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2020 Jaguar F-Type: First Look

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Since 2013 the British Automaker Jaguar Land Rover has been producing the Jaguar F-Type. Six years later, the two-door, two-seater sports car has just had a significant overhaul. The 2020 Jaguar F-Type tested in the West Midlands near Jaguar’s engineering base. We expect that plans are to reveal this next generation sports car shortly.

2020 Jaguar F-Type
Jaguar

2020 Jaguar F-Type

The new Jaguar prototype is going to debut in 2020 and is not a completely new design. They took the aluminum structure that they are currently using and gave it some technical upgrades. They did this to create a more cost-effective, cleaner car that is easier to assemble. The new F-type will include a unique design with all the last technology, including self-driving capabilities.

Jaguar plans to offer the new F-type as both a coupe and a convertible soft top. There has also been talk of a tapered tail, thin horizontal headlamps and a new front end that will give the Jaguar a more modern look. This will set it apart from the E-type with the oval front end design.

Jaguar will be competing with the Porsche 911 because of the new F-type being a two-plus-two design. This heightens the model’s versatility and relabels it the D7b instead of the old PLA-D6a. It continues to use the aluminum structure built in Castle Bromwich, which is much lighter.

F-Type Specs

The new F-type has a more fuel conservative engine used in some of the Range Rovers. There are also four-cylinder options available. The 2020 F-type will still be a front engine designed sports car; however, there is consideration of there being an all-electric Jaguar. This would include a 100kWh battery with two electric motors. The motors if made, would have a 150kW/350Nm rating each.

While we are talking about Jaguars, have you seen the new Jaguar E-Pace Chequered Flag Edition?

Jaguar E-Pace Chequered Flag Edition Debuts

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Jaguar recently debuted the newest special edition E-Pace SUV. The Jaguar E-Pace Chequered Flag Edition is the latest variant and stems from the range-topping R-Dynamic model. The automaker adds some styling and performance enhancements to the SUV which also comes with a unique color scheme. Starting prices are $53k and we’ve got the latest details for you.

Jaguar E-Pace Chequered Flag
Jaguar

Jaguar E-Pace Chequered Flag Edition

This special edition SUV comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, an exclusive set of tread plates, four select color choices and the Chequered Flag badges. It also features twin tailpipes, a sports body kit, a Black Exterior Pack, like the one on the E-Pace R-Dynamic and LED headlights.

Inside the SUV you will find the R-Dynamic sports steering wheel, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, heated front seats, black shift paddles, a 10-inch infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Aside from that, buyers have the option between four engines with the Jaguar E-Pace Chequered Flag. This includes a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine which produces 148 or 178 horsepower. All of the engines come paired with all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The gas options include a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with two tune states. The first produces 197 horsepower and the second pumps out 246 horsepower. Still, both of these also come with all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic.

The E-Pace Chequered Flag also comes with the Adaptive Dynamics system to improve ride comfort and handling. Optional extras include Matrix LED headlights, a load-space partition net plus a new pet-pack.

More about the Jaguar E-Pace

The Jaguar E-Pace is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV. It’s produced by JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) and launched in the summer of 2017. The E-Pace comes from the JLR D8 platform which is also utilized on the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also want to take a look at the Jaguar I-Pace.

2020 Toyota Highlander: First Look

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Toyota has plenty to offer SUV-happy consumers with their upcoming lineup. The 2020 Toyota Highlander recently debuted during the New York Auto Show and was quite impressive. This three-row SUV arrives this winter, starting with the gas model. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect.

2020 Toyota Highlander
Toyota

First Look at 2020 Toyota Highlander

The original Highlander dates back to 2001. It featured a unibody structure while most other SUVs were based on trucks. Over time, other automakers started using the same four-wheel independent suspension modeled by the Highlander. Since 2016, this SUV has been one of the bestsellers in America.

The 2020 model is part of the fourth generation. It features the Toyota New Global Architecture, otherwise referred to as TNGA-K. This foundation offers greater safety, comfort and capability.

It also comes with a choice between a V6 or hybrid powertrain. The gas has an estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg combined while the hybrid offers 34 mpg combined.

In addition, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard equipment on all models. This includes a pre-collision system, pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, automatic high beams, road sign assist and lane tracing assist.

