Automotive

2019 Audi TT RS: This Little Guy (Really) Packs A Punch!

2019 Audi TT RS: This Little Guy (Really) Packs A Punch! The 2019 Audi TT RS features a powerful 2.5-liter TFSI engine.
Styling treatments include 20-inch wheels and red brake calipers.
The new TT RS joins the Audi Sport model line and is available now.
Audi is showing off the latest hot rod version of the TT sport coupe, the TT RS. The RS goes a long way to dispel any notions of the TT being all show and no go thanks to a *check notes* – holy smokes! How much power does this little guy have?! Jumpin’ August Horch on a pogo stick, are you kidding? The 2019 Audi TT RS really packs a punch!
The answer to that question is “no I am not kidding” (and certainly neither is Audi). More to the point: 394 horsepower and 354 lb-ft. of torque thanks to a reworked 2.5-liter TFSI engine. That is, to use the technical term, a lot of power. Especially for a car this small.
Action & Traction
Yes, the TT, like all Audis, are heavier than you’d expect. They’re chunky guys loaded with lots of machinery, this one weighing in at 3,300 lbs. Still, nearly 400 ponies is worth respecting. This 2.5-liter TFSI plant is that good, old school five-banger derived from the Ur-Quattro, cracking away in the “so ugly it sounds beautiful” 1-2-4-5-3 ignition sequence. Add this all up and the latest, hottest TT can jet to 60 mph in a very respectable 3.6 seconds.
The five-cylinder mill is hooked up to a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission. Audi says the launch control program allows a “heightened level of acceleration,” which just cracks me up. Heightened? Yeah, like Genghis Khan had a “heightened” appetite for land acquisition. Speaking of land acquisition, thanks to the standard quattro permanent all-wheel drive setup; and the ability to send nearly 100 percent of the available torque to the rear wheels; and a traction control system, this thing can grab the tarmac with all four paws and just m-o-v-e.
Rain? So what. Snow? Who cares. Mud and gravel? Not my problem. The 2019 Audi TT RS is all about optimal acceleration with minimal slip.
2019 Audi TT RS. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Styling & Design
The exterior of the new TT RS got a slight going over with a matte black Singleframe grille and the signature quattro script in matte titanium. Audi says there are additional radiators (plural!) behind the honeycomb grille for improved cooling. Lateral air inlets now extend to the front wheel wells and a continuous front spoiler gives the car a lower, Motorsport-inspired look. Full LED headlights with LED daytime running lights are on the front end with LED taillights hanging out back. Also out back is a fixed rear wing and large oval tailpipes, adding to the TT’s overall aggressive appearance.
If you want to go all fancy-smancy the TT RS offers available OLED (organic light-emitting diode) taillights.
19-inch, five-arm design Audi Sport wheels with a titanium matte finish and summer performance tires come standard. The newly-available Dynamic package offers 20-inch Audi Sport, seven-spoke forged wheels; also in a titanium matte finish. The package also includes summer tires, red brake calipers, and a Sport exhaust system with black tips.
Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Related: The Audi TT is still going strong after 20 years.
Interior Treatments
On the inside, the 2019 Audi TT RS features heated Nappa leather seats with honeycomb stitching and adjustable side bolsters. Contrast stitching and leather accents are present in the door armrests, center console, and dash. You can even add red or blue highlights around the air vents, seats, floor mats, and safety belts. The 2019 TT RS also shows off the standard Audi virtual cockpit, an entirely-digital instrument cluster with 3D graphics.
Other tech updates include wireless charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system cranking out 680 watts.
2019 Audi TT RS interior layout. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Pricing & Availability
The refreshed 2019 TT RS joins the Audi Sport model line starting at $67,000. You get three new colors for 2019: Turbo Blue, Tango Red metallic, and Kyalami Green, bringing the total color count up to seven.
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.
2019 Audi TT RS Gallery

Photos & Source: Audi of America, Inc.

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2015 Aston Martin Vantage GT 2015 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT

$10,100.00 (10 Bids)
End Date: Tuesday Apr-23-2019 18:57:49 PDT
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2019 Porsche 911 Speedster: Consult Your Doctor Before Driving!

