Automotive

Automoblog Book Garage: Muscle Car Source Book

It’s interesting to watch the automotive landscape change, especially with the dawn of new technology. The biggest theme today is the driverless world; a place where are cars are autonomous and as a result, our roads will be safer and our time behind the wheel more productive.

These visions and the technology behind them are promising, but sometimes, there is no substitute for the rawness that is American muscle. While autonomous vehicles may rule in the name of safety, there is no replacement for cars that rule in the name of performance.

Authority Figure

This latest story on the Book Garage shelf begins in 1963, and spans until the mid 1970s. Muscle Car Source Book presents this incredible era in a manner representative of its name: as a source book. From Ford, Chevrolet, and Pontiac, to Buick, AMC, and Dodge, all of the performance data for each car is displayed on tables. The essential specs, from horsepower and torque, to curb weight, fuel tank capacity, and tire sizes are laid out.

Muscle Car Source Book also touches on the major performance options available for each car, including engine options, comfort features, gauge packages, and wheel-and-tire configurations.

This book is perfect if you grew up during this time, or if you had, or currently own, a muscle car. It’s really enjoyable to read through all the different specifications and the wealth of photos doesn’t hurt either. Muscle Car Source Book is exactly like the cars within its pages: what you see is what you get.

Author

Mike Mueller has worked as a freelance automotive photojournalist since 1991. A lifetime car enthusiast, Mueller has written and photographed more than 25 automotive and truck history books and contributed photography to dozens more. Among his long list of titles are Motorbooks’ Chevy Chevelle 50 Years, The Complete Book of Corvette, and The Complete Book of Classic Dodge and Plymouth Muscle.

Muscle Car Source Book: All the Facts, Figures, Statistics, and Production Numbers is available through Amazon and Motorbooks.

Muscle Car Source Book Gallery

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Top 5 Cars And Attractions At NAIAS

There are auto shows and then there is the North American International Auto Show. Last year, there were 61 vehicle introductions at NAIAS, a majority of which were worldwide debuts. This year, AutoMobili-D for the Press and Industry Preview days highlighted the vehicles and technology of tomorrow, giving insight into how our future world may define mobility.

The future of transportation was a major topic this year. Ford’s City of Tomorrow, Faurecia’s Cockpit of the Future, and the Michigan Department of Transportation’s infrastructure plans were among the most intriguing ideas.

It’s a brave new world but this weekend, as the final run of NAIAS approaches, here are the top 5 things you simply must see. If you attend NAIAS and take a photo, be sure to tag us on Twitter.

#5 Nissan VMotion 2.0 Concept

The Nissan Vmotion 2.0 Concept was revealed during a press conference at the 2017 North American International Auto Show. Photo: Nissan North America.

This one is particularly exciting because it shows what the future of Nissan may look like. The automaker’s forthcoming style, design, comfort, and technology offerings are all wrapped up in this gorgeous package.

The Nissan Vmotion 2.0 concept also presents a new platform for their Intelligent Mobility initiative, essentially their vision to achieve a zero emissions world with no traffic fatalities.

“Vmotion 2.0 previews what the future designs from Nissan will be,” said Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President, Chief Creative Officer, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “And it is an insightful proposition of what the future sedan could be in the coming years.”

Definitely one of our favorites this year at NAIAS.

#4 Lego Batmobile

The LEGO Batmobile is 7 feet high, 17 feet long, 9 feet wide, and weights almost 1,700 pounds. Each tire is just over 100 pounds. Photo: Chevrolet.

I saw a meme one time that read “you should always be yourself, unless you can be Batman. Be Batman.”

Duly noted.

Chevrolet, along with students from Detroit’s Cody Rouge community, A World in Motion, and FIRST LEGO League, unveiled the LEGO Batmobile at NAIAS. The construction is impressive, containing over 340,000 Lego bricks of 17 different colors.

Over 86 feet of square tube aluminum was used to create the interior frame of this justice-enforcing machine. It took 222 hours to design and 1,833 hours to build, ultimately being inspired by The LEGO Batman Movie, in theaters on February 10th.

This one will definitely be a hit with the kids (okay, and the adults too).

