Should You Buy Car Parts on Amazon? We Did The Research to Find Out

Should You Buy Car Parts on Amazon? We Did The Research to Find Out For many people, Amazon is the go-to place for almost everything under the sun. But is Amazon a good place to buy car parts, or should you stick with your dedicated auto parts store – whether online or off?



Here are a few common questions that come up when shopping for car parts on Amazon:



Does Amazon have the right selection?Are the parts name brand? Do they include a warranty?Can you return the parts if they’re the wrong ones or defective?Are auto parts as good of a deal on Amazon as household goods?In this guide, we answer those questions and cover the pros and cons of shopping for car parts on Amazon. We will share insight on how to avoid counterfeit parts, and provide three essential tips for successfully navigating Amazon’s massive website. We also make some price comparisons between Amazon and other popular retailers.



Why Choose Amazon For Car Parts?



In our previous article, Should You Buy Car Parts Online, we ended up getting a majority of what we needed on Amazon. While we visited several other online retailers, we decided on Amazon most of the time because of lower prices. Some of our comparisons below will show that Amazon is a price leader (most of the time).



The second reason to consider Amazon is fast delivery. Amazon profits fell 28 percent in 2019 because the company made investments to improve its delivery and logistic services. Amazon Prime members can often take advantage of same-day or overnight delivery, which is great if you’re in a hurry to fix that broken water pump.



But let’s dive a little deeper.



Buying Car Parts on Amazon: Pros



Selection



In early 2017, Amazon struck deals with a bevy of the largest auto parts suppliers in the U.S. to sell parts on its platform, meaning you should have plenty of selection.



While writing our original article, Should You Buy Car Parts Online, the thing that struck us most was the variety on Amazon. Parts are available for both old and new cars, a trait that rivals most brick-and-mortar parts stores. If you have a one-off project car or an old classic where parts are hard to come by, you will likely have luck on Amazon, although admittedly not as much as specialized stores.



Price



With Amazon’s wide selection of car parts, having the ability to compare prices is very useful. Amazon makes comparing prices relatively easy, which is something we take advantage of when shopping for parts. Although there is one caveat. The good deals on Amazon depend more on what car parts you’re buying versus them having the lowest price across the board.



Amazon’s pricing strategy is unique, to say the least. The platform identifies the most popular products based on customer demand and lowers the price dynamically – in most cases, way lower than the competition. Then they hike up the price of not-so-popular products or products you’re less likely to price compare, which is where they recoup any losses and increase profit.



Seasonal demands play a role too. Just because the price on Amazon is good today, doesn’t mean it will be tomorrow. We noticed this when we bought a K&N intake kit for our Honda S2000. Here is a screenshot:



Back in December, the air intake kit was around $73 less (with the extra 10% instant discount) than when we actually bought it in January. We think the discounted price was meant to entice buyers since it was December, and the holidays were right around the corner.



The above screenshot is from December ($276.99 + 10% off), while the one below is from right after the holiday shopping rush ended ($322.65). Although you often find lower prices for auto parts on Amazon, some of the traditional, seasonal rules of retail still apply.



In hindsight, we should have purchased our K&N intake kit in December and saved the money.



Buying Car Parts on Amazon: Cons



Only Photos to Guide You



There’s no way to physically inspect the part before ordering, which might make some nervous about shopping online in the first place. For some, there is no substitute for being able to touch the part before you buy it.



“My stepdad was that way,” recalled Carl Anthony, Automoblog’s Managing Editor. “He was a farmer in northwest Iowa for years and fixed everything on his machinery or pickup himself. There was no internet or smartphones back then. And he was adamant that, no matter what you buy, you always take it out of the box and inspect it.”



In some cases, the actual serial number of the part will be indicated by the seller in the product description. Make sure, if you are shopping on Amazon, you always double-check the serial numbers. And if high-resolution images are available – and most of the time they are – you can zoom in for a closer virtual inspection.



Counterfeit Parts Are a Lucrative Business



Fake auto parts have become a global concern now that online e-commerce platforms like Amazon have grown into what they are. Although we have never personally encountered counterfeit parts on Amazon, it’s something all shoppers need to be cautious of, because it does happen.



“Fake automotive components are a highly lucrative business for counterfeiters,” said Sophie Peresson, Director of the Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy, or BASCAP. “The amount of fake parts being made and distributed continues to rise despite efforts by national governments.”



According to BASCAP, the negative impacts of counterfeiting and piracy are projected to drain $4.2 trillion from the global economy and put 5.4 million legitimate jobs at risk by 2022. The market for fake parts will soon be worth more than the annual GDP of Italy or Brazil by 2022. In Europe alone, it is estimated that up to €2.2 billion is lost each year on counterfeit tires.



“Our goal is not to scare anybody here, but these are the facts based on credible bodies of research,” Anthony said. “We don’t want our readers buying a part that could potentially reduce the safety of their vehicle.”



When shopping for car parts on Amazon, it’s easy to assume you’re buying directly from the actual company or brand that makes the part, but this usually isn’t the case.Fake Parts: How to Protect Yourself



First, some good news: Amazon is also making significant investments in automated machine learning systems to curb the proliferation of fake parts on its platform. Still, here are some tips to help you avoid buying fake, counterfeit, or imitation car parts online.



Tip 1: It’s All About The Seller



When shopping on Amazon, it’s easy to assume you’re buying directly from the actual company or brand that makes the part, but this usually isn’t the case. Most of the time, you’re buying from third-party sellers or authorized retailers, which is fine.



Even though buying directly from the manufacturer is the best way to avoid piracy, you should click on the seller’s name and read the feedback from previous buyers. It’s important to know who you’re buying from; multiple sellers are often selling the same product.



Tip 2: Read Customer Reviews



Customer reviews are an easy way to spot a fake part or a bad seller. Only buy from sellers with good reviews (over a 4-star rating.) If you bought a car part and weren’t satisfied with the quality or packaging, you should contribute to the online community by leaving your own review.



And if you were pleased with your purchase, leaving a positive review will help the honest seller and other shoppers. And remember, there’s a difference between product reviews and seller reviews.



