2021 Chevrolet Tahoe RSTDerek McNaughton DETROIT, MichiganThe Chevrolet Suburban the SUV that stamped the segment into existence some 85 years ago is finally moulting its 2014 body and frame, replacing it with a roomier, more technologically advanced and seriously more comfortable three-row utility that takes inspiration from the new Chevy Silverado.The favourite SUV of law enforcement, governments and big families everywhere, the 2021 Suburban and Chevrolet Tahoe debuted in Detroit Tuesday with all-new exteriors, a new platform and substantially revised interiors, offering much more cargo space along with better access to the third row.Perhaps the biggest change, however, is underneath. Riding on GMs T1 platform, the two Chevrolets say goodbye to a solid rear axle that has been a hallmark of these vehicles for decades. While the solid axle gave these body-on-frame SUVs great towing ability, it also meant a noticeable truck-like ride and loss of cargo space, not to mention high load floor. A new, independent rear suspension with optional Air Ride Adaptive Suspension on all four corners, lowers the cargo deck more than five inches, frees up cargo space and provides a massive improvement in the driving characteristics of this full-size rig. On a quick and short ride-along at GMs Milford Proving Grounds, the 2021 Tahoe with air suspension and Magnetic Ride Control felt seriously well-composed over rough roads for a vehicle that has grown in wheelbase and overall length.For those Tahoes and Suburbans without air ride, a standard shock-and-coil-spring set-up underpins the ride, while Magnetic Ride Control is available on other up-level trims. The air suspension is an open system with a compressor in the rear and air drier along with 7-litre storage tank. It can raise the SUV two inches for off-road travel, or lower it another two for ease of entry. The Tahoe sees, perhaps, the biggest improvement, growing almost seven inches in overall length, gaining three inches of legroom in the second row, and more than 10 inches in the third. Maximum cargo jumps from 94.7 cubic feet to just shy of 123, almost enough to fit two fridges inside. The Suburbans maximum cargo grows to a cavernous 144.7 enough to embarrass a minivan.For the first time, Tahoe and Suburbans second-row seats slide fore and aft, moving 10 inches forward or rearward. Second- and third-row seats also fold more easily. Engine choices also expand. The previous Suburban and Tahoe offered a 5.3-litre EcoTec V8 with 355 horsepower or a 6.2L EcoTec V8 with 420 hp; the new units get those same engines plus the addition of the diesel that just debuted in the Silverado and Sierra pickups. Both gas engines feature Dynamic Fuel Management, with more than 12 modes of cylinder deactivation. The 6.2 comes standard on the new High Country trim. All three engines are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.The diesel, however a 3.0L in-line six that produces 277 horsepower but a whopping 460 lb.-ft. of torque is as smooth as it is quiet, with remarkable efficiency to boot, likely giving Tahoe and Suburban the best fuel economy in the segment that includes the Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada and a few others. Later, the Silverado and Sierras 2.7-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 310 horsepower is also expected to be available for fleet buyers.Inside, the interior takes evolutionary steps with a standard 10-inch colour infotainment screen. With electronic buttons for gears replacing the old column stalk shifter, the interior is far more modern without looking instantly dated like the interiors of the pickups. <img src="/uploads/img/auto-news/44-first-look-2021-chevrolet-suburban-and-tahoe.jpg" alt="First
Origin: First Look: 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe
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These 5 electric vehicles look old-school but are all-new
New EVs are ugly. Its a fact, deal with it. Another fact is most new cars are ugly, but thats another story altogether.Whatever it is about electric cars, theres something about their design and save the world mission statement that automakers interpret as futuristic.This leads them to deduce the vehicles must look like theyre straight out of Star Trek.Unfortunately, theyre wrong, and when you have the technology to make a vehicle look like anything, you should make it look old.These vehicles imagine what would have happened if the electric cars of the 19th century received half as much attention as gasoline-powered vehicles, and shaped the world into the electric future we dare to call retro.In short, here are five retro EVs.Morris