Automotive

Letter From The UK: Travelling In Great Britain

Letter From The UK: Travelling In Great Britain
One of the few benefits of living in the UK is that, being a relatively small island nation, nothing is that far away. At a push, a healthy alert driver could go end to end in well under twenty-four hours. This means our diverse and varied countryside, regions, historic towns, and teeming cities are pretty much accessible to all. If you like to travel and see places and things, then it’s all here in a neat package tied up with string.
God’s Country
The UK contrasts hugely with the USA. This writer is regularly astonished by the sights and sounds of inland America. Watching news or movies and seeing empty highways winding through deep, dark forests or running straight as an arrow across wide open plains is awesome. We, with our tiny lanes and byways, can barely comprehend the sheer vastness of the American continent.
We hear tales of American families who drive many, many miles just to get to a McDonald’s. I can walk to mine. Also a Costa, a Burger King, and an Asda/Walmart. That’s the difference between our two nations; but one thing that we can certainly agree on is that it is always best to go on our travels in a good car. For me that means Subaru.
Fear Of European Travel?
As you’ve read often in my Letters, the UK is leaving the European Union and it is all getting very fractious and, frankly, a bit stupid. One alleged “expert” says that we Brits are these days choosing to take our vacations (or “staycations” as they insist on calling them) in the UK because we fear the consequences of Brexit when it comes to visiting Europe.
This is of course arrant nonsense and demonstrates quite clearly how people will say anything to cause division and fear over what is essentially merely a political mess much like the USA is currently experiencing. Politicians eh? Can’t live with them; can’t put them all on a one-way rocket to Mars.
History shows that – Shock! – well before the EU existed, Britons took holidays in Europe. How can it be any different? This is what happens when the lunatics take over the asylum. How happy we would be if politicians and their mouthpieces just left us all alone.
Automoblog Feature Columnist Geoff Maxted on a scenic drive through the British countryside. Those in the United States should consider traveling abroad more often. A May 2017 study by NBC News found that traveling abroad can enhance creativity and lower the risk of depression. Photo: DriveWrite Automotive.
To Cornwall In An Outback
But enough of all this grumbling; let’s go on a road trip.
Cornwall is the nearest British county to America. Stand on the lofty mainland eminence of Land’s End and the next stop is the USA. Like many regions, Cornwall has its own identity. It even has its own language that just a few years ago was remembered and spoken by just a few, but is now being learned and spoken by new generations. There is even a band of enthusiasts working for an independent Cornwall. This would be like Florida ceding from the Union.
It is a beautiful county with mixed countryside from the lush green of the South to the rugged moorlands of the North. Surfing is a way of life with Fistral beach at Newquay being the centre of the universe as far as UK surfers are concerned. The Outback below is pictured there.
As an example of UK travel, from my home I can reach Cornwall in under three hours yet the weather is generally milder, and the renowned light beloved of artists and photographers alike is clear and bright, like a child’s eyes. It is a place to relax and unwind; I know, I used to live there.
About The Outback
Subaru offers a small range of cars and I like all of them. The Outback as driven here has a punchy and strong 2.5-liter flat-four “Boxer” petrol engine. It’s a big and roomy four-wheel drive car and very comfortable on the road. It eats long distances, driving through a “Lineartronic” CVT gearbox with ideal ratios for big journeys.
Our car was fitted with Subaru’s Eyesight safety technology and let me tell you it works! We have our fair share of idiots on the road too. The car has all the latest safety technology and all the usual infotainment suspects but, unlike some manufacturers, Subaru does not make a big deal out of it. The dashboard is plain, almost austere, but the seats are big and there’s plenty of family space. This car is all about the business of driving and travelling backed up by Subaru’s legendary symmetrical four-wheel drive.
Photo: DriveWrite Automotive.
In Padstow
And talking of legends: The scenic coastal town of Padstow, nestling on the banks of the River Camel tidal estuary, is the base for the now global enterprise that is Chef Rick Stein. This is the place he established his first restaurant, still thriving, and where his quayside premises serve that most traditional of British meals, fish and chips.
Often embellished with brown vinegar and salt (honest, it works) this is the traditional British take away meal. When push comes to shove you can keep your oriental cuisine or meat patties in a bun and feed me this. Armies march on this stuff and Rick Stein’s is just about as good as it gets.
So remember: The UK is still worth a visit but instead of going to our capital city London, currently run by a buffoon and where you will pay a king’s ransom for a hotel room, why not instead tour around the country. Car hire is reasonably inexpensive and, getting back to my original point, nowhere is very far away. When all is said and done and despite the best efforts of successive governments, the UK remains a great country. Best seen from a Subaru.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Photo: DriveWrite Automotive.
From NBC News: 5 Scientifically Proven Health Benefits of Traveling Abroad.

