Automotive

2017 Kia Niro: A lot To Like, Especially Price

Kia, the South Korean company that keeps churning out a brand new vehicle every 8 hours or so, just rolled out another debut model: The all-new Kia Niro. That’s Niro, with an ‘i,’ not with an ‘e.’ That’s the crazy Roman emperor dude or that unneeded antagonist from that Star Trek re-boot movie. This is neither.

The Kia Niro is, like seemingly all their products, pretty durn cheap to acquire, and comes frosted with a stack of gizmos, features, doo-dads, luxury bits, and alleged-luxury bits that make the car, whatever it’s shape, imaginary function, or invented “styling” worth considering.

Value Added

No, you will probably never see a Kia pull slowly into the drive-in and have a gearhead in a greasy white shirt whistle low and say, “whoa, a Kia!” No, you will probably never see a Kia product of any kind grace the lawn at Pebble Beach. But you will see, most likely, a Kia in the hands of a new driver – say 16 or 17 years old – or that kid that works at the drive-in or golf course and you’ll say, “not a bad choice for a first car.”

And they’re not. You get a lot of bang for your buck, and, let’s face it, you also get the added insurance (as odd as that term might sound just now) of having a car that is largely forgettable and disposable when you trade it in on your second car.

Take the all new Kia Niro as a good example.

It’s the brand’s new for 2017 crossover hybrid with five different trim levels: FE, LX, EX, Touring, and a limited production Launch Edition. And it rings the register between $22,890 for the FE to just $29,650 for the Touring. Kia crows: “Five different trim levels offer a Niro for every buyer, crossover utility, and hybrid efficiency at an affordable price.” Yes, that’s an awkwardly worded quote, but look what you get with this guy.

Photo: Kia Motors America.

FE & EX Trims

The Niro FE, that’s the range starting, bottom of the line, cheap-o version, with a beginning MSRP of $22,890. However, it is furnished with a long list of standard features such as 16-inch wheels, 6-way front seats, power windows, keyless entry, cruise control, and a 7-inch touchscreen display with rearview camera. It’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, and features a six speaker audio system with steering wheel mounted controls.

Around $23,000 for all that, and it pulls in 50 mpg (combined) in fuel economy, meaning it’ll be cheap like the budgie to own. Next rung up on the trim ladder is the $23,200 LX. Spring for that extra $300 clams and you get Smart Key with push button start, roof rails, and rear LED combination lamps.

Shell out a little more for the EX ($25,700) and you get heated seats, leather wrapped steering wheel, LED daytime running lights, heated power folding mirrors, and front fog lamps. Driver assistance features include Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Lane Change Assist (LCA). Many automakers today include the acronyms for these various technologies, if you’re wondering why all the extra letters. Which, to my way of thinking (arcane as it may be) translates as Look Over Your Shoulder (LOYS) Really, Look Over Your Shoulder (R,LOYS), and Make Sure There’s No One In The Next Lane Before You Move, Dingbat (MSTNOITNLBYM,D).

Seriously. Just pay attention for once, will ya?

Photo: Kia Motors America.

Launch Edition & Touring Trim

The Launch Edition is offered in only two colors: Snow White Pearl or Aurora Black Pearl. It is further set apart by unique Hyper Gray 18-inch alloy wheels with Michelin tires, and a unique metallic color grille. A 10-way driver’s seat, 8-inch touchscreen navigation system, and Harman Kardon premium audio are included.

The Launch Edition will set you back $28,000.

The top of the line Touring trim chimes out at $29,650. Not at all unreasonable. For that, you get to add a power tilt/slide sunroof, front and rear park assist, heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, 10-way power driver’s seat with memory, and the aforementioned Harman Kardon audio.

Additional Goodies

In case those trim levels are not enough for you, there are also three option packages on offer. The Advanced Technology Package for the LX is $1,450 and includes Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Lane Departure Warning System. There is a Sunroof and Advanced Technology Package for the EX at $2,300 that also includes a power tilt/slide sunroof, Smart Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Lane Departure Warning System.

