Automotive

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor China Bound

Shipments of the all-new 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor are headed across the ocean to China. It’s the first time an F-Series truck built in the United States has been officially exported to China. Each model exported is a four-door SuperCrew configuration, with a high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine and Ford-built 10-speed automatic transmission.

“Export to China enables us to bring a new group of enthusiasts into the Ford family,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford President, The Americas.

The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor was engineered for the most extreme off-road situations, and is uniquely at home in rocky, rough, or otherwise desolate terrain. The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor features a military-grade, high-strength, aluminum-alloy cab and composite body. An advanced six-mode Terrain Management System helps the truck climb over the most brutal spots on the map, like the Baja and Gobi Desert.

A Ford Performance-engineered high-strength steel frame with custom Fox Racing shocks allow for better ground clearance. BFGoodrich off-road tires and a dual-performance exhaust add to the Raptor’s presence. For customers in China, the truck’s reputation has proceeded itself.

“Ford is one of America’s top exporters, and F-150 Raptor’s appeal and unmatched off-road performance has earned the truck a loyal following around the globe,” Hinrichs said.

David Schoch, Ford Group Vice President and President, Ford Asia Pacific, noted the blue oval’s commitment to offer a wide range of vehicles for customers in China.

“Raptor’s unique looks and capability have generated amazing buzz at every auto show we’ve brought it to around China,” he said.

The 2017 F-150 Raptor, built at the Dearborn Truck Plant, is one of more than twelve new Ford Performance vehicles coming by 2020. The Ford Performance line up includes the Focus RS, Shelby GT350, Shelby GT350R, and the fastest Ford on record, the new GT.

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

Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company

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Honda Serving Up Food For Super Bowl Weekend

To my mind, there are two kinds of Super Bowl ads. There are the kind that define your product and make a lasting impact (e.g. Apple’s 1984 Macintosh ad), and then there are the ads that are so bizarre you lose 87% of the viewers and no one even knows what your product is (e.g. that puppy/monkey/baby nightmare).

Honda, for some reason, went with option #2.

Right off the bat, Honda says this in their press release: “Upgraded,” exclusive Tasty recipes served up by Amazon Prime Now, courtesy of the all-new Honda CR-V.”

That’s not a sentence, is it? No. That’s got to be some Dadaist poetry recently uncovered in Kurt Schwitters old papers, right? Seriously, you can rearrange the words and it still doesn’t make much sense. What, did the Honda ad agency guys smoke a huge amount of kif and say, “you know whose ads I like? The ones with Matthew McConaughey just kinda driving around and mumbling. Let’s do something like that. It’d be far out.”

Food & Football

This is a cross-marketing thing between Honda, Amazon, and BuzzFeed; a synergistic tie-in between all three companies where, if it all works out, everyone gets ad time, starts conversations, and makes more money.

Honda points out how the completely redesigned and reengineered 2017 Honda CR-V will make its television debut during this weekend’s big game. So, to help sear the car into the memories of potential buyers, Honda came up with “The Upgrade Presented by Honda.” It’s always in quotes like that, because it’s the title of this whole co-promotion thing between Honda, Amazon, and BuzzFeed.

You know, like “Darby O’Gill and The Little People,” a Disney/David Lynch co-production.

Wait, it gets even more surreal. “The Upgrade Presented by Honda” aspires to make extraordinary memories even more unforgettable by “giving fans access to unique versions of their favorite football recipes, delivered to their doorstep, all compliments of the Honda CR-V.”

No. I’m not kidding.

“Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most celebrated events of the year, and Honda wants to make game day food part of the memorable experiences for family and friends,” said Susie Rossick, Assistant Vice President, Honda Auto Marketing.

BuzzFeed has a global food network called Tasty, so that’s their contribution to all this marketing speak/ad pitch. So, you, as either a football fan, a Honda CR-V fan, an Amazon fan, or a fan of food can watch the Tasty videos at an Amazon-based website. If you like what you’re seeing, you can click through to order the ingredients for the recipe from Amazon Prime Now and they will provide free, one-hour delivery of said ingredients, compliments the Honda CR-V.

“For the first time ever, thanks to Honda, the ingredients for the exclusive Tasty recipes can be delivered to consumers via Amazon Prime,” said Lee Brown, Chief Revenue Officer, BuzzFeed.