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2019 Infiniti QX50 Features World’s First Production Variable Compression Engine

2019 Infiniti QX50 Features World’s First Production Variable Compression Engine

Infiniti has pulled the wraps off the 2019 QX50 ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Infiniti says the new crossover combines “world-first technologies, standout design, and unrivaled interior space.”
“The 2019 QX50 is the most important vehicle we have ever launched, and it embodies everything the brand stands for: Beautiful design, advanced technology and empowering performance,” said Christian Meunier, Infiniti Global Division Vice President. “As a luxury mid-size crossover, it’s the right vehicle at the right time in one of the world’s fastest growing segments.”
Power & Performance
The 2019 QX50 will be powered by the world’s first production variable compression ratio engine. Infiniti announced the engines in the summer of 2016 after working on the technology for 20 years. The QX50’s 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine adjusts its compression ratio to maximize performance and efficiency. The mindset behind the design is that it combines turbo power with diesel efficiency. Infiniti says this “challenges the notion that only hybrid and diesel powertrains can deliver high torque and efficiency.”
Solid Foundation
An entirely new front-wheel drive platform supports the 2019 QX50, and although Infiniti didn’t say specifically, we imagine this architecture is instrumental for the VC-Turbo engine’s capability. The platform was designed with an emphasis on refinement, rigidity, and interior room. Infiniti did not immediately provide dimensions, only saying the interior space is unmatched in the segment.
Photo: Infiniti Motor Company Ltd.
Exterior & Interior Design
The 2019 QX50 strikes a balance between aerodynamic efficiency and Infiniti’s “Powerful Elegance” design language. The body lines are noticeable and sleek; the vehicle does have quite a bit of character. Inside, the automaker promises top grade materials and craftsmanship, a calm, connected ambiance, and driver-focused technologies, including a complete ADAS suite. Infiniti notes the importance of having a human element in the details and says the new QX50 is designed accordingly.
Pricing & Availability
Infiniti did not include either in their press materials.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
*ADAS is an acronym for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
Photos & Source: Infiniti Motor Company Ltd.

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Letter From The UK: The Meaning of Crossover

Letter From The UK: The Meaning of Crossover

Initially, my idea was to discuss and update Britain’s exit from the European Union (or Brexit as it has come to be known) and its affect on the UK car industry. Unfortunately nothing much has happened. Car manufacturers wait in exasperated anticipation while UK and EU politicians and their bully boy un-elected flunkies argue, throw their toys about, and run home crying. So instead, this week we have advertising, something else that sets my teeth on edge like fingernails scrapping down an old school blackboard.
Black Friday. We have it here too and, America, it’s your fault. Being British of course we do not fight over goods; we do not battle for that last LCD flat screen, no: We queue nicely and wait our turn to buy stuff that was probably to be found cheaper, somewhere else, prior to Black Friday. The fault lies firmly at the feet of advertising executives. In their increasing desperation to come up with new and inventive ways to sell things, advertising is getting more and more silly. Take the “crossover” car.
Cross Over
That’s what the chicken did. It’s what artistes do when they cravenly change music genres to achieve commercial success, much to the disapprobation of their fellows who failed to think of it first. It also now identifies a type of vehicle but I have no idea why.
It is frankly, daft. In British terms, a crossover is just a tall hatchback or a small SUV, depending upon who you listen to. It is in fact just a small car, inflated. Initially, I suppose, the idea was to give the impression that these motors were somehow more rugged. It patently was not true then and it is not true now. They don’t have any more ability or power and can maybe only boast a little more space than the regular small hatchback upon which they are mostly based. It is a case of style over substance.
In days gone by, car advertising was straightforward. One knew where one stood. It described the virtues of the vehicle. It told us by way of the magic of moving pictures how a particular car could improve our lives by dint of its automotive features, performance, sexiness, service intervals, and economy. Everyone was happy. The auto facts were presented. Motoring journalists plied their trade in the large halls and small bars of the world, supporting a generally robust industry.
This vintage Packard advertisement explains how the new models for 1953 have higher compression V8 engines and power steering. Packard says the new Clipper provides “big-car value at medium-car cost” because of the engineering within. As all Packard ads did at the time, it concludes with “ask the man who owns one,” meaning the brand’s reputation is best communicated by those who drive them every day.
The Influencers
Times have changed and with it, the scope of the car ad. Dusty old journalists with pipes and leather patches on their threadbare tweed jackets have given way to bright young things referred to as influencers and vloggers because every car maker in the world wants to sell to the youth of today. Even the new Aston Martin Vantage (which does not look anywhere near as elegant as its predecessor) is, by the company’s own words, aimed at younger buyers.
Young people, with no discernible creative ability other than being able to walk and talk at the same time, shoot video on a bog-standard DSLR and upload it to YouTube and are now actively being employed and paid to shoot cars in moodily visual locations without explaining how they work. And that it seems is enough. We do indeed live in a transient internet world.
TV advertising now shows us beautiful, blemish-free youth cavorting merrily in these very average “crossover” cars as if the vehicle could really make your life better in any way that matters. The message comes through the TV screen with all the subtlety of a one-ton anvil in a Roadrunner cartoon. It is obvious, it is blatant, and it seems to work. The crossover is now the most popular automotive sector in the UK. There is no longer any need to describe the engineering virtues of the vehicle, just the nebulous lifestyle connotations.
This writer is probably as guilty as the rest. Like everyone who works in today’s motor industry, I too am an influencer but only in that I help to promote products and businesses. Mind you, you don’t want me on video; that would be like getting Gabby Hayes to sell your wagon. Car advertising is changing and we change with it, at least for now, because who knows what the future holds.
Millennials are seen enjoying a late model Fiat 500X. A 2013 Adweek feature penned by David Gianatasio explains that Fiat, in an attempt to gain traction in the United States, targeted younger consumers via social media. However, Gianatasio notes many U.S. Fiat dealers felt that strategy lacked a “broad-based” approach and cites Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne telling Automotive News in 2012 the initial advertising campaign was a “poorly executed plan.” Adweek ultimately concluded that Fiat “excelled at peripheral marketing programs while ignoring the bigger brand-building picture.” Photo: FCA US LLC.
Cross Over To Common Sense

