Automotive

2018 GMC Terrain Denali Review

2018 GMC Terrain Denali Review The 2018 GMC Terrain is all-new and like the Chevy Equinox, has the same footprint, but it gets new exterior styling that makes this SUV a lot tamer for consumers. The new 2.0-liter turbo should give families enough power and some fuel mileage gains as well.
This week, we’ve been driving the top-of-the-line, 2018 GMC Terrain Denali with all-wheel drive.
What’s New For 2018
The 2018 GMC Terrain is entirely new, from the downsized chassis and body, to the 2.0-liter turbo engine and nine-speed automatic transmission.
Features & Options
The 2018 GMC Terrain Denali ($39,270) comes with leather seats, an eight-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, blind-spot monitors, a 110-volt power outlet, remote start, power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. Denali adds a handsfree tailgate, a power passenger front seat, HD radio, seven-speaker audio, navigation, 19-inch wheels, and LED headlamps.
Extra safety equipment includes forward-collision warnings, surround-view camera, and automatic park assist. Additional extras included the ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and wireless charging. Total MSRP including destination: $44,370.

Interior Highlights
Stepping inside reveals leather seats with plenty of bolstering, lots of soft-touch materials, brushed aluminum trim, and plenty of power adjustments to help find the perfect driving position. The first thing we noticed was the unique push/pull space-saving gear shifter in front of the console. It took us awhile to get used to it, but it does add extra storage space in the console and room for the smartphone charger.
The seating position in the Denali’s cabin seems lower than before, which makes the Terrain feel less SUV-like. The infotainment system is straight-forward and simple, with a eight-inch screen and big icons. The display is clear, bright, responsive, and fast, all without too many features or too much information.
The backseat has plenty of room for adults, and rear passengers will appreciate the tall doors, so there’s less ducking to climb in, but the flat seat bottoms won’t be comfortable for long trips. The seats fold mostly flat to provide 63.3 cubic feet of cargo space, less than the competition. Behind the rear seats there is 29.6 cubic feet available.
There’s a handy storage compartment underneath the rear cargo deck. The front passenger seat folds flat to accommodate longer items like 2x4s and kayaks.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The 2018 GMC Terrain Denali is powered by a new turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder, making 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. of torque. Mated to a nine-speed automatic with all-wheel drive, it offers peppy acceleration and gets an EPA-estimated 21/26 city/highway and 23 combined mpg.
Driving Dynamics
The transmission pairs nicely with the new 252 horsepower turbo engine, and it felt strong during our quick runs up I-70 west of Denver. The turbo offers steady power and a cool whistling sound as it climbs through the gears. We found ourselves wanting steering wheel paddle shifters which aren’t offered on the Terrain.
The Terrain’s ride is designed more toward comfort than cornering ability. We took it through the tight mountain curves and there was enough body lean to remind us we weren’t in a sports sedan. The suspension offers poised and predictable handling in all situations; the ride overall is comfortable on the highway and you hardly feel the bumps on rough pavement.
The Denali has a higher state of suspension tune and 19-inch wheels with better all-season tires. It tracks true and smooth, but doesn’t offer much feedback. Still, it helped us avoid a deer in the mountains west of Denver during our seat time.
The optional all-wheel drive on our Denali tester is a part-time system, activated by a knob on the console with different traction modes. It’s easier than other all-wheel drive units without the ability to self-activate.
Conclusion
The fully redesigned 2018 GMC Terrain addresses the problems the aging generation had, and now represents a more compelling choice in the smaller, five-passenger crossover segment. GMC pulled off making the Terrain smaller in size without sacrificing too much leg and headroom.
The new four-cylinder improves performance and fuel mileage is reasonable if you keep your foot out of the turbo. It’s comfortable, easy to drive, and comes standard with one of the best infotainment interfaces in the class.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 GMC Terrain Gallery

2018 GMC Terrain Official Site.
Photos: GMC (SLT & Denali models shown).

Check out these Automotive tips

https://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2018-gmc-terrain-denali-review/