2019 Porsche 911 Speedster: Consult Your Doctor Before Driving! Gorgeous and rare, the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster makes its debut in New York.
The flat-six engine revs to an impressive 9,000 rpm as it cranks out 500 horsepower.
Expect it at U.S. dealers near the end of the year but the ordering windows open soon.
Who says nothing interesting ever comes out of the New York International Auto Show? Porsche just dropped a new 911 Speedster powered by the engine found in the GT3 and GT3 RS. And great googly-moogly can this thing rip. They’ll sell it to anyone with a check that won’t bounce, but you better get in line now for your 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster.
That’s sort of the bad news or, more accurately, half of the bad news.
Big Checks & Limited Runs
Porsche is only making 1,948 of the 2019 911 Speedster. Why such an odd number? Because 1948 was when Porsche got their start, and to celebrate that anniversary, Zuffenhausen is making the Speedster on a limited run. The other half of the bad news is this: $275,750. That’s how big that check must be before you can drive it. Sure, sure, that’s a lot less than, oh, a Ferrari Pista Aperta, but Porsches have always been the value-conscious choice. Still, that’s nearly 300-thousand dollars, or about the equivalent of three-bedroom home in suburban Indianapolis.
Then again, a three-bedroom home in suburban Indianapolis won’t blow your hair back like the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster.
And the Speedster can do this thanks in large part to the naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine, sourced from the current 911 GT3 and GT3 RS. Spinning up to 9,000 rpm, it’s good for 502 horsepower and 346 lb-ft. of torque which (checks slide rule, punches some numbers into calculator, consults astrolabe) is a fricken ton. Given this thing tips the scales at only 3,230 lbs., the Speedster should simply fly down to the next corner. Which it does. With ease. Zero to 60 mph ensues in just 3.8 seconds. Top speed is 192 mph.
If erection lasts for more than four hours, consult your doctor.
2019 Porsche 911 Speedster. Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Related: Spending a day with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
The Essentials: Nothing More, Nothing Less
The Speedster is more than just an engine (I’m surprised I’m saying that like its a bad thing). Porsche cut down the windshield and side windows and dropped the height of the manually-operated, lightweight fabric top. This is always a cool choice, both for chop-top hot-rodders like myself and for harkening back to the original Speedster and its cut-down greenhouse look. Carrying on with that semi-retro look are the two headrest fairings – Porsche calls them streamliners for some reason – on the rear decklid. These are carbon fiber for a bunch of obvious reasons.
Speaking of weight savings, the interior of the 911 Speedster is nicely paired back to the more-or-less essentials. The door panels are lightweight and have storage nets and fabric loop pulls for weight reduction. More weight savings measures are found in the front luggage compartment lid, front fenders, and rear the decklid. Each are carbon fiber, while the front and rear fascias are lightweight polyurethane.
The Spartan Approach
That fabric top? No power up/down for you, my friend. Manual operation only. Air conditioning? Gone. (But it can be added at no cost if you so desire.) And the final weight-saving cherry on top: the six-speed manual transmission. This saves nine lbs. compared to the seven-speed manual transmission in other 911s, and almost 40 lbs. compared to the PDK dual clutch tranny. Yes, the PDK is a better way to shift gears. Yes, you’re a neo-Luddite if you think old-school manuals are the way to go.
But you can keep all that to yourself when it comes to the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Related: An in-depth look at the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
Chassis & Braking
The chassis is a derivative of the 911 GT3, with a re-calibrated rear axle steering system and dynamic engine mounts for a supreme amount of precision and stability. The wheels are even kinda attractive: 20-inch center lock, satin black jobs wrapped with high-performance tires. Porsche doesn’t say but they’ll probably end up being Michelins or Contis for seriously high levels of grip.
Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes are standard and save about 50 percent in overall weight from the cast iron setup. According to the company, it delivers “very powerful and consistent braking performance.” Which is a nicely understated way of saying it’ll nearly pop your eyeballs out if you mash on the binders.
It has always been this way: Porsche makes great brakes!
And A Few Extras
Oh, and for those of you swayed by tchotchkes, buyers of the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster will get a Porsche Design 911 Speedster Chronograph timepiece (i.e. watch). It comes with tons of gee-gaws and stems and calibrations and ways to calculate the rotational mass of the cup holder if you were driving on Venus and stuff like that.
If you’d like, you can get red stitching for the dashboard and a “Speedster” script on the headrests of the black leather seats. The door pulls are also red and so is the 12 o’clock center marker on the GT Sport steering wheel.
Availability
The 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster will be available for order on May 7th. Expect it in U.S. dealers near the end of the year. Get in line now.
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.

