Automotive

2018 Subaru Legacy To Debut In Chicago

It’s better to call the “new” 2018 Subaru Legacy “refreshed,” because that’s what it is. A little nip here. A little tuck there. A trip to the beauty parlor and a little debutante ball action, and here she is, the “new” 2018 Subaru Legacy.

The thumbnail sketch of what’s new breaks down like this: The 2018 Subaru Legacy has revised front and rear styling for a “sportier look.” The interior has also been gone over and redesigned with more premium materials. The chassis tuning has been tweaked for a smoother and quieter ride.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard along with new multimedia capabilities. And there is now an available Steering Responsive LED Headlight system.

Sporty Styling

Updating the front and rear styling is the easiest way to keep a car looking new during the mid-cycle refresh, before it gets a complete redo. People identify cars primarily from their grille design and front end treatment, so mucking about with that will get noticed. And from a manufacturer’s perspective, new front and rear bumpers (just as an example) are much cheaper to do than revamping the rest of the sheet metal.

Whether it results in a “sportier look” I’ll leave up to prospective buyers. Subaru says the Legacy is now a “sportier, yet more elegant design,” as if the two are mutually exclusive. They’re not. Just look at a 60s vintage Ferrari Lusso, for example. If that doesn’t say “athletically capable” and “elegant” at the same time, I don’t know what does.

But after all, this is a sedan, so maybe they’re not too far off?

The Legacy’s interior has also gotten a touch up, with both a redesign and higher quality materials. This has been a long time bug-a-boo for Subie. And the Legacy is, after all, the top of the Subaru line. So if any model is going to have to up its game, it’s going to be this one.

Reshaped exterior mirrors, new sound-insulating inner film glass for the front side windows, and thicker rear wheel well aprons are among the enhancements that make the 2018 Subaru Legacy more quiet. Photo: Subaru of America, Inc.

Power & Performance

The chassis tuning is more responsive, making the 2018 Subaru Legacy more comfortable, quiet, and agile. Steering and brake feel have been improved too, especially through the Electric Power Steering. The smoother more responsive system works in tandem with the firmer, more direct brake-pedal which is always, always a good thing. Furthermore, Subaru updated the shocks to reduce the impact of bumps while also reducing body roll.

Where it’s really at though is under the hood where you get two choices of boxer powerplants. The Legacy 2.5i is motorized by a double overhead cam, 2.5-liter boxer engine, producing 175 horsepower and 174 lb-ft. of torque. There is a DOHC 3.6-liter 6-cylinder plant in the Legacy 3.6R, cranking out 256 horsepower and 247 lb-ft. of torque. Keeping with their quiet theme, the Lineartronic CVT on 2.5-liter models now features an ultra-short-pitch chain, while engine timing adjustments during acceleration further reduce powertrain noise.

All models come with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system (natch) with an electronically managed, continuously variable transfer clutch for torque distribution.

Tweaks to the air conditioning unit were made, proving nothing was off limits regarding the 2018 Subaru Legacy. It now cools the vehicle more quickly and with a more uniform temperature throughout the cabin. Other conveniences include a redesigned clock that is easier to read and how interior power is retained for a short time after the car is shut off. Photo: Subaru of America, Inc.

For The Birds?

The Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the new multimedia capabilities are both cool and ridiculous.

You get useful stuff like Magellan NAVI with advanced cloud-based mapping services and a Quick Guide digital reference guide for the vehicle. You get potentially useful stuff like Best Parking to locate and compare parking rates, and RightTrack monitors driving habits and recommends improvements.

You also have access to features which have sod-all to do with cars, driving them, or any combination thereof. For example, YELP for crowd sourced reviews of businesses? (“Oo look! A drycleaner with a five star rating!!”) and this thing called Glympse that provides real-time location sharing (why?). eventseeker (all lower case for some reason) provides information on local events, and yes, I don’t get that one either.

But the Pièce De Résistance has got to be eBird. That’s right. You heard me. I said eBird. What, you may ask is eBird? Well I hope you’re sitting down, because eBird advises of local bird sightings and locations.

