Automotive

2020 Toyota Camry TRD Review: This Track-Tuned Sedan Will Spice Up Your Daily Commute

2020 Toyota Camry TRD Review: This Track-Tuned Sedan Will Spice Up Your Daily Commute Toyota keeps adding to its Camry lineup and now has twelve models to choose from. The Japanese automaker has released a performance-oriented Camry TRD trim for 2020. If you thought the Camry was a boring sedan, that changes with the TRD trim. The 2020 Toyota Camry TRD is upgraded with black front splitters, an aero kit, black wheels, and a rear spoiler for visual effects. You could easily mistake it for another model with its eye-catching exterior styling.

Does the new Camry TRD offer real performance, or is it just an appearance package? That’s what we wanted to find out this week on our test drive.

Toyota Camry: What’s New For 2020?

All Camry trims now come with Android Auto and the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite of advanced safety features. All-wheel drive is now available as a standalone option on the 2020 Toyota Carmy. Given the Camry’s solid reputation, we would also recommend shopping for a pre-owned model to save a little extra money.

2020 Toyota Camry TRD: What’s Different

In addition to looking the part, the Carmy TRD features a 301-horsepower V6 and a track-tuned suspension. Toyota fitted the TRD model with thicker underbody braces and stiffer coil springs and sway bars (the coil springs actually lower the car by 0.6 inches versus other Camry models). A unique set of TRD shock absorbers, upgraded front brakes (12.9-inch diameter rotors and dual-piston calipers), and Bridgestone Potenza tires (235/40R19) are also standard on the Camry TRD.

Toyota engineers honed the suspension’s characteristics by doing extensive testing at the Toyota Arizona Proving Ground, TMC Higashi-Fuji Proving Ground (Japan), and MotorSport Ranch (Texas).

The 2020 Camry TRD is available in solid Midnight Black Metallic or one of three two-tone schemes featuring Supersonic Red, Windchill Pearl or Celestial Silver with a Midnight Black Metallic roof.

2020 Toyota Camry TRD in Supersonic Red. 2020 Toyota Camry TRD: Features & Options

The Camry TRD comes standard with LED headlights, a seven-inch touchscreen, push-button start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, and a six-speaker sound system. Handy tech and connectivity features include the USB port, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility.

The TRD trim comes with SofTex fabric seats, a power driver’s seat, and 19-inch black alloy wheels. A 10-inch, full color heads-up display is also available, along with an 800-watt, nine-speaker JBL audio system (Audio Plus package).

What Does The 2020 Toyota Camry TRD Cost?

Total MSRP, including destination, for our test vehicle: $32,920. By comparison, the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD starts at $31,170.

2020 Toyota Camry TRD interior layout. Interior Highlights: Style Points!

The interior of the Camry TRD is stylish and contemporary with its V-shaped dash that frames the seven-inch infotainment system touchscreen. The controls are easy to reach, and we had no problem with the climate control or figuring out how to tune the sound system to our liking.

The first thing that pops is the black simulated leather seats with red cloth inserts – which leads your eyes right to the red seat belts, red stitching, and the unique TRD logos throughout the interior. The stainless steel gas and brake pedals add to the sporty feel. At the same time, the cabin also feels airy and is easy to settle into.

Interior Highlights: Some Drawbacks

The seven-inch touchscreen is easy to read and use, but feels small compared to vehicles we’ve recently tested with large infotainment screens that dominate the dash. An eight-inch touchscreen is available for the Camry, so we would probably opt for that next time.

The downside to the Camry TRD’s sporty ride is the addition of a V-brace that stiffens the chassis. It extends behind the rear seats eliminating the ability to fold them. While you get the added performance benefit, you cannot haul longer items.

Under the hood of the Camry TRD is a 24-valve DOHC 3.5-liter V6 with Toyota’s D-4S direct injection system.2020 Toyota Camry TRD: Engine & Powertrain

The Camry TRD comes with a larger 3.5-liter V6 producing 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft. of torque. It’s mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. For 2020, all-wheel drive is available for the LE, SE, XLE, and XSE but not for the TRD.

Gas Mileage of The 2020 Toyota Camry TRD

EPA fuel mileage estimates come in at 22/31 city/highway and 25 combined.

RelatedVehicle OwnershipWhat is Included in a Toyota Extended Warranty?