The Advanced Technology Package, $1,900, for the Touring includes HID headlights, wireless phone charging, 110V inverter, Smart Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and the Lane Departure Warning System once again.

“We’re always striving to offer exciting new products that redefine their segments in all areas, including price,” said Orth Hedrick, Vice President of Product Planning, Kia Motors America, and owner of a really cool superhero name. “The new Niro checks all the boxes – it provides crossover utility, good looks, outstanding fuel economy, it’s fun to drive, and it’s affordable.”

So there’s a lot to like about the new Kia Niro; content, efficiency, and probably most of all, price.

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.

2017 Kia Niro Gallery

Photos & Source: Kia Motors America.

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Lexus To Reveal New Crossover In Geneva

Lexus To Reveal New Crossover In Geneva Lexus will unveil the new UX crossover at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 6th. The all-new compact crossover will be the fifth member of the brand’s portfolio of luxury utility vehicles. Lexus will also showcase the LF-1 Limitless Concept, first revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan in January. The flagship concept, as Lexus describes it, will make its official European debut.
RX L Premiere
Lexus will also host the European premiere of the RX L, a new version of the RX crossover with three rows of seats to accommodate seven passengers. Lexus says the seating arrangements are flexible and the load-carrying ability is “excellent.” The RX L’s interior has increased due to the extension of the overall vehicle by 4.3 inches, although Lexus says they wanted to maintain a coupe-like profile.
In Person
Other Lexus highlights at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show include the Special Edition RC F coupe, created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Lexus F. The Lexus Press Conference with the new Head of Lexus Europe, Pascal Ruch, will take place on March 6th at 10am at the Lexus stand in hall 4.
Photo & Source: Lexus.

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Letter From The UK: Brexit Britain: Is The Dust Settling?

Letter From The UK: Brexit Britain: Is The Dust Settling?
When you look at British politics, or indeed politics almost anywhere in the world, you can see division through adherence to outmoded ideology, and petulant antagonistic disagreement on how to achieve exactly the same ends. All countries want the same thing: they want to be successful economically, safe, secure, and at peace. Who can possibly have a problem with that? Politicians, that’s who.
Brexit Disagreement
For months now, the deal for Britain’s exit from the European Union has seemed to be in a state of limbo. Like swans swimming, everything appears calm on the surface but under the water there is furious paddling.
Now, the European Union is run on a day-to-day basis by unelected bureaucrats. They are a pretty obnoxious bunch and the most odious of all is their chief negotiator in the Brexit talks, a certain Michel Barnier. In a speech the other week, he laid down some extra penalty clauses targeted at the so-called “transition” period when Britain leaves the Union. This caused a major argument. The good news is that he overstepped the mark and was slapped down by senior politicians from various countries.
This brief fracas could be the single one thing that changes everything because, essentially, both sides ultimately want the same thing.
Michel Barnier, European Chief Negotiator for the United Kingdom Exiting the European Union. Photo: DG EMPL.
Visit To Germany
The economic powerhouse that is the German nation is at the heart of the EU and its Chancellor, the formidable Angela Merkel, has always wanted to be the boss of us all, hence her enthusiasm for the Union. That said, her own dissatisfied countrymen gave her a bit of a kicking at their recent elections, and she is now clinging onto power by means of a coalition with another political party that she otherwise despises.
Meanwhile, enter – stage left – the British Prime Minister, the conflicted Theresa May, whose “wait-and-see” attitude to Brexit has infuriated everyone. She too has finally seen fit to shape up before she is booted out and arrived for a meeting with Frau Merkel, where we saw, for the first time, a softening of European attitudes. This is because something that we ordinary folk have always known has suddenly appeared to dawn on both official sides of the Brexit negotiations: economic success cuts both ways.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May. Photo: Policy Exchange.
Importance of The German Car Industry
If Germany herself is the most successful powerhouse of the European continent, so the German car industry is the single most important component of that success. Look at the list: Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche. Impressive huh? These are some of the biggest, most successful car makers in the world and they are not happy.
All the talk so far has been about how badly the UK will fare when we leave the Union, especially if there is a failure to agree on trading terms (or a “hard” Brexit as it is being called). What the EU negotiators failed to realise when they played hardball at the negotiating table is that trade is a two-way street. The German car industry will suffer hugely in terms of exports. There is already talk of job losses and a slow down in production because those brands sell so well in Great Britain. Also, around a fifth of all componentry used in German car construction is made in the UK. In short, if we have to suffer the consequences of a failure to agree, so will they.
At the aforementioned meeting, Angela Merkel was thus much more conciliatory. I would suggest that behind this sudden softening of attitude are some strong words from high-ranking car industry bigwigs. Sort it out, in other words. The time for silly political wrangling and dogmatic posturing has passed. Politicians know that economics is all, and that is what ultimately will drive a mutually beneficial Brexit.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Theresa May photo via Policy Exchange.
Michel Barnier photo via DG EMPL.