Imagine that. You’re just cruising down the ville, and all of sudden thanks to eBird, you see there is an unexpected gathering of Throat Warbler Mangroves close at hand. You slam on the brakes (which are improved thanks to that new pedal tuning), slew a hard left, and nearly mow down a fruit cart, all so you can see your elusive avian friends up close and personal.

No doubt after digital admonishments from the RightTrack system, that is.

So, eBird or no, the 2018 Subaru Legacy makes a fine choice for people who are into Subarus in general, or might find themselves in less than temperate climes. The vehicle will make its debut at the Chicago Auto Show, which opens to the public on February 11th.

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 Subaru Legacy Gallery

Photos & Source: Subaru of America, Inc.

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McLaren ‘Hyper-GT’: Fastest McLaren Ever Fires The Cannon

McLaren ‘Hyper-GT’: Fastest McLaren Ever Fires The Cannon You know when you’re in a bar on the wrong side of town, then all of a sudden there’s the sound of breaking glass and roaring silence and a deep, harsh voice says, “Okay then. Let’s take it outside.” Well that is, in essence, what McLaren just said to every other car maker on the planet, but they were looking right at Bugatti when they said it.
Hyper Tension
McLaren just fired this huge warning shot at the Geneva International Motor Show. They call it the ‘Hyper-GT,’ which is a stupid, stupid name, but it’s only a place holder, so don’t worry. The main thing they said was the ‘Hyper-GT’ will be capable of exceeding 243 mph. Yes, for those of you keeping track at home, that’s the max velocity of the iconic McLaren F1. Yes, in a way, this will be the “replacement” for the F1. In a way. And also “exceeding 243 mph” means it is going to be pretty close to what Bugattis and Koenigseggs are capable of doing. In other words, the top speed wars are on.
The ‘Hyper-GT’ is the next model in the Ultimate Series and follows the aerodynamically pure, yet aesthetically revolting McLaren Senna. The ‘Hyper-GT’ will feature a three-seat cockpit design and centrally-mounted driving position just like in the F1 (or the Ferrari Guida Centrale, if you want to go way back).
Photo: McLaren Automotive.
All In One
Baring the internal code name BP23, the ‘Hyper-GT’ aims to be both the fastest-ever and the most luxurious McLaren yet. The idea is that the McLaren BP23 would deliver an unparalleled blend of extreme performance with its petrol-electric hybrid powertrain and sporting luxury, and, at the end of the day, still be the ultimate road-going McLaren. And no, this is not just a rumor, this is straight from the lips of McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt during the Geneva Motor Show press conference. So consider it as official as it can get.
Limited Commodity
McLaren will only make 106 examples of the BP23. Astute readers will note that 106 is the same number of F1s made by McLaren, so they are really leveraging their past history with this upcoming car of theirs. McLaren also notes that all the ‘Hyper-GTs’ are already sold and will run £1.6 million plus taxes to buy. Kind of cryptic, that. Basically means they cost a lot but they’ve already sold anyway.
Production & In Person
Production is due to begin at the end of 2019, with every BP23 out of the factory personalized to each owner’s taste by McLaren Special Operations, or MSO, the in-house skunk works division responsible for bespoke customer commissions. The real name of the McLaren ‘Hyper-GT’, together with the maximum speed attainable, will be disclosed nearer to the car’s reveal. The ‘Hyper-GT’ will be shown to the public before the end of the year, with a private preview for its depositors ahead of that. That’s a nice way of saying the filthy rich will get a look at it before us yobs do.
There’s a reading of the tea leaves that can be done here, but to me, it seems rather simple: McLaren, former holder of the world’s fastest and coolest car crown, just got tired of hearing about Bugatti all the time.
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: McLaren Automotive.

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Letter From The UK: Living Off The Map

Here in the United Kingdom, we have a great and venerable institution known as the Ordnance Survey. It is the national mapping agency for Great Britain and is one of the world’s largest producers of maps. We’ve no need for a Lewis or a Clark here; our maps are so detailed it is said that if a person stands still for long enough, he or she will appear on an OS map as, say, a place of interest or a high point.

The OS makes maps of exquisite detail and accuracy. To get around the country you need nothing more.

At least, that’s how it used to be.