#3 Ford Augmented Reality Demo

The all-new Ford GT and Ford EcoSport are part of Ford’s fully immersive NAIAS display. Ford’s first-ever live augmented reality presentations let people see the automaker’s vehicles in a unique way. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Ford is introducing NAIAS attendees to their latest vehicles and technology in a very clever way. It’s not quite virtual reality but it’s not exactly in this dimension? Maybe? Perhaps that is how you might describe it?

“Think of augmented reality as the blending of virtual reality with real life,” said Garett Carr, Ford Global Auto Shows Manager. “It’s like having x-ray vision, with the power to take people deeper into our product and technology stories – it feels a little like magic.”

Ford is showing consumers how their latest innovations function through that magic. The augmented reality display includes things like a new Ford GT dashing through a wind tunnel for aerodynamic testing, and a demonstration of the new 10-speed automatic transmission coming for the 2018 F-150.

At their display, Ford is also showcasing a driverless Fusion Hybrid and a Transit customized for fitness buffs.

#2 2018 Lexus LC

Under the banner of 2+2 performance, Lexus’ designers and engineers sought a high level of aerodynamic performance to enhance ride quality, all while suppressing wind noise. Photo: Carl Anthony for Automoblog.net.

The last two on this list are a toss-up as both are excellent cars. The 2018 Lexus LC struck a chord with us because of the 2+2 performance mantra behind it. 2+2 performance meant both the engineering and design departments at Lexus rallied together for a specific goal.

Their intense level of collaboration and teamwork delivered this stunning automobile.

The all-new LC 500 features a naturally aspirated, 5.0-liter V8, paired with the first direct shift 10-speed automatic transmission in a luxury car. At 471 horsepower and 398 lb.-ft of torque, it’s no slouch. The LC 500h, conversely, is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 full hybrid powertrain, with a total output of 354 horsepower.

Optional equipment includes 20 and 21-inch forged wheels, Mark Levinson audio system, Limited Slip Differential, Blind Spot Monitor, Intuitive Park Assist, Heads-Up Display, and Cold Area Package, with a heated steering wheel and windshield de-icer.

Interestingly enough, Lexus debuted as a brand at NAIAS in 1989.

#1 2018 Kia Stinger

The 2018 Kia Stinger rides on a chassis comprised of 55 percent advanced high-strength steel. The result is impressive handling, along with a quiet cabin. Photo: Kia Motors America.

Yes, the car is amazing. No, I didn’t expect this from Kia. Yes, it’s amazing.

Kia literally took our breath away when it rolled out the red carpet for this performance beauty, the most powerful in the history of their luneup. The Stinger will arrive in the United States later this year with multiple engine and drivetrain options.

Kia’s idea was to take everything we could possibly love about an automobile and present it in one solid entity.

“A true gran turismo, a car for spirited long-distance driving, is not about outright power, hard-edged dynamics, and brutal styling, all at the expense of luxury, comfort, and grace,” said Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer, Kia Motors Europe.

Ride and handling is optimized through Kia’s use of high-strength steel in the chassis with a MacPherson front and multi-link rear suspension. Handling characteristics may be tailored to suit the driver through the Dynamic Stability Damping Control system, a Kia first.

Although both engines are still in development, the standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Theta II engine produces an estimated 255 horsepower at approximately 6,200 rpm. The available 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 Lambda II engine is expected to hit around 365 horsepower (6,000 rpm) with 376 lb.-ft of torque (1,300 – 4,500 rpm).

Kia is targeting a 0 to 62 mph launch in about 5 seconds with a top speed of 167 for the latter engine.

“The Stinger has nothing to do with being the first to arrive at the destination – this car is all about the journey. It’s about passion,” Guillaume said.

NAIAS is held at the Cobo Center, 1 Washington Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48226. The public shows runs through January 22nd. More information, including ticket pricing and scooter rentals, can be found here. Enjoy your time and have fun!

Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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Ford GT Digital Dashboard: The Future Is Here?

Ford Motor Company is using its Ford GT as a platform for future automotive developments in a bunch of interesting ways. This is a good thing. This is what you do with high end, halo cars: You try out cool new engineering stuff there, and then it percolates into other, more mundane company offerings.

