2018 Lincoln Navigator: Raptor powertrain, Continental ambience

It might not have the gullwing doors or the triple-step step boards of the concept, but the 2018 Lincoln Navigator, revealed at the New York auto show on Wednesday, is still damn impressive. And in the show model’s shade of light blue, it looks as big as the sky itself.

Lincoln says it’s courting “modern elegance” with its three-row behemoth. That means wireless charging and Wi-Fi standard, a Lincoln star logo that illuminates as the driver approaches and LED lights that “subtly engage.”

The new, fourth-gen Navigator is powered by a twin-turbo V6 making 450 hp, backed by a 10-speed automatic transmission. If those specs seem familiar, that’s because they’re shared with the F-150 Raptor. Hey Mr. Hennessey, how about a Veloci-gator?

In keeping with Ford’s push for aluminum-intensive construction, the 2018 Navigator’s new body is made from high-strength aluminum alloy, which saves 200 pounds over the outgoing Navigator.

First look: Lincoln Navigator Concept

After overhauling the core of its lineup, Lincoln is remaking its biggest vehicle, the Navigator, into a more understated, serene alternative to the high-flying Cadillac Escalade.Lincoln today …

Back in the cabin, the Navigator offers an adjustable shelf behind the rear seats, six USB ports, four 12-volt outlets and a 110-volt household-style outlet. Each key fob is programmed to a driver, so when you get in the car, the seats, mirrors, pedals, climate control and entertainment settings will all be personalized.

Like the Continental, the Navigator offers “Perfect Position Seats” with 30-way adjustability, heating, cooling and massage functions. Passengers in the second-row seats get entertainment screens, each of which can display different content. And those who have a Slingbox at home can access their TV channels in the back seat. Also like the Continental, the Navi is available with a Revel II audio system with 20 speakers and three listening modes: stereo, audience and on stage.

Options include trailer backup assist, a 360-degree camera, park assist and adaptive cruise control.

The 2018 Navigator goes on sale late in 2017.

2018 Range Rover Velar: Here’s what it’ll cost and what’s under the hood

Land Rover brought the Range Rover Velar to New York for its North American launch, following its debut at the Geneva motor show earlier this year. Positioned in the admittedly narrow space between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport, the Velar is a clean sheet design based on the new Lightweight Aluminum Architecture and the most road-oriented Land Rover model to date — since it shares bones with the outstanding Jaguar F-Pace, we expect the Velar to live up to its billing.

This doesn’t mean that the Velar won’t have off-road chops (once off-road tires are fitted), but the new model is aimed squarely at performance SUVs and crossovers from Team Germany, which have been multiplying at a faster rate than models from Land Rover’s own lineup. The Velar aims to be an agile performer — the new SUV will feature a double-wishbone front suspension up front and an integral link suspension in the rear for tackling corners — but it will also strive for off-roadability with an available four-corner air suspension that will offer a maximum ground clearance of 9.9 inches and a maximum wading depth of 25.6 inches.

When the Velar goes on sale late this summer, expect to see three engines on the menu: A 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder good for 247 hp is the base engine, available in four trim levels starting at $50,895. The middle engine in the lineup is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel producing 180 hp, offered in three trim levels starting at $57,195. 

The Velar will offer an uncluttered interior in keeping with its minimalist exterior design. Photo by Autoweek

The top engine in the range is the same supercharged 3.0-liter V6 that we’ve met elsewhere in the Jaguar Land Rover lineup, tuned here to pump out 380 hp. The base trim level, one of five with which this top engine will be coupled, starts at $65,195 and stretches all the way to $90,295 for the exclusive First Edition model. However, the top “regular” trim, dubbed R-Dynamic HSE, starts at $78,095, so there won’t be as much overlap with larger and dearer Range Rover models once the First Edition models are sold out.

All three engine choices get paired with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.
 

The Velar will be positioned between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport in the lineup. Photo by Autoweek

Range Rover’s newest SUV pays homage to the 1969 Range Rover prototypes named Velar with this design, offering something new and unusual while retaining the Range Rover family look.