At the time of this writing, a small neighbouring country is threatening to block the progress of vital trade talks in the next round of Brexit negotiations because of some local issue. That’s the thing about “communities.” When push comes to shove, we revert to the defence of our realm. Never mind the big picture; never mind the European car industry is all at sea with huge sums of money and very many jobs hanging in the balance. We await an outcome whilst third rate apparatchiks haggle over political trivialities. That’s why the whole thing has stalled.
If these people do not get off their collective euro-butt, stop scoring points, and being devious and disingenuous, and decide instead to “cross over” the line of common sense about the things that really matter, then all the advertising and all the influencing in the world won’t save the car industry. Or Europe.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Cover Photo: From American Motors Corporation: The Rise and Fall of America’s Last Independent Automaker by Patrick Foster. We featured the title in our Book Garage series on April 3rd, 2016.

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2020 Kia Sportage: Refreshed & Ready To Mingle

2020 Kia Sportage: Refreshed & Ready To Mingle On the heels of an emotional Super Bowl ad for the Telluride, Kia is staying on the gas in 2019. While the Telluride is the largest member of Kia’s house, the Sportage is no couch potato. Refreshed and recharged for another round, the 2020 Kia Sportage comes with a handful of tech and safety upgrades.
Those not looking for the space (or cost) of a larger SUV may find the new Sportage does the trick. We would opt for the new S trim personally, which has a more athletic exterior look. Yet, regardless of trim level, the 2020 Kia Sportage will get the job done on the daily commute.
And it will look mighty good while doing it.
Sweeping Lines & Curves
In today’s increasingly crowded SUV market, the 2020 Kia Sportage uses its European flair to stand out. As soon as the pencil hit the design pad, it became about “sweeping lines” and “thought-provoking” curves, says Kia. After establishing the lines and curves, designers went for the proportions and overall stance. Again, the idea was to make the Sportage easily recognizable.
Of course, the newly-available 19-inch alloy wheels are hard to miss.
The front grille and bumper are both new as are the headlights and projector-beam fog lamps. LED turn indicators, headlights, and fog lamps are optional. We recommend adding each of those lighting upgrades, especially for those who frequently drive late at night. At the rear, the 2020 Kia Sportage receives another new bumper and special taillight trim.
A sleek Steel Grey metallic exterior color is also available.
2020 Kia Sportage interior layout. Updates include a newly-designed steering wheel and vent bezels. SOFINO leatherette seating surfaces are available. Photo: Kia Motors America.
“Lightly Enhanced” Interior
On the inside, Kia says things are “lightly enhanced” which made us smile. Those “light” enhancements include an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto standard; modem-enabled telematics and navigation are optional. Those on the go will want the available smartphone charging tray.
Power & Performance: Two Solid Options
The 2020 Kia Sportage offers two engines and both are sufficient for the daily commute. The more modest 2.4-liter produces a respectable 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft. of torque. For those quicker jaunts onto the freeway, a 2.0-liter turbo creates nearly 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. of torque. While the extra snort of a turbo is always nice, there’s nothing wrong with saving the money and going with the smaller powerplant.
Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic. Fuel economy figures for the 2020 Sportage are not available yet, but it’s reasonably safe to believe the numbers will be on par with the 2019 Sportage. Our only critique here is having more gears “in the box.” An eight or nine-speed transmission would benefit the Sportage in terms of performance and efficiency, but we trust Kia regardless with this six-speed automatic.
We’ll look for more gears the next time around.
The 2020 Kia Sportage comes in either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Safety features include Driver Attention Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision Assist, and Pedestrian Detection among others.
Photo: Kia Motors America.
Pricing & Availability
Trim levels include the LX, EX, SX, and the more sporty-looking S. Kia says the new Sportage arrives this spring, with pricing information due closer to then. In the meantime, the 2020 Kia Sportage is on display at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show.
Carl Anthony 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. Before returning to school, he simultaneously held product development and experiential marketing roles in the automotive industry.
2020 Kia Sportage Gallery

