Automotive

Mercedes-Maybach To Debut In Geneva

Mercedes-Maybach To Debut In Geneva The Mercedes-Maybach will make its world debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, arriving as a cross between the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the automaker’s Maybach nameplate. From the teaser images, we see a new grille, two-tone paintwork, and a spacious back seat with an interactive monitor. The Mercedes-Maybach will likely be desired by the most affluent of buyers, and is as luxurious and elegant as one might expect.
Well Suited
Mercedes-Benz notes the “reinterpretation” of the radiator grille with its vertical struts. Interesting enough, the grille was inspired by a pinstriped suit and was first seen on the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6, unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August 2016. That handsome pinstripe suit is complimented by the aforementioned two-tone exterior paint, which comes in nine different combinations. A double clear coat is available for dark colors, which Mercedes-Benz says creates a “brilliant surface finish with a piano lacquer effect and a special impression of depth.” Cool.
The Mercedes-Maybach will ride on 20-inch multi-spoke wheels with three designs to choose from.
Photo: MBUSA.
Interior Treatments
Occupants will draped in either an Armagnac Brown/Black or Savanna Beige/Black theme once settled inside. Nappa leather upholstery appointments can also be ordered with a choice of copper, gold, or platinum-colored stitch work. In a press release, Mercedes-Benz adds that “designo Magnolia flowing lines” is an option for a “newly available trim.” Okay. Sure. I’ll take it.
The Mercedes-Maybach’s length is 215 inches and its wheelbase 132.5 inches, besting the long-wheelbase S-Class Sedan by nearly 10 inches in both dimensions. This means passengers will have more room to get comfortable for those long trips.

Power & Performance
There are two versions of the Mercedes-Maybach: the Maybach S 560 4MATIC and Maybach S 650. The first comes with a 463 horsepower V8 that hits 60 in 4.8 seconds; torque is a healthy 516 lb-ft. By contrast, the Maybach S 650 has a twelve-banger that pumps out 621 horsepower and 738 lb-ft. of torque. It launches to 60 in 4.6 seconds.

Pricing & Availability
The Mercedes-Maybach will make its world debut on March 6th at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Expect to see it on sale in the United States late this summer. Pricing has not been announced at this time. Since the Maybach launched in February 2015, over 25,000 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class models have already been sold. Top markets include China, Russia, and the United States.
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: MBUSA.

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Subaru Announces Limited Edition WRX STI Type RA

Subaru Announces Limited Edition WRX STI Type RA Subaru, like many Japanese car companies, has a habit of making limited run, special edition, slightly tweaked versions of its already hot cars. Most of the time, those are for the home market only, but now Subaru, maker of all things rally-inspired, has decided to let a limited edition of their already hot-rodded WRX STi lose on American shores.
Hence the 2018 WRX STI Type RA.
Truly Unique
I know, this sounds like a great thing, and it is, but a lot of these further-stroked hot rods are kind of made up in their specialness. They all seem to be saddled with these silly and unwieldy monikers, for one thing, and differences are usually slight at best. They seem to exist for the main purpose of dreadfully complicated parking lot discussions: “No, this is a Daggan Advan Kyoto Edition STI ZZR2 SpecVR-3. It’s totally different from the Daggan Advan Kyoto Edition STI ZZR2 SpecVR-2.9, it has harder rear sway-bar bushings.” Ugh.
Luckily Subaru has not done that with what they’ve just brought to America. The 2018 WRX STI Type RA is more than just a trim package. It delivers a higher level of performance thanks to weight reduction, suspension, and engine upgrades. It comes standard with a carbon fiber roof panel, the spare tire is gone, a carbon fiber pedestal wing is added, and lightweight BBS 19-inch forged alloy wheels hold up the corners.
Power & Performance
Powered by the 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four engine Subie enthusiasts know and love, the output has been bumped up to 310 ponies, thanks to a new cold air intake, high flow performance exhaust, a retuned ECU, and stronger pistons. The 6-speed manual transmission has a revised 3rd gear ratio and a short-throw shifter.
The WRX STI Type RA has an upgraded Bilstein STI sport-tuned suspension with special dampers, an inverted-strut front suspension, and a double wishbone rear suspension. A reworked Multi-Mode Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system gives the WRX STI Type RA an enhanced level of stability. The VDC system is paired with Active Torque Vectoring, along with a major brake system upgrade for 2018. Specifically, it’s a Brembo setup with stronger monoblock 6-piston calipers in front and monoblock 2-piston calipers out back. The rotors are cross-drilled all around, and the new brake pads get you greater surface area for better brake feel and fade resistance. Oh, and the calipers get a silver finish so you can show off just a little bit more.
Exterior & Interior Treatments
Speaking of showing off, the WRX STI Type RA comes with an exclusive Cherry Blossom Red accent around the front mesh grille. Subaru has added an STI front underspoiler and new rear bumper too. The roof-mounted shark fin antenna and STI fender badges are now finished in black; the rear deck lid displays the Type RA badge, so the people you just passed know what you’re driving. The WRX STI Type RA comes in three colors: WR Blue Pearl, Crystal Black Silica, and Crystal White Pearl. The one you want is World Rally Blue!
The cabin is just as eye-catching! The Recaro front seats feature red bolsters and stitching as well as an embossed STI logo on the head restraints. That red stitching and accent trim is also used throughout the cabin. The steering wheel is wrapped in Ultrasuede for better grip and has a special center spoke insert with an STI logo. There’s a push-button start with Keyless Access, standard. There is also an individually numbered plaque mounted on the center console, because Subaru is only making 500 of the WRX STI Type RAs.
Pricing & Availability
If this sounds like your cup of tea, then it can be yours for $48,995 . . . [sound of body hitting floor]. What? You have got to be joking? 50 grand? Five-zero-thousand? Someone needs to be dragged out back to that artfully balanced and raked gravel garden and have a serious talking too. 50 large . . .
Anyway, the 2018 Subaru WRX STI Type RA is a lighter, tighter, better handling, and quicker accelerating version of the anything-but-normal STI. If the 2018 Type RA sounds like your kind of deal, better get in line now. As I mentioned earlier, production is limited to just 500. Expect to see the WRX STI Type RA at Subaru retailers this spring.
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.
Photo & Source: Subaru of America, Inc.