The Lost Road Atlas

In a land as vast and unknowable as the United States, I am prepared to bet that, just like in the UK, somewhere in the bowels of your car or your barn, there may be such a symbol of the great days of true motoring. Hidden away like the Dead Sea Scrolls at the back of your trunk, or under the back seat, you might well discover a dog-eared paper road atlas.

Technophobes will be familiar with this archaic form of direction finding, often used with limited or varied success by your father back in the day when the family vacation by automobile was something of an exciting and mysterious lottery.

Technophiles will not understand this reliance on map reading skills when there is a perfectly adequate device on the dashboard ready to do all the hard work for you. The automotive satellite navigation system or GPS – like sliced bread, the Ford Mustang, and Penelope Cruz – has been one of the great inventions of the world. They have never been cheaper or better featured. They are programmable and settings can be altered to suit. How can something so small be so clever?

Well, that’s the official line, but there’s an unspoken issue.

HondaLink debuted on the 2013 Honda Accord and connects drivers to thousands of cloud-based news, information, and media feeds from around the world. It’s one of many similar systems on the market today. “This is the next evolution of the connected car and the connected customer,” said Charles Koch, American Honda Manager of New Business Development in 2012. Photo: Honda North America.

Not As Infallible As We Think

Here’s an example: Once, when being forced-marched by my wife on a health inducing walk in hilly countryside (“Keep up! It’s good for you!”), I came across a nonplussed German motorist driving up an ancient track previously only used by livestock.

Being a man, he squarely blamed his GPS and herein lies the problem. The fact he was so far off the proper roads, it had never occurred to him until that point that something was obviously amiss, like having his Mercedes-Benz surrounded by intrigued sheep.

Sometimes in this country, we hear about the occasional vast Euro-truck becoming becalmed in quaint, quintessentially English villages because the device directed the driver down a narrow country lane, and he or she blindly obliged with the inevitable result.

Sat-nav’s are great but they are not infallible.

They are only as intelligent as their drivers. Despite the fact the chosen route is clearly unsuitable, they follow it anyway. Simply turning around and forcing the device to recalculate would probably solve the issue.

Photo: Dariusz Sankowski.

With Age Comes Knowledge

This is why just about half of the UK’s experienced drivers still, in this technological age, prefer to use maps, I recently heard. Real map-reading is a disappearing skill (which should, like compass use, be taught in schools) but most motorists can understand a basic road map once they’ve got it the right way up.

Older drivers with more than twenty-five years of motoring under their belts prefer to stick with maps; at least according to a national survey from a while back. As mentioned above, they mistrust some of the GPS intentions but what they hate most is the constant babble of instructions. Nobody likes being told repeatedly to do the same thing.

It’s irksome.

The survey mentions that only around half of respondents owned any form of satellite navigation at all, whether portable or built-in. That’s a surprise. We are led by promotions and advertising to believe the very latest thing is indispensable to our lives, and yet here we are still relying on ancient texts to move about the country.

In 2011, State Farm Insurance found that 52 percent of drivers reported owning a smartphone, and by 2014 that number had grown to 80 percent. The greatest increases in smartphone ownership are among adults age 40 and older. Photo: Foundry Co.

Journey Versus Destination

Many people have no problem with sat-navs. If kept up to date, they can guide drivers through complex and hitherto unknown and labyrinthine one way systems; they can place a car within ten meters of the required destination whilst avoiding ferries and traffic snarl-ups. What’s not to like? On the other hand, it is quite nice to know that some things never change. Maps, after all, bring out the pioneer spirit in motorists.

They can take married couples to distant, lonely parking lots for heated spousal debates about the innate inability of women to read maps and, conversely, about the driving ability, heritage, and general manliness of the fellow behind the wheel. There is something special about a compass and a map just as in olden times. (It is a well-known historical fact that Lewis and Clark declined GPS services in favor of a DIY approach, for example).

The more detail on the map the better.

They can bring hidden places to the fore and suggest anything is possible to the inquiring mind. New friends could be made at obscure crossroads. Perhaps car makers would do well to heed this and start offering a full set of well-surveyed maps, a compass, and a “how-to read coordinates” guide as an alternative option.

It’s a thought.