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Supercar Superbuild Shines With Honest, Heartfelt Approach

Supercar Superbuild Shines With Honest, Heartfelt Approach When we see our dream cars they always look so pristine and perfect. In fact, they look so good it’s hard to imagine them as anything but perfect. Yet, how our dream cars arrive at this point is something of a story, and Supercar Superbuild on the Smithsonian Channel tells that story in vivid detail. The show goes behind the scenes where we see the high-stakes gambles, engineering challenges, impossible deadlines, and clandestine meetings that often make up a car’s life.
“Part of the story telling is about the stakes involved and these massive bets made by teams of talented people,” explained Dylan Weiss, Executive Producer of Supercar Superbuild for Cry Havoc Productions. “There is a lot of heart and hard work and effort that goes into making a car, and it’s much more than the collection of its parts.”
Little Wonders
Weiss says doing the show has taught him even the smallest, most insignificant parts are anything but. He still marvels at the thousands that need to be designed, engineered, and tested for any one vehicle. These little, yet significant realizations are woven through the Supercar Superbuild fabric, and for viewers the payoff is remarkable.
“We have been very fortunate to get this working man’s Ph.D. on how a car factory works,” Weiss said. “When we walk up and down the lines and see little grommets – somebody had to make that – they are making that to put food on their table and to put their kids through school.”
Eventually, all those little grommets add up to our favorite cars.
“I can’t think of a better thing than how out of that comes this product of joy for someone else,” Weiss continued. “My hope is that if people catch our show, they get a chance to see that.”
A Porsche 911 on the line before being “married” to its engine in Zuffenhausen, Germany. Porsche is one of the manufacturers featured in season two of Supercar Superbuild. Photo: Dylan Weiss.
Profound People & Powerful Impacts
The archival footage and historical information is one of the most enjoyable parts of the show, and we see plenty of both this season. We also meet the executives, artisans, designers, and engineers responsible for getting our dream cars to reality. As we get to know them, we begin to understand how our favorite cars come to fruition, and why they contain the engineering and design characteristics they do.
“There’s a lot of humanity to it,” Weiss said. “Every brand is different for a reason, and I think the people behind those brands ought to be celebrated, both for their engineering prowess and their craftsmanship.”
One example Weiss cites is when their cameras traveled to Detroit, Michigan to cover the Chevy Camaro for the show’s current season. Prior to meeting Camaro Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser, Weiss had met Dave Pericak, who before his current role as Ford’s Engineering Director for Unibody, was Chief Engineer of the 50th Anniversary Ford Mustang. These two engineers overseeing two different platforms had a profound impact on Weiss.
“I can’t think of two guys who represent their cars better,” he said. “That chess match they play every year: ‘how much horsepower is he going to go up by, what do I have to do, how much faster do I have to get’ – that back and forth is pretty incredible.”
“I don’t necessarily look at a Camaro as a Camaro, I look at it as Al’s car,” Weiss said, who snapped this photo of a 2016 Camaro SS at Lansing Grand River Assembly. “Even if I end up in an airport with a rental, it’s not just some big bleak corporation; it’s a person’s machine, and they put their heart and soul into it.”
Generational Pride
The automotive business is similar to other industries in the sense it is passed down from generation to generation. We see this in Detroit, our publication’s principal location and home. Much like a Midwestern farmer might be honored to pass his land to his eldest son, it’s a similar idea here in the mighty Motor City. Weiss says this idea – like the small parts on the assembly line or two engineers in competition – has really stuck with him.
“We’ve been fortunate to connect with all of these multi-generational stories, especially in areas like Detroit or the Midlands of the UK, where jobs are almost handed down father to son, mother to daughter, mother to son; however you wanna do it,” Weiss said. “We end up meeting a fair number of GM families or Ford families or Alfa Romeo families.”
During season two of Supercar Superbuild, a father-and-son duo who work together in the Jaguar factory are profiled. Photo: Dylan Weiss.
Personal Journey
The auto industry’s intangible elements undoubtedly strike a chord with Weiss, and it’s evident in his work with Supercar Superbuild. His dad produced Peter Jennings on ABC World News Tonight and spent most of his career in big journalism. Weiss, a USC film school graduate, rode motorcycles with his dad for years, with those rides turning into conversations on how they could take their passion for anything with an engine and turn it into something viable.
“We were sitting at a bar one day after 200 glorious miles of riding up the California coast, having an adult beverage, and watching the sunset,” Weiss recalled. “We looked at each other and said ‘what do you want to do when you grow up,’ and both of us realized we wanted to make original programming.”
Coming To Fruition
That conversation, now 17 years ago, lead Weiss and his father to start Cry Havoc Productions, the company that produces Supercar Superbuild. The show, now in its second season, is signed on for another with the Smithsonian Channel. Weiss and his team are currently working on the third season, and it’s clear none of them take it for granted.
“Basically everyone on my crew is a car guy and it’s just a real blessing to do this,” Weiss said. “These are companies putting people through college, putting food on the table, and making sure the next generation has a roof over their heads. That’s pretty incredible and I think we get lost in that sometimes.”
Quality control associates inspect an aluminum body for a future Mercedes-Benz vehicle in Weinsberg, Germany. Mercedes-Benz is among the automakers featured in season two of Supercar Superbuild. Photo: Dylan Weiss.
When & Where
Supercar Superbuild airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern/Pacific (check local listings) on the Smithsonian Channel. Our recommendation is to just purchase the entire show if you are able to. In a world where we are bombarded by multiple streaming services and TV programs, many of which offer little to no intrinsic value, it’s rare when we get to enjoy something as heartfelt and honest as Supercar Superbuild.
“We want accessible, friendly programming that the whole family can watch,” Weiss said. “We want to give the whole family some insight into the design, engineering, and the people behind the machines.”
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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MINI John Cooper Works Countryman Goes Maximum

