Autos
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Where Was the GT-R In Nissan’s New Product Blitz Hype Video?
It is not unreasonable to assume that, given the GT-R’s absence from Nissan’s high-profile roundup of upcoming products, that it might be on the chopping block. So, we reached out to Nissan for comment on the twin-turbo, giant-killing GT-R sports car’s future, and whether it will survive to join the automaker’s gaggle of new products. Here’s what we got in response: “Other than what appears in the video, we have no additional information to share at this time. GT-R is and remains an important part of our brand and DNA however nothing to share at this time beyond the 2020 Model Year.” That video covers everything Nissan is going to update until the 2023 fiscal year, we’re told, which leaves two possibilities for the GT-R’s place in the a...
Mark Your Calendars: The 2021 Ford F-150 Debuts on June 25
We haven’t seen many major new-vehicle reveals this year for obvious reasons, but a very big one is coming next month. On June 25, Ford will drop the covers on the next-generation F-150 pickup. Mike Levine, Ford’s North America product communications manager, shared the news on Twitter earlier today. We already know a lot about the 2021 Ford F-150, though. For one, the new truck will adopt design cues from the recently refreshed Ford F-Series Super Duty, as such expect the full-size F-150’s grille, hood, and lights to sport an appearance that mimics that of the bigger Blue Oval pickups. We also know the upcoming F-150 will sit on a new frame that supports a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. It’s likely the F-150’s hybrid variant won’t be ready...
2021 Acura TLX and TLX Type S vs. Audi A4 and S4: Sports Sedan Showdown
We have long appreciated the Acura TLX for its competitive pricing, ample standard safety features, and athletic A-Spec variant. But these traits haven’t been enough to place the sedan at the top of our wish list. For the 2021 model year, the redesigned TLX receives fresh new looks, new underpinnings, and a set of potent engines to help it better compete with rivals. One of our favorite players in the segment is the Audi A4, whose strong value proposition, sophisticated styling, and quick acceleration are sure to give the new TLX a run for its money. Find out how the two sports sedans stack up in this specs comparison, which sees the four- and six-cylinder Acura TLX and TLX Type S challenger the Audi A4 and S4. See all 110 photos 2021 Acura TLX and TLX Type S vs. Audi A4 and S4: Whic...
The Upcoming Nissan Z Car Has a Lot of 1999 240Z Concept Going On
The Nissan 370Z, like many models in the company’s range, isn’t just aging—it’s old. But it’s a credit to its sharklike sheetmetal that it still looks reasonably fresh after a dozen years on sale. The brand new, upcoming Nissan Z—which the company just teased in a video—has the delicate job of reigniting enthusiast interest after its predecessor’s very, very long run. This is a place that the Z car has been before. And at every important juncture, Nissan’s come up with a different way to reinterpret the original concept. This time, however, it appears the automaker looked back to 1999. Wait, huh? Let us explain. See all 55 photos Look at the teaser image of the new Z car Nissan just revealed. It appears almost retro, at least in its basic fastback shape,...
Acura’s Type S Sub-Brand Returns After a Decade-Plus of Dormancy
The Type S name is making its return with the 2021 Acura TLX. We’ve known for quite some time that the second-generation TLX would get a hotter version bearing the brand’s iconic Type S nomenclature. But the Type S name has a longer history than you might imagine, and we’re taking a look at the Type S models that came before the 2021 TLX. 2001-2003 Acura CL Type S See all 69 photos Believe it or not, the Type S name is nearly two decades old. The mark was first applied to the 2001 Acura CL, and it brought a comprehensive list of upgrades to the coupe. Power from the car’s 3.2-liter V-6 (which—no surprise—included the brand’s VTEC variable valve timing tech) rose from 225 to 260 horses. Additionally, the CL Type S boasted other sporty bits such as bigger wheels...
What’s a Nivus? Volkswagen Debuts Stylish, Coupe-Like Small Crossover
Volkswagen doesn’t offer the T-Roc or T-Cross here in the U.S., and now it’s debuting another stylish small crossover that will likely remain forbidden fruit on our shores. The Volkswagen Nivus will launch soon in Brazil and other markets in South America. Measuring 168 inches in length, the Nivus about the same size as subcompact crossovers we’re familiar with, like the Nissan Kicks. It’s about 17 inches shorter than the Tiguan, the smallest crossover VW sells here in the U.S. The Nivus sits on the flexible MQB architecture that underpins the Golf, Tiguan, and a host of other Volkswagen Group vehicles. See all 19 photos The five-seater stands out from its competition with a low roof and coupe-like proportions. Windswept body lines, LED headlights, and 17-inch alloy...
