In just two decades the notion of flying commercial has gone from nostalgic to traumatic. Seeing unprecedented demand for their Symmetry Flight Deck and the comfortable cabins, Gulfstream has delivered the 100th example of the G500 & G600 class.
The G500 was unveiled in 2018 with its big brother G600 following the next year. Their rigorous flight-test schedule went beyond what the industry was expecting, and far beyond what the FAA needed to give it a perfect rating. They embarked on a world tour of 22 cities that spanned over 130,000 nautical miles. More than 60-speed records are held between the two models, which have amassed more than 25,000 hours and 13,000 landings.
The cabin is unlike anything you have experienced before. Touchscreens are within reach of every seat, as the world passes under 14 panoramic windows. Because the air is never recirculated, you will breathe easy because it is pressurized to a lower altitude than competitors and much lower than commercial aircraft. We have several great options for private aviation, so tell us your best Gulfstream experience in the comments below.
Image (C) Gulfstream Aerospace
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Nothing beats the looks of a classic Targa, and that’s why collectors seem willing to pay any amount to restore and enjoy them. But what if we told you there was a way to experience the best aspects of a classic 911 along with every modern amenity? If that piques your interest, this is how to buy the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition.
Porsche doesn’t use the term Heritage very often. So it is with great reverence that each example is assemled by their Exclusive Manufaktur department. The same dedicated team responsible for the Turbo S Exclusive are not rushed when crafting even the smallest details by hand.
Because this is the first Targa of the 992-series, only 992 cars will be offered. Only Porsche’s most successful dealers will have an allotment, and they will only have four colors to choose from. White accents are retro-inspired, and the car’s badges and logos are gold (not gold plated). No detail is too small, as the grille badge is engraved with all four Porsche heritage models.
Inside you are treated to more leather than any lesser 911 along with the return of corduroy inserts for the seats. This classic touch holds you in place during intense corners and cotton is much more sustainable than microfiber.
If you haven’t seen a modern Targa transform, the rear glass literally ingests the roof panel in an elegant mechanical dance. Sure you trade off a little cargo room, but the secret sauce is what lies beneath. A 3-liter uses twin turbos to offer 443 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque to all wheels. All options (including Sport Chrono) are standard, so your only decision here is choosing the 7-speed manual with locking differential or the 8-speed PDK with E-diffs. The latter is capable of reaching 60 in 3.6 seconds if you don’t need three pedals.
So now that you know the important details you must find a dealer able to order one. It’s not a coincidence that most successful Porsche dealers allow us to represent them. Strike while the iron is hot because these cars will become the centerpiece of amazing collections like yours.
Brackley Technical Centre is the new home of the AMG Petronas F1 team, and they are ready for the championship. Public testing is only days away in Bahrain, so sir Lewis Hamilton’s 2021 Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance has been unveiled. Next year will see an all-new aero package from the FIA, but that is no reason for them to rest on their laurels.
Burning the midnight oil, engineers met this year’s downforce changes without approaching the team’s cost cap. The Mercedes-Benz star has been replaced by the AMG logo, accented by burgundy from their Principal Partner INEOS. Most major parts are carried over from the W11 car, with new adaptations to meet this year’s rulebook. Changes were mandated to the floorpans, brake inlets, and diffuser to slow down all teams.
Therefore, the W12 incorporates advancements to the engine, cooling system, and other critical areas. Of course, they are playing these cards close to the chest, so it will make for an entertaining season to say the least. We hope Sir Lewis can find some time to finish development on the AMG ONE, so stay with us for all your Mercedes-AMG news.
Images (C) Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited
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In order to power the second century of a historic automaker, Bentley’s leading ladies power their “Beyond 100” strategy. Digital Apprentice Lilly Hulse, Manufacturing Systems Manager Mariam Zahedi and Head of Diversity Anne-Kathrin Altendorf were nominated by their coworkers as inspiring role models.
The Inspiring Automotive Women Awards for 2020 is produced by the Automotive 30% Club. Congratulations to this trio for empowering other women in the automotive workforce. Their efforts can be found in every new Bentley for sale, so click the button to find yours.
Also, if you can’t decide between the Continental GT W12 or V8, the Bentayga V8 has been awarded Luxury SUV of the year.
Decorating for the Holidays is a perfect way to social distance. So if you are in the market for a new luxury crossover, the 2021 Infiniti QX55 Carigami can be yours. This fun project allows you and your family to transform folded paper into a 1:27 scale replica.
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While it shares much of the mechanicals with the QX50, the square-back roof was chopped to make a 4-door coupe. It makes use of their variable-compression four-cylinder that offers 268 horsepower. Inside you will enjoy a combination of 7″ and 8″ screens along with 2-tone leather. The latest QX represents the best value in the market for luxury family haulers, so click the button below for more details.
The sound that exits the exhaust of a Porsche 911 GT3 is best described as music to our ears. Porsche has taken that statement quite literally with their newly designed limited edition soundbar. The Porsche Design Studio’s 911 Special Edition Soundbar is presented using an actual rear muffler off of a Porsche 911 GT3. An aesthetically pleasing black gloss finish has been added to the soundbar to compliment any home.
The system includes Dolby Atmos, 300 watts of power, and 4-K compatible HDMI connection with the ability to stream audio through Spotify Connect and Chromecast. A white base plate holds the black GT3 muffler, making the contemporary color combination an eye capturing example. The Porsche Design Studio 911 Soundbar will be released in December and limited to 500 pieces for the price of $4,750. A collector piece for any Porsche or audio enthusiast looking for a unique addition for home entertainment.
Visitors to the London Art Museum were greeted by a wild 2-wheeler yesterday. With graceful lines and the perfect rake, the 2021 Triumph Trident is a stunning middleweight roadster. You can definitely tell its British thanks to the minimalist nature along with classic cues. The original Triumph was a staple of late-60’s Mods & Rockers.
The second generation in the ’90s tried to revive the same emotions, but times had changed. Now the 3rd generation is taking the brand into uncharted territory. Their website says we are looking at the future of Triumph and their innovative 3-cylinder engine. They are not dishing out the details just yet, but as soon as they do you will see them here first.
The Ariya is similar in size to Nissan’s best-selling Rogue crossover, but aimed at a new audience. The all-electric compact SUV will come in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive (dual motor) versions. It offers two powertrain packages, a 63-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack mated to a single 215-horsepower (hp) electric motor or an 87 kWh battery with 389 total hp from two motors. Range is estimated to be 267 miles for the smaller battery and 379 for the larger one, based on the generous WLTP test cycle. In the U.S., Nissan said it hopes to exceed 300 miles of range with the larger battery in a two-wheel drive configuration. Pricing in the U.S. will be “around $40,000,” according to Nissan.
Nissan’s next EV
Inside, the Ariya concept had a minimalist dash with two large (12.3-inch) display screens and haptic-touch control buttons. It will come with the latest version of Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 that will allow some hands-off-the-wheel driving. The Ariya will launch in Japan mid-2021 and arrive in the U.S. market before the end of next year, joining a crowded electric crossover field.
The Ariya will be Nissan’s first full electric model since the Leaf was introduced 10 years ago, but represents the tip of the iceberg for a Nissan new model push, according to COO Ashwani Gupta.
“The Ariya, a key model in Nissan’s plan to roll out 10 new models in 20 months, demonstrates our commitment to meeting customer demand for crossovers with the most advanced electrified, automated and connected technologies,” Gupta said. “The company expects sales of its EVs and E-power electrified models to be more than one million units a year by the end of fiscal 2023. The Ariya will play a significant role in attaining that goal.”
A New Leaf in Nissan’s EV Strategy
Following the Leaf is one challenge for the Ariya, since Nissan has sold almost 500,000 units worldwide during the past decade. But the real target has to be the Tesla Model Y, which was introduced this year, but has yet to take off in sales. Unlike the Ariya, which has the profile of traditional crossover, the Model Y looks more like an expanded sedan. Nissan said the key attribute for the Ariya will be “sports car-like power,” which translates into 0-to-60 mph performance in the 5.1-second range.
The Ariya has two large displays, but otherwise a minimalist approach (RHD model show)
Nissan is also promoting the technology that will be available in the Ariya, a logical tie-in with an watershed vehicle like this. Featured will be Nissan’s next-generation ProPilot Assist 2.0 advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that monitors driver attention to enable hands-off single-lane highway operation. The Ariya will also have a one-pedal operation mode that allows a driver to start, accelerate and decelerate to a stop using only the accelerator pedal.
Among the ADAS included in Nissan Safety Shield 360 are automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and high beam assist. Other technology offered will be Nissan’s Intelligent Around View Monitor and Intelligent Forward Collision Warning.
Nissan is moving to over-the-air (OTA) updates on Ariya firmware to keep its software current. It will also include the Amazon Alexa app as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to integrate the operator’s smartphone into the vehicle.
Design Elements
More technology means more connectivity
The Ariya represents a new design language for Nissan EVs, which it has labeled Timeless Japanese Futurism. It appears to be a refinement of its existing design patterns externally. Inside, the flat floor enabled by the EV platform and thin-profile Zero Gravity seats make for a more spacious cabin than is found in current ICE models.
Nissan Ariya Specifications
Specs for the Ariya could change by the time the car arrives in the U.S. next year, but this is Nissan’s current configuraton.
Model configurations – Front-wheel drive (FWD) standard and long-range; all-wheel drive (AWD) standard and long-range
Passengers – Two-row, five-passenger
Drive options – FWD or AWD
Platform – New Alliance CMF-EV
Powertrain – Single (FWD) or dual (AWD) electric motors (Externally Excited Synchronous Motors, EESM)
Back in March, GM’s CEO Mary Barra announced their new Ultium Battery technology. It is a joint project with LG to offer a modular design capable of 200 kWh at 800 volts. Their goal is a range of 400 miles in city driving, and the first example will be the Cadillac Lyriq. While the CT6 was a great car, it had to be discontinued to make way for the future.
Last year she mentioned that Cadillac will be the starting point for GM to phase out gas and become an EV-only automaker. In case you forgot, Cadillac did offer the ELR as a luxury version of the Chevy Volt. I thought it was a great car but the press ridiculed it to death. Next Thursday at 7 p.m. (Eastern) we will see the future of GM’s flagship brand.
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Often news comes not from corporate press releases, but secondary material. Such is the case with General Motors electric vehicle product plan, which has dribbled out in individual announcements and teasers, but was finally drawn together in the company’s 2019 Sustainability Report that was released this month.
The Cadillac Lyriq will be the launch of the brand’s EV push
The document lays out a 12-EV strategy that would take GM from a one trick pony with its Chevrolet Bolt EV to a broad lineup of vehicles unmatched by any other in the American market. There are rumors of additional models beyond the 12 announced ones, which is logical given the flexible nature of the EV platform GM has developed.
Each of GM’s four brands would have a piece of the EV plan, but the most significant and broadest product lineup will be allocated to Cadillac as it assumes the role of GM’s leader in EVs.
The timing of the introduction of the new EV is spread over the next three models years will the bulk of them coming in the 2023-24 model years. Not surprising, they also are heavy on SUV/crossover models, tapping into the most popular segments in the current market.
Cadillac’s Five-Prong Approach
Cadillac has been designated by GM as its lead electric vehicle division, possibly indicating a reluctant acknowledgement of the Tesla strategy that started with a premium sedan as its lead volume product after seeding the market with a low-volume sports car.
Cadillac will be the first to use GM’s new EV platform
Cadillac will start its EVolution with the introduction of the 2022 Lyriq. The midsize crossover has been treasured in multiple images during the past several months. Its official launch was pushed back by the pandemic but now is scheduled for August 6. It also sets the nomenclature pattern for upcoming Cadillac EVs, using “iq.” In addition, it will be one of the first products to use the new GM Ultium batteries.
The following year (2023) Cadillac will get a flagship product, which they describe as a “high-performance, ultra-luxury sedan,” the Celestiq, designed to be virtually hand built in low volumes. An Escalade-size electric SUV also will join the lineup that year. In 2024 two more crossover/SUVs will join Cadillac’s EV lineup—probably a compact crossover similar in size to the XT4 and an extra-large, three-row (Escalade ESV-size) SUV. All of the Cadillac EVs are expected to be built in Michigan, most in the Detroit-Hamtramck plant that has been dedicated to electric vehicle production.
Chevrolet Expands the Bolt Brand
Next year, GM’s volume division will freshen the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and add a new crossover Bolt model based on the same architecture. Expect more tech features in what GM envisions as its volume EV models. Both of these models are expected to be on the market in 2021, delayed by the pandemic.
We expect the China-based Buick Velite7 could be a preview of the new Chevy Bolt crossover
Other EVs for the Chevy brand include a rumored electric van during 2022 (which could be joined by a GMC-branded twin), an announced electric version of the Silverado pickup in 2023 (potentially with a new name) with 400-plug mile range and three crossover/SUV models in the 2024 model year—a compact crossover, large (Suburban-size) SUV and a midsize SUV.
There is also a rumor that a hybrid or plug-in hybrid version of the Corvette could appear in 2022.
The Return of Hummer/Buick SUVs
Already teased extensively, the Hummer will return as an electric sub-brand of GMC. A pickup is due in 2022 followed by an SUV based on the same chassis the following year. Bragging rights will be based on “1,000 horsepower, 11,500 pound-feet of torque and 0-to-60 acceleration in three seconds.”
The Hummer will return as an EV sub-brand of GMC
Buick Division will offer two EVs in the 2023 model year—a midsize crossover about the size of the Envision and a large SUV. Those models may be previewed by some of the electric Buicks being introduced in China, the brand’s largest market. The brand may follow those two with a small electric SUV sourced out of China.
GM has made it clear that its gasoline and diesel-powered models (mostly crossovers and SUVs) will be the source of funds to build the not-yet-profitable electric vehicles that the company sees as its long-term future. That will extend the transition to electric models and probably blunt GM’s marketing of any of its divisions or vehicles as EV leaders.
GM has a new platform and new batteries designed to underpin all of its new EV models
Even though it has provided examples of product delays as a result of the pandemic, GM claims its EV strategy has not been delayed significantly and the commitment to it, as evidenced by the 12-vehicle lineup in the Sustainability Report, remains strong.
The key is GM does not exist in a vacuum. Ford have several strong EV models due soon, led by the Mustang Mach-E crossover. European luxury and mainstream brands promise a cavalcade of new product, so it will be a competitive market for this lineup. The EV market is rapidly evolving in technology and broadening its appeal, so the next few years should be an exciting time for new models. We promise to be on top of every one as they appear.