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AutoSens Announces Detroit Conference, Organizers Focused On Collaboration

AutoSens Announces Detroit Conference, Organizers Focused On Collaboration
AutoSens, a global summit on automated driving and vehicle perception technology, is returning to Detroit, Michigan in May 2018. AutoSens Detroit is one of two events on the topic held yearly by parent company Sense Media, which successfully concluded AutoSens Brussels in September. Inside the city’s famed Autoworld Museum, over 450 senior level researchers, engineers, and other experts gathered to identify the challenges and opportunities surrounding future mobility. Attendees, speakers, and sponsors were encouraged to leverage each other’s expertise.
AutoSens is built on the visions these professionals share on vehicle perception technology, ADAS systems, and autonomous driving. Like in Brussels, AutoSens Detroit will examine OEM requirements for developing these systems by providing arenas for engagement, idea sharing, and collaboration.
“These conversations and collaborations are what drives the success of AutoSens, and will be the signature ingredient at all our events for years to come,” said Robert Stead, Managing Director, Sense Media. “The AutoSens vision has always been about community.”
Central Theme
Autonomous driving may one day deliver a world where no single person is lost in a traffic accident. The automated cars themselves will likely run on battery or electric powertains, reducing emissions. Proponents even say our cities and infrastructure will benefit from autonomous cars. Yet, in order for such things to be realized, those working on the technology need a place to gather and collaborate.
“With a willingness to pool resources and learn from your peers, problems can be solved faster and in a more robust manner,” Stead said.
AutoSens is building itself into a similar version of what Volvo did following the introduction of the three-point seat belt in 1959. Stating it was in line with Volvo’s commitments, the automaker released the device in the interest of public safety and social responsibility. The three-point seat belt was now something every automaker could adopt as their own. Volvo estimates that Nils Bohlin, the engineer who created it, has saved over a million lives by doing so. Although AutoSens isn’t inventing revolutionary technology per se, they are providing a landscape in which the next three-point seat belt can emerge.
“Commercial competition is a driver for technology development, but when we are talking about safety-related systems and technologies that need to interact across boundaries of a certain brand or manufacturer, we have to put collaboration at the top of the priority list,” Stead explained. “We provide a platform for sharing the latest thinking, gathering feedback and input from peers, enabling engineers to connect with other technical experts in their fields, and meeting new people and organizations.”
Stead is the Chair of the IEEE-SA P2020 working group, a cross-industry initiative where over 100 companies are developing benchmarks for image quality in automotive camera systems. The end goal is to enhance vehicle vision systems and make cars safer. The working group blossomed from the relationships made at AutoSens, and within a year, group members Bosch and Valeo already have several new bodies of research. That research will be presented at the Electronic Imaging Symposium in San Francisco, California next month.
“But collaboration doesn’t even need to be as formalized as that,” Stead insisted. “I’m often told what’s different about AutoSens is the openness and willingness to discuss topics among the engineers attending. Proprietary information remains so, of course, but there are so many issues, challenges, and technical bottlenecks that are in the public domain, but still haven’t been solved by the industry.”
AutoSens Brussels attendees chat during a brief coffee break. There are numerous opportunities to network during the duration of the conference. Photo: Sense Media, © Bernal Revert/BR&U.
Challenges & Opportunities
The panels of expert speakers, each with their own diverse backgrounds, qualifications, and experience, remains an AutoSens hallmark. Speakers often use their time to define the challenges and opportunities in automated driving. Some go in-depth about the engineering and design requirements for the autonomous car; others examine the financial realm or what driverless cars mean for society as a whole. For example, in Brussels in September, Dr. Heiko Hirschmuller, Co-Founder of Roboception, spoke on how robotics and remote sensing play into autonomous driving, while Erich Ramschak, Senior Product Manager ADAS Engineering, AVL List, talked about the importance of map data in autonomous driving. Rudy Burger, Managing Partner, Woodside Capital Partners, spoke on automotive mergers and acquisitions, while Alain Dunoyer, Head of Safe Car, SBD Automotive, examined the impacts of the autonomous car on traffic.
“There has been and continues to be some truly amazing research done and technology implemented in the field of vehicle perception,” Stead said. “The latest autonomous vehicles have a truly futuristic level of functionality, and some of the greatest engineering minds in the world are working on these topics to improve and augment ADAS capabilities.”
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing these engineering minds is how to make the autonomous car function effectively in the everyday world. Taking the autonomous car, piece by piece, no one component is more important than the other, and each must be designed and engineered to meet the demands of autonomy. Taking a human out of the equation presents an entirely different ball game; the picture of how we get around alters drastically, and all of the variables seem almost impossible to account for.
“The technical challenges are immense – dealing with edge case road scenarios, adverse weather conditions, interactions with human pedestrians and drivers, addressing motion sickness, and a host of other challenges,” Stead said. “Having seen the passion and expertise of the community working to solve these problems, I truly believe they will all be overcome, but it will keep us all in gainful employment for a good few years to come.”
During AutoSens Brussels, Senior Applications Engineer Edel Cashman (right) from SensL Technologies demonstrates how the company’s sensors can be utilized for LiDAR applications. Photo: Sense Media, © Bernal Revert/BR&U.
Dates & Location
AutoSens Detroit will happen May 14th through the 17th at the the Michigan Science Center near the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The Michigan Science Center’s mission is to inspire curious minds of all ages to discover, explore, and appreciate science, technology, engineering, and math. AutoSens organizers say this mission aligns with their vision for the automotive engineering community. The facility is home to the Chrysler IMAX Dome Theatre, the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium, and over 250 hands-on exhibits and lab activities.
Tickets are available now for a special, early bird price through February. Expect the full schedule of events for AutoSens Detroit in the coming months.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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This 1968 Mustang LEGO Kit Makes Us Want To Stop Growing Up

