This is the most hardcore TRD 4Runner of them all.
For the 2020 model year, the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro may look exactly like last year’s version. It’s still big, it’s still bad, and it’s still covered in skid plates. You still get bespoke 17-inch TRD Pro wheels wrapped in Nitto Terra Grappler tires. But what has Toyota actually updated for this latest 4Runner TRD Pro? In this video, Tommy takes it out on the trails near Moab, Utah to find out. Specifically, he takes the 4Runner up Hell’s Revenge.
Underneath, little has changed in the 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. As a change from the TRD Off-Road trim, you get Fox 2.5-inch piggyback shocks, as well as those new wheels and tires. Under the hood, you still get the tried and true 4.0-liter V6 engine with 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. That power is routed through an archaic, but dependable five-speed automatic transmission.
Unfortunately, we can’t share how the 4Runner drives compared to previous versions. We’re restricted from talking about driving impressions, but the video above will show you how it handles the trails. Hell’s Revenge is one of Moab’s classic slick rock trails, so it is certainly a good test of just how capable the 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro is.
What else has changed?
One of the exterior changes is in the grille. Up front, Toyota added a sensor for automatic emergency braking as part of Toyota Safety Sense-P, which includes pedestrian detection. The 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro also brings an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa support.
Check out the video above to see how the 4Runner handles itself in Moab. Of course, we have the updated 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro over on TFLtruck, as well.
Chevrolet finally dropped the long-awaited, mid-engined C8 Corvette Stingray last night at an event in California. Immediately after that event, they went one further by opening up reservations and launching the online configurator. Complete with twelve interior colors and six for the interior, you can know spec the Corvette of your dreams. Well, sort of. Since Chevrolet only revealed the Corvette Stingray, that’s the only one you can configure at the moment.
Even still, with prices starting under $60,000, this is still more of an everyman car than a lot of exotics out there. Mind you, there aren’t actual dollar figures associated with these options. That will come later, closer to the launch date. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray will start production in late 2019, though reservations are open right now.
[Photos: Chevrolet]
Trim levels
There are three available trim levels for the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: 1LT, 2LT and 3LT. Interior colors are restricted based on which trim level you pick, and so are your comfort and convenience features.
The base 1LT trim provides an 8-inch infotainment screen and the 12-inch color Driver Information Center, for a start. Beyond that, you get 8-way power-adjustable “GT1” seats finished in Mulan Leather. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is leather-wrapped, and you do still get a 10-speaker Bose audio system. However, you don’t get some of the convenience features you may want, like heated and vented seats or wireless charging.
For those features, you have to step up to the 2LT trim. Then you get a Head-Up Display, power lumbar adjustment, heated and vented seats and a heated steering wheel. You also get a 14-speaker surround sound system, power-folding mirrors, and more driver assistance tech. Side Blind Zone Alert, a Rear Camera Mirror (in the coupe) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are standard in the 2LT. Most importantly for enthusiasts, this trim adds the Performance Data Recorder for the inevitable track day.
Finally, there’s the luxurious 3LT trim. This really opens up your interior color options, but does not add anything more in the way of technology. Here, you get “GT2” seats in Napa leather with carbon fiber trim. You also get leather-wrapped interior accents, suede-wrapped upper interior trim and leather on the lower sections of the doors.
Here is the Adrenaline Red interior.
The looks
Let’s start with the exterior colors. Again, you get twelve options here (options with * are extra-cost colors):
Black
Arctic White
Blade Silver Metallic
Ceramic Matrix Gray Metallic
Zeus Bronze Metallic*
Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat*
Torch Red
Sebring Orange Tintcoat*
Elkhart Lake Blue Metallic
Rapid Blue
So yes, you can get your Corvette in more of a brownish tint, if you want to. I’m personally a sucker for dark blues, so I would definitely go for the Elkhart Lake Blue Metallic with my dream Corvette Stingray. You can also choose whether you’d like a body color roof panel, a glass one, or a panel with visible carbon fiber.
Exterior accents are also wide-ranging, from a chrome Corvette badge to various bits of carbon fiber on the spoilers, mirrors and side vents and skirts. You can even get accessory engine covers in red, black or silver. The “Engine Appearance Package” adds LED lights to the mix to illuminate the engine, with carbon fiber accent panels.