Driving Dynamics

The first thing we noticed was the throaty growl of the TRD cat-back dual exhaust system. It sounds like the real deal and goes well with the sporty exterior upgrades. It was a constant reminder during our week with the sedan that this is not your average Camry. The eight-speed automatic works well with the engine and offers up smooth shifts.

We didn’t have the opportunity to take the Camry TRD to the track, but we did the next best thing. Living in Colorado west of Denver, we had fun pushing the TRD around tight mountain corners. Since the Camry TRD comes with the more powerful V6, upgraded suspension, and bigger brakes, we could be more aggressive with the sedan.

The summer tires stick well on hot pavement but didn’t work all that well on the dirt roads leading to our mountain house. While getting there is fun in the twisty corners, which the Camry TRD makes easy work of, gravel roads are a chore. Still, we think those who enjoy driving and want to have a bit more fun on their commute will enjoy the new Carmy TRD.

If we added anything, it would be an all-wheel drive option for the TRD trim.

Conclusion: A Fun Choice

The 2020 Toyota Camry TRD is a pleasant surprise when it comes to your everyday sedan. It offers superior driving dynamics over a standard Camry and has the looks to match. Like we said initially, the Camry TRD will feel like a big upgrade for those wanting a sedan with more pizzazz!

Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his firsthand reviews are archived on our test drives page. Follow Denis on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy

2020 Toyota Camry TRD Gallery

Photos: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Original article: 2020 Toyota Camry TRD Review: This Track-Tuned Sedan Will Spice Up Your Daily Commute

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BMW X7 Enters Pre-Production In South Carolina

BMW X7 Enters Pre-Production In South Carolina BMW recently announced that pre-production versions of their upcoming X7 are rolling off the assembly line in Spartanburg, South Carolina. This is an all-important test to make sure the line is working as it should, that the pre-production vehicles bolt together as planned, and all is well and good in BMW land.
The BMW X7 is a uh . . . just what is a BMW X7?
Sports Activity Vehicle
The X7 is the Bavarian car company’s top-of-the-line, extra-huge, extra-boxy SUV/crossover/thingo. It’s about the size, weight, and shape of the Brandenburg Gate and BMW calls it a Sports Activity Vehicle or SAV, a terminology applied to other vehicles in their lineup. Essentially, it’s the BMW crossover version of the 7 Series sedan: The biggest thing you can buy with a roundel on the hood. Actual volumetric specs are not given, but the photos seem to indicate this thing is large enough to haul any one family and all their stuff. It’s brutalist architecture on wheels.
BMW says the production version of the SAV (gag) should be out by the end of 2018. Before we get there, however, the X7 will undergo multiple tests in “partially extreme conditions.” I thought extreme was a nominal state, it either is or isn’t. But I guess BMW, or the engineers responsible for the X7, are fine with “partial” extremes.
Precise Processes
Since the X7 pre-production models are using the same assembly line as the X5 and X6, the production of these pre-series models serves to make sure everything works as it should, and to optimize future series production. BMW has a specially trained team of production engineers to make sure everything is completely integrated into the line. As you would expect, this is a long and exacting process that has to be just right in general, and things get particularly fastidious since we’re not just dealing with engineers here, we’re dealing with German engineers.
First the pre-production models are built at BMW’s Spartanburg plant. Then they are handed over to development department specialists, and the fun really starts. All the bits and pieces are certified for homologation and production. The approved bits, pieces, sub-assemblies, and then the entire pre-production X7 is subjected to a set of diverse testing routines, such as endurance drives through Death Valley and the snow covered slopes of Scandinavia. During all this, the pre-production model is fitted with a camouflage wrap, even while it is still at the plant. The striking, striped, dazzle camouflage is designed to conceal the new SAV’s final look as far as possible.
Photo: BMW Group.
Under Wraps
All car companies do this, but what I want to ask is why BMW is mentioning how important this is when there are pictures all over the place of the new X7. Maybe someone from the pre-production engineering team should ring up the marketing group and see what’s up. Anyway, once the pre-production crew makes sure all the t’s are crossed, i’s are dotted, tolerances are confirmed, and calipers are safely tucked away, BMW’s Spartanburg plant will be all set to start cranking X7s out like so many sausages.
Full Scale
The X7 is the fifth model produced at the BMW Spartanburg plant, where all X models are built. Spartanburg is BMW’s largest plant in the world and cranked out more than 411,000 vehicles in 2016. BMW says 70 percent of the vehicles produced in Spartanburg are exported to 140 countries across the globe, making BMW the largest vehicle exporter in the USA in terms of export value. I assume BMW means “largest vehicle exporter” in reference to automobiles, because Boeing exports a ton of vehicles, and since their entry level model starts at over 100 million dollars, I bet they beat BMW in terms of “export value.” That said, if there’s a real call for what BMW makes at Spartanburg, the annual production capacity is around 450,000 vehicles, more than enough to handle worldwide demand.
“We are proud to produce the BMW X7 here in Spartanburg, the home of our X models. This is a very special vehicle and our employees are looking forward to yet a further member of the X family,” said Knudt Flor, Head of the BMW Group Spartanburg plant. “Together with the BMW X7, a total of five BMW X models will be exported from Spartanburg to all four corners of the globe.”
Technical details for the new X7 will be announced later this year.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format.
Photos & Source: BMW Group.

