Updated: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019 preview

Next week, the gates will open to one of the UK’s most hotly anticipated motoring events, as the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed gets under way. This year’s edition will bring some changes to the festival layout, but, as ever, is an opportunity for us to get a first look at some of the industry’s most important and exciting new cars. For those familiar with the setting, the Supercar Paddock will be relocated to where the Moving Motor Show was previously held, near the start of the famous hillclimb course. In its place will be a new area called ‘The arena’, which will showcase the extreme end of motorsport – stunt driving, drift cars and daring motorcycle displays with some of the biggest stars of each discipline set to appear. Goodwood has also now announced the first batch of star names driving up the hillclimb. They include Tom Kristensen, the Le Mans driver who’s won the 24 Hours a record nine times. WRC and World Rallycross champion Petter Solberg will also be there, while Ken Block will put on a typically epic display. A number of Moto GP and Isle of Man TT legends will also attend. The Goodwood Central Feature, an always impressive monument, will be dedicated this year to Aston Martin, in honour of the 70th anniversary of the brand winning its first race at Goodwood. Expect some of the world’s rarest, most valuable and most exciting Astons to be on display, too. The event will also celebrate the career of Michael Schumacher, with team-mates, former rivals and a collection of his most iconic Formula 1 cars all set to come together. It’s likely there will also be a memorable tribute to Niki Lauda, who died in May, though what that will be remains a mystery. A homage to the Monaco Grand Prix will be another theme. Goodwood isn’t just about the past, however: A number of brands use the show to give debuts to new models in front of enthusiastic crowds. Here’s a list of the new models that we know will be there, either on static display or being driven flat-out up the hillclimb. Plenty more will be added as we find out about them: Alfa Romeo is celebrating its return to Formula 1 with two special edition variants of the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio. The limited-run ‘Alfa Romeo Racing’ versions of the performance saloon and SUV gain a red and white livery and unique interior trim upgrades, such as Sparco carbonfibre-shell bucket seats. The 503bhp 2.9-litre V6 remains the same, however. Aston’s presence at Goodwood 2019 will be bigger than ever, as the brand celebrates the 50th anniversary of its fabled 1959 Le Mans victory with an extensive display of its most revered models. The new DBS Superleggera Volante will head up Aston’s collection, and is likely to make its dynamic debut on the hillclimb. Revealed in May, the £250,000 model features a 715bhp 5.2-litre V12, with Aston claiming a “sensory overload” thanks to the electric folding soft-top. It’s been eight years since Cheshire-based Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) first launched the Mono single-seater. Now, at long last, the company is turning up the wick with a new version heading to Goodwood. Set to be unveiled on the Thursday, preview images show it doesn’t look dramatically different but sports a newly modified engine to make it faster. We’ll learn more about it at the show. Bentley revealed the new Flying Spur late last month, and it’ll be shown in static and dynamic form at Goodwood. The luxury four-door is taking aim at the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and Rolls-Royce Ghost. Based on the platform of the Continental GT, it is the first Bentley to feature all-wheel steering – while it promises to offer the firm’s most tech-laden cabin yet. Citroen is celebrating its centenary at the 2019 Festival of Speed. Alongside what’s expected to be a huge variety of iconic classics spanning its history, we will be seeing the UK debut of two concepts. The first is the Ami One, a quirky, budget two-seater that meets Europe’s quadricycle regulations and could be driven without a licence in some countries. The second (above) is even more radical: the 19_19 is a comfort-focused electric car designed to envision autonomous long-distance travel. De Tomaso, the Italian performance brand that’s been dormant since its founder died in 2003, is making a dramatic return. Backed by a Hong Kong-based venture, It will celebrate the brand’s 60th anniversary with an all-new, V8-powered mid-engined sports car at the Festival of Speed. A preview image suggests it will bear a striking resemblance to the iconic Pantera, too. Ferrari One-off Ferraris always attract a lot of attention, so the first public appearance of Maranello’s bespoke P80/C track car should assemble quite a crowd. Based on the firm’s 488 GT3 racer, the P80/C was built over four years for an unnamed collector. Powertrain details are, as yet, unconfirmed, but a run up the hill should be enough to show us the fruits of Ferrari’s mechanical
Origin: Updated: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019 preview

