Automotive

2017 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD Review

2017 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD Review

The 2017 Mazda CX-9 offers up three-row seating, abundant features, and plenty of safety tech for growing families. But it’s the driving dynamics that set this family hauler apart from the seven-passenger SUV segment. In the top Signature trim, the CX-9 is exploring new territory, and that puts it up there with some of the luxury brands.
It’s the most luxurious in this class.
We recently drove the 2017 Mazda CX-9 Signature trim with all-wheel drive.
What’s New For 2017
Not much has changed except for the Mazda CX-9 Touring trim now comes standard with Smart City Brake Support. On the Signature trim, it comes standard as well.
Features & Options
The top-of-the line 2017 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD ($44,315) comes standard with plenty of features for families. It has 20-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, tri-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, 60/40-split folding second-row seats, 50/50-split folding third-row seats, and a rearview camera.
It also comes with heated mirrors, a power lift gate with adjustable height stops, keyless ignition and entry, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, low-speed emergency braking (Smart City Brake Support), heated front seats, premium leather upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat (four-way front passenger seat), an 8-inch infotainment display, and two USB ports in the second-row center armrest.
Other features include LED fog lights, automatic wipers, roof rails, a sunroof, and adaptive cruise control.
Safety tech includes lane keeping assist, rear parking sensors, upgraded frontal collision warning and mitigation systems, and a heads-up display. Driver-seat memory functions, retractable sunshades for the middle-row seats, aluminum interior trim, and additional interior lighting are also included. Navigation, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, and satellite radio are standard; the Signature variant also adds exterior LED accent lighting and rosewood interior trim.
Total MSRP including destination: $45,855.

Interior Highlights
Comfortable and upscale are the two best words to describe the cabin of the XC-9 Signature trim. This top-trim makes liberal use of plush materials on the inside that we usually see in premium luxury vehicles. The fit and finish is tight, and the quality of materials are the best in this three-row crossover class. The CX-9 feels larger than it looks on the outside, and there’s plenty of room for taller adults.
The front seats are extra comfy and they won’t leave you tired at the end of the day, as we found out on two longer trips to Colorado Springs this week. The interior is extra comfortable for those long commutes, and for taking the family on a trip to the mountains for a weekend ski trip. The second row will easily accommodate two adults, and the third row is ideal for kids. There are two complaints we have, however: The front and rear doors are relatively short and we found ourselves hitting our head when we got out. There’s no heated steering wheel, which is a surprise for this top trim.
The CX-9 will hold as much cargo as most families will need, although it’s less than competing SUVs and crossovers. The power liftgate made it easy to load the extra cargo we had this week.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs

The 2017 Mazda CX-9 is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 227 horsepower and a healthy 310 lb-ft. of torque. It sends power to all four wheels by way of a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard on the Signature model.
EPA fuel mileage estimates are 20/26 city/highway and 23 combined mpg.
Driving Dynamics
We think the CX-9 drives much smaller than its actual size. It has Mazda’s sporty nature, which driving enthusiasts will appreciate. It’s nimble in city traffic and has a smooth, comfortable ride on the open highway. The cabin is especially quiet due to the raked body style with very little wind noise even at 75 mph.
On curvy mountain roads west of Denver this week, we experienced some body lean, but overall, the CX-9 powers around the tight curves with little effort. The 2.5-liter turbocharged engine has more power than you would think for an engine this size and will satisfy most drivers.
The CX-9 had no trouble passing slower traffic, even at altitude in the rarefied air near Evergreen, Colorado. We had no trouble accelerating quickly when merging – the 6-speed automatic transmission with Sport Mode is smooth and executes quick shifts when you need the extra boost. We had a heavy snow storm hit the west side of Denver that left us shut down for over an hour when they closed I-70. The all-wheel drive worked flawlessly and we had no trouble in the slick ice and snow that left others by the side of the road.
That said, we would characterize the CX-9 as one that gives the driver a feeling of confidence.
Conclusion
The 2017 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD trim delivers a level of luxury often seen in more expensive brands. Those who need a three-row crossover for commuting or taking the family on a ski trip on snow-packed roads will find the CX-9 will meet their needs. It delivers an impressive degree of comfort thanks to a smooth ride, quiet cabin, and a stylish raked design.
For more information about the CX9’s different trim levels, visit this page here.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2017 Mazda CX-9 Gallery