Tailgating Pleasures

But what are the recipes? “The Upgrade Presented by Honda” mentions only two: Guacamole Cannoli and Cookies & Cream Empanada. And really nothing says “All American Game of Violence and Ground Acquisition Punctuated by Committee Meetings” like Guacamole Cannoli and Cookies & Cream Empanada.

And you’d think that would be it. One bad trip, and then you’d never have to deal with it again. But no. Honda advises “The Upgrade” will return for Valentine’s Day with exclusive “romantic-inspired” Tasty recipes like No Bake Chocolate Raspberry Tarts and Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken. But I’ll deal with that when Marlow and I get back from our boat trip up the Congo River to have lunch with Mr. Kurtz.

Waiter! Check please!

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.

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2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD 2.0L Review

Small SUVs and crossovers are the hottest segment in America and here’s one families will want to check out. Ford gave the popular Escape crossover some updates for 2017, and we saw why families should take a look. It offers refreshed styling, sporty handling, and upgraded power.

Recently, we drove the 2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD, with the newly-modified 2.0-liter turbocharged engine.

What’s New For 2017

The 2017 Ford Escape gets freshened with revised front styling, some minor interior improvements, and a newly available 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The modified 2.0-liter engine makes a bit more power. There are also new available infotainment and safety features for 2017.

Features & Options

We drove the 2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD 2.0L ($26,850) that came with a new engine, nicer wheels, and a ten-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. It also came standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, a keyless entry keypad, rear privacy glass, dual-zone automatic climate control, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, rear air vents, a rear center armrest, and satellite radio.

Optional Packages

The SE Technology package ($1,395) added LED daytime running lights, roof rails, rear parking sensors, a 110-volt household-style power outlet, the upgraded Sync 3 technology interface (including an 8-inch touchscreen), a nine-speaker sound system with dual USB ports, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The SE Leather Comfort package ($1,595) added leather upholstery and heated front seats.

The EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbo engine added $1,295. Also available is a hands-free power lift gate ($495).

Total MSRP of our tester, including destination: $33,020.

Interior Highlights

The upgraded leather seats may seem like a luxury, but we can’t speak highly enough of this optional feature. The front seats are so comfy, you will think you are in your family room recliner, they are that soft. The rest of the interior is stylish and modern with a two-tone color scheme. There’s lots of soft-touch materials throughout and the quality is first rate for a non-luxury crossover.

The Escape features Ford’s Sync Connect, enabling remote access to the car’s functions via smartphone. The sound system, climate control, and other vehicle systems are easy to understand and use, unlike many new vehicle technologies.

There’s a generous amount of space inside, considering the raked roofline that can limit headroom. Rear headroom is surprisingly good, and even though Ford says the Escape is a five-seater, there’s realistically just enough space for two adults to fit comfortably. When you need extra cargo room, the seats fold flat easily with a convenient handle located on the side of the rear seat. Folded flat, there is 68 cubic feet of cargo space.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs

This Escape tester came with the optional 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, developing 245 horsepower and 275 lb-ft. of torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels.

With all-wheel-drive, it gets an EPA estimated 20/27 city/highway and 23 combined.

Driving Dynamics

The Escape’s new EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbo is the engine to get in our opinion. It does cost an additional $1,295, but it’s worth it if you want a little extra performance. We drove through Colorado’s high-country, and the turbo makes quick work of the thin air. It had plenty of power as we continued up I-70 into the mountains west of Denver.

The Ford EcoBoost engine comes mated to a very capable 6-speed automatic transmission that is a fine match for the turbo’s extra power range. It has smooth shifts and is programmed for a good mix of acceleration and fuel mileage. We also had paddle shifters, making it more engaging for driving enthusiasts in the family.

We thought the Escape had engaging driving dynamics and was sportier than most small crossovers on the market, except for the Mazda3. The Escape offers up crisp steering, responsive handling, and good body control in the tight mountain corners. It delivered a smooth ride on the open road and soaked up the bumps easily. The available AWD is worth it if you live in cold climates too. It sends power from the front to rear wheels, up to 100 percent in either direction, where ever the traction is needed.