There are six base interior colors, with some options for contrast stitching with the Jet Black interior:
Jet Black (can spec with Yellow or Red contrast stitching)
Adrenaline Red
Sky Cool Gray
Natural (tan)
Morello Red
Two-tone Blue
This is what I’m thinking for my perfect Corvette.
Okay, so I went with Elkhart Lake Blue Metallic for my exterior color. Personally, I like lighter and airy interiors, so I’d be comfortable with the Sky Cool Gray interior. You can customize the base interior colors to some extent as well. For instance, you can get the gray interior with black seats.
There are three different variants of seats depending on which trim you choose. Those are GT1, GT2 or Competition seats, trimmed in your choice of suede, leather or “Performance Textile”. Seat belt colors are another option, where you can choose from black, red, blue, natural (tan), yellow or orange.
You have six different wheel options on the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, from Bright Silver Open Spoke to the more sinister looking Carbon Flash Open Spoke. You can also get brake calipers painted in Black, Yellow, Bright Red or “Edge” Red.
The performance
At the moment, there’s just one performance option for the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. That would be the Z51 Performance Package. Though again, pricing is not available for the package itself just yet. That information will come closer to launch.
Chevrolet aims the package at track enthusiasts, adding some enticing goodies you won’t get with the standard Corvette Stingray. That includes Michelin PS4 Performance 3 summer tires and FE3 performance suspension. Magnetic Ride Control is an option on top of that. Chevrolet fits larger 13.6-inch front rotors and 13.8-inch rear rotors as part of the package as well.
Crucially for handling, you also get an electronic limited-slip differential. Chevrolet also fits a relatively modest rear spoiler, though they say it does provide up to 400 pounds of downforce. Finally, a performance exhaust and intake cap off the Z51 Performance Package. The configurator does mention that it adds horsepower, but does not disclose how much. However, reports suggest you need the Z51 Performance Package to get the full 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque from the LT2 6.2-liter V8 engine.
Your ideal Corvette
What would be your ideal Corvette? Let us know in the comments below!
Ford reportedly told dealers to fix affected PowerShift dual-clutch transmissions if a customer complains, according to a July 12 memo.
The automaker has been facing customer complaints and legal action over defective transmissions that could shudder, jerk or hesitate in certain real-world conditions.
The offer lasts until Friday, but Ford may extend it.
This story is developing as of July 19. We may provide updates or post corrections as more information becomes available.
A new internal memo has surfaced, according to an AutoNews report.
Last week, the Detroit Free Pressreleased a report documenting Ford’s issues with its PowerShift dual-clutch transmission. The company originally fitted the new transmission to Focus and Fiesta models earlier in the decade, while allegedly knowing it had serious mechanical problems that prevent its smooth operation. In fact, several customers complained of stalling issues and unintended acceleration, among other defects. Now, Ford has told its U.S. dealers to provide free repairs to any customers who complain about problems with the transmission, according to an Automotive News article published Friday.
In a July 12 internal memo, sent one day after the Free Press report, Ford is now reportedly telling dealerships to “arrange and diagnose the vehicle and repair as necessary.” That means any Ford Focus or Fiesta owner having issues with their PowerShift transmission should be able to have it repaired. It comes as welcome news, seeing as many of these vehicles are now out of their powertrain warranty. The fixes apply to Ford Focus and Fiesta models in the 2011 – 2017 model year range.
According to the AutoNews report, this offer only lasts until Friday, but Ford may well extend it. Dealers were told to expect another update.
Ford has faced previous action on their PowerShift transmissions. Class-action lawsuits filed on behalf of owners covered certain 2011 – 2016 model cars fitted with transmissions they claimed would hesitate, shudder or jerk unexpectedly. Ford responded to the Free Press report Wednesday, saying it came to “conclusions that are not based in fact”.
Ford’s statement
Now, Ford spokesperson Said Deep made a new statement as reported by AutoNews. “At Ford, we’re committed to taking care of our customers quickly and thoroughly. We have been and will continue to work with our 3,100 dealers to ensure we are doing exactly that.”