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2017 Mazda CX-9 Official Site
Photos: Mazda North American Operations

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2018 Dodge Durango SRT: Not Your Father’s SUV

2018 Dodge Durango SRT: Not Your Father’s SUV

Well, Dodge has finally done it. The mad monks from the SRT Division have gotten loose, and got their hands on an innocent, mild-mannered SUV, the 2018 Durango. In this case, they have gone and stuffed a 6.4 Hemi into it and called it the “Dodge Charger of the Full-size SUV Segment.”
We at Automoblog couldn’t be happier. Look, we wear our biases on our sleeves here. Okay, maybe I shouldn’t speak for all of us (although I’m 99% sure of this) but at least I think that any car that’s good (as it is) can be made better by more power.
In the case of the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT, that turns out to be a lot of power. Specifically 475, which strikes me as both “a lot” and “quite adequate” amounts of horsepower.
Powerful Dialogue
Does any other car manufacturer do this? Are their any other hot rod SUVs out there? Porsche makes some pretty hairy Cayenne models, as does BMW with their X Series and Mercedes with AMG-plastered this and that. But when it comes to American iron, the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT is pretty much it, and the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT is about as ‘Murican you can get with a capital M.
Like seemingly all Mopar products, the discussion starts, and pretty much finishes under the hood. There you find the aforementioned 475 horsepower engine. The plant is, of course, a Hemi (or as Dodge prefers it: HEMI, in all caps, like it’s justifiably screaming at you). In this case, it’s displacing a healthy 392-cubic-inches. Dodge says the new 2018 Durango SRT is the most powerful three-row SUV and I am not going to quibble with them.
Torque? 470 lb.-ft. The exhaust system is new and tuned to sound like all high-performance Mopars.
“This is what you get, when you take everything great about the Durango and combine it with the performance of the Charger SRT: a 12-second quarter mile, toy-hauling, three-row muscle car,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler, and Fiat – FCA North America. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Stamped & Certified
Even though the Dodge Durango weighs slightly less than a UPS truck (I’m guessing) Mopar says it’s the fastest SUV you can get. Oh, I’m sorry, Dodge doesn’t say that, the friggin’ NHRA says that. Yup Dodge went and handed the Durango SRT over to the National Hot Rod Association, the people who run professional drag racing, and the NHRA certified that the Durango SRT can pull quarter-mile times of 12.9 seconds, and hit 0-60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds.
I’ll let those numbers sink in – go ahead and compare them to what your car (your current car, not your truck) is capable of laying down – while I ponder the fact that, when I was in high school, up the street from me was one of the local hot shoes who thought he was the business with his Pontiac GTO. He was turning quarters in the mid-14s.
This is a truck, gentle readers. This is something with utility.
It just doesn’t just haul you know what; it can also haul things. And people. The Durango SRT has best-in-class towing capability of 8,600 pounds. It has three rows of seats. You can pick up the kid’s soccer team, realize you’re late for the match, step on it, and make it on time. Think of the unabated joyful screaming from the little nippers as garnish on the side of the plate.
The 2018 Dodge Durango SRT has functional center air-inlet ducts, flanked by heat extractors on the hood that keep the engine bay cool by removing hot air from the engine compartment. Photo: FCA US LLC.