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Most Driver Friendly States of 2018

Most Driver Friendly States of 2018 It’s officially 2018 and that means our annual resolutions are in order. Be it losing weight or advancing in a particular career, a new year always represents a clean slate. One resolution worth making is a commitment to travel more. Doing so might actually help your other resolutions. According to WebMD, not having a break from work will take its toll. They cite a 2005 study from the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin that found women who neglected regular vacations were two to three times more likely to be depressed compared to women who took them.
And men, we should be mindful too. WebMD points to a study that followed over 12,000 men for nine years. Those who neglected vacations were at a higher risk for heart attacks. That said, if your goal is to get away and travel more in 2018, then it’s for the best. The National Council for Home Safety and Security put together a list of the most driver friendly states in 2018, which was published on their official site, Alarms.org. Their findings will help you plan a relaxing, safe, and cost effective getaway.
Cheapest Gas
One of the biggest factors when traveling is fuel cost, but it might be worth taking a tour of the southern United States to really maximize your tank. Alarms.org finds gas below the Mason-Dixon Line requires less from your wallet because of a greater concentration of oil refineries and lower gas taxes. Overall, Alabama has the cheapest gas per gallon at an average of $2.26, followed by Mississippi and South Carolina, both at $2.27, Texas at $2.29, and Oklahoma between $2.29 and $2.30. This means a visit to The Alamo in San Antonio or the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Alabama will be more affordable.
There’s Myrtle Beach to catch some sun, and the Rock & Blues Museum in Clarksdale to get your music fix. Both can be reached for less money at the pump than attractions in other states.
Best Driving Records
Safety is always a concern so it might be worth seeking out a vacation spot where motorists are more cautious. Alarms.org researched states with the lowest fatal crash rates, calculated on the number of road fatalities and fatal crashes, adjusted for average daily traffic counts. Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Minnesota took the top three spots, followed by Massachusetts and Wisconsin. Alarms.org says there isn’t a single identifying characteristic they could find that made these states the safest, although they theorize it might have something to do with winter.
“Most of the states with safer highway ratings are in the north and have lower average temperatures,” Alarms.org writes in their study. “Perhaps colder temperatures and hazardous weather conditions prompt residents to drive more slowly and carefully than those in warmer states.”
This means (hopefully) a trip to Minneapolis to see Super Bowl LII or to Lambeau Field to watch the Packers should be a safe one. If on the way, you are passing through The Mitten and have car trouble, us Michiganders will gladly help. Alarms.org finds Michigan has the lowest average car repair costs in the country. Also, go Lions.

Most Scenic Drives
While Alarms.org admits this is subjective, they give some solid suggestions. Topping the list is the Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia and North Carolina. Blue Ridge Parkway, which spans 29 counties and nearly 470 miles, is known for its stunning views of the surrounding Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains. Others on the list include the Cades Cove Drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire.
While it may not necessarily make any lists on this topic, we have always enjoyed our drives from Phoenix, Arizona to Los Angeles, California on Interstate 10. The desert can be really peaceful and beautiful, especially in the early evening.
Happy Trails
Wherever you go in 2018 and whoever you go with, we wish you safe and enjoyable travels. We hope you have an opportunity this year to take a vacation with your loved ones. Here’s to a healthy and prosperous 2018.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation and studies Mechanical Engineering at Wayne State University.