Road Trip: 2019 Mercedes-AMG C 43 Wagon

2019 Mercedes-AMG C 43 WagonPeter Bleakney OVERVIEW AMG “light” wagon a thrilling, functional performer PROSfast, handles, AMG cache, it’s a wagon CONSstiff ride even in Comfort Mode, options add up VALUE FOR MONEYfair WHAT TO CHANGE?Find some more compliance in the underpinnings HOW TO SPEC IT?this is good, love that blue Allow me to let you in on a little secret: wagons are cool. And performance wagons? Even cooler. The Europeans know this, as do many Canadians. Also cool is the fact that Mercedes-Benz is aware that #wethenorth dig our wagons, so consider the 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 4Matic Wagon a reward of sorts for our long-roof affections. Danke schon.For 2019, the C 43 Wagon joins its stable mates, the C 43 Sedan, Coupe and Cabriolet, but only here in Canada. The Americans dont get it, because well, the Americans dont get it the part about wagons being cool, that is.The soul of the C 43 4Matic Wagon is a lusty 3.0L twin-turbo V6 that kicks out 385 horsepower (up from 362 last year thanks to bigger turbos) and 384 lb-ft of torque. It routes through a nine-speed AMG Speedshift TCT Sport gearbox to Benzs 4Matic all-wheel-drive here with a sporty 69 percent rear bias. The 100 km/h mark is dispatched in a trim 4.8 seconds.With a starting point of $59,900, the C 43 Wagon is less expensive than the Coupe and Cabriolet, and just $900 above the Sedan. Of course, any German luxury vehicle requires a host of upgrades and packages, and as such, this Brilliant Blue Metallic Pai ($890) specimen comes in at $76,380 after factoring in interior, exterior and tech upgrades. Other changes for the 2019 C43 line up include redesigned LED headlamps and taillamps, a new twin-louver grill, fresh front and rear fascias and round quad exhaust tips. Inside we get a new Nappa-trimmed steering wheel with thumb touch-pads.Having this potent wagon in my possession for a week, I really wanted to do something other than just haul ass. I wanted to haul stuff. Isnt that the whole point of a wagon? So our Golden Retriever jumped in the back for a ride to her favourite forest trails. I went to our local transfer station to load up on free compost. And, perhaps most importantly, good friends/wine enthusiasts/legendary drummers Bob DiSalle and Dave Johannesson joined me for a tour of the Niagara Wine Region.I know what youre thinking. Not one, but two drummers? And wine? What could go wrong? As the designated driver, I was prepared. Bob showed up with a vintage Gretsch bass drum in which to put our spoils. Sure, a cardboard box would do, but wheres the fun in that?So off we set. No complaints were registered from the back seat as headroom and legroom seem competitive for this segment, and while cargo space behind the rear seat is not cavernous, the bass drum and other odds and ends fit with no fuss. Imminently more useful than the C 43 Sedan, and better looking too. First stop was the lovely Angels Gate Winery in Beamsville. The 3.0L biturbo V6 may not be hand built and signed by a single technician in Affalterbach like the mighty AMG V8s, but it does sail to its 6,500 rpm redline in a linear rush, and turbo-lag is a non-issue.The nine-speed auto is a willing ally too, banging off the gears with aggression when Sport or Sport Plus Mode is selected, and giving instant response to shift paddle inputs. A double-click of the left paddle gives multi-gear downshifts. However, I noticed the occasional jerky shift in lower gears when puttering around in Comfort mode.With any C 43 model, I would posit the $2,000 AMG Drivers Package as mandatory as it adds among other doo-dads the AMG Performance Exhaust System that, when activated, spits out some rather spectacular metallic farts on full throttle upshifts. A big part of the AMG experience had always been the aural hijinks, and this bent-six does not disappoint. We were all impressed with the C 43s cabin, beautifully rendered, boldly styled and here upgraded with an AMG Carbon Fibre trim package ($1,500). It doesnt brag Mercedes-Benzs new-gen MBUX infotainment that is starting to show up on some models, but the available 10.25-inch screen and digital instrument cluster will keep it feeling contemporary. If youre feeling racy, theres a G-Force meter and a race timer that shows lap times, average speed, distance covered, current engine torque, and horsepower levels.The true fun to be found in this wagon is when Sport+ is selected and you start unraveling a snaking road. We found one on the way to Hernder Estates Winery and picked up the pace. Its easy to get a nice flow going in the C 43 Wagon its poised, planted and is blessed with an accurate and natural feeling helm. There is a dynamic cohesiveness that comes into play when pressing on, and yes, this long-roof is mighty swift when picking off the gears with those metal shift paddles.The C 43 Wagons only foible and you can say this of all C 43 derivatives is that the ride is stiff and
Origin: Road Trip: 2019 Mercedes-AMG C 43 Wagon