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Mercedes-Maybach To Debut In Geneva

Mercedes-Maybach To Debut In Geneva The Mercedes-Maybach will make its world debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, arriving as a cross between the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the automaker’s Maybach nameplate. From the teaser images, we see a new grille, two-tone paintwork, and a spacious back seat with an interactive monitor. The Mercedes-Maybach will likely be desired by the most affluent of buyers, and is as luxurious and elegant as one might expect.
Well Suited
Mercedes-Benz notes the “reinterpretation” of the radiator grille with its vertical struts. Interesting enough, the grille was inspired by a pinstriped suit and was first seen on the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6, unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August 2016. That handsome pinstripe suit is complimented by the aforementioned two-tone exterior paint, which comes in nine different combinations. A double clear coat is available for dark colors, which Mercedes-Benz says creates a “brilliant surface finish with a piano lacquer effect and a special impression of depth.” Cool.
The Mercedes-Maybach will ride on 20-inch multi-spoke wheels with three designs to choose from.
Photo: MBUSA.
Interior Treatments
Occupants will draped in either an Armagnac Brown/Black or Savanna Beige/Black theme once settled inside. Nappa leather upholstery appointments can also be ordered with a choice of copper, gold, or platinum-colored stitch work. In a press release, Mercedes-Benz adds that “designo Magnolia flowing lines” is an option for a “newly available trim.” Okay. Sure. I’ll take it.
The Mercedes-Maybach’s length is 215 inches and its wheelbase 132.5 inches, besting the long-wheelbase S-Class Sedan by nearly 10 inches in both dimensions. This means passengers will have more room to get comfortable for those long trips.

Power & Performance
There are two versions of the Mercedes-Maybach: the Maybach S 560 4MATIC and Maybach S 650. The first comes with a 463 horsepower V8 that hits 60 in 4.8 seconds; torque is a healthy 516 lb-ft. By contrast, the Maybach S 650 has a twelve-banger that pumps out 621 horsepower and 738 lb-ft. of torque. It launches to 60 in 4.6 seconds.

Pricing & Availability
The Mercedes-Maybach will make its world debut on March 6th at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Expect to see it on sale in the United States late this summer. Pricing has not been announced at this time. Since the Maybach launched in February 2015, over 25,000 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class models have already been sold. Top markets include China, Russia, and the United States.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
Photos & Source: MBUSA.

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Subaru Announces Limited Edition WRX STI Type RA

