Daily Archives: November 5, 2016
Six Variants To Break Down The 2017 Toyota Highlander Range
The new 2017 Toyota Highlander has more power, more safety features and more model choices. Unfortunately, these also add up to the pricing of this refreshed Highlander with extended trapezoidal grille and flashier LED taillights.
Here is the lowdown on the 2017 Highlander’s six trims:
LE
No expert would recommend the base LE trim because of its inefficient 185 horsepower for the 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission it packs. All Highlander trim levels now come with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with port and direct injection that can produce 295 horsepower and 1263 pound-feet of torque. All of these are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard to it are forward-collision alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking, and automated high-beams.
LE Plus
Priced at $36,000, it adds three-zone climate control, eight-way power driver’s seat, power liftgate, leather-wrapped steering wheel, softer fabric for seats, and 8-inch touchscreen with HD radio and SiriusXM.
XLE
For $39,190, you can have leather and heated front seats, push-button start, roof rails, sunroof, navigation with voice recognition and apps, second-row window shades, alarm, 4.2-inch color display, garage-door openers, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
SE
New to the 2017 Edition, the SE trim level can be had for $40,630. It has stiffer springs and shocks, darkened roof rails, grille and headlights, 19-inch wheels, all-black interior with stripes on the seats and contrast stitching. Exclusive also to the SE trim level is the Salsa Red Pearl paint.
Limited
The Limited, which sells for $42,620, can project the Highlander logo on the pavement, thanks to the mirror-mounted puddle lamps. There’s also extra chrome on the bumper, an option for 8-passenger seating capacity, chrome 19-inch wheels, cooled front seats, driver and passenger seat memory, and four-way power passenger seat. You can also opt for the Platinum package for a total of $45,740. This adds a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree-view cameras, heated second-row seats, darkened chrome wheels, and rain-sensing wipers.
Hybrid
The Hybrid models for the Limited and Limited Platinum trims will be sold for $45,700 and $48,820, respectively. The all-wheel drive, gas-electric powertrain is available on the base LE and the XLE.
5 Essential Things To Know About The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Now that Ford has officially opened ordering books for its 2017 F-150 Raptor, it’s safe to look at the truck again and see why customers are lining up for this. Team Ford in Las Vegas, for one, said it has roughly 300 customers on a waiting list.
1. Exterior
The exterior of the F-150 Raptor captures the same style as the 2015 edition, although the truck is now six inches wider to increase stability. The front and rear bumpers are raised while the new LED bulbs on the headlights are perfect for dark desert trail. It also has new 17-inch wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich’s iconic All-Terrain TA tire, the K02. On the side, you can find the familiar running boards, large fender flares and side graphics.
2. Interior
Since this now falls under the Raptor category, the interior received plenty of upgrades, too. It now has unique seats with leather and suede inserts, upgraded overhead console with switches and controls for the moonroof, F1-style paddle shifters, a suede- and leather-wrapped steering wheel, and carbon fiber accents around the cabin. As for the leg room, there’s massive space on the rear that makes it nearly limousine-like.
3. Drivetrain
Under the hood, you’ll find a second-generation 3.5-liter Ecoboost V-6 with a twin-turbo mill that can produce more power than the current 6.2-liter V-8 engine. The new engine cranks out 450 horsepower, though there’s still no word yet on torque rating. This Ecoboost engine is paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission with F1-style paddle shifters.
4. Suspension
Ford also upgraded the Raptor’s suspension to keep up with the massive frame. The truck still has FOX Racing shock absorbers both at the front and rear, but these have been upgraded from 2.5-inch canisters to 3-inch units.
5. Prices
The Raptor has an MSRP of $49,520 but given the huge interest on it, expect dealers to shoot this up by $10,000.
4 Things You Should Know About the New Ford Driver-Assist Tech
The new Ford driver-assist technology portfolio has grown exponentially, thanks to its next-generation features that will help drivers park easier and avoid collisions.
The new technology will also warn drivers going the wrong way against traffic, as well as help drivers steer around slow or stopping vehicles in emergencies. Ford has since tripled its investment in driver-assistance technologies, which currently have parking, lane-keeping and speed management features.