2019 Ford Ranger: Radar Love

2019 Ford Ranger: Radar Love The 2019 Ford Ranger will employ the latest safety technology to make towing easier for drivers, according to the automaker. Ford’s Blind Spot Information System, standard on Ranger XLT and Lariat, can monitor either the truck by itself or with a trailer attached. Radar housed in the Ranger’s taillights monitors any potential blind spots all the way to the back of the trailer.
The system then alerts drivers as other vehicles cross into those blind zones.
Trailer Profiles
The 2019 Ford Ranger can store up to three trailer profiles, including a trailer’s length, which lets the radar system know how far back to provide warnings when another vehicle is traveling next to the trailer. Ford says such a system is class-exclusive and not available on any other midsize pickup.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Power & Performance
When it was revealed at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, Ford promised the latest in EcoBoost technology for the 2019 Ranger. A 2.3-liter EcoBoost with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection will power the new Ranger. The engine also features a forged-steel crankshaft and con rods and chain-driven dual overhead cams.
Trims include the entry-level XL, mid-level XLT, and high-level Lariat, with available Chrome and Sport appearance and FX Off-Road packages. The 2019 Ford Ranger will come in a SuperCab or SuperCrew configuration.
Market Potential
In the last few years, newly redesigned midsize trucks have surged onto the market, evidenced by the return of GM’s Colorado and Canyon, Toyota’s Tacoma, and Honda’s Ridgeline. In May, Ford revealed the intense and rigorous testing the 2019 Ranger was enduring on its way to dealers later this year.
Below is a short video that showcases how the blind spot technology works on the 2019 Ford Ranger.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.

Photos, Video & Source: Ford Motor Company.

Check out these Automotive tips

https://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2019-ford-ranger-radar-love/

Ferrari: Race to Immortality Faces Danger & Tragedy With Style & Grace

Ferrari: Race to Immortality Faces Danger & Tragedy With Style & Grace I have a theory that 99.9 percent of all car movies are terrible; barely watchable dreck that only offers brief glimpses of something cool and car-related, let alone offering true insight into the automotive world, let alone the human condition. This movie, however, Ferrari: Race to Immortality, is most definitely not one of those movies.
Studios & Garages
I should preface this with the fact that I worked in movie and TV production for decades. Seeing a movie with me (and any of my production team friends) is usually bogged down with post-viewing conversations about bad edits, bad directing decisions, commenting on lens choices and stuff like that before we get into the meat of the movie; i.e. the plot, the narrative, and the acting.
On top of that, there’s the gearhead side of me that has to be seen to. We, the gearhead movie-goers, all seem to have this nagging trait. We know cars intimately, and when something is technically wrong, it grates on us, and usually to a disproportional level. Tire squeals on gravel, seven upshifts in a five-speed car, driving off a cliff = explosion. It bugs us, I get it. Shoot, it bugs me all the time.
That said, I can unequivocally say that Ferrari: Race to Immortality is one of the best documentaries I’ve seen. Not racing documentaries, mind you; one of the best documentaries period.
At The Limit & Over The Edge
Essentially, Ferrari: Race to Immortality is a film version of Mon Ami Mate by author Chris Nixon. The movie revolves around the lives, racing and otherwise, of Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins, two British racers from the 1950s. The 1950s were a particularly violent and reckless time for auto racing. Spread across the decade, top line drivers from all disciplines (Grand Prix, Indy, sports cars etc.) were dying at the rate of one every other week.
Around 28 per year, every year, for a decade.
The movie starts with the infamous Le Mans crash of 1955 that saw the Mercedes 300 SLR of Pierre Levegh catapult into the main grandstands, on fire, and take more than 80 people with him. That, more or less, sets the tone for the entire movie to follow. “I keep death in my hip pocket,” Enzo Ferrari once said, and this movie shows you the meaning of those words.
Mike Hawthorn. Photo: The Cahier Archive.
Human Conditions
Hawthorn was involved in that crash (some alleged was the cause of the crash) but won Le Mans that year. Indeed, he became the first Englishman to win the World Driving Championship. In a lot of ways, Hawthorn was right out of central casting: tall, good looking, butter-colored wavy hair, always raced wearing a bow tie, just the sort of thing the British fans and press would eat up.
Peter Collins, on the other hand, was more ruggedly featured, and say what you want about the two of them, looks-wise, but they sure had a string of girlfriends. The movie just doesn’t point this out, it actually has interviews with the various ladies involved with these racers.
All of the interviews and sound bites, with fellow racers, the aforementioned lady-friends, journalists, Enzo himself, and historians are all delivered via voice over and it works fantastically. No talking heads to distract with boring visuals. And what is said is just dynamite stuff. Not just from a gearhead perspective, but, very importantly, from a human perspective.
Hawthorn was interviewed extensively back in the day, and his stuff is rather “right off the rack” in what is said, and some of it I had heard before. Collins is friendly, joking; seems like a real good bloke. Enzo is Enzo: political, cunning, measured, Machiavellian. The real meat here is what is said by the girlfriends and the historians. There’s none of this “I’m just the steady backing on the home-front” BS that we have sadly come to expect.
At one point, Louise King, Collins’ wife said, in response to a question about the danger involved, “One time, Peter did try to bring it up, and I stopped him. ‘Don’t’, I said, ‘Just don’t.’ And we never spoke of it again.”
Sweet Jesus.