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Automoblog Book Garage: Day One

Automoblog Book Garage: Day One
During my tenure with 605 Magazine, I interviewed blues artist Hadden Sayers prior to his scheduled performance in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At one point in our conversation, he remarked that being a blues star was exactly like being a rock star, only without the fame, girls, and money. We laughed but Sayers taught me something valuable that day; something that has served me well throughout my career.
You do things because you love them and because you are passionate about them. The blues are like that. So are automobiles. But really, anything can be that way, if we let it.
Living The Dream
Day One reaffirms why I continue to invest the way I do in my automotive career. The book reminds me why I’ve no longer diversified my writing (against the advice of some) and penned strictly for this publication, in addition to helping manage and lead it. I do it because I love cars and I enjoy telling people about them. And as we begin a new year, books like Day One can inspire us no matter our chosen career fields, no matter our pursuits and passions.
In the foreword, Joe Oldham recalls the day he received his first red GTO convertible loaner. He calls it a life-defining moment when the Pontiac rep handed him the keys at that Los Angeles press event. Driving it along the Pacific Coast Highway would only reinforce that life-defining notion. Oldham’s passion (and guts) eventually landed him at Magnum Royal Publications in 1965, right at the dawn of the muscle car era.
“How did a dumb kid from Brooklyn wind up with such a cool gig,” he writes. “If you were a car guy, as I was from the time I was a little kid, it was a dream job.”
Bold Tones & Big Cars
Oldham shares being mentored by Marty Schorr, the author of Day One, then Editorial Director of Magnum Royal Publications. Since Hi-Performance CARS made its revenue from newsstand sales versus advertising, their obligation was to the reader paying for the publication. And honesty was the policy, especially if a given car had faults or was overly hyped in its marketing. It was less politically correct than rival publications, instead being written by, as Oldham puts it, the “wiseass outlaws from New York.”
Shorr keeps that brutally honest tone in Day One, walking us through his firsthand experiences with some of the greatest cars ever manufactured. Schorr tells us the inside stories of the cars we love and fantasize about owning. Some of our favorites in the book include Pontiac’s 1962 and 1963 lightweight Super-Duty 421 street and Swiss Cheese models, Chevrolet’s 1963 big block 427 Mystery Motor, Ford’s 1963 Galaxie fastback, the Cotton-Owens Hemi Coronet, and Plymouth’s original 1968 Hemi Road Runner.
Oldham passed away in October. In remembering his longtime friend, Schorr gave a fitting tribute, saying he was always impressed by Oldham’s knowledge and skill. In many respects, the title of this book – Day One – is fitting. It’s a new year and that means new promises. Guys like Oldham looked at the world in this sense when it came to pursuing what they were most passionate about: it wasn’t one day, but rather day one.
Day One: An Automotive Journalist’s Muscle-Car Memoir is available through Amazon and Motorbooks.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation and studies Mechanical Engineering at Wayne State University.
Author
Martyn L. Schorr has a history with high-performance cars that dates back to the beginning of Ford’s Total Performance era over fifty years ago. He rode with Carroll Shelby and was at the press conference in New York
for the debut of the Lola-built Ford GT that became the GT40. Schorr drove the GT40 on the streets of New York City and accompanied Mickey Thompson to Bonneville in 1969 to set a book full of records. Schorr is the author of Total Performance and Motion Performance, both published by Motorbooks.
Day One Gallery

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2019 BMW Z4 Roadster: Stand On It Stroker Ace!