Cross-Traffic Alert with Braking Technology
This will help drivers destress because the system will warn them if someone or something will be passing behind the vehicles. It will provide a warning to the driver, and then automatically braking the vehicle if the driver did not respond. To help with this tech is a rear wide-view camera with Enhanced active park assist that can park the car perpendicularly or vertically with a push of a button.
Evasive Steering Assist
This is one of the neat features of the new Ford Driver-Assist tech. The evasive steering assist is the first in the industry. It will help the drivers steer around slow or stopped vehicles to avoid collision. It is activated once there is insufficient space to avoid a collision by braking, and when the driver decides to take evasive action. The tech can be tested at city and highway speeds.
Wrong-Way Alert Technology
The technology means a camera will be mounted on the windshield because the information from that and the car’s navigation system will be used to issue audio and visual warnings should the driver begin driving in the wrong direction against traffic.
Enhanced Active Park Assist
Because parking is one of the most stressful parts of driving, Ford decided to further enhance its park assist. It now controls steering, gear selection and forward and reverse movement with just a push of a button. It can help the vehicle enter and exit a parallel and perpendicular parking space.
Reality Vs Concept: 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Alaskan Edition
Although the SEMA Auto show was mostly for outlandish concepts, the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Alaskan Edition Concept was actually based on a production truck the company will be introducing next year. Owners of the Silverado 2500HD can opt for the Alaskan Edition—a snow plow prep package.
The production version of the Alaskan Edition is rumored to be packing the following: front hook-ups for a snow plow, 18-inch wheels, Goodyear DuraTrac tires, roof market lights, spray-on bedliner, skid plates, 220-amp alternator, and heavy-duty front springs. The concept version also has these things with the addition of other components that make it stand out from the rest.
According to reports, the concept version will be boasting of a blue body color with silver accents and grizzly bear graphic, chrome finishing on the bumpers, grille and mirror caps, huge stainless steel snowplow, front suspension leveling kit, and 20-inch wheels. Snowplows do not come with the box, but customers can choose which snowplow to purchase based on budget and usage.
Before building the Alaskan Edition Concept, Chevy already started plans to make it. These actual plans are very close to what was sitting in front of everyone at SEMA. The only major change is the huge snowplow, which can be angled to either side or can be V-shaped to plow the snow forward.
In terms of interior, the production version of the Alaskan Edition can only be applied on the Work Truck and LT trim levels while the concept is based on the LTZ trim level, which has rubberized floor covering and standard-issue LTZ leather seats with the grizzly bear logo embroidered on them.
There are no changes in the concept’s drivetrain from the production version. After all, the production version already packs GM’s newest 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 turbodiesel that can produce 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque.
3 Amazing Things About The Edo Competition’s Tuning Package For The Maserati MC12
The Maserati MC12 did not need more power or tuning, but Edo Competition apparently wanted to make our eyes pop out of their sockets. Almost a decade since it was first released, the MC12 is receiving an exciting new tuning package from the German auto tuner.
It seems outrageous that a car worth $1.6 million (and rising since it became a huge favorite among collectors) needs a performance package, but that’s what Edo Competition just did based on a report. Back when the MC12 was still brand new, a lot of auto tuners wanted to tinker with it, but Maserati was adamant the 50 units it released will stay that way. They were each priced at $670,000.
Things are different now because the Italian brand was the one who commissioned Edo Competition to come up with a package that will prepare the MC12 for the centenary celebration.
It Can Unleash 620 Horsepower
If put in competition with some of today’s fastest vehicles, the MC12 would still come up on top. It’s one of the fastest automobiles ever made and thanks to Enzo, the 6.0-liter V12 can originally produce 620 horsepower and 652 Nm (481 lb-ft) of torque. These figures allow the MC12 to go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. It has a maximum top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph).
Edo’s Variant Presents Slight Deviations
If you thought the MC12 was powerful enough on its own, then you’ll be surprised with what Edo did. The Edo variant is only one of the 12 track-only Corse cars that have been converted to road use. It features slight deviations from the original race car, such as the new exhaust system, street chassis, suspension tuning, and a fuel system that can process pump gas.
It’s Called the “Edo MC12 Versione Corse”
For short, it’s officially the VC, and can power a whopping 744 horsepower and 740 Nm (546 lb-ft) of torque. Because it only weighs 1,250 kilograms, it can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds flat. It still has a top speed of 330 km/h.
