2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible Im already on record as saying that Lexuss LC 500 is the sexiest sports coupe of the last five years. Yes, even with that grille. Looking like a refugee from a Maserati design studio rather than anything Japanese, the fact that said flowing lines and wonderful proportions come from the usually awkward Lexus just makes the LC that much more stunning.It turns out it wasnt a fluke, the ragtop version of the big LC possibly even more alluring. More impressive perhaps for this is a rarity amongst drop tops is that the new LC Convertible looks equally enticing with toite in situ or retracted. The thing is so bloody sexy that one forgives the grille, which looks even more needlessly aggressive in a decapotable. Nonetheless, were going to have to get used to the fact that Lexus can pen tempting shapes. We already know they can build great cars, the company once again reigning in the reliability surveys, earning top honours in J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study and recapturing its spot as Consumer Reports’ most reliable brand this year. Whats more interesting is how committed they are to traditional sports car technology. Parent company Toyota, for instance, is leading the charge in keeping manual transmissions in their product mix. Lexus, meanwhile, steadfastly refuses to turbocharge its performance motors, the LC powered by a good old-fashioned naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8. Now the sacrifice here is that the LCs 471 peak horsepower cant compete with the 590 horses that Audi now ekes out of its twin-turbocharged V8. On the other hand, goose the big Lexus and the sound from its twin tailpipes is something no turbocharged engine can hope to emulate. With even Ferrari succumbing to turbo-friendly legislative pressures, its nice to see at least one manufacturer fighting the good fight. Bravo, Lexus.In converting from hard to soft top, Lexus did the usual frame bracing, with under-chassis structural enhancements and suspension tower bracing (this last in die-cast aluminum, says Lexus, to save weight). The company also reduced the Convertibles unsprung mass basically the tires and wheels and rejigged dampers to retain what Lexus claims is similar handling dynamics to the LC coupe. Part of that handling equation is sticking to a soft top rather than going with a heavier retractable hardtop. Nonetheless, to create hardtop-like flowing lines without visible frame supports, Lexus choses a semi-rigid four-layer material for its roof. One novelty for the topless version of the LC is the Lexus Climate Concierge, which adjusts HVAC system to provide upper body heat even when the top is down. The system automatically manages the air conditioner, seat heaters, neck heaters and even steering-wheel heater keep driver and passenger as cozy on a fall top-down ride as they would be in the middle of summer. Other interior upgrades are a full suite of Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Lexus+Alexa infotainment apps. Lexus says Alexa even syncs to the navigation system to provide on-the-go recommendations.And finally, Lexus plans to auction off one of its limited edition Inspiration LC 500s Structural Blue paint, semi-aniline leather and custom 21-inch wheels at the Barrett-Jackson auction in January, all proceeds, of course, going to
Origin: Lexus chops top off LC, still looks gorgeous
looks
The 2021 Optima just teased by Kia looks outrageous
Kia released some teaser images of its 2021 Optima late October, revealing a dramatic and different shape than were used to.Just like its cousin, the new Hyundai Sonata, the styling is bold. Conventional headlights have been replaced with thin LED strips that curve around the central beams. The rear taillights are full-width and sit under a pseudo-ducktail.As is the style nowadays, the roofline swoops gracefully from the windshield all the way back to the taillight panel to create a fastback (please, for the love of god, dont call it a Grand Coupe). A chrome strip curves around the top of the side windows and the bottom of the rear window.Inside the Optima is a similarly futuristic interior, with a large digital gauge cluster and wide infotainment screen. There isnt a clear provision for the shifter, suggesting the Optima will either have a knob-operated transmission; or a push-button transmission like the Sonata.The Optima will, more than likely, share drivetrain options with the Sonata. That means it will probably feature a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder; and a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder. As far as the 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder rumoured for the N-Line Sonata, that might make its way onto a more sporty Optima dubbed the SX.Expect the 2021 Optima to drop sometime in
Origin: The 2021 Optima just teased by Kia looks outrageous
The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is getting new looks
