New 2020 Dodge Charger GT all-wheel drive (AWD) features class-exclusive all-wheel-drive system with active transfer case and front-axle disconnect, delivering year-round performance combined with muscle car stylingDodge Dodge is taking its all-wheel-drive family sedan and injecting it with the style and presence of the Charger GT, to make a much more aggressive winter warrior.The AWDs car fascia now mimics that of the GT, with a wider and lower rear splitter, more angular headlights, a functional hood scoop, and projector LED fog lamps.Four 19-inch aluminum wheels replace the standard 17-inch units, wrapped in all-season performance tires (which youll probably want to swap for real snow tires).Around the back is a performance spoiler, and to make sure you dont smash it up, a ParkView rear backup camera and ParkSense park assist. Powering this new Charger GT is FCAs venerable Pentastar V6 engine, which makes 300 horsepower and 264 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels thanks to an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect. The rear axle receives the power 100 per cent of the time, until sensors on the front wheels deem the need to engage all-wheel-drive.All-wheel-drive can also be engaged full-time by pushing the Sport button, which also sharpens shifts, and holds the revs higher for more performance-oriented driving.Inside the vehicle are Houndstooth high-bolstered performance seats to keep you in place, as well as a Dark Dub Plate instrument panel. Dodge Performance Pages with an 8.4-inch Uconnect screen is also included.Through the Performance Pages, the driver can activate the Super Track Pak, which enables launch control features, and displays visible performance information such as reaction times, zero-to-60-mph times, a G-force indicator and lap times. For the first time, the Charger GT AWD takes the Charger’s fierce performance exterior and features, including performance hood, fascia, sculpted side sills, spoiler, high-bolstered seats and performance steering wheel with paddle shifters, and mixes it up with all-weather capable all-wheel drive on America’s only four-door muscle car Dodge Traction control can also be turned off completely, for drifting according to FCA. Yes, the companys endorsing getting a little sideways sometimes.The 2020 Dodge Charger GT starts at $43,895, and will arrive at dealers in the first quarter of
Origin: Dodge adds GT muscle-car styling to its AWD Charger
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BMW adds an extra set of doors to the 2 Series
BMW 2 Series Gran CoupeDerek McNaughton / Driving What is it?An alternative to the classic sedan, the Gran Coupe blends the sexier styling of a coupe with the practicality of the sedan. Mostly seen in more expensive BMW models, the 2 Series Gran Coupe is a first in the premium compact segment.Why does it matter?Lets face it, sedans are a bit like dad jokes and the children of aging boomers, just hitting the sweet spot of buying new cars, will groan at the idea of a sedan. The 2 Series Gran Coupe brings better styling while still acting as a functional family hauler that could be a gateway car for the brand, especially in urban areas.Check out all of our latest auto show coverage hereThe 2 Series Gran Coupe will be offered as a 228i and M235i, both of which will have BMWs xDrive all-wheel-drive system as standard equipment. The 228i gets a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 228 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, pushed through an eight-speed automatic transmission and BMWs xDrive all-wheel-drive system, while the M235i brings 302 horsepower and 332 lb.-ft. of torque, also through a 2.0-litre and eight-speed automatic transmission. Also standard is full-LED headlights, alloy wheels, a digital instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch high-resolution central display. When is it coming?Its coming to Canada in mid-March 2020, with pricing announced closer to the launch date.Should you buy it?Considering the 2 Series Gran Coupe is almost the same size as a 3 Series, and yet still gets 450 litres of cargo space, its almost a 3 Series for less money ideal for a family of four that wants a premium car thats not as boring as dads BMW
Origin: BMW adds an extra set of doors to the 2 Series
Jeep adds a brace of new variants to the Wrangler line