2019 BMW Z4 Roadster: Stand On It Stroker Ace! Well, the first thing I can say about the 2019 BMW Z4 Roadster is that it is much better looking then the one it replaces. Seriously, I don’t know what on Earth BMW has to do to get their design mojo back, but, A) they need to, and, B) they haven’t yet. At least not fully.
The next thing I thought was, “Boy, it looks a lot like the current Fiat 124 Spider that’s based on the Miata.” Better not say that in front of any BMW employees. Probably lead to my Arsch getreten werden.
Supra Skin
Which it shouldn’t, since both the Miata and the 124 are fantastic little sports cars. And I’m sure the latest Z4 will be fantastic as well. I mean, come on, this is a German car company we’re talking about here. The other contributing factor to the 2019 BMW Z4 Roadster’s potential greatness is that, under the skin, it’s a – gasp! – Toyota Supra.
The latest Z4 was developed in cooperation with the Japanese auto giant, the fruits of that leading to both the Z4 and the soon-to-be-released (and much anticipated) Supra. Ergo, we’ll have some commonality of parts, and the two minds are better than one philosophy leading to the summation of two very fun vehicles.
How fun? Let’s run the numbers.
Power & Performance
The 2019 BMW Z4 sDrive30i is propelled by a new TwinPower Turbocharged engine. The engine has a new High Precision Injection system, 255 horsepower, and nearly 300 lb-ft. of torque. 60 mph comes up in 5.2 seconds. Nett! Life gets even better with the Z4 M40i Roadster, thanks to a 3.0-liter in-line six-banger offering a 47 horsepower escalation over its predecessor. By comparison, the Z4 M40i makes a whomping 382 horsepower.
BMW added a water-cooled exhaust manifold that’s integrated into the cylinder head, along with a quicker-spooling turbocharger and direct injection. Yeah, I know, water cooling the manifold sounds like an expensive stress point, but we’ll let the second and third owners worry about that. And, with 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque living under the hood, you’ll hit 60 in 4.4 seconds. Super nett!
2019 BMW Z4 Roadster. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
With 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque living under the hood, you'll hit 60 in 4.4 seconds.Click To TweetTransmission & Chassis Tech
Both receive an eight-speed Steptronic Sport box with Launch Control and shift paddles on the steering wheel. There’s a wider ratio spread with shorter ratios in the lower gears for stronger acceleration.
The chassis has a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, with a double-joint spring strut suspension up front and a new five-link suspension out back. The front suspension’s sub frame and control arm mounting points are extremely rigid for more precise cornering, according to BMW. Aluminum control arms and swivel bearings further reduce weight. The rear suspension also uses a lightweight aluminum and steel design.
Added to all this are (by now usual) the computer-controlled gizmos that might turn all of us into Sebastian Vettel (as if!): Dynamic Stability Control, Anti-lock Braking System, Dynamic Traction Control, Cornering Brake Control, and Dynamic Brake Control.
Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Pricing & Availability
And sure, both of the upcoming Z4s have lots of navigation and infotainment features, and all that high-tech glop. But if you really care about stuff like that, this (probably) won’t be the car for you. Screw stuff like that! Drop the top, pull down your hat, and stand on it Stroker Ace! This is a sports car. Go out and be a sport.
How much? The Bavarians do not say, but we know the 2019 BMW Z4 Roadster will hit dealerships around March of next year.
Weit draußen, Mann!
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
2019 BMW Z4 Roadster Gallery

Photos & Source: BMW of North America, LLC.

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Letter From The UK: Technology Will Save Us All. (Or Not). Part 2

Letter From The UK: Technology Will Save Us All. (Or Not). Part 2 Words like “technology” and “revolution” are often used in tandem to describe a brighter future.
But are we actually better off? Despite modern technological advances, our roads are not any safer.
The second in two-part series, Geoff Maxted examines how our greatest technological promises face immense challenges and glaring drawbacks. Part one here.
Recently, a headline across our national newspapers trumpeted the phrase variously, “Ministers unaware of the effects of police cuts.” If you lived in this country you would have been staggered by this news. Government ministers, responsible for running the country, were “unaware” of the rise in stabbings, robbery, murders, street theft or the total loss of confidence in our law enforcers, despite it being all over the press for the last couple of years.
It would be funny if it were not so serious. Consequently it must be therefore assumed they were also unaware of the rise in drunk driving accidents and fatalities?
An Acura RDX A-Spec press photo shows the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Photo: Acura.
It would be funny if it were not so serious. Click To TweetDrinking & Driving
This is something we thought had finally gotten through to the thick-headed, boorish drunks of the UK. It seems not. There has been a seven percent rise in car accidents, “where at least one driver was under the influence of alcohol.” Remember, this is the 21st Century.
One of the primary causes of this is the reduction in the rank and file of our police service. In the last eight years the number of active serving cops has reduced by over 22,000. You would think, wouldn’t you, that someone would realise this could only have an adverse effect on society, but you would be wrong. The authorities clearly did not have a clue.
The cuts were “forced” upon the government because of financial austerity measures. That’s the excuse, and I would remind readers we are talking law and order here. Instead the politically correct police chiefs insist that more officers are needed at computers because crime has gone online. This is disingenuous.
Certainly, there is more international crime but the public also expect to see police “on the beat” as we say here. Instead they use cameras.

