Drew Dowdell

... the new server wasn't on autopay for some reason even though the service provider is the same. 

7 hours ago, smk4565 said:

This car is dead man walking.  The S-class owns this segment, and to try to keep up with it, would cost Jaguar or anyone else too many R&D dollars.  The 7-series has enough global volume and platform share with Rolls to stay profitable for years to come, but you wonder how Jaguar or Maserati last much longer.

Maserati lasts by selling tarted up Ghiblis and eventually an extended Guilia

2 hours ago, regfootball said:

these newer lincoln interiors really are rotten bad

Sorry, gotta call you out... how are they bad? I think they're very good, the Navigator in particular is a big step above an Escalade. 

Just now, surreal1272 said:

With that DOHC V8 coming soon, I don't think they will be resting for long. The Slade is too big of a cash cow to let that happen but you are exactly right regarding sales. 

No, I'm sure we'll see a new Escalade about a year after the Navigator gets its first full year of sales in and then the gloves will be off.

Everyone here knows how much I  the Escalade.... but if the Navigator were on sale today... I'd probably go with the Navigator. 

1 minute ago, Paolino said:

I wouldn't mind an S90... not sure if it has the air ride suspension... but I'd love a car with a pillowy suspension if I could afford it.

Air ride is available on all of Volvo's SPA platform vehicles so far (S90, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC90, XC60).  Yes, this is the pillowy suspension you are looking for and you don't have to get the car in top trim to get it. 

3 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

Escalade-2862

Navigator-897

 

Surely the new Navigator will close the gap. 

I could see those numbers.. well.. not flipping... but Cadillac dropping while Navigator grows.  I think for the moment the Escalade will remain in front because it is a much more known quantity right now, but over time I could see Navigator pull ahead if Cadillac *cough* rests on it's laurels.... 

If Lincoln keeps the costs in line, this could be the nail in the coffin for the likes of the Infiniti QX80 and Lexus LX460. Automotive Darwinism. 

3 minutes ago, Paolino said:

I LOVE Volvo's interiors lately!

They are one of my favorites in the industry right now.

Plus... you can get the XC60 with Air Ride suspension.... so that just might be the sales maker for my house. 

I hope they don't give up on the segment. The XJ is one of the better cars there and doesn't deserve the lack of attention from the buying public. 

I don't understand why these cars have to be so freaking ugly?? The Toyota Mirai is just as bad. 

At least GM had the decency to just use an Equinox for their fuel cell experiments.

Hyundai has been trying hard with the Sonata in the crowded mid-size segment for at least 2 decades. When the 2015 Sonata debuted at the 2014 New York Auto Show, it was largely received with a yawn.  Despite being a competent vehicle (read our review of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T), it just wasn’t enough to fully challenge the Accord, Camry, and Fusion for love from the automotive press. As early as the following year, Hyundai had already announced a redesign for Sonata.

Here we are back at the 2017 New York Auto Show with the redesigned 2018 Sonata.  A quick shake of the magic 8-ball says… “Outlook Not So Good”.  You can read the press release for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata here.

The first and biggest sin in the mid-size segment is not having a Honda or Toyota badge on the hood.  The Sonata, like Optima, Malibu, and Altima, suffers from that sin.   Any car without that badge must then seriously overcome the sin in other ways.  The Subaru Legacy does it with its AWD system. The Malibu tries with a more stylish interior and useful infotainment systems.  The Fusion offers a large variety of powertrain options including a powerful turbo-charged V6 in the Fusion Sport or the more fuel sipping hybrid.

The refreshed 2018 Sonata does not bring much new to the table. The engines are carry-over from the current model, though a new 8-speed auto is available on the top turbo model.  The interior is largely carry-over as well except for new gauges and center stack. The exterior gets a freshening with a new trapezoidal grille and new rear end treatment.  Neither of those updates feel strong enough to give the 2018 Sonata the visual distinction it needs to move the needle in the marketplace.

For comparison sake, I spent some time poking around the 2018 Sonata and then immediately went to the Toyota, Honda, Chevy, and Kia stands.  The interior of the new Sonata just isn’t up to the task of taking on the big guns and still feels as dated as the Optima.

