Right now, the annual FJ Summit is on outside Ouray, Colorado. To celebrate the occasion, Lexus revealed this special GX concept, called the GXOR. From appearance alone, it’s clear this isn’t just any GX. But instead of Lexus just building this concept to cater to enthusiast’s cries, the company says actual owners inspired them to bring this concept to life. “The Lexus GXOR Concept (GX Off-Road) is fueled by the passionate Lexus GX owners that have discovered and embraced the SUV’s perfect combination of ultimate luxury and unrivaled off-road capability.”
[Photos: Lexus]
To that end, this Lexus GXOR has been prepped to head far off the beaten path. From the bottom up, you have the 18-inch Lexus F Sport wheels wrapped in General Grabber X3 275/70 R18 tires. Behind those, there’s Icon suspension with remote reservoir dampers and billet control arms with delta joints. Underneath, the Lexus GXOR has CBI frame sliders and full underbody armor to protect vital components.
Up front, there’s a CBI stealth front bumper with an integrated Warn 9.5 XPS winch with synthetic cable. Heading further up, the creators of this concept fitted an Icom 5100A ham radio, a Rigid 50-inch LED light bar, and a Eezi-Awn K9 roof rack with a 160-watt solar panel, Alu-Box storage cases and Maxtrax recovery boards. Finally, there’s a Goose Gear custom drawer system with a National Luna refrigerator.
Underneath, this Lexus GXOR concept retains the same 4.6-liter V8 as the standard GX 460. That delivers 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. However, it’s plan to see the Safari Snorkel, so that engine can pull in some cleaner, cooler air.
But that’s just the car. There’s also the matter of what it’s towing. That would be a Patriot Campers X1H trailer, to which the Lexus GXOR concept uses a Redarc Tow-Pro brake controller to communicate.
It’s definitely the most insane Lexus GX off-roader we’ve seen to date from the manufacturer. It takes a wide range of parts and brings them together to create one harmonious whole. Normally, the Lexus GX is more of a mall cruiser, though it does have some bona fide off-road cred. This takes that to eleven, creating a truly badass off-roader, in my opinion.
What do you think of the Lexus GXOR concept? Let us know in the comments below!
It replaces the outgoing CTS, while the smaller CT4 will replace the ATS in Cadillac’s lineup.
Pricing is only available for the base turbocharged 2.0-liter engine.
The 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 is “late availability”. Pricing for that engine will be available at a later date.
The CT5 starts nearly $10,000 less than the old CTS.
Cadillac is launching their new CT5 sedan later this year, and just released some pricing information for the upcoming model. For now, pricing is only available for the 2.0-liter turbo engine, which is in the entry-level Luxury model from $37,890. That’s for a rear-wheel drive model, while all-wheel drive attracts a $2,600 premium.
The Luxury model with all-wheel drive starts at $40,490 before options. From there, the Premium Luxury trim starts at $41,690 with rear-wheel drive. On the top rung, there’s the CT5 Sport, which starts at $42,690. The Cadillac CT5 is a physically larger car than its German rivals. However, it also undercuts them on price, based on what we know so far.
“This year, Cadillac has introduced a new sedan portfolio that better differentiates our vehicles in terms of size, price and features,” the company said in its press release. To that end, it starts less expensive than the new BMW 3 Series ($41,245), Audi A4 ($40,195) and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class ($41,400).
The 2020 Cadillac CT5 looks like decent value against its competition. What’s more, it is more attractively priced than the old CTS. That car started at $46,995 before destination. Even the smaller ATS starts at a similar price. When it does go on sale, that means the CT4 should also be much less expensive, making it more appealing against the Germans.
Need proof that absolute power corrupts? Step this way.
The 2019 Range Rover Sport SVR is a performance SUV that, in a rational world, shouldn’t exist. Do you really need a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 chucking out 577 horsepower? How about a Land Rover-claimed 0-60 time in the 4.3 second range? We don’t live in a rational world, though, so we have mega performance SUVs like the Lamborghini Urus, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and Bentley Bentayga. And, of course, we have this.
One of the first things you notice as you walk up to the Range Rover Sport SVR is just how unremarkable it looks among its cousins. Blink, and you’d miss it for an “ordinary” Range Rover Sport. The signs are there, though, particularly when it comes to the Estroil Blue on black paint scheme and the SVR badging on the front, sides and on the tailgate.
