Wednesday 29 April 2015

Audi TT – car review | Technology | The Guardian

Audi TT – car review | Technology | The Guardian

Posted: 24 Apr 2015 10:00 PM PDT

'The Audi TT is not a car for a person with children, a mother, or a balloon.' Photographs: Simon Stuart-Miller for the Guardian

On the second day with the Audi TT, we had an argument about a balloon. With my mother holding it, in the passenger seat, I couldn't see out of the wing mirror. With either of the miniatures in the back holding it, I couldn't see out of the rear-view. So I put it in the boot, with the boy shouting, "If you burst that, I will kill you," and me thinking first, "That is a very real possibility, this boot is more like a magazine rack," and, second, "Who raised this appalling, rude child?"

The Audi TT is not a car for a person with children, a mother, or a balloon. A couple of years ago, a survey found the Audi driver most likely to have an affair; I can only conclude the lovers were very small, with tiny legs.

Yet in the car on your own, the back seat holding your handmade luggage (of my imagination), what a drive: the way it clings to the road; the subtle purring; the effortlessness of everything. There are few things more groundlessly rewarding than unleashing it up a steep hill. On the way up, you feel like a fell runner, lean and superhuman; on the way down, like a hang-glider, unbounded by boring friction. I had the manual version; I guess the upside of the automatic is that you can concentrate on your affair.

Fuel consumption, at 57mpg (urban), is far better than any car in which I have felt as cool; carbon emissions could be lower, but at 110g/km are practically eco. But I think its real purpose is the message: I am an unencumbered person, going faraway places, fast.

Driving position is delightful, low, and invites a slight recline, as if to experience more fully the exhilaration of takeoff. The dash has all the important information lodged in the driver's binnacle, so you can see with perfect, colour-screen clarity where you're going, without having to turn your head. You can toggle between screens from a variety of different controls. I got stuck on the satnav screen for a long time: it turned out the speedo was there, too; I just wasn't looking in the right place.

On the matter of spending 30 grand on a car? This either puts it outside any definition of normal for you, or you're someone who actually cares whether that makes it a bona fide sports car or just an upmarket hothatch. If you want the driving experience but don't want to look ostentatious, it's not the car for you. But if the ostentation is part of the point, I can't pretend you won't enjoy it.

Price From £29,860 (as tested £34,385)
Top speed 149mph
Acceleration 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds
Combined fuel consumption 64.2mpg
CO₂ emissions 110g/km
Eco rating 8/10
Cool rating 8/10

Car reviews | First drives | Expert road tests by CAR Magazine

Posted: 09 Feb 2015 03:03 AM PST

Reviews from the expert road testers at CAR magazine in the UK. We test vehicles impartially and cover everything from sports and supercars to everyday hatchbacks and family estates. Use our search widget to find the car you're interested in

Sunday 26 April 2015

2015 Ariel Nomad review | Autocar

2015 Ariel Nomad review | Autocar

2015 Ariel Nomad review | Autocar
TYLT VU Wireless Charging Car Mount Review - Phandroid
Grand Theft Auto V on PC review: Rockstar outdoes itself in world ...

2015 Ariel Nomad review | Autocar

Posted: 24 Apr 2015 03:30 AM PDT

What is it?:

Unusual. The Ariel Nomad is belting along an empty and well-sighted, but rough, rutted, lumpy and twisty back road at a speed that would push any hardcore or lightweight sports car off its line and well out of composure. Certainly this pace would prove too much for an Ariel Atom's suspension.

Yet the Nomad's body stays flat and its steering wheel steady, as you watch the 18in front wheels shod with moderate off-road rubber nip gracefully up and down, absorbing everything beneath them.

You're aware this road hasn't even begun to challenge the extremes of what the Nomad can do; I'm starting to think this is an extraordinarily special car. Perhaps even an extraordinarily influential one. The last time I experienced suspension control like this was from the passenger seat of a Mitsubishi Pajero rally raid car.

The Nomad is Ariel's third model – after the Atom we know so well, and the recent Ace motorcycle. Ariel's people hoped to make an all-terrain car while retaining as many Atom parts as possible.

Trouble is, they're fiddlers and perfectionists; most of them ride mountain bikes and scramblers or use serious 4x4s and they can't accept a half-baked job. So all that's actually carried over from the sports roadster is what's around the driver: instrument panel, steering wheel, column and rack, the pedal box and the floor panel. Everything else is new to the Nomad.

Owing to the mechanical layout and those few carried over parts, though, it still feels familiar. Climbing into the Nomad presents you with an Atomish driving position and environment: the exposed tubing and a Honda engine zinging to life behind you, albeit one stroked to 2.4-litres and as used in a CR-V, rather than the Atom's Civic Type-R 2.0-litre.

It still makes a respectable 235bhp at 7200rpm, mind and still drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. Brakes and steering remain unassisted because the Nomad's weight, although up more than 100kg over an Atom, is only 670kg.

There are double wishbones all round with dual-rate springs; softer at the beginning of the Nomad's considerable travel to absorb poor surfaces, then stiffer later on to prevent huge, unwanted body movements.

