Ford Escape Hybrid On The Way, How About A Chevy Equinox Hybrid?
And a GMC Terrain Hybrid, to boot.
Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for Feb. 17th
Each week, Criswell Chevrolet’s Mike Furman delivers new Corvette Stingrays, Grand Sports, Z06s and ZR1s to his customers who come from all parts of the country to work with the nation’s top individual Corvette seller.
It was a busy week for Mike and when you hear how many test drives he went on with potential buyers this week, you’ll agree!
Saturday Morning Corvette Comic: Who’s a Good Dog!
Most GMC Sierra HD Buyers Opt For Denali Trim With Duramax V-8 Engine
Some interesting stats about GMC's biggest pickups.
Chevrolet Discounts Equinox By $3,500 In February 2019
But it's available exclusively to current owners and lessees of GM vehicles.
2018 Volkswagen Atlas SE Long-Term Update 1: Tire Killer!
The light goes green. The front tires jump, chirp as they lose traction, then settle as I pull away from the line. Such has been my experience with the Volkswagen Atlas. And before you jump to conclusions and assume I’m gunning it at every stoplight, let me assure you that I am not being overly aggressive in my acceleration. Unfortunately, our V-6-equipped brute is not equipped with the $1,800 optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, which means the entirety of the 266 lb-ft is directed forward overwhelming the limits of the front tires. And that’s when the ground is dry. When it rains, luckily a rare event in Southern California, you really have to let the Atlas begin to roll without giving it any throttle input in order to mitigate tire slippage. I would hesitate to drive in wetter, colder climates that could see snow or ice without replacing its current 245/60R18 Continental CrossContact LX Sport tires.
The front-end traction is not the only driving characteristic that reduces my confidence in the Atlas’s overall handling. Like a 4,200-pound Great Dane puppy, it bounds places, full of unnecessary movements and unsure of how to control its enormous extremities. My commute includes a section of rough coastal road, and once the bumps, drops, twists, and turns start, I never feel like the Atlas settles until I get back to a smooth, level road.
Despite the Atlas’s shortcomings, the generously sized VW has become a favorite of our video crew, who regularly uses it to haul multiple people as well as countless cases of equipment. The cavernous Atlas, with its 96.8 cubic feet of cargo room, provides ample room to store their stuff and still have room to work out of on the road. With two USB ports servicing the front passengers, two for the second row, and one 12-volt plug per row, the Atlas has plenty of power options to support the needs of passengers in the first two rows. Absent from the Atlas’ interior: USB ports for the third row as well as a 110-volt outlet, which is much handier than 12-volt plugs requiring inverters in order to plug most electronics in. The missing USB and 110-volt outlets are what keep the Atlas from joining the true family hauler ranks alongside minivans and full-size SUVs.
The cavernous cargo area is truly impressive with the second and third rows folded. Read more about our long-term 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SE:The post 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SE Long-Term Update 1: Tire Killer! appeared first on Motortrend.
GM Stock Climbs 2 Percent During Week Of February 11, 2019
Slow and steady wins the race.
2020 Cadillac XT6 Presented In Canada For The First Time
Hot on the heels of reveals in the United States and China.
Refreshing or Revolting: 2020 Subaru Legacy
Subaru has fully redesigned the Legacy sedan, but you’d never know it. The model sits on a new platform and features new technologies, but the exterior design changes are pretty minimal. That’s not surprising given Subaru’s conservative attitude toward vehicle styling. The question is: Is the subtle approach effective or not? Let’s take a closer look at the design updates on the 2020 Subaru Legacy.
Up front, the headlights look smaller, although very similar to the old design. There is no longer a frame around the grille, giving the new model a more streamlined appearance. The new grille also has sharper corners than the old one. The model pictured here has new black trim around the lower intake area.
When looking at the side profile, you’ll notice the biggest change is the new set of wheels. The two main character lines that run across the doors have also been redesigned. The top character line is softer, and the bottom one curves upward toward the rear wheel. Subaru revamped the design of the side mirrors for improved aerodynamics. Also, notice the shape of the window has altered near the rear. The roofline drops down more sharply when it reaches the trunk compared to the old model. In the rear, you’ll find slimmer taillights with a new lighting signature. This change is complemented by a redesigned license plate area and bumper. Overall, the rear looks more upright.