Candid Cameras
Cold, glassy eyes in the sky now watch our every move on the roads of Great Britain. Exceed the speed limit under their gaze and you will be fined and given “points” on your driving licence. Twelve points and you’re out. Off the road for usually one year, sometimes more. These so-called safety cameras are ostensibly there for road safety reasons but this again is specious. Not for nothing are they known as “speed cameras” by motorists because we know (and they know) this is really about revenue.
Many millions of British Pounds are taken off motorists over the course of a year and it goes straight into government coffers. It perhaps would not be so bad if this money was spent on improving the road network and making it safer yet this is not the case. Our roads generally are appalling.
Worst of all, a camera can catch speeders, even those who make a genuine error, but it cannot catch drunks. Since our highways no longer have police cars at strategic points, or police officers on foot in our towns and cities, drunk drivers pretty much have free rein.
Not for nothing are they known as speed cameras by motorists because we know (and they know) this is really about revenue.Click To TweetScreens For Everybody
In-car technology has become the latest USP for car makers. The personal opinion of this writer is that cars are becoming increasingly dull and boring as manufacturers continue to believe that we, the car buyers, want more and more high-tech gadgetry as standard. Nevermind the performance, feel the dashboard.
While all this is happening we have seen the rise of the distracted driver. Here in the UK, stupid individuals choose to break the laws of the land and use their mobile devices when driving because there is nobody around to stop them (See police above). It gets worse:
Motorists are fiddling with their touchscreens on the move. The infotainment menus in vehicles today have become more evolved and involving. As someone who drives for a living I see it all the time, everywhere. It’s called distracted driving and there are laws against it so what do car manufacturers do?
Do they install cut-offs to prevent drivers changing the selected set-ups when on the move? No. They add more screens. Yes folks, that’s the new trend; the new gimme. It’s just like having two televisions in one room. Now there are three things to look at: Screen A, Screen B, and the road ahead. Spare me.
2018 Ford Expedition interior layout. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Human Touch
So, although technology can help us clean up the atmosphere (maybe), stay safer in our cars and monitor crime online (including your Twitter feed if you live here), it is not the be all and end all. Society requires a level of human contact, and it demands such personal freedom.
That’s why, here in blighted Britain, more and more motoring colleagues are enjoying the simple pleasures of older cars; those old-stagers whose “classic” days are yet to come but still provide what we all want. A nice drive. Can’t we just have that?
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite

Cover Photo: Volvo Car Group.

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Porsche 911 Speedster Concept: Should We Hold Our Breath?