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

Cover Photo: Erika Wittlieb

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Range Rover Goes Icon With Its Icon

A number of high-end car companies have been in the restoration business for a while now. For example, Ferrari with their Classiche Certified program will take in old cars made in Maranello, and restore them to showroom condition. Range Rover has jumped into this game, with a factory restored 1978 three-door Range Rover Classic that will be shown in Paris at Salon Rétromobile 2017.

I guess what would make this odd is how it’s a truck company doing it this time.

Unique Fittings

Most of this factory retro stuff is preserve of people like Rolls Royce and Porsche. Mercedes-Benz, for example, goes so far as to say they have, or will make, parts for every car they have ever manufactured; back to and including their three-wheeled Patent-Motorwagen, the car that started it all.

Even more odd is the fact that third-party companies have been in the truck rehab and remanufacture game for a while now. There’s been this outfit in SoCal that goes by the name of Icon, as an example. They essentially take old Toyota Land Cruisers and remanufacturer them better than new. Really, their work is truly outstanding. The level of it makes seemingly anyone consider buying one of their trucks, until you look at the price, which is somewhere around the cost of a new Ferrari.

The Range Rover was launched in 1970, originally in two-door configuration only, up to 1981, when the first factory four-door was introduced. The first generation’s production in ended in 1996. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.

Prestigious Programs

Whether any of this played into the corporate decision to get into the factory-resto business, Range Rover does not say. They do say the upcoming reveal in Paris of the factory-restored 1978 three-door Range Rover Classic is all part of their Reborn programme by Land Rover Classic. Yes, that’s “programme” with a superfluous m+e, and yes Reborn is a maddeningly pretentious name. But they both kind of fit the product, no?

The Range Rover Reborn program (with one “m” and no “e” you limey lobsterbacks) offers potential customers the prospect to purchase a “new” vintage Range Rover direct from the company itself. The team of experts at Land Rover Classic have drawn on decades of engineering and design experience to complete this first ride in the Range Rover Reborn agenda, a 1978 Classic Range Rover.

The 1978 Range Rover comes in Bahama Gold, which is a clever marketing way of saying sand-colored beige/tan/brown. It’s not a bad shade, and it is original, but it’s still beige/tan/brown, which is a horrid color to make work on a vehicle.

“Range Rover Reborn is another showcase of our dedicated in-house engineering expertise. It underscores our commitment to nurturing the rich heritage of Land Rover, and is a rare opportunity for customers to own a valuable and genuinely collectible automotive icon. It is a wonderful way to preserve the much sought after three-door original Range Rover from the 1970s, from period-correct color ways to interior trim and accessories,” said Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic

Performance Specs

This beige colored box is propelled down the road and/or trail by a fully rebuilt 3528cc V8 engine. This is the same aluminum alloy V8 that Rover has used for decades, and, if I’m remembering this right, the British bought from Buick for a song back in the 1960s. My cousin Mike had a mid-60s Buick Special he got from his grandparents (Ed and Gladys) fitted with this engine, and it was a total sweetheart. Revved like the business and got great gas mileage.

Of course Buick got rid of it.

Who needs a small, efficient engine when you got things like nailhead mills pouring out of the Hamtramck plant like so many Polish sausages?

Anyway, in original (and now refurbished) Range Rover guise, this engine, fitted with a Zenith-Stromberg 175CD type carb, cranks out 132 horsepower at 5,000rpm and 186 lb-ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm. All of the power and grunt is put to the tarmac, ground, peat bog, or semi-gravel track via a 4-speed manual transmission with a lockable central differential.

Range Rover is considered a benchmark among luxury 4×4 vehicles. It remains a vehicle of choice for members of the Royal household, politicians, entertainers, and other notable figures from around the globe. During the 1970s, the Range Rover also became the first vehicle to be exhibited at the Louvre in Paris as an exemplary work of industrial design. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.

Factory Settings

The company goes on to say the “new” 1978 Range Rovers will undergo a complete restoration to the 1970s factory specs using Land Rover Classic Parts to preserve and protect authenticity. They make no mention if the Rovers will be returned to the factory levels of build quality and reliability of the 70s, but they can’t be that sadistic, can they? If you decide you have to buy one of these new/old Range Rovers, Land Rover’s restoration team will guide you through the best options in terms of collectability, preferred chassis numbers, and unique characteristics.