The most important updates happen inside the cabin. The previous model featured an optional 8-inch screen oriented horizontally. Now, Subaru has adopted an 11.6-inch screen oriented vertically like a tablet. If you want to change the cabin temperature, there are new haptic controls at the bottom of the screen, as well as physical buttons off to the side. The air vents are now positioned to the side of the screen instead of on top. You’ll also find the shifter is new.
Is the 2020 Subaru Legacy refreshing or revolting? Let us know in the comments on Facebook.
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The Hyundai Santa Cruz Pickup Truck’s Design Has Changed
Remember the Hyundai Santa Cruz lifestyle pickup concept from the 2015 Detroit auto show? Well ,that was a long time ago, and it no longer looks like that.
The unibody compact truck for young buyers was well-received and the automaker started work on a production model. It was even given the board’s blessing to add it to the product plan for sale in 2018 as a 2019 model. But a sales slump, the ouster of CEO Dave Zuchowski who was its champion, and a focus on other vehicles pushed Santa Cruz down the priority list.
Time has passed and the design strategy at Hyundai has changed. As the brand has matured, there is no longer the need to give every product in the lineup the same look. No more Russian dolls, says SangYup Lee, head of the Hyundai Global Design Center in Namyang, Korea. He wants new vehicles to be striking and different, forcing customers to take a closer second look at which point they discover it is a Hyundai.
It means that the Santa Cruz, a concept penned five years ago, was designed under the old family-resemblance regime. The design had to be updated, while keeping the basic look that made it popular.
The new Santa Cruz “will be a lot more distinctive” and have “a lot more character,” said Lee in an interview with MotorTrend. It is still a crossover pickup “but the look of it is a lot more progressive.” The new look has been finalized and locked in.
Santa Cruz is still expected to ride on the same platform as the Hyundai Tucson which is also due to be redone. The pickup will not hit the market until 2020 at the earliest. Lee would not confirm a timeline. A Kia pickup could follow later.
The original concept was shown with a large cab with suicide doors and a short bed that could be extended. It had a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine. We would expect a four-cylinder gas engine for the U.S. market where diesels are not popular beyond large pickups and SUVs. Hyundai originally planned to offer an optional 2.2-liter turbodiesel in the Santa Fe but cancelled those plans, citing low demand.
Pictured is the Hyundai Santa Cruz concept from 2015.
The post The Hyundai Santa Cruz Pickup Truck’s Design Has Changed appeared first on Motortrend.
[VIDEO] Alien Drives a C3 Corvette In New Butterfinger Commercial
It doesn’t get much better for this writer than chomping down a box of Butterfinger bits accompanied by a bag of popcorn at the movie theater.
But I may have to rethink that opinion after seeing this humorous new commercial for the new “better” Butterfinger that just happens to include one of my favorite all-time Corvettes, an early ’80s C3 coupe, dusty though it may be.
Ford Recalling 1.26 Million F-150s for Shifting Issue
Ford has issued three recalls, the largest of which affects certain F-150 trucks.
2011-13 Ford F-150The Problem: Ford is recalling certain late-model F-150s with six-speed automatic transmissions. Some vehicles can experience an intermittent loss of the transmission output speed sensor to the powertrain control module. These vehicles may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed. Obviously, this issue could cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle. There have been five reports of accidents related to the issue, with one report citing whiplash.
The Fix: Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module in affected vehicles. Ford will notify owners of the recall, which is expected to begin on March 4.
Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: The Ford F-150 recall affects around 1.26 million F-150 trucks in the U.S. and federalized territories and about 221,000 in Canada. The vehicles are 2011-2013 model-year F-150s built at the Dearborn Assembly Plant from April 28, 2010 to October 28, 2013, and the Kansas City Assembly Plant from May 18, 2010 to November 18, 2013.
2017-19 Lincoln ContinentalThe Problem: Lincoln is recalling certain Continental vehicles because a door could unexpectedly open while driving. The vehicles may have a faulty door latch motor that functions only intermittently due to the buildup of “silicon contamination,” Lincoln says. The automaker is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the problem.
The Fix: Dealers will replace the door latch assemblies on all four doors of the affected vehicles.
Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: The recall involves 27,000 vehicles in the U.S. and federalized territories, and about 1,200 in Canada. The affected vehicles were made at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant from November 30, 2015 to November 14, 2018.
2019 Ford Mustang, Lincoln Nautilus, Lincoln Navigator
The Problem: This is a more minor safety compliance recall. The instrument panel cluster assemblies may appear blank when the driver starts up the vehicle.
The Fix: Dealers will update the software in the instrument panel cluster.
Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: There are 4,200 vehicles in the U.S. and its territories under the recall, as well as about 150 in Canada. The affected Mustangs were built at the Flat Rock plant from November 5, 2018 to January 15, 2019; the Nautilus vehicles at the Oakville Assembly Plant from November 6, 2018 to December 21, 2018; and the Navigator vehicles at the Kentucky Truck Plant from November 4, 2018 to December 15, 2018.
Source: Ford, NHTSA
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15 of the Hottest New Car Deals This Presidents’ Day Weekend
The holiday season may be over, but there are still good deals out there if you’re looking for a new car. This Presidents’ Day Weekend, you can save thousands when buying certain vehicles from Infiniti, Volkswagen, and other automakers.
We gathered data from ALG, a subsidiary of TrueCar, to find the cars that offer the biggest savings. Looking at TrueCar’s TruePrice Average, which is based on what customers paid for similar vehicles in February 2019, we narrowed down to models that saw double-digit percentage drops from MSRP.
Read on to learn about some of the hottest car deals this weekend. Note that deals may vary by region.
2019 BMW 740i RWDMSRP: $84,645
TruePrice Average: $72,836
Savings off MSRP: $11,809, 14.0%
BMW is refreshing its flagship sedan for 2020 with 15 extra horsepower, a larger grille, a redesigned digital instrument cluster, and other updates. Still, the pre-refresh model has a lot to offer as a comfortable cruiser, with high-tech features such as gesture controls. Getting 14 percent off MSRP isn’t a bad deal, although we can’t help but feel the S-Class is a more luxurious car overall.
2019 Infiniti Q70L 3.7 Luxe RWDMSRP: $52,795
TruePrice Average: $45,718
Savings off MSRP: $7,077, 13.4%
The Infiniti Q70 is a luxury sedan alternative that may not have crossed your mind. But buyers can save up to 13.4 percent off the MSRP this weekend when opting for the long-wheelbase version in Luxe guise. On the standard-wheelbase version of this trim, TrueCar estimates savings of $6,112, or 11.9 percent off the MSRP.
2019 Acura TLX 2.4L FWDMSRP: $33,995
TruePrice Average: $29,629
Savings: $4,366, 12.8%
It may look like a sedate sedan, but the Acura TLX is sportier than you think, particularly in A-Spec guise. It handles well on windy roads and produces a healthy 206 hp from its base four-cylinder engine. Standard features are plenty and include sport-oriented seats, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
2019 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T Wolfsburg Edition AutoMSRP: $26,190
TruePrice Average: $22,904
Savings: $3,286, 12.5%
Volkswagen has fully redesigned the Passat for 2020. But deals can be had if you have your eye on the old model, which sits on the same platform as the new one anyway. The base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes 174 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to hit 60 mph in 8.4 seconds in our tests. It’s a bit slower than a comparable Accord, but it has a spacious rear seat and trunk.
2019 Infiniti QX60 Pure FWDMSRP: $44,995
TruePrice Average: $39,357
Savings: $5,639 , 12.5%
Infiniti’s midsize crossover offers a comfortable ride. For 2019, a number of safety features become standard on the base Pure trim. These include blind spot warning, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and forward collision warning. Under the hood is a hearty 3.5-liter V-6 good for 295 hp.
2019 Infiniti Q50 2.0t Pure RWDMSRP: $36,545
TruePrice Average: $32,172
Savings: $4,373, 12.0%
Refreshed for 2018, the Q50 sedan is priced competitively in the small luxury sedan category. The base Pure model comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 208 hp.
2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio RWD
MSRP: $41,590
TruePrice Average: $36,640
Savings: $4,950, 11.9%
If you want the SUV with the most performance for your buck, the Stelvio is a good choice. You don’t have to get the 505-hp Quadrifoglio trim to have fun. The base model produces a healthy 280 hp from its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. That’s enough to take the SUV to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, according to our tests. Along with scintillating acceleration, the Stelvio benefits from a controlled ride, effortless handling, and a smooth shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.
