Toyota Corolla driver Tom Ingram took a pair of Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship victories in the penultimate race weekend at Silverstone, while BMW ace Colin Turkington’s charge through the field to second place in race two helped him extend his points lead. Jack Goff also left the Northamptonshire circuit a winner, securing Team Hard’s first BTCC victory in the reverse grid final race in his Volkswagen CC. Double BTCC champion Jason Plato had claimed pole position in his Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra, and led the first race early on in difficult conditions. But Team Toyota GB driver Ingram soon closed in, and claimed the lead at Luffield with a paint-trading move on lap four He pulled away to take a clear win from Plato and BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R pair Chris Smiley and Josh Cook. Andrew Jordan finished tenth in his WSR-run BMW 3 Series, while his team-mare and title rival Turkington could only manage 14th. Works Civic Type-R driver Dan Cammish, also in with a shot at the title, was 11th. Ingram won again in race two, despite dropping back to second behind Tom Oliphant (BMW 330i M Sport) after further contact with Plato at the start. A safety car bunched the field, and it began to rain shortly before racing resumed. Oliphant was the first man to reach the wet track at Copse on the restart, sliding wide and falling down the order, and gifting Ingram a lead he held until the race was stopped early as the rain worsened. Turkingon thrived in the rain, charging from 14th on the grid to second to build his points lead. Cammish was third ahead of Plato and Cook. The final race was also affected by the rain, with the field starting on dry Dunlop tyres only to find conditions worsening. Cook and Cammish led the way early on, but a mid-race safety car provided a golden opportunity for some runners to gamble on wet tyres. Goff and Aiden Moffatt (Infiniti Q50) both gambled early, and stormed through the pack. Their battle for victory was decided when Moffatt spun, although he still finished second. Matt Neal (Civic Type R) took third, ahead of Oliphant. Turkington was seventh, while Cammish could only muster 12th. That means Turkington leads Cammish by 16 points heading to the Brands Hatch season finale on 13 October, with Jordan a further point
Origin: BTCC 2019: Silverstone double for Toyota star Ingram
2019
SUV Comparison: 2020 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2019 Buick Enclave
Brian Harper: Its not as though the Palisade is Hyundais first kick at the three-row SUV can. No, there was the Veracruz, an ill-fated attempt at breaking into the market that ended poorly back in 2012. More successful was the Santa Fe XL, though stuffing three rows of seats into a mid-sized SUV was still a compromise.The XL has now been replaced by the flagship Palisade, the largest SUV the Korean automaker has ever built.Its longer, wider and capable of accommodating eight passengers. The Palisade is a more complete vehicle by all accounts, yet it still has a number of established rivals Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Highlander, Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer, etc. plus a few recent arrivals, including the Volkswagen Atlas, Subaru Ascent, and the Palisades own corporate cousin, the Kia Telluride.However, were going to dial it up a notch and pit the Hyundai against a more premium-priced three-row sport-ute Buicks Enclave Avenir. Why? Well, the most obvious reason was that one was available. Beyond that, however, its been a while since weve gotten behind the wheel of the big Buick. Its a model thats been around for a dozen years, the second-generation version coming out for the 2018 model year. It sells reasonably well in both Canada and the U.S., and the Avenir sub-brand supposedly represents the highest expression of Buick luxury, with unique styling cues and an extensive set of standard features and premium materials throughout the vehicle. Hyundai has proven in the past its not afraid of moving its products upscale, though it has been accused of exceeding its place in the past. So, is the Palisade capable of mixing it up with a senior, albeit conservative, member of the family hauler class? Whaddaya say, kid? Nick Tragianis: Lets start with the fundamentals, shall we? Under the skin, the Palisade is identical to the Telluride. That means power comes from a normally aspirated 3.8-litre V6 rated at 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard on all but the base Palisade.Its a similar story with the Enclave. Its a bit more powerful than the Palisade, putting out 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque from its 3.6L V6. Its paired to a nine-speed automatic, and like the Palisade, all-wheel drive is standard on all but the base Enclave. These two make absolutely zero pretense to sportiness and thats OK. Both are drama-free that never once felt underpowered or overworked, both have light and fairly numb steering, but that just makes them easy to live with day to day. And both are