Photos & Source: Kia Motors America.

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Viaduct Elegy: Chapter 2: The New Colossus

Viaduct Elegy: Chapter 2: The New Colossus Viaduct Elegy is a four-part series from Automoblog feature columnist Tony Borroz, who broke the law in preparation for writing it. He is a Seattle native and author of The 2018 Indy 500 Notebook and Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Tony grew up in a sportscar-oriented family, but sadly, they were British cars.
Finally, finally, finally they are tearing down the Alaskan Way Viaduct, a colossal, monumentally-ugly, seismically-catastrophic piece of transportation “infrastructure” that has been a scar on the face of Seattle for the better part of a friggin’ century.
And yesterday I walked on it at sunset with an old friend, apparently breaking the law.
Viaduct Elegy: Chapter 2: The New Colossus
Chapter One: “Walking With Blaine” here.
The Alaskan Way Viaduct, or the I-99 Viaduct or, more simply, The Viaduct, is an elevated north/south expressway situated right on the waterfront of Elliott Bay. It was, like literally every other half-assed and poorly-planned transportation “solution” Seattle has ever conceived: an utter failure in many, many ways. It was terribly-proportioned, its hulking mass contrasting with surprisingly few and narrow lanes.
As a way to get from point A to point B, it barely worked from day one.
When it was designed in the 1940s, you could still buy Studebakers new. So from that perspective, a double-decked roadway with only two lanes made perfect sense. Speed limit? 40 mph. And besides, how fast do you want to go. And herein lies the problem with this, and pretty much every other transportation “solution” Seattle has ever come up with. They are designed to solve the problems the city has right now.
How will this “solution” be used in the future?
Don’t know, don’t care.
Conquering The West
So, fast forward to the year 2000 and what do we have? An aging, double-decked roadway with three lanes now crammed on each level and speeds raised by nearly 50 percent. More people, more cars, less time to get things done, and the same tool we’ve been using since Truman was President.
Like all other transportation projects around here, The Viaduct was started as A Big Deal. It was, yet again, a way to show how smart and forward-thinking Seattle was. A concrete and steel colossus that said to the world, “Yup, you can take Seattle seriously, yes you can! Boy howdy, just look at our new Viaduct! Just like they got in other big cities!”
Seattle is obsessed with this stuff. They always have been. From the beginning, Seattle has been derided as a provincial backwater town whose main contribution to American society was supplying gear to Yukon gold miners and popularizing salmon as a dinner option. And from the beginning, Seattle has had a chip on its shoulder, thirsty for recognition, begging to be considered one of the big kids on the west coast.
From its inception, Seattle acted like it was just a matter of time before people realized that San Francisco doesn’t offer a tenth of what Seattle does, that Denver will never be what Seattle is, that young, up-and-comer Los Angeles is just a flash in the pan, Portland is just a pale imitation of the real Northwest city, Seattle.
The Alaskan Way Viaduct was an elevated freeway in Seattle that supported State Route 99. The double-deck freeway ran north and south, along the city’s waterfront for 2.2 miles, east of Alaskan Way and Elliott Bay, and between the West Seattle Freeway in SoDo and the Battery Street Tunnel in Belltown. Construction consisted of three phases from 1949 through 1959, with the first section opening on April 4th, 1953. Photo: Seattle Municipal Archives.
Emerald Charm
And every time any city west of The Rockies would do something; every time San Francisco would host a big worldwide event, or Los Angeles would grow and grow, or something along those lines, Seattle would grumble and huff and puff and get just a little more surly and gray. Again we would be outshone by another western city. Again they would steal the spotlight. And Again people would be fascinated by San Francisco or Los Angeles or wherever when they should be dazzled by Seattle! It was a shame that people could be so stupid and overlook us, but that’s okay.
It’s their loss, not ours. We’re the cool ones. Really! You’ll see.
Seattle is the proverbial third-cutest cheerleader. We try real hard and we yell and jump and shake our pom-poms just as good as the other girls, but for some reason we just don’t get asked to the barn dance by the star quarterback. It’s confusing. mysterious. unfathomable. It’s annoying as all get out.
And so, time after time, Seattle will look at a problem (which about half of them are transportation issues), study it for far too long, then announce: “We have the answer!” To which, nearly everyone will respond, “What was the question?”
Anti-viaduct bumper sticker, circa 2006. From the folder “Bumper Stickers,” Ephemera Collection (Record Series 9900-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.
Jet City’s Crown Jewel
Right after the Second World War, that answer was The Alaskan Way Viaduct. Seattle was, by local standards, humming after World War II. Boeing was going great guns. No longer were we just a fishing and logging town stuck in the upper left-hand corner of the map. Nope. You’ll see. Seattle is gonna be it, baby. Take that Scranton! And how did we know this? The Viaduct. New. Clean. Modern. This will be the way to get North and South in smooth, concrete efficiency. Four lanes! That’ll show those hoity-toity types in San Francisco and Chicago just how cool Seattle is. You bet’cha!
And so, the city built this monstrosity as the way to move around.
Built partially underground to the north in the Battery Street Tunnel, then rising up to the double decks of The Viaduct proper, it was a marvel of American ingenuity and post-war know-how. Nearly two miles long, it took from 1949 to 1959 to build the entire thing. But hey, would you look at that, it got done just in time for the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962! See? Planning! You could drive up the viaduct and it would deposit you right on the grounds of World’s Fair. How convenient!
Shortly thereafter, various groups started proposing tearing the thing down . . .
Viaduct Elegy: Chapter Three: Streamlined Brutale will be published here on Automoblog on Friday, February 15th, 2019. In the meantime, follow Tony Borroz on Twitter: @TonyBorroz. For more historic photos of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the city of Seattle, visit the Seattle Municipal Archive’s Flickr page.

