Watch the 2023 Honda Civic Type R Go For a Little Rip Around Suzuka
The next-generation Honda Civic Type R is on the way. If you've kept up with the latest buzz, then you've seen the red, black. and white camouflaged prototypes several times now. The eagerly awaited hatchback will debut this year as a 2023 model and once again is offered with a manual transmission—an option fast disappearing from the Civic family here in America. But while we continue to wait for the hot hatch's official unveiling, Honda has released footage of the Type R-still under that red, white, and black wrap-zipping through the Suzuka Circuit in Japan. This is essentially video of the same car captured in still photography last month at the same track.
When the 2023 Honda Civic Type R finally arrives, it should feature a more powerful 2.0 turbo-four, somewhere in the ballpark of 315 to 335 hp. In keeping with its track duties and sportier appearance, the front-drive hatchback will come fitted with red-painted Brembo brake calipers as the previous model. As for the inside, it appears that Honda is installing an updated version of the cloth bucket seats in the intense Flamin' Hot Cheetos color.
The teaser video gives us a sense of the all-new Type R's feral capabilities. Listen to that turbocharged sound—okay, at least in this clip, it doesn't sound like much, but the drone-y engine at least seems quick. We can't wait to try out the grip provided by those sticky Michelin Pilot 4S tires or the pull of that turbo I-4 for ourselves, as we expect the less manic-looking hatchback to push performance limits even harder than the predecessor while upping its already surprising maturity even further.
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If you see a riveted travel trailer that resembles an Airstream but isn't, it may be a Bowlus. That's assuming you're extremely lucky, too—there simply aren't many of these rare, upscale campers out there, so spotting one is like peeping Bigfoot.The company roots trace back to an aircraft builder named Hawley Bowlus, creator of a riveted, polished metal travel trailer back in 1934 to transport flight crews to remote locations. The brand has since been reinvented by Geneva Long, CEO of modern-day Bowlus. Characterized by an upright rounded front that tapers into an upside-down canoe-shaped rear, Bowlus trailers appear quite distinct in their Streamline Moderne design, almost steampunk-like in detail and complexity. Now, those Bowlus models—the Terra Firma, Endless Highways Performance Edition, and the Endless Highways Edition—are joined by a new model, called the Volterra, that takes the classic format and fully electrifies it for a new era.EV Trailerin'Bowlus makes some pretty bold claims regarding its brand-new, all-electric 2023 Volterra model, including that it is the first production RV to be 100-percent electric; the first to apply AeroSolar; the first with high-speed satellite internet; and the first to offer an induction cooktop. We'll work through these aspects one by one.The Volterra is all-electric, meaning it's devoid of a generator or propane fuel, the common power sources for running appliances while boondocking and figuratively (and literally) keeping the lights on. It has 17 kwh of lithium iron phosphate batteries (for a 100-percent increase in battery capacity over its Terra Firma model). It has 20-amp outlets to give an EV tow vehicle a little bit of juice in the case of an emergency, and the EV (or, we suspect, a hybrid with substantial power generation capabilities such as an F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid—can likewise recharge the Bowlus while driving.Bowlus is proud of its AeroSolar setup that has up to 480 watts of solar power absorption. Compared to aluminum-framed glass panels, the AeroSolar panels feature monocrystalline cells with PERC technology that make the cells more efficient and the panels lightweight and durable. They're paired with a smart MPPT solar controller that coordinates the flow of vital juice. The solar panels fit the roof perfectly, and there are two optional suitcase panels for extra solar.Want to do some remote streaming or download some giant files to your mobile office in the middle of nowhere? The Bowlus Volterra has Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet for fast and reliable internet in most places. Starlink for RVs is relatively new and can be expected to hit a bounty of nomadic setups in the near future.Whereas most (if not all) trailers normally have propane stoves, the Bowlus Volterra has an induction cooktop, excelling in energy efficiency while providing precise temperature and cooking control. One could