There will be just 60 2020 Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Editions available to Canadian buyers, making this special luxury sport SUV one of the most exclusive Range Rovers ever.Andrew McCredie MALIBU, CA. Look up the word rare in the Merriam-Webster dictionary and youll find the words uncommon and distinctive. Those certainly apply to the 2020 Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic, of which just 60 will be for sale in Canada. Throw in powerful, advanced, luxurious, and cushy and youve pretty much covered all the bases of this very rare and refined vehicle.How refined? Engineers with Range Rover Special Vehicle Operationsthe mad scientists behind this uber-Velardesigned the engine so that at startup the valves are closed, meaning that instead of that distinctive bark of a supercharged, 5.0-litre V8, the engine note emits a lower note. Of course, put it in gear and step on it and those gleaming quad exhaust pipes let all the dog outs, to the tune of a 4.5 second zero to 100 km/h sprint. That 550 horsepower is some 170 ponies better than the next most powerful Velar, powered by a supercharged, 3.0-litre V6 and a ridiculously pedestrian zero to 100 km/h time of 5.3 seconds (if youve still got the dictionary handy, look up sarcasm). That refinement continues into the Velar SVAs bespoke chassis, which includes special damper tuning to help keep that 45 per cent increase in power in check. Those engineers also worked their magic on the eight-speed Quickshift transmission with high-performance SV calibration, which also makes its way into the all-wheel-drive system, the active rear locking differential, the steering and the air suspension. Theres also torque vectoring by braking, something you wont feel in that aforementioned straight-line sprint, but during a run up and down the many great canyon roads in the hills above Malibu had the large SUV handling more like the roadsters and sports cars that have made these roads famous for over 50 years. Put the transmission in Sport setting and engage the bespoke Dynamic modewhich allows you to personalize things like shift times, throttle and steering inputs and damping controlsand the driving experience underscores the fact that youre driving a full-size luxury SUV that is as good as cornering as chauffeuring. Oh, and braking. The 395mm front and 396mm rear brake discs feature a two-piece construction to optimize weight and are designed to dissipate heat more effectively to cope with the higher braking forces generated during high performance driving. The stopping power is remarkable.As much as the performance attributes of this special vehicle are impressive, the cabin updates over the already luxe Velar model line-up put this SUV into very rarefied territory. The double-stitched, perforated and quilted Windsor leather is unique to the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition and comes in four colour combinations (Ebony, Cirrus, Vintage Tan and Pimento). The front seats are 20-way adjustable, heated and cooled and with memory and massage functions as standard. Theres a unique sports steering wheel, which features a contoured rim and tactile aluminum gear shift paddles, and the rotary gear selector and circular control dials for the infotainment system all feature a sophisticated knurled finish. Theres also an optional carbon fibre pack for the interior. The exterior gets the Special Vehicle Operations treatment too, including a new front bumper with larger air intakes to cool the bigger engine cool the uprated braking system. Theres also a new grille up front, lower side moldings and a revised rear bumper featuring integrated those four exhaust pipes. And one change you cant see: a transmission tunnel under tray designed to smooth airflow under the vehicle.And then there is the selection of forged aluminum wheels. The standard lightweight 21-inch wheels weigh the same as the 20-inch wheels on the base model, but to really make a statement, theres the optional 22-inch rims with a Silver Sparkle finish and diamond-turned edging. On the subject of wheels, it was a bit of a shock to lift the rear cargo floor and discover the spare has a bright orange rim. A whimsical bit of English humour perhaps.When it debuted a couple of years ago, the Range Rover Velar took the storied brand in a bit of a different direction, one that while still offering the renowned off-road capabilities put more of an emphasis on luxury and style, both inside and out.The 2020 Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic takes that statement to the next level, one that 60 very fortunate owners in this country will enjoy for themselves very