This 1968 Mustang LEGO Kit Makes Us Want To Stop Growing Up When I was a kid, I enjoyed LEGO sets much like any other youngster does today. I constructed a number of the Legoland pirate and medieval arrays, sometimes placing the knights in with the pirates for a gag. As I got older, I found the Technic series a bit more challenging with the helicopter ones being my favorite. However, my Duplo days as a tot stand out. I would try and recreate the cars and trucks I saw with those bigger Duplo blocks. At the time, we lived in a two bedroom apartment – a bigger unit as I recall – but my signature was leaving a LEGO in every room.
My father could walk our hallway and not even look down, he was so accustomed to stepping over them.
Days Gone By
As I blaze the trail through my late thirties and into that uncertain vortex known as “your forties,” I am naturally inclined toward anything that even slightly reminds me of my childhood. I’ve made it a habit to wander through the toy section on my trips to Meijer in hopes to find a new Hot Wheels or Matchbox car. In my quest to declutter and disconnect, I am ever more drawn to things that are wholesome and fun, yet still really cool. One such thing is the 1968 Ford Mustang fastback race car, the latest entry into the LEGO Speed Champions lineup.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Small & Sharp
When assembled, the 183-piece kit yields a sharp green performance car, complete with gold stripes, racing graphics, and a removable windscreen. The set even includes a Ford-branded timing board and a little racing figurine, that I would place in the pirate ship while Captain Red Beard has a go in the Mustang.
“The new Ford Mustang LEGO Speed Champions set gives parents and children the chance to share their passions – generations of fans have grown up building LEGO sets and spending time together behind the wheel,” explained Myra Lind, LEGO Speed Champions Marketing Manager. “This partnership of iconic brands allows kids of all ages to enjoy the latest products from two great companies.”
“We worked closely with LEGO to design a vintage Mustang, personalizing the fastback with stripes and decals that harken back to Ford’s racing heritage,” added Matt Monroe, Ford Licensing Manager.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Big Kid At Heart
I don’t know why I love this little thing so much. Maybe it’s because I want kids of my own someday, or maybe it’s because – like I said above – as I get older, I find remarkable value in things that are wholesome and fun. Career-wise, I’m picking up the pace, which is what any man my age should be doing, but the faster we move on that trajectory, the more likely we are to forget the innocence of our childhood. It’s been so long since I last sat down and put a LEGO set together – probably twenty some years.
That’s simply too long.
We at this publication will consider ourselves kids (just slightly taller) on March 1st when the LEGO Mustang goes on sale. I’m going to get one, put it together, and set it next to my Lava Lamp on my desk. This forthcoming 1968 Mustang joins the GT40, F-150 Raptor, Fiesta WRC, and a handful of other blue oval heroes in the LEGO Speed Champions Ford collection.
So if I want more opportunities to be a kid, I have them.
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.

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2018 Honda Odyssey Elite Review

2018 Honda Odyssey Elite Review
The new Honda Odyssey is designed for families and definitely with parents in mind. Odyssey engineers must have asked families what they wanted because the eight-passenger minivan has been thought out extremely well. Honda has answered the award-winning Chrysler Pacifica by upping its game with the Odyssey, and loading it with features moms and dads will thank them for
This week, we drove the top-of-the-line, 2018 Honda Odyssey Elite.
What’s New For 2018
Honda Odyssey has been completely redesigned for 2018 with a new 3.5-liter V6 engine, a quieter cabin, and loads of family-friendly features. New features include a sliding rear seat with a removable middle section and removable outboard seats that slide sideways as well as forward or back. Remove the middle seat, and it’s like having captain’s chairs.
There’s a new 4G LTE WiFi hotspot that can drive the rear entertainment system. There is a wireless charging pad for smartphones, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Moms especially will love the new optional feature that allows parents to watch their kids on the big screen on the dash, zooming in with infrared vision. There’s no hiding in the back, hitting your brother or sister, undetected.
Standard Features
The 2018 Honda Odyssey Elite ($46,670) comes standard with leather upholstery, auto-dimming rearview mirror, garage door opener, sunroof, and power liftgate. It features navigation with voice recognition, a Blu-Ray rear entertainment system with wireless headphones, 115-volt power outlet, and Honda’s CabinTalk system that allows the driver to talk to all passengers through the speakers or headphones.
Odyssey Elite gets the new 10-speed automatic transmission, stop/start technology, the aforementioned CabinWatch feature that points a camera at any seat, an in-vehicle vacuum cleaner, third-row sunshades, a hands-free power tailgate, LED headlights, LED fog lights, and front and rear parking sensors.
The Elite trim upgrade goes further with an 11-speaker audio system, wireless phone charging, a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, ambient lighting, gloss black interior trim, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding exterior mirrors, and 19-inch wheels. Total MSRP including destination: $47,610.

Interior Highlights
You’ll want to spend lots of time in this cabin. The Odyssey comes with softer materials, new stain-resistant leather, a big functional center console with two main storage areas, one of them deep and the other wide and flat. The best news is the CabinWatch feature on the screen showing a running video feed of the rear seats, so parents can literally watch everything going on in the second and third rows. It’s even infrared, and you can zoom in, so kids watch out!
CabinWatch works with CabinTalk, which plays the driver’s voice over the sound system and directly into the headphones. Kids won’t be able to get away with anything! Family trips just got much more enjoyable for mom and dad.
The new Odyssey also gets a re-engineered Magic Slide seating system with removable second row seats. The middle seat can be removed to create captain’s chairs, and an easier path to the third row. The two outside seats slide up, back, left or right; and they can be pushed together to create one large seat.
If you need a large cargo area, the rear seats can be removed completely, although they do weigh 70 lbs. each if you want to get them out. With the seats removed, it offers up a massive 144.9 cubic feet of cargo space. Behind the second row, with the third row folded flat, there’s 86.6 cubic feet. Behind the third row there’s 32.8 cubic feet of space; the third row can fit an average adult. Families can custom-configure the minivan for each trip, project or adventure.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
Odyssey’s 3.5-liter V6 engine has been completely redesigned for 2018. It produces 280 horsepower and comes mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters. It also comes with an idle stop feature to save gas. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 19/28 city/highway and 22 combined mpg.
Driving Dynamics
All you need for power will be at your disposal with the new Odyssey. The 3.5-liter V6 has enough power for all driving situations and the 10-speed automatic shifts smoothly and responsively, and uses all 10 gears seamlessly. The Odyssey handles like a minivan but it still gives the driver a feeling of control and confidence. What we didn’t like was the lane departure warning – it would flash the “Steering Needed” sign on the dash when we were driving around mountain corners at highway speeds.
Visibility from the driver’s seat is good with the big greenhouse windows. The sun shades in all rear windows keep the sun out for a more comfortable ride for rear passengers too. Overall, the Odyssey offers a smooth ride and the cabin is more quiet than the outgoing model. It’s a place you and the kids won’t mind spending lots of time, especially if you have a long upcoming trip planned.
Conclusion
The all-new 2018 Honda Odyssey is an eight-passenger minivan with class-leading power, space, technology, comfort, handling, and fuel efficiency. With its standard 60/40 folding third row and many safety features, it leads the minivan class for families.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Honda Odyssey Gallery