What's it like?:

Deeply impressive. It's the deftness with which those springs and dampers are set up that makes the Nomad so spectacular. That make it – whisper it – a more appealing road car even than an Atom. More appealing than most driver's cars, up to the level of, say, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS. I'm not joking.

That's also before you've even considered the off-road credentials; ones we'll discover later, when Ariel has built more than one Nomad and can lend us one it doesn't mind it getting caned and stone chipped.

I'm trying to think of another car which behaves similarly to the Nomad but conventional sports SUVs, most pushing two tonnes, are set up too harshly to bear comparison. Ditto sports cars. The Nomad at work feels and looks most like a Stadium Truck racer, or a rally car in Rally Finland spec: absorbing a lump or a bump and preparing itself for the next in one smooth impact. Not too stiff, not too soft. It has Goldilocks suspension.

This softness means there are notable body movements, of the sort that most carmakers try to banish with stiffer springs and even stiffer tyre sidewalls. Ariel embraces them but controls them: accelerate, brake or corner hard and the Nomad will pitch and yaw, but always with perfect composure, to the extent that it feels like the movements are happening in slo-mo.

Approach a corner too fast – ridiculously easy given the chassis' capability – brake firmly and the nose will dip. However, you're quickly aware that what you're doing, quite naturally, is using the transfer to push some weight onto the Yokohama Geolander front tyres, unloading the rears and preparing them all for the work you'll be asking them to do in the bend.

The weight is low and the steering fast and unassisted; as a result, the compliance in the system is not lost to squidge or inaccuracy at the steering wheel. Anything but. All it does is to help telegraph every message about what each end of the car is up to, let you feel every gram as you manipulate it from end to end, corner to corner. The car is going as quickly as you like. The messages are slow, filtered, direct, clear and manageable.

The overall handling balance is as tricky to find on the road as in most sports cars: the Nomad is as capable mid-corner as they come. You get hints of it, however. Turn-in and enter a bend on the throttle, with the front end lightly loaded, and it'll push on; so what you'll want to do is settle the nose by braking on turn-in and getting back on the power to let the rear push the car's attitude into the turn.

It's a ridiculous notion because the Nomad's not designed for it: but I'd love to try this car around the Nurburgring. My suspicion is that it would cut corners, absorb kerbs and shrug its shoulders over crests and dips in a manner that would make the world's watching chassis engineers wonder if this could be a better way. Just like the way that so many motorcycle makers and riders figure that softer, taller bikes are actually more fun and more capable than wrist breaking, plastic-clad race replicas anywhere other than on the smoothest race track.

Nurburgring aside, though, we'll settle, soon, for a long schlep around Millbrook's alpine hill route, before heading, without stopping, onto its off-road and gravel track sections, to uncover more of what this spectacular car can do.

Should I buy one?:

In an instant. Even on this acquaintance, I'm utterly blown away. Hyperbole comes easy these days. "Amazing" is a desperately devalued primetime Saturday night word, but I'm going to use it.

In 18 years of testing cars, fewer than a handful of other cars have amazed me like the Nomad. That Pajero, say. Or, for different reasons, a 997 GT3 RS, Rolls-Royce Phantom or Ferrari F40. Ariel intends to sell around 75 Nomads a year, but I wonder if its significance extends far beyond that. It feels like a landmark car. I adored it. I wanted it. It gets all the stars.

Location Somerset; On sale June; Price £36,023; Engine 4cyls, 2354cc, petrol; Power 235bhp at 7200rpm; Torque 221lb ft at 4300rpm; Gearbox 6-spd manual; Kerbweight 670kg; Top speed 125mph; 0-60mph 3.4sec; Economy 30mpg (est) Co2/tax band tbc

TYLT VU Wireless Charging Car Mount Review - Phandroid

Posted: 25 Apr 2015 12:26 PM PDT

Charging your phone, sometimes multiple times per day, has become a burden that we're all conditioned to do as a normal task. Sure, it's not that cumbersome, but you still need to find your charger, find the cable, and then attempt to plug it in correctly the first attempt – try getting it right the first time in the dark. Wireless charging tends to make life a bit easier in this regard, because it's simple and highly convenient. All you have to do is place your phone on the charging area and watch the juices begin to flow into your device. A company by the name of TYLT, one of the more popular and higher quality wireless charging manufacturers out there, has brought wireless charging to your vehicle via a car mount. This is the TYLT VU Wireless Charging Car Mount review.

Before we get into the actual review of this phone accessory, let's take a look at how I use my Android phone in the car. My current phone is the Nexus 6. With it's ample screen real estate, I sometimes have Google Maps running in the foreground with Google Play Music streaming via Bluetooth to my car's speakers in the background. If I don't need Maps, I'll still have Google Play Music streaming, with my screen set to never turn off, so that I can easily change songs with a simple finger swipe. Recently though, I've been using the AutoMate App, which keeps the screen on as well, shows directions, the current tune playing, my current speed and heading, etc. instead. My point is, my phone is always doing something while I'm safely paying attention to the road of course, and it's always sucking away previous battery life.

