Check out the interior of the brand new 2018 Jeep Wrangler (JL)! These are early photos featuring the same red interior that appears to be inside of a Wrangler Rubicon. It takes a moment to realize that this is not the interior of a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Everything in the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL is updated and beautified, from the new multi-button steering wheel to the reimagined dashboard. Vents, buttons and switchgear are updated too. You can clearly see the updated IP and center dash.
Here are some details to look at:
All-new front and rear locker switch
Dual-climate control
The headlight control moved from the stalk to the left side of the dash
Large color center IP screen
New dials
Four auxiliary switch ports
Window switchgear remains on the center of the dash – basically, where it was before
“Wrangler” is stamped into the handle in front of the front passenger seat
What do you think of the color coordinated interior touches? We need to ask if this color coordination will happen throughout the line or just on certain trims. The same goes for the colored stitching and seat design too.
We’re so close to getting the whole story on the new JL, it’s interesting to see how different this new vehicle is shaping upon to be.
First up is the sound. What makes the 5.0-liter V8 in the new 2018 Mustang GT so loud? The Mustang’s chief engineer, Carl Widmann, explains in video above. Ford set the exhaust system up with two valves on the outlets of one of the pipes. The position of those valves vary continually based on engine load and pedal response. The Mustang’s dedicated exhaust tuner then goes through and ensures the algorithm is accurate to give a true Mustang sound. To change how the car sounds, you can also go into the Exhaust Mode setting in the new digital display. Doing that, you can also adjust just how loud you want your Mustang GT to be.
Speaking of the digital display: Ford included it as a new interior feature that allows drivers to change the information that’s shown based on drive mode. Normal, Sport, and Track modes all change around the speed, gear, and tachometer information to different parts of the screen. For instance, Normal mode displays information in much the same manner as a traditional gauge cluster. When you flip over to Sport or Track mode, and the speed is relegated to a corner of the screen, and the tachometer becomes more prominent.
What do you think of the Mustang’s digital display and its exhaust noise? Let us know in the comments below! Be sure to subscribe to The Fast Lane Car and TFLnow on YouTube. Check back to TFLcar.com for more news, views, and reviews!
[Photo: BMW] In September, we brought you news of the BMW M2 CS, thanks to some leaked VIN numbers on Bimmerpost forums. Now, BMW is following up with another CS model. Only this is no hunch – BMW officially announced the M3 CS in a recent press release. BMW’s releasing the M3 as an exclusive, limited-run, hardcore version of what many consider the quintessential M car. It’s the first sedan to bear the CS badge, and BMW will sell just 1,200 units globally, due to “production factors.” So, just what will you get over a normal M3 with this exclusive model?
[Photo: BMW]
The M3 CS’ Performance – The Most Powerful M3 to Date
BMW bumped the output of the M3’s 3.0-liter, twin-turbo engine by 10 horsepower. That means the M3 CS’ engine churns out 460 horsepower, making it the most powerful M3 to date. That car will ship only with BMW’s seven-speed DCT automatic transmission, forgoing the manual to which the classic M3 clings. However, owners may not find that a major loss. With that transmission, the M3 CS sprints from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds – a shade faster than the normal M3. Getting that power and its additional 37 lbs.-ft. of torque (up to 442) to the ground are Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
More power is great, but less weight makes it even better. To that end, the CS is about 110 pounds lighter, thanks to carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) panels. That includes the hood, roof, front splitter, Gurney, and rear diffuser. All CS models will also come with the Driver’s Package (a $2,500 option on the standard M3).
That’s all the numbers, but what will make M3 CS experience special for its 1,200 lucky owners? BMW wants you to note its “accentuated sporting presence”, particularly over the standard M3. They also don’t want you to forget tradition. After all, the CS carries the torch of BMW-M special editions that started with the E30 M3 Evolution. Do you want a wonderful, sonorous experience with your M3 CS? No problem, says BMW – just fire up the engine and its four tailpipes will deliver a “feast for the ears”. If experience with previous M cars and this BMW M video are anything to go by, that claim may not be too far off the mark.