2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2Chevrolet The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado will debut its facelifted facade at SEMA in Las Vegas this November, but not before making a special appearance at the 2019 Method Race Wheels Laughlin Desert Classic on October 10.Weve sold 520,000 Colorado pickups in five years through a relentless, foot-on-the-gas approach to product and feature updates, said Bob Krapes, director of marketing, Chevrolet Trucks.With its new-look front end and tailgate, Colorado will now have a more aggressive appearance to match its award-winning capability.Chevrolet just can’t seem to figure out a good-looking grille for its new trucks, but at least the lack of a lower section on this one means it has a much better approach angle for taking it on the trails. Adding to the off-road capability, the ZR2 also comes with segment-exclusive Multimatic DSSVTM position-sensitive dampers, standard front and rear electronic locking differentials, two-inch suspension lift, a 3.5-inch wider track, off-road rocker protection, cast-iron control arms, Autotrac transfer case and multiple skid plates. The SEMA truck has a more complete look, with a front grille bar and KC lights to hide the missing bumper. Literally on top of that is a classic looking light bar, and around back is a bed-mounted spare tire.A new colour is available on the Z71 and ZR2 trims called Sand Dune Metallic, but if you ask us, it looks like they just used the leftover paint from the Pontiac Aztek production line. Also from the Aztek production line is the rear bedside wind deflector, which looks like a traced cut-out of the much-maligned SUVs rear windows.The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado goes on sale next year, and pricing will be announced closer to
Origin: The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is getting new looks
The Toyota C-HR finally looks a little less wild for 2020
Toyota has refreshed the C-HR for the 2020 model year, and, joy of joys, its decided to make the styling less, uh, controversial, even if only slightly.Around the rear, the styling hasnt changed much or really at all. However, it was never the rear that we had a problem with, it was always the front.Mercifully, the face has become a little more conventional and even bears a slight resemblance to the Corolla Hatchback, which we think looks quite good. The front of the vehicle also gains adaptive LED headlights on Limited trims. New wheel designs are available in 17 and 18 inches, and there are a few new colour options to go along with the two-tone combinations.Also long overdue at Toyota is the inclusion of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility as standard features. An eight-way adjustable power drivers seat is now available on Limited trims as well.A modern car mid-cycle update isnt complete without the addition of the latest safety tech, and the 2020 C-HR is no different (despite its looks). Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control all come standard.XLE trims add Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Limited trim models come with Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance and Stolen Vehicle Locator.Canadian pricing has not been announced, but we expect it to be a little more expensive than the outgoing model year, due to its much more handsome appearance and wealth of
Origin: The Toyota C-HR finally looks a little less wild for 2020
News Roundup: How to steal a Tesla in 30 seconds, what Lambo’s most powerful car looks like and more
Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam.Here’s what you missed while you were away.Tesla thieves fool key fob system to make away with vehicleIt looks ridiculously simple. Two men walk into the yard of a home in a town near London, England, one holding a home-made wire antenna above his head, the other standing near the driver’s door of the Tesla. Less than 35 seconds later the two are off the property with the car. So what kind of top-secret hacker voodoo did these two employ to pull off this efficient heist? Actually, thanks to the fact Tesla and many other vehicles rely on key fob tech that actively transmits a signal that can be picked up by the right antenna in the right place, they probably didn’t use anything you couldn’t pick up at your local electronics store.Learn more about why you should always store your key fob in a safe space. Report suggests next-gen Subaru WRX STI will arrive fall 2020 with new 315-hp engineAccording to reports by a Japanese car site, Subaru plans to have the 2021 WRX on streets by next fall. The fifth-gen sedan will allegedly ride on a new platform – the same to be used on all Subaru vehicles moving forward, including the upcoming WRX STI, Japan’s WRX S4 and the Levorg wagon – and use a new direct-injected FA20 four-cylinder with 315 horsepower in place of the current turbo-four EJ25 in North America. A reveal has yet to be announced.Hennessey’s latest kit for the 2020 Mustang GT500 makes 1,200 horsepower The 2020 Ford Mustang isn’t even out yet and Hennessey Performance Engineering has already come up with three aftermarket kits to make the pony buck with a little extra spunk. The Hennessey GT500 Venomis the latest kit announced by the famous, horsepower-crazed tuning brand. It slaps twin turbos to the Mustang engine, bringing the total output up to 1,200 horsepower, some 200 more than Hennessey’s previous kits. It also get the appropriate “Hennessey” and “Venom 1200” badges, an improved intercooler system, upgraded transmission and other internal bits and bolts. New Lamborghini hybrid Sián is the brand’s most powerful piece to dateMeet the Lamborghini Sián, the famed Italian automaker’s juiciest vehicle ever, at least in terms of outright power. Using a combination of a V12 engine alongside a 48-volt e-motor tucked into the gearbox, the Sián promises 819 horsepower, which will push it to 96 km/h in 2.8 seconds.Lamborghini claims the car is the first to use a supercapacitor in a hybrid powertrain. Look for more of the Sián at the 2019 Frankfurt IAA Motor Show.Toyota Canada still won’t explain its sometimes months-long parts delayCanadian Toyota drivers who have been waiting for weeks or sometimes months for parts for their vehicles are getting fed up with the brand. The delay, which Toyota claims is the result of “Systems Transformation,” has meant that some Toyota owners have had their vehicles in the shop for far longer than they anticipated. In a report by the CBC, drivers from Nova Scotia to Ontario to B.C. sound off on the frustrations of being left in the lurch by one of the world’s largest automakers.
