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Friday, October 23, 2020

What You Missed | Your Autoblog Daily Digest for October 23, 2020

Oct 23, 2020

Top Stories of the Day

2021 Ford Bronco: Here are the top features 190,000 reservation holders want

We knew the 2021 Ford Bronco was going to be a hot SUV based on interest in the vehicle, the sharp retro styling and the impressive feature set. Exactly how hot was the question, and we have a much better idea of that now that Ford has revealed the n…

2020 Porsche 718 Cayman T Road Test | A taste of the GTS

I slip out of the house under the cover of darkness. It feels like a getaway. In reality it's a midweek errand, though the distilled driving dynamics of the 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman T lend the air of an escape. It's mentally freeing to drive a sports …

Ram 1500 TRX fuel economy figures are out — and economy isn't the right word

Ram published many statistics when it introduced the 1500 TRX, but one part of the puzzle was missing: fuel economy. It finally released those figures, and they confirm that supercar-like power brings supercar-like thirst. Driven with a light right …

GMC shows how the 2022 Hummer could have looked even more futuristic

Excitement filled the room when GMC asked its designers to resurrect the Hummer in April 2019, but a tinge of uneasiness permeated the department after executives locked in an early 2020 unveiling date. Luckily, stylists knew what they wanted early o…

2021 Mini Cooper 1499 GT adds sporty, retro attitude to the three-cylinder Mini

When you think of sporty Minis, you probably think of the Mini Cooper S and John Cooper Works models with their (relatively) large turbo four-cylinder engines. But with the 2021 Mini Cooper 1499 GT special edition , Mini is trying to bring a dash of s…

Dodge says three new variants of the Charger and Challenger are on their way

Introduced in 2008, the current Dodge Challenger is one of the oldest new cars on the American market. It's not ready to retire, and documents published by Canadian union Unifor confirm it will remain in production until at least 2023. Better yet, th…

2021 Jaguar E-Pace spied on the Nurburgring hiding its styling changes

We just spied a Jaguar E-Pace lapping the Nürburgring covered in camouflage from front to back. Jaguar released the first E-Pace as a 2018 model year , so we're fast approaching what will be the model's first light refresh. Things don't appear to be …

Brabus turns AMG GT 63 S into a wide-bodied, 900-horsepower Rocket

With a 3.1-second zero-to-60-mph time, the GT 63 S is one of the quickest members of the Mercedes-AMG lineup. German tuner Brabus saw room for improvement, so it added the sedan to its Rocket range of supercars by making it considerably more powerful…

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe aces its crash tests, but it's not a Top Safety Pick

The 2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe , the brand's smallest four-door model, performed well in a series of crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) but missed earning a Top Safety Pick award due to its headlights. The 2 …

Tesla releases Full Self Driving Beta as regulators watch closely

The U.S. auto safety regulator on Thursday said it was closely watching Tesla's release of a software version intended to allow its cars to drive themselves, saying it stood ready to protect the public against safety risks. Tesla on Tuesday night re…

Thursday, October 22, 2020

What You Missed | Your Autoblog Daily Digest for October 22, 2020

Oct 22, 2020

Top Stories of the Day

The Hummer EV Edition 1 is sold out and it'll be years before other trims arrive

When the 2022 GMC Hummer EV was revealed , GMC noted that there would be lower trims available. The company has since provided a few more details on those lower trims, which is helpful to know now that the only trim on sale next year, the Edition 1, w…

2022 GMC Hummer EV dimensions, clearances and off-road features explained

There are two things that almost everyone immediately thinks of when they hear the word "Hummer." And they are size and off-road capability. Looking at the numbers on the 2022 GMC Hummer EV , it seems the electric pickup has literal truck loads of eac…

2020 Polestar 1 Road Test | A humble suggestion

"Wow, what a stunner!" That was my first thought when I saw the Polestar 1 in my driveway. Its chunky grille, sleek proportions, big, glossy black wheels over gold brakes, and broody Midnight Blue paint evoke an automotive emotion adjacent to lust. …