[Photo: BMW]
Interior – A Symphony in Alcantara and Leather.
Naturally, being a hardcore model, the interior has a sportier edge over the standard M3. The steering wheel, parts of the dashboard, and other interior trim is swathed in Alcantara. “CS” is also embroidered in the dashboard trim, just so you don’t forget you’re in something special.
Despite the changes, BMW still wants M3 CS buyers to have the luxuries of the standard car. Therefore, the CS still has automatic climate control, a Harman Kardon sound system and a navigation system. On top of that and the performance improvements, it will still clock 26 MPG combined. With four doors, it also offers up what BMW is calling a “perfect blend of dynamism and everyday practicality”.
BMW will start accepting orders for the new M3 CS in January 2018, with production starting in March. Full pricing isn’t available at time of writing.
What do you think of the M3 CS? Let us know in the comments! While we’re waiting for the M3 CS’ arrival, check out this review of the standard M3 and it’s coupe cousin, the M4.
[Photo: Acura]The 2018 Acura RLX, emphasizing a new design direction and featuring tech based on the NSX’s hybrid drive, begins arriving in showrooms today.
Acura went all out refreshing their new flagship sedan. The exterior is sculpted with a bolder style, a new diamond pentagon-shaped grille with a subtle internal diamond-mesh pattern, and features Acura’s signature jewel LED headlamps.
“This redesign of the 2018 Acura RLX is transformational, creating road presence and styling that better reflect underlying performance capabilities of the vehicle,” says Jon Ikeda, Acura vice president & general manager.
The RLX’s hood also has been reshaped, and its rear end gets new LED taillights and a black lower diffuser with two large exhaust tips. There are new wheel designs and two new paint colors, too, including the Brilliant Red Metallic and Majestic Black Pearl.
2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid, Seacoast interior color [Photo: Acura]Inside, occupants settle into plush seats covered in Milano leather with contrasting piping and stitching. Premium new materials and touch points throughout the cabin add a new level of sophistication to an interior with class-leading space and comfort. A rich Espresso interior color is a fresh option. Audiophiles get the pleasure of the unparalleled Krell Audio System as part of the Advance Package or the exclusive ELS Studio Premium Audio System that is included in the Technology Package.
Acura simplified things by offering the RLX in two variations — each in a single-spec trim. The 2018 Acura RLX P-AWS (precision all-wheel steering) with Technology Package has the 310 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine and an MSRP of $54,900. The 2018 RLX Sport Hybrid with Advance Package has 377 horsepower on tap from a hybrid powertrain derived from the NSX, all-wheel drive, and an MSRP of $61,900 — $4,050 less than the outgoing model.
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Both 2018 models feature Acura’s suite of safety and driver-assist technologies as standard equipment, plus their new Traffic Jam Assist (TJA). Utilizing Adaptive Cruise Control and Low Speed Follow. TJA takes away some of the stress in dense traffic by keeping the vehicle centered in its lane and off the rear bumper of the car in front.
[Photo: Patrick MacDonald]Special thanks to TFL viewer Patrick MacDonald for sending in these photos. The vehicle pictured appears to be a Chinese GAC Trumpchi GS8 SUV. For those who don’t know a lot about the Chinese automaker, GAC is one of China’s largest automakers. Furthermore, they are looking to sell this SUV, the Trumpchi GS8, in the US. However, they are going to need to pass US regulations before that can happen. In the meantime, they have brought over this vehicle for testing.
GAC Trumpchi GS8
[Photo: GAC]What do we know about this model right now? Well, it has a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 201 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. This 7-seater SUV could be an interesting addition to the market depending on its price. In China, the starting price is 163,800 yuan ($24,000) although the GS8 can be priced as high as 259,800 yuan ($38,000).
Once again, special thanks to Patrick for the great photo. Be sure to stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more news on the GAC Trumpchi GS8 and its potential move to the US in the near future.