Conclusion

The 2017 Ford Escape is a capable family hauler and has the power needed for those weekend trips into the mountains. It offers a comfortable cabin and if you get the upgraded leather, it’s an especially comfortable ride. If you want a little extra power, get the 2.0-liter EcoBoost. You won’t be sorry.

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

2017 Ford Escape Gallery

We trust TrueCar.com to give us the best, up to date, and TRUE pricing of what people are really paying for their cars. Check them out for more research on this car:

2017 Ford Escape Official Site

Photos: Ford Motor Company

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Mazda & Toyota Establish Joint-Manufacturing Venture

Mazda & Toyota Establish Joint-Manufacturing Venture Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation have established a new joint-venture called Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc., or “MTMUS.” The new company will produce vehicles in Huntsville, Alabama starting in 2021 with the goal of increasing production for both automakers. More specifically, the new plant will have the capacity to produce 150,000 units of a forthcoming Mazda crossover and 150,000 units of the Toyota Corolla.
The facility is expected to create up to 4,000 new jobs.
“We hope to make MTMUS a plant that will hold a special place in the heart of the local community for many, many years,” explained Masashi Aihara, Mazda’s Executive Officer who will serve as President of MTMUS. “By combining the best of our technologies and corporate cultures, Mazda and Toyota will not only produce high-quality cars but also create a plant employees will be proud to work at and contribute to the further development of the local economy and the automotive industry.”
Toyota and Mazda are investing $1.6 billion toward the venture with equal funding contributions. In collaboration with the state of Alabama and the city of Huntsville, MTMUS will soon begin land preparation for the new plant, with full-scale construction slated to begin next year.
“The new plant, which will be Toyota’s 11th manufacturing facility in the U.S., not only represents our continuous commitment in this country, but also is a key factor in improving our competitiveness of manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Hironori Kagohashi, Executive General Manager of Toyota and MTMUS’s Executive Vice President. “We are committed to realizing a highly competitive plant and producing vehicles with the best quality for customers by combining Toyota and Mazda’s manufacturing expertise and leveraging the joint venture’s synergies. Based on this competitiveness, we will make every effort to becoming a best-in-town plant that will be loved by our hometown.”
“We hope that cars made at the new plant will enrich the lives of their owners and become much more than just a means of transportation,” Aihara added.
Source: Mazda North American Operations, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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Pirelli Showcases “Cyber Car” In Geneva