Subaru Announces Limited Edition WRX STI Type RA Subaru, like many Japanese car companies, has a habit of making limited run, special edition, slightly tweaked versions of its already hot cars. Most of the time, those are for the home market only, but now Subaru, maker of all things rally-inspired, has decided to let a limited edition of their already hot-rodded WRX STi lose on American shores.
Hence the 2018 WRX STI Type RA.
Truly Unique
I know, this sounds like a great thing, and it is, but a lot of these further-stroked hot rods are kind of made up in their specialness. They all seem to be saddled with these silly and unwieldy monikers, for one thing, and differences are usually slight at best. They seem to exist for the main purpose of dreadfully complicated parking lot discussions: “No, this is a Daggan Advan Kyoto Edition STI ZZR2 SpecVR-3. It’s totally different from the Daggan Advan Kyoto Edition STI ZZR2 SpecVR-2.9, it has harder rear sway-bar bushings.” Ugh.
Luckily Subaru has not done that with what they’ve just brought to America. The 2018 WRX STI Type RA is more than just a trim package. It delivers a higher level of performance thanks to weight reduction, suspension, and engine upgrades. It comes standard with a carbon fiber roof panel, the spare tire is gone, a carbon fiber pedestal wing is added, and lightweight BBS 19-inch forged alloy wheels hold up the corners.
Power & Performance
Powered by the 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four engine Subie enthusiasts know and love, the output has been bumped up to 310 ponies, thanks to a new cold air intake, high flow performance exhaust, a retuned ECU, and stronger pistons. The 6-speed manual transmission has a revised 3rd gear ratio and a short-throw shifter.
The WRX STI Type RA has an upgraded Bilstein STI sport-tuned suspension with special dampers, an inverted-strut front suspension, and a double wishbone rear suspension. A reworked Multi-Mode Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system gives the WRX STI Type RA an enhanced level of stability. The VDC system is paired with Active Torque Vectoring, along with a major brake system upgrade for 2018. Specifically, it’s a Brembo setup with stronger monoblock 6-piston calipers in front and monoblock 2-piston calipers out back. The rotors are cross-drilled all around, and the new brake pads get you greater surface area for better brake feel and fade resistance. Oh, and the calipers get a silver finish so you can show off just a little bit more.
Exterior & Interior Treatments
Speaking of showing off, the WRX STI Type RA comes with an exclusive Cherry Blossom Red accent around the front mesh grille. Subaru has added an STI front underspoiler and new rear bumper too. The roof-mounted shark fin antenna and STI fender badges are now finished in black; the rear deck lid displays the Type RA badge, so the people you just passed know what you’re driving. The WRX STI Type RA comes in three colors: WR Blue Pearl, Crystal Black Silica, and Crystal White Pearl. The one you want is World Rally Blue!
The cabin is just as eye-catching! The Recaro front seats feature red bolsters and stitching as well as an embossed STI logo on the head restraints. That red stitching and accent trim is also used throughout the cabin. The steering wheel is wrapped in Ultrasuede for better grip and has a special center spoke insert with an STI logo. There’s a push-button start with Keyless Access, standard. There is also an individually numbered plaque mounted on the center console, because Subaru is only making 500 of the WRX STI Type RAs.
Pricing & Availability
If this sounds like your cup of tea, then it can be yours for $48,995 . . . [sound of body hitting floor]. What? You have got to be joking? 50 grand? Five-zero-thousand? Someone needs to be dragged out back to that artfully balanced and raked gravel garden and have a serious talking too. 50 large . . .
Anyway, the 2018 Subaru WRX STI Type RA is a lighter, tighter, better handling, and quicker accelerating version of the anything-but-normal STI. If the 2018 Type RA sounds like your kind of deal, better get in line now. As I mentioned earlier, production is limited to just 500. Expect to see the WRX STI Type RA at Subaru retailers this spring.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photo & Source: Subaru of America, Inc.

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AutoSens Announces Detroit Conference, Organizers Focused On Collaboration