The Velar’s calling card is a minimalist exterior and interior design, one that emphasizes clean surfaces and a dramatic, avant-garde ethos that wouldn’t look out of place on the set of a 1960s sci-fi show. The interior control panels and surfaces favor rectangular shapes, with the leather-rich surfaces giving the interior a warm, if somewhat strict, feel. On the outside, the Velar favors taut lines with little visual disturbance, and clean exterior panels that do not even permit door handles to break up the surface.

“We call the Velar the avant-garde Range Rover,” said Land Rover chief design officer Gerry McGovern. “It brings a new dimension of glamor, modernity and elegance to the brand.”

The Velar will go on sale in late August with the V6 model shipping first; 2.0-liter gas and diesel models will arrive later in the fall.

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is here: 840 factory horsepower is as close as your dealership

After months of teases, Dodge finally pulled the wraps off its new Challenger SRT Demon the night before the 2017 New York auto show. We have the numbers for this monster, and they are staggering: The 6.2-liter supercharged V8 delivers 840 hp and 770 lb-ft, making the Demon the most powerful muscle car ever. It also has the highest horsepower from a V8 production car.

But wait, there’s more: It’s the world’s fastest production car in the quarter-mile with an NHRA-certified ET of 9.65 at 140 mph. The Association promptly banned it from official competition. It dispatches 30 mph in 1 second; 60 mph takes just 2.3 seconds with DOT-approved drag radials. Hell, it pulled its front wheels off the ground on acceleration for 2.92 feet, the first for a production car as certified by Guinness World Records.

“With Demon, our goal was to build a car that would tattoo the Dodge logo into the subconscious of the general market, beyond even our loyal enthusiasts,” said Dodge’s Tim Kuniskis. “To do so, we had to set records that have never been set before, do more than has ever been done before.”

The Demon’s powerplant has the same basic architecture as the Hemi Hellcat, but it gets a larger supercharger (2.4 to 2.7 liters), more boost (11.6 to 14.5 psi), two dual-stage fuel pumps and a bigger hood scoop. The valvetrain, connecting rods and pistons have all been strengthened, and the lubrication system has been improved to keep everything slick at high speeds.

The SRT Power Chiller, “a production car first,” diverts air-conditioning refrigerant to a chiller mounted by the coolant pump. Coolant flows from the low-temp radiator in front to the chiller unit, then to the heat exchangers in the supercharger. The After-Run Chiller keeps the fan running and coolant circulating to minimize heat-soak effects. Those temps can be tracked on the touchscreen, so you’ll know when to safely take another run.

We already told you about most of the rest of this stuff. The Demon, with an optional ECU, will be able to run on 100 octane race gas; like the Hellcat, it will come with two key fobs, one for power and one for lollygagging; it’ll get a transbrake standard and a launch-assist function. Bilstein Adaptive Damping shocks will sit at all four corners; they’ll adapt depending on drive mode.

Have we reached peak Hellcat?

Dodge will unveil the worst-kept secret in muscle car history this week at the New York auto show when it introduces the Demon, a heavily modified Dodge Challenger for the drag strip that is intended …

The Demon comes in 200 pounds lighter than the Hellcat on which it was built, though 113 of that is ditched with the front passenger seat, rear seat, seatbelts and floor mats. Removing the speakers saves 24 pounds; trunk deck cover trim, carpeting and spare tire account for 20. Hollow sway bars save 19 pounds; insulators, foam and body deadeners save 18.

Buyers will get the option of 14 paint colors including fun Dodge classics like plum crazy purple and go mango. If specified, owners will also get the Demon crate, which includes the performance ECU, replacement switch module with high-octane button, performance air filter, passenger mirror block-off plate, front-runner drag wheels and Demon-branded tools consisting of a floor jack, cordless impact wrench, torque wrench, tire-pressure gauge, fender cover and tool bag.

Production begins this summer, with 3,000 examples earmarked for the U.S. and 300 for Canada. Deliveries begin in the fall.

2018 Ford Explorer doesn’t need much to keep cashing in on SUV boom

Ford is betting Americans’ love affair with crossovers and SUVs will continue to grow, and on Monday introduced tweaks to the 2018 Explorer to cash in on the burgeoning market for people and gear haulers.