Road Trip: 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 4Matic Wagon

Car Comparison: 2019 Mazda3 Sport vs. 2019 Hyundai Elantra GT N Line

Welcome to Dude Said, Punk Said — a special series devoted to skewering the automotive ramblings of young punk Nick Tragianis with the infinite wisdom of old dude Brian Harper. This week, the duo see how Hyundai’s ‘warm hatch’ — the Elantra GT N Line — stacks up against the freshly redesigned Mazda3 Sport.Nick Tragianis: Its tough to be a regular car these days, what with consumers flocking to pretty much anything with some body cladding, extra ground clearance, and a higher seating position at the expense of driving dynamics, all because they want something a bit more practical than a car. But what if I told you, most of the time, a hatchback is more than enough?The Hyundai Elantra GT and Mazda3 Sport prove you can have your cake and eat it, too. These two arent quite balls-to-the-wall hot hatchbacks, but they both provide a decent dose of cargo space certainly plenty for day-to-day use in an overall package that wont put you to sleep. Brian Harper: Snore! Wheres the passion, kid, the excitement? Youve pretty much described a couple of appliances. No, neither of the two is a hot hatch, though the new N Line version of the Elantra GT replacing the GT Sport for 2019 is certainly warm. The brand-new Mazda3 Sport, meanwhile, is simply one of the best all-around hatchbacks ever produced.These are two great, affordable cars, highly usable with plenty of zip for getting around city congestion, with plenty of comfort and cargo room on longer drives. The Elantra and Mazda3 are direct competitors in size, intent and pricing structure. Its their trim levels that differentiate them. So, make your case do you prefer the added power and boy racer-ish nature of the N Line or the surprising sophistication of the 3 Sport GT?NT: Lets start with the Elantra, shall we? First things first: Its not a North American-spec i30 N. No, that delicious hot hatch is forbidden fruit for us, and will remain so for the next little while. Still, the Elantra GT N Line ($27,199 as tested) is on the right track its 1.6-litre turbo-four is good for 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, and thats sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. It also gets sport-tuned suspension bits and bigger brakes, as well as some visual tweaks to set itself apart from the regular Elantra hatch. Its a nifty little package; the Elantra definitely feels zippier than the Mazda thanks to the extra horses and torques, and it handles quite well. Its a pretty good manual, too the clutch is easy to modulate and the shifter is crisp. But it just doesnt feel like its the complete package, unlike the Mazda3 GT ($28,600 as tested). Its bones are familiar the normally aspirated 2.5L SkyActiv four-cylinder puts out 186 horsepower and torque, and its hooked up to either a six-speed manual or automatic. On paper, its down compared to the Elantra, but Mazda makes up for that with displacement the 2.5 is much smoother, and actually fun to wring out with the manual. And although Mazda now uses a torsion-beam rear suspension setup, much to the chagrin of armchair enthusiasts, the new 3 handles no worse than it ever did. Hell, it rides a lot better wind and road noise are barely noticeable, and it soaks up bumps and rough pavement like a champ.BH: Yes, the 3, especially in topline GT trim, has turned out to be quite the package, hasnt it? Big-time kudos to Mazda for not only sticking with the hatchback segment, but building something that people want to own, rather than having to own. (At the risk of unkind comments by yourself regarding my slide into Seniorsville, most of the hatchbacks I was exposed to in my 20s emphasized economy of operation over amenities and comfort my eventual purchase of a VW Scirocco being an exception.) And speaking of the Scirocco, I think the design of the 3 boasts one of the sexiest shapes for a hatchback since Giorgetto Giugiaro penned the VW coupe more than 45 years ago. The two downsides of fashion over function is that the Mazda3s rear hatch window is the size of a mail slot, hindering visibility and thus making the backup camera a necessity; and its thick C-pillars create a somewhat claustrophobic environment for rear-seat passengers. If either is am primary concern, the Elantra GT is the better bet.NT: The Elantra definitely has the advantage in terms of visibility at least, out the back and cargo space, with 705 litres seats up and 1,560 L seats down, versus 569 and 1,334 L seats up and down, respectively, for the Mazda3. Unfortunately, thats about it for the Elantra GTs interior sure, the layout is logical, with everything placed where it needs to be. Sure, the infotainment is easy to use, and physical knobs and buttons control all the vital functions. Sure, the N Line packaging adds nifty red trim bits on the dash and seats. But the overall look and feel is lacking; where the Elantra GT was near the top of the class when it first launched in
Origin: Car Comparison: 2019 Mazda3 Sport vs. 2019 Hyundai Elantra GT N Line

