Tag Archives: Reviews

The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Is Pretty Good, But Not As Sporty Or Precise As The BMW M3

October 17, 2021 admin

With the new CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing, Cadillac has put the likes of BMW M, Mercedes-AMG, and Audi Sport on notice, offering exceptional performance for much less money than their German rivals.

The CT4-V Blackwing acts as the successor to the ATS-V and carries over the twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 of its predecessor. Importantly, a number of upgrades have been made to the engine, including the fitment of new control software, revised crankshaft counterweights, and an improved air intake. The turbine wheels of the turbochargers have also been tweaked. All up, the engine delivers 472 hp and 445 lb-ft (603 Nm) of torque.

Doug DeMuro recently had the opportunity to put the CT4-V Blackwing through its paces. Typically, the review starts in the cabin.

The first thing that DeMuro notes is just how similar the interior of the CT4-V Blackwing is to the CT5-V Blackwing. Many of the components are identical, including the steering wheel, pedals, gauge cluster, and switchgear. The most obvious difference is the larger infotainment screen of the CT5-V Blackwing. Of course, this is nice for CT4-V Blackwing owners, as they get lots of thing from the CT5-V despite paying roughly $40,000 less.

Towards the end of the video, the popular YouTuber hits the streets in the sports sedan. He says it is a great car to drive in many different ways and is very complimentary of the engine. However, he notes that the CT4-V Blackwing doesn’t handle quite as well as the new BMW M3 and isn’t as sporty or precise.

[embedded content]

Is The Two-Door Ford Bronco A Proper Off-Roader To Rival The Wrangler?

October 7, 2021 admin

After a 25-years hiatus, the 2021 Ford Bronco two-door manual SUV is set to become the envy among the off-roading community. After a lengthy period in which the Jeep Wrangler dominated the market as the only off-roader in its segment, Ford decided it was time to do something about it.

Sofyan Bey of Redline Reviews was handed one from the factory for a week: a two-door manual, Black Diamond trim Bronco draped in Cactus gray. On paper, it got everything that screams “off-roader” such as a truck ladder frame, all-wheel drive, locking front and rear diffs, and a front sway bar disconnect.

Its retro design is based on the first generation 1976 Bronco and comes with seven distinct style trim variants. The Black Diamond model is one of the lightest versions and features LED headlights, steel bumpers, black steelies, a full bash plate underneath, and 32-inch-tall General Grabber all-terrain tires. Moreover, the molded-in-color hardtop, incandescent taillights, and full-size spare tire come as standard. If you don’t mind plastic windows, the Bronco is also available with a soft top.

The two-door Bronco Black Diamond offers 8.4-inches of ground clearance, a 100-inch long wheelbase, and a 174-inch overall length. The Sasquatch package option for an extra $4200 adds two and a half inches of ground clearance, larger fenders, and 35-inch tires.

Also Watch: How Did Ford’s New Bronco Outer Banks Fare In A Challenging Off-Road Trail?

[embedded content]

With a 3500lb towing capacity and larger cargo space available even without folding the rear seats, the Bronco certainly outshines the Wrangler. After the two-person task of detaching the hardtop is done, you’re in for an open-air experience with no crossbar to disrupt the view – unlike the Wrangler. Ford also has included airbags built into the roof rails. The stylish doors are lightweight and have frameless glass to aid the detachability.

The cabin is a nice place to sit in thanks to the two-tone leatherette waterproof seats. With a few exposed screw heads, knobs, buttons, and auxiliary switches on the roof, the Bronco creates the impression of a competent off-roader. It’s equipped with a half-digital, half-analog instrument cluster, an 8-inch infotainment system, GOAT (Goes Over Any Terrain) mode and LED cabin lighting. Opting for the Outer Banks trim makes a 12-inch display accessible. As with all Broncos, it’s highly customizable.

The interior has a hard-touch plastic and rubberized floor with drain pits to support the hose-down philosophy. The back seats provide sufficient legroom and USB charging outlets, but when the top is off, wind buffeting can be a problem for rear passengers.

Opening up the hood exposes a 2.3L turbo EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, which offers 17mpg in the city and 19mpg on the highway. It is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox with a crawler gear and a low-range transfer case. The engine delivers 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque that’ll push the truck from 0-60 (0-96 km/h) in about 7.8 seconds. With about 4,319 lbs (1,959 kg) of weight, it’s an impressive figure for an SUV. For $2000 more, you can get the 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 engine capable of 330hp and 415 lb-ft of torque that’s paired to a 10-speed automatic.

The Bronco is excellent for those who enjoy an open-air drive with the wind in their hair. It’s joyful and easy to drive compared to the Wrangler owing to the short-throw manual, rack and pinion steering, independent suspension, and the turbo whistle you hear when you put your foot down.