I agree with this. This is a good strategy. Something has to make minivans more interesting, and this sounds as good of a way as any.

New Tricks Or Old Hats?

In this specific instance, the Ford GT has this groovy new high tech dash/display that can do all sorts of trick stuff. But haven’t we seen this all before? At its base, the Ford GT’s digital display/dash/whatever-you-call it (and we really need to come up with a common naming convention for these things, like we did for smartphones) is a reconfigurable, custom-sized, and shaped screen that goes in the instrument binnacle where the separate dials and warning lights go.

Didn’t Audi do this at Geneva a couple years back? Isn’t it on Audis now? Ferrari already does across the model range, right?

Okay, so maybe Ford is over-reaching here a bit. And when someone uses a phrase like “the dashboard of the future,” I start thinking about how we’ll all be using autogyros to commute by 1955, gyroscopes will power our briefcases by 1965, and by 1978, we’ll have affordable jetpacks. I’ll ask you again, real nice like: Where. Is. My. Jetpack?!?!?!

Anyway, what Ford has done here is rather nice and flashy cool, and it will be an overall positive, even if it’s not the first on the block.

Dashing Displays

In a nutshell, Ford is providing a state-of-the-art, 10-inch digital instrument display that structures text and graphics to help reduce driver distraction. The text and graphics can be displayed in what Ford terms as five “drive modes.” Each mode presents the info differently, prioritizing what is central for each driving situation and adapting the display to that given situation.

The five modes are Normal, Wet, Sport, Track, and V-Max. That last one, V-Max, is kind of funny, if you know about aerospace engineering, and what happens on the other side of reaching V-Max (hint: It usually ends with a smoking crater on the desert floor).

Normal & Wet

In Normal mode, the display is all business. Clean and simple. The speedometer is front and center, gear selection is on the right, fuel and temperature are top left. The tachometer displays revs in a hockey stick like shape. Compressed scale for lower rpm, thankfully, because, really, who cares about that, you want more resolution at the upper end. So 3,000-to-7,000-rpm dominates the top of the display

Wet mode seems to be little more than a color scheme. It’s the same info as in normal mode, but now Ford uses a “blue theme” and a “wet floor” concept. No, I don’t know what a “wet floor” concept is either, but Ford goes on to say that graphics under the speedometer mimic the shine of wet tarmac to “remind the driver of the mode selection.” Which, I’m guessing is another way to remind you that you’re on a wet road and you should drive accordingly, you ape.

Ford designers and engineers worked closely with Pektron for the electronic design, development, and implementation of the new dashboard. The focus was to create forward-looking, animated renderings that included the right amounts of color and responsiveness to avoid distraction and eye strain. Pictured here is Normal mode. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Sport & Track

Sport mode fiddles with what goes where a little bit. Front and center is gear selection and the speedo is shunted off to the right and less conspicuous. You’d think that revs would be front and center, but okay, gear selection. They also alter the color scheme, which is now an “aggressive orange theme and the preferred mode for most test drivers.”

Which is kind of charming.

Track mode ups things another notch, with a stark black background, highly legible text, and graphics in red. Ford says it’s easy for the eye to pick up in a fast-paced environment. Gear selection and engine speed are displayed importantly, since that stuff, is, uh, you know, important when you’re driving on a track. Other info, coolant temperature, oil pressure, oil temperature, and fuel level are in the bottom right of the display.

Also fuel is rendered as a percentage rather than miles to empty.

To test the initial design of the new digital display, Le Mans winner Scott Maxwell of Multimatic was invited to the Ford GT simulation lab to offer feedback. Maxwell suggested changing the tachometer to provide an expanded view of the EcoBoost V6 redline approach for greater peripheral visibility. He also recommended tweaks to the prioritization of performance information. Pictured here is Sport mode. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

V-Max

V-Max might as well be called Xbox/PlayStation Mode (whichever is your fave game platform, I make no judgments here (even though Forza is a better game)). V-Max is tailored to tracking maximum top speed. Large and in charge is the centered speedometer. The tach is abridged to just a line with indicator dots for “minimal distraction.” I’m not sure why Ford considers revs a distraction, but so it goes.

Coolant temperature, oil pressure, oil temperature, and turbocharger boost are over on the right, while the fuel level displays on the top left.

