Automotive

2018 Lincoln Navigator Review: Big, Brash & Loaded With Luxury

2018 Lincoln Navigator Review: Big, Brash & Loaded With Luxury The 2018 Lincoln Navigator is big, brash, loaded with luxury, and makes no apologies for the prestige it exudes. Glamorous, beautiful, and extravagant come to mind when describing this larger-than-life SUV. We could see a movie star or NFL player stepping out of this beauty on the runway before boarding their private jet; or being escorted in it through Hollywood, on their way to the Golden Globe Awards.
What’s New For 2018
The Lincoln Navigator received a total redesign. It’s bigger and heavier, more powerful, and more luxurious than before. This was our experience while recently road testing the 2018 Lincoln Navigator Black Label edition.
Features & Options
The 2018 Lincoln Navigator Black Label ($93,705) comes loaded with automatic climate control, 20-inch wheels, a digital instrument display, a power tailgate, leather seat upholstery, and heated front and second-row seats. Connectivity and infotainment features include a 10-inch touchscreen, Sync 3, navigation with real-time traffic, 4G LTE data services, and 14-speaker audio.
Our tester came with second-row captain’s chairs.
The luxurious Black Label Edition includes distinctive 21-spoke 22-inch wheels, a CD player and 20-speaker audio system, trailer tow package, and the Technology safety pack. The interior is a woodsy theme known as “Destination.” Options include rear seat entertainment ($1,995) and “perfect position seats” with active motion massage ($1,250).
Total MSRP including destination: $98,145.
The 2018 Lincoln Navigator tops the latest J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) study. The study measures owners’ emotional attachment and excitement across 77 different vehicle attributes. The Lincoln Navigator’s score of 915 (out of 1,000) makes it the highest-scoring vehicle in the automotive industry today.
Interior Highlights
Get ready to be pampered when you jump inside the 2018 Lincoln Navigator. Like the name implies, it’s meant for the discerning and for those who can afford the extra luxury this large SUV packs. The Navigator is spacious, lavish, and loaded with the spectacular.
All three rows are bathed in Venetian premium leather that is soft and supple. It’s similar to what you would expect in a lounge chair from Moore & Giles. The interior contains glossy wood panels, chrome trim, and soft-touch materials almost everywhere. The active motion massage allows the driver and front passenger to receive a relaxing massage with the push of a button.
In the back, the luxury and comfort continue with second-row captain’s chairs. Our tester came with the optional rear seat entertainment system for those longer trips. There’s plenty of room to spread out for taller riders and the third row will accommodate adults. Between the rear chairs, a center console provides storage for drinks, snacks, and electronic devices. However, it does limit cargo flexibility.
With all seatbacks upright, cargo volume totals 19.3 cubic feet. Folding down the third rows provides 120.2 cubic feet. The power-folding third-row and power tailgate are standard.
Need even more room? The Extended-Length Navigator might fit the bill.

The new Lincoln Navigator is big, brash, and loaded with luxury.Click To TweetEngine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The Lincoln Navigator is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, producing 450 horsepower and 500 lb-ft. of torque. It comes mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Our tester came with all-wheel drive and class IV trailer towing.
With all-wheel drive, the Navigator is EPA-rated at 16/21 city/highway and 18 combined mpg. The Navigator does take premium fuel to perform its best. However, when compared to other large luxury SUVs, the 2018 Lincoln Navigator holds its own just fine.
The 2018 Lincoln Navigator also earns five stars – the highest possible government crash rating – from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program.
If the Navigator isn’t your style, perhaps the new Ford Expedition is a better fit?
2018 Lincoln Navigator in Burgundy Velvet.
Driving Dynamics
The immense doors open wide for easy entry and exit, and power running boards also help. The first thing we noticed is how quiet the cabin is, and the ride is what you might expect from a luxury SUV in this price range. The 2018 Lincoln Navigator smooths out harsher road surfaces, despite the larger 22-inch wheels on our Black Label trim.
The twin-turbo V6 has plenty of power for any driving situation. On our drive, the extra torque helped pull this big SUV up the mountains in Colorado’s altitude. Even with its hefty size, the Navigator feels like a smaller vehicle because of the massive low-end torque.
We had no problem passing slower vehicles and maneuvering through traffic. The 10-speed automatic does shift frequently, but it’s seldom bothersome. Paddle shifters can be used to manually shift when needed.
You can switch the massaging seats on (and we did) and watch the miles melt away in comfort. Overall, the 2018 Lincoln Navigator is a pleasure to drive, and passengers will find it comfortable on those long drives.

The Lincoln Navigator is a pleasure to drive, and passengers will find it comfortable on those long drives.Click To TweetConclusion
The 2018 Lincoln Navigator delivers supreme comfort and the ultimate in luxury for discerning buyers. Sumptuous interior materials and finishes fill the vast cabin. With the second row captain’s chairs, passengers can turn on the entertainment system and feel like they are in a movie theater. Every time you get behind the wheel, it feels like a special occasion.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Lincoln Navigator Gallery

2018 Lincoln Navigator Official Site.
Photos: Lincoln Motor Company.

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No Tricks Only Treats: These 13 Vehicles Were Made For Halloween!

