For 2019, all Q70 3.7 LUXE content from the previously complimentary Essential package is now standard. The new standard features include valuable technology such as: INFINITI InTouch™ Navigation with InTouch™ Services, Bose® Premium Audio System with 10-speakers, Around View® Monitor with Moving Object Detection, front and rear sonar system, leather appointed seats, climate-controlled front seats and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel.Infiniti Infiniti is ditching the Q70 sedan from its lineup to make room for more SUV sales.The large luxury sedan will not return for the 2020 model year, according to Motor Authority. The hybrid version of the Q70 was already dumped for the 2019 model year.The Q70 can trace its roots as a luxury sedan back to the first Infiniti, the Q45.Introduced in 1989, the Q45 was a rear-wheel-drive V8-powered sedan that was built to take on the luxury cars of the day, mostly the brand-new Lexus LS400. It would go on to morph into the M37, M45 and then the M56 before it was renamed the Q70.The Q70 was Infinitis attempt to compete with the German Big Three of Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW. It was available in a few configurations, including rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. Engine options included a 5.6-litre V8 or 3.0-litre V-6, and trims included short- or long-wheelbase sizes. Unfortunately, the model was mostly left out of most conversations. Sales of the Q70 were dropping as buyers shifted their attention away from sedans and toward larger SUVs like the full-size Infiniti QX80, which boasted a hefty sales increase in 2019 over 2018.For reference, both vehicles are powered by the same 5.6-litre V8, and both are available with all-wheel-drive, so the sedan didnt offer too many benefits over the SUV.A replacement for the vehicle has not been made public, but the brand has teased electrified vehicles that could take its
Origin: Infiniti is killing off its Q70 sedan
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Car Comparison: 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan
Clayton Seams: The Volkswagen Jetta and the Toyota Corolla have been fighting with each other for a long time. These nameplates are both so old that they were each designed to replace air-cooled predecessors. Toyotas Corolla replaced the Publica, and Volkswagen Jetta, the Beetle. The Corolla is on its 12th generation, which debuted in 2018 and the Jetta is in its 7th iteration which debuted this year in 2019. Both are compact FWD sedans, powered by four-cylinder engines. Both have shown up to the party in mid-level trim and both retail for $28,000 and change as tested. Representing team Jetta was this Tornado Red Comfortline tester with the R-Line appearance package. Alex, what did you bring to the party?Alex Reid: In the blue corner is a 2020 Toyota Corolla XSE, and its stuffed full of tech. Its come along way from its humble beginnings, and beyond its revolutionary water-cooled engine, the Toyota Corolla is truly a grown up vehicle for the 2020 model year. These two vehicles have evolved to become more than just small-engined runabouts designed to pinch sales away from yank tanks, theyre now at the top of their reasonably-priced game. These two brothers from another mother have grown up at the same time, but which one of them can claim to be the more mature sibling? I would argue that the Toyota is wise beyond its years, even if hesitant to react to changes around it. First of all, the amount of technology that you get in the Corolla greatly surpasses the Jetta, having navigation, satellite radio, heated seats and steering wheel, and a host of safety features for almost the same cash means that the Corolla is a seriously strong contender for some of the best value on the market. CS: Its true, the Corolla packs an impressive list of equipment that you dont get in the Jetta for the same money. A heated steering wheel, SatNav, Satellite radio, and a digital dash are all found in the Corolla but not in the Jetta. But you could have those in a Jetta if you choose a more loaded model its worth noting. Also worth noting is the styling of the Corolla, yikes. I dont know why it has a Super Duty-sized grill or why its so angry at me. The Jetta, meanwhile, looks rather dashing in that aforementioned red paint and 17 alloys. That clean look continues to the interior where the Jetta wears a smart white/black two-tone interior. The touch screen display is neatly integrated into the dashboard and the sporty D-shaped steering wheel looks great but feels out of place in a car that lacks a sport mode or paddle shifters. Unfortunately it seems that the nice-looking seats were designed for the hard, square butts of Lego people and human butts may not find it very comfy. The seats seem unnecessarily hard and just oddly shaped if their purpose is indeed to support a human body. AR: I guess you pay a price premium for the VW to have all those features because I agree, the Corolla has a face only a mother could love, although I dont have to see it when Im driving it, so its a moot point, really. Another thing that I cant see but I can definitely feel on the Corolla, is the 18 wheels and low profile tires, which translates to more sporty handling, if thats something you care about in your daily commuter. While youve got a sporty steering wheel, the Jetta doesnt actually have the handling prowess to back it up, and its the Corolla that has a sport mode, and paddle shifters, even if its connected to a CVT. The Jettas good looks inside also dont translate to comfort, those seats are flat, square, and