While you wait, why not see what we think of this vehicle’s potential rival once it hits US shores, the VW Atlas:
A viral video ad on YouTube shows just how far some creativity can get you when you need to sell a car.
Last week an eBay seller created a high-quality video of his girlfriend’s 1996 Honda Accord to help sell the car. In short order, the cinematic video with professional production values went viral, was featured on several automotive blogs, and became the feel-good topic of the day by several TV news stations. Sadly, the listing was taken down by eBay’s fraud department because they weren’t aware of the video’s rising popularity and didn’t believe the current bid of over $150,000 for the 21-year-old sedan was real.
Boooo on eBay!
Nothing to do except start over again. Thus, the seller relisted the family sedan on eBay Sunday night with a starting bid of $499 and seems to be gaining traction. At time of writing, the auction had picked up 57 bids and a bidding price of $3,200.
Since November 2nd, the video has attracted more than 3.9 million views and more than 2,600 comments.
Credit: eBay/Max Lanman
What makes this Accord so special?
The two-door Accord has 141,095 miles on the odometer and with its second owner. The Accord’s seller states the coupe has a clean title. The seller also properly maintained the car, and holds records to prove it. Seller notes that “Greenie” is a treasure. The original paint is in fantastic shape save for a few cosmetic dings. Drives like a dream. Leather seats are in great condition.”
Bug shield, rubber duckies, and tape converter included. Not included are the cat and coffee maker.
Original retail price for the EX coupe was around $20,000. Average retail price is currently $3,150 according to NADA Guides. One can only guess if bidding will be as frenzied as the previous listing but there is no doubt this decades-old sedan will sell for a heck of a lot more than $499.
In case you are wondering: the lady featured in the ad is an actor. The real owner decided to keep herself off-camera.
Does inserting the Type R turbocharged engine into a family sedan make sense to you? Well, Honda has done just that in the 10th generation 2018 Honda Accord with a variant of the 2.0L turbo I4 and 6-speed manual transmission borrowed from the Civic Type R.
The 2018 Mustang is almost here! In this video, Roman and Andre head to Los Angeles to check out the redesign. Before that, they had the opportunity to speak with Mustang chief engineer Carl Widmann to see what’s all new for the 2018 model. The new car has been three years in the making, so this video is your opportunity to see the changes inside and out.
What’s all new on the outside for the 2018 Mustang?
The first thing that observers and potential buyers of the 2018 Mustang will notice is its revised styling. The front end has dropped about an inch and is wider in the grille, to achieve a sleeker and more aggressive aesthetic. That revamp goes all the way back to the fenders, including the new grille, new hoods, and new LED lights.
Around the back, the Performance Pack comes with a new spoiler for 2018. Ford’s also featured new chrome tips for the EcoBoost. It also has new tail lamps as well as a new rear fascia. On the V8, there’s a standard quad-tip exhaust, similar to previous Mustangs. For those who enjoy plenty of options for their wheels, the 2018 Mustang features 12 different options for wheels.
Among new features in the Mustang are updated powertrains. The GT sports a new 460 horsepower V8 – 25 horsepower more than the previous iteration, thanks to an increased compression ratio. Ford was able to up the compression ratio by including a dual fuel-delivery system with port and direct injection, a higher redline than before, and a new exhaust. Interestingly, it just so happens that the 460 figure is just 5 more horsepower than the Camaro SS. The EcoBoost engine’s horsepower rating stays the same at 310, but it gets a 30 lb.-ft. torque boost (to 350). Ford has decided to drop the V6, so the only two engine choices in this Mustang will be the 5.0L V8 or the EcoBoost. That’s no major loss, however, as the EcoBoost will get you from 0-60 in under five seconds. And the V8? Under four seconds.
The previous generation Mustang was the first generation that’s been sold around the world. Naturally, as you would expect, the V8 has a much higher take rate than the EcoBoost. However, that comes with a few notable exceptions. Interestingly, China buys about 95% EcoBoosts. South Africa and Italy are also big EcoBoost takers, at about 85% each. Contrarily, Australia is about 85% V8s, but that comes as no surprise, given their love of cars such as the Ford Falcon and the Holden Commodore. Whichever engine you ultimately choose, the new Mustang comes with cool features on the inside, as well as outside.