The automaker is adding a new grille, new fog lamps and new technology, including Wi-Fi, to the crossover. There also is a host of driver-assist features and the ability to connect to FordPass — the automaker’s mobility operating platform for smartphones.

The Explorer, which leads the industry’s midsize crossover segment, was last updated in 2016.

Ford is freshening the utility at a brisk pace because it expects crossovers and SUVs will account for more than 45 percent of the non-premium U.S. retail market over the next 5-7 years, up from 26 percent in 2006 and 40 percent in 2016. Depending on market conditions, notably U.S. gasoline prices, executives said the 50 percent mark is achievable.

“It shows you how important the vehicle is and how important it is to stay current with it,” Mark LaNeve, Ford’s vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service, said in a statement.

Through the first quarter of 2017, U.S. sales of the Explorer fell 1 percent to 62,770, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

The freshened 2018 Explorer also includes four new exterior color options — burgundy velvet tinted clearcoat, cinnamon glaze, platinum dune tricoat and blue metallic. It will also offer five new wheel choices.

Its technology features include adaptive cruise control with brake support; blind spot information system; cross-traffic alert; lane-keep system; auto high-beams and rain-sensing wipers.

Ford introduced the Explorer in 1990 as a 1991 model year vehicle.

The automaker unveiled the freshened utility ahead of the New York auto show. It will arrive at dealerships in the fall.

It will be built at the company’s Chicago Assembly Plant.

The freshening comes as Ford adds five new nameplates to its crossover and SUV lineup by 2020. They include the compact EcoSport, announced late last year.

“Ford refreshes 2018 Explorer to cash in on crossover stampede” was originally published at Automotive News on 4/11/17.

Lexus F-Sports the LS 500 at the New York auto show

Lexus’ F Sport moniker makes its way to the company’s 2018 LS 500 sedan at the New York auto show this week. The F Sport LS doesn’t get the full F treatment — that’s reserved for its track-tuned cars like the RC F and GS F — but it does get the look and “carefully applied chassis tuning enhancements.”

As for the exterior, the 2018 LS F Sport gets a more intricate spindle grille using computer-aided design to achieve the texture and appearance. Designers adjusted 7,100 individual surfaces — way more than the basic LS, which has 5,000. It also gets new rocker panels, moldings, badges and wheels.

The LS F Sport has new front seats, a new wheel, adaptive gauges inspired by the kickass LFA supercar, aluminum pedals and ultrasuede trim. A new color scheme, circuit red, is available exclusively on F Sport models.

That “carefully applied chassis tuning” includes Lexus’ latest advanced chassis control tech, called VDIM (vehicle dynamics integrated management), which manages braking, steering, powertrain and suspension. The system, Lexus says, enhances traction, agility and keeps the car flatter in corners.

Twenty-inch wheels stick the car to the pavement while the optional F Sport Handling Package adds variable ratio steering, active rear steering and a sport-tuned air suspension.

Like the LS 500, the LS F Sport gets power from a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 making 415 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque along with a 10-speed automatic. That’s good for a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds in rear-wheel-drive guise.

The LS 500h will also get available F Sport upgrades. It uses an Atkinson-cycle V6 with two electric motors for a total system output of 354 hp. It can get to 60 in 5.2 seconds.

The 2018 LS goes on sale near the end of 2017. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but for reference, the 2017 model started at about $73,000.

Nissan Rogue Trail Warrior is the hero SUV Gotham needs

Nissan has crawled into the New York auto show in a vehicle ready for the Big Apple’s unforgiving pavement, fitting its Rogue with tracks made by American Track Truck. Dubbed Rogue Trail Warrior, this crossover is still powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder good for 170 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque coupled with an Xtronic CVT — plenty when it comes to family SUVs, and it also works when swapping wheels and tires for something more suitable to carefully navigating the outdoors.

How easy is this conversion? It takes a lot more than ditching the stock wheels and tires. Nissan had to modify the wheel wells and the suspension to fit these Dominator tracks that are 48 inches long, 30 inches high and 15 inches wide. Nissan also added a Warn 4K winch, LED light, a gear basket made by ARB, a camo wrap as well as custom fender flares.

This Rogue is equipped with a winch, but we imagine it probably won’t need it.

