Automotive

2017 Mazda CX-9 Trim Level Guide

Mazda recently announced their CX-9 sport utility vehicle will be back for its sophomore model year, with an unchanged MSRP of $31,520 when it reaches showrooms later this month. Sounds like a good deal already, but, of course, Mazda being Mazda, has done some tweaking and improving here and there.

Sport Trim

The entry version of Mazda’s CX-9 is dubbed the Sport trim level. The Sport version comes standard with LED headlights and taillights as well as fabric seating surfaces.

The parking brake is, sadly, electronic, so no hand-brake turns in snowy parking lots for you mister. Also standard are 18-inch wheels, a rear backup camera, trailer stability assist, MAZDA CONNECT infotainment with Commander control, and a 7-inch color display. I have no idea what “Commander control” might be, but it sounds a tad over the top and compensating.

All the other stuff is pretty self explanatory. Trailer stability assist sounds like a wonderful idea for anyone who’s messed around with trailers, especially in cross winds, slippery roads, and stuff like that. The MAZDA CONNECT infotainment is one of those centralized data platforms within the car. Everything from your tunes, phone, navigation, and the like run through the system.

The rear backup camera also seems to be a very good thing to have, and lots of car companies are touting them at the moment. If you go for the Sport trim level, you can also opt for the Sport Package (that doesn’t sound too confusing), which adds a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and heated door mirrors. Nice for those of you in winter climes and/or ski-bum types.

2017 Mazda CX-9. Photo: Mazda North American Operations.

Touring Trim

Further up the food chain lives the CX-9 Touring where you get an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and SCBS (that’s Smart City Brake Support, which is one of those contraptions that hits the brakes for you when you’re not paying attention, you dolt).

You also get a selection of black-or sand-colored leather seating surfaces.

HomeLink garage door openers, Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry System, a power liftgate, power front seats, and an 8-inch MAZDA CONNECT touchscreen display round out the options, all of which seem fairly attractive.

If you tick the box for the Touring Premium Package (again Mazda, confusing naming conventions here), you get automatic headlights, LED fog lights, navigation, and a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system that will get you Felix Pappalardi levels of hearing damage I bet. Rain-sensing wipers, rear backup sensors, second-row retractable sunshades, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a sunroof are also included.

Grand Touring

Next up comes the Grand Touring were you get all the icing from the Sport and Touring trim levels. Here you get an Adaptive Front-Lighting System, 20-inch wheels, aluminum interior trim (nice!), and Mazda’s first Active Driving Display that projects instrument and navigation information onto the windshield (essentially a HUD). There is a high-beam control (I assume that’s automatic), lane-departure warning (because you can’t pay attention, can you?), lane-keep assist (you really can’t pay attention, can you?), and Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Smart Brake Support.

Finally, a set of roof rails and memory settings on the driver’s seat finish off the Grand Touring.

“We are seeing a considerable number of new Mazda buyers come in from premium and luxury brands, with CX-9 Grand Touring and Signature models regularly being cross-shopped with the likes of Lexus, Porsche, and Volvo,” said Tetsu Nakazawa, Vehicle Line Manager for crossover SUVs, Mazda North American Operations. “That consumer confidence illustrates the strength of CX-9’s design, quality, and engineering innovations.” Photo: Mazda North American Operations.

Signature Trim

And at the very apex sits the CX-9 Signature that comes with standard predictive i-ACTIV all-wheel drive. That would be 27 sensors, busily working away, measuring conditions more than 200 times per second, to govern how to allocate power to each wheel so you never feel them slip.

On the inside, the CX-9 Signature is adorned with Auburn-colored Nappa leather, rosewood supplied by Japanese guitar-maker Fujigen, LED signature accent grille lighting, and LED accent lighting around the automatic shifter.

Regardless of which model you choose, all power comes from Mazda’s turbocharged SKYACTIV-G 2.5T engine. That plant produces 250 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane gasoline (227 horsepower on 87-octane if you’re a cheapskate). Fuel economy? A class-leading EPA rating of 22/28 city/highway and 24 combined for front-wheel-drive configurations. The engine is teamed up with a standard SKYACTIV-DRIVE six-speed automatic.