No Tricks Only Treats: These 13 Vehicles Were Made For Halloween! With Mega Millions turning into Mega Billions these days, it makes you wonder what you might do with a winning ticket. Hence why we came up with this list of Halloween vehicles. Since money would then be no object, what “scary” vehicles would we put in the driveway?
What vehicles would be a real treat this Halloween season?
The Rundown
The vehicles below are in no particular order, and our requirements were relatively simple. Mostly, they needed to have certain capabilities beyond the scope of a normal, daily driver. Like a penchant for off-roading or racing, for instance. Given these vehicles would likely be impulse buys with lottery winnings, they also needed to be reasonably available. In other words, we could put a deposit down or purchase one from a nearby dealer; on Halloween if we wanted.
That eliminates some rather wicked Hollywood rides, admittedly. Stuntman Mike’s Death Proof car, the Jeepers Creepers meat wagon and its mighty horn, and Herbie, the Love Bug are all ineligible. Yes. Herbie. A car that drives and thinks for itself is terrifying.
Enjoy the list and do bug us incessantly on Twitter if we missed a particular car. Whatever you do this Halloween season, drive something with teeth. Here are our top picks.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
Well duh. Obviously. First, for the name alone; second for the 840 horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi!
The SRT Demon is a mighty hammer but an ambitious and calculated one. Advanced mechanical and electronic tuning measures enhance grip and directional control. For example, the upgraded torque converter for the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic multiplies torque by 18 percent. Furthermore, a unique rear knuckle reduces negative camber by 0.5 degrees, “standing up” the sticky drag tires to increase their contact patch.
When launched, more than one ton (2,500 lbs.) is transferred from the Challenger SRT Demon’s front wheels to the rear. And the Challenger SRT Demon breathes like a monster, with the world’s largest functional hood scoop at 45.2 square inches. During a quarter-mile run (9.65 seconds on average), the SRT Demon ingests the lung capacity of 816 humans. 816. 816!
Starting MSRP: Plan for about $85,000 but beware of dealer markup.
Pack Attack: The honorable mentions here are numerous. The Dodge Charger, both in SRT Hellcat and R/T Scat Pack skin, are worth a mention. Don’t forget the Dodge Durango SRT with its 475 horsepower 6.4 Hemi. And there are plenty of options in the Challenger brood aside from the Demon. The R/T Scat Pack 1320, SRT Hellcat Redeye, and SRT Hellcat Widebody are all great ways to scare the neighbors.
Ford Raptor. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Ford Raptor
Dinosaurs are scary. Remember Jurassic Park? The 1993 cinematic masterpiece made us evaluate potential hiding spots should scientists ever go mad with sap-encrusted mosquitoes. Spoiler alert: avoid SUVs and bathrooms. They are T-Rex magnets! Slightly more cuddly were the Velociraptors; and the F-150 Raptor is a truck worth snuggling up to this Halloween.
For hunting down lesser trucks, the F-150 Raptor has a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft. of torque. Hence, running is out of the question but so is hiding. With electronically-controlled Fox 3.0 Internal Bypass shocks, Trail Control and Terrain Management systems, and massive BF Goodrich KO2 tires, the F-150 Raptor out climbs King Kong.
There is no getting away. The F-150 Raptor can smell you. And it’s hungry.
Starting MSRP: $52,855.
Point of Observation: The Ford Explorer was the worst offender in Jurassic Park. Can’t survive one T-Rex attack? No way to trust it against a real predator like potholes.
Lincoln MKT. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Lincoln MKT
Ford makes our list with an entry from their Lincoln arm. Unlike the F-150 Raptor with its massive performance stats, the MKT stands out (despite an EcoBoost engine) for a different reason.
It looks like a hearse.
Starting MSRP: $43,530.
Bonus: The 2018 MKT comes with a THX sound system. Throw on any scary music, from pipe organ solos to Ricky Martin, and the MKT becomes the perfect Halloween decoration for the homestead.
Death Becomes Her: The MKT only narrowly avoided the automotive graveyard. Its second lease on life comes as an option for fleet buyers.
Nissan GT-R. Photo: Nissan North America.
Nissan GT-R
Godzilla crushed a few buildings, so too will you smash a few speed limit signs with this all-wheel drive beast.
Vehicle design was paramount when it came to the 2018 GT-R; any and all visual changes were intended to increase downforce, reduce drag, and terrify smaller sedans. Engineers worked specifically to eliminate “hood deformation” to improve aerodynamic performance at higher speeds. The “curving profile” of the front under spoiler is worth noting too. As in, this is not the car you want to see in your rearview mirror.
Pure, Premium, and Track Edition GT-Rs are equipped with Nissan’s 3.8-liter DOHC 24-valve V6. The engine creates 565 horsepower and 467 lb-ft. of torque. By comparison, the GT-R NISMO is rated at 600 horsepower and 481 lb-ft. of torque. Each engine is hand-assembled in a special clean room by skilled technicians known as Takumi Craftsmen.
Takumi Craftsmen are like the wind . . . you only hear them, never see them.
Starting MSRP: About $100,000 with the NISMO editions climbing to $175,490.
BMW M3 CS. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
BMW M3 CS
The 2018 BMW M3 CS is lighter and more performance-oriented. This philosophy, admittedly, serves better on a list about cars for New Year’s Day – e.g., I’m going to lose weight and get more accomplished this year.
But like the GT-R above, the last thing you want is a BMW M3 CS on your tail, especially if you fancy things made by Mercedes-Benz. The M3 CS dishes out plenty of spine-tingling thrills with a 453 horsepower inline turbo six and a multi-mode Adaptive M Suspension. For good measure, the Active M Differential enhances traction and stability.
Which means, if the BMW M3 CS wants to run you down it will. Easily.
Starting MSRP: Around $98,000.
Point of Observation: Taking into consideration our guidelines for this list, an M3 CS might be hard to come by. BMW made a mere 1,2000 models, 550 of which were designated for the United States.
When carbon fiber and stainless steel tailpipes join forces to create a truly amazing performance car. That’s the story of the 2018 BMW M3 CS. And there’s more engine and suspension stuff too but still . . . read more here.
Bugatti Chiron Sport. Photo: Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.
Bugatti Chiron Sport
Another hard one to come by as just 500 Chiron vehicles are planned for production. On average, only about 70 cars leave the Bugatti factory yearly as is. The high-society Chiron Sport is the latest result of such precise manufacturing, complete with a more dynamic handling package, stiffer suspension, and special torque vectoring contorls.
The Chiron Sport’s lap times on the Nardò handling circuit are five seconds better than the normal Chiron. Five seconds is an eternity. Michael Myers could cover a respectable distance in that amount of time.
Starting MSRP: €2.65 million net, or $3.26 million for the U.S. market, including transport, customs duties, taxes, and fees. But the most terrifying thing about any Chiron? Maintenance costs. Don’t Google them either. You will make yourself sicker than that time you ate all your Halloween candy in one night.
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
The front grille of the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera mirrors a honeycomb, and not by happenstance. Designers took inspiration from nature and found it among the bees. Things that sting. Let’s recall other famous scary things associated with bees. Like the Candyman for example.
The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is powered by a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12, cranking out 700 plus horsepower and 650 lb-ft. of torque. That should strike fear in unsuspecting sedans on the interstate.
MSRP: $304,995.
Point of Observation: The 2015 flick Stung shows what happens when giant killer wasps descend on ritzy garden parties. But you don’t have to worry. You drove your DBS Superleggera to the event. When the stingin’ starts, jump in that bad boy and outrun those ravenous, blood-thirsty hornets.
$304,995? Worth every penny now, huh?
Kia Stinger GT2. Photo: Kia Motors America.
Kia Stinger
Speaking of getting stung, it’s even more painful from an automaker you don’t expect.
Kia’s engineers put the Stinger through nearly 500 laps of high-intensity driving around the Nürburgring, the equivalent of about 6,200 miles. The foundation for Kia’s Gran Turismo car is a stiff, NVH resistant chassis, comprised of 55 percent advanced high-strength steel. The available 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 Lambda II engine packs 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft. of torque for a top speed of 167 mph.
The Audi S5 Sportback, BMW 440i Gran Coupe, and Infiniti Q50 should mind the hair on the back of their necks. If it stands up, it’s a Kia Stinger on their six.
Starting MSRP: $31,900 for the base Stinger. Premium and GT grades come in at $37,100 and $38,350, respectively.
Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
Another “stinger” in its own right, the Fiat 124 Spider lives up to that scorpion insignia with a turbo-four sending 164 horsepower to the rear wheels. Toss in the Bilstein sport suspension, mechanical limited-slip differential, and Brembo brakes, and the 124 Spider Abarth has treats galore for your Halloween tastes.
Starting MSRP: Right around $30,000. Not bad at all.
Need more speed? An in-depth look at the fastest cars in the world today.
Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison. Photo: Chevrolet.
Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison
Remember those little shop trucks that would run around town, making deliveries or service runs? Wonder where they went? Well now we know. The ZR2 Bison trampled them. To death.
The Bison ZR2 comes with an Autotrac transfer case, front and rear locking differentials, and Multimatic DSSV dampers. The Bison sports a 3.42:1 rear axle ratio and 3.5-inch wider front and rear tracks. The suspension is raised by two inches and an optional hood snorkel allows for more efficient engine breathing.
In other words, just like the Raptor, there is no hiding from the Bison. It can smell you. And it’s hungry.
On the engine front, a 3.6 V6 generates 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft. of torque. The available Duramax diesel, by comparison, joins the party with 186 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque.
Starting MSRP: Chevy has not released pricing, although the truck is expected in January.
Rezvani TANK Military Edition Photo: Rezvani Motors.
Rezvani TANK Military Edition
The zombies in I Am Legend were smart. And brainy brain-eaters can only be evaded by bullish and brawny vehicles. Ask Will Smith how that Ford Expedition worked out. Spoiler alert. It didn’t.
Hence, why we need the Rezvani TANK Military Edition.
This World War Z cruiser comes with two engines: a 6.4-liter, 500 horsepower V8 or a 6.2-liter 707 horsepower V8. If those figures look familiar, it’s becasue they are sourced from the Dodge Charger and Challenger lineup, the latter engine being of the Hellcat variety. And the TANK Military Edition is lighter than it looks too, clocking in at 4,300 lbs.
When fighting through the hordes, engage the magnetic dead-bolts and electrified door handles. As the zombies try to grab on, they will be in for a shock. After that, deploy the “Smoke Screen” feature so you can stage your getaway.
Starting MSRP: $295,000. But your other option is to re-enforce some parking shuttles. Ask the characters in the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead how well that went. Spoiler alert. It didn’t.
This #Halloween season, drive something with teeth!Click To TweetThe Minivan
So you sold your soul. It’s not that bad. It’s like The Body Snachers kinda. Once you’ve been “snatched” you don’t exactly know it. You still walk around and stuff. Just without emotion. Like Adam Sandler in Click, minus the angelic Christopher Walken to mentor you.
Toyota Prius
At first glance, there is nothing scary about Toyota’s fuel sipper but consider this: while we should fear mountain lions, it’s the domesticated cats that subtly flop down in our path with the intention to trip us in our own home.
You have been warned.
Happy Halloween!
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

