AUTOS
– Jaguar’s recent announcements of an all-new aluminum vehicle architecture and next-generation Ingenium engines are good, product-driven steps toward expanding the brand’s sales—look no further than the much-needed 2016 XE compact sports sedan and the equally fresh 2016 XF. The thing is, Jaguar’s platform and engine discussions lack any mention of the company’s ultra-hot F-type sports car or the full-size XJ luxury sedan. Thankfully, Jaguar-Land Rover North America’s CEO, Joe
– Excited for a remake of Volkswagen’s original Microbus? Stay that way—and keep waiting, because that project is still bobbing around in the ether. In the meantime, check out another VW van you also can’t have: the latest Transporter. Now entering its sixth generation in 65 years, the Transporter descends from the original VW Type 2, but the model has long since abandoned any whiff of retro. Instead, Volkswagen is bragging about how
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– It’s no secret that older Land Rover products sometimes suffer from what we’ll call—with near-British understatement—occasional reliability issues. It’s a point that’s been officially acknowledged by the company itself with the launch of the new Land Rover Heritage Division, which is intended to help owners look after some of the brand’s older products. – Land Rover Heritage is basically a sister organization to the Jaguar Heritage division that was
-Good news for Maryland: The state’s General Assembly voted this week to allow Tesla to sell its electric vehicles directly to customers at up to four facilities in the state. The last-minute legislation reverses a former ban that made it illegal for Tesla employees to place reservations, discuss pricing, or even offer test drives to potential customers. – Like Texas, Arizona, and New Jersey, the state of Maryland previously only
– You already know the 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 is built to be a track-day beast. With its magnetorheological suspension, flat-crank 5.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8, and focus on lightness, it’s gonna be a screamer. – Now, to whet your appetite, watch Ford vehicle dynamics development engineer Dave Harmison and crew flogging some early examples of the new ultimate Mustang at Virginia International Raceway. – – – Springtime in Michigan: the
-Buying a Ferrari can be a hassle. It’s not like the prancing horse has dealerships in every one-horse town, and inventories of the six-figure supercars are notoriously slim. – Virtual reality to the rescue. – Yes, Ferrari is equipping its dealers with virtual reality-powered tablets that can scan the cars on the showroom floor and show them in any configuration you desire. On the tablet, you can virtually swap paint
– Cadillac’s ELR is a luxurious, hyper-attractive car that just so happens to be a plug-in hybrid that can silently hum around on electric power alone for up to 39 miles at a time. At least, that’s the conclusion we’ve reached, having covered it extensively and tested one. That’s not exactly what John Q. Public seems to think, however, as evidenced by Cadillac’s ELR sales woes. Eager to try and
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– Cadillac and Barrett-Jackson are teaming up to support cancer research this Friday in Palm Beach, Florida, where the first production CT6 is being auctioned for charity. The CT6, the flagship Caddy aimed at Audi A8 and Lexus LS buyers, should bring a welcome donation to Detroit’s Karmanos Cancer Institute months before the executive sedan goes on sale. Here’s hoping someone spends Maybach money on this thing. – The Palm
