Author: Tabitha
What began as the military-grade High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV, or Humvee) nearly four decades ago became the civilian Hummer H1 in 1998 when General Motors purchased the brand. Other Hummer vehicles were spawned, such as the H2 (based on the Silverado pickup platform) and the H3 (which was based on the Colorado). Hummer became a symbol of gluttonous gas-guzzling excess, and production ended a decade ago as the financial crisis took hold. So, what better way to relaunch Hummer as an electric GMC pickup? Still excessive in The Sleuth’s eyes, the new Hummer has eyebrow-raising specs. How about…
Ford’s recent announcement cancelling its raucous-running pony car was met with disappointment by some, no doubt, but a new Mustang model just might do in a pinch. The Mustang Mach 1 (a name first applied to 1960s-era models) that launches for 2021 has a 5.0-liter V-8 with 20 more ponies than the standard 460-horsepower GT. The GT350’s 5.2-liter V-8 makes 526. That’s a sizeable disparity but, like the GT350, the Mach 1 is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission (a 10-speed automatic is optional) and the Mach 1’s suspension and other components come from the GT350. Best of all, Mach…
The Sleuth likes what he sees so far for Acura’s 2022 anchor model. The seven-passenger MDX utility vehicle is longer, lower and wider and gets a new platform to which an equally new front suspension is attached. Compared with the current model, the wheelbase has been extended by three inches, which increases legroom for second- and third-row passengers. Powertrain choices start with a 3.5-liter V-6 producing 290 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Available with the new Type S trim is a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet. A 10-speed automatic transmission is linked to both…
The Sleuth sees a growing trend away from genteel grille shapes to more rugged-looking noses. This approach is exemplified by the latest Honda Ridgeline, which comes with a more dramatic front end for 2021. As well, the truck makes available 18-inch bronze wheels that appear far less benign than the standard wheels. Buyers can also order black fender flares and side graphics, but they likely won’t fool anyone into thinking the Ridgeline is ready to take on the off-road-ready Ford F-150 Raptor or new Ram 1500 TRX. Unchanged is the pickup’s 280-horsepower V-6, but a nine-speed automatic transmission replaces the…
The Sleuth confirms that the Japan-based automaker will introduce its first battery-electric model to its home country plus the European continent. However there’s some confusion regarding the launch of the MX-30 in North America. It seems that the battery’s 124-mile range — far less than competing electrics — is insufficient for U.S. and Canadian driving needs. Instead, a gasoline-electric hybrid MX-30 is expected here sometime in 2021. The system consists of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder plus an electric motor that assists the gasoline engine, but does not operate independently from it (referred to as a mild hybrid). The MX-30 is roughly…
This special Mustang — equipped with a very unique high-revving 5.2-liter V-8 — has wowed Mustang lovers with its raucous exhaust note and 529 horsepower. All good things must come to an end, however, and after the 2020 model year, buyers will only get the GT500 (with a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8), which could be considered a GT350 but with a lot more power (750). The end of the GT350 also means one less manual-transmission model on the market as the GT500 comes only with a seven paddle-shift transmission. The GT500 will set buyers back $74,000, or about $12,500 more than…
It’s no secret that the small-and-tall-wagons (crossovers) segment is one of the hottest. The group includes the Subaru Crosstrek that receives a makeover and a bigger slice of performance pie for 2021. There’s a new grille and a new front bumper with darkened cladding that matches the wheel arches and rear-bumper end caps. There’s also a new engine option: A 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The carryover 2.0-liter base engine is rated at 152/145. A continuously variable transmission is standard with the 2.5 and optional with the 2.0, which continues to be available with a…
Love ’em or hate ’em (and The Sleuth is in the thumbs-up camp) both these performance-oriented 2021 Bimmers will sport enlarged (and seriously expressive) kidney-shaped grilles when they go on sale next spring. Each model comes with a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine that produces 473 horsepower in standard livery, or 503 horsepower in the more potent Competition versions. Both manual and automatic transmissions will be available. The M3 and M4 have busy faces, which The Sleuth happens to like. The highest performing models make more than 500 horsepower from their six-cylinder engines. PHOTO: BMW
The Sleuth is bowled over by the automaker’s first electric vehicle for North America. The sharp-looking 2021 ID.4 midsize wagon is built on a platform that will support future VW electric cars heading our way over the next few years. The ID.4’s 288 battery cells are encased beneath the body. The motor, which makes 201 horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque, is uniquely positioned between the rear wheels. The first ID.4’s will be rear-wheel-drive and offer a maximum range of up to 250 miles. A model with 302 horsepower and all-wheel-drive arrives later in the model year. Volkswagen says the…
The Volkswagen Taos (named for a town in New Mexico) will join a compact small-wagon segment that includes, among others, the Nissan Kicks, Hyundai Venue and Jeep Renegade. The Taos is about 10 inches shorter than the VW Tiguan (although built using a shortened version of that platform) and will come in front- and all-wheel-drive variants. The Taos will resemble the Tiguan-like Volkswagen Tharu sold outside of North America. The engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (exact output is currently unknown) and an eight-speed automatic transmission is also standard. The Taos is likely to arrive by mid-2021 with a Sleuth-estimated…