Author: Tabitha
The Spymasters’s intel gatherers report that the high-performance model is a foregone conclusion. Previous iterations of Chevrolet’s sports car have been available in ZO6 trim, including the current front-engine model that uses a 650-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V-8. The engine propelling the next-generation ZO6 is rumored to be a 4.2-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, called the Blackwing, that makes 550 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque when installed in the Cadillac CT6-V sedan. There are rumblings that the ZO6 version could be rated as high as 800 horsepower. It might also be mated to a 10-speed automated manual transmission, which is two more…
Most folks, The Sleuth included, expected to hear that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will replace the long-serving Dodge Grand Caravan minivan with a reduced-content (lower-priced) version of the Chrysler Pacifica for the 2020 model year. However, he wonders why FCA is dropping the well-known Grand Caravan badge in favor of the Plymouth name that was sent packing two decades ago. With overall minivan sales in deep decline, it might have made more sense to retain a familiar name, rather than break in one that will be unfamiliar to millennials. As with FCA’s earlier replacement of the perfectly acceptable (and recognizable)…
If you own a cool car and/or want some cool footwear when behind the wheel, then check out the Tod’s Gommino moccasin-style shoes from Mr Porter. Originally designed in Italy more than 35 years ago, each pair is constructed using high-quality sand suede material that’s backed by soft leather. The rubber soles have been specifically created for grip, whether you’re working the gas, brake and clutch pedals, or just out walking around. When not in use, they can be stored in the included dust bag. The Gommino shoes are priced at $440, but you can also shop the full range…
Sometimes the least-expensive auto-related items are among the most clever. Take the EPFamily 3D Cool Car Mug. This 14.5-ounce porcelain beverage holder is made in the shape of four different types of tires stacked one on top of each other. The mug’s extra-large handle is also ideal for those drinking with their gloves on, whether in the shop or outdoors. The Cool Car Mug is also safe for microwave heating, although hand washing is recommended. At $15 each, you might be temped to get more than one. Order from www.amazon.com.
Just because you’re on the job site or on a weekend adventure doesn’t mean you must be limited to roadside dining establishments. The Mr. Steak Infrared Portable Grill cooks up whatever you want, wherever you decide to pull over. The 25x16x16-inch unit’s 14,000 BTU single burner can reach 1,000 F across 165 square inches of cooking space. You supply the one-pound propane cylinders. Features include a stainless-steel grate, electronic ignition, removable grease tray and a silicone-covered handle. Once finished, the non-skid legs fold up for easier carrying and storage. Order this item for $230 from www.basspro.com or purchase directly from…
On hot days, your vehicle’s air conditioning helps you and the front-seat passenger(s) stay comfortable. That might not be true for those seated behind you, however. The Noggle was designed to help by directing cool air in summer (or warm air in winter) to the second or third rows. The colorfully designed flexible hoses attach to one of your air vents without the need for tools. Noggles are available in six-foot lengths for forward-facing passengers, eight feet for rearward-facing infants, and 10-foot-long versions for minivans and utility vehicles with three rows of seats. Prices start at $40. Make your selection…
An electric car that can be repeatedly raced at a drag strip or lapped at speed around a race track without overheating or prematurely draining its batteries, or both, is coming later this year in the guise of the all-electric Porsche Taycan, reports the You Tube channel Fully Charged. The car was track-tested in southern Germany in August, during which time it was driven to 200 km/h (124 mph) from zero 26 successive times on a single charge, with a sub-10-second average time. The sports-car automaker said it paid particular attention to improving motor design and battery cooling. The two…
Standard equipment on the 2020 Audi S6 includes a pair of electric turbochargers that virtually eliminate dreaded turbo lag, the time it takes a conventional turbocharger to make noticeable boost pressure (power) after the throttle is depressed. Audi announced in July that each new S6 will feature two electric turbos that make boost in 250 milliseconds, or one-quarter of second. The sport sedan’s performance is expected to at least match that of the 2019 V-8-powered S6 it replaces, but will do so with two fewer cylinders and more than a liter less engine displacement. With no small help from the…
The Sleuth’s sources report that the automaker will soon put the EQV people mover into production and that it will be available in North America by late 2019 or early 2020. The new model, one of a number of electric vehicles the automaker is developing under the EQ banner, comes with a front-axle-attached motor rated at 204 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. Expected range is 250 miles. Topping up the lithium-ion batteries to 80 percent (from 10 percent) at a commercial quick-charge station will take about 45 minutes. Both commercial vans and eight-passenger non-commercial versions will be available. The…
By that, The Sleuth means that a four-door “coupe” is a definite go and will launch in the summer of 2020 as a 2021 model. Details are sketchy, but the vehicle’s QX55 designation indicates it will be based on the QX50 tall wagon’s platform, but will have a slinkier fastback roofline not unlike what BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have created as offshoots for their respective X4, GLE and new-for-2020 Q3 models. It’s also likely that the QX50’s 268-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be the base powerplant, while a plug-in hybrid system yielding more power along with improved fuel efficiency…