In Photos: What If the Cadillac Escalade Was Designed in 1959?
Like ships passing in the night, Cadillac’s two most iconic nameplates barely shared dealership floor space. The two-door Eldorado—that symbol of mid-century American automotive glamour and luxury—was being put to rest just as a new E-named vehicle, the Escalade, was arriving to restore Cadillac to the forefront of automotive vogue. In only 20 short years, with no prior pedigree, the Escalade has come to dominate and define the luxury SUV space. But what if it had some existing lineage? What if Cadillac had first thought up the Escalade back in the 1950s when it dropped the Eldorado on an increasingly affluent, booming America? Great question, and it’s been answered by talented designer Abilemec Arellano, who imagined what a 1959 Cadillac Escalade might have looked like if the ...
Holy Batman Garage! Watch This Incredible Batmobile Documentary!
If you think you know the Batmobile, think again, Bat fans. Recently, Warner Bros. live-streamed The Batmobile Documentary, a film detailing the origins of the coolest comic-book car in the world, and its various iterations on the small and big screens. Rats, missed it? Don’t worry, you can watch the documentary for free below. And watch it you should. The film covers everything from the classic George Barris 1966 creation from the campy TV series to the tough-ass Tumbler that played its own starring role in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy. There is one hitch: The nearly one-hour documentary is from 2012, so it does not include the Batmobiles from Batman v Superman, Justice League, or the upcoming muscle car Batmobile actor Robert Pattinson will drive...
Harbor Freight Jack Stand Recall Has Us Thinking About Lifting Safely
The terrifying Harbor Freight recall of jack stands that could fail due to a manufacturing defect is in the news right now, and it is as good a time as any to review the procedures and equipment we’re all using to lift our cars. But first, let’s take a look at the issues facing those particular Harbor Freight jack stands so you have an idea of why this is all so troubling. Harbor Freight’s recall covers some 3-ton and 6-ton “Pittsburgh” brand jack stands with item numbers 56371, 61196, and 61197. (View the PDF of the recall document here for more details.) These are pawl-type jack stands, with a pawl that engages with teeth on the lifting arm of the jack stand. A design flaw caused by old tooling in the factory that constructed them could cause the pawl to dis...
2021 BMW 5-Series First Look: Five for Fighting
We were left unimpressed with the seventh-generation BMW 5-Series back when it launched for 2017. It was more luxury and less sport than we wanted, and we yearned for the days the 5 had things the other way around. Now that a few years have passed, BMW has taken the wraps off the refreshed 2021 BMW 5-Series, and, guess what? It arguably looks more lux and less sporting than ever. That doesn’t mean the changes aren’t upgrades, though. The entire 5-Series lineup undergoes a thorough makeover for the 2021 model year. The most obvious changes are to its bodywork. The grille, unsurprisingly, swells slightly—now wider and taller than before. The design of the car’s standard LED headlights now brings its looks in line with those of the smaller 3-Series. All 5-Series models ...
Future Trucks and Minivans: Coming Soon
Pickup trucks are still the best-selling vehicles in America. Millions and millions sell every year, for moving furniture, hauling construction gear, or towing your boat to the river. Throw in higher profit margins than SUVs or cars, and you have a vehicle segment the automakers will always covet and want to expand. A ton (or half-ton) of redesigned trucks have hit the market in the past few years, but there are still more to come in this highly competitive segment. Meanwhile, minivans may still be fighting to shed their image of parental capitulation, but it’s a fiercely fought segment all the same. We may not be buying as many crumb cruncher carriers as we used to, but when we do, we want them to be the absolute pinnacle of family transportation. So work continues to make them more...
Mercedes Made a Concept Car That Was a Convertible, a Pickup, AND a Wagon
When you’re shopping for a car, you must first identify your specific vehicular needs. If you’re buying it for work, where you’ll regularly need to haul things, then you’re probably looking for a truck. Need a family car? A sedan or wagon—or SUV, these days—might fit the bill. Or maybe this is a “treat yo’ self” occasion and you want a convertible. Those are all very different vehicle types, and rarely can you have the best of two worlds—let alone four—in one car. But in 1995, Mercedes-Benz challenged that notion with the transformable VRC concept. The Variable Research Car, or VRC, made its debut at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show. Its main gimmick was its interchangeable bodywork that allowed the concept vehicle to be configured in one of four body st...