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic
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First Drive: 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Lots of cars have angry eyebrows. Not that many cars have the moves to back them up. But the 2020 Shelby Mustang GT500 does and its very angry indeed. Even when painted in a jovial shade of safety-cone orange, the leering face bristles with vents, scoops, spoilers, and splitters. The very first second you fire it up you realize that the multi-mode exhaust has no fewer than four settings but they only range from antisocial to jet-engine. It wasnt built to make friends.It was built to be the ultimate performance Mustang. And with 760 horsepower, its far and away the most powerful Mustang ever built. Two of Steve McQueens rowdiest 1968 GT390s would still need a Mustang II stacked on top to equal the power of the mad supercharged 5.2L V8. Remember those this is your brain on drugs ads? Well this is your 5.2L GT350 Voodoo engine on copious amounts of boost. The bones of the same captain-insane-o flat-plane-crank V8 that we adored in the GT350 has been treated to a healthy dose of Roots blower which pushes 12 psi of go-fast squeeze through the mill. It makes 620 lb.-ft. and will rev out to 7,500 RPM. The engine is a treasure. We will be talking about this engine 25 years later as one of the mechanical greats. It revs, it pulls, its linear, and boy is it mean. The idle has an off-key warble like a V10 Viper thanks to the cross-plane-crank breathing through one intake plenum. Its everything you loved about the GT350 motor but with more of everything everywhere.Coupled to this engine exclusively is a paddle-shift-equipped seven-speed dual-clutch Tremec automatic. I can hear the pitter patter of #savethemanuals typers already, but honestly, the average human and buyer will not be able to shift fast enough to keep up with 760 hp. The shift points come at you faster than the music notes in Guitar Hero when you try to play Iron Maiden at full difficulty. The paddle is an honestly welcome companion to the GT500 engine and the shifts are absolutely fierce when you need them to be. Otherwise, it seems content to waft you along and seamlessly shift around in traffic. Its a very good transmission. Every bit as good as that transmission is the suspension tuning. The GT500 is fully aerodynamically optimized and that combined with just honestly good suspension engineering make the GT500 not as scary to drive as you might think. The magnetorheological suspension is not too harsh and jouncy on real roads. Sport mode is just about perfect for fast driving. The steering lacks feel compared to what youd find in a Porsche 718 or even across town in a Camaro. But the weight feels right and the entire package inspires tons of driving confidence. And youll want confidence when youre piloting 760 hp around.When you slap the accelerator down in a Hellcat, all kinds of amusing and terrifying things happen. The tires light up and the car goes sideways no matter what speed youre already doing. Its fun in the same way that base jumping is. But the Mustang simply rears up on those 315 section tires and explodes forward. Mat the gas at any speed above first gear and it just moves out like no muscle car youve ever seen, accompanied with a wild banshee wail. Lots of muscle cars have big power but the GT500 lets you use that power pretty much anywhere. 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Clayton Seams The cabin is nothing to write home about. You sit in a pair of nicely-shaped Recaros but those are the only seats youll find inside. The rears have been replaced with a little bit of foam. The GT500 is a true two-seater. Though it may cost a full $94,675 in Canada, the door panels, dashboard pad, and console are made from the very same materials youd find in a humble four-cylinder Mustang. But if youre buying this car, you know exactly where your money has been spent. Your money went to fund all the amazing pieces that transform the Mustang into a 100-percent capable track car. And frankly, I dont know where youd find more performance capability for under $100,000.Despite its angry face and its back-off exhaust tone, the GT500 is actually friendly to drive once you wrap your head around the sheer speed of it. Its the GT2 RS to the GT350s GT3. The manually-shifted GT350 is more pure and is the true drivers car of the two. The GT350 also has just that extra little bit of hard-edge sound thanks to its sky-high 8,200 RPM redline. Which is the better car? Well, frankly, the GT350 may be ticket fast but the GT500 is jail fast. The 350 is ideally suited for canyon carving and fast road driving. And while you can canyon carve the GT500, it wants for something more. The GT500 deserves a racetrack to be let loose on, and a big one at that. Then you can show all the other cars how angry it can truly