“This new Rogue Trail Warrior adds a new dimension to family adventures with its snow/sand tracks, gear basket, winch and camo paint,” said Michael Bunce, vice president of Product Planning at Nissan. “If you want to stand out from the crowd during a day on the slopes or the beach, this is the vehicle to take.”

This Rogue is one two special projects that Nissan will be showing off in New York, and is not a package you’ll be able to order at your local Nissan dealership. But Nissan has just given you the whole recipe, so you know it can be done with some work. And money. Don’t forget money. 

Ford Fusion hybrid cop car rated at 38 mpg for longer, more efficient chases

Ford Motor Co. is introducing what it calls the industry’s first pursuit-rated gasoline-electric hybrid police vehicle that more than doubles the fuel economy of the current Ford police interceptor.

The Police Responder Hybrid Sedan is based on the Ford Fusion midsize sedan and can be ordered this spring and will be delivered next summer. It is rated at 38 mpg combined. It features an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter engine paired with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery.

Ford says it can run in battery-only mode up to 60 mph.

The hybrid Fusion police sedan is one of 13 new electrified vehicles Ford is adding to its portfolio by 2021. It previously announced plans for the sedan, along with a second hybrid police vehicle, a fully electric SUV, a hybrid F-150, a hybrid Mustang, a hybrid autonomous vehicle and a Transit Custom plug-in hybrid earlier this year.

“Electrifying our next generation of vehicles is core to our unwavering commitment to sustainability,” Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s President of the Americas, said in a statement. “By being a leader in electrified vehicles, we remain committed to delivering cars, trucks and SUVs that are better not only for our customers, but for the environment and society as well.”

The automaker is investing $4.5 billion in the 13 electrified vehicles. Additionally, Ford said last week it will electrify 70 percent of its Ford brand portfolio in China by 2025.

Ford hopes the hybrid police car will give it a larger slice of a market it already dominates. The Blue Oval owns a 63 percent market share of the police vehicle segment and has sold vehicles to law enforcement since 1920.

Ford said the hybrid sedan will help cities save about $3,877 a year in fuel costs, based on gasoline priced at $2.50 a gallon.

The company planned to unveil the sedan Monday in New York in advance of the New York International Auto Show. It will hold a simultaneous reveal in Los Angeles.

“Our mission to create safe and healthy communities in Los Angeles is achieved through sustainable approaches in community policing, and that includes embracing new technologies,” Charlie Beck, Los Angeles Police Department Chief, said in a statement. “Patrol vehicles are a police officer’s office, and we expect them to not only be economically and environmentally efficient but also an effective tool for fighting crime in major metropolitan areas.”

“Ford Fusion hybrid police sedan rated at 38 mpg combined city, highway” was originally published at Automotive News on 4/10/17.

The Nissan 370Z Heritage Edition is striped for New York

Like a lot of the special editions we saw at the Chicago auto show, Nissan slapped some graphics and a few special colors onto a base-spec Nissan 370Z for the New York auto show. With the 50th anniversary of Nissan’s vaunted Z-Car right around the corner in 2019, Nissan claims the Heritage Edition is an attempt to honor the car’s legacy.

The Heritage Edition will sport either chicane yellow or magnetic black finishes with black or silver graphics, respectively. Both finishes will feature yellow accent stitching and trim throughout the interior. The other changes for the Heritage Edition are the same heading to the rest of the 370Z trims for 2018: new headlights, a different rear fascia paint scheme and new rear combination lights.

Still under the hood is the 3.7-liter V6 churning out 332 hp at 7,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm. Connecting the V6 and the six-speed manual transmission is an Exedy high-performance clutch, which should help grab all the power from the engine. If you don’t want to shift your own gears, the seven-speed automatic is still available. But you really want to shift your own gears.

Nissan’s 370Z is getting long in the tooth, and this special edition doesn’t help. Still, it’s good to see Nissan trying to spice up its sports cars. There’s no word on how much the package will tack on the base 370Z, but you should start seeing them in spring.

Nine automakers to skip 2017 Frankfurt motor show

One of the world’s biggest auto shows in Frankfurt, Germany, will be missing at least nine brands this year as the trend for automakers to shift their marketing spending into new areas such as the internet and social media gathers pace.