museum-quiet and La-Z-Boy comfortable. If you need to tow, both can haul up to 5,000 pounds. Really, at this point, youre splitting hairs both the Palisade and Enclave are smart, no-nonsense family haulers.But the Palisade punches well above its weight on the inside, especially for the price. Like you said, old dude, Hyundai isnt afraid to push the upscale envelope. Thats abundantly clear in the Palisade materials and fit and finish are top-notch, the seats are comfortable and overall ergonomics are on point, and the available tech is nothing to sneeze at. Our particular tester, the almost-fully loaded Limited at a hair above $50,000, comes with a sharp 10.25-inch touchscreen controlling the infotainment system, plus power-folding third-row seats, heated and cooled front seats (the second row is also heated), and all the active safety features youd expect in 2019, including a crisp 360-degree camera system. Spec the right upholstery option and the interior feels bright and airy, and the faux wood and metal accents add a lovely touch, despite them being plastic. Seems as though the Enclave Avenir has its work cut out for it. BH: Im sensing you like the Palisade, kid. So do I. Still, the Enclave deserves some respect. Buick has been fine-tuning this full-sized rig for years, and has managed to make it fairly drama-free. It handles its family-hauling duties with a certain amount of panache, being far more distinctly styled than many of its rivals, including the more mainstream Palisade. And, as you mentioned, its particularly silent around town; Buick has this Quiet Tuning technology its been touting for some time, not to mention active noise cancellation.In a straight line, the Enclave will accelerate a bit quicker. When cornering, however, the Buicks extra 180 kilograms are noticeable; theres a certain ponderousness to it that works against it.Now the cabin: The best part is that the Buick offers a fair amount of cargo flexibility, with significantly more capacity than the Palisade 688 litres behind the third row versus 509 litres for the Hyundai; 1,643 litres behind the second row folded versus the Palisades 1,296 litres. Also, with the pull of a handle, the SmartSlide second-row seats glide back to enable easy third-row access. And with the push of a button, the power-folding split
Origin: SUV Comparison: 2020 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2019 Buick Enclave
Pickup Review: 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 4’4 Crew Cab
2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn OVERVIEW The most hedonistic pickup a lot of money can buy PROSHandling, ride, interior décor CONSRelatively moderate performance VALUE FOR MONEYCompared with other pickups? Not so good. Compared with luxury sedans and SUVs with fewer hedonisms, pretty darn good. WHAT TO CHANGE?A little more power, a lot less lane departure warning and even more chrome. Go big or go home! HOW TO SPEC IT?Well, it’s pretty fully-loaded from the factory, but the active suspension option is worth the dosh. For purists, it is surely a tragedy, as genuinely cowboy as John Travolta was in his famed celluloid two-step. For luxury shoppers, its a way for the more, lets call them ruggedly individualistic, affluent to thumb their noses at the effete that park BMWs and Audis in their driveway. And, for Fiat Chrysler, well, its one sweet, incredibly high-profit way to line their pockets with long-amortized-on-the-production-line economies of scale margins that would make Porsche blanch. It, in case youre wondering, is the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn, a pickup that, in my testers guise at least, costs $88,495. Yes, youre reading that right, a $100,000 (with taxes) pickup without a Tesla Im-saving-the-world-one-overpriced-EV-at-a-time lithium battery to be seen.Just for a little context. $88,495 will buy you a brand new E-Class Benz. And not one of those pathetic little wheezy E300 four-bangers Mercedes sells to pretenders to largesse, but a full-zoot 429-horsepower E53 with Stuttgart’s latest high-tech, turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six including EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor, no less! with enough cash left over to buy a decent used Harley.More of an SUV person, are we? Well, for that kind of dosh actually, you might have to pony up about $3,000 more you can get fully loaded BMW Sport Activity Vehicle. And again, not one of those piddly little baby Xs that theyre selling to advertising agency social media coordinators, but the top-of-the-line, expanded-because-people-wanted-to-spend-even-more-money X7s. You know, the SUV equivalent to BMWs flagship limo-in-waiting 7 Series. In other words, the Laramie Longhorn faces some pretty stiff competition from some pretty heady marques for the American Express Black cards of the rich and feckless. Now, heres the crazy part. It might be worth it.As frequent readers already know, I am no expert on the utilitarian aspect of truckdom. Oh, I hauled a bicycle around in the Rams plasticized bed and, in fact, carted an old dishwasher to