While encouraging, Ford still faces a pending lawsuit in Michigan which could prove costly for the automaker. Back in 2017, it settled a class-action lawsuit involving 1.9 million owners in California. At the moment, that deal is under challenge in federal court, with claims that not enough owners would be compensated.
Chevrolet revealed the all-new 2020 C8 Corvette tonight in California.
This generation is the largest departure for the model to date, moving to an entirely new, mid-engine platform.
The entry-level C8 Corvette is the Stingray, and it has an updated 6.2-liter LT2 V8 engine.
GM’s LT2 engine puts out up to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Chevy has yet to announce pricing, more powerful models and an on-sale date for the C8 Corvette
It’s been 60 years in the making.
There’s a hallowed name among Corvette enthusiasts: Zora Arkus-Duntov. He’s the main who conceived the notion of a mid-engined Corvette over 50 years ago. GM flirted with several concepts over the decades, but none had ever come to fruition. Until now. This is it — the all-new 2020 C8 Chevrolet Corvette. We know it’s been a seriously long time coming, with almost 60 years of anticipation leading up to this moment.
But what else is there to know about the 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette? Fortunately, we now have more details thanks to tonight’s official live stream. With that in mind, here is absolutely everything the company had to share about the all-new C8 Corvette. We are feverishly working on more video coverage from the event at time of writing, and will update this post with new videos and any other information we find out.
This is a developing post. Please stay tuned for more information. We may update this next post over the next few hours with corrections or new information.
The style
A lot of you have already commented that this new C8 Corvette Stingray looks like a Ferrari. Largely, that’s down to the new layout, as it’s meant to be a sports car to take on its European contemporaries. Chevrolet Corvette product manager Harlan Charles pegs this car as a true exotic, and says the development team’s goal was to create the “car of peoples’ dreams”. Whether you love or hate the new styling and layout of the C8 Corvette, you have to admit it’s striking, even against the aggressive styling of the outgoing C7 generation.
The Corvette’s interior also takes an exotic approach what we’ve been used to in older generations. Here, there’s a new squared off steering wheel, festooned in buttons with a two-spoke design and paddles for the eight-speed transmission. What also stands out is just how much of the interior is aimed toward the driver. The infotainment screen is sharply tilted toward the driver, and the digital instrument cluster is front in center of the cockpit design.
Weirdly, though, are many of the HVAC controls. There’s a long strip of buttons toward the passenger side of the car, cascading down the center stack away from the infotainment screen. The temperature controls for driver and passenger are at the ends of the long line of buttons. The heated and cooled seat controls, the defrost and fan controls are all located there. These controls don’t seem terribly convenient for the driver to operate, especially while on the move.
Materials look markedly more upscale than previous Corvette generations. The color-contrast stitching is a nice touch, as is the dash and seat materials. The buttons for transmission controls remove the old gear selector. Apart from the strip of buttons down the center, it appears GM sprung for a more minimalist design, which is good if you want to focus on the actual driving.
The performance
Lurking within the 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray revealed tonight is a 6.2-liter V8, now dubbed LT2. Its a familiar powertrain to what was in the old C7 generation, but now it produces more power. This engine puts out 490 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 35 horsepower and 10 lb-ft of torque on the old model. Unlike the outgoing car, however, there is no row-your-own option here. This engine mates up exclusively to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Of course, that power goes to the rear wheels, as Corvette faithful contend it should.
There are four drive modes familiar from the old Corvette: Weather, Tour, Sport and Track. However, there’s one new one: Z-Mode. That allows drivers to customize virtually every aspect of the car for a track day. Once you do that, you can get back to those settings with a single button.
The optional Z51 Performance Package bumps the power figure up to 495 horsepower. That adds a performance exhaust system into the mix, and that sort of power helps shrink the already small 0-60 time. How quick is it? Chevrolet contends the Stingray can make the sprint in under three seconds. Yes, an entry-level Corvette that’s as fast as a lot of six-figure exotics out there. That puts it on par with the swan song of the C7 generation, the massively powerful ZR1.
Living with the C8 Corvette
Despite the new layout, there is still some room for a reasonable amount of luggage in the 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette. Now, bear in mind that means a medium-sized suitcase or two golf bags, but that’s still not bad. Not only that, but owners can lift the roof out for an open-air experience as well. That keeps in spirit with past Corvette models. The Corvette has always been more of a practical sports car than some of the competition, and to that end you can raise the car’s nose to prevent damaging the front end in low-clearance areas.