Brands skipping Frankfurt’s IAA exhibition in September include two PSA Group brands, Peugeot and DS, and three Fiat Chrysler Automobiles units, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, as well as Nissan and its Infiniti luxury marque.

The IAA organizers, Germany’s VDA industry association, confirmed that some automakers have canceled their participation without giving names but said more than 50 brands from Europe, the U.S. and Asia will be attending. The participants will include “young Asian manufacturers,” which will be at the show for the first time, along with major international tech companies like Qualcomm, Sony and IBM.

“Naturally we regret when individual exhibitors will not be in Frankfurt this time. The reasons are varying and each specific to the company but mainly connected to financial or corporate policies,” VDA managing director Klaus Braeunig said in a statement. “These exhibitors, however, have all spoken out in favor of strong automotive trade shows and are open to returning in the future.”

Dying ‘habit’

A PSA spokesman said it is considering the return on investment and will not take part in shows out of “habit.”

“Each brand constantly compares the efficiency of its marketing investments to decide its participation in shows,” the spokesman said.

Citroen will be at Frankfurt to support a product launch, he said. Peugeot and DS have decided to communicate to customers through other marketing methods.

Nissan said its decision to skip the IAA followed a global review of the company’s event and show strategy. “Moving forward, we will adopt a flexible strategy using a combination of automotive, consumer and dedicated Nissan events and partnerships to broaden our reach and appeal among influencers and wider consumers,” a Nissan Europe spokesperson said.

FCA declined to comment, but sources said the automaker will not have a presence at the show.

Mitsubishi and Volvo also will not be present, according to Automobilwoche.

The IAA is staged every two years, alternating with the Paris auto show. In 2015, the 11-day Frankfurt event had 1,103 exhibitors from 39 countries and attracted 931,700 visitors, 50,000 more than the previous show, according to the VDA.

Cross-shopping

In the past, auto shows were a perfect opportunity for customers to cross-shop various models at one time, as a wide range of brands showcased the latest product lineup within a relatively small proximity to each other. Now that most car shoppers and buyers conduct research and potential purchases online, where prices are transparent, the importance of many shows in purchasing decisions is declining.

At the same time, more and more automakers, faced with spiraling development costs for zero-emission technologies and autonomous driving, are reducing non-critical expenditures and questioning whether the benefit of a trade show presence outweighs the considerable costs.

Organizers of the Leipzig trade fair, the German import brand association VDIK, confirmed that they did not expect to hold the event again after cancelling the show last year for the first time.

Ford Motor and Rolls-Royce were among companies that skipped the Paris show last year.

Peter Sigal, Douglas A Bolduc and Luca Ciferri contributed to this report

“Jeep, Nissan, Fiat, Infiniti among brands skipping Frankfurt auto show” originally appeared on Automotive News on 4/6/17,

Lexus adds the F Sport badge to 2018 LS 500 at the New York auto show

Lexus is adding some performance pep to its 2018 LS 500 sedan in the form of an F Sport variant, which will debut at the New York auto show next week.

The teaser image shows little changed at the rear other than the addition of an F Sport badge; however, the LS 500 F Sport should get several upgrades if history tells us anything. We expect a more aggressive front fascia, sportier interior, a tighter suspension and generally improved overall performance.

The 2018 Lexus LS 500 debuted at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, with the hybrid model following last month at the Geneva motor show. We will learn more about the 2018 Lexus LS 500 F Sport next week at the car’s reveal.

2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 SUV and Coupe revealed: Put some V8 oomph into your grocery run

The 4.0-liter biturbo V8 from the AMG GT is finding its way into more and more AMG models, and the latest duo from Affalterbach receive it is the GLC63 AMG SUV and GLC63 AMG Coupe, which Mercedes-Benz detailed ahead of the cars’ debut at the New York auto show. That’s right: AMG models are being created faster than Stuttgart can unveil them at separate auto shows, and we have the compact design of this biturbo 4.0-liter V8 to thank for its ability to fit under the hoods of so many Mercedes models.

In fact, there’s actually a third model that’ll break cover in New York, an offshoot of the GLC63 AMG Coupe that will eclipse the other two models when it comes to power stats.