AutoSens Announces Detroit Conference, Organizers Focused On Collaboration
AutoSens, a global summit on automated driving and vehicle perception technology, is returning to Detroit, Michigan in May 2018. AutoSens Detroit is one of two events on the topic held yearly by parent company Sense Media, which successfully concluded AutoSens Brussels in September. Inside the city’s famed Autoworld Museum, over 450 senior level researchers, engineers, and other experts gathered to identify the challenges and opportunities surrounding future mobility. Attendees, speakers, and sponsors were encouraged to leverage each other’s expertise.
AutoSens is built on the visions these professionals share on vehicle perception technology, ADAS systems, and autonomous driving. Like in Brussels, AutoSens Detroit will examine OEM requirements for developing these systems by providing arenas for engagement, idea sharing, and collaboration.
“These conversations and collaborations are what drives the success of AutoSens, and will be the signature ingredient at all our events for years to come,” said Robert Stead, Managing Director, Sense Media. “The AutoSens vision has always been about community.”
Central Theme
Autonomous driving may one day deliver a world where no single person is lost in a traffic accident. The automated cars themselves will likely run on battery or electric powertains, reducing emissions. Proponents even say our cities and infrastructure will benefit from autonomous cars. Yet, in order for such things to be realized, those working on the technology need a place to gather and collaborate.
“With a willingness to pool resources and learn from your peers, problems can be solved faster and in a more robust manner,” Stead said.
AutoSens is building itself into a similar version of what Volvo did following the introduction of the three-point seat belt in 1959. Stating it was in line with Volvo’s commitments, the automaker released the device in the interest of public safety and social responsibility. The three-point seat belt was now something every automaker could adopt as their own. Volvo estimates that Nils Bohlin, the engineer who created it, has saved over a million lives by doing so. Although AutoSens isn’t inventing revolutionary technology per se, they are providing a landscape in which the next three-point seat belt can emerge.
“Commercial competition is a driver for technology development, but when we are talking about safety-related systems and technologies that need to interact across boundaries of a certain brand or manufacturer, we have to put collaboration at the top of the priority list,” Stead explained. “We provide a platform for sharing the latest thinking, gathering feedback and input from peers, enabling engineers to connect with other technical experts in their fields, and meeting new people and organizations.”
Stead is the Chair of the IEEE-SA P2020 working group, a cross-industry initiative where over 100 companies are developing benchmarks for image quality in automotive camera systems. The end goal is to enhance vehicle vision systems and make cars safer. The working group blossomed from the relationships made at AutoSens, and within a year, group members Bosch and Valeo already have several new bodies of research. That research will be presented at the Electronic Imaging Symposium in San Francisco, California next month.
“But collaboration doesn’t even need to be as formalized as that,” Stead insisted. “I’m often told what’s different about AutoSens is the openness and willingness to discuss topics among the engineers attending. Proprietary information remains so, of course, but there are so many issues, challenges, and technical bottlenecks that are in the public domain, but still haven’t been solved by the industry.”
AutoSens Brussels attendees chat during a brief coffee break. There are numerous opportunities to network during the duration of the conference. Photo: Sense Media, © Bernal Revert/BR&U.
Challenges & Opportunities
The panels of expert speakers, each with their own diverse backgrounds, qualifications, and experience, remains an AutoSens hallmark. Speakers often use their time to define the challenges and opportunities in automated driving. Some go in-depth about the engineering and design requirements for the autonomous car; others examine the financial realm or what driverless cars mean for society as a whole. For example, in Brussels in September, Dr. Heiko Hirschmuller, Co-Founder of Roboception, spoke on how robotics and remote sensing play into autonomous driving, while Erich Ramschak, Senior Product Manager ADAS Engineering, AVL List, talked about the importance of map data in autonomous driving. Rudy Burger, Managing Partner, Woodside Capital Partners, spoke on automotive mergers and acquisitions, while Alain Dunoyer, Head of Safe Car, SBD Automotive, examined the impacts of the autonomous car on traffic.
“There has been and continues to be some truly amazing research done and technology implemented in the field of vehicle perception,” Stead said. “The latest autonomous vehicles have a truly futuristic level of functionality, and some of the greatest engineering minds in the world are working on these topics to improve and augment ADAS capabilities.”
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing these engineering minds is how to make the autonomous car function effectively in the everyday world. Taking the autonomous car, piece by piece, no one component is more important than the other, and each must be designed and engineered to meet the demands of autonomy. Taking a human out of the equation presents an entirely different ball game; the picture of how we get around alters drastically, and all of the variables seem almost impossible to account for.
“The technical challenges are immense – dealing with edge case road scenarios, adverse weather conditions, interactions with human pedestrians and drivers, addressing motion sickness, and a host of other challenges,” Stead said. “Having seen the passion and expertise of the community working to solve these problems, I truly believe they will all be overcome, but it will keep us all in gainful employment for a good few years to come.”
During AutoSens Brussels, Senior Applications Engineer Edel Cashman (right) from SensL Technologies demonstrates how the company’s sensors can be utilized for LiDAR applications. Photo: Sense Media, © Bernal Revert/BR&U.
Dates & Location
AutoSens Detroit will happen May 14th through the 17th at the the Michigan Science Center near the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The Michigan Science Center’s mission is to inspire curious minds of all ages to discover, explore, and appreciate science, technology, engineering, and math. AutoSens organizers say this mission aligns with their vision for the automotive engineering community. The facility is home to the Chrysler IMAX Dome Theatre, the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium, and over 250 hands-on exhibits and lab activities.
Tickets are available now for a special, early bird price through February. Expect the full schedule of events for AutoSens Detroit in the coming months.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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2018 Mazda CX-5 Trim Levels In Detail

