Automotive

2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition: All About Dat Handling

2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition: All About Dat Handling Ah, yes: an improved Toyota 86! The 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition, the direct, linear descendant of the ToyoBaru 2012 sports car that everyone seemed to love, but everyone one said needed more power. And now? Better brakes, better dampers, better tires . . . better engine? No, but better is better, right?
Full disclosure here: I have never driven one of these. And that’s too bad. Everyone seems to like these little guys. I sort of look at them as being the Miata coupe that Mazda never made. With that Subaru flat-four, their smaller size and great handling, these things got to be an absolute terror on an AutoX course.
Could they use more power? Is that a trick question? Of course they could use more power. Everything could use more power. So, what exactly do we get?
Ride & Handling
For starters it’s all about dat handling. The 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition is North America’s highest performance version of this ride, thanks to the inclusion of SACHS dampers, whompingly huge Brembo brakes – 12.8-inchers up front and 12.4s out the back – exclusive 18 x 7.5-inch alloy wheels, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires (215/40R18) at all four corners.
Those SACHS dampers foster sharper steering response and enhance stability. The extra-large, four-piston front, two-piston rear Brembo brakes have enough mechanical and thermal power to haul down a freight train. Which is good since all that stopping power is affected upon the tarmac via those Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires.
And yes, those are great tires. And yes, they cost a lot. And yes, they last about as long as a crepe. But what’a’ya’gonna’do?
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Exterior Treatments
The outside of every 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition is painted in Raven (i.e. black), with that TRD tricolor graphic splashed here and there. There’s also a TRD body kit and exhaust with brushed stainless steel tips. There’s the LED projector-beam headlights, color-keyed power mirrors, front fender-mounted vortex generators, and 17-inch twisted spoke alloy wheels.
Interior Layout
The inside also lets you know you’re driving in something beyond run-of-the-mill. The telescoping steering wheel is red and black-trimmed with red contrast stitching; the sport bucket seats are red and black with side bolsters, and there’s a Granlux suede-like covering on the instrument cluster. The TRD logo is embroidered on the passenger side instrument panel, and there’s red contrast stitching all over the place – even the seatbelts are red.
The 4.2-inch TFT Multi-Information Display provides essential data like G-forces, stopwatch, horsepower and torque curves, engine coolant and oil temperatures, and fuel consumption.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Engine & Transmission
All of this is propelled via the Subaru-sourced, 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine fed by Toyota’s D-4S Dual Injection System. Bottom line: 205 horsepower and 156 lb-ft. of torque. That boxer-four is coupled to the 86’s standard six-speed manual transmission using a triple-cone mesh synchromesh on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears, plus the ball-bearing-mounted shift linkage and reverse gear lock-out protection.
There’s an optional, six-speed electronically-controlled automatic with “super-fast” shifts, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, a Sport Mode, and Dynamic Rev Management technology that “blips” the throttle on downshifts.
The cherry on top? A standard Torsen limited-slip differential. Oo mama!
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Pricing & Availability
Production of the 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition will be limited to only 1,418 with a retail price of $32,420. Which . . . yeah, I know, it’s not fair to compare a new car’s performance and price to the used market, but still. 33K? There’s a lot of used sports cars out there that fit that budget that are amazing.
But hey, if you want a new car, and one that’s a blast to drive, you could do much worse than a 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz
Photos & Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Stoned Soul Picnics & Ventura Highways