Chevrolet also offers three kinds of seats: GT1, GT2 and Sport, so you have some option how you want them to look and feel. There are twelve exterior color options and six interior color choices as well.
There is, as you’d expect, a higher barrier to entry with the new Corvette over the old model. Chevrolet has not announced official pricing yet. However, Chevrolet says the new model still start under $60,000. That is a significant increase from the C7. That said, if the car really can hit 60 mph in less than three seconds, that’s nothing short of a bargain. Against the likes of the exotics this car is gunning for, that makes the 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette a performance bargain.
The 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette will go into production in late 2019. As always, GM will build the car in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Esquire published photos ahead of the official reveal.
After months — scratch that, years — of waiting, it’s finally time to see the next era of Chevy’s signature sports car. The C8 Corvette will be revealed this evening, starting around 8:00 P.M. PDT. Before that, though, Esquire leaked information just hours ahead of the reveal, so we know much more official information about the new C8 Corvette. The article has since been taken down, as it broke Chevrolet’s official embargo.
This information is technically unofficial for about another hour (as of this update: 7:00 P.M. PDT), but this is more or less what to expect. The C8 Corvette Stingray set to be revealed packs a 6.2-liter V8, now dubbed LT2. It’s an updated version of the engine in the C7 Corvette, which puts out 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. For the entry rung on the C8 Corvette ladder, that’s an impressive amount of power. There’s also a Z51 Performance Package, which reportedly can lower the 0-60 time to “less than three seconds.”
Yeah, less than three seconds. In a base model C8 Corvette. What a brave new world we live in. The outgoing C7 Corvette ZR1 will make that sprint in 2.8 seconds, according to Chevrolet.
However, there is one major down side, as we expected. Those who want the same seven-speed manual transmission will have to stick with the old model. This new C8 Corvette is eight-speed dual-clutch or nothing. However, the paddle shifters certainly add to the car’s ferocious turn of speed. Apart from that sheer speed, the Z51 package reportedly adds upgraded cooling, brakes and exhaust system.
For now, we do not have official pricing. Esquire pegged the entry point at around $70,000, which is a hefty increase on the old C7. Mind you, this car is mid-engined and, if the numbers are accurate, a hell of a lot faster than the old versions. This could well be a performance bargain if those numbers hold up when journalists get their hands on the first production models.
TFL’s own Roman Mica is on location at Chevrolet’s reveal venue, and we’ll post updates from the event very soon!
This is a developing story. Check back to TFLcar.com soon for more updates!
This is the 11,000 horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Funny Car that will race in the Mile-High NHRA Nationals from July 19 – 21.
Dodge//SRT and Mopar said the Hellcat Widebody production sedan inspired the build.
Matt Hagan’s Funny Car takes decals, styling cues from the production model.
This is a weapons-grade Charger Hellcat.
Yes, the world now knows a Hellcat with 11,000 horsepower. It’s nowhere near road legal, mind you, but instead it’s a NHRA Funny Car. This monster, driven by two-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion Matt Hagan, does carry a graphics package that takes inspiration from the recently unveiled Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody, and Dodge pulled the wraps off Hagan’s car at this year’s Mile-High NHRA Nationals just outside Denver, Colorado. Hagan will run the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Funny Car at Bandimere Speedway this weekend.
The Funny Car not only sports Charger decals, but a huge Hellcat image as well. Apart from that, you get flared fenders, side pipes and a massive rear wing.
As for the normal car, it’s still not lacking for power. The 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody still uses the familiar 707 horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged V8. That comes with 650 lb-ft of torque sent to the rear wheels. Dodge still claims the Hellcat version of the Charger as the world’s fastest production sedan. The Widebody version, for instance, can run up to a claimed 196 mph.
Stay tuned for more on the Charger Widebody coming soon to TFLcar.com! Check out the reveal video below:
That’s a far cry from its earlier $69,000 price tag.
In recent weeks, Tesla has dropped some models, shifted their range around and changed up the prices. Now, with the most recent price shift, you have a cheaper shot than ever at the Model 3 Performance — for less than $50,000.