The Bronco came into its own when Sofyan took it to an off-road trail just outside Frederick, Maryland. The handling and ride are as sublime as they were on the tarmac. According to Sofyan, it glides over gravel roads and makes driving through rocks, dirt, dips, and water holes seem like driving through a parking lot. When speeding past bumps, the independent suspension absorbs the shocks, so there are no annoying rattles.

Overall, despite being a grade at the bottom of the trim hierarchy among seven models, the Black Diamond Bronco is a highly capable SUV that costs just over $40,000.

2022 Toyota GR 86 Tested Hitting 60 MPH In 5.9 Seconds

August 24, 2021 admin

Hot on the heels of our first drive of the 2022 Toyota GR 86, Jason Cammisa recently teamed up with Hagerty and put the car through its paces. During his test, he also recorded some very impressive acceleration figures.

Powering the GR 86 is an all-new 2.4-liter four-cylinder boxer engine with 228 hp and 184 lb-ft (249 Nm) of torque. While many had hoped the second-generation 86 would be turbocharged, we’re happy to report that it doesn’t need a turbo and when equipped with the available six-speed manual, Toyota says it requires just 6.1 seconds to hit 60 mph (96 km/h). As it turns out, that claim is a little conservative.

While testing out the fact, Cammisa was able to hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds or 5.6 seconds with a one-foot roll-out. That’s impressive, particularly when you consider that the new GR 86 needs to be shifted into third gear at 59 mph and the car tested by Cammisa had the standard Primacy tires, rather than the stickier Michelin PS4 tires available on the Premium model.

Cammisa also weighed the car and with three-quarters of a tank of gas, it weighed in at just 2,769 lbs (1,255 kg), right in line with Toyota’s claimed curb weight of 2,799 lbs (1,270 kg) with a full tank.

During his test for Hagerty, the veteran automotive journalist also raced it against a Mazda MX-5 Miata and a VW Golf GTI. It manages to out-sprint the Miata but couldn’t quite keep up with the Golf GTI, although that’s no surprise considering the Golf is turbocharged.

[embedded content]

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz First Reviews In And Here’s What They’re Saying

August 11, 2021 admin

Back in April, Hyundai introduced the Santa Cruz, a Tucson-based unibody pickup truck. Since then, we’ve seen a few walkarounds in a studio environment, but now, the real-world reviews have arrived.

The Santa Cruz is offered with a choice between naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants of the same 2.5L inline-four. The naturally aspirated version makes 191 hp (194 PS / 142 kW) and 181 lb-ft (245 Nm) of torque, while the turbocharged version makes 281 hp (285 PS / 210 kW) and 311 lb-ft (422 Nm) of torque.

[embedded content]

FWD is standard with AWD as an option, but all Santa Cruz models send their power to the wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Depending on trim, you can haul up to 1,500 lb (680 kg) and tow up to 5,000 lb (2,268 kg). As for pricing, after destination charges, it ranges from $25,175 for the base SE with FWD and the naturally aspirated engine all the way up to $41,500 for the range-topping Limited with AWD and the turbocharged engine.

[embedded content]

The general consensus across all the reviews seems to be that the Santa Cruz is the perfect truck for non-truck people. It’s for people who like their SUV, but also want an open bed. One thing that was pointed out in almost every review was that thanks to its unibody platform, not only does it drive like a car, but a well-sorted one at that.

Finally, another thing touched on in quite a few of the reviews is that this truck will have to watch out for the Ford Maverick, which offers similar capabilities at a comparable (and in some cases lower) price point.

[embedded content]

Does The 2022 Kia K9 Live Up To Its Fancy New Looks?

July 4, 2021 admin

To say that the Hyundai Group has come out of the last decade as the automaker with the most improved image is an understatement. Now, even Kia can make Americans lust after a car they aren’t allowed to buy.

The latest such car is the K9, which was sold in the U.S. as the K900 until it was announced that Kia would discontinue the car early this year, and is referred to as such in the following video.

This video appears to be from a first-drive press event that was held in Korea and shows off some of the car’s fancier features, like stop-and-go cruise control and predictive shift technology. That tech uses the GPS along with the car’s radar sensor and its cameras to help the eight-speed automatic transmission behave more intuitively so that shifts are as smooth as possible. Although the nature of the system makes it hard to film, the video’s host says the car is, indeed, very comfortable.

He also calls it pretty quick, saying it pulls linearly and powerfully. The version of the car seen here uses the same 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that powers the Stinger. It makes 370 hp (375 PS/276 kW) and 376 lb-ft (508 Nm) of torque. In sends its power to all four wheels and is surprisingly capable.

On a tight on-ramp, the driver hustles the car and reports that it feels really good, especially considering its size. At 202.3-inches (5,138 mm) long, it’s longer than the Genesis GV80, which is 194 inches (4,945 mm) long.