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2019 Toyota Avalon Appears In Detroit

2019 Toyota Avalon Appears In Detroit
Well, here it is, the all-new 2019 Toyota Avalon, which, to be honest, is the automotive equivalent of saying “here’s the all-new 2019 jar of mayonnaise!” I’m not trying to imply that the 2019 Toyota Avalon is a bad car, not at all. It’s not. What I am saying is that it is boring. Sure, sure, it has adequate power and handling, and enough comfort and convenience features and room to make you feel like you’re driving down the road in a medium-sized Tokyo apartment, but it is as exciting as getting pushed off a milk crate into a vat of marshmallow frosting.
Bland Or Bold?
Look, maybe I am being unfair here, but these things have always bored me to tears. I make no bones about either my general dislike of sedans or my firmly held belief that cars bleached of all spirit and soul are most likely to bleach me of my spirit and soul. I’m sure the 2019 Avalon is smooth and quiet and comfortable and reliable and slick and noiseless and relaxing and dependable and velvety and tranquil and secure and unfailing as a Kenny G solo, but no one in the automotive world will have their nether regions corrupted by this car. Ev-ver.
But (and this is a big but) if that is the kind of car you need at this point in your life, i.e. something innocuous, roomy, sedan-like, and Japanese, it’s hard to go wrong buying a 2019 Toyota Avalon. For 2019, the Toyota Avalon will come in four grades: XSE (which is all-new), Touring, XLE, and Limited. The Hybrid model Avalons come in XLE, Limited, and XSE.
2019 Toyota Avalon on display at the North American International Auto Show, Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Gino D’Orazio for Automoblog.net.

Interior Treatments
As one would expect, the interior of the new Avalon is nicely thought out, with well executed comfort and tech features. The Avalon exists to get you from A to B and to do so without raising your heart rate (sad as that is). Depending on the trim level, you get stuff like specially engineered wood and a mix of Perforated Ultrasuede or Softex seats. Those seats come with either vertical stitching or a quilt pattern with special perforation, and two-color stitches.
Toyota points out how the soft-touch materials are noticeable throughout. It’s on the Piano Black trimmed center console, on the slim instrument panel leading into the doors, in the rear compartment – really just all over the place. That Piano Black finishing can also be found on the rear cup and device holders, and in the armrest between passengers. Throughout the interior are air vents, controls for the seat warmers, and USB charging ports.
The upholstery color choices, which I first thought would consist of beige, tan, taupe, champagne, and Caucasian, actually show more variation that that. The 2019 Avalon’s interior can come in Cognac, gray and beige, gray or black Perforated Ultrasuede, or gray, beige, or black Softex.
Cutting Down
Curiously enough, for being such a big car in its past iterations, the 2019 Avalon is marginally smaller here and there. Toyota trimmed the overall height by an inch, chopped 0.8 inches off the rear deck, and lopped off 0.4 inches from the rear overhang, and one inch from the front overhang. Although smaller, the Avalon is a little wider, now up to 72.8 inches total. The wheelbase was extended by two inches. This is actually an old styling trick most popularized by the Wide-Track Pontiacs back in the 60s.