2019 Skoda Superb to cost from £24,655

The revised version of Skoda’s flagship Superb is now available to order in the UK, with prices starting from £24,655 for the saloon and ££25,975 for the estate version. The updated model has launched with a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines, and in six trim levels. Entry level S models, offered with a 1.6-litre petrol or diesel engine, feature LED front and rear lights, and a new infotainment system featuring voice control. SE trim adds features including 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, parking sensors and adaptive cruise control. Above that, SE Technology features leather upholstery, heated seats and integrated Wi-Fi. SE L includes 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, full martix LED headlights and an electrically operated boot. SportLine Plus trim comes with 19-inch alloy wheels and black sports styling details, along with Alcantara upholstery and a three-spoke sport steering wheel. The range-topping Laurin Klement trim features all of kit from SE L, and adds 18-inch alloy wheels, ventilated front seats, heated front and reat seats, LED interior lighting, three-zone climate control, an upgraded navigation system and a Canton sound system, along with Skoda’s Dynamic chassis control system. UK pricing is yet to be set for the new plug-in hybrid powertrain, which will go on sale next year as the first electrified Skoda model. The hybrid will be launched as the Superb iV in recognition of Skoda’s new sub-brand that will be used for its bold electrification plans. The Superb iV features a 154bhp, 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine mated to a 114bhp electric motor, which sends drive to the front wheels through a six-speed DSG transmission. The peak system output is 220bhp, with 295lb ft of torque. The car will be capable of completing 34 miles of pure electric running, identical to the similar Volkswagen Passat GTE. Skoda has yet to release performance figues, but insiders suggest they will closely match the Passat, hinting at a 0-62mph time of around 7.4secs for the saloon. The battery pack is located under the floor and ahead of the rear axle, which means a slight reduction in boot capacity – 485 litres for the saloon and 510 litres for the estate, compared to 625 and 660 for the non-hybrid versions respectively. Beyond the well-hidden charging port integrated into the front grille there will be little to give away the PHEV’s part-electric status. The infotainment system can display information on battery status and electric range and additional controls for the various powertrain modes. It will also be possible to programme the PHEV’s aircon to cool the cabin before the car is needed. The existing Superb powertrains will be carried over for the facelifted model, with a new 2.0-litre 190bhp TSI unit added. The range-topper will continue to be a 280bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged version. The redesigned Superb has gained a new-look grille, with added chrome trim between the LED rear lights. There is also a new front bumper, which stretches the length of the car by 8mm to 4869mm. The car is the first Skoda to gain full LED Matrix headlights as an option, and new driver assistance features include predictive cruise control. Deliveries for the facelifted car begin in September. Skoda promises the PHEV will be highly competitive in its increasingly crowded part of the market, and is anticipated to constitute up to 20% of sales in the
Origin: 2019 Skoda Superb to cost from £24,655