the dump, er recycling depot, with it. But thats as close as I got to doing anything even remotely manly with it. No gravel, other than that trapped in the treads of my Nikes was hauled, no wood corded, my cowboying no less urbane than Mr. Saturday Night Fevers.But, my Lord, what a truly luxurious vehicle this is. For one thing, the ride is simply incredible for something that still has a live axle out back. Certainly, it is the smoothest damped pickup Ive ever driven. Before testing the big Ram, I read up on its latest technology, singling out the Frequency Response Damping and Active Level 4 corner air suspension for conspicuously pretentious labelling. Now I am a fan. FCA says its FRD shocks can tell the difference between low-speed inputs as in the loads that occur when a vehicle sways during hard cornering and high-speed perturbations the inevitable potholes resulting from shoddy Canadian roadwork. Im not quite sure how it tells the difference, but it must work because, even on the pockmarked roads of rural Quebec, the Laramie rode like a Lexus and handled like Porsche. OK, I exaggerate, but it was mighty impressive nonetheless. Then, theres the Laramies interior. I could go through the various visual such as the humongous, 12-inch vertically-oriented, Tesla-like touch screen or aural the Harman Kardon sound system but mere listing doesnt capture the sheer hedonism of this Rams interior. Now, to those raised on BMW or Mercedes Spartanism, the Rams cabin will be a little bit of a shock, what with Longhorn badges that look like outsized countrified belt buckles, map pocket clasps that are outsized countrified belt buckles and trim that looks, for all the world, like the reclaimed barn wood that is all the rage these days. The cabin was even Lexus-like silent thanks to Rams noise cancellation system and liberal use of acoustic glass. Indeed, the decor may be different but I can assure you the extravagance was equal to anything this side of a Bentley. Everyone who climbed aboard the big Ram aided, of course, by automatically retractable side steps was impressed, nay astonished, by the Longhorns incredible interior. Indeed, the least impressive thing about the new Ram is its 5.7-litre V8. Considering that it possesses a more-than-middling 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque some of that due to the 48 Volt eTorque mild hybrid system the performance was
Origin: Pickup Review: 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 4’4 Crew Cab
2019 Skoda Superb: plug-in hybrid pricing announced
Skoda has revealed its new Superb iV plug-in hybrid will start from £31,970 when it arrives Britain in January. The figure was revealed to journalists during the UK launch of the rest of the revised Superb range, and makes the new model £4,730 cheaper than its sibling, the Volkswagen Passat GTE. 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 7.4sec for the saloon. The brand also promises an official CO2 rating of under 40g/km. A 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 with 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 air-con to cool the cabin before the car is needed. Prices for the rest of the range, with traditional petrol and diesel engines, start 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 17in 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 18in alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, full matrix LED headlights and an electrically operated boot. SportLine Plus trim comes with 19in 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 the kit from SE L, and adds 18in 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. 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 be a 268bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged version – down around 8bhp from the outgoing on car due to the inclusion of a petrol paticulate filter and other emissions control systems. 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 that makes use of data from road signs. 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: plug-in hybrid pricing announced
Car Comparison: 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan
Clayton Seams: The Volkswagen Jetta and the Toyota Corolla have been fighting with each other for a long time. These nameplates are both so old that they were each designed to replace air-cooled predecessors. Toyotas Corolla replaced the Publica, and Volkswagen Jetta, the Beetle. The Corolla is on its 12th generation, which debuted in 2018 and the Jetta is in its 7th iteration which debuted this year in 2019. Both are compact FWD sedans, powered by four-cylinder engines. Both have shown up to the party in mid-level trim and both retail for $28,000 and change as tested. Representing team Jetta was this Tornado Red Comfortline tester with the R-Line appearance package. Alex, what did you bring to the party?Alex Reid: In the blue corner is a 2020 Toyota Corolla XSE, and its stuffed full of tech. Its come along way from its humble beginnings, and beyond its revolutionary water-cooled engine, the Toyota Corolla is truly a grown up vehicle