Commercial JEMade to resemble the brands J-Type van of the 1940s, the Morris JE is a modern interpretation of the classic panel van, with little to no styling updates. Good.With a range of 200 miles (320 km) and a price tag of $75,000, the JE isnt going to win over any Tesla buyers, but that doesnt matter, because its already won our hearts. Its also available in a few different configurations, including cargo, passenger and pickup.Microlino microcarConventional wisdom suggests it aint a good idea, locking yourself in a fridge, but we immediately decided to make an exception to that rule when we took one look at the Microlino, styled after the BMW Isetta microcar of the 1950s.When the BMW Isetta was introduced in the 1950s, BMW was a struggling car brand, crippled by the woes of post-war Germany. The small, affordable vehicle brought some much needed money back to the brand, and saved it from ruin.The new version costs $18,000, and is good for 125 miles (200 km) on a charge. Hopefully the Isetta moves on from saving companies to saving the planet.Nobe 100How many wheels do you need? Three is plenty, especially when you look as good as this retro EV. We mean, cmon, the Nobe 100 looks like it was ripped straight out of Raymond Loewys sketchbook.This car could be made available, and by that, we mean its development is being crowdfunded, so whether it makes production will depend on demand from consumers which we hope will be massive. After all, 136 miles (220 km) per charge and an MSRP of $45,000 should guarantee brisk sales.Renault e-Plein AirIs a Fiat Jolly too mainstream to you? Consider this French alternative! Putting the passengers right out in the open, the Renault e-Plein Air is an open-top version of the Renault 4 of the 1960s. Under the stylish skin is the tech from the brands Twizy vehicle.No pricing as of yet, as its still just a concept, but hopefully this one becomes a reality. Were sure the Pope would love one as a gift.Honda EOK, so maybe this one is not as retro as the others the Honda E’s looks are based on a car thats not too old to begin with, the Honda Civic. But do we care? Not one bit.The fabulous styling of the Honda E makes some of us remember our high school days, or maybe your dads high school days. We think 136 miles (220 km) of range should be perfect to get you around the city and back, and for just $42,000.LISTEN: Electric vehicle clubs have been around for decades, and up until just recently their memberships consisted of backyard tinkerers converting gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. Now that most global automakers are producing Evs, where does that leave these clubs? In this weeks episode of Plugged In we talk with Bruce Stout of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association about that and much more.
Origin: These 5 electric vehicles look old-school but are all-new
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
First Look: 2021 Kia Seltos
What is it?It resembles the Kia Soul and it addresses one of the iconic little-car-that-could’s key weaknesses — the new Seltos (horrible name, in our opinion) arrives with an available all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring control and a lock mode to handle severe road conditions. In terms of size it slots neatly between the Soul and larger Sportage, although Kia describes it as having “Herculean interior” space. The hype is a bit over the top, but sitting in the back did prove it had ample space for a pair of six-footers in terms of both head- and legroom. The cabin is well conceived and comes with the latest mod-cons, including a seven-inch OLED screen for the instrumentation and a 10.25-inch high-resolution screen for the infotainment system in the top model. Check out all of our latest auto show coverage hereWhy does it matter?People are crazy for crossovers right now, so another affordable one can’t hurt Kia’s push up the sales charts. It will have broad appeal with two engine choices. The base 2.0L four-cylinder produces 146 hp and 132 lb.-ft. of torque and works with Kia’s Intelligent Variable Transmission. That’s a CVT to most. The second choice is a 1.6L Turbo with a more rewarding 175 hp and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. It drives all four wheels paired through a seven-speed twin-clutch.When will Canada get it?The 2021 Kia Seltos is slated to hit Canadian roads in the latter half of 2020.Should you buy it?For far too long, the Soul has been left in the wilds because it was not offered with all-wheel-drive. The Seltos adds the missing ingredient, along with an attractive exterior look, lots of interior space and the latest in connectivity.