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019: full preview

Next month the Duke of Richmond will once again open up his substantial grounds to Britain’s car enthusiasts, as the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed gets under way. The ever-popular celebration of all things automotive celebrated its silver jubilee last year, and organisers will use 2019 to debut some exciting changes to the event layout when it opens on 4 July. For those familiar with the setting, the Supercar Paddock will be relocated to where the Moving Motor Show was previously held, near the start of the famous hillclimb course. In its place will be a new area called ‘The arena’, which will showcase the extreme end of motorsport – stunt driving, drift cars and daring motorcycle displays with some of the biggest stars of each discipline set to appear. Goodwood has also now announced the first batch of star names driving up the hillclimb. They include Tom Kristensen, the Le Mans driver who’s won the 24 Hours a record nine times. WRC and World Rallycross champion Petter Solberg will also be there, while Ken Block will put on a typically epic display. A number of Moto GP and Isle of Man TT legends will also attend. The Goodwood Central Feature, an always impressive monument, will be dedicated this year to Aston Martin, in honour of the 70th anniversary of the brand winning its first race at Goodwood. Expect some of the world’s rarest, most valuable and most exciting Astons to be on display, too. The event will also celebrate the career of Michael Schumacher, with team-mates, former rivals and a collection of his most iconic Formula 1 cars all set to come together. It’s likely there will also be a memorable tribute to Niki Lauda, who died in May, though what that will be remains a mystery. A homage to the Monaco Grand Prix will be another theme. Goodwood isn’t just about the past, however: A number of brands use the show to give debuts to new models in front of enthusiastic crowds. Here’s a list of the new models that we know will be there, either on static display or being driven flat-out up the hillclimb. Plenty more will be added as we find out about them: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019: what new cars will be there? Alfa Romeo is celebrating its return to Formula 1 with two special edition variants of the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio. The limited-run ‘Alfa Romeo Racing’ versions of the performance saloon and SUV gain a red and white livery and unique interior trim upgrades, such as Sparco carbonfibre-shell bucket seats. The 503bhp 2.9-litre V6 remains the same, however. Aston’s fastest convertible in its history, the 211mph DBS Superleggera Volante, will almost certainly make its first public debut at the show given the brand’s presence will be bigger than ever. Revealed last month, the £250,000 model features a 715bhp 5.2-litre V12, with Aston claiming a “sensory overload” thanks to the electric folding soft-top. It’s been eight years since Cheshire-based Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) first launched the Mono single-seater. Now, at long last, the company is turning up the wick with a new version heading to Goodwood. Set to be unveiled on the Thursday, preview images show it doesn’t look dramatically different but sports a newly modified engine to make it faster. We’ll learn more about it at the show. Bentley revealed the new Flying Spur late last month, and it’ll be shown in static and dynamic form at Goodwood. The luxury four-door is taking aim at the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and Rolls-Royce Ghost. Based on the platform of the Continental GT, it is the first Bentley to feature all-wheel steering – while it promises to offer the firm’s most tech-laden cabin yet. Citroen is celebrating its centenary at the 2019 Festival of Speed. Alongside what’s expected to be a huge variety of iconic classics spanning its history, we will be seeing the UK debut of two concepts. The first is the Ami One, a quirky, budget two-seater that meets Europe’s quadricycle regulations and could be driven without a licence in some countries. The second (above) is even more radical: the 19_19 is a comfort-focused electric car designed to envision autonomous long-distance travel. De Tomaso, the Italian performance brand that’s been dormant since its founder died in 2003, is making a dramatic return. Backed by a Hong Kong-based venture, It will celebrate the brand’s 60th anniversary with an all-new, V8-powered mid-engined sports car at the Festival of Speed. A preview image suggests it will bear a striking resemblance to the iconic Pantera, too. Ford will have a number of important cars making debuts at this year’s event. The return of the Focus ST hot hatch will be a notable one, alongside the new Puma which will also make its UK premiere, reborn as a sporty small crossover. At the other end of the scale, we’re expecting to see some big news with the GT supercar. Teased but not officially confirmed, it looks like a more hardcore, race-inspired variant
Origin: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019: full preview

