Automotive Reviews

, ,

2023 Lexus NX450h: SUV plug-in hybrid prowess

One year after its second-generation debut last year, the high-end Toyota relative has introduced the 2023 Lexus NX450h into its lineup returns in 2023 with a collection of small crossover sport utility vehicles, including two hybrid offerings. The 450h+ is the upscale carmaker’s first plug-in hybrid and it joins the NX 350h conventional hybrid. The NX lineup was first introduced nearly a decade ago and is slotted between the subcompact UX and the mid-sized RX. Who knew there was a need for a slew of “Nimble Crossovers,” the meaning of the vehicles’ two-letter identifier? Buyers, apparently. The NX joined two siblings in the top 10 luxury hybrid SUV sales for 2022. The 2023 models are a holdover. The Lexus 450h+

Read more

Lucid Air: a bonafide Tesla rival — finally

In the 15 years since Tesla debuted, several potential competitors have swiftly arrived and departed without any impact. Lucid Motors, less than two years into its luxury electric sedan life, is an exception. The Lucid Air, designed in Newark, California, built in Casa Grande, Arizona, and majority owned by a Saudi Arabian sovereign investment fund, at least equals the omnipresent Tesla in a dozen criteria. It outdoes the EV stalwart in several ways. It’s new, powerful, industry bending and has limited availability, traits Tesla also had in its infancy. Unveiled in October 2021 as a 2022 model, Lucid produced 7,180 vehicles last year, about one-third of the original estimate after industry-wide supply chain issues. The 2023 edition is now also

Read more
,

VinFast VF8 SUV arrives in US from South Vietnam

A dual-motor, all-electric, all-wheel-drive drivetrain powers the VinFast VF8, a new midsize sport utility vehicle that combines performance and efficiency. The design of the vehicle was created by Pininfarina, the renowned Italian design house. The VF8 has a long wheelbase and short overhangs, which give it a balanced and attractive appearance. VinFast is a new electric vehicle brand from Vietnam, founded in 2017 by Vingroup, a leading conglomerate in the country. Vinfast aims to produce high-quality electric vehicles for the global market, with a focus on innovation and sustainability. VinFast has already established a presence in several countries, including the U.S. where it has 10 California dealerships and plans to expand to other states. Vinfast is also confident in its

Read more
, , , ,

Luftgekühlt 9: Beauty at the beast

Luftgekühlt, which translates from German to “air-cooled,” is a pilgrimage for dedicated Porsche fans. It showcases the best of what many consider to be Porsche’s Golden Years — the air-cooled period. Luft 9 highlights the fastest, most prestigious air-cooled products from Porsche’s 1931 founding leading up to the discontinuation of the air-cooled 911 in 1998. For the first time Luftgekühlt, often shortened to Luft 9, offered back-to-back days to commemorate all Porsches without regard to door count, means of cooling, motorsport success, and more. Air | Water exhibits vehicles from the Pre-A era to 992 — Mezger 997’s, Carrera GT’s, GT3 Tourings — alongside their classic counterparts. It did so with the mentality the venue makes the event. Mare Island’s

Read more
,

Honda Civic Type R claims front-drive crown at the ‘Ring

There’s a new King of the ‘Ring. Honda’s legendary Civic Type R, a long-time fan-favorite for its extraordinary performance in a small package, captured the fastest lap for front-drive production vehicles at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife. Honda dethroned the Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy-R with a 7:44.881 lap time. Unfortunately for U.S.-based fans of the Civic Type R, the model that contested the 12.93-mile “Green Hell” isn’t the same as the vehicle currently on sale in the United States. The record-setting Honda is the Type R “S” which boasts a lighter curb weight and other performance upgrades is exclusive for left-hand-drive European markets. Honda ditched air conditioning, parking sensors, cargo net hooks, navigation hardware and a variety of other equipment which