2021 Toyota Corolla Apex First Drive | Not the pinnacle of cheap performance

Toyota has had something of a performance car revival over the past few years. It has released the Toyota 86 and Supra sports cars, and has even developed TRD versions of the Camry and Avalon . Things are even more exciting overseas with the wild, tur…

Mercedes-Benz SUVs recalled: Backlit grille logo can turn off the power steering

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 12,799 units of the GLE and the GLS equipped with a backlit star on the grille. It noticed a problem with one of the wiring loom's grounds can deactivate key functions, like the power steering. Sold as a $500 option, the i…

Ford Bronco Wildland Fire Rig Concept is a classy, functional tribute to Forest Service trucks

For decades, Ford has offered Broncos in emergency vehicle form for all variety of services. One of the more well-known ones has been the U.S. Forest Service with their distinct green SUVs. With that in mind the company, along with outdoor gear manuf…

Your Bentley interior can literally rock with stone trim

The ultra-luxury car market has been moving in the direction of ever more customization to provide buyers the most unique products possible. The latest move comes from Bentley and its Mulliner division, which has added some special interior trims to …

Torsus builds a monster-truck school bus even adults will want to ride in

Riding in a yellow school bus is part of growing up for many Americans, but it's an experience most of us are happy to leave behind the minute we get a driver's license. Czech Republic-based firm Torsus has unveiled a giant bus named Praetorian that …

De Tomaso claims it's moving to America so we can relearn how to design cars

De Tomaso is a truly international carmaker. It was founded by an Argentinian racing driver, it's ostensibly based in Italy, and it's owned by a Hong Kong-based group of investors. Now, it has announced the next leap in its geographical game of hopsc…

Here are 12 electric pickups in the works

With the unveiling of the GMC Hummer EV, the list of planned electric pickups is expanding. Legacy automakers like Ford and Chevy have theirs coming, as do startups like Tesla, Rivian and Bollinger, as well as some lesser known brands. Here are all t…

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

What You Missed | Your Autoblog Daily Digest for October 21, 2020

Oct 21, 2020

Top Stories of the Day

GMC Hummer EV revealed as a 1,000-hp, 350-mile, fast-charging beast

The 2022 GMC Hummer EV has finally been revealed, and it certainly looks the part. It has chunky, squared-off styling, big tires pushed to the edges, and a towering fascia. But it's not a case of form over function. On the contrary, the Hummer EV is …

3 Quick Takes on the new Hummer EV

The 2022 GMC Hummer EV truck debuted Tuesday with 1,000 horsepower and up to 350 miles of range. It marks the return of the Hummer name after a decade-long absence and is the most ambitious electric vehicle General Motors has attempted. Here are thre…

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge priced at $54,985

The final piece of the puzzle for the 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is falling into place today, two weeks after official EPA range information became available . Volvo just announced pricing, and it's going to start at $54,985, including the $995 destinat…

Meet the man who owns the fastest car in the world

Dr. Larry Caplin is shown here with the SSC team. He's wearing the sport coat, at far left. Standing next to him is Jerod Shelby. Now that the SSC Tuatara has snagged the top speed record at 316 mph, it's time for other festivities. The owne…

Los Angeles-area driver being chased by police stops to get gas

Broadly speaking, drivers running away from the police ditch their getaway car and continue on foot when they run out of gas. Los Angeles-area residents witnessed a rare exception to this rule when a man wanted in a theft pulled into a Chevron statio…

Ranking full-size pickup trucks by the size of their discounts

Each and every month, full-size pickup trucks dominate the new-car sales reports in America. It's been that way for years — the Ford F-Series has been America's best-selling vehicle for 38 consecutive years — and it's not going to change any time soo…

2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Handling Package priced, now available with an automatic

