AUTOS
-Ford’s push for its EcoBoost agenda—the one where turbocharged, small-displacement engines can supposedly replace larger, naturally aspirated engines with improved fuel economy and no impact on power—turned to a shove when it added a turbo four-cylinder to the new Mustang’s engine lineup. A turbo four in America’s pony car, dadgummit?! The experiment worked out okay in the Mustang coupe, at least according to our instrumented testing, but the 133-pounds-heavier Mustang
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– FCA has announced a recall of four-cylinder-powered Dodge Journeys and (Euro-twin) Fiat Freemonts due to a potential engine-fire risk due to loosely attached engine covers. – Discovered in Chile—where apparently, drivers actually do take their utelets off-road—excessive shaking can knock the engine cover loose and onto the exhaust. None of the three reported Chilean engine-compartment conflagrations resulted in death, though FCA reports one injury “described as minor.” – A
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– It’s no secret that Porsche is planning to build a smaller-than-Panamera sedan-ish thing to compete with the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-class, and Jaguar XF, among others, although the plans for actually when Porsche plans to launch that car, nicknamed “Pajun” (PA-namera JUN-ior, get it?) are as clear as mud. But a report in the French L’Automobile Magazine avers that the car will make its first appearance in hatchback form
– It’s no secret that Porsche is planning to build a smaller-than-Panamera sedan-ish thing to compete with the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-class, and Jaguar XF, among others, although the plans for actually when Porsche plans to launch that car, nicknamed “Pajun” (PA-namera JUN-ior, get it?) are as clear as mud. But a report in the French L’Automobile Magazine avers that the car will make its first appearance in hatchback form
– The University of Michigan has just opened the country’s first test track for connected and automated vehicles, or what really is the first fake American town outside of Celebration, Florida. – – The 32-acre Mcity, a $10 million project funded in part by the Department of Transportation, is now available to any automaker, supplier, or organization that wants a huge, confined, and highly realistic place to mess around with
– The University of Michigan has just opened the country’s first test track for connected and automated vehicles, or what really is the first fake American town outside of Celebration, Florida. – – The 32-acre Mcity, a $10 million project funded in part by the Department of Transportation, is now available to any automaker, supplier, or organization that wants a huge, confined, and highly realistic place to mess around with
– We’re not changing our name to Lego and Driver—although we’d be all for starting a sister publication—but it is true that Lego has been stepping up its automotive game as of late. The world’s most powerful brand has released incredibly realistic kits of everything from a classic Ferrari F40 to a Mini Cooper, a Volkswagen T1 Camper van, and even a Mercedes Unimog. There’s now another Mercedes-Benz product in Lego’s