Tip 3: Check The Packaging



Granted, you can only check the packaging once the product arrives, but poor packaging or an opened package are considered red flags. If the product is legit, it should come with certifications and/or a warranty inside the box. With some parts, you can verify its authenticity by checking the serial or part number through the manufacturer’s website.



Unlike counterfeit examples, genuine parts will have a serial or product number and usually some type of limited warranty. Can I Return a Bad or Wrong Part to Amazon?



There’s an old article about the quirks of buying on Amazon. This was many years ago, but it has something to do with a DOHC long-tube header which ended up being the wrong one. After initiating the return process with Amazon, the writer of the article found out the seller was not Amazon. Turns out, the headers were sold by a company called OBX, which is based in China.



Long story short, he resorted to selling the wrong part via forums online, where he found out the same part can be bought from another importer at almost half the price.



With genuine parts from legitimate and reputable sellers, you should be okay if you need to return a bad one. Amazon says this on the returns section of their website: If you’ve purchased a defective automotive item, shipped from and sold by Amazon.com, that is covered by a published manufacturer warranty, Amazon honors the warranty. Amazon will either replace the item or refund the cost of the item for the life of the published warranty.



To help avoid a possible return, double-check to make sure the part you’re buying is the one you actually need. Even though you can almost always return the part, it’s still a hassle. Below we share three tips to ensure you are getting the right part, each and every time.



3 Quick Tips For Navigating Amazon



Tip #1: Filter According to Your Needs



Amazon is home to a vast array of car parts, so it can be hard to know where to start. We always go right to the Your Garage section. It’s nothing more than entering the make, model, and trim of your vehicle. If you do this, Amazon will only show the parts that are an exact fit for your car.



Tip #2: Take Your Time



As you search for car parts – let’s say, a set of lowering springs for a Honda Civic – Amazon will present multiple pages of lowering springs from different brands, sellers, resellers, and retailers. When you find what you’re looking for, take a minute or two to read the product descriptions.



Here’s a hint: comprehensive descriptions (complete with high-resolution images, videos, installation manuals, etc.) are usually created by legit sellers with favorable ratings. Take a moment to go through these additional resources before buying anything so you know what you’re getting.



Tip #3: Let The Reviews Guide You



We mentioned this already, but we cannot stress this enough. It’s essential to look at the reviews when buying car parts on Amazon (and this holds true for everything you buy on Amazon). Sellers with a 5-star rating are the preferred choice, and products with favorable reviews are a huge plus. Make it a habit to check those before shopping on Amazon. Only buy from sellers with high ratings and good reviews.



With all that in mind, let’s make some price comparisons.



Amazon vs. Online Stores: Which Offers Lower Prices?



Price Comparison #1



We got the ball rolling by searching for a new air filter for our trusted 2015 Honda Civic EX-L. We went to Amazon and found a Spearhead Max Thrust performance air filter for less than $13.



The product has a 5-star rating with 1,837 customer reviews. Max Thrust air filters are known for having the same level of quality (if not better) than OEM and other aftermarket air filters.



Before we made a decision, we went to Advance Auto Parts and found a Carquest Premium air filter for less than $20.



Next, we went to O’Reilly’s and was offered a choice between two brands of air filters with different prices.



In this comparison, our order goes to Amazon based on price and quality.



Price Comparison #2



Our trusted Civic also needed a pair of rear sway bar links. We first went to AutoZone and found a Duralast sway bar link for $26.99.



However, the product is sold per piece. And since we needed a pair of links, we’ll end up paying around $55 if we go with AutoZone.



This prompted us to search on Amazon for the same part, and here’s what we found:



We found a pair of rear sway bar links for less than $22. The product comes with free shipping and is sold by Detroit Axle, a manufacturer and distributor of OEM and replacement parts in Ferndale, Michigan.



But we didn’t press the Add to Cart button yet. We went to O’Reilly’s and found a Beck/Arnley stabilizer end link selling for $28.99 each.



In this round, we ended up buying from Amazon since it offered the best bang for the buck by far.



Price Comparison #3



We were also in the market for a set of front brake pads and rotors. In this round, we decided to forego physical stores with an online presence and went straight to purely online auto parts stores. We compared Amazon, CARiD, and PartsGeek.



First, here’s what we found on Amazon:



Amazon is peddling a set of Callahan front brake rotors with ceramic pads for less than $67 with good reviews. Not bad, but we sensed a better deal elsewhere.



Next, we went to CARiD and found a Centric front brake kit for $91.45.



We gave it another shot and found a more affordable set from the same brand.



Now that’s better! But there’s a catch: The Callahan kit from Amazon came with ceramic brake pads while the Centric kit from CARiD has semi-metallic pads. Experience tells us that ceramic-infused brake pads are quieter (or less squeaky, if you will) than metallic or semi-metallic pads.



We can go either way here, but we decided to keep shopping and visited PartsGeek. We found this:



PartsGeek had a set of DuraGo front rotors and pads for less than $50. This is phenomenal if you’re working with a tight budget. But the thing that stood out is the ceramic brake pads included in the kit.



For the first time in our test, Amazon came in third place as CARiD and PartsGeek had a more extensive selection of brake kits for less.



Price Comparison #4



We also have an ailing 2007 Toyota Corolla in our fleet. It had a check engine light and P0301 error code along with misfires and rough idling. After an hour of tinkering around, we traced the problem to a bad ignition coil. We went to Amazon to search for an OEM ignition coil and found this:



Truth be told, we never thought an OEM ignition coil would cost upwards of $70, but that’s what we found. Notice the 5-star rating? We know that original/OEM coil packs can last for 100,000 miles before encountering problems. Still, we decided to look elsewhere in search of a better deal.



Next, we went to RockAuto and found the same OEM coil pack from Denso along with a bevy of lower-priced replacement coil packs.



We’re pining for Denso, so we took a closer look.



It’s the same Denso coil pack selling for around $68 – just $2 less than what Amazon is offering.



We weren’t convinced, so we went to PartsGeek and found this.



