Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Cherokee Nation calls on Jeep to stop using its name


In a written statement responding to an inquiry by Car and Driver, the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation is calling on Jeep to stop using the name Cherokee on vehicles.?


"I'm sure this comes from a place that is well-intended, but it does not honor us by having our name plastered on the side of a car," wrote Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., in the statement. "The best way to honor us is to learn about our sovereign government, our role in this country, our history, culture, and language and have meaningful dialogue with federally recognized tribes on cultural appropriateness."


This is the first time the Cherokee Nation has explicitly asked Jeep to stop using the name, having previously not had an official stance. "Cherokee" has been used by Jeep in some form for more than four decades. It's currently used on the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the latter is about to be split into two models with the introduction of the three-row Grand Cherokee L.?


Jeep responded with its own statement to Car and Driver.


"Our vehicle names have been carefully chosen and nurtured over the years to honor and celebrate Native American people for their nobility, prowess, and pride. We are, more than ever, committed to a respectful and open dialogue with Cherokee National Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr."


The Car and Driver story digs deeper with further comments from Hoskin, Jr., plus historical perspective from the director of the University of Oklahoma's Native Nations Center. This call from the Cherokee Nation comes in the wake of several professional sports teams announcing that they would stop using Native American names and imagery.


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What does GTR stand for?


Gran Turismo RacingThe GT-R abbreviation stands for Gran Turismo Racing while the GT-B stands for Gran Turismo Berlinetta. The Japanese chose to use Italian naming conventions when naming the car 鈥?as most cars that were made in Japan at that time used Western abbreviations 鈥?to further enhance sales.Nissan Skyline GT-R - Wikipedia

Sunday, January 9, 2022

How much is a R33 Skyline worth?


R33 GTR values, though, are slightly higher. As of this writing, Toprank Importers has a 1995 V-Spec available for $47,995. But on BaT, several R33s have sold for closer to $30,000-$35,000.Aug. 24, 2020Should the R33 Skyline GTR Really Be Worth More Than the Iconic ...

2022 Kia Carnival makes American debut with VIP seating, loads of tech

There aren’t many secrets left to be told about the 2022 Kia Carnival. It debuted for the South Korean market in August last year, and additional details have continued to trickle out since then. Nevertheless, Kia is giving the minivan its American debut today (officially killing off the Sedona name) and providing us with all the U.S.-specific information we’ve been wanting.

The crossover-esque styling stays. Frankly, everything we saw previously is representative of what the American-spec Carnival looks like. It’s more boxy, butch and premium than the Sedona in an attempt to play to America’s desire for SUVs, even though it still totally looks like a minivan. There is one big change we’ll point out. Kia says the Carnival will be its first vehicle in the U.S. to wear the new logo. It sits flat on the hood and is also integrated into the rear taillight. This version of the van also has black wheels, which is something we hadn’t seen in photos yet.

We’re especially happy to report that the U.S. is going to get the second-row VIP seating option. You can see it reclined in the photo below. They’re fully-powered seats (heated and ventilated) with extra-wide curved headrests and leg extensions that swing up. The standard second row also slides fore and aft, allowing for maximum legroom or easy access to a child in the backseat. Kia’s VIP seating configuration reduces the maximum to seven seats, whereas the standard configuration allows for 8 total. The eight-passenger version allows for one of the seats to be converted into a convenient table, too.?

Specs and dimensions are still thin on the ground, but Kia is claiming an expansive 145.1 cubic-feet of space behind the first row. However, you won’t get that amount of space with the VIP seating option, as those two seats are not removable from the van. The standard eight-passenger configuration allows the third row to fold into the floor and the second row to be removed from the vehicle.

The front passenger area is standard Kia these days. It’s much nicer than the Sedona ever was in appearance, but we’ll also note the huge amount of glossy black trim that will surely dirty quickly in a minivan lifestyle. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is available, alongside an optional 12.3-inch infotainment system — the standard screen is an eight-inch unit. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and there are nine-USB ports and two 110-volt outlets scattered about the three rows.