So should you feel jealous that Kia isn’t offering the K9 Stateside anymore? Maybe you should, yeah.

[embedded content]

You’ll Be Astounded By All The Details Of The McLaren Speedtail

June 26, 2021 admin

The Speedtail is a McLaren unlike any other – and, come to think of it, a hypercar unlike any other as well.

As just 106 examples of the Speedtail will be built, not that many people have had the opportunity to drive and review it. Recently, Doug DeMuro was given the opportunity to get an up close look at one before taking it out onto the street for a quick test drive.

The Speedtail featured in this video is part of The Triple F Collection, a family-owned collection of exotics in the U.S. that includes vehicles like the McLaren Speedtail, McLaren Sabre, Ferrari LaFerrari, Pagani Huayra BC, Bugatti Chiron, Koenigsegg Regera, Ferrari F40, Porsche Carrera GT, Porsche 918 Spyder, and many others. This Speedtail was imported to the U.S. under the ‘Show or Display’ exemption as it isn’t officially sold in the U.S., even though a third of the 106 have been sold to U.S. buyers.

The blue exterior finish of the car is absolutely gorgeous and the blue theme continues into the cabin with some areas of blue leather. Speaking of the cabin, it has some intriguing features, including an electrochromatic piece of glass at the top of the windshield that acts as an expensive alternative to sun visors.

In typical Doug DeMuro fashion, the driving portion of the video is very short but he does get a feel for just how tremendously fast the Speedtail is. Which is what you would expect, considering it pumps out 1,036 hp.

[embedded content]

McLaren F1, Porsche 911 GT1 And Mercedes CLK GTR: Part 1 Of The Ultimate Group Test

May 19, 2021 admin

Sometimes stars align and dreams come true, as shown by Carfection’s latest film which brings together the McLaren F1, the Porsche 911 GT1 and the Mercedes CLK GTR.

While the term ‘hypercar’ was coined much later, it would be somewhat of an understatement to call these insane speed machines simply supercars.

In the first episode of this rather special series, Carfection’s Henry Catchpole reviews the McLaren F1, chassis No 037, which is preserved beautifully in its original specification.

Also: McLaren F1 Review From Back In The Day Is A Must-Watch

Apparently, this is also the only McLaren F1 with a full Alcantara interior from new, the cabin still wearing the original trim. Its owners used things like towels and specially made fabric sheets to protect the upholstery and the originality of the car.

The naturally aspirated BMW 6.1-liter V12 produces 627 HP and 480 lb-ft (651 Nm) of torque and is paired to a six-speed manual transmission. Given that it has to move just 2,509 lbs (1,138 kg), that epic V12 still manages to impress with its throttle response and power across the rev band. After all, the McLaren F1 still holds the title of the fastest production car with a naturally aspirated engine.

But the F1 is more than just an engine; it’s a packaging triumph, with its compact footprint, the central driving position, and the obsessive attention to detail in making everything as light as possible. There’s no traction control, ABS, or power steering, just a singular focus on making the best driver’s car that has ever existed.

[embedded content]

Bajaj Qute Is South Africa’s Cheapest Car But Should You Really Get One?

May 16, 2021 admin

I totally get the appeal of a wildly cheap vehicle like the Bajaj Qute. But are buyers getting their money’s worth? The answer is a resounding no.

For starters, they aren’t getting a car. Legally, what they’re getting is a quadricycle. And it certainly feels like it. With a sequential gearshift that operates like a motorcycle’s (albeit with a foot-operated clutch instead of a hand-operated one) and a 216 cc engine, there’s a paucity of power that feels bike-like.

And the limitations continue becausethis Bajaj is allowed to go on the highway. Even if it was legally allowed, though, you’d definitely wouldn’t want to take it there. The 216 cc engine makes just 8.08 kW (10.835 hp) and 18.9 Nm of torque (13.94 lb-ft), which means a top speed of just 70 kph (43 mph).

With most traffic whizzing by at 120 kph (75 mph) and no safety techn to speak of, it does not feel like it should be legal on the highway anyway. According to host Ciro De Siena, even if you stay on normal roads, you don’t feel that safe.

“I think the biggest concern here for me, is the rollover risk. It really does feel like it’ll topple over very easily,” he says.

That said, though, the Qute isn’t a total waste of time.

“In my experience from having driven this around Cape Town for a bit, it’s actually okay in stop-start traffic and sort of on normal roads where the speed limit is 60 [kph, 37 mph],” says De Siena. “It’s actually fine. I wasn’t expecting it to be, but it’s fast enough off the line, it’s fast enough through the gears, it gets to 60 Ks an hour fast enough.”

In fact, De Siena says he actually likes it. It does what it promises to and will get you where you need to be in a pinch.