Multimedia Amenities
Of course there’s a big screen on the dash: a nine-inch multimedia display that controls audio, navigation, and climate control. Below the screen is a slide-open eBin containing a 12-volt plug and the standard wireless Qi mobile device charger. There are three USB power ports located inside the center console. The instrument panel itself is a seven-inch Multi-Information Display, showing vehicle information, turn-by-turn navigation, and various vehicle settings. Both Limited and Touring models come standard with a 10-inch Heads-Up Display for vehicle and engine speeds, turn-by-turn directions, audio settings, and drive modes.
The stereo is an Owsley Stanley grade JBL performance audio system. It features 14-speakers, 1200-watts of power, and a tuned 7.1-channel surround sound system. Fitting, since JBLs are known for their fine, mellow, warm sound reproduction.
Power & Performance
The 2019 Toyota Avalon comes with two powertrain choices: normal and hybrid. The normal internal combustion engine is an Atkinson cycle 3.5-liter V6 with direct injection and updated VVT-iW (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Wide) and variable valve timing systems. Toyota says the V6 develops more power and better fuel economy through “D-4S direct injection” and the aforementioned updates to the VVT-iW and variable valve timing systems. Other V6 specifications include a 11.8:1 compression ratio; bore and stroke dimensions are 3.7-inches and 3.3-inches respectively.
The hybrid drive combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (direct injected) plant with Dual VVT-i with VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing intelligent system by Electric motor). This is coupled to Toyota’s Hybrid System II with a 650-volt electric motor and Continuously-Variable Transmission.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Availability & In Person
Expect to see the 2019 Toyota Avalon on sale this spring. In the meantime, the vehicle is on display at the North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center, downtown Detroit. The show officially opens to the public on Saturday, January 20th.
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.
Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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Drive-In Movie Theaters Are Alive And Well

Drive-In Movie Theaters Are Alive And Well

America is good at extinction. There were herds of buffalo the size of Midwestern states, and we nearly annihilated them. There were enough passenger pigeons to eclipse the sun, and we did annihilate them. Around 60 years ago, there were huge swaths of this country given over to a singular proposition: You can do it in your car. The drive-in restaurant. The drive-in dry cleaners. The drive-in liquor store. There was even a drive-in church. In SoCal, of course. And, just as such, there were drive-in movie theaters. Hundreds . . . thousands . . . of drive-in movie theaters across this country. Roughly 80 per state.
Today, in 2017, in the state of Washington (for instance) there are three. And I stumbled across one of them, still in operation, located in the rural Olympic Peninsula. I went to a movie there and, appropriately enough, that movie was Cars 3.
Unexpected Destination
Cars 3 (and this is not going to turn into a film review) is a good movie, and you should go see it. Not just from a gearhead’s perspective, although there’s lots of car related stuff to laugh at and notice, but as a good movie in and of itself. No, it’s not Citizen Kane or 2001, but it is a pretty good movie.
So, there I was, driving – actually, being driven – from a rural area of the Olympic Peninsula to Port Townsend, a town that, when it was founded ten years before the Civil War, was going to be the main city of the Washington Territory. Port Townsend was aiming to be the San Francisco of the Pacific Northwest. And it nearly was, before being usurped and surpassed by both Tacoma and Seattle. Now, Port Townsend is mainly a tourist destination, artist community, and a rather nice place to retire if you do not demand year-round sunny weather. It looks like what San Francisco did 150 years ago. Port Townsend is frozen in time.
We’re driving through the woods, heading toward Port Townsend. It’s a long, straight stretch of two-lane that, given the right car, you’d be really tempted to open it up . . . except for the blind driveways and rough logging tracks that come out of the lofty pine forests at oblique angles with mere feet of visibility. Suddenly there it was. An old, ten-foot by twenty-foot white marquee with the black stick-on letters that simply read:
Drive-In Movie Theater
Cars 3 & Transformers V
Fri. Sat. Sun.
At first I didn’t think much about it. But then the little wheels in my skull went “click-click-click” and I realized both of the movies listed were new movies.
“Is that an operating Drive-in theater?”
“Oh yeah,” she answered. “It’s really fun. They show different movies every weekend, mostly new stuff. We should go.”
“You’re darn right we should go,” was the only response the situation merited!
Photo: Tony Borroz for Automoblog.net.
Warm Welcome
The drive-in movie theater is called the Wheel-In Motor Movie. It was started by a family in, get this, 1953! The Grand Prix World Championship was only three-years-old at that time. Juan Manuel Fangio was a rookie driver. Stirling Moss hadn’t even started driving. The Wheel-In Motor Movie even pre-dates fins on Cadillacs and is a contemporary invention of the Shoebox Ford. And this place is still going. It’s still showing movies – that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own car – every summer. Perfect!
After you drive down a dirt two-lane cut through 100-foot tall fir trees, you come to the ticket office overseen by a nice, friendly gray-haired woman. She tells you what two movies are playing that night, the price (as I recall, a whopping $8.00 per person), takes your money (cards accepted), and tells you the radio frequency to tune to for the movie, should you choose to forgo the 60-year-old, window-hanger “Hi-Fi” speaker.
She says “thank you,” and you drive on for another couple hundred yards, through the trees, and into the drive-in theater itself.
Photo: Tony Borroz for Automoblog.net.