Pirelli Showcases “Cyber Car” In Geneva Pirelli unveiled something interesting at the 88th Geneva International Motor Show. This is a product with a pretty irritating name that is actually on the verge of being totally cool. The “Cyber Car” and what it does, and is potentially capable of doing, could be monumental in terms of applied data analytics. Essentially what Cyber Car does is apply big data to your tires, thereby allowing you to use that data to optimize performance.
“Hang on a sec,” you ask, “don’t we do this already?”
Data Linguistics
Why yes, car manufacturers do this already, using sensors placed throughout the vehicle and all the internal computers – throttle position sensors, slip angles, amounts of slip in the electronically-controlled diff, wheel spin indicators – to get a holistic picture of what you are asking the car versus what the car is actually doing moment to moment, and then, doing its best to make the driver’s wish come true.
So what’s new here? To answer that, answer this: What’s missing in all the current data acquisition systems? Tires. Tire information is what is missing. Sure, most modern cars have TPMS systems (tire pressure monitor), but what Pirelli has gone and done is put a number of sensors inside the tires themselves. And then they’ve come up with a common data language for the information the tires are generating, moment to moment, while on the move. From there, they seamlessly integrate that data with all the car’s other streams of data into a single, functioning whole.
So what? So there’s sensors inside the tire. What’s the big deal?
Photo: Pirelli.
Information Critical
A tire-embedded sensor can now be fully integrated into existing driver aids to improve performance and efficiency. If you can scoop up tons and tons of data concerning what your tires are going through – and remember, it all comes down to your tires eventually – then transmit that key data to the vehicle, your car can activate systems such as ABS and stability control. The vehicle can alter its setup on the fly for a safer, more comfortable drive, or, if you are at the track, alter the setup to maintain performance.
By accurately mapping the car’s weight, the vehicle’s central control unit can calculate precisely how many miles can be driven before recharging in an EV, for example. Monitoring temperatures from one tire to the next can more fully inform the traction control computer about possible road conditions, corner to corner (e.g. one corner could be colder and therefore prone to breaking traction).
Cyber Car informs the car’s computers about the tire’s vertical load, temperature, and pressure through the automaker’s factory interface, allowing timely intervention if the pressures go all skewwhiff. Tire maintenance becomes easier, thanks to feedback on tread wear and how tires should be seasonally rotated. Pirelli says the Cyber Car can even go so far as to offer bespoke services, such as valet and roadside assistance.
Photo: Pirelli.
(Not) Running On Empty
Think of it this way: What if you could analyze the blood gasses of a long distance runner in the middle of an Olympic event? Further, what if you could grab that data, say blood/oxygen levels, and provide that data through a Fit Bit wearable thing and also a Bluetooth earpiece? What if a runner could know, at a glance, that she’s got a lot of oxygen capacity left, so now’s the time to push that final lap kick a few hundred meters early. Get it?
The primary focus for various digital companies is gathering and manipulating and analyzing data. Amazon suggests products to you, and they’re right 95 percent of the time. Google can search for you and get the correct results at the top of the list. Car companies have been doing this already in certain, almost traditional ways.
Look at Ferrari’s E-Diff differential system. First developed in their Grand Prix cars, the E-Diff uses computers and incoming data streams for differential torque deployment to help the car turn more. And things like this can also be found in traction control systems, all-wheel drive architectures, ABS-as-supplementary-traction-control, and such. Cyber Car just takes that digitalization into a new era.
Future Applications
And the fact that Pirelli has made the data scheme a standard platform, it can be a literal plug-and-play situation, like getting a car with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It won’t matter if you don’t own an iPhone. When you do, the car’s infotainment system will be ready for it. The new Pirelli Cyber Car system will be on the market by the end of the year. What you do with it will be up to you, your lap times at the track, and your insurance agent.
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. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
Photos & Source: Pirelli.

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Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro: The Best Car In The World (Theoretically)

Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro: The Best Car In The World (Theoretically) Theoretically, racing improves the breed. Theoretically, win on Sunday, sell on Monday. Theoretically, Grand Prix is the pinnacle of all motorsports. Theoretically, aerodynamics is of paramount importance for all out performance. Theoretically, Adrian Newey is better at aerodynamics than Kelly Johnson.
If you make a Venn diagram of those above theories, theoretically they all overlap over the same point. This: The Aston Martin Valkyrie.
Theoretically, this is the best car in the world.
Theoretically.
Theoretically.
Jack Brabham, the great Australian triple-world champion has a personal motto (of sorts): “When the green flag drops, the bullshit stops.” In fact, that was the title of his autobiography (which is a pretty fun read, by the by). It is also one other thing: True.
Yeah, I know. “Truth” can be hard to know, especially in today’s world, what with all the hired manure slung out there. But in this case, we do know that Brabham’s axiom is, in fact, true. No matter what you say about your car, it only matters what it does on the road and on the track.
And what the facts, that is, the current tech specs, say about the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro, is that when it hits the track, nothing will be able to catch it. Nothing. Nothing that Porsche can put up against it. Nothing that Corvette can put up against it. Nothing that Mercedes can put up against it. Nothing that Ferrari can put up against it. Nothing.
That’s what they say . . .
I say bring it out. Back it off the hauler and run it at, oh, Le Mans is coming up, how about there? Bring it out for a little drive in the French countryside about three months from now on June 16th.
It’s a date, right?
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. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
For what it’s worth, here are the specs:
Engine: 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12 Hybrid.
Power Output: “in excess of 1100bhp.”
Downforce: “more than 1000kg.”
Weight: 1000kg.
Top Speed: 225mph.
Lateral Acceleration: “in excess of 3G” [yes, you read that right].
Production Run: 25.
Sales Status: All cars are sold.
Deliveries: Start in 2020.
In Person: Stand #2229, Hall 2 of the Palexpo Exhibition Centre, 88th Geneva International Motor Show.
Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro Gallery

Photos & Source: Aston Martin The Americas.

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Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept: The New Supra Perhaps?

Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept: The New Supra Perhaps? Man, Toyota has been drawing this out seemingly forever now. A certain stripe of gearhead has been hovering all over this since it was a mere rumor months and months ago. At first it was all “deny-deny-deny” and then it was all “maybe-maybe-maybe,” and that turned into “possibly, but we won’t show you” and now, this final tease. So what is here? What is Toyota showing us, and what does it portend for the upcoming Supra?
World Performer
No, this is not the new Toyota Supra that you lot have been slavering over for months now. This is the racing version of the new Toyota Supra, so wipe your face, stop that jabbering, and read on. Because beneath the bulges, aero bits, and flicks and trickery, is the new Toyota Supra. Somewhere, down underneath all of that.
This Supra – the GR Supra Racing Concept – is a compact, two door coupe-shaped thing with a front-engine/rear-wheel drive layout (of course!) (thankfully), which makes extensive use of lightweight materials. The GR Supra Racing Concept was ginned up by Toyota Gazoo Racing, the outfit that came to prominence in Europe in 2007. Gazoo went on to become the international umbrella organization for Toyota’s global sporting program and has competed in such diverse genres as the FIA World Rally Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
I have never heard any real explanation as to why they named themselves after an hallucinatory character from The Flintstones, however.
Toyota says the GR Supra Racing Concept represents its commitment to bring back the iconic sportscar. The Supra badge first appeared in 1978, and fans today likely recognize the car from films like The Fast and the Furious and video games like Gran Turismo. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Mystery Material
Obviously, the GR Supra Racing Concept is wrapped in overly-dramatic, meat-axe-styled bodywork. Note the comically large rear wing, for example. That’s there for the track, and although I would be very surprised if the upcoming Supra did not have some sort of aero appendage out back, I doubt it will be that eccentric. Seemingly, the entirety of the body panels are made from some sort of unnamed “strong but lightweight composite material.” Seriously, that’s all Toyota refers to it as: “strong but lightweight composite material.” Could be carbon fiber. Could be good old fiberglass. Who knows?
Larger Than Life
What we do know is that it’s used in the front and rear bumpers, and note how they are obviously wider than what you’d find on a street car; better to hide the huge tires/wheels from the air stream. The front splitter is also more extreme than on a road car, as are the rear diffuser, side skirts, door mirror housings, and the rear wing. All of those: diffuser, skirts, and the rear wing are obviously for race tracks only.
Yes, yes. It looks cool and radical and all that, but huge front splitters and low hanging sill extensions wouldn’t survive one trip down to the mall parking garage, now would they? The hood is also made from the same stuff and features extensively louvered air inlets. The windshield and side windows are made of plastic and we all know that ain’t road legal.
Known as the A40, the original Supra was followed by three further generations: the A60 in 1981, A70 in 1986, and A80 in 1993. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Under The Surface
What you don’t see, the stuff under the skin, is where it gets really interesting, and where some clues to the road car can be augured. The front and rear suspension has been lowered, but both ends use “original equipment components.” Smart! So Toyota is using the race model as a test laboratory for what we’ll see on the streets. Nice! You’ll also find BBS racing wheels shod with Michelin racing tires with your standard center locking nut. The brake system includes Brembo calipers and discs, and there is a racing-spec exhaust.
Cockpit Treatments
Naturally the cabin is as far removed from a street car as a jail cell is from a beachfront hotel room. See, there’s even bars like in a jail thanks to the required full competition roll cage. The built-in fire extinguisher is also along for the ride. The fuel and brake lines, pedal box, battery and wiring looms are all full competition standard. The doors are lined with carbon fiber panels (at least they named that material), the dashboard includes a “racing display,” and the OMP driver’s seat and harness will cosset you in relative safety.
The Italian safety equipment manufacturer also supplied the quick-release steering wheel equipped with a paddle shift system. Will the street version of the new Supra have those same paddle shifters, or will it get a traditional stick? That we don’t know yet.

Future Visions
What we do know, or at least can guess at, is that underneath all the aero junk and steroidal bulges is the overall shape and design of the (soon to be here) new Toyota Supra. If you can visualize losing all that stuff, or perhaps are good with Photoshop, you can get a pretty good idea of what the long-awaited Supra will look like.
And if you can squint a little bit harder, you can even visualize what the new Supra will look like sitting in your driveway. Stop drooling!
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. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept Gallery

Photos & Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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Letter From The UK: Do We Even Need Our Cars?