Frankly, it doesn’t even matter if you can’t tell this is a Range Rover Sport SVR by looking at it. As soon as you fire it up and bury your foot in the carpet, you’ll know it’s an SVR.
Performance
Holy damn, is the 2019 Range Rover Sport SVR loud. There are plenty of great sounding V8s. The 5.0-liter engine in the Ford Mustang sounds good, as does the engine in the Lexus RC F. But the SVR takes it to another level. Open up the adaptive exhaust — easy enough to do under “Vehicle” settings in the lower screen of Land Rover’s Touch Pro Duo system — and the Range Rover Sport SVR sounds like a pissed off rhinoceros. It’s nothing short of awesome, though I did wish I could hear the supercharger a bit more.
Making all that noise is a supercharged 5.0-liter V8, as you’d get in the Range Rover Sport Dynamic and Autobiography. In the SVR, though, it puts out a whopping 575 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. All that grunt is routed to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The SVR uses the same 15-inch front brake discs and 14.3-inch rear discs as the standard supercharged Range Rover Sport.
It’s quick…but thirsty
Despite its 5,093 pound curb weight, the Range Rover Sport SVR gets up and runs as well as you’d expect. Just don’t look down at the digital gauge cluster and notice that you’re struggling to break into the teens on fuel economy. The EPA rates the SVR at 15 City / 20 Highway / 16 Combined mpg.
The 2019 Range Rover Sport SVR comes with 21-inch wheels as standard equipment. Spend $3,060 more, and you can get gloss black 22-inch wheels wrapped in Continental Contisport Contact 5 SUV tires. Even when I pushed the car through corners, it just gripped and went with almost no drama. However, even after just a few thousand miles on our test car, the tread has noticeably worn down. These tires grip well, but the down side comes with a short life. Still, at $131,520 for the car, changing the tires out is just a drop in the bucket, isn’t it?
Even if you drive in Dynamic mode, the Range Rover Sport SVR has a decent ride, although it is firm as slow speeds. However, the “lightweight” sports seats are comfortable and supportive. Put it in in Auto or Comfort mode and get it up to cruising speed, and the ride is still nothing less than you’d expect from a Range Rover. Even on some of the weather-broken and decaying roads we have here in Colorado, the smooth ride allowed me to focus most on what this car’s all about: the power.
What about off-roading?
Yes, you can technically take the 2019 Range Rover Sport SVR off-road if you really wanted to. It does have Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 system, which allows you a great deal of control over the car’s four-wheel drive system. With that, you can raise the car on its air suspension and head out into the wilderness. That said, we stuck firmly to the road with the Range Rover Sport SVR, because off-road ability isn’t the point here.
Those summer tires, while great for grip on the pavement, are also useless off-road. Get too animated on your adventures, and you’ll be shelling out another $4,000 or more for new wheels and tires.
Comfort and Convenience
Coming back to cold, hard cash, the 2019 Range Rover Sport SVR starts at $114,500, or about $17,000 more than the luxurious Autobiography trim. For that, you get the nuclear firepower, but Land Rover didn’t skimp on luxury in the SVR either. You still get leather throughout the cabin, including a thick, confidence-inspiring steering wheel, a digital gauge cluster and a Head-Up display. However, a word of caution on that last one: The Head-Up display is a $1,325 option.
More than enough (audio) power)
In the center stack, you get Land Rover’s 10-inch Touch Pro Duo system with navigation, and it does support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Hooked to that infotainment system is a Meridian premium surround sound system with 825 watts of power and 19 speakers. For $4,540, you can get a 29-speaker Meridian system with a ludicrous 1,700 watts of deafening power, if you want. It sounds great with all that power, but the normal surround sound system should be more than enough for most.
On the interior of this particular 2019 Range Rover Sport SVR, I was treated to a sea of Ebony trim. The car looks imposing from the outside, and I think it looks fantastic in Estoril Blue (although it is a $1,525 option), but the lack of a two-tone interior scheme felt gloomy. Happily, you can spec a Range Rover Sport SVR in either Cirrus white or Tan interior accents to offset all the Ebony trim inside. While the all-black appearance probably looks more sporty, it may be worth looking at a two-tone treatment to make it feel more luxurious and pleasant like the other Range Rover models.