for the 2020 model year. These two vehicles have evolved to become more than just small-engined runabouts designed to pinch sales away from yank tanks, theyre now at the top of their reasonably-priced game. These two brothers from another mother have grown up at the same time, but which one of them can claim to be the more mature sibling? I would argue that the Toyota is wise beyond its years, even if hesitant to react to changes around it. First of all, the amount of technology that you get in the Corolla greatly surpasses the Jetta, having navigation, satellite radio, heated seats and steering wheel, and a host of safety features for almost the same cash means that the Corolla is a seriously strong contender for some of the best value on the market. CS: Its true, the Corolla packs an impressive list of equipment that you dont get in the Jetta for the same money. A heated steering wheel, SatNav, Satellite radio, and a digital dash are all found in the Corolla but not in the Jetta. But you could have those in a Jetta if you choose a more loaded model its worth noting. Also worth noting is the styling of the Corolla, yikes. I dont know why it has a Super Duty-sized grill or why its so angry at me. The Jetta, meanwhile, looks rather dashing in that aforementioned red paint and 17 alloys. That clean look continues to the interior where the Jetta wears a smart white/black two-tone interior. The touch screen display is neatly integrated into the dashboard and the sporty D-shaped steering wheel looks great but feels out of place in a car that lacks a sport mode or paddle shifters. Unfortunately it seems that the nice-looking seats were designed for the hard, square butts of Lego people and human butts may not find it very comfy. The seats seem unnecessarily hard and just oddly shaped if their purpose is indeed to support a human body. AR: I guess you pay a price premium for the VW to have all those features because I agree, the Corolla has a face only a mother could love, although I dont have to see it when Im driving it, so its a moot point, really. Another thing that I cant see but I can definitely feel on the Corolla, is the 18 wheels and low profile tires, which translates to more sporty handling, if thats something you care about in your daily commuter. While youve got a sporty steering wheel, the Jetta doesnt actually have the handling prowess to back it up, and its the Corolla that has a sport mode, and paddle shifters, even if its connected to a CVT. The Jettas good looks inside also dont translate to comfort, those seats are flat, square, and almost downright uncomfortable, theyre also manually operated, which is pretty lame considering the almost $30k price tag.However, I think the money is really well spent in the Corollas interior, which has electrically operated seats with lumbar support, and a super cool blue-stitched pattern, the digital dash is also miles above the dials you get in the Jetta, which looks like Volkswagen raided Ataris arcade game warehouse, Asteroids anyone? I think the Corolla also has the Jetta licked when it comes to size, it feels compact, like the segment should suggest, the turning radius is small and its extremely easy to park. The Jetta, even though VW claims its a compact, feels more like a mid-size. While the size should mean that the Jetta has more space, it really struggles to offer more than a few millimetres more rear headroom than the Corolla, and a negligible legroom advantage. CS: While its true the Corolla is the more sporty of the two, (CVT and all!) the Jetta is a little more quiet when driving along at highway speeds. The Corollas 2.0L naturally-aspirated I4 feels more sprightly than the Jettas 1.4L turbo I4. The Jetta makes more torque at 184 vs 151 but the Toyota makes more power at 169 vs 147. On paper, the smaller turbo engine of the VW has a clear fuel economy lead over the larger-engined Corolla. Also worth mentioning in the interior is that the VW has a more modern-looking infotainment system and
Origin: Car Comparison: 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan
SUV Comparison: 2019 Chevrolet Blazer vs. 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
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 if Hyundai’s all-new Santa Fe can defend its title as the superior two-row family SUV against the reborn Chevrolet Blazer.Brian Harper: Ive said it before and Ill say it again: mid-sized sport-utes are the workhorses of the entire SUV market the high riding, trailer towing, wagon-shaped family haulers. They usually arent sexy; theyre not (with some exceptions) overpowered or overpriced. They just quietly go about their business.And it is one crowded segment, with about 20 nameplates Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Kia Sorento currently the most popular all fighting for market share. This field has been substantially increased in the past year or so with additions such as the Volkswagen Atlas, Honda Passport and Subaru Ascent, plus the Chevrolet Blazer, which we going to put up against one of the established players, the aforementioned