Visual Treasures
All the interviews come across like a rich vein of gold willingly mined. There are extensive interviews with Alfonso de Portago, the brilliantly talented yet doomed Spaniard. Until last night, I had never heard him speak. Other drivers, writers, girlfriends, and such all chime in, but none of the interviews are fluff, none of it is filler. Every word adds to and enriches what is being shown on screen.
And oh what they show on screen.
The visual end of things is nearly flawless. All of the archive materials used are flat out fantastic. Yes, I had seen much of this footage before, but a remarkable amount of it was unknown to me. All of the older footage was re-graded and level-matched, most of the grain and such taken out. None of it was colorized.
There is tons of footage from back in the day of these guys hanging out, waiting to drive, smoking cigarettes, goofing off at hotel pools, getting out of cars covered in grease and dirt and grime, levering themselves out looking as physically spent as a human can, but beaming; beaming bright satisfied smiles.
Time Machines
And mixed in with all this are drop-dead-gorgeous shots of various vintage Ferraris (246s, 555 Squalos and such) shot in the present day. It would seem the producers got ahold of some far too lucky rich guys that own these old beasts, dressed them up, and turned them lose on old race tracks to get more footage. And the new stuff is seamlessly integrated with the old stuff. And I do mean seamlessly.
A lot of the work I did was as an editor, and more than once I was caught off guard, only noticing two or three cuts later that they had dropped in modern footage with the old. The last time I failed to notice editing like that was watching Schindler’s List.
Yeah, this movie is that well done.
Ferrari: Race to Immortality at Brands Hatch.
Ideal Balance
Ferrari: Race to Immortality seemingly covers it all, but never gets bogged down in technical details or soap opera subplots, neither becoming too maudlin over the constant drum-beat of fatalities nor exulting in the sacrifice. The rivalry between Eugenio Castellotti and Luigi Musso. Collins’ ultimate sporting gesture with Juan Manuel Fangio. Enzo’s belief that more pressure equaled more wins. Meditations on the nature of danger and mortality by Stirling Moss. The sublime joy of sliding your race car just so through and out an entire turn.
But more than anything else, what is made abundantly clear, moment after moment, frame after frame, is that everyone involved loved this life.
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
Ferrari: Race to Immortality
Synopsis: The 1950s saw the rise of Scuderia Ferrari in the Formula One World Championship in the deadliest decade in motor racing history. Ferrari: Race to Immortality tells the story of the loves and losses, triumphs and tragedy of Ferrari‘s most decorated drivers in an era where it was la dolce vita during the week and a coin toss of whether they lived or died on the weekend.
Director: Daryl Goodrich
Starring: Peter Collins, Mike Hawthorn, Enzo Ferrari
Run Time: 1hr 31m
Availability: Via Amazon Prime, official trailer here.

Check out these Automotive tips

https://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/ferrari-race-to-immortality-faces-danger-tragedy-with-style-grace/

2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition: All About Dat Handling