Very helpful of them.

Cost? Well, completed Range Rover Reborn restorations from Land Rover Classic will start at £135,000 GBP, or around $150,000 USD. Which is, jeepers creepers, a lot of green. But what do I know? If old Range Rovers are your thing, I’m not going to argue with you.

Salon Rétromobile 2017 runs February 8th through the 12th.

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.

1978 Three-Door Range Rover Classic Gallery

Photos & Source: Jaguar Land Rover

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Hey Elon: Say Hello To The Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo

Hey Elon: Say Hello To The Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo When it comes to EVs, Teslas are the top-of-the-line, right? They’re the benchmark, or so goes the conventional wisdom. And that also goes a long way to explain that smile often seen on Elon Musk’s face. Well, the new Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo is here to dim that smile a little, if not wipe it off completely.
For a while now, Porsche has been talking trash at Tesla, implying, if not outright stating that Tesla doesn’t understand performance and how to combine it with efficiency. They seem to suggest Teslas are little more than toys and not real cars. ‘Just wait until you see a Porsche EV. You’ll see how off you really are.’
And now, at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, here it is: the new Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo.
X Marks The Spot
Porsche calls it an electrically-powered “Cross-Utility Vehicle” and it effectively squares off against the Tesla Model X, and by extension, any other crossover out there. The Mission E Cross Turismo is designed for active lifestyle individuals with an all-wheel drive system that easily handles varied weather conditions. The interior offers plenty of cargo space and an exterior mounting system for larger stuff like surfboards or bicycles. The four-seater features a new display and control concept with touchscreens and eye tracking.
It uses an 800-volt fast-charging system and can also be charged via induction or a charging dock, and integrates with a Porsche home energy management system.
Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo on display at the 88th Annual Geneva International Motor Show.
Exterior Design
Yes, Porsche calls it a Cross-Utility Vehicle, but it looks sort of like a big station wagon with a slight lift kit. It has the Matrix Design LED headlights found on other Porsches, and even the four-point daytime running lights seen on their race cars. The off-road design elements are seen in the rugged wheel arches and door sills, the front spoiler and rear fascia, and the improved ground clearance. The side skirts go for an off-road look and the 20-inch wheels with big 275/40 R20 tires also help.
There’s a flow-through roof spoiler with a full-length light strip and the large panoramic glass roof extends from the windshield to the tailgate.
Interior Treatments
The interior features a fresh take on the classic Porsche design elements. The instrument panel emphasizes the width of the Mission E Cross. The dashboard has a clear horizontal arrangement with a wide display for both the driver and front passenger. The instrument cluster is curved and angled toward the driver, and is free-standing with three circular display fields shown on TFT screens.
Other interior design elements include visible lightweight structures in the dashboard and seats reminiscent of racing buckets with illuminated Porsche lettering. Anodized trim pieces in Nordic Blue around the air vents and the window switches provide a nice contrast to the black Aniline and Light Grey two-tone interior.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America.
Power & Performance
Now, about that powertrain. There are two synchronous electric motors with a total system output of over 600 horsepower (440 kW). That’s good enough to accelerate the Mission E Cross Turismo to 62 mph in less than 3.5 seconds and to 124 mph in under 12 seconds. The all-wheel drive system with torque vectoring is demand-controlled and automatically distributes torque to the individual wheels.
“This performance is in addition to a continuous power level that allows for multiple launches in succession without losing performance, which is unprecedented among electric vehicles,” reads a statement from Porsche. Although they might as well have added, “Try doing that with your one-shot ‘ludicrous mode’ Elon!” Ouch.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America.
Availability & In Person
Curiously, Porsche does not mention the weight, or the battery design and placement. I’d like to know more about that. Below is a handy chart with the specs we do know. For the time being, it’s on display at the Geneva International Motor Show until the 18th. The production-version Mission E Cross Turismo will make its world premiere next year.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo Technical Information
Propulsion
Two permanently excited synchronous motors
Electric Motor Output
600 hp / 440 kW
Drive Type
Demand-Controlled All-Wheel Drive
Acceleration (0-100 kmh)
3.5 seconds
Acceleration (0-200 kmh)
< 12 seconds
Length
194.8 inches
Width
78.3 inches
Vehicle Height
55.9 inches
Wheel size
20 inch
Tire size
274/40 R20
Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo Gallery

Photos & Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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This Nissan Titan Is A Giant BBQ Grill On Wheels. No. Seriously.