2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Stoned Soul Picnics & Ventura Highways Compact. Sporty. Trunk space. Ambient lights for days. These are the headlines should the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class ever become a newspaper. Astute Mercedes-Benz aficionados might well remember the original 1997 A-Class, and certinately the CLA Coupe in 2013 which marked the first time in recent history a compact Mercedes-Benz was sold in the United States.
Menu items like the CLA-Class are important for Mercedes-Benz. In 2017, about one in two buyers of a Mercedes-Benz compact car in the U.S. had previously driven the competition, and more than 50 percent of CLA customers are new to the brand.
It looks like the A-Class will do something similar with its two flavors: the A 220 and A 220 4MATIC.
Power & Performance
A turbo 2.0-liter inline-four engine will propel the new A-Class around town. Toss in a healthy 188 horsepower, 221 lb-ft. of torque, and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and the daily commute should go off without a hitch.
Although they don’t go into detail, Mercedes-Benz says a “choice of suspension systems” will be available. We do know the front axle is a McPherson design with a weight-optimized, torsion-beam rear axle. The 4MATIC models have an adaptive damping system, and wheels range from 17 to 19 inches.
2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Photo: MBUSA.
Structural Design
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class will come with a generous array of active safety features – in fact, it can drive semi-autonomously in certain conditions as it leverages technology from its grand daddy, the S-Class. Yet, the A-Class has passive safety designs that are equally as important, being it’s the first Mercedes-Benz developed at the Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety.
The body of the new A-Class – or its very DNA – has been subjected to extreme accident and collision testing. Thus, body shell components were developed with respect to load and stress capacity, geometry, material thickness, joining technology, and material quality; the latter meaning there is an increased proportion of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel throughout the vehicle. The result is increased rigidity when subjected to an accident or collision.
Photo: MBUSA.
Four Dimensional
Mercedes-Benz is keen on four specific metrics here: The car’s length is 179.1 inches; width: 70.7 inches; height: 56.9 inches, and the 107.4-inch wheelbase. The significance of these numbers is available space inside. Small car? Yes. Cramped? No. Designers were deliberate in creating this effect inside the A-Class, evidenced in little ways, from the dashboard to the “free-standing cockpit” array.
The “5th Dimension” (great music) of the A-Class is the trunk, to which Mercedes-Benz (despite touting it) does not give any exact measurements; just that is was designed with a large opening for the easy loading of big items. As an aside, a car’s trunk is always the fifth dimension. You never know what treasures have been left unattended in there.
Photo: MBUSA.
Sixth Dimension
The lines between science fiction and compact car have blurred with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Take the new MBUX – or Mercedes-Benz User Experience system – for example. Sure, it has the main things off the bat: voice control and a touchscreen – that’s to be expected, but MBUX goes farther with Artificial Intelligence. Mercedes-Benz says the system creates an emotional connection between the vehicle, driver, and passengers.
How?
Again, Mercedes-Benz didn’t give us a lot of detail, but it seems drivers talk to the A-Class through natural speech recognition technology. For example, saying “Hey Mercedes” brings MBUX to life. MBUX is also compatible with Car-to-X Communication, or the transmission of vital information to the A-Class from other vehicles or the surrounding infrastructure in the interest of keeping occupants safe.
And finally, there are 64 colors of optional ambient lighting. Yes. 64. Pick one and throw on that old Stoned Soul Picnic record. Or the Homecoming record. Ventura Highway probably sounds pretty cool in the visual aroma of 64 different ambient lights.
2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class interior layout. Photo: MBUSA.
Manufacturing & Availability
A-Class production will begin shortly in Aguascalientes in central Mexico with the Rastatt Plant in Germany joining in the manufacturing duties in 2019. Expect the new A-Class in the United States later this year. It seems like the A-Class would be a logical addition to the new subscription service Mercedes-Benz recently unveiled.
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.
2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Gallery

Photos & Source: MBUSA.

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Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC Emerges, Dials Down On Product Development

Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC Emerges, Dials Down On Product Development Recently, Ford Motor Company made a substantial move in Detroit, acquiring Michigan Central Station in Corktown with the intention of making it an innovation hub for future mobility. And the automaker is already making good on that promise with the formation of Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC, an organization focused on accelerating autonomous car growth.
Vast Network
Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC consists of self-driving systems integration, autonomous vehicle research and advanced engineering, autonomous transportation-as-a-service network development, user experience, and the business strategy and business development teams. These individual arms represent critical pockets of Ford’s autonomous vehicle platform, now together under one roof as they operate primarily from Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood.
“Ford has made tremendous progress across the self driving value chain – from technology development to business model innovation to user experience,” explained Jim Hackett, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company. “Now is the right time to consolidate our autonomous driving platform into one team to best position the business for the opportunities ahead.”
Graphic: Ford Motor Company.
Investments & Leadership
The new LLC, which is structured to take on third party investment, will hold Ford’s ownership stake in Argo AI, the company’s Pittsburgh-based partner for self-driving system development. Ford expects to invest $4 billion in its autonomous vehicle efforts through 2023, including a $1 billion investment in Argo AI.
“The evolution of computing power and IT have helped bring great products to customers – from cars to tablets,” Hackett said. “We can now harness this technology to unlock a new world of vehicle personalization, supply chain choreography, and inventory leanness that rivals any industrial model in the world.”
Sherif Marakby, currently Ford’s Vice President of Autonomous Vehicles and Electrification, was appointed CEO of Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC. Marakby will report to a board of directors chaired by Marcy Klevorn, Ford Executive Vice President and President, Mobility.
“The closer alignment of the self-driving platform and the mobility solutions teams will allow faster development of businesses that can thrive in the pre- and post-autonomous vehicle worlds,” reads a statement from Ford.
Ford has been testing autonomous vehicles for more than 10 years. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Flexible Solutions
Ford is also developing flexible vehicle architectures with the intention of slicing product development time – from initial sketch to customer delivery – by 20 percent. Ford’s five flexible vehicle architectures – body-on-frame, front-wheel drive unibody, rear-wheel drive unibody, commercial van unibody and BEV – are paired with module “families” that address necessary vehicle configurations.
Ford says 70 percent of each vehicle’s engineering will be derived from this new approach, with 30 percent of content – including grilles, hoods, and doors – customized uniquely for each vehicle.
Ford wants the most efficient product development process among full-line automakers within five years, noting that by 2020, their average “showroom age” will drop from 5.7 to 3.3 years. Ford goes on to say the product teams will put greater emphasis on human-centered designs and customer insights as they look to replace three-quarters of their vehicle lineup.
“We’re looking at every part of our business, making it more fit, and ensuring that every action we take is driven by what will serve our customers in a way that supports our fitness and performance goals,” Hackett said.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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2017 Monterey: The new BMW Concept Z4 picks up where the last Z4 left off

2017 Monterey: The new BMW Concept Z4 picks up where the last Z4 left off Just when you thought BMW’s efforts with the Z roadster were kaput, Munich unveils the new BMW Concept Z4 at Pebble Beach.

What’s going on?
Monterey Car Week! That’s what’s going on! And of course, that means the world-famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is happening. While there’s plenty of old school iron to drool over, especially in conditions and donning values that even make the “One Percent” weep, several manufacturers still decided to steal some of the limelight. In this case, BMW is one of those several manufacturers.
In addition to debuting the hotly anticipated BMW Concept 8 Series on North American soil for the first time, BMW also introduced the Concept Z4. Rumors suggested BMW was ending its slow-selling roadster, implying the segment wasn’t active enough, hindering the company’s interest to introduce a model. But those rumors were clearly wrong as the compact sports roadster segment shows its alive and well.
Cool! But will it remain as a concept?

Upon initial glance, there appears to be a lot going on with the Concept Z4’s aesthetics, making one wonder how watered-down it’ll be when it reaches production. Although fairly futuristic in its design, like the Concept 8 Series, BMW insists both cars preview near-production-ready designs. We imagine things like wheel designs, side-view mirrors, and lighting details will change but overall, BMW promises the general design will remain.
“The Concept Z4 expresses the new BMW design language from all perspectives and in all details,” said BMW’s chief designer, Adrian van Hooydonk. “From the dynamic-looking front to the striking flanks to the clean-cut tail end: a few lines and the subtle interplay between surfaces are enough to generate a sense of power and emotion.”
What powers it?
Not may details are available. Word on the street says it gets six-cylinder power, meaning it’s likely the latest and greatest rendition of BMW’s ubiquitous twin-turbo inline-six.
Overall however, the Concept Z4 proves skeptical rumors wrong and breaks cover with a very eclectic, modern, and edgy design, thoroughly epitomizing a new modern peak in automotive design.
I’m personally on the fence about it and would need to view it in person to get a better idea. It’s neither ugly nor good looking in pictures, but in person, it could be an entirely different experience.
What do you think of the new BMW Concept Z4?
– By: Chris Chin
BMW Concept Z4 Gallery

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BMW Unveils Two Concepts, Showcases Racing History During Monterey Car Week

