division Like seemingly every other high end car maker in the known universe, Lamborghini has gotten into the factory restoration business. They call it Lamborghini Polo Storico, and no, I have no idea what the Polo is about (I checked and it has nothing to do with Ralph Lauren). And I’ve got to say, good choice of cars to start with Lamborghini: A Miura SVR.
Family Tree
Lambo’s Miura needs no introduction for you cognoscenti out there. The Miura, named after a famous breeder of Spanish fighting bulls (indeed, it was a Miura, Isolero, that gored and killed the great Manolete in 1947); the “normal” ones are interesting enough: transverse mid-engine V12, glorious styling courtesy of Gandini, all that kind of stuff. Then Ferruccio tweaked it a little, and made the Miura P400, then the P400 S, then the P400 SV, the SV Jota (which should have been the final version) and at the top of the hill, performance and rarity-wise, the P400 SVR.
This particular Miura, chassis number 3781, engine number 2511, and body number 383, started out as an S version and was originally painted in Verde Miura with black interior, or green over black. It was originally delivered to the Lamborauto dealership in Turin, on November 30th 1968, after being displayed at the 50th Turin Motor Show. After changing hands a staggering eight times by 1974, it was bought by a German guy, Heinz Straber. Straber took it back to Sant’Agata to have it converted into an SVR race car.
This job was turned around after a rocket-fast 18 months of work (18!!).
Lamborghini Miura SVR as restored by Lamborghini Polo Storico. Photo: Automobili Lamborghini.
Traveling Abroad
Then the ownership trail got seriously odd. In 1976, the car was sold to a Japanese fella by the name of Hiromitsu Ito, who took it home to Japan. Lambo says that, once there, it caused “quite a sensation,” which is an understatement of the first order. The Miura SVR was the inspiration for the Circuit Wolf manga comic book series. The fabled Miura SVR, a race car evolution of the Jota, was developed by Lamborghini test driver Bob Wallace and, after Wallace totaled his Jota in an accident, ceaseless customer demand led Automobili Lamborghini to build a few Miura SVJ models and a single Miura SVR, which turned out to be chassis 3781.
Then 3781, which served as the “model” for the vehicle used in the Circuit Wolf comic book, was used as the reference model for the Kyosho toy version.
Which brings us up to more or less the present day, when Lambo got the thing back, returned to its former splendor by the Polo Storico specialists. Fittingly, it was then exhibited during an event organized in its honor at Nakayama Circuit in Japan.
“The full restoration took 19 months and required a different approach to the way we normally work,” explained Paolo Gabrielli, Director of the Polo Storico and Lamborghini Head of After Sales. “The original production sheet wasn’t of much help, as we relied mostly on the specifications from the 1974 modifications. The challenge for the Polo Storico team was even more daunting as the car arrived in Sant’Agata in pieces, although the parts were all there, and with considerable modifications.”

Handle With Care
Lamborghini Polo Storico, based at the company’s HQ in Sant’Agata Bolognese, is the specialized unit dedicated to the restoration and certification of Lamborghini models that have been out of production for at least 10 years. So it functions as Lambo’s version of Ferrari’s Classiche or Lancia/Abarth’s White Book programs.
Polo Storico is also in charge of preserving archives and records, and with managing the supply of original spare parts for classic cars, which will come with a sigh of relief for Diablo owners looking for fuel injection control computers (seriously, go look it up if you want a good laugh). Lamborghini says they are committed to producing enough original spare parts to cover over 65 percent of their models.
Expect to see more spectacularly-restored Lamborghinis emerging from the Polo Storico shops, but I have to say, it will be very hard to top this one.
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
Lamborghini Miura SVR Gallery

Photos & Source: Automobili Lamborghini.

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