Santa Fe. Initial thoughts, kid? Nick Tragianis: Its a crowded segment for sure, but while three-row family haulers are a dime a dozen, lets focus on a pair of two-row trucksters, specifically the Santa Fe and Blazer. Both are all-new for 2019 and both have the same mission statement to haul your family in relative ease and comfort but they go about doing so in very different ways. Were no strangers to the Hyundai; we recently pitched it against the Honda Passport and the Santa Fe came out on top, because its just a no-frills sport-ute that does what its supposed to very well, even if its a little uninspiring in the powertrain department.Depending on the trim, the Santa Fe comes with either a normally aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder with 185 horsepower, or a 2.0L turbo-four pumping out 235 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. Our fully loaded Ultimate tester was equipped with the latter; its smooth and easy to live with on city streets, but when you need a burst of power to merge onto or pass someone on the highway, throttle response is dull. Switching the Santa Fes drive mode into Sport sharpens it a touch, but otherwise it feels a bit lackluster on the highway and thats too bad, because the Santa Fe is otherwise a fantastic cruiser. The eight-speed automatic operates smoothly and invisibly, the soft suspension soaks up bumps and rough pavement well, and wind noise barely filters into the cabin. As a family road-tripper, the Hyundai excels. Pun intended. So, whats so special about the Blazer, old dude?BH: Its not as though Chevrolet is lacking in SUVs and crossovers. God knows every niche of the entire segment has been filled, from the diminutive Trax to the large-and-in-charge Suburban. And if it doesnt wear a Chevy badge, one of GMs other divisions Buick, Cadillac, or GMC can pick up the slack. Yet, Chevrolet has seen fit to slot in a new, mid-sized sport-ute with an old name, splitting the difference in size between the Equinox and Traverse.This newest Blazer is nothing like the old Blazers neither the full-size K5 Blazer, based on the C/K pickup chassis and built from 1969 to 1999, nor the compact S-10 Blazer, based on the S-10 pickup and built from 1983 to 2005. No, this one is built on the same platform as the GMC Acadia and the Cadillac XT5. Power comes from either a 193-horsepower, 2.5-litre four-cylinder or an optional (and plenty punchy) 3.6L V6 with 308 horsepower, which was the engine we tested here. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard; a twin-clutch AWD system is available. <img
Origin: SUV Comparison: 2019 Chevrolet Blazer vs. 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reader Review: 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited S
Kenton Smith with the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica.Brendan Miller/Postmedia Kenton Smiths first family hauler was a 1999 Dodge Caravan. The Calgarian says he left the minivan world behind years ago but recognizes the market has evolved.We owned that vehicle a long time ago, and I tried to keep that from my mind as I drove the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica, essentially a reimagined minivan Smith explains.Consumers initially saw the Pacifica name on a midsize CUV that Chrysler built from 2004 to 2008. The name was dormant until Chrysler retired its Town and Country minivan, replacing it with the re-designed from the ground up and re-branded Pacifica in 2016. Then, the Pacifica rolled out on an all-new platform with dynamically styled (for a minivan) sheet metal. Updates for 2019 are minimal, apart from some new paint colours and appearance packages. A 3.6-litre V6 engine that produces 287 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and in Canada the Pacifica is available in seven trim levels, from base L to Limited. The minivan is also available as a plug-in hybrid.It looked smaller than I expected it would, Smith says of his first impression of the Pacifica Limited he drove that was finished in a $245 extra-cost Billet Metallic paint. His Limited with the Sport appearance package rang in at $64,260.He says, Theres something about the Pacificas proportions that make it look more compact to me, likely because its not as tall. The Sport package included larger 20-inch aluminum wheels finished in black. That blacked-out theme carried over to many of the exterior accents and badging, while the entire interior was black with Light Diesel Grey highlights and an S logo in select areas.I had no issue getting into the minivan, Smith says. The doors werent gigantic, but there was lots of space for my legs and it only took a moment to get settled in. I found the controls were close at hand, but there was a knob you turned to select the gear rather than a lever I found that odd at first.With a lever, the movement is guided and you dont often have to check if youre in Drive or Reverse. With the knob, I always double-checked because every notch or click in the rotation felt the same.Smith was impressed with the overall fit and finish, and says it leaned