I've been using the TYLT VU Wireless Charging Car Mount for a long time. In fact, this review is way overdue by a couple of months. I've been using the mount in my car as a daily charging tool with my near hour long commute to and from work and I've used it on a few long road trips, such as a three hour drive to the Big Android Meat & Greet last month in Alexandria, Virginia.

Part of the reason for the delay in my review is because this is actually my second TYLT VU car mount. The first one I was sent was a pre-production unit. The sticky suction cup, which I'll talk about in a moment, gave me a few issues and the gripping arms on the side were peeling off. That's not the best experience as you can imagine. After letting TYLT know about my issues, they said that I had a pre-production unit, they had never heard of this issue, and would promptly send out a replacement. I'm happy to say that 1) TYLT reviewed the returned unit and did state that it was in fact faulty and 2) the production charger that was sent to me is of the utmost quality and works as intended. If you happen to run into these issues yourself, though they should already be fixed in the production run, but the TYLT VU dock comes with a one year warranty just in case.

Hardware
The TYLT VU Wireless Charging Mount is a little larger and heavier than my previous, non-charging mount, but it's also a TYLT product, so that means build quality is going to be higher than competitors. And that's true. This car mount screams quality from every angle. TYLT-VU-Charger-1

Starting from the bottom, most car docks include a small puck shaped disc and double-sided tape for your mount. This provides your dock with a smooth, flat surface to grip onto and attach to your car's dash. The VU Wireless Charging Car Mount did not include one of these to my surprise. Instead, the VU came with an ultra-sticky suction cup that is supposed to stick to various surfaces and textures with ease. The dash of my wife's Jeep is much smoother and flatter than my Suzuki's dash and the VU had absolutely no problems sticking to either surface for weeks at a time before moving between vehicles. If you happen to get some dust or dirt on the suction cup, a slightly moist cloth can do the trick to get it ready for use again. Also, TYLT states that you can use the suction cup on the windshield, I didn't test that setup in either of my vehicles. And it's also worth mentioning, the above pictured shot does include a disc from a previous mount, though in my testing, I did move the mount around various places before ultimately choosing a location where I already had a disc installed. I didn't want to rip the old disc off of my dash and potentially leave a mark. I guess that's another bonus feature of the TYLT VU, there's no sticky doubled-sided tape to ruin your dash!

The base unit is fairly straight forward. On the back you'll find a lever that allows the suction cup to clamp down on the surface of whatever you're trying to place the mount onto. To release the suction, you can easily press in on the button area provided on the lower back.

As I mentioned above, the TYLT VU is a bit large. At the top of the cone shaped base, you'll find a ball joint that pivots, allowing you to rotate your soon to be attached phone in various ways for your optimal viewing pleasure. The wireless charging pad then attaches onto the ball joint, which can be tightened with a plastic triangular nut. The VU charger won't allow vertical adjustment, which is a bit of a bummer, but does allow for a reasonable amount of horizontal adjustment. I had no problems finding the perfect angle, I just wish the phone or mount wasn't so tall or included an arm to position the wireless charging pad at an equal height or lower than the base itself.

Along the sides of the wireless charging pad you find two rubberized arms for gripping your phone. To clamp down on your device, simply squeeze the arms until your device is secured. I had the most success when I squeezed the arms towards the back.

To release your phone from the mount's grips, press the included button at the top of the wireless charging pad. The arms are spring loaded and will immediately release your phone. The first time I did this my Nexus 6 fell and bounced off of my car's center console. Lesson learned. Since then, every time I press the release button with one hand, I use a second hand to hold my phone, just in case.

At the bottom of the wireless charging pad you'll find a tiny charging port for plugging in the included vehicle adapter. One nice feature about TYLT's offering? Even though the mount is taking up your vehicle's charging port (cigarette lighter socket) the adapter includes a 5V 1.3A USB port so that you can charge another device if need be. Feel free to rub it in while you charge your significant other's device like a barbarian with a cable, while you get to live in the future with Qi charging.

The TYLT VU Wireless Charging Car Mount comes with two adjustable bottom brackets that slide into the bottom of the wireless charging pad. These brackets can be adjusted to accommodate your phone. For example, I had to position the bottom bracket just right so that the side clamp wouldn't press the volume buttons on my Nexus 6. I'm not really sure why two brackets are included as one of them comes with a notch on the side which could be for USB cable management, which really isn't needed, at least in my situation. This might be different if you chose the windshield as a mounting option.

Wireless Charging
If you're not familiar with wireless charging, the simplest explanation is that wireless charging is extremely convenient, but definitely not fastest. You actually sacrifice charging speed for ease of use, the ability to just place your phone on a charging pad and forget about it. Wireless charging generally makes your phone very hot too, which, depending on what school you're from, may not be the best choice for your battery in the long run. When we add larger batteries and rapid charging capabilities like Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0, OPPO's VOOC charging, and Samsung's new quick charging technology to the mix, the argument in favor of slow Qi charging gets a little harder.

For example, I use Qi charging with my Nexus 6 every night. If I need a quick bump during the day, I won't opt for wireless charging, I'll grab my Motorola Rapid Charger every time. What I'm trying to say is that for long, uninterrupted charging sessions, wireless charging is great, but if you need more juice and don't have a whole lot of time, a quick charger is probably going to be the better choice. However, the convenience of a high quality wireless charger in the car is enough for me to really enjoy this charger.