This Nissan Titan Is A Giant BBQ Grill On Wheels. No. Seriously. The only way this could get more ‘Murican is if it was being shot out of a t-shirt cannon by a scantily clad energy drink model into the stands of a monster truck rally while Grand Funk Railroad’s We’re An American Band discharged from the PA system at ear-bleeding decibels. “This” is a full-size pickup truck that comes with its own bar-b-que. Let me break that down for you into the important parts: Full-size. pickup truck. bar-b-que.
The irony here is that it’s a Nissan.
There’s an old saying: If you want to learn something about America, ask a foreigner. It’s amazing how much we don’t know about our own country, and even more embarrassing what we choose to actively ignore about it (see: Native Americans, genocide of; slavery, role in Civil War; etc.). So, like I said, leave it to a foreigner, in this case a Japanese manufacturer, to point this out to us in the most bodacious, cool, boss, and, let’s face it, most American way possible.
Nissan is debuting the world’s first fully integrated in-truck-bed smoker and mobile kitchen – a modified 2018 Titan XD King Cab dubbed “Smokin’ TITAN.” Photo: Nissan North America.
Even The Kitchen Sink
The fact that someone hasn’t done this before (and if they have, I’d be surprised that I missed it, so deep is my addiction to bar-b-que) is beyond me. The fact that an American truck company hasn’t done it before is a national humiliation. This, this would be the perfect thing to have at a tailgate party before the big game. Family gatherings? The perfect thing. 4th of July? The perfect thing. You get the picture.
This, to finally get to the point, is the Smokin’ TITAN! Unabashedly and accurately called by Nissan: “The ultimate tailgating and barbecuing pickup truck.” It is a full-size TITAN (all caps baby!) with a custom flatbed, built-in smoker, and fully functional mobile kitchen, including the kitchen sink. Or, at least attached to the trailer hitch.
Nissan just rolled the beast out during this year’s Geneva International Motor Show-I’m sorry, they actually just showed it at the 2018 Work Truck Show in Indianapolis (the largest work truck event in North America). But man, I’d pay real money to see the reactions if they had rolled this out in Switzerland. Shoot, I bet it would have violated several Swiss laws, not to mention that I bet the American Heart Association and vegetarians everywhere are looking at the Smokin’ TITAN like it’s a bug that must be squashed.
Photo: Nissan North America.
Cooking With Crisco
It all started out with a literal, run-of-the-mill stock Titan XD King Cab right from the Canton, Mississippi factory floor. Onto the Titan XD’s broad, metal shoulders was lumped all sorts of BBQ-related gear, starting with a custom CM Truck Beds aluminum flatbed. This allowed space for three food prep stations each featuring a Partner Steel aluminum double burner prep stove, alongside a Churrasco Brazilian Wood cutting board. There’s even a custom, Teton Steel on-board 24×24 sink with a water storage system.
Or, if cold storage is more of a priority, the sink and water system can be swapped for a Yeti Cooler. Since Titans have flat load floors, and that second row of seats in the King Cab, Nissan saw fit to include an ARB 50-quart Fridge Freezer with a custom spice rack.
Attached to the hitch of the Smokin’ TITAN is a B&S Custom trailer made from another Titan XD’s factory bed. Aesthetically, it works great. Culinarily, how could this possibly go wrong? The Smokin’ TITAN bed-trailer features two truck boxes as lockable dry storage for your smoker pellets and wood chips, which sit conveniently on either side of the smoker. A B&S Customizing sliding tray was designed to easily move the smoker in and out of the bed, and to support the Lang BBQ Smoker and Char Grill. For those heartbreaking times when the smoker is not in use, the whole trailer can be locked down with a steel Diamondback SE Tonneau cover.
The Smokin’ TITAN spices things up with an IF Signs Custom Flame wrap, 20-inch ICON Alloy Alpha wheels, and Nitto Terra Grappler tires. Photo: Nissan North America.
Availability
Is Nissan actually going to make a bunch of these ‘Smokin’ TITANs? Are you crazy? The liability release forms would take weeks to fill out, not to mention the sign offs you’d have to get from your team of cardiologists. So no, you can’t just go out and buy one. You can, however, always go out and buy your own bar-b-que. Which I highly recommend.
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: Nissan North America.