2020 Jeep Wrangler Willys Edition In a time-honoured tradition of keeping public interest high in the years after a vehicle launch, Jeep is introducing a pair of new trims to the Wrangler lineup. For 2020, customers will have the added choice of a Willys or Black Tan edition.The Willys trim was offered on previous-gen JK Wranglers, where it proved to be a popular option, but this is the first time weve seen it on the new JL.For those unfamiliar, think of the Willys as kind of a Rubicon-lite and youve got the basic idea.It features a limited-slip rear diff, Rubicon rock rails and shocks, heavy-duty brakes and 32-inch Firestone mud terrain tires. This kit, combined with the part-time Command-Trac 44 system which has a two-speed transfer case and a 2.72:1 low-range ratio, gives the Willys much of the Rubicons off-road cred without breaking the bank. Alert readers will have noted those Firestones as an oddity, given the mighty Rubicon wears KO2 shoes. Your author has heard through the grapevine that the manufacturer cannot keep up with tire demand, requiring a switch to Firestones for the Willys. Take that for what you will.Eagle-eyed Jeep spotters will identify a Willys mainly by way of its military-spec hood lettering and gloss black grille. LED peepers are on board as standard, a nice touch. Its available in ten colours and will cost $2,900 on top of a Sport S model.Adding some heritage flair is the Black Tan model which, as you may have surmised, deploys a black-and-tan colour scheme.Offered in all exterior colours, the BT edition features 17-inch dark wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, snazzy side steps, dark badging and a premium tan soft top. This bundle will set you back $1,995 over and above the Sport S, and is available on both the two- and four-door
Origin: Jeep adds a brace of new variants to the Wrangler line
Kia adds new PHEV options to Ceed SW and XCeed
Kia adds new PHEV options to Ceed SW and XCeed Both estate and crossover will get a new Kia electric powertrain Kia has revealed two new plug-in hybrid models to join the company’s electric line-up – the Ceed Sportswagon and XCeed crossover. Both models will get a new powertrain, which features an 8.9 kWh battery, good for an electric-only range of around 37 miles on a charge. It powers a 44.5 kW electric motor, which works with a 1.6 litre petrol engine for a combined output of 139 bhp and 265 Nm of torque. In terms of performance, the Ceed Sportswagon covers 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds, while the XCeed takes 0.2 seconds longer. Both see power transferred to to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Both models will be offered with a Towing Pack, which is unusual for plug-in vehicles, and will appeal to a number of buyers, and they get Kia’s seven-year, 100,000 mile warranty. According to the company, one in seven new Kia cars sold in Europe in the first half of 2019 was electrified, and the new models will only add to that number. The Ceed SW and XCeed plug-in hybrids will go on sale across Europe in early 2020, with a UK on-sale date and specifications due to be confirmed closer to launch.
Origin: Kia adds new PHEV options to Ceed SW and XCeed
Toyota adds Automatic Park feature to prevent roll-aways
With electronic gear selectors sprouting up across vehicle lineups like so much kudzu, Toyota has decided to introduce a brace of safety feature updates to its vehicle lineup. Automatic Engine Shut Off and Automatic Park will be included starting with most model year 2020 models. Toyota will begin to phase in Automatic Park, which is designed to help reduce the risk of roll-away. The feature will be available in vehicles with electronic means of shifting and is designed to automatically shift the vehicle into the “Park” position and/or apply the electronic parking brake, in the event the driver exits the vehicle without placing the vehicle squarely in Park. Currently, Toyota vehicles include audible and visual warnings that something is awry. We’ll take a moment to underscore that, as gearheads, we emphatically believe that every single driver on the road should know how to put their vehicles in Park regardless of the complexity of the gear shifter in their car. Since using a solid heave to shove a physical lever into Park is not the norm on all vehicles any more, it would behoove the befuddled motorist to spend a few minutes with the owner’s manual to figure things out. Nevertheless, these things do happen, so Toyota’s engineers are responding in kind. In addition to the Auto Park feature, they are also introducing an Auto Engine Shut Off feature designed to kill the engine after a pre-determined period of time in the event the vehicle is left running. Future enhancements will include smartphone app capabilities as an added reminder. Back in 2016, actor Anton Yelchin was crushed to death by his SUV when it rolled down his driveway and trapped him against a security gate after allegedly not being placed into Park. Ten years ago, some Toyota vehicles were the subject of recalls after certain all-weather floor mats tended to foul the brake and accelerator