2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition: All About Dat Handling Ah, yes: an improved Toyota 86! The 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition, the direct, linear descendant of the ToyoBaru 2012 sports car that everyone seemed to love, but everyone one said needed more power. And now? Better brakes, better dampers, better tires . . . better engine? No, but better is better, right?
Full disclosure here: I have never driven one of these. And that’s too bad. Everyone seems to like these little guys. I sort of look at them as being the Miata coupe that Mazda never made. With that Subaru flat-four, their smaller size and great handling, these things got to be an absolute terror on an AutoX course.
Could they use more power? Is that a trick question? Of course they could use more power. Everything could use more power. So, what exactly do we get?
Ride & Handling
For starters it’s all about dat handling. The 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition is North America’s highest performance version of this ride, thanks to the inclusion of SACHS dampers, whompingly huge Brembo brakes – 12.8-inchers up front and 12.4s out the back – exclusive 18 x 7.5-inch alloy wheels, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires (215/40R18) at all four corners.
Those SACHS dampers foster sharper steering response and enhance stability. The extra-large, four-piston front, two-piston rear Brembo brakes have enough mechanical and thermal power to haul down a freight train. Which is good since all that stopping power is affected upon the tarmac via those Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires.
And yes, those are great tires. And yes, they cost a lot. And yes, they last about as long as a crepe. But what’a’ya’gonna’do?
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Exterior Treatments
The outside of every 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition is painted in Raven (i.e. black), with that TRD tricolor graphic splashed here and there. There’s also a TRD body kit and exhaust with brushed stainless steel tips. There’s the LED projector-beam headlights, color-keyed power mirrors, front fender-mounted vortex generators, and 17-inch twisted spoke alloy wheels.
Interior Layout
The inside also lets you know you’re driving in something beyond run-of-the-mill. The telescoping steering wheel is red and black-trimmed with red contrast stitching; the sport bucket seats are red and black with side bolsters, and there’s a Granlux suede-like covering on the instrument cluster. The TRD logo is embroidered on the passenger side instrument panel, and there’s red contrast stitching all over the place – even the seatbelts are red.
The 4.2-inch TFT Multi-Information Display provides essential data like G-forces, stopwatch, horsepower and torque curves, engine coolant and oil temperatures, and fuel consumption.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Engine & Transmission
All of this is propelled via the Subaru-sourced, 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine fed by Toyota’s D-4S Dual Injection System. Bottom line: 205 horsepower and 156 lb-ft. of torque. That boxer-four is coupled to the 86’s standard six-speed manual transmission using a triple-cone mesh synchromesh on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears, plus the ball-bearing-mounted shift linkage and reverse gear lock-out protection.
There’s an optional, six-speed electronically-controlled automatic with “super-fast” shifts, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, a Sport Mode, and Dynamic Rev Management technology that “blips” the throttle on downshifts.
The cherry on top? A standard Torsen limited-slip differential. Oo mama!
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Pricing & Availability
Production of the 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition will be limited to only 1,418 with a retail price of $32,420. Which . . . yeah, I know, it’s not fair to compare a new car’s performance and price to the used market, but still. 33K? There’s a lot of used sports cars out there that fit that budget that are amazing.
But hey, if you want a new car, and one that’s a blast to drive, you could do much worse than a 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition.
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
Photos & Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2019-toyota-86-trd-special-edition-all-about-dat-handling/

2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Stoned Soul Picnics & Ventura Highways

2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Stoned Soul Picnics & Ventura Highways Compact. Sporty. Trunk space. Ambient lights for days. These are the headlines should the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class ever become a newspaper. Astute Mercedes-Benz aficionados might well remember the original 1997 A-Class, and certinately the CLA Coupe in 2013 which marked the first time in recent history a compact Mercedes-Benz was sold in the United States.
Menu items like the CLA-Class are important for Mercedes-Benz. In 2017, about one in two buyers of a Mercedes-Benz compact car in the U.S. had previously driven the competition, and more than 50 percent of CLA customers are new to the brand.
It looks like the A-Class will do something similar with its two flavors: the A 220 and A 220 4MATIC.
Power & Performance
A turbo 2.0-liter inline-four engine will propel the new A-Class around town. Toss in a healthy 188 horsepower, 221 lb-ft. of torque, and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and the daily commute should go off without a hitch.
Although they don’t go into detail, Mercedes-Benz says a “choice of suspension systems” will be available. We do know the front axle is a McPherson design with a weight-optimized, torsion-beam rear axle. The 4MATIC models have an adaptive damping system, and wheels range from 17 to 19 inches.
2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Photo: MBUSA.
Structural Design
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class will come with a generous array of active safety features – in fact, it can drive semi-autonomously in certain conditions as it leverages technology from its grand daddy, the S-Class. Yet, the A-Class has passive safety designs that are equally as important, being it’s the first Mercedes-Benz developed at the Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety.
The body of the new A-Class – or its very DNA – has been subjected to extreme accident and collision testing. Thus, body shell components were developed with respect to load and stress capacity, geometry, material thickness, joining technology, and material quality; the latter meaning there is an increased proportion of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel throughout the vehicle. The result is increased rigidity when subjected to an accident or collision.
Photo: MBUSA.
Four Dimensional
Mercedes-Benz is keen on four specific metrics here: The car’s length is 179.1 inches; width: 70.7 inches; height: 56.9 inches, and the 107.4-inch wheelbase. The significance of these numbers is available space inside. Small car? Yes. Cramped? No. Designers were deliberate in creating this effect inside the A-Class, evidenced in little ways, from the dashboard to the “free-standing cockpit” array.
The “5th Dimension” (great music) of the A-Class is the trunk, to which Mercedes-Benz (despite touting it) does not give any exact measurements; just that is was designed with a large opening for the easy loading of big items. As an aside, a car’s trunk is always the fifth dimension. You never know what treasures have been left unattended in there.
Photo: MBUSA.
Sixth Dimension
The lines between science fiction and compact car have blurred with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Take the new MBUX – or Mercedes-Benz User Experience system – for example. Sure, it has the main things off the bat: voice control and a touchscreen – that’s to be expected, but MBUX goes farther with Artificial Intelligence. Mercedes-Benz says the system creates an emotional connection between the vehicle, driver, and passengers.
How?
Again, Mercedes-Benz didn’t give us a lot of detail, but it seems drivers talk to the A-Class through natural speech recognition technology. For example, saying “Hey Mercedes” brings MBUX to life. MBUX is also compatible with Car-to-X Communication, or the transmission of vital information to the A-Class from other vehicles or the surrounding infrastructure in the interest of keeping occupants safe.
And finally, there are 64 colors of optional ambient lighting. Yes. 64. Pick one and throw on that old Stoned Soul Picnic record. Or the Homecoming record. Ventura Highway probably sounds pretty cool in the visual aroma of 64 different ambient lights.
2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class interior layout. Photo: MBUSA.
Manufacturing & Availability
A-Class production will begin shortly in Aguascalientes in central Mexico with the Rastatt Plant in Germany joining in the manufacturing duties in 2019. Expect the new A-Class in the United States later this year. It seems like the A-Class would be a logical addition to the new subscription service Mercedes-Benz recently unveiled.
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.
2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Gallery