Ford says they will move forward from the GT’s “dash” and include the technology in future vehicles. Which, in principle, sounds like a good idea. More flexibility in these areas means more driver involvement as well as more driver connectivity. As long as Ford doesn’t screw things up and start offering lunch options for nearby restaurants while we’re on the racetrack, we should be okay.

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.

Normal Mode

Wet Mode

Sport Mode

Track Mode

V-Max Mode

Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company

Video: Ford Performance

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2017 Chevy Cruze Hatchback Premier Review

Small hatchbacks are very popular with consumers and for good reason. They offer utility, extra cargo carrying ability, and they are stingy on gas. That’s a good combination for urban dwellers. This weekend, we drove the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback.

You’ll like the way the small hatch sips gas and how its stylish cabin has a surprising amount of room for you, your cargo, and your passengers. The upper trim 2017 Chevy Cruze Hatchback Premier has a lot of good qualities.

What’s New For 2017

The big news is a new hatchback body style debuts on the Cruze, and we tested this new compact hatch with much enthusiasm. It also comes standard with a suite of parental watchdog parameters called Teen Driver mode.

Features & Options

The 2017 Chevy Cruze Hatchback Premier ($23,945) comes standard with upgraded headlights, LED running lights, heated mirrors, steering-wheel-mounted phone and audio controls, a rear center armrest with cupholders, and a six-speaker audio system with satellite radio.

The hatchback also gets a cargo cover and rear spoiler.

The Premier adds keyless ignition and entry, heated front seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat, and remote engine start. The Cruze Premier also features 17-inch wheels, an upgraded rear suspension, chrome exterior accents, ambient interior lighting, illuminated vanity mirrors, a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, and a height-adjustable front passenger seat.

The Driver Confidence package ($790) added rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. It also comes with automatic high-beam headlight control, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning and intervention.

The Enhanced Convenience package ($865) throws in an auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic climate control, heated rear seats, wireless charging, and a 110-volt, household-style power outlet. Total MSRP including destination: $26,870.

Interior Highlights

Stepping inside the Cruze compact reveals a stylish cabin that features high-quality materials and lines unlike any Chevy compact in the past. The 8-way power adjustable bucket seats are comfortable, come heated, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel makes it easy to get comfortable on any commute.

The Premier comes with the 7-inch touchscreen and integrates Chevy’s MyLink infotainment system, which employs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for a new-generation of buyers to enjoy a fully integrated smartphone experience.

The Cruze hatchback offers up a large backseat, making the Cruze’s interior functional for carrying passengers, sports equipment, and other cargo. Chevy says the Cruze hatchback has 18.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 47.2 cubes with the seats folded down.

Engine & Fuel Mileage

The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, rated at 153 horsepower and 177 lb-ft. of torque. Our Cruze tester came with the optional six-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.

The automatic transmission comes bundled with an automatic engine stop-start feature to save fuel when the car isn’t moving. EPA fuel-mileage estimates are 28/37 city/highway and 31 combined with the automatic.

Driving Dynamics

The Chevy Cruze hatch gets high marks for its utility and comfort on the commute, but for its stylish cabin too. On the road, the 1.4-liter turbo is an adequate performer, especially in the city and other urban environments. The stop-start feature on the automatic models was a bit annoying when we were in heavy city traffic, however.

It shuts the engine off when you come to a stop and then there’s a slight delay when you step on the gas.

We had to deliver a package to a customer that lived down a twisty, narrow mountain road this week. It was the ideal way to test the Cruze in a road-circuit like environment. The hatchback is an impressive handler in the tight corners and inspires driver confidence when pushing it harder through those corners. The turbo provides extra power when needed and it ranks a 6.5 on the fun-to-drive meter.

The ride offers up an overall compliant feel on the highway and the suspension soaked up the rough mountain road fairly well. Overall, the Cruze left us with a satisfying driving experience.

Conclusion

The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Premier is a compelling compact hatch for city commuters. The Cruze glides down the highway with surprising levels of refinement for the class. It comes attractively trimmed inside, and the Cruze offers easy everyday operation and practicality.

Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Gallery

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2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Official Site

Photos: Chevrolet

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