Wide Open Spaces
The parking area is large and nicely terraced for easy viewing. At the far end is a screen roughly the size of a tennis court. This screen, as it turns out, is brand new. The Wheel-In Motor Movie recently had to upgrade to a digital projection system and got a new screen to go along with it. The new screen sits on a gantry/scaffold-like, lattice-work structure made of locally sourced wood that looks like it could hold up a moon rocket.
Wood is all over the place around here. And so are extremely skilled carpenters. You think they were going to use steel I-beams?
Between us and the screen lies a no-man’s-land about the size of a football field. This area is awash with dozens of kids all screaming and throwing balls and doing cartwheels and scuttling and howling and running around like crazed maniacs. In other words, acting like a bunch of kids in a big open space before an event.
Around the perimeter stand those who I can only assume are the grownups responsible for these kids. It’s an easy assumption to make, since 90% of them have looks of deep satisfaction on their faces. It’s a look that any and all parents of six-year-olds will instantly recognize; a look that says, “they will sleep like cute little rocks tonight, and finally, finally, I can get a good night’s sleep.”
Photo: Tony Borroz for Automoblog.net.
Seating Arrangements
We begin to wander around, taking in the fading twilight and arriving cars. Everybody seems happy. Some people calmly sit in their cars, others strategize their plan for the night’s viewing. Blankets and comforters and pillows are produced, nests are made, serious discussions about who gets to sit where ensue: “Nuh-uh! Calling shotgun does not mean you get shotgun for the movie too, Travis!!”
As we wander up the gently sloping hill toward the back of the drive-in lot, I see a young couple and realize they are true professionals. Their (most likely his) bright yellow Ford pickup is parked backwards. Crammed laterally into the truck bed is a brown love seat most likely just liberated from their house. The young couple sit high up and in living room comfort, cuddled under a purple comforter. This, when I was in high school, was the preferred way to see a movie at the drive-in. Okay, actually, the really preferred way was in a car with steamed up windows and that cute girl from chemistry class, but let’s not get into that.
Photo: Tony Borroz for Automoblog.net.

Appetites & Audio Equipment
At the very back of the drive-in sits the snack bar and projector house. Entering into the snack bar, I get a strange sense of déjà vu. It all seems so familiar, apart from the glassed-off projector. And then I realize this is just like literally every other snack bar I’ve ever seen at a drive-in movie theater, race track, or other facility where the center of gravity is something that sits on wheels.
The food, amazingly, doesn’t look all that bad. Burgers, fries, that sort of thing, all made on site, and one at a time. None of this pre-packaged stuff made in a factory four states away and driven in by refrigerator truck every six weeks. I guarantee you these burgers are better than anything you’ll ever have in a chain restaurant.
On one end of the snack bar building sits the projector in a glassed-off room. The projector itself is about the size of a washer/dryer combo with a protuberant lens to give it a howitzeresque feel. It can, assumedly, throw photons down-range at such a rate that it has its own, dedicated air conditioning plant about the size of a washer/dryer combo. On the wall behind sits a 50s vintage rack mount cabinet. Up top is a low wattage FM transmitter unit, very modern and high tech, and at the bottom of the rack sits the DAs (distribution amps, an old style 70 volt system) and the PA amp. The PA amp is a massive tube and transformer unit that no doubt dates back to the original install. It looks like it has the power of an arc welder and weighs close to a V8 block and/or boat anchor.
Against the back wall sits a line of battered old shelves packed with now-unneeded splicing equipment, 35mm film reels, and a couple dozen extra window-hanger in-car speakers. These are for those that commit the primary and most mortal of drive-in movie sins: driving away with the speaker STILL HANGING ON YOUR WINDOW!!!! Don’t ever do that. You’ll look like a real stupe in front of your date and be the butt of all jokes in third period.
Photo: Tony Borroz for Automoblog.net.
The King’s Speech
As dusk gathers, we return to our car. We briefly turn on the radio (they’re playing the soundtrack from the first Guardians of The Galaxy) but we change our minds and opt for the window-hanger speaker. It has the sound quality of a Stasi listening device found in the American Embassy in Berlin, circa 1947. It is, in many ways, the cherry on top.
Kids are ushered back to their cars, some begging for one last toss of the Frisbee, one more touchdown run. Over the speakers comes the dulcet tones of the theater owner. I think it’s Dick Wiley himself, but it might be his son. And you can tell this is His Stage. This is what he lives for, these next few minutes as he patiently, gently, fatherly tells you The Rules and Mores of the Wheel-In Motor Movie. His spiel is rambling, unfocused, overly-long, and perfect. For him, it’s his St. Crispin’s Day Speech. The mic crackles off, the lights go out, and the movie starts (no previews at the Wheel-In Motor Movie, no sir).
I look over and see her blue eyes shining and a huge smile spread across her face. “This is going to be great,” she says without a hint of irony. And she’s right as can be. If you get the chance and there’s a drive-in movie theater near you, go! For a gearhead, it is part of our now-vanishing culture. The part where the car was to be the undisputed king. Where thoughts like making cars without tail fins made absolutely no sense. Sadly, and probably all too soon, these great drive-in theaters will go the way of the buffalo and passenger pigeon.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias toward lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

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Volvo XC40 Getting Closer To Arrival, More Features Revealed

Volvo XC40 Getting Closer To Arrival, More Features Revealed

Volvo – safe, suburban, Swedish – has decided to expand its offerings in the SUV market. There’s gold in them thar hills, and almost any car maker would be stupid to leave the SUV market, and especially the SUV market aimed at wealthy commuters. So Volvo, who once only made large-ish SUVs, has expanded into hitting all market segments. Which brings us to the new XC40.
Benchmark Model
Volvo says the XC40 sets a new benchmark for design, technology, and safety in the small SUV market, but whether that Scandinavian confidence turns into profits remains up to buyers. It is fair to say the XC40, packed with all the tech from the 90 and 60 series machines and thoroughly modern, is worth taking a look at. The Volvo XC40, which includes safety innovations rarely offered among its competitors, aims to be among the safest, most well-equipped compact SUVs available, but also not break the bank. The launch model, the T5 all-wheel drive in Momentum trim, will start at $35,200. Customers who prefer front-wheel drive can pick up the T4 this coming summer for a starting MSRP of $33,200.
Photo: Volvo Car USA, LLC.
Essential Foundations
The XC40 is the first Volvo on the company’s new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), destined to be the foundation of all other upcoming Volvos in the 40 Series, including fully electrified vehicles. In addition to the T5 and T4 AWD and FWD versions, there will also be a hybrid and pure electric variant added later.
The XC40 is the smallest SUV offered by Volvo, slotting in after the XC90, Volvo’s largest SUV, and the midsized XC60. The introduction of the XC40 completes Volvo’s SUV range with a spectrum of body colors and the now ever-so-fashionable contrasting color roof. The XC40 aims to have a strong, structured profile with large wheels, wheel arches, and an 8.3-inch ride height to “provide a true SUV feeling.”
Photo: Volvo Car USA, LLC.