Porsche 911 Speedster Concept: Should We Hold Our Breath? The Porsche 911 Speedster Concept shows a “new equipment range” from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.
Porsche says the concept’s engine revs to 9,000 rpm.
Will it come to market? We will find out soon enough.
Ah, the Porsche Speedster. It’s a name that means so much, but, by their own hand, has been sort of maligned by Porsche themselves. This latest version, which Porsche says is only a “concept” for now, looks to be the business.
But whether it is or not – or whether Porsche will even build the thing – is pretty much up in the air. To begin, there are two things at play here: a car and a wristwatch.
Designer Dog Dishes
Leave it to Porsche to make a fairly simple thing (“Hey! We’ve got this concept car you should check out!“) into something needlessly complicated (“Hey! We’ve got this concept car you should check out! Oh, and this wristwatch, which is kinda the same thing! Oh, and here’s the needless backstory!“).
For those that may not know, there’s a thing called Porsche Design. Porsche Design does all sorts of stuff. Sunglasses and watches and stereo gear and pen sets and other hideously, overpriced knick-knacks. They are a separate entity, but they occasionally collaborate. Such is the case here, but we’ll only go into the friggin’ watch portion of this stuff if space (and my patience) permits.
The car portion of this stuff, the actual Speedster itself, is well worth your time. The concept Speedster had its North American premiere at the recent Rennsport Reunion VI at Laguna Seca. And, so they say, the crowds were very impressed. Then again, Rennsport Reunions are a Porsche-only affair, and Rennsport crowds would be impressed by a Porsche dog dish.
So take all of that with a grain of salt.
Porsche 911 Speedster Concept. Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Heritage Design Packages
This Porsche concept is based on the current 991 generation of the evergreen 911. Porsche says it’s a preview of a “potential new equipment range from the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.” Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur is their in-house “we can make it that way just for you (for a hefty price)” shop. Sort of the latest version of the old Porsche Sonderwunsch Programm. The Speedster also is being used as a canvas to show off the company’s Heritage Design packages. If customers go for this idea, then Porsche will consider providing a modern interpretation of their distinctive themes as far back as the 1950s.
Personally, I like this whole idea of painting new cars like they were old racers. I hope this catches on.
Flying Colors
The Porsche 911 Speedster Concept is a two-tone GT Silver Metallic and White. The white note flashes are reminiscent of the red and white schemes found on the first Porsche 917 to win at Le Mans. The whole car was a collaboration between Porsche Motorsport, Style Porsche, and Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.
It’s hard not to like the overall look, with the laid-down windshield, twin headrest fairings, retro paint job, and those gorgeous, Talbot-esque rearview mirrors (chrome, natch).
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
It’s hard not to like the overall look, with the laid-down windshield, twin headrest fairings, retro paint job, and those gorgeous, Talbot-esque rearview mirrors.Click To TweetProof In The Pudding
The Porsche 911 Speedster Concept is powered by a naturally aspirated flat-six engine (duh!) putting out “over” 500 horsepower. This plant, which Porsche seems to have the infinite capability to develop and get more and more out of, can rev to 9,000 rpm. Which is way up there. Really way up there. Like, that would be a lot of fun to hear on a regular basis. All those Pferde get to the rear wheels and only the rears via a six-speed manual transmission.
The development focus was on creating a pure and exhilarating driving experience says ze Deutschers, but at this stage there’s no real way of knowing. If you want us to be sure, oh great engineers of Zuffenhausen, then drop one by One Automoblog Towers, Detroit, Michigan, and we’ll let you know what we think. Ask for Carl.
Limber Lumber Wagons
Yes, the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept is just that: a concept. So talking about its performance potential is kind of beside the point. But it does give us the opportunity to say that if Porsche really wants to create a pure and exhilarating driving experience, they have to go against their recent trend. Porsches back in the day were essentially hot-rodded VW Beetles with swoopier bodies. They were light, tight, and handled . . . well, not right, but in a fun enough way. Until you spun it into a ditch because of the weight distribution and tractor-derived suspension.
But lately, for the past couple of decades, Porsche has gone light, tight, and handles not all that bad. Now they’ve gone bloated, feature-laden, and computer-controlled, but the handling is better (thanks to all those binary nannies).
If Porsche wants to make a new Speedster for the 2020s and beyond, it should weigh close to a Miata but still keep that “over” 500 horsepower. But no. Our customers want features. Our customers expect luxury items. We have to add 158 airbags. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
But lately, for the past couple of decades, Porsche has gone light, tight, and handles not all that bad.Click To TweetAvailability
A decision about a production version of the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept is forthcoming. Hopefully that decision will be Nicht nur ja, aber Hölle ja!
As for the watch that compliments the car? That’s the “Porsche Design 911 Speedster Concept Chronograph.” Got it? Not a watch, a concept chronograph. People will buy anything, won’t they?
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: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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Audi

Audi Q7: Still Bearing the Classic Touch

The Audi Q7 was first unveiled for an exclusive group of journalists. However, it was a closed-door affair that turned out to be quite a successful one with several people from Audi of America joining in to answer any questions regarding the new Audi Q7. The new Audi Q7 is built on the very same platform that is also used by the Volkswagen Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne. It also holds a wheelbase that is quite longer than the Volkswagen Touareg by almost six inches. This kind of wheelbase then provides the Audi Q7 an overall look that exudes a sleek and stretched look.

The Audi Q7 is a sport utility vehicle. This vehicle has proportions that when combined work out very nicely providing a strong look. The vehicle contains and features headlights, tail lights, rear view mirrors and door handles that exude the traditional look that is considered to be simply an Audi. The Audi Q7 SUV has a grill that goes well with the vehicleÕs painted horizontal strip and as well as the adopted standard dark gray that is quite standard for AudiÕs vehicle lineup. Compared to the other models in the Audi family, the chrome strip around the grille for the Audi Q7 is considered to be quite narrow thus assisting greatly in making the grille of the Audi Q7 look a less overpowering.

It could be noticed that the Audi Q7 has the very same classic proportions that Audi Avants have. This includes a high shoulder line, a narrow window area, a sloping roofline that moves towards the rear of the Audi Q7, and an angled rear window. These all combine to provide a classy look for this sport utility vehicle. Basically, the taillights of the Audi Q7 are very much like the Audi Avant with its tips forming top corners of the license plate opening. Other than that, the Audi Q7 also has a rear bumper that has two long and thin reflectors mounted on it. This rear bumper holds the added assumed function of being turn signals or rear fog lights.