We weren’t expecting this, but Amazon is offering a better deal than PartsGeek. And even though we bought the part from RockAuto (a penny saved is a penny earned), Amazon has proven itself worthy of consideration when buying car parts online.



So Should You Buy Car Parts on Amazon?



Amazon’s selection of auto parts has improved drastically over the past few years, and now you can find just about everything you want in their Automotive section. When it comes to buying replacement parts and accessories, it’s one of the first places we look. But there are a few things to keep in mind before hitting the Add to Cart button:



Always check the product reviews to make sure you’re getting a good part.Always check the seller reviews to make sure you’re buying from a trustworthy seller.Make sure to comparison shop with other online stores (we listed some below).Additionally, when it comes to specialized and performance parts, you might be better off shopping at dedicated stores who really know your particular car. But if you know what you’re looking for, Amazon can be a great place to find parts and save some money.



Where Else to Shop For Car Parts Online?



Keep in mind that Amazon isn’t the only place to buy high-quality and affordable car parts online, as proven by our experience. Here’s a shortlist of online retailers we can vouch for, in alphabetical order. We separated them by online-only stores and stores that also have a physical location in case you prefer to go pick up your parts in person:






Online-Only



AutoAnythingParts GeekSixity AutoAuto BarnCARiDRockAuto




Physical Stores Too



Advance Auto Parts – get 15% off with code AAP15OFFAutoZoneNAPAO’ReillyPep Boys






Original article: Should You Buy Car Parts on Amazon? We Did The Research to Find Out



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A Passion For Cars: Talking With AutoWise.com Founder Chris Riley

A Passion For Cars: Talking With AutoWise.com Founder Chris Riley You might find this hard to believe, but true, dyed-in-the-wool gearheads are a dying breed. This explains why older cars and vintage automobiles are growing in popularity as we speak. It might have to do with the nostalgic appeal and analog feel, but it stems from the fact that old cars are easy to fix and easier to modify, not to mention working on older vehicles is the perfect breeding ground for the next generation of gearheads.
Here at Automoblog, we welcome the opportunity to connect with like-minded car lovers who share the same passion in this crazy yet endlessly appealing world of automobiles. We got the opportunity to spend some time with Chris Riley, who is the founder of AutoWise.com.
Fact & Figures
AutoWise.com is comprised of a diverse group of enthusiasts headed by Riley himself. Their main objective is to deliver unbiased and relevant information on both new and older cars.
“It’s been something I wanted to create for quite some time,” Riley said. “I’d always spend tons of time on online auto forums and always thought it would be cool to run an auto site.”
“I ended up creating AutoWise.com which focuses on long-form list opportunities with factual information that consumers want concerning current, new, and upcoming vehicles in the market,” he continued.
The AutoWise.com team highlights even the most interesting and quirky facts about cars, with a variety of Top 10 and Top 25 lists that cover literally everything: 10 laughably cheap sports cars and the most reliable SUVs in America are two of our favorites.
If you love pure-bred American muscle (like we do), the article on every Chrysler Hemi engine ever made is filled with interesting facts about the classic motor.
“We’ve had fun with the list articles and our readers seem to enjoy them,” Riley explained. “We really just tend to write on topics that are both sought after and that we enjoy personally. We crunch the facts we feel our readers are really looking for while also giving them something unique from a driving review on that particular car.”
The 6.2-liter Hemi, found in the 2019 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, is included on the extensive list complied by AutoWise.com. Photo: FCA US LLC.
What’s Hot, What’s Not
This is a refreshing alternative to other sites that focus mainly on click-bait articles about automobiles rather than relaying facts and figures from an actual car lover’s point of view. Riley and his team work hard to also provide accurate technical information and vehicle specs.
“In our early days we received a lot of traffic from social networks. When we started doing the list articles we would get destroyed by our readers when we didn’t give more facts and specs,” he recalled. “We learned how to pack in all the info that our readers are looking for and not waste their time with the stuff they didn’t want to see.”
What really makes AutoWise.com stand out are the what’s hot and what’s not articles on every model from a particular manufacturer. Thinking about buying a new Ram truck but can’t make up your mind between the 1500 and the 2500? Their article on what’s hot and what’s not in the 2019 Ram lineup will help you make the right buying decision.
Fancy a brand new Rolls Royce but don’t want to be the butt of jokes at the members-only Yacht club de Monaco? What’s hot and what’s not in the 2019 Rolls-Royce lineup can help you avoid embarrassment.
“This is a newer thing and have been more of a test than anything else,” Riley said, referring to the article’s distinct format. “It helps keep everyone updated on what’s coming from their favorite car brands. If a potential customer is considering buying a certain model, they can see if there is a feature worth waiting for or if they are better off shopping now for the current year model.”
The Rolls-Royce Ghost did not make the cut and was filed under the “Not Hot” category by AutoWise. Photo: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
Dream Cars
What better way to talk to a car enthusiast than by asking questions about their favorite cars? So we asked Riley what he likes to drive, and there’s no doubt on what he loves the most.
“The Lexus GS was always a favorite of mine and I’ve owned a few of them. I think because I loved the 2JZ engine so much but couldn’t afford the Supra,” Riley joked. “I spend a lot of time traveling, so some of my favorites are not available in the USA market such as the Toyota Hilux and the Land Cruiser 70 series.”
“My first American car ever was a 4-door Ford Lariat. That truck changed my opinion on American cars for the better,” he continued. “It’s almost cliché these days but there is no way I could leave off the R34 Nissan Skyline. It was an instant classic and there’s no refuting that.”
1994 Toyota Supra. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Changing Landscapes
Before parting ways, we asked Riley about what he feels are the most interesting trends in the automotive industry along with his future plans for AutoWise.com.
“As much as we love internal combustion engines and the sound and feel of gasoline-powered cars at AutoWise, the most interesting shift right now would have to be the industry’s move towards the electrification of their lineups alongside the addition of driverless technology,” Riley answered.
Check out AutoWise.com to get your fill on the latest automotive news and gossip including Donald Trump’s most unusual car collection.
“The future is really just tomorrow’s today, and I’m more of a today kind of person. I don’t think much of the future and I still look forward to getting out of bed every morning to work on AutoWise,” Riley said. “I love seeing it grow and I love interacting with the site and its readers every single day.”
Alvin Reyes is the Associate Editor of Automoblog. He studied civil aviation, aeronautics, and accountancy in his younger years and is still very much smitten to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He also likes fried chicken, music, and herbal medicine. 



