When it comes to vehicle wheels, bigger is almost certainly better. Better handling and better looks is a good enough reason for large-diameter wheels on almost any vehicle, but how big is too big? According to Audi, weve almost reached critical mass already.The latest Audi vehicles all come with huge wheels a set of gigantic 23-inch units, in fact, can be found on the RS Q8.The A6 has optional 21-inch rims, and the 2020 RS 6 Avant is available with 22-inch wheels as an option.But wheels larger than 23 inches make no sense, Audi design boss Marc Lichte told Motor Authority last week. Package wise, I would say this is definitely close to the limit.Ask GM, however, and itll say 23-inch wheels are just the start. Were headed towards 24- and 26-inch wheels, General Motors design boss Michael Simcoe predicted while speaking on the Brembo Red podcast. He also mentioned that 18- and 19-inch wheels are now considered small by modern standards.Concept cars are all drawn with almost comically large wheels in the first place, so it was only natural wed see them finally make it into the production versions.So who do you think will come out right in these forecasts? Will consumers heed the Germans logic, and stop wheel sizes at 23 inches; or will we take the donk route the American suggests and make Bigfoot-sized wheels commonplace?Take Our Poll
Origin: Audi designer suggests wheel size has peaked, but GM thinks 26-inchers coming
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The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N-Line is coming, but a full-fat N is not
2020 Hyundai SonataBrian Harper / Driving During our first drive of the next-generation Hyundai Sonata, we learned an N-Line version of the car would soon be coming to the lineup but also learned a full-blooded N performance model is not in the cards.I dont see it happening in the future; thats not our intention with the Sonata, Motor1 got a product planner to confirm on record.This makes perfect sense its a family sedan, not an all-out performance vehicle with track capabilities. Hitting the twisties is better left to other cars in Hyundais range, like the Veloster N, and sister company Kias Stinger.The still-sporty N-Line should be good enough for most people, especially since Hyundai plans to put a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood, making 290 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. All that power will be sent to the front wheels only, via an active torque vectoring system. For now, that powertrain will be exclusive to the Sonata N-Line. On top of the power upgrades, the N-Line will also look and sound the part, thanks to quad exhaust tips and 19-inch wheels, an upgrade from the 18-inch units on the standard Sonata.We drove the N-Line at the same time as the regular Sonata, but unfortunately, were not allowed to talk about it yet its still in camouflage mode.What do you think, is the N-Line enough for you? Or were you hoping for a full-blooded performance sedan from
Origin: The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N-Line is coming, but a full-fat N is not
After far too long, Nissan’s updated Frontier pickup is coming soon
2019 Nissan FrontierHandout / Nissan There are few sureties in life: death, taxes and the stale styling of the Nissan Frontier. Thanks to the companys glacier-like design cycle, the looks of the current Frontier are very nearly old enough to get a licence and drive themselves.Thats about to change, according to the gearheads at Automobile.In an interview with the mag at this weeks Tokyo Auto Show, Ivan Espinosa, corporate vice-president of global and Japan product planning, said a new Frontier is a priority for the company and will probably appear within the next calendar year.In a vacuum, those words arent much to go on. However, when asked about the new trucks styling, Alfonso Albaisa, global vice-president of design, went on to say it will have a spirituality of adventure and be bolder than the overall design direction of other Nissan products thanks to it being, yknow, a truck. Albaisa described the look as strong, and the expectation is itll be more than just an evolution of the current trucks styling. Your author, for what its worth, thinks the next Frontier will share design cues with the 2020 Titan.In addition to new duds, theres an excellent chance the next Frontier will also have new modes of motivation, even if it rides on the same old platform. The current truck allows customers to choose between an inline-four making 152 horsepower and a 4.0-litre V6 making 261 ponies. Neither are exactly cutting-edge technology, so any upgrade here will be a marked improvement.Despite its age, theres a solid argument to be made that Nissan doesnt need to rush in bringing a new Frontier to market. The current model is posting robust sales numbers, thanks in no small part to its price-leader status. Canadian customers can get into a King Cab 42 for less than $25,000. Absent of large changes since the mid-2000s, parts availability is vast and cheap.In the meantime, Nissan is busying itself with introducing the refreshed Titan truck. If the above timeline holds, itll be good practice for when they roll out a new Frontier next
Origin: After far too long, Nissan’s updated Frontier pickup is coming soon
Honda’s smallest compact may not be coming back to Canada