towards luxury vehicle quality. The Nappa leather seating surfaces on the heated and cooled front seats was grippy and the four-way power adjustable lumbar provided plenty of support.Instrumentation was clear and featured two large dials on the left and the right of the gauge cluster with a screen between the two that was configurable to display various vehicle information Smith mostly left it set to show vital trip statistics, including fuel economy.When I talk about it looking compact, Smith says, and continues, I felt that it drove big. It didnt have a very tight turning radius, and that always makes a vehicle feel bigger to me.Acceleration from a stop was great, it would get up and go but the transmission didnt feel well-suited to the engine. Merging or getting up to speed to pass, you really had to stomp down to get it to downshift.It has what it needs, but I just felt the gearing could have been better.Power aside, Smith says overall handling was great. The suspension was well-tuned, and he felt confident pushing the Pacifica through corners when taking on and off ramps. And, he always felt well-connected to the vehicle as it responded to his steering inputs.While spending the majority of his week-long test commuting in the city, Smith did travel north on the QEII Highway to Red Deer.It was comfortable on the highway and it handles well, Smith says. It was very windy with a significant cross breeze, and it felt impacted by that wind. Its been a couple of years since Ive had a minivan so I may just be forgetting what its like.It was a little noisier than I would have expected, and that was mostly road noise rather than wind noise, a bit surprising given the significant wind. There was rain on this trip, and the rain-sensing wipers worked well when rain was intermittent.The two sliding rear passenger doors and the liftgate are power-operated and were foot-activated. Smith says this feature worked well and was especially nice to have when approaching the Pacifica with hands full of packages.Theres lots of space behind the power-folding third row seats for storage, Smith says. I never did put the Stow-n-Go second row seats into the floor, but theyll fold flat and leave a level cargo area. You cant beat a minivan for that carrying capacity. Ultimately, while Smith liked the Pacifica, he had trouble wrapping his head around the price.In my opinion, I think youre getting up into the dollar figure of a luxury SUV, and there are lots of options when youre going to spend that much on a vehicle, he says, and concludes, But dont get me wrong, it was a great utility vehicle with a compromise between sport and luxury and you
Origin: Reader Review: 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited S
SUV Review: 2019 BMW X7 xDrive 40i
2019 BMW X7Costa Mouzouris / Driving OVERVIEW BMW’s newest and biggest SUV sets a high bar in terms of creature comforts, composure on the road, and technology PROSHigh luxury, refined and sedan-like ride CONSFinicky gear selector, somewhat ordinary styling VALUE FOR MONEYGood WHAT TO CHANGE?Offer 7 Series-style reclining second-row seats HOW TO SPEC IT?Take it with the Premium Excellence package, it’s pricey but you won’t regret it If you know anything about BMW, you know that by the time you hit the sevens, you expect luxury in massive doses. The 7 Series, for example, is the firms flagship sedan, setting a high standard in terms of copious coddling. Thats why our expectations of lavishness were high for BMWs all-new X7 xDrive 40i.Aside from the X7s imposing size its just over 5.1 metres long theres a particular styling detail that also sets it apart from all the other X models: Its BMWs only SUV that doesnt have a downward-sloping hood from the windshield forward. The hood line is mostly horizontal before curving downward near the front, and while its a subtle difference, it gives the X7 a more commanding presence.BMW added the X7 this year, and the three-row SUV is high on features and luxury. Were testing the X7 xDrive 40i, which although starts at $92,500, our tester is equipped with the $15,000 Premium Excellence package, the $2,900 M sport package, and various other odds and ends like lavish interior trim, that bump the price to $114,850 as-tested.The Premium Excellence package is pricey, but it adds a lot of the pampering goodness that elevates the X7 into the ultra-luxury zone. Among the bigger features, it adds are a panoramic sunroof with a section that extends into the third row and is controllable by third-row occupants. You also get Comfort front seats, which as their name suggests, are quite comfy, fully adjustable, heated and vented, and include a massage function. You get five-zone climate control (third-row passengers can control their own climatic destiny), heated and cooled cup holders, and a whole slew of other features.The package also includes an impressive suite of driver aids, including among other things, steering-assisted lane-keeping, front and rear cross-traffic alerts, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, and what BMW calls Driving Assistant