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An Afternoon Shine With Mothers Polish

An Afternoon Shine With Mothers Polish Living in Michigan is a challenge, especially during the winter, but summer isn’t any better. The weather lately in Detroit has been unpredictable, warm and sunny one day, then rainy and cool the next. Many of the roads I frequent here in the Detroit metro – Woodward Avenue, Southfield Freeway, Interstate 94, M10, and Fort Street – are loaded with traffic, and my daily drives take me through industrial areas and patches of road construction.
You can wash a vehicle here, and by the time you get home, there is a layer of dust on the paint.
Recently, the team at Mothers asked if I would evaluate a few of their most popular products. I obliged, putting them through the paces during my latest wash outing. Mothers has over 70 car care products in their portfolio but the ones below will work regardless of what type of vehicle you own.
Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Mothers. All views and opinions expressed here are my own. Check out our advertising guidelines to see why we’d never steer you wrong.
Mothers sent us a care package as part of their #PristinePolish campaign. Up until this point, I had never used a Mothers product.
Polishing Cloths & Quick Detail Towel
Mothers sent me one of each and both are very specific in their uses. The polishing cloth is “edgeless” and lighter, and is best suited for removing leftover glazes and waxes. The cloth is soft, lint free, and glides nicely across the paint. By contrast, the Quick Detail Towel is more robust and acted like a vacuum when I used it, removing any leftover particles, dirt, and grime following the initial wash.
The Mothers Quick Detail Towel has two “naps”: the long one is best for wiping down the vehicle immediately after washing it, whereas the shorter nap will help with that final buff and polish.
I really liked the longer nap. I always wipe down my vehicles after washing and before applying any other products. The long nap gave me that ability.
After a few minutes of use, I would shake out both cloths.
The Mothers Polishing Cloths and Quick Detail Towels are perfect for those “finishing touches.” I kept them in my pocket so I could easily grab them when I noticed any leftover dirt or grime.
Instant Detailer
This was my favorite in the Mothers package because my wash jobs are not complete until I apply something like this. It comes from my early years in the automotive business when I sold cars at a dealership. When you put a car on the showfloor, a good shine is essential. The nasty pink stuff we had in our desks was referred to as “showroom shine,” and we would wipe down the vehicles when we had spare time.
Nice thing is, the Mothers Instant Detailer gave me the shine without the terrible smell (it actually smells pleasant).
Spray it on, spread evenly with a soft cloth, and then wipe away/buff the excess with another towel, like the short nap of the Quick Detail Towel.
If you don’t have a lot of time, a bottle of this will do the trick. It took me ten minutes using the two towels Mothers provided. The Instant Detailer comes from the Mothers “Speed” line, a series of products designed to work quicker than their counterparts.
Word of caution: don’t apply it when it’s too hot out because it evaporates quickly.
The Mothers Instant Detailer gave the Venezia Blue Metallic paint of my 500X a laser-like look in the sunlight. With the rain in Michigan lately, this was a welcome treat.
Carnauba Wash & Wax
This was quite useful on my lower quarter panels where grime, especially from these recent rainstorms, builds up. Hitting it with a high pressure hose is not enough to remove it either. You can opt for the scrub brush at the car wash, but I understand if you are hesitant – they are often dirty from frequent prior use and I’ve known them to cause a scratch or two.
The Mothers Carnauba Wash & Wax can be a good substitute. Add a little to a bucket of water and “shampoo” accordingly with a sponge or mitt. You can use this between your regular waxing too – in this case, I applied it to the “problem areas” on my vehicle, but it can be used on the entire exterior.
Carnauba, native to Brazil, is known for its heat tolerance.
The photos below are of the three biggest “problem areas” on my 500X – areas that, no matter what, always collect dirt and grime. They include the rear window, lower quarter panels, and the section behind my rear wheels. A normal spray gun won’t get these areas clean, neither will an automatic wash. It always takes me giving these areas some extra attention and care, and the Mothers Carnauba Wash & Wax was a huge help.





PowerBall
I award Mothers some serious cool points here. Attach this little guy to the end of any variable speed drill and you have a built-in polisher. Mothers says it can be used on just about everything, from taillight lenses and wheels, to tile and marble.
Consensus
These items were given to me by Mothers to raise awareness for their #PristinePolish campaign. Still, I enjoyed using them considering I made a New Year’s resolution to wash my vehicle more. And up until they sent me this package, I didn’t have any nice cleaning supplies to really act on that resolution.
Mothers has products for those that detail vehicles for a living, but these “ordinary” ones are still professional grade. Prior to this, I had never used a Mothers product. I always assumed they were for the higher-end types of cars you see at auto shows, or again, for those making a living as a detailer.
I was, however, glad to have this misconception corrected, especially by things like the Instant Detailer. Mothers is still ideal for that dream exotic or ultra-powerful muscle car, but for those of us who drive ordinary everyday cars, trucks, and crossovers, Mothers will work nicely.
For those of us who live in colder climates, it takes some extra work when it comes to keeping a vehicle clean, but I will be excited to try these items Mothers sent me when winter hits.
True to form, we had another rain storm overnight, but the Mothers treatments from the prior afternoon held up.
Wish List For Next Time
(Mothers Products I Would Like To Try)
Mothers Bug & Tar Remover: From the Speed product line. Bugs and tar are always hard to remove and very few products on the market are actually up to this task. I’ve been let down by other brands.
Back to Black Tire Cleaner/Shine: From the Classic product line. Like the Instant Detailer, no wash job is complete without some type of tire cleaner or shine.
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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Lotus Evora GT430: Fastest Evora Yet