While the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is an impressive performance car in base form, it becomes even more so with the goodies included in the optional Handling Package . And now we know the pricing, as well as the fact that it won't be restricted to the …

The 2021 Nissan Rogue has fake roof rails

I'm in the process of reviewing the new Yakima CBX Solar roof carrier. I've mounted it to a Subaru Outback and my own Audi Allroad , while a new Subaru Crosstrek Sport will be next. Alas, the 2021 Nissan Rogue SV currently in my driveway won't get the…

Tesla acknowledges issue where Model 3 bumpers fall off in rain

One of the Tesla Model 3's more prominent design flaws is a rear bumper cover that is prone to being stripped from the car when water is allowed to accumulate inside it, either from standing water or intense downpours. Owners of brand-new Model 3s ha…

Remember all these short-lived weirdo truck things from the 2000s?

Something is going to happen tonight that most of us who cover the automotive industry would've thought impossible. Or insane. Just in time for Halloween, the Hummer is rising from the grave. While it will be making its return in a way that's certain…

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

What You Missed | Your Autoblog Daily Digest for October 20, 2020

Oct 20, 2020

Top Stories of the Day

With fastest-car bragging rights secured, SSC turns to expanding its lineup

Washington-based SSC snagged the top-speed record from Bugatti , but it's not planning to rest on its laurels. It confirmed it will expand its lineup with a supercar that's cheaper and less powerful than the Tuatara. Speaking to Motor Authority , comp…

2020 BMW X6 M Competition Road Test | Not everything makes sense

The 2020 BMW X6 M Competition in this purple Ametrin Metallic paint is a flex . It's arrogant, nonsensical, ostentatious and oh-so-fun to drive. I was in a constant battle with my senses the whole week this car sat in the driveway. On top of being le…

2022 Genesis G70 comes into clearer view, adds a 'drift mode'

More information on the 2022 Genesis G70 is trickling out today. Genesis detailed the car in Korea, offering up more photos of the redesigned sedan, along with engine and feature updates. We'll note that Genesis still puts an asterisk at the end of t…

2021 Hyundai Palisade Review | Well-rounded excellence

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade is such a well-rounded and well-executed three-row crossover that the only thing preventing it from being declared a runaway best-in-class choice is that the mechanically related Kia Telluride manages to check off the exact …

2021 Ford Bronco Sport wins its class in the 2020 Rebelle Rally

Ford's new 2021 Bronco Sport proved its mettle off the beaten path before tackling the trials and tribulations of suburban commuting. Although it's not in showrooms yet, it won first place in its category in the 2020 Rebelle Rally. Organizers split …

Bugatti's next new model looks part spaceship, part hypercar

2020 has been a busy year for Bugatti. It unveiled the Pur Sport variant of the Chiron, it began building the Divo , and it dusted off some of the fascinating prototypes it canceled in the 2010s . It has at least one more surprise up its sleeve, and it…

Tesla just slashed its warranty for used vehicles

The prospect of buying a used vehicle from Tesla just became a less appealing option. The electric car manufacturer quietly updated its website with new warranty terms for used Model S sedans and Model X crossovers, and the updates do not fall in the…

Maybach-branded GLS becomes Mercedes-Benz's most expensive SUV

Mercedes-Maybach's first series-produced entry into the SUV segment lives up to the emblem on its grille in terms of content and, as it turns out, in terms of pricing. When it arrives in showrooms later in 2020, the GLS 600 will stand proud as Merced…

More 2021 Porsche Panamera variants are updated, including top dog Turbo S E-Hybrid

More updated 2021 Porsche Panamera variants are here to add to the already long list of available models. We highlighted the initial lineup of 2021 models in our original reveal post here . We've been behind the wheel of the new Turbo S trim already, …

2021 New York International Auto Show moved to August

The 2021 New York International Auto Show will be held in August, rather than April, organizers announced Tuesday, adding yet another move to the seemingly endless leapfrogging of American auto shows in 2020 and 2021. Next year's American show seas…