In the end, the Sonata will still sell for people who want the warranty, but it’s not going to be to anyone who actually wants a Sonata… they’ll just be buying it for the deal. Is it better than the 2017 model?  Shake the Magic 8-Ball and see if you come up with a different answer. 

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6 minutes ago, dfelt said:

I am wondering just how much room is inside as the picture Drew took of the front from the mid row seats makes the leg room look tight.

Still do not like the floating nav screen.

The second row was pushed all the way forward as I found out when I sat in it right after I took that picture. Once adjusted properly, I had huge amounts of legroom in the second row. 

Another big reveal at the 2017 New York Auto Show this year… and we do mean BIG… is the 2018 Lincoln Navigator.  While it technically shares its platform with the new 2018 Ford Expedition that was released at the Chicago Auto Show, the Navigator somehow manages to look bigger.   Up front is a bold and impressive grille that moves the Navigator to the new family face shared by the Lincoln Continental and Lincoln MKZ.  Everything about the exterior is brash. It has giant turbine-look wheels, large fender vents, and full-width LED lights. This is not subtle luxury, yet it pulls off the look without being tacky. This is the new American version of “I’ve Made It”. Cadillac, you have some work cut out for you. 

The interior is nothing short of stunning. All the materials feel high quality. There may be an excess of buttons (I count 27 on the driver’s door alone), but it’s a Navigator… excess is the whole point. There are available 30 way power seats, be prepared to take a couple hours to get them exactly right, but once you’re there, you won’t want to leave.  If you elect the rear bucket seats, rear seat passengers will have a comfortable ride and have some control over the entertainment system from their own center console. One flaw I found was that in models equipped with rear seat video entertainment, the second row can flip forward and hit the screens when laying the second-row flat…. Not something I expect to happen too often.

The new Navigator is powered by a 450 horsepower Ecoboost V6 passing power through a new 10 speed automatic to either the rear wheels or an available AWD system. 

Pricing on the 2018 Navigator hasn’t been released yet, however we expect an appropriate increase over the discount pricing on the 2017 model.

You can read the full press release information on our 2018 Lincoln Navigator press release page.

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At the 2017 New York Auto Show, Volvo finally showed in the US what is likely to be one of its biggest sellers over the next few years. In spite of the rapid growth of the brand due to the public's fantastic response to the Volvo XC90 and Volvo S90 (read our review), the XC60 seems poised to eclipse even that. The current XC60 is one of the oldest models in Volvo’s lineup though it still makes up 30% of its sales. That fact really drives home how important this car is to Volvo.

You can read about the technical details of the Geneva release of the 2018 Volvo XC60 on our press release page.

The XC60 is rated as a compact crossover, however it feels like it pushes the boundary into a mid-size vehicle. In the two Inscription level models I examined in New York, Volvo’s recently developing reputation for their sumptuous interiors shows.  The seats are of a very soft leather, and very well bolstered. Inscription models get an open pore wood trim called drift wood.  Momentum models come with aluminum or another open pore wood trim available as an option. Much of the hardware on the dash carries down from the larger full luxury models, somewhat of a rarity in the industry.  Volvo’s entertainment system is one of the easiest I’ve had the pleasure to use. Volvo really nails a lot of the small details on the interior, right down to the Flag of Sweden tags on the seats.

Engines will range from 250 horsepower to 407 horsepower and at launch all XC60s will come equipped with AWD.

Volvo’s current trend in pricing has been to undercut competitors on base pricing and then load up quickly on options with the top models.  It appears to be working as most new Volvos leave the factory as top-end Inscription trim.

The XC60 is built on the same SPA platform as S90 and XC90, both solid and strong entrants into their respective segments. I expect the trend should continue with the XC60 as Volvo enters its 90th year on a strong upswing.

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I just took the shots of it... it looks *yuuuge* in person... that front end!

34 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

Shouldn't the car detect the incapacitated driver and drive itself to the nearest hospital?

In the Cadillac, it pulls the car over and calls OnStar.

Just now, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

Been there, done that.  Drove my WJ JGC almost daily for almost 17 years, long after it was obsolete.  