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Chevrolet Suburban first vehicle with star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN RECOGNIZED BY FILM INDUSTRY, GETS HOLLYWOOD STAR.Chevrolet The Chevrolet Suburban SUV has just earned itself a major award for its work not on the pavement, but on the silver screen.Usually its humans who get their names shown off on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but its impossible not to recognize the contribution Chevys carry-all hauler has made to the film industry.When a convoy of black Suburbans appears on screen, you know thats not the time to leave your seat to buy popcorn, points out Dennis McCarthy, Hollywood picture car coordinator.His dossier includes big-budget films like The Avengers, Black Panther, and a few Fast and Furious installments.The Suburban first debuted on screen in 1952, and since then its appeared in over 1,750 TV shows and films. Since 1956, a Suburban has been in at least one TV show per year, and at least one film per year since 1960.The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce awarded the honor to the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban nameplates, though the star only names the Suburban. More than its role in films, the Suburban also gets recognition for having the longest-running vehicle nameplate in history, dating all the way back to 1935.The nameplate will continue for the foreseeable future, with an all-new version (along with a new Tahoe) to be unveiled soon, perhaps with independent rear
Origin: Chevrolet Suburban first vehicle with star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame
First Drive: 2020 Lexus RX
2020 Lexus RXPeter Bleakney / Driving Its been 20 years since Lexus launched the RX 300, long before the term luxury crossover was such an integral fixture in our automotive lexicon. Thats because Lexus tall, uni-body, leather-lined four-wheeler with zero off-road pretensions was the original. Range Rover may be credited for introducing the first luxury off-roader, but Lexus lays claim to this whole ritzy soft-roader thing that has spread like wildfire. To this day, the RX is Lexus best-selling model and remains the top selling vehicle in the segment.For 2020, the fourth-generation RX gets a mid-cycle makeover that includes styling tweaks, updates to the infotainment system, and retuned steering and suspension bits. If you like the RXs bold styling, dont worry: Lexus hasnt toned it down. The huge spindle grille is as in-your-face as ever, but now is better integrated into a visage that incorporates slimmer headlights and bumpers contours that echo the grill. New L-motif taillights, fresh wheel designs and a new hue Moonbeam Beige Metallic round out the visual updates.Powertrains carry forward, which means the RX 350 runs with a naturally-aspirated, 295-horsepower 3.5-litre V6 hooked to an eight-speed automatic, while the RX 450h hybrid uses an Atkinson-cycle version of said engine along with two electric motors one powers the rear wheels for a total system output of 308 horsepower. A CVT does duty here. This 2020 refresh addresses a number of infotainment issues that were starting to dog the Lexus RX. First and foremost, Apple CarPay and Android Auto are now standard, and the roundly-criticized joystick controller on the centre console is replaced with a marginally less-frustrating track pad. Helping most with functionality here is a touchscreen (eight-inches on base models, upgradable to 12.3-inch split display on higher trims) which is probably the easiest way to get around this infotainment system. The screen sits 5.5 inches closer to the driver, although those with short arms will still find it a reach. Lexus also claims a simplified menu structure and larger touch points. Furthermore, on the tech front, the smartphone Lexus App allows for remote starting and locking, plus the monitoring such things as fuel level, odometer reading, and the position of the windows and sunroof.All 2020 Lexus RX models get the Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which adds to the standard safety systems a suite that includes daytime bicyclist detection, low-light pedestrian detection and Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) that, in conjunction with the