Author: Tabitha
A few weeks back, The Spy Guy reported the imminent demise of the Ford Taurus and he also mentioned that the futures of other models-with-trunks were “on the bubble.” Those bubbles have since burst with the announcement that the Fusion is going away after 2019 and that the next-generation 2019 Focus will only be available in hatchback form. These moves are a direct result of seismic shifts in buyer preferences toward tall wagons, leaving once-popular compact and midsize sedans gathering dust on dealer lots. Ford will soon join Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in abandoning both those categories entirely, while pack…
The Sleuth wonders how many owners of late-model General Motors and Volvo vehicles will sign on to the Amazon Key in-car’s parcel delivery service. This program allows authorized delivery personnel to unlock your car’s hatch or trunk and place whatever you’ve ordered inside. Of course Amazon Key includes a number of safeguards and smart-phone monitoring to ensure nothing goes wrong. Still, just like the company’s Key in-home service, you’ll have to accept the fact that a perfect stranger will be invading your personal space while you’re not around. Amazon also has to realize that the first time something goes awry,…
If you had your heart set on buying a new Range Rover Evoque two-door, but were saddened because that model is no longer in production, The Sleuth has good news for you. For 2019, a Range Rover SV coupe will be available, loaded to the gills, and with a supercharged 5.0-litre V-8 that puts out 557 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. The automaker claims that the four-wheel-drive SV will pounce to 60 mph (96 km/h) from rest in 5.0 seconds on its way to a 165-mph (265 km/h) top speed. The SV’s interior has two rows of bucket seats…
Ford recently announced that the 350-horsepower all-wheel-drive version of the Focus hatchback would cease production in the first quarter of 2018. Although the hot-hatch-loving Sleuth took the news hard, his sources are telling him not too worry: The next-generation Focus that will launch for the 2019 model year will eventually include an RS model. Rumour has it that a 48-volt motor/generator will assist the car’s four-cylinder gasoline engine to produce an estimated 400 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. It should be noted that Ford will also employ similar technology in the F-150 as well as in the Escape and…
If you’re thinking about building a classic Model T and Model A Ford kit car, consider ordering one from a company with more than 30 years in the business. Brookville sells steel coupe, roadster and pickup bodies, along with the necessary bits and pieces to complete your project. The company will also sell you a turn-key vehicle if you choose not to build it yourself. Base prices range from $3,500 for the roadster pickup body, up to $25,000 for the 1932 Model A three-window coupe body. Check out the complete line at www.brookvilleroadster.com.
Laid-Back of Victor, Idaho, sells an assortment of old-school-style products, including signs, accessories and vintage-look apparel. Although the themes vary, the company’s passion is clearly automotive-focused, judging by the variety of men’s, women’s and children’s T-Shirts. The company has recently released its 2018 collection that includes classic pickup trucks, Bonneville salt-flats racers and the Pontiac Trans Am Bandit Edition. You can choose from a variety of well-known classic-car designs from the 1950 to the 1980s, with each available in assorted colors and sizes. Prices range from $20-$25. Details at www.laidbackusa.com.
The Sleuth’s intel file contains info about Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Ram truck division concocting a special high-performance pickup that could be on the market for the 2019 model year. Dubbed the Rebel TRX Hellcat, the truck will be fitted with the same supercharged 707-horspower V-8 that’s used in the Challenger and Charger Hellcat cars as well as the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. It also appears the TRX Hellcat will be positioned as a head-to-head off-road competitor to the Ford F-150 Raptor that currently runs with a 450-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. It’s also a sign that spending big cash for what…
It certainly appears that way, sayeth The Spymaster. Brabham, a long-revered name in Formula One auto racing, has been regularly tickling The Sleuth’s fancy since mid-February with fuzzy images of what appears to be a high-end sports car. Unlike manufacturers of similar exotica from the likes of Koenigsegg, Pagani and Spyker, to name just a few, Brabham has a storied pedigree behind the name. The late Sir Jack Brabham was a three-time Grand Prix champion who built his own racecars, and son David is currently a successful sports car racer. He also heads up Brabham Automotive, a company that’s launching…
RetroSound sells old-look radios that are filled to the gills with modern electronics. Keeping up with times, the Long Beach series’ 25-watt units also come with Bluetooth connectivity, which allows for hands-free phone use and wireless audio streaming. There are also two USB ports for plugging in your music, plus two additional auxiliary inputs. The Long Beach is SiriusXM-ready for U.S. residents (subscription required). Select from a variety of styles for $400 from www.retromanufacturing.com.
Some of the easiest bicycle racks to install are the ones that take advantage of your vehicle’s trailer-hitch receiver. The Curt tray-style racks are compatible with 1.25- or 2.0-inch receivers and can handle two bicycles with a total weight of up to 90 pounds (double that amount for the four-bike model). The tilting feature gives you access to your trunk or liftgate with bikes securely attached to the tray. When not in use, the rack folds out of the way against your vehicle. Pricing starts at about $250 for the dual-bike rack and $465 for the four-bike version. You can…