How many modifiers can a company add to a product? In this case, it seems two, and big ones at that. It’s not just a MINI (the new ones are all caps) it’s a MINI John Cooper Works. It’s not just a MINI John Cooper Works, it’s a MINI John Cooper Works Countryman.

So what gives?

When the new MINI hit the roads, they had a real success on their hands (they, in this case, is actually BMW, since MINI is one of their sub-brands). But like a lot of modern business, making one product great that everybody wanted wasn’t the answer, funny as that seems.

Dynamic Duality

Now, there are two things at play here. The first is fashion. If you have a hit on your hands, it might, in large part, be down to fashion trends. And what can be in fashion can also fall out of fashion very quickly. The people in the accounting department don’t like possibilities like that.

The other factor at play is range expansion. If you can diversify your offerings, say by not just making a 3 seat pickup truck – but by branching out and making crew cabs, and long beds, and step sides, dually configurations, and all combinations that I just mentioned – then you can capture more of the existing market, or, even better, pull in more customers who wouldn’t have thought to buy your product in the first place.

It’s just basic business management 101, and almost goes without having to mention. There is, however, the other edge of this knife: You can seriously torque off your loyal customer base.

Mucking about with variations of pickup trucks is one thing, but what if Chevy started making station wagon Corvettes, and four-door Corvettes, and stuff like that? The mob would be at the outskirts of Bowling Green with their pitchforks and torches before nightfall. And, honestly, I wouldn’t blame them.