BMW Unveils Two Concepts, Showcases Racing History During Monterey Car Week

BMW unveiled two concepts during its annual Monterey Car Week Press Conference at the Lodge at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Reviewing Stand. The first was the Concept 8 Series, originally shown at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May; the second, the Concept Z4, made its world debut.
The concepts are a spitting image of the production vehicles BMW plans to reveal over the course of 2018.
Concept 8
The last time the 8 Series was in existence, SpongeBob SquarePants was premiering on Nickelodeon and Napster was allowing users to download music. The BMW 8 Series Coupe will hit the road next year with the distinct luxury and performance elements synonymous with the German automaker. The return of the 8 Series draws on BMW’s rich history as well.
“The number 8 and cars like the Z8 Roadster and i8 have represented the pinnacle of sports performance and exclusivity at BMW,” explained Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “The forthcoming BMW 8 Series Coupe will demonstrate that razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury can go hand-in-hand.”
The Concept 8 is a modern interpretation of BMW’s styling cues, with particular attention given to the vehicle’s clear surfaces and crisp lines. BMW intends the 8 Series to be regarded as the ultimate “driver’s car.”
“This will be the next model in the expansion of our luxury-car offering and will raise the benchmark for coupes in the segment,” Krüger said. “In the process, we will strengthen our claim to leadership in the luxury class.”
BMW Concept 8 Series. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Concept Z4
The Concept Z4 Roadster reflects BMW’s vision for the perfect, modern roadster. Complete with a long wheelbase and low-slung silhouette, the Concept Z4 Roadster puts the driver more in the center when compared to prior BMW roadsters. Like the 8 Series, design is paramount here, being regarded as one of the most important aspects of the Concept Z4 Roadster.
“The concept expresses the new BMW design language from all perspectives and in all details,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President, BMW Group Design. “From the dynamic-looking front to the striking flanks to the clean-cut tail end: a few lines and the subtle interplay between surfaces are enough to generate a sense of power and emotion.”
BMW Concept Z4 Roadster. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.

Around Town
The BMW Concept 8 Series will be on display at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on Friday, August, 18th, and on the Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Sunday August 20th. The Concept Z4 Roadster will be on the Concept Lawn of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday as well, but that’s the only time it’s expected to be displayed in North America.
BMW will run two classic race cars in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The famous #25 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL IMSA Group 4 will, one last time, be driven by retiring BMW of North America President Ludwig Willisch. The #21 1972 ALPINA BMW 2002ti will be raced by Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW Group Head of Design, who is quoted above. Both will race in Group 4A on Saturday, August 19th.
BMW is also showcasing the #42 BMW V12 LMR, which has a vibrant and extensive story. In the seven races in which it competed during the 1999 season, the BMW V12 LMR landed 10 podiums and five victories, including the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 1999 12 Hours of Sebring, and the Monterey Sports Car Championship. In total, there are only four V12 LMRs in existence of which one was the basis for the fifteenth BMW Art Car created by American artist Jenny Holzer.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
BMW Concept 8 Series Gallery

BMW Concept Z4 Roadster Gallery

Photos & Source: BMW of North America, LLC.
Cover Photo: BMW V12 LMR.

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Audi R8 V10 plus Spyder Makes U.S. Debut During Monterey Car Week

Audi R8 V10 plus Spyder Makes U.S. Debut During Monterey Car Week

The Audi R8 V10 plus Spyder will make its U.S. debut this weekend during Monterey Car Week. The automaker is celebrating their Motorsports heritage and showcasing their top performance vehicles for attendees. Audi plans to display race cars that have inspired their production counterparts at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, including the R8 LMS GT3, the RS 3 LMS, and the R8 LMS GT4.
Performance Pinnacle