In the GLC63 AMG SUV and GLC63 Coupe, this V8 will churn out 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, while the GLC63 S Coupe — the third model — will dial up the power to 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque for those buyers who are in an extra hurry. The “weaker” models will be able to make sprints from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds — figures reserved for supercars until relatively recently — while the GLC63 S Coupe will be able to hit that mark a bit quicker with a 3.7-second sprint time. (Like we said: Some buyers are in a bigger hurry than others, so that’s the model they’ll go for.)

All three of these AMGs will use the new nine-speed automatic transmission that debuted in the AMG E63 S, which will send that power to all four wheels courtesy of 4Matic all-wheel drive. Those sprint times sound like all-wheel drive is certainly called for, if one has any hope of getting traction, though this constantly evolving system will allow torque distribution to shift from the rear wheels to all four via an electromagnetically controlled clutch. This version of 4Matic will be able to constantly and seamlessly vary the torque distribution based on driver’s input and driving conditions. On top of that, the SUV and the coupes will also have no shortage of driver-selectable driving modes, including comfort, sport, sport-plus and individual, with the modes varying transmission, engine, steering and suspension settings.

Drivers will also have the ability to select a shiftable automatic mode by pressing the “M” button, which permits shifts via the steering wheel-mounted paddles. The coupes (but not the SUV) will have yet another driving program on top of all of those: race. This dials all the settings to enable maximum performance, though we suspect Mercedes did not mean “race” other cars in traffic but, rather, at the track.

Those itching to try out the race mode will have to wait a little while; both versions of the GLC63 will go on sale in early 2018.

2018 Volvo XC60 engines announced ahead of New York appearance

Volvo’s 90th birthday falls on the month of the New York auto show, just days away from opening, and the Swedish marque will use the show to introduce the all-new XC60 to North America after its debut at the Geneva motor show earlier this year.

The completely redesigned XC60 will go on sale in the U.S. in late summer, and ahead of its New York appearance, Volvo has detailed the engines that it will offer stateside. In T5 guise, the XC60 will use a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 hp, while the T6 flavor will offer a turbocharged and supercharged unit good for 316 hp. Volvo plans to offer a range-topping hybrid powerplant on top of those two as well, in the form of the plug-in gasoline-electric T8 unit good for 400 hp.

That’ll be a pretty big leap over the engines offered in the outgoing XC60, which has been on the shelf a little too long. Volvo will also offer a diesel version of the XC60 in other markets ranging in output from 190 to 235 hp, but we won’t see them here, despite diesel making an unlikely comeback in the lineups of some European marques.

The range-topping XC60 powerplant will be the T8 hybrid with 400 hp on tap.

Volvo has revamped more than just the engines in the XC60: The new SUV will be longer and wider than the outgoing model and a little shorter in height. But it will still be the biggest model in its class, Volvo says, while staying around the same curb weight as its predecessor despite the use of aluminum and hot-formed boron steel in its construction. The basic packaging is staying the same — no reason to mess with success — though the long span of time between the debut of its predecessor and the debut of the 2018 model means plenty of new safety tech including automatic steering in pre-collision situations, lane drift avoidance and a blind-spot collision avoidance system that will intervene if the driver attempts to change lanes when there is another vehicle in the XC60’s blind spot. In addition, the XC60 will offer the semi-autonomous Pilot Assist feature, which will be able to automatically steer and brake when the vehicle is crawling through traffic jams, as well as at highway speeds. Pilot Assist has already appeared in other recent Volvo vehicles, including the XC90 and the S90/V90 duo.

“We have high expectations for this car,” Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson told reporters from Automotive News on the eve of the Geneva show. “This car is a very important element of our future growth plan and for our profitability.”

Pricing for the new XC60 is expected to be announced closer to the start of sales this summer.

The return of the wagon: 2018 Buick Regal Sportback, TourX unveiled

When the 2018 Buick Regal goes on sale later this year, customers will have two new variants to choose from — the Sportback and TourX. The Sportback is a hatchback in sedan’s clothing, while the TourX is an honest-to-God wagon that rides slightly higher than the Sportback with some cladding for the added appearance of ruggedness. We saw the Regal Sportback earlier this year when Opel unveiled the new Insignia, so we knew the design would be striking, but the confirmation of a wagon for the American market is something of a surprise.