Professional. That last one is a truly impressive feature, if your ready and willing to give up some of the driving experience when that experience becomes more of a chore in heavy traffic.A dedicated button on the steering wheel activates Driving Assistant, which works like a regular adaptive cruise control, maintaining the maximum set speed and minimum distance behind a vehicle ahead. It also keeps you centred in the lane and even negotiates curves, though it prompts you to hold the steering wheel every 30 seconds or so if you take your hands off the wheel; neglect to do so and it triggers an audible alarm and eventually assumes youve passed out and automatically brings the vehicle to a stop. Driving Assistant takes it one step further, though, if youre travelling below 60 km/h and the vehicle senses that the surrounding traffic is also moving slowly. It then prompts you to activate Driving Assistant Pro, which allows you to leave the driving entirely to the X7, accelerating, stopping, and following the road without any intervention on the part of the driver. Green LEDs in the steering wheel let you know its activated, and it alleviates the tedious task of driving in stop-and-go commuter traffic, so you can focus on other things, like playing air guitar and air drums with the standard Harman/Kardon sound system blaring. If traffic in adjacent lanes picks up speed, an alarm sounds, the LEDs flash red, and it prompts you to take the wheel, while reverting to normal Driving Assistant mode. I was actually quite surprised at how quickly I became accustomed to not really paying attention to traffic with this driver assist activated, placing my trust in the X7s ability to drive.Driving Assistant eventually gained even more of my trust, after it helped me avert a possible collision. As I turned on my turn signal and prepared to change lanes to my right ahead of a vehicle Id just passed, the driver of that vehicle decided to accelerate and re-pass me as I was merging into his lane. Lane-keep assist is normally disabled when the turn-signals are on, yet the X7 forcefully turned me back into my lane, as it sensed the vehicle approach from the right. I hadnt anticipated that boneheads bone-headed move, but the X7s sensors caught it and took over.Its 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six claims 335 horsepower and 330 lb.-ft. of torque. Thats respectable power for a the full-sized SUV, and capable of hauling the beast from zero to 100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds. The eight-speed automatic is mostly smooth, though it sometimes changed ratios abruptly at lower speeds nothing disconcerting, mind you,
Origin: SUV Review: 2019 BMW X7 xDrive 40i
BTCC 2019: BMW drivers hit trouble in title battle
The battle for the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took several dramatic twists at Knockhill, with title contenders Colin Turkington and Andrew Jordan both involved in dramatic incidents. Jordan had entered the weekend trailing his fellow BMW 3 Series driver by 30 points, but a race two win – combined with an incident for Turkington – moved him to within four points of the lead. But Jordan’s luck changed when he was taken out of the final race, with Turkington salvaging tenth to restore his lead in the standings to ten points. The title contenders didn’t take all the attention. Local star Rory Butcher took pole position at the circuit his father owns, and followed up with victory in the first race. The Honda Civic Type R driver led Jordan throughout, and survived a side-by-side battle with the BMW man on the final lap. Dan Cammish finished third in his works Civic, with Turkington fourth. The BMW’s rear-wheel-drive helped Jordan grab the lead at the start of race two, with Butcher soon coming under pressure and losing second to Cammish. Butcher then found himself under pressure from Turkington, with the championship leader eventually battling past at the first turn. Butcher tried to regain the spot with a late move at a tight right-hander, but made contact with Turkington, pitching the BMW into the gravel. Butcher held on to finish third behind Jordan and Cammish, but was later penalised five places on the grid for the final race. Having finished tenth in the second race, Audi S3 driver Jake Hill drew pole position for the reverse grid finale, and duly controlled the race throughout, surviving a safety car restart to take his first BTCC win ahead of Josh Cook (Civic Type R). There was more drama behind, with Adam Morgan battling up to third in his Mercedes A-Class ahead of Chris Smiley (Civic). Jordan was involved in some early contact, but his race ended in disaster when Senna Procter spun his Subaru Levorg ahead of him. Jordan was unable to avoid the spinning car, and was pitched into the gravel and out of the race. From the back of the grid Turkington was able to battle up to tenth, scoring some valuable points to rebuild his title lead with six races remaining. The next event is at Silverstone on 29
Origin: BTCC 2019: BMW drivers hit trouble in title battle
Frankfurt motor show 2019: Live blog, updates and pictures