Honda teases image of next generation 2020 Fit (Jazz)Honda Hondas teasing the next generation of the Fit ahead of its debut at the 2019 Tokyo Auto Show, but this time it really is a tease, since odds are the vehicle wont make its way to North America.Automotive News noticed Hondas press release for the Fit referred to it only by its European name, Jazz, and said it would be offered only with a hybrid powertrain.Honda is ramping up its efforts to make low-emissions vehicles in Europe, in order to follow its directive of a 100-per-cent electrified lineup there for 2025.When we reached out to Honda Canada, we were told they would not comment on future vehicles at this time. Hondas American arm similarly wouldnt confirm the car, suggesting the States wont be getting it; that make it seem unlikely well get it either. If the Fit does leave the North American market, Honda will likely close its plant in Mexico, saving the company its import tariffs.Even though we likely wont get it, we might as well mention the vehicles looks. A more round and traditional shape takes over for the angular styling weve seen all around the automotive world, and the front and rear of the vehicle have been made stubbier and more vertical, making it easier to park and drive for Europeans.The vehicle has fallen out of favour with Americans, with sales dropping 17 per cent through to September, another reason we can see its demise here making sense. In August, sales of the Fit in Canada were half what they were January, at 206 cars versus
Origin: Honda’s smallest compact may not be coming back to Canada
Elton John’s first-ever Ferrari coming up for auction
When you make it big, you buy a Ferrari.Its an unstated rule understood, and followed, by almost everybody who has gotten famous or who would like to get famous.Elton John understood it; he bought one immediately after his album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road became a best-selling hit in 1973. He was 26 at the time.Sir Elton sold the car just two years after he bought it (perhaps to buy the Jaguar XK140 featured in the fold of A Single Man) and went on to buy many more Ferraris in his lifetime, but this was his first.For the past 44 years, though, the car has been in the careful stewardship of Ferrari Owners Club members, meaning its probably been well taken care of, amassing only 82,000 miles since new.The car itself is a 1972-model-year 365 GTB/4 Daytona coupe, with a bright red paint job and five-spoke wheels with knock-off hubs. The car is also a rare right-hand-drive model that was destined for the U.K. market (obviously), one of only 158 cars in this specification. A real Daytona is already worth quite a bit of money, but the added provenance of rock-star ownership should add a few extra dollars, even if its been a while since Eltons actually touched the car.The car will be auctioned by Silverstone Auctions, which estimates that the Daytona could bring around 530,000 Euro ($800,000) when it crosses the
Origin: Elton John’s first-ever Ferrari coming up for auction
Porsche’s US$3,100-a-month subscription service is coming to Canada
2019 Porsche Cayenne SNick Tragianis / Driving Porsche is expanding its app-based subscription service to four new cities in the U.S. and Canada, deepening its experiment in flexible car ownership even as other automakers back away.The luxury sports-car brand of Volkswagen is adding Las Vegas, San Diego, Phoenix and Toronto to the pilot program it started in Atlanta almost two years ago.The price of its two-tiered monthly subscription service, Porsche Passport, will cost US$3,100 a month in the States; and $3,200 a month in Canada.In Canada, the first tier will let users swap between Porsches 718, Macan and Cayenne models and their variants; while the higher $4,200-per-month Accelerate level opens up the chance to drive its 911 and Panamera cars as well.Automakers are dangling subscriptions to try to reach younger consumers accustomed to streaming movies on Netflix or summoning rides from Uber, with mixed results. While Porsche and Mercedes-Benz are expanding their tests, General Motors pulled the plug on its Cadillac BOOK subscription service in December; and Volvo Cars is battling California car dealers over its Care by Volvo program, which combines lease, insurance and maintenance into one monthly payment.Its not fundamentally a cheaper way of consuming your mobility, said Mark Wakefield, head of the automotive practice at consultancy AlixPartners. There has to be enough people that want to pay for the convenience factor.Most subscription services cost more than a comparable three-year lease, which limits their growth potential, according to a study that car-shopping researcher Edmunds released last year.That may not be a problem for a company like Porsche. The US$2,100 tier of Porsche Passport is 20 per cent more expensive than leasing a Porsche for three years, the automaker said. Still, 180 people subscribed over the course of two years, 80 per cent of whom had never owned one before. Typical users were in their mid-40s, eight years younger than the average Porsche owner.The question is not a bookkeeping exercise or accounting; the question is how much are you willing to pay for that much freedom? said Klaus Zellmer, head of Porsche Cars North America.Monthly subscribers can drive as many as 20 different model variants, have vehicles delivered to them, and only pay for gas, after a US$595 one-time activation fee. Insurance and maintenance are included. Porsche chose the four additional cities based on their support of the brand and the companys expectation of
Origin: Porsche’s US$3,100-a-month subscription service is coming to Canada
Alvis is coming back with continuation cars now, too