argue induction cooktops are safer, too, as the surface works with a magnetic field rather than physically getting hot, which also means you don't necessarily heat up the whole trailer while cooking dinner. The downsides of induction tops are that they require induction-ready cookware, and they're simply more expensive.The Volterra sleeps and dines four inside the fully vegan, limited-edition interior theme that's been named "La Cumbre," for the name of a mountain peak behind Santa Barbara, California. "Ynez" seating with "Rafael" accent piping recreate a beautiful California sunset. Black and old rose striped 100-percent linen duvet covers, blankets, and throw pillows are included.The Bowlus Volterra measures just over 27 feet long and has a base weight of 3,250 pounds (4,000-pound GVWR), indicating it's pretty lightweight. It has a 50-gallon freshwater tank, which Bowlus considers "perfect for extended off-grid time or longer showers." We'd like to see double that amount of fresh water—but that would exceed the GVWR in water alone. A cool feature when it comes to navigating into tight camping spots is its 120-degree color backup camera that's rechargeable, waterproof, and compatible with all iOS and Android devices.Getting into a Bowlus Volterra will set owners back at least $310,000. That's hard to wrap your mind around, right? This helps explain why you don't see very many in the wild. To put this into perspective, the most expensive Airstream, the 33-foot Classic, starts at $206,500. If you ever see a Bowlus, it's okay to stare.
The 2022 Chicago Auto Show gave us our first real chance to crawl around the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Obsidian model, which went on sale late last year. As the name implies and as we explained at the time, this variant based on the mid-grade Series II trim caters to fans of the blacked-out look. The example shown in Chicago also gave us one of our first experiences of a bench-seat-equipped eight-passenger Grand Wagoneer. So let's climb into this latest 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer's interior and have a look around.
hyundai sonata Full OverviewWhen we first took stock of our 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited, we were impressed by its slick screens, comfortable leather seats, and stylish exterior. A year later, does the Sonata continue to charm, or has it lost its luster?The midsize sedan rolled into our garage wearing a striking sapphire blue paint color and all the trimmings of the top-tier Limited model. At $34,630, our test car looks almost like a luxury sedan. Its plush caramel leather seats held up well over a year of passengers shuffling into seats, loading and unloading tons of baby gear, car seats installations, and baby spit-ups. The leather didn't pucker over time like it did on one of my previous long-term vehicles, which happened to be a luxury vehicle.The Sonata's interior earned high praise for its uncluttered, elegant design. I enjoyed the easy-to-use 10.3-inch touchscreen, though I didn't fully appreciate how crisp it was until I downgraded to a duller 8.0-inch screen in my latest test car. The Sonata's infotainment screen complements the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a sharp Bose sound system sweetens the deal.Passengers enjoyed the panoramic sunroof, but my favorite feature is Highway Driving Assist. A semi-autonomous system that combines adaptive cruise control and lane centering tech, this feature makes highway commuting less stressful. Although it has a tendency to steer the Sonata to the left side of the lane within the lane markings, it works better than some other systems we've tested. The 360-degree camera system is another winner, providing a clear view on all sides of the car and making it easy to park this long sedan. The only real tech hiccup we encountered was with the keyless entry system. It often wouldn't register when I touched the door and had the key in my pocket, forcing me to dig out the key and press the unlock button.I had no illusions about the Sonata's performance going into the year. Our car features the Sonata's upgraded engine option: a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. As I quickly found out, it has just enough power for merging and passing other cars on the highway. Given how well it handles, I didn't mind its lack of power. What became more and more bothersome over time was how the power is delivered. There's a noticeable lag off the line when you jam the accelerator, so making quick maneuvers in traffic can get a little tricky.No maintenance problems plagued our Sonata through the year, but the car visited the dealership