Feed aggregator

In the Arrival article for the Velar, I mentioned my thrill at experiencing this crossover’s 825-watt Meridian sound system. Now for some details as to how good this system actually is.

With a suitably hi-def audio file loaded up, you can hear the finger drags on the slinky opening bass line of Chris Isaak’s “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing.” You can hear the distinction between the first and second violins in Mozart’s Divertimento in D major, K. 131. And you can actually hear the soul of Radiohead singer Thom Yorke crack just a little in the soaring bridge of “Fake Plastic Trees.”

Car stereos aren’t supposed to be this acoustically dynamic. A car’s interior contains too many oblique angles and soft surfaces for sound waves to bounce off and be absorbed by—creating aural chaos. I’m a serious audiophile, and the fidelity of the Velar’s Meridian system is one of the finest I’ve heard in more than 2,500 cars I’ve reviewed—in the same class with the fullness and range of the Bowers & Wilkins system in the new Volvo V90, and the clarity of the Nakamichi in the original Lexus SC 400 coupe.

A great stereo is key to a vehicle that is going to make lengthy road trips—in this latest case, that of senior copy editor Jesse Bishop, who squired his betrothed Teresa from L.A. to be married outside of Seattle. And back.

Other than a long-suffering right-rear tire that needed a quick replacement, the occasional proximity key nonfunction, and some infotainment system quibbles (which we’ll detail in the next Update), the Velar was a luxurious wedding coach for 3,000 miles over a week’s time.

“Overall, the Velar is outstanding,” Bishop noted. “Probably my favorite vehicle I’ve driven from the MT fleet.”

However, Jesse noticed that the power rear hatch doesn’t cotton to countermanded, “Whoops, I forgot that last little box,” orders when closing, preferring to force its way through physical declinations unless seriously resisted or keyfobbed.

Seeing this as a potential safety hazard for the fingers of Great Britain’s royal family, (to whom Jaguar Land Rover provides vehicles), I undertook some scientific investigation. Three rolled-up magazines? Smooshed, without the hatch retracting. An empty soda can? Crushed. Two cans? Again, crushed, with no retraction. One could only imagine the commotion on Fleet Street should the Duchess of Kensington or HRH Baby Arthur get a pinchy-owie. See to this promptly, Land Rover engineers.

• Arrival
• Update 1: Wall of Power
• Update 2: ‘Best Vehicle Evar’

The post 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic SE Long-Term Update 3 appeared first on Motor Trend.

Audi has been working with laser lights for some time now, but this is just the tip of the iceberg for parent company Volkswagen Group. The automaker envisions a future where headlights and taillights provide more intelligent illumination and communicate with other cars on the road.

Volkswagen has opened an entire section at its Wolfsburg plant dedicated to lighting research and development. At the “center of lighting excellence,” as VW calls it, there is a 328-foot long tunnel where engineers can test out new lights. We don’t know exactly what they’re cooking up, but VW says it envisions micro-pixel headlights with up to 30,000 light points, which would be capable of projecting holograms onto the road and the surrounding space.

Future headlights would be able to project lines that correspond to a car’s width to give drivers a better idea of how their vehicle fits within the lane markings. This could be especially helpful when towing a trailer. The lighting system could also help guide drivers through treacherous mountain passes as the virtual lane markers bend to follow the curves in the road. In the rear of the vehicle, matrix taillights could display messages warning other drivers of road hazards. They could also show the vehicle’s charge level, or a personalized signature chosen by the driver via smartphone. While parking, vehicles would project their path onto the road, warning other drivers of the maneuver.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard VW’s plans for future lighting. When debuting its I.D. concepts, the automaker envisioned lights that mimic the human eye. When parked, the vehicle displays only a thin LED strip to signal the “eyes” are shut. Once the driver is ready to get going, the eyes open, and they can even be programmed to “wink” at the driver. When turning left or right, the headlights look in the direction that the vehicle is going to turn. At crosswalks, the headlights will look in the direction of pedestrians and cyclists to let them know the car is aware of their presence. The I.D. Vizzion concept, with its HD Matrix lights, could even project the stripes of a crosswalk to signal that it’s safe to cross. This type of communication will be essential in the driverless car age, as there’s otherwise no way to know an autonomous car’s intentions.