Just last year, owners could order a Tesla Model 3 Performance for $69,000 before available incentives. An Electrek report notes, however, that Tesla quickly dropped the base price by $5,000 shortly after. What’s more, they unbundled certain features, instead offering a $5,000 “Performance Package.” That includes 20-inch performance wheels, a carbon fiber spoiler, lowered suspension, performance brakes, aluminum alloy pedals and a higher top speed. After that, Tesla dropped the price tag, offering the package for free.
Enter 2019, and Tesla just dropped the starting price once more to $54,990. That’s what the price is right now, but there are ways to drop the price even lower than that.
Requesting 18-inch wheels lowers the price from the standard 20-inch wheels, while keeping the other options from the ‘Performance Upgrades Package’.
How to get under $50,000
Basically, you can drop the standard 20-inch performance wheels on request. Tesla only talks about changing the wheels as an option, but you still get the other performance upgrades. Feasibly, say Electrek‘s sources, that will get the price down to $49,990.
That likely won’t sit well with those folks who paid nearly $20,000 more for a substantially similar car just a year ago. However, if you’re in the market to buy one now, this may be the right time to buy. Tesla is currently pushing to build and sell more and more units, driving the frequent shifts in available models, as well as their prices.
Speaking of Tesla Model 3 Performance, check out this video of just how quick it is below:
We leapt at the chance to go behind the scenes with Acura Racing.
More specifically, Real Time Racing and Team Penske Racing. We were able to see how their operations shaped each team, some of their racing cars in action and a lot more.
One of my favorite parts was spending time with championship racer and Realtime Racing owner Peter Cunningham. He’s won Pikes Peak three times in his class. He’s won over 40 races in nearly a dozen different race series. [Photo: TFLcar]
The track and the cars
First up, we got a detailed look at the workings of Road America. This included laps around the track, tours of the pits and behind the scenes with track employees and race operations.
This is Road America. a 4-mile, 14-turn track located near Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin. [Photo: Road America]
But of course, just seeing the track itself wasn’t enough. I rode around the track with racing driver Juan Pablo Montoya in an Acura RDX A-Spec. I more or less acted as ballast on that run. Not to mention I provided some entertainment while he tossed me around in the backseat like a ragdoll.
I also drove an Acura NSX with Pikes Peak winner and SCCA champ Peter Cunningham on a tight road course. It was at Road America’s karting track CTECH Manufacturing Motorplex.
Peter Cunningham takes us through his Honda and Acura collection. [Photo: TFLcar]
We learned about Acura Racing’s three-plus decade racing history. This included lots of SCCA, IMSA and Pikes Peak wins – among others. Finally, I toured an impressive Honda museum/collector’s dealership via Realtime Racing, at the Realtime Collection Hall.
Then I had the chance to get up close and personal with Acura’s racing cars.
Acura NSX GT3 EVO (Photo: Acura)
NSX GT3 Evo
Acura builds the NSX GT3 Evo’s 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 alongside that of the production NSX in a special engine room at the company’s Anna, Ohio engine plant. The company also constructs its aluminum-intensive, multi-material space frame alongside the production NSX in Marysville, Ohio.
Racing modifications to the GT3 Evo include a six-speed, sequential-shift racing gearbox, state-of-the-art chassis and aerodynamic package improved for the 2019 season to deliver higher top speed and better handling.
The GT3 is offered for sale worldwide, with Acura delivering more than a dozen racing machines to professional and amateur sports car racers around the globe.
[Photo: TFLcar]
ARX-05 (Acura Racing eXperimental, generation 5)
The latest in a line of Acura endurance prototypes dating to 1991, the ARX-05 proves Acura’s dedication to prototype racing, and competes in the fastest and most technologically advanced category of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series.
The ARX-05 prototype is based on the ORECA 07 chassis, and incorporates Acura signature bodywork and design features, like the Jewel Eye LED headlights. Acura’s AR35TT twin-turbocharged engine is based on the standard 3.5-liter V-6 that powers the Acura MDX, TLX and RLX premium performance sedans.
![The Tesla Model 3 Is 'Needlessly' Complicated to Assemble, According to Analysts [News]](https://tflstudios.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/tesla-model-3-overview-e1539884410343-1024x547.jpg)