Interior Appointments
The interior is just as well thought out and clever as the exterior design and the engineering you can’t see. There’s an available panoramic sunroof to allow natural light into the cabin as well as integrated LED lighting that can be color adjusted to match the mood or temperature the driver desires. The mood lighting, which works quite well at night, aims to enhance the unique metal and textile materials used in the XC40.
There’s ample interior space for both people and things with smart, daily-use features like large door pockets, integrated bag hooks, and a customizable cargo area to help organize all that stuff a modern human can accrue during the day. And since we are 17 years into the 21st century, the XC40 has tech goodies like wireless QI mobile phone charging and Bluetooth connectivity. The standard 9-inch Sensus Connect touchscreen will help reduce clutter from charging cables and connectors. The system also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and apps like Spotify and Pandora.
Photo: Volvo Car USA, LLC.
Safety & Security
Also standard on Volvo’s XC40 is City Safety. This detects possible hazards such as pedestrians, cyclists, other vehicles, and (I’m not making this up) large animals. I hasten to point out that Volvos come from Sweden and, if legend is to be believed, Sweden is choked full of moose, bear, dear, elk, and a wide variety of “large animals.” Additional safety features include Pilot Assist, Runoff Road protection and mitigation, Cross Traffic alert with brake support, and the 360 camera that helps drivers maneuver their car into tight parking spaces.
Buyers of the XC40 get 4 years of Volvo On Call, along with the ability to share the car with trusted friends and family via a mobile phone app. Volvo doesn’t give many details, but I’m guessing it provides access to the vehicle, allowing certain people (or some other scheme) to actually fire up the XC40 and drive it.
New XC40s will be rolling off Volvo’s assembly line in Ghent, Belgium come this November, although Volvo is more than willing to take your order today at a local retailer. No details yet on cost and such, but Volvo says that will be released at the Los Angeles Auto Show, also in November.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias toward lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Volvo XC40 Gallery

Photos & Source: Volvo Car USA, LLC.

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Apex: The Story of the Hypercar Review: Good Way To Get Your Fast Car Fix!

Apex: The Story of the Hypercar Review: Good Way To Get Your Fast Car Fix!

Release Date March 29 2016DIRECTORsJ.F. Musial, Josh Vietzewhere to watch itNetflixiTunes YouTubeGoogle PlayAmazon Prime

Apex: The Story of the Hypercar is a documentary about what a hypercar is, how it came about, and what it represents. The movie features interviews with such gearhead luminaries as Chris Harris, Christian von Koenigsegg, Dan Neil, Horacio Pagani, and Mike Spinelli. Clocking in at less than 90 minutes, Apex: The Story of The Hypercar is a great way to get your fast car fix.

At the most basic level, this is a beautifully-shot and wonderfully-edited documentary. Sure, there are other layers to it, but really it’s a bunch of beauty shots of fast cars with accompanying (and glorious) engine sounds. Add in a bunch of car geeks and builders narrating about what makes a hypercar, and you have a perfect gearhead movie for a Saturday night at home.

Perhaps it’s worth explaining briefly what is meant by the term hypercar. A hypercar is basically the next step beyond a supercar. The Ferrari 812 Superfast and Porsche 911 are supercars, or super-sports cars. If you go even crazier and build something like a LaFerrari or a 918 Spyder, then you get a hypercar. That’s what this movie looks at. The rarified world where only limited-production, high-horsepower cars will satisfy.

Fresh Set of Eyes

The linchpin of this film is the Koenigsegg car company and its main man, Christian von Koenigsegg. This is a good decision and makes the film all that more interesting. In a lot of ways, we already know what Ferrari and Porsche are doing. We know their long and successful histories on and off the track. By looking at a newer company like Koenigsegg, we are offered the opportunity see things through a fresh set of eyes.

When you approach the engineering challenges here with a blank sheet of paper, and with as few preconceived notions as possible, true innovation can flow. Or at least that’s what people like Christian von Koenigsegg seem to be getting at. And kudos to the boutique automakers from Sweden for building everything in-house. It has long rankled me the number of car makers that might make a frame and body panels, but buy everything else – the engine, suspension bits, brakes and such – from other suppliers.

Koenigsegg makes everything themselves. The chassis, body, engine, and transmission are all designed and built in-house, in Sweden. Shoot, Koenigsegg even makes their own wheels and get this: they make them from carbon fiber.

Surveying The Competition

Along the way, we do check in with Porsche, McLaren, and Ferrari to see their hypercars, the 918 Spyder, the P1, and the LaFerrari. There’s also a nice diversion with Horacio Pagani and his wonderfully-baroque and super-fast cars.

Related: The five best car movies on Netflix for the Coronavirus quarantine.In some ways, Pagani and Koenigsegg are two sides of the same coin. Two guys building the fastest boutique hypercars they’re capable of, in their own very individualistic ways, yet arriving at the same place. I mean, if you put them on the track together, there’s not much separating the Koenigsegg One:1 from a Pagani Huayra, but the cars are night and day different, aesthetically speaking.

Going Beyond Pretty Pictures

As I mentioned earlier, Apex: The Story of the Hypercar is filled with a number of beauty shots. However, J.F. Musial and Josh Vietze who directed the film don’t stop at just that. They take time to explore the in-depth questions, in particular the why: as in, why are people drawn to cars like this in the first place? Is it an ego thing? Maybe it’s pride?

Related: The five best car movies on Amazon Prime for the Coronavirus quarantine. If you look at racing documentaries from the 1950s or 60s, the psychology of “Why are you even doing this?” is barely touched on, if at all. It’s as if that was a taboo subject or, perhaps, just beyond society’s capacity for self-reflection at the time. Musial and Vietze do not have that issue with Apex: The Story of The Hypercar, and the film is all the better for it.

A Cut Above

Apex: The Story of The Hypercar is a cut above your usual automotive documentary. It’s beautifully shot, well edited, carefully written, and underpinned by interviews with articulate people who do it for a living. Apex: The Story of The Hypercar is definitely worth the 85 minutes. Next time you want to watch a good car movie, consider adding this one to your queue.

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.
Original article: Apex: The Story of the Hypercar Review: Good Way To Get Your Fast Car Fix!