At 75,000 rand ($5,300 USD), though, it’s not quite cheap enough to make sense. That’s cheap, but for the same amount of money you could also get yourself a reasonable second-hand VW Polo or Hyundai i10. Sure, there may be some expense involved in keeping those on the road, but they’ll also go on every road.

“I don’t think that there’s a single South African who doesn’t know what this car is right now. It’s insane how much interest there is in this car,” he admits. “But I don’t think I can recommend this as a passenger car. I really don’t.”

[embedded content]

The New BMW M3/M4 Drift Analyzer Is Fun, But Could It Be Dangerous?

May 2, 2021 admin

The new BMW M3 and M4 have a lot going for them, including an all-new engine that helps to boost performance over the previous-generation models. One of the updates also made to the new cars is the fitment of a ‘Drift Analyzer.’

As the name implies, this system analyses the drifts a driver performs in the car. It can only be accessed by turning off all of the safety nannies so is best used on a racetrack, rather than on the road. Eager to test out the system, Evo Magazine’s Steve Sutcliffe headed onto a circuit and started powersliding the new M3.

The Drift Analyzer measures a host of different parameters to provide drivers with a rating of their drift. It measures things including the distance covered by the rear wheels, the speed of the drift and most importantly, the angle of the car.

The best drift performed by Sutcliffe was awarded 4.5 stars out of 5 by the system. Interestingly, he suggests that the system is much more interested in the angle of the drift than the speed or distance. The bigger the angle, the higher the score.

While the system will no doubt be appreciated by some owners, Sutcliffe also suggests that it could lead to a number of crashes as M3/M4 owners try to get the highest drift rating possible on the street.

[embedded content]

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Overview: Two New Trim Levels, Plus an AWD Option

January 23, 2021 admin

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is refreshed and ready to mingle. Complete with new trim levels and features for 2021, the small(ish) SUV received top marks in last year’s JD Power Initial Quality Study. If you’re looking for an affordable and sharp SUV, the new Outlander Sport makes a strong case. Here is an overview of the vehicle for 2021.

Engine Options & Fuel Economy Ratings

There are two different engine options for the Outlander Sport, depending on if you opt for front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive models have a 2.0-liter MiVEC DOHC four-cylinder engine with 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft. of torque. The all-wheel drive Outlander Sport, which employs Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control system, has a slightly larger 2.4-liter engine. Said engine creates 168 horsepower and 167 lb-ft. of torque.

Fuel economy is close for both engines. The front-wheel drive Outlander Sport has an EPA rating of 24/30 city/highway, while the all-wheel drive versions come in just slightly lower at 23/29 city/highway. The combined rating for both is 30 mpg.

Standard Safety & Tech Features

Every 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is standard with Forward Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, and Automatic High Beams. Standard safety and convenience features on the ES and above include rain-sensing wipers, LED fog lights, auto-dimming mirror, and automatic headlights.

An eight-inch Smartphone-link Display Audio system is standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on every model except the S and ES. Those latter two trim levels feature a conventional seven-inch display audio system.

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Black Edition. Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Two New Trim Levels

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has two new trim levels for 2021, and both dress the small SUV up nicely. The Limited Edition (LE) adds black outside mirrors, a black grille, and black 18-inch alloy wheels. Jump inside the LE to find red accent stitching on the seats, shifter, steering wheel, and parking brake. The Black Edition (BE) really goes for those extra style points by adding the following items:

Side body graphics
Black door handles
Alloy fuel filler door
Black outside mirrors
Large rear body spoiler
Black Edition exterior badging
Tailgate protector trim in gloss black
Black 18-inch wheels with red accents
Gloss black front and rear air dams with red accents

The Outlander Sport Black Edition comes in four colors: Red Diamond, Pearl White, Black Labrador, and Sunshine Orange.

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport MSRP

The chart below details the starting MSRP for the 2021 Outlander Sport. Add $1,095 to the figures below for destination and handling ($1,220 if you live in Alaska or Hawaii).

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Model & Powertrain	MSRP
S FWD	$20,995
ES FWD	$22,995
LE FWD	$23,995
SE FWD	$24,695
BE FWD	$25,195
ES AWD	$24,545
LE AWD	$25,545
SE AWD	$26,245
BE AWD	$26,745
GT AWD	$26,995

The Outlander Sport is affordable, but this free and easy search tool* will show you which dealers near you offer the best price. When you are shopping for a new vehicle like the Outlander Sport, you want to try and obtain the invoice price. This comprehensive guide explains how to go about doing that.

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Warranty

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport comes with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, seven-year/100,000-mile corrosion warranty, and a five-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance program. Mitsubishi’s extended warranty is called the Diamond Care Protection Plan, which expands the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty to seven years or 100,000 miles.

Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Society of Automotive Historians. He serves on the board of directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, is a past president of Detroit Working Writers, and a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

Photos & Source: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

*Automoblog and its partners may be compensated when you visit this link.