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Thursday, July 2, 2020

What You Missed | Your Autoblog Daily Digest for July 2, 2020

Jul 02, 2020

Top Stories of the Day

2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is here to be the king of all SUVs

This was inevitable, right? The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat has arrived, and Dodge hasn't held anything back. FCA has essentially taken its lovely Hellcat engine and dumped it into the largest SUV it sells. Cheers to that. Power from the 6.2-lite…

2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody: Bring your friends on a 797-hp thrill ride

For a couple years now, if you wanted the ultimate in Dodge performance, your only option was the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye . The 797-horsepower engine was exclusive to it and its widened body, and if you needed four-doors, you were out of l…

2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock is as close as you can get to a new Demon

Although the Dodge Demon was an exclusive, one-year-only muscle car, Dodge has found ways of getting bits of that car to more people. First there was the Hellcat Redeye , that got a detuned version of the Demon engine, down from 840 horsepower to 797.…

FCA axes Dodge Journey and Grand Caravan for 2021

FCA confirmed this week that Dodge will end production of both the Grand Caravan and the Journey after the 2020 model year, leaving the brand without a front-wheel drive crossover for the first time since 2008, and without a minivan for the first tim…

BMW could make features like heated seats, adaptive cruise into subscription-based add-ons

BMW just announced a couple different tech initiatives. One is a software update for iDrive 7.0 that will be sent out wirelessly to BMWs equipped with that infotainment software. The second is an expansion of its ConnectedDrive Store, and it's this s…

2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 First Drive | Whoosh, bang, bang

Let's say you've got $75,000 to spend, an open mind and find yourself in the AMG section of your local Mercedes-Benz dealer. Just go with it. The obvious answer is a well-equipped AMG C 63 . It has a twin-turbo V8, it's rear-drive based and looks at h…

Ford Bronco reservations announced, gets some Disney magic for big reveal

After several delays, Ford will introduce the first Bronco in nearly a quarter of a century on July 13. In addition to releasing a preview image, the company announced a reservation program for enthusiasts who want to secure an early build spot, and …

The gear you'll want on a road trip to our national parks

With some states still closed off and international travel still a bit risky, 2020 will end up being the summer of the road trip. Every summer growing up, my family hopped in whatever Ford SUV we happened to own at the time and drove around the count…

2020 Toyota Camry Luggage Test | Don't write off sedans yet

When it comes to packing in luggage, I've discovered time and again that compact SUVs are rarely better than the midsize family sedans they've been supplanting in the driveways of so many Americans. There are further pros in the column for sedans, an…

Tesla blows away vehicle delivery estimates for second quarter

DETROIT (AP) — Tesla says it delivered more electric vehicles worldwide in the second quarter than it did in the first. The increase came even though coronavirus restrictions forced it to shut down its only U.S. factory for much of the period. The c…

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

What You Missed | Your Autoblog Daily Digest for July 1, 2020

Jul 01, 2020

Top Stories of the Day

Put the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E in your own driveway via extended reality

Production of the much-anticipated Mustang Mach-E electric crossover has been delayed a bit by the coronavirus pandemic, but thanks to XR we don't have to wait to see what Ford's newest pony will look like in our driveways. Open this article on your …

2021 Kia K5 is a Stinger-inspired midsize sedan

Love the idea of the rear-wheel-drive Kia Stinger but just can't swing the price tag? The 2021 Kia K5 promises to be the next-best thing, while also delivering the practicality and comfort expected of a modern midsize sedan. "K5" has been the name …

2020 Toyota RAV4 Interior Driveway Test | More practical than it appears

The latest Toyota RAV4 was designed and engineered to be more evocative of an SUV. Part of that can be seen inside, where there is less of an uber-practical parent-mobile vibe. The center console is higher and there are rugged-ish rubber surfaces on …

2021 BMW M3 and M4 Prototype First Drive | Big thrills, big grilles

ZWICKAU, Germany – We tried everywhere: Peek under the hood and under the big front mask, even scroll through the infotainment system. But alas, confirmation was nowhere to be found: We wanted to confirm the rumor that the next-gen BMW M3 and M4 woul…

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid engines detailed, impressive output revealed

Although the significantly refreshed 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe was revealed last month , the company left out a number of details concerning how it would change mechanically. This month, Hyundai has revealed details on the conventional and plug-in hybrid …

England-based AC brings back the Cobra with electric or Mustang power

England-based AC is bringing back the Cobra to capitalize on the growing demand for resto-modded classics. Although the roadster is more commonly associated with Carroll Shelby , it traces its roots to a British design. The modern-day Cobra looks jus…

Ineos Grenadier has been revealed — the spirit of Defender reborn

For some time now, as we awaited the reveal of the new Land Rover Defender, we knew that something similar was cooking that sounded even more deeply grounded in the Defender tradition: the Ineos Projekt Grenadier . We've gotten a peek at its rugged fr…

2020 Chevy Blazer LT AWD Suspension Deep Dive

The original 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer had a mission: take sales away from the already-established Ford Bronco. The Blazer's claim to fame was that it was a shortened full-size pickup with a removable roof, a concept that made it cheaper to produce, m…

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan updated with new styling, fresh tech and more R-Line

Wondering about the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan? Well, wonder no more, because VW has revealed its secrets. The 2021 Tiguan hasn't even been detailed by Volkswagen yet, but since Europe is getting the refreshed Tiguan now (hitting dealers next month), VW …

2020 Ferrari F8 Spider First Drive | Al fresco driving without compromise

LOS ANGELES — Humanity may be hermetically sealed off by facemasks and lockdowns, but the 2020 Ferrari F8 Spider is ferociously gulping gallons of atmosphere into the cabin as I dice through Malibu's canyon roads. At least the al fresco exotic can bu…