Lotus Evora GT430: Fastest Evora Yet

Hethel is at it again, with Lotus pairing down and refining their Evora even further with the Evora GT430. This one has gotten so far to the outside of what the existing structure can take, I wouldn’t be surprised if this will be the final iteration of the Evora line. To push the envelope any further, you’d basically end up with a race car-like ride devoid of stuff like seat padding and carpet and flywheels; so light that 90% of the people on the planet would stall the thing.
Oh sure, for morons like me, an Evora like that sounds pretty close to ideal, but Lotus is smart enough to know they’d only end up selling four of them.
Too Much, Too Little?
Of course, as fine as the Lotus Evora GT430 is, one terrible fact is becoming obvious. Have you noticed Lotus has been cranking out lots of variations on the Evora. Look, I don’t fault them, on the one hand. I’d be doing it too. The Evora is a great car, even in its mildest form, and is obviously flexible enough to be tuned to the stratosphere. But the other thing here is how the constant tinkering with the Evora might just say that’s all they got is the Evora. There’s no updated Elans for the 21st century, no Esprits at the top of the line. One could say this constant messing about with Evora points to a huge deficiency in the current lineup, but why dwell on negatives when we have the Lotus Evora GT430 to consider.
“The Evora GT430 is a landmark car for Lotus. Lightweight engineering and class-leading handling, paired with Lotus’ aerodynamic expertise, define the Evora GT430 as a legendary Lotus,” explained Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc. “It’s a truly beautiful car, meticulously finished in hand-crafted carbon, and employing the latest aerodynamics and lightweight materials. We expect the lucky owners to be blown away by its pure presence and staggering performance.” Photo: Group Lotus plc.
Power & Performance
The Lotus Evora GT430 follows in the tire tracks of the Evora 400 and Evora Sport 410, but that’s about the only thing it’s going to be following. Actually, the latter two will be the ones doing the following since the Evora GT430 is the most powerful road-going Lotus ever. In no small part this is thanks to Lotus lavishing scads of carbon-fiber components, and working the engine for even higher power output. The Evora GT430 is powered by the same 3.5-liter V6 supercharged and intercooled plant found in other Evoras, only now Lotus has massaged it into producing 430 horsepower.
And, just like the company’s founder Colin Chapman had a fetish for making things as light as possible, the latest Evora is anything but heavy. The Evora GT430 tips the scales at 1,258 kg (around 2,800 lbs. for you Americans out there). That light weight, coupled with the 430 ponies produced by the engine, results in . . . well, c’mon, you can see where this is going. And of course, since this is a Lotus, it’s going to handle better than 99.9 percent of the cars out there. All around, the new Evora GT430 delivers tremendous speed and performance; 0 to 60, for example, is dispatched in just 3.7 seconds and the Evora GT430’s top speed is 190 mph.
The Evora GT430’s six-speed manual transmission features a low-inertia, single-mass flywheel, to help ensure swift changes, while a Torsen-type limited slip differential gives better traction, and faster exit speeds, when cornering. Photo: Group Lotus plc.


Aerodynamic Advantages
Thanks to the exposed carbon weave sections of the new and specifically designed body panels, the Evora GT430 produces up to 250 kg of downforce through aerodynamic improvements. That’s around 550 lbs., and on a car this light, you’ll notice it in high speed bends. There are larger front apertures for cooling the brakes and radiator, there’s a new carbon fiber splitter, the air blades allow for better front end downforce, and louvers positioned on top of the front wheel arches cut front end lift and bleed off high pressure air from inside the wheel wells.
Out back there are aero ducts behind each wheel to cut pressure within the wheel arch, along with a bit of style that allows you to check out the wider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. There’s a big honking rear diffuser to provide a “sharp visual finish” but it is also functional. And, as you would expect, there’s a large, profiled carbon wing.
The removal of critical weight from the Evora GT430 results in a more responsive and agile car for the driver. Photo: Group Lotus plc.
Pricing & Availability
Want one? Of course you do! Well, better get in line yesterday because Lotus is producing only 60 copies of what it terms the “supreme Evora.” The price will be around 150,000 Euros, depending on taxes and exchange rates for markets like Germany, Italy, Japan, and such. The ordering window is currently open.
There is no direct mention of the Evora GT430 being sold in America, which, I will readily admit, is a worrying proposition. So you know, a little confirmation of the Evora GT430 showing up on these shores would be nice Lotus. You know what would be even better? Dropping a couple off at One Automoblog Towers in Detroit for test and evaluation. Talk to Carl Anthony, our Managing Editor about it. I think he’s the fellow that gets to sign for this sort of thing . . . our legal/psychiatric team won’t let me sign for stuff any longer.
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.
Lotus Evora GT430 Gallery








Photos & Source: Group Lotus plc.



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2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye: Frankenstein’s Fury