adaptive cruise control system, affords a certain degree of semi-autonomous motoring when conditions allow.First up on this snowy test drive was a RX350 (base $56,050) with the $9,000 F-Sport Series 2 package that adds a whack of kit the 12.3-inch screen, F-sport seats, 20-inch wheels, front and rear LED lighting, rear cross-traffic braking, adaptive dampers, sports suspension, and more. The Circuit Red sport seats are superb comfy yet very supportive and like all Lexus products, the RXs interior is rich and beautifully crafted. All controls work with silken precision, and standard across the board are metal paddle-shifters. Are these a harbinger of an RX that cuts a sharper path through the bends? Kind of. Its actually hard to sense any appreciable handling difference without a direct comparison to a 2019 model, but if anything my backside tells me anything, the 2020 is a bit tighter. Credit a stiffer structure, new hollow anti-sway bars, and retuned dampers. The RXs steering is still numb, and it really shows no newfound appetite for on-ramp hijinks. But more to the point is the fact that Lexus hasnt sacrificed the RXs chart-topping core attributes a smooth relaxed ride and hushed cabin in the pursuit of sportiness. Adding to this sense of dont worry hurry, be happy apologies to Bobby McFerrin is the V6 that provides adequate acceleration, but nothing more. Were getting used to mid-range turbo punch these days, and the Lexus aint got it.The RX 450 hybrid feels marginally more lively, but if you really put your foot in it, the CVT has the V6 moaning away while the vehicle pays catch up. However, I did see a heart-warming 8.3 L/100 kilometres over a few hours of driving secondary roads, and for 2020 Lexus has upped the hybrids battery warranty to 10 years or 240,000 kilometres, whichever comes first. Is Lexus serious about getting you into a hybrid? Well, youll also be happy to know the RX 450h gets a $5,700 price cut for 2020 now starting at $58,800, it is a scant $2,750 pricier than the gas-only RX 350. Ultimate cargo space in the RX is compromised because of that stylish sloping roof, but at least you can access it easier for 2020. Lexus has reduced the time it takes for the hatch to power open yes, it was glacial before and now offers true foot-swipe operation.The Lexus RX is as much of a success for Lexus as it is for the multiple award-winning
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Lexus RX
First Drive: 2020 Audi S8
2020 Audi S8Graeme Fletcher / Driving BARCELONA, Spain The executive super-sedan segment has a new entrant: Audis latest S8 is on sale in Canada right now for $151,600, and in the long wheelbase variant only. In the simplest of terms, its a full-sized Bahn burner with everything from a sharper style and sorted handling to a lavish interior, and it touches everything between.The story starts under the hood with a 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 that has been tweaked to give it a serious turn of speed. As used in the standard A8, this engine produces 460 horsepower and 487 lb.-ft. of torque. Cranking the turbos boost pressure to an astounding 26 PSI bumps the output to 563 horsepower and 590 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000 rpm. To state the obvious, the extra 103 horsepower and pound-feet torque makes an enormous difference to the turn of speed. Almost enough to justify the ceramic brake option, with its 10-piston front calipers, a wise buy. Sadly, at $10,500, thats just not the case.The engine works with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Audis Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The transmission is a slick shifter that, depending on the drive mode selected, either slips up and down the cogs with a near-invisible shift quality, or it bumps up and down the gears with the speed needed to maintain momentum under hard acceleration. The all-wheel-drive system, under normal driving conditions, sends 40 per cent of the drive to the front wheels and 60 to the rear. However, it can send up to 70 per cent to the front wheels and up to 85 to the rear, should the need arise. The ebb and flow of power is seamless, and its superb at preventing the power from melting the rubber when the gas pedal is mashed. The combination makes for one seriously fast car the run from rest to 100 km/h comes in at 3.9 seconds. Thats very good, but its the mid-range where the S8 really catches fire the 80 to 120 km/h passing move clocks in at 2.6 seconds and the pace doesnt let up until the driver decides it isnt worth having a roadside chat with the local constabulary. Thats just one