Source: Volkswagen

The post Volkswagen Previews Future Headlight, Taillight Tech appeared first on Motor Trend.

Well, it’s official. Reuters reports that Judge Alison Nathan has approved the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s settlement with Tesla chairman and CEO Elon Musk.

Under the agreement, Musk will resign as chairman for at least three years and pay a $20 million fine. Tesla will need to replace Musk with an independent chairman, appoint two new independent directors, and create a committee to approve “any such written communications that contain, or reasonably could contain, information material” to the company or its shareholders. Even though Tesla hasn’t been charged with fraud, it will also be required to pay a separate $20 million fine. Musk will stay on as Tesla’s CEO.

Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 7, 2018

The SEC’s investigation began in early August after Musk tweeted that he had secured funding to take Tesla private at a price of $420 per share. He later explained in a company blog post that the tweet wasn’t a joke and that he was in negotiations with the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund. Ultimately, though, the deal fell through, and Musk was unable to take Tesla private.

The terms of the settlement give Tesla until November 13 to appoint a new chairman. At the moment, it’s not clear who will replace Musk. The Financial Times reported last week that James Murdoch, CEO of Twenty-First Century Fox, was being considered, but Tesla has yet to make an official announcement.

Source: Reuters, Financial Times (Subscription required)

The post Elon Musk to Resign as Tesla Chairman Now That Judge Has Approved SEC Settlement appeared first on Motor Trend.

The BMW i8 may not be the quickest car you can buy for $150,000, but driving one sure is a great way to get attention. Even though the hybrid coupe has been on sale for several years, its futuristic design still stands out anywhere you go. And based on concepts such as the i Vision Dynamics sedan (shown above) or the Vision iNext crossover that was revealed last month, you might think BMW plans to make its entire lineup of i-badged vehicles stand out in the same way. But it turns out the brand is actually looking to tone things down and offer less design differentiation between its conventional cars and its EVs.

Speaking to Auto Express, Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW’s head of design, said the German automaker’s future electric cars will probably look a lot like its future gas-powered offerings. Why? Because very soon, he thinks EVs will be as mainstream as hybrids are today.

“I think in the next years, electric mobility will become standard; it will become normal,” van Hooydonk told Auto Express. “It will become just one of those powertrains that you can choose. And that will probably lead to the customers not necessarily wanting a design differentiation. With the original i3, we wanted to give our customers the feeling that they are stepping into the future. But in the future we will offer our customers the choice; they can be very secret about the fact that their BMW is electric, or they will be able to be overt about it.”

When Auto Express spoke to Robert Irlinger, the head of BMW’s i division, he agreed. “Yes, you could put it that way,” said Irlinger. “The vehicles will be closer to the cars we have already in market. Look at the iX3. It’s really an i but it’s also an X3. Look at the i4 and you’ll see it’s clearly an i but it’s close to a car whose name may begin with 4. We have to be prepared that our customers could say, ‘I don’t want to have a specific car. I want to have my BMW that I love in an electrified version.’”

Unfortunately for fans anxious to get their hands on BMW’s Tesla-fighter, the i4 isn’t expected to go on sale until 2021. But at least we now have a better idea of what it will look like.

Source: Auto Express

The post Future BMW EVs Will Move Away From Radical Styling appeared first on Motor Trend.

The 2019 Chevrolet Camaro’s face-lift has been controversial. The redesigned front end, especially on the SS version, has been hit or miss with Camaro fans. But if you happen to like the new look, and you have some extra cash to burn, Special Vehicle Engineering will transform your 2019 Camaro SS into a limited edition 2019 Yenko/SC that makes up to 1,000 hp.