If I were to do something like that again, I'd maybe pick a Panther. A late Grand Marquis or Town Car.  Driven many as rentals, they were pretty low tech and obsolete 20 years ago, plenty of parts out there.  

I could do that as long as I put a modern Android Auto compatible head unit and upgraded speakers in. 

Interesting about the camera that watches to see if you're looking.  I could see someone getting into their fully autonomously driving car, programming a destination 300 miles away (on a full tank of gas), starting off on their trip, and then having an aneurysm.  The car keeps on driving to its destination for the next 4 hours with a dead body in the driver seat... 

Grandkids looking out the window... "Oh yay! Grandpa is here! We see him pulling up!"

You get to imagine the rest....

Challenger for sure... all of the Hellcats.

We should have an age cut off... but I think the '96 Fleetwood, Impala, and Roadmaster have that potential.   After the Hertz spec models get crushed, I think the top end 300C might qualify. 

Why is this concept so difficult? Stop thinking only in max throttle situations.  A turbo will not hit max torque at 1500 rpm at partial throttle because you're only getting very light boost. 

1/3 throttle in a 2.0T and you're driving about the equivalent of a 2.5 N/A. 

1/3 throttle in a 3.6 and you're still driving a 3.6.

3.6 > 2.5

Just now, Stew said:

It is an indicator of how it performas.  maybe better is the C&D street start 0-60.  I seriously doubt these mags are brake torquing to get into the boost so the 0-60 gives you an idea of how close they are  Didn't one of the mags used to do a street start 0-60?

It's an indicator of how it performs at full throttle.  How often do you pull away from a stop light at full throttle? 

Part throttle on a turbo engine and you'll barely be into any boost.... you're just driving a regular old 2 liter 4-cylinder sedan. Maybe with the slight boost, it will feel like a 2.5 liter naturally aspirated 4.  In a V6, you have all the smoothness and all the displacement of a 3.6 liter engine pulling you out of the stop.  Might the 2.0T be able to do more? Sure.. but you've got to put your foot into it more, spin those turbos up, and that's called lag. 

As for saving gas.  Honda and GM V6es can shut down 2 cylinders at cruise and turn them back on faster than a turbo can spool. 

People don't drag race cars every day. 0-60 is meaningless in EVERYDAY driving. It's not the full throttle performance I care about because I use it so infrequently.  It's the partial throttle glide away from a stop light that feels strong rather than spooling. 

The holdup is mostly in the legal department.

But your Bug is putting out 210 hp / 207 lb-ft.... that's not V6 power... Well it was... in 1993 in an Oldsmobile.....Grandpap's Buick Lacrosse can do that in it's sleep and still have loads more over that as the RPM climbs.

I own a Turbo 4 (and a laggy one that GM compensates for by having a very short 1st gear).

I've owned the very first generation CTS with the 3.6. Even that old first gen HF has better every day feel than the 2.0T in the Regal GS. 

I drive different cars nearly every week, I've sampled nearly EVERY new car out there. I rent cars nearly every week and take them on 400 - 800 mile trips.

If I walk onto a National lot and my choice is between a Taurus Turbo-4 or an Avalon V6 which would you think would have the more satisfying power delivery?   You know me well enough @hyperv6 to know I'm not Toyota lover, but I'm going with the Avalon. I'll even take a Maxima with the CVT over a Taurus with a Turbo-4.  Now if the Taurus had the 3.5, the math would be different for me. 

What I'm saying is this... in a space where there can not be a V6, a Turbo-4 is a great improvement over a N/A 4.  But a Turbo-4 is not a full on V6 replacement... at best it is a tweener that lets manufacturers sell cheaper products at a premium price.  Remember, you're driving a tuned and chipped 2.0T, but that's not what is being produced for most cars these days. Your HHR is putting out more power and torque than the ATS 2.0T does from the factory.... so your view on the matter is obviously shaped by that. 

All of that argument aside.  The ATS is quite possibly the only instance where I might go with the 2.0T over the 3.6 because there is such a difference in weight balance and handling.  But given my current desire for raw thrust, I'd probably pick the 3.6