Archive for April, 2017
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
At the 2017 New York Auto Show earlier this month, Jeep announced the 2018 Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, a new line-topping high-performance model that borrows its 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 from the Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcats. At a recent Midwest Automotive Media Association event, we had the chance to check out a Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in the flesh—in fact, it was the first time the vehicle had been shown outside the lights and stage of an indoor auto show. This show vehicle wore a stunning candy-apple-red paint job that won’t be available on the showroom version, but otherwise looked to be almost identical to the regular-production Trackhawks that are scheduled begin hitting dealerships late this year. Check it out, and stay tuned… our first test drive of the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk should take place later this year.
What if another manufacturer had created their own version of the ’55 Hudson?
By Frank Peiler
Anybody who knows a little something about automotive history knows that Hudson merged with Nash in 1954 to form American Motors. As a result, AMC had to come up with a new Hudson in record time to make the 1955 model year. The design department at Nash did a very good job transforming the Ambassador/Statesman into the new Hudson. The car didn’t look much like a Hudson, and it certainly didn’t handle at all like previous “step-down” Hudsons, but the design was a refreshing change from the old and tired car. However, we ask, what would the ’55 Hudson look like had the merger been between General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler Corporation, or the newly merged Studebaker/Packard?
Test Drive: 2017 Toyota Yaris iA
2017 Toyota Yaris iA in Graphite
2017 Toyota Yaris iA manual 
Class: Subcompact Car
Miles Driven: 481
Fuel Used: 11.5 gallons
2017 Jeep Compass Trailhawk in Billet Silver Metallic
2017 Jeep Compass Trailhawk
Class: Compact crossover
Miles Driven: 285
Fuel Used: 13.1 gallons
1970 Chevrolet Impala
Robert De Niro was cruising the Boroughs of New York City long before he played a mentally ill cabbie in the 1976 Martin Scorsese classic Taxi Driver–six years before, to be exact. Taxi Driver hit theaters in 1976. De Niro, however, shows off an AMC Ambassador in this forgotten ad from way back in 1970.
Future Car: 2019 Chevrolet Blazer
This South-African-market 2017 Chevrolet Trailblazer may give us a hint of what the 2019 Blazer will look like.
Auto industry observers have suggested that Hyundai has confused new-car shoppers by implementing a two-midsize-crossover strategy. Not because the Korean maker is selling two vehicles in roughly the same market space, but because of how the vehicles are named.
Test Drive: 2017 Lexus GX 460
2017 Lexus GX 460 Luxury in Nebula Grey Pearl
2017 Lexus GX 460 Luxury
Class: Premium Midsize Crossover
Miles Driven: 1584
Fuel Used: 88.7 gallons
1969 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
Sometimes hindsight plays tricks on us. I have always been uncomfortable that the Talking Heads’ seminal album More Songs about Buildings and Food was available on 8-Track tape.
2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited in Electric Storm Blue
2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited
Class: Compact crossover
Miles Driven: 599
Fuel Used: 19.3 gallons