Read more
, , ,

Bentley Le Mans collection wears pieced, race-winning engine

Winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans is among the most prestigious accomplishments in motorsports. Two decades ago, the Breitling-liveried Bentley Speed 8 finished two laps ahead of the pack, taking the marque’s sixth victory. To commemorate the achievement and the 20 years since that victory, Bentley has produced a limited run of 48 Le Mans Collection Continentals. Each of the Collection’s 48 Continentals keeps the Speed 8 memory alive by incorporating a piece of the 2003 race winner in each of the new vehicles. How is Bentley doing that? It’s as unique as it gets in automotive manufacturing. After the Speed 8’s 2003 Le Mans victory, Bentley removed the 32-valve V8 from its bay and cut 24 of the

Read more
,

2023 Genesis GV60 launches as top luxury EV crossover

Six years after the carmaker’s launch as a standalone luxury brand, the 2023 Genesis GV60 debuts as the marque’s first dedicated electric vehicle. It delightfully further blurs the definition of automotive innovation and gadgetry. Available in Advanced and Performance trims, the GV60 is operated by two electric motors and a 77.4-kWh battery pack. Using a 120-volt (Level 1) household-style outlet, the GV60 takes about 68 hours to charge. A 240-volt (Level II) outlet will charge the GV60 in around seven hours. Using a DC Fast-Charging (Level III) station, the GV60 will advance from a 10 to 80 percent charge in around 18 minutes (250-kW/800 volts). The battery can also be used to power external equipment, including appliances. The relevance of

Read more
,

2023 Honda Civic Type R morphs into hot sports car

After 51 years, 11 generations and approaching 28 million in sales, the Honda Civic remains among the most enduring and dependable vehicles. It’s available as a coupe, sedan and hatchback and in Si and Type R high-performance options. It’s offered in Sport, Touring, LX, EX and Sport trims and it ideally defines its name’s origin. The Civic’s moniker means “a car created for citizens and cities.” Civics are everywhere, albeit with a caveat. What once defined the needs of citizens in cities is no more. And the vehicle, classified in its tenure as both a subcompact and compact and with the multiple personalities as a family sedan a zippy sports car, may have lost its way. Six years ago, the

Read more
,

2024 Lamborghini Revuelto: A new bigger, badder bull

The Lamborghini Revuelto is the new bull in town. It has a new hybrid system, dual-clutch transmission, superbike-inspired styling and new driving modes. It has a V12 engine free of forced induction. It produces more than 800 horsepower without hybrid assistance. Combined with its electric motors, power output soars to 1,001 horsepower. The Revuelto supercar succeeds the Aventador after its decade of reign and it changes Lamborghini history. The Italian carmaker replaced one mechanically menacing bull on wheels with a stronger hybrid bull. A beautiful bull The new Revuelto boasts beautifully distinct styling. Lamborghini’s designers remixed the 2021 Sian FKP37, retaining the Y-shaped headlights, pinched, sharp front end, protruding side intakes and over-the-top rear diffuser. The wedge-shaped side profile and

Read more

2024 Subaru Crosstrek: rugged, versatile, value-priced

Many of the country’s most popular vehicles had lousy sales numbers in recent years because of supply chain difficulties. The lingering issue didn’t affect Subaru as much as other carmakers’ double-digit drops. Subaru‘s sales were about four percent lower in 2022 than the year prior. But the Crosstrek, the carmaker’s subcompact sport utility vehicle, had its best year in 2022. It had more than 155,000 sales, about 35,000 more than in 2020. Introduced in 2012, the Crosstrek is now the manufacturer’s best-selling vehicle. It offers an appealing combination of versatility and value. Subaru‘s signature is its symmetrical all-wheel drive. Since its first heyday in the United States, individuals and national alpine skiing and cycling teams have formed sponsorship relationships with

Read more
,

2022 Ford Bronco Everglades: Rock & Roll, Best Off-Road

Jesse Colin Young wrote the song “Ridgetop” 50 years ago. It’s a love story about nature and his home in Marin County located down a road with a steep hill and marked with granite, ruts, pine needles and chert. To celebrate the milestone, Ford should hire the co-founder of the 1960s rock band The Youngbloods as a spokesperson or at least use his music in commercials. In 2022, a year after the carmaker re-introduced the Ford Bronco following a long hiatus, several special editions debuted, including the Everglades trim. It’s available only as a four-door model equipped with the standard features of the Black Diamond trim. Its singularity are front fenders with depth meter measurement lines for fording water. Ford