Letter From The UK: Do We Even Need Our Cars?
Great Britain is a small country. In area it is smaller than some of the individual United States. Unlike the vast America continent, it is pretty straightforward to get around and, in the past, we have gloried in a transport system that could get you anywhere you wanted to go.
Public Transport In The UK
What did the ancient Romans do for us? Well, for a start, they developed a network of cobbled roads that criss-crossed the country. Even today we use those same roads except that now they exist as usually two-lane blacktops. Over the centuries we built on that.
Unlike America, where the establishment of the first transcontinental railway was a brave and complex engineering marvel, the UK, upon the invention of the railway engine, quickly established a rail network that went everywhere. No town was too small not to have a branch line and a bus service. As the Victorians of the 19th century built and established roads, and subsequently developed the vehicles to use them, we luxuriated in a State-owned public transport system that was second to none.
And in typical British fashion we proceeded to ruin it.
Us Versus Them
The 20th century brought with it a mighty rise in power of the various Trade Unions, and workers demanded more and more rights and money. Standing against them was a management class steeped in Victorian values: The result was a stalemate and decades of industrial strike action from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. We, the travellers, got used to it and carried on.
Because of this, the public transport infrastructure went rapidly downhill thanks to a combination of inept bosses, antiquated buses and rolling stock, dirty stations and terminals, and staff who could not give a damn. Like a man who is given a gun but has no idea how to use it, we shot ourselves in the foot. Repeatedly.
Then along came The Iron Lady: Margaret Thatcher.
According to the American Public Transportation Association, more than 6,800 organizations provide public transportation in the United States. In 2016, Americans took 10.4 billion trips on average. Research shows public transportation saves the U.S. 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually.
Privatisation
Our Prime Minister in the 1980’s decided what was needed was for the transport services to be sold off to the highest bidders. It would, she declared, encourage competition and thus cheaper prices. That didn’t work either. As soon as private money got their greedy mitts on the system, unprofitable rail lines and bus services were axed and the prices went up. Now we have a transport system targetted at working commuters, albeit with the latest vehicles, that many people simply cannot afford to use or cannot access because they live in the country or outlying areas.
What we needed was . . .
The Motor Car
We have a thriving car industry that spans the globe. No matter that Britain’s antiquated road system is riddled with potholes and in desperate need of investment, we still prefer to travel by car. The convenience of the automobile is unquestioned. Door-to-door; it doesn’t get any better than that. Cars are safer and more economical than ever. That’s a fact; but there’s a downside.
They are subject to taxation when we buy them, when we put them on the road, when we fill them with fuel, and when we insure them. The motorist is the UK government’s cash cow. Running a car today is a very expensive business here in broken Britain and by-and-large it has to be questioned whether we need the things at all. This writer loves to drive but it would be nice to be transported once in a while, especially when I see trains flash by as I sit in yet another traffic jam.
Certainly, people, the young especially, living in urban areas, are foreswearing the auto in favour of public transport. In and around our towns and cities, public transport is plentiful and, although quite pricey, is still cheaper than car ownership, backed up by services from Uber and the like. I can see their point.
Uber passengers share a ride in India. Photo: Uber
Crossing The Country
The trouble is, I like to travel around and see new places. I once did an experiment. I calculated the cost and logistics of travelling between two places three hundred miles apart. Even pre-booking tickets for my wife and myself well in advance, the trip would have cost me three times the fuel and ancillary expenses had we travelled in our car. The car goes from door-to-door, public transport would have involved three train changes and a bus trip in both directions.
I think I’ve just answered my own question.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
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2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Sedan: The Performance-Oriented Prom Date

2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Sedan: The Performance-Oriented Prom Date Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ about! The latest AMG-tweaked C-Class just came out, and the basics look good: Power is up by 23 horses to 385 horsepower, the torque curve is broadened, zero to 60 times equate with a top o’the line Camaro or Mustang, and a blown V6 heading to all four wheels. Hey, isn’t that just an Audi S4 from a few years back?
I kid, I kid!
The 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Sedan is its own separate animal, not to be confused with other performance sedans. It is, in short, very much worth paying attention to. As far as Americans are concerned, this is about as small and performance-slanted as Mercedes is going to get. So if you like small and fast over big and fast and want something with a three-pointed star, this is your prom date.
Power & Performance
As with all Mercedes-Benz products, this thing is screwed together like panzer, swimming in tech features, safe as a bunker, and comfy as your couch. It’s all motivated down der Bahn by a 3.0-liter V6 engine putting out the aforementioned 385 horsepower and 384 lb-ft. of torque. That grunt happens in a comfortably broad 2,500 to 5,000 rpm band, making for a zero to 60 time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph. Which is electronically limited. Electronically limited? What’s up with that?!
That glorious 3.0-liter V6 biturbo engine is mated to an AMG-tuned 9-speed transmission with shorter shift times. “Defined ignition adjustments,” according to Mercedes-Benz, also provide faster gear shifts.
The AMG-spec 4MATIC four-wheel drive system has a rear-biased torque distribution, with a front/rear axle split of 31 to 69 percent. This configuration provides for higher lateral acceleration and improved traction, according to Mercedes-Benz. The single-stage transfer case of the four-wheel drive system is flange-mounted to the transmission as a separate system. Photo: MBUSA.
Exterior Design
Since this is the sporty C-Class, the exterior is not as plane-Jane as lesser brethren. A distinguishing feature is the AMG radiator grille and sculpted front bumper with additional aero flics – like how the side air curtains in the front bumper help guide the airstream, for example. The rear is also sporty looking with two round tailpipes in high-gloss chrome, and a rear bumper with its own side air curtain and diffuser to improve airflow. If that’s not enough, there’s now an optional AMG Night Package that has a more “expressive front splitter,” a reworked spoiler lip, broader side skirt inserts, and other high-gloss black treatments.
Wheelin’ & Dealin’
Also new for this year are the aerodynamically-optimized AMG light-alloy wheels. You get your choice: The AMG wheel with five twin spokes painted in tremolite grey with a high-sheen finish, size 7.5″ x 18″ with 225/45 R 18 tires at the front, and 8.5″ x 18″ with 245/40 R 18 tires at the rear – or – a different aero-design with five twin spokes, painted with accents in tantalite grey – or – high-gloss black in size 7.5″ x 19″ with 225/40 R 19 tires at the front, and 8.5″ x 19″ with 255/35 R 19 tires at the rear.
Got all that? Good.
The AMG Ride Control suspension is a hallmark of the new C43 Sedan. The basis is formed by the 4-link front axle and independent multi-link rear suspension. The AMG-specific kinematics and elastokinematics, with newly developed components, result in high camber stability when cornering. Further, the axial brake connection on the front axle allows for more precise handling. Photo: MBUSA.
Interior Treatments
Naturally the interior of the new Mercedes-AMG C43 has been reworked. Leather, DINAMICA microfiber, and aluminum are everywhere. Optional AMG Performance Seats provide lateral support along with heating and ventilation in three levels. The door center panels and dashboard are finished in MB-Tex with red topstitching. Aluminum sport pedals with black studs, trim elements in Natural Grain Black Ash Wood and Brushed Aluminum, the black roof liner, and the red seat belts finish off the sporty interior particulars.
More Options? Oh, you got options. Trim elements in Natural Grain Walnut Wood & Aluminum and Natural Grain Grey Oak Wood, if sir or madam would like. There is also the optional Dark Brown Linden Wood trim, an AMG trim in Carbon Fiber/Aluminum, and something called AMG Silver Fiber Glass. Upholstery options are equally as numerous.
Standard on the new C43 Sedan is a 10.25-inch media display with a resolution of 1920 x 720 pixels. Photo: MBUSA.
Share & Compare
And most interesting of all? The data logger. The AMG C43 now comes with an on-board system for recording performance data when driving on race tracks called AMG Track Pace. It provides a wealth of vehicle-specific data recorded ten times per second. The system allows you to slice and dice your performance on any given track (many are already pre-installed) and share your experiences and data with other AMG drivers via Facebook, YouTube or the AMG Private Lounge. No, seriously.
In Person & Availability
The 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Sedan will be seen in the flesh at the Geneva International Motor Show until the 18th before arriving in U.S. dealerships by the end of 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. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Gallery

Photos & Source: MBUSA.
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