Other standard equipment includes 360-degree parking aids, heated front and rear seats, three-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof. Soft door close is a $610 option, heated and cooled front and rear seats are a $305 option, and the optional Driver Assist Pack with Blind Spot Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist and Park Assist is a $3,185 option. Land Rover also sells an Activity Key for $410, which lets you lock the actual keys in the car when you’re going on a run or into the water. Walk back up to the rear of the car with the wristband on, and you can gain access to the car, which is useful so you don’t destroy your key fob.
TFLcar’s Take
The 2019 Range Rover Sport SVR is a mass of contradictions. It’s supposed to be comfortable and sporty. It’s supposed to be luxurious and fast. Then it’s supposed to be an off-road machine and keep its handling prowess on the road. Against the likes of other Jaguar Land Rover cars, including the standard Range Rover Sport and Jaguar’s sports cars, it’s difficult to justify the Range Rover Sport SVR as a sound buy. If you wanted a car to excel as a handling machine or a comfort cruiser, you should pick something other than the SVR…right?
So is the Range Rover Sport SVR a waste of time? Its sheer heft, expensive price tag and gobsmacking thirst are all points in the minus column. However, fast SUVs are often a huge compromise, as you’re looking for sheer power and speed. On that front, the 2019 Range Rover Sport SVR doesn’t disappoint. It’s properly quick, offers most of the luxury and function you’d want from a Range Rover, and it still retains some of its off-road cred. Again, there are more sensible options out there, and the loudness and power won’t appeal to everyone.
If you’re in the market for a super-SUV, though, the $114,500 and up Range Rover Sport SVR is definitely worth a look. It offers the power to corrupt even the most relaxed driver into a bit of a hooligan. And for that reason, I couldn’t help but love it.
Volkswagen announced it would discontinue the SportWagen and Alltrack by the end of 2019.
The U.S. models are currently built in Puebla, Mexico alongside the current Golf and Jetta.
Volkswagen plans several crossovers, as the market continues to boom.
Another victim of the crossover craze.
Volkswagen is seeing green, but I’m not talking about electric cars. At least not yet — it will be a couple years before we see the upcoming ID. series. No, I’m talking about crossovers, and the company’s decision to kill off the Golf SportWagen and Alltrack models at the end of 2019. As Volkswagen prepares to launch more crossovers in the coming years, lower demand models like these are being shown the door.
The Volkswagen Alltrack is a great all-wheel drive alternative to the Subaru Outback or a standard crossover. [Photo: TFLcar]
It’s not entirely unexpected. While the SportWagen and Alltrack comprised the best-selling models in the Golf range, they still lagged far behind the Tiguan and Atlas. So far this year, Volkswagen has managed to shift around 75,000 crossovers. The wagon count? Just 8,000 units.
Competition isn’t helping, either. Wagons are a rare breed, but that doesn’t mean Volkswagen had smooth sailing with these two. Instead, it had to climb the mountain that is Subaru with the Outback — a car that outsells the Golf SportWagen and Alltrack over ten-to-one. Particularly as Subaru is about to launch the revised 2020 Outback, they pretty much have this segment on lock. In a more competitive marketplace, there’s more room for Volkswagen to chip away at several automakers’ sales, rather than take Subaru head on.
The Alltrack proved to be a capable, comfortable road trip machine. [Photo: TFLcar]
There’s a new Golf generation coming
Finally, there’s the matter of the eighth-generation Golf. We in the U.S. face a problem with the new model, since we aren’t getting the standard model in the U.S. The Golf is another glacial seller in Volkswagen’s U.S. lineup these days, so we’re just getting the new GTI and Golf R. Rather than update the SportWagen and Alltrack, it makes more sense for Volkswagen to discontinue the models. That will push buyers into the Tiguan, the upcoming Atlas Cross Sport, or the Tarek. The Tarek is a sub-Tiguan crossover slated to hit our shores in 2021.
Eventually, we’ll see the ID. series in the U.S. as — you guessed it — a crossover. Namely, the ID. Crozz.
Check out the Alltrack versus the fifth-generation Subaru Outback below:
Base models start off a few hundred dollars more expensive.
The 2020 Subaru Outback and Subaru Legacy sport new looks, more technology, a new engine and a higher price than before. The new Outback crossover kicks off at $27,655 while the Legacy sedan starts at $23,645. Both start more expensive, though the increase is modest on the base models, at $335 for the Outback and $215 for the Legacy.