2019 Mitsubishi Mirage LE Hatchback CVT
MSRP: $16,790
TruePrice Average: $14,876
Savings: $1,914, 11.4%
Additional customer cash: $500
It’s a tough market for minicars out there, but sales for the Mirage were up significantly last year compared to 2018. The car is a steal at this price, but you’ll have to be willing to put up with slow acceleration and a good deal of interior noise and vibration. Fuel economy is excellent at 36/43 mpg city/highway when paired with the CVT.
2019 Audi A4 Premium Plus FWD
MSRP: $38,395
TruePrice Average: $34,033
Savings: $4,362, 11.4%
This well-rounded sedan features a stable ride, smooth engines, and one of the nicest interiors in its class. Its virtual cockpit digital dash trumps the competition, featuring crisp Google Earth maps. This deal applies to the mid-trim Premium Plus model, which comes standard with full LED headlights, a 7.0-inch screen, Bang & Olufsen sound system with 19 speakers. Oh, and this sleeper sedan is surprisingly quick, hitting 60 mph in as little as 5 seconds.
2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia RWDMSRP: $39,590
TruePrice Average: $35,174
Savings: $4,416, 11.2%
We love the Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan—so much so that we named it our 2018 Car of the Year—which is why the idea of getting one at the above price has us so excited. We say it’s the most fun-to-drive car in its class, with razor-sharp handling and an incredible chassis that smooths out bumps in the road. And it has proven to be a practical commuter thanks to its 21.7/37.9 mpg city/highway rating in our Real MPG tests.
2019 Mercedes-Benz C 300 Sedan RWD
MSRP: $42,395
TruePrice Average: $37,669
Savings: $4,726, 11.1%
Recently refreshed, the Mercedes-Benz C 300 now makes 255 hp from its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Although tuned for luxury more than sport, with somewhat vague steering, the C 300 benefits from a quick throttle response off the line when you tune in to Sport+ mode. Fuel economy is another plus: Our Real MPG tests showed a result of 24.5/40.3 mpg city/highway.
2019 Mercedes E 300 Sedan RWDMSRP: $54,495
TruePrice Average: $48,646
Savings: $5,849, 10.7%
The E-Class sedan can get quite expensive when you pack on the options, but buyers now have the chance to get more than 10 percent off MSRP. The deal featured here applies to the base model with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder sedan making 241 hp. Standard features are abundant, including dual-zone climate control, remote start, and an interior lighting feature that allows users to turn the cabin one of 64 colors.
2019 Volkswagen Tiguan S FWDMSRP: $25,290
TruePrice Average: $22,659
Savings: $2,631, 10.4%
Volkswagen has brought prices down on the Tiguan over the past few years, and prices could be even more enticing this weekend. The model has grown in size since the previous generation, and if you can forgive its somewhat slow acceleration from 0-60 mph, you’ll enjoy the Tiguan for its more spacious interior an high-quality materials.
2019 Chevrolet Silverado LT Crew Cab Long Box 4WDMSRP: $50,195
TruePrice Average: $44,977
Savings: $5,218, 10.4%
Additional customer cash: $500
The mid-range LT trim level of the Chevrolet Silverado benefits from standard features including chrome exterior accents, LED headlamps, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. Chevy’s full-size pickup was redesigned for 2019, and was a 2019 Truck of the Year finalist.
2019 Toyota Camry L Automatic
MSRP: $24,875
TruePrice Average: $22,331
Savings: $2,544, 10.20%
Once king of the automotive landscape, the Camry has been supplanted by the RAV4 as Toyota’s best-selling model in the U.S. Nevertheless, Toyota managed to sell 343,439 copies, proving the resilience of the popular sedan. The current generation has improved significantly from its predecessor when it comes to driving dynamics, but it faces stiff competition from the very capable new Honda Accord.
The post 15 of the Hottest New Car Deals This Presidents’ Day Weekend appeared first on Motortrend.
GM Says Focus Groups Liked The Way The 2020 Silverado HD Looked
GM says the criticisms don't come from people who buy HD trucks, anyway.