As for device support, TYLT uses a 3-coil Qi technology in their VU Wireless Charging Car Mount allowing for a very long compatibility list, including 6-inch phones. My Nexus 6 fits perfectly, thanks to the large 3.6" wide grip clearance. To find out if your device is supported, you'll want to head on over to the official TYLT VU compatibility guide before purchasing.

The question remains, can the TYLT VU Wireless Charging Car Mount keep my Nexus 6 charged while streaming Google Play Music, using Google Maps, and with the screen set to always-on? The VU won't keep your device topped off at 100%, but it will definitely slow down the rate of battery drain. For example, I was able to drive for 3 and a half hours with everything mentioned in use and only lose 16% of battery. That's pretty good, I'd say. During my daily commutes to and from work, I usually only drop a couple percentage points whereas before I'd drop an easy 10%. A wireless charger definitely helps.

Conclusion
The bottom line is that your phone isn't going to charge as fast as it would with a USB cable and higher amp charger. That's not really the point of wireless charging though. It's about convenience. Before, I only charged my phone in the car if I knew my battery was low or I knew I wouldn't be able to get to a charger later in the day. Picking up a USB cable off of the floor is a major first world problem, but it's one that I opted to only do in dire situations. So, for the lazy and for the convenience seekers, the TYLT VU Wireless Charging Car Mount is a very tempting choice.

You can buy the TYLT VU Wireless Charging Car Mount from directly from TYLT or head on over to Amazon and pick one up today for $79.99 in gray, blue, red, or green. TYLT stands by their high quality products and you generally get what you pay for when it comes to these types of accessories. Other, cheaper options exist on the market right now, but I'd rather take my chances with a company with a proven track record.

If you have any specific questions, let us know in the comments.

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TAGS: Reviews , TYLT , TYLT VU Wireless Charging Mount

Grand Theft Auto V on PC review: Rockstar outdoes itself in world ...

Posted: 16 Apr 2015 04:18 AM PDT

Grand Theft Auto V's characters are colourfully written and acted, but they're frequently overshadowed by their surroundings. Photograph: Rockstar

After multiple delays, Grand Theft Auto V has finally been released on PC – and it was well worth the wait. Rockstar's open-world crime epic was released for last-gen consoles in 2013, and a remastered HD version was released on PS4 and Xbox One in 2014, making this, essentially, the third version of the game. Taking advantage of modern PC hardware, it brings yet more visual improvements, as well as a suite of new features exclusive to the PC version, including the remarkable Rockstar Editor.

It's a tale of three criminals: Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. Michael is a retired bank robber living a life of luxury with his family in witness protection, but who misses the excitement of his old life. Franklin is a streetwise repo man who wants a better life for himself. Trevor is an unhinged meth dealer with a seriously broken moral compass. They're three very different characters, brought together by a shared desire to break as many laws – and make as much money – as possible.

Michael is the most interesting of the three. Grand Theft Auto games typically chart the rise of a criminal, but in Michael we see the bleak hangover of that success. He has a palatial mansion, a luxury car, and all the comforts that wealth brings, but he's also deeply unhappy, spending his days reclining by the pool, drinking whisky, and listening to Phil Collins. But a chance encounter with Franklin, whose career has only just begun, triggers an extreme midlife crisis that sees him returning to a life of crime.

The characters are colourfully written and acted, but they're frequently overshadowed by their surroundings. The game's setting is the fictional state of San Andreas, an analogue of southern California that's several times bigger than GTA IV's Liberty City. To the south lies the city of Los Santos – a satirical reimagining of Los Angeles – and to the north you'll find Blaine County, a rural expanse of desert, mountain and forest. You can traverse this vast space in a broad selection of vehicles, from muscle cars, motorcycles and eighteen-wheelers to jet skis, fighter jets, and speedboats.

It's a wonderfully varied and stunningly beautiful landscape, and the attention to detail is dizzying. Rockstar's world-building is among the best in the business, and this is their greatest work. In the poor, rundown areas of Los Santos, gangs loiter on corners and the searchlights of roving police helicopters hunt suspects through alleyways.

In Vinewood – Rockstar's version of Hollywood – expensive sports cars glint in the sun, tourists pose for pictures, and aspiring actors yap into their phones about auditions. In the countryside you'll be passed by hikers, cyclists, and dog walkers. Extras in costumes wander around movie studio lots and biker gangs roam the desert highways. The sense of place these details evoke is lightyears ahead of other open-world games. This is a product of both Rockstar's keen eye for detail and their limitless budget.

And the fact you can share it with other players makes it all the more exciting. GTA Online is a game in itself, mixing GTA's sandbox chaos with elements of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). You can take part in elaborate, multi-mission bank heists with friends, or just crash around the open-world causing trouble. It's a thrilling online playground with a compelling level progression system and hundreds of missions, including bicycle races, death matches, destruction derbies, and skydiving competitions. There are some problems with lag, but no high-profile PC game is immune from this on launch week.