side of the story, though: The addition of cylinder deactivation and a 48-volt mild hybrid system improves fuel economy when the gas pedal isnt buried. A test average of 11.1 L/100 kilometres was much better than expected, given the S8 wasnt exactly driven with an eye to conservation.Another highlight is the ride quality delivered by the active air suspension. Its about as good as it gets, in terms of delivering two very different cars in a single package. The key is the predictive nature of the suspension; at speeds up to 70 km/h, the system uses the forward-facing camera to look at the road. When it detects a speed bump or the like, it changes the load-leveling air suspension and damping ahead of time to ready the car for the impending jolt. The result is an impeccable ride that sets a new standard for comfort sharp jolts are tamed to the point where the S8 wafts over the road and its imperfections. Better yet, the new Comfort+ drive mode uses the active anti-roll bars that control body roll to lean the car into the corner by as much as three-degrees an electric motor is used to control the left and right halves of the front and rear anti-roll bars to create the lean. The result is much less lateral force on the riders.As with the engine, that only tells one side of the story. The S8 also comes with dynamic all-wheel-steering and a sport differential with real-time torque vectoring. At speeds up to 60 km/h, the rear wheels turn as much as five degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels in a parking lot, this reduces the turning circle by 1.1 meters. At speed, the dynamic steering and torque vectoring combine to point the long-wheelbase sedan into a corner with the precision expected out of an RS 6. On the twisty roads outside Barcelona, the S8 bobbed, weaved, and carved its way through decreasing-radius corners and hairpins without deviating from the desired line. Factor in the all-wheel-drive system and optional P265/35R21 tires, and the S8 behaves like a full-on sports car albeit one with a lavishly attired cabin. On that note, the S8s interior more than lives up to the high standards set by the rest of the car. From the buttery leather and high-tech accents, to the thin pinstripe-like ambient lighting, the sense of luxury and space is there regardless of where one sits the L model stretches the wheelbase by 130 millimetres, which brings limo-like rear-seat legroom and superb comfort. Sitting back there, the driver seems to be a time zone ahead.As has become the Audi norm, instrumentation is handled by the companys Virtual Cockpit setup it allows everything, from conventional instrumentation to the map, to be viewed. The centre stack is then dominated by two touchscreens; the upper unit looks after all of the infotainment, phone, vehicle settings, and navigation functions, while the lower screen is for the
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Audi S8
20$ million are dropped in the Canadian city where our first electric cars rolled
Last Friday, Quebecs Minister of Economy and Innovation, Pierre Fitzgibbon, fought Highway 15s busy traffic heading north to St. Jerome, bringing with him $20 million in much needed funding and subsidies.He stopped off first at a conglomerate of seven Quebec companies specializing in heavy electric vehicles, namely the commercial EV platform developed by Compagnie Électrique Lion and underlying its St.-Jerome-built electric school buses (sold mostly to California).The $7.9-million provincial contribution should help materialize projects like electric ambulances, dump trucks and firetrucks, which together could reduce greenhouse gas emissions totaling nearly 3 million tons of CO2 over a horizon of ten years, reads the press release.While that news garnered the most headlines, the real deal, was the non-profit connecting those companies, the beneficiary of the largest portion $12.7 million of governmental aid: L’Institut du Véhicule Innovant (The Innovative Vehicle Institute, or IVI). St. Jerome: Where “modern” EVs were first testedThanks to IVI, Ville de Saint-Jérome has been a hot-bed of EV development for more than 20 years. In the beginning, it was all about electric cars remember in 1996, Tesla wasnt even a gleam in Elons eye and the garage-laboratoire, then named CEVEQ (Centre d’expertise du véhicule électrique du Québec), was something of a global pioneer.It made Laurentians capital the first Canadian city inundated with zero-emission cars. An electric Citron Berlingo was used by municipal administration; local police drove an electrified Peugeot 106. And the corporation helped develop and