Read more
, ,

New Ferrari Roma Spider: 50 years in the making

Has it been 50 years? In 1973, Ferrari debuted the soft-topped 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider. Five decades after the last of those convertibles left the Maranello, Italy factory, Ferrari recently announced the Prancing Horse will gain be worn on a soft-top, front-engined grand tourer. The automaker took the veil off the roofless Roma with “Spider” at the end of its name. The Roma Spider will replace the Portofino M as the new entry-level Ferrari. A company spokesperson confirmed the news to Road and Track. The new Roma Spider is complete with a retractable, woven fabric soft-top and a powerful, turbocharged V8. Ferrari reworked several mechanical elements to make the Roma Spider as road-worthy as its coupe counterpart. The soft-top, available

Read more
, , , ,

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 challenges rivals

With the addition of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE lineup, the German manufacturer approaching its centenary now offers more than 30 vehicles. They’re all named with numbers and letters and acronyms requiring code-breaking expertise. The EQE series arriving this year, one year after the debut of the EQS, the carmaker’s first all-electric sedan available in the United States. The EQE 500 4Matic is the mid-level of three available trims. It has two motors, a 90.6-kWh lithium-ion battery, 402 horsepower and all-wheel-drive. Like its siblings, it’s a smaller version of the EQS. Smaller by definition doesn’t mean small. The EQE 500 is a spacious luxury sedan, handsomely styled inside and outside. It’s marketed with seating for five, but like many mid-size sedans,

Read more
,

Mansory Tempesta Celeste is heavenly in name only

Somewhere Ferrari’s brand management has to be fuming. The Italian luxury automaker has a long history of taking action against customers who modify its cars in ways they deem problematic to the Prancing Horse’s image. Pop singer Justin Bieber’s bright blue, vinyl-wrapped Ferrari 458 with flared fenders, large wheels, and heavy tint got him blackballed from future purchases. DJ Deadmau5’s full wrap illustrating the Internet meme “Nyan Cat” was worthy of a cease and desist letter. Can German tuner Mansory’s re-envisioned SF90 Spider be far behind those two in drawing the ire of the legendary Italian marque? The recently debuted, one-of-three hypercar named “Tempesta Celeste” takes radical styling to the next level. Its name translates to “heavenly storm” but many

Read more
,

Buying A New Truck: 7 Vital Steps

Thinking about buying a new truck? With the fresh, pleasing smell of a new vehicle and the enjoyable driving experience, why not consider it? But buying a new truck isn’t the most straightforward process. It takes preparation and proper planning. By following the right steps, the process shouldn’t be a problem. Considering the expenses of buying a new truck, here are seven vital steps to consider to help a buyer make the right decision: Be Aware Of Potential Accidents Trucks tend to have more blind spots than a car, and trucks take longer to slow down after braking. Both factors could make them more accident-prone. Increased awareness of essential. Learning how to properly drive a truck decreases the potential for

Read more
,

2023 BMW 330i: a bargain BMW? Really?

Sixteen years ago, the BMW 3 Series reached its yearly sales peak as an entry-level luxury compact sedan. It was stylish, featured top-line technology and combined keen driving characteristics with prestige. The vehicle’s lineup was three years old and was purchased 142,488 times in 2007. It has surpassed 140,000 in yearly sales only twice since and the figure has drastically stumbled in recent years. The 3 Series tally was only slightly more than 30,000 last year. And while no longer BMW‘s top-seller, the BMW 3 Series, notably the 2023 330i, remains vital among the ever-increasing competition. Acura, Audi, Cadillac, Kia Genesis, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Volvo all offer formidable rivals, with some brands featuring more than one choice in the

Read more
Previous Next