A wealth of PC graphics options brings San Andreas to life in the most vivid detail yet. There's adjustable tessellation, motion blur, high resolution shadows, and pretty much every setting you would expect from a modern PC game. It has native support for 4K resolutions, although you'll need a powerful GPU to take advantage of this. But it scales impressively, running at 60fps on high-end and medium-spec rigs.

After the disappointing PC version of GTA IV, this is a welcome relief. You'll have to sacrifice some of the finer details, like the gorgeous depth of field effects and ultra high-res textures, but it's entirely possible to play and enjoy GTA V without a super powerful PC. If you have the muscle to run it at max settings, the visual fidelity is astonishing. Driving through the city at night in a storm, neon signs reflecting in the puddles and on the rain-slicked hood of your car, it almost looks photorealistic.

But the real star of the PC version is the Rockstar Editor, an amazingly powerful tool that lets you record in-game footage, edit it, and upload it to YouTube. At any time during play you can start recording. But instead of recording video, it records an in-engine snapshot of your actions, letting you go in later and move the camera, add filters, and implement dozens of other tweaks and effects. Then, using an editing tool that's like a stripped-back version of software like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut, you can string the footage together, add music and text, and then put it online.

Accompanying the editor is Director Mode, which lets you change the weather and time of day in a scene to create a specific mood, as well as selecting virtual actors from a massive list of non-player characters. This gives you total control over your scenes and, combined with the editor, allows you to make virtually any kind of film you can think of. You could create a gritty gangster drama, a horror, a nature documentary, or a David Lynch-esque arthouse film. It transforms the game world into a giant film set, and creative players will be tinkering with it long after they've completed the game.

It's been a long time coming, but Grand Theft Auto V's PC debut is a triumph. It maintains a slick 60fps on even mid-range PCs, with only a few visual compromises. It offers a large number of adjustable options to tailor the game to the strengths, or weaknesses, of your setup. The Rockstar Editor is endlessly entertaining. The online heists are, with friends, some of the most fun you can have in a multiplayer game. The single-player story is an exhilarating series of increasingly absurd missions. And it all takes place in one of the richest, densest, most atmospheric game worlds ever built.

Friday 24 April 2015

On the road: Ford Kuga ? car review | Technology | The Guardian

On the road: Ford Kuga ? car review | Technology | The Guardian

Posted: 17 Apr 2015 10:00 PM PDT

Ford Kuga: 'On distances, it was magnificent.' Photographs: Simon Stuart-Miller for the Guardian

I thought this was called the Ford Cougar. I wanted, no, wait, expected a champagne-coloured convertible that I could lean out of at traffic lights and pick up younger men. In fact, it is a Kuga, and it's the opposite: the definitive family vehicle, sturdy, high off the ground, broad in the beam, four-wheel drive, solid as a rock. I was never going to pick up anyone in this car, figuratively, but plenty of people wanted a lift.

On distances, it was magnificent; it munched up motorways, the engine never happier than giving a burst of effortless speed. The driving posture is upright but cushioned, so that you feel like a grown-up, but one who grew up willingly, wasn't dragged there kicking and screaming. It's the first time I've crossed the Severn Bridge without the beginnings of a panic attack as I plan my next move after getting blown clean off it (I've undone my seat belt before, to aid my underwater escape). This is a very weighty car – it's trying to beef itself up as an SUV proposition. There are loads of downsides – mainly consumption and emissions – but it is a different driving sensation, secure and pampered, as if you could live in it.

The controls are intuitive; it's the first car I've encountered in months whose parking camera actually turns round with your head.

Some decisions you will be called upon to make: turbocharged petrol or diesel (I had petrol, and it was poky), six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic (I had the manual; the gear changes are very smooth, again, fostering the impression in oneself of professionalism and maturity); front- or four-wheel drive (I had front, and it was slick). The steering is so sharp for a car of its bulk that I actually over-steered for the first short while, before I remembered I was in a Ford. They're famous for their precision, but it's such a boring thing to be famous for, nobody ever remembers except for the people who already own them.

It is bit more sports than utility, in that you can feel every bump, but the handling is sharp, so you never feel actively endangered… think of this as the mild turbulence of the driving world. If you were regularly going up country roads, maybe with a horse box or trailer, you might feel as though you'd made a mistake. But if you're going to knacker it like that, you should've bought a Hyundai to start off with.

If you have always wanted a car that, from the outside, makes you look like a Soccer Mom, while from the inside, makes you feel as though you are on a secret mission – to drive, unperturbed, an extremely long way, while actively enjoying it – then this may have been accomplished.

Ford Kuga detail

Price Entry OTR price £25,395 (£28,390 OTR price as tested)
Top speed 121mph
Acceleration 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds
Combined fuel consumption 45.6mpg
CO₂ emissions 143g/km
Eco rating 7/10
Cool rating 6/10

• Follow Zoe on Twitter.