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2019 Jeep Cherokee Hits The Scene In Detroit

2019 Jeep Cherokee Hits The Scene In Detroit
The 2019 Jeep Cherokee just debuted in Detroit, Michigan at the North American International Auto Show. Jeep says the 2019 Cherokee will feature a more premium design overall, but stay true to its original Jeep styling, which they note as “icnonic.” Given that “iconic Jeep styling” is essentially a box on four wheels that can sustain incoming fire from a Wehrmacht MG 42, this is a good thing.
New Suit
Styling is new all around for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The front fascia is entirely new as are the hood, the headlamps, which are LED units, the daylight running lamps, and the fog lamps. There is a new and lighter power liftgate that provides hands free operation. Wheels? Those are new too. There are five new wheel designs, including a set of premium 19-inch wheels on the Overland models. Jeep also says you can experience “open-air freedom” thanks to the available dual-pane sunroof (which is kinda pretentious, but I also bet the view is pretty nice).
The interior has also gotten the premium treatment. Functionality and design has been refined with new Satin Chrome and Piano Black, high-gloss accents that really let you know how far we’ve come from the motorized U.S. Army mule of the 1940s. The rear cargo volume has improved and there is more convenient storage space available.
The modern conveniences extend to such niceties as a fourth-generation Uconnect system that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You also get your choice of either a seven or 8.4-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability.
Photo: Gino D’Orazio for Automoblog.net.
Power & Performance
Under that big, flat-ish hood sits a completely new 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with direct-injection. Said four-banger cranks out 270 horsepower and a healthy 295 lb-ft. of torque. Both of those figures are noteworthy given they are coming from only 2.0-liters of displacement. The new, 2019 Jeep Cherokee is also fitted with engine stop-start technology (ESS) to optimize your fuel economy and to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
I know stop-start tech kind of got a bad rap when it first came out, but it seems like most of those criticisms have been dealt with over the years. So really, having engine stop-start technology isn’t that big of a deal any longer. That engine is mated to an enhanced TorqueFlite nine-speed automatic transmission, tuned to match the performance of the new turbocharged inline four-pot.
The 2019 Cherokee also has two other power plants to choose from. There’s a 3.2-liter Pentastar V6, also equipped with ESS technology. That mill puts out 271 horsepower and 239 lb-ft. of torque with a towing capability of 4,500 lbs. Very nice. Jeep says this towing figure is best-in-class. The other engine is a 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2, delivering 180 horsepower and 170 lb-ft. of torque (also quipped with ESS).
2019 Jeep Cherokee on display at the North American International Auto Show, Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Gino D’Orazio for Automoblog.net.

Off-Road Prowess
Jeep says the 2019 Cherokee, with its enhanced four-wheel drive systems, is the benchmark for mid-sized SUVs. Which all follows, given that Jeeps are famed the world over for their off-road capabilities. And to that end, the new Cherokee features the next-generation of Jeep’s Active Drive I. The rear drive module is fully automatic and goes in and out of four-wheel drive at any speed without any driver input needed. Jeep also cut nearly 17 lbs. from the Active Drive I setup to increase fuel efficiency and performance.
Jeep Active Drive II includes a two-speed Power Transfer Unit with special torque management capabilities, and low-range gear reduction. This is available if you’re going to get into more serious, mixed, and unpredictable terrain. A perfect bit of kit for those of you that own fishing cabins, do a lot of skiing, or live in places like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Thanks to the Jeep Selec-Terrain traction control system, you have up to five customized modes – Auto, Snow, Sport, Sand/Mud, and Rock – available from your dashboard. Oh, and speaking of Rock Mode, this thing has a crawl ratio of up to 51.2:1, which means it could probably climb the Washington Monument.
2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Production & In Person
Yes, it’s all shiny and new, but you don’t have to look very deep to see it’s still a Jeep. The new Cherokee is on display at the North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center, downtown Detroit. The show officially opens to the public on Saturday, January 20th.
The 2019 Jeep Cherokee is manufactured at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois. It will arrive in Jeep showrooms in the first quarter of this year.
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.
2019 Jeep Cherokee Gallery

Photos & Source: FCA US LLC.

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2019 Kia Forte Arrives With Hints of Stinger DNA

2019 Kia Forte Arrives With Hints of Stinger DNA
The 2019 Kia Forte recently debuted at the North American International Auto Show, highlighting the Korean company’s efforts to evolve it into a more refined compact car. The Forte picks up design cues from the Stinger, which is probably a good call, given how well the Stinger has been received. The Forte is also Kia’s first car with the in-house designed and built Intelligent Variable Transmission. The 2019 Kia Forte also introduces their new line of Smart Stream technologies to help increase fuel efficiency.
Sweet Spot
Kia seems to want to straddle the line with the Forte by trying to keep it sporty and youthful while moving it toward a more sophisticated appearance, thanks to a number of styling cues inspired by the Stinger. Peter Schreyer, President & Chief Design Officer, Hyundai Motor Group, and his team incorporated ingredients of the Stinger’s DNA into the Forte to give it a commanding road presence: Long hood, short deck, and that traditional, overall fastback-like shape, only applied to a sedan. The cowl point was pushed back a healthy five inches to create a more athletic stance and to give the 2019 Forte a more planted look.
Hood creases contribute to the Forte’s muscular appearance, which flows through the front fascia as well. A new slant to the grille and an aggressive black lower valance are nice touches. The front bumper also has the neat little trick of doubling as air curtains to improve aero performance; even the headlamp design and layout is said to be “Stingeresque.” The rear bumper gets the same treatment with separate reverse and turn signal indicators beneath available LED taillights that are connected by a sleek, horizontal trim piece.
2019 Kia Forte on display at the North American International Auto Show, Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Gino D’Orazio for Automoblog.net.
Power & Performance
The 2019 Kia Forte is powered by a second-generation 2.0-liter Nu four cylinder Atkinson Cycle engine. The engine uses a cooled EGR system to boost fuel efficiency. Power and torque figures are not expected to change over the 2018 Forte: 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft. of torque, but fuel efficiency is up by 3 mpg.
Transmission-wise you can choose from either a six speed manual or Kia’s aforementioned Intelligent Variable Transmission. The Intelligent Variable Transmission is Kia’s own improved version of a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The new IVT unit gets around the old rubber-band-like feel of a CVT, thanks to adaptive style shift logic and a chain type belt instead of a push belt. KIA’s IVT is also much quieter than a CVT thanks to wrapping the transmission case in a sound insulating cover. This move dropped NVH levels by 5dB.
Interior Treatments
The interior is just as well thought out and whittled down to what works. Going with a fastback shape reinforced the Forte’s exterior appearance, but it also gave engineers an opportunity to increase the passenger compartment in key areas for greater comfort, especially on longer journeys. The dashboard is all about openness and avoiding clutter, for example. There’s lots of clean lines and minimal buttons, which are intuitively placed below an eight-inch color touchscreen.
Photo: Gino D’Orazio for Automoblog.net.
Bigger & Easier
The Forte is bigger in lots of key areas; length is up by 3.2 inches to 182.7 inches, so there’s more legroom and cargo space in the trunk. That trunk now holds 15.1 cubic feet of your stuff. The overall width is up by 0.7 inches which gives Kia a little more visual width to play with. All occupants will appreciate easier ingress and egress, plus improved outward visibility, according to Kia.
Safety & Handling
With a Top Safety Pick Plus rating, the 2019 Forte is stronger than before thanks to additional hot stamped components and a structural content of 54 percent Advanced High-Strength Steel. The seat frames are stronger and lighter in weight with increased lumbar support and denser seat foam.
Noise, vibration, and harshness has been improved thanks to an increase in body stiffness. That increased body stiffness also plays a major role in better handling too. There’s a new subframe design to improve lateral responsiveness, and steering feel is better than the Forte’s predecessor thanks to enhancements within the Motor Driven Power Steering system.
Photo: Gino D’Orazio for Automoblog.net.
Tech Galore
And of course, since the model year is 2019, the new Forte is swamped with high-tech goodies. The 2019 Forte comes standard with an eight-inch color touchscreen compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The screen is neatly integrated into the dash and within the driver’s line of sight. With the right smartphone devices, the system also has the capability to read SMS texts aloud through Bluetooth, and you can even wirelessly charge your compatible Android and Apple devices. A premium sound system developed with Harman Kardon cranks out an impressive 320 watts of power.
Pricing & In Person
Once again, Kia shows that it knows how to build cars that buyers want at a very (low) specific price point. Although pricing was not announced, don’t expect the 2019 Kia Forte to break the bank when it arrives later this year. When it does, the whole shootin’ match comes in three trims: LX, S, and EX. In the meantime, the new Forte is on display at the North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center, downtown Detroit. The show officially opens to the public on Saturday, January 20th.
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.