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

What You Missed | Your Autoblog Daily Digest for June 30, 2020

Jun 30, 2020

Top Stories of the Day

Ford Ranger gets an available power bump from Ford Performance

Ford announced Tuesday that it will offer a series of off-road packages for any four-wheel-drive Ranger pickup, care of the Ford Performance division, providing escalating bundles of features that should get the attention of performance-minded truck …

Bentley Bentayga gets its first big update with new design and improved tech

The 2021 Bentley Bentayga is subject to the model's first significant refresh since the ultra-luxe SUV was introduced for the 2016 model year . In the meantime, Bentley has rolled through a few variants, but now we're getting design changes, tech enha…

2020 Bentley Flying Spur First Edition Road Test | $280,000 worth of drama-free splash

After reading Brett Berk's First Drive review of the Bentley Flying Spur , I was intrigued. Not by the author's propensity for shedding clothing (though that sure is … something), but by some of the car's numbers and its drivetrain features. Figures s…

Barrett-Jackson is selling the first Fisher-bodied Chevrolet Camaro

Barrett-Jackson is giving Chevrolet enthusiasts the opportunity to own the first Fisher-bodied, Los Angeles-built Camaro. Made in 1966, it was treated to a complete restoration and it looks as good as it did when it was new. Although the Camaro went…

Ineos teases Projekt Grenadier SUV just before July 1 debut

Remember, Ineos CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe wanted to buy Land Rover's tooling for the old Defender when the legendary 70-year-old do-it-all truck ceased production in 2016, but Land Rover turned Ratcliffe down. So as you do, Ratcliffe formed Ineos Automot…

Land Rover details construction-site-friendly Defender Hard Top

Land Rover hopes to mute the critics who claim moving the Defender upmarket alienates commercial users by launching an entry-level model named Hard Top. It's a cheaper, relatively basic variant of the SUV designed to feel more comfortable taking work…

Hennessey announces performance, off-road upgrades for the 2021 Ford Bronco

Aftermarket companies are just as eager to get their hands on the new Ford Bronco as off-roading enthusiasts. American tuner Hennessey has already announced plans to offer a catalog of parts for the upcoming SUV. If Hennessey knows more about the ho…

Ford Mustang Mach-E orders open — and performance specs get a boost

Ford says it's nudging performance specs upward on the Mustang Mach-E after more testing and development work, as it opens order books for its highly anticipated all-electric crossover . The upgraded specs apply to both standard- and extended-range m…

2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo Road Test | Finding joy

There is a Ferrari F8 Tributo sitting in my driveway, casting the unmistakable silhouette of a mid-engine supercar. There's no mistaking the lightness of a hood, nor the fecund swell of the aft. This is no ordinary car. Not to frame everything aroun…

Lamborghini yacht by Tecnomar is 4,000-hp tribute to the Lambo Sián FKP 37

Lamborghini is no stranger to the boating industry, it developed a pair of marine engines in the 1980s, but it has never made its own boat. It took a step toward the world of yachts when it teamed with Italian firm Tecnomar to design a high-performan…

Monday, June 29, 2020

What You Missed | Your Autoblog Daily Digest for June 29, 2020

Jun 29, 2020

Top Stories of the Day

2021 Audi Q5 gets more power, new look, and better technology

Audi updated the Q5, its best-selling model in the United States, with a redesigned front end, more power, and new available rear lights that use technology television fans will be familiar with. It's due out later in 2020. Stylists tweaked the Q5's…

GM Defense wins $214M U.S. Army contract for Infantry Squad Vehicle

In 2003, General Motors sold its defense division to General Dynamics. In 2017, seeing renewed opportunity to put its commercial innovations to military use — and with the military newly keen on using commercial technology for military purposes — GM …

Consumer Reports lists the cars most likely to blow a head gasket (or two)

Cars that suffer from chronic head gasket problems are astonishingly expensive to keep running. Consumer Reports has put together a list of the worst offenders by analyzing data from its Annual Autos Survey. There are four Subaru models on the list, …

2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo Road Test | Finding joy

2021 Jeep Wrangler supposedly ditching 2.0L eTorque

Last year, Jeep made a few changes to the powertrain options that appeared focused on encouraging greater adoption of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo. Instead of charging for the four-cylinder engine option and the obligatory eight-speed automatic …

2021 Cadillac XT6 adds 2.0-liter turbo and new base trim in second year

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 has been announced, and the three-row crossover is going through a few notable changes in its second model year. There's a new base trim and base engine, and Cadillac has added tech features to improve the experience. Starting …

Nissan Ariya electric crossover will be unveiled July 15

Nissan plans to reveal its Ariya electric crossover on July 15 and debut it in Japan before offering it in other markets including the U.S. The announcement, reported by Automotive News , came at Nissan's contentious annual shareholders meeting in Tok…

2021 Subaru Ascent Review | One for the faithful

The 2021 Subaru Ascent doesn't really stand above and beyond the crowded field of three-row family crossovers. There are those that make a bolder statement outside, that are more luxurious inside and that are better to drive. Some are even more spaci…

2022 Mini Hardtop spied with bigger grille

The current generation of Mini Hardtop and Convertible has been around since 2014, so it doesn't come as a big surprise that one of our spy photographers spotted a group of test cars sporting refreshed styling. These cars were all Mini Cooper S or Mi…

Nikola Badger pre-orders open today, and the FCEV pickup comes with a water fountain

The next step toward the Nikola Badger pickup eventually making a home on public roads happens today, with pre-orders officially open. Badger-intenders can take advantage of one of three pre-order levels from $250 to $5,000, all of which sweeten the …