Car reviews | First drives | Expert road tests by CAR Magazine

Posted: 09 Feb 2015 03:03 AM PST

Monday 20 April 2015

Jaguar F-Type AWD Fuel Economy Released

Jaguar F-Type AWD Fuel Economy Released
2016 Mazda MX-5 Pricing Details Announced
Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid Announced
MINI Cooper Recalled Over Airbag Issue
AutoGuide Now For The Week Of April 20
2016 Camaro SS Gains Magnetic Ride Control

Jaguar F-Type AWD Fuel Economy Released

Posted:

Fuel economy ratings have been released for nearly the entire 2016 Jaguar F-Type lineup, including the new all-wheel drive model.

The F-Type R AWD, which is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 mated to an eight-speed automatic, is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, which combine for an average rating of 18 mpg. Those numbers apply to both the coupe and convertible versions of the car.

For rear-wheel drive F-Type R convertible models, fuel economy is pegged at 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, which also combine for an average rating of 18 mpg. Fuel economy numbers for the rear-drive 2016 F-Type R Coupe haven't been released.

As for the F-Type S, which is powered by a 3.0-liter V6, ratings for the AWD model come in at 18 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg combined. Switch to a rear-wheel drive V6-powered model and those numbers climb to 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg combined.

Jaguar also added a manual transmission as an option in the 2016 F-Type but fuel economy numbers are still unreleased.

Discuss this story at our Jaguar F-Type Forum

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Pricing Details Announced

Posted:

Production has now begun on the U.S-bound 2016 Mazda MX-5 and pricing has been announced for the entire lineup.

For the base MX-5 Sport, Mazda will charge $25,735 including delivery charges, which gets you a car equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, a six-speed manual transmission, LED lights, Bluetooth, power door locks, a leather-wrapped shift knob and cruise control. A six-speed automatic is available for an extra $1,075.

Those looking for the most performance from their MX-5 will need to pony up $29,420 for the Club model. Going for the Club trim brings along 17-inch gunmetal alloy wheels, a limited slip differential, Bilstein shocks and shock-tower braces, a revised front air dam, a rear lip spoiler, piano black seat back bars and mirror caps, a seven-inch infotainment screen and a nine speaker BOSE stereo.

A special package can also be added to the Club model adding lightweight BBS wheels, Brembo brakes and functional aerodynamic upgrades.

Finally, the top-trim Grand Touring model will sell for $30,885. That price tag brings along plenty of content, including leather seats, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive headlights, a seven-inch touchscreen and a nine speaker BOSE stereo, all of which is on top of what is offered on the MX-5 Sport as standard equipment.

The first 1,000 MX-5s to be produced will be special Launch Edition models, which will only be available to customers who preregister on a website and are chose to receive the car. Launch Edition models will sell for $31,015 and come with all of the features of the Grand Touring along with keyless entry. Every one of these cars will be finished in soul red with a sport tan leather interior.

Discuss this story at our Mazda MX-5 Forum

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Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid Announced

Posted:

Cadillac has officially announced the plug-in hybrid CT6.

The car will use a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an all-new rear-wheel variable transmission which uses dual electric motors that combine for a total system output of 335 hp and 432 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac claims that the electric setup will allow the car to have "spirited acceleration," while roughly 37 miles of all-electric driving will be available.

Fuel economy numbers have not been announced, with the company saying that the MPGe of the CT6 will be double that of its standard MPG rating. Charge times are also unannounced, though both 120V and 240V charging will be available.

Three different drive modes will be available with the plug-in CT6: normal, hold and sport. Normal offers everyday driving comfort while sport will change up the throttle and steering response to provide more fun. Hold will allow the owner to choose when the car runs on purely electric power. Regenerative brakes will also be fitted to help the CT6 regain some of its expended power while stopping.

The CT6 plug-in hyrbrid will hit the U.S. in the first half of 2016, sometime after the standard non-hybrid CT6 goes on sale.

Discuss this story at our Cadillac CT6 Forum

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MINI Cooper Recalled Over Airbag Issue

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MINI is recalling its older Cooper and Cooper S models for a possible airbag issue.

The British automaker is recalling a total of 91,800 Cooper compacts because of a faulty sensor that could cause the front passenger airbag to not deploy in an accident. The issue appears to be similar to what's currently under investigation with Nissan and Subaru. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the sensor in the detection mat meant to determine whether someone is in the front passenger seat might not be working properly, causing the airbag to not deploy even though there is a front passenger.

Affected models include the 2005-2006 MINI Cooper and Cooper S built between January 5, 2005 and November 28, 2006. Also affected are the 2005-2008 MINI Cooper convertible and Cooper S convertibles manufactured between January 5, 2005 and July 31, 2008. The recall is expected to begin May 1 and according to parent company BMW, it is estimated that 10 percent of the recalled vehicles are actually affected with the issue. There has been reports of an injury possibly connected with the defect.

Discuss this story at our MINI forum

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AutoGuide Now For The Week Of April 20

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Cars cars cars! That's what you come to AutoGuide to read about, so lets get to it, and share what we're driving this week.

2015 Fiat 500 Turbo – Mike Schlee, Road Test Editor: ""The Fiat 500 comes in many, many flavors and this year there is one more, the automatic turbo. By offering an automatic transmission with the turbocharged engine, Fiat hopes to entice more people to the little 500 that want more power, but not the inconvenience of rowing their own gears. What will our general consumer think of it?"