This, in a certain way, is what MINI faces.

The distinctive character of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman is derived from the brand’s racing roots. The classic Mini clinched its first victory 55 years ago, when the Mini Cooper won the British Touring Car Championship. Photo: MINI USA / BMW of North America, LLC.

Vintage Versus Modern

I know a few devoted MINI people who just loved the things when they first hit. Bought them. Fawned over them. Rallied them (they’re good for that). Modified them into frightening little track beasts . . . then MINI started monkeying with the formula.

There were convertibles, and then that little two-seater thing, and this variant, and that variant and, the subject of today’s piece, The Clubman. This got a bunch of MINI aficionados seriously cheesed off. (Then again, the new MINI got a bunch of die-hard original Mini people (note the spelling difference) seriously cheesed off as well, but that’s a whole other story.) They swore up and down never to darken the doors of a dealership again. But, proof being in the pudding, although MINI lost some customers, they also sold a lot of these Countryman things.

The Countryman is actually not a new thing. Mini, back when they were British-owned, British-built, and about as British as warm beer, actually sold an archaic version of today’s Countryman. The old Countryman was, like the one today, a stretched wheelbase thing, but only had two doors, and, the best feature, wood accents. Most people called them “Woody’s” or ” Woody Countrymen.”

And that’s who they were aimed at. Farmers and the like who had to get a modicum of stuff from their farm or workshop cheaply and efficiently.

Today’s Countryman is aimed at a completely different set of people: urban dwellers who might, possibly, some day, want some sort of an SUV or a cute-ute, but can’t bring themselves to make that leap. The MINI Countryman aims to scratch that itch. And with the available John Cooper Works, that itch is scratched rahter quickly.

The Countryman is a little four door conveyance that sort of looks like a cut-ute, say a Toyota RAV 4, that has been put through a “de-big-u-lator” and shrunk down. It sits tall on the road (relative to other MINIs), and does seem, in its own small way, more practical than the other MINIs out there.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman has a specific version of MINI’s TwinPower Turbo Technology. Made of highly temperature-resistant material, the turbocharger generates a charge-air pressure which is now increased to 2.2 bar, making the engine more efficient when creating power. The engine is mounted transversely. Photo: MINI USA / BMW of North America, LLC.

Performance Figures

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman is enthused down the way by a 4-cylinder turbo engine that puts out 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque. That is, to use the technical term, a lot, for a relatively small car. Unlike other, okay, traditional MINIs, all that power and torque is delivered unto the pavement (or lack thereof) via a standard all-wheel drive system MINI calls ALL4.

It’s an always on variable slip and torque distribution system.

The suspension, which MINI calls a “sports suspension,” features a Brembo brake system and 18-inch light alloy wheels. The whole lot, engine, suspension, and aerodynamics have been worked over by the fine fellows at John Cooper Works racing enterprises and the results are rather impressive.

60 mph comes up in 6.2 seconds which is both respectably quick and 0.8 seconds faster than the MINI Cooper S Countryman with the ALL4 drivetrain. Top speed? 145 mph. Which probably feels like falling off a cliff in a phone booth, but let’s not dwell on that.

Speaking of John Cooper Works, they’ve tweaked the aerodynamics up front to feature especially large air inlets, fiddled with the insides to give you a model-specific interior with John Cooper Works sports seats, standard LED headlamps, MINI Driving Modes, and Comfort Access. Yeah, I’m not sure about those last two either, but they’re there.

The optional Driving Assistant system includes collision warning with city braking function, camera-based active cruise control, pedestrian warning with initial brake function, high beam assistant, and road sign detection. Other similar features include Park Distance Control with sensors at the front and Parking Assistant with automatic steering for parallel parking maneuvers. Photo: MINI USA / BMW of North America, LLC.

Too Many Treatments?

