July 2018

Volvo and Ford keep pace with Euro NCAP’s safety testing

(July 18, 2018) Both Volvo’s new small crossover, the XC40, and the latest version of Ford’s small family car, the Focus, achieved a maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP safety tests. The XC40 scored 97 percent for adult occupant protection, putting it among the top five cars for this aspect of safety tested in the last three years.

2019 Acura MDX arrives with luxury and performance upgrades

(July 18, 2018) The 2019 Acura MDX arrived in dealerships Tuesday boasting upgraded interior fitment, new available premium exterior colors, drivability and dynamics enhancements, and an A-Spec sport appearance package. The 2019 MDX with standard AcuraWatch technology and available Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) carries a starting  price of $45,295 including destination charge while the new MDX A-Spec starts at $55,795 with standard SH-AWD.

Honda marks 20 years of powersports production in South Carolina

(July 17, 2018) TIMMONSVILLE, S.C. — Honda associates and guests celebrated the 20th anniversary of production at Honda of South Carolina Mfg., Inc. (HSC), which makes all-terrain vehicles and side-by-side vehicles for North American and global markets.

HSC also marked the completion of a $45 million expansion project announced in 2016, and the production of its 3 millionth ATV since manufacturing began in July 1998.

Lamborghini reports six-month sales record

(July 17, 2018) Automobili Lamborghini has reported another increase in worldwide deliveries. In the first six months 2018 the Italian super sports car maker delivered 2,327 cars to customers around the world. It represents an 11 percent sales increase compared to the same period in 2017. These figures mark another record and even surpass the full year sales numbers of only five years ago.
 

Mini Takes the States 2018 shifts into high gear

(July 17, 2018) MINI TAKES THE STATES 2018 (MTTS), the road rally for MINI owners hosted by MINI USA, kicked off this weekend from two separate locations on opposite sides of the country. Over the next five days, thousands of MINI owners will #DriveForMore to help raise money for charity partner Feeding America.

The two rally routes, each with more than 800 participants, started in Orlando, Fla., and Portland, Ore., on Saturday, July 14, and will meet in the middle at Keystone Report in Keystone, Colo., on July 20 for a weekend celebration of everything MINI.

Maserati introduces all-new V-8 Levante GTS at Goodwood Festival of Speed

(July 17, 2018) Maserati has chosen the 25th Goodwood Festival of Speed in the United Kingdom for the world premiere of the all-new 550-horsepower Levante GTS. This quintessential V8 Maserati of SUVs is the sibling version to the top-of-the-line 590-horsepower Levante Trofeo.With the arrival of the GTS, Maserati now offers the Levante in four distinct versions for North America, two featuring the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine and two featuring the new Ferrari-assembled 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8, two of the most powerful and exclusive SUVs ever built.

2019 Honda Pilot gets mid-cycle refreshening, upgrades

(July 16, 2018) TORRANCE, Calif. —  The redesigned and refreshed 2019 Honda Pilot arrives in dealers today, bringing with it a long list of upgrades to Honda's award-winning 8-seat SUV. The numerous changes include more aggressive exterior styling, an available new hands-free power tailgate, substantial powertrain refinements, major upgrades to available connected-car technology, an available new Display Audio touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and a volume knob.

Chevrolet sets starting price at $48,465 for chassis cab trucks

(July 16, 2018) DETROIT — The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado chassis cab trucks will start at $48,465, Chevrolet has announced. This includes a $1,495 destination charge, but excludes taxes, title and additional dealer fees. Customers can visit one of more than 400 Chevrolet commercial medium duty dealers to customize and price the all-new work truck. Production will begin in late 2018.

First-ever driverless race car completes Goodwood Hillclimb

(July 16, 2018) Roborace’s Robocar became the first ever driverless race car to complete the Hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last week. The run is the first in the history of Goodwood to be completed by a race car that has no human driver in the car — a huge milestone moment for the Festival, which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Dodge’s Demonic 2019 Challenger lineup

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 15, 2018) You may be getting tired of those Dodge commercials where Challengers and Chargers and even Durango SRTs do monstrous, smoky drifts through empty city streets. “Yes, Dodge is FCA’s performance brand. We get it,” you might think to yourself as the commercial runs.