As we previously reported, the Sedona is riding on a new midsize platform recently introduced for the K5 sedan and Sorento. The architecture is lighter, stronger and also allows for better NVH. A 3.5-liter V6 is the only engine option, producing 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This is hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission and exclusively sends power to the front wheels. If you want all-wheel drive, both the Pacifica and Sienna have your back there. Towing capacity maxes out at 3,500 pounds and fuel economy improves one mpg combined over the Sedona to 22 mpg.

Driver assistance systems abound as standard equipment. However, a package of Kia’s more advanced systems is available. This nets you things like the Blind-Spot View Monitor, Kia’s excellent Highway Driving Assist, navigation-based adaptive cruise control, 360-degree monitor and several others.

There’s still no pricing available for the Carnival, but Kia says it should go on sale sometime in the second quarter this year.

Saturday, January 8, 2022

What happened to Brian's skyline?


The Skyline successfully makes the bridge jump and wins the race, but everyone is forced to flee when the cops show up. Brian is able escape most of them, but Agent Markham fires an ESD harpoon at the Skyline, shutting it down. The car is impounded following Brian's arrest by the U.S. Customs agent.1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 | The Fast and the Furious Wiki ...

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Is there any Bugatti in Pakistan?


Malik Riaz's son, Ali Riaz bought the first Bugatti ever in Pakistan. The Bugatti Veyron does not need any introduction. It is a class apart from your run of the mill luxury cars. ... The estimated value of this car at Pakistani market is more than 15 crore PKR.Jun. 19, 2015Bahria Town's Malik Riaz has car passion | Pakistan Defence

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

2021 Polestar 2 Luggage Test | Bringing the notchback back

The Polestar 2 has an unusual body style: a notchback sedan that's been slightly lifted. Someone probably calls it a crossover because marketing, but whatever the body style in total is, Polestar Part Deux has a trunk covered by a liftback that encompasses both the vestigial "third-box" of a trunk lid and the rear glass. It's what an Audi A7, Kia Stinger or any number of European "5-door" sedans have.?

According to the specs, that trunk has 14.3 cubic-feet of volume, which isn't that great for a 5-door. The Audi A5 Sportback has 21.8 cubic-feet; the Stinger has 23.3. Although I've luggage tested various hatchbacks and crossover-coupe things (including the Mustang Mach-E and E-Tron Sportback), this is the first notchback/5-door sedan I've done, so we'll just have to make do without apples-to-apples here.

Yep, it's a trunk. But before I start piling in the luggage, lets take a look at two key features.

First, this handy pop-up partition makes the cross-Gothenburg jump from Volvo to Polestar. It's a brilliant solution to prevent groceries from flying all around your trunk.

Something else that might be handy in that endeavour ...

Lifting up the floor panel reveals a surprisingly large amount of bonus space, more so than what you'll find in the E-Tron and Mach-E. It's roughly the size of this duffle bag, so from here on out, add this guy to whatever amount I'm able to stuff in side.

Speaking of which, as in every luggage test I do, I use two midsize roller suitcases that would need to be checked in at the airport (26 inches long, 16 wide, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that just barely fit in the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that fits easily (23L x 15W x 10D). I also include my wife's fancy overnight bag just to spruce things up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D). The blue duffle bag and the small, black, triangular-ish carry-on are bonus ones I use at times to fill in blanks (or fill extra-small spaces like the Polestar 2's trunk hole).

Here's the best I could do with the rigid cargo cover in place: all but the biggest roller bag. Four do fit width-wise, though, which is better than the Cadillacs CT4 and CT5 can manage.?

Here is that cargo cover. It's a typical rigid hatchback piece that you'll have to have the forethought to remove before max capacity can be used. It's the dreaded scenario of, "I'm picking people up at the airport, and they have way more stuff than I expected" (or if you prefer the alternative, "I'm picking people up at the airport, and I forgot to remove the damn cargo cover."

Once again, let's give a shout-out to the Mustang Mach-E for its simple and effective solution to this problem.?

So here it is maxed out. One of the medium bags and fancy bag couldn't fit, but the little black triangle bag and the blue duffle bag can fill in the blanks. Plus there's that other blue duffle bag hidden below.