The MINI marketing types hasten to point out there are “five fully fledged seats, and a significant increase in space, luggage compartment size, and versatility as compared to the predecessor model.” Which is a nice idea, but I still wouldn’t ride in the back seat for a long haul. Shoot, Tyrion Lannister would feel cramped.

Nice try though.

But, say you live in an urban area; Chicago or Seattle or Boston. Say you have two young-ish kids, and occasionally get out of town and onto dirt roads, or go shopping for antiques or something along those lines. You, my friend, are the ideal MINI John Cooper Works Countryman customer.

Personally, I don’t have those needs and the fact this thing has four doors in an anathema to my sensibilities. But that drivetrain . . . or, more precisely that engine.

Ditch the all wheel drive system, make a front drive like Alec Issigonis and Paddy Hopkirk intended, put it into the “normal” MINI body, and lose the back seat, AC, and any other things that add pounds and rob performance. Then that 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque from that 4-cylinder turbo engine would be a real sweet deal.

But that’s just me.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman will be shown for the first time in April at the Shanghai Motor Show. Expect them at U.S. dealerships around the same time.

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.

MINI John Cooper Works Countryman Gallery

Photos & Source: MINI USA / BMW of North America, LLC.

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Letter From The UK: Frank James’ Gun

At the time of writing this, Automoblog’s esteemed Managing Editor, Carl Anthony, was in the air taking in the latest car shows for our benefit. It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it. He has to travel great distances that we here in the comparatively tiny British Isles cannot comprehend.

As the crow flies, the length of the British mainland is six hundred miles approximately. Americans will drive further for a good burger. Nowhere in the UK is more than seventy miles from an ocean, yet I imagine there are people in the USA who have never experienced the soft sough of a salty sea breeze.

Historic Locations

History runs rapidly away from us down the long corridor of time until it becomes nothing more than a myth or legend; something to be learned from the movies or modern political interpretation, and then eventually forgotten. Here in the UK, we can visit all manner of historic locations in a day yet we envy America’s vast sprawling history, which to us, seems somehow more romantic.

We have never really had a frontier.

This was why, just a few years ago, my wife and I took a drive, deep into the historic English county of Somerset to visit the American Museum in Britain. The American Museum takes you on a journey through the history of the United States, from its early settlers to the 20th century. With its remarkable collection of folk and decorative arts, the Museum shows the diverse and complex nature of American traditions. The only museum of Americana outside the United States, it was founded to bring American history and cultures to the people of Britain and Europe.

It has succeeded. It is a wonderful institution.

The American Museum in Britain opened to the public in 1961 – the achievement of four colleagues: Dr. Dallas Pratt (an American psychiatrist and collector), John Judkyn (a British born antiques dealer, who had become a United States citizen), Nick Bell Knight (a furniture restorer employed at nearby Freshford Manor, Judkyn’s business base in Britain) and Ian McCallum, the Museum’s first Director. Photo: American Museum in Britain.

Porsche Power

We visited the Museum for two reasons. One was that, at the time, I was the proud owner of a red Porsche Cayman and I wanted to stretch that 2.7 liter “flat-six” to the limit on what I knew would be some testing, winding country roads. My wife, Beverley, said nothing but she did that raised eyebrows thing that ladies are wont to do when presented with the mystery that is man.

For once the weather was benign. The sun was out and the highways were dry, and we encountered a strange and rather wonderful automotive experience. We were on a blissfully empty dual carriageway. The road unfurled before us as my foot slowly pushed the pedal to the sumptuous German carpet.

The engine roared right behind our heads reminding us of the power of Porsche. Suddenly, at a certain speed, everything went strangely serene. The car had found its sweet spot, that moment when all the mechanical parts come together in perfect harmony. It was as if we were floating above the blacktop on a magic carpet ride.

Unfortunately, the maximum speed limit in the UK is just 70 mph. The sweet spot on my Cayman was 105 mph. You can see my problem. Reluctantly, I lifted and we continued to the American Museum untroubled by the cops.

Photo: DriveWrite Automotive.

Frank James’ Gun

In addition to the remarkable permanent exhibits on show, the Museum was, at the time, hosting a traveling exhibition entitled Gangsters and Gunslingers in a newly opened facility. This was the purpose of our visit.