Photos & Source: MBUSA.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/2019-mercedes-benz-a-class-stoned-soul-picnics-ventura-highways/

Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC Emerges, Dials Down On Product Development

Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC Emerges, Dials Down On Product Development Recently, Ford Motor Company made a substantial move in Detroit, acquiring Michigan Central Station in Corktown with the intention of making it an innovation hub for future mobility. And the automaker is already making good on that promise with the formation of Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC, an organization focused on accelerating autonomous car growth.
Vast Network
Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC consists of self-driving systems integration, autonomous vehicle research and advanced engineering, autonomous transportation-as-a-service network development, user experience, and the business strategy and business development teams. These individual arms represent critical pockets of Ford’s autonomous vehicle platform, now together under one roof as they operate primarily from Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood.
“Ford has made tremendous progress across the self driving value chain – from technology development to business model innovation to user experience,” explained Jim Hackett, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company. “Now is the right time to consolidate our autonomous driving platform into one team to best position the business for the opportunities ahead.”
Graphic: Ford Motor Company.
Investments & Leadership
The new LLC, which is structured to take on third party investment, will hold Ford’s ownership stake in Argo AI, the company’s Pittsburgh-based partner for self-driving system development. Ford expects to invest $4 billion in its autonomous vehicle efforts through 2023, including a $1 billion investment in Argo AI.
“The evolution of computing power and IT have helped bring great products to customers – from cars to tablets,” Hackett said. “We can now harness this technology to unlock a new world of vehicle personalization, supply chain choreography, and inventory leanness that rivals any industrial model in the world.”
Sherif Marakby, currently Ford’s Vice President of Autonomous Vehicles and Electrification, was appointed CEO of Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC. Marakby will report to a board of directors chaired by Marcy Klevorn, Ford Executive Vice President and President, Mobility.
“The closer alignment of the self-driving platform and the mobility solutions teams will allow faster development of businesses that can thrive in the pre- and post-autonomous vehicle worlds,” reads a statement from Ford.
Ford has been testing autonomous vehicles for more than 10 years. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Flexible Solutions
Ford is also developing flexible vehicle architectures with the intention of slicing product development time – from initial sketch to customer delivery – by 20 percent. Ford’s five flexible vehicle architectures – body-on-frame, front-wheel drive unibody, rear-wheel drive unibody, commercial van unibody and BEV – are paired with module “families” that address necessary vehicle configurations.
Ford says 70 percent of each vehicle’s engineering will be derived from this new approach, with 30 percent of content – including grilles, hoods, and doors – customized uniquely for each vehicle.
Ford wants the most efficient product development process among full-line automakers within five years, noting that by 2020, their average “showroom age” will drop from 5.7 to 3.3 years. Ford goes on to say the product teams will put greater emphasis on human-centered designs and customer insights as they look to replace three-quarters of their vehicle lineup.
“We’re looking at every part of our business, making it more fit, and ensuring that every action we take is driven by what will serve our customers in a way that supports our fitness and performance goals,” Hackett said.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company.