Style & Design
It is not exactly a sleeper, however. There are new exterior bits and bobs like a wide body exterior design and a functional SRT hood – that’s the one with the center air inlet ducts and heat extractors off to the sides. The front fascia is new and the lower valence houses a new cold-air duct and LED fog lamps. A new SRT-inspired, body-color lower fascia with Gloss Black accents decorates the rear.
The 4-inch dual exhaust pipes are finished in Nickel Chrome and make for a very pleasing touch.
The Durango SRT is also has unique badging on the liftgate that denotes the new performance AWD system, and it’s available in 11 exterior colors, so you should be able to find something that suits your fancy.
On the inside, there’s standard leather and suede, with available high-performance Demonic Red Laguna leather seating. Cute, huh? There’s also new carbon-fiber trim to distinguish Durango SRT’s performance interior. Other interior treatments come in the way of technology and connectivity with the Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen. In there, driver’s will have access to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and many different apps.
The Uconnect system also houses the SRT Performance Pages, where the Durango’s various performance stats and specs can be viewed in real-time.
The TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission takes into account variables, including engine torque gradients, kick-down events, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, grade changes, tire slip, and downshift detection to determine the appropriate transmission shift map. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Transmission Tech
The SRT’s transmission is the venerable TorqueFlite, only this one has been seriously monkeyed with. It’s an eight-speed automatic slush box specifically calibrated for the Dodge Durango SRT, with optimized shift points to deliver maximum torque to all four wheels. The transmission is operated via a new, driver-oriented electronic T-shifter. This is standard on all 2018 Durango models and provides you with instinctive gear selection – there’s also paddles behind the steering wheel to make choosing ratios easy and fun.
Drive Modes
The Durango SRT has an all-new, seven-mode drive system to give the driver (that would be you) the capability to adjust the settings to exploit performance or comfort. Out of the seven, there are two really worth mentioning: Sport Mode and Track Mode. The Sport Mode, which is new, reduces shift times by up to 50 percent versus Auto Mode and delivers up to 65 percent of the 392 HEMI engine’s torque to the rear wheels. Sounds fun, yes?
The Track Mode, also new, delivers all-out, track-oriented performance with shift times lowered to 160-milliseconds, and up to 70 percent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels – this for for a more, a-hem, pronounced rear-wheel drive experience.
See, that sounded rational, didn’t it? Reading about “Track Mode” on an SUV! Just how bananas are these guys? They seriously have accounted for the possibility of you taking a truck out on the track.
The 2018 Dodge Durango SRT rides on a short-and long-arm (SLA) independent front suspension with coil springs, specially tuned Bilstein adaptive damping suspension (ADS), upper-and lower-control arms (“A” arms), and a stabilizer bar. In the rear, a specially tuned multi-link suspension design features coil springs, Bilstein ADS, aluminum lower control arms, independent upper links (tension and camber), plus a separate toe link, and a stabilizer bar. Photo: FCA US LLC.

Suspension & Braking
It’s not all just a big whompin’-stompin’ engine though, oh no. The performance-tuned AWD system is new and there’s a complex Active Damping System that opens and closes damper valves, according to which driving mode you choose. The springs are stiffer all around, 3 percent up front and 16 percent out back, along with an 18 percent stiffer rear sway bar. Dodge says this gives Durango SRT drivers “outstanding high-speed cornering capability.”
Okay, but you go find out whether that’s true or not first, then I’ll take it for a drive.
They also point out the 120-inch wheelbase and how it works in conjunction with the AWD system to deliver solid performance.
Yes, you can stop this thing. New Brembo high-performance brakes are fitted with six-piston calipers up front and four-piston calipers at the rear. Yes, they are vented rotors at all four corners. Yes, they are roughly the size of pizzas, measuring 15 inches up front and 13.8 inches out back. Oh and the fronts are slotted.
Availability
Here’s a nice little bit Dodge throws in when you sign on the dotted line, purchasing one of these rides: All who buy a new Durango SRT will receive a full-day session at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. Nice!
The 2018 Dodge Durango SRT will arrive at dealerships during the fourth quarter of this year. I’ve told the rest of the staff here at Automoblog they can get in line behind me, and then eat my dust.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
2018 Dodge Durango SRT Gallery

Photos & Source: FCA US LLC

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Aston Martin AM-RB 001: Airflow, Energy & Art