2015 Kia Sorento: ""The Kia Sorento has been one of the better looking mid-size crossovers for some time, but it was a bit too small and lack the polish of some of its main competitors. This year it's undergone a substantial redesign and not only looks even better, but should be a greater package all-around. Is it?"

2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT S: "Sometimes it's rough being an automotive reviewer, this week though, is not one of those times. I'll be heading out to a world famous racetrack to drive AMG's latest sports car around the track, the GT S. Will the AMG GT S drive as good as looks? I have a feeling the answer is yes."

2015 Cadillac ATS-V – Colum Wood, Editor in Chief: "I'm off to drive the closest thing Cadillac makes to a sports car, the ATS-V. And with 464 turbocharged horsepower it's certain to embarrass more than a few fancy European machines. Better yet, I'm driving it at America's Formula 1 track, the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas! Will the V's power seem less than impressive on the massive COTA track, or will the V have me saying "BMW M4 who?"

2015 Infiniti Q70L – Sami Haj-Assaad, Features Editor: "I'm snagging the Q70L this week, which is the largest sedan in Infiniti's lineup. While its 5.6-liter V8 makes 416 hp, it will be interesting to see how it compares to the full-size luxury car that Luke is picking up this week."

2015 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid – Luke Vandezande, Managing Editor: "With 377 HP, the RLX Sport Hybrid is a powerful luxury sedan with a premium interior. A 3.5-liter V6 powers the front wheels with help from one out of a total three electric motors that it comes with. The other two send power to the rear. It starts at about $61,000. Is it worth that much scratch? We're pitting it against the Infiniti Q70L to find out."

J.D. Power Tech Choice Study – Craig Cole, Associate Editor: "This week I'll be attending two local events. The first one is a roundtable discussion with supplier company Continental and the second is an Automotive Press Association luncheon covering J.D. Power's inaugural 2015 U.S. Tech Choice Study. Stay tuned for updates throughout the week."

2015 GMC Canyon Four Cylinder - Stephen Elmer, News Editor - Our long-term GMC Canyon rings in at about $40,000, not an insignificant price tag for a midsize pickup truck. So what is the Canyon like at a cheaper price point? We have a four-cylinder, manual transmission version of the truck this week to find out. Watch for the next update and if you haven't seen the series yet, check it out right here.

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2016 Camaro SS Gains Magnetic Ride Control

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Chevrolet's next Camaro SS will take advantage of performance technology previously reserved for the supercharged ZL1 model.

The company announced today that the car will come with a variety of selectable drive modes including a setting for snow and ice, touring, sport driving, and a track setting reserved for the SS and above. But that won't be the only way the SS improves for the sixth generation. It will also be available with magnetic shocks, a technology that GM only offered on the ZL1 in the fifth-generation Camaro.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Spied

Magnetic shocks will give the new Camaro SS added stiffness for high performance driving with the ability for rapid adaptation in its damping rates to suit its current situation. Similarly, the system will be able to relax for added comfort during less strenuous stints. The suspension has three settings: tour, sport and track. Like pricier versions of the previous Camaro, the new model will come with a dual-mode exhaust system that can open additional flaps to bypass the mufflers during hard acceleration. Drivers will also be able to choose from a variety of exhaust settings including a stealth mode that muffles the 6.2-liter V8 all the way up to a track mode that has the opposite effect.

Discuss this story at our Chevrolet Camaro forum

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Saturday 18 April 2015

2016 BMW 7 Series Will Park Itself With No One in the Car

2016 BMW 7 Series Will Park Itself With No One in the Car
Ford, Chrysler Bidding to Build Mail Trucks
2016 Camaro Production Tail Lights Spied
Finnish Company Reveals 1,300 HP Electric Supercar
Honda S1000 Rumored for Production
2016 Audi A6, A7 Pricing Announced

2016 BMW 7 Series Will Park Itself With No One in the Car

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BMW has released new details on its upcoming next-generation 7 Series sedan including one particularly amazing feature.

The German automaker wants to set a new benchmark for luxury and technology with the 2016 BMW 7 Series model and has revealed that the new sedan will weigh up to 287 lbs lighter than the current model.

The weight savings is made possible thanks to the Carbon Core at the heart of the 7 Series' body structure and is based on technology developed by the company's i sub-brand. According to BMW, the carbon fiber material also helps increase torsional rigidity and strength on the sedan.

BMW also revealed that the new 7 Series will benefit from a turbocharged six-cylinder engine offering while its handling performance will be enhanced with the first electromechanically-driven Dynamic Drive roll stabilization system.

But the biggest news is that the 2016 BMW 7 Series will be the first production car to be able to park itself using a remote control. The remote control option will allow owners to get out of their vehicles and have the 7 Series park itself in extremely tight parking spaces and can tell the vehicle to enter or exit a parking space fully automatically through the BMW Display Key. The technology is still being discussed with regulators in some countries as BMW works on getting it approved in all markets.

Another first for the 2016 BMW 7 Series will be gesture control, the ability for the car's infotainment system to understand gestures and the automaker believes it'll be an industry first. The system uses a 3D sensor to detect hand movements and the gestures can be used for numerous functions including controlling the radio's volume and accepting or rejecting phone calls.