Check out these Automotive tips

http://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/ford-autonomous-vehicles-llc-emerges-dials-down-on-product-development/

Easy Winter-Proof Part Upgrades for Leased Vehicles with eBay Motors

Easy Winter-Proof Part Upgrades for Leased Vehicles with eBay Motors Michigan summers are really something this time of year. It’s never too hot, the days are long, and it’s easy to get outside and participate in a variety of fun activities. Although recently, the air has been a bit crisp in the evening. In the great Wolverine State, that means fall is on the way and winter is not far behind.
Yes, winter can be a very pretty time of year. However, all that snow, slush, sand, and salt ultimately ends up in one place: the interior of our vehicles. One question we are often asked as car experts is how to prevent such things. How do we preserve a vehicle’s interior when it’s impossible to keep winter outside, where it belongs? The answer is simple and affordable, and this year, eBay Motors is helping us prepare for winter well ahead of time.
Our company vehicle is a 2016 Fiat 500X crossover, a small and efficient automobile perfect for navigating the Detroit metro area. We are completely satisfied with the vehicle, except the stock cloth floor mats. Last winter, when the snow we inevitably tracked into the vehicle melted, it soaked right through the mats. After a few days, a pungent order was noticeable.
It’s not just the Fiat cloth mats either. We are not fans of most stock cloth floor mats, regardless of the manufacturer. After last winter, we resolved to get something better. Thankfully, eBay Motors has a great selection of weatherproof accessories. We landed on a set of Gledring All-Weather Rubber Floor Mats.
“Thank you to eBay Motors for sponsoring this post and helping me find the perfect parts and accessories This post was written by me through an activation with HireInfluence on behalf of eBay Motors. Although I received compensation for participating in the campaign, all thoughts and opinions are my own.” ~ Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photo: Danielle Flint for Automoblog.net.
When it comes to upgrading a vehicle with valuable parts and accessories, it’s not necessary to go big. Oftentimes, when we think of aftermarket upgrades, we think about turbos and superchargers and suspension gizmos. The truth is, all-weather floor mats are one of the best, most affordable upgrades any car owner can buy. The Gledring all-weather mats for our 500X were $74.99, a good deal considering how much they will protect our interior. And, eBay Motors isn’t just a great place to find aftermarket parts and accessories. They also sell new. In fact, 81 percent of items sold on eBay are new, while 88 percent of items can be purchased with the buy-it-now feature, no bidding necessary.
A high-quality set of all-weather rubber mats is an essential aftermarket upgrade, regardless of where your home is. I have talked a lot about winter climates, but even in sunny states, a set of Gledring all-weather rubber mats will provide value.
Notice how much more robust the Gledring mats from eBay Motors are (right) versus the stock mats that came with our 2016 Fiat 500X. Photo: Danielle Flint for Automoblog.net.
For outdoor enthusiasts or beach buffs, the Gledring mats will easily catch dirt, dust, and sand. Unlike cloth mats, the Gledring all-weather mats are much easier to shake out and clean. With cloth floor mats, sand and dirt can get trapped to the point where a vacuum is needed to fully remove all the debris. Despite their high power, vacuums at car washes are often unable to get every last pebble out of a cloth floor mat.
During the winter, the Gledring rubber mats will prevent melted snow from soaking through. Any salt or sand from the snow will remove easily as well, since the rubber surface is smooth. Although the Gledring mats from eBay Motors offer solid weather protection, they have another distinct benefit. We had no sooner put them in to find ourselves cleaning up a coffee splatter and a spilled protein shake (yeah, don’t ask). Those of us who are clumsy with a coffee cup or shaker bottle will greatly appreciate a set of Gledring all-weather mats.
Installation was a cakewalk. It took us only a few minutes, although there are two notes to consider. The Gledring all-weather mats are bundled together with plastic tabs. We saved the tabs just in case – not that we foresee ever removing the mats from our 500X, but the plastic tabs will keep them together and make for easy storage. When placing the Gledring mats inside, make sure they are good and snapped down; we don’t want anyone to end up with a mat obstructing the brake and gas pedals.