2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye: Frankenstein’s Fury Leave it to the Dodge boys to not leave well enough alone. As a matter of fact, “not leaving well enough alone” is kind of a company trademark. How else could you explain stuffing a 426 Hemi into a Dodge Dart? Speaking of putting in engines that are too big for everyday rides, say hello to the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye.
Essentially, what we have here, is car engineering a la Dr. Frankenstein; a little bit from here, a little bit from there, and a brain clearly labeled “A.B. Normal.” I’m fine with that.
Wide & Wild
The 2019 Hellcat Redeye (no real explanation as to why they call it that) is, like all Mopar products since time immemorial – or at least since the end of The War – 99.999% about dat engine yo! Take the supercharged Hemi Demon V8 out of the quickest, fastest, and most powerful muscle car ever, and stuff it into this latest demi-ogre, and abracadabra: The 797 horsepower 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye!
Yes, the new 2019 Redeye is available with the Widebody Package. Yes, this definitely looks cooler than a bug on ice. Yes, you’re now 3.5 inches wider overall with improved handling and braking. Yes, the Redeye comes with larger, six-piston Brembo front brakes, wider wheels and tires, and the suspension upgrades featured on the “normal” R/T Scat Pack Widebody. Yes, the interior has some cool upgrades and there are some special wheels but, honestly, who cares about all that other stuff when you’re confronted with a powerplant like this?
2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Heavy Equipment
The heart of the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is sourced from its (sadly) limited-production big brother: the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. That would be the supercharged, 6.2-liter big block Hemi rated at a staggering 797 horsepower and a just as astounding 707 lb-ft. of torque. Or, about the same torque as an ocean-going tug. The blown 6.2 Hemi is mated to a TorqueFlite 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission with internals that must have a Hulk-like disposition to things like heat, shear forces, sun-like thermal loading and such.
The Redeye mill has 25 major upgrades, including a larger supercharger, strengthened con-rods and pistons, a high-speed valve train and, thankfully, an improved lubrication system. The Redeye’s supercharged high-output engine features the largest factory supercharger on any production car: 2.7 liters, or about the displacement of a smaller BMW engine. Consider that for a moment: The blower on this thing is bigger than the engine in your car (most likely).
Said supercharger has increased boost pressure (14.5 psi) and a higher rpm limit of 6,500 rpm.
The Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye features a Brembo system with two-piece, 15.4-inch front rotors and six-piston front calipers. The combination is meant for better heat management, thermal capacity, and longevity. The new Challenger also employs an electronic power steering system that can be custom-configured via the SRT Performance Pages. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Binge Drinking
The Redeye is so thirsty it has two dual-stage fuel pumps versus the normal single pump found on lesser models. How thirsty? This thirsty: At full throttle, the high-output Hemi ingests and consumes 1.43 gallons of fuel per minute. That’s enough to completely drain the tank in just under 11 minutes – or a burn rate slightly better than a Saturn V moon rocket.
Somehow though, the Redeye still gets 22 miles per gallon in “normal” highway conditions. So dig that: It is both way faster and more powerful than a 1969 Hemi ‘Cuda (for instance) yet gets about double the fuel mileage.
You will note the new dual-snorkel hood. This new bonnet is one of three sources of intake air along with the driver’s-side Air Catcher headlamp Inlet near the wheel liner to feed the new, larger air induction box.
The SRT Power Chiller diverts the air-conditioning refrigerant from the interior cabin to a special unit mounted by the low-temperature circuit coolant pump. Charge air coolant, after being cooled by ambient air passing through a low-temperature radiator at the front of the vehicle, flows through the chiller unit, where it is further cooled. The chilled coolant then flows to the heat exchangers in the supercharger. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Hard Candy
Other goodies borrowed from the SRT Demon include Torque Reserve to deliver up to 3.9 psi of boost at launch and up to 55 percent more engine torque. Torque Reserve is active once the engine speed passes 950 rpm, and closes the bypass valve to “pre-fill” the intake with boost while better managing fuel flow and spark timing. Also along for that very short drag-strip ride are high-strength steel prop shafts for a 15 percent increase in torque capacity, and 41-spline half shafts to boost torque capacity another 20 percent.
And if you want to get all old school with this . . . this . . . beast? Ogre? Animal? Whatever, dig: The 2019 SRT Hellcat Redeye offers your choice of two final drive ratios, the standard 2.62:1 or the available 3.09:1 for “enhanced” launch capability. Trust me, you want the 3.09 gears.
All of this adds up to the 2019 Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye being one of the most powerful muscle cars in history: 1/4-mile E.T. of 10.8 seconds at 131 mph and a top speed of 203 mph. You got the timing slips to beat that? Bring ’em!
Manufacturing & Availability
Production begins this fall at the Brampton, Ontario Assembly Plant, with the Challengers arriving at dealerships in the fourth quarter.
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. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz
Challenger SRT Models
1/4-mile elapsed time/speed
Top Speed
Redeye Widebody
10.8 seconds @ 131 mph
203 mph
Hellcat Widebody
10.9 seconds @ 127 mph
195 mph
Redeye
11.1 seconds @ 131 mph
203 mph
Hellcat
11.2 seconds @ 125 mph
199 mph




2019 Dodge Challenger Gallery


























Photos & Source: FCA US LLC.



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Understeer Versus Oversteer: Know Your Limits

Understeer Versus Oversteer: Know Your Limits The handling terms oversteer and understeer we instinctively know, even if we’ve never really put a name to them. You don’t have to be a dyed-in-the-wool track person to have experienced either of these conditions, but they do appear most readily at a track. There are two old jokes about oversteer and understeer. One goes like this: oversteer scares the passenger and understeer scares the driver. The second is this: oversteer is when you smash the rear of the car into something – understeer is when you smash the front into something.
Differing Definitions
Understeer and oversteer are actually technical terms, but there are other words that are synonymous with both. Understeer is often called “push” and sometimes referred to as “plow” or “plowing.” You will often hear phrases like, “I’ve got a wicked push entering turn 3,” or “the car just understeers through the whole back section of the track.” Oversteer is referred to as a car being “loose,” “free,” and/or “tail-happy.” As in, “I’ve got so much oversteer through turn 5, the car is really loose.” Generally speaking, understeer is about how the front is not working and oversteer is about how the rear is not working.
Understeer
Understeer is when a car corners less than what you are telling it to with the steering wheel. When a car is understeering, as you enter a corner, you turn the wheel, and you expect the car to turn into that corner, but rather than turning all the way into and through the corner, it actually does not turn in enough. Rather than cornering smoothly through a curve, your car heads more and more toward the outside of the corner, unless you do something about it. Most people respond to a situation like this by turning the wheel more; to essentially say, in mechanical terms, “No! I want you to be over there! Go over there! Go that way!” They turn the steering wheel more and more in the direction they want to go.