On Friday, August 18th, the Audi R8 V10 plus Spyder will debut for U.S. car enthusiasts at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. The event features some of the world’s finest and rarest automobiles, and for Audi, it’s the perfect venue for a vehicle they define as their “pinnacle of performance.” The R8 V10 plus Spyder has the same naturally-aspirated V10 as the R8 LMS racecar, prompting Audi to describe the R8 as, “the best representation of how the production models benefit from developments and technologies first used in Motorsport.”
The R8 V10 plus Spyder hits 60 mph in 3.3 seconds with its naturally-aspirated 5.2-liter V10 and seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission. It’s the fastest production convertible Audi has ever produced.
Audi R8 V10 plus Spyder. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
VIP Events
Beginning Thursday, August 17th and running through Sunday, August 20th, Audi will have an exclusive driving experience for VIP guests at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Invited guests will get behind the wheel of an R8 V10 for the Audi Sport Performance Drive, complete with a tour around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Audi fans will also enjoy the display of race cars that have inspired the brand’s Sport line, revealed earlier this year at the New York International Auto Show. On display will be the R8 LMS GT3, which shares half of its parts with the R8 street car, and the R8 LMS GT4, which shares more than 60 percent of its components with the R8 Coupe. Audi will also display the all-new RS 5 Coupe and the Sport quattro S1. This year happens to mark the 30th anniversary of Walter Röhrl’s record setting climb to the top of Pike’s Peak in the S1.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photos & Source: Audi of America, Inc.

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Letter From The UK: Being A Motor Man

Letter From The UK: Being A Motor Man It’s all about the rightness of things, do you see? This dilemma that people of the male persuasion have to deal with because all men believe they are in the right. If, and I know you’ll find this hard to grasp, they are wrong it is always on a silly technicality, and that basically their wrongness is actually based on a solid grounding of rightness.
If others can’t see that, well, that’s their problem isn’t it?
Men Make The Best Drivers
Take driving. We all believe we are good drivers and if others think we are not, then they’re wrong and they are obviously acolytes of that pious, self-righteous, anti-car lobby of witless dullards who wouldn’t know driving skill if it jumped up and bit them. This sort of challenge to man’s inherent driving superiority is like a red rag to a bull.
We’ll show them.
Here in the UK there exists another group of people – for the sake of argument we’ll call “women” – who insist on referring to we mature fellows as “boy racers.” This is missing the point. If you want to enrage a bull you wave a red flag at it and it all kicks off. It can be like that in marriages too although the flag is optional. Mostly it’s just bull.
Traditionally and historically, men have done the driving and women the criticizing; that’s the natural order of things. This is the point: Over the last few decades more and more of the distaff side have taken to the wheel and yet we, the blokes, are still the ones at fault.
It just isn’t fair. Or right.

Or Is It?
It’s a hard truth to swallow, but perhaps – only perhaps mark you – the “boy racer” tag has something to it. Car makers are at fault of course for making all those great vehicles over the decades. The rot really set in at the tail end of the 1950s here in Great Britain when the Mini first became available. Acne-afflicted adenoidal youths discovered the sheer chuck-ability of the tiny wheeled wonder and drove accordingly, and it sort of stuck with them.
We up-specified them, fitted sporting cylinder heads, a Cherry Bomb exhaust, doubled the number of carburetors, and the rest is history.
The “boy racers” of yesteryear have grown up now and purchased Porsches and powerful BMWs believing that road conditions have never changed and their own reflexes are as they always were, back in those blossoming years of lusting flush and not in any way dulled by age or infirmity. This is why, when someone adjacent on the road drives badly we become incensed and determined to prove we can do it better. The rules say we should turn the other cheek and report the miscreant to the authorities; but this is not the manly way.

The Reason Why
You see, the problem for chaps is that they routinely suffer from an illness called Machismo. Characteristics of this terrible disease include a feeling of dominance, fierceness, and bravado and really you should feel sorry for them when so afflicted, bless them. Not wrong, right; just misunderstood. It is a well known medical fact, for example, that driving fast cars actually does make men more virile and attractive so it’s no wonder there’s trouble.
So men will continue to labor under the misnomer of “boy racer” and this is likely to only be changed by something radical like death by old age. This is because it never leaves you. The great and legendary British motor-racing Knight Of The Realm, Sir Stirling Moss himself, is on record saying he got into motor racing because it was dangerous. It’s the buzz! It’s the charge! There’s nothing we can do about it.
The final word lies in a famous expression: “When I was a boy I drove as a boy. Now that I am a man I’ll drive how the heck I like.”
From memory this may not be exactly the correct quote, but I’m probably right.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite

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Stock Market Or Cars? Where To Invest? The Data Might Surprise You

Stock Market Or Cars? Where To Invest? The Data Might Surprise You Rarely, if ever, have cars been an “investment” in my life. For myself and countless other gearheads around the world, cars are not a way to make money, they are a perfectly efficient way to lose money. This is not to say classic cars cannot make money in the long run . . . just that 99.99999% of the time, they end up costing you bread, not earning it. If you’re going to invest, the stock market seems more likely.
Now, it seems, some people would beg to differ.
Cash For Classics
According to Kwik-Lift, manufacturers of high-strength steel home and repair shop maintenance lifts, “investing” money in certain cars is actually a good thing. Kwik-Lift says their data “proves” investing in a classic or soon-to-be classic car can offer a better return than putting money into the stock market.
Kwik-Lift bases this on five of the most expensive vehicles Barrett-Jackson sold in January. Kwik-Lift compared those sale values with what the same amount of cash would have gotten you compared with the return from the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index. Kwik-Lift concluded that their study “verified that collector cars are indeed a solid investment.”
And it’s not just Kwik-Lift. I recently read that a German investment firm said more or less the same thing about “investing” in classic 911s. And yes, while the German’s article does jive with what Kwik-Lift is saying, it’s also worth noting that used 911 prices added another zero in the past few years, which should skew the Germans dataset a little, one would think.
What it also does is put “reasonable” 911s out of reach for average guys like me, which totally bums me out. But that’s another story.
Will the 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS be a classic one day? Is it worth buying now in the hopes it will increase in value in 50 years? Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Critical Questions
I can hear my investment banker friends laughing all the way out here in the boonies. There’s a bunch of things here that would get you laughed out of an Econ 101 class at the local community college.
First off, they’re using numbers from Barrett-Jackson, an auction company. Auctions are obviously very volatile sales environments, so their sales values are always taken with a grain of salt. Two: “sold in January 2018.” A one month sample size? Three: “five of the most expensive vehicles Barrett-Jackson sold.” Five cars? And only the most expensive? Again, too small a sample and you’ve already pre-skewed it.
Four: “these results were calculated by using a dollar amount invested into Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index . . . and comparing it to the same dollar amount to purchase a vehicle.” What dollar amount? Compared to the S&P when? Over which time period? For how long?
Essentially, what Kwik-Lift did was take the cars in question, see what they sold for new from the dealer back in the day, see what B-J auctioned them for, and calculated the percentage gain over the years. Compare that directly against what Standard & Poor’s would have done over the same period of time, and abracadabra, a 1968 L88 Corvette is a “good investment.”
But here’s the thing: of course it looks like a better investment than the stock market in hindsight. In hindsight.
1968 Chevrolet Corvette Sport Coupe. Photo: GM Media Archive.
Money Talks
Back in 1950, Jackson Pollock painted Lavender Mist, an enormous abstract expressionist painting that hung in Peggy Guggenheim’s gallery for months with a price tag of $10,000. It finally sold, off the books, for around eight grand (if I’m remembering this right). And yeah, eight-large could have bought you a house back then, but still, do you know how much a Pollock of this caliber goes for today?
Hundreds of millions of dollars. Hundreds.
The point being, sure, you could have made a lot of money buying low back in the day and selling (very) high in the present day on something that is currently very desirable. But how do you know what you can buy today that will be seriously valued 50 years from now? You can’t, that’s the answer to that question.
Which is why serious investors, people who invest money for a living, people who own banks, for example, do not put their money in big block Corvettes, short wheelbase 911s or abstract paintings hanging in galleries in Manhattan. You know where they put their money? In banks. In the stock market. In the Standard & Poor’s 500. In real estate. That’s where you invest money, not in cars. You don’t make money with cars, you spend money on cars.
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

Cover Photo: 1970 Pontiac GTO by Darwin Holmstrom, from the book Pontiac GTO 50 Years also authored by Holmstrom.