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VW Dune Buggy Concept: Where EVs & The 1960s Meet

VW Dune Buggy Concept: Where EVs & The 1960s Meet VW’s concept is inspired by the American buggies from the 1960s and ‘70s.
This modern Dune Buggy showcases the flexibility of VW’s latest EV platform.
It doesn’t look like a production version is comming but we won’t give up hope.
When I first saw the pictures of the VW Dune Buggy, I thought it was a prop for some upcoming sci-fi movie. Tron II – Electric Tron-a-Loo or something. But no, VW is serious. Or as serious as you can be with a show car. Which is what the Dune Buggy is. You’ll be able to see it at this year’s upcoming Geneva show.
Oh, did I mention it’s an EV?
Planning Ahead
VW is serious about their electric vehicle ambitions. They have to be. Since that diesel-gate debacle pretty much rang the death knell for consumer diesels, VW knows it has to go somewhere non-ICE. So get ready for EV (almost) everything from Der Peoples Kar. So, as strange as it may seem, VW is pretty serious with an off-road EV.
There were little vans, Porsche-like speedsters, crazy race-car-looking things, and of course, endless variations on the #DuneBuggy.Click To TweetHome-Brewed Concoctions
Funny thing is, the original dune buggies back in the 1960s weren’t VW products. They were cobbled-up, home-brew specials made from Beetle parts, not direct from the factory. As I recall, it all started with this guy named Bruce Meyer. Although generically referred to as “dune buggies,” his was officially dubbed the “Meyer Manx.” The Manx was the original seed for seemingly endless “specials” made on Beetle platforms. There were little vans, Porsche-like speedsters, crazy race-car-looking things, and of course, endless variations on the Dune Buggy.
But how could there not be? It was the 60s! The Beach Boys! Frankie & Annette! Ride the Wild Surf! Dick Dale! Greg Noll! This was a vehicular manifestation of the collective need of every teenager not to live in Iowa and get to the beach.
Blast From The Past
And have you ever driven one of these things? They’re a total hoot. No doors, no roof; they weigh next to nothing and the suspension is robust enough to handle (literally) bounding over dunes. Of course, those are also the biggest flaws. They make perfect sense getting from Hermosa Beach down to Rincon to catch a better swell, but commuting from Joliet into Chicago for a client meeting in February?
Just like the originals, this Dune Buggy has no fixed roof or conventional doors, and the open side sills dominate the overall look. The wheels and off-road tires are large and borderline goofy and cartoon-like.
Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Showcasing New Platforms
Unfortunately, they’re not going to make a production version of the thing (although that would be rad). Like I said, they are serious but in a different way. What this actually allows is for VW to show off their engineering skill with regard to future EV platforms. This Dune Buggy concept is based on VW’s modular electric drive matrix, or “MEB.” The idea is to demonstrate how multifaceted and flexible this new platform is.
The Dune Buggy is VW’s way of saying, “Look at our MEB. It works in trucks, it works in cars, and you can even have fun with it!” And that’s a very smart move. Nobody is going to buy an EV to show they are more hair-shirt than thou. Then VW says this: “The new MEB concept vehicle shows that this fully electric platform can be used for more than just large-scale series production models. Like the Beetle chassis of yesteryear, the MEB has the potential to facilitate the development of low-volume niche vehicles.”
That sounds like a major corporation egging us on to take this platform and mess around with it as we see fit. Now doesn’t that sound like fun?
Global Appeal
Worldwide, around 250,000 vehicles were built as one-offs or at low volumes through the 1980s. I’m assuming they mean Beetle-based stuff, so VW gets a solid two-base hit. One, they show off their upcoming MEB electric vehicle platform, and two, they hint at releasing it to the hardcore gearhead shade-tree tinkerers out there.
VW Dune Buggy In Person
Anyway, I’d love to stay and talk, but I heard there’s a big swell heading for Steamer Lane, so I gotta run. In the meantime, you can catch the Dune Buggy in person during the Geneva Motor Show which begins on March 7th. Later brah!
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.
Photos & Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

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Letter From The UK: At The Industrial Cliff Edge