Starting price of $31,520 USD and finishing off just under $38,000 USD if you go full-boat and get every option available. Not bad at all.

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

2017 Mazda CX-9 Gallery

Photos & Source: Mazda North American Operations

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Volvo V90: Personalized, Pretty & Powerful

I know, it’s just a wagon, what’s so special? 1 – it’s a very pretty wagon, and 2 – it ain’t slow. Nope, Euro-wagons have a habit of being much faster, and therefore much more fun, than you’d think. If you’re an American gearhead with a penchant for quick Euro wagons, another option is at hand, brothers and sisters. The Volvo V90 Wagon is now available to order for U.S. customers. Volvo allows us (and there’s a few of us out there) to use their custom order service via Volvo Concierge, so you can get a full range of options from the comfort of your couch.

Power & Performance

The V90 is based on Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) and shares interior design qualities such as the 12-inch Sensus Connect Touchscreen, open-pore wood trim, and Nappa leather with the S90 sedan. You can choose from two power plants for the V90, either Volvo’s T5 FWD, turbocharged DriveE engine, or the T6 AWD, turbo and super charged powertrain in Inscription or RDesign trim.

Obviously, we here at One Automoblog Towers recommend the latter. A Polestar performance package that upgrades the powertrain is also available.

Other goodies include leather seats, a panoramic moonroof, and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS). Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard along with City Safety that activates automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist, and large animal detection (moose, deer and so on).

Volvo Concierge

Volvo has a rather nice online setup for the V90, which allows wagon enthusiasts to customize their vehicle. You can also get in touch with Volvo Concierge, which uses online chat, email, and actual voice to voice phone conversations with a real human being, to assist in configuring and ordering, if you want to take it to the next level.

Keeping up with the “high touch” attitude, Volvo Concierge will stay in constant contact with you, the future V90 owner, notifying you of when the car has been shipped from far off and exotic Sweden, and when you can expect it to reach your home. When it shows up at the local dealer for delivery, the car will have all preferences (radio stations, software settings, and other personal touches) based on the owner’s choosing set up and ready to go.

The Volvo V90 on display at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Carl Anthony for Automoblog.net.

Overseas Delivery

V90 buyers that wish to have the full Scandinavian experience (get your mind out of the gutter, I know what that sounds like, and it’s not that) can choose Overseas Delivery. Overseas Delivery gets you two paid airline tickets and hotel accommodations in beautiful Gothenburg, Sweden. Buyers also get a tour of the factory where the V90 is assembled and ultimately pick up their car at Volvo’s Factory Delivery Experience Center.

Once the keys are in your hot little hand, you can drive your V90 throughout Europe and drop it off at a designated port for shipping back home to the United States. How much fun is that?

Sadly, this much fun, beauty, and practicality does not come cheap. The T5 FWD R Design V90 will start at $49,950, with models, options, and higher-end specifications going up from there in price.

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

Photos & Source: Volvo Car USA, LLC.

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Nissan’s Midnight Edition Package Adds Style & Value

Nissan has what they call a Midnight Edition Package that has proven very popular with customers. So what do you do when you have something people want? Make more of it. Or, in Nissan’s case, expand it to a wider range of vehicles.

Originally, the Midnight Edition Package was an available option just for the Maxima SR sedan. The response was positive, so why let good vibes go to waste, thought Nissan. They expanded the availability to a total of six models, and unveiled them at this year’s Chicago Auto Show.

In addition to the Maxima, the Midnight Edition Package is now available on the Sentra, Altima, Maxima, Rogue, Murano, and Pathfinder.

2017 Nissan Sentra SR Midnight Edition. Photo: Nissan North America.

Sentra

Offered on both the 2017 Sentra SR and SR Turbo, ticking the option box for the Midnight Edition gets you black 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels (their full name is “Midnight Edition aluminum-alloy wheels” and that redundancy of “Midnight Edition” really gets out of hand, so just assume Nissan uses it everywhere). The package also includes black mirror caps, black rear spoiler, and available Midnight Edition floor mats.

The package is available on four different colors too: Red Alert, Super Black, Aspen White, and Gun Metallic, which, I’m assuming translates as red, black, white, and dark shiny gray.

The whole package will set you back $490, which isn’t all that bad.

2017 Nissan Altima SR Midnight Edition. Photo: Nissan North America.

Altima

The Altima version, the Altima SR Midnight Edition, is available on the 2017 Altima 2.5SR. You can get the package with Super Black, Gun Metallic, Pearl White, and Cayenne Red (e.g. black, gray, white, and red). The special edition package includes black 18-inch Midnight Edition aluminum-alloy wheels and low-profile 235/45R18 all-season tires, black mirror caps, black rear spoiler, LED headlights, remote engine start, and available Midnight Edition floor mats.

Cost? A not at all unreasonable $990.

2017 Nissan Maxima SR Midnight Edition. Photo: Nissan North America.

Maxima

The model that kicked off all this midnight madness, the Maxima SR, is still to be had. For 2017 it’s found again on the range topping Maxima SR, the most capable of the five available grade levels. The Midnight Edition comes with black 19-inch Midnight Black aluminum-alloy wheels, a black rear spoiler, rear diffuser, and the seemingly ubiquitously available Midnight Edition floor mats.

Colors for the Maxima SR include four: Pearl White, Coulis Red, Gun Metallic, and the original Super Black.

The cost is a still rational $1,195.

2017 Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition. Photo: Nissan North America.

Rogue

The Rogue, Nissan’s best-selling nameplate, also receives the Midnight Edition action with black 17-inch Midnight Edition aluminum-alloy wheels, black mirror caps, and those available Midnight Edition floor mats. There are black roof rails, black cross bars, black splash guards, rear bumper protectors, and trick illuminated kick plates.

The package is only available with the Rogue SV and comes in Magnetic Black, Gun Metallic, Pearl White, and Palatial Ruby. Not just every day red, oh no, Palatial Ruby.

Cost, if you’re making a shopping list, is $990.

2017 Nissan Murano Platinum Midnight Edition. Photo: Nissan North America.

Murano

The Murano, the crossover named for a suburb of Venice, gets exclusive black 20-inch Midnight Edition aluminum-alloy wheels, black roof rails, black mirror caps, black splash guards, and those available Midnight Edition floor mats.

Sheesh Nissan, why don’t you just toss in the floor mats?

Color choices are Pearl White, Cayenne Red, Gun Metallic, and Magnetic Black. The whole thing will set you back $1,195, but it’s only offered on the Platinum grade level Murano.

2017 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum Midnight Edition. Photo: Nissan North America.

Pathfinder

Finally, the Pathfinder Midnight Edition includes fashionable black 20-inch Midnight Edition aluminum-alloy wheels, black mirror caps, black spoiler, black splash guards, those trick illuminated kick plates again, a chrome rear bumper protector and, I hope you’re sitting down, but Midnight Edition floor mats are also available.

You can get it in Pearl White, Cayenne Red, Gun Metallic or Magnetic Black, again, only on the Platinum model for $1,195.

All of these stylish Midnight Editions, with their floor mats, are either in Nissan showrooms now, or will be soon.

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

Photos & Source: Nissan North America

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Report: Alfa Romeo cans plans for a Giulia Sport Wagon

Alfa Romeo planned to build a long-roof variant of its Giulia sedan, but axed it in favor of the Stelvio crossover.

What’s going on?

Auto enthusiasts caught a glimpse of hope after rumors suggested an Alfa Romeo Giulia wagon was on the way. Some digital renderings even surfaced, reinforcing the talk of the town and previewing what could possibly be a long-roof Giulia.

Click here for more news on the Alfa Romeo Giulia or Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

But sadly, the rumors turned out to be false, according to the latest from CAR.

Alfa originally intended to build a Sportwagon variant of the Giulia, catering to Europe’s general love for wagons. And for a moment, the potential hope to see that wagon stateside made all of us Americans excited. But after further assessment, Alfa found demand to be too small for a wagon version altogether, even in Europe.

Why did Alfa Romeo cancel the Giulia Sport Wagon?

Simply put: blame the Stelvio SUV and the high-demand for crossovers. Alfa Romeo’s manufacturing chief, Alfredo Altavilla, says the company’s betting on the Stelvio SUV to fill in the gap instead of a Giulia Sport Wagon.

The company believes will “drive just as well as a Giulia wagon would,” eliminating the need for both models. But as crossover SUVs proved they can drive well, their higher center of gravity and heavier bodies still take tolls, especially when compared to wagons.