commercialize the St. Jerome-assembled ZENN, a Zero Emission No Noise low-speed two-seater. (If you dont remember the ZENN, its because it barely sold 500 units from 2006 to 2010, mainly Stateside.)At that time, we were a voice in the wilderness, says IVIs executive director, Franois Adam. Then, around 2010, electric passenger cars took off with the likes of Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt. Since 2015, the Institute has focused on electrifying heavy-duty vehicles, industrial equipment and even autonomous machinerie.More square feet — for crazier ideasSo, yes, Quebec has a specialized think tank bringing to life all kinds of strange vehicles for clients who want to reduce their carbon footprint. Theres the MadVac, from Longueuils Exprolink, an electric garbage collector currently cleaning up New Yorks Central Park; the Manufacture Adria, from Rouyn-Noranda, a piece of specialized electric mining equipment. IVI helped with the Lion electric school bus mentioned above, as well as electric motorcycles and boats.In the last five years, IVI worked with 120 companies from all over La Belle Province, generating more than $12 million of retombées, says its executive director. While initiating those commercial and industrial energy efficiency solutions, its also been training future technicians IVIs a collegiate center of technology transfer, affiliated with Cégep de Saint-Jérôme.But until now, IVIs 30 employees were spread out between the downtown college and a business park, its current garage-laboratoire so small only one project can be tackled at a time. Theres no room in this 100-square-meter laboratory to welcome any other innovation en devenir.Thats about to change, with the $12.7 million issued by Quebecs Infrastructures for Research and Innovation. The money, plus some land granted by the city of St. Jerome and another $1.3 million from IVIs own pockets, will help erect a new 2,712-square-meter building uniting the firms employees under one roof, while adding a much-needed bigger prototyping room.The new pavilion should be ready early 2022. We have so many interesting projects but with our current limited space, were always on the brake, says Adam. With this new facility, not only will we add 10 haute technologie jobs, but well quadruple our laboratory
Origin: 20$ million are dropped in the Canadian city where our first electric cars rolled
First Drive: 2020 BMW X6
2020 BMW X6 M50i Spartanburg, S.C. Its been about 10 years since BMW launched the X6 upon an unsuspecting world. What was this SUV with a fastback roofline? Like a fashion model in hip waders, BMWs automotive dichotomy was a head-scratcher. Turns out, they were on to something BMW has moved over 443,000 X6s since then, while also creating a new bandwagon on which Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche has jumped.Arriving in showrooms soon is the third-generation 2020 X6 adopting the chassis architecture, interior decor, and engine lineup of the recently redone X5. The X6 will initially come in two versions the xDrive40i with a 335-horsepower, 3.0L turbocharged straight six-cylinder engine, and the M50i that storms the gates with a twin-turbo 4.4L V8 making 523 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,800 and 4,600 rpm. Thats a healthy increase of 78 horsepower and 74 lb.-ft. of torque over the previous X6. Im snaking an X6 M50i finished in Manhattan Green Metallic over some rural roads in South Carolina, and the biggest takeaway here is this potent, high-riding extrovert goes down the road like a BMW or more specifically, what we think BMWs should drive like.For such a brute, the X6 is surprisingly alert, changing direction with nary a hint of body slop. The steering is quick and direct, showing a natural heft that has been absent from Bimmers of late. Standard kit for the X6 M50i includes 22-inch alloy wheels, Adaptive M Suspension, and a bunch of M Sport bits including brakes, exhaust, and a limited-slip differential, as well as an xDrive all-wheel-drive system that primarily operates in sporty rear-drive mode until conditions dictate otherwise. Adding to this testers on-road acumen is the optional Active Roll Stabilization and air suspension that, among other things, will lower the ride height by 40 millimetres.And, oh yes, the engine. This 4.4L bent-eight with its turbos nestled within the vee is a peach. Urge is linear and relentless all the way to the redline, and in Sport mode, the X6 makes all the required noises a deep rumble punctuated by barks and the occasional fart. Not unlike my Golden Retriever, but considerably more pleasant. Granted, some