An Automotive Engineer's Point of View – News and Reviews
Buick sits within a narrow spectrum of GM’s wide range of brands, striving to deliver products that fall between its mainstream (Chevrolet) and premium (Cadillac) brands in terms of features, style, and power. And while the formula for its longevity often involves plenty of shared parts with its platformmates, the Buick Enclave still manages something unique and somewhat unexpected.
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The BMW X5’s 25th anniversary is celebrated with a number of premium finishes and features, one of which is the hefty xOffroad Package. This may sound like an odd inclusion, but when the going gets dirty, the BMW has turned to the X5 for four generations.
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This year’s 4xFall event, presented by Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, takes us to Empire – a small town that many skiiers and downhill mountain bikers will pass through on their way to Winter Park/ Trestle Bike Park from I-70. If you haven’t already made a pit stop, it may be worth your time to take a pause in one of the coffee and food shops before heading up the pass or hitting the highway.
Our specific drive route included a mountain highway segment, followed by a relatively easy but rugged and steep off-road trail: Jones Pass. The varying terrain helped demonstrate where each of these vehicles landed on the off-roading vs. on-road vs. value spectrum, with each offering its own story for their adventurous-minded customers.
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With just a glance at the simply designed key fob or a passing look at the car’s hatchback profile, it’s easy to “see” just a typical Corolla and overlook the enhanced hardware packed within this car’s bulging fenders. Indeed, the Toyota GR Corolla shares components with its lesser namesake, but make no mistake, those two additional letters bring a totally different car, along with its own production line.
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The Civic adds another element to Honda’s multifaceted, once-small sedan with the Hybrid model. Whereas the Civic Si offers a sporty yet practical side and the Civic Type R shows off its inherent racing ability, the Hybrid delivers not just the expected efficiency bump, but it also adds a class-above level of driving ease and refinement.
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The new Toyota 4Runner provides exactly what the previous generation needed. And while the improvements are primarily aimed at on-road performance, the latest generation maintains the 4Runner tradition of always being ready for an off-road adventure.
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The new Lexus TX three-row crossover offers seating for six (or seven) adults and provides enough cargo space for a weekend family road trip. The most notable part is that it maintains the level of refinement long expected from the brand – even on performance-minded F Sport models, such as this example. Despite being the new kid in the showroom, the TX never strays far from what is familiar or expected.
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The Mazda MX-5 Miata has to be an incredible car; in both a declarative and exclamatory sense. The sporty roadster has developed an incredibly strong following over the past 35 years (and we can expect a fifth generation soon), yet, on the business front, its contracting market space tolerates zero mistakes.
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Entering its eighth year, the Honda Ridgeline continues to impress with its practicality and overall handling performance. The recent addition of the TrailSport trim adds to the truck’s adventurous spirit with its off-road-minded and value-focused feature upgrades.
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The heart may want the brand to be about the rally-inspired WRX, but in reality, this new Forester Hybrid may be most deserving of the limelight.
Continue reading “Quick Drive: Subaru Forester Hybrid”