2020 Toyota Highlander Interior
Toyota

2020 Toyota Highlander Configurations

There are five trim levels for the Highlander: L, LE, XLE, Limited and Platinum. Customers can choose the hybrid powertrain with everything except the L. All models offer some innovative technology and intuitive features for the entire family. There is the optional 12.3-inch touchscreen, JBL Premium Sound System and other surprises that set this SUV apart from the rest.

All models are 2.36 inches longer than earlier models. This adds more cargo space than before. It’s also possible to slide the second row an additional 1.2-inches to increase the space between the second and third rows for larger passengers.

2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

This hybrid SUV features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors. This vehicle produces 240 horsepower with 34 mpg combined gas mileage. It can also be purchased as a 2WD or with AWD. The battery pack is found under the rear seats. This maximizes passenger and cargo space.

While it comes with the standard NORMAL, ECO and SPORT modes, there is also an EVO model that allows drivers to choose electric-only power for shorter distances at low speeds.

Other New Toyota Models

There’s a lot to love about the 2020 Toyota lineup. We’ve recently taken a first look at the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Tacoma and the Toyota Supra as well. Check them out to figure out what model is ideal for you.

Genesis Essentia EV Coupe to Enter Production

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We just found out that the Genesis Essentia EV Coupe will enter production. If you remember, we first saw the Essentia at the 2018 New York Auto Show. This grand tourer was unlike anything we ever saw before. At that time, we weren’t sure it was going to enter production, but execs at Genesis recently confirmed it will.

Genesis Essentia EV Coupe
Genesis

Genesis Essentia EV Coupe Design

Before you get into the spacious interior, you must first enter through the two gullwing doors. Both the chassis and body are made from carbon fiber. Then, there are two electric motors. One of them sits on the front axle while the other is on the rear. These work together to launch the coupe from 0 to 60 mph in only three seconds.

Honestly, we think the sleek design of the Essentia beats Tesla any day of the week. It features classic body lines and is just downright stunning. What pushes it over the edge is the tech-filled interior. You can’t help but notice all the touchscreens as you enter the cabin.

Manfred Fitzgerald, the global head of Genesis then announced at this year’s Auto Show that their upcoming electric vehicle won’t be the Mint Concept. If you remember, we just told you about this Concept with our Auto Show electric car roundup. This only leaves Essentia to enter production.

Of course, we haven’t received the full announcement from the company yet, but it seems inevitable.

Electric Car Competiton

We don’t know when we can expect the Essentia EV to make an official debut, but we expect it won’t take long. With Tesla ramping up sales and other automakers jumping in the game, Genesis won’t want to wait. Even Porsche is rolling out a new Taycan to compete. If Hyundai’s luxury arm wants to stay competitive, they won’t drag their feet on this exciting endeavor.

How about you? Do you have a favorite luxury electric vehicle? Let us know in the comments.

2020 Chevrolet Trailblazer: First Look

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We knew that GM planned to bring back the Trailblazer, but didn’t have any confirmed details, until now. During the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show, we finally got to meet the 2020 Chevrolet Trailblazer, with Redline trimmings.

2020 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Motor Authority

2020 Chevrolet Trailblazer

At first glance, you might agree that this Trailblazer is just a miniature version of the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer. We agree with you on that. Still, the Chevy crossover features a character that’s all it’s own. The single, bold body line portrays strength and durability.

You might notice the front end with its long hood. There’s also a thin set of LED daytime running lamps in the front. If you think that the red on the fascia are tow hooks, you would be wrong. Instead, it is a red accent stripe. This Chevy SUV comes with 17-inch black wheels and Redline hash marks.

This model will be sold across the world. We expect it to replace the Chevrolet Trax. We don’t have a lot of details about it right now but expect that there will be more news coming soon.

2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD
Chevrolet

2020 Chevy Lineup

As we get closer to mid-year, we are getting many more reports of the 2020 lineup. In fact, we’ve already reported on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD. We expect that automakers will continue to focus on their truck and SUV lineup. Chevy will be no different. We see very few sedans and coupes coming from the car companies as of now, even though there was a significant focus on them during the motor show.