Letter From The UK: At The Industrial Cliff Edge We are just a few weeks away from the 29th of March when the United Kingdom is scheduled to acrimoniously depart the European Union. Even at this eleventh hour there is still rampant uncertainty as to what is going to happen. No final decisions have been made by our weak and floundering politicians.
Emotive words and phrases like ‘crisis’ and ‘crashing out’ and ‘going over the cliff’ don’t help at all.
Economic Strife
A crisis is a plague or famine or warfare; this is economics. If you expect nothing from your so-called ‘leaders’ then you won’t be disappointed, that’s the people’s motto. Nevertheless, wide social divisions have opened like earthquake fissures. It is neighbour against neighbour and it is going to take a generation to get past, whatever the final outcome. In some quarters, hatred is not too strong a word. It is all very sad and the blame lies as much with the blustering, bombastic, un-elected suits who run the EU (which, remember, is only a trading bloc and not a country in its own right) as it does with our home-grown authorities.
Industry is similarly divided with some sectors saying it’s all going to be great with many new global trade opportunities including the USA. Other players are saying it will all end in tears for manufacturing. Batting firmly for the latter team is the motor industry.
Related: It’s crunch time across the pond. How will the motor industry respond?
Lost Investments
There’s a reason for their negativity. Although the car industry is truly global now with mergers and associations, the European car makers are very closely tied. They depend on us for vehicles, parts, and consumers just as we depend on them. Vehicle parts criss-cross the Union on a just-in-time basis. When it is considered how important motor manufacturing, retail sales, the used car market, and all the ancillary trades and professions are to employment and the success of individual economies, it makes sensible people wonder what politicians are for.
The indisputable fact is that investment in the British car sector almost halved last year and output has tumbled as the growing fear of the unknown have put manufacturers on red alert. Inward investment fell 46.5 percent to 588.6 million Pounds Sterling last year from £1.1bn in 2017. These figures are courtesy of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Last year, the Nissan Juke became the fourth Sunderland-built model to hit one million units. On average, a Juke is built at the plant every 105 seconds. Photo: Nissan Motor Company Ltd.
Crashing Out
Similarly, UK production fell 9.1 percent to 1.52m vehicles, with output for the UK and for export falling 16.3 percent and 7.3 percent respectively. It is not Brexit as an entity that has done the damage so much as the uncertainty surrounding it. This was highlighted by the recent, now-confirmed rumour, that Nissan will not build the new X-Trail at their Sunderland, UK plant.
Much is being made of this but, on the other hand, the X-Trail is a very niche model and low-scale seller that currently only offers unpopular diesel engines, so how much of a problem this will make can only be conjectured. It does indicate though how conflicted UK motor manufacturing is.
As SMMT chief Mike Hawes puts it about the impact so far on output, investment, and jobs: “is nothing compared with the permanent devastation caused by severing our frictionless trade links overnight, not just with the EU but with the many other global markets with which we currently trade freely. With fewer than 60 days before we leave the EU and the risk of ‘crashing out’ without a deal looking increasingly real, UK Automotive is on red alert.”
Photo: Nissan Motor Company Ltd.
Lower Sales
In fact it is hard to be totally accurate with forecasts such as this because investment in the motor industry always comes in uneven chunks as old models are retired and new ones are introduced over time. But even allowing for that, the plunge in new investment is clear. In 2015, car manufacturers invested £2.5bn in the UK. In 2016 we had the national Brexit vote which signalled the end of our association. Since then it has fallen ever year and in 2018 was just £589m, according to SMMT.
Regulatory Hiccups
There are other factors which get less publicity, for example falling sales in the Chinese market and EU regulatory hiccups are of concern. With exports to China slumping 24.5 percent, Jaguar Land Rover, Britain’s biggest car maker, has already underlined the pain being felt from a sales slowdown in China. The industry is clear that Brexit has presented “the most significant threat to the competitiveness of the UK automotive sector in a generation.”
Thank goodness we didn’t join the Euro currency too!
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite

Cover Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.

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Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition: The Tradition Continues

Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition: The Tradition Continues The Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition will receive a limited-production run.
Design elements include the original “baseball stitch” and commemorative badging.
Available as either a coupe or roadster with a 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine.
I must be getting old. Has the Audi TT really been around for 20 years? Maybe I’d remember that if it had kept some of its original pizzazz instead of slowly fading into “just another sports coupe” territory. Or maybe it would have made more of an impact, year after year, if the performance matched the (original) style. But anyway, here we are. Audi is rolling out a 20th anniversary edition to remind us what we’ve forgotten.
Carrying On The Tradition
Audi says the TT 20th Anniversary Edition features “unique design elements that celebrate the heritage of the Audi TT and embody the model’s transcendent design.” That might be true, but the first thing I notice is that nowhere does Audi say what counts as “limited.” They could be making 40 of these things, they could be making 40,000 but I can’t really tell.
That aside, I can’t really argue with Audi calling it a “transcendent design.”
When the TTS Roadster concept study hit the stand at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show, people were very impressed. It was clean and direct, a design dominated by arcs and finished in a cool silver gray. A car like the TT couldn’t have been designed in Italy or France, this thing had to be German. Audi, naturally, wants to carry this on with the TT 20th Anniversary Edition.
Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Design Appeal
It’ll come as both a coupe and roadster, painted either Aviator Gray pearl metallic or Nimbus Gray metallic. I can’t really see what the difference is, but we do know Nimbus Gray will be exclusive to the United States. As a nod to the original TT from the Tokyo show, all models will feature Mocasin Brown Fine Nappa leather with custom yellow contrast stitching. (Yes, I know that’s not the way you spell “Moccasin,” but Audi chooses to spell it that way).
On top of the two select paint colors, the TT 20th Anniversary Edition features high-gloss black exterior trim and 19-inch, five-arm-design wheels painted in gunmetal, natch. When you get into a cool, gray Teutonic-style jag, why stop? The trumpet-style stainless steel exhaust is exclusive to the model, as are the OLED taillights which are only available on the TT RS.
Badges? You bet this TT’s got badges: “20 Years of TT” badging adorns the front fenders, alongside the matte-finish Audi rings etched into the rear sills.
Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Interior & Technology Treatments
Naturally the Ingolstadt firm has worked over the interior. The S Sport seats, door armrests, steering wheel, and center console all get the aforementioned Mocassin Brown Fine Nappa leather with bespoke yellow contrast stitching. This harkens back to the “baseball stitching” in the original TT, which I always loved but owners told me it was kind of a pain to live with.
Of course there are interior badges marking the TT’s production number alongside a “TT 20 Years” icon.
What counted as high-tech gadgetry 20 years ago wouldn’t even past muster these days, and Audi is not going to leave their special TT behind. The standard Audi phone box with wireless charging and signal booster is on-board, along with the standard Technology package that includes Audi’s virtual cockpit, MMI navigation plus, smartphone integration (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Related: Virtual Showdown: Tesla Model S vs. Audi e-tron GT Concept.
Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition interior layout. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Power & Performance
The Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition is not a no-go-show-boat, but it’s not a full-out Bahn burner either. Powered by an evergreen 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbo engine, Audi’s special TT puts out 228 horsepower. It comes with a standard seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission. Nice, love that tranny! Add it up, and the anniversary coupe can haul from zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. Not that bad at all.
The roadster is slightly slower, hitting 60 in 5.5 seconds. Still not that bad.
Pricing & Availability
The Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition is on sale now. The coupe starts at $52,900 and the roaster begins at $56,800. Which is about what you’d figure.
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.
Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition Gallery