2018 Mazda CX-5 Trim Levels In Detail Mazda has made some subtle yet useful tweaks to its CX-5 sport utility crossover. This is both in line with the way Mazda has operated for a long while, and a good idea. Mazda seems to sell a lot of their CX-5s (or at least I see a lot of them around) so it’s best not to mess too much with a good thing. In the case of the 2018 Mazda CX-5, all of these upgrades are focused around better fuel efficiency or better usability.
Power & Performance
All of this new found fuel efficiency comes from the SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine. The plant’s friction was reduced by small updates on the internals, thank you Mazda. The biggest fuel-saving measure is the segment-exclusive cylinder-deactivation technology. The SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine has the capability to shut down the two outside cylinders at cruising speeds so efficiency is maximized. Mazda says the deactivation and activation of these outside cylinders is imperceptible, and I have no reason to doubt them. Mazda goes on to say the system is designed to improve real-world efficiency and comes standard on all trim levels. They are also the only automaker to currently run this system on a four-cylinder mill in North America.
The engine puts out 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft. of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic with a manual-shift and Sport mode. Front-wheel drive is standard but if you’re in slippery conditions a lot, Mazda’s i-ACTIV all-wheel drive is available on every trim level.
CX-5 Sport
The ’18 CX-5 now comes with a standard leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Also Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert comes standard across all models. Before, you had to opt for the mid-range and higher trim levels to get that stuff.
The CX-5 Sport, the entry-level model, comes with cloth upholstery, standard LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, and an electronic parking brake. The Mazda Connect infotainment system is paired with a rather nice seven-inch screen with Bluetooth capability and phone pairing as standard. There is a newly available Sport i-ACTIVSENSE Package that adds High Beam Control, Lane Departure Warning, Lane-Keep Assist, Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Smart Brake Support, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and automatic on/off headlights. You know, all that fat and lazy stuff we are slowly becoming used to.
Photo: Mazda North American Operations.
CX-5 Touring
The next trim level up is the CX-5 Touring. Go with that package and you add standard 19-inch allow wheels, and the full i-ACTIVSENSE suite of safety nannies, er, features. The Mazda CX-5 Touring enhances the seats to leatherette-upholstered trim and adds the Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry system. Additional CX-5 Touring features include heated front seats with the driver’s chair being six-way power adjustable (fancy!). The heater/AC is a dual-zone automatic climate control set up with rear air vents and two rear USB ports for charging smartphones or tablets (i.e. keeping the kiddos happy on long journeys).
If the CX-5 Touring is just a little slight for your needs, Mazda has you covered with the available Touring Preferred Package. If you go the Preferred route you get an auto-dimming rearview mirror with built-in Homelink, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system with Centerpoint and AudioPilot. The Touring Preferred Package also comes with navigation, a power moonroof, and a power liftgate.
Photo: Mazda North American Operations.
Grand Touring
At the top, we find the CX-5 Grand Touring, the supremo-supremo. The Grand Touring package builds on the Touring Preferred setup. Grand Touring gets you a new two-position memory driver’s seat and six-way power adjustable passenger chair. The CX-5 Grand Touring comes with leather-trimmed seats, LED fog lights and taillights, Adaptive Front-lighting, and SiriusXM satellite radio (with a 4-month subscription thrown in). If you want everything on your Mazda CX-5 sundae, then tick the box for the Grand Touring Premium Package. This equips the car, er crossover with a windshield-projected Active Driving Display unit with Traffic Sign Recognition, a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, and windshield wiper de-icer.
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 should be in dealerships nationwide by now with prices ranging from $24,150 for the front-wheel drive CX-5 Sport, up to around $33,000 for the full-zoot CX-5 Grand Touring Premium Package.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photos & Source: Mazda North American Operations.