Origin: First Look: 2021 Kia Seltos
First Look: 2021 Aston Martin DBX
What is it?This is the DBX, Aston Martins first SUV, one of the most-teased vehicles of all time (Gaydon has been rolling out “spy” photos of the DBX on an almost monthly basis for the past year) and, in the words the company itself, the sport utility with the soul of a sports car.Why does it matter?Well, for one thing, Aston Martin is 106 years old and this is the first time its built anything that even resembles an off-roader. For another, while other marques have built SUVs that are supposed to remind you of their sports cars Im looking at you, Ford, and your new Mustang Mach-E there is, for better or for worse, a lot of Aston Martin sports car DNA in the DBX.Most importantly, Aston Martin sales have been hurting as of late and, as much as many will scream Sacrilege!, if a sport brute can put Gaydon back on a firm financial footing, then so much the better.Thats why its important to Aston Martin. Why it might be important to you is that under the hood is a 542-horsepower version of the twin-turbo V8 sourced from Mercedes-Benz. An active exhaust system, in AMs own words, lets the DBX sound refined one moment and exhilarating the next. The sprint to 100 kilometres an hour takes but 4.5 seconds. Top speed is an impressive 291 km/h.Check Out All Our Auto Show CoverageEven more impressive at least when it comes to that soul of a sports car thing is the adaptive triple-chamber air springs, which allow a completely variable suspensions system. Even more technically impressive is the eARC adaptive roll bar system that, according to Aston, can generate as much as much as 1,033 foot-pounds of anti-roll force per axle. By combining the variable air spring, adjustable dampers and electronically controlled roll bars, Aston says the DBX can transport five in comfort and still handle like its soul is a sports car. When will it be available?In the second half of 2020.Should you buy it?Well, first off, do you have $218,400? You do? Okay, then here are the questions you need to ask yourself beyond is it fast? (yes, it is) and will it handle well? (yes, it should). First off, do you need to transport lots of passengers in the rear seats? Oh, dont worry, the front seats look marvelous the drivers seat, for instance, will accommodate anyone from the 99th percentile male to a 5th percentile female. But the rear seats look a little as is something of an Aston tradition cramped in the legroom. Not as bad as the Rapide (the companys four-door sedan) but tight(ish) nonetheless. Trunk space is, at 22.3 cubic feet, at least adequate.On the positive side, the interior is delectable, the leather and wood trim everything one expects from an English luxury marque. And there are truly bespoke touches such as the Pet Package yes, optional pet accessories in a luxury automobile that includes a portable washer to hose off muddy dogs, a bumper protector to ward off errant claws and even a pet partition just in case the portable washer misses a few bits.There are 10 other packages available ranging from a traditional Snow Package (ski bag and roof-mounted ski rack) all the way to and I am assuming this will be hugely popular in the United States a gun cabinet and shooting stick package that marries a lockable solid aluminum case for firearms with a stick made of leather and wood to help you, I assume, chase after pheasant. How very
Origin: First Look: 2021 Aston Martin DBX
First Look: 2021 Audi RS Q8
What is it?Audi is on a tear when it comes to its go-faster RS-badged rides. The RS 6 Avant is making a return and the RS 4 is on the horizon. To further bolster its attack on the AMG and M brands, Audi pulled the wraps off the RS Q8. Usually, when you are dealing with a low-slung wagon or hatchback, shoehorning a monster motor under the hood and beefing up the dynamics is a natural. Doing the same to a higher-riding SUV is another matter. Fear not, the RS Q8 is every bit an RS model its fast, furious and will stay glued to the tarmac. The outward styling is bolder with wider front fenders and a unique honeycomb grille. The cabin follows this lead, especially if one opts for the serious RS sport seats wrapped in Valcona leather with a honeycomb pattern that mirrors the grille and RS badge embossed on the backrest.Why does it matter?The big news is a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 that works with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It pushes 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission and all four wheels. In this application the quattro system sends 60 per cent of the drive to the rear wheels and 40 per cent to the front, which will give it a rear-drive feel. However, the system can send up to 85% of the power rearward, or up to 70 per cent to the front wheels if the conditions demand. The lot can be tailored to the tone of the drive and includes a driver-configurable RS mode button. To keep things shiny-side-up it has an adaptive air suspension and four-wheel steering. The dynamic-plus package adds active anti-roll bars, real-time torque vectoring at the rear and a ceramic brake package.And so to the important number the RS Q8 runs from rest to 100 km/h of 3.8 seconds! When will Canada get it?Canadians will be able to buy the RS Q8 at the end of the second-quarter next year.Should you buy it?While my first choice would be the RS 6, the RS Q8 is an intriguing proposition that will find many happy, happy owners. It is blisteringly fast (read blatant understatement!), it promises to hug the road with tenacity when pushed, yet cosset the riders in first-class luxury when out for a night at the opera. How can you argue with the