For your money, you do get more standard equipment than in the 2019 models. Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance suite comes standard across all models. An 11.6-inch touchscreen display is also available on all models apart from the base trims. 2020 models also get features like auto stop/start — love it or hate it — as standard fare.
A new 11.6-inch touchscreen display is front and center in both the 2020 Subaru Outback and Legacy. [Photo: Subaru]
The base engine remains a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine. Power has increased from the 2019 model, however. The revised powerplant makes 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, up 7 horsepower and 2 lb-ft from 2019. Fuel economy has also marginally improved. The 2020 Subaru Outback manages 26 City / 33 Highway / 29 Combined mpg. The Legacy, on the other hand, gets 27 City / 35 Highway / 30 Combined mpg.
2020 Subaru Legacy. [Photo: Subaru]
Subaru’s top-of-the-range engine is now a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer unit. The old 3.6-liter engine is gone. The new engine shared with the Ascent manages 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. That’s up 4 horsepower and 30 lb-ft over the old six-cylinder unit. Fuel economy gains are more profound here, with the Outback managing 4 mpg better with the new engine.
Both still mate up to a Lineartronic CVT gearbox, although you can manually shift through eight speeds now instead of six.
2020 Subaru Outback pricing
The 2020 Subaru Outback sees a new Onyx Edition XT trim, complete with the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine. The rest of the trims are familiar. They range from Base through Premium, Limited and Touring. On the XT models, there’s just Onyx Edition, Limited and Touring.
Here’s a breakdown of the 2020 model’s price increase over last year. 2020 prices include an increased $1,010 destination fee (up from $975 for 2019):
Trim
2020 MSRP
Change
Base Outback
$27,655
+$335
Premium
$29,905
+$485
Limited
$34,455
+$635
Touring
$38,755
+$985
Onyx Edition XT
$35,905
— (New)
Limited XT
$38,755
+$2,765
Touring XT
$40,705
+$735
There is one major price jump there with the Limited XT. However, there is a new trim level with the turbocharged engine. So, apples to apples, the Onyx Edition is closer on price to the old 3.6R Limited.
2020 Subaru Legacy pricing
The 2020 Subaru Legacy also sees one new trim level in the Touring XT. Before, the old 3.6-liter engine was only available in Limited trim. Apart from that, you still have the Base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring.
Prices on the 2020 Subaru Legacy include a $900 destination fee.
In an effort to make the most of their manufacturing capacity, Tesla has dropped the standard range versions of the Model X and Model S from its lineup. Since these were the lowest end models, prices have shifted across the range for the remaining Long Range and Performance versions.
Now, the least expensive Model X starts at $84,990 and the least expensive Model S starts at $79,990. Naturally, that’s the price before available tax credits or purchase incentives. “To make purchasing our vehicles even simpler, we are standardizing our global vehicle lineup and streamlining the number of trim packages offered on the Model S, Model X and Model 3,” Tesla said in a statement. “We are also adjusting our pricing in order to continue to improve affordability for our customers.”
It’s not just the prices of the actual cars that are changing either. CEO Elon Musk tweeted today that the cost for Tesla’s full self-driving capability is “increasing by ~$1,000 on August 16.”
Cost of Tesla full self-driving option increasing by ~$1000 on August 16
If you’re confused by all of Tesla’s recent price changes, you have every right to be. Tesla has shuffled prices on its models and trims several times over the past few months. For now, these are where the prices on the Tesla Model S and Model X stand.
The Model 3 isn’t immune to the shifts, either. Remember the promised $35,000 car? Well, you can’t get that using Tesla’s preferred ordering method, which is their website. Instead, you get the “Standard Range Plus” as the cheapest model. That comes in at $38,990 before any incentives, which is also a bump from where the car was priced originally. It’s tough to keep track, but we’ll provide any updates when they’re available.
In the meantime, check out more on our Thrifty 3 below:
Lotus hasn’t debuted an all-new car for quite a few years now, but today that’s all changed. Meet the Evija — formerly known by its “Type 130” project code — an electric hypercar with a production run limited to just 130 units. Production will start next year in Hethel, UK. With a total output of nearly 2,000 horsepower, this Lotus has a truly eye-watering price tag around $2.1 million (£1.7 million).