of this aural sex is pumped in digitally through the audio system, but all you have to do is open a window to know its happening outside, too. The metal shift paddles call up quick and obedient cog swaps from the excellent ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. This thing is quick; the X6 M50is zero-to-96 km/h blast of a mere 4.1 seconds matches the outgoing X6 M. Not enough? Wait for the 600+ horsepower X6 M. Tis a strange world we live in.This third-gen X6 arguably looks more comfortable in its new skin. While the outgoing model came across as slightly awkward and trying a bit to hard, the lines of this 2020 flow cohesively, bookended by a larger (but not cartoonish) front grill take a bow, X7 and 7 Series and a ducktail rump with slim horizontal LED taillights finish off the rear end. Compared with the outgoing model, the new X6 is slightly longer, wider and lower. Its wheelbase, stretched by 42 millimetres, allows for a bit more rear seat legroom, and BMW says cargo space has increased, too. Blue brake calipers are standard on the M50i, and BMW is premiering its all-new, optional illuminated grill on the X6. Just when you thought youd seen it all.Step inside and we see BMWs latest interior aesthetic, dominated by a free-standing 12.3-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster behind the steering wheel that pushes the speedo and tach to the outer edges, leaving the centre of the screen open for navigation information and the like.Standard are a panoramic sunroof, sport seats trimmed in Vernasca leather, and GPS navigation. Ah, but unlike most other premium automakers who are eschewing tactile functionality for digital poke n hope real estate, BMW retains its tried-and-true iDrive rotary controller along with a plethora of logically placed physical buttons that help keep our eyes on the road, where they belong. There is also a row of numbered presets that can be assigned to your favourite radio stations, navigation home, and the like. Bravo. The multi-adjustable seats in this tester showed BMWs typical blend of supreme comfort and support, and the cool ambient lighting elevates the X6s cabin to high art at night.While no pricing has been announced, we can be quite sure the significantly superior 2020 BMW X6 M50i will cost more than its $90,850 predecessor. Also know that numerous requisite packages and options will swell the bottom line considerably; this is no surprise, but what does surprise is the breadth of capability baked into BMWs latest take on this niche model. The X6 M50is coddling opulence, blistering pace, forward technology, and for those who still care fine dynamics, make driving this weird wedge of extravagance a
Origin: First Drive: 2020 BMW X6
Lexus unveils its first all-electric vehicle — but Canada won’t get it
Well, we lose out again. After many years of selling hybrids, Lexus has finally gone all-electric with the upcoming UX 300e. The compact crossover is the brands first to run exclusively on battery power.But rather than unveiling it at the Los Angeles Auto Show, where we saw the Mustang Mach-E, Chevrolet EV pickup, and Tesla Cybertruck break cover, Lexus chose a show in Guangzhou, China.Thats because the UX 300e is only planned for China, Europe and Japan. Lexus Canada confirmed it won’t be sold in North America. (Lexus sells hybrids in Canada, as does Toyota, but neither has had an all-electric vehicle up until now.)And we cant figure how a nimble little luxury sport-ute, perfectly sized for the city and with no tailpipe out the back, wouldnt be a slam-dunk on our shores. Instead, Lexus Electrified, the companys global electrification strategy, will start with the UX 300e overseas next year.But that said, a closer look reveals a model that isn’t about performance. Lexus even says it will have natural-yet-brisk acceleration character, which doesnt exactly translate into pushes you into the back seat.Its 54.3-kWh battery puts it below other premium brands: Audis e-tron is 95 kWh and Mercedes-Benzs ECQ is 85 kWh. Even the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf Plus have bigger batteries.The UX 300e makes 221 lb.-ft. of torque below the Leaf Plus 250 lb.-ft., or the 266 laid down by the Bolt. Audi and Mercedes-Benz scream by it at 413 and 560 lb.