Well, it was fascinating. The rooms in the new building were beautifully laid out with all manner of artifacts that, most importantly, were a genuine part of history and not just some made-up movie romantic notion.

History came flooding back down that corridor of time and confronted us directly.

I cannot account for why one exhibit took a hold of me specifically. It was, allegedly (and I don’t see why this august institution should invent this story), a revolver dropped from the hand of outlaw Frank James as he ran from the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota, after the aborted raid by the James-Younger gang in September of 1876.

Of course, American Western legends take a hold of British boys of all ages, thanks to the magic of moving pictures. We’d seen the film. We know what happens.

This though was the real thing. Frank James may have fired this gun with intent to harm the townsfolk who were fighting back. What I can say though is that I was transfixed, almost in awe of the small, insignificant piece of history placed right before my eyes.

Northfield’s First National Bank as it would have looked during the time of the robbery in 1876. Photo: Northfield Historical Society.

American History Made Real

I won’t labor the point. The American Museum in Britain has many fine and interesting historical items, including a series of rooms dedicated to home furnishings over the centuries which is much more interesting than it sounds.

There is, however, one room I found oddly unsettling. It was filled with decorative arts and it was in this room I felt history pressing on me more than ever before. There were many things that would likely be unacceptable to modern sensibilities today, including a small naive painting – that could just be imagined on a cabin wall – of a settler pointing a long rifle at a Native American. There was another showing military workings at a Civil War battle.

Some exhibits were strange to the point of wondering how folk ever found this artwork attractive. They didn’t get this stuff out of the Sears catalog. The room felt constricting and I was glad to leave it. Maybe it’s just me? On the journey back, I relished the open, modern road and the drive home.

Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

More Porsche Power

Just a few days before writing this back in the here and now, I was once again driving a Porsche Cayman, this time the very latest 718 model. The engine is still mid-mounted but has been reduced to a turbo-charged 2.0 liter four-cylinder. Despite this, it is faster, more economical, and so much better to drive than my earlier Cayman, long gone and forever disappearing up that historical automotive road.

The new model is, without question, a masterpiece. The Porsche people almost had to wrestle me to the ground to get the keys. Even Beverley, who looks at me in a kind of wonder when I wax all lyrical and poetic about a car, had to admit it was superb.

Teasingly, I am not saying more at this time. No, sorry, I am resolved. We will feature a full review of that glorious 718 soon, long before the memory of that auspicious week fades into history.

Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite

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2018 Ford Mustang: More Tech, More Performance, More Everything

Yay, the new(ish) 2018 Ford Mustang is here! It’s not all new, more like a timely refresh and updates here and there that will improve on things. Ah, but what the Lords of Dearborn giveth, they also taketh away.

Okay, let’s get the sort-of-bad-news out of the way. That rather nice 3.7-liter V6 that used to sit within the Mustang’s engine bay? That’s gone. A shame really, since it got really good mileage and could put out 300 horsepower. A lot of gearheads, I among them, thought that engine option was pretty much a performance/dollar leader.

Sad to see it go.

The entry level Mustang will now come with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost, a four-cylinder engine that uses Ford’s “transient overboost technology,” exclusively tuned for Mustang. Ford says the 2.3-liter EcoBoost gives a torque increase under wide-open throttle acceleration, so that sounds good.

Interior Treatments & Driver Adjustments

Let’s start with the inside, where we find Ford’s first 12-inch all-digital LCD screen. I think, and correct me if I’m wrong, but a “12-inch LCD screen” falls into the Big Honkin’ Screen category. The all-new instrument cluster is customizable and can be personalized with three separate views: normal, sport, and track. There’s also a new MyMode shtick in the Mustang, with a memory function, for saving favorite drive settings, like suspension and steering preferences.

Also on the “you can tweak it” end of things is the engine note. Drivers can adjust how the car sounds to serve up “an audible experience like never before,” says FoMoCo. There is an optional active valve exhaust system for the Mustang GT that offers “a fully variable soundtrack to match the entire acceleration range.”