We’ve also seen some companies get involved in SUVs that we wouldn’t have expected. Consider the possible Bugatti SUV we told you about. We might even get to see a three-row Jeep in the future. The reality is, between electric vehicles and the shift away from cars, consumers should prepare for many new models to come soon.

Bentley Bentayga V8 Design Series SUV: First Look

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We just caught a glimpse of the Bentayga V8 Design Series SUV for the first time. This special edition is sportier than the regular V8. It’s completely customizable and has been restyled with an updated exterior. We don’t know the cost yet but anticipate it to be much higher than the standard V8, which currently sells for about $178k.

Bentayga V8 Design Series
Bentley

Bentayga V8 Design Series SUV

What’s most notable occurs inside the cabin. This Bentayga V8 also has a carbon fiber weave created just for this SUV. It also includes a diamond-jeweled Breitling clock, drilled alloy sports pedals, illuminated treadplates plus seats trimmed with black Beluga leather.

The Design Series exterior comes complete with the Blackline package. This includes the twin black gloss exhaust tips, body-colored front apron, many black alternatives and an enamel badge. You also notice the seven-spoke alloy wheels and Mulliner wheel badges.

 

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Under the hood, it’s powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that pumps out 545 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. This helps it to achieve a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 180 mph. If you want to go faster than that, consider the Bentley Bentayga Speed instead. It also claims 21.7 mpg.

This Bentley SUV also comes with LED headlights, panoramic roof, dark taillights, electronic differential lock, valved exhaust system, customizable drive modes plus adaptive air suspension. It even comes with Apple CarPlay which is operated through the touchscreen.

Uniquely Yours

What’s most impressive about the Bentayga Design Series V8 SUV is that it comes in 100 varying customized colors. You can choose some fun colors such as Centenary Gold to help celebrate Bentley’s anniversary.

Let us know your thoughts? Would you invest the extra money for this special edition Bentley or are you content to own the standard model?

Leaked Ford Ranger Raptor Prototype Pictures

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We all hoped that the Ford Ranger Raptor would come to the United States, but we simply haven’t been that lucky. That is; until now! Autoblog leaked some new Ford Ranger Raptor prototype pictures that have us questioning the future of this mid-size truck in the States.

Ford Ranger Raptor prototype
Ford

Will We Get the Raptor?

New spy photos reveal what the future Raptor could look like. The wrap is existing Ranger Raptor bodywork. What we see is the striking similarity between the truck and the Bronco photos. They feature the same grille, but the Raptor is missing its FORD lettering, at this time.

On the rear suspension, there are bristles that hid the hardware the same way Ford did with the Bronco. We don’t expect anything different from the solid axle and leaf springs that are on the current Ranger. The automaker is most likely hiding off-road Fox shocks and remote reservoirs for those shocks.

Spy shooters believe that the car contains a V6. We know that it probably doesn’t have a four-cylinder diesel based on the dual exhaust. That’s the engine in the Ranger Raptor in the other markets right now. This test mule drove in Detroit. This leads us to believe it’s coming to our market. Since the current Ranger has a 2.3.-liter four-cylinder, it’s possible they might upgrade the Raptor with a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. This produces 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque in an F-150.

When We Will See the Ford Ranger Raptor?

Just because there’s a prototype doesn’t mean we will ever see it, but we are still hopeful. It was only October when we reported that this truck would not come to North America. At that time, it was only meant for Asia, Europe and Australia. Still, we can’t help but get excited at the possibilities of what’s to come.

Check Out the Ram Rebel TRX Details

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We’ve got a first look at the upcoming Ram Rebel TRX. Keep in mind that many of the details we received about the truck are unconfirmed, at this time. But, a lot of what we’ve learned makes sense and is worth talking about.

Ram Rebel TRX
Motor1

Ram Rebel TRX – First Look

We had the chance to look at some Rebel TRX spy photos last week. Then, the details followed. The test vehicles come from a Detroit engineering firm that has a history of producing prototypes. This isn’t an unusual practice for many automakers. Even Ford contracts another company for the GT.

As of right now, there are 40 prototypes available. 30 of them are black and another 10 are white. One truck features a Demon engine while all the rest use a Hellcat engine. The base model is slotted to contain a 7.0-liter V8, but that engine isn’t in any of the prototypes.