BMW, Chevrolet and Kia models top their segments in 2019 J.D. Power study

2020 Kia Forte GT The strange trio of BMW, Chevrolet and Kia took home most of the hardware in this years annual J.D. Power Initial Quality Study awards, with American and Korean brands generally making quite the sweep.The J.D. Power quality ratings and awards are based on feedback from more than 75,000 verified vehicle owners who have owned or leased their new rig for a minimum of 90 days.This rating focuses on problems experienced by these verified owners and has, over the years, been a good predictor of long-term durability.Rankings are easy to decipher: the fewer the problems, the better the score. Some folks rag on this award saying that 90 day-old cars are supposed to be trouble-free. However, anyone whos bought or leased a new car only to have it spend days and weeks in the shop know thats not always what happens.This year, there were 22 segment award recipients, listed alphabetically here by J.D. Power. Would it surprise you to learn that over one-third of them are brands from the Detroit Three automakers? Its true.The Ford Fusion, for example, continues to garner accolades despite currently residing in deaths nursery. It tied with the Chevy Malibu to rank highest in the midsize car segment. Youll notice the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are nowhere to be found.The large-and-in-charge full-size SUVs from General Motors also took home awards in their respective categories, with the Chevy Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade being singled out by J.D. Power for IQS greatness. Lexus GX? Mercedes G-Wagen? Nope.However, Lexus did appear as winner in the midsize premium SUV class, expressive face and all.In addition, more than a quarter of the segment award winners were cars from Korean brands. Hyundais popular Sante Fe earned a gold sticker for initial quality in midsize SUVs, boding well for the utility given it is newly packed with gee-whiz tech such as advanced safety systems.Kias Sedona, Forte, Rio and Sportage were all champs in their respective classes. Toss in a win by Genesis for top premium compact car with its G70 and the Koreans certainly have something to boast
Origin: BMW, Chevrolet and Kia models top their segments in 2019 J.D. Power study

