Posts from ‘First Spin’
First Spin: 2020 Lexus RX
2020 Lexus RX 450hL
Freshened for 2020, the Lexus RX premium midsize crossover is quietly one of the most successful, and most important, vehicles to have been introduced into the American marketplace in decades. In fact, I would argue, the RX enjoys a position of retail significance so compelling, its success is rivaled only by ketchup. Heinz Ketchup, to be exact. Allow me to explain…
First Spin: 2020 Nissan Titan
2020 Nissan Titan
In a class that divides roughly 2.4 million annual sales between just six entries with average transaction prices reaching $48,000, Nissan’s Titan has long run a distant last. While it’s unlikely this recent update will change that, it may well result in a bigger slice of this very lucrative pie.
2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel
Jeep’s iconic Wrangler has been selling like the proverbial hotcakes of late, its 2018 redesign making it all the more popular. So some might question what the company expects to gain by adding a turbodiesel engine to the Wrangler’s option list.
The answer? Torque …
… lots and lots of torque.
First Spin: 2020 Honda Civic Si
2020 Honda Civic Si sedan
Ever since the tenth-generation Civic’s debut as a 2016 model, Honda has stayed busy rolling out new versions and fine tuning the Civic lineup’s styling and ergonomic details. Coupe and hatchback body styles followed shortly after the ’16 Civic sedan’s launch, sporty Si models (and the racetrack-ready Type R hatchback) followed for 2017, and a freshening for 2019 included an improved infotainment system and other welcome updates.
2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Just how many ponies does a pony car need? Well, certainly not 760 ….
That will undoubtedly raise the eyebrows of my fellow enthusiasts, to whom “too much power” is a phrase bordering on blasphemy. But honestly, it’s really hard to make use of that much power on the street … at least, for very long.
First Spin: 2020 Lincoln Aviator
2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve
Seems that Lincoln – once synonymous with luxury cars – is putting lots more focus on its luxury crossovers.
Lincoln has been completely redesigning its slate of SUVs of late, starting with the all-new full-size Navigator for 2018, followed by an update of the midsize MKX that was renamed Nautilus for 2019. Next came the midsize, 3-row Aviator – the subject of this report – which just went on sale as a 2020 model, soon to be joined by the new 2020 Corsair (based on the redesigned 2020 Ford Escape), which is the replacement for the compact MKC.
Got all that?
2020 GMC Sierra Denali Heavy Duty
There’s a lot new in the redesigned 2020 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty pickups, but five things stand out:
- Maximum towing capacity of the 1-ton 3500 has been raised an astounding 52 percent to an equally astounding 35,500 lbs.
- For those who tow – and GMC says 93% of heavy-duty pickup buyers do – the Sierra offers up to 15 different camera views, including remote cameras that can “see” inside of and behind the trailer.
- Buyers opting for the 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine – which most do – will find it’s now mated to an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission.
- All models are available with GMC’s exclusive MultiPro tailgate.
- Newly available is a large, multi-color head-up display, along with a rearview camera that can project its image into the rearview mirror (which keeps things like rear-seat passengers or tall cargo in the bed from blocking your view straight back).
Okay, maybe that’s six things. And yet there’s still more.
First Spin: 2020 Subaru Legacy
2020 Subaru Legacy Limited XT
Imagine if Joanie Loves Chachi, the ill-fated spin-off of the beloved TV show Happy Days, had somehow become vastly more popular than the program that spawned it. That’s kind of what happened with the Subaru Outback and Subaru Legacy. The first-generation Legacy debuted for 1989 in sedan and station-wagon form; the Outback followed for 1995 as an SUV-flavored variant of the Legacy wagon, with rugged-outdoors touches such as beefier body trim, a roof rack, and a raised ride height.
First Spin: 2020 Nissan Versa
2020 Nissan Versa
Since its introduction for 2007, the Nissan Versa’s claim to fame has been that it was often the least expensive new vehicle on the market. So the biggest question going into the preview for the redesigned 2020 model in Nashville was, “Will it remain so?”
First Spin: 2020 Subaru Outback
2020 Subaru Outback
It’s probably not a stretch to say that the Outback is what put Subaru on the map. Introduced for 1995 as an SUV-flavored trim level of the Legacy wagon, it was soon upgraded to its own model, and sales have seen a steady climb since. Today – as for many years – it is Subaru’s best-selling vehicle.
For 2020, Subaru ushers in the sixth generation of the Outback. With it comes greater rear-seat and cargo room, some new features, and the return of a turbocharged engine. Also added is a new Onyx trim level that carries black wheels and trim along with special StarTex water-repellent upholstery.