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2017 Toyota Tundra Limited CrewMax Review

2017 Toyota Tundra Limited CrewMax Review Even though it hasn’t had a major overhaul since 2007, the Toyota Tundra still brings an attitude to the segment. But it deals in a very competitive environment with the top-selling Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan, and Ram 1500. Introduced for 2007, the current generation Tundra was revised for 2014, but needs a more than a refresh to keep up.
This week, we drove the top trim Toyota Tundra Limited CrewMax.
What’s New For 2017
The 2017 Tundra adds a few new colors along with a power passenger seat, otherwise it carries over from 2016. In 2016, there were some minor updates.
Features
The 2017 Toyota Tundra Limited CrewMax ($44,195) comes standard with perforated leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, 20-inch alloy wheels, 10-way power driver’s seat with memory, heated front seats, power vertical rear window, and fold-up rear seats.
Options
Our Tundra Limited tester came with the optional 12-speaker Entune Premium JBL Audio system with navigation ($785), a power/tilt sliding moonroof ($850), and the Limited Premium package ($1,065). The Limited Premium package added extra interior lighting, anti-theft alarm features, front and rear parking sensors, a blind-spot monitoring system, and rear cross-traffic alert. The TRD Off-Road package added 18-inch TRD wheels, off-road tires, trail-tuned shock absorbers, skid plates, and tow hooks. It also came with a performance dual exhaust system ($1,100) and TRD skid plate ($425). Total MSRP, including destination: $51,985.

Interior Highlights
Tundra’s seats are big and roomy, but we thought they could use a bit more cushioning. Controls are large, logically arranged, and easy to figure out. We could even change the radio station without the owner’s manual. The central console is huge and perfect for working in the field and can easily hold a laptop. We had an employee holiday lunch in the truck this week, and a full-size cafeteria tray fit perfectly on the console.
The big CrewMax offers seating for five with leg space for taller riders in every seat. The backseats fold up easily with one pull of the handle, opening up to a large cargo area that’s ready to carry those bigger work items. Toyota listened and opted for the folding seats over the tilt and recline feature. Now you can carry tools or other valuable items you’d prefer to have inside and not leave exposed in the open bed.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
A 5.7-liter V8 engine developing 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft. of torque is standard on the Limited, Platinum, 1794, and TRD Pro trims. All Tundras equipped with the 5.7-liter V8 come with a standard tow package. This tester came equipped with a 4:30 axle ratio, engine and transmission coolers, and an HD battery and alternator. It was more than ready to tow up to its rated 10,500 lbs.
EPA fuel economy estimates are 13/17 city/highway and 15 mpg combined with 4WD.
Driving Dynamics
The first thing we noticed after getting behind the wheel was the throaty exhaust note. The optional TRD performance dual exhaust system brings the 5.7-liter V8 to life. We found ourselves jumping hard on the accelerator this week just to hear the sound inside the cabin. The 5.7-liter V8 impresses, thanks in large part to its generous torque output and smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission.
We had a snow storm hit the mountains this week and shifted from 2H to 4H with the knob on the Tundra’s dash. The 4W Demand 4WD system instantly shifted into action and we never lost traction as we moved from dry pavement to a snow-covered highway in less than a few miles. On the open road, Tundra gives the driver a feeling of confidence and security in the extreme elements with its size, commanding view of the road, and all-terrain winter tires.
We had no problem passing slower traffic that was having more difficulty with the slick roads. Ride quality is reasonably comfortable, though rough pavement and the dirt roads leading to our house produce impacts beyond the normal range. During our urban driving, the Tundra handled well in heavy city traffic. The rear backup camera came in handy as we parked the long CrewMax in a tight city parking space.
Conclusion
The 2017 Toyota Tundra Limited CrewMax is a capable full-size pickup, and when equipped with the TRD Off-Road package, can deliver in a big way for those using it for hunting, camping or as a serious construction work vehicle.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2017 Toyota Tundra Gallery

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

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2019 Lincoln MKC: Your Chariot Awaits

2019 Lincoln MKC: Your Chariot Awaits For some reason, most likely having something to do with me seriously angering a vengeful deity in a past life, I find myself living in the middle of rural Arizona at the moment. This town, small, lacking in culture and literally in the middle of a desert with coyotes and buzzards, is generally populated by three kinds of people: The military (there’s a big base here), elderly retirees, and the woefully confused. One of these groups seems to have a particular affinity for the Lincoln MKC.
And, with a brand new model upon us, I feel strangely qualified to talk about what this means.
New Standards
The short answer, as always, is profits. Lincoln will sell a lot of these things, if the locals are any indication. I knew what the Lincoln MKC was before I ended up here, but I see them all over the place now. Where I used to see about one a week, now I see ten or so per day. The Lincoln MKC, which is basically a Ford Edge with a different grill and every luxury feature sitting on the shelves in Dearborn, is amazingly popular with the well-to-do or semi well-to-do retirees. Especially if you’re a golfer it seems, and man, are there a lot of old duffers down here.
It has been pointed out by others before that SUVs, especially those with a luxury bent, have replaced whatever the old standard was. In other words, rich folk used to tool around in big Caddy sedans, now they tool around in a big Escalade or whatever. I can get into a digressive (yet thoroughly entertaining) argument about how this is generally a bad move, and surrenders a certain modicum of class to being utilitarian, but I shall not digress, no I shall not. What we have here, then, is the new Lincoln MKC. And unless Lincoln seriously screws this up, it will continue to be the favored car of the sliver-haired, “why yes, I did do quite well in real estate” golf and country club set.
One out of two Lincoln MKC buyers arrive from another luxury brand like Mercedes-Benz or Lexus. Photo: Lincoln Motor Company.
Bold Designs
Lincoln says the 2019 MKC is eye-catching from any angle and that it “exemplifies the refined new face” of the brand. The grille is there to evoke a sense of confidence and the LED headlamps to minimize eyestrain. A new design at the rear shows off the chrome highlights that flatter the overall appearance. The 2019 MKC does that now standard thing of having the lower body light up to greet you as you approach. There’s an available panoramic roof that not only fills the cabin with natural light, but allows the angels to witness your sainted passing into and through the Ville. Inside, Lincoln says the cabin is “quiet, warm and inviting, replete with plush, soft-to-the-touch materials,” which is getting frighteningly close to a Helen Gurley Brown quote I would pay real money to forget right about now.
Executive Treatments
If that is not enough, might I suggest to sir or madam the availability of the Lincoln Black Label. Lincoln Black Label not only provides the highest level of custom designer themes, it also offers a host of membership privileges. Privileges such as annual vehicle detailing, car washes whenever you wish, and (this is the real funny one) access to a list of select restaurants where noted chefs will provide a curated dining experience. Lincoln and their clientele better hope the economic stuff doesn’t hit the fan, or that “list” will come in real handy when les citoyens decide to drag (former) MKC owners down to meet le rasoir national.
Just to drive the point home that you, the Lincoln owner, is not a member of the hoi polloi (to mix my linguistic metaphors), the three Black Label themes, which have drawn inspiration from the arts, travel, fine food, and culture, are: Modern Heritage, Indulgence, and Center Stage.
Photo: Lincoln Motor Company.
Interior Themes
Modern Heritage favors a more clean, aesthetic look, with seats in White Venetian leather and Argento wood accents. The Indulgence theme has a richer and more refined interior with surfaces trimmed in Venetian leather, Alcantara, and Ganache (isn’t that a food?). Center Stage has a diamond-L perforation pattern on the Alcantara seat inserts with Foxfire Red piping. Exotic wood accents enhance the Jet Black Venetian leather on the Center Stage trim.
There seems to be another interior theme option for Reserve models, but this one goes unnamed. This one has a Rialto Green cabin with black ash wood accents. The new deep green is “inspired by the vibrant tones emanating from the world of high fashion.” I say they call this theme Rain Forrest Eradication.
High-tech goodies and convenience features? Well duh! Standard SYNC 3 connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Drivers can manage audio, phone, and navigation from the touchscreen or steering wheel-mounted controls. Safety tech includes Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, available Active Park Assist, and Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert, among others.
Power & Performance
All this luxury and comfort will motivate you effortlessly toward the Bushwood Country Club via a twin-scroll turbocharged 2.3-liter engine, cranking out 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft. of torque. You can tow up to 3,000 lbs. if so inclined. And there is even an optional all-wheel drive system for all-weather capability and performance. A 2.0-liter engine with 245 horsepower is standard.
The 2019 Lincoln MKC arrives at dealers this summer. No word on pricing yet, but I’m sure it will cost less than your ne’er-do-well son-in-law’s wasted college education.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
2019 Lincoln MKC Gallery

Photos & Source: Lincoln Motor Company.

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