Road Trip: Ontario to New Hampshire in a 2019 Nissan Altima

2019 Nissan AltimaDerek McNaughton / Driving Franconia, N.H. Robert Frost, the great American poet who died in 1963, was famous for taking the road less travelled, perhaps even coining the phrase with his line, Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”That difference lured him to Franconia, New Hampshire, where Frost and his family lived full-time from 1915 to 1920, and spending 19 summers at his picturesque farmstead. One look at Frosts view from his farmhouse in Franconia explains why: the green expanse of the White Mountains is as alluring as it is captivating, the mountains beauty a force that pulls as strongly as a rivers current. Its partly why we venture here every year to explore these forests, despite the pathetic U.S. and Canadian Dollar exchange rate. This year, a 2019 Nissan Altima was our horse for the journey.And what a frugal beast she turned out to be. Averaging 6.7 L/100 kilometres at a constant speed of 120 km/h, the Altimas 2.5-litre four cylinder engine consumed roughly $100 in fuel to travel just over 1,400 kilometres. At the U.S. gas station in Littleton where I stopped to fill up, the clerk asked how much I wanted pre-charged to my credit card. Eighty dollars? I ventured. Puzzled, then glancing outside at the Altima, he said the Altima wont take more than $40. Oh right, cheap U.S. gas!Indeed, US$39 later, the Altimas 61-litre tank was full, though the cost per gallon was only US$2.59 (about 90 cents a litre), and having travelled 760 kilometres on one tank, with another 39 to spare. By lowering our average highway speed to 100 km/h, and with some simple hypermiling, 1,000 highway kilometres on one tank should be possible. Who needs a diesel with gasoline fuel economy like this?That economy is especially good, considering all Altimas in Canada are AWD. The system works invisibly at all times, normally sending 100 per cent of power to the front wheels, but able to send 50 per cent to the rears if theres any slip up front. It will even divide the split 70 front, 30 rear when cornering to help with dynamics and feel in a car that tracks quite well around corners. I mostly forgot we had AWD.While the Altimas longer-term average of urban and highway driving showed 7.3 L/100 kilometres on the trip computer, the downside of such frugality, of course, is a paucity of power, the Altimas 185 horsepower and 178 lb.-ft of torque adequate for most normal driving situations but lacking real hustle anytime real speed is required. Passing on two lane highways requires prudence. Engine refinement is good but not stellar, although the continuously variable transmission makes itself endearing by mosty remaining out of sight and sound, beavering away quietly in the background. Perhaps a sport mode would help. In fact, most of the cabin is the same way: noise is well controlled, other than a bit of growl from the engine now and then. The cabin is remarkably simple too, a clean and uncluttered estate with everything easy to find, see and operate, a proper volume knob for the half-decent Bose stereo. An eight-inch touchscreen on the Platinum delivers good graphics with excellent haptic feedback. Instrumentation is equally clear, legible and bright. Its an excellent interior that wont frustrate its users. The zero gravity front seats are indeed supportive and comfortable, but they wont stop all the cramping that comes with old age on a long drive with few stops. Excellent seat heat to the back certainly helps, however.Rear seat legroom is massive about 88 centimetres of legroom and the 60/40 rear folding bench opens to an equally large trunk that happily consumed all our luggage, hiking gear and multitude of coats for the ever-varying weather. For a midsize sedan that starts at $28,000 $35,000 as-tested the trunk is bigger than plenty of more expensive full-size sedans.Nissans ProPilot Assist was interesting on this trip, too. Its supposed to reduce stress through adaptive cruise control and lane centering. But the lane centering wasnt always able to keep up and wanders off line now and then, acting overly busy at other times. The adaptive cruise would sometimes brake a little harshly if the system felt we were getting a little too close too quickly to a car ahead. The two technologies can be used separately or together, but it was simpler to leave the task of driving to myself. What I did appreciate, though, was the Altimas parking and safety aids especially rear intelligent safety braking, which detects objects while backing up and will apply the brakes before hitting it.After a week of hiking the White Mountains with the Altima getting us to and from the trails, we came away with an appreciation for its incredible fuel economy and quiet purpose. The 2019 Altima may not have the spirit or poetry of a more expensive luxury saloon, but it sure gets the job done efficiently and without much fuss a
Origin: Road Trip: Ontario to New Hampshire in a 2019 Nissan Altima

Ford to unveil new race-spec GT at Goodwood 2019

Ford is poised to reveal a racing-inspired version of its GT supercar at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Previewed in a darkened image, the new model looks to retain the aggressive front end of the 647bhp V6-powered road car, but a prominent rear wing hints at radical body modifications elsewhere. In silhouette form, the car bears a strong resemblance to Ford’s GTE-Pro racer, which finished 23rd, 24th and 25th at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans with factory-backed Chip Ganassi Racing. That team’s number 66 car will take on the Goodwood hillclimb at this year’s event. It is likely that the new model will take the form of a road-going reworking of the Le Mans racer, but no official confirmation of this has been made. Demand for the standard GT, launched in 2017, outstripped supply six-to-one from the order books opening, prompting the manufacturer to extend the model’s limited production run from 1000 to 1350 units late last year. A Heritage Edition launched at the same time paid tribute to Ford’s success at Le Mans with the original GT40. It is likely that, as was the case at the launch of the standard model, Ford will prioritise buyers who will regularly drive the car, rather than preserving it as an investment. The company has offered no further details about the unveiling, saying only that “exciting Ford GT” news will be delivered by Ford Performance boss Hermann Salenbauch. Larry Holt, chief technical officer of parts supplier Multimatic, will also be present. His company has previously provided engineering input for the Aston Martin V12 Zagato and Vulcan, and builds road- and track-going variants of the Ford GT at its factory in Canada. Making its UK dynamic debut at Goodwood will be Ford’s new Focus ST, which will tackle the 1.16-mile hillclimb course alongside fellow newcomer the 760bhp Shelby
Origin: Ford to unveil new race-spec GT at Goodwood 2019