2018 Honda Odyssey Official Site.
Photos: Honda North America.

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2018 Eclipse Cross: The New Mitsubishi Eclipse

2018 Eclipse Cross: The New Mitsubishi Eclipse I’ll confess two things right up front: One, I keep forgetting Mitsubishi is still selling cars in America, and two: this is what the Eclipse has tuned into? This? The Eclipse used to be a sport coupe with a killer all-wheel drive setup. Then it turned into a more (and more) watered down version of itself; a copy of a copy of a copy.
And that was sad, but now it’s this thing. Sigh.
Waxing Poetics
This is yet another SUV/crossover/thingo which, yeah, makes a certain amount of sense, but not that much sense. Mitsubishi is particularly unrepentant about how it took the name from a (close to a) sports car and slapped it onto what-might-as-well-be-a-station-wagon: “The Eclipse sports car was one of Mitsubishi’s best-selling and iconic vehicles ever. Now, the Eclipse moniker is making its jubilant comeback with the same reputation for driving dynamics and technology in the form of a CUV.” [Gag, gag, ga-ag!!]
What the Eclipse Cross offers, sadly for the marketing outlook, is rather standard faire. Mitsubishi says the Eclipse Cross has coupe-like styling, which is kind of true. When I first saw the pictures, it reminded me of a better looking Pontiac Aztek, but I’ve decided not to mention that, since even that is just too low of a blow to make. Mitsubishi also says it has the look of an Olympic runner in the “get set” position, and that this view is “highly anticipatory, and such is the emotion while looking at the Eclipse Cross.” Seriously. They said that. No, what we’ve got here is a basic two-box shape with a slightly squashed tumblehome, and a rear that looks like it’s been kicked by a giant.
Sure, it has all the Mitsubishi styling cues found on its corporate siblings like a common grille design, which Mitsubishi insists on calling “Dynamic Shield.” It’s not bad looking, but it is rather generic, which can be bad for a floundering car company trying to distinguish itself. Mitsubishi also came up with a new color for the Eclipse Cross: Red Diamond. It’s not just a new color, but a newly developed painting process that creates high intensity and brightness they say. It seems like a nice finish, and you’ll most likely see it on other Mitsubishi products.
Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
Power & Performance
The 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross features a standard 1.5-liter direct-injected turbo engine. Mitsubishi always made good engines, even if they couldn’t keep the variant count low. Yes, getting specific in the engine room does improve performance and allows power customization. But if you shy away from commonality, the part costs go way up.
The 1.5-liter turbo mill puts out 152 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 184 lb-ft. of torque at 3,500 rpm, and is said to return greater fuel economy than the other corporate engines of this size. Mitsubishi is contradictory, however, saying the plant’s maximum torque is achieved at just 2,000 rpm, but, spec-wise, what we’re dealing with is a torque curve 2,000 rpm wide. Like seemingly all Mitsubishi vehicles, keep the engine spinning, and you’ll have fun. Mitsubishi has also added sodium filled exhaust valves to maximize performance.
Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
All-Wheel Drive Tech
Of course the power and torque is sent to the pavement via an all-wheel drive system of considerable potency. Mitsubishi calls their system Super All-Wheel Control, which is a bit much, but also pretty close to true. Super All-Wheel Control, or S-AWC, is cleverly integrated with the vehicle dynamics control system to monitor each component of the 4WD system, Active Stability Control, ABS, and Active Yaw Control. This is so the torque sent to the rear wheels is manipulated for optimal traction and performance. S-AWC has an advanced sensor monitoring system for the steering angles, wheel speed, engine torque, gear ratios, yaw rate, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, and brake pressure. All this is put under your control through three different modes: auto, snow, gravel.
So Mitsubishi still has that going for it, and their knowledge of all-wheel drive systems allowed Tommi Makinen and Risto Mannisenmaki to beat the rally opposition four years running. Thankfully, that ability is still found in Mitsubishi’s products, even in CUVs.
Safety & Connectivity
Naturally there is a buffet of tech and safety stuff contained on-board. There’s a 7-inch monitor on the dash that controls the audio system and connects to your smartphone (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, of course). A full-color heads-up display provides the driver with real-time vehicle information like speed, cruise control settings, forward collision warnings, lane departure warnings, and paddle shift gear position. The Eclipse Cross also comes with Mitsubishi Connect, which includes everything from a Telematics Control Unit, a 4G LTE cellular modem, and a GPS system.
Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
Pricing & Availability
When and how much? The 2018 Eclipse Cross arrives in March and starts at $23,295 for the base ES model. Other trim levels include the LE, SE, and SEL, but no pricing information was given for those. The 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross sounds like it will do what it’s advertised to do; whether you want it to is, uh, up to you. Personally it’s not my cup of tea. I’d much rather have an Evo or something like that, but hey, it’s your garage.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Gallery