This is less than you'd expect from a 14.3-cubic-foot trunk, but keep in mind, that volume goes to the roof/glass in a notchback/5-door like the Polestar 2. You can theoretically use the extra "air space," particularly for bigger, bulkier items, but stacking smaller items atop the luggage here would be problematic for a number of reasons. First, even the fancy bag was too big to fit up there. Second, you'll be blocking the view rearward, which I avoid doing in these tests. Third, and most important, you run the risk of something flying forward into the cabin when braking. We should all avoid having that happen.?

Going back over some past luggage tests of sedans, I'd wager the usable trunk area is something like 12 cubic-feet, with bonus space above, below and ...

... In the frunk! It's pretty small up there, smaller in fact than the underfloor storage in back. The little triangulish bag only kinda fit. Probably best to just stick the charge wire in there, or here's a thought ... how about EV makers start figuring out a way to put a space-saving spare up front? People are unlikely to use the frunk much, and it's not unheard of for cars to have their spares up front. I can think of the Yugo and original Acura NSX as two widely disparate examples.

And yes, cars should have spares. Run-flats are expensive and deliver problematic rides, cans of goo and air compressors are barely solutions, and do you really want to call and wait for AAA just to change a tire?

Again, just a thought.?

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

How fast is a Skyline R34?


156 mphWith 276 hp, the twin turbocharged 2.6 Liter 24v Inline 6 gasoline engine accelerates this Skyline GT-R to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 156 mph.Jul. 30, 2019Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) Tech Specs: Top Speed, Power ...

Sunday, January 2, 2022

What we know about Kia Sportage 2022

What to know before buying a GTR?


4 Things You Should Know (Before Buying a Used Nissan GTR)Repairing And Maintaining A Supercar Like The GTR Isn't Cheap. This is a trap many people fall into when they're looking at older, used supercars. ... Some GTRs Have Serious Transmission Issues. ... If You Buy A Track-Day GTR, It's Probably Been Through More Abuse Than You Think. ... You Should Expect To Pay A High Insurance Rate.Aug. 21, 20184 Things You Should Know (Before Buying a Used Nissan GTR ...

Saturday, January 1, 2022

Ford previews the next addition to its Western-themed King Ranch lineup


Ford buyers will soon have another Western-themed King Ranch-branded model to choose from. The company released a short preview video to announce the next addition to the range will make its debut on February 24.


Posted on Twitter, the six-second teaser asks more questions than it answers. It shows the outline of a car speeding towards the camera on a dirt road, and it cuts to a man's hand moving a dial on a center console. The w-shaped King Ranch emblem that has appeared on numerous models for nearly two decades is visible at the end of the film.?


While the video doesn't reveal the car's identity, there are several nameplates that we can safely rule out. Don't expect to see a King Ranch variant of the electric Mustang Mach-E, for example. It's not difficult to imagine a Bronco King Ranch, but the silhouette briefly shown at the beginning of the preview doesn't match the off-roader's. Bronco Sport? Yeah, it's possible, but its center console doesn't look like the one flashed in the video.




We're fairly certain the Explorer is next in line to receive the King Ranch treatment. If that's accurate, we expect the upmarket trim will receive a handful of specific exterior accents (like new-look wheels) plus brown leather upholstery and wood trim in the cabin. It won't be cheap, but it will offer motorists a relatively long list of standard equipment. For context, the well-equipped Expedition King Ranch starts at $72,735, a $22,740 increase over the base model.


We won't have to wait long to learn more. Ford will introduce its next King Ranch-badged model online tomorrow (Wednesday), and sales will likely start for the 2022 model year. When it lands, and again assuming it's indeed the Explorer, it will be joined in showrooms by a more rugged variant of the SUV badged either FX4 or Timberline.

Ford Explorer Information

What is the fastest 1 Litre car?


Ford's new 140 PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost is the most powerful 1.0-litre volume production car engine ever, delivering more power on a litre-for-litre basis than the engines powering the Bugatti Veyron or Ferrari 458 Speciale supercars.Jun. 18, 2014New 140 PS Ford Fiesta 1.0-litre EcoBoost is most powerful 1.0-litre ...