twice for routine servicing. Our first service trip was free, but Hyundai charged $92.01 for our second visit. These costs will look quite different for typical retail customers of newer Sonatas, however. For retail vehicles sold on or after February 1, 2020, Hyundai offers complimentary maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.Subaru also offers free maintenance, which is why our long-term 2017 Subaru Legacy cost $0 over three service visits and 20,460 miles. Free maintenance hasn't been the norm among the Sonata's competitors we've tested for a year, though. We spent $178.96 for two service visits on our long-term 2014 Mazda 6, which logged 24,316 miles, and $204.92 on two services for our 2013 Nissan Altima, which finished its run at 21,774 miles. Surprisingly, our long-term 2013 Honda Accord cost more than all of these sedans, racking up a bill of $209.42 for two service visits over a course of 22,856 miles.Driving the Sonata for a year revealed more about the sedan's quality and maintenance costs, but what will the ownership experience look like over the course of five years? Our colleagues at IntelliChoice have some insights. Although we enjoy all the fancy features that come with the top Limited trim, it might not be the choice if you're looking to maximize value. The lower SE trim gets a Good value rating, but the other trims earn Mediocre or Average scores. The 2020 Sonata Limited has been deemed an Average value when taking into account depreciation, insurance, fuel costs, state fees, financing, maintenance, and repairs.The Honda Accord remains our top pick for a midsize sedan because of its superior driving dynamics and its spacious, well-packaged interior. That said, our yearlong test confirms the Sonata is a solid pick. Among its rather conservative, plain-looking competitors, the Sonata stands out with its sharp design. More important, its tech-forward cabin continues to delight over time, speaking to its strong feature-per-dollar value. Its playful handling never gets old on a twisty road. For the practical-minded, free maintenance and a generous warranty make a strong case for the Sonata.Looks good! More details?POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited 1.6T DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD ENGINE TYPE Turbocharged I-4, alum block/head VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 valves/cyl DISPLACEMENT 97.5 cu in/1,598 cc COMPRESSION RATIO 10.5:1 POWER (SAE NET) 180 hp @ 5,500 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 195 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm REDLINE 6,500 rpm WEIGHT TO POWER 18.4 lb/hp TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO 3.37:1/2.14:1 SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar STEERING RATIO 13.3:1 TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 2.6 BRAKES, F; R 12.8-in vented disc; 11.8-in disc, ABS WHEELS 7.5 x 18-in cast aluminum TIRES 235/45R18 94V Michelin Primacy Tour A/S (M+S) DIMENSIONS WHEELBASE 111.8 in TRACK, F/R 63.1/63.3 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 192.9 x 73.2 x 56.9 in TURNING CIRCLE 35.9 ft CURB WEIGHT 3,316 lb WEIGHT DIST, F/R 60/40% SEATING CAPACITY 5 HEADROOM, F/R 38.4/37.4 in LEGROOM, F/R 46.1/34.8 in SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 57.9/56.1 in CARGO VOLUME 16.0 cu ft TEST DATA ACCELERATION TO MPH 0-30 2.7 sec 0-40 3.8 0-50 5.5 0-60 7.4 0-70 9.5 0-80 12.3 0-90 15.6 0-100 — PASSING, 45-65 MPH 3.8 QUARTER MILE 15.7 sec @ 90.1 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 115 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.89 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 26.6 sec @ 0.66 g (avg) TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 1,800 rpm CONSUMER INFO BASE PRICE $34,475 PRICE AS TESTED $34,630 STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL Yes/Yes AIRBAGS 9: Dual front, f/r side, f/r curtain, driver knee BASIC WARRANTY 5 yrs/60,000 miles POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 10 yrs/100,000 miles ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 5 yrs/Unlimited miles FUEL CAPACITY 15.9 gal EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 27/37/30 mpg RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded regular Our Car SERVICE LIFE 12 mo / 11,734 mi BASE PRICE $34,475 OPTIONS Carpeted floor mats ($155) PRICE AS TESTED $34,630 AVG ECON 24.4 mpg PROBLEM AREAS None MAINTENANCE COST $0 (oil change, inspection) NORMAL-WEAR COST $0 3-YEAR RESIDUAL VALUE* $27,700 (80%) RECALLS None *IntelliChoice data; assumes 42,000 miles at the end of 3-years Show All
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