Origin: News Roundup: How to steal a Tesla in 30 seconds, what Lambo’s most powerful car looks like and more
New Jeep Gladiator looks like a gold mine for dealerships
2020 Jeep® Gladiator Rubicon Jeeps new Gladiator pickup truck, just launched this year, seems like a popular choice for truck-buyers so far, but the heft of some dealers markup on the model is proving it.According to Car and Driver, American dealers are asking as much as US$10,000 to $20,000 more than the vehicles MSRP on new Gladiators.Most Gladiators on dealer lots are the Overland and Rubicon, the top two of the models three trim levels, and dealers are adding extra options such as custom wheels and lift kits to further send the price up.Many of the advertised prices seem reasonable, the magazine said, but there are also some absurd Gladiator listings, with Rubicon models listed for more than US$80,000 although their highest MSRP, with options loaded on, comes in around $62,000.With high demand and high resale value, theres little chance of price negotiation, the magazine said. And if youre a Canadian looking for a Gladiator, it doesnt seem to be a heck of a lot better. According to Jeeps official site, before adding any options, youll pay $46,995 for a Sport S; $50,995 for an Overland; and $53,995 for a Rubicon. If you added every possible option to a Rubicon, right down to a trail camera, extra top, and a cigarette lighter, you could take it as high as $74,745but thats with everything.Meanwhile, weve seen dealer ads on some Canadian sites that are running $9,000 to $15,000 over the base prices, with a Rubicon listing topping out at $69,000. Things will start to level out as more vehicles make their way to dealer lots it only started to trickle into dealer lots in February but if you cant wait until then, be prepared to
Origin: New Jeep Gladiator looks like a gold mine for dealerships
BMW’s new Vision M Next Concept looks like a hybrid-electric M1 successor
BMW is on a tear when it comes to electrifying its product portfolio. By the end of this year it wants to have 500,000 electric vehicles on the road around the world. Most will be hybrid or plug-in hybrids, along with the i3.The next step is to launch another 25 electrified rides by 2023, two years earlier than the companyd laid out in its original mission statement.The mix will include a plug-in version of the X5 SAV and an all-electric version of the X3the iX3 will launch next year.Eventually, the M performance division will also be turning to electrification. That future was revealed late June in the form of the Vision M Next Concept. It is set to be the first to marry the performance M badge with a hybrid powertrain.Its a radical-looking vehicle with i8-like scissor doors and laser-wire technology for both the headlights and taillights. It also uses facial recognition technology to unlock the car as the driver approaches.Pressing the touch sensor on the scissor door sees it swing open to reveal a minimalist cabinit blends a funky-looking interior with an F1-like steering wheel and truly neat gauge cluster. The drive modes are changed on the steering wheel like an F1 racer, while the key information like revs, speed, energy management and even the drivers heart rate are incorporated into the multi-panel curved glass display. Naturally, it features the latest autonomous capabilitythe iNext will include a Level 3 autonomous capability, so expect more of the Vision M Next.The Vision M has two core driving modes, Ease and Boost. Ease is where the riders take a back seat and let the Vision M Next to do the driving. Pieter Nota, the board member responsible for customers, brands and service, said future BMW models will continue to have a steering wheel. This is needed to support the Boost mode. It takes the plug-in hybrid powertrain and turns it over to the driver.And a serious drive it promises to be. The Power PHEV drive system gives the driver a choice between an electric all-wheel drive setup or a rear-wheel drive setup with either all-electric or turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine motivators. The system twists out 600 horsepower and has a top speed of 300 kilometres an hour. The proof of the M side of its personality is found in the run from rest to 100 km/hat three seconds, it will wow potential customers. On the other hand, it also offers an electric-only driving range of 100 kilometres.Asked what the likelihood of a Vision M Next-inspired production car might be, Nota was non-committal. However, he did not rule it out. It does make sense, as the concept takes the current i8 and ramps it up in all areas so it would seem like a natural fit for the
Origin: BMW’s new Vision M Next Concept looks like a hybrid-electric M1 successor
Teasers suggest Kia’s refreshed 2020 Cadenza will get killer looks