A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder powers both models. The mill makes 250 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque in front-wheel-drive models. All-wheel drive ups torque to 295 lb-ft — this is standard on the TourX and optional on the Sportback. All-wheel-drive models come with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while FWD models receive a nine-speed auto.

The new Regal looks great, but it also puts versatility front and center. The TourX has up to 73.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats. Even the Sportback, which grows over the outgoing sedan by 3.6 inches to 111.4, offers 31.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up. That’s twice as much as the 2017 Regal. Drop the seats and space grows to 60.7 cubic feet. Even though the Sportback grows in size over the sedan, about 200 pounds of weight was removed.

A host of safety technologies such as lane change alert, rear cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control are available, but standard on both the Sportback and the TourX wagon is active hood pedestrian safety. The system can detect an imminent impact of a pedestrian between 16 mph and 30 mph and uses a pyrotechnic actuator to lift the back of the hood up about 4 inches to lessen the impact and potentially reduce injury.

A 7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is standard, while an 8-inch system with navigation is optional. Standard equipment includes push-button start, heated side mirrors and 10 airbags.

The Sportback will be available in four trim levels — Regal, Preferred, Preferred II and Essence. The TourX will have three available trim levels — TourX, Preferred and Essence.

Pricing details will be announced closer to the car’s an on-sale date, set for the fourth quarter of this year. The 2018 Buick Regal will make its public debut at the New York auto show later this month.

Infiniti teases ‘huge unveil’ for New York auto show

Infiniti sent out a teaser over the weekend for its New York auto show reveal. The only included copy said that the company has a “huge unveil.” Well, the only huge thing in its fleet is the monstrous QX80 three-row SUV. It seems like we’ll see a new version of that.

The vehicle in the picture looks blockier than anything in Infiniti’s portfolio at the moment, and we’ll go out on a limb and say it looks better than its current bubbly-style people haulers. That was what we liked about the last Nissan Armada we drove: its blocky-ness. Press days for the show are next week, so we won’t have to wait too long to get a glimpse of this behemoth. Check out the QX80 Signature Edition, revealed at the Chicago auto show in February here.

The Infiniti concept and the current QX80, side by side.

Freshly revised 2018 Subaru Crosstrek set for New York auto show appearance

Subaru will bring the new and more spacious Crosstrek to the New York auto show in a matter of days, following its debut in Geneva last month, boasting a longer wheelbase in addition to revamped exterior and interior design. The new Crosstrek will keep the rugged appearance of the outgoing model as well as the wheel arch cladding, providing an 8.7-inch ground clearance and other soft-road features. The new model will ride on a 104.9-inch wheelbase (1.2 inches longer than the outgoing model) though the new version will be just 0.6 inch longer and 0.9 inch wider.

The new Crosstrek will be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine producing 152 hp, up from 148 hp, and will be coupled with a six-speed manual transmission or the familiar continuously variable transmission, which in Limited trim has a “seven-speed” manual shifting mode via paddles.

The new model will come with plenty of safety tech including the EyeSight system, which offers adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, sway warning and automatic precollision braking. The Crosstrek will also have reverse automatic braking and steering responsive headlights, which will illuminate curves in the road as the car steers into them.

The 2018 model will be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 152 hp.

When the redesigned Crosstrek goes on sale later this year, it will come in three trim levels: 2.0i as a base trim, the midrange Premium trim and the range-topping Limited flavor. The base model will have a 6.5-inch infotainment screen, 17-inch alloy wheels, as well as details like roof rails, while the Premium trim will add an all-weather package that includes heated front seats and windshield, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter. The top Limited trim will add LED headlights, 18-inch wheels, steering responsive headlights and exterior chrome trim, in addition to other details and equipment. The range-topping trim will also offer a leather interior with orange double stitching, six-way power driver’s seat, and an 8-inch infotainment screen.

We’ll see the U.S. version of the 2018 Crosstrek up close when the model makes its North American debut in the metal in New York next week. The 2018 model will go on sale later in 2017, with pricing expected to be announced closer to its market launch.