Here are the figures. The all-electric Lotus Evija manages its targeted 2,000 horsepower figure by way of four electric motors placed at each wheel. The [capacity] battery pack is mid-mounted just behind the seats. Lotus claims it has the “lightest, most energy dense, electric power package ever fitted to a road car.”
On the lightness front, The Lotus Evija weighs 3,700 pounds. Thanks to all that power and 1,254 lb-ft of torque, though, Lotus claims it can sprint from 0-62 mph in “under three seconds” on its way to a 200 mph top speed.
‘An amazing moment’
Russell Carr, Lotus’ Design Director, said the company studied Le Mans racers in determining how the Evija would look. “…Le Mans race cars use air flow creatively to go over, under and around the vehicle, but also through it. This concept of ‘porosity’ is key to the Evija and has enabled us to create a timeless design with exceptional amounts of downforce.”
Even with the grunt and remarkable claimed speed — Lotus says it will get up to 186 mph in nine seconds — the Evija will still be able to drop up to a projected range of 250 miles on a charge (on the WLTP cycle). The company says the Evija has the world’s “fastest charging battery”, capable of charging on an 800kW fast charger.
For the time being, the car can use existing 350kW technology, the most powerful currently available. Lotus claims owners can charge the Evija up to 80 percent in 12 minutes and fully charge it in 18 minutes.
Tesla aggressively pushed to meet quarterly production records.
However, employees in the company’s GA4 “tent” said they had to take shortcuts to keep production moving.
Employees also said they had to work through harsh conditions to meet goals.
Tesla employees had to use “fast fixes” on the line.
The Model 3 is by far the company’s most popular car, as Tesla produced 72,531 examples in the second quarter of 2019. According to a new CNBC report, that progress is coming at a cost, as employees feel the pressure to ramp up production at Tesla’s Fremont, California facility. Several employees in the company’s GA4 open air “tent”, used to speed up production, say they worked through extreme temperatures and unhealthy air quality during last year’s wildfires in Northern California.
What’s more, four employees told CNBC they were told by supervisor to use fast fixes on the line to keep Tesla Model 3 production moving. That included using electrical tape to fix cracks on plastic housings, and they even provided photos showing where they applied the tape. Tesla’s General Assembly 4 tent has been operating since spring 2018, though it was supposed to be only temporary. Now, the tent produces up to 360 cars per day — 120 per shift across three shifts — according to employees.
Unlike the actual factory where sophisticated, automated processes come into play during manufacturing, GA4 uses manual labor and power tools. People said the work is physically demanding, while five who recently worked for the company told CNBC that “workers were encouraged to take shortcuts to hit their production goals in the tent”.
Tesla’s Fremont, California facility. [Photo: Tesla]
Tesla’s response
The report documents workers who say they took other shortcuts besides just electrical tape. For instance, five current and former workers said they would pass cars down the line even if they were missing bolts, nuts or lugs. All of this, they said, was meant to save production time.
A Tesla spokesperson said the company found no evidence of these quick fixes. What’s more, they would never officially condone or encourage it. They went further to say that Tesla “has a robust quality assurance team that reviews each vehicle at the end of the GA4 assembly line to ensure every car was built correctly and is perfect before it leaves our factory and goes to customers.”
Workers contend GA4 is the most challenging part of the factory to work, because of the tougher conditions. Beyond just temperature, the employees and the cars can also be at least partially exposed to inclement weather during the production process. Some employees said mice were also a problem. They would chew through wires, causing a conveyor breakdown in early May and hampering production. For its part, Tesla said it has no record of the incident.
Official statement
After CNBC published their report, Tesla issued an official response. An excerpt is below:
“The anecdotes reported by CNBC from a few unnamed sources are misleading and do not reflect our manufacturing practices or what it’s like to work at Tesla. As we’ve said before, our goal is to produce a perfect car for every customer. In order to ensure the highest quality, we review every vehicle for even the smallest refinement before it leaves the factory…”
In their statement, Tesla continued by saying it has dedicated inspection teams to check cars before they leave the factory. That includes GA4, as well as the interior of the Fremont facility. “We work hard to create a work environment that is as safe, fair and fun as possible, and it is incredibly important to us that employees look forward to coming to work every day.”
Do you own a Tesla Model 3 and have experienced any quality issues? Let us know in the comments below.