Photos & Source: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

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2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE Review

2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE Review
Sedans are losing their appeal in America as SUVs and crossovers take a lion’s share of the market, but this sedan will get you to look twice. The 2018 Toyota Camry has received a complete makeover and it’s a good one. Camry needed a redesign and Toyota engineers excelled with the popular sedan, with new styling inside and out, and improvements to bump up fuel efficiency. If you don’t need a lot of cargo-carrying room, this newly-redesigned sedan will save you boatloads of money at the pump.
We recently drove the all-new 2018 Camry Hybrid XLE.
What’s New For 2018
Toyota Camry gets a complete redesign and the Hybrid gets an updated version of the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Various tweaks provide an improvement in fuel economy and a slight increase in power. The 2018 Camry Hybrid also gets a new suspension, giving it a smoother ride over uneven pavement.
Standard Features
The 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE ($32,250) comes standard with automatic LED headlights, keyless ignition and entry, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat (with power lumbar adjustment), heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, a rearview camera, lane departure warning and mitigation, and Toyota’s Entune Audio interface. Entune Audio includes a 7-inch touchscreen display, voice controls, a USB port, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack.
The XLE Hybrid also gets unique 18-inch alloy wheels, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable passenger seat, wireless smartphone charging, a heads-up driver display, two extra USB ports, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and heated exterior mirrors.
Optional Features
This Hybrid tester came with the optional Driver’s Assist Package ($1,050), which included the Bird’s Eye View Camera, Power/Tilt Moonroof ($845), Upgraded Audio Package ($1,800), and Adaptive Headlights ($415). Total MSRP including destination: $37,255.

Interior Highlights
The Camry’s interior is all-new and trimmed with quality materials, making for nice improvements when compared to the outgoing model. The fit and finish is on par with what we’d expect from Toyota. The cabin has a more premium feel and is more stylish like the outside, thanks to the use of softer touch materials and more attractive colors. The touchscreen has been updated with a 7-inch version of Toyota’s Entune interface as well, although it’s not the most user-friendly system.
Hybrid models get comfortable, heated leather-trimmed seats with 8-way power adjustments, so any size driver can find the perfect position. The cabin feels light and airy, and there’s lots of head, shoulder, and elbow room for driver’s to get comfortable. Front and rear passengers have ample space around them, and rear passengers won’t feel encroached on if the front seat is all the way back.
For a sedan, we felt visibility in almost every direction was quite good from the driver’s seat. Mirrors, both inside and out, are appropriately sized, and blind spots are kept to a minimum. The standard rearview camera helped us see shoppers who were too busy to slow down as we backed out of the shopping mall lot on Black Friday.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid gets an updated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, paired with the brand’s latest hybrid system with two motors. It develops 176 horsepower alone and 208 horsepower with the hybrid’s additional net power. XLE hybrids use the nickel-metal-hydride batteries to achieve 46 combined mpg, with an EPA-estimated 44/47 city/highway mpg.
Driving Dynamics
You won’t buy the Camry Hybrid for its driving dynamics, but you will want it for its excellent fuel mileage. We pushed the hybrid hard in the mountains while driving west of Denver and achieved 41.3 mpg through the higher altitudes. We were also impressed with hybrid’s power and torque, which propelled us up the mountain roads without issue. We don’t particularly like the continuously variable transmission that revs up as you press the pedal down, but passing and merging with traffic was never a concern
On the flats, and even at medium speeds on the highway, the batteries allow the car to run in electric-only mode quite frequently. When driving slowly through parking lots for example, the vehicle will use strictly battery power. We hardly noticed the transition from the electric mode to when the gas engine took over. The Camry Hybrid isn’t the fastest sedan, it’s just smooth and quiet, and it offers up a comfortable commute as a result. In the mountain curves, body roll isn’t excessive, and on dirt roads leading to our house, the sedan soaked up the bumps with ease. The XLE’s standard heads-up display was a pleasant addition, making it easy to keep our attention on the road.
Conclusion
The best reason to check out the 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid is the excellent fuel mileage. You’ll save money at the pump and it’s a pleasingly comfortable commuter. If you want more luxury, the XLE is the model to get with heated leather seats, heated steering wheel, and extra safety features.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid Gallery

2018 Toyota Camry Official Site.
Photos: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
*LE and SE models also shown.