Origin: First Look: 2021 Audi RS Q8
First Look: 2020 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring
2020 Lincoln Corsair Grand TouringClayton Seams Lincoln now builds no fewer than five different CUVs, and the Corsair is the second smallest of all of them. Just one slot above the aging MKC, the Corsairs design looks similar to that of the Nautilus and Aviator, which is to say its nice, but ultimately forgettable.The Grand Touring variant is a plug-in hybrid with a rear-mounted electric motor that gives the Corsair electric AWD, as Ford puts it.That means the 2.5-litre non-turbo four gas engine drives the front wheels and has no mechanical link at all to the rears. The rear wheels are powered (when needed) by an electric motor. The combined system output of the electric motor working in conjunction with the engine is 266 horsepower.Check Out All Our Latest Auto Show CoverageThe Grand Touring model is externally distinguished with a slightly different grille mesh and blue accents in the Lincoln grille logo and Corsair badges. The Corsair Grand Touring model is arriving for summer 2020, and Canadian pricing has not yet been announced. When it arrives you can expect it to have the same Conserve, Normal, and Excite drive modes as usual, in addition to the winter and mud ones.Lincoln has emphasized the interior of the Corsair is designed to be a sanctuary for relaxing and listening to music. The front seats are 24-way adjustable, and the rear seats fold down 60/40 to accommodate
Origin: First Look: 2020 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring
First Look: 2020 Mini John Cooper Works GP
Palm Springs, CALIFORNIAHardtop, soft-top, wagon or coupe, Minis come in more flavours than ice cream. Few Minis, however, have been bonkers-fast or able to attack a race track as well as other front-wheel-drive cars like the Honda Civic Type R or Golf GTI Clubsport, to name just a few.Sure, the 2012 MINI John Cooper Works GP and the 2006 MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP kit were tantalizing and speedy cars for their time.Built in limited numbers, they were quick enough to become sought-after jewels in the Mini portfolio. But neither were able to crack the 8-minute mark at the worlds benchmark for speed the Nürburgring’s legendary Nordschleife circuit in Germany.The 2020 Mini GP, however, scraps all that and sets a new benchmark for the brand, becoming the fastest, most powerful Mini ever produced for on-road use able to run the Ring in an impressive 7:56.69. Thats BMW M2 territory. Priced at $51,990 in Canada and limited to 59 units for the Great White North, only 3,000 Mini GPs will be produced worldwide. At BMWs Performance Center West test track in California, the 2020 Mini GP starts with a low gurgle that could be louder for us juveniles. Powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder in-line turbocharged engine with 302 horsepower and 332 lb.-ft. of torque going only to the front wheels, the GP feels remarkably at home on the track. A larger-volume intake, free-flowing exhaust and a tweaked turbocharger help boost power, and an upgraded oil and cooling system help keep internals from overheating. The suspension has been reinforced for track use and rigidity.Check Out All Our Latest Auto Show CoverageMini says the new JCW GP will sprint to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds. To be sure, the GP stays flat in the corners and brakes hard before the turns. Its more than enough car to compete with the Honda Civic Type R, yet exudes a lot more class.First seen in Frankfurt in 2017 as a concept, and then again at the 24 Hours of Nrburgring last summer in a camo-wrapped version that ran around the track as a teaser to the real thing coming this spring, the 2020 production version was revealed to us a day ahead of its world-wide reveal at the L.A. Auto Show, looking a lot like the original prototype. And what a cool-looking car it is, cutting a silhouette that looks part aircraft, part racing machine, part sea serpent. A massive carbon-fibre front apron, flared wheel arches, carbon-fibre side skirts with moulded air deflectors crowned by a prominent roof spoiler underscore the fact this is not your divorced aunts car. Black Jack Anthracite paint is complimented by Curbside Red metallic bits to accentuate the racing look.Theres a bit of boy racer here, but it still looks good while still looking like a Mini. Elliptical headlights and a hexagonal honeycomb grille sharpen its identity. The 19-inch wheels look perfect in the wheel arches.Unfortunately, there is no manual transmission, only an eight-speed automatic with manual shift mode and paddle shifters the same gearbox that resides in the Countryman and Clubman. But the transmission has been modified to meet the demands of the GP, and the mechanical limited-slip differential helps with traction.A 64-36 weight balance to the front keeps understeer to a minimum. Acceleration is strong but never overwhelming. The biggest take away is the go-cart handling that, with proper tires, makes the GP a proper track car that can still be driven to the mall on Sundays.Inside, the rear bench seat is conspicuous by its absence. Luxury touches abound in the black-and-white knitted seats. A digital instrument cluster and heads-up display makes relevant information easy to see and digest. The suspension can be adjusted with the touch of a button. Traditional MINI toggle switches with start/stop button maintain some footing in the analog world.While all Minis bring a degree of fun to driving, the GP raises the stakes with track credentials that should elevate the brand, and the car, to a status not seen since the last GP in