The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon uses its a/c to cool the intake charge

According to Dodge, the system is good for dropping the intake charge as much as 45 degrees. What’s that mean for power? Well,  some of these aftermarket kits are claiming 50-hp bumps over stock applications. So it’s almost safe to assume, based on the regular Hellcat’s 707-hp rating, that the Demon will have at least 757 hp. 

As usual, Dodge put together another teaser. Check it out below, and check back on April 11 when the Challenger SRT Demon is shown at New York. 

Here’s what to expect at the 2017 New York auto show

We’re still two weeks out from the kick-off of the 2017 New York auto show, but that hasn’t stopped automakers from previewing most of the new cars, trucks and SUVs that’ll show up on the show floor. We have several confirmed appearances along with rumors circulating about what could make an appearance. Check this space often leading up to the show — we will update it with the latest expected reveals as we learn about them.

The 2018 TLX will take styling cues from the Acura Precision concept. Photo by Acura

2018 Acura TLX

Acura will be unveiling a significantly redesigned TLX sedan at this year’s show. The automaker says the styling will be more aggressive than before, taking inspiration from the Acura Precision concept that debuted at 2016 Detroit auto show.

The Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid and Electric flank a Honda Clarity Fuel Cell. Photo by Honda

Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid and electric

We just drove the 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell; now Honda is set to unveil a plug-in hybrid and battery-electric version of the eco-oriented model. Honda calls the Clarity Electric “the first affordable, midsize, five-passenger battery electric vehicle.” The plug-in-hybrid version is said to have an all-electric driving range of more than 40 miles.

Toyota piles on tech at the New York auto show

Toyota is upgrading the Sienna minivan and Yaris hatch at next month’s New York auto show.Technology is on the menu for both, mostly with safety system and infotainment upgrades.Last year the …

Rumored debuts

Models unconfirmed but rumored to be making a debut in New York include:

The 2017 New York auto show is open to the public Friday, April 14 to Sunday, April 23.

2017 Nissan GT-R Track Edition: $18K in parts with no more go

Nissan is bringing a third GT-R offering to its two-supercar stable in the form of the 2017 GT-R Track Edition. The newest Godzilla will slot between the Premium ($111,585) and Nismo ($176,585) models with a starting price of $129,585. Compared to the Nismo, the GT-R Track Edition is kind of a deal — at least in terms of cars that cost as much as a small house.

The extra $18K brings some Nismo parts and appearance bits to the Premium GT-R. Nismo tuned the suspension for some added handling capability. Nismo-spec tires wrap Nismo 20-inch forged aluminum-alloy wheels.

Performance is otherwise unchanged over the Premium model: The same twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 still makes 565 hp and 467 lb-ft of torque. A paddle-shifted six-speed dual-clutch transmission sends power to all four wheels.

2017 Nissan GT-R first drive: Monster, matured

When you’re in your early 20s, it’s fine to sleep on the floor one night, brush yourself off and head to work. But then you grow up. Your back starts to hurt. You move to the couch.And so …

Nismo front fenders and a special carbon-fiber rear spoiler enhance the GT-R Track Edition’s outward appearance. Inside, there is a unique red and black color treatment with Recaro seats.

The 2017 Nissan GT-R Track Edition is scheduled to make its official debut at the New York auto show next month. The limited-production GT-R will be available late summer and only by special order.

Here’s what you’ll get in the Dodge SRT Demon crate

In addition to a fire-breathing monster drag car, buyers of the Dodge SRT Challenger Demon will get a crate of tools to cart around to local racetracks. The Demon crate includes a floor jack, cordless impact wrench with charger, torque wrench, tire pressure gauge, fender cover and a tool bag, all sporting the Demon logo. All are provided by Snap-On. Not too shabby!

Including a toolkit with purchase isn’t anything new. MG did it — so did Porsche and a ton of motorcycle companies. Not all of them were branded, but you can find some pretty cool sets on eBay, even if you don’t have that 356 the kit belongs to.

The Demon crate comes with a handful of other parts, too, including an extra set of wheels featuring the Demon logo.

We have a few more weeks to wait for the full reveal on April 11 at the New York auto show.