Alvis, the British manufacturer of sports cars from 1919 to the late 1960s, is coming back to build a limited run of continuation cars.The company went bust in 1968, but was revived in 2012 as the Alvis Car Company, and even produced a few continuation cars based on the marques pre-war creations. Now, another run of continuation cars will be made based on its later 60s designs.Like a Morgan, an Alvis body uses an ash frame with aluminum stretched over it to keep it light; underneath these new cars bodies will be a steel frame left over from the 1960s yes, the 2019 Alvis will use the original unused, or NOS, frames from 50 years ago. The 3.0-litre engines that will sit up front are similarly built with new-old stock. Three body styles are available: Super Coupe, Cabriolet and Drop Head Coupe. Each vehicle takes up to 5,000 hours to complete, but the completed vehicles have a three-year warranty, and can even be specd with air conditioning and automatic transmissions, if you prefer more of a cruiser.The 3.0-litre cars will join the stable of Alvis pre-war 4.3-litre lineup, which consists of the Bertelli Sports Coupe, Lancefield Concealed Hood and Vanden Plas Tourer body styles. The best part about the continuations is that, because of the use of modern engine management, fuel injection and other loopholes, they can be driven on the road just as they would have 50 years ago. Aston Martin and Jaguar continuations can only be driven on tracks, so this is a huge leg-up for Alvis.No word is given on price, but if you have to ask, it usually means you cant afford it. We hope these cars MSRPs are at least, however, in the lower stratosphere for a
Origin: Alvis is coming back with continuation cars now, too
A roof-less Ferrari 812 Spider could be coming in September
David Booth behind the wheel of the 2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast. A convertible version of the Ferrari 812 Superfast could arrive as early as September.Reportedly, some Ferrari owners are already receiving invitations to go and see the drop-top.According to FerrariChat forum users, there will be two events to see the vehicle, on September 2 and 8.Nobody from the United States has been invited to go see the grand touring convertible yet, possibly suggesting the North American release will come later in the year. Ferrari has not officially released any details yet, and one member of the FerrariChat forums says when he tried to contact a dealer to put a deposit on one, he was turned down because the dealer had no idea what he was talking about.The closest the Superfast has ever got to being a convertible was the F60 America, an F12 Berlinetta-based custom built in a limited run of just 10 cars. Buyers had the choice of either a removable carbon-fibre hard top; or a fabric top. A rumour started back in November suggested the so-called Spider would feature a folding metal hardtop.The 812 Superfast is powered by a 6.5-litre V12 that makes 789 horsepower and 530 lb.-ft. of torque. A brisk 100km/h can happen from zero in just 2.9 seconds, before the Fezza presses on to a top speed of 340 km/h. Those numbers are likely to change slightly when the convertible top gets slapped
Origin: A roof-less Ferrari 812 Spider could be coming in September
Want a Lamborghini Huracán crossover? It might be coming’
Hot on the heels of its Urus sport-ute, Lamborghini is apparently considering putting a crossover version of its Huracán, the Sterrato, into production. Automobile magazine had a chance to drive the prototype Huracán Sterrato on the Nardo test track and off-road facility. The rumour is that Lamborghini would make between 500 and 1,000 copies, priced at about €240,000, or around $360,660 in Canadian dollars. Maurizio Reggiani, the automaker’s chief technical officer, told the publication that while the budget is quite tight (“It always is at Lamborghini,” he said), the company could build the car at a profit by manufacturing any Sterrato-specific parts on 3D printers, including cladding, panels, and splitters. The parts, made of a newly-developed lightweight synthetic material, would be bolted or screwed onto the body. Like the Urus, the Huracán Sterrato has off-road ability, but is a crossover rather than a sport-ute, and uses a 5.2L naturally aspirated engine that churns out 640 horsepower. With a Huracán replacement still at least five years away, Automobile suggests the company will fill in the gap with derivatives, including the high-performance STO in 2020; the Sterrato in 2021; and a possible hybrid in
Origin: Want a Lamborghini Huracán crossover? It might be coming’
Hybrid, 800bhp+ Mercedes-AMG GT 73 4-door coming in 2020
Mercedes-AMG is preparing to launch its most powerful model yet next year: a plug-in hybrid version of the AMG GT 4-door Coupe. Likely to be dubbed ‘GT73 4Matic+’ after a trademark application for the name was applied for, the petrol-electric range flagship is expected to put out around 800bhp, if not slightly more. New spy shots show what initially looks like just another AMG GT 4-door prototype being put through its paces by engineers. However, a view under the bonnet reveals a complex electrical system – almost certainly that used by an electrified powertrain. The photographers who took the images also claim the test mule drove away silently on electric power. AMG boss Tobias Moers confirmed to Autocar at the Geneva motor show that the model will launch in 2020. He also revealed the powertrain will remain largely faithful to that of the GT Concept shown at the 2017 Geneva motor show. That made use of AMG’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine with an electric motor on the front axle, giving a combined system output which Moers claims is “up to 600kW” – or 805bhp. That compares strongly to the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which makes do with a mere 671bhp. Despite a not insubstantial increase in weight that goes along with the hybrid system, the GT73 should be capable of breaking the three-second barrier in a 0-62mph sprint. The GT63 S manages the same sprint in 3.2sec. Yet it’s not all about fast launches – the system will allow an all-electric range of up to 31 miles and, as a result, far greater claimed economy than any other AMG GT. The ’73’ branding has only ever been reserved for a select few of AMG’s most powerful models throughout history. The last was the SL73, a super-rare spec of the R129 SL-Class of the nineties that used a 7.3-litre V12. That motor then went on to power the Pagani Zonda
Origin: Hybrid, 800bhp+ Mercedes-AMG GT 73 4-door coming in 2020
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