Origin: First Look: 2020 Mini John Cooper Works GP
First Look: Karma Automotive SC2 Concept
What is it?The SC2 is the latest concept from a car company that most people thought was long dead. Karma is the engineered-in-America-but-financed-in-China rebirth of Fisker, whose only car was now its starting to come back to you, isnt it? the Karma. More to the point, the new companys only product to date has been the Revero GT, a similarly-styled-but-much re-engineered version of Fisker’s old Karma. The SC2 marks its first departure from the old Fisker formula and is, unlike the current plug-in hybrid, a pure battery-powered EV.Why is it important?Well, an acceleration time of less than 1.9 seconds to 96 kilometres an hour (60 mph) always gets my attention. Thats Formula 1 territory, folks; the SC2 is going to jump off the line hard enough to make the strongest of stomachs churn at least a little. Some 1,100 horsepower is also pretty newsworthy, especially since its also accompanied by 10,500 pound-feet of wheel torque. Now, before you start writing in that I must have made a typo, remember that to get the ICE-equivalent number, you have to multiply the engines torque by the gear reductions in both the transmission and rear differential. Nonetheless, thats a whole whackload of those torque things enough, as I said, to churn stomachs and fry tires.On a more practical note, thanks to a huge, under-floor 120 kilowatt-hour battery that stretches from the dashboard to the rear seats, Karma claims 560 kilometres of range for the SC2.Check Out All Our Latest Auto Show CoverageThings are equally exotic in the chassis department. Oh, the torque-vectoring system that can direct different amounts of power to each wheel is nothing new for an electric vehicle. But there arent too many cars this side of a Lamborghini that boast pushrod-operated suspension.Then theres something called an ultrasonic dynamic regenerative panel dont ask me what it is; I havent a clue thats supposed to give the SC2 the high-performance handling expected in an electric hypercar. Anyone who knows what an ultrasonic dynamic regenerative panel is, please feel free to contact us.When does it arrive in Canada?Well, it is a concept car and a pretty far-fetched one at that so probably never. But boy, oh boy, you gotta love the way these Karma boys dream.Should you buy one?Well, the SC2 may seem like just more pie-in-the-sky Faraday-Future-like vaporware. But one thing is undeniable: It is absolutely, unabashedly stunning. A combination of avant garde styling cues and retro cab-back proportions, the SC2 is pure sex on wheels.Nor should its sultry shape be considered a fluke or reserved-for-concept-car flashiness. The Karma Revero-neé-Fisker Karma might have had a few that should be read a lot of technical issues in the past, but there is no denying it, too, was a stunner. If the SC2 proves anything at all, it is that whatever Karma produces next, it will be breathtakingly
Origin: First Look: Karma Automotive SC2 Concept
The 2021 Kia Optima will look pretty slick, if this K5 is any indication
Kia showed off its Korean-market-only 2021 K5, at the same time giving North Americans our best look yet at the car that will be known as the Optima once it arrives on Western shores. The K5 midsize sedan goes on sale in South Korea very soon, and while Kia hasn’t officially given us a reveal date for the 2021 Optima, it’s expected to look a lot like (if not identical to) this admittedly pretty gorgeous four-door.The 2021 K5 sedan employs the latest iteration of Kia’s corporate design language, which it characterizes as “sporty, modern and bold.”The K5/Optima also boasts a fastback silhouette, giving it a more powerful and athletic look, accentuated by a long, flowing bodyside crease and chrome highlights running above the windows. The new ‘Tiger Nose Evolution’ face brings a more three-dimensional design to the front end, and now encompasses the headlights – which feature a ‘heartbeat’ daytime running light pattern – and matrix-style grille. On the back end, there’s also a new light setup that spans the width of the car. Performance specs haven’t been released, but the sedan is known to be longer, lower and wider than the last gen. The 2021 Optima has been stretched by 50 mm in length, 25 mm in width and dropped by 20 mm. It comes fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels standard, but upgrades to 17-, 18- or 19-inch rims are available. The only look at the inside we’ve had comes from renderings, but Kia is set to release the K5 in South Korea in December, so that, too, shall be revealed soon.
Origin: The 2021 Kia Optima will look pretty slick, if this K5 is any indication
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