Special Vehicle Engineering, which has rights to use the Yenko name, has been cranking out tuned Yenko-badged Camaros for a few years now. Apart from the 2019 model’s refreshed styling, this newest offering isn’t too different from last year’s Yenko/SC. Just as before, the 2019 Yenko/SC Camaro is offered in two states of tune. Stage 1 gets you 835 hp (up 10 hp from 2018), while Stage 2 grants 1,000 hp. Whichever stage you choose, each Yenko/SC Camaro gets a custom-built engine that’s based on the LT1 but is stroked to 6.8 liters using a forged 4340 steel crankshaft, forged H-beam connecting rods, and forged aluminum pistons. The engine also uses the cylinder heads off the LT4 V-8, which are CNC ported for increased air flow. Both versions get custom superchargers, but the Stage 2’s blower is 20-percent larger and thus provides 25 percent more boost, according to Special Vehicle Engineering.

Of course, you get more than a tuned engine when you order a Yenko Camaro. A body-colored carbon-fiber hood with power bulge and non-functional scoop comes standard and might improve the 2019 Camaro’s polarizing front end for some. Other exterior changes include a hood stripe and side stripes available in nine different colors, Yenko/SC decals, Yenko-branded brake calipers, Yenko crest badges, and badges advertising the car’s horsepower rating. Stage 1 cars ride on five-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels in a gunmetal finish, while Stage 2 cars get the same wheels in black. Michelin PS4S summer tires come standard in a staggered fitment of 295/30 front and 305/30 rear. But apart from the tires, Special Vehicle Engineering leaves the handling upgrades to GM by requiring a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS or 2SS equipped with the 1LE package for the Stage 2 Yenko/SC conversion.

As you might’ve guessed, getting your Camaro to Yenko spec won’t be cheap. The Stage 1 package costs $46,995, while the Stage 2 will set you back $66,995. Keep in mind those prices don’t include the cost of a 2019 Camaro SS. But if you do get one, you’ll join a pretty exclusive club. Special Vehicle Engineering plans to build just 50 copies of the 2019 Yenko/SC Camaro, including 25 Stage 1s and 25 Stage 2s.

The Yenko/SC Camaro is available to order at select GM dealers in the U.S. and Canada. Sadly, it isn’t emissions-legal in California and is limited to track use there.

Source: Special Vehicle Engineering

The post 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko/SC Lands With up to 1,000 HP appeared first on Motor Trend.

Just a quick note of thanks to all of those who have purchased my new book called Corvette Special Editions. The book is currently #1 on Amazon.com in the Automotive History category!

I have received a ton of support from some great people in the Corvette hobby and I am very humbled by all the responses.

Continue reading Thanks For Making Corvette Special Editions a #1 Best Seller on Amazon! at Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle.

At first glance, the Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna shown here looks a little too tame for SEMA. It’s clearly been carefully restored and tastefully modified, but that’s about it. So why would Chevrolet dedicate an entire press release to this nice but forgettable restomod? Because it’s packing an LT5 under the hood.

Yes, you read that right. Chevrolet shoved the Corvette ZR1‘s 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 into this 1973 A-body. And while the build was done specifically for SEMA, you’ll soon be able to recreate it yourself now that Chevrolet has decided to offer the LT5 as a crate engine. Bring on the engine swaps!

Chevrolet says the crate version of the LT5 is based on the one found in the Corvette ZR1. It isn’t exactly clear how much power the engine makes in crate form, but if it isn’t the same 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque you get in the ZR1, it shouldn’t be far off. Pricing also hasn’t been announced, but you have to assume it won’t be cheap. Hopefully, Chevrolet can confirm how much it costs when SEMA kicks off later this month.

In addition to the LT5-swapped Chevelle Laguna, Chevrolet will have a 1967 C/10 pickup on display showcasing its ZZ6 EFI crate engine, as well as a 1978 K10 Silverado featuring an L96 crate engine swap.

Source: Chevrolet

The post The 755-HP Chevrolet Corvette ZR1’s LT5 is Now Available as a Crate Engine appeared first on Motor Trend.