Our Fiat 500X is leased, which means there are not many upgrades we can do to it. A leased vehicle must be returned to the dealership at the end, and usually, there is very little room in a leasing contract to modify the vehicle. All-weather floor mats, however, are fair game. Another affordable interior upgrade we would consider is this rear cargo-area liner. For car-leasers that still like to tinker under the hood, we would recommend any number of Mobil 1 synthetic oils. eBay Motors has a good selection of oils and lubricants to ensure optimum engine performance. Parts and accessories like these provide additional protection without violating the terms of the lease.
Always make sure the all-weather mats are secured to the floor of the vehicle. Line them up with the tabs sticking out of the floor and give them a good, solid press. This will minimize the chances of them bunching up unintentionally near the gas and brake pedals. Photo: Danielle Flint for Automoblog.net.
eBay’s large selection makes it easy to make any of these upgrades happen and find the exact one you’re looking for. Further, eBay Motors is fast easy and convenient. eBay’s recent summer roll out of Guaranteed Delivery ensures delivery to U.S. customers in three days or less on more than 20 million eligible items. Many of these items will ship for free, and some products will be delivered even faster – one or two days, guaranteed. eBay also offers trusted, protection programs like the Assurant Protection Program, to put you at ease when purchasing parts.
Our 2016 Fiat 500X is always on the road and the interior wear is noticeable. One of our staff members often wears heels when she drives our vehicle; high heels can wear through cloth mats in a hurry. We believe the Gledring all-weather mats from eBay Motors will hold up much better over time when exposed to the pointed heel of her shoes. Photo: Danielle Flint for Automoblog.net.

Check out these Automotive tips

https://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/easy-winter-proof-part-upgrades-for-leased-vehicles-with-ebay-motors/

Letter From The UK: Mini Seasons Ago

Letter From The UK: Mini Seasons Ago

After the tragedy of the Second World War many things changed. It was as if a global decision had been made to change the attitude of living in the past and instead, embrace a brave new world. So it was that in Britain; the crooners and balladeers of the early 1950’s gave way to pioneer rock and roll stars, and the boss at the antiquated British Motor Corporation demanded Great Britain should have its own ‘miniature’ to rival the ‘bubble’ car from Germany.
The Mini Is Born
Thus it came to pass that a chap called Alec Issigonis stood up in the meeting (I’m surmising here) and said, “I say you chaps; what if we turn the engine around sideways?” In 1959, sales of the diminutive Austin/Morris Mini began. It was an instant success. Never before or since has a car so grabbed the attention of the public.
The last time I bothered to look it up, there were just over 8,000 original Minis still driving around the ruined roads of Britain. The beloved diminutive motor continues to cast its spell fifty and more years on (as do the ‘Swinging Sixties’ in which the car played such an iconic role) but the latest versions, great though they are in many ways, can’t match the simplicity and sheer joy of the original.
Open the hood of the latest model and you will be none the wiser. Open the hood of an original Mini and you’ll find a completely basic, BMC ‘A’ Series engine mounted transversely. Anyone can fix it and anyone did.
As with everything in life, we have to move forward but not necessarily when that which follows isn’t as good as that which has passed. This is why the ancient wrinkly rock bands of the sixties and seventies can still pull huge audiences despite being delivered to the venue in private ambulances.
Photo: BMW Group.
My Generation
Just when we thought the Mini had finally faded into history, along came a German brand called BMW who bought the name and resurrected the vehicle, but it is simply not the same. Mini has become something different to a new generation.
The original cars continue to be celebrated in annual events like the Riviera Run (that’s the UK’s Cornish Riviera by the way, like the French Riviera only without the glamour, international fame, cuisine, film festivals, and glorious weather) but sadly every year, like old soldiers on memorial days, there are fewer and fewer. One day none will turn up and another legend will truly fade into history like anything else long forgotten.
There is a certain Teutonic thoroughness to the BMW Mini at odds with the uncertain beginnings from way back in the 1950’s. Build quality is certainly way better but merely keeping a label and a center round dashboard binnacle doesn’t instill within the car that sense of fun, excitement, and adventure the original generated. Along with the miniskirt, certain natural products and unnatural chemicals and music that has never been transcended, it sums up a youth generation who chose to wear flowers in their hair.
Photo: BMW Group.

Good Old Days
The Mini of today might, in many ways, be a technological marvel but when all is said and done, it is just another generic product, built in multiple variants, to satisfy a section of the automobile market. It may sell well but it is not a proper Mini. For a start, the new car is, by comparison, huge. Back in the olden days of yore, if you wanted a ‘big’ Mini, you bought an Austin Maxi and the selection of that name sums up the total amount of thought that went into the car. Also with a transverse engine, the Maxi was so awful it rightfully earned the sobriquet ‘Land Crab.’
To most people, history is just old stuff that has already happened. They probably don’t give a thought to that little gem of motoring mastery, that rally winner, that little beginner’s love nest that was at the heart of a much safer and more vibrant society. For the most part, we should look forward to the future but there are some things that can never be improved upon. Groovy baby.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Photo: BMW Group.