Aston Martin AM-RB 001: Airflow, Energy & Art

Giving Adrian Newey a clean sheet of paper and a functionally unlimited budget is sort of like giving the same to J. Robert Oppenheimer. Unsurprisingly, the results will be pretty similar: A considerable crater on the desert floor, and the sand turned into glass.
For those of you that don’t know, Newey is the head tech guy at Red Bull Racing, the F1 team funded by that anti-freeze/caffeine drink that makes you shake for the next 34 hours. Before that he was at Jaguar’s F1 team. Before that, McLaren. Before that, Williams. Before that, he designed a Leyton House March F1 car that nearly won.
Air Time
Now, I’m not going to say that Newey has made a pact with devil or anything, but he is a master of the dark art of aerodynamic engineering. Gifted doesn’t begin to describe the guy’s ability. Kelly Johnson, a fellow who knew a thing or two about aerodynamic engineering, is famous for saying, “aerodynamics is easy, once you can think like air.”
Near as I can tell, Newey is air.
Look at any of the competition crushing cars he made for Red Bull or McLaren or Williams. Want an even more up to date specimen? Have a look at the AM-RB 001, the hypercar he’s designed for Aston Martin. I swear, I’ve seen more irregular-shaped dolphins. From certain angles, there seems to be more space than car. The underbody and wheel treatments alone are staggering in both beauty and aerodynamic intent.
Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
Beating Pulse
The company says “the heart of every Aston Martin is its engine,” which Newey probably has more than a few quibbles with, but hey, the badge does say “Aston Martin” and not “Adrian Newey,” so the Gaydon, England company gets to call the shots.
In the case of the AM-RB 001, Aston pulled out all the stops and went with Cosworth to design and manufacture the AM-RB 001’s bespoke, high-revving 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine. No power specs have been given, but I’d be very surprised if the 6.5-liter Cossy put out less than 700 horsepower.
The mill is bolted to a 7-speed paddle-shift transmission, designed and manufactured by Ricardo, to Red Bull Advanced Technologies’ specification. In other words, the transmission is not going to be that much different than what Ricardo builds for Red Bull’s F1 cars.
Synergistic Design
Oh, and did I mention this thing is a hybrid? Well, it is. The AM-RB 001 lightweight hybrid battery system is supplied by Rimac. Lightweight is also the watchword for the carbon fiber chassis. The AM-RB 001’s MonoCell (that’s Aston Martin’s term for the monocoque chassis) is constructed from carbon fiber by Multimatic, long term racing supplier. Multimatic also worked with Aston Martin on projects such as the One-77 and Vulcan. All this profligate lightness is focused on the goal of a power-to-weight ratio of 1:1 – in other words, one bhp for every kilogram of weight.
You wanna stop? Say hello to Alcon and Surface Transforms, who will supply the lightweight, high performance brake calipers and carbon discs required to whoa this brute up. Bosch gets the nod to handle the control units. Engine Control Unit (ECU), Traction Control Unit (TCU), and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) are all specific to the AM-RB 001.
Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.

Innovative Art
“Much like Formula One, designing, engineering, and building a car like the AM-RB 001 is a massive team effort. To achieve great things you need to surround yourself with the best people. Experience, creativity, energy, diligence, and perfectionism are absolute must-have qualities in every area of the project. Having great technical partners such as those working with us is both reassuring and motivating. Together we aim to produce an innovative piece of engineering art,” Newey said.
This was just before he disappeared in a puff of purplish smoke, like a fluttering of a raven’s wings.
When? Soon. How much? A lot. How many? Not many. Only 150 AM-RB 001s are planned, including all remaining prototypes, with 25 additional track-only versions. The first deliveries are expected in 2019.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

Photos & Source: Aston Martin The Americas

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Black Is The New Black: GMC Special Editions Coming

