Looking for a used car? Make sure it doesn’t have an open recall. Because dealers might not tell you.
Today, even the cheapest new vehicle is packed to the gills with electronic wizardry. From Bluetooth, to traction control, to anti-lock brakes, there’s nary an inch of the modern cars which doesn’t have a little bit of silicone in it—and the rewards have been tremendous. Vehicles are safer, more fuel efficient, and reliable than they’re ever been. But the added complexity has come with a cost, as over the past few years, consumers have faced an unprecedented number of recalls.
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We’re just on the eve of a massive onslaught of new vehicle and concept reveals as we slide into the press showings of the 2016 Paris Auto Show.
Helping to kick off the reveals was the recent web unveiling of the all-new, production Land Rover Discovery crossover SUV. A massive change from the outgoing model, the new Discovery continues to offer three-row seating for seven with lots of versatility and off-road capability.
Set to go on sale sometime in the middle of 2017, the Land Rover Discovery is completely new, from the ground up. Replacing a lot of the heavy steel is an original aluminum construction that undercuts the LR4’s weight by nearly 1,000 pounds. But the reduction in weight doesn’t speak for any compromises in capability since Land Rover boasts that the new Discovery can tow up to 8,201lbs when properly equipped.
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Matt LeBlanc will replace Chris Evans as lead host of Top Gear.
A lot of uncertainty has been lingering around the future of Top Gear UK. But recently, the BBC confirmed that Matt LeBlanc will return as lead host for the show in 2017.
Rumors of LeBlanc taking the lead to replace Chris Evans were pretty rampant already, so this does not come as a surprise. Furthermore however, joining LeBlanc at his side are co-hosts Chris Harris and Rory Reid. Eddie Jordan, Sabine Schmitz, and The Stig will also continue to provide content.
“I am thrilled that Matt LeBlanc is returning to Top Gear,” BBC Two’s Channel Editor, Patrick Holland told the press. “He’s a huge talent whose love of cars is infectious. I can’t wait for the series to return to BBC Two next year.”
Former host Chris Evans stepped down amid a very critical reception of his role as the new lead host to replace the venerable Jeremy Clarkson. Evans made it through filming and hosting Season One, but even that wasn’t without its issues. Evans ran into issues meshing with LeBlanc and supposedly rage-quit during the filming of an episode.
The 24th season of Top Gear returns to BBC Two next year.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: BBC
Photo Source: BBC
The guide for the 2017 BMW 5-Series also shares info about engines.
A newly leaked order guide of the 2017 BMW 5-Series surfaced on BMW enthusiast forum, Bimmerpost.
According to the guide, Automobile reports that the 2017 BMW 5-Series will come with more semi-autonomous driving technology. The suite is supposedly called the Driver Assistance Plus II package and it will be the closest thing to a self-driving 5-Series being on sale.
Within the package, options like Active Lane Keeping Assistant with Side Collision Avoidance is included in the mix, both systems found on the latest BMW 7-Series.
Then, there’s the more typical active, radar-guided cruise control suites with Stop & Go operation, and more.
So far, the guide also indicates the 2017 BMW 5-Series should be powered by a similar range of four- and six-cylinder engines in the next generation.
Production is said to begin in November.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: BimmerPost via Automobile
The 2017 Audi A4 is the only car in its class to offer both all-wheel drive and a manual as standard.
Audi made a pretty big move recently for the enthusiasts. For the updated 2017 A4 sedan, they added a new six-speed manual transmission as standard with quattro all-wheel drive. That means the 2017 Audi A4 is the only sedan in its class to offer both all-wheel drive and a manual.
As equipped, it can hit 60 miles per hour in just 5.7 seconds, about 0.7 of a second faster than the last model. This in part is also thanks to the A4’s pretty potent TFSI 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder with 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque.
But unfortunately, it still loses to the automatic-equipped dual-clutch A4, which hits 60 in just 5.2 seconds.
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The MINI John Cooper Works Clubman is also the first JCW MINI to gain all-wheel drive.
MINI recently implemented some changes to the new John Cooper Works Clubman.
The first is the addition of MINI’s latest ALL4 all-wheel drive system, making it the first John Cooper Works model to sport all-paw traction. This of course means some more power can be squeezed out.
Horsepower remains at 228, utilizing the same 2.0L TwinPower Turbo four-banger as the regular JCW Cooper. But the torque gets a hefty bump from 236 pound-feet to 258 lb-ft, making it the torquiest MINI ever made.
The sprint to 60 miles per hour only takes six seconds now with the standard six-speed manual. Optionally available is a ZF-sourced eight-speed Steptronic automatic.
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Some pretty groundbreaking news came by way of Financial Times, who reported that tech giant Apple might acquire McLaren Automotive. This caused quite a stir among the media as the largest consumer electronics company in the world doing anything remotely resembling the purchase of a famous boutique supercar maker is just bonkers.
But in an interesting twist, McLaren completely denied the rumor following a direct inquiry from Jalopnik.
FT first reported the deal could be worth as much as 1.5 billion GBP. But neither Apple or McLaren commented on the deal to the outlet.
McLaren doesn’t just consist of the company that produces the famed P1 and other high-profile supercars like the 650S. There’s also McLaren’s huge Formula One division.
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One of the first races for Formula E will run through the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn.
If you’re New York City based like we are, or at least within its proper, some exciting motorsports news rings in from the side of Formula E.
What is essentially Formula 1, except with all-electric powertrains, Formula E is the world’s first fully-electric racing series. It officially announced a new city street circuit in the heart of Brooklyn.
Consisting of a 1.21-mile track through Red Hook, Brooklyn, the course zips by Pier 11 and by Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. With lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge all visible within the track’s limits, spectators will have both a great view and a great competition to see.
There are a total of 13 turns.
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The new Jeep Wrangler’s doors, hood, and body will incorporate Alcoa 6022 grade sheet aluminum.
Jeep is reportedly making some radical changes to the new Wrangler. Some tidbits surfaced via a Wranger enthusiast forum, indicating the next generation model will utilize more aluminum. The goal is to reduce the weight of the Wrangler to improve fuel consumption and driveability.
According to the report, discovered by MotorTrend, the doors and hood are the main recipients of the lighter material. However, the use of aluminum won’t be limited to just those body parts. The original report suggests aluminum will be incorporated into the body and construction of the next Wrangler.
In addition to the heightened use of aluminum, rumors say the next version could even gain diesel, pickup, and hybrid variants. Already confirmed is a new “Hurricane” turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic.
While this may seem like a way to move the Wrangler forward into the future, some die-hard Jeep enthusiasts expressed their worry. The Wrangler is known for its durability and capability off road. This reputation however lies in the Wrangler’s simple construction and complicating the construction of the next-gen model could compromise this street-cred.
Do you agree with these changes? Or should the Wrangler just be a steel tub, a manual transmission, and a torquey Pentastar V6? The diesel on the other hand will surely be popular.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: JL Wrangler Forums via MotorTrend
You can hear one of the engines for the first time too.
The Toyota Supra revival is back in the news again, but in the form of moving pictures and finally, some sound!
For the first time ever, the world can hear what the new Supra revival sounds like.
The video first surfaced via SupraMKV.com’s YouTube. It is a short 30-second clip of the Supra’s prototype leaving BMW M’s Test Center at the famed Nürburgring.
As the prototype pulls out of the driveway, the driver steps on the gas to make sure the mill was heard. But surprisingly, it was fairly silent while creeping out of the driveway. That alone suggests the car could be hybridized.
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