All of the test subjects also contain a ten-speed automatic transmission. Since the Ram 2500 was the last with a manual transmission, this makes sense.

The ram-air induction system is classified as “Viper-style” and allows as much power as possible. It also comes equipped with dual Bilstein shocks at each corner to take on the Fox internal bypass shocks on the Raptor. Furthermore, the TRX comes with ARB Air Lockers on both the front and rear axles. These utilize pressurized air for maximum traction through locking the axles.

One of the final touches on this new Ram truck is the eight lugs in the back plus six lugs in the front.

More Info Coming Soon

That’s all we know right now, but we are waiting for more details. As soon as we know anything else regarding the TRX, you will be the first to know. Availability, pricing and more details should all be leaked very soon.

2020 Hyundai Sonata: First Look

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Hyundai just released photos of their new 2020 Sonata last week. Dare we say, we actually like it? It looks more like a luxury Genesis instead of a boring sedan. The body design is sharp-looking, longer, wider and lower than before. Let’s take a first look at the 2020 Hyundai Sonata.

2020 Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai

Features of the 2020 Hyundai Sonata

One of the first things you notice when you look at the all-new Sonata is the daytime running lights. They have a fresh, new look and style, making them quite distinct.

In addition, the Sonata sits about 30 mm lower than before and is 25 mm wider. This gives it a sportier feel on the road and helps it to appeal to a new audience. While other automakers are ditching their sedans, it’s nice to see a company still putting forth some effort in perfecting one.

We don’t know what powertrain the 2020 Hyundai Sonata has, but we expect a four-cylinder engine. It’s also possible to see something electrified. More will be revealed when Hyundai unveils the Sonata during the New York International Auto Show this April.

2020 Hyundai - Sonata Interior
Hyundai

We also know the eighth-generation Sonata features an updated steering wheel design and elegant dashboard sweep. Pictures released from the company also revealed a large infotainment screen, digital gauge cluster and push-button-style shifter.

Hyundai Sales

This midsize sedan continues to be one of the top sellers for Hyundai. That doesn’t make it immune to the decline in car sales. In fact, in 2018, sales of the Hyundai Sonata fell 20%.

As far as the segment goes, it falls in sixth place. Top spots are held by Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion and Chevy Malibu.

Other new Hyundai models worth checking out include the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2020 Hyundai Palisade and the 2019 Hyundai Veloster N. What model are you most excited about?

2019 Fiat 500L Urbana Edition: First Look

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Fiat announced the return of their popular Urbana Edition to the 500L. It has some standard features and additional customization options that add to the sleek Italian design. Let’s take a first look at the 2019 Fiat 500L Urbana Edition.

2019 Fiat 500L - Urbana Edition
FCA

Fun to Drive

The Italian 2019 Fiat 500L brings best-in-class horsepower plus some interesting storage and seating configurations. Then, the company takes all of that even further with the 2019 Fiat 500L Urbana Edition to help it truly stand out.

The 500L Trekking model is the basis for the Urbana. This includes some unique exterior features, 17-inch gloss black aluminum wheels as standard equipment, Miron-black body-side moldings, door handle accents, fascias, side mirrors and fog lamps.

There are five paint colors available on the Urbana: Bronzo Metallizato, Grigio Scuro, Black, Verde Bosco and Bianco. Then, there’s a black roof that offers further contrasting to the appearance.

Inside the car, you’ll notice some spell-binding features such as the black leather seats that have unique copper stitching. The Trekking model starts at $23,325 and you can upgrade to the 500L Urbana for another $595. We expect it will arrive this Spring.

Fiat 500L Urbana Edition

The Fiat 500L comes with driving enjoyment, efficiency and top-notch style. It features 42-percent more interior space plus comfortable seating available for five. Three models are especially popular – Lounge, Trekking and Pop. All models come standard with the 1.4-liter MutliAir Turbo engine that pumps out 160 horsepower.

The Fiat 500 has been in North America since 2011. Shortly after that, we saw the Fiat 500c convertible and the high-performance 500 Abarth. Then, we got access to the electric 500e and the larger 500L. Plus, the Fiat 500X crossover was released to compete in the segment. Throughout all of these models, we continue to see growing success for the Fiat brand and the Urbana Edition should expand that further for FCA.

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