Origin: Toyota adds Automatic Park feature to prevent roll-aways
BMW adds M performance to the X5 and X7 SUVs
BMW is putting its M’ badge on a couple of big SUVs, following the trend the brand’s smaller X2, X3 and X4 trucks have picked up on. Right off the bat, you’ll notice the wheels on the new M50i-trim X5 are bigger: the X5 gets 20-inchers as standard, but can be optioned with the X7 M50i’s wheels, which are a massive set of 22-inch wheels wrapped in 275/40R22 tires in the front; and 315/35R22 tires in the rear. Both the X5 and X7 get an M Sport body kit, as well as a unique grille, fender vents and wheels finished in Cerium Grey. Powering both SUVs is the same engine from the new M850i, a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 that makes 523 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft. of torque, an increase of 67 horsepower and 74 lb.-ft of torque over the standard -50i models. The big engine will help thrust the X5 M50i and X7 M50i to 96 km/h in just 4.1 and 4.5 seconds, respectively. To get all the power down, the seven-speed automatic transmission has been tweaked, and now features launch control. Both vehicles have had their suspensions played with, the X5 receiving standard adaptive dampers, with the option to upgrade to the air suspension standard on the X7. An electronic rear differential, M Sport brakes and an M Sport exhaust also add performance. The 2020 BMW X5 and X7 M50i will go on sale this fall; Canadian pricing and availability have not been
Origin: BMW adds M performance to the X5 and X7 SUVs
Ford adds 270,000 Fusion sedans to recall for unintended rollaways
The first Ford Fusion built in the U.S. waits to be driven off the assembly line at Ford Motor Companys Flat Rock Assembly Plant August 29, 2013 in Flat Rock, Michigan.Bill Pugliano Ford is adding 270,000 vehicles to a recall in North America to fix a gearshift problem that could cause them roll away unexpectedly. The addition covers certain 2013 through 2016 Fusion midsize cars with 2.5-litre engines. It means another 10,282 cars are affected in Canada, on top of the original recall’s 36,887 total. The company is urging drivers to always use the parking brake until repairs are made. Ford says a bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission can degrade, causing the cable to detach. If that happens, a driver could shift into park but the car could be in another gear. Ford has one report of an injury and three property damage reports. Engineers are developing a fix. Last year Ford recalled 550,000 Fusions from 2013 through 2016 and Escape small SUVs from 2013 and 2014 for the same problem with a different cause. Ford says owners will be notified when repairs and parts are ready, and that owners of cars fixed in the previous recall are not affected. The 2018 recall covered cars with a number of different engines, including the
Origin: Ford adds 270,000 Fusion sedans to recall for unintended rollaways
VW adds electric-car plants in China to overtake Tesla numbers
VWs power bank for electric cars—the companys solution for a mobile quick-charging station.Handout / Volkswagen In about a year, Volkswagen Group may catch up to Tesla’s capacity to make electric cars. VW said Tuesday it is building two plants in China to produce a total of 600,000 vehicles on its dedicated battery-car platform, MEB. The new factories in Anting and Foshan will open a few months after Germany’s Zwickau, which will assemble as many as 330,000 cars annually and is slated to get started by year-end. Following through with plans to reach this level of scale will likely leave Tesla trailing behind. Its lone vehicle assembly plant operating in Fremont, California, can make about 500,000 cars. The electric-car leader expects to start output on the outskirts of Shanghai at the end of this year and produce 250,000 vehicles a year initially. VW has little time to lose after Tesla resolved manufacturing problems in Fremont and its battery factory near Reno, Nevada, which may start also building Model Y crossovers. While Model 3 sedan deliveries tailed off in the first quarter following a strong second half of 2018, CEO Elon Musk has dismissed concerns about demand and stuck