Setting the Audi Q7 apart from the Volkswagen Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne is this vehicleÕs optional third row seating. The center row for this sport utility vehicle has the ability to fold back down and slide forward, thus giving ample and easy access to the rear seating. It also contains a middle row that has the capacity to slide forward and provide more legroom for the rear seats. As for the third row, this entire row of seats could fold flat on the floor when it is not utilized. This gives more cargo area in the rear. The Audi Q7 also has an electronic control for this third row.

For impressive collections of Audi parts, customers can visit www.partstrain.com. This online store holds the latest in innovative and stylish Audi parts. Auto Parts Online is where customers can order genuine Audi parts and accessories at wholesale prices. Auto Parts Online supplies superior and highly durable Audi parts currently available.

By Jenny McLane.

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Porsche 911 GT2 RS Fastest 911 Ever With Staggering Nürburgring Lap

Porsche 911 GT2 RS Fastest 911 Ever With Staggering Nürburgring Lap

Somehow over the years, the Nürburgring has become the de facto benchmark for carmakers. What once started out as a make-work project by the Nazis (no, really) and ended up being the venue for the German Grand Prix for decades was, for a while there, seemingly consigned to being a footnote in racing history. Niki Lauda’s near-fatal crash in ’76 sounded the death knell for the track as a GP venue in favor of safer more anodyne locations like Hockenheim or the new Nürburgring GP circuit.
Local Attraction, Digital Destination
The old track, properly referred to as the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, was still there, draped around the countryside, ringing the ancient ruins of a Medieval castle, used on occasion for sports car races, and, for no sane, logical, reasonable explanation, open to the average driver as a public road. You could, and still can, for a not-unreasonable fee, take any car with a license plate for a lap around the old Nordschleife. Everything from 2CVs to big bore Ferraris were welcome and this, over the years, grew organically into a yardstick to measure yourself and your car.
Automotive manufacturers cottoned to this growing level of cachet right around the same time that Sony and Microsoft were establishing themselves in the game console market. Before you could legally drive on a public road in this country, you could lap the Nürburgring-Nordschleife just as fast as your digital car could go in a PlayStation or Xbox.
And now, setting a hot lap time around the old circuit means something, and boy, did Porsche just blast off a hot one a few days back with their 2018 911 GT2 RS. For those of you that want to cut to the chase, here’s the number: 6:47.3. That is, to use the engineering term, really &#%$^*$ fast! I mean mein Gott in Himmel fast. Seriously. Power up your PlayStation or your Xbox and give it a go. See how fast you can go. G’head. Take your time. I can wait . . . see? Not that easy, is it?
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Sunday Driver
And do keep in mind that although the 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS is a factory stripper hot rod, it is also a fully street legal sports car. This is no track day special. You could hang a license plate off your 911 GT2 RS and drive it to work if you wanted to. I know I would, but I’m funny like that.
Porsche’s best lap time of 6:47.3 minutes surpassed Zuffenhausen’s internal target by 17.7 seconds, a huge gap to say the least. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Head of Motorsport and GT Cars for Porsche, stated flatly, “this result makes it official: The GT2 RS is not only the most powerful, but also the fastest 911 model ever built.”
As if that lap record wasn’t intimidating enough, it’s also worth noting that it wasn’t a single, go for broke, banzai lap. Porsche points out that once drivers Lars Kern and Nick Tandy broke the previous record for street legal sports cars of 6:52.01, they immediately proceeded to lap the track in under 6:50 on five separate occasions. Although Kern and Tandy were each trading the quickest times back and forth, it was Kern, a Porsche test driver by trade that set the quickest mark of the day.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

Power & Performance
The specs for the 911 GT2 RS are just as staggering as that lap time. It’s the fastest and most powerful road-going 911 thanks to a 3.6-liter twin turbo flat-six engine, producing 700 horsepower and 553 lb-ft. of torque. The two-seater tips the scales at 3,241 pounds and is shod with standard N-spec Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. All this adds up to a 0 to 60 launch of 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 211 mph.
The Porsche 911 GT2 RS is the cover car in Microsoft’s upcoming Forza 7. Forza 7 will be one of the main launch titles for the soon-to-be-released Xbox One X which means, given the inclusion of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in Forza, that you could have a tilt at those lap times laid down by Messrs. Kern and Tandy. I know I’ll be trying.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias toward lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

Photos, Video & Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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