Welcome to Autocar’s extended coverage of the Frankfurt motor show, one of Europe’s major motoring events and the place to see an extensive list of new cars make their debut. Traditionally the world’s largest motor show, Frankfurt sees the automotive industry descend on the city every two years to see new metal for the first time. This year is no exception, with game-changing unveilings from, Volkswagen, Land Rover and more. Electric cars promise to be big news at this year’s show, with the Volkswagen ID 3 having made its global debut, along with the Honda E, Porsche Taycan, Peugeot e-2008 and more all making an appearance. That said, there will no doubt still be quite a crowd gathered around conventionally fuelled new cars – especially the reborn Land Rover Defender, which is almost certain to dominate proceedings. We’re on site in Frankfurt to bring you every single reveal, so be sure to follow along with our live blog, and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channels for up-to-the-minute news and images. Frankfurt motor show 2019: Live blog 07:15 Tuesday 10th September First announcement of the morning comes from Hyundai, with the 1970’s-inspired 45 Concept. Expected to eventually enter production, the electric crossover uses strong angles and lots of LEDs to make a visual statement while the interior hints at an autonomous future. Even before last night’s big ID 3 reveal, it was clear this year’s Frankfurt show was going to heavily feature electrification. With tough new emissions targets about to be introduced, car firms are having to push EVs and alternative powertrains like never before, argues Hilton Holloway. Environmental protestors have pledged to picket the show for weeks now, and it appears Greenpeace are leading the way this morning at the event entrance in Frankfurt. Further demos have been pledged throughout the day, with more disruptive protesters having hinted at picketing some of the press conferences. Kudos then to VW Group boss Herbert Diess, who went head to head with one of the protest group leaders in a live web debate on the subject, outlining why he believed a world without personal transport was unviable, how cars like the ID3 can be part of the environmental solution. 07:00 Tuesday 10th September Welcome back to our Frankfurt coverage. The show floor officially opens this morning, and we’ll be there to see all the new reveals. Overnight saw Audi announce the redesigned RS7 Sportback, which shares its 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 and 48v mild hybrid powertrain with the RS6 Avant. In the RS7, it results in a 0-62mph time of 3.6 seconds and 189mph top speed if you opt for the derestricted Dynamic Plus pack. “The beauty and the beast” is how Audi Sport managing director Oliver Hoffmann descries the new RS6 and RS7. Which one’s which, you ask? Anything and everything appears to be on the cards for Audi Sport as part of its expansion plans – even an RS8. “We have the S8, but there’s no decision yet on an RS8,” said Oliver Hoffmann. Nothing has been ruled out at Audi Sport for now. 21:00 Monday 9th September With all the covers at VW’s Group night now removed and all the cars on display, we’re nearing the end of the first day at Frankfurt – but there’s plenty more to come. Make sure to set your alarms as tomorrow morning sees new metal from BMW, Audi and Hyundai. It’s Land Rover that’s almost certain to steal all the attention, though. It is set to reveal the all-new Defender at 9am BST. We’ll have all the details here on the site, and you can watch the livestream right here: 20:30 Monday 9th September News editor Lawrence Allan says he is “certainly impressed by the cabin tech of the ID 3”, but thinks the material quality (traditionally a VW hallmark) doesn’t seem up to Golf standards: “There’s more hard plastics and plain surfaces than I expected – but maybe that’s the price to pay for an EV offering of relative value. Hey, it’s worked for Tesla…”. 20:15 Monday 9th September The Volkswagen ID 3 was the big star of the traditional pre-show VW Group Night, but once the new EV had its starring moment, those in attendance got to glimpse some of the other new machines from the group’s various brands. They included the new Porsche Taycan, which was revealed last week but is making its public debut in Frankfurt. Also on display was the new Audi Sport RS7, which hasn’t actually been officially revealed yet. So while we can show you a picture, we can’t give you full details yet (we suggest you keep an eye on autocar.co.uk for full details soon. 20:00 Monday 9th September Hybrid and electric car customers typically need more support from retailers before they commit to a purchase, according to Mercedes-Benz’s head of sales and marketing Britta Seeger. “While many are very well informed, we take the time to identify if the car really suits their needs,” she said. “These are big changes, and it is right that customers take their
Origin: Frankfurt motor show 2019: Live blog, updates and pictures
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