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2019 Audi A8: A Bahn-Burner of The First Order

2019 Audi A8: A Bahn-Burner of The First Order I’ve always had a soft spot for the big Audi sedans, the A8 and especially the S8. Sure, in the styling department they have faltered from their original taut; understated designs have turned abhorrently generic, but they will still haul you from here to there with amazing speed, grip, and comfort. Now, the 2019 Audi A8 looks to up the game even more.
Audi says their new for 2019 A8 delivers a “modern, serene interior design, usable technology, seamless connectivity and cutting-edge driver assistance features” and who am I to doubt them.
Indeed, as a top-of-the-line luxo-barge, you’d expect a big German sedan, any big German sedan to be dripping with tech. And just as expected, the A8 does not under deliver.
Power & Performance
The most important parts, the powertrain and chassis, get only a scant mention. But what we do know is how the 2019 Audi A8 will launch with its new 3.0-liter V6 TFSI turbo engine, paired with a new 48-volt electric mild-hybrid drivetrain. Audi says the V6 makes 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque.
Gearing is taken care of by an eight-speed tiptronic transmission. Naturally this is mated to a standard quattro all-wheel drive layout with a self-locking center differential. Other chassis and suspension features include adaptive air suspension, available predictive active suspension, and the available dynamic all-wheel steering system.
Comprised of 29 different frame materials and 14 cold and hot joining techniques, Audi says the A8 delivers an “intelligent material matrix” for better handling, comfort, and safety. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Interior Treatments
The interior of the 2019 Audi A8 is, of course, like a German-built UFO. The standard features include heated, 18-way power front seats with lumbar adjustments and memory, power tilt and telescopic steering column with memory, Velveeta and Nacho leather interior, er, sorry, that’s a Valetta Leather interior with Fine Nappa Extended Leather (whatever that is).
The optional air quality package includes an ionizer and aromatization; there is an optional “rear right passenger relaxation seat with heated massaging footrest,” plus aluminum-optic control buttons, and adjustable rear Matrix LED reading lights. Wait, there’s more . . . the smartphone-sized OLED touch remote can be used to customize rear seating and infotainment preferences including the Matrix reading lamps.
The front seats are now 22-way adjustable (with massage and ventilation). The steering wheel is heated, the windows are dual-pane acoustic glass, the front and rear door and center armrests are heated, while folding “productivity tables” are located in the center console.
2019 Audi A8 interior layout. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Technology Hub
Tech and connectivity? Buckle up Buckaroo. The Audi-standard MMI touch response is here, along with two touchscreens. The upper screen is a whopping 10.3-inches and the lower one is 8.6-inches. The driver can store up to seven individual profiles and the A8 has voice interaction with natural language processing. The map and navigation system is entirely new, and the HERE-powered setup learns drive routes over time so the system can make “smarter routing suggestions.”
The new myAudi app enables a greater range of smartphone-controlled vehicle selections. Also standard is the second generation Audi virtual cockpit with a large, 12.3-inch display. There’s an available full-color heads-up display and the Audi smartphone interface works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Available Bang & Olufsen Sound System comes with a Grateful Dead-level 23 speakers with Acoustic Lens Technology, 24-channel BeoCore amplifier, and a huge 1,920 watts worth of 5.1 Surround Sound. Righteous!
2019 Audi A8 on display at the 2018 New York International Auto Show. Photo: Audi of America, Inc
Safety & Security
The suite of driver assistance stuff reads like something from Mr. Spock’s office: The world’s first laser scanner in a production vehicle, improved sensors, and the zFAS central driver assistance computer that processes all of the sensor information. There is also Adaptive Cruise Assist, Intersection Assist, and Audi Pre Sense 360. More than just assisting you, if you do, ahem, get into an accident with your new Audi A8, the on-board emergency gizmos are there to help you out.
Emergency assist detects if you are unresponsive and brings the car to a stop in its lane, engages emergency hazard lights, and places an emergency SOS call.
Pricing & Availability
The 2019 Audi A8 with the 3.0-liter engine will go on sale this fall with a starting price of $83,800. According to Audi, a V8 engine will be available next summer. I can only surmise that, given the scant mentions of the drivetrain, it can only (hopefully) mean the upcoming S8 will be a real luxo-Bahn-burner of the first order.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz
2019 Audi A8 Gallery

Photos & Source: Audi of America, Inc.

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