Review Flashback! 1986 Merkur XR4Ti
1986 Merkur XR4Ti
Merkur, if you recall the brand, was in many ways a marketing complement to General Motors’s Geo experiment.
Future Car: 2021 GMC Granite
The GMC Granite Concept debuted at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.
Word is out that GMC will be adding a new subcompact crossover to its lineup. The new small truck will be positioned below the brand’s compact Terrain crossover in size and price, becoming the smallest and most-affordable vehicle in the General Motors division’s product portfolio.
2019 Volkswagen Jetta R-Line in Habanero Orange, a $295 color option
2019 Volkswagen Jetta R-Line
Class: Compact Car
Miles driven: 307
Fuel used: 10.8 gallons
What Was The Pontiac Firefly?
Most Americans have never heard of the Firefly, but Canadian consumers might well have considered purchasing one of these subcompact Pontiacs. A 1987 “Base” is shown.
Pontiac of Canada was well known for selling gently tweaked variations of Chevy products for exclusive distribution north of the border. The 1976-1987 Pontiac Acadian for example, was actually a retrimmed Chevrolet Chevette.
First Spin: 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Grand Touring
Yikes, where does the time go? The MX-5 Miata is fast closing in on its 30th birthday, but Mazda apparently couldn’t wait until the pearl-anniversary year of its beloved two-seat roadster to roll out a welcome round of enhancements. Ever since the first Miata debuted at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show as a 1990 model, Mazda has stayed wonderfully true to its original MX-5 concept: a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, lightweight two-seat sports car with modest power, an easily removable roof, and a sporty-yet-compliant suspension.
2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody (left) and R/T Scat Pack Widebody
You had to figure this was coming.
After setting the record books ablaze last year with the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon — and keeping its promise that it would be a one-year-only model — Dodge unveiled a more “streetable” version of much the same car for 2019. Plus it carried over some of the Demon’s drag-racing technology to a more budget-priced model aimed at … well … drag racing.
Test Drive: 2018 Mazda 6 Signature
2018 Mazda 6 Signature in Soul Red Crystal (a $595 option)
2018 Mazda 6 Signature
Class: Midsize Car
Miles driven: 454
Fuel used: 19.4 gallons
2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback XSE in Blue Flame
2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback XSE
Class: Compact Car
Miles driven: 689
Fuel used: 20.1 gallons
2018 Land Rover Discovery HSE Luxury Td6 in Loire Blue Metallic (a $710 option)
2018 Land Rover Discovery HSE Luxury Td6
Class: Premium Midsize Crossover
Miles driven: 310
Fuel used: 15.1 gallons
What is Dynamic Fuel Management?
The L84 5.3-liter V8 will be one of two 2019 Chevrolet Silverado engines equipped with General Motors’ new Dynamic Fuel Management cylinder-deactivation system.
Even if you’re only casually interested in automotive technology, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Cadillac’s ill-fated V8-6-4 engine, which became available for the 1981 model year.
Classic Cars