Black Is The New Black: GMC Special Editions Coming GMC fans will receive a new trim package later this year. The 2019 Terrain and Acadia Black Editions give buyers a little extra flare from the factory. The GMC Black Editions arose after company officials reviewed internal data showing roughly one in five new SUV buyers spends extra money to personalize their vehicle.
“The new Terrain and Acadia Black Editions perfectly capture the identity of the GMC brand by offering a bold and confident exterior appearance,” explained Duncan Aldred, Vice President of Global GMC. “They give our customers more choices within the premium SUV segment to distinguish their vehicle and themselves.”
As the name would suggest, the Black Editions are characterized by their darkened exterior treatments.
Terrain Black Edition
Available on SLE and SLT grades, the package includes 19-inch gloss black aluminum wheels and a darkened grille insert. There are black mirror caps, roof rails, and badging, along with other exterior accents. The 2019 GMC Terrain Black Edition will be offered in five colors: Ebony Twilight Metallic, Summit White, Graphite Gray Metallic, and Satin Steel Metallic. A new Sedona Metallic will be available later on.
Acadia Black Edition
Available on SLT grades, the package features 20-inch machined aluminum wheels with black accents, a black grille insert, and black headlamp and taillamp details. Similar to the Terrain, the Acadia Black Edition comes in five colors: Ebony Twilight Metallic, Summit White, and White Frost Tricoat. Dark Sky Metallic and Smokey Quartz Metallic are new for 2019.
Pricing & Availability
The GMC Black Editions will be available this summer. GMC has not yet announced pricing, although expect it to be competitive relative to other special edition SUVs on the market. GMC crossovers were up 19 percent in February alone, with the Terrain posting a 17 percent year-over-year increase, and the Acadia was up 22 percent.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photo & Source: GMC.

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These Very Stylish Infiniti Vehicles Are Headed To The Big Apple

These Very Stylish Infiniti Vehicles Are Headed To The Big Apple Infiniti will roll into the New York International Auto Show with two specially-equipped SUVs. The 2019 QX60 and QX80 Limited will have more premium appointments than their non-Limited counterparts, and will serve to bolster sales for both product lines. Infiniti has been making the rounds on this year’s auto show circuit, showcasing their SUVs in particular.
The automaker says the Limited versions of the QX60 and QX80 have treatments that were “designed to make a statement.” Here is a rundown of what those treatments are – it’s up to you if they actually make a statement.
2019 QX60 Limited
The QX60, already one of Infiniti’s top sellers, receives a dark chrome front grille and fog lamp finishers in its Limited skin. The roof rails and cross bar have a darker coat of premium paint, and the rear bumper is covered in a gloss black tint. A “Limited” rear badge denotes this QX60 from the rest of the pack as it rides on 20-inch dark aluminum-alloy wheels.
Luxury treatments on the inside include leather-wrapped grab handles, dark silver wood accents, and a black headliner and pillars. All three rows feature a stone-colored semi-aniline leather with quilting, perforation, and contrast stitching and piping. It even comes with special floor and cargo mats with metal logos. Why? Because Limited!
Like all QX60s, the Limited is powered by a 3.5-liter V6, creating 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft. of torque.
2019 QX60 Limited. Photo: Infiniti Motor Company Ltd.
2019 QX80 Limited
Drivers who demand large and luxurious will likely opt for the QX80 Limited. This big mother rides on dark machine-finished, 22-inch forged aluminum-alloy wheels. Note the stainless steel running boards with rubber grips so drivers can actually get inside the vehicle.
And once inside, Infiniti says the “resemblance to a modern luxury space is purely intentional.” Thank goodness because we at this publication look poorly on automakers who unwittingly make their vehicles nice inside. That said, the 2019 QX80 Limited will feature two-tone semi-aniline leather and Alcantara-appointed seats, which come with their own special quilting, contrast piping, and stitching. The steering wheel and shift knob are leather-wrapped and matte silver open-pore Ash wood runs throughout. There’s even “branded welcome lightning” becasue Limited.
Those with a growing family may appreciate the available seating for seven. In this configuration, the second row has captain’s chairs whereas the third row becomes a bench. Also for the family, an available Theater Package has headrest screens for rear passengers who want to play a game or binge watch a show.
The 5.6-liter V8 creates 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft. of torque, and powers either the rear or both axles, the latter being known as “All-Mode 4WD.” The four-wheel drive system operates via a dial on the center console. Infiniti says this provides four-wheel traction when conditions require and off-road capability when the driver needs it.
2019 QX80 Limited. Photo: Infiniti Motor Company Ltd.
In Person & Availability
These “Limited” machines will be on display at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, which opens to the public on March 30th. They are expected to arrive at Infiniti dealerships beginning this spring and summer, with pricing info available at that time.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
2019 QX60 Limited Gallery

2019 QX80 Limited Gallery

Photos & Source: Infiniti Motor Company Ltd.