Photos & Source: Audi of America, Inc.

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Jaguar F-TYPE Checkered Flag: A Limited-Edition F-TYPE For 2020

Jaguar F-TYPE Checkered Flag: A Limited-Edition F-TYPE For 2020 Jaguar, the most successful of British sports car companies, just announced a new model – variant actually – to their 2020 lineup, the F-TYPE Checkered Flag. The limited-edition model will be available as both a coupe and convertible and, like all Jags, will be as gorgeous as it is fast.
Based off of the Jaguar F-TYPE R-Dynamic Coupe and Convertible, the Checkered Flag is offered with either a four or six-cylinder engine. Obviously, I’d go with the six, but theoretically the four-banger could be fun. And it should make for a lighter car.
Visual Enhancements
The Jaguar F-TYPE Checkered Flag comes with a bunch of subtle “visual enhancements” (i.e. badges and such) for the exterior, while the “1+1” cabin is also set apart from its more plebian brethren. Comically, Jaguar refers to the Checkered Flag as having a “1+1” seating arrangement. That’s a pretentious way of saying it’s a two-seater, just like true sports cars always are.
Obviously, with a name like this F-TYPE has, Jag is leaning heavily on the brand’s prolific heritage, dating back to the XK 120 in 1948. The Checkered Flag version is further set apart by a Black Contrast roof on the Coupe, a not-all-that-bad styling choice used rather nicely by the Corvette and various big Ferrari coupes.
Spartan the Jaguar F-TYPE Checkered Flag is not, with a standard InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with Meridian audio (nice!). Along with a collection of other “connected services,” Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard. Everything is accessed through a 10-inch touchscreen.
2020 Jaguar F-TYPE Checkered Flag Limited Edition. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.
Interior & Exterior Treatments
The inside is drowning in plush Windsor Leather and performance seats with embossed headrests, a nice styling touch. The center console gets a Dark Brushed Aluminum trim finisher (Jag capitalizes stuff in the oddest ways) and the steering wheel is emblazoned with a distinct Checkered Flag logo.
There is a red leather band at 12 o’clock so you always know (hopefully) which way is up.
The exterior of this special F-TYPE includes extended side sills to cleverly increase visual width, while giving the car a greater sense of charisma and grace. The wheels are big 20-inch Gloss Black jobs, carrying on with that fine Coventry tradition of bolting on huge wheels. The rims are exclusive to the Checkered Flag Limited Edition and contrast wickedly with the red brake calipers.
The 2020 Jaguar F-TYPE Checkered Flag Limited Edition is available in Caldera Red, Fuji White or Carpathian Grey. Each color is matched with a Black Contrast Roof and 20-inch wheels. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.
Power & Performance: Two Solid Options
As I said, you get your choice of two plants. First, there’s a 296 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder Ingenium gasoline engine. Which seems fine. It probably revs easier than the big six, and it’ll get better gas mileage (if you care about that stuff). Speaking of the six, that would be a 380 horsepower, 3.0-liter supercharged V6. Yes, I get the packaging and weight issues, but a big Jag without a big, straight six still seems odd to me.
Both lumps are mated to an eight-speed “Quickshift” transmission, which I think is Coventry’s way of saying nice, but automatic trannies. Alas.
Pricing & Availability
The 2020 Jaguar F-TYPE Checkered Flag Limited Edition starts at $71,900, which is actually kind of reasonable. That’s right in the same ballpark as various BMW and Mercedes-Benz coupes. No word yet on when it’ll be gracing the polished floors of Jaguar dealers.
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.
Jaguar F-TYPE Checkered Flag Limited Edition Gallery

Photos & Source: Jaguar Land Rover.

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