Autos
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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...
1996 Chevrolet Express Retro Review: Still the Same
With the families of baby boomers growing older and their travel requirements changing, some industry analysts are predicting a swing upmarket from kid-toting minivans to recreational-toy-towing full-size vans. If the current trends continue, the full-size segment could grow as much as 30 percent by 2002. The new Chevy Express and GMC Savana are nothing short of a frame-up rethink of the full-size General Motors G-platform van—and we mean frame-up, literally. The 1996 Express vans rolling out of the Wentzville, Missouri, assembly line are built on an all-new welded full-ladder-type frame. Adding considerable stiffness for improved stability, ride, and handling qualities, the stout frame also provides the Express (and Chevy’s panel-van variant) with the backbone of a truck. See a...
These are the Top 10 Toyota Engines of All Time
Toyota’s legacy as an engine designer and producer is inextricably intertwined with the inline-six. After all, four of the power plants on this list fall into that configuration, including the desirable 2JZ-GTE from the A80 Supra. But Toyota’s talents go beyond six-cylinder engines. Think about the high-revving V-10 from the Lexus LFA or the flat-four the company co-developed with Subaru for the 86 and BRZ. More Videos 6 Reasons Why the MKIV Supra Became a Classic 2005 New York: Scion t2B Concept Video Of The Year: Scion xD – Motor Trends 2008 Car of the Year Contender Video SUPER STREET’s 8 Favorite Cars of SPOCOM Anaheim 2018 Rare Metals: Classic Cars of the 1990s at Throwback Meet II Behind the Wheel: the 2020 Toyota Supra Watch This! The Lexus LF-30 Electrified Need t...
Looking for Value? Try These Seven Rides Under $30,000
What seems cheap at the dealer could cost you unnecessary thousands down the line, and that’s especially important if your new car budget tops out at $30,000. The cost of ownership extends far beyond the number you’ll see at the bottom of the window sticker. Other factors include how much value it will lose, how much it will cost to maintain and repair, insurance costs, and fueling. Lucky for us, the whiz kids from IntelliChoice (a part of the MotorTrend Group) calculate those costs over five years for nearly every vehicle on the market, each year awarding Best Overall Value award winners in each segment. So if a low cost of ownership is important to you, choose wisely and consider these value-packed picks under $30,000. 2020 Toyota Tacoma See all 25 photos Toyota’s Tacom...
This INFLATABLE Scooter of the Future Blows (Up)
Electric scooters are a familiar sight, thanks in part to companies such as Bird and Lime that make it easy to ride around town. But what if you had a scooter you could fold like a sweater and stuff into your backpack? Say hello to Poimo, a clever inflatable scooter developed at the University of Tokyo. Right now, Poimo is just a prototype. But we’ve never seen anything quite like it before. Instead of bulky metal parts that require welding and complex assembling, Poimo is made from thermoplastic polyurethane. The result is a body that is simple to make and weighs about 5 pounds. A small, in-wheel motor gets this scooter up and running. Add all the pieces up and this scooter prototype weighs approximately 17 pounds. More Videos Yes, This Is an *Inflatable* Scooter That Fits in a...