Unlikely Odds
90% of the time, this doesn’t work. 90% of the time you are understeering through a corner because you have entered the corner too fast. So fast, in fact, that the front wheels, which is where understeer comes from, become overwhelmed by your forward energy and cannot generate enough grip to give you cornering entry. Turning the steering wheel more and fighting with the car only makes understeer worse. It puts more and more energy into the front tires that have been unable to keep up with your forward momentum from the beginning. By and large, the best thing to do in a vast majority of understeer situations is to back off the throttle. You’re going too fast into the corner already, so slow down, get the car back underneath you, and then get back on the throttle.
TrackDays has this excellent resource on how to correct understeer, should you find yourself in that situation.
Oversteer
Oversteer is when a car corners more than what you are telling it to with the steering wheel. You enter a corner, turn your steering wheel x-amount, and the rear of the car comes out more than what it should. Oversteer is the rear of the car coming around as you corner – it’s your car wanting to essentially spin around. Oversteer is, for a gearhead actually, a fun handling state. Oversteer is, from a performance standpoint, a faster handling condition for a car to have, assuming you can balance it.
Having either too much understeer or oversteer is a bad thing. Any car, however, regardless of drivetrain layout, can and will understeer and oversteer moment to moment when cornering. It is your job, as the driver, to operate your car in a safe manner. This whole notion of a car being “unsafe at any speed” is codswallop. Sure, if a car is outright built wrong, or has not been maintained properly, or there is a mechanical failure, then it is unsafe. Mostly, it is up to you, yes you, the junior Mario Andrettis of this world, to drive in a safe manner.
Always maintain proper control of your vehicle.
Mindful Considerations
In an ideal situation, a car going through a corner describes a perfect circle, with the rear wheels exactly following the front wheels – like a train following a set of railroad tracks. That’s why you hear the phrase, “handles like it’s on rails” as praise for a given car.
Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus Cars, genius chassis designer, and all-around fantastic automotive engineer famously said, “the steering wheel tells the front end where to go, and your right foot tells the back end where to go.” He was, obviously, talking about rear drive cars. And what he was getting at has to do with the fact that, as you are entering, traveling through, and exiting a corner, a rear-wheel drive car, when driven at the limit of adhesion, will require you to manage what both the front and rear are doing simultaneously. You are the driver. Be in control. Drive it. Know your limits. Know the limits of your car. And do not exceed those limits. In all things automotive: balance.
Finally, we would recommend an additional resource from TrackDays. They recently spoke with six different pro race car drivers and gathered the best advice when it comes to being behind the wheel.
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.



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Orange Fury Ford Mustang Inspires Ice Cream Sandwich

Orange Fury Ford Mustang Inspires Ice Cream Sandwich

Y’know, sometimes, the gearhead world gets downright weird. This is one of those days. As I read the press release about this – this being Ford’s making of an ice cream sandwich that has some razor thin tie in with the beloved Mustang – I had to start over three or four times. One of those times I thought I might be having a stroke. But no, Ford is serious.
Okay, here we go.
Vanilla Whoopies
One of Ford’s bullet points reads as follows: “Sandwiches feature a zesty orange-flavored ice cream between two Vanilla Whoopies, covered in orange icing and an edible wrapper made from potato wafer paper with edible ink.”
Dude, seriously! I mean, take that sentence, and randomly insert commas, periods, and pauses and you’ve got some Beat Poetry that Lawrence Ferlinghetti would, like, totally dig. Man.
Anyway, what we got here is Ford trying to leverage National Ice Cream Day (no, I didn’t know there was one either) by teaming up with Coolhaus Premium Ice Cream (which, most likely has nothing to do with Rem Koolhaas, the Dutch architect (I hope)) to create the Mustang-inspired “Orange Fury” ice cream sandwich.
Photo: James Lipman.
Tasty Partnership
To make matters even more, I dunno, appealing or something along those lines, the Mustang-inspired Orange Fury ice cream sandwiches are a limited edition item. Which, honestly could be bad if these things taste good. I have no way of telling, since Ford didn’t see fit to send me a case. More’s the pity, since I live in the desert and any sort of ice cream sounds great right about now.
Ford goes on to tout their partnership with Coolhaus Premium Ice Cream by noting that Coolhaus is “the nationally celebrated sweet-treat brand known for unique, sweet-meets-savory flavors you can’t find anywhere else.” Which is interesting because of two things: One, that is a distressingly alliterative sentence, and two, I’ve never in my life heard of Coolhaus (although that name makes me think of sparse German architecture or history’s second-ever goth punk band).
Coolhaus limited-edition Mustang-inspired Orange Fury ice cream. Photo: James Lipman.


Ice Cream Van
Apparently Ford went so far as to gin up a Coolhaus ice cream truck equipped with 2018 Mustang decals, fill it with Orange Fury ice cream sandwiches, and tool it around New York City for four days. This was all part of National Ice Cream Day and a cross marketing thing advantageous to both companies (I’m guessing). Your cost? Absolutely free my friend! Do you think they’d charge you to advertise to you?
You can also get the Orange Fury ice cream sandwiches at the Coolhaus shop in Culver City, California as well. It would seem all this Orange Fury ice cream sandwich stuff has to do with the new Orange Fury exterior color available on the 2018 Ford Mustang.
“I typically focus on things like color research, leather seats, and hand stitching, so this was definitely a bit different for me,” said Barb Whalen, Color and Materials Design Manager, Ford Motor Company. “It was fun applying some of those same design philosophies into helping Coolhaus create an ice cream flavor that really embodies the new Orange Fury color.”
Photo: James Lipman.
Edible Wonders
The technical specs for the Orange Fury ice cream sandwich break down like this: First, there are two Vanilla Whoopie cookies covered in orange icing that boarder the insides of the Orange Fury ice cream sandwich. Said insides consist of a scoop of the one-of-a-kind Orange Fury ice cream. The whole shootin’ match is wrapped in a unique, Mustang-printed edible wrapper made from potato wafer paper and edible ink. Sure, to adults like you and me, concepts like an “edible wrapper” might seem rather novel, but ask any five-year-old and they’ll tell you that all wrappers are edible.
“We couldn’t be happier that one of the original American classics chose Coolhaus, a new American classic, as a way to add excitement to their latest innovation,” said Natasha Case, Coolhaus CEO & Founder. Coolhaus Oompa-Loompas Glowbo, Fluffet, and Poofer could not be reached for comment.
The 2018 Mustang, regardless of color choice or availability of ice cream sandwiches, is due to reach showrooms this fall.
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.
Source: Ford Motor Company.