The R8 is already one of the most capable cars in the Audi lineup, but a new limited edition increases the supercar’s performance even further. By raiding the Audi Sport parts bin, the automaker has created the R8 V10 Plus Competition package. Among other updates, the model sheds weight and boosts aerodynamic performance over the regular V10 Plus coupe.

The Audi R8 Competition package adds a carbon-fiber aero kit for the front spoiler, flics, rear diffuser, side sills, and rear wing. With these updates, Audi was able to double the downforce of the standard V10 Plus coupe to 114.6 pounds when the car is traveling at 93.2 mph. At the model’s top speed of 196 mph, downforce increases 220.5 pounds over a stock V10 Plus to a total of 551.2 pounds.

The model also receives a three-way adjustable coilover suspension. New titanium backing plates for the carbon ceramic brake pads save 2.2 pounds from the standard model. Wrapped with summer tires, specially designed matte black 20-inch wheels shed another 26.4 pounds. These wheels were inspired by the ones on the R8 GT4 race car.

Other updates are purely cosmetic. To match the sweet wheels, the model features a blacked-out grille surround, front lower air inlets, and rear air outlets against a gray exterior. Inside the cabin, look for black racing shell seats with contrast stitching. Carbon fiber shift paddles, an Alcantara steering wheel, a 13-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, and a full leather interior package round out the features list.

The 2018 Audi R8 V10 Plus packs a 5.2-liter V-10 making 602 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. In our First Test, we recorded the model hitting 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds.

The coupe will go on sale in the U.S. this November, and prices enter Lamborghini territory. It’ll cost you $239,900 when you factor in the destination fee and the gas guzzler tax. Only 10 units will be sold in our market, so if you want the ultimate R8 you should act fast.

Source: Audi

The post 2018 Audi R8 Competition Package Increases Downforce appeared first on Motor Trend.

With its 2019 model year Titan pickup trucks now on sale, Nissan has officially announced pricing.

The base model, the single-cab Titan S 4×2, now starts at $31,785 including $1,395 destination charge, an increase of $360 over the 2018 model. The more premium Titan SV, meanwhile, will cost $35,395, which is $390 more than before. Upgrading to the 4×4 version adds another $3,380 to the price of the S and $3,130 to the price of the SV. Buyers looking for more space can choose the King Cab, which starts at $35,035 for the 4×2 S, or the Crew Cab, which starts at $37,745. Pick the top-of-the-line Titan Platinum Crew Cab, though, and it will run you $58,785.

The base price for the not-quite-heavy-duty Titan XD is up $380 for 2019 and now starts at $34,065. If you want the diesel version with the 5.0-liter Cummins V-8, though, it’s going to cost you $39,665. The 4×4 version of the former will now run you $37,195, while the latter costs $42,795. Gas-powered XD King Cabs now start at $36,055, while XD Crew Cabs begin at $39,315. Diesel-powered XD King Cabs cost $42,665, with XD Crew Cabs costing $44,625. If you really want to get fancy, the Titan XD Diesel Platinum Crew Cab 4×4 will run you $66,295.

Aside from some minor cosmetic changes and the addition of a few new color options, 2019 Titans can now be ordered with a premium Fender sound system. There’s also a new 7.0-inch touchscreen that finally offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. Oh, and there are a few more USB ports, too. XD models also get a new gooseneck trailer hitch integrated into the bed, as well as a bigger diesel exhaust fluid tank for diesel models. Finally, Nissan’s Rear Door Alert system is now standard on all King Cab and Crew Cab models.

Source: Nissan

The post 2019 Nissan Titan Starts at $31,785 appeared first on Motor Trend.

The nation is currently gripped with lotto fever as there were no winners in Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing. Now the jackpot has reached $868 million with the next chance to win on Friday.

It’s the second-largest grand prize in U.S. history and many hopefuls are already dreaming of what they will spend their winnings on.

Continue reading [PICS] ProTeam Suggests These Corvettes to the Winner of Mega Millions $868 Million Jackpot at Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle.