Welcome to the Hooniverse News! As always, this is a weekly recap of some of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or bull. There’s also just a little opinion of mine because I can. This week:
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The 8 Series is officially back
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Chevrolet builds new crossover, calls it the Blazer
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Porsche invests in Rimac for future EV collabs
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Mazda confirms new updates for 2019 MX-5
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Ford teases one-off Mustang honoring WWII Eagle Squadrons
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What’s your automotive news?
2019 BMW M850i xDrive
BMW has finally dropped official pictures and full details on the 8 Series revival 20 years in the making, and as they do, it was shown like an hour before last week’s news went live while I was busy at work. Thanks, BMW. You’ve probably seen everything there is to see about it by now, but if you’ve been actively avoiding it and thought you’d be safe from it here… sorry.
The 8 Series is back as the new range-topper offering their highest level of luxury and tech in a car that, in this spec at least, is quite fast. The last 8 Series was all those things as well so it’s looking like a faithful revival.
It’s a big car (as the memes will tell you) but technically shorter than the 6 Series Coupe it replaces. BMW attempted to slim the car a bit with a low-slung design, an elongated silhouette with slim window pillars, a long wheelbase, and a wide track. It has a nose that’s described as elaborate and jutting and the M850i in particular gets even larger air openings. It comes standard with full LED headlights with BMW LaserLight technology.
The interior design is par the course for a high(er)-end BMW with a clear arrangement of controls and a digital gauge cluster. Front seat occupants are treated to new sport seats which offer long distance comfort plus standard Merino Individual leather upholstery. The two rear seats have a 50:50 split fold for added backseat comfort.
Some of the car’s numerous features and available extras include enhanced front seat cooling, new cabin accent lighting that can pulsate and change colors in certain situations (like an incoming call, for some reason), a standard Harman Kardon audio system with sixteen speakers and a digital amplifier, and the optional Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System with fully active 16-channel amplifier with an output of 1,375 watts, dynamic equalizing and 16 partly illuminated speakers… you know, just in case a sixteen-speaker Harman Kardon system wasn’t enough. Oh and the gear shift level and other controls can be opted in glass.
Now for the good stuff. The M850i xDrive is powered by a 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8 with enough tinkering done to up the power to 523 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is channeled through an eight-speed automatic with wider gear ratios to keep revs low at high speeds and quicker shifts thanks to optimized hydraulics control.
The xDrive all-wheel-drive system this particular model comes standard with is much like the systems we’ve seen in newer models, but slightly improved in ways I won’t bother discussing. All you need to know is it can completely disengage the front axle at will so you can have good ole RWD whenever you want.
When you let xDrive do its thing though, this 4,478-lb grand tourer accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and goes until the limiter kicks in at 155 mph.
The new 8 Series was still in development as the M8 GTE/GTLM took to the track and they swear the road car benefits from it in the chassis department. The highlights are the double-wishbone front axle and a five-link rear axle, sharper electromechanical steering, super responsive M Adaptive Suspension with electronically-controlled dampers, rear-axle steering, active roll stabilization, and a powerful braking system developed exclusively for the 8. In short, it can put the power down and move like a car its size shouldn’t.
Maybe. We’ll find out when it goes on sale this fall.
[Source: BMW]
2019 Chevrolet Blazer
If you told me Chevrolet was turning the Camaro into an SUV as we all know is inevitable and showed me this picture, I wouldn’t have doubted you for a second. Chevrolet was in a money-printing mood so they’ve brought back a familiar name for a new “sporty” SUV because it’s what the people want. This new mid-size SUV finds a gap between Equinox and the Traverse and certainly emphasizes the ‘S’ part of SUV more than the other two or any SUV in their lineup.
That sportiness starts and ends with the styling, which they describe as the “boldest, most progressive expression of the Chevrolet crossover design theme”. It sports a wide stance, tight proportions, a high beltline, and “dramatic” sculpting to give it a toned and athletic appearance. And apparently it looked at what Toyota were doing with their grilles and thought “yes, that’s a great idea”. But besides that, it manages to be the less offensive-looking thing GM has designed recently.
Inside, the dash looks very similar to that of the Camaro, all the way down to the 8-inch color touchscreen that’ll probably force you to see your passenger’s crotch in the screen glare. It’s real, I swear. Other sporty interior features include padded knee area, grab handles on the door, and… wait for it… round air vents. I never thought I’d live to see the day when SUVs come with that.
Power comes from a standard 2.5-liter I4 engine rated at 193 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque or an optional 3.6-liter V6 offering 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. The transmission of choice is a nine-speed automatic which channels power to the front or all four wheels depending on the model. The more well-optioned Blazers will get a more sophisticated twin-clutch AWD system that may help it not get stuck in grass.
Because they assume people will be towing with this and not the Silverado HD they bought “just in case”, they gave it some towing assistance features like Hitch Guidance and Hitch View to help take advantage of its 4,500-pound towing capacity (V6 only).
You’ll have until early 2019 to decide if it’s the right crossover for you or if you should pretend this doesn’t exist. The pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but it’ll be described as the “best value in its class” once it is.
[Source: Chevrolet]
Porsche invests in Rimac
One of the most underrated players in the electric car space is Rimac Automobili from Croatia. Their EV supercars have probably been best known as the latest car that Richard Hammond crashed, but they deserve to be noted for their groundbreaking performance. Porsche agrees, which is why they purchased a 10% stake in the company.
“By developing the purely electric two-seater super sports cars, like the ‘Concept One’ or ‘C Two,’ as well as core vehicle systems, Rimac has impressively demonstrated its credentials in the field of electromobility,” said Lutz Meschke, an important dude with a big important-sounding title. “We feel that Rimac’s ideas and approaches are extremely promising, which is why we hope to enter into close collaboration with the company in the form of a development partnership.”
Rimac’s ideas include making an EV go stupid fast. The Concept One produced 1,224 horsepower and 1,180 lb.-ft. of torque which allowed for a 2.5-second 0-60 time and a top speed of 220 mph. The upcoming Concept Two is making 1,914 horsepower and 1,696 lb.-ft. of torque and does the 60 sprint in 1.85 seconds. The promised top speed is 258 mph.
Their battery tech is also on par with the big budget automotive giants. The C-One had a some 200-mile range on a full charge and had quick charging capabilities. The C-Two is expected to have over 400 miles on tap.
Rimac is an exciting company to watch and the fact that Porsche is partnering with them means shit’s getting real.
[Source: Autoweek]
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata
A Japanese publication recently reported on some updates for the 2019 MX-5 that we could only assume were true based on how detailed the report was. Well a week later, Mazda made it official.
The biggest change is under the hood. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder gets thoroughly reworked to produce 181 horsepower and 151 lb.-ft. of torque. It has a richer torque curve throughout the entire rev range and that range now tops out at 7,500 RPM. The highlights of the powertrain updates are a reduction in internal mass and friction, reduction in exhaust loss, improved combustion, dual-mass flywheel, and a new final drive ratio in automatic models.
And yes, the steering wheel now telescopes. Additionally, the doors are easier to open, the seat levers have been revised, and the cup holders are better. Mazda also added a brown canvas top option and new black metallic 17″ wheels. It also gets a new standard rearview camera and newly available features such as Traffic Sign Recognition and Smart City Brake Support among other safety features gained in the higher trim levels.
But most importantly, it has round air vents so you know it’s a real sports car.
[Source: Mazda]
Eagle Squadron Mustang GT
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is coming up, so you know what that means. Ford does a one-off every year with a unique aviation theme for an auction that benefits EAA’s youth education programs. They’ve been doing it for over a decade now with the Mustang… until last year when they decided it should be done with a Raptor for the F-22 Raptor theme. This year though they’re going back to their roots with a Mustang that’s being teased here.
The subjects of this year’s theme are the Eagle Squadrons, a group of American volunteer fighter pilots in three squadrons who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II prior to America’s involvement. Pro drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. and his RTR brand were involved, so you know where this is going.
The Eagle Squadron Mustang GT features a Ford Performance supercharger which kicks out 700 horsepower, an RTR carbon wide-body kit, and a Tactical Performance suspension kit.
As for the theme, it sports the same kind of camo you’d expect from an RAF Spitfire in WWII complete with yellow accents. white tail stripe, and the Eagle Squadron emblem on the roof. It also wears tail number EN783 which, according to The American Air Museum, was on a MkVb Spitfire that served in the No. 71 Squadron and the 334th Eagle Squadrons.
Before the Eagle Squadron Mustang gets auctioned off in Wisconsin, Vaughn Gittin Jr. will give it a dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s fitting not just because of the RAF ties, but also because the Eagle Squadrons would’ve flown over the fields of Goodwood all those years ago.
Sadly this is the only picture released so far, but this is a one-off show car I can’t wait to see more of.
[Source: Ford]
What’s your automotive news?
That’s all I’ve got for you this week, so now it’s your turn. If you saw anything, fixed something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything even remotely car related that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
Have a good weekend.
[Image © 2018 Hooniverse/Greg Kachadurian]
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