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2019 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van: One Size Fits Most

2019 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van: One Size Fits Most The new Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van just hit the public eye at The Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. It comes with new driver-assist technologies, two new drivetrains, and aims to keep up the Transit Connect’s reputation as being the best-selling compact cargo van in America.
Safety & Convenience Technology
The 2019 Transit Connect is covered with driver-assist technologies – it actually has the most in the segment, according to Ford. There’s Automatic Emergency Braking, Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Side Wind Stabilization, and a Rearview Camera all standard. The optional safety features are just as impressive: Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Keeping System, and Adaptive Cruise Control.
And, since everybody today is connected and has a smartphone, there’s a standard embedded 4G LTE modem that provides Wi-Fi for up to 10 devices, and an available 6.5-inch floating touchscreen running SYNC 3 to help you while taking customer calls or navigating hands-free to job sites.
Wireless phone charging is available for the 2019 Transit Connect Van. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Management Tools
FordPass is on board to help monitor small fleets, including such data points as driver location, fuel level, and tire pressure. The MyKey programmable ignition is standard on Transit Connect XLT, so owners and fleet administrators can preset warnings and limits for vehicle speed, but also restrict the entertainment system’s audio to 45 percent of the maximum volume.
Power & Performance
Ford likes to say that there are powertrains to fit every need when it comes to the 2019 Transit Connect Cargo Van. In fact, there are three different engines capable of running on five different types of fuels, so businesses have many choices when it comes to finding the right engine.
There’s a standard and new 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine with Auto Start-Stop and direct-injection. This plant is paired with a new eight-speed automatic for responsive around-town performance and low-rpm cruising on the highway. The 2.0-liter inline four is also E85 compatible and comes with a standard heavy-duty battery, and an available heavy-duty alternator if your job requires it.
There is also a new 1.5-liter EcoBlue diesel engine sporting an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of at least 30 mpg on the highway. This new diesel engine combines the latest in Ford’s fuel injection, turbocharging, and emission control tech, and is fitted with the eight-speed automatic transmission. If you’re a heavy fleet user, there is also a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic and CNG/propane package available.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Cargo Capacity
But what about your stuff? This is a van after all, so it better be functional and capable when it comes to handling loads. Ford says the Transit Connect is a modern-day workhorse, and I am not about to doubt them. Although Ford did not provide us with exact capacity specs, they do say you can load a 48-inch pallet via forklift with ease thanks to the 180-degree, swing-out rear doors. And the doors can be locked in the open position, which is great news if you have to load and unload on a hill, for instance.
With a 38.3-foot turning diameter and shorter wheelbase, the 2019 Transit Connect should be able to handle tight city streets with ease. The Transit Connect will also tow 2,000 lbs. when you get the available tow package, so that’s handy too. Finally, there are dual sliding side doors (ideal for tight urban environments) and near-vertical walls inside with integrated tie-downs.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Add-Ons & Modifications
And since this is a work van aimed at the fleet market, the Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van is as customizable as they come. There is already substantial support from aftermarket upfitters and suppliers for interior cargo management solutions as well as adding stuff like ladders and roof racks. Ford says it doesn’t matter what your business is, from mobile dog grooming to pipefitting, the Transit Connect Cargo Van can be kitted out to meet your needs with ease.
Availability
So what you’ll end up with is a smaller van that delivers great competence and a compact footprint with city-friendly maneuverability. The new Transit Connect is great for small businesses and fleet administrators trying to “right-size” their vehicles. The 2019 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van goes on sale this fall at more than 3,000 Ford dealers nationwide, including more than 650 dedicated Commercial Vehicle Center 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.

Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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