almost downright uncomfortable, theyre also manually operated, which is pretty lame considering the almost $30k price tag.However, I think the money is really well spent in the Corollas interior, which has electrically operated seats with lumbar support, and a super cool blue-stitched pattern, the digital dash is also miles above the dials you get in the Jetta, which looks like Volkswagen raided Ataris arcade game warehouse, Asteroids anyone? I think the Corolla also has the Jetta licked when it comes to size, it feels compact, like the segment should suggest, the turning radius is small and its extremely easy to park. The Jetta, even though VW claims its a compact, feels more like a mid-size. While the size should mean that the Jetta has more space, it really struggles to offer more than a few millimetres more rear headroom than the Corolla, and a negligible legroom advantage. CS: While its true the Corolla is the more sporty of the two, (CVT and all!) the Jetta is a little more quiet when driving along at highway speeds. The Corollas 2.0L naturally-aspirated I4 feels more sprightly than the Jettas 1.4L turbo I4. The Jetta makes more torque at 184 vs 151 but the Toyota makes more power at 169 vs 147. On paper, the smaller turbo engine of the VW has a clear fuel economy lead over the larger-engined Corolla. Also worth mentioning in the interior is that the VW has a more modern-looking infotainment system and
Origin: Car Comparison: 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan
Cadillac reveals its 2020 CT4 sedan on Instagram
Underscoring its assertion a brand neednt live on SUVs alone, Cadillac today introduced the new 2020 CT4 sedan. This means there will be a trio of sedans in the companys showroom, with this machine being the smallest of the three.Built on rear-drive architecture, the way nature and Alfred Sloan intended, the Cadillac CT4 will offer a selection of turbocharged engines.A 2.0-litre turbo is the standard engine, cranking out 237 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic.Further up the options sheet is a 2.7-litre turbo, whose estimated power is a sprightly 309 ponies and 348 lb.-ft. of twist in the Premium Luxury model. Alert readers will note this engine is related to the 325-horsepower engine found in the CT4-V. Ten cogs inhabit the automatic lashed to this mill. The CT4s profile is decidedly rear-wheel-drive, with a good dash-to-axle ratio creating a long proboscis. We developed CT4 to appeal to youthful buyers in the luxury market who may be new to the Cadillac brand, said Andrew Smith, executive director of global Cadillac design.Three trims, in addition to the V, will be offered at launch: Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport. The latter will have darker accents and performance-inspired details like unique fascias while the others are going to ladle on the chrome in varying amounts.Sport and V-Series models will have Brembo-branded front brakes, while rear-drive Vs will have GMs trick Magnetic Ride Control. All-wheel-drive will be available in Canada on all models. Available Continental self-sealing tires are said to be a segment-first, and the company says Super Cruise is going to be available in the 2020 calendar year.CT4s interior will look familiar to anyone whos been inside a Cadillac in the last year, with a tablet-style 8-inch infotainment system that is appended by twin physical knobs (thank you, Cadillac) and two rows of buttons for ventilation and other controls. These PR photos show a set of analog gauges bookending a TFT screen as in the XT5 and XT6. It would be nice for Cadillac to offer something like Audis Virtual Cockpit, something which may happen with the arrival of Super Cruise.The 2020 CT4 will be available for ordering later this
Origin: Cadillac reveals its 2020 CT4 sedan on Instagram
Upcoming electric Jag sedan will be followed by gas version: report
In the not-too-distant future, British supervillains will need to allow time for their getaway vehicle to fully charge. The good news? Theyll be able to accelerate away from Mr. Bond pretty quickly.The luxury EV race is heating up faster than a bank of un-cooled batteries. Companies like Audi, Mercedes, and, of course, Tesla, are hard at work either designing or churning out fast and sumptuous examples of electric vehicles.The latest to jump into the game? JLR, announcing a new XJ sedan and Range Rover SUV that will be powered by electrons.In fact, the next big sedan from Jaaag will launch solely as an electric car, taking aim at the Tesla Model S and upcoming Porsche Taycan. At a global investor meeting earlier in June, promises were made the companys new modular platform, one which is electric-capable, will first spawn a big SUV and premium sedan. Even without further specifics, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out what models they will be.This new platform will be adaptable to plug-in and mild-hybrid powertrains, so dont expect the new XJ and electric Rangey to be offered purely in EV form. Citing unnamed sources, Automotive News Europe says the XJ will be endowed with six-pot gasoline engines later in its development cycle. All-electrics on this new platform are said to pack a 90-kWh battery good for nearly 500 km of range. Plug-in hybrids using this architecture, meanwhile, will have a 13-kWh battery and be able to power themselves sans gasoline for about 50 km.Platform-sharing has become a key manner in which car companies can save a few dollars in the face of rising costs and competition. Look for these first two vehicles to appear in calendar year