Cover Photo & Source: Kia Motors America.

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2019 RDX Prototype Represents Acura’s Most Extensive Redesign

2019 RDX Prototype Represents Acura’s Most Extensive Redesign
The 2019 Acura RDX Prototype made its world debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. The reveal gives us a look at the new design, advanced technology, and luxury features of the five-passenger SUV expected to launch later this year. The 2019 Acura RDX is a clean-sheet, top-to-bottom remake and will be the first Acura model to fully exemplify the brand’s new design language seen in the Acura Precision Concept.
Lighter & Larger
The third-generation RDX has been engineered on a lighter platform with a stiffened body. The 2019 RDX will mark the return of Acura’s Super-Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) to the RDX, giving it a slick torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system. The new system provides a 40 percent increase in maximum torque capacity versus the current SH-AWD system.
“Combine it with our new powertrain, the stiffer body and chassis, and the improved steering and you have, hands down, the quickest, best-handling RDX ever,” said Jon Ikeda, Vice President & General Manager of the Acura Division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
The RDX Prototype also boasts a wider track (increased by 1.2 inches), a longer wheelbase (gaining 2.5 inches), and a shortened front overhang. The wheels have been pushed to the corners, according to Acura. In addition, the 2019 RDX will be the first Acura SUV presented in A-Spec trim for sportier styling inside and out.
Power & Performance
Motivating the RDX is a new 2.0 liter, 16-valve direct-injected plant. The engine features a low-inertia, mono-scroll turbo, a DOHC VTEC valvetrain, and a Dual Variable Timing Cam (Dual VTC) system. All that alphabet soup translates into 40 percent more low-end torque than before. Mated to the new engine is a segment-first, 10-speed automatic transmission. If you go with all-wheel drive for your RDX, you’ll get the next generation of Acura’s aforementioned SH-AWD, complete with a new rear differential and a 150 percent increase in maximum torque capacity, compared to the older RDX.
An Adaptive Damper System is available and is tied into the NSX-inspired Integrated Dynamics System. The IDS system comes with four distinct drive modes: Sport, Sport+, Comfort, and Snow. There’s a drive mode dial placed high in the center console.
Photo: Honda North America.
Interior Design
Speaking of the interior, it’s more spacious, more sophisticated, and more tech-savvy than before. The center console is a floating design, inspired by the Acura Precision Cockpit. The sport seats are powered affairs with a matching sports steering wheel. The interior detailing is “contemporary” with authentic, high-grade materials throughout, including Nappa leather, brushed aluminum, and open-pore Olive Ash wood.
The passenger cabin is larger thanks to the RDX’s longer wheelbase with room for five. Acura claims the cabin space is class-leading as is rear legroom and cargo space. The front seats are heated and ventilated, and Acura used a softer and more durable full-grain Nappa leather. 16-way power adjustments for both the driver and front passenger are standard, and all models come equipped with a panoramic sliding moonroof.
“Our engineers conducted thousands of hours of research to create a driver-centric approach that is the first of its kind and distinctly Acura,” explained Toshiaki Mikoshiba, President & CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “This new RDX is the most extensive Acura redesign in more than a decade and a powerful indication of things to come.”

Cabin Technology
Everything is controlled by Acura’s new True Touchpad Interface. It has an Android-based operating system projected onto a dual-zone, 10.2-inch full-HD display. The True Touchpad Interface combines the advantages of conventional touchscreens and remote-based approaches, according to Acura. Also debuting is a new natural language voice recognition system. It is said to improve the ease and intuitiveness of voice commands in the vehicle. An interactive heads-up display (HUD) is also available.
“Acura’s new user interface will be a huge leap forward for our customers,” Mikoshiba noted. “But this is just one aspect of an incredibly rich and premium new cabin experience.”
And to cap it all off, there’s a totally boss stereo system. The 2019 RDX Prototype uses four ultra-thin, ceiling-mounted speakers connected to a 16-channel 710-watt Acura ELS Studio 3D system. The stereo was developed by Panasonic and tuned by Grammy-winning music producer and longtime Acura partner, Elliott Scheiner.
2019 Acura RDX Prototype at the North American International Auto Show, Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan.
Production & In Person
All RDX models for the North American market will be built in East Liberty, Ohio, with the engines produced in Anna, Ohio, and the 10-speed automatic transmissions being manufactured in Tallapoosa, Georgia. Designed, developed, and built right here in America, the 2019 RDX will hit dealers mid-2018.
In the meantime, the vehicle is on display at the North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center, downtown Detroit. The show officially opens to the public on Saturday, January 20th.
“What you’re about to see is not just the right product for where we are taking the Acura brand, it’s the right product at just the right time for today’s market,” Mikoshiba said.
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.
2019 Acura RDX Prototype Gallery

Photos & Source: Honda North America.

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