-ft. respectively. When its time to top up, the UX 300e has a fast-charge capacity of just 50 kW, while the e-tron rates as high as 150 kW.All of that might be understandable if the UX 300e went forever on a charge, but that doesnt seem to be the case either. Lexus claims 400 kilometres but thats on NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), an outdated method that can be more than 25 per cent more generous than how electric vehicles are rated here.Doing the math and assuming the UX 300e nets 300 km in Canadas tests, were still looking at 363 km for the Leaf Plus, and more than 400 for the Bolt. For the higher performers here, the e-trons estimated at 328 km, and the EQC at 360 km.Of course, we have to account for the largest factor in all of this North Americans. Specifically, our neighbours to the south, who usually eschew pint-sized in favour of portly when it comes to vehicles, and who buy enough automobiles to dictate our market. The UX 300e is probably the right size and the right power for its target markets overseas. Were guessing the next Lexus Electrified will probably be an RX, with a bigger battery and more power for
Origin: Lexus unveils its first all-electric vehicle — but Canada won’t get it
First Look: 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer What is it?Slotting below the Blazer and Equinox but above the Trax, the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a new compact utility that comes with a slew of safety equipment and will cost less than $20,000 in the United States when it comes to market. It will come in two trims, a sporty RS and new ACTIV. AWD is optional. Pricing for Canada has not been released.Check out all of our latest auto show coverage hereWhy does it matter?The small utility market is on fire and the Trailblazers aggressive pricing and attractive styling makes it standout in a crowded field. It should be inexpensive to operate, too, since engine choices are either a 1.2L turbo or 1.3L turbo in-line three cylinder.These are the same engines offered in the Buick Encore GX. The 1.2L gets 137 horsepower and 166 lb.-ft. of torque while the 1.3 gets 155 and 174 respectively. Both engines are mated to a continuously variable transmission with selectable stop/start capability. A nine-speed automatic transmission is also available on Trailblazers equipped with the 1.3L engine and all-wheel drive. Chevys selectable AWD is an option. Its the same system in the Blazer and Traverse. Cargo space is ample, too 1540 litres (54.4 cubic feet) with the 40/60 split-folding second-row seats folded, able to carry objects up to 260 centimetres long (8.5 feet). When is it coming?Coming to the USA and Canada in the spring of 2020.Should you buy it?On paper, the Trailblazer seems to have everything going for it thrifty, stylish, roomy and loaded with safety. Whats not to like? But well need to drive it before making any
Origin: First Look: 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Lexus UX 300e revealed as firm’s first production EV
Lexus has revealed its first electric production car, the UX 300e, at the Guangzhou motor show in China, with the compact SUV due to go on sale in the UK in 2021. The electric version of the regular UX crossover, understood to be based on the electric Toyota C-HR offered in China, features a front-mounted motor that produces 201bhp and 221lb ft. Power comes from a 54.3kWh under-floor battery offering a claimed range of around 250 miles and fast charging at speeds of up to 50kW. The styling of the regular UX has been largely maintained, including the brand’s distinctive large front grille. It does gain new aerodynamic-influenced wheels, with the charging port located on the rear pillar where the fuel filler usually is. The UX 300e features a number of drive modes so that the performance of the electric motor can be better managed, along with paddle shifters to control the regenerative braking modes. Lexus says the UX 300e, built on Toyota’s GA-C platform, has been developed with a focus on on-road performance, and the goal of offering a quiet and refined driving experience. To balance the new powertrain, extra bracing has been added with the dampers reworked to maintain optimum weight distribution. According to Lexus, the UX 300e’s powertrain draws on learnings from the firm’s long-running hybrid system, and features a temperature management system that balances power at low and high temperatures. There has also been a focus on refinement, Lexus claiming it has added insulation to reduce wind and road noise, with an Active Sound Control system that “transmits natural, ambient sounds to communicate the driving conditions”. The UX 300e is due to go on sale in China next year, with UK sales following in 2021. Pricing has yet to be finalised. Lexus and parent firm Toyota will launch three EVs by the end of
Origin: Lexus UX 300e revealed as firm’s first production EV
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