Car Review: 2019 Honda Civic Si Coupe

2019 Honda Civic Si CoupeClayton Seams / Driving OVERVIEW A great hot hatch marred by a not-so-great shifter PROSAmazing driving dynamics, surprisingly useable rear seat CONSRev hang is as bad as the looks VALUE FOR MONEYGreat WHAT TO CHANGE?REV HANG HOW TO SPEC IT?Just as you see it but maybe in that bright yellow colour they offer Honda should put the guy who designed the Civic shifter in charge of the entire car. Well located, perfectly notchy, and deliciously mechanical, its easily one of the top five shifters at any price in 2019. Your hand rests on a (literally) cool aluminum knob with a sharply embossed shift pattern shown to you in devilish red paint. Slot it into any gear you choose and it slides home easily as you command. Clearly, the old Honda ways are not entirely lost in 2019, but the Civic Si has one major flaw.The 2019 Civic is available in three body styles, all of which wear the unsightly anime super mutant styling. One has to wonder if the stylist was being paid per-vent when Honda drew up the Civic; the coupe is arguably less ugly than the four-door sedan, and a four-door hatchback is available. Compared to its siblings, the coupe is a neat 13.5 centimetres shorter, with most of that length coming out of the rear overhang; the wheelbase is absolutely identical across all three body styles. The basic Civic coupe starts at $21,290, and then youll pay an additional $8,200 for the Si bits. That is a steep premium for a Civic, but the Si comes with many goodies some of which you see, and others are under the skin.Exterior modifications are actually fairly subtle. You get a blacked-out front grille, handsome 18-inch wheels, an exhaust tip shaped like an HDMI port, and a somewhat questionable rear spoiler. Under the skin is where your $8,200 has really been spent up front, youll find a no-joke helical limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers. Engaging Sport mode stiffens said dampers and also adds weight (but not feel) to the electronic power steering. Neither of these changes are drastic when felt from the drivers seat, but you can feel the difference around corners. And how magical it is in the corners. Apparently, nobody has told the Si that it weighs 1,330 kilograms because it absolutely carves through corners like you would not believe. Among front-drive cars without Type R in the name, the Si might be among the best around corners. Ultimately, it will understeer but until that point, the balance is superb and the Si begs for more and more speed on twisting roads. The suspension, which feels stiff over expansion joints, feels utterly at home here. Though it uses humble struts and not the racecar-like double-wishbone suspension of its predecessors, the Civic feels lively and nimble.It really is joyous to drive around curves. But sadly, that joy is ruined every time you have to shift. And you have to shift it a lot. The Si suffers from some of the worst rev-hang in the entire industry; this means when you accelerate up to your desired shift point and change gears, the revs take an excruciatingly long time to fall low enough to meet the next gear. I actually measured the rev hang along first-to-second shift when clutching it at 3,000 rpm to be a full 3.5 seconds. Three and a half seconds coasting through an intersection waiting for the next gear! You basically only have two options to cope with this flaw when driving it: you can either rush the shift and clutch out before the revs fall, or you can read a small book in between shifts while you wait. The first option makes it look like you are learning to drive stick, and the second is agonizing.You might think that the revs fall lazily because the Civic has a large and heavy flywheel, but that doesnt seem to be the case. The rev hang seems to stem from a designed-in software function to permit cleaner burning in between shifts, since most other manual transmission cars run rich on the over-run between shifts. Its such a noticeable issue that Hondata, an aftermarket tuner, sells a US$700 software flash that claims to fix the rev hang. Mazda doesnt seem to have any problems getting its manuals to shift smoothly, so maybe Honda could ask those engineers for some help. The 1.5-litre turbocharged engine itself is hit-and-miss. Practically and empirically, its perfect. The engine makes 205 horsepower and a decent 192 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel economy is excellent, at 8.4 L/100 kilometres city and 6.2 highway, and its a smooth runner. But unlike the shrieking, VTEC-powered Civic Si of old, this one is a torquey engine down low and the party is pretty much over at 5,500 rpm. The noise it makes is uninspired at best, and theres not very much of it in the first place. A little more exhaust volume wouldnt be remiss.Inside, the Civic scores high marks. The front seats are comfortable and perfectly bolstered. I like the fixed headrests, and the embroidered Si logos on the seats are a nice touch. All
Origin: Car Review: 2019 Honda Civic Si Coupe