I don’t think it’s a very good idea if you have a lead foot. No, I don’t think it will hurt anybody. Unless you have a lead foot.

The 2018 Ford Mustang has a new, hand-stitched wrap with contrast stitching on the center console. Door handles, rings, and bezels are finished in aluminum. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Safety & Security

Ford says the new Mustang benefits from a vast array of driver-assist technologies. I will leave the truthfulness of the word “benefits” up to you. Personally, I think a lot of this “driver assistance” stuff is unnecessary and does for people what they should be doing anyway (like keeping it between the lines, dummy!). But hey, people seem to want it, manufacturers want to sell it, and, truth be told, I bet their legal departments are insisting on it.

The 2018 Mustang has bells and whistles like Pre-Collision Assist with pedestrian detection, distance alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and Driver Alert System. It all breaks down into this: Pay attention. Pay attention! PAY ATTENTION! PAY ATTENTION YOU BIG DUMMY!

The new Mustang also continues Ford’s use of the pretty impressive SYNC Connect and FordPass system. This is the first time it’s on a Mustang. The FordPass app allows owners to start, lock, unlock, and locate their car on their smartphone. Handy. But all this is just icing on the cake.

2018 Ford Mustang. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Engine Technology

What 100% (give or take) of Mustang buyers care about is performance. Yes, handling is important to them. And so is braking. But ultimately, it’s what’s under that long hood that really piques their interest. Residing ‘neath the hood is Ford’s evergreen 5.0-liter V8.

But, Ford hastens to point out the mill has been “thoroughly reworked” for more power and higher revs than any Mustang GT before.

All that extra power showed up with the first use of Ford’s new dual-fuel, high-pressure direct injection, low-pressure port fuel injection system on a V8. Without getting too bogged down, what this gets you on the strip, at the track, and on the street is stout low-end torque, high-rpm power, and improved fuel efficiency.

Transmission Performance

All this grunt is delivered to the tarmac via a manual transmission (both for the EcoBoost and the 5.0) that has been upgraded for optimum torque. The V8 transmission has been entirely reworked and now includes a twin-disc clutch and dual-mass flywheel to increase torque capability and deliver more efficient clutch modulation.

So gone are the days of that “klank-crunch-rrrRRRRrrrr” of Mustangs of yore.

If you’re more of an automatic cruising around kind of gearhead, then you’ll be happy to hear that Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission is offered with both the EcoBoost and 5.0 engines. The 10-speed has a wide-ratio span and optimized gear spacing, improving responsiveness and performance.

In case you are in doubt about the performance, contrasted to the previous six-speed, the new 10-speed transmission has quicker shift times and significantly lessened friction losses. The electronic control system is entirely new and includes unique tuning for the different drive modes. In case you want to feel like Nico Rosberg, there are steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

According to Ford, the 2018 Mustang is the most advanced Mustang ever. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Ride & Handling

For those of you that care about more than just going fast (i.e. the smarter apes out there), the suspension has also been considered. There are new shock absorbers for better ride control, for example. A new cross-axis joint in the rear suspension increases lateral stiffness, while advanced stabilizer bars create sharper handling.

MagneRide dampers are a new option in the Mustang Performance Package too.

Design Dynamics

Nothing real new or radical here, just finessing of strokes, nudging of lines a little, a nip here, a tuck there.

The hood and grille have been lowered to produce a leaner look and to refine aerodynamics. The upper and lower front grilles have changed slightly, and the hood vents have a new position. The headlights are all-LED, a first, and fog lamps are available. The rear end also gets in on the party with revised LED tail lamps, a new bumper, fascia, and available performance spoiler. A dual tip exhaust is standard with the EcoBoost plant and the V8 mill Mustang GT gets a standard quad-tip exhaust.

Wheel choices? You get a dozen available alloy wheel designs. And you even get a fresh exterior color choice: Orange Fury.

The 2018 Ford Mustang goes on sale in North America this fall, so get in line, if you haven’t already.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

2018 Ford Mustang Gallery

Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company

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