Check out these Automotive tips

https://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/letter-from-the-uk-mini-seasons-ago/

Ford Says 2018 F-150 Has Segment-Leading Attributes, Advanced Powertrains

Ford Says 2018 F-150 Has Segment-Leading Attributes, Advanced Powertrains

Lately, Ford has been dumping tons of cash and engineering resources into their truck engines and transmissions and such. All of that is good, in and of itself, but it also makes tons of sense since the Ford F-150 is the bread and butter vehicle for the Dearborn-based outfit.
Ford – and General Motors and Ram – make a lot of big trucks. There is a lot of need for them across America, what with the contractors and farmers and other blue-collar types. Not to mention homeowners, since you can only haul certain types of stuff within the confines of a minivan.
If you want to get really reductionist about it, you could say that big pickups are what American car companies do best.
Best One Yet?
Ford’s new for 2018 F-150 will carry on what the company has been doing, pickup truck-wise, since the end of World War II. The 2018 F-150 aims to be tougher, smarter, and more capable than ever, according to Ford. And, if you listen to Ford, it all comes down to, or at the very least, starts with the running gear. The 2018 trucks will have the most advanced powertrain lineup yet and deliver best-in-class towing, payload, and efficiency. Mileage, you ask? An EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 22 combined with the second-gen 2.7-liter EcoBoost. Towing and payload? Have no fear! The F-150 gets best-in-class towing by being able to drag around 13,200 lbs. with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost and haul 3,270 pounds of payload with the 5.0-liter V8.
Ford says the upcoming F-150 will have “bold new styling,” but they always say that, and trucks always look like trucks anyway, don’t they? Also, Ford is committed to its use of aluminum, or as they put it “high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy.” There will also be a slew of advanced safety technologies, a trick 10-speed automatic transmission and, of course, the F-150’s engine lineup. Speaking of, here’s the nitty-gritty on all the mills FoMoCo has on offer.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Power & Performance
First, there’s the second-gen 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 mated to that SelectShift 10-speed automatic transmission. This drivetrain will get you the aforementioned best-in-class fuel economy with advanced dual port direct injection that delivers a 25 lb-ft. increase in torque. Next up is the normally aspirated 5.0-liter V8, also with advanced dual port and direct injection, giving you 10 more ponies and an additional 13 lb-ft. of torque. The mill also features spray-on bore liner technology, which it shares with the Shelby GT350 Mustang. The 5.0-liter V8 is paired with the 10-speed SelectShift automatic and also boasts the aforementioned best-in-class payload capacity of 3,270 pounds.
If you want to tow something – say an enclosed trailer with a couple of sweet Alfa Romeos down to the track – the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 is the drivetrain for you. Its 13,200 lbs. of towing capacity is the equivalent of about eight Alfas, since those things have the density of bubble wrap. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 cranks out 470 lb-ft. of torque (in case you’re worried about power) which allows it to top all diesel and gasoline-powered competitors, including V8s with nearly twice its displacement. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 puts out 375 horsepower and, in concert with the torque rating, make it the best F-150 engine for hauling heavy trailers.
The all-new 3.3-liter V6 plant is more efficient too, putting out more torque when compared to the previously standard 3.5-liter V6. The now standard 3.3-liter nets you a 5 percent power-to-weight ratio improvement over the 2014 F-150, and also gets you better fuel economy and performance. Finally, there is an all-new 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel V6 that was designed, engineered, and tested in-house. Unsurprisingly, it’s paired with the 10-speed SelectShift automatic and will be the first diesel engine for the F-150.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Technology, Connectivity & Safety
Even if this is a truck, it is 2018, so there’s a gang of tech goodies along for the ride. There’s adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, for one. The system uses radar and camera tech to watch traffic and maintain a set distance between vehicles. Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection is offered to help you avoid, or at least alleviate collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians – because you weren’t paying attention, were you?
An embedded 4G LTE modem with a Wi-Fi hotspot connects up to 10 mobile devices at one time. There’s a new B&O PLAY audio system for when you’re listening to your songs. I will not comment on your selection of music, but if you call anything written after, oh, the 1980 as “Country and Western Music,” you and I are going to have a scrap on our hands.
The available Pro Trailer Backup Assist gizmo allows you to steer a trailer “instinctively” via a center console-mounted dial. A Blind Spot Information System with trailer coverage technology is also available. BLIS, as Ford calls it, uses radar sensors in the taillamps to monitor areas that may not be visible around the truck and trailer, again to avoid the pain and humiliation of backing your boat, say, into piling or over your neighbor’s flower bed.
The 2018 Ford F-150 goes on sale this fall. Production is supported by the Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan and the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri.
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.

Check out these Automotive tips

https://carsecret.atspace.eu/blog/ford-says-2018-f-150-has-segment-leading-attributes-advanced-powertrains/