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First-Ever BMW i8 Roadster Revealed

First-Ever BMW i8 Roadster Revealed Hey, BMW actually went and made a convertible version of their i8! That’s . . . that’s actually kind of cool! The i8, although not everything it’s cracked up to be, is a very interesting idea, and (thankfully) points to a green way forward that is not slow, dowdy, hair-shirted, and boring. Look: I know, you know, and anybody with half a brain knows that we are going to be driving electric cars, or some sort of hybrid car in the future. And I’ve said this countless times: if car manufacturers can make something like a Tesla Roadster in a Miata-like package and sell it inexpensively, the world will beat a path to that automaker’s door.
And BMW might be showing us the way forward.
Efficient Setup
The BMW i8, the first generation or this current iteration, are not the answer I just described. They’re not exactly cheap nor are they really sports cars. What they are though, is a good indication of how a car company can move forward with various and sundry green initiatives and still have cars that are fun to drive and, you know, behave like the cars we already enjoy. The i8 uses a fairly complex layout of batteries and electric motors and a small, gas-fueled engine. The engine is there to provide forward momentum to the rear wheels only and to charge the batteries. The idea is that you drive around on EV power as much as you can, but if you start to run out of juice, the engine kicks in, charges the EV system, and you’ve still got motive power as long as there’s gas in the tank. You can drive around town as an EV, then take off for the hinterlands hundreds of miles away, and not worry about range.
Open Air Excitement
The most important thing about the 2019 BMW i8 is how you can now get it in a drop-top convertible. Although this is not a targa or some slight of hand like, the i8 Roadster does have those silly humps and roll over structure deals behind the passenger compartment. It’s one of those lawyer things; I don’t really care for them in general and I think they kind of ruin the lines here. The lines of the BMW i8 are, well, they are still unconventional. It’s not a bad looking car, per se, it just seems BMW went out of their way to make it look futuristic, but kind of missed on the overall style. Still, it’s not a terrible looking car.
Bucking the ongoing trend of folding hard tops, the i8 Roadster goes with an all-season fabric soft-top with additional soundproofing baked in. The top, which is electrically operated, can be opened or closed in less than 16 seconds and while the vehicle is in motion up to 31 mph, a flashy but cool thing to do. BMW says the i8 Roadster’s top stows away in a perpendicular position, and honestly, I’m trying to picture what they mean by this. I guess the best I can do is trust that it goes back there somewhere and that everything will be okay.
There’s also some fancy colors and trim options. Specifically, we’ve got E-Copper metallic and Donington Grey metallic added to the palette. We have new versions of the standard 20-inch BMW alloy wheels in a radial-spoke style bicolor design with a Jet Black theme as an option.
Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Power & Performance
BMW, never one to not over-label things, calls the drivetrain package “BMW eDrive technology, BMW TwinPower Turbo technology.” Sure, whatever. What that basically means is the internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid-specific all-wheel drive system work in concert as a squadron of computers see fit, so all you have to do is mash on the “gas” pedal, and down the Straße you go.
What it means in more detail is that the i8’s TwinPower Turbo plant is a 1,499 cc three-cylinder gasoline engine, that on its own puts out 228 horsepower and 236 lb-ft. of torque. The engine’s power is delivered to the rear wheels only via a six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. The electric motor takes care of the front wheels through a two-speed automatic gearbox. Why the Bavarians threw a gearbox in there is beyond me, but there it is.
The lithium-ion battery pack has greater battery cell capacity, going up from 20 to 34 ampere hours; gross energy capacity improves from 7.1 to 11.6 kilowatt hours. Since the batteries now hold more juice, the extra energy reserves increase the electric motor’s peak output by 12 horsepower to 141 horsepower. And of course, all of the electric torque (184 lb-ft.) is available from a standstill. All this adds up to an electric only range of 18 miles, 30 percent more than before. Ergo, if you add the electric torque and power from the front wheels with the engine power heading to the rear, you get a car that really goes, turns, and stops like a BMW should. 60 mph comes up in 4.4 seconds for the BMW i8 Roadster while the top end is electronically limited at 155 mph. Boo! Hisssss! How do we take the limiters off?
Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Pricing & Availability
Sadly, no word from BMW on price or availability. The first generation i8s weren’t cheap, but they weren’t all that crazy expensive either. Is it worth it? That’s up to you to decide. If the roadster isn’t your thing, a coupe option is available as well. The charts below explain the high points of each car. The i8 is a pretty good answer on how we move forward without wrecking the planet any more than we already have. And besides, if BMW can work the kinks out of the drivetrain in this car, imagine what they could do with it in other cars.
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, Charts, & Source: BMW of North America, LLC.