Kia released teaser images early June showing a refreshed K7 model for 2020, the car we call the Cadenza in Canada. The changes are stark, and give the car a much more aggressive and upmarket look compared to the relatively forgettable Cadenza. The front grille is a lot more pronounced, with a larger lower intake, while the rear end gets full-length taillights. Of course, any new vehicle looking to be respected nowadays has to come with LED DRLs, and this one is no exception, with the front and back both being adorned with them. Inside the car is a much more tidy interior with a new dashboard that does away with a lot of the buttons, the functions of which were probably moved to a menu on the touchscreen, which has also been made larger. Under the hood? We’re not sure, but there probably isn’t any plan to stray from the current powertrain, which is a 3.3-litre V6 producing 290 horsepower. Kia updated the transmission from a 6-speed to an 8-speed when it was redesigned in 2017; that transmission is still present in this vehicle. The mid-sized vehicle is usually compared with the Chrysler 300, Toyota Avalon and the company’s own Stinger, although it lacks the all-wheel-drive. This K7 should preview what the Canadian market Cadenza will look like, but there still could be some changes to
Origin: Teasers suggest Kia’s refreshed 2020 Cadenza will get killer looks
Renault Koleos updated with new engines, looks and kit
Renault has revealed an updated version of the Koleos, bringing the large SUV into line with its recently refreshed Kadjar sibling. External changes are as subtle as they are on the Kadjar and include an altered grille, new skid plates front and rear and additional chrome. LED headlights are now standard fit across the range, while new two-tone alloy wheels and a Vintage Red paint scheme are added. Interior upgrades include new soft-touch materials, trim details and two-stage reclining rear seats on all models. A new pedestrian detection function has been added to the active emergency braking system, while the infotainment now gets full-screen Apple CarPlay capability. Renault has also added two new diesel engines to the Koleos. The first is a 148bhp 1.8-litre unit, replacing the 1.6-litre diesel in the outgoing model. It’s front-wheel-drive only, puts out 250lb ft of torque and is claimed to emit 143g/km of CO2 emissions. A new 2.0-litre also features with 187bhp and 280lb ft of torque, claiming 150g/km of CO2. The marque has seemingly taken the opportunity to make both engines CVT-only, reflecting the decreased popularity of manual transmissions in this class. Greater refinement is also claimed, while the more powerful diesel comes with an intelligent all-wheel-drive system. Alongside the material changes, Renault has also simplified the Koleos range. Two trim levels are now offered: Iconic and GT-Line, with standard kit increased over the previous base model. Prices will be announced in July, with deliveries expected in
Origin: Renault Koleos updated with new engines, looks and kit
Land Rover Discovery Sport revealed with new tech, familiar looks
Land Rover has revamped its best-selling model while keeping the status quo in terms of what buyers want. The looks haven’t changed a whole lot, which is good, because half of the allure of a Land Rover is the classic looks. Buyers can choose from 25 different exterior paints with a contrasting black roof, and add the Black Exterior Pack which includes Narvik Black detailing on the grille and fender vents, extending to the hood and tailgate lettering. R-Dynamic-spec’d vehicles will receive a small hint of a rear diffuser as well as a front bumper that is much more aggressive, and kind of reminds us of offerings from FCA’s sporty truck division. Shadow Atlas exterior accents and contrast stitching also pushes home the Sport’ vibe. Powering the Sport will be Land Rover’s venerable Ingenium series turbocharged four-cylinder, which makes a respectable 246 horsepower. To give it a bit of a kick though, Land Rover has added an all-new 48-volt mild hybrid system that bumps the power up to 296. The Discovery Sport is Land Rover’s volume model—it sells more of this little truck than anything else, but that doesn’t mean there’s a whole lot of compromise. You can still fit seven people in it, provided two of them aren’t big enough to ride a roller coaster, and there’s still Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to accommodate all your devices. ClearSight Ground View monitor also trickles down from higher-spec Landies, allowing you to see through the forward lower body panels. The 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport will hit dealerships in the U.S. this summer; Canadian pricing and availability have yet to be
Origin: Land Rover Discovery Sport revealed with new tech, familiar looks
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