to a forecast for as many as 400,000 vehicle deliveries this year. VW plans to produce some 70 battery-powered models across its 12 auto brands by 2028 and make 22 million electric cars over the next decade. CEO Herbert Diess, who says alternative technologies like fuel-cell cars will struggle to compete, is helming the auto industry’s biggest effort in the transition from combustion engines costing some 30 billion euros (US$34 billion). Volkswagen leads the competition on e-mobility, Diess said in speech notes at the company’s annual meeting in Berlin. As a company, we’ll make a success of the electric car—with the right products, superior underpinnings and global economies of scale. The German automaker, which is also considering sites for more electric-car plants, this month opened reservations for its electric ID3 hatchback. It’s garnered more than 15,000 orders from buyers putting down 1,000-euro deposits. Tesla, meanwhile, is mulling a factory in Germany, Musk said in a tweet last month. Last year, he stated that Europe’s No. 1 market was the leading choice for a car and battery site in
Origin: VW adds electric-car plants in China to overtake Tesla numbers
GM adds 400 workers to build new mid-engine Corvette
General Motors Bowling Green PlantGeneral Motors General Motors will add a second shift to its Bowling Green, Kentucky assembly plant to build the next-generation mid-engine Corvette. The new shift will add more than 400 hourly jobs at the plant, bringing the total workforce to more than 1,300 employees. The new Corvette will be officially revealed on July 18, 2019. GM said it has invested more than US$900 million into the Bowling Green facility since 2011, with investments going into a new body shop and paint shop, an increase in engine capacity, and adding what it calls a Performance Build Center. The plant has produced more than one million Corvettes since it opened in 1981. The final production model of the seventh-generation Corvette will be auctioned off this summer, with proceeds benefiting the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides support and housing assistance for military and first-responders. The automaker is still tight-lipped about the upcoming C8 Corvette, and other than its mid-ship engine placement, everything else we’ve heard is pretty much speculation. Rumour has it that it’ll make anywhere between 500 and 1,000 horsepower, its V8 engine will have displacement-on-demand, it’ll carry a dual-clutch or ten-speed automatic transmission, and have a base price of around US$70,000 — although we think that’s way on the low side. We’ve also heard that there might be an ultra-top-end version called the Zora, named for Zora Arkus-Duntov, the “Father of the Corvette” who in the late 1950s and early 1960s, took Chevy’s original underpowered sports car and turned it into a beast. Stay
Origin: GM adds 400 workers to build new mid-engine Corvette
Acura adds hand-built flair to its TLX sedan
Acura is adding some serious bling to its TLX sedan, and will debut the TLX PMC Edition next week at the New York Auto Show. The TLX PMC Edition – and the corresponding MDX PMC Edition that will follow it – will be customized at the company’s Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio, where the Acura NSX is produced. The special edition is based on the top-line TLX Tech A-Spec Package, and will go on sale this summer starting around US$50,000. By comparison, in Canada, a regular TLX with A-Spec Package starts at $42,390. The TLX is built in Marysville, but the PMC models come off the line at the body-in-white stage, where they’re just a shell. At the centre, they’re finished in Valencia Red Pearl paint, previously used only on the NSX. Between multiple base coats, two clear coats and curing time, it takes five days to paint each car. Final assembly then takes place by craftsmen at the centre, and each car receives a numbered serial plaque on the centre console. Each one is also wrapped in a special cover, and delivered to the dealership in an enclosed car carrier. So what are you getting for your cash, besides that paint? The package also includes gloss black wheels and trim, dark-chrome exhaust finishers, leather and Alcantara seats, perforated leather steering wheel and red interior stitching. Acura said that it designed the PMC facility not just for the NSX, but to “explore handcrafted production of limited-edition models,” and that the TLX and MDX models “are just the
Origin: Acura adds hand-built flair to its TLX sedan
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