Discuss this story at our BMW forum

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Ford, Chrysler Bidding to Build Mail Trucks

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Two automakers are hoping to build the next-generation of U.S. Postal Service delivery trucks.

Both Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are bidding on producing the new delivery trucks and are among a list of 15 companies that are in the running. The contract will supply the government agency with new delivery trucks, replacing the current fleet that is more than 20 years old. Ford and Fiat Chrysler are competing against various military, mass-transit and specialized transportation companies for the contract and the proposed vehicles will need to last at least 20 years, carry a minimum payload of 1,500 lbs and pass safety and emissions requirements.

The government service is also requiring the next-generation of vehicles to share a similar design but have improved fuel economy and other performance specifications and ergonomics. It will be up to each company to propose a new or modified vehicle, according to Postal Service spokeswoman Sarah Ninivaggi.

The contract would supply up to 180,000 vehicles at $25,000 to $35,000 per vehicle, which totals between $4.5 billion and $6.3 billion. Expect the Postal Service to select companies for prototype models by July with testing starting in September 2016 and selecting the company by January 2017. From there, you'll likely start seeing new postal trucks in 2018.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Discuss this story at our Ford forum

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2016 Camaro Production Tail Lights Spied

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AutoGuide.com's spy photographers just caught the production tail lights for the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro.

The next-generation Chevrolet Camaro will make its official debut May 16 in Detroit and will be based on the American automaker's new Alpha platform that also underpins the Cadillac ATS and CTS. Until now, the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro has been shy on showing off its rear tail lights that appear to be an evolution of the current model's.

Expect the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro to weigh at least 200 lbs lighter than its predecessor and will be powered by the same 6.2-liter V8 it currently uses. Rumor has it that the base-model Camaro will use a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder while the new 3.6-liter V6 used in the Cadillac CT6 will be available as an option. Unfortunately there's another month to go before the next Camaro debuts.

Discuss this story at our Chevrolet Camaro forum

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Finnish Company Reveals 1,300 HP Electric Supercar

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A Finnish automaker has debuted an all-electric supercar.

Named the Toroidion 1MW, the electric supercar was revealed at Top Marques in Monaco and looks to set its sight on toppling the Koenigsegg One:1. According to the company, the all-electric powertrain makes 1,341 hp (1,000 kW) in a two-seat, stylish body. Toroidion also said that the new powertrain is scalable for different applications, suggesting that the Finnish automaker is considering less powerful variants, or even cheaper offerings for the market.

The battery utilized in the system was developed for quick swapping, enabling the car to be used on the track by changing the module in pit lane. In fact, Toroidion noted that the company was established in 2011 with the aim to develop an entirely new electric powertrain "that could be competitive at the Le Mans 24-hour race."

The 1MW will be designed, developed and built in Finland with global launch ambitions. Toroidion hasn't disclosed details as to when it'll head to production, but it looks like the supercar category is heating up to be really competitive.

Discuss this story at our luxury lifestyle forum

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Honda S1000 Rumored for Production

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The Honda S1000 has reportedly been green lit for production.

The all-new Honda S660 was recently launched in Japan and now there are reports that the Japanese automaker has approved a more powerful S1000 model that will be built and exported to other markets. The company has hinted numerous times that a S1000 was in the plans and it appears that it will be powered by a 1.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder VTEC engine with well over 100 hp. According to a Motoring source, Honda's new three-cylinder turbo engines are "so hi-tech that without even trying they pump out roughly 60kW (80 hp)."

That's not all, as rumors suggest that Honda is planning a S660 Type R model that will take its current powerplant and push it to around 100 hp. Unfortunately don't expect the hotter model to make an appearance until mid-to-late 2016 and even then, it isn't likely to come to the U.S. Now if a S1000 makes it to North America then there might be a reason to get excited.

[Source: Motoring]

Discuss this story at our Honda forum

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2016 Audi A6, A7 Pricing Announced

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Pricing on the 2016 Audi A6 and A7 models has been announced.

The 2016 Audi A6 2.0T FWD S Tronic will have a starting price of $47,125 including destination while Quattro all-wheel drive models will run $2,200 more. Those looking for more power can opt for the A6 3.0T, which comes standard with Quattro all-wheel drive and is priced from $58,325. A6 diesel shoppers will have to pay at least $60,425 and the range-topping S6 4.0T Quattro S Tronic will start from $71,825.

As for the A7, Audi has announced that the A7 3.0T Quattro Tiptronic will be priced from $67,375. The A7 TDI diesel variant will have a price tag of $71,325 while the S7 4.0T is $83,825. If the S7's performance isn't enough for you, the 2016 RS 7 will start at $109,825.

The Audi 2.0 TFSI engine provides 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque in the A6 while the 3.0 TFSI is good for 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque in both the A6 and A7 models. Both the S6 and S7 models see a performance bump of 30 hp to a total of 450 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque while the RS 7 has an impressive 506 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.

Discuss this story at our Audi forum

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Car Reviews

Wednesday 29 April 2015