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Letter From The UK: The British Pothole Crisis

Letter From The UK: The British Pothole Crisis
As drivers we are admonished by our leaders to do better and be mindful of all the road safety rules and regulations. Commit a minor misdemeanour, however innocently or accidentally, and a camera has your number or a policeman pulls you over and your billfold is suddenly, painfully, lighter. That’s how it works here on the British Isles and I daresay it is the same in the USA.
Big Promises
Successive UK governments (motto: If you can’t fight, wear a big hat) have made road safety a top priority. This is as it should be but, like a boasting bully, they scarcely ever follow through when it comes to supporting the automotive infrastructure. In short, we are supposed to drive better but we have to do it on increasingly inferior roads.
In the UK, road maintenance is carried out by two different agencies. Local or regional town and country councils must maintain the minor roads and The Highways Agency must maintain the arterial routes, motorways, and expressways.
Friends, it just ain’t happening.
A Bit Of History
When cars were invented, it didn’t take long for governments to realise there was money in it for them. As vehicles improved the requirement of better roads became greater and it is the driver who paid. Our motoring taxes work like this: A substantial amount of the cost of a gallon of fuel is made up of not one, but two, taxes. When we buy a new car, part of the cost is tax. When we insure it there is tax to pay, and every year thereafter we have to pay another tax known as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).
The name changes from time to time but, historically, VED has always been known as “Road Tax.” The motorist who pays expects that money to be used to maintain the roads. These days, the government don’t see it that way and trouser the cash to spend on diversity training or lavish lunches in both our Houses of Parliament.
The result is that drivers pay more and get less. Sound familiar?
Pothole Crisis
The number one gripe among British drivers is the pothole. We have more holes in our roads than the moon has craters. Driving on the surface of the moon is a luxury we can only dream of. Thanks to literally decades of under-investment, some of our roads aren’t much better than Peruvian goat tracks. In fact, goats steer clear. The backlog of repairs runs into the many BILLIONS of our British Pounds and we have passed the point of no return.
Sure, the “authorities” will tell you that every year a couple of million potholes are repaired. This is largely true but it is money wasted because the repairs are often so inferior that as soon as there’s a frost or heavy rain, the repair material pops out again to form more dangerous gravel on the side of the road. Potholes are like those hardy weeds that grow in your yard; those things just keep on coming back.
The solution is clear to all except those who have their heads buried ostrich-like in the sand. Every year more and more cars appear on our roads. Wear and tear of surfaces is inevitable. This is why a full and comprehensive road programme is required. Instead of patching, remake. Instead of repairing, renew.
We, the motorists of Britain, are not holding our breath.
Winter conditions can have an adverse impact on a nation’s roadways. For example, in the State of Michigan, a significant portion of the MDOT’s annual maintenance budget is dedicated to pothole repair – over 8 million alone in fiscal year 2017. According to MDOT, potholes are caused when moisture seeps into the pavement, then freezes, expands and thaws, creating a gap in the pavement. Photo: Mircea Ploscar.
Road Casualties
This writer has no figures as to how many accidents are caused by potholes; that it happens though is certainly true. Potholes that are severe can at best blowout tires and at worst damage suspension. That’s an accident waiting to happen right there. The aftermath of road crashes costs the UK economy in excess of £15.6 billion every year. Where do you think that money could be better spent?
It doesn’t stop there. Our current driving test is, to be fair, pretty comprehensive, but more could be done. That we could help reduce new driver risk in the first six months of solo driving is a priority, and one of the aspects that pertains is pothole awareness. A new driver will not know what to expect when a wheel drops into a chasm until it’s too late.
And Finally
When a car is damaged by a pothole we may choose to claim it on our auto insurance. Insurers don’t like customers claiming; they take it personally. Thus some motorists accept the financial hit and pay up themselves, then try and claim back the money from the organisation responsible for the road maintenance.
It is possible; you can make a claim and win, but it’s a Stygian hell of malevolence that awaits. There is nothing more labyrinthine and sloth-like than a local government department. Yet, how else can a taxpayer penalise the people he pays to do a job if not through litigation? Otherwise it’s all just highway robbery.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Cover Photo: Jacob Ode.