Origin: Upcoming electric Jag sedan will be followed by gas version: report
Jaguar unveils ultra-limited edition of the ‘world’s fastest production sedan’
Jaguar has announced a Touring version of its XE SV Project 8, which it says is the world’s new fastest production sedan. It says it’s making just a limited run, and the company isn’t kidding: only 15 of these four-seater sedans will be offered worldwide, turning it into the most exclusive of Jaguar’s XE SV Project 8 models. The biggest difference with the Touring is that it has a small, fixed trunk spoiler in place of the massive, adjustable carbon-fibre wing on the XE SV Project 8 (and there are 300 of those—practically mass production compared to the Touring). The Touring also has a fixed front splitter for aerodynamic balance. That more ordinary styling is less likely to tip people off to the fact that there is a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 under the hood, churning out 592 horsepower, and with a top speed of 300 km/h. The zero-to-96 km/h run happens in 3.3 seconds. The Touring will come in one of four signature colours, including British Racing Green, Corris Grey Satin, Valencia Orange and Velocity Blue. The decals from its winged sibling are also missing, although buyers can option them on if preferred. “Project 8 has received outstanding critical acclaim since its launch, demonstrating the Special Vehicle Operations team’s ability to create a compact Jaguar sedan with supercar-rivalling performance,” said Jamal Hameedi, engineering director of Jaguar SVO. “Touring specification extends the appeal of Project 8 to performance car enthusiast and collectors who prefer a more discreet appearance, without compromising its driver-focused on-road
Origin: Jaguar unveils ultra-limited edition of the ‘world’s fastest production sedan’
Jaguar is nixing the XJ sedan, and its replacement could be electric
2018 Jaguar XJR575Handout Chalk another sedan’s death up to the relentless march of SUVs and crossovers. As reported by industry publication Autocar, Jaguar will halt production of its XJ large sedan in July, after nearly a decade on the market. The supercharged saloon was a looker when first introduced, and continued to retain a measure of visual gravitas through its mid-cycle refresh in 2015. Still, in a market where crossovers are king and electrified rides are in vogue with a certain moneyed set of customers, it was perhaps inevitable the next XJ would be quite different than today’s machine. Yes, Virginia, there will apparently be another XJ. Autocar reports Jag confirmed to them that the brand intends “to continue the XJ nameplate” but, predictably, was mum on details. There has been plenty of speculation Jag will put the model name on a coupe-like sedan, albeit one propelled solely by electrons. Could it be a legitimate competitor to the Tesla Model S? 2018 Jaguar XJR575 Handout / Jaguar It’s not like the company is bereft of electrified technology, after all. The confusingly named I-Pace crossover (the E-Pace is gasoline-powered, remember) features a 90-kWh battery pack and twin electric motors pushing out a combined 400 horsepower. Sculpting a sedan(ish) shape to fit on top of the electrified architecture shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for the design and engineering teams. Here at home, the XJ has never been a particularly strong seller, finding roughly a couple of hundred new owners each year since the dawn of time. The F-Pace crossover easily outsells it in this country by a margin of at least 10-to-one. In recent years, Jag has been pushing a “British Villains” advertising campaign, a tongue-in-cheek promotion suggesting its cars are a slightly dastardly alternative to mainstream luxury sedans. With this shift in production, Bond’s nemesis will need to adjust to life in an all-wheel-drive crossover. At least there’ll be lots of cargo room for his
Origin: Jaguar is nixing the XJ sedan, and its replacement could be electric
Acura adds hand-built flair to its TLX sedan
Acura is adding some serious bling to its TLX sedan, and will debut the TLX PMC Edition next week at the New York Auto Show. The TLX PMC Edition – and the corresponding MDX PMC Edition that will follow it – will be customized at the company’s Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio, where the Acura NSX is produced. The special edition is based on the top-line TLX Tech A-Spec Package, and will go on sale this summer starting around US$50,000. By comparison, in Canada, a regular TLX with A-Spec Package starts at $42,390. The TLX is built in Marysville, but the PMC models come off the line at the body-in-white stage, where they’re just a shell. At the centre, they’re finished in Valencia Red Pearl paint, previously used only on the NSX. Between multiple base coats, two clear coats and curing time, it takes five days to paint each car. Final assembly then takes place by craftsmen at the centre, and each car receives a numbered serial plaque on the centre console. Each one is also wrapped in a special cover, and delivered to the dealership in an enclosed car carrier. So what are you getting for your cash, besides that paint? The package also includes gloss black wheels and trim, dark-chrome exhaust finishers, leather and Alcantara seats, perforated leather steering wheel and red interior stitching. Acura said that it designed the PMC facility not just for the NSX, but to “explore handcrafted production of limited-edition models,” and that the TLX and MDX models “are just the
Origin: Acura adds hand-built flair to its TLX sedan
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