The 2018 features an updated interior, including new trim options and a digital intrument cluster. [Photo: Ford]
Interior features of the 2018 Mustang
A neat interior feature of the 2018 Mustang is a new, configurable instrument cluster. Now fully digital, the instrument cluster gives drivers the flexibility to switch between different views as well as take full advantage of the Track Apps feature. For those who aren’t already aware of what Track Apps is, it’s a feature that’s been on Mustangs for a few years now. It allows drivers to measure their performance skills and metrics, such as 0-60 and 1/4-mile times, G-forces and braking distances, among other applications.
2018 also brings a range of interior updates over the previous generation, including the optional red interior that’s shown in the video above. As far as gear levers are concerned, you can have the 2018 Mustang with either a six-speed manual – de rigueur for sports and muscle cars – or Ford’s ten-speed automatic, which is a bit less conventional.
The 2018 Mustang has a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, offering drivers an array of different display options. [Photo: Ford]
Pricing for the 2018 Mustang
The new Mustangs start around $26,000 – about the same as the previous generation. Now, as the Mustang really started the options trends, there’s a wide price band in which you could have yours. The Performance Pack is available in every guise on the Mustang, whether it’s coupe or convertible, automatic or manual. Other options include Brembo brakes, Recaro seats, MagneRide suspension, and so on. Depending on which options you choose, the price can creep up to around $55,000.
Want to hear the new Mustang? Check out the video below for a rev battle!
Paramount to the Mustang’s credibility is not just how it goes, but how it sounds. Check out the video below and judge for yourself just how well the new 2018 Mustangs rate on their sound. Personally – and I think most will agree – you just can’t beat the V8 in this particular application. Subscribe to TFLnow and The Fast Lane Car on YouTube for more news, views, reviews, and Mustang face-offs!
Jeep is charging ahead to show just how capable the new Wrangler with some new action photos.
These Wranglers headed off to New Zealand to prove just how well they could handle all sorts of terrain. Naturally, the JL Wrangler looks just as capable as the JK that preceded it. Nevertheless, it’s always fun when photos surface that show an off-roader against an incredible New Zealand backdrop. Surely this is just the beginning. Once people start taking deliveries of the new Wrangler, we’ll likely see even more spectacular photos depicting adventures from all over the world.
Now, you may be asking what powerplants you’ll be able to get in the new Wrangler. Per our previous report, we’re fairly certain the Wrangler will come with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, and possibly a diesel. One engine we know will propel the new Wrangler up any terrain you care to name is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. The EPA recently released MPG figures for the 4-door version (the JLU):
The new Wrangler gets slightly better fuel economy than the outgoing JK. [Photo: fueleconomy.gov]
The 2018 Wrangler is also coming in five more colors than previously announced.
On top of all the action shots, TFLcar also found out that the Wrangler JL is coming in five new colors. This comprises the full list of available colors for the next-generation model (new colors are in bold):
Nacho Clear Coat
Mojito! (No, we didn’t add the exclamation point) Clear Coat
Punk’n Metallic Clear Coat
Ocean Blue Metallic Clear Coat
Sting-Gray Clear Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Firecracker Red Clear Coat
Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat
Bright White Clear Coat
Black Clear Coat
This information comes courtesy of JLWranglerForums, based on Mopar’s JL parts catalog shown at SEMA and some insider sources. Four of these colors are all new for FCA models. Let us know what you think of the next-generation Wrangler (and its interesting color options) in the comments below!
The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid hatchback stakes a claim as one of the most efficient and practical cars for the money — but just how good is it on a 1,200-mile road trip?
In this week’s Ask Nathan:
Comparing the 2025 Mazda CX-70 vs Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
What happened to my 1997 Ford Expedition?
This week's first...