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Toyota Research Institute Joins Study On How Autonomous Cars Will Impact Workforce

Toyota Research Institute Joins Study On How Autonomous Cars Will Impact Workforce The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is contributing $75,000 to the American Center for Mobility (ACM) for an analysis on how autonomous cars will impact driving-related jobs. ACM’s study, Preparing the Workforce for Automated Vehicles, is being conducted by Michigan State University in collaboration with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
“TRI is committed to advancing automated vehicle technology in ways that improve society and individual well-being, and we need to better understand the impact this may have on future jobs and employment,” said Dr. Gill Pratt, TRI CEO and Toyota Motor Corporation Fellow. “Our participation in this study can help address the societal effects in a meaningful way.”
Careful Examination
Officials say the research will provide key insight into the types of jobs that will be affected and to what degree. The study will also identify the skills and education needed for a more automated future. One of the study’s main objectives is to consider a “training template” for commercial drivers, especially in the areas of freight and package delivery, and taxi and ride-hailing.
“If autonomous vehicles become the norm, then truck drivers, taxi drivers, bus drivers, and Uber or Lyft drivers certainly will be impacted – and not in a good way,” Cliff Banks, President of The Banks Report, an automotive retail publication, told us in a special feature on autonomous cars in May. “I’ve watched Uber or Lyft drivers walk up to a house and help an elderly person down the stairs. Can an autonomous vehicle do that?”
Forward Looking
Toyota Motor North America was recently announced as a founding member of the Partnership for Transportation Innovation and Opportunity, a collaboration committed to exploring how autonomous vehicles will impact American workers as well as identifying opportunities to address future challenges. TRI is also in the process of constructing an autonomous vehicle test track in Michigan.
Preparing the Workforce for Automated Vehicles is expected to be published later this year.
“Industry involvement is paramount as we undergo this study, especially when we consider the implications on talent and how the potential needs of employers will shift,” said Soraya Kim, ACM’s Chief Innovation Officer and the study’s leader. “We thank TRI for their continued commitment and for being a partner to get this important work done.”
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Source: Toyota Research Institute, American Center for Mobility.



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2019 Honda Insight: The 55 MPG Beast

2019 Honda Insight: The 55 MPG Beast The 2019 Honda Insight hybrid is here, and it offers a whole lot of practicality and reliability with a familiar Honda face – none of that goofy, “look at me driving my car from Mars styling” (cough, Prius, cough) – and it gets you 55 MPG in the city.
Fifty-Five? Holy Sh-
Features & Trim Levels
It is, indeed, a relatively normal looking car. I’m not sure why the first gen hybrids, Priuseseseses and such, had to go with such goofy styling, but all I can assume is that now the car buying public is used to what a hybrid is, and Honda figures they’ll be more comfortable buying them regardless of the wrapper.
Honda says the 2019 Insight has an EPA rating of up to 55 mpg in the city, lots of premium features, and starts at $22,830. Which strikes me as very inexpensive for what you get in the three different trim levels: LX, EX, and Touring. All trim levels come standard with multi-element LED headlights, push-button start (racy!), and the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assist technologies.
Other Insight EX goodies include the eight-inch display/audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Insight Touring adds leather seating surfaces, an eight-way power driver’s seat, Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
But let’s face it, Honda figured out how to make near-perfect automotive interiors back in the 80s. All the cool, discussion worthy stuff here lies under the hood, or unseen altogether.
2019 Honda Insight: Photo: Honda North America.
Power & Performance
The 2019 Insight is motivated by a third-gen Honda two-motor hybrid drivetrain. A 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC Atkinson-cycle inline-4 engine does the heavy lifting, and features a 40.5-percent thermal efficiency rating. That ICE is mated to an electric propulsion motor, cranking out 197 lb-ft. of torque. The whole shootin’ match adds up to a total system output of 151 horsepower.
Honda points out how this two-motor design allows the Insight to run without the need for a conventional automatic transmission. Hmmm, I bet tearing the drivetrain apart on one of these guys would be interesting and fun.
Honda further tweaks the energy regeneration system through the use of steering wheel-mounted Deceleration Selectors. These work similar to transmission paddle shifters, and allow you to toggle between three different levels of regenerative braking performance. Grab the left selector to increase regenerative braking, and the right to reduce it. Honda says the system not only increases battery charging via regeneration, but also helps reduce strain on the brakes themselves, letting the driver tailor their regenerative braking level for different conditions.
And yeah, that’s cool and all that, but why don’t you people make an Si variant where the paddles allow you to tailor performance? Just a thought.
Photo: Honda North America.
Drive Modes & Battery Placement
The full hybrid powertrain on the Insight uses power from all systems – the gasoline engine and electric motors –  to accommodate the driving conditions you might find yourself in, moment to moment, and can seamlessly shift through three distinct drive schemes.
In EV Drive, the Insight is powered completely by its electric drive motor, drawing power from the battery. In Hybrid Drive, the gasoline engine drives a generator that supplies electrical power to the drive motor and, in certain circumstances, Engine Drive operation connects the gasoline engine directly to the drive wheels, the way Gottlieb Daimler intended.
The battery for the 2019 Insight lives under the rear seats, housed in something called a “compact intelligent power unit.” The clever packaging solution allows the Insight to offer an impressive 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space. You can fold the rear seatback for long loads (with a 60/40 split in EX and Touring trims), and there’s a grand total of up to 97.6 cubic feet of interior space.





Manufacturing & Pricing
The 2019 Insight will join Honda’s lineup of electrified vehicles, alongside the Clarity series – Clarity Fuel Cell, Clarity Electric, and Clarity Plug-In Hybrid – and the new Accord Hybrid. The 2019 Insight is manufactured at Honda’s Greensburg, Indiana plant, while the 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle two-motor system, intelligent power unit, and hybrid battery pack is produced in Ohio.
Below is a handy chart that shows you the breakdown for the 2019 Honda Insight.
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. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz
Trim
MSRP
MSRP Including $895 Destination
EPA Fuel Economy Ratings(city / highway / combined)
Insight LX
$22,830
$23,725
55/49/52
Insight EX
$24,060
$24,995
55/49/52
Insight Touring
$28,090
$28,985
51/45/48
Photos & Source: Honda North America.



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