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Lexus LX 570 Axes Third Row, Goes For Less Is More Approach

Lexus LX 570 Axes Third Row, Goes For Less Is More Approach Well this is a weird idea. You know how SUVs always seem to aim for that elusive third row? Even if there’s no room back there, automakers find a way to cram that final row in so they can say they have a “family-oriented” product or something along those lines? Yeah, that. Well, Lexus has decided the cool thing about their LX 570 is how they have taken the third row out.
Lexus’ whole counter trend here comes down to two words: cargo capacity. By ditching the third row, the LX 570 gets you 50.5 cubic feet of carrying space behind the middle row, versus “just” 44.7 cubic feet for the three-row model.
Lexus also throws in a roof rack with rails. So, without coming out and saying it, it becomes plenty plain to see the LX 570 is about hauling stuff, and not necessarily kids.
One Stop Shop
As a matter of fact, Lexus has paired down a lot about what you can and cannot get in the LX 570. For example, unlike a lot of cars, the LX 570 comes in one, and only one trim level. Lexus uses the phrase “one comprehensive trim level” which sounds kind of stern to me, but let’s go with it for now. This mono-spec trim level, they say, “enhances customer value by making ordering a vehicle as easy as choosing the exterior and interior colors.” No fuss, no muss, badda-BING! ya got yourself an SUV. I can appreciate that, but it does seem rather counterintuitive in this day of everything must be personalized to me, for I am special. And on top of that, they are going to try and sell this idea to Lexus customers. This is not the Ford Model T/’any color you want so long as it’s black’/basic transportation demographic they’re aiming for here.
Yes, the LX 570 comes with a lot of standard luxury goodies like a leather interior, four-zone automatic climate control, a power tailgate, moonroof, and 20-inch wheels. It also comes standard with Intuitive Park Assist and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and all those other safety doo-dads that help you be a much more lazy driver than you should. You can also chuck in the standard Panoramic View Monitor and the 12.3-inch Navigation screen, I suppose.
Until now, the LX has been a three-row luxury vehicle with seating for up to eight. However, Lexus said some customers indicated they did not use the third row and expressed a preference for more interior cargo space. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Useful Tech
Standard gear also includes Lexus Enform Remote so you can remotely view and control certain features on your SUV. Stuff like locking or unlocking the doors, remote-starting or stopping the engine or climate control (handy on cold or hot days), or locating the vehicle in a parking lot (because you have no short term memory). The app works on both iOS and Android devices, by the by. They also give you Lexus Enform Safety Connect, which puts you in touch with Enform response centers 24/7/365 in case something goes really wrong (e.g. bad part of town at night scenarios). Also included is Lexus Service Connect that can relay the vehicle’s service needs to you so you can set up reminders and alerts and schedule appointments and such. Both subscriptions are complimentary for the first 10 years of ownership. Which is a nice perk.
Power & Performance
The underpinnings of the LX 570 are just like those of its sibling. It looks like the three row version with the same grille, trim, and triple-beam LED headlamps. On-road or off, the LX 570 is propelled by a 5.7-liter V8 engine, putting out 383 horsepower and 403 lb-ft. of torque when coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This adds up to 7,000 lbs. of towing capacity (there’s a standard integrated tow hitch receiver). The engine produces 90 percent of its peak torque at 2,200 rpm, which will help when towing.
Yeah, of course there’s a bunch of computer controlled stuff that makes driving around in the 570 easier. Long gone are the days of getting out of the truck with a pair of slip-joint pliers to lock the front hubs. Thanks to a Drive Mode Select dial on the center console, the LX 570 adjusts this way and that through the powertrain and Adaptive Variable Suspension. They work in seamless coordination without the driver noticing very much.
The body-on-frame construction provides ruggedness and durability for challenging driving conditions, according to Lexus. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Pricing
Although they don’t say when you can pick up your new Lexus LX 570, they do say the starting price is $84,980. HOLY SH-how much? You have got to be joking? That’s what a Corvette ZO6 goes for. I mean, I get these things are nice and all that, but that’s a lot of green. Right. Right. I get it. Not everyone shares my vehicle priorities. So if you are one of those people who takes off to the mountains with a few friends for a weekend of snowboarding or needs to haul a lot of jai alai gear down to the fronton, you might want to consider the Lexus LX 570.
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: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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