2020 Ford Explorer Will Start at $33,860
When Ford officially revealed the 2020 Explorer at the Detroit auto show this year, it had some big news. For the first time since the 2011 model year, the Explorer would be built on a rear-wheel-drive platform. It also added a hybrid version and replaced the Sport with the ST. At least on paper, it looked like great news, but we had to wonder how much the new Explorer would actually cost. Thanks to an email from Ford, now we know.
If you want the base Explorer, it will now run you $33,860 including destination, an increase of $400 compared to the 2019 model. That’s not a lot considering the new base engine makes 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque instead of the old V-6’s 290 hp and 255 lb-ft. You also get a 10-speed transmission instead of a six-speed automatic, which should mean better acceleration and fuel economy.
Upgrade to the Explorer XLT, though, and it comes with a much bigger price increase. Its $37,750 starting price is $2,275 more expensive than before. You do, however, get a number of features the previous XLT didn’t offer, such as power-adjustable front seats, captain’s chairs in the second row, and a total of four USB ports (two more than the base Explorer).
The next step up is the Explorer Limited. For $49,225, $5,365 more than the 2019 model, you get a number of extra features such as wireless charging, a surround-view camera system, and rain-sensing wipers. You can also add the hybrid powertrain for an extra $3,555, which comes with a 3.3-liter hybrid engine and 20-inch aluminum wheels.
The fanciest Explorer in the lineup, the Platinum, rings up at $59,345. That’s $4,085 more expensive than it was in 2019, but you also get a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine that makes 365 hp and several more features.
Finally, for the sportiest driving experience, Ford now offers the Explorer ST. Its $55,835 price tag is $8,115 more expensive than the 2019 Explorer Sport it replaces. But for your money, you get the Platinum’s engine tuned to make 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. There’s also a quad exhaust, 21-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and more.
The Explorer’s base price is higher than the 2019 Dodge Durango ($31,690) and 2019 Chevrolet Traverse ($31,125), but is somewhat in line with other competitors like the 2019 Honda Pilot ($32,445), 2019 Mazda CX-9 ($33,325), and 2019 Subaru Ascent ($32,970).
Source: Ford
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Howell Engine Developments Inc.: Making LS/LT Engine Swaps Simple
There’s A Pontiac Dealership Out There Without Any New Pontiacs
It’s frozen in time yet still in business.
Spied! Next-Gen Mercedes-Benz S-Class Caught with Massive Touchscreen
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is still the best full-size luxury sedan, but considering it has been on sale since the 2014 model year, it’s time for a redesign. From what we’ve heard, it will go on sale next year as a 2020 model, potentially with an SAE Level 3 driver-assistance system. Now, thanks to our spy photographer’s latest shots, we also know it will come with a massive touchscreen.
We actually got our first glimpse at the 2020 S-Class’ cabin last summer. But while we could clearly see the digital gauge cluster, the center console remained completely covered. And even though there was no way to tell how large it would be, the cloth camouflage looked like it was hiding a Tesla-like vertical touchscreen. Now we know. It’s huge.
That said, it’s probably not quite as large as it appears at first glance. If you look closely, it looks like there’s a pretty thick bezel surrounding the screen itself, potentially cutting the total screen size by a couple inches. Underneath the screen, you can see a row of what appear to be capacitive-touch buttons, including a touch control area that likely replaces a volume knob.
The good news is, the lack of a volume knob probably won’t affect the driver much since the steering wheel appears to still use a scroll wheel to control volume. And while the layout of the steering wheel controls looks pretty similar to what we get on the current S-Class, it seems Mercedes has gotten rid of physical buttons for those controls. The German automaker also appears to have kept its column-mounted shift lever, although the stalks themselves are clearly all-new.
Considering how far from production this prototype looks, we’re pretty sure the production version won’t be revealed in Geneva next month. If we had to bet, we’d put our money on a Frankfurt Motor Show reveal this September.
Photo Source: CarPix
The post Spied! Next-Gen Mercedes-Benz S-Class Caught with Massive Touchscreen appeared first on Motortrend.
Chevrolet Invades The Daytona 500 With The 2019 Silverado
A Silverado will even pace the Daytona 500! Seriously..
Cruise Automation Navigates Tricky San Francisco Streets: Video
It drives like a human.