The lack of a Giulia Sportwagon might be a bit upsetting. But considering how Alfa Romeo delayed the Giulia several times and continues struggling with its finances, the decision makes sense.

Will there be any other Giulia variants?

Although no wagon is planned, rumors are still abound for a possible coupe version of the Giulia. The two-door variant would compete with the likes of the BMW 4-Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: CAR

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The all-new, Nurburgring-tuned 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT arrives as America's i30

Hyundai revealed the all-new i30 hatch for Europe in Paris last year and now, it’s bound for America as the 2018 Elantra GT.

What’s going on?

The relatively quiet, but fourth-largest auto show in North America is currently happening. Despite being the smallest behind Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York, the Chicago Auto Show still manages to have a few reveals up its sleeve.

The latest: meet the all-new 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT, recently revealed at the McCormick Convention Center.

What’s new about it?

If the 2018 Elantra GT looks familiar, that’s because Hyundai unveiled it as the i30 at Paris last year. Clearly aimed at the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, and Honda Civic, the Elantra GT receives a far more refined and aggressive design. But not only that, it offers a whole list of updates making it hugely compeitive on paper.

For instance, the Elantra GT has the most interior capacity when compared to any of its competition. It’s also 61 pounds lighter and 22-percent structurally stiffer, thanks to more varied use of materials. The 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT also had its handling and ride specifically tuned on the famed Nürburgring. Bolstering the handling argument even further, a far superior fully-independent multi-link arrangement replaces the previous model’s rear torsion beam setup.

What powers it?

When the new Elantra GT hits showrooms later this year, it’ll come with a choice of two inline-fours. The standard engine is a naturally-aspirated 2.0L four-pot, yielding 162 horsepower while the optional turbocharged 1.6L four-pot comes with 201hp and 195 pound-feet of twist. Both come with the option of a six-speed manual, while the 2.0L gets the choice of a six-speed auto. Should you want an automatic with the turbo mill, a seven-speed dual-clutch cog swapper is available.

What other cool things come with the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT?

Hyundai’s really pushing its wireless connectivity suites and integration. Thus, the Elantra GT comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Hyundai’s Blue Link capabilities, and even connectivity with Amazon’s Alexa.

How much will it cost?

Hyundai didn’t announce the price yet, but we can expect that information to surface as we near the car’s launch.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: Hyundai

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Nissan extends the 2018 Titan lineup with a King Cab configuration

Nissan adds a new King Cab configuration to the 2018 Titan’s lineup, allowing for seating up to six.

What’s going on?

The 2017 Chicago Auto Show is what’s going on, and Nissan brought some new offerings to show off. The latest we have here is a new body option for the 2018 Nissan Titan. Now, you can get the Titan in King Cab style, meaning it sports an extra row of seating in the back over the standard cab. But it’s smaller than the full four-door Quad Cab variant.

Where as the Nissan Titan Quad Cab comes with four full-size doors, the Titan King Cab comes with two regular front doors and two rear-hinged, rear doors. The style will be available on both the half-ton Titans and the larger, heavier duty Titan XD. But only a 6.5-foot bed can be paired with any of the King Cabs.

Should buyers also want to delete the rear bench on the King Cab for more storage space, that’s also an option.

Other than that, what else is new about it?

Not much.

2017 Nissan Titan King Cab

OK, what powers it?

As you’d expect, the King Cab Titans only come with the traditional gasser 5.6L V8 with 390 horsepower. The larger Titan XD could be fitted with the lovely 5.0L Cummins turbodiesel V8 with 310hp and 555 pound-feet of torque. The gas V8 comes with a six-speed automatic while the diesel gets a seven-speed box.

That means the towing capacities of the new King Cab Titans are similar to the Quad Cab and standard cab models, depending the engine choice. The 5.6L gas V8 Titan King Cab can tow up to 9,410 pounds with a max payload of 1,640 pounds. While the diesel is expectedly more capable, towing up to 12,510 pounds and a max payload of 2,710 pounds.

When will it come out?

Nissan didn’t officially announce the pricing for the King Cab Titans. But that information is likely to surface as we near the spring launch date.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: Nissan

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