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2019 VW Arteon To Offer Sporty R-Line Package

2019 VW Arteon To Offer Sporty R-Line Package Volkswagen will offer the sporty R-Line package for the 2019 VW Arteon. The R-Line trim provides drivers with additional performance-inspired design elements throughout the car. The Arteon R-Line package will be formally introduced during the upcoming 2018 New York International Auto Show, which opens to the pubic on Friday, March 30th. The new Arteon made its official debut in Chicago in early February.
Exterior Additions
With the R-Line package, the 2019 VW Arteon receives a set of special 19- or 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, along with unique air inlets and cover panels. R-Line badging, a front bumper that incorporates the air intakes, and a gloss black spoiler complete the exterior treatments.
Interior Elements
Arteon R-Line models will include contrast stitching on the steering wheel and shift knob, along with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, metallic décor pieces, and a black headliner. Other interior treatments include stainless-steel sport pedals and stainless-steel door sills with the R-Line logo.
Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Power & Performance
The 2019 VW Arteon features a 2.0-liter turbocharged TSI engine with direct-injection. The engine creates 268 horsepower, 258 lb-ft. of torque, and is paired to an eight-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard but VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system is available on every trim level.
Availability & In Person
The 2019 Arteon goes on sale this fall with the R-Line package available at that time. In addition to debuting the R-Line trim, VW will also unveil a concept version of a new five-passenger SUV at the New York International Auto Show. The new SUV will be a variant of the seven-passenger Atlas designed and engineered for the American market.

Photos & Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

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2019 Audi A6 To Feature Technology You Can Interrupt

2019 Audi A6 To Feature Technology You Can Interrupt The 2019 Audi A6 will make its U.S. debut at the upcoming New York International Auto Show. Audi promises the new A6 will offer the latest technology, better driving dynamics, and increased comfort. The interior of the new A6 is larger than the outgoing model too, so occupants can look forward to more head and shoulder room. In advance of the festivities in New York, here is what we know so far about the 2019 Audi A6.
Touch & Go
The new Audi A6 is a rolling bin of tech-goodness, starting first with the MMI touch response system. The rotary dial and traditional controls from the previous model are gone in favor of two high-resolution displays. The MMI touch response operates in a familiar fashion, through the use drag-and-drop features. The menu structure, including the search function, works like a smartphone, and the main menu tiles and direct access bar can be configured individually. Over 30 shortcut buttons can be stored so drivers can configure their own preferences.
Both displays have special, anti-fingerprint coatings and anti-glare layers, making them easier to clean and see. The outermost layer is tempered so it’s more scratch-resistant.
Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Talk & Go
The 2019 Audi A6 will take spoken requests and commands from drivers. This can include speaking things like “I’m cold” or “call Emily” or “where is the nearest coffee shop?” In each instance, the 2019 Audi A6 will respond accordingly, with things like “what temperature would you like to set the cabin to?” The dialogue manager will ask clarifying questions if necessary and offer other choices if applicable.
Audi also, quite hilariously, says the system “accepts being interrupted.”
Mobility Management
The myAudi app, launching later this year, offers A6 owners a special feature called myAudi Navigation. Essentially, the route to a given destination can be passed back and forth between the driver’s phone and their A6. Said route could begin on a smartphone, but continue through the car’s on-board system once the vehicle is started.
Power & Performance
Audi is slim on the details, but they do say “innovative suspension solutions” make the new A6 “noticeably more dynamic.” A new damping system is said to provide more precise feedback and higher levels of comfort, be it a cruise around town or a long jaunt on the highway.
An all-new turbo V6 is paired with a new 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which supports the engine and serves as the vehicle’s primary electrical source.
Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Styling & Design
While such things are always subjective, the A6 does showcase Audi’s latest design language. Following the cues of the A8 and A7, the 2019 A6 is characterized by larger surfaces, nicely sculpted edges, and visible body lines. From the side, three distinctive lines actually reduce the visual height of the A6. The roof line, which tapers into the flat C-pillars, encompasses the silhouette while the shorter trunk ends in a curved edge for better aerodynamic performance.
Pricing & In Person
Audi did not disclose pricing or the date the 2019 A6 will be on sale. Expect to see it, in the meantime, at the New York International Auto Show, which opens to the public on Friday, March 30th.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
2019 Audi A6 Gallery

Photos & Source: Audi of America, Inc.

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McLaren Senna GTR: A Really Fast Car With A Face Only A Mother Could Love

McLaren Senna GTR: A Really Fast Car With A Face Only A Mother Could Love This is the McLaren Senna GTR, the track-only version of the McLaren Senna hyper-road car. And it is, somehow, even worse looking than the street version. Look, I know that Borrum demands you make certain aerodynamic sacrifices upon their altar, but if this is the result, perhaps you should start questioning your god’s aesthetic decisions. Seriously.
Power & Performance
Air can do fantastic things, if you know how to treat it. In the case of the McLaren Senna GTR, it can screw its plug-ugly ass down to the tar-Macadam of a race track with 2,205 lbs. of downforce. That aero-capability combines with a weight around 2,641 lbs., and even more power and torque from the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 found in the road car, which already puts out an upsetting 789 horsepower and 590 lb-ft. of torque. With a bump now to at least 814 horsepower, the Senna GTR will be considerably faster in a straight line.
Combine all that with a race-style transmission (I’m figuring a full dog box set up), revised double wishbone suspension, and full-on Pirelli race slicks, and it’s easy to believe McLaren when they say the Senna GTR posts the quickest McLaren circuit lap times other than a Formula 1 car. The Senna GTR uses the same carbon fiber Monocage III structure as the road-going version, which still provides more than enough core strength and rigidity for a out-and-out track car. The rest of the technical specs will be confirmed later this year.
Photo: McLaren Automotive.
Form & Function
“Form follows function” is the McLaren design philosophy, which I would love to see here, but all I can clock to is how the McLaren Senna GTR looks like a drawing on little Mikey Bay’s notebook, circa 8th grade. It is somehow worse than the normal Senna’s catalogue of bad design ideas only with tacky race graphics added. The Senna GTR does have a wider track and new fenders, front and back, with a new wheel design specifically for circuit use. For what that’s worth.
The front splitter of the McLaren GTR is a hilariously over-done and over-extended affair that, combined with the side skirts, has about the surface area of 1.1 pool tables. Obviously that Wyoming-sized-and-shaped splitter is larger than the road-car version (duh!) and contributes to improved front aerodynamic performance (also duh!). Add to this list the rear diffuser, which is both larger and extends further back. The rear deck sits lower than any previous McLaren, which aids aerodynamic performance.
Woking even took a crack at the doors, pushing the outer skin in as far as possible towards the center of the car so airflow is better channeled. There’s also that race track standard polycarbonate “ticket” window, which is not found on the road-legal McLaren Senna.

All You Need
All of this is part of McLaren’s focus on giving customers a track-fixated version across their full range of cars. McLaren has even gone so far as to start a single-make race series as part of the Pure McLaren track events. Yes, Pure McLaren. All you need is an International D-grade comp license and McLaren takes care of everything else. It’s a full “arrive and drive” setup that currently starts with the race-prepped 570S GT4. Oh, and money, it takes that too. Lots of it. Yup, you only need three things: an International D-grade competition license, your McLaren, and money. Boxcars and boxcars of money.
Pricing & Availability
If you want to buy one (and most of you would I’d bet) you can contact McLaren, as they’d be more than interested in talking with you about spending vast quantities of your money. “Expressions of interest” (which is about the most British thing I’ve read today) were taken at this year’s Geneva Motor Show and those “expressions of interest” can still be expressed up to 75 confirmed orders, then they shut off the factory line in Woking, England where the car will be hand-assembled. Each will be priced